Podcasts about bushes

Enjoy this episode? Please share it with at least ONE friend who you think needs to hear it!Researcher, filmmaker, and truth seeker Faust Checho returns to expose the CIA's deep involvement in cocaine trafficking — and the explosive role that the Bush and Clinton families played in building a covert empire of drugs, power, and political corruption — in episode 196 of the Far Out with Faust podcast.

Welcome to Episode #153 of Everything Under the Sun! This week, we’re joined by the brilliant Sarah Holper—doctor, medical expert, and author of What’s Wrong With You? An Insider’s Guide to Your Insides—to answer a curious health question: how do you get chickenpox? Then, we’ll head outdoors to investigate why gorse bushes are so incredibly prickly. And finally, we’ll dive into the science of snacks to find out why air makes crisps go soggy. Get ready for another episode bursting with biology, botany, and snack science!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Brisbin 3.30.25 Burning bush is our cultural meme, idiom for a peak experience, a vision of God or from God. But for all its power, one burning bush is not enough. Standing on holy ground in front of the original burning bush, Moses argued with God, doubted God's word right there, and for the rest of his life, oscillated between boldness and doubt. Just like any human. But how in the world is a burning bush not enough for permanent transformation? How could that not change us without a doubt? A burning bush, a moment when ultimate reality breaks through the veil between heaven and earth, is a glimpse of life through God's eyes—everything connected, everything literally one substance. The human view of individual form and function falls away. Seventeen years into his monastic experience, trying to find holiness through cloistered separation from secular life, Thomas Merton had an experience in downtown Louisville at the corner of 4th and Walnut. In the middle of the busy shopping district, he was “suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that he loved all those people…that the whole illusion of a separate holy existence is a dream…” I have friends who have described similar experiences. I've had my own, and we've all seen burning bushes of varying intensity at times of great love and great loss. They don't last because they present a paradox, and our minds, ever dualistic, see every paradox as a threat to certainty, convert it to a contradiction, then choose a side to relieve the tension. But that tension is the whole point. Wrestling to fit a too-big God view into the too-small human experience of daily life keeps the vision alive while keeping us grounded in our daily activities. We need burning bushes as ballast for our sacred tension, but they are rare, come unbidden. We can't create them or control them, but we can become increasingly aware when they are happening while working to create the perfect environment in our hearts for them to occur. Ride the sacred tension, living each day as the possibility of another surprise, another burning bush moment of seeing life through God's eyes. Always new, alive, one.

Dave Brisbin 3.30.25 Burning bush is our cultural meme, idiom for a peak experience, a vision of God or from God. But for all its power, one burning bush is not enough. Standing on holy ground in front of the original burning bush, Moses argued with God, doubted God's word right there, and for the rest of his life, oscillated between boldness and doubt. Just like any human. But how in the world is a burning bush not enough for permanent transformation? How could that not change us without a doubt? A burning bush, a moment when ultimate reality breaks through the veil between heaven and earth, is a glimpse of life through God's eyes—everything connected, everything literally one substance. The human view of individual form and function falls away. Seventeen years into his monastic experience, trying to find holiness through cloistered separation from secular life, Thomas Merton had an experience in downtown Louisville at the corner of 4th and Walnut. In the middle of the busy shopping district, he was “suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that he loved all those people…that the whole illusion of a separate holy existence is a dream…” I have friends who have described similar experiences. I've had my own, and we've all seen burning bushes of varying intensity at times of great love and great loss. They don't last because they present a paradox, and our minds, ever dualistic, see every paradox as a threat to certainty, convert it to a contradiction, then choose a side to relieve the tension. But that tension is the whole point. Wrestling to fit a too-big God view into the too-small human experience of daily life keeps the vision alive while keeping us grounded in our daily activities. We need burning bushes as ballast for our sacred tension, but they are rare, come unbidden. We can't create them or control them, but we can become increasingly aware when they are happening while working to create the perfect environment in our hearts for them to occur. Ride the sacred tension, living each day as the possibility of another surprise, another burning bush moment of seeing life through God's eyes. Always new, alive, one.

Send us a textEnjoy this episode? Please share it with at least ONE friend who you think needs to hear it!It's time to expose the hidden history of the Bush and Clinton dynasties — two families whose ties to Wall Street, the CIA, and global power players shaped modern American politics — in episode 194 of the Far Out with Faust podcast.A dedicated investigator of deep politics, historical deception, and elite power structures, Faust peels back the layers of covert government operations, intelligence networks, and financial schemes that propelled these two families to power. This first installment of a multi-part series unearths the secret societies, banking elites, and covert wars that engineered the rise of the Bush and Clinton empires — and the catastrophic global events that followed.In this episode, Faust reveals how Prescott Bush, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton were groomed for leadership by intelligence agencies, secret societies, and global financiers. He breaks down the dark connections between the CIA, drug trafficking, and political power, exposing how these families were never truly separate forces — but part of the same deep state machine. From Nazi funding to Iran-Contra, Mena, Arkansas, and beyond, this is the real story of America's shadow presidents.Topics include:•Prescott Bush, Skull and Bones, and the banking elite — how secret societies shape American power•The Bush family bloodline — their hidden aristocratic lineage and elite connections•The Bush family's deep connections to U.S. intelligence agencies — dating back to WWII•How the CIA grew out of Wall Street's financial networks — and why Bush was key to its rise•The Vietnam War's real purpose: controlling the global heroin trade•The Golden Triangle drug operation — CIA-backed smuggling routes in Southeast Asia•The Phoenix Program — black ops, psychological warfare, and the blueprint for future wars•The Kennedy assassination — was George H.W. Bush involved?•Bill Clinton's time at Oxford — how he was recruited by intelligence networks •Mena, Arkansas and the Iran-Contra connection — Clinton's ties to CIA drug trafficking•The Bush-Clinton alliance — how these two families worked together behind the scenes… and this is only Part 1. The deeper we go, the more the illusion unravels.

In this episode, Niamh and Chandler struggle to keep Adro on his best behavior, the barrier is crossed, and Adro gets an early Christmas present.Follow us on Twitter (@NoLuckPod), BlueSky (@noluckpod.bsky.social) and/or email us at withrollsnoluck@gmail.com!Logo by Mark Fionda Jr. (http://www.markfiondajr.com/)"Second Attack At Level 5" composed/performed by Jackson Eppley (http://www.jacksoneppley.com/)   

What do Barry Obama, the Bushes, a lawyer and free cam girls have in common? Time travel, maybe. Find out this week while we discuss Project Pegasus.Support the showStarting your own podcast? Use this link to receive a $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up for a paid account with Buzzsprout!https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1671664LinktreeBuy us a beer!Join us in Discord!DLUTI.comUnplanned PodnancyUndefined Graphics (Photography & Graphic Design)Ghoulish MortalsInquiries: dlutipod@gmail.comDon't Look Under The Internet PO BOX 6437 Aurora IL 60598

Hidden camera found in bushes of gated community in Chino Hills Please Subscribe + Rate & Review KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson wherever you listen! --- KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever else you listen. --- Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson – KMJ’s Afternoon Drive Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 & 105.9 KMJ DriveKMJ.com | Podcast | Facebook | X | Instagram --- Everything KMJ: kmjnow.com | Streaming | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hidden camera found in bushes of gated community in Chino Hills Please Subscribe + Rate & Review KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson wherever you listen! --- KMJ’s Afternoon Drive with Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever else you listen. --- Philip Teresi & E. Curtis Johnson – KMJ’s Afternoon Drive Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 & 105.9 KMJ DriveKMJ.com | Podcast | Facebook | X | Instagram --- Everything KMJ: kmjnow.com | Streaming | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Desde nuestros laboratorios especializados en sesiones electrizantes, te servimos un nuevo Viernes Eléctrico repleto de temones de M83, The Killers, X Ambassadors, Halsey, G-Dragon junto a Anderson .Paak, Bruno Mars y Alexsucks, entre otros. Además, te contamos los detalles de una gira muy especial que Rufus T. Firefly van a celebrar para presentar las canciones de su nuevo álbum.Playlist:M83 - ReunionTWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB - What You KnowTHE KILLERS - The Man (Duke Dumont Remix)X AMBASSADORS - BoomX AMBASSADORS & JAMIE N COMMONS - Jungle (The MADE Edit)RUFUS T. FIREFLY - Río WolfRUFUS T. FIREFLY - Me has conocido en un momento extraño de mi vidaMICHAEL KIWANUKA - RollingG-DRAGON - Too Bad (feat. Anderson .Paak)ANDERSON .PAAK - Am I Wrong (feat. SchHoolboy Q.)MICHAEL JACKSON - Workin' Day and Night (Immortal Version)BRUNO MARS - PermJAMIROQUAI - Canned Heat (Dimitri From Paris Remix)CORY WONG - The Grid Generation (feat. Louis Cole)SEATBELTS - Tank!PROPELLERHEADS - History Repeating (feat. Shirley Bassey)APOLLO 440 - Stop the RockFATBOY SLIM - The Rockafeller SkankALEXSUCKS - Worm in the SunALFIE TEMPLEMAN - Happiness In the BushesBLUR - Girls & BoysOASIS - Fuckin' In the BushesKAREN DIÓ - Sick RideHALSEY - SafewordLAMBRINI GIRLS - Company CultureVIAGRA BOYS - Man Made of MeatSEX PISTOLS - Pretty VacantBRKN LOVE - Pulling LeechesROYAL BLOOD - OblivionJUSTICE - Neverender (feat. Tame Impala)Escuchar audio

The UnconqueredBy FinalStand. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.Politically, this was manna from Heaven. Putin couldn't strong arm both the Ukraine and the PRC. His priorities had switched, so now NATO could jump into the Ukraine which would appease their democratic constituencies.There were also larger economic/political issues to look at. Europe had constantly been threatened by Russia's interference with the oil and natural gas pipelines that first pass through Russia before crossing the Ukraine and Belarus and heading off to Central and Western Europe. A great deal of that fuel originated in what was now the Khanate.If the Khanate survived, and viewed the US and UK favorably, the 'oil and natural gas' boot would be on the other foot. If Russia threatened the European Democracies' petrochemical supplies, the Khanate could threaten to cut off Russia as well. The old Republic of Kazakhstan never had the will to confront Russia. The Khanate was turning out to be a very different beast.Because the world didn't need any more ominous rumblings, catastrophe and madness collided in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea was an energy exporter, with most of its power coming from coal-fired plants and hydro-electric facilities. The problem was you can't run armored vehicles and combat aircraft on electric power. You needed oil.North Korea's oil came from China, Liaoning province to be precise, and Liaoning was getting hammered around the clock by the Khanate. The oil pipeline had ruptured and it would be months before it was fixed. In that situation, a sane nation would have shopped around for other avenue of imported oil. But we were talking about North Korea here.Kim Jung-un was looking down the barrels of another famine (trucks and tractors need petrol too) as well as the far more important reduction in the Korean People's Army's readiness. He saw himself possessing the World's 4th largest military and it was in danger of running out of fuel, and Liaoning province was sitting right across the Yalu River, all helpless-like.End World News Behind the Scenes ReportIn the annals of martial history, the bloodiest, costliest battles are when elites face elites. As corny and melodramatic as it sounds, the truth is that neither has 'surrender' in their creed. They attack, defend, ambush, shoot, stab and kill one another until one side loses the capacity to carry on the struggle. It is a grapple to the death.All of Ajax's men were hardened killers, ten year veterans of the Trojan Wars every; one of them. The ranks of the 22nd Mountain Troops Battalion were filled with numerous combat-tested soldiers of the Afghan War. These Romanians were some of the finest combatants produced by the Romanian Army. The two companies earmarked for sealing off the road as a retreat route were about to find out what the price of being elite really was.They were fighting for their homeland, avenging their slain (technically, the slaughtered Amazons were Romanians) and had generations of their own warriors, dating back to the First World War, whose legacy of ferocity they had to maintain. Ajax had the advantage in technology and surprise. The Romanians had numbers, experience with the terrain and the advantage of multi-dimensional warfare.The lead vehicles of the 22nd had rounded the hilly terrain to the East of the Castle of Seven Skulls when they collided with Ajax's team rolling away from those ruins. The Mountain Troops were fast, Ajax's team was faster. One soldier stepped out of his still-braking Eagle transport.He snap-shot a Panzerfaust 3, a light anti-tank weapon, blowing up the first Romanian Piranha IIIc. Two Eagles further down the column, a second team member put another Panzerfaust into the follow-up 22nd MLVN (armored personal carrier). That was as good as it got. The third vehicle, another MLVN swung partially around its burning brethren and poured automatic fire into Ajax's lead Eagle, turning huge chunks of that 'Hummer on Steroids' transport into shrapnel.Trading vehicle for vehicle wasn't something Ajax could afford. For the Romanians, they couldn't race past the blocked road without incurring horrendous losses themselves. Besides, by holding their ground and keeping the enemy focused on them, they were fulfilling their part of the plan. The Mountain Troops disgorged from their MLVN's, spreading out into the meadow on either side of the path and were quickly bounding forward by fire.Ajax reacted quickly. His heavy weapons would allow him to attrition the enemy in front of him, yet he'd be a fool to think they were alone. He knew he was facing army troops, not police. That spelled serious trouble. He ordered his column to reverse course back into the wood cover. He lost his second Eagle to intensive fire.The warriors in the main column bailed out once they reached the shelter of the trees. Machineguns came forward and established a withering cover fire. The two survivors at the first Eagle were badly wounded. With fatalistic resolve, they lashed the advancing Romanians with grenades and their assault rifles until they were both silenced. The second Eagle's demise was much harder.Three of the four crew were alive and unharmed. Their fate was decided by 25 meters of open ground between them and their compatriots. Ajax's gunners kept firing, but the Romanians refused to be suppressed. Worse, that second MLVN was proving impossible to kill. Its driver had parked it so that barely the front of his vehicle body and turret were exposed.Two more of Ajax's precious anti-tank rockets failed to connect, though one did knock the first destroyed IFV into that troublesome vehicle. These were Ajax's brothers-in-arms, yet he knew their situation was hopeless. He cursed that his opposition wasn't made up of raw conscripts. Despite their losses, they were not wavering. Their morale remained solid.The Romanians had spread out to the north and south. They were leap-frogging their machineguns forward and it was clear he was facing over 200 men. The 22nds advance was relentless. Soon they'd be right on top of his trapped men. As a final ploy he dropped two smoke grenades around the endangered trio and every other grenade launcher dropped their payloads onto the aggressive Romanians.The three men ran for it. Their enemy were nobody's fool and sprayed their retreat path with bullets. Only one made it to safety.For the Romanian battalion's commander in his command IFV, this was its own kind of Hell. His boys were getting murdered out there. He hadn't really believed the sketchy intelligence analysis that described his expected foes as the finest trained mercenaries the world has ever seen. Now he was a believer. His opponents reacted like an organic unit. Their weapons were incredibly lethal and their discipline was chilling. Ajax's snipers picked off anyone who seemed to be in charge. One Captain fell, as did two lieutenants. One section lost all its non-commissioned officers.Despite that, individual initiative kept the 'leaderless' men of the 22nd advancing. Their snipers came into play by targeting the opposing machineguns. One gunner went down, then the other. To get one man back, Ajax had lost five dead, or seriously wounded. Ajax ordered the remaining Eagles back to the castle. The rest of the Warband would have to make a fighting retreat.He'd killed or wounded a third of the Romanians out there, yet they were still coming. Even as he pulled out, he got two more pieces of bad:First, his scouts had reported hearing helicopters as they returned toward the castle; this latest enemy was somewhere behind him, to the east.Second, two Mig-21's dropped out of the sky and raked his area with rockets and auto-cannon fire; eight more men gone.Ajax may not have been the greatest military mind of all time, but wasn't a fool. He was being boxed in. Since it was highly unlikely the Hylonome Amazons had sacrificed themselves, this was an ad hoc plan to take him out. Instead of hunting down that male Amazon as he wanted, Ajax had let the Condottieri side-track him on this mission. Now, it was proving far too costly.A whistle, a few traded hand signals and the Mycenaeans started sprinting back upslope toward the castle ruins. It wasn't a rout. His men maintained their élan and cohesion. Ajax was trading space for time and the Romanians wouldn't chase his men as fast as the Mycenaeans were moving because there was always the threat of ambush. Or, they wouldn't have if an An-30 Reconnaissance Aircraft hadn't been tracking his progress from high above.Just coming on-line, it identified the heat signatures of the Greeks and let the soldiers of the 22nd know that their enemies were trying to put some distance between them. The battalion commander knew his men had been mangled, yet believed they were still more than willing carry the fight to the enemy. Right as the 'pursuit' order went out, the promised company from the 24th Mountain troops rolled up, with the 61st Brigade's 385th artillery battalion. 'Now things were really going to get hot for those bastards', he thought.(The Seven Skulls, Cáel)I was true to my nature. I sent off my plan, Operation Funhouse, to the Russians via their attaché (a hot looking, curvaceous blonde Major) and to the Khanate through the offices of the US and UK. Only after that was done, did I ask for my favor. I wasn't going to bargain with the fate of Temujin's people. I couldn't.My only chip to play was that people in strange places thought well of me. I wasn't so naïve to believe that I got what I wanted because I'd forged emotional bonds that superseded personal ambitions or national loyalties. No, I was now on my own self-inflicted 'Ride of the Valkyries' because people in authority felt I could still be useful and they were willing to risk the lives a few hundred Romanian soldiers to pander to my eccentricities.Our intelligence came from Google Maps, a woman's recollections from twenty-five years ago and the frighteningly precise memories of a battle-scarred 11 year old girl. For the 24th Mountain Troops battalion intelligence officer, it was a stunning introduction to Amazons. The girl was one year away from her Rite of Passage and she'd been raised to take in the terrain and the sounds of battle.Several times, he tried to trick her, altering information she had provided minutes earlier, but the girl corrected him every time. Seventeen minutes and the man relayed to his battalion commander his belief that the girl's story was solid. The men and women of the 24th may not have known the specific of the valley we were going to, yet this was their backyard.They knew the rocks, trees and bushes. They knew the ground was crinkled and what marsh soil looked like, without stepping into it. They could do this, attack a rogue mercenary band threatening their native land. They were going to do this and do it quick. Me and mine coming along was problematic. But Me being one of the first ones in, I had to play my trump card."I am Magyarorszag es Erdely Hercege," I proclaimed. "I have returned to my people in their hour of need. Besides, I'm the only one who can kill their leader.""You can kill Ajax?" Riki snorted in disbelief. "Ajax from the Trojan Wars? That Ajax?""Don't sweat it," I put my arm around her shoulder. "I got this covered. Get me close and I can make him dead.""You've lost your mind," Rachel muttered."I love you to," I grinned. To the Captain of the first company to rappel next to the ruins, "I'm your Prince. Let's do this.""Do you have any combat experience?" he shook his head."There are a whole bunch of dead Chinese who think so," I assured him."Let him go," Sakuniyas stated regally. "He is the Scion of Alal. He is invincible in battle." Hey, I liked that. Someone believed in me."Do you believe that?" Pamela asked Saku."Of course not, but if he's about to die, he should be allowed to feel good about himself," she told Pamela. Shit, I wish I hadn't heard that part."Oh, in that case, I agree. Let him go," Pamela added her preference to the final decision. The real weight in that Captain's final call was the small, well-armed group of supporters who seemed rather insistent that I get a chance at Valhalla.He took it well. The officer even announced to the entire battalion that their feudal overlord was leading them into the fight. My codename was 'Prince'. I hope I didn't turn out like the singer, I had no aspirations for being Machiavelli's 'hero', but being remember as someone like Prince Harry wouldn't be so bad.What I did know was this was my choice of actions and I couldn't send others into the madness I had inspired. I didn't blame myself for the deaths. Those were inevitable if Ajax was going to die. I didn't blame myself for Ajax, that was the Weave of Fate being a bastardly bitch. No, I had to kill Ajax because I was an idiot, and I loved my companions, and if it wasn't me making the attempt and possibly dying, it would be one of them. Not on my watch.Our IAR 330 Puma Helicopter lifted off into the sky. Our two companion birds, another troop carrier and an assault variant of the Puma, followed suit and soon we linked up with the rest of the company that was going to rappel into the clearing next to the ruins. Could I rappel? Sure, I lied. Hey, I'd made it to the top of the rope in gym class at the end of my senior year. That had to count for something.I was even lucky to have the lynchpin of my master plan sitting next to me. One in sixteen, what were the odds? "You, what's your name?" I asked the soldier barely older than me. "Master Corporal Menner," he grinned. Maybe he sensed my insanity. "Székely?" I asked. He nodded.   "Do you believe I am your Prince?""Either that, or you are crazy," he kept grinning. I leaned over and after some helmet shuffling, I whispered my request in his ear. I didn't demand that he agree, only that if he didn't, he wouldn't turn me in. Our eyes met."Why?" he was now filled with disbelief. I had passed beyond the realm of comedian to the land where all crazy ideas go off to die."It is the only way. Trust me, I don't love this plan either, but it is the only way I can think of to keep as many of you alive as possible," I explained. "He's a monster.""How will this help?" he was still confused, even if he was being swept away with my intensity."I don't have time to explain. All I can tell you is that I'm not crazy and I don't want to die, but this is the only thing I can think of to keep my people alive," I remained firm and confident in my beliefs."I will have to think about it," he conceded. At least he wasn't insisting I be forcibly committed to a mental institution. I did annoy one of the two crewmen in the back with the rest of us combatants when I stood up and looked out the side window. I glimpsed it, her, flowing through the forest beneath us. After I sat back down, the Captain flagged me.I had forgotten to cut on my communications rig on. "First Force (the two companies of the 22nd) has encountered the enemy before they could exit into the flatlands," he paused, somewhat shocked. "They are taking heavy casualties. It is just like you warned us. These foes are exceedingly lethal." "Don't worry about it," I overflowed with charisma. "Just follow me and we'll be fine." "But, I thought you said you didn't know anything about the compound?" the Captain looked at me funny."I don't. I'm relying on luck," I pumped my eyebrows. The Captain knew enough English to groan."I have a sudden desire to club a baby seal," Rachel stared at me intently. Who, me? "Let me and my men take the point," the Captain insisted. "Captain, either I'm diving headfirst out of our ride, or you are letting me rappel down in the first wave, either way, my boots are the first on the ground," I demanded. "No," the Captain shook his head. "You are a civilian." "Captain," I leaned forward. "Everyone else is fighting and dying because I made a judgment call. You can't ask me to hold back now."That shone through. Over his battalion frequency, he could hear the confusion and chaos chiseling away at his brethren in the 22nd. He could tell by my countenance that I both knew the enemy he was going to fight and that I wasn't ruled by guilt, or a death wish. I wanted to go first because I thought I could make the difference between someone else's life and death. "Who are the other three with you?" he stated. Four could rappel down at a time. "Rachel, Chaz and Master Corporal Menner here," I indicated. Rachel didn't freak, the Colour Sergeant looked my way and gave his acknowledgement, as did Menner. "I'll go down with you, Captain," Pamela spoke up.Of my group, Delilah, Wiesława and Virginia had stayed behind to guard Odette, Riki, the Lovasz sisters and the Loma family. Two troopers of the 24th joined them to provide extra security if needed. Vincent had pulled seniority to be the sole American going. With Chaz and Delilah, there hadn't been a real discussion about it. Chaz was the professional ground-pounder.Selena had volunteered to go even though this wasn't really her fight. She claimed the right of revenge for Ajax's attempt to kill the Vizsla, but I thought it was something else, some desire to step forward and make the point that the Black Hand were invested in this global struggle. There had been no doubt that Rachel  and  her team plus Sakuniyas and Pamela would be joining me.In my estimation, we were over the target area way too fast. I hadn't thought of a good reason to talk myself out of this harebrained scheme of mine. The side doors of the Puma opened. Rachel would be going down on my side."Look and see what Rachel does and do the same thing," Pamela yelled to me over the roar of the engines."And don't lock your knees or you'll sprain your ankles," she added. It was just another day of 'on the job' training at Havenstone Commercial Investments, I rationalized. I was scared, which was also a good indicator that I was still marginally sane. Rachel made her movements slow and steady.I went down a second later, barely remembering to avoid rope burn through my gloves and not bust my feet when I hit bottom. Rachel crouched. She was waiting for follow up troops before advancing. Me, I ran straight toward the ruins. Why? It was Alal once more. From the relayed chatter from the 22nd and whatever spy plane the Romanians had above, I 'knew' that Ajax hadn't made it back to the fortifications yet.If we hurried, we could beat him there. Then we would be ambushing his ass for a change. It almost worked. Whatever Chaz and Menner thought of my actions, they kept it to themselves. I didn't have to be a psychic to realize Rachel wasn't a fan. I leapt over the first Amazon corpse. The second one I passed was sitting with her back to the tree, hands tied around the trunk and had been tortured before she died.I believed that was when the momentum shifted. This was barbarism and the three following me knew it. Menner relayed our findings to his Captain even as the first helicopter was pulling away. My mind was picking up the details and processing somewhere in the back of my mind so as not to distracting me from the task of staying alive.A pile of bodies lumped too close together, they had been executed. A small girl, three, or four, with a close-contact wound to the temple. The smell of burnt flesh, more torture. Whatever Code of Military Conduct the Mycenaeans had, it wasn't the rules we, their opponents, fought by today. We were outraged and help was coming.We were running in from the northeast. Three meter from what had once been a doorway, I broke free of the underbrush and saw the closest Greek and the row of vehicles behind him. He was to my east, maybe ten meters away. I wasn't stopping. The terrain had funneled us down so that we weren't coming directly from the helicopter's noise.That must have been the reason he wasn't staring at us when we appeared. I didn't stop. Chaz and Menner were right behind me. Rachel only slowed enough to fire her P-90 at full-auto at the man as she ran. She killed him. The three of us ran across the open-aired, ruined room until we found the doorway to the other side of the building. From there, we had a good view of Ajax's remaining Eagles and the eight remaining men with them."I'm going for higher ground," Chaz growled before he took off."Rachel, go back and secure the corner we came in by," I shouted. She grimaced but obeyed. Menner had his own ideas. He fired off his first rocket-propelled grenade from his AG-7 at the farthest Eagle he could clearly see, blowing it to smithereens. I added the

Russ Baker - Family of Secrets: The Bush Dynasty, America's Invisible Government, and the Hidden History of the Last Fifty YearsJan 16, 2024Russ Baker is the author of the 2008 book Family of Secrets that probes the Bush family and alleges connections between President George H.W. Bush and individuals involved with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the Watergate scandal.How did the deeply flawed George W. Bush ascend to the highest  office in the nation, what forces abetted his rise, and-perhaps most  important-have those forces really been vanquished by Obama's election?  Award-winning investigative journalist Russ Baker gives us the answers  in Family of Secrets, a  compelling and startling new take on the Bush dynasty and the shadowy  elite that has quietly steered the American republic for the past half  century and more. Baker shows how this network of figures in  intelligence, the military, oil, and finance enabled-and in turn  benefited handsomely from-the Bushes' perch at the highest levels of  government. As Baker reveals, this deeply entrenched elite remains in  power regardless of who sits in the Oval Office. Family of Secrets offers  countless disclosures that challenge the conventional accounts of such  central events as the JFK assassination and Watergate. It includes an  inside account of George W.'s cynical religious conversion and the  untold real background to the disastrous response to Hurricane Katrina.  Baker's narrative is gripping, sobering, and deeply sourced. It will  change the way we understand not just the Bush years, but a half century  of postwar history-and the present.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Green drips, Clark's crime era, and that boy deserves a Bitcoin.

A Note from Jacob: If you or someone you know are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 988.   It is a pleasure to welcome singer and actress Marla Mase to The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  A native New Yorker, Marla was born in Brooklyn and raised in Canarsie. At 18, she moved to Tribeca, where she lived for 32 years, raised her two children, and founded PARTYpoopers/partySWANK, one of NYC's premier event planning companies.In addition to her entrepreneurial success, Marla is a versatile artist—an accomplished writer, performer, recording artist, and the COO of Brooklyn-based True Groove Records. She recently returned from her third whirlwind tour of the UK this year, promoting her eighth and ninth album releases, The Fine Art of Pissing in the Bushes and Infinite They Went (vinyl). She is touring Being Somebody, a show she co-wrote and performs alongside her 88-year-old father, Dr. Howard Mase, to sold-out audiences across the East Coast. Her other theatrical works have been featured at prestigious venues such as La MaMa ETC, NYC SummerStage, NJPAC, SXSW, and Nuyorican Poets Café.   Marla Mase is also the founder of The Lael Project. Lael, a talented singer and graduate of the University of Southern California's prestigious Thornton School of Music Popular Music Program, had struggled with depression, anorexia, and suicidal thoughts from a young age. Despite her battles, she chose to help others, working at a treatment center in Los Angeles for individuals suffering from mental illness. Lael's empathy and understanding profoundly impacted those she worked with, many of whom have shared with Marla how her daughter saved their lives. “After she died, I received numerous emails, texts, and calls from residents who told me that Lael was the reason they were alive today,” Marla recounted. “Lael was not a therapist per se, but they felt she understood what they were going through better than anyone else.”   Marla's mission now is to honor Lael's legacy by using her music to help others recognize the signs of suicide and seek help. The Lael Project is a two-volume album featuring both original songs and covers recorded by Lael during her brief but impactful music career.The project features re-mixes, never-before-released material, live recordings dating back to her pre-teen years and remastered versions of her two existing albums, Burden to Bear (2013) and Life in Color (2015). Scheduled for release in 2025 under Brooklyn's True Groove Records, The Lael Project aims to open conversations about mental illness and break the stigma around suicide.    On this episode of The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Marla Mase discussed the stories behind several of her songs, including “Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick,” “Falling Sideways,” and “All Fall Short.” She also discussed how you can get involved with the Lael Project.Let's connect on social media: A) BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jacobelyachar.bsky.socialB) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacobElyachar/C) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobelyachar/D) Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jacobelyacharE) Twitter (X): https://x.com/JacobElyacharF) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JacobElyacharBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.

On this podcast episode, Harold and Rachel continue the series on getting back to basics with getting started with trees and bushes. They discuss the benefits, selection, planting, and care of trees and bushes. Modern Homesteading Podcast Episode 270 Find the shownotes and links mentioned at https://redemptionpermaculture.com/back-to-basics-getting-started-with-trees-and-bushes/

I sometimes wonder if there is anything comparable to the generosity of a morning?   Once you force yourself up, the cornucopia of the universe is laid out for our delectation. The sun is at its most benevolent, the birds are full-throated, the flowers are sleepy and demure, the air is soft even as it bites, the leaves are brittle, letting themselves to be crunched to a satisfying exuberance.   The trees above are in a state of measured chaos. Bushes which have grown thick have deep caverns and shadows, inviting exploration. The smaller bushes are like poodles itching to run away. My walking path has a large amoeba-shaped pond, which suddenly appears as you take a turn, and it bares its shimmering heart to the red of dawn. And the canopy of trees is a filter for light, throwing dimples and moving tapestries as I walk.   And I enter this treasure room, as an auberge of hope, a safe place to replenish, an energy drink to jumpstart one's nerves.   A morning is a kriya, a dawn is a kripa, as we walk purposefully for a life, which is nothing but an opportunity to find meaning in everything we find beauty in.   If you liked this poem, consider listening to these other poems on the whispers of mornings  -  Dawn in Hampi Recalibrating Dawns Musings As I Step Into The Morning (leaving a lover sleeping) Follow me on Instagram at @sunilgivesup. Get in touch with me on uncutpoetrynow@gmail.com   The details of the music used in this episode are as follows -   Medieval Tabletop Session by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/lonely-fish Licence: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license     Immersion by Sascha Ende Link: https://filmmusic.io/en/song/childhood Licence: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license    

We got invited to a nude camp! Jess looked like a creep at the kids park and Ducko got asked for ID but not where you'd expect!Subscribe on LiSTNR: https://play.listnr.com/podcast/nick-jess-and-duckoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3562 – January 21, 2025 – Fasten Your Seatbelts America! – WE'RE SPEEDING BACK TO LIBERTY! We say the last 4 years have been like 400 BUT looking back – did it all (tyranny) really happen so fast? Remember the Obama Years? Remember the corruption of the Clinton years? HEY, remember 9/11 on Bushes watch? AND the wars they (all) ... The post Fasten Your Seatbelts America! appeared first on CSC Talk Radio.

sanhedrin 29: uncle shmuli hides behind the bushes by “Dafsplaining”: daf yomi made simple

The evening of December 18, 1997, 10-year-old Amber Barker was at her friend's house in Oklahoma City. Around 6 pm she spoke to her mother on the phone and told her she was on her way home. Amber got on her bicycle and headed the short distance home, but Amber would never make it…  Rocket Money Go to https://RocketMoney.com/ae today and cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster! Jolie Head to https://www.jolieskinco.com/ae to try it out for yourself with FREE shipping  Smalls Head to https://www.smalls.com and use code AE for 50% off our order  Beam Visit https://www.shopbeam.com/ANNIEELISE and get up to 40% off your order  Mint Mobile Grab 3 months of service for just $15 bucks a month at https://www.mintmobile.com/ae Shop the Merch: www.annieelise.com Follow the podcast on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@serialouslypodcast Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serialouslypod/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/annieelise All Social Media Links: https://www.flowcode.com/page/annieelise_ SERIALously FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/SERIALouslyAnnieElise/ About Me: https://annieelise.com/ For Business Inquiries: 10toLife@WMEAgency.com Sources: News 9  News on 6  Newspapers.com  KOCO  Charley Project  Crime Watchers  PollyKlaas.org

We're halfway through the show now and the fun continues! We got some weird stories & how you can escape the cold this weekend! Listen to Billy & Lisa Weekdays From 6-10AM on Kiss 108 on the iHeartRadio app!  

05.01.25 Thorny Bushes In The Flame Of Love [Ps. Jon] by Maretul Har UK

In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Sustainable Ag Specialists Nina Prater and Lee Rinehart are joined by recently retired Ag Specialist Guy Ames to celebrate his life and work. Guy is deeply knowledgeable about his area of expertise, fruit trees, and is also a font of wisdom about how to live the good life. This conversation includes how Guy found his way to farming in the Ozarks, the many failures that guided him toward success, and like most conversations with Guy, contains many wonderful, circuitous meanderings. He also shares about what it was like in the early days of ATTRA in the distant pre-internet past. We will all miss Guy here at NCAT and are so grateful he joined us in this episode to keep the "cultural cycle," as Wendell Berry puts it, turning. ATTRA Resources:Soils and Sites for Organic Orchards and VineyardsTree Fruits: Organic Production OverviewBattling Borers in Organic Apple ProductionBlueberries: Organic ProductionFruit Trees, Bushes, and Vines for Natural Growing in the OzarksHeirloom ApplesOther Resources:It All Turns on AffectionThe Good LifeDivine Right's TripAmes Orchard and NurseryThe WheelBraiding SweetgrassContact Nina Prater and Lee Rinehart at ninap@ncat.org and lee@ncat.orgPlease complete a brief survey to let us know your thoughts about the content of this podcast.You can get in touch with NCAT/ATTRA specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.

On today's 1.3.25 show we talked about the video of Selena on the sky bike in Cabo, Selena finally watched a classic movie she had never seen before, Gypsy Rose narrates her own audiobook, there is a Flu-bomb going viral, something happened to Jess's fridge, the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni beef continues, United Airlines passenger was banned for this gross reason, Squid Game season 2 numbers, iPhone users could get their hands on some settlement money, What can happen if you don't get any action for a while? Kylie Jenner rumors and more!

Hello to you listening on this first day of the future 2025! What will come will come; let's prepare to greet it “heads high and hearts open.” [PlutoLiving] Perhaps you are feeling apprehensive, open, poised for the race ahead, curious, or, even a little stranded as 2025 makes its way toward you. I have a suggestion because what you're looking for is looking for you:Lost"Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside youAre not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,Must ask permission to know it and be known.The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,I have made this place around you.If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.No two trees are the same to Raven.No two branches are the same to Wren.If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knowsWhere you are. You must let it find you." [David Wagoner]From Traveling Light: Collected and New Poems. Copyright 1999 by David Wagoner. Used with permission of the University of Illinois Press.You're always invited: “Come for the stories - stay for the magic!” Speaking of magic, would you subscribe and spread the word with a generous 5-star review and comment - it helps us all - and join us next time!Meanwhile, stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website to:✓ Check out Services I Offer,✓ For a no-obligation conversation about your communication challenges, get in touch with me today✓ Stay current with Diane as “Wyzga on Words” on Substack, LinkedIn and now Pandora RadioStories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicAll content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.

I went back through the episodes for this season and looked at the statistics to find which episodes really stood out for you guys this year and thought I would share those so, if you really need a garden podcast fix this week you could jump back and listen to one of those. There was one surprise on the list that I will cover at the end and one all-time favorite, but first let's look at the top 5 for 2024. I will leave links to each of these episodes in the episode notes and it was also in this morning's email for your convenience! References and Resources: Starting Flower Seedlings Indoors - Ep. 183 Maintaining Fruit Trees, Bushes, and Canes Different Ways to Grow Potatoes - Ep. 186 Ep. 135 - Growing Potatoes Steps for Planning the Fall Garden (and Why You Should Grow One) - Ep. 205 Growing Strawberries - Ep. 194 Ep. 106 - Introduction to Vermicomposting (Worm Farming!) Ep. 89 - Growing Peppers Just Grow Something: https://justgrowsomething.com Just Grow Something Merch: https:/justgrowsomething.com/shop Just Grow Something Gardening Friends Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/508637300354140/ Check out how you can become a patron on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JustGrowSomething Bonus content for supporters of the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/justgrowsomething Amazon storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/justgrowsomething

#4035 (88.95% 501 left): Dec. 31 2024: On moonlight bushes whose dewy leaflets are but half-disclosed (E.H.Coleridge from Sep. 2, 2024) Today's pure primal piano music here. Happy if this music makes you feel peaceful.. : ) Looking for absolute natural beauty every day for Piano Ten Thousand Leaves. Target number is 4536: This piece may might have good 1/f fluctuation characteristic although I stopped investigating it each piece. CONTENT: daily "Piano Ten Thousand Leaves" movie Youtube PLAYLIST https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIo6A8vorVT3q25jUK8Jr3v0nIloQAf3x New Content: daily "Piano Ten Thousand Leaves" Movie here. https://youtu.be/jDvDBZKYOLA?si=hr_5i6HTaCu06WJ6 https://youtu.be/UFVogOG0urQ?si=AzUM77S-NxAavJDu https://youtu.be/SBHy32mYEUE?si=U78rik_4v3zlOpuw https://youtu.be/jX0eEL8fDuI?si=iHKwgP30rUSFGVqs https://youtu.be/uJqRVg0TqEM?si=J5m1eJpnPQQ4gP7E https://youtu.be/NfEk9_buEO0?si=iz4JXZxnybuvQPzm https://youtu.be/GyYdph65a2k?si=ts2hyX-OXK3ibht6 https://youtu.be/0owQ-2Jg57g?si=CCWlJ-ZKAGx2_equ https://youtu.be/hvn_pGf3suM?si=k4WEeul2zfdAm_Fv https://youtu.be/LnEeCGwd3sg?si=MMTLaBDytrBct1uO https://youtu.be/Am3TkLmr1BY?si=q9un36e8R6Y1XAim https://youtu.be/v4mrH5R704k?si=sttl8-857qlDmf84 https://youtu.be/A1gSpX0BSTk?si=vY8f9EQkbYbanH_W https://youtu.be/Kmv3OsX23tQ?si=kDrPOV41ekFx9csf https://youtu.be/4VsCYv3sGso?si=wCP2UM4T1xzntYJU ********** My new message: "Does it make sense to preserve it for 1000 years? Today's cover ART is created by #Midjourney (Art Generating #AI), according to my wish. Happy if you like it. spotify playlist 18 hours 449 songs, makes you fully relaxed. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0RCxA8SaySzoFzpQmTCLfo?si=92c44191513340ff Recent My Weekly Video Magazine of piano ten thousand leaves https://youtu.be/yCCufZCMnDQ?si=pLt98vOleJcioH-m Weekly Piano Ten Thousand Leaves Magazine ; super beautiful video .. https://youtu.be/nn5_M4Nrvhg?si=N7hL_xrnDqc46si_ ====== Piano Ten Thousand Leaves - Tweets Creation Note: An epic story of wandering music creation https://a.co/d/0RN78Ga ( 1.36US$ #amazon #kindle, #Paperback also available: 20.11US$) ====== I'm now making Archive site of Piano Ten Thousand Leaves project by utilizing #wordpress. Basically nice direction I've already gotten.. : ) Currently 1100 pieces already achieved. But this week I need to do something else, so I'm going to stop this task for a bit. ######## NEW 28th SELECTION ALBUM JUST RELEASED ######## "Forest in Moon Light" - the 28th selection album of piano ten thousand leaves youtube: FULL VIDEO with 20 full songs in very high quality sounds https://youtu.be/CwTVgfDHCn4?si=1QktmBR1FEGA-tQH spotify https://open.spotify.com/intl-ja/album/1RxJBVCU5vdt5O6kGUMbnv?si=hLjW3kbTThegEBOjgTHUbw appleMusic https://music.apple.com/jp/album/forest-in-moon-light/1773383143 amazonMusic https://amazon.co.jp/music/player/albums/B0DJVSVF5K?marketplaceId=A1VC38T7YXB528&musicTerritory=JP&ref=dm_sh_V1XCbECO4uUYzRVs8apKAEEBl all music streaming services: https://linkco.re/SYNa3ueY?lang=en

A “trip” on the subway makes for a bizarro story! You never know who's going to turn up in the stories on Elly McGuire's podcast, Shaking The Bushes—Yoko Ono, Jonas Salk, Richard Hatch (Richard Hatch?), even a former President, to name a few—as she shares humorous and often unpredictable autobiographical anecdotes and social commentary about living parallel lives in her "cozy" apartment in Manhattan and her childhood home in Warwick, Rhode Island. What you think might be so different from residing in the biggest city in the world and in the smallest state in the union can actually turn out to be very much the same. Author and adventurist Elly McGuire has traveled the world, rubbed shoulders with celebrated people, and is now "shaking the bushes" of her colorful past. Visit the Shaking the Bushes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Womack | Exodus 3:1-4:31Sermon Questions

De winterboekeneditie van Betrouwbare Bronnen weerspiegelt de turbulentie rond het leiderschap van deze tijd. Mark Rutte fietste weg van het Torentje, Dries van Agt stierf hoogbejaard na een rijk leven, van Ruud Lubbers kwam een monumentale biografie uit en Ruttes favoriete collega Angela Merkel schreef haar autobiografie. Olaf Scholz viel, net als Rishi Sunak en Michel Barnier. En met Dick Schoof kwam een premier aan het roer die lijkt op een romanfiguur van Robert Musil, Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften.Jaap Jansen en PG Kroeger bespreken boeken die allerlei dimensies en verhalen bevatten over premiers, politieke leiders en hun leven en werk. En wat wij daarvan kunnen leren.***Deze aflevering is mede mogelijk gemaakt met donaties van luisteraars die we hiervoor hartelijk danken. Word ook vriend van de show!Deze aflevering bevat een advertentie van De Schrijverscentrale. Boek ook een schrijversbezoek!Heb je belangstelling om in onze podcast te adverteren of ons te sponsoren? Zend een mailtje naar adverteren@dagennacht.nl en wij zoeken contact.Op sommige podcast-apps kun je niet alles lezen. De complete tekst plus linkjes en een overzicht van al onze eerdere afleveringen vind je hier***1] Jaap de Haan - De eerste minister van de Republiek (Amsterdam University Press)Wie waren de Ruud en Mark van de Gouden Eeuw? Jaap de Haan promoveerde op het functioneren en regeren door de burgerlijke leider van die heel aparte staat, de Republiek, dus van de raadspensionaris. Hij laat zien, dat zij veel weg hadden van machtige mannen elders in Europa die onder een absolute monarch de touwtjes in handen hielden. Een Richelieu, een Cromwell of een Metternich.Johan van Oldebarnevelt maakte deze functie als geen ander en die machtspositie kostte hem letterlijk de kop. Johan de Witt kon regeren zonder een Oranjeprins en domineerde, hoewel hij Ruttiaans bescheiden deed. Toen ook hij ten onder ging in 1672 kwam de minder bekende Gaspar Fagel aan het bewind. En juist die blijkt in dit boek een erg leerzame en handige leider te zijn geweest. Met prins Willem III speelde hij good cop, bad cop. Zo pakten ze samen de stad Amsterdam aan!2] Robert Harris – Afgrond (Cargo)Een roman over een premier? Jazeker, en wat voor een. Robert Harris komt met een huzarenstukje, een spannende detective over waargebeurde verwikkelingen tussen de man in Downing Street 10 en een societygirl van adel.Herbert Asquith was obsessioneel verliefd en schreef Venetia Stanley honderden brieven terwijl de Eerste Wereldoorlog uitbrak. Staatsgeheimen, verslagen van de ministerraad, telegrammen van de tsaar, het rolde allemaal in haar brievenbus. Het is alsof Evelyn Waugh een Downton Abbey tv-serie schrijft vermengd met geopolitieke explosies en een gisse jongen van de Secret Service, die op het spoor komt van Venetia. Hoe loopt dit af?3] Remieg Arts, Coen Brummer, Gertjan Schutte (red.) – Machtswoorden (Prometheus)Premiers zijn vaak schrijvers. Hun woorden hebben impact. Als ideoloog, als strateeg, als memoiresauteur en soms zelfs als romancier. Denk maar aan Benjamin Disraeli! Machtswoorden is een rijk en origineel boek met een reeks essays over politici als auteurs en hoe schrijven en ook op die wijze boodschappen verspreiden door en door politiek kan zijn.De kinderboeken van Jan Terlouw, de duizenden krantenstukken van Abraham Kuyper, de sociale essays van Sam van Houten, politieke brochures tegen het koloniaal bewind in Indië en de persoonlijke worstelingen en belevenissen van de eerste generatie allochtone politici, het zijn allemaal bijzondere genres die soms van grote betekenis blijken voor politiek denken en handelen.Een verrassende ontdekking in de bundel is de radicale democraat en pro-Franse patriot Pieter Vreede. Hij was als politiek auteur buitengewoon actief en controversieel. Pleegde een staatsgreep, maar moest uiteindelijk na Napoleons val zoete broodjes bakken met het Oranjehuis. Een leven waarin vele regimes elkaar opvolgden en Vreede steeds weer zijn nek uitstak.4] Auke van der Woud - De steden, de Mensen 1850-1900 (Prometheus)Auke van der Woud is de Jürgen Osterhammel van ons land. Hij beschrijft de transformatie van Nederland in de 19e eeuw. Zijn boek analyseert hoe na 1850 het verpauperde land in een ongekende 'Tweede Gouden Eeuw' ontpopte tot een wereldwijd actieve, expansionistische economische macht.Hij maakt ook korte metten met legendes als die van de 'kanalenkoning' Willem I die zo'n vooruitziende blik zou hebben gehad. En analyseert waarom premier Thorbecke zo cruciaal was. Hij gaf bestuurlijk, economisch en logistiek het land een redesign en ontketende nieuwe economische en financiële krachten.Voor premier Schoof en minister Sophie Hermans is het deel van dit boek over de energietransitie van die decennia toen verplicht leesvoer. Wat Kees Vendrik in Betrouwbare Bronnen 471 'de grootste verbouwing van Nederland ooit' noemde, heeft een voorloper gehad, waarbij alle uitdagingen van nu zich evenzeer aandienden.5] Robert Caro - The Power Broker (Alfred A. Knopf) Als het gaat om boeken over mensen met macht en wat macht met mensen doet, kun je niet heen om Robert Caro. Zijn (tot nu toe) vier delen over LBJ zijn de legendarische gouden standaard van boeken over presidenten. Zijn boek The Power Broker is dat over bijna onzichtbare machtsdieren in het openbaar bestuur, zoals Robert Moses, de baas van openbare werken van New York City (1888-1981).Dat boek verscheen in 1974 en is nooit weggeweest uit de boekhandel. De vijftigste verjaardag is reden tot een expositie in het stadsmuseum van NYC, zo beroemd is Caro hiermee geworden. Voor Barack Obama heeft dit boek als student zijn visie op de politiek bepaald.Caro kreeg het bij verschijnen van het magnum opus aan de stok met de hoogbejaarde potentaat. Maar het boek is toch vooral ook een uiting van respect voor diens visionaire blik, zijn daadkracht, lef en finesse van manipulatie en politieke kracht. Moses was 'larger than life'. Net als LBJ en even energiek en meedogenloos. Wellicht dat ook daarom Mark Rutte zo'n fan is?6] Nancy Pelosi - The Art of Power (Simon & Schuster)Is zij de Robert Moses van DC? Een machtsdier, onstuitbaar energiek, gedreven, een 'living legend' ook? Nancy Pelosi was alleen allesbehalve onzichtbaar en ze ontleende haar macht wel aan verkiezingen.Haar boek over de kunst van de macht is zeer persoonlijk en vol lessen uit de meest kritische momenten in de vele decennia van haar leven als parlementariër en de eerste vrouw als voorzitter van het Huis. Ze komen allemaal langs, de Bushes, de Clintons, Trump, Xi, Poetin en de Obamas. Ze krijgen er soms ook stevig van langs, zeker als je goed tussen de regels doorleest!Uit dit boek leer je waarom de Republikeinen uiteraard de politieke tegenstander zijn, maar de Senaat de politieke vijand. Duidelijk schetst Pelosi waarom the Speaker zo'n beetje de raadspensionaris van Amerika is en dus een beetje de premier. Die bepaalt met het Huis de begroting en de wetten. Niet de president en zeker niet de Senaat.Een sterke Speaker kan een president maken of breken als deze 'de kunst van het mogelijke' bij machtsuitoefening beheerst. The Art of Power, zoals Otto von Bismarck het al noemde.Het boek begint en eindigt met grof geweld. Eerst de gijzeling en bijna moord van haar man Paul Pelosi in hun eigen huis in San Francisco en tot slot de bestorming van het Capitool op 6 januari 2021. Zij ziet die als een poging tot staatsgreep zoals in Latijns-Amerika en is ervan overtuigd dat zij dit alleen door een wonder heeft overleefd.7] Mathieu Segers - Europa en het idee uit de toekomst (Prometheus)Precies een jaar geleden brachten wij postuum een saluut aan professor Mathieu Segers die zo jong stierf, maar zelf nog zijn magnifieke boek over Europa aan ons had toegestuurd. Dat is nu vertaald: Europa en het idee uit de toekomst.Elke pagina van het boek schittert met verrassende inzichten en onbekende feiten en mensen uit de voorgeschiedenis van de Europese unie. Maar juist nu valt het begin zo op. Segers zag het moment gekomen dat Europa zich opnieuw moest uitvinden. Precies wat de ook in december 2023 overleden Jacques Delors zei en wat in het jaar na hun beider dood de kern werd van Mario Draghi's uitdagende rapport. Mathieu Segers was ook hier weer zijn tijd vooruit.***Verder kijkenTurn Every Page - The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb***Verder luisteren441 - Extra zomeraflevering: boekenspecial!395 - Vijf boeken en een afscheidsbrief363 - Extra zomeraflevering: PG tipt boeken!317 - Extra winteraflevering: PG tipt boeken!286 - Extra zomeraflevering: PG tipt boeken!269 - Vijf boeken die je moet lezen om Europa beter te begrijpen259 - De omgevallen boekenkast: leestips van PG!207 - Zomer 2021: Boekentips van PG!133 - Amerikaanse presidenten: boeken die je volgens PG móet lezen!99 - Tips voor thuis: de omgevallen boekenkast van PG!403 - Sam van Houten, een eeuw lang verrassend dwars274 - Thorbecke, denker en doener221 - Madam Speaker: de spijkerharde charme van Nancy Pelosi149 - De zeven levens van Abraham Kuyper, een ongrijpbaar staatsman40 - De geniale broers Von Humboldt***Tijdlijn00:00:00 – Deel 100:47:52 – Advertentie De Schrijverscentrale01:03:28 – Deel 201:17:25 – Deel 301:35:49 – Einde Zie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

[SEGMENT 2-1] Winning back the country 1 - Google's ad policy - Advertorial I will be posting a new segment for members of the Subscribers. Thanks for the wonderful feedback on the other show. I promise this one will be just as riveting. And I will not post it outside for others. That's my reward to you for helping me with the cost of freedom. It's not cheap, and my wife reminds me of our sacrifice, daily. Visit TKJN.com to see all that we do, all that you help us to do when you support my work. POB 542, Higley AZ 85236 for those who want to help out or just send a card or letter   How do you defeat the giant that determines your voice. Google is that giant. I got an email from Google, and it's alarming. It is a company who curtails our freedom of speech. Consider that what Google does blatantly violates that right.   We do not allow content that: makes claims that are demonstrably false and could significantly undermine participation or trust in an electoral or democratic process. Examples: information about public voting procedures, political candidate eligibility based on age or birthplace, election results, or census participation that contradicts official government records promotes harmful health claims, or relates to a current, major health crisis and contradicts authoritative scientific consensus. Examples: Anti-vaccine advocacy, denial of the existence of medical conditions such as AIDS or Covid-19, gay conversion therapy contradicts authoritative scientific consensus on climate change.   There is nothing about these subjects that should have allowed this nonsense to occur.  [SEGMENT 2-2] Winning back the country 2 - Trump's victories   [X] SB – Trump incited an erection   An acquaintance of mine reminded me of Trump's victories. But not in the classic sense. We know that President Trump won against the nonsense of him colluding with the Russians. He then defeated the Democrats in two impeachments. Then the Deep State swamp rats got him in 2020, or so they thoughts.   Title Suggestions"The Trump Takedown Tour: Dynasties, Deep State, and Ironies Unfolded""From Bush to Biden: How Trump Toppled America's Political Royalty""One Man vs. Washington: The Trump Chronicles""Trump's Wins Against the Dynasties and the Deep State Drama""The Fall of the Political Titans: Trump's Quiet Revolution"[SEGMENT 2-3] Winning back the country 3An acquaintance of mine reminded me of Trump's victories. But not in the classic sense. We know that President Trump won against the nonsense of him colluding with the Russians. He then defeated the Democrats in two impeachments. Then the Deep State swamp rats got him in 2020, or so they thoughts. The Unprecedented Fall of Dynasties Donald Trump didn't just enter politics; he detonated a political neutron bomb, reducing dynasties and institutions to rubble. To understand the magnitude of his victories, we must dissect the legacies of those he upended—and explore how these interconnected families and power structures came to dominate Washington, D.C., only to be obliterated by the one-man wrecking crew I affectionately call, The Donald. In these wars, Trump toppled political titans in a not so quiet revolution. The Bush Dynasty: From Bluebloods to Afterthoughts Let's begin with the Bush family. They epitomized Washington royalty, and their political journey began with Prescott Bush, a U.S. Senator from Connecticut and financier with deep Wall Street ties. George H.W. Bush expanded the family's clout as CIA Director, Vice President, and eventually President. Son of H.W. and older brother George "W" Bush would follow in the footsteps of his father, proving that the Bush political apparatus was a well-oiled machine—intertwined with defense contractors, oil conglomerates, and the military-industrial complex. Younger brother to W, Jeb Bush was elected as the governor of Florida. The role was considered a stepping stone to Jeb's inevitable role as president. In the 2016 race to the White House, Jeb Bush was a foregone as the Republican candidate, and ultimately the office in which both his father and brother had served--a feat no family in American history has ever accomplished. Instead, "Low Energy" Jeb was humiliated by Trump during the 2016 GOP primary. Trump's taunts reduced Jeb's campaign to a punchline (“Please clap”) eventually. Further, Trump exposed how disconnected the Bushes had become from the Republican base. The family's once formidable influence crumbled as Trump made the GOP his party, leaving the Bushes grasping for relevance. [SEGMENT 2-4] Winning back the country 4   The Clintons: From “Arkansas Hillbillies” to Fallen Aristocracy The Clintons' ascent from Little Rock to political royalty is legendary. Bill Clinton's charisma and Hillary Clinton's ambition transformed them into one of the most influential political families in modern history. Their control over the Democratic Party was unshakable—until Trump emerged. Hillary's 2016 loss to Trump wasn't just a political defeat; it was a repudiation of Clintonism. The Clinton Foundation, once a money-magnet for global elites, faced scrutiny and decline as Trump's presidency shined a light on the pay-to-play culture that defined their empire. Bill and Hillary, who once believed the White House was their birthright, now find themselves sidelined. The Obama Machine: Legacy Players with Little to Show Barack Obama's presidency was marked by soaring rhetoric, cultural symbolism, and the establishment of a political apparatus designed to endure. Figures like Susan Rice, John Brennan, and others from his administration transitioned seamlessly into roles that allowed them to target Trump. However, Trump systematically dismantled their achievements, from pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal to appointing judges who undermined the progressive agenda. More significantly, Trump exposed the hollowness of Obama's supposed “scandal-free” administration, revealing how figures like James Comey and John Kerry weaponized institutions against him. And while Obama's legacy appointees did manage to dethrone Trump, their victory turned out to be short-lived. The Bidens: The Crooked Crown Joe Biden represented the Democrats' last, desperate attempt to consolidate power. Trump's relentless focus on Hunter Biden's laptop, Ukrainian corruption, and the family's LLC schemes painted a damning portrait of systemic graft. Despite media efforts to shield the Bidens, Trump exposed their operations in ways that even Democrats now begrudgingly acknowledge. Joe Biden's presidency, a fraught combination of incompetence and malfeasance, underscores Trump's victory. The “most votes in history” president is now a symbol of failure, corruption, and political overreach. Hypocrisy, Irony, and the Deep State The interdependence of these families—Clintons, Bushes, Obamas, Bidens—and their shared animosity toward Trump speaks volumes. They were Washington's version of medieval feudal lords, trading favors and power while America's middle class bore the cost. Trump shattered this illusion. His presidency was a mirror exposing their hypocrisies:The Bushes, who profited from endless wars, denounced Trump's America First policies while pretending to care about national unity.The Clintons, champions of gutter politics, raked in millions from foreign despots while lecturing the public on ethics.The Obamas, race-pimp who decried wealth inequality, became multi-millionaires from book deals, Netflix, and corporate speaking gigs.The Bidens, cloaked in “Scranton Joe” populism, exemplified nepotism and greed.The Final Boss: The Deep State The Deep State is the last domino that needs to fall. Trump has battled shadowy bureaucracies and intelligence networks since his first campaign, courtesy of all the aforementioned players. These are the forces that orchestrated the Russia collusion hoax, the impeachments, and the raid on Mar-a-Lago with a "kill order". Trump's resilience in the face of such unprecedented opposition—multiple indictments, attacks on his family, and even attempts on his life—underscores his singularity. Washington, D.C., isn't just afraid of Trump; it's terrified of what his return represents: the dismantling of their carefully constructed web of influence. Trump's Legacy: A Movement, Not a Moment Trump's most significant victory isn't his return to power; it's the movement he's created. By exposing the rot in D.C., he's shifted the Overton Window and redefined what's possible. The dynasties may regroup, but their mystique is gone. As Trump once famously said, “They're not after me; they're after you. I'm just standing in the way.” With each victory, he proves that statement truer than ever. Trump didn't just defeat the families of Washington. He defeated the idea that they were untouchable. He showed them that if cut, they too bleed. That, above all, may be his greatest triumph.   An acquaintance of mine reminded me of Trump's victories. But not in the classic sense. We know that President Trump won against the nonsense of him colluding with the Russians. He then defeated the Democrats in two impeachments. Then the Deep State swamp rats got him in 2020, or so they thoughts. But let's take a step back and look at what else he defeated, that most people haven't considered. Trump defeated the Bush dynasty, the Clinton dynasty, and the Obama machine He took out the Biden Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-kevin-jackson-show--2896352/support.

A recording of strong wind from inside large, leafy bushes - the rustle of leaves and the high drone of wind on a blustery, cloudy day on Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Recorded by Cities and Memory. 

In this episode of Welcome to Cloulandia, We delve into a range of topics, starting with the impact of natural disasters like hurricanes, discussing their unpredictable effects and the challenges of recovery in affected areas. The conversation transitions into a discussion about health, where insights on traditional Chinese medicine and its approach to addressing common illnesses are shared. We highlight how ancient practices like herbal treatments and scraping therapy remain relevant today. We then explore a fascinating scientific discussion on fructose and its historical role in human survival, as well as its connection to modern health issues like diabetes and dementia. The implications of diet and sugar consumption are examined with insights from experts who have dedicated their careers to studying these links. Turning to technology, We discuss the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting its potential in creative and practical applications SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Dan and I discuss the impact of hurricanes, focusing on their unpredictable effects and the recovery challenges faced by affected regions. I share insights on traditional Chinese medicine, including treatments like herbal remedies and scraping therapy, and how these methods address common health issues. We examine the role of fructose in human survival and its modern connections to health problems like diabetes and dementia, drawing on expert perspectives. We explore the evolving applications of artificial intelligence, discussing its potential in creative fields, communication, and education. The conversation touches on the limitations and risks of AI, including concerns about quality and the pace of technological adoption. We reflect on the technological history of politics, discussing how innovations like FM radio and cable television have influenced public discourse over time. We share observations on the psychological and societal effects of rapid technological advancements, including shifting expectations for speed and efficiency. The episode highlights examples of AI in action, such as automated customer service and editing tools, and their implications for productivity. Dan and I discuss the contextual complexity of decision-making, emphasizing the importance of considering multiple factors in understanding trends and behaviors. We conclude with reflections on how these topics intersect, offering a perspective on the evolving relationship between technology, society, and individual experiences. Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dean: Mr Sullivan, you have survived the hurricane, I survived the hurricane. Yes, we actually got almost nothing in Winter Haven. Dan: Yes. Dean: Winter Haven lived up to its name. Dan: No, I checked the weather condition in Winter Haven just in case I'd have to send an emergency package. Dean: Yeah, emergency, that's right we ended up. It was very. You know, it's a perfect example of you know when the hurricanes are coming. Of course you start out with that. You know the national news oh boy, there's a hurricane brewing, there's a tropical storm, it's forming in the Caribbean right now, or it's forming below Mexico or below Cuba, and then every day this is intensifying all the language, all the total emotional language, and then this is going to be devastating. And then you see the big buzzsaw working its way through the Gulf of Mexico on its approach to the mainland, and it could go anywhere, dan the cone of probability. And this one luckily stayed far enough to the west that we really got nothing. I mean, I got one band of wind and rain. It was like one of the outer perimeter bands, but not to say that it wasn't a devastating hurricane, because the whole the Gulf Coast, like in Tampa and St Petersburg and especially up in the Panhandle, they got really like rocked with this. And then North Carolina is getting pummeled with flooding and I mean like unbelievable stuff that's going on. Yeah, it's wild. You know our friend Chad Jenkins. He's got a place in, or had a place in, the mountains and the whole road going into the community just washed away, you know those guys are gonna be. I mean it's gonna be a long cleanup to get up from under all the flooding and stuff that's happened in North Carolina and most of you know Georgia and North Florida, but just shows you what it was? Dan: Well, it must have gone pretty far north, because Joe Polish was doing an event, supposedly today. Dean: In Cincinnati, yeah. Dan: In Cincinnati and the stage got destroyed. Dean: I saw that. The whole event, so it got pretty far north yes, yeah, because cincinnati I mean I think two things there, right that that's. Most people don't realize actually how far south cincinnati is, as you know, you know, it's almost kentucky, basically kentucky. Dan: So yeah, you can see. Well, comington is right across the river. You know Exactly. Dean: But still. Dan: I mean compared to Florida, it's pretty far north. Dean: Oh yeah, You're absolutely right. Yeah, you're home safe. Dan: Oh yeah, yeah, no, it's been nice here, it's been you know we've had probably the classic summer in September this year, I mean here it is almost the end of the month and all the leaves are completely green. We have a big Lots of leaves. We have lots of leaves with big oak trees that we have in our compound. We have six or seven, I think, seven big, seven big trees. But, nothing's turned yet, none of the colors have started yet, but it's been warm. It's been. You know, yesterday was 73, 74, which is great. Dean: It's the best. It's the best. Dan: Yeah, it's been terrific, and yeah sorry you couldn't make it to. Dean: Genius Phoenix, yeah. Dan: It was great. It was great. Who'd you catch that call from? I forget. Dean: Oh my goodness, Super spreader, super spreader Sullivan, that's you. Dan: Yeah, what was that? But? Dean: that came on fast. Dan: You know he. Dean: We had brunch on Saturday were there was nothing going on. We had dinner sunday night at your house and then monday, you were like full in the throes of it. And then we had dinner monday night and of course I was right beside you and by by Wednesday I went downhill, you know, and I could tell that it was coming on bad and I was supposed to speak at Giovanni's big event in the Arcane Summit, but I could tell I was going downhill. And then, thursday I switched my flight to come back to Florida because the original plan was I was going to speak at Giovanni's event and then on Sunday, fly to Phoenix for to be with you guys. Dan: Yeah, but anyway I made it home. Dean: I made it home just in time. I went full immersion in you know self-care, nipping in the bud, I think the warm, moist air really a lot to get rid of it yeah, well, you still sound like you, I was just gonna say you still sound yeah, no, I still, yeah, I still have it. Dan: Yeah. So we went to we have a really great chinese doctor here in toronto and uh you know, he does everything through pulse and he took my pulse and yeah his name's dr zhao and you know I've got a track record going back 20 years where you try this, it doesn't work. You try this, it doesn't work. You go to a doctor, it doesn't work. Then you go to dr zhao and within three or four days, then take these little. Dean: I went to a chinese doctor one time. No, they're herb. Dan: He gives you little packets of herbs and you make them like coffee and it's foul tasting, as it should be, and three or four. I can feel myself coring up already. I went on Friday and we have a Vietnamese massage therapist going back 30 years now. She's been with us since 32 years and she does scraping. Do you know what scraping is? Dean: I do not. Dan: Is that? No, it's. You know, she scrapes the skin hard. You know it's hard. Yeah, it's painful, it's actually quite painful. She did it on me. I just came from that about an hour ago. Dean: What is she scraping it with? Dan: Well, I don't know what it is. It's like stones. A special tool, it's like stones, oh, like bones. Yeah, sharp stones, you know. Dean: Bone things. Dan: yeah, and she doesn't take the scalp. You know she doesn. She doesn't take your scalp off, she just scrapes your back and scrapes your chest and it releases all the phlegm. You know the interesting word phlegm? So Chinese and Vietnamese in a space of three days and I'll be as good as new on Wednesday. In about a week. Takes about two or three days. Takes about two or three days you know I'm very, you know I've got a lot of compartments in my brain and people say you don't believe in that stuff. No, I do. And I said I think it works, even if you don't believe in it. Dean: Right, that's exactly it. Dan: Yeah. Dean: It's not up for debate. That's funny. Yeah, well, you went to the Chinese have. Dan: yeah, well, you went to the chinese have lasted. Dean: The chinese have lasted a long time, you know, and I guess some of it works did you go to canyon ranch? Dan: this time no we just we went to richard rossi's. Oh, that's what it was, I knew there was something yeah yeah, what was the big. Dean: It was good. Yeah, what was the big yeah, there he had to. Dan: Richard is just terrific in his curating of scientists. You know, he had a lot of scientists come in and talk and we had two especially one of them around 70. And he's been looking into the impact of fructose pretty well for 60 or 70, 50 or 60 years. And he really says that fructose is basically involved in anything bad that happens to you. You know, almost every kind of ailment and disease there's a fructose trigger to it. And he said and it was once a very good thing, when you know, thousands, tens of thousands of years ago, when we couldn't count on food, you know the food supply was not a predictable thing and he's just traced it to three or four genes. That got changed back in the prehistoric times when it was very necessary to stock up on fruit. You know, eat fruit as much as you could before the famine season came, usually winter, you know, sort of. You know there wasn't any food. And Buddy said then it's, you know, it was good at one time, but now we're in different conditions and now it's a problem. So anyway, he was great and I'm going to have him as a speaker at CoachCon 26 in Orlando. His name's Richard Johnson. Yeah, fascinating guy. Yeah, fascinating guy. And his whole career has been based on taking his research as far as he can and then finding someone in the world who has mastered the whole area that he's just entered. And he does a collaboration with them and then they create something new, and his whole career has been these collaborations with people who are more expert at what he's just discovered. And then they together do something even beyond what either of them have done before. So he's going to do one day on fructose and he's going to do the next day on collaboration. Dean: Oh wow, is he mad at fruit? Is he mad at fruit? Is fruit considered the same thing or is he talking about? No, it's Coke, it's Coca-Cola. Dan: That's what I mean. Like the fructose corn syrup, but not naturally. No, he's not against fruit. He the process, the intense fructose that they use, you know, to get people addicted to other kinds of foods yes, oh exactly, yeah yeah wow, but it was very interesting just how step by step, how step, he tracked down sort of the culprit. You know, and he said that pretty well, almost anything bad that can happen you. There's a fructose trigger in it. And you know and he said that pretty well, almost anything bad that can happen to you. There is a fructose trigger in it. And you know, then, including dementia, like including dementia and well diabetes leads to dementia. You know. They now have a pretty clear connection between diabetes and dementia. Dean: And yeah, that was what they're saying. I heard somebody refer to it as pre-dementia. Diabetes is pre. Like you know, everybody's walking around with pre-diabetes and the next level of diabetes is pre-dementia. Dan: Yeah, yeah, and then pre-dementia is pre-presidency. Dean: Oh my goodness, exactly. It's almost like a requirement. Dan: It's almost like a requirement. It's almost like a requirement. It's almost like a merit badge. Yeah, when we're coming down the stretch it shows one thing We've had a virtually uncapable person in the White House for four years and the country still runs. That's what I mean. Dean: That's what I really see. I think it's yeah. Dan: I mean, I don't think it gives you the sense of momentum that probably a good president would do. But here we are, you know, and who knows who's actually been making the decisions for the last four years. You know, it's an interesting test case, you know. Yeah, I don't think the israelis could get away with that oh my goodness, I just saw I think, they need someone. I think they need somebody right on the job, you know in the moment at all times they don't have much margin for error no, exactly yeah, that's wild huh. Dean: Well, I mean, uh, I just saw you were coming now into october, very around the heels here. So we're coming down the home stretch ready for the october surprise. Dan, everybody is all wondering what's the October surprise going to be, you know? Dan: Yeah, there may be no surprise. Dean: That could be the surprise, right there. Dan: Yeah, yeah, it's hard. It's hard to, you know, impose the past on the future. You know I mean it may, nothing may happen, it may just go along the way it is. Nothing may happen, it may just go along the way it is. But I feel that the Kamala is losing ground. Each week I get a feeling that there's this kind of erosion. that's happening week by week but she doesn't have any message. As a matter of fact, she's avoiding messages and I think it's hard to get the ground troops excited when you don't have a message. It's hard to get you. You know it's hard to get the check writers interested, probably in the last 33 or 34 weeks when you don't have a message. Dean: One of my favorite things that happened was I don't know whether it was an official ad or whether it was a meme, but it was Kamala saying if Donald Trump wins, there'll be the largest mass deportation in American history. Can you imagine what that would even look like? And then it ends and it goes. I'm Donald Trump. I approve this message. How perfect is that. Dan: Can you even imagine what that would look like? I'm Donald Trump. I approve this message. Dean: How perfect is that? Can you even imagine what that would look like? I'm Donald Trump. I approve this message. Dan: I think he's a rascal. Dean: But that's like so funny. Now we're getting somewhere. Dan: Yeah, oh, yeah, yeah. Even my opponent is working for my campaign. Dean: Exactly. Oh my goodness, so funny. Dan: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But you know, I think that there's kind of like an American center at any given time, like yeah, this is my yeah. What is it I started voting in? 68 was the first year that I voted. First presidential election because it was. The voting age was 21 when I was 20 and 64. I was 20 and 60. So I couldn't vote for the presidency in 64, so I had to wait until 68. And so you know, that's a whole number of years. It's 32, it's 56 years, so this is my 14th election and the thing is that at any given point there's sort of a center to things and I think the center moves around. But the person whose activities and message most corresponds to the American center during presidential year wins. You know, they just win I think it moves and I think America is a bit of an ADD country, you know that hyper, focusing on something different. you know every presidential cycle something and I just get the sense that there's she's not in the center. You know, you get a feeling that what she says and how she talks about it, it's just not in the center. Dean: Oh, and there was another ad showing. You know it was taking her words from 2020 and then exactly saying the opposite right now. Like every you know so like, thing after thing, her complete change on positions. You know it's pretty wild to see when you and she says things with such conviction and matter of fact it's like there can be no other way than this. Like how do? you not see this as the thing, and then she's saying it with the same tone and the same conviction the exact opposite thing. It's pretty amazing. I started watching last night, about halfway through, a documentary about Lee Atwater. Does that sound familiar? He? Dan: was quite Lee really changed American politics. Dean: Yeah, I didn't really know about him. I'd heard the name, of course, but yeah, this documentary really kind of digs into it. I didn't realize he was Karl Rove's mentor and so pivotal in Ronald Reagan and the Bushes. Dan: Yeah, he was the first of the take no prisoners, so there's a lot of shenanigans going on, so there's always been shenanigans. Dean: I guess that's really the thing Whenever the stakes are high, clever people are going to dream up shenanigans. Dan: Yeah, he was the one who George Bush Sr the outrouter was this is 88, 1988. Dean: Yeah. Dan: And he took down Dukakis in about three weeks. Yes, dukakis was kind of a, you know he was a governor of Massachusetts and sort of solid you know solid record and everything else. But boy, he was not prepared at all for the type of things that happen when you run for president, I mean when it's nationwide governor who's been basically in one state for all his political career, you know, just doesn't have the experience to deal with what can happen on a national level. I think that's one of the things that gives Trump the edge, I think is the fact that this is his third complete national campaign. So you know, from everything I've read about him and everything, I think he's a fast learner. You know he adjusts quickly to new circumstances, and so I think that just understanding how the entire campaign works, in it. you know it really starts about 18 months before the election day and you know to know exactly, step by step, what's happening, I think is a huge advantage. Dean: And it became clear watching the Lee Atwater thing that it's really it's most with what I was, you know, thinking, reading in same as ever. You know where the whole thing is, that good news takes, you know, build slowly and against resistance, and bad news gets is immediate, and that was what his thing was, what he found, what he said he found fascinating is you could end somebody's entire career in a day, that it could all fall apart. You just had the right thing that hits the right chord and it catches fire. And in another election he was accused or suspected of arranging this third party candidate to say the things that the primary candidate couldn't say, draw attention to this candidate's lack of belief in God, and it was really something. Dan: I think he died around 90, 1991. He got cancer or something. He died young. I mean he wasn't very old. I think he was in his 40s when he died. It's really interesting when you look at the technological basis for politics and you know the left, you know, goes frantic. Left and right is an event. I don't know if you know where left wing and right wing or the listeners do. It comes from the French Revolution. Dean: The French. Dan: Revolution, they had a national assembly and on the right were the traditional landowners in France. So these were families that maybe for half a millennia had owned land and there was always suspicion in how rich people got their land back then. You know, you never knew how they got their land. And then there was the church, and the church was on the side of the landowners. And then there was the government, you know the monarchy. They were the supporters of the monarchy and they were on the right, and the ones on the left were actually the new news media, the new intellectual class and actually the bureaucrats, the new bureaucrats who you know the state was getting big and you had these bureaucrats and they were on the left. And so that's really you know where that term right wing and left wing really starts, and and you know it's gone through different shapes and forms over the last 250 years or so. And but what I believe is that after the Second World War, the mainstream of the university were basically the mainstream and they were actually. Today we would say that they were sort of left wing and there really wasn't any right wing. There really wasn't right wing, because they controlled the magazines, they controlled the newspapers, they controlled the radio. Television was just, you know, just in its infancy, and there was one technological change that actually brought what we call the right wing today to the forefront, and it was FM radio. And FM radio was possible in the 1930s or 1940s. They already knew the technology of it, but that NBC, which was the dominant network. Back then you had ABC, cbs and NBC, but NBC was the dominant and they didn't want FM radio. So they literally stopped it for 30 years and then the government had to overrule them and allow FM radio to exist. And when FM radio came in it became the radios of the big city because it's got very limited bandwidth. Dean: You know it reaches. Dan: I don't know bandwidth, I mean FM doesn't go more than about 30 miles. Pardon me, but it became the radio station of the universities and the big cities. Dean: New York. Dan: Chicago, boston and everything else, and they moved out of AM radio and they said we don't want that small town stuff, am radios. So they left a vacuum. What we would call the left wing today moved to FM radio like national public radio is all FM radio, which is left wing. The NPR is the left wing medium. Based on today's landscape it's left wing and it just left the entire right wing with many more stations, but they had tremendous reach, like AM radio. You know, on a clear night in Ohio when I was a kid, I could get New Orleans, I could get St Louis, I could get Chicago, I could get New York, Philadelphia and I could get the charlatan radio from Mexico. Yeah, mean that was a million watt, million watt, radio station. Dean: So you had these really powerful radio stations and they were just abandoned was the idea behind fm, that it it was a shorter length but a higher quality signal. Is that what was? Dan: Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, and you know, and it was available. So all these bandwidths were taken over by big city stations because you couldn't get the reach. You know you couldn't get the reach, but what you could make up with it was a denser population. So you would have a, you know, a big city would have a much denser population. So you would have a big city would have a much denser population. And what these stations got taken over by were religious congregations, preachers and everything like that, and they were against the mainstream government. Know, that's where Rush Limbaugh came along. you know he became the and Billy Graham came along. Dean: Right. Am radio is where you often think about. That was you know became talk radio. That's really where that all started, right. Dan: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And the Democratic left in the United States just lost its control of AM radio, you know, and that was a big technological change. And then cable television came in. Of course you could have any kind of station, TV station. Dean: So there was a technological basis to politics technological basis to politics. Yeah, this is. I was listening. I've just been exposed in the last week here to the I think it's called Google Notebook, and it's the AI that you can load up you know some text or you know information into train, the kind of whatever the language tool is that it's drawing from, and it will create a podcast that's two people talking and explaining. You're making content about what you load up, for instance, like I just thought you know, it's pretty like it's amazing to hear these no, I listened to it. Dan: I listened to it. Oh, you did okay for the first time. Dean: Yeah, hamish what's? Dan: hamish mcdonald's. Uh, yeah, yeah, it was a particular piece of legislation in. Prince Edward Island. And so the government was using Google notebook to explain it, and it's a man and a woman talking to each other. And they said, and I mean the discussion quality and the voice quality was really terrific Like it sounds like two real people but the thing was they were just uniformly enthusiastic and positive about the regulation or the regulations that were doing that and that was my tee off that this is phony. Not phony, but artificial, right, you know I mean. I mean artificial. One of the meanings of artificial is phony. You know and everything. But it was really interesting to listen to it and I think it's good for education, explaining things you know. Dean: Yes, yeah. Dan: Because they go back and forth with each other, so I thought it was pretty good. Dean: Huh, and just like. So you look at this as this, if this is crawling, you know, if you look at that as the beginning of it, because that's the first I've seen of that capability. It's really pretty. It's really pretty amazing what we're up against. Just to put it in context, I heard someone talking about where we are now, the new I don't know how they number them, but the 0.01 or 01 or whatever now is the latest level of it context of a scale like the phases, the level five kind of thing, being the peak. You know, general intelligence, that that knows everything, this 101 or 10 or whatever it is. It was just tested at 120 IQ, which is higher than 91% of the population. Dan: And it means that 91% of the population isn't going to understand it. Dean: That could be. I mean, that's exactly right. Dan: Or listen to it. Yeah, but they're saying that if we look at the scale. Dean: If we look at the scale from 1 to 5, we're at about 2 right now, on the way to 5 by say 20 or whatever. Dan: I don't know really what that means. Iq 120 about what? Yeah, I mean. Dean: Yeah, I don't know I mean even IQ itself. Dan: You know it's being more and more discounted, as you know, as any kind of, I mean. What it means is pattern recognition. I think the Q now comes back to pattern. But, for example, above 150, I mean there's's people, there's an organization called mensa I mean yeah, you know which is people? I think it's 160 or above and what they find is that they're kind of dismal failures. You know, yeah, you know. Dean: No, I heard a thing that the actual, most, the most beneficial iq is about 125. Dan: that it gets in the way yeah, yeah, yeah, I think it's the practical realm, the practical realm is 120 to 140. And you know that people think better than other people, but they also make better decisions and they take better actions. I think that's probably the realm, and it's very interesting when they compare all the IQ tests of men and women. They have different curves. And so there's far more males below 100 than there are females in relationship to how many males. So a higher percentage of males are below 120 or below 100 and a much bigger percentage of males are above 140. And the women control the area between 100 and 140. I mean just statistically based on yeah, and so the idiots and the geniuses men have they struggle, that's funny, I had them. Dean: so, yeah, I, yeah, I did. Years ago as an adult, though, I did my IQ just for fun, to see what. See where I'm at, and it's always 140, and which was see where I'm at. I was 140, which was very superior intelligence, dan, they call it VVSI on the tip of the I knew that the moment I met you. That's so funny. Yeah, I don't know what that means. Dan: It was a good choice of restaurants. It was on Avenue Road. Dean: That's exactly right, yes, yeah, that's right. Yeah, boba, yeah, yeah, so funny. So I think that this I remember saying to you a few years ago. I remember somebody tweeting which I thought was funny. They were saying however bullish you are about AI and circa 2030, you are insufficiently bullish, is what they were saying, and I thought those words just struck me as funny. But now we're starting to see, like, because that was even before ai, that was before t came out, because that's really only it's. It'll be two years in november, right that we? got the very first, 30th, 30th of november well, the very first sorry, that's okay the very first taste of it. And look at how it's changed in two years. You can only imagine what it's going to be in 2030. Dan: But I don't see any real impact of it out in the world. I don't see any impact. Dean: Yeah, let's talk about that. It's not obvious. Dan: Yeah. Dean: I don't see anything. Dan: Yeah, my sense is that we're sort of in a tinkering stage right now and that you give AI to one person and they do something with it. You give it to another person and they do something different with it. You give it to a million people and a million people do a million different things with it, but I don't see any unity or focus to it whatsoever, any unity or focus to it whatsoever. And it's bothering the investment markets, like Goldman Sachs, the big investment bank, who they're sort of alert to trends in the market because that's how they make their money. They said that they're very disappointed that in two years there's been billions and billions and billions of dollars spent in corporations bringing in AI, but they don't see any results whatsoever yet. So I think it's. My sense is that it's having a great impact, but it's not measurable by standard economic standards. It's not measurable, it's invisible standards. Dean: It's not measurable, it's invisible, right, and I I wonder, like you know, I've been talking about and thinking about this. You know I almost liken it to the way when the iphone came out. We had all the capabilities that went with it, right, like the gyroscope and the geographic, you know, knowing where you are geographically and the accelerometer and the touch screen and all of those capabilities that it could do, and, of course, the first things that people did was make games that you could you know, the other thing is photography yeah photography really changed huh, and now you see, like yeah, because now the, but being able. The big difference now with the ai is the sort of generative creativity, the photography and the things. I was laughed. There was about several years ago when AI was first start of sort of really getting legs. Before GPT, there were just the micro capabilities that AI was using. There was a website, and still is called thispersondoesnotexistcom, and every time you push refresh on the thing it creates a new image, photo image of a person that is an amalgam of all of the photo. You know millions of photos, and so it just is infinitely combining characteristics and hair color, hairstyle, eye color, skin tone, facial features, all of that to make a unique person that does not exist. Those are now along with the. When you couple that with the capability now of creating video avatars, like the AI videos, that you can have them say your script you know in, and it looks like a real person doing those things and it's just. I think, as all these capabilities come together, it's going to be a lot like the app store, where people are going to corral these capabilities into a very specific outcome. You know that you can. You know that you can tap into. I mean what a time to be a creative right now, you know, in terms of having vision and being able to pair up with infinite capabilities. Dan: Yeah, it's kind of you know I mean, there's some interesting insights about that that you're still constrained by one thing, because that on the receiving end of all this, people can still only think about one thing at a time. Okay, and you know so, you're not going to speed up anybody's intelligence on the receiving end. You may speed up your intelligence on the grave, but you're not going to speed. As a matter of fact, you may be dumbing them down at the other end. But what I think it's going to do is big systems. I mean, one of the great big systems that's been created over the last probably 50, 60 years is air traffic control. So there's not been a commercial accident in the air. I think it. You know, it may be 15, 20 years, I don't know. The last time, two planes collided in the air Right, right Like a collision in the air. And there you know, if you go back to the 30s, 40s and 50s, there were quite a few, you know, fog or something and everything like that, and so I think it's going to be big systems, like big electrical systems. That's where you're going to see the impact. I don't think it's going to be at the individual level. I think it's going to be at the big system level, and my sense is the Israelis are doing a lot of this at the big system level and my sense is the Israelis are doing a lot of this. I think the Israelis and you know the precision bombing they're doing now is really quite extraordinary, like they killed the head of Hezbollah on Friday. Dean: I just saw that. I saw something about that. I didn't have a chance to dig in, but that guy yeah. Dan: And they? First of all, they phoned everybody in the neighborhood within 500 meters and they said get out within the next 20 minutes because we're going to be bombing some buildings. So they have everybody's phone number. like in Beirut and Lebanon, they've got everybody's text number and phone number and they just mail them and says you know, get out of your building because there's bombs coming, you know. And so it was colossal. They cleared a block. I mean, when you look at it's three buildings and there's nothing but rubble and everything like that, well, there are hundreds of people around there. I think two people got killed and you know 50, 50 were injured, but I think you know typically technology leaps ahead in warfare, you know 50-50, we're injured, but I think you know typically technology leaps ahead in warfare, you know that's number one. Number two is games, you know, and the gaming industry is probably using this extraordinarily quickly and you know, and other forms of entertainment, other forms of entertainment, that's where it happens. But yeah, I'm not seeing the big jump. You know, I hear, you know Peter Diamandis sends out this is going to happen. And then you extrapolate in a straight line Well, because they're IQ 120, you know, in five years is going to be IQ 180. But most humans with 180 IQ are pretty worthless yeah you know they can't change a tire. You know they have problems in practice, right exactly yeah, they become more impractical and it's not clear that, beyond a certain amount of it, that intelligence is that great an advantage? You know, I don't know, I'm not, you know I'm, don't know, I'm not, you know, I'm just not convinced. Yet I mean, I use, you know, perplexity, and you know I really like perplexity because it gives me nice answers to things. I'm interested in, but not once has anything I've done on perplexity actually entered into my work. Dean: Right, you know it's Stuart Bell who runs my 90-minute book team. You know we were having a conversation about it and you know they're integrating into the editing process some. Dan: AI. Dean: So the first two passes of editing are now AI. First two passes of editing are now AI and he was amazed actually at how good it is. Most of the time the editing process is reductive, meaning that there's less. You put in this many words and you come out with something less than that many words. But this past, the way they've got it going now is it actually is a little bit expansive and you come out with about 10 more words than what it was, but reads. But reads very, you know very easily. So so he's very impressed with the way that's gone and it happens in moments rather than days of going through a traditional editing process. That was always the biggest time constraint. Dan: Bottleneck is the editing process, but that means that you can only charge less for it. Time constraint, bottleneck is the editing process, you know. Dean: Yeah, but that means that you can only charge less for it. I mean, let me just pose a counter possibility. Wait a second now yeah, possibility. Dan: I had a lawyer once and he said everything went to hell in the legal industry when fax machines came in, and he was explaining this to me that he said it used to be that you'd go and have a meeting with the client and then you'd go back and he would grant you three or four days to make revisions and then you know, send it by courier and over yeah and he noticed that over the first two years of fax they expected the revisions to be back that day so if things speed up people's expectations. People's expectations jump to saying well, you know, you just ran that through the ai, so why should I pay you for? You know I would. It take you three minutes to do this, you know why should I but? You put yeah. So my sense is that there's an economic factor that doesn't increase when the speed increases. Actually, the economic factor decreases as the speed increases. You know it used to be that they gave you two weeks to come up with a. You know a script for a play. Now they want it back an hour after you've talked you know, because they say well, we're not. We know you're using the ai and so you know we expect it to happen sooner you watch. I mean, we'll just keep track of this on our podcast as we go over yeah, but once you have a tech, once you have a speedier technology, people's expectation of speed goes up to match what other evidence is there for that? Dean: what other analogs? Dan: well, fax machine, yeah, fax machines and an email. Yeah, email very definitely, but the world hasn't slowed down with faster technology. Dean: No. Dan: No, everything's gotten faster. It's like sugar. Dean: Yeah, sugar. Dan: Everything speeds up. Everything speeds up with sugar. Dean: Yes, exactly, I don't know. Dan: You know, all I know is, in my 50 years of being an entrepreneur, I don't feel I've ever been at a disadvantage by adjusting to technology slowly. Dean: Yeah, it's just I just see now, if you take the through line of where things are going. Like I was really kind of amazed by this couple on that Google Notebook podcast, Like just that as a capability is pretty amazing. You know, I think you know and you're seeing now, those AI, you know telephony things where you can talk to an AI. Dan: A lot of it is things in sales they're doing. Chris johnson yeah, chris johnson in prezone really has an amazing. It's a calling service yeah so he had 32 callers and now he's got five callers and that's a real noticeable thing. And the software and I he gave a an example is about a minute and a half of the caller calling a woman and she's got it. It's. She's got a slight accent I can't quite tell what the accent is, you know, and but she's very responsive. You know she's very responsive and their voice modulation goes up and down in response to the person who answers the phone call you know, and, as a matter of fact, he's the person who answered the phone sounded like a real deadhead. So we were about halfway through and I said to Chris. I said which one's the robot? I can't quite tell. Dean: Which one is the? Dan: robot. The person who answered the phone was just really dead. He was really monotonic and everything like that. Dean: But the caller. Dan: She says, oh well, she says you know. She says you indicated interest in finding out more what our company does. And I'm just calling to schedule where we can give you a little bit more information. I'm not the person who does that. I'm just going to set up a meeting where someone can talk to you and it won't last more than 10 minutes, but they're really experts, and so I'm looking at the schedule for tomorrow and I've got 10 o'clock and I've got 3 o'clock. Would one of them be useful for you? He said something like 3 o'clock and I've got three o'clock. Would one of them be useful for you? He said you know something like three o'clock. He says, good, I'll put you in there. And he said you know, we just want to give you the kind of information that would indicate if you want to go further in that and everything like that. So thanks a lot for this and it was really good. But that that AI program can make 25,000 calls a minute. Dean: That's crazy isn't it? Dan: In other words, if people answered the phone as a result of sending this out, you could have 1,000 people talking at the same time. Now, I see that as a real breakthrough. Dean: Yeah, agreed, I mean that's kind of ridiculous. but yeah you think about that? I you know, when I started out in real estate I would do. I was making a hundred cold calls a day, but I was doing a survey. Was my, was my approach right? So I was saying the same thing. My idea was that I was going to call through the phone book for Georgetown, but I didn't want to, and then I would make a record of I had little or D, and I would only, of course, then follow up with the ones who were willing, happy and had a potential need in the future. That was my game plan and I would make these calls. I was just thinking now how easy it would be for an AI to do that now, like I would just call people. I'd say hey, mr Sullivan, it's Dean Jackson calling from Royal LePage. We're doing a quick area market survey. I wonder if you have a minute to be included, and most of the time they'd say no, or sometimes they'd say yes. But even if they said no, or I would just say it's just five questions that take one minute, I promise, and most people would go along with that and then I would just ask them have you lived in Georgetown for more than five years and how many years in your current house and how'd you happen to choose Georgetown? And then, if you were to move, would you stay within Georgetown or would you move out of the area? And then, whatever they said, I said when would that be? When would that be? That was the punchline of the whole thing and it was so. You know, it was so amazing, but I could you imagine making 25 000 of those calls in one minute. You call george, every household in geor, those calls in one minute. You call every household in Georgetown in one minute and identify all the people who were, because I could imagine an AI saying having that exact interaction that I just shared with you, right? Oh yeah, just the yeah, we're just doing an area market survey. Wonder if you'd have a minute. It's just five questions, one minute, I promise, and then go right into it. I mean that's pretty amazing. You know, if that's a possibility, that's a pretty. Dan: Well, I think you know. I mean, here's where you're. You know we're at the crawling stage with it, but again it all depends on whether people answer the phone or not, right? Dean: We're finding about a third. So we've got a lot of our realtors and others are, you know, following up with people who request books. So when they dial about a third of the people will answer the phone. Dan: Basically you just never reach me. But yeah, my sense about this is that there's very definitely an increase in quantity and I'm not convinced yet that there's an increase in quality, you know right. Right, you know quality of experience and so, for example, you know quality of experience and so, for example, what Hamish McDonald was sending me had to do with the piece of legislation, because there's something that they want to do and it requires following the rules of government ministry. But it was a little too cheerful and enthusiastic. I found the couple's talk. There would be no negatives in it. And I've never had any experience with government that didn't have a negative in it. So, from a possibility. Dean: I wonder if you could have. I wonder if you could, you know, prompt one person to take the positive one, to take the negative or debate it. Dan: You know, debate fun to take the negative or debate it. Yeah, you know, debate could be, you know, yeah, but my, my sense is that we get better at spotting dishonesty. You know like yeah, my sense, I think one of the like I. I have people who use ai all the time and you know, and they send me something and I read it and then we have a discussion over the over Zoom usually, and I'll say I didn't quite get it from what you wrote. There was something missing from. So I'm just going to ask you a whole bunch of questions like content wise. But the context is the real. You know, context is hard to grasp unless you're telling the truth, you know, and the reason is because you have to be touching about 10 different points, and one of the things I find with perplexity the AI is I've got this sort of way of approaching and perplexity always has to tell me 10 things about the subject I'm interested in. Okay, so 10 things. For example, I asked, I put in 10 reasons why evs are not being adopted as quickly as was predicted okay and 10 and phew, 10 of them, and you could see that each of them was a little bit of a game stopper. But when you put all 10 of them together it really gave you a sense of why there's a lot of late nights in the EV world right now, trying to figure out why things aren't happening as fast as they could be. So that's a contextual answer. It's not just, and what I've discovered from working with perplexity is there's no reason. There's no one reason for anything in the world. There's always at least 10 reasons why something happens or why something doesn't happen, and everything else. Dean: Yeah. Dan: I'm being educated. I'm being educated, but it's just something that's developed in the relationship between me and the AI. You know, because if you say what are the reasons why AI is not or E-MAT being adopted as quickly as we thought, I think the answer that came back would be very different from my tell me 10 reasons, because it just does what you ask it to do. That's exactly it. Dean: All of it has to. You have to have somebody driving. Yeah, holy cow, it's top of the hour. Dan, that's so funny. I put up a post on Facebook today about just before we got. I told you, ai makes things happen faster it really does just even our real life conversation when you talk about AI, the hour just speeds by. Dan: It really does anyway. Yeah well, you know it's a forever subject because we're going to be with it from now on. Dean: I think that's true, yeah. Yeah, love it All right. Well, you have a great day, all right, and I will talk to you next week. Okay, Thanks, Bye.

So how can The Dude and The Boss save America? According to the cultural critic, David Masciotra, Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski and Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen, represent the antithesis of Donald Trumps's illiberal authoritarianism. Masciotra's thesis of Lebowski and Springsteen as twin paragons of American liberalism is compelling. Both men have a childish faith in the goodness of others. Both offer liberal solace in an America which, I fear, is about to become as darkly surreal as The Big Lebowski. Transcript:“[Springsteen] represents, as cultural icon, a certain expression of liberalism, a big-hearted, humanistic liberalism that exercises creativity to represent diverse constituencies in our society, that believes in art as a tool of democratic engagement, and that seeks to lead with an abounding, an abiding sense of compassion and empathy. That is the kind of liberalism, both with the small and capital L, that I believe in, and that I have spent my career documenting and attempting to advance.” -David MasciotraAK: Hello, everybody. We're still processing November the 5th. I was in the countryside of Northern Virginia a few days ago, I saw a sign, for people just listening, Trump/Vance 2024 sign with "winner" underneath. Some people are happy. Most, I guess, of our listeners probably aren't, certainly a lot of our guests aren't, my old friend John Rauch was on the show yesterday talking about what he called the "catastrophic ordinariness" of the election and of contemporary America. He authored two responses to the election. Firstly, he described it in UnPopulist as a moral catastrophe. But wearing his Brookings hat, he's a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, described it as an ordinary election. I think a lot of people are scratching their head, trying to make sense of it. Another old friend of the show, David Masciotra, cultural writer, political writer. An interesting piece in the Washington Monthly entitled "How Francis Fukuyama and The Big Lebowski Explain Trump's Victory." A very creative piece. And he is joining us from Highland Indiana, not too far from Chicago. David. The Big Lebowski and Francis Fukuyama. Those two don't normally go together, certainly in a title. Let's talk first about Fukuyama. How does Fukuyama explain November the 5th? DAVID MASCIOTRA: In his. Well, first, thanks for having me. And I should say I watched your conversation with Jonathan Rauch, and it was quite riveting and quite sobering. And you talked about Fukuyama in that discussion as well. And you referenced his book, The End of History and the Last Man, a very often misinterpreted book, but nonetheless, toward its conclusion, Fukuyama warns that without an external enemy, liberal democracies may indeed turn against themselves, and we may witness an implosion rather than an explosion. And Fukuyama said that this won't happen so much for ideological reasons, but it will happen for deeply psychological ones, namely, without a just cause for which to struggle, people will turn against the just cause itself, which in this case is liberal democracy, and out of a sense of boredom and alienation, they'll grow increasingly tired of their society and cultivate something of a death wish in which they enjoy imagining their society's downfall, or at least the downfall of some of the institutions that are central to their society. And now I would argue that after the election results, we've witnessed the transformation of imagining to inviting. So, there is a certain death wish and a sense of...alienation and detachment from that which made the United States of America a uniquely prosperous and stable country with the ability to self-correct the myriad injustices we know are part of its history. Well now, people--because they aren't aware of the institutions or norms that created this robust engine of commerce and liberty--they've turned against it, and they no longer invest in that which is necessary to preserve it.AK: That's interesting, David. The more progressives I talk to about this, the more it--there's an odd thing going on--you're all sounding very conservative. The subtitle of the piece in the Washington Monthly was "looking at constituencies or issues misses the big point. On Tuesday, nihilism was on display, even a death wish in a society wrought by cynicism." Words like nihilism and cynicism, David, historically have always been used by people like Allan Blum, whose book, of course, The Closing of the American Mind, became very powerful amongst American conservatives now 40 or 50 years ago. Would you accept that using language like nihilism and cynicism isn't always associated--I mean, you're a proud progressive. You're a man of the left. You've never disguised that. It's rather odd to imagine that the guys like you--and in his own way, John Rauch too, who talks about the moral catastrophe of the election couple of weeks ago. You're all speaking about the loss of morality of the voter, or of America. Is there any truth to that? Making some sense?DAVID MASCIOTRA: That's a that's a fair observation. And Jonathan Rauch, during your conversation and in his own writing, identifies a center right. I would say I'm center left.AK: And he's--but what's interesting, what ties you together, is that you both use the L-word, liberal, to define yourselves. He's perhaps a liberal on the right. You're a liberal on the left.DAVID MASCIOTRA: Yes. And I think that the Trump era, if we can trace that back to 2015, has made thoughtful liberals more conservative in thought and articulation, because it forces a confrontation and interrogation of a certain naivete. George Will writes in his book, The Conservative Sensibility, that the progressive imagines that which is the best possible outcome and strives to make it real, whereas the conservative imagines the worst possible outcome and does everything he can to guard against it. And now it feels like we've experienced, at least electorally, the worst possible outcome. So there a certain revisitation of that which made America great, to appropriate a phrase, and look for where we went wrong in failing to preserve it. So that kind of thinking inevitably leads one to use more conservative language and deal in more conservative thought.AK: Yeah. So for you, what made America great, to use the term you just introduced, was what? Its morality? The intrinsic morality of people living in it and in the country? Is that, for you, what liberalism is?DAVID MASCIOTRA: Liberalism is a system in and the culture that emanates out of that system. So it's a constitutional order that creates or that places a premium on individual rights and allows for a flourishing free market. Now, where my conception of liberalism would enter the picture and, perhaps Jonathan Rauch and I would have some disagreements, certainly George Will and I, is that a bit of governmental regulation is necessary along with the social welfare state, to civilize the free market. But the culture that one expects to flow from that societal order and arrangement is one of aspiration, one in which citizens fully accept that they are contributing agents to this experiment in self-governance and therefore need to spend time in--to use a Walt Whitman phrase--freedom's gymnasium. Sharpening the intellect, sharpening one's sense of moral duty and obligation to the commons, to the public good. And as our society has become more individualistic and narcissistic in nature, those commitments have vanished. And as our society has become more anti-intellectual in nature, we are seeing a lack of understanding of why those commitments are even necessary. So that's why you get a result like we witnessed on Tuesday, and that I argue in my piece that you were kind enough to have me on to discuss, is a form of nihilism, and The Big Lebowski reference, of course--AK: And of course, I want to get to Lebowski, because the Fukuyama stuff is interesting, but everyone's writing about Fukuyama and the end of history and why history never really ended, of course. It's been going on for years now, but it's a particularly interesting moment. We've had Fukuyama on the show. I've never heard anyone, though, compare the success of Trump and Trumpism with The Big Lebowski. So, one of the great movies, of course, American movies. What's the connection, David, between November 5th and The Big Lebowski? DAVID MASCIOTRA: Well, The Big Lebowski is one of my favorite films. I've written about it, and I even appeared at one of the The Big Lebowski festivals that takes place in United States a number of years ago. But my mind went to the scene when The Dude is in his bathtub and these three menacing figures break into his apartment. They drop a gerbil in the bathtub. And The Dude, who was enjoying a joint by candlelight, is, of course, startled and frightened. And these three men tell him that if he does not pay the money they believe he owes them, they will come back and, in their words, "cut off your Johnson." And The Dude gives them a quizzical, bemused look. And one of them says, "You think we are kidding? We are nihilists. We believe in nothing." And then one of them screams, "We'll cut off your Johnson." Well, I thought, you know, we're looking at an electorate that increasingly, or at least a portion of the electorate, increasingly believes in nothing. So we've lost faith.AK: It's the nihilists again. And of course, another Johnson in America, there was once a president called Johnson who enjoyed waving his Johnson, I think, around in public. And now there's the head of the house is another Johnson, I think he's a little shyer than presidents LBJ. But David, coming back to this idea of nihilism. It often seems to be a word used by people who don't like what other people think and therefore just write it off as nihilism. Are you suggesting that the Trump crowd have no beliefs? Is that what nihilism for you is? I mean, he was very clear about what he believes in. You may not like it, but it doesn't seem to be nihilistic.DAVID MASCIOTRA: That's another fair point. What I'm referring to is not too long ago, we lived in a country that had a shared set of values. Those values have vanished. And those values involve adherence to our democratic norms. It's very difficult to imagine had George H. W. Bush attempted to steal the election in which Bill Clinton won, that George H. W. Bush could have run again and won. So we've lost faith in something essential to our electoral system. We've lost faith in the standards of decency that used to, albeit imperfectly, regulate our national politics. So the man to whom I just refered, Bill Clinton, was nearly run out of office for having an extramarital affair, a misdeed that cannot compare to the myriad infractions of Donald Trump. And yet, Trump's misdeeds almost give him a cultural cachet among his supporters. It almost makes him, for lack of a better word, cool. And now we see, even with Trump's appointments, I mean, of course, it remains to be seen how it plays out, that we're losing faith in credentials and experience--AK: Well they're certainly a band of outlaws and very proud to be outlaws. It could almost be a Hollywood script. But I wonder, David, whether there's a more serious critique here. You, like so many other people, both on the left and the right, are nostalgic for an age in which everyone supposedly agreed on things, a most civil and civilized age. And you go back to the Bushes, back to Clinton. But the second Bush, who now seems to have appeared as this icon, at least moral icon, many critics of Trump, was also someone who unleashed a terrible war, killing tens of thousands of people, creating enormous suffering for millions of others. And I think that would be the Trump response, that he's simply more honest, that in the old days, the Bushes of the world can speak politely and talk about consensus, and then unleash terrible suffering overseas--and at home in their neoliberal policies of globalization--Trump's simply more honest. He tells it as it is. And that isn't nihilistic, is it?DAVID MASCIOTRA: Well, you are gesturing towards an important factor in our society. Trump, of course, we know, is a dishonest man, a profoundly dishonest--AK: Well, in some ways. But in other ways, he isn't. I mean, in some ways he just tells the truth as it is. It's a truth we're uncomfortable with. But it's certainly very truthful about the impact of foreign wars on America, for example, or even the impact of globalization. DAVID MASCIOTRA: What you're describing is an authenticity. That that Trump is authentic. And authenticity has become chief among the modern virtues, which I would argue is a colossal error. Stanley Crouch, a great writer, spent decades analyzing the way in which we consider authenticity and how it inevitably leads to, to borrow his phrase, cast impurity onto the bottom. So anything that which requires effort, refinement, self-restraint, self-control, plays to the crowd as inauthentic, as artificial--AK: Those are all aristocratic values that may have once worked but don't anymore. Should we be nostalgic for the aristocratic way of the Bushes?DAVID MASCIOTRA: I think in a certain respect, we should. We shouldn't be nostalgic for George W. Bush's policies. I agree with you, the war in Iraq was catastrophic, arguably worse than anything Trump did while he was president. His notoriously poor response to Hurricane Katrina--I mean, we can go on and on cataloging the various disasters of the Bush administration. However, George W. Bush as president and the people around him did have a certain belief in the liberal order of the United States and the liberal order of the world. Institutions like NATO and the EU, and those institutions, and that order, has given the United States, and the world more broadly, an unrivaled period of peace and prosperity.AK: Well it wasn't peace, David. And the wars, the post-9/11 wars, were catastrophic. And again, they seem to be just facades--DAVID MASCIOTRA: We also had the Vietnam War, the Korean War. When I say peace, I mean we didn't have a world war break out as we did in the First World War, in the Second World War. And that's largely due to the creation and maintenance of institutions following the Second World War that were aimed at the preservation of order and, at least, amicable relations between countries that might otherwise collide.AK: You're also the author, David, of a book we've always wanted to talk about. Now we're figuring out a way to integrate it into the show. You wrote a book, an interesting book, about Bruce Springsteen. Working on a Dream: the Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen. Bruce Springsteen has made himself very clear. He turned out for Harris. Showed up with his old friend, Barack Obama. Clearly didn't have the kind of impact he wanted. You wrote an interesting piece for UnHerd a few weeks ago with the title, "Bruce Springsteen is the Last American Liberal: he's still proud to be born in the USA." Is he the model of a liberal response to the MAGA movement, Springsteen? DAVID MASCIOTRA: Well, of course, I wouldn't go so far as to say the last liberal. As most readers just probably know, writers don't compose their own headlines--AK: But he's certainly, if not the last American liberal, the quintessential American liberal.DAVID MASCIOTRA: Yes. He represents, as cultural icon, a certain expression of liberalism, a big-hearted, humanistic liberalism that exercises creativity to represent diverse constituencies in our society, that believes in art as a tool of democratic engagement, and that seeks to lead with an abounding, an abiding sense of compassion and empathy. That is the kind of liberalism, both with the small and capital L, that I believe in, and that I have spent my career documenting and attempting to advance. And those are, of course, the forms of liberalism that now feel as if they are under threat. Now, to that point, you know, this could have just come down to inflation and some egregious campaign errors of Kamala Harris. But it does feel as if when you have 70 some odd million people vote for the likes of Donald Trump, that the values one can observe in the music of Bruce Springsteen or in the rhetoric of Barack Obama, for that matter, are no longer as powerful and pervasive as they were in their respective glory days. No pun intended.AK: Yeah. And of course, Springsteen is famous for singing "Glory Days." I wonder, though, where Springsteen himself is is a little bit more complex and we might be a little bit more ambivalent about him, there was a piece recently about him becoming a billionaire. So it's all very well him being proud to be born in the USA. He's part--for better or worse, I mean, it's not a criticism, but it's a reality--he's part of the super rich. He showed out for Harris, but it didn't seem to make any impact. You talked about the diversity of Springsteen. I went to one of his concerts in San Francisco earlier this year, and I have to admit, I was struck by the fact that everyone, practically everyone at the concert, was white, everyone was wealthy, everyone paid several hundred dollars to watch a 70 year old man prance around on stage and behave as if he's still 20 or 30 years old. I wonder whether Springsteen himself is also emblematic of a kind of cultural, or political, or even moral crisis of our old cultural elites. Or am I being unfair to Springsteen?DAVID MASCIOTRA: Well, I remember once attending a Springsteen show in which the only black person I saw who wasn't an employee of the arena was Clarence Clemons.AK: Right. And then Bruce, of course, always made a big deal. And there was an interesting conversation when Springsteen and Obama did a podcast together. Obama, in his own unique way, lectured Bruce a little bit about Clarence Clemons in terms of his race. But sorry. Go on.DAVID MASCIOTRA: Yeah. And Springsteen has written and discussed how he had wished he had a more diverse audience. When I referred to diversity in his music, I meant the stories he aimed to tell in song certainly represented a wide range of the American experience. But when you talk about Springsteen, perhaps himself representing a moral crisis--AK: I wouldn't say a crisis, but he represents the, shall we say, the redundancy of that liberal worldview of the late 20th century. I mean, he clearly wears his heart on his sleeve. He means well. He's not a bad guy. But he doesn't reach a diverse audience. His work is built around the American working class. None of them can afford to show up to what he puts on. I mean, Chris Christie is a much more typical fan than the white working class. Does it speak of the fact that there's a...I don't know if you call it a crisis, it's just...Springsteen isn't relevant anymore in the America of the 2020s, or at least when he sang and wrote about no longer exists.DAVID MASCIOTRA: Yes, I agree with that. So first of all, the working class bit was always a bit overblown with Springsteen. Springsteen, of course, was never really part of the working class, except when he was a child. But by his own admission, he never had a 9 to 5 job. And Springsteen sang about working class life like William Shakespeare wrote about teenage love. He did so with a poetic grandeur that inspired some of his best work. And outside looking in, he actually managed to offer more insights than sometimes people on the inside can amount to themselves. But you're certainly correct. I mean, the Broadway show, for example, when the tickets were something like a thousand a piece and it was $25 to buy a beer. There is a certain--AK: Yeah and in that Broadway show, which I went to--I thought it was astonishing, actually, a million times better than the show in San Francisco.DAVID MASCIOTRA: It was one of the best things he ever did.AK: He acknowledges that he made everything up, that he wasn't part of the American working class, and that he'd never worked a day in his life, and yet his whole career is is built around representing a social class and a way of life that he was never part of.“Not too long ago, we lived in a country that had a shared set of values. Those values have vanished. And those values involve adherence to our democratic norms.” -DMDAVID MASCIOTRA: Right. And he has a lyric himself: "It's a sad, funny ending when you find yourself pretending a rich man in a poor man's shirt." So there always was this hypocrisy--hypocrisy might be a little too strong--inconsistency. And he adopted a playful attitude toward it in the 90s and in later years. But to your point of relevance, I think you're on to something there. One of the crises I would measure in our society is that we no longer live in a culture of ambition and aspiration. So you hear this when people say that they want a political leader who talks like the average person, or the common man. And you hear this when "college educated" is actually used as an insult against a certain base of Democratic voters. There were fewer college-educated voters when John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan ran for president, all of whom spoke with greater eloquence and a more expansive vocabulary and a greater sense of cultural sophistication than Donald Trump or Kamala Harris did. And yet there was no objection, because people understood that we should aspire to something more sophisticated. We should aspire to something more elevated beyond the everyday vernacular of the working class. And for that reason, Springsteen was able to become something of a working-class poet, despite never living among the working class beyond his childhood. Because his poetry put to music represented something idealistic about the working class.AK: But oddly enough, it was a dream--there's was a word that Springsteen uses a lot in his work--that was bought by the middle class. It wasn't something that was--although, I think in the early days, probably certainly in New Jersey, that he had a more working-class following.DAVID MASCIOTRA: We have to deal with the interesting and frustrating reality that the people about whom Springsteen sings in those early songs like "Darkness on the Edge of Town" or "The River" would probably be Trump supporters if they were real.AK: Yeah. And in your piece you refer to, not perhaps one of his most famous albums, The Rising, but you use it to compare Springsteen with another major figure now in America, much younger man to Ta-Nehisi Coates, who has a new book out, which is an important new book, The Message. You seem to be keener on Springsteen than Coates. Tell us about this comparison and what the comparison tells us about the America of the 2020s.DAVID MASCIOTRA: Well, Coates...the reason I make the comparison is that one of Springsteen's greatest artistic moments, in which he kind of resurrected his status as cultural icon, was the record he put out after the 9/11 attack on the United States, The Rising. And throughout that record he pays tribute, sometimes overtly, sometimes subtly, to the first responders who ascended in the tower knowing they would perhaps die.AK: Yeah. You quote him "love and duty called you someplace higher." So he was idealizing those very brave firefighters, policemen who gave up their lives on 9/11.DAVID MASCIOTRA: Exactly. Representing the best of humanity. Whereas Ta-Nehisi Coates, who has become the literary superstar of the American left, wrote in his memoir that on 9/11, he felt nothing and did not see the first responders as human. Rather, they were part of the fire that could, in his words, crush his body.AK: Yeah, he wrote a piece, "What Is 9/11 to Descendants of Slaves?"DAVID MASCIOTRA: Yes. And my point in making that comparison, and this was before the election, was to say that the American left has its own crisis of...if we don't want to use the word nihilism, you objected to it earlier--AK: Well, I'm not objecting. I like the word. It's just curious to hear it come from somebody like yourself, a man, certainly a progressive, maybe not--you might define yourself as being on the left, but certainly more on the left and on the right.DAVID MASCIOTRA: Yes, I would agree with that characterization. But that the left has its own crisis of nihilism. If if you are celebrating a man who, despite his journalistic talents and intelligence, none of which I would deny, refused to see the humanity of the first responders on the 9/11 attack and, said that he felt nothing for the victims, presumably even those who were black and impoverished, then you have your own crisis of belief, and juxtaposing that with the big hearted, humanistic liberalism of Springsteen for me shows the left a better path forward. Now, that's a path that will increasingly close after the victory of Trump, because extremism typically begets extremism, and we're probably about to undergo four years of dueling cynicism and rage and unhappy times.AK: I mean, you might respond, David, and say, well, Coates is just telling the truth. Why should a people with a history of slavery care that much about a few white people killed on 9/11 when their own people lost millions through slavery? And you compare them to Springsteen, as you've acknowledged, a man who wasn't exactly telling the truth in his heart. I mean, he's a very good artist, but he writes about a working class, which even he acknowledges, he made most of it up. So isn't Coates like Trump in an odd kind of way, aren't they just telling an unvarnished truth that people don't want to hear, an impolite truth?DAVID MASCIOTRA: I'm not sure. I typically shy away from the expression "my truth" or "his truth" because it's too relativistic. But I'll make an exception in this case. I think Coates is telling HIS truth just as Trump is telling HIS truth, if that adds up to THE truth, is much more dubious. Yes, we could certainly say that, you know, because the United States enslaved, tortured, and otherwise oppressed millions of black people, it may be hard for some black observers to get teary eyed on 9/11, but the black leaders whom I most admire didn't have that reaction. I wrote a book about Jesse Jackson after spending six years interviewing with him and traveling with him. He certainly didn't react that way on 9/11. Congressman John Lewis didn't react that way on 9/11. So, the heroes of the civil rights movement, who helped to overcome those brutal systems of oppression--and I wouldn't argue that they're overcome entirely, but they helped to revolutionize the United States--they maintained a big-hearted sense of empathy and compassion, and they recognized that the unjust loss of life demands mourning and respect, whether it's within their own community or another. So I would say that, here again, we're back to the point of ambition, whether it's intellectual ambition or moral ambition. Ambition is what allows a society to grow. And it seems like ambition has fallen far out of fashion. And that is why the country--the slim majority of the electorate that did vote and the 40% of the electorate that did not vote, or voting-age public, I should say--settled for the likes of Donald Trump.AK: I wonder what The Dude would do, if he was around, at the victory of Trump, or even at 9/11. He'd probably continue to sit in the bath tub and enjoy...enjoy whatever he does in his bathtub. I mean, he's not a believer. Isn't he the ultimate nihilist? The Dude in Lebowski?DAVID MASCIOTRA: That's an interesting interpretation. I would say that...Is The Dude a nihilist? You have this juxtaposition... The Dude kind of occupies this middle ground between the nihilists who proudly declare they believe in nothing and his friend Walter Sobchak, who's, you know, almost this raving explosion of belief. Yeah, ex-Vietnam veteran who's always confronting people with his beliefs and screaming and demanding they all adhere to his rules. I don't know if The Dude's a nihilist as much as he has a Zen detachment.AK: Right, well, I think what makes The Big Lebowski such a wonderful film, and perhaps so relevant today, is Lebowski, unlike so many Americans is unjudgmental. He's not an angry man. He's incredibly tolerant. He accepts everyone, even when they're beating him up or ripping him off. And he's so, in that sense, different from the America of the 2020s, where everyone is angry and everyone blames someone else for whatever's wrong in their lives.DAVID MASCIOTRA: That's exactly right.AK: Is that liberal or just Zen? I don't know.DAVID MASCIOTRA: Yeah. It's perhaps even libertarian in a sense. But there's a very interesting and important book by Justin Tosi and Brandon Warmke called Why It's Okay to Mind Your Own Business. And in it they argue--they're both political scientists although the one may be a...they may be philosophers...but that aside--they present an argument for why Americans need to do just that. Mind their own business.AK: Which means, yeah, not living politics, which certainly Lebowski is. It's probably the least political movie, Lebowski, I mean, he doesn't have a political bone in his body. Finally, David, there there's so much to talk about here, it's all very interesting. You first came on the show, you had a book out, that came out either earlier this year or last year. Yeah, it was in April of this year, Exurbia Now: The Battleground of American Democracy. And you wrote about the outskirts of suburbia, which you call "exurbia." Jonathan Rauch, wearing his Brookings cap, described this as an ordinary election. I'm not sure how much digging you've done, but did the exurbian vote determine this election? I mean, the election was determined by a few hundred thousand voters in the Midwest. Were these voters mostly on the edge of the suburb? And I'm guessing most of them voted for Trump.DAVID MASCIOTRA: Well, Trump's numbers in exurbia...I've dug around and I've been able to find the exurbian returns for Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Arizona. So three crucial swing states. If Kamala Harris had won those three states, she would be president. And Trump's support in exurbia was off the charts, as it was in 2020 and 2016, and as I predicted, it would be in 2024. I'm not sure that that would have been sufficient to deliver him the race and certainly not in the fashion that he won. Trump made gains with some groups that surprised people, other groups that didn't surprise people, but he did much better than expected. So unlike, say, in 2016, where we could have definitively and conclusively said Trump won because of a spike in turnout for him in rural America and in exurbia, here, the results are more mixed. But it remains the case that the base most committed to Trump and most fervently loyal to his agenda is rural and exurban.AK: So just outside the cities. And finally, I argued, maybe counterintuitively, that America remains split today as it was before November the 5th, so I'm not convinced that this election is the big deal that some people think it is. But you wrote an interesting piece in Salon back in 2020 arguing that Trump has poisoned American culture, but the toxin was here all along. Of course, there is more, if anything, of that toxin now. So even if Harris had won the election, that toxin was still here. And finally, David, how do we get rid of that toxin? Do we just go to put Bruce Springsteen on and go and watch Big Lebowski? I mean, how do we get beyond this toxin?DAVID MASCIOTRA: I would I would love it if that was the way to do it.AK: We'll sit in our bathtub and wait for the thugs to come along?DAVID MASCIOTRA: Right, exactly. No, what you're asking is, of course, the big question. We need to find a way to resurrect some sense of, I'll use another conservative phrase, civic virtue. And in doing--AK: And resurrection, of course, by definition, is conservative, because you're bringing something back.“Ambition is what allows a society to grow. And it seems like ambition has fallen far out of fashion.” -DMDAVID MASCIOTRA: Exactly. And we also have to resurrect, offer something more practical, we have to resurrect a sense of civics. One thing on which--I have immense respect and admiration for Jonathan Rauch--one minor quibble I would have with him from your conversation is when he said that the voters rejected the liberal intellectual class and their ideas. Some voters certainly rejected, but some voters were unaware. The lack of civic knowledge in the United States is detrimental to our institutions. I mean, a majority of Americans don't know how many justices are on the Supreme Court. They can't name more than one freedom enumerated in the Bill of Rights. So we need to find a way to make citizenship a vital part of our national identity again. And there are some practical means of doing that in the educational system. Certainly won't happen in the next four years. But to get to the less tangible matter of how to resurrect something like civic virtue and bring back ambition and aspiration in our sense of national identity, along with empathy, is much tougher. I mean, Robert Putnam says it thrives upon community and voluntary associations.AK: Putnam has been on the show, of course.DAVID MASCIOTRA: Yeah. So, I mean, this is a conversation that will develop. I wish I had the answer, and I wish it was just to listen to Born to Run in the bathtub with with a poster of The Dude hanging overhead. But as I said to you before we went on the air, I think that you have a significant insight to learn this conversation because, in many ways, your books were prescient. We certainly live with the cult of the amateur now, more so than when you wrote that book. So, I'd love to hear your ideas.AK: Well, that's very generous of you, David. And next time we appear, you're going to interview me about why the cult of the amateur is so important. So we will see you again soon. But we're going to swap seats. So, David will interview me about the relevance of Cult of the Amateur. Wonderful conversation, David. I've never thought about Lebowski or Francis Fukuyama, particularly Lebowski, in terms of what happened on November 5th. So, very insightful. Thank you, David, and we'll see you again in the not-too-distant future.DAVID MASCIOTRA: Thank you. I'm going to reread Cult of the Amateur to prepare. I may even do it in the bathtub. I look forward to our discussion.David Masciotra is an author, lecturer, and journalist. He is the author of I Am Somebody: Why Jesse Jackson Matters (I.B. Tauris, 2020), Mellencamp: American Troubadour (University Press of Kentucky), Barack Obama: Invisible Man (Eyewear Publishers, 2017), and Metallica by Metallica, a 33 1/3 book from Bloomsbury Publishers, which has been translated into Chinese. In 2010, Continuum Books published his first book, Working On a Dream: The Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen.His 2024 book, Exurbia Now: Notes from the Battleground of American Democracy, is published by Melville House Books. Masciotra writes regularly for the New Republic, Washington Monthly, Progressive, the Los Angeles Review of Books, CrimeReads, No Depression, and the Daily Ripple. He has also written for Salon, the Daily Beast, CNN, Atlantic, Washington Post, AlterNet, Indianapolis Star, and CounterPunch. Several of his political essays have been translated into Spanish for publication at Korazon de Perro. His poetry has appeared in Be About It Press, This Zine Will Change Your Life, and the Pangolin Review. Masciotra has a Master's Degree in English Studies and Communication from Valparaiso University. He also has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of St. Francis. He is public lecturer, speaking on a wide variety of topics, from the history of protest music in the United States to the importance of bars in American culture. David Masciotra has spoken at the University of Wisconsin, University of South Carolina, Lewis University, Indiana University, the Chicago Public Library, the Lambeth Library (UK), and an additional range of colleges, libraries, arts centers, and bookstores. As a journalist, he has conducted interviews with political leaders, musicians, authors, and cultural figures, including Jesse Jackson, John Mellencamp, Noam Chomsky, all members of Metallica, David Mamet, James Lee Burke, Warren Haynes, Norah Jones, Joan Osborne, Martín Espada, Steve Earle, and Rita Dove. Masciotra lives in Indiana, and teaches literature and political science courses at the University of St. Francis and Indiana University Northwest. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication

Exodus 3:1-10 / November 13-14, 2024 Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll as he applies lessons from Moses' experience for every believer. The crux of Moses' commissioning rested on God and His strength rather than on Moses' ability. The same is true for you! From the Series: Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication read more

Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication

Exodus 3:1-10 / November 13-14, 2024 Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll as he applies lessons from Moses' experience for every believer. The crux of Moses' commissioning rested on God and His strength rather than on Moses' ability. The same is true for you! From the Series: Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication read more

Exodus 3:1-10 / November 13-14, 2024 Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll as he applies lessons from Moses' experience for every believer. The crux of Moses' commissioning rested on God and His strength rather than on Moses' ability. The same is true for you! From the Series: Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication read more

SERIES 3 EPISODE 36: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (1:44) SPECIAL COMMENT: White Trash Congressman Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) has now targeted stochastic terrorism against the legal Haitian migrants in Ohio and elsewhere: "Lol. These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters, but damned if they don't feel all sophisticated now, filing charges against our President and VP. All these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th." His enabler, Speaker Mike Johnson, has blocked efforts to censure Higgins - the idiot who believes "Ghost Buses" transported somebody to January 6th - and insisted that Higgins prayed over his tweet and then deleted it. This raises the question obvious to everybody but the world's smallest politician: Why didn't Higgins pray BEFORE he virtually dropped the N-word on a bunch of legal residents in Ohio? If at any point between now and the election you stop being angry that Donald Trump and his fellow peddler of cultural heroin JD Vance have let creatures like Clay Higgins crawl out of the woodwork, suck it up. The election of November 5th is as existential for this nation as was the Civil War – and many of the issues are identical. And the results must be. TRUMP ALSO AGAIN ADMITS HE LOST "BY A WHISKER" IN 2020. He apparently forgot he previously used the same analogy, then denied it and said he was being sarcastic, and has now said it again. He also says Iran is trying to kill him because he's trying to restore the furniture industry in North Carolina and "they only kill consequential presidents." This psychopath is PRE-BRAGGING ON HIS OWN POSSIBLE ASSASSINATION. There's extraordinary news out of polling for the Senate race in Nebraska and it IS Jack Smith day and there was a blooper on Fox yesterday so grotesque as to be hilarious. B-Block (20:11) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: A brief Nuzzi update featuring my ex-girlfriend's ex-fiancee's because of my ex-friend's sexts' ex-wife. The medalists? Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski threatens Harris voters in Ohio. Jamie Dimon spits on all immigrants, like the grave of his immigrant grandfather. And Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are too stupid to understand that the Republicans will ban abortion whether the Democrats get rid of the filibuster or not. C-Block (28:40) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: 20 years ago Nicolle Wallace was one of the Bush White House thugs trying to kill MSNBC, the Democrats, me - and especially the man who caught Bush lying about Saddam and uranium, Ambassador Joe Wilson. The Bushes were convinced I was on their side in the story, so they kept emailing me talking points, But because Nicolle and the others were too lazy to look up the correct spelling of my name, I never got the emails directly - only forwarded from the people within NBC whom the Bushies knew would carry their water for them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A motorist became curious when he noticed something in a lay-by on the A464 road east of Shifnal to Wolverhampton. It was 9.30 on a cold winter's morning. In a split-second decision, the driver decided to pull in to get a closer look. When he explored the undergrowth, he came to the realisation that he was looking at a dead body. It appeared as though a half-hearted attempt was made to cover the remains. Bushes had been placed to shield some of the body from prying eyes. Whoever had done it hadn't taken the time to thoroughly conceal the victim who bore the marks of being badly beaten…*** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED *** This episode was researched and written by Rosanna Fitton.Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions.Illustrations and production direction by Rosanna FittonNarration, additional audio editing, script editing, and production direction by Benjamin Fitton.Become a ‘Patreon Producer' and get exclusive access to Season 1, early ad-free access to episodes, and your name in the podcast credits. Find out more here: https://www.patreon.com/TheyWalkAmongUsMore information and episode references can be found on our website https://theywalkamonguspodcast.comMUSIC: Hold This Place by Alice In Winter Handmaids Escape by CJ Oliver Far From Home by Cody Martin Half Empty by Cody Martin Nightlock by Cody Martin Rogue by Cody Martin Storms Coming by Cody Martin Wolgrim by Cody Martin Dark Hour by Falls Ripley by Falls Endless Night by Moments Those Lost by Moments Cocoon Of Light by Phillip Mount Driven To The Edge by Salon Dijon Harboring by Salon Dijon SOCIAL MEDIA: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeM6RXDKQ3gZbDHaKxvrAyAX - https://twitter.com/TWAU_PodcastFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/theywalkamonguspodcastInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/theywalkamonguspodcastThreads - https://www.threads.net/@theywalkamonguspodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/theywalkamongus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Mark Levin Show, Kamala Harris spent a week preparing for the debate with Donald Trump because she needs to be scripted in order to hide her Marxist Islamist chameleon true self. The media are ecstatic over Tuesday night's debate and feel like Kamala Harris delivered a knockout punch to Donald Trump because to Harris this was a debate to her real constituency: the media. Harris was trained for this debate to appeal to the media that she has been avoiding and came ready with her cheap shots and 25 lies about Trump. We have no idea what Harris's plans are for crime, immigration, or tackling inflation and reducing the prices of things like food, gasoline, vehicles, and housing – all things that affect the American people. The new debate in the media is whether there should be a second debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. All Trump talks about in his rallies and the debates are the issues, but all Kamala does is avoid talking about the issues whether it's to the media or the American voters who still do not know what she stands for. Ronald Reagan was hated by the same people who hate Trump today, including the Bushes, Cheneys, RINO Republicans, and the media. It is time for us to be selfish and vote for the person who will return our country and the world to normalcy, and that person is Donald Trump. Also, Israel is in a very difficult position in the Middle East surrounded by terrorist groups and countries that want to destroy them, and they are all aided by the Biden/Harris administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Thursday's Mark Levin Show, the new debate in the media is whether there should be a second debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. All Trump talks about in his rallies and the debates are the issues, but all Kamala does is avoid talking about the issues whether it's to the media or the American voters who still do not know what she stands for. Ronald Reagan was hated by the same people who hate Trump today, including the Bushes, Cheneys, RINO Republicans, and the media. It is time for us to be selfish and vote for the person who will return our country and the world to normalcy, and that person is Donald Trump. Also, Israel is in a very difficult position in the Middle East surrounded by terrorist groups and countries that want to destroy them, and they are all aided by the Biden/Harris administration. Harris is the biggest hater of Israel to ever run for president because she is an Islamist. Later, WREC radio host Ben Ferguson fills in for Mark. Trump has a new economic plan that is an addition to his plans to not tax tips or social security, and that is to not tax overtime. Harris wants you to be poorer so you need to rely on the government for everything to survive. Trump is the biggest threat to the Democrat party because under his presidency we had the lowest unemployment for a number of groups who are usually overwhelming supporters of the Democrat party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While Republicans paint a vision of America as a dystopian hellscape, Kamala is helping herself to the sunny optimism of Reagan and the Bushes. Plus, Taylor is breaking MAGA's brains and driving up voter registrations, Sarah Palin is no longer the worst VP candidate, and Laura Loomer is even too crazy for MTG. Mark McKinnon joins Tim Miller.