Podcast appearances and mentions of David Pepper

David Pepper, Chief Development Officer at Choice Hotels, says Q1 turning RevPAR positive brought buyers back into the market. Glenn Haussman talks with David from Choice's annual convention about why transactions drive conversions—and why extended stay keeps leading new builds. Conversions need transactions: buyers have to trade hotels for conversions to happen Q1 momentum: industry up, Choice up, investors start moving Choice relicensing up 50% in Q1 as buyers re-sign existing Choice hotels Country Inn & Suites up 50% this year Extended stay leads new construction: 50% of Choice's pipeline runs extended stay WoodSpring + Everhome make up 50% of extended stay hotels under construction Want the weekly roundup of news, videos, and what you might've missed? Text HOTEL to 66866. #ChoiceHotels #HotelDevelopment #HotelConversions #ExtendedStay #Hospitality #NoVacancyNews

On May 31 – June 2, in NYC, the industry-defining NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference is taking place. In this Suite Spot episode we are pulling back the curtain on what to expect at this year's landmark event. Joining us on the Suite Spot is Alexi Khajavi, President of Hospitality, Travel, and Real Estate at Questex. In this exclusive preview, Alexi breaks down the 2026 NYU IHIF agenda and shares why this year's gathering is more critical than ever for hospitality leaders, hoteliers, and investors.  Tune in now. Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what’s trending in hotel marketing. I’m your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your host, as always, Ryan Embree here with another hospitality event preview with a very familiar guest, very excited about this conversation. It’s spring, so right around the corner, we know what’s next, one of the premier events of the hospitality event calendar. Here to talk with me, a frequent guest, Alexi Khajavi, Questex, President, Hospitality and Real Estate. Alexi, thank you so much for joining me again here on the Suite Spot. Alexi Khajavi: Ryan, great to see you. Great to be back. Ryan Embree: Yes, it has been too long since we last spoke. We were out in Denver together at the Hospitality Show there on stage. Alexi, you were talking about everything that happened over the course of an entire year. I feel like from October to where we sit right now, in the middle of spring, it’s felt like a complete change. Whirlwind. I’m not even sure if when this episode’s released how much there could be even more change, but since then, so ground us. Give us a little sense of the state of hospitality and the sentence EE everything that you’re feeling right now. Alexi Khajavi: What we saw each other end of October in Denver, just at the conclusion of the hospitality show. And I guess, yeah, to your point, every day is, like an like a year or or seven years for that matter. So, six months on I mean, some consistencies, and I suppose the consistency is the volatility just in the geopolitics, macroeconomics, local state of affairs. And that does have a knock on effect on, on tourism and hospitality certainly. But some of the themes are consistent and that is that it is a, a continued challenging operational environment. rev pars have which we talked about rev pars, we were starting to see some normalization after they had been really on a only an up into the right performance for the prior three years. We started seeing that slowing down in Q3, Q4 of last year. And that has continued. One of the, the aspects, and a lot of people are talking about it, is a Ks shaped economy. And so you’re still seeing some, some interesting and pretty exciting, RevPAR ADR growth on the luxury side of that upper part of the K, if you will. And in the lower K of the market, you’re, you’re seeing increasing and continued challenges. Right? And I think everyone is sort of asking two questions around that, which is one is how much more runway of growth does the luxury market have? And then in on, on the sort of upper upscale midscale and economy, is the economic conditions going to encourage a trading down of the consumer. Speaking to David Pepper, for example, from Choice yesterday, they are seeing some positive RevPAR growth in that upper upscale, which, they’ve got a lot of hotel stock in. So I think the question is and we’re seeing some data that the customer is still traveling. They still see both on the leisure sh leisure side from the experience economy, travel as not being discretionary and not being something that they’re willing to give up, but something that they may trade down for make it more economical, domestic tourism, and drive to staycations those types of things versus the international travel, which certainly was in demand for the last three years. Corporate travel, I think that’s, that’s directly tied to GDP and the economy. But again, corporate travel has actually been coming back. It lagged leisure tourism recovery. So that’s been, performing quite well. Again, business is done face to face. It’s why we do live events in the, in, in, in the sectors in which we serve. So, continued operational challenge, questions around demand, a lot of impact from AI on demand, and how that demand is coming to your brand.com or to your property website, how they’re searching. SEO is in massive disruption. So, it’s not a typical recovery at this point. It’s, it’s fragmented, it’s bifurcated. It depends what part of the market you are in. There’s divergent recovery that’s sort of replacing that, that high tide lifts all boats. That uneven demand is translating into really kind of diversity of performance. And so it depends what markets you’re in. So the operating side is, is is tough. It is becoming harder and it is becoming more expensive. And yet there are some tools out there, AI and others, and technology generally that’s offering a lot of opportunity for optimization, efficiency, productivity in those areas, which will flow through to the bottom line. And then we’re also seeing, kind of a bifurcation in the capital markets. On, on, on the big side, there is a ton of capital that is chasing hospitality, moving from other asset classes whether it be office or retail or industrial. And they’re moving into hospitality for all the reasons that it’s operational real estate. It’s a tailwind market from the experience economy, despite the fact that we are cyclical, right? It goes up and down, but there’s a ton of liquidity. There’s a, there’s a wall of money that’s chasing, the asset class ranging from your owner operator franchisee, which is looking to grow from three properties to 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, whatever it may be, to institutional capital, which really never looked at a hospitality in general. So that’s creating more diversity in the type of investors which is coming into the market. So again, all of that challenge could unlock the transaction market. And then with those transactions, we see this regeneration of capital CapEx is deployed, and that’s really good for the industry. I mean, nobody likes to see falling net operating incomes, in running hotels. But that being said, it means that people have to be hyper-focused on how to run those hotels more efficiently. Why we run the hospitality show. And at the same time, NYU coming up, a lot of new capital coming into the market, a lot of capital chasing that, trying to figure out where the deals are, where to deploy that capital. And again, that’s why we have events like IHIF EMEA in Berlin, which was a few weeks ago. And to your point, NYU IHIF coming up in five weeks. Ryan Embree: It’s so many storylines in our industry right now that we’re chasing. We’d even touch on the upcoming summer, summer World Cup and events like the Olympics here in a couple years that are also gonna have a massive shift in international travel, which has been down. So again, so many challenges, but also think opportunistic time right now in hospitality and being at a spot like NYU is one of those places to capture those opportunities, to learn more about that from your peers, to have those conversations. Networking, I mean, I’ll, I’ll turn our attention there with some impressive numbers from the event. 2200 delegates, 450 plus C-suite executives, 400 plus investors, and $132 billion in assets under management there. So it’s impressive, like I said, impressive feat and number that you have all gathered in, one of the hospitality meccas of the world, which is New York City. What makes this event different from other hospitality events, and why is it a really a can’t miss for, for hoteliers investors this year? Alexi Khajavi: Yeah, I would say it’s a couple of things. One which you touched upon, which is, New York City financial capital of the world, it is the gateway city for the us it is, a hospitality driven economy. But it’s also one of the most thriving, financial market economies, in the US and certainly the world as well. So, that if you were to think, where do you hold an investment forum in any sector, but for that matter, in hospitality, New York, no better place, right? The money is there, the banks are there, the professional services are there, the brokers are there and many of the, the top brands are on the Eastern Shore board from DC and Maryland, up to the city here. So, it is just simply having it in New York. Second, it’s got a 40 year history associated with the New York University and the School of Hospitality and the John Tisch Center of Hospitality. It’s the only event where a portion of every dollar and revenue spent there goes towards supporting the next generation of hospitality professionals. So, we continue to partner with NYU and the School of Professional Studies. There, it’s an incredible partnership, which we’re just privileged and delighted to continue. And the fact that labor and talent is a massive challenge for the industry that, that you’re, you’re supporting a school which is turning out some of the most talented future hospitality professionals in the world by attending or sponsoring that’s goodwill. And, and we’re just delighted to be able to support that. So, that, again, I think is another anchor for why NYU is just such a special event and is different from a lot of the other good events that are, that are out there. And then lastly, NYU is part of a global portfolio of hospitality investment forums. And so, we have our event in Berlin. We have an event in Manchester, UK. We have an event in Athens, Greece, which is focused on the branded resi and the resort, segment, which is international and frankly, one of the fastest growing segments in hospitality. And then we have our Asia event in Hong Kong. So, we’re able to still bring in that global capital, those global operators that want to do business, want to bring their brands, want to deploy capital, want to invest in the us. So it’s not just a New York show, it’s not just a US focused show, but it’s a North America event where how do operators, how do investors, and how does the ecosystem of professional services come in and facilitate and drive deals to invest in the US and North American hotel market and all those things coming together, make it vibrant, make it diverse, make it one of the most active deal making conferences in the circuit. It really is for the investors to connect, with each other, but also the rest of the segments and the stakeholders, as it’s very diverse and fragmented industry. So deals get done. I mean, it was just on a in a conversation, a few weeks ago talking about a deal that’s been, announced since then. But they met in New York last June and really kicked off those conversations there at New York. And that ultimately consummated in a deal, in the fourth quarter of, of, of last year. We know that that’s what our value proposition is, and we know that’s why people spend their time with us and invest in, in NYU and we expect it to be even more vibrant and active on the deal making side, this June. So it should be should be a good event. Ryan Embree: That’s why I was gonna say, I had the privilege of attending for the first time last year, and I think the biggest difference for me was just the energy and the buzzing, and it just, it felt like what you said, it felt like deals were moving forward, whether that was the first time someone was connecting and networking, or whether it was something where these, these deals are not done in a vacuum or a silo that they take time, they take effort, and they take meetings like this, right? This connection, sometimes it’s, especially in a challenging market, can be the thing that brings a deal across the finish line. So it was palpable in the air when we were at that event last year. And it was a, it was a who’s who in hospitality too. You turned one way as a brand leader over here. Next is a president of asset management company. It really was an an extremely impressive event. I wanna get your thoughts, Alexi. You mentioned the sister events, the IHIF emea, which just wrapped up here at the end of March, obviously completely different markets that we’re talking about, but I still think holistically, there’s probably some lessons, feedback and sentiment that you could probably share that will translate into NYU, right? And some of those themes that are gonna make it there. What was your kind of, I guess, overall sentiment about the event and how just the energy and hotelier’s feeling was around that event? Alexi Khajavi: Yeah, I mean to go back to the start of the podcast, every day, there’s been something else. There’s been a, a ton of volatility in the market, a lot of uncertainty in, in the world. We still have a, a conflict, going on in, in Europe with, Ukraine and Russia. We now have a conflict happening in the Middle East. You’ve got macroeconomic conditions of still tariffs and the inflation that is causing interest rates still remain elevated, albeit they’ve, they’ve come down, over the last sort of 12 months. Elevated however, to historical, all of that creates uncertainty in the market. And as an investor said in, in Berlin, we can, we’re very good at penciling in risk and quantifying, the impact of that risk on both present day valuation. And a 20 year IRR, what is harder to pencil in is volatility and uncertainty. The certainty of risk is fine because you can quantify, the impact that that risk will have on the business. What you can’t is the uncertainty. And so with that, what we saw in Berlin, however, is that really is driving a lot of engagement around the expertise and the speakers and the sessions. We really pride ourselves on not having the same speakers every year saying the same things. We always leave a portion of our programs sort of unfinished, if you will, or, started but un unfinished because, because of that volatility in the market. So we saw a huge amount of engagement with people in the, in the sessions, in the rooms, which is interesting because at the end of the day, it is a deal making conference. And people are in meeting rooms, they’re up in suites they’re in the lobby and they’re, they’re engaging with each other, they’re there to do business. But we saw a lot of engagement, increased engagement with the sessions that we had. We then saw those individuals that were in a session often go out of the session and engage with each other and engage with speakers. And so one of the things that we’re doing is creating content fueled networking. So, a session will then lead to a round table where the speakers will stick around and the delegates or the folks that were in that session as an audience are able to then continue that conversation and go deeper and get into an actual conversation rather than just sort of a q and a that’s, that’s tagged on at the end. So it really created a, I think, a huge amount of engagement and peer-to-peer conversations. And really, I think people seeking a perspective. When, when you’re in a volatile market, really the most important thing you can do is to, to talk to your peers, to talk to your competitors, to talk to your mentors and get different perspectives to try and create some fidelity of what didn’t work or what has working, or what are the things that you’re trying out that’s really exciting. I mean, we really love that because, an open market, a transparent market, and an engaged market on the buy side and the sell side is a more informed market. Everybody needs that, right? It just makes markets more efficient. It make every, makes everybody better operators, and it creates a transparency as to where those opportunities are. And that’s, that is a, a tide that does lift all boats. The other thing I would say, Ryan, is, is that there’s always this question in an, an investment forum, like IHIF, like NYU as to what the sentiment is. And we’ve been tracking investor sentiment for the last five years now, since, January of 2020, which was an interesting time to first sentiment. Yeah. And it’s interesting because it certainly went down during COVID, no news flash there. It quickly rose up from 22 to 21 to 24, and then it’s leveled off since then. And it’s kind of just, a few index points gone, gone up or down depending on all of this volatility Liberation day last year, which was the first day of April, if I’m not mistaken, which was actually right during IHIF was created a lot of pessimism. It, however, was replaced with some optimism as interest rates fell down. So the sentiment to that question was, was actually quite positive. I think maybe through just the density of volatility or the consistency of volatility. People are somewhat getting used to it and separating noise from substance. And, and really there are the, there are more deals coming to market. We are seeing a diversification of capital coming into the market, lot of high net worth, lot of family office, a lot of institutional capital, sovereign wealth pension funds. And what that’s creating is more demand. So you’re starting, when we talk to the brokers, you’re starting to see a number of underbids in terms of a mandate comes to the market. A transaction occurred, but there was 6, 7, 8 under bidders in that transaction that shows interest, it shows appetite and it shows that the bid ask gap to a certain extent is narrowing. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean in all cases that valuations have come down. I think buyers would like them to, but at the end of the day, I think capital, and we’re seeing capital become more confident and have more conviction in the market, but that also there are regeneration opportunities through CapEx deployment, through repositioning and through other levers that they have to pull, that they can take an asset that is performing at x and through CapEx and better operations and better plans, better brand, make it X plus y. And that was really the sentiment coming out of Berlin that the market is opening up, that there is a diversity of capital coming into it that’s creating a lot more demand and through a number of different sort of challenges, or let’s just say realities on the operator side, you are seeing a higher interest in selling. And I think that that will start to, to narrow the bid ask gap and look the unlocking of the market. We’ve been waiting for it for two, three years. It’s been a challenging market, but I think everyone’s seeing some optimism. I think the wishlist is, is that we reduce the amount of volatility in the market, but that’s an uncontrollable from your and and my perspective, we don’t have much control of that. Ryan Embree: Yeah. But I think the industry’s skin is, is thickening to that, right? And we’ve talked about that, how it’s our new normal is the constant state of change. And I also think it’s something, I’m not sure if we’ve talked about or thought about this too much, but we really saw worst case scenario just six years ago of being like, where everything dropped to none. When we’re assessing risk, we’re a lot more battle test. This industry is a lot more battle tested than maybe previous than it had previously. So some of these uncontrollables, like you mentioned, that yes, they are headwinds, yes, they are challenges, but it’s those investors right now that see opportunities that assess that risk and say there could be some really, really great upside at a at a time right now. And one of the places also where there is a lot of uncertainty, but I would, I would almost phrase it in the sense of a, of a positive uncertainty is the impact that AI is gonna have on our business in the future. And the gains and dividends that we can yield from those have really just scratch the surface. And we talked about this, and I wanna bring that into the conversation ’cause it’s hard to not talk about it anymore, right? It, I think we don’t go a, a podcast episode without bringing it up and people filling out their bingo cards on AI and technology. But I want, I wanna take us back to where we were a year ago, and maybe we can do this an exercise. Alexi, what would you grade right now, our industry, which historically has been maybe on the lighter end of the spectrum of a technology adoption, but what would you, what grade would you give it? Because I think we’re at this weird inflection point where hoteliers and brands and management companies and really everybody’s starting to look and saying, alright, we’ve implemented some ai. Where are the dividends? Where are the results? How do I measure these successes? What, what grade would you give and how do you think we can improve there? Alexi Khajavi: You know, that’s a, that’s a great question because it’s not an easy one to answer. Sure and not to cop out of giving you a specific answer, I would give it a a non-applicable, because the reality is, is that technology as a whole, in terms of using technology as a tool to optimize the hospitality market, I would certainly give ourselves a c plus. I think that’s historically been where we have failed for many reasons, which we can we don’t need to go into right , we know, we know that. But I think, I think AI right now is there is an overestimation of its impact on the near term, and there’s an under appreciation for its impact on, on the long term. Love that that’s, that’s quickly, quickly changing. I mean, if you, to your point, if you just look at the last six months, massive wholesale change, and I, so I think that that’s changing very quickly that people are starting to appreciate this. This is enormous, both in its capacity to be a force of good as well as its capacity to be a, a force of bad, to sort of broadly call it as such. But that being said, I think there’s sort of two themes around ai. One is on the, on the sort of operational side, AI has, has largely, I think been distributed as a individual choice through the industry and the departments. And the overall, whether you’re on the brand side or the operator side or the investor side, I know that there are mandates and there are committees and everybody’s sort of got their own playbook to how they’re using ai. But at the end of the day, it’s gonna come down to any individual that’s using it or not using it in their respective role. And that’s all over the map. Some people are using it, some people are not. And, and frankly, I think those that are using it are going to be better off for their r and d and just their effort to try and figure it out. Because the more you use it, the better off you become at using. It’s, it’s a tool like any tool, right? You, you need how to use how to use that tool in order for it to do the job you want it to do. So in that case, I think we’re probably no different than some other industries, which are certainly spending a lot of money on it and trying to figure it out. The other aspect of it though, that I think is really interesting is that it is already changing, particularly those frontline manager roles. A GM, for example, that is using AI will have more time to do the things that a GM should be doing, rather than all of the back office stuff, which AI can do at scale and at pace, and to a high degree of quality with oversight and q and a being done, not just to let AI go do all those things, but that, that frees up your general manager to go do the things that really drives guest satisfaction. Respond to RFPs, take care of guests, drive revenue, be present in the local market so that you’re capturing demand drivers, in your local city or wherever you may be. So, I think if that individual GM is using AI effectively to free them up to do what a GM really should be doing, and probably why that person went into being a GM in the first place, then I think we’re gonna start to see the progress. But we haven’t really started to measure it yet. I also see on the positive side, other industries, IE healthcare are also realizing that AI is doing a lot of back office work at a very high level, or high degree of, of quality. And that’s now freeing up their own people. And what they’re finding is, is that maybe we should be engaging, empowering those roles in a hospital or healthcare broadly to be taking care of patients in a more human hospitable way. And so, in some degree, I think the long-term impact will be that other industries are now going to start looking at hospitality as being a, at the vanguard of driving human powered experiences that will drive back to revenue and premiumization and ultimately profits. So we’ve always looked to other industries for, God, we’re, so, we’re Luddites, how do you do this? What, how do teach us in hospitality? I, I think we’re going to start to see other industries look to us to, how do you actually take care of a guest, a customer for that matter? How do you do that to create loyalty to, to a, to increase average order value or ticket receipts. So I think that’s the opportunity to answer your question in terms of one area that I think is directly and already being deeply impacted is distribution and search. Search is been a, a topic of discussion for the last 30 years. And we’ve largely gone through this used SEO to fine, the white hat, the black hat the right levers to pull your all tags, your meditechs, I mean, the whole thing, right? Brand equity, la la, la. Well, AI replaces all that in one fell swoop, and nobody really knows how that’s going to play out. But on the sort of doomsday perspective, it completely wipes out your brand equity online in a search engine. On the positive side, it reinforces it because AI is simply pulling from algorithms and behaviors on the internet to sort of drive, it’s, it’s results. But again, we don’t know the answer to that. And I think already revenue management, sales and marketing distribution, those are the areas where I think in the next six months, we’re gonna be having a conversation that is gonna be completely different than the conversation we’re having today. And we’re gonna be focusing a lot on that because that is one of the areas that today is being completely upended. Ryan Embree: I one hundred percent agree with you. I think that’s where a lot of the hunger and the appetite and thirst for knowledge right now of why maybe there’s more engagement in those sessions than you’ve seen before, is because I think people are starting to, if they haven’t already started to understand the gravity of where we’re at in this inflection point and the massive disruption that this is going to cause and do not want to be left behind. And I think you’re right. There was a fascinating point you made in there about the GM and their role, and we all, the big fears around AI are, are AI replacing jobs? And I would say when it comes to hospitality, it could really upend what the, the role of a job, right? Your GM might start looking a lot more like the GM of 40 years ago when you first got into hospitality, or where you weren’t having to do those tasks. And we almost have to learn this new job. It might be the same title as general manager, but you’re doing completely different things, which is a fascinating topic to talk about because we’ve been training these young hospitality professionals in the way of what a GM is today. That role could look completely different here in the next three to five based on the, on the speed and acceleration of these, of AI tasks that they’re doing. So it, I could talk about it all the time. We do talk about it all the time, I feel like, but it’ll be very interesting to see that impact that it’s making. I wanna switch back to NYU, and this is one of my favorite questions because there’s so much intention in these, in these shows, and that’s why I love doing these episode, these preview episodes, because you get to, to learn all the work that goes in, you’ve told me before you start on these events, day after, sometimes even now hours after that first one ended. So this year’s theme sharpening the edge. Talk to us a little bit about how the team settled on this and, and the story behind it and how you’ve incorporated it into the programming a little bit. Alexi Khajavi: Yeah, I mean, sharpening the edge is, an ode to the investment, nature of the event. It’s a deal making conference and it’s in New York. And so it’s a very sort of public market Wall Street saying, where do you find your edge or where do you find your alpha compared to another investor? If all you’re doing is chasing, the broad returns of a market or an asset class for that much, or for that matter, then you’re, you’re gonna be, at the whipping end of the overall broader market. It’s not a good place to be in a volatile market like this. And it doesn’t drive the outsized returns that investors are looking for. So it really is a tip of the, the cap to where we are. We’re in New York, we have a lot of Wall Street, public Market, New York Stock Exchange, synergies there, Sarah Eisen from CNBC, comes up and moderates the CEO panel. Most of the CEOs head down for interviews, on Wall Street and CNBC and Squawk Box and so forth. And we have that partnership still with CNBC this year. So, but as you shift it to what’s happening in the capital markets as it relates to real estate and more specifically to hospitality, private equity has been the dominant capital type in hotel investment. And that’s been the case for the last decade. And today that’s really no longer the case. It’s PE is still extremely active, but it’s more diversified in terms of across investor types. So we’re seeing, again, as I said, family offices, high net worth, a lot of sovereign, a lot of institutional capital that is growing materially, that is looking to hospitality to, to deploy capital. And with that, you’re seeing a lot of opportunities around value add. PE is really your value add investor, right? They’re looking for an underperforming asset or an asset that has the ability to perform at a higher level that’s sharpening the edge, that’s driving alpha. And so PE is really looking at this as a great opportunity as institutional capital comes in and is looking for stable, more stable returns, securitized assets, and an annuity like return over a longer hold period. It’s a great opportunity for private equity to exit in a market in which it’s been tough to exit. That being said, global hotel and fund allocations in hospitality and real estate has been tough, but it’s growing and it’s coming back. And so you’ve got a lot more money coming back into the market. And, and that’s really, a positive thing. We having events across Asia, Europe, and the us it allows for us to drive that cross-border capital. US capital has been less active, but despite all the challenges, we still see a lot of, international capital, which wants to invest in the us. So that kind of diversification of capital is a real, real positive for the market. It, it means more liquidity, it means more exit opportunities to get off, on the off ramp for PE or any other investor. As more capital comes in, it offers more opportunities to exit. It provides or, or enables less sort of seasonality, if you will, in the marketplace, right? There’s less of that volatility in the marketplace as all as well. So really the sharpening the edge is about having the education, the networking, and the quality of people in the room that have the money are looking to deploy and know how to create alpha. Getting those individuals together to hear from each other, engage with one another, and ultimately, build relationships with the ecosystem that helps a deal get done, transact that transacts, underwrites that deal, and then drives that alpha from an operating value creation perspective. Those are the folks that are in the room at NYU. Ryan Embree: And you’re right in the middle of it. I mean, I remember waking up at the, the marquee and seeing Chris Nasetta on CNBC and a few hours later seeing him just a couple hundred feet up on stage in front of me. I mean, that’s the possibilities right there. Alexi Khajavi: And talking to people, right? I mean, this is the beauty of the hospitality industry is there’s really good people, right? They’re just, at the end of the day, you may be running a public company, and on TV, you’re sitting there talking to a franchisee of a Hampton that wants to meet the CEO. So it really kind of creates this very magical engagement where the fifth floor, sixth floor, seventh floor, eighth floor of the marquee are just a hive of activity with the best and the brightest from a franchisee to Chris Nasetta, to your point, there’s not many places that create that access and that transparency and cross engagement from such a diverse, but focused, sector, as NYU. So it’s a real, real special place to be. Ryan Embree: A thousand percent. And last year you used this forum to really get us fired up for some of the sessions in educations. And now you’re talking about, especially with your experience here earlier in the year, people being more open to that, being more thirsty and, and hungry for that information, looking up and down the programming. Because we know you spoke to last year the detail and depth that your team goes to create these panels, and sometimes even putting on stage opinions that differ, that go head to head to one another, to try to get that friction to try to get a rise out of that engagement. Looking up and down the agenda this year, which sessions, if you had to pick a few, do you have your eyes on? Alexi Khajavi: Well, there’s some, some obvious ones, but always at NYU, we’ve got some, some exciting ones as well. And the first one, our first session actually Monday morning, Anthony Scaramucci, the Mooch, who is an investor himself actually owns a restaurant as well, but certainly, podcaster and just an expert, on the economy, politics, the Trump administration having worked, I think 10 days, there, if I’m not mistaken. So, he’s gonna kick us off. We always have a marquee name that’s relevant to the industry, but he really has his finger on the pulse as to, one, what are all the geopolitics and the macroeconomics, in the overall state of the economy and the country, what impact is that having on the investment markets on where the opportunities are? Alexi Khajavi: And as he runs a restaurant what is he seeing? What does he think specifically of the hotel space? So I think that’s, again, that’s, that’s just not something that you get at any of the other hotel investment forums, but you get that and you’ll get it right, served with breakfast on Monday morning. So we kick off big and we kick off bold on Monday. Obviously Monday has, is a great day. We have the CEO council on Monday as well. Or sorry, the CEO panel that’s the five top brands, again, interviewed by Sarah Eisen, which they have a great rapport with. And that really does set the tone for what they’re seeing as the opportunities. Clearly they are on top of demand and where RevPAR and ADRs and occupancies are going, how they’re performing and what the differences are by chain scale. There will be a lot of conversation around how much gas in the tank does luxury have I’m sure you’ll hear differing views on that. And then are we gonna see a return to some of the midscale and upper upscale, as potentially people trade down but still travel and where’s economy, where’s extended stay? We’ve also seen these brands make some interesting investments in new concepts, graduate hotels, which is last year, yo hotels glamping and branded resi. That’s a big day. In fact, we’ve got a full day of content on branded resi with active developers developing properties right now that are branded resi mix of hotel, mixed use, retail, hospitality and so forth. And then capital markets. Capital markets our Cap Talks session is probably one of our most popular, and that’ll be a mix of both active US investors as well as foreign capital, international capital investors, sovereign Wealth, as well as private equity, which continue to look to deploy capital in the US. Alexi Khajavi: We then have Danny Meyer, who’s the founder, and CEO of Union Square Hospitality, Shake Shack. And obviously a number of other incredible Union Square restaurants in the city here. But and then you’ve got your breakouts where you will be focusing a lot on the investment development market. Asset management is a key thing, how do you drive Alpha through the operations of these hotels? So there’s a ton of content. We’ve left a lot of time for networking. We know that’s where the deal making is the eighth floor, which is the lobby level. We’ve extended the event to include the Broadway Lounge, which is this beautiful lounge overlooking Times Square. We’ll have, food and beverage in there throughout the days. Great space to network amongst all the delegates, including the ninth floor where we’ve got Marriott and Hilton taking that space. So it’s just a ton going on. And the program’s out, it’s 90% there. We still got a few couple of marquee names that we’re going to announce over the next few weeks. But really, if you’re gonna be, if you’re in hospitality, investment development and operations where you’re driving Alpha, there really is no other place to be on the first and 2nd of June. You’ve gotta be there. Ryan Embree: Yeah. I can attest to it again, first time last year have the privilege of attending officially announcing the Suite Spot will be back at NYU this year. We can’t wait. Our associate producer’s gonna be traveling with me this time. This is her first time. And there is even a first timers meet and greet that you do as well at the event, which I had the privilege of partaking in networking last year. What type of tips for any hoteliers investors that might be considering or even attending the first time, what, what one piece of advice would you drill down for this event as the best piece? Ryan Embree: I would definitely get on the app. I know that the serendipitous meeting, which to your point, you bump into the CEO of Hilton or Marriott for that matter, is great. And that’s, there’s good value in that, but we have about 70, almost 80% of all delegates are on the app. That’s great. And that’s a great place to find people and to be found and it also gives you all the other information as the agenda speaker bios, but it allows for you to reach out to other delegates. So I would definitely do, that’s, something that can be sometimes just overlooked or just not not done. And then I would go to the Sunday evening reception if it’s your first time that’s at the marquee, six o’clock, we get about 500 people there. A good mix of veterans and, and first timers. I would certainly do that. I would try and plan out your days ahead. It’s amazing how with all that, with all everything that’s going on, you can easily kind of get sidetracked. So if there are some sessions that you wanna see, you can bookmark them in the app and make sure that you, you don’t miss those. But, I would, get some sleep, stay hydrated and be prepared to have some full days of education, networking and just a whole lot of fun. Ryan Embree: Yeah. And some of the receptions that are after hours at the end of the day, are absolutely amazing too. And I know you have sponsors that kind of do that, sometimes onsite, sometimes offsite, encourage, those to attend that in full force as well. Hospitality, we definitely know how to, to host a party, that’s for sure. So Alexi, we appreciate you hosting us here on the Suite Spot and previewing this year’s 2026 NYU. We are counting down the days until June. Thank you again to my audience to learn more information. Obviously visit the website, make sure you register. Any final thoughts before we wrap up today, Alexi? Alexi Khajavi: No, just very much looking forward to seeing you there and the other 2400 people that will be joining us. So, looking very much forward to it. And appreciate your time. Ryan Embree: All right, thank you, Alexi. Thank you for listening to The Suite Spot and hope to see you at NYU in June in New York City. To join our loyalty program, be sure to subscribe and give us a five star reading on iTunes. Suite Spot is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell, with Cover Art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host Ryan Embree, and we hope you enjoyed your stay.

Send us Fan MailJack Greiner and Randy Freking welcome David Pepper, a lifelong Cincinnatian and former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. The conversation covers David's deep-rooted passion for the Cincinnati Reds, sharing nostalgic memories and discussing favorite players like Eric Davis and Ken Griffey Jr. David also talks about his political journey, his books on gerrymandering, and his candidacy for lieutenant governor alongside Amy Acton. The episode is filled with engaging anecdotes, baseball trivia, and a shared love for Cincinnati sports.Keywords:Cincinnati RedsDavid PepperEric DavisKen Griffey Jr.Ohio Democratic PartyGerrymanderingAmy ActonBaseball nostalgiaCincinnati sportsPolitical journeyChapters:Introduction and Guest Welcome (0:00 - 0:42)Hosts introduce David Pepper and his background.Reds Fandom and Early Memories (0:42 - 2:39)David shares his early experiences as a Reds fan.Favorite Players and Baseball Stories (2:39 - 5:40)Discussion about favorite players like Eric Davis and Ken Griffey Jr.Political Career and Writing (5:40 - 14:18)David talks about his political journey and his books.Running for Lieutenant Governor (14:18 - 17:09)Insights into David's candidacy with Amy Acton.Baseball and Politics (17:09 - 22:32)The intersection of sports fandom and political life.Fun Categories and Personal Stories (22:32 - 42:54)Engaging segments like "Marty McFly" and "Mount Rushmore" of Reds players.Conclusion and Optimism for the Season (42:54 - End)Closing thoughts and excitement for the upcoming baseball season. Jack thanks the listeners

James and Al discuss the redrawing of Congressional districts in Virginia in the wider context of the gerrymandering battle being waged for the House and share lesser-known issues plaguing our democracy.  Then they are joined by Ohio's gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates, Amy Acton and David Pepper, and they dive into healthcare, corruption, and the need for political change.  They also welcome Tejano star-turned-TX-15 candidate Bobby Pulido to game out how to win in Texas, bring back conservative-minded Latino voters, and craft a strong economic message, capped off with a short musical performance.Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you're from! More from James and Al:Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon.Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube.James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room SubstackGet updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarvilleGet More From This Week's Guests: Dr. Amy Acton: Twitter | Acton For Governor | Instagram | FacebookDavid Pepper: Twitter | Acton For Governor | Website | Author Bobby Pulido: Campaign Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Please Support Our Sponsors:Miracle Made:Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to TryMiracle.com/warroom and use the code WARROOM to claim your FREE 3-PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF.Boxie:For a limited time, get 30% off your order when you head to Boxiecat.com/WARROOM and use code WARROOMShopify:Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/warroomDeleteMe:Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/warroom and usepromo code WARROOM at checkout.

This week we are joined by one of our church overseers, David Pepper! He finishes our More & Better series on how disciples must be surrendered in order to fully be all in on what they are called to.Todays Key Scritpure:Acts 1:8 NIVBut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Tenure is a defining feature of U.S. higher education, but these days the practice is in decline and under attack by critics. On this episode, Jeff and Michael talk with Jacques Berlinerblau, a Georgetown University professor who has written extensively about the tenure system, for an explainer on its colorful origins as well as a look at the dramatic changes that seem to be coming. This episode is made with support from Ascendium Education Group. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:50 - The Colorful History of Tenure 8:14 - A Distinctly American System 9:14 - How Tenure Works 13:26 - What Is the Legal Nature of Tenure? 14:46 - Which Types of Colleges Use Tenure? 16:19 - Is Tenure Different in Different Disciplines? 18:52 - How Difficult Is It For Colleges to Dismiss a Tenured Faculty Member? 20:40 - Can Tenured Departments Be Eliminated for Lack of Student Demand? 22:57 - Complaints Against the Tenure System 24:43 - A Turning Point in the 1990s 31:43 - A Renewed Campaign to Erode Tenure 34:31 - How Professors Are Partly to Blame for Tenure's Woes 37:33 - Will Only Elite Universities Keep Tenure? 38:49 - Are Younger Faculty As Excited About Tenure? 41:48 - What Can Professors Do in the Face of Tenure's Erosion? Relevant Links: “1915 Declaration of Principles on Academic Freedom and Academic Tenure,” and a history of the American Association of University Professors. “1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure,” from the American Association of University Professors. "Professors Lay Dying: Selecting a College Amidst an Educational Crisis," by Jacques Berlinerblau “They've Been Scheming to Cut Tenure for Years. It's Happening,” by Jacques Berlinerblau in The Chronicle of Higher Education. “Laboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines,” by David Pepper. “The War on Tenure,” by Deepa Das Acevedo Connect with Michael Horn: Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter Website LinkedIn X (Twitter) Threads   Connect with Jeff Selingo: Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You Sign Up for the Next Newsletter Website X (Twitter) Threads LinkedIn Connect with Future U: Twitter YouTube Threads Instagram Facebook LinkedIn   Submit a question and if we answer it on air we'll send you Future U. swag! Sign up for Future U. emails to get special updates and behind-the-scenes content.

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on how Donald Trump's terrible performance in office has led to Ohio quickly turning against him and Meiselas speaks with Democratic Governor candidate Dr. Amy Acton and her running mate David Pepper. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast⁠ Legal AF: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af⁠ MissTrial: ⁠https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial⁠ The PoliticsGirl Podcast: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast⁠ Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan⁠ Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen⁠ The Weekend Show: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show⁠ Burn the Boats: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats⁠ Majority 54: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54⁠ Political Beatdown: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown⁠ On Democracy with FP Wellman: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman⁠ Uncovered: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a midterm election year and the Ohio governor's seat is up for grabs as there is no incumbent. The presumptive nominees for the two major parties finalized their tickets this week. Presumptive Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, the businessman and former presidential candidate and Department of Government Efficiency partner, selected Senate President Rob McColley of Northwest Ohio as his running mate. Dr. Amy Acton chose the former leader of the Ohio Democratic Party -- and an active fly in the Republican ointment on social media, David Pepper. Get ready for the Doctor....Pepper campaign. State and local health experts urge us to get a flu shot, even though the shot doesn't seem to be matched up well with the current strain of virus. Flu cases are on the rise statewide and in Northeast Ohio, flu-related hospitalizations doubled this week, according to an Ideastream report. Year-over-year cases are higher as well and we are still several weeks away from peak flu season. And we've got measles to worry about, too. Three kids in Cuyahoga County have them. The East Cleveland City School District is riding high after being released last month from state oversight, which had been in place for more than seven years. Gov. Mike DeWine spent much of the week refuting what he called disinformation spread on social media alleging fraud in the state's day care system. The online videos specifically target day cares run by Somali immigrants. Ohio has the second largest population of Somalis in the nation. Police in Akron bring their own long guns to work, but Akron's mayor says they should use only department-issued weapons. He inserted that new rule in the capital budget he submitted to city council this week. The issue of personal long guns has become a concern for community members after 15-year-old Jazmir Tucker was shot dead by an officer using his own gun in 2024. Swearing in for Cleveland's smaller sized city council happened this week, and grumbling about leadership followed not long after. The council, slimmed down to 15 from 17 due to population declined, features 3-new members -- and one returning member who cast a no vote on a perfunctory approval of council's rules, saying leadership does not seek broad input from its members. Guests: -Anna Huntsman, Akron-Canton Reporter, Ideastream Public Media -Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media -Karen Kasler, Statehouse News Bureau Chief, Ohio Public Radio/TV

NY Daily News, Mamdani plan to scale back NYC gifted and talented program reignites simmering controversy, https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/10/04/mamdani-plan-to-scale-back-nyc-gifted-and-talented-program-reignites-simmering-controversy/ andJames Borland, Gifted Education Without Gifted Childre. https://assets.cambridge.org/97805215/47307/excerpt/, 9780521547307_excerpt.pdfRenzulli Center for Creativity, Gifted Education, and Talent Developmenthttps://gifted.uconn.edu/schoolwide-enrichment-model/ https://gifted.uconn.edu/schoolwide-enrichment-model/Jennifer Berkshire's books, The Education Wars and Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door: The Dismantling of Public Education and the Future of School , https://www.amazon.com/Education-Wars-Citizens-Defense-Manual/dp/1620978547/ and https://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Schoolhouse-Door-Dismantling-Education/dp/1620977958/ref=sr_1_1Jennifer Berkshire, Education Helped Power the Blue Wave, https://educationwars.substack.com/p/education-helped-power-the-blue-waveLaura Pappano, School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics, and the Battle for Public Education, https://www.amazon.com/School-Moms-Activism-Partisan-Education/dp/0807012661Laura Pappano, At Moms for Liberty summit, parents urged to turn their grievances into lawsuits, https://hechingerreport.org/at-moms-for-liberty-summit-parents-urged-to-turn-their-grievances-into-lawsuits/Jake Zuckerman, Culture warriors lost school board races all around Ohio, https://signalohio.org/culture-warriors-lost-school-board-races-all-around-ohio/David Pepper, Lesson: People Don't Want Crazy on their School Boards, https://davidpepper.substack.com/p/lesson-people-dont-want-crazy-on?r=g8fo&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=trueArne Duncan, America is in an ‘education depression.' This solution is a no-brainer, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/11/03/democrats-education-tax-credit-duncan/Jessica Seaman, Colorado teacher unions ride blue wave to victory in school board races, https://www.denverpost.com/2025/11/06/colorado-teacher-union-school-board-elections/Jenny Brundin, Supporters of Propositions MM and LL declare victory, https://www.cpr.org/2025/11/04/proposition-ll-mm-funding-free-school-meals-results/Scotus Blog, Mahmoud v. Taylor https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/mahmoud-v-taylor/Maggie Scales, Lexington parent sues district over lessons that “normalize LGBTQ relationships” , https://lexobserver.org/2025/11/07/lexington-parent-sues-district-for-burdening-childs-religious-upbringing/

November 8th, 2023In the Hot Notes: incredible results for Democrats in elections across several states this week; the Biden Campaign pens a memo to the media asserting disparity in polling coverage; Hinds County Mississippi precincts faced ballot shortages on election day; a suspect is in custody in connection with the murder of synagogue president Samantha Woll; a former CIA officer has pled guilty to sexual abuse charges; Biden wins his 150th federal judge appointment in the Senate; plus Allison and Dana deliver your Good News.More From Our GuestDavid Pepperhttps://davidpepper.substack.com/p/breaking-victory-in-ohio?utm_campaign=reaction&utm_medium=email&utm_source=substack&utm_content=posthttps://twitter.com/DavidPepper Our Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - DonateMSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlueWhistleblowerAid.org/beansFederal workers - feel free to email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. Find Upcoming Actions 50501 Movement, No Kings.org, Indivisible.orgDr. Allison Gill - Substack, BlueSky , TikTok, IG, TwitterDana Goldberg - BlueSky, Twitter, IG, facebook, danagoldberg.comCheck out more from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | SubstackShare your Good News or Good TroubleMSW Good News and Good TroubleHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?The Daily Beans | SupercastThe Daily Beans & Mueller, She Wrote | PatreonThe Daily Beans | Apple Podcasts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga) addressed the Georgia Chamber of Commerce while many of the GOP hopefuls seeking to oust him in 2026 were working the room. Also working the room - Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who hasn't said what office (if any) he'll be running for soon.But he was in the room schmoozing, so of course he's running for something. The question is: is there an avenue for him to win the GOP nomination in either the Senate or gubernatorial primary? I, for one, have my doubts. ------Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance swooped into metro Atlanta to tout the highly unpopular "Big Beautiful Bill" that was signed into law last month. He steered clear of going anywhere near projects unfunded by that same bill, like the $65 million for the south metro Flint River Gateway Trails. ------Speaking of environmental impact, Georgia's going the wrong direction (and that'll be exacerbated by Trump-led green energy rollbacks), and consumers will pay the brunt for that, according to Patty Durand, founder of Georgians for Affordable Energy. ------Texas moved forward with their use of "gerrymandering on request" to appease the unpopular President, Donald Trump. He's trying to fend off a midterm turnover of the U.S. House. California, in turn, is aiming to undo what Texas does, and their state Supreme Court signed off on it. What's rich is, House Speaker Mike Johnson wants California to stick to using independent redistricting commissions (just California, though; no word on seeing red states embrace this concept, of course) when he's the shining example of an unchallenged politician benefiting from gerrymandering in his home state. Brilliant takedown by David Pepper on X. ------Jamie Dupree wrote an op/ed for the Atlanta Journal Constitution spotlighting what appears to be the first Democratic-drafted plan to provide an alternative to "Project 2025" that Dupree believes most Americans could get behind. Ohio Democratic House member Greg Landsman has penned a ten-point plan that lays that path out.

This week, we're wrapping up our Unhinged series, and Paul is reminding us that we're meant to carry one another's burdens, restore each other gently, and not grow weary in doing good.  We were never meant to do this alone. & you can't build community without putting yourself out there. The heartbeat of Church on the Rock is to help people discover how they can LOVE God and LOVE one another, LIVE with passion, purpose and freedom, and LEAD others to this same experience in Jesus. We simply say, “helping others Love, Live, and Lead in Jesus". Commit to your "One More": https://onemoreak.com Let's Connect here: https://churchak.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/84/responses/new Learn more about us at https://churchak.org If you enjoyed our teaching and would like to donate to our ministries go here: https://pushpay.com/g/churchak?src=hpp

Jul 17, 2024President Biden could be  set to announce major Supreme Court reform efforts including term limits; JD Vance has yet to accept debates with Vice President Kamala Harris; the DNC says its virtual roll call to nominate Biden will happen in early August; Elon Musk is moving Tesla out of California; Rudy Giuliani says he has no regrets over the damage he did to the lives of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss; Jack Smith files official notice with the 11th Circuit that he intends to appeal Judge Cannon's decision to dismiss the charges against Donald Trump; plus Allison delivers your Good News.Our Guest:David Pepperhttps://twitter.com/DavidPepperhttps://davidpepper.substack.comLaboratories of Autocracy: A Wake-Up Call from Behind the Lines by David Pepper (Amazon.com) Donate to the MSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory FundMSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlueWhistleblowerAid.org/beans Federal workers - feel free to email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. Find Upcoming Actions 50501 Movement, No Kings.org, Indivisible.orgDr. Allison Gill - Substack, BlueSky , TikTok, IG, TwitterDana Goldberg - BlueSky, Twitter, IG, facebook, danagoldberg.comCheck out more from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | SubstackShare your Good News or Good TroubleMSW Good News and Good TroubleHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?The Daily Beans | SupercastThe Daily Beans & Mueller, She Wrote | PatreonThe Daily Beans | Apple Podcasts

Was DOGE all about “a truly unprecedented transfer of governmental power to a private entity in real time?” Former Chair-Ohio Democratic Party (2015-2021) lawyer, author of many books including Saving Democracy David Pepper explains. Also Veteran War Correspondent Phil Ittner reports from Kyiv, Ukraine.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are back next week with new episodes of The Bill Press Pod. The 12th and final chapter chronicles the demise of our fictional magazine, Capital Monthly. The pressure from the White House, from advertisers and from Social Media algorithms kills the independent journalism that was, in our stories, documenting what life was like for people under Donald Trump's second term guided by Project 2025. We now have seen, in real life, what evil Project 2025 has wrought. We hope this update of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal restores in all of us, our commitment to halt the march to disaster that is MAGA, Trump and most of the GOP. 2026 cannot come fast enough. But for us to stop the madness, we must VOTE and convince friends and family to vote as well.We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this series. Especially the talented sound designers Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser who worked on every episode. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bill is back next week from his research and writing sabbatical. While he's gone, we decided it's important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and have the series author, pro-democracy advocate and the author of nine books, David Pepper, tie them to what's actually happened so far. In Chapter 11, set in November in Tallahassee, fictional Florida, Governor Buck Bryce confidently addresses the press regarding Hurricane Timothy, initially predicted to be a manageable Category 1 storm. However, the hurricane unexpectedly strengthens to a devastating Category 4 upon landfall, causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life. The governor, previously assured by Washington that all preparations were sufficient, is confronted with the reality of inadequate storm forecasting due to recent cuts to federal meteorological services as proposed by Project 2025 and now DOGE following through.As emergency response efforts falter, Bryce grapples with the new federal policies under Trump that make it difficult to declare emergencies and provide immediate assistance to affected businesses and citizens.(As is now actually happening: Under President Donald Trump, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied federal assistance for tornadoes in Arkansas, flooding in West Virginia and a windstorm in Washington state. It also has refused North Carolina's request for extended relief funding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. This fictional but predictive narrative highlights the consequences of disregarding climate science and federal data, resulting in death and destructionAs always, the series author, David Pepper updates on how what he predicted has come to pass.We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode:Mark Ruffalo who read the chapter and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Jonathan Moser.Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 2 weeks we decided it's important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and tie them to what's actually happened so far. The first part of Chapter10 introduces the fictional character Dr. Joy Brewer, a dedicated researcher focused on studying cancer clusters affecting Black Americans. Joy learns from her colleague, Dr. Matthias Kunz, that all federal grants linked to race or gender are being canceled, jeopardizing her life's work. Despite her attempts to advocate for her essential research, the political climate forces her into a corner where she must reconsider her direction. This part of the chapter closes with Joy's resolute decision to remain true to her mission, suggesting a significant personal and professional loss amidst the disaster of Trump and his ideological allies.In the second part of chapter, the fictional Webster "Web" Powers, addresses a packed ballroom in Washington, D.C., on a day he considers pivotal for his political ambitions. Web, who has transformed from a simple condo salesman into a powerful figure opposing what he sees as “woke” ideologies in education and government, relishes the fear among his audience—representatives from universities and research institutions. He recalls how his concerns about a lack of patriotic historical education for his children led him on a crusade to eliminate anti-American content from schools, which in turn propelled him into politics. After achieving success in Florida by banning critical race theory and related concepts from education, he is ready to extend his efforts nationally. During his speech, he unveils plans to remove references to race, gender identities, and diversity from federal policies and grants, branding the funding of such initiatives as “racism.” His announcement indicates that billions in federal research funds supporting various racial and gender-focused studies will now be terminated, causing dread among established academics who relied on these grants. Web takes pleasure in exerting control, sensing that his audience, once dismissive towards him, is now subservient to his newfound authority.Ultimately, both narratives illustrate what happens when a Trump second term guided by Project 2025 destroys the lives and work of dedicated individuals committed to social justice and scientific integrity.We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode:Danai Gurira and Joel Hurt Jones who read the chapter and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Jonathan Moser and Marilys Ernst. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The American Federation of Teachers. More information at AFT.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 2 weeks we decided it's important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and tie them to what's actually happened so far. The story in this chapter follows fictional Private Troy Marquis, who attends a tense early morning briefing at a military reserve base in Philadelphia. Troy is told that a radical group, Antifa, has invaded the city, prompting a second-term President Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act. US law currently prohibits the military from operating on US soil. However, the Insurrection Act of 1807 gives the president broad and sweeping authority to use the military to quell domestic violence or conspiracy that the president thinks is a domestic rebellion or insurrection. Donald Trump tried use the Insurrection Act against Black Lives Matter protests in his first administration and has threatened use the U.S. Military to shut down protests against him in a second term.As the soldiers in Troy Marquis company advance towards City Hall, tensions rise with the conflict between what the soldiers were told and what they see with their own eyes. In the midst of a peaceful protest against police violence, the situation escalates when one soldier purposely makes up a perceived threat, leading to gunfire. The chaos results in the deaths of dozens and many injuries, including their own soldiers. Overcome with horror and guilt, Troy grapples with the aftermath of their actions and the brutal reality of their mission.In a view from the other side, the fictional Julie Brown joins that protest in Philadelphia calling for justice after the police killing of two Black students. Despite her parents' concerns about the increasing hostility towards protesters, she feels compelled to stand up for her beliefs. The protest initially unfolds peacefully, filled with songs and chants, until military forces arrive with orders to disperse the demonstrators. As the military's authoritative tone becomes increasingly menacing, panic ensues when gunfire breaks out, resulting in casualties among the protesters. Julie is injured in the chaos and wakes up in the hospital, facing a representative of military intelligence who informs her that the protest group is being investigated for allegedly attacking the military. Once again in a trump administration up is down and down is up.We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode:Mark Hamill and Andrea Guidry who read the chapters and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Jonathan Moser and Marilys Ernst. This episode of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was jointly written by Daniel Miller—lawyer, writer and democracy advocate—and David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by the American Federation of Government employees. More information at AFGE.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 3 weeks we decided it's important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and tie them to what's actually happened so far. Project 2025 proposed to eliminate the Department of Education and divert federal education funding into universal school voucher programs, allowing public money to be used for private and for-profit schools. This would result in cuts to critical services and programs at public schools, including mental health counseling, school resource officers, after-school programs, reading/writing specialists, and services for students with disabilities. Classroom sizes at public schools would increase substantially due to the funding cuts, hampering the ability to provide a quality education. The plan also calls for the censorship of curriculum and book banning related to topics like racial equity, LGBTQ issues, and reproductive health. Private for-profit schools receiving voucher funds have been found to use substandard or misleading curriculum, including teaching that dinosaurs and humans co-existed and that slavery was not as bad as portrayed. Overall, the goal of Project 2025 is to end public education in the United States in favor of a privatized, deregulated school system, with devastating consequences for students, especially those from lower-income families and communities.Based on the actual proposals and likely consequences above, the fictional based stories begin as Martha Sheakley, the principal of Southeast Middle School, faces the challenges of new controversial book-banning laws that require the removal of numerous classics from the library. As she meets with librarian Paige Parker, they express their frustration over the vague standards forcing them to censor popular titles, including works by Toni Morrison and Anne Frank. Martha is frustrated with the political landscape affecting education and the consequences of enforcing these new laws. Martha then attends a distressing meeting about school funding. Due to the government's shift to vouchers for private schools, public schools face severe funding cuts. She learns they must eliminate wrap-around services and support staff, including mental health counselors, after-care programs, and special education resources. These cuts threaten the well-being of students and the overall educational environment. The meeting exposes the deepening crisis in public education as more responsibilities are pushed onto families with lower income and fewer resources. After a day filled with painful decisions and meetings, Martha encounters law enforcement taking away censored books from the library, further highlighting the absurdity and tragedy of censorship in education. As the day ends, Martha reflects on the privilege of parents benefitting from the new policies while her own students and staff suffer the consequences.In parallel, Marcus and other parents share their concerns about Blue Ribbon Academy, a new school that seemed promising but delivered a disappointing reality. They discover misleading curriculum materials that trivialize serious historical issues and provide an inadequate education. As they navigate their experiences trying to advocate for better education options for their children, they are met with resistance from the Blue Ribbon administration, which has no accountability to the public.Despite their efforts, the parents ultimately face the grim reality that shifts in educational policy have sidelined their children, particularly those with special needs like Marcus's son, Jamal, who is deemed "not a good fit" for Blue Ribbon due to his ADHD. This reflects a larger trend of public schools becoming underfunded and unable to meet the needs of diverse learners as more families are funneled into less supportive educational environments.We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Ever Carradine and Don Cheadle who read the chapters and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Johnathan Moser.Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Democrats' Strategy Amid Trump's Decline. In this episode of the Worth Knowing Live Stream, Matt Robison explores how we can be certain that the public tide has turned on Donald Trump, and what Democrats should do about it. Joined by David Pepper, former Chairman of the Democratic Party of Ohio, the conversation explores the implications of recent polling data that shows Trump's steep decline in favorability, the importance of state-level politics and the need for Democrats to compete in traditionally red areas to reshape their image and hold Republicans accountable.***Subscribe*** to Matt Robison's Substack: https://worthknowing.substack.com/***Subscribe*** to David Pepper's Substack: https://davidpepper.substack.com/00:00 Introduction and Today's Topic02:12 Analyzing Trump's Early Term Polling13:33 Media Influence and Public Opinion18:31 Democratic Strategy Moving Forward24:58 Uncontested Races and Media Influence36:19 The Power of State and Local Governance40:47 The Role of Protests and Economic Actions49:00 Concluding Thoughts and Future Strategies

While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 4 weeks we decided it's important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and have the series author, pro-democracy advocate and the author of nine books, David Pepper, tie them to what's actually happened so far. In this episode of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal, we see the real-life effects of this assault on unions and workers. In our fictional story, two legendary high school football players, Turk Foster and DeAndre McCollum, still relish their past glory. But they are struggling to navigate the rule changes proposed by Project 2025 that undercut the power of unions and tilt the playing field in favor of the employers to the detriment of employees. Turk struggles with his job as a union electrician as wages and job security diminish. He feels the weight of expectation on his son, who may soon forgo football to support the family by taking a job, previously off limits to teenagers in a plant in town. DeAndre's wife, a nurse, has had her hours cut and has to cope with last minute schedule changes that disrupt their family life.In the second half of the episode, Bruce Lipton, the fictional private equity executive, plays golf with his HR consultant Dudley Brennan. Their conversation reveals the ruthless cost-cutting measures undertaken by their firm, Bald Eagle Capital, and the broader privatized economy shaped by the election of Donald Trump and the deregulation as proposed in Project 2025. Dudley lists strategies like eliminating union protections, utilizing young workers—including hiring teenagers for hazardous jobs—and reducing overtime expenses. Despite his discomfort with these practices, Bruce feels pressured to comply with the aggressive corporate tactics that prioritize profit over worker safety and rights, reflecting an uncomfortable tension between his upbringing in a union household and the cutthroat world of private equity. The chapter concludes with Bruce's disillusionment leading him to leave the golf course, symbolizing his internal conflict over the ethical implications of his work. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Wendell Pierce and Fisher Stevens who read the chapters and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan MoserTrump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 4 weeks we decided it's important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and tie them to what's actually happened so far. The story that leads off Chapter 6 captures the struggles of 12-year-old Alvaro and his mother in a fictional detention center in West Texas. Alvaro expresses his hunger to his mother, who is too weak to properly care for herself. As they navigate the deteriorating conditions of the camp—overcrowded with diminishing food supplies, hostile guards, and a sense of fear from both authorities and fellow detainees—Alvaro reflects on lost friendships and longing for better times. His mother's health declines as she sacrifices for him, giving him her piece of bread despite needing it more herself. This highlights Alvaro's growing awareness of their desperate situation. He learns from a friend, Manuel, about possible escape routes and decides to plan his own escape to ensure both his and his mother's safety.In the second half of Chapter 6, in a parallel narrative, soldier Jake Caldwell describes the chaos of the detention center from his perspective. As he witnesses the overwhelming influx of women and children, he feels the systemic failures of the camp. The environment strips away humanity, leading children to escape in search of freedom. As both narratives unfold, Alvaro attempts to escape the camp, filled with hope for a future where he can see his mother smile again even as Jake grapples with the moral dilemmas of his role in the oppressive system. Their stories intertwine themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the harsh realities faced by both detainees and guards in the unjust conditions of the camp.We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode:Mark Ruffalo and Andrea Guidry who read the chapters and others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser.Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 4 weeks we decided it's important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and have the series author, pro-democracy advocate and the author of nine books, David Pepper, tie them to what's actually happened so far. In Chapter 5, Part one, the fictional characters Congresswoman Louise Getty (a stand-in for Liz Cheney) and Senator Wade Stiller, former rivals, meet at the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. They reflect on their pasts and express concern over a hostile political climate under Trump's second term, feeling fear and paranoia about being surveilled and targeted by the government. Their conversation reveals a sense of vulnerability as they confront the reality that many of their colleagues have abandoned principles out of fear. Louise recalls the intense political maneuvering and betrayals leading up to and following the January 6 insurrection.In Part Two, Woody Nuxhall, the newly appointed head of the Treason and Political Crime Section of the DOJ, oversees his zealous young team of prosecutors, eager to pursue investigations and vendettas against political enemies. The group discusses tactics to surveil and undermine former colleagues and opposition figures, planning a strategy fueled by partisan loyalty and vengeance, while embracing a radical transformation of the DOJ's role in politics. While these stories are fictional, they are based on Trump's own words and Project 2025.We'd like to thank the artists who contributed their time to make this episode:Richard Schiff and Morgan Fairchild who read the chapters and Jason Kravits, Tony Michaels, Jim Hilmes, Joe Walsh and Omid Abtahi contributed character voices. Sound Design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser.Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and Produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical, we decided it's important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and to ask the author David Pepper tie them to what's actually happened so far. This episode tells the fictional story of a middle school that opens its doors to unvaccinated students under a second Trump Regime as Trump eliminates Federal funding for schools with vaccine mandates. The story follows the school nurse, Stephanie Morris, as she navigates the influx of unvaccinated students and the resulting disease outbreaks that spread rapidly through the school and community. The narrative illustrates the real-world implications of the president's policy, with outbreaks of diseases like measles, whooping cough, and the flu causing hospitalizations and even deaths among vulnerable students and staff. The story highlights the challenges faced by the school nurse in trying to protect the health of all students, including her own daughter who has an autoimmune condition, without the backing of mandatory vaccination policies. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Laurie Burke, Leigh McGowan who read the chapters & Audrey Hakes, Joe Walsh, & others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 5 weeks we decided it's important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and tie them to what's actually happened so far. In Chapter 3, the fact-based fictional story of Dr. Yvette Hardman and JJ Newsom depicts the dismantling of expertise and science-based decision making in the federal government under a second Trump administration guided by Project 2025. Dr. Hardman, an experienced infectious disease expert, is removed from her position at the CDC and replaced by JJ Newsom, an unqualified political loyalist with no relevant experience. This reflects Project 2025's plan to fill government positions with partisan appointees rather than nonpartisan experts. The new administration, in this fictional account and now in real life, rejects science-based pandemic response recommendations from Dr. Hardman instead prioritizing political and economic considerations over public health. This aligns with Project 2025's directives to limit the CDC's ability to make public health recommendations. The story highlights the Trump administration's hostility towards science and the displacement of experienced civil servants. Overall, the narrative illustrates how a second Trump term guided by Project 2025 would undermine the role of expertise and independent scientific advice in government, with potentially disastrous consequences for public health and safety.We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: CCH Pounder, Richard Schiff and Jason Kravits who read the chapters and Omid Abtahi, Laurie Burke and Joanne Carducci who did the voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Commentator and author David Pepper joins Thom- are we watching the billionaires revolt as Trump's incompetence hits them where it hurts the most- in their bulging wallets.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 6 weeks we decided it's important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and tie them to what's actually happened so far. Chapter Two depicts the personal story of Eve, a nurse struggling with infertility, whose treatment is threatened by the new president's actions. The episode explores how the president's policies are impacting everyday Americans, particularly women and families, by interfering with reproductive freedom and the right to self-determination. The author of the serialized novel “2025,” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how the fictional story is turning into fact, underscoring the very real and devastating consequences a second Trump term and the implementation of Project 2025 are having. You can read Chapter Two of David Pepper's “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel-chapter-2We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode. J. Smith Cameron read the chapter and audio finishing by Marilys Ernst. This series is produced by David Pepper, Melissa, Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and the Bill Press Pod.Today's Podcast is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 6 weeks we decided it's important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and tie them to what's actually happened so far. Chapter One depicts how the lives of everyday Americans would be impacted by the policies outlined in Trump's Project 2025 and the return of Donald Trump to power. The fictional story follows Ammon Maher, a college student and immigrant, as he is detained and deported without due process due to his involvement in past campus protests. This narrative directly reflects Trump's campaign promises and current actions to crack down on student protesters and his administration's policies that target undocumented immigrants. The author of the serialized “2025: A Novel” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how these policies are being implemented right now. We hope the re-running and updating of the podcast series will encourage even more people to stand up to Donald Trump, strengthen our courage to resist, and lead to a total rejection of Donald Trump and the anti-democratic MAGA movement in 2026.. You can read Chapter One of David Pepper's “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novelThis episode is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This special series is a joint production by David Pepper and Resolute Square. The book, “Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal” by David Pepper, is available for purchase at https://a.co/d/adWcJ4S. Special guest host Stuart Stevens introduces the topic of today's episode, Trump's disastrous first week and the incoming deportation calamity likely to take place. The story that leads off Chapter 6 of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal, Mass Deportation Disaster captures the struggles of 12-year-old Alvaro and his mother in a fictional detention center in West Texas. Alvaro expresses his hunger to his mother, who is too weak to properly care for herself. As they navigate the deteriorating conditions of the camp—overcrowded with diminishing food supplies, hostile guards, and a sense of fear from both authorities and fellow detainees—Alvaro reflects on lost friendships and longing for better times. His mother's health declines as she sacrifices for him, giving him her piece of bread despite needing it more herself. This highlights Alvaro's growing awareness of their desperate situation. He learns from a friend, Manuel, about possible escape routes and decides to plan his own escape to ensure both his and his mother's safety. In the second half of Chapter 6, in a parallel narrative, soldier Jake Caldwell describes the chaos of the detention center from his perspective. As he witnesses the overwhelming influx of women and children, he feels the systemic failures of the camp. The environment strips away humanity, leading children to escape in search of freedom. As both narratives unfold, Alvaro attempts to escape the camp, filled with hope for a future where he can see his mother smile again even as Jake grapples with the moral dilemmas of his role in the oppressive system. Their stories intertwine themes of resilience, sacrifice, and the harsh realities faced by both detainees and guards in the unjust conditions of the camp. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Mark Ruffalo and Andrea Guidry who read the chapters and others who contributed character voices.   Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jon Moser. Trump's Project 2025:Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Laurie Burke, Leigh McGowan who read the chapters & Audrey Hakes, Joe Walsh, & others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod. Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special series is a joint production by David Pepper and Resolute Square. The book, “Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal” by David Pepper, is available for purchase at https://a.co/d/adWcJ4S. Special guest host Stuart Stevens starts by detailing the potential horrors to come from Trump's cabinet. From Kash Patel, Pam Bondi and the rest, this is a group specifically designed to carry out the President's unchecked retribution against his political enemies. In Chapter 5, Part one, the fictional characters Congresswoman Louise Getty and Senator Wade Stiller, former rivals, meet at the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. They reflect on their pasts and express concern over a hostile political climate under Trump's second term, feeling fear and paranoia about being surveilled and targeted by the government. Their conversation reveals a sense of vulnerability as they confront the reality that many of their colleagues have abandoned principles out of fear. Louise recalls the intense political maneuvering and betrayals leading up to and following the January 6 insurrection. In Part Two, Woody Nuxhall, the newly appointed head of the Treason and Political Crime Section of the DOJ, oversees his zealous young team of prosecutors, eager to pursue investigations and vendettas against political enemies. The group discusses tactics to surveil and undermine former colleagues and opposition figures, planning a strategy fueled by partisan loyalty and vengeance, while embracing a radical transformation of the DOJ's role in politics. The narrative emphasizes the deeply entrenched fear and moral compromise within Washington's political landscape, contrasting the idealistic memories of past sacrifices with the present-day weaponization of governmental power. Overall, the story highlights the erosion of democratic norms, and the personal toll this environment takes on the individuals involved.  While these stories are fictional, they are based on Trump's own words and Project 2025. In fact, the New York Times, just last week reported just how Trump would use the Justice Department to go after his enemies. We'd like to thank the artists who contributed their time to make this episode: Richard Schiff and Morgan Fairchild read the chapters and others who contributed character voices. Sound Design by Marilys Ernst and Jon Moser. Trump's Project 2025:Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Laurie Burke, Leigh McGowan who read the chapters & Audrey Hakes, Joe Walsh, & others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod. Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special series is a joint production by David Pepper and Resolute Square. The book, “Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal” by David Pepper, is available for purchase at https://a.co/d/adWcJ4S. Special guest host Stuart Stevens kicks off the episode reminding us of the true danger of RFK Jr. and Trump's willingness to put the nation's health at risk with his confirmation. So what could happen if RFK is confirmed? Today's story helps illustrate that potential reality. This episode tells the fictional story of a middle school that opens its doors to unvaccinated students after a possible second -term President Trump eliminates Federal funding for schools with vaccine mandates. The story follows the school nurse, Stephanie Morris, as she navigates the influx of unvaccinated students and the resulting disease outbreaks that spread rapidly through the school and community. The narrative illustrates the real-world implications of the president's policy, with outbreaks of diseases like measles, whooping cough, and the flu causing hospitalizations and even deaths among vulnerable students and staff. The story highlights the challenges faced by the school nurse in trying to protect the health of all students, including her own daughter who has an autoimmune condition, without the backing of mandatory vaccination policies. Overall, the episode demonstrates how Donald Trump's promise to defund schools with vaccine mandates could have devastating consequences for children's health and safety. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Laurie Burke, Leigh McGowan who read the chapters & Audrey Hakes, Joe Walsh, & others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod. Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special series is a joint production by David Pepper and Resolute Square. The book, “Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal” by David Pepper, is available for purchase at https://a.co/d/adWcJ4S. To start, special guest host Stuart Stevens weighs in on day one of the confirmation hearings and the abomination that is the slate of nominees Trump has put forward for some of the most important positions in the Executive Branch. In Chapter 3, the fact-based fictional story of Dr. Yvette Hardman and JJ Newsom depicts the dismantling of expertise and science-based decision making in the federal government under a possible second Trump administration guided by Project 2025. Dr. Hardman, an experienced infectious disease expert, is removed from her position at the CDC and replaced by JJ Newsom, an unqualified political loyalist with no relevant experience. This reflects Project 2025's plan to fill government positions with partisan appointees rather than nonpartisan experts. The new administration rejects science-based pandemic response recommendations from Dr. Hardman instead prioritizing political and economic considerations over public health. This aligns with Project 2025's directives to limit the CDC's ability to make public health recommendations. The story highlights the Trump administration's hostility towards science and the displacement of experienced civil servants, which Project 2025 seeks to accelerate through measures like the "Schedule F" executive order to reclassify and fire federal employees. Overall, the narrative illustrates how a second Trump term guided by Project 2025 would undermine the role of expertise and independent scientific advice in government, with potentially disastrous consequences for public health and safety. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd also like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: CCH Pounder, Richard Schiff and Jason Kravits who read the chapters and Omid Abtahi, Tom Nichols, Laurie Burke and Joanne Carducci who did the voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jon Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod. Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This special series is a joint production by David Pepper and Resolute Square. The book, “Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal” by David Pepper, is available for purchase at https://a.co/d/adWcJ4S. Chapter Two of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal depicts the personal story of Eve, a nurse struggling with infertility, whose treatment is threatened by the new president's executive order banning certain fertility treatments. The episode explores how the president's policies would impact everyday Americans, particularly women and families, by interfering with reproductive freedom and the right to self-determination. The author of the serialized novel “2025,” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how the fictional story is directly based on the policies outlined in the Trump's Project 2025 and the president's own words, underscoring the very real and devastating consequences a second Trump term and the implementation of Project 2025 could have. You can read Chapter Two of David Pepper's “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel-chapter-2 Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd also like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode. Heather Thomas, J. Smith Cameron, Omid Abtahi, Kirk Acevedo and Bayo Akinfemi. Audio finishing by Marilyn Ernst. This series is produced by David Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions. Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we are taking a holiday break, we are re-running two of the episodes of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal series that we produced before the election. We produced it to warn people of what was coming if Trump were reelected, but now we think it's just as important for people to understand what we can actually expect in the next four years. And we hope it will help fuel our collective opposition and resistance to Trump 2.0 This is the second re-run, The Department of Retribution. In Chapter 5 of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal, Part one, the fictional characters Congresswoman Louise Getty and Senator Wade Stiller, former rivals, meet at the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. They reflect on their pasts and express concern over a hostile political climate under Trump's second term, feeling fear and paranoia about being surveilled and targeted by the government. Their conversation reveals a sense of vulnerability as they confront the reality that many of their colleagues have abandoned principles out of fear. Louise recalls the intense political maneuvering and betrayals leading up to and following the January 6 insurrection.In Part Two, Woody Nuxhall, the newly appointed head of the Treason and Political Crime Section of the DOJ, oversees his zealous young team of prosecutors, eager to pursue investigations and vendettas against political enemies. The group discusses tactics to surveil and undermine former colleagues and opposition figures, planning a strategy fueled by partisan loyalty and vengeance, while embracing a radical transformation of the DOJ's role in politics. The narrative emphasizes the deeply entrenched fear and moral compromise within Washington's political landscape, contrasting the idealistic memories of past sacrifices with the present-day weaponization of governmental power. Overall, the story highlights the erosion of democratic norms, and the personal toll this environment takes on the individuals involved. While these stories are fictional, they are based on Trump's own words and Project 2025. In fact, the New York Times, just last week reported just how Trump would use the Justice Department to go after his enemies.We'd like to thank the artists who contributed their time to make this episode:Richard Schiff and Morgan Fairchild read the chapters and others who contributed character voices.Sound Design by Marilys Ernst and Jon Moser.Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and Produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This special series is a joint production by David Pepper and Resolute Square. The book, “Trump's Project 2025: Up Close And Personal” by David Pepper, is available for purchase at https://a.co/d/adWcJ4S. Chapter One of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal depicts how the lives of everyday Americans would be impacted by the policies outlined in Trumps's Project 2025 and the return of Donald Trump to power. The fictional story follows Ammon Maher, a college student and immigrant, as he is detained and deported without due process due to his involvement in past campus protests. This narrative directly reflects Trump's campaign promises to crack down on student protesters and his administration's policies that target undocumented immigrants, including so-called "dreamers." The author of the serialized “2025: A Novel” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how these policies, if implemented, would violate civil liberties and human rights in an alarming and unjust manner. The podcast series aims to raise awareness of the very real dangers posed by Trump's extremist agenda and the disturbing implications of "Project 2025" for the American people. You can read  Chapter One of David Pepper's “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the post election dust begins to settle, we look to the future. On today's episode Rick is joined by political strategist and author David Pepper to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the post-Trump landscape. They delve into the importance of state-level elections, the lessons from past midterms, and the critical need for focused messaging to counteract chaos. David also introduces his compelling Project 2025 series, which uses storytelling to highlight the real-world impacts of Trump's proposed policies. Together, they explore how to prepare for the battles ahead and inspire proactive action to defend democracy. Timestamps: (00:01:39) The resistance to Trump (00:10:53) Winning state elections (00:15:13) The Wisconsin Supreme Court race (00:24:45) Project 2025 Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Mea Culpa, I'm joined by David Pepper, political strategist, former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, and author of several books on preserving democracy in America. David provides insights into the Democratic Party's shortcomings that contributed to Trump's victory, including ineffective messaging and the failure to hold him accountable after January 6th. We also discuss recent events, such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dining at Mar-a-Lago and Luigi Mangione's alleged murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and their impact on public perception of Trump's policies and actions. Finally, we address Trump's promises of retribution and the need to protect those, like me, who speak out against his authoritarian agenda. Thanks to our sponsors: Simplisafe: Go to https://SIMPLISAFE.com/meaculpa to get 50% off a select professional monitoring plan! Tommy John: Save 25% on your first order when you go to https://TommyJohn.com/COHEN Subscribe to Michael's NEW Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After that insane rally at MSG we know we have to pull out every stop to make sure Donald Trump loses on November 5th. Talk to your friends, talk to your family. Despite the fact the country is drowning in negativity and lies, the truth is, the Democrats are winning. The majority of voters don't want what MAGA, Trump and the Project 2025 Mandate for Leadership are offering but we have to make sure everyone understands what's at stake. The country's future is literally on us now. We need to ask ourselves what we're doing to save it.   As always, IF YOU FIND WORTH IN WHAT WE DO, please consider SUBSCRIBING to PoliticsGirl Premium. You'll get this podcast AD FREE, along with a bunch of other PERKS, like the rants directly to your inbox and the knowledge that you're making this kind of highly researched, factual information possible. If that interests you, please go to https://www.politicsgirl.com/premium and SUBSCRIBE TODAY!! Thank you so much! xoPG Guest social:  Website: https://davidpepper.com/ Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01IJCZT92 Twitter: @DavidPepper Insta: _davidpepper   As always, please RATE and SUBSCRIBE so we can grow the show, open the dialogue, and inspire change moving forward!   All show links here!: https://linktr.ee/politicsgirl   This episode is sponsored by… https://laundrysauce.com/politicsgirl CODE: Politicsgirl https://moshlife.com/politicsgirl https://MUDWTR.com CODE: Politicsgirl https://www.Smalls.com/politicsgirl https://Oneskin.co CODE: Politicsgirl

Chapter Two of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal depicts the personal story of Eve, a nurse struggling with infertility, whose treatment is threatened by the new president's executive order banning certain fertility treatments. The episode explores how the president's policies would impact everyday Americans, particularly women and families, by interfering with reproductive freedom and the right to self-determination. The author of the serialized novel “2025,” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how the fictional story is directly based on the policies outlined in the Trump's Project 2025 and the president's own words, underscoring the very real and devastating consequences a second Trump term and the implementation of Project 2025 could have. You can read Chapter Two of David Pepper's “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel-chapter-2 Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is produced by David Pepper and available on all the podcast apps and at 2025 pod.com. We'd also like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode. J. Smith Cameron read the chapter and audio finishing by Marilys Ernst. This series is produced by David Pepper, Melissa, Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and the Bill Press Pod. SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7or5... APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... STITCHER: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-tr... Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our hearts go out to the people impacted by Hurricane Helene and their anti-government governments, who will be replaced one day with public servants, which is what this conversation is about. To help those who are impacted, there's a resource on where to donate in the show notes. (Do not choose the Red Cross, for reasons explained in the show notes). Thank you.  Thank you to everyone who joined our live taping with Laboratories of Autocracy and Saving Democracy author David Pepper, who is not just a democracy warrior, but also the mastermind behind the new podcast series Project 2025: Up Close and Personal. Picture this: short, terrifying vignettes with a cast so star-studded, you'd think it was Hollywood's last gasp before a fascist takeover—J. Smith-Cameron, Fisher Stevens, Richard Schiff, Morgan Fairchild, Omid Abtahi, and many more! We previewed "Chapter 2" of the series–it's the audio equivalent of a cold sweat. You can listen to it [here]. Democrats have been playing defense for so long, they've forgotten what offense looks like. "There are two million uncontested races out there," David pointed out, which is about as comforting as knowing JD Vance's particular brand of weird fills the halls of power in Republican hostage states. David also shared the story of how he got a call out of the blue from Vice President Kamala Harris last spring, to discuss ways to fight back. Thanks to the audience Q&A, he shared who he thinks should be her Attorney General—should she win, of course. Want to make that dream a reality? Join the fight! Gaslit Nation hosts phonebanks with Sister District every Wednesday at 6 p.m. RSVP [here]. Join our next live taping on Tuesday October 1st at 12pm ET with Greg Palast, discussing his new film Vigilantes Inc: America's New Vote Suppression Hitmen. Bring your questions on all the ways Russian-backed MAGA is trying to steal the election, their plans if they lose, and ways to protect the vote.  Come As You Are Weekly Political Salons! Join us every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! Let's share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and help shape Gaslit Nation. Everyone's voice matters—whether you're a political junkie or just finding your voice, you belong here! Recordings available exclusively on Patreon.

We're proud to present Chapter One of "Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal" which is a brilliant undertaking by David Pepper and his talented projection team. The podcast starts in January 2025, with Donald Trump as president begins his second term, and the havoc he is already wreaking on America. As much as Donald Trump wants to distance himself from Project 2025. He can't. Trump and his people are tied closely to the Project and the Heritage Foundation, which quarterbacked Project 2025. In fact, it's already underway. Project 2025 is busily recruiting thousands of MAGA loyalists and partisans to fill positions once held by skilled civil servants. It's unlikely that most people will look over all Trump's speeches, or Agenda47 or the RNC Platform, or read the 920 pages of crazy in Project 2025. So pro-democracy activist David Pepper of Ohio has written a novel to engage everyday Americans with the reality of how a Trump victory would turn everyday American lives upside down. These are fictional stories about the future, of course, but the suffering, pain and personal dilemmas people face in them is 100% based on the facts and commitments being spelled out in Project 2025 and Trump's own words and promises. This podcast series is a close adaptation of the book, I hope you take a listen. It's powerful stuff, and gives far a better sense than factoids and bullet points about how the worst of these promises would play out in real lives. You can also listen to the series on all of your favorite podcast platforms - and please subscribe and give it four stars to support David's brilliant, important work. SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7or5... APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... STITCHER: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-tr... Follow Resolute Square: Instagram Twitter TikTok Find out more at Resolute Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To get all episodes ad free, bonus shows, and more, be sure to subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Discounted annual memberships available!  Eric Adams, soon-to-be-former Mayor of New York City, has finally been indicted—a surprise to no one. In this special episode of Gaslit Nation, we break down the latest developments and remind our listeners: If this is what we know, imagine what we don't. Adams' corruption and assault on democracy in NYC are just the visible tip of a much larger, deeply entrenched network of local corruption that has long served as a feeding ground for foreign adversaries. America is in a war of attrition, both abroad and at home. The barbarians are at the gate, and now more than ever, it's going to take a resurgence of people-powered movements to defend our democracy and push back against these threats. In this special episode, we examine the latest attacks on American democracy and national security by Trump and his MAGA stormtroopers. At a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump once again vowed to hand Ukraine over to Putin. Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson echoed this dangerous rhetoric by attempting to remove Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S., a move we warned about during our latest Gaslit Nation political salon—straight from the Paul Manafort playbook. To help illuminate this fight, we're sharing an excerpt of a new radio play series written by David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy, called Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal. In this powerful excerpt, we meet Eve, a nurse grappling with infertility, whose access to vital treatment is jeopardized by a new president's executive order banning certain fertility procedures. You can read Chapter Two of David Pepper's 2025: A Novel at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel-chapter-2. David will join us in this week's bonus show, out Saturday, to explain how to defeat Project 2025 in Republican hostage states.  Come As You Are Weekly Political Salons! Join us every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! Let's share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and help shape Gaslit Nation. Everyone's voice matters—whether you're a political junkie or just finding your voice, you belong here! Recordings available exclusively on Patreon.

Today, we are honored to introduce you to an important new podcast series called Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal and let you hear Chapter One in its entirety right here on the MeidasTouch Podcast. Chapter One of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal depicts how the lives of everyday Americans would be impacted by the policies outlined in Trumps's Project 2025 and the return of Donald Trump to power. The fictional story follows Ammon Maher, a college student and immigrant, as he is detained and deported without due process due to his involvement in past campus protests. This narrative directly reflects Trump's campaign promises to crack down on student protesters and his administration's policies that target undocumented immigrants, including so-called "dreamers." The author of the serialized “2025: A Novel” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how these policies, if implemented, would violate civil liberties and human rights in an alarming and unjust manner. The podcast series aims to raise awareness of the very real dangers posed by Trump's extremist agenda and the disturbing implications of "Project 2025" for the American people. You can read  Chapter One of David Pepper's “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025pod.com. We'd also like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode. Heather Thomas J. Smith Cameron Omid Abtahi, Kirk Acevedo and Bayo Akinfemi. Audio finishing by Marilys Ernst. This series is produced by David Pepper, Melissa, Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and the Bill Press Pod.  Subscribe and listen to more episodes by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On September 16, we gathered at the stunning Ukrainian Institute of America in New York City for a very special evening. It was a celebration of the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the powerful graphic novel adaptation of the film Mr. Jones, directed by the brilliant Agnieszka Holland. The night was filled with creativity, conversation, and community. Andrea had the honor of being joined by journalist Terrell Starr, who shared insights and moving stories from Ukraine. His firsthand account brought into sharp focus the ongoing struggle for freedom and the resilience of the Ukrainian people. It was also an incredible opportunity to connect with so many passionate and engaged individuals who share a deep commitment to truth and justice. A special shoutout to our amazing Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters who got free access to this unforgettable event – your support means the world to us. For those who couldn't make it in person, we're excited to share the recording of this live taping. You can listen in and be part of this inspiring night, wherever you are. You can also watch the video of the event, featuring stunning panels from the graphic novel and their warnings for us today, over at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make this event a success. We can't wait to share more events with you soon! Order your copy of In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones here and donate one to your local school or library: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775 Credit: Audio and video produced by Michael Hull of Fifth Column Filmworks and producer of the podcasts Black Diplomats and A Very Good Year. For more info: https://fifthcolumnfilmworks.com/ * Looking to connect with like-minded people and engage in meaningful political discussions? Join our weekly political salon every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! It's a space to share frustrations, ask questions, seek support, and shape Gaslit Nation together. Whether you're a seasoned political junkie or just finding your voice, everyone's welcome. Thank you to all who made our first salon a success! We'll continue these crucial conversations every Monday through the election, starting again on September 16 at 4 PM ET. Can't make it live? No worries—we record and share each session exclusively on Patreon. Support us at the Truth-Teller level or higher on Patreon at patreon.com/Gaslit, and you'll get the Zoom link every Monday. Let's come together and create change!  * Big Announcement! Andrea will be in Ft. Myers, Florida the last weekend of September to get out the vote and attend a fundraiser screening of Mr. Jones. Join us at one of these events in Florida: Canvassing Party! Saturday, September 28 9am – 12pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680718/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link Mr. Jones Fundraiser Screening – September 28 from 6pm EDT! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mrjones?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR14pGkNMdGz5RkaU6eut5X8lpt5vFnPuPCjMJNkpVW06H4G0lBSCLE2ptM_aem_A0ooWTpEnmq0t133eeQuxw Phonebank Party! Sunday, September 29 2 – 5pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680625/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. All of those events, becoming a member of our Victory chat, bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, come with your subscription on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you!

This week we're joined by Stephanie Baker, an award-winning investigative reporter from Bloomberg News, who's out with a new book from the frontlines on the war on kleptocracy: Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia, the most sanctioned country in the world.  Sanctions are a double-edged sword. While they've undeniably strained the Russian economy, causing hundreds of billions in losses, they aren't a panacea. Some Western companies have found ways to stay in Russia or help it sidestep restrictions, raising serious questions about enforcement.  Stephanie sheds light on the effectiveness of these sanctions: what's working, what's falling short, and how Russia is navigating the economic minefield. We'll explore which countries are leading the charge for tougher measures, and how Russia is finding ways to benefit from—or at least mitigate—sanctions. We also discuss the role “Londongrad” being a playground of Russian oligarchs, and how recent efforts have tightened the screws on money laundering. We also look at how countries like India take advantage of sanction loopholes at Ukraine's expense and what more can be done to hold nations accountable for helping Russia's war machine. The bottomline: “Sanctions aren't working” is Kremlin disinformation. Russia is desperate to get rid of sanctions, because its longterm prospects to keep its genocidal war going, and its own country from imploding, are bleak. Tune in to get the full picture and understand how these economic tools are shaping the future of our world, including Russia and China's war on the U.S. dollar.  * Miss the live-taping in NYC? This Saturday at 3pm ET, Gaslit Nation will debut the video of our live taping from the Ukrainian Institute of America in New York City, exclusively on Patreon. So be sure to subscribe or follow the show at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Join us as we celebrate the release of Andrea's new graphic novel, In the Shadow of Stalin: The Story of Mr. Jones, featuring a special guest appearance by journalist Terrell Starr of the Black Diplomats Podcast and Substack. During this special Patreon Drop, you'll have the chance to engage in a live chat while watching the video. Don't miss out on this and future recorded Gaslit Nation events—stay tuned! Ready to engage in meaningful discussions and connect with like-minded individuals? Join our new weekly political salon every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! This space is designed for you to share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and actively contribute to conversations that help shape Gaslit Nation. Whether you're a seasoned political junkie or just starting to find your voice, everyone is welcome. Our goal is to build coalitions and foster collective healing during these challenging times. Thank you to everyone who made our first salon a success! We're excited to continue these crucial discussions every Monday through the election, starting again on September 16 at 4 PM ET. For those who can't make it live, don't worry—each session is recorded and shared exclusively on Patreon. If these salons resonate with you, there's a chance they'll extend beyond the election. Want to be part of this powerful community? Support us at the Truth-Teller level or higher on Patreon at patreon.com/Gaslit, and you'll find the Zoom link every Monday afternoon. Let's come together, share ideas, and create change! * Andrea will be in Ft. Myers, Florida the last weekend of September to get out the vote and attend a fundraiser screening of Mr. Jones. Join us at one of these events in Florida: Canvassing Party! Saturday, September 28 9am – 12pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680718/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link Mr. Jones Fundraiser Screening! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mrjones?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR14pGkNMdGz5RkaU6eut5X8lpt5vFnPuPCjMJNkpVW06H4G0lBSCLE2ptM_aem_A0ooWTpEnmq0t133eeQuxw Phonebank Party! Sunday, September 29 2 – 5pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680625/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link On September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. All of those events, becoming a member of our Victory chat, bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, come with your subscription on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Have you RSVP'ed to our next phonebank with Indivisible on Thursday September 17th? https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ * Gaslit Nation listener Rick Minnich is out with a new documentary he directed about a Holocaust survivor who went on to make suits for the former general and future US president Dwight D. Eisenhower, who liberated him from Buchenwald in 1945. Watch it at IFC, if you're in NYC: https://www.ifccenter.com/films/the-presidents-tailor/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFWzEpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXQqSBXDu9Kol0IStZUymP-1KuiVQjq71OlSxYaPW--gAIlqX0oUuiJAZg_aem_pduEyKQUIlFliLy6vGsdqA

This Monday at the Gaslit Nation political salon, a crucial announcement was made: Rise and Resist is staging a protest outside the New York Times building this Wednesday, September 18th, at 9am. Their mission? To demand that the New York Times stop normalizing Trump's dangerous rhetoric and fascist threat to our democracy. Trump's blatant lies and hate speech not only fuel political violence, but have also led to two assassination attempts against him. His dangerous behavior is a crisis, and the Times' failure to address this seriously contributes to the problem. They are gaslighting the public by treating these issues as normal. Andrea will join the protest, and encourages Gaslit Nation listeners to come out and support this important cause. Look for us on the corner of 8th Avenue and 42nd Street. Also, a big thank you to everyone who attended the launch of In the Shadow of Stalin at the Ukrainian Institute of America. The event was magical! Stay tuned for the audio and the video on Patreon this Saturday at 3pm ET for all who follow the show there, featuring a special live chat on Patreon for those watching the video at the same time. More exciting Gaslit Nation events are coming soon! * On September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. Join a community of listeners, get invites to exclusive events, become a member of our Victory chat, get bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, by subscribing at Patreon.com/Gaslit! Discounted annual memberships available! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Have you RSVP'ed to our next phonebank with Indivisible on Thursday September 17th? https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/  

Today at 4pm ET, Gaslit Nation is hosting a political salon for Patreon supporters over Zoom. The link was posted yesterday on Patreon and shared in our victory chat. Looking forward to seeing people there, to vent, ask questions, share stories and whatever is on your mind! To get access to that, be sure to subscribe at the Truth-teller level or higher on Patreon.com/Gaslit. Annual discounts available! Then tonight at 6:30pm, join us at the Ukrainian Institute of America, in New York City, for the live-taping of Gaslit Nation to celebrate the launch of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of the Mr. Jones film. Patreon supporters get in free and get free tote bags, courtesy of our friends at Patreon. Order the book here, which tells the story of how the Kremlin weaponizes Western corruption against us:  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/In-the-Shadow-of-Stalin-The-Story-of-Mr-Jones/Andrea-Chalupa/9781637152775 Event details here: https://ukrainianinstitute.org/event/books-at-the-institute-chalupa/ We're in the final precious few weeks of the election, with the clock ticking. Be sure to check out one of the great events below, including our phonebank with Indivisible this Thursday at 7pm.  Thank you to everyone who supports Gaslit Nation -- we could not make this show without you! To join our community of listeners and get access to our Monday 4pm ET political salons over Zoom, our VP debate watch party in the Victory Chat, bonus shows, get all shows ad free, invites to exclusive events, and more, subscribe at Patreon.com/Gaslit. Annual discounts available.  *** Big Announcement! Andrea will be in Ft. Myers, Florida the last weekend of September to get out the vote and attend a fundraiser screening of Mr. Jones. Join us at one of these events in Florida: Canvassing Party! Saturday, September 28 9am – 12pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680718/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link Mr. Jones Fundraiser Screening! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mrjones?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR14pGkNMdGz5RkaU6eut5X8lpt5vFnPuPCjMJNkpVW06H4G0lBSCLE2ptM_aem_A0ooWTpEnmq0t133eeQuxw Phonebank Party! Sunday, September 29 2 – 5pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680625/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link On September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption.  On September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. All of those events, becoming a member of our Victory chat, bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, come with your subscription on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Have you RSVP'ed to our next phonebank with Indivisible on Thursday September 17th? https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/  

Convicted felon Donald Trump relies on a well-worn GOP playbook to scare their voters to the polls: stir up moral panic over LGBTQ people. Moms for Liberty—well-funded by shadowy right-wing interests—are out there banning books and promoting anti-trans, anti-gay laws straight from Viktor Orban's Hungary and Putin's Russia. We might inadvertently feed into their culture war hysteria if we don't step back and see how their disinformation machine works. As Erin Reed points out in her essential guide to our times “Erin in the Morning,” trans care is under attack in half of the country. Meanwhile, the far right stirs up fear, demonizing trans people, especially trans children and their families, just like Karl Rove did with gay marriage in 2004, to secure a second term for war criminal George W. Bush. But trans people have always existed. They're part of human history, brutally erased by colonial powers, according to a must-read report from ABC News in our show notes below.  So, what's the antidote to the far-right's moral panic? Call it out for what it is. Protect trans kids. Push back against oligarchs. Remember, this is about basic human rights. As highlighted in Abi Maxwell's poignant memoir One Day I'll Grow Up and Be a Beautiful Woman: A Mother's Story, love and dignity for trans children are crucial to building safer, more compassionate communities for everyone. Maxwell's story focuses on her daughter, Greta, a courageous little girl who, from a very young age, understood she was a girl, even though she was born a boy. The confusion wasn't Greta's—it was the adults around her, including teachers and parents in their small New Hampshire town, who struggled to accept her identity. Maxwell recounts their family's painful journey through relentless bullying and institutional barriers, a journey that mirrors the challenges faced by countless other trans families in America today. Maxwell's memoir isn't just a heart-wrenching tale of a mother fighting for her child; it's also a stark reminder of how disinformation and fearmongering, often driven by far-right extremists, are weaponized to divide us. As we've seen with the rise of groups like Moms for Liberty, the attacks on LGBTQ+ rights—particularly against trans children—are often orchestrated by powerful interests looking to distract and manipulate voters. In our interview with Maxwell, she sheds light on the far-right's disinformation playbook and shares insights on how we can rise above it. It's time to move beyond the hate and fear and build a society that values love, acceptance, and the dignity of all people, no matter their gender identity. Let's start by protecting some of the most vulnerable among us: our trans kids. The song you heard in this week's show is “Doors Are Opening” by The Society of Rockets. Check out their brilliant work here! http://societyofrockets.org/ * Ready to engage in meaningful discussions and connect with like-minded individuals? Join our new weekly political salon every Monday at 4 PM ET via Zoom! This space is designed for you to share frustrations, ask burning questions, seek support, and actively contribute to conversations that help shape Gaslit Nation. Whether you're a seasoned political junkie or just starting to find your voice, everyone is welcome. Our goal is to build coalitions and foster collective healing during these challenging times. Thank you to everyone who made our first salon a success! We're excited to continue these crucial discussions every Monday through the election, starting again on September 16 at 4 PM ET. For those who can't make it live, don't worry—each session is recorded and shared exclusively on Patreon. If these salons resonate with you, there's a chance they'll extend beyond the election. Want to be part of this powerful community? Support us at the Truth-Teller level or higher on Patreon at patreon.com/Gaslit, and you'll find the Zoom link every Monday afternoon. Let's come together, share ideas, and create change! * Big Announcement! Andrea will be in Ft. Myers, Florida the last weekend of September to get out the vote and attend a fundraiser screening of Mr. Jones. Join us at one of these events in Florida: Canvassing Party! Saturday, September 28 9am – 12pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680718/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link Mr. Jones Fundraiser Screening! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/mrjones?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR14pGkNMdGz5RkaU6eut5X8lpt5vFnPuPCjMJNkpVW06H4G0lBSCLE2ptM_aem_A0ooWTpEnmq0t133eeQuxw Phonebank Party! Sunday, September 29 2 – 5pm EDT https://www.mobilize.us/leecountydec/event/680625/?force_banner=true&share_context=event_details&share_medium=copy_link   On September 16 at 7:00 PM ET: If you're in NYC, join our in-person live taping with at the Ukrainian Institute of America in NYC. Celebrate the release of In the Shadow of Stalin, the graphic novel adaptation of my film Mr. Jones, directed by Agnieszka Holland. Gaslit Nation Patreon supporters get in free – so message us on Patreon to be added to the guest list. I will be joined by the journalist Terrell Starr, to talk about his latest trip to Ukraine.  On September 17 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with investigative journalist Stephanie Baker, author of Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia. Her book has been highly praised by Bill Browder, the advocate behind the Magnitsky Act to combat Russian corruption.  On September 18 at 4:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with the one and only Politics Girl, Leigh McGowan, author of A Return to Common Sense: How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It. On September 24 at 12:00 PM ET: Join our virtual live taping with David Pepper, author of Saving Democracy. Join us as David discusses his new art project based on Project 2025. All of those events, becoming a member of our Victory chat, bonus shows, all shows ad free, and more, come with your subscription on Patreon.com/Gaslit! Thank you to everyone who supports the show – we could not make Gaslit Nation without you! Have you RSVP'ed to our next phonebank with Indivisible on Thursday September 17th? https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/628701/ Show Notes:   Moms For Liberty founder 'thankful' for Trump's school transgender surgery lie https://www.advocate.com/politics/moms-for-liberty-thankful-for-trump-school-trans-lie#toggle-gdpr   'Moral Values' Carried Bush, Rove Says https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/10/politics/campaign/moral-values-carried-bush-rove-says.html   Phonebank this Wednesday to Help Recruit Volunteers for PA! https://www.mobilize.us/promotethevotepa/event/625107/?referring_vol=6541965&rname=Adam×lot=4272695&referring_participation=29899746&referring_data_signature=v1-5c6750b7e6617377&share_medium=native_share&share_context=signup-form-modal   Satanism and The Rolling Stones: 50 Years of ‘Sympathy for the Devil' https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/features/rolling-stones-sympathy-for-the-devil-mick-jagger-anniversary-satanism-a8668551.html   How ‘Will & Grace' Had a Real-Life Political Impact on Marriage Equality https://www.thewrap.com/will-grace-real-life-political-impact-marriage-equality/   Moms For Liberty Founder "Thankful" For Trump's School Trans Surgery Lie The former president has repeated a claim that schools are giving sex change operations to students and sending them home another gender. https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/moms-for-liberty-founder-thankful   Trans people have 'been around for forever,' historians say Cultures around the world have long embraced alternative gender identities. https://abcnews.go.com/US/transgender-gender-diverse-people-world/story?id=98017443