Podcasts about Central Command

What builds trust when you don't have a title or position of authority? SUMMARY According to Lt. Col. Joe Bledsoe '11, it's honesty, integrity, humility presence and action. Tune in as he shares practical leadership lessons learned from the Academy, combat aviation and years of mentoring others.   SHARE THIS EPISODE FACEBOOK  |  LINKEDIN   COL. BLEDSOE'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS 1. Leadership starts before the title. People follow your example, ideas, and presence long before you get formal authority. 2. Informal leadership is as real as formal leadership. Class president, wingman, or peer—your influence, credibility, and support role matter even without rank. 3. Be “clay to be molded.” Show eagerness, humility, and effort; people notice fresh attitude and willingness to embrace hard things. 4. You can't lead alone—build a trusted team. Time management and heavy responsibility force you to delegate to people you trust and empower them. 5. Trust has two layers: inherent and earned. Start with inherent trust (shared values, shared background) and deliberately grow earned trust through behavior. 6. Five traits that build credibility fast: Honesty, integrity, humility, presence (actually being there, engaged), and decisive action. 7. Debrief like a fighter pilot: brutally honest, never personal. Separate the person from the performance, do root‑cause analysis, fix errors, and then move on—no re‑litigating. 8. Own your mistakes out loud. Saying “I'm sorry,” “I was wrong,” or “I don't know, but I'll find out” accelerates trust and models humility. 9. Mentors and mentees are non‑negotiable. Continuously seek guidance from those ahead of you and invest in those behind you to sharpen your own thinking. 10. Prioritize relationships and pride in the mission. Treat family and friends well, cultivate the Long Blue Line, and remember you're on the A‑team—act like it.   CHAPTERS 00:00:00 — Opening & Guest Intro Show open, Naviere introduces Lt Col Joe “Paveway” Bledsoe and his career highlights. 00:01:13 — Voluntold to Lead: Becoming Class President Basic cadet training, being “voluntold,” interview gauntlet, and getting elected class president. 00:04:09 — What a Class President Actually Does Informal vs formal leadership, picking the class exemplar (Robin Olds), dining‑ins, spirit missions, and accountability. 00:08:38 — From Future Doctor to Fighter Pilot Arriving at USAFA wanting to be a physician, loving biology and medicine, and the first seeds of doubt. 00:10:03 — Ops Air Force, Powered Flight, and the Pivot Deployed Ops Air Force in CENTCOM, exposure to flying in theater, powered flight, and choosing pilot training over med school. 00:12:22 — Mentors, Family, and Making a Hard Call Mentorship from family, upperclassmen, and permanent party; emotional weight of changing paths and family's reaction. 00:14:08 — Leading Without Rank: Credibility and Trust Informal leadership as a young wingman, lessons from time management and delegation as class president, inherent vs earned trust, and key traits (honesty, integrity, humility, presence, action). 00:22:06 — Fighter Pilot Debriefs & Radical Feedback Culture Brutally honest debriefs, owning mistakes, root‑cause analysis, safety and mission focus, and how that mindset translates beyond the cockpit. 00:27:48 — Leadership at Home: Marriage, Parenting, and ‘Knock It Off' High‑school‑sweetheart marriage, parenting, using accountability and humility with kids, and balancing “fighter pilot” mode with being a husband and dad. 00:30:30 — Future Conflict, Growth, and Pride in the Long Blue Line Risk and future fight, Institute for Future Conflict, exposure to other AFSCs and logistics, daily growth habits (mentors, mentees, reading, writing, running), advice to younger self, and closing message on being proud of USAFA and the A‑team.   ABOUT COL. BLEDSOE BIO Lt. Col. Joseph “Paveway” Bledsoe '11 is a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and recognized leader whose career has spanned combat operations, advanced airpower development and service to the Long Blue Line. A native of rural Pennsylvania, Bledsoe graduated from the Academy in 2011 with a degree in biology before earning a Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland.  He is Currently assigned to the Institute for Future Conflict at the U.S. Air Force Academy where he studies the future of airpower, emerging technologies and the challenges of great-power competition. Prior to joining the Institute, he helped lead training and operational planning efforts at the 366th Fighter Wing, contributing to major exercises and the wing's first deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. His work bridges the gap between today's operational realities and tomorrow's strategic challenges. A recipient of the Association & Foundation's Young Alumni Excellence Award, Bledsoe is widely respected for his emphasis on faith, family and service. Throughout his career, he has remained deeply connected to the Academy community through mentorship, alumni leadership and a commitment to developing the next generation of leaders. On this episode of Long Blue Leadership, he shares lessons learned from leading peers, building influence before authority and navigating high-stakes decisions in both the cockpit and the profession of arms.   CONNECT WITH JOE LINKEDIN   CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org Please note: we are only considering USAFA graduates as guests at this time. Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org     ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE AT USAFA.ORG/LONGBLUELEADERSHIP AND ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT Guest, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Joe "Paveway" Bledsoe" '11  |  Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99    Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz 0:01 Sometimes leadership begins long before you've ever been put in charge. It starts when people trust you enough to follow your example, your ideas or your vision. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99; Long Blue Leadership starts now. Well, Lt. Col. Joe “Paveway” Bledsoe the Third. Welcome to Long Blue Leadership. Lt. Col. Joe Bledsoe 0:20 Naviere, it's great to see you. Thank you for having me here today. I'm looking forward to the conversation. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:24 So, Joe, your career has been exciting so far, and you're still in it. You know, you have been operational leader, obviously an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot. You've been deployed, you have been a researcher, you're a Young Alumni Excellence Award winner for our Association & Foundation, you've been an AOG board director and a fellow for the Institute for Future Conflict. And that, that's just, you know, a short little list, because you're a student heading back into, over to, is it North Carolina, right? Seymour Johnson.   Col. Joe Bledsoe 0:53 That's correct. Seymour Johnson, yep.   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:54 In the cockpit, yeah. Col. Joe Bledsoe 0:56 Yeah, we're super excited. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 0:59 Yes. Well, we're going to touch on probably many of those places, but I want to dial it back to something that only one graduate in every class experiences, and for you it happened shortly after Basic Cadet Training. Your class selected you as your class president. How did that come about? Col. Joe Bledsoe 1:14 How did that all go down? That's a great question. So there we were, right after basic training. I was in Cadet Squadron 19 for my freshman year, and I got the opportunity — this is one of those voluntold moments, right — where the upperclassmen and BCT cadre said, “Joe,” or “Cadet Bledsoe, report to H-1 during transition week.” That's when everybody's coming back, and you're like, “Sure, yep, yes, sir, yes, ma'am. Here we go.” So I show up with 40, 50 other fourth-class cadets, and we come to find out it was for us, and we were going to go through who was going to be the class officers. So first off, as I look back on that experience, a lot of respect and no humility being asked to go like represent Squadron 19, right? Like, I didn't volunteer, they just kind of pointed me in that direction, so we show up and got to interview with the upperclassmen, class officers, and there's funny interview questions, real serious interview questions. You know, I was just honest, right? Like, I'm here. This is what I think about what being a leader looks like, and how I could help serve the class, not thinking I would ever be selected, right? And as the night is going on, and ACQ is right around the corner, they kind of whittle it down to four or five of us, and we get up in front of the rest of the cadets and classmates that were there, and it was an open forum, like you know, back in Rome times, like you're standing in the gauntlet, Yeah, like it was like Roman voting, right? And asked a bunch of questions, and I remember standing up there with, you know, preppies, prior enlisted, and then me, just like straight off the street, and there's a couple other of us up there, and just answer the questions honestly, and at the end of that, there was a vote, and you know, they read the results, and I was like, "Holy smokes, I'm class president. How did this, how did this happen,” right? And I think there's a lot that — it was daunting at first, right? And then also, like, “This is awesome, I don't know what I'm getting into,” right? I just found out about it. I remember walking back on the Tizo. This was the first time I can say this now, because you know, grad, and I didn't run the strips because the upperclassmen and class officers walked me back, and I distinctly remember to — back to my squadron to — Jordan Kraft and Forrest Underwood walked back and were given some mentorship to me, like here's how to succeed, here's things we would recommend, and it was just an awesome opportunity to like kind of learn what pure leadership looks like, what it means to be in this not org chart that is unique to the Academy, and that's where the, that's where the adventure started for class president. I'm still, I haven't been fired yet, and I still proudly serve the Class of 2011 — Robin Olds' class — as their class president, and it's one of the best jobs that I have the privilege of doing. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 4:10 My goodness. I mean, just to unpack that a little bit, obviously, in basic cadet training, you did enough to impress your cadre, I'm sure that there was probably some sort of cadre selection to bring however many of them forth first. Would you say that you would you agree with that, or is that — am I way off? Col. Joe Bledsoe 4:28 Yeah, I would say —I think when I look back my time at basic training, like I wanted to come to the Academy since I was in your school, right? So, like, I thrived — I'm not saying it was easy by any means, right? We all know that, but I thrived in like this new adventure, right? And I took everything, I embraced everything. I think that may have been something they saw, right? Like I was clay to be molded, right? And I had some prior opportunities in basic to show that to my BCT cadre, and they picked up on it. It wasn't that I was trying, but I think looking back on that experience, there was moments of like my freshness, my eagerness, my like pride in that I made it to basic training, that I wanted to just try as hard as I could, and I think some of that probably shown through, and ultimately may have been why I was selected to go try that interview process, right? Col. Naviere Walkewicz 5:20 So that interview process, at the end of the day, you were elected by your peers, and you know it — to your point — you said in that unusual, the not normal org chart, right, the one that doesn't exist, but yet you have leadership of your class. What did that look like? How did that translate? Because not many of us are class president, I'm certainly not my class president, and so I'm not sure what that leadership role looks like. Can you share a little bit more about some examples? Col. Joe Bledsoe 5:46 Yeah, I think that that leadership role was very different each year, right? As a freshman and a sophomore, as a four-degree and a three-degree, before any official academy leadership position starts to present themselves, that they do for two-degrees and firsties, it was a lot of helping the class stay as a collective whole, right? So one of the first big things as freshmen was selecting our class exemplar, right? And running like — how do, who do we select? How do we come together and figure that process out? How do we then, once we have a name, once we selected Robin Olds, how do we have a formal dining in? Things that I had never even heard of, right? As well as on the other side, the shenanigans, right? So, the spirit missions, right? There was many times I've had to go to the commandant's office and say, I don't know where the class crest is, like, out of pure honesty, right? But, like, that is, that was like a way, as an underclassman, that we kind of got that informal leadership, but also you're the leader by default here, so we're gonna, we're gonna make you accountable for your class. So I got to see both sides, that transitioning a little bit more to two-degree and first a year was now taking a little bit step back in writing in the informal leadership position, so I looked as myself as like a supporting agent, supporting member to our cadet leadership, and I always presented that like, “Hey, if you need our class to do something, I will do that, but if militarily you own that, like, I'm not ever going to step on your toes or push back,” right? The other thing we got, I was able to do is also help provide, like, morale inputs, right? Like you kind of had the pulse of morale, I think, more as the class president sometimes than in the official leadership, so could help provide some inputs along those ways, and there are some, say more shenanigans or morale events that we get to help put forth and present those to the cadet leadership for official approval later on as we firsties. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 8:04 Gosh, well, that was, I mean, it's really insightful for us to understand some of the roles that a class president and class cabinet plays, and so understanding that it's — I like how you put it as a supporting agent to the formal leadership. And we're gonna touch on this a lot more, because I think there's going to be times when you'll share how you build that trust and credibility throughout, both when you're a cadet and as an officer. But before we jump there, I happen to find out, Joe, that you weren't coming to the Air Force Academy to become a fighter pilot, but to become a physician. Can we talk about that for a moment? Col. Joe Bledsoe 8:37 Absolutely, that's absolutely a — I came to the Air Force Academy, wanted to be a doctor. I knew I wanted to be a biology major. I declared, I think, the first day I could declare and went through the gauntlet of getting ready for med school applications, and I loved every second of it. It was awesome. Even my fellow classmates would say he was a huge nerd and studying all the time, because that was my goal, right? I came into the Academy, and I wanted to be a doctor, and I knew the gauntlet that is, that that is required to do such a thing. And I still love medicine, right? I still love — I think medicine is fascinating. Every time my probably get there someday, or in the conversation, but anytime my kids have to go to the ER, like I'm like, “Can I scrub in,” right? All that kind of stuff. Yeah, put me in. I love medicine, and it wasn't till the summer between my two-degree and firstie year did I have that midlife crisis at the age of 21 and then firstie year is when that crisis kind of came to a head, and new doors opened, and here we are today, right? So that, yes, you're absolutely right. Always wanted to be a doctor. I was still fascinated by medicine, but now I'm just a pilot. So, there we go. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 9:57 So, can we, can you expand a bit more on it? So, was it a decision you wanted to make or a decision you had to make? Col. Joe Bledsoe 10:03 Yeah, yeah, that's great. It was a decision I had to make, ultimately, myself. Right? No one, no one said, “Joe, you can't be a doctor.” So, the summer — there's two key things that really happened that helped influence that decision. The first one was the summer between two-degree in firstie year, I had the opportunity to deploy to the Middle East, and we've heard of Ops Air Force. You know Ops Air Force. Well, at that time we had a deployed Ops Air Force, so they sent cadets overseas to deployed locations to see what was, you know, to get the full experience in a deployed location. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 10:40 Wow. Col. Joe Bledsoe 10:40 So I had the opportunity to do that. Spent the summer in CENTCOM and kind of opened my eyes to… Col. Naviere Walkewicz 10:47 Oh, Central Command. Col. Joe Bledsoe 10:47 Yeah, sorry, Central Command, and got to experience — I got attached to a C-130 unit, right, and I got to see what flying looked like in a deployed environment, and I kind of opened my eyes, where I've been hyper focused on medicine, right? Like, you know, so focused on this is what it takes to be a doctor. I kind of like put my blinders on to what the rest of the Air Force did, right? So I was like, “This is pretty, this is, these guys and gals are doing awesome stuff, like this is this is the pointy end of what was going on.” And that planted a seed, that planted a seed. So it came back, firstie year was doing the med school applications, going through, I had some free time in my academic calendar, and I got to go down to the airfield and do the powered flight program. So, I got to see flying over the summer, and then I was blessed enough to have the opportunity to go fly an airplane, and I was like, “OK, the seed was planted, let's see if I get air sick, like, let's see if there's anything else here that might make me not want to do this.” And I loved it. Right, I fell in love with flying down at the airfield. I came back, and I was like, I'm gonna pause the med school applications and put my name in the hat for pilot training, and the rest was history, right? So, doors open, doors close, right? But that was my story, and I loved getting to talk to cadets about that, because so many can be — so many times we see some that are hyper focused, and like there's always other options out there, and it's OK to have a crisis we can talk you through. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 12:23 I think that's a fantastic lesson that you actually learned early, because you know it's interesting — had you not been sent to Ops Air Force at a deployed location, you might not have taken Alex flight, and so you know when you think about leadership opportunities and lessons, this is one of those moments where it actually steered you in a new direction. So, as we think about that, I'm curious, how your family responded to that, because, you know, you had come to the Air Force Academy to be a doctor. Were they happy for you? Were they surprised, a little nervous? Col. Joe Bledsoe 12:57 Yeah, there was a ton of mentorship there, right? Not just from my family, but from upperclassmen peers, permanent party, like, “What are you doing? Like, you came here telling us this was your goal. Where did this new goal come from?” So, there was a lot of time talking that through, and I needed that myself. It wasn't, as you know, in any decision, like, it wasn't a snap decision. So, a lot of time walking through that decision process and leaning on mentors and kind of asking the questions, like I knew what four years of med school, and then residency, but I knew what that like, what does pilot training look like? How long does that take, right? So, a lot of questions to help answer, or to find answers through, and ultimately, my family was super supportive, super supportive, and they still joke, like, “Hey, how come you're not doctor.” Well, because I fly F-15s now, right? But all supportive all throughout the process, right? And that's where you lean on others, right? Lean on others, because it very much felt like a crisis, like I still have scar tissue over it. But looking back on it, it wasn't just me making — I ultimately made the decision, but they helped me through it. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 14:08 That's fantastic. You know, I think about you as an officer, as a fighter pilot, and obviously there's a lot of steps you took to get there on the road was certainly not easy. Often, though, I think that there can be some misconceptions, or maybe this is accurate, that earlier in your pilot life or your aviator life, there's probably not a lot of leadership lessons where you're leading others. Maybe, maybe that's a misperception, and we'd love to talk about that. You know, how do you find the leadership opportunities then when you are, you know, you're party of one, right? You don't necessarily have any direct reports. What does leadership look like there? Col. Joe Bledsoe 14:43 Yeah, can we take that back to like some lessons I learned at the Academy?   Col. Naviere Walkewicz 14:46 Oh, absolutely.   Col. Joe Bledsoe 14:47 Right, I think, I think that's where I've leaned most heavily in, like, not in there's this difference between formal leadership and informal, positional versus informal, and I was blessed enough at a pretty young age to learn the plus — the how to succeed and how to fail in informal leadership. I've tried to carry that throughout my career. So when you say like the younger days of being a wingman in the F-15 community, it's a lot about credibility. It's a lot about that peer leadership. How do you build the credibility? How do you build the trust to be someone that others look up to in that informal system, right, in that informal system. When they look down their phone, like, “Who do I call? Who do I have to call? Who do I want to call?” Right? and I think that's where you have to balance some of that stuff, and I spent time thinking about that, and trying to lean on lessons that I learned from the Academy, and while formal leadership positions were never handed to me, that doesn't mean you're not a leader, right? Like, you can't beat it, doesn't mean you don't just get to sit back and not lead. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 16:02 Can you share an example of a time when you learned that about yourself, or what that looked like?   Col. Joe Bledsoe 16:09 In the flying world? Col. Naviere Walkewicz 16:11 Or as a cadet?   Col. Joe Bledsoe 16:12 Yeah, as a cadet, I think the biggest one was — I'll take it back to, like, freshman, sophomore year, where I learned one of the key pillars that I'm convinced the Air Force Academy teaches all us grads about is time management, right? And I thought I was pretty good at time management, and then when you're now the president of 1,000 other cadets, your inbox fills up very quickly, right? Or you're like, “I thought I was good at time management.” And I learned very quickly that you can't do it alone, right? You can't do it alone, and I had to learn to surround myself with people that I trusted and that I could delegate or hand tasks off to, and just say, “I need this accomplished,” and I did that to my friends that I knew would get the mission done, right? And I had to have that level of trust, and I think that is translated throughout my career, where I inherently trust people with a project, right? I think there's two versions of trust, inherent trust and earned trust. When I look at the graduate network, whether that's the Air Force Academy, Navy, West Point, and I see a class ring, I'm like, “I inherently trust you,” and I can, I believe, or I see some other veterans have on — like, “I inherently trust you,” and then in other cases where I've had to learn and work with people, it's now, “I'm earning your trust, and I hope you're earning mine as well,” and that is this unique balance of I inherently trust you, I learned that at the Academy. Now let's build on that as a foundation and get this earned trust to as high as we can. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 17:54 What does some of that earned trust or becoming more credible look like when young leaders don't have the benefit of time? Right, so I, the more time I work with you, the more I learn about you. You build that credibility, etc. How does one accomplish that, maybe either shorten the gap or do that a little quicker or impactfully earlier? Col. Joe Bledsoe 18:18 Yeah, time is always — like we always need more time, right? How often do you say, like, “I only have 24 hours, but I need more time,” right? So, if we're always fighting time, like, and everybody's fighting time, then, like, that's a constant. So, let's not worry about time. So, I look at it as, like, what traits do people bring to the table, or what traits can we can we sharpen? Honesty, right? Honesty is huge. You have to be honest, and that's a pillar of trust. Integrity, right? Integrity first and showing people that you display integrity is really important. Humility, I think, is also really important. Humility is really important. I was listening to a podcast the other day, and it really struck home to me, a sense of humility is — if a leader is able to say three things, they're gonna — I know I could, I can build that trust, no matter what that time gap is. “I'm sorry,” “I was wrong,” or one of the seven basic responses: “I don't know, but I'll find out,” right? I think that's really important with humility. The other one is presence, not with a T, like we're not giving presents, but presence. Being present is really important character trait in my mind, and the fifth one that I try to reflect on a lot is action. Right? I think defaulting to not doing something is not what we want. That doesn't help build trust. Taking action with what knowledge you have and making a decision is really important, and I think those are the traits that help build that credibility, help build that trust in that time gap, whatever that looks like. If you can hit those, the five that I try to hit home. If you can do that, hopefully you're building that relationship that is going to foster — have great fruition out of it. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 20:06 That's outstanding, and that's really helpful, I think. I love how you took out the constant of time being an excuse, right? Like, we don't always have the benefit of time, whether it's time and getting more experience or just time in general, I think those are outstanding examples of how you can build credibility. So, thank you for sharing that. You know, one of the things that I also would love to kind of dig into a little bit of your experiences, Joe — because they've been really vast, right? So, I don't believe that everyone has the same kind of path. How have you grown as a leader in these different experiences that really, again, aren't positional leadership roles? I'm just curious, how your growth has been in that space. Col. Joe Bledsoe 20:47 Think a lot of it's been through failure. I think a lot of it's been through failure. These might not be huge, like we lost a million dollars, or like, not through those kind of failures, but relationship failures, or conversation failure at the micro level, and how I've tried to handle that is surround myself with people that will tell me that the emperor — I'm gonna go back to the, I'm gonna go back to the old fairy tale, or fable, right? If you surround yourself with people that are able to come up to you, and you trust them, and you trust their feedback, that is something I've tried, that was Cadet Bledsoe, advice given to me is Cadet Bledsoe. Surround yourself with people that you will listen to and take their feedback honestly. And sometimes that means if I don't have that person in the room and I know I fumbled a conversation or I made a poor decision, it's going to that individual and saying, “I messed up, I'm sorry, I was wrong,” or “I don't know,” right. And that's how I try to use that to present humility, I think, and that's important, because we're all fallible, we all make mistakes, and if I can't admit that, then, like, we're off to the wrong foot right away. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 22:06 Do you think some of that that skill that you've developed over time has been something that you've learned in, and forgive me, I don't know if it's a fighter pilot community, specifically, or you know, I think about when you do your sorties and you have some sort of debrief, right? I feel what I've heard, I've not actually sat in one, but they're very real. Like, there's no, it's not about making you feel good about it, like it's about the safety and the mission, and so I'm curious, if that skill of humility, and you know, calling a spade a spade, and calling it I'm wrong and I'm wrong, did that come from some of that experience, and maybe you can talk through what that's like, because not everyone, I think, practices at that level of transparency. Col. Joe Bledsoe 22:46 Yeah, the fighter pilot debrief. I learned some of the importance of that through mentorship as a cadet, and then that was sharpened as a fighter pilot. And I learned the importance of that through the form, my formal job, right, the mission, the lives at stake, aircraft, that kind of stuff. And I think I've tried, I've only honed that skill through Air Force training, right? The Air Force has trained me to think like that, and I've tried to translate that into my personal life and leadership positions, because I think there's tons of value to that. There is tons of value in being willing to find a mistake, own up to that mistake with the knowledge and hope that it doesn't happen again, right? And if that is like, if you, if that's your north star, we don't do this again, like, why wouldn't you want to be on that team? Why wouldn't, why don't you want to be? That's how we get better, right? And I think that seed again was planted as a cadet. Like, let's, I tell cadets all the time, like, you're joining the A-team, so put in A effort, right? Like, if you're going to join the A-team, I don't want B-players, and this is what we got to get, like, let's go, right? It's a motivating factor in my mind. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 24:08 What are some of the ways to approach that in a leadership conversation for someone who would be interested in taking on some of those, those learned lessons? Col. Joe Bledsoe 24:18 Yeah, I think the first thing is transparency and honesty right up front. Like this, Naviere, if we were flying together, right and you were my instructor, your job is not to degrade me as a human, but to prove to me that I made a mistake with the ultimate goal of making me better, right? Your job is to always, like — and the relationship you and I have as an instructor and a student is my — I'm gonna sit here in the debrief and go, and Naviere is here to make me better, right? Like, that's your, that's your job, right? Right. So, once you start that as the foundation, like, it can only get better if I know your job is to make me better, and your job is I'm supposed to make this guy better, right. And often we can, when feedback is provided, you're like, this could be a personal attack, or, like, that's all left out, that's all left outside the debrief room, right? Like, we're here to make everybody better, and I think that's where it starts: with that transparency and honesty up front of the expectation. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 25:15 So you'll actually say that. You would actually… Col. Joe Bledsoe 25:17 No, I think that's just a common, that's a common theme, right? That's the expectation in the community. And not just in the fighter community. I think it's throughout the Air Force, right? I think that's what makes us really, really unique. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 25:32 Because feedback is something that we, we do — although maybe some can do it better than others — I think that's a really fantastic way — before you're giving someone feedback, you're really clear on this is what we're hoping to accomplish by having this time together. And so, I think what you just said can make feedback so much more impactful, because it's not about the person, it's about what are we trying to accomplish and helping you, I guess. It is about you, but ultimately helping you. Col. Joe Bledsoe 25:59 Absolutely, right? Like the where every debrief starts is we had a mission objective and we had tactical objectives. Did we do them? If we didn't, let's figure out why, right? So translating to the business world or private sector, it's a root cause analysis, right? It's a root cause analysis, and we will get down to the nitty gritty of like, what type of error — did you make a decision error? Did you perceive the environment wrong? Did your actions cause the error, right? And we get down to that level, so that when the student, student Paveway walks away, Naviere, knows, Naviere, you gave me the exact, like, you decided wrong, because X, Y and Z; don't do that again. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 26:43 Right. Col. Joe Bledsoe 26:44 Here's your fix. You know, that debrief can take hours, and that's the beauty of it, right? “We're gonna sit there, and we're not gonna let anything not be uncovered, because we're gonna go do this again tomorrow, and we can't make the same mistake tomorrow,” right? “We can't make the same mistake.” Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:01 No, that's, that's fantastic. I mean, to have it that clear, and to know it, like, OK, we're not gonna, we don't stay in that space. We've addressed it, we know we've identified a fix, and we move forward. Is that what you said? Col. Joe Bledsoe 27:12 Absolutely. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:13 There's no like, continue to revisit, like… Col. Joe Bledsoe 27:15 Yep, that's the point, right? Like, “I've learned something, I know, I've acknowledged my mistake. Let's move on. This wasn't personal, this was you making me better.” Iron sharpens iron, right? So, here we go, and then move on. And now that translates, as you asked kind of a couple minutes ago, right, that can translate to so many things in your life, right? And I try to do that sometimes, like my wife will tell me, I go too fighter pilot, but there's versions of that that translate as we are not in a fight or pilot debrief. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 27:50 You literally got in my head because I was gonna say, now I want to put you on the spot, because Joe, you are married to your high school sweetheart, you make a 2% club, right? Like, you actually started the Academy with a sweetheart and ended with the same sweetheart. And now you have three amazing, beautiful children. How do you translate that to, you know, feedback to your family or your personal life? And I love how your wife said too fighter pilot, but how about to your kids? Col. Joe Bledsoe 28:15 Yeah, married my high school sweetheart, Alicia. We started dating our sophomore year, and we've been together ever since. So she is not a grad, but she has a lot of Air Force in her blood, so that's great, and the kids, I would say there's a couple things when it comes to taking some things I've learned or been trained in the Air Force, translating on the home front. The first one goes to accountability, right? I think accountability is really important because in an aircraft, you have to be accountable for your actions, and I think that translates to being a parent, as well as trying to teach the kids some humility. Right, where to be humble, when to own up to your mistakes, and sometimes that works in the fighter pilot way, sometimes it doesn't, and I think that's leadership, right? You can have leadership skills and be consistent in some, in some ways, but other times adaptability is really important, especially with the kids, and each one of my kids is very unique, and we have to cater to each one of them and their unique skills. I will say about my wife, I love her with all my heart, but she knows the words “knock it off” as well, right, because that's a sacred word, not just in the military, but on our, in our homefront, and that usually means stop being a full fighter pilot, like go back to being Dad, right? So she knows, she knows the words and how to make that all go down. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 29:47 I love that it's another language, right? You have your, your fighter pilot language, and you have a home front language. I love that. Thank you for sharing that. You know, I'd like to switch gears a little bit to your time operationally, and maybe this translates into now your work at the Institute, or your most recent work at the Institute for Future Conflict and preparing cadets for the future fight. I'm curious, how all of these skills that you've learned, and these leadership traits that you've continued to develop in yourself, have translated in moments of, you know, like, real conflict, real distress, like when the stakes are high, and how you prepare cadets to think that way, even though maybe they've not experienced that. I'm just curious, what that looks like. Col. Joe Bledsoe 30:31 Yeah, it is hard to translate — like cadets love war stories, right? Like, “So there I was…” but it's hard to translate some of, like, the putting, having the cadets put themselves in the shoes of someone that has 15 years of flying under their belt, right? Like, that's hard for them to grasp, and I understand that, and that's not what I'm asking of them to do, but there are certain skills that I think are really important, and that I've got to experience and talk to cadets and research and spend time thinking about at the Institute for Future Conflict at the IFC. One is risk, right? How do we, how do we think about risk, right? Are we risk prone? We risk adverse? How do we think about risk, not just in this moment, but how does our decision today affect five days from now, a month, right? And, as you remember, because I know it happened to you as a cadet, like you're just in the, like, “What's my next problem,” right? What's my next — OK, how does, like, fixing this problem affect next week? Right. And I think that's what I've got had the opportunity to think a lot about the IFC, as well as try one thing I've learned being back here at the Academy was my experience as a cadet is not the same experience as the cadets now. And what do I mean by that is when I graduated, GWOT, Global War on Terror was the thing we knew what we were getting into. I very much knew flying, going to the Middle East. Now the cadets looked to me and other permanent party, and like, what's our fight going to look like? And right, the question mark is, I don't know, but let me tell you, think about this, and I could be wrong, and I think that is where I've had a lot of time to think about future conflict and what's problems, maybe not nations or adversaries, but like big meta level things they'll have to think about, information access, information sharing, trust, right? How do you, how do you help develop some of these skills in the cadets? And that's where I've spent a lot of time the last two years trying to think and spend, spend some brain bytes, like what does air power look like in this unknown environment? Col. Naviere Walkewicz 32:52 And as you're about to step back into it, I'm thoughtful of that, and so now you're taking what you've helped cadets start to hone in and think about. How are you different now as a leader going back into the cockpit than you were when you came to the Academy? Col. Joe Bledsoe 33:09 Yeah, let me get back to the cockpit, and everyone can tell me what, how I'm different. We'll use that as the test. But here's one thing I think — I've reflected on this recently, going back to the Strike Eagle community. One has been my exposure here in Colorado Springs and at the Air Force Academy, meaning I've learned a lot about what others do that I wasn't — I knew other jobs existed, I knew other AFSCs did things, but not being in a flying day-to-day ops tempo, I've had the opportunity to sit down and, like, “What do you say you do?” “Oh, that has some effects here, here, and here,” and I use a specific vignette would be, I've got to spend a lot of time in the management department and helped teach in the global logistics minor, and like, I knew there was logisticians in the Air Force, and like, that's yeah, right? That's how stuff got here, but like, understanding the importance of, like, that's how my bombs got here, this is how the b…, right, like, truly understanding their frustrations, I think will make me get less frustrated in my day to day, right, and I think that has been one thing that the Academy has given back to me the second time I've been here, is a little bit more exposure to the Air Force, as well as the Space Force, being here in Colorado Springs, like seeing what each team member, like each cog in the machine brings to the fight, right? And I think that's been a blessing here. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 34:42 So those that you will begin to get back working with — your men and women in your community — they won't have had that exposure, and so I'm now going back to our where we started with the sense of informal leadership. How do you help others gain that experience and thought, and maybe thought process informally, since they haven't really been exposed to that? How would you help them navigate it? Col. Joe Bledsoe 35:09 Naviere, I think the best way to do stuff like that is, like, you raised your hand when you said logistics officers, like Naviere, we're doing a podcast with my next squadron, you're coming to talk, right? Col. Naviere Walkewicz 35:19 Right, it's like that was like a long time ago, we need someone more recent. Col. Joe Bledsoe 35:24 But, OK, Naviere, it's not you, but you know people, that's how stuff gets done, right, that's how stuff gets done. And while I by no means want to stand up in front of everybody and say I'm the expert on logistics, but I, I'm not that person, but I trust Naviere, Naviere's contact here, and that's how, like, you create this network of knowledge and this network of trust and credibility. And to my, to the fighter pilots that I'll be flying with, it's somewhat like throwing mud at the wall sometimes, like we're gonna keep throwing mud and see what sticks, but at least they know it's there, right? Like, we're gonna, your job is still to go kill things and blow things up, but at the same time, you know there's this other network out there that you can lean into. But let me be a conduit to make that happen. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 36:15 That is awesome. That's fantastic. So I want to go into this period now, where we talk about you and your continued growth as a leader. What is something, Joe, that you're doing every day to be a better leader? Col. Joe Bledsoe 36:30 I have mentors, and I've tried to find mentees. I think that is where growth can happen, leaning on others for mentorship and mentees to try to talk through some things you've thought through and give experience and exposure to others, right? And that's that network we were just talking about, right? Other things I think are really important is reading and writing. Read a lot, write a lot, nobody writes good anymore, right? Thanks, ChatGPT. But being able to communicate in the written form is really important. So, writing and reading. And the other thing, too, is as a leader, just find an outlet, find something, find a hobby, find something that's fun to do, right. So, I got into running here at the Academy, because we're at high elevation, and I'm, why not, right? But find something that, like, rounds you out, right? It's fine, find an outlet that helps give you some relief from all the stresses that can happen in leadership. That's where I would say I spend a lot of time, or what I think about trying to sharpen my skills. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 37:34 Daily. So, what are you reading right now? Col. Joe Bledsoe 37:37 Oh, that's a great question. I have a couple books that are on the table. Mask of Command is one that I'm reading as I get ready to go back and potentially be in a leadership role. There's a couple other books that come to mind. I'm reading a baseball coaching book, because I coach my baseball, it's a basketball book by Coach K from Duke, as I go back to North Carolina, but it's a book, how to coach kids, right, Leadership on the Court, and it's fun to just think about training and coaching kids and how to keep them inspired. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 38:18 Oh, that's awesome. So, speaking of kids, if you were to go back in time, and talk to younger Joe Bledsoe, the third, what advice would you give him? Col. Joe Bledsoe 38:30 Yeah, if I had to go back, I would say it's worth it. Every second, work hard at the Academy, right? The doors that it opens, that's where my mind went when you asked the question, like, younger me at the Academy. Be good to Alicia, my wife, right? Be good, because she's going to be with you for a long time. So be good to her, as well as foster your, foster your friendships. They're going to mean a lot to you in the future, right? The relationships you build on that hill are going to come back in ways you have no idea years to come. So take time and prioritize the people that you meet. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 39:10 Those are really great reflections. Joe, is there anything that we haven't covered in our conversation that you would love to share with our Long Blue Leadership listeners and viewers? Col. Joe Bledsoe 39:24 Absolutely, be proud of this institution. I'm proud of it. I know you are too, Naviere. Proud of this Academy. Be proud of the cadets, be proud of the permanent party that work here. There's an A-team out there, and this is this is where it starts, right? And it's not just if you're serving in blue or in the Space Force, right? If you're out there doing awesome things for our country on the private, in the private sector, thank you. Keep doing what you're doing. There's no shade of blue in the Long Blue Line, that's my, my phrase for that one. There's no shade of blue. Serve your country, be proud. And that's — just be proud to be an Academy grad. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 40:07 That's fantastic. So, you know, in our time together, I have loved this, this, this leadership conversation, because we really span an area that I don't think a lot of people talk about, and it's, how do you demonstrate leadership in an informal way, you know, without titles and without necessarily key positions or in the hierarchical structure, and so some of the things that really stood with me, Joe, that you've covered, have been being credible, being present, and humble. I really like that, and you didn't say this in these words, but what I took from that was, you know, being honest and truthful is almost one of the most kind ways you can be right, because you're actually helping someone be better, and that really stuck with me, you know. I don't, we have an A-team, we don't need B-players, that I think you exactly said that, so definitely stuck with me. But watching the way that you have led, not with your class, not just the cadets, and, you know, certainly not the squadron that you will have here shortly as a director of operations, but I think you've continued to just be who you've always been, which is someone who leads with integrity through those pillars and certainly by example. So this has been an incredible conversation, and for anyone that is watching us and listening to this, for others that are in their leadership journeys, this is another one you're going to want to share, because it's not just about, you know, Lt. Col. Bledsoe's journey right now, it's been all of these moments and experiences and memories and they really do connect with anyone on a leadership journey. So, be sure to join in on longblueleadership.org or wherever you get your podcasts, not just to see this one, but all of our other conversations. So, Joe, thank you so much for joining us today. Col. Joe Bledsoe 41:46 Thank you Naviere. Go Air Force! Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:48 Go Air Force!   Col. Joe Bledsoe 41:49 There we go. Col. Naviere Walkewicz 41:50 Absolutely, until next time, we'll see you on Long Blue Leadership. KEYWORDS informal leadership, peer leadership, Air Force Academy leadership, USAFA class president, fighter pilot debrief culture, building trust and credibility, leadership humility, future conflict and airpower, Long Blue Leadership podcast, military leadership lessons.     The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation          

The U.S. Navy lifted its blockade of Iranian ports, U.S. Central Command announced in a post on X Thursday. The announcement came after Vice President JD Vance told reporters at a White House briefing that more than 12.5 million barrels of oil moved through the Strait of Hormuz overnight, and gas prices dropped below $4 a gallon Thursday.The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged 15 people—11 of them illegal immigrants—for allegedly stealing more than $1.4 million in benefit fraud in Massachusetts. These programs include Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance, MassHealth, Social Security disability payments, housing assistance, and unemployment benefits, the DOJ reports.Thousands of Knicks fans pack the streets of New York City for a historic ticker-tape parade following their first NBA championship in 53 years. Jalen Brunson, Knicks captain and NBA Championship MVP, thanked his team and fans at the parade and got emotional when giving thanks to his family. "Without them, their sacrifice and everything—wouldn't be possible," he said.

Vice President JD Vance's trip to Switzerland to meet with Iranian negotiators has been postponed. This comes as Israel carries out retaliation strikes in Lebanon, saying it targeted Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure. Israel says four soldiers were killed in the fighting and accused Hezbollah of repeated ceasefire violations. The U.S. military has also begun lifting its naval blockade of Iran, with Vice President Vance saying Central Command has allowed over a dozen ships through so far.President Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to three service members during a White House ceremony on Thursday. The President honored retired Marine Major James Capers Jr., Army Major Nicholas Dockery, and Marine Colonel John Ripley. The medal recognizes service members who performed acts of extraordinary heroism in combat. President Trump saying the nation owes its freedom to service members willing to face extraordinary danger in defense of the country.During the FIFA World Cup on Thursday, host country Canada defeated Qatar 6-0 in Vancouver, the country's first ever victory in a World Cup game. In Los Angeles, Switzerland scored 4 late goals to defeat Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1. Meanwhile, Mexican and South Korean supporters gathered together in Guadalajara ahead of their Group A showdown, with Mexico taking home the win with a score of 1-0. Team USA will be facing Australia on Friday in Seattle.

CENTCOM says American warships will remain in the area to make sure the peace agreement with Iran remains in full force and effect.

Peter Huessy explains that Russia views low-yield, tactical nuclear weapons as usable battlefield tools to achieve victory or coerce opponents. He contrasts this with U.S. doctrine, which keeps such weapons under central command. Huessywarns of the lack of transparency regarding China's dual-use nuclear capabilities and Russia's "reckless" potential to use these weapons. (10)1933 PERSIA

The United States says it's now completed the latest wave of airstrikes on Iran early Thursday morning local time. Iran says it responded with attacks of its own. Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump promised to keep up military pressure on Tehran because Iranian leaders were taking “too long to negotiate”. Also, on the eve of the men's football World Cup kicking off in Mexico the boss of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, has defended the handling of the event amid mounting criticism. Billionaire Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, has faced a US congressional committee keen to learn more about his relationship with the dead sex offender, Jeffery Epstein. In Northern Ireland, crowds gathered for a second night of anti-immigration unrest in parts of Belfast, following a stabbing in the city. And Nigeria is preparing to repatriate its citizens from South Africa following weeks of protests and attacks on illegal migrants across the country. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) launches Tomahawk cruise missiles against multiple targets in Iran. Credit: U.S. Central Command

Martha Raddatz reports on the U.S. military unleashing a new wave of attacks across Iran, striking "multiple targets,” according to Central Command; Alex Perez has details on the tornado watch issued for parts of Iowa, Missouri and Kansas as a multi-day severe weather threat continues for 100 million Americans from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast, and Lee Goldberg tracks it all out; in an interview with ABC News' Linsey Davis, Anthropic CEO and co-founder Dario Amodei has issued an urgent warning about the dangers of AI, calling for government regulation as companies across the globe develop the technology; and more on tonight's broadcast of World News Tonight with David Muir. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump says tonight's planned strikes on Iran have been cancelled and a peace deal is imminent. This after the second consecutive day, U.S. Central Command carried out strikes against Iranian military targets, hitting surveillance systems, communication infrastructure, and air defense sites across Iran. Tehran has denied a deal has been reached. FOX's John Saucier speaks with FOX's Max Gorden, reporting from Dubai, who says the region breathed a sigh of relief when President Trump announced the strikes were cancelled. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why can't we just bomb our way to victory in Iran? Listen to Lt. General Karen Gibson, former Director of Intelligence for U.S. Central Command, tell tales of the three-legged stool of military, intel and diplomacy in Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq – when things go well and when they do not.

Tensions continue to simmer in the Middle East, as U.S. Central Command says U.S. forces have completed an additional round of defensive strikes against multiple targets in Iran at President Trump's direction. On Thursday morning, President Trump posted on Truth Social saying that the U.S. will continue with strikes in Iran, and that the U.S. will be hitting Iran ‘very hard tonight.'One day after President Trump signed a Republican-only bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies, he calls on Congressional Republicans to immediately advance and pass a third budget bill to supplement the Department of War and an election integrity bill. The goal is to give the pentagon $350 billion for developing America's Golden Dome and manufacturing stealth fighters and stealth bombers. Trump is also calling for lawmakers to include in the party line package the SAVE America act to ‘protect our Elections for Generations to come.'The New York Knicks, pulling off the biggest comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, beating the San Antonio Spurs 107-106. The Knicks were down 29 points at one point, but slowly made up the deficit in the second half, with OG Anunoby tipping in a rebound with 1.2 seconds left on the clock, sealing the victory for New York. Game 5 is on Saturday, and would secure the championship for New York if they win. If necessary, game 5 will be held on Tuesday.

President Trump says tonight's planned strikes on Iran have been cancelled and a peace deal is imminent. This after the second consecutive day, U.S. Central Command carried out strikes against Iranian military targets, hitting surveillance systems, communication infrastructure, and air defense sites across Iran. Tehran has denied a deal has been reached. FOX's John Saucier speaks with FOX's Max Gorden, reporting from Dubai, who says the region breathed a sigh of relief when President Trump announced the strikes were cancelled. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast:1) The New York Knicks came from 29 points down to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, taking a 3-1 lead in the series. The Knicks' win was capped off by OG Anunoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining, which followed a long 3-point shot by Jalen Brunson that bounced off the front of the rim. The Spurs had led 81-52 in the third quarter, but the Knicks outscored them 58-30 in the second half to complete the record-breaking comeback.2) President Trump said he will continue bombing Iran if it refuses to agree to an interim peace deal, following a second night of clashes between the countries’ forces. Iran retaliated by firing on US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, and said the Strait of Hormuz would be closed to all types of vessels. Trump ordered multiple strikes, including around 50 Tomahawk missiles, which Central Command described as “self-defense strikes,” in a signal that Trump wants to avoid restarting a full-on war.3) US inflation accelerated in May to the fastest pace in more than three years as the Iran war pushed up energy prices, outstripping Americans’ pay gains. Still, President Trump sought to downplay the CPI data, calling the figures “great” and suggesting fuel costs would be even higher if not for US efforts to get oil shipments out of the Strait of Hormuz. “You know what I really love? I love the inflation,” Trump said Wednesday. That’s because once the war is over “it’s going to come down like a rock.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Trump says tonight's planned strikes on Iran have been cancelled and a peace deal is imminent. This after the second consecutive day, U.S. Central Command carried out strikes against Iranian military targets, hitting surveillance systems, communication infrastructure, and air defense sites across Iran. Tehran has denied a deal has been reached. FOX's John Saucier speaks with FOX's Max Gorden, reporting from Dubai, who says the region breathed a sigh of relief when President Trump announced the strikes were cancelled. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

U.S. Central Command striking Iran after the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter, and possibly showing the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is in name only. A senior U.S. official tells FOX News that 20 targets inside Iran were hit, including air defense systems, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has promised more strikes saying the U.S. will be 'attacking them very hard.' FOX's John Saucier speaks with Dr. Rebecca Grant, national security analyst and Vice President of the Lexington Institute, who says it maybe time for more kinetic attacks in order to pressure the regime in Tehran to make a final deal that includes a free and safe Strait of Hormuz. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that the United States will launch additional attacks on Iran after Tehran downed a U.S. Army Apache helicopter and claimed Iranian negotiators dragged out talks on the peace deal. Trump also revealed that the U.S. military secretly moved more than 100 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.“This wildly successful effort is because the UNITED STATES of AMERICA CONTROLS the Strait of Hormuz - NOT Iran,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.Secretary of War Pete Hegseth traveled to Cuba, telling troops the United States seeks a positive relationship with Cuba but warned that it should not seek weapons that could strike the U.S. homeland or naval base in Guantanamo Bay. Hegseth also visited U.S. Central Command headquarters, praising troops for their efforts amid the war with Iran.“Central Command will be busy tonight because President Trump said we will be hitting Iran hard,” he said.Lawmakers grilled superintendents from Loudoun County, Virginia, Chicago, and San Francisco at an Education and Workforce Committee hearing. They say their policies sideline parents, push radical gender ideology on young children, and violate religious liberty.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is moving forward on AI-powered autonomous surveillance towers that are expected to be deployed across the southern border, signing a $71 million task order with GDIT last week. The award is the latest in a massive indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, worth up to $1.8 billion, that kicked off three years ago and is aimed at modernizing and expanding CBP's surveillance tower system. GDIT is a key player in CBP's modernization plans as the prime contractor on a remote video surveillance program, the developer of a CBP database with quantum sensors and a fundamental part of a number of other projects including the smart border wall. Michael Wagner, VP of biometrics, border and transportation security at GDIT, told FedScoop that the company started working on this next-generation autonomous tower about three years ago and has gone through several iterations of solutioning and testing and validating out in the field. The American military deployed an autonomous Corsair maritime drone built by Saronic to find and recover two soldiers who were stranded near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday after their Army AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed during a patrol operation, U.S. Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins told DefenseScoop. The confirmation of this unique rescue mission comes as military tensions are surging in the Middle East amid the United States-Iran conflict. It marks the U.S. military's first publicized use of an autonomous surface vessel to locate and retrieve downed aircrew in real-world warfare, following years of experimentation with different types of sea drones. Hawkins said the drone used in the operation was a U.S. Navy Corsair unmanned surface vessel operated by U.S. 5th Fleet's Task Force 59. In that rescue operation, he told DefenseScoop, the maritime drone picked the two pilots up “and transported them to another location on the water where they were then hoisted up to a helicopter for further transport.” The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

U.S. Central Command striking Iran after the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter, and possibly showing the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is in name only. A senior U.S. official tells FOX News that 20 targets inside Iran were hit, including air defense systems, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has promised more strikes saying the U.S. will be 'attacking them very hard.' FOX's John Saucier speaks with Dr. Rebecca Grant, national security analyst and Vice President of the Lexington Institute, who says it maybe time for more kinetic attacks in order to pressure the regime in Tehran to make a final deal that includes a free and safe Strait of Hormuz. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

U.S. Central Command striking Iran after the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter, and possibly showing the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is in name only. A senior U.S. official tells FOX News that 20 targets inside Iran were hit, including air defense systems, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump has promised more strikes saying the U.S. will be 'attacking them very hard.' FOX's John Saucier speaks with Dr. Rebecca Grant, national security analyst and Vice President of the Lexington Institute, who says it maybe time for more kinetic attacks in order to pressure the regime in Tehran to make a final deal that includes a free and safe Strait of Hormuz. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Collin County jury found Karmelo Anthony guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a Frisco ISD track meet, bringing an end to a closely watched trial that drew national attention and sparked debate over self-defense, race and school safety. U.S. Central Command said Tuesday evening that it began "self-defense strikes" on Iran in response to the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter on Monday. Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. is "very close" to reaching a deal that would address Iran's nuclear program "for the long term," but that it could come next week or months from now.

U.S. Central Command announced Tuesday that American forces launched strikes against Iran. This comes after President Donald Trump announced that Iran was responsible for downing a U.S. helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier and vowed the United States would respond.Federal regulators said Chinese money laundering networks are moving hundreds of billions of dollars for Mexican cartels, helping fuel America's fentanyl epidemic. A congressional hearing on Tuesday discussed the threat to U.S. security.Bipartisan lawmakers return to Capitol Hill to push for greater government disclosure on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and protection for whistleblowers. David Grusch, whistleblower and former intelligence officer, discusses specific UAP and non-human intelligence-related evidence he came across in heavily classified channels.

The US Central Command says forces have launched strikes after Iran allegedly shot down a US army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

Marking the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth traveled to France on June 6 to commemorate the troops who helped liberate Western Europe. Hegseth spoke at the Normandy American Cemetery and urged today's generation not to forget those who fought and died on D-Day.U.S. Central Command shoots down four Iranian attack drones heading for the Strait of Hormuz, calling them an immediate threat to sea traffic in the region.As of June 6, former Biden health secretary Xavier Becerra will advance to the November election for California governor, according to a race called by the Associated Press. As vote counting continues, his opponent has not yet been determined.

We are live in Paris where Japan's Softbank has pledged up to €75bn for Europe's largest A.I. data centre project. Asian chip stocks are in the green as investors eye potential meetings with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the Computex trade show in Taipei. Brent crude inches higher on the news Israeli forces push deeper into Lebanon. France has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. U.S. Central Command says it hit targets in Iran over the weekend but hopes remain that a ceasefire deal can be reached between the Washington and Tehran. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The United States has launched new strikes against Iran, including operations near the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat to American forces and shipping in the area. U.S. forces also hit an Iranian ground control station in the port city of Bandar Abbas, which was preparing to launch a fifth drone. The United States said the strikes were "measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire."Several states are moving forward on plans to make their congressional maps more friendly for Republicans, including Louisiana, South Carolina, Missouri, and Alabama. As of right now, the best case scenario for Republicans could see them gain around 16 seats after redistricting. Democratic states have altered their maps successfully in Utah and California for a potential gain of six seats, giving the GOP the upper hand in the redistricting battle.President Donald Trump told NTD on Wednesday that he's not thinking about threats against his life in order to be an effective president, reacting to a shooting this weekend right outside the White House, just weeks after an alleged third major assassination attempt against him in April. The president is also doubling down on making Washington a safer city, saying he wants to keep the National Guard in the city, with War Secretary Pete Hegseth saying they will surge National Guard troops to the capital this upcoming summer.

Oil Drops – Still highest cost for Memorial Day in years Consumer Sentiment Drops again New Fertilizer coming – Kinda Soilent Green vibe Everyone is talking about SpaceX PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter Warm-Up - Oil Drops - Still highest cost for Memorial Day in years - Consumer Sentiment Drops again - New Fertilizer coming - Kinda Soilent Green Concept - Everyone is talking about SpaceX Markets - Nothing Really Matters - Anyone can see - New HIGHS - Governments picking the winners again - CHIPS ! - Concentration NVDA - Over the weekend, Jensen Huang said that his forecast of a $200 billion market for CPUs includes China, signalling Nvidia still sees significant long-term demand in the market amid ongoing U.S.-China technology tensions. - During an earnings call on Wednesday, Huang said Nvidia's new "Vera" central processors give it access to a new $200 billion market. - So, once again the PR machine is running overtime to make sure there is no reason for anyone to sell the stock - needed to make this clarification over the weekend - Nvidia has received licenses from the U.S. government to sell its H200 chips but has not received approval from Chinese officials who are fostering China's own chip suppliers. Consumers - Consumer sentiment has tumbled to a fresh record low in May as fears of higher prices grow due to the U.S.-Iran war and elevated oil prices, the University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers said Friday. - The index of consumer sentiment fell to 44.8 from a preliminary reading of 48.2. It's also well below the 49.8 level seen at the end of April. Consumers Upset South Korea - Record after record... - This is an impressive chart - Two companies -Samsung and SK Hynix -----40% of the entire KOSPI index's total market capitalization. Kospi Index Who Believes this Crap? - U.S. forces have conducted “self defense” strikes in southern Iran early Tuesday, with U.S. Central Command saying that this was to “protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.“ - “U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins added. - Meanwhile there was some talk over the weekend that --- 1) We are very close to a deal and it will happen soon ----2) We are in no rush for a deal ----3) How many times is this same line going to be used to try to push the price of oil down (it did move towards $90 after the weekend resumption of futures trading) - Neither side can agree on anything... Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the United States has seen some progress towards a deal but that more work was required, while Iran's foreign ministry said the differences remained deep and significant. - Tiresome CEO of Ford - Did you know -??? - The CEO of Ford (Jim Farley) is cousin to Chris Farley Farley and Farley Crops - Farmers worldwide are under pressure due to the Iran war disrupting supplies of conventional nitrogen fertilizers, forcing them to improvise ahead of the fall planting season. - Some farmers are turning to age-old solutions like manure, while others are experimenting with newer technologies, including waste-based inputs and microbial products. -----Circular bio-economy The crisis is giving fresh momentum to products that have long struggled to gain widespread adoption, with demand for biofertilizers and biostimulants rising and companies seeing rising interest and increased sales. - Municipal wastewater and treated human urine, which contain high levels of nutrients that can be processed. ---- So, if your corn is a little extra yellow this summer - now you know... Government's Hand - Quantum computing shares popped last Thursday, as the U.S. government said it would award $2 billion in grants to nine firms operating in the space. - IBM is the biggest beneficiary of the package, with the U.S. Commerce Department agreeing to give the firm $1 billion. - Chipmaker GlobalFoundries is receiving $375 million, while other grant recipients D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing and Infleqtion will be awarded $100 million. - Shares of D-Wave added 33%, Rigetti soared 30% and Infleqtion skyrocketed about 31%. - Funding will come from the 2022 Chips and Science Act. More Money Throwing - Nvidia Corp. bought $500 million worth of rights for shares in Corning Inc. as part of a partnership to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure. - Corning pledged to increase US fiber production capacity by more than 50% to supply more optical fiber for AI data centers. - The partnership includes Corning's plan to construct three new complexes in North Carolina and Texas, which is estimated to create more than 3,000 new US jobs. DEBT - Global debt hits new record, IIF (institute for International Finance) report shows - Global debt rose for a fifth consecutive quarter in Q1 2026, increasing by more than $4.4 trillion to a record high of over $350 trillion, with the increase concentrated largely in the United States and China. - Investors shows signs of shift away from Treasuries - Global debt-to-GDP ratio stable around 305% - NOTHING TO SEE HERE Global Debt More Charts AI Reality? - Starbucks retires AI tool nine months after North American deployment - Tool was part of CEO Brian Niccol's campaign to fix product shortages - AI tool miscounted items, leading to errors, Reuters has reported Starbucks cites need for consistency, supply chain improvements in ending program More AI - Elon Musk's Grok is seeing minimal adoption in US government - even though it's cheap- - Grok lags far behind OpenAI and other rivals that analysts call more capable - Data shows uptake by corporations is also weak, suggesting Grok's problems stretch beyond government - Is it possible that corps don't trust Musk after the way he heavy handled the DOGE process? - Is this going to impact SpaceX growth story? Employment and Ai - The co-founder of AI company Anthropic said on Monday that the development of artificial intelligence cannot be left solely to technology companies, urging greater oversight from religious leaders, governments and civil society. - Speaking at the presentation of Pope Leo's first encyclical, addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, Chris Olah said there was "a real possibility" that AI will displace human labour "at very large scale". Scared - China is restricting overseas travel for top AI professionals in private firms, requiring them to get approval from relevant authorities before embarking on overseas travel. - The government is targeting talent within the AI sphere, including startup founders, researchers, and executives, and adding individuals to the list based on assessments of their critical importance to the country. - The restrictions risk undermining the ability of AI firms in China to recruit and retain talent, and may force engineers with global ambitions to choose between staying home or going abroad earlier in their careers. CHIPS - Micron topped a $1 trillion market value for the first time on Tuesday as shares popped 18%, driven by insatiable artificial intelligence demand for its memory chips. - The stock surge came as UBS tripled its price target on the stock from $535 to $1,625 a share, citing long-term agreement opportunities with partially fixed pricing. - “We believe the market will start to put a more ‘normal' multiple on the stock and MU will continue to re-rate higher as more details emerge about the structural changes AI has driven to the entire memory complex,” the firm wrote. SpaceX - Lots of interest on this... - Lots of clients calling on this and we are working on this for them - Here is a bit of a reality check... --- First - company still losing billions of dollars - some may look past that - - Weird inclusion period for indices and that may take stock up due to required buying ahead of the inclusion (keeping a floor on prices in the beginning) ---- SpaceX plans to allow a large portion of its shares to become eligible for resale before the usual six-month restriction period post-IPO, under a staged system conditioned to the company's performance, a company filing shows. - The approach, designed to avoid a large wave of shares hitting the market at once, would depart from the standard 180-day lock-up that has prevailed in the U.S. Most companies going public restrict early investors from selling shares to help stabilize the stock. - Valuation somewhere between $1.5T and $2T (a year ago it was like $400 million) - Valuation in December was $750 M - Rationale for the big valuation: SpaceX is leveraging its satellite network to build massive, space-based AI data centers, which take advantage of limitless solar energy and off-planet cooling Retail  - Ross Stores Inc. raised its sales and profit guidance after first-quarter results surpassed consensus estimates, aided by strong customer traffic among younger shoppers. - The company reported sales of $6.01 billion and earnings of $2.02 per share, with same-store sales growing 17% in the period, a record for Ross. - Ross now expects full-year same-store sales to grow 6% to 7%, and earnings of $7.50 to $7.74 per share, with executives citing increased customer traffic as a key driver of profit. Meanwhile - Walmart issued a worse-than-expected financial outlook amid soaring gas prices. - Finance chief John David Rainey said high tax returns may have muted some of the impact high gas prices had on shoppers in the first quarter, indicating consumer pressures could rise in the current quarter - The big-box retailer issued fiscal first-quarter results that beat Wall Street's expectations on the top line but were only in line on the bottom. - The retailer said it's expecting adjusted earnings per share to be between $2.75 and $2.85, lower than expectations of $2.91, according to LSEG. - Walmart said it anticipates net sales will rise between 3.5% and 4.5% for the year. Ferrari - Electric - Ferrari (RACE) is trading lower today after the company unveiled its first fully electric vehicle, the Ferrari Luce, marking a major strategic shift away from its traditional combustion-engine supercar identity. - The Luce is a four-door, five-seat ultra-luxury EV developed with former Apple (AAPL) design chief Jony Ive, featuring a quad-motor setup producing over 1,000 horsepower, a 0--60 mph time of roughly 2.5 seconds, and a price tag around $640,000. - Despite these headline-grabbing performance specs, investors reacted negatively because the design is seen as a sharp break from RACE's iconic styling, with many critics arguing it looks closer to a mass-market EV than a traditional Ferrari. Saying goodbye - One of America's once-dominant beer brands is being discontinued after more than 175 years. - Schlitz Premium, a beer brand that traces its roots to Milwaukee in the 1840s and was once among the largest breweries in the country, is being put "on hiatus," parent company Pabst Brewing Co. confirmed Friday after Wisconsin Brewing Company announced it would brew the brand's final batch later this month. - "Unfortunately, we have seen continued increases in our costs to store and ship certain products and have had to make the tough choice to place Schlitz Premium on hiatus," Zac Nadile, Pabst head of brand strategy, said in a statement to Milwaukee Magazine. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Announcing the THE CLOSEST TO THE PIN for SALESFORCE (CRM)   Winners will be getting great stuff like the new "OFFICIAL" DHUnplugged Shirt!     FED AND CRYPTO LIMERICKS   See this week's stock picks HERE Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter

Send us Fan MailEpisode Summary: In this insightful interview, PR expert Joe Buccino shares invaluable lessons from his extensive experience in media relations, crisis communication, and the evolving landscape of journalism. Discover how to build trust with reporters, adapt to digital changes, and leverage AI without losing the human touch.Joe's BIO: Joe Buccino is a retired U.S. Army colonel and former Pentagon spokesman who advised senior leaders during some of the most high-stakes moments in recent national security. He served as Communications Director at U.S. Central Command and spokesperson for Secretaries of Defense James Mattis and Patrick Shanahan, shaping messaging during crises and global operations.He is the founder of Joe Buccino Consulting, where he helps executives and organizations communicate clearly under pressure. Buccino is the author of When Every Word Counts: How to Earn Trust, Command Attention, and Communicate Clearly in Any Situation (Skyhorse, 2026), and a frequent military analyst on CNN, Fox News, and the BBC.To order Joe's Book When Every Work Counts use the link shorturl.at/B2COOJoe's LinkedInSupport the showOur premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

U.S. forces struck Iranian boats and missile launch sites in southern Iran on Monday, in what U.S. Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins has called "self-defense strikes ... to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces." Iran says it shot down three U.S. drones. Despite the violence, neither Iran nor the United States appear to be pulling back on diplomatic efforts to reach an interim deal to end the almost three-month long war. But what does that look like?For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.This episode was produced by Alejandra Marquez Janse and Karen Zamora, with audio engineering by Ted Mebane.It was edited by James Hider, Rebekah Metzler and Tinbete Ermyas.Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

U.S. Central Command says the U.S. military carried out ‘self-defense strikes' in southern Iran on Monday. They say the strikes targeted Iranian missile launch sites and were intended to protect U.S. troops from threats posed by Iranian forces. President Trump also saying that negotiations with Iran are progressing, and he's now looking to turn a potential deal into a broader Middle East peace push, urging them to join the Abraham Accords, and calling on countries including Saudi Arabia and Qatar to normalize ties with Israel.Texas will be holding several run-off elections on Tuesday, where voters will finalize their chosen nominees for key congressional races. The most watched race will be the Republican primary for U.S. Senate between Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and incumbent Senator John Cornyn. There will also be a Democrat primary in the 18th district between Congressman Al Green and Representative Christian Menefee. Texas will also be choosing a new attorney general this cycle, with a runoff on the Republican side between Congressman Chip Roy and State Senator Mayes Middleton.The New York Knicks are in the NBA finals, after beating out the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93, in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. This is the first time the Knicks have advanced to the Championships since 1999. The Knicks' Jalen Brunson was named series MVP for averaging 25.5 points and nearly eight assists. The Knicks have outscored their opponents by 262 points during their winning streak, the most dominant span in league history, playoffs or regular season.

In today's episode of Trending Middle East, US forces have carried out what a Central Command spokesman described as self-defence strikes in southern Iran. Israel's military says it has conducted a wave of attacks across Lebanon, despite a ceasefire that has been in place since April. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered the restoration of international internet access after months of restrictions across the country, although it is unclear when services will resume. More than 1.5 million Muslims have gathered in Makkah for the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, with increased security measures put in place by Saudi authorities. In the UAE, hotels are preparing for a surge in staycation bookings over the Eid Al Adha holiday, as the regional war continues to disrupt travel. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

Rusland voert een van de zwaarste aanvallen op Kiev sinds het begin van de oorlog uit, met honderden drones, zo'n 90 raketten en de inzet van een hypersonische Kinzjal-raket. De schade in het centrum is groot, op enkele honderden meters van het kantoor van Volodymyr Zelensky. President Vladimir Poetin waarschuwt buitenlandse inwoners de Oekraïense hoofdstad te verlaten omdat er nieuwe, systematische aanvallen zouden volgen. In het Midden-Oosten vallen de Verenigde Staten in de buurt van de Iraanse havenstad Bandar Abbas doelen aan die volgens Central Command worden gebruikt voor mijnenleggers en raketinstallaties, met het oog op de Straat van Hormuz. Ondanks de aanvallen blijft een akkoord tussen de VS en Iran over bevroren tegoeden en een 'memorandum of understanding' volgens Marco Rubio binnen bereik, terwijl Israël zijn aanvallen op Libanon wil intensiveren en inwoners opnieuw op de vlucht slaan. Ondertussen blijkt uit onderzoek van ABN AMRO dat het aandeel Nederlanders met een aanvullende verzekering voor fysiotherapie in tien jaar tijd is gedaald van 85% naar 80%. Daardoor hebben 3,5 miljoen mensen geen extra dekking meer. Volgens sectorspecialist Charlotte van Laar leidt dat vooral bij lagere inkomens tot het mijden van zorg, vergroot het de druk op huisartsen en medisch specialisten en versterkt het bestaande gezondheidsverschillen. Deze omschrijving is met AI gemaakt en gecontroleerd door een BNR-redacteur. Over deze podcast BNR Nieuws Vandaag is de podcast met daarin BNR Ochtendnieuws en BNR Avondnieuws. Je krijgt ’s ochtends vroeg en aan het einde van de werkdag in 20 minuten het belangrijkste nieuws van de dag. Abonneer je via bnr.nl/podcast/bnrnieuwsvandaag, de BNR-app, Spotify en Apple Podcasts. Of luister elke dag live via bnr.nl/live.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peace Through Strength, America's Navy with LCDR Steve Rogers USN (Ret) – Iranian propaganda claims U.S. Navy ships are hit near the Strait of Hormuz, but Central Command says no vessels are struck. American forces intercept drones and destroy hostile boats while protecting commercial shipping. As regional tensions rise, allies face growing pressure to help secure vital waterways and deter Iranian aggression...

The Beijing summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping concluded its first day on May 14 with a notable flashpoint: Taiwan and U.S. arms sales to the island.According to a statement released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xi warned Trump that the two countries risked “clashes and even conflicts” if the Taiwan issue was not handled carefully.The White House released a brief readout of the meeting between Trump and Xi. It made no mention of Taiwan, instead focusing extensively on the Iran war, the Strait of Hormuz, and economic cooperation between the two countries.Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, testified on Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.Cooper said that "Iranian-supported terror groups attacked U.S. troops and diplomats more than 350 times" in the 30 months prior to Operation Epic Fury.

The U.S. military conducted retaliatory strikes against Iran after U.S. Central Command said Iranian forces “launched multiple missiles, drones and small boat” attacks against U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers. This happens just a day after President Trump said Iran is most likely to accept a deal to end the conflict within a week. Officials insist the war isn't restarting and the ceasefire remains in place, but where will negotiations lead? FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Ambassador Kurt Volker, Distinguished Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). former Special Representative for Ukraine, who says with changing objectives and no guarantee of regime change, negotiations face many obstacles. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (5/6/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v77fqym","div":"rumble_v77fqym"}); Source Links (In Chronological Order): Iran Destroyed Over 228 US Military Targets, The Failed False Flags & Trump's Insider Information (20) Glenn Greenwald on X: "When Somali Americans were accused of fraud in Minnesota, there was endless discourse about what it supposedly revealed about Somali and Muslim culture. Will those who led that discussion do the same for this massive fraud ring and the monolithic group the FBI just arrested?

May 9, 2026; 7am: As the United States waits for Iran to respond to a permanent end to the war, the two continue to exchange fire. On Friday, Central Command said U.S. military forces carried out airstrikes, hitting and disabling two Iranian-flagged oil tankers trying to break the American naval blockade. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said it intercepted drones and missiles launched by Iran. MS NOW Contributor Inzamam Rashid joins “The Weekend" from Dubai with the latest. Then, former Senior U.S. Diplomat Alan Eyre joins the conversation. For more, follow us on social media: Bluesky: @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social Instagram: @theweekendmsnow TikTok: @theweekendmsnow To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The U.S. military conducted retaliatory strikes against Iran after U.S. Central Command said Iranian forces “launched multiple missiles, drones and small boat” attacks against U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers. This happens just a day after President Trump said Iran is most likely to accept a deal to end the conflict within a week. Officials insist the war isn't restarting and the ceasefire remains in place, but where will negotiations lead? FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Ambassador Kurt Volker, Distinguished Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). former Special Representative for Ukraine, who says with changing objectives and no guarantee of regime change, negotiations face many obstacles. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

International tensions took center stage as the U.S. and Iran exchanged military strikes near the Strait of Hormuz while both sides insisted a ceasefire is still in place. According to U.S. Central Command, American naval ships intercepted what were described as unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with targeted strikes, while Iran accused the U.S. of violating the truce first—raising global concerns due to the Strait’s importance as a major oil shipping route. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International tensions took center stage as the U.S. and Iran exchanged military strikes near the Strait of Hormuz while both sides insisted a ceasefire is still in place. According to U.S. Central Command, American naval ships intercepted what were described as unprovoked Iranian attacks and responded with targeted strikes, while Iran accused the U.S. of violating the truce first—raising global concerns due to the Strait’s importance as a major oil shipping route. On the home front, Real Housewives of Atlanta star Drew Sidora opened up about the very real financial stress surrounding her divorce from Ralph Pittman, revealing fears that the Georgia home they once shared could face foreclosure. Court documents show a significant income disparity between the two, and recent rulings have ordered Sidora to vacate the home, intensifying public conversation around finances, custody, and fairness in high‑profile divorces. The show also welcomed music royalty as legendary R&B singer Stephanie Mills joined the RSMS crew for a wide‑ranging conversation about her career, from starring as the original Dorothy in The Wiz to her close friendship with Michael Jackson, whom she strongly defended against long‑standing allegations. Mills reflected on longevity, legacy, and why performing for loyal fans still matters decades into her career. Closing out the episode, Chris Brown marked a major moment with the release of his 12th studio album, Brown—a 27‑track project packed with high‑profile collaborations. Ahead of the release, Brown shared a heartfelt message thanking fans for sticking with him through a long journey and urging them to enjoy the work he poured into the album, which officially dropped at midnight and immediately sparked buzz across social media. Website: https://www.urban1podcasts.com/rickey-smiley-morning-show See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Friday, May 8th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Three North Korean prisoners to receive human rights award Three Korean missionaries detained for more than a decade in North Korea will receive the Graciela Fernandez Meijide Human Rights Award in August in absentia, reports International Christian Concern. The three men — missionary Choi Chun-gil, age 70, missionary Kim Jong-Uk, age 62, and Pastor Kim Kuk-gi, age 72— were helping North Korean defectors and underground churches in Northeast China before North Korean agents arrested them and took them to jails inside North Korea.  North Korea sentenced the three men to life in a North Korean labor camp. The South Korean government has repeatedly called for the missionaries' release. Analysts estimate that more than 30,000 Christians are currently suffering in these camps where they are overworked, starved, and tortured. Not surprisingly, North Korea denies the existence of such camps. According to Open Doors, North Korea is the most oppressive country worldwide for Christians. Vatican: Homosexual couples are not guilty of sin The new Vatican synod report published May 5th has just dropped a bombshell, reports LifeSiteNews.com. It said, “Sin, at its root, does not consist in the same-sex couple relationship.” Instead, the document suggests sin is merely a lack of faith in God. Homosexual relationships are presented by the Vatican through glowing testimonies. The document takes specific aim at Courage, a Catholic group established for the support of those with homosexual attraction who wish to live chastely and in accord with Catholic Church teaching.  And the report openly questions whether such unions could be considered analogous to marriage.  It asks whether homosexual “relationships” can be thought of as equal “to heterosexual conjugal union,” despite “the evident impossibility of procreation.” This is not a fringe document. It comes from a synodal study group operating with Vatican approval. But Leviticus 18:22 could not be more clear. “Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.” US launches strikes on two Iranian targets On May 7th,  U.S. Central Command confirmed military action within the Strait of Hormuz, saying American forces intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and struck back amid claims by Tehran that the Trump administration had violated a fragile ceasefire, reports NewsNation.com. According to Fox News, U.S. officials said Qeshm Port in the Strait of Hormuz and the port city of Bandar Abbas were struck. Plus, Iran's Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab was also hit. CENTCOM officials said Iran launched missiles, drones, and small boats on three U.S. guided-missile destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz headed to the Gulf of Oman. In response, U.S. forces “eliminated inbound threats and targeted Iranian military facilities responsible for attacking.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this. RUBIO:  “As President Trump has said, and the facts clearly bear out, the United States of America holds all the cards. There is no scenario here in which, if they decide to join a ladder of escalation, they wind up getting the last say. “But our preference is for these Straits [of Hormuz] to be opened to the way they're supposed to be open, back to the way it was. Anyone can use it. No mines in the water. Nobody paying tolls. That's what we have to get back to, and that's the goal here.” Mark Hamill of “Star Wars” posted image of dead President Trump Mark Hamill, the actor best known for playing Luke Skywalker in the original “Star Wars” trilogy of the 1970s and '80s, posted an image on May 6th that got the White House's attention, reports The Western Journal. The image, posted to Hamill's account on the social media platform BlueSky, showed President Donald Trump lying in a grave, hands folded, with a headstone that read “Donald J. Trump, 1946-2024.” Hamill wrote, “If only he should live long enough to witness his inevitable devastating loss in the midterms, be held accountable for his unprecedented corruption, impeached, convicted & humiliated for his countless crimes. Long enough to realize he'll be disgraced in the history books, forevermore.” Meanwhile, on the social media platform X, the official White House Rapid Response account, called Hamill “one sick individual.” Then, the White House linked Hamill-style rhetoric to other disturbing events, saying, “These Radical Left lunatics just can't help themselves. This kind of rhetoric is exactly what has inspired three assassination attempts in two years against our President.” Texas Governor pressures waterpark to cancel Muslim-only event A planned celebration of a Muslim-only day at the Epic Waters waterpark in Grand Prairie, Texas has been canceled after backlash over religious discrimination, reports Fox4News. The Epic Waters waterpark had planned to hold a private event throughout the park on June 1st to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice and the second of two main festivals in Islam. It honors the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as an act of obedience to God's command. When The Worldview first reported the story of the Muslim-only, waterpark-wide event, Cathy Blake of Fate, Texas emailed the Epic Waters leadership. She wrote, “I see you are hosting a Muslim celebration and closing the park to non-Muslims, which is religious discrimination. But, since you probably don't see it that way, and are wanting to be inclusive, I'm wondering what day the park will be available for only Jews or only Christians as those two religions are two of the most practiced religions in America, alongside Islam. Please let me know the date so I can plan my summer accordingly.” When Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott heard about the event, he sent a letter to the City of Grand Prairie in which he threatened to pull $530,000 in public safety grants if the city held the event. The letter states that the event was being advertised as "Muslim Only" before changing its advertisements to state only a requirement of a modest dress code would be enforced. Governor Abbott wrote, "The event purports to be public-facing and discriminatory at the same time: All Muslims—but only Muslims—may attend. An event at a city-owned pool that was publicly and indiscriminately advertised as ‘Whites only' would surely violate the Constitution.” On May 6, officials with the City of Grand Prairie wrote, "After further review and in the best interest of the City of Grand Prairie, the June 1st event at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark has been canceled." The organizer, Dr. Aminah Knight, noted that 600 people attended the event last year and she was “deeply disappointed.” American Bible Society celebrates its 210th anniversary And finally, on May 8th, 1816, the American Bible Society organized in New York to distribute the Bible worldwide. In 1816, there was a significant demand for Bibles in the United States following the American Revolutionary War.  The importation of Bibles from England had ceased, leading to a shortage as the nation sought to foster religious revival. Since then, it has distributed hundreds of millions of Bibles in thousands of languages worldwide. The first President of the American Bible Society was Elias Boudinot, who had been President of the Continental Congress from 1782 to 1783. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, was named the Bible Society president in 1821. And Francis Scott Key, the writer of the United States' national anthem, served as a Vice President from 1817 until his death in 1843. Today, people around the world are longing for the hope and truth found only in Scripture. Consider making a one-time donation today to empower believers with God's Word in their own language. Every $2 you give provides another Bible. The website is www.AmericanBible.org. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, May 8th, in the year of our Lord 2026, my 60th birthday. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The Trump administration releasing a new batch of previously classified files documenting UFO's. It's part of a new federal transparency initiative called "PURSUE." The effort involves multiple agencies, including the Pentagon, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, NASA, and the FBI. Officials say the release of files is part of President Trump's push for what the administration calls “maximum transparency” on unexplained aerial encounters. More documents, videos, and photos are expected to be released on a rolling basis.U.S. Central Command says 3 guided-missile destroyers came under attack while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, adding that no U.S. assets were struck in the exchange, and that the U.S. does not seek escalation but remains positioned and ready to protect American forces. President Trump saying that talks with Iran are going very well, but that if a deal doesn't get signed, 'they're going to have a lot of pain.'Tennessee is the latest state to take action in the nationwide redistricting battle, with state lawmakers and the governor swiftly approved a map that breaks up the state's only Democrat-majority voting district. Republicans say the new map is a historic opportunity to maximize the conservative representation of Tennessee. Democrats have launched an effort to counter Republican gains in several states. The party this week just launched a campaign to weaken Republican seats in New York.

In part one of Red Eye Radio with Gary McNamara and Eric Harley, the fragile ceasefire with Iran faces its biggest threat to date as President Trump announced plans for U.S. forces to "guide" vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. blockade on Iranian ports will continue, with U.S. Central Command saying they have already redirected at least 49 ships. The British military's maritime trade center reported an attack on a trade vessel by multiple small craft just 11 miles off Iran's coast in the strait on Sunday. Iran's military has vowed to attack any U.S. forces that enter the strait. Also maintaining allied agreement to finish the war, how the mid-terms will effect the outcome of the war, the assassination conspiracy theory of Jesse Ventura, weighing the odds against the possibilites of UFOs, Bigfoot and traveling to Mars, Elizabeth Warren makes apology for Graham Platner and his Nazi tattoo and the liberal's hatred for women and "happy Nazis". For more talk on the issues that matter to you, listen on radio stations across America Monday-Friday 12am-5am CT (1am-6am ET and 10pm-3am PT), download the RED EYE RADIO SHOW app, asking your smart speaker, or listening at RedEyeRadioShow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Tuesday said Project Freedom, the U.S. effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz, is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury, and is "defensive in nature."Hegseth said hundreds more ships from nations around the world are lining up to transit the strait, and that U.S. Central Command is in active communication with ships, shipping companies, and insurers. Hegseth also said the blockade of Iranian ports is in full effect.Voters are heading to the polls in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan on Tuesday, with key primary races and one closely watched special election underway.

The US military's Central Command says two US-flagged merchant ships have passed through the Hormuz strait with its assistance.But a huge number of vessels and crew remain stranded. Can Donald Trump deliver on his promise to break the Iranian blockade?Also in the programme: The leaders of Europe and Canada stress a new unified approach to security, amid strained relations with the US; pet rescue scammers in Uganda; and the multi-billion dollar bid to buy eBay.(Photo shows vessels in the Strait of Hormuz near Bandar Abbas, Iran on 4 May 2026. Credit: Amirhosein KhorgooiWest Asia News Agency via Reuters)

EP222: GameStop to Acquire eBay? Trump ends “War?”, Saudis end LIVSPORTSSaudi's pull plug on LIV Golf https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/liv/2026/04/29/liv-golf-losing-saudi-funding-after-2026-season/89619005007/ CLICKSDeath of Spirit Airlines https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/spirit-airlines-bites-dust-all-flights-canceledGameStop - https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/gamestop-preparing-offer-for-ebay-1678e6de?mod=e2tw; https://www.wsj.com/business/deals/gamestop-ebay-bid-fd330f5a  ⁃ ⁃ proposal https://investor.gamestop.com/ebay/ ⁃ ⁃ How could a $11B company take control of a $46B company? ⁃ ⁃ Hostile takeover via stock accumulation  ⁃ ⁃ Directly to eBay shareholders ⁃ ⁃ Controlling interest? ⁃ ⁃ Are GME, Cohen, Burry, et al accumulating? ⁃ ⁃ eBay store fronts: Mr. Lister, ThreadUp competitorCollector's Universe/PSA? ⁃ ⁃ PayPal?If attempt fails, take their eBay winnings and pivot to Etsy? Whatnot?POLITICSTrump notifies Congress Epic Fury has ended. Restart the 60 day clock!! https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2026/04/admin-mum-whether-trump-will-seek-legalize-iran-war/413243/  ⁃ ⁃ https://antiwar.com/ ⁃ ⁃ https://responsiblestatecraft.org/ Iran claims missile strike on US Navy vessel; Central Command refutes https://x.com/dropsitenews/status/2051276520895750203?s=46&t=ye-2GyAK2iDh3yT1vKjfJg#RonPaulWasRight#EpsteinDidntKillHimself#NothingEverHappens#GoAnalog#TouchGrassAbout the Sports, Clicks & Politics PodcastSCAPP is a weekly podcast with a Livestream every Monday at 12pm on eastern.Join hosts Shawn Hannon and Ben Hussong as they separate the latest news from the noise impacting New York State. The podcast has frequent guest interviews for additional perspectives in the worlds or sports, politics and beyond!Follow the show on social mediaFacebook: facebook.com/scappodcastTwitter: @SCAPPodcastFollow Shawn & Ben on social mediaFacebook: facebook.com/hannon44Twitter: @hannon44Facebook: facebook.com/ben.hussong.3Twitter: @benhussong

U.S. Central Command says U.S. forces will begin assisting merchant vessels seeking to transit the Strait of Hormuz under a mission called ‘Project Freedom.' CENTCOM says around 15,000 U.S. personnel, guided-missile destroyers, unmanned systems, and more than 100 aircraft will support the operation. Over the weekend, President Trump said the U.S. is ‘doing very well' with Iran, adding the country is ‘decimated' and wants to make a deal.The nation's largest ultra-low-cost airline, Spirit Airlines, has shut down operations on Saturday, leaving passengers scrambling and thousands of workers impacted. Spirit Airlines says it has ceased operations ‘effective immediately,' canceling all flights and telling customers not to go to the airport. Major carriers like Untied, Delta, JetBlue and Southwest, are now stepping in, offering capped fares and discounts for stranded Spirit passengers. Passengers are now being advised to seek refunds through credit card companies or bankruptcy claims, a process that could take time and may only result in partial repayment.Alabama and Tennessee are moving to redraw their congressional lines, potentially yielding three more GOP seats in Congress. Alabama currently has two majority-black districts. A lower court previously forced the state to add a second district with a substantial number of black voters. Both seats, held by Democrats, could be carved up after the high court's ruling. Meanwhile, Tennessee's primaries are underway this week. At the same time, a special session is set to start on Tuesday. Governor Bill Lee says legislators must ensure districts “accurately reflect the will of Tennessee voters.” President Trump previously urged the governor to "push hard" to carve up the sole democrat held district in Memphis.

Iranian sources tell CNN a new round of peace talks with U.S. negotiators is expected to take place on Monday in Islamabad, Pakistan. We talk it over with U.S. Army Lieutenant General Karen Gibson, who previously served as director of intelligence for U.S. Central Command and Ryan Crocker, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Kuwait. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hungaryian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, an ally of President Trump, was ousted from office in yesterday’s election. The Economist looks at the results. U.S. Central Command said it will impose a blockade at the Strait of Hormuz after weekend negotiations with Iran failed to produce a deal. Phil Stewart of Reuters joins to discuss where talks could go next. Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell quit his campaign to be California governor after allegations of sexual assault. Alexei Koseff of the San Francisco Chronicle breaks them down. Plus, Ukraine and Russia accused each other of breaching a brief Easter ceasefire, President Trump unveiled plans for a massive arch in Washington, and the Masters has its first back-to-back champion in more than two decades. Today’s episode was hosted by Cecilia Lei.

Lt. Col. Rachel E. VanLandingham, national security law expert and former chief legal advisor for international law at U.S. Central Command, where she advised on operational and international legal issues related to the armed conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Eliav Lieblich, professor of international law at Tel-Aviv University, explain international law as it applies to the war with Iran, including the limits of conflict jurisprudence and how leaders in the US, Israel and Iran think about following, or skirting, the rules about what constitutes 'war crimes.' Photo: Iranian flags and graffiti reading 'No King' are seen amongst debris at Sharif University of Technology which was hit by US-Israeli strikes on April 7, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. Sharif University of Technology is one of Iran's leading scientific universities. Credit: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images).  

Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Preventable Crime Deaths Trump pauses the cabinet meeting to reference the killing of Sheridan Gorman, the 18‑year‑old college student murdered in Chicago by an illegal immigrant. Clay and Buck then detail another shocking case out of New York City involving 83‑year‑old Air Force veteran Richard Williams, who was shoved to his death on subway tracks by an illegal immigrant who had been deported multiple times and had an extensive criminal record. The hosts stress that both crimes were entirely preventable and argue that sanctuary policies are directly responsible. Buck explains that these incidents are not happening in high‑crime zones but in places traditionally considered safe—such as the Upper East Side of Manhattan—demonstrating how far the problem has spread. Clay and Buck argue Democrats refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities even when dealing with violent repeat offenders, choosing ideology over public safety. They stress that illegal immigrants who commit crimes should never be shielded from deportation and that the murder rate of Americans by illegal immigrants should be zero. Manipulating the System Investigative journalist Alex Berenson, who joins the program to discuss what Clay calls one of the most enraging crime stories of the year: a horrific Seattle case involving a repeat violent offender who allegedly murdered an elderly woman during a carjacking and then stabbed her dog to death, only to have his prosecution delayed indefinitely due to claims of mental incompetence. Berenson explains how the suspect, an eight‑time convicted felon with a long criminal record, is now repeatedly cycling between jail and a forensic psychiatric hospital, allegedly stopping his medication to claim incompetency and avoid trial. Berenson contrasts this with another highly publicized Seattle murder in which a man allegedly executed a pregnant woman in her car and was later allowed to plead not guilty by reason of insanity—potentially avoiding permanent incarceration altogether. The discussion highlights what Berenson and the hosts see as a broken system that fails to permanently remove clearly dangerous individuals from society, even when guilt is not meaningfully disputed. The Only Sane Democrat Clay and Buck play audio from a pro‑Iran and pro‑Hamas rally in Philadelphia, where speakers openly cheered the deaths of U.S. soldiers. They contrast that rhetoric with comments from Senator John Fetterman, who sharply criticizes his own party for being “held hostage by the far left,” condemns the DHS shutdown, and highlights the real‑world suffering of TSA agents who have gone six weeks without paychecks. The hosts discuss how devastating such a pay gap would be for most American families and argue that Democrats are deliberately inflicting airport chaos and financial pain on federal workers as leverage to block immigration enforcement. The conversation grows more urgent with breaking news that an improvised explosive device was discovered at MacDill Air Force Base, home to U.S. Central Command and Special Operations Command. Authorities link the incident to Iran‑inspired extremism, adding to a string of recent attempted terror attacks across the country. Clay and Buck argue that this makes the DHS shutdown—and weakened airport security—especially indefensible at a moment of elevated threat. Kennedy Murder/Suicide? Journalist and New York Times bestselling author Maureen Callahan dishes on the explosive popularity of the Ryan Murphy‑produced JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Hulu series, questioning why the show has captured such a large audience—particularly women—and whether its depiction of the Kennedy legacy is fundamentally dishonest. Maureen Callahan, author of Ask Not and host of The Nerve, offers a blistering critique of the Kennedy mythology, arguing that the series whitewashes a deeply dysfunctional family history and obscures decades of documented abuses, narcissism, and media manipulation. She traces how the “Camelot” myth persists despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary and explains why Hollywood continues to rehabilitate the Kennedy brand. The conversation intensifies when Callahan lays out her controversial theory regarding the death of John F. Kennedy Jr., asserting—based on official investigation records and well‑documented circumstances—that the fatal plane crash may have been a murder‑suicide driven by personal collapse, recklessness, substance use, and untreated psychological distress. She details Kennedy’s lack of qualification for the flight, warnings from other pilots, his failure to follow aviation protocol, near‑collision with a commercial jet, and the broader context of his unraveling marriage, failing business, and collapsing relationships. Clay and Buck emphasize that, provocative as the theory may sound, Callahan’s claims rely on facts contained in official reports rather than speculation. From there, the hosts and Callahan explore why the show resonates so powerfully, pointing to ’90s nostalgia, pre‑internet media culture, and the enduring Cinderella fantasy. They argue that audiences are drawn to a mythologized version of elite romantic tragedy rather than the far darker and more unsettling reality. The discussion compares the Kennedy myth machine to the fascination Americans have with the British royal family, arguing that modern audiences crave comforting narratives even when they are demonstrably false. Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8 For the latest updates from Clay and Buck: https://www.clayandbuck.com/ Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Social Media: X - https://x.com/clayandbuck FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.