Podcasts about arizona legislature

This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl speak with Republic reporters Stacey Barchenger and Ray Stern to explore the politics of this unusual Arizona Legislature budget cycle. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Guests: ⁠⁠⁠ Ray Stern, Stacey Barchenger Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mary Jo Pitzl⁠⁠⁠⁠, Ronald J. Hansen Producers: Abby Bessinger, Maritza Dominguez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bienvenidos a la segunda parte de este programa especial sobre geoingeniería. A través de los datos que hemos expuesto se puede decir que han creado un cambio en la logística de la distribución del combustible para aviación para ser utilizado en las fumigaciones clandestinas que sufrimos en todo el mundo occidental. Repasemos otra vez el listado de Hallazgos principales: 1. Privatización de Infraestructuras Críticas de Combustibles de Aviación. 2. Control de Redes Logísticas Energéticas por Fondos de Inversión. 3. Integración de Infraestructuras Civiles bajo Órdenes de la OTAN-NSPA. 4. Habilitación Legal para Introducir Compuestos No Declarados en Combustibles. 5. Observación Directa de Estelas Persistentes Anómalas. 6. Correlación entre Patrones de Tráfico Aéreo y Modificaciones Atmosféricas. 7. Impacto Potencial en Salud Pública Documentado en Estudios Médicos. 8. Alteración de Ciclos Hidrológicos y Efectos sobre Ecosistemas. 9. Vulneración de Derechos Fundamentales de Acceso a Información Ambiental. 10. Consolidación de un Modelo de Control Ambiental Post-democrático. Cada hallazgo será expuesto en detalle a continuación. En esta parte hablaremos un poco de los riesgos toxicológicos y de las oscuras conexiones con la OTAN y otras agencias gubernamentales e instituciones publico-privadas que trabajan para el gobierno mundial en la sombra. “Riesgos toxicológicos subestimados Estudios de toxicología ambiental (Oberdörster 2005; Maher 2016) demuestran que nanopartículas de aluminio y bario atraviesan la barrera hemato-encefálica y se asocian a procesos neurodegenerativos. La exposición crónica, incluso a dosis subclínicas, incrementa: • inflamación pulmonar, • estrés oxidativo sistémico, • disfunción neurovascular. El vacío regulatorio SAF-F-34 impide evaluar estos riesgos en población civil.” Si partículas metálicas atraviesan la barrera hematoencefálica y llegan al cerebro, podrían generarse diversos efectos adversos dependiendo de su tipo, tamaño y concentración. Estas partículas, como las de metales pesados (plomo, mercurio o cadmio), pueden inducir neurotoxicidad, causando inflamación, estrés oxidativo y daño neuronal. Esto podría alterar funciones cognitivas, motoras o emocionales, y en casos graves, contribuir al desarrollo de enfermedades neurodegenerativas como Alzheimer o Parkinson. Además, la acumulación de estas partículas podría interferir con la señalización neuronal o provocar respuestas inmunitarias locales, exacerbando el daño tisular. La falta de mecanismos eficientes para eliminar estas partículas del cerebro agrava el riesgo, haciendo que su presencia sea potencialmente peligrosa a largo plazo. “Inauditable por diseño 1. Origen disperso: la mezcla SAF se produce en refinerías o “blending hubs” privados; los aditivos se declaran sólo al loteador. 2. Logística cerrada: CEPS-NSPA distribuye el producto final ya certificado. 3. Protección militar/industrial: la composición se ampara en secreto comercial o cláusulas de seguridad OTAN. Conclusión: la ciudadanía carece de cualquier vía práctica para analizar qué se ha añadido realmente al combustible que sobrevuela sus cielos. Esta sección demuestra que la ventana normativa abierta por ReFuelEU y la Single Fuel Policy OTAN permite, hoy, introducir compuestos atmosféricos de forma legalmente opaca, sin control democrático ni auditoría sanitaria. Conexión 6: Coordinación logística civil-militar bajo interés estratégico global La frontera tradicional entre infraestructuras civiles y militares ha sido sistemáticamente disuelta en las últimas décadas bajo el argumento de la ”eficiencia logística” y la ”seguridad estratégica”. Evidencias documentadas: • Acuerdos entre Estados miembros de la OTAN para permitir el uso de infraestructuras civiles de abastecimiento, transporte y almacenamiento energético en operaciones militares. • Establecimiento de corredores logísticos estratégicos que combinan tráfico civil y militar en redes de aviación, energía y comunicaciones. • Delegación operativa de nodos estratégicos de abastecimiento energético a entidades supranacionales bajo marcos de cooperación militar. Características de esta coordinación: • Uso dual de infraestructuras: lo que aparenta ser civil puede ser usado militarmente sin que la ciudadanía lo perciba. • Falta de transparencia: los detalles operativos quedan protegidos por cláusulas de secreto militar o de seguridad estratégica. • Capacidad de ejecución logística a escala continental sin necesidad de declarar estados de excepción ni conflictos armados. Relevancia para la modificación atmosférica: • La infraestructura civil de aviación puede ser utilizada para operaciones de dispersión atmosférica sin necesidad de declarar misiones militares. • Las rutas de vuelo, los depósitos de combustible, las redes de abastecimiento ya están integradas logísticamente en una arquitectura de control estratégico. Esta coordinación logística civil-militar es la pieza final que permite comprender cómo se pueden ejecutar operaciones globales de modificación atmosférica sin dejar rastro administrativo visible.” “Conexión 7: INFRAESTRUCTURA MILITAR INVISIBLE DARPA · Pentágono · CIA · OTAN DARPA – El laboratorio del clima bélico La Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), creada en 1958 bajo el Pentágono, dirige programas de investigación encubiertos que incluyen manipulación atmosférica. Entre 2010 y 2024 ha financiado proyectos de “gestión de radiación solar” (SRM), inyección de sulfatos en la estratosfera y sensores hiperespectrales para rastrear aerosoles. Patentes clave: • US 5 003 186 A (Welsbach, 1989). Propone mezclar óxidos de aluminio y torio micronizados en el combustible de aviación para reflejar luz solar. • WO 2010/018157 A1. Describe la dispersión estratosférica de aerosoles directamente a través del jet fuel. En la práctica, DARPA entrega la tecnología “lista para campo” al Pentágono mediante programas especiales clasificados (SAP, Special Access Programs). Pentágono – Autorización y despliegue encubierto El Departamento de Defensa aprueba cada año, dentro del presupuesto de I+D (RDT&E), líneas de gasto etiquetadas como Atmospheric Sensing & Effects. Cuando un prototipo DARPA se considera “estratégico”, el Pentágono lo traslada a un SAP: operaciones blindadas a la supervisión del Congreso y clasificadas durante décadas. Así se autorizaría la mezcla de aditivos atmosféricos en el combustible militar F-34/JP-8 sin control civil. CIA – Gestión de la narrativa y desinformación La CIA no diseña la tecnología, pero protege el programa: • Financia (directa o indirectamente, vía NED, USAID, Open Society) a plataformas de “verificación de hechos” (Maldita.es, FullFact, Newtral) que tachan cualquier denuncia de “chemtrails” de teoría conspirativa. • Mantiene redes mediáticas de influencia que recuerdan al histórico proyecto Mockingbird: periodistas afines, académicos subvencionados y “expertos” que repiten el guion oficial (“sólo es vapor de agua”). OTAN / NSPA – Logística operativa El brazo logístico de la OTAN (NSPA) gestiona el Central Europe Pipeline System (CEPS) y conecta oleoductos civiles como Exolum (España-UK). Desde 1959 rige la “cláusula de prioridad militar”: en cualquier contingencia, la demanda aliada prevalece sobre la civil. Esto permite que lotes de combustible F-34 con aditivos pasen de refinería a aeropuertos civiles (Fráncfort, Schiphol, Bruselas, Madrid) sin auditoría pública, camuflando la dispersión masiva en vuelos comerciales y militares. ¿Quién controla realmente a DARPA? — La capa financiera Empresa controlada Sector clave % aprox. BlackRock + Vanguard Lockheed Martin Contratista DARPA (defensa) 15 % Raytheon Technologies Contratista DARPA (defensa) 17 % Exxon Mobil Refinería de queroseno 14 % BP PLC Refinerías / SAF 12 % Alphabet (Google) IA, censura algorítmica 13 % Meta Platforms Redes sociales / narrativa 12 % Table 1: Datos basados en formularios públicos 13-F (SEC) y reportes institucionales de fondos de inversión (2023–2024). *Datos SEC 13-F, cuarto trimestre 2024. Los mismos fondos financian think-tanks como RAND o CSIS, que asesoran al Pentágono y a DARPA. El ciclo se cierra: dinero → desarrollo → logística → medios. Flujo de poder y dispersión (descripción visual) 1. BlackRock / Vanguard proporcionan capital y control accionarial. 2. DARPA desarrolla la tecnología y las patentes de aerosoles. 3. Pentágono clasifica y autoriza los programas SAP. 4. OTAN / NSPA distribuyen el combustible modificado por la red CEPS–Exolum. 5. Aviación civil y militar dispersa compuestos en la atmósfera. 6. CIA y verificadores controlan la narrativa pública. 7. El resultado impacta en la opinión pública, que permanece desinformada. Fuente: Datos extraídos de los formularios SEC Form 13-F presentados ante la U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission para el cuarto trimestre de 2024. Códigos CIK disponibles públicamente para cada entidad: Lockheed Martin (0000936468), Exxon Mobil (0000034088), Meta Platforms (0001326801), etc. Datos verificados en sec.gov/edgar. Cita Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Eso no lo hace mi agencia. Creemos que lo hace DARPA. Y muchas de esas sustancias ya vienen en el jet fuel. Voy a averiguar quién lo hace y a exigir responsabilidades.” Declaraciones realizadas por Robert F. Kennedy Jr.” La Agencia de Proyectos de Investigación Avanzada de Defensa (DARPA) ha financiado iniciativas que, por su naturaleza avanzada y potencialmente invasiva, han generado controversia y especulación sobre sus implicaciones éticas. Entre los proyectos más oscuros se encuentra el programa HI-MEMS (Hybrid Insect Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems), que buscaba desarrollar insectos cyborg controlados remotamente mediante implantes para misiones de vigilancia o espionaje, planteando preocupaciones sobre la manipulación de seres vivos y la privacidad. Otro proyecto, el Brain Initiative, explora interfaces cerebro-máquina para controlar dispositivos con la mente, lo que, aunque prometedor para aplicaciones médicas, genera temores sobre el control mental o la vigilancia neuronal. Además, el programa EATR (Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot) propuso robots capaces de alimentarse de biomasa, incluyendo materia orgánica, lo que desató especulaciones sobre su uso en escenarios bélicos extremos. Aunque algunos de estos proyectos, como los descritos en fuentes públicas, han sido desclasificados, su carácter innovador y militar ha alimentado debates sobre sus posibles usos encubiertos y consecuencias éticas. “La dispersión atmosférica encubierta no depende de una sola institución: es una cadena integrada donde un núcleo financiero (BlackRock/Vanguard) financia la investigación (DARPA), la autorización bélica (Pentágono), la logística (OTAN-NSPA) y la narrativa (CIA + fact-checkers). Este entramado demuestra que la manipulación del cielo forma parte de una estrategia militar-corporativa global con respaldo financiero unificado. Análisis Estratégico Crítico La arquitectura militar invisible detallada refuerza y prolonga las conexiones estratégicas antes expuestas. La exposición detallada de los hallazgos y conexiones internacionales permite construir un análisis estratégico del modelo actual de control aéreo, logístico y atmosférico. Este análisis no busca simplemente describir los hechos, sino entender su lógica subyacente, sus implicaciones a largo plazo, y su impacto sobre los principios democráticos, ambientales y sociales fundamentales. Ejes principales del análisis: 1. Impacto sobre la soberanía nacional: Disolución del control estatal efectivo sobre infraestructuras críticas. 2. Impacto sobre los derechos fundamentales: Vulneración sistemática del derecho a un medio ambiente sano, a la salud pública y al acceso a información ambiental. 3. Impacto sobre el medio ambiente y los ecosistemas: Alteración directa de ciclos hidrológicos, climáticos y biológicos. 4. Impacto sobre la salud pública: Exposición masiva a compuestos tóxicos sin consentimiento ni conocimiento ciudadano. 5. Impacto sobre la estructura democrática: Emergencia de una gobernanza tecnocrática supranacional fuera del control democrático. 6. Impacto sobre la conciencia colectiva: Generación de un estado de desconexión entre los fenómenos observados y las narrativas oficiales. Este análisis permite concluir que no estamos simplemente ante un fenómeno ambiental aislado, sino ante una transformación estructural del contrato social contemporáneo. Impacto sobre la Soberanía Nacional El control operativo de infraestructuras críticas por entidades privadas internacionales, la subordinación logística a estructuras supranacionales como la OTAN, y la adopción de marcos legales transnacionales sin consulta democrática efectiva, han resultado en una erosión profunda de la soberanía nacional. Consecuencias específicas: • Pérdida de control sobre el espacio aéreo operativo: Las operaciones de modificación atmosférica pueden ejecutarse sin conocimiento ni autorización explícita de los gobiernos nacionales. • Pérdida de control sobre la composición de combustibles: Los Estados ya no supervisan ni regulan directamente la composición química de los combustibles de aviación usados sobre su territorio. • Imposibilidad de proteger a la ciudadanía mediante mecanismos nacionales: Al operar bajo paraguas jurídicos transnacionales, las acciones de modificación atmosférica escapan a las capacidades regulatorias internas. • Dilución del principio de autodeterminación: La capacidad de decidir sobre el medio ambiente, el espacio aéreo y los recursos naturales queda relegada a acuerdos estratégicos no sometidos a escrutinio democrático. Esta pérdida de soberanía no es accidental ni colateral: es un efecto estructural buscado para facilitar la ejecución de operaciones estratégicas globales sin interferencia política local. La soberanía ambiental, energética y aérea es hoy, en la práctica, una ilusión jurídica en muchos países europeos. Impacto sobre los Derechos Fundamentales La ejecución encubierta de operaciones de modificación atmosférica afecta directamente múltiples derechos humanos reconocidos en tratados internacionales, constituciones nacionales y principios jurídicos fundamentales. Principales derechos vulnerados: • Derecho a un medio ambiente sano: Establecido en el artículo 45 de la Constitución Española y en tratados como el Convenio de Aarhus, este derecho es vulnerado por la dispersión sistemática de compuestos tóxicos en la atmósfera. • Derecho a la salud pública: La exposición continua e involuntaria a nanopartículas y aerosoles tóxicos constituye una amenaza real y documentada a la salud de la población, violando el principio de precaución sanitaria. • Derecho de acceso a la información ambiental: La opacidad respecto a las operaciones atmosféricas y la composición de combustibles vulnera el derecho a recibir información clara y veraz sobre los riesgos ambientales. • Derecho a la participación pública en decisiones ambientales: Ninguna consulta popular, debate parlamentario abierto o referéndum ha sido realizado sobre las operaciones de modificación atmosférica. • Derecho al consentimiento informado: La ciudadanía es sometida a alteraciones ambientales masivas sin su conocimiento ni consentimiento, violando principios básicos de ética pública y derechos civiles. Estos derechos no son secundarios: constituyen la base de la dignidad humana en relación con el entorno vital. Su vulneración sistemática configura un escenario de agresión silenciosa a la estructura misma de los derechos fundamentales contemporáneos.” “Impacto sobre el Medio Ambiente y los Ecosistemas Las operaciones de modificación atmosférica documentadas tienen efectos directos, acumulativos y potencialmente irreversibles sobre los ecosistemas naturales. Principales impactos ambientales: • Alteración de patrones de nubosidad y precipitaciones: La dispersión de aerosoles en la atmósfera interfiere con la formación natural de nubes, reduciendo la pluviometría y modificando el equilibrio hídrico de los ecosistemas. • Aceleración de procesos de desertificación: La disminución de lluvias naturales y el aumento de irradiación solar en zonas alteradas favorecen la degradación de suelos, afectando la biodiversidad y la productividad agrícola. • Contaminación atmosférica de amplio espectro: La liberación de nanopartículas metálicas altera la calidad del aire y se deposita en suelos y aguas, afectando cadenas tróficas completas. • Disrupción de ciclos biológicos dependientes del clima: Polinizadores, migraciones de aves, ciclos de reproducción de flora y fauna son sensibles a cambios en temperatura, humedad y radiación solar, viéndose alterados por las modificaciones atmosféricas. • Incremento de vulnerabilidad ante eventos extremos: Ecosistemas debilitados por manipulación atmosférica son más susceptibles a incendios forestales, inundaciones súbitas y otros fenómenos extremos. Estos impactos no son aislados ni anecdóticos: forman parte de una reconfiguración forzada del equilibrio planetario, cuyos efectos a largo plazo son aún incalculables. La manipulación de la atmósfera es también una manipulación de la vida en todas sus formas. Impacto sobre la Salud Pública La dispersión sistemática de compuestos químicos en la atmósfera tiene consecuencias directas y documentadas sobre la salud humana, muchas de las cuales ya comienzan a manifestarse de manera creciente en las estadísticas sanitarias globales. Principales impactos en la salud: • Aumento de enfermedades respiratorias crónicas: Asma, bronquitis, fibrosis pulmonar y otras afecciones han mostrado incrementos estadísticamente significativos en zonas sometidas a alta actividad de estelas persistentes. • Incremento de patologías cardiovasculares: La inhalación de nanopartículas metálicas contribuye a procesos inflamatorios sistémicos y disfunción endotelial, aumentando el riesgo de enfermedades del corazón. • Impactos neurológicos: La exposición crónica a partículas ultrafinas ha sido asociada en estudios recientes con mayor incidencia de enfermedades neurodegenerativas como Alzheimer y Parkinson. • Alteraciones del sistema inmunológico: La carga tóxica continua reduce la eficacia del sistema inmunitario, aumentando la vulnerabilidad a infecciones, alergias y trastornos autoinmunes. • Aumento de trastornos endocrinos: Algunos compuestos dispersados pueden actuar como disruptores hormonales, afectando la regulación endocrina en seres humanos y fauna. Consecuencia ética y política: • La exposición involuntaria y no informada de poblaciones enteras a agentes tóxicos constituye una violación grave de los principios médicos fundamentales, incluyendo el de consentimiento informado y no maleficencia. • La manipulación atmosférica encubierta debe ser considerada un experimento masivo no autorizado sobre la salud humana. La protección real de la salud pública exige el cese inmediato de estas prácticas y la apertura de investigaciones independientes a gran escala.” “Impacto sobre la Estructura Democrática La ejecución encubierta de operaciones de modificación atmosférica y el control logístico global asociado no sólo afectan al medio ambiente y la salud pública: erosionan de forma profunda los fundamentos mismos de la democracia. Principales efectos sobre la estructura democrática: • Supresión del principio de transparencia: La ciudadanía es privada del acceso a información veraz sobre operaciones que afectan directamente su entorno y su salud. • Violación del principio de consentimiento popular: Alteraciones masivas del medio ambiente son implementadas sin consulta, deliberación ni autorización ciudadana. • Concentración del poder decisional en estructuras no electas: Agencias supranacionales, fondos de inversión y entidades militares toman decisiones críticas fuera del alcance democrático. • Erosión de la capacidad de fiscalización política: Los parlamentos nacionales carecen de mecanismos efectivos para auditar o controlar las operaciones logísticas de modificación ambiental. • Normalización de la excepcionalidad permanente: En nombre de objetivos estratégicos (como la ”lucha contra el cambio climático”), se consolidan prácticas de gobernanza que eluden las normas democráticas tradicionales. Esta erosión no es un daño colateral: es un objetivo funcional del nuevo modelo de gestión tecnocrática del medio ambiente. Una sociedad donde el cielo mismo puede ser manipulado sin conocimiento ni consentimiento de su población ya no puede considerarse plenamente democrática. La defensa del medio ambiente y la defensa de la democracia son hoy una misma causa inseparable. Control narrativo institucional La misma red financiera que domina la logística energética controla también los principales verificadores de datos y plataformas mediáticas. Iniciativas etiquetadas como “fact-checking” — Maldita.es, FullFact, AFP Factual, entre otras— reciben financiación directa o indirecta de fundaciones ligadas a los mismos fondos de inversión que participan en compañías energéticas, tecnológicas y de defensa. Estas entidades funcionan como un cordón sanitario informativo: descalifican sistemáticamente cualquier investigación sobre manipulación atmosférica tildándola de “bulo” o “conspiración” sin entrar en la evidencia logística, normativa ni científica que aquí se presenta. El resultado es un blindaje narrativo que complementa la infraestructura física y legal de la geoingeniería encubierta, bloqueando el debate público y reforzando la indefensión ciudadana. Impacto sobre la Conciencia Colectiva Más allá de los impactos materiales y jurídicos, la modificación encubierta del entorno natural tiene profundas consecuencias sobre el tejido psicosocial de las sociedades contemporáneas. Principales efectos sobre la conciencia colectiva: • Desconexión perceptiva: La alteración sistemática del cielo, de los ciclos naturales y de los patrones meteorológicos genera una disonancia entre la percepción directa y las narrativas oficiales, debilitando la confianza sensorial básica. • Normalización de lo anómalo: Estelas persistentes, cielos artificialmente blanquecinos, lluvias atípicas o falta de lluvias son aceptados como ”nueva normalidad” sin explicación coherente. • Inducción de indefensión aprendida: Ante la imposibilidad percibida de comprender o influir en los fenómenos atmosféricos, amplios sectores de la población desarrollan apatía, resignación y pasividad política. • Fragmentación de la narrativa colectiva: La división entre quienes observan y quienes niegan o racionalizan las alteraciones ambientales dificulta la construcción de consensos sociales para la acción. • Colonización del imaginario ambiental: La percepción del cielo y de la naturaleza como entornos controlados tecnológicamente debilita el sentido ancestral de pertenencia y respeto hacia el mundo natural. Estos efectos no son espontáneos: forman parte de una guerra cognitiva silenciosa, donde el control ambiental es también un control sobre la percepción, la emocionalidad y la voluntad colectiva. La reconstrucción de la conciencia ecológica libre es un requisito previo para la recuperación de cualquier soberanía real, tanto ambiental como democrática.” “Conclusiones Finales La evidencia documentada en este informe, basada en fuentes oficiales, observaciones directas y análisis lógico estructural, permite llegar a un conjunto de conclusiones firmes y fundamentales. Estas conclusiones no son hipótesis especulativas: son deducciones directas derivadas de los hechos constatados. El fenómeno de la modificación atmosférica encubierta no es un proyecto futuro ni un experimento limitado: • Es una realidad operativa presente. • Está integrada en las infraestructuras logísticas civiles y militares. • Funciona bajo marcos legales habilitadores cuidadosamente diseñados. • Afecta directamente la salud pública, el medio ambiente y los derechos fundamentales. • Erosiona la soberanía nacional y la estructura democrática contemporánea. • Reconfigura la percepción colectiva de la naturaleza y del poder. El informe no busca generar miedo ni desesperanza. Busca sacar a la luz la verdad oculta, devolver el conocimiento a la ciudadanía, y abrir el camino hacia la acción consciente, ética y colectiva. El hecho de que múltiples estados del mundo comiencen a legislar explícitamente contra prácticas de modificación climática indica que el fenómeno ha dejado de ser una sospecha para convertirse en un problema reconocido políticamente. Sin embargo, la persistente negación por parte de organismos internacionales y agencias científicas —sin llevar a cabo auditorías técnicas ni responder a la evidencia presentada— genera una fractura epistemológica profunda. Esta contradicción pone en evidencia una narrativa institucional desfasada respecto a los hechos observados en cielo, suelo y salud humana. La necesidad de una auditoría multidisciplinar, independiente y transparente es urgente e inaplazable. Las siguientes páginas sintetizarán las conclusiones principales y las vías abiertas para la resistencia y la regeneración.” Y ahora repasemos las conclusiones principales. “Conclusión 1: Confirmación de la Operación de Modificación Atmosférica Encubierta Los datos analizados permiten afirmar, sin margen razonable de duda, que: • Existe una operación sostenida de modificación atmosférica a escala regional y posiblemente global. • Esta operación se lleva a cabo mediante el uso de aeronaves civiles y/o militares, aprovechando la infraestructura logística energética existente. • La dispersión de compuestos en la atmósfera es persistente, sistemática y coordinada, no accidental ni natural. Los indicios no son aislados ni anecdóticos: • Cambios logísticos estructurales (privatización, control transnacional, integración logística). • Cambios legales habilitadores (RefuelEU Aviation, marcos de geoingeniería). • Observaciones físicas directas (estelas persistentes, alteraciones climáticas anómalas). • Impactos ambientales y sanitarios crecientes en las poblaciones afectadas. Por tanto, el fenómeno no puede ser ignorado ni relegado al ámbito de la especulación: es una realidad operativa comprobable mediante evidencia pública y lógica estructural. Esta confirmación marca un punto de no retorno: quien conoce estos hechos tiene la responsabilidad ética de actuar.” “Conclusión 2: Violación Sistémica de Derechos Fundamentales y de la Soberanía Ambiental La operación de modificación atmosférica encubierta implica necesariamente la vulneración masiva y sistemática de derechos fundamentales. Entre los derechos vulnerados se encuentran: • El derecho a un medio ambiente sano. • El derecho a la salud pública. • El derecho de acceso a la información ambiental. • El derecho a la participación pública en decisiones que afectan al medio ambiente. • El derecho al consentimiento informado respecto a exposiciones ambientales. A su vez, se confirma: • La pérdida efectiva de soberanía nacional en la gestión del espacio aéreo y el entorno natural. • La subordinación de las decisiones ambientales a intereses estratégicos transnacionales no sometidos a control democrático. Esta violación no es accidental: es estructural, es funcional al nuevo modelo de control geopolítico global, y se perpetúa mediante mecanismos de desinformación, opacidad y cooptación institucional. Frente a esta realidad, la defensa de los derechos fundamentales y de la soberanía ambiental se convierte en un deber ético superior para cualquier ciudadano consciente.” “Conclusión 3: Necesidad de una Respuesta Ética, Ciudadana y Científica Global Frente a la realidad confirmada de la modificación atmosférica encubierta y la violación sistemática de derechos fundamentales, la pasividad no es una opción ética. Es imperativo construir una respuesta articulada que incluya: 1. Acción ética individual: • Informarse rigurosamente. • Compartir información verificada. • Recuperar la observación directa del cielo y del entorno natural. 2. Acción ciudadana colectiva: • Organizar plataformas de denuncia, investigación y acción legal. • Exigir transparencia institucional sobre operaciones atmosféricas y composición de combustibles. • Defender el derecho a un medio ambiente sano y a la soberanía sobre el espacio aéreo. 3. Acción científica independiente: • Promover investigaciones libres sobre composición atmosférica, impactos en salud pública y alteraciones climáticas inducidas. • Crear redes de científicos éticos dispuestos a romper el silencio cómplice. 4. Acción política consciente: • Impulsar legislación que prohíba cualquier forma de modificación atmosférica encubierta. • Recuperar el control democrático sobre infraestructuras críticas energéticas y logísticas. Esta respuesta no debe ser reactiva ni fragmentada: debe ser estratégica, global y profundamente ética. La defensa del cielo, del agua, del aire y de la vida misma es hoy el núcleo de cualquier proyecto humano auténticamente libre.” “Importancia del principio de precaución: Dada la magnitud y las posibles implicaciones globales de los fenómenos aquí documentados, es imperativo aplicar el principio de precaución reconocido por el derecho ambiental internacional. Este principio exige que, ante riesgos ambientales potenciales, aunque no completamente demostrados, las autoridades deben actuar para prevenir el daño. En este contexto, tratados como el Convenio ENMOD (ONU, 1978) y la Convención de Aarhus (1998) otorgan herramientas jurídicas concretas para exigir transparencia, participación pública y acceso a la justicia ambiental. Se insta a los estados a activar estos mecanismos de forma inmediata ante la sospecha fundada de manipulación atmosférica sistemática." “Apéndice Científico: Validación Físico-Lógica del Modelo de Modificación Atmosférica 1. Dinámica Atmosférica y Formación de Estelas Persistentes Principio físico: Las estelas de condensación (“contrails”) se forman cuando los gases de escape de un avión liberan vapor de agua en un entorno con suficiente humedad relativa y temperaturas muy bajas (generalmente por debajo de −40∘C). Condiciones necesarias para persistencia: • Humedad relativa con respecto al hielo > 100 • Presión atmosférica compatible con niveles de vuelo de crucero (10.000–12.000 m). • Ausencia de cizalladura del viento que disipe la estela rápidamente. Observación empírica: Las estelas registradas a altitudes medias (7.000–9.000 m) sobre la península Ibérica, con patrones geométricos y permanencia de hasta 6 o más horas, no cumplen las condiciones meteorológicas descritas para contrails naturales. Conclusión: Su persistencia requiere la presencia de partículas higroscópicas o nucleantes artificiales, tal como describe literatura sobre geoingeniería con sulfatos, aluminosilicatos y nanopartículas de aluminio (Keith et al., 2010). 2. Composición Química: SAF y Reglamentación Europea Reglamento (UE) 2023/2405 – RefuelEU Aviation: Establece que los SAF (”Sustainable Aviation Fuels”) pueden ser mezclados progresivamente con Jet A-1 sin requerir divulgación completa de todos sus compuestos al público. Composición documentada de SAFs: Según ASTM D7566 y documentos de IATA: • SAF puede contener aditivos funcionales, modificadores de combustion, inhibidores de corrosión, etc. • No se requiere declaración pública completa si el combustible cumple con propiedades físicas estándar. Posibilidad legal: Bajo esta normativa, es legal incluir nanopartículas metálicas o agentes reflectantes si se consideran ”funcionales” y si el combustible pasa los test de densidad, viscosidad, punto de congelación, etc. Documento oficial: Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) de Neste MY SAF • La ficha pública más reciente (2024) de este combustible sostenible no declara aditivos químicos específicos. No se menciona ni qué tipo de dispersantes, metales traza ni sustancias estabilizadoras se añaden.” “¿Cómo puede decirse que todo está regulado y declarado, si los propios fabricantes tienen derecho a ocultarlo bajo secreto comercial? Regulación europea RefuelEU 2023/2405 • Permite “otros componentes funcionales” sin requerir listado detallado siempre que la mezcla cumpla propiedades físicas como densidad y punto de congelación. • Pero eso no obliga a declarar la composición molecular exacta ni prohíbe el uso de microcompuestos no detectables mediante ensayos estándar de densidad/viscosidad. En resumen: cumplir ASTM D1655 no significa que no haya aditivos atmosféricamente activos ocultos. 3. Datos ambientales que contradicen la explicación oficial Informe de metales en lluvia – España 2023 (publicación ciudadana con ICP-MS certificado) • Se detectaron concentraciones anómalas de aluminio soluble de hasta 890 g/L, en muestras tomadas tras vuelos aéreos densos. • El estudio comparativo con zonas rurales mostró una diferencia de hasta 20 veces en días de tráfico aéreo elevado. • Estos niveles no coinciden con suelos locales ni con fuentes industriales conocidas en las zonas donde se recogió la muestra. Otro estudio con SEM-EDX (espectrometría electrónica) • Detectó nanopartículas con composición compatible con óxidos de titanio-aluminiobario, en capas atmosféricas inferiores tras episodios de estelas persistentes. • Patrón idóneo para dispersión coloidal de control radiativo o de humedad. Diversos estudios independientes, observaciones meteorológicas y declaraciones oficiales han identificado componentes específicos en las estelas de condensación que podrían tener implicaciones toxicológicas. Esta sección reúne evidencias que refuerzan la necesidad de una auditoría completa de los aerosoles generados en vuelo, sin contar con los inumerables análisis independientes, de ciudadanos y organizaciones independientes, que lo demuestra claramente. Presencia de metales en estelas persistentes (UE, 2007). El eurodiputado Erik Meijer planteó en 2007 una pregunta oficial a la Comisión Europea documentando estelas persistentes con contenido en bario, aluminio y hierro, observadas en países como Canadá y Estados Unidos desde 1999. Los ciudadanos reportaban que las estelas duraban horas, formaban velos lechosos y se comportaban de forma anómala en comparación con las tradicionales. Fuente: Parlamento Europeo, documento E-6-2007-2455. En 2020, el estudio de Perring et al. (Nature Communications) evidenció la persistencia de partículas negras ultrafinas dispersadas en la troposfera media, algunas de origen no natural. Estas evidencias oficiales y semi-académicas demuestran que la composición de las estelas va mucho más allá del vapor de agua. Los elementos tóxicos detectados en estudios independientes coinciden con compuestos descritos en múltiples patentes y citados por ciudadanía vigilante desde hace más de dos décadas. Esto refuerza la necesidad de una auditoría ambiental urgente y transparente de las emisiones atmosféricas en zonas de tráfico aéreo denso. Esto contradice la tesis de que todos los niveles provienen del suelo, frenos, o “procesos naturales”.” “4. Validación legal y técnica adicional: patente española vigente Este trabajo sólo cita algunas de ellas (como US 5 003 186 A o WO 2010/018157 A1), pero existen al menos 200 patentes más que abordan: • Aerosoles de óxidos metálicos dispersables en alta atmósfera, • Inclusión de aditivos en combustibles aeronáuticos, • Sistemas de dispersión controlada vía presión diferencial o altitud, • Diseño de compuestos nanocristalinos con reflectividad selectiva y funciones de nucleación. Una de las más recientes, la patente europea EP 3994055 A1 (publicada en 2022), detalla el uso de partículas activas dispersadas en aeronaves con fines climáticos, confirmando que el principio técnico sigue vigente y en evolución. Existe una patente nacional actualmente activa que refuerza la viabilidad legal y científica del modelo propuesto: ES 2656422 T3 – Universidad de Sevilla (2017) • Título: “Composición que comprende óxidos metálicos con propiedades reflectantes y método para su introducción en combustibles aeronáuticos.” • Resumen: Esta patente propone explícitamente incorporar partículas de óxidos metálicos (como aluminio, titanio o silicio) en el combustible de aviación, con el objetivo de modificar su comportamiento térmico y reflectante en atmósfera. • Importancia: Es evidencia directa de que instituciones públicas de investigación, como la Universidad de Sevilla, han desarrollado métodos formales de geoingeniería utilizando combustible como vector de dispersión. • Estado: Activa. Consultable en OEPM y Espacenet. Referencia pública verificable. Nota aclaratoria sobre patentes citadas: La patente US 5 003 186 A y la patente española ES 2656422 T3 son documentos legales registrados oficialmente, describen explícitamente métodos técnicos viables para la dispersión de aerosoles reflectantes mediante combustible. Aunque su existencia y validez técnica están plenamente confirmadas, es importante destacar que no se dispone actualmente de pruebas directas verificadas que demuestren su uso efectivo en operaciones aéreas reales, lo que requiere auditorías técnicas independientes futuras para su confirmación definitiva. 5. Modelado Lógico del Sistema Logístico Integrado OTAN–CEPS–Exolum Hipótesis: La red CEPS, gestionada por NSPA (OTAN), puede redistribuir combustible desde terminales logísticas civiles (Exolum) hacia bases y aeropuertos sin declaración pública ni trazabilidad visible. Estructura del sistema: • 4.000+ km de oleoductos subterráneos en España (Exolum). • 39 instalaciones de almacenamiento (algunas de doble uso civil-militar). • Conectividad indirecta con la red CEPS-NSPA europea (Francia–Alemania). Modelo matemático: Red de grafos orientados (𝐺 = 𝑉 , 𝐸), donde los nodos 𝑉 son terminales y bases logíisticas, y las aristas 𝐸 son tramos de oleoducto activos. Flujos posibles: Simulaciones logísticas muestran que es posible: • Mezclar compuestos en puntos nodales sin detección civil. • Suministrar aviones comerciales desde nodos de doble uso con SAF no especificado. Documentos OTAN: MC 319/3 y la Single Fuel Policy • Permiten la modificación logística del combustible a nivel de lote y sin revisión pública externa, especialmente cuando se invoque “necesidad operativa”. • Esto abre una vía legal para modificar la mezcla sin que ninguna agencia civil (ni AENA, ni AESA, ni EASA) tenga acceso al contenido real.” “Encubrimiento institucional: verificación financiada • Organismos como Maldita.es o FullFact reciben fondos de Open Society, Google y Gates Foundation, mismos que tienen acciones cruzadas con BlackRock y Vanguard. • ¿Cómo puede llamarse eso verificación independiente? Este ecosistema narrativo no niega directamente, sólo desacredita sin refutar técnicamente. La respuesta institucional evita el fondo del debate Los informes de supuesta “verificación” evitan sistemáticamente: • Examinar el sistema logístico CEPS/NSPA, • Contrastar la cláusula de prioridad militar, • Analizar la intersección entre fondos de inversión (BlackRock/Vanguard) y el control narrativo. Se centran en negar la existencia de pruebas “oficiales”, cuando precisamente lo demostrado aquí es que el diseño del sistema impide que dichas pruebas sean obtenidas bajo el marco tradicional. 6. Fisiopatología de Nanopartículas Inhaladas Estudios clave: • Oberd”orster et al. (2005) muestran que nanopartículas de aluminio y bario cruzan la barrera hematoencefálica. • Maher et al. (2016) documentan partículas magnéticas en cerebros humanos correlacionadas con Alzheimer. Implicación: Las partículas observadas en sedimentos atmosféricos (documentadas por ciudadanos y laboratorios independientes) coinciden con las descritas en estos estudios. 7. Conclusión del Apéndice El dossier no afirma que tengamos todas las pruebas de laboratorio, sino que demuestra que existe una arquitectura logística, legal y narrativa que permite estas prácticas sin ser auditadas. El hecho de que los compuestos puedan no estar prohibidos, no estén declarados, y no se analicen sistemáticamente en laboratorios civiles, no es una defensa: es precisamente la prueba de que el programa está operativo bajo la cobertura del marco normativo actual. La ciencia expuesta refuerza que: • Las condiciones de vuelo observadas no producen estelas persistentes naturales. • La legislación permite la inclusión de compuestos no declarados en SAF. • La red logística CEPS-NSPA-Exolum puede distribuirlos sin trazabilidad directa. • La literatura científica describe daños plausibles sobre salud humana y ecosistemas por este tipo de partículas. • El sistema logístico, normativo y narrativo está diseñado para permitirla, • Las tecnologías existen, están registradas y son legales, • Existen múltiples puntos de correlación empírica que exigen ser investigados. Negar esta posibilidad no es ciencia: es política. Por tanto, el modelo expuesto en el dossier no es especulación conspirativa: es una hipótesis científica robusta basada en datos reales y coherencia sistémica. Se recomienda encarecidamente que estos resultados sean sometidos a revisión por pares científicos independientes para fortalecer aún más la base empírica del modelo propuesto.” “Anexo A – Legislación Estatal en EE.UU. sobre Geoingeniería Atmosférica (2024–2025) Durante los años 2024 y 2025, varios estados de Estados Unidos han promovido y aprobado leyes que prohíben expresamente la modificación climática mediante la liberación intencionada de sustancias químicas en la atmósfera. Estas leyes responden a peticiones ciudadanas, pruebas visuales y análisis ambientales presentados en audiencias legislativas. A continuación se documentan los casos más relevantes: 1. Tennessee – SB2691 / Public Chapter 709 (2024) Resumen: Aprobada en marzo de 2024, en vigor desde el 1 de julio del mismo año. Prohíbe “la inyección, liberación o dispersión de cualquier sustancia química, compuesto o aparato dentro de la atmósfera con el propósito de modificar la temperatura, el clima o la intensidad de la luz solar”. Sanciones: Delito grave de tercer grado. Motivación oficial: • Preocupación por el impacto desconocido de estas prácticas en la salud humana y el medioambiente. • Mención de programas federales sobre modificación de la radiación solar (SRM). Fuente: Public Chapter 709 (SB2691), Tennessee General Assembly. 2. Florida – SB56 (2025) Resumen: Aprobada en ambas cámaras en abril de 2025. Pendiente de firma por el gobernador. Define y prohíbe la dispersión intencionada de sustancias químicas en la atmósfera con objetivos climáticos o solares. Sanciones: Multa hasta $100,000 (ampliada hasta $200,000 por enmienda). Delito de tercer grado. Evidencias presentadas: • Fotografías de estelas anómalas enviadas por ciudadanos. • Declaraciones sobre bloqueo solar, cielos blanquecinos y síntomas fisiológicos. • La senadora Ileana García promovió la ley tras recibir múltiples denuncias ciudadanas. Fuente: CS/CS/SB56, Florida Senate, abril 2025. 3. Arizona – SB1432 (2025) Resumen: Aprobada en el Senado de Arizona en marzo de 2025. Pendiente de revisión en la Cámara Baja. Prohíbe cualquier acción relacionada con la “Gestión de Radiación Solar” (SRM), incluyendo la inyección de aerosoles. Testimonios públicos: • Fotografías de estelas transformándose en neblina solar. • Declaraciones sobre enfermedades respiratorias, reducción de cultivos y alteración lumínica. • Acusaciones de “experimentos con metales reflectantes” sin consentimiento ciudadano. Fuente: SB1432, Arizona Legislature. Audiencias públicas grabadas, marzo 2025. 4. Otros Estados con iniciativas similares Estado Proyecto Año Estado Actual Kentucky HB22 / SB62 2025 Presentado, en comités Minnesota HF4687 / SF4630 2024–25 Presentado, sin aprobación aún Rhode Island SB2540 2024 En revisión New Hampshire HB1700-FN 2024 En comisión Dakota del Sur SB215 2023 En discusión preliminar Table 2: Proyectos legislativos en otros estados de EE.UU. Estas leyes y propuestas estatales representan la primera acción legislativa contemporánea contra la geoingeniería atmosférica en el mundo occidental. Aunque aún no existe consenso académico, el hecho de que varios estados soberanos hayan aprobado leyes específicas sobre este fenómeno indica que la denuncia ciudadana ha escalado al nivel institucional y jurídico. Esta validación indirecta refuerza la urgencia de investigar, auditar y regular las operaciones atmosféricas que afectan el medio ambiente y la salud humana.” “Fuentes y Documentación La elaboración de este informe ha estado basada exclusivamente en: • Documentación oficial accesible públicamente. • Artículos científicos revisados por pares. • Tratados internacionales en vigor. • Observaciones directas documentadas por ciudadanos conscientes. • Análisis técnico y lógico estructurado sobre datos verificables. A continuación, se presenta una selección representativa de las fuentes clave utilizadas para fundamentar el dossier. Esta selección no es exhaustiva: existen cientos de documentos adicionales que corroboran la realidad descrita, y cuya recopilación y sistematización seguirán siendo tareas prioritarias para futuras ediciones. Listado general de categorías de fuentes: • Reglamentos y directivas de la Unión Europea. • Documentos oficiales de la Agencia de Apoyo y Adquisiciones de la OTAN (NSPA). • Contratos de privatización y transferencia logística energética en España y Europa. • Artículos científicos sobre geoingeniería, aerosoles atmosféricos y toxicología ambiental. • Informes de organizaciones independientes de monitoreo ambiental. • Registros de tráfico aéreo civil de acceso público. • Fotografías, vídeos y análisis de ciudadanos documentando fenómenos atmosféricos anómalos. Cada fuente mencionada puede ser auditada independientemente. La solidez del dossier no se basa en autoridad, sino en coherencia lógica, evidencia pública y observación empírica. Fuentes y Documentación — Detalle de Documentos Principales A continuación, se detallan algunas de las fuentes principales utilizadas en la construcción de este dossier: Documentos oficiales y reglamentarios: • Reglamento (UE) 2023/2405 del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, relativo al uso de combustibles sostenibles de aviación (RefuelEU Aviation). • Convenio de Aarhus sobre el acceso a la información, la participación del público en la toma de decisiones y el acceso a la justicia en materia de medio ambiente. • Carta de Derechos Fundamentales de la Unión Europea, artículo 37 (protección del medio ambiente). • Convenio ENMOD (Convenio sobre la prohibición del uso de técnicas de modificación ambiental con fines militares u hostiles). Fuentes de infraestructura logística: • Central Europe Pipeline System (CEPS) — Documentos de la Agencia NSPA de la OTAN. • Informes de gestión de Exolum (antigua CLH) sobre redes logísticas energéticas en España y Europa. • Datos de privatización y cambios de propiedad en redes de abastecimiento de combustibles de aviación. Literatura científica relevante: • Artículos de Environmental Research Letters sobre dispersión de aerosoles atmosféricos y geoingeniería climática. • Estudios de European Respiratory Journal sobre impactos de nanopartículas en salud respiratoria. • Publicaciones científicas recientes sobre gestión de radiación solar y sus riesgos ambientales. • Herndon J.M., 2015. “Evidence of coal-fly ash aerosols in troposphere…” Frontiers in Public Health (retractado). • KSLA-TV / Ana-Lab Corp. Reporte analítico de agua de lluvia en Shreveport, 2007. • Testimonios ciudadanos en audiencias del Senado de Arizona, Florida y Tennessee (2024-2025). • Declaraciones de EPA, NOAA, NASA en folletos técnicos (Contrails Fact Sheet, EPA 430-F-00-005, etc.) Observaciones empíricas y registros ciudadanos: • Análisis de patrones de tráfico aéreo mediante Flightradar24 y FlightAware. • Fotografías y vídeos documentando estelas persistentes, anomalías climáticas y fenómenos atmosféricos no explicados. Cada uno de estos documentos y registros está disponible públicamente o puede ser solicitado a través de los mecanismos de acceso a la información ambiental.” ………………………………………………………………………………………. Conductor del programa UTP Ramón Valero @tecn_preocupado Un técnico Preocupado un FP2 IVOOX UTP http://cutt.ly/dzhhGrf BLOG http://cutt.ly/dzhh2LX Ayúdame desde mi Crowfunding aquí https://cutt.ly/W0DsPVq Invitados Dra Yane #JusticiaParaUTP @ayec98_2 Médico y Buscadora de la verdad. Con Dios siempre! No permito q me dividan c/izq -derecha, raza, religión ni nada de la Creación. https://youtu.be/TXEEZUYd4c0 …. ToniM @ToniMbuscadores …. Mairim montesino @MontesinoMairim Libre pensando y dura criticando. Creo en Dios pero no en religión. Anticomunista en las dos orillas. Loca por los perros. …. Geoingenieria Murcia @GeoingenieriaMu Sufriendo una sequía inducida por la Geoingenieria,mira al cielo ………………………………………………………………………………………. Enlaces citados en el podcast: AYUDA A TRAVÉS DE LA COMPRA DE MIS LIBROS https://tecnicopreocupado.com/2024/11/16/ayuda-a-traves-de-la-compra-de-mis-libros/ PDF para descargar Control Aéreo, Logística Energética y Manipulación Atmosférica Global https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/k4jooyk1u1htca2ttxl8d/Control_A-reo__Log-stica_Energ-tica_y_Manipulaci-n_Atmosf-rica_Global.pdf?rlkey=68fkjw7nj7aym96ho27baf0g3&st=pq323k6e&dl=0 ………………………………………………………………………………………. Música utilizada en este podcast: Tema inicial Heros ………………………………………………………………………………………. Epílogo atrevete, te, te ponte rebelde - conspirazion https://youtu.be/DuxYA58XhLw?feature=shared

When the Arizona Legislature returns from break, it will need to come up with a budget and a new version of Proposition 123. Gov. Katie Hobbs joins The Show to discuss where she and Republicans are on these issues. Plus, our Friday NewsCap panelists break down Sen. Ruben Gallego's immigration bill.

On today's newscast: The Arizona Legislature unanimously passed a bill that would establish a statewide alert system for missing Indigenous peoples, a uranium ore truck driver falls ill near Flagstaff, Colorado's Rachel Entrekin won the women's division of the Cocodona 250 for the second time, and more.

State Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) joins the show live and in-person to discuss his candidacy for Attorney General, his role in the Arizona Legislature, why people are moving here from California, and more! Get involved in his campaign for Attorney General today at www.petersenforag.com! Listener call-in's on those who compare the Republican Party to the Ku Klux Klan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Faith Bottum's piece "Luigi Mangione Deserves No Devotion" from The Wall Street Journal today. a clip from President Reagan on Making America Safe Again. Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) joins the show by phone to talk about "border czar" Tom Homan's speech at the Arizona Legislature today. Listener call-in's on Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett's (D-TX) recent cruel comments, particularly about Texas Governor Abbott (R).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, it certainly didn't take long for President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance to revive the Ugly American brand.Welcome to Season 3: Episode 5 of A View from the Left Side, New Strategies for a New World Order.As the seventh week of Trump's second term comes to a close, the United States, the world and the global financial markets are reeling from his decisions and walkbacks. Trump is not just a flimflam man. He's a flipflopping flimflam man. It's mind-boggling how much has happened since I recorded my last podcast a week ago.  Casting off our long-term allies, jumping in bed with Russia, starting a trade war with our biggest trading partners, crashing Wall Street, tanking world financial markets, pissing off consumers—and lying about all of it during a joint session of Congress on primetime TV. Wow, Trump had a big week! Oh, I almost forgot to mention that – also this week—we learned that several states have measles outbreaks. The upside of the measles outbreaks is that DOGE has rehired some of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff they fired. Perhaps we do need a few public health people! (Will Arizona have a measles outbreak? We have the same personal exemption for vaccines that Texas does.) So much winning!Ugh … pass the anti-depressants before RFK Jr. outlaws them!  Today's episode features a wide-ranging interview with three long-time political authors from Blog for Arizona.  Tucson lawyer and former prosecutor Michael Bryan founded Blog for Arizona more than 20 years ago. B4AZ has been published continuously since then. Retired lawyer and former newspaper journalist, Larry Bodine is the past chair of the Legislative District 18 Democrats in Pima County and has been on the Board of Democrats of Greater Tucson for five years, including three years as president. Phoenician David Gordon has had a career in education and is a successful science fiction author, in addition to being a prolific political blogger. His experience in science fiction writing probably informs his coverage of the Arizona Legislature.Podcast Time Stamps | The Ugly American Brand Returns  | 0:29 | It's the Economy Stupid  | 4:02 | The 'Stable Genius' at Work  | 5:51 | Shadow Group [DOGE] Dismantles 'Shadow Government' [Deep State]  | 7:14 | Is Trump's Election Part of a Antisystems Revolt?  | 8:14 | Democrats Shouldn't Defend Systems that Are Broken  | 8:38 | Podcast Interview: Today's Guests  | 9:55 | Strategic Alliances Crumbling  | 11:31 | DOGE Is a Challenge to Constitutional Order  | 17:05 | Are We Watching an Antisystems Revolt Unfold?  | 23:51 | Egg Prices and Where the Democrats Went Wrong in 2024  | 27:49 | Disinformation and the Media Landscape  | 40:27 | Do the Dems Need 'Better Stories' or Better Listening Skills?  | 42:42 | Institutional Change  | 50:23 | The Resistance Can't Be Invisible  | 57:54 | Arizona Politics  | 1:02:23 | Diversity Equity and Inclusion  | 1:09:37  | 2026: Can Dems Keep the Statewide Offices They Hold and Oust Ciscomani?  | 1:14:49 | Parting Thoughts  | 1:27:03You can watch my podcast on YouTube or listen to it on popular podcast platforms including Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Listen Notes and True Fans.

I start the week off with a couple of bills making their way through the Arizona Legislature including a push to limit unemployment based off the unemployment rate and a push to end legislative immunity. Daniel Turner of Power the Future gives an update on America's energy production, Trump and the energy emergency plus a reality check on how long these changes take to implement.    Angela joins me to talk about the end of the penny. We go over some more proposed AZ legislation including a possible end of statewide enforcement of certain firearms and explosives. Egg thefts skyrocket and the Boy Scouts change their name to be “more inclusive”. 

A listener call-in on concealed carry permits and the disabled. Army recruitment has hit a 15 year high just in the first month of the Trump Administration. Defunding National Public Radio (NPR). The Arizona Legislature is debating removing candy and high-in-sugar beverages from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rep. Kolodin argues that the Arizona Legislature proposes too many laws each year. He's right. Roughly 1,700 bills have already been introduced, most of which will go nowhere.

I am an Associate Professor in the Psychology Department of Arizona State University where I teach graduate and undergraduate courses in child development, and conduct original research. I received a Ph.D. from University of Michigan, in Developmental Psychology. I have published approximately 75 articles in peer reviewed scientific psychology journals and books, including research on the effects of divorce on children's health. I have received research grants from the National Institutes of Health, including a 10-year longitudinal study of the role of fathers in adolescent and young adult development. I have testified as an expert witness in approximately two dozen child custody and relocation cases in approximately 15 states. I have been invited to present research findings on parenting time and parent conflict to policy-makers in Japan, Canada, Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. I chaired the committee at the Arizona Legislature that produced a comprehensive reform of the state's child custody statutes to “maximize the child's time with both parents,” which became law in 2013.Support the show

Welcome to Season 3: Episode 1 of A View from the Left Side (AVLS). It's a Brave New World out there -- the perfect time to restart my podcast. Time Stamps for Season 3: Episode 1 Introduction  | 00:17 Is This What You Voted For?  | 1:47 Trusted News Sources  | 5:48 Turn Off Tune In and Be Here Now  | 9:29 Tarot for a Brave New World  | 12:21 Closing Remarks  | 15:53As of today, Trump's second term is just a little over a week ago. A cloud of Trump-generated chaos has engulfed the world -- after  he talked about taking Greenland and the Panama Canal by force (so much for being the "peace candidate"); started the deportations; threatened pretty much everyone (including us) with tariffs; fired federal employees he believes are enemies; stopped publication of public health reports and warnings; eliminated diversity/equity/inclusion (DEI) programs; paused and then restarted grants;  inserted fetal personhood language into the official governmental definition of the genders; suggested that Palestinians clear out of Gaza; nominated a boat-load of unqualified candidates for this cabinet; signed 200+ executive orders not all of which are legal; and a lot more.Obviously, there is a lot of national and international political and economic news swirling around us. Although I'll discuss these topics and conduct interviews, AVLS won't be an echo chamber for national news outlets, any political party or any special interest group. AVLS will continue to be a podcast that includes news and commentary about goings on at all levels of government, but as I have in the past, I plan to cover an eclectic blend topics including health policy, lifestyle, economics, women's rights, arts and culture. The content will be a bit freer now that I am a former elected official.Yes, it's been a  while since I published Season 2: Episode 13 on August 5, 2022. Ironically, many of the bad ideas that Arizona Republicans proposed during my six years in office are now being proposed nationally. I debated these topics and covered them in Seasons 1 and 2 of this podcast -- another reason why it's a perfect time to restart the AVLS.Twenty-twenty-two was my last year in the Arizona Legislature. It was a wild ride with increased power of the Libertarians in the Freedom Caucus, after the 2020 election. The Republican Caucus in the Arizona Legislature was fractured between the Freedom Caucus [who backed the 2020 election lies and included two fake electors] and the old school Chamber of Commerce Republicans [who accepted that President Biden won and wanted to move on]. Even with that hardline fracture, the Republicans managed to pass many bad bills in the waning months of Governor Doug Ducey's governorship and my tenure in the House. There were intense floor battles over the 15-week abortion ban, fetal personhood, anti-trans bills, voter suppression, the Flat Tax, expansion of Empowerment Scholarship Awards (ESA school vouchers), the Border Wall and more. You can hear about those debates and other intrigues of the Arizona House by listening to previous episodes of AVLS. Those scenes from Arizona in 2022 are being replayed in Congress today.

Arizona's government mirrors the U.S. system with its Senate and House of Representatives, but its Constitution takes democracy a step further. With 30 districts electing one senator and two representatives each, the legislature works to craft state laws. Yet, Arizonans don't stop at electing officials—they can also create, amend, or block laws themselves through direct democracy.In this episode, we break down how initiatives and referendums empower Arizona's citizens to shape their government. Learn how signature thresholds determine whether a proposed law or constitutional amendment appears on the ballot and why initiatives bypass the governor's veto power.We'll also explore the 1998 rule that made voter-approved laws almost untouchable by the legislature and the ongoing debate about this system. Is it a triumph of citizen control, or does it bypass the careful deliberation lawmakers provide? Tune in to uncover how Arizona balances representative and direct democracy in shaping its future. The Arizona Constitution ProjectCheck Out Our Free Lessons on Arizona History and Government!Follow us on:TwitterLinked InInstagramFacebookYouTubeWebsiteInterested in a Master's Degree? Check out the School of Civic and Economic Leadership's Master's in Classical Liberal Education and Leadership

Angela and I break down the latest including who's gonna control the Arizona Legislature, will the GOP retain the House in Congress and who made the biggest difference in Trumps huge win?

Angela and I go over the state of the race in Arizona after TRUMPS historic win. But what about the control of the AZ Legislature and the 13 statewide propositions? We'll break it all down, as it stands right now with about a million votes to count. + Arizona's embarrassingly slow counting! + RNC/Trump Campaign Hispanic Communications Deputy Director, Vianca Rodriguez, what made the difference?

The future of control of the state house depends on eight competitive districts on your ballot this November. Driven by redistricting, lots of donation money, and Gov. Katie Hobbs' long-stated intention to flip the Legislature blue, Arizona's political future is again toeing the line. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Republic reporter Ray Stern to discuss observations about the complexion of the contests and how they are playing out in select districts across the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2024 ballot will be one of the longest in recent history with 13 propositions to vote on. Among things like police power at the border and abortion access, nearly one third of the measures deal with how elections function in the state. There are four measures on the November ballot that are directly related to elections procedures, further enforcing that how democracy is run is a hot-button topic this election season. Two propositions come at primaries from the opposite side, one introduced by the Arizona Legislature and one introduced by the people. The other two directly impact how citizen initiatives make it onto our ballots. This week on Election Dissection, an elections series of The Gaggle podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka go through the nuances of these measures, explain the pros and cons and help you understand a typically confusing section of your ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Representative Alex Kolodin talks “vote centers” “please don't ever let your county boards move you to a vote center model or you'll turn into another Maricopa!” Kolodin shares his thoughts on the risk of the Arizona Legislature turning blue.  The dangers of ranked choice voting!

Republicans, STOP participating in leftist corporate media debates! (0:00)   The new barbarians and “eat less kittens” (15:00)   Congressman Eli Crane and the Mexican drug tunnels! (25:00) We also remember 9-11 23 years later An update on the Trump assassination attempt The Afghanistan debacle and the “Tunnel Bill”.   Representative Alex Kolodin talks “vote centers” (44:00) “please don't ever let your county boards move you to a vote center model or you'll turn into another Maricopa!” Kolodin shares his thoughts on the risk of the Arizona Legislature turning blue.  The dangers of ranked choice voting!   You gotta do what to get a gun in Scotland? (75:00) Plus a listener in Ireland chimes in about Kari Lake and the Trump/Harris debate.   An earpiece at the debate, a listener chimes in (82:30)     —————————————— Please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to the Jeff Oravits Show! RUMBLE   YouTube   ApplePodCasts   AmazonMusic   Spotify        Also on Twitter and www.TalkWithJeff.com   Disclaimer: The information provided on the Jeff Oravits Show does not constitute legal, medical, financial or tax advice.  All information is the opinions of the host's and his guests.  You should always seek the advice of a professional regarding any of these complex issues to make sure all circumstances of your situation are properly considered.   ——————————————

Bob Thorpe, a former 4 term member of the Arizona Legislature, is running for County Recorder in Coconino County. He discusses the duties of the office, the election process and changes he'd like to make. Thorpe shares his concerns over data that shows 6,000 inactive voters on the county list. Thorpe also discusses why he does not support Prop 133 and the “Jungle Primary”.    —————————————— Please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to the Jeff Oravits Show! RUMBLE   YouTube   ApplePodCasts   AmazonMusic   Spotify        Also on Twitter and www.TalkWithJeff.com   Disclaimer: The information provided on the Jeff Oravits Show does not constitute legal, medical, financial or tax advice.  All information is the opinions of the host's and his guests.  You should always seek the advice of a professional regarding any of these complex issues to make sure all circumstances of your situation are properly considered.   ——————————————

Mike breaks down the local races that could decide control of the Arizona legislature.

The Arizona Legislature's Border Security Act will be on the ballot in November.

This year's legislative session was long and at times divisive. Our Friday NewsCap panelists review the year at the state Capitol. Plus, what's behind the increase in so-called mobile food concepts? That and more on The Show.

Instead of reviewing the week's top stories, today the Friday NewsCap takes a look back at the 2024 legislative session.

The Arizona legislature adjourned after sending a budget to the Governor.  You might be one of the millions of Arizonans who just don’t care.

Today - a significant development from the Arizona Legislature concerning immigration laws and the potential impact on the state and its residents.Support the show: https://www.myheraldreview.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today - a significant development from the Arizona Legislature concerning immigration laws and the potential impact on the state and its residents.Support the show: https://www.myheraldreview.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on America in the Morning Executive Order On Immigration President Biden has issued an executive order to crack down on the number of illegal crossings at the southern border. Correspondent Linda Kenyon has the story.    Garland On The Hot Seat Attorney General Merrick Garland testified before the House Judiciary Committee emphatically denying accusations that he has weaponized the Justice Department to target Republicans and Donald Trump. John Stolnis has the latest from Washington.    Hunter Biden Trial Day 1 The criminal trial for President Biden's son Hunter continues in Delaware after opening statements and the first witness testimony was made. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.    Los Angeles Earthquake Some rattled nerves in Los Angeles where a small earthquake was felt by about one million people.     Wisconsin Fake Electors Case Three allies of Donald Trump have been charged in a Wisconsin fake Electors scheme. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.    Remembering D-Day This week we mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Correspondent Julie Walker reports that not everyone who died during the battle for Normandy on June 6, 1944 was a soldier.     Immigration Order Reaction Facing mounting political pressure over the migrant influx at the southern border, President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed an executive order aimed at restricting the volumes of asylum-seeking immigrants attempting to enter the United States. As Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports President Biden's announcement was met with serious questions from former President Trump and many members of Congress.    Immigration On The Ballot The Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature gave final approval Tuesday to a proposal asking voters to make it a state crime for noncitizens to enter the state through Mexico at any location other than a port of entry, sending the measure to the Nov. 5 ballot.     Wildfires In The West Firefighters are making progress fighting a massive wildfire in Northern California, but now fire crews are dealing with the first heatwave of the season. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.    Wildfire Payout A power company has agreed to a multi-million-dollar payout to hundreds of victims of 2020 wildfires in Oregon. Correspondent Donna Warder reports.    Bribed Juror Dismissed A juror was dismissed from a Minneapolis trial after reporting that a woman dropped a six-figure bag of cash at her home, in a case involving the theft of millions of dollars in pandemic funds. Correspondent Katie Clark has the details.    Texas Pardon Pushback Texas Governor Greg Abbott is facing pushback over a recent pardon that created controversy. Correspondent Ed Donahue reports.    Child Stabbed In Ohio A scary scene in Ohio where a woman in a supermarket parking lot without reason stabbed a 3-year-old boy to death. Correspondent Rita Foley reports.    Tech News A major outage at Open A-I took its flagship product Chat GTP offline for several hours yesterday, followed by several other major A.I. sites going dark. But the question still remains, why did they all go on strike at the same time?  Here's Chuck Palm with today's Tech news.    Finally   It's a new line of work for Alec Baldwin. Entertainment correspondent Margie Szaroleta reports the actor is joining his wife and kids doing a reality show with his family.   A woman who was pronounced dead at a Nebraska nursing facility was transported several hours later to a local funeral home, but her story took an unusual turn when mortuary workers in a panic dialed 9-1-1. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports the woman who they believed has passed away was still breathing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2024 presidential race, Arizona's congressional races and potentially several abortion-related measures command a lot of attention this election year. But there's another set of really important races that are also on the ballot: the Legislature. Republicans have two-seat majorities in both the Arizona House and Senate. That means if Democrats could make a net gain of even one seat in either chamber, Arizona would have a divided government that mirrors the house and senate in washington. And if they pick up control in both chambers, well, that would be the first time since the 1960s, so we can only wonder what that might be like in this long-red state. In this episode of The Gaggle, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl sit down with The Republic's Ray Stern to discuss where Democrats have to win if they really intend to flip control of the Legislature and who is trying to do it. But first, in several key districts, we have to get through some competitive primary races.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden speaks on campus protests. Drag queen hosts story time in AZ legislature basement. Katie Hobbs and Jen Psaki celebrate abortion repeal and throw Republicans under the bus. Rep. Byron Donalds verbally assaulted by racist protester. Parker Jackson and Warren Petersen join the show. A new Conservative Circus Clown of the Week is named.

AP correspondent Donna Warder reports on attempts in the Arizona Legislature to repeal the state's 1864 ban on nearly all abortions.

Ted Maxwell joins Chris to discuss activity at the Arizona Legislature, GOP and Democratic Party dynamics, and the economy of the Tucson Metro area.

Arizona has undeniably stepped into the national political spotlight in recent years, from contentious debates over abortion bans to its pivotal role in both the 2020 election and the upcoming 2024 battle. In today's episode, Hillari sits down with Representative Laura Terech to gain insight into the Arizona political landscape and delve into her remarkable journey from kindergarten teacher to influential political figure in the state. They also discuss why, after a very successful term in the Arizona Legislature, she's made the difficult decision not to seek re-election.Recorded live at the New Deal Leaders Idea Summit, this episode explores the challenges and triumphs of navigating Arizona's divided political landscape as a moderate voice in an increasingly divided country. From personal struggles to professional victories, Terech's story of transformation and empowerment is full of insights and inspiration for Moderates everywhere. Links Mentioned in this Episode:Sources that helped inform this episode:NewDEAL LeadersArizona For Abortion AccessCivic Engagement Beyond Voting - Civic Engagement Beyond Voting, an Indivisible group, is a grassroots nonpartisan organization that works to empower Arizona's citizens to exercise their voices at the local level. Guest: Rep. Laura TerechRepresentative Laura Terech (Legislative District 4 - Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, North Phoenix) is a proud product of Arizona public schools, including both the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. After earning her master's degree in education, she taught kindergarten and 2nd grade in a Title I school district. She is the ranking Democrat on the House Municipal Oversight & Election committee and also sits on House Education. Representative Terech also had the honor of serving as the House member on Governor Hobbs' Bipartisan Elections Task Force. Rep Terech has been instrumental in securing a water supply for communities in Arizona such as the Rio Verde Foothills and negotiating a fix for the election recount law.Outside of the Legislature, Terech serves as the Training Director for the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization Civic Engagement Beyond Voting.Connect with Rep. Terech: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter | Website

Today on America in the Morning Latest On College Campus Protests On some college campuses there's chaos as encampments of students protesting the war in Gaza war have threatened some on campus, and led to dozens of arrests at New York University, Columbia University, at Yale, USC, and the University of Texas. As correspondent Julie Walker reports, protests around the nation are leading to calls to have the demonstrators removed.     SCOTUS Hears Idaho Abortion Case The Supreme Court heard arguments about an Idaho law that the state says supersedes a federal statute that emergency room doctors can perform an abortion if the life and health of the mother is jeopardized. John Stolnis has the details from Washington.   SCOTUS Hears Immunity Case The U-S Supreme Court will hear arguments today regarding Presidential immunity. Correspondent Clayton Neville has a preview.     Biden Signs Aid Bill After the Senate with strong bipartisan support signed off, President Biden has put his signature to a $95 billion aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and other security needs, and vowed that the much-needed military supplies will be delivered to Kyiv without delay. Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports.     Arizona Plans Repeal Of Abortion Law Several Republicans joined Democrats in the Arizona Legislature in an effort to repeal the state's near-total abortion ban. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.    Bird Flu Concerns Health and agriculture officials are ramping up testing and tracking of bird flu in dairy cows in an urgent effort to understand and stop the growing outbreak. Lisa Dwyer reports.      Arizona Election Indictments Eighteen people including Donald Trump's former chief of staff Mark Meadows and lawyer Rudy Giuliani have been indicted for alleged conspiracy, fraud and forgery related to the 2020 election in Arizona. As America in the Morning's Jeff McKay reports, the former president was not charged, but was listed within the indictment.     More Arrests On College Campuses Pro-Palestinian protests are growing on American college campuses and the world is reacting, with dozens of arrests made Wednesday night at USC and the University of Texas-Austin. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports there are now calls from members of Congress including House Speaker Mike Johnson demanding the Biden administration get tough and restore order at the colleges.    Kyiv's Long Range US-Made Missiles U.S. officials say Ukraine has for the first time used the long-range missiles the Biden administration delivered last month, striking areas deeper in Russian territory. Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports.     TikTok Responds To Possible Ban As President Biden was signing an aid bill for Ukraine and Israel that also targeted TikTok's use in the United States, the Chinese CEO of TikTok's parent company ByteDance said the popular social media app won't be going away, even it means a lawsuit. Sue Aller reports.    The Ban Blame Game Former President Trump says if TikTok is banned in the US, the blame belongs to President Biden, despite trying to ban the social media app when he was in the White House. Tech correspondent Chuck Palm explains.    A Fifth Arrest In Kansas Women Murders Authorities in Oklahoma have arrested a fifth person in connection with the murders of two Kansas women.      US & UK At Odds Over AI Two American tech giants are now facing scrutiny in the U.K over their artificial intelligence practices. Correspondent Charles deLedesma reports.     Changes To Airline Compensation  Following passenger outrage over compensation, the Department of Transportation is now requiring airlines to give automatic cash refunds for canceled and delayed flights. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.   Finally   Following his recent passing, an O.J. Simpson film that has been in the works for years could finally find its way to the silver screen. Kevin Carr has the latest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

University of Arizona President Robert Robbins announced he will resign as the university remains mired in a budget crisis. We'll hear how the acquisition of a for-profit online school added to his demise. Plus, why a groundbreaking lawmaker became one of the latest to quit the Arizona Legislature. That and more on The Show.

Dr. Connie Mariano sits down with a very special guest, Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee, for a crucial conversation on financial literacy. It's a topic we often overlook, especially when it comes to teaching the next generation about managing finances. With Treasurer Yee's extensive experience from her eight years in the Arizona Legislature and her role as State Treasurer, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Together, they'll dive into the importance of money management and illuminate the current state of America's political landscape. This discussion is packed with insights, offering tips on earning and saving more effectively and demystifying the complexities of America's political climate. Tune in for an engaging, thought-provoking, and very relatable talk that you won't want to miss.

Joe Galli, Senior Advisor for Public Policy at the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce shares some bills at the Arizona Legislature that may help with high housing costs in AZ + are water rates going up? ++ Joe's thoughts on the 2024 election +++ paying for those high minimum wages   —————————————— Please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to the Jeff Oravits Show! RUMBLE   YouTube   ApplePodCasts   AmazonMusic   Spotify        Also on Twitter and www.TalkWithJeff.com   Disclaimer: The information provided on the Jeff Oravits Show does not constitute legal, medical, financial or tax advice.  All information is the opinions of the host's and his guests.  You should always seek the advice of a professional regarding any of these complex issues to make sure all circumstances of your situation are properly considered.   ——————————————

The Arizona Legislature has long been home to fierce policy debates, as well as the occasional personal insult. We'll hear why observers say decorum is getting worse at the state Capitol. Plus, how a rice-sized beetle is killing pine trees throughout the Valley. That and more on The Show.

Mark Haughwout and Bob Thorpe, talk weapons, Israel, Arizona legislature, and Michelle Obama

Both chambers of the Arizona Legislature are separated by one seat, and both parties are prioritizing keeping — or flipping — control. Find out what fundraising totals tell us about some of those races. Plus, how scientists are using lasers from space to gauge forest health. That and more on The Show.

What is Conservatism? A rebuttal of this week's donut ethics revision from Salem Phoenix general manager Mark Durkin. State Representative Austin Smith (R-LD29) joins the show to discuss his background and the bill he just introduced in the Arizona Legislature, HCR 2040, on limiting public monies. The war against prosperity in America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the past decade Arizona's population and economy have grown rapidly, but more recent data suggests this pace is slowing. Today the state is facing the end of its fastest period of revenue and spending growth ever – over the past five years, General Fund revenue collections have grown 52%, while spending has increased by over two-thirds (to $17.8 billion this year). In October, the Arizona Legislature's Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) – a nonpartisan body tasked with forecasting State revenue collections – projected a cumulative $1.0 billion General Fund cash deficit over the next three fiscal years. The last time the state was in this position was in 2015, following years of tepid revenue growth after the Great Recession and during the peak of K-12 formula funding litigation. How did this happen, and how did it happen so quickly? Host and National Chairman of CSI Earl Wright welcomes President & CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry Danny Seiden and CSI Arizona's Director of Policy and Research Glenn Farley to discuss the issue's origins, its history, and its possible solutions.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.

Friday News Flyover, December 8, 2023Intro: On this episode of The Heartland POD for Friday, December 8th, 2023A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including:Texas abortion bans creating legal confusion | MO Pastor jailed facing sexual abuse charges | Sen Josh Hawley and Rep Cori Bush speak against defense bill without funds for St. Louis residents exposed to radiation | AL Senator Tommy Tuberville gives up his misguided military holds | Dolly Parton gives books to millions of kids, if you didn't knowWelcome to The Heartland POD for a Flyover Friday, this is Sean Diller in Denver, Colorado. With me as co-host today is Adam Sommer, how you doing Adam?We're glad to have you with us. If you're new to our shows make sure you subscribe and leave a 5 star rating wherever you listen. You can also find Heartland POD content on Youtube and on social media with @ THE heartland pod, and learn more at thehearltandcollective.com Alright! Let's get into the storieshttps://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/12/06/1217637325/texas-woman-asks-court-for-abortion-because-of-pregnancy-complicationsUpdated Thursday, Dec. 7 at 1:55 p.m."Kate Cox needs an abortion, and she needs it now." Thus began a petition filed in a Texas district court this week, asking a judge to allow the abortion to be performed in the state, where abortion is banned with very limited exceptions.On Thursday, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble of Travis County, Texas, ruled from the bench, granting permission for Cox to have the abortion she is seeking. Cox's fetus has a genetic condition with very low chances of survival and her own health and fertility are at risk if she carries the pregnancy to term.The petition was filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is the group behind a high profile case heard at the Texas Supreme Court last week.In that case the group's senior staff attorney Molly Duane argued on behalf of 20 patients and two OB-GYNs that the medical exception to the ban on abortion in the state's laws is too narrow and vague, and that it endangered patients during complicated pregnancies. An attorney for the state argued the exception is already clear and that the plaintiffs didn't have standing to sue.On the very day of those arguments, Nov. 28, Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two who lives in the Dallas area, got "devastating" news about her pregnancy, the filing says. At nearly 20-weeks gestation, she learned that her fetus has Trisomy 18 or Edwards Syndrome, a condition with extremely low chances of survival.So, as the Texas Supreme Court considered whether its abortion laws endangered patients with pregnancy complications in the past, Cox was trying to figure out what to do in her present situation.Cox had already been in the emergency room three times with cramping and other concerning symptoms, according to court documents. Her doctors told her she was at high risk of developing gestational hypertension and diabetes, and because she had had two prior cesarean sections, carrying the pregnancy to term could compromise her chances of having a third child in the future, the brief says.Last Thursday, she reached out for the Center for Reproductive Rights. Five days after that, the group filed this petition on her behalf.The filing asked a Travis County district court for a temporary restraining order against the state of Texas and the Texas Medical Board, blocking enforcement of Texas's abortion bans so that Cox can terminate her current pregnancy. It also would block enforcement of S.B. 8, which allows civil lawsuits to be filed against those who help patients receive abortions.That would protect the other plaintiffs in the case, Cox's husband, Justin, and Dr. Damla Karsan, who is prepared to provide the abortion if the court grants their request. Karsan is one of the OB-GYN plaintiffs in the Zurawski v. the State of Texas case.Thursday's ruling will allow Karsan to provide an abortion without threat of prosecution. It only applies to Cox, her husband and Karsan. Issuing the ruling, Judge Guerra Gamble said: "The idea that Ms. Cox wants so desperately to be a parent and this law may have her lose that ability is shocking and would be a genuine miscarriage of justice."There are currently three overlapping abortion bans in Texas. Abortion is illegal in the state from the moment pregnancy begins. Texas doctors can legally provide abortions only if a patient is "in danger of death or a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function, " the law says."I don't know what that means," Duane says of the language of the medical exception. "But I think [Cox's] situation must fall within whatever it is that that means."The Texas Attorney General's office did not respond to a request for comment on Cox's case, but the office argued in the Zurawski case that the medical exception needs no clarification.Sponsor MessageTexas Alliance for Life, a group that lobbied in the state legislature for the current abortion laws, published a statement about Cox's case Wednesday. "We believe that the exception language in Texas laws is clear," wrote the group's communication director Amy O'Donnell, and accused the Center for Reproductive Rights of pretending to seek clarity while really attempting to "chisel away" at Texas's abortion laws.The timeline of this case was very quick. "I have to be honest, I've never done this before, and that's because no one's ever done this before," Duane says. "But usually when you ask for a temporary restraining order, the court will act very, very quickly in acknowledgement of the emergency circumstances."The hearing was held via Zoom on Thursday morning.The State of Texas cannot appeal the decision directly, says Duane. "They would have to file what's called a writ of mandamus, saying that the district court acted so far out of its jurisdiction and that there needs to be a reversal," Duane explains. "But filing a petition like that is not does not automatically stay the injunction the way that an appeal of a temporary injunction does."In the meantime, the justices of the Texas Supreme Court are considering the Zurawski case, with a decision expected in the next few months. "I want them to take their time to write an opinion that gets this right and will protect patients, doctors and their families going forward," Duane says."But the reality is that in the meantime, people are going to continue to be harmed," and Cox couldn't afford to wait for that decision, Duane says.Duane praises Cox for her bravery in publicly sharing her story while in the midst of a personal medical crisis. "She's exceptional – but I will also say that the pathway to this has been paved by all the other women in our lawsuit," she says. "There is strength in numbers."https://www.kmbc.com/article/court-documents-independence-missouri-pastor-charged-child-molestation/46058889Court documents state that multiple people under the age of 18 accused Virgil Marsh of sexually assaulting them between 2011 and 2018.Marsh, 71, is now in the Jackson County jail.He was charged with two counts of first-degree of child molestation and first-degree statutory sodomy.A probable cause statement indicates that Marsh told police he was a current pastor in Independence and admitted he had "inappropriately touched" one of the victims.He did tell police he 'potentially kissed' a second victim on the mouth but denied sexually touching them.He also told police he has asked for forgiveness with God and is no longer the man who "had previously done things to the victim," the probable cause reads.https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/07/compensation-for-st-louis-victims-of-nuclear-waste-stripped-from-federal-defense-bill/Compensation for St. Louis victims of nuclear waste stripped from federal defense billProvisions that would have compensated those exposed to radioactive waste left over from the Manhattan Project were removed on WednesdayBY: ALLISON KITE - DECEMBER 7, 2023 9:03 AM      A joint investigation by The Independent and MuckRock.U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley said Thursday he would do everything he could to stop a federal defense spending bill after a provision offering compensation to Americans exposed to decades-old radioactive waste was removed. Speaking on the floor of the Senate, the Missouri Republican called the decision to remove compensation for Americans who have suffered rare cancers and autoimmune diseases a “scar on the conscience of this body.”“This is an injustice,” Hawley said. “This is this body turning its back on these good, proud Americans.”This summer, the Senate amended the National Defense Authorization Act to expand the existing Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include parts of the St. Louis region where individuals were exposed to leftover radioactive material from the development of the first atomic bomb. It would have also included parts of the Southwest where residents were exposed to bomb testing. But the provision was removed Wednesday by a conference committee of senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives working out differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill.Even before the text of the amended bill became available Wednesday night, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri was decrying the removal of the radiation compensation policy. “This is a major betrayal of thousands and thousands of Missourians who have been lied to and ignored for years,” Hawley said in a post on social media Wednesday. Dawn Chapman, a co-founder of Just Moms STL, fought back tears Wednesday night as she described hearing the “gut-wrenching” news from Hawley's staff. Chapman and fellow moms have been advocating for families exposed to or near radioactive waste for years. “I actually thought we had a chance,” Chapman said. But she said the group hopes to get the expansion passed another way. “Nobody has given up on it,” Chapman said.The St. Louis region has suffered from a radioactive waste problem for decades. The area was instrumental in the Manhattan Project, the name given to the effort to build an atomic bomb during World War II. Almost 80 years later, residents of St. Louis and St. Charles counties are still dealing with the fallout. After the war, radioactive waste produced from refining uranium was trucked from downtown St. Louis to several sites in St. Louis County where it contaminated property at the airport and seeped into Coldwater Creek. In the 1970s, remaining nuclear waste that couldn't be processed to extract valuable metals was trucked to the West Lake Landfill and illegally dumped. It remains there today.During the Cold War, uranium was processed in St. Charles County. A chemical plant and open ponds of radioactive waste remained at the site in Weldon Spring for years. The site was remediated in the early 2000s, but groundwater contamination at the site is not improving fast enough, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.For years, St. Louis-area residents have pointed to the radioactive waste to explain rare cancers, autoimmune diseases and young deaths. A study by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry found people who lived along Coldwater Creek or played in its waters faced an increased risk of cancer.Chapman said she knew two individuals who made calls to members of Congress while receiving chemotherapy. It's hard to ask people to keep fighting for the legislation, she said. “They're not going to see another Christmas, and they're not going to see the compensation from this,” Chapman said. “This won't help them.” An investigation by The Missouri Independent, MuckRock and The Associated Press this summer found that the private companies and federal agencies handling and overseeing the waste repeatedly downplayed the danger despite knowledge that it posed a risk to human health.After the report was published, Hawley decried the federal government's failures and vowed to introduce legislation to help. So did U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis. In a statement Wednesday night, she said the federal government's failure to compensate those who have been harmed by radioactive waste is “straight up negligence.”“The people of St. Louis deserve better, and they deserve to be able to live without worry of radioactive contamination,” Bush said. Missouri's junior senator, Republican Eric Schmitt, grew up near the West Lake Landfill. He said in a statement that the “fight is far from over” and that he will look into other legislation to get victims compensation.“The careless dumping of this waste happened across Missouri, including in my own backyard of St. Louis, and has negatively impacted Missouri communities for decades,” Schmitt said. “I will not stop fighting until it is addressed.”Already, two state lawmakers have pre-filed legislation related to radioactive waste in advance of the Missouri General Assembly reconvening in January. One doubles the budget of a state radioactive waste investigation fund. The other requires further disclosure of radioactive contamination when one sells or rents a house.In July, the U.S. Senate voted 61-37  to adopt Hawley's amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act expanding the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include the St. Louis area. It would have also expanded the coverage area to compensate victims exposed to testing of the atomic bomb in New Mexico. The amendment included residents of New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Guam and expanded the coverage area in Nevada, Utah and Arizona, which are already partially covered.The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that expanding the program could cost $147.1 billion over 10 years with St. Louis' portion taking up $3.7 billion of that. The amendment would have also renewed the program for existing coverage areas. Without renewal, it will expire in the coming months. Hawley said, however, the “fight is not over.” “I will come to this floor as long as it takes. I will introduce this bill as long as it takes,” he said. “I will force amendment votes as long as it takes until we compensate the people of this nation who have sacrificed for this nation.” https://www.azmirror.com/2023/12/06/in-bid-to-flip-the-legislature-blue-national-dems-announce-spending-on-az/With Republicans holding the barest of majorities in the Arizona Legislature, national Democrats are already making major investments in a bid to flip the state's legislature blue. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee on Wednesday announced it would spend $70,000 in Arizona to aid in candidate recruitment for key races, hiring staff, digital investments and more. The spending is the start of the DLCC's push in swing states where the committee hopes to either solidify Democratic majorities or pick up seats and win legislative control. The money is part of an initial $300,000 push in swing states by the DLCC, with Arizona and Michigan getting the lion's share of the money. The DLCC is also spending money in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina. In Arizona, Republicans have one-seat majorities in both the 60-member state House of Representatives and the 30-member state Senate. DLCC interim President Heather Williams told the Arizona Mirror that the committee is hoping to flip the House and Senate in part by highlighting the extreme positions of Republican lawmakers. Many proposed law changes inspired by those extreme positions earned vetoes from Gov. Katie Hobbs earlier this year. “The Republican majority in both chambers is vulnerable,” Williams said, adding that this is only the committee's “initial investment,” as the group anticipates spending much more in 2024. Williams did not elaborate on which Arizona races the group plans to target, but mentioned that the group aims to do something similar to what happened in Virginia this year. Last month, Virginia Democrats gained control of the House and solidified their control of the Senate. The DLCC hopes to mirror that in Arizona. In that election, all 140 seats in the Virginia legislature were up for grabs, and Democrat wins will block Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's ability to fully enact his conservative agenda. The DLCC ended up spending more than $2 million in Virginia. “Here is what we know about Republicans, they are legislating in a way across the country that is not where their constituents are,” Williams said, citing access to abortion and health care for women as key. Republicans and Democrats are eyeing a number of key state house races for 2024 but Williams is confident that her party will come out on top, adding that the DLCC intends to have a dialogue with voters and to help people get registered to vote. “I think we feel really strong with our position as an organization,” Williams said, adding that having Hobbs, a former state lawmaker as a Democratic ally in the governorship will offer advantages. https://alabamareflector.com/2023/12/05/tuberville-relents-on-months-long-blockade-of-most-military-nominees-blaming-democrats/WASHINGTON — After blocking hundreds of U.S. military promotions for most of 2023 in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy, Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said Tuesday he will lift his holds on all of them except for a handful of four-star general nominees.The senator, who sits on the Senate Committee on Armed Forces, said he told his fellow Senate Republicans “it's been a long fight” but ultimately he said Democrats were to blame for stalling hundreds of service members from moving up in the chain of command. Tuberville had said repeatedly that Democrats could bring each of the nominees to the floor for votes, which would take hours of debate.“We fought hard. We did the right thing for the unborn and for our military, fighting back against executive overreach, and an abortion policy that's not legal,” Tuberville said after announcing his about-face to his fellow Senate Republicans during their regularly scheduled weekly lunch.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said Tuesday that he would move the nominations to the floor “as soon as possible, possibly later this afternoon.”“I hope no one does this again, and I hope they learned the lesson of Sen. Tuberville. And that is he held out for many, many months, hurt our national security, caused discombobulation to so many military families who have been so dedicated to our country, and didn't get anything that he wanted,” Schumer said.Tuberville has blocked hundreds of nominees since the spring because he opposes a recent Pentagon policy that allows armed services members time off and travel reimbursement should they need to seek an abortion in a state where it remains legal.Roughly 80,000 active-duty female service members are stationed in states where legislatures enacted full or partial bans following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to a RAND analysis.The Biden administration and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin maintain the policy is legal, as did a 2022 Department of Justice opinion.The list of nominees affected by Tuberville's months-long hold grew to 451 members of the military as of Nov. 27, according to a Department of Defense official. Majority staff for the Senate Armed Services Committee list 445 affected nominees.Tuberville's agreement to halt his protest means that all but 11 of those nominees are expected to clear final Senate approval, according to figures from committee's majority staff.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Tuesday that GOP senators are “pleased obviously that that situation seems to have been ameliorated by recent announcements by the senator from Alabama.”Sen. Jack Reed, chair of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, said in a statement Tuesday he's “glad that hundreds of our nation's finest military leaders will finally receive their hard-won, merit-based promotions.”“They, and their families, have shown us what grace and grit look like in the face of hardship. Senator Tuberville's actions have been an affront to the United States military and the Senate,” said Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island.“He has jeopardized our national security and abused the rights afforded to all Senators. No Senator should ever attempt to advance their own partisan agenda on the backs of our troops like this again.”Threat of Democratic-led procedure changeTuberville's change in course arrived as Schumer was poised to bring to the floor a Democratic-led rules resolution to bypass the Alabama senator's blockade.The proposed temporary change in floor process would have allowed senators to quickly approve large blocs of nominations simultaneously on the floor, saving hours and hours that would have been required to vote on each individually.Tuberville said Tuesday that he and fellow Republican senators decided they did not want to see any changes to Senate floor procedures and that is the reason he decided to lift his blockade.“All of us are against a rule change in the Senate, OK. We're all against it,” Tuberville said.The Alabama senator's own Republican colleagues have grown publicly frustrated with his stalling of military promotions.GOP senators, including Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Joni Ernst of Iowa and Todd Young of Indiana, have on two occasions held the Senate floor into the wee hours bringing forward the names of nominees, only to meet Tuberville's objections.Some frustrated Republicans last week mulled whether to support the Democratic-led effort to override Tuberville's blockade. Democrats would have needed nine of them to pass the change in procedure.“I have said that right now I support Tommy Tuberville, but if he makes a statement that he's going to maintain this posture through this Congress I intend to vote for nominations under the rules suspension,” Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina told States Newsroom Nov. 29.https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/12/06/ohio-senate-wants-to-stop-you-from-growing-weed-house-fights-back/Ohio Senate wants to stop you from growing weed; House fights backBY: MORGAN TRAU - DECEMBER 6, 2023 4:55 AMWhile Ohio Senate Republicans move to dramatically change recreational marijuana policy, the House is fighting back in a bipartisan fashion — saying the will of the voters must be followed.On Thursday, adults 21 and older in Ohio will be able to smoke weed and grow up to six plants.When Issue 2 passed in November, state Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) knew he could be part of clarifying public policy. He invited WEWS/OCJ's Morgan Trau to his introduction of H.B. 354 in a “skeleton” session Tuesday morning. Skeleton sessions are when typically two lawmakers gather with the House clerk and take less than five minutes to introduce policy.“We preserve the things that the people voted on,” he told Trau after he banged the gavel and Finance Chair state Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) watched.Callender, who has been an outspoken supporter of marijuana, has been working on recreational implementation for years. Issue 2 came after all of his efforts were purposely stalled in the Statehouse.“The Marijuana Legalization Initiative” allows Ohioans to grow up to six plants, with 12 per household. In addition, the proposal would impose a 10% tax at the point of sale for each transaction. It also establishes the Division of Cannabis Control within the Ohio Department of Commerce.Ohioans voted in favor of the statute 57-43%.“I'm glad it passed and I'm excited that we're going to be able to take some of these measures that make it a more responsible act,” Callender said. “I want to make sure that here in this chamber, the People's House, that we carry out the will of the people — and the people have spoken.”His bill doesn't make major changes, but it does add safeguards — like guidelines on advertising, public smoking bans and provisions that give local governments more of a say in where tax revenue goes. It also explains that home grow must take place at residential addresses.“We've seen folks aggregate those six plants and, in essence, create a mega farm which is simply an aggregation or a co-op of a whole lot of home grows,” he said, saying that he is trying to prevent that.The bill, one that Callendar says has bipartisan support in the House, deeply contrasts the Senate's version.The proposal by state Sen. Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) also includes guard rails to prevent exposure to children, including advertising guidelines. It would require marijuana to be packaged in a child-resistant container and prevents “cartoon character” or other pop culture figures whose target audience is a child from being used in weed marketing.However, those safety guidelines are the end of the common ground.The Senate proposal would reduce how much weed you could possess from 2.5 ounces to 1 ounce and 15 grams of marijuana concentrates to 5 grams; It would make weed less strong by limiting THC levels for plants to 25%, when the minimum was 35%. In addition, it would limit extracts to 50%, when the minimum was 90%; and it would make marijuana more expensive by raising the tax from 10% to 15%.It also changes where the taxes go.As mentioned, it was a 10% tax at the point of sale. It was 36% revenue to the cannabis social equity and jobs fund; 36% to the host community cannabis fund to provide funds to jurisdictions with adult-use dispensaries; 25% to the substance abuse and addiction fund; and 3% to the division of cannabis control and tax commissioner fund. Issue 2 capped the number of dispensaries permitted at once to 350, but the bill cuts that down to 230.The Senate version ups to 15% tax at the point of sale. It is 30% to the law enforcement training fund, 15% to the marijuana substance abuse treatment and prevention fund, 10% to the safe driver training fund, and the remaining 45% goes to the grand revenue fund — aka, the state lawmakers.“The social equity program — when you really got down to the nuts and bolts of it — it was tax revenue being collected to be put right back into the hands of the industry,” McColley said. “It was a tax grab by the industry to prop up more dispensaries within the industry.”The “Social Equity and Jobs Program” was established by Issue 2. It is designed to fix “the harms resulting from the disproportionate enforcement of marijuana-related laws” and “reduce barriers to ownership and opportunity” to those “most directly and adversely impacted by the enforcement of marijuana-related laws,” according to the initiative.The most significant change is the proposal eliminates home grow.“The opposition has been all around the black market,” McColley said. “It's been around, ‘how do we keep these plants from then being transferred and sold illegally?'”After facing backlash, McColley assured he wasn't going against the will of the people, since he believes that the voters didn't really know everything that they were voting on.“I think what the voters really voted for would have been access to products,” the senator added.Clearly, the voters want home grow, Callender argued. Access to products means access to home grow, he said.It isn't just Callender who is frustrated with the legislation moving through the other chamber. Dozens of Republican and Democratic representatives are infuriated with the Senate.One with a unique perspective is state Rep. Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Twp.) The Senate took his legislation, H.B. 86, that revised the limit on the gallons of spirituous liquor that a micro-distillery may manufacture each year and added their marijuana proposal onto his bill.“Slap in the face of Ohio voters,” LaRe told WEWS/OCJ.The lawmaker doesn't support recreational marijuana, but he does respect the will of Ohioans, he added.“It's unfortunate they want to use a bill that is focused on helping certain small businesses recover from the pandemic to fast-track language that changes the intent of the ballot initiative,” he said. “I believe we should look into where the tax dollars are spent, but this goes way beyond those details.”Democrats agree. House Minority Whip State Rep. Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) says she can't and won't support the Senate version.“I'm not a fan of turning my back on the Ohio voters and the will of what they said when they overwhelmingly passed Issue 2,” Miranda said.When asked what happens if the two chambers don't reach a compromise, Callender said he will be in better standing — since the House can just block the Senate version.“I'm okay with just letting the initiated statute go into effect, which is a pretty strong bargaining position,” he said. “If we don't come up with an agreement, I'll trust the rule-making process, trust Commerce to make good rules to do this.”The Senate is expected to pass the marijuana bill out of committee Wednesday morning, putting it on the floor for a full vote later in the day. The House version is set to be heard Wednesday, as well.This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook.https://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/dolly-parton-imagination-library-officially-launches-statewide-in-illinoisPritzker says goal is to send free books to all children, ages 0-5By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.comSPRINGFIELD – Illinois families with infants and toddlers now have access to free children's books that can be sent directly to their home, regardless of their income.Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced the official launch of the state's partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a program founded by the country music legend in 1995 in her home county in east Tennessee. It now sends free books every month to nearly 3 million children in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland.“Today, I couldn't be prouder to announce that the Imagination Library is working with the state of Illinois to begin our journey to provide every child under the age of five an opportunity to receive a free book delivered to them every single month,” Pritzker said at an event at the Bloomington Public Library.Pritzker first announced in June that the state had formed a partnership with the Dollywood Foundation, Parton's philanthropic organization, after Illinois lawmakers included $1.6 million in this year's budget to fund the state's share of the program. Other funding comes from the Dollywood Foundation and local, county-based organizations.Since then, about 44 local programs have been operating in the state, serving roughly 4 percent of eligible children. But Dollywood Foundation executive director Nora Briggs said the goal is to reach all of the estimated 755,000 children under age 5 in Illinois.“We know that nothing is more basic, more essential, more foundational to a child's success in life than the ability to read,” Briggs said. “The research is clear. We cannot wait until kindergarten for children to have access or exposure to books. It must happen early. It must start in the home environment. And reading at home requires books.”People who are interested in enrolling their child in the program can find their local provider on the “check availability” tab located at imaginationlibrary.com. From there, applicants submit basic information including their address, their child's name and date of birth, and the parents' information.Once a child's eligibility is approved, they will start receiving one book each month, addressed to them. Each child within an age group receives the same monthly book. Books on the distribution list are chosen by a panel of early childhood literacy experts who review potential titles for inclusion in the distribution list. In addition to funding the Imagination Library program this year, lawmakers also approved Pritzker's “Smart Start Illinois” initiative that will provide $250 million this year for early childhood programs, including expanded access to preschool, wage support for child care workers, early intervention programs, and home visiting programs.“We're making our mark on every aspect of early childhood, and working with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library literacy efforts will begin now at the earliest ages,” Pritzker said. “Illinois is well on its way to solidifying our status as the number one state in the nation to raise young children.” Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.Stories in today's show originally appeared in the Missouri Independent, Capitol News Illinois, Alabama Reflector, Michigan Advance, Arizona Mirror, KMBC9 Kansas City, Ohio Capital Journal, and NPR News @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/

Friday News Flyover, December 8, 2023Intro: On this episode of The Heartland POD for Friday, December 8th, 2023A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including:Texas abortion bans creating legal confusion | MO Pastor jailed facing sexual abuse charges | Sen Josh Hawley and Rep Cori Bush speak against defense bill without funds for St. Louis residents exposed to radiation | AL Senator Tommy Tuberville gives up his misguided military holds | Dolly Parton gives books to millions of kids, if you didn't knowWelcome to The Heartland POD for a Flyover Friday, this is Sean Diller in Denver, Colorado. With me as co-host today is Adam Sommer, how you doing Adam?We're glad to have you with us. If you're new to our shows make sure you subscribe and leave a 5 star rating wherever you listen. You can also find Heartland POD content on Youtube and on social media with @ THE heartland pod, and learn more at thehearltandcollective.com Alright! Let's get into the storieshttps://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/12/06/1217637325/texas-woman-asks-court-for-abortion-because-of-pregnancy-complicationsUpdated Thursday, Dec. 7 at 1:55 p.m."Kate Cox needs an abortion, and she needs it now." Thus began a petition filed in a Texas district court this week, asking a judge to allow the abortion to be performed in the state, where abortion is banned with very limited exceptions.On Thursday, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble of Travis County, Texas, ruled from the bench, granting permission for Cox to have the abortion she is seeking. Cox's fetus has a genetic condition with very low chances of survival and her own health and fertility are at risk if she carries the pregnancy to term.The petition was filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is the group behind a high profile case heard at the Texas Supreme Court last week.In that case the group's senior staff attorney Molly Duane argued on behalf of 20 patients and two OB-GYNs that the medical exception to the ban on abortion in the state's laws is too narrow and vague, and that it endangered patients during complicated pregnancies. An attorney for the state argued the exception is already clear and that the plaintiffs didn't have standing to sue.On the very day of those arguments, Nov. 28, Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two who lives in the Dallas area, got "devastating" news about her pregnancy, the filing says. At nearly 20-weeks gestation, she learned that her fetus has Trisomy 18 or Edwards Syndrome, a condition with extremely low chances of survival.So, as the Texas Supreme Court considered whether its abortion laws endangered patients with pregnancy complications in the past, Cox was trying to figure out what to do in her present situation.Cox had already been in the emergency room three times with cramping and other concerning symptoms, according to court documents. Her doctors told her she was at high risk of developing gestational hypertension and diabetes, and because she had had two prior cesarean sections, carrying the pregnancy to term could compromise her chances of having a third child in the future, the brief says.Last Thursday, she reached out for the Center for Reproductive Rights. Five days after that, the group filed this petition on her behalf.The filing asked a Travis County district court for a temporary restraining order against the state of Texas and the Texas Medical Board, blocking enforcement of Texas's abortion bans so that Cox can terminate her current pregnancy. It also would block enforcement of S.B. 8, which allows civil lawsuits to be filed against those who help patients receive abortions.That would protect the other plaintiffs in the case, Cox's husband, Justin, and Dr. Damla Karsan, who is prepared to provide the abortion if the court grants their request. Karsan is one of the OB-GYN plaintiffs in the Zurawski v. the State of Texas case.Thursday's ruling will allow Karsan to provide an abortion without threat of prosecution. It only applies to Cox, her husband and Karsan. Issuing the ruling, Judge Guerra Gamble said: "The idea that Ms. Cox wants so desperately to be a parent and this law may have her lose that ability is shocking and would be a genuine miscarriage of justice."There are currently three overlapping abortion bans in Texas. Abortion is illegal in the state from the moment pregnancy begins. Texas doctors can legally provide abortions only if a patient is "in danger of death or a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function, " the law says."I don't know what that means," Duane says of the language of the medical exception. "But I think [Cox's] situation must fall within whatever it is that that means."The Texas Attorney General's office did not respond to a request for comment on Cox's case, but the office argued in the Zurawski case that the medical exception needs no clarification.Sponsor MessageTexas Alliance for Life, a group that lobbied in the state legislature for the current abortion laws, published a statement about Cox's case Wednesday. "We believe that the exception language in Texas laws is clear," wrote the group's communication director Amy O'Donnell, and accused the Center for Reproductive Rights of pretending to seek clarity while really attempting to "chisel away" at Texas's abortion laws.The timeline of this case was very quick. "I have to be honest, I've never done this before, and that's because no one's ever done this before," Duane says. "But usually when you ask for a temporary restraining order, the court will act very, very quickly in acknowledgement of the emergency circumstances."The hearing was held via Zoom on Thursday morning.The State of Texas cannot appeal the decision directly, says Duane. "They would have to file what's called a writ of mandamus, saying that the district court acted so far out of its jurisdiction and that there needs to be a reversal," Duane explains. "But filing a petition like that is not does not automatically stay the injunction the way that an appeal of a temporary injunction does."In the meantime, the justices of the Texas Supreme Court are considering the Zurawski case, with a decision expected in the next few months. "I want them to take their time to write an opinion that gets this right and will protect patients, doctors and their families going forward," Duane says."But the reality is that in the meantime, people are going to continue to be harmed," and Cox couldn't afford to wait for that decision, Duane says.Duane praises Cox for her bravery in publicly sharing her story while in the midst of a personal medical crisis. "She's exceptional – but I will also say that the pathway to this has been paved by all the other women in our lawsuit," she says. "There is strength in numbers."https://www.kmbc.com/article/court-documents-independence-missouri-pastor-charged-child-molestation/46058889Court documents state that multiple people under the age of 18 accused Virgil Marsh of sexually assaulting them between 2011 and 2018.Marsh, 71, is now in the Jackson County jail.He was charged with two counts of first-degree of child molestation and first-degree statutory sodomy.A probable cause statement indicates that Marsh told police he was a current pastor in Independence and admitted he had "inappropriately touched" one of the victims.He did tell police he 'potentially kissed' a second victim on the mouth but denied sexually touching them.He also told police he has asked for forgiveness with God and is no longer the man who "had previously done things to the victim," the probable cause reads.https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/07/compensation-for-st-louis-victims-of-nuclear-waste-stripped-from-federal-defense-bill/Compensation for St. Louis victims of nuclear waste stripped from federal defense billProvisions that would have compensated those exposed to radioactive waste left over from the Manhattan Project were removed on WednesdayBY: ALLISON KITE - DECEMBER 7, 2023 9:03 AM      A joint investigation by The Independent and MuckRock.U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley said Thursday he would do everything he could to stop a federal defense spending bill after a provision offering compensation to Americans exposed to decades-old radioactive waste was removed. Speaking on the floor of the Senate, the Missouri Republican called the decision to remove compensation for Americans who have suffered rare cancers and autoimmune diseases a “scar on the conscience of this body.”“This is an injustice,” Hawley said. “This is this body turning its back on these good, proud Americans.”This summer, the Senate amended the National Defense Authorization Act to expand the existing Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include parts of the St. Louis region where individuals were exposed to leftover radioactive material from the development of the first atomic bomb. It would have also included parts of the Southwest where residents were exposed to bomb testing. But the provision was removed Wednesday by a conference committee of senators and members of the U.S. House of Representatives working out differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill.Even before the text of the amended bill became available Wednesday night, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri was decrying the removal of the radiation compensation policy. “This is a major betrayal of thousands and thousands of Missourians who have been lied to and ignored for years,” Hawley said in a post on social media Wednesday. Dawn Chapman, a co-founder of Just Moms STL, fought back tears Wednesday night as she described hearing the “gut-wrenching” news from Hawley's staff. Chapman and fellow moms have been advocating for families exposed to or near radioactive waste for years. “I actually thought we had a chance,” Chapman said. But she said the group hopes to get the expansion passed another way. “Nobody has given up on it,” Chapman said.The St. Louis region has suffered from a radioactive waste problem for decades. The area was instrumental in the Manhattan Project, the name given to the effort to build an atomic bomb during World War II. Almost 80 years later, residents of St. Louis and St. Charles counties are still dealing with the fallout. After the war, radioactive waste produced from refining uranium was trucked from downtown St. Louis to several sites in St. Louis County where it contaminated property at the airport and seeped into Coldwater Creek. In the 1970s, remaining nuclear waste that couldn't be processed to extract valuable metals was trucked to the West Lake Landfill and illegally dumped. It remains there today.During the Cold War, uranium was processed in St. Charles County. A chemical plant and open ponds of radioactive waste remained at the site in Weldon Spring for years. The site was remediated in the early 2000s, but groundwater contamination at the site is not improving fast enough, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.For years, St. Louis-area residents have pointed to the radioactive waste to explain rare cancers, autoimmune diseases and young deaths. A study by the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry found people who lived along Coldwater Creek or played in its waters faced an increased risk of cancer.Chapman said she knew two individuals who made calls to members of Congress while receiving chemotherapy. It's hard to ask people to keep fighting for the legislation, she said. “They're not going to see another Christmas, and they're not going to see the compensation from this,” Chapman said. “This won't help them.” An investigation by The Missouri Independent, MuckRock and The Associated Press this summer found that the private companies and federal agencies handling and overseeing the waste repeatedly downplayed the danger despite knowledge that it posed a risk to human health.After the report was published, Hawley decried the federal government's failures and vowed to introduce legislation to help. So did U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis. In a statement Wednesday night, she said the federal government's failure to compensate those who have been harmed by radioactive waste is “straight up negligence.”“The people of St. Louis deserve better, and they deserve to be able to live without worry of radioactive contamination,” Bush said. Missouri's junior senator, Republican Eric Schmitt, grew up near the West Lake Landfill. He said in a statement that the “fight is far from over” and that he will look into other legislation to get victims compensation.“The careless dumping of this waste happened across Missouri, including in my own backyard of St. Louis, and has negatively impacted Missouri communities for decades,” Schmitt said. “I will not stop fighting until it is addressed.”Already, two state lawmakers have pre-filed legislation related to radioactive waste in advance of the Missouri General Assembly reconvening in January. One doubles the budget of a state radioactive waste investigation fund. The other requires further disclosure of radioactive contamination when one sells or rents a house.In July, the U.S. Senate voted 61-37  to adopt Hawley's amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act expanding the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include the St. Louis area. It would have also expanded the coverage area to compensate victims exposed to testing of the atomic bomb in New Mexico. The amendment included residents of New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Guam and expanded the coverage area in Nevada, Utah and Arizona, which are already partially covered.The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that expanding the program could cost $147.1 billion over 10 years with St. Louis' portion taking up $3.7 billion of that. The amendment would have also renewed the program for existing coverage areas. Without renewal, it will expire in the coming months. Hawley said, however, the “fight is not over.” “I will come to this floor as long as it takes. I will introduce this bill as long as it takes,” he said. “I will force amendment votes as long as it takes until we compensate the people of this nation who have sacrificed for this nation.” https://www.azmirror.com/2023/12/06/in-bid-to-flip-the-legislature-blue-national-dems-announce-spending-on-az/With Republicans holding the barest of majorities in the Arizona Legislature, national Democrats are already making major investments in a bid to flip the state's legislature blue. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee on Wednesday announced it would spend $70,000 in Arizona to aid in candidate recruitment for key races, hiring staff, digital investments and more. The spending is the start of the DLCC's push in swing states where the committee hopes to either solidify Democratic majorities or pick up seats and win legislative control. The money is part of an initial $300,000 push in swing states by the DLCC, with Arizona and Michigan getting the lion's share of the money. The DLCC is also spending money in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina. In Arizona, Republicans have one-seat majorities in both the 60-member state House of Representatives and the 30-member state Senate. DLCC interim President Heather Williams told the Arizona Mirror that the committee is hoping to flip the House and Senate in part by highlighting the extreme positions of Republican lawmakers. Many proposed law changes inspired by those extreme positions earned vetoes from Gov. Katie Hobbs earlier this year. “The Republican majority in both chambers is vulnerable,” Williams said, adding that this is only the committee's “initial investment,” as the group anticipates spending much more in 2024. Williams did not elaborate on which Arizona races the group plans to target, but mentioned that the group aims to do something similar to what happened in Virginia this year. Last month, Virginia Democrats gained control of the House and solidified their control of the Senate. The DLCC hopes to mirror that in Arizona. In that election, all 140 seats in the Virginia legislature were up for grabs, and Democrat wins will block Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's ability to fully enact his conservative agenda. The DLCC ended up spending more than $2 million in Virginia. “Here is what we know about Republicans, they are legislating in a way across the country that is not where their constituents are,” Williams said, citing access to abortion and health care for women as key. Republicans and Democrats are eyeing a number of key state house races for 2024 but Williams is confident that her party will come out on top, adding that the DLCC intends to have a dialogue with voters and to help people get registered to vote. “I think we feel really strong with our position as an organization,” Williams said, adding that having Hobbs, a former state lawmaker as a Democratic ally in the governorship will offer advantages. https://alabamareflector.com/2023/12/05/tuberville-relents-on-months-long-blockade-of-most-military-nominees-blaming-democrats/WASHINGTON — After blocking hundreds of U.S. military promotions for most of 2023 in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy, Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said Tuesday he will lift his holds on all of them except for a handful of four-star general nominees.The senator, who sits on the Senate Committee on Armed Forces, said he told his fellow Senate Republicans “it's been a long fight” but ultimately he said Democrats were to blame for stalling hundreds of service members from moving up in the chain of command. Tuberville had said repeatedly that Democrats could bring each of the nominees to the floor for votes, which would take hours of debate.“We fought hard. We did the right thing for the unborn and for our military, fighting back against executive overreach, and an abortion policy that's not legal,” Tuberville said after announcing his about-face to his fellow Senate Republicans during their regularly scheduled weekly lunch.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said Tuesday that he would move the nominations to the floor “as soon as possible, possibly later this afternoon.”“I hope no one does this again, and I hope they learned the lesson of Sen. Tuberville. And that is he held out for many, many months, hurt our national security, caused discombobulation to so many military families who have been so dedicated to our country, and didn't get anything that he wanted,” Schumer said.Tuberville has blocked hundreds of nominees since the spring because he opposes a recent Pentagon policy that allows armed services members time off and travel reimbursement should they need to seek an abortion in a state where it remains legal.Roughly 80,000 active-duty female service members are stationed in states where legislatures enacted full or partial bans following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to a RAND analysis.The Biden administration and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin maintain the policy is legal, as did a 2022 Department of Justice opinion.The list of nominees affected by Tuberville's months-long hold grew to 451 members of the military as of Nov. 27, according to a Department of Defense official. Majority staff for the Senate Armed Services Committee list 445 affected nominees.Tuberville's agreement to halt his protest means that all but 11 of those nominees are expected to clear final Senate approval, according to figures from committee's majority staff.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Tuesday that GOP senators are “pleased obviously that that situation seems to have been ameliorated by recent announcements by the senator from Alabama.”Sen. Jack Reed, chair of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, said in a statement Tuesday he's “glad that hundreds of our nation's finest military leaders will finally receive their hard-won, merit-based promotions.”“They, and their families, have shown us what grace and grit look like in the face of hardship. Senator Tuberville's actions have been an affront to the United States military and the Senate,” said Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island.“He has jeopardized our national security and abused the rights afforded to all Senators. No Senator should ever attempt to advance their own partisan agenda on the backs of our troops like this again.”Threat of Democratic-led procedure changeTuberville's change in course arrived as Schumer was poised to bring to the floor a Democratic-led rules resolution to bypass the Alabama senator's blockade.The proposed temporary change in floor process would have allowed senators to quickly approve large blocs of nominations simultaneously on the floor, saving hours and hours that would have been required to vote on each individually.Tuberville said Tuesday that he and fellow Republican senators decided they did not want to see any changes to Senate floor procedures and that is the reason he decided to lift his blockade.“All of us are against a rule change in the Senate, OK. We're all against it,” Tuberville said.The Alabama senator's own Republican colleagues have grown publicly frustrated with his stalling of military promotions.GOP senators, including Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Joni Ernst of Iowa and Todd Young of Indiana, have on two occasions held the Senate floor into the wee hours bringing forward the names of nominees, only to meet Tuberville's objections.Some frustrated Republicans last week mulled whether to support the Democratic-led effort to override Tuberville's blockade. Democrats would have needed nine of them to pass the change in procedure.“I have said that right now I support Tommy Tuberville, but if he makes a statement that he's going to maintain this posture through this Congress I intend to vote for nominations under the rules suspension,” Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina told States Newsroom Nov. 29.https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/12/06/ohio-senate-wants-to-stop-you-from-growing-weed-house-fights-back/Ohio Senate wants to stop you from growing weed; House fights backBY: MORGAN TRAU - DECEMBER 6, 2023 4:55 AMWhile Ohio Senate Republicans move to dramatically change recreational marijuana policy, the House is fighting back in a bipartisan fashion — saying the will of the voters must be followed.On Thursday, adults 21 and older in Ohio will be able to smoke weed and grow up to six plants.When Issue 2 passed in November, state Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) knew he could be part of clarifying public policy. He invited WEWS/OCJ's Morgan Trau to his introduction of H.B. 354 in a “skeleton” session Tuesday morning. Skeleton sessions are when typically two lawmakers gather with the House clerk and take less than five minutes to introduce policy.“We preserve the things that the people voted on,” he told Trau after he banged the gavel and Finance Chair state Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) watched.Callender, who has been an outspoken supporter of marijuana, has been working on recreational implementation for years. Issue 2 came after all of his efforts were purposely stalled in the Statehouse.“The Marijuana Legalization Initiative” allows Ohioans to grow up to six plants, with 12 per household. In addition, the proposal would impose a 10% tax at the point of sale for each transaction. It also establishes the Division of Cannabis Control within the Ohio Department of Commerce.Ohioans voted in favor of the statute 57-43%.“I'm glad it passed and I'm excited that we're going to be able to take some of these measures that make it a more responsible act,” Callender said. “I want to make sure that here in this chamber, the People's House, that we carry out the will of the people — and the people have spoken.”His bill doesn't make major changes, but it does add safeguards — like guidelines on advertising, public smoking bans and provisions that give local governments more of a say in where tax revenue goes. It also explains that home grow must take place at residential addresses.“We've seen folks aggregate those six plants and, in essence, create a mega farm which is simply an aggregation or a co-op of a whole lot of home grows,” he said, saying that he is trying to prevent that.The bill, one that Callendar says has bipartisan support in the House, deeply contrasts the Senate's version.The proposal by state Sen. Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) also includes guard rails to prevent exposure to children, including advertising guidelines. It would require marijuana to be packaged in a child-resistant container and prevents “cartoon character” or other pop culture figures whose target audience is a child from being used in weed marketing.However, those safety guidelines are the end of the common ground.The Senate proposal would reduce how much weed you could possess from 2.5 ounces to 1 ounce and 15 grams of marijuana concentrates to 5 grams; It would make weed less strong by limiting THC levels for plants to 25%, when the minimum was 35%. In addition, it would limit extracts to 50%, when the minimum was 90%; and it would make marijuana more expensive by raising the tax from 10% to 15%.It also changes where the taxes go.As mentioned, it was a 10% tax at the point of sale. It was 36% revenue to the cannabis social equity and jobs fund; 36% to the host community cannabis fund to provide funds to jurisdictions with adult-use dispensaries; 25% to the substance abuse and addiction fund; and 3% to the division of cannabis control and tax commissioner fund. Issue 2 capped the number of dispensaries permitted at once to 350, but the bill cuts that down to 230.The Senate version ups to 15% tax at the point of sale. It is 30% to the law enforcement training fund, 15% to the marijuana substance abuse treatment and prevention fund, 10% to the safe driver training fund, and the remaining 45% goes to the grand revenue fund — aka, the state lawmakers.“The social equity program — when you really got down to the nuts and bolts of it — it was tax revenue being collected to be put right back into the hands of the industry,” McColley said. “It was a tax grab by the industry to prop up more dispensaries within the industry.”The “Social Equity and Jobs Program” was established by Issue 2. It is designed to fix “the harms resulting from the disproportionate enforcement of marijuana-related laws” and “reduce barriers to ownership and opportunity” to those “most directly and adversely impacted by the enforcement of marijuana-related laws,” according to the initiative.The most significant change is the proposal eliminates home grow.“The opposition has been all around the black market,” McColley said. “It's been around, ‘how do we keep these plants from then being transferred and sold illegally?'”After facing backlash, McColley assured he wasn't going against the will of the people, since he believes that the voters didn't really know everything that they were voting on.“I think what the voters really voted for would have been access to products,” the senator added.Clearly, the voters want home grow, Callender argued. Access to products means access to home grow, he said.It isn't just Callender who is frustrated with the legislation moving through the other chamber. Dozens of Republican and Democratic representatives are infuriated with the Senate.One with a unique perspective is state Rep. Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Twp.) The Senate took his legislation, H.B. 86, that revised the limit on the gallons of spirituous liquor that a micro-distillery may manufacture each year and added their marijuana proposal onto his bill.“Slap in the face of Ohio voters,” LaRe told WEWS/OCJ.The lawmaker doesn't support recreational marijuana, but he does respect the will of Ohioans, he added.“It's unfortunate they want to use a bill that is focused on helping certain small businesses recover from the pandemic to fast-track language that changes the intent of the ballot initiative,” he said. “I believe we should look into where the tax dollars are spent, but this goes way beyond those details.”Democrats agree. House Minority Whip State Rep. Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park) says she can't and won't support the Senate version.“I'm not a fan of turning my back on the Ohio voters and the will of what they said when they overwhelmingly passed Issue 2,” Miranda said.When asked what happens if the two chambers don't reach a compromise, Callender said he will be in better standing — since the House can just block the Senate version.“I'm okay with just letting the initiated statute go into effect, which is a pretty strong bargaining position,” he said. “If we don't come up with an agreement, I'll trust the rule-making process, trust Commerce to make good rules to do this.”The Senate is expected to pass the marijuana bill out of committee Wednesday morning, putting it on the floor for a full vote later in the day. The House version is set to be heard Wednesday, as well.This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook.https://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/dolly-parton-imagination-library-officially-launches-statewide-in-illinoisPritzker says goal is to send free books to all children, ages 0-5By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.comSPRINGFIELD – Illinois families with infants and toddlers now have access to free children's books that can be sent directly to their home, regardless of their income.Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced the official launch of the state's partnership with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a program founded by the country music legend in 1995 in her home county in east Tennessee. It now sends free books every month to nearly 3 million children in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland.“Today, I couldn't be prouder to announce that the Imagination Library is working with the state of Illinois to begin our journey to provide every child under the age of five an opportunity to receive a free book delivered to them every single month,” Pritzker said at an event at the Bloomington Public Library.Pritzker first announced in June that the state had formed a partnership with the Dollywood Foundation, Parton's philanthropic organization, after Illinois lawmakers included $1.6 million in this year's budget to fund the state's share of the program. Other funding comes from the Dollywood Foundation and local, county-based organizations.Since then, about 44 local programs have been operating in the state, serving roughly 4 percent of eligible children. But Dollywood Foundation executive director Nora Briggs said the goal is to reach all of the estimated 755,000 children under age 5 in Illinois.“We know that nothing is more basic, more essential, more foundational to a child's success in life than the ability to read,” Briggs said. “The research is clear. We cannot wait until kindergarten for children to have access or exposure to books. It must happen early. It must start in the home environment. And reading at home requires books.”People who are interested in enrolling their child in the program can find their local provider on the “check availability” tab located at imaginationlibrary.com. From there, applicants submit basic information including their address, their child's name and date of birth, and the parents' information.Once a child's eligibility is approved, they will start receiving one book each month, addressed to them. Each child within an age group receives the same monthly book. Books on the distribution list are chosen by a panel of early childhood literacy experts who review potential titles for inclusion in the distribution list. In addition to funding the Imagination Library program this year, lawmakers also approved Pritzker's “Smart Start Illinois” initiative that will provide $250 million this year for early childhood programs, including expanded access to preschool, wage support for child care workers, early intervention programs, and home visiting programs.“We're making our mark on every aspect of early childhood, and working with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library literacy efforts will begin now at the earliest ages,” Pritzker said. “Illinois is well on its way to solidifying our status as the number one state in the nation to raise young children.” Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.Stories in today's show originally appeared in the Missouri Independent, Capitol News Illinois, Alabama Reflector, Michigan Advance, Arizona Mirror, KMBC9 Kansas City, Ohio Capital Journal, and NPR News @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/

Original Air Date 6/25/2022 Today we take a look at some of the takeaways from the hearings investigating the January 6th insurrection. Most notably: they knew, they knew, they knew, they knew from the very beginning that their fraud claims were nonsense and they pushed ahead anyway. Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) Join our Discord community! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: The Jan. 6 Insurrection Understanding The Big Picture Part 1 - Fresh Air - Air Date 6-9-22 New York Times Congressional reporter Luke Broadwater says the effort to overturn the 2020 election results was a "sprawling and diffuse" one that involved local governments as well as White House insiders. Ch. 2: January 6th Goes Primetime Part 1 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 6-10-22 Brad is joined by guest co-host Dr. Leah Payne. They begin by discussing the first primetime hearing of the J6 Select Committee. They then focus on Tucker Carlson's response to hearings. Ch. 3: Special coverage of House J6 Hearing, Day 3 Part 1 - The BradCast - Air Date 6-16-22 RANDALL D. ELIASON, and HEATHER DIGBY offer important insights into today's hearing, which was focused on Donald Trump's corrupt pressure campaign to induce former Vice President Mike Pence to violate his oath to the Constitution Ch. 4: The Jan. 6 Insurrection Understanding The Big Picture Part 2 - Fresh Air - Air Date 6-9-22 Ch. 5: January 6th Goes Primetime Part 2 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 6-10-22 Ch. 6: Special coverage of House J6 Hearing, Day 3 Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 6-16-22 Ch. 7: Jan. 6 Hearings Point Finger at Donald Trump. But Federal Prosecutors Haven't Gone That Far. - The Intercept - Air Date 6-15-22 This week on Intercepted, investigative reporter Trevor Aaronson is joined by Margot Williams, research editor for The Intercept, and Michael Loadenthal, founder and executive director of the Prosecution Project. Ch. 8: Generals Warn America's Democracy Is in Danger From the Inside - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 6-23-22 These retired Generals fought to defend Democracy abroad, now they are warning that America's Democracy needs to be defended from threats inside the country. Ch. 9: Guess Which Republican Congressmembers Sought Pardons After Trying to Help Trump Subvert Vote - Democracy Now - Air Date 6-24-22 Six Republican members of Congress who supported Donald Trump's lies sought broad presidential pardons for their involvement in the campaign to discredit the election results MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 10: Top Arizona Republican Testifies He Rejected Trump Plot to Overturn Vote, Then Faced Violent Threats - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-22-22 Republican Speaker of the Arizona House "Rusty" Bowers described how he was pushed by Trump, John Eastman and Rudy Giuliani to call the Arizona Legislature back into session to investigate claimed illegal votes. FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 11: Final comments on turning anger into election action MUSIC (Blue Dot Sessions) SHOW IMAGE:  Description: The logo of the House January 6th Commission sits on a background image of the interior ceiling of the U.S. Capitol dome. The logo is a white illustration of the U.S. Capitol dome and below it are the words "Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol". Credit: January6th.house.gov Produced by Jay! Tomlinson Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere! Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

The Arizona Legislature this year set records. Not for bills passed or money spent, but for how long it was in session and how many vetoes Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs issued: 204 days spent trying to decide what to do and 143 decisions overruled by Hobbs. Both are signs of the difficult adjustment to divided government at the Capitol, something Arizona has not seen for 14 years. But what actually got done this year, if anything? This week on The Gaggle, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Arizona Republic reporters Stacey Barchenger and Taylor Seely. Barchenger, who covers the Governor's Office, talked with The Gaggle about how the legislative session shook out and what can be expected next year, when nearly every seat is up for grabs. Seely, who reports on Phoenix city government, joined the show to analyze two major pieces of legislation affecting Arizona cities that were passed this session. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dennis testified before the Arizona legislature on the issue of free speech… A mainstream protestant church comes out for abortion rights for “people who give birth.” Dennis talks to journalist Dan Brotman. He has been reporting on events in Afghanistan since the American withdrawal. He describes what he has seen there.  Can you turn a failing marriage around? If you can, how do you do it? Listeners have stories.  Dennis plays his speech to the Arizona legislature and comments… Thanks for listening to the Daily Dennis Prager Podcast. To hear the entire three hours of my radio show as a podcast, commercial-free every single day, become a member of Pragertopia. You'll also get access to 15 years' worth of archives, as well as daily show prep. Subscribe today at Pragertopia dot com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Arizona Legislature is considering a plan to allow Maricopa County to hold an election on a transportation tax, but it has been a bumpy ride. Supporters say extending a half-cent tax for transportation for another 20 years will help the county's transportation network keep pace with continued economic and population growth. The plan would build out Phoenix's freeway network, improve miles of major streets and expand public transit services. But the transit provisions of what is called the Proposition 400 extension have Republican lawmakers tapping the brakes, complicating efforts to get the necessary votes to put the issue on the ballot in November 2024. This week on The Gaggle, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Arizona State University's Mark Roseland. He's a professor at the School of Community Resources and Development at ASU and is a senior sustainability scientist with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability at ASU. Roseland explains why good transportation makes a good city. In the second half of the podcast, the hosts break down the politics of Proposition 400. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sister Clare Dunn was the only nun to serve in the Arizona Legislature and the first nun in the United States in the 20th century to enter public office.  In this final episode of the 2023 Arizona HERstory series, we are exploring just how a Catholic nun from the Sisters of St. Joseph took her commitment to service all the way to the state Capitol.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Air Date 6/25/2022 Today we take a look at some of the takeaways from the hearings investigating the January 6th insurrection. Most notably: they knew, they knew, they knew, they knew from the very beginning that their fraud claims were nonsense and they pushed ahead anyway. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com  Transcript BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Get AD FREE Shows and Bonus Content) Join our Discord community! Get three months free of ExpressVPN! Switch and get your audiobooks from Libro! SHOW NOTES Ch. 1: The Jan. 6 Insurrection Understanding The Big Picture Part 1 - Fresh Air - Air Date 6-9-22 New York Times Congressional reporter Luke Broadwater says the effort to overturn the 2020 election results was a "sprawling and diffuse" one that involved local governments as well as White House insiders. Ch. 2: January 6th Goes Primetime Part 1 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 6-10-22 Brad is joined by guest co-host Dr. Leah Payne. They begin by discussing the first primetime hearing of the J6 Select Committee. They then focus on Tucker Carlson's response to hearings. Ch. 3: Special coverage of House J6 Hearing, Day 3 Part 1 - The BradCast - Air Date 6-16-22 HEATHER DIGBY offers important insights into today's hearing Ch. 4: The Jan. 6 Insurrection Understanding The Big Picture Part 2 - Fresh Air - Air Date 6-9-22 Ch. 5: January 6th Goes Primetime Part 2 - Straight White American Jesus - Air Date 6-10-22 Ch. 6: Special coverage of House J6 Hearing, Day 3 Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 6-16-22 Ch. 7: Jan. 6 Hearings Point Finger at Donald Trump. But Federal Prosecutors Haven't Gone That Far. - The Intercept - Air Date 6-15-22 Investigative reporter Trevor Aaronson is joined by Margot Williams, research editor for The Intercept, and Michael Loadenthal, founder and executive director of the Prosecution Project. Ch. 8: Generals Warn America's Democracy Is in Danger From the Inside - Thom Hartmann Program - Air Date 6-23-22 These retired Generals fought to defend Democracy abroad, now they are warning that America's Democracy needs to be defended from threats inside the country. Ch. 9: Guess Which Republican Congressmembers Sought Pardons After Trying to Help Trump Subvert Vote - Democracy Now - Air Date 6-24-22 Six Republican members of Congress who supported Donald Trump's lies sought broad presidential pardons for their involvement in the campaign to discredit the election results MEMBERS-ONLY BONUS CLIP(S) Ch. 10: Top Arizona Republican Testifies He Rejected Trump Plot to Overturn Vote, Then Faced Violent Threats - Democracy Now! - Air Date 6-22-22 Republican Speaker of the Arizona House "Rusty" Bowers described how he was pushed by Trump, John Eastman and Rudy Giuliani to call the Arizona Legislature back into session to investigate claimed illegal votes. FINAL COMMENTS Ch. 11: Final comments on turning anger into election action TAKE ACTION: Become a Poll Worker Where you Live 2022 Midterms Lay of the Land: Remaining Midterm Primaries and Runoff Elections by Date (270toWin) Justice Democrats Candidates in IL and TN Primaries!  2022 Election Maps (270toWin) Senate  House  State  State Senate Find SwingLeft Races in a Target State Near You SwingLeft's State-Level Target Races (*Scroll down*) The States Project's Targeted States Volunteer: Virtual SwingLeft Volunteer Orientations  - Next one is June 29th! All SwingLeft Events (Virtual and In-Person) Field Team 6 (Virtual and In-Person) VoteRiders: Help People Get Voter IDs Donate Strategically: SwingLeft - House, Senate & States Plan The States Project Flip the Vote VoteRiders: Give to Help People Get Voter IDs Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman