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HEZBOLLAH'S LATIN AMERICAN FINANCING Colleague David Daoud. David Daoud details Hezbollah'sdeep entrenchment in Venezuela, used to challenge US hegemony. He explains how the group exploits Latin Americannetworks, illicit trade, and legitimate business fronts within expatriate communities to generate essential funding, compensating for losses in Lebanon and serving Iran's broader strategy in the Western Hemisphere. NUMBER 71899 MERIDA VENEZUELA
US DEMANDS: TERRORISTS OUT Colleague Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Peña Esclusa supports US demands for Iran, Hezbollah, and the ELN to be expelled from Venezuela, asserting the population shares these desires. He characterizes Maduro as a drug lord and a threat to Western security, criticizing European leftists who condemn the operation for failing to recognize the regime's criminal nature. NUMBER 10 1886 BOGOTA
HAMAS AND THE IMPOSSIBLE RECONSTRUCTION Colleague Peter Berkowitz. Peter Berkowitz argues that Hamas, as a Muslim Brotherhood offshoot, remains committed to Israel's destruction, making peace impossible. He criticizes the "Project Sunrise" reconstruction plan, noting that US-led development is futile without first disarming and deradicalizing Gaza, a task only the IDF can currently achieve given Hamas's refusal to surrender. NUMBER 15 1868 NAZARETH
THE IMPOSSIBLE DMZ Colleague John Hardie. Hardie discusses the complexities of implementing a demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Ukraine, citing disagreements over sovereignty and administration. Regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, he notes Russia is unlikely to return control to Ukraine. He concludes that peace deals requiring Ukraine to cede territory are "poison pills" likely to fail. NUMBER 14 1943 PARTISANS IN UKRAINE
RUSSIA'S MAXIMALIST DEMANDS Colleague John Hardie. John Hardie outlines Russia's unyielding demands for peace, including territorial concessions and barring Ukraine from NATO. He notes that while Zelensky is nearing agreement with the West on security guarantees, the gap with Russia remains wide. Hardie urges the Trumpadministration to increase pressure to force Putin to compromise. NUMBER 13 1881 UKRAINE
THE RIGHTWARD SHIFT IN ELECTIONS Colleagues Alejandro Peña Esclusa and Ernesto Araújo. Araújopredicts the US action in Venezuela will energize the Latin American right, specifically boosting the Bolsonaromovement in Brazil. Peña Esclusa forecasts electoral defeats for the left in Costa Rica, Peru, and Colombia, arguing the region is turning away from narco-socialism toward US-aligned conservative leadership. NUMBER 12 1956 BRAZIL
NIGERIA AIRSTRIKE AND THE JIHADIST SHIFT Colleague Edmund Fitton-Brown. Edmund Fitton-Brownanalyzes a US airstrike against ISIS in Nigeria, discussing the growing jihadist threat in West Africa's "ungoverned spaces." He highlights a strategic shift where African juntas reject Western support for Russian mercenaries, who offer security without governance conditions, inadvertently boosting local support for Al-Qaeda coalitions like JNIM. NUMBER 1
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN ALLIANCE VS. TURKEY Colleague Edmund Fitton-Brown. Fitton-Brownexamines the cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel as a necessary pushback against Turkish President Erdogan's neo-Ottoman expansionism. He argues Erdogan's aggressive rhetoric regarding Jerusalem and maritime claims threatens regional stability, necessitating a unified defense from these democracies to counter Turkish overreach in the Mediterranean. NUMBER 2
CHINA'S OIL LOSS IN VENEZUELA Colleagues Gordon Chang and Charles Burton. The guests discuss how the US removal of Maduro disrupts China's oil supply, leaving Beijing with billions in unpaid debt. They note that Chinesemilitary equipment failed to detect the US operation, embarrassing Beijing. Burton suggests Canada faces a difficult choice between aligning with US hemispheric security or appeasing China. NUMBER 3
2026: A HOLLOW SUPERPOWER Colleagues Gordon Chang and Charles Burton. Chang and Burton speculate that the US operation in Venezuela exposes China's inability to protect its allies, making Beijing appear "hollow." Chang argues this weakens China's threat against Taiwan, while Burton suggests that with China's economy failing and its allies collapsing, the regime faces internal instability and a loss of global prestige. NUMBER 4
SECTARIAN WARFARE IN SYRIA Colleague Akmed Sharawari. Akmed Sharawari reports on escalating violence between Syria's Alawite minority and the central government led by former jihadist Al-Shara. He explains that regime remnants and Russian influence are fueling Alawite defiance, while Druze and Kurdish factions also resist integration, complicating US hopes for a stable, unified post-Assad state. NUMBER 5 1921 ALEPPO
WESTERN AIRSTRIKES ON ISIS Colleague Akmed Sharawari. Sharawari discusses recent British and Frenchairstrikes against ISIS weapons caches in Syria. He notes that despite opposing the central government, ISIS remains a universal threat. The chaos following the Assad regime's fall has allowed ISIS cells to regroup in urban areas, necessitating Western intervention to destroy their stolen arsenals. NUMBER 6 1924 ALEPPO
PANIC AMONG THE LATIN LEFT Colleagues Alejandro Peña Esclusa and Ernesto Araújo. Ernesto Araújoexplains that leftist leaders like Lula and Petro fear the US action against Maduro because their power structures share similar corruption. Peña Esclusa adds that Colombian President Petro is terrified because his campaign was funded by Venezuelan drug money, making him vulnerable to the exposure of these secrets. NUMBER 11 1910 BRAZIL NATIONAL LIBRARY
LEBANESE ARMY COLLUSION Colleague David Daoud. Daoud highlights the compromised nature of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), citing a recent incident where an LAF soldier killed alongside Hezbollah members received a joint funeral. He argues this collusion makes the LAF an untrustworthy partner for Israel, as sectarian loyalties often supersede national duty, leading to dangerous intelligence leaks. NUMBER 8 1895 BEIRUT RR
THE FALL OF MADURO Colleagues Alejandro Peña Esclusa and Ernesto Araújo. Alejandro Peña Esclusacelebrates the swift US capture of Maduro as Venezuela's liberation. He argues Vice President Delcy Rodriguez must now dismantle the "Cartel of the Suns" to avoid Maduro's fate. Ernesto Araújo frames this as a decisive victory for freedom, forcing a choice between democracy and criminal syndicates. NUMBER 9 1876 BOLIVAR ENTERS CARACAS
Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a seven‑term California Republican known for championing water, agriculture, and rural issues, died suddenly at age 65. His passing further narrows the House GOP majority to 218–213. Colleagues praised him as a principled conservative and devoted advocate for Northern California. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Broeske & Musson' on all platforms: --- The ‘Broeske & Musson Podcast’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- ‘Broeske & Musson' Weekdays 9-11 AM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Facebook | Podcast| X | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
TRUMP'S MORTALITY, EUROPEAN ALARM, AND THE BEAR TRAP Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. Focusing on "Emperor" Trump, the speakers argue his recent threats against Venezuelan leadership display the "mortality" and "incoherence" of age, exacerbated by the office's "transmogrification" of the individual which detaches them from reality. This aggression alarms European allies, who view the extraction operation as "kidnapping" and a crime. The speakers warn that this behavior exposes the US to a "bear trap" set by Russia and China, who can inflict damage without direct escalation. Contrasting Putin's calculated "restraint" and "legalism" with Trump's "bull in a china shop" approach, they suggest the US is rapidly losing international authority. Consequently, the crisis may force a "quid pro quo," where the US might have to trade influence in Ukraine to resolve the situation in the Western Hemisphere, effectively accepting a bargain to escape the "brier patch." NUMBER 2 1953
PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT FREEDOM VS. NARCO-TERRORISM IN THE AMERICAS Colleagues Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Pena Esclusa. Former Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo discusses the divide between democratic forces and "narco-terrorism" in Brazil and Venezuela. He argues that momentum favors freedom, asserting that US support under the Trump administration is vital to defeating criminal power systems and supporting the Venezuelan opposition. 1930 BOLIVAR IN CARACAS
PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT THE CHALLENGE OF TRANSFORMING GAZA Colleague Peter Berkowitz. Peter Berkowitz analyzes the Kushner-Witkoff plan to rebuild Gaza into a modern city. He warns that the necessary disarming of Hamas and de-radicalization can likely only be achieved by the Israel Defense Forces, making implementation difficult despite potential funding from Gulf kingdoms. 1857 PALESTINE
PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT HEZBOLLAH'S FINANCIAL LIFELINE IN VENEZUELA Colleague David Daoud. David Daoud explains why Hezbollah remains entrenched in Venezuela. He argues the terror group urgently needs revenue from Venezuelan resources to maintain social support among Shiites in Lebanon, seeking financial reservoirs that are situated far beyond the immediate reach of Israeli military operations. 1836 BEIRUT
PREVIEW FOR LATER TONIGHT AFRICA'S SHIFT TO RUSSIAN MERCENARIES Colleague Ambassador Edmund Fitton-Brown. Ambassador Edmund Fitton-Brown examines the strategic shift in Africa, where nations are rejecting Western oversight. He explains how regimes now favor partnerships with Russian mercenaries and Iran to avoid governance conditions, allowing these actors to plunder gold and uranium resources unchecked. 1936 ABYSSINIAN SOLDIERS
CANADA'S REFUSAL TO SUPPORT THE MADURO REGIME Colleague Gordon Chang. Gordon Changpredicts Canada will not align with China to support Venezuela's Maduro, viewing the crisis as a law enforcement matter involving a "narco trafficker" rather than a political dispute. He asserts that nations supporting this criminal regime will eventually be embarrassed by their association with the Cartel of the Suns. 1938 PM MAURICE KING AND FDR
REEVALUATING CANADA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH CUBA AMIDST VENEZUELAN TENSIONS Colleague Charles Burton. John Batchelor and Charles Burton discuss whether Ottawa's friendly ties with Havana will endure given the unfolding Venezuela episode and US scrutiny. Burton argues that Cuba's failing economy and rising repression make it difficult for Canada to justify its support, suggesting the Castro dictatorship must ultimately come to an end. 1899 HAVANA
RUNES, TAVERN MESSAGES, AND HIDDEN HISTORIES Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. John Batchelorinterviews Eleanor Barraclough about her book, Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age. They discuss a specific runic inscription from roughly 1200 AD found on a piece of wood in a tavern in Bergen, Norway. The message is from a woman named Gyda telling her husband to come home, to which he seemingly carved a nonsensical, drunken response. Barraclough explains her methodology of using such everyday objects—"embers of the hands"—to reveal the personal lives of individuals often lost in the grand scope of history. The segment also establishes the 793 AD raid on Lindisfarne as the traditional, shocking start of the Viking Age. NUMBER 1
CONSTANTINOPLE AS HELM'S DEEP AND THE LATIN-GREEK SCHISM Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. The final segment eulogizes Constantinople as a "perfect," intentionally designed city that served as "Helm's Deep" for Western civilization, preserving law, credit, and military organization when the rest of the West was atomized. The speakers detail the tragic sack of the city in 1204 by Latin Crusaders, describing it as a betrayal driven by the enduring envy and "bipolar tension" between the Latin West and the Greek East. This event stripped the city of its "divine" status and gold, ending its role as a sanctuary. They conclude by linking this ancient schism to the modern world, positing that the current geopolitical conflict between the US (the inheritor of the Latin West) and Russia (centered in Moscow, the successor to the Greek East) is a continuation of this unresolved cultural and religious struggle. NUMBER 3 1954
ASSIMILATION AND THE SALME SHIP MYSTERY Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. Barraclough highlights how the Norse assimilated into Eastern cultures, adopting Slavic names and gods within generations. The focus then turns to a major mystery: the Salme ship burials in Estonia, discovered in 2013. These burials, dated to around 750 AD, predate the Lindisfarne raid and contain warriors buried with high honors, including gaming pieces and falcons, despite having died violently. Barraclough suggests this might have been a diplomatic mission gone wrong. A key artifact mentioned is a King piece from the board game hnefatafl found in a leader's mouth, adding to the mystery of who buried them. NUMBER 3
THE WARREN COMMISSION AND THE LONE GUNMAN CONCLUSION Colleague Paul Gregory. Paul Gregory discusses the Warren Commission and the enduring conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination. He visited Dealey Plaza personally to assess the sniper's nest, concluding the shot was "fairly easy" for a prepared shooter. Gregory dismisses the idea of a complex conspiracy, noting the spontaneity of Oswald's opportunity at the Book Depository. He highlights the Soviet Union's own suspicion that Oswald was a rogue element. A major focus is Marguerite Oswald's testimony; she confronted Chief Justice Earl Warren, demanding subpoena rights and claiming her son was a scapegoat. Gregory asserts that understanding Marguerite's influence and delusion is essential to understanding the psychological formation of her son, Lee. NUMBER 7
VENEZUELA AS A POTENTIAL SINKHOLE AND THE END OF AMERICAN OMNIPOTENCE Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. The speakers analyze a failed US"decapitation" strike in Venezuela intended to replace Maduro with Delcy Rodriguez, a move that resulted in confusion regarding the loyalty of Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino. They argue that the "omnipotence" the US displayed in Panama or during Desert Storm has vanished, leaving the empire unable to easily topple regimes. Venezuela is described as a potential "sinkhole" defined by complex terrain and heavily armed, "uncontrollable" guerrilla groups that would make intervention a "gigantic mess." The discussion concludes that the US is "hoist by its own petard," having relied on "military theater"—the illusion that waving a wand creates authority—which is now failing against a fractious reality. Unlike the 1990s, the US lacks the force capacity to manage such a conflict without facing an "impossible guerrilla war" that could destroy its remaining reputation. NUMBER 1 1954
THE HOSTAGE RELEASE TIMING AND A LEGACY OF ELECTORAL INTERFERENCE Colleague Craig Unger. The final segment addresses the suspicious timing of the hostage release on January 20, 1981. Unger notes that while Carter stayed up all night negotiating, the hostages were not released until minutes after Ronald Reagan took the oath of office. This precise timing suggests a pre-arranged deal, as Reagan had no presidential authority to negotiate prior to that moment. Unger points out that recent biographers and international sources have increasingly accepted the October Surprise as fact. He concludes by contextualizing this event within a broader history of Republican interference in foreign policy to win elections, drawing parallels to Nixon's sabotage of Vietnam peace talks in 1968 and allegations regarding the Trump campaign and Russia. The files suggest that political treason has been used repeatedly to "steal the White House." NUMBER 8
INSIDE IRAN: CONFRONTING REVOLUTIONARY FIGURES AND UNCOVERING THE DOUBLE COUPColleague Craig Unger. Unger describes his 2014 trip to Tehran to find Iranian corroboration for the October Surprise. He visited the former US Embassy, now a "Den of Spies" museum documenting the 1953 CIA coup against Mossadegh, which remains a source of deep grievance. Unger secured a rare interview with Mohsen Rafighdoost, a founder of the Revolutionary Guards and Khomeini's driver. During the interview, Rafighdoost slipped, saying "If we met with the Republicans..."—a moment Unger captured on video. Unger also interviewed Abolhassan Banisadr, the ousted first president of the Islamic Republic, in Versailles. Banisadr provided documents confirming the plot, describing it as a "double coup": it removed Carter in the US and allowed hardliners to consolidate power in Iran by undermining moderates like himself. NUMBER 7
CONFIRMING THE MADRID MEETING AND EXAMINING GEORGE H.W. BUSH'S ALLEGED ROLEColleague Craig Unger. This section focuses on verifying the specific meetings where the alleged treason occurred. Unger asserts certainty that Bill Casey met with Iranian cleric Mehdi Karrubi in Madrid in July 1980 to outline the deal: arms for Iran in exchange for delaying the hostage release until after the election. Unger notes that Israeli military intelligence (AMAN) confirmed the channel of arms sales. The segment also addresses the controversial allegation that George H.W. Bush flew to Paris in October 1980 to seal the deal. While alibis involving Secret Service details and a visit to Justice Potter Stewart were punctured by Bob Parry's reporting, Unger remains "agnostic" but leans toward the meeting having happened. The Iranians reportedly required a high-level figure like Bush to guarantee the agreement before they would release the "frozen assets" of undelivered weaponry needed for their war with Iraq. NUMBER 6
THE SECRET NETWORK: THE SAFARI CLUB, JOHN SHAHEEN, AND DOUBLE AGENTS Colleague Craig Unger. Unger explains the infrastructure used to execute the alleged conspiracy, specifically the "Safari Club," a group of off-the-books intelligence operatives formed after the CIA was restricted by the Church Committee in the 1970s. This network allowed covert operations to bypass congressional oversight. A crucial figure identified is John Shaheen, Bill Casey's close friend and former OSS colleague, who acted as a "cutout" to insulate Casey from direct involvement. Unger reveals that the Hashim brothers, Iranian arms dealers who offered to help Carter, were actually double agents working for Casey. FBI wiretaps eventually confirmed that the Hashims communicated with Shaheen before conducting arms deals, providing a direct link between the Reagan campaign's orbit and the delay of the hostage release. NUMBER 5
MEDIA SUPPRESSION, POLITICAL WHITEWASHING, AND THE DISCOVERY OF BURIED EVIDENCEColleague Craig Unger. This segment recounts the suppression of the October Surprise story by major media and government institutions. After initially hiring Unger to investigate, Newsweek abruptly pivoted, publishing articles denying the events took place, which Unger calls a "disgrace." A subsequent House investigation led by Lee Hamiltonwas characterized as a "whitewash" that accepted weak alibis for Bill Casey. Investigative legend Seymour Hershwarned Unger that he would be "crushed" for pursuing the story, and indeed, Unger faced lawsuits and professional isolation. However, the investigation was revived when reporter Bob Parry discovered 23 gigabytes of documents hidden in an abandoned ladies' room in the House office building. These documents, found under a tampon dispenser, contained evidence that contradicted the official exonerations of the Reagan campaign. NUMBER 4
THE ORIGINS OF THE INVESTIGATION AND THE ALLEGATIONS OF ARI BEN-MENASHE Colleague Craig Unger. Unger details how the "October Surprise" investigation began, sparked by a 1991 op-ed from former National Security Council member Gary Sick. Unger, then working with Esquire and later Newsweek, collaborated with investigative reporter Bob Parry to uncover the truth. A key but controversial source was Ari Ben-Menashe, a rogue Israeli intelligence operative who claimed that Bill Casey met with Iranians in Madrid in July 1980 to negotiate a delay in the hostages' release in exchange for arms. Ben-Menashe further alleged that George H.W. Bush traveled to Paris in October 1980 to finalize the deal. Although these sources were often dismissed as disreputable, Unger argues that investigating illegal arms dealing necessitates speaking to operatives within that shadow world, despite the risk to a journalist's career. NUMBER 3
BILL CASEY'S SECRET INTELLIGENCE NETWORK AND THE CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT CARTERColleague Craig Unger. Focusing on the Republican response to the hostage crisis, this segment examines the role of William "Bill" Casey, who took over Ronald Reagan's campaign in early 1980. Unger describes Casey as a brilliant former OSS spy who operated a "secret intelligence network" involving South African arms dealers and Israeli agents to monitor the Carter administration's progress. Casey realized that an "October Surprise"—a last-minute release of hostages by Carter—could cost Reagan the election. To prevent this, Casey allegedly sought to delay their release. Unger notes that while Reagan likely knew the broad strokes of these operations, he may have been insulated from the specific, treasonous details, partly due to Casey's habit of mumbling and the "deniability" inherent in his tradecraft. NUMBER 2
THE DESERT ONE TRAGEDY AND THE GEOPOLITICAL STAKES OF THE 1980 ELECTION Colleague Craig Unger. Author Craig Unger discusses the failed "Desert One" rescue mission on April 24, 1980, where mechanical failures and a collision resulted in eight American deaths, ending any immediate hope of rescuing 52 hostages held in Iran. Unger explains that while the Shah of Iran had been a US puppet installed by a 1953 CIA coup, the 1979 revolution replaced him with a hostile Islamic Republic, turning a strategic ally into an enemy. The hostage crisis became the central issue of the 1980 campaign; a successful rescue would likely have secured Carter's reelection, while failure favored Ronald Reagan. Additionally, the segment highlights the strained relationship between Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, noting that despite the Camp David Accords, Israel feared an Iraqi victory over Iran would create a dangerous regional superpower. NUMBER 1
MOTIVE AND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A NARCISSIST Colleague Paul Gregory. In the final segment, Gregoryexplores Oswald's motive, arguing that history has underestimated his intelligence and manipulativeness. Despite his dyslexia and poor education, Oswald successfully manipulated government officials in both the US and USSR. The motive was rooted in a desire to prove his greatness to the world—a belief instilled by his mother—and to prove his manhood to Marina, who viewed him with scorn. Oswald viewed the trial as a platform to broadcast his political theories and achieve historic status. Ultimately, Gregory concludes the assassination was the act of a narcissist trying to escape insignificance and domestic failure by committing a "monstrous act." NUMBER 8
THE FUNERALS AND MARGUERITE'S ERRATIC BEHAVIOR Colleague Paul Gregory. This segment contrasts the global mourning for President Kennedy with the lonely burial of Lee Harvey Oswald at Rose Hill, where reporters served as pallbearers. Marina Oswald was in a daze, emotionally devastated by watching Jackie Kennedy and the state funeral on television. Meanwhile, Marguerite Oswald became increasingly difficult, arguing over trivialities and insisting her son was an innocent hero and intelligence agent. Her erratic behavior and refusal to accept facts caused significant friction with the Secret Service agents protecting them. The Gregory family spent Thanksgiving in a "fog," discussing Marguerite's instability, a detail Paul notes was largely absent from the official Warren Report despite its significance in understanding the family dynamic. NUMBER 6
ELIQUARIES, MARRIAGE, AND AMULETS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. Barraclough explains how religious reliquaries looted from monasteries were often repurposed as jewelry for women in Norway. She discusses the theory that female infanticide may have caused a shortage of women, motivating young men to raid for wealth to secure marriage. The conversation then examines a human skull fragment from Ribe, Denmark, carved with runes. Barraclough interprets this object as a protective amulet against dwarves or elves, which the Norse believed caused sickness, illustrating their concept of an unseen world influencing physical reality. NUMBER 4
PROTECTING THE FAMILY AND THE BACKYARD PHOTOGRAPH Colleague Paul Gregory. Following the assassination, Oswald's mother, Marguerite, contacted Pete Gregory seeking shelter for herself and Marina. Petecoordinated with the Secret Service to move the women to a hotel at Six Flags to protect them from the press and facilitate interrogation. Authorities were particularly focused on a photo of Oswald holding a rifle; Marina initially hesitated to admit she took it, fearing legal consequences. Pete Gregory helped bridge the trust gap between Marina and the Secret Service. The situation escalated when the family learned Lee Harvey Oswald had been shot. Marguerite and Marina were taken to Parkland Hospital to view his body, after which Marguerite began demanding he be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. NUMBER 5
THE WALKER ATTEMPT AND DELUSIONS IN NEW ORLEANS Colleague Paul Gregory. The narrative shifts to April 1963, when a shaken Oswald confessed to Marina that he had attempted to assassinate General Edwin Walker. Marina found a note with instructions but did not report him, though she threatened to leave if he tried such violence again. Soon after, Oswald moved to New Orleans to build credentials as a pro-Castro operative, hoping to secure a visa to Cuba and eventually the Soviet Union. Gregory explains that Oswald did not actually want to return to Russia but needed a Soviet visa to enter Cuba. During this period, Oswald became increasingly delusional, inventing aliases and seeking status, though there was no evidence yet of a plan to kill President Kennedy. NUMBER 4
POVERTY, RUSSIAN LESSONS, AND THE DINNER PARTY INCIDENT Colleague Paul Gregory. Paul Gregory describes his visits to the Oswalds' impoverished duplex for Russian lessons in the summer of 1962. He notes a specific Time magazine featuring President Kennedy on their coffee table; Marina admired Kennedy, calling him a good father, while Lee seemingly agreed. The couple faced severe deprivation, lacking even a baby carriage, which forced Marina to carry their infant everywhere. A pivotal moment occurred during a dinner with the "Dallas Russians," a local immigrant community. When challenged about defecting from the US, Oswald flew into a "controlled rage," alienating the group. The guests' offer to drive the Oswalds home signaled the end of Lee's ability to isolate Marina, marking a significant turning point in their lives. NUMBER 3
MEETING LEE HARVEY OSWALD AND THE SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT Colleague Paul Gregory. This segment traces the relationship back to June 1962, when Pete Gregory first met Lee Harvey Oswald. Oswald, seeking employment that utilized his Russian language skills rather than manual labor, was referred to Pete for a language evaluation. Pete wrote a letter vouching for Oswald's fluency, though he noted Oswald was not a native speaker. Oswaldwas bitter about working as a welder for low wages and hoped to avoid the "blue-collar trap." The segment also introduces the first meeting between Paul and the Oswalds at Robert Oswald's home, where Paul observed Lee's poor grammar despite his fluency. To help the couple financially, the Gregorys arranged for Paul to take Russian conversation lessons from Marina Oswald. NUMBER 2
THE MORNING OF THE ASSASSINATION AND IDENTIFYING THE SUSPECT Colleague Paul Gregory. Paul Gregory recounts the morning of November 22, 1963, from the perspective of his father, Pete Gregory, a Russiantranslator who watched President Kennedy speak outside a hotel in Fort Worth. Pete later returned to his office, only to learn shortly after that the President had been shot. Meanwhile, Paul was a student at the University of Oklahoma when a classmate announced the shooting. Gathering around a television with other students, he watched Walter Cronkiteannounce the President's death. When Lee Harvey Oswald appeared on screen as a suspect, Paul shocked his peers by declaring, "I know that guy." He immediately suspected Oswald was guilty and anticipated being contacted by authorities, which occurred the following morning. NUMBER 1
THE LONELY END OF NORSE GREENLAND Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The final segment explores the disappearance of the Norse settlement in Greenland, focusing on the Herjolfsnes graveyard. Preserved clothing from the 15th century reveals garments that were patched repeatedly, symbolizing the colony's isolation and poverty. Barracloughdescribes a poignant detail: a woman's dress that ripped as she was buried, marking the end of the settlement. Factors discussed include a cooling climate and interactions with the Inuit, evidenced by carved wooden figures. The history closes with a report of a witch burning in 1407, near the colony's end. NUMBER 8
THE FIRE GIANT'S CAVE AND RITUAL OFFERINGS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The discussion descends into Surtshellir, a massive lava cave in Iceland associated with the fire giant Surt. Barraclough describes archaeological finds deep within the cave, including a stone wall and a boat-shaped structure filled with burnt offerings like bones and jasper. She posits these were sacrifices to appease a fire being following a volcanic eruption around 900 AD. The final offering, a Christian cross, suggests a closure to these rituals. Barraclough connects this to a saga poem where a giant predicts the end of the pagan world. NUMBER 6
THE FIRE GIANT'S CAVE AND RITUAL OFFERINGS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The discussion descends into Surtshellir, a massive lava cave in Iceland associated with the fire giant Surt. Barraclough describes archaeological finds deep within the cave, including a stone wall and a boat-shaped structure filled with burnt offerings like bones and jasper. She posits these were sacrifices to appease a fire being following a volcanic eruption around 900 AD. The final offering, a Christian cross, suggests a closure to these rituals. Barraclough connects this to a saga poem where a giant predicts the end of the pagan world. NUMBER 6
MYTHOLOGY AND THE MURDER OF SNORRI Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. Barraclough discusses the difficulty of accessing Norse beliefs, as most sources, like Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, were written post-conversion. She outlines dramatic myths, including the creation of the world from the giant Ymir and its destruction at Ragnarok, featuring a ship made from the fingernails of the dead. The segment covers Snorri's life as a politician in 13th-century Iceland during a bloody civil war. Barraclough recounts his assassination in his own basement on the orders of the Norwegian king, noting his final words were "don't strike." NUMBER 5
CONQUEST, THE DANELAW, AND THE EASTERN RUS Colleague Eleanor Barraclough. The conversation shifts from raiding to conquest, detailing the arrival of the "Great Heathen Army" in England around 865. Barracloughexplains that this force was likely comprised of smaller mobile warbands that eventually reached a stalemate with King Alfred, leading to the creation of the Danelaw and lasting linguistic influences on English place names. The discussion then moves east to the "Rus" (rowers) who navigated the waterways of Eurasia. Led by figures like Rurik, these Scandinavians settled in Novgorod and later Kiev, establishing a political foundation in what is now Russia and Ukraine. NUMBER 2
RAVENS BEFRIEND DALLAS AND DISPLACE THE COCKATOOS Colleague Jeremy Zakis. Zakis updates the backyard wildlife saga, noting the arrival of intelligent Ravens that have befriended his dog, Dallas. Unlike the aggressive Cockatoos that damaged a neighbor's roof, the Ravens displayed strategic dominance by organizedly displacing the Cockatoos from a pine tree. Zakis describes the Ravens' "surgical" approach, using vocal harassment and gradual escalation rather than brute force to claim the territory. He observes that while the Cockatoos still lurk, the Ravens have established control. Additionally, he counts at least five Magpie families in the area, with several actively visiting his property to interact with Dallas.
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