Podcasts about Brookings

It's Monday, August 3, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Equipping the Persecuted's warnings about endangered Nigerian Christians unheeded On July 1st, Equipping The Persecuted issued multiple terror alerts warning that Islamist Fulani Ethnic Militia were preparing coordinated attacks in Nigeria against Christian communities in the Plateau, Benue, and Southern Kaduna states. They publicly pleaded with the Nigerian government to protect these vulnerable villages before it was too late. Tragically, their warnings were ignored. In the three weeks since, more than 250 Christians have been murdered in the very communities they identified. The latest massacre took place on Saturday, August 1st in Naridon village in Southern Kaduna, where more than 30 Christians were slaughtered as terrorists attacked for hours. Once again, innocent families paid the price while help never came. Equipping The Persecuted is the only organization consistently issuing terror alerts to warn vulnerable Christian communities before attacks occur while also deploying immediate emergency aid when those attacks happen. While others document the tragedy, their teams are already on the ground paying hospital bills, delivering emergency food, caring for the wounded, and helping bury the dead. Based on the intelligence they are receiving,  Equipping The Persecuted believes this current wave of violence is only the beginning. If you want to help our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ in Nigeria, go to www.EquippingThePersecuted.org/donate Senator Hawley to Dr. Fauci: “A million people dead. You're getting rich!” As The Worldview reported last Friday, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee questioned Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, about his culpability in a cover-up about the source of the COVID-19 virus and what happened subsequently.  Shockingly, Dr. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times, reported FoxNews. Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri got righteously angry. HAWLEY: “Well, nothing says honesty like taking the Fifth, huh Doc? Let's try something. What day of the week is it today?” FAUCI: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.” HAWLEY: “What color tie are you wearing?” FAUCI: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.” HAWLEY:  “Let's just get one thing straight. You don't have any rights under the Fifth Amendment because you've been pardoned, as you very well know, as the Supreme Court has been clear for a century and more. Brown vs Walker, 1896: ‘When he has been pardoned, he may not stand upon his privilege.' “You know that. Your lawyers sitting behind you, now shifting nervously in their chairs, they know it. This isn't about the Constitution. This isn't about the law. This is about contempt -- contempt for this body and contempt for the American people. “But I think I know why you're doing it. It's because you don't want to answer questions. It's because you did all kinds of terrible things. It's because during the pandemic you got rich. I mean, your net worth now is north of $12 million! “You got over a million dollars in cash awards during COVID, during a 24-month span during COVID. A million bucks you knocked down in cash money using federal resources. Now you're worth more than $12 million. You've got a pension that, in its first year, paid out north of $400,000 a year. “A million people dead. You're getting rich! A million people dead. You're using federal employees to get cash awards for you. A million people dead, and you're here taking the Fifth because you don't want to admit that what really happened in all that time was a multi-month, multi-year course of self-dealing. Isn't that true, Dr. Fauci?” FAUCI: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer, based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.” HAWLEY: “Yeah, well, silence is admission. And here's the real thing. At the end of the day, it wasn't just about the money, really. Was it? It was really about a power trip. I mean, through all of this, you wanted to be the most famous scientist in the world. You were so focused on getting every award and every drop of cash that you could, all because you wanted to be on TV. “You wanted to be the ‘sun god' of science. You wanted to be the guy who was in charge of it all. You wanted to lambast Trump. You wanted to make sure that nobody else stole your spotlight. You wanted to be ‘the guy.' “You had time to sit for InStyle magazine. Here's what you were doing with your time. You could sit for InStyle Magazine, but you can't answer questions for the American people. You could sit for InStyle Magazine, but you're here taking the Fifth. You could sit for InStyle Magazine and get a million bucks in cash awards, but now the cat's got your tongue. I bet he does. I tell you what. “Here's my conclusion from all of this. This was really all about you the whole time. Somewhere along the way, you lost your way. You may have been a good public servant at one time. I don't know, but I can tell you from reading your emails now, from looking at what you did, how you used your employees. Somewhere along the line, it became all about you. “You became a narcissist and a megalomaniac and a liar. You've lied to the American people, and you've lied to this body, and you've disgraced your profession by doing it. You called yourself ‘the most famous scientist in the world.' You've done more to harm science than anybody in my lifetime, and I hope you'll go home and write that in your diary.” Romans 14:12 says, “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” By the way, check out a fascinating 17-minute video in which Scott Rouse, a behavior and body language expert, analyzes how he can tell Dr. Fauci was feeling tremendous stress during Senator Hawley's line of questioning. You can find it in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. When can someone plead the Fifth? The Pour Over media outlet addressed when someone can plead the Fifth Amendment.  Any time a statement is compelled and might incriminate you.  If someone is asked to testify or hand over evidence that could get them prosecuted, they can plead the Fifth. Is there anything that can override someone's Fifth Amendment right? Yes: immunity or a pardon which Dr. Fauci had from President Joe Biden.  Pardoned people are exempt from prosecution, meaning they cannot incriminate themselves, and therefore should be allowed to invoke the Fifth Amendment. Leftist TV Host SHOCKED about our God-given rights Back on July 5, 2025, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, an Evangelical, affirmed that our rights come from God, not government, something he has affirmed many times since then. JOHNSON: “We are so blessed. We should not take it for granted. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal. It does not say born equal. It says created equal. “It is our Creator that gives us our rights. We are the first nation in the history of the world that acknowledged that our rights do not derive from government. They come from God Himself. (cheers) Those words up there, that motto, it says, "In God we trust” right above the speaker's rostrum. “Congress voted to put that there as a rebuke to the Soviets' worldview at the height of the Cold War. Why? Because communism, socialism find their root in Marxism, and Marxism begins with the belief that there is no God. It's wrong, and this Congress made a stand those many years ago, and we should do it again. “We're different. We're distinct. We're exceptional because we acknowledge that right there.” On July 27th, 2026, Speaker Johnson's affirmation that our rights come from God got under the skin of leftist TV host Katy Tur on MS NOW, formerly called MSNBC,  She moderated a panel in which she questioned the legitimacy of that claim.   Listen. TUR: “What about this passage from Mike Johnson declaring that ‘our rights do not derive from government, they come from You, our Creator and Heavenly Father.' Is this him putting God over the Declaration of Independence?” Needless to say, the most famous line of the Declaration of Independence says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Jarrett Stepman of The Daily Signal rightly points out that “the concept that God is ‘above' the Declaration of Independence is in the Declaration of Independence. God's law supersedes man's law. Governments that deprive citizens of rights endowed by their Creator, without due process, are bad governments and are possibly illegitimate.” One of Katy Tur's guests on the leftist MS NOW network, Atlantic writer McKay Coppins, weighed in. He noted that her audience may not be familiar with the concept of God-given rights. COPPINS: “That idea is not wholly uncommon. I mean the idea that we have unalienable rights that come from God can be read in a fairly benign way -- which is basically that we have innate human rights, that our Constitution and our democratic government, are meant to codify. “The thing that might alarm some people is some of the rhetoric that we heard at this rally that we are in a spiritual battle, that the forces of good and evil are at work here, and that partisan politics is injected directly into the spiritual, Biblical rhetoric. “We have heard that for the last couple of years. It's been ratcheted up more and more, especially since Donald Trump lost in 2020. It can lead to some pretty dangerous places.” Lesbian co-owner of Seattle WNBA team fined for confrontation w/Christian teens As The Worldview reported on July 27th,  29-year-old Sophie Cunningham, an outspoken Christian WNBA player on the Indiana Fever team, has publicly opposed biological males competing in female sports and coming into female bathrooms and locker rooms. During the July 28th game against the Seattle Storm, two teenage girls, wearing XX-XY Athletics t-shirts, held a sign which read, “Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls,” reports The Christian Post. Those shirts and the sign got under the skin of Celeste Keaton, a lesbian co-owner of the Seattle Storm who is faux married to co-owner Lisa Brummel.  Romans 1:24 and 26 says, “Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ... God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.” Not only did Keaton use foul language, calling the teen girls “insane,” but Keaton also claimed that somehow Jesus needed to forgive the Christian girls for affirming God's design of men and women. In an interview with Brandi Kruse, who organized an event affirming Cunningham outside the arena, one of the teen girls explained what happened. TEENAGE GIRL: “We were just sitting there with our signs that said, ‘We love Sophie. Thank you, Sophie, for speaking up.' Watching the game, being super respectful. We're just holding our signs and cheering for both teams. “And this lady, older lady, comes up to us. ‘Oh, I hope Jesus can forgive you for what sin you've done.'” Kruse interjected that she noticed the girl was crying. The girl agreed and said this. TEENAGE GIRL:  “I've never been yelled at like that. I mean, I've had people hate on me on the internet, but that just took me by surprise because I thought she was gonna be nice. And then she started screaming at us. It's disappointing though too, because she's also a woman, and she just cussed out two 16-year-olds that were just trying to have fun. We're just trying to support Sophie.” Sophie Cunningham complimented the teens and blasted the Seattle Storm lesbian co-owner. Thankfully, the WNBA fined Keaton an undisclosed amount and suspended her from attending the Storm's next five home games, reports Fox13. In response, the Storm organization said, "We respect the league's decision to fine and suspend co-owner Celeste Keaton. We remain committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment for anyone who attends a Storm game." In an X post, Sophie Cunningham wrote, “Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe.” She added that she was embarrassed about Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton's actions, saying, ”Shows the type of leader she is.” Three homeschool moms from Missouri, Colorado & Ontario weigh in Here at The Worldview, Nicki Jones in Carthage, Missouri said, “As a homeschool mom of four boys -- Adam (15), Elijah (13), Uriah (11), and Isaac (8), we enjoy listening to the newscast nearly every morning at the breakfast table as we do our Bible time and worldview discussions. Thank you for your faithfulness in this ministry!” Cherise in Bennett, Colorado wrote and said, “Adam, I just made a $102 donation from my children -- Dawson (14), Caidence (13), and Carmia (10). They tithe 10% to our church from cleaning houses, doing yard work, and babysitting. On top of that, they have another 10% for ‘blessings' and they chose to donate it to The Worldview. We hope it blesses you and the many, many people who listen to your newscast! Thank you for putting it out every weekday!” And Liz Williams in Ontario, Canada said, “Adam, I'm a homeschooling mom of two, with just one-year experience in homeschooling. I quit my full-time job to homeschool my 12 and 15-year-old. I'm very thankful for the work and the quality of work that The Worldview in 5 Minutes is doing. My kids and I listen to it during car rides or meals and love it. “I think one of the reasons we stick around, besides all the other good reasons, is your voice. I know you are a professional radio host. Your voice just made us feel like we are listening to a large radio station's production. I also deeply appreciate the news from a Christian worldview.” 43 Worldview listeners gave $15,409.17 And finally, by Saturday night at 6:15pm Central, 42 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the 6-member team behind The Worldview for another year. Our thanks to Josh and Gayathri in Goddard, Kansas, Yetta in Hudson, New York, and Daniel in Lititz, Pennsylvania – each of whom gave $25 as well as David in Brookings, South Dakota who gave $35. We appreciate Alan in Amelia Court House, Virginia, Amanda in Burpengary, Queensland, Australia, James in Barry, Wales, United Kingdom, and Leslie in Florham Park, New Jersey – each of whom gave $50 as well as Daniel in Clackamas, Oregon, Royal in Topeka, Kansas, Henry in Tazewell, Virginia, Mark in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Robert in Salado, Texas, and Chris in Dubois, Pennsylvania – each of whom gave $100. We're grateful to God for Cherise in Bennett, Colorado who gave $102, Daniel in Mayflower, Arkansas who pledged $10/month for 12 months for a gift of $120, Iris in Wasilla, Alaska who gave $150, Rick and Susan in Shelton, Washington who gave $200, Jeremiah in Independence, Missouri who gave $203, Tami in Dry Ridge, Kentucky and Martita in Rock Hill, South Carolina – both of whom gave $250 as well as the McVeda Family in Great Falls, Montana who gave $282.17 and Nancy in Peabody, Massachusetts who pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300. We were touched by the generosity of Dennis and Alyssa in Castle Rock, Colorado who gave $347, Ben in Ames, Iowa who gave $350, James and Mary in Glade Valley, North Carolina who gave $365, Matthew in Marysville, Ohio who gave $400, Nicki in Carthage, Missouri who will continue her $35 monthly pledge for another year for a gift of $420, as well as Lee in Rapid City, South Dakota who gave $480, and an anonymous couple in Fort Belvoir, Virginia who will continue their pledge of $40/month for 12 months for a gift of $480. And we were blown away by Krystoffer in Fullerton, California who gave $500, Justin in Wray, Colorado who gave $500, Jack in Post Falls, Idaho who gave $500, Dean in Carol Stream, Illinois who gave $500, Matt, Amanda, Malachi and Samuel Dreyer in Greencastle, Indiana who gave $500, an anonymous donor from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada who gave $500, Keith and Nicole who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, Nellie in Caldwell, Idaho who gave $1,000, Albert in LaGrange, Indiana who gave $1,000, Dorian in Aurora, Colorado who gave $1,000, Tim and Toni in Keller, Texas who gave $1,000, Keith in Watrous, Saskatchewan, Canada who pledged $83.34/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,000, and Elizabeth in Carol Stream, Illinois who pledged $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200. Wow! Those 43 gifts add up to $15,409.17.  That's the most donors and the largest total amount we've seen in a single day throughout this July 2026 fundraiser. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $109,679.17 (sound effect of people cheering) For those of you who stepped up to the plate throughout the month, we are deeply grateful for your love and your sacrifice.  We need to raise $13,820.83 by tonight! But we're not across the finish line yet! In order to hit our final goal of $123,500 on this spill over day – Monday, August 3rd -- God needs to prompt folks to give the FINAL $13,820.83 in order for the 6-member Worldview newscast team to be fully funded for another year. Would you prayerfully consider being one of 27 friends to give a one-time gift of $500 or a monthly pledge of $41.67 for 12 months? Or could you be one of 14 friends to give a one-time gift of $1,000 or a monthly pledge of $83.34? To put your potential donation into perspective, think about how much you spend on your monthly cable bill or your monthly  phone bill or eating out at restaurant.  When you think about it that way, finding 27 friends to pledge $41.67 a month or 14 friends to pledge $83.34 a month seems pretty doable! Just go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  And remember this, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started prior to July 1, 2026, please email us so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total.  That would help tremendously. Help us get across this finish line. What is God prompting you to do right now? Go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, August 3rd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The bullish case for the AI capex spenders, rather than the receivers. Cybersecurity expert Ivan Tsarynny's AI warning after Anthropic discloses three of its models breached their testing environments. Plus, Brookings' Robin Brooks on how the market has corrected its misreading of the June Fed meeting.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode of Curry Café, hosted by Ray Gary and Rick McNamer, features Ron Schnearson of the Brookings Public Art Collaborative and Brookings City Manager Tim Rundel discussing Brookings' public art initiative. They detailed plans for sculptures, murals, and utility box wraps to beautify the city, starting with a sculpture at the north end of the Chetco Bridge to welcome visitors. Funded by urban renewal, grants, and donations, the program emphasizes community involvement, durable designs, and rotating art displays to create a vibrant, lasting cultural identity. We encourage anyone with differing views to participate in future Curry Café discussions. If you would like to join the panel, email contact@kciw.org or call 541-661-4098. Hosts: Ray Gary, Rick McNamer; Producers: Ray Gary, Rick McNamer Intro and end music by Kat Liddell. Used with permission. The opinions expressed here are those of the individual participants. Curry Coast Community Radio takes no position on issues discussed in this program. If you enjoy this program and want to hear more like it, consider supporting Curry Coast Community Radio. Here’s How.

07/30/26: Tony Pipa is a senior fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution. He launched and leads the Reimagining Rural Policy initiative and hosts the award-winning Reimagine Rural podcast. He's in town for TEDxFargo, and joins Joel Heitkamp in the studio to talk about rural America. Learn more about Tony and his work at Brookings,edu. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Quality Living with Peaceful Support host Amanda Whittemore talks with author Mindy L. Wallace about her memoir No Time to Cry, recounting a decade of hardship as a single mother after 9/11, job loss, a brain aneurysm diagnosis, and raising two children without support. Mindy shares miraculous stories of her children surviving devastating accidents, how faith in Jesus carried her through a decade of hardship, and how she ultimately found healing and love in Brookings. Host: Amanda Whittemore; Producer: Amanda Whittemore The opinions expressed here are those of the individual participants. Curry Coast Community Radio takes no position on issues discussed in this program. If you enjoy this program and want to hear more like it, consider supporting Curry Coast Community Radio. Here’s How.

David Wessel is a senior fellow in economic studies at Brookings and is the director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy. In David's first appearance on the show, he discusses stories of the Greenspan Fed, what is was like in Europe when the euro was adopted, the legacy of the Powell Fed, his thoughts on the great man theory, the outlook for the Kevin Warsh Fed, the ongoing challenge of Fed independence, and much more. Watch the full length video on our new YouTube Channel! Check out the transcript for this week's episode, now with links. Recorded on June 15th, 2026 Subscribe to David's Substack: Macroeconomic Policy Nexus Follow David Beckworth on X: @DavidBeckworth Follow David Wessel on X: @DavidMWessel Follow the show on X: @Macro_Musings Check out our Macro Musings merch! Timestamps 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:48 - David's Career 00:19:30 - Legacies of Fed Chairmans 00:31:51 - Kevin Warsh Fed 00:43:34 - Fed Independence 00:55:13 - Outro

Joyously Free! host Joni Lindenmeyer talks with Brian Green, a gay barber newly settled in Brookings with his husband Aaron. Brian recounts growing up in South Carolina, studying ministry and vocal performance, singing as a missionary, and later pivoting from property management to barbering as a service-centered, inclusive craft. He shares his memorable double proposal with Aaron, reflects on grief and chosen family, and his effort to support LGBTQ+ youth. Host: Joanie Lindenmeyer; Producer: Joanie Lindenmeyer Music is from freepd.com, in the public domain. The opinions expressed here are those of the individual participants. Curry Coast Community Radio takes no position on issues discussed in this program. If you enjoy this program and want to hear more like it, consider supporting Curry Coast Community Radio. Here’s how.

Today we explore the adoption and scaling of education technology across South and Southeast Asia. My guests are Molly Wyss and Brad Olsen. Molly Wyss is an assistant project director at the Centre for Universal Education in the Global Economy and Development Program at Brookings, where Brad Olsen is a Senior Fellow. There new report is entitled From Access to Impact: Government Decisionmaking and Scaling of EdTech in South and Southeast Asia. freshedpodcast.com/wyss-olsen -- Get in touch! LinkedIn: @FreshEdpodcast Facebook: FreshEd Email: info@freshedpodcast.com

Quality Living with Peaceful Support host Amanda Whittemore speaks with naturopath and author Cara Ringland about her book Awaken and Become a Tree of Life: Always Be Cleansing and how its message shaped her path into regenerative medicine work involving stem cells and peptides. Ringland argues that physical, emotional, and spiritual cleansing “clears the canvas” so other therapies and supplements work better, emphasizing gut health as the body's foundation. They also discuss purpose, manifestation, and community wellness events like Brookings' International Yoga Gathering. Host: Amanda Whittemore; Producer: Amanda Whittemore The opinions expressed here are those of the individual participants. Curry Coast Community Radio takes no position on issues discussed in this program. The information provided is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your personal physician or other qualified healthcare professional before changing your healthcare treatment, diet, or lifestyle. If you enjoy this program and want to hear more like it, consider supporting Curry Coast Community Radio. Here’s How.

We are living in an era defined by a new kind of power shift. It's not only measured in borders and markets but in Gigawatts and Gigaflops.Every line of code generated and every industrial process optimised by Artificial Intelligence is tethered to a physical reality: the Data Centre. These silent, humming monoliths have become the new cathedrals of the 21st century, and their appetite is unprecedented. How on earth are we going to be able to create and sustain the power demand of AI? But this isn't just a technical challenge; it's a diplomatic powder keg. With the Strait of Hormuz slowly recovering from a blockade and the global energy market reeling from price hikes, we have entered a world of energy realism. Furthermore, is the machine a monster that will break our grids and stall the transition? Or is it the only navigator capable of steering us through the complexities of a changing climate and the demands of a green transition?Joining the host ,Tom Parker, is José Manuel Durão Barroso, Prime Minister of Portugal from 2002 to 2004 and European Commission President from 2004-2014, alongside Mo Gawdat, a software engineer, entrepreneur, author, podcaster, public speaker and former Chief Business Officer at Google X, and Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade, CEO of EDP, a global energy company.This episode was recorded on July 8th in front of a live audience at EDP Headquarters, LIsbon. Sources: FT Resources, IEA, CNN, Brookings, CNBC, Fortune, Microsoft, CREA.This content is paid for by EDP and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times' Commercial Department. The views and claims expressed are those of the guests alone and have not been independently verified by The Financial Times. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doc and Jacques talk with Ron Schnearson and Brookings City Manager Tim Rundel about the Brookings Public Art Collaborative (BPAC), a volunteer initiative to enhance Brookings’ community identity through public art. They highlight their inaugural project, a sculpture at the Brookings Botanical Garden, themed “Gateway to the Pacific Northwest.” The sculpture will be visible approaching Brookings from the 101 bridge, with artist selection emphasizing quality and experience. BPAC also plans future sculptures, murals, and utility box wraps. Hosts: GiGi “Doc” Reed MD, Jacques Kepner; Producers: GiGi “Doc” Reed MD, Jacques Kepner Beginning and end music from freepd.com, in the public domain. The opinions expressed here are those of the individual participants. Curry Coast Community Radio takes no position on issues discussed in this program. If you enjoy this program and want to hear more like it, consider supporting Curry Coast Community Radio. Here’s How.

On July 1, the U.S. government declined to renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)—but that's not the end for the region's free trade agreement. Kari Heerman spoke with Christopher Sands and Duncan Wood about what went wrong, what went right, and what comes next for North American economic relations. Episode transcript and show notes. Follow The Current and all Brookings podcasts on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.

“We have a Justice Department which is now 100% the political pawn of the president,” warns Brookings senior fellow Jonathan Rauch. “He points, and they shoot.” Point and shoot. Like an old Kodak camera. Not exactly assuring words, you might think, from a man who begins our conversation looking back at the first six months of 2026 by announcing that he's significantly less alarmed than he was a year ago. Yes, Rauch acknowledges, Trump's approval ratings have sunk, the courts have pushed back, Elon Musk's DOGE rampage has petered out. And yet the pointing and the shooting goes on. Rauch, who only months ago diagnosed eighteen “distinct and unmistakable signs” of an American fascism in a much touted Atlantic piece, now admits he may never crack the Trumpian code. Every time you nail it to the wall, he says, it morphs, creeps or sails away. Like an Iranian gunboat in Hormuz. Slippery stuff for the liberal Brookings analyst. Fascism one month, McKinley-style imperialism the next, then Gilded Age plutocracy — although without those ontologically undeniable Carnegie libraries. Meanwhile, America's 250th birthday party fizzled into what Rauch calls a “damp squib,” its reflecting pool turning an opaque green rather than a clarifying blue. A muddy madness in DC. Still, amidst all the opacity, Rauch remains a defiantly optimistic liberal. In contrast with yesterday's guest, the reality hallucinating Turi Munthe, Rauch believes not only that there is an ontological reality, but that it's good. Frank Fukuyama was right, Rauch insists. Liberalism is not only the only political system that creates wealth, produces knowledge and settles disputes, but also establishes an undeniable reality. Liberals just need to relearn how to clearly tell its story. Perhaps. Though storytelling is certainly simpler when nobody is waving a gun at you. Five Takeaways •       Less Alarmed, Still Scared. Rauch opens with the good news: he is significantly less alarmed than he was a year ago, when the administration was running rampage, putting agencies out of business and demanding Greenland. Approval ratings have dropped, so Trump has less political space; the courts have pushed back, so he has less judicial space; Stephen Miller has vanished from view. And then comes the caveat that gives the episode its title: the Justice Department is now 100% the political pawn of the president — he points, and they shoot — and Trump has shown that as his ratings fall, he becomes more willing, not less, to use those tools. •       I May Never Crack the Code. Only months ago, Rauch diagnosed eighteen distinct and unmistakable signs of a modern American reinvention of fascism in The Atlantic. He doesn't regret the essay — but he has gone back to being confused. The Trump phenomenon is slippery: every time you nail it to the wall, it morphs, creeps or slides away. Fascism one month, McKinley-style imperialism in Venezuela the next, an Iran war with no rationale at all. Trump is such an improviser, and so disorganized, that Rauch concedes there is an element of randomness he may never decode — though he accepts Andrew's suggestion that attention is now the coin of the political realm. •       Not the Gilded Age — No Carnegie Libraries. The new inequality, Rauch argues, is different in kind: a class of people almost superhuman in the wealth they control, and strangely narcissistic and nihilistic toward the broader society. The Gilded Age tycoons did some bad things, but they also built — Carnegie's libraries, Mellon's National Gallery, Rockefeller's University of Chicago, Stanford's university. This group builds rockets and sounds, in the case of Marc Andreessen, like a parody of an Ayn Rand novel — or, as Andrew corrects him, not a parody at all: they simply repeat what they've read. Even so, Rauch is not sorry to see politics reacting to a world where Musk can casually drop $300 million into a presidential race. •       The Gloves-Off Court and the Accelerating Presidency. The Supreme Court term brought the clearest statement yet of the conservative agenda: Humphrey's Executor overturned after eighty years, making it far easier for presidents to fire agency heads at will; what remained of the Voting Rights Act effectively gutted; birthright citizenship surviving by a shockingly narrow margin. The imperial presidency is not new, Rauch notes — what's new is the speed. A president can now simply refuse to run a congressionally mandated agency, and the Senate, forty quietly nixed nominations notwithstanding, remains lacking in spine. The Todd Blanche nomination, he says, is the next test of whether any line exists at all. •       Fukuyama Was Right — and Liberals Should Say So. Rauch sees a moral vacuum and, for the first time, a craving to fill it: the pope's AI encyclical, multi-faith clergy bearing witness in Minnesota, the Episcopalians and Latter-day Saints finding their voices. His prescription for the second half of 2026 is a liberal one, in the nineteenth-century sense — science, markets, constitutions, rule of law. Fukuyama, widely misunderstood, was right: there is only one system that produces knowledge, peace, freedom, and wealth on a global scale, and it's ours. It needs fixing — he cheers the bipartisan housing bill Trump refused to sign — but liberals must relearn how to tell that story, and how to brag. About the Guest Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. He is the author of nine books, including The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth (2021), Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy (Yale, 2025), and Kindly Inquisitors: The New Attacks on Free Thought. A recipient of the National Magazine Award, he serves on the boards of Heterodox Academy and Civic Life, and is a longtime friend of the show. References: •       Rauch's Atlantic essay identifying eighteen “distinct and unmistakable signs” of a modern American reinvention of fascism — the piece he stands by, even as he admits the phenomenon keeps morphing. •       His recent essays for The UnPopulist on why liberal societies need grand stories about themselves, and why liberals must relearn how to brag about liberalism. •       Jonathan Rauch and Peter Wehner in The New York Times — the earlier argument, which Rauch says still holds, that the Republican Party is more dangerous to the constitution and the rule of law than the Democratic Party. •       Tim O'Reilly in The Economist — on Elon Musk building a form of capitalism that Adam Smith would hate. •       Francis Fukuyama — whose widely misunderstood The End of History thesis Rauch defends: there is only one system that creates wealth, produces knowledge, and settles political disputes on a global scal...

Building a tutoring nonprofit that now serves 25,000 students a year — with a vision to reach millions — required someone who'd lived the exact gap she was trying to close. Aly Murray grew up a low-income student raised by a single immigrant mother, moved through a string of Title 1 schools, and felt firsthand what it's like to navigate homework and college applications without support at home. She left a trading job at JP Morgan eight years ago to build Upchieve, a nonprofit offering free, 24/7 human tutoring and college counseling to every Title 1 middle and high school student in the country. Her work is backed by a Gates Foundation-funded study comparing human and AI tutoring, and Upchieve now partners with schools, districts, and CMOs at a cost of about 50 cents per tutoring session. Most school tutoring programs run from 3 to 5pm — and that single design choice quietly locks out the students who need help the most. Aly Murray, founder of the nonprofit Upchieve, built a 24/7 human tutoring program instead, and the data on why AI can't replace it yet might surprise you.

It's Monday, July 13th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Texas police officers vs. Christian preachers at “pride” event Today, our persecution of Christians story comes surprisingly from Texas. On June 27th, Rich Penkoski and like-minded believers spoke the truth and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a bullhorn at the Trinity Homosexual Pride Fest in Fort Worth, Texas.  Not surprisingly, homosexual activists and nearby business owners complained to police about both his message and the amplification. When police responded, the officers threatened to arrest and cite the preachers, telling them that phrases like “homosexuality is a sin” were offensive. Listen to a portion of one video posted by preacher Penkoski of his interaction with a female officer. POLICE OFFICER: “If someone is offended by your talking, then we have a problem.” PREACHER: “That's a constitutional violation of our rights. If you shut us down for talking or speech …” (crosstalk) POLICE OFFICER: “No. If they are offended by speech, …” PREACHER: “I don't care if they're offended.” POLICE OFFICER:  “Okay, then I'll write you a ticket, and we'll go from there.” PREACHER: “Wait, you're going to ticket us for offensive speech?” POLICE OFFICER: “Yes, absolutely.” PREACHER: “Are you serious? You're going to cite us for offensive speech.” POLICE OFFICER: “It's called disorderly conduct.” Plus, according to another video, a male police officer also said if the preacher used biologically accurate pronouns for someone pretending to be the opposite gender that also could be considered an offense. The preacher was warned that continued use of the bullhorn would violate the city's noise ordinance before ultimately receiving a disorderly conduct citation after continuing to use the device. Subsequently, the Fort Worth Police Department acknowledged that an officer made "certain statements that were not accurate," reports Fox News. In last Thursday post on X, Penkoski wrote, "Police officers have been violating preachers' 1st amendment rights for years. This isn't new, we just got it on video, and they can't walk it back or deny it.” He added, “As a street preacher, it is not my job to coddle anyone or go soft on sin. People are dying and going to hell every day and we have to warn them. ​… Christians need to wake up. We have got to stop sitting in the safety and comfort of our church pews and start taking the Gospel back to the streets. If we refuse to exercise our constitutional rights, we are going to lose them." In Matthew 5:13, Jesus said, “You are the salt of the Earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Homosexual couple sues surrogate who refused to abort baby with cleft lip A homosexual male couple in Canada has sued a surrogate mother who believes she is being punished because she refused a request to abort the baby after doctors detected a cleft lip and a possible heart defect, reports The Christian Post. They used a donor egg and sperm from each of the intended fathers. In a suit filed in Ontario Superior Court in May, the homosexuals allege the surrogate mother failed to keep them informed about the baby's health, caused them emotional distress, and violated their confidentiality, reports The National Post. The lawsuit came two years after the perverted couple asked her to abort the baby at 22 weeks — a request she refused. Specialists at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto later determined that the baby was otherwise healthy, except for the cosmetically fixable cleft lip. The couple accepted this assessment, agreed to continue the pregnancy, and took the baby boy home after birth. The surrogate unsuccessfully sought repayment of about $10,000 in out-of-pocket costs. Ironically, the couple filed a lawsuit for $600,000 in damages against the single mother for her failure to abort their now living son. More than 50 countries prohibit both commercial and altruistic surrogacy. And here in the United States, surrogacy laws vary by state. New video: Senator Mitch McConnell loaded into ambulance New video posted on July 10th shows Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky being loaded into an ambulance after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest at his Capitol Hill home last month, reports the New York Post. McConnell has been absent from the Senate for nearly a month as he continues to recover in the hospital. The 84-year-old lawmaker is not seeking re-election this November and will retire when his term ends in January. California puts abortion pill reversal on trial Heartbeat International, a pro-life group, is on trial in a California court for daring to inform women that the effects of the Abortion Kill Pill can sometimes be reversed, reports The Washington Stand. Their attorney, Danielle White, said, “Women deserve to know all of their options. They don't lose that right after beginning a chemical abortion.” In 2023, Democratic California Attorney General Rob Bonta  sued Heartbeat and a pro-life pregnancy center for “advertising Abortion Pill Reversal as safe and effective.”  Factually speaking, the abortion pill reversal protocol simply requires the use of the natural hormone progesterone which is both safe and helps save 65% of the babies. Bonta asked the court to impose a penalty of more than $20 million against Heartbeat and $600,000 against the pregnancy center. That would amount to a financial death sentence for the pro-life non-profits. The case went to a bench trial on June 24, 2026, and the trial may continue for another three weeks. Thomas More Society's Paul Jonna said, “A ruling in California's favor would hand attorneys general across the country a roadmap to penalize any non-profit organization that provides women with information the state disagrees with. If the [California] Attorney General prevails and our clients cannot deliver free, truthful, and lifesaving information to women who request it, then countless babies that could survive may not — and countless women may never meet the children that they wanted to carry to term.” Marriage advocate Mike McManus entered Heaven On a personal note, my father, Mike McManus, entered the gates of Heaven on July 5th at the age of 85 in Nashville, Tennessee.  Standing at 6'8” tall, he might have had to duck to walk through. To be sure, Dad had a God-sized vision to make a difference. After graduating from Duke University, he was employed at Time Magazine where he was stationed in Bueno Aires, Argentina and later covered President Lyndon Johnson at the White House, writing two cover stories. In 1973, my Dad organized a public participation campaign, “Choices for ‘76” to engage 10 percent of the 20 million people of the New York Metropolitan region in policy issues as the U.S. approached its Bicentennial. The project aimed to spark public debate through a series of television town meetings on issues like housing, transportation, the environment, poverty and urban growth. After becoming informed, citizens were invited to express their opinion on possible public policy tradeoffs, using ballots available in newspapers, banks and libraries. Then, he wrote two self-syndicated weekly newspaper columns which appeared in 100 newspapers.  The first, called “Solutions,” was politically focused and offered practical public policy suggestions. The second, “Ethics & Religion,” was inspired by the preaching of Pastor Terry Fullam of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Darien, Connecticut. It grappled with church news and moral issues like abortion, pornography, and the homosexual agenda. I remember helping him copy, collate, stuff, stamp, address, and seal the envelopes to send out his weekly columns to newspaper editors across the country before the advent of the internet and email. We were always racing to the post office to get there before the deadline at 11pm at night. In 1993, he published his first book Marriage Savers: Helping Your Friends and Family Stay Married. Other books included 50 Practical Ways to Take Our Kids Back from the World and Living Together: Myths, Risks and  Answers. In a 2013 phone interview on American Family Radio, Dad talked about the major myth that women believe about living together. MIKE McMANUS: “One of the myths, believed widely by women, is that ‘'If I live with him, he's going to see how wonderful I am, and he'll ask me to marry him.' But he knows that this woman would marry him if he asked her. He's living together with her because he doesn't want to get married. He wants the sex, he wants the companionship, and the shared rent. But he doesn't want to get married. “She believes this myth until about a year and a half, two years into the relationship, when she realizes he's not going to ask her to marry him, and she sadly walks away. Unfortunately, by that time they may have already had a child. The unwed birth rate has risen right along with cohabitation. “This is an unbiblical position, of course. I mean, the church has been silent on the problem, and it's part of the problem.” Cognizant of the clarity of Malachi 2:16 in which God says He “hates divorce,” my father's passion on the issue led to his founding of the non-profit Marriage Savers with my mother, Harriet, to whom he was married for 61 years and whom he simply adored.  He said, “Most divorces are filed by one person who alleges incompatibility, while the other spouse wants to save the marriage. Sadly, divorce is always granted. When adultery or abuse is not alleged, divorce should only be granted if there is 'mutual consent' by husband and wife. What was entered into by two people, should not be ended, unless both people agree." They organized 10,000 pastors in 229 cities in 43 states to sign a Community Marriage Policy agreement that established rigorous premarital preparation for engaged couples and trained volunteer mentor couples to help people in troubled marriages. The Baptist Press reported that the divorce rate in those cities dropped by 17.5%. Think about the heartache that saved untold families and children! Their work led to appearances on ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, CBN News, The O'Reilly Factor, The Ricki Lake Show, Breakpoint with Chuck Colson, Focus on the Family with Dr. James Dobson, Truths that Transform with D. James Kennedy, and Moody Radio's Janet Parshall. I treasure the books that Dr. Dobson personally inscribed to my father as a fellow warrior for the family that are now in my library. And Chuck Colson, President Richard Nixon's former hatchet man who was gloriously saved on his way to prison over Watergate and founded Prison Fellowship, wrote the forward to one of Dad's books after their friendship blossomed. Having always aspired to live on the water, he eventually moved into his dream home with his bride in Kilmarnock, Virginia, just 50 feet from Indian Creek that fed into the Chesapeake Bay.  A great day for him was enjoying the view from his leather chair, reading the paper, listening to classical music, and talking with my mother, who was his great joy. My father taught me how to write clearly and think Biblically. I remember him quizzing us three boys at the dining room table about current events. And he was a faithful husband who pointed the family to faith in Jesus Christ, His legacy lives on in my two younger brothers, John and Tim, and in me, as I strive, with my bride Amy, to disciple Honor, Mercy, and Valor in the ways of the Lord, urging them not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds in the Word of God, as Romans 12:2 articulates. 9 Worldview listeners gave $2,055 And finally, toward our $30,875 goal during the first full week of our month-long fundraiser, 9 listeners stepped up to the plate by 10:30pm Central on Saturday and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another 365 days. Our thanks to 12-year-old Halen in Blum, Texas who gave $5 as well as Mark in Newark, Ohio and Brigitte in Brookings, South Dakota – both of whom gave $25. We're grateful to God for Julie in Victoria, Texas who gave $50, Dirk in Englewood, Colorado who gave $100, and Twyla in Ellensburg, Washington who gave $150. And we were touched by the generosity of Jason in Calhoun, Georgia who gave $200, Elaine here in San Antonio, Texas who gave $500, and Stephen in California, Maryland who gave $1,000. Those 9 gifts add up to $2,055. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $23,098 (sound effect of people cheering) That means, in all candor, we missed last Friday's goal by $7,777. Please, do not wait until the last minute.  Every gift gets us closer to our $123,500 goal by July 31st.  So far, out of our tens of thousands of listeners, the most people who have donated in a single day is 15 people. Help us double that.  Will you be one of 30 to step up? Make a donation today to help us hit our $56,565 goal by this Friday, July 17th.  We need to find 7 Worldview listeners who will pledge $100/month for 12 months or give a one-time gift of $1,200, 20 folks who will pledge $50/month or give a one-time gift of $600 and 40 listeners who will pledge $25/month or give a one-time gift of $300. Go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  What has the Lord placed on your heart to give? Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, July 13th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

At the NATO summit in Ankara, wary European leaders sought an equilibrium with the United States. Against a backdrop of ongoing conflict in Iran and Ukraine, Aslı Aydıntaşbaş asked Thomas Wright and Mara Karlin about the dynamics at play. Episode transcript and show notes. Follow The Current and all Brookings podcasts on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.

SK Hynix shares pop in their first day of Nasdaq trading, but Susquehanna is staying cautious. Brookings' Robin Brooks makes the argument for implementing another, stricter blockade of Iran oil. Plus, hoe World Cup hydration breaks could give Fox Sports a $250M boost.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Trump called off the a ceasefire with Iran Wednesday morning, sending the U.S. back into a military conflict — and sending oil prices back up after weeks of steady cooling. In this episode, Kai calls up economist Robin Brooks at Brookings to explain how a reignited war will affect global oil markets and prices at the pump. Plus: Retailers stock up early for the 2026 holiday season, businesses surpass homes' energy use for the first time on record, and corporations issue more shares to raise capital.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today's episode:Trump calls off Iran ceasefire, a move that "obviously will push oil prices up"Some business owners are stocking up early for the holidaysWhy public companies have been on a tear issuing new sharesBusinesses are using more electricity than homes for the first time on recordWhat the energy shock means for the decarbonization industry

President Trump called off the a ceasefire with Iran Wednesday morning, sending the U.S. back into a military conflict — and sending oil prices back up after weeks of steady cooling. In this episode, Kai calls up economist Robin Brooks at Brookings to explain how a reignited war will affect global oil markets and prices at the pump. Plus: Retailers stock up early for the 2026 holiday season, businesses surpass homes' energy use for the first time on record, and corporations issue more shares to raise capital.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Read the stories in today's episode:Trump calls off Iran ceasefire, a move that "obviously will push oil prices up"Some business owners are stocking up early for the holidaysWhy public companies have been on a tear issuing new sharesBusinesses are using more electricity than homes for the first time on recordWhat the energy shock means for the decarbonization industry

On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, in a heat wave, delayed by storms, Donald Trump gave a very Donald Trump speech. We expected that. But what can we expect next? On this episode of After America, Dr Emma Shortis and Angus Blackman discuss the November midterm elections and what they might bring. After Emma’s trip to Brussels and Berlin, they also reflect the contrasts between European and Australian views of the United States. This episode was recorded live on Monday 6 July. Guest: Emma Shortis, Director, International & Security Affairs, the Australia Institute // @emmashortis Host: Angus Blackman, Executive Producer, the Australia Institute // @AngusRB Show notes: This World Cup shows who holds the cards in Trump’s economy, After America, the Australia Institute (June 2026) From Europe’s strategic settings to China’s overcapacities – a view through an antipodean lens, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (June 2026) The 2026 midterm elections, Brookings ‘God is non-binary’: Texas Dem nominee Talarico’s past remarks on abortion, race and gender draw scrutiny by Peter Pinedo & Paul Steinhauser, Fox News (March 2026) STRICTLY BALLROOM! PEP with Chas & Dr Emma Shortis, PEP podcast (October 2025) Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au. Subscribe to After America on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your favourite podcasts.Support After America & the research powerful interests fear: https://theaus.in/3QRFNjBSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this “Ladies First” episode, Doc and Jacques talk with Sue Wright, founder of the Wild Rivers Film Festival, and Kat Liddell, founder of Threepenny Theater Company. They discuss how they each brought independent film and new live theater to Oregon’s rural coast, the challenges of launching nonprofit arts organizations, and their shared commitment to affordable access. They also explore their collaborative vision for an arts cooperative to strengthen community connection and creative expression in the Brookings region. Hosts: GiGi “Doc” Reed MD, Jacques Kepner; Producers: GiGi “Doc” Reed MD, Jacques Kepner Beginning and end music from freepd.com, in the public domain. The opinions expressed here are those of the individual participants. Curry Coast Community Radio takes no position on issues discussed in this program. If you enjoy this program and want to hear more like it, consider supporting Curry Coast Community Radio. Here’s How.

On this week's Just The Tip we're taking you on a quick journey through 5 magical spots in the Pacific Northwest. From secret beaches and misty rainforests to glacier-carved peaks and waterfall hikes, this episode is packed with jaw-dropping nature, hilarious travel mishaps, and must-visit gems in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Perfect for road trippers, nature lovers, and weekend wanderers.PNW hotels we recommend:Brookings, OR - Hotels: ⁠Beach Front Inn⁠ or ⁠Ocean Suites Hotel ⁠North Cascades National Park - ⁠North Cascades Inn⁠, ⁠Mt. Baker Hotel⁠ or ⁠Washington Itinerary⁠, or ⁠North Cascades National Park Episode⁠Boise, Idaho - ⁠The Avery Hotel⁠ or ⁠Hotel Renegade⁠Silver Falls State Park, OR - ⁠The Grand Hotel⁠ or ⁠Holman Riverfront Park Hotel⁠Hoh Rainforest, Olympic National Park - ⁠Red Lion Hotel Port Angeles Harbor⁠ or ⁠Aircrest Motel⁠A few other resources to help your trip planning:⁠North Cascades National Park Episode⁠⁠Boise Episode⁠⁠Oregon Waterfalls Episode ⁠⁠Oregon Waterfalls Itinerary⁠⁠Olympic National Park Episode⁠⁠Washington Itinerary⁠Find a great flight deal to The Pacific Northwest, or anywhere else, by signing up for ⁠⁠⁠⁠Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠⁠⁠⁠ and get flight deals sent straight to your inbox. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.—---------------------------------------Shop:⁠ Trip Itineraries ⁠⁠&⁠ ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠Connect:⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

From June 4, 2016: This week, the Brookings Institution held an event on a new Brookings report on implementation of the Iran Deal: The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) adopted by Iran and the P5+1 partners in July 2015 was an effort not only to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons but also to avert a nuclear arms competition in the Middle East. But uncertainties surrounding the future of the Iran nuclear deal, including the question of what Iran will do when key JCPOA restrictions on its nuclear program expire after 15 years, could provide incentives for some of its neighbors to keep their nuclear options open.In their Brookings Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Series monograph, “The Iran Nuclear Deal: Prelude to Proliferation in the Middle East?,” Robert Einhorn and Richard Nephew assess the current status of the JCPOA and explore the likelihood that, in the wake of the agreement, regional countries will pursue their own nuclear weapons programs or at least latent nuclear weapons capabilities. Drawing on interviews with senior government officials and non-government experts from the region, they focus in depth on the possible motivations and capabilities of Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates for pursuing nuclear weapons. The monograph also offers recommendations for policies to reinforce the JCPOA and reduce the likelihood that countries of the region will seek nuclear weapons.On May 31, the Brookings Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative hosted a panel to discuss the impact of the JCPOA on prospects for nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. Brookings Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of Foreign Policy Suzanne Maloney served as moderator. Panelists included H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba, ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States; Derek Chollet, counselor and senior advisor for security and defense policy at the German Marshall Fund; Brookings Senior Fellow Robert Einhorn; and Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Richard Nephew.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war, Aslı Aydıntaşbaş spoke to Brookings experts Kari Heerman and Bruce Jones about its geopolitical implications, building on their recent articles in the series "Blowback: How the Iran war may change the world." Episode transcript and show notes. Follow The Current and all Brookings podcasts on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.

In this episode of Quality Living with Peaceful Support, host Amanda Whittemore talks with Garrett Smith, a glass artist and photographer who moved to Brookings, Oregon, from Los Angeles eight years ago to care for his aging mother. Garrett discusses his 40-year career in film preservation, his journey into glass art, and his current fundraiser at the Chetco Activity Center donating glass pieces to the Soroptimists, with proceeds going to help local children in need. Host: Amanda Whittemore; Producer: Amanda Whittemore The opinions expressed here are those of the individual participants. Curry Coast Community Radio takes no position on issues discussed in this program. If you enjoy this program and want to hear more like it, consider supporting Curry Coast Community Radio. Here’s How.

Underpinning the growing use of AI is the need for state-of-the-art data centers. These data centers host a large number of file servers and networking equipment that can store, process, and analyze text, images, code, and other information sources.  While data centers have been around throughout the computer, internet and cloud eras none so big and controversial as these.  One proposed in the state of Utah is larger than Manhattan.  Really!  The objection to these data centers has formed in red and blue states.  The concerns relate to the impact on water supplies needed to cool them, particularly in the Southwest, the spikes in electricity costs, the noise emitted and the giveaways that communities and states have bestowed upon them even if the economic impact on the local workforce is not very impactful.  Large tech companies are feeling the backlash and trying to develop community impact packages that deliver more to the sites where they are being built.  More than 4,000 are already in operation and 3,000 more are being planned or under construction.  To discuss this issue of growing importance is Darrell West, of Brookings, co-author of the book, “Turning Point: Policymaking in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.”

Troy Lea In this episode of Joyously Free!, host Joanie Lindenmeyer talks with Troy Lea, a cosmetologist, makeup artist, drag performer, hospice worker, and radio host. Troy shares how his husband’s love and his parents’ early lessons in self-acceptance empowered him to embrace drag as a joyful form of self-expression. He discusses blending masculine and feminine elements in his performances, reflects on wisdom gained from hospice work, and talks about his upcoming appearance at Brookings and Crescent City Pride Month events. Host: Joanie Lindenmeyer; Producer: Joanie Lindenmeyer Music is from freepd.com, in the public domain. The opinions expressed here are those of the individual participants. Curry Coast Community Radio takes no position on issues discussed in this program. If you enjoy this program and want to hear more like it, consider supporting Curry Coast Community Radio. Here’s how.

A new Brookings article examines the ways colonias in the Rio Grande Valley continue to be disinvested and what needs to be done to improve conditions.

On episode 254, it's a visit to Harlem by way of Jersey to speak with DJ DAN C.E., aka Danny Brookings, co-founder of We Do Dope Shit 20K. Our conversation is about celebrating DJ culture and the breweries that center it. Later this year, Brookings will debut a video podcast on DJ life and craft beverages called Disco Juice, a continuation of a 2015 project called DJs Love Beer. Further on the "beats" side, we discuss the new album from Buddy and the new Masters at Work-produced project from Brian Jackson. On the brews side, we're enjoying selections from Montclair Brewery, Point Remove Brewing Company, and Peticolas Brewing Company.

US inflation hit 4.2% in May, the highest reading since April 2023, and the third straight month of acceleration. The driver is the US-Israeli war with Iran. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted Middle East oil supplies, and energy alone accounted for over 60% of the monthly CPI increase.This episode breaks down the May CPI report and what's behind the number. Energy prices are up 23.5% year over year. Gasoline is up 40.5%. Fuel oil is up 58.9%. Shelter costs accelerated again to 3.4% and food rose 3.1%. Core inflation (the Fed's preferred measure, which strips out food and energy) climbed to 2.9%, a new high since September 2025, but the monthly core number actually came in below forecasts, which is the one piece of good news in the report.The Fed meets June 17. Markets expect a hold, but the conversation has shifted. Rate cuts that were on the table in January are off it now, and some analysts are starting to talk about hikes later this year if the energy shock spreads. The pace of the past three months is the fastest since spring 2022, when inflation was still climbing toward its 9% peak.The pain isn't evenly distributed. Real wages have fallen for two months in a row. Gas, food, electricity, and medical care are all running above 3%, which is exactly the basket of things households can't substitute away from. Brookings modeling suggests that even in the most optimistic scenario, a Hormuz closure lasting one quarter, US inflation ends 2026 about 0.6 points higher than it would have otherwise.We cover what the energy shock means for AI infrastructure costs, why a 40% gas spike doesn't show up evenly across the economy, what the Fed actually does with a war-driven inflation print, and whether May represents a 2026 peak or the start of something longer.May CPI, US inflation 2026, Iran war inflation, gas prices, Strait of Hormuz, Federal Reserve, interest rates, energy shock, real wages, core CPI, FOMC June 2026.

Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical is a 42,000-word Vatican treatise that elevates "the protection of the human person in the age of artificial intelligence." Nicol Turner Lee, senior fellow and director for the Center for Technology Innovation, and Elham Tabassi, senior fellow and director for the AI and Emerging Tech Initiative, spoke to Valerie Wirtschafter, fellow in Foreign Policy, about the implications of this groundbreaking document. Follow The Current and all Brookings podcasts on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.

The conversation around AI in education is changing fast, and the latest GSV Learning and Earning Forecast now identifies trust as the factor that will determine the near-term future of AI in the classroom. In this episode, we explore the “AI trust gap” forming between the people racing to expand AI in schools and the educators, parents, and students who are starting to push back. Through discussions with educators, school leaders, learning science researchers, analysts, ed tech developers, AI vendors, and non-profits across the community, we zoom in on the hard questions surrounding AI's future in education. What happens when innovation starts moving faster than trust? What is required to bridge the gap? Who is working on solutions? What's working? Sources: Forecast for Learning & Earning in 2025-2026 | Digital Promise | Learning Commons | Surgeon General's Office Advises Schools to Limit Screen Time | Teachers and parents weigh benefits and risks of artificial intelligence in schools | Do AI's risks outweigh the benefits for students and schools? | Fostering Trust in the Age of AI | GSVtv | The Next AI Maturity Curve – Orchestration, Trust, and Scale | AI is Air: Ambient AI in Every Breath, Step, and Swipe | GSVtv | Lincoln High students swap screen time for study time after phone ban | How to Choose Safe and Effective Classroom Technology | More Students Boo AI at Commencement Nick Melvoin, a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board member who recently drafted a resolution to restrict student screen time in classrooms. Sandra Liu Huang, Head of Education & Product at CZI and president of Learning Commons. Jean Claude Brizard– President and CEO of Digital Promise. Jeremy Roschelle– Executive Director of Digital Promise's Learning Sciences Research team. Melissa Loble, Chief Academic Officer, Instructure. Patrick Gittisriboongul, Ed.D., Superintendent of Lynwood Unified School District. Justin Reich, Director of Teaching Systems Lab at MIT. Jennifer Lee Partner GSV Ventures. Muktha Ananda– Google's Director of Engineering. Robert Wong, Google's Director of Product Management. Brian Carslon, CEO, Storytime AI.Tim Sanders, Chief Innovation Officer at G2 and Executive Fellow at Harvard. Chris Hamatake, parent. Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings. Dr. Eugene Kim, Professor of Education at Concordia University.

Whether skeptic or believer, the truth about the UFO is vastly different than what anyone thinks. The fact is we simply do not know what it is, other than a phenomena that changes with time, perception, and technological advancement. Other than what is clearly human in origin. As for disclosure, we know that the current narratives — about strange objects that are later identified and how society might collapse if the truth were really released — are based on the 1953 Robertson Panel Policy report and the Brookings Institute think tank report. It may also be true that one could obtain more “truth” in the Disclosure Day film than anything being supposedly released by the Federal Government, including Aliens.gov which turns out to be an illegal immigration website that uses the theme of UFOs to troll everyone. *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.

This week, Scott sat down with his Lawfare colleagues Anna Bower and Eric Columbus, and his Brookings colleague Molly Reynolds, to talk through a couple of the week's big news stories in domestic politics, including:“The Grift That Keeps On Giving.” Last week, the Justice Department announced the creation of a so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund of nearly 1.8 billion taxpayer dollars, from which purported victims of politically motivated prosecutions can apply to receive payments. The fund was created as part of a settlement with President Trump and his sons, who sued the IRS for 10 billion dollars over the leak of his tax returns. So far, pardoned Jan. 6 rioters, former Congressman George Santos, Trump's ex attorney Michael Cohen, and even former FBI Director James Comey have all said that they are considering applying, and three lawsuits have already been filed challenging the fund. How did Trump's lawsuit against the IRS lead to this fund? And how do we see these legal challenges playing out in court?“Lame Duck Around and Find Out.” President Trump's preferred primary picks have cruised to victories in Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Georgia Republican primaries, ousting incumbents Senator Bill Cassidy and Representative Thomas Massie as some of the few voices of dissent within the Republican Party. But Trump's involvement in the primaries has come at a political cost, with outgoing members voicing their criticism and even going so far as to buck the president on legislation. Last week, Cassidy flipped his vote in favor of a critical war powers resolution in the Senate, which could undermine the administration's legal justification for the war. With such close margins in Congress, how do we expect this new YOLO faction to impact the president's agenda before the midterms?While we introduced a third topic, we frankly ran out of time this week. Sorry about that! We'll circle back to it in the weeks ahead.In object lessons, Molly is hooked on the fish-focused local NPR podcast, “Catching The Codfather.” Eric is looking to catch a killer with the latest Hugh Jackman movie (which he thinks is shear perfection). Scott is caught up in the latest “Storm,” featuring Yung Lean. And Anna has caught basketball fever, both with the Knicks' return to the NBA Finals, and also with the (much-more-affordable-but-equally-entertaining) NY Liberty.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Scott sat down with his Lawfare colleagues Anna Bower and Eric Columbus, and his Brookings colleague Molly Reynolds, to talk through a couple of the week's big news stories in domestic politics, including:“The Grift That Keeps On Giving.” Last week, the Justice Department announced the creation of a so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund of nearly 1.8 billion taxpayer dollars, from which purported victims of politically motivated prosecutions can apply to receive payments. The fund was created as part of a settlement with President Trump and his sons, who sued the IRS for 10 billion dollars over the leak of his tax returns. So far, pardoned Jan. 6 rioters, former Congressman George Santos, Trump's ex attorney Michael Cohen, and even former FBI Director James Comey have all said that they are considering applying, and three lawsuits have already been filed challenging the fund. How did Trump's lawsuit against the IRS lead to this fund? And how do we see these legal challenges playing out in court?“Lame Duck Around and Find Out.” President Trump's preferred primary picks have cruised to victories in Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Georgia Republican primaries, ousting incumbents Senator Bill Cassidy and Representative Thomas Massie as some of the few voices of dissent within the Republican Party. But Trump's involvement in the primaries has come at a political cost, with outgoing members voicing their criticism and even going so far as to buck the president on legislation. Last week, Cassidy flipped his vote in favor of a critical war powers resolution in the Senate, which could undermine the administration's legal justification for the war. With such close margins in Congress, how do we expect this new YOLO faction to impact the president's agenda before the midterms?While we introduced a third topic, we frankly ran out of time this week. Sorry about that! We'll circle back to it in the weeks ahead.In object lessons, Molly is hooked on the fish-focused local NPR podcast, “Catching The Codfather.” Eric is looking to catch a killer with the latest Hugh Jackman movie (which he thinks is shear perfection). Scott is caught up in the latest “Storm,” featuring Yung Lean. And Anna has caught basketball fever, both with the Knicks' return to the NBA Finals, and also with the (much-more-affordable-but-equally-entertaining) NY Liberty.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All this week we're looking at AI and the potential role it will play in the lives of our children and teens. Specifically, were looking at some conclusions made by the Brookings Institution and their new report titled, “A New Direction for Students in an AI World: Prosper, Prepare, Protect.” One of the main conclusions offered in the report meshes well with God's calling on our lives to pursue what is good, true, and beautiful. That conclusion is that we must do the hard and intentional work of preparing ourselves to integrate and use AI ethically, effectively, and humanely in our schools, homes, churches, and lives. Specifically, the folks at Brookings are warning us that if we use AI to undermine our human agency, allowing it to do all the work for us, we are in effect sacrificing our humanity. From a Christian perspective, that's a road we cannot go down. We have been created by God to image God. That means that we are to manage AI, rather than letting AI take over and manage us.

On this episode of The Brookings Current, Brookings Senior Fellow Rashawn Ray sits down with two former teachers-turned-lawmakers: Reps. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Kevin Kiley (I-Calif.), members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. They engage in a candid dialogue on the state of K-12 education amid changing student demographics, the introduction of AI in the classroom, and the challenge of workforce preparation. Show notes and transcript. Follow The Current and all Brookings podcasts on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.

Brookings Senior Fellow Robert Kagan writes in The Atlantic that U.S. defeat in Iran war "is not only possible but likely." In this episode of The Brookings Current, Kagan is joined by Melanie Sisson and Michael O'Hanlon, also senior fellows in Foreign Policy, to discuss their latest thinking on the war, and whether it has weakened America's hand in the region. Show notes and transcript. Follow The Current and all Brookings podcasts on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.

Today's Headlines: Thomas Massie lost his primary to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein, and Trump followed up by endorsing Ken Paxton over sitting Senator John Cornyn in Texas — picking the very crazy over the more traditional crazy, as is on-brand. Speaking of people who can't stop themselves, Trump demanded a DOJ investigation into Maryland's mail-in ballots over a completely routine reissuing error, because Maryland didn't vote for him and apparently that requires a federal explanation. On organized resistance, the NAACP launched an "Out of Bounds" campaign urging Black athletes to withhold support from college sports programs in states eliminating Black voting representation — a direct hit on the south's most lucrative programs, which should get their attention. Turning to the grift of the week, Trump's $1.776 billion "Antiweaponization Fund" keeps getting worse, with acting AG Todd Blanche confirming January 6th insurrectionists "wouldn't be excluded" from filing claims, P. Diddy's publicist already exploring eligibility, and the whole thing requiring only 2 out of 5 board members to approve any claim with zero fraud recourse — so that's airtight. On the war front, the Senate's war powers resolution finally passed 50-47 on the eighth attempt thanks to three absent Republicans and Bill Cassidy switching his vote the week after losing his primary, while the head of the International Energy Agency warned that global oil supplies are shrinking fast with only weeks of inventory left, right as fuel prices spike at the start of travel season — great timing all around. Closer to home, the Trump administration rolled back EPA limits on forever chemicals in drinking water affecting over 200 million Americans, a Brookings analysis found that roughly 75% of the 100,000 children separated from parents during Trump's immigration crackdown are likely US citizens, and Trump signed an executive order directing banks to vet customers for immigration status — though banks lobbied it down to advisory only, because their money is still green either way. And in the one piece of good news, 30,000 New York City hotel housekeepers secured a contract raising average pay to over $100,000 a year by 2034, which is the most functional thing to happen all week. Resources/Articles mentioned: NBC News: Trump endorses Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn ahead of Texas Republican Senate runoff The New Republic: Trump Demands Investigation Into Blue State That Didn't Vote for Him PBS: NAACP calls for boycott of Southern college sports programs over voting rights PBS: WATCH: Trump calls planned White House ballroom 'a gift' to U.S. PBS: Blanche faces senators on new Trump 'weaponization' fund, Epstein, budget cuts CBS: Trump's $1.7+ billion fund sparks rush to capitalize: "All J6ers will apply" WSJ: Senate Advances War Powers Measure After GOP's Cassidy Switches Sides Bloomberg: IEA Chief Warns Commercial Oil Inventories Are Falling Very Fast The Guardian: Trump officials plan to repeal limits on ‘forever chemicals' in drinking water | Trump administration Brockovich Data Center: Brockovich Data Center AP News: Trump orders banks to take a closer look at clients' citizenship in new immigration enforcement move NYT: Brookings Institution Report: Over 100,000 Family Separations in Trump Crackdown NYT: N.Y.C. Hotel Housekeepers Will Earn Over $100,000 Under New Contract Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Mar-a-Lago to the Great Hall, Trump returns to Beijing desperate for validation while Xi Jinping treats him to strategic flattery. It's the first time an American president has been to China in seven years. It deserves a podcast, although, as Trivium said, the outcomes could have been an email instead of a summit. Today's guests are Sergey Radchenko, author of To Run the World: The Kremlin's Cold War Bid for Global Power — which won a ChinaTalk Book of the Year award and got the four-hour podcast treatment — as well as ChinaTalk regulars Kevin Xu of Interconnected and Jon Czin, formerly of the CIA and NSC, now with Brookings. Our conversation covers: Prestige politics on the cheap — How Trump's delegation gawked at Chinese architecture while Xi scored propaganda points by getting the U.S. president to fawn over Zhongnanhai's gardens — reversing decades of diplomatic protocol. The G2 that never was — Why Trump's dream of running the world with Xi echoes Nixon and Brezhnev's failed détente, and how strategic competition makes genuine cooperation impossible regardless of personal chemistry. The AI factor — As Beijing struggles with compute constraints and export controls, the US brings its AI safety dialogue proposal as its only real leverage in an otherwise empty summit. The midterm calculation — How Xi is withholding concessions until September 2026, betting that Trump will need wins most desperately right before the elections. Who's using the pause better? — While China methodically builds domestic chip capacity and refuses even approved Nvidia exports, the U.S. struggles with basic industrial policy on rare earths. song: https://suno.com/s/cwNGihewAFKpkJls Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Mar-a-Lago to the Great Hall, Trump returns to Beijing desperate for validation while Xi Jinping treats him to strategic flattery. It's the first time an American president has been to China in seven years. It deserves a podcast, although, as Trivium said, the outcomes could have been an email instead of a summit. Today's guests are Sergey Radchenko, author of To Run the World: The Kremlin's Cold War Bid for Global Power — which won a ChinaTalk Book of the Year award and got the four-hour podcast treatment — as well as ChinaTalk regulars Kevin Xu of Interconnected and Jon Czin, formerly of the CIA and NSC, now with Brookings. Our conversation covers: Prestige politics on the cheap — How Trump's delegation gawked at Chinese architecture while Xi scored propaganda points by getting the U.S. president to fawn over Zhongnanhai's gardens — reversing decades of diplomatic protocol. The G2 that never was — Why Trump's dream of running the world with Xi echoes Nixon and Brezhnev's failed détente, and how strategic competition makes genuine cooperation impossible regardless of personal chemistry. The AI factor — As Beijing struggles with compute constraints and export controls, the US brings its AI safety dialogue proposal as its only real leverage in an otherwise empty summit. The midterm calculation — How Xi is withholding concessions until September 2026, betting that Trump will need wins most desperately right before the elections. Who's using the pause better? — While China methodically builds domestic chip capacity and refuses even approved Nvidia exports, the U.S. struggles with basic industrial policy on rare earths. song: https://suno.com/s/cwNGihewAFKpkJls Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The dangers are human, not AI. What's dangerous is what a human does with AI, not what the AI does itself. In fact, even the idea that there is such a thing as the AI in itself is a mistake.” — Keith Teare I'm in Korea this week. So rather than doing a traditional one-on-one That Was the Week tech summary, Keith Teare and I are trying something different. We invited Jonathan Rauch — Brookings Institution senior fellow, serial author and one of the most rigorous minds in Washington — onto the show to discuss AI. Rauch had a simple mission. He wanted to find out why Keith Teare is just about the only person in the universe who believes that AI is benign. Jon had five buckets of doom to dump on Keith: labour market disruption, political upheaval, mental health and cognition, malicious actors, and the biggest daddy of all — AI developing consciousness, setting its own agenda, and killing everyone (even Keith). But Keith maintained his Yorkshire stoicism under intense scrutiny from the analogue Rauch machine. AI is a word-counting machine, he explained. Large language models train on words, not experience. They split words into a probabilistic graph of correlations. When you ask a question, a large statistical engine fires, word by word. In that sense, he says, AI is no cleverer than a calculator. The idea that it has awareness, consciousness, or a plan is mythological. What's dangerous is what a human does with AI, not what AI does itself. The dangers, he says, are human. Jon wasn't entirely reassured (his Brookings brand is scepticism, after all). What worries him most is that humans will handle these technologies irresponsibly. On that, he and Keith agree. The short-term labour disruption will be significant. White-collar service provision — legal, accounting, junior consulting — is already going. Jobs will go too. Work, Keith insists, will not. But nobody in politics is having the conversation about what comes next. Not JD. Not AOC. Only Keith and Jon. Five Takeaways •       AI Is a Word-Counting Machine: Keith's Core Argument: Large language models train on words and only words. They split those words into a probabilistic graph — how close is word A to word B? When you ask a question, a large statistical engine fires, producing output word by word. There is no awareness. There is no consciousness. There is no plan. The idea that such a system could develop its own agenda is mythological. It's no cleverer than a calculator. It's just a very big, very fast calculator. Rauch's counter: the brain is also just dumb neurons. We get emergence from dumb neurons. Keith's reply: what the AI can do is constrained by what humans allow it to do. The agency is human. •       Doomerism as Business Model: Before engaging with any specific AI doom argument, Keith signals a prior: whenever there is ambiguity in a major technological change, a business model emerges to monetize doubt. It was true of nuclear power. It was true of climate change. It is true of AI. This doesn't mean the fears are groundless — they wouldn't sell if they weren't reasonable. But it means they should be approached with prior scepticism. The doom argument works precisely because AI genuinely contains possible negative outcomes. The business model packages and amplifies those possibilities beyond their actual probability. •       The Guardrails Are Human: Keith's metaphor: AI sits in a prison where humans decide what the doors are. If you give it access to email, it can email. If you don't, it can't. It cannot take actions it has not been permitted to take. The word “guardrails” is commonly used, and it's apt: the constraints on what AI can do are entirely under human control. The word output is the statistical engine — that's not controllable. But its ability to act on words is highly constrained. The danger is not what AI does. It is what humans choose to allow AI to do. •       Jobs vs Work: The Labour Disruption Argument: Rauch's young friends in junior consulting are watching their jobs go in real time. Keith distinguishes between jobs — paid labour — and work, which is closer to effort and creative agency. Jobs can go. Work, he argues, will not — humans will always be reinterpreting the future they want and working to make it happen. But the short-term disruption will be significant: white-collar service provision (legal, accounting, consulting), teaching, driving. The wealth creation AI enables could supplement the end of paid labour. But no one in government is having that conversation. •       Rauch's Verdict: Clarified, Not Reassured: After fifty minutes with Keith Teare, Jonathan Rauch reaches a considered position: his worst fear — that AI becomes an autonomous engine of anti-human malfeasance — is unlikely to happen unless humans make it happen. His residual concern: that humans will not handle these technologies as maturely as one could wish. He's not optimistic about political systems that are already too rigid, too partisan, and too dysfunctional to adjust as they did to the industrialization of the late nineteenth century. On that, he and Keith agree. Nobody knows. Not Keith. Not Andrew. And, despite his brilliance, not Jonathan Rauch. About the Guests Keith Teare is a British-American entrepreneur, investor, and publisher of the That Was the Week newsletter. He is a co-founder of TechCrunch. Jonathan Rauch is a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. He is the author of The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, The Happiness Curve, Kindly Inquisitors, Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights, and Good for America, and many other books. He is based in Washington, D.C. References: •       That Was the Week by Keith Teare. •       The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth by Jonathan Rauch. •       Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nate Soares, If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies — the AI doom book referenced in the conversation. •       Sam Harris and Tristan Harris podcast on AI risk — referenced by Rauch as the catalyst for his questions. •       Episode 2902: Keith Teare on his jobless AI future vision — the preceding TWTW episode directly referenced. About Keen On America Nobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States — hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 2,900 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On America is the most prolific intellectual interview show in the history of podcasting. 

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has brought the largest energy disruption the world has seen in decades. Adie Tomer, senior fellow in Metro, talks with Samantha Gross, director of the Energy Security and Climate Initiative, to break down the implications of this crisis for American consumers and the United States. Show notes and transcript. Follow The Current and all Brookings podcasts on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.

 If you’ve ever driven to the Oregon Coast, you’ve likely been on Highway 101. The scenic roadway was officially designated a federal highway 100 years ago in 1926. The highway changed how people across the state accessed the coast, bringing new opportunities for industry and tourism from Astoria to Brookings.  The Oregon Historical Society is celebrating the highway's 100th anniversary with an exhibit that runs through Oct. 11. Megan Lallier-Barron, curator of exhibitions for OHS, joins us to share more about the history of Highway 101.

The Trump administration has used executive orders to expand immigration enforcement, overhaul elections, and gut diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Keon Gilbert, director of the Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative, discusses the disproportionate impact on Black Americans with Jonathan Cox of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and Tonantzin Carmona, a fellow at Brookings Metro. Show notes and transcript. Follow The Current and all Brookings podcasts on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.

──────────────────────────────────────── [00:02:52] Trump Wants to Rename ICE to "NICE" — Knight: Soviet-Style Propaganda, Not Satire Trump endorsed changing ICE to National Immigration Customs Enforcement so media would say "NICE agents" — Knight: Soviet-style propaganda, a substitute for achievements while the police state is built around us. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:23:25] CS Lewis Invented the Acronym "NICE" in 1945 for His Totalitarian Villain Organization In That Hideous Strength, NICE stood for the National Institute for Coordinated Experiments — a front for dark supernatural forces dehumanizing people through technocratic means. Knight: somebody in the Trump orbit read CS Lewis. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:34:21] 37 Corporate Donors Funding the $400M White House Bunker — Meta, Apple, Palantir, Lockheed Martin Among Them Fortune published the full list of 37 donors — nation's largest tech companies and defense contractors, all with pending business before the Trump administration. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:36:29] AI-Generated Alex Karp Monologue: "We Aren't Here to Protect Privacy — We Are Here to Enforce Supremacy" Knight plays an AI rendering of Karp's manifesto: "Your civil liberties are a liability. We are the ledger. Every tax return, every license plate — your president signed it." Knight: a perfect summary of what they are building. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:00:44] Leaving Neverland Director: Jackson Was Worse Than Jeffrey Epstein — The Film Was Legally Buried Director Dan Reed says Jackson was a serial child predator worse than Epstein — the HBO documentary was pulled after the Jackson estate invoked a 1992 non-disparagement clause in perpetuity. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:03:14] Michael Jackson Paid $23 Million to His First Accuser — His Estate Has Been Paying Off Accusers Ever Since Jackson paid $23 million to 13-year-old Evan Chandler with a clause banning their names from any Jackson film — the new biopic had to be reshot once the clause was discovered. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:16:19] Texas Democrat Running for Senate Claims God Is Non-Binary — Cites Paul Out of Context Seminarian James Talarico running for Senate in Texas claims the Apostle Paul declared God non-binary — Knight: Paul was talking about equal access to God across social classes, not erasing biological sex. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:36:41] "The Story of Everything" — Three Scientific Discoveries That Point Back to a Creator Based on Stephen Meyer's Return of the God Hypothesis, the film covers three discoveries: the universe had a beginning, physical constants are fine-tuned for life, and biology runs on millions of lines of code. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:49:29] Only 35% of Women Under 25 Have a Favorable View of Men — Down From 50% in Seven Years 72% of young men have a favorable view of young women — but only 35% of women under 25 reciprocate. Knight: recruited into loving themselves. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:56:02] Brookings: 86% of AI Unemployment Will Be Women — Bureaucratic Middle Class About to Be Wiped Out Brookings estimates 6 million workers won't adapt, 86% women in clerical and government roles — Knight: sold a bill of goods that career matters more than marriage, children, and God. ──────────────────────────────────────── Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

──────────────────────────────────────── [00:02:52] Trump Wants to Rename ICE to "NICE" — Knight: Soviet-Style Propaganda, Not Satire Trump endorsed changing ICE to National Immigration Customs Enforcement so media would say "NICE agents" — Knight: Soviet-style propaganda, a substitute for achievements while the police state is built around us. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:23:25] CS Lewis Invented the Acronym "NICE" in 1945 for His Totalitarian Villain Organization In That Hideous Strength, NICE stood for the National Institute for Coordinated Experiments — a front for dark supernatural forces dehumanizing people through technocratic means. Knight: somebody in the Trump orbit read CS Lewis. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:34:21] 37 Corporate Donors Funding the $400M White House Bunker — Meta, Apple, Palantir, Lockheed Martin Among Them Fortune published the full list of 37 donors — nation's largest tech companies and defense contractors, all with pending business before the Trump administration. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:36:29] AI-Generated Alex Karp Monologue: "We Aren't Here to Protect Privacy — We Are Here to Enforce Supremacy" Knight plays an AI rendering of Karp's manifesto: "Your civil liberties are a liability. We are the ledger. Every tax return, every license plate — your president signed it." Knight: a perfect summary of what they are building. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:00:44] Leaving Neverland Director: Jackson Was Worse Than Jeffrey Epstein — The Film Was Legally Buried Director Dan Reed says Jackson was a serial child predator worse than Epstein — the HBO documentary was pulled after the Jackson estate invoked a 1992 non-disparagement clause in perpetuity. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:03:14] Michael Jackson Paid $23 Million to His First Accuser — His Estate Has Been Paying Off Accusers Ever Since Jackson paid $23 million to 13-year-old Evan Chandler with a clause banning their names from any Jackson film — the new biopic had to be reshot once the clause was discovered. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:16:19] Texas Democrat Running for Senate Claims God Is Non-Binary — Cites Paul Out of Context Seminarian James Talarico running for Senate in Texas claims the Apostle Paul declared God non-binary — Knight: Paul was talking about equal access to God across social classes, not erasing biological sex. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:36:41] "The Story of Everything" — Three Scientific Discoveries That Point Back to a Creator Based on Stephen Meyer's Return of the God Hypothesis, the film covers three discoveries: the universe had a beginning, physical constants are fine-tuned for life, and biology runs on millions of lines of code. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:49:29] Only 35% of Women Under 25 Have a Favorable View of Men — Down From 50% in Seven Years 72% of young men have a favorable view of young women — but only 35% of women under 25 reciprocate. Knight: recruited into loving themselves. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:56:02] Brookings: 86% of AI Unemployment Will Be Women — Bureaucratic Middle Class About to Be Wiped Out Brookings estimates 6 million workers won't adapt, 86% women in clerical and government roles — Knight: sold a bill of goods that career matters more than marriage, children, and God. ──────────────────────────────────────── Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

With an indefinite ceasefire in place and continued attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, the war in Iran has reached a turning point. Given the chasm between the strategic interests of the United States and Iran, where does the conflict go from here? In this episode of The Current, Brookings Fellow Aslı Aydıntaşbaş is joined by Vice President of Foreign Policy Suzanne Maloney and Visiting Fellow Mara Karlin to discuss the impact of the war, the status of negotiations between the US and Iran, and potential off-ramps for President Trump to seek an end to the conflict. Show notes and transcript. Follow The Current and all Brookings podcasts on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.

From January 6, 2025: On today's podcast, Lawfare Senior Editor and Brookings Senior Fellow Molly Reynolds is joined by Quinta Jurecic, a Fellow at Brookings and Senior Editor at Lawfare, and Ryan Reilly, Justice Reporter at NBC News, to discuss a long-awaited report on Jan. 6 from the Department of Justice's Inspector General, as well as a new report from House Republicans focusing on the pipe bombs planted outside the Democratic and Republican National Committees as part of the violence that day. They explore what the reports do—and do not—cover, how they fit in with other investigative work on the insurrection, and what the overall landscape of accountability looks like on the precipice of President Trump's return to office.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Nobody enjoys paying taxes, but how would our nation function without them? Vanessa S. Williamson is a senior fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings and a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. She joins host Krys Boyd to discuss the history of taxation in this country, why your hard-earned tax dollars are critical to a functioning democracy, and why low taxes might mean lower interest in getting your civic needs met. Her book is “The Price of Democracy: The Revolutionary Power of Taxation in American History.”  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices