Podcasts about acting director

May is Older Americans Month. Joining us for a preview is Greg Olsen, Acting Director of the New York State Office for the Aging. Ray Graf hosts.

The European Green Deal was launched in 2019 to make Europe the world's first climate neutral and resilient economy, and to decouple economic growth from resource use. Six years later, the ambition has become even more important for Europe, and for the world, but the global context has considerably changed. In his address to the IIEA, Director General Vandenberghe explains the relevance of the Green Deal and how it will be taken forward, in Europe and internationally, amid rapidly changing and increasingly volatile global circumstances. This event is part of the IIEA's REthink Energy series, organised in partnership with ESB. Speaker bio: Kurt Vandenberghe was appointed Director General of DG CLIMA in January 2023. From December 2019 to January 2023, he was the Green Deal and Health Advisor to President Ursula von der Leyen. Previously, he was Acting Director for Research & Innovation Outreach, Director for Policy & Programming, and Director for Climate action and resource efficiency at DG Research and Innovation. He also served in the Cabinet of Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin (1999-2004), and as Head of the Cabinet of Janez Potočnik, who was Commissioner for Research and Innovation (2004-2009) and subsequently for Environment (from 2010). Mr Vandenburghe joined the European Commission in 1996 as co-ordinator of the Commission's Intermodal Transport Task Force and of the Transport Research Programme. Before entering the Commission, Mr Vandenberghe worked as a manager at Ernst & Young Association Management, where he set up, managed and represented international trade associations. He holds a degree in French and Italian literature from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL), a degree in Public and International Affairs from the University Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL), and a MA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

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The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals being deported under the alien enemies act proclamation are afforded due process, and that the courts can ask the government to facilitate the return of wrongfully deported detaineesThe Department of Justice is seeking to drop the charges against the alleged MS-13 leader they held a press conference about arresting.FBI Director Kash Patel has been quietly removed as the Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives after he stopped showing up to work.The Department of Justice lawyer who argued on behalf of the government in the Abrego Garcia case has been benched because he expressed frustration with his clients during a hearing. His supervisor has also been sidelined.The DC Office of Disciplinary Counsel has declined to launch a probe of Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney, over an alleged ethics violation he committed when he sought to dismiss the criminal case of a January 6th defendant whom he previously represented.Donald Trump signs an executive order opening investigations into Chris Krebs and Miles Taylor.Plus listener questions…Questions for the pod? Questions from ListenersSteve Vladeckhttps://www.stevevladeck.com Follow AG Substack|MuellershewroteBlueSky|@muellershewroteAndrew McCabe isn't on social media, but you can buy his book The ThreatThe Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and TrumpWe would like to know more about our listeners. Please participate in this brief surveyListener Survey and CommentsThis Show is Available Ad-Free And Early For Patreon and Supercast Supporters at the Justice Enforcers level and above:https://dailybeans.supercast.techOrhttps://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr when you subscribe on Apple Podcastshttps://apple.co/3YNpW3P

National Shooting Sports Foundation senior vice president and general counsel Larry Keane joins the show to talk about more major personnel changes at ATF after Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll was named Acting Director, including the departure of longtime Deputy Director Marvin Richardson.

Three quick stories to cover with all of you in this show.First, Trump continues to stack wins, this time in a firing case involving 24,000 fired probationary federal employees and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled yesterday to allow the firings to stand.Second, a senior deputy director of the ATF, having served 35 years in the agency, summarily departed yesterday afternoon hours after a new Acting Director of the ATF was installed, indicating a much-needed house cleaning. Third, Mahmoud Khalil's immigration judge seems to think he possesses much more authority than the Constitution allows, when he threatens to free the terrorist sympathizer unless the Executive Branch convinces him otherwise--a power grab of the Executive Branch's national security authority. Joine me LIVE at 5PM ET to break it all down!#Trump #ATF #Mahoud KhalilTRUMP SCORES ANOTHER SUPREME COURT VICTORY!  In this explosive video, we dive into President Trump's latest legal win involving the firing of two government officials—Gwynne Wilcox (National Labor Relations Board) and Cathy Harris (Merit Systems Protection Board). After being fired, both women sued and secured reinstatement orders from Obama-appointed federal judges Beryl Howell (2010) and Rudolph Contreras (2012). But the plot thickens! The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals initially upheld their terminations, only for an en banc panel (with a 7-4 liberal majority) to flip the decision and order their rehiring. Now, the White House has taken the fight to the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice John Roberts just issued a stay on April 9, 2025, putting Wilcox and Harris back out of their jobs—for now.Join us as we break down Solicitor General John Sauer's winning stay argument and unpack the BIG legal questions: Do federal courts even have jurisdiction over these employment disputes? And is reinstatement the right remedy, or does it violate the separation of powers?  Get the full scoop on this high-stakes legal battle that could drag on for months—or years! Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more updates on Trump's legal battles and breaking news!#Trump #SupremeCourt #GwynneWilcox #CathyHarris #LegalNews #Politics

The first meeting of Clare's Local Community Safety Partnership is expected to be held before the end of May. Following the disbandment of the Joint Policing Committee model last year, legislation has now been commenced to enable the establishment of LCSPs. Much like JPCs, LCSPs will act as forums where elected representatives, Gardaí and members of the community can discuss crime-related issues. Acting Director of Economic Development with Clare County Council Seán Lenihan says the wheels are finally in motion.

There are growing warnings that food supplies in Gaza will soon run out. Israel has cut off aid, risking the lives of more than two million Palestinians. Benjamin Netanyahu says he'll tighten the siege even further if Hamas doesn't accept a ceasefire extension. So, will his policy of starvation work? In this episode: Ahmad Al Najjar, Resident, Gaza. Sam Rose, Acting Director, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees. Martin Griffiths, Director, Mediation Group International. Firas El Echi, Host, 'Here's Why' podcast. Host: Adrian Finighan Connect with us:@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook

Our special podcast show today deals primarily with a 112-page opinion and 3-page order issued on March 28 by Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in a lawsuit brought, among others, by two labor unions representing CFPB employees against Acting Director Russell Vought. The complaint alleged that Acting Director Vought and others were in the process of dismantling the CFPB through various actions taken since Rohit Chopra was fired and replaced by Acting Director Scott Bessent and then Acting Director Russell Vought. This process included, among other things, the termination of probationary and term employees and possibly another 1,300 or so employees through a reduction-in-force , the issuance of a stop work order, the closure of the CFPB's main office in DC and branch offices throughout the country, the termination of most third-party contracts, the decision not to request any additional funding from the Federal Reserve Board for the balance of the fiscal year and the voluntary dismissal of several enforcement lawsuits. Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel and former chair of Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group, and Joseph Schuster, a Partner in the Consumer Financial Services Group, discuss each part of the preliminary injunction issued by Judge Jackson which, among other things, required the CFPB to re-hire all probationary and term employees who had been terminated, prohibited the CFPB from terminating any CFPB employee except for just cause (which apparently does not include lack of work because of the change in focus and direction of the CFPB), required the CFPB not to enforce a previous “stop work” order or reduction-in-force.  We observed that Judge Jackson's order has required the CFPB to maintain for now a work force that is not needed for the “new” CFPB. We also discuss that the preliminary injunction order does not require the CFPB to maintain any of the regulations promulgated or proposed by Rohit Chopra or to continue to prosecute any of the enforcement lawsuits brought by Director Chopra. DOJ filed a notice of appeal on March 29 and on March 31 filed a motion in the DC Court of Appeals to stay Judge Jackson's order. (After the recording of this podcast, the DOJ filed in the Court of Appeals a motion seeking a stay of Judge Jackson's order. Pending a hearing on April 9th, the Court issued an administrative stay of Judge Jackson's order. The 3-Judge panel is composed of two Trump appointees and one Obama appointee.) A copy of the blog co-authored by Alan and Joseph is linked here. We also discuss another lawsuit initiated by the City of Baltimore and one other plaintiff against Acting Director Vought in Federal District Court for the District of Maryland seeking to enjoin him from returning to the Federal Reserve Board or the Treasury funds held by the CFPB. The Court denied the motion for preliminary injunction on the basis that it was not ripe for adjudication under the Administrative Procedure Act because the CFPB never actually returned any funds. Finally, Alan expresses surprise that the Acting Director has not relied on the argument that all funds received by the CFPB after September, 2022 were unlawfully obtained because the Dodd-Frank Act stipulates that the CFPB can be funded only out of “combined earnings of the Federal Reserve Banks” and the fact that there have only been huge combined losses of the Federal Reserve Banks since Sept 2022 which continue through today and are likely to continue through the foreseeable future.

Today's podcast show features a discussion with David Dayen, executive editor of the American Prospect, which is an online magazine about ideas, politics, and power. He's the author of “Chain of Title: How Three Ordinary Americans Uncovered Wall Street's Great Foreclosure Fraud,” which was published in 2016. David has written and published about 10 or so articles in which he chronicles in great detail the apparent effort by the Trump Administration, acting through Scott Bessent and Russell Vought, to dismantle the CFPB by abruptly ordering a cessation of all activities and layoffs of probationary and term employees and a plan to layoff 1,300 or so additional employees. Because this plan would have crippled the CFPB, two lawsuits were initiated in rapid fashion against Acting Director Vought seeking to enjoin him from pursuing this strategy. One lawsuit was brought by the two labor unions representing CFPB employees and others in the I.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and got assigned to Judge Amy Berman Jackson. The second lawsuit was brought by the City of Baltimore and others in the U.S. District Coury for the District of Maryland. David describes in detail the case pending before Judge Jackson, including the hearings at which several CFPB employees testified. Those employees painted a very grim picture of the effort to shut down the agency. The DOJ lawyer stated that there was never an intent to shut down the CFPB and that the steps taken by the Acting Directors to “freeze” the CFPB were similar to steps taken by any new Administration in order to provide time to evaluate the situation and decide what changes should be made to reflect the new Administration's policy objectives. Shortly after the recording of this podcast, Judge Jackson issued on March 28 a 112-page opinion and 3-page order in which she required the reinstatement with back pay of all CFPB employees that had been terminated, enjoined the CFPB from terminating any employees except for good cause related to the individual employee, fully maintain the consumer complaint portal, ordered the defendants to reinstate all third-party contracts which had been earlier terminated, ordered the defendants to not enforce a February 10 stop-work order and required that the CFPB not destroy any records. The defendants have filed a notice of appeal to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. On March 29. On March 31, the defendants filed a motion in the Court of Appests to stay Judge Jackson's order. See this blog for more detail about Judge Jackson's opinion. Because of the importance of Judge Jackson's opinion, Alan Kaplinsky and Joseph Schuster have recorded a special (additional) podcast show, where we dissected Judge Jackson's opinion and order and the other lawsuit brought by the City of Baltimore against Acting Director, Russell Vought, challenging his consideration of returning operating finds to the Federal Reserve Board or Treasury. That podcast will be released tomorrow, Friday, April 4. The Judge in the City of Baltimore case, in which the plaintiffs had not established nearly as complete a record as the case before Judge Jackson, denied the motion for a preliminary injunction based on the Court's belief that there was no final order which could be challenged under the Administrative Procedure Act. We also discussed the possibility that Congress could subject the CFPB to funding through Congressional appropriations by putting such language in the Budget Reconciliation bill which can be enacted by a simple majority and not 60 votes in the Senare. Alan Kaplinsky, former Chair for 25 years and now Senior Counsel of the Consumer Financial Services Group, hosts the discussion.

On June 6 of last year, Prof. Hal Scott of Harvard Law School was our podcast guest. On that occasion he delved into the thought-provoking question of whether the Supreme Court's decision on May 16 in the landmark case of CFSA v. CFPB really hands the CFPB a winning outcome, or does the Court's validation of the agency's statutory funding structure simply open up another question - namely, whether the CFPB is legally permitted under Dodd-Frank to receive funds from the Federal Reserve even though the Federal Reserve Banks have lost money on a combined basis since September 2022. Dodd-Frank provides that the CFPB is to receive its funding out of the Federal Reserve Banks “combined earnings.” The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed by Prof Scott on May 20 titled “The CFPB's Pyrrhic Victory in the Supreme Court” in which he explains that even though the CFPB's funding mechanism as written was upheld in CFSA v. CFPB, this will not help the agency now or at any time in the future when the Federal Reserve operates at a deficit. A lot has happened since Prof. Scott's last appearance on our podcast show. Several enforcement  lawsuits filed by the CFPB were faced with motions to dismiss filed by the defendants alleging that the lawsuits could not be financed by the CFPB with funds that were unlawfully procured The CFPB gave short shrift to this argument but never could adequately explain how “earnings” as used in Dodd-Frank really means “revenues” and not profits. While 3 courts rejected the motions to dismiss, those courts decided to do so without dealing with the core issue of whether “earnings” means profits or revenues. President Trump became President on January 20 and, shortly thereafter, Rohit Chopra was terminated. The new Acting Director, Russell Vought, proceeded to shutter the CFPB by, among other things, terminating or putting on administrative leave with instructions to do no work  most of its employees and refusing to seek a quarterly funding from the Federal Reserve. Mr. Vought did not base this refusal on the premise that the receipt of such funding would be illegal. Two lawsuits have been filed against the Acting Director challenging the legality of the apparent dismantling of the CFPB. While the CFPB is defending these cases on the basis that the President and the Acting Director have the Constitutional right to downsize and alter the policies of the CFPB, they have surprisingly not made the argument that the CFPB's funding is unlawful. Prof. Scott on Feb, 1 published another op-Ed in the Wall Street Journal entitled “Rohit Chopra is out. Now Shutter the CFPB” and two articles on the website of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation (of which Prof. Scott is the President and Director) entitled “Understanding the CFPB's Funding Problem” and “The Fed's Accounting Methodology Cannot Expand its Statutory Authority to Fund the CFOB.”  Our podcast show released today takes a very deep dive into those articles and explains Prof. Scott's position that the Fed's accounting for the massive losses of the Federal Reserve Banks (which creates a deferred asset account composed of anticipated future earnings of the Federal Reserve Banks which the Federal Reserve Banks will not need to remit to the treasury because the banks may recoup its accumulated losses since September 2022) has no bearing on whether the Fed has been lawfully funding the CFPB out of “combined earnings” of the Federal Reserve Banks. Prof Scott also rebuts several counterarguments made by those who claim that the CFPB has been lawfully funded throughout. Prof. Scott also discusses why he believes that congress may use a budget appropriations bill whose passage requires only a majority, not 60, vote in the Senate in order to subject the CFPB to funding through the congressional appropriations process.  Our blogs about the Supreme Court decision in CFSA v. CFPB can be found here and here. To read our blog about Professor Scott's op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, which includes a link to the op-ed, click here.  To read his more recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, click here to read his two articles published on the website of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation entitled, click here and here. A transcript of the recording will be available soon. 

With a new President, new Attorney General, new Acting Director of the ATF... what happens next? What is GOA doing to take advantage of opportunities to defend our liberties and reclaim some lost rights? And what are the things that you can be doing to help?

This week, we're looking at the first-of-its-kind move to make the FBI Director the Acting Director of the ATF. To do that, we've got Reason Magazine's J.D. Tuccille back on the show. He recently wrote about what Kash Patel's appointment might mean for the gun agency. He argued it could send a signal the administration plans to merge the two law enforcement arms, if not officially, at least effectively. Tuccille said the move has the potential to reign in some of the worst excesses of the ATF by eliminating its singular focus on gun law enforcement. But, he noted, it could also backfire on gun owners given the FBI's reputation for aggressive enforcement, even over-aggressive at times. Then there's Kash Patel himself. He has received strong backing from gun-rights groups, who hope he'll wipe out the gun restrictions and zero-tolerance approach, as well as the officials who implemented them. However, Tuccille said his history of comments promising retribution against his and President Trump's opponents in government and media raise concerns about how he might wield his expansive new power over federal law enforcement. Get a 30-day free trial for a subscription to The Dispatch here: https://thedispatch.com/join-offer-reload/?utmsource=thereload&utmmedium=partnerships-podcast&utm_campaign=0125 Special Guest: JD Tuccille.

Send us a textRoyce gives Kash Patel a few pointers on how to sweep the garbage out of the ATF, now that he's the Acting Director thereof.Then, on to Colorado, where their State Senate just approved a bill that, rather than banning "assault weapons" outright, they're going to try the "mandates and taxes" approach (like the NFA does) to make the average citizen unable to acquire them because of the onerous training requirements coupled with yet-to-be-ascertained fees.Glover Orndorf and Flanagan Wealth Mgmt.Wealth management servicesWJS GunsGun and Outdoor Shop, ammo, accessories, fishing tackle, moreSHOOTINGCLASSES.COMOnline business operations platform for firearms instructors, trainees, and Shooting RangesCounter Strike TacticalBest Little Gun Store in Melbourne, Florida! Veteran Owned and Operated 321-499-4949Sicarios Gun ShopFirearms, Accessories, Ammo, Safes, and more!The American Police Hall of FameMuseum and Shooting Center (open to public), Law Enforcement and Civilian TrainingFreedom GunsFirearms, Ammunition, Accessories, Training classes The Gun Site9-Lane 25 yard indoor Shooting Range, Gun Store, Training classesGo2 WeaponsManufacturers of AR platform rifles for military and civilian. Veteran Owned and OperatedEar Care of MelbourneNeed hearing aids? Go to the audiologists that gave Royce his hearing back!Quantified PerformanceQuantified Performance, LLC is focused on building safe, high performing keepers and bearers.Control Jiu-Jitsu/MMAJiu-Jitsu/MMA Training in Melbourne, FLDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showGiveSendGo | Unconstitutional 2A Prosecution of Tate Adamiak Askari Media GroupBuy Paul Eberle's book "Look at the Dirt"Paul Eberle (lookatthedirt.com)The Deadly Path: How Operation Fast & Furious and Bad Lawyers Armed Mexican Cartels: Forcelli, Peter J., MacGregor, Keelin, Murphy, Stephen: 9798888456491: Amazon.com: BooksVoice of the Blue (buzzsprout.com)

Mark Blyth, William R. Rhodes '57 Prof International Economics andamp; Acting Director, Climate Solutions Lab

The US aid freeze has exposed not only the fragility of humanitarian funding but also longstanding dependencies, vulnerabilities, and power dynamics that demand a broader reckoning. This event will explore the urgent need for structural change, seeking clarity and ideas amid the chaos. In what we hope will be one conversation of many, we reimagine the future of humanitarian aid in an era of mounting challenges and transformative opportunities. SPEAKERS The event was moderated by TNH CEO Tammam Aloudat, who was joined by: Deborah Doane – Author of The INGO Problem: Power, privilege and renewal. Dustin Barter – Acting Director of the Humanitarian Policy Group at ODI. Dr. Lata Narayanaswamy – Associate Professor in the Politics of Global Development, University of Leeds. Nidhi Bouri – Former Deputy Assistant Administrator for Global Health, USAID. Stella Naw – Kachin human rights activist. ____ Got a question or feedback? Email podcast@thenewhumanitarian.org or have your say on our socials using the hashtag #RethinkingHumanitarianism.  ____

Mick Cooper is a leading voice in contemporary counseling psychology, known for his work at the intersection of psychotherapy and social change. A Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Roehampton in the UK, Dr. Cooper is both a researcher and a practicing therapist, exploring how psychotherapeutic principles can contribute to broader political and societal transformation. As a co-developer of the pluralistic approach to therapy, Dr. Cooper has been instrumental in advancing a model that prioritizes shared decision-making, client preferences, and integrative therapeutic practice. He serves as Acting Director of the Centre for Research in Psychological Wellbeing (CREW) and is an active member of the Therapy and Social Change Network (TaSC). His research focuses on humanistic and existential therapies, client engagement, and the role of psychotherapy in fostering personal and collective agency. Dr. Cooper's latest book, Psychology at the Heart of Social Change: Developing a Progressive Vision for Society,examines how psychological theory and practice can be leveraged to create a more equitable world. In this interview, he speaks with Mad in America's Javier Rizo about the intersections of therapy and politics, the importance of pluralism in mental health care, and the future of counseling psychology as a force for progressive change. *** Thank you for being with us to listen to the podcast and read our articles this year. MIA is funded entirely by reader donations. If you value MIA, please help us continue to survive and grow. https://www.madinamerica.com/donate/ To find the Mad in America podcast on your preferred podcast player, click here: https://pod.link/1212789850 © Mad in America 2025. Produced by James Moore https://www.jmaudio.org

This week on Facing the Future, we talked about the nation's budget challenges with Barry Anderson, former Deputy Director for Budget Review at the White House Office of Management and Budget. He also served as Deputy Director and then Acting Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Beyond his work on the U.S. budget, Anderson headed the Budgeting and Public Expenditures Division in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Anderson sees some similarities between the early days of the Clinton Administration in the 1990's and the current situation.

In this discussion held at the Reuters Institute we discuss how the news media can make climate journalism that lands with their audiences. In this episode of Future of Journalism we are sharing an edited conversation that we held at the institute around how audiences globally consume climate news, what they think of it and some of the challenges that news organisations face in making their climate journalism really land. Speakers: Katherine Dunn, Content Editor, Oxford Climate Journalism Network, Reuters Institute Ivan Couronne, Global Editor, AFP's ‘Future of the Planet' Dr Waqas Ejaz, post-doctoral research fellow, Reuters Institute and lead author of our annual climate news report Host: Mitali Mukherjee, Acting Director and Director of Journalist Programmes, Reuters Institute Watch the full event on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/zwrw885cg6Q?si=1KeGUd3R3Nrcn_Jj Read a transcript: https://otter.ai/u/TPI5rFZicOOkPpDC2OBfn2c9WNc?utm_source=copy_url Read the Climate change and news audiences report 2024: https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/climate-change-and-news-audiences-report-2024-analysis-news-use-and-attitudes-eight-countries

Today's podcast show is a repurposing of Alan Kaplinsky's “fireside chat” with Matthew J. Platkin, the New Jersey Attorney General, which was the first half of a webinar we produced on January 17, 2025. That webinar was Part 3 of our webinar series entitled “The Impact of the Election on the CFPB and Others.” In Part 3, we focus on the role of state attorneys general in a rapidly shifting CFPB environment. The importance of Part 3 is underscored by the recent actions taken by President Trump to fire Rohit Chopra as Director of the CFPB and to appoint new Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, and then new Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, Russell Vought, as Acting Directors. Messrs, Bessent, and Vought have essentially temporarily stopped all activities of the CFPB for the time being. During our “fireside chat” with General Platkin, we discussed the following topics, among others: 1.               What is General Platkin's background, including his stint as Chief Counsel to the New Jersey Governor? 2.               Since General Platkin has been New Jersey Attorney General, what are some examples of the consent orders or lawsuits he has initiated related to consumer financial services? 3.               Has the New Jersey Attorney General previously collaborated with the CFPB and/or FTC in investigating certain companies or segments of the consumer financial services industry, and is that likely to change? 4.               What effect will there be on consumers in New Jersey if President Trump appoints (as he did) an Acting Director of the CFPB whose interpretation and enforcement of federal consumer protection laws differs markedly from Rohit Chopra? 5.               What will the New Jersey Attorney General's office do in response to this anticipated shifting CFPB environment? 6.               Elon Musk has called for the deletion of the CFPB and Project 2025 has also called for the elimination of the CFPB. If that were to happen, what would the New Jersey Attorney General's office do to fill this anticipated void? 7.               We then looked beyond New Jersey to other state attorney general's offices similarly situated to the New Jersey Attorney General office – who will have the need to initiate more cases when resources are limited. We discussed how state Attorney General's (including the New Jersey Attorney General) have networked with each other to investigate and sue companies that are violating consumers' rights in multiple states. We then discussed why it is anticipated that the networking process is likely to increase. 8.               The areas of consumer financial protection law and segments of the consumer financial services industry that will be areas of focus for the New Jersey Attorney General during 2025? Our next episode will be the second half of our January 17 webinar in which several of our colleagues will explore in depth why we expect state Attorney General's offices to significantly ramp up their investigations involving and lawsuits filed against banks and other consumer financial services providers. Parts 1, 2 and 3 of our webinar series appear here, here, and here. Our podcast shows (repurposing Parts 1 and 2 of our webinar series) appear here, here, here, and here. The title of Part 1 is: “The Impact of the election on the CFPB: Regulations and other written guidance, which featured Alan Kaplinsky's “fireside chat” with David Silberman who held senior positions at the CFPB for almost 10 years during the Directorships of Cordray, Mulvaney, and Kraninger. Part 2 is: “The Impact of the Election on the CFPB: Supervision and Enforcement, which featured Alan Kaplinsky's “fireside chat” with former Director Kathy Kraninger during Trump‘s first term in office.

Tshidi Madia in for Clement Manyathela speaks to Prof Ruth Hall, the Acting Director at the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) as she unpacks what the expropriation bill that was signed into law means for land reform in the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend and early into this week, Elon Musk's so-called DOGE, Department of Government Efficiency, effectively shut down the US Agency for International Development on a temporary basis. Musk, Donald Trump and their lackeys attacked USAID because they claim it's a “viper's nest of radical-left [m]arxists who hate America,” to quote a Musk post on X, saying it's a corrupt organization that promotes so-called DEI across the world and is used to waste money.But behind the scenes, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is now the Acting Director of USAID, which is to be reconstituted under his State Department. Rubio, a fierce hawk when it comes to Cuba, Venezuela, China and beyond, will now be in charge of whatever comes up from the rubble.USAID absolutely should be shut down, for real and for good, not just moved from one spot on the government org chart to another. It's an arm of US soft power, often operating as a front for funding counter-revolutionary activity under the guise of aid or democracy programs.Support the show

Today we open with a suggestion to CNN to get Abby Phillip to take back the propaganda point that she used to shut down Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) regarding the wasteful allocation of nearly $50million dollars for condoms in Gaza. We have the receipts and it shows the payment ready to be sent had DOGE not stopped it. On the other hand, maybe we should let Legacy/mainstream media continue to lie, since it will only hasten their end. We then spend a lot of time on even more elements of USAID that have come to light since yesterday's show. One of the areas the Democrats are desperate to keep under wraps is just how far back we have been funding gain-of-function to create a coronavirus that can infect humans. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been tasked as Acting Director to USAID while the DOGE team can work with them to assess what is still viable spending and what is not. While we discuss that, we hear from a USAID employee on their mad scramble to hide their woke/DEI accouterments when they heard DOGE was in the building. Outside of the building, Democrat lawmakers continually lied to the American people, including the Designated Liar himself, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD). Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) told those on the Left to “call someone who cares,” knowing that this is exactly what the people wanted when they voted for Donald Trump. Sen. Chuck “You” Schumer (D-NY) teased us with the idea that DOGE might go after the IRS next! Please, don't make threats you don't intend to keep! Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is certainly in the running for one of the dumbest representatives in the House. She took to her social media to tell us how unintelligent Elon Musk is. You cannot make this up if you tried! On a positive note, at least 1,000 EPA employees are being fired, 20,000 Federal employees have decided to resign and take the severance package and we will likely see 4000 more let go when Trump eliminates the Department of Education. We also get a win from Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum who is going to open up public lands for energy exploration and extraction. And, finally, it looks like RFK, Jr. was voted out of committee and will head to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote. Word is, Pam Bondi, Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard will follow suit. Doesn't winning feel great!

John Maytham is joined by Professor Ruth Hall, Acting Director of PLAAS (Institute of Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies) at UWC, for an 'Expropriation 101' following listener requests for clarity after former US President Donald Trump’s claim that the government is 'confiscating land'. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2/3/25 Hour 1 Donald Trump notches a multitude of victories over the weekend as Venezuela hostages are released, Columbia agrees to accept deportations, Panama ends contracts with China, Mexico agrees to send 10K troops to the border and USAID gets audited. Leftists law makers freak out over DOGE officials shutting down USAID and exposing their waste. Marco Rubio announces he is the Acting Director of USAID and the mission will need to be aligned with American foreign policy. Joni Ernst claims she has been threatening her and her staff for trying to audit USAID’s spending. RFK tells Tucker that USAID is just a CIA front organization to overthrow governments. For more coverage on the issues that matter to you visit www.WMAL.com, download the WMAL app or tune in live on WMAL-FM 105.9 from 3-6pm. To join the conversation, check us out on social media: @WMAL @VinceCoglianese. Executive Producer: Corey Inganamort @TheBirdWords See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Mindful Monday Everyone! In this week's episode, our host Allie Brooke interviews the amazing Tiffany Morice. Tiffany Morice, a distinguished Leadership and Motivational Speaker, has devoted her career to empowering individuals to embrace exceptional leadership and achieve their highest potential. Having walked the path herself—from combat veteran to executive leader—she brings firsthand experience and proven strategies to show others how it's done. With over two decades of experience in public service, Tiffany's journey led her to the Internal Revenue Service, Small Business/Self Employed Division where she rapidly ascended through the ranks and recently was the Acting Director of Quality Technical Services and currently is the Assistant To Director, Small Business/Self Employed-Human Capital Office. In her role, Tiffany not only manages complex responsibilities within the agency but also actively contributes to the development of others' leadership skills. Tiffany's passion for leadership shines through in her dynamic speaking engagements, where she blends motivational insights with over two decades of expertise to inspire and empower audiences. By fostering a growth mindset, enhancing leadership capabilities, and cultivating a culture of accountability, Tiffany equips individuals with the tools to thrive in every aspect of their personal and professional lives.   Episode Topics How does your mindset contribute to being a good leader? How can you use your leadership role to serve/help others? What mindset skills should people develop to become a strong leader? When you are feeling lost/confused how can having a strong mindset help you find clarity? Why is discipline crucial for developing a growth mindset?  How To Connect w| Tiffany Instagram Website The Growth METHOD. Membership Join Here! 1:1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GROWTH MINDSET COACHING PROGRAMS! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Application Form ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Coaching Programs information What are the coaching sessions like?⁠⁠ Tailored weekly discussion questions and activities to spark introspection and self-discovery. Guided reflections to help you delve deeper into your thoughts and feelings. Thoughtfully facilitated sessions designed to provide maximum support, accountability, and growth. Please apply for a FREE discovery call with me! Allie's Socials Instagram:@thegrowthmindsetgal TikTok: @growthmindsetgal Email: thegrowthmindsetgal@gmail.com Links from the episode Growth Mindset Gang ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram Broadcast Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Growth Mindset Gal ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ Better Help Link: Save 10% ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://betterhelp.com/growthmindsetgal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do nations coordinate efforts against piracy, illegal fishing, andother maritime crimes? What challenges and successes define the ICC'smission?In the February episode of AfriCan Geopardy, we explore these pressing questions in our discussion, "Coordinating for Safer Seas: Perspectives from the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) Yaoundé." with Navy Captain Bell Bell, Head of Information and communication management Division and Acting Director of the ICC Yaoundé.Captain Bell highlights the innovative strategies driving the ICC'smission, including the transformative power of digital technologicaltools in revolutionizing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). Theseadvancements enhance the ability to monitor and secure vast oceanterritories but also bring new challenges. Captain Bell sheds light onthe growing threat of "cyberpiracy" and the complexities of navigatingan increasingly digital maritime landscape.Captain Bell also shares unique perspectives on the root causes ofpiracy, emphasizing the role of economic instability as a key driver.Learn how the ICC Yaoundé addresses these challenges head-on,balancing regional cooperation, technological innovation, andon-the-ground action to create safer seas.Please tune in for a compelling episode that uncovers the triumphs andtrials of maritime security and discovers how collaboration andinnovation are shaping the future of our oceans in the Gulf of Guinea.You may find this article useful if you are interested in the digital-technology themes discussed in the episode.https://theconversation.com/west-africas-coast-was-a-haven-for-piracy-and-illegal-fishing-how-technology-is-changing-the-picture-222803#AfriCan

This is our final episode. The demands of creating the show are much greater than its reach, so we are focusing our energies to do good in other ways and leaving the podcast behind.  We are grateful to all our listeners, and to all the people who commented and contacted us. We thank you for letting us be part of your lives for the last year. Carry on and fight the good fight.  Here are the shownotes to this week's episode: SHOW NOTES States of Washington, Illinois, Arizona, and Oregon's Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order, January 21, 2025:  https://agportal-s3bucket.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/10_TROMot.pdf?VersionId=eWXZfvZtw60HmNTPOMluCKS_Li3n1Tu8  David Guttman, “Judge in Seattle blocks Trump order on birthright citizenship nationwide,” January 23, 2025, The Seattle Times, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/judge-in-seattle-blocks-trump-order-on-birthright-citizenship-nationwide/ Matthew J. Vaeth, Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget, “Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs” January 27, 2025: https://blog.researchadmin.asu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/omb-memo-1-27.pdf   National Immigration Project, Community Explainer: Laken Riley Act, January 27, 2025: https://nipnlg.org/work/resources/community-explainer-laken-riley-act  Martin Niemöller: "First they came for..." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/martin-niemoeller-first-they-came-for-the-socialists Merriam-Webster Dictionary online page for "mandate": https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandate Thomas Friedman, “Trump is Going Woke,”  New York Times, January 29, 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/opinion/deepseek-ai-trump.html?searchResultPosition=3  Craig's article on the benefits of DEIB for an institution, “Facilitating Belonging: Ombuds as the Helpful Stranger,” January, 2025, Journal of the International Ombuds Association, https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5101487    REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE: Craig has worked with The Marjorie Kovler Center four decades and serves on its Leadership Council.  The Marjorie Kovler Center is one of the world's preeminent programs for specialized services for survivors of torture and severe trauma, including mental health care, medical care, and case management. Since its founding in 1987, the Kovler Center has served thousands of survivors, along with families and children experiencing forced migration. Today, the Kovler Center is facing an unprecedented emergency due to funding freezes from the Trump administration at a time when survivors need us more than ever before. We need your help to keep our doors open. Link: https://heartlandallianceinternational.org/donate/ (select Marjorie Kovler Center in the "I want to support" drop-down menu) INFORMATION ON IMMIGRATION AND IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS National Immigration Justice Center: https://immigrantjustice.org/  Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights:  https://www.icirr.org/  American Immigration Council: https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/  Center for Migration Studies: https://cmsny.org/?s=Kerwin&view=list&perpage=6&sort=desc  National Immigration Project: https://nipnlg.org/work/resources     

Slovak born American actress Katarina Morhacova shares her story of getting from Banska Bystrica to NY and LA. European museums' halt to co-operation with the Slovak National Gallery accellerated the decision of about a hundred of experts to leave this cultural institution. Speaking about their reasons to quit are Maria Bohumelova, Director of Collections and Acting Director of Exhibitions and Displays, and Lubica Orechovska, Director of the Department of Expositions and Exhibition Production.

Does the US Navy have the right number and mix of amphibious ships, and are those ships being properly maintained?The Government Accountability Office's (GAO) recent report to Congress explored this topic in depth, and today's Midrats Podcast will delve into it further.From the summary of the report:Amphibious warfare ships are critical for Marine Corps missions, but the Navy has struggled to ensure they are available for operations and training. In some cases, ships in the amphibious fleet have not been available for years at a time. The Navy and Marine Corps are working to agree on a ship availability goal but have yet to complete a metrics-based analysis to support such a goal. Until the Navy completes this analysis, it risks jeopardizing its ability to align amphibious ship schedules with the Marine Corps units that deploy on them.As of March 2024, half of the amphibious fleet is in poor condition and these ships are not on track to meet their expected service lives.Our guests for the full hour to discuss the report and its implications will be two joint directors for the project, Shelby S. Oakley, Director, Contracting and National Security Acquisitions, and Diana Maurer Director, Defense Capabilities and Management at GAO.ShowlinksGAO Report: AMPHIBIOUS WARFARE FLEET Navy Needs to Complete Key Efforts to Better Ensure Ships Are Available for MarinesGAO Report: Navy Readiness: Actions Needed to Improve Support for Sailor-Led MaintenanceSummaryThe conversation delves into the critical state of the U.S. Navy's amphibious fleet, focusing on the challenges of ship maintenance, the role of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in assessing fleet readiness, and the ongoing controversy between the Navy and Marine Corps regarding ship availability. The discussion highlights the importance of metrics, accountability, and transparency in addressing these issues, as well as the need for a cultural shift within the Navy to prioritize maintenance and resource allocation effectively.TakeawaysMetrics and definitions of ship readiness need to be standardized.Cultural and bureaucratic challenges hinder effective maintenance practices.Accountability is essential for improving the Navy's operational readiness.Budgeting for maintenance is often deprioritized in favor of new acquisitions.Sailors are overworked and under-resourced, impacting their performance.The Navy must address root causes of maintenance issues to improve fleet readiness.Future leadership changes present an opportunity for reform in the Navy.Chapters00:00: Introduction and Context of the Discussion02:03: Understanding the GAO's Role in National Security09:35: Insights from the Fleet: Realities of Ship Maintenance14:49: Defining Ship Availability and Readiness18:15: The Need for Metrics and Accountability22:22: Challenges in Navy Bureaucracy and Culture30:04: Navigating Accountability in Navy Maintenance33:02: The Consequences of Deferred Maintenance36:53: Policy Challenges in Navy Maintenance43:09: Budgeting for Maintenance vs. New Acquisitions45:53: Cultural Attitudes Towards Manpower and Maintenance49:15: Realistic Expectations in Maintenance Planning54:34: Future Directions for Navy Reports and AccountabilityFull Guest BiosMs. Oakley is a Director in the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) Contracting and National Security Acquisitions team. In her role, she oversees GAO's portfolio of work examining the most complex and expensive acquisitions within the federal government. Her portfolio includes Navy and Coast Guard Shipbuilding programs, DOD acquisition policy and oversight, and leading practices in product development. In addition, she is responsible for GAO's annual work to assess the cost, schedule, and performance of DOD's entire portfolio of major defense and middle-tier acquisition programs. Ms. Oakley previously served as a Director in GAO's Natural Resources and Environment team where she led teams reviewing a range of nuclear security, policy, and nonproliferation related issues. From 2004 to 2015, Ms. Oakley led teams reviewing the activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with a focus on helping NASA improve its acquisition management practices. Her reviews covered key aspects of NASA's operations, such as Space Shuttle workforce transition and sustainment of the International Space Station, as well as reviews of all major NASA systems including in-depth reviews of NASA's human spaceflight programs and the James Webb Space Telescope. Ms. Oakley earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Washington and Jefferson College.Ms. Maurer is a Director in the U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) Defense Capabilities and Management team, where she currently leads GAO's independent oversight of sustainment and readiness across the military services and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Her recent work includes reviews of F-35 sustainment, Air Force and Army force generation, Navy ship maintenance, missile defense sustainment, Space Force readiness, and the mission capability of military aviation and surface ships. She has testified three dozen times before Congressional committees on a variety of issues including the F-35, military readiness, Navy ship maintenance, national drug control policy, and several DHS and DOJ management issues.Ms. Maurer was a Director in GAO's Homeland Security and Justice team from 2009-2017, where she led GAO's oversight of the federal prison system; the Secret Service, FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies; and DHS's efforts to build a unified department. She worked from 2008-2009 as an Acting Director in GAO's Natural Resource and Environment team. From 1993-2007, Ms. Maurer worked in GAO's International team, where she led reviews of a variety of international security issues including efforts to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Ms. Maurer began her GAO career in 1990 in GAO's Detroit Regional Office.Ms. Maurer has an M.S. in national resource strategy from the National Defense University where she was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Ms. Maurer also has an M.P.P in international public policy from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in international relations from Michigan State University.

Today's podcast episode is a repurposing of Alan Kaplinsky's “fireside chat” with Kathy Kraninger, the Director of the CFPB during the second half of President Trump's presidency from December 2018 until January 2021. (This was originally the first half of a webinar we did on January 6, 2025 which was entitled “The Impact of the Election on the CFPB - Supervision and Enforcement.” The January 6 webinar is Part 2 of a 3-part series. Next Thursday, we will release the second half of that webinar which will feature Ballard Spahr partners, John Culhane and Mike Kilgariff, who will take a deep dive into the expected changes in CFPB supervision and enforcement during President Trump's second term in office.) During her “fireside chat” with Alan, Kathy discussed the following things: (a) How she was nominated by Trump to be the Director and succeeded Mick Mulvaney, the acting Director appointed by Trump to succeed Richard Cordray as Acting Director; (b) Organizational and other changes made by Mulvaney and/or Kraninger, including a hiring freeze, appointments of new heads of departments, etc; (c) The practical impact on CFPB operations of the Supreme Court's opinion in the Seila Law case in which the Court held that the President had the right to remove the CFPB director without cause; (d) Her priorities as Director, including her regulatory, supervisory and enforcement agendas; (e) Her policy statements on “abusiveness”, supervisory expectations and COVID-19; (g) Her thoughts on what she anticipates will change at the CFPB once a new acting director chosen by Trump succeeds Rohit Chopra; and (h) Her thoughts on whether Congress should re-structure the CFPB's governance and funding. The “fireside chat” provides stakeholders in the CFPB insight into what may happen at the CFPB during Trump 2.0. There will, however, be some important differences between the circumstances that existed during the transition from Cordray to Mulvaney Kraninger during Traump 1.0 and the transition from Chopra to a new acting Director during Trump 2.0.. At the time when Mick Mulvaney became Acting Director, there were no pending lawsuits challenging CFPB final regs and other actions. During Mulvaney's term in office, a trade association of payday lenders sued the CFPB challenging the CFPB's payday lending rule and, in particular, its “ability to pay” requirement. The acting director appointed by Trump will inherit multiple pending lawsuits against the CFPB challenging many of the regs issued by the CFPB under Rohit Chopra's last two years as Director. The Acting Director will need to develop legislative (Congressional Review Act), judicial and regulatory strategies for dealing with the slough of regs, proposed regs and other written guidance issued by Chopra. The Acting Director will also need to quickly decide what position the CFPB will take with respect to the defense raised in at least 13 enforcement lawsuits claiming that the CFPB has been disabled from conducting business since September 2022 when there was no longer any “combined earnings of the Federal Reserve Banks” - a prerequisite to the Federal Reserve Board funding the CFPB under the Dodd-Frank Act. Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel and former chair for 25 years of the Consumer Financial Services Group, hosts the discussion.

Tommy and Ben discuss Trump's inauguration, the tech oligarchy that was on display, foreign leaders in attendance, some of the most damaging and far-reaching executive orders from pulling out of the Paris Climate agreement to designating Mexican cartels terrorist organizations, and nomination updates on Tulsi Gabbard and Pete Hegseth. They also talk about the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and the debate over who gets credit for it in Washington DC, the continued agony of uncertainty for Israeli hostage families and civilians in Gaza, the failed TikTok ban, the arrest of South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol, and a story of cancel culture coming after one man's enhancements in Italy. Then, Ben speaks to Sam Rose, Acting Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, about the conditions on the ground and immediate humanitarian needs as the ceasefire takes effect. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Bruce Hoffman is a tenured professor in Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service where from 2010 to 2017 he was the Director of both the Center for Security Studies and of the Security Studies Program and from 2020-2023 the director of the Center for Jewish Civilization. In addition, Professor Hoffman is Professor Emeritus of Terrorism Studies at St Andrews University, Scotland. He previously held the Corporate Chair in Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency at the RAND Corporation and was also Director of RAND's Washington, D.C. Office. Professor Hoffman also served as RAND's Vice President for External Affairs and as Acting Director of RAND's Center for Middle East Public Policy.Appointed by the U.S. Congress to serve as a commissioner on the Independent Commission to Review the FBI's Post-9/11 Response to Terrorism and Radicalization, Professor Hoffman was a lead author of the commission's final report. 

  In today's podcast episode, we're joined by Alex Johnson, Founder of Fintech Takes, and Paige Paridon, Senior Vice President, Senior Associate General Counsel & Co-Head of Regulatory Affairs at Bank Policy Institute, to take a deep dive into the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Open Banking Rule. The CFPB has issued a groundbreaking final rule implementing Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act, significantly expanding consumer access to their financial data. This new Open Banking Rule will have far-reaching implications for financial institutions, fintech companies, and consumers alike. In this episode, we'll explore the key aspects of this landmark regulation, such as: 1. The scope, rule requirements, and compliance deadlines 2. Complexities of implementing new interfaces and data security measures 3. Potential pitfalls and best practices to mitigate risks, including a lawsuit challenging the legality of the rule 4. How the rule can foster innovation and enhanced consumer experiences 5. The impact of presidential election and presumed appointment of new Acting Director of CFPB Alan Kaplinsky, former Practice Leader and Senior Counsel in Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group, moderates today's episode, and is joined by Gregory Szewczyk and Hilary Lane, Partners in Ballard's Privacy and Data Security Group.

Graeme Raubenheimer speaks with Guy Midgley, Acting Director of the School for Climate Studies at Stellenbosch University, about the growing issue of insurers pulling out of high-risk areas due to climate change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The global gaming industry – now five times larger than Hollywood with a value of $196 billion – faces growing security challenges as violent extremist groups increasingly exploit gaming platforms to reach people across borders.Earlier this month, experts from the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), hosted an event to explore the intersection of gaming and violent extremism.Speaking to UN News's Sarah Daly, Steven Siqueira, Deputy Director of UNOCT, and Acting Director of UNICRI, Leif Villadsen, discussed how they are joining forces with gaming companies, policymakers and researchers to combat extremism in the digital space. Read the full story here. 

Alan, an ant enthusiast since childhood, is joined by Susanne Foitzik, author of Empire of Ants: The Hidden Worlds and Extraordinary Lives of Earth's Tiny Conquerors. She explains that while queens start colonies and lay eggs, they don't control the colony. Worker ants take on specialized roles like brood care and foraging, with older ants handling riskier tasks. Ants communicate through pheromones and use impressive navigation skills. Some species, like the Argentine and fire ants, thrive in new environments due to human transport, forming super colonies. Susanne's current research focuses on how ants regulate labor division and how parasites impact their behavior and longevity.     Guest Bio Dr. Susanne Foitzik is a professor of evolutionary biology, Vice Dean of the biology faculty, and Acting Director of the Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany. She has held academic positions at Ludwig Maximilian University, the University of Regensburg, and as a postdoctoral fellow at Colorado State University. With a doctoral degree in biology and a habilitation in zoology, Susanne is widely published and the author of Empire of Ants: The Hidden Worlds and Extraordinary Lives of Earth's Tiny Conquerors, a captivating exploration of ant behavior and ecology.       Show Notes (2:12) How many species of ants there are (3:46) The role of ant queens and how they're made (5:55) The different functions ants take on in the colony (9:01) How nests are created (11:02) How ants communicate and navigate (16:01) How certain ants have developed the ability to maintain livestock and how they do it (19:01) Ants' more aggressive behaviors (22:34) What turns ants into “zombies” (25:34) The social immune system of ants (28:42) Invasive species of ants (32:39) Understanding ant-tink (34:31) What Susanne is working on now     Links Referenced Empire of Ants: The Hidden Worlds and Extraordinary Lives of Earth's Tiny Conquerors: https://www.amazon.com/Superpowers-Six-Legs-Hidden-Lives/dp/1615197125

Patrick Gushue, the Department of Justice's Acting Director of its Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program, joins the podcast to discuss the program, uptake to date, who is eligible and key considerations as to timing and whistleblower involvement in the misconduct.  More information about the pilot program is available at justice.gov/corporatewhistleblower

In this episode of Fraud Talk, ACFE Research Specialist Sam May interviews Patrick Gushue, Acting Director of the Department of Justice's Corporate Whistleblower Awards pilot program. Together, they delve into the program's mission to uncover corporate crime by empowering whistleblowers and fostering a culture of accountability. Patrick provides an in-depth look at the program's focus on internal reporting, compliance frameworks and innovative incentives designed to encourage reporting of misconduct.

 Dr. Neil Patel, Acting Director, VA National Emergency Medicine Office and Dr. Josh Geiger, Director of Operations, VA National Emergency Medicine OfficeDoctors Patel and Geiger team up to explain the VA's approach to Emergency Medicine. Many of us live some distance from our VA Emergency Rooms. Here is what you can do to eliminate that emergency trip and still have the VA involved. You may be able to go to a local Emergency Room, or possibly an urgent care center might be better. Even the chance to talk with a VA triage nurse might fit the situation. This broadcast will give you some options. Our library of shows can be found at www.veteranscornerradio.comJoin us on Facebook at the page Veterans Corner RadioYou can contact our host William (Bill) Hodges at bill@billhodges.com

Former Deputy Director, and twice Acting Director, of the CIA, Michael Morell, may join me in studio to talk about what's involved running the world's most famous spy agency. He may or may not comment on Trump's nominees for CIA Director (John Ratcliffe) or Director of National Intelligence (Tulsi Gabbard).Yes, Mr Morell is known by many for his signing the letter from former intelligence officials stating that the Hunter Biden laptop might have been Russian disinformation. (They didn't say it WAS, just that it could have been, but politically there was basically no difference.) Still, I know Morell as a guy who loves his country, who spent years protecting the nation, and who is politically centrist and unaffiliated.Michael Morell - Beacon Global Strategies

On January 4 of this year, we released a podcast show entitled; “A look at a new approach to consumer contracts”. Our special guest at that time was Professor Andrea Boyack, a Professor at the University of Missouri School of Law. That podcast was based on a then recent law review article published by Professor Boyack entitled “The Shape of Consumer Contracts, 101 Denv L. Rev. 1 (2023). Today, we are joined again by Professor Boyack who has written a follow-up article entitled: “Abuse of Contract: Boilerplate Erasure of Consumer Counterparty Rights,” University of Missouri School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2024-03, which is the subject of our new show. The abstract of her article accurately describes the points that Professor Boyack made during the podcast show: Contract law and the new Restatement of the Law of Consumer Contracts generally treats the entirety of the company's boilerplate as presumptively binding. Entrusting the content of consumer contracts to companies creates a fertile legal habitat for abuse through boilerplate design. There is no consensus on how widespread or severe abuse of contract is. Some consumer law scholars have warned of dangers inherent in granting companies unrestrained power to sneak waivers into their online terms, but others contend that market forces adequately constrain potential abuse. On the other hand, in the absence of adequate consumer knowledge and power, market competition might instead fuel the spread of abusive boilerplate provisions as companies compete to insulate themselves from costs. The new Restatement and several prominent scholars claim that existing protective judicial doctrines siphon off the worst abuses among adhesive contracts. They are willing to accept those abuses that slip through the cracks as the unavoidable cost of a functioning, modern economy. The raging debate over how to best constrain contractual abuse relies mainly on speculation regarding the proliferation and extent of sneak-in waivers. This article provides some necessary missing data by examining the author's study of 100 companies' online terms and conditions (the T&C Study). The T&C Study tracked the extent to which the surveyed companies' boilerplate purported to erase consumer default rights within four different categories, thereby helping to assess the effectiveness of existing market and judicial constraints on company overreach. Evidence from the T&C Study shows that the overwhelming majority of consumer contracts contain multiple categories of abusive terms. The existing uniformity of boilerplate waivers undermines the theory that competition and reputation currently act as effective bulwarks against abuse. After explaining and discussing the T&C Study and its results, this article suggests how such data can assist scholars and advocates in more effectively protecting and empowering consumers. We also discuss two separate CFPB initiatives pertaining to consumer contracts. On June 4 of this year, the CFPB issued Circular 2024-03 (“Circular”) warning that the use of unlawful or unenforceable terms and conditions in contracts for consumer financial products or services may violate the prohibition on deceptive acts or practices in the Consumer Financial Protection Act. We previously drafted a blog post and Law360 article about this circular. The CFPB has also issued a proposed rule to establish a system for the registration of nonbanks subject to CFPB supervision that use “certain terms or conditions that seek to waive consumer rights or other legal protections or limit the ability of consumers to enforce their rights.” Arbitration provisions are among the terms that would trigger registration. The CFPB has not yet finalized this proposed rule and it seems likely that it will never be finalized in light of its very controversial nature and the fact that Director Chopra will be replaced on January 20 with a new Acting Director. Alan Kaplinsky, the former Chair of Ballard Spahr's Consumer Financial Services Group for 25 years and now Senior Counsel, hosts this episode.

Tom Homan is seen as a no-nonsense, tough-as-nails leader when it comes to securing the U.S. border. As a former Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homan has earned a reputation as a staunch defender of American sovereignty and a firm believer in enforcing the law without compromise. His stance on immigration is clear: the U.S. must take a hardline approach to protect its borders, uphold the rule of law, and put the interests of American citizens first. For conservatives, Homan's leadership is the antidote to the perceived leniency of previous administrations, especially those that prioritized "catch-and-release" policies or sought to reduce penalties for illegal immigration. Homan has consistently called for a return to strong enforcement measures, including the swift detention and deportation of illegal immigrants, and has been vocal about the need to eliminate sanctuary cities that shield criminals from federal law enforcement. He views these policies as a direct threat to public safety and national security. Homan's tough stance also extends to illegal border crossings. He believes that amnesty or “soft” approaches like open borders only encourage more illegal immigration and undermine the integrity of the U.S. immigration system. Conservatives see him as someone who will push for policies that prioritize national security—such as building the border wall, expanding resources for Border Patrol agents, and holding businesses accountable for hiring undocumented workers. Additionally, Homan is often seen as a champion of law enforcement. He argues that those who enter the U.S. illegally or overstay their visas should face consequences, and he believes that a secure border is key to stopping human trafficking, drug smuggling, and gang violence, which disproportionately impact American communities. To conservatives, Homan's no-compromise position represents a stark contrast to the more lenient immigration policies proposed by progressives, and his leadership is viewed as a critical step in restoring order to the immigration system. In short, from a conservative perspective, Tom Homan is a tough, pragmatic enforcer who will do whatever it takes to secure the border and defend American citizens from the dangers of illegal immigration. His approach is seen as one that prioritizes the rule of law, national security, and the safety of U.S. citizens, making him a strong advocate for a more stringent, common-sense approach to immigration policy.

Chris and Kurt returned to Securities Docket's Securities Enforcement Forum to catch up on the latest developments and trends in the SEC enforcement space. On this episode of inSecurities they share key takeaways from a panel that focused on the impact of the Presidential election, a keynote address from Acting Director of Enforcement Sanjay Wadhwa, and more.

Far-left activists took to the streets of Seattle over the weekend to protest the “fascist” Trump administration. Activists in Tacoma are pushing back against the implementation of “Shotspotter” technology by the police. Monroe’s Benson Boone was nominated for the Grammy for Best New Artist. // Donald Trump has named Elise Stefanik as his pick for Ambassador to the United Nations and Lee Zeldin for EPA Director. The biggest appointment over the weekend though was former Acting Director of ICE Tom Homan as Trump’s border czar. // A California public school teacher was put on leave after going on a profanity-laced anti-Trump rant to his students.

PREVIEW: PRC: Colleague David Shedd, formerly Acting Director of the DIA, explains how Chinese bad actors play the long game to undermine confidence in the US government and in fellow citizens. More tonight. undated Peking

Today's podcast is all about illegal immigration in America and the men and women who are trying to stop it. Tom Homan, former Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is one such person and the media has been relentless in trying to smear him recently for wanting to punish those who break our country's laws. Why? Slater has some thoughts!Following the opener, Tom actually stops by to defend his past actions and talk about what he'd do in a second Trump administration to help secure the American border and keep real patriots safe!

Tom Homan, former police officer and government official who served during the Trump Administration, calls in to give Sid and his listeners an update on the migrant crisis here in New York City and how the mess at the southern border is impacting the rest of the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Biden says he is asking Israel to stop firing at UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, after two incidents in which UN personnel were wounded by Israeli shots. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the head of UN Peacekeeping, tells us that it is important for the blue helmets in Lebanon to stay and keep positions manned, but that their ability to fulfill their mandate in southern Lebanon is "limited".Also in the programme: We hear from the Acting Director of Al-Awda hospital in northern Gaza - Mohammed Salha - about how the week long Israeli siege of Jabaliya is affecting residents; and why authorities in Cameroon claim that President Paul Biya's health is now a matter of national security.(Photo: United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) look at the Lebanese-Israeli border, as they stand on the roof of a watch tower ‏in the town of Marwahin, in southern Lebanon, October 12, 2023. Credit: Reuters/Thaier Al-Sudani)

Kash Patel is an American political figure and attorney known for his roles in national security and intelligence. He served as a U.S. National Security Council official, senior advisor to the Acting Director of National Intelligence, and Chief of Staff to the Acting United States Secretary of Defense during the Trump Presidency. Patel's career began as a public defender, where he managed complex criminal cases. He later worked as a terrorism prosecutor at the Department of Justice (DOJ), leading high-profile investigations and prosecutions against terror groups like Al-Qa'ida and ISIS. He also served as the DOJ Liaison Officer to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Patel now works with his foundation to provide legal funds for whistleblowers within the federal government. Patel is committed to educating the public on topics the mainstream media refuses to cover. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://unplugged.com/shawnryan https://babbel.com/srs https://moinkbox.com/srs https://rocketmoney.com/shawn https://mypatriotsupply.com https://bubsnaturals.com/shawn https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/the-old-man https://ShawnLikesGold.com | 855-936- GOLD #goldcopartner Kash Patel Links: Website - https://www.thekashfoundation.com Rumble - https://rumble.com/user/FightWithKash Truth Social - https://truthsocial.com/@Kash Movie - https://warroom.film Book - https://www.amazon.com/Government-Gangsters-State-Battle-Democracy/dp/1637588240 Please leave us a review on Apple & Spotify Podcasts. Vigilance Elite/Shawn Ryan Links: Website | Patreon | TikTok | Instagram | Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices