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Bill Gates' testimony on Jeffrey Epstein released, NY Times unloads on Diana Russini, Jeff Bezos loves pretending to be on the phone, a new Bonerline, and Jim's Picks: Father's Day Songs. JFK's grandson Jack Schlossberg lost his Senate race. Good. He seems like a turd. Drew is finally catching World Cup Fever. He especially loves the Scottish and Norwegian fans. DJ Fat Tony is trying to kiss the Beckham's butts again. Door Dash paid over $1 million to Brooklyn Beckham for his stupid commercial. The NY Times is successfully making Diana Russini's life miserable. She got busted texting while driving with her kids in the car. May Ling wants the biggest butt ever. Hot or gross? Reese Witherspoon should be in trouble for dating an old billionaire. Jeff Bezos is always pretending to be on the phone. Brand new Bonerline. Drew & Roberto are in love with The Victory Tour (The Jacksons). Maternal Instinct on Netflix is one of the wildest documentaries out there. There's now transcripts out there of Taylor Parker in jail crying to her mom. Poor Taylor. Bill Gates' testimony is released. He should have left Melinda sooner. We called Tom Mazawey and he missed the call. It's crazy! Jim's Picks: Top 10 Father's Day Songs Merch, yo. Check it. If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Drew Lane, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley, BranDon, and Roberto).
In today's episode, I sit down for a candid conversation about the reality of entrepreneurial freedom and why it's far different from what most people imagine. I share lessons from losing more than $100 million, rebuilding my life, and redefining success beyond money, titles, and comparisons to people like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. We discuss the difference between owning a business and owning a job, the importance of understanding your timing and risk tolerance, and why true freedom comes from aligning your life with your values. I also explain my daily non-negotiables, the power of sleep, faith, family, and consistent habits that create lasting progress over time.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Bill Gates suspects Epstein tried to blackmail him according to newly released testimony, activists sue to protect the sunflower sea star, and the AI boom is driving interest in nuclear energy. It’s our daily roundup of top stories from the KUOW newsroom, with host Paige Browning. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Bill Gates told the House Oversight Committee that his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was, in his telling, about philanthropy — Epstein claimed he could connect Gates to wealthy donors who might put major money into global health work. Gates said he met Epstein beginning in 2011, after Epstein's 2008 conviction, and continued interactions until 2014, when he concluded Epstein could not deliver on those promises. He denied witnessing Epstein commit crimes, denied visiting Epstein's island, ranch, or Florida home, and said he “never victimized anyone,” while acknowledging that he may have been in the presence of Epstein victims during his dealings with Epstein.The more damaging part is that Gates admitted Epstein gained access to sensitive information about his personal life, including extramarital affairs, and allegedly tried to use that information — mixed with falsehoods, according to Gates — to pressure him back into contact. Gates portrayed Epstein as a manipulator who used proximity to powerful people to launder his reputation, while lawmakers pressed the obvious question: why Gates kept engaging with a convicted sex offender at all. Gates expressed regret, saying he should never have met with Epstein, but the testimony still adds another example of Epstein's method: insinuating himself into elite circles, collecting leverage, and using access as currency.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Bill Gates says he didn't witness crimes but may have been in presence of Epstein victims | CNN Politics
On this edition of the Adult in the Room podcast, Victoria Taft tears into a massive drop of unsealed congressional documents and breaking political shifts. We kick off "Epstein Thursday" with an exhaustive look at the newly unsealed, heavily redacted deposition transcripts from long-time Epstein insider Leslie Groff and tech billionaire Bill Gates. From the exact tally of Donald Trump mentions to the raw logistics of how Epstein ran his network, we expose the reality behind the mainstream media's spin. Plus, we cover the widening civil war inside the Democratic Party as James Carville sounds the alarm on the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) seizing control of the party platform in New York's "commie corridor". The Unsealed Depositions: A deep dive into the 138-page Bill Gates file and Leslie Groff's testimony. The Socialist Surge: Analyzing the Red Star Caucus, Marxist-Leninist factions, and Hakeem Jeffries getting booed off the stage. Live Guest Analysis: Author Richard C. Lyons joins to break down the foundational differences between top-down state control and true free enterprise. Listen now to arm yourself with the facts. Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a 5-star review on your favorite platform!
SlimFast's ‘ex' was a respectable dancer, not a whore. Do you think Bill Gates ever bought his (alleged) Russian prostitutes a tempo? Lazlo calls out SlimFast for taking the Whitney Houston high road. SlimFast thinks his grandpa is Clive Davis, and Lazlo addresses the Reddit comments head-on. Lazlo says Summer looks miserable to date, and it does not go over well. Stream The Church of Lazlo podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
June 24, 2026 - 5am: Mamdani allies sweep New York House Primaries Other Primaries: South Carolina, Maryland, Utah House Oversight Committee shares transcript of Bill Gates testimony on Jeffrey Epsetin relationship Trump holds campaign-style rally in Pennsylvania Today marks 4 years since the Dobbs decision, the Supreme Court case that effectively overturned Roe v. Wade and repealed the Constitutional right to an abortion To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
The CEO of Heart Aerospace describes the development of a hybrid-electric 30-seat regional commercial aircraft. In the news, a near miss at Boston Logan between a landing Delta Air Lines flight and a departing American Airlines flight, NASA's Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability 2050 (AACES) program, Canada’s purchase of F-35A fighters and possibly Saab Gripens, and Canada’s look at early-warning-radar planes. Guest Anders Forslund is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Heart Aerospace, formed to electrify short-haul regional aviation. Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, a hybrid-electric 30-seat regional commercial aircraft. Heart is currently in upstate New York, testing the X1 demonstrator aircraft, which the company says will be the largest electric aircraft ever to fly. The company is backed by Bill Gates' Breakthrough Ventures and Y Combinator, as well as operator/investors United Airlines and Air Canada. Anders explains Heart Aerospace’s mission to lower the cost of air travel and how their clean-sheet Part 25 airliner will achieve about a 40% reduction in overall operating costs. The ES-30 will be an electric-motor-and-turboprop hybrid, while the full-scale X1 prototype is all-electric. The X1 demonstrator has completed low-speed taxi testing at the company’s X1 flight-test base at Plattsburgh International Airport in upstate New York. First flight is expected shortly, with type certification planned for 2031. Video: Heart X1 Completes Low-Speed Taxi Testing https://youtu.be/5jkyKevsJNI?si=1xreSjh_gRcI6xu2 Anders tells us about the Heart team and how aerospace development has changed in the last decade. The company strives to manage uncertainty rather than minimize it, holds itself accountable, and sets falsifiable goals. Before starting Heart, Anders was an aerospace researcher at Chalmers, where he was a driving force behind the Elise-Electric Aviation research project in Sweden, funded by the Swedish innovation agency Vinnova. He spent 2013-2014 at MIT, where his work on geometric variation of aerospace components was awarded the Charles M. Manly Memorial Medal. He is also a founding member of the Nordic Network for Electric Aviation. Anders has a Ph.D. in Aerospace Product Development and a B.Sc. in Engineering Physics from Chalmers. He has a dual M.Sc. in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University and Luleå University, as part of the SpaceMaster program. He is also a member of Prince Daniel’s Fellowship for young entrepreneurs. Follow Heart Aerospace on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Aviation News Horrifying Near Miss at Boston Logan as Quick-Thinking Delta Air Pilots Go Around to Avoid Landing On Top of American Airlines Boeing 737 Delta Air Lines flight DL-2351, an Airbus A319 flying from Dallas, was landing at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), was cleared to land on runway 33L. Moments later, American Airlines flight AA-3161, a Boeing 737-800, was cleared to take off for Charlotte from intersecting runway 27. The pilots repeated the instruction back to the controller, and after about 40 seconds, started the takeoff. As Delta flight 2351 was about to touch down, the pilots saw the American Airlines plane and executed a go-around. That was followed by the air traffic controller asking the American flight, “American, where are you going?” Listen to the Incident Audio via @xJonNYC. Electra reveals 100-seat hybrid-electric aircraft concept Electra developed the concept under NASA's Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability 2050 (AACES) program. NASA has commissioned industry and academia to “develop transformative aircraft designs, propulsion technologies, and sustainability solutions for commercial aviation by 2050.” Electra's large airliner concept features a wide “double-bubble” fuselage that generates lift. Propulsion comes from two turbofans under the wings that produce thrust and electricity, as well as three fans mounted on the top of the aft fuselage. Electra says those fans would “ingest and re-energise slower-moving air over the fuselage, a technique known as boundary layer ingestion.” Other AACES participants include the Georgia Institute of Technology with the Liquefied Natural Gas Powered Athena Aircraft Concept, and JetZero with a hydrogen fueled blended wing body design. Congress Questions Air Force's Combat Rescue Readiness As HH-60W Helicopters Get Turned Into VIP Transports The Senate Armed Services Committee filed S. 4784, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (NDAA), which establishes funding levels and authorities for the U.S. military. The 66th annual NDAA supports a total of $1.15 trillion in FY 2027 funding for national defense. In its report [PDF], the Committee expresses concern “about combat search and rescue (CSAR) force structure in the Air Force. In recent years, the Air Force truncated the buy of HH-60Ws and has since transferred 26 HH-60Ws from units responsible for CSAR operations to the Air Force District Washington (AFDW) to replace H-1 helicopters. AFDW uses these helicopters to support contingency response, homeland operations, and ceremonial honors in the National Capital Region. “The committee believes that these actions have left CSAR forces unnecessarily short of the forces needed to support CSAR operations in a major contingency. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of the Air Force to conduct a study of CSAR requirements and capabilities, including HH-60Ws and HC-130Js, and provide a report and briefing on that study to the congressional defense committees, not later than March 31, 2027. “Furthermore, the committee directs the Secretary to avoid making any changes in CSAR force structure until the study is completed and he or she has provided the results of that study to the Congress.” Canada Plans Fleet Surge to 140+ Fighters as Low Cost Gripens Reduce Expenses According to informed sources, the Royal Canadian Air Force plans to grow its fighter fleet to 140, possibly by purchasing Saab Gripen jets. Canada has planed to purchase 88 F-35A fighters, but that could drop to 70, accompanied by 70 Gripens. Saab offered to establish final assembly, maintenance, and long-term industrial support in Canada. This would transfer technology and intellectual property to Canada. Under the F-35 program, sustainment and software updates are centralized in the United States. Canada to buy Swedish surveillance plane over US models Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada would not purchase early-warning-radar planes from the United States. Instead, they will purchase Saab’s GlobalEye, which is based on the Bombardier Global 6500 jet, manufactured in Canada. Price and fleet size were not announced. Saab said in a statement that as part of any deal, the company would invest in research and development work in Canada. Hosts this Episode Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.
War Room Dominion Drops Lawsuit Against Minn. GOP Gov. Candidate Mike Lindell, U.S. Airstrike Kills ISIS Leader in Syria… PLUS, Bill Gates Transcript Confirms Epstein Blackmail Op
Jean-Luc Brunel was found dead in his cell at La Santé prison in Paris during the early hours of February 19, 2022. French authorities said the 75-year-old modeling agent had been found hanged during an overnight inspection and treated his death as a suicide. Brunel had been held in custody since his arrest at Charles de Gaulle Airport in December 2020, when authorities detained him as he was preparing to fly to Senegal. He was under formal investigation over allegations involving the rape and sexual assault of minors and adults, as well as suspicions that he had helped arrange transportation and accommodations for young women connected to Jeffrey Epstein. Brunel denied the allegations against him and died before the case could proceed to trial.Brunel had been a prominent figure in the international modeling industry and founded MC2 Model Management with financial backing from Epstein. Multiple women had accused him of sexual misconduct over several decades, while Virginia Giuffre alleged in court filings that he supplied young women and girls to Epstein. His death ended the possibility that he would face a public trial, testify under oath or be questioned further about his relationship with Epstein and others in their social and business circles. French authorities opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death, but officials reported no immediate indication that another person had been involved.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com
Neoborn Caveman reads from the Dalai Lama's Book of Joy on how warm-heartedness dissolves loneliness and excessive self-focus creates the very alienation it chases, then turns the mirror and names the real war as the internal one where we suppress what we feel because the structure around us taught us to bury it. NC walks through a series of care home sexual assaults in Sweden where courts described the rape of an 82-year-old as short-lived and mitigated, declares rapists lose the identity of human, marks the 20th anniversary of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and connects it to Monsanto's seed patent monopoly, then addresses the Powassan virus spreading across the US with 15-minute tick transmission and permanent neurological damage while drawing the Plum Island and Bill Gates lineage, and closes with a declaration of why America remains the greatest hope for humanity through faith, freedom, diversity and 36 million small businesses. Season 10 is gearing up with back catalog episodes and two new songs premiere from pMad and Inoxidables.Music guests: pMad, InoxidablesKey TakeawaysThe Dalai Lama argues excessive self-focus creates the very alienation and loneliness it tries to escape.The real war is internal — suppressing inner truth to adapt into structures designed to suppress us.Swedish courts classified the rape of an 82-year-old as mitigated because it was short-lived and without blows.A rapist loses the identity of human regardless of nationality or background.The Svalbard Global Seed Vault holds 2.25 billion seeds and was designed to survive the melting of every ice cap.Monsanto created heroin as children's cough syrup and now patents seeds while neighboring farms fail.Powassan virus transmits within 15 minutes and half of survivors suffer permanent neurological damage.CDC advice to keep grass short contradicts climate policy demanding taller grass.America has 36 million small businesses and the foundational principle that rule belongs to the free.Heaven on earth is not naive to imagine if America pursues its founding promise.Sound Bites"Is there a life after death? Well, that's not the right question. The right question is, is there a life before death?""However difficult it is to hear, it's us.""A rapist has no place in human society, period.""The court considered number of alleged mitigating factors, describing the rape as short-lived and one that occurred without threats or blows.""It is designed to remain dry, even if every ice cap on the planet melts.""You can't have your own seed.""I'm not going to say that this deadly new virus slash tick nightmare has anything to do with Bill Gates.""America is the greatest hope for the whole humanity.""Free is not when your speech is curtailed or when your government can grab you from home because you posted something online.""Heaven on earth can be created."Support the show and join the free tea house conversation at patreon.com/theneoborncavemanshow.Humanity centered satirical takes on the world & news + music - with a marble mouthed host. Free speech marinated in comedy. Supporting Purple Rabbits. Viva los Conejos Morados.Keywords: Dalai Lama Book of Joy, loneliness, inner war, Sweden care home rapes, court leniency, Svalbard Seed Vault, Monsanto seed monopoly, Powassan virus, Plum Island, Bill Gates ticks, MAID organ harvesting, why America is great, freedom, Season 10, pMad, Inoxidables, pro-humanityHumanity centered satirical takes on the world & news + music - with a marble mouthed host.Free speech marinated in comedy.Supporting Purple Rabbits.Viva los Conejos Morados. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We hear how a childhood in Guatemala, a fascination with computers and a belief that education should be accessible to everyone helped inspire the world's most popular learning apps. Luis von Ahn tells us how he went from creating CAPTCHA and selling reCAPTCHA to Google, to building Duolingo into a multi-billion-dollar education technology company used by millions around the world. He reflects on his mother's sacrifices to fund his education, the lessons he learned as an entrepreneur, and why he struggles with conflict in his life as a tech CEO. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Amber Mehmood If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk
As AI vendors hype “recursive self-improvement” and other scary features, we see more and more “mainstreaming” of AI technology in business. In other words, the AI does not solve problems by itself: we as HR and IT leaders need to clearly define our needs and then buy, build, and tune the technologies we buy. Some AI vendors (ie. Paradox, Radancy, Sana, Maki, others) are laser focused on very specific use-cases, and they are delivering solution-first offerings that really add value. The frontier vendors, however, are struggling to do this and much of their revenue still comes from “enabling others” to create solutions. And the new usage-based pricing is forcing this kind of pragmatic thinking. In this podcast I highlight this “commoditization” of core AI features and explain why your “problem identification” work is perhaps the biggest effort in the HR 2030 Agentic HR strategy. (Take our new HR 2030 course or sign up for our new Global HR Excellence Certification.) Additional Information Is AI A “Normal” Technology? The Rise of the Supermanager Our New Book Superpowered, Coming This Fall! New Course: Galileo Is Ready To Teach You What You Need to Know about HR 2030 Chapters (00:00:00) - A Lesson on AI in Software Engineering(00:09:44) - Bill Gates on the Need for People in AI
KI ist wie eine Atombombe! Ein Satz voller Sprengkraft. Pip Klöckner spricht in TOMorrow aus, was sich sonst keiner zu sagen traut. Deutschlands Tech-Brain Nr. 1 ungefiltert. Der Star-Analyst vom Doppelgänger Podcast erklärt hier, wie uns die neue Generation von künstlicher Intelligenz gezielt manipuliert. Der aktuelle Anlass: Die Monster-Börsengänge der Tech-Giganten. Sie verändern alles. SpaceX hat den größten IPO der Geschichte hingelegt. OpenAI und Anthropic folgen. Noch nie wurde so viel Kapital aufgesaugt. Elon Musk ist offiziell der erste Billionär auf diesem Planeten. The world's first Trillionaire. Sein SpaceX hat eine aktuelle Bewertung von 2,4 Billionen Euro. Mehr als alle 40 deutschen DAX-Konzerne zusammen. Elon Musk hat plötzlich mehr Geld als Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg und Bill Gates gemeinsam. Was das alles bedeutet. Die neue Gefahr von rekursiver KI und Tokenmaxxing: Jetzt in TOMorrow und als Video-Podcast auf YouTube. Live aus dem Loft Studio Berlin. Schreib mir in die Kommentare, was du über diese ganze Entwicklung denkst. Das beste Investment: abonniere TOMorrow. Es kostet dich nichts, bringt dir aber Top-Rendite für dein Leben und deine Karriere.
As the Epstein Investigation by the House Oversight Committee heats up again because of a sustained pressure campaign by Epstein Survivors, and new witnesses are called forward, including Bill Gates and now Alan Dershowitz (Epstein's criminal defense attorney), insiders wonder if Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing for AG can survive, or whether there are enough Republicans to jump off the bandwagon. Popok, with recent interviews from Epstein Survivor Dani Benski and Senator Whitehouse, explains why the Epstein Scandal may not just be Trump's undoing but Blanche's too. Sundays For Dogs: Make the switch to Sundays. Go right now to https://sundaysfordogs.com/LEGALAF50 and get 50% off your first order. Or, you can use code LEGALAF50 at checkout. Subscribe: @LegalAFMTN Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bill Gates's attempts at damage control over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein have always sounded less like sincere apologies and more like carefully worded PR spin. He repeatedly leaned on the same tired line that he “made a mistake” by meeting Epstein, as if multiple visits, a cozy dinner at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse, and repeated interactions could somehow be reduced to a one-off lapse in judgment. His apologies are weasel-like because they dodge the central issue: Gates didn't just bump into Epstein—he engaged with him knowingly, long after Epstein was a convicted sex offender. Instead of admitting that he chose power networking over morality, he frames it as a regrettable oversight, a minor slip in judgment, as though the public should simply nod along and accept that excuse.Even worse, Gates couches his apologies in a tone of self-pity, acting as though he's the real victim because people keep asking him about it. Rather than grappling with the disgust of survivors who know exactly what Epstein was, Gates seems more concerned about how the association tarnishes his image and legacy. He wants the world to believe that his proximity to a predator was an innocent blunder, when in reality it was deliberate and calculated—Epstein had money, connections, and a reputation Gates clearly found useful. The result is an apology that reeks of arrogance and evasion, a weasel-like maneuver to deflect blame while never fully owning the gravity of choosing to keep company with a man everyone knew was radioactive.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.
Noam Dworman, Dan Naturman and Periel Aschenbrand are joined by Ankush Khardori. They discuss the Epstein files, Kathy Ruemmler, civil liberties, public shaming and whether the release of Epstein-related documents has generated more heat than facts. They also discuss cancel culture, online mobs, Anthony Weiner, anti-Semitism, and the broader consequences of judging people through leaked communications. Ankush Khardori is a legal analyst and former federal prosecutor. He has been the legal affairs columnist for Politico and New York Magazine and has contributed to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, The New York Review of Books, The Atlantic, TIME and many more. Khardori regularly provides legal commentary and analysis on television, radio, and podcasts -- including CNN, MS NOW, the BBC, and NPR. CHAPTERS 04:40 How Ankush Got the Kathy Ruemmler Story08:00 The Epstein Files and Civil Liberties Debate12:00 What the Document Releases Actually Revealed22:30 Kathy Ruemmler, Bill Gates, and Jeffrey Epstein29:00 The Human Cost of Public Accusations42:40 The Cornell Student Anti-Semitism Controversy48:40 Internet Mobs, Cancellation, and Public Shaming
Beth breaks down why Elon Musk being a trillionaire on paper and having $0 in liquid cash aren't contradictory — and why the whole way we measure wealth is a facade built on restricted stock, pledged collateral, and $39 trillion of national debt.
In this episode, Lisette Zounon explores an often-overlooked leadership tool: strategic darkness. Far from being about loneliness or isolation, it's a purposeful technique to foster innovation, clarity, and problem-solving by intentionally withdrawing from noise and distraction. Discover how leaders and creators can harness silence to elevate their thinking, decision-making, and creativity.In this episode:The true meaning of strategic darkness and how it differs from isolationThe science behind silence and how it promotes deep thinking and pattern recognitionPersonal stories of retreats, hotel stays, and other strategies to implement strategic darknessHow top leaders like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and monks utilize silence for innovationPractical steps to create your own strategic darkness routineThe surprising connection between fasting and enhanced mental clarityTips on how to protect your thinking time amidst constant distractionThe importance of staying with a problem longer for meaningful solutionsThe myth of leadership as nonstop activity and the emphasis on deliberate retreat
Mark and Mat dive deep into the Tampa Bay Rays' struggles on their West Coast road trip, debate the future of baseball marketing, celebrate Evan Longoria's upcoming number retirement, and share a historic tale about Lou Piniella and Bill Gates.Rays on the West CoastThe Rays' disappointing road trip to California — struggling offense, solid pitchingThe challenges of East-to-West travel and time zone adjustmentsThe third-worst team defense over the last 17 days, offset by strong pitching performancesTaylor Walls & the Shortstop DilemmaTaylor Walls' career slugging percentage at an all-time low (.280 SLUG), with zero home runs on the yearMat's criticism: Walls plays like a power hitter instead of embracing his true skill setCarson Williams tearing it up in Durham (7 HRs), but still working through strikeout issuesThe Wander Franco-shaped hole in the lineupJunior Caminero – All-Star Ballot LeaderCaminero leads AL third basemen in All-Star voting at just 22 years oldDiscussion of his defensive miscues vs. his elite offensive potential (top 3 in isolated power, OBP, and wRC+ among AL 3B)Mat compares his development arc to Jason Heyward under Bobby CoxShohei Ohtani & the Dodgers SeriesDrew Rasmussen's strong outing — only one run allowed (a solo Ohtani homer)Ohtani's record-setting bad day on the mound — giving up four consecutive hits in one inning, something he'd rarely if ever doneMat and Mark make the case that MLB is severely under-marketing Ohtani compared to stars in basketball and footballBaseball's Marketing ProblemWhy doesn't baseball have a defining brand partner (like Nike/basketball or Adidas/soccer)?Mat's pitch: a Lululemon × MLB collab to bring women into the sportThe need for MLB to leverage podcasters like Jomboy and platforms like Joe Rogan to grow the gameThe see-through jersey debacle and the World Baseball Classic uniform failuresEvan Longoria Number RetirementLongo Weekend coming up mid-July at Tropicana FieldHis walk-up music (Tantric) will be played live at the eventCareer stats: 1,986 games, 342 HR, .804 OPS, .333 OBPReflections on what might have been had injuries not slowed him downMat advocates for a Longoria statue or plaque at the new Rays stadiumWomen's BaseballMark's summer schedule: USA Women's National Team in Rockford (July 21–25), Cardinals in St. Louis (July 26–30), and the inaugural Women's Pro Baseball League season in Springfield, IL (September)Interview highlights: Ryan Woodward (International Women's Baseball Center) and Merrie Fidler (AAGPBL)Mat's vision for the Women's Pro Baseball League: barnstorming-style tournaments in MLB stadiums (Rogers Centre, Tropicana Field), a Green Bay Packers community-ownership model, and year-round momentum buildingLou Piniella & Bill GatesLou donated his $50,000 attendance bonus to Metro United Way in SeattleBill Gates matched it — and started showing up in Lou's office to suggest lineup changesGates gave Lou a lineup one night, it worked… and the guys joke that's the secret origin of the Rays' analytics departmentMark's call: Lou Piniella belongs in the Hall of Fame — 1,800+ wins as a manager, still overlookedRays Prospect UpdatesMichael Forret (P): Promoted to AAA; 7 IP, 7 K, 2 ER in first start — MLB debut may be imminentEmilien Pitt (2B): Promoted to AA; 400+ OBP at nearly every minor league level, walks more than he strikes outJohnny DeLuca: Expected back from rehab by the weekendJacob Melton: Rehabbing at rookie level, showing positive signsConnor Hujsak: Added to AAA rosterOther NotesAlex Faedo, Tampa native, mentioned in connection with the Tampa Baseball MuseumRays return to Tropicana Field on FridayThanks for listening! Fingers crossed for a winning streak.Remember to like and subscribe to BaseballBiz On Deck. You may also find BaseballBiz on Deck, on YouTube at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at baseball biz on deck dot com. Also you can find Mat @matgermain.bsky.social or Mark at baseballbizondeck@gmail.com and BaseballBiz On Deck with Facebook social
How a Bank Jingle Became a Classic Love Song. Morons in the News. Talkback Callers. Potluck. Everyone Needs a Laugh. Why Bubblegum is Pink. Talkback Callers. Bill Gates’ Fashion Manniquen. Can You Believe This? From the Vault. Talkback Callers. The Jellyfish That Lives Forever.
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Melinda French Gates became visibly emotional while recalling her only meeting with Jeffrey Epstein, which took place at his Manhattan townhouse in 2013 with her then-husband, Bill Gates. She said her heart began racing as she remembered the encounter and described having an immediate, visceral sense that Epstein was evil. French Gates said she regretted entering the home almost immediately and suffered nightmares afterward, arguing that people—especially women—should trust their instincts when someone makes them feel profoundly unsafe. She called Epstein an abhorrent and horrifying man and said the experience remained difficult for her to discuss more than a decade later.French Gates also reiterated that Bill Gates' continued association with Epstein contributed to the collapse of their marriage. Her comments came shortly after Gates testified to Congress that Epstein had learned about his extramarital affairs and unsuccessfully attempted to use that information as leverage to keep him engaged. French Gates declined to answer for her former husband or others involved, saying those questions belong to them, while directing attention back toward the girls and young women Epstein abused. She said the survivors deserved peace, justice and a full accounting of how Epstein was allowed to operate for so long despite.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Melinda French Gates breaks down recalling 'evil' Epstein encounter that gave her nightmares
Crazy party in bouji Birmingham angers neighbors, ESPN's Dan Wetzel joins us to talk UFC Freedom 250, bungee jump failure, Melinda French Gates' Epstein grift, Prince Harry stuck in the 8th row, and Puerto Rico hates Marc. World Cup 2026: Cape Verde is an actual country and they tied Spain nil-nil. The USA beat up on Paraguay. Europeans and Australians love the United States. The Carolina Hurricanes have won the Stanley Cup. The Today Show eulogizes the punny Gene Shalit. The Big 12 is suing Texas Tech. Good job, Brendan Sorsby. ESPN Senior Writer Dan Wetzel joins the show to discuss the awesome UFC Freedom 250 event. Fighter Sean Strickland was escorted off the property. There was a Winklevi sighting. Dan Wetzel officially endorses Power Slap. New York Knicks team > New York Knicks fans. Who let the dogs out? Michelle Obama took a shot at the UFC event. There were fist fights in DC at the viewing party. The Committee for the First Amendment put on counter-programming led by Jane Fonda featuring Peppermint, Bette Midler and Robert De Niro. Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas had the worst bungee jump experience possibly ever. RIP Oliver Tree. Drew is bored with museum talk. Brooklyn Beckham stars in a Door Dash commercial. DJ Fat Tony pops off again. Kids love to be estranged from their parents these days. Another one of Brad Pitt's brats has dropped his last name. An incredible pool party in Birmingham made the news. Call Her Daddy's Alex Cooper and husband are running a toxic work environment. Are you Team Alex or Team Alix Earle? Spencer Pratt has really bad luck with fire. Melinda French Gates loves talking about Bill Gates and Jeffrey Epstein. Drew's boy, Casey Wasserman, refuses to leave the 2028 Olympics. Trudi and No Neck Ed: A Love Story. Drew has divided the audience over First Amendment auditors. We check out one that went down at a Marine City meat market earlier this year. Markleverse: Prince Harry had to sit in the nosebleed section with Adam Silver at the NBA Finals. Spike Lee hates Harry. Time Magazine can't stop blowing him. It turns out Prince William was the REAL creator of the Invictus Games. Harry and Meghan Markle divorce rumors are swirling. Markle's products are expiring and she's losing her ass. Marc has been formally charged for medical services in Puerto Rico. Merch, yo. Check it. If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Drew Lane, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley, BranDon, and Roberto).
Rick Chess, attorney, real estate strategist, capital-raising expert, and trusted advisor, is passionate about helping entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners navigate complex decisions that can dramatically impact enterprise value and long-term success. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, Rick has raised over $100 million for multiple organizations, guided companies through acquisitions, governance challenges, and strategic growth, and helped owners prepare for successful exits. We explore The Capital Raising Framework — Focus on Individuals, Not “the Market”; Be Ready to Sell; Start With Who You Know; Connect on Emotion; and Find a Problem to Solve. Rick explains why raising capital is ultimately about understanding people, not pitching ideas, why investors care more about their needs than your opportunity, and how trust-based relationships create opportunities that compound over time. He also shares lessons from raising capital, building influential networks, serving on boards, and helping entrepreneurs avoid costly mistakes when pursuing funding, growth, and exit strategies. — How to be a Trusted Advisor with Rick Chess Good day, dear listeners. Steve Preda here with the Management Blueprint Podcast. And my guest today is Rick Chess, who is a real estate and exit strategist. He helps business and real estate owners, and the trusted advisors who guide them, turn complex decisions into strategic moves that grow enterprise value and maximize sale outcomes. Rick, welcome to the show. Thank you. Appreciate it, Steve. Well, it’s great to have you. And I’m going to ask you my favorite question, which I always ask: What is your personal ‘Why’, and what are you doing to manifest it in your practice? When you go back in my career, 50-some years, where I’ve been most happy is either growing an organization. That can be a community, that can be a business, it can be an association. And then, at some point, individuals in that association want to move on, whether that’s to retire, to go someplace else, or whatever. And I find that in that world, there are certain things where they might have a Steve Preda who helps them with how to manage day to day. But they get to certain big issues that they’ve never done before, and maybe they’ll never do again. That’s where I like to come in because I know I’m critically important to them. So you’re a trusted advisor. You like to grapple with the big challenges people have in their lives, whether it’s a big real estate transaction, getting ready for an exit, an acquisition, or something like that. Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, the things that would be—for instance, most folks, if they’re talking about real estate, they have some idea how to fix a toilet. They have some idea how to buy a property. But when they get to a certain point, it’s like, “We need to raise $10,000. We need to raise $100 million,” whatever the amount is, because there’s either a great opportunity or they want to keep moving upward. And they have, again, a Steve Preda who can help them through the process. How they get that capital often is what trips people up. So that’s where I kind of first got into this. I was an acquisition guy. I knew how to spend other people’s money, but I didn’t know at that time how to raise the money. And I’ve done it several times. I’ve raised $100 million for three different companies. And like everything in life, like with Summit, there is a process that you go through. And I love doing it. I just love doing that kind of stuff. Okay. So when you are doing capital raising, fundraising, M&A deals, or real estate transactions, is there a framework that has helped you, that you figured out along the way? And think about something that is three to five steps. Maybe it’s a mental model of how you look at things, or maybe it’s a process. How would you describe that framework that you have, or that has helped you, so that the listeners would also benefit from it? The listeners are best served if they step back from their preconceived notions of, A, how they think capital is attracted, because they usually are wrong. And they step back from how wonderful they are. And those two things are difficult. Because the reality is, no one is waiting to give you money. That’s foolish. You’ve got to sell the concept like you have to sell everything else. And what you sell is not what you think is wonderful. It’s what the market is going to think is wonderful. It’s like with any other product you’re making. “Hey, I made this great widget.” And the population looks at it and says, “I don’t need it. I don’t want it. I don’t know what it does.” And depending on whether you’re trying to raise $100,000 from friends and family or $100 million on Wall Street, you look at who it is that you know. Because people that you know might at least return your phone call. So if you don’t know Bill Gates, thinking that you’re going to go to Bill Gates and get a billion dollars is, well, stup*d. But if you’re just trying to raise money from friends and family, and you have an aunt who lives three states away that you don’t see very often, and she has some money, okay, then you start with who you know. So, for instance, thinking about one of the many ways that you can raise money, there’s something called intrastate. And it is something that’s allowed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. If all of your money is raised within your own state, there are certain allowances for that. But if you do one transaction outside the state, it all collapses. So like everything else on the business side, where there are certain rules that you can’t violate without getting into trouble, it’s the same thing when raising money. And I get so many people saying, “I’m going to list this on Wall Street, and I’m going to make…” It’s like, “No, you don’t. You better be prepared. If you’re going to list something on Wall Street, you’d better have $25 million that you can risk just to get it out there. And nine times out of ten you’re going to fail.” Not because there’s anything wrong with you. It’s just that if you’re going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a pair of Keds, a T-shirt, and some shorts, you’re not prepared to climb that mountain. It’s no different when raising capital. And also think about when you were a kid. At a certain age, your parents let you cross the street to see your buddy. Then ten years later, they’ll let you get in the car and drive, but you’ve got to get home by midnight. It’s the same thing with raising money. And there aren’t a lot of folks who have done what I’ve done. So talking to your local lawyer or accountant—who may be wonderful people—but if they’ve never raised money, they’re not the people to talk to. One of the ways people get taken advantage of on a regular basis is they’ll go to a securities attorney. The securities attorney will charge them $100,000 and write this great offering document, and no one ever gives them a penny. Because lawyers generally have no clue what’s happening in the marketplace. I own my own securities broker-dealer. I’ve also raised money for three different companies. It’s not easy. But like having read your book, Steve, if you follow certain paths, there’s at least a chance for success. Same thing here. Fascinating. So what I’m taking away in terms of a framework: Be aware that people are not out there waiting to give you money. You have to sell them. So that’s the first step. The second one is: start with who you know. Don’t start on Wall Street. Start with the people you know, where you have some trust, the people you understand, and where you have a chance to get there. And then look at some special circumstance that’s going to give you a leg up. For example— Absolutely. Again, this is coming right out of your book on the business side. You create a widget. So what? But you create a widget that solves a problem. Ah. Then you have something. So it’s the same thing. When you get over onto the money-raising side, it’s: who do you know? Where do they live? How much money do they have? How do I approach them? But then, in the end, it’s not what’s in it for you, it’s what’s in it for them. And for them, if it’s friends and family, your mama may give you some money because she thinks you’re cute. Your aunt might give you some money because she’s related to your mama. But at some point, you’re going to people who really have a checkbook. They have money in the checkbook. They’re not going to give this up just because you’re cute or you have a great idea. You’re either going to get them because you have something they’ve never heard of, or you have something that really feels like it could solve one of their needs. And their needs are not always what you think. Some people think, “Well, what they need is high cash flow.” What if they don’t need cash flow, but they’re really interested in a cure for cancer? What if you think, “Well, it’s really going to go up in value”? Well, they have all the money they need. They’re not looking for that. But is this something that is going to allow their nephew to come work for you? Yeah. When you start thinking that you know what other people are thinking, that’s when you’re going to fail. When you can step back and just ask them, “Well, what’s important to you?” If you can’t have a conversation, one, you’re never going to date anybody, and you’re never going to raise any money. And don’t be slick. You can be slick for three sentences, and at that point they’re going to reject everything you say thereafter. So don’t talk about how much money you’re going to make and all the rest of it. No. Talk about them. Talk about them. Talk about them. Your document should talk about them. Your questions should talk about them. Now, does that mean there are certain people who won’t put money into your deal? Yes, because it doesn’t fit. If you sell high-heeled shoes and a runner comes in, they’re generally not going to buy your high-heeled shoes. They’re not going to invest money in high-heeled shoes. But if that high-heeled shoe actually is a running shoe, and you can break off the heel and then… I mean, I don’t know. You could come up with something there. And the folks that say no are sometimes your biggest advocates. What? The folks that… Yes. Because you’ve been able to get into their head, and they’ve shaken it around, and they’ve looked at it and said, “No, that’s probably not right for me. I’m not into high-heeled shoes, but I have a friend.” If you’ve done a sincere job, a thoughtful job, you’ve really asked them questions, and you’ve connected on an emotional level, they’ll open the next door. And that’s what it’s about. It’s often a lot of the same things that you teach people about how to sell their company. It’s how they sell— Rick, this is fascinating. So how do you connect with people on an emotional level? What’s the trick there? First thing is: why are they going to take a meeting with you? Why they take a meeting with you answers almost everything that we’ve just asked. If they’re taking a meeting with you because you’re related, okay, that’s the emotional connection. If they take a meeting with you because some friend of yours called them and said, “This is a great way to make money,” that’s another reason. If you found them in an article in the paper—yes, there are things called newspapers. They print them. There are words in them. And there’s somebody in there who has shown an interest in something you do. Then you’re talking to them about that interest. You want to try to avoid cold calls. Really, it’s a waste of your time and a waste of their time. It’s a random thing. It’s like asking every girl who walks by in college, “Do you want to go out on a date?” Sometimes it works. You get slapped a lot, get arrested, and what have you. There’s this thing called the internet, Steve. And what shocks me is how few people—not just my age, but young pups—say, “Well, that’s for watching YouTube videos.” No. Through the internet, you have so much information. So maybe I can’t find anything about Johnny Jones, but his kids are on there and what sports they play. Huh. Okay, so I used to do judo. I did three years of judo in high school. If somebody’s doing karate or whatever, I have an opening. I have something to talk about. Now, it’s great if what you have to talk about then connects to something else that they want. It’s a linking process of connecting various things together. It’s what I did… I told you I was a member of the General Assembly in Pennsylvania way back in the ’70s. And I learned there that if I could get people talking about themselves, or their next-door neighbor, or some relative… What’s funny is people are much more likely to tell you about somebody else. So when I go into a company—this is just a side note—when I’m doing due diligence and I really want to know their financial condition, I’m not going to get it from the CFO. I’m going to get it from somebody over in property management. Why? Because the property management person knows not to tell me anything secret about property management, but they’ll talk about finances all the time. And it’s the same thing. If I’m in a family and I want to know about Daddy, I talk to the daughter. If I want to know about a neighbor, I talk to a neighbor. I can go to the post office. Everything you ever need to position yourself to sell is out there waiting for you. But you’ve got to get out of your head what you think the market is about and start thinking about individuals within the market. And accept that when I’ve raised money, 70% to 80% of the people I call on don’t do a deal with me. But of that 70%, half of them lead me to somebody else. And I keep up with them. They become my support group. They become my unofficial advisors. Because I’m a decent guy, they want me to succeed. And once they know I’m not bugging them anymore, I say, “Hey, you told me I should go talk to such-and-such. Here’s what I heard.” And then the network just expands. And occasionally, that person who said no has somebody new come into their life and says, “You need to go talk to Rick Chess.” And sometimes the next time I’m raising money, their situation is different. So the person who told me no originally has seen me work the market and close the deal. It’s amazing how attractive an opportunity is once you can’t put any more money into it. And so you let them know, “I know it wasn’t the right time for you to come into my deal, but we did buy this company. We’ve doubled their…” Whatever it is. You continue to work with them. If somebody is willing to give you time on the phone, on Zoom, at a coffee shop, or wherever, they’re your friend for life. They don’t know that yet, but you’re going to make them your friend for life. It’s the old six degrees of separation—the Kevin Bacon game. Everybody’s related to somebody somewhere. And it’s what makes this fun for me. You were talking before about growing an exit. I love the process of putting together the network and feeding the network. There are people I’ve known for 50 years that I still talk with. You’re very good at connecting people and making them look good with other people that you connect them to. It’s very gratifying. So this is a long game, right? Absolutely. It’s a long game because you’re being decent. You listen to people. You find something that helps them. You learn what they need, what is the itch that needs to be scratched, and then you connect people who can help them scratch that itch. And then they will reciprocate, and it becomes a self-perpetuating process. Well, I mean, an example is the work that I do in North Carolina with a family that owns 44 hotels. A woman who was my CPA left the CPA firm and became the family officer for a large family here in Richmond. A friend of hers who does advisory work with family offices was giving up on a client. So she told my friend, who used to be a CPA. She introduced me to them and said, “Would you be willing to serve on the board of a private company?” I said, “Well, do they pay?” I used to be on the board of a public company, and after a certain age, you’re not attractive anymore. After a certain age, they want you off the board because the institutions say, “We want a mix on the board. So I got introduced to these people, and I’ve had a great time. Members of the family have hired me for other work, and it just goes on and on. But I’ve learned that you’ve got to pay it forward. So I have students of mine from VCU who I’ve helped place in jobs. I keep up with them. I give them ideas. And they’re often shocked to find that I’m still in touch with them. I’m not asking them for anything. I’m just saying, “Look, I paid it forward to you. Now it’s your turn to pay it forward to somebody else.” And some of them are doing it. Some of them haven’t caught on yet. But it is the circle of life, and it’s all tied together. And there are skills you have that I don’t have. There are skills I have that you don’t have. We both have folks that work with business brokers because they have a different drive. But it’s also self-selecting. There are a lot of people you’ve met that you don’t do business with. There are a lot of people I’ve met that I don’t do business with. If you’re going to get into raising money, doing governance, or doing exit planning, whatever it may be, one of the most important things is saying no. Or, “No, I don’t want to work with this person.” You can always be friendly with them. Yeah. But I try to fire a client every month. Somebody that just doesn’t fit for me ethically. Yeah. Or I don’t think there’s anything more I can do for them. I pass off legal work to other attorneys in Virginia. I’m the chair of the Real Property Section of the state bar. There are 1,550 attorneys. I have plenty of attorneys that I can pass things on to, and they’re happy to get the business, and I’m happy. I’ve got somebody that I’ve referred that’s happy that I’ve referred them. My biggest challenge, my wife would say, my son would say, is that I’m a squirrel chaser. Something new and interesting comes along, and I want to get involved with it. And I’ve wasted so much time. So I’m working with this hotel group down in North Carolina. The last time I had worked with a hotel company was 30 years earlier. Two owners couldn’t agree on a direction. I worked with them for six months. We made a decision. It was great work. I learned a lot about hotels. But I then went 30 years without applying the same skills. And that’s one thing that, with age, I’ve realized. I am better off saying: “I’ll help you with capital, I’ll help you with governance, and when you’re ready, I’ll help you exit.” That’s it. Yeah. If it’s not one of those three, I’ll talk about it. Yeah. I’ll listen to you. You don’t want to engage me. Yeah. I mean, people want deep expertise. They don’t want generalists. They want someone who knows what they’re talking about and who can link them to other resources who also know what they’re talking about. And in today’s age, I think this is becoming more important again. Because of the internet, there was a disintermediation going on, but now there is a reintermediation, I believe. Because there’s so much noise out there, you don’t know what is true and what is fake. AI is creating a lot of fake stuff. The only people you can really trust are the people who are in front of you, or someone recommends them whom you trust. It’s a transparency thing. So I think what you’re doing is very valuable. It’s going to become even more valuable. And knowledge is ubiquitous. You can ask ChatGPT, and it will give you an answer. But how do you get the trust? How do you get the emotion? How do you get the relationships? That’s all human stuff. And if you still have that, then you’ve got what is valuable. Well, I have a friend of mine who wrote a book, and he wrote it as a fable. What I love about it is that I know the true story behind the fable. And what comes across in every single chapter is that, with that trust, people who were afraid took a step. And often that is the hardest thing. So I go to the gym six days a week, and the gym is hard. Getting in the car to drive there is the hard part. Once I’m there, I’m around friends, I work hard, I sweat, I get better. Getting in that car and driving down the drive… So in your fable, in your book, and in most of where I’ve had success, I would love to say it was because I was brilliant. Eh, sometimes I will say I was brilliant. But let me give you an example. United Dominion Realty Trust, now based in Denver and originally based here in Richmond, has been around for 35 years. It was one of the original five REITs in the country—real estate investment trusts. I came in as acquisitions director. They hadn’t closed a deal in a year. I closed three in the first three months. I grew the firm tenfold in 10 years, and I had great people. Buddy Scott as an analyst. Catherine Surface as an attorney. But what I did was look at it and say, “Does anybody know what we’re trying to buy?” Because they had no acquisition criteria. So I wrote a one-page acquisition criteria document and put it out to everybody who had ever submitted a deal. Oh, and we weren’t responding to the submissions. So a submission would come in, they would look at it and say, “Okay, that doesn’t work.” But they never told anybody no. So one of my rules was that anything that came in would get a response within 48 hours. And it should be specific. “We don’t like this because of the city.” “We don’t like this because of the roof.” Something specific, because I knew they’d pay attention. And by responding within 48 hours, we went from struggling to get submissions to doubling our submissions within a year. Because people were like, “Oh, we know what they want. We know they will respond.” And then—and this probably sounds outrageous—we celebrated. We put out a newsletter every month. This is back when you mailed things, so we’re going way back into the dinosaur era. But anytime a broker brought us something that we bought, we would do a full-page spread on the broker. We were marketing him or her. People loved us. And they would tell others about us. So owners would know that if they came to us, we’d make a fair offer and we’d move on. So I would love to say that’s because I was a great attorney. I would love to say that’s because I was insightful. It was just like, “Well, damn, this is obvious.” And reading some of your stuff, I’ve seen you point that out to people time and time again. You give me too much credit. But yeah, I mean, if you’re there, they say that if you work hard for 25 years, you can become an overnight success. So yeah, it does get obvious when you’ve been studying it long and hard. Well, listen, Rick, that’s been wonderful. So what is your final thought for an entrepreneur, a young entrepreneur or founder who’s coming up? Maybe he’s in real estate. Maybe he’s trying to be successful. What’s the most important mindset for an entrepreneur to become successful? Well, I mean, you’ve got to know something. I mean, you either need to really know construction, or you’ve got to really know how to lease a space. If you’re going into it like they do on HDTV, like, “Oh, we’re going to find this property and it’s going to be…” You’re going to fail. So get good at something. Accept the fact that you’re not going to be good at everything. Find people who fill in the spots where you aren’t good. In the old days, you might have had to hire them. In today’s world, there are fractional CFOs. And then when you get down to picking your experts—your attorneys, your accountants, the people that cost you real money—ask them a simple question: When was the last time they did whatever it is that you’re trying to do? Not when was the last time they prepared a securities document. When was the last time they prepared a securities document that succeeded? And that’ll knock out two-thirds of them right there. Love it. That’s fantastic. Well, if you’re listening to this and you want to be successful in business, or you have a business and maybe you’re getting close to retirement and want to figure out how to transition it, how to exit right, and how to structure it… Or maybe you have a family company and you’re trying to put together a board, and you need someone who really understands governance. Or if you’re trying to do a transaction, a merger, or an acquisition, and you need a trusted advisor who will connect you to the right people and help you make it happen, then call Rick Chess. Rick Chess is here in Richmond. He is on LinkedIn. And you have a website as well, Rick, right? Yep, yep. What’s your domain? It’s chesslawfirm.com. Chesslawfirm.com. So you can go there, and Rick is going to respond because he always does within 24 hours, or 48 hours max, and he’ll help you. So Rick, thank you very much for coming on the show and sharing your wisdom with us. And if you’re listening to this and you like this show, please follow us on YouTube and Apple Podcasts. Give us a review, and make sure you listen to every episode because we have very exciting entrepreneurs and subject matter experts sharing their knowledge. So thank you for coming, and thank you for listening. Important Links: Rick's LinkedIn Rick's website
The two parties don't just run the game — they run the refs. In this News Nation panel conversation, Paul Rieckhoff makes the case that America's closed primary system isn't merely broken, it's rigged: party-run, party-refereed, and engineered to push both sides to the fringe while the 90-million-strong angry middle gets locked out. With independents now giving Donald Trump an approval rating in the twenties and an independent senator like Angus King already shaping Maine politics, the 2026 midterms are shaping up to be a referendum the MAGA machine can't spin its way out of. From there, the conversation moves to the powder keg in the Middle East — forty percent of the U.S. Navy in the region, tens of thousands of troops exposed, and what Paul calls 'the worst ceasefire ever' still producing live fire. Add a three-year inflation high, a president openly saying he 'loves the inflation,' fresh Epstein testimony from Bill Gates, and a Maine Senate race that just got a lot more interesting, and you've got the full picture of a summer of violence, volatility, and political pressure. Independents are going to decide what comes next. This is the briefing on why. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon Connect: Instagram • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. And now part of the BLEAV network! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
President Trump cancels his scheduled strikes on Iran as a peace deal could be signed in “coming days,”, consumer prices continue to surge as new inflation numbers jump more than four percent, and Bill Gates appears before the House Oversight Committee to explain his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Reporting from Ben Domenech and Megan Basham. Plus, we speak with EJ Antoni. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.- - -Ep. 2837- - -Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3- - -Today's Sponsors:Alliance Defending Freedom - Alliance Defending Freedom stands in courtrooms across the country to protect those freedoms we cherish: life, free speech, religious freedom, parental rights. Every dollar you give will be DOUBLED thanks to a special matching grant, while funds last. Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text WIRE to 83848 to give today.Quince - Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to https://Quince.com/wire for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada too.Balance of Nature - Go to https://BalanceofNature.com today and subscribe to the Whole Health System to get an additional 10% off your subscription with promo code WIRE. - - -Privacy Policy: https://www.dailywire.com/privacymorning wire,morning wire podcast,the morning wire podcast,Georgia Howe,John Bickley,daily wire podcast,podcast,news podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles unpack a week in which the Jeffrey Epstein saga once again consumed Washington, examining explosive new reporting about panic, leaks, and finger-pointing inside the White House while asking who is really trying to shape the narrative around Donald Trump. Wolff argues that the most revealing detail is not Epstein himself but the apparent effort to cast JD Vance as an outsider to the president's inner circle, exposing the rivalries and survival instincts driving the administration. Along the way, they explore the fallout surrounding Ghislaine Maxwell, Bill Gates, and other prominent figures pulled back into the Epstein orbit, while also turning to Trump's startling claim that he “loves the inflation” and what it reveals about the mindset of a president who refuses to acknowledge political threats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode, Jimmy and his guest Garland Nixon discuss Bill Gates' closed-door congressional testimony regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, including Gates' questionable explanation that he associated with Epstein primarily to connect with wealthy donors for global health initiatives. They argue that Gates' rationale is unconvincing given his own wealth and influence, while also questioning the broader handling of the Epstein investigation by government officials and institutions. The conversation expands into speculation about Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, allegations of cover-ups, and criticism of both political parties for failing to fully investigate the case. Throughout the discussion, the hosts express skepticism toward official narratives surrounding Epstein, Gates, and related investigations. Plus a segment on new accusations of Israeli spying on the Trump administration. Also featuring Max Blumenthal, Mike MacRae and Stef Zamorano! And a phone call from Alec Baldwin!
Trump turns 80. Musk goes trillionaire. Maine's Dem frontrunner had a Nazi tattoo. In this episode: • Trump cancels Iran air strike — no one told Iran • Jay Clayton named DNI over actually qualified Bill Py • Todd Blanch nominated as permanent AG: commits one felony a day for Trump • $70 billion for ICE — body cameras not included • SpaceX IPO: the largest in stock market history — Musk becomes the world's first trillionaire • 1 million AI data centers in orbit. 1 million Optimus humanoid robots. The endgame. • Trump visited 22 medical specialists — zero psychiatrists • Trump turns 80 and gains weight: BMI 29.9, just under "obese" • Trumpflation is official • Graham Platner leads Susan Collins by 9 points in Maine • Platner's skull-and-bones tattoo turned out to be a Nazi SS symbol • Platner's digital trail: racism, misogyny, and trivialization of rape • NYT hints Platner may have been physically abusive toward women Key figures covered: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Todd Blanch, Jay Clayton, Graham Platner, Susan Collins, Pete Hegseth, Bill Gates, Steven Miller
We’re taking a short hiatus from publishing here, but will continue publishing weekly news roundups on our Patreon. Anyone can listen for free, without ads, at our Patreon at tangoti.com/roundup . There are new stories there today, so please check it out after you listen to this episode! There Are No Girls on the Internet is a weekly podcast and newsletter hosted by Bridget Todd covering the tech, internet, and culture stories that deserve more attention — especially when they're about AI, power, gender, race, and who actually gets hurt when systems fail. We read the internet so you don't have to. This week: The Social Network is getting a sequel and Jeremy Strong is playing Zuckerberg, a bombshell ProPublica investigation into raw milk and the kids it's put in the hospital, and Bill Gates testified before Congress about Jeffrey Epstein — totally voluntarily, he cannot stress this enough.
Bill Gates testifies behind closed doors in the House Epstein probe, telling lawmakers Jeffrey Epstein tried to use knowledge of his extramarital affairs to pressure him back into his orbit. A new inflation report shows consumer prices rising at the fastest annual pace in three years, as President Trump reveals a secret U.S. military effort to keep oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz. ActBlue's CEO invokes the Fifth Amendment and refuses to answer questions before Congress, as Republicans investigate whether the Democratic fundraising platform allowed illegal foreign donations to flow into U.S. elections. A Somali World Cup referee is denied entry into the United States after officials reportedly flagged possible terror-related concerns just days before the tournament begins. Lean: Discover why LEAN is becoming the choice for real weight‑loss results—shop now at https://TAKELEAN.com use code MK. Birch Gold: Text MK to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Cracking down on birth tourism, Space X going public, Bill Gates testifies, and The World Cup begins. Plus, the Message of the Day, the DOJ launches an investigation into California's chaotic voting system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The downing of an American helicopter by Iran has prompted President Trump to amp up strikes in the country. Bill Gates answers questions in a closed-door session before the House Oversight Committee over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. And the upcoming UFC fight on the White House lawn is now the subject of a lawsuit. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Episode 1977 - brought to you by our incredible sponsors: HIMS - Ready to reach your goals? Visit hims.com/HARDFACTOR to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. 00:00:00 Timestamps 00:02:20 Knicks fans are jumping Spurs fans 00:07:15 Inflation up 4.2% and Trump loves inflation and our military in wars now the ole 180 00:13:30 Epic senior prank involving 200 doors locks glued shut at school 00:18:15 Southern Baptists officially rule no women preachers 00:20:40 Bill Gates testifies before Congress and says Epstein blackmailed him and he banged chicks on the island 00:25:55 AI Pinellas County Sheriffs Office bot confuses non pedo man as pedo man, arrested him and now he's suing 00:36:05 Iran's men's national team is in Mexico because they can't be in the US and play in the US in the World Cup this Monday 00:39:00 People keep dumping in popular tourist attraction in New Zealand For more head over to patreon.com/hardfactor for weekly bonus episodes and most importantly HAGFD! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The United States says it's now completed the latest wave of airstrikes on Iran early Thursday morning local time. Iran says it responded with attacks of its own. Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump promised to keep up military pressure on Tehran because Iranian leaders were taking “too long to negotiate”. Also, on the eve of the men's football World Cup kicking off in Mexico the boss of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has defended the handling of the event amid mounting criticism. Billionaire Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, has faced a US congressional committee keen to learn more about his relationship with the dead sex offender, Jeffery Epstein. In Northern Ireland, crowds gathered for a second night of anti-immigration unrest in parts of Belfast, following a stabbing in the city. And Nigeria is preparing to repatriate its citizens from South Africa following weeks of protests and attacks on illegal migrants across the country. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) launches Tomahawk cruise missiles against multiple targets in Iran. Credit: U.S. Central Command
You HAVE to see this — Anthropic just hit a $965 BILLION valuation, and now the company is calling for a global AI slowdown … but here's the real question: If America pauses, will China actually stop? Pat Gray tears apart this latest move from Big Tech. After warning that its own models are too dangerous and quietly releasing a “safe” version, Anthropic now wants the world to hit the brakes on frontier AI development. Sounds noble — until you realize China is never going to play along. We also cover: Rest in peace, “Uncle Jimmy” Dodds. Why did Bill Gates testify in Congress? Does America have an Indian immigration problem? Knicks' EPIC comeback in Game 4 Democrats are UPSET at the Bidens. This isn't about safety. It's about crippling American innovation while our biggest adversary races full speed ahead to dominate AI for military, cyber, and economic supremacy. National security experts know the country that leads in AI will lead the world — and right now, elites in Silicon Valley are pushing policies that could hand that advantage straight to the Chinese Communist Party. Drop your hottest take — let's talk about what real America First AI policy should look like. If you're tired of Big Tech elites risking our national security while pretending to be the adults in the room, smash that LIKE button, SUBSCRIBE, and turn on notifications for more hard-hitting conservative analysis. 00:00 Pat Gray UNLEASHED! 00:52 Iran, and the Rising Gas/Oil Prices 01:45 Trump on When Gas/Oil Prices will Go Down 03:34 Current Price of Gas/Oil 05:39 Trey Yingst on Bombing Campaign against Iran 09:41 Trump Signs Homeland Security Bill 10:27 Trump on Bill Pulte for DNI 13:30 Trump on Inflation 17:21 Cowboys & Indians Song Controversy 22:14 News Headline Regarding the Karmelo Anthony Verdict 25:54 Jasmine Crockett on Karmelo Anthony Verdict 27:40 Jasmine Crockett on Race / Austin Metcalf's Family 30:40 Fat Five 40:54 Special 'Disclosure Day' Episode TOMORROW! 43:19 Anthropic Calls for Pausing AI Development Worldwide 50:00 The Advancements & Dangers of AI 57:21 John Thune Sucks! 59:20 Jim Jordan VS. ActBlue 1:03:37 Knicks Fans Burning Down New York 1:07:02 Eric Schmitt Baseball Catch 1:09:04 News Report on Bill Gates/Jeffrey Epstein Connection 1:12:13 RIP James 'Uncle Jimmy' Dodds 1:14:42 Dems Not Happy with Biden Family 1:17:52 Candace Owens Wants Everyone to Go to Russia??? 1:30:39 Texas Judge Denise Hernández Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 10, 2026; 8pm: Tonight, Donald Trump struggles with the latest threat to his grip on Congress as his Iran war hurts Americans at home. Then, an inside look at how Trump's prosecutors twisted the legal system. And Sen. Adam Schiff on the Trump stooge heading up America's Intelligence. Plus, Bill Gates talks to Congress about Jeffrey Epstein amid new report on Trump's attempt to bury the whole thing. Want more of Chris? Download and follow his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
It was a stunning scene on Capitol Hill, one of the most powerful men in the world testifying before the House Oversight Committee for six hours. Billionaire Bill Gates voluntarily appeared before lawmakers and read his opening statement which acknowledged his poor judgment and described how Jeffrey Epstein attempted to blackmail him regarding his extramarital affairs. Lawmakers had different reactions to Gates’ testimony, some calling it intense and combative, others said he was “not forthcoming or candid.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tonight, new U.S. strikes on Iran. President Trump, who had warned earlier that strikes would resume, said the bombing will stop shortly, according to a Fox News correspondent, and that top Iranian officials called to ask him to halt the latest attack. Still, the president warned attacks could continue tomorrow if a deal isn't reached. Plus, what Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told Congress today about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It was a stunning scene on Capitol Hill, one of the most powerful men in the world testifying before the House Oversight Committee for six hours. Billionaire Bill Gates voluntarily appeared before lawmakers and read his opening statement which acknowledged his poor judgment and described how Jeffrey Epstein attempted to blackmail him regarding his extramarital affairs. Lawmakers had different reactions to Gates’ testimony, some calling it intense and combative, others said he was “not forthcoming or candid.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Headlines: – Welcome to Mo News (02:00) – US Inflation Tops 4% For First Time In Three Years As Oil Prices Jump (08:40) – President Trump Says He “Loves” Inflation– Will Drop “Like A Rock” When War Is Over (09:10) – U.S. Launches More Strikes On Iranian Targets After Trump Promises To Hit Iran “Hard” (15:10) – Bill Gates Accuses Jeffrey Epstein Of Blackmail In Capitol Hill Testimony (19:25) – "Regime Change": New Book Reveals Trump Team's Epstein Leak Fears (23:30) – NY Knicks Pull Off 29-Point Miracle Comeback To Win NBA Finals Game 5 (27:20) – The FDA Just Approved a New Sunscreen Filter—And Dermatologists Are Here For It (30:00) – OB-GYN Group Makes Vaccine Recommendations For The First Time (33:20) – College Football: Coaches, ADs 'Disgusted,' 'Stunned' With Brendan Sorsby Ruling (35:10) – Sen. Cruz Sets Aggressive Timeline On College Sports Bill (38:30) – Taylor Swift Surprises With Performance At ‘Toy Story 5' Premiere In Hollywood (39:45) – On This Day In History (44:30) Thanks To Our Sponsors: – Monarch - 50% off your first year | Code: MONEWS – Factor - 50% off your first box | Code: monews50off – Industrious - Coworking office. 50% off day pass | Code: MONEWS50 – LMNT | Free Sample Pack with any LMNT drink mix or 12oz cans purchase – Boll & Branch – 15% off first order, plus free shipping | Code: MONEWS
U.S. launches "self defense" strikes on Iran after Apache helicopter shot down; Bill Gates grilled by lawmakers over Epstein ties; High security for NBA game after clashes; and more on tonight's broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
It was a stunning scene on Capitol Hill, one of the most powerful men in the world testifying before the House Oversight Committee for six hours. Billionaire Bill Gates voluntarily appeared before lawmakers and read his opening statement which acknowledged his poor judgment and described how Jeffrey Epstein attempted to blackmail him regarding his extramarital affairs. Lawmakers had different reactions to Gates’ testimony, some calling it intense and combative, others said he was “not forthcoming or candid.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 10, 2026; 6pm: MS NOW's Ari Melber reports on a bombshell report from The New York Times detailing how the Epstein scandal caused an internal "freakout" at the White House. The New York Times' Michelle Goldberg and Veteran Journalist Vicky Ward join. Plus, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joins to discuss inflation, the midterms and Game 4 of the NBA finals. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Robach and Holmes cover the latest news headlines and entertainment updates and give perspective on current events in their daily “Morning Run.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
President Trump vows the U.S. will hit Iran “hard” after accusing the country of downing an American helicopter. Steve Kornacki breaks down the latest primary results from across the country. House Oversight Committee member Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-Va.) shares what Bill Gates told Congress during his testimony regarding the Epstein files. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Robach and Holmes cover the latest news headlines and entertainment updates and give perspective on current events in their daily “Morning Run.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stealing land is an American tradition, but these days it isn't just the buffalo being driven off a cliff; it's everyone. Data centers have sprouted into existence across the country, against the will of the people, draining energy and water resources from the local communities. Meanwhile, Bill Gates is systematically acquiring farmland at a record pace, while his investments in synthetic meats go belly up. ICE was also building two dozen detention facilities across the country into its own version of FEMA Camps. It appears that Big Tech and The State are in an active war against the American people, and trying to destroy their land in the process.---Macroaggressionswww.Macroaggressions.ioMerch StoreLink Tree ---Video ChannelsRumble | YouTube | Brighteon---Activist PostNewsletter Sign Up---AudiobooksHypocrazyThe Octopus of Global Control---Support Our SponsorsReplace Your Mortgage: www.WipeOutYourMortgageNow.comGround Luxe Grounding MatsC60 Power | Promo Code: MACROChemical Free Body | Promo Code: MACROWise Wolf Gold & SilverLegalShield: www.DontGetPushedAround.comChristian Yordanov's Health ProgramThe Dollar VigilanteNesa's Hemp | Promo Code: MACROAugason Farms
For years, Bill Gates was best known for his charitable work. The Gates Foundation spends billions on humanitarian efforts around the world. At one point, Gates was ranked as the world's most admired man. But as details surface about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, that carefully crafted image is eroding. WSJ's Emily Glazer reveals the lengths that Gates's team has taken in order to burnish his reputation, and how it's slowly cracking. Jessica Mendoza hosts. Further Listening: - How Jeffrey Epstein Made Millions From His Connections - The Growing Fallout From the Epstein Files Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices