Podcasts about DOD

Aurelius Systems is tackling one of defense's most critical challenges: cost-effective counter-drone warfare. The company builds lightweight, edge-deployed laser weapon systems with 10-million-x marginal cost advantages over traditional interceptors—shooting down drones for approximately 10 cents versus $2 million per Sea Sparrow missile. With systems priced in hundreds of thousands rather than tens of millions of dollars, Aurelius is proving that commercial manufacturing principles can revolutionize defense technology. In this episode of BUILDERS, I sat down with Michael LaFramboise, CEO and Co-Founder of Aurelius Systems, to unpack how his background spanning automotive manufacturing at Chrysler, R&D at Coherent (the largest U.S. laser manufacturer), and defense sales positioned him to build what he calls "the F150 of directed energy systems." Topics Discussed: Why Michael's unusual combination of heavy industrial manufacturing, high-power laser R&D, and directed energy sales made him one of "probably like five people under 70 in the country" positioned to build this company Aurelius's contrarian R&D thesis: build everything from commercial off-the-shelf components first, only upgrading to bespoke when field tests fail The tactical fundraising progression: first prototype to pre-seed, DIU grant in February 2025, Singapore Defense Force joint challenge, Army X-Tech competition wins Government relations as infrastructure: why Aurelius retained a lobbyist six months post-pre-seed and how Congressional support addresses 1-3 year sales cycles Navigating the DOD acquisitions reorg: 100+ technology acceleration organizations consolidating to 10-20 under new PAE structure, with goals of 90-day turnarounds replacing multi-year cycles The demonstration strategy that changed everything: earning signed memorandums from high-ranking officers after shooting down drones in Hawaii and Austin under adversarial conditions (heavy rain, 99% humidity, heat warping, night operations) Founder-led marketing ROI: why acquisitions officers, funders, and engineering talent all follow different channels (LinkedIn vs. X) and require different voices The three-stakeholder sales complexity: when your end user (warfighter), purchaser (acquisitions), and budget authorizer (Congress) are separate entities who don't communicate GTM Lessons For B2B Founders: Follow proven playbooks in specialized markets, then execute obsessively: Michael explicitly followed Anduril's early-stage defense playbook, particularly around government relations: "I think it's like following the Anduril playbook for how you do an early stage defense company is probably a very appropriate thing to do." In highly specialized B2B markets (defense, healthcare, financial services), pattern-match to companies that have successfully navigated regulatory and procurement complexity rather than inventing process from scratch. The differentiation comes from execution and technology, not from reinventing go-to-market structure. Treat specialized expertise as infrastructure, not overhead: Aurelius hired a lobbyist six months after their pre-seed—before significant revenue—because defense sales involve three disconnected stakeholders. Michael explained: "your purchaser, your end user, and your authorizer for funds are all separate people that don't know each other... whenever you have these different points, it doesn't expand linearly the difficulty or the complexity of the sales cycle. It expands exponentially." B2B founders should map stakeholder complexity early and staff accordingly. If your buyer doesn't control budget, your user doesn't make purchase decisions, or your champion needs internal air cover, these aren't edge cases—they're your sales model. Demonstration beats documentation when overcoming category skepticism: After decades of directed energy failures, Aurelius spent 2024 conducting nationwide field demonstrations, culminating in adversarial drone shoot-downs in heavy rain, 99% humidity, and night conditions. Michael noted they needed to "clean up the mess that a lot of these other companies have created" with signed memorandums from high-ranking officers. When your category has a failure history, customer education isn't about better pitch decks—it's about systematic proof that eliminates objections through witnessed performance. Plan for demonstration costs and timeline in your first-year budget. Build your R&D thesis around manufacturing reality, not engineering perfection: Aurelius's core principle: build everything from commercial off-the-shelf components, upgrading only when field tests fail. Michael's insight from automotive and laser manufacturing: "you can get 80-90% physics perfection on a system for 2% of the cost" versus traditional directed energy's approach of "400 ARL and AFRL PhDs all coming together to make the most super bespoke, hyper perfect thing ever." They use material processing lasers (identical output at 1/10th the cost of directed energy lasers) and commercial components from automotive supply chains. B2B founders should define their "good enough" threshold explicitly and build cost structure around it—perfection is often the enemy of scalability and margin. Attack market dislocations where wrong-fit solutions reveal unmet needs: Aurelius doesn't compete with Sea Sparrow missiles for shooting down aircraft at 9 miles—they target the dislocation where $2M missiles designed for large ordinance are being misused against $500 drones with 30% effectiveness. Michael identified that "there isn't anything in the market that's been developed for counter drone at any significant distance." The opportunity isn't better missiles; it's purpose-built solutions for Group 1 and Group 2 drones (FPV quadcopters and small planes) where no appropriate system exists. Map where customers are forced to use expensive, inappropriate solutions—that's where new categories emerge. //  Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co // Don't Miss: New Podcast Series — How I Hire Senior GTM leaders share the tactical hiring frameworks they use to build winning revenue teams. Hosted by Andy Mowat, who scaled 4 unicorns from $10M to $100M+ ARR and launched Whispered to help executives find their next role.  Subscribe here: https://open.spotify.com/show/53yCHlPfLSMFimtv0riPyM

In 1983, Stanislav Petrov, a Soviet lieutenant colonel, sat in a bunker watching a red screen flash “MISSILE LAUNCH.” Protocol demanded he report it to superiors, which would very likely trigger a retaliatory nuclear strike. Petrov didn't. He reasoned that if the US were actually attacking, they wouldn't fire just 5 missiles — they'd empty the silos. He bet the fate of the world on a hunch that his machine was broken. He was right.Paul Scharre, the former Army Ranger who led the Pentagon team that wrote the US military's first policy on autonomous weapons, has a question: What would an AI have done in Petrov's shoes? Would an AI system have been flexible and wise enough to make the same judgement? Or would it immediately launch a counterattack?Paul joins host Luisa Rodriguez to explain why we are hurtling toward a “battlefield singularity” — a tipping point where AI increasingly replaces humans in much of the military, changing the way war is fought with speed and complexity that outpaces humans' ability to keep up.Links to learn more, video, and full transcript: https://80k.info/psMilitaries don't necessarily want to take humans out of the loop. But Paul argues that the competitive pressure of warfare creates a “use it or lose it” dynamic. As former Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work put it: “If our competitors go to Terminators, and their decisions are bad, but they're faster, how would we respond?”Once that line is crossed, Paul warns we might enter an era of “flash wars” — conflicts that spiral out of control as quickly and inexplicably as a flash crash in the stock market, with no way for humans to call a timeout.In this episode, Paul and Luisa dissect what this future looks like:Swarming warfare: Why the future isn't just better drones, but thousands of cheap, autonomous agents coordinating like a hive mind to overwhelm defences.The Gatling gun cautionary tale: The inventor of the Gatling gun thought automating fire would reduce the number of soldiers needed, saving lives. Instead, it made war significantly deadlier. Paul argues AI automation could do the same, increasing lethality rather than creating “bloodless” robot wars.The cyber frontier: While robots have physical limits, Paul argues cyberwarfare is already at the point where AI can act faster than human defenders, leading to intelligent malware that evolves and adapts like a biological virus.The US-China “adoption race”: Paul rejects the idea that the US and China are in a spending arms race (AI is barely 1% of the DoD budget). Instead, it's a race of organisational adoption — one where the US has massive advantages in talent and chips, but struggles with bureaucratic inertia that might not be a problem for an autocratic country.Paul also shares a personal story from his time as a sniper in Afghanistan — watching a potential target through his scope — that fundamentally shaped his view on why human judgement, with all its flaws, is the only thing keeping war from losing its humanity entirely.This episode was recorded on October 23-24, 2025.Chapters:Cold open (00:00:00)Who's Paul Scharre? (00:00:46)How will AI and automation transform the nature of war? (00:01:17)Why would militaries take humans out of the loop? (00:12:22)AI in nuclear command, control, and communications (00:18:50)Nuclear stability and deterrence (00:36:10)What to expect over the next few decades (00:46:21)Financial and human costs of future “hyperwar” scenarios (00:50:42)AI warfare and the balance of power (01:06:37)Barriers to getting to automated war (01:11:08)Failure modes of autonomous weapons systems (01:16:28)Could autonomous weapons systems actually make us safer? (01:29:36)Is Paul overall optimistic or pessimistic about increasing automation in the military? (01:35:23)Paul's takes on AGI's transformative potential and whether natsec people buy it (01:37:42)Cyberwarfare (01:46:55)US-China balance of power and surveillance with AI (02:02:49)Policy and governance that could make us safer (02:29:11)How Paul's experience in the Army informed his feelings on military automation (02:41:09)Video and audio editing: Dominic Armstrong, Milo McGuire, Luke Monsour, and Simon MonsourMusic: CORBITCoordination, transcripts, and web: Katy Moore

Episode Summary    Join us for a compelling conversation with Dr. Alexander Villahermosa, a neurosurgery resident at UT Health San Antonio and former 18 Delta Special Forces Medical Sergeant. Motivated by the events of 9/11, he enlisted with an 18 X-ray contract, embarking on a remarkable journey that took him from the battlefield to the operating room. Dr. Villahermosa shares stories from his deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other austere environments, highlighting how mentorship from military physicians in Balad inspired him to pursue a medical degree.    Dr. Villahermosa provides a candid look at the Enlisted to Medical Degree Program (EMDP2), detailing his experience as part of its second class. He discusses the academic challenges of transitioning from an operational tempo to learning calculus and hard sciences, and how the program's cohort-based support system prepares active-duty soldiers for the rigors of medical school at the Uniformed Services University.   The discussion moves to the intense reality of surgical residency, where days often start at 4:00 AM and involve complex perioperative care. Dr. Villahermosa highlights the unique perspective military training brings to civilian medicine, specifically the ability to operate without advanced navigation technology—a skill emphasized by military mentors who understand downrange limitations. He also shares insights on "expectation management" regarding physical fitness while maintaining a grueling training schedule.   Finally, Dr. Villahermosa reflects on leadership lessons learned while rising from the rank of Master Sergeant to Captain, emphasizing that mentorship and staying humble are keys to success. He concludes with a crucial medical takeaway for combat medics: the best brain care starts with the basics of airway, respiration, and circulation as outlined in TCCC guidelines.     Chapters (00:00-06:00) From Enlistment to Special Forces Medic (06:00-19:30) The Path to Medical School and EMDP2 (19:30-28:30) Choosing Neurosurgery and Residency Reality (28:30-33:00) Military vs. Civilian Surgical Training (33:00-39:40) Leadership, Advice, and TBI Care   Chapter Summaries (00:00-06:00) From Enlistment to Special Forces Medic Dr. Villahermosa describes enlisting after 9/11 with the initial intent of joining the infantry, only to switch to an 18X contract to avoid a long wait for basic training. He recounts his deployments to Iraq and how mentorship from a group surgeon and an anesthesiologist in Balad first sparked his interest in becoming a physician. (06:00-19:30) The Path to Medical School and EMDP2 This section covers the process of completing undergraduate prerequisites through the Enlisted to Medical Degree Program (EMDP2), including the challenges of mastering mathematics and hard sciences. Dr. Villahermosa explains how the program's cohort system and partnership with the Uniformed Services University provided the structure and support necessary for success. (19:30-28:30) Choosing Neurosurgery and Residency Reality Initially uninterested in surgery, Dr. Villahermosa describes falling in love with the specialty during a third-year clerkship after being fascinated by spine and trauma cases. He details the daily grind of residency, which involves early mornings, long hours, and the need to seize small windows of time for physical fitness and self-care. (28:30-33:00) Military vs. Civilian Surgical Training The discussion focuses on the specific mindset instilled by military neurosurgeons, such as the ability to perform spine surgery using anatomic landmarks rather than relying solely on advanced navigation systems. This training ensures readiness for deployed environments where high-tech equipment may not be available or functional. (33:00-39:40) Leadership, Advice, and TBI Care Dr. Villahermosa reflects on the importance of humility and teamwork, noting that, regardless of rank or experience, there is always something to learn from others. He concludes by emphasizing that the best initial care for traumatic brain injury is adherence to TCCC protocols, specifically preventing hypotension and hypoxia.   Take Home Messages The Power of Mentorship: Career paths are often significantly altered by leaders who take the time to invest in their subordinates and encourage them to pursue higher goals. Dr. Villahermosa's journey to medical school began specifically because a group surgeon and an anesthesiologist took him under their wing during a combat deployment. Leaders should actively identify and encourage potential in those they lead, as this support can fundamentally change the trajectory of a service member's life. Back to Basics for Brain Injury: The most effective initial treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) lies in the fundamental principles of Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC). Preventing secondary brain injury caused by hypotension and hypoxia is critical, meaning that controlling hemorrhage and managing the airway are the best ways to protect the brain in the pre-hospital setting. Providers should trust these protocols rather than feeling helpless without advanced neurosurgical capabilities, as stabilizing the patient's physiology is the first step in saving the brain. Operating in Austere Environments: While modern civilian neurosurgery often relies on advanced navigation technology and robotics, military surgeons must maintain the skill to operate using anatomic landmarks. Dr. Villahermosa highlights that downrange environments may lack functional high-tech equipment, making it essential to master manual techniques for spine and brain procedures. This training approach ensures that military surgeons remain adaptable and can deliver life-saving care regardless of the resources available in the field. Resilience Through Expectation Management: Surviving a demanding residency program or rigorous military training requires adjusting one's expectations regarding fitness and rest. Rather than waiting for large blocks of free time that may never come, trainees must learn to seize small, available moments for self-care, whether that is a short fifteen-minute run or catching up on sleep. Taking advantage of these brief breaks when they present themselves is crucial for maintaining long-term physical and mental performance when the schedule is unpredictable. Humility and Teamwork in Leadership: Success in high-stakes environments like the military and medicine demands humility and the recognition that no single person knows everything. Dr. Villahermosa emphasizes that rank and experience do not preclude the need to learn from others, including the newest members of the team who may bring fresh perspectives. Acknowledging one's role within the larger mission fosters a collaborative environment that improves patient outcomes and ensures the job gets done effectively.   Episode Keywords special forces medic, green beret, neurosurgery resident, military medicine, combat medic, trauma surgery, medical school, emdp2, enlisted to medical degree, uniformed services university, 18 delta, surgical training, traumatic brain injury, TCCC, tactical combat casualty care, military podcast, veteran stories, medical career, doctor journey, Brooke Army Medical Center, UT health San Antonio, neurosurgeon training, army special operations, combat veteran, medicine podcast, army doctor   Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine   The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. We foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation. Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guest episodes at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/our-guests Subscribe and Like our Videos on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm   WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible and go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in Military Medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield,demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.     Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureCalifornia is destroying their gasoline market, they want the state to own it, socialism. Oil prices are dropping, gas prices are dropping soon gas will be close to $1. Trump is reversing the [CB] illusion, jobs are being returned to the private sector. All in preparation to go back to the Constitution. The [DS] will continue to push back and try to delay everything Trump is trying to do. The House is prepared to make his EO into law, this will protect the country into the future. Trump had the real Generals stand behind him, these are the individuals that will protect the Republic from the [DS]. Trump is undoing decades of corruption, exposing the [DS] treasonous crimes, they will fight to hide their treasonous acts but this will fail. In the end the Military is the only way. Economy (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/US_OGA/status/2000639453866651711?s=20 https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2000951982874636662?s=20 https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2000628845918265518?s=20 https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2000925538131829101?s=20 https://twitter.com/RealEJAntoni/status/2000925018281402525?s=20 https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2000952081012940948?s=20 https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2000966123274068007?s=20 https://twitter.com/RealEJAntoni/status/2000936248370717073?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000922549060858200?s=20   $2,000 per household, depending on the number of workers.” “[The economy] is gonna start lifting off in Q1 and Q2.” This is HUGE! Political/Rights https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/2000701268806062358?s=20 https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/2000713713423196652?s=20 https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/2000766725231665257?s=20 https://twitter.com/KnightsTempOrg/status/2000645606964933100?s=20 WEIRD? Police Publish and Quickly Delete Photos of Rob Reiner's Son Being Cuffed for Slaughtering Parents, Give No Explanation Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of liberal activist and famed director Rob Reiner, has been arrested and charged with the brutal murder of his parents. The LAPD Gang and Narcotics Division published dramatic photos of Nick's handcuffed arrest on Instagram on Monday, but quickly deleted them without explanation. Rob Reiner, 78, known for classics like The Princess Bride, Spinal Tap, and When Harry Met Sally, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home on Sunday afternoon. The New York Post reports: Nick Reiner, whose face is blurred out, is seen being forced to the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back, according to one photo. Another snap showed law enforcement pushing the suspect against the front of a squad car. In the caption, the unit only identified the man as “a double homicide suspect.” The arrest was made by US Marshals with the assistance of the LAPD's robbery homicide division, according to the post. An LAPD spokesperson declined to comment when asked why the force's gang and narcotics unit deleted the arrest photo shortly after it was published. The since-deleted photos: Nick, who has long battled severe drug addiction starting in his teens, co-wrote and starred in the 2016 semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, directed by his father, which chronicled a young man's struggles with substance abuse and rehab. Insiders report that Nick “really resented” his father and “hated himself for not being as successful,” amid ongoing family tensions. The night before the murders, Rob and Nick reportedly got into a “very loud argument” at Conan O'Brien's Christmas party, loud enough for other guests to notice. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/nypost/status/2000870292227260695?s=20 https://twitter.com/barrycunningham/status/2000736216354853228?s=20   lists are…well you know. TAKE A LISTEN https://twitter.com/RealSLokhova/status/2000919590449394156?s=20 Real Texas Conservative  The tragic deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele on December 14, 2025, have cast a somber shadow over Hollywood, prompting reflections on legacy, loss, and the lingering scars of political division. In response, President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post on December 15, 2025 – framing their passing through the lens of “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS) – has ignited controversy. Yet, when examined against the backdrop of Reiner’s decade-long barrage of vitriolic rhetoric against Trump, the statement emerges not as callous, but as an appropriate blend of pointed satire, genuine sympathy, and a timely concern for mental health. This piece builds an ironclad case for its fittingness, rooted in factual history, psychological insight, and legal precedent. To understand the appropriateness of Trump’s words, one must first confront the unyielding hostility Reiner directed at him since 2015. Reiner, celebrated for directing classics like “This Is Spinal Tap” and “The Princess Bride,” transformed into one of Trump’s most vocal detractors after his presidential candidacy. In a 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Reiner labeled Trump a “con man” and “dangerous,” warning he would erode democratic norms. This escalated over the years. By 2018, Reiner tweeted comparisons of Trump to Hitler, accusing him of fostering fascism and white supremacy. His 2024 documentary “God & Country” explicitly tied Trump’s influence to Christian nationalism, portraying it as a threat to American democracy. Reiner’s social media feed became a relentless stream of attacks, calling Trump a “pathological liar,” “sociopath,” and “existential danger” in posts that amassed millions of views. Even in 2025, shortly before his death, Reiner urged boycotts of Trump-related events, framing his re-election as apocalyptic. These were not isolated jabs but a sustained campaign, often personal and inflammatory, that Reiner himself admitted stemmed from deep-seated outrage. This history of antagonism, predominantly initiated by Reiner, sets the stage for why Trump’s response is not only defensible but proportionate. Far from escalating the feud posthumously, Trump’s post acknowledges Reiner’s talents – “a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star” – while attributing the tragedy to TDS, a “mind-crippling disease” fueled by “raging obsession.” This framing isn’t baseless invention; it’s grounded in credible psychological analysis. Critics have questioned the timing of Trump’s post, issued just a day after the tragedy, as potentially too raw or opportunistic. However, this immediacy is precisely what makes it authentic and effective, aligning with Trump’s longstanding style of direct, unfiltered leadership in a 24/7 news cycle where narratives solidify within hours. Historical precedents abound; consider how President Lincoln addressed critics’ deaths or political losses with prompt wit during the Civil War, using fresh moments to foster national introspection and prevent distorted legacies. Similarly, Trump’s swift response cuts through emerging media spin – already framing Reiner solely as a heroic anti-Trump voice – by injecting balance and psychological truth right when public discourse peaks. Delaying would risk seeming calculated or detached, whereas this timing underscores sincerity, especially paired with the post’s sympathetic close. In essence, it’s not haste but strategic candor, transforming grief into a teachable moment on division’s dangers before emotions calcify. Transitioning from personal history to broader insight, TDS has been recognized by mental health experts as a manifestation of intense political polarization leading to real psychological strain. Psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow, in analyses shared on platforms like the Mark Simone Show, described TDS as rooted in “mass hysteria,” where individuals project anxieties onto a political figure, resulting in paranoia, chronic stress, and potential health declines. Research in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology supports this, linking partisan hatred to elevated cortisol levels, anxiety disorders, and weakened well-being. Trump’s reference to TDS isn’t mockery; it’s a diagnostic observation, highlighting how Reiner’s fixation – evident in his own words – might have contributed to personal tolls, especially amid reports of familial strife surrounding the deaths. By raising this, Trump shifts the narrative from vendetta to vigilance, urging awareness of how ideological obsessions erode lives. Moreover, the post’s satirical edge aligns with a storied tradition of political commentary, making it intellectually apt rather than insensitive. Trump employs hyperbole – “driving people CRAZY” amid America’s “Golden Age” – to underscore the irony of Reiner’s paranoia against tangible achievements like record economic growth, Middle East peace accords, and energy independence during his administration. This mirrors Jonathan Swift’s exaggerated proposals in “A Modest Proposal” or Abraham Lincoln’s witty rebukes of critics, using humor to expose societal flaws without literal malice. Legally, such expression is shielded by the First Amendment; the Supreme Court’s ruling in Hustler Magazine v. Falwell affirms that satirical opinions about public figures, absent provable falsehoods, are protected speech. Trump’s “reportedly due to” phrasing acknowledges speculation, ensuring it remains opinion, not defamation. What elevates the statement to appropriateness is its undercurrent of grace amid past unkindnesses, including Trump’s rare direct engagement with Reiner pre-tragedy despite the instigations. The post concludes with “May Rob and Michele rest in peace!” This isn’t perfunctory; it’s a sincere extension of sympathy, humanizing both parties and transcending the feud while modeling reciprocity in an era of unrelenting acrimony. Trump’s words match rhetoric’s intensity yet cap it with compassion and a mental health caveat, turning potential gloating into a nudge toward understanding division’s toll. In conclusion, Trump’s response is ironclad in its fittingness because it reciprocates a decade of Reiner’s attacks with measured satire, validates psychological realities, and prioritizes sympathy over score-settling. It doesn’t diminish the tragedy but illuminates division’s costs, encouraging reflection. Postscript: While the author is not an attorney or mental health practitioner, his nearly two decades as a seasoned content writer and editor have honed expert research skills, enabling rigorous analysis grounded in verifiable facts and legal precedents. https://twitter.com/DC_Draino/status/2000931274744324237?s=20 https://twitter.com/AlecLace/status/2000700955457630718?s=20 https://twitter.com/KurtSchlichter/status/2000694706054029700?s=20  reason for it. Sadly, past experience, teaches us that the most likely reason for the lack of transparency is that the answers are not going to support the left-wing agenda of the local Rhode Island Democrats. I could be wrong. But if I was wrong, I have a nagging suspicion. I would've had answers to those questions already. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of this man. Trump blames Brown, not FBI, for delay in finding shooting suspect President Trump blamed Brown University for the delay in locating the suspect in the fatal mass shooting on the school's campus in Rhode Island on Saturday. “You'd really have to ask the school a little bit more about that because this was a school problem,” Trump said when asked on Monday if FBI Director Kash Patel has told him why it's been difficult for the FBI to identify the suspected shooter. “They had their own guards. They had their own police. They had their own everything, but you'd have to ask that question really to the school, not to the FBI. We came in after the fact, and the FBI will do a good job, but they came in after the fact,” he said. Source: thehill.com War/Peace https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2000694318512652750?s=20 JUST IN: US OBLITERATES 3 More Venezuelan Drug Boats Just Hours After President Trump Designates Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction United States Southern Command on Monday announced that Joint Task Force Southern Spear took out three narcotrafficking vessels in the Eastern Pacific.  A total of eight “narco-terrorists” were killed in the strikes. “Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking,” US SOUTHCOM said. Video from the strikes shows massive explosions on each boat, turning them into burning piles of rubble. https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2000756230252314901?s=20 Source: thegatewaypundit.com Trump: Syria is a key part of peace efforts in the Middle East Washington, Dec. 16 (SANA) U.S. President Donald Trump described the developments in Syria this year as “remarkable,” highlighting that the United States is committed to ensuring lasting peace in the Middle East, with Syria playing an essential role in that peace. Source: sana.sy 1306 Q !xowAT4Z3VQ ID: e7b971 No.1248119 Apr 30 2018 10:51:06 (EST) Define the terms of the Iran nuclear deal. Does the agreement define & confine cease & desist ‘PRO' to the republic of Iran? What if Iran created a classified ‘satellite' Nuclear facility in Northern Syria? What if the program never ceased? What other bad actors are possibly involved? Did the U.S. know? Where did the cash payments go? How many planes delivered? Did all planes land in same location? Where did the U1 material end up? Is this material traceable? Yes. Define cover. What if U1 material ended up in Syria? What would be the primary purpose? SUM OF ALL FEARS. In the movie, where did the material come from? What country? What would happen if Russia or another foreign state supplied Uranium to Iran/Syria? WAR. What does U1 provide? Define cover. Why did we strike Syria? Why did we really strike Syria? Define cover. Patriots in control. Q British Intelligence Head Says Prepare for War Against Russia  The newly appointed head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, formerly known by her position as “Q”, is literally the granddaughter of factual Ukraine Nazi, Constantine Dobrowolski.  Now, as head of MI6 Metreweli wants war with Russia. In a rather remarkable speech to the British people, Blaise Metreweli proclaimed Europe is in “the space between peace and war,” with a direct military conflict with Russia looming as the biggest threat.  Metreweli declared, “Our world is being actively remade, with profound implications for national and international security.” Source: theconservativetreehouse.com https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2000898313579561365?s=20 https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2000896186413441184?s=20   have already been filed. The World Bank estimates the total at $524 billion over the next decade – triple Ukraine’s 2024 GDP. Zelensky: “It’s not enough to force Russia into a deal. It’s not enough to make it stop killing. We must make Russia accept that there are rules in the world.” Mechanism: Register of Damage (created 2023): collects claims from individuals, companies, and the Ukrainian state. Claims Commission: reviews, validates, and awards compensation case-by-case. Categories: sexual violence, child deportations, infrastructure destruction, religious sites bombed. Funding plan: Frozen Russian assets held by the EU, supplemented by member contributions. Dutch FM David van Weel: “The goal is to have validated claims that will ultimately be paid by Russia.” Enforcement? Still being worked out. Complication: Trump's team floated amnesty for war crimes as part of a peace deal – makes prosecuting the very individuals being billed impossible. Next steps: Convention takes force after 25 nations ratify it (if funds secured). Russia calls frozen-assets proposal “illegal,” denies war crimes, threatens retaliation. Reality check: This is post-WWII-style reparations applied to an ongoing conflict. The $524B estimate covers through 2024 only – 2025's escalated attacks on utilities, transport, and civilians already make the number outdated. https://twitter.com/AwakenedOutlaw/status/2000626884145754206?s=20   breaking out. Their position is legitimately insane. Sadly, what’s clear is that the European leadership is comprised of war-mongering, bloodthirsty psychopaths. The idiom, “With friends like these, who needs enemies?” comes to mind. Only in this case, it’s not a sarcastic observation. ______ EU Globalists Threaten to Dump $2.34 Trillion in U.S. Debt to Stop Trump's Ukraine Peace Deal JUST IN: Senate Advances $900 BILLION Defense Spending Bill with Military Aid to Ukraine Senate advances $900 billion defense spending bill The US Senate on Monday voted to end the filibuster and advance the National Defense Authorization Act to a final vote.  The bipartisan vote, 76-20, invoked cloture on the bill, bringing it one step closer to final passage, which could still take days. Still, some lawmakers seek to amend the bill further, which would then require House passage before landing on the President's desk. Burchett: Big vote tonight was the NDAA, National Defense Authorization Act, and it was $900.6 billion. There’s money in there for, of course, Ukraine, $800 million total, and some other things, money in there for recognizing an Indian tribe out of North Carolina— has nothing to do with national security— Syria, money, Iraq. But we just got to quit this stuff. Somebody's, America’s got to start paying attention. Trump didn’t even ask for that. You’ve got the war pimps that push for this stuff. And they always will tell you, Oh, it’s, “Burchett, man, they’re gonna spend all that money here buying those missiles.” You know, is that what we’re basing our votes on is they’re going to buy implements to kill other people on? I’m all for getting rid of our enemies, but this is just too much, way too much, and things are just not what they appear. We need to wake up. I voted no. Over 100 Democrats voted to pass this. That ought to tell you right there what this is about. Got some liberal stuff tucked in there, and it’s over 3000 pages. We get it on Sunday, and we’re voting on it today. There’s no way, no way, we will ever know what was in there, and just— anyway, frustrated, we’ll keep fighting. Thank y’all for sending me here. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2000775317577744797?s=20   commands down to 8. Under the plan expected to be presented to Secretary Hegseth this week: U.S. Central Command, European Command, and Africa Command would be downgraded and placed under a new “U.S. International Command.” U.S. Southern Command and Northern Command would merge into “U.S. Americas Command” (Americom), reflecting the administration’s shift toward Western Hemisphere operations. The remaining commands: Indo-Pacific, Cyber, Special Operations, Space, Strategic, and Transportation. A senior defense official on the urgency: “Time ain’t on our side, man. The saying here is, ‘If not us, who, and if not now, when?'” The plan aligns with Trump’s national security strategy declaring that “the days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over.” Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed concern: “The world isn’t getting any less complicated. You want commands that have the capability of heading off problems before they become big problems.” Congress has required the Pentagon to submit a detailed blueprint before any changes can take effect. The Monroe Doctrine comes to CENTCOM. https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2000687672936030583?s=20   been done long ago, which is eradicate the cartels that are plaguing the Western hemisphere via drug/human trafficking. The cartels have gone unchecked for decades, while they murder millions of Americans and commit heinous crimes against humanity. Trump confirms that designating the cartels as a foreign terrorist organizations “is a big deal from a legal and military standpoint”. Trump is going to use the full force of the US MIL to shut this entire corrupt network down. The Dems/MSM, and the weaklings on the Right, are going to squeal and moan the entire way, but this must be done. Trump is going to neutralize this threat to the American People and do what past Presidents failed to do. Medical/False Flags [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2000857179142680769?s=20   been part of it. Her late father served as a colonel in the Somali army under dictator Siad Barre, whose regime carried out mass killings in the 1980s. That makes her backstory more complicated than she lets on. A resurfaced video shows a man resembling Omar's father discussing brutal tactics. There's no proof he committed war crimes, but some say he was close enough to know what was happening. Photos also show Omar's siblings with General Morgan – known as the “Butcher of Hargeisa” – and Omar herself at a 2022 event where Morgan was present. One relative even referred to him as “uncle.” Omar hasn't commented on the new findings, and her silence has led some to question how she can call for accountability abroad without addressing her own family's history. https://twitter.com/JamesRosenTV/status/2000723473182965780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2000723473182965780%7Ctwgr%5Eb493e83212e9c33013500c56069b3622c19b2e21%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Frusty-weiss%2F2025%2F12%2F16%2Fice-officials-rip-ilhan-omar-over-ridiculous-story-about-her-son-being-racially-profiled-n2197175 https://twitter.com/thestoicplumber/status/2000748048683815183?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000742064959455252?s=20 U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro: D.C. Authorities Were Artificially Deflating Crime Stats With ‘Manipulated' Numbers https://twitter.com/USAttyPirro/status/2000637280789188855?s=20  into MPD's reported deflation of crime statistics. The need for accurate information to fight crime is essential. After a review of almost 6000 reports and the interview of over 50 witnesses, it is evident that a significant number of reports had been misclassified, making crime appear artificially lower than it was. The uncovering of these manipulated crime statistics makes clear that President Trump has reduced crime even more than originally thought, since crimes were actually higher than reported. His crime fighting efforts have delivered even more safety to the people of the District. The conduct here does not rise to the level of a criminal charge. However, it is up to MPD to take steps to internally address these underlying issues. Source: breitbart.com https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2000822708389745055?s=20 There is FEC data analysis that strongly suggests that Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin, Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan and Maggie Goodlander have been recipients of illegally laundered campaign funds. Kelly is currently under investigation. They’re all backed by Soros!! President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/2000710555674325272?s=20  extremists after transitioning. https://twitter.com/george18kennedy/status/2000781888152129887?s=20   Staff of the Army (senior uniformed leader of the U.S. Army, member of the Joint Chiefs). – Admiral Daryl Caudle – Chief of Naval Operations (senior uniformed leader of the U.S. Navy, member of the Joint Chiefs). – General Eric M. Smith – Commandant of the Marine Corps (senior uniformed leader of the U.S. Marine Corps, member of the Joint Chiefs). – General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, USAF – Chief of Staff of the Air Force (senior uniformed leader of the U.S. Air Force, member of the Joint Chiefs). – General B. Chance Saltzman, USSF – Chief of Space Operations (senior uniformed leader of the U.S. Space Force, member of the Joint Chiefs). https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/2000668738203312188?s=20 TAKE A LISTEN https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2000725299420352640?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000916623243300901?s=20   Something BETTER be done about this. https://twitter.com/RobLutherLawyer/status/2000697951295840722?s=20 https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2000961090612813971?s=20 https://twitter.com/SusieWiles/status/2000943061627548148?s=20   story. I assume, after reading it, that this was done to paint an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative narrative about the President and our team. The truth is the Trump White House has already accomplished more in eleven months than any other President has accomplished in eight years and that is due to the unmatched leadership and vision of President Trump, for whom I have been honored to work for the better part of a decade. None of this will stop our relentless pursuit of Making America Great Again! https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000957946352820238?s=20  codification of the President’s executive orders.” “A very aggressive legislative agenda coming right out of the gates in January. We’re going to continue to work, for example, on health care to continue to bring costs down for the American people, to bring down the cost of living overall.” “He’s up to about 200 of those [orders], probably about 150 of them are codifiable by Congress and we’re working steadily through that list.” “You’re going to see us delivering for the American people while the effects of that giant piece of legislation that we did on July 4th, got signed on July 4th, comes into implementation.” “So much more, much more yet to do and the President and I talk about that almost every day and he’s excited about it and I am.” https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/2000685717497004167?s=20 to procedurally gum up the works behind the scenes. JD Vance Points Out the Consequence of the Senate “Blue Slip” Veto of Judicial Nominees It was passed by Congress on May 13, 1912, and ratified on April 8, 1913 The 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution grants Congress the authority to impose and collect income taxes without the need to apportion them among the states or base them on census data. constitution.congress.gov It was passed by Congress on July 2, 1909, and ratified on February 3, 1913. all of this is an outcome of the 17th Amendment, which stopped the state legislatures from having control over their senators.  Under the original constitutional framework, the Senate was designed to represent the interests of the state, as the Senators were appointed by state legislature, not popular votes.  The Sea Island assembly destroyed this cornerstone when they triggered the 17th Amendment. Repeal the 17th Amendment, and just about everything in federal government changes. Machiavelli said, “It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institution and merely lukewarm defenders in those who gain by the new ones.”  A prescient and oft repeated quote that is pertinent to the situation. When our founders created the system of government for our constitutional republic, they built in layers of protection from federal control over the lives of people in the states.  Over time, those protections have been eroded as the federal bureaucracy has seized power.  One of the biggest changes that led to the creation of the permanent political class was the 17th Amendment. Our founders created a system where Senators were appointed by the state legislatures.  In this original system, the Senate was bound by obligation to look out for the best interests of their specific states.  Under the ‘advise and consent‘ rules of Senate confirmation for executive branch appointments, the intent was to ensure the presidential appointee -who would now carry out regulatory activity- would not undermine the independent position of the states.  .When the 17th Amendment (direct voting for Senators) took the place of state appointments, the perspective of ‘advise and consent' changed.  The Senate was now in the position of ensuring the presidential appointee did not undermine the power of the permanent bureaucracy, which is the root of power for the upper-chamber. Senate committees, Homeland Security, Judiciary, Intelligence, Armed Services, Foreign Relations, etc. now consists of members who carry an imbalanced level of power within government.  The Senate now controls who will be in charge of executive branch agencies like the DOJ, DHS, FBI, CIA, ODNI, DoD, State Dept and NSA, from the position of their own power and control in Washington DC. In essence, the 17th Amendment flipped the intent of the constitution from protecting the individual states to protecting the federal government. Seventeenth Amendment- “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures. When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.” (link)   The biggest issue following the passage of the 17th Amendment became Senators who were no longer representing the interests of their state.  Instead, they were representing the interests of the power elite groups who were helping them fund the mechanisms of their re-election efforts. A Senator only needs to run for re-election every six years.  The 17th Amendment is the only amendment that changed the structure of the Congress, as it was written by the founders. Over time, the Senate chamber itself began using their advice and consent authority to control the executive and judicial branch.  The origination of a nomination now holds the question: “Can this person pass the Senate confirmation process?” source: theconservativetreehouse.com https://twitter.com/j3669/status/2000683161273897213?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000952036238746070?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000671858417422538?s=20   is going to save the GOP, AGAIN. (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

In this episode of NucleCast, Adam talks with Dr. Byron Ristvet to discuss the complexities of nuclear testing, its historical context, and the current state of nuclear readiness. They delve into the types of nuclear tests, the role of various laboratories, and the controversial history surrounding Rocky Flats. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding nuclear policy and the implications of testing in today's geopolitical landscape.Currently, Dr, Ristvet is a consultant to Sandia National Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for studies on nuclear test detection, and through Keystone International and MSTS, a consultant to LANL, DoE IN-1 and NNSA/NFO. He is a Senior Mentor in Sandia's Weapons Intern and Professional Development programs, and low yield nuclear monitoring research. Prior to his semi-retirement in February 2017, Dr. Ristvet was a senior subject matter expert (SME) to DTRA's Research and Development Directorate in the areas of nuclear and conventional weapons effects and testing, hard and deeply-buried-target characterization and defeat, counter-terrorism, cooperative threat reduction, knowledge preservation, nuclear test readiness, and to the Defense Threat Reduction Information Analysis Center. Prior to the underground nuclear testing (UGT) moratorium in 1992, he was the UGT containment scientist for the Defense Nuclear Agency. Based on his experience, he is an advisor to the U.S. intelligence community on foreign nuclear programs. Dr. Ristvet had a key role in DoD's Cooperative Threat Reduction efforts with the Russian Federation nuclear laboratories and the Kazakhstan National Nuclear Center. He is currently an Octant Associates consultant for DTRA nuclear proliferation prevention activities at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in Kazakhstan. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Nuclear Testing and Its Importance01:20 Understanding Nuclear Testing: Types and History05:38 Current State of Nuclear Testing and Readiness09:05 The Role of Laboratories in Nuclear Weapons Development13:34 Debunking Myths: The Rocky Flats Controversy18:27 Types of Nuclear Testing Conducted19:54 Key Takeaways and Future ConsiderationsSocials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Senin, 15 Desember 2025Bacaan: "Hai istri, tunduklah kepada suamimu seperti kepada Tuhan. Hai suami, kasihilah istrimu sebagaimana Kristus telah mengasihi jemaat dan telah menyerahkan diri-Nya baginya." (Efesus 5:22, 25)Renungan: Ada sebuah kisah nyata yang terjadi di India. Seorang pria terjangkit penyakit polio saat kecil, sehingga ia tidak bisa berjalan. Sepanjang masa hidupnya, ia hanya duduk di atas kursi roda. Namun ia tidak pernah merasa berbeda dari orang-orang yang lain. la selalu mempertahankan sikap hidup yang positif karena arahan dari ibunya. Dia bahkan mendapat pekerjaan di sebuah bank dengan posisi yang bagus. Suatu ketika saudara laki-lakinya mendaftarkannya di kolom mencari jodoh untuk penyandang disabilitas: Seorang pria berusia 37 tahun dengan pekerjaan di sebuah bank mencari pasangan hidup. Kasta tidak menjadi masalah. Merespons iklannya, datanglah seorang wanita bersama keluarganya. Pada pertemuan pertama mereka, wanita itu menyatakan bahwa dia ingin menikah dengan pria itu. Tangan wanita itu cacat dan dia selalu menutupinya dengan selendang atau 'dupatta'. Dia tidak pernah membiarkan tangannya terlihat di foto mana pun. Mereka pindah ke rumah mereka sendiri setelah mereka memiliki seorang anak. Pria itu berkata, "Jika kami harus berlari di belakang putri kami atau saya perlu meraih sesuatu di rak, dia adalah penyelamat saya dan jika dia membutuhkan bantuan dengan surat-suratnya, tugas bank atau memotong sayuran, saya yang akan ambil alih. Perlahan-lahan, kami bersama-sama membangun hidup kami yang sederhana dan indah." Suatu ketika mereka melakukan perjalanan ke luar negeri yang pertama kali, yaitu ke Swiss. "Istriku sangat ketakutan saat pesawat lepas landas dan mendarat sehingga dia mencengkeram lenganku erat-erat sepanjang waktu. Saya menikmati saat-saat ini setiap menitnya! Jadi kunci dasar dari sebuah pernikahan yang berbahagia adalah: kepercayaan, cinta, dan rasa hormat. Dan kami sudah menjalaninya selama 29 tahun dengan menjadi bagian yang saling melengkapi satu terhadap yang lain. Jadi kalian harus mempercayai kata-kata saya ini!" Kunci rumah tangga yang berbahagia menurut pasangan ini adalah: kepercayaan, cinta dan rasa hormat! Percaya kepada pasangan kita, bahwa dia mengasihi kita dengan tulus dan tidak hanya berlaku manis di depan kita saja. Sang istri percaya bahwa suaminya adalah tempat perlindungan yang aman. Sang suami siap berkorban demi istri dan anak-anaknya. Kasihilah pasangan kita bagaikan kita mengasihi diri kita sendiri dan hormatilah pasangan kita dengan tidak merendahkan kekurangannya. Tuhan Yesus memberkati. Doa:Tuhan Yesus, berkatilah keluargaku. Hadirlah di tengah-tengah keluargaku sehingga kami saling mengasihi satu dengan yang lain. Amin. (Dod).

Elīza piedzima divu mēnešus par ātru. Viņas sapnis ir staigāt. Pašai. Bet Markusu mēs redzējām tuvplānā Latvijas Televīzijā šovasar dziesmu svētkos. Roka uz sirds. Stāv stalti. Dzied himnu. Tikai mamma zina, ka līdz piecu gadu vecumam dēls pat nestaigāja. Šo bērnu gribas spēks ir neticams. Un vecāku spēja nepagurt – apbrīnojama. Rehabilitācijas centrā “Poga” viņi vingro līdz sviedriem. Labdarības maratons “Dod pieci!” šogad veltīts viņiem. Tāpēc 3 dīdžeji nedēļu strādās Stikla studijā un atskaņos tikai klausītāju izvēlētas dziesmas. Bet vienu no viņiem vēl pieķeram, skrienot gar Raini. Labdarības maratons “Dod pieci!” šogad sabiedrības uzmanību pievērš kustībai – tās nozīmei, iespējām un bieži vien nepiešķirtajai vērtībai. ✋

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Minggu, 14 Desember 2025Bacaan: "Seorang sahabat menaruh kasih setiap waktu, dan menjadi seorang saudara dalam kesukaran." (Amsal 17:17) Renungan: Semua orang bisa memiliki teman, tetapi tidak semua orang bisa memiliki sahabat sejati. Hubungan persahabatan adalah hubungan yang paling indah di antara hubungan antar manusia yang ada, di luar hubungan keluarga, terutama hubungan suami-istri. Hubungan ini menjadi indah, sebab bukan darah yang mempersatukan, yang membuatnya dekat dan mengerti satu sama lain, melainkan Tuhanlah yang meleburkannya menjadi satu. Sahabat adalah kado istimewa dari Tuhan bagi kita. Inilah yang membuat sahabat menjadi seorang yang sangat berharga dan berarti. Beberapa waktu lalu, sekelompok wanita merelakan rambut mereka untuk dicukur sampai habis. Tindakan tersebut bukan untuk mencari sensasi, tetapi guna memberikan dukungan kepada salah seorang sahabat mereka yang menderita kanker payudara. Saat salah seorang di antara mereka mengusulkan ide untuk mencukur rambut, tidak ada seorang pun yang menolak. Justru mereka senang bisa melakukan sesuatu yang dapat membuat sahabat mereka bahagia, sekalipun harus kehilangan "mahkota" yang membanggakan itu. Hal ini hanya dapat dilakukan oleh sahabat sejati. Sahabat sejati tidak akan memikirkan untung dan rugi ketika melakukan sesuatu untuk sahabatnya. Persahabatan sejati adalah persahabatan yang tulus tanpa imbalan. Take and give terjadi secara natural di dalamnya. Memperoleh sahabat seperti ini, bagai mencari sebuah jarum di dalam tumpukan jerami. Berhubung saat ini banyak orang telah disibukkan dengan segudang aktivitas, mungkin hanya akan ada segelintir orang yang beruntung memiliki sahabat sejati, yaitu orang yang selalu ada setiap saat, baik suka maupun duka; yang mengerti tanpa harus lebih dahulu diungkapkan; yang rela memberi tanpa menimbang untung dan rugi. Baik tua ataupun muda, kita semua membutuhkan seorang sahabat selain keluarga, sebagai tempat yang tepat untuknya bernaung, melepaskan kasih sayang, serta meluapkan kesedihan dan amarahnya. Namun, sayangnya tidak semua orang bersedia menjadikan dirinya sahabat sejati bagi orang lain. Orang-orang yang demikian, adalah orang-orang yang belum teruji kesetiaan dan pengorbanannya. Keakuan pun masih menjadi bagian dari dirinya. Sampai kapan pun, kita tidak akan pernah dapat memiliki sahabat sejati, jika kita tidak terlebih dahulu menjadi seorang sahabat bagi orang lain. Memang tidaklah mudah membangun hubungan persahabatan. Selain dibutuhkan proses yang panjang, pengorbanan yang besar pun dibutuhkan untuk menjadikan hubungan tersebut utuh dan semakin murni. Tuhan Yesus memberkati. Doa:Tuhan Yesus, ampunilah aku karena selama ini telah bersikap egois kepada sahabatku. Ubahlah aku menjadi sahabat yang baik dan sejati bagi sahabatku. Amin. (Dod).

"Man nav vesela cilvēka organisms un man tāds nekad nebūs. Es dzīvoju savu dzīvi – arī aktīvu dzīvi – ar lielu cieņu pret savu ķermeni, respektējot gan to, kam tas ir gājis cauri agrāk, gan to, kam tas ir izgājis pavisam nesen," rubrikā "Dzīvei nav melnraksta" stāsta Elīna Baltskara. Elīnai 13 gadu vecumā tika diagnosticēts artrīts, kas būtiski ietekmēja viņas kustību un ikdienas spējas. Bija periodi, kad kustība viņai bija liegta, nācās iziet ārstēšanās kursus, fizioterapiju un citas terapijas formas, lai atjaunotu kustības un mazinātu sāpes. #dzīveinavmelnraksta Labdarības maratons “Dod pieci!” šogad sabiedrības uzmanību pievērš kustībai – tās nozīmei, iespējām un bieži vien nepiešķirtajai vērtībai. ✋

Piektdienās atskatāmies uz svarīgākajiem nedēļas notikumiem. Ir gājis raibi un tēmas, par ko runāt, ir dažādas. Valsts prezidents atdeva Saeimai pārskatīšanai izmaiņas Autoceļu nodevu likumā, par kurām sāka vairāk runāt jau pēc budžeta pieņemšanas. Sabiedrisko mediju temats nepazūd no uzmnanības loka Latvijā –būs nākamais mēģinājums apstiprināt trešo sabiedrisko mediju uzraugu padomes locekli. Bet Lietuvas galvaspilsētā mītiņā sava sabiedriskā medija aizstāvībai sanāca 10 tūkstoši protestētāju. Tikmēr tas, kas notiek okeāna viņā pusē arvien dara bažīgus. Runa ir ne tikai par miera plānu Ukrainai, bet arī ASV drošības stratēģiju. Gaišā nots šīs nedēļas notikumu virknē – sākas labdarības maratons "Dod pieci!". Krustpunktā aktualitātes vērtē Latvijas Universitātes Ekonomikas un sociālo zinātņu fakultātes pasniedzējs, pētnieks Mārtiņš Pričins, aģentūras LETA žurnāliste Anastasija Tetarenko-Supe un portāla "LASI.lv" galvenais redaktors Jānis Žilde.  

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Sabtu, 13 Desember 2025Bacaan: "Bertolong-tolonganlah menanggung bebanmu! Demikianlah kamu memenuhi hukum Kristus." (Galatia 6:2) Renungan: Satu kali, Ibu Teresa pernah menulis begini, "Kalau kamu belum bisa memberi makan 100 orang, berilah makan satu orang saja dulu." la juga menulis, "Tidak semua kita bisa melakukan hal-hal besar. Tapi semua kita bisa melakukan hal-hal kecil dengan cinta yang besar." Dari pikirannya yang belajar membatasi hidup dengan cara yang sangat sederhana, ia telah menemukan banyak hikmat untuk disampaikan tentang bagaimana kita melayani sesama. la membantu kemanusiaan untuk melihat apa yang tidak bisa dilihat orang lain, bahwa kebesaran itu adalah jalan yang menurun, bukan naik. la juga mengajari kita orang modern bahwa milik kita saat ini belum tentu mewakili perkenanan Tuhan, tapi kita mendapatkan kewajiban memikul kesusahan sesama. Setiap kali bencana terjadi, terutama bencana alam, kita menarik napas panjang dan menghembuskan dengan cepat sebagai tanda, "Kenapa yang seperti itu terjadi lagi?" Kita tidak suka mendengar kabar buruk tentang kesusahan orang lain. Tahu apa sebabnya? Karena kesusahan yang kita dengar, langsung mewajibkan kita untuk menanggung sedikit atau banyak dari kesusahan itu. Tanpa kita sadari, semua kejadian itu memanggil kita untuk bertindak. Jika kita mengabaikan panggilan itu maka secara alamiah hati kita menimbun sejumlah rasa bersalah. Suatu kali nanti rasa bersalah itulah yang akan turut menentukan seberapa kuat kita bisa berdiri di hadapan Tuhan. Bencana alam adalah cara Tuhan menyadarkan kita bahwa kita adalah sesama manusia, kita sepenanggungan, kita harus mengatasinya bersama. Hari ini kita membantu, mungkin besok kitalah yang dibantu. Firman-Nya tegas berbicara, "Bertolong-tolonganlah menanggung bebanmu! Demikianlah kamu memenuhi hukum Kristus." Mari kita memenuhi hukum Kristus dengan saling tolong menolong. Jangan pandang bulu dalam menolong. Tolonglah dengan tulus hati. Jangan ada pamrih dalam menolong. Semua bagi kemuliaan nama Tuhan saja. Tuhan Yesus memberkati. Doa:Tuhan Yesus, taruhlah roh belas kasih-Mu dalam hatiku, sehingga aku selalu tergerak untuk menolong orang lain yang sedang mengalami kesusahan. Amin. (Dod).

Eiropas Savienības valstis nolēmušas iesaldēt Krievijas līdzekļus uz nenoteiktu laiku. Rīgas vicemērs Ratnieks aptur plānu pārdot "Rīgas namu pārvaldnieku". Zvejnieku un citu piekrastes iedzīvotāju iebilžu dēļ apturēta jaunā „Jūras aizsardzības plāna” virzība. Skolotāji ir panākuši savu un pedagogu algas atsāks palielināt jau 2027. gada sākumā, nevis tikai septembrī, kā to plānoja Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija. Sākas labdarības maratons "Dod pieci!".

If sales are lagging, it's usually not your product, it's your focus.Selling to multiple federal agencies spreads you too thin, confuses buyers, and kills your pipeline.The fastest way to grow as a small business is to pick one agency and dominate it.Let me show you how to pick that agency.In this training, you'll learn:• Understand why selling to multiple agencies is killing your federal sales efforts• Learn where to start (e.g., VA, DoD, DHS, HHS, or a sub-agency) based on your core competency and past experience• See how to validate your choice using real data (buyers, vendors, opportunities, and competition)___________________________________

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Jumat, 12 Desember 2025Bacaan: Apa pun juga yang kamu perbuat, perbuatlah dengan segenap hatimu seperti untuk Tuhan dan bukan untuk manusia. (Kolose 3:23) Renungan: Sebelum era permainan digital menjadi sangat canggih, semua dimulai dengan permainan yang sederhana yang diciptakan oleh seorang ilmuwan Amerika Serikat yang bernama William Higinbotham. Video game pertama di dunia yang dibuat secara grafik tersebut benama "Tennis For Two", pada tahun 1958. Permainan ini dapat dimainkan oleh dua orang yang akan melakukan simulasi pertandingan tenis dan ping pong yang ditampilkan pada sebuah siloskop. Hal menarik dari game pertama di dunia ini adalah tujuan awal dibuatnya yang tidak dimaksudkan untuk keperluan komersial. Permainan ini tadinya bukan untuk dijual secara umum. Awalnya dibuat untuk dimainkan para pengunjung Laboratorium Nasional Brookhaven, di mana William bekerja, agar mereka tidak bosan selama berkunjung. Siapa sangka bahwa hal sederhana yang awalnya hanya diciptakan untuk menghilangkan kebosanan, ternyata menjadi cikal bakal banyak video game. Pencapaian dan penemuan besar memang sering diawali dengan hal kecil, juga kegagalan. Kita tidak bisa berharap untuk memperoleh hasil yang besar dan menakjubkan hanya dengan sekali usaha. Tidak ada yang instan, baik di dalam pekerjaan, kuliah, keluarga, dan pelayanan. Segala jenis pencapaian dan kesuksesan yang kita harapkan terjadi melalui berbagai tantangan dan kesulitan. Jangan lelah mencoba. Jangan hanya sekali atau dua kali kegagalan membuat kita lemah iman dan semangat, sehingga tidak mau mencoba lagi. Mintalah kekuatan dari Tuhan, sehingga mampu meneruskan usaha kita yang mengalami kegagalan. Coba lagi dengan melakukan perubahan, dalam arti mempelajari kesalahan kita dan menghindarinya pada usaha selanjutnya. Kerjakan bersama Tuhan dan seperti untuk Tuhan. Ketika kita mengerjakan segala sesuatu untuk kemuliaan Tuhan, maka kita akan mendapatkan kekuatan baru. Kita harus semakin bersemangat mengerjakan hal tersebut dan berikan yang terbaik untuk Dia. Tuhan Yesus memberkati. Doa:Tuhan Yesus, terima kasih atas talenta dan bakat yang Engkau berikan kepadaku. Bantulah aku untuk mengembangkannya sesuai kehendak-Mu, sehingga melalui talenta dan bakatku, aku dapat memberkati banyak orang dan semakin memuliakan nama-Mu. Amin. (Dod).

Welcome to AI Unraveled (December 10, 2025): Your daily strategic briefing on the business impact of AI.1. Microsoft AI turns tissue samples into cancer maps

In this powerful episode of The ToosDay Crüe, we welcome Laura Lindsey, Development Director for Heroes on the Water, an incredible nonprofit helping veterans, first responders, and their families find healing through kayak fishing and outdoor wellness programs. Founded in 2007, Heroes on the Water provides free, community-driven, recreational wellness experiences proven to reduce stress, improve cognitive balance, and rebuild emotional resilience. Through volunteer-led chapters and therapeutic partnerships with the VA and DoD, this mission is changing lives nationwide. Laura brings her expertise in impact storytelling, philanthropy, and community engagement, helping supporters understand how purpose, connection, and belonging fuel true healing. Her message bridges the civilian–military gap and inspires every viewer to invest in our heroes' wellbeing. Join us as we dive into the science behind nature therapy, why kayak fishing works, the unseen struggles of veterans and first responders, and how YOU can help create meaningful change.

A direct, no-BS breakdown of this week's biggest aviation stories — and bring your questions. This is the only live aviation show where you can challenge real fighter pilots in real time. Unscripted, unedited, and absolutely not the news.Check out FiFi and the High Alpha Hooligans! https://www.youtube.com/@HighAlphaHooligansGo here to support the channel. https://www.themoverandgonkyshow.comFor sponsorships and business inquiries: themoverandgonkyshow@gmail.comMost Mondays at 8PM ET, Mover (F-16, F/A-18, T-38, 737, 787, helicopter pilot, author, cop, and wanna be race car driver) and Gonky (F/A-18, T-38, A320, dirt bike racer, author, and awesome dad) discuss everything from aviation to racing to life and anything in between. #MoverAndGonky #FighterPilot #AviationPodcast #MilitaryAviation #PilotTalk #JetPilots #AviationNews #AviationCommunity #CrashAnalysis #CombatAviation #AviationHumor #PilotLife #AviationDiscussion #LiveShow #VeteranPilotsMore About Mover:Mover's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CWLemoineLooking for a good book? https://www.cwlemoine.comMore About Gonky:Gonky's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@therealgonkyKids Coloring and Activity Books! https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0CDS4C68Y*The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.Views presented are our own or our guests and do not represent the views of DoD or its Components.*

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Kamis, 11 Desember 2025Bacaan: Tetapi ia menjawab ayahnya, katanya: Telah bertahun-tahun aku melayani bapa dan belum pernah aku melanggar perintah bapa, tetapi kepadaku belum pernah bapa memberikan seekor anak kambing untuk bersukacita dengan sahabat-sahabatku." (Lukas 15:29)Renungan: Di dalam kisah anak yang hilang, kita mendapat kesan bahwa si anak sulung lebih baik dari adiknya, karena ia tidak meminta warisan, tidak pergi dari rumah dan tidak menghabiskan hartanya. Bahkan, si anak sulung berani mengklaim bahwa dirinya adalah anak yang taat dan rajin bekerja kepada sang ayah. Mungkin keburukannya hanyalah ia merasa iri kepada adiknya yang itu pun mungkin bisa kita maklumi. Namun, melalui respons sang ayah, kita belajar bahwa sesungguhnya anak yang hilang bukan saja si anak bungsu, melainkan si anak sulung juga, karena ia sebagai anak namun tidak merasa atau menempatkan dirinya sebagai anak. Sebagai anak, ia pun turut memiliki apa yang dimiliki oleh sang ayah, dan sebagai anak yang baik seharusnya ia turut bersukacita dengan sang ayah karena adiknya telah kembali. Namun, si anak sulung menempatkan dirinya sebagai orang upahan, dengan merasa ketaatan dan kerajinannya bekerja untuk sang ayah patut diberi upah atau penghargaan. Mental demikian kadang dimiliki oleh para pengikut Yesus. Sebagai anak-anak Tuhan, kita seringkali mengklaim perbuatan baik, masa pelayanan, pengorbanan waktu kita untuk Tuhan, dll. kepada Dia dan menuntut Tuhan menjawab doa kita sesuai dengan apa yang kita mau. Kita menjadikan Tuhan berhutang atas kebaikan kita. Padahal, Tuhan tidak pernah berhutang kepada kita, karena apa yang la berikan jauh lebih besar dari apa yang mampu kita berikan kepada-Nya. Sebagai Bapa, la tidak ingin kita menjadi anak-anak-Nya yang bermental upahan. Karena apa yang dimiliki oleh Bapa telah diberikan kepada kita untuk dikelola sebaik-baiknya untuk menjadi kemuliaan-Nya. Apa yang menjadi sukacita Bapa, itu juga yang harus menjadi sukacita kita. Sosok ayah dalam perumpamaan ini menggambarkan kasih Bapa yang begitu besar kepada anak-anak-Nya, sehingga la tetap mau menerima anak-anak-Nya yang mau bertobat. Dengan kasih-Nya yang begitu besar, la memanggil kita untuk kembali dan memiliki hidup sejati sebagai anak-anak-Nya, bukan dengan mental seorang upahan. Tuhan Yesus memberkati. DOATuhan Yesus, biarlah aku hidup sebagai anak-anak-Mu yang sejati, bukan sebagai anak dengan mental upahan. Amin. (Dod).

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Rabu, 10 Desember 2025Bacaan: "Mendengar perkataan itu ia menjadi kecewa, lalu pergi dengan sedih, sebab banyak hartanya. " (Markus 10:22) Renungan: Suatu ketika datanglah seorang kaya kepada Yesus dengan sebuah pertanyaan, "Guru yang baik, apa yang harus kuperbuat untuk memperoleh hidup yang kekal?" Lalu, Yesus mengutip berbagai larangan berbuat jahat yang harus dihindari. Orang kaya ini berkata, "Guru, semuanya itu telah kuturuti sejak masa mudaku." Artinya, orang kaya ini telah mengisi sebagian besar waktunya dengan kehidupan yang disertai akhlak dan moral yang baik. Yesus memandang penuh kasih dan berkata, "Hanya satu lagi kekuranganmu: pergilah, juallah apa yang kaumiliki dan berikanlah itu kepada orang-orang miskin... Datanglah kemari dan ikutlah Aku." la yang datang dengan antusias yang tinggi, bahkan dikatakan ia berlari-lari dan bertelut di hadapan Yesus. Namun kini, orang kaya ini berlalu dengan langkah yang berat karena hartanya banyak. Ia datang dengan sebuah pertanyaan yang bagus namun tidak siap untuk mendengarkan jawaban Yesus. Berapa banyak di antara kita yang memiliki sikap seperti orang kaya ini. Kita datang ke hadapan Tuhan dengan berbagai kerinduan hati yang bagus, namun kita tidak siap menerima jawaban dari Tuhan. Persis seperti yang terjadi dengan orang kaya ini! la rindu diselamatkan namun tidak rela menukarkan harta duniawinya dengan harta sorgawi. Pada-hal Yesus telah mengatakan, "Berikanlah itu kepada orang-orang miskin maka engkau akan beroleh harta di sorga. Apa yang menjadi kerinduan hati kita saat ini di hadapan Tuhan? Mari belajar menyiapkan hati kita untuk mau menerima dan melakukan apa yang firman Tuhan katakan. Hindarilah sikap hati seperti orang kaya ini yang berharap mendapatkan jawaban bagi kerinduan hatinya sesuai dengan konsep pikirannya sendiri. Akhirnya, kerinduan orang kaya ini tinggal hanya kerinduan karena ia tidak mau menyelaraskan hidupnya kepada perkataan Tuhan. Ingatlah bahwa firman Tuhan adalah peraturan hidup yang akan menuntun kita kepada kesempurnaan. Bukan konsep kita, bukan cara kita, tapi konsep dan cara Tuhan. Ams 16:20 mengingatkan kita, "Siapa memperhatikan firman akan mendapatkan kebaikan." Orang kaya ini gagal menukarkan harta dunianya dengan harta sorgawi karena ia tidak memperhatikan firman Tuhan. Tuhan Yesus memberkati. Doa Tuhan Yesus, sering kali aku hanya memiliki kerinduan untuk diberkati oleh-Mu namun hatiku jauh dari mau taat kepada-Mu. Jamahlah hatiku, lepaskan kesombongan dan keegoisan dalam hatiku, gantikan dengan rahmat kerendahan hati, sehingga aku dapat taat untuk melakukan kehendak-Mu. Amin. (Dod).

The Age of Disclosure is a UFO documentary that has been hyped as a form of soft disclosure. It covers the modern UFO phenomenon, tracking Lue Elizondo and Jay Stratton as they launch a government UAP program, discover the secret legacy crash retrieval program, and work together to put inform Congress, all to change the culture of the DoD to take UFO concerns seriously.You can find show notes and references at our website, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠VeryExcitingTime.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or support us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/VeryExcitingTime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.00:00:00 Introduction00:02:18 The Hype00:10:36 The Film00:38:10 New Claims01:22:15 Marco Rubio

More discouraging news for the Pentagon's prospects of obtaining a clean financial audit by the current 2028 deadline. A new evaluation by the Defense Department inspector general finds the department's plan to remediate one of its key, longstanding material weaknesses, an inability to keep track of government property in the possession of contractors, doesn't appear to be working. DoD intended to fix the problem largely by tracking the contractor-managed property in a software module within the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment. But according to the IG, key DoD leaders haven't mandated the use of that module, and the military services haven't updated their own systems to properly interface with it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Analysts Don Kellogg and Roger Entner break down the satellite market's shift toward three dominant players, as well as the complex mix of big personalities and government regulation shaping it.00:00 Episode intro 00:25 The state of satellite and Starlink alternatives 03:01 Amazon Leo's status 03:40 The rise of the three-player market 04:18 Backstopping BEAD and rural access 06:27 Direct to Consumer questions remain 08:19 Shadows of Charlie Ergen 08:55 Episode wrap-upThe “Starlink's Victory, Amazon's Sprint and GEOs crashing: The divergent realities of Satellite Broadband” is available at: https://www.reconanalytics.com/products/2027-november-satellite-report-vf/Starlink's Victory Lap, Amazon's Sprint, and GEOs Crashing: The Divergent Realities Satellite Broadband - Digital Product ReportsTags: telecom, telecommunications, wireless, prepaid, postpaid, cellular phone, Don Kellogg, Roger Entner, satellite, Starlink, BEAD, Amazon, Leo, AST, AT&T, Verizon, Elon Musk, FCC, DoD, Golden Dome, rural, T-Mobile, B2C, spectrum, 5G, Charlie Ergen

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Selasa, 9 Desember 2025Bacaan: "Dan jika kamu berdiri untuk berdoa, ampunilah dahulu sekiranya ada barang sesuatu dalam hatimu terhadap seseorang, supaya juga Bapamu yang di sorga mengampuni kesalahan-kesalahanmu." (Markus 11:25)Renungan: Ketika kita mengampuni seseorang, kita menyuruhnya pergi dan melepaskannya ke dalam tangan Allah, satu-satunya Hakim. Dengan berbut demikian, kita memilih untuk tidak lagi menjadi hakim atas orang tersebut. Mengampuni bukanlah hanya masalah perasaan, melainkan keputusan untuk mau atau tidaknya mengampuni. Ketika kita menyadari bahwa semua manusia tidak luput dari kesalahan dan kita memutuskan untuk memaafkan, itulah pengampunan yang sebenarnya. Seseorang berkata, "Mengampuni berarti melupakan suatu pelanggaran dan memperlakukan orang yang melanggar sebagai tidak bersalah." Begitu kita mengampuni, kita akan merasa damai dan bebas. Mengampuni adalah kunci untuk memancarkan dan menciptakan sukacita di hati. Tuhan sudah mengampuni dosa kita dengan pengorbanan-Nya di kayu salib, kini tugas kita adalah melanjutkan pengampunan itu kepada orang yang pernah menyakitkan kita. Kalau Yesus yang adalah Allah mau mengampuni kita, lalu siapakah kita jika kita tetap berkeras hati untuk tetap menyimpan dendam dan tidak mau mengampuni? Tuhan Yesus memberkati.Doa: Tuhan Yesus, terima kasih untuk pengorbanan-Mu di kayu salib. Hal itu Kau lakukan karena cinta-Mu kepadaku agar aku dapat dibebaskan dari belenggu dosa. Kini ajarilah aku untuk mengampuni seseorang yang telah melukai hatiku. Dia juga telah menghancurkan hidupku. Namun kini aku mengerti bahwa jika Engkau izinkan hal itu terjadi atas diriku, maka sesungguhnya Engkau sedang mempersiapkan aku menjadi pribadi yang tangguh dan tahan uji. Amin. (Dod).

Jau šonedēļ, 12. decembrī, sāksies labdarības maratons "Dod pieci!", bet arī kopumā Ziemassvētku laikā daudz vairāk uzmanības pievēršam labdarībai, palīdzībai citiem. Tuvojoties svētkiem, mēs ikviens gribam atvērt savu sirdi un palīdzēt tiem, kuriem dzīvē  klājas grūtāk. Dažādu labdarības projektu atbalstītāju vidū redzam arī diasporas organizācijas. Nule kā Londonas latviešu biedrība "Giving for Latvia" ir uzsākusi ziedojumu vākšanu, lai palīdzētu sarīkot jau sesto bērnu mentālās veselības nedēļu "Runā ar mani". Tā notiek Latvijā, bet pieejama latviešiem visā pasaulē. Šādi projekti, protams, ir daudz un dažādi. Neatsverams ir arī Amerikā dzīvojošo latviešu ieguldījums, visdažādākos projektus atbalstot, kas ir saistīti ar laba darīšana un ziedošanu, un par labdarību diasporā ar skatu, kas vērsts uz Latviju, šodien Tāpēc raidījumā Globālais latvietis. 21 gadsimts lūkojam izzināt, kāda ir diasporas organizāciju motivācija vākt ziedojumus dažādu projektu atbalstam Latvijā? Un kas ir būtiskākās tēmas, ko latviešiem ir vēlme atbalstīt, dzīvojot ārpus Latvijas? Par labdarību, palīdzību un atbalstu sarunājas Ziedot.lv vadītāja Rūta Dimanta, biedrības "Debesmanna" vadītāja Iveta Parravani un biedrības "Giving for Latvia" valdes locekle Aija Bruno, kuras ir no Lielbritānijas, kā arī Amerikas latviešu apvienības (ALA) Labdarība Latvijā nozares vadītāja Diāna Kārkliņš un Ņujorkas latviešu organizāciju padomes priekšsēdētāja Anita Batarags.

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Senin, 8 Desember 2025Bacaan: "Ketika jiwaku letih lesu di dalam aku, teringatlah aku kepada Tuhan, dan sampailah doaku kepadamu, ke dalam bait Mu yang kudus." (Yunus 2:7) Renungan: Ketika Yunus berada dalam perut ikan, ia pun memanjatkan doanya, "Ketika jiwaku letih lesu di dalam aku, teringatlah aku kepada Tuhan, dan sampailah doaku kepadamu, ke dalam bait Mu yang kudus." Tidak dapat dibayangkan bagaimana perih dan letihnya hati Yunus ketika ia memanjatkan doa tersebut. Doa itu menyadarkan kita, bahwa terkadang kita hanya ingat kepada Tuhan saat melalui masa sukar dan penderitaan. Menariknya, kasih Tuhan itu tidak dibatasi dengan kesalahan kita. Keluarbiasaan kasih Tuhan itu digambarkan melalui kisah seorang anak hilang yang pergi menghabiskan harta bapanya, setelah kehabisan uang dan mengalami penderitaan, ia pun kembali kepada bapanya dan bapanya menerimanya dengan penuh sukacita. Itulah gambaran kasih Tuhan, suatu hal yang sulit diterima oleh akal manusia. Kasih Tuhan tidak terhalang oleh apapun. Tuhan tidak menutup telinga di saat kita benar-benar tertekan, terdesak, butuh pertolongan-Nya dan merasakan keletihan jiwa.Ketika keletihan jiwa menerpa kita, seruan kepada Tuhan menjadi kemenangan yang akan menghampiri hidup kita. Adalah baik jika kita mengingat Tuhan ketika jiwa kita merasa letih. Tetapi lebih baik lagi, jika dalam keadaan aman dan nyaman, kita tetap memelihara hubungan dengan-Nya. Jangan hanya saat genting dan bahaya menyerang, kita baru berseru kepada-Nya. Tuhan Yesus memberkati. Doa: Tuhan Yesus, berikanlah kekuatan kepadaku saat aku mengalami keletihan jiwa. Ampuni aku kalau terkadang aku hanya mengingat dan mencari Engkau saat hidupku dalam bahaya dan terdesak oleh berbagai masalah. Kini sendengkanlah telinga-Mu dan dengarlah seruanku di masa kesesakanku ini. Jangan biarkan aku putus asa dalam menghadapi masalahku ini tetapi bersegeralah menolong aku. Yesus, kasihanilah aku yang saat ini mengalami keletihan jiwa. Amin. (Dod).

We discuss the attacks on alleged drug boats, and read from the DoD's “Law of War” where it specifically says military personnel “must refuse to comply with clearly illegal orders” and “orders to fire upon the shipwrecked would be clearly illegal,” we cover important topics like was the cover song better than the original, and finally devolve into drivel like the meaning of life.

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Minggu, 7 Desember 2025Bacaan: "Tetapi orang-orang yang rendah hati akan mewarisi negeri dan bergembira karena kesejahteraan yang berlimpah-limpah." (Mazmur 37:11)Renungan: Kerendahan hati merupakan kualitas karakter yang diajarkan oleh Tuhan. Banyak hal yang bisa menjadi ujian apakah kita memiliki kerendahan hati atau tidak. Ketika berhadapan dengan seseorang yang pengetahuannya tidak sebanyak yang kita punya, apakah kita mau mendengarkan pendapatnya? Apakah dengan rela kita mau diajar oleh orang yang usianya lebih muda dan pendidikannya lebih rendah dari kita? Ketika direndahkan, apakah kita berusaha membuktikan kehebatan kita? Kalau mau jujur, sesungguhnya tidaklah mudah untuk memiliki kerendahan hati, Di dalam diri manusia yang sudah dikuasai oleh tabiat dosa, selalu ada keinginan untuk menjadi yang utama, lebih hebat, menganggap diri paling hebat dan paling benar. Kerendahan hati terbentuk melalui tekad yang kuat, lalu melatih diri setiap hari dengan pertolongan Roh Kudus. Yesus yang adalah Putra Allah telah memberikan contoh kerendahan hati yang luar biasa, sehingga Ia mau turun ke dunia menjadi manusia dan menderita sampai wafat di kayu salib. Kalau Yesus yang adalah Allah saja mau bersikap rendah hati, lalu mengapa manusia yang hanya ciptaan Allah selalu cenderung bersikap tinggi hati? Mari kita terus melatih diri untuk bisa memiliki kerendahan hati, karena Tuhan akan meninggikan orang-orang yang rendah hati. Tuhan Yesus memberkati.Doa:Tuhan Yesus, tambahkanlah kerendahan hati dalam diriku, agar kehadiranku dapat menjadi sabda yang hidup bagi orang-orang di sekitarku. Jangan biarkan kesombongan menguasaiku, karena aku hanyalah sebutir debu di hadapan-Mu. Yesus, biarkan aku semakin direndahkan agar Engkau semakin ditinggikan. Amin. (Dod).

Servicing Foxx Inc: Part 1 The Interview - A young man leaves the Navy and finds a new job. By PtmcPilot listen to the ►Podcast at Steamy Stories. Thomas Edison reportedly said that the harder he worked the luckier he was. In my case I had worked pretty stinking hard as an enlisted member of the nuclear submarine Navy for the previous six years, so if you side with Edison I must have accumulated a decent amount of luck in my karma account. No matter how events came together, I was very lucky to be in just the right place at the right time. You probably won't believe it, and truth be told, on some days I don't believe it either. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Let me start at the beginning. Or maybe not quite the beginning. As I mentioned, I'd been in the Navy for six years starting right after high school. After graduation a lot of my friends had gone off to college, but I wasn't interested in joining them. I wanted to do something at once, not four years or so later. I joined the Navy, was picked up for nuclear power and asked for submarines (long story for another time). Working on subs was tough, yet rewarding at the same time. And it paid fairly nicely for a 19 to 24 year old. Many of the younger enlisted, read that as non-lifers, were interested in using their G I bill benefits to go to college when their enlistment was complete. And when I left the Navy a mere six weeks ago, that had been my plan as well. I'd saved a fair amount of money, and combined with the G I bill I was able to comfortably attend most any college. Now, relaxing on a couch in my parent's living room, when I wasn't surrounded by people looking forward to college, I found the idea was no longer appealing. It always seemed to me that people felt college was a natural progression, and to do otherwise was somehow not living up to one's potential. Problem was, after my years in the Navy I knew that wasn't the case. Sure, college might open some doors, but I had every bit as much, if not more respect for the senior enlisted in the Navy as I did the officers. Very different jobs requiring different skill sets. One ingredient of success on the ship was mutual respect for those different skill sets. Relaxing off duty with Sailors from other ships told me such mutual respect was not always a given. I'd been fortunate. By the time I left the Navy I knew I was capable, well trained, reliable, and eager to work hard. The Navy had spent a lot of money training me how to operate and maintain equipment as well to train and lead people. Not only was I good at all those things, I enjoyed them immensely. It's a very rewarding feeling when you use your own skills to take something from not working, to working. A friend of mine, a fairly senior Navy electrician, enjoyed replacing burnt out light bulbs even though such things were typically reserved for more junior people. "It's instant job satisfaction," he'd said. I knew my parents were happy to have me around, and at the same time I knew they didn't want me to become a permanent fixture. It was only nine in the morning, and I resolved right then that today was the day to seriously start the job search. After grabbing a shower and a cup of coffee, I sat down with my laptop and began. There were lots of openings that appealed to me, or rather a lot of jobs I knew I could do. HVAC technicians and mechanics of all kinds appeared to be in particular demand, and the pay didn't look too bad. Besides, I was in a pretty enviable position; I could easily quit after a short time if it didn't work out. After a brief moment of reflection I decided my qualifications meant I should avail myself of a headhunter, or at least some high end placement site. I did so, and was startled to get a text message two hours later. It was a link, so I forwarded it to my email and called it up. Oddly, it wasn't from one of the services I had contacted. "Provider of Building Services. Responsible for all building systems maintenance and services for staff on site. Monday through Friday, from 9 to 5, $95,000 per year. If interested please send your interview availability to FoxxIncJobs@FoxxInc.com" From the tone it seemed they had my resume and knew who they were talking to. Intrigued, I sent a note to the address stating I was available for an interview at their convenience. It was perhaps another hour later when a reply came in from the same address: "Please confirm your availability for an interview starting at sixteen hundred, at 8472 Saddlebrook Road." I checked the address, and although I did not want to appear desperate, I replied at once that I could make that time. It seemed a bit odd to be having a job interview that late on a Friday, and it made me wonder what kind of work-life balance they might have as part of their culture. And then I laughed at myself--as if work-life balance was something I was acquainted with from subs... Still, this observation was added to my mental list of hypothetical questions to be posed to my would-be employer. The use of 24 hour time got my attention as well, as in my admittedly limited experience most people in the US did not use it. Checking the time, I had about two hours before I needed to leave. Plenty of time to shave, iron a shirt and get my ass across town. Minor preparations complete, I had a little time to do some research on Foxx Inc., and there wasn't much there. Nothing on the usual job review sites, and the corporate splash page simply stated it was a legal firm serving government and private clients, able to support work at all classification levels. Well, I'd learn more when I got there. Arriving at the designated place at fifteen fortyfive, the parking lot in front of the building was empty. The visitor parking spots were very close to the door, which was nice given how hot it was that afternoon. The building itself was an attractive, if plain, multi-story building made of the typical glass, steel and concrete. It was also unmarked aside from the large stylistic numbers identifying the building as '8472'. Grabbing my jacket I got out of the car and went to the large glass doors. The lobby was large, with comfortable looking chairs of white leather arranged around small metal and glass tables. A long reception desk opposite the entry doors appeared to be of solid wood and was decorated with a number of glass sculptures. Glancing around I noted the presence of several CCTV cameras, their red status lights blinking every few seconds to let you know they were awake, or at least powered. Aside from the front doors there were no other obvious exits from the room. Taking a seat I looked over the walls a bit more closely and noticed there were a couple of places that might be seams that could hide hinges on the reverse. It wasn't more than two or three minutes when I heard a distinct 'click' from the direction of the front doors. Curious, I checked them and found they were now locked. It was then I heard another click behind me, and turning I watched as one of the well-hidden doors opened and a woman strode through. Black haired, tall and quite attractive, she was wearing a black skirt, black heels, a white blouse and a dark blue jacket. She smiled as she closed the distance to me, extending a hand. "Mr. Jeffries, I presume?" Returning the smile and the handshake, I said, "Thomas, please." She let go of my hand and regarded me with a puzzled look, "Mr. Jeffries, we've only just been introduced." "Not exactly," I said, "I still don't know your name." The look she gave me was somewhere between confusion and irritation. But in an instant her face snapped right back to pleasant as if she'd rolled back time. She extended her hand again, "Mr. Jeffries, I presume?" Again returning the handshake I replied, "Yes, and you are?" She let go of my hand, "Ms. Olson. I'm pleased you could come in on such short notice. If you would follow me?" With this she turned and strode toward the door I now knew to be there. A sign next to the door, which appeared to be nothing more than a label plate, turned out to be a card reader, which she used to open the door. On the other side of the door a small well lit room had a standard set of boxes used to hold mobile phones. I was already taking my phone and keys out of my pocket when she gestured toward the boxes and asked me to secure any electronics. Completing this task she led me to something that looked like an airport TSA portal. She indicated I should walk through it, and she watched as I did. It didn't beep or anything and she led me to another door, which she again opened with a key card, though this time she added a PIN, her finger movements concealed by a cover plate. Through this second door we entered a large open area. Two elevators were visible to the right, again with things I now knew to be card readers. To the left was a featureless wall with one door. She led me to this door and entered with her card. This room was a rather large office, tastefully decorated with wooden furniture, some IT equipment, plants, a few leather chairs and a small refrigerator. There was also another door on a wall adjacent to the one we had entered through. She indicated a chair in front of the large desk. "Would you like a bottle of water Mr. Jeffries?" Her continued formality was curious, and I simply said yes. She withdrew two bottles of water from the fridge and handed me one before sitting down herself. "Mr. Jeffries, again, thank you for coming in this afternoon," she said as she unscrewed the lid on her bottle. "I was available, so there wasn't much of a reason to wait," I said before taking a pull on my own bottle. "Well, shall we get down to business then?" she said. I nodded and she pulled a folder from inside the desk. "Six years in the Navy, straight out of high school. Trained mechanic, standard awards for good conduct, but also three Navy Achievement Medals. Current security clearance, and living with your parents having just been discharged several weeks ago." The whole time she had been talking she had been looking directly at me. Which was good in a way because it kept me from trying to ogle her, and I figured that was not a great way to start with an H R rep, if that's who she was. The funny thing about her little speech was that the medals were not listed in anything I thought she might have been able to access while researching me. Wait, they researched me? I realized she had asked me a question. "I'm sorry Ms. Olson, could you repeat that?" Her face was impassive. "Did you enjoy your time in the Navy?" "I'm not sure I'd say enjoy. It was often hard work, but also rewarding. I got to see some of the world and learn some useful things. Or at least, I hope you will find my skills useful." She nodded, "Your professional certifications are quite in line with what we need in terms of taking care of the property, yes. Tell me, did you enjoy Singapore or Thailand more?" At this point it was clear she was trying to keep me off balance by showing what she knew about me. "Um, Ms. Olson, what kind of work does Foxx Inc do?" She unbuttoned the front of her jacket and sat back in the chair, taking another drink of water. As her jacket parted I could not help but notice her top was almost shear, and she was not wearing a bra. She caught my glimpse, but smiled as she answered, "We are primarily a legal firm. We consult on a variety of subjects to varied clientele. Our work regularly connects to the government, to include the DoD and several other agencies with whom you might not be as familiar." "And so it would be normal to run a background check on any applicants." She smiled and looked down at the desk, selecting a piece of paper from the file. "Yes, but I must tell you it is less mysterious than you might think. To begin with your electronic fingerprints are everywhere, and the only thing that provides privacy is people with access not taking an interest. In applying, we became interested." I nodded, only sort of following her. She gave me a soft look, then said, "Tell me, before you decided to end your time with the Navy, you applied for a special projects position, did you not?" I nodded, though once again how she knew this was beyond me. "That application triggered a number of automatic events that were completed even before they would have started an SSBI." Seeing my confusion she added, "A background investigation." "I see." "You have applied for a job at a firm that does highly sensitive work for the government, amongst others. Further, I am meeting you alone in this building in the late afternoon. The least you should expect is that we have done our homework." Sure, it all made sense. And nonetheless, I was taken aback by the results of said homework, especially in such a short time frame. She continued, "That homework indicates you have all the mechanical and supervisory skills necessary to keep our facility humming along, and your clearance is certainly a plus in that you will likely be able to access most parts of the building unescorted," she said. "And," she added with a smirk, "there was time to acquire some more, shall we say, personal information." I swallowed, not really knowing what she meant by that last bit. Trying to regain my composure, I nodded and tried to move closer to show my interest. "Is this the only building I'll be maintaining?" She nodded in reply, "Yes, that is correct. Electrical, mechanical, structural, all your responsibility. As you saw, the position involves a typical work schedule, though a number of the employees keep less standard hours, especially the partners." "Could I ask a question?" She nodded, and I continued, "Why did the previous person leave the job?" "Hum," she murmured, then grinned, "Let's say he grew tired." "Of the job?" "I thought you were nuclear trained Mr. Jeffries? That is an assumption, not an observation or conclusion based on indications." That caused me to sit back. If they had only been aware of me for a few hours, that was pretty specific criticism for someone of my particular background. And a damned insightful criticism at that. But if she was bothered, it didn't show. Instead, she grinned as she held my gaze. "I believe my statement to be accurate regarding the previous PBS." She continued, "I assume the proposed compensation is adequate?" I nodded again. "Very well. In addition you will earn twenty-eight days off per year, usable at your leisure from day one. We have a full gym on-site as well as a reasonably good cafeteria. I expect you will find the severance package quite generous as well." "So, are you offering me the job?" I asked, an edge of excitement probably pretty evident. Her grin changed to a smile, though this time her look was almost predatory. "Well, there are other things to be discussed and evaluated before I can do that." Opening another drawer she withdrew a single piece of paper and handed it to me. "This is a standard non-disclosure agreement. In quite too many words, because lawyers, it effectively says that with the exception of any illegality you observe you may not discuss anything that happens in this firm with anyone not a member of the firm. As was your security agreement with the Navy, this is binding until death or until the Firm informs you otherwise." It was not a long document, and it seemed to say just what she said. I picked up a pen from the desk and signed it straightaway. Taking the page back from me she examined my signature, nodded, then added her own under mine. "Although I believe Foxx Inc is an upstanding firm, you would be wise to carefully analyze any small print." Standing up, she said, "I'll go make a copy of this for your records." She picked up another small packet of papers and handed it to me as she walked past me to the other door. "I'll be back in a little while to answer any questions." The cover page was labeled "Foxx Inc Sensitive: Disclosure, Authorized Only under NDA". Typical enough, or so I thought. Turning the page I found myself faced with a rather extensive questionnaire. As I started to work on it, I soon realized it was also anything but typical. Relationship status, exercise habits, pieces of medical history, diet, alcohol consumption, sexual orientation, sexual experience to include number of partners, and then very specific questions about what sexual acts I enjoyed, would do, and absolutely would not do. I answered a few and then stopped; finding I was not comfortable providing this level of detail about private aspects of my life. A little while later the door opened and I saw Ms. Olson re-enter the room. Seeing I was not writing, she said "That was fast, are you all done?" Standing in front of me she leaned over to look at the papers in my lap. Still looking forward I was treated to the most glorious down blouse view I may have ever been given. Her white top hung away from her chest, now fully revealed as a pair of large, tanned breasts unconstrained by a bra. I gulped and when I looked up she was smiling at me, apparently not put off at all by my observation of her chest. However, in my defense she had all but deliberately dangled them in my face. Add to that she was now wearing quite shocking black lipstick. Now I was really off balance. She retook her seat. "Do you have questions or concerns I can help resolve, Mr. Jeffries?" "It's just that, well, I don't see why you need to know some of these things about your building manager," I said. She leaned back. "Ah, I see. You did note the position is 'provider of building services', did you not?" I nodded. Her smile turned into leer. Yep, I'm quite sure of the memory. She leered at me. "You'll forgive me. I do so enjoy this part of the interview, and I've only done it a few other times, so humor me." I took an involuntary look at her chest again. Her expressions remained the same as she said, "Your job, should you choose to accept it, includes sexually servicing the women who work here." I was almost, almost certain I'd used my inside voice when I shouted, "Holy shit!" But then Ms. Olson almost jumped back at my outburst. I know she jumped because she bounced really nicely. Taking a deep breath, I said, "Okay." Raising an eyebrow, she said, "'Okay', really?" Then a long pause, and she continued with the smirk back on her face. "Well then, ask me any questions you have and we'll see if we cannot clear this up." I was rewarded, I think, as her smirk switched to predatory again. I had the feeling she was toying with me. Not unlike a cat and a mouse though I didn't really think she'd literally eat me. At least not in a bad way. I pinched myself for focus. "Right, how about this one about exercise habits?" I asked. "Physical condition is linked to physical performance, wouldn't you say?" she said. Looking back I'm not sure there was a reason for me to continue, but sometimes you haven't quite processed what people have told you. I said "Um, why the question about sexual orientation? And my diet?" She locked eyes with me and I could not look away. "Mr. Jeffries, I believe my stating that you are expected to "sexually service the staff like a stud within a herd of brood mares" more than adequately provided information sufficient to answer the first." Now, I know I asked for it, but when she spoke it really rocked me. Her face was all professional, stern, condescending and superior when she resumed her rebuke of my density. "It would not do for me to hire someone not hungry enough for it. It is up to me, and me alone to select the appropriate," she winked again, "stud for my herd." I swallowed heavily and nodded. She stood and removed her jacket, hung it on a coat rack and took her seat again. Her large breasts were now every bit on display, the sheer fabric of the material all but baring them to my gaze. I forced myself to look in the eye again, finally realizing what this interview was leading up to. "Now that you have utilized logic and available information to answer your first silly question 'about sexual orientation," she'd kind of spat the words at me, "I will answer your second plainly." Now the look she gave me was something I couldn't explain or describe. I don't know how to explain what 'holy fucking hornier than ever' looks like, but that was her. Then she made an obvious display of running her tongue along her lips and said, "You must be aware that your diet directly affects the taste of your semen. Are you not?" At this point any thoughts about work life balance were thrown to the curb like an ex's CD collection. I knew my mouth was hanging open. Her large breasts swayed and jiggled as she spoke. I now noticed that her areola were very dark and her nipples quite hard, and easily seen through a not-quite-there top. Forcing myself to look back up at her face I cleared my throat and said, "I think I see. Shall I get back to answering these then?" She nodded and smiled back at me, "I'm happy to hear that. And yes, please do. I would like to conclude your interview today." For a very brief second I considered how I might feel if I were a woman being asked to, ah, service the male members of the firm as a prerequisite for employment. Don't be too hard on me for acknowledging that I, and my hard-on, didn't mind one bit. It only took me a few minutes to write out short answers to the questions, after which I passed the questionnaire back to her. She read over my answers, nodding every now and then. "So, Thomas, you can call me Ashley, if you like." I don't know what, but that didn't sound like what I should call her. "Thank you, Ms. Olson," I let out a long breath and notice a flare to her nostrils. It felt like I made the right choice, and I said, "What's next?" "For one, you should know this aspect of the position is obviously off the books, except for the salary, which is an additional fifty percent over your normal pay." I nodded and could not suppress a truly shit-eating grin. She raised an eyebrow that again indicated mild irritation, "Is that not acceptable, Mr. Jeffries?" She delivered my name in two words with a notable pause, more like 'Mister. Jeffries." The tone was all heat. Clearly the Mr. & Miss Smith was strong with her. I liked it. A lot. I shook my head and tried to refocus, if only for a bit. "No, it's not that at all. It's just, well, you're telling me I'm likely to be having sex with any number of women here, and you are going to pay me for it?" Maybe she was acting, but her expression was one of sincere offense. Again with the stutter pronouncement, "I am certain I just characterized the additional pay as stud fees." As I gaped at her statement, she unbuttoned the top half of her blouse. Yep, no doubt about the solid nips, flushed face and suddenly deeper breathing. Actually I can't tell you how I noticed or remembered that given how aware I was of her body and my hard-on. Her restatement of 'stud duty' made me smile. Then I said, "Again Ms. Olson, you mistake my meaning. My comments were meant as 'I can't believe you want to pay me more for this.'" Her face relaxed at once and she stood and walked to stand between the desk and myself. For the first time I noticed the scent of an aroused woman. "Mister. Jeffries, contrary to what you may think, finding someone for this job is not easy. It is simply not possible to advertise for a proper, well, cocksman." Well, that did it. There was no unhearing something like that. Stud was one thing, but 'cocksman?' Somehow it meant nothing to me even as I could completely understand it. I once more tried shaking my head to clear my thoughts for a moment. I remembered something she said that seemed suddenly relevant. I said, "What did you mean by more personal information?" She finished unbuttoning her blouse, and then shrugged it off, her body now bare from her waist up. Her breasts were nothing short of magnificent. I was staring and completely unable to stop myself from reaching out and taking them in my hands. She purred, then put her hands over mine and said, "Don't think poorly of me, Mr. Jeffries, but I contacted Tilly." Yet again, I found myself surprised. I'll tell you the story later, maybe, but Tilly was another Sailor, my off-the-books roommate and more girlfriend than fuck buddy for the past two years. We'd parted amicably when I left the Navy. Probably important to this story, she was my fourth and to date last sexual partner, and she'd been equal parts ravenous and patient with me. While I'd always figured I'd done right by her, the look on Ashley's face spoke volumes to the review I seem to have been given. I hadn't formed any kind of response and was still kneading her gloriously full tits when she asked in a low voice, "Thomas, is it safe for me to have unprotected intercourse with you today?" "Well, yes and no? If you mean am I disease free, then yes. If you mean could I get you pregnant, the answer is yes, so then no, it's not safe. And you're trusting someone you just met?" "Thomas, I have read a rather thorough synopsis of your life and the government feels you are trustworthy. Should I not?" I nodded, and she continued, "And you just gave me a most sincere and thorough answer to a simple question." Then she leaned down and gave me a thoroughly debauching kiss on the lips that left us both panting. She held my face in her hands, "I should mention that in this arrangement the person in the Firm initiating the encounter is required to provide protection." Then I watched with continued surprise as she sat on the desk, put her feet on the arms of my chair and lifted her skirt to show me a very bald and equally wet cunt. I noted she was an inny, at least right then. As she relaxed back on her elbows she said, "To continue your interview;" and her voice cut off. Most likely because by the time she had those words out of her mouth my lips were locked on hers. Her cunt lips of course. "Um," she sighed, "I do love a man who needs little direction. I was going to say, well, fuck it!" and she she held my head firmly in place. She was hot, wet, vocal, and very responsive. Darting my tongue in and out of her cunt and around her lips, I was as eager to please as I had ever been. In moments, feeling she was ready for it, I thrust two fingers into her and pressed at her g-spot. With my free hand I reached up and grasped one of breasts. "Oh, fuck yes," she moaned, "lick me!" Her moans and words guided me to the things she liked, nibbles on her lips, sucking on her clit, all of which I did with abandon. It had been almost three months since the last time I had sex, and I wasn't about to let this opportunity get away. I attacked her cunt with passion, hungry for her moans and words. A long string of "Um, yes, Um, fuck! Um, oh my god!" poured out of her and I kept up my efforts. Then, within only a couple of minutes she sat up, grabbed two handfuls of my hair and pressed my face hard into her cunt. "Fuck! I'm coming!" Hearing that, I tried to keep my efforts steady with what had got her there, strongly rubbing her g-spot with her clit firmly between my lips and teeth. Ten, fifteen seconds went by, and then she let loose of me and sagged back onto the table. "Very, very nice Mr. Jeffries." To be continued By PtmcPilot for Literotica

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Sabtu, 6 Desember 2025Bacaan: "Lalu Zakheus segera turun dan menerima Yesus dengan sukacita." (Lukas 19:6)Renungan: Menjadi buah bibir bisa menyenangkan dan juga bisa tidak menyenangkan. Akan menyenangkan bila apa yang dibicarakan adalah hal-hal yang baik. Tetapi menjadi tidak menyenangkan bila yang dibicarakan adalah hal-hal yang tidak baik. Hal itu seperti yang dialami Zakheus. Pada mulanya Zakheus adalah sosok yang tidak menyenangkan. Ke mana saja ia melangkah pastilah sorot mata sinis dan benci selalu mengikutinya. Itulah risikonya sebagai seorang pemungut cukai. Cap orang berdosa sudah begitu melekat pada diri Zakheus sehingga orang-orangpun heran melihat Yesus yang suci mau menginap di rumahnya. Tetapi setelah Zakheus bertobat, ia menjadi buah bibir malaikat-malaikat di sorga karena pertobatannya. Apakah kita telah menjadi buah bibir karena hal-hal yang tidak baik yang telah kita lakukan? Kita tidak akan dapat meredam semua pembicaraan orang yang jelek-jelek tentang kita kecuali kita mampu menghasilkan buah roh yang baik dalam hidup kita. Kita tidak akan mampu menghasilkan buah roh kecuali kita menerima Yesus dalam hidup kita. Mari kita belajar seperti Zakheus, yang menerima Yesus masuk di dalam hatinya, sehingga ia menjadi buah bibir yang baik. Yesus akan mengubahkan kehidupan kita sehingga kita yang tadinya selalu menjadi buah bibir yang jelek karena sifat kikir, pemarah, suka gosip, suka ngutang, suka berdukun dan sebagainya sekarang berubah menjadi baik. Perubahan hidup kita adalah Injil terbuka yang siap dibaca semua orang. Tuhan Yesus memberkati.Doa:Tuhan Yesus, masuklah dalam hidupku, aku mau menerima Engkau sebagai Tuhan dan juruselamat dalam hidupku. Ubahlah setiap pikiran, perkataan dan perbuatanku, sehingga apa yang kupikirkan, kukatakan dan kuperbuat sesuai dengan kehendak-Mu. Amin. (Dod).

Nicolle Wallace covers a bipartisan effort to receive more answers on the deadly double-tap boat strike in the Caribbean. After Congress was briefed on the military operation, Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) said, “what I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service.”Later, Nicolle covers the Pentagon Inspector General's conclusion that Pete Hegseth did not follow proper Department of Defense protocol, which does not allow using personal devices for official DoD business. This conclusion is in response to Hegseth and other prominent Trump administration officials discussing classified war plans on a messaging app called Signal. The scandal has since been dubbed ‘Signalgate.'For more, follow us on Instagram @deadlinewhTo listen to this show and other MS NOW podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

They apparently arrested a suspect in the Jan 6 pipe bomb investigation. The results of the TN-7 special election are great news for Democrats – but don't get happy. ADP's November jobs numbers are very bad. 2025 had the highest number of layoffs since the 2020 pandemic. Trump voters worried about affordability. Pete Hegseth approved a contingency plan for killing survivors in the Caribbean. DOD inspector general reported Hegseth risked endangering troops by using the Signal app. The Donald Trump Institute for Peace??? Tiny Trump's short circuit talking about Tim Walz. What the eff is going on in that photo from Epstein's estate? With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Bob Malone, Dave Molter, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 If you're a scientist, and you apply for federal research funding, you'll ask for a specific dollar amount. Let's say you're asking for a million-dollar grant. Your grant covers the direct costs, things like the salaries of the researchers that you're paying. If you get that grant, your university might get an extra $500,000. That money is called “indirect costs,” but think of it as overhead: that money goes to lab space, to shared equipment, and so on.This is the system we've used to fund American research infrastructure for more than 60 years. But earlier this year, the Trump administration proposed capping these payments at just 15% of direct costs, way lower than current indirect cost rates. There are legal questions about whether the admin can do that. But if it does, it would force universities to fundamentally rethink how they do science.The indirect costs system is pretty opaque from the outside. Is the admin right to try and slash these indirect costs? Where does all that money go? And if we want to change how we fund research overhead, what are the alternatives? How do you design a research system to incentivize the research you actually wanna see in the world?I'm joined today by Pierre Azoulay from MIT Sloan and Dan Gross from Duke's Fuqua School of Business. Together with Bhaven Sampat at Johns Hopkins, they conducted the first comprehensive empirical study of how indirect costs actually work. Earlier this year, I worked with them to write up that study as a more accessible policy brief for IFP. They've assembled data on over 350 research institutions, and they found some striking results. While negotiated rates often exceed 50-60%, universities actually receive much less, due to built-in caps and exclusions.Moreover, the institutions that would be hit hardest by proposed cuts are those whose research most often leads to new drugs and commercial breakthroughs.Thanks to Katerina Barton, Harry Fletcher-Wood, and Inder Lohla for their help with this episode, and to Beez for her help on the charts.Let's say I'm a researcher at a university and I apply for a federal grant. I'm looking at cancer cells in mice. It will cost me $1 million to do that research — to pay grad students, to buy mice and test tubes. I apply for a grant from the National Institutes of Health, or NIH. Where do indirect costs come in?Dan Gross: Research generally incurs two categories of costs, much as business operations do.* Direct or variable costs are typically project-specific; they include salaries and consumable supplies.* Indirect or fixed costs are not as easily assigned to any particular project. [They include] things like lab space, data and computing resources, biosecurity, keeping the lights on and the buildings cooled and heated — even complying with the regulatory requirements the federal government imposes on researchers. They are the overhead costs of doing research.Pierre Azoulay: You will use those grad students, mice, and test tubes, the direct costs. But you're also using the lab space. You may be using a shared facility where the mice are kept and fed. Pieces of large equipment are shared by many other people to conduct experiments. So those are fixed costs from the standpoint of your research project.Dan: Indirect Cost Recovery (ICR) is how the federal government has been paying for the fixed cost of research for the past 60 years. This has been done by paying universities institution-specific fixed percentages on top of the direct cost of the research. That's the indirect cost rate. That rate is negotiated by institutions, typically every two to four years, supported by several hundred pages of documentation around its incurred costs over the recent funding cycle.The idea is to compensate federally funded researchers for the investments, infrastructure, and overhead expenses related to the research they perform for the government. Without that funding, universities would have to pay those costs out of pocket and, frankly, many would not be interested or able to do the science the government is funding them to do.Imagine I'm doing my mouse cancer science at MIT, Pierre's parent institution. Some time in the last four years, MIT had this negotiation with the National Institutes of Health to figure out what the MIT reimbursable rate is. But as a researcher, I don't have to worry about what indirect costs are reimbursable. I'm all mouse research, all day.Dan: These rates are as much of a mystery to the researchers as it is to the public. When I was junior faculty, I applied for an external grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) — you can look up awards folks have won in the award search portal. It doesn't break down indirect and direct cost shares of each grant. You see the total and say, “Wow, this person got $300,000.” Then you go to write your own grant and realize you can only budget about 60% of what you thought, because the rest goes to overhead. It comes as a bit of a shock the first time you apply for grant funding.What goes into the overhead rates? Most researchers and institutions don't have clear visibility into that. The process is so complicated that it's hard even for those who are experts to keep track of all the pieces.Pierre: As an individual researcher applying for a project, you think about the direct costs of your research projects. You're not thinking about the indirect rate. When the research administration of your institution sends the application, it's going to apply the right rates.So I've got this $1 million experiment I want to run on mouse cancer. If I get the grant, the total is $1.5 million. The university takes that .5 million for the indirect costs: the building, the massive microscope we bought last year, and a tiny bit for the janitor. Then I get my $1 million. Is that right?Dan: Duke University has a 61% indirect cost rate. If I propose a grant to the NSF for $100,000 of direct costs — it might be for data, OpenAI API credits, research staff salaries — I would need to budget an extra $61,000 on top for ICR, bringing the total grant to $161,000.My impression is that most federal support for research happens through project-specific grants. It's not these massive institutional block grants. Is that right?Pierre: By and large, there aren't infrastructure grants in the science funding system. There are other things, such as center grants that fund groups of investigators. Sometimes those can get pretty large — the NIH grant for a major cancer center like Dana-Farber could be tens of millions of dollars per year.Dan: In the past, US science funding agencies did provide more funding for infrastructure and the instrumentation that you need to perform research through block grants. In the 1960s, the NSF and the Department of Defense were kicking up major programs to establish new data collection efforts — observatories, radio astronomy, or the Deep Sea Drilling project the NSF ran, collecting core samples from the ocean floor around the world. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) — back then the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) — was investing in nuclear test detection to monitor adherence to nuclear test ban treaties. Some of these were satellite observation methods for atmospheric testing. Some were seismic measurement methods for underground testing. ARPA supported the installation of a network of seismic monitors around the world. Those monitors are responsible for validating tectonic plate theory. Over the next decade, their readings mapped the tectonic plates of the earth. That large-scale investment in research infrastructure is not as common in the US research policy enterprise today.That's fascinating. I learned last year how modern that validation of tectonic plate theory was. Until well into my grandparents' lifetime, we didn't know if tectonic plates existed.Dan: Santi, when were you born?1997.Dan: So I'm a good decade older than you — I was born in 1985. When we were learning tectonic plate theory in the 1990s, it seemed like something everybody had always known. It turns out that it had only been known for maybe 25 years.So there's this idea of federal funding for science as these massive pieces of infrastructure, like the Hubble Telescope. But although projects like that do happen, the median dollar the Feds spend on science today is for an individual grant, not installing seismic monitors all over the globe.Dan: You applied for a grant to fund a specific project, whose contours you've outlined in advance, and we provided the funding to execute that project.Pierre: You want to do some observations at the observatory in Chile, and you are going to need to buy a plane ticket — not first class, not business class, very much economy.Let's move to current events. In February of this year, the NIH announced it was capping indirect cost reimbursement at 15% on all grants.What's the administration's argument here?Pierre: The argument is there are cases where foundations only charge 15% overhead rate on grants — and universities acquiesce to such low rates — and the federal government is entitled to some sort of “most-favored nation” clause where no one pays less in overhead than they pay. That's the argument in this half-a-page notice. It's not much more elaborate than that.The idea is, the Gates Foundation says, “We will give you a grant to do health research and we're only going to pay 15% indirect costs.” Some universities say, “Thank you. We'll do that.” So clearly the universities don't need the extra indirect cost reimbursement?Pierre: I think so.Dan: Whether you can extrapolate from that to federal research funding is a different question, let alone if federal research was funding less research and including even less overhead. Would foundations make up some of the difference, or even continue funding as much research, if the resources provided by the federal government were lower? Those are open questions. Foundations complement federal funding, as opposed to substitute for it, and may be less interested in funding research if it's less productive.What are some reasons that argument might be misguided?Pierre: First, universities don't always say, “Yes” [to a researcher wishing to accept a grant]. At MIT, getting a grant means getting special authorization from the provost. That special authorization is not always forthcoming. The provost has a special fund, presumably funded out of the endowment, that under certain conditions they will dip into to make up for the missing overhead.So you've got some research that, for whatever reason, the federal government won't fund, and the Gates Foundation is only willing to fund it at this low rate, and the university has budgeted a little bit extra for those grants that it still wants.Pierre: That's my understanding. I know that if you're going to get a grant, you're going to have to sit in many meetings and cajole any number of administrators, and you don't always get your way.Second, it's not an apples-to-apples comparison [between federal and foundation grants] because there are ways to budget an item as a direct cost in a foundation grant that the government would consider an indirect cost. So you might budget some fractional access to a facility…Like the mouse microscope I have to use?Pierre: Yes, or some sort of Cryo-EM machine. You end up getting more overhead through the back door.The more fundamental way in which that approach is misguided is that the government wants its infrastructure — that it has contributed to through [past] indirect costs — to be leveraged by other funders. It's already there, it's been paid for, it's sitting idle, and we can get more bang for our buck if we get those additional funders to piggyback on that investment.Dan: That [other funders] might not be interested in funding otherwise.Why wouldn't they be interested in funding it otherwise? What shouldn't the federal government say, “We're going to pay less. If it's important research, somebody else will pay for it.”Dan: We're talking about an economies-of-scale problem. These are fixed costs. The more they're utilized, the more the costs get spread over individual research projects.For the past several decades, the federal government has funded an order of magnitude more university research than private firms or foundations. If you look at NSF survey data, 55% of university R&D is federally funded; 6% is funded by foundations. That is an order of magnitude difference. The federal government has the scale to support and extract value for whatever its goals are for American science.We haven't even started to get into the administrative costs of research. That is part of the public and political discomfort with indirect-cost recovery. The idea that this is money that's going to fund university bloat.I should lay my cards on the table here for readers. There are a ton of problems with the American scientific enterprise as it currently exists. But when you look at studies from a wide range of folks, it's obvious that R&D in American universities is hugely valuable. Federal R&D dollars more than pay for themselves. I want to leave room for all critiques of the scientific ecosystem, of the universities, of individual research ideas. But at this 30,000-foot level, federal R&D dollars are well spent.Dan: The evidence may suggest that, but that's not where the political and public dialogue around science policy is. Again, I'm going to bring in a long arc here. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was, “We're in a race with the Soviet Union. If we want to win this race, we're going to have to take some risky bets.” And the US did. It was more flexible with its investments in university and industrial science, especially related to defense aims. But over time, with the waning of these political pressures and with new budgetary pressures, the tenor shifted from, “Let's take chances” to “Let's make science and other parts of government more accountable.” The undercurrent of Indirect Cost Recovery policy debates has more of this accountability framing.This comes up in this comparison to foundation rates: “Is the government overpaying?” Clearly universities are willing to accept less from foundations. It comes up in this perception that ICR is funding administrative growth that may not be productive or socially efficient. Accountability seems to be a priority in the current day.Where are we right now [August 2025] on that 15% cap on indirect costs?Dan: Recent changes first kicked off on February 7th, when NIH posted its supplemental guidance, that introduced a policy that the direct cost rates that it paid on its grants would be 15% to institutions of higher education. That policy was then adopted by the NSF, the DOD, and the Department of Energy. All of these have gotten held up in court by litigation from universities. Things are stuck in legal limbo. Congress has presented its point of view that, “At least for now, I'd like to keep things as they are.” But this has been an object of controversy long before the current administration even took office in January. I don't think it's going away.Pierre: If I had to guess, the proposal as it first took shape is not what is going to end up being adopted. But the idea that overhead rates are an object of controversy — are too high, and need to be reformed — is going to stay relevant.Dan: Partly that's because it's a complicated issue. Partly there's not a real benchmark of what an appropriate Indirect Cost Recovery policy should be. Any way you try to fund the cost of research, you're going to run into trade-offs. Those are complicated.ICR does draw criticism. People think it's bloated or lacks transparency. We would agree some of these critiques are well-founded. Yet it's also important to remember that ICR pays for facilities and administration. It doesn't just fund administrative costs, which is what people usually associate it with. The share of ICR that goes to administrative costs is legally capped at 26% of direct costs. That cap has been in place since 1991. Many universities have been at that cap for many years — you can see this in public records. So the idea that indirect costs are going up over time, and that that's because of bloat at US universities, has to be incorrect, because the administrative rate has been capped for three decades.Many of those costs are incurred in service of complying with regulations that govern research, including the cost of administering ICR to begin with. Compiling great proposals every two to four years and a new round of negotiations — all of that takes resources. Those are among the things that indirect cost funding reimburses.Even then, universities appear to under-recover their true indirect costs of federally-sponsored research. We have examples from specific universities which have reported detailed numbers. That under-recovery means less incentive to invest in infrastructure, less capacity for innovation, fewer clinical trials. So there's a case to be made that indirect cost funding is too low.Pierre: The bottom line is we don't know if there is under- or over-recovery of indirect costs. There's an incentive for university administrators to claim there's under-recovery. So I take that with a huge grain of salt.Dan: It's ambiguous what a best policy would look like, but this is all to say that, first, public understanding of this complex issue is sometimes a bit murky. Second, a path forward has to embrace the trade-offs that any particular approach to ICR presents.From reading your paper, I got a much better sense that a ton of the administrative bloat of the modern university is responding to federal regulations on research. The average researcher reports spending almost half of their time on paperwork. Some of that is a consequence of the research or grant process; some is regulatory compliance.The other thing, which I want to hear more on, is that research tools seem to be becoming more expensive and complex. So the microscope I'm using today is an order of magnitude more expensive than the microscope I was using in 1950. And you've got to recoup those costs somehow.Pierre: Everything costs more than it used to. Research is subject to Baumol's cost disease. There are areas where there's been productivity gains — software has had an impact.The stakes are high because, if we get this wrong, we're telling researchers that they should bias the type of research they're going to pursue and training that they're going to undergo, with an eye to what is cheaper. If we reduce the overhead rate, we should expect research that has less fixed cost and more variable costs to gain in favor — and research that is more scale-intensive to lose favor. There's no reason for a benevolent social planner to find that a good development. The government should be neutral with respect to the cost structure of research activities. We don't know in advance what's going to be more productive.Wouldn't a critic respond, “We're going to fund a little bit of indirect costs, but we're not going to subsidize stuff that takes huge amounts of overhead. If universities want to build that fancy new telescope because it's valuable, they'll do it.” Why is that wrong when it comes to science funding?Pierre: There's a grain of truth to it.Dan: With what resources though? Who's incentivized to invest in this infrastructure? There's not a paid market for science. Universities can generate some licensing fees from patents that result from science. But those are meager revenue streams, realistically. There are reasons to believe that commercial firms are under-incentivized to invest in basic scientific research. Prior to 1940, the scientific enterprise was dramatically smaller because there wasn't funding the way that there is today. The exigencies of war drew the federal government into funding research in order to win. Then it was productive enough that folks decided we should keep doing it. History and economic logic tells us that you're not going to see as much science — especially in these fixed-cost heavy endeavors — when those resources aren't provided by the public.Pierre: My one possible answer to the question is, “The endowment is going to pay for it.” MIT has an endowment, but many other universities do not. What does that mean for them? The administration also wants to tax the heck out of the endowment.This is a good opportunity to look at the empirical work you guys did in this great paper. As far as I can tell, this was one of the first real looks at what indirect costs rates look like in real life. What did you guys find?Dan: Two decades ago, Pierre and Bhaven began collecting information on universities' historical indirect cost rates. This is a resource that was quietly sitting on the shelf waiting for its day. That day came this past February. Bhaven and Pierre collected information on negotiated ICR rates for the past 60 years. During this project, we also collected the most recent versions of those agreements from university websites to bring the numbers up to the current day.We pulled together data for around 350 universities and other research institutions. Together, they account for around 85% of all NIH research funding over the last 20 years.We looked at their:* Negotiated indirect cost rates, from institutional indirect cost agreements with the government, and their;* Effective rates [how much they actually get when you look at grant payments], using NIH grant funding data.Negotiated cost rates have gone up. That has led to concerns that the overhead cost of research is going up — these claims that it's funding administrative bloat. But our most important finding is that there's a large gap between the sticker rates — the negotiated ICR rates that are visible to the public, and get floated on Twitter as examples of university exorbitance — and the rates that universities are paid in practice, at least on NIH grants; we think it's likely the case for NSF and other agency grants too.An institution's effective ICR funding rates are much, much lower than their negotiated rates and they haven't changed much for 40 years. If you look at NIH's annual budget, the share of grant funding that goes to indirect costs has been roughly constant at 27-28% for a long time. That implies an effective rate of around 40% over direct costs. Even though many institutions have negotiated rates of 50-70%, they usually receive 30-50%.The difference between those negotiated rates and the effective rates seems to be due to limits and exceptions built into NIH grant rules. Those rules exclude some grants, such as training grants, from full indirect cost funding. They also exclude some direct costs from the figure used to calculate ICR rates. The implication is that institutions receive ICR payments based on a smaller portion of their incurred direct costs than typically assumed. As the negotiated direct cost falls, you see a university being paid a higher indirect cost rate off a smaller — modified — direct cost base, to recover the same amount of overhead.Is it that the federal government is saying for more parts of the grant, “We're not going to reimburse that as an indirect cost.”?Dan: This is where we shift a little bit from assessment to speculation. What's excluded from total direct costs? One thing is researcher salaries above a certain level.What is that level? Can you give me a dollar amount?Dan: It's a $225,700 annual salary. There aren't enough people being paid that on these grants for that to explain the difference, especially when you consider that research salaries are being paid to postdocs and grad students.You're looking around the scientists in your institution and thinking, “That's not where the money is”?Dan: It's not, even if you consider Principal Investigators. If you consider postdocs and grad students, it certainly isn't.Dan: My best hunch is that research projects have become more capital-intensive, and only a certain level of expenditure on equipment can be included in the modified total direct cost base. I don't have smoking gun evidence, it's my intuition.In the paper, there's this fascinating chart where you show the institutions that would get hit hardest by a 15% cap tend to be those that do the most valuable medical research. Explain that on this framework. Is it that doing high-quality medical research is capital-intensive?Pierre: We look at all the private-sector patents that build on NIH research. The more a university stands to lose under the administration policy, the more it has contributed over the past 25 years — in research the private sector found relevant in terms of pharmaceutical patents.This is counterintuitive if your whole model of funding for science is, “Let's cut subsidies for the stuff the private sector doesn't care about — all this big equipment.” When you cut those subsidies, what suffers most is the stuff that the private sector likes.Pierre: To me it makes perfect sense. This is the stuff that the private sector would not be willing to invest in on its own. But that research, having come into being, is now a very valuable input into activities that profit-minded investors find interesting and worth taking a risk on.This is the argument for the government to fund basic research?Pierre: That argument has been made at the macro-level forever, but the bibliometric revolution of the past 15 years allows you to look at this at the nano-level. Recently I've been able to look at the history of Ozempic. The main patent cites zero publicly-funded research, but it cites a bunch of patents, including patents taken up by academics. Those cite the foundational research performed by Joel Habener and his team at Massachusetts General Hospital in the early 1980s that elucidated the role of GLP-1 as a potential target. This grant was first awarded to Habener in 1979, was renewed every four or five years, and finally died in 2008, when he moved on to other things. Those chains are complex, but we can now validate the macro picture at this more granular level.Dan: I do want to add one qualification which also suggests some directions for the future. There are things we still can't see — despite Pierre's zeal. Our projections of the consequence of a 15% rate cap are still pretty coarse. We don't know what research might not take place. We don't know what indirect cost categories are exposed, or how universities would reallocate. All those things are going to be difficult to project without a proper experiment.One thing that I would've loved to have more visibility into is, “What is the structure of indirect costs at universities across the country? What share of paid indirect costs are going to administrative expenses? What direct cost categories are being excluded?” We would need a more transparency into the system to know the answers.Does that information have to be proprietary? It's part of negotiations with the federal government about how much the taxpayer will pay for overhead on these grants. Which piece is so special that it can't be shared?Pierre: You are talking to the wrong people here because we're meta-scientists, so our answer is none of it should be private.Dan: But now you have to ask the university lawyers.What would the case from the universities be? “We can't tell the public what we spend subsidy on”?Pierre: My sense is that there are institutions of academia that strike most lay people as completely bizarre.Hard to explain without context?Pierre: People haven't thought about it. They will find it so bizarre that they will typically jump from the odd aspect to, “That must be corruption.” University administrators are hugely attuned to that. So the natural defensive approach is to shroud it in secrecy. This way we don't see how the sausage is made.Dan: Transparency can be a blessing and a curse. More information supports more considered decision-making. It also opens the door to misrepresentation by critics who have their own agendas. Pierre's right: there are some practices that to the public might look unusual — or might be familiar, but one might say, “How is that useful expense?” Even a simple thing like having an administrator who manages a faculty's calendar might seem excessive. Many people manage their own calendars. At the same time, when you think about how someone's time is best used, given their expertise, and heavy investment in specialized human capital, are emails, calendaring, and note-taking the right things for scientists [to be doing]? Scientists spend a large chunk of their time now administering grants. Does it make sense to outsource that and preserve the scientist's time for more science?When you put forward data that shows some share of federal research funding is going to fund administrative costs, at first glance it might look wasteful, yet it might still be productive. But I would be able to make a more considered judgment on a path forward if I had access to more facts, including what indirect costs look like under the hood.One last question: in a world where you guys have the ear of the Senate, political leadership at the NIH, and maybe the universities, what would you be pushing for on indirect costs?Pierre: I've come to think that this indirect cost rate is a second-best institution: terrible and yet superior to many of the alternatives. My favorite alternative would be one where there would be a flat rate applied to direct costs. That would be the average effective rate currently observed — on the order of 40%.You're swapping out this complicated system to — in the end — reimburse universities the same 40%.Pierre: We know there are fixed costs. Those fixed costs need to be paid. We could have an elaborate bureaucratic apparatus to try to get it exactly right, but it's mission impossible. So why don't we give up on that and set a rate that's unlikely to lead to large errors in under- or over-recovery. I'm not particularly attached to 40%. But the 15% that was contemplated seems absurdly low.Dan: In the work we've done, we do lay out different approaches. The 15% rate wouldn't fully cut out the negotiation process: to receive that, you have to document your overhead costs and demonstrate that they reached that level. In any case, it's simplifying. It forces more cost-sharing and maybe more judicious investments by universities. But it's also so low that it's likely to make a significant amount of high-value, life-improving research economically unattractive.The current system is complicated and burdensome. It might encourage investment in less productive things, particularly because universities can get it paid back through future ICR. At the same time, it provides pretty good incentives to take on expensive, high-value research on behalf of the public.I would land on one of two alternatives. One of those is close to what Pierre said, with fixed rates, but varied by institution types: one for universities, one for medical schools, one for independent research institutions — because we do see some variation in their cost structures. We might set those rates around their historical average effective rates, since those haven't changed for quite a long time. If you set different rates for different categories of institution, the more finely you slice the pie, the closer you end up to the current system. So that's why I said maybe, at a very high level, four categories.The other I could imagine is to shift more of these costs “above the line” — to adapt the system to enable more of these indirect costs to be budgeted as direct costs in grants. This isn't always easy, but presumably some things we currently call indirect costs could be accounted for in a direct cost manner. Foundations do it a bit more than the federal government does, so that could be another path forward.There's no silver bullet. Our goal was to try to bring some understanding to this long-running policy debate over how to fund the indirect cost of research and what appropriate rates should be. It's been a recurring question for several decades and now is in the hot seat again. Hopefully through this work, we've been able to help push that dialogue along. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.statecraft.pub

Kencan Dengan Tuhan - Jumat, 5 Desember 2025Bacaan: "Tetapi supaya jangan kita menjadi batu sandungan bagi mereka, pergilah memancing ke danau. Dan ikan pertama yang kaupancing, tangkaplah dan bukalah mulutnya, maka engkau akan menemukan mata uang empat dirham di dalamnya. Ambillah itu dan bayarkanlah kepada mereka, bagi-Ku dan bagimu juga." (Matius 17:27)Renungan: Nelayan yang sangat berpengalaman seperti Simon Petrus sekalipun, tidak akan pernah dengan tepat mengetahui ke mana seekor ikan atau gerombolan ikan akan berenang sehingga ia dapat menangkapnya. Tetapi mukjizat yang dilakukan Yesus membuktikan bahwa Ia adalah Tuhan semesta alam, yaitu ketika Ia memerintahkan Petrus untuk menangkap ikan dan mengambil uang senilai 4 dirham dari dalam mulut ikan yang pertama kali didapatnya. Sebagai seorang nelayan yang berpengalaman, Petrus taat pada perintah Yesus. Oleh karena itu dengan tenang ia duduk dan memancing di tepi danau Galilea demi mendapat uang 4 dirham dalam mulut ikan untuk membayar pajak seperti yang diperintahkan Yesus padanya. Petrus sangat terheran-heran ketika apa yang dikatakan Yesus sungguh terjadi. Sebagai Tuhan, Yesus memerintahkan seekor ikan yang sedang mengulum uang senilai 4 dirham bergerak untuk memakan umpan Petrus, dan semua itu dilakukan-Nya untuk memenuhi kewajiban yang tidak seharusnya dikenakan kepada Dia dan pengikut-Nya. Sungguh ajaib bukan? Sebagai Tuhan, Yesus tahu segala sesuatu yang terjadi di alam semesta ini dan Dia berkuasa memerintahkan apa saja untuk menjawab kebutuhan umat-Nya. Yesus yang disembah dan dipercaya oleh Petrus adalah Yesus yang sama yang saat ini kita sembah dan kita percaya, tetapi mengapa kita sering khawatir tentang hidup ini? Tentang makan, minum, pakaian, tempat tinggal, studi, pasangan hidup dan masa depan kita? Bukankah Dia telah lebih dulu mengetahui semua kebutuhan kita dan berkuasa mengatur yang terbaik bagi hidup kita? Bagian kita hanyalah taat dan melangkah manakala Yesus memerintahkan sesuatu kepada kita. Marilah kita berubah untuk lebih percaya lagi, dan menyerahkan segala kekhawatiran kita kepada-Nya. Percayalah, bahwa Yesus tidak membiarkan kita sendirian menanggung beban hidup kita yang datang silih berganti. Kalau Yesus bisa memerintahkan seekor. Ikan untuk memberkati Petrus, maka Ia juga bisa memerintahkan banyak hal untuk menyelesaikan pergumulan hidup kita. Tuhan Yesus memberkati. Doa: Tuhan Yesus, terima kasih atas pemeliharaan-Mu pada ku sampai dengan saat ini. Ajarilah aku untuk senantiasa taat pada perintah-Mu, sebab Engkau lebih tahu apa yang terbaik bagiku dalam hidup ini. Tambahkanlah imanku agar aku percaya bahwa Engkau sanggup menyelesaikan setiap permasalahanku dengan cara-Mu yang ajaib. Amin. (Dod).

    Unlock the secrets of military medicine and simulation technology with insights from two leading experts, retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Jason Robbins and Lou Oberndorf, CEO of Operative Experience Incorporated. Discover how these trailblazers have navigated the evolution of medical simulation, turning traditional training on its head and preparing medics for the chaotic and high-pressure environments they may face. Their stories reveal the critical role that high-fidelity simulators play in equipping healthcare professionals with the skills needed to manage physiological disparities, chaos control, and patient responsibility.     In a riveting conversation about the advancement of simulation technology, Jason and Lou explore the transition from traditional mentorship to cutting-edge, AI-driven simulators. By weaving personal experiences with industry shifts, they illuminate how medical education has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past 30 years. Their discourse reveals the monumental challenges and triumphs of integrating simulation technologies into both military and civilian healthcare settings, with a focus on the unique demands of combat medicine and on how AI is poised to further revolutionize this field.     Jason and Lou discuss the pressing need for anatomically accurate simulators, particularly for female soldiers. They provide an eye-opening look at how these innovations are dismantling social and psychological barriers and are vital for training efficacy. They candidly discuss the psychological toll of combat on healthcare providers and the irreplaceable value of real-life experience, underscoring that while simulation is a bridge for skill development, it cannot fully substitute the lessons learned from treating real patients. Join us in this compelling episode to understand how simulation is not just a tool but a pivotal element in preparing medics for the unforgiving realities of the battlefield.   Chapters: (00:04) Evolution of Military Medicine Simulation (09:55) Advancing Medical Simulation in Healthcare (17:31) Simulation Training in Special Operations (23:17) Medical Simulation Advancements for Training (36:17) Military Simulation Technology and AI (49:20) Preparing Military Medics with Simulation   Chapter Summaries: (00:04) Evolution of Military Medicine Simulation   Military medics discuss simulation technology, physiological disparities, and leadership lessons in chaotic environments.   (09:55) Advancing Medical Simulation in Healthcare   Commercialization of medical simulation technology, its integration into military medicine, and its impact on patient care.   (17:31) Simulation Training in Special Operations   Simulation, training standards, and cultural barriers are addressed in AFSOC's journey to improve special operations medical training.   (23:17) Medical Simulation Advancements for Training   Female simulators provide safe and effective training for military medics, addressing gender disparities and ensuring consistency.   (36:17) Military Simulation Technology and AI   AI has the potential to enhance medical simulation, with challenges in technology development and differences between military and civilian healthcare settings.   (49:20) Preparing Military Medics With Simulation   Medical simulators prepare healthcare professionals for combat trauma, but cannot replace real-life experience.   Take Home Messages: The Role of Medical Simulation in Military Medicine: The episode highlights the transformative impact of medical simulation technology on military medicine, emphasizing its role in preparing medics for high-stress and austere environments. It underscores how advancements in simulation, particularly with the integration of artificial intelligence, have enhanced the realism and effectiveness of medical training. Evolution from Defense to Healthcare: The conversation traces the journey of medical simulation technology from its origins in defense innovation during the early '90s to its widespread adoption in both military and civilian healthcare settings. This transition has replaced traditional mentorship models with high-fidelity simulators, revolutionizing medical education and training. Advancements in Anatomically Accurate Simulators: A significant development discussed is the creation of anatomically accurate female simulators, which address social and psychological barriers in medical training. These innovations ensure that medics are better prepared for real-world scenarios, particularly in treating female soldiers, thereby improving training efficacy. Continuous Training and Readiness: The importance of continuous training to maintain readiness is emphasized, especially in the context of military medicine where skill erosion can occur between conflicts. Simulation technology provides a safe environment for medics to practice and refine their skills, ensuring they are prepared for future challenges. Ethical Considerations in Simulation Technology: The episode also touches on the ethical and moral considerations in developing realistic simulation technologies. While simulators are essential for skill development, they cannot fully replicate the emotional and psychological challenges of real-life trauma, highlighting the need for a balanced approach in training methodologies.   Episode Keywords: military medics, trauma training, high-fidelity simulators, Operative Experience Incorporated, Jason Robbins, Lou Orberndorf, anatomical simulators, female simulators, training technology, medical education, combat medicine, civilian healthcare, simulation technology, patient care, chaos management, medical training, military healthcare, podcast episode   Hashtags: #wardocs #military #medicine #podcast #MilMed #MedEd #MilitaryMedicine #MedicalSimulation #CombatCare #HealthcareInnovation #AIMedicalTraining #CivilianHealthcare #MilitaryMedics #TraumaTraining #MedicalTechnology #SimulationAdvancements **This episode was supported by an educational grant provided by Operative Experience Inc.** Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. We foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation.   Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guest episodes at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/our-guests Subscribe and Like our Videos on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm   WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible and go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in Military Medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you. WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all military medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield,demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.     Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wardocspodcast

On this episode of the GovCon Giants Podcast, Eric sits down with Mario Antwine, Yale and Howard grad, M&A strategist, and new owner of Pearl Interactive Network, to break down how a finance guy bought an eight-figure federal contractor and is now scaling it like a private equity platform. Mario shares why he targeted GovCon specifically, how he acquired Pearl sight unseen, and the operational upgrades he's made to modernize a 20-year-old business process outsourcing company serving HHS, DOD, VA, and DHS. You'll hear how he thinks about systems, advisors, and culture, why he's aggressively hunting small-business teaming partners, and why the future of GovCon belongs to companies that pair mission-driven work with tech-enabled innovation.  Key Takeaways: Buy, don't just build: Mario used acquisition—backed by strong advisors and a clear thesis—to enter GovCon and rapidly step into large, long-term federal contracts instead of starting from scratch. Teaming as a growth engine: Pearl is actively looking for small-business partners in digital transformation, cloud/ServiceNow, behavioral health, automation, and IT help desk across HHS, Defense Health, VA, and DHS. Platforms > one-off contracts: The winners in the next phase of GovCon will be those who build repeatable systems, tech-enabled delivery models, and mission-focused platforms that agencies and primes can't imagine operating without. Learn more: https://federalhelpcenter.com/ https://govcongiants.org/  Encore Funding: https://www.encore-funding.com/  Tony's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-gray-mba-bdp/ Website: https://www.gbdassociation.org/

Vláda predstavila vzorec, podľa ktorého sa bude vypočítavať energopomoc na rok 2026. Získa ju približne 90% domácností, vrátane skutočne bohatých ľudí. „Do príjmov sa zarátavajú hrubé mzdy, príjmy z podnikania a dôchodky. Nezarátavajú sa tam dividendy a príjmy z prenájmu,“ hovorí v rozhovore analytik Radovan Potočár z portálu Energie-portal.sk. Vysvetľuje, ako bude vyzerať vzorec výpočtu bonity domácnosti a ktoré skupiny obyvateľov získajú alebo stratia nárok na dotáciu od štátu. Jednoosobová domácnosť nesmie mať hrubý príjem vyšší ako 1930 eur. V prípade rodiny s dvoma deťmi existuje nárok do výšky spoločného hrubého príjmu 5 211 eur. Ak niekto vlastní viac bytov a niektoré prenajíma, tento príjem sa mu nezarátava do výpočtu jeho bonity. Takže sa môže kvalifikovať na energopomoc a tú potom môže čerpať aj na byty, ktoré prenajíma a nemá v nich trvalý pobyt.„Vzniká veľmi komplikovaný systém plný nespravodlivostí a štát ušetrí len veľmi málo,“ hodnotí to Radovan Potočár. Dodáva, že energopomoc v takejto podobe len zvyšuje potrebný objem konsolidácie a občania to napokon všetko zaplatia cez zvýšené dane. „Nemá to veľký zmysel a kriví to motiváciu ľudí energiami šetriť a obnovovať svoje domy.“ Analytik komentuje aj rozhodnutie EÚ úplne ukončiť odber ruského plynu od jesene 2027. Podľa Roberta Fica ide o rozhodnutie ideologické a škodlivé pre Slovensko a celú EÚ a Slovensko zvažuje žalobu na EK. „Zastavenie dodávok ruského plynu je vec pudu sebazáchovy. Ak bojujeme s Ruskom, tak nemá zmysel, aby sme sa jednou rukou bránili a druhou mu dávali peniaze. Slovensko si dokáže zabezpečiť dostatok plynu aj z iných zdrojov,“ hovorí R. Potočár. Zároveň vysvetľuje, či sú v Európe dostatočné kapacity a aké ceny plynu možno očakávať. Rozhovor moderuje Eva Mihočková. V rozhovore sa dozviete: Ako sa bude vypočítavať energopomoc v roku 2026 Ktoré domácnosti vypadnú z nároku na energopomoc Prečo je energopomoc politický fetiš Prečo neplatí mýtus o lacnom ruskom plyne Prečo majú slovenské firmy jednu z najvyšších cien plynu v EÚ? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of “The Liz Wheeler Show,” Liz is joined by Jason Buttrill, former DOD intelligence analyst, to discuss the rising tension between the U.S. and Venezuela. Jason explains why President Trump destroyed several cartel boats and what may happen in the future. SPONSORS: ALL FAMILY PHARMACY: If you value preparation, clarity, and the freedom to make informed choices, visit http://www.AllFamilyPharmacy.com/LIZ before December second and secure your Black Friday BOGO deal. KINDRED HARVEST: Stop trusting China with your family's health. Choose American quality. Choose Kindred Harvest. Cultivating Goodness Daily. Go to http://www.KindredHarvest.co and use code LIZ for 20% off. -- Get the full audio show on all major podcast platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-liz-wheeler-show/id1567701295 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LhlHfocr5gMnLj4l573iI iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-liz-wheeler-show-82737301/ Subscribe to The Liz Wheeler Show newsletter: https://lizwheeler.com/email Get VIP access to The Liz Wheeler Show on Locals: https://lizwheeler.locals.com/. Stay in touch with Liz on social media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lizwheeler Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLizWheeler Twitter: https://twitter.com/Liz_Wheeler Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/OfficialLizWheeler Rumble: https://rumble.com/LizWheeler Website: https://lizwheeler.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Robots and Red Tape, Nick Schutt talks with Sandeep Kathuria — partner at Ice Miller, 15+ year government contracts attorney, and one of the few people who's been in the room since the very first DoD cyber rules in 2009 — about the brand-new CMMC program that became contractually enforceable in November 2025. We break down: The 6½-year journey from DFARS 7012 to the final CMMC rule Exactly what Level 1, Level 2, and (eventually) Level 3 require Why self-attestation is gone and third-party certification is mandatory The assessor bottleneck (100+ accredited worldwide) and how to get in line Real workarounds small companies are already using (store CUI on your prime's compliant system) False Claims Act landmines around inflated SPRS scores Whether all this new red tape will actually scare innovators away from DoD work If you touch DoD contracts in any way — prime, sub, or supplier — this is required listening. Channel: @RobotsandRedTapeAI | Host: Nick Schutt Subscribe so you don't get locked out of your next RFP.

Send us a textPeaches drops a fresh Daily Drop packed with real military updates, Special Warfare insight, and a full tour through what's happening across the DoD. From Army sensor tests in Europe to Marine fast-rope drills in the Caribbean, this episode hits every corner of the force. Peaches breaks down why attributes matter in Special Warfare selection, how every exercise ties directly to the job, and why candidates must show raw potential—not just speed on a run. He also dives into tank gunnery in Bulgaria, airborne night navigation, Navy refueling ops, Coast Guard rescues, Space Force silence, and a Silver Star story that actually deserves attention. Plus: the mystery of submarine navigation, political noise in the defense world, and why getting your news from credible sources matters more than ever.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 Daily Drop kickoff 00:40 What “attributes-based selection” really means 01:30 OTS updates and performance breakthroughs 02:55 Army sensor testing in Germany 03:40 Abrams gunnery in Bulgaria 04:25 Airborne night nav at Fort Bragg 05:10 Navy aerial refueling recap 06:00 Seahawk rescue training in Hawaii 07:15 Quantum navigation breakthroughs 08:30 Submarine navigation curiosity 09:40 Carrier flight ops in the Caribbean 10:20 Marine fast-rope readiness 11:10 Silver Star ceremony highlights 12:40 Coast Guard rescue and port response 13:30 DoD investigations and legal updates 14:30 POTUS message on lawful orders 15:30 Wrap-up and final thoughts

Jon Herold kicks off the December 1 Daily Herold with post-Thanksgiving catch-up before diving straight into the drip-drip chaos surrounding Emerald Robinson's ongoing claims about election interference and the Three Musketeers story. He walks through the logical gaps, the lack of sourcing, the contradictions about 2016, and why he believes the narrative ultimately works to delegitimize Trump rather than expose wrongdoing. From there Jon broadens the lens to the wider information war, calling out media hit pieces like the New York Times' attempted takedown of David Sacks, the parallels to attacks against Badlands, and how irregular warfare operates by generating false conflicts and weaponized narratives. He checks in on the lack of new federal documents, DoD updates, Doge's missing Friday posts, and Trump's latest Truth Social messages about Syria, the Sedition 6, and Mark Twain. Later he examines peace-deal rumors around Ukraine, the legal battle over Alina Habba's appointment, and key geopolitical shifts including Venezuelan tensions and Biden-era foreign policy failures. Jon closes with reflections on Bitcoin as energy-based currency, the Flynn debate, and even college-football coaching chaos, all tied back to the larger fight over information, legitimacy, and narrative control.

In his Nov. 7 address to industry, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid out what the U.S. military wants from its contractors and wholesale changes the Pentagon is carrying out to make agile acquisitions a reality.Lauren Williams, senior editor at Defense One who covers the industrial base, was there in-person and joins our Ross Wilkers for this episode to walk through those structural changes that prior Defense Department leaders have spoken about for years.One major theme of that dialogue has been DOD's desire to have more commercial technologies, which has been easier said than done. But as Lauren explains, the push to “go commercial” is more than just about the product being bought.Also on this episode's discussion agenda: what the defense industrial base has been up to during the shutdown and why prototyping is becoming more popular across the ecosystem.Unveiling acquisition overhaul, Hegseth tells industry to get with the programDefense tech companies will weather the shutdown. But what happens next?Experts see promise, risk in Pentagon's draft acquisition reformsMeet the White House pick to conquer the ‘Valley of Death'With cautious optimism, some defense firms lock in on prototypes to drive demand

The Defense Department wants to shake up how it works with value-added resellers. In a draft memo obtained by Federal News Network, the Pentagon would place a 5% cap on most fees charged by resellers. DoD will start with a specific special item number or SIN for IT products. For more on what DoD is planning, Federal News Network's executive editor Jason Miller joins me now with exclusive details.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

SHOW 11-26-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1959 THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT STEE WITKOFF FIRST HOUR 9-915 Trump Envoy's Leaked Negotiations Undermine Ukraine Sovereignty; NATO Grapples with Political Will and Manpower Gaps — Colonel Jeff McCausland — Colonel McCausland analyzes leaked details revealing Trumpenvoy Steve Witkoff coaching Russian negotiators and proposing Ukrainian territorial concessions, violating fundamental negotiation principles. McCausland believes the war's continuation is the most probable outcome given these dynamics. McCausland assesses NATO readiness, concluding that while economic components exist, political will remains crucial. He condemns the DoD's attempt to prosecute Senator Kelly for citing Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) principles. C915-930 CONTINUED Trump Envoy's Leaked Negotiations Undermine Ukraine Sovereignty; NATO Grapples with Political Will and Manpower Gaps — Colonel Jeff McCausland — 930-945 Hyper-Individualism Since 1968 Has Fractured Civic Communion, Demands Rebuilding of Formative Institutions— Richard Reinsch — Reinsch argues that American politics is fundamentally undermined by a culture of hyper-individualism—a concept emerging around 1968—that divorces citizens from duty, sacrifice, and relational belonging. This cultural fragmentation has destroyed "civic communion" and social cohesion. To reclaim the republic, Reinschcontends citizens must actively resist the breakdown of formative institutions and work to restore loyalty and commitment through religion, education, family, and military service. 945-1000 SECOND HOUR 10-1015 China's Property Crisis Deepens as State-Owned Giant Vanke Plunges; Export Model Creates International Friction — Fraser Howie — Howie documents the deepening property market crisis, evidenced by the financial collapse of state-owned developer Vanke. The central government avoids massive bailout commitments, converting acute sectoral problems into chronic structural drags that leave municipal and regional banks dangerously exposed. Howie notes that the government's current strategy—relying on massive export volumes—is generating significant international friction and pushback, as other nations fear being "swamped by cheap Chinese imports" and demand market access reciprocity. 1015-1030 PLA Anti-Submarine Warfare Grows, But Taiwan Conflict Will Immediately Escalate to Total War for Ryukyu Islands — Rick Fisher — Fisher notes that the PLA Navy has invested heavily in advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. However, Japan maintains a meaningful deterrent margin through its new lithium-battery powered submarines. Fisher warns that China cannot impose an effective blockade of Taiwan without invading and occupying the Sakushima Islands (part of the Ryukyu chain), guaranteeing that any conflict over Taiwan's status will immediately transition into total, wider warfare involving Japan and the United States. C 1030-104C Canada's PM Carney Pursues China Trade Ties Despite Warnings of Beijing's Malign Influence and Elite Capture— Charles Burton — Burton analyzes Prime Minister Carney's efforts to strengthen trade relations with China, potentially to offset escalating tensions with the U.S. Burton suggests Carney assumes China will reward policy concessions by opening its markets, though historical precedent demonstrates China routinely offers empty promises. Burton expresses concern that the government is delaying implementation of a Foreign Influence Registry to appease Beijing, enabling continued espionage, infiltration operations, and the "elite capture" of Canadian policy makers. 1045-1100 China's AI War Planning Focuses on Deception, Raises Global Thermonuclear Risk — General Blaine Holt — General Holt examines China's PLA war planning, which prioritizes using artificial intelligence for grand deception operations. He argues that fifth-generation warfare, leveraging deepfakes and large language models, is potentially more destructive than nuclear weapons. Holt warns that autonomous AI systems adjudicating warfare decisions—analogous to WarGames—represents a probable future scenario. He assesses NATO as "slow and archaic," underscoring the urgent need for advanced indicators, warning systems, and diplomatic frameworks to manage emerging technological threats. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 Author Charles Burton Recounts MSS Interrogation; Details Canada's Decade of Failing to Counter Chinese Malign Activity — Charles Burton — Burton recounts his 2018 interrogation by China's Ministry of State Securityregarding his academic research on Chinese political democratization. He asserts that successive Canadian governments have consistently failed to challenge Beijing's malign operations. Burton cites slow responses to Huawei 5G concerns, government secrecy surrounding the Wuhan-Winnipeg laboratory connections during COVID-19, and current resistance to subsidized BYD electric vehicles, which function as surveillance and data collection tools. 1115-1130 1130-1145 1145-1200 FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 UK Tax Hikes Reach All-Time High, Fueling Entrepreneur Exodus and Political Turmoil for Labor Party — Simon Constable — Constable reports that the UK Labour budget under Rachel Reeves will raise the aggregate tax burden to an all-time high of 38% of GDP. This approach is viewed as fundamentally anti-business, with over two-thirds of entrepreneurs reporting that the government lacks genuine support for wealth creation and private enterprise. Constable predicts this environment will trigger an exodus of new wealth creators and capital. Constable suggests the resulting political turmoil positions Nigel Farage as a credible contender for future UKleadership. 1215-1230 Sanctions Hit Russian Economy Hard as Middlemen Charge Massive Premiums for Imports and Demand Huge Energy Discounts — Michael Bernstam — Bernstam details how countries including China and Turkey exploit Russia's economic isolation through sanctions. China demands oil discounts of up to $19 per barrel while simultaneously charging an 87% premium for manufactured goods exported to Russia. This arbitrage mechanism has contributed to a severe recession in Russia's civilian economy (5.4% contraction). Russia has increasingly relied on gold reserves to cover government budget deficits and sustain essential spending. 1230-1245 1245-100 AM SpaceX Explosion, Chinese Stranding Highlight Private Space Successes and Major Space Failures — Bob Zimmerman — Zimmerman reports on a SpaceX Super Heavy prototype explosion during testing, emphasizing that engineering failures are vital mechanisms for program advancement and refinement. In stark contrast, the Chinese space program's lack of transparency regarding capsule damage resulted in taikonauts being stranded without functional lifeboat capability—a historic first in crewed spaceflight. Boeing's Starliner manned capsule program was downgraded to cargo-only operations due to persistent technical deficiencies, resulting in substantially reduced contract valuation.

Trump Envoy's Leaked Negotiations Undermine Ukraine Sovereignty; NATO Grapples with Political Will and Manpower Gaps — Colonel Jeff McCausland — Colonel McCausland analyzes leaked details revealing Trumpenvoy Steve Witkoff coaching Russian negotiators and proposing Ukrainian territorial concessions, violating fundamental negotiation principles. McCausland believes the war's continuation is the most probable outcome given these dynamics. McCausland assesses NATO readiness, concluding that while economic components exist, political will remains crucial. He condemns the DoD's attempt to prosecute Senator Kelly for citing Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) principles.

Independent Americans host Paul Rieckhoff (@PaulRieckhoff) rips through one of the most urgent, dangerous stories in American politics right now: Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth's unprecedented weaponization of the Department of Defense and FBI against Senator Mark Kelly and five other members of Congress, and millions of military retirees—just days before Thanksgiving.  Coming to you from the new MS Now (formerly MSNBC) headquarters in Times Square, and after a whirlwind of speaking out, Paul connects the dots between Trump's escalating attacks, Ukraine's ongoing fight, 9/11 first responder revelations, and why this moment demands maximum vigilance from you—and every independent American.  Paul explains how Trump and his “Acting” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are targeting Senator Mark Kelly and six other members of Congress—sending a chilling message to over two million military retirees—who now fear being dragged back under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for what they post or say.  This is bigger than Democrat vs. Republican—it is about right vs. wrong, and about whether America is still a place where free speech is protected from government retaliation. He analyzes Senator Slotkin's warning about a new FBI counterterrorism inquiry into her after a Trump-criticizing video, and how combining DOD and FBI power into a dual intimidation strike looks less like a democracy and more like the behavior of despots in Russia, North Korea, or Saddam's Iraq.  In classic Independent Americans fashion, Paul also hits rapid headlines that everyone should be tracking heading into Thanksgiving: fresh Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, the simmering risk of U.S. strikes on Venezuela, the underreported stakes for National Guard and Reserve members serving in Congress, and new revelations about long-buried documents on the toxic dust that has killed more 9/11 first responders than were lost on the day itself. He connects it all back to accountability, vigilance, and the open seats at Thanksgiving tables that still remind families of the lasting costs of 9/11.  And because this show always brings light, Paul closes with “something good”: a shout-out to The Duffel Blog—the “Onion for the military”—whose brutal satire of Trump's “woke” rhetoric, ICE raids, and Pentagon absurdity offers a sharp, much-needed laugh for vets and civilians alike. Because every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories--and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It's independent content for independent Americans. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. The podcast that helps you stay ahead of the curve--and stay vigilant. -WATCH video of this episode on YouTube now. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the holidays.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Podcasts  Ways to watch: YouTube • Instagram  X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Ways to listen:Social channels: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textThe aerospace and defense industry operates in one of the most demanding environments, where compliance, traceability, and precision are non-negotiable—yet many manufacturers still rely on generic ERPs that were never built for aviation. As a result, they pour millions into customizations just to meet basic FAA, DoD, and OEM requirements, only to end up with fragile systems that struggle under the weight of cert linkage, serial and lot tracking, shelf-life controls, and calibration traceability. In this webinar, we'll break down the “Aerospace ERP Gap,” exposing the risks and costs of forcing generic ERPs into aerospace use cases, including the all-too-common “$2M customization trap.” You'll see how industry-built ERP platforms close this gap with out-of-the-box capabilities for MRO, manufacturing, and defense contractors—delivering compliance-ready workflows, integrated configuration management, and real-time visibility across every aircraft, tool, and certificate. Ultimately, these purpose-built solutions help organizations move from reactive and fragmented to unified and intelligent, without blowing budgets or stretching implementation timelines.In this episode, Sam Gupta hosts Ralph Merhi, CEO, ERP.aero, to discuss the inside of the aerospace ERP gap, the $2M cost of getting it wrong.Video: https://www.elevatiq.com/events-and-webinars/erp-aero-overview-webinar/Questions for Panelists?

A leader's success is directly tied to their ability to set an example to those they're leading and manage their own sense of discipline. Today on Leadership Blueprints, we wrap up our DOD series with a special guest, Dan Bailey. Dan is a former naval officer and the current vice president of commercial operations at Quanta Services. Tuning in, you'll hear about Dan's time in the Navy, moving from active duty to Quanta Services, what the company does, and why leaders need to be enablers. We delve into Dan's role at Quanta Services and how he brings value to the business as a whole, before discussing the biggest lessons he learned from his transition from active duty, what led him to decide to leave, and how he determined what he wanted to focus on next. Dan discusses the leadership lessons he has learned from his military experience, how they have benefited him in his new career path, and what he hopes to achieve. As always, Dan answers our rapid-fire questions and, to close, leaves listeners with some pearls of wisdom and tells us all about the Honor Foundation. Be sure to press play now!Key Points From This Episode:What drew our guest to the Naval Academy. Dan tells us about his role at Quanta Services and how he brings value to the company. Lessons he learned from his transition from active duty and how he decided what to do next. How being in the military has served Dan as a leader in the private sector. How to apply to the Honor Foundation and Dan's advice for transitioning officers. Quotes:“As a leader in any company, you have the opportunity to be an enabler to the degree that you want to be.” — Dan Bailey “If I'm doing my job right, we're able to move faster, bring more value, and help the customer succeed in their projects and their goals.” — Dan Bailey “A leader doesn't succeed by using force, they succeed by using example.” — Dan Bailey Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Dan Bailey on LinkedInQuanta Services The Honor FoundationRobert E. Lee on Leadership Leadership Blueprints PodcastMCFAMCFA CareersBJ Kraemer on LinkedIn

In this episode of The Eric Coffie Show, Eric challenges listeners to stop waiting for the shutdown to end and start preparing now—because when the government reopens, only the ready will win. He breaks down why agencies like DoD, CIA, FBI, and DHS are still fully funded and still awarding contracts, and shares real examples of entrepreneurs who are writing proposals, hiring staff, and securing wins during the shutdown. Eric and Randy also address community needs—including the launch of a women's group—and emphasize the importance of staying engaged, sharing ideas, and building the confidence to step into rooms with major agencies and primes. This episode is a push to stop hesitating, start preparing, and recognize that underdogs belong at the table just as much as anyone else. Key Takeaways Shutdowns don't stop DoD, intel agencies, or funded departments—opportunities are still active. Winners prepare during downtime: proposals, readiness, relationships, and strategy. Community matters—sharing ideas, building confidence, and creating spaces (like a women's group) accelerates growth. Learn more: https://federalhelpcenter.com/ https://govcongiants.org/  Watch the full Youtube Live here: https://www.youtube.com/live/xEQKIP4wIrE?si=x9oU8ENE4Y74H98T 

Send us a textPeaches and Trent dive straight into the chaos—no disclaimers, no corporate tone, just two dudes calling out the absurdity of modern military leadership. From COVID reinstatement madness to commanders who rubber-stamp illegal orders and still get promoted, Peaches unloads on the Air Force's “do as we say, not as we do” culture. Trent breaks down why officers obsess over year-groups like it's astrology, why reinstated members get screwed, and how the Pentagon avoids accountability like it's a PT test. The boys torch everything from Secret Service incompetence to Navy misery to teenagers who show up to job interviews looking like they escaped Hot Topic at 2 a.m. It's raw, it's ruthless, it's Ones Ready at full power.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Peaches jumps Trent in the team room 01:40 – Pre-workout, caffeine addiction & Aaron slander (required) 02:20 – OTS updates: Vegas locked, Europe maybe 05:45 – “It's NOT a smoke session. Calm down.” 08:00 – Jordan Carr's reinstatement disaster 12:50 – Reinstating people while pretending nothing happened 18:40 – Illegal orders, vaccine fallout & leadership failures 27:30 – Adam Dorito enters the chat 33:10 – Why accountability is mythical in the DoD 39:00 – Secret Service trainwreck & assassination attempt chaos 47:10 – Navy life: cool missions, no life 54:15 – Why teens can't get jobs (Peaches explains parenting) 01:00:00 – Spencer's nipple rings & “freedom of movement” at work 01:03:00 – Final thoughts on jobs, standards & reality checks

Send us a textPeaches kicks the door in with a full-spectrum roast of the military news cycle—because apparently everything from nuclear micro-reactors to Space Force identity crises hit at once. He drags drones, typhoons, politicians, and anyone who thinks DEI is the DoD's biggest threat. He calls out NASA's cooler cousin, dunks on heavy-weather boat psychos, and casually reminds you the feds probably know way more about Epstein than they'll ever admit. If you came for sugarcoating, you're lost. If you came for truth bombs from someone who's actually been there, buckle up.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Worms Ready and Still Chaotic 00:30 Why Assessment and Selection Isn't Your CrossFit Warmup 01:40 Vegas OTS Plug Because You Need It 03:00 Army Builds Pocket Nukes 04:20 Drone Threats and Bureaucracy Wrestling 05:20 Navy Ships Doing Navy Ship Things 07:00 Marines vs. Typhoons and Common Sense 08:40 Air Force Leadership Shuffle 10:10 Space Force Still Figuring Out Space 12:20 Coast Guard's Record Drug Haul and Nightmare Boats 14:20 Pentagon Reform Circus 16:40 Flyover, Saudi Drama, and Internet Meltdowns 18:00 Epstein Files, Government Secrets, and Peaches' Final Blast