Podcast appearances and mentions of Clay Jones

Subscribe to our YouTube channel On our political radar this week… Donald Trump, who has had a lifetime personal wealth-building obsession, set a new standard for corruption this week with three outrageously grubby grifts: The $1.8 billion slush fund, under his total control, that he can use to pay off his political crime family, even the January 6th rioters  An agreement signed by his onetime criminal defense attorney giving him, his family, and his businesses immunity from any and all tax fraud and underpayment dating back to the beginning of time, and The revelation that he has engaged in what clearly appears to be thousands of stock trades based on inside information that you tend to get when you are President of the United States VIDEO: Rachel Maddow on Trump’s Insider Trading State Senate Democrats have announced a comprehensive plan to fight back against likely Trump efforts to rig Michigan's election; state House Republicans want to prohibit Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson from any role in state elections if she is also on the ballot. With Michigan's split control of the Legislature, both efforts are probably doomed. Michigan's power brokers are gathering this week on Mackinac Island for the annual Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce conference. It brings together southeast Michigan business leaders, top level state and local government officials, and a lot of reporters with good expense accounts. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the three Democrats running for the U.S. Senate nomination will debate on one of the nation's most popular podcasts, Pod Save America. Donald Trump takes a (political) dump on two more Republican critics in primary elections: Congressman Thomas Massie in Kentucky for the sin of demanding that Trump release the Epstein files, and Senator Bill Cassidy in Louisiana for the sin of voting to convict Trump in Impeachment II and being mean to Bobby Kennedy Jr. But with the razor-thin GOP majorities in both the House and Senate, will the revenge victories liberate enough votes to sink Trump's pet projects? Cassidy has already demonstrated his liberation, voting to support Democrats' efforts to rein in Trump's unauthorized and illegal war in Iran. (Which one of them is the first to become a commentator on MS Now or launch a podcast?) Trump's endorsement of criminally indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate could both lose Trump the support of Senator John Cornyn for the next 7 months … and lose the Senate majority in November. A lawsuit has been filed in state courts aimed at expanding voting rights in Michigan by making third parties relevant, without making them spoilers. We have an exclusive interview with the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, and his attorney. That would be plaintiff Jeff Timmer on behalf of the Michigan Common Sense Party, and the party's attorney: Mark Brewer. © Clay Jones – https://claytoonz.substack.com ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Introducing our new podcast! Greed, Grift$ and Grab$: The Trump Crime Family Chronicles ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored in part by

On our political radar this week… In between Oval Office naps, his costly, tacky fixations on the Reflecting Pool on the National mall and his $1-billion NOW TAXPAYER FUNDED ballroom, misogyny toward female reporters, rage posting on Truth Social, his bizarre, constant bragging about his regularly scheduled dementia tests, and stuffing his pockets full of payola from domestic and foreign tycoons and potentates, Donald Trump did Democrats a huge favor – voicing a soon-to-be Democratic campaign commercials in every competitive state and district across the fruited plain proclaiming “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation, I don’t think about anybody…” © Clay Jones – https://claytoonz.substack.com New polling, paid for by the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce, shows the Chamber's endorsed candidate for Governor with Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson taking the lead. The same poll says it's a virtual three-way tie for the Democrats' U.S. Senate nomination. A second poll, paid for by MIRS News, shows Benson's lead growing to 12 points. The two leading Republican candidates for Governor are engaged in a reprise of the sad GOP song of 4 years ago … problems with nominating petition signatures. But John James and Perry “Quality Guru” Johnson aren't the only Republicans with unplanned campaign hiccups. First district Congressman Jack Bergman faces a possible ethics violation over extracurricular moneymaking efforts by his congressional staff. And US Senate candidate Mike Rogers has some unseemly ties to child sex predators. In the Macomb County based 10th district, GOP candidate Robert Luljguraj is accused of lying about where he lives on his state paperwork. It all adds up to some interesting times at the State Elections Bureau.  In this week's chapter of Trump's Perpetual Grifting, it's looking like the highly promoted but non-existent Trump phone ain't gonna happen. The 600,000 true believers who put down deposits of $100 seem unlikely to get their money back … but in the meantime, the Huckster Trumps have fleeced  $60-million from the rubes. Also new on the Trump Perpetual Grifting beat: – The BBC reports that Trump is selling sponsorships of his oh-so-tacky UFC match at the White House for up to $1.5 million. No word on who gets the money, but it isn't hard to guess. –The Wall Street Journal revealed that Trump is considering issuing 250 pardons in conjunction with the USA 250 celebration. So far, no pardon prices have been announced. –He's being sued in Florida for plans to have a for-profit hotel inside his Presidential museum … on land given him by the state that's worth around $67-million. –Construction of the above-ground portion of his ballroom is underway in direct violation of a court order, and –Preliminary work has begun on his Arch De' TACO, er Trump … without legally required authorization. Inflation has soared to its highest level in 3 years and shows every sign of climbing higher and higher. Trump's response, as usual, is to promise that things will get lots better … later. In “about two weeks.” The “good news, bad news”: 81-year-old Rudy Giuliani has recovered from the pneumonia that sent him to the ICU last week, and we're happy that he's apparently survived the medical crisis. The bad news: he's resumed his podcast. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored in part by

© Clay Jones – https://claytoonz.substack.com On our political radar this week… The $200-million, privately funded Trump desecration of the White House has morphed into a $1-billion project … with taxpayers picking up the tab. While the White House focused on the ballroom, taking over DC Golf Courses, repainting the reflecting pool, details of the White House UFC fight on July 4,  and signage at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump International Airport in West Palm Beach, Michigan Democrats maintained their slim majority in the state Senate with a landslide special election victory in the Saginaw Valley. Chedrick Greene did what Democrats have been doing for a year: outperformed 2024's numbers by a stunning 20-point margin.   In Indiana, Trump's vengeance … amplified by around $14-million … has purged 5 Republicans from that state's Senate as penance for daring to defy Trump's imperial decree: a reminder that Trump's Republican Party is a cult of servility – or else. The Trump bank account continues to grow, with nepo-grifters Don Jr. and Eric landing a multi-million-dollar contract from Daddy's Department of Defense. They've very quickly become successful entrepreneurs in the military drone business as a supplement to their hawking of worthless meme coins and cashing in on Daddy’s power/name/greed. The Michigan Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the battle over Michigan MAGA House Speaker Matt Hall's refusal to follow the state constitution when it comes to sending bills passed by the Legislature to the Governor to enact into law has a Supreme Court hearing. The state Senate is the plaintiff and their lead attorney: the honorable Mr. Mark Brewer Esquire. In the race for the Democrats' U.S. Senate nomination, Haley Stevens picked up two significant endorsements: retired 4-term U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, and the wife of the man she wants to succeed, Senator Gary Peters (who has said he will not endorse in the primary). All three Democratic Senate candidates are set to participate in a forum on the Pod Save America podcast, scheduled to air May 24. The podcast reaches around 1.5 million listeners … slightly more than this podcast! Republicans are claiming that Jocelyn Benson can't be trusted to run the November election because her name is on the ballot. One problem with their rhetoric: the elections are run by local clerks and the Board of State Canvassers, not the Secretary of State. Benson doesn't participate in validating signatures on nominating petitions or certifying the results and has taken the additional step of formally establishing a firewall between her and administration of the election. Not to be outdone in the “ignorance on display sweepstakes”, Trump has called for the impeachment and/or indictment of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Impeaching House members isn't a thing. It's one more word salad from the mouth of someone a majority of Americans think is lacking the mental sharpness to do the job. Trump held his first post-Correspondants' Dinner campaign-style rally … at the friendly turf of The Villages retirement community in central Florida. Speaking to a crowd of supportive retirees, he and his fellow TV celebrity Dr. Phil repeated one of his many lies regarding the horrendous Big Ugly Budget Bill, claiming he had ended taxes on Social Security while standing in front of a backdrop making the same bogus claim. Spoiler alert: it's not true. What passed was a three-year, $ 6,000 tax deduction for seniors. It expires at the end of Trump's term!

© Clay Jones – https://claytoonz.substack.com On our political radar this week… The Trump Retribution Parade continues as his Department of Payback indicts James Comey for posting a picture of sea shells on social media. If that doesn’t work, they could try claiming the 6-foot-8 Comey's height poses an imminent threat to the safety of the President. New polling from the Detroit Chamber shows “Undecided” remains the leader in Michigan Democrats' battle for the U.S. Senate nomination. There's a new controversy in that race, with long-ago Tweets from Mallory McMorrow coming back to haunt her. Among Republicans, John James continues to lead Perry Johnson, Mike Cox, and the rest of the field. The one no-contest race: Jocelyn Benson has a 58-point lead in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. The US Supreme Court has effectively repealed the last remnants of the Voting Rights Act, setting the stage for a possible new round of partisan gerrymanders. It comes as the last four black Republicans in Congress retire, leaving the GOP with the prospect of no black House members in 2027. The impact goes beyond the U.S. House of Representatives. In Michigan, it effectively eliminates majority-minority as a criterion for Michigan's Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission when it draws future state legislative district maps – quite possibly before the 2028 elections. The Donald Trump narcissism parade continues to grow. The latest: His snarling mug will now appear on commemorative U.S. passports, although Trump-free passports will continue to be available. And King Charles presented him with the ship's bell from the World War II submarine HMS Trump. One ominous sign: that ship was sold off and broken up for scrap in August 1971.  In response to the war of words over election integrity, Secretary of State Benson has announced that 2.1 million outdated voter registrations have been canceled since 2019 or are in the cancellation process. For the first time ever, this includes over 180,000 dormant registrations of people who haven't voted in a single election in the last 20 years or longer. Control of the state Senate will be decided Tuesday when voters in Michigan's 35th Senate District will decide whether Democrat Chedrick Greene or Republican Jason Tunney will represent them for the rest of the year in Lansing. The district includes Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties. The Democrats are heavily favored to win and maintain control of the Senate. The quote of the week comes from The Bulwark's Tim Miller: We're in the Fat Elvis era of the Trump presidency. A note on the passing of Senator Don Riegle. First elected to the U.S. House from Flint in 1966, he served 5 terms and then 3 terms in the Senate, where he succeeded the legendary Phil Hart. He was one of the few people ever elected to Congress from both parties, switching from Republican to Democrat in protest of the Vietnam War and the corruption of the Nixon administration. We also lost a friend of this podcast, former Detroit News reporter and later Department of Justice lawyer Jim Mitzelfeld. Jim and his reporting partner Eric Freedman won a Pulitzer Prize for their uncovering of a million-dollar corruption scandal in the state House Fiscal Agency. Jim died of melanoma a day short of his 65th birthday.   Joining the conversation this week is President of End Citizens United, Tiffany Muller. Mark and Walt Sorg talked with Tiffany Muller. She simultaneously leads the affiliated groups Let America Vote, and the End Citizens United/Let America Vote Action Fund – organizations dedicated to reversing what many consider one of the worst rulings of the Supreme Court in the last century which opened the floodgates for dark money funding of political campaigns. Since joining ECU, Tiffany has helped grow the group from a start-up to a nationwide organization with more than 4 million members and 1 million grassroots donors.

© Clay Jones – https://claytoonz.substack.com On our political radar this week… Donald Trump, possessor of the self-proclaimed “Big Brain,” seems to have fully embraced a bunker mentality: his ever-shifting Iran strategy manages neither to sway Tehran nor steady the global economy, but it does keep everyone guessing. Meanwhile, he's tied up in court trying to build an actual bunker—allegedly tucked beneath his $400 million gold-plated ballroom—because nothing says “strong leadership” like preparing to retreat in style. Michigan Democrats attracted a record-setting 7,200-plus delegates to their endorsement convention … along with potential presidential candidates Kamala Harris, Corey Booker and Andy Beshear (as well as home field potential candidates Elissa Slotkin and Gretchen Whitmer). Much to the consternation of party leaders, a sizable contingent of young progressives heckled and booed some of the on-stage candidates … a demonstration that brought quick condemnation from state party chair Curtis Hertel on the party's weekly podcast. Trump's polling numbers continue to plummet. The latest AP-NORC poll has his approval rating a massive 40 points under water: 30% approval, 70% disapproval.  The worst cabinet in generations is getting a huge shakeup with the firing of three of the most incompetent – all of them women. Who's next? Oh, so many bozos from which to choose. Bar-room buddies Hegseth and/or Patel? Bessent? Brainworm Bobby?  Virginia voters narrowly approve a congressional gerrymander that could flip four seats to the benefit of Democrats while Florida struggles to enact what could be the final chapter of the Trump-led gerrymandering quagmire. When it's all said and done, the GOP plan to reinforce its U.S. House majority may well backfire.  Michigan's top officials agree: the latest Trump-branded election conspiracy tour deserves a hard pass. This comes as federal officials are demanding full access to Wayne County's 2024 ballots, apparently treating election records like a clearance rack for future grievances.  The whole exercise doubles as a rehearsal dinner for the GOP's next claim that 2024 was “rigged,” a storyline notably unsupported by facts but eagerly workshopped by two-time election loser John James, who is still auditioning his 2020 script blaming Secretary of State Benson—a plotline first piloted by Mike Rogers and apparently too good (or too baseless) to retire.  Perry Johnson has taken a page out of the Donald Trump playbook, filing an absolutely absurd lawsuit to get some attention. His target: John James, over a campaign flyer which he claims implies James is already Governor of Michigan. By the way, the latest poll from EPIC-MRA shows that our actual Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, has nearly 100% name identification.  The GOP gubernatorial field is down by one. Former state House Speaker Tom Leonard, who was polling in single digits, has dropped out of the race 2 days after filing his nominating petitions. The man who led Trump Airlines into bankruptcy is brokering a deal for the federal government to take partial ownership of the equally prestigious Spirit Airlines … at a cost of a half-billion dollars. Democrats are focusing on gas prices as they challenge Republicans running for reelection to Congress. One target in Michigan: Lansing area Congressman Tom Barrett, who used the price of gas to flip the mid-Michigan district in 2024. He promised back then to get gas prices under control. Meanwhile, a new report from the non-partisan Anderson Economic Group says the ongoing high price of gas is costing a typical family $100 a month. Former Michigan Democratic and Republican party officials are teaming up in an effort to eliminate candidate nominating conventions for top state offices, arguing the practice disenfranchises voters.. The effort is led by former Michigan Democratic Party chair Lon Johnson, and former Republican Executive Director of the Michigan Republican Party Jason Roe. Mark is a former Michigan Democratic Party chair, and Jeff is a former Michigan GOP Executive Director. They offer their perspective on the idea. The battle lines are drawn in Michigan for the November elections as candidates near and far file their petitions, and the state's Democrats give preliminary approval to their candidates for most statewide offices in an often raucous convention. Joining the podcast this week: the Democrats' choice for Attorney General, Washtenaw County prosecuting attorney Eli Savit. A native of Ann Arbor, Savit attended Kalamazoo College in western Michigan, where he played four years of college basketball. Following his college graduation, he worked as a public school teacher—teaching both special-education and general-education 8th-grade U.S. history. After graduating from the University of Michigan Law School, Eli worked for two federal judges. He was then selected to clerk on the United States Supreme Court for Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Prior to his election as Washtenaw County prosecutor in 2020, he served as senior legal counsel for the city of Detroit. As prosecutor, Eli has established dedicated special-victims and domestic violence units, led the successful investigation and prosecution of multiple “cold-case” rape cases, launched multiple successful programs that allow people dealing with behavioral health and substance-use issues to obtain rehabilitative services— while avoiding a criminal conviction, and established Washtenaw County's first-ever conviction integrity and expungement unit, which remedies wrongful convictions and provides legally eligible residents free assistance in clearing old criminal records. Thank you for your attention to this matter. © Clay Jones – https://claytoonz.substack.com

How does God use our suffering for our good? What does it mean for us honor God in our suffering? And how does our eternal hope give us comfort in the midst of suffering? We'll address these questions and more with our guest and former colleague, Clay Jones around his new book co-authored with his wife, How Does God Use our Suffering for our Good?Dr. Clay Jones served as a Professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University and is former Chairman of the Board for Ratio Christi, a university apologetics ministry. He is the author of two other books, Why Does God Allow Evil? and Immortal: How the Fear of Death Drives Us and What We Can Do About It.==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

On our political radar this week… Michigan Republicans have turned their backs on the craziest of the MAGA crazies with hopes of at least one upset in November. But the leader in their race for Governor had a bad weekend. John James had some of the delegates booing him as he was introduced for his speech … much to the delight of septuagenarian perpetual candidate Perry Johnson. Volunteers manning a Rank MI Vote booth at the Michigan Republican Party’s endorsement convention this past weekend were asked to leave by party leaders and security after Rep. MAGA Matt Maddock told them their presence wasn’t welcome…and called them Communists. Rank MI Vote volunteers said they had paid the party for a booth under the name of the ballot question seeking to establish a ranked voting system in the state and wanted to talk with people who are politically active about their objective. The Michigan Court of Appeals which ruled that 37 absentee ballots for Mayor of Hamtramck should be counted … in an election that was otherwise decided by 11 votes.  National Democrats have targeted two Michigan Republicans in Congress for retirement. “House Majority Forward” is running ads on the TSA mess at airports – pointing out that Bill Huizenga and Tom Barrett blocked legislation paying TSA agents … even though the bill they opposed was unanimously approved by the Senate.  A new tabulation from the Huffington Post shows Donald Trump's nearly weekly golf trips to Florida have cost taxpayers $100-million in the last year. He is  on track to hit nearly one-third of a billion dollars by the end of his term.  The latest in the Trump ego-massage campaign: Trump shared the first images of his planned presidential library in downtown Miami, posting a short video that depicts a skyscraper which appears to be about 50 stories tall and filled with reconstructions of parts of the White House, military vehicles and at least two gold statues of Trump. Also included in plans for the gaudy Miami high rise: a hotel, golden escalators, gold doo-dads everywhere, displays attacking Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and the Boeing 747 given to Trump by the oil sheiks of Qatar. Probably missing from the high-rise library: books … and any mentions of Jeffrey Epstein. Another Trump stroking comes by way of Florida. Travelers in Palm Beach soon will be able to drive down President Donald J. Trump Boulevard to catch a flight at President Donald J. Trump International Airport, all in the shadow of nearby Mar-a-Lago, owned by President Donald J. Trump. Trump had a hat-trick of losses in court over the last week: construction on his half-billion-dollar ballroom has been paused, with the judge saying it needed congressional approval, another judge ruled the defunding of NPR and PBS was unconstitutional, and still another judge ruled that presidential immunity did not shield Trump from lawsuits growing out of the January 6 insurrection. And the Supreme Court seems poised to reject Trump’s abolishing of birthright citizenship. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson calls bullshit on the latest Trump executive order which turns control of elections to the Post Office, Department of Justice and Homeland Security. Her immediate reaction: “States run elections, not the president. This executive order is illegal on its face.” Expect to hear from Dana Nessel and other Democratic state attorneys general about a lawsuit in the near future. There's seemingly no end to politics in our lives. It has even infiltrated sports. As we approach this weekend's Final Four in men's basketball, we take a deep dive into the intersection of Sports, Politics and Money with three-time Michigan Sportscaster of the Year Jack Ebling. He has covered college sports dating back to the days when Jim Harbaugh was the University of Michigan's quarterback and Earvin Johnson was a magical MSU freshman. Unlike ESPN's Stephen Smith, Jack’s take on political issues actually make sense … and he doesn't start screaming to make his point! A two-time graduate of MSU, the former English teacher and coach spent nearly a quarter-century as a beat writer and columnist for the Lansing State Journal and won 21 major writing awards before entering broadcasting in 2002. In addition to the sportswriting honors, Jack was named 2017 Michigan Broadcaster of the Year and was a 2006 inductee into the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame. He has received 21 major state and national writing awards, authored or co-authored eight books and contributed more than 125 articles for national publications. He has hosted sports and news talk radio shows for nearly a quarter-century, including The Drive with Jack Ebling. Every Sunday evening since 2013, he has hosted Press Pass with Jack Ebling on FOX 47 in Lansing, the state’s longest-running hour-long, year-long sports TV show. We’re now on YouTube every week! Click here to subscribe. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by © Clay Jones – https://claytoonz.substack.com  

Episode 180 is on the scene and we review our visits to the "Paper clip at Martinsville Speedway and the track known as America's Favorite Bullring at Wake County Speedway in North Carolina from over the weekend.We discuss the Cookout 400 Cup Series event. Chase Elliott picked up his first win of the year and second at the paper clip while putting respect on his crew chief Alan Gustafson's name. We discuss Denny Hamlin's day which started out dominant but ended up with an on track confrontation with Ryan Blaney, a vibration and coming up second behind Elliott. We debate if Ty Gibbs is the hottest driver on the circuit with his fifth straight event finishing no worse than sixth, the Bubba Wallace vs Carson Hocevar incident and whether this race exceeded expectations. Plus you will get to hear from some of the top finishers of the event. Lee Pulliam made his O'Reilly Auto Parts debut Saturday and ended up in fifth place in what was an eventful debut for him. We discuss that, Justin Allgaier's win, Corey Day's rise to the front and the continued success of Viking Motorsports with comments from some of the top finishers including Pulliam.Stephen Kopcik picked up his first NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win at Martinsville and you will hear from this young man following his battle with Ron Silk on Saturday night. Silk also talks with Jody about his run and we discuss Austin Beers continuation of history and the new points leader Tyler Rypkema,The CARS Tour visited America's Favorite Bullring at Wake County Speedway. When the smoke and the fuel had settled, Conner Jones picked up a win after he ran out of gas late in the going. We spoke with Conner along with some of the other top finishers of the event as there was a lot to be said! We discuss what led to so many folks running out of gas, why there was so much carnage in the event, Clay Jones being black flagged, Mini vs Doug Barnes Jr round two & more.In part four of our Kulwicki Driver Development Driver Program series, we welcome Ryley Music to the show. The grandson of Langley Speedway legend Phil Warren talks about his career so far, where he got his start in racing, representing Alan Kulwicki as an Underbird this year and so much more from the budding Virginia racing star.We preview the upcoming SMART Modified Tour event at Dominion Raceway and talk about the parity on the tour thus far as only one driver on tour having a top five in every race and two having a top ten in each race. We break down all the stories heading into the race and give you our picks.Other topics include should Max Reaves go full heel, the ARCA Menards East race at Hickory, a preview of the action from Rockingham this weekend, short track spotlight, dubs and how many hot dogs we added to the Martinsville total on another episode of DLN!Big thanks to our sponsorsTyler Hash: Virginia Farm Bureau Agenttyler.hash@vafb.comALARS Used Carswww.alars.net

i On our political radar this week… As Donald Trump's polling numbers continue to plummet to record-setting lows, he's constantly shifting positions on Iran, NATO, DHS funding and ICE messaging on a daily basis. About the only constants: his efforts to shift the blame for everything bad to Biden and Obama, and his preoccupation with his $400-million ballroom, and figuring out ways to add more to the $4-billion his family has gobbled up in the last year. Attorney General Dana Nessel is fighting efforts by ICE to convert a Romulus warehouse into a Trump Immigration Prison which would lock up as many as 500 men, women and children. The warehouse would give ICE close access to Metro Airport, but it's also adjacent to a residential neighborhood, near both a middle school and high school, and in a flood plain. The drive to reverse changes the state Legislature made last year to Michigan’s tipped and minimum wage laws is on hold. One Fair Wage had sought to collect enough signatures to place a referendum vote on the November ballot, but was unable to meet their signature goals. Instead, the group said, it planned to throw its efforts behind a separate ballot initiative seeking to limit certain political contributions. The Democratic race for U.S. Senate has a battle of the polls this week. A new internal poll from state Senator Mallory McMorrow's campaign shows her leapfrogging Rep. Haley Stevens, who's now trailing the field in third place behind Abdul El-Sayed in the closely watched Senate Democratic primary. Her poll by Global Strategy Group has McMorrow leading the field with 30 percent, followed by El-Sayed at 25 percent and Stevens at 23 percent, with 21 percent undecided. The same survey showed McMorrow in second place and trailing Stevens by six points last June. A poll from the Stevens campaign shows the race as a statistical three way tie: Stevens 28, El Sayed 26, McMorrow 25 – well within the poll's 3.5% margin of error. McMorrow is the first statewide candidate to announce she has the signatures to get on the ballot. Her campaign says she will file 30,000 signatures, the maximum allowed under state law, to qualify her for the August primary. The signatures were all gathered by volunteers. Nearly all statewide campaigns typically use paid circulators. We are recording two days before state Republicans gather in Novi to endorse candidates for statewide offices other than Governor and Lt. Governor. There's new drama in the battle for Secretary of State. The sister of contender Amanda Love publicly alleged her family member was a “truly evil person.”Adora Orlowski says her sister would do “anything to anyone to gain power and control.” She accused Love of never having a real job and lacking the experience to serve as Michigan’s secretary of state.” Break out the popcorn! A majority of Michigan voters believe the country is generally going in the wrong direction. 58% say things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong, and 33% say the country is headed in the right direction. Only 63% of Republicans polled were happy with the country's direction. The poll was commissioned by the Republican-leaning Marketing Resource Group. Donald Trump is now represented in Florida's Legislature by a Democrat. Emily Gregory scored a major upset on Tuesday, flipping the legislative district that includes Trump's waterfront grifting headquarters at Mar-a-Lago. Gregory, a first-time candidate who runs a fitness business serving pregnant and postpartum women, defeated her Republican opponent by a 51-49 margin to win the 87th House District in Palm Beach County. Trump, who says mail-in voting is cheating, voted in the election … by mail. Melania and Barron also mailed in their votes. Florida Democrats flipped a second legislative seat. Navy veteran and union official Brian Nathan flipped a Tampa-based state Senate seat that became vacant after Governor Ron DeSantis tapped its previous occupant to serve as his lieutenant governor. Congratulations to Trump as winner of the brand new America FIrst Award, bestowed on him by U.S. House Republicans. This latest in a string of newly created awards gives the attention-craving Trump still another big, beautiful gold doo-dad to put right next to the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize, the first-ever “Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal” award, multiple golf championship trophies he awarded to himself, and his second-hand Nobel Peace Prize. As a topper, Trump's hand-picked Federal Arts Commission has approved putting Trump's mug on a commemorative 24-karat gold coin as part of the 250th anniversary celebration despite a law prohibiting putting a living President on U.S. coins. The New Yorker reports that year one of the Trump presidency has increased his family's wealth by a staggering $4-billion. And that doesn't even count the tens-of-millions taxpayers have spent to pay for Trump's every week golf trips to Florida. Joining the conversation is veteran Detroit Free Press reporter Todd Spangler. Todd Spangler has been with the Free Press since 2003, previously as metro editor in Detroit (among other gigs) and since 2007 as Washington correspondent. In that job, he covers the presidency, Congress, politics and federal policy, a panoply which, admittedly, often makes him scratch his head in wonderment (if not outright confusion).  Before joining the Free Press he managed the AP's Pittsburgh bureau for 4 years. Away from work, Todd runs, hikes, bikes, cooks and listens to jazz. And when he’s back in Detroit he can be found, at least one night of the trip, at Lafayette Coney. Todd is a graduate of West Virginia University where he majored in journalism. We’re now on YouTube every week! Click here to subscribe. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by © Clay Jones – https://claytoonz.substack.com  

iIt's not just college basketball Madness – the bracket busters extend into the halls of Congress where two of Donald Trump's legion of incompetents got busted over the administration's war on Iran … and on the American people.  Michigan's two Senators took part in the Homeland Security Committee's grilling of onetime MMA fighter and plumber Markwayne Mullin who is set to inherit Kristi Noem's office … presumably minus any romancing with Corey Lewandowski. Elissa Slotkin tried to get a commitment that ICE agents won't be showing up at voting precincts in November … with a response that wasn't exactly reassuring. Gary Peters reminded Mullin that it's Republicans who are voting against getting paychecks for TSA employees at airports. Peters re-emphasized what he said on last week's episode of this podcast about the growing mess at airports. Also on our poli-radar this week The Trump grift-and-grab family found another opportunity for personal enrichment. Jared Kushner, the not-a-government-employee who is taking the lead on Middle East negotiations, is simultaneously soliciting $5-billion from Middle East potentates in the form of investments in the Kushner wealth management company. In Michigan, state House Speaker MAGA Matt Hall is taking a page out of the Donald Trump Ego-Massage Manual, bragging about winning an apparently fictitious award for government transparency. The problem with the organization honoring Hall? It apparently doesn't exist. State Democrats responded by offering Hall with the equally bogus SAD Award, or Speaker's Asinine Decision Award. Oakland County hosted Vice President James Donald Bowman – or is it James David Hamel? Or is he sticking with J.D. Vance? Whatever he calls himself, the self-proclaimed Appalachian Hillbilly checked in to tell Michiganders “don't believe your eyes and ears: the economy is really just peachy.” The Jeff Epstein web of debauchery threatens to tarnish Michigan's famed Interlochen Center for the Arts, with state Democrats calling for an investigation into what they described as disturbing connections between Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell and the northern Michigan arts institution.  Donald Trump says a former living President privately supported the Middle East War and wishes he had done it, with all four former living Presidents denying that they've even talked with Trump about the war. But … we haven't heard denials yet from President Jeb Bartlet or President Frank Underwood, or the ghost of the late great Abraham Lincoln. Michigan is a national political center of attention. Governor, U.S. Senator, Secretary of State, Attorney General, the entire congressional delegation and the entire legislature are all on the ballot in November. Covering all of this is Bridge Michigan's outstanding political reporter Lauren Gibbons. Lauren covers state politics and policy for Bridge Michigan. Prior to joining Bridge’s Capitol team, she worked at MLive, where she led coverage of the state Legislature and the redistricting process, and before that covered the state Senate for MIRS News.  She has covered the ins and outs of Michigan politics for nearly a decade and has won awards both for her political coverage and her work documenting the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case. Lauren grew up in the Lansing area and graduated from Michigan State University, majoring in journalism and history. She lives in Ferndale, and her party tricks include Irish dancing and telling friends what political districts they live in without looking. We’re now on YouTube every week! Click here to subscribe. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by © Clay Jones — https://claytoonz.substack.com  

i On our radar this week… © Clay Jones – claytoonz.substack.com In the last week, the list of Donald Trump's broken campaign promises was seemingly endless: beginning with starting a Middle East War and increasing gas prices to go up 60-cents-a-gallon (with the prospect of Four Dollar per gallons looming … maybe even more). The “I will end inflation” guy is now looking at inflation headed in the wrong direction. The man who promised to create manufacturing jobs has given way to the reality of manufacturing job losses. Promises of draining the swamp have taken a multi-billion-dollar detour into the Trump family bank accounts. The long-ago pledge to balance the budget and pay off the national debt have been transformed into record-setting deficits in order to cut taxes for the yachts-and-private-jets crowd. And the promise to release the Epstein Files … well, we all know how that's going. Also this week: We have the tenth special election flip from Republican to Democrat – this time in New Hampshire … as the Trump Train Wreck barrels down the tracks with his polling numbers hitting a new all-time low. His latest political Hail Mary is the SAVE Act which would take away the right to vote from untold hundreds-of-thousands. But his demands are falling on deaf ears on Capitol Hill, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune telling him it ain't gonna happen.  The Trump family has, of course, figured out how to make money from the war. Sonny and Fredo, a.k.a. Don Jr. and Eric, are backing a new drone company that is vying to meet fresh demand from the Pentagon and fill a hole left by the administration's ban on new Chinese drones in the U.S.   Clay Jones – claytoonz.substack.com Trump says the U.S. won the war in the first hour. But they still managed to spend 11-billion dollars after we supposedly had won…and the bombing continues.  It looks like the Gordie Howe Bridge will be putting the Maroun Family into the penalty box. Tolls to cross the not-yet-open bridge will be less than half the fees at the competing Ambassador Bridge for both passenger vehicles and commercial trucks, setting in motion a forthcoming toll war between the two Detroit River crossings. Michigan Democrats are using the Bridge controversy to highlight the financial ties between the Maroun family and GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers.  In Michigan, Republican candidates for Governor are all calling for pretty much closing most of state government by repealing the income tax, property taxes, or both. Apparently they think things like State Police, prisons, public health, public parks, food safety inspections, mental health and our universities can all be funded with the sales tax, sin taxes, unclaimed bottle deposits, the lottery and the tooth fairy.The state Senate has passed bipartisan legislation to help people deal with medical debt. But its fate is uncertain in the House, where Speaker Matt Hall has very different ideas for addressing medical debt through more transparency in pricing. Petitions have been filed with the state to force a vote in November on a deceptive proposal which, on its face, prohibits non-citizens from voting in Michigan … something that is already a part of state law. Left unstated by the backers are the proposal's impact on voting rights. A longtime chronicler of state government has taken a look behind the proposal of “Americans for Citizens Only Voting.” John Lindstrom has covered state government over the last four decades. Since retiring as publisher of the highly regarded Gongwer Michigan report, he's been a columnist for the Detroit Free Press. John is the newest inductee into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame – the ceremony formalizing his induction is a month from now in East Lansing. We’re now on YouTube every week! Click here to subscribe. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by ©Clay Jones:claytoonz.substack.com  

i On our radar this week… Trump's “Wag the Dog” tactic has started a war that's quickly engulfing the entire Middle East, is costing taxpayers tens-of-billions of dollars. It has been an expensive and largely unsuccessful diversion tactic, made even worse with the combative testimony of the Clintons in a House Oversight hearing into the Epstein story. If anything, the two days of testimony from Hillary and Bill Clinton increased the heat on Trump and his coverup. © Clay Jones – claytoonz.com Not satisfied with launching a Middle East war, invading Venezuela, sinking a bunch of small boats on the open seas, hinting at a hostile takeover of Cuba and picking out White House drapes, Trump has now launched a military operation in Ecuador. All of Trump's efforts have been aimed at the supply of drugs – with no effort to reduce the domestic demand for drugs that makes the drug trade so profitable. Also this week: Texas Democrats are thinking upset in November, with Dems outnumbering Republican voters in the primary … and Republicans headed to what promises to be a very messy runoff campaign between their corrupt state Attorney General and a beleaguered sitting Senator. In North Carolina, the nomination of a popular former Governor for the Senate … and the Democratic turnout outnumbering Republicans by 200,000 … have the Dems increasingly confident of flipping that Senate seat. In Arkansas, another Democratic flip. Democrat Alex Holladay won a Republican-held seat in the Arkansas state House on Tuesday, marking the ninth time Democrats have flipped a district from red to blue in a special election since the start of Donald Trump's second term One of the behind-the-scenes powers in Lansing is stepping down from the Legislature. State Senator Sam Singh, long considered one of the most effective lawmakers in Lansing, says he won't seek another term despite the prospect of moving up to Senate Majority Leader in 2027. Even as the United States spends tens-of-billions in borrowed money to bomb Iran, more financial problems for Trump's record-setting budget deficits. A federal trade-court judge has ordered the Trump administration to start refunding the more than $130 billion it collected in the global tariffs invalidated by the Supreme Court last month. Joining the conversation is Michigan's senior United States Senator, Gary Peters. He was first elected to the Senate in 2015 after serving as a member of the Rochester Hills City Council, Michigan State Senate, and Director of the State Lottery. During his two terms in the state Senate, he authored and passed more bills signed into law than any other member of his party – a record of productivity that has been mirrored in his two terms as U.S. Senator. (Jeff) Senator Peters is the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and also is a member of the Appropriations Committee, Armed Services Committee, and Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. We’re now on YouTube every week! Click here to subscribe. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by © Clay Jones – claytoonz.substack.com  

Carmen talks about how the Iranian Christians are processing what's in front of them today and how to respond when an argument being made makes no sense for the well being of children. Clay Jones, co-author of "How Does God Use Suffering for Our Good?: Living with Hope While Making Sense of Life," shares about the importance of clinging to the Truth in the midst of suffering and why many Christians have a twisted view of eternity.   The Reconnect with Carmen and all Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here

Reps. David Scott (D-GA) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) appeared to “doze off” during Donald Trump's SOTU address. On our radar this week… “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”  – George Orwell, “1984” We opened last week's podcast with those words from Orwell's prescient dystopian novel. On Tuesday, Donald Trump lived those words in a gibbering, rambling, bitter, divisive, partisan, and lie-filled one-hour 47-minute diatribe. The speech was boycotted by dozens of Democrats … and a majority of the U.S. Supreme Court and, based on the TV ratings, the majority of Americans. Newly elected Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, in the official Democratic response, summed up Trump in one biting paragraph: “…who benefits from his rhetoric, his policies, his actions, the short list of laws he’s pushed through this Republican Congress? Somebody must be benefiting. He’s enriching himself, his family, his friends. The scale of the corruption is unprecedented. There’s the coverup of the Epstein files, the crypto scams cozying up to foreign princes for airplanes and billionaires for ballrooms, putting his name and face on buildings all over our. Nations capital. This is not what our founders envisioned. Not by a long shot. So I’ll ask again. Is the president working for you? We all know the answer is no.” Ryan Garza – Detroit Free Press A day later, Governor Whitmer offered her 8th and final State of the State assessment: realistic, grounded in reality, and a reflection of someone whose approval rating is 15 points higher than Trump's. Multiple polls show a stunning 60+ percent of Americans say Trump sucks while Whitmer's approval has consistently been in the low-to-mid 50's. Whitmer's speech focused on “kitchen table” issues: affordability, medical debt, housing and literacy. She somehow forgot to label Republicans as “Low IQ”, “Crazy”, “Lunatics” or responsible for all of Michigan's problems … she didn't even once blame anything on Rick Snyder … but she did take the opportunity to brag about Michigan athletes dominating the U.S. medal count at the Olympics. And she even high-fived House Speaker MAGA Matt Hall for working collaboratively on sick-time legislation! The contrasts between those two speeches frame this week's discussion. Later in the podcast, we are joined by two anti-authoritarian experts to discuss an issue facing many American families and neighbors: how we can talk with each other in this era of often-angry partisan divisions – and why it is critical that we do. We've all been there. Going to the Sunday family dinner that always devolves into a debate about Trump. A few of my extended family members are MAGA to the point where we avoid politics completely. Scrolling through Facebook and encountering that childhood friend whose feed has become a minefield of MAGA memes. For a decade, the conventional wisdom for surviving the American political divide has been “don't go there.” We've treated political topics like radioactive waste—best left buried for the sake of the relationship. The folks at the Democracy Investment Fund think that silence is costing us more than we realize. Their new free app, LSTN2U, is a bet on a radical idea: that we can actually talk to each other again, provided we stop trying to “win.” LSTN2U isn't a social media network or a news aggregator. It's essentially a flight simulator for difficult conversations. The free, nonpartisan app provides a judgment-free digital resource where users can practice realistic dialogue. We're joined by the two people behind this optimistic approach to politics: my friends Erin Dobson and Trygve Olson. LSTN2U is a free app: no upsells or hidden fees. Your data is not sold or used commercially. LSTN2U emphasizes: Active Listening: Truly hearing the “why” behind someone's “what.” Emotional Awareness: Identifying when your own “fight or flight” response is hijacking the logic centers of your brain. Boundary Setting: Learning how to stay in a conversation without losing your peace of mind—and knowing when it's OK to step back. Other issues on our radar this week that, in more normal times, would occupy an entire podcast include The appearance that Donald “Give Me the Nobel Peace Prize” Trump is on the verge of starting a war with Iran … a war that could rival the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in futility, and further alienate the United States from the world. This comes six months after Trump claimed to have obliterated Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities. Apparently obliteration has a short shelf life. The Epstein cover-up became even more evident with the revelation that dozens of documents pointing directly at Trump … including allegations of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl … have been hidden by the utterly corrupt Pam Bondi. But Republicans on Capitol Hill are more interested in the Clintons, with Bill and Hillary dragged in front of the House Oversight Committee this week for depositions that will keep the Epstein story in the headlines … but provide little else. After the Supreme Court told him his tariffs were illegal, Trump doubled down by imposing a 10 percent then 15 percent tariff on all imports. If, as Trump says, those tariffs would replace the federal income tax, it would be a huge financial windfall for the highest income taxpayers … his billionaire buddies, shifting the tax load to low- and middle-income families. Republicans are pushing to pass a bill to combat non-existent voter fraud. The so-called “SAVE” act would, in reality, burdening millions of Americans as they exercise their right to vote by requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. The proof: either a birth certificate or passport. Millions of American citizens, including low-income, minorities, seniors, and -get this- women who have a different last name than they were born with, would have to jump through hoops and incur costs to comply. FBI Director Kash Patel spent $1-million or more of taxpayer money for a thinly disguised junket to the Olympics, culminating with chugging beer with the victorious U.S. men's hockey team. Of course, he claimed official business as an excuse for his trip. New polling shows the race for Governor appears to show the race is a statistical tie, with Democrat Jocelyn Benson narrowly leading Republican John James and independent Mike Duggan. But the polling raises questions, especially because the poll was commissioned by supporters of Mike Duggan. The poll assumes James will be the survivor of a four-way GOP primary race, with 78-year-old Perry Johnson promising now to spend $10-million over the next few weeks in a statewide advertising blitz. Legislation has been introduced to limit the use of artificial intelligence to monitor workplace activity. State Representative Penelope Tsernoglou joined with Michigan AFL CIO President Ron Bieber to warn of abuses already happening as some employers use A.I. to monitor everything from computer activity to bathroom breaks. State House Speaker Matt Hall is floating a property tax relief plan funded by enacting a new tax on services – an idea once promoted unsuccessfully by Jennifer Granholm. The Department of Homeland Security says ICE officers will not interfere with voting precincts in November … but a lot of people are skeptical given the history of voting fraud conspiracy promoters making the promise. We’re now on YouTube every week! Click here to subscribe. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by ©Clay Jones:claytoonz.com  

On our radar this week… “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” George Orwell wrote those words 76 years ago in “1984” – seemingly the operating manual for Donald Trump's administration. In fact, Trump used those exact words in a campaign speech and has lived by them ever since.  George Orwell also wrote: “Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.” Every day is an exercise in taking attention away from the growing coverup of the Epstein files and financial corruption, with Trump apparently terrified that his sordid decades-long history as a sexual predator will finally catch up with him.  It's a stark contrast with England, where the Andrew formerly known as “Prince” is celebrated his 66th birthday in police custody as England actually holds the powerful accountable for the Epstein-led sexual abuse of children, while in Epstein's home country the White House continues to coverup the crimes of the rich and powerful … very possibly a group that includes Trump. Case in point: the Department of Justice spoke four separate times to a woman who credibly accused Donald Trump of having sex with a 13-year-old he met through Jeffrey Epstein—but most accusations against the president appear to have been removed from the government's documents on the alleged sex trafficker.  A part of Trump's defense is also right out of “1984”: “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” That means silencing his critics including the late night comedians who, in the tradition of Will Rogers, lampoon him non-stop. But the tactic is backfiring: Kimmel's banishment lasted a few days, and Stephen Colbert has become even more focused in the last weeks of his days on CBS. The made-for-YouTube video of Colbert with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico has racked up more than 7.5 million views which is triple the Colbert TV show ratings. And Talarico raised a staggering $2.5-million in the day following the incident. Trump wants everything possible named after him. Now, he apparently wants to profit from those efforts: his company has filed papers to trademark use of his name at airports even as his Florida fans in the state's legislature pass a bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport in his honor and he pressures Congress to rename Dulles Airport. If signed into law, the Palm Beach International change would cost the airport $5.5 million to remake signs, uniforms, promotional products, equipment, and more, according to Palm Beach County's department of airports. Also on our radar The Supreme Court kicked off another Trump tantrum by axing his tariffs. The war between Dozing Donald and the court he thought he controlled is now started. Trump got a little nap time during the initial meeting of his made-up Institute for Peace, nodding off repeatedly in front of the world leaders who had ponied up the $1-billion membership fee. Before nap time, Trump pledged a $10-billion U.S. contribution to what amounts to his personal slush fund – ignoring the constitutional requirement that spending needed to be authorized by Congress. Governor Whitmer attended the Munich International Security Conference. At the conference, she joined AOC, and Trump's NATO ambassador on a panel discussion where she was highly critical of Trump's economic war with Canada has driven our neighbors to the north to get cozy with China. Independent gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan has a new problem. His campaign claimed union endorsements he hasn't received. It's a near certainty that the Service Employees International Union and the United Auto Workers will ultimately endorse Jocelyn Benson. Benson, meanwhile, picked up the endorsement of the Michigan Nurses Association. Mark has a new neighbor. ICE has opened a regional headquarters next door to my office … and also is opening a detention center in Romulus. Nobody's happy about this except Stephen Miller. Is this a staging area for masked ICE agents outside Democratic-leaning voting sites in southeast Michigan this November? And we can't unwatch the incredibly insane 90-second, taxpayer-funded video of RFK Jr. and Kid Rock flexing and sweating, apparently to promote physical fitness. RFK thankfully did not include snorting cocaine from toilet seats as part of his workout regimen. On a far more serious note, we recognize the unique contributions of two men we lost this week: the internationally known Rev. Jesse Jackson, and one of the “good guys” who made Michigan State government work better over his decades of service, our friend Bill Gnodtke. On Tuesday, west Michigan Congresswoman Hilary Scholten went inside an ICE concentration camp. Scholten, who was an immigration attorney before being elected to Congress, joins this week’s conversation. Congresswoman Scholten is a fourth-generation West Michigander. Prior to her election in 2022 she was an immigration attorney who served in the U.S. Department of Justice.  Scholten began her own career as a social worker, working with people affected by issues of housing and homelessness. During this time, she worked with individuals in the LGBTQ community who were facing homelessness and housing insecurity—often because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.  Congresswoman Scholten obtained her law degree from the University of Maryland Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and then went on to clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in their special unit focused on immigration issues. Following her clerkship, she joined the Justice Department through the Attorney General Honors Program, where she continued to work on matters of immigration and civil rights. In Congress she serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Small Business. We’re now on YouTube every week! Click here to subscribe. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by ©Clay Jones/claytooz.com  

This week’s episode is inspired by Homeland Security immigration attorney Julie Li who let it all hang out at a Minneapolis immigration hearing, telling the judge “The system sucks. This job sucks. I wish you could hold me in contempt so that I could get 24 hours of sleep.” On our radar this week… This week in Trump includes: Claims that the latest partial release of the Epstein files exonerates him … it doesn't. His name appears 38,000 times, including allegations involving 13- and 14-year-old girls. A demand for a federal takeover of elections in democratic areas of swing states, including Detroit … accompanied by a declaration from Steve Bannon that ICE will be used to enforce Trump's will Ordering the seizure of Georgia 2020 voting files from a county he lost, and assigning his Director of National Security to lead the new attack on the 2020 election. Filing a $10-billion lawsuit against the IRS (and effectively himself) for leaks of his tax returns during his first term, tax returns he often promised to release voluntarily. The ultimate decision on whether the IRS settles and pays up will be made by … Trump. Deciding to close the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for 2 years as artists continued to cancel performances. Announcing plans for a White House statue honoring Christopher Columbus, an explorer who ended up landing in the wrong continent. Making it known he wants Dulles Airport and New York City's Penn Station renamed in his honor. Reposting an AI video that includes a shot depicting the Obamas as apes, something that even Trump-loving GOP Senator Tim Scott (the Senate's only black Republican) called “the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House” Bailing from attending the Super Bowl, after aides reportedly warned him he's get booed even more than he was at the Lions-Packers game. Elsewhere in the District of Crazy: The Washington Post, long considered one of the nation's most important newspapers, is being gutted by Jeff Bezos to save money. (Jeff's net worth is around a quarter-of-a-trillion dollars, and he recently launched his $500-million yacht, and spent $75-million on the Melania disaster.) 30% of reporters are being fired. The paper's masthead reads “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” Jeff Bezos just dimmed the light. Senator Elissa Slotkin has told the FBI and Department of Justice to take their requests for an interview and shove it. They want to talk about the video in which she reminds military personnel they should not and cannot obey illegal orders. She's thinking about suing them. With Trump's economy sagging, Ford car sales are down and GM is warning of slowing sales. So much for the promise of a manufacturing rebirth in the “hottest economy on the planet.” In Michigan politics, the stage is set for a special election on May 5th that will decide control of the state Senate. It's a Marine Corps veteran slash firefighter for the Dems against a Republican lawyer. The field continues to clear for Lt. Governor Garland Gilchrist in the Democratic race for Secretary of State, with former state Senator Adam Hollier the latest to drop out of the race. Attorney General Nessel has rolled out a new “Immigration Action Reporting Form” urging residents to document ICE and Border Patrol activity while warning that some federal immigration operations are endangering people in Michigan. A Republican-aligned group says it has enough signatures to get a voter-suppression constitutional amendment on the state ballot. The proposal would require providing proof of citizenship to register to vote – something hundreds-of-thousands don't have.   We’re now on YouTube every week! Click here to subscribe. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by ©Clay Jones – claytoonz.com  

Growing up with alcoholic parents, Clay knew the shame and pain of neglect and not being heard. But his older sister was there for him, protecting him and nurturing in him a strong resilience that would carry him throughout adulthood. Years later, Clay would find out the many secrets his family kept. At the age of 40, he finally decided it was time to heal his childhood trauma.For decades, Clay worked in child abuse prevention with the Maricopa County Dept of Public Health in Arizona where he made it his top priority to help people feel heard and seen. Today, Clay is a desired presenter for local and national conferences, and he's shared his story with thousands. He wants all who hear his story to know that no matter what's happened to you, hope and recovery are possible. This episode is uplifting and inspiring. You're going to want to listen in.Clay's memoir, My Sister's Brother, tells his story of survival and healing after childhood trauma. To purchase Clay's memoir: www.clay-jones.comTo connect with Clay: clay.jones@hotmail.com 

Honoring God When Life Hurts: Why He Doesn't Waste Your Pain If God is good… why does obedience still hurt? Why do faithful Christians suffer cancer, loss, miscarriage, and heartbreak? In this episode I'm speaking with Clay Jones and Jean E. Jones about how Christians can glorify God in the worst of times. We're not offering easy answers or shallow promises. We're talking honestly about suffering—what Scripture actually says, what the church often gets wrong, and how God uses pain not to destroy faith, but to refine it. Drawing from their personal struggles, we'll explore how Christians can honor God even when it hurts—and why your suffering is never wasted in God's hands.

One thing is certain in this life: We will all experience hardship and pain. But with God as our caring Father, we can also be certain that our pain presents opportunities to shape us for a glory beyond imagination. Ed Stetzer talks with Clay Jones about his book, How Does God Use Suffering for Our Good? and how when we learn why God allows suffering, our pain is given meaning, and that can help us live with purpose and hope even as we suffer today on Ed Stetzer Live. Ed Stetzer Live is a listener supported program. To donate, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer, click here. To learn more about Ed Stetzer Live, click here.Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/edstetzerliveSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On our radar this week… The first-ever recipient of a previously owned Nobel Peace Prize apparently wants to be the Genghis Khan of the 21st Century. In the last week, Trump has  Threatened to invade Venezuela if his hand-picked government doesn't do his bidding;  Stationed an armada near Iran in preparations for an aerial war;  Hinted at an imminent effort at regime change in Cuba;  Doubled-downed on his armed assault on the Constitution in Minneapolis with a change in messaging but little else, He replaced one Nazi-adjacent ICE commander with a fascist-adjacent ICE commander in Minneapolis with vague promises of a future future drawdown on masked thugs roaming the streets, but not now. Sent his FBI and Tulsi Gabbard to investigate the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, a continuation of his b.s. claims of fraud costing him a win over Joe Biden, and  Had his FBI raid the home of a reporter in violation of federal law; and, Arrested reporter Don Lemon for covering a peaceful Minneapolis protest because it “disrupted” a religious service Trump’s war on Minneapolis inspired a powerful anthem from “The Boss.” Bruce Springsteen's “The Streets of Minneapolis” pulls no punches in denouncing Trump, ICE Barbie and Stephen Miller. Due to copyright restrictions we can't play it here … but it's well worth a visit to YouTube. Trump World is also having a direct impact on Michigan politics. Trump has reportedly inserted himself in the battle for the party's gubernatorial nomination, torpedoing frontrunner John James and encouraging 78-year-old rich guy Perry Johnson's newly announced campaign.  Michigan Democrats have launched their first attack ad on independent gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan even as the party's contests for Attorney General and Secretary of State are all but over.  A Republican dark money group is promoting one of the Democrats in next week's primary to fill a state Senate primary … with the belief that State Board of Education President Pamela Pugh would be easier to beat in the April general election. Democrats, including Saginaw Dem chair Jennifer Austin and Saginaw state Representative Amos O'Neal, are crying “foul.” Senator Elissa Slotkin says Kristi Noem has to go. In a Senate speech, Michigan's junior senator noted she had voted to confirm Noem … but the cabinet member derided as “ICE Barbie” has betrayed fundamental American values. We’re joined this week by political science guru Norm Ornstein, emeritus scholar at the conservative think-tank American Enterprise Institute with his assessment of congressional dysfunction and Trump's drive for one-person government. He is the co-author, with Thomas E. Mann, of It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism. Norm is a Minnesota native. He was a child prodigy, graduating from high school when he was fourteen and from college when he was eighteen. He received his BA from the University of Minnesota and PhD in political science from the University of Michigan.  By the mid-1970s, he had become a professor of political science at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., establishing a reputation as an expert on the United States Congress. Ornstein is a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, The Atlantic and the National Journal. He wrote a weekly column for Roll Call for 11 years, and was co-director of the AEI-Brookings Election Reform Project. He helped draft key parts of the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, also known as the McCain–Feingold Act. Ornstein is a registered Democrat but considers himself a centrist and has voted for individuals from both parties. We’re now on YouTube every week! Click here to subscribe. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by © Clay Jones/claytoonz.com  

Adobe Images On our radar this week… Taco Trump went to Davos intent on taking over Greenland or Iceland (depending on the moment) … calls our allies stupid and worthless … and comes home with the “concept of a framework for a future agreement” that amounts to little more than total surrender to a united Europe. That, after a one-hour rambling, disjointed speech to the assembled world leaders who watched in stunned silence. Trump's really bad week continued at home with a series of defeats: His beauty pageant runner up is forced to resign after a federal court reminds her that she was not, in fact, the U.S. Attorney for northern Virginia The Supreme Court seems poised to veto his efforts to stack the federal reserve with stooges Former special counsel Jack Smith verbally filleted Trump, testifying to the House Judiciary Committee in detail about the case proving “beyond a reasonable doubt” it was Trump who instigated the January 6 insurrection in an effort to overturn the 2020 election Another federal court struck down the blatantly unconstitutional tactics used by ICE in Minneapolis A newly uncovered ICE memo directing Trump's goon squad to break down doors without a warrant has put “Homeland Barbie” Kristi Noem on the defensive … again In Michigan, legislation has been introduced pushing back on ICE tactics by designating no-arrest zones, prohibiting masking of law enforcement with common-sense exceptions, and prohibiting the release of government information to ICE without a judicial warrant Michigan's research universities are pushing back on Trump efforts to effectively stifle free speech on college campuses. We talk with University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker about the challenges facing one of the world's leading research institutions. Acker is Mark’s longtime friend and law partner at the Goodman Acker law firm. Prior to law school, Jordan worked as a communications aide to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. After law school, he served as an associate in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel before being appointed by President Obama to be an attorney-advisor to Secretary Janet Napolitano at the Department of Homeland Security. While at DHS, Jordan worked on cyber, immigration and other homeland security issues. He was elected to the UM Board of Regents in 2018. Acker was named one of Crains Detroit 40 under 40 in 2020, Michigan Lawyers Weekly Up and Coming Lawyers, and is an alum of the non-partisan Michigan Political Leadership Program Fellowship at Michigan State University. Since joining the University of Michigan Board of Regents, he has focused on reforming sexual misconduct reporting and adjudication at the University, NCAA reform, including the future of NIL, expanding the Go Blue Guarantee, and making the University affordable for Michiganders. We’re now on YouTube every week! Click here to subscribe. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by © Clay Jones/claytoonz.com  

Links from today’s broadcast: Find Drs. Jean and Clay Jones at the following: liveforeternity.net clayjones.net jeanejones.net …………………. You can join the studio audience by clicking on the ‘Join Live Studio Audience’ button at WCNTV.net as well as watched our archived broadcasts. Subscribe to the Wisconsin Christian Newspaper by going to WisconsinChristianNews.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WisconsinChristianNews/

If you’re in a challenging season—or walking alongside someone who is—this conversation will meet you right where you are. In this hopeful and honest episode, I sit down with Dr. Clay Jones and Jeannie Jones to talk about their new book, How Does God Use Suffering for Our Good? Living With Hope While Making Sense of Life. Together, they share the real-life pain that shaped this message (cancer, miscarriages, foster care, and ongoing health challenges), and the seven anchoring truths they repeat to each other when suffering feels overwhelming. This episode is full of steady, biblical comfort—without clichés—and it will help you reframe suffering through the lens of eternity, hope, and God’s character. If you're hurting, this episode is your lifeline.. Don't miss it! And remember, I'd love to connect more on Instagram, where you'll find me at @donnaajones. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode! Xo, Donna Listen in to learn more : [0:04:22] Personal suffering story [0:07:35] The 7 truths they repeat during suffering: [0:11:42] Truth journals (remembering God’s redemption): [0:16:32] “You don’t know what tomorrow will bring”: [0:17:22] Fix your focus (looking at Jesus): [0:23:36]Why suffering produces endurance → character → hope (Romans 5): [0:26:43] Eternity changes the scale of everything Donna’s Resources: Order a copy of my latest book - Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: A Biblical Guide to Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret. It is available anywhere books are sold– here is the link on Amazon. If you need a helpful resource for someone exploring faith and Christianity or simply want to strengthen your own knowledge, you’ll want a copy of my book, Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God. It’s a must for seekers, new believers, and those who want to deepen their confidence in their faith. Connect with Clay and Jeannie YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWymIngKlc1CtKBZ4aMLCHQ Website - https://clayjones.net/ Purchase the book -https://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/books/how-does-god-use-suffering-for-our-good-9780736992237/?srsltid=AfmBOoqAUBs3q3Pf-0zQ_Xc3Y0z8NYWvM2TFRFPGxOQtrfUZaxtIrxIT Connect with Donna Instagram: @donnaajones Website: www.donnajones.org Donna’s speaking schedule: https://donnajones.org/events/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Clay Jones/claytoonz.com On our radar this week... Tomorrow ... You're only a day away! President Donald Trump took his show back on the road this week in a desperate attempt to rekindle his “rally magic” and tell voters not to believe their eyes, ears, brains, wallets, or increasingly harder to fill refrigerators. Starting in Pennsylvania, he vows to campaign early and often across the country in competitive seats for the U.S. House and Senate. Democrats should offer to pay for the rallies. As our (least) Favorite President emerges from his Mar-A-Lago cocoon to deny economic reality, with his economic team claiming everything gets better … eventually: Prices will come down, he'll have a healthcare plan you'll love, urban crime will end, the Kennedy Center will have a rebirth as the Trump Center for the Arts and medical science will come up with a cure for cankles. Trump and his economic team sound like “Annie”! Also this week... Democrats have scored two more major election wins, most significantly electing the first Democratic Mayor of Miami in 20 years … and it was a landslide. And the Dems flipped a Trump +12 legislative seat in Georgia. In Lansing, it's been a year since the Legislature passed 9 laws that are still unconstitutionally sitting in the House of Representatives and signed into effect by Governor Whitmer. I've been the lawyer leading the so-far successful lawsuit to free the hostages as Speaker Matt Hall is and the GOP now look to the Michigan Supreme Court as they continue to ignore the constitution and keep stalling. There's a new name in the Democratic party campaign for Secretary of State, with Lottery Director and former congressional candidate Suzanna Shkreli joining the field which already includes Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, former Senator Adam Hollier, and Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie. ACA premium tax credits are officially dead. Premiums will skyrocket for millions at the same time as major retailers raise prices to cover the costs of Trump's tariffs … while the President is proposing $12-billion in tariff subsidies for farmers. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by Jeff Margulies/Washington Post

Clay Jones-claytoonz.com It's Show #250! On our radar this week... Trump and onetime Fox couch potato Pete Hegseth are putting that shoot-em-on-5th-Avenue theory to the test … but instead, his real-life murders have generated bipartisan talk of War Crimes, even without an actual war. A special election in Tennessee, and a new Michigan poll both point to a potential Blue Tsunami in 2026. Trump is going on another pardon-and-commutation binge. His beneficiaries include a top-level drug trafficker, Ponzi Schemer who stole $1.6-billion  and corrupt politicians. Could Ghislaine Maxwell could be next? Trump's economic news is tumbling as job numbers tumbling … but we're relying on ADP data: federal numbers are being stalled by Trump's minions at the Department of Labor. And in our future giggles file: Pillow Plutocrat Mike Lindell has taken the first step to run for Governor of Minnesota, the same state that entertained us 25 years ago by electing Governor Jesse Ventura. Joining the podcast this week is Michigan's Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. We talk election security, potential voter intimidation, gubernatorial politics...and the Lions and Pistons! Secretary Benson was first elected in 2018 and reelected in a 2022 landslide. She's former Dean of the Wayne State University Law School, and considered one of the nation's top experts on election law. In the most recent polling, she has an overwhelming lead in the race for the Democratic nomination for Governor, leading Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist by 43 points. The most recent EPIC-MRA poll shows her in a statistical tie with Republican John James in the general election, with Independent Mike Duggan 13 points behind. Mike Luckovich - Atlanta Journal Constitution

VIDEO: Senator Elissa Slotkin responds to Donald Trump's outrageous threats against her, Senator Kelly and four House members. On our radar this week... Donald Trump says it's criminal to post a video quoting federal law – with the Pentagon looking to court-martial Senator Mark Kelly, and the FBI investigating Elissa Slotkin and four House members. Trump's healthcare plan … something promised for 9 years as coming "in 2 weeks" … turns out to be “dead even before arrival” in Congress. In addition to either executing or jailing Democratic members of Congress, Trump is focused on upgrading military golf courses in the DC area. It's official: in the battle for Michigan's U.S. Senate Republican nomination, Mike Rogers has a primary fight on his hand with just-resigned state GOP co-chair Bernadette Smith.  There's increasing speculation about whether Gretchen Whitmer will run for President. An Axios profile says she's retreating from the national stage, even as fellow Michiganders Pete Buttigieg and Elissa Slotkin ramp up their national visibility. The Trump Retribution Campaign is hitting massive roadblocks:  Indictments of top-level Trump foes James Comey and Leticia James were thrown out of court  His Attorney General is having trouble even getting indictments against other targets … and even finding prosecutors willing to take on those cases Marjorie Taylor Greene has started what she predicts will be a wave of Republican congressional resignations  And his utterly incompetent FBI director is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Clay Jones - claytoonz.com

In this powerful message, Pastors Clay and Whitney Jones share their personal miracle story — a journey through heartbreak, loss, and restoration that will strengthen your faith and remind you that nothing is impossible with God.  

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly “Tough Questions for Christians” theme with discussions about how riches and treasures can keep us from the Kingdom of Heaven, without God. We turn to Mark 10:17-27, which tells us of the rich man earnestly seeking Jesus, but was told to give up his riches to enter Heaven. We cannot be attached to the things of this world because we need to be able to choose Jesus over the things of this earth. We had Abdu Murray join us to share his faith story as a former muslim, and he discussed the differences in religions. Abdu is a speaker, author, and attorney who addresses issues where religious faith and emerging cultural trends intersect and collide. He is also the President of Embrace the Truth and has spent decades analyzing how major religious and non-religious thought traditions have attempted to address emerging cultural issues. Dr. Clay Jones also joined us to discuss how God uses suffering for our growth and spiritual transformation and how we should keep our minds focused on eternity. Dr. Jones is a former pastor and was a professor in the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology for 16 years. He is also the author of the book, “How Does God Use Suffering for Our Good?” We also turned to the phone lines to ask listeners, “How had God used suffering in your life for good?” Then we had Dr. Don Sweeting join us to talk about Founders Week”, a week of Bible teaching and a time of worship for the Moody Bible Institute (MBI). Dr. Sweeting is the recent President and Chancellor at Colorado Christian University. He's a noted educator, minister, academic, and author. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to listen to a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Abdu Murray Interview (Differences Between Religion) [04:35] Dr. Clay Jones Interview (Suffering as a Christian) [17:25 ] Caller Segment (How has God used suffering in your life for good?) [44:45 ] Dr. Don Sweeting Interview (Founders Week) [52:32 ] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly “Tough Questions for Christians” theme with discussions about how riches and treasures can keep us from the Kingdom of Heaven, without God. We turn to Mark 10:17-27, which tells us of the rich man earnestly seeking Jesus, but was told to give up his riches to enter Heaven. We cannot be attached to the things of this world because we need to be able to choose Jesus over the things of this earth. We had Abdu Murray join us to share his faith story as a former muslim, and he discussed the differences in religions. Abdu is a speaker, author, and attorney who addresses issues where religious faith and emerging cultural trends intersect and collide. He is also the President of Embrace the Truth and has spent decades analyzing how major religious and non-religious thought traditions have attempted to address emerging cultural issues. Dr. Clay Jones also joined us to discuss how God uses suffering for our growth and spiritual transformation and how we should keep our minds focused on eternity. Dr. Jones is a former pastor and was a professor in the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology for 16 years. He is also the author of the book, “How Does God Use Suffering for Our Good?” We also turned to the phone lines to ask listeners, “How had God used suffering in your life for good?” Then we had Dr. Don Sweeting join us to talk about Founders Week”, a week of Bible teaching and a time of worship for the Moody Bible Institute (MBI). Dr. Sweeting is the recent President and Chancellor at Colorado Christian University. He's a noted educator, minister, academic, and author. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to listen to a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Abdu Murray Interview (Differences Between Religion) [04:35] Dr. Clay Jones Interview (Suffering as a Christian) [17:25 ] Caller Segment (How has God used suffering in your life for good?) [44:45 ] Dr. Don Sweeting Interview (Founders Week) [52:32 ] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly “Tough Questions for Christians” theme with discussions about how riches and treasures can keep us from the Kingdom of Heaven, without God. We turn to Mark 10:17-27, which tells us of the rich man earnestly seeking Jesus, but was told to give up his riches to enter Heaven. We cannot be attached to the things of this world because we need to be able to choose Jesus over the things of this earth. We had Abdu Murray join us to share his faith story as a former muslim, and he discussed the differences in religions. Abdu is a speaker, author, and attorney who addresses issues where religious faith and emerging cultural trends intersect and collide. He is also the President of Embrace the Truth and has spent decades analyzing how major religious and non-religious thought traditions have attempted to address emerging cultural issues. Dr. Clay Jones also joined us to discuss how God uses suffering for our growth and spiritual transformation and how we should keep our minds focused on eternity. Dr. Jones is a former pastor and was a professor in the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology for 16 years. He is also the author of the book, “How Does God Use Suffering for Our Good?” We also turned to the phone lines to ask listeners, “How had God used suffering in your life for good?” Then we had Dr. Don Sweeting join us to talk about Founders Week”, a week of Bible teaching and a time of worship for the Moody Bible Institute (MBI). Dr. Sweeting is the recent President and Chancellor at Colorado Christian University. He's a noted educator, minister, academic, and author. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to listen to a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Abdu Murray Interview (Differences Between Religion) [04:35] Dr. Clay Jones Interview (Suffering as a Christian) [17:25 ] Caller Segment (How has God used suffering in your life for good?) [44:45 ] Dr. Don Sweeting Interview (Founders Week) [52:32 ] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly “Tough Questions for Christians” theme with discussions about how riches and treasures can keep us from the Kingdom of Heaven, without God. We turn to Mark 10:17-27, which tells us of the rich man earnestly seeking Jesus, but was told to give up his riches to enter Heaven. We cannot be attached to the things of this world because we need to be able to choose Jesus over the things of this earth. We had Abdu Murray join us to share his faith story as a former muslim, and he discussed the differences in religions. Abdu is a speaker, author, and attorney who addresses issues where religious faith and emerging cultural trends intersect and collide. He is also the President of Embrace the Truth and has spent decades analyzing how major religious and non-religious thought traditions have attempted to address emerging cultural issues. Dr. Clay Jones also joined us to discuss how God uses suffering for our growth and spiritual transformation and how we should keep our minds focused on eternity. Dr. Jones is a former pastor and was a professor in the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology for 16 years. He is also the author of the book, “How Does God Use Suffering for Our Good?” We also turned to the phone lines to ask listeners, “How had God used suffering in your life for good?” Then we had Dr. Don Sweeting join us to talk about Founders Week”, a week of Bible teaching and a time of worship for the Moody Bible Institute (MBI). Dr. Sweeting is the recent President and Chancellor at Colorado Christian University. He's a noted educator, minister, academic, and author. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to listen to a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Abdu Murray Interview (Differences Between Religion) [04:35] Dr. Clay Jones Interview (Suffering as a Christian) [17:25 ] Caller Segment (How has God used suffering in your life for good?) [44:45 ] Dr. Don Sweeting Interview (Founders Week) [52:32 ] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly “Tough Questions for Christians” theme with discussions about how riches and treasures can keep us from the Kingdom of Heaven, without God. We turn to Mark 10:17-27, which tells us of the rich man earnestly seeking Jesus, but was told to give up his riches to enter Heaven. We cannot be attached to the things of this world because we need to be able to choose Jesus over the things of this earth. We had Abdu Murray join us to share his faith story as a former muslim, and he discussed the differences in religions. Abdu is a speaker, author, and attorney who addresses issues where religious faith and emerging cultural trends intersect and collide. He is also the President of Embrace the Truth and has spent decades analyzing how major religious and non-religious thought traditions have attempted to address emerging cultural issues. Dr. Clay Jones also joined us to discuss how God uses suffering for our growth and spiritual transformation and how we should keep our minds focused on eternity. Dr. Jones is a former pastor and was a professor in the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology for 16 years. He is also the author of the book, “How Does God Use Suffering for Our Good?” We also turned to the phone lines to ask listeners, “How had God used suffering in your life for good?” Then we had Dr. Don Sweeting join us to talk about Founders Week”, a week of Bible teaching and a time of worship for the Moody Bible Institute (MBI). Dr. Sweeting is the recent President and Chancellor at Colorado Christian University. He's a noted educator, minister, academic, and author. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to listen to a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Abdu Murray Interview (Differences Between Religion) [04:35] Dr. Clay Jones Interview (Suffering as a Christian) [17:25 ] Caller Segment (How has God used suffering in your life for good?) [44:45 ] Dr. Don Sweeting Interview (Founders Week) [52:32 ] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly “Tough Questions for Christians” theme with discussions about how riches and treasures can keep us from the Kingdom of Heaven, without God. We turn to Mark 10:17-27, which tells us of the rich man earnestly seeking Jesus, but was told to give up his riches to enter Heaven. We cannot be attached to the things of this world because we need to be able to choose Jesus over the things of this earth. We had Abdu Murray join us to share his faith story as a former muslim, and he discussed the differences in religions. Abdu is a speaker, author, and attorney who addresses issues where religious faith and emerging cultural trends intersect and collide. He is also the President of Embrace the Truth and has spent decades analyzing how major religious and non-religious thought traditions have attempted to address emerging cultural issues. Dr. Clay Jones also joined us to discuss how God uses suffering for our growth and spiritual transformation and how we should keep our minds focused on eternity. Dr. Jones is a former pastor and was a professor in the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology for 16 years. He is also the author of the book, “How Does God Use Suffering for Our Good?” We also turned to the phone lines to ask listeners, “How had God used suffering in your life for good?” Then we had Dr. Don Sweeting join us to talk about Founders Week”, a week of Bible teaching and a time of worship for the Moody Bible Institute (MBI). Dr. Sweeting is the recent President and Chancellor at Colorado Christian University. He's a noted educator, minister, academic, and author. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to listen to a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Abdu Murray Interview (Differences Between Religion) [04:35] Dr. Clay Jones Interview (Suffering as a Christian) [17:25 ] Caller Segment (How has God used suffering in your life for good?) [44:45 ] Dr. Don Sweeting Interview (Founders Week) [52:32 ] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we continued our weekly “Tough Questions for Christians” theme with discussions about how riches and treasures can keep us from the Kingdom of Heaven, without God. We turn to Mark 10:17-27, which tells us of the rich man earnestly seeking Jesus, but was told to give up his riches to enter Heaven. We cannot be attached to the things of this world because we need to be able to choose Jesus over the things of this earth. We had Abdu Murray join us to share his faith story as a former muslim, and he discussed the differences in religions. Abdu is a speaker, author, and attorney who addresses issues where religious faith and emerging cultural trends intersect and collide. He is also the President of Embrace the Truth and has spent decades analyzing how major religious and non-religious thought traditions have attempted to address emerging cultural issues. Dr. Clay Jones also joined us to discuss how God uses suffering for our growth and spiritual transformation and how we should keep our minds focused on eternity. Dr. Jones is a former pastor and was a professor in the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology for 16 years. He is also the author of the book, “How Does God Use Suffering for Our Good?” We also turned to the phone lines to ask listeners, “How had God used suffering in your life for good?” Then we had Dr. Don Sweeting join us to talk about Founders Week”, a week of Bible teaching and a time of worship for the Moody Bible Institute (MBI). Dr. Sweeting is the recent President and Chancellor at Colorado Christian University. He's a noted educator, minister, academic, and author. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to listen to a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Abdu Murray Interview (Differences Between Religion) [04:35] Dr. Clay Jones Interview (Suffering as a Christian) [17:25 ] Caller Segment (How has God used suffering in your life for good?) [44:45 ] Dr. Don Sweeting Interview (Founders Week) [52:32 ] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's show is sponsored in part by EPIC-MRA Public Opinion Research MIRS News

Clay Jones joins Tim Echols, including for the famous "hippy segment."

This week's show is sponsored in part by EPIC-MRA Public Opinion Research MIRS News

In this show, Tim Echols and KC Boyce are joined in studio by Baringa's Michael Levy and GAM's Clay Jones to talk energy policy. In the second half, certified arborist Christie Bryant joins with Stephanie Ramage to talk all-things trees.

The most unqualified national security team ever assembled demonstrates its total lack of competence…and defends itself by attacking Atlantic Magazine and Jeffrey Goldberg. Their fallback defense: no harm, no foul. The attack was successful so it's no big whoop. Trump, who appears to be out of the loop on a lot of what's happening inside his administration, is keeping his focus on leveraging the presidency to make money for himself, while co-President Elon Musk continues his brazen violations of federal laws and the U.S. constitution. The latest outrages from the Trump-Musk administration: intimidating, punishing and extorting any law firm that dares challenge their mission to destroy the federal government; using the unmatched financial leverage of the federal budget to demand fealty from universities and large corporations; and a new Executive Order which will take away voting rights from untold hundreds-of-thousands of Americans. Clay Jones - claytoons.com This episode is sponsored in part by =========================== EPIC ▪ MRA, a full service survey research firm with expertise in • Public Opinion Surveys • Market Research Studies • Live Telephone Surveys • On-Line and Automated Surveys • Focus Group Research • Bond Proposals - Millage Campaigns • Political Campaigns & Consulting • Ballot Proposals - Issue Advocacy Research • Community - Media Relations • Issue - Image Management • Database Development & List Management ===========================

Today, we'll cover one of the most controversial stories in the Bible: David & Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). Did David rape Bathsheba? Was she complicit in any way? Dr. Carmen Imes is an Old Testament professor, writer, and biblical scholar at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. Hope you enjoy and it can clear up some of the misconceptions and reveal other parts to the story. READ: Blame David, Not Bathsheba. Nathan Did, by Carmen Imes: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2022/07/rape-david-bathsheba-adultery-sexual-sin-prophet-nathan/ READ: Did David Rape Bathsheba? Clay Jones: https://www.equip.org/articles/did-david-rape-bathsheba/ WATCH: The Bible and Slavery: Explained (w/ Carmen Imes): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWvwkHKWAfE *Get a MASTERS IN APOLOGETICS or SCIENCE AND RELIGION at BIOLA (https://bit.ly/3LdNqKf) *USE Discount Code [SMDCERTDISC] for 25% off the BIOLA APOLOGETICS CERTIFICATE program (https://bit.ly/3AzfPFM) *See our fully online UNDERGRAD DEGREE in Bible, Theology, and Apologetics: (https://bit.ly/448STKK) FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sean_McDowell TikTok: @sean_mcdowell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmcdowell/ Website: https://seanmcdowell.org

In this episode of the Foundation Worldview Podcast, Elizabeth Urbanowicz addresses a profound question from an 8-year-old: "Why did God create Lucifer if He knew Lucifer would rebel?" Elizabeth walks listeners through how to respond when children ask tough questions about God's plan and the existence of evil. She explains how to affirm a child's curiosity, discern the root of their question, and guide them in biblical truths about God's character. With Scripture as the foundation, Elizabeth encourages parents to help their children understand that, while we may not know all the answers, we can trust in God's goodness and His ultimate plan for redemption. Tune in for practical guidance and recommended resources for deeper exploration. Recommended Resources: Why Does God Allow Evil by Dr. Clay Jones (accessible defense of free will and the problem of evil). Foundation Worldview Blog Series: "Mommy, Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?"

Clay Jones and Jeff Pratt join Tim Echols and KC Boyce in studio to discuss manufacturing and data center impacts on the Georgia grid.

In “Eating at the End of the World,” Gravy producer Katie Jane Fernelius takes a close look at the culture of disaster prep, especially how people eat when disaster strikes. As it turns out, how people provision for disaster can differ wildly from how they actually feed themselves, and each other, once a storm blows through.   After living without power for almost two weeks following Hurricane Ida, Fernelius fell down a rabbit hole of prepper content. She discovered cartons of shelf-stable water, large cans of peaches and green beans, wide varieties of dehydrated meals, and large “apocalypse buckets” full of everything a person might need following a disaster. In short, she discovered a booming industry.   So, she was curious: Who preps? For what? And why?   In this episode, Fernelius talks to cultural anthropologist Chad Huddleston, who studies the rise of prepper culture—and consumerism—following Hurricane Katrina. He talks about how the kinds of food that preppers keep in their pantries has shifted over time, and how “prepper” foods have never been so popular and available as they are today.   Fernelius also interviews a mutual aid organizer in New Orleans named Miriam Belblidia, who contrasts the utility of “prepping” against her actual experience of living in the aftermath of a hurricane. She says that when we think of prepping, we should be far more concerned with how we prepare community resources than how we prepare individual ones.   Special thanks to Chad Huddlestone, Miriam Beblidia, and all the people who organized mutual aid in New Orleans following Hurricane Ida. Thank you to Heather Cole for her fact-checking. Thank you to Clay Jones for his sound design and mixing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life has been especially hard for those in the western part of North Carolina since Hurricane Helene struck last week, leaving residents without access to food and water and claiming the lives of countless victims due to unprecedented flash flooding and fallen debris. During this week's podcast episode, Frank sits down with Dr. Clay Jones (instructor of the upcoming OCC course 'Why Does God Allow Evil?') and Dan Hodges (CrossExamined Board Director and Hurricane Helene survivor) to discuss the problem of evil and some of the heartbreaking stories emerging in light of the recent storm.Resources mentioned during the episode:Micah's Story (New York Post article): https://bit.ly/3Yb4JU3Clay's Online Course: https://bit.ly/3ZQbefVClay's Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0736970444Give to Samaritan's Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/

This is the final part of the 2006 speech given by Rockwell Collins CEO, Clay Jones. I worked at Rockwell Collins from 1999-2017, and was heavily involved in the Lean Electronics program. In this clip, he answers audience questions: 1) How to immerse Lean into the culture? 2) How is he going after employee healthcare costs? (asked by George Koenigsaecker) 3) What are the biggest barriers he is concerned about? In his answers, he mentions the importance of coaching and mentoring, but also discusses the classroom and virtual training courses, knowledge management and the Communities of Practice program. He also shares some of the work that Rockwell Collins has done to drive Lean into healthcare (including a grant program I worked on). Finally, he stressed the importance of not being complacent, always looking for waste and reducing cost of nonconformance, and the strive for continuous improvement. I also share my thoughts on what happened to the Lean program when Kelly Ortberg (now the Boeing CEO and President) took over for Clay in 2013. You can watch the entire video at ⁠⁠⁠http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/16101-leading-rockwell-collins-lean-transformation⁠⁠⁠ Additional Links Clay Jones Wikipedia page Kelly Ortberg Wikipedia page George Koenigsaecker If you're interested in taking a Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt course, consider these self-paced affordable courses from OpEx Training: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmadefinition.com/shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need help in your organization, or want to discuss your current work situation? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let's talk! Schedule a free support call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it's all there. Download it for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠creativesafetysupply.com/5S⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BIZ-PI.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have a question? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com⁠

This is part 5 of the 2006 speech given by Rockwell Collins CEO, Clay Jones. I worked at Rockwell Collins from 1999-2017, and was heavily involved in the Lean Electronics program. In this clip, you'll hear him discuss the 5 lessons learned from the first 8 years of the Lean journey at Rockwell Collins (1998 to 2006). Senior Leadership alignment Managing change and resistance Course correction when needed Implement Value Stream Mapping first Ask for help "If leadership isn't driving your Lean transformation, don't even start. It's like teaching a pig to talk. You're wasting your time, and you're annoying the pig" - Clay Jones He shares some impressive results that were partly due to Lean implementation. Stock price increase of 260%, return on investment capital from 21% to 38%, sales almost doubled from $1.8B to $3.5B, net income over 80%, both business units over 18% operating margin, along with the traditional improvements to on-time delivery, customer acceptance (quality) and sales per employee. You can watch the entire video at ⁠⁠⁠http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/16101-leading-rockwell-collins-lean-transformation⁠⁠⁠ If you're interested in taking a Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt course, consider these self-paced affordable courses from OpEx Training: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmadefinition.com/shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need help in your organization, or want to discuss your current work situation? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let's talk! Schedule a free support call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it's all there. Download it for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠creativesafetysupply.com/5S⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BIZ-PI.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have a question? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com⁠

This is part 4 of the 2006 speech given by Rockwell Collins CEO, Clay Jones. I worked at Rockwell Collins from 1999-2017, and was heavily involved in the Lean Electronics program. In this clip, you'll hear him discuss how they expanded on the Core Process Optimization efforts to move to Lifecycle Value Stream Management. This allowed them to address the wastes in the handoffs between major processes. The VSM roles required them to change their roles, metrics, behaviors and cost allocations. "Lean is a journey, not a destination" - Clay Jones He also shares how they expanded Lean into innovation and creative processes like Engineering, Design and Development and Research. This broke the stereotype that Lean was only for manufacturing. The standardization of these major processes helped bring some consistency and efficiency to how a product was proposed, funded, managed, designed, transitioned and supported. He also reiterated the importance of knowledge management in capture information and disseminating it across the organizations and value streams. You can watch the entire video at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/16101-leading-rockwell-collins-lean-transformation⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you're interested in taking a Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt course, consider these self-paced affordable courses from OpEx Training: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmadefinition.com/shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need help in your organization, or want to discuss your current work situation? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let's talk! Schedule a free support call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it's all there. Download it for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠creativesafetysupply.com/5S⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BIZ-PI.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have a question? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com⁠⁠

This is part 3 of the 2006 speech given by Rockwell Collins CEO, Clay Jones. I worked at Rockwell Collins from 1999-2017, and was heavily involved in the Lean Electronics program. In this clip, you'll hear him discuss why they brought in some external consultants like John Shook and Denny Mead to try and figure out why all the improvements were not showing an impact on the bottom-line results or other key metrics. The RC Scorecard was developed to give a balanced view across the company, and it included a critical metric, called Cost of Nonconformance (CONC), which I was heavily involved with. He also discusses how leadership needed to become more engaged in value stream mapping to help drive the right improvements in the right areas by following the new "Lean Roadmap." You can watch the entire video at ⁠⁠http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/16101-leading-rockwell-collins-lean-transformation⁠⁠ If you're interested in taking a Lean, Green Belt or Black Belt course, consider these self-paced affordable courses from OpEx Training: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.leansixsigmadefinition.com/shop/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need help in your organization, or want to discuss your current work situation? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let's talk! Schedule a free support call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Sponsor: Creative Safety Supply is a great resource for free guides, infographics, and continuous improvement tools. I recommend starting with their 5S guide. It includes breakdowns of the five pillars, ways to begin implementing 5S, and even organization tips and color charts. From red tags to floor marking; it's all there. Download it for free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠creativesafetysupply.com/5S⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BIZ-PI.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LeanSixSigmaDefinition.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have a question? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a voice message at Podcasters.Spotify.com⁠ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/leansixsigmabursts/message

This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with JOURNAL author Clay Jones about his online Viewpoint article, “Is Divine Determinism Biblical?”. https://www.equip.org/articles/is-divine-determinism-biblical/Other recent podcasts and articles Episode 341 Jesus Wasn't Always WinsomeJesus Wasn't Always WinsomeEpisode 333 A Question Mormons Can't AnswerA Question Mormons Can't AnswerEpisode 270 The Divine Hiddenness of GodFour Types of Divine Hiddenness of GodPostmodern Realities Episode 247: Is It True That There Are Good Non-Christians?Is It true That There Are Good Non-Christians?

In “A Shrimp Boat Blessing with no Shrimp Boats,” Gravy producer Irina Zhorov takes listeners to Bayou La Batre, on Alabama's Gulf Coast. Long known as the seafood capital of Alabama, Bayou La Batre has hosted a Blessing of the Fleet – a festival to bless local commercial shrimp and fishing boats – since the 1940s.  Fishing has long been a dangerous and capricious industry, where luck – in harvests, weather, accidents – has almost as much to do with a captain's success as his skill. The annual blessing, an old European tradition established in Bayou La Batre by a Catholic family of transplants from Louisiana, was a bulwark to ever-present risks. Shrimp boat captains would decorate their boats with festive flags and parade along the bayou, receiving a blessing from the Archbishop of Mobile, a little courage to go back out to sea.  But as the industry changed and evolved, what the Blessing could do seemed less obvious. Boats were built bigger and with refrigeration, so people could stay at sea longer and bring in bigger harvests. At the same time, systemic threats emerged to the shrimping industry. Competition from imports and farm-raised shrimp is keeping shrimp prices unsustainably low while prices for gas, insurance and maintenance grow. The Blessing hasn't kept up with the changes. Many captains are too busy hustling for economic survival to show up. Not a single commercial shrimp boat attended the 2023 Blessing of the Fleet.     In this episode, Zhorov talks to Vincent Bosarge, Deacon at St. Margaret's Church, which hosts the Blessing, who grew up going to the festival; Rodney Lyons, a fisherman whose family once supported the Blessing by donating food but who no longer attends; Jeremy Zirlott, a younger shrimper who says he's struggled to make ends meet in the industry's current state and who's never put his boats in the Blessing; and Tommy Purvis and Kimberly Barrow, who shrimp on the side but for whom the Blessing is a vital tradition.  Acknowledgments Thanks for reporting help from Frye Gaillard, and thanks to our audio engineer, Clay Jones of Broadcast Studios. Gravy is proud to be a part of APT Podcast Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices