Podcasts about border protection

Customs and Border Protection abruptly closed the Ped-West pedestrian crossing in San Ysidro Thursday. In other news, as the world marks Democracy Day, the United States' system of representative government is under attack. KPBS explores how the pillars of democracy are holding up in San Diego County. Plus, we have details on some weekend arts events happening in San Diego County.

Rod Arquette Show with Greg Hughes Rundown – “Wingman Wednesday,” September 13, 20234:38 pm: Utah Speaker of the House Brad Wilson, who is exploring a run for U.S. Senate in 2024, joins Rod and Greg to give us his reaction to Senator Mitt Romney's announcement that he will not seek reelection.5:05 pm: Mark Morgan, former acting Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a Visiting Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, and a Senior Fellow at the Federation for American Immigration Reform joins Rod and Greg to discuss how Americans are losing their lives because of the crisis on America's southern border.5:48 pm: Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, who has already announced a run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Mitt Romney, joins the guys to give his reaction to Romney's announcement that he will not run for reelection.6:05 pm: Veronique de Rugy, Chair in Political Economy and a Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, joins the show to discuss the latest consumer inflation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.6:38 pm: Susannah Luthi Taylor, a reporter with the Washington Free Beacon, joins the show to discuss a bill in California that would punish parents that don't “affirm” their child's gender identity.

Thaddeus' service to this country began its course while proudly serving in the United States Air Force. He served on the Terrell County Independent School District School Board for eight years and as the Board President four of those years.  His viewpoint: “Students and our school's educators are at the forefront of our nations foundation. Texas must lead the nation by adapting our approach to doing what is best for the students first and foremost so we as Texans and parents promote the most effective solutions to prepare future leaders of Texas and our nation with what they need to reach their full potential.”     Currently Thaddeus C. Cleveland is the Sheriff for Terrell County, Texas. He was appointed as Sheriff on May 17, 2022. Prior to his appointment, Sheriff Cleveland spent just over 26 years in the United States Border Patrol and the last 11 years of his career as the Patrol Agent in Charge of the Sanderson Border Patrol Station. Sheriff Cleveland entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol on February 26, 1996, as a member of Class 300. His first duty assignment as a Border Patrol agent was at the Nogales Border Patrol Station in the Tucson Sector. Since his entry into the U.S. Border Patrol, Sheriff Cleveland served as a Border Patrol Agent at Sierra Blanca, Texas, a Senior Patrol Agent at Eagle Pass, Texas, a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent at Douglas, Arizona and Artesia, New Mexico. He has also served as a Field Operations Supervisor at Naco, Arizona and Alpine, Texas.    Sheriff Cleveland served as an Assistant Chief in Washington, D.C. at the Office of Border Patrol as well as Customs and Border Protection's Commissioner's Office of Anti-Terrorism and Office of State, Local and Tribal Liaison. PART OF THE GOOD NEWS PODCAST NETWORK. AUDIO VERSIONS OF ALL OUR EPISODES: https://theaddictionpodcast.com CONTACT US: The Addiction Podcast - Point of No Return theaddictionpodcast@yahoo.com Intro and Outro music by: Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

In this episode, Tudor welcomes Nikki Haley as a guest. They discuss various topics including border control, the influence of cartels, and Haley's proposals to address the border crisis. They also delve into Haley's experience as ambassador to the United Nations, focusing on promoting America's interests and values. The conversation then shifts to the threat posed by China, including their infiltration into the US and military buildup. Haley also addresses the issue of members of Congress signing non-disclosure agreements with Chinese companies and emphasizes the need to protect national security. Other topics discussed include government spending, education reform, and healthcare transparency. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network - new episodes debut every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday. For more info visit TudorDixonPodcast.comFollow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Tudor welcomes Nikki Haley as a guest. They discuss various topics including border control, the influence of cartels, and Haley's proposals to address the border crisis. They also delve into Haley's experience as ambassador to the United Nations, focusing on promoting America's interests and values. The conversation then shifts to the threat posed by China, including their infiltration into the US and military buildup. Haley also addresses the issue of members of Congress signing non-disclosure agreements with Chinese companies and emphasizes the need to protect national security. Other topics discussed include government spending, education reform, and healthcare transparency. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network - new episodes debut every Monday, Wednesday, & Friday. For more info visit TudorDixonPodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged approximately 75,000 illegal immigrants as being possible national security threats or having terroristic ties in the previous 10 months leading up to August 2023, the Daily Caller reported. Mayor Eric Adams warned that the raging migrant crisis will “destroy” New York City and tore into President Biden for ignoring his pleas for help, saying the White House has given “no support” for the thousands of asylum seekers arriving each month. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis is right that Staten Island is not likely to succeed in seceding from the city of New York. The borough needs the approval of both the City Council and the state Legislature — neither of which agreed to the idea even after Staten Islanders voted to split off from Gotham in a 1993 referendum, which passed with 65% support. On Thursday, leading Republican presidential candidate and 45th President Donald Trump formally notified the judge overseeing his case with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis that he may try to move his case to federal court. Plus more on today's episode.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, September 7th, 2023. Olive Tree Biblical Software: Discover why more than a million people use the free Olive Tree Bible App as their go-to for reading, studying, and listening to the God’s Word. Start by downloading one of many free Bibles and start taking notes, highlighting verses, and bookmarking your favorite passages. You can read at your own pace, or choose from a large selection of Reading Plans, including the Bible Reading Challenge. When you are ready to go deeper into your studies, Olive Tree is right there with a large selection of study Bibles, commentaries, and other helpful study resources available for purchase. There’s also an extensive bookstore allows you to build your digital library one book at a time and Olive Tree’s sync technology lets you pick up where you left off on your tablet, pc or phone and get right to studying on another supported device. Now here's the best part – You can start with the Olive Tree Essentials Bundle for FREE. Visit www.olivetree.com/FLF and download it today!  https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/us-federal-budget-deficit-projected-double-year US federal budget deficit projected to double this year The U.S. federal deficit is projected to nearly double this year as a result of higher interest rates and lower tax revenue. The gap between what the government spends and what it collects is expected to grow from about $1 trillion last year to $2 trillion for the 2023 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, according to the latest projections from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), a nonpartisan group that advocates for reducing the federal deficit. "This would be the highest deficit we’ve ever had outside of a recession or national emergency," Marc Goldwein, a senior policy director at CRFB, told FOX Business. The sizable increase stems from a number of factors, including high inflation, more expensive interest payments and a drop in tax receipts. It comes on the heels of a record drop in the budget shortfall last year, as the deficit dropped from close to $3 trillion to roughly $1 trillion after the government's record spending during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, the government enjoyed a surge in capital gains revenue after Americans capitalized on the booming market the previous year, sold more stock and recorded large gains. The market has not fared as well since then, leading to a sharp drop in capital gains tax revenue compared with last year. The Treasury Department likewise benefited from a spike in general tax collection, because surging inflation essentially pushed up nominal income for millions of households. Although the IRS indexes the tax code to inflation, it does so on a lag. Higher federal income tax brackets and standard deductions took effect at the beginning of 2023, essentially allowing more Americans to shield their income from the IRS. Social Security and Medicare are also indexed to inflation, meaning the government is spending more money on those programs than it did in fiscal year 2022. "But mostly what’s happening is it’s coming to the new normal, from an unusually low 2022 deficit," Goldwein said. "That’s pretty scary, because normal before the pandemic was $1 trillion. And in 2015, it was $500 billion. So we went from $500 billion is the normal, to $1 trillion is the normal, to $2 trillion is the normal in less than a decade." The figures exclude President Biden's $400 billion student loan cancellation plan, which was counted in the official 2022 deficit numbers but never implemented because the Supreme Court struck the policy down. Such massive spending imbalances highlight the toll that high and rising debt can take on everyday Americans. High deficits can fuel inflation, and high debt can push up interest rates. "Mortgage rates are as high as they’ve been since well before the financial crisis," Goldwein said. "Car loan rates, student loan rates, credit card rates, they’re all really high." The deficit surge comes as lawmakers rush to avert a government shutdown. The White House has urged Congress to pass a short-term funding measure, known as a continuing resolution, in order to keep the government solvent while lawmakers continue negotiations over longer-term funding bills. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., have both said they want to pass a short-term deal to keep the government running. However, a group of House Republicans — the House Freedom Caucus — is demanding a number of concessions as part of the continuing resolution, raising the risk of more down-to-the-wire drama on Capitol Hill. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/biden-mask-indoors-jill-biden-covid Biden to wear mask indoors after COVID-19 exposure President Joe Biden will don a mask indoors after he was exposed to COVID-19 through his wife, first lady Jill Biden, according to the White House. https://twitter.com/i/status/1699269260260823345 - Play Video Now, Studies have repeatedly shown masks don't prevent Covid transmission and might even have health consequences to wearers. - But I digress. Biden, who awarded the Medal of Honor to Army Capt. Larry Taylor for conspicuous gallantry on Tuesday, is expected to depart Thursday for India and the Group of 20 leaders summit. During the Medal of Honor ceremony, Biden took off his mask for his remarks and did not put it back on to hang the trinket around Taylor's neck or to leave the East Room. National security adviser Jake Sullivan downplayed the prospect that a presidential COVID-19 diagnosis would disrupt his foreign trip based on leaders' past experience social distancing during the pandemic. https://www.theblaze.com/news/75000-sia-illegal-border-crossings 75,000 illegal immigrants flagged as having possible ties to terrorism in the last year, according to CBP data U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged approximately 75,000 illegal immigrants as being possible national security threats or having terroristic ties in the previous 10 months leading up to August 2023, the Daily Caller reported. CBP data showed that between October 2022 and August 2023, 74,904 illegal aliens were labeled as "SIA Encounters," which stands for "Special Interest Alien." According to a Department of Homeland Security article, an SIA is a "non-U.S. person" who potentially "poses a national security risk to the United States or its interests." "Often such individuals or groups are employing travel patterns known or evaluated to possibly have a nexus to terrorism. DHS analysis includes an examination of travel patterns, points of origin, and/or travel segments that are tied to current assessments of national and international threat environments," the DHS stated. "This does not mean that all SIAs are 'terrorists,'" the government report added. However, the travel and behavior of certain individuals "indicates a possible nexus to nefarious activity (including terrorism) and, at a minimum, provides indicators that necessitate heightened screening and further investigation." The unearthed numbers were a massive increase from the reported 25,627 special interest encounters from fiscal year 2022, and the comparably miniscule 3,675 from fiscal year 2021. Illegal immigrants can automatically be deemed SIAs based on their country of origin, such as Turkey or Uzbekistan, due to such countries' status as a "source and transit country." DHS didn’t respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller regarding the SIA figures. CBP and the DHS are under heightened scrutiny as a result of the shocking increase in border crossing encounters under the Biden administration. A former immigration judge claimed in late August 2023 that the DHS was deliberately not disclosing the number of illegal immigrants who have been released into the United States each month. "The only reason why ICE and OFO [Office of Field Operations] would refuse to disclose that information is to hide the fact that it is releasing more than 100,000 aliens per month into the United States and to conceal the effects of those migrant releases on communities across the United States," Andrew Arthur said. Border encounters in fiscal year 2023 are on pace to match the near 2.4 million that were seen in 2022. There were just over 1.7 million encounters in 2021, while in 2020, President Trump's administration saw a little more than 450,000. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2023/09/05/ev-florida-n2627949#google_vignette Electric Vehicles Are Causing Issues After Hurricane Idalia Electric vehicles are catching on fire after Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida last week. According to local reports, at least two Tesla EVs ignited after saltwater from the storm surge damaged their batteries and other electrical components. One vehicle lit up in Pinellas Park and another car fire occurred in Palm Harbor. “Carfax says owners need to understand the fire risk doesn’t go away after their EV dries out,” ABC Actions News told viewers. “The salt water that is flooding can get into the battery and dry there and once it dries it creates what federal safety officials call bridges between cells and that can lead to fires and those fires can come anywhere from days to weeks later and once an EV catches fire it is incredible difficult to put it out,” said Patrick Olsen of Carfax. After Hurricane Ian, 21 electric vehicles caught fire in the state, prompting officials to warn residents ahead of Idalia's approach. “We saw a number of fires associated with EVs from Hurricane Ian. We know that the saltwater from storm surge can compromise these batteries, causing fires which cannot be easily suppressed,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said at the time. “The best fire teams can do is keep water on the battery until the fuel burns out. If you’re evacuating and leaving an EV, or other lithium ion powered devices like scooters or golf carts in your garage, you’re creating a real fire threat for your home, your communities, and first responders," he added. "Take this threat seriously. If there’s even a small risk of your EV being impacted by storm surge, move it to higher ground before it’s too late.” One home that managed to survive Ian ended up burning to the ground because of a saltwater-damaged EV. EV vehicle owners are being advised to park affected cars at least 50 feet away from any structures that could catch fire.

In this episode of Simply Trade, hosts Andy and Lalo we introduce you to another different format of Simply Trade. This time with our Folks edition where we take a glance into the backstory of those individuals making a mark in the trading world and is guaranteed to keep your ears glued till the end. Main Points The conversation starts with Bonnie Kersch, the Associate Director of Global Trade compliance at Wayfair. Bonnie offered an astonishing account of her journey in the trading industry and how she climbed up the ranks in the trading world. Bonnie shared the intriguing story of how she transitioned from a customer service role in a chemical company to becoming the Associate Director of Global Trade Compliance at Wayfair after their company underwent a CBP(US Customs and Border Protection) audit. According to Bonnie, her degree in English Literature with a focus in grammar and etymology has been tremendously beneficial in her career, specifically in reading and interpreting texts and Customs rulings. Bonnie also emphasized the importance of public speaking skills in her career progression. The episode also dives into the importance of mentorship in the industry, highlighting the necessity of knowledge transfer from veterans to newcomers. This episode of Simply Trade will leave you feeling inspired and informed, learning about the diverse ways that one can find themselves in the world of trade, through Bonnie's unconventional journey in the industry. Gain a new perspective on the trading industry and the transformative power of mentorship in professional development. Enjoy the show! Host: Andy Shiles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyshiles/  Host/Producer: Lalo Solorzano: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lalosolorzano/  Co-Producer: Mara Marquez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mara-marquez-a00a111a8/ Show references: Global Training Center - www.GlobalTrainingCenter.com Simply Trade Podcast - twitter.com/SimplyTradePod  Bonie Kersch - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-kersch-4a1534114/   Contact SimplyTrade@GlobalTrainingCenter.com or message @SimplyTradePod for: Advertising and sponsoring on Simply Trade Requests to be on the show as guest Suggest any topics you would like to hear about Simply Trade is not a law firm or an advisor. The topics and discussions conducted by Simply Trade hosts and guests should not be considered and is not intended to substitute legal advice. You should seek appropriate counsel for your own situation. These conversations and information are directed towards listeners in the United States for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be In substitute for legal advice. No listener or viewer of this podcast should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information on this podcast without first seeking legal advice from counsel. Information on this podcast may not be up to date depending on the time of publishing and the time of viewership. The content of this posting is provided as is, no representations are made that the content is error free. The views expressed in or through this podcast are those are the individual speakers not those of their respective employers or Global Training Center as a whole. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this podcast are hereby expressly disclaimed.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, September 7th, 2023. Olive Tree Biblical Software: Discover why more than a million people use the free Olive Tree Bible App as their go-to for reading, studying, and listening to the God’s Word. Start by downloading one of many free Bibles and start taking notes, highlighting verses, and bookmarking your favorite passages. You can read at your own pace, or choose from a large selection of Reading Plans, including the Bible Reading Challenge. When you are ready to go deeper into your studies, Olive Tree is right there with a large selection of study Bibles, commentaries, and other helpful study resources available for purchase. There’s also an extensive bookstore allows you to build your digital library one book at a time and Olive Tree’s sync technology lets you pick up where you left off on your tablet, pc or phone and get right to studying on another supported device. Now here's the best part – You can start with the Olive Tree Essentials Bundle for FREE. Visit www.olivetree.com/FLF and download it today!  https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/us-federal-budget-deficit-projected-double-year US federal budget deficit projected to double this year The U.S. federal deficit is projected to nearly double this year as a result of higher interest rates and lower tax revenue. The gap between what the government spends and what it collects is expected to grow from about $1 trillion last year to $2 trillion for the 2023 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, according to the latest projections from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), a nonpartisan group that advocates for reducing the federal deficit. "This would be the highest deficit we’ve ever had outside of a recession or national emergency," Marc Goldwein, a senior policy director at CRFB, told FOX Business. The sizable increase stems from a number of factors, including high inflation, more expensive interest payments and a drop in tax receipts. It comes on the heels of a record drop in the budget shortfall last year, as the deficit dropped from close to $3 trillion to roughly $1 trillion after the government's record spending during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, the government enjoyed a surge in capital gains revenue after Americans capitalized on the booming market the previous year, sold more stock and recorded large gains. The market has not fared as well since then, leading to a sharp drop in capital gains tax revenue compared with last year. The Treasury Department likewise benefited from a spike in general tax collection, because surging inflation essentially pushed up nominal income for millions of households. Although the IRS indexes the tax code to inflation, it does so on a lag. Higher federal income tax brackets and standard deductions took effect at the beginning of 2023, essentially allowing more Americans to shield their income from the IRS. Social Security and Medicare are also indexed to inflation, meaning the government is spending more money on those programs than it did in fiscal year 2022. "But mostly what’s happening is it’s coming to the new normal, from an unusually low 2022 deficit," Goldwein said. "That’s pretty scary, because normal before the pandemic was $1 trillion. And in 2015, it was $500 billion. So we went from $500 billion is the normal, to $1 trillion is the normal, to $2 trillion is the normal in less than a decade." The figures exclude President Biden's $400 billion student loan cancellation plan, which was counted in the official 2022 deficit numbers but never implemented because the Supreme Court struck the policy down. Such massive spending imbalances highlight the toll that high and rising debt can take on everyday Americans. High deficits can fuel inflation, and high debt can push up interest rates. "Mortgage rates are as high as they’ve been since well before the financial crisis," Goldwein said. "Car loan rates, student loan rates, credit card rates, they’re all really high." The deficit surge comes as lawmakers rush to avert a government shutdown. The White House has urged Congress to pass a short-term funding measure, known as a continuing resolution, in order to keep the government solvent while lawmakers continue negotiations over longer-term funding bills. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., have both said they want to pass a short-term deal to keep the government running. However, a group of House Republicans — the House Freedom Caucus — is demanding a number of concessions as part of the continuing resolution, raising the risk of more down-to-the-wire drama on Capitol Hill. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/biden-mask-indoors-jill-biden-covid Biden to wear mask indoors after COVID-19 exposure President Joe Biden will don a mask indoors after he was exposed to COVID-19 through his wife, first lady Jill Biden, according to the White House. https://twitter.com/i/status/1699269260260823345 - Play Video Now, Studies have repeatedly shown masks don't prevent Covid transmission and might even have health consequences to wearers. - But I digress. Biden, who awarded the Medal of Honor to Army Capt. Larry Taylor for conspicuous gallantry on Tuesday, is expected to depart Thursday for India and the Group of 20 leaders summit. During the Medal of Honor ceremony, Biden took off his mask for his remarks and did not put it back on to hang the trinket around Taylor's neck or to leave the East Room. National security adviser Jake Sullivan downplayed the prospect that a presidential COVID-19 diagnosis would disrupt his foreign trip based on leaders' past experience social distancing during the pandemic. https://www.theblaze.com/news/75000-sia-illegal-border-crossings 75,000 illegal immigrants flagged as having possible ties to terrorism in the last year, according to CBP data U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged approximately 75,000 illegal immigrants as being possible national security threats or having terroristic ties in the previous 10 months leading up to August 2023, the Daily Caller reported. CBP data showed that between October 2022 and August 2023, 74,904 illegal aliens were labeled as "SIA Encounters," which stands for "Special Interest Alien." According to a Department of Homeland Security article, an SIA is a "non-U.S. person" who potentially "poses a national security risk to the United States or its interests." "Often such individuals or groups are employing travel patterns known or evaluated to possibly have a nexus to terrorism. DHS analysis includes an examination of travel patterns, points of origin, and/or travel segments that are tied to current assessments of national and international threat environments," the DHS stated. "This does not mean that all SIAs are 'terrorists,'" the government report added. However, the travel and behavior of certain individuals "indicates a possible nexus to nefarious activity (including terrorism) and, at a minimum, provides indicators that necessitate heightened screening and further investigation." The unearthed numbers were a massive increase from the reported 25,627 special interest encounters from fiscal year 2022, and the comparably miniscule 3,675 from fiscal year 2021. Illegal immigrants can automatically be deemed SIAs based on their country of origin, such as Turkey or Uzbekistan, due to such countries' status as a "source and transit country." DHS didn’t respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller regarding the SIA figures. CBP and the DHS are under heightened scrutiny as a result of the shocking increase in border crossing encounters under the Biden administration. A former immigration judge claimed in late August 2023 that the DHS was deliberately not disclosing the number of illegal immigrants who have been released into the United States each month. "The only reason why ICE and OFO [Office of Field Operations] would refuse to disclose that information is to hide the fact that it is releasing more than 100,000 aliens per month into the United States and to conceal the effects of those migrant releases on communities across the United States," Andrew Arthur said. Border encounters in fiscal year 2023 are on pace to match the near 2.4 million that were seen in 2022. There were just over 1.7 million encounters in 2021, while in 2020, President Trump's administration saw a little more than 450,000. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2023/09/05/ev-florida-n2627949#google_vignette Electric Vehicles Are Causing Issues After Hurricane Idalia Electric vehicles are catching on fire after Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida last week. According to local reports, at least two Tesla EVs ignited after saltwater from the storm surge damaged their batteries and other electrical components. One vehicle lit up in Pinellas Park and another car fire occurred in Palm Harbor. “Carfax says owners need to understand the fire risk doesn’t go away after their EV dries out,” ABC Actions News told viewers. “The salt water that is flooding can get into the battery and dry there and once it dries it creates what federal safety officials call bridges between cells and that can lead to fires and those fires can come anywhere from days to weeks later and once an EV catches fire it is incredible difficult to put it out,” said Patrick Olsen of Carfax. After Hurricane Ian, 21 electric vehicles caught fire in the state, prompting officials to warn residents ahead of Idalia's approach. “We saw a number of fires associated with EVs from Hurricane Ian. We know that the saltwater from storm surge can compromise these batteries, causing fires which cannot be easily suppressed,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said at the time. “The best fire teams can do is keep water on the battery until the fuel burns out. If you’re evacuating and leaving an EV, or other lithium ion powered devices like scooters or golf carts in your garage, you’re creating a real fire threat for your home, your communities, and first responders," he added. "Take this threat seriously. If there’s even a small risk of your EV being impacted by storm surge, move it to higher ground before it’s too late.” One home that managed to survive Ian ended up burning to the ground because of a saltwater-damaged EV. EV vehicle owners are being advised to park affected cars at least 50 feet away from any structures that could catch fire.

In this episode Brian and I discuss all the flawed data and modeling - and the policy that resulted from it - during Covid, especially in California. We also get into the need for accountability for politicians and the bureaucracy and need for performance measurements. More about Brian below show notes.     3:00 - "Date-a" vs. "Dad-a" and defining terms    4:30 -  Covid data errors    9:00 -  Why hospitalization data (not testing) was best to understand the virus   12:00 - California's terrible policy decisions    15:45 - The experts that were ignored   20:50 - Errors of Imperial College model    25:20 - Unjustified lockdowns   30:30 - Climate of fear   35:00 - Leadership styles and power   44:30 - Assessing risk   53:30 - The next catastrophe and the re-ordering of society   57:00 - The politics of California1:08:30 - Accountability, transparency, and performance measurement1:13:30 - Hypocrisy of government officials and distrust1:18:00 - Polarization in politics 1:24:00 - Decline in civic engagement and education  Brian C. Goebel is the founder and editor-in-chief of 2040matters.com, president of Reason in Government, and is a Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center. A recognized expert on homeland security, a successful entrepreneur, applied analytics expert, and an elected official, he is a frequent speaker and writer on constitutional law, public policy, and baseball analytics issues, and has published opinion pieces in publications ranging from the Orange County Register to The Washington Post. Goebel's law career has included positions with two firms and a clerkship on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He has focused on administrative law and sanctions compliance; argued for a constitutional right to death with dignity; helped overturn an unjustified and excessive damages award against a large department store chain; successfully represented a California inmate who had been unlawfully beaten by a correctional officer; worked on a variety of cases involving flawed agency rulemaking; and proved that a search of his client's offices by federal law enforcement authorities violated the Fourth Amendment. Goebel's public service has included serving as counselor and senior policy advisor to the commissioner of U.S. Customs, Robert C. Bonner. In this role, he helped design and implement key programs and regulations to facilitate secure travel and trade, many of which remain cornerstones of the government's border security efforts. He also helped oversee the 2003 transition from the Treasury Department into the Department of Homeland Security and the merger that created U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and led negotiations with the European Commission on matters relating to the Container Security Initiative. Sentinel HS Group, LLC, a consulting firm he founded focuses on border security and management (e.g., counter-proliferation, cross-border smuggling, and terrorist travel); customs modernization; immigration management; and transportation security. This firm grew into three separate businesses, including a data analytics firm providing advice and expertise to public and private sector clients in the U.S. and abroad. In 2018, Goebel ran for public office and won a seat on the Board of Directors for the Montecito Water District, where he now works on myriad water supply challenges facing his community. Goebel holds a JD and a BA in government and philosophy from the College of William and Mary.

The Center for Immigration Studies hosted a panel discussion entitled “Parole and the CBP One App: Fact and Fiction”. Speakers examined the legality of the CBP One App scheme, the number of entries, legal challenges, and the myths put forth about it.Mark Morgan, former Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, joined Center for Immigration Studies experts to discuss how the Biden administration took the CBP One smartphone app – a tool originally designed to smooth legal cross-border traffic – and turned it into a means of facilitating illegal immigration.Mark Krikorian, the Center's executive director and host of Parsing Immigration Policy, moderates this rebroadcast of the Center's panel.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestsMark Morgan, Visiting Fellow, Border Security and Immigration Center, Heritage FoundationFormer Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, former Acting Director of U. S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementAndrew Arthur, Resident Fellow in Law and Policy, Center for Immigration StudiesFormer Immigration Judge, former Counsel on the House Judiciary Committee, and former Acting Chief of the INS National Security Law Division.RelatedPanel VideoPanel TranscriptPanel Press ReleaseFollowFollow Parsing Immigration Policy on Ricochet, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts.Intro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

The Center for Immigration Studies hosted a panel discussion entitled “Parole and the CBP One App: Fact and Fiction”. Speakers examined the legality of the CBP One App scheme, the number of entries, legal challenges, and the myths put forth about it. Mark Morgan, former Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, joined Center […]

Joining us on this week's episode of Coffee with Closers is Kevin McAleenan, the former Acting Homeland Security Secretary and former Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He is currently the CEO of Pangiam, a  technology company that leverages artificial intelligence to screen airline luggage and cargo as well as biometrics to verify a passenger's identity. He discusses the state of aviation security today and the need to balance security with efficiency and convenience. He also shares his thoughts on emerging threats facing our nation's critical infrastructure.     

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuessday, August 14th, 2023. Bohnet Music Academy Isn’t it about time to take action on how you're going to give your children and grandchildren a good music education? Moses, David, and all the Saints of the church have worshiped God with musical might, so let’s be confidently found doing the same. Bohnet Music Academy instructs children and adults in how to be musically literate. That’s everything you need to know and do as the musician God made you to be. Lessons are available locally in Moscow, ID and online. What’s great is that in addition to getting vocal training, you can also study the piano, guitar, violin, cello, drums, or the trumpet. Visit Bohnetma.com/crosspolitic for more information on how to equip your family to serve God’s musical commands. B-O-H-N-E-T MA.com/crosspolitic We start today’s newsbrief by heading to Hawaii. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/how-did-hawaii-wildfires-start-what-know-about-maui-big-island-blazes-2023-08-11/ Wildfires on Hawaii's Maui have killed at least 96 people, forced tens of thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate the island and devastated the historic resort city of luh-hai-nuh. It's the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. The Big Island of Hawaii is also battling wildfires, which have caused no fatalities. Firefighting crews were still battling flare-ups. The largest fire in Lahaina is 85% contained and has burned 2,170 acres (880 hectares), Maui County said. Another fire in upcountry/Kula is 60% contained and has charred 678 acres (270 hectares). Smaller fires elsewhere are now 100% contained. The fires, which started the night of Aug. 8, wreaked widespread destruction in Lahaina. The city of about 13,000 people on northwestern Maui was once a whaling center and the Hawaiian Kingdom's capital, and now draws 2 million tourists a year. Cadaver dogs searched Lahaina's charred ruins for victims, and officials said it was likely the number of dead would rise. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates it will cost $5.5 billion to rebuild the town. The Maui blaze is the deadliest U.S. wildfire since 1918, when northern Minnesota's Cloquet Fire, which raged for more than four days, claimed 453 lives, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The deadliest wildfire in U.S history, Wisconsin's Peshtigo fire in 1871, killed 1,152. Hawaii's fires also constitute the most lethal disaster to hit the islands since a tsunami that killed 61 people in 1960, a year after Hawaii became a U.S. state. Some Maui residents have questioned whether more could have been done to warn them. Witnesses said they had little warning, describing their terror as the blaze destroyed Lahaina in what seemed like minutes. Some people dove into the Pacific Ocean to escape. Sirens stationed around the island - intended to warn of impending natural disasters - never sounded, and widespread power and cellular outages hampered other forms of alerting. Hawaii Governor Josh Green vowed on Sunday to investigate the response and emergency notification systems. The causes of the fires have not yet been determined. The National Weather Service had issued warnings for the Hawaiian Islands for high winds and dry weather - conditions ripe for wildfires. Nearly 85% of U.S. wildfires are caused by humans, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Natural causes include lightning and volcanic activity. In Hawaii, less than 1% of fires are due to natural causes, according to Elizabeth Pickett, co-executive director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization. The Hawaiian Islands have six active volcanoes, including one on Maui. The spread of flammable non-native grasses in areas of former farmland and forest has created large amounts of small, easily ignited materials that increase the risk and severity of fire. Record-setting heat this summer has contributed to unusually severe wildfires in Europe and western Canada. Scientists say climate change, driven by fossil fuel use, has led to more frequent and more powerful extreme weather events. What was Biden’s response to all this? https://nypost.com/2023/08/14/biden-slammed-for-no-comment-response-to-maui-wildfire/ Biden slammed for silence on Maui wildfire catastrophe President Biden had yet to offer a verbal statement Monday evening in response to the mounting death toll in the catastrophic Maui wildfire — the deadliest US blaze in more than a century — after spending the weekend sunning himself on the beach near his Delaware vacation home. The 80-year-old commander-in-chief avoided reporters upon his return to Washington Monday morning, walking directly across the White House lawn to the Oval Office without approaching the press to give a statement on the tragedy, as US leaders often do. The White House later put out a statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, taking note of the carnage in Maui and detailing government resources on offer to beleaguered residents. “As residents of Hawai’i mourn the loss of life and devastation taking place across their beautiful home, we mourn with them. Like I’ve said, not only our prayers are with those impacted – but every asset we have will be available to them,” read the statement attributed to Biden. A day earlier, the president offered a stony-hearted “No comment” when asked about the death toll, which has climbed to at least 96. During a bike ride Sunday morning, Biden gave a similar unfeeling answer when asked about the tragedy. “We’re looking at it,” he said when asked if he planned to visit the Aloha State. Biden is currently scheduled to visit Wisconsin Tuesday and travel to Camp David Thursday to meet with the leaders of South Korea and Japan the following day. He is then due to travel to Lake Tahoe, Nev. and remain there until Aug. 24. Bloomberg reporter Justin Sink posted a photo of Biden lounging with a group of people on Rehoboth Beach Sunday afternoon, triggering outrage on social media. “I campaigned for you,” raged former Hawaii legislator Kaniela Ing early Monday. “Now, when I lose dozens of my friends, family, and neighbors. This?” “You’ll hear from the president on this,” Jean-Pierre promised. “I don’t have anything to announce at this time, but certainly, he’s the president and you’re going to hear from him.” https://www.breitbart.com/border/2023/08/13/exclusive-40k-migrants-apprehended-along-southwest-border-in-first-10-days-of-august/ 40K Migrants Apprehended Along Southwest Border in First 10 Days of August Border Patrol agents apprehended nearly 40,000 migrants along the southwest border during the first ten days of August. The Tucson and Rio Grande Valley Sectors reported more than 10,000 each. Unofficial reports obtained from law enforcement by Breitbart Texas reveal that during the first ten days of August, Border Patrol agents apprehended 39,324 migrants who illegally crossed the border between ports of entry. This is an average of 5,708 apprehensions per day. The Tucson and Rio Grande Valley Sectors reported 10,867 and 10,465 migrant apprehensions, respectively. The five Texas-based border sectors accounted for 23,119 of the 39,324 migrant apprehensions. Following a sharp drop in June, migrant apprehensions reportedly spiked again in July with the arrest of more than 130,000 migrants, the Washington Post reported. If the current apprehension rate in August continues, U.S. Customs and Border Protection could report the apprehension of nearly 177,000 migrants in August. Now this! https://www.reuters.com/article/uganda-lgbt-president-idAFL8N39R0ZU Uganda president defiant after World Bank funding suspended over LGBT law Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday denounced the World Bank’s decision to suspend new funding in response to a harsh anti-LGBTQ law and vowed to find alternative sources of credit. The World Bank said on Tuesday that the law, which imposes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts, contradicted its values and that it would pause new funding until it could test measures to prevent discrimination in projects it finances. The World Bank has an existing portfolio of $5.2 billion in Uganda, although these projects will not be affected. The anti-LGBTQ law, enacted in May, has drawn widespread denunciation from local and international rights organisations and Western governments, though it is popular domestically. Museveni said in a statement that Uganda was trying to reduce its borrowing in any case and would not give in to pressure from foreign institutions. “It is, therefore, unfortunate that the World Bank and other actors dare to want to coerce us into abandoning our faith, culture, principles and sovereignty, using money. They really underestimate all Africans,” he said. Museveni said that if Uganda needed to borrow, it could do so from other sources, and that oil production expected to start by 2025 would provide additional revenues. He added he hoped the World Bank would reconsider its decision. In June, the United States imposed visa restrictions on some Ugandan officials in response to the law. President Joe Biden also ordered a review of U.S. aid to Uganda.

Former President Donald Trump was indicted by a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia on criminal counts related to his efforts to challenge the 2020 election—which were apparently decided before the grand jury voted on the charges. 5) Trump and 18 others charged in Georgia election case; 4) Reports surface that Joe Biden will make way for Michelle Obama to run for president as Democrat nominee; 3) US Customs and Border Protection have seized enough lethal drugs so far this fiscal year to kill more than 6.4 billion people; 2) San Francisco experiences first driverless traffic jam as AI-powered taxis freeze up and block intersection; 1) UK drug dealer arrested after he posts pictures of his home on a messaging app. FOLLOW US! Twitter X: @SkyWatch_TV YouTube: @SkyWatchTVnow @SimplyHIS @FiveInTen Rumble: @SkyWatchTV Facebook: @SkyWatchTV @SimplyHIS @EdensEssentials Instagram: @SkyWatchTV @SimplyHisShow @EdensEssentialsUSA TikTok: @SkyWatchTV @SimplyHisShow @EdensEssentials SkyWatchTV.com | SkyWatchTVStore.com | EdensEssentials.com | WhisperingPoniesRanch.com

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Tuessday, August 14th, 2023. Bohnet Music Academy Isn’t it about time to take action on how you're going to give your children and grandchildren a good music education? Moses, David, and all the Saints of the church have worshiped God with musical might, so let’s be confidently found doing the same. Bohnet Music Academy instructs children and adults in how to be musically literate. That’s everything you need to know and do as the musician God made you to be. Lessons are available locally in Moscow, ID and online. What’s great is that in addition to getting vocal training, you can also study the piano, guitar, violin, cello, drums, or the trumpet. Visit Bohnetma.com/crosspolitic for more information on how to equip your family to serve God’s musical commands. B-O-H-N-E-T MA.com/crosspolitic We start today’s newsbrief by heading to Hawaii. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/how-did-hawaii-wildfires-start-what-know-about-maui-big-island-blazes-2023-08-11/ Wildfires on Hawaii's Maui have killed at least 96 people, forced tens of thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate the island and devastated the historic resort city of luh-hai-nuh. It's the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. The Big Island of Hawaii is also battling wildfires, which have caused no fatalities. Firefighting crews were still battling flare-ups. The largest fire in Lahaina is 85% contained and has burned 2,170 acres (880 hectares), Maui County said. Another fire in upcountry/Kula is 60% contained and has charred 678 acres (270 hectares). Smaller fires elsewhere are now 100% contained. The fires, which started the night of Aug. 8, wreaked widespread destruction in Lahaina. The city of about 13,000 people on northwestern Maui was once a whaling center and the Hawaiian Kingdom's capital, and now draws 2 million tourists a year. Cadaver dogs searched Lahaina's charred ruins for victims, and officials said it was likely the number of dead would rise. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) estimates it will cost $5.5 billion to rebuild the town. The Maui blaze is the deadliest U.S. wildfire since 1918, when northern Minnesota's Cloquet Fire, which raged for more than four days, claimed 453 lives, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The deadliest wildfire in U.S history, Wisconsin's Peshtigo fire in 1871, killed 1,152. Hawaii's fires also constitute the most lethal disaster to hit the islands since a tsunami that killed 61 people in 1960, a year after Hawaii became a U.S. state. Some Maui residents have questioned whether more could have been done to warn them. Witnesses said they had little warning, describing their terror as the blaze destroyed Lahaina in what seemed like minutes. Some people dove into the Pacific Ocean to escape. Sirens stationed around the island - intended to warn of impending natural disasters - never sounded, and widespread power and cellular outages hampered other forms of alerting. Hawaii Governor Josh Green vowed on Sunday to investigate the response and emergency notification systems. The causes of the fires have not yet been determined. The National Weather Service had issued warnings for the Hawaiian Islands for high winds and dry weather - conditions ripe for wildfires. Nearly 85% of U.S. wildfires are caused by humans, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Natural causes include lightning and volcanic activity. In Hawaii, less than 1% of fires are due to natural causes, according to Elizabeth Pickett, co-executive director of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization. The Hawaiian Islands have six active volcanoes, including one on Maui. The spread of flammable non-native grasses in areas of former farmland and forest has created large amounts of small, easily ignited materials that increase the risk and severity of fire. Record-setting heat this summer has contributed to unusually severe wildfires in Europe and western Canada. Scientists say climate change, driven by fossil fuel use, has led to more frequent and more powerful extreme weather events. What was Biden’s response to all this? https://nypost.com/2023/08/14/biden-slammed-for-no-comment-response-to-maui-wildfire/ Biden slammed for silence on Maui wildfire catastrophe President Biden had yet to offer a verbal statement Monday evening in response to the mounting death toll in the catastrophic Maui wildfire — the deadliest US blaze in more than a century — after spending the weekend sunning himself on the beach near his Delaware vacation home. The 80-year-old commander-in-chief avoided reporters upon his return to Washington Monday morning, walking directly across the White House lawn to the Oval Office without approaching the press to give a statement on the tragedy, as US leaders often do. The White House later put out a statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, taking note of the carnage in Maui and detailing government resources on offer to beleaguered residents. “As residents of Hawai’i mourn the loss of life and devastation taking place across their beautiful home, we mourn with them. Like I’ve said, not only our prayers are with those impacted – but every asset we have will be available to them,” read the statement attributed to Biden. A day earlier, the president offered a stony-hearted “No comment” when asked about the death toll, which has climbed to at least 96. During a bike ride Sunday morning, Biden gave a similar unfeeling answer when asked about the tragedy. “We’re looking at it,” he said when asked if he planned to visit the Aloha State. Biden is currently scheduled to visit Wisconsin Tuesday and travel to Camp David Thursday to meet with the leaders of South Korea and Japan the following day. He is then due to travel to Lake Tahoe, Nev. and remain there until Aug. 24. Bloomberg reporter Justin Sink posted a photo of Biden lounging with a group of people on Rehoboth Beach Sunday afternoon, triggering outrage on social media. “I campaigned for you,” raged former Hawaii legislator Kaniela Ing early Monday. “Now, when I lose dozens of my friends, family, and neighbors. This?” “You’ll hear from the president on this,” Jean-Pierre promised. “I don’t have anything to announce at this time, but certainly, he’s the president and you’re going to hear from him.” https://www.breitbart.com/border/2023/08/13/exclusive-40k-migrants-apprehended-along-southwest-border-in-first-10-days-of-august/ 40K Migrants Apprehended Along Southwest Border in First 10 Days of August Border Patrol agents apprehended nearly 40,000 migrants along the southwest border during the first ten days of August. The Tucson and Rio Grande Valley Sectors reported more than 10,000 each. Unofficial reports obtained from law enforcement by Breitbart Texas reveal that during the first ten days of August, Border Patrol agents apprehended 39,324 migrants who illegally crossed the border between ports of entry. This is an average of 5,708 apprehensions per day. The Tucson and Rio Grande Valley Sectors reported 10,867 and 10,465 migrant apprehensions, respectively. The five Texas-based border sectors accounted for 23,119 of the 39,324 migrant apprehensions. Following a sharp drop in June, migrant apprehensions reportedly spiked again in July with the arrest of more than 130,000 migrants, the Washington Post reported. If the current apprehension rate in August continues, U.S. Customs and Border Protection could report the apprehension of nearly 177,000 migrants in August. Now this! https://www.reuters.com/article/uganda-lgbt-president-idAFL8N39R0ZU Uganda president defiant after World Bank funding suspended over LGBT law Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday denounced the World Bank’s decision to suspend new funding in response to a harsh anti-LGBTQ law and vowed to find alternative sources of credit. The World Bank said on Tuesday that the law, which imposes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts, contradicted its values and that it would pause new funding until it could test measures to prevent discrimination in projects it finances. The World Bank has an existing portfolio of $5.2 billion in Uganda, although these projects will not be affected. The anti-LGBTQ law, enacted in May, has drawn widespread denunciation from local and international rights organisations and Western governments, though it is popular domestically. Museveni said in a statement that Uganda was trying to reduce its borrowing in any case and would not give in to pressure from foreign institutions. “It is, therefore, unfortunate that the World Bank and other actors dare to want to coerce us into abandoning our faith, culture, principles and sovereignty, using money. They really underestimate all Africans,” he said. Museveni said that if Uganda needed to borrow, it could do so from other sources, and that oil production expected to start by 2025 would provide additional revenues. He added he hoped the World Bank would reconsider its decision. In June, the United States imposed visa restrictions on some Ugandan officials in response to the law. President Joe Biden also ordered a review of U.S. aid to Uganda.

In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Michael Allen from the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZ-DPS). Michael, who was born and raised in Arizona, started his career with the fire department.  In line to make Captain, he decided to change careers and move on to work with the Air Rescue Unit for AZ-DPS.  After a seven month academy and then another four months of Air Rescue Training, he is doing what he has always wanted to do!  As he starts getting into some of his rescue stories, we go over a few “first's” that he had.  While in the training phase, he was called for a rescue with people trapped by flood waters who needed to short haul out. When he was officially qualified for all rescue operations, he was called out for a hunter who fell down a ravine into thick forest and brush and broke his leg.  Michael had to rappel in, package the patient, and be short hauled out for three miles to the nearest landing zone.  He talks about another rescue on Mount Lemmon where five people and two dogs were stuck on a very slippery, icy slope.  We talk about two rescues where he and his crews were helping Customs and Border Protection. The last two rescues discussed are two stories that stand out to him.  One of them was a base jumper where the jump went bad and he was stuck on the cliff side.  The other story is a rock climber that was hiking, took a fall and broke both ankles.  Enjoy!   https://therealresq.com/home https://www.facebook.com/therealresq https://www.instagram.com/therealresq   Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ; Breeze-Eastern, https://www.breeze-eastern.com/ Axnes, https://www.axnes.com/ SR3 Rescue Concepts, https://sr3rescueconcepts.com Airwaav, https://airwaav.com/ VersaLifts https://vlifts.com/

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, August 10th, 2023. Bohnet Music Academy Isn’t it about time to take action on how you're going to give your children and grandchildren a good music education? Moses, David, and all the Saints of the church have worshiped God with musical might, so let’s be confidently found doing the same. Bohnet Music Academy instructs children and adults in how to be musically literate. That’s everything you need to know and do as the musician God made you to be. Lessons are available locally in Moscow, ID and online. What’s great is that in addition to getting vocal training, you can also study the piano, guitar, violin, cello, drums, or the trumpet. Visit Bohnetma.com/crosspolitic for more information on how to equip your family to serve God’s musical commands. B-O-H-N-E-T MA.com/crosspolitic https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/09/fbi-shoots-and-kills-utah-man-wanted-for-biden-threats.html FBI shoots and kills Utah man wanted for threats against Biden, New York prosecutor The FBI shot and killed a Utah man on Wednesday while trying to arrest him for threatening to murder President Joe Biden and the New York district attorney who is prosecuting President Donald Trump in connection with hush money payments. Many other politicians were also allegedly threatened in social media posts by the man, Provo resident Craig Deleeuw Robertson, who was accused in court documents of vowing to retaliate against the FBI during an investigation. Court documents say the FBI described Robertson as a white man “approximately 70-75 years old” who was surveilled “wearing a dark suit (later observed as having an AR-15 style rifle lapel pin attached), a white shirt, a red tie, and a multi-colored (possibly camouflage) hat bearing the word “TRUMP” on the front.” Robertson was also found to be the owner of a sniper rifle and numerous other firearms. Robertson was fatally shot by at least one FBI agent at 6:15 a.m. in Provo, about 12 hours before Biden was due to visit the state in Salt Lake City. No agents were injured. “The incident began when special agents attempted to serve arrest and search warrants at a residence,” the FBI said in a statement. “The subject is deceased.” The shooting is under review by the FBI’s Inspection Division. A senior administration official told NBC News that Biden was briefed on the FBI raid this morning, ahead of scheduled events in New Mexico. The U.S. Secret Service, which provides protection for Biden, said in a statement, “The Secret Service is aware of the FBI investigation involving an individual in Utah who has exhibited threats towards a protectee.” “While we always remain in close coordination with our law enforcement partners, this is an FBI-led effort and we would refer any related questions to the FBI,” the Secret Service said. Robertson allegedly had made a threat naming Biden on Monday, and also threatened in a social media post in March to shoot Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. during a visit to New York. A felony complaint against Robertson filed in U.S. District Court in Utah charged him with making threats against the president, making interstate threats, and influencing, impeding, and retaliating against federal law enforcement officers by threat. Bragg charged Trump earlier this year with falsifying business records related to a 2016 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about her alleged sexual tryst with Trump a decade earlier. Trump denies having sex with Daniels, and has pleaded not guilty in the case, which is scheduled to go to trial next year. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/images-show-men-armed-rifles-body-armor-coming-southern-border Images show men armed with rifles, body armor coming across southern border Fox News has obtained images that show suspected cartel gunmen coming across the U.S. southern border in Texas toting body armor and rifles – the latest instance of armed men believed to be cartel members at the border. Law enforcement sources tell Fox that the three men were spotted on Saturday evening by cameras in the Fronton area and were seen carrying rifles and wearing body armor as they move through the brush. Border Patrol agents, including the agency’s BORTAC tactical unit, were deployed to the area but found nothing. It is the same area where law enforcement arrested five suspected members of the Northeast Cartel in June. The latest incident came just days after Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) drone operators in Eagle Pass spotted an armed smuggler in Eagle Pass carrying a long gun and guiding a group of illegal immigrants across the Rio Grande. In that instance the man made it back to Mexico, authorities said. While the overwhelming majority of migrants coming across the border do not have criminal records, the large numbers of people coming across has raised concerns – particularly from Republicans – about who may be among the hundreds of thousands of people who are able to evade Border Patrol agents. The head of Border Patrol announced last week that agents nabbed four sex offenders – some with convictions of crimes against children – at the border coming into the U.S. within a single day. The border has seen record-high migrant encounters since 2021, but numbers began to trend down after the end of Title 42 on May 11. There were 144,000 migrant encounters in June, down from over 200,000 in May. However, recently there are signs numbers have gone up in July, with the Washington Post reporting that initial numbers are up by 30%. The Biden administration has touted moves it is taking to reduce the reliance on smugglers, who control large parts of the Mexican side of the border and who migrants often need to deal with in order to be able to access the U.S. The administration has expanded a number of lawful pathways for migrants to enter the U.S. – and has touted an anti-smuggling campaign last year which led to thousands of arrests. The Pentagon has authorized 400 troops to remain at the border until the end of August beyond their 90-day mission, as 1,100 return to their home base. Meanwhile, Fox News Digital reported last week that ICE is increasing the number of its special agents at the border and that DHS is calling for more agency volunteers to help with processing at the border in the event of a surge in numbers. https://americanmilitarynews.com/2023/08/chinese-using-new-smuggling-route-to-enter-us-illegally-report/ Chinese using new smuggling route to enter US illegally An internal federal intelligence report indicates that U.S. authorities are concerned with a new Chinese migrant route that migrants are using to illegally cross into the United States through Florida. According to an internal federal intelligence report obtained by The Daily Caller, Chinese migrants are taking boats from the Bahamas to illegally enter the United States through Florida. The Daily Caller reported that the intelligence report lists gaps in intelligence, including where Chinese migrants are located in the Bahamas, who is coordinating the illegal immigration effort between the Bahamas and the state of Florida, and why Chinese migrants are engaging in “self-smuggle” operations from the Bahamas. The report indicates five incidents of Chinese migrants attempting to smuggle themselves into the United States from the Bahamas. A recent smuggling attempt reportedly occurred on July 16, involving six Chinese migrants. “The Chinese purchased a Bahamian registered vessel in GBI and tested the capabilities before leaving and being interdicted in Palm Beach,” the report stated. “All 6 Chinese migrants were repatriated to the Bahamas.” U.S. officials and experts have expressed concerns regarding the identity of the migrants and the possible dangers they could pose to the national security of the United States.. U.S. Customs and Border Protection data indicates that Florida’s Border Patrol agents have experienced a major increase in illegal Chinese migrant arrests According to the data, Border Patrol agents arrested 27 illegal Chinese migrants from October of 2022 to June of this year, representing a significant increase from 5 total Chinese migrant arrests in the fiscal year of 2022. According to The Daily Caller, the intelligence report does not indicate how many of the Chinese migrants utilized the smuggling route between the Bahamas and Florida. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection data also reveals that Border Patrol agents caught over 14,000 illegal Chinese migrants at the southern border from October of 2022 to June of this year. “Right now in China there’s extreme pessimism, especially among people in their 20s about the future of their country, so it’s understandable that they’re leaving and they’re trying to get into the United States,” https://www.newsmax.com/politics/fannie-mae-homebuying-money/2023/08/08/id/1130062/ Homebuying Confidence at an All-Time Low More than 80% of Americans think it is a "bad" time to buy a home, a new Fannie Mae National Housing Survey finds. The survey, released Monday, found 82% believe it is a "bad time" to buy a house in July compared to 78% in June. The monthly survey, launched in 2010, tracks attitudes on home ownership and renting, according to the organization. It is conducted by telephone with around 1,000 American adults who make financial decisions in households during the first three weeks of the month and is usually released around the 7th of the following month and has a margin of error of around plus or minus 0.4 or fewer percentage points. Even though those surveyed expressed optimism in their personal financial outlook, rising home prices, and interest rates have kept them sour on entering the housing market. "While consumers are reporting confidence in the components related to their personal financial situations, it's unlikely we'll see housing sentiment catch up to other broader economic confidence measures until there is meaningful improvement to home purchase affordability," Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae senior vice president, and chief economist said in a press release announcing the findings Monday. "In July, a significant majority of consumers indicated that their jobs are stable and that their incomes are the same or better than they were 12 months ago. However, homebuying sentiment once again matched its all-time low, with only 18% telling us that it's a good time to buy a home." The survey also found 36% of current homeowners are less likely to sell in the current market, unchanged from the results in June's survey. "Unsurprisingly, consumers continue to attribute the challenging conditions to high home prices and unfavorable mortgage rates," Duncan said. "Further, the share of consumers expecting home prices to continue to rise has also been on a steady climb since March, which may only add to perceptions of unaffordability. Additionally, we have not seen much movement in the ‘good time to sell' component over the last few months, an indication that the current low levels of existing homes for sale will likely continue to persist in the near term, as also reflected in our latest forecast." The survey found 41% believe that home prices will continue to rise, compared to 36% in June, with decreases in both those who say prices will stay the same, 37% to 34%, and prices will drop from 26% to 24% compared to the June results.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, August 10th, 2023. Bohnet Music Academy Isn’t it about time to take action on how you're going to give your children and grandchildren a good music education? Moses, David, and all the Saints of the church have worshiped God with musical might, so let’s be confidently found doing the same. Bohnet Music Academy instructs children and adults in how to be musically literate. That’s everything you need to know and do as the musician God made you to be. Lessons are available locally in Moscow, ID and online. What’s great is that in addition to getting vocal training, you can also study the piano, guitar, violin, cello, drums, or the trumpet. Visit Bohnetma.com/crosspolitic for more information on how to equip your family to serve God’s musical commands. B-O-H-N-E-T MA.com/crosspolitic https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/09/fbi-shoots-and-kills-utah-man-wanted-for-biden-threats.html FBI shoots and kills Utah man wanted for threats against Biden, New York prosecutor The FBI shot and killed a Utah man on Wednesday while trying to arrest him for threatening to murder President Joe Biden and the New York district attorney who is prosecuting President Donald Trump in connection with hush money payments. Many other politicians were also allegedly threatened in social media posts by the man, Provo resident Craig Deleeuw Robertson, who was accused in court documents of vowing to retaliate against the FBI during an investigation. Court documents say the FBI described Robertson as a white man “approximately 70-75 years old” who was surveilled “wearing a dark suit (later observed as having an AR-15 style rifle lapel pin attached), a white shirt, a red tie, and a multi-colored (possibly camouflage) hat bearing the word “TRUMP” on the front.” Robertson was also found to be the owner of a sniper rifle and numerous other firearms. Robertson was fatally shot by at least one FBI agent at 6:15 a.m. in Provo, about 12 hours before Biden was due to visit the state in Salt Lake City. No agents were injured. “The incident began when special agents attempted to serve arrest and search warrants at a residence,” the FBI said in a statement. “The subject is deceased.” The shooting is under review by the FBI’s Inspection Division. A senior administration official told NBC News that Biden was briefed on the FBI raid this morning, ahead of scheduled events in New Mexico. The U.S. Secret Service, which provides protection for Biden, said in a statement, “The Secret Service is aware of the FBI investigation involving an individual in Utah who has exhibited threats towards a protectee.” “While we always remain in close coordination with our law enforcement partners, this is an FBI-led effort and we would refer any related questions to the FBI,” the Secret Service said. Robertson allegedly had made a threat naming Biden on Monday, and also threatened in a social media post in March to shoot Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. during a visit to New York. A felony complaint against Robertson filed in U.S. District Court in Utah charged him with making threats against the president, making interstate threats, and influencing, impeding, and retaliating against federal law enforcement officers by threat. Bragg charged Trump earlier this year with falsifying business records related to a 2016 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about her alleged sexual tryst with Trump a decade earlier. Trump denies having sex with Daniels, and has pleaded not guilty in the case, which is scheduled to go to trial next year. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/images-show-men-armed-rifles-body-armor-coming-southern-border Images show men armed with rifles, body armor coming across southern border Fox News has obtained images that show suspected cartel gunmen coming across the U.S. southern border in Texas toting body armor and rifles – the latest instance of armed men believed to be cartel members at the border. Law enforcement sources tell Fox that the three men were spotted on Saturday evening by cameras in the Fronton area and were seen carrying rifles and wearing body armor as they move through the brush. Border Patrol agents, including the agency’s BORTAC tactical unit, were deployed to the area but found nothing. It is the same area where law enforcement arrested five suspected members of the Northeast Cartel in June. The latest incident came just days after Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) drone operators in Eagle Pass spotted an armed smuggler in Eagle Pass carrying a long gun and guiding a group of illegal immigrants across the Rio Grande. In that instance the man made it back to Mexico, authorities said. While the overwhelming majority of migrants coming across the border do not have criminal records, the large numbers of people coming across has raised concerns – particularly from Republicans – about who may be among the hundreds of thousands of people who are able to evade Border Patrol agents. The head of Border Patrol announced last week that agents nabbed four sex offenders – some with convictions of crimes against children – at the border coming into the U.S. within a single day. The border has seen record-high migrant encounters since 2021, but numbers began to trend down after the end of Title 42 on May 11. There were 144,000 migrant encounters in June, down from over 200,000 in May. However, recently there are signs numbers have gone up in July, with the Washington Post reporting that initial numbers are up by 30%. The Biden administration has touted moves it is taking to reduce the reliance on smugglers, who control large parts of the Mexican side of the border and who migrants often need to deal with in order to be able to access the U.S. The administration has expanded a number of lawful pathways for migrants to enter the U.S. – and has touted an anti-smuggling campaign last year which led to thousands of arrests. The Pentagon has authorized 400 troops to remain at the border until the end of August beyond their 90-day mission, as 1,100 return to their home base. Meanwhile, Fox News Digital reported last week that ICE is increasing the number of its special agents at the border and that DHS is calling for more agency volunteers to help with processing at the border in the event of a surge in numbers. https://americanmilitarynews.com/2023/08/chinese-using-new-smuggling-route-to-enter-us-illegally-report/ Chinese using new smuggling route to enter US illegally An internal federal intelligence report indicates that U.S. authorities are concerned with a new Chinese migrant route that migrants are using to illegally cross into the United States through Florida. According to an internal federal intelligence report obtained by The Daily Caller, Chinese migrants are taking boats from the Bahamas to illegally enter the United States through Florida. The Daily Caller reported that the intelligence report lists gaps in intelligence, including where Chinese migrants are located in the Bahamas, who is coordinating the illegal immigration effort between the Bahamas and the state of Florida, and why Chinese migrants are engaging in “self-smuggle” operations from the Bahamas. The report indicates five incidents of Chinese migrants attempting to smuggle themselves into the United States from the Bahamas. A recent smuggling attempt reportedly occurred on July 16, involving six Chinese migrants. “The Chinese purchased a Bahamian registered vessel in GBI and tested the capabilities before leaving and being interdicted in Palm Beach,” the report stated. “All 6 Chinese migrants were repatriated to the Bahamas.” U.S. officials and experts have expressed concerns regarding the identity of the migrants and the possible dangers they could pose to the national security of the United States.. U.S. Customs and Border Protection data indicates that Florida’s Border Patrol agents have experienced a major increase in illegal Chinese migrant arrests According to the data, Border Patrol agents arrested 27 illegal Chinese migrants from October of 2022 to June of this year, representing a significant increase from 5 total Chinese migrant arrests in the fiscal year of 2022. According to The Daily Caller, the intelligence report does not indicate how many of the Chinese migrants utilized the smuggling route between the Bahamas and Florida. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection data also reveals that Border Patrol agents caught over 14,000 illegal Chinese migrants at the southern border from October of 2022 to June of this year. “Right now in China there’s extreme pessimism, especially among people in their 20s about the future of their country, so it’s understandable that they’re leaving and they’re trying to get into the United States,” https://www.newsmax.com/politics/fannie-mae-homebuying-money/2023/08/08/id/1130062/ Homebuying Confidence at an All-Time Low More than 80% of Americans think it is a "bad" time to buy a home, a new Fannie Mae National Housing Survey finds. The survey, released Monday, found 82% believe it is a "bad time" to buy a house in July compared to 78% in June. The monthly survey, launched in 2010, tracks attitudes on home ownership and renting, according to the organization. It is conducted by telephone with around 1,000 American adults who make financial decisions in households during the first three weeks of the month and is usually released around the 7th of the following month and has a margin of error of around plus or minus 0.4 or fewer percentage points. Even though those surveyed expressed optimism in their personal financial outlook, rising home prices, and interest rates have kept them sour on entering the housing market. "While consumers are reporting confidence in the components related to their personal financial situations, it's unlikely we'll see housing sentiment catch up to other broader economic confidence measures until there is meaningful improvement to home purchase affordability," Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae senior vice president, and chief economist said in a press release announcing the findings Monday. "In July, a significant majority of consumers indicated that their jobs are stable and that their incomes are the same or better than they were 12 months ago. However, homebuying sentiment once again matched its all-time low, with only 18% telling us that it's a good time to buy a home." The survey also found 36% of current homeowners are less likely to sell in the current market, unchanged from the results in June's survey. "Unsurprisingly, consumers continue to attribute the challenging conditions to high home prices and unfavorable mortgage rates," Duncan said. "Further, the share of consumers expecting home prices to continue to rise has also been on a steady climb since March, which may only add to perceptions of unaffordability. Additionally, we have not seen much movement in the ‘good time to sell' component over the last few months, an indication that the current low levels of existing homes for sale will likely continue to persist in the near term, as also reflected in our latest forecast." The survey found 41% believe that home prices will continue to rise, compared to 36% in June, with decreases in both those who say prices will stay the same, 37% to 34%, and prices will drop from 26% to 24% compared to the June results.

This week, I catch up with Matt Dursa, Chief Legal Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer with Darley, a Midwest company that provides training and material support to the Department of Defense and first responders. Matt takes us through his career progression from the Navy JAG Corps to working with Customs and Border Protection to Darley. Matt's LinkedIn profile can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-dursa/. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tom-welsh/support

A relatively unknown contract that gives Customs and Border Protection access to San Diego County's crime data has advocates worried. In other news, a North County private school just received millions of dollars that will go towards affordable housing for its teachers. Plus, researchers at San Diego State University have identified 60 chemical compounds in tire waste, and some of them are toxic.

  The second part of our campaign finance history starts with both a scandal and reform linked to Theodore Roosevelt, and carries through to more recent Supreme Court rulings.  Research: Bedard, Paul. “George Washington Plied Voters with Booze.” USNews and World Report. Nov. 8, 2011. https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/11/08/george-washington-plied-voters-with-booze Blakemore, Erin. “Elections in Colonial America Were Huge, Booze-Fueled Parties.” History.com. Nov. 25, 2019. https://www.history.com/news/colonial-america-election-day-parties R. Brunson, “Swartwout, Samuel,” Texas State Historical Association. Handbook of Texas Online. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/swartwout-samuel. “Buckley v. Valeo.” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/court-cases/buckley-v-valeo “Court Decision Stirs Up Fuss.” The Spokesman Review. April 4, 1944. https://www.newspapers.com/image/569336879/?terms=Lonnie%20E.%20Smith%20&match=1 “Did You Know... Samuel Swartwout Skimmed Staggering Sums?” U.S. Customs and Border Protection. https://www.cbp.gov/about/history/did-you-know/samuel-swartwout Dunbar, John. “A Modern history of campaign finance: from Watergate to ‘Citizens United.'” The Center for Public Integrity. Nov. 15, 2017. https://publicintegrity.org/politics/a-modern-history-of-campaign-finance-from-watergate-to-citizens-united/ “Appendix 4 -- The Federal Election Campaign Laws:A Short History.” FEC. https://transition.fec.gov/info/appfour.htm#anchor616480 Encyclopedia of Detroit. “NEWBERRY, TRUMAN HANDY.” https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/newberry-truman-handy Fair Political Practices Commission. “Use of Campaign Funds.” Campaign Manual. June 2020. https://www.fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/NS-Documents/TAD/Campaign%20Manuals/Manual_4/Manual_4_Ch_7_Use_of_Campaign_Funds.pdf Fuller, Jame. “From George Washington to Shaun McCutcheon: A brief-ish history of campaign finance reform.” The Washington Post. April 3, 2014. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/04/03/a-history-of-campaign-finance-reform-from-george-washington-to-shaun-mccutcheon/ Supreme Court of the United States. “Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.” October 2009. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4163268-Citizens-United-v-FEC-Decision.html “Washington City, May 19, 1840.” The Baltimore Sun. May 21, 1840. https://www.newspapers.com/image/364961740/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1 Grizzard, Frank E. “George Washington: A Biographical Companion.” ABC-CLIO 2022. Hinnershitz, Stephanie, PhD. “The Smith–Connally Act and Labor Battles on the Home Front.” The National WWII Museum. June 22, 2023. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/smith-connally-act-and-labor-battles-home-front “House of Burgesses.” George Washington's Mount Vernon. https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/house-of-burgesses/ Lau, Tim. “Citizens United Explained.” Brennan Center for Justice. Dec. 12, 2019. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained “McConnell v. FEC.” Federal Election Commission United States of America. https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/court-cases/mcconnell-v-fec/ “Mark Hanna and the 1896 Election.” United States Senate. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Hanna_1896Election.htm#:~:text=At%20age%2015%20he%20moved,coal%2C%20iron%2C%20and%20steel. “Money-in-politics Timeline.” Open Secrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/resources/learn/timeline “Mr. Crittenden's Speech.” Hartfor Courant. Feb. 14, 1839. https://www.newspapers.com/image/369520711/?terms=%22crittenden%22&match=1 Mutch, R. (2002). “The First Federal Campaign Finance Bills.” Journal of Policy History,14(1), 30-48. doi:10.1353/jph.2002.0004 Lewis, Charles. “Was campaign finance an issue in George Washington's day?” Investigative Reporting Workshop. Sept. 27, 2021. https://investigativereportingworkshop.org/news/was-campaign-finance-an-issue-in-george-washingtons-day/ “Louisville.” The Courier-Journal. Feb. 4, 1837. https://www.newspapers.com/image/118738402/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1 “Mr. Bell's Bill … “ The Natchez Weekly Courier. June 10, 1840. https://www.newspapers.com/image/248855111/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1 “Naval Appropriation Bill.” The Buffalo Commercial. April 14, 1866. https://www.newspapers.com/image/282153733/?terms=%22Naval%20Appropriations%20Bill%22%20&match=1 "NEWBERRY, Truman Handy." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/N000062 “Pendleton Act (1883).” National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/pendleton-act#:~:text=The%20Pendleton%20Act%20provided%20that,were%20covered%20by%20the%20law. Perlstein, Rick. "Watergate scandal". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/event/Watergate-Scandal Roosevelt, Franklin D. “Veto of the Smith-Connally Bill.” June 25, 1943. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/veto-the-smith-connally-bill Roosevelt, Theodore. “December 5, 1905: Fifth Annual Message.” UVA – Miller Center. https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/december-5-1905-fifth-annual-message Scott, Kyle, and Matthew A. Kern. “Buckley v. Valeo (1976).” The First Amendment Encyclopedia. 2009. https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/126/buckley-v-valeo “The Election Case of Truman H. Newberry of Michigan (1922).” United States Senate. https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators/contested-senate-elections/102Ford_Newberry.htm “Naval Appropriation Bill.” The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 14, 1866. https://www.newspapers.com/image/168100996/?terms=%22Naval%20Appropriations%20Bill%22%20&match=1 Terry, Stephen C. “Major Election Reform Legislation Quietly Approved by Senate.” The Times Argus. March 24, 1976. https://www.newspapers.com/image/657291645/?terms=buckley%20valeo&match=1 “Tursts for Roosevelt.” Freeport Bulletin. Oct. 20, 1904. https://www.newspapers.com/image/762693183/?terms=insurance%20roosevelt&match=1 Thompson, Mary V. “Beer.” George Washington's Mount Vernon. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/beer/#note3 United States. “Defalcations. Reports of majority and minority ... Report of the Committee of Investigation on the subject of the defalcations of Samuel Swartwout and others : ... also the report of the minority of the Committee.” Thomas Allen. 1839. Accessed online: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007704602 United States Senate. “Presidential Election Campaign Fund of 1966.” https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/SPrt301.pdf Victor, Jennifer Nicoll, Phd. “History of Financing of Federal Campaigns in the US.” Wondrium Daily. July 25, 2021. https://www.wondriumdaily.com/history-of-financing-of-federal-campaigns-in-the-us/ Woodward, Bob and Brian Duffy. “Chinese Embassy Role in Contributions Probed.” Washington Post. Feb. 13, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/china1.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drug traffickers tried to sneak 17.8 pounds of cocaine into the United States at the Presidio Texas Port of Entry by hiding the drugs in cheese wheels, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. Officers intercepted the operation Thursday when a pickup truck from Mexico was referred for a secondary inspection. Officers found four wheels of cheese that the driver, a 22-year-old U.S. citizen, declared.  Officers scanned the cheese wheels with an X-ray system and found "anomalies" within the pieces. They then cut open the cheese and found seven bundles filled with cocaine. 

The Building PA Podcast recently had a sit-down interview with Paul Hoback, the Executive Vice President, and Chief Development Officer for the Allegheny County Airport Authority. Hoback is currently overseeing the Terminal Modernization Program for the Pittsburgh International Airport.During the podcast, Hoback made an important announcement for all contractors and sub-contractors. On Thursday, August 10, from 3 PM to 5 PM, at the Carpenters Union Hall in Collier Township, the Allegheny County Airport Authority will be revealing opportunities for upcoming projects worth over $50 million.There are numerous opportunities for contractors to participate in this project, with several bid packages set to be awarded this fall. While registration is not mandatory, interested contractors and subcontractors are encouraged to register by emailing TMPinfo@flypittsburgh.com.The event will provide detailed information about four critical bid packages associated with the projects, which include:New offices/facilities for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.Relocation of the Allegheny County Police Department.Airline fit-outs.Landscaping.It's essential to note that this is just the beginning, as more projects are planned to follow in the future.Make sure to tune in to the podcast to learn more about these exciting current project opportunities and the airport's planned growth plans.

Part one of our discussion of U.S. campaign financing starts before the colonies had gained their independence and covers some of the earliest ways that money was collected for political parties.  That book title we were after during the episode was "A Children's Illustrated History of Presidential Assassination," by Bryan Young. Research: Bedard, Paul. “George Washington Plied Voters with Booze.” USNews and World Report. Nov. 8, 2011. https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/11/08/george-washington-plied-voters-with-booze Blakemore, Erin. “Elections in Colonial America Were Huge, Booze-Fueled Parties.” History.com. Nov. 25, 2019. https://www.history.com/news/colonial-america-election-day-parties R. Brunson, “Swartwout, Samuel,” Texas State Historical Association. Handbook of Texas Online. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/swartwout-samuel. “Buckley v. Valeo.” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/court-cases/buckley-v-valeo “Court Decision Stirs Up Fuss.” The Spokesman Review. April 4, 1944. https://www.newspapers.com/image/569336879/?terms=Lonnie%20E.%20Smith%20&match=1 “Did You Know... Samuel Swartwout Skimmed Staggering Sums?” U.S. Customs and Border Protection. https://www.cbp.gov/about/history/did-you-know/samuel-swartwout Dunbar, John. “A Modern history of campaign finance: from Watergate to ‘Citizens United.'” The Center for Public Integrity. Nov. 15, 2017. https://publicintegrity.org/politics/a-modern-history-of-campaign-finance-from-watergate-to-citizens-united/ “Appendix 4 -- The Federal Election Campaign Laws:A Short History.” FEC. https://transition.fec.gov/info/appfour.htm#anchor616480 Encyclopedia of Detroit. “NEWBERRY, TRUMAN HANDY.” https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/newberry-truman-handy Fair Political Practices Commission. “Use of Campaign Funds.” Campaign Manual. June 2020. https://www.fppc.ca.gov/content/dam/fppc/NS-Documents/TAD/Campaign%20Manuals/Manual_4/Manual_4_Ch_7_Use_of_Campaign_Funds.pdf Fuller, Jame. “From George Washington to Shaun McCutcheon: A brief-ish history of campaign finance reform.” The Washington Post. April 3, 2014. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/04/03/a-history-of-campaign-finance-reform-from-george-washington-to-shaun-mccutcheon/ Supreme Court of the United States. “Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.” October 2009. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4163268-Citizens-United-v-FEC-Decision.html “Washington City, May 19, 1840.” The Baltimore Sun. May 21, 1840. https://www.newspapers.com/image/364961740/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1 Grizzard, Frank E. “George Washington: A Biographical Companion.” ABC-CLIO 2022. Hinnershitz, Stephanie, PhD. “The Smith–Connally Act and Labor Battles on the Home Front.” The National WWII Museum. June 22, 2023. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/smith-connally-act-and-labor-battles-home-front “House of Burgesses.” George Washington's Mount Vernon. https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/house-of-burgesses/ Lau, Tim. “Citizens United Explained.” Brennan Center for Justice. Dec. 12, 2019. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained “McConnell v. FEC.” Federal Election Commission United States of America. https://www.fec.gov/legal-resources/court-cases/mcconnell-v-fec/ “Mark Hanna and the 1896 Election.” United States Senate. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Hanna_1896Election.htm#:~:text=At%20age%2015%20he%20moved,coal%2C%20iron%2C%20and%20steel. “Money-in-politics Timeline.” Open Secrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/resources/learn/timeline “Mr. Crittenden's Speech.” Hartfor Courant. Feb. 14, 1839. https://www.newspapers.com/image/369520711/?terms=%22crittenden%22&match=1 Mutch, R. (2002). “The First Federal Campaign Finance Bills.” Journal of Policy History,14(1), 30-48. doi:10.1353/jph.2002.0004 Lewis, Charles. “Was campaign finance an issue in George Washington's day?” Investigative Reporting Workshop. Sept. 27, 2021. https://investigativereportingworkshop.org/news/was-campaign-finance-an-issue-in-george-washingtons-day/ “Louisville.” The Courier-Journal. Feb. 4, 1837. https://www.newspapers.com/image/118738402/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1 “Mr. Bell's Bill … “ The Natchez Weekly Courier. June 10, 1840. https://www.newspapers.com/image/248855111/?terms=%22bill%20to%20secure%20the%20freedom%20of%20elections%22&match=1 “Naval Appropriation Bill.” The Buffalo Commercial. April 14, 1866. https://www.newspapers.com/image/282153733/?terms=%22Naval%20Appropriations%20Bill%22%20&match=1 "NEWBERRY, Truman Handy." Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/N000062 “Pendleton Act (1883).” National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/pendleton-act#:~:text=The%20Pendleton%20Act%20provided%20that,were%20covered%20by%20the%20law. Perlstein, Rick. "Watergate scandal". Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/event/Watergate-Scandal Roosevelt, Franklin D. “Veto of the Smith-Connally Bill.” June 25, 1943. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/veto-the-smith-connally-bill Roosevelt, Theodore. “December 5, 1905: Fifth Annual Message.” UVA – Miller Center. https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/december-5-1905-fifth-annual-message Scott, Kyle, and Matthew A. Kern. “Buckley v. Valeo (1976).” The First Amendment Encyclopedia. 2009. https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/126/buckley-v-valeo “The Election Case of Truman H. Newberry of Michigan (1922).” United States Senate. https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/electing-appointing-senators/contested-senate-elections/102Ford_Newberry.htm “Naval Appropriation Bill.” The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 14, 1866. https://www.newspapers.com/image/168100996/?terms=%22Naval%20Appropriations%20Bill%22%20&match=1 Terry, Stephen C. “Major Election Reform Legislation Quietly Approved by Senate.” The Times Argus. March 24, 1976. https://www.newspapers.com/image/657291645/?terms=buckley%20valeo&match=1 “Tursts for Roosevelt.” Freeport Bulletin. Oct. 20, 1904. https://www.newspapers.com/image/762693183/?terms=insurance%20roosevelt&match=1 Thompson, Mary V. “Beer.” George Washington's Mount Vernon. https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/beer/#note3 United States. “Defalcations. Reports of majority and minority ... Report of the Committee of Investigation on the subject of the defalcations of Samuel Swartwout and others : ... also the report of the minority of the Committee.” Thomas Allen. 1839. Accessed online: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007704602 United States Senate. “Presidential Election Campaign Fund of 1966.” https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/SPrt301.pdf Victor, Jennifer Nicoll, Phd. “History of Financing of Federal Campaigns in the US.” Wondrium Daily. July 25, 2021. https://www.wondriumdaily.com/history-of-financing-of-federal-campaigns-in-the-us/ Woodward, Bob and Brian Duffy. “Chinese Embassy Role in Contributions Probed.” Washington Post. Feb. 13, 1997. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/china1.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data about decreased border encounters is being questioned. And a new whistleblower allegation was revealed Friday; did U.S. Customs and Border Protection retaliate against one of their own? The White House is announcing new actions to regulate AI. What are Microsoft, Google, and other AI giants pledging to do, and what could come next in legislation? Florida is considering legal action against Anheuser-Busch. Gov. Ron DeSantis says Bud Light's parent company might have mishandled the state's pension fund. What role does the United States play in the Indo-Pacific when it comes to countering communist China? Two Biden administration officials break it down. Democrats are pushing a bill that would mandate an ethics code for Supreme Court justices. A judicial expert joins us to discuss what the impact could be. New York City settles with Black Lives Matter protesters who claim they've been subjected to police brutality. This stems from the Georgia Floyd protests in the summer of 2020. ⭕️ Watch in-depth videos based on Truth & Tradition at Epoch TV

Despite reports that US Customs and Border Protection was mistreating migrantsdetained at California's border with Mexico, CBP now says it never happened, and that the border patrol was NOT keeping migrants in essentially an open air holding cell, without food and water. That response has infuriated several of California's members of Congress, who are demanding better answers and an investigation. One of them is freshman Representative Robert Garcia, a Democrat, the former Mayor of Long Beach who was elected to Congress last year. He's on the Homeland Security Committee.