Podcast appearances and mentions of david whelan

April 29, 2025 ~ Prior to the speech battle of Trump vs. Harvard heads to court, Dr. David Whelan, Associate Vice President for Curriculum and former provost at Hillsdale College, joins Kevin to explain the case.

Crime Capsule is happy to introduce you to a new Evergreen Podcasts show, Something About the Beatles, from David Whelan. He was a successful documentary writer and producer in the UK when, as COVID hit, he began looking into the murder of John Lennon, prompted by a podcast interview he heard. What he discovered quickly led him into a four-year investigation, as he talked with witnesses who had never before spoken publicly.  About Something About The Beatles All episodes of SATB feature conversations. Sometimes they are with Beatles authorities: writers or academics who've done the research and come up with a thesis. Others are with folks in the business: musicians who were inspired by The Beatles and who've walked the walk – written songs, recorded records, gone on tour. They know the ins and outs of Beatles music. Then there are the Beatle witnesses: folks who knew the individual Beatles well, either by direct family relations (Mike McCartney, Jenny Boyd), working directly for The Beatles (Kevin Harrington, Chris O'Dell, Ken Mansfield, Chris Thomas, Alan Parsons, John Leckie, Tony King, and so forth) or else spending considerable time in their world (journalist Ray Connolly, photographer Ethan Russell, journalist Ivor Davis, photographer Tom Murray, filmmaker Paul Saltzman, Nancy Lee Andrews, May Pang, and so forth). These people come to SATB to share their insights and observations, bringing us that much closer to the world The Beatles created. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024 winds down with the merging of two guests that have appeared on the show this year, in a spirited discussion of David Whelan's investigation into John Lennon's murder as presented in Mind Games. Robert Rosen (Nowhere Man) serves as skeptic in a conversation weaving together the bigger picture that converged on December 8, 1980, as … 297: All I want Is The Truth with David Whelan and Robert Rosen Read More »

Richie is joined by Marilyn Hawes and David Whelan. Questions need to be answered over the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said, as ministers prepare "stronger safeguards" for children being taught at home. Sara's father and stepmother were found guilty of her murder on Wednesday, in a case Sir Keir described as "awful". To discuss this, Richie is joined by former teacher and child safety campaigner Marilyn Hawes.https://freedom-abuse.org/https://x.com/MarilynHawes744 years after John Lennon's assassination, more people than ever believe that Mark Chapman was a patsy and that Lennon was taken out by the CIA. To discuss this, Richie is joined once again by David Whelan. TV producer David is the author of the groundbreaking book, Mind Games: The Assassination of John Lennon. Do not miss this show. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CPMYSK9Zhttps://x.com/LennonMurder

Today marks 43 years, almost to the hour, that John Lennon was gunned down outside the Dakota. It seemed a 'lone nut' had cut short the life of a legend. Or had he?Over the years an immense amount of controversy has grown, some of it unlikely, the rest with solid evidence and witness statements of those involved. The Opperman Report spoke to David Whelan three times, who had written a book and put together a documentary on the subject.Tonight we offer you all three interviews, edited into one file, making an explosive and revealing listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Today marks 43 years, almost to the hour, that John Lennon was gunned down outside the Dakota. It seemed a 'lone nut' had cut short the life of a legend. Or had he?Over the years an immense amount of controversy has grown, some of it unlikely, the rest with solid evidence and witness statements of those involved. The Opperman Report spoke to David Whelan three times, who had written a book and put together a documentary on the subject.Tonight we offer you all three interviews, edited into one file, making an explosive and revealing listen.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Cha-Chi and David delve into the controversial death of John Lennon. They are joined by David Whelan, author of the book 'Mind Games: The Assassination of John Lennon,' who explores the possibility of a conspiracy behind Lennon's murder. Whelan shares his extensive research, which includes questionable details about Lennon's supposed killer, Mark Chapman, alleged ties to intelligence agencies, discrepancies in witness statements, and the lack of clarity surrounding the shooting's exact circumstances. The discussion raises critical questions about the official narrative and suggests the need for further investigation.Topics00:59 Introducing Today's Guest: David Whelan02:10 Discussing the Conspiracy Theory02:52 Skepticism and Public Reaction03:31 Research and Findings04:04 The Role of Mark Chapman09:45 Media and Documentary Challenges13:38 Theories and Evidence18:48 Mark Chapman's Background24:34 Medical and Forensic Details30:10 The Official Narrative of John Lennon's Final Moments32:23 Medical Anomalies and Discrepancies34:06 Conflicting Witness Statements36:56 The Role of Yoko Ono and Other Key Figures39:25 Speculations and Theories43:59 The Book and Its Impact48:52 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

Adam and author David Whelan discuss a little known 1980 assassination that has MK-Ultra written all over it, and the shady real life figure who the Jason Bourne character is based on. David's article: https://davidwhelan.substack.com/p/jason-bourne-and-the-1980-assassination

n the 44 years since John Lennon's death, the trauma of that night is still as raw, so much so that, for most people, the facts of what went down are far too painful still to examine closely. But when one does, as returning guest David Whelan has, they depict sometihng far more disturbing and … 291: December 8, 1980 with David Whelan Read More »

Chat with Lorraine Barry (school director) and David Whelan (former pupil and lead singer with the band Wild Youth) about the iconic Billie Barry Stage School, whose 60th anniversary will be marked with a special 'Diamonds Are Forever' concert in the Gaiety Theatre, October 15-19 Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ie

In this conversation, my returning guest (see episodes 189 – 245 – 266) discusses his recent visit to Spain, where a belated Beatlemania is in full swing. He also offers his insights on the recent May Pang documentary, The Lost Weekend: A Love Story, as well as his take on David Whelan's investigation into John Lennon's … 286: Nowhere Man '24 with Robert Rosen  Read More »

July 18, 2024 ~ David Whelan, Brother of Paul Whelan, the Michigan man detained in Russia since 2018 discusses new calls to free Paul.

In the conclusion of our look at the assassination of John Lennon, we discover that it is a virtual impossibility that the man who has spent the last 44 years behind bars for the crime, Mark Chapman, could have done it. While Chapman confessed to the crime — and may truly believe he committed murder — the evidence simply does not support this, as Niall discusses with David Whelan, the author of Mind Games: the Assassination of John Lennon.To find out more about the people and music featured in today's episode, visit the Assassinations Podcast website, www.AssassinationsPodcast.com There, you can find a map of the entrance area of the Dakota Building, taken from David Whelan's book.You can order David's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Games-Assassination-John-Lennon/dp/B0CPMYSK9ZYou can also contact us through the website — we love to hear your comments, questions, corrections, and suggestions!And you can find us on Twitter @AssassinsPodAssassinations Podcast was created by Niall Cooper, who researches and writes the show. Lindsey Morse is our editor and producer. Our theme music was created by Graeme Ronald. If you'd like to hear more from Graeme, check out his band, Remember Remember. You'll find them on iTunes.

In the first of a two-part look at the murder of John Lennon, we look at the life and work of the former Beatle, and the strange story of the man who was convicted of killing him, Mark Chapman. Host Niall speaks with author David Whelan about his fascinating new book Mind Games: The Assassination of John Lennon, which contains important and surprising fresh insight on the case.To find out more about the people and music featured in today's episode, visit the Assassinations Podcast website, www.AssassinationsPodcast.com While there, you can check out our Bookstore, where we recommend some great episode-related books and reading material, or shop our Merch Store to nab a logo tee or tote bag. You can also contact us through the website — we love to hear your comments, questions, corrections, and suggestions!You can find us on Twitter @AssassinsPodAnd you can order David's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Mind-Games-Assassination-John-Lennon/dp/B0CPMYSK9ZAssassinations Podcast was created by Niall Cooper, who researches and writes the show. Lindsey Morse is our editor and producer. Our theme music was created by Graeme Ronald. If you'd like to hear more from Graeme, check out his band, Remember Remember. You'll find them on iTunes.

June 20, 2024 ~ Full Show: Tom dives into the concerns democrats are having over union support in battleground states as the election approaches. He also is joined by David Whelan as his brother Paul spends 2,000 days in a Russian prison and discusses the local churches who have a gun buyback program going on.

Adam talks to author David Whelan about his book Mind Games: The Assassination of John Lennon and the various plot holes and inconsistencies in the story of what happened to the music legend on December 8, 1980. Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPMYSK9Z?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520 David Whelan on Substack: https://davidwhelan.substack.com/

April 12, 2024 ~ Last night, Paul Whelan says his incarceration "needs to be resolved now." His brother, David Whelan, joins Kevin and Tom to discuss this.

April 12, 2024 ~ Full Show: Kevin and Tom discuss Donald Trump's call to debate President Biden and the new poll that shows 50% of Americans want to raise minimum wage. David Whelan also joins the guys to talk with Kevin and Tom about Paul Whelan's recent interview saying his incarceration ‘needs to be resolved now.'

David Whelan is a documentary filmmaker and writer who has for the last three years researched the assassination of John Lennon. David is back to discuss some areas in John Lennon's death such as the doorman Jose Perdomo and the taxi driver Richard Peterson. This episode will also discuss conflicting testimony of the first police officers who arrived after the shooting and the different documentation of evidence found in Mark Chapmans hotel room. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/out-of-the-blank/support

On today's show researcher/writer David Whelan reveals some of his observations and conclusions concerning the assassination of John Lennon, based upon his years of exhaustive research, as compared to the official narrative. GUEST OVERVIEW: David Whelan is a writer, educator, and journalist from London, England. He holds a BA in English Literature from the University College, London, an MA in Fiction from the University of East Anglia, and an MFA in Fiction from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he was a Fiction Fellow. He has written several books, including: NO MORE SILENCE, THE LAST VATICAN KNIGHT, THE SILENT SAGA: DESOLATE, and CHIMERA. David has also conducted a 3-year long investigation into John Lennon's assassination, the results of which he has published in his book MIND GAMES - THE ASSASSINATION OF JOHN LENNON, available on all Amazon outlets. You can follow him on X/Twitter at @LennonMurder https://davidwhelan.substack.com/

Feb. 22, 2024 ~ The Whelan family is concerned over the health and status of Paul Whelan, who is currently being detained in Russia, especially after the death of Alexei Navalny. Paul's brother David Whelan talks with Guy, Lloyd, and Jamie about the latest on the negotiation for his release, and his mental well-being after more than five years in prison. Photo: Jack Gruber ~ USA Today Network

There's no joy to be had in this subject, but it is an important topic for an open discussion. We have been fed a narrative for 43 years regarding the murder of John, yet there were aspects that either lacked detail or, upon closer inspection, made little sense. At least a couple of of authors … 275: Anomalies in the Assassination of John Lennon with David Whelan Read More »

'Dancing with the Stars' is no easy task with long days of rehearsals and a massive live show on Sunday evenings. So, you'd assume that Wild Youth's David Whelan would be having lunches full of nutritional heavy hitters. And he is. Kind of?Speaking to Dave, David revealed the random childhood fave that's keeping him going, future plans for Wild Youth and how he managed to impress the judges while battling a fever.

Mind Games: The Assassination of John Lennon, the New Book by Author David Whelan, Part 2 Twitter: @Lennonmurder Substack: https://substack.com/@davidwhelan

Mind Games: The Assassination of John Lennon, the New Book by Author David Whelan Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mind+games+the+assassination+of+john+lennon&crid=3HD68FYCHYUNU&sprefix=%2Caps%2C148&ref=nb_sb_ss_recent_2_0_recent David Whelan Substack Link: https://substack.com/@davidwhelan Twitter Link: @Lennonmurder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richie is joined by the author and television producer David Whelan. David came on to discuss his highly anticipated new book, "Mind Games: The Assassination Of John Lennon." The book is a must-read. Buy it here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mnd-Games-Assassination-John-Lennon/dp/B0CPMYSK9Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3575IAYSTESN0&keywords=david+whelan+book&qid=1701972951&sprefix=david+whelan+book%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1Plus: Richie rounds up the day's biggest news stories. 

David Whelan is a documentary filmmaker and writer who has for the last three years researched the assassination of John Lennon. David is back to discuss the release of his book "Mind Games - The Assassination of John Lennon" and some areas in the case that we never got into such as Jose Perdomo and Milton Kline who is recorded in a documentary about MkUltra on how to create a patsy within three months and surprisingly visited Mark Chapman in jail. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/out-of-the-blank/support

David Whelan Returns - Update on the John Lennon murderWhen John Lennon was shot in December 1980, the world went into shock. Lennon was truly a man of his age - or at least he played such very well - and his death meant no one, no matter their wealth and fame were immortal.The furore which followed the assassination provided cover for the weak story causing it. Where did Chapman stand? How did he have so much money? How does a man, losing blood and oxygen at a fatal rate, stagger up to an office, open a heavy mahogany door and say 'I'm shot'? There's questions regarding the security around Lennon, the conversation taped with Jack Douglas which Douglas deleted that night, and, yes, the changing of the will shortly before the event.Witnesses say there was a second gunman, and Whelan has evidence to back this up.Whatever the truth of Lennon's demise, we never got the full story. In the decades since, revisiting it with a cold, keen eye, reveal the all too obvious tall tale the killing was.This interview is one of two detailing the revelations and research David Whelan has undertaken, the first hand witnesses he has spoken to and the facts *someone* tried to conceal.You can hear the first interview hereThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/1198501/advertisement

David Whelan - The Killing of John Lennon, pt3If you need further evidence that John Lennon was not the victim of a deranged fan but in fact the object of a very organised and thorough conspiracy, David Whelan has uncovered even more evidence that Chapman was the patsy for someone else.In a murder which was NEVER properly investigated, questions have arisen about the witnesses, the gunman and the aftermath which followed, which allowed those who perpetrated the plot to cover themselves for almost forty years now.Who profited? Who planned? And who walked away in a better situation following the death of an unhappy icon?First Interview Second Interview Twitter : David Whelan conspiraciescover-upgovernmentjohn lennonlone gunmanmurderpolicetrue crimeThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/1198501/advertisement

David Whelan - The John Lennon AssassinationDecember the 8th, 1980. New York. West 72nd. The building which is one of the oldest in New York City, so old there were not even roads around it at first, was the location for one of the most notorious killings of the 20th Century.Waiting outside the Dakota is Mark Chapman, a fan from Hawaii who will, at about 11:23pm, claim his place in history by firing his hollow point bullets from his .38 into John Lennon.Instantly the media branded him a lone nut. The world mourned while Chapman was arrested and charged in an investigation which was anything but thorough.Since then questions have started to arise about the exact sequence of events, the handling of evidence and the lack of either a proper forensic investigation or indeed, almost any other kind. It was a slam dunk for NYPD. Or so it seemed.David Whelan is a documentary filmmaker and writer who has been researching the Lennon assassination, and has evidence and statements from those there on the night which gives a strong possibility Chapman didn't kill Lennon. At least, not alone.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/1198501/advertisement

David Whelan is a documentary filmmaker and writer who has for the last three years researched the assassination of John Lennon. David has unearthed official records showing for the first time that two different types of bullets were removed from the music legend's body following his fatal shooting on December 8, 1980. David and his three-year investigation into the murder has highlighted a series of extraordinary inconsistencies - including the suggestion that detectives may have fundamentally misunderstood how the shooting happened. David's Links: https://twitter.com/LennonMurder https://davidwhelan.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/ @AssassinationOfLennon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/out-of-the-blank/support

The Assassination of John Lennon shook the world, for a moment, and then everyone got on with their lives. However, David Whelan wasn't satisfied with the official story, so he's made it his mission to track down the sources in an attempt to reveal what really happened the night that Mark Chapman saw John Lennon disappear into thin air.   Prepare yourself for a rocking podcast that will blow you mind.   Find David Whelan's work at https://substack.com/@davidwhelan And find his Instagram containing evidence from the case at https://www.instagram.com/assassinationoflennon/   You can support the NEWSPASTE Podcast and Johnny Vedmore's journalism at https://newspaste.com/home/support-newspaste/

Richie is joined by Peter Gregson and David Whelan. Until recently Peter Gregson volunteered as treasurer for his local scout troop, a position he'd held for nine years. Peter was suspended when someone complained about his pro-Palestinian activism and accused him of being antisemitic.  Peter tells Richie why he believes false allegations of antisemitism are being levelled at Israel's critics in order to silence them.https://www.change.org/p/bear-grylls-don-t-let-the-scouts-weaponise-antisemitism?redirect=falsehttps://www.kidsnotsuits.com/David Whelan is a successful television producer. Three years ago, he began looking into the strange circumstances surrounding the assassination of John Lennon. What he uncovered can only be described as staggering.As a result, he is writing a book and producing a film, both of which David claims will prove that Mark Chapman did not in fact kill John Lennon and that in reality, Lennon was assassinated because of his peace activism. Do not miss this show.www.davidwhelan.substack.com  

David Whelan - The Killing of John Lennon, pt3If you need further evidence that John Lennon was not the victim of a deranged fan but in fact the object of a very organised and thorough conspiracy, David Whelan has uncovered even more evidence that Chapman was the patsy for someone else.In a murder which was NEVER properly investigated, questions have arisen about the witnesses, the gunman and the aftermath which followed, which allowed those who perpetrated the plot to cover themselves for almost forty years now.Who profited? Who planned? And who walked away in a better situation following the death of an unhappy icon?First InterviewSecond InterviewTwitter : David WhelanThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/1198501/advertisement

On this episode of the 30 Screams or Less podcast we review ‘Savageland' written and directed by Phil Guidry, Simon Herbert, and David Whelan is about when a small town near the Arizona-Mexico border is wiped out overnight, suspicion falls on the lone survivor. But a roll of photos the survivor took that night tells a different story. The post 30 Screams or Less 025: Savageland appeared first on Shining Wizards Network.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich remains in a Russian prison after losing his appeal against the extension of his detention earlier this week. He will remain in prison ahead of his trial for espionage and is being held at the notorious Lefortovo Prison in Moscow where he now faces up to 20 years in jail. But Evan is not the only American who remains a Russian prisoner. For example, former Marine Paul Whelan is still being held under espionage charges, and has been in a prison camp for more than four years. Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Republican Congressman Michael McCaul joined special guest host FOX News Correspondent Benjamin Hall on the FOX News Rundown this past week to discuss the U.S. government's effort to free Evan and other Americans currently detained wrongfully by Russia. Benjamin also spoke to the brother of Paul Whelan, David Whelan, about his brother's case and his family's fight to get him home. We made edits for time and thought you might like to hear our entire conversations with both Congressman McCaul and David Whelan On the FOX News Rundown Extra, you will hear Benjamin Hall's entire conversation with Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Congressman Michael McCaul and David Whelan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was wrongfully detained in Russia months ago after they accused him of espionage. More bad news followed this week, as Gershkovich lost his appeal to the charges and will now remain imprisoned until August. Fox's Ben Hall speaks first with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul about the uphill battle the U.S. faces in negotiating the return of Americans like Gershkovich and retired Marine Paul Whelan who are detained in Russia, the weakness of the Biden administration's negotiations, and what the nation must do instead of prisoner swaps. Later, Ben Hall speaks with the brother of the detained Paul Whelan, David Whelan, about concerns for his brother's safety and why more must be done to save Paul and Evan, who are suffering in Russian prison. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum is among the many Republicans vying for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, but there's a good chance you didn't know that. A recent Quinnipiac University poll says that 9 out of 10 voters don't know who Governor Burgum is. The billionaire North Dakota governor has spent $2.9 million on campaign advertisements to get his name out there, spending more than both Florida Governor DeSantis and frontrunner former President Donald Trump. Governor Burgum joins the Rundown to tout his economic accomplishments, share his campaign strategy, and explain why he is the best alternative to Joe Biden. Plus, commentary by Jimmy Failla, host of "Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

December the 8th, 1980. New York. West 72nd. The building which is one of the oldest in New York City, so old there were not even roads around it at first, was the location for one of the most notorious killings of the 20th Century.Waiting outside the Dakota is Mark Chapman, a fan from Hawaii who will, at about 11:23pm, claim his place in history by firing his hollow point bullets from his .38 into John Lennon.Instantly the media branded him a lone nut. The world mourned while Chapman was arrested and charged in an investigation which was anything but thorough.Since then questions have started to arise about the exact sequence of events, the handling of evidence and the lack of either a proper forensic investigation or indeed, almost any other kind. It was a slam dunk for NYPD. Or so it seemed.David Whelan is a documentary filmmaker and writer who has been researching the Lennon assassination, and has evidence and statements from those there on the night which gives a strong possibility Chapman didn't kill Lennon. At least, not alone.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/1198501/advertisement

David J. Whelan serves as Chief Executive Officer of BioscienceLA. Having spent 20 years in Los Angeles, he is passionate about leading the growth of a vibrant ecosystem that will create new opportunities for all stakeholders. Over 321 books from 170 plus interviews over 5 yearshttps://www.learningwithlowell.com/over-321-books-from-170-interviews-over-5-years-for-autodidacts/ Newsletter sign up (new and exciting developments)https://learningwithlowell.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=08ed8a56013d8b3a3c01e27fc&id=6ecaa9189b PODCAST INFO:The … David Whelan: Unleashing LA's Healthcare Potential, Psychedelics, & more | Learning with Lowell 194 Read More » The post David Whelan: Unleashing LA's Healthcare Potential, Psychedelics, & more | Learning with Lowell 194 first appeared on Learning with Lowell.

The Engage XR platform holds a mix of different types of gatherings in VR ranging from educational meetings, corporate communications, and virtual events and conferences. With the onset of the pandemic in 2020, then HTC started holding a number of their conferences and announcements on the Engage platform, and eventually became an investor. I had a chance to speak with the CEO David Whelan back in May of 2021 to get a bit more context and history of the Engage Platform. Engage has continued to develop and evolve as a platform, and it's worth making a couple of notes including that they changed their name from “VR Education Holdings PLC to “ENGAGE XR Holdings PLC” on November 4, 2021, and their ENGAGE Link platform launched on November 7, 2022, which is how they presented their Fatboy Slim concert in March 2023 (more on that in the next episode). But Engage XR has continued to innovate in the social VR platform space with their cross-platform support, and optimizations for Quest VR. This conversation with CEO Whelan from May 2021 should provide a lot more context for the history and evolution of their platform, and set the context for how they're continue to evolve and innovate in the space.

Two items from a recent tv show on Beatles themes. First, British author and documentary -maker David Whelan with what he says is new evidence on the death of John Lennon in 1980 and details that were never mad public before now. Second, the "Paul Mc Cartney is dead " conspiracy theory that has been running for more than half a century. Author Donald Jeffries has researched how it came about - and why some people still believe it...

David Whelan joins "The Best of Hannity" to talk about his brother Paul's unlawful imprisonment in Russia and just how difficult it has been to secure his release.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Whelan, brother of wrongly imprisoned Marine, Paul Whelan talks about the prisoner swap with Russia for Brittney Griner. Griner was sentenced in October of this year to 9 years in prison for breaking Russian laws with regard to drug possession. Whelan has been in prison since 2018, for a crime he did not commit, and was not released yesterday. Yesterday Paul addressed the news that he would not be releasedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A federal judge declined to hold Trump's team in contempt of court for failing to fully comply with a subpoena asking them to turn over all classified documents. Meantime, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema leaves the Democratic Party and switches to Independent. Plus, as WNBA star Brittney Griner lands back on U.S. soil, the focus now turns to getting other detained Americans back home – including Paul Whelan. Jon Allen, Barbara McQuade, Carlos Curbelo, David Whelan, Blake Zeff, and Michael Beschloss join.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 2: According to a report from Greg Wilson of The Daily Wire, “Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman helped broker the dramatic prisoner swap between the U.S. and Moscow that sprang WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Russian gulag, days after the Biden administration helped spike a lawsuit against the Saudi ruler.” David Whelan, the brother of Marine Paul Whelan who has been wrongfully detained by Russia since 2018, told CNN that he and his family were incredibly happy to see Brittney Griner has been freed, but they obviously remain disappointed that Paul remains imprisoned. Speaking with Martha MacCallum on Fox News, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council John Kirby dismissed the idea that the Griner-Bout prisoner exchange encourages foreign adversaries to abduct Americans. The Biden Administration's foreign policy blunders didn't start with a lopsided prisoner exchange with Russia. The New York Times released a video essay documenting America's abandonment of allies during the August 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. Despite being over a year later, tens of thousands of Afghan-allies remain stranded—with many being actively hunted by the Taliban.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (12/08/2022): 3:00pm- On Tuesday, President Joe Biden announced that his administration successfully negotiated the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Russian detention center. Griner had been accused of carrying illegal vape cartridges. The prisoner swamp involved the Biden Administration agreeing to release Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer nicknamed the Merchant of Death. According to reporting from Jim Geraghty of The National Review, “at one point” Bout was “the second-most-wanted man after Osama bin Laden.” 3:15pm- During her Thursday press conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the Biden Administration's decision to trade a dangerous arms dealer for a professional athlete in the U.S.-Russia prisoner swap.  3:35pm- On the U.S.-Russia prisoner swap, National Review's Jim Geraghty writes that other nations may now conclude, “the U.S. government will release anyone under enough pressure.” Does this exchange encourage other adversarial nations to wrongfully imprison American citizens, hoping that it can result in valuable concessions? 3:45pm- While appearing on CNN, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council John Kirby emphasized that Paul Whelan—a Marine imprisoned in Russia—was “never a bargaining chip” for Viktor Bout. Why not? And, after releasing Bout, what bargaining chip does the Biden Administration have to encourage Whelan's release?   4:05pm- According to a report from Greg Wilson of The Daily Wire, “Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman helped broker the dramatic prisoner swap between the U.S. and Moscow that sprang WNBA star Brittney Griner from a Russian gulag, days after the Biden administration helped spike a lawsuit against the Saudi ruler.” 4:15pm- David Whelan, the brother of Marine Paul Whelan who has been wrongfully detained by Russia since 2018, told CNN that he and his family were incredibly happy to see Brittney Griner has been freed, but they obviously remain disappointed that Paul remains imprisoned.  4:40pm- Speaking with Martha MacCallum on Fox News, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council John Kirby dismissed the idea that the Griner-Bout prisoner exchange encourages foreign adversaries to abduct Americans.  4:50pm- The Biden Administration's foreign policy blunders didn't start with a lopsided prisoner exchange with Russia. The New York Times released a video essay documenting America's abandonment of allies during the August 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. Despite being over a year later, tens of thousands of Afghan-allies remain stranded—with many being actively hunted by the Taliban. 5:00pm- While everyone is happy to see Brittney Griner finally released from an unjust Russian detainment, should the Biden Administration have been able to extract more concessions in exchange for Viktor Bout—an individual who, at one point, was considered the second-most wanted man in the world. Listeners react to the prisoner exchange.    5:15pm- During an interview with Variety, Jennifer Lawrence claimed that Hunger Games was the first time Hollywood featured a female actor in an action film. But what about Sigourney Weaver in Aliens, Linda Hamilton in Terminator, Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider…the list goes on and on... 5:30 pm- On CNBC, Harvard University professor Jason Furman—who served as an Economic Advisor in the Obama Administration—warned that a mild recession is likely to occur soon, though it won't necessarily resolve inflation. 5:50pm- The Mystery Movie Clip: Henry plays the whole movie… 6:05pm- During her Thursday press conference, White House Press Secretary referred to Brittney Griner as an “important role model” and defended the Biden Administration's decision to trade a dangerous arms dealer for a professional athlete in the U.S.-Russia prisoner swap. Will teacher Mark Fogel and Marine Paul Whelan ever be released from their unjust Russian imprisonment?  6:30pm- According to a report from The Daily Wire, a professor at Sacramento City College is under an internal investigation for being critical of “gender affirmation” surgeries being performed on children.  6:45pm- Disney released the trailer for the new Indiana Jones film: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. It doesn't look great…but Rich will see it anyway! 6:50pm- Does Discovery's “Shark Week” lack diversity? According to Daniel Wu of The Washington Post, not only does the television event lack diversity, it also emphasizes “negative messages about sharks.”

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily Newsbrief for Friday, December 9th, 2022. Happy Friday everyone! I hope you’ve had a good week and are heading into the weekend strong… before we get to the news: Club Membership Plug: Its Christmas, join our club. During December, the first 75 people to upgrade or join our Gold or Platinum club membership will get our 32OZ Kodiak Christmas water bottle and a free subscription to our Fight Laugh Feast Magazine. By joining the Fight Laugh Feast Army, not only will you be aiding in our fight to take down secular & legacy media; but you’ll also get access to content placed in our Club Portal, such as past shows, all of our conference talks, and EXCLUSIVE content for club members that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. Lastly, you’ll also get discounts for our conferences… We don’t have the big money of woke media, and so our club members are crucial in this fight. So, join the movement, join our army, and you can sign up now at fightlaughfeast.com. https://www.theepochtimes.com/house-passes-bill-declaring-federal-right-to-same-sex-marriage_4911736.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport House Passes Bill Codifying Federal Right to Same Sex Marriage The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation on Dec. 8 that would codify same-sex and interracial marriage as a federally recognized right. The Respect for Marriage Act, or H.R. 8404, passed on a bipartisan 258–169 vote. Thirty-nine Republicans joined all Democrats in the lower chamber to pass the bill. One Republican voted present, and four didn’t vote. The legislation now heads to the White House for President Joe Biden’s signature into law; he has said he’ll sign it. The House had approved the measure in July but was voting again because the Senate amended the proposal in November. The bill includes a codification of the Supreme Court’s 2014 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which declared a federal right to same-sex marriage on grounds of the 14th Amendment’s “equal protection” clause. “I began my career fighting for LGBTQ communities—and now, one of the final bills that I will sign as Speaker will ensure the federal government never again stands in the way of marrying the person you love,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a recent statement. Critics of the bill have warned of the potential for it to target faith-based organizations and have refuted the notion that it’s merely a codification of Obergefell. “The truth is the Respect for Marriage Act does nothing to change the status of same-sex marriage or the benefits afforded to same-sex couples following Obergefell,” the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom wrote in a blog post. “It does much, however, to endanger religious freedom.” The Alliance Defending Freedom described the bill as “a direct attack on the religious freedom of millions of Americans with sincerely held beliefs about marriage.” They said that by recognizing same-sex marriage in law, the bill “embeds a false definition of marriage in the American legal fabric.” Further, “it opens the door to federal recognition of polygamous relationships” and “jeopardizes the tax-exempt status of nonprofits that exercise their belief that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.” Republican proponents of the bill rejected the claim, saying that it ensured that same-sex marriages would be protected while respecting the rights of faith-based institutions. The Senate passed the final package of the Respect for Marriage Act on Nov. 28. Ahead of a key vote to advance the package, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who often defects from his party on legislation, tied his support for the bill to protections of the religious freedoms of faith-based institutions. “If it includes important protections for religions and religious institutions, I will support it,” Romney told Politico. Other Republicans, including Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) demurred from telling reporters how they’d vote on advancing the bill ahead of the vote. Ultimately, the bill garnered enough support to pass the upper chamber easily. Twelve Republicans joined Democrats to support the bill, including Romney, Ernst, and Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio). https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-prisoner-exchange-britney-griner-leaves-behind-marine-veteran-paul-whelan-again Biden prisoner exchange for Brittney Griner leaves behind Marine veteran Paul Whelan — again President Biden's prisoner exchange with Russia secured the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner on Thursday, but left U.S. Marine veteran Paul Whelan in Russian custody. Whelan has been in Russian custody since 2018 when he was sentenced to 16 years in prison on espionage charges. Griner had been in Russian custody since February after authorities discovered vape cartridges containing a small amount of cannabis oil in her luggage. Biden's administration had initially sought the release of both Griner and Whelan in exchange for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, a Russian citizen serving a prison sentence in America. Known colloquially as the "Merchant of Death," he was convicted in 2011 of conspiracy to kill Americans and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The Biden administration ultimately agreed to exchange Bout for Griner alone, leaving Whelan behind in Russia. Nevertheless, Whelan's brother, David Whelan, congratulated Griner on her release in a Thursday statement, but lamented the Biden administration's failure to release his brother. David's statement went on to note that the Biden administration notified the Whelan family that Paul would be left behind in the exchange. The statement noted that it was the second time the Biden administration had left Paul behind in a prisoner exchange, with the last instance coming in April. He pushed the Biden administration to be more aggressive in its efforts to get Americans released, going so far as to say the U.S. should arrest more Russians for exchange. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/12/06/army-keeps-booting-covid-vaccine-refusers-shot-requirement-may-be-dropped.html The Army Keeps Booting COVID Vaccine Refusers as Shot Requirement May Be Dropped The Pentagon's COVID-19 vaccine mandate appears on the verge of being eliminated by Congress after just over a year, yet the Army -- the only remaining service to never slow down separating troops who refuse inoculation -- said Monday it will not pause those separations. The Army has kicked out 1,841 active-duty soldiers for refusing inoculation, according to the latest service data released Friday. The Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force have halted or been barred by the courts from continuing separations, particularly for troops requesting religious exemptions, as legal fights play out over Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's August 2021 order that all service members be vaccinated. Now, lawmakers might strike a deal to nix the vaccine mandate as part of the annual defense authorization bill after Republicans pushed for the repeal and the Marine Corps said vaccine disinformation in parts of the country is hurting recruiting. A vaccine mandate reversal could also set up an unprecedented legal fight with troops seeking compensation for their dismissal or fighting to be brought back into the ranks. The details of the massive defense bill were expected to be released Tuesday, and it was unclear whether the soldiers who were kicked out would be allowed to return to service or be provided compensation by Congress. On Saturday, Politico reported the Democratic chair of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, put the mandate on the table in negotiations over the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which sets funding and policy priorities for the Defense Department. Since the pandemic began, GOP lawmakers have attempted to stonewall efforts to combat the spread of infections or boost immunities and have used the Pentagon's inoculation mandate as a partisan rallying cry. Troops are required only to get the initial vaccination, not a booster shot. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it's unknown how long the vaccinations protect against the worst effects of COVID-19, though they're estimated to remain effective for about a year, and many service members were vaccinated in early 2021. For now, the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps are in a holding pattern on removing troops due to court challenges. Some 1,200 Coast Guardsmen are part of a class-action lawsuit due to their religious exemptions being denied. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/fbi-used-secret-powers-to-strip-more-americans-of-their-gun-rights-documents-reveal FBI used secret powers to strip more Americans of their gun rights, documents reveal The FBI has secretly stripped eight more people of their rights to own, use, or purchase firearms , according to internal FBI documents obtained by the Washington Examiner. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and over a dozen GOP members of Congress in October demanded that the FBI and Justice Department hand over proof that the FBI is no longer waiving people's gun rights with internal forms, which the Daily Caller uncovered in September had been signed by 15 people. Now, the Washington Examiner has obtained eight heavily redacted signed forms — indicating a more widespread bureau effort than previously known to target the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. "Americans can't simply sign their constitutional rights away, even to the FBI," Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX), who signed the October letter, told the Washington Examiner. "As Republicans enter a House majority, we must use our investigative power to put a check on federal agencies who have proven to be eager and willing to crack down on Americans' right to keep and bear arms." Through the forms, the FBI asked signatories to identify as a "danger" to themselves or others or lacking the “mental capacity adequately to contract or manage” their lives. The forms were presented by the FBI to people at their homes and in other undisclosed locations beginning in at least 2016 and until December 2019, when the FBI claims it was discontinued. While two of the new eight forms have redacted dates for when they were signed, the other six are dated between March 2018 and April 2019. The signed forms were obtained by Gun Owners of America, a firearms rights group, as part of its Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the bureau to compel the disclosure of records. They were then shared with the Washington Examiner. https://www.dailyfetched.com/avalanche-of-media-outlets-are-firing-staff-or-shutting-down-completely/ Avalanche of Media Outlets are Firing Staff or Shutting Down Completely More and more media outlets are firing staff or shutting down altogether as the economy under President Joe Biden continues to tank amid a huge public narrative shift. One left-leaning outlet, The Recount, shut down entirely after receiving a whopping $34,000,000 from investors, which they can’t make back. The outlet needed help finding a profitable business model. Meanwhile, AMC network announced it was laying off a fifth of its staff. The layoffs at AMC Networks come at a time when several media companies, including Amazon and Facebook-parent Meta Platforms, are making deep cuts to their employee base to navigate a potential downturn in the economy, the Daily Mail noted. Earlier this week, BuzzFeed announced it would be axing 12% of its workforce. The Daily Fetched reported the outlet faced a brutal ad-spending pullback amid an ongoing economic downturn. Buzzfeed staffers were notified by email Tuesday that they were losing their jobs. CEO Jonah Peretti wrote in a memo to employees: “In order for BuzzFeed to weather an economic downturn that I believe will extend well into 2023, we must adapt, invest in our strategy to serve our audience best, and readjust our cost structure.” NBC Universal also announced it was laying off staff, with cuts expected mainly in broadcast and cable TV groups. The headcount reduction is set for 2023 to hit budget targets. NPR announced it was having a near hiring freeze and budget cuts in anticipation of a $20 million shortfall in financial sponsorships this fiscal year. Meanwhile, the Washington Post ended its Sunday magazine and also eliminated positions. The Post’s executive editor, Sally Buzbee, announced the outlet would end in its current form after printing on Dec. 25. Gannett, America’s largest newspaper publisher, also announced it would be six percent of its staffers as the company struggles financially. Americans trust in media is at record low amid a huge public narrative shift. As Gallup reported: At 34%, Americans’ trust in the mass media to report the news “fully, accurately and fairly” is essentially unchanged from last year and just two points higher than the lowest that Gallup has recorded, in 2016 during the presidential campaign. Just 7% of Americans have “a great deal” of trust and confidence in the media, and 27% have “a fair amount.” Meanwhile, 28% of U.S. adults say they do not have very much confidence and 38% have none at all in newspapers, TV and radio. Notably, this is the first time that the percentage of Americans with no trust at all in the media is higher than the percentage with a great deal or a fair amount combined.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin says further prisoner swaps between the United States and Russia are possible. Newshour hears from David Whelan, brother of Paul Whelan who is serving time in a Russian jail for espionage. Also in the programme: Brazil dumped out of the World Cup by Croatia; and the new red list for endangered marine mammals. (Photo: Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan stands inside a defendants' cage during his verdict hearing in Moscow, Russia June 15, 2020. Credit: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov)

Executive Director of the WNBA players association Terri Jackson reacts to the release of Brittney Griner and the future of women's basketball; David Whelan discussed his brother Paul Whelan's continued detainment in a Russian prison after the U.S. government traded prisoner Viktor Bout for the release of Brittney Griner; Fmr. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Republican strategist Brad Todd and Politico National Political Correspondent Meridith McGraw join the Meet the Press NOW roundtable to discuss President Biden's string of political wins and President Trump's latest setbacks.