Podcasts about citing

A Middle Eastern nation is boycotting the Dec. 5 draw for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S. Correspondent Gethin Coolbaugh reports.

Apparently how you dress for your next flight, matters. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy released a 1960’s style PSA just in time for holiday travel asking you to add some class, mind your children and dress to impress next time you travel. Citing in-flight fights and outbursts at airports, Duffy says dressing with respect and saying please and thank you will go a long way to bringing back “The Golden Age of Travel."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apparently how you dress for your next flight, matters. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy released a 1960’s style PSA just in time for holiday travel asking you to add some class, mind your children and dress to impress next time you travel. Citing in-flight fights and outbursts at airports, Duffy says dressing with respect and saying please and thank you will go a long way to bringing back “The Golden Age of Travel."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apparently how you dress for your next flight, matters. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy released a 1960’s style PSA just in time for holiday travel asking you to add some class, mind your children and dress to impress next time you travel. Citing in-flight fights and outbursts at airports, Duffy says dressing with respect and saying please and thank you will go a long way to bringing back “The Golden Age of Travel."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Howie Kurtz on the criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James being dismissed, the Trump administration proposing their own healthcare plan, and Marjorie Taylor Greene denying rumors that she is considering a 2028 presidential run. Follow Howie on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@HowardKurtz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For more #MediaBuzz click here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apparently how you dress for your next flight, matters. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy released a 1960’s style PSA just in time for holiday travel asking you to add some class, mind your children and dress to impress next time you travel. Citing in-flight fights and outbursts at airports, Duffy says dressing with respect and saying please and thank you will go a long way to bringing back “The Golden Age of Travel."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a podcast audience hungry for substance on the UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) topic, the audio file “UAP_Secrecy_Versus_Democratic_Transparency” is a must-listen. This is not a discussion about grainy videos or speculative alien biology; it is a rigorous, high-level debate tackling the profound conflict at the heart of the disclosure movement: the ethical and strategic battle between absolute transparency and managed secrecy.The format is a classic point-counterpoint, and the two main speakers are exceptionally well-matched. Speaker 1 argues from an unshakeable ethical foundation: the public has a democratic right to truths it has already funded. They frame the 80-year secrecy apparatus as an “undemocratic failure” and a “criminal enterprise” that prioritizes contractor profit and institutional self-preservation over public accountability. Their indictment is powerful, pointing to the intentional deception around official UAP videos and the systematic gutting of legislative efforts like the Schumer Amendment as proof of a system operating in bad faith.Speaker 2, conversely, presents a compelling case for strategic caution. They elevate the conversation beyond simple national security, introducing the critical concept of “ontological shock.” Citing historical precedents like the Brookings Report, they argue that revealing a reality that invalidates our core understanding of physics and human identity could lead to societal disintegration. For them, secrecy is a form of “strategic civil defense” against a technology they chillingly describe as an “atomic weapon on steroids.”The audio truly shines when it delves into the mechanics of secrecy. The discussion around the Department of Energy's classification authority under the Atomic Energy Act is a standout moment. Speaker 2 explains how this legal framework provides a “higher level of secrecy than even the Pentagon,” creating a “deep black apparatus” superior to the elected government. Speaker 1 brilliantly counters that this is a systemic abuse of power, weaponizing the law to hide taxpayer-funded technology.The production quality is clean and focused, allowing the complex arguments to take center stage. The occasional interjections from moderators (Speaker 3 & 4) are well-timed, asking for clarifications on technical jargon like “warp bubble,” which keeps the debate accessible without dumbing it down.Ultimately, this podcast succeeds because both speakers agree on the fundamental, mind-bending reality of the phenomenon—exotic technology, non-human intelligence, and its civilization-altering potential. This shared premise forces the debate into a thrilling clash of core values: the inviolable right to knowledge versus the paternalistic duty to prevent collapse. It leaves the listener not with easy answers, but with a deep appreciation for the staggering stakes involved, making UAP_Secrecy_Versus_Democratic_Transparency” an essential and intellectually stimulating hour for anyone serious about this topic.Grant Cameron Bookshttps://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00EFGCJRC

2/4   The New World Report. Professor Evan Ellis discusses increased US attention to the Americas, citing the Monroe Doctrine and the risks of intervention in Venezuela. He emphasizes that narco-terror is a complex criminal economy troubling the region. The conversation also highlights rightward political movements and citizen frustration with insecurity and violence in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Guest: Professor Evan Ellis. 1918

4/4   The New World Report. Professor Evan Ellis discusses increased US attention to the Americas, citing the Monroe Doctrine and the risks of intervention in Venezuela. He emphasizes that narco-terror is a complex criminal economy troubling the region. The conversation also highlights rightward political movements and citizen frustration with insecurity and violence in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Guest: Professor Evan Ellis. 1940

3/4   The New World Report. Professor Evan Ellis discusses increased US attention to the Americas, citing the Monroe Doctrine and the risks of intervention in Venezuela. He emphasizes that narco-terror is a complex criminal economy troubling the region. The conversation also highlights rightward political movements and citizen frustration with insecurity and violence in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Guest: Professor Evan Ellis. 1930

1/4   The New World Report. Professor Evan Ellis discusses increased US attention to the Americas, citing the Monroe Doctrine and the risks of intervention in Venezuela. He emphasizes that narco-terror is a complex criminal economy troubling the region. The conversation also highlights rightward political movements and citizen frustration with insecurity and violence in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. Guest: Professor Evan Ellis. 1918

In our latest tribute, Janet, John, (and Pen) celebrate the life and career of the wonderful singer, actor, television heartthrob, and queer icon because of his heart-touching memoir, Shattered Love... Richard Chamberlain! Born in Beverly Hills in 1934, this American heartthrob didn't start off with an amazing childhood. In fact, even though he was a track star, earning four letters in both high school and college, he recounts his childhood as an unhappy one. Citing that he often struggled in school. Additionally, even with a 60-year-long future career in Hollywood, this actor did not orginally have acting on the brain. It wasn't until he started studying at Pumona College did he discover acting and his deep love for the craft. He, however, wasn't able to pursue this love until after his 16 month stay in Korea after he was drafted into the Army in 1956. After some minor stage experiences, he became a teen idol on the show Dr. Kildare (1961-66), playing the titular character of the same name. He went on to earn the name, "King of the Mini-Series," with his work in Centennial (1978), Shōgun (1980), and The Thorn Birds (1983). He also starred and worked in many films such as, The Three Musketeers (1973), The Four Musketeers (1974), and The Return of the Musketeers (1989),  King Solomon's Mines (1985) and Lost City of Gold (1986), The Bourne Identity (1988), and The Last Wave (1977), some of these he would earn an award nomination for. He also go onto win a Golden Apple Award for Best Male Star in 1980.  To learn more about this episode and others, visit the official Cinema Sounds & Secrets website!

Laurie Cardoza-Moore, a prominent Christian Zionist leader ranked No. 2 on the Jerusalem Post's list of top 10 leading Christian Zionists, has resigned from her position at the Heritage Foundation after clashing with its president over the organization's refusal to cut ties with Tucker Carlson. Cardoza-Moore, founder and president of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations and host of “Focus on Israel,” stepped down from her role on Heritage's task force to combat antisemitism. The move followed Heritage President Kevin Roberts' decision not to sever relations with Carlson after the former Fox News host interviewed Nick Fuentes, a self-described Hitler admirer. During the interview, Cardoza-Moore expressed frustration with Carlson's pattern of platforming critics of Israel and alleged antisemites since leaving Fox News. She cited his interview with Bethlehem Pastor Munther Isaac, whom she called a “fraud,” during which Isaac claimed Israel is “occupying Palestinian land.” Cardoza-Moore said she confronted Carlson directly after the interview, asking why he failed to challenge Isaac's statement. “You're a Christian, you've read your Bible, haven't you?” she recalled telling him. “You're supposed to be educated and informed.” According to Cardoza-Moore, Carlson dismissed the historical inaccuracy as unimportant. She also criticized Vice President JD Vance for failing to defend the U.S.-Israel relationship during a recent speech at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Mississippi. Vance, a recent convert to Catholicism, did not highlight Israel's contributions to science, medicine, green energy, military intelligence or high-tech innovation, she said. When asked about theological differences between Jews and Christians, Vance allowed questions with “antisemitic undertones” to go unanswered, Cardoza-Moore added. Citing the Second Vatican Council's Nostra Aetate, which declares antisemitism incompatible with Christian teaching, she accused Vance of misunderstanding biblical principles. Cardoza-Moore warned that America is approaching a “new war against the Jews,” drawing parallels to 1930s Germany. She invoked Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Christian theologian who broke from the Lutheran Church as it aligned with the Nazis and preached against them even as they sat in his congregation. “We are at the doorstep of the same situation,” she said. Cardoza-Moore's resignation and public criticisms underscore growing tensions within conservative circles over Israel, antisemitism and the influence of figures like Carlson. -VIN News Alan Skorski Reports 17NOV2025 - PODCAST

Are your spiritual beliefs just mental assent, or are they producing tangible, real-life action?In this highly relevant and challenging message, "Do Something Good," Pastor Ernest Almond dives into the powerful book of James to explore the non-negotiable link between Faith and Works/Deeds. Citing the famous and often-misunderstood text of James 2:14-26, Pastor Ernest provides clear guidance on how to move past spiritual passivity and embrace a life of active Christian service.This sermon directly confronts the spiritual danger of Invisible Faith—a belief system that produces no tangible evidence or impact on the church or the world around it. Pastor Ernest encourages believers to look at the examples of Abraham and Rahab, who demonstrated their true trust in God not just through words, but through visible, decisive, life-altering action and obedience.This message is essential for every believer seeking to move their faith from theory to practice, from invisible and ineffectual to visible and impactful, ensuring their profession of belief is validated by good works. Learn how to ensure your faith is alive, impactful, and eternally effective. Do something good!

Veronique de Rugy discusses the cost of living, critiquing the administration's claims that Thanksgiving dinner is cheaper, citing the use of shrinkflation and item removal. She criticizes the proposal to send $2,000 checks, noting this Keynesian approach boosts demand, which, without increased supply, risks raising prices further. De Rugy advocates for deregulation and the elimination of tariffs (which she confirms are a tax) as the necessary supply-side solution to the affordability crisis. Guest: Veronique de Rugy.

Much of the government shutdown is due to the failures of Obamacare (The Affordable Care Act), which was supposed to lower the cost of healthcare. Instead, such costs are skyrocketing. You may remember the numerous promises made when Obamacare was being touted such as: You can keep your plan. Unfortunately, many people lost theirs. We were also told we could keep our doctor, yet over 200,000 doctors opted out of the Obamacare exchange plans. Then there was the promise that your premiums would go down by $2,500 dollars, yet it's being reported that premiums went up by about 60% in the first four years and they continue to go up. On Thursday, November 6th, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, held a hearing titled: Assessing the Damage Done by Obamacare. This broadcast featured comments from both sides of the debate which included four witnesses. Senator Johnson led off the debate with opening remarks. Citing a number of comparative statistics, he noted that there's no reason why healthcare costs should be running so much higher than the rate of inflation. Next to speak was Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal who, in opposition to the comments from Senator Johnson, said: "Let's be very clear why we're here. It is a Republican effort to destroy the Affordable Care Act. We're seeking to extend the healthcare tax credits past the end of the year. They make healthcare insurance affordable for millions of Americans who are right now going through the exchanges and trying to determine whether they can afford insurance."

How would the black church's public witness guide Christians through today's polarization, culture-war dynamics, and ideological captivity? Drawing from Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around, Justin Giboney joins Mark Labberton to reflect on Christian credibility (and lack thereof), the black church's public witness, and the deep forces shaping American polarization. Reflecting on the legacy of the twentieth-century civil rights generation, Giboney describes how the black church's fusion of orthodoxy and social action offers a model for healing division, resisting ideological captivity, and embodying what he calls "moral imagination." Citing the formative influences of his grandmother Willie Faye, the example of Mahalia Jackson, and the ongoing challenge of navigating truth, justice, family, unity, and political engagement in a fractured moment, Giboney explores discipleship in an ideological age, the cost of a credible public witness, and the hope of a church capable of transcending partisan allegiance to seek the good of neighbor and the glory of God. Episode Highlights "One thing that I saw in the civil rights generation is they were able to have a bigger perspective, even in songs like 'Keep Your Eyes on the Prize.'" "Love is self-sacrifice. It's being willing to at my own expense in some instances give up what I have to others." "This was a deliberate decision that they made to say, we're not gonna choose one of these two sides that these groups are creating for us." "Within the public square, credibility is currency." "I want all Christians to take that as their own and build on that." Helpful Links and Resources Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around by Justin Giboney https://www.ivpress.com/don-t-let-nobody-turn-you-around The AND Campaign https://andcampaign.org/ Mahalia Jackson biography (PBS) https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/mahalia-jackson-about-the-singer/602/ Reading While Black by Esau McCaulley https://ivpress.com/reading-while-black About Justin Giboney Justin Giboney is an attorney and political strategist in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also the co-founder and president of the AND Campaign, a Christian civic organization focused on asserting the compassion and conviction of the gospel in the public square. He has served as an attorney, political organizer, and civic leader, and he regularly speaks and writes on the intersection of Christianity and politics. Show Notes Justin Giboney describes being an attorney, political strategist, and ordained minister, and cofounder of the AND Campaign He explains the AND Campaign's mission to raise civic literacy among Christians and resist purely partisan frameworks in favor of a biblical one "Social justice and moral order, love and truth, compassion and conviction" as a united Christian vision rather than opposing camps Lit City literacy initiative in Atlanta bringing churches across racial and partisan divides together for shared mission Ten-week programs for Christians preparing to run for office or engage politics constructively Naming and confronting polarization as a dialectical division that splits what should be held together Intro and summary to Giboney's book, Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around, framed as applying civil rights wisdom to the current culture-war moment Giboney's grandmother Willie Faye and Mahalia Jackson as representative figures of the civil rights generation's theological and moral framework Moral imagination defined as the capacity to see what ought to be, not merely what is: "the ability to see what will be based on God's promises" Songs like "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize" as examples of moral imagination sustaining courage and humility The necessity of Scripture's authority and why the black church's orthodoxy and orthopraxy shape public witness Giboney's critique of individualism and his insistence that love is fundamentally "self-sacrifice" rather than self-expression Historical correction: The black church neither mirrors conservative ideology nor progressive ideology; it deliberately resisted both. "If we go to the right, we lose our bodies… if we go to the left, we could lose our soul." The strategic theological posture of black church leaders Christian credible witness requires coherence, humility, and honesty—rather than partisan performance Credibility in public "is currency," requiring self-examination, confession, and honesty about ideological idols Civil Rights Movement disciplines: self-purification, preparation through prayer and fellowship, resisting bitterness before engaging action Parenting, resilience, and teaching his sons not to give disproportionate emotional energy to racist comments, while still confronting wrongdoing The role of community formation, honor, and integrated humanity within black church worship life Hopes for the church: rejecting secular assumptions about who can reconcile, cultivating humility across divisions AND Campaign's twenty-year vision: Christians uniting across party lines around shared commitments like racial justice, family, sanctity of life, and poverty Final exhortation: The black church's public witness is a gift and challenge to the entire American church, not just one community. Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment magazine and Fuller Seminary.

After four decades on the federal bench, Judge Mark Wolf explains why he left.

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for November 11, 2025. 0:30 After weeks of gridlock, Washington may finally reopen. Eight Senate Democrats, including Dick Durbin, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Maggie Hassan, have crossed the aisle to support ending the government shutdown. But this isn’t a sudden burst of bipartisanship—it’s political triage. While we credit John Fetterman for his consistency, most of his colleagues acted out of panic, not principle. The Democrats’ leadership, led by Chuck Schumer, is collapsing under the weight of its own miscalculation—boxed in, out of leverage, and out of public support. 9:30 Plus, we cover the top 3 Things You Need to Know. Some Democrats in the Senate appear to have finally caved on the government funding battle. The Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case over whether or not mail in ballots that arrive after election day may be counted in an election. President Trump issues pardons over the weekend for many conservatives and Republicans accused of wrongdoing in the aftermath of the 2020 elections. 12:30 Get Performlyte from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 We tackle one of the most disturbing moral crises of our time—Canada’s expanding euthanasia program. What began as a measure for the terminally ill has spiraled into something far darker: state-sanctioned death for people with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and even mental health struggles. 15:30 Our American Mamas, Terri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson, take on a listener’s question: “Can you even say one positive thing about Democrats?” Terri admits her “compliment” might be a bit backhanded—calling Senator John Fetterman the most sensible Democrat in America, though she jokes that says more about the state of the party than about him. Kimberly finds something to admire too: Democrats’ fearlessness in saying whatever they want without worrying about backlash—something she says conservatives could never get away with. But the discussion deepens as the Mamas reflect on their own friendships with Democrats, the difference between ordinary people and political leaders, and what “tolerance” and “pluralism” really mean in today’s climate. 23:00 We turn our attention to one of the world’s most horrific and underreported human rights crises—the persecution of Christians across Africa. In Nigeria alone, radical Islamic terrorists have murdered more than 50,000 Christians since 2009, wiping out entire villages, executing pastors, and burning churches to the ground while congregations worshiped. Where is the outrage? There’s silence from the United Nations, from Western media, and from the global human rights community. 26:00 We Dig Deep into one of the most intriguing unanswered questions from January 6th — who planted the pipe bombs outside the RNC and DNC headquarters the night before the Capitol riot? More than four years later, the FBI has yet to identify a suspect, even as it has aggressively pursued hundreds of other January 6th cases. But now, new information and video evidence are reigniting the debate. According to an investigation by Blaze Media, forensic gait analysis of FBI surveillance footage points to a 94% match with an individual who later went on to work for the CIA — a woman named Shawnee Ray Kirchhoff, who at the time was employed by the Capitol Police. The report connects a string of coincidences: her height matches the FBI’s description, she walks with a limp due to a past injury, and her proximity to a residence once under federal surveillance deepens the intrigue. 32:00 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 This Thanksgiving, Americans may find a little more sticker shock at the grocery store. We dive into why turkey prices have soared to their highest levels in decades, with wholesale costs up 75% since last year. From a bird flu outbreak that’s decimated flocks to the lingering fallout of Biden-era inflation that shuttered many family farms, multiple crises have converged on America’s most beloved holiday meal. 36:00 Plus, the International Olympic Committee is preparing to ban transgender athletes from competing outside their biological sex categories, and that's a Bright Spot for fairness in sports. After years of controversy, including last summer’s uproar in Paris over male-born athletes dominating women’s events, the IOC’s latest review finally acknowledges what many have long known: biological differences matter. Citing findings from the IOC’s own medical and scientific director, we look at the evidence that male-born athletes retain physical advantages even after hormone suppression, confirming what critics of transgender inclusion in women’s divisions have said for years. This is not only a victory for women’s sports integrity, but also a sign that common sense is making a comeback on the world stage. 39:30 Michelle Obama is offended by President Trump's White House Renovations, bascially calling his demolition of part of the East Wing an attack on first ladies everywhere. But she had no problem renovating the state dining room during the Obama years. We see the hypocrisy, and we're saying, "Whoa." 41:30 And we finish off today's episode with a national hero who released his first original song at the age of 101. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The podcast, hosted by Dan, marks the relaunch of the show after a break, announcing that future episodes will feature solo content, interviews with business leaders, and segments with "Becky," focusing on business growth, professional development, and leadership. The core belief driving the show is that everyone is a leader with a purpose, even if they don't realize it. The show is also expanding from audio to full video production.The main topic of this episode is addressing a common concern among business owners: employee retention and motivation. Dan argues that businesses should strive for employees who "buy in" to the company's vision, as this leads to above-and-beyond work, citing Walt Disney's ability to cast a big vision as an example.The host then presents a list of seven key strategies for motivating employees and encouraging greater participation:7 Ways to Motivate Your EmployeesRecognize Employee Achievements: Go beyond simple gestures like a pizza party. Praise and encourage good work specifically and personally. Consistently pointing out flaws (as one of Dan's past managers did) leads to discouragement; acknowledging success is vital to making employees feel noticed and valuable.Provide Opportunities for Growth: Business owners, especially small business owners, cannot afford not to invest in their people's growth. Citing the "Law of the Lid" (from John Maxwell), the leader must grow first to be able to elevate those beneath them. Offering growth opportunities shows care, acknowledges talent, and enables the business to grow through its people.Create a Positive Work Environment: A positive environment is achieved through both emotional and physical means. Emotionally, it means being supportive even when times are tough. Physically, it requires a clean, tidy, and well-maintained workspace (no broken equipment or clutter), as a messy environment automatically spikes stress.Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance: While employers don't have to "babysit," providing adequate time off, vacation, and sick leave is a powerful motivator and shows the business cares for the individual. Burning out employees with excessive hours and minimal time off will destroy morale and lead to high turnover.Provide Autonomy: Avoid micromanaging, which increases mistakes and frustration. Once an employee is properly trained, a leader should let them do their job. Granting autonomy is an acknowledgment of their competence.Foster a Culture of Collaboration: Move away from a top-down structure and involve employees in the process. The key is to teach them to be problem-solvers, not complainers. Leaders should initially present a small problem with a pre-prepared solution, opening it up for discussion and buy-in. By repeating this process, teams learn to offer solutions instead of merely complaining, which builds a collaborative and motivating culture.Be Respectful and Honest: Leaders must be honest about their own mistakes (i.e., admitting when a business decision didn't work). When coaching employees, be honest about facts ("You were late 5 out of the last 10 days") rather than using generalizations ("You're always late"). Treat employees, who are the helpers and the backbone of the business, with respect.The episode concludes by encouraging listeners to use these strategies to lift up their people, who will, in turn, lift up the business.Have a question? Need to talk? Send us a message!

This fall, 1,227 international students attend the University of Massachusetts, Boston. That figure is down about 17% — or about 250 students — since a year ago.

Chris Riegel discusses how artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are transforming labor, citing modest IBM layoffs but predicting heavy impacts in large retail. Advanced robotics in Chinese auto manufacturing drives cost efficiency, and AI combined with robotics enhances manufacturing capability. While seeing demand, Riegel notes characteristics of a bubble, especially in wildly overvalued stock prices, fueled by vast investment in AI data centers. In QSRs and retail, AI adoption is driven by efficiency and, in places like California, high minimum wages.

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on:https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured  Host Markowski revisits the chain of events that, he argues, paved the way for Donald Trump's 2024 victory. Citing a Wall Street Journal piece by Holman Jenkins, he traces it back to Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's highly publicized case against Trump — a move that, instead of ending Trump's political career, reignited the MAGA base and secured him the GOP nomination. Markowski reflects on how Democrats' legal strategy backfired, why Biden's campaign couldn't beat anyone else, and how political miscalculations can reshape history.

Episode 219: In the latest episode of The Ethical Life podcast, hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada take on one of humanity’s oldest — and least discussed — questions: What is the soul? This episode is part of Kyte’s lecture series, The Search for Meaning. It’s a timely conversation, released just after All Souls’ Day, yet Kyte points out that few people actually think about what the day commemorates. Instead, Halloween tends to dominate the season’s attention. Still, belief in something beyond the physical remains nearly universal. Citing a recent Pew Research Center survey, Kyte notes that more than 80 percent of Americans say humans have souls — a rare point of agreement in a divided nation. But if nearly everyone believes, why is the topic so absent from everyday life? Rada and Kyte explore that paradox. When people stop viewing themselves as souls, Kyte argues, they begin to see themselves only as bodies — and bodies, he says, “are intrinsically pleasure-seeking.” The result is a culture obsessed with comfort and consumption, rather than meaning. Seeing ourselves as souls, he adds, reminds us that fulfillment comes not from pleasure but from purpose. The conversation moves from theology to psychology, touching on Sigmund Freud’s fascination with the soul despite his atheism. Freud saw the concept as vital language for describing the wholeness of human experience — including the unconscious mind, which can surface unexpectedly through what we now call Freudian slips. Listeners will also hear Kyte reflect on stories of near-death experiences reported across cultures and history. These moments, he said, can’t be dismissed easily. “When you find a phenomenon that’s widely reported across cultures, it’s not simply a cultural product,” he said. Rada presses Kyte on whether the mystery itself — not knowing what happens after death — might actually serve us. Kyte thinks it does. “It doesn’t really help us to know exactly what life after death is like,” he said. “What matters is how we live now.”

ReferencesElizabeth Floreani, Legal Editing: The Art of Precision, Clarity, and Professionalism, Texas Bar Practice Blog (July 12, 2023) texasbarpractice.comtexasbarpractice.com.Bluebook citation Quick Guide with Examples (2025), Academic Research Hub (Oct. 2023) academicresearchhub.comacademicresearchhub.com.Gocha Okreshidze, Academic Citation in Legal Scholarship: An Overview, AI Law LLC (Dec. 10, 2024) ailaw.llc.Jeffrey M. Anderson, “Says Who? Why Good Citation Matters (and Why It's Easier Than You Think)”, Alabama Lawyer (July 21, 2022) alabar.orgalabar.org.Thomas R. Newman & Steven J. Ahmuty Jr., The Basics of Oral Argument, New York Law Journal (Mar. 1, 2022) duanemorris.comduanemorris.com.“May It Please the Court? The Oral Argument Component”, Georgetown University Law Center (2019) law.georgetown.edu.This conversation delves into the essential skills required for legal competence, focusing on effective legal writing, precise citation, and persuasive oral argument. The discussion emphasizes clarity, structure, and the importance of editing in legal documents, as well as the nuances of navigating the Blue Book citation system. It culminates in strategies for mastering oral arguments, highlighting the need for preparation and adaptability in court settings.In the world of law, the ability to communicate effectively is paramount. Whether you're preparing for law school finals or the bar exam, mastering the art of legal writing, citation, and oral argument is crucial. This blog post explores the essential skills needed to transform complex legal concepts into clear, persuasive communication.Crafting Persuasive Legal Writing: The foundation of any legal argument is strong writing. Clarity over complexity is key. As legal writing expert Brian Garner puts it, "Good legal writing makes the reader feel smart." This means avoiding jargon and focusing on clear, concise language that guides the reader effortlessly through your argument. Remember, simplicity shows confidence.The Importance of Precise Citation: Legal citation is more than just a formality; it's a critical component of legal writing that ensures clarity and credibility. The Blue Book, despite its complexity, provides a standardized system that allows readers to assess the weight of authority instantly. Accurate citation is non-negotiable, as it reflects the writer's attention to detail and respect for the legal process.Delivering Effective Oral Arguments: Oral argument is where preparation meets performance. It's not a monologue but a conversation with the court. The key is to engage with the judges, anticipate their questions, and respond directly. A well-prepared lawyer knows the record inside out and can pivot gracefully when faced with unexpected questions. The goal is to make the judges want to rule in your favor by presenting a compelling, credible story.Mastering these skills—writing, citing, and presenting—requires dedication and practice. They are not just academic exercises but essential tools for any legal professional. By honing these abilities, you can reduce cognitive load in high-stress situations and focus on the substance of your argument. Remember, the goal is to make it all look effortless, even though it takes incredible effort.Subscribe now to stay updated on more insights into the world of law and legal communication.TakeawaysKnowing the law is only half the job.Clarity in writing is paramount for persuasion.Structure your arguments logically to guide the reader.Editing is crucial; no first draft is perfect.Citations must be accurate and consistent to maintain credibility.Active voice enhances clarity and directness in writing.Simplicity in language reflects confidence and competence.Oral arguments should be conversational, not monologues.Anticipate judges' questions and be prepared to pivot.legal writing, oral argument, citation, clarity, law school, persuasive writing, editing, legal, bar exam, legal communication

Are you discouraged by unfulfilled hopes or a dream that seemingly has died? You are not alone. Disappointment can drag us down and sometimes leave us feeling hopeless.Don't give up. God knows exactly when and how to intervene. His timing is perfect. Citing the story of Esther in the Bible, Jill shows us that if God has a mission for you, he will equip you for it. It's okay to be scared as you take the first steps to accomplish the goal, trusting that God is alongside you. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1141/29

Citing the federal government shutdown as an excuse, President Donald Trump is allowing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to expire.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan exposes how America's shutdown is revealing shocking welfare data, investigates a Socialist-Islamist power alliance in New York City, breaks down the arrest of a radical British speaker, and answers listener questions about his years inside the CIA. Union Revolt and Welfare Shock: The largest federal workers' union — normally a Democrat ally — is now demanding an end to the shutdown, while new data reveals that most U.S. food stamp recipients live in foreign-born households. Bryan explains how this exposes a broken immigration system and a growing dependency crisis, citing research showing that long-term aid actually keeps people poorer. Socialist and Islamist Alliance in New York: Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani leads New York's mayoral race with heavy backing from radical leftist and Muslim groups, including CAIR and Students for Justice in Palestine. Bryan unpacks the money, ideology, and political networks behind Mamdani's rise — and warns what his victory could mean for America's largest city. Trump Deports Radical British Preacher: Federal agents detained British Islamist Sami Hamdi, who was touring the U.S. with CAIR to rally Muslim and leftist activists. Citing post-9/11 counterterror policy, Bryan explains why Trump's DHS acted swiftly to revoke his visa and how Western leaders are finally confronting political Islam's infiltration strategy. Fearlessness and a CIA Life: Bryan closes with a reflection on courage, truth, and the lessons he learned as a CIA officer — from recruitment and fieldwork to his most memorable operation abroad. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32 Keywords: U.S. government shutdown welfare data, food stamps foreign-born households, CIS immigrant welfare use, Zohran Mamdani socialist Islamist ties, CAIR Students for Justice in Palestine, Sami Hamdi deportation DHS, political Islam infiltration strategy, Bryan Dean Wright CIA recruitment stories

0:00 Insane: Eric Swalwell says Dems must vow to destory Trump's ballroom! Robby Soave | RISING 10:16 Biden warns 'Democracy is at stake' in first speech since cancer treatment | RISING 18:25 Pritzker denies suggesting Trump is Hitler, warns of 2026 interference | RISING 23:14 Trump undercuts American ranchers, scrambles to import Argentina beef: Lindsey Granger | RISING 34:13 USDA blames Dems for shutdown, no November SNAP benefits | RISING 43:04 Amazon lays off 14k workers citing AI, bureaucratic bloat | RISING Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

McKay explores a collection of life-altering epiphanies by asking the powerful question, “What has been one of the most helpful thoughts or epiphanies that you have had that has made you more free or empowered to act?” He reveals how simple yet profound shifts in thinking can redefine our reality, from the principle that “what you focus on expands” to the freedom that comes from choosing our thoughts.Using the incredible story of Jim Carrey's focused visualization, McKay illustrates how our focus acts like a spotlight, magnifying whatever it shines on. He also introduces the powerful management metaphor of “the monkey on your back,” teaching that we can empower others and protect our own priorities by refusing to take on problems that are not ours to solve. Citing profound near-death experiences and the work of thinkers like Mel Robbins, he demonstrates that we always have the agency to choose our thoughts and actions, regardless of our feelings or circumstances. Ultimately, this episode is a guide to identifying and embracing the ideas that empower us to live with more intention, joy, and resilience, serving as a powerful reminder that our greatest freedom lies in our ability to choose our perspective.Main Themes:Our thoughts and energy have a way of magnifying what we focus on, whether it is problems or solutions.We can empower others and avoid burnout by not adopting their problems or responsibilities (“monkeys”) as our own.True and lasting joy is often found by savoring the small, simple moments in life rather than chasing grand experiences.The resilience to overcome challenges comes not from perfection, but from the simple commitment to “just try” again and again.We have complete agency over our thoughts; we can choose grace, optimism, and action regardless of external circumstances or internal feelings.Understanding that our journey continues after this life provides a powerful incentive to invest in becoming our best selves now.Top 10 Quotes:“What you focus on expands.”“What I went through made me who I am. What I am going through will make me what I will be. What I choose to put my focus toward will now create that person.”“We do not remember the years that come and go in our life, but we do remember the moments.”“Successful people have very clear goals. They know who they are and what they want. They write them down and make plans for their accomplishment.”“I do not have to adopt other people's problems as my own to help them.”“I get to choose what I think about.”“The test is not whether you reach your goals in one burst of energy, but the test is to see if you will stay in the game and just try.”“There is always a way, even when it feels like there is not.”Show Links:Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

Tune in here to this Monday's edition of the Brett Winterble Show! Brett kicks off the program by talking about the rainy weather and a frustrating experience with a tailgater on his drive to the studio. Using that as a segue, he transitions into broader reflections on leadership, strength, and decisiveness—qualities he attributes to former President Donald Trump. Brett contrasts Trump’s assertive style and global influence with what he describes as the weakness and confusion of the Biden administration. He highlights Trump’s recent trip to Asia as an example of America’s renewed respect on the world stage, emphasizing new economic developments, particularly in rare earth trade and shifting global alliances. Citing a viral X post, Brett describes the United States’ emerging dominance over China in technology and resource control, framing it as “the day America became an empire Listen here for all of this and more on The Brett Winterble Show! For more from Brett Winterble check out his YouTube channel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune in here to this Monday's edition of the Brett Winterble Show! Brett kicks off the program by talking about the rainy weather and a frustrating experience with a tailgater on his drive to the studio. Using that as a segue, he transitions into broader reflections on leadership, strength, and decisiveness—qualities he attributes to former President Donald Trump. Brett contrasts Trump’s assertive style and global influence with what he describes as the weakness and confusion of the Biden administration. He highlights Trump’s recent trip to Asia as an example of America’s renewed respect on the world stage, emphasizing new economic developments, particularly in rare earth trade and shifting global alliances. Citing a viral X post, Brett describes the United States’ emerging dominance over China in technology and resource control, framing it as “the day America became an empire Later, Brett turns his attention to the New York City mayoral race, focusing on Zorhan Mondami, whom he predicts will almost certainly become the city’s next mayor. Brett warns that Mondami’s election could trigger a new wave of migration from the industrial Northeast to states like North Carolina, as residents flee what he describes as failed left-wing leadership. He criticizes Mondami as part of a broader trend of progressive politicians who, in his view, do not truly care about improving the cities they lead. Brett also discusses recent controversy surrounding Mondami’s dual Ugandan citizenship and the debate over Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ laws, playing a clip of Mondami defending himself against accusations of extremism and Islamophobia. Listen here for all of this and more on The Brett Winterble Show! For more from Brett Winterble check out his YouTube channel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pennsylvania Pursues Data Center Hub Status, Converting Golf Courses. Jim McTague reports on Pennsylvania's effort to become a data center hub, citing over $90 billion committed investment statewide. York County secured $5 billion, with plans including converting Brierwood Golf Course into a data center. This effort faces public resistance fueled by fears of higher electricity and water prices. McTague notes that consumer spending in Lancaster County is "steady." The conversion of golf courses reflects the decline of golf, seen as a "dinosaur" activity that takes too much time.

The newest fight at City Hall is a doozy. It’s about that new tax announced at Politifest. It could be up to $5,000 per bedroom for a second home or vacation rental and it’s going to be a fascinating political battle. We’ll explain The big development at Sports Arena is once again falling apart because of the city’s inability to not trip over itself. We’ll explain why the project leaders and city officials think they can still build it. Plus, the city of San Diego is trying to protect people from ICE raids and stop the police from helping. We’ll examine what exactly they’re trying to do. SHOW NOTES BANTER UT - Property Tax Bills - What’s That??? Thousands of city of San Diego residents have flooded county offices over concern about increased property taxes but, in some cases, there is a simple explanation: trash. After decades of offering trash collection for free, city of San Diego will now charge many residents for trash collection. Residents got their first-ever annual trash charge of $523.20 in property tax bills that went out in early October. San Diego County Assessor Jordan Marks said his office, and the tax collector’s, have been inundated with in-person visits and phone calls about higher bills. He said there have been more than 2,000 inquiries over the charge, but it was hard to pinpoint an exact number because it’s been a steady stream for weeks. Residents who call the office, at 619-236-3771, get sent to an automated phone tree with the first option to ask about the trash fee. “The city of San Diego levied and controls this trash fee on your property tax bills,” says a voice recording. “They are the only party that can answer your important questions and address your issues.” SEGMENT 1 - Court Ruling Morning Report: Mayor: ‘Failure I s Not an Option’ for Midway Project Three days after the 4th District Court of Appeal once again threw out a voter-approved measure that lifted the building height limit for the Midway neighborhood, it was still not clear what it meant for the nearly $4 billion development project at the city’s Sports Arena land. The mayor said… Twice, in five years, the city of San Diego has put on the ballot a measure to lift the height limit in the Midway neighborhood. Twice, voters approved it. And, now twice, a Court has thrown it all out because the city didn’t fully study the measures’ impact to the environment. SEGMENT 2 - Vacation Property Tax Vacation Home Tax Moves Forward San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera’s proposal to tax vacation homes and empty second homes is moving forward. Battle Lines Drawn on Vacation Rental Tax Wednesday, the Rules Committee for the San Diego City Council will consider Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera’s push for a tax on empty second homes and vacation rentals. Basics: 10K homes Half second homes. Half vacation rentals They can tell based on tax rollsWon’t affect anyone renting out bedroom or normal landlords Won’t affect ADUs on “accessories” to main property SEGMENT 3 ICE (baby) Local Ordinance - Bella’s vid KPBS - San Diego City Council passes ordinance restricting SDPD from ICE collaboration Citing a spike in Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and arrests, the San Diego City Council unanimously gave tentative approval to an ordinance Monday intended to prevent local law enforcement from joining certain federal task forces. The Due Process and Safety Ordinance will set "clear legal boundaries that protect residents, workers, and visitors regardless of immigration status, gender identity, disability, or healthcare decisions," according to a staff document from Councilman Sean Elo-Rivera's office. City staff will meet with recognized employee organizations such as the San Diego Police Officers Association to ensure the SDPD will be able to effectively do its job without joining certain task forces led by the federal government. Elo-Rivera, who sponsored the ordinance, thanked the dozens of people who spoke at the meeting and acknowledged that many in the community may not have felt safe to speak out. "We can't promise that the federal government won't make your nightmares a reality," he said to young residents in the council chamber waiting for the vote. "I so badly wish I could make that promise to you. Every day the Trump regime makes good on its promise of cruelty, hatred and vindictiveness." CREDITS Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego. Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor Bella Ross, social media producer Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer. Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County. Become a Member: Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Friday Fiduciary Five, Eric Dyson talks about how custom benchmarks in target date funds can potentially create a false sense of success. He cautions that using a custom benchmark as the only benchmark to measure performance does not necessarily reflect strong performance if, for example, the underlying strategy is weak. Citing the CFA Institute and the Department of Labor, he stresses the importance of using independent and multiple benchmarks for accurate evaluation. He encourages plan sponsors and advisors to apply a balanced, transparent approach to investment performance reviews.Connect with Eric Dyson: Website: https://90northllc.com/Phone: 940-248-4800Email: contact@90northllc.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/401kguy/ The information contained herein is general in nature and is provided solely for educational and informational purposes.It is not intended to provide a specific recommendation of any type of product or service discussed in this presentation or to provide any warranties, financial advice, or legal advice.The specific facts and circumstances of all qualified plans can vary, and the information contained in this podcast may or may not apply to your individual circumstances or to your plan or client plan specific circumstances.

Join Clay Edwards on this episode of The Clay Edwards Show, broadcasting live from the Men's Health and Women's Wellness Studios on 103.9 WYAB in Flora, Mississippi. As the station gears up for a massive upgrade to 50,000 watts, Clay discusses the excitement of reaching new areas like Itta Bena, Southaven, Oxford, Starkville, and Copiah County, aiming to dominate central Mississippi's talk radio scene.   Clay gives shoutouts to influential figures who've shaped his career: Scotty Ray of the Scotty Ray Report for his news coverage and online advice, Kim Wade for radio and success tips, and Michael Wimberly for business insights. He also reflects on learning from others' mistakes and the value of OG guidance for young creators.   Dressed in a FAFO hoodie (soon to be restocked), Clay shares his laid-back Mississippi style and looks forward to his first Good Ol' Boys party—a big political hoedown in Oxford with heavy hitters like Lynn Fitch. Despite recent criticisms, he's eager to mingle and make waves.   Responding to a listener's Facebook query, Clay dives into the shocking mid-season departure of coach Lance Pogue from Brandon High School football. Sources suggest a toxic environment, culture clashes, and player unrest led to the split, despite high hopes for a state championship. Clay praises the Bulldogs' dedicated fan base and alumni, emphasizing that while players earn wins, the community's commitment deserves a title—it's just a matter of time.   After a quick break, Clay unleashes a fiery critique of Attorney General Lynn Fitch's office for pursuing charges against former Capitol Police officers Frederickson and Reinholt in the Jalen Lewis shooting. Citing evidence from their own expert witness, Clay argues the force was justified, not excessive, and slams the "witch hunt." He also calls out WLBT's CJ Lemasters for refusing to accept the officers' innocence, labeling it conservative-on-conservative drama.   Tune in for Clay's unfiltered takes on local news, sports, politics, and more. Text: 769-241-1944 | Call: 601-879-0002. (1,856 characters)              

What does your clinic call the first 90 days of employment? A probationary period, onboarding, or something else? This week on The Veterinary Viewfinder, Dr. Ernie Ward and Beckie Mossor, MPA, RVT, challenge one of the most ingrained (and, according to our hosts, outdated) terms and concepts in veterinary employment: the “90-day probation.” Dr. Ward and Beckie unpack the emotional, legal, and psychological implications of labeling new hires as being “on probation.” They explore how the language itself can erode trust, safety, and belonging, especially for veterinary technicians and support staff who may already feel undervalued. Citing insights from thought leader Amy Newfield of Vet Team Training, they argue that onboarding should be a process of mutual trust-building and skill development, not testing or punishment. The discussion moves beyond terminology to the real heart of the issue: leadership mindset. Should employers still rely on a fixed 90-day cutoff, or should they focus on continuous feedback, structured onboarding, and open communication from day one? Whether you're a clinic owner, manager, or new hire, this episode will change the way you think about the first 90 days, transforming it from a probationary “trial” into the foundation of a lasting, supportive workplace culture. #VeterinaryPodcast #VetMed #VetClinicLife #VetTeamTraining #Onboarding #EmployeeEngagement #PsychologicalSafety #ContinuousFeedback #HealthyWorkplace #VetWellbeing #CultureOfTrust

In this week's episode, Jennifer Nassour takes the spotlight solo to dissect the controversy over shelter spending and transparency in Massachusetts. A veteran advocate for government accountability and a leading voice in state politics, Jennifer brings sharp analysis to the recent decisions of Governor Maura Healey’s administration. Her commentary dives deep into the fiscal responsibility of elected officials, the impact of a one-party system, and the urgent need for citizens to demand real accountability. Jennifer details the escalating costs of state-run shelters, exposing that Massachusetts taxpayers shelled out nearly $1 billion in fiscal year 2025 alone. Originally intended for mothers, children, the elderly, and veterans, these shelters now mainly house migrants, a shift that sparks debate as to who deserves taxpayer-funded support. She sharply criticizes the governor for halting public financial reports and the legislature for refusing to honor the voters’ demand for government audits. Citing incidents within shelter facilities and the looming threat of more tax increases, Jennifer calls on listeners to pay close attention, vote, and pressure leaders for transparency. The episode is a bold call to action as Jennifer challenges Massachusetts residents to reclaim financial oversight and elect leaders who uphold the public trust. "We all have to be accountable to our families, to our bosses, to our employees, to our friends, to our significant others. Why are elected officials not held to that standard?" ~Jennifer Nassour This week on Political Contessa: Massachusetts taxpayers spent nearly $1 billion on state-run shelters in fiscal year 2025. Shelter programs have shifted primarily toward housing migrants. The Healey administration stopped publishing shelter spending reports. Bipartisan legislation required temporary fiscal reporting but has now expired. Calls for increased transparency and accountability in government spending. Voters overwhelmingly supported greater audit authority, which the legislature has ignored. Criminal incidents within shelter facilities have sparked public outrage. Pandemic funds are running dry, increasing pressure for new tax hikes. Awaken Your Inner Political Contessa Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of Political Contessa. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google Podcasts Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media. And if you’ve ever considered running for office – or know a woman who should – head over to politicalcontessa.com to grab my quick guide, Secrets from the Campaign Trail. It will show you five signs to tell you you’re ready to enter the political arena. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Citing selective and vindictive prosecution, lawyers for James Comey argue his indictment should be dismissed. CA Rep Darryl Issa says the House has been working investigations through the Schumer Shutdown and that a flurry of subpoenas is coming. He says Adam Schiff is likely imminent. We hear several examples of White Savior Complex oozing out of the No Kings protests. A senior citizen protestor says she's glad Charlie Kirk is dead and says the woman interviewing her should probably be, too.

Conducting a fascinating exploration into the origin of The Beatles and the role of "dumb luck" in history, McKay demonstrates the power of expectations. Along the way, he reveals how the gap between expectation and reality is a key source of our happiness and offers a framework for harnessing this power to shape a better future.Our host goes on to explain that happiness depends less on our circumstances and more on their alignment with our expectations. He illustrates this with The Beatles' story and fascinating historical examples of "dumb luck," such as a change of wind saving George Washington's army. Citing that the core solution is to actively shape our reality by setting powerful expectations, McKay reveals how visualizing our "best possible self" creates new neural pathways in the brain, making success more likely. And referencing studies on rats and mentally-practicing basketball players, he shows that what we truly expect, we tend to create.Main Themes:Our level of happiness is determined by the gap between our expectations and reality.Random chance and "dumb luck" play a significant role in life's outcomes, so we must be flexible.What we expect, we unconsciously work to create; our expectations directly influence our actions and results.We can consciously harness the power of expectation by vividly imagining and defining our "best possible self."Visualizing success creates neural pathways that can make achieving goals more likely than physical practice alone.Setting high expectations for yourself and others is one of the most powerful catalysts for growth.Top 10 Quotes:"Happiness is less about the reality of life and more about the alignment or misalignment between what we anticipate and what we encounter.""Dumb luck is a bigger part of our life than we think.""When we expect something, we change our behavior, even if we're not consciously aware of those changes.""When you imagine yourself doing something, you create a neural pathway.""In your mind, you never miss a shot. This is the power of expectation.""The ‘future you' is found in a belief window full of expectations.""If you don't have an expectation, a destination, you really have no reason to make plans.""Whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.""There is no passion to be found in playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.""You and I were not put here on this earth to just get by or tread in the waters of unfulfilled thoughts or lack of expectations."Show Links:Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

Tara exposes a growing and dangerous trend within the Left — an alarming rise in support for political violence. Citing new polling data showing that 42% of liberals — and a shocking 60% under age 30 — approve of breaking the law to achieve political goals, Tara connects the dots between rhetoric, riots, and the steady normalization of mob behavior. She unpacks Chuck Schumer's call for Americans to “rise up,” the echoes of past unrest, and the Democrats' struggle to reignite their street movements. Then, Tara pivots to the Supreme Court's pivotal Louisiana v. Callais case — a decision that could end race-based gerrymandering and shift control of up to 19 congressional seats. Finally, she tackles explosive new developments in Chicago, where ICE agents face violent mob attacks, and a liberal judge has barred them from using tear gas for defense. It's a deep dive into the chaos, control, and corruption shaping America's political landscape.

In late September, President Donald Trump issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7) — a sweeping directive ordering federal agencies to target what it calls “domestic terrorism” linked to so-called anti-fascist movements. Citing incidents like the assassination of Charlie Kirk and riots in Los Angeles and Portland, the memo instructs law enforcement to investigate “anti-American,” “anti-capitalist,” and “anti-Christian” ideologies — while omitting far-right violence entirely. Chris Cuomo breaks down why NSPM-7 may be the most alarming policy yet of Trump's presidency: how it redefines dissent as extremism, blurs the line between free speech and criminal intent, and expands federal power to police ideas instead of actions." Follow and subscribe to The Chris Cuomo Project on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for new episodes every Tuesday and Thursday: https://linktr.ee/cuomoproject Join Chris Ad-Free On Substack: http://thechriscuomoproject.substack.com Support our sponsors: Reverse hair loss with @iRestorelaser! Subscribe & Save for 25% off or more + free shipping on the iRestore REVIVE+ Max Growth Kit, and unlock HUGE savings on the iRestore Elite with the code CHRIS at https://www.irestore.com/CHRIS! Calm your mind, change your life. Calm has an exclusive offer just for listeners of our show – get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at https://calm.com/CUOMO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PREVIEW: Chinese Economy Collapsing Due to Demographic Catastrophe GUEST NAME: Alan Tonelson (RealityChek) 100-WORD SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Alan Tonelson about the collapse of the Chinese economy. The underlying cause is demographics, specifically the catastrophic impact of the 20th century's one-child policy. Tonelson highlights that China's population is virtually collapsing. Citing the Financial Times, he states that the scale of China's economic collapse is so stunning that it is "unprecedented" and has "never been seen before in human history."

NPT Enforcement and the Golden Dome Defense Concept GUEST NAME: Henry Sokolski Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Non-proliferation Policy Education Center, debates whether the US should abandon the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), citing foreign criticism and industry constraints. He argues the US should stay to enforce the NPT by clarifying red lines, justifying the bombing of nuclear facilities. Sokolski also discusses the proposed Golden Dome defense system, intended to protect the Western Hemisphere against missiles and drones. The viability of the system, particularly regarding Low Earth Orbit defenses, remains unclear and requires greater Congressional buy-in.

NPT Enforcement and the Golden Dome Defense Concept GUEST NAME: Henry Sokolski Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Non-proliferation Policy Education Center, debates whether the US should abandon the 1970 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), citing foreign criticism and industry constraints. He argues the US should stay to enforce the NPT by clarifying red lines, justifying the bombing of nuclear facilities. Sokolski also discusses the proposed Golden Dome defense system, intended to protect the Western Hemisphere against missiles and drones. The viability of the system, particularly regarding Low Earth Orbit defenses, remains unclear and requires greater Congressional buy-in. 1945

In a recent speech to the UN, US president Donald Trump set out some remarkable figures on the proportion of inmates in European prisons who were foreign nationals.Citing statistics from the Council of Europe, he references Greece, Germany and Austria, as having rates around 50%.“In Switzerland, beautiful Switzerland,” he said “72% of the people in prisons are from outside of Switzerland.” These numbers are correct, but why are the percentages so high – particularly in Switzerland?Tim Harford speaks to Professor Marcelo Aebi, a criminologist from the University of Lausanne, who wrote the prisons report for the Council of Europe.If you've seen a number in the news you think we should take a look at, let us know: moreorless@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Tim Harford Producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: Rod Farquhar Editor: Richard Vadon

Don and Tom kick off this episode with a satirical bang—mocking the apocalyptic tone of a MarketWatch article about the “Fourth Turning,” a cyclical doom prophecy claiming America faces a cataclysmic reset every 80–100 years. Citing wars, depressions, and now AI, wealth taxes, and the fall of the dollar, the hosts break down the fatalistic tone, expose the fear-marketing behind it, and reassure listeners that, historically, markets have recovered—and rewarded long-term investors. 0:04 Faux alien warning: the Fourth Turning economic apocalypse is coming 1:16 Dissecting the MarketWatch article and the “Fourth Turning” theory 2:26 Peak catastrophe by 2030? AI job loss, collapsing dollar, wealth taxes 3:38 Don asks: what is this guy selling? Spoiler: $100M wealth club 6:01 $180k to join R360—clearly not for the average listener 6:33 Don's “financial flinch reflex” PSA spoof (ad) 7:41 Tom: “We love being scared”—AI panic and deepfake video fears 9:07 Caller Sue (68): Ready to retire with $820k and SS? Don says yes 13:05 Sue's next step: get a fiduciary checkup, maybe run Monte Carlo 14:10 Tom runs one: 50th percentile = she hits zero at 98 15:32 Flexible withdrawal rates might work better than rigid 4% 16:34 Listener voicemail: Should we switch from Roth to Traditional now? 18:16 DT's Roth vs. traditional strategy: save taxes while you can 20:14 WSJ article on taxes and stock gains—do ETFs instead 21:25 Tax basics for investors: capital gains rates and efficiency 23:26 Mad Men nostalgia and mid-century tax rates 25:15 TV detour: Bewitched vs. I Dream of Jeannie vs. Outlander 27:10 Back to calls: Theodore asks about 403(b) options in Burlington 29:10 Don explodes: garbage annuity vendors dominate the plan 31:01 Aspire is the only halfway-decent vendor… if you avoid their advisors 33:54 Don tells how an Albuquerque teacher got Vanguard into their plan 35:44 Aspire hack: use FundSource for no-load mutual funds 36:14 Caller Steve: hold 20 stocks or sell and rebalance? 37:53 Tom: hybrid approach. Don: depends on need. Watch tax bracket Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last time we spoke about the Nanjing Massacre. Japanese forces breached Nanjing as Chinese defenders retreated under heavy bombardment, and the city fell on December 13. In the following weeks, civilians and disarmed soldiers endured systematic slaughter, mass executions, rapes, looting, and arson, with casualties mounting rapidly. Among the most brutal episodes were hundreds of executions near the Safety Zone, mass shootings along the Yangtze River, and killings at improvised sites and “killing fields.” The massacre involved tens of thousands of prisoners, with estimates up to 300,000 victims. Women and children were subjected to widespread rape, mutilation, and terror intended to crush morale and resistance. Although the Safety Zone saved many lives, it could not shield all refugees from harm, and looting and arson devastated large parts of the city. Foreign witnesses, missionaries, and diary entries documented the extensive brutality and the apparent premeditated nature of many acts, noting the collapse of discipline among troops and orders that shaped the violence.    #169 Nanjing has Fallen, the War is not Over Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Directly after the fall of Nanjing, rumors circulated among the city's foreigners that Tang Shengzhi had been executed for his inability to hold the city against the Japanese onslaught. In fact, unlike many of his subordinates who fought in the defense, he survived. On December 12, he slipped through Yijiang Gate, where bullets from the 36th Division had claimed numerous victims, and sailed across the Yangtze to safety. Chiang Kai-shek protected him from bearing direct consequences for Nanjing's collapse. Tang was not unscathed, however. After the conquest of Nanjing, a dejected Tang met General Li Zongren at Xuzhou Railway Station. In a brief 20-minute conversation, Tang lamented, “Sir, Nanjing's fall has been unexpectedly rapid. How can I face the world?” Li, who had previously taunted Tang for over-eagerness, offered sympathy. “Don't be discouraged. Victory or defeat comes every day for the soldier. Our war of resistance is a long-term proposition. The loss of one city is not decisive.” By December 1937, the outlook for Chiang Kai-shek's regime remained bleak. Despite his public pledges, he had failed to defend the capital. Its sturdy walls, which had withstood earlier sieges, were breached in less than 100 hours. Foreign observers remained pessimistic about the prospects of continuing the fight against Japan. The New York Times wrote “The capture of Nanking was the most overwhelming defeat suffered by the Chinese and one of the most tragic military debacles in modern warfare. In defending Nanking, the Chinese allowed themselves to be surrounded and then slaughtered… The graveyard of tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers may also be the graveyard of all Chinese hopes of resisting conquest by Japan.” Foreign diplomats doubted Chiang's ability to sustain the war, shrinking the question to whether he would stubbornly continue a losing fight or seek peace. US Ambassador Nelson Johnson wrote in a letter to Admiral Yarnell, then commander of the US Asicatic Fleet “There is little left now for the Chinese to do except to carry on a desultory warfare in the country, or to negotiate for the best terms they can get”.  The Japanese, too, acted as if Chiang Kai-shek had already lost the war. They assumed the generalissimo was a spent force in Chinese politics as well, and that a gentle push would suffice to topple his regime like a house of cards. On December 14, Prime Minister Konoe announced that Chiang's losses of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and now Nanjing, had created a new situation. “The National Government has become but a shadow of its former self. If a new Chinese regime emerged to replace Chiang's government, Japan would deal with it, provided it is a regime headed in the right direction.” Konoe spoke the same day as a Liaison Conference in Tokyo, where civilian and military leaders debated how to treat China now that it had been thoroughly beaten on the battlefield. Japanese demands had grown significantly: beyond recognizing Manchukuo, Japan pressed for the creation of pro-Japanese regimes in Inner Mongolia and the north China area. The same day, a puppet government was established in Japanese-occupied Beijing. While these demands aimed to end China as a unitary state, Japanese policy was moving toward the same goal. The transmissions of these demands via German diplomatic channels caused shock and consternation in Chinese government circles, and the Chinese engaged in what many regarded as stalling tactics. Even at this late stage, there was division among Japan's top decision makers. Tada, deputy chief of the Army General Staff, feared a protracted war in China and urged keeping negotiations alive. He faced strong opposition from the cabinet, including the foreign minister and the ministers of the army and navy, and ultimately he relented. Tada stated “In this state of emergency, it is necessary to avoid any political upheaval that might arise from a struggle between the Cabinet and the Army General Staff.” Although he disagreed, he no longer challenged the uncompromising stance toward China. On January 16, 1938, Japan publicly stated that it would “cease henceforth to deal with” Chiang Kai-shek. This was a line that could not be uncrossed. War was the only option. Germany, the mediator between China and Japan, also considered Chiang a losing bet. In late January 1938, von Dirksen, the German ambassador in Tokyo, urged a fundamental shift in German diplomacy and advocated abandoning China in favor of Japan. He warned that this was a matter of urgency, since Japan harbored grudges against Germany for its half-hearted peace efforts. In a report, von Dirksen wrote that Japan, “in her deep ill humor, will confront us with unpleasant decisions at an inopportune moment.” Von Dirksen's view carried the day in Berlin. Nazi Germany and Hirohito's Japan were on a trajectory that, within three years, would forge the Axis and place Berlin and Tokyo in the same camp in a conflict that would eventually span the globe. Rabe, who returned to Germany in 1938, found that his account of Japanese atrocities in Nanjing largely fell on deaf ears. He was even visited by the Gestapo, which apparently pressed him to keep quiet about what he had seen. Ambassador von Dirksen also argued in his January 1938 report that China should be abandoned because of its increasingly friendly ties with the Soviet Union. There was some merit to this claim. Soviet aid to China was substantial: by the end of 1937, 450 Soviet aviators were serving in China. Without them, Japan likely would have enjoyed air superiority. Chiang Kai-shek, it seemed, did not fully understand the Russians' motives. They were supplying aircraft and pilots to keep China in the war while keeping themselves out. After Nanjing's fall, Chiang nevertheless reached out to Joseph Stalin, inviting direct Soviet participation in the war. Stalin politely declined, noting that if the Soviet Union joined the conflict, “the world would say the Soviet Union was an aggressor, and sympathy for Japan around the world would immediately increase.” In a rare moment of candor a few months later, the Soviet deputy commissar for foreign affairs spoke with the French ambassador, describing the situation in China as “splendid.” He expected China to continue fighting for several more years, after which Japan would be too weakened to undertake major operations against the Soviet Union. It was clear that China was being used. Whatever the motive, China was receiving vital help from Stalin's Russia while the rest of the world stood on the sidelines, reluctant to upset Japan. Until Operation Barbarossa, when the Soviet Union was forced to the brink by the German Army and could no longer sustain extensive overseas aid, it supplied China with 904 planes, 1,516 trucks, 1,140 artillery pieces, 9,720 machine guns, 50,000 rifles, 31,600 bombs, and more. Despite all of this, all in all, China's position proved less disastrous than many observers had feared. Chinese officials later argued that the battle of Nanjing was not the unmitigated fiasco it appeared to be. Tang Shengzhi had this to say in his memoirs“I think the main purpose of defending Nanjing was to buy time, to allow troops that had just been pulled out of battle to rest and regroup. It wasn't simply because it was the capital or the site of Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum.” Tan Daoping, an officer in Nanjing, described the battle “as a moderate success because it drew the Japanese in land”. This of course was a strategy anticipated by interwar military thinker Jiang Baili. It also allowed dozens of Chinese divisions to escape Shanghai, since the Japanese forces that could have pursued them were tied down with the task of taking Nanjing. Tan Daoping wrote after the war “They erred in believing they could wage a quick war and decide victory immediately. Instead, their dream was shattered; parts of their forces were worn out, and they were hindered from achieving a swift end”. Even so, it was a steep price was paid in Chinese lives. As in Shanghai, the commanders in Nanjing thought they could fight on the basis of sheer willpower. Chinese officer Qin Guo Qi wrote in his memoirs “In modern war, you can't just rely on the spirit of the troops. You can't merely rely on physical courage and stamina. The battle of Nanjing explains that better than anything”. As for the Brigade commander of the 87th division, Chen Yiding, who emerged from Nanjing with only a few hundred survivors, was enraged. “During the five days of the battle for Nanjing, my superiors didn't see me even once. They didn't do their duty. They also did not explain the overall deployments in the Nanjing area. What's worse, they didn't give us any order to retreat. And afterwards I didn't hear of any commander being disciplined for failing to do his job.” Now back in November of 1937, Chiang Kai-shek had moved his command to the great trinity of Wuhan. For the Nationalists, Wuhan was a symbolically potent stronghold: three municipalities in one, Hankou, Wuchang, and Hanyang. They had all grown prosperous as gateways between coastal China and the interior. But the autumn disasters of 1937 thrust Wuhan into new prominence, and, a decade after it had ceased to be the temporary capital, it again became the seat of military command and resistance. Leading Nationalist politicians had been seen in the city in the months before the war, fueling suspicions that Wuhan would play a major role in any imminent conflict. By the end of the year, the generals and their staffs, along with most of the foreign embassies, had moved upriver. Yet as 1937 slipped into 1938, the Japanese advance seemed practically unstoppable. From the destruction of Shanghai, to the massacre in Nanjing, to the growing vulnerability of Wuhan, the NRA government appeared powerless against the onslaught.  Now the Japanese government faced several options: expanding the scope of the war to force China into submission, which would risk further depletion of Japan's military and economic resources; establishing an alternative regime in China as a bridge for reconciliation, thereby bypassing the Nationalist government for negotiations; and engaging in indirect or direct peace negotiations with the Nationalist Government, despite the failure of previous attempts, while still seeking new opportunities for negotiation. However, the Nanjing massacre did not compel the Chinese government and its people to submit. On January 2, Chiang Kai-shek wrote in his diary, “The conditions proposed by Japan are equivalent to the conquest and extinction of our country. Rather than submitting and perishing, it is better to perish in defeat,” choosing to refuse negotiations and continue resistance.  In January 1938 there was a new escalation of hostilities. Up to that point, Japan had not officially declared war, even during the Shanghai campaign and the Nanjing massacre. However on January 11, an Imperial Conference was held in Tokyo in the presence of Emperor Hirohito. Prime Minister Konoe outlined a “Fundamental Policy to deal with the China Incident.”The Imperial Conference was attended by Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe, Army Chief of Staff Prince Kan'in, Navy Minister Admiral Fushimi, and others to reassess its policy toward China. Citing the Nationalist Government's delay and lack of sincerity, the Japanese leadership decided to terminate Trautmann's mediation. At the conference, Japan articulated a dual strategy: if the Nationalist Government did not seek peace, Japan would no longer regard it as a viable negotiating partner, instead supporting emerging regimes, seeking to resolve issues through incidents, and aiming either to eliminate or incorporate the existing central government; if the Nationalist Government sought reconciliation, it would be required to cease resistance, cooperate with Japan against communism, and pursue economic cooperation, including officially recognizing Manchukuo and allowing Japanese troops in Inner Mongolia, North China, Central China, and co-governance of Shanghai. The Konoe cabinet relayed this proposal to the German ambassador in Japan on December 22, 1937: It called for: diplomatic recognition of Manchukuo; autonomy for Inner Mongolia; cessation of all anti-Japanese and anti-Manchukuo policies; cooperation between Japan, Manchukuo, and China against communism; war reparations; demilitarized zones in North China and Inner Mongolia; and a trade agreement among Japan, Manchukuo, and China.  Its terms were too severe, including reparations payable to Japan and new political arrangements that would formalize the separation of north China under Japanese control. Chiang's government would have seventy-two hours to accept; if they refused, Tokyo would no longer recognize the Nationalist government and would seek to destroy it.  On January 13, 1938, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Chonghui informed Germany that China needed a fuller understanding of the additional conditions for peace talks to make a decision. The January 15 deadline for accepting Japan's terms elapsed without Chinese acceptance. Six days after the deadline for a Chinese government reply, an Imperial Conference “Gozen Kaigi” was convened in Tokyo to consider how to handle Trautmann's mediation. The navy, seeing the war as essentially an army matter, offered no strong position; the army pressed for ending the war through diplomatic means, arguing that they faced a far more formidable Far Eastern Soviet threat at the northern Manchukuo border and wished to avoid protracted attrition warfare. Foreign Minister Kōki Hirota, however, strongly disagreed with the army, insisting there was no viable path to Trautmann's mediation given the vast gap between Chinese and Japanese positions. A second conference followed on January 15, 1938, attended by the empire's principal cabinet members and military leaders, but without the emperor's presence. The debate grew heated over whether to continue Trautmann's mediation. Hayao Tada, Deputy Chief of Army General Staff, argued for continuation, while Konoe, Hirota, Navy Minister Mitsumasa Yonai, and War Minister Hajime Sugiyama opposed him. Ultimately, Tada acceded to the position of Konoe and Hirota. On the same day, Konoe conveyed the cabinet's conclusion, termination of Trautmann's mediation, to the emperor. The Japanese government then issued a statement on January 16 declaring that it would no longer treat the Nationalist Government as a bargaining partner, signaling the establishment of a new Chinese regime that would cooperate with Japan and a realignment of bilateral relations. This became known as the first Konoe statement, through which Tokyo formally ended Trautmann's mediation attempt. The Chinese government was still weighing its response when, at noon on January 16, Konoe publicly declared, “Hereafter, the Imperial Government will not deal with the National Government.” In Japanese, this became the infamous aite ni sezu (“absolutely no dealing”). Over the following days, the Japanese government made it clear that this was a formal breach of relations, “stronger even than a declaration of war,” in the words of Foreign Minister Hirota Kōki. The Chinese ambassador to Japan, who had been in Tokyo for six months since hostilities began, was finally recalled. At the end of January, Chiang summoned a military conference and declared that the top strategic priority would be to defend the east-central Chinese city of Xuzhou, about 500 kilometers north of Wuhan. This decision, like the mobilization near Lugouqiao, was heavily influenced by the railway: Xuzhou sat at the midpoint of the Tianjin–Pukou Jinpu line, and its seizure would grant the Japanese mastery over north–south travel in central China. The Jinpu line also crossed the Longhai line, China's main cross-country artery from Lanzhou to the port of Lianyungang, north of Shanghai. The Japanese military command marked the Jinpu line as a target in spring 1938. Control over Xuzhou and the rail lines threading through it were thus seen as vital to the defense of Wuhan, which lay to the city's south. Chiang's defense strategy fit into a larger plan evolving since the 1920s, when the military thinker Jiang Baili had first proposed a long war against Japan; Jiang's foresight earned him a position as an adviser to Chiang in 1938. Jiang had previously run the Baoding military academy, a predecessor of the Whampoa academy, which had trained many of China's finest young officers in the early republic 1912–1922. Now, many of the generals who had trained under Jiang gathered in Wuhan and would play crucial roles in defending the city: Chen Cheng, Bai Chongxi, Tang Shengzhi, and Xue Yue. They remained loyal to Chiang but sought to avoid his tendency to micromanage every aspect of strategy.  Nobody could say with certainty whether Wuhan would endure the Japanese onslaught, and outsiders' predictions were gloomy. As Wuhan's inhabitants tasted their unexpected new freedoms, the Japanese pressed on with their conquest of central China. After taking Nanjing, the IJA 13th Division crossed the Yangtze River to the north and advanced to the Outang and Mingguang lines on the east bank of the Chihe River in Anhui Province, while the 2nd Army of the North China Front crossed the Yellow River to the south between Qingcheng and Jiyang in Shandong, occupied Jinan, and pressed toward Jining, Mengyin, and Qingdao. To open the Jinpu Railway and connect the northern and southern battlefields, the Japanese headquarters mobilized eight divisions, three brigades, and two detachments , totaling about 240,000 men. They were commanded by General Hata Shunroku, commander of the Central China Expeditionary Army, and Terauchi Hisaichi, commander of the North China Front Army. Their plan was a north–south advance: first seize Xuzhou, a strategic city in east China; then take Zhengzhou in the west along the Longhai Railway connecting Lanzhou and Lianyungang; and finally push toward Wuhan in the south along the Pinghan Railway connecting Beijing and Hankou. At the beginning of 1938, Japan's domestic mobilization and military reorganization had not yet been completed, and there was a shortage of troops to expand the front. At the Emperor's Imperial Conference on February 16, 1938, the General Staff Headquarters argued against launching operations before the summer of 1938, preferring to consolidate the front in 1938 and undertake a large-scale battle in 1939. Although the Northern China Expeditionary Force and the Central China Expeditionary Force proposed a plan to open the Jinpu Line to connect the northern and southern battlefields, the proposal was not approved by the domestic General Staff Headquarters. The Chinese army, commanded by Li Zongren, commander-in-chief of the Fifth War Zone, mobilized about 64 divisions and three brigades, totaling roughly 600,000 men. The main force was positioned north of Xuzhou to resist the southern Japanese advance, with a portion deployed along the southern Jinpu Railway to block the southern push and secure Xuzhou. Early in the campaign, Chiang Kai-shek redeployed the heavy artillery brigade originally promised to Han Fuju to Tang Enbo's forces. To preserve his strength, Shandong Provincial Governor Han Fuju abandoned the longstanding Yellow River defenses in Shandong, allowing the Japanese to capture the Shandong capital of Jinan in early March 1938. This defection opened the Jinpu Railway to attack. The Japanese 10th Division, under Rensuke Isogai, seized Tai'an, Jining, and Dawenkou, ultimately placing northern Shandong under Japanese control. The aim was to crush the Chinese between the two halves of a pincer movement. At Yixian and Huaiyuan, north of Xuzhou, both sides fought to the death: the Chinese could not drive back the Japanese, but the Japanese could not scatter the defenders either. At Linyi, about 50 kilometers northeast of Xuzhou, Zhang Zizhong, who had previously disgraced himself by abandoning an earlier battlefield—became a national hero for his determined efforts to stop the Japanese troops led by Itagaki Seishirō, the conqueror of Manchuria. The Japanese hoped that they could pour in as many as 400,000 troops to destroy the Chinese forces holding eastern and central China. Chiang Kai-shek was determined that this should not happen, recognizing that the fall of Xuzhou would place Wuhan in extreme danger. On April 1, 1938, he addressed Nationalist Party delegates, linking the defense of Wuhan to the fate of the party itself. He noted that although the Japanese had invaded seven provinces, they had only captured provincial capitals and main transport routes, while villages and towns off those routes remained unconquered. The Japanese, he argued, might muster more than half a million soldiers, but after eight or nine months of hard fighting they had become bogged down. Chiang asserted that as long as Guangzhou (Canton) remained in Chinese hands, it would be of little significance if the Japanese invaded Wuhan, since Guangzhou would keep China's sea links open and Guangdong, Sun Yat-sen's homeland, would serve as a revolutionary base area. If the “woren” Japanese “dwarfs” attacked Wuhan and Guangzhou, it would cost them dearly and threaten their control over the occupied zones. He reiterated his plan: “the base area for our war will not be in the zones east of the Beiping–Wuhan or Wuhan–Guangdong railway lines, but to their west.” For this reason he authorized withdrawing Chinese troops behind the railway lines. Chiang's speech mixed defiance with an explanation of why regrouping was necessary; it was a bold public posture in the face of a developing military disaster, yet it reflected the impossible balance he faced between signaling resolve and avoiding overcommitment of a city that might still fall. Holding Xuzhou as the first priority required Chiang Kai-shek to place a great deal of trust in one of his rivals: the southwestern general Li Zongren. The relationship between Chiang and Li would become one of the most ambivalent in wartime China. Li hailed from Guangxi, a province in southwestern China long regarded by the eastern heartland as half civilized. Its people had rarely felt fully part of the empire ruled from Beijing or even Nanjing, and early in the republic there was a strong push for regional autonomy. Li was part of a cohort of young officers trained in regional academies who sought to bring Guangxi under national control; he joined the Nationalist Party in 1923, the year Sun Yat-sen announced his alliance with the Soviets. Li was not a Baoding Academy graduate but had trained at Yunnan's equivalent institution, which shared similar views on military professionalism. He enthusiastically took part in the Northern Expedition (1926–1928) and played a crucial role in the National Revolutionary Army's ascent to control over much of north China. Yet after the Nanjing government took power, Li grew wary of Chiang's bid to centralize authority in his own person. In 1930 Li's so‑called “Guangxi clique” participated in the Central Plains War, the failed effort by militarist leaders to topple Chiang; although the plot failed, Li retreated to his southwest base, ready to challenge Chiang again. The occupation of Manchuria in 1931 reinforced Li's belief that a Japanese threat posed a greater danger than Chiang's centralization. The tension between the two men was evident from the outset of the war. On October 10, 1937, Chiang appointed Li commander of the Fifth War Zone; Li agreed on the condition that Chiang refrain from issuing shouling—personal commands—to Li's subordinates. Chiang complied, a sign of the value he placed on Li's leadership and the caution with which he treated Li and his Guangxi ally Bai Chongxi. As Chiang sought any possible victory amid retreat and destruction, he needed Li to deliver results. As part of the public-relations front, journalists were given access to commanders on the Xuzhou front. Li and his circle sought to shape their image as capable leaders to visiting reporters, with Du Zhongyuan among the most active observers. Du praised the “formidable southwestern general, Li Zongren,” calling him “elegant and refined” and “vastly magnanimous.” In language echoing the era's soldiers' public presentation, Du suggested that Li's forces operated under strict, even disciplined, orders “The most important point in the people's war is that . . . troops do not harass the people of the country. If the people are the water, the soldiers are the fish, and if you have fish with no water, inevitably they're going to choke; worse still is to use our water to nurture the enemy's fish — that really is incomparably stupid”.  Within the southern front, on January 26, 1938, the Japanese 13th Division attacked Fengyang and Bengbu in Anhui Province, while Li Pinxian, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the 5th War Zone, directed operations south of Xuzhou. The defending 31st Corps of the 11th Group Army, after resisting on the west bank of the Chi River, retreated to the west of Dingyuan and Fengyang. By February 3, the Japanese had captured Linhuai Pass and Bengbu. From the 9th to the 10th, the main force of the 13th Division forced a crossing of the Huai River at Bengbu and Linhuai Pass respectively, and began an offensive against the north bank. The 51st Corps, reorganized from the Central Plains Northeast Army and led by Commander Yu Xuezhong, engaged in fierce combat with the Japanese. Positions on both sides of the Huai shifted repeatedly, producing a riverine bloodbath through intense hand-to-hand fighting. After ten days of engagement, the Fifth War Zone, under Zhang Zizhong, commander of the 59th Army, rushed to the Guzhen area to reinforce the 51st Army, and the two forces stubbornly resisted the Japanese on the north bank of the Huai River. Meanwhile, on the south bank, the 48th Army of the 21st Group Army held the Luqiao area, while the 7th Army, in coordination with the 31st Army, executed a flanking attack on the flanks and rear of the Japanese forces in Dingyuan, compelling the main body of the 13th Division to redeploy to the north bank for support. Seizing the initiative, the 59th and 51st Armies launched a counteroffensive, reclaiming all positions north of the Huai River by early March. The 31st Army then moved from the south bank to the north, and the two sides faced across the river. Subsequently, the 51st and 59th Armies were ordered to reinforce the northern front, while the 31st Army continued to hold the Huai River to ensure that all Chinese forces covering the Battle of Xuzhou were safely withdrawn. Within the northern front, in late February, the Japanese Second Army began its southward push along multiple routes. The eastern axis saw the 5th Division moving south from Weixian present-day Weifang, in Shandong, capturing Yishui, Juxian, and Rizhao before pressing directly toward Linyi, as units of the Nationalist Third Corps' 40th Army and others mounted strenuous resistance. The 59th Army was ordered to reinforce and arrived on March 12 at the west bank of the Yi River in the northern suburbs of Linyi, joining the 40th Army in a counterattack that, after five days and nights of ferocious fighting, inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese and forced them to retreat toward Juxian. On the western route, the Seya Detachment (roughly a brigade) of the Japanese 10th Division crossed the Grand Canal from Jining and attacked Jiaxiang, meeting stiff resistance from the Third Army and being thwarted, while continuing to advance south along the Jinpu Railway. The Isogai Division, advancing on the northern route without awaiting help from the southeast and east, moved southward from Liangxiadian, south of Zouxian, on March 14, with the plan to strike Tengxian, present-day Tengzhou on March 15 and push south toward Xuzhou. The defending 22nd Army and the 41st Corps fought bravely and suffered heavy casualties in a hard battle that lasted until March 17, during which Wang Mingzhang, commander of the 122nd Division defending Teng County, was killed in action. Meanwhile, a separate Japanese thrust under Itagaki Seishirō landed on the Jiaodong Peninsula and occupied Qingdao, advancing along the Jiaoji Line to strike Linyi, a key military town in southern Shandong. Pang Bingxun's 40th Army engaged the invaders in fierce combat, and later, elements of Zhang Zizhong's 333rd Brigade of the 111th Division, reinforced by the 57th Army, joined Pang Bingxun's forces to launch a double-sided pincer that temporarily repelled the Japanese attack on Linyi. By late March 1938 a frightening reality loomed: the Japanese were close to prevailing on the Xuzhou front. The North China Area Army, commanded by Itagaki Seishirō, Nishio Toshizō, and Isogai Rensuke, was poised to link up with the Central China Expeditionary Force under Hata Shunroku in a united drive toward central China. Li Zongren, together with his senior lieutenants Bai Chongxi and Tang Enbo, decided to confront the invaders at Taierzhuang, the traditional stone-walled city that would become a focal point of their defense. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Nanjing falls after one of humanities worst atrocities. Chiang Kai-Shek's war command has been pushed to Wuhan, but the Japanese are not stopping their advance. Trautmann's mediation is over and now Japan has its sights on Xuzhou and its critical railway junctions. Japan does not realize it yet, but she is now entering a long war of attrition.

Italian Political Scandals and the Reinstatement of St. Francis Holiday Guest Name: Lorenzo Fiori Summary:Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and two ministers face ICC investigation for failing to detain a Libyan warlord, citing risks to Italian workers in Libya. Separately, Italy's Senate unanimously approved reinstating a national holiday honoring St. Francis of Assisi, Italy's patron saint, 800 years after his passing. 1600 ROME

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