Podcasts about Democratic National Committee

The spirit had vowed to put John Bell in his grave, and on a December morning in 1820 a coma, a smoky vial of black poison, and a dead barn cat proved she meant every word.EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/bellwitchfinallaughREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yfpsnbfwFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: Did a malevolent spirit cause the death of John Bell, or was it something else that brought his demise? (The Death of John Bell) *** A man is awoken in the middle of the night by a piano – being played by no one. (Rock Isn't Dead) *** Is it possible that ancient human skulls are conscious? (Cult of Human Skulls) *** Did the Watergate scandal hide a secret agenda? (Watergate: Wilderness of Mirrors)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding00:00:51.735 = Show Open00:02:11.866 = The Death of John Bell00:09:41.045 = Rock Isn't Dead ***00:13:58.971 = Cult of Human Skulls00:20:31.984 = Watergate: Wilderness of Mirrors ***00:43:34.192 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Watergate: Wilderness of Mirrors” posted at The Unredacted: http://bit.ly/2JjZ0pr“Rock Isn't Dead” by UnQuiet: http://bit.ly/2HfOZax“The Death of John Bell” by Troy Taylor: http://bit.ly/2HgkJwq“Cult of Human Skulls” by A. Sutherland: http://bit.ly/2Q1WbtT(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: December, 2021Weird Darkness gathers four accounts of the inexplicable across this episode — a frontier farmer poisoned by a spirit, a midnight keyboard played by no one, the worldwide superstitions surrounding human skulls, and a hidden reading of the Watergate burglary.It opens with the death of John Bell, the Tennessee gentleman farmer remembered as the only man ever murdered by a spirit. For nearly four years the entity known as the Bell Witch had tormented his household with attacks, flying objects, and a disembodied voice, singling out Bell and his daughter Elizabeth, called Betsy, for the worst of it. On the morning of December 19, 1820, Bell could not be roused from a deep stupor, and his son John Jr. found the cupboard of prescribed medicines emptied and replaced by a smoky-looking vial holding a dark, nearly black liquid. The witch laughed over his bed and admitted she had dosed "Old Jack" the night before; when Alex Gunn brought in a barn cat and a straw of the liquid was drawn across its tongue, the animal screeched, whirled, and dropped dead. Dr. Hopson confirmed Bell had swallowed the contents, Frank Miles hurled the vial into the fire where it flared blue up the chimney, and Bell died early on December 20, 1820, never having woken.From there the episode turns to a quieter haunting, recounted by a father awakened at 1:14 a.m. on March 9, 2018 by a few composed notes from his twelve-year-old son's electronic keyboard. He found the boy sound asleep and the cat sitting upright on the bed, staring at the instrument, and when he pressed the keys himself no sound came because the power was switched off. The next morning he woke his son for school and recognized the boy's shirt, worn for the first time, as one that had belonged to his late brother, who died suddenly in 2015 and whose lifelong dream had been to play in his band, called Ghost Of. The shirt read "Rock Isn't Dead… it's just played by Ghost Of," and the brothers had shared a love of ghost stories and a standing joke that he would return to visit after death.Next comes a survey of the human skull as an object of dread and reverence stretching back through cultures on every continent, rooted in the old belief that the head housed the soul and offered a channel to the Other World. The segment weighs the disputed Celtic "Cult of the Head," with historian Ronald Hutton arguing the recurring head motif on Celtic metalwork reflects artistic fashion rather than worship, and moves through the 1612 trial of Lancashire witch Anne Chattox, hanged after she was accused of robbing graves for skulls and teeth. It gathers the screaming-skull legends of England, including Anne Griffiths of Burton Agnes Hall in Yorkshire, whose exhumed head was bricked into a staircase wall to quiet the slamming and crashing, and the skull at Bettiscombe Manor in Dorset, said to belong to an enslaved man brought from Nevis by the Pinney family and denied his promised burial in the Caribbean.The episode closes with a long, skeptical reexamination of Watergate that treats the official account as a fabrication. It returns to the June 17, 1972 arrest of five burglars inside the Democratic National Committee offices and the address book linking E. Howard Hunt to Nixon's White House, then argues, following journalist Jim Hougan's 1984 book Secret Agenda, that the men never actually bugged the building at all. James McCord, a senior figure in the CIA's Office of Security rather than the low-level technician he claimed, rented a line-of-sight surveillance room facing the wrong side of the complex, paid an employee to transcribe conversations from nonexistent wiretaps, and twice taped the stairwell locks horizontally across the door face so guards could not miss them. A key found on burglar Eugenio Martinez fit the desk of DNC secretary Ida Wells and pointed toward a suspected call-girl ring run out of the adjacent Columbia Plaza apartments, raising the possibility that Hunt and McCord, both career CIA men who lied about a decade-long association, sabotaged the break-in to shield a clandestine operation, to topple a president who had sidelined the agency, or both, taking the full truth with them to their graves.

Ralph welcomes political consultant and pollster, Celinda Lake, to outline a ten-point Progressive Contract for America that she and Ralph believe – if adopted by Democratic candidates— will ensure they landslide the Republicans in the midterms. Then, Ben Cohen stops by to fill us in on his “Free Ben & Jerry!” campaign to take back the brand from the conglomerate that no longer retains the social justice values of their original company. Plus, Marine Corp veteran, Matthew Hoh, tells us about the provocative speech he made on Veterans Day entitled “Armistice Day and the Empire.”Celinda Lake is a political strategist and president of Lake Research Partners. She and her firm are known for cutting-edge research on issues including the economy, health care, the environment and education, and have worked for a number of institutions including the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Governor's Association, AFL-CIO, SEIU, CWA, Sierra Club, NARAL, Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood, VoteVets Action Fund, and the Kaiser Family Foundation. Her international work has included work in Liberia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus Ukraine, South Africa, and Central America.I think [a Compact for America] is a really, really, really important idea, and it's absolutely essential to winning…And it should include concrete economic proposals. And it is noticeable that the two people who won governorships in 2025—Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill—both had contracts with their voters.Celinda LakeDemocrats need to lay out ten concrete proposals and run on them. We have the critique of what's going on. We understand what's happening in real people's lives. The third leg of the stool is offering our alternative—and a concrete alternative that people can pass on to their friends and family, that people can hold us accountable for. And the last of the ten proposals in the contract needs to be something about campaign finance reform. We have to get corporate money out of politics, or our system will continue to be rigged against us and rotting from the middle.Celinda LakeBen Cohen is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and longtime anti-war activist. He is a co-founder of the ice cream company Ben & Jerry's and a prominent supporter of progressive causes. He is co-founder of Up In Arms, a public education and advocacy campaign pushing for a common-sense approach to military budgeting.What's happened is that the company recently got owned by the Magnum Corporation, and the Magnum Corporation has disbanded that independent board of directors. I mean, it's kind of a crazy, stupid move because it's under that independent board (which has legal authority over the social mission and the quality of the product and the use of the trademark) it's under that independent board that the company has grown and done so well. But they've gotten rid of the independent board.Ben CohenWhen Ben & Jerry's was in the midst of trying to fend off this acquisition, there were some new laws that were passed in Vermont that allowed a consideration of the benefit of the community with regard to a potential sale. And after the sale happened, B Corporation started. And I've talked with the founder of B Corp, and he was saying that one of the inspirations for starting B Corporations was what happened to Ben & Jerry's. So B Corporations are a different legal structure for corporations which requires them to take into account the social benefit to the community and legally makes it easier to resist these efforts to have the company taken over.Ben CohenMatthew Hoh is a disabled Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War and former Afghan War State Department Officer. In 2009, after being appointed to the Foreign Service, Hoh resigned his post in Afghanistan over the Obama administration's escalation of the Afghan War. He is now an analyst and commentator on foreign and military policy issues as a senior fellow with the Eisenhower Media Network. He serves on the advisory boards of many peace organizations, including Veterans for Peace and World Beyond War, and is an associate member of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity.The United States recognized Armistice Day as a holiday until after the Second World War. And then in the height of the Cold War in the early 1950s, this idea of a holiday dedicated to peace, a holiday dedicated to the abrogation of warfare, a holiday that exposed just how false the motives for war are—oh that was incredibly troublesome. That was very problematic for the American empire (again, at the height of the Cold War). So there was this campaign to rename Armistice Day to Veterans Day. And this way, it became not a remembrance of the horrors of war, of what war entailed, of who profited from war. But rather a celebration of American veterans, that they have won freedoms, they have protected us from overseas enemies—and utilizing veterans, then, as a tool to crush dissent, to silence opposition.Matthew HohClick here to sign up to get a copy of Matthew Hoh's "Armistice Day and the Empire”News 6/19/26* Our top stories this week are about major local progressive victories. Here in Washington, DC Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George – endorsed by a broad coalition of groups including the Metro DC DSA, the AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club and many more – has triumphed in the Mayoral primary. Lewis George trounced her centrist opponent, Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, who was backed both by major local corporate interests, such as the realtor lobby and even the Washington Parking Association, but also Democratic Party power brokers, including two former DNC Chairs. Lewis George, hailed as DC's answer to Zohran Mamdani, won over 50% of the vote in the first round, meaning that while this is DC's first mayoral election under ranked-choice voting, this race will not trigger this mechanism. McDuffie, for his part, won around 36% of the vote, coming ahead of Lewis George only in Ward 3, the wealthiest in the District. While votes remain to be counted, McDuffie has conceded.* Another DSA-backed candidate is poised to win a seat on the DC council. In Ward 1, Aparna Raj appears to have come up just short of 50% but while this means the race will go to a second round of ranked-choice reallocation, given that Raj is more than 25 points ahead of her nearest opponent, her victory is all but guaranteed. This is based upon data from the DC Board of Elections. Raj's impending victory, paired with that of Janeese Lewis George and others like Oye Owolewa demonstrates that the DC DSA is an electoral force to be reckoned with.* In more progressive electoral news, Semafor reports Bernie Sanders has endorsed former Congresswoman Cori Bush in her “comeback” bid for her old seat. Bush, a nurse and Black Lives Matter activist, was a member of the “Squad” in the House before she was defeated by a primary challenge from the right, backed in large part by AIPAC money. With the Republican redistricting in her home state of Missouri, this seat is now the sole remaining safe Democratic seat in the Show-Me State. In a statement, Bush said she was “honored to be endorsed” by Sanders, whom she called a “true leader in our movement to guarantee healthcare, housing, and childcare for all.”* Another much-publicized Bernie endorsement was announced this week: that of Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson. Pearson was originally running as a primary challenger against longtime incumbent Congressman Steve Cohen in Tennessee's 9th congressional district, but since the state Republicans redrew the districts Cohen has decided to retire, leaving the Democratic nomination to Pearson for the taking. While this district has been drawn in such a way to make it difficult for a Democrat to win, Pearson argues that “You've got a number of disaffected Republican voters, you've got a number of distraught MAGA voters, and you've got fired-up Democrats, which is a perfect recipe for success for us…Because our tent is big enough for everybody who is feeling that this status quo was rigged and broken against working-class folk, and want to see a future that is more just,” per the Intercept.* Elsewhere in the South, the race in Florida's 20th congressional district is descending into chaos. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the powerful centrist Democratic congresswoman who was drawn out of her traditional seat by the recent Republican-led redistricting is now officially running in this district, a move that “disappointed” Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried, according to the Miami Herald. Fried further stated that Wasserman Schultz “[refused] to engage in meaningful dialogue about her decision.” Elijah Manley, the progressive candidate in this race, had harsher words for DWS. In a quote reported by Florida Politics, Manley stated “I'm not surprised that Debbie Wasserman Schultz is carpetbagging to FL-20, a black opportunity district, abandoning her own district and constituents…She is no different than the Republicans that are eviscerating black representation across the South. She is everything that's wrong with the broken unpopular Democratic establishment…I look forward to retiring her from public office permanently.”* Facing down the barrel of this decision, several of the Black candidates running in the 20th convened to discuss a plan to consolidate in order to ensure the district would continue to be represented by a Black member of Congress, as it has been for the past 34 years. However, CBS reports that plan has “fallen apart” as the filing deadline passed with none of the major Black candidates bowing out. This report includes statements from Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who, the piece notes, resigned from this very seat in disgrace earlier this year amid a congressional ethics investigation, saying she is “excited to campaign in the district I have represented for the last 5 years.” Dale Holness, the former Mayor of Broward County, said, “It has to be about policies that produce prosperity for the people.” Elijah Manley, said “I think it's going to come down to who works the hardest, and I think I'm going to work the hardest.” To this end, Manley has recently racked up major progressive endorsements in Florida, including Armando Grundy-Gomes, President of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida, the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida, through President Matthew Grocholske, and Black Voters Matter lead Florida organizer Jamil Davis. According to the most recent polling, Manley lags behind Wasserman Schultz 21% to 39% in initial ballot testing, but blitzes into the lead 36% to 27% after voters receive candidate biographical information, per Florida Politics.* Another major political story from Florida is the comeback bid of former Congressman Alan Grayson. Grayson, who won a House seat in 2008, lost it in the Tea Party wave of 2010, won another seat, ran unsuccessfully for Senate, and then sought a comeback in 2018 is running in Florida's 7th congressional district, AOL reports. Grayson, known during his time in Congress for his “combative style and frequent clashes with Republicans,” is seeking to unseat scandal-plagued incumbent Republican Congressman Cory Mills. As this piece notes, Mills has “faced allegations ranging from sextortion claims made by a former girlfriend to accusations that he embellished aspects of his military record,” as well as what appears to be clear instances of corruption, such as driving government contracts to entities he owned. However, before these two have any chance of facing off against one another, both will have to get through his own party's primary.* Looking to Latin America, the outgoing President of Colombia Gustavo Petro, has published a fascinating op-ed in the Washington Post. In this piece, President Petro emphasizes how his government – considered one of the most opposed to American intervention in the region – has cooperated with the United States on shared objectives including stopping the “deadly flow of drug trafficking and transnational criminal violence.” Throughout the op-ed, Petro goes to great lengths to talk up Trump and how they have collaborated on mutual goals, even ending the piece by writing that “with continued U.S.-Colombia partnership, we can truly make the Americas great again.” This apparent about face from Petro, culminating in an obsequious appeal to Trump's favor, has led many to speculate about Petro's motivations here, including fear for his own safety, possible persecution within the American legal system or intervention in Colombia if his designated successor Ivan Cepeda ultimately wins the Colombian runoff presidential election this month. Whether or not this stratagem will work remains to be seen, but with Trump, flattery can get you everywhere.* In neighboring Peru, votes continue to be counted in the razor's edge race between Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sánchez. The votes for the election, held on June 7th, are almost completely counted now – the tally stands at 99.38% – and at the moment Fujimori leads by around 39,000 votes. However, around 140,000 votes have been formally challenged, with 60% of those coming from Fujimori strongholds like Lima as well as Peruvians abroad. This from Reuters. Peru's political system has been wracked by instability, with the country going through nine presidents in the last ten years. Another painstakingly close election is unlikely to restore stability no matter who comes out on top.* Finally, we turn to the Middle East, where it seems the numerous parties involved in the latest round of peace talks may have finally reached a deal. According to Al Jazeera, in addition to the US-Iran agreement, rooted in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which includes financial concessions to the Islamic Republic, Israel and Hezbollah are pursuing a ceasefire in Lebanon. However, Israel's notoriously loose interpretation of ceasefire agreements jeopardizes both this deal and MOU. Journalist and expert Rania Khalek states simply that “From Iran's perspective, continued Israeli strikes would be a violation of that understanding.” Vice President JD Vance, who has been intimately involved in these negotiations, expressed a sharp warning to Israel not to jeopardize the deal and risk alienating Trump, their “only ally” left. Trump for his part is already hedging, saying “If it works out, I'm going to take the credit…If it doesn't work out, I'm blaming JD,” per CNN. A report in the Hill indicates that Republican Senators would largely oppose the deal if it were submitted for their approval, but given the increasing concentration of foreign policy powers in the executive branch, it is unlikely the Senate will even be consulted.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

This Day in Legal History: The Watergate BurglaryOn this day in 1972, at roughly 2:30 in the morning, a security guard at the Watergate office complex on Virginia Avenue in Washington named Frank Wills noticed that the latches on a stairwell door had been taped over and called the District police. The police arrested five men inside the offices of the Democratic National Committee on the sixth floor: James McCord, Bernard Barker, Virgilio Gonzalez, Eugenio Martinez, and Frank Sturgis. McCord was the security coordinator for the Committee to Re-Elect the President. Two days later, the FBI traced a $25,000 cashier's check found in Barker's bank account to the Committee to Re-Elect's finance chairman. The burglary itself was a third-rate one — bad lockpicking, surveillance gear that did not work, men carrying address books that linked them to the White House — but the legal consequences took two years to play out and rewrote large parts of American constitutional law in the process.The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities, chaired by Sam Ervin of North Carolina, conducted public hearings in the summer of 1973 that produced the disclosure of the White House taping system. The Saturday Night Massacre in October 1973 — Nixon's firing of Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox and the resignations of Attorney General Elliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus — produced the legal scholarship that became the modern law of presidential removal and the Ethics in Government Act of 1978's independent-counsel framework. United States v. Nixon in July 1974 produced the doctrine that executive privilege is qualified rather than absolute and must yield to a demonstrated need in a criminal proceeding, a holding that is still the foundational separation-of-powers case the Court returns to whenever an administration claims that internal deliberations cannot be subpoenaed.The articles of impeachment voted by the House Judiciary Committee in late July 1974 produced the modern template for impeachment-as-constitutional-remedy that has been deployed four times since. Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974. The constitutional residue of what began with five men and a roll of tape in a Watergate stairwell is in the Federal Election Campaign Act amendments, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the Inspector General Act, the Presidential Records Act, the post-Saturday-Night-Massacre statute book that defines what limits an administration faces when it tries to use the criminal-justice system politically. Fifty-four years on, the question of how much of that residue has held up is, as the saying goes, the question.U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman of the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Tuesday denied former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan's post-trial motion to vacate her December 2025 conviction for felony obstruction of a federal proceeding. Dugan had been charged after she let Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who had appeared in her courtroom in April 2025 on a state misdemeanor, and his attorney leave through a side door of her courtroom after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers had assembled in the public hallway to arrest him on a federal civil immigration warrant. A jury found Dugan guilty of obstruction and acquitted her of the lesser concealing-an-individual count.Her post-trial motion pressed two principal arguments. The first was that the Fourth Circuit's recent decision in United States v. Edwards — which addressed the scope of 18 U.S.C. § 1505 obstruction as applied to interference with administrative agency proceedings — applies to ICE warrant service and so the trial court should have given a narrower jury instruction. The second was that her conduct was protected by the doctrine of judicial immunity for acts taken on the bench. Judge Adelman rejected both. On Edwards, the court held that the Fourth Circuit's reasoning addresses a different statutory provision and a different agency context, and that Dugan's case is governed by Seventh Circuit precedent on the obstruction statute she was convicted under.On judicial immunity, the court held that the doctrine is a civil shield against private damages liability and does not bar federal criminal prosecution for affirmative conduct in aid of evading federal law-enforcement officers. Dugan's team has announced that the case will go to the Seventh Circuit. Sentencing is now back on the calendar. The appellate question that will dominate the briefing is the one Judge Adelman teed up: whether a state judge taking administrative action in the courthouse — guiding a litigant to a back exit — falls inside or outside the federal obstruction statute's reach when the action is calculated to defeat federal law-enforcement service. That issue has not been squarely decided in the Seventh Circuit. The case is going to be the vehicle.Ex-Judge Loses Bid To Undo ICE Obstruction Conviction | Law360A Maryland federal judge on Tuesday denied SCOTUSblog co-founder Thomas C. Goldstein's post-trial motion for acquittal or, in the alternative, a new trial on the twelve counts on which a jury had convicted him in February — tax evasion, assisting in the preparation of false returns, willful failure to pay over employment taxes, and false statements to mortgage lenders. The case is one of the more striking falls in modern Supreme Court practice. Goldstein had argued for years before the Court and was, for two decades, one of the most visible private SCOTUS practitioners in the country, with SCOTUSblog itself becoming the standard public-facing reference for Supreme Court news.The criminal case grew out of his recreational high-stakes poker, which prosecutors used to build out a pattern of unreported gambling income, gambling debts paid out of law-firm funds, and gambling losses claimed as business expenses. The post-trial motion principally argued that the trial court's jury instructions on willfulness improperly conflated the negligence standard with the higher mens rea Cheek v. United States requires in federal tax-evasion prosecutions, and that the court had wrongly excluded evidence going to Goldstein's claimed reliance on his accountants' advice. The court rejected both. On the willfulness instruction, the court found the instruction tracked the Fourth Circuit's pattern instruction on Cheek and made clear to the jury that a good-faith misunderstanding of the law was a defense. On the accountant-reliance evidence, the court held that the offer of proof was insufficient to establish that Goldstein had actually relied on professional advice in the particular omissions the indictment turned on, as opposed to relying on his own judgment. Sentencing is now the next event.The federal sentencing guidelines on the tax counts alone, with the loss amount the jury found, point to a substantial custodial term. Watch for an appeal that focuses on the willfulness instruction; that is the cleanest reversible-error vehicle in the record.SCOTUSblog Founder Goldstein Denied Acquittal Or Retrial | Law360A Delaware federal judge on Tuesday denied Guardant Health's post-trial motion to vacate, reduce, or stay enforcement of the $83.4 million jury verdict TwinStrand Biosciences won against it in late 2023 for willful infringement of diagnostic-sequencing patents covering duplex-sequencing technology used in liquid-biopsy cancer-screening assays. The court also declined to enhance the award under 35 U.S.C. § 284, even though the jury had found willfulness, reasoning that the multi-factor Read v. Portec analysis the Federal Circuit has refined in Halo Electronics and its progeny cut both ways here: Guardant's pre-suit notice and continued use of the accused technology supported some enhancement, but its defenses on infringement and validity, while ultimately rejected, were not objectively reckless.The decision is notable for two doctrinal reasons. First, it reflects how district courts are continuing to deploy Halo's discretion-based framework in the post-pandemic-era diagnostic-patent landscape, where the gap between objectively defensible defenses and reckless infringement is being drawn case by case in a way that is making certworthy issues for the Federal Circuit and, eventually, the Supreme Court. Second, it underscores the $83.4 million is significant but not transformative: the broader competitive question in the diagnostic-sequencing space is whether Guardant can design around the asserted claims fast enough to keep its cancer-screening assays on the market without paying a recurring royalty to TwinStrand. Guardant has indicated it will appeal to the Federal Circuit. Both the underlying infringement findings and the no-enhancement ruling are likely to be appealed in parallel — Guardant on infringement and validity, TwinStrand on the refusal to enhance. The verdict stands for now.Del. Judge Upholds $83.4M Patent Verdict Against Guardant | Law360My Bloomberg Tax column this week argues that the IRS's disclosure of taxpayer address information to ICE should be understood less as a narrow immigration-enforcement controversy and more as a tax-data governance failure.I argue that Section 6103 does not make IRS data impossible to share, but it does make confidentiality the default and disclosure the exception. That distinction matters because a statutory exception should not become a bulk-transfer mechanism whenever another agency wants access to IRS records. The IRS holds unusually sensitive information because taxpayers are legally compelled to provide it, so any interagency disclosure should require necessity, precision, security, and auditability on a record-by-record basis.The TIGTA report is troubling because the IRS apparently built an automated matching process that was vulnerable to bad ICE inputs, inconsistent formatting, malformed records, and weak matching rules. ICE also had unresolved safeguard issues and missed corrective-action deadlines before the data transfer. In my view, that combination means the problem was not simply that data moved; it was that protected taxpayer information moved through a process that treated matching quality and backend security as implementation details rather than core privacy protections.The broader point is that bad data inputs are not just a programmer's inconvenience. If the IRS relies on another agency's messy file to decide whether protected tax information can be disclosed, the quality of that file becomes part of the taxpayer-confidentiality analysis. Loose input standards and crude matching rules effectively expand the statutory exception beyond what Congress authorized.My proposed fix is straightforward: before the IRS discloses taxpayer information, requesting agencies should have to provide clean, structured, validated data; legally certify the need for each record; meet defined match-confidence thresholds; submit ambiguous cases for manual review; and accept strict limits on use, retention, and auditing. The column's central line is that Section 6103 exceptions should operate like locked doors, not loading docks.IRS Sharing Taxpayer Info With ICE Is a Data Governance Issue This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

The Morning Xtra with Tug and Los delivers conservative talk on the biggest political, cultural, and news stories of the day. Smart analysis, unapologetic opinions, and real conversations every weekday morning. Every weekday from 6a to 10a! First thing to know: You are winning, and America is winning too Things are about to get real on the money front Who is fluffing Jill’s book numbers Atlanta's ONLY All Conservative News & Talk Station.: https://www.xtra1063.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Fox Across America, Jimmy Failla gives his take on why President Trump's strategy with Iran has been unpredictable yet effective. IFBB Pro Bodybuilder John Fricchione talks about how Border Czar Tom Homan swears by his Whey of The Lord supplements. PLUS, United We Fund PAC Spokesperson Tudor Dixon explains why Senate candidates like James Talarico and Graham Platner are proof that the Democratic National Committee has a major vetting problem. [00:00:00] Trump says Iran is facing more bombings with no deal signed [00:39:20] ActBlue CEO grilled by lawmakers on foreign donations [00:57:20] John Fricchione [01:15:40] Trump calls off latest strikes on Iran [01:29:50] Jimmy's FNSN staff [01:34:07] Tudor Dixon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howard Dean is a former Vermont governor, presidential candidate and Democratic National Committee chair. But before all that, he was just a local physician who really wanted Burlington to have a bike path.In the latest installment of our occasional series Vermont Edition At Home, Howard Dean invites us into his living room in Burlington. He talks candidly about his upbringing in New York and his ongoing grief over his brother's early death. We also hear his thoughts on the current political climate and Vermont's struggle to provide affordable healthcare to all residents.Broadcast on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message or check us out on Instagram.

Raffi Krikorian, the chief technology officer of Mozilla, has spent the past few months building an argument that the central question in AI isn't open versus closed, but owning versus renting—whether AI becomes something we control or something we lease from a handful of companies. A technologist by background with stops at Twitter, Uber, and the Democratic National Committee, he writes about all of this in his newsletter, Owners Not Renters, and in other outlets, most recently in a New York Times op-ed on what he called the "Mythos moment." Justin Hendrix spoke to him about the idea that generosity is the hidden infrastructure of the internet, how to expand access to powerful AI tools rather than closing it down for security's sake, how to overcome misaligned incentives to build a better information environment, how to counter surveillance, and why those concerned with AI governance should spend more time thinking about the protocol and harness layers.

This week on Hashtag History, we will be discussing the second part of the Watergate Scandal. In last week's episode, we left off with the White House Plumbers that Nixon had recruited to serve as his secret task force to stop any potential leaks—not actual plumbing leaks, but leaks like the 7,000 pages of Pentagon Papers that exposed just how much the US Government had been lying to the American people about our involvement in the Vietnam War. Where we left off with last week's episode was Nixon getting increasingly paranoid about being exposed, about perhaps not getting re-elected to the presidency, and about damaging his reputation. And so he became hell-bent and willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure that did not happen.In this week's episode, we are officially going to be discussing Watergate: the details of the actual operation to wiretap the Democratic National Committee's headquarters, the investigative journalism that exposed this all, the cover up, the federal investigations, the Supreme Court's involvement, and then, of course, talks of impeachment and Nixon's official resignation…the only president in American history to ever resign….because you can do that.Follow Hashtag History on Instagram @hashtaghistory_podcast for all of the pictures mentioned in this episode.Citations for all sources can be located on our website at www.HashtagHistory-Pod.com. You can also check out our website for super cute merch!You can now sponsor a cocktail and get a shout-out on air! Just head to www.buymeacoffee.com/hashtaghistory or head to the Support tab on our website!You can locate us on www.Patreon.com/hashtaghistory where you can donate $1 a month to our Books and Booze Supply. All of your support goes a long ways and we are endlessly grateful! To show our gratitude, all Patreon Supporters receive an automatic 15% OFF all merchandise in our merchandise store, a shoutout on social media, and stickers!THANKS FOR LISTENING!- Rachel and LeahEditor: Alex PerezCopyright: The Hashtag History Podcast

Texas Republicans just traded a sitting U.S. senator for a man under multiple indictments by a 27-point margin. Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General with a securities fraud record, a bribery investigation, an impeachment by the Texas House, and a whistleblower settlement Texas taxpayers paid for, crushed two-decade incumbent John Cornyn in the May 26 Republican primary runoff. Cornyn's allies spent over $100 million documenting Paxton's scandals. The voters did not move. That fact is the real story.Host Radell Lewis breaks down what just happened in Texas, what it tells us about the institutional trust collapse underneath the result, and what the November general election against state Representative James Talarico looks like from here. Marine veteran lens applied throughout.Also in this episode:The Democratic National Committee released a 192-page autopsy of the 2024 election on May 21, and then DNC Chair Ken Martin distanced himself from his own report. The document somehow skips Gaza, Biden's age and cognitive decline, inflation, and immigration. Radell walks through why this was a self-inflicted wound and whether Martin should still be chair.The Trump administration says ceasefire with Iran while U.S. forces hit Iranian military targets the same week. Treasury sanctions a newly created Iranian agency charging tolls on Strait of Hormuz traffic. The Hill reports a ceasefire framework is still on the table. The fuel price ripple is what pushed Spirit Airlines into shutdown earlier this month. One story, three downstream symptoms.Three weeks after the Supreme Court gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in Callais and broke its own 32-day waiting period to enforce the ruling mid-election, the cascade is in real time. Alabama is relocking in maps already struck down in Allen v. Milligan. South Carolina filed a new map. Louisiana finalized a plan eliminating its second majority-Black congressional district. Five states, one cycle, one direction.The Office of Personnel Management posted a draft government-wide NDA for all federal workers on May 26, covering a broad enough scope that almost anything someone in power decides should not be public would be covered. Comment period runs through June 26.And on the cultural undercurrent: new research from the American Institute for Boys and Men documents the biggest increase in hands-on fathering in half a century, and the data does not match the easy explanations.Topics covered: Ken Paxton Senate primary, John Cornyn defeat, James Talarico campaign, DNC 2024 autopsy report, Ken Martin, Iran ceasefire strikes, Strait of Hormuz, Louisiana redistricting, Alabama redistricting, Section 2 Voting Rights Act, Callais ruling, federal worker NDA, OPM proposal, millennial fathers childcare research.Standard Resource Links & RecommendationsThe following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORKCheck Out the Podcast Website: https://www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.comALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices.Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMSHeadOn: A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features.Link: https://app.headon.ai/Living Room Conversations: Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides.Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTSUs United: A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences.Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATIONOtherWeb: An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content.Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACYEqual Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting.Link: https://www.equal.vote/starFuture is Now Coalition (FiNC): A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse.Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTIndependent Center: Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement.Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWSText 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now)Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.comSubscribe to the Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown ALL LINKShttps://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownThe Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

On this Newsbuzz episode, political scientist Kelly Shaw joins to dissect the crowded race for the Republican nomination for governor during the June 2 primary election. IPR's Katarina Sostaric also joins to share the latest from the Secretary of State's office ahead of Election Day and the Iowa Democratic Party's latest caucus proposal to the Democratic National Committee. We also talk about tick season coming sooner and lasting longer with environmental reporter Jess Savage. State Climatologist Justin Glisan shares the latest drought conditions and the potential for a 'Super El Niño' this summer. Then, we welcome IPR's newest Studio One host Erin Fuller to groove into the weekend.

As Democrats turn the page on 2024, a new high-stakes fight is underway over which states will kick off the 2028 presidential primaries. Twelve states made their pitches to the Democratic National Committee, which ranged from racial diversity to electoral history. The coveted early spots can shape the entire race and bring a surge of campaign spending and national media attention. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers explains the political stakes and which states may have the edge. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode transcript available here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week's episode of The Lion Week in Review, Josh Mann is joined in studio by St. Louis-based reporter Stuart McMillian. They break down the latest Republican primary results, where Trump-endorsed candidates continue to outperform expectations and defeat incumbents in key states including Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, and Louisiana. The conversation examines what these outcomes mean for the midterms, ongoing concerns about affordability and the Iran situation, and a new Democratic National Committee “autopsy” of the 2024 election that largely overlooked faith-based voters.Stuart and Josh also reflect on the strengths of America's two-party system compared to multi-party nations. Stuart shares his reporting on an Illinois mother's federal lawsuit against a school district accused of secretly transitioning her child and withholding information from parents. The episode closes with a powerful, personal discussion on mortality after witnessing a man's defibrillator shock during a public event, and the importance of preparing children to face death with hope. A grounded look at politics, parental rights, culture, and faith.00:00:00 – Introduction00:01:13 – Primaries and Trump Influence00:02:13 – Senate and House Shakeup00:03:24 – Outperforming Polls00:06:57 – Democratic Autopsy Report00:10:39 – Two-Party System Value00:14:25 – Illinois Transition Lawsuit00:19:04 – Defibrillator Moment00:20:56 – Teaching Kids About Mortality00:25:30 – Faith and Freedom 250Follow The Lion on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.  You can also sign-up for our newsletter and follow our coverage at ReadLion.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.#ChristianEducation #Education #EducationPolicy #EducationReform #FaithAndLearning #Family #FaithInEducation #Faith #Homeschool #ChristianSchool #PrivateSchool #EducationNews #News #Religion #ReligiousNews #PublicSchool #SchoolNews #NewsShow #SchoolChoice 

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmDonald Trump went back to the hospital Tuesday for his third “checkup” in just over a year, but faces fewer questions about his age and vitality than Joe Biden. He lost a war of choice, at serious cost to the U.S. and the world, but we don't hear much about how weak and discredited he is. Why are these critiques missing?In this episode, Matt and Brian discuss:* Jared Polis…what the fuck?! (Redux.)* Jake Auchinchloss…what the fuck?!* Democratic National Committee…what the fuck?!Are all these intraparty recriminations why Dems seem like they're MIA in the fight against Trump? Or are there structural issues that prevent Democrats from driving attention to GOP weaknesses? Are progressive and mainstream media outlets covering Democratic infighting because that's where the conflict is? Or are their readers and viewers simply more interested in Democratic factionalism than in the partisan food fight? If Democrats took a page from the GOP and made a big stink about everything—Trump's physical deterioration, his humiliating defeat in Iran, his impeachable corruption—would media outlets cover it? Or is the media ecosystem really just rigged against them?Answers are available in full to paid subscribers—just upgrade your subscription and pipe full episodes directly to your favorite podcast app via your own private feed.Further reading:* David Seligman on Colorado Democrats' obligation to investigate Jared Polis.* Lauren Egan on why Trump's failing health isn't a media or opposition-party obsession, the way Biden's was. * Josh Barro: Impeach Todd Blanche.* Brian Beutler: Democrats shouldn't fall for the revisionist history of Trump's impeachments—it is wrong to say they backfired.

The Democratic National Committee's now-released 2024 autopsy came with a few predictable omissions: the New Democrat Party agenda. Why? Because the Jacobin wing of the party refuses to believe that's why Democrats lost so decisively in 2024. They believed that a war on fossil fuels, open-border policies that let in 10 million-plus illegal aliens, allowing men to compete in women's sports, and the nature of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan were all great policies worth recognition, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today's edition of Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words. “So, in conclusion, if the autopsy wanted to be accurate, it would have done this. We lost the 2024 campaign because we had a radical agenda that reflects the Jacobin neo-socialism of the new party. For us to get elected on a national basis, we have to hide that agenda.”

The DNC's long-awaited 2024 election “autopsy” is every bit as incomplete, evasive, and damaging as expected. The Democratic National Committee finally released its postmortem on what went wrong in 2024 after Kamala Harris lost to President Trump — but the report is raising more questions than answers. Critics are pointing out what appears to be missing from the analysis: Joe Biden's debate disaster, Kamala Harris getting the nomination without a traditional primary process, and the deeper structural failures inside the Democratic Party.For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (656) 218-0931 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to https://askchapter.org/nez▶Sign up to our Free Newsletter, so you never miss out: https://bio.site/professornez▶ ORIGINAL MADE IN U.S.A 250TH AMERICA DESIGNS: https://professornez.myspreadshop.com/

President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting at the White House, talking about Tuesday's election primary results, including in Texas, where his preferred Republican nominee for U.S. Senator, Ken Paxton, defeated incumbent John Cornyn. President also talks about talks to end Iran war, saying Iran was "negotiating on fumes" and "maybe we have to go back and finish it, maybe we don't"; and the President is asked about immigration, after protesters and federal agents having been clashing outside an Immigration & Customs Enforcement detention facility in Newark, New Jersey; American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten calls for guardrails on advanced technology in classrooms, such as screen time limits and a ban on artificial intelligence in elementary schools; Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) at a retirement tribute in the Illinois state legislature in Springfield his work to ban smoking on airplanes; former Vice President Mike Pence is asked at a policy conference in Michigan if he ever picks up the phone and calls President Trump; Iowa Democrats pitch the Democratic National Committee that their state deserves to once again be among the first to hold a Democratic presidential primary in 2028. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.politix.fmDonald Trump went back to the hospital Tuesday for his third “checkup” in just over a year, but faces fewer questions about his age and vitality than Joe Biden. He lost a war of choice, at serious cost to the U.S. and the world, but we don't hear much about how weak and discredited he is. Why are these critiques missing?In this episode, Matt and Brian discuss:* Jared Polis…what the fuck?! (Redux.)* Jake Auchinchloss…what the fuck?!* Democratic National Committee…what the fuck?!Are all these intraparty recriminations why Dems seem like they're MIA in the fight against Trump? Or are there structural issues that prevent Democrats from driving attention to GOP weaknesses? Are progressive and mainstream media outlets covering Democratic infighting because that's where the conflict is? Or are their readers and viewers simply more interested in Democratic factionalism than in the partisan food fight? If Democrats took a page from the GOP and made a big stink about everything—Trump's physical deterioration, his humiliating defeat in Iran, his impeachable corruption—would media outlets cover it? Or is the media ecosystem really just rigged against them?Answers are available in full to paid subscribers—just upgrade your subscription and pipe full episodes directly to your favorite podcast app via your own private feed.Further reading:* David Seligman on Colorado Democrats' obligation to investigate Jared Polis.* Lauren Egan on why Trump's failing health isn't a media or opposition-party obsession, the way Biden's was. * Josh Barro: Impeach Todd Blanche.* Brian Beutler: Democrats shouldn't fall for the revisionist history of Trump's impeachments—it is wrong to say they backfired.

Shadow Politics with Senator Michael D. Brown and Co-host Liberty Jones The Moral Arc of America: Marianne Williamson on History, Democracy, Resistance, and the Soul of Politics Guest, Marianne Williamson Michael D. Brown and Liberty Jones Welcome Marianne Williamson In this episode of Shadow Politics, host Former D.C. Shadow Senator Michael D. Brown is joined by co-host Liberty Jones and special guest Marianne Williamson, whom Michael introduces as a former presidential candidate, bestselling author, and influential spiritual and political voice. The conversation begins with Michael praising Marianne's writing and asking about an article she wrote concerning the period leading into the Civil War. From there, the discussion becomes an examination of America's contradictions, the moral responsibilities of citizenship, the failures of party politics, and the question of how a new generation can meaningfully resist injustice and authoritarianism. America as Both Promise and Contradiction Marianne says the truth of American history cannot be understood by viewing the nation as either entirely noble or entirely corrupt. She points to the Declaration of Independence and its universal language of equality while noting that many of its signers were themselves slave owners. In her view, the United States has always contained both the forces of oppression and the forces struggling toward liberation: slaveholders and abolitionists, segregationists and civil rights workers, financial exploitation and labor organizing, the suppression of women and the suffrage movement. She argues that the arc of American history has repeatedly bent toward justice, but only because people in each generation chose to fight for it. Lincoln, the Civil War, and Moral Leadership Much of the opening discussion centers on Abraham Lincoln and the moral stakes of the Civil War. Marianne explains that Lincoln understood slavery as incompatible with the Declaration of Independence and its promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. She reflects on the human cost of the war and the political risk Lincoln faced when many Northern voters wanted peace rather than continued sacrifice. In her telling, Lincoln's refusal to accept a settlement that would allow slavery to endure demonstrated genuine moral leadership: he was willing to risk his political future because he believed the preservation of slavery was fundamentally wrong. Liberty connects this history to the present, observing that moral leadership requires the courage to confront injustice even when doing so threatens one's own power. Reading History and Reclaiming Moral Imagination Liberty asks whether the courage and injustice of earlier eras have been flattened or sanitized by modern media and politics. Marianne agrees that history has been distorted or erased in education and public conversation but urges people not to accept superficial accounts. Her answer is direct: read serious books, study the founders, Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, the suffrage movement, labor history, and the anti-war movement. She argues that the political left has lost much of its moral and spiritual imagination, contrasting the present with earlier movements shaped by religious leaders, nonviolent philosophy, and a clear moral vocabulary. Michael responds by suggesting that Shadow Politics begin recommending a book each week, while Marianne mentions her own books, Healing the Soul of America and Politics of Love, as resources exploring spirituality and politics. The Democratic Party, Superdelegates, and the Loss of Trust The conversation then turns to the Democratic Party and what the speakers describe as its internal failures. Marianne argues that political parties are not established by the Constitution and recalls warnings from George Washington and John Adams about party loyalty overpowering loyalty to country. She criticizes the Democratic National Committee's handling of the 2016 primary, saying the party undermined Bernie Sanders in favor of Hillary Clinton and later defended itself as a private organization not legally required to operate democratically. Michael, drawing from his experience at Democratic conventions and as a superdelegate, discusses the creation of the superdelegate system and recalls pressure to support Clinton once party leaders considered her nomination inevitable. Both say the party has become disconnected from open democratic contest and from a clear commitment to working people. Liberty Jones Asks What Resistance Looks Like Now Liberty responds emotionally to the discussion, asking how younger people can resist when political obstruction appears embedded in official institutions and when online manipulation makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from propaganda. Marianne says young people are confronting an extraordinarily difficult moment because they lack the lived memory of earlier periods when movements visibly changed society. She argues that resistance now must be broad, decentralized, and persistent: reading, speaking, posting, organizing, podcasting, building relationships, and refusing to become numb or disengaged. Using metaphors of guerrilla resistance and people keeping one another awake during a freezing emergency, Marianne says change cannot depend on one heroic leader, because movements centered on a few individuals can be silenced or destroyed. Instead, millions of people must continue telling the truth and strengthening one another. Spiritual Politics, Peace, and Refusing to Go to Sleep In the final portion, Marianne emphasizes that political action must be rooted in humility, receptivity, availability, and self-examination. She says people seeking justice must also confront hatred within themselves and reclaim a politics based on moral principle rather than party loyalty or personal advantage. Michael raises concern that national defense discussions focus on military confrontation without making peace a serious objective, and Marianne criticizes what she describes as a powerful military-industrial-technological system that profits from war. Liberty closes the discussion with an image from Greek mythology in which chaos gives birth to Gaia, suggesting that new creation may emerge from the present upheaval. Michael thanks Marianne and Liberty, before asking how listeners can find Marianne's books, and Marianne provides her Substack information and describes the upcoming book-club discussions. Michael closes the episode with music dedicated to his guest.

The Democratic National Committee’s 2024 election "autopsy" was just released. The report looks at what Democrats believe went wrong with losing that election. We broke down the key takeaways from the report and discussed what new strategies or changes the Democrats are looking at or should be looking at for the next election cycle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Republicans left for recess without passing President Trump's top immigration enforcement package after he pushed for funding for his White House ballroom and a controversial anti-weaponization fund, raising new questions about growing GOP pushback against the president.The Democratic National Committee has released its long-delayed 2024 election autopsy report, a nearly 200-page document filled with disclaimers that much of the data could not be verified and containing almost no serious discussion of the economy.President Trump hinted at military action against Cuba after the U.S. indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro, drawing direct comparisons to the events that preceded the capture of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro.Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Megan Pratz, Luis Clemens, Mohamad ElBardicy, and John Stolnis.It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.Our director is Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.And our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.(0:00) Introduction(01:59) GOP Pushback On Trump(05:47) DNC 2024 Election Autopsy Report(09:35) Trump's Interest In CubaSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Republicans had a filibuster-proof immigration bill that would allocate $70 billion to immigration enforcement and fully reopen the Department of Homeland Security. But then, Trump got involved. First, he wanted $1 billion for "security" for his beloved beautiful ballroom. Then, the Department of Justice announced that $1.776 billion slush fund for Trump's allies. After Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Senate Republicans to make the case for the slush fund on Thursday, everyone got so mad that Senate Majority Leader John Thune gave up on getting a vote together for the immigration bill and sent everyone home for the holiday. To unpack the reconciliation bill mess, we spoke to Pennsylvania Democratic Representative Brendan Boyle. He's the ranking member of the House Budget Committee.And in headlines, Iran is reportedly reviewing the U.S.'s latest peace proposal, the Trump administration eases restrictions on planet-warming "super pollutants" used in air conditioners and refrigerators, and the Democratic National Committee finally releases its autopsy of the 2024 election.Show Notes: Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

A meeting between Republican lawmakers and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche becomes heated. The Democratic National Committee releases a long-awaited “autopsy” on Kamala Harris' 2024 loss. And cybersecurity experts sound the alarm over Chinese-made humanoid robots.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

-- On the Show: -- Donald Trump's rallies revolve around emotional loyalty, repetition, grievance, and identity reinforcement rather than policy and ideology -- The Democratic National Committee finally releases its 2024 election autopsy, bowing to intense internal pressure for transparency -- Donald Trump tells reporters he might skip his son's wedding because of Iran and promotes the ballroom with bulletproof walls and a drone port -- A new Quinnipiac poll shows Donald Trump collapsing on economic approval as Americans blame him for rising prices -- Donald Trump receives praise and ceremonies from authoritarian leaders abroad but returns without meaningful diplomatic wins -- The United States increasingly projects military power and nationalist imagery while struggling internally with debt, instability, and rising costs -- Democratic leaders continue relying on cautious media strategies while Republicans adapt faster to aggressive, unscripted messaging -- The Friday Feedback segment -- On the Bonus Show: Graduation speakers across the country get booed over AI praise, and much more...

A leaked campaign "autopsy" from the Democratic National Committee says Kamala Harris lost in 2024 because the Biden White House didn't help her enough and she didn't run hard enough against Trump. But the report makes no mention of Biden's age or the Democratic divide on Israel. Plus, Tulsi Gabbard resigns from her post as President Trump's director of national intelligence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hillsdale College Radio General Manager and Radio Free Hillsdale Hour host Scot Bertram fills in for Jim Geraghty on Friday's 3 Martini Lunch. Join Scot and Greg as they break down major Justice Department fraud indictments in Minnesota, the Democrats' laughable 2024 election autopsy, public infighting among top Illinois Democrats over the Chicago Bears, and a big shake-up in the Michigan governor's race..First, they enthusiastically welcome the Justice Department announcing 15 indictments connected to $90 million fin alleged in Minnesota. And officials say they are just getting started. Scot and Greg hope this will lead to the uncovering of fraud in all states. They also react to a lengthy prison sentence handed down in a separate $250 million fraud case and explain why accountability in these cases is vitally important.Next, they get a kick out of the Democratic National Committee's weak "autopsy" on why Kamala Harris lost the 2024 election. While the report acknowledges a few legitimate problems, Scot and Greg highlight the far more damaging issues Democrats continue to ignore. Then, they enjoy the escalating feud between Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson after the Chicago Bears announced their new stadium would be outside the city limits and possibly outside the state. The truth is both of them deserve blame and since Democrats control Illinois, there's no way to pin this on Republicans.Finally, they react to former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ending his independent campaign for Michigan governor. Scot explains why Duggan's public reasoning doesn't add up and what may really be driving his exit from the race.Please visit our great sponsors:Better HelpMay is Mental Health Awareness Month- a reminder that whatever you're going through, you don'thave to go through it alone. Find support and have someone with you in therapy. Sign up and get10% off at https://betterhelp.com/3MLBrooklyn BeddingGet 30% off site wide at https://brooklynbedding.com and use Promo Code 3MLPocket HoseFor a limited time, get two free gifts—a 360° rotating pocket pivot and a thumb drive nozzle—whenyou buy the Pocket Hose Ballistic; just text MARTINI to 64000, message and data rates may apply.New episodes every weekday. 

5.21.2026 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: DNC Autopsy Released. Tennessee Execution Halted After IV Failure. Black Men Vote Gap Revealed A possibly innocent man was spared from execution in Tennessee after executioners struggled for over an hour to establish an intravenous line. Governor Bill Lee said the state would not attempt to execute Tony Carruthers again for at least a year, allowing his attorneys more time to prove his innocence. The Democratic National Committee has released the party's autopsy report on the 2024 election following significant pressure to do so. We will break down the report's findings with Ashley Etienne, the former Communications Director for Vice President Kamala Harris. Black Men Vote has published a new poll indicating an engagement gap among young Black men in key states ahead of the 2026 midterms. Roland spoke with South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn about his state's efforts to eliminate his congressional seat. In the race to fill Senator Mitch McConnell's seat, Congressman Andy Barr will face former State Representative Charles Booker. Booker will join us to discuss why he believes he is the best candidate to represent Kentucky. And in tonight's Shop Black Star Network segment, we'll feature a college project that is now bringing flavors from the South American country of Guyana directly into American kitchens. Black Star Network Partner: ChapterFor free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (724) 264-8281 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to https://askchapter.org/roland *Paid Partnership* Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.____Download the Black Star Network app at http://www.blackstarnetwork.com! We're on iOS, AppleTV, Android, AndroidTV, Roku, FireTV, XBox and SamsungTV. The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Howie Kurtz on Stephen Colbert hosting his last Late Show amid a bitter feud with the network, the Democratic National Committee triggering a self-inflicted wound by releasing its highly criticized 2024 campaign autopsy, and the dramatic Capitol Hill revolt as Senate Republicans push back against President Trump's controversial $1.8 billion IRS lawsuit fund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Democrats' supposed strength for the 2026 Midterm Elections not appearing in the polls, Seth questions whether this is a sign of a wave or a loss. The conversation delves into the Democratic Party's stance on various issues, including its relationship with Israel and its handling of the party's internal divisions. Seth also touches on the recent release of the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) autopsy report, which was met with criticism from the party's chairman. This report, intended to provide guidance on how to win elections, surprisingly omits key issues like Israel and transgender rights. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s speech in Spanish for Cuban Independence Day. We're joined by Johnny Estes, Vice President of Operations of CMI Gold & Silver. Internet personality Candace Owens interviewed former President Biden’s controversy-riddled son Hunter, questioning him about the assassination of Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss the release of the Democratic National Committee's “autopsy report” on the 2024 presidential election and the rush by Congressional Republicans to leave Washington without voting on key issues including additional funding for the White House ballroom and the Justice Department's “Anti-Weaponization Fund". Then, Ajit Pai, former FCC Chair and president and CEO of CTIA, the trade association that represents the wireless communications industry, joins the guys to discuss the FCC's role in regulating broadcast content, including late night programming. And, they take a look at artificial intelligence and technological competition with China. Next, they discuss Medicaid fraud in Minnesota and Vice President JD Vance's comments regarding a DOJ investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). And finally, the guys deliver their “You Cannot Be Serious” stories for the week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on the Scott Jennings Show, we're diving into the latest news on Capitol Hill, where the US Senate abruptly adjourned for its Memorial Day recess without passing a reconciliation bill needed to fund US immigration enforcement. The Senate was blown up over a proposed $1.8 billion fund to compensate people who were unfairly targeted by the federal government. The fund is a response to the government's weaponization against Donald Trump, but some Republicans have concerns about its implementation.The episode also covers the debate over daylight saving time, with President Trump backing a renewed push to make it permanent nationwide. Democrats have also been in the spotlight for abandoning a national women's museum project after adding language that defined the museum as showcasing only biological women. The conversation also touches on the importance of Memorial Day and the sacrifices made by soldiers who gave their lives for their country.The Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, joins the show to discuss the Trump administration's efforts to stabilize the farm economy and lower fertilizer prices. She explains how the administration is working to bring production of fertilizer back into the US through projects like the Blue Point Project, a $3.7 billion ammonia plan in Louisiana. The conversation also covers the beef industry and the impact of high fertilizer prices on farmers.The episode wraps up with a discussion on the latest news and analysis from the world of politics, including the resignation of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and the upcoming runoff election in Georgia. The conversation also touches on the Democratic National Committee's autopsy report and the latest developments in the world of politics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Branding vs. Education Clay Travis and Buck Sexton give an in‑depth critique of the American higher education system, with specific attention to grade inflation, standardized testing, and admissions fairness. The hosts highlight Harvard University’s decision to eliminate widespread grade inflation and reintroduce a bell curve grading model, noting that a large majority of students had been receiving A grades. They trace the historical roots of grade inflation back to the Vietnam War era, when professors were reluctant to assign low grades that could result in students being drafted, and argue that the COVID‑19 pandemic accelerated the trend by lowering academic expectations nationwide. The conversation expands into a broader analysis of elite universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, comparing traditional grading systems with pass‑fail models used in some law schools. While acknowledging arguments that elite students perform at a higher level, the hosts ultimately contend that grade inflation has eroded academic standards and made it harder to distinguish top performers. This leads into a discussion of the rise and fall of test‑optional admissions policies, which surged during 2020 but were later reversed after colleges found that standardized testing remained one of the most reliable ways to evaluate student readiness. Get Smarter Listening to This Ryan Girdusky joins the show to dissect the Democratic National Committee’s “autopsy” of the 2024 election loss, which returned Donald Trump to the presidency. The hosts highlight dramatic long-term political realignment trends, noting how Democrats have lost significant ground since 2009 across the Senate, House, governorships, and state legislatures, with Republicans gaining dominance in key regions. Girdusky argues the DNC report fails to address critical issues—especially Joe Biden’s age and Kamala Harris’s campaign weaknesses—while crediting effective Trump campaign messaging for reshaping voter perceptions. The discussion underscores how Republican gains, particularly in the South, reflect a broader collapse of historic Democratic strongholds and the lingering impact of the Obama era on local politics. MN Fraud Isn't a One-Off Clay and Buck discuss the breaking news of a major Minnesota fraud case, where the mastermind behind the “Feeding Our Future” scheme is sentenced to more than 41 years in prison for orchestrating a $250 million COVID relief fraud, funds originally intended to feed children. Clay and Buck highlight this case as a symbol of broader systemic government waste, fraud, and abuse, arguing that such large-scale theft underscores failures in federal oversight and accountability. The conversation expands into a critique of government spending and fiscal policy, with the hosts asserting that fraud like this is not an isolated incident but part of a larger trend of mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. They argue that calls from Democrats to raise taxes—particularly on high earners—ignore the core issue of inefficient spending, contending that Americans are already overpaying into a system riddled with waste. This naturally leads into a broader economic debate, including criticism of progressive figures such as Zohran Mamdani and commentary on Jeff Bezos’ public remarks about taxation and public spending, which the hosts use to argue that increasing tax revenue does not necessarily lead to better outcomes in public services like education. After the Sports High... Clay chats with Steve Eubanks, sports journalist and author of “Godball” - the first book to seriously examine the modern surge of public Christian faith in American sports. Steve interviewed high-profile Christian athletes including Scottie Scheffler, Riley Gaines, Kirk Cousins, Jonathan Isaac, Dabo Swinney, and others, allowing them to share—in their own words—the role faith plays in their careers and lives. Steve explores the pivotal moment one Supreme Court case made and offers rare insight from athletes and coaches into this growing revival of faith in sports. Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8 For the latest updates from Clay and Buck: https://www.clayandbuck.com/ Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Social Media: X - https://x.com/clayandbuck FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Democratic National Committee released a long-awaited, yet still incomplete, report into what went wrong during the 2024 presidential election. The report had initially been shelved, but after months of consternation and criticism, DNC Chair Ken Martin said he released it in the name of transparency. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Democratic strategist Faiz Shakir. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

An Ebola outbreak in East Africa prompted travel restrictions and new directives for US-bound flights from the affected region. CNN spoke with Jan. 6 rioters and election deniers who could receive compensation from a new slush fund. Texas Democrats are ramping up efforts to block a candidate who made antisemitic comments ahead of next week's runoff election. CNN obtained the Democratic National Committee's long-awaited report examining 2024 election losses. Plus, we tell you why a radio station in the UK is apologizing to Britain's King Charles III and its listeners.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Senate Republicans cancel floor debate and votes on a $70 billion immigration agencies package known as the Budget Reconciliation bill because of concerns among Republicans about who would qualify to receive compensation under President Trump's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund; President announces a rollback of environmental regulations on greenhouse gas releasing refrigerants, he says, to lower grocery costs by reducing costs on supermarkets & transportation companies; Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is asked about President Trump endorsing his primary opponent Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R); Democratic National Committee releasing a report on why the party lost the 2024 presidential election, along with a disclaimer that the DNC 'cannot independently verify the claims presented.' We will talk about it with Dan Merica, co-anchor of the Washington Post Early Brief (16); House Republican leaders delay a vote on an Iran War Powers Act resolution offered by Democrats to force the President to end the war; House defeats a National Women's History Museum bill. Many Democrats opposed it because the bill specifically excludes transgender women from being represented in the exhibits; Justice Department announces Medicaid fraud indictments in Minnesota; actor Noah Wyle rallies on Capitol Hill on behalf of health care workers; National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration are predicting a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Democratic National Committee has released a sweeping after-action report examining the party's losses in the 2024 election cycle. The document points to campaign strategy failures, demographic shifts and organizational shortcomings while raising broader questions about the party's future direction. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on Hashtag History, we will be discussing the Watergate Scandal. This was an absolutely explosive political scandal that – sadly, pales in comparison to modern-day political scandals – but was truly monumental at the time, and continues to be to this day. That is because this was a political scandal that went all the way up to the top, proving that the President of the United States, Richard Nixon, had people on his team breaking into their opponent's office – the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington DC, called the Watergate complex – in order to plant listening devices so that they could overhear their political strategies.It was all exposed by investigative journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post. But even still, Nixon was able to skirt responsibility for a period of time, even winning re-election in 1972. That was before the Senate investigation into Watergate took place, however, which exposed that Nixon was not only involved in the scandal from the onset but that he had also destroyed evidence and fired people that may have implicated him otherwise. Given this unlawful conduct and abuse of presidential power, talks of impeachment began. But before that could happen, Nixon became the first and only president in American history to resign He was succeeded by his Vice President, Gerald Ford, who ultimately – in an extremely controversial move – ended up pardoning Nixon for his actions.Watergate had significant consequences, leading to 69 people — including two cabinet members – charged with crimes associated with the scandal, it led to massive losses for the Republican party in future elections, and – perhaps one of the greatest legacies in terms of cultural memory and vernacular – it was the scandal that led to us adding “-gate” as a suffix to other scandals throughout history. Follow Hashtag History on Instagram @hashtaghistory_podcast for all of the pictures mentioned in this episode.Citations for all sources can be located on our website at www.HashtagHistory-Pod.com. You can also check out our website for super cute merch!You can now sponsor a cocktail and get a shout-out on air! Just head to www.buymeacoffee.com/hashtaghistory or head to the Support tab on our website!You can locate us on www.Patreon.com/hashtaghistory where you can donate $1 a month to our Books and Booze Supply. All of your support goes a long ways and we are endlessly grateful! To show our gratitude, all Patreon Supporters receive an automatic 15% OFF all merchandise in our merchandise store, a shoutout on social media, and stickers!THANKS FOR LISTENING!- Rachel and LeahEditor: Alex PerezCopyright: The Hashtag History Podcast

The Democratic National Committee comes to town today, Anderson Cooper signs off from CBS's 60 Minutes, gas might be hard to come by in Methuen for dirt bike riders. Stay in "The Loop" with WBZ NewsRadio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Point news analyst Jack Beatty has questions about how money is being raised for the  Democratic National Committee and Democratic candidates and how that money is being spent. *** Thank you for listening. Help power On Point by making a donation here: wbur.org/giveonpoint

(00:00:00) DNC 2024 Autopsy (00:05:44) Jet Fuel Prices Impact on Economy (00:12:10) Hantavirus Cruise (00:19:02) Remembering Ted Turner Craig Collins is in for Greg Corombus today, and Craig and Jim wonder why the Democratic National Committee still refuses to release its heavily-researched "autopsy" of the 2024 election and what it means that Kamala Harris is now saying the DNC should release it.Then they lament the higher price of jet fuel, the warnings from the airline industry to the Trump administration about the economic fallout from the war against Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the forecast that higher air travel costs will last until autumn.In the crazy martini, Jim and Craig note the captain of that cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak initially told passengers that there was nothing contagious on the ship. And finally, they say farewell to Ted Turner, a unique figure on the modern media landscape.Please visit our great sponsors:For a limited time, get two free gifts—a 360° rotating pocket pivot and a thumb drive nozzle—when you buy the Pocket Hose Ballistic; just text MARTINI to 64000, message and data rates may apply.Better plants, better growing, and an extra 20% off with code MARTINI at https://FastGrowingTrees.com/Martini for a limited time; terms and conditions may apply.Schedule a free gold strategy session with Noble Gold. Visit https://NobleGoldInvestments.com/3ML to learn how to build lasting financial security.Stop putting off those doctors' appointments and visit https://Zocdoc.com/3ML to find and instantly book a top rated doctor today.If you're looking for the missing piece-Calotren is it. Visit https://toploss.com and use code MARTINI for Free Shipping New episodes every weekday. 

On April 29, 2026, in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court invalidated a Louisiana congressional map, holding that racial considerations cannot predominate in the drawing of electoral districts. The ruling narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by requiring plaintiffs to show intentional discrimination, not just discriminatory effects. In this episode, we explore the Court's 6-3 decision and what it means for the future of the Voting Rights Act with two leading election law scholars: Edward Foley of The Ohio State University and Michael Morley of Florida State University College of Law. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates.    Resources  Edward Foley, “The Supreme Court's indefensible evisceration of the Voting Rights Act,” SCOTUSblog, May 5, 2026  Michael Morley, “Voting Rights Case Sets Stage for 2050's Multiracial Democracy,” Bloomberg Law, May 6, 2026  Louisiana v. Callais (2026)  Allen v. Milligan (2023)   Robinson v. Ardoin (2022)  Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021)  Shelby County v. Holder (2013)  Thornburg v. Gingles (1986)  Voting Rights Act (1965)  National Constitution Center, “The Supreme Court's Callais decision sets new framework for racial gerrymandering” (April 30, 2026)  National Constitution Center, Voting Rights Classroom Resources  National Constitution Center, Elections and Voting in the Constitution (Constitution 101 Curriculum) Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support our important work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate

Craig Collins is in for Greg Corombus today, and Craig and Jim wonder why the Democratic National Committee still refuses to release its heavily researched “autopsy” of the 2024 election and what it means that Kamala Harris is now saying the DNC should release it. Then they lament the higher price of jet fuel, the […]

This Day in Legal History: Richard Nixon DiesOn April 22, 1994, Richard Nixon died at the age of 81, marking the end of a presidency that left a lasting imprint on American legal history. Nixon's legacy is inseparable from the Watergate scandal, a constitutional crisis that tested the limits of presidential power. The scandal began with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and expanded into a wide-ranging investigation of abuse of executive authority. As evidence mounted, legal battles emerged over whether a sitting president could withhold information under claims of executive privilege.The issue came to a head in the landmark Supreme Court case United States v. Nixon, where the Court unanimously ruled that the president must comply with a subpoena to release tape recordings. This decision significantly narrowed the scope of executive privilege, establishing that it is not absolute and cannot be used to obstruct justice. The ruling reinforced the principle that even the president is subject to the rule of law. Facing near-certain impeachment, Nixon resigned in August 1974, becoming the first U.S. president to do so.His resignation demonstrated the strength of constitutional checks and balances, particularly Congress's oversight authority and the judiciary's role in resolving disputes over executive power. In the years that followed, Watergate prompted reforms such as the War Powers Resolution and amendments to campaign finance laws. Legal scholars continue to cite the episode as a defining moment in the development of accountability for high-ranking officials. Nixon's death in 1994 closed a chapter, but the legal principles shaped during Watergate remain central to debates over presidential authority.West Virginia reached an $11 million settlement with Roblox to address concerns about child safety on the platform. The agreement follows a nine-month investigation led by Attorney General JB McCuskey, which found that existing safeguards exposed children to explicit content and potential predators. As part of the deal, Roblox must implement mandatory age verification before users can access chat features, aiming to reduce anonymous misuse. The platform will also restrict adults from contacting users under 16 unless they are verified trusted connections. Additional protections include default safe-content settings for minors and alerts when young users enter private chats for the first time.The settlement allocates funds over several years, including money for public safety campaigns, internet safety specialists, and educational workshops. Roblox stated that the agreement aligns with its broader goal of improving digital safety and collaborating with regulators. This deal comes amid similar actions by other states, including a recent agreement in Nevada with comparable age verification measures. Multiple lawsuits across the country accuse Roblox of failing to prevent adults from exploiting minors on the platform. Many of these cases have been consolidated in federal court in California, where plaintiffs allege harm resulting from online grooming.W.Va. Strikes $11.5M Deal With Roblox Over Kid Safety - Law360A divided U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that Texas can require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, overturning a lower court order that had blocked the law. The decision upheld Texas Senate Bill 10, finding that the requirement does not violate the Constitution's protections against government establishment of religion or its guarantees of religious freedom. The majority reasoned that the law does not force anyone to adopt religious beliefs or interfere with how individuals practice their faith.The challenge was brought by families from various religious and nonreligious backgrounds, who argued that the mandate infringes on their right to control their children's religious upbringing. Their attorney indicated plans to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praised the decision, calling it a victory for the state and emphasizing the historical influence of the Ten Commandments.The ruling was not unanimous, with a strong dissent arguing that the court ignored binding Supreme Court precedent. The dissent pointed to a 1980 Supreme Court decision that struck down a similar Kentucky law, suggesting the Texas measure should also be unconstitutional. By reversing the earlier injunction, the appeals court cleared the way for the law to take effect while further appeals are expected.Texas can require Ten Commandments in classrooms, US appeals court rules | ReutersLabor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer stepped down from her role in U.S. Department of Labor amid controversy tied to an internal watchdog investigation into alleged misconduct. The probe reportedly examined claims of an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, along with other workplace concerns, though some allegations were publicly disputed. Her departure follows weeks of media coverage and discussion during a congressional oversight hearing.The White House announced that Chavez-DeRemer will move to a private-sector position, while Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling will serve as acting head of the agency. In public statements, Chavez-DeRemer highlighted her efforts to support workers, expand job training, and address economic issues during her tenure, while administration officials praised her leadership.The situation also involved broader personnel disruptions, including reports that several aides were placed on leave or left their positions. Additional complaints and allegations—some denied or unproven—contributed to scrutiny surrounding her leadership. Her husband was also investigated over separate allegations, though no charges were filed.Chavez-DeRemer's exit adds to other recent Cabinet-level departures during Donald Trump's administration. Lawmakers, including Representative Rosa DeLauro, criticized the situation as a leadership failure and called for a replacement focused on the department's mission. Observers noted that Sonderling could be a leading candidate for the permanent role, though no official nomination has been announced.Trump's Labor Secretary Steps Down - Law360A federal appeals court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, ruled that a nearly 160-year-old ban on home distilling is constitutional, deepening a disagreement with another appellate court. The court said the prohibition is a valid way for Congress to ensure collection of excise taxes on distilled spirits, reasoning that allowing home production could lead to widespread tax evasion. The case was brought by John Ream, who wanted to distill whiskey at home for personal use.The ruling comes shortly after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reached the opposite conclusion, finding the same law unnecessary and unconstitutional. This disagreement between appellate courts—known as a circuit split—raises the likelihood that the U.S. Supreme Court will step in to resolve the issue. Ream's legal team has already indicated plans to appeal.The law at issue dates back to 1868, when Congress enacted it during Reconstruction to combat liquor tax evasion. Violations can carry significant penalties, including prison time and fines. In upholding the ban, the majority opinion emphasized Congress's longstanding rationale that prohibiting home distilling encourages consumers to buy taxed alcohol instead. A dissenting judge, however, argued the case should not proceed because Ream failed to show he faced a real risk of prosecution.US appeals court calls 158-year-old home distilling ban constitutional, creates split | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss the latest news on The Iran War, including the seizure of an Iranian flagged freighter by the U.S. Navy and the prospects for a second round of peace talks. Then, Fox News contributor Mary Katherine Hamm joins the guys to discuss “MAHA moms” and what the GOP can do to appeal to them in the midterms. Also, Maine Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner is accused of making a Nazi salute at a political rally, drawing comparisons to coverage of Elon Musk. Then finally, they discuss a new article in the Atlantic alleging FBI Director Kash Patel is an excessive drinker, and that current and former government officials worry that his behavior constitutes a national security risk. Patel denies the story and has threatened to sue the magazine for libel. Plus, they chat about the Democratic National Committee which has narrowed the list of potential hosts for their 2028 convention to five cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, and Philadelphia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join Jim and Greg for the Friday 3 Martini Lunch as they react to Vice President Vance clarifying the terms of the negotiations with Iran, congressional Republicans likely allowing Medicaid dollars to fund abortions as the number of abortions hit record highs, and Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer more and more open to supporting the candidate who had the Nazi tattoo.First, they react to Vice President JD Vance clarifying the terms of negotiations with Iran, explaining that Donald Trump agreed to a different 10-point framework proposed by Iranian officials, not the widely circulated list of extreme demands seen in media and social media. So what's in the other plan?Next, they express deep concern over Planned Parenthood reporting a record 434,450 abortions in Fiscal Year 2024–2025. They're also frustrated by reports that House Speaker Mike Johnson does not plan to include a ban on Medicaid funding for abortions in the upcoming reconciliation bill.Then, they watch the dysfunction on the Democrats' side of the aisle as Sen. Schumer says he will fully support far left Maine U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner if Platner defeats Schumer's preferred candidate, Gov. Janet Mills, in the primary. Platner is the one who had a Totenkopf tattoo until very recently. Jim also notes the financial woes still afflicting the Democratic National Committee.Finally, parents in Fairfax County, Virginia, are getting frustrated that a majority of weeks during the school year do not have five full days of instruction. Fairfax County parent Jim Geraghty weighs in on the controversy.Please visit our great sponsors:Stop putting off those doctors' appointments and visit https://Zocdoc.com/3ML to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.Better plants, better growing, and an extra 20% off with code MARTINI at https://FastGrowingtrees.com/Martini for a limited time; terms and conditions may apply.New episodes every weekday. 

Peter Berkowitz of the Hoover Institution joins Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon to discuss the ceasefire in Iran, the next steps in negotiations between Tehran and Washington and whether this is a “strategic pause” or the beginning of the end of the war. Then, they talk about the Democratic National Committee's meeting in New Orleans and The Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network's convention in New York City, both of which begin today. And finally, they discuss a new proposal from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) to place a moratorium on the construction of new data centers, and the effects of “Islamification” in Britain and what it may portend for America. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In 1972, a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters inside the Watergate complex sparked one of the biggest political scandals in American history—the Watergate scandal. The official story says Richard Nixon and his administration orchestrated the burglary and then tried to cover it up, ultimately forcing him to resign.But what if the story is more complicated?In this episode, we go beyond the break-in to explore the deeper events surrounding Watergate, including the secret bombing campaign Operation Menu, the leak of the Pentagon Papers, and the covert activities of the White House “Plumbers.” We also examine the role of journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, their source Mark Felt, and the surprising intelligence connections surrounding the burglars themselves.Was Watergate simply a botched political espionage operation—or part of a larger power struggle inside Washington?Follow me down the rabbit hole.www.stayskeptical.comWise Wolf Gold: https://www.wolfpack.gold/?ref=jvujkwgsSources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jcwvgWpPz8GqLxNwpeJM7AHqBJL2O3JWVdE8ggKK7_8/edit?usp=sharing

What happens when one of Silicon Valley's most accomplished engineers decides the system he helped build is broken—and walks away to fix it? Today my guest is Raffi Krikorian, CTO of Mozilla and one of the most civic-minded technologists I know. We explore why the fight for open-source AI isn't just a technical debate; it is really a fight for who controls our relationship with knowledge itself. Raffi's career path is uniquely fascinating. He spent his early years scaling massive engineering teams at Twitter and launching Uber's first self-driving fleet. But then he did something rare. He pivoted to public service, becoming the first-ever CTO of the Democratic National Committee to rebuild their cybersecurity from the ground up. He then went on to drive social-impact technology at Emerson Collective, applying his engineering mind to systemic issues like immigration and climate change. At Mozilla, he is now on the frontlines of the AI revolution. We talk about what it means to be "technically optimistic" right now—which also happens to be the name of his excellent podcast. For Raffi, optimism isn't about blind faith in algorithms. It's about demanding that our tools are trustworthy, transparent, and built to serve humanity, rather than exploiting it. In our conversation, we explore:  → The Twitter crash that taught him his job was not to be the architect, but to create the conditions for others to do their best work  → Why he left Uber's self-driving program after discovering their models misclassified people based on skin color  → How a week of Google Sheets transformed an asylum-seeker nonprofit more than any AI chatbot could  → His conviction that we need seven billion AGIs—one for each of us—not seven controlled by massive corporations  → Why patience, not speed, is the leadership skill that actually builds movements "We have outsourced dreaming to a few people who are building companies and we all need to dream again." — Raffi Krikorian, CTO, Mozilla If you have ever wondered whether the technology on your phone is truly working for you—or for someone else—this conversation will completely change how you think about what comes next. 

In case you haven't noticed, the American economy isn't doing so well right now. Oil prices have been on an absolute rollercoaster since the Iran war began — but that's not all. On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. lost nearly 100,000 jobs in February, pushing the unemployment rate up to 4.4 percent. So what exactly is going wrong with the economy, besides… everything? And what can we learn from past economic crises to hopefully avoid another one? To find out, we spoke to Rogé Karma. He's a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the economy-focused newsletter, Work in Progress.And in headlines, Jane speaks to Crooked's Washington Correspondent Matt Berg about a report that at least 20 countries are now militarily involved in the Iran war, the Democratic National Committee suing the Trump administration, and how flying cars are actually, maybe, really happening.Show Notes: Check out Rogé's piece – https://tinyurl.com/3p3amzx9 Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

The Democratic National Committee has filed a new suit to force the Trump Administration to admit whether they plan to use armed forces, the military, federal agents, ICE, and Border Patrol agents, to scare people at polling places before the midterms. Popok reports on what will happen next and the federal criminal law that is involved. IQBAR: Text LEGALAF to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply. 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 The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 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

In 2011, CrowdStrike launched with an innovative vision: using cloud-based software to provide cybersecurity. They attracted big clients, including Fortune 500 companies and critical government agencies. And along the way, they investigated notorious hacks, like the North Korean breach of Sony Pictures, and the 2016 hack of the Democratic National Committee. But in 2024, they faced their biggest test of all, when a bug in their own software created the largest I.T outage in world history. Be the first to know about Wondery's newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterListen to Business Wars on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/business-wars/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.