Military engagement
POPULARITY
Categories
This week is the Battle of the Girl Groups and everything is Brat coded! The queens split into two teams and write original verses, rehearse group choreography, and attempt to serve party girl pop princess for Mother. Did she in fact eat that?? Ask the judges! Plus the runway category is ‘Cuddly Wuddly' but some of the girls are giving 'Saggly Waggly' or just plain sad…bear…zombie.Listen to Race Chaser Ad-Free on MOM PlusFollow us on IG at @racechaserpod and click the link in bio for a list of organizations you can donate to in support of Black Lives MatterFOLLOW ALASKAhttps://twitter.com/Alaska5000https://www.instagram.com/theonlyalaska5000https://www.facebook.com/AlaskaThunderhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9vnKqhNky1BcWqXbDs0NAQFOLLOW WILLAMhttps://twitter.com/willamhttps://www.instagram.com/willamhttps://www.facebook.com/willamhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrO9hj5VqGJufBlVJy-8D1gRACE CHASER IS A FOREVER DOG PODCASTSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
David Crockett becomes a skilled hunter at a young age in Tennessee before war returns to the young American nation. During the War of 1812, he joins thousands of volunteers from Tennessee who are sent south to fight in the Creek War. Crockett plays a role in the pivotal Battle of Tallushatchee, but he discovers that he disdains war. When he returns home, he begins a career in politics. Join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: blackbarrel.supportingcast.fm/join Apple users join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes, bingeable seasons and bonus episodes. Click the Black Barrel+ banner on Apple to get started with a 3-day free trial. For more details, visit our website www.blackbarrelmedia.com and check out our social media pages. We're @OldWestPodcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. On YouTube, subscribe to LEGENDS+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: hit “Join” on the Legends YouTube homepage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Jake and Bob begin a two part series on desire and how it relates to sin. They discuss how sin arises from a desire for good and how our woundedness shapes these patterns of sin. Rather than suppressing our desires, Jake and Bob reflect on the goodness of desire and the importance of rightly ordering it through prayer. Through personal stories and movie references, they end by walking you through practical ways to identify the holy desires beneath your struggles. Key Points: Behind every disordered desire is a holy desire, an unmet need, an unhealed wound, and a hidden pattern of sin. Sin arises from a desire for the good Every time we experiencing longing, we are experiencing a desire for God To stop patterns of sin, we must first recognize the underlying desire Self reliance is the false belief that the satisfaction of our deepest desires is completely up to us. Desire is an essential element of the Christian life. God desires our wholehearted devotion and places desire on our hearts so we seek and love Him Movies, music, and stories can reveal and awaken our deepest desires. They show us what moves our hearts and what we deeply long for. Resources: Unwanted: How Our Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing by Jay Stringer One Desire by Hillsong Worship Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:23 Sin Arises from a Desire for Good 00:11:32 Self-Reliance, Deadly Wounds, and the Anatomy of a Wound 00:16:52 We Cannot Escape Our Desire for God 00:20:29 The Integration of Virtue and Desire 00:22:56 The Battle of Desire 00:32:14 Awakening or Killing Right Desire 00:36:13 Can Movies Reactivate Desire? Connect with Restore the Glory: Instagram: @restoretheglorypodcast Twitter: @RestoreGloryPod Facebook: Restore the Glory Podcast Never miss out on an episode by hitting the subscribe button right now! Help other people find the show and grow in holiness by sharing this podcast with them individually or on your social media. Thanks!
On September 2, 31 BC, one of the most important battles in history took place off the coast of Greece. The forces of Octavian, the posthumously adopted son of Julius Caesar, squared off against the forces of Mark Antony, the former right-hand man of Julius Caesar. After having been partners in ruling Rome for years, the two developed irreconcilable differences that had to be resolved on the battlefield. The outcome of the battle influenced the course of the Roman Empire for centuries. Learn more about the Battle of Actium, what caused it, and how it affected history on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Quince Go to quince.com/daily for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! Mint Mobile Get your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/eed Stash Go to get.stash.com/EVERYTHING to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase. Newspaper.com Go to Newspapers.com to get a gift subscription for the family historian in your life! Subscribe to the podcast! https://everything-everywhere.com/everything-everywhere-daily-podcast/ -------------------------------- Executive Producer: Charles Daniel Associate Producers: Austin Oetken & Cameron Kieffer Become a supporter on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/everythingeverywhere Discord Server: https://discord.gg/UkRUJFh Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everythingeverywhere/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/everythingeverywheredaily Twitter: https://twitter.com/everywheretrip Website: https://everything-everywhere.com/ Disce aliquid novi cotidie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Anna and Jake break down how the redistricting battles are shaping the 2026 landscape — with the Supreme Court hearing a pivotal Voting Rights Act case and state-level fights playing out coast to coast. Plus: Day 15 of the government shutdown and John Thune is trying a new strategy on defense spending. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we're investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Santa isn't a baby at all!
Saturday is the second No Kings Day – it should be the biggest single day of protest in American history, with more than 2,500 events planned. Leah Greenberg will explain the preparations – she's co-founder of Indivisible, the group that called the first No Kings day, June 14 – five million people participated in that one, held the same day as Trump's birthday parade – the one no one came to.Also: there's “a forthrightly antifascist film” that critics call “wild and thrilling” -- of course, that's “One Battle After Another,” the Paul Thomas Anderson movie starring Leonardo di Caprio as a burnt out left wing bomber, targeted by an ICE captain played by Sean Penn. John Powers will comment—he's critic at large on Fresh Air with Terry Gross.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This episode, Kelsey and Chad got to be home together for a week and went on a date to the movies to see One Battle After Another. They also bought a Sleep Number mattress, and Chad avoids having a Chad in Public moment at the movies. Plus, trivia and great listener emails including a request to come perform in Europe, someone who's married to a psychic medium, another audience member at Kelsey's special taping, and someone who had a great parenting moment after hearing some advice from the podcast. Write into pretendproblemspodcast@gmail.com with your dating and relationship advice questions and we'll answer them on the show! Subscribe to the podcast, and give it a 5-star rating and review to help the show move up the charts. Video for the episodes is on Kelsey’s YouTube channel!Join our Patreon: https://patreon.com/PretendProblemsWatch the episodes and subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9UBPfi4B_j1Ua7xDOcyBnASee Kelsey on tour: https://punchup.live/kelseycook/ticketsSee Chad on tour: https://punchup.live/chaddaniels/ticketsWatch Kelsey's special “Mark Your Territory” on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uYqWsDhWkkA?si=J9hgt5nKtMLxB1sjWatch Chad's special "Mixed Reviews" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1kVr3zkz7E&t=663sFollow Kelsey on social media: @KelseyCookComedyFollow Chad on social media: @thatchaddanielsTheme Song cowritten by Matthew Facca and Alex BentThank you to HelloFresh! The best way to cook just got better. Go to HelloFresh.com/PRETENDPROB10FM now to Get 10 Free Meals + a Free Item for Life!
Joe "Peppy" Sciarra was drafted into the U.S. Army the day after he graduated from high school. All four boys in his family served during World War II. After basic training, Sciarra was assigned to the Army's 25th Infantry Division, known as "Tropic Lightning." He was then ordered to be part of a heavy weapons platoon operating 81 millimeter mortars. The weapon would be critical to the U.S. driving the Japanese off of 47 separate ridges on the island of Luzon in the Philippines over five months in 1945.In this edition of Veterans Chronicles, Sciarra explains how the 81 millimeter guns were operated and why he sees them as the decisive weapon at Luzon. He also tells us about a suprisingly easy landing at Luzon, but there would nothing easy after that. He details the Japanese weapons that took a significant toll on American forces, what it was like fighting uphill all the time, how the Japanese ambushed our soldiers, and how he ended up with with a promotion he didn't want.Sciarra also takes us into the personal side of war, losing friends, and honoring the remains of the fallen. He also tells us about his harrowing journey to Japan for occupational duty and the serious illness he faced at the end of the war. But more than anything, Sciarra wants all Americans to appreciate the courage and sacrifice of the U.S. Army infantry in World War II and beyond.
Steve Gruber discusses news and headlines
MAXOUT YOUR MIND MASTERCLASS | Winning the Battle in Your HeadMaster Your Mind. Win Your Life. Have you ever stopped to think that the biggest fight you'll ever face isn't happening out there... it's happening in here? In this first episode of the Maxout Your Mind Masterclass, I'm taking you inside the inner battle: the one between the voice that doubts you and the truth of who you really are. This isn't just another motivational talk. This is about mastering your inner world so you can finally dominate your external world. Because when you win the war inside, everything outside begins to align. For years, I let self-doubt run my mind. I believed lies that were never mine to begin with. They were planted by other people's limitations, fears, or opinions. Maybe you've done the same. But I learned something that changed my entire life: confidence bends reality. The people who believe life is rigged in their favor? They're usually right. In this episode, I'll show you how to change the lens you see the world through so you stop scanning for what's wrong and start expecting what's right. You'll learn how to rewrite the mental scripts that have been holding you back, and how to finally believe, deeply, that you deserve to win. We'll break down the four flawed beliefs that destroy self-confidence:“I am what I possess.”“I am what I accomplish.”“I am what other people say I am.”“I am what I look like.” These lies rob you of peace, power, and purpose. I'll teach you how to replace them with truth, build self-trust by keeping promises to yourself, and develop the unshakable certainty that changes everything from your relationships to your career to your faith. This masterclass will challenge the way you talk to yourself, the way you see yourself, and the way you carry yourself through life. It's time to stop being your own worst critic and start becoming your biggest fan. You'll walk away with tools to scratch out self-doubt, amplify your belief system, and walk through life like it's rigged in your favor... because it is. Your greatest enemy has been the voice in your head. But so is your greatest ally once you take control of it. This is where it all begins. Welcome to the Maxout Your Mind Masterclass. Key Takeaways: The real battle of life is the one happening in your own mind. How to build lasting self-confidence by keeping promises to yourself. The 4 flawed beliefs that lead to self-doubt—and how to replace them with truth. Why confidence bends reality and how to train your mind to expect favor. The difference between having high standards and being hard on yourself. How to become your own biggest fan and stop sabotaging your peace. Also don't miss out on MAXOUT2026: Once a year, I open my home for an intimate one-day experience unlike anything else I do. This year, I'm making it even smaller—just 12 to 15 people. Together, we'll dive deep into the exact strategies I use to plan, visualize, and design the best year of my life—and yours. If you're ready to Max Out your future, join me at Maxout2026.com (https://maxout2026.com/) for a life-changing day you'll never forget.
Michael Savage speaks with Dinesh D'Souza about his new documentary 'The Dragon's Prophecy.' The film explores how the modern battle between Hamas and Israel parallels ancient biblical conflicts. The film is based on Jonathan Cahn's book and suggests that modern events may echo ancient biblical prophecies. Dinesh covers the rising antisemitism on the Right, including the recent comments by Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson. They discuss why young people are susceptible to anti-Jewish rhetoric. D'Souza shares how he spoke with experts about the archeological findings that prove biblical accounts. D'Souza explains how learning about biblical interpretations helps in understanding current geopolitical issues.
On this episode of the MalloryBros. podcast, the Bros. start with a usual weekend recap. Terrance met our sister's new cat, and they both have thoughts on these new Wendy's Tenders. They then get into quite literally the most unhinged random debate about The Lion King you'll ever see, you should be thoroughly entertained. Next they talk the biggest news of the week: Drake losing his lawsuit with UMG over Kendrick Lamar's “Not Like Us.” The guys talk Drake's next move, Iceman, and if it was worth it. They then take a film turn, discussing "One Battle After Another" flopping at the box office despite rave reviews, what that means, and how it compares to Sinners. The Bros. move on to the new Game of Thrones spinoff and ask if they even care, touching on audience fatigue with short seasons and long waits between them. After a week where he seemed more passive about AI, Terrance gets tricked by an AI video and changes his tune. They then talk LeBron's Hennessy deal, and Terrell highlights the growing issue of too many Black millionaires selling us alcohol. A Lil Wayne conversation about changing his diet sparks a great talk about how people will hold you accountable to the patterns you create. They close out with football talk as Terrance's game is literally happening during the pod.
The Command Zone fantasy draft is back, but this time we're bumping up the bracket by drafting GAME CHANGERS! Jimmy, JLK, and Rachel are going to be making their picks for the top cards on the Commander Game Changers list. How brutal will they go? Will they tussle for the tutors? Battle for the bombs? Fight for the fast mana? Tune in and find out! -------- Support the show and become a Patron! Be a part of our community, receive awesome rewards, and more! https://www.patreon.com/commandzone -------- RIDGE: Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code COMMAND at: https://www.Ridge.com/COMMAND #Ridgepod SHOPIFY: Power your business with Shopify. Start your one-dollar-per-month trial period today by going to: https://www.shopify.com/tcz FACTOR: Eat smart with Factor. To get 50% off your first box plus free breakfast for one year, use code command50off at: https://www.factormeals.com/command50off -------- CARD KINGDOM: The Command Zone is sponsored by Card Kingdom! If you want to receive your cards in one safe package and experience the best customer service, make sure to order your Magic cards, sealed product, accessories, and more at Card Kingdom: http://www.cardkingdom.com/command ARCHIDEKT: Discover, build, catalog, and playtest on Archidekt, the deck-building website that makes it easy to brew brand new lists or manage your old favorites. Go to http://www.archidekt.com/commandzone to get started today! ULTRA PRO: Huge thanks to Ultra PRO for sponsoring this episode! Be sure to check out their amazing APEX sleeves and super classy MANA 8 product line. If you want to keep your cards protected and support the show, visit: https://ultrapro.com/command -------- Follow us on TikTok: @thecommandzone Follow us on Instagram: @CommandCast Follow us on Bluesky: @commandcast.bsky.social Follow us on Twitter: @CommandCast @JoshLeeKwai @jfwong @wachelreeks Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commandcast/ Email us: commandzonecast@gmail.com -------- Commander Rules and Ban List: https://magic.wizards.com/en/banned-restricted-list -------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 14, 1322. During the first war of Scottish independence, the Scots win a decisive victory over the English at the Battle of Old Byland. This episode originally aired in 2022.Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dave and Alonso discuss a pair of acclaimed fall releases and remember a legendary performer. Subscribe and review us at Apple Podcasts, follow us @linoleumcast on Bluesky, Instagram, and Facebook, a slip of the hip. Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, exclusive shows, and more! https://patreon.com/LinoleumKnife Subscribe to Dave's magazine, Sluggish https://sluggish.ghost.io Buy the new revised and updated edition of Alonso's book Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas, available now! https://preorder-movie-little-christmas.carrd.co/
Paul Thomas Anderson's ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER is a very different film in form and function than the other half of this pairing, RUNNING ON EMPTY, but it's built on the same foundational questions as Sidney Lumet's 1988 family drama: what does it mean to lead a revolutionary life, and how does one generation's fight get handed off to the next? After talking through how ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER engages with those questions, as well as its more action-movie-oriented thrills (and hills), we bring in RUNNING ON EMPTY to compare how the two films depict coming of age while on the run from the feds, and parents attempting to safeguard their children from an unknown future. Then in Your Next Picture Show, we discuss some of the other films Anderson chose, alongside RUNNING ON EMPTY, for a recent TCM guest-programming selection inspired by ONE BATTLE. Please share your thoughts about RUNNING ON EMPTY, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Next Pairing: Kathryn Bigelow's A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE and Sidney Lumet's FAIL-SAFE Intro: 00:00:00-00:01:40 One Battle After Another discussion: 00:01:40 - 00:32:37 One Battle After Another/Running on Empty Connections: 00:32:37-00:59:38 Your Next Picture Show and goodbyes: 00:59:38-end Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Which premium credit card is really worth it for your travel style and spending habits? In this episode, the Travel Mom Squad put four of the top-tier cards head-to-head. They break down the American Express Platinum Card®, Capital One Venture X, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and the brand-new Citi Strata Elite℠, exploring the earning potential, perks, and lifestyle benefits of each to help you evaluate which one fits your wallet best. Alex, Jess, and Pam walk you through the differences in earning power and rewards structures across all four cards. By the end of the episode, you'll have a clear framework for comparing premium cards without getting lost in the fine print. You will hear strategies for choosing the card that aligns with your spending patterns, travel goals, and home airport, plus tips for getting the most out of credits and perks so that you can make premium cards work for you. You can find links to resources mentioned in this episode plus the transcript here: travelmomsquad.com/150 Ready to get started with NEARLY FREE travel? Click here for the exact offers we would sign up for this month: travelmomsquad.lpages.co/bestoffers/ The Travel Mom Squad is also on YouTube! You can watch this episode here: youtube.com/@travelmomsquad Let us know what you want to hear on the podcast by sending us a DM on Instagram: instagram.com/travelmomsquad
Send us a textWelcome back to DMR!One Battle After Another is a 2025 action-thriller directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob, a former revolutionary leader trying to live a quiet life off the grid with his daughter, Willa, played by Chase Infiniti. Their peace is shattered when Willa disappears, pulling Bob back into a world he thought he'd left behind. Teyana Taylor plays Perfidia, a figure from Bob's past whose allegiances are uncertain, while Sean Penn portrays Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, an old adversary with unfinished business. The film also features Benicio del Toro and Regina Hall in pivotal supporting roles.With its grounded performances and politically charged storyline, the film blends personal stakes with broader themes of loyalty, consequence, and resistance. Paul Thomas Anderson brings his signature style to the project—blending suspense, emotional weight, and rich character dynamics—which may draw critical attention. While it certainly has the hallmarks of a high-caliber drama, One Battle After Another seems more focused on telling a tight, character-driven story than chasing awards. That said, with the talent involved, it wouldn't be surprising if it ends up in the conversation during awards season.Reminder to grab your 30 day free trial with Audible and help support DMR in the process, link in the show!Support the showThe audio clips used in this podcast, including excerpts from movie/series/documentary trailers, are used under the principles of fair use and fair dealing for the purpose of criticism, commentary, and review. All rights to the original trailer content & music belong to the respective copyright holders. DMR (Dewey's Movie Reviews) is an independent production and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any film studios or distributors.
Paddock Pass Podcast - Motorcycle Racing - MotoGP - World Superbike
After a busy weekend in Portugal Steve and Gordo break down the action from Estoril. As usual in 2025 Toprak Razgatlioglu and Nicolo Bulega shared the spoils. The duo will bring their title fight down to the final round of the year this weekend at Jerez and we look at how on Sunday it seemed that everyone had their own narrative to push... There was lots to talk about. Hard racing, weight ballast petitions, the rider and crew chief market and much more. Over the course of an hour we still couldn't cover all the news so check out Patreon.com/PaddockPassPodcast for our Paddock Notes show on Thursday to hear even more from inside the WorldSBK paddock
Caller Questions & More: Author and psychotherapist Cindi Martin discusses her book Choosing Intimacy and some of the barriers to it. What do I do if I feel stuck after I've gone to Restore and my husband has gone to Every Man's Battle, but I still find things on his phone? I accidentally logged onto […]
Join us in this powerful episode of Unashamed Unafraid where we talk with Roxanna Johnson, the author of 'Forgotten in the Battle with Sexual Addiction: The Journey of a Spouse.' Roxy opens up about her personal experiences with her late husband's sexual addiction and the profound impact it had on her life. She shares insights from her book, explaining how she navigated betrayal trauma, found healing, and learned to set boundaries. Roxy also discusses the importance of finding oneself, understanding the influence of trauma, and the pivotal role of community and therapy in recovery. Whether you're a spouse dealing with addiction in your family or someone supporting a loved one, Roxy's story is filled with valuable lessons and hope. Don't miss this heartfelt and inspiring episode.*Check out Roxy's book on Amazon To connect with Roxy, send her an email: roxyj16@gmail.com or visit her Website, Facebook and InstagramMake a donation and become an Outsider!Follow us on social media! Instagram, Facebook & TikTokSubscribe to our YouTubeCheck out our recommended resourcesWant to rep the message? Shop our MERCH! For more inspiration, read our blogDo you have a story you are willing to share? Send us an email! contact@unashamedunafraid.com00:00 Introduction01:27 Meet Roxy01:53 Roxy's Journey: From Loss to Writing04:59 The Bombshell: Discovering the Truth09:02 The Path to Recovery: Challenges and Triumphs10:43 Spirituality and Healing15:08 Addressing Misconceptions and Finding Support19:27 Forgiveness and Moving Forward21:57 Jack's Struggle with Addiction24:04 Rediscovering Myself Through Recovery25:03 Finding Joy and Hobbies27:00 Learning to Surrender28:14 Supporting a Spouse in Addiction30:38 Understanding Betrayal Trauma33:14 Healing and Human Connection39:27 The Role of Agency in Marriage43:56 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
Welcome to this episode of our “Identity in the Battle” series, based on an exploration of Ephesians 6:10-13. The focus is on understanding our identity as followers of Christ and what it means to engage in spiritual warfare by putting on the full armor of God. We invite you to consider purchasing the accompanying workbook here: https://www.gospelspice.com/identity Let's break down the main themes and lessons from this episode: Context: Our Identity and the Reality of Battle Stephanie begins by grounding us in the overall theme of the series: Identity in the Battle. She reminds listeners that Paul's letter to the Ephesians moves from teaching about who we are in Christ (chapters 1-3) to how we act because of our identity (chapters 4-6). As Paul closes his letter, he introduces the imagery of spiritual armor, summarizing the main points and equipping believers for spiritual warfare. Paul's message isn't just for specific groups—it's for everyone who claims Christ, regardless of gender, age, or role. If you are in Christ, you are called to be a warrior, not fragile china hidden away. This call is universal across the body of believers. Understanding the Battle Paul urges us to "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power,” highlighting that our strength comes not from ourselves, but from being in Christ. This is not a battle for our salvation—Christ has already won that war on the cross—but a fight for our effectiveness and witness as believers. Satan cannot take our salvation, but he can undermine our impact if we're unprepared. Stephanie emphasizes that the true battle is spiritual—not against flesh and blood, but against unseen spiritual forces. Personal struggles, relationship challenges, or internal battles are surface-level; behind them is a deeper spiritual conflict. Recognizing this shifts our focus from blaming people or circumstances to standing guard against spiritual opposition. Equipping Ourselves: The Armor of God Paul uses two key actions: “put on” and “take up” the full armor of God. At salvation, we “put on” this armor permanently (sealed with the Holy Spirit), but we must also “take it up” daily, making a conscious choice to stand firm each day. The armor equips us to resist the devil's schemes, knowing the victory is assured through Christ. Stephanie illustrates that we should not wait until the enemy is upon us to prepare; the armor must be worn in readiness. Just as Roman soldiers were only as effective as their preparation, so we must be spiritually ready. Our Posture: Standing by Kneeling The repeated exhortation from Paul is to “stand.” Stephanie challenges us to see that the only way to stand against spiritual attacks is first to kneel before God in submission. Standing in the Lord's strength means a posture of dependence on Him, not self-reliance. If we kneel to God, we can stand against the enemy. If we refuse, we risk kneeling to the enemy by default. Victory and Intentional Living Finally, know that the war is already won. Satan has lost, though he fights to claim small victories day-to-day. We cannot lose our salvation, but we must fight to maintain our effectiveness. The invitation is to daily put on the armor, resist the enemy, and live out our victorious identity in Christ—standing firm in faith and ready for spiritual battle. Takeaway: As a believer, you are a spiritual warrior. Your true battle is not against people or circumstances, but against spiritual forces seeking to undermine your effectiveness. The key to standing strong is daily surrender to God, putting on His armor, and living confidently in the victory Christ has secured. ----- IDENTITY IN THE BATTLE WORKBOOK ------ You have the option to go beyond listening to this series, and to participate actively. This exclusive Gospel Spice Ministries resource is available at gospelspice.com/identity . You will receive a downloadable, printable workbook containing listening guide for each of the 6 episodes in this series, space for note taking, and discussion questions if you want to do this study with a friend! What better way to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend this season, than to discuss your identity in the battle together? So, grab a friend or family member, or someone to mentor or be mentored by, and signup together. Every week, Stephanie shares truth from Scripture and invites you to dig deeper in your faith to delight in the glory of God. PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family PAY IT FORWARD by supporting us financially PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with! Find out more at gospelspice.com We invite you to check out the first episode of each of our series, and decide which one you will want to start with. Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog Identity in the battle | Ephesians https://www.podcastics.com/episode/372022/link/ Malachi: Messenger to Messiah https://www.podcastics.com/episode/356130/link/ Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs https://www.podcastics.com/episode/324347/link/ Come to the Table | The Feasts Jesus celebrated https://www.podcastics.com/episode/309956/link/ Bonjour! Gospel Spice exists to inspire our generation to delight in God. We do this through the podcast, online Bible studies, leadership trainings, and more. We want to serve Christ-followers who seek to live a life spiced with the gospel. We want to love God, because He first loved us. We want to experience the fullness of life with Him—and not be content with stale, boring, leftover faith. Jesus tells us that the most important thing is to love the Lord our God, so we take Him seriously. He adds that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Now, there are many ways to do that, but I have always personally felt deep compassion for victims of human trafficking – it is modern day slavery, and it revolts the heart of God. And so, they are our particular neighbors here at Gospel Spice. We want to play our part in raising awareness and then financially supporting those who fight this great evil. Now we would love to invite you to join the team in one of three ways: 1, pray Gospel Spice forward – pray for our guests, our listeners and participants, and for us too! 2, play Gospel Spice forward by telling your friends about us, and by please leaving positive reviews and comments on your podcast listening app; and 3rd, PAY GospelSpice forward. Less than 1% of our listeners are supporting us financially. We need your help! Please pay Gospel Spice forward today. It can be a one-time donation, or a monthly one, for the amount of your choice. Your donation is fully tax-deductible in the US. Plus, once we cover our costs, a significant portion of your donation will be given back to Christian organizations that fight human trafficking, and that we vet thoroughly. So, you can know that every dime you give is used for the Kingdom of God. Every little bit helps. So, be part of the spice of the gospel by becoming a financial partner today! Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!
Video is available on https://www.youtube.com/@MaxxCrosby_98 Presented by Full Send Check Out MoonPay
This episode dives into the complex and harrowing realities behind illegal immigration, focusing on children trafficked from Central and South America. Lee explains how many kids brought to the U.S. are kidnapped and coerced by cartels and gangs, highlighting the human tragedy behind the headlines. The discussion then shifts to the political arena, exploring the Democrats' strategy around the filibuster, their push for radical legislative changes, and the potential implications for voting rights, amnesty, and election control. With insight into both the human and political sides, this episode connects policy, politics, and personal stories to shed light on one of the country's most pressing issues.
As the 2025 government shutdown grinds on with no end in sight, House Speaker Mike Johnson warns of one of the longest shutdowns in U.S. history. Republicans say Democrats are blocking a clean funding bill to push partisan health care demands, while Democrats accuse the GOP of holding the country hostage. Hosts Lee and Terry break down the real motives behind the gridlock — from the fight over free health care for illegal immigrants to the Democrats' growing calls to abolish the Senate filibuster. They connect the dots on how today's budget battle could shape America's political future, constitutional balance, and even control over elections.
John and Roman discuss and recap the Week 7 St. Louis area games of the week.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gateway-sports-venue-show--3605575/support.
#notredamefootball #notredame #collegefootball #SEC #Georgia #usc #pennstate #ohiostate #miami #mikegoolsby #goolsby #arkansas patreon.com/AlwaysIrish: promo code CARR 50 % offhttps://www.alwaysirishgold.com/citycheers apphttps://lt-spirits.myshopify.com/products/plact-play-like-a-champion-today-bourbonotre dame patreon.com/alwaysirishx @AlwaysIrishINC https://alwaysirishmerch.com/https://www.si.com/college/notredame
#notredamefootball #notredame #collegefootball #SEC #Georgia #usc #pennstate #ohiostate #miami #mikegoolsby #goolsby #arkansas patreon.com/AlwaysIrish: promo code CARR 50 % offhttps://www.alwaysirishgold.com/citycheers apphttps://lt-spirits.myshopify.com/products/plact-play-like-a-champion-today-bourbonotre dame patreon.com/alwaysirishx @AlwaysIrishINC https://alwaysirishmerch.com/https://www.si.com/college/notredame
This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the archival footage shot just before and during the Battle of Midway from June 3-7, 1942. Some of the footage we go through here was shot in late May 1942 aboard USS Enterprise and shows such future Midway heroes such as Wade McClusky, Dusty Kleiss, Cleo Dobson and others. The guys then go through the John Ford material that was shot on the Midway atoll from May 27-June 7, 1942. In these shots we see some of VMSB-241's SB2U Vindicators, including the bird flown by Richard Fleming, the battles only Medal of Honor recipient. Tune into this one and get a new perspective on the footage you have been seeing for years. #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf #rodserling #twilightzone #liberation #blacksheep #power #prisoner #prisonerofwar #typhoon #hurricane #weather #iwojima#bullhalsey #ace #p47 #p38 #fighter #fighterpilot #b29 #strategicstudying #tokyo #boeing #incendiary #usa #franklin #okinawa #yamato #kamikaze #Q&A #questions #questionsandanswers #history #jaws #atomicbomb #nuclear #nationalarchives #nara #johnford #hollywood #fdr #president #roosevelt #doolittle #doolittleraid #pearlharborattack #salvaged
Reggie and Brent get back together to talk about a potential Best Picture candidate (frontrunner?). In a movie with Leo, Benecio Del Toro and Sean Penn, who shines brightest? Everyone seems to think that Paul Thomas Anderson has a hit on his hands...do we agree? Let's talk about One Battle After Another (2025) -- We will be reviewing requests from patron once a month. If you'd like to request a movie for us to review, head over to Patreon! and sign up at $5/month* -- If you want to know what we are watching...What Did We Watch This Week? Dawson on Letterboxd Brent on Letterboxd Reggie on Letterboxd Rob on Letterboxd We talked about Box Office If you'd like some bonus content from Brent, or to get the show several days early, you can sign up over at Patreon! Follow us on Twitter Brent @XNotMalcolm Rob @Robbap3 Reggie @Hiddanas Dawson @andy_dawson You can also e-mail to us at CinemaChatPod@gmail.com You can find all of our previous scores HERE Thanks for listening!! *We reserve the right to veto a patron request. If your request is vetoed, you'll be asked to place a different request.
Coming to you from the JRE Tobacco Aladino Studios, Nick is joined by Luc (MySticks35mm) and Dave to conclude the 2025 Battle of the Budgets and declare a winner! Eight cigars were selected that all have an MSRP of $8 or less. They were de-banded and assigned a number by an independent assistant. The guys have no idea what they are smoking and will review the four cigars. At the end, they assign a numerical score to each cigar. Their scores are averaged up to determine the final score for each cigar. The one with the highest score will be declared the round winner. The CAO Fasa Sol takes on the Charter Oak Maduro to see which will be crowned the champion. Who do you think it will be? Find out what the guys have been entertained by lately in the Villiger Cigars Entertainment Report. And we learn about yet another noteworthy Canadian in Luc's honor in the Fly High with Blackbird Cigars segment. Get your calls in for Ask the Pulpit at (863)874-0000. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS... For all your online cigar purchasing needs, head over to 2GuysCigars.com! In business for 40 years, they are THE trusted name in the cigar industry! Family owned and operated, they provide a great selection, fair prices, and outstanding customer service. That's 2GuysCigars.com! Follow JRE Tobacco/Aladino at @AladinoCigars on Instagram or check out their website, JRETobacco.com for a store near you that carries their cigars Follow Villiger Cigars at @VilligerCigar on Instagram or check out their website, VilligerCigars.com for a store near you that carries their cigars, or visit their new online shop at https://villigercigars.store/home Follow Blackbird Cigars at @blackbirdcigar on Instagram or check out their website, BlackbirdCigar.com for a store near you that carries their cigars
3pm Hour: Adam Carter is in for Jason. He talks about his struggles with anxiety and asks listeners for their advice. Then he's joined by attorney Joe Tamburino to talk about Minnesota's issue with DWI testing and how many cases might be affected.
On a dark October night in 1268, a secret tunnel, a betrayed alliance, and a struggle for power would decide the fate of medieval Cologne. What began as a feud between wealthy families turned into a bloody street battle beneath the city walls. Who dug the hole—and who paid the price? Join us as we uncover the forgotten story of the Battle of Ulrepforte.
In this episode, host Heather Rackham welcomes returning guest Coach Jill Pack, creator of Seasons Coaching and the Beyond the Battle Map. Jill shares a transformative approach to navigating conflict—especially between parents and adult children—by reframing conflict not as danger, but as a path toward deeper connection. Together, they unpack five practical steps that guide listeners out of what Jill calls “the conflict wilderness” and toward the breathtaking “authentic connection vista.” Through relatable stories and grounded wisdom, Jill helps us see that the way through disagreement isn't silence or shouting—it's curiosity, humility, and love. This episode invites you to view conflict as an adventure that can strengthen your relationships, deepen your understanding, and align your heart more fully with divine love. For more information about Jill and for links to access all he has to offer, please click HERE! To watch this interview on YouTube, go HERE. Beyond the Battle Freebie HERE For more information and available downloads, go to: https://ldslifecoaches.com/ All content is copyrighted to Heather Rackham and featured coaches. Do not use without permission.
Katey reunites with her former Little Gold Men co-host Richard Lawson to look back at the highlights of this year's New York Film Festival, including Bradley Cooper's late-breaking contender Is This Thing On? and a memorable night of people-watching at the Polo Lounge. Then One Battle After Another breakout star Chase Infiniti joins to talk about how she convinces Leo and PTA to participate in TikToks, how she learned to let loose on the film's set, and who she's taking advice from now that she's a truly minted movie star. Prestige Junkie After Party subscribers can watch the full video version of this podcast. Subscribe today for just $5 a month. Subscribe to the Prestige Junkie newsletter. Follow Katey on Letterboxd. Follow The Ankler.
Work with Kevin to get the confidence to build the life you want. - - - - - The One with the Battle of Alesia - The Importance of Showing Up Join our happy-haired and history-hacking host Kevin Dairaghi for a good old fashioned gallop through the gallic-era Julius Caesar which also spins to Steve Jobs and Apple, Costco CEO, and more for lessons from history that teach up about entrepreneurship and even relationships. You won't want to miss this latest Kevin Dairaghi Monologue. New linktree: linktr.ee/kevindairaghiLimited Time Offering for Self-Guided Roadmap Course: RUCRAZYKEVIN House Buying Website: www.RestoreSTL.com Connect with Kevin Dairaghi! Website: www.kevindairaghi.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kdairaghi Instagram: @thekevindairaghishow Facebook: www.facebook.com/kdairaghi Get free access to some of the tools we talked about at www.kevindairaghi.com/tools You are who you surround yourself with. Join the Tribe! RATE & REVIEW this episode on Apple and Spotify. SHARE this episode with someone who needs it! A huge thank you to our sponsors: Lois Mans with Farmers Insurance - Insurance! (314) 283-1981Greg Mans with Upright Construction - Roofs! (314) 374-1343Adam Droege with CRS Realty - Property Management! (314) 325-8328 Jason Hudson with Red Maples Construction - Turnovers! (314) 312-2147 Please reach out to them - they are my real estate team! Tell them Kevin sent ya! Dealmachine Bonus: http://www.dealmachine.com/KDSHOW
Fr. Mike walks us through the current battles of Judas Maccabeus and the Israelite people, emphasizing that while war is violent, freedom to belong to God and worship him is worth fighting for. He also discusses the importance of spending time with virtuous people to acquire their positive qualities and the need to seek good rather than evil to attain the riches of heaven. Today's readings are from 1 Maccabees 5, Sirach 13-15, and Proverbs 22:13-16. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
OA1198 - In this very special episode, Matt catches up with his Constitutional law professor for the first time in 23 years! We follow up with our closer look at the science behind Brown v Board (OA1186) with University of Michigan Law professor Michelle Adams, who takes us through the fascinating and ultimately tragic story of how the promise of Brown ended twenty years later in the struggle to overcome de facto segregation in her hometown of Detroit. Professor Adams has literally written the book on this subject, and if you enjoyed this conversation be sure to pick up her recent masterwork The Containment: Detroit, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North. The Containment: Detroit, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North, Prof. Michelle Adams (2024) Michelle Adams | University of Michigan Law School Milliken v. Bradley, 418 U.S. 717 (1974) “Mapping Inequality,” University of Richmond (interactive maps of redlining in major US cities) Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do!
Welcome to the VOUS Church Podcast. Today, we continue in part 2 of our collection of talks, Contend: Fighting for what matters most. In this message, Before the Battle Begins, Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. reminds us that every battle is first won or lost in our minds.Worship replaces worry! Stream VOUS Worship's most recent album Dying to be Different (Stripped) at vousworship.com
The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Show (10/13/20255): 3:05pm- The Rich Zeoli Show is broadcasting LIVE from the Zlock Performing Arts Center at Bucks County Community College ahead of his Politics & Pints event with New York Times best-selling author and Navy SEAL Jack Carr. Rich is joined by George Bochetto—former candidate for U.S. Senate, former Pennsylvania State Boxing Commissioner, and Attorney at Bochetto & Lentz, P.C.—who is co-hosting as part of our special Columbus Day show! Bochetto has been instrumental in preserving the holiday in Philadelphia, including fighting to win the “unboxing” of the Christopher Columbus statue prominently displayed in Marconi Plaza! 3:30pm- Flashback: Then-Vice President Kamala Harris said of Columbus Day: “European explorers ushered in a wave of devastation for tribal nations—perpetrating violence, stealing land, and spreading disease. We must not shy away from this shameful past.” Thank goodness she didn't win last November! 3:35pm- Does Tony Soprano still have the best take on Columbus Day? “He discovered America is what he did. He was a brave Italian explorer—and in this house Christpher Columbus is a hero. End of story!” 3:40pm- Rich recaps Friday's massive America First Return to the Wildwoods Rally for Jack Ciattarelli. 4:00pm- On Monday, President Donald Trump traveled to the Middle East where he met with world leaders and attended the Gaza Peace Summit—formalizing a peace agreement his administration brokered between Israel and Hamas. He explained, “with the historic agreement we've just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered…Together, we have achieved what everybody said was impossible. At long last we have peace in the Middle East." Trump went on to emphasize that humanitarian aid is now pouring into Gaza—and that the world's wealthiest nations have pledged to help rebuild provided de-militarization, as outlined in the peace agreement, is carried out. 4:15pm- During the Gaza Peace Summit, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said he nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Corina Machado told Fox News: "I decided to dedicate it to President Trump because he deserves it! Because not only has he been involved in only a few months in solving 8 wars, but his actions have been decisive to have Venezuela now at a threshold of freedom after 26 years of tyranny!" 4:30pm- Dr. Victoria Coates—Former Deputy National Security Advisor & the Vice President of the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the historic peace agreement the Trump administration has brokered between Israel and Hamas. Dr. Coates is author of the book: “The Battle for the Jewish State: How Israel—and America—Can Win.” 5:05pm- On Sunday, Vice President JD Vance appeared on ABC News with anchor George Stephanopoulos. Stephanopoulos repeatedly asked the Vice President about allegations Border Czar Tom Homan accepted a $50,000 bribe—leading Vance to reject the story as “bogus,” and offering evidence disproving the narrative. A humiliated Stephanopoulos then abruptly cut Vance's microphone, ending the segment, and throwing to commercial! 5:15pm- Rich and George play another Columbus Day clip from The Sopranos! 5:30pm- Matt Lamorgese—Chairman of the Philadelphia Young Republicans + National Committeeman for the Pennsylvania Young Republicans—joins George Bochetto on The Rich Zeoli Show and previews how midterm elections might play out in 2026. Are young Americans starting to embrace Republican values? And how will the murder of Charlie Kirk impact turnout—will it motivate young conservatives to get to the polls and speak out? 5:50pm- Rich speaks with Lamorgese about November 4th's gubernatorial election in New Jersey—both agree that the election will be determined by voter turnout. Which candidate can g ...
The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 2: 4:00pm- On Monday, President Donald Trump traveled to the Middle East where he met with world leaders and attended the Gaza Peace Summit—formalizing a peace agreement his administration brokered between Israel and Hamas. He explained, “with the historic agreement we've just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered…Together, we have achieved what everybody said was impossible. At long last we have peace in the Middle East." Trump went on to emphasize that humanitarian aid is now pouring into Gaza—and that the world's wealthiest nations have pledged to help rebuild provided de-militarization, as outlined in the peace agreement, is carried out. 4:15pm- During the Gaza Peace Summit, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said he nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Corina Machado told Fox News: "I decided to dedicate it to President Trump because he deserves it! Because not only has he been involved in only a few months in solving 8 wars, but his actions have been decisive to have Venezuela now at a threshold of freedom after 26 years of tyranny!" 4:30pm- Dr. Victoria Coates—Former Deputy National Security Advisor & the Vice President of the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the historic peace agreement the Trump administration has brokered between Israel and Hamas. Dr. Coates is author of the book: “The Battle for the Jewish State: How Israel—and America—Can Win.”
Started out rough but we're still kicking! Mano and Oscar are living in their fantasy this week with the latest episode of Drag Race UK, complete with fallen angels, villain edits, and a battle of the crushes. FOLLOW US ON PATREON!! We're sharing exclusive episodes, aftershows, talkbacks, and VIDEO at patreon.com/dragherpodcast. KIKI with us on IG @dragherpodcast! PREPARE TO GAG, WHORES!!!!! PROPS TO YA, DWOTUR! If you rate Drag Her 5-stars on Apple Podcasts & leave us ANY UNPOPULAR RPDR OPINION, we'll discuss it on the pod!!!!! DO IT!! Mano's on Instagram @manoagapion, Oscar's on Instagram @ozzymo. For MORE from Good Get, check out One of Us with Fin and Chris and Worse Than You with Mo Fry Pasic. And go watch RuPaul's Drag Race on MTV, WOW Presents+, or Paramount+! Drag Her! is hosted and executive produced by Mano Agapion and Oscar Montoya. Our executive producers for Good Get are Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett. Drag Her! is a Good Get Production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
For the people of 16th-century Europe, the sky was a place of divine mystery, not a battlefield for mortal men. But in 1566, the heavens over Basel, Switzerland, became just that, as hundreds of dark spheres waged a mysterious war before the eyes of the citizens below.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Last time we spoke about the Battle of Taierzhuang. Following the fall of Nanjing in December 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War entered a brutal phase of attrition as Japan sought to consolidate control and press toward central China. Chinese defense prioritized key rail corridors and urban strongholds, with Xuzhou, the JinPu and Longhai lines, and the Huai River system forming crucial lifelines. By early 1938, Japanese offensives aimed to link with forces around Beijing and Nanjing and encircle Chinese positions in the Central Yangtze region, threatening Wuhan. In response, Chiang Kai-shek fortified Xuzhou and expanded defenses to deter a pincer move, eventually amassing roughly 300,000 troops along strategic lines. Taierzhuang became a focal point when Japanese divisions attempted to press south and link with northern elements. Chinese commanders Li Zongren, Bai Chongxi, Tang Enbo, and Sun Lianzhong coordinated to complicate Japanese plans through offensive-defensive actions, counterattacks, and encirclement efforts. The victory, though numerically costly, thwarted immediate Japanese objectives and foreshadowed further attritional struggles ahead. #171 The Flooding of the Yellow River Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. We last left off with a significant event during the Xuzhou campaign. Three Japanese divisions under General Itagaki Seishiro moved south to attack Taierzhuang and were met by forces commanded by Li Zongren, Sun Lianzhong, and Tang Enbo, whose units possessed a decent amount of artillery. In a two-week engagement from March 22 to April 7, the battle devolved into a costly urban warfare. Fighting was vicious, often conducted in close quarters and at night. The urban environment negated Japanese advantages in armor and artillery, allowing Chinese forces to contend on equal terms. The Chinese also disrupted Japanese logistics by resupplying their own troops and severing rear supply lines, draining Japanese ammunition, supplies, and reinforcements. By April 7, the Japanese were compelled to retreat, marking the first Chinese victory of the war. However both sides suffered heavy losses, with around 20,000 casualties on each side. In the aftermath of this rare victory, Chiang Kai-Shek pushed Tang Enbo and Li Zongren to capitalize on their success and increased deployments in the Taierzhuang theater to about 450,000 troops. Yet the Chinese Army remained hampered by fundamental problems. The parochialism that had crippled Chiang's forces over the preceding months resurfaced. Although the generals had agreed to coordinate in a war of resistance, each still prioritized the safety of his own troops, wary of Chiang's bid to consolidate power. Li Zongren, for example, did not deploy his top Guangxi provincial troops at Taierzhuang and sought to shift most of the fighting onto Tang Enbo's forces. Chiang's colleagues were mindful of the fates of Han Fuju of Shandong and Zhang Xueliang of Manchuria: Han was executed for refusing to fight, while Zhang, after allowing Chiang to reduce the size of his northeastern army, ended up under house arrest. They were right to distrust Chiang. He believed, after all, that provincial armies should come under a unified national command, which he would lead. From a national-unity perspective, his aspiration was not unreasonable. But it fed suspicion among other military leaders that participation in the anti-Japanese war would dilute their power. The divided nature of the command also hindered logistics, making ammunition and food supplies to the front unreliable and easy to cut off. By late April the Chinese had reinforced the Xuzhou area to between 450,000-600,000 to capitalize on their victory. However these armies were plagued with command and control issues. Likewise the Japanese licked their wounds and reinforced the area to roughly 400,000, with fresh troops and supplies flowing in from Tianjin and Nanjing. The Japanese continued with their objective of encircling Chinese forces. The North China Area Army comprised four divisions and two infantry brigades drawn from the Kwantung Army, while the Central China Expeditionary Army consisted of three divisions and the 1st and 2nd Tank Battalions along with motorized support units. The 5th Tank Battalion supported the 3rd Infantry Division as it advanced north along the railway toward Xuzhou. Fighting to the west, east, and north of Xuzhou was intense, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. On 18 April, the Japanese advanced southward toward Pizhou. Tang Enbo's 20th Army Corps, together with the 2nd, 22nd, 46th, and 59th corps, resisted fiercely, culminating in a stalemate by the end of April. The 60th Corps of the Yunnan Army engaged the Japanese 10th Division at Yuwang Mountain for nearly a month, repelling multiple assaults. By the time it ceded its position to the Guizhou 140th Division and withdrew on 15 May, the corps had sustained losses exceeding half of its forces. Simultaneously, the Japanese conducted offensives along both banks of the Huai River, where Chinese defenders held out for several weeks. Nevertheless, Japanese artillery and aerial bombardment gradually tilted the balance, allowing the attackers to seize Mengcheng on 9 May and Hefei on 14 May. From there, the southern flank split into two parts: one force moved west and then north to cut off the Longhai Railway escape route from Xuzhou, while another division moved directly north along the railway toward Suxian, just outside Xuzhou. Simultaneously, to the north, Japanese units from north China massed at Jining and began moving south beyond Tengxian. Along the coast, an amphibious landing was made at Lianyungang to reinforce troops attacking from the east. The remaining portions of Taierzhuang were captured in May, a development symbolically significant to Tokyo. On 17 May, Japanese artillery further tightened the noose around Xuzhou, striking targets inside the city. To preserve its strength, the Nationalist government ordered the abandonment of Xuzhou and directed its main forces to break out toward northern Jiangsu, northern Anhui, and eastern Henan. To deter the Japanese army's rapid westward advance and penetration into northern Henan and western Shandong, many leading military and political figures within the Nationalist government proposed breaching dams over the Yellow River to delay the offensive, a strategy that would have been highly advantageous to the Nationalist forces at the time. Chiang Kai-shek vetoed the proposal outright, insisting that the Nationalist army could still resist. He understood that with tens of millions of Chinese lives at stake and a sliver of hope remaining, the levee plan must not be undertaken. Then a significant battle broke out at Lanfeng. Chiang also recognized that defeat could allow the elite Japanese mechanized divisions, the 14th, 16th, and 10th, to advance directly toward Zhengzhou. If Zhengzhou fell, the Japanese mechanized forces on the plains could advance unimpeded toward Tongguan. Their southward push would threaten Xi'an, Xiangfan, and Nanyang, directly jeopardizing the southwest's rear defenses. Concurrently, the Japanese would advance along the Huai River north of the Dabie Mountains toward Wuhan, creating a pincer with operations along the Yangtze River. Now what followed was arguably the most important and skillful Chinese maneuver of the Xuzhou campaign: a brilliantly executed strategic retreat to the south and west across the Jinpu railway line. On May 15, Li Zongren, in consultation with Chiang Kai-shek, decided to withdraw from Xuzhou and focus on an escape plan. The evacuation of civilians and military personnel began that day. Li ordered troops to melt into the countryside and move south and west at night, crossing the Jinpu Railway and splitting into four groups that would head west. The plan was to regroup in the rugged Dabie Mountains region to the south and prepare for the defense of Wuhan. Li's generals departed reluctantly, having held out for so long; Tang Enbo was said to have wept. Under cover of night, about forty divisions, over 200,000 men, marched out of Japanese reach in less than a week. A critical moment occurred on May 18, when fog and a sandstorm obscured the retreating troops as they crossed the Jinpu Railway. By May 21, Li wired Chiang Kai-shek to report that the withdrawal was complete. He mobilized nearly all of the Kuomintang Central Army's elite units, such as the 74th Army, withdrawn from Xuzhou and transferred directly to Lanfeng, with a resolute intent to “burn their boats.” The force engaged the Japanese in a decisive battle at Lanfeng, aiming to secure the last line of defense for the Yellow River, a position carrying the lives of millions of Chinese civilians. Yet Chiang Kai-shek's strategy was not universally understood by all participating generals, who regarded it as akin to striking a rock with an egg. For the battle of Lanfeng the Chinese mobilized nearly all of the Kuomintang Central Army's elite forces, comprising 14 divisions totaling over 150,000 men. Among these, the 46th Division of the 27th Army, formerly the Central Training Brigade and the 36th, 88th, and 87th Divisions of the 71st Army were German-equipped. Additionally, the 8th Army, the Tax Police Corps having been reorganized into the Ministry of Finance's Anti-Smuggling Corps, the 74th Army, and Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps, the new 1st Army, equipped with the 8th Division were elite Nationalist troops that had demonstrated strong performance in the battle of Shanghai and the battle of Nanjing, and were outfitted with advanced matériel. However, these so-called “elite” forces were heavily degraded during the campaigns in Shanghai and Nanjing. The 46th Division and Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps sustained casualties above 85% in Nanjing, while the 88th and 87th Divisions suffered losses of up to 90%. The 74th Army and the 36th Division also endured losses exceeding 75%. Their German-made equipment incurred substantial losses; although replenishment occurred, inventories resembled roughly a half-German and half-Chinese mix. With very limited heavy weapons and a severe shortage of anti-tank artillery, they could not effectively match the elite Japanese regiments. Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps maintained its national equipment via a close relationship with Chiang Kai-shek. In contrast, the 74th Army, after fighting in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Xuzhou, suffered heavy casualties, and the few German weapons it had were largely destroyed at Nanjing, leaving it to rely on a mix of domestically produced and Hanyang-made armaments. The new recruits added to each unit largely lacked combat experience, with nearly half of the intake having received basic training. The hardest hit was Li Hanhun's 64th Army, established less than a year prior and already unpopular within the Guangdong Army. Although classified as one of the three Type A divisions, the 155th, 156th, and 187th Divisions, it was equipped entirely with Hanyang-made firearms. Its direct artillery battalion possessed only about 20 older mortars and three Type 92 infantry guns, limiting its heavy firepower to roughly that of a Japanese battalion. The 195th Division and several miscellaneous units were even less prominent, reorganized from local militias and lacking Hanyang rifles. Additionally, three batches of artillery purchased from the Soviet Union arrived in Lanzhou via Xinjiang between March and June 1938. Except for the 52nd Artillery Regiment assigned to the 200th Division, the other artillery regiments had recently received their weapons and were still undergoing training. The 200th Division, had been fighting awhile for in the Xuzhou area and incurred heavy casualties, was still in training and could only deploy its remaining tank battalion and armored vehicle company. The tank battalion was equipped with T-26 light tanks and a small number of remaining British Vickers tanks, while the armored vehicle company consisted entirely of Italian Fiat CV33 armored cars. The disparity in numbers was substantial, and this tank unit did not participate in the battle. As for the Japanese, the 14th Division was an elite Type A formation. Originally organized with four regiments totaling over 30,000 men, the division's strength was later augmented. Doihara's 14th Division received supplements, a full infantry regiment and three artillery regiments, to prevent it from being surrounded and annihilated, effectively transforming the unit into a mobile reinforced division. Consequently, the division's mounted strength expanded to more than 40,000 personnel, comprising five infantry regiments and four artillery regiments. The four artillery regiments, the 24th Artillery Regiment, the 3rd Independence Mountain Artillery Regiment, the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, and the 6th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, possessed substantial heavy firepower, including 150mm heavy howitzers and 105mm long-range field cannons, placing them far in excess of the Nationalist forces at Lanfeng. In addition, both the 14th and later the 16th Divisions commanded tank regiments with nearly 200 light and medium tanks each, while Nationalist forces were markedly short of anti-tank artillery. At the same time, the Nationalist Air Force, though it had procured more than 200 aircraft of various types from the Soviet Union, remained heavily reliant on Soviet aid-to-China aircraft, amounting to over 100 machines, and could defend only a few cities such as Wuhan, Nanchang, and Chongqing. In this context, Japanese forces effectively dominated the Battle of Lanfeng. Moreover, reports indicate that the Japanese employed poison gas on the battlefield, while elite Nationalist troops possessed only a limited number of gas masks, creating a stark disparity in chemical warfare preparedness. Despite these disparities, Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist government were initially unaware of the updated strength and composition of the Doihara Division. Faced with constrained options, Chiang chose to press ahead with combat operations. On May 12, 1939, after crossing the Yellow River, the IJA 14th Division continued its southward advance toward Lanfeng. The division's objective was to sever the Longhai Railway, disrupt the main Nationalist retreat toward Zhengzhou, and seize Zhengzhou itself. By May 15, the division split into two columns at Caoxian and moved toward key nodes on the Longhai Line. Major General Toyotomi Fusatarou led two infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, and one artillery regiment in the main assault toward Kaocheng with the aim of directly capturing Lanfeng. Doihara led three infantry regiments and three artillery regiments toward Neihuang and Minquan, threatening Guide. In response, the Nationalist forces concentrated along the railway from Lanfeng to Guide, uniting Song Xilian's 71st Army, Gui Yongqing's 27th Army, Yu Jishi's 74th Army, Li Hanhun's 64th Army, and Huang Jie's 8th Army. From May 15 to 17, the Fengjiu Brigade, advancing toward Lanfeng, met stubborn resistance near Kaocheng from roughly five divisions under Song Xilian and was forced to shift its effort toward Yejigang and Neihuang. The defense near Neihuang, including Shen Ke's 106th Division and Liang Kai's 195th Division, ultimately faltered, allowing Doihara's division to seize Neihuang, Yejigang, Mazhuangzhai, and Renheji. Nevertheless, the Nationalist forces managed to contain the Japanese advance east and west of the area, preventing a complete encirclement. Chiang Kai-shek ordered Cheng Qian, commander-in-chief of the 1st War Zone, to encircle and annihilate the Japanese 14th Division. The deployment plan mapped three routes: the Eastern Route Army, under Li Hanhun, would include the 74th Army, the 155th Division of the 64th Army, a brigade of the 88th Division, and a regiment of the 87th Division, advancing westward from Guide); the Western Route Army, commanded by Gui Yongqing, would comprise the 27th Army, the 71st Army, the 61st Division, and the 78th Division, advancing eastward from Lanfeng; and the Northern Route Army, formed by Sun Tongxuan's 3rd Army and Shang Zhen's 20th Army, was to cut off the enemy's retreat to the north bank of the Yellow River near Dingtao, Heze, Dongming, and Kaocheng, while attacking the Doihara Division from the east, west, and north to annihilate it in a single decisive operation. On May 21, the Nationalist Army mounted a full-scale offensive. Yu Jishi's 74th Army, commanded by Wang Yaowu's 51st Division, joined a brigade of Song Xilian's 71st Army, led by the 88th Division, and drove the Japanese forces at Mazhuangzhai into retreat, capturing Neihuang and Renheji. The main Japanese force, more than 6,000 strong, withdrew southwest to Yangjiji and Shuangtaji. Song Xilian, commanding Shen Fazao's 87th Division, launched a sharp assault on Yejigang (Yifeng). The Japanese abandoned the stronghold, but their main body continued advancing toward Yangjiji, with some units retreating to Donggangtou and Maoguzhai. On May 23, Song Xilian's 71st Army and Yu Jishi's 74th Army enveloped and annihilated enemy forces at Donggangtou and Maoguzhai. That evening they seized Ximaoguzhai, Yangzhuang, and Helou, eliminating more than a thousand Japanese troops. The Japanese troops at Donggangtou fled toward Lanfeng. Meanwhile, Gui Yongqing's forces were retreating through Lanfeng. His superior strength, Jiang Fusheng's 36th Division, Li Liangrong's 46th Division, Zhong Song's 61st Division, Li Wen's 78th Division, Long Muhan's 88th Division, and Shen Ke's 106th Division—had held defensive positions along the Lanfeng–Yangji line. Equipped with a tank battalion and armored vehicle company commanded by Qiu Qingquan, they blocked the enemy's westward advance and awaited Japanese exhaustion. However, under the Japanese offensive, Gui Yongqing's poor command led to the loss of Maji and Mengjiaoji, forcing the 27th Army to retreat across its entire front. Its main force fled toward Qixian and Kaifeng. The Japanese seized the opportunity to capture Quxingji, Luowangzhai, and Luowang Railway Station west of Lanfeng. Before retreating, Gui Yongqing ordered Long Muhan to dispatch a brigade to replace the 106th Division in defending Lanfeng, while he directed the 106th Division to fall back to Shiyuan. Frightened by the enemy, Long Muhan unilaterally withdrew his troops on the night of the 23rd, leaving Lanfeng undefended. On the 24th, Japanese troops advancing westward from Donggangtou entered Lanfeng unopposed and, relying on well-fortified fortifications, held their ground until reinforcements arrived. In the initial four days, the Nationalist offensive failed to overwhelm the Japanese, who escaped encirclement and annihilation. The four infantry and artillery regiments and one cavalry regiment on the Japanese side managed to hold the line along Lanfeng, Luowangzhai, Sanyizhai, Lanfengkou, Quxingji, Yang'erzhai, and Chenliukou on the south bank of the Yellow River, offering stubborn resistance. The Longhai Railway was completely cut off. Chiang Kai-shek, furious upon hearing the news while stationed in Zhengzhou, ordered the execution of Long Muhan, commander of the 88th Division, to restore military morale. He also decided to consolidate Hu Zongnan's, Li Hanhun's, Yu Jishi's, Song Xilian's, and Gui Yongqing's troops into the 1st Corps, with Xue Yue as commander-in-chief. On the morning of May 25, they launched a determined counterattack on Doihara's 14th Division. Song Xilian personally led the front lines on May 24 to rally the defeated 88th Division. Starting on May 25, after three days of intense combat, Li Hanhun's 64th Army advanced to seize Luowang Station and Luowangzhai, while Song Xilian's 71st Army retook Lanfeng City, temporarily reopening the Longhai Line to traffic. At Sanyi Village, Gui Yongqing's 27th Army and Yu Jishi's 74th Army captured a series of outlying positions, including Yang'eyao, Chailou, Cailou, Hezhai, Xuelou, and Baowangsi. Despite these gains, more than 6,000 Japanese troops offered stubborn resistance. During the fighting, Ji Hongru, commander of the 302nd Regiment, was seriously wounded but continued to fight, shouting, “Don't worry about my death! Brothers, fight on!” He ultimately died a heroic death from his wounds. By May 27, Chiang Kai-shek, concerned that the forces had not yet delivered a decisive victory at Lanfeng, personally reprimanded the participating generals and ordered them to completely encircle and annihilate the enemy west of Lanfeng by the following day. He warned that if the opportunity was missed and Japanese reinforcements arrived, the position could be endangered. The next day, Chiang Kai-shek issued another telegram, urging Cheng Qian's First War Zone and all participating units to press the offensive. The telegram allegedly had this in it “It will forever be a laughingstock in the history of warfare.” Meanwhile on the other side, to prevent the annihilation of Doihara's 14th Division, the elite Japanese 16th Division and the 3rd Mixed Brigade, totaling over 40,000 men, launched a westward assault from Dangshan, capturing Yucheng on May 26. They then began probing the outskirts of Guide. Huang Jie's Eighth Army, responsible for the defense, withdrew to the outskirts of Guide that evening. On May 28, Huang Jie again led his troops on his own initiative, retreating to Liuhe and Kaifeng, leaving only the 187th Division to defend Zhuji Station and Guide City. At dawn on May 29, Peng Linsheng, commander of the 187th Division, also withdrew his troops, leaving Guide a deserted city. The Japanese occupied Guide without a fight. The loss of Guide dramatically shifted the tide of the war. Threatened on the flanks by the Japanese 16th Division, the Nationalist forces were forced onto the defensive. On May 28, the Japanese 14th Division concentrated its forces to counterattack Gui Yongqing's troops, but they were defeated again, allowing the Japanese to stabilize their position. At the same time, the fall of Shangqiu compelled Xue Yue's corps to withdraw five divisions to block the enemy in Shangqiu, and the Nationalist Army shifted to a defensive posture with the 14th Division holding Sanyizhai and Quxingji. To the north of the battlefield, the Japanese 4th Mixed Brigade, numbering over 10,000 men, was preparing to force a crossing of the Yellow River in order to join with the nearby 14th Division. More seriously, the 10th Division, together with its 13th Mixed Brigade and totaling more than 40,000 men, had captured Woyang and Bozhou on the Henan-Anhui border and was rapidly encircling eastern Henan. By the time of the Battle of Lanfeng, Japanese forces had deployed more than 100,000 troops, effectively surrounding the Nationalist army. On May 31, the First War Zone decided to withdraw completely, and the Battle of Lanfeng ended in defeat for the Nationalists, forcing Chiang Kai-shek to authorize diverting the Yellow River embankment to relieve pressure. The consequence was a deteriorating strategic situation, as encirclement tightened and reinforcement options dwindled, driving a retreat from the Lanfeng front. The National Army suffered more than 67,000 casualties, killed and wounded more than 10,000 Japanese soldiers, Lanfeng was lost, and Zhengzhou was in danger. As in Nanjing, this Chinese army might have lived to fight another day, but the effect on Xuzhou itself was horrific. The city had endured Japanese bombardment since August 1937, and the population's mood swung between cautious hope and utter despair. In March, Du Zhongyuan visited Xuzhou. Before he left Wuhan, friends told him that “the city was desolate and the people were terrified, all the inhabitants of Xuzhou were quietly getting on with their business … sometimes it was even calmer than Wuhan.” The Australian journalist Rhodes Farmer recalled a similar image in a book published at war's end, noting the “ordinary townsfolk who became wardens, fire-fighters and first-aid workers during the raid and then went back to their civil jobs.” Yet the mid-May departure of Nationalist troops left the city and its outskirts at the mercy of an angry Imperial Army. Bombing continued through the final days of battle, and a single raid on May 14, 1938 killed 700 people. Around Xuzhou, buildings and bridges were destroyed—some by retreating Chinese forces, some by advancing Japanese troops. Taierzhuang, the scene of the earlier iconic defense, was utterly destroyed. Canadian Jesuits who remained in Xuzhou after its fall recorded that more than a third of the houses were razed, and most of the local population had fled in terror. In rural areas around the city, massacres were repeatedly reported, many witnessed by missionaries. Beyond the atrocities of the Japanese, locals faced banditry in the absence of law enforcement, and vital agricultural work such as planting seed ground to a halt. The loss of Xuzhou was both strategic and symbolic. It dealt a severe blow to Chiang's attempt to hold central China and to control regional troop movements. Morale, which Taierzhuang had briefly boosted, was battered again though not extinguished. The fall signaled that the war would be long, and that swift victory against Japan was no longer likely. Mao Zedong's Yan'an base, far to the northwest, grasped the meaning of defeat there. In May 1938 he delivered one of his most celebrated lectures, “On Protracted War,” chiding those who had over-optimistically claimed the Xuzhou campaign could be a quasi-decisive victory and arguing that, after Taierzhuang, some had become “giddy.” Mao insisted that China would ultimately prevail, yet he warned that it could not be won quickly, and that the War of Resistance would be protracted. In the meantime, the development of guerrilla warfare remained an essential piece of the long-term strategy that the Communist armies would pursue in north China. Yet the loss of Xuzhou did not necessarily portend a long war; it could, instead, presage a war that would be terrifyingly short. By spring 1938 the Chinese defenders were desperate. There was a real danger that the entire war effort could collapse, and the Nationalist governments' notable success as protectors of a shrinking “Free China” lay in avoiding total disaster. Government propaganda had successfully portrayed a plan beyond retreat to foreign observers, yet had Tokyo captured Wuhan in the spring, the Chinese Army would have had to withdraw at speed, reinforcing perceptions of disintegration. Western governments were unlikely to intervene unless convinced it was in their interests. Within the Nationalist leadership, competing instincts persisted. The government pursued welfare measures for the people in the midst of a massive refugee relief effort, the state and local organizations, aided by the International Red Cross, housed large numbers of refugees in 1937–1938. Yet there was a harsher strain within policy circles, with some officials willing to sacrifice individual lives for strategic or political ends as the Japanese threat intensified. Throughout central China, the Yellow River, China's “Sorrow”, loomed as the dominant geographic force shaping history. The loess-laden river, notorious for floods and shifting channels, was banked by massive dikes near Zhengzhou, exactly along the line the Japanese would traverse toward Wuhan. Using the river as a military instrument was discussed as a drastic option: Chiang and Cheng Qian's First War Zone contemplated diverting or breaching the dikes to halt or slow the Japanese advance, a measure that could buy time but would unleash enormous civilian suffering. The idea dated back to 1887 floods that cost hundreds of thousands of lives, and even in 1935 Alexander von Falkenhausen had warned that the Yellow River could become the final line of defense. In 1938 Chiang, recognizing the futility of defeating the Japanese by conventional means at Zhengzhou, considered unleashing the river's force if necessary to impede the invaders. The political and strategic calculus was stark: protect central China and Wuhan, even if it required drastic and morally fraught measures. A more humane leader might have hesitated to break the dikes and spare the dams, allowing the Japanese to take Wuhan. But Chiang Kai-shek believed that if the dikes were not breached and Wuhan fell within days, the Nationalist government might be unable to relocate to Chongqing in time and would likely surrender, leaving Japan in control of almost all of China. Some have compared the choice to France's surrender in June 1940, underscoring that Chiang's decision came during the country's most terrifying assault, with Chinese forces much weaker and less trained than their European counterparts. The dilemma over whether to break the Yellow River dikes grew out of desperation. Chiang ultimately ordered General Wei Rulin to blow the dike that held the Yellow River in central Henan. There was no doubt about the consequences: floods would inundate vast areas of central China, creating a waterlogged barrier that would halt the Japanese advance. Yet for the plan to succeed, it had to be carried out quickly, and the government could offer no public warning in case the Japanese detected it and accelerated their movement. Xiong Xianyu, chief of staff in the 8th Division at the time, recorded the urgency of those hours in his diary. The Japanese were already on the north bank of the Yellow River, briefly delayed when the Chinese army blew up the railway bridge across the river. The destruction of the dikes was the next step: if the area became a sea of mud, there would be no way the Japanese could even attempt to reconstruct the bridge. Blasting the dikes proved easier in theory than in practice. Holding back such a massive body of water required substantial engineering, dams thick and well fortified. The army made its first attempts to blow the dike at the small town of Zhaokou between June 4 and 6, 1938, but the structure proved too durable; another nearby attempt failed as well. Hour by hour, the Japanese moved closer. Division commander Jiang Zaizhen asked Xiong Xianyu for his opinion on where they might breach the dams. Xiong wrote “I discussed the topography, and said that two places, Madukou and Huayuankou, were both possible.” But Madukou was too close to Zhaokou, where the breach had already failed, presenting a danger that the Japanese might reach it very soon. The village of Huayuankou, however, lay farther away and on a bend in the river: “To give ourselves enough time, Huayuankou would be best.” At first, the soldiers treated the task as a military engineering assignment, an “exciting” one in Xiong's words. Xiong and Wei Rulin conducted their first site inspection after dark, late on June 6. The surroundings offered a deceptive calm: Xiong recounted “The wind blew softly, and the river water trickled pleasantly.” Yet gauging the water level proved difficult, hampered by murky moonlight and burned-out flashlights. They spent the night in their car to determine precisely where to break the dike as soon as day broke. But daylight seemed to bring home the consequences of what they planned to do, and the soldiers grew increasingly anxious. Wang Songmei, commander of the 2nd Regiment, addressed the workers about to breach the dike: “My brothers, this plan will be of benefit to our country and our nation, and will lessen the harm that is being done to the people.In the future, you'll find good wives and have plenty of children.” Wang's words were meant to reassure the men of the political necessity of their actions and that fate would not, in the traditional Chinese sense, deny them a family because of the enormity of their deeds. General Wei confirmed that Huayuankou was the right spot, and on June 8 the work began, with about 2,000 men taking part. The Nationalist government was eager to ensure rapid progress. Xiong recorded that the “highest authorities”,, kept making telephone calls from Wuhan to check on progress. In addition, the party sent performers to sing and play music to bolster the workers' spirits. Senior General Shang Zhen announced to the laborers that if they breached the dam by midnight on June 8, each would receive 2,000 yuan; if they achieved it by six the next morning, they would still be paid 1,000 yuan. They needed encouragement, for the diggers had no artificial assistance. After the initial failures at Zhaokou, Wei's troops relied entirely on manual labor, with no explosives used. Yet the workers earned their payments, and the dike was breached in just a few hours. On the morning of June 9, Xiong recorded a rapid shift in mood: the atmosphere became tense and solemn. Initially, the river flow was modest, but by about 1:00 p.m. the water surged “fiercely,” flowing “like 10,000 horses.” Looking toward the distance, Xiong felt as though a sea had appeared before him. “My heart ached,” he wrote. The force of the water widened the breach, and a deadly stream hundreds of feet wide comprising about three-quarters of the river's volume—rushed southeast across the central Chinese plains. “We did this to stop the enemy,” Xiong reflected, “so we didn't regret the huge sacrifice, as it was for a greater victory.” Yet he and the other soldiers also saw a grim reality: the troops who had taken on the task of destroying the railway bridge and the dikes could not bear the flood's consequences alone. It would be up to the government and the people of the nation to provide relief for the countless households uprooted by the flood. In fact, the previous evening Commander Jiang had telephoned to request assistance for those flooded out of their homes. Wei, Xiong, and their troops managed to escape by wooden boats. Hundreds of thousands of farmers trapped in the floods were far less fortunate. Time magazine's correspondent Theodore White reported on the devastation a few days later “Last week “The Ungovernable” [i.e. the Yellow River] lashed out with a flood which promised to change not only its own course but also the course of the whole Sino-Japanese War. Severe breaks in the dikes near Kaifeng sent a five-foot wall of water fanning out over a 500-squaremile area, spreading death. Toll from Yellow River floods is not so much from quick drowning as from gradual disease and starvation. The river's filth settles ankle-deep on the fields, mothering germs, smothering crops. Last week, about 500,000 peasants were driven from 2,000 communities to await rescue or death on whatever dry ground they could find”. Chiang's government had committed one of the grossest acts of violence against its own people, and he knew that the publicity could be a damaging blow to its reputation. He decided to divert blame by announcing that the dike had been broken, but blaming the breach on Japanese aerial bombing. The Japanese, in turn, fiercely denied having bombed the dikes. White's reporting reflected the immediate response of most foreigners; having heard about the atrocities at Nanjing and Xuzhou, he was disinclined to give the Japanese the benefit of the doubt. Furthermore, at the very time that the Yellow River was flooding central China, the Japanese were heavily bombing Guangzhou, causing thousands of casualties. To White, the Japanese counterargument—that the Chinese themselves were responsible, seemed unthinkable: “These accusations, foreign observers thought, were absurd. For the Chinese to check the Japanese advance at possible sacrifice of half a million lives would be a monstrous pyrrhic victory. Besides, dike-cutting is the blackest of Chinese crimes, and the Chinese Army would hardly risk universal censure for slight tactical gains.” But, of course, that is exactly what they had done. During the war the Nationalists never admitted that they, not the Japanese, had breached the dikes. But the truth quickly became widely known. Just a month later, on July 19, US Ambassador Johnson noted, in private communication, that the “Chinese blocked the advance on Chengchow [Zhengzhou] by breaching the Yellow River dikes.” Eventually some 54,000 square kilometers of central China were inundated by the floods. If the Japanese had committed such an act, it would have been remembered as the prime atrocity of the war, dwarfing even the Nanjing Massacre or the Chongqing air raids in terms of the number of people who suffered. Accurate statistics were impossible to obtain in the midst of wartime chaos and disaster, but in 1948 figures issued by the Nationalists themselves suggested enormous casualties: for the three affected provinces of Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu, the number of dead was put at 844,489, with some 4.8 million becoming refugees. More recent studies place the numbers lower, but still estimate the dead at around 500,000, and 3–5 million refugees. In contrast, the devastating May 1939 air raids on Chongqing killed some thousands. Xiong reflected in his diary that the breaching of the Yellow River dikes was a sacrifice for a greater victory. Even to some Japanese it seemed that the tactic had been successful in the short term: the first secretary at the US Embassy in Wuhan reported that the flood had “completely checked the Japanese advance on Chengchow” and had prevented them taking Wuhan by rail. Instead, he predicted, the attack was likely to come by water and along the north shore of the Yangtze. Supporters of the dike breaches could argue that these acts saved central China and Chiang's headquarters in Wuhan for another five months. The Japanese were indeed prevented from advancing along the Long–Hai railway toward Wuhan. In the short term the floods did what the Nationalists wanted. But the flooding was a tactic, a breathing space, and did not solve the fundamental problem: China's armies needed strong leadership and rapid reform. Some historians suggest that Chiang's decision was pointless anyway, since it merely delayed the inevitable. Theodore White was right: no strategic advantage could make the deaths of 500,000 of China's own people a worthwhile price to pay. However, Chiang Kai-shek's decision can be partly explained, though not excused, by the context. We can now look back at the actions of the Nationalists and argue that they should not have held on to Wuhan, or that their actions in breaching the dam were unjustifiable in the extreme. But for Chiang, in the hot summer of 1938, it seemed his only hope was to deny Japan as much of China for as long as possible and create the best possible circumstances for a long war from China's interior, while keeping the world's attention on what Japan was doing. The short delay won by the flooding was itself part of the strategy. In the struggle raging within the soul of the Nationalist Party, the callous, calculating streak had won, for the time being. The breaking of the dikes marked a turning point as the Nationalists committed an act whose terrible consequences they would eventually have to expiate. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In late 1937, China's frontline trembled as Japanese forces closed in on Wuhan. Chiang Kai-shek faced a brutal choice: endure costly defenses or unleash a desperate gamble. Chiangs' radical plan emerged: breach the Yellow River dikes at Huayuankou to flood central China, buying time. The flood roared, washing villages and futures away, yet slowing the enemy. The battlefield paused, while a nation weighed courage against civilian suffering, victory against devastating costs.
The Battle Of Proximity | Marcus Mecum | City Light Church by Jabin Chavez
Trending with Timmerie - Catholic Principals applied to today's experiences.
In this unforgettable episode of Trending, Timmerie Geagea sits down with Sara Huff, once known as the most influential feminist in Brazil, to share her dramatic and faith-filled journey from radical feminism to freedom in Christ. Sara recounts how, as a young woman from a broken home, she was recruited into a Soviet-trained feminist network. This group targeted vulnerable women and taught them to reject God, family, and femininity itself. She describes being flown to Ukraine for an “activist training camp,” which turned out to be a program of psychological manipulation and anti-Christian indoctrination designed to weaponize pain and resentment against faith-based values. You can listen to the entire hour here! (Some content may not be appropriate for all ages.) Sara’s story reveals how the feminist movement’s leaders, many of them men hostile to religion and family life, exploited her suffering to advance their ideology. She explains how these movements use emotional wounds – especially among young women – to recruit and radicalize, replacing faith with anger and compassion with control. Yet even after years of living in bitterness and rebellion, Sara experienced God’s mercy through the care of a Catholic man and his family. That encounter led her to rediscover her identity as a beloved daughter of God and to embrace true feminine strength rooted in love, virtue, and motherhood. Now living in the United States, Sara speaks openly about how feminism continues to prey on women’s insecurities while distorting their natural gifts. She challenges you to recognize how media and cultural movements subtly erode trust in faith, marriage, and motherhood. Timmerie and Sara discuss how Christ alone restores the dignity of womanhood and brings healing to the deepest wounds caused by ideology and sin. If you’ve ever wondered what’s behind the messaging of modern feminism – or how God can redeem even the darkest parts of our story – this conversation will move and inspire you. Sara’s transformation is a living witness to the truth that no ideology can outshine the mercy of Christ.
Few movies have ever been as timely as Paul Thomas Anderson's latest film One Battle AfterAnother, which traces the battle between revolutionary resistance groups trying to protectimmigrants and an authoritarian government run by racists. There are scenes from the moviethat feel like they are being played out right now on the streets of Chicago, Los Angeles andPortland. Although it presents a stylized version of reality, the film raises important questionsabout different strategies of resistance. David Klion, a frequent guest, wrote about the moviefor The New Republic. David and I talked about the film, its roots in actual history but alsovariance with that history as well as its relationship with the Thomas Pynchon novel Vineland.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
TCU Junior Duncan Chan joins the show to chat through his electric start to the 2025 College Tennis fall. He also reflects on his first two season at TCU, shares his goals for the upcoming year, plus SO much more!! Don't forget to give a 5 star review on your favorite podcast app! In addition, add your twitter/instagram handle to the review for a chance to win some FREE CR gear!! Episode Bookmarks The start to his fall - 4:00 First two years at TCU - 13:15 NIL piece - 29:11 ITA All-Americans - 31:26 Battle of the Bay - 33:50 Goals for junior year - 35:30 ____________________ Laurel Springs Ranked among the best online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential. Find Cracked Racquets Website: https://www.crackedracquets.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/crackedracquets Twitter: https://twitter.com/crackedracquets Facebook: https://Facebook.com/crackedracquets YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/crackedracquets Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
patreon.com/alwaysirish promo code CARR for 50% off first month #notredame #collegefootball #SEC #Georgia #pennstate #ohiostate #miami #mikegoolsby #goolsby #notredamefootball #notredame #miami patreon.com/AlwaysIrishhttps://www.alwaysirishgold.com/citycheers apphttps://lt-spirits.myshopify.com/products/plact-play-like-a-champion-today-bourbonotre dame x @AlwaysIrishINC https://alwaysirishmerch.com/https://www.si.com/college/notredame