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Jon told his high school principal, Mr. Barnett, that he planned to drop out of school. But Mr. Barnett implored him to earn his diploma — which set Jon on a path to success. Do you have your own story of an unsung hero? We'd love to hear it! Record a voice memo and email it to us at myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org. Some guidance:--Focus on ONE moment that you will never forget. --Make sure you're in a quiet, non-echoey room.--Speak conversationally, like you're talking to a friend.--Let us know why this person continues to impact your life.--If your hero were standing in front of you today, what would you say? Address them directly. 

Few analysts are more familiar with the politics of both contemporary Turkey and the United States than my old friend , the distinguished Turkish political scientist Soli Ozel. Drawing on his decades of experience in both countries, Ozel, currently a senior fellow at the Institut Montaigne, explains how democratic institutions are similarly being challenged in Trump's America and Erdogan's Turkey. He discusses the imprisonment of Istanbul's popular mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, restrictive speech in American universities, and how economic decline eventually undermines authoritarian regimes. Ozel emphasizes that effective opposition requires both public discontent and compelling leadership alternatives, which Turkey has developed but America currently sorely lacks. Most intriguingly, he suggests that Harvard's legal battle against Trump could be as significant as the 1925 Scopes trial which marked the end of another bout of anti-scientific hysteria in America. 5 Key Takeaways* Populist authoritarianism follows a similar pattern regardless of left/right ideology - controlling judiciary, media, and institutions while claiming to represent "the people" against elites.* Academic freedom in America has declined significantly, with Ozel noting he experienced more classroom freedom in Turkey than at Yale in 2019.* Economic pain combined with a crisis of legitimacy is crucial for challenging authoritarian regimes, but requires credible opposition leadership to succeed.* Istanbul mayor Imamoglu has emerged as a powerful opposition figure in Turkey by appealing across political divides and demonstrating practical governance skills.* Turkey's strategic importance has increased due to its position between war zones (Syria and Ukraine) and Europe's growing need for security partners as American support becomes less certain. Full TranscriptAndrew Keen: Hello, everybody. It's not great news these days that the U.S. Brand has been, so to speak, tarnished as a headline today on CNN. I'm quoting them. CNN, of course, is not Donald Trump's biggest fan. Trump tarnishes the U S brand as a rock of stability in the global economy. I'm not sure if the US was ever really a rock of stability for anything except itself. But we on the show as. As loyal viewers and listeners know, we've been going around the world, taking stock of the US brand, how it's viewed around the word. We did a show last week with Simon Cooper, the Dutch-based Paris writer of the Financial Times, who believes it's time for all Americans to come and live in Europe. And then with Jemima Kelly, another London-based correspondent. And I thought we would broaden. I asked european perspective by visiting my old friend very old friend Soli Ozel. iVve known him for almost forty years he's a. Senior fellow of international relations and turkey at the montane institute he's talking to us from vienna but he is a man who is born and spends a lot of his time thinking about. Turkey, he has an interesting new piece out in the Institute Montaigne. Turkey, a crisis of legitimacy and massive social mobilization in a regional power. I want to talk to Soli later in this conversation about his take on what's happening in Turkey. But first of all, Soli, before we went live, you noted that you first came to America in September 1977. You were educated here, undergraduate, graduate, both at uh, sized in Washington DC and then at UC Berkeley, where you and I studied together at the graduate program. Um, how do you feel almost 50 years, sorry, we're dating ourselves, but how did you feel taking off your political science cap, your analyst cap, how did you feel about what's happening in America as, as a man who invested your life in some ways in the promise of America, and particularly American education universities.Soli Ozel: Yeah, I mean, I, yes, I came to the States or I went to the States in September of 1977. It was a very different America, post Vietnam. And I went through an avant garde college liberal arts college.Andrew Keen: Bennington wasn'tSoli Ozel: Bennington College, and I've spent about 11 years there. And you and I met in 1983 in Berkeley. And then I also taught at American universities. I taught at UC Santa Cruz, Northwestern, SAIS itself, University of Washington, Yale, and had fellowships in different parts. Now, of course, in those years, a lot has changed in the US. The US has changed. In fact, I'm writing a piece now on Christopher Lash. And reading Christopher Lasch work from the 60s and the 1970s, in a way, you wonder why Trumpism has not really emerged a bit earlier than when it did. So, a lot of the... Dynamics that have brought Donald Trump to power, not once, but twice, and in spite of the fact that, you know, he was tried and found guilty and all that. Many of those elements have been there definitely since the 1980s, but Lascch identified especially this divergence between educated people and less educated people between brainies and or the managerial class and the working class in the United States. So, in a way, it looks like the Trumpism's triumph came even a bit late, although there were a couple of attempts perhaps in the early 1990s. One was Pat Buchanan and the other one, Ross Perot, which we forget that Ross Perot got 19% of the vote against in the contest when Bill Clinton. Won the election against George H.W. Bush. So underground, if you will, a lot was happening in the United States.Andrew Keen: All right. And it's interesting you bring up Lash, there's that sort of whole school Lasch Daniel Bell, of course, we had Daniel Bell's son, David Bell, on the show recently. And there's a lot of discussion, as I'm sure you know, about the nativism of Trump, whether it's uniquely American, whether it was somehow inevitable. We've done last week, we did a show about comparing what's happening now in America to what happened after the First World War. Being less analytical, Solé, my question was more an emotional one to you as someone who has built their life around freedom of expression in American universities. You were at Bennington, you were at SICE, you're at UC Berkeley, as you know, you taught at UC Santa Cruz and Yale and many other places. You come in and out of this country giving lectures. How do you personally feel about what's happening?Soli Ozel: Yeah, okay. I mean, in that sense, again, the United States, by the way, I mean the United States has been changing independently of Mr. Trump's presidency. It was much more difficult to be, I mean when I went to college in Bennington College, you really did not bite your tongue when you were going to speak either as a student or a professor. And increasingly, and especially in my last bout at Yale in 2019, I felt that, you know, there were a lot of constraints on what you could say or how you could say it, whether you would call it walkism, political correctness, whatever it was. It was a much, the atmosphere at the university was much more constrained in terms of what transpired in the classroom and that I mean, in Turkey, I had more freedom in terms of how we debated things in class that I felt that...Andrew Keen: That is astonishing. So you had more freedom in...Soli Ozel: As well, you did in Yale in 1990. I'm talking about not the political aspect of things, but how you debate something, okay, whether or not, I mean, there would be lots of views and you could you could present them without insulting anyone, however you presented them was fine, and this is how what the dynamics of the classroom had been when I was a student. So, in that sense, I guess it wasn't just the right that constrained speech, but also the left that constrained the speech, because new values were added or new norms were invented to define what can and cannot be said. And of course, that goes against the grain of what a university education ought to be. I mean, I had colleagues. In major universities who told me that they really were biting their tongue when they were giving their lectures. And that is not my understanding of education or college education and that certainly has not been my experience when I came to the States and for my long education here for 11 years.Andrew Keen: Solit, you and I have a long history of thinking about the Middle East, where back in the early 80s, we TA'd a class on the Arab-Israeli conflict with Yaya Sadowski, who at that time was a very independent thinker. I know he was a close friend of yours. I was always very influenced by his thinking. You're from Izmir, from a Jewish family in Turkey. So you're all too familiar with the complexity of anti-Semitism, Israel, the Middle East, Turkey. What do you personally make of this hysteria now on campus about anti-semitism and throwing out anyone, it seems, at least from the Trump point of view, who are pro-Palestinian? Is this again, I mean, you went back to Christopher Lasch and his thinking on populism and the dangers of populism in America. Or is this something that... Comes out of the peculiarities of American history. We have predicted this 40 years ago when you and I were TAing Sadowski's class on Arab-Israeli conflict at Berkeley.Soli Ozel: The Arab-Israeli conflict always raises passions, if you will. And it's no different. To put it mildly, Salvador, I think. Yeah, it is a bit different now. I mean, of course, my hunch is that anti-Semitism is always present. There is no doubt. And although I followed the developments very closely after October 7. I was not in there physically present. I had some friends, daughters and sons who were students who have reported to me because I'm supposed to know something about those matters. So yeah, antisemitism is there. On the other hand, there is also some exaggeration. We know that a lot of the protesters, for instance, were Jews themselves. But my hunch is that the Trump administration, especially in their attack against elite universities, are using this for political purposes. I'm sure there were other ways of handling this. I don't find it very sincere. And a real problem is being dealt with in a very manipulative political way, I think. Other and moreover So long as there was no violence and I know there were instances of violence that should be punished that I don't have any complaints about, but partially if this is only related to what you say, I'm not sure that this is how a university or relations between students at the university ought to be conducted. If you're not going to be able to say what you think at the university, then what else are you going to say? Are you going be able say it? So this is a much more complicated matter than it is being presented. And as I said, my view or based on what I follow that is happening at colleges, this is being used as an excuse. As somebody I think Peter Beinhart wrote today in the New York Times. He says, No, no, no. It is not really about protecting Jewish students, but it is protecting a certain... Type of Jewish students, and that means it's a political decision, the complaints, legitimate complaints, perhaps, of some students to use those against university administrations or universities themselves that the Trump administration seems to be targeting.Andrew Keen: Yeah, it's interesting you bring up Beinart. He was on the show a year or two ago. I think he notes that, I mean, I don't want to put words into his mouth, but he seems to be suggesting that Jews now have a responsibility almost to speak out, not just obviously about what's happening in the U.S., but certainly about what is happening in Gaza. I'm not sure what you think on.Soli Ozel: He just published a book, he just published the book being Jewish in the US after Gaza or something along those lines. He represents a certain way of thinking about what had happened in Gaza, I mean what had happened to Israel with the attack of Hamas and what had happened afterwards, whether or not he represents the majority. Do you agree with him? I happen to be. I happen to be sympathetic to his views. And especially when you read the book at the beginning, it says, look, he's a believer. Believer meaning he is a practicing Jew. So this is not really a question about his own Jewishness, but how he understands what being a Jew actually means. And from that perspective, putting a lot of accent to the moral aspects of Jewish history and Jewish theological and secular thinking, He is rebelling, if you will, against this way of manipulative use. On the part of some Jewish organizations as well of what had gone on and this is this he sees as a along with others actually he also sees this as a threat to Jewish presence in the United States. You know there is a simultaneous increase in in anti-semitism. And some people argue that this has begun even before October 7. Let us not forget Charlottesville when the crowds that were deemed to be nice people were chanting, Jews will not replace us, and those people are still around. Yeah, a lot of them went to jail.Andrew Keen: Yeah, I mean Trump seemed to have pardoned some of them. And Solly, what do you make of quote-unquote the resistance to Trump in the U.S.? You're a longtime observer of authoritarianism, both personally and in political science terms. One of the headlines the last few days is about the elite universities forming a private collective to resist the Trump administration. Is this for real and is it new? Should we admire the universities or have they been forced into this position?Soli Ozel: Well, I mean, look, you started your talk with the CNN title. Yeah, about the brand, the tarnishing of the U.S. Whatever the CNN stands for. The thing is, there is no question that what is happening today and what has been happening in my judgment over the last two years, particularly on the issue of Gaza, I would not... Exonerate the Biden administration and the way it actually managed its policy vis-a-vis that conflict. There is, of course, a reflection on American policy vis a vis that particular problem and with the Trump administration and 100 days of storm, if you will, around the world, there is a shift in the way people look at the United States. I think it is not a very favorable shift in terms of how people view and understand the United States. Now, that particular thing, the colleges coming together, institutions in the United States where the Americans are very proud of their Madisonian institutions, they believe that that was there. Uh, if you will, insurance policy against an authoritarian drift in their system. Those institutions, both public institutions and private institutions actually proved to be paper tigers. I mean, look at corporations that caved in, look at law firms that arcade that have caved in, Look at Columbia university being, if you will the most egregious example of caving in and plus still not getting the money or not actually stopping the demands that are made on it. So Harvard after equivocating on this finally came up with a response and decided to take the risk of losing massive sums of grants from the federal government. And in fact, it's even suing. The Trump administration for withholding the money that was supposed to go to them. And I guess there is an awakening and the other colleges in order to protect freedom of expression, in order, to protect the independence of higher education in this country, which has been sacrosanct, which is why a lot of people from all around the world, students... Including you and I, right? I mean, that's why we... Yeah, exactly. By the way, it's anywhere between $44 and $50 billion worth of business as well. Then it is there finally coming together, because if you don't hang together, you'll hang separately, is a good American expression that I like. And then trying to defend themselves. And I think this Harvard slope suit, the case of Harvard, is going to be like the Stokes trial of the 1920s on evolution. It's going to be a very similar case, I believe, and it may determine how American democracy goes from now.Andrew Keen: Interesting. You introduced me to Ece Temelkuren, another of your friends from someone who no longer lives in Turkey. She's a very influential Turkish columnist, polemicist. She wrote a famous book, How to Lose a Country. She and you have often compared Turkey. With the rest of the world suggesting that what you're going through in Turkey is the kind of canary in the coal mine for the rest the world. You just came out with a piece, Turkey, a crisis of legitimacy, a massive social mobilization and regional power. I want to get to the details of what's happening in Turkey first. But like Ece, do you see Turkey as the kind of canary and the coalmine that you got into this first? You're kind of leading the narrative of how to address authoritarianism in the 25th century.Soli Ozel: I don't think Turkey was the first one. I think the first one was Hugo Chavez. And then others followed. Turkey certainly is a prominent one. But you know, you and I did other programs and in an earlier era, about 15 years ago. Turkey was actually doing fine. I mean, it was a candidate for membership, still presumably, formally, a candidate for membership in the European Union, but at the time when that thing was alive. Turkey did, I mean, the AKP government or Erdogan as prime minister did a lot of things that were going in the right direction. They certainly demilitarized Turkish politics, but increasingly as they consolidated themselves in power, they moved in a more authoritarian path. And of course, after the coup attempt in 2016 on the 15th of July, that trend towards authoritarianism had been exacerbated and but with the help of a very sui generis if you will unaccountable presidential system we are we find ourselves where we are but The thing is what has been missed out by many abroad was that there was also a very strong resistance that had remained actually unbowing for a long time. And Istanbul, which is, of course, almost a fifth of Turkey's population, 32 percent of its economy, and that's where the pulse of the country actually beats, since 2017 did not vote for Mr Erdogan. I mean, referendum, general election, municipal election. It hasn't, it hasn't. And that is that really, it really represents the future. And today, the disenchantment or discontent has now become much broader, much more broadly based because conservative Anatolia is also now feeling the biting of the economy. And this sense of justice in the country has been severely damaged. And That's what I think explains. The kinds of reaction we had throughout the country to the first arrest and then incarceration of the very popular mayor of Istanbul who is a national figure and who was seen as the main contender for the presidency in the elections that are scheduled to take place in.Andrew Keen: Yeah, and I want to talk more about Turkey's opposition and an interesting New York Times editorial. But before we get there, Soli, you mentioned that the original model was Chavez in Venezuela, of course, who's always considered a leftist populist, whereas Erdogan, Trump, etc., and maybe Netanyahu are considered populists of the right. Is that a useful? Bifurcation in ideological terms or a populist populism that the idea of Chavez being different from Trump because one's on the left and right is really a 20th century mistake or a way of thinking about the 21st century using 20th-century terms.Soli Ozel: Okay, I mean the ideological proclivities do make a difference perhaps, but at the end of the day, what all these populist movements represent is the coming of age or is the coming to power of country elites. Suggests claiming to represent the popular classes whom they say and who are deprived of. Uh, benefits of holding power economically or politically, but once they get established in power and with the authoritarian tilt doesn't really make a distinction in terms of right or wrong. I mean, is Maduro the successor to Chavez a rightist or a leftist? I mean does it really make a difference whether he calls himself a leftists or a rightists? I is unaccountable, is authoritarian. He loses elections and then he claims that he wins these elections and so the ideology that purportedly brought them to power becomes a fig leaf, if you will, justification and maybe the language that they use in order to justify the existing authoritarianism. In that sense, I don't think it makes a difference. Maybe initially it could have made a difference, We have seen populist leaders. Different type of populism perhaps in Latin America. For instance, the Peruvian military was supposed to be very leftist, whereas the Chilean or the Brazilian or the Argentinian or the Uruguayan militaries were very right-wing supported by the church itself. Nicaragua was supposed to be very Leftist, right? They had a revolution, the Sandinista revolution. And look at Daniel Ortega today, does it really matter that he claims himself to be a man of the left? I mean, He runs a family business in Nicaragua. And so all those people who were so very excited about the Nicaraguan Revolution some 45 years ago must be extraordinarily disappointed. I mean, of course, I was also there as a student and wondering what was going to happen in Nicaragua, feeling good about it and all that. And that turned out to be an awful dictatorship itself.Andrew Keen: Yeah, and on this sense, I think you're on the same page as our mutual friend, Moises Naim, who wrote a very influential book a couple of years ago. He's been on the show many times about learning all this from the Latin American playbook because of his experience in Venezuela. He has a front row on this. Solly, is there one? On this, I mean, as I said, you just come out with a piece on the current situation in Turkey and talk a little bit more detail, but is America a few stops behind Turkey? I mean you mentioned that in Turkey now everyone, not just the urban elites in Istanbul, but everyone in the country is beginning to experience the economic decline and consequences of failed policies. A lot of people are predicting the same of Trump's America in the next year or two. Is there just one route in this journey? Is there's just one rail line?Soli Ozel: Like by what the root of established wow a root in the sense of youAndrew Keen: Erdogan or Trump, they come in, they tell lots of lies, they promise a lot of stuff, and then ultimately they can't deliver. Whatever they're promising, the reverse often happens. The people they're supposed to be representing are actually victims of their policies. We're seeing it in America with the consequences of the tariff stuff, of inflation and rise of unemployment and the consequences higher prices. It has something similar. I think of it as the Liz Truss effect, in the sense that the markets ultimately are the truth. And Erdogan, I know, fought the markets and lost a few years ago in Turkey too.Soli Ozel: There was an article last week in Financial Times Weekend Edition, Mr. Trump versus Mr. Market. Trump versus, Mr. Market. Look, first of all, I mean, in establishing a system, the Orban's or Modi's, they all follow, and it's all in Ece's book, of course. You have to control the judiciary, you have to control the media, and then all the institutions. Gradually become under your thumb. And then the way out of it is for first of all, of course, economic problems, economic pain, obviously makes people uncomfortable, but it will have to be combined with the lack of legitimacy, if you will. And that is, I don't think it's right, it's there for in the United States as of yet, but the shock has been so. Robust, if you will, that the reaction to Trump is also rising in a very short period, in a lot shorter period of time than it did in other parts of the world. But economic conditions, the fact that they worsen, is an important matter. But there are other conditions that need to be fulfilled. One of those I would think is absolutely the presence of a political leader that defies the ones in power. And I think when I look at the American scene today, one of the problems that may, one of problems that the political system seems to have, which of course, no matter how economically damaging the Trump administration may be, may not lead to an objection to it. To a loss of power in the midterms to begin with, is lack of leadership in the Democratic Party and lack of a clear perspective that they can share or program that they present to the public at large. Without that, the ones that are in power hold a lot of cards. I mean, it took Turkey about... 18 years after the AKP came to power to finally have potential leaders, and only in 2024 did it become very apparent that now Turkey had more than one leader that could actually challenge Erdogan, and that they also had, if not to support the belief in the public, that they could also run the country. Because if the public does not believe that you are competent enough to manage the affairs of the state or to run the country, they will not vote for you. And leadership truly is an extraordinarily important factor in having democratic change in such systems, what we call electoral authoritarian.Andrew Keen: So what's happened in Turkey in terms of the opposition? The mayor of Istanbul has emerged as a leader. There's an attempt to put him in jail. You talk about the need for an opposition. Is he an ideological figure or just simply younger, more charismatic? More attractive on the media. What do you need and what is missing in the US and what do you have in Turkey? Why are you a couple of chapters ahead on this?Soli Ozel: Well, it was a couple of chapters ahead because we have had the same government or the same ruler for 22 years now.Andrew Keen: And Imamo, I wanted you to pronounce it, Sali, because my Turkish is dreadful. It's worse than most of the other.Soli Ozel: He is the mayor of Istanbul who is now in jail and whose diploma was annulled by the university which actually gave him the diploma and the reason why that is important is if you want to run for president in Turkey, you've got to have a college degree. So that's how it all started. And then he was charged with corruption and terrorism. And he's put in zero. Oh, it's terrorism. There was.Andrew Keen: It's terrorism, they always throw the terrorist bit in, don't they, Simon?Soli Ozel: Yeah, but that dossier is, for the moment, pending. It has not been closed, but it is pending. Anyway, he is young, but his major power is that he can touch all segments of society, conservative, nationalist, leftist. And that's what makes people compare him also with Erdogan who also had a touch of appealing to different segments of the population. But of course, he's secular. He's not ideological, he's a practical man. And Istanbul's population is about anywhere between 16 and 18 million people. It's larger than many countries in Europe. And to manage a city like Istanbul requires really good managerial skills. And Imamoglu managed this in spite of the fact that central government cut its resources, made sure that there was obstruction in every step that he wanted to take, and did not help him a bit. And that still was continuing. Still, he won once. Then there was a repeat election. He won again. And this time around, he one with a landslide, 54% against 44% of his opponent, which had all theAndrew Keen: So the way you're presenting him, is he running as a technocrat or is he running as a celebrity?Soli Ozel: No, he's running as a politician. He's running a politician, he is a popular politician. Maybe you can see tinges of populism in him as well, but... He is what, again, what I think his incarceration having prompted such a wide ranging segments of population really kind of rebelling against this incarceration has to do with the fact that he has resonance in Anatolia. Because he does not scare conservative people. He aspires the youth because he speaks to them directly and he actually made promises to them in Istanbul that he kept, he made their lives easier. And he's been very creative in helping the poorer segments of Istanbul with a variety of programs. And he has done this without really being terribly pushing. So, I mean, I think I sense that the country sees him as its next ruler. And so to attack him was basically tampering with the verdict of the ballot box. That's, I, think how the Turkish public interpreted it. And for good historical reasons, the ballot box is really pretty sacred in Turkey. We usually have upwards of 80% of participation in the election.Andrew Keen: And they're relatively, I mean, not just free, but the results are relatively honest. Yeah, there was an interesting New York Times editorial a couple of days ago. I sent it over. I'm sure you'd read it anyway. Turkey's people are resisting autocracy. They deserve more than silence. I mean from Trump, who has very peculiar relations, he has peculiar relations with everyone, but particularly it seems with Turkey does, in your view, does Turkey needs or the resistance or the mayor of Istanbul this issue, need more support from the US? Would it make any difference?Soli Ozel: Well, first of all, the current American administration didn't seem to particularly care that the arrest and incarceration of the mayor of Istanbul was a bit, to say the least, was awkward and certainly not very legal. I mean, Mario Rubio said, Marco Rubio said that he had concerns. But Mr. Witkoff, in the middle of demonstrations that were shaking the country, Mr. Witkof said it to Tucker Carlson's show that there were very wonderful news coming out of Turkey. And of course, President Trump praised Erdogan several times. They've been on the phone, I think, five times. And he praised Erdogan in front of Bibi Netanyahu, which obviously Bibi Netanyah did not particularly appreciate either. So obviously the American administration likes Mr. Erdogans and will support him. And whatever the Turkish public may or may not want, I don't think is of great interest toAndrew Keen: What about the international dimension, sorry, Putin, the Ukrainian war? How does that play out in terms of the narrative unfolding in Turkey?Soli Ozel: Well, first of all, of course, when the Assad regime fell,Andrew Keen: Right, and as that of course. And Syria of course as well posts that.Soli Ozel: Yeah, I mean, look, Turkey is in the middle of two. War zones, no? Syria was one and the Ukraine is the other. And so when the regime fell and it was brought down by groups that were protected by Turkey in Idlib province of Syria. Everybody argued, and I think not wrongly, that Turkey would have a lot of say over the future of Syria. And I think it will. First of all, Turkey has about 600 miles or 911 kilometer border with Syria and the historical relations.Andrew Keen: And lots of Syrian refugees, of course.Soli Ozel: At the peak, there were about 4 million, I think it's now going down. President Erdogan said that about 200,000 already went back since the overthrow of the regime. And then of course, to the north, there is Ukraine, Russia. And of course this elevates Turkey's strategic importance or geopolitical importance. Another issue that raises Turkish geopolitical importance is, of course, the gradual withdrawal of the United States from providing security to Europe under the umbrella of NATO, North Atlantic Alliance. And as the Europeans are being forced to fetch for themselves for their security, non-EU members of NATO such as Britain, Norway, Turkey, their importance becomes more accentuated as well. And so Turkey and the European Union were in the process of at least somewhat normalizing their relations and their dialog. So what happened domestically, therefore, did not get much of a reaction from the EU, which is supposed to be this paragon of rights and liberties and all that. But But it also left Turkey in a game in an awkward situation, I would think, because things could have gone much, much better. The rapprochement with the European Union could have moved a lot more rapidly, I will think. But geopolitical advantages are there. Obviously, the Americans care a lot for it. And whatever it is that they're negotiating with the Turkish government, we will soon find out. It is a... It is a country that would help stabilize Syria. And that's what President Trump also said, that he would adjudicate between Israel and Turkey over Syria, because these two countries which have been politically at odds, but strategically usually in very good terms. Whether or not the, so to avoid a clash between the two in Syria was important for him. So Turkey's international situation will continue to be important, but I think without the developments domestically, Turkey's position and profile would have been much more solid.Andrew Keen: Comparing US and Turkey, the US military has never participated, at least overtly, in politics, whereas the Turkish military, of course, has historically. Where's the Turkish Military on this? What are they thinking about these imprisonments and the increasing unpopularity of the current regime?Soli Ozel: I think the demilitarization of the Turkish political system was accomplished by the end of the 2000s, so I don't think anybody knows what the military thinks and I'm not sure that anybody really wonders what the army thinks. I think Erdogan has certainly on the top echelons of the military, it has full control. Whether or not the cadets in the Turkish military are lower echelons. Do have political views at odds with that of the government that is not visible. And I don't think the Turkish military should be designing or defining our political system. We have an electorate. We do have a fairly, how shall I say, a public that is fairly attuned to its own rights. And believes certainly in the sanctity of the ballot box, it's been resisting for quite some time and it is defying the authorities and we should let that take its course. I don't think we need the military to do it.Andrew Keen: Finally, Soli, you've been very generous with your time from Vienna. It's late afternoon there. Let's end where we began with this supposed tarnishing of the U.S. Brand. As we noted earlier, you and I have invested our lives, if for better or worse, in the U S brand. We've always been critical, but we've also been believers in this. It's also important in this brand.Soli Ozel: It is an important grant.Andrew Keen: So how do we, and I don't like this term, maybe there is a better term, brands suggest marketing, something not real, but there is something real about the US. How do we re-establish, or I don't know what the word is, a polish rather than tarnish the US brand? What needs to happen in the U.S.Soli Ozel: Well, I think we will first have to see the reinvigoration of institutions in the United States that have been assaulted. That's why I think the Harvard case... Yeah, and I love you.Andrew Keen: Yeah, and I love your idea of comparing it to the Scopes trial of 1926. We probably should do a whole show on that, it's fascinating idea.Soli Ozel: Okay, and then the Democratic Party will have to get its act together. I don't know how long it will take for them to get their act together, they have not been very...Andrew Keen: Clever. But some Democrats will say, well, there's more than one party. The Sanders AOC wing has done its job. People like Gavin Newsom are trying to do their job. I mean, you can't have an official party. There's gonna be a debate. There already is a debate within the party between the left and the right.Soli Ozel: The thing is, debates can be endless, and I don't think there is time for that. First of all, I think the decentralized nature of American governance is also an advantage. And I think that the assault has been so forceful that everybody has woken up to it. It could have been the frog method, you know, that is... Yeah, the boiling in the hot water. So, already people have begun to jump and that is good, that's a sign of vitality. And therefore, I think in due time, things will be evolving in a different direction. But, for populist or authoritarian inclined populist regimes, control of the institutions is very important, so you've got to be alert. And what I discovered, studying these things and looking at the practice. Executive power is a lot of power. So separation of powers is fine and good, but the thing is executive power is really very... Prominent and the legislature, especially in this particular case with the Republican party that has become the instrument of President Trump, and the judiciary which resists but its power is limited. I mean, what do you do when a court decision is not abided by the administration? You cannot send the police to the White House.Andrew Keen: Well, you might have to, that's why I asked the military question.Soli Ozel: Well, it's not up to the military to do this, somehow it will have to be resolved within the civilian democratic system, no matter where. Yes, the decks are stacked against the opposition in most of these cases, but then you'll have to fight. And I think a lot hinges on how corporations are going to react from now on. They have bet on Trump, and I suppose that many of them are regretting because of the tariffs. I just was at a conference, and there was a German business person who said that he has a factory in Germany and a factory in Ohio. And he told me that within three months there would not be any of the goods that he produces on the shelves because of tariffs. Once this begins to hit, then you may see a different dynamic in the country as well, unless the administration takes a U-turn. But if it does take a U turn, it will also have weakened itself, both domestically and internationally.Andrew Keen: Yeah, certainly, to put it mildly. Well, as we noted, Soli, what's real is economics. The rest is perhaps froth or lies or propaganda. Soli Ozel: It's a necessary condition. Without that deteriorating, you really cannot get things on values done.Andrew Keen: In other words, Marx was right, but perhaps in a slightly different context. We're not going to get into Marx today, Soli, we're going to get you back on the show. Cause I love that comparison with the current, the Harvard Trump legal thing, comparing it to Scopes. I think I hadn't thought of that. It's a very interesting idea. Keep well, keep safe, keep telling the truth from Central Europe and Turkey. As always, Solia, it's an honor to have you on the show. Thank you so much.Soli Ozel: Thank you, Andrew, for having me.Keen On America 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

【欢迎订阅】每天早上5:30，准时更新。【阅读原文】标题：T Reverses Course on Global Tariffs, Announcing 90-Day PauseThe president further raised already steep tariffs on China, saying that Beijing should not have retaliated against his earlier trade actions.正文：President T. on Wednesday abruptly reversed course on steep global tariffs that have roiled markets, upset members of his own party and raised fears of a recession. Just hours after he put punishing levies into place on nearly 60 countries, the president said he would pause them for 90 days. But Mr. T. did not extend that pause to China, opting instead to raise tariffs again on all Chinese imports, bringing those taxes to a whopping 125 percent.知识点：abruptly adv. /əˈbrʌptli/suddenly and unexpectedly. 突然地e.g. The CEO resigned abruptly without giving any explanation. CEO突然辞职，没有给出任何解释。获取外刊的完整原文以及精讲笔记，请关注微信公众号「早安英文」，回复“外刊”即可。更多有意思的英语干货等着你！【节目介绍】《早安英文-每日外刊精读》，带你精读最新外刊，了解国际最热事件：分析语法结构，拆解长难句，最接地气的翻译，还有重点词汇讲解。所有选题均来自于《经济学人》《纽约时报》《华尔街日报》《华盛顿邮报》《大西洋月刊》《科学杂志》《国家地理》等国际一线外刊。【适合谁听】1、关注时事热点新闻，想要学习最新最潮流英文表达的英文学习者2、任何想通过地道英文提高听、说、读、写能力的英文学习者3、想快速掌握表达，有出国学习和旅游计划的英语爱好者4、参加各类英语考试的应试者（如大学英语四六级、托福雅思、考研等）【你将获得】1、超过1000篇外刊精读课程，拓展丰富语言表达和文化背景2、逐词、逐句精确讲解，系统掌握英语词汇、听力、阅读和语法3、每期内附学习笔记，包含全文注释、长难句解析、疑难语法点等，帮助扫除阅读障碍。

Some acts of love are so profound that they stand the test of time. This is the story of Mr. Kuroki, a devoted husband in Japan who spent two years planting thousands of Shibazakura flowers—moss phlox—for his wife after she lost her sight due to diabetes. Struggling with depression, she withdrew from the world. But Mr. Kuroki had a plan. He created a breathtaking sea of pink blossoms, their sweet fragrance filling the air, hoping it would bring her outside again. And it worked. Not only did the flowers help his wife step back into the world, but they also became a symbol of love and resilience, drawing thousands of visitors each year. This is a testament to the power of devotion and the incredible things we do for the ones we love. You can read the whole story at Japan Today.

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter  or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 19th March 2025. The winner will be contacted via Bluesky. Show references: https://www.ajah.ae/https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-griffiths-63432763/Kelly's final episodeThe transformation of Painshill Park, with Paul Griffiths, Director of PainshillWhat it really takes to launch a podcast. With Kelly Molson and Paul GriffithsPaul Griffiths has worked in the Heritage, Museums and Tourism world now for nearly 30 years.After spending 16 years working in various role for English Heritage, in 2012 he moved to the Mary Rose Museum as Head of Operations to oversee the opening and operations of the multi award winning museum, welcoming over one million visitors before in 2018 taking on moving to the Painshill Park Trust in the role of Director of Painshill. Paul spent 6 years there before his move in December 2024 to Ras Al Khaimah one of the seven Emirates that make up the UAE. In this exciting brand new role Paul is Chief Executive Officer of the Al Hamra Heritage Village, part of the Al Qasimi Foundation. Transcriptions: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, a podcast for people working in and working with Visitor Attractions. I'm your host, Paul Marden.Longtime listeners will remember my guest today, Paul Griffiths, when he was CEO at Painshill Park, from when he was interviewed back in season one by Kelly. In today's episode, Paul comes back to talk about his new role as CEO of Al Jazeera Al Hamrah Heritage Village in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE. Now, I'm always interested in the first 90 days of people's experience in a job, so we'll be talking more about that and his for the future. Paul Marden: Paul, welcome back to Skip the Queue. Paul Griffiths: Hello. Thanks for having me, Paul. Great to be here. Paul Marden:  Long time. Listeners will know that we always start with an icebreaker question and our guests don't get to know that one in advance. I think this one's a pretty kind one. I was pretty mean to Paul Sapwell from Hampshire Cultural Trust a couple of weeks ago because I asked him whether it was Pompey or Saints and for political reasons, he felt that he had to abstain from that.Paul Griffiths: Testing his interest. I'd have gone Pompey at the time because that's where we live. Well, did live. Paul Marden: Oh, there you go. There you go. So you've moved over from Portsmouth. You're now in the UAE. Tell listeners, what is that one? Home comfort that after three months away from Blighty, you're missing? Is it proper English marmalade? Paul Griffiths: Do you know what? I've been able to get hold of most things, but I've not been able to get. I know people who cook properly, so I should be able to do this myself, but I haven't. Cauliflower cheese, one thing I'm missing from home, that doesn't sell it anywhere in a sort of pre pack or frozen form. I can even get hold of Yorkshire puddings in Spinny's supermarket, but I can't get hold of cauliflower cheese. Paul Marden: Can you get cauliflowers? Paul Griffiths: Can get cauliflowers. I'm sure I can make cheese sauce if I knew what it was doing. But you normally. I'm so used to normally buying a pack of cheese, cauliflower cheese to have in my Sunday roast. Paul Marden: Okay. So if I ever get to come out, I need to bring out a plastic wrapped, properly sealed so that it doesn't leak on the plane. Cauliflower cheese? Paul Griffiths: Yes, please. Yeah, absolutely. Paul Marden: So your last episode was actually. Or your last full episode was back in season one, episode 22. So five years ago and the world has changed a lot in five years, but most recently it's changed a lot for you, hasn't it? So why don't you tell listeners a little bit about what's happened to you since you were with us in season one? Paul Griffiths: Wow. Yeah, well, season one seems an age away, doesn't it, now with all the wonderful guests youu've had since on Skip the Queue, it's been a different program completely. But, yeah, no, well, back then I was at Painshill, were coming out of a pandemic and I remember, you know, Kelly and I were chatting over all the different avenues that everyone had gone and what we've done at Painshill and that continued brilliantly. And however, my life has taken a change in. In sense of where I am, but I'm still doing the same sort of work, so. Which is, you know, when our industry, and it's such a fabulous industry, it's great to stay in it. Paul Griffiths: So I am now over in the United Army Emirates in the Emirate of Ras Alhaima, which is the third biggest of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, behind Abu Dhabi and, of course, Dubai. So I was approached, God, nearly always, this time last year, about a call over here. Yes. My recruitment company got in touch and went through, you know, had a good look at the job description and thought, well, actually, we'll throw my hat into the ring. And applied, went for a series of online interviews with the recruitment company, then an online interview with the people over here at various departments within the Al Kassimme Foundation and the Department of Museums and Antiquities. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, looking at this brand new job, which I'm now lucky enough to be in, I then was flown out in August for a round of interviews, met all the team. You know, one of those things that you later discover, the whole real four days was one big interview, although there was. There was a central one. But of course, everyone you were meeting along the way was being asked to feedback, And I love chatting to people and enjoying people's company. So actually went for dinners and lunches and all sorts, which was just a lovely four days and almost felt like a free hit in many ways, Paul. Well, this is going to be a brilliant experience. Paul Griffiths: If I don't get the job, I'm going to have a great four days in Rasta Taima, seeing it, meeting everyone, enjoying the time here. And, you know, the more time I spent here, the more time with the team, the more time, you know, going and visiting sites. I just became more and more that this would be an amazing job. Obviously gave my absolute everything, did loads of research, gave everything in the interview. The interview took a rather unusual turn. After the sort of hour and a half of questions and my questions, I was asked to leave the room for a short period. Not unusual in that sense because I was, you know, I wasn't just going to leave and go because obviously I was in their hands for four days. Paul Griffiths: But the doctor, Natasha Ridge, the executive director of the foundation, came out the interview and said, “Right, that's all gone really well. We're really pleased. We're now off to the palace for you to meet His Highness Sheikh Saud, who is the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and on the Supreme Council of the UAE.” So I was sort of, I went to one of the small meeting rooms you. Now I know that. Now I know where I was, where I went. But at that point I had no idea. One of the lovely. There's a very much a service thing here. Paul Griffiths: So, you know, we have in the Heritage Village as well later we have a wonderful member of our team, Geraldine, who does lots of cooking, prepares stuff and just had a wonderful fish taco lunch because we're four hours ahead of you, of course, here in Alaihi. So, yeah, so one of the guys came in with, gave me an English breakfast tea and sort of, you know, sat there reviewing what, thinking what on earth was I going to be asked by His Highness. And then was put into one of the drivers and we drove up through Rat Sahma City, through into the palace, up the long driveway and there I was sort of eventually, after about 20 minutes, presented with. Presented to Sheikh Sword who asked me, chatted, asked various questions. Paul Griffiths: I don't think there could be many interviews that you end up with His Highness in the second half of it. You know, it's sometimes a presentation. Yeah. So that was. I was there for about half an hour and that's your time over and off he goes. And off I went back to then go and have dinner with some of the team. So it was a very surreal afternoon. Paul Marden: Being interviewed by royalty. But when you're not expecting that as part of the interview process, that must be quite unnerving. Paul Griffiths: I had a heads up that at some point in my trip I might meet him, but there was no formal arrangements. I had me had to get in a diary. So it hadn't even crossed my mind that's what was about to happen. When I was asked to leave the meeting room, I just thought maybe they wanted to come back with more questions or, you know, say I hadn't gone well, whatever. But, yeah, no, that was the. I took that as a good sign. I thought, well, actually, if I'm being whisked up there, the interview must have gone relatively well because I'm sure they would present me to shake sword if it hadn't gone so well. Paul Marden: Yeah. You'd hope that he would be towards the end of the cycle of the interview round. Paul Griffiths: Yeah. Paul Marden: Not doing the early sifting of CVs. Paul Griffiths: No. He certainly had seen who I was because he asked me some questions about where I'd worked and. Okay, things like that. So he'd obviously seen a CV. He's a very. I mean, I've met him subsequently a few times. I've been fortunate to be a dinner hosted by him a couple of weeks ago. But he is a very, very intelligent man. Works really hard. I mean, work. He, you know, for him, he spends every minute working on the emirate. He ruled, he. He's the ruler. But he's almost a. It's a sort of combo, I guess he's all Prime Minister at the same time as being the ruler. So he is constantly working. You know, I'm really committed and I'm lucky in many ways that where I am working at the Heritage Village is his real. Paul Griffiths: One of his real pet projects that he's really driving forward. So, yes, we come with sort of royal. Royal approval, if you like. So. Yeah. Paul Marden: Excellent. So I. I've not been to the Emirates before, so for those of us that have not been, tell us a little bit about Ras Al Khaimah, of course. Paul Griffiths: Well, Ras Al Khaimah is one of the quieter Emirates mentioned. Sheikh Saud there, he's really driving a sort of, you know, a sort of agenda of bringing in more tourists. But he wants to use culture and territory as part of that. So, you know, it's a more relaxed, low level, if that makes sense. It's not Dubai, it's not full on, it's more relaxed Emirate. It's relaxed in cultural and many of the ways it's not, as you know, some of the other Emirates are, for example, completely dry. Ras Al Khaimah has given licenses to hotels and big restaurants in hotels for serving drinks. And there are a number of sellers where you can purchase for your consumption your own home, whereas Sharjah, you can't purchase any alcohol, for example, so it's a bit more chilled like that. It's a lovely place. Paul Griffiths: We're very fortunate to have the heavier mountains go through the far side of Ras Al Khaimah. So where I'm based is more on the seafront but then not, you know, I can see the mountains behind and there's a number of drives up into the mountains which are absolutely fabulous. Up to the Jebel Jais, which is the highest point in the UAE, we have the world's longest and fastest zip wire. I have not gone anywhere near that yet. Goes up to 100km an hour and is the longest over from the top of the mountain, whisking you off to the other side. I think it looks terrifying. But my. Paul Marden: I'm more interested in cables that take you to the top of the mountain. Maybe with some skis on my feet than I am attaching myself to a cable and going down the mountain. Doesn't sound like fun to me. Paul Griffiths: There's a toboggan ride as well up there as well.Paul Marden: Oh, I'd love that. Paul Griffiths: So that's the toboggan ride's on my to do list when the family get off, I'll save it for then and take my son Barney on that. But you know, there's all this sort of venture sports up on the top of the mountain and driving up there is remarkable. They put a proper road in. It's not the scary driving up the Alps, terrified what's going to come around the other corner. It's very like driving up a road, you know, normal sort of dual carriageway, two lanes each way and then right going through the mountains to the other side to one of the other Emirates for Jazeera , for example. So you're over on the Indian Ocean side Gulf Vermont. That road is just beautiful. There's no traffic on it, you know. Paul Griffiths: So Ras Al Khaimah is only about an hour and hour to an hour and a half from Dubai airport. And Dubai is a sort of people go to Dubai in the same way that we, you know, you'd go to London, I'd go to London when I was in Port Soviet, we would. It's now, you know, it's not considered a. There's always someone from work who's in Dubai every day almost for some reason. So nipping up to Dubai, I was like, I went to a dinner there last week and you know, it just seemed very normal that he jumped in a car and drove up to Dubai and came back that evening. Whereas. Seems remarkable actually to be doing that. But yeah, so because of where we are, Abu Dhabi is about two and a half hours away.Paul Griffiths: And we are the northern point of the Emirate, So we border on to Oman, split into a number of areas. Again, I didn't know any of this till I got here, but there's a part of Oman that's at the top of Ras Al Khaimah. And so, yeah, so it's a beautiful Emirate with nature, with mountain areas, which does get a bit chillier when you go up the mountains. I looked quite silly in my T shirt and shorts when I went up there on a Sunday afternoon. People were going past me like they were going skiing. You know, people wore coats and hats and looking at me as if I'm really daft. But I was still. It's interesting that because it's winter obviously everywhere here at the moment and at home, but it's. Paul Griffiths: People here are often telling me it's a cold day when I'm still standing. I still feel really quite warm. But yeah, finding that sort ofPaul Marden: Talking 30s at the moment for you, aren't we? Paul Griffiths: Yeah, it's a little bit. The last couple days have been down in the lower 20s, really comfortable. But when we last weekend, people were getting a bit nervous that summer had come very early because it was hitting the early 30s last week. So I don't know how for me, when we get to August, when it's in the mid, late 40s with real high humidity, I think I'm just going to go from aircon building to aircon building to aircon building.Paul Marden: I am such a Goldilocks when it comes to that sort of thing. Not too hot, not too cold, it needs to be just right. So I would definitely struggle in that kind of heat. Look, let's talk a little bit about where you are in the new job. So you've taken on the role of CEO of Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village. So tell me a little bit about the village. Why is this village so historic? Paul Griffiths: Well, it's a really interesting one, Paul, because it is very important, but it's not that old. And that's why what coming to me about making it more alive is something that's going to be crucial to us. So the village has been lived in for many years. It was a pearl farming village. So most of the people who worked here were doing pearl farming, which is pretty horrible job to do. You were, again, learning about this. You were jumping off boats, going to the ocean depths for up to three to four minutes. No protection really, apart from a very light shirt and some little bits on your fingers. But actually you're nothing on your eyes. Paul Griffiths: So you're having to look through the salt water, find the pearls come up and they were going up and down sometime 15, 16 times or more a day. And there's a fascinating exhibition in Dubai at the Al Shindagha Museum which really does focus on how this worked and how these guys were living. So, so it's a real. So that was the village. So the village had that, it obviously had then had fishing men, merchants making boats, merchants selling, trading wares. And Ras Al Khaimah has been quite a strategic part as all of the UAE really for the sort of trades coming from the Middle east and out into the Gulf. So the villages was being lived in up until the very early 70s. Paul Griffiths: Up in the 1970s the Al Za'abi tribe who were based here were offered I guess a new life is the only way to look at it in Abu Dhabi with new jobs, with land, with housing and it's just a better way like pearl farming was now being done so much cheaper and easier in the Orient in Japan mainly. So that was, that dropped away. There wasn't the other merchant trading going on. So actually the oil boom basically led the tribe to almost one up sticks and head to Abu Dhabi. And in many ways good story because we're still in touch with quite considerable amounts of the tribes people who were here. Lots of the elders have done wonderful oral histories, videos talking about their lives here. But this village survived as just fell into ruins, but actually wasn't developed. Paul Griffiths: And where it becomes important is this would have been what all of the Gulf would have looked like before the oil boom. The UAE wasn't a wealthy nation before then. You know, when I went up to Dubai and spent some time at the Etihad Museum, which is based around which Etihad Union is the not Around Man City Stadium should point out very much around about how the UAE had come together and how, you know, so it wasn't the wealthiest nation, but actually they discovered oil. They then brought seven Emirates together. It then has flourished in the ways that we now know what Dabi and ifwe looks like and even Ras Al Khaimah in some parts and really quite glamorous. But this village survived. Paul Griffiths: So although it fell into ruin, all the other fishing, farmhome fishing, pearl farming villages across the Gulf had become, just got destroyed, knocked down, you know, turned into hotels and high rises. And actually when you visit the other Emirates, lots of them are now recreating their historic areas or re purposing some of the historic buildings and they're doing it very well. In Dubai, Sharjah has actually completely rebuilt. It's what it calls the Harp Sharjah, which is. Which was its historic sort of areas, but. Paul Marden: Right. Paul Griffiths: But this survived. Many of the buildings had fallen into disrepair. And what we've been doing for the last few years, as the Al Qasimi Foundation and the Department of Antiquities and Museums is restoring a number of these buildings, we've then sort of gone into a sort of activation so you can walk around. So we've got, you know, carving now. Only a year ago it was mostly sand. We've now got a path going through it, so you can walk in. And the job that I've really been asked to do initially on arrival here is to really push that activation forward and really look at my sort of. What I've done in the past and what we've seen other places do and think about what can we do to bring this bit more to life? Paul Griffiths: Because it's the sort of storage village is around the 1970s. Well, it was abandoned in the 1970s. Well, you know, for us from the UK, from lots of other nationalities, actually, something in the 70s isn't very old. It's in our lifespan. You know, we are looking at this going well, actually. So when I was talking to a lot of. So RAK TDA's basically visit RAK tourism authority. So they are really supportive in wanting to push Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, which will from now on abbreviate to AJAH to save me. Keep saying that. Long tanned. So they are really keen that we're doing more stuff. So why would a tourist want to come? What is there to see once you're here? Paul Griffiths: On top of some abandoned and now beautifully restored houses, mosques, you know, things that you would have expected in a village of, you know, a thousand or so population, 500 houses, you know, so more than a thousand people, really. So that's the sort of plan in that way. So in many ways I've got a sort of blank canvas to play with. But, you know, money's not unlimited, so it's about. So working closely with local communities, working with, you know, local traders, looking at what could we bring into the village on the back of the art fair. I know we'll talk about later, but it's, you know, this has been a. This is a real challenge for me to. How do I take this sort of place forwards.Paul Marden: In my mind's eye, we go to the Weald & Downland Living Museum so open air museum, lots of houses recreating life through the ages. Is that the sort of experience that I'm going to get if I come to the village of I'm going to see the properties and I'm going to see this previous way of life come to life in front of me?Paul Griffiths: Well at the moment you'll see you just see in the houses and the buildings but you're walking around looking at historic buildings but we have got a number of the houses we've put in. Each video is at the moment showing the audio visuals so you can walk around and listen to members of the tribes chatting about their youth and what's happening and you can see the buildings in real life. I guess what I'm looking for this is telling the story a little bit of the village which we don't initially do that well at the moment that's no criteria. Yes, this is what we need to do going forward. There's been several stages of activation When I came last August part not many the paths weren't all finished. We didn't have anywhere for visitor services to be at the front.Paul Griffiths: We only had a very small sort officey area which has now been built up to where I'm. Where I'm sat today. So I think what you're going to get is a multi as a blend of traders who will be in our suitcase. The Souk is fully restored sooke and shopping market area so that's my first point is to move some people in there. So I've already got a goldsmith and move to her studio in got some handicrafts we've got some textile people moving in the. Paul Griffiths: The main gallery of Nassau Heyman Design Gallery which is the one big gallery where artists can go is going to have a sort of satellite shop if you like not shop a satellite so there will be pieces of work there are in here with their little souvenir store which they sell because they get people a lot of what the design gallery does is making souvenirs of Ras Al Khaimah that are all handmade so quite special gifts. So what we're hoping is tying up with our local hoteliers who many of which have not been so it's bringing them in and they need something more to see to send their guests here. Paul Griffiths: So you know talking to some of them over lunch when I hosted some of them on Saturday it was a case of you know actually, can they send their clients and say, you can do all your holiday shopping because at the moment they're sending people to the shopping malls which are just, you know, nice, but actually merchandise them to go to a heritage village, get that experience of what the golf would have been like and bags of shopping at the same time. Paul Marden: So who doesn't love a. A museum gift shop at the end? So, you know. Paul Griffiths: Exactly. And we don't really have that here at the moment from an Al Jazeera perspective. So on my plan for this year is to put in. We've got an info booth, as it's called at the moment. It's not a world. It's not the best customer service friendly. It's like a caravan but with some windows. And yeah, it's probably a better. Now it's got air conditioning. Yes. But it doesn't work very well for customers. You're trying to talk through little windows because you can only have small windows to keep the air con working, not have too much open to. It's just passing out. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, so I'm looking at building this summer, hopefully. Fingers crossed, touch wood, a visitor welcome centre, which is something we're really pushing along with, which will be lovely because that will be that proper visitor welcome with a shop with an induction into an introduction. Sorry, into the Al Jazeera story. And then let people go. And then when they get to the far end, they'll be the souk full of. He says again, hopefully slowly filling them out, but full of traders and local craftspeople and people who are. Even if they're not originally local, they're based in rack, so they are considered local. The UAE is built up of a lot of expat population. When I say expats, I mean just English people from around the world. It's a really accepting, welcoming community. I've been really. Everyone says hello to you as you're walking into the supermarket shops. There's no. Whoever they are where you're from. Paul Griffiths: Everyone's talking to each other because the local population know they've had to bring people in because there's thousands more jobs than there are Emirati population in Ras Al Khaimah. So, you know, it's always been. And when you look at the foundation of the UAE, it was about, we will need to bring people in to bring this. To build this nation with us. So, you know, it's been always a sort of welcome and melting pot of different people. Paul Marden: Yeah, amazing. Look, you mentioned when we had our initial chat. You've been there now three months, you've been doing lots of visiting of other attractions. Because I think you said to me, which I thought was quite interesting, that you were. There's lots that you bring with you from the UK in your experience, but there's lots of best practice and good practice happening within the Emirates already. So you've been kind of going out and visiting a lot of cultural venues and attractions in the Emirates. Tell me a little bit about those. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, so it's been a minute of a manic last month in February, because we've had the art festival. I know we're going to keep hinting at it, we'll get to it at some point, but when I've had some time away, what's been fabulous, it's just sort of. And I think as well, because the family aren't here in my own at the moment, said, “All right, I've got some time off, let's go and explore.” Yeah. So I've sort of driven across to Fajera, spent time in Sharjah and took myself up for a weekend in Dubai, which was fantastic. Booked a very reasonably priced hotel and just spent a weekend flowering around everywhere and just really immersed in my. So and only scratch the surface. There's so much more to see. So, yeah, so I've been going and looking at. Paul Griffiths: Well, you know, I don't want to do something that's not. There'll be alien to, obviously, the culture here. And that's been really. What's been great fun in the last few months is it's not just going into a new job, you know, and learning that. It's actually been a terrifying, at some points, fabulous experience. I was learning new cultures, new working lives. You know, things are working. It's done very differently here. You know, there's a different hierarchical process we have in the UK and permissions are needed in different places. And that's not. I'm not saying any of this is a bad thing, it's just learning those different things. So I've been learning all these different cultures. You know, we're just coming into Ramadan, which I've had no real experience with before. And that is. That is a massive thing here. You know, it's the month. Paul Griffiths: Every billboard you go past is someone trying to sell something for Ramadan, whether it be a new chest of drawers, you know, your family needs this new dining table for Ramadan. It's a bit like, you know, you will see at Christmas at home, everyone catching on, you know, IKEA will be saying, new table and chairs for Christmas. You know, it's. It's not. It's a sort of different repeating itself. You know, those sort of signs you have around the supermarket. Christmas back home. They're all up now in supermarkets here for Ramadan. Paul Marden: Right. Paul Griffiths: Encouraging what people are going to buy for when they break the fast at sunset Iftar. So, you know, so it's all sort of promoting. You need this for. So it's a real. We're going to a massive thing. And that's been a real sort of learning, cultural thing for me, which has been great because actually I've always enjoyed, when I'm traveling, learning about other cultures, you know, it's always been for me, I always try and visit museums, galleries, learn about the place I'm at. And so actually living somewhere and learn about someone who's been. I think it's added to the fun of the experience. But back to your question. Paul Griffiths: Yes, I've been traveling wherever the possibility to start to look at other historic venues, looking at where they've, you know, restored historic markets and souk areas and what sort of things are going in there, what are people doing there. Up in Dubai, there is a place called Al Shindagar Museum, which is where they've. Some of the historic buildings that have been saved by the creek of Dubai have been turned into the most amazing series of museums, is the only way I can describe it, because each house is a different gallery or different theme. So you have the story of the creek being built up, the story of Dubai seafarers. There was a faith and. Faith and religion room, talking about Islam and different cultures, how that's worked around Dubai. Paul Griffiths: Dubai being built up as a city, lots about the rulers and families, but every house you went to is a different place. What was so impressive there from a visitor experience perspective was the training that Stafford had was sensational. You know, you go into someone, you think they're obviously being managed really well because obviously this is. You don't just train. So obviously someone oversees this really well. But clearly the training, everywhere you went, the customer service was exceptional. People coming out from behind counters, giving you introductions, making sure you had everything needed, you know, as you were leaving. Have you got any questions? All those things we try and all have tried to teach over the years, and in many ways we've all been different levels of success of that. Paul Griffiths: But what was amazing was they also got the security guards in on the act as well, because there's a real culture here that there's a separate, they're secure, they're very different. You know, there's, we've got them here, they're in very much brown security, clearly marked, you know, protecting places. But what they've done there is they had clearly trained those security guards as well, because every security guard you came across was getting in the act of chatting to visitors, even if their English wasn't brilliant, they were really keen to direct you to the next. Come this way. So the next place, oh, you finished that room, you must go upstairs. And you know, that sort of. Paul Griffiths: And whether they, you know, really just said, look, you can have a much more interesting day than just standing, staring at people walking around. You can actually chat to visitors from around the world and get talkative. And I just had the most amazing. I ended up in this museum for over five and a half hours or something silly like that. And I thought I was going to be there an hour because it was priced very reasonably. You know, when you judge a museum on, well, actually I paid this, I'm probably going to be here for that amount of time. And actually it was just, you know, I found myself stopping for a coffee, stopping for lunch. But I was so impressed by the way the staff interacted. Paul Griffiths: They also had a number of cultural local guides as well, who really were, you know, in the full sort of Emirati national dress, but wanted to press on. This is where. This is what I'm doing. So I've some, you know, I traveled across to Fujairah every week and was in a, an old, what was the ruler's summer house. And the guy, and the guy who ran it just took me on a tour. I didn't ask for a tour. He just said, would you. Well, he said, should I take you around? Yes, please. And we had this great hours experience as he was just chatting about all the rooms. And I think people here are very keen to share their culture and their heritage and very welcoming. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, so I've done quite a bit traveling around the other parts of the UAE. I can't go out of the UAE because I've only got a hire car at the moment, so I can't go out to Omar, that's on my list. You get yourself a car. I can travel north of the border into Oman and explore that. But for now, seven emirates to. So no shortage of places. And I've not been up to Abu Dhabi yet, so still with that on my list. So yeah, Paul Marden: Wowzers. Okay. So I guess, and this is completely, what would I feel like if I was in your position of going to this new country, immersing myself in this relatively new place that you're leading? How do I say this without flattering you? You were a well connected guy. If I went to events, everybody knew you. You had this wide network of people having worked in the UK in the attraction sector for a long time and you've now jumped over to the UAE. What's happened to the network? How does that feel? I mean it must feel slightly kind of worrying or nerve wracking. What have you done to build the network in this new place? Paul Griffiths: There's a number of points to that. Right, so let's answer in a few minutes. So the world's a smaller place so I'm still occasionally having teams call zoom calls with really close ex colleagues, friends, you know, I'm sure, I mean I always say I'm sure but everyone keeps saying, “Oh I'm really loving the journey so please keep posting. So I am going to keep posting and probably going to start to annoy people after a while”, but the feedback so far is everyone saying we're loving the journey and following you with it and feel like we're on the journey. So I will carry on. I'm sort of keeping writing stuff up and sharing it and also I don't know how long I'll be here for. You know, probation is massive over here. I have to keep my fingers crossed. Paul Griffiths: I pass probation which is a six month period because it's a real right the UAE all not just off and across the UAE. It's a real big, you know, much more than at home, much more structured. On day one was given a series and this isn't a bad thing at all, a series of probation tasks, you know, around reports that are around other historic parts because the job that I've come over will eventually evolve into a wider heritage role. But at the moment the real focus is on Al Jazeera Al Hamra, which is great. Get one site, get it going, then see where we go next. So I think I'm still connected to lots of people back home. I'm still looking, seeing everyone's posts and enjoy. Paul Griffiths: I mean my usual jealousy of not being part of the ALVA network anymore as they're all having that great time in Belfast in the last couple of days and seeing everyone's post, not just one or two, but everyone you know, Bernard down with you know everyone's post. I wish I was there with them.Paul Marden: The FOMO was real. So I had Andy Povey in the office with me yesterday and we're both saying the FOMO about that ALVAe vent was very real for both of us having. Paul Griffiths: Having spent. You know I was at the Mary Rose few years where we joined ALVA and go experiencing those council weeks and knowing just hey how much they are great for networking A. You get very spoiled because every host wants to really show off what they can do and I think the Titanic always do that because we go there before for a council meeting but it's. Yeah. So you still see this stuff. So it's still sit home and there's still people I can reach out to.Paul Marden: Of course.Paul Griffiths: If we need to and I'm still calling on people things, you know, different projects we're doing here. But then again it's about slowly building up that network here and I think there's a slightly. You know, there's a. Within Ras Al Khaimah I've started making connections with lots of other people in the Heritage world and. And outside that. So we're already, you know, connecting up with different people from different parts of Ras Al Khaimah, the work we're going to do moving forward and for me I think it's been just a. I'm sort of still pinching myself I'm here and that sort of. So many things keep happening and you know. The weather's been gorgeous because I've come out of a grim English weather to this quite nice winter here where it's mostly been late mid-20s. Paul Griffiths: You're in she and shorts when you're off duty. You know, there's other things. The thing that really surprised me is how smart actually the dress code is for business over here. Paul Marden: Okay. Paul Griffiths: So I had to sort of all the usual brands that from home Mount Marks is next everything here so you could order online and get it delivered quite quickly. So I had sort of came out of one wardrobe thinking I was going to be far more in polo shirt and linen trousers are sort of very sort of summer at Painshill look, you know outdoor. But actually yeah my colleagues are still. Because of the aircon atmosphere. Lots of colleagues particularly in the head office are in suits. A bit like where I would have been when back in my London days. When we're in the office you were in a shirt tie. So yes, I had to sort of buy A back home wardrobe almost once I got traveled out with very lightweight clothing. So yes, it's a bit different in that sense. Paul Marden:  Yeah, absolutely. Let's talk a little bit about life as an expat. How have you found the transition? Paul Griffiths: Fine so far. I say there's lots of bits around work and practice and you know, no amount of inductions will be able to help you on some little faux pas you can make about not realising where you need approvals for staff. And obviously coming from the. For the last six years of being director of Painshill and only from feeding into a board of directors, board of trustees who we'd see quarterly and you know, I chat to the chairman every week. There was a lot of me sort of making those sort of decisions instantly was here, you know, particularly as were part of the foundation and we are representing Sheikh Saud as his name's in the title of the organization now, making sure we're going through those tick sheets. Paul Griffiths: You know, if I want to do anything that needs to spend more money, that's out budget, that is going to his Highness to be signed off. So any projects we're doing, we're needing to make cases to the highest man in the country to actually get those, you know, sign offs and things. And I'm not, that's not a bad thing. But you know, it's just that from an expat I guess it's getting used to. Everything's available here. Not the big supermarket up the road sells Waitrose and Marxist products and has a room at the back for non Muslims where you push the button, door opens, it's like a little bit of a naughty boys room. Paul Griffiths: You push back door open, slides you walk in and there's the pork heaven, you know, there's bacon, there's pork scratching, patays, you know, all because it's a real, you know, it's not just there's so many expats here, particularly from the Philippines and stuff who obviously pork is a big part of their diet. So yeah, that's available. I said earlier on there's cellars where you can pick up a great beer or a couple of glasses of bottle of wine or whatever you want. So actually it's not that I found myself flying into this really different world and I'm not really. Paul Marden:  It's a melting pot, isn't it? Paul Griffiths: Yeah. And I'm not someone who's ever been since very young, you know, going off to nightclubs or anything like that. But if you wanted that There is that. The hotels. So actually, if you're a younger person coming out and you wanted that nightlife, the hotels, particularly on Margin island and Minnal Arab, the tubing hotels have really nice restaurants, fully licensed clubs and stuff. But, you know, actually I found sort of the work is busy. Everyone's, you know, lots going on, actually, just going back to, you know, I was in a hotel for the first two months, which wasn't a dreadful thing because it was an apartment hotel. So, yeah, I had enough and now we've moved. I've moved into a villa ready for the family. Come out hopefully in about a month's time.Paul Marden:  Oh, that'd be exciting. Paul Griffiths: Yeah. So that's nice. So we've got the back onto the golf course. It's quite, you know, it's a nice place to be. It's going to be nice and, you know. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, so I've not struggled adapting because it's not. It's not that, you know, normally I've got a wonderful team here, Asia, you know, so with one Emirati and some Filipinos and other people from around the. From around the world. So that's been nice. And it's melting pot of learning their cultures as well as the local culture and. Yeah. And then they eat rice with everything. So it's. Yeah. Every lunchtime there's a bowl of rice, big bowl of salad in the main course and there's me pouring on the one on the salad, everyone else on the rice. But, yeah, it's been great, Paul. I mean, I can't. It's been one of those. Every moment you think this is just a great place to be. Paul Marden: Good. Let's go back to Al Jazeera and talk a little bit about some of the events that have been going on. So I know you're coming to the end of the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival. Tell me a little bit about that and how well that's gone. Paul Griffiths: It's been brilliant. I know. I had no idea what to expect. First time for this. So this is the 13th International Art Fair. It started off back in the small museum back in the city of Central Town, moved to here, I think, five years ago is what I'm saying, and slowly grown every year since then. So this is the biggest one we've done, really. Lots of massive sponsors on board from across the Emirates, actually fully supported by His Highness, who's been here at least four times, if not five, since we've had the vessel. He was here at the opening ceremony for the big launch, you know it was, and it was like a proper opening ceremony. Paul Griffiths: Everyone sat round with a band and speakers and you know like not quite Olympics but you know it was a proper event. This is the opening of it and it felt like a big event. Yeah. All my female members of my team had, were given time off in the day to do hair and makeup. It was proper. Everyone looked, everyone looked the business, it was lovely. You know everyone was scrubbed up from the maintenance team to, you know, our executive director looking fabulous in a brand new dress. You know it was really was. No, I've had a new suit, I got a new suit for the occasion. Paul Griffiths: So yeah, it was a lovely evening and then it's rolled ever since and for me it's been wonderful because I've seen people in this village which has been quite quiet since I'd arrived and it's sort of been okay, how are we going to get this? But actually clearly putting something on has attracted a complete cross spectrum audience. So you know, we have people coming in, absolutely fascinating, obsessed with the art, beautiful and it's artists I should say from around the world. It's all exhibited outside or inside the little houses. So you know lots of the pieces have been blown up quite big and quite impressive. I mean do look at it on the website, you know people, you know if you go to ajah.ae you can then click on from there.Paul Marden: We'll put the links and everything in the show notes so people be able to find that. Paul Griffiths: It's been, but it's been, for me it's been fabulous because we've seen so many people in, you know I was, you know, we've had, we've got pop up restaurants so this won't mean anything to people back home but the restaurant called Puro P U R O has a restaurant at the top of the mountain at Jebel Jais. Really almost impossible to get booking, you know you have to book months advance for lunch or dinner. It's the place that everybody, both locals, internationals and tourists want to see and often frequented by his Highness. They've got a pop up restaurant here which just is fabulous. Paul Griffiths: They we've had a lovely couple, Kelly and Paolo in running a restaurant called Antica which is a sort of the chef's Italian Paolo but he's lived in Australia so it's a fusion of Australian middle Italy, sort of historic villagey type cuisine with an Emirates twist. But you're just served four or five courses without there's not a menu. It's not a restaurant as such, so it's sort of a sharing experience. But you know, the food is amazing. So I was fortunate to have dinner. Well, I've actually been fortunate enough to have dinner in Antica twice and lunch there as well. But one of the dinners I was then wandering around the village about 10 o'clock at night was full of people, you know, families just. Paul Griffiths: There is a different culture over here that people do more stuff in the evenings because of the temperature and a different way of life because the local people aren't obviously, for obvious reasons, down the pub on a Friday night, they're doing stuff with the family and you go past cafes and even outside of the village, you know, 9, 10 o'clock on a Friday night, they're full of people sitting very beautifully dressed in their finest, drinking coffee and eating desserts. That's a big thing. People seem to love coffee and desserts. Paul Marden: Okay. Paul Griffiths: But, but then of course it's because because of the heat most of the year we'll spend more time indoors resting in the day and then ready to go out at night and do some more stuff. So yeah, so we've had this sort of here in the evenings. It's really fun. What was interesting is our hours for the festival were meant to be midweek. So Monday we always close. Tuesday to Thursday we're meant to be open till 6 o'clock and then Friday, Saturday, Sunday open to 11:00. Often struggling to get people out then the first night. So the Tuesday night was the first night. Medusa goes at 6:00. 5:45, I had a queue of at least 40 people trying to get in. So we just had to make an on the hooves decision. Paul Griffiths: We're going to stay open later. And then we just opened till 8:00 in the midweek. We didn't want to push it too much because of obviously from the staff welfare perspective, an hour's work. But actually that first night were just. Myself and Sikrat, who's the director of the festival, Emirati. Wonderful. Emirati has been my cultural bodyguard in many ways because he's been the person, my go to person for what should I do here? What about this person? How should I do this? So Spencer Crouch just stood there. Look at this crowd. We both just said, “Well we can't turf them away. This would be daft.” So yeah, so we've had. And we've had about 40, 000 visitors will have come through the door by the end of the festival in 28 days. Paul Griffiths: The artworks then going to stay up in place for Ramadan. So we'll be working different hours again during Ramadan and this is the first time Al Jazeera will ever do. Has ever done anything special for. Because before now it's just been a come and visit, walk in, do what you like, leave now. We're trying to structure that visitor experience. So we're going to be for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, because Thursday's the sort of Friday night in many ways. Because a lot of people have Fridays off here. Yes, because of the day of prayers and so a lot of people in Ras Al Hamah go to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for work. So Thursday nights they'll travel back. So actually we're going to be open till midnight on Thursday, Friday, Saturday for Ramadan. Paul Griffiths: So people will break the fast with the families and then they want to do the sort of head top of activity. They've now got food back in them and an energy source. And out they come. So again, first time we've done it, hopefully see numbers with the artwork will still be in place. We're then working on some different options around cuisine, food, coffee and hopefully get some musicians in as well, just to give a bit of an atmosphere. But it is a holy month, so it's not. It's not parties, but it's enjoying the family. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. So what does the future look like for the Heritage Village and for tourism and attractions more generally in RAK? Paul Griffiths: I think for RAK itself, we're trying to bring more tourists in then trying to get the most hotels. Interestingly, as they had a lunch with five of our local big hotels at the weekend using. Using our Antico restaurant, this is excuse to have another lunch there and invite some people in and just take on their views, which is great. So just chatting and getting their thoughts on it. They were saying what. What happens in Iraq a lot at the moment is people are finding the hotels through travel agents, through, you know, searches. I know when were looking before I came out here, I know Ras Al Hamra came up on a Thomas Cumbin telescope. Yeah, similar. What am I thinking of? Probably Tui, I guess, or someone like, you know, someone like that. Paul Griffiths: I was doing a search for when went to Canary, but up came Ras Al Khaimah as a hotel and what they were saying. A lot of people will book that and have no idea really what Ras Al Khaimah is, other than it's part of the UAE. Some people think it's part of Dubai, you know, actually, because it's not, they don't realize it's seven emirates, etc. So a lot of people are booking their sort of tourists, their hotels. Our job is to try and then get them out and attract them to do other stuff. So there's lots of adventure tourism going on at the moment. We talked about the zip wire and lots of hiking, walking, camel rail, camel riding, you know, trips to the desert where you can zoom around in 4x Fours and go karts and stuff. Paul Griffiths: So from my perspective of the Heritage village is about bringing it more alive, bringing more people in, promoting it, more linking up with these sorts of hoteliers, concierges. And this is really early days for us because this has always been sort of slightly done but not really pushed yet. And sort of listening to what their advice is and seeing how we can act upon it, you know, and what sort of stuff we can take forward because, you know, there's a lot to be done. And there's lots of other heritage sites across rat about 90 on the list of actual heritage sites. And some of those are real ruins that you're never going to be able to do anything with. Paul Griffiths: Those sort of English Heritage free sites, you know, the ones you stumble across with a little brown sign and you pull up with a lay by, have a potter around and off you go without seeing anyone. There's a bit like that. But then there's a number of sites that will work well with some activation. You know, we've got Dyer Fort, which is on the World Heritage site tentative list and we're working on projects to slowly take that forward to World Heritage status. Touchwood because it's a really important for, you know, and it's perfect for visits. You climb up to the top, you get the most gorgeous views. You know, really is a gorgeous little site. So more interpretation, more things there is what's needed. But you know, again, this is all early days. Paul Griffiths: So it's all about sort of, you know, each day's excitement. What can we do, what can we push forward, who can we talk to? And what's been great is as the festival's gone on, more people have been coming and chatting to me. Mine have become more, well known. That sounds wrong, goes back to your sort of earlier question about, you know, people are sort of learning about, oh, this person's here now. Paul said, although people can call me sir or Mr. Paul, which is fine. I can deal with that. Keep saying now, people, I keep saying, please don't call me sir. You really don't need to. But it's so culturally great. But Mr. Everyone see everyone externally, she's called Mr. Paul, so I can put up with that. But I was there. Although when we host his. Paul Griffiths: His Highness hosted dinner that I was invited to, I then got even pushed up to His Excellency, which was a title. I want to go. Paul Marden: That's quite nice. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, I love that. Apparently. I always thought that someone else I knew was his title. His Excellency was part of the family, but actually it's. Once you get to a CEO director level in royal that circle, you immediately become His Excellency, so. Paul Marden: Well, there we go. I will correct myself in future communications. Paul Griffiths: Please do. Yeah, but I thought it was wonderful. That's why it's just been lovely, the funny comments coming from people back home saying, oh, well, I've amended my entry in my phone to now shake your he status. But yeah, so. But there's a sort of cultural things. It's just. Okay, right, lovely. That's fun. Paul Marden: It's been a whirlwind for you. It's been really interesting actually, talking about it and understanding more about. About what's happening there, about how exciting it is, this huge opportunity that you've got to make a something out of this beautiful historic village and then that, you know, the remit will grow from there. So I think. I think this has been lovely. We always wrap up our interviews with a book recommendation and you've had this privilege once before. So have you run out of recommendations or do you have something ready for me? Paul Griffiths: Well, I was going to recommend the Red island, an Emirati story, because it's based on Al Jazeera Al Hamra, but I thought that might be a little bit too niche. This guy. So, again, little things have come across. This guy's written a book, Adil, and he's going to be coming to Al Jazeera to do a book reading signing. These little opportunities. I have read the book, I promise. It was actually fascinating because it's all about local culture. It went off in a number of tangents, but actually from a point of view of how the Emirati local culture works and families, it was actually quite a really good induction. But now I've decided to go with a more book for management or book for running. And I don't think anyone's given this before, but if they have, I'm nervous. Paul Griffiths: But this book, Fish!, which is one of my favourite books. I've actually launched this as the Al Jazeera Book Club for the spring. So all the team have a copy. Book clubs are massive over here for work. Every department has one here in the foundation. So this book, Fish, is based around the Seattle fish market. My colleagues who've worked me in the past, both. I can hear them groaning now because they've forced everyone to read this, but it's basically around having fun when you're at work. And it talks about the story of the Seattle fish market, how they were just flogging fish, but actually one day decided, we need to liven this up. We need to want to be here. So introduced, sort of involving the crowd, fish flying through the air. Paul Griffiths: But It's a more of a story about a woman joins, it moves up in a company into a department that no one's been able to manage. She gets to the bottom of using the fish market. And it's just a really fun, easy reading book. And so I recommend it to. To listeners and viewers. Paul Marden: That's brilliant. So listeners, if you would like a copy of Fish,Paul Griffiths: It's quite a cheap book as well, Paul, so please, you have to give one away. So it's not too much money. It's just 9.99 in the non fiction section. So, yeah, cheaper. Paul Marden: Bargain. Bargain. That's the trouble with. So I've been doing a few live events where we have panels, four people with book records, recommendations. That's going to bankrupt me. No, not today. We got a bargain this time. So I like this. Yeah. If you'd like a copy of Fish, if you'd like a copy of Paul's book, head on over to Bluesky and when Wenalyn posts the show note, go over there and repost it and say, I want Paul's book. And the first person to do that will get a copy of the book. Paul, delightful as always. Three times on the podcast, at least. Paul Griffiths: I think this would be number. This would be number four because we had the original episode where Kelly grilled me about life at Painshill. Then we did the Turn the Tables episode when I grilled Kelly on setting up podcasts. And then we did. Then we did the Goodbye to Kelly, whatever it was. 100 episode. And then this. Yeah, four Skip the Queues. Which is always a pleasure and I'm so delighted as you're my favourite podcast, obviously.Paul Marden: It's, oh, you say the nicest things. That must be a record. I need to go back and check that I think four times on the podcast is pretty impressive. Paul Griffiths: I think I should get to add all mine up into one as a total so I can beat Dominic Jones, who's always had the biggest number, isn't he? Paul Marden: So, yeah, so he does and he still does. So, yeah, I think aggregating the number of listens for across all of your episodes, I think that might be within the walls. Let me see what I can do and I'll add everything up and we'll see if you can take Dom's crown. Paul Griffiths: Sorry, Dom. Paul Marden:  Because he's not competitive at all. Paul Griffiths: No, he's not, mate. He's a great guy, though. So, yeah, a friendly rival. Paul Marden: Exactly. Thank you very much, Paul. I would love to keep in touch. Paul Griffiths: Let's keep talking. Paul Marden: I want to hear what happens not just after the first 90 days, but I want to hear what happens in a year's time and two years time. So thank you so much for coming on and telling us about Ras Al-Khaimah and the Heritage Village. It's been lovely. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, thanks for having me. It's great. Been a real pleasure. Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others to find us. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them to increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcripts from this episode and more over on our website, skipthequeue fm.    The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the 2024 Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

Taiwan yesterday denounced Chinese military incursions, including “shooting exercises” in international shipping routes. Such drills demonstrate the Chinese Communist Party's capability for no-notice action against the democratic island nation. President Trump declined yesterday to say how he would respond to such an attack. And defense contractor RAND recently engaged in astonishing “threat deflation,” contending that “the People's Liberation Army remains focused on upholding CCP rule, not preparing for war.” So, where do things actually stand? With thousands of Chinese soldiers now here, Beijing could act against Taiwan while creating conditions that would greatly complicate, if not preclude, a U.S. response. But Mr. Trump's Cabinet is as hardline on the CCP as any in our history, and his unwillingness to be drawn about a hypothetical Chinese invasion should be seen by Beijing as a deterrent, not an invitation to attack. This is Frank Gaffney.

It's Friday, February 21st, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark 10th anniversary of Muslim beheading of 21 Libyan Christians Saturday was the 10th anniversary of when 21 Christians died for their faith in Libya. Islamic State militants beheaded them on February 15, 2015 for refusing to deny Christ. Most of the believers were Egyptian Coptic Christians. Vicky Hartzler with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said, “Today, we remember the 21 young men who were brutally murdered by ISIS solely for being Christian. The U.S. government must continue to be an unrelenting voice against violence that targets religious communities, including Coptic Christians.”  In memory of the 21 Christian martyrs, More Productions released a short, 13-minute animated film last year called “The 21.” You can watch it through a special link in our transcript today at TheWorldview.com.  Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 and the overthrow of its then-leader, Col. Muammar Gaddafi. Since then, numerous other militia groups have battled for control. According to Open Doors, Libya is the fourth most dangerous country worldwide in which to be a Christian. 74-year-old pro-life woman arrested for praying outside abortion mill Authorities in Scotland arrested a 74-year-old pro-life woman recently for standing silently outside an abortion mill in Glasgow. Rose Docherty was holding a sign that read, “Coercion is a crime, here to talk, only if you want.” Officials charged her with violating a new “buffer zone” law that limits activities around abortion mills. It's the first arrest under the law.  The arrest comes days after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance called out European leaders for violating the religious freedom of pro-lifers.  Kash Patel confirmed as FBI Director In the United States, the U.S. Senate confirmed Kash Patel as FBI Director on February 20th, reports The Epoch Times. PRESIDING OFFICER: “The Yeas are 51; the Nays are 49. The confirmation is confirmed.” Senators voted 51–49 to confirm Patel who gained prominence for exposing alleged FBI and Justice Department malfeasance during the Crossfire Hurricane probe into the Trump campaign. Crossfire Hurricane was the code name for the counterintelligence investigation undertaken by the FBI from July 2016 to May 2017, into links between Donald Trump's presidential campaign and Russia. Republican Senators  Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine crossed the aisle to join Democrats in voting against Patel's nomination. Surprisingly, GOP Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky supported Trump's nominee. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, age 91, serves as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Before the vote was cast, he made this last-minute appeal. GRASSLEY: “Mr. Patel has spent his whole career fighting for righteous causes. He's been a public defender, representing the accused against the power of the state. He's been a congressional staffer, investigating the partisan weaponization of our legal system. And he served in key national security roles, protecting Americans from foreign enemies. He's received support from former FBI agents, former federal and state prosecutors, and organizations representing more than 680,000 law enforcement officers. “But Mr. Patel's resume, his accomplishments, aren't why he's the best person for this job. Mr. Patel should be considered our next FBI director because the FBI has been infected by political bias and weaponized against the American people. Mr. Patel knows it. Mr. Patel exposed it. I've got plenty of examples to show what's wrong with the FBI.” Kash Patel wrote the 2024 book entitled, Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy. Military chaplain fired for citing Romans 1 in sermon A Veterans Affairs chaplain is fighting for his religious freedom.  Rusty Trubey served as a chaplain at the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Pennsylvania. However, Veterans Affairs removed him from his duties for preaching a sermon from Romans 1. The sermon was entitled, “When a Culture Excludes God,” and included homosexuality as an example.  First Liberty Institute and the Independence Law Center are representing Trubey. Last week, they sent a letter to Douglas Collins, the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The letter noted, “This is a systemic problem. We know that you will do the right thing to correct not only the unconstitutional policies at the Coatesville Facility, but also throughout our [Veterans Affairs] system.” 2 Timothy 4:2 says, “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” U.S. poll: Only 40% believe in God of Bible; 4% have Biblical worldview Dr. George Barna released his latest American Worldview Inventory report. The study found that 46% of Americans agree that there is only one Supreme Spiritual Being who created and rules everything in existence. That number rose to 60% among self-identified Christians.  Dr. Barna noted many have a mix-and-match approach to faith: “The latest research finds that while two-thirds of Americans identify as Christian, only 4% hold a Biblical worldview. Even more alarming, just 40% believe in the God of the Bible, down from 73% three decades ago. Instead, Syncretism—blending elements from multiple worldviews—has become the dominant perspective.” Joshua 24:15 says, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Meta plans to build 30,000-mile-long sub-sea cable And finally, Meta announced last week it is building the world's largest sub-sea cable. The tech giant is known for its social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.  Under its new plan called Project Waterworth, it will bring industry-leading connectivity around the world. The cable will connect five major continents and measure over 30,000 miles. That's more than the earth's entire circumference! Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, February 21st, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. And now to close the newscast is my youngest child, Valor Tyndale McManus, who is turning 10 today. He's finally hit the double digits! Seize the day for Jesus Christ. (Adam@TheWorldview.com). 

President Trump is constantly threatening to impose tariffs on countries that export more goods and services to the United States than they buy from us creating a trade deficit. He believes that a trade deficit is losing big time. But Mr. Trump's economic thinking is old fashioned and wrong-headed, like thinking that foreign countries pay for tariffs. In this podcast we look at why trade deficits are a good thing for the United States.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (02/10/2025): 3:05pm- The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIX. The final score was 40-22—but it wasn't even that close! Quarterback Jalen Hurts was named the game's MVP. 3:10pm- In his pre-Super Bowl interview with Brett Baier on Fox News, President Donald Trump defended his usage of tariffs against Canada, China, Mexico, and other countries—arguing that the tariffs are retaliatory, noting that the United States currently has a $350 billion trade deficit with Mexico alone. President Trump also insisted that making Canada the country's 51st state is a “real thing.” 3:25pm- Caught on a hot microphone, Canadian Prime Minister warned that President Donald Trump is serious about “absorbing” Canada. He explained: "They're very aware of our resources, of what we have, and they very much want to be able to benefit from those…But Mr. Trump has it in mind that one of the easiest ways of doing that is absorbing our country. And it is a real thing." 3:40pm- During Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, the crowd roared with approval when President Donald Trump was flashed on the stadium's jumbotron. Popstar Taylor Swift, however, wasn't greeted with the same enthusiasm. When her image appeared on the same screen, the crowd mercilessly booed. According to a new CBS/YouGov poll, Trump currently enjoys a 53% approval rating. 4:05pm- Bill D'Agostino—Senior Research Analyst at Media Research Center—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to break down some of the best (and worst) clips from the Sunday shows. PLUS, the left goes apoplectic when they learn the Trump Administration, Elon Musk, and DOGE are fulfilling their pledge to slash wasteful government. 4:30pm- Andrew C. McCarthy—Senior Fellow at National Review & former Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his latest article for National Review, “The Courts Are Slowing Trump Down, Not Necessarily Stopping Him.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/02/the-courts-are-slowing-trump-down-not-necessarily-stopping-him/. 5:00pm- Dr. Victoria Coates— Former Deputy National Security Advisor & the Vice President of the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation—joins The Rich Zeoli Show and reacts to the Philadelphia Eagles defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. Plus, the Trump Administration continues to fight to end USAID's wasteful spending—much of which Chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology David Sacks says is going to fund far-left initiatives globally. Dr. Coates is author of the book: “The Battle for the Jewish State: How Israel—and America—Can Win” which features a forward from Senator Ted Cruz. You can find the book here: https://a.co/d/iTMA4Vb. Soon it'll be available via audio book! 5:40pm- In his pre-Super Bowl interview with Brett Baier on Fox News, President Donald Trump was asked if Vice President J.D. Vance is his clear successor. Trump suggested it was too early to tell. 6:05pm- On Sunday, in a post to Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he has ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to stop producing the penny. According to The New York Times it costs 3.69 cents to produce a single penny—which means the U.S. loses nearly $85 million per year producing pennies. But will doing away with the penny result in a transition away from hard currency—ultimately meaning less privacy with each purchase? Rich notes, “failure of imagination will be the undoing of our civil liberties.” 6:30pm- On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order reversing the Biden Administration's war on plastic straws. 6:40pm- While speaking with the press from the Oval Office, President Donald Trump said if Hamas does not release all of its hostages by Saturday at noon, all hell will break loose. 6:50pm- B ...

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: 3:05pm- The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIX. The final score was 40-22—but it wasn't even that close! Quarterback Jalen Hurts was named the game's MVP. 3:10pm- In his pre-Super Bowl interview with Brett Baier on Fox News, President Donald Trump defended his usage of tariffs against Canada, China, Mexico, and other countries—arguing that the tariffs are retaliatory, noting that the United States currently has a $350 billion trade deficit with Mexico alone. President Trump also insisted that making Canada the country's 51st state is a “real thing.” 3:25pm- Caught on a hot microphone, Canadian Prime Minister warned that President Donald Trump is serious about “absorbing” Canada. He explained: "They're very aware of our resources, of what we have, and they very much want to be able to benefit from those…But Mr. Trump has it in mind that one of the easiest ways of doing that is absorbing our country. And it is a real thing." 3:40pm- During Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, the crowd roared with approval when President Donald Trump was flashed on the stadium's jumbotron. Popstar Taylor Swift, however, wasn't greeted with the same enthusiasm. When her image appeared on the same screen, the crowd mercilessly booed. According to a new CBS/YouGov poll, Trump currently enjoys a 53% approval rating.

The Super Bowl is great and all, but let's be honest: the real showdown this weekend is the Puppy Bowl. And this year, four Texas pups are in the lineup!Mr. Pickles (a pug mix) is suiting up for Team Ruff as a “running bark.” Haily (Shih Tzu-Yorkie), Wimberley (Chihuahua-Poodle), and Candy Buttons (Beagle-Chihuahua) are also ready to bring the cuteness.Honestly, I expected bigger Texas dogs, but these little guys are representing well. And good news: each of them has already found their forever home! But Mr. Pickles has a brother, Mr. Dill… and he might still be available!

Dear Readers,First things first: Let's welcome our 51 new subscribers Violet, Rae, Olga, Taylor, Joyce, Sogo, Emily, Callie, Angelina, Peter, Tya, Emily, Natalie, Christine, Heather, Mary, Hannah, Marie-Pierre, Kristy, Fernanda, Maurtini, Helen, Angelina, Colette, Ronald, Courtney, Kelley, Jaymi, Katy, Steph, Deborah, Cathy, Christina, Brenna, Megan, Jacki, Alina, Cynthia, Caryn, Brittany, Nimi, Katie, Shell, Jamie, Candice, Samuel, Leslie, and Stephanie. New subscribers, I hope you find the newsletter a solid addition to your email inbox. Welcome to Article Club. Make yourself at home.

The state's largest business association wants to see Missouri be a top-ten state in manufacturing. Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Kara Corches tells 939 the Eagle that the Show-Me State currently ranks 28th in manufacturing competitiveness. She says manufacturing in Missouri employs about 287,000 people, contributing $50-billion annually to the state's gross domestic product. The Chamber wants to see that number be higher. The Missouri Chamber Foundation is making seven recommendations. They include expanding the workforce pipeline for manufacturing careers and providing incentives and technical assistance to increase capital investment. "Missouri Times" publisher Scott Faughn joined us live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Missouri", telling listeners that he's optimistic Missouri will see more growth under new Governor Mike Kehoe (R). But Mr. Faughn is candid, saying Republicans have controlled both chambers for 22 years and that Missouri has seen little growth. According to Mr. Faughn, Missouri saw more growth under former Speaker Bob Griffin (D-Cameron) than it did under former Speaker Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres), who left office in January:

“The warrant signals to Israel, it signals to the supporters of Netanyahu [that] you have moved out of the realm of approval of a very great number of nations” – Professor Emeritus André Thomashausen, University of South Africa On the 21st of November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Mohammed Deif, a military commander of the Islamist group, Hamas, has also been added to the ICC's list, even though Israel previously said he was killed in an airstrike in July. ICC judges say there are “reasonable grounds” that the three men bear "criminal responsibility" for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. These relate to the on-going conflict in the Gaza Strip, in the Middle East. But Mr. Netanyahu has rejected the warrants, describing them as “anti-Semitic”. In a statement, the ICC says the office of its prosecutor received a referral of the situation in the State of Palestine. It came from South Africa, Comoros, Djibouti and several other nations worldwide. So, today Alan Kasujja wants to know why South Africa, a country which has long been campaigning to end the war in Gaza, wants senior Hamas and Israeli leaders arrested. Guests: Zane Dangor, Director General of South Africa's Department of International Relations and Professor Emeritus André Thomashausen of the University of South Africa

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (11/19/2024): 3:05pm- Trump Announces Secretary of Commerce Pick. In a statement, Donald Trump announced: “I am thrilled to announce that Howard Lutnick, Chairman & CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, will join my Administration as the United States Secretary of Commerce. He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative. In his role as Co-Chair of the Trump-Vance Transition Team, Howard has created the most sophisticated process and system to assist us in creating the greatest Administration America has ever seen.” 3:15pm- Last week, Donald Trump appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which will seek to find and eliminate wasteful spending practices throughout the federal government. During a segment of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart admitted that the 2024 election proved to be a repudiation of the bureaucratic system. 3:30pm- Daniel Turner—Founder and Executive Director of Power the Future—joins The Rich Zeoli Show and reacts to Donald Trump's cabinet picks including former Congressman Lee Zeldin's appointment as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To learn more about Power the Future, visit: https://x.com/DanielTurnerPTF 3:50pm- Gaetz Has Less Than Even Odds of Being Confirmed by Senate. Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan of The New York Times report: “The president-elect is taking a flood-the-zone approach to his cabinet nominations, betting that the Senate won't dare to turn them all down…In his private conversations over the past few days, President-elect Donald J. Trump has admitted that his besieged choice for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, has less than even odds of being confirmed by the Senate. But Mr. Trump has shown no sign of withdrawing the nomination, which speaks volumes about his mind-set as he staffs his second administration. He is making calls on Mr. Gaetz's behalf, and he remains confident that even if Mr. Gaetz does not make it, the standard for an acceptable candidate will have shifted so much that the Senate may simply approve his other nominees who have appalled much of Washington.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/us/politics/trump-cabinet.html 3:55pm- On Tuesday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell testified during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing. In notable exchanges with Congressmen Scott Perry and Jeff Van Drew, Criswell was asked about reports that FEMA withheld vital hurricane relief aid from Trump supporters. 4:00pm- Trump Picks Administrator for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In a statement, Donald Trump announced: “I am very pleased to nominate Dr. Mehmet Oz to serve as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator. America is facing a Healthcare Crisis, and there may be no Physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again. He is an eminent Physician, Heart Surgeon, Inventor, and World-Class Communicator, who has been at the forefront of healthy living for decades. Dr. Oz will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take on the illness industrial complex, and all the horrible chronic diseases left in its wake.” 4:10pm- Does Cory Booker Agree with RFK Jr.? In a video posted to social media, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) said he is “raising the alarm of the dangers of our current food system.” 4:20pm- Philly City Soda Tax: Where'd the Money Go? Journalist John Stossel investigated the Philadelphia soda tax—which politicians pledged would go towards funding public schools. However, less than half the money raised ultimately ended up in the school systems and the tax harmed local businesses. 4:40pm- Dr. EJ Antoni—Research Fellow in The Heritage Foundation's Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss Donald Trump's tariff policy an ...

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: 3:05pm- Trump Announces Secretary of Commerce Pick. In a statement, Donald Trump announced: “I am thrilled to announce that Howard Lutnick, Chairman & CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, will join my Administration as the United States Secretary of Commerce. He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative. In his role as Co-Chair of the Trump-Vance Transition Team, Howard has created the most sophisticated process and system to assist us in creating the greatest Administration America has ever seen.” 3:15pm- Last week, Donald Trump appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which will seek to find and eliminate wasteful spending practices throughout the federal government. During a segment of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart admitted that the 2024 election proved to be a repudiation of the bureaucratic system. 3:30pm- Daniel Turner—Founder and Executive Director of Power the Future—joins The Rich Zeoli Show and reacts to Donald Trump's cabinet picks including former Congressman Lee Zeldin's appointment as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To learn more about Power the Future, visit: https://x.com/DanielTurnerPTF 3:50pm- Gaetz Has Less Than Even Odds of Being Confirmed by Senate. Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan of The New York Times report: “The president-elect is taking a flood-the-zone approach to his cabinet nominations, betting that the Senate won't dare to turn them all down…In his private conversations over the past few days, President-elect Donald J. Trump has admitted that his besieged choice for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, has less than even odds of being confirmed by the Senate. But Mr. Trump has shown no sign of withdrawing the nomination, which speaks volumes about his mind-set as he staffs his second administration. He is making calls on Mr. Gaetz's behalf, and he remains confident that even if Mr. Gaetz does not make it, the standard for an acceptable candidate will have shifted so much that the Senate may simply approve his other nominees who have appalled much of Washington.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/us/politics/trump-cabinet.html 3:55pm- On Tuesday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell testified during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing. In notable exchanges with Congressmen Scott Perry and Jeff Van Drew, Criswell was asked about reports that FEMA withheld vital hurricane relief aid from Trump supporters.

When I first joined COS, I had the privilege of mentoring under the great Bud “Gunny” Cornwell, retired — but, at heart, lifelong — United States Marine. For nine months, he showed me the ropes and what it means to love one's country. I eventually moved on from Bud's department, but the lessons he taught me stayed with me. Today, I spend most of my time among very patriotic people. But Mr. Cornwell still may take the cake. He risked his life for this country, and now, he continues to fight for freedom in a new theater of war: the Article V frontier.  But what makes Bud exceptional is how he loves his country. Bud's patriotism is unique. Unlike others, he does not merely talk about how much he loves this country. He proves it. Every day of his life, he shows it. He demonstrates his love by self-sacrificial service — by pouring himself out for the great American cause. Bud represents a rare but vital class of Americans: the hero class. These are the men and women without whom we would fall prey to tyranny. It's a sobering reminder that behind every blessing we enjoy in this country stands an army of brave souls, living, lost, and fallen, who stared down America's enemies on our behalf. We owe them more than just our gratitude. We owe them, as President Lincoln suggested, “increased devotion” to the cause for which they fought. https://conventionofstates.com/news/veterans-day-and-marine-corps-birthday-with-the-gunny

George Jones's New YorkBY JAMES BARRON George Jones Live At The Bottom Line- New York City- 19811 Ragged But Right2 The Race Is On3 Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms4 Bartender's Blues5 Grand Tour6 Tell Me My Lying Eyes Are Wrong7 You Better Treat Your Man Right8 White Lightning9 Once You've Had the BestAND MORE!Hardly anybody would have looked for an “I ♥ NY” bumper sticker on George Jones's tour bus. “The story of him and New York was he just didn't want to come here,” said Jack Grace, a singer and songwriter who books performers for the Rodeo Bar in Manhattan.Mr. Jones, a country singer with a plaintive voice and a complicated life who died on Friday at 81, told people he did not like Manhattan. But maybe he needed a geography lesson. He did not seem to understand that Manhattan was in New York or that, to many New Yorkers, Manhattan just was New York.Steve I. Weitzman, a club promoter, remembered booking Mr. Jones for a show at Tramps on West 21st Street in 1992.“He had a fabulous time,” Mr. Weitzman said, adding that at one point, Mr. Jones told the crowd, “I'm in New York” — with, as Mr. Weitzman described it, an almost giddy sense of excitement that one would not expect from a big-name star.A year and a half later, Mr. Weitzman booked him again. Same place, same stage, same hopes.“The agent called me a week or two later and said, ‘George is going to cancel. George didn't like Manhattan,'” Mr. Weitzman said. “George didn't know that Manhattan was in New York. The agent told me George would appear if I could find another venue that's not Manhattan, but what place was there that was not booked? I tried upstate New York, but I couldn't find anything that was not booked.”By then Mr. Jones was known as No-Show Jones for the performances he skipped, often because of drinking and drugs. Allan Pepper, an owner of the Bottom Line in Greenwich Village, remembered no-show dates in the late 1970s. One was a two-night stand in September 1977 that coincided with a press party for Mr. Jones given by Epic Records.“The only trouble was, Mr. Jones didn't show up — at either the party or the performances,” The New York Times reported. “When last heard from, Mr. Jones's Nashville office had no idea where he was.”A story circulated about what had happened. “Somebody said he went out the bathroom window,” Mr. Pepper said.Fans figured he had the jitters. “A lot of those people got freaky about New York,” said Mort Cooperman, an owner of the Lone Star Cafe on Fifth Avenue, referring to famous performers. He said he had tried to sign Mr. Jones for the same dates but lost out to the Bottom Line. “Some of them loved it and turned into glowworms, like Johnny Paycheck. He was turned on by New York.”But Mr. Jones stayed away. Mr. Pepper said the routine — agreeing on a date, signing a contract and canceling the gig — became all too familiar. “I would be upset,” he said, “but here's the interesting thing: We would announce there was a cancellation and the fans would come up to the box office window and ask us, ‘What was it this time? He got sick? He got into an accident?' They were prepared for this. They knew he was No-Show Jones. So I rebooked him, and again he canceled on me.”Mr. Pepper booked him again, in 1980, and as if to prove the cliché about the third time being a charm, Mr. Jones not only appeared, but Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt — who had been in the audience — joined him onstage for several songs. Mr. Pepper said that

Reverend Henry is tempted by sin; or perhaps something else?By cocteleo. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, 2010It is the Regency era, in England. King George the 3rd is mentally ill and has lost the American colonies through his unstable rule. Prince George the 4th became the kingdom's regent and restored calm and elevated culture, society, and piety. The social classes are clearly defined, but everyone lives in fear of descending to a lower class through poverty or lesser associations.The Belle of GlenwoodMr. Henry Carter, curate of the Anglican parish of Glenwood, was having a hard time adjusting to his new role. He had recently obtained his position several months ago, working under the rector, a stout man in his 50s, Mr. Niles Brewer.Henry, being a very devout young person of age 24, was shocked when he had arrived in Glenwood and become aware of the indolent practice of Mr. Brewer. The rector did perhaps two hours of work every week, sending Henry to do the rest as he relaxed in his study with a novel and a plate of cookies.It had been a stroke of luck, or so he had thought, when Henry had been offered the curacy at Glenwood. It was a prosperous parish, and his living now exceeded that of many of his friends at university. But the indifferent way in which Mr. Brewer conducted church business was, well, unholy! To counteract his employer's laziness, Henry threw himself into the community, working feverishly on sermons in between attending to all of the baptisms, marriages, and funerals, as well as visiting the poor.Mr. Brewer just laughed. "Don't work too hard, my boy!" he would say in his jovial, booming voice. "The church will get along fine with just a Sunday sermon and a sacrament here and there. No need to go to all of that trouble."His careless words just seemed to make the fervor in Henry grow even brighter. He had visions of glory in which the people of Glenwood would hail him as a stalwart leader of the community, when they would sit in rapturous silence and drink in his inspiring words from the pulpit every Sunday.This afternoon, he walked along the village street, completely unaware of the attention his tall, broad-shouldered figure, clad all in black, generated among the women of Glenwood. Any eligible young man newly arrived to the neighborhood was a welcome sight; for him to be handsome, with a thick thatch of black hair and serious gray eyes, was an exciting bonus. Henry, his head full of romantic notions of the clergy, hardly noticed the teasing looks directed his way. He had sometimes thought the young ladies of the parish were a little more than attentive, but his brain was too much in an abstract fog to notice, which of course added to his mysterious appeal.He was on his way to the house of Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain, wealthy landowners with three young daughters. The oldest, Belinda, had just turned 18 and had come out the season before. She was generally recognized to be the belle of Glenwood, with beautiful, curling blonde hair and the face of an angel with wide, blue eyes. Her body had ripened becomingly into lush curves that stirred the fantasies of all the young men in the village. All the young men except for Henry, of course.Henry arrived at the door and the unsmiling butler led him to Mr. Chamberlain's study. The older gentleman was of the round, red-faced variety and he waved Henry in. "Come in, come in, Mr. Carter. I must say, I'm very glad to see you." He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and mopped his sweaty brow."How may I be of service, Mr. Chamberlain? Your message sounded most urgent." Henry sat down across the desk."Well, well," Mr. Chamberlain coughed. He seemed to be having trouble with his words. Henry waited patiently. "You see, Mr. Carter, the trouble is with Belinda.""Belinda?" Henry searched his memory. "Your eldest daughter, you mean?""Yes, her." For a few seconds, Mr. Chamberlain's face grew so red that Henry was alarmed. Should the old gentleman have sent for a doctor instead of a clergyman? But Mr. Chamberlain shook himself and started again."It has come to our attention-- That is, the missus and I have discovered-- Well, Belinda has been acting very strangely of late. Yesterday, the housekeeper found her--ahem--exhibiting herself to the gardener in the greenhouse. This was, unfortunately, not the first time." Mr. Chamberlain pulled at his collar and Henry cleared his throat, feeling suddenly discomfited as well. The small study seemed to grow close and hot."She has been giving us trouble for some time now. We have caught her with the butcher's boy in the shed. And there was that time our friend Mr. Allenby came to stay... He was absolutely shocked at her behavior. Shocked to his toes!" He harrumphed and opened a drawer in his desk, bringing out a long, thick object. Henry stared as Mr. Chamberlain dropped it on the desk with a loud, wooden thud. "And Mrs. Chamberlain found this in her bedchamber the other day."Henry leaned forward to inspect it more closely. It was carved in the shape of a phallus. A rather large phallus, from Henry's experience in all of his years of boarding school and university."Who knows where she got this!" Mr. Chamberlain said in an explosive grunt. "She won't tell us, and we are at our wits' end. As you know, Mr. Carter, a young lady's reputation is all she has, and my wife and I are worried that Belinda's marriage prospects, not to mention those of her younger sisters, will be utterly ruined if word gets out of her wanton behavior."Henry gazed at his host in utter bewilderment. "But sir, why am I here? What do you expect me to do?""How the hell should I know?" Mr. Chamberlain was gruff in his own ignorance of how to handle his lusty daughter. "You're the clergyman. Talk to her and fix this!"He stood up and rang the bell and as Henry sputtered in his seat, the door opened and in walked Belinda.For once, Henry did not have his head in the clouds, thinking of his next sermon. It was the first time he had really seen the girl without blindly passing his gaze over her, and the blonde's beauty stunned him into a brief stupor. Before he knew it, Mr. Chamberlain had slammed the door behind him, leaving them alone in the study, which all of a sudden felt suffocatingly small.Belinda, for her part, took Henry in with a long glance. His strong jaw was taut and his gray eyes stormy. She curtsied and walked forward. He hastily jumped to his feet and bowed."Miss Belinda!" he said, in a slightly strangled voice."Good afternoon, Mr. Carter," she responded, her honeyed voice raising the little hairs on the back of his neck.Ever since he had gotten over his awkward teen years, Henry had devoted himself wholesale to his studies. He had even thought of taking a vow of celibacy, not wanting the sins of the flesh to distract him from his dream of becoming an archdeacon. Thus, it had been a long time since he had felt any stirring in his nether regions, and his cheeks took on a hot flush when he realized his cock was coming to life at the sight of Belinda's ripe body, clad in a simple navy dress.He abruptly sat down again to hide his uncomfortable state and attempted to take control of the situation. The young girl was standing before him now, the large desk behind her. The light from the windows beyond created a nimbus around her figure and Henry swallowed hard at the irony of this angelic-looking creature hiding such sinful desires."Miss Belinda," he began, "Your father has charged me with the task of curing you of your unnatural proclivities."Belinda merely continued looking at him, with a serene smile on her lovely countenance. She leaned back against the desk, her hands resting on its surface. The position seemed to push her ample bosom up higher, already straining at the tight confines of her bodice."I-I command you to stop this behavior at once. God does not look kindly on those who indulge in the seven deadly sins, and as you know, lust is one of the" Henry trailed off, suddenly realizing two things. One, that in his rush to exit, Mr. Chamberlain had left the wooden phallus out on his desk, and two, Belinda's slender fingers were now caressing it.He started when Belinda said, "Continue, Mr. Carter. You were saying something about lust?"Henry dragged his eyes from where Belinda's delicate, white hand was stroking that unholy instrument. Her face looked as angelic as ever."Ahem, yes. As I was saying, God will punish those who give in to their base desires. You are a good girl, Miss Belinda," Henry said, although with a swelling of doubt in his heart. "Don't you want to reach the gates of Heaven?""Oh but Mr. Carter," she said. "I have discovered a Heaven here on our Earthly plane. It is the most blessed feeling, and I feel sure God would not disapprove."Henry's face grew red at her implication and he stammered again. "Tha; that is for me to say, Miss Belinda. And I say again, that God will punish you with the fires of hell for your sinful actions."Belinda did not seem to be affected by his threats. Instead, she ran a hand over the enticing swell of her breasts down over her skirts before she cupped her sex between her thighs, her white skin in contrast to the dark blue of her dress."But sir," she purred wickedly. "I have such an ache, just here. How shall I fill this ache in a way that God will approve?" She brought the large, wooden phallus down and thrust it where her hand had been, the fabric of her dress and underthings bunching with it.Henry was open-mouthed now, his brow sheened with sweat. He tugged at his collar and cleared his throat, but seemed to have nothing more to say at the moment."I feel so empty all the time," Belinda pouted as she continued to thrust the instrument between her outspread thighs. With her other hand, she massaged her right breast, tweaking her nipple, which Henry could see straining through the fabric. "I need to be filled so bad!"She pulled her generous neckline down, exposing one perfect, creamy breast, tipped with a rosy pink bud."Miss Belinda!" Henry made to stand, but all of a sudden, Belinda slid up onto the desk and pushed her stockinged foot down, right onto the large bulge in his black breeches. Henry gripped the arms of the chair as he groaned at the feel of her small foot on his clothed cock. She must have taken her shoes off while she stood there tempting him; he glanced down to see her slippers in a haphazard heap on the rug."Why, Mr. Carter!" Belinda's voice became husky and even more alluring. "What's this? Are you also filled with an ache? An ache that only a Heavenly act can relieve?" She ran her toes over his huge bulge and hummed appreciatively. "I can tell you've been gifted by God with an instrument of large size. Is it as big as this?"She brought the phallus up to her mouth now and stuck out her little pink tongue to give it a long lick.Henry whimpered in his chair, his cock an unyielding rod of iron. The sight of Belinda's rosebud mouth engaging in such an obscene act was inflaming him with the Devil's own power. "No, no," he said when Belinda began lifting her skirts. She propped her other foot up on the desk beside her, the nimble limb long and white, encased in a cream-colored stocking up to her knee. As she uncovered her sex, Henry was horrified to see that she was entirely bare."Oh, yes!" said Belinda, still pressing her dainty foot against his rock-hard crotch. She ran her fingers through her downy curls, glistening with moisture. "Umm," she said as she rubbed the apex of her cunny, "This is where it aches the most. And when I touch it, I feel as if God himself has touched me."She circled her clit in hungry movements, moaning around the wooden phallus in her mouth. "Mr. Carter, it feels so good!""It's the Devil, Miss Belinda!" Henry choked out. Belinda's little toes squeezed his cock and his eyes rolled back in his head as she gave a small, delighted laugh."I don't think so, Mr. Carter. It must be a higher power of good at work, not evil." She spread her cunny lips open and Henry groaned at the sight of her pulsing slit, dripping with her juices. "And when I do this, it feels as if the Heavens have opened."Belinda brought the wooden instrument, now shining wetly with the efforts of her tongue, to her cunny's opening and began to work it inside with short thrusts, all the time letting out the most delicious and lascivious cries of pleasure. "Oh yes, Mr. Carter!" she said when it was hilted several inches in her tight cunny. She held it in while she frigged her clit with her other hand. "Umm, I love it so much!"She began to slide the phallus in and out of her sopping cunt and it made lewd, wet noises every time she thrust it home again. "Oh fuck!" she cried out, her hands a blur between her thighs.Henry thought he might faint. The exquisite pressure of her foot on his cock, along with the mouth-watering smell that was coming from Belinda's soaked cunny, was making him light-headed. He tried to grasp at the Lord's Prayer with his dazed mind. It had never before failed to center and strengthen his devout conviction, but it certainly failed him now. All he could see and hear was Belinda, her luscious, enticing body making him want things he shouldn't."Oh, I'm going to come, Mr. Carter!" she cried out now, pounding her cunny with the phallus. Every time she said his name, Henry's cock jumped and seemed to grow even harder. He squirmed in the chair, his eyes glued to the sight of Belinda's violent release."Yes!" she hissed as she shuddered in obvious bliss, her hips writhing on the desk. She slapped at her cunny, each strike making a filthy, wet sound amid her nasty moans. On the final slap, she slid the phallus out and her cunny gushed with a flood of juices all over the carpet as she moaned, long and loud.The sight sent Henry overboard and he groaned in ecstatic release as his cock pulsed, staining his breeches with a dark patch of moisture. His hands held onto the arms of the chair with a white-knuckled grip as he came, the pleasure so overwhelming that he did not notice a smirking Belinda slide to her knees between his legs."Ahh!" he yelped when he felt her hands on his sensitive member, fishing him out of his breeches. He looked down just in time to see Belinda open that pink, rosebud mouth and engulf his softening cock, glistening with his seed."Oh my Lord!" he cried out, his hands automatically coming to her head to push her away, but for some reason, his fingers tightened around her golden curls instead. When he felt her small hand fondle his balls and his cock harden once more in her hot, velvet mouth, he whimpered."Umm, Mr. Carter, delicious!" Belinda said, popping off his stiff shaft with a long suck. "You're so big! You're bigger than any other man I've seen!" Henry had indeed been blessed by God in that department. Belinda's hand looked tiny, barely encasing his thick girth, and it was longer even than her wooden phallus. She had a greedy look in her eyes as she stroked and licked up and down his engorged length."I can't wait until you fuck me with this huge cock, Mr. Carter!" she said, twisting her hands around him as she took him again into the moist cavern of her mouth.His head lolling on the back of the chair, blinding pleasure running through him, Henry could only moan weakly, "No, no, the Devil's work.""Nonsense!" Belinda said in her low, soothing voice, all the while continuing her depraved movements with her hands and lips. "You know as well as I do that once a man and woman are married, the joining of two bodies is celebrated."She leaned forward and took one of his balls in her mouth, rolling it around with her tongue until he gave a loud groan. "If we're married, Henry, then we can do this every day with God's blessing. In fact, I think God would allow it even if we were engaged!"Henry vaguely registered the fact that she had just used his Christian name. His thoughts were in a whirl of wanton destruction. He could not focus as she tortured him with her unholy touch. But when that touch suddenly left him, he groaned in disappointment.He lifted his head and saw that Belinda was lying on her back on the carpet now, her skirts rucked up to her waist and her legs wide open to expose her swollen, pink cunny. Her beautiful tits were both out now, squeezed together between her arms. She was rubbing herself again with two hands, lewdly spreading her juices all over her puffy lower lips."Don't you want to fuck me, Henry? Don't you want to stick your huge, hard cock inside me?" She spread herself open and he salivated at the sight of that enticing, dark hole."Umm, Henry, I want to be your wife," Belinda continued as she slipped her fingers all around her wet core. "You could fuck me every night, every day, every hour if we were married! Don't you want that, Henry?" Her voice was honeyed seduction and Henry dropped to his knees in front of her, his enormous cock straining out in front of him, drawn to the indecent sight of Belinda's fingers pushing into her cunny.She brought them up to her mouth and licked them and Henry moaned at the sight, his cock now pressed against her entrance, slick and silky."Say you'll marry me, Henry. Say it!" Belinda drew her tongue over her bottom lip, her bright blue eyes mesmerizing him. She brought her fingers to her perky nipples and pinched them, letting out a grunt as her hips shifted against him."Yes, yes!" Henry whispered, and then crammed his monster cock into her tight, pulsing heat."Fuck! Yes!" Belinda cried, her body straining to accommodate his huge size. "Oh my God, you're so big!" She wiggled and squirmed as he relentlessly drove into her, gaining another inch with every thrust until he was pounding his entire length into her as she moaned in satisfaction and gripped his ass hard, urging him on.Henry's hands were braced on each side of Belinda's head, and he stared down at her, watching as pleasure washed over her features. He had never seen anything so beautiful as she, with her clear, azure gaze fixed on him in an expression of love and devotion.He looked down to see his cock pummeling her tight cunt, her opening stretched around him, and her creamy breasts bouncing with every thrust. Groaning at the sight, his hips began to move faster as the pleasure built and built inside of him."You feel so good, Henry," Belinda said and he lifted his head to meet her gaze again. Her eyelids had lowered and a flush had stolen over her porcelain complexion. "Keep going, harder, harder! Fuck, Henry, I'm going to come again! I'm going to come all over your cock!"And as Henry felt her channel grip his member over and over in its velvet grasp as Belinda shook and moaned beneath him, he closed his eyes and commended his soul to the Lord.His balls tightened and after hammering his huge member into that spasming cunny several more times, his cock burst in an eruption of cum. His sticky seed shot into Belinda's sucking womb with force, pumping with orgasmic pulses. "Oh my fucking God!" he cried out, shuddering as the intense pleasure overwhelmed him, flowing out of his shaft in waves of bliss. He ground his pelvis into her for a long minute before collapsing on top of her, panting heavily his mind in a daze. As Belinda ran her hands up and down his back, she let out a laugh, low and triumphant.Fifteen minutes later, Henry was standing next to Belinda in front of her parents in the sitting room. He was stammering out an explanation of their sudden engagement as she held his hand. She wore an extremely satisfied smile on her beautiful face. Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain were, of course, flummoxed by this recent news, but they were not unpleased. It was a relief to finally get their troublesome daughter off their hands, after all.As for Belinda, it would be some time before she confessed to her husband, late one night while she rode his cock, that she had planned to snare him from the start. "An angel came to me in a dream," she explained, pulling a moan out of Henry, writhing beneath her, as she leaned back and squeezed his balls in her hand. "And the angel told me what a big cock you had!"Fiona's CuriosityFiona, middle daughter of the Chamberlain family, was having a hard time sleeping. In fact, for the past year, ever since her older sister Belinda had married Henry Carter, the local curate, she had been having trouble sleeping.The crux of the problem was that Mr. Brewer was still the rector of Glenwood, and thus occupied the rectory with his wife and family. Henry had been renting rooms in the village, but after the wedding, he had taken up residence at the Chamberlains' very large manor house, sharing quarters with his new wife in the east wing.Unfortunately, Fiona also slept in the east wing. Her bedchamber was right next to that of the young couple, and the walls were lamentably thin.

Pride and Prejudice audiobook Chapter 53 - Romantic Sleep Story with Stephanie Poppins #prideandprejudice #stephaniepoppins #romance #sleepstory #asmrsleep Sleep stories with Steph These Bedtime Tales guarantee a smooth transition onto a great night's sleep Published by Neworld Books UK Pride and Prejudice by ⁠Jane Austen⁠ was first published in 1813 and is a classic romantic novel set in early 19th-century England. The story revolves around the spirited Elizabeth Bennet and the proud Mr. Darcy, exploring the complexities of love, class, and social expectations. Against the backdrop of the English countryside and the drawing rooms of the landed gentry, Austen skillfully crafts a narrative that satirizes the societal norms of the time while portraying the individual growth and romantic entanglements of its characters. The novel is deeply embedded in the historical context of the Regency era, offering a keen insight into social hierarchy, marriage expectations, and gender roles of the time. Through Elizabeth's sharp wit and Darcy's initial aloofness, Austen presents a nuanced exploration of personal prejudices and the importance of self-awareness in matters of the heart. In this episode, a letter arrives from Mr. Collins. He offers condolences, but spends most of the letter underlining how Lydia's heinous offense will ruin the other sisters' chances on making a good match. In this episode, When Wickham and Lydia leave, Mrs. Bennet hears rumours that Bingley is returning to Netherfield. But Mr. Bennet refuses to visit him.

[This blog will always be free to read, but it's also how I pay my bills. If you have suggestions or feedback on how I can earn your paid subscription, shoot me an email: cmclymer@gmail.com. And if this is too big of a commitment, I'm always thankful for a simple cup of coffee.]A little over two weeks ago, a user on Twitter posted a joke claiming, with a knowing wink, that J.D. Vance, the junior senator from Ohio and Trump's running mate, had been quite intimate with an alluring chesterfield. They have since locked their account, but here's the original tweet:To be clear: there is absolutely no proof whatsoever that Mr. Vance engaged in copulation with a couch. You can confidently state to the folks in your life that this never happened.But the joke took on a life of its own. For two weeks, the internet has been awash in puns, memes, and coy references to Mr. Vance's (falsely alleged) furnish-curious orientation.It hit a fever pitch on Tuesday at a campaign rally in Philadelphia when Gov. Tim Walz, running mate of Vice President Harris, included this reference in his speech: “I can't wait to debate the guy—that is, if he's willing to get off the couch and show up.”As the crowd roared in response, Mr. Walz followed up with: “See what I did there?”I was in that audience. It was a hell of a line. Many of you were probably watching on television and laughing with approval, and I gotta say: it landed even better in-person.Of course, not everyone agrees, particularly more than a few journalists and pundits who decried it as unnecessary and tantamount to disinformation. Yesterday, CNN's Jake Tapper characterized it as a “gross smear” while Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle opined on Twitter: “But the more people argue this is all in good fun, the more I want to write in a name rather than voting for either of the nasty tickets.”The Intelligencer's Benjamin Hart weighed in, too: “It does not follow that Trump accusing Democrats of killing babies and Kamala Harris of being a communist monster means that Democrats are allowed to lower their standards. That's not how standards work.”Ah, yes, standards — the expected consistency of holding a moral line, regardless of whom crosses it. Of course, it's been difficult not to notice that Mr. Tapper, Ms. McArdle, Mr. Hart, and every other finger-wagging, scandalized pundit didn't have anything to say when, just last week, Mr. Vance decided to use his global platform as the Republican vice presidential nominee to falsely and cruelly claim that Olympic woman boxer Imane Khelif is actually a man.Mr. Vance posted on Twitter: “This is where Kamala Harris's ideas about gender lead: to a grown man pummeling a woman in a boxing match. This is disgusting, and all of our leaders should condemn it.”He was quote-tweeting far-right commentator Charlie Kirk, who had written: “The Olympics just allowed a biological man, Imane Khelif, to pummel Italian Olympian Angela Carini. Her life's work was stolen by a man who beats up women for sport. Will someone have to die before people wake up?! This entire ideology is pure evil.”I wrote last week about the vile disinformation spread about Ms. Khelif by the likes of Mr. Vance, Trump, J.K. Rowling, and many others who slandered her online, along with all the reasons why this horrid accusation is patently false.(Also: to be abundantly clear, there are no trans women competing in the Olympics.)But here's the most important thing to note here: Ms. Khelif is from Algeria, where being transgender is not only considered borderline criminal but trans people are particularly vulnerable to lethal violence, to say nothing of discrimination generally.Mr. Vance encouraged a global pile-on against Ms. Khelif, quite literally putting her life in danger, all for a cheap political hit directed at Vice President Harris.Mr. Tapper said nothing on the matter. Nor did Ms. McArdle. Nor did Mr. Hart. Nor, to the best of my knowledge, has any other reporter or pundit who pontificated on Democrats making light of Mr. Vance allegedly having a tryst with an ex-lover from Rent-A-Center. In the case of Mr. Vance, there is no victim of disinformation. The greatest cause for trauma and injury can only be claimed by a hypothetical, seductive settee. But with the dangerous slander directed at Ms. Khelif by Mr. Vance, there's a woman who has struggled all her life in pursuit of her Olympics dream, only to watch as people like the Republican vice presidential nominee put her and her family through an extraordinary hell for the past two weeks.I don't expect journalists and pundits to comment on every single issue, particularly every little comment from every bit player in the world of politics. That's completely unreasonable. But Mr. Vance is not a bit player. He's on the GOP's presidential ticket. He's asking voters to consider him for the position of the second most powerful person in the world, and every single reporter and pundit in this country would understandably leap at the opportunity to book an exclusive interview with him.The silence of people like Mr. Tapper and Ms. McArdle and Mr. Hart—knowing full well that what he was claiming is false and dangerous—speaks to an increasingly destabilizing double standard in American media. For some, journalistic integrity seems to be highly contingent on the degree to which their access is threatened.If they had criticized Mr. Vance and set the record straight regarding Ms. Khelif, most likely jeopardizing their access with Republican elected officials, it might mean one less big scoop, one less primetime interview, one less panel invite or speaking gig or book deal. And thus, it is much easier to publicly opine on the moral imperatives of Mr. Walz, the vice presidential candidate for the political party that is not going to restrict access or otherwise punish journalists and pundits who ask a tough question or make a critical observation. It's easy to “take a stand” when you know there will be no consequences for doing so.I don't care what Mr. Vance does or does not do with his couch or end table or swinging crystal chandelier. It's none of my business. Granted, I would like a heads up, so as to avoid sitting there, but otherwise, it really has nothing to do with the rest of us.I do care quite a lot about the vulnerable people that Mr. Vance and his ilk continue to put in danger through dehumanizing and horrific rhetoric, gleefully attacking women generally and LGBTQ people, in particular, with scant accountability from much of political media.I would like to believe that Mr. Tapper and Ms. McArdle and Mr. Hart also value consistency in this regard, but the last two weeks have demonstrated otherwise.This evening, Ms. Khelif won the final of the women's boxing welterweight division in Paris, finally realizing, against tall odds, her lifelong dream of being an Olympic Champion. Immediately following the victory, she was warmly embraced by her opponent, China's Yang Liu, the 2023 IBA World Champion. The two smiled and took selfies at the awards ceremony, a joyous moment after two weeks of other women boxers rallying around Ms. Khelif in support against the violent disinformation spread by Mr. Vance and others. I hope Mr. Tapper, Ms. McArdle, and Mr. Hart were watching.Pundits, take a seat. Just not there.Charlotte's Web Thoughts is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Charlotte's Web Thoughts at charlotteclymer.substack.com/subscribe

This is a preview of a story exclusive to Little Stories Premium. Mr. Beetle's story times have been erupting with boisterousness lately and he has reached the end of his patience. Gwen, his faithful assistant, suggests he take a break in order to recharge his storytelling battery. But Mr. Beetle's night off takes a series of unexpected turns. Where will he end up and will he get the break he needs in order to keep up his narrative arts? You'll have to listen to find out! To hear the full episode, you can sign up for Little Stories Premium by visiting http://littlestoriespremium.com Join Little Stories Premium to get more of the stories you love and access to Little Stories for Sleep, an exclusive bedtime podcast filled with sleepy stories! You can also purchase Little Stories Premium as a gift! Visit https://www.littlestoriespremium.com/gifts to learn more.

Another Astral day, another Astral traveler. From a small town in New Mexico, we meet Nico Valerie. A kind man that arrives in the Astral Plane after living a long and meaningful life. But Mr. Valerie can't kick this feeling that something is missing on the Astral Plane. Tendy will have to help him figure out exactly what that something is, and might just learn it himself. Join Club 86 Visit our Merch Store Join the Discord Visit our Website Mental Health Resources Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(AURN News) - A new CNN poll released Tuesday suggests that the fallout from President Joe Biden's debate performance continues. The poll even shows former President Donald Trump holding a slight lead in a hypothetical match-up against other Democrats. The CNN poll shows Trump ahead of Biden by six percentage points, with 49% of respondents favoring Trump compared to 43% for Biden.  Perhaps more concerning for the Biden campaign, 63% of those who said they would vote for Biden indicated their choice was primarily a vote against Trump rather than an endorsement of Biden. But Mr. Biden still maintains the highest favorability rating among names being floated as replacement Democratic candidates. The poll found Biden with a 51% favorable opinion, significantly outpacing Vice President Kamala Harris (29%), Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (25%), California Governor Gavin Newsom (21%), and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (13%).  However, the survey suggests that replacing President Biden might not improve Democrats' chances in November. In hypothetical match-ups, Trump led each alternative Democratic candidate: Trump vs. Harris: 47% to 45% Trump vs. Newsom: 48% to 43% Trump vs. Buttigieg: 47% to 43% Trump vs. Whitmer: 47% to 42% These results come amid numerous reports of behind-the-scenes discussions among some Democrats, including major donors, about the possibility of replacing Biden on the ticket. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lorna Plots Revenge on Mr. Brown.In 8 parts, By jane700bond. Listen to the ► Podcast at ExplicitNovels. If you have not followed the story so far, we are bunch of 18 year old's about to leave school and currently on a Duke of Edinburgh Camping trip in beautiful Dorset.Here's my honest account, Lorna.Life at CampEarly to bed and early to rise is the order of the day when you go camping. The flaps of the tent were still open when I awoke naked in a tangle of limbs, the summer sun was already well up in the sky and its heat shining through the canvas made me drowsy, but I had to get up for a pee. So gently removing Sophia's arm from around my neck and unwinding my leg from Tom's I crawled out of the tent naked as the day I was born and headed for a convenient bush to squat behind.Whilst hidden behind the bush, I became aware of a rustle in the undergrowth from someone moving stealthily towards the camp and (surprise!) out popped Mr Brown camera in hand.He crept around to the boy's tent first where Laura and Diana were asleep with Iain and Jamie and pointed and clicked the camera at the sleeping bodies within. He then came towards our tent and I quickly saw that Mr Brown would realise that one of us was missing.I was also rather horrified that he should be taking photos of us at all, especially if they got to our parents. Suddenly very awake I decided the only thing to do was to somehow get the camera off him, but how?He was at the tent door now and could see Sophia sleeping with Dave and Tom. He raised the camera again and in a stage whisper I called out from behind the bush: "Mr Brown!"He stopped with a start and turned towards me. I slowly stood up revealing the top of my naked teenage body to him and smiled coyly as I turned sideways and showed off my tits.He stood still and watched me suspiciously as I slowly walked around the bush and revealing myself fully. I saw him lick his lips.I walked closer to him and he started to whisper "You lot are going to be in big trouble over this you know! What will you mum and dad . . ."I got to him and put a finger to his lips. "Shush!" I said and moving forward cupped his crotch in my hand, slowly moving my thumb up and over his hardening cock. He stood rigid staring down at my chest."I know what you want." I said and pushed my breasts up towards his mouth. His head slowly sank forwards tongue eagerly seeking my boobs whilst the hand holding the camera came down to his side and he slipped it in his pocket.He was then all over me, his hands running wildly around my back and grasping my ass and his mouth eagerly closed around my left breast. "Oh Mr Brown!", I yelled, "Oh Mr Brown!"Looking over his shoulder I saw Diana emerge from the boys tent and I mouthed "Help!" at her. She nodded and as Mr Brown's over-eager tongue moved down my body nipping and licking slowly forcing me back towards the ground she came up behind him and putting a hand between his legs grabbed his balls hard.This stopped him in his tracks. He bent backwards and tried to use his weight to topple Diana underneath him, but she was too fast and skipped to one side and he went down to the ground with a crash that knocked the wind out of him. The noise of the struggle brought out the boys and Diana shouted "Guy ropes!"Tom and Iain loosened some of the ropes from a tent and brought them over with some pegs. Mr Brown was still stuggling for breath as Diana sat on his chest holding his arms and I sat on his legs to hold them down.The boys made quick work of tying his legs together and then stretching his arms out. They pegged him down with the tent pegs, just like Gulliver in Lilliput, for those of you who enjoy literature. Mr Brown was now our prisoner and we were his beautiful, naked, teenage guards.I explained about the camera and Sophia retrieved it from his pocket and she started running through the shots he had taken. She explained that in addition to this morning's shots there were some muzzy ones taken without a flash the night before, but obviously showing the sexual rompings that we had all been enjoying in the lantern light.Diana was still sitting on his chest and lent forward letting her pendulous breasts swing over his face. "Mr Brown does like little girls doesn't he?", she purred, "Do little-little girls like Mr Brown though? Can you fulfil our fantasies if we fulfil yours?"Then putting her hand behind her she started to fondle Mr Brown's crotch again. She then shifted forward and thrust her cunt towards his nose so he could smell her sex. Mr Brown moaned and Diana let his nose run up and down her smooth Brazilian. Sophia got the camera and started to take more photographs, explain this to our parents, Mr Brown.Not to be left out I started to undo Mr Brown's trousers and unwound his hardening snake from inside his underpants. Sophia took close-ups as I eased down the foreskin and started rubbing the head of his cock over my nipples.My nympho sister shouted out "Cock!" and came rushing over, she knelt beside us and took his now hardened cock in her mouth. Of course she was showing off and was making slooping and slobbering noises as she gobbled and and sucked. I don't think she was being very gentle with her teeth and Mr Brown whimpered and bucked as her teeth nipped and scratched him.Laura sucking hard with her arse up in the air was too much for Jamie who by now had a massive hard-on. He came up behind her, knelt between her legs, moistened her slit with a lick or two from his tongue, then began to ease his way in and started fucking her doggy style.Iain then came to the other side of Mr Brown and stroked my mouth with his own cock gently pushing my lips open and running it over my teeth. I opened my mouth and and started licking his lollypop. Then, with Laura gasping as Jamie fucked her from behind and she mouth fucked Mr Brown, I took Iain's cock into my mouth caressing it with deep and long strokes.This proto orgy might be a little difficult to envisage, so I think I better summarize!Mr Brown was lying tied to the ground and Diana was sitting hard on his face and letting his tongue work her clit as she ground herself on top of him whilst massaging her own pendulous breasts and moaning.Laura was on one side behind Diana sucking Mr Brown's cock, like only my nympho sister could! At the same time she, being fucked from behind by Jamie.I was sitting prettily on Mr Brown's thighs with my slit got ever hotter and wetter because I was giving Iain a blow job as he stood beside me.Tom at this point decided to join in and walked up to Diana with his cock pointing arrow-like in front of him. He straddled Mr Brown's head and thrust his tool between Diana's lips so Diana could suck him off.The naked Sophia was giggling and photographing us all when Dave lifted her up bodily from behind and attempted to thrust his cock between her legs. Sophia, threw the camera down and guided Dave's cock into her by now slippery tight cunt. Oh fuck, why wasn't I being fucked, I needed cock inside me!Taking Iain out of my mouth I thought I'd get my sis off Mr Brown and try-out his cock for size, but at that moment Laura started to splutter as Mr Brown forced himself up deep inside her mouth and came in a roaring gush, spunk bubbling out between her lips as she could not swallow fast enough to deal with the flow.Laura let Mr Brown's cock free it continued to spurt sperm up and against Diana's back. I grabbed some and started to use it to lubricate my clit rubbing hard and making the world turned red.Iain lifted me up, turned me around and I bent over and touched my toes as he penetrated my now frothing cunt from behind thumping hard against me and pounding fast.I got more of Mr Brown's spunk rubbing myself silly whilst Iain thrust deep. I used the muscles inside me to grip Iain's cock and we established a rhythm. He was hitting my g-spot and I came closer and closer to a double orgasm both from my clit and my vagina.Iain's hands gripped my hips and he started to shout and gasp as I felt him grow bigger inside me. Oh! I came as he came, spurts of hot spunk flowing deep inside me, my clit yammered like a mad thing as I came and came again in floods of pleasure, my juices mixing with Iain's. My knees buckled and Iain and I collapsed in a heap, with him still inside me, spent.Now boys know that after sex they get sensitive willies and Diana was bent on revenge.She had turned around after Mr Brown had come so spectacularly so her arse was now over Mr Brown's head, she used Mr Brown's nose to rub her clit and Dave started to fuck her doggy style his thrusts inches from Mr Browns eyes. She started to play with Mr Brown's cock, gobbling up the last of his cum and then sucking him hard and using her teeth which must have been excruciating for him.Mr Brown struggled helplessly to free himself from his bonds. He bucked to try and release himself, but the thin ropes bit into his ankles and wrists. Diana would not let go of him and roughly played with his balls as Dave kept thrusting her from behind and she rubbed her clit up and down the teacher's nose making herself more and more excited.Mr Brown moaned and groaned in a mixture of ecstasy and agony. Dave then came and Diana squealed as he shot his load into her. After a few moments he pulled back and she sank her cum filled cunt down on Mr Brown's face. "He needs more!", she gasped taking Mr Brown's semi hard from her lips.Sophia disentagled herself from Tom and came eagerly to the job, starting to work on Mr Brown's dick some more.Diana suddenly gave a loud scream and I think Mr Brown had bit her between the legs, anyway she jumped off and away leaving Mr Brown's face a wet and smeary spunky mess.Sophia pulled up her head and holding Mr Brown's cock erect said: "He's come again!"Yep, there was cum oozing from his dick again. My turn I thought and Iain eased out of me with a slippery plop. I grabbed Mr Brown's cock and sucked deeply at his second load of cum, playing and fondling and not letting it go soft whilst I felt Iain's sperm and my cum juices trickle down the inside of my thigh, Umm!, nice cream pie, thanks Iain.Sister Laura, who had by now taken Jamie's load came and knelt by Mr Brown's face, licking off Tom and Diana's love juices whilst whispering to him: "Naughty teachers shouldn't spy on their beautiful sexy pupils should they?" and "Bet you won't ever forget today, darling Mr Brown, your cum was too diddly-lishush. . ." and other such inanities.But we were getting bored with the game and we both soon gave up, leaving him lying there in his rumpled and damp clothes with his trousers open and now softening cock exposed, looking sore and ruddy.Diana told Sophia to get the camera again. She knelt over Mr Brown's legs and surrounded his sore penis with her tits, grasping it between them for a final photographic spectacular.Diana then said to Mr Brown "We need the guy ropes for our tent tonight so we are going to let you go. But if you even think about visiting us again in the night, I will personally castrate you!"Mr Brown gulped and gasped an OK. Then surrounded by the boys, who were more than a match for him, we unpegged him and chased him from the camp site as he tried to adjust his clothing.We all went back to camp and started retrieving our clothes. We all wanted to have a swim and freshen ourselves up, but the river was about half a mile away, so we had to dress before we could get there. We trooped off down the forest track with Diana dawdling in the rear. Suddenly there was a commotion and looking back Mr Brown was there tearing at Diana's clothes and shouting "Bloody bitch!"Jamie, bounded back up the path and landed him a left-hook that laid him out flat. The last we saw of Mr Brown that day was him holding his jaw, as he stumbled up and away into the woods. Poor Mr Brown!Lorna's tale of Revenge and Mr. Brown.Hi this is Lorna, again. We have just got home from a year at university and boy, was that a fucking good time which Laura and I will love to tell you about someday.For those of you who have not read our other adventures, we are identical twins, we are blonde and blue-eyed Barbie Dolls. No, not really Barbies, 'cos we got brains and we got nipples on the points of our rounded breasts and we have clits that need cultivating and pussies that need ploughing. Can you tell we were brought up on a farm?Our skin is tanned a honey colour as we are lucky to have a pool at the farm and so can get a great natural tan. However, since we live with Mum and Dad, the skin under the bikini line is a beautiful alabaster white. We also recently waxed each other (it helps to have help), leaving just a matching narrow landing strip that points straight at our sensitive parts and the rest of our pubis are smooth and soft as a baby's bottom. We have great fun as twins being virtually indistinguishable, except my bra size is 32b and Laura's is 32c. We live on a farm in the county of Dorset near the south coast of England.Anyway, Laura (who I have previously described as a nymphomaniac, not like me ;-)), she suggested that instead of writing about university, which is cum heaven, we would tell you about our last day at school.It was the last day of the school year a half-day, with afternoon free and the morning given over prize-giving, so no lessons, but boring, boring speeches! Unfortunately, we did not win a prize for the school's champion cum swallower (female), nor champion clit teaser (female), nor the girls who could turn on the most guys just by looking at them. Not for the best pairs of nearly matching beautiful breasts and not even for the most beautiful twin sisters! Nah, we had won nothing and prize-giving was going to be dull, dull, dull!The July day dawned sunny and the birds tweeted loudly in the trees, the shotguns echoed in the woods, not strictly true as the shooting season had not started, but I like to wax lyrical and be all poetical:"The sky was a cloudless blue and the day threatened to be steamy,I dreamed of boys all in a line to taste their cum so creamy!"Now schools and uniforms do not take into account the weather, they take into account the uniformity of appearance and never mind the discomfort. Because it was prize-giving, we were ordered, by the head teacher, that we had to be in blouses, skirts and blazers; instead of our comfier summer cottons. Now I am not trying to suggest that we are rebels, but Laura and I decided that we would have some fun.Uniform:1. Green wool blazer, into the wardrobe and there were our blazers from two years earlier which had run out of growing room in the chest/breast department, and our arms stuck out half-way to our elbows.2. Blue/green plaid kilted skirt, from the wardrobe, two skirts from when we were about 14. Being kilts, they both rode high on our gorgeous thighs and split at the side.3. White socks, white pop socks exposing our beautifully turned ankles.4. White Blouses, knotted into a bow under our breasts to create maximum cleavage (we didn't have that much to start with) and to expose our beautiful flat tummies.5. White knickers, fair enough, we could not go commando in those short skirts.6. Shoes black, heels flat, well the bottoms of the heels were flat, weren't they? And they gave us some height, from which to look down!7. Bras, none, the blouses were doing that job.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 2: 4:05pm- Rich introduces a new assistant producer to the show: Andrew. Andrew admits he has never seen The Sopranos, BUT he has seen Breaking Bad. Plus, his favorite breakfast meat is turkey sausage…which enrages Rich! Who eats turkey sausage?!?! 4:20pm- Prior to the 2020 presidential election, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, along with other high-ranking members of the intelligence community, signed a letter dismissing The New York Post's Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation. The laptop has since been confirmed as being authentic—but Clapper recently stated he does not regret his decision. 4:30pm- Is The New York Times calling out President Joe Biden for lying? Linda Qiu writes: “In President Biden's telling, he was a teenage civil rights activist, a former trucker, the first in his family to go to college and the nephew of a cannibalism victim. All of these claims stretch the truth or are downright false. But Mr. Biden persists in telling personal tales with rhetorical flourishes and factual liberty when he works a room or regales an audience.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/09/us/politics/biden-history-fact-check.html 4:40pm- During a segment on PBS, host Amna Nawaz and NPR's Tamara Keith claimed that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is “not at all coherent” during his recent campaign rallies. However, they played clips of Trump being perfectly coherent and funny. 4:50pm- Yesterday, a jury in Wilmington, Delaware found Hunter Biden guilty on three felony charges related to lying on a background-check he submitted when acquiring a firearm in October of 2018. According to reports, the president's son could face up to 25-years in prison and a fine up to $750,000. Following the trial, Juror #10 spoke with Katy Tur on MSNBC—explaining that he does not believe Hunter deserves prison time.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (06/12/2024): 3:05pm- Could Joe Biden be replaced as the Democrat nominee for president? Yesterday, a jury in Wilmington, Delaware found Hunter Biden guilty on three felony charges related to lying on a background-check he submitted when acquiring a firearm in October of 2018. According to reports, the president's son could face up to 25-years in prison and a fine up to $750,000. Could President Biden pardoning his son become the perfect excuse to step aside? 3:30pm- According to an election forecast model from The Economist, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has a 66-in-100 chance of beating President Joe Biden in the 2024 election. Similarly, The Hill believes Trump has a 56-in-100 chance of winning. 3:40pm- Anders Hagstrom of Fox News writes: “A fleet of Russian warships entered Cuban waters on Wednesday as they prepare to hold military drills in the Caribbean. The deployment is likely a warning to President Biden after he gave approval for Ukrainian forces to strike some targets within Russia using U.S. weaponry, according to Rebekah Koffler, strategic intelligence analyst and author of ‘Putin's Playbook.' Russian President Vladimir Putin is telling Washington, ‘we can touch you,' Koffler said.” You can read the full article here: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/putin-fleet-warships-cuba-direct-warning-biden-experts-say 4:05pm- Rich introduces a new assistant producer to the show: Andrew. Andrew admits he has never seen The Sopranos, BUT he has seen Breaking Bad. Plus, his favorite breakfast meat is turkey sausage…which enrages Rich! Who eats turkey sausage?!?! 4:20pm- Prior to the 2020 presidential election, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, along with other high-ranking members of the intelligence community, signed a letter dismissing The New York Post's Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation. The laptop has since been confirmed as being authentic—but Clapper recently stated he does not regret his decision. 4:30pm- Is The New York Times calling out President Joe Biden for lying? Linda Qiu writes: “In President Biden's telling, he was a teenage civil rights activist, a former trucker, the first in his family to go to college and the nephew of a cannibalism victim. All of these claims stretch the truth or are downright false. But Mr. Biden persists in telling personal tales with rhetorical flourishes and factual liberty when he works a room or regales an audience.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/09/us/politics/biden-history-fact-check.html 4:40pm- During a segment on PBS, host Amna Nawaz and NPR's Tamara Keith claimed that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is “not at all coherent” during his recent campaign rallies. However, they played clips of Trump being perfectly coherent and funny. 4:50pm- Yesterday, a jury in Wilmington, Delaware found Hunter Biden guilty on three felony charges related to lying on a background-check he submitted when acquiring a firearm in October of 2018. According to reports, the president's son could face up to 25-years in prison and a fine up to $750,000. Following the trial, Juror #10 spoke with Katy Tur on MSNBC—explaining that he does not believe Hunter deserves prison time. 5:00pm- The House of Representatives has held U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. The vote was 216 to 207. 5:10pm- Jack Carr—New York Times Bestselling Author of “The Terminal List” & U.S. Navy Seal Sniper—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his new book, “Red Sky Mourning.” Plus, Carr talks about his recent trip to Normandy, France commemorating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. Don't miss 1210 WPHT's next Politics and Pints with Jack Carr—hosted by Rich! Tuesday, June 25th from 7:30 to 8:45pm ET at Zlock Performing Arts Center Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Pennsylvania. You can find more information and tickets here: https://www.audacy.com/1210wpht/events/politics-and-pints-with-jack-carr 5:50pm- Rich pays Andrew a compliment for his music selection today—much better than Matt's selections of Wham! and Rick Astley. 6:05pm- State Senator Mike Testa—New Jersey State Senator representing the 1st Legislative District—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his mission to make sure Jersey shore towns are safe for families and vacationers this summer. You can learn more about Senator Testa here: https://testafornj.com 6:30pm- According to a recently released Marist College poll, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump currently leads President Joe Biden by 2-points in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. 6:50pm- Rich wraps up the show! See you tomorrow!

The Convent Virgin Comes To VisitIn 8 parts, By jane700bond. Listen to the ► Podcast at ExplicitNovels. Swinging forward in time again to the summer, I thought you might want to know about my next adventure with the twins. We had fucked again that day in the field. Well, after 15 minutes lying with twin naked blondes on either side of you; you try and stop getting another hard-on!It wasn't quite as wild as the first time. You could say it had a more gentle and leisurely rhythm, you could also say it was absolutely fantastic and I thought at the time, I would be wanking myself to sleep for years to come just thinking about it, but there were even better times to come. Anyway whilst I was helping Laura and Lorna back on with their clothes (it's very distracting doing up a girls bra when she cannot keep her hands away from rubbing your balls), they invited me over for a swim at the farm the next day.The day dawned, just like the previous day, with gorgeous sunshine and about 11am I was riding my bike towards the Cramwell's farm. Riding a bike is not too easy with a hard-on, but I could not get the memory of those two perfect bodies out of my mind and I was already wondering how we might contrive to have more sex together when I got there. John would probably be out working somewhere, but I bet their mother, Lucy would be there.In fact, when I arrived the girls explained that Lucy had gone out for the day with the twins' younger sister Alice, who was into ponies. They had departed for some sort of Pony Club event and would not be back until the evening.However, their cousin Samantha was staying. The girls were in matching pink bikinis and had been in the kitchen, looking out for me when I arrived and explained with whispered giggles that they were hoping to smuggle me upstairs for ½ hour before Samantha saw me."She's not really the sort who would approve of sex. She's been at a Convent school," Laura explained, "so, she's very pure! She's sunbathing at the moment by the pool, (needs to, poor lamb, she's very pale) so we thought we could show you our bedroom, oh God, I have been feeling randy all morning, just thinking about you coming over. Yesterday was fantastic."Lorna said quietly "I think my sister is a bit of a nympho." and took my hand and then pulled me all the way upstairs.These two girls could best be described as tigers. I would have liked to have described the bedroom, the two single beds, the walls covered in pictures of boy bands and hunky film stars, the nice antique furniture etc., however, as soon as I was in the room Laura (probably a bit louder than sensible) shouted to Lorna "Get him!" and I was pushed onto one of the beds. As fast as lightning, the girls were on top of me, Lorna on my chest and Laura on my legs. I twisted and turned and suddenly all three of us fell off the narrow bed on to the floor in a screaming giggling mess of arms and legs."Shush!" whispered Laura "Sam will hear!"And then, still sitting on top of my legs made a grab for the top of my shorts. Lorna meantime with one leg underneath me and the other wrapped around my neck was pushing her groin into my face.I pulled the bikini bottom aside with my teeth and plunged my tongue into her hot cunt. She screamed. Laura meanwhile had undone the top of my shorts and was plunging my cock into her mouth.‘What about foreplay?' I thought, as the world went misty.Both girls used their free hands to take off their bikini tops and Laura had her bikini bottoms half way down her legs when Samantha walked in, my cock was still rammed well into Laura's mouth, my teeth were teasing Lorna's clit and she was rubbing her breasts. It must have been a wonderful sight for the poor girl to see the three of us on the floor.We froze. Cousin Samantha was a brunette unlike her cousins and smaller at about 5'3", which made her look younger than her 18 years. Petite I think is the term. She was also in a bikini, which showed her pale white skin. She was very pretty with a small pert mouth a few freckles and blue eyes, but, well also pretty flat-chested.She stood there for a moment with a look of total disbelief on her face, "I; I, I heard a scream and came to see if you were alright." She stammered out.Laura slowly let my cock out of her mouth, which was beginning to shrivel with embarrassment. My mouth became unglued from Lorna's clit and Sam took a step further into the room, her face going a fine rose colour.Laura said "Um, Sam, this is Rick. Rick, this is our cousin Sam." Which I thought was pretty cool considering.Sam took another step into the room. "Lucy's not back 'til this evening, is that right?" she asked.Lorna looked at her cousin closely and then answered "Er, yes Cuz," and then holding my now nearly limp cock in her hand asked "Sam, can I introduce you to Rick's dick?"This was becoming unreal. Sam took another step towards us smiled and said "Nice to meet you Dick. Do we shake?""Well, shake is one way of describing it, just come and hold him in your hand." invited Laura. Sam came and knelt beside us. She gently took my cock in her hand and it started to stand up once more. "Wow," said Sam as it grew in her inexperienced hand, "does it taste good?" She asked Lorna."Well, you see that little droplet on the top? Have a quick taste of that." Sam slowly lowered herself and licked my pre-cum with the tip of her tongue."Nice", said Sam and licked again, slowly working her tongue around the still growing crown of my glory.Laura unwound herself from around my neck and got up. Then both she and Lorna together knelt beside Samantha, and slowly massaged her back, while Sam got more adventurous with her tongue. She held my balls in one hand and then started to lick along the full length of my shaft which danced in response to her gentle movements.Then suddenly Sam took me in her small mouth, she went down about two inches and then pulled back, her sharp white teeth gently dragging up the length. I let out a groan. She did it again and then again and then began to get into a rhythm.Lorna and Laura, were still massaging her back. Lorna then undid Sam's bikini top and put a hand on her small left breast and started to massage. Laura's massage went further and further down Sam's back, playing over her bikini bottoms and then down towards her thighs. Her hand slipped between Sam's legs and Sam put her spare hand back, & took Laura's hand and held it there. Laura started slowly to rub Sam's clit through the bikini.Sam went a shade pinker and with a gasp her mouth went down a further inch on my cock. This was getting a bit too exciting for me and I gently clasped my hands on either side of Sam's head and lifted her from her work. I lifted my torso and gently brought my lips her hers and kissed her long and full. Her small perfect lips tasted like cherry. I moved my legs so that she was kneeling between them and put my hands to her small hard nipples and slowly excited them as Sophie had shown me.The kiss ended, and again she moved her mouth down onto my cock. She lifted her bottom in the air and Laura started to tease her fingers between the elastic of her bikini bottom and her skin. Lorna, always the fast mover suddenly just pulled them down revealing Sam's swollen vagina to the girls at the back. Whilst Sam caressed my dick and balls, the twins took turns to use their tongues on the moist hot slit and clit, making her buck and gasp and take gentle nips.Lorna then lay with her back on the floor and parted Sam's legs, moving her head between them. She then lifted herself so she could start licking Sam's clit. Down the line, Laura moved between her sister's legs and started work with her tongue on Lorna. I couldn't believe my eyes. There they were in a line; Sam between my legs sucking me off, Lorna, underneath Sam sucking her and Laura at the back arse in the air sucking Lorna and all of them moaning and bucking. It was too much, I felt the surge and gasped as I came in Sam's mouth, the creamy spunk surging from my cock.There was loads of cum, and Sam released me showing a mouth filled with my cream. She sat on Lorna's face and bucked and screamed in ecstasy as Lorna's work on her clit brought her to her orgasm. I was still shooting and Laura left her position at the back of the line and came around took Sam in her arms and started French kissing her sperm filled mouth. Her hands sought my cock and she took more of the oozing cum and started massaging it into Sam's hard nipples and then her own.The girl's pressed against each other sperm covered breasts sliding over each other as they kissed deeply, sharing and savouring the taste of my cum.Sam's orgasm went on and on and Laura became more and more intense with her deep kissing. I put my left hand between her legs, found her hot clit and rubbed hard and fast. I then worked first one finger and then another into the hot vagina whilst using my thumb on her clit. My other hand cupped Sam's small  ass cheek. Lorna was using Sam's juices to lubricate her own clit and soon both twins were near to coming in their excitement. Even though I'd just cum, the sight of the three girls was just too much for me and I felt ready to start again. My spunk covered dick was hard and eager. I got up and moved around to where Lorna lay on the floor with her head under Sam's ass. I parted her legs and lifted her up so I could sink my shaft deep into her glistening cunt, the spunk adding to the lubrication and my dick went smoothly in to the depths. I took long leisurely plunges, almost pulling right out between each dive. My hands were on Lorna's breasts, I teased her nipples between my finger and thumbs.Sam, keeled over off Lorna's face, finally spent, to lie flat on her back, her head beside Lorna's. Lorna lifted herself up so I could kiss her wet face and lick off Sam's juices. Beside her Laura came and sat on Sam's face and started working her own clit and Sam's tongue went deep into her vagina. The twins were besides themselves and after a few minutes came together juices expelling from their cunts, groaning and moaning. The feel of Lorna's orgasm on my cock as I was deep inside her and her hot juices flowing made me come again, my sperm leaping deep in the dark velvet tunnel of her vagina.As the heaving subsided, I lay panting on top of Lorna. Laura lifted herself off Sam's face and shaking a bit, came and sat beside Lorna and me, massaging the muscles of my back. Sam too got up, her face glistening wet from Laura's orgasm. She squatted beside me and lifted my face so she could kiss me again, long and deep, the scent of sex all around. I gently moved out of Lorna who gasped as the bulbous head of my cock withdrew.Sam pulled me up, kissing me deeply and desperately all the time and then pushed me back onto the carpet and sat astride my stomach. As she kissed, her hand went behind her and she started playing with my semi-hard cock. Finally she came up for air."Rick," she asked "do you think Dick has enough energy left to fuck me? You see, I've never been fucked and although convent girls know how to mess around in the dorm at night, I have never had a boy. I just loved the taste of your sperm, and I just loved sharing it with Laura, I just loved having Lorna making me come with her tongue. But I could really do with Dick inside me and; for god's sake, a good long almighty Fuck!"Lorna and Laura both burst out laughing and Sam hurled herself at them with a scream! Even though she was small, she wrestled well and soon the three girls were a complete tangle of arms and legs as they writhed together on the floor, Sam shouting "What's so funny about wanting to be fucked!" and the twins laughing louder than ever.I laughed with them, but after a minute I got up and lifted Sam bodily out of the tangle and plonked her on the bed. She lay with her back on the duvet cover and her slim legs open. Dick was getting ready for action again, but first I dropped to my knees and put my head between her legs and started to work on opening her vagina with my tongue. Lorna came and sat beside Sam, and whilst I did my warm-up job, she caressed her and kissed her. Laura came under the bed and took my cock in her mouth, making it swell as she sucked deep upon the shaft. Sam put her hands between Lorna's legs and started to play with her fingers up her cunt as I stuck my tongue deeper into hers.Trying to concentrate on Sam with Laura sucking away was difficult, but as I gently put a finger into Sam's warm slit, I was surprised when it came to a halt instead of sliding in.I stopped puzzled, and drew back. Sam, who had been kissing Lorna, let go of Lorna's mouth and gasped "I'm still a virgin! Be careful, but please, please fuck me! God I've fantasised about a good fuck for years, please!"My cock escaped from Laura's mouth and I stood up and it came to the same height as Sam's vagina as she lay sideways on the bed. I gently rubbed the head of my cock around her widening hole, lubricating it with her juices and Laura's saliva. Then very slowly I nudged my cock towards that inner barrier. The girls all stilled and Sam whispered "Go on, take me." I pushed and felt the hymen give, Sam whimpered. I withdrew and then pushed again, further in this time and the hole widened to take me. After withdrawing and pushing back seven or eight times my cock was fully inside her. Sam's legs were up on my shoulders and there was a tear glistening in her eye. "Fuck me." she whispered. So I started a gentle rhythmic pumping.Lorna whispered to Sam "Grasp his cock with your muscles, the muscles inside you." I felt a tightening. "Grasp and release as he goes in and out." said Laura "It makes it much better!" Sam soon got the idea and we started to pick up speed. Lorna started massaging Sam's small breasts with one hand and rubbing her clit with the other. Laura was still under the bed below my thrusting cock. She started to use her tongue around the edge of Sam's vagina as I went in and out. Her hand came up and started cupping my balls as we fucked. This caused Sam and me to go even faster, Sam crying out with pleasure "Oh fuck me. Oh! Fuck me. Oh Fuck wow, aargh, ah, ah aha Fuck!"The sheer ecstasy of Sam and I as we fucked with Laura and Lorna played and teased with us was more than I can describe. Sam's cunt was hot and tight and her inexperienced muscles pulled me deeper into her, she bucked as Lorna played with her engorged clit. There were bubbles in my head as I felt Laura's tongue lubricating my shaft, as it went in. I stood up straight now and only Sam's shoulders were on the bed and her legs were wrapped around me. I have never felt anything like it, and I'd come twice already!I leant down and pulled Sam off the bed and held her to me my cock deep inside her. She put her arms around my shoulders and kissed me long and deep and we started to fuck again, Sam's ass in the air, her breasts rubbing up and down on my chest and she moved with the rhythm. Lorna and Laura played around below us, putting tongues and fingers into the gap between my cock and that hot, hot cunt.Then it was back on the bed again, the final gasping red misty finish and I fucked Sam as hard as she could wish and we both came in long blinding orgasm. I pulled back and slid to the floor and Sam's legs dropped over the side of the bed, beads of spunk came seeping from her cunt. This was too much for Laura who came to lick away the creamy mess from Sam's neat bush. Lorna, spotting some still oozing from my cock, knelt on the floor and mischievously licked it away. "It's ridiculous, but I guess I'm not going to get a fuck this morning then." She said and gave me a great smile."Maybe a swim in the pool to cool down for a bit might be a good idea." I replied.To be continued, in part 3.By jane700bond for LiteroticaThe Farmer's Twin Daughters: Part 3Samantha's Deflowering.In 8 parts, By jane700bond. Listen to the ► Podcast at ExplicitNovels.Hi, my name is Sam and I have just hi-jacked this story from Rick, who made the mistake of leaving what he had written about me, Lorna and Laura open on the computer in his bedroom.Well those nympho blonde twin cousins of mine are going to make their corrections to history after I've had my go.Firstly, I would like to correct a few facts about myself. Yes, I am about 5'3 and petite, with smallish breasts (32b). People do think I am younger than I am and that makes it difficult sometimes at the pub, or at the cinema. My skin is naturally pale and I still have a few (sexy) freckles on my nose. However, I am really a dark auburn colour rather than brunette and I'm actually nearer 20 than 18. Being a bit short-sighted, I also wear glasses, a nice pair of Dee & Gees. And as for Rick breaking my hymen, I think not. Anyone notice a lack of blood in Rick's story? Boys can be so ignorant.Anyway, we girls are not really annoyed with Rick for what he wrote, in fact reading it was a bit of a turn-on and, oh, um will you just excuse us a few minutes.Phew! OK, concentrate. I do have to admit that Rick was my first boy, (still is my only boy), but I have had sex with a girl before and it was the first of those little adventures where that precious barrier of skin got broken. No hang on, there was a boy there too, ooh! It's not that easy to get things in the right order, so I'll just explain what happened then and then I'll rewrite randy Rick's story about that morning at the farm with the three of us.It was the Easter holiday before my A Level exams, which is what we take to get into university in England, oh, distractions. Anyway, I went to stay with my friend Dora (adorable Dora!) who was a school chum of mine. We both had our birthday on the same day and had had a crazy joint 18th party at my parents' place a few weeks earlier. Maybe our horoscopes made us similar which is why we got on so well.We were very close at the Convent School, thought by our friends to be a bit of an item, but beyond friendly cuddles and girly kisses, I, for one, had never thought about doing anything more. Anyway, Dora lived in Winchester, and we had spent the day looking at the ancient cathedral and doing a bit of shopping.I'll start the story in the evening after supper. We had helped Dora's Mum and Dad clear up; & chatted for a bit. Then we went up to Dora's room to watch TV and mess with each other's hair. Mine is short, but rich, dark and thick and curly; Dora's is a blonde and fine and cut just above her neck. She often put it up with a hair clip, to stop it getting in her eyes.I ought to explain that Dora lives in a big old town house which is tall and narrow. Her parents have their bedroom two floors below hers, and her brother has his room on the floor between. Her bedroom and bathroom are in a sort of attic. Dora said that it was where the servants lived in the olden days, which is why there is a door at the bottom of the staircase going up, to give the family privacy.We had been up there about an hour when we heard the door to the staircase and Dora's brother, Ian; knocked on the bedroom door. He came in with his friend Bob who he introduced to us. It was I suppose about 10 o'clock by then. Ian was a couple of years older than Dora and both the boys smelt as if they had been drinking too much beer. I was not really interested in Ian, who I thought a bit rough. He was nothing like his sister and after a few remarks, I just ignored him.Bob though, couldn't take his eyes off Dora. He sat on the bed and tried his best to be am

Today's guest is not new to the show, and in fact, this will be his fourth time. He's already shared his story with us in episode 31, “Speaking Truth to Power Leading Up to Knowing Your Worth,” and he participated in our Love, Sex, and Relationships conversation back in season one. But Mr. Amari Leach always brings the good vibes and deep conversation, so you already know what to expect. In this episode of Dem Bois Podcast, Amari and I discuss unity in the Black community, anti-trans bills, advice for parents of queer youth, and much more!We talk:Why he wanted to come back on the show - 5:14What Amari does for self-care - 21:59The “protecting the youth” lie from government - 33:50Shawn's philosophy on minding your own business - 43:17Continuing the work to save lives - 1:03:10Episode References:Season 1, Episode 31: Speaking Truth to Power Leading Up to Knowing Your Worth with Amari LeachSeason 1, Episode 18: Love, Sex, and Relationships Part 1Season 1, Episode 19: Love, Sex, and Relationships Part 2Caste: THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENTS - Book by Isabel WilkersonRead more about Amari in his bio below:Mr. Amari Leach (He/Him) Is Strong Black Man born & raised in Louisville Ky & now resides in Seattle WA. He is Passionate about using his voice to help others Fight For Our Rights & Having a Safe Affirming Communities & Our Basic Human Rights Respected.  He is a Human Rights Advocate, Youth/Trans Youth Advocate, Spiritual Energy Raiser, Educator On Real Black History(Black Excellence) & Real Issues In Our Community, Animal Rights Advocate & Disability Rights Advocate. He Stands For Truth, Unity & The Power Of Helping Each Other Grow & Learn. Through His Powerful Voice He Is Able To Help Shift Mindsets & Share Perspectives Of Folks Who Are Often Overlooked, His Main Goals Are Helping Our Youth Find Their Voices Protect It & KEEPING IT! Helping Them Utilize It With Their Parents & In Life, While Also Helping Parents Understand The Importance Of Creating A Safe Space For Their Children To Be Able To Speak Their Truth With Love & Acceptance Being Returned,Our wonderful youth are the leaders of our future and we have to lead the way correctly! He Also Is A Podcast Host Of His Own Show Tea With T™Talks With Mr. Amari Leach Where He Sheds Awareness On Real Issues & Advocates For Important Social Issues , Award Winning Graphic Designer Artist ( Mother George's Brew-Lavender Rights Project x Metier Brewing CO), Panel/Keynote Speaker, Mentor/Teacher & Business Owner, Songwriter & Author.  ☕"I am changing the world one sip at a time"-Mr. Amari Leachhttps://www.instagram.com/teawithtllchttps://www.twitter.com/teawithtllcAre you enjoying the Dem Bois Podcast? Donate today to help support the cost of production and the honorarium we pay our guests for their time. All donations are tax-deductible. Click here! Donate to support our 2023 Gender Affirming Surgery Grant Fund here!

In this deeply introspective episode of The Blac Moment, listeners are invited to immerse themselves in the riveting journey of Mr. Nii Ayi, whose life story serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. With raw honesty and vulnerability, Mr. Ayi opens up about the profound struggles he faced with depression, shedding light on the overwhelming darkness that once consumed him.Through poignant anecdotes and introspective reflections, Mr. Ayi takes us on a soul-stirring exploration of his innermost battles, navigating the treacherous terrain of mental health with unwavering determination. As he recounts the harrowing moments of despair and hopelessness, listeners are offered a glimpse into the sheer magnitude of his anguish, yet also the flicker of resilience that refused to be extinguished.But this episode is not merely a narrative of suffering; it is a testament to the transformative power of adversity. With each setback, Mr. Ayi found new depths of strength within himself, drawing upon his inner reserves to embark on a journey of self-discovery and redemption.As the narrative unfolds, we witness the gradual metamorphosis of Mr. Ayi from a victim of circumstance to a catalyst for change. His experiences, though deeply personal, resonate on a universal level, offering solace and inspiration to those grappling with their own demons.But Mr. Ayi's story doesn't end with his triumph over personal adversity; it is just the beginning. Fuelled by a newfound sense of purpose, he emerges as a revolutionary force, challenging the status quo and advocating for societal change. Through his unwavering commitment to justice and equality, he becomes a beacon of hope for countless others, galvanizing communities and sparking a movement that reverberates far beyond his own struggles.In this episode of The Blac Moment, Mr. Nii Ayi's journey serves as a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is always the potential for transformation. It is a story of resilience, redemption, and revolution—one that will leave listeners inspired and empowered to confront their own challenges with courage and conviction.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 4: 6:05pm- Julie Mitchel, co-administrator of container royal and a Baltimore port worker, told an ITV News broadcast that the container ship, Dali, which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge had been experiencing “serious power outages” while it was docked. 6:10pm- Spencer Lindquist of The Daily Wire writes: “Voters say that immigration is the single biggest issue facing the country, with President Joe Biden facing his lowest approval rating over his handling of immigration, a new poll has found. The new Harvard Harris poll in conjunction with the Center for American Political Studies found that immigration is not only the top issue facing the country, but that Biden has the lowest approval rating on his handling of immigration compared to other issues.” You can read the full article here: https://www.dailywire.com/news/voters-say-immigration-is-top-issue-facing-country-biden-faces-widespread-disapproval-on-immigration 6:20pm- According to a report from Katie Rodgers of The New York Times, “President Biden is making regular calls to former President Barack Obama to catch up on the race or to talk about family. But Mr. Obama is making calls of his own to Jeffrey D. Zients, the White House chief of staff, and to top aides at the Biden campaign to strategize and relay advice. This level of engagement illustrates Mr. Obama's support for Mr. Biden, but also what one of his senior aides characterized as Mr. Obama's grave concern that Mr. Biden could lose to former President Donald J. Trump. The aide, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said that Mr. Obama has ‘always' been worried about a Biden loss.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/26/us/politics/obama-biden.html 6:30pm- Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., the parent company for Truth Social, now has a market capitalization of $9.44 billion after seeing its stock rise more than 14% on Wednesday—which means Republicans presidential candidate Donald Trump, who owns 60% of the company, now has shares valued at $5.66 billion. 6:40pm- Would you pay $18,000 to become an alpha male?

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (03/27/2024): 3:05pm- Speaking from Oakland, California, Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that his running mate will be Nicole Shanahan, a Silicon Valley patent attorney who was once married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Shanahan explained: “There is only one moment in time and one candidate that I would step into this capacity for. That time is now. And that candidate is Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.” 3:10pm- Is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vice presidential selection far-left? Diana Glebova writes of Nicole Shanahan: “The 38-year-old, who has spoken about her involvement with criminal justice reformers in San Francisco, is the founder and president of the Bia-Echo Foundation, which has contributed more than $11.6 million to left-wing causes, according to a review of receipts by The Post. The bulk of that money, $10 million, went to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which passed the cash to organizations advocating for lighter prison terms and supporting lawyers representing illegal migrants in the US. The foundation also sent $625,000 to Impact Justice, which advocates giving homeowners stipends in exchange for housing newly released prisoners in private homes and whose founder, Alex Busansky, has called the US prison system ‘a direct legacy of slavery.'” You can read the full article here: https://nypost.com/2024/03/27/us-news/robert-f-kennedy-jr-s-vp-pick-has-a-long-history-of-supporting-criminal-justice-reform/# 3:15pm- Joseph Mackinnon of Blaze Media writes: “CBS News' ‘60 Minutes' recently boosted the grievances of activists who fancy themselves online narrative curators, including so-called "misinformation expert" Kate Starbird, the cofounder of the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public. The liberal news network framed Starbird as a defender of truth and a victim of conservative criticism but failed to mention critical biographic information about the so-called expert, namely that she's a partisan who has taken money from the Biden administration and is named as a defendant in an ongoing legal battle over censorship.” You can read the full article here: https://www.theblaze.com/news/60-minutes-omits-critical-details-about-misinformation-expert-otherwise-painted-as-victimized-researcher 3:45pm- During a conversation with YouTuber “Destiny,” Dr. Jordan Peterson disputed that government vaccine mandates were a net-benefit societally—citing his experiences with the draconian lockdowns and restrictions imposed by the Canadian government. 4:05pm- Phil Kerpen—President of The Committee to Unleash Prosperity & President of American Commitment—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to breakdown a new study he helped conduct which concluded that the government-led shutdowns of businesses, schools, and churches to prevent the spread of COVID-19 resulted in a wide array of negative economic and social outcomes without providing any health benefits. You can find the full study here: https://committeetounleashprosperity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/240313_CTUP_COVIDCommitteeReport_Doc.pdf 4:20pm- Truth Social's stock price surged on Tuesday, and consequently so did Donald Trump's net worth. Amrith Ramkumar of The Wall Street Journal reports: “Shares of Donald Trump's social-media company surged 16% on their first day of trading, boosting the presidential candidate's fortune. The question is, how soon can he tap his roughly $4.5 billion stake in Truth Social? That is up to the board of Truth Social's parent company. The group includes his son, three former members of his administration and the former congressman who took a leading role in defending the former president in his first impeachment trial.” You can read the full article here: https://www.wsj.com/finance/truth-social-stock-trades-dwac-trump-18a6cd74?mod=hp_lead_pos4 4:35pm- Joseph Mackinnon of Blaze Media writes: “CBS News' ‘60 Minutes' recently boosted the grievances of activists who fancy themselves online narrative curators, including so-called "misinformation expert" Kate Starbird, the cofounder of the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public. The liberal news network framed Starbird as a defender of truth and a victim of conservative criticism but failed to mention critical biographic information about the so-called expert, namely that she's a partisan who has taken money from the Biden administration and is named as a defendant in an ongoing legal battle over censorship.” You can read the full article here: https://www.theblaze.com/news/60-minutes-omits-critical-details-about-misinformation-expert-otherwise-painted-as-victimized-researcher 4:50pm- The Philadelphia Phillies home opener has been rescheduled to Friday, March 29th at 3pm—but make sure you're still listening to Rich while watching the game! 5:05pm- Julie Mitchel, co-administrator of container royal and a Baltimore port worker, told an ITV News broadcast that the container ship, Dali, which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge had been experiencing “serious power outages” while it was docked. 5:10pm- Joseph Mackinnon of Blaze Media writes: “CBS News' ‘60 Minutes' recently boosted the grievances of activists who fancy themselves online narrative curators, including so-called "misinformation expert" Kate Starbird, the cofounder of the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public. The liberal news network framed Starbird as a defender of truth and a victim of conservative criticism but failed to mention critical biographic information about the so-called expert, namely that she's a partisan who has taken money from the Biden administration and is named as a defendant in an ongoing legal battle over censorship.” You can read the full article here: https://www.theblaze.com/news/60-minutes-omits-critical-details-about-misinformation-expert-otherwise-painted-as-victimized-researcher 5:40pm- Is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vice presidential selection far-left? Diana Glebova writes of Nicole Shanahan: “The 38-year-old, who has spoken about her involvement with criminal justice reformers in San Francisco, is the founder and president of the Bia-Echo Foundation, which has contributed more than $11.6 million to left-wing causes, according to a review of receipts by The Post. The bulk of that money, $10 million, went to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which passed the cash to organizations advocating for lighter prison terms and supporting lawyers representing illegal migrants in the US. The foundation also sent $625,000 to Impact Justice, which advocates giving homeowners stipends in exchange for housing newly released prisoners in private homes and whose founder, Alex Busansky, has called the US prison system ‘a direct legacy of slavery.'” You can read the full article here: https://nypost.com/2024/03/27/us-news/robert-f-kennedy-jr-s-vp-pick-has-a-long-history-of-supporting-criminal-justice-reform/# 5:45pm- BREAKING NEWS: Four-term U.S. Senator from Connecticut and former Democrat party Vice Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman has died at age 82. You can read more here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2024/03/27/joe-lieberman-senator-vice-president-dead/ 6:05pm- Julie Mitchel, co-administrator of container royal and a Baltimore port worker, told an ITV News broadcast that the container ship, Dali, which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge had been experiencing “serious power outages” while it was docked. 6:10pm- Spencer Lindquist of The Daily Wire writes: “Voters say that immigration is the single biggest issue facing the country, with President Joe Biden facing his lowest approval rating over his handling of immigration, a new poll has found. The new Harvard Harris poll in conjunction with the Center for American Political Studies found that immigration is not only the top issue facing the country, but that Biden has the lowest approval rating on his handling of immigration compared to other issues.” You can read the full article here: https://www.dailywire.com/news/voters-say-immigration-is-top-issue-facing-country-biden-faces-widespread-disapproval-on-immigration 6:20pm- According to a report from Katie Rodgers of The New York Times, “President Biden is making regular calls to former President Barack Obama to catch up on the race or to talk about family. But Mr. Obama is making calls of his own to Jeffrey D. Zients, the White House chief of staff, and to top aides at the Biden campaign to strategize and relay advice. This level of engagement illustrates Mr. Obama's support for Mr. Biden, but also what one of his senior aides characterized as Mr. Obama's grave concern that Mr. Biden could lose to former President Donald J. Trump. The aide, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said that Mr. Obama has ‘always' been worried about a Biden loss.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/26/us/politics/obama-biden.html 6:30pm- Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., the parent company for Truth Social, now has a market capitalization of $9.44 billion after seeing its stock rise more than 14% on Wednesday—which means Republicans presidential candidate Donald Trump, who owns 60% of the company, now has shares valued at $5.66 billion. 6:40pm- Would you pay $18,000 to become an alpha male?

Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet meets single, rich, and proud Mr. Darcy. But Mr. Darcy reluctantly finds himself falling in love with a woman beneath his class. Can each overcome their own pride and prejudice?Watch on Philo! - Philo.tv/DTH

[This blog will always be free to read, but it's also how I pay my bills. If you have suggestions or feedback on how I can earn your paid subscription, shoot me an email: cmclymer@gmail.com. And yes, I am available for speaking engagements.]Today, millions of California voters will go to the polls and decide who will be the successor to Senator Laphonza Butler, who was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom this past October to fill the vacancy left by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the longest tenured woman in the history of the U.S. Senate.Sen. Butler, who became, upon her appointment, the first Black LBGTQ person to serve in the Senate, was previously President of EMILY's List and a widely-respected labor organizer, among other well-earned garlands. But after being sworn in, Butler announced she would not seek election to a full term.Over the past year, four contenders have emerged to succeed her: Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Katie Porter, and Steve Garvey, former MLB player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres (and the only Republican with a realistic shot).California has a nonpartisan blanket primary, in which all candidates of all party affiliations appear on the same ballot, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election in a head-to-head match-up. Thus, it is possible we could see two Democrats battling it out in the general election.I didn't know much about Congressman Schiff before last year. I knew he was the lead impeachment manager during the first impeachment trial of then-President Donald Trump, for which he earned widespread praise. I knew he was the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee for four years before being kicked off by then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a shameless act of political retribution. I knew he was strong in his convictions. I knew he wouldn't back down from a fight, especially when faced with the childish obstruction of House Republicans. I knew he was well-liked by his colleagues and Hill staffers. I knew he was a pretty good writer, based on his long history of thoughtful public remarks.Of course, the sad thing about working in politics and living in D.C. is that there are numerous Members of Congress who have some combination of the above attributes and will still inevitably disappoint you. It's not so much that I've become jaded over the years—far from it—as I've become cautious when assessing elected officials.So, last summer, when a good friend invited me to a campaign fundraiser for Congressman Schiff's senatorial bid, I agreed to go but didn't expect much. In fact, when a work obligation popped up later for that same night, I didn't give a second thought to texting my friend that I couldn't go. She called me and said that the Congressman would be having a second fundraiser in town the following week and urged me to go. She even bought my ticket.”You have to meet him,” she said. “He's a great man and a great leader. You just have to meet him.”I agreed and showed up to the event near the end of the Congressman's stump speech—which was rather good—and listened to him answer any and all questions from attendees. No holds barred. He was impressive in his answers, and I remember thinking that he certainly seemed more tuned-in than most of his colleagues.A bit later, after the formal Q&A ended, I walked up to the Congressman with a question about the Equality Act, something I always ask federal elected officials in order to gauge how much they know. You'd be surprised—or perhaps, you wouldn't—by how little some Members of Congress understand about the holy grail of LGBTQ rights legislation. In short, the Equality Act would ban all forms of discrimination against LGBTQ people throughout the United States. Currently, there is no protection against anti-LGBTQ discrimination in nearly 30 states when it comes to housing, credit, jury service, education, health care, etc. The problem, of course, is that the legislation has been effectively blocked by congressional Republicans—namely, Sen. Mitch McConnell—for many years.Congressman Schiff calmly walked me through his thoughts, which initially started with the basics of the Equality Act and its necessity for a free and fair country for all citizens.Most of the time, these exchanges are rather short. An elected official might spend 30 seconds with me talking about the legislation and then do that typical D.C. move of signaling through body language and a subtle tone shift that they wanna move on to the next voter.But Mr. Schiff didn't do that. After laying out the basics, he began to delve into the particulars of the bill and the endorsements it had received from faith leaders and business owners and the specific challenges in engaging with congressional Republicans.I could tell there were others standing around me, hoping to talk to the Congressman about their own thing. They were waiting politely, but he was in no hurry to move on. He was not rushed, and he kept solid eye contact with me as he started offering details about the struggle for LGBTQ rights that, quite frankly, he had no business knowing. I forget the exact story on trans rights he brought up, but it was a news item that was published the previous day. I'm not kidding when I tell y'all that maybe 50 people in the country actually cared enough to know details about this particular news item, and nearly all of them were LGBTQ advocates. At the time, had I been asked, I would have been absolutely certain that no Member of Congress was up-to-speed on it.And so, I was gobsmacked/astonished/delighted when the Congressman went into detail about the trans rights news item and asked me questions in an effort to fill in any knowledge gaps he might have.He wasn't showy at all. He wasn't performing. I felt like I was having a productive and genuine conversation with an elected official who wanted to find a solution and wasn't afraid to admit when he didn't know something (which, by that point, was amusing given how much he clearly did know).Within a matter of minutes, I quickly found out that Adam Schiff is one of the most well-prepared folks serving in Congress and certainly one of the more empathetic.It didn't end there. Not even close. He had his staff follow-up with me, and a few months later, his office was instrumental in organizing a congressional briefing, in partnership with GLAAD, on LGBTQ rights for interested Members of Congress and Hill staff. The briefing itself was a success, but it stuck with me for a different reason. The Congressman was only expected to show up at the beginning, offer some brief remarks, and move on to the next thing. This is very common on the Hill given the packed schedules of Members.Except he didn't do that. After he gave his remarks, he sat in the front row and attentively listened to GLAAD's presenters for the entire briefing. He never checked his phone. He didn't glance at his watch. He didn't make an excuse midway through and quietly duck out, which would have been perfectly understandable.What sticks with me about this moment is that Congressman Schiff already knew almost all the information being presented in that briefing. I know that because of the knowledge mastery he had demonstrated at the fundraiser earlier in the year.And yet, he still sat through the entire briefing. He asked questions when it was appropriate. He engaged meaningfully. He made everyone at that briefing feel like we had a champion in our corner, and he did so without a hint of self-congratulation.Look, I don't live in California, and I don't get a vote in this race. I care about this campaign because the U.S. Senate is so often a dumpster fire, and any given individual senator has the power to singlehandedly bring the policy process to a screeching halt, like Tommy Tuberville blocking military promotions in an effort to prevent access to reproductive health care for women service members.There has never been a greater need for strong leaders of character in the U.S Senate, but moreover, there's never been a greater need for the senator who makes a point of being deeply informed and committed to a good faith process that centers knowledge and common sense.I'm quite jealous of you Californians. Today, you get to cast a vote for Adam Schiff to be your next senator, and I can't tell you how thankful I am that your vote will ensure the entire country benefits from his leadership in the Senate.We all need him there, and he appears to be right on time.For more information on how to vote today, visit this website to look up your voter registration and polling location.And if you'd like to financially contribute to Mr. Schiff's senatorial bid (and I highly encourage you to do so), click here.Allow me to offer you the thanks of a grateful nation in advance.Charlotte's Web Thoughts is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Charlotte's Web Thoughts at charlotteclymer.substack.com/subscribe

The Constitution Study with Host Paul Engel – Sadly, Mao's struggle sessions have arrived in the United States. But not where and by whom you may be thinking. Communists have been coming for America for decades. Today, it appears they have been far more successful than we had thought. If you haven't watched the 1983 interview with Yuri Bezmenov, I highly suggest it. But Mr. Bezmenov talked about Soviet infiltration, today I'm talking about something else...

The Constitution Study with Host Paul Engel – Sadly, Mao's struggle sessions have arrived in the United States. But not where and by whom you may be thinking. Communists have been coming for America for decades. Today, it appears they have been far more successful than we had thought. If you haven't watched the 1983 interview with Yuri Bezmenov, I highly suggest it. But Mr. Bezmenov talked about Soviet infiltration, today I'm talking about something else...

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (01/11/2024): 3:05pm- On Wednesday night during a campaign appearance in Windham, NH, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced he is suspending his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. A recently released University of New Hampshire/CNN poll indicates Haley is trailing former President Donald Trump by only seven-points in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary—39% to 32%. Interestingly, Christie is garnering 12% support. Could Christie's absence put Haley over the top in NH? 3:15pm- Just prior to announcing the suspension of his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, Chris Christie was caught on a hot microphone saying that Nikki Haley is going to be “smoked” in the upcoming Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. Does this make endorsing Haley, as many presumed he would, impossible now? 3:20pm- On Thursday, Donald Trump's team delivered its closing arguments in a civil fraud trial in which New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that the former president inflated the value of assets controlled by the Trump Organization in past financial statements. If Trump loses the case, he could face up to $370 million in fines and penalties as well as being permanently prohibited from doing business in the state of New York. Notably, in 2018, while campaigning to become Attorney General, James vowed to “sue” Trump—providing evidence to the defense's argument that this civil suit is entirely political.   3:40pm- Jonah E. Bromwich, Ben Protess, and Kate Christobek of The New York Times write: “Donald J. Trump on Thursday delivered abrupt remarks in his own defense on the final day of his civil fraud trial in Manhattan, attacking the New York attorney general, who brought the case, insulting the judge to his face and declaring himself ‘an innocent man.'Mr. Trump's remarks…lasted only minutes, during which he impugned the attorney general, Letitia James, a Democrat, saying she ‘hates Trump and uses Trump to get elected.' He also took aim at the judge, Arthur F. Engoron, remarking, ‘You have your own agenda, I certainly understand that.' He added, as the judge stared stonily at him, ‘You can't listen for more than one minute.' Justice Engoron instructed the former president's lawyer to ‘control your client.' But Mr. Trump continued until the lunch break, at which point he stopped as suddenly as he had started. The episode ushered in a dramatic conclusion to a monthslong trial that has enraged the former president and threatens his family business.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/11/nyregion/trump-fraud-trial 4:05pm- Jonah E. Bromwich, Ben Protess, and Kate Christobek of The New York Times write: “Donald J. Trump on Thursday delivered abrupt remarks in his own defense on the final day of his civil fraud trial in Manhattan, attacking the New York attorney general, who brought the case, insulting the judge to his face and declaring himself ‘an innocent man.'Mr. Trump's remarks…lasted only minutes, during which he impugned the attorney general, Letitia James, a Democrat, saying she ‘hates Trump and uses Trump to get elected.' He also took aim at the judge, Arthur F. Engoron, remarking, ‘You have your own agenda, I certainly understand that.' He added, as the judge stared stonily at him, ‘You can't listen for more than one minute.' Justice Engoron instructed the former president's lawyer to ‘control your client.' But Mr. Trump continued until the lunch break, at which point he stopped as suddenly as he had started. The episode ushered in a dramatic conclusion to a monthslong trial that has enraged the former president and threatens his family business.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/11/nyregion/trump-fraud-trial 4:10pm- On Wednesday night, Republican presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley participated in a debate on CNN hosted by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Simultaneously, former President—and Republican primary front runner—Donald Trump held a town hall hosted by Fox News. 4:20pm- Jonah Bromwich, The New York Times reporter who is inside the courtroom for Donald Trump's civil fraud case, writes: “As [Andrew] Amer, the state lawyer, is explaining it, the case for Trump's intent rests on his responsibility for the annual financial statements, Michael Cohen's testimony and some of the gaps in Trump's own testimony. But thus far, there is no real smoking gun that shows that Trump intended to commit fraud—the evidence is mostly circumstantial.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/11/nyregion/trump-fraud-trial 4:35pm- John Yoo— the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley & a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit hearing arguments to determine the validity of Donald Trump's presidential immunity defense in his federal election subversion indictment. Professor Yoo explains that if Trump's immunity defense is found invalid, we'll have “presidents always worried about what their successors will do to them…which is what we see in banana republics” and could potentially impact the decision-making process of the nation's Commander in Chief. He points out the prosecution of Trump is particularly disturbing given the fact that the Biden Administration's Department of Justice is targeting a major party candidate actively challenging President Joe Biden in an election. 4:50pm- On Thursday, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) announced that tomorrow he is planning to formally endorse a Republican primary candidate for president. Most believe it will be former President Donald Trump. 5:05pm- Lara Jakes of The New York Times writes that a new Pentagon report “found that American officials and diplomats had failed to quickly or fully account for all of the nearly 40,000 weapons sent to the front” in Ukraine. She continues: “More than $1 billion worth of shoulder-fired missiles, kamikaze drones and night-vision goggles that the United States has sent to Ukraine have not been properly tracked by American officials…concerns that they could be stolen or smuggled at a time when Congress is debating whether to send more military aid to Kyiv.” You can read Jakes' full report here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/11/world/europe/us-military-aid-ukraine.html 5:15pm- During Thursday's White House press briefing, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs John Kirby was asked to answer for the Pentagon's report that an estimated $1 billion worth of weapons sent to Ukraine could not be accounted for—Kirby said he the Biden Administration would attempt to improve accountability. 5:30pm- Rich has his new, fancy pizza oven installed at his home. Matt wonders if Rich has ever cooked Ellio's frozen pizza in it… 5:45pm- On Wednesday night, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participated in a town hall event on Fox News. At one point, hosts Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier asked Trump for his reaction to political rival Chris Christie dropping out of the race. Trump said the bigger story was Christie's “hot mic” moment where he insisted Nikki Haley would be “smoked” in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. 5:50pm- Following Chris Christie's decision to drop out of the Republican presidential primary, MSNBC's Symone Sanders said she “wouldn't be surprised” to see Christie at the DNC convention later this year. 6:05pm- On Wednesday night, Republican presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley participated in a debate on CNN hosted by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Simultaneously, former President—and Republican primary front runner—Donald Trump held a town hall hosted by Fox News. 6:10pm- Despite placing the bulk of his resources in Iowa, Governor Ron DeSantis trails former President Donald Trump by a whopping 36.4%, according to Real Clear Politics polling averages. Assuming he is unable to close that massive gap by Monday, January 15th—the day of the Iowa caucus—he'll likely drop out of the race. So, what would be next for DeSantis? Perhaps an endorsement of Trump and a 2028 presidential run?   6:20pm- On Thursday, Donald Trump's team delivered its closing arguments in a civil fraud trial in which New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that the former president inflated the value of assets controlled by the Trump Organization in past financial statements. If Trump loses the case, he could face up to $370 million in fines and penalties as well as being permanently prohibited from doing business in the state of New York. Notably, in 2018, while campaigning to become Attorney General, James vowed to “sue” Trump—providing evidence to the defense's argument that this civil suit is entirely political.   6:25pm- Jonah Bromwich, The New York Times reporter who is inside the courtroom for Donald Trump's civil fraud case, writes: “As [Andrew] Amer, the state lawyer, is explaining it, the case for Trump's intent rests on his responsibility for the annual financial statements, Michael Cohen's testimony and some of the gaps in Trump's own testimony. But thus far, there is no real smoking gun that shows that Trump intended to commit fraud—the evidence is mostly circumstantial.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/11/nyregion/trump-fraud-trial 6:30pm- While speaking in the House of Representatives, Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) insisted that Republicans can't impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas for simply following the Biden Administration's relaxed U.S. southern border policies. So, is this an admission that President Joe Biden is solely responsible for border chaos? 6:40pm- While speaking with Mika Brzezinski on MSNBC, First Lady Jill Biden said what Republicans are doing to her son, Hunter Biden, is “cruel.”

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: On Wednesday night during a campaign appearance in Windham, NH, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced he is suspending his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. A recently released University of New Hampshire/CNN poll indicates Haley is trailing former President Donald Trump by only seven-points in the New Hampshire Republican presidential primary—39% to 32%. Interestingly, Christie is garnering 12% support. Could Christie's absence put Haley over the top in NH? Just prior to announcing the suspension of his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, Chris Christie was caught on a hot microphone saying that Nikki Haley is going to be “smoked” in the upcoming Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary. Does this make endorsing Haley, as many presumed he would, impossible now? On Thursday, Donald Trump's team delivered its closing arguments in a civil fraud trial in which New York Attorney General Letitia James alleges that the former president inflated the value of assets controlled by the Trump Organization in past financial statements. If Trump loses the case, he could face up to $370 million in fines and penalties as well as being permanently prohibited from doing business in the state of New York. Notably, in 2018, while campaigning to become Attorney General, James vowed to “sue” Trump—providing evidence to the defense's argument that this civil suit is entirely political.   Jonah E. Bromwich, Ben Protess, and Kate Christobek of The New York Times write: “Donald J. Trump on Thursday delivered abrupt remarks in his own defense on the final day of his civil fraud trial in Manhattan, attacking the New York attorney general, who brought the case, insulting the judge to his face and declaring himself ‘an innocent man.'Mr. Trump's remarks…lasted only minutes, during which he impugned the attorney general, Letitia James, a Democrat, saying she ‘hates Trump and uses Trump to get elected.' He also took aim at the judge, Arthur F. Engoron, remarking, ‘You have your own agenda, I certainly understand that.' He added, as the judge stared stonily at him, ‘You can't listen for more than one minute.' Justice Engoron instructed the former president's lawyer to ‘control your client.' But Mr. Trump continued until the lunch break, at which point he stopped as suddenly as he had started. The episode ushered in a dramatic conclusion to a monthslong trial that has enraged the former president and threatens his family business.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/11/nyregion/trump-fraud-trial

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 2: 4:05pm- Jonah E. Bromwich, Ben Protess, and Kate Christobek of The New York Times write: “Donald J. Trump on Thursday delivered abrupt remarks in his own defense on the final day of his civil fraud trial in Manhattan, attacking the New York attorney general, who brought the case, insulting the judge to his face and declaring himself ‘an innocent man.'Mr. Trump's remarks…lasted only minutes, during which he impugned the attorney general, Letitia James, a Democrat, saying she ‘hates Trump and uses Trump to get elected.' He also took aim at the judge, Arthur F. Engoron, remarking, ‘You have your own agenda, I certainly understand that.' He added, as the judge stared stonily at him, ‘You can't listen for more than one minute.' Justice Engoron instructed the former president's lawyer to ‘control your client.' But Mr. Trump continued until the lunch break, at which point he stopped as suddenly as he had started. The episode ushered in a dramatic conclusion to a monthslong trial that has enraged the former president and threatens his family business.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/11/nyregion/trump-fraud-trial 4:10pm- On Wednesday night, Republican presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley participated in a debate on CNN hosted by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Simultaneously, former President—and Republican primary front runner—Donald Trump held a town hall hosted by Fox News. 4:20pm- Jonah Bromwich, The New York Times reporter who is inside the courtroom for Donald Trump's civil fraud case, writes: “As [Andrew] Amer, the state lawyer, is explaining it, the case for Trump's intent rests on his responsibility for the annual financial statements, Michael Cohen's testimony and some of the gaps in Trump's own testimony. But thus far, there is no real smoking gun that shows that Trump intended to commit fraud—the evidence is mostly circumstantial.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/01/11/nyregion/trump-fraud-trial 4:35pm- John Yoo— the Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley & a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit hearing arguments to determine the validity of Donald Trump's presidential immunity defense in his federal election subversion indictment. Professor Yoo explains that if Trump's immunity defense is found invalid, we'll have “presidents always worried about what their successors will do to them…which is what we see in banana republics” and could potentially impact the decision-making process of the nation's Commander in Chief. He points out the prosecution of Trump is particularly disturbing given the fact that the Biden Administration's Department of Justice is targeting a major party candidate actively challenging President Joe Biden in an election. 4:50pm- On Thursday, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) announced that tomorrow he is planning to formally endorse a Republican primary candidate for president. Most believe it will be former President Donald Trump.

Men Like Gods by H. G. Wells audiobook. In the summer of 1921, a disenchanted journalist escapes the rat race for a drive in the country. But Mr. Barnstaple's trip exceeds his expectations when he and other motorists are swept 3,000 years into the future. The inadvertent time travelers arrive in a world that corresponds exactly to Barnstaple's ideals; a utopian state, free of crime, poverty, war, disease, and bigotry. Unfettered by the constraints of government and organized religion, the citizens lead rich, meaningful lives, passed in pursuit of their creative fancies. Barnstaple's traveling companions, however, quickly contrive a scheme to remake the utopia in the image of their twentieth-century world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of glib fiction has been written about life on other planets, with space ships dropping down among alien races, zap guns decimating the enemy, while Our Hero goes after a Beautiful Princess. But Mr. Clarke takes the realistic approach. Encounter in the Dawn by Arthur C. Clarke, that's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.Another 5 star review on Apple Podcasts. This time from Australia, Zapzoom FBC says, “Great. This is a great podcast. The narrator is a great reader. All stories are extremely good.” Thanks Zapzoom and thanks to all of you have who given us a 5 star rating and review this year from all over the world.Arthur C. Clarke is back on the podcast today with a story of space travelers connecting with, well we don't want to spoil it for you. From Amazing Stories Magazine in June and July 1953 our story can be found on page 4, Encounter in the Dawn by Arthur C. Clarke…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, John Thurmon swore he'd be the first man on the moon. But he wasn't. He was only the first murderer. The First Man On The Moon by Alfred Coppel.Merch - https://lostscifi.creator-spring.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheLostSciFiPodcastTwitter https://twitter.com/lost_sci_fihttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/scottsVSign up for our newsletter https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/266431/102592606683269000/share Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A magnificent race had died in that nova. The enigma was: why? The Star by Arthur C. Clarke, that's next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, with at least one lost vintage sci-fi short story in every episode.More 5 star reviews on Apple Podcasts. This appears on Apple Podcasts Great Britain and was written by PrometheusUK, “Great stories and superb narration. This podcast is now the one I check first when I want something to relax to each night. The top quality narration really brings the stories to life.. please keep them coming!” Thank you PrometheusUK we will narrate these vintage sci-fi stories as long as we are able and we are hopeful that will be a very long time!Scallywag Dave in Apple Podcasts Great Britain says, “A Breath of Fresh Air. I love these old Sci-Fi stories, which for me are just the right length to listen to at the end of an evening, and also wonderfully narrated. Thank you for giving these stories a new platform and bringing them to our airwaves.” Scallywag Dave thank you for your review.Your 5 star review exposes The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast to new listeners around the world. So, thank you. We have this crazy idea and we're curious if anyone would like to give this a shot. Record a video review of the podcast so we can use it on social media. If you have some of our merch that would be cool to showcase while you're giving your review. It doesn't have to be fancy, or perfect, keep it around a minute and have fun doing it. Then send your video to scott@lostscifi.com.Arthur C. Clarke won the Hugo Award for todays story in 1956. The story was used as part of a Christmas episode of The Twilight Zone in 1985, as TV adaptations go there were changes to the original story. In this case the most noticeable change was the ending was different.The Star appeared in the very first issue of Infinity Science Fiction Magazine in November 1955 and the story is mentioned on the cover. When you turn to page 120 you'll find a full page image and the text begins on page 121, The Star by Arthur C. Clarke…Next on The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast, A lot of glib fiction has been written about life on other planets, with space ships dropping down among alien races, zap guns decimating the enemy, while Our Hero goes after a Beautiful Princess. But Mr. Clarke takes the realistic approach. Encounter in the Dawn by Arthur C. Clarke.https://www.buymeacoffee.com/scottsVMerch - https://lostscifi.creator-spring.com/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheLostSciFiPodcastTwitter https://twitter.com/lost_sci_fiSign up for our newsletter https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/266431/102592606683269000/share Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Colorado Supreme Court effectively convicted Donald Trump yesterday of inciting an insurrection three years ago. It was on that basis that four of seven justices blocked the former President's name from appearing on next year's Republican primary ballot. But Mr. Trump has not been prosecuted, let alone convicted, on charges of precipitating or otherwise engaging in insurrectionist activity. And the kangaroo court proceedings of the congressional January 6th Committee, that some argue amounts to such an indictment, are increasingly discredited. Notably, veteran police officer-turned-Representative Clay Higgins affirmed to journalist Lara Logan, on the basis of his own and others' ongoing forensic work, that – far from being an insurrection – what happened on January 6th appears to have been an inside-job engineered by the FBI and others.  Before his voters are disenfranchised, Donald Trump must have his day in the Supreme Court. This is Frank Gaffney.

Christina from the AvonleaCast Podcast joins me to discuss this strange episode where Jesse James comes to visit the folks in Walnut Grove! "As Walnut Grove school begins to study the Civil War, Mary Ingalls unexpectedly learns firsthand information when she starts running errands for two mysterious newcomers who sided with the South. But Mr. Hobbs and Mr. Dankworth are hiding more than just their war affiliation and the whole town comes under siege when an overzealous posse rides in, prepared to capture them at any cost." The Aftermath originally aired on November 7, 1977 Check out the AvonleaCast Podcast https://vhsrewind.com/avonleacast-our-real-first-episode-the-journey-begins The opening song "Albert" is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron!

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 2: On Sunday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced he would be pardoning Scott Smith—the Loudon County father who was unjustly arrested and charged with disorderly conduct while speaking-out against the sexual assault of his daughter during a local school board meeting. The Wall Street Journal Editorial Bord writes: “The press treated Mr. Smith's verbal protest as part of some larger right-wing campaign of violence. The National School Boards Association cited the episode as an example of potential domestic terrorism in a letter to President Biden. Attorney General Merrick Garland followed with a letter asking the FBI and U.S. Attorneys to investigate threats against local school boards that haven't materialized. These actions appear to have been an attempt to fit Mr. Smith into the Democratic Party's portrayal of conservative critics of government as motivated by hatred. But Mr. Smith was understandably angry at the treatment of his daughter. A state investigation later found fault with the Loudoun school board's handling of the event.” You can read the full editorial here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/glenn-youngkins-good-pardon-virginia-scott-smith-threat-public-school-investigation-71376b98?mod=opinion_lead_pos2 Speaking from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, President Joe Biden commemorated the 22nd anniversary of the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001. In an editorial posted to Fox News, former Navy SEAL and New York Times best-selling author Jack Carr reflected on the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks and the U.S. military's withdrawal from Afghanistan. You can read the full article here: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/jack-carrs-take-9-11-terror-attacks-hope-lessons-afghanistan

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (09/11/2023): 3:05pm- Monday marks the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. Sean Davis of The Federalist writes of the attacks: “It spawned the worst and most destructive foreign policy in the country's history. The government response to 9/11 birthed the constitutional abomination that is the modern warrantless surveillance state. The Patriot Act enabled the government to weaponize its vast resources against its own people.” You can read the full article here: https://thefederalist.com/2023/09/11/was-9-11-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-american-empire/ 3:35pm- Sen. Mike Testa— New Jersey State Senator representing the 1st Legislative District—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to respond to a recent U.S. Justice Department report suggesting that widespread dysfunction at several state-run veterans homes led to unpreparedness and, subsequently, an outsized number of deaths resulting from COVID-19. Will Governor Phil Murphy be held accountable for the state's mismanagement? 3:55pm- While in Vietnam, President Joe Biden told reporters that he would not be in New York City, Washington D.C., or Shanksville to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. Instead, Biden will be delivering remarks from Alaska. 4:05pm- On Sunday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced he would be pardoning Scott Smith—the Loudon County father who was unjustly arrested and charged with disorderly conduct while speaking-out against the sexual assault of his daughter during a local school board meeting. The Wall Street Journal Editorial Bord writes: “The press treated Mr. Smith's verbal protest as part of some larger right-wing campaign of violence. The National School Boards Association cited the episode as an example of potential domestic terrorism in a letter to President Biden. Attorney General Merrick Garland followed with a letter asking the FBI and U.S. Attorneys to investigate threats against local school boards that haven't materialized. These actions appear to have been an attempt to fit Mr. Smith into the Democratic Party's portrayal of conservative critics of government as motivated by hatred. But Mr. Smith was understandably angry at the treatment of his daughter. A state investigation later found fault with the Loudoun school board's handling of the event.” You can read the full editorial here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/glenn-youngkins-good-pardon-virginia-scott-smith-threat-public-school-investigation-71376b98?mod=opinion_lead_pos2 4:30pm- Speaking from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, President Joe Biden commemorated the 22nd anniversary of the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001. 4:45pm- In an editorial posted to Fox News, former Navy SEAL and New York Times best-selling author Jack Carr reflected on the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks and the U.S. military's withdrawal from Afghanistan. You can read the full article here: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/jack-carrs-take-9-11-terror-attacks-hope-lessons-afghanistan 5:00pm- While speaking to the press in Hanoi, Vietnam, President Joe Biden jokingly told reporters that he was “going to bed.” 5:15pm- New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the issuance of an executive order that will temporarily suspend the right to carry firearms in the state—citing a gun violence epidemic that amounts to a public health emergency. Even far-left politician Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and progressive activist David Hogg have called-out the governor for violating the U.S. Constitution. During a press conference addressing the executive order, Grisham claimed Constitutional rights are not absolute. Could her actions warrant impeachment? 5:20pm- While appearing on MSNCB with host Jonathan Capehart, New York City Mayor Eric Adams warned that if the crisis at the U.S. Southern border isn't soon resolved he may be forced to move migrants into outdoor tents. 5:40pm- The hunt for escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante continued in Chester County, Pennsylvania on Monday. He escaped from Chester County Prison twelve-days ago and is considered extremely dangerous. Cavalcante is an illegal migrant from Brazil who was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend in 2021—he was also accused of murder in 2017. According to reports, Cavalcante was recently spotted again at Longwood Gardens. You can read more here: https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/live/chester-county-prison-escape-danelo-cavalcante-manhunt-updates-20230911.html 5:45pm- Rich socialized with the Philadelphia Phillies this weekend. 6:05pm- Why are portions of the 9/11 report still classified? Ryan King of The New York Post writes: “Top on the minds of many 9/11 family members-turned-activists are federal documents being withheld from the public about Saudi Arabia's alleged involvement, as well as the plea deals being mulled involving some of the attack's masterminds.” You can read the full article here: https://nypost.com/2023/09/10/9-11-families-fighting-for-justice-22-years-later-our-govt-is-helping-the-murderers/ 6:20pm- Monday marks the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. Sean Davis of The Federalist writes of the attacks: “It spawned the worst and most destructive foreign policy in the country's history. The government response to 9/11 birthed the constitutional abomination that is the modern warrantless surveillance state. The Patriot Act enabled the government to weaponize its vast resources against its own people.” You can read the full article here: https://thefederalist.com/2023/09/11/was-9-11-the-beginning-of-the-end-of-the-american-empire/ 6:45pm- Rich speaks with his father, retired Lieutenant with the New York Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) Tony Zeoli, about his book: “Rising from the Ashes: The True Story of 9/11 and Recovery Team Romeo.” You learn more about the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Rising-Ashes-Story-Recovery-Romeo/dp/1073862089

Time for yet another tenth birthday and a great American road Tripp! In her second book, Maryellen celebrates her big day in style, throwing a movie star party that turns into a public health fundraiser. After doing her part to cure polio, Maryellen is free to enjoy her summer and look forward to her sister's wedding. But Mr. Larkin (Dad) has other plans. Defying logic and possibly even gravity, Maryellen's family sets out in a crowded airstream, visiting American landmarks and wreaking havoc in national parks. Upon their return, Maryellen finally has her STEM moment, leading the way in a rocket contest. We discuss this packed three plots-in one book, real controversies over polio vaccines, and the challenge of avoiding spoilers today. If you like to follow along, please note that we read the 2015 Beforever unabridged version of this book without illustrations.  Episode Notes: Time for yet another tenth birthday and a great American road Tripp! In her second book, Maryellen celebrates her big day in style, throwing a movie star party that turns into a public health fundraiser. After doing her part to cure polio, Maryellen is free to enjoy her summer and look forward to her sister's wedding. But Mr. Larkin (Dad) has other plans. Defying logic and possibly even gravity, Maryellen's family sets out in a crowded airstream, visiting American landmarks and wreaking havoc in national parks. Upon their return, Maryellen finally has her STEM moment, leading the way in a rocket contest. We discuss this packed three plots-in one book, real controversies over polio vaccines, and the challenge of avoiding spoilers today. If you like to follow along, please note that we read the 2015 Beforever unabridged version of this book without illustrations. Time Stamps: 0:00-7:00 Succession spoiler and Mary's moving 7:30- 9:00 Love is Blind talk 9:00- 13:00 Taylor Swift breakup and Boy Genius record 12:57-15:36 - ad break 16:00- end - We discuss Mary Ellen, book 2. Resources: You can find episodes, resources, and a link to our merch store and patreon on our website: dollsofourlivespod.com Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/dollsofourlivespod Pre-order our book: Dolls of Our Lives: Why We Can't Quit American Girl We love to hear from you! Drop us a line dollsofourlivespod@gmail.com Follow us on social media: Instagram -@dollsofourlivespodcast Twitter - @dollslivespod Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DollsOfOurLivesPod/ Follow Allison on Twitter and Instagram @allisonhorrocks Follow Mary @mimimahoney (Instagram) or @marymahoney123 (Twitter) Need a source of calm in your day? Listeners will get a free audiobook when you start a new monthly Libro.fm membership for $14.99 a month. You'll get two audiobooks for the price of one in your first month as a member. Valid in the US and Canada.Subscribe to Libro FM! Choose from over 150,000 audiobooks and even support your local bookstore with your purchases as a member. To sign up, use code DOLLS or this link: https://tidd.ly/3EwqiF5

There is one indicator that has predicted every recession since 1969, and that indicator is flashing red right now. It's the yield curve. But Mr. Yield Curve himself, Campbell Harvey, explains why this time he thinks his prediction could be wrong. For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Going out to dinner with Juan Tamariz in Madrid is a little like accompanying a cartoon character on a journey to the real world. As Shuja Haider, the author of today's Sunday Read, walked with him on side streets off the city center's main drag, the Calle Gran Vía, heads turned left and right.Mr. Tamariz, 80, has been a professional magician for 52 years, and in that time, he has managed the singular feat of becoming both a household name in his home country and a living legend in magic everywhere. David Blaine has called him “the greatest and most influential card magician alive.” But in Spain, Mr. Tamariz is an icon, less like Mr. Blaine or David Copperfield and more like Kermit the Frog.In the United States, the most visible performers of magic in the late 20th century were stage illusionists who worked with big boxes and flashing lights. But Mr. Tamariz appears on stage and screen armed with little more than his two hands. He introduced Spanish viewers to the style of magic called “close-up,” done with ordinary objects, in near-enough proximity for a conversation and incorporating the participation of spectators.This story was recorded by Audm. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.

In the past, President Biden has called Saudi Arabia a “pariah” for its human rights abuses and said that he would never meet with its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.But Mr. Biden's first trip as president to the Middle East included talks with the prince. What prompted the change in course?Guest: Ben Hubbard, the Beirut bureau chief for The New York Times.Want more from The Daily? For one big idea on the news each week from our team, subscribe to our newsletter. Background reading: Mr. Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia garnered scathing criticism and modest accords.An unspoken result of Mr. Biden's meeting with Prince Mohammed: A setback in the case of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist who was killed by Saudi agents in 2018.For more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.