Podcasts about East Room

I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Oh, beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of rain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruit America is back. Yes, sir. And there is a huge push right now to make America healthy again, the whole Maha movement with, RFK Junior. Well, there was a Maha report last week, and state representative Stephen Frank was there. Let's talk to him right now. Representative Frank, welcome to the program. Hope you're doing well. Hey, Charlie. I'm doing well. Hope you are. Thanks for having me on today. Yes, sir. So what did we find out in the Maha report that was released last week? First of all, what was it like there meeting RFK Jr and and being in on all the action? Oh, Charlie, it it was it was one heck of an experience. You can't you can't hardly put it into words. I was honored to be invited, to the White House for for that report. And, couple hundred people there in in the East Room, gathering to see, you know, really what this monumental report was gonna contain. Mhmm. When the president, began his administration, he he assembled this commission. You know, the Maha agenda was a huge part of the campaign since RFK had joined, you know, suspended his campaign for president. And and so right out of the gate, you know, Trump had the, the the, you know, directive to to start this commission and and begin with just looking at facts, doing research, and figuring out, how do we qualify and quantify the problem we're facing. So Right. That was step one, and and that was a hundred day time frame that they had. And so last last Thursday marked that hundred days, so the commission gathered, with Trump to deliver that report. And, just remarkable remarkable experience to be there and be with all the the folks in the room. But, you know, that report, it it it wasn't anything necessarily new or earth shattering, but it codified and and and articulated what so many people have already known, you know, that that we have a health crisis. Right. We have all these these things in our food, our environment, but the government has never been willing to say, yes. This is bad for you, and, yes, this is causing illness, and, yes, this is, adding to the the burden of society. So to hear an administration actually admit, that that we have these problems was was just momentous. Yeah. It was momentous. And and this is something that a lot anybody that you know, a lot of homesteading families out there, a lot of families that are concerned with with health, when they were preaching about this, every everybody was calling them kooks, but it turns out they weren't. When they when they were complaining about the amount of dyes that are in our food and the problems that they are causing, I mean, these people were absolutely right, weren't they? They they were they were a % vindicated. You know, for decades, every wealthy home in America has had a filter to get fluoride out of the water. Yeah. Right? But we've had so much propaganda to say, oh, we need fluoride in our water for our health. And so many studies have been bought and paid for, but and it's been so unfair to marginalize a portion of study. They just can't afford those filters. Now all of a sudden here, the federal government admitting that the the really, they were wrong the whole time. Yeah. And that what average Americans knew every day to be true, they were proven true and and and and vindicated, and that's just one aspect that those repeated over and over and over again through this report. And we find out I mean, there's a lot of countries in Europe, a lot of countries around the world world that just do not allow these additives in our food. But for some reason, and we all know why, because there are lobbyists in Washington, we allow them here in The United States. Is that gonna be taken care of? You kno ...

Episode 28: Associated Press v. Taylor Budowich Associated Press v. Taylor Budowich, argued before a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit on April 17, 2025. Argued by Eric D. McArthur (on behalf of Appellants Taylor Budowich, et al.) and Charles D. Tobin (on behalf of Appellee Associated Press). Lawyers for the Trump administration are seeking a stay on the DC District Court's preliminary injunction rescinding “the denial of the AP's access to the Oval Office, Air Force One, and other limited spaces based on the AP's viewpoint.” Case Background, from the Memorandum and Order of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia: About two months ago, President Donald Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. The Associated Press did not follow suit. For that editorial choice, the White House sharply curtailed the AP's access to coveted, tightly controlled media events with the President. The AP now sues the White House chief of staff, her communications deputy, and the press secretary (collectively, “the Government”), seeking a preliminary injunction enjoining the Government from excluding it because of its viewpoint.  Today, the Court grants that relief. But this injunction does not limit the various permissible reasons the Government may have for excluding journalists from limited-access events. It does not mandate that all eligible journalists, or indeed any journalists at all, be given access to the President or nonpublic government spaces. It does not prohibit government officials from freely choosing which journalists to sit down with for interviews or which ones' questions they answer. And it certainly does not prevent senior officials from publicly expressing their own views. No, the Court simply holds that under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists—be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewhere—it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints. The Constitution requires no less. Resources: District Court Memorandum and OrderCourt Listener Docket The Institute for Free Speech promotes and defends the political speech rights to freely speak, assemble, publish, and petition the government guaranteed by the First Amendment. If you're enjoying the Free Speech Arguments podcast, please subscribe and leave a review on your preferred podcast platform. To support the Institute's mission or inquire about legal assistance, please visit our website: www.ifs.org

Join Host Rich LaMonica on The MisFitNation as he welcomes US Army Veteran Eric Donoho—a beacon of resilience, leadership, and purpose. From earning the Purple Heart to founding Hand Up Realty, Eric's journey exemplifies overcoming adversity and creating meaningful impact. Eric is not only a retired Sergeant with commendable military honors but also a relentless advocate for veterans' rights, mental health, and global empowerment. His pivotal work led to the passage of the 988 Suicide Hotline and PACT Act, earning him recognition in the East Room of the White House. Beyond advocacy, Eric's real estate ventures focus on supporting veterans and strengthening communities. As a philanthropist, he's delivered over 1,000 wheelchairs to disabled children in Nepal. His award-winning landscape photography showcases the beauty of resilience, with features in Fortune 500 campaigns and national exhibits. A survivor of veteran suicide, Eric shares his transformative journey in Canyon of Hope - From Darkness to Dawn, offering hope, practical advice, and inspiration for overcoming life's greatest challenges. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about grit, purpose, and unlocking the potential within us all. Connect with Eric Here: htttps://www.ericdonoho.com https://www.instagram.com/ebdonoho https://www.facebook.com/edonoho https://www.x.com/ebdonoho https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebdonoho Become a part of The MisFitNation https://linktr.ee/themisfitnation Want to be a guest on The MisFitNation? Send Rich LaMonica a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/richlamonica #EricDonoho #VeteranLeadership #Resilience #MentalHealthAwareness #USArmyVeteran #MisFitNation #PurpleHeartRecipient #PACTAct #988SuicideHotline #VeteranAdvocacy #CanyonOfHope #HandUpRealty #TheMisFitNation #VeteransHelpingVeterans #InspiringStories #OvercomingAdversity #VeteranCommunity #RealEstateForVeterans #Philanthropy #NepalAid #VeteranSupport #MotivationalJourney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WASHINGTON (STATI UNITI) (ITALPRESS) - Il presidente Donald Trump ha firmato un atto per riconoscere il 25 marzo "Giornata dell'Indipendenza greca". Poco prima della firma ha tenuto un discorso nella East Room della Casa Bianca, occasione in cui ha rivendicato i valori di libertà e indipendenza che accomunano gli Stati Uniti alla Grecia: "dall'età dell'oro della predicazione antica all'età dell'oro dell'America. È qui che siamo adesso", ha affermato. xp6/abr/gtrtraduzione: I greco-americani hanno arricchito il nostro paese con un coraggio eccezionale, patriottismo e straordinarie capacità. Sotto questa amministrazione, continueremo a onorare le virtù, gli ideali e lo spirito di questa magnifica eredità, e lo è davvero, che è fiorita per migliaia di anni, dall'età dell'oro della Grecia antica all'età dell'oro dell'America. Ecco dove siamo ora. L'l'età dell'oro dell'America."

WASHINGTON (STATI UNITI) (ITALPRESS) - Il presidente Donald Trump ha firmato un atto per riconoscere il 25 marzo "Giornata dell'Indipendenza greca". Poco prima della firma ha tenuto un discorso nella East Room della Casa Bianca, occasione in cui ha rivendicato i valori di libertà e indipendenza che accomunano gli Stati Uniti alla Grecia: "dall'età dell'oro della predicazione antica all'età dell'oro dell'America. È qui che siamo adesso", ha affermato. xp6/abr/gtrtraduzione: I greco-americani hanno arricchito il nostro paese con un coraggio eccezionale, patriottismo e straordinarie capacità. Sotto questa amministrazione, continueremo a onorare le virtù, gli ideali e lo spirito di questa magnifica eredità, e lo è davvero, che è fiorita per migliaia di anni, dall'età dell'oro della Grecia antica all'età dell'oro dell'America. Ecco dove siamo ora. L'l'età dell'oro dell'America."

First lady Melania Trump makes glamorous return to White House as Donald pays tribute to her Melania Trump made a glamorous return to the White House Saturday night — wearing an elegant tuxedo that matched President Trump's formalwear for a dinner with the nation's governors. The president and first lady hosted the National Governors Association dinner in the East Room of the White House, and the commander-in-chief paid tribute to his wife. https://nypost.com/2025/02/23/us-news/first-lady-melania-trump-makes-glamorous-return-to-white-house/ Trump speaks to Republican governors President Trump addressed red state leaders Thursday evening during an event hosted by the Republican Governors Association in Washington. https://thehill.com/video-clips/5155659-watch-live-donald-trump-republican-governors-association/ Trump rattles... View Article

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode, part of The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join Berman and Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. This week, Berman assesses how the current Trump administration's foreign policy seems to be shaping up. From the US president's bombshell February 4, 2025, proposal to transfer Gaza's population from the Strip to reset the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to efforts to end the Ukraine War, Trump's gaze appears to be as global as it is domestic. So how does that square with his promise to "Make America Great Again"? Berman zooms out and in 30 minutes illustrates how the president appears to be adopting a new motto: "Speak brashly and carry a big stick." Please see today's ongoing live blog for more updates. Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. For further reading: Israel said readying for three hostages to be freed Saturday, still pushing for more IMAGE: US President Donald Trump takes questions during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 13, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has restated his plan for a US takeover of the Gaza Strip, after his idea was rejected by Palestinians and leaders around the world on Wednesday. Writing on social media, Trump said Gaza, "would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting." We speak to a former foreign minister of Jordan about the idea and an Israeli politician. Also in the programme: European Union scientists say the world has just experienced the hottest January on record; and reggae legend Bob Marley's birthday. He would have been 80 today.(Photo: The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, 04 February 2025. Credit: Photo by Shawn Thew /POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

(8:05am) MORNING NEWS DUMP Several St. Louis County department leaders don't want you to vote on changing the County Charter in April. Six of them filed a lawsuit to block Proposition B. Stephen Miller comments on the USAID financial fiasco. Missouri now has its own web version of DOGE. Trump takes action to prevent men from participating in women's sports, girls' sports, or being able to access their locker rooms. BIG win for women. Promises made, promises kept. The Left scrambled to put together protests in all 50 states yesterday because...you know...their shenanigans are being exposed every day. Netanyahu comments on Trump's ideas about the future of Gaza. Wrong suspect locked up in St. Louis! Chris Gatlin spent 17 months in jail for a crime that an artificial intelligence program said he committed, only to be freed after the prosecutor learned there was no real evidence! Story here: https://fox2now.com/news/fox-files/jailed-over-police-ai-program-then-freed-17-months-after-victim-raised-doubts/ Blues host the Florida Panthers tonight at Enterprise Center at 7pm. (8:20am) President Trump signed an executive order that bans men from women's sports and locker rooms. He said, "From now on, women's sports will be only for women." The "No Men In Women's Sports Executive Order" was signed in the East Room of the White House and attendees included former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines. So where are all the women's rights advocates on the left cheering this victory for women??? They're oddly silent. Oh, that's right...they don't know what a woman is. Story here: https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-limit-transgender-athletes-rights-193105559.html Also story here: https://redstate.com/terichristoph/2025/02/05/trump-signs-eo-protecting-womens-sports-n2185259 (8:35am) Dennis Ganahl from MO Tax Relief Now talks about efforts to eliminate the state income tax in Missouri. More info here: https://www.motaxreliefnow.org/ (@DGanahl) (8:50am) We wrap-up the show and wipe everything down...too much coughing!! NewsTalkSTL website: https://newstalkstl.com/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsTalkSTL Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NewstalkSTL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalkSTL Livestream 24/7: bit.ly/NEWSTALKSTLSTREAMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Eight were wounded, two critically, in the shooting attack at an army checkpoint near the northern West Bank village of Tayasir this morning. Horovitz updates on what we knew about the attack at recording time. Sadly, two soldiers' deaths were subsequently announced. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently in Washington, DC, and set to meet with US President Donald Trump today. Yesterday, reporters were given mixed signals surrounding the president's willingness to see Israel annex the West Bank. Horovitz explains. Amid mounting talk of a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, posters of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shaking hands with Trump against the backdrop of an Israeli flag were unveiled in Jerusalem and other cities across Israel with the message, “Israel is Ready.” Is it? Amid the expected restart of negotiations for the second phase of the hostage release-ceasefire deal, Netanyahu appears to be heading toward some personnel changes on his team. Who may be in -- and who is out? Finally, Justice Minister Yariv Levin declined Monday to sign the official announcement of the appointment of Justice Isaac Amit as the new president of the Supreme Court in the state gazette. While one may call this "petty politics," Horovitz warns that there are very serious repercussions for this type of behavior. Please see today's ongoing live blog for more updates. Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. For further reading: 2 soldiers killed, 8 hurt in shooting attack at IDF checkpoint in northern West Bank Asked about West Bank annexation, Trump says Israel ‘a small country, in terms of land’ Billboard campaign proclaims ‘Israel is ready’ for Saudi normalization Levin declines to sign official announcement of new Supreme Court president IMAGE: President Donald Trump speaks during a ceremony with the Florida Panthers NHL hockey team to celebrate their 2024 Stanley Cup victory in the East Room of the White House, February 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

USA:s 2:a First Lady Abigail Adams. Det kommer handla om hennes puritanska bakgrund, hemundervisning, åldersskillnad, barnadöd, alkoholism, brevväxling, första feministen, första Second lady, andra First Lady och Mrs. President, sonen John Quincys karriär, maka och mor till en president och hänga tvätten i East Room. Bild: Porträtt av Abigail Adams. Källa: WikipediaPrenumerera: Glöm inte att prenumerera på podcasten! Betyg: Ge gärna podden betyg på iTunes!Följ podden: Facebook (facebook.com/stjarnbaneret), twitter (@stjarnbaneret), Instagram (@stjarnbaneret)Kontakt: stjarnbaneret@gmail.comLitteratur:- The Glorious Cause, Robert Middlekauf- Empire of Liberty, Gordon Wood- The complete book on US presidents, Bill Yenne- To the best of my ability, James McPherson- John Adams, David McCullough- The cabinet, Lindsey Chervinsky- Den amerikanska drömmen, Claus Stolpe- USA:s alla presidenter, Karin Henriksson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Host Lyle Perez for a chilling finale to the Haunted America series as he explores the haunted history of Washington, D.C., on Halloween night. As the center of political power, the nation's capital holds layers of dark secrets, historic tragedies, and spectral presences. From the halls of the White House to the eerie streets of Lafayette Square, D.C. is alive with ghostly tales that reveal a side of history rarely discussed. Grab a warm drink, dim the lights, and get ready for a journey into the capital's haunted sites. Featured Locations: The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20500 Home to more than just presidents, the White House hosts famous spirits like Abraham Lincoln, who's been seen by countless staff and guests. Queen Wilhelmina even fainted upon seeing his apparition. Dolley Madison is rumored to protect the Rose Garden, while Abigail Adams' ghost has been seen in the East Room. Public tours offer a glimpse into the residence, though ghostly encounters are never guaranteed. The Octagon House 1799 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20006 This unique mansion, built in 1801, is haunted by the spirits of two Tayloe daughters who fell to their deaths in the staircase. Visitors report hearing footsteps, doors slamming, and feeling watched, especially in the ballroom. The house is open as a museum, inviting visitors to learn about its tragic history. The Capitol Building First St SE, Washington, D.C. 20004 The U.S. Capitol is haunted by the mysterious “Demon Cat,” a ghostly omen of disaster, and by John Quincy Adams, who collapsed and died in the building. Cold spots, whispers, and eerie figures are common, particularly in the rotunda. Guided tours provide access to this historical—and haunted—monument. Lafayette Square Across from the White House, Lafayette Square's dark past is marked by murder and scandal. The ghost of Philip Barton Key II, murdered by Congressman Daniel Sickles, is said to roam here. Shadowy figures and phantom gunshots disturb this otherwise serene park, making it a must-visit for thrill-seekers. The Old Stone House 3051 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007 Dating back to 1765, the Old Stone House is D.C.'s oldest unchanged structure. It's haunted by “George,” a spectral carpenter, and a child who tugs at visitors' clothing. Guests report feeling cold hands and hearing whispers, adding to its allure as a museum with deep-rooted mysteries. The National Theatre 1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20004 Known as “The Theatre of Presidents,” the National Theatre is haunted by the “Lady in White,” seen backstage and in the audience. Disembodied laughter and footsteps heighten its ghostly charm. Patrons attending performances may find themselves in the presence of D.C.'s most dedicated spectral audience. The Exorcist Steps, Georgetown 36th St NW & Prospect St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007 Made famous by The Exorcist, these narrow steps hold an ominous presence. Many report feeling watched or hearing footsteps echoing behind them, especially at night. It's a notorious location for those seeking real-life frights in the heart of Georgetown. The Hay-Adams Hotel 800 16th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006 Overlooking Lafayette Square, the Hay-Adams Hotel is haunted by the spirit of Clover Adams, whose presence is felt through cold spots, flickering lights, and the scent of lavender. The fourth floor is particularly active, drawing guests who hope for a ghostly encounter during their stay. The Smithsonian Castle 1000 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, D.C. 20560 James Smithson, the Smithsonian's founder, is said to haunt this Gothic structure. His spirit has been seen in the hallways, with footsteps and ghostly whispers adding to the building's aura. Visitors can explore the castle's history and perhaps feel Smithson's presence watching over his legacy. The Congressional Cemetery 1801 E St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003 This historic cemetery is home to prominent figures, and visitors often report eerie encounters, including the spirit of Clara Barton. Ghost tours reveal the haunted side of this iconic cemetery, with flickering lights and murmurs from beyond. Like Our Facebook page for more Halloween fun: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast ORDER PODCAST MERCH! Website: www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Email: TheHalloweenPodcast@gmail.com X (formerly Twitter): @TheHalloweenPod Support the Show: www.patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Get bonus Halloween content and more! Just for Patreon supporters! Keywords and Tags: Haunted Washington D.C., White House ghost stories, The Exorcist Steps, haunted landmarks D.C., ghost tours Washington D.C., haunted hotels in Washington, Halloween Podcast, U.S. Capitol ghost

George Washington never lived in the White House or Washington, DC. The White House wasn't white when it was built, and it wasn't called the White House for its first 100 years. The famous portrait of George Washington that hangs in the East Room isn't the original. Those stories...and the famous DC influencer who saved the day when the White House burned.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we see some fireworks and play the East Room with a bunch of friends!

The East Room opened up in 2012 in East Nashville. The independent venue has been a space for up-and-coming local and touring artists as well as a space for dance parties, theater and comedy acts. This week for What Where When-sday our special guest is Taylor Cole, talent buyer and GM of the venue. 

On this day in 1878, the White House hosted its first official Easter Egg Roll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

rWotD Episode 2536: Green Room (White House) Welcome to random Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of a random Wikipedia page every day.The random article for Saturday, 13 April 2024 is Green Room (White House).The Green Room is one of three state parlors on the first floor of the White House, the home of the president of the United States. It is used for small receptions and teas. During a state dinner, guests are served cocktails in the three state parlors before the president, first lady, and a visiting head of state descend the Grand Staircase for dinner. The room is traditionally decorated in shades of green. The room is approximately 28 by 22.5 feet (8.5 by 6.9 m). It has six doors, which open into the Cross Hall, East Room, South Portico, and Blue Room. Little is known about the room's original decor, except that it was likely in the fashionable French Empire style of the day, a tradition that continued until a group of Colonial Revival and Federal-style furniture and art experts appointed by then President Coolidge sought to restore the room according to the period in which it was built, rather than a passing style of a later time. All subsequent work on the room followed Coolidge's lead, First Lady Jackie Kennedy most prominently. In 1961, she formed the White House Historical Association "to help the White House collect and exhibit the very best artifacts of American history and culture." The same year, "Congress enacted Public Law 87-286 declaring that the furnishings of the White House were the inalienable property of the White House, legislating the White House’s status as a museum and extending legal protection to donated period furnishings and all White House objects." An endowment for new acquisitions and the renovation of state rooms was created in 1979, with the help of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Upon his death, February 20, 1862, Abraham Lincoln's son Willie was laid in state in the Green Room. (With Malice Towards None by Stephen B. Oats)This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:46 UTC on Saturday, 13 April 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Green Room (White House) on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm Matthew Neural.

RC2C host Neil Scott brings listeners into the East Room of the White House for an incredible ceremony a couple of weeks ago for the unveiling of a First Class postage stamp, honoring former First Lady Betty Ford. On hand were the US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Susan Ford Bales, Dr. Joseph Lee, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.  There is also a clip from the interview Neil Scott did with Mrs. Betty Ford over 40 years ago.

We ended the last episode in April of 1965 when George Harrison and John Lennon of the Beatles were unexpectedly given a dose of LSD by their dentist at a dinner party that he was hosting for them. This was done without their knowledge or permission, and although it could have had some significantly negative consequences, fortunately for everyone concerned, it all worked out well. At this point in the podcast series, it's important to understand that this narrative is about the evolution of consciousness, especially as it happened on a mass level beginning in the mid-sixties. And that will serve as a lead in to some of the remarkable experiences I had at the time, which led to my lifelong involvement with personal growth, which is just a simpler term used for the evolution of consciousness.   As we've seen, two substances, marijuana and LSD, played significant roles at the time, but they were just catalysts for the massive changes that were beginning to take place. Critically, this isn't about those substances, how they work or the positive or negative aspects of them. This is about the liberation and elevation of human consciousness itself, which can easily happen with or without the use of external stimulants. Indeed, myriads of people have experienced enlightening inner growth without ever using any of these kinds of substances, and by the same token, plenty of people have taken large amounts of them and have gained very little, if any lasting enlightenment. So, it all depends upon the individual involved, as well as on the circumstances that help set the stage. That being said, let's take a brief look at what happened to John and George that night at their dentist's home and then, what happened to Ringo and Paul a little later.  It seems that George had a profoundly illuminating experience that night. As he said, “I felt this amazing sensation come over me. It was like an intense version of the best feeling I ever had in my life. It was wonderful. I felt in love with everything and everyone. Everything was perfect and beautiful, and I wanted to tell everyone how much I loved them — even strangers. “I had such an overwhelming feeling of well-being, that there was a God, and I could see him in every blade of grass. It was like gaining hundreds of years of experience within twelve hours. It changed me, and there was no way back to what I was before.” Indeed, there was no way back for him and the same held true for John as well, who said about that first night, “God, it was just terrifying, but it was fantastic.” He began taking it on a somewhat regular basis and later he said, “LSD was the self-knowledge which pointed the way. I was suddenly struck by great visions when I first took acid. But you've got to be looking for it before you can possibly find it. Perhaps I was looking without realizing it.”  I've always felt that given the cultural framework of the time, that was quite a profound observation of his. About moving forward, George said, “John and I had decided that Paul and Ringo had to have acid because we couldn't relate to them anymore. Not just on the one level — we couldn't relate to them on any level, because acid had changed us so much. It was such a mammoth experience that it was unexplainable. It was something that had to be experienced, because you could spend the rest of your life trying to explain what it made you feel and think. It was all too important to John and me.”  Ringo joined John and George for their second LSD trip on August 25, 1965 and his experience seemed positive as well. “I'd take anything,” he later said. “It was a fabulous day. The night wasn't so great, because it felt like it was never going to wear off. Twelve hours later and it was, ‘Give us a break now, Lord.'” Paul was a bit more hesitant, and despite repeated pleas from his bandmates, he held out for over a year. But when he finally gave it a try, he said, “I always found it amazing. Sometimes it was a very, very deeply emotional experience, making you want to cry, sometimes seeing God or sensing all the majesty and emotional depth of everything. “It opened my eyes to the fact that there is a God … It is obvious that God isn't in a pill, but it explained the mystery of life,” he said. “It was truly a religious experience.” So, in the larger context, by the end of 1965, the stage had been set for what was about to come. The Beatles had been opened to a higher understanding of consciousness and their music and everything else about them had begun to evolve. Significantly, they would have a major effect on both the music and the messaging that was about to transform the entire culture. But remember, there was also another major factor that had been put in place during the same month that the Beatles first got high with Dylan. And that was the fact that the US Congress had basically given Lyndon Johnson the right to activate the American military in Vietnam in any way he saw fit. And by the end of 1965, he had begun to significantly exercise that right, right or wrong. Unfortunately, the statistics tell the tale. By the end of the year there were 184,300 US troops deployed in South Vietnam and 1,928 US soldiers died there that year. That is more than a 700% gain over the previous year's totals. It was still getting relatively little attention, but tragically, things were just getting warmed up over there. Now, the end of 1965 also brings us to a time of a major, critical change in my own life as well.  As you may have noticed, I have said very little about my life so far and there's a good reason for it. I had been living a standard, normal American life, and nothing out of the ordinary had happened to me yet. If you know of my personal history, you might find it a little strange for me to say that nothing out of the ordinary had happened to me yet. After all, I had grown up in a somewhat unusual environment. My father was a prominent Philadelphia attorney who started the 76ers and had moved Wilt Chamberlain into our home. Wilt was my roommate when I was in tenth grade, so of course, those were some incredible times. But as unusual as they may have been, these are not the kind of “out of the ordinary” events I'm talking about.  As you will soon see, I'm referring to something completely different. Anyway, as November of 1965 was drawing to a close, I was making my way through eleventh grade and enjoying it thoroughly. I had a great family with lots of terrific friends. My future seemed well-planned and rather rosy as well. I would finish high school followed by college and law school. At some later point my brother and I would inherit our father's law firm as well as ownership of the 76ers. So, everything seemed pretty much set up for me.  Speaking of the team, the season was coming into full swing, things were going well for us and the NBA championship seemed clearly in sight.  So, there I was, a normal, happy sixteen-year-old, eagerly looking forward to what was coming next. But the truth is, as we all must learn sooner or later, you can never really know what's coming around the next corner. The actual reality of the future always remains unknown. The past, of course is a different story. And with the clarity of hindsight, it's fairly obvious that some troubling signs were starting to appear in my path. The first one was barely noticeable at the time. My brother's wife was about seven months pregnant and my father and I had driven over to visit them one afternoon. When we got home and pulled into the driveway, I asked him, “So how does it feel now that you're going to be a grandfather?” “What do you mean?” he asked me. “Does it make you feel old or anything?” He didn't respond right away and just stared out at the rose garden near the back door of our house. “I'm never going to be the grandfather to this child,” he said. There was a distant sound in his voice, like he was talking from afar.  “No. I won't be the grandfather,” he continued matter-of-factly. “I'll be the father's father, but I'll never be the grandfather.” He used to say quirky things like this all the time. It sounded like he was splitting hairs and I didn't pay any attention to it.   *** A second subtle omen came in the form of a comic book. I was in student council and started thinking about running for school president. My high school was quite large, with about two thousand students. If I wanted to run, there would be a lot to do, and it was time to give it some serious thought. One night at dinner, I mentioned it to my parents and they both encouraged me. The next day, when I got home from school, an old comic book of mine was on the end table next to my bed. I hadn't seen it in years, but I immediately recognized it. It had stories about each president of the United States. My mother kept a few boxes of my childhood things in the basement and had pulled it out, probably to inspire me.  As I looked at the cover, I clearly remembered that there was a strange story about Abraham Lincoln in the middle. I quickly flipped it opened and sure enough, there it was, “Lincoln, the Mystic.” It had two parts. The first was called, “I Am Not Dead – I Still Live.” It showed a letter from a psychic that was found in Lincoln's desk after he died. Supposedly, it was a channeled, life-after-death message from a close friend of Lincoln's who had been killed in battle. Written backwards, it had to be read in a mirror. It said - “I am not dead. I still live…I experienced a happy reality - a glorious change by the process called death… Man lives on Earth, to live elsewhere, and that elsewhere is ever present. Heaven and Hell are conditions, not localities.” You might be surprised to learn that Lincoln had kept a letter from a psychic in his desk at the White House, but it's in the archives of the Library of Congress.  I went on to the second part, called “The Most Famous Pre-Cognitive Dream in American History.”  It showed Lincoln asleep in the White House. A mournful sound wakes him up. He gets out of bed and starts walking toward it. As he gets closer, he realizes that it is the sound of people sobbing in misery. He enters the East Room and sees a coffin on a flag-draped stand, guarded by soldiers. “Who is dead in the White House?” he asks one of them. “The President,” comes the reply. “He was killed by an assassin.” The crying gets much louder and Lincoln looks into the coffin and to his shock, he sees himself lying there. He stares at his dead body for a moment, then he suddenly wakes up and realizes it had all been a bad dream. Looking back on these small events it seems like I was being given some information about what was to come. The first part came from my father. If what he said about never becoming a grandfather came true, whether he knew it or not, he was telling me that he had less than two months to live.  The second and third came from the comic book about Lincoln and they were both about death. One said that in truth, death is not an ending, it's actually a glorious change into a happy reality. And the other said that it's possible to have a pre-cognitive dream of death that can quickly come true.   Again, I barely noticed these three factors at the time and certainly didn't see any connection between them and my life at all. That being said, this is a good place to end this episode. As you might guess, the unfolding story is about to go a few levels deeper, so as always, keep your eyes, mind, and heart open, and let's get together in the next one.

This week we do a new song called A Billion Stars, and chat about my gig at The East Room and spending the week in the mountains of North Carolina. Hope you have a great week!!

The wild rumor from last week was true: Apple's Vision Pro headset has a release date set now! Did Apple intentionally put a back door in its last five iPhones? An iPhone survives a 16,000-foot fall from an airplane. And if you signed up for the settlement payment, your 'Batterygate' payment will come soon. Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on February 2. Did Apple intentionally put a back door in the last 5 iPhones? Apple rejects 37Signals calendar app. AirTag 2 not expected until 2025 as Apple sits on backlog of first-gen inventory. iPhone survives 16,000-foot fall after door plug blows off Alaska Air flight 1282. Apple starts sending $92 'Batterygate' settlement payments to iPhone users. China says it cracked Apple AirDrop to identify message sources. Apple unveils first iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007. Picks of the Week: Andy's Pick: Photosweeper X Alex's Pick: The Solar System: An Illustrated Guide to Our Home in Space Jason's Pick: SwiftBar 2.0 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: fastmail.com/twit rocketmoney.com/macbreak ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT

The wild rumor from last week was true: Apple's Vision Pro headset has a release date set now! Did Apple intentionally put a back door in its last five iPhones? An iPhone survives a 16,000-foot fall from an airplane. And if you signed up for the settlement payment, your 'Batterygate' payment will come soon. Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on February 2. Did Apple intentionally put a back door in the last 5 iPhones? Apple rejects 37Signals calendar app. AirTag 2 not expected until 2025 as Apple sits on backlog of first-gen inventory. iPhone survives 16,000-foot fall after door plug blows off Alaska Air flight 1282. Apple starts sending $92 'Batterygate' settlement payments to iPhone users. China says it cracked Apple AirDrop to identify message sources. Apple unveils first iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007. Picks of the Week: Andy's Pick: Photosweeper X Alex's Pick: The Solar System: An Illustrated Guide to Our Home in Space Jason's Pick: SwiftBar 2.0 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: fastmail.com/twit rocketmoney.com/macbreak ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT

The wild rumor from last week was true: Apple's Vision Pro headset has a release date set now! Did Apple intentionally put a back door in its last five iPhones? An iPhone survives a 16,000-foot fall from an airplane. And if you signed up for the settlement payment, your 'Batterygate' payment will come soon. Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on February 2. Did Apple intentionally put a back door in the last 5 iPhones? Apple rejects 37Signals calendar app. AirTag 2 not expected until 2025 as Apple sits on backlog of first-gen inventory. iPhone survives 16,000-foot fall after door plug blows off Alaska Air flight 1282. Apple starts sending $92 'Batterygate' settlement payments to iPhone users. China says it cracked Apple AirDrop to identify message sources. Apple unveils first iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007. Picks of the Week: Andy's Pick: Photosweeper X Alex's Pick: The Solar System: An Illustrated Guide to Our Home in Space Jason's Pick: SwiftBar 2.0 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: fastmail.com/twit rocketmoney.com/macbreak ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT

The wild rumor from last week was true: Apple's Vision Pro headset has a release date set now! Did Apple intentionally put a back door in its last five iPhones? An iPhone survives a 16,000-foot fall from an airplane. And if you signed up for the settlement payment, your 'Batterygate' payment will come soon. Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on February 2. Did Apple intentionally put a back door in the last 5 iPhones? Apple rejects 37Signals calendar app. AirTag 2 not expected until 2025 as Apple sits on backlog of first-gen inventory. iPhone survives 16,000-foot fall after door plug blows off Alaska Air flight 1282. Apple starts sending $92 'Batterygate' settlement payments to iPhone users. China says it cracked Apple AirDrop to identify message sources. Apple unveils first iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007. Picks of the Week: Andy's Pick: Photosweeper X Alex's Pick: The Solar System: An Illustrated Guide to Our Home in Space Jason's Pick: SwiftBar 2.0 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: fastmail.com/twit rocketmoney.com/macbreak ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT

The wild rumor from last week was true: Apple's Vision Pro headset has a release date set now! Did Apple intentionally put a back door in its last five iPhones? An iPhone survives a 16,000-foot fall from an airplane. And if you signed up for the settlement payment, your 'Batterygate' payment will come soon. Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on February 2. Did Apple intentionally put a back door in the last 5 iPhones? Apple rejects 37Signals calendar app. AirTag 2 not expected until 2025 as Apple sits on backlog of first-gen inventory. iPhone survives 16,000-foot fall after door plug blows off Alaska Air flight 1282. Apple starts sending $92 'Batterygate' settlement payments to iPhone users. China says it cracked Apple AirDrop to identify message sources. Apple unveils first iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007. Picks of the Week: Andy's Pick: Photosweeper X Alex's Pick: The Solar System: An Illustrated Guide to Our Home in Space Jason's Pick: SwiftBar 2.0 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: fastmail.com/twit rocketmoney.com/macbreak ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT

The wild rumor from last week was true: Apple's Vision Pro headset has a release date set now! Did Apple intentionally put a back door in its last five iPhones? An iPhone survives a 16,000-foot fall from an airplane. And if you signed up for the settlement payment, your 'Batterygate' payment will come soon. Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on February 2. Did Apple intentionally put a back door in the last 5 iPhones? Apple rejects 37Signals calendar app. AirTag 2 not expected until 2025 as Apple sits on backlog of first-gen inventory. iPhone survives 16,000-foot fall after door plug blows off Alaska Air flight 1282. Apple starts sending $92 'Batterygate' settlement payments to iPhone users. China says it cracked Apple AirDrop to identify message sources. Apple unveils first iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007. Picks of the Week: Andy's Pick: Photosweeper X Alex's Pick: The Solar System: An Illustrated Guide to Our Home in Space Jason's Pick: SwiftBar 2.0 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Alex Lindsay, Andy Ihnatko, and Jason Snell Download or subscribe to this show at https://twit.tv/shows/macbreak-weekly. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: fastmail.com/twit rocketmoney.com/macbreak ecamm.com/twit or use Promo Code TWIT

Catch Spirit Ritual at The East Room for Ghost Fest this Friday! (10/27/23) Spirit Ritual - https://linktr.ee/Spiritritual

White House, Haunted by Abraham Lincoln? Abraham Lincoln's apparition has been reportedly sighted in the Lincoln Bedroom and Yellow Oval Room of the White House. Notable figures such as First Lady Grace Coolidge, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands have claimed to have witnessed Lincoln's ghost. Another spectral presence within the White House is that of young Willie Lincoln, who passed away during his time there. In the 1870s, staff members of the Grant administration reported seeing Willie Lincoln's ghost within the White House. Andrew Jackson is said to haunt the Queens' Bedroom (Rose Room) where he is believed to emit a distinct, eerie laugh, which has been heard by inhabitants since the 1860s. Mary Todd Lincoln, the former First Lady, also claimed to have heard Jackson stomping and swearing. In the East Room, Abigail Adams, the second First Lady, has been said to linger as a spectral presence. Her ghostly activity includes hanging laundry, and contemporary staff have reported smelling wet laundry and the soothing scent of lavender. These are just a few examples of the ghostly apparitions that have been witnessed by numerous people within the White House. The reported ghostly appearances of Abraham Lincoln are particularly well-documented. You decide is it a Haunting or Not? Find this and other great English and Spanish language shows online at www.JefePods.com  Be sure to Like the Show's Facebook Page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has worked to shore up US support for Ukraine on a whirlwind visit to Washington this week, delivering an upbeat message on the war's progress while facing new questions about the flow of American dollars that for 19 months has helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces. The Ukrainian leader received a far quieter reception than the hero's welcome he got last year, but also won generally favorable comments on the aid he says he needs to stave off defeat. His arrival was treated with more pomp at the White House, where a red carpet arrival on the South Lawn, followed by time in the Oval Office, an expanded gathering in the East Room and one-on-one time for the two first ladies, was a more grand reception than world leaders typically get. Zelenskyy, in long-sleeve olive drab, went to the Capitol with a firm message in private talks with Republican and Democratic leaders. The Ukrainians have a solid war plan, and “they are winning,” lawmakers quoted him as assuring them, at a time that the world is watching Western support for Kyiv. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska, later at the White House, where Zelenskyy described thanking members of Congress for their “big, huge support”. Biden was clear in his backing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcomed to the Capitol in Washington, by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Photo / AP “The American people are determined to see to it that we do all we can to ensure the world stands with you,” Biden assured Zelenskyy, projecting White House support of Ukraine to other nations as well. “That is our overwhelming objective.” The serious tone was evident earlier, too, at the Pentagon, where Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin greeted Zelenskyy without the usual ceremonial band and other fanfare. At the Capitol, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who faces opposition among far-right Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump on support for Ukraine, notably chose not to join House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in greeting the Ukrainian president when he arrived. McCarthy also confirmed that he declined Zelenskyy's request for a joint session of Congress, as happened during the Ukrainian president's dramatic visit to Washington last winter, saying there wasn't time for that on short notice. But McCarthy praised the answers that Ukrainians delivered to lawmakers. “It was direct, I thought it was honest, they were answering the questions,” McCarthy said. “I heard a lot of positive things. Republican House lawmakers described questioning Zelenskyy on the way forward for Ukraine's counteroffensive, as the fight to roll back invading Russian forces moves closer to the two-year mark without major breakthroughs in Russia's heavily mined lines. Zelensky “conceded that it's tough, very tough to overcome entrenched defences,” Independent Senator Angus King said. “They believe they will make slow but steady progress, but it's not going to be quick.” President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo / AP It is Zelenskyy's second visit to Washington since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and comes as Biden's request to Congress for an additional US$24 billion for Ukraine's military and humanitarian needs is hanging in the balance. Back home, Russia launched its heaviest strikes in a month in the hours before Zelenskyy's arrival at Congress, killing three, igniting fires and damaging energy infrastructure as Russian missiles and artillery pounded cities across Ukraine. Zelenskyy in his White House stop stressed Ukraine's need for strengthened air defence systems to fend off Russian missiles and drones. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan underscored that Biden would seek to drive home with Zelenskyy's visit that the US and the world “send the unmistakable message that in the 21st century, a dictator cannot be allowed to conquer or carve up his neighbour's territory”. “If we allow that here. it will happen elsewhere in ways that will undermine the fundamental security, not to mention the values that the American people hold so dear,” Sullivan said. Biden has called on world leaders to stand strong with Ukraine, even as he faces domestic political divisions at home. A hard-right flank of Republicans, led by Trump, Biden's chief rival in the 2024 race for the White House, is increasingly opposed to sending more money overseas. Zelenskyy faces challenges in Europe as well as cracks emerge in what had been a largely united Western alliance behind Ukraine. Poland's prime minister has said his country is no longer sending arms to Ukraine, a comment that appeared aimed at pressuring Kyiv and put Poland's status as a major source of military equipment in doubt as a trade dispute between the neighbouring states escalates. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, walk along the Colonnade at the White House to the Oval Office. Photo / AP Zelenskyy's visit comes with US and world government leaders watching as Ukrainian forces struggle to take back territory that Russia gained over the past year. Their progress in the next month or so before the rains come and the ground turns to mud could be critical to rousing additional global support over the winter. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who believes he can outlast allied backing for Kyiv, will be ready to capitalise if he sees Ukraine is running low on air defence or other weapons. The administration announced another US$325 million in what's known as presidential drawdown assistance for Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the package would include additional air defence, artillery ammunition, cluster munitions and other arms. Since the start of the war, most members of Congress supported approving four rounds of aid to Ukraine, totalling about US$113 billion, viewing defence of the country and its democracy as an imperative, especially when it comes to containing Putin. Some of that money went toward replenishing US military equipment sent to the frontlines. The political environment has shifted markedly since Zelenskyy addressed Congress last December on his first trip out of Ukraine since the war began. He was met with rapturous applause for his country's bravery and surprisingly strong showing in the war. His meeting with senators on Thursday took place behind closed doors in the Old Senate Chamber, a historic and intimate place of importance at the US Capitol, signifying the respect the Senate is showing the foreign leader. Zelenskyy received a warm welcome from both parties on his stop in the Senate. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer flanked him as he walked in. A few lawmakers of both parties wore clothes with blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag. Schumer told reporters afterwards one sentence summed up the meeting: “Mr Zelenskyy said if we don't get the aid, we will lose the war.” Senate Republican leader McConnell, who is trying to keep his party in line behind support for Ukraine, said afterwards he was proud to welcome Zelenskyy to the Capitol. “Americans' support for Ukraine is not a charity,” he said. “It's an investment in our own self-interest.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, September 7th, 2023. Olive Tree Biblical Software: Discover why more than a million people use the free Olive Tree Bible App as their go-to for reading, studying, and listening to the God’s Word. Start by downloading one of many free Bibles and start taking notes, highlighting verses, and bookmarking your favorite passages. You can read at your own pace, or choose from a large selection of Reading Plans, including the Bible Reading Challenge. When you are ready to go deeper into your studies, Olive Tree is right there with a large selection of study Bibles, commentaries, and other helpful study resources available for purchase. There’s also an extensive bookstore allows you to build your digital library one book at a time and Olive Tree’s sync technology lets you pick up where you left off on your tablet, pc or phone and get right to studying on another supported device. Now here's the best part – You can start with the Olive Tree Essentials Bundle for FREE. Visit www.olivetree.com/FLF and download it today!  https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/us-federal-budget-deficit-projected-double-year US federal budget deficit projected to double this year The U.S. federal deficit is projected to nearly double this year as a result of higher interest rates and lower tax revenue. The gap between what the government spends and what it collects is expected to grow from about $1 trillion last year to $2 trillion for the 2023 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, according to the latest projections from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), a nonpartisan group that advocates for reducing the federal deficit. "This would be the highest deficit we’ve ever had outside of a recession or national emergency," Marc Goldwein, a senior policy director at CRFB, told FOX Business. The sizable increase stems from a number of factors, including high inflation, more expensive interest payments and a drop in tax receipts. It comes on the heels of a record drop in the budget shortfall last year, as the deficit dropped from close to $3 trillion to roughly $1 trillion after the government's record spending during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, the government enjoyed a surge in capital gains revenue after Americans capitalized on the booming market the previous year, sold more stock and recorded large gains. The market has not fared as well since then, leading to a sharp drop in capital gains tax revenue compared with last year. The Treasury Department likewise benefited from a spike in general tax collection, because surging inflation essentially pushed up nominal income for millions of households. Although the IRS indexes the tax code to inflation, it does so on a lag. Higher federal income tax brackets and standard deductions took effect at the beginning of 2023, essentially allowing more Americans to shield their income from the IRS. Social Security and Medicare are also indexed to inflation, meaning the government is spending more money on those programs than it did in fiscal year 2022. "But mostly what’s happening is it’s coming to the new normal, from an unusually low 2022 deficit," Goldwein said. "That’s pretty scary, because normal before the pandemic was $1 trillion. And in 2015, it was $500 billion. So we went from $500 billion is the normal, to $1 trillion is the normal, to $2 trillion is the normal in less than a decade." The figures exclude President Biden's $400 billion student loan cancellation plan, which was counted in the official 2022 deficit numbers but never implemented because the Supreme Court struck the policy down. Such massive spending imbalances highlight the toll that high and rising debt can take on everyday Americans. High deficits can fuel inflation, and high debt can push up interest rates. "Mortgage rates are as high as they’ve been since well before the financial crisis," Goldwein said. "Car loan rates, student loan rates, credit card rates, they’re all really high." The deficit surge comes as lawmakers rush to avert a government shutdown. The White House has urged Congress to pass a short-term funding measure, known as a continuing resolution, in order to keep the government solvent while lawmakers continue negotiations over longer-term funding bills. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., have both said they want to pass a short-term deal to keep the government running. However, a group of House Republicans — the House Freedom Caucus — is demanding a number of concessions as part of the continuing resolution, raising the risk of more down-to-the-wire drama on Capitol Hill. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/biden-mask-indoors-jill-biden-covid Biden to wear mask indoors after COVID-19 exposure President Joe Biden will don a mask indoors after he was exposed to COVID-19 through his wife, first lady Jill Biden, according to the White House. https://twitter.com/i/status/1699269260260823345 - Play Video Now, Studies have repeatedly shown masks don't prevent Covid transmission and might even have health consequences to wearers. - But I digress. Biden, who awarded the Medal of Honor to Army Capt. Larry Taylor for conspicuous gallantry on Tuesday, is expected to depart Thursday for India and the Group of 20 leaders summit. During the Medal of Honor ceremony, Biden took off his mask for his remarks and did not put it back on to hang the trinket around Taylor's neck or to leave the East Room. National security adviser Jake Sullivan downplayed the prospect that a presidential COVID-19 diagnosis would disrupt his foreign trip based on leaders' past experience social distancing during the pandemic. https://www.theblaze.com/news/75000-sia-illegal-border-crossings 75,000 illegal immigrants flagged as having possible ties to terrorism in the last year, according to CBP data U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged approximately 75,000 illegal immigrants as being possible national security threats or having terroristic ties in the previous 10 months leading up to August 2023, the Daily Caller reported. CBP data showed that between October 2022 and August 2023, 74,904 illegal aliens were labeled as "SIA Encounters," which stands for "Special Interest Alien." According to a Department of Homeland Security article, an SIA is a "non-U.S. person" who potentially "poses a national security risk to the United States or its interests." "Often such individuals or groups are employing travel patterns known or evaluated to possibly have a nexus to terrorism. DHS analysis includes an examination of travel patterns, points of origin, and/or travel segments that are tied to current assessments of national and international threat environments," the DHS stated. "This does not mean that all SIAs are 'terrorists,'" the government report added. However, the travel and behavior of certain individuals "indicates a possible nexus to nefarious activity (including terrorism) and, at a minimum, provides indicators that necessitate heightened screening and further investigation." The unearthed numbers were a massive increase from the reported 25,627 special interest encounters from fiscal year 2022, and the comparably miniscule 3,675 from fiscal year 2021. Illegal immigrants can automatically be deemed SIAs based on their country of origin, such as Turkey or Uzbekistan, due to such countries' status as a "source and transit country." DHS didn’t respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller regarding the SIA figures. CBP and the DHS are under heightened scrutiny as a result of the shocking increase in border crossing encounters under the Biden administration. A former immigration judge claimed in late August 2023 that the DHS was deliberately not disclosing the number of illegal immigrants who have been released into the United States each month. "The only reason why ICE and OFO [Office of Field Operations] would refuse to disclose that information is to hide the fact that it is releasing more than 100,000 aliens per month into the United States and to conceal the effects of those migrant releases on communities across the United States," Andrew Arthur said. Border encounters in fiscal year 2023 are on pace to match the near 2.4 million that were seen in 2022. There were just over 1.7 million encounters in 2021, while in 2020, President Trump's administration saw a little more than 450,000. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2023/09/05/ev-florida-n2627949#google_vignette Electric Vehicles Are Causing Issues After Hurricane Idalia Electric vehicles are catching on fire after Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida last week. According to local reports, at least two Tesla EVs ignited after saltwater from the storm surge damaged their batteries and other electrical components. One vehicle lit up in Pinellas Park and another car fire occurred in Palm Harbor. “Carfax says owners need to understand the fire risk doesn’t go away after their EV dries out,” ABC Actions News told viewers. “The salt water that is flooding can get into the battery and dry there and once it dries it creates what federal safety officials call bridges between cells and that can lead to fires and those fires can come anywhere from days to weeks later and once an EV catches fire it is incredible difficult to put it out,” said Patrick Olsen of Carfax. After Hurricane Ian, 21 electric vehicles caught fire in the state, prompting officials to warn residents ahead of Idalia's approach. “We saw a number of fires associated with EVs from Hurricane Ian. We know that the saltwater from storm surge can compromise these batteries, causing fires which cannot be easily suppressed,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said at the time. “The best fire teams can do is keep water on the battery until the fuel burns out. If you’re evacuating and leaving an EV, or other lithium ion powered devices like scooters or golf carts in your garage, you’re creating a real fire threat for your home, your communities, and first responders," he added. "Take this threat seriously. If there’s even a small risk of your EV being impacted by storm surge, move it to higher ground before it’s too late.” One home that managed to survive Ian ended up burning to the ground because of a saltwater-damaged EV. EV vehicle owners are being advised to park affected cars at least 50 feet away from any structures that could catch fire.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, September 7th, 2023. Olive Tree Biblical Software: Discover why more than a million people use the free Olive Tree Bible App as their go-to for reading, studying, and listening to the God’s Word. Start by downloading one of many free Bibles and start taking notes, highlighting verses, and bookmarking your favorite passages. You can read at your own pace, or choose from a large selection of Reading Plans, including the Bible Reading Challenge. When you are ready to go deeper into your studies, Olive Tree is right there with a large selection of study Bibles, commentaries, and other helpful study resources available for purchase. There’s also an extensive bookstore allows you to build your digital library one book at a time and Olive Tree’s sync technology lets you pick up where you left off on your tablet, pc or phone and get right to studying on another supported device. Now here's the best part – You can start with the Olive Tree Essentials Bundle for FREE. Visit www.olivetree.com/FLF and download it today!  https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/us-federal-budget-deficit-projected-double-year US federal budget deficit projected to double this year The U.S. federal deficit is projected to nearly double this year as a result of higher interest rates and lower tax revenue. The gap between what the government spends and what it collects is expected to grow from about $1 trillion last year to $2 trillion for the 2023 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, according to the latest projections from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), a nonpartisan group that advocates for reducing the federal deficit. "This would be the highest deficit we’ve ever had outside of a recession or national emergency," Marc Goldwein, a senior policy director at CRFB, told FOX Business. The sizable increase stems from a number of factors, including high inflation, more expensive interest payments and a drop in tax receipts. It comes on the heels of a record drop in the budget shortfall last year, as the deficit dropped from close to $3 trillion to roughly $1 trillion after the government's record spending during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, the government enjoyed a surge in capital gains revenue after Americans capitalized on the booming market the previous year, sold more stock and recorded large gains. The market has not fared as well since then, leading to a sharp drop in capital gains tax revenue compared with last year. The Treasury Department likewise benefited from a spike in general tax collection, because surging inflation essentially pushed up nominal income for millions of households. Although the IRS indexes the tax code to inflation, it does so on a lag. Higher federal income tax brackets and standard deductions took effect at the beginning of 2023, essentially allowing more Americans to shield their income from the IRS. Social Security and Medicare are also indexed to inflation, meaning the government is spending more money on those programs than it did in fiscal year 2022. "But mostly what’s happening is it’s coming to the new normal, from an unusually low 2022 deficit," Goldwein said. "That’s pretty scary, because normal before the pandemic was $1 trillion. And in 2015, it was $500 billion. So we went from $500 billion is the normal, to $1 trillion is the normal, to $2 trillion is the normal in less than a decade." The figures exclude President Biden's $400 billion student loan cancellation plan, which was counted in the official 2022 deficit numbers but never implemented because the Supreme Court struck the policy down. Such massive spending imbalances highlight the toll that high and rising debt can take on everyday Americans. High deficits can fuel inflation, and high debt can push up interest rates. "Mortgage rates are as high as they’ve been since well before the financial crisis," Goldwein said. "Car loan rates, student loan rates, credit card rates, they’re all really high." The deficit surge comes as lawmakers rush to avert a government shutdown. The White House has urged Congress to pass a short-term funding measure, known as a continuing resolution, in order to keep the government solvent while lawmakers continue negotiations over longer-term funding bills. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., have both said they want to pass a short-term deal to keep the government running. However, a group of House Republicans — the House Freedom Caucus — is demanding a number of concessions as part of the continuing resolution, raising the risk of more down-to-the-wire drama on Capitol Hill. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/biden-mask-indoors-jill-biden-covid Biden to wear mask indoors after COVID-19 exposure President Joe Biden will don a mask indoors after he was exposed to COVID-19 through his wife, first lady Jill Biden, according to the White House. https://twitter.com/i/status/1699269260260823345 - Play Video Now, Studies have repeatedly shown masks don't prevent Covid transmission and might even have health consequences to wearers. - But I digress. Biden, who awarded the Medal of Honor to Army Capt. Larry Taylor for conspicuous gallantry on Tuesday, is expected to depart Thursday for India and the Group of 20 leaders summit. During the Medal of Honor ceremony, Biden took off his mask for his remarks and did not put it back on to hang the trinket around Taylor's neck or to leave the East Room. National security adviser Jake Sullivan downplayed the prospect that a presidential COVID-19 diagnosis would disrupt his foreign trip based on leaders' past experience social distancing during the pandemic. https://www.theblaze.com/news/75000-sia-illegal-border-crossings 75,000 illegal immigrants flagged as having possible ties to terrorism in the last year, according to CBP data U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged approximately 75,000 illegal immigrants as being possible national security threats or having terroristic ties in the previous 10 months leading up to August 2023, the Daily Caller reported. CBP data showed that between October 2022 and August 2023, 74,904 illegal aliens were labeled as "SIA Encounters," which stands for "Special Interest Alien." According to a Department of Homeland Security article, an SIA is a "non-U.S. person" who potentially "poses a national security risk to the United States or its interests." "Often such individuals or groups are employing travel patterns known or evaluated to possibly have a nexus to terrorism. DHS analysis includes an examination of travel patterns, points of origin, and/or travel segments that are tied to current assessments of national and international threat environments," the DHS stated. "This does not mean that all SIAs are 'terrorists,'" the government report added. However, the travel and behavior of certain individuals "indicates a possible nexus to nefarious activity (including terrorism) and, at a minimum, provides indicators that necessitate heightened screening and further investigation." The unearthed numbers were a massive increase from the reported 25,627 special interest encounters from fiscal year 2022, and the comparably miniscule 3,675 from fiscal year 2021. Illegal immigrants can automatically be deemed SIAs based on their country of origin, such as Turkey or Uzbekistan, due to such countries' status as a "source and transit country." DHS didn’t respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller regarding the SIA figures. CBP and the DHS are under heightened scrutiny as a result of the shocking increase in border crossing encounters under the Biden administration. A former immigration judge claimed in late August 2023 that the DHS was deliberately not disclosing the number of illegal immigrants who have been released into the United States each month. "The only reason why ICE and OFO [Office of Field Operations] would refuse to disclose that information is to hide the fact that it is releasing more than 100,000 aliens per month into the United States and to conceal the effects of those migrant releases on communities across the United States," Andrew Arthur said. Border encounters in fiscal year 2023 are on pace to match the near 2.4 million that were seen in 2022. There were just over 1.7 million encounters in 2021, while in 2020, President Trump's administration saw a little more than 450,000. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2023/09/05/ev-florida-n2627949#google_vignette Electric Vehicles Are Causing Issues After Hurricane Idalia Electric vehicles are catching on fire after Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida last week. According to local reports, at least two Tesla EVs ignited after saltwater from the storm surge damaged their batteries and other electrical components. One vehicle lit up in Pinellas Park and another car fire occurred in Palm Harbor. “Carfax says owners need to understand the fire risk doesn’t go away after their EV dries out,” ABC Actions News told viewers. “The salt water that is flooding can get into the battery and dry there and once it dries it creates what federal safety officials call bridges between cells and that can lead to fires and those fires can come anywhere from days to weeks later and once an EV catches fire it is incredible difficult to put it out,” said Patrick Olsen of Carfax. After Hurricane Ian, 21 electric vehicles caught fire in the state, prompting officials to warn residents ahead of Idalia's approach. “We saw a number of fires associated with EVs from Hurricane Ian. We know that the saltwater from storm surge can compromise these batteries, causing fires which cannot be easily suppressed,” Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said at the time. “The best fire teams can do is keep water on the battery until the fuel burns out. If you’re evacuating and leaving an EV, or other lithium ion powered devices like scooters or golf carts in your garage, you’re creating a real fire threat for your home, your communities, and first responders," he added. "Take this threat seriously. If there’s even a small risk of your EV being impacted by storm surge, move it to higher ground before it’s too late.” One home that managed to survive Ian ended up burning to the ground because of a saltwater-damaged EV. EV vehicle owners are being advised to park affected cars at least 50 feet away from any structures that could catch fire.

Hour 1 -  Good Thursday morning! Here's what Nick Reed covers this hour: Conservative leaders are calling on House Republicans to open an impeachment inquiry against the “corrupt occupant of the White House,” President Biden. Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered remarks on the Inflation Reduction Act. At one point, Biden said to the children in the audience, “I wanna say one thing to your children. I know some really great ice cream places around here and daddy owes you, so talk to me afterwards.” President Biden on Wednesday changed his tone during a speech from the East Room of the White House on the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, challenging anyone to name a single objective the U.S. ever set out to accomplish and failed to do.

*) US says Titan submersible 'imploded', killing all five on board A submersible carrying five people to the Titanic imploded near the site of the shipwreck and killed everyone on board, US authorities have said, bringing a tragic end to a saga that included an urgent around-the-clock search and a worldwide vigil for the missing vessel. US Coast Guard officials said during a news conference that they've notified the families of the crew of the Titan, which had been missing since Sunday. The sliver of hope that remained for finding the five men alive was wiped away early Thursday, when the submersible's 96-hour supply of oxygen was expected to run out and the Coast Guard announced that debris had been found roughly 1,600 feet from the Titanic in North Atlantic waters. *) Biden defends Xi 'dictator' remark in new rebuff of China as he fetes Modi President Joe Biden has defended his harsh public comments on China, including calling President Xi Jinping a "dictator", saying his words would have no negative impact on US-China relations and that he still expects to meet with Xi sometime soon. Asked about his appraisal of Xi during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Modi in the East Room, Biden said it "is just not something I'm going to change very much." The remarks, which drew a formal protest from China, opened a new rift just days after Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a visit to Beijing that was meant as a step toward stabilising ties and improving communications. *)Türkiye lambastes illegal Israeli settlers for Quran desecration Türkiye has condemned the ripping up of the Muslim holy book, the Quran, by Israeli settlers who vandalised a mosque in the town of Urif in the occupied West Bank. "We condemn the attack perpetrated by a group of Jewish settlers on our holy book, the Quran, by entering a mosque in the town of Urif, located in the Palestinian territories under Israeli occupation," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "We expect the perpetrators of this unacceptable hate crime to be brought to justice as soon as possible," said the statement. *)Qatar reportedly buys stake in Washington's NBA, NHL, WNBA teams Qatar's sovereign wealth fund is buying a roughly 5 percent stake in the parent company of the NBA's Washington Wizards, NHL's Washington Capitals and WNBA's Washington Mystics as part of a $4.05 billion deal, a person with knowledge of the sale said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday on condition of anonymity because the agreement between the Qatar Investment Authority and Monumental Sports & Entertainment had not been announced. It is believed to be the first time the government of Qatar is investing in US professional sports. And finally… *) Obama slams western hypocrisy over refugees, Titan incidents Former US president Barack Obama has slammed the hypocrisy of Western media concerning refugees and particularly in reference to the recent sinking of a refugee boat off southwestern Greece in which at least 82 people died and hundreds more are feared to have drowned. The fact that more attention is being paid to a submersible carrying five people that vanished off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada while on a tour of the Titanic's wreckage than the refugee boat sinking off Greece with up to 700 people on board is "rotten," he said during an appearance in the Greek capital Athens.

On the last Monday of March, just two weeks before Easter, 200 children between the ages of 3 to 12 sat in their classrooms at the private Christian school The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. The typical bustling sounds of children playing and learning were suddenly disrupted by the sound of gunshots and shattering glass. The intermittent sounds of gunshots continued for approximately 15 minutes. When they finally went silent, the lives of six innocent people, including three 9-year-olds, were tragically ended, and a community was left traumatized. I will share the details of this tragic event that resulted in the loss of 6 innocent lives, the events leading up to the shooting, and finally, the disappointing, inconsistent, and politicized response from the media and the Biden administration. The last Monday of MarchAudrey Hale was a 28-year-old woman and former student of The Covenant School. She was described by those who knew her as quiet and sweet, and many did not know she had recently begun to identify as a man.She left her parents' home, where she lived, wearing a white t-shirt, camouflage pants, and a red baseball cap while carrying a red bag.  Her mother did not know it then, but she likely was carrying several firearms in that bag. They did not know Hale had legally purchased seven guns from five local gun stores and had been planning a mass shooting for months. Hale's parents knew she had owned a firearm, but it was their understanding that she had sold it. So, they did not think anything of the red bag she carried that morning when leaving the house. Hale got into her Honda Fit and drove from her house located at the 3000 block of Brightwood Ave to the neighborhood of Green Hills. She arrived in the parking lot of The Covenant School at 9:54 am. At 9:57 am, she sent an Instagram message to her former basketball teammate and friend, Averianna Patton."I'm planning to die today. You'll probably hear about me on the news after I die.""My family doesn't know what I'm about to do. One day this will make more sense. I've left more than enough evidence behind. But something bad is about to happen."Patton calls the Suicide Prevention Help Line and Nashville police.At 10:11 am school, surveillance footage captures Hale at a locked side entrance with glass doors. Hale raises her firearm and shoots out the glass. She then climbs through the doors carrying a Kel-Tec SUB2000, a Grunt rifle, and a 9 mm pistol while wearing a vest carrying additional magazines.It's reported that Hale pulled the fire alarm to lure students and teachers out of their classrooms. At 10:13 am, the first of several 911 calls were placed reporting the shooting. One caller reported leaving the church with six preschool-aged children upon learning about the active shooter threat. The dispatcher was told that the attacker was a white man in camouflage with a vest and an assault rifle.Another caller, a teacher, speaks with a dispatcher in a hushed voice. A child can be heard whimpering in the background. When the dispatcher asks if she is in a safe place, the woman tells the dispatcher they're located upstairs by the art room hallway. Gunshots can be heard in the background. Chad Scruggs – Covenant Presbyterian's senior pastor and the father of one of the victims – called emergency services after learning about the shooting.“Are you inside?” the dispatcher asks after Scruggs says there's an active shooter. “No. I'm the lead pastor. I'm going that way now,” Scruggs replies, adding that he was “getting calls from inside.”There is no sign during the call whether Scruggs knows his daughter had been shot.At 10:25 am, Nashville Metro Police arrive at the school and enter the building, clearing the first floor. Shots can be heard from the second floor. The officers climb up two flights of stairs, arrive at the second floor, and head down a hallway that opens up to what appears to be a reception area with an atrium to the right.  Hale fires at the officers, and the officers return fire.  10:27 am, police confirm that Hale is dead.Hale had fired 157 total rounds and killed six people Evelyn Dieckhaus, 9;  William Kinney, 9; Hallie Scruggs, 9; Katherine Koonce, 60; Cynthia Peak, 61 and Mike Hill, 61.Mike Hill was a school custodian.Katherine Koonce was the head of the Covenant School.Cynthia Peak was a substitute teacher.Hallie Scruggs was a third-grader and daughter of lead Pastor Chad Scruggs. She was classmates with Evelyn Dieckhaus, who was also killed.William Kinney was a third-grader at the Covenant School.What did we learn after the shooting?Hale acted alone when she targeted The Covenant School. However, during an interview with NBC Lester Hold, Nashville police Chief John Drake stated that she had considered other targets, including a mall and possibly family. Still, she was concerned about the security at these other locations and determined that the school was an easier target. Drake stated that the victims were fired upon at random. It has been incorrectly reported that Hale was being counseled by lead Pastor Chad Scruggs, whose daughter Hailey Scruggs was a victim of Hale's. Pastor Scruggs was not counseling Hale and had never met her.Within her belongings, a manifesto was discovered. The Nashville police handed over the manifesto to the FBI, and it has yet to be released. Many are beginning to doubt it will ever be released. On Friday, Nashville Channel 5 reported during a Tennessee Sheriffs' Association meeting that the director of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), David Rausch, provided information about the manifesto found at the Nashville shooter's home. According to Rausch, the material found did not provide a clear motive for the shooting and instead consisted of rambling writings. Rausch said the journals did not mention any specific political, religious, or social issues. Instead, the journals seemed to focus on idolizing previous school shooters.This partially contradicts what Chief Drake said during interviews shortly following the shooting. When asked if how she identified had anything to do with her targeting the school Chief Drake responded, “There is some theory to that, we are investigating all the leads, and once we know exactly, we will let you know.”The motive behind the school shooting is still unknown.Hale used "male pronouns" on social media, indicating that Hale was transgender. During the police interview with the parents, the parents stated that Hale was under a doctor's care for an "emotional disorder." What that disorder was and how she was being treated is not known. The Daily Mail reports that Hale, who recently changed her name to Aiden and identified as gay and transgender, was at odds with her Christian parents, who refused to accept her gender identity. The Daily Mail also reported that Hale had to wait to leave their home in order to dress as a man. A source close to the Hale family told the Daily Beast that Hale was autistic but high-functioning — “and relatively recently announced she was transgender, identifying as he/him.”In a video of an art show from 2022, she was still using the name, Audrey. Her LinkedIn profile also had the name Audrey although she listed he/him pronouns. She also signed off on one of her last Instagram messages to her former classmate Audrey (Aidan). Hale graduated from Nossi College of Art & Design in Nashville and worked as a freelance graphic designer and a part-time grocery shopper. Hale won "Most Improved" and "Class Participation" awards from Nossi.She was deeply affected and “heartbroken” over the 2022 death of Sydney Sims, a girl she was “infatuated” with, who had played on the same basketball team in school, according to Samira Hardcastle, a classmate of both girls. Hale had posted a TikTok on a since-deleted account, “iam_aiden10,” dedicated to “Syd” in February. Hardcastle said she had last seen Audrey a month ago and thought Audrey “looked up” to Sydney.Maria Colomy, a former instructor at the Nossi College of Art & Design, who taught Hale, said her transition began around the same time as she was grieving the loss of her friend Sydney.The victims are not big enough victims to merit the same response as real victims.It is unfortunate but not surprising that politicians, activists, and the media will politicize an event to push an agenda or narrative in the aftermath of a tragic event. And let me be clear everyone does it, but the politicization and response, or lack of response, was particularly telling in this instance. In virtually every past mass shooting that took place within a religious or minority community, hatred against the victims' religious beliefs or community affiliation is mentioned. However, the killing of six innocent Christians by a woman who identified as transgender was not given any significance by the Biden administration or the mainstream media.The media's bias is showingOf course, the media reported on the event, provided details about Hale and published obligatory gun control articles. But they never once presented the hypothesis of this being a hate crime. Even in the past, accusations of hate crime or extremism would typically follow an event like The Covenant School shooting. There were no articles about the previous recent shootings perpetrated by transgender individuals, the increased hateful language on social media towards Christians, or the two planned shootings by transgender individuals thwarted by authorities the week following The Covenant School shooting. The media instead focused on making sure that they were using the correct pronouns, and CBS News executives told their staffers, not to mention Hale's transgender identity. “The shooter's gender identity has not been confirmed by CBS News,” a memo obtained by the NY Post stated. “As such, we should avoid any mention of it as it has no known relevance to the crime. Should that change, we can and will revisit.”A freelance reporter for NBC News, Benjamin Ryan, attempted to link the shooting to the Daily Wire, headquartered in Nashville, and its commentators Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh. The tweet has since been deleted, but screenshots are forever. Not surprisingly, the Biden administration and the media were on the same page, but politicians have to politician and take it a step further. Biden's bias is showingIt has been over two weeks since the small community of Covenant Presbyterian was forever changed. Biden has yet to mention the victims were Christian or that a hate crime was committed, even though in the past, he has been very quick to make such connections even when there was no evidence of it being the case. A reminder, this occurred a short time before Easter and within the same week of Trans Day of Visibility. Tenessee had recently been in the news for passing bills restricting drag shows in front of minors and banning medical transition for minors. Also, a protest outside the Supreme Court called “Tran Day of Vengence,” organized by the Trans Radical Activist Network (TRAN) was planned for Friday.Biden first publicly mentioned the shooting while delivering remarks at the Small Business Administration's Women's Business Summit in the East Room of the White House. But before he mentioned the shooting, he joked about ice cream, which led to a very awkward moment. After this, he wanted to “speak very briefly about the school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee.” Calling it “sick,” “heartbreaking,” and a “family's worst nightmare.” He then shifted to a call for an “assault weapons” ban. However, Biden does not broach the victims' Christian faith or the fact that the perpetrator was trans. The day following the shooting, Sen. Josh Hawley requested that the FBI investigate the shooting as a hate crime. When Biden is asked if he believes the shooting could be a hate crime against Christians, he responds, “I don't know.” When told that Hawley believes it was, he jokes and responds, “Then probably not.”He does, however, release a Trans Day of Visibility statement accusing “MAGA extremists” of “advancing hundreds of hateful and extreme state laws that target transgender kids and their families.” And when he finally does address the shooting on social media, the Christian faith of the victims is omitted. Suddenly, he is not addressing the clear religious nature of a shooting. He did call for an “assault weapons” ban, though he did not mention the Nashville shooting in the tweet, at least not until a later tweet, where he wrote that "we owe them action." The action, of course, is an “assault weapons” ban. Biden did issue a proclamation directing that flags be put at half-staff in honor of the victims. Four days later, the White House released a statement and fact sheet on Transgender Day of Visibility. That same day on Instagram and Twitter, Biden shared a graphic stating, "Transgender People Deserve Love, Dignity, and Respect." The caption read, “To the Transgender community: we want you to know that you are seen – made in the image of God and deserving of dignity, respect, and support. And, know this. You are so brave.Affirming your child's identity is one of the most powerful things you can do to keep them safe and healthy.Our Administration will never quit fighting to stop discrimination, stand against unjust state laws, and guarantee everyone the fundamental right and freedom to be who they are.”This administration does not care about its Christian citizens. It doesn't fit well with the political agenda or its voter base. Not when the victims are white Christians, and the perpetrator is trans. But it fully supports the medical transition of minor children, making them lifelong medical patients. During a press briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said (THE FOLLOWING), "LGBTQI+ kids are resilient. They are fierce. They fight back. They are not going anywhere, and we have their back. This administration has their back."Biden is comfortable attributing LGBT and religious hate as motivesIf you are saying, “But we don't know the motive. They haven't released the manifesto.” I would say you are correct; we do not know the motive. But that has never stopped Biden in the past from politicizing religion or the marginalized identity of victims in other shootings and attributing them to unconfirmed motives.On March 17, just over a week before the Covenant School shooting, Biden commemorated the two-year anniversary of the Atlanta-area spa shootings in which eight people — six of them Asian women — were killed. Using the opportunity to bring attention to anti-Asian hate. In his statement, Biden said, “I want you to know that I see you. My administration sees you. And we are determined to end the scourge of gun violence, anti-Asian hate, and all forms of racism and extremism in this Nation.” The only problem is authorities attribute his motive to sex addiction, not racism. In 2022 Biden was completely fine with mentioning the religion of the victims of the 2012 Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, resulting in six deaths. The perpetrator did have a history of white supremacist sympathies. Still, the motive was not confirmed, but Biden was comfortable mentioning it as "the deadliest attack on Sikh Americans in our nation's history." He also said that attacks on houses of worship have become more common over the past decade, and “No one should fear for their life when they bow their head in prayer or go about their lives in America.”In 2021, Biden and Vice President Harris released statements to commemorate the three years since the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting that left 11 dead. The victim's faith was a central focus of their statements. It is reported that the perpetrator made anti-Semitic comments during the shooting. Again, Biden was comfortable mentioning the victims' faith.Also in 2021, just four months after Biden was sworn in as President, he designated the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, a national memorial to honor the 49 people killed in a 2016 mass shooting. He urged Congress to pass laws explicitly protecting the civil rights of LGBTQ people. "Our presence this afternoon makes a very strong statement: Pride is back at the White House," Biden said after being introduced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is openly gay, and a young transgender man, Ashton Mota.Only thing is that authorities attribute the motive of the shooting at the Pulse nightclub to an act of Islamic extremism by a 29-year-old U.S. citizen of Afghan descent, it was civil rights activists said the massacre was a hate crime targeting gay men and Latinos that frequented the club.In November 2022, a man entered the LGBTQ nightclub Club Q in Colorado Springs, killing 5 and injuring 25 people. Following the shooting, Biden denounced the targeting of the LGBTQ community.“Places that are supposed to be safe spaces of acceptance and celebration should never be turned into places of terror and violence,” he said in a statement. “We cannot and must not tolerate hate.”There was no known motive at the time of his statement, and there still isn't. However, in the footnotes of court filings, it is indicated that the shooter identifies as non-binary, uses they/them pronouns, and wants to be referred to with the prefix Mx. Whether this is true or a tactic is not known, just like the motive. Visiting the victimsDepending on the political optics a tragedy can provide will determine if it merits a personal visit, a phone call, a first lady visit, or a lie. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden (can't forget she is a doctor) attended the candlelight vigil honoring the six victims of the shooting at the Covenant School. She did not meet with any of the families or make any remarks. President Biden has made no contact with any of the victims' families or members of Covenant Presbyterian. On May 14, 2022, a shooting occurred at a Tops Friendly supermarket in a predominantly black neighborhood in Buffalo, NY, killing 10 victims. Biden visited Buffalo a few days later and spoke a short distance from the grocery store calling the shooting a “murderous, racist rampage” and “domestic terrorism.” He placed flowers at the memorial near the store, met with the family of the victims and first responders, and condemned white supremacy as a poison that must be rejected.Following the Robb Elementary School shooting in the predominantly Latin community of Uvalde, 19 students died. Biden and the First Lady visited Uvalde and met with the victims' families. In November 2022, Biden and the First Lady called and spoke with the owners of Club Q on Thanksgiving. During the call "reiterated support for the vibrant and strong Club Q family and commitment to fighting back against hate and gun violence," according to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). On January 21, a 72-year-old Vietnamese man killed 11 people at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park, CA, a predominantly Asian community, after an all-day Lunar New Year Festival. Brandon Tsay disarmed the man in the lobby. The shooter fled and was later found dead in a van from a self-inflicted gunshot. The motive was speculated to be a family dispute, but it remains unknown.Biden later visited Monterey Park on March 14, where he met Tsay and announced an executive order to increase the number of background checks. "All have lived lives of love, sacrifice, and service for their families, for their community," Biden said during his remarks. "They represent a bigger story. Who we are as Americans embodying the simple truth that our diversity is the strength of this nation."Finally, if Biden can't visit the families of shooting victims, he lies and says he did. In a 2019 campaign ad, Biden claimed that he visited and met with every one of the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting. The problem is that Connecticut State Senate candidate JT Lewis, the brother of one of the victims, says it was a lie."This is a lie," wrote Lewis in a tweet. "Obama came to Sandy Hook and met with every family. Joe Biden DID NOT. In fact, my family was not allowed on Air Force One because we refused to support Obama/Biden gun control efforts."Also, I found no news reports or images that indicated Biden had accompanied Obama to visit the families of the Sandy Hook victims. It's Meseidy is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.ConclusionThe city of Nashville and the community of The Covenant School suffered an unquestionably tragic loss. These horrible events have a lasting traumatic effect on the people left behind to pick up the pieces. I am not going to debate the solution or the cause of these shootings. That debate is happening all over social media, the news, and in the halls of Congress. I want to talk about the biased response in the aftermath of this tragedy. While other tragedies affiliated with so-called marginalized communities merited phone calls, visits, and anti-hate remarks and campaigns from our administration, The Covenant School families did not. All they got was a vigil photo op visit from the First Lady, where she didn't even speak, and ice cream jokes from the President before he made any mention of the tragedy. But he did not forget to call for an “assault weapons” ban before quickly shifting to declaring support for the medical gender transition of minors and celebrating Trans Day of Visibility. The media's larger concern was protecting Hale and, by proxy, they believed they were protecting the transgender people. They were all very careful to respect her pronouns and not to mention too often that the victims were Christian unless it was to say how her Christian parents did not support her in her decision to transition. The message is clear, a white Christian community and its victims are not victims enough to merit the same response as those the media and the Biden administration deem true victims. For the media and this administration to care and call out hate, you have to have the right skin color, religion, and/or be LGBTQ.To donate to The Covenant School and Covenant Presbyterian Church, click the button below and select “March 27 Fund”Thank you for reading It's Meseidy. 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Alexis is back to talk all things Tennessee Muscle Candy, horror movies, gettin' out of your own way. Check Tennessee Muscle Candy out April 28th at The East Room!!

Dreams can provide a lot of information about your present state of mind, worries, and hopes for the future. But can they actually predict things that haven't happened yet? Precognitive dreams, in simple terms, are any dreams that give you information about the future you wouldn't otherwise have. Say you dream about your brother after not hearing from him for months. The next day, he gives you a call. Or, maybe you wake from a dream with some unpleasant emotions, like terror or disappointment. This doesn't seem meaningful until something frightens or disappoints you shortly afterward. You can't recall any specific dream details, but you have the exact same feelings. Having a precognitive experience may unsettle you, even when you don't put much stock in future-telling. Read on to learn more about potential scientific explanations for these dreams and how to go about dealing with them. While scientific research hasn't found evidence to support the idea of prophetic dreams, people do commonly report dreaming about events or circumstances that later happened. You might have heard of these famous examples. Aberfan landslide Nearly 150 children and adults were killed in 1966 when waste from a coal mine buried a school in South Wales. When psychiatrist John Barker visited the town and spoke to many of the residents, he realized many of them had experienced some type of premonition about the disaster. Even some of the children who had died had mentioned dreams and premonitions of dying in the days before the landslide. Barker advertised in a London newspaper, asking anyone who had experienced a premonition before the landslide to send a written account. He received more than 60 replies, about half of which mentioned a dream of the disaster. Lincoln's death About 2 weeks before his assassination, President Abraham Lincoln described a recent dream to his wife and a few of his friends. He dreamed of walking through the White House until he came upon his own corpse, guarded and lying in state in the East Room — exactly where his casket rested after his death. Carl Jung Jung, one of the key founders of modern psychotherapy, also reported several precognitive dreams and experiences. One of his dreams appeared to warn him of his mother's death. He also described a series of three dreams in early 1914 that involved a “darkened” Europe in the grips of a catastrophe. Many people later connected these dreams to the start of World War I. How common are they? Some research suggests up to a third of people report some type of precognitive experience, often in the form of a dream that seemed to come true. According to Psychology Today, informal surveys put this figure much higher, suggesting around half of the population has had some type of prophetic dream. Results of surveys can sometimes become skewed, depending on who they involve. People with stronger belief in psychic experiences, including precognitive dreaming, tend to have a higher likelihood of interpreting dreams as precognitive. People who don't believe in psychic experiences, on the other hand, likely won't even consider the possibility of their dreams predicting the future. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/grizzly-onthehunt/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/grizzly-onthehunt/support

More from CBS News White House Correspondent Steven Portnoy on the President's health, as well as the Medal of Honor he awarded to an 83-year-old Vietnam War veteran today.PHOTO: WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 03: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks before presenting the Medal of Honor to retired U.S. Army Colonel Paris Davis during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House March 3, 2023 in Washington, DC. Paris received the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military for his actions as one of the nation's first Black officers to lead a Special Forces team in combat, almost 60 years after he was first recommended for the award. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

March 4th of 1865 was a truly monumental day in American history. In the afternoon, the second inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as President took place. And that evening marked the first time that a person of color attended a social event at the White House as an invited guest. It had never happened before. The guest was Frederick Douglass and it very nearly didn't happen at all. Now most American citizens knows who Abraham Lincoln was. And although many people have heard of Frederick Douglass, most don't know all that much about him other than the fact that he was a former slave who became one of the primary leaders of the abolitionist movement, both in America and abroad as well. Of course, there is much more to the story of Frederick Douglass than this. He was truly a major figure in American history, but his vast stature isn't what this episode is about. This is about a statement that Douglass once made about Lincoln. We'll get to that statement a little later, but first let's lay a little groundwork about these two giants of their time. Prior to the inauguration Lincoln and Douglass already had a significant, ongoing relationship. It had begun on somewhat tenuous grounds, but quicky grew into one of enormous mutual respect and Lincoln had invited Douglass to attend the inauguration. Douglass, who was one of the most talented writers of the 19th century, has written a vivid description of what happened on that critically eventful day. “I was present at the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, the 4th of March, 1865,” he wrote. “I felt then that there was murder in the air, and I kept close to his carriage on the way to the Capitol, for I felt that I might see him fall that day. It was a vague presentiment. “At that time, the Confederate cause was on its last legs as it were, and there was deep feeling. I could feel it in the atmosphere. I did not know exactly what it was, but I just felt as if he might be shot on his way to the Capitol. I cannot refer to any incident, in fact to any expression that I had heard. It was simply a presentiment that Lincoln might fall. “That day I got right in front of the east portico of the Capitol, listened to his inaugural address, and witnessed his being sworn in by Chief Justice Chase. When he came on the steps, he was accompanied by Vice President Johnson, and looking out in the crowd, he saw me standing nearby and I could see he was pointing me out to Andrew Johnson. “Mr. Johnson, without knowing perhaps that I saw the movement, looked quite annoyed that his attention should be called in that direction. So, I got a peep into his soul, and as soon as he saw me looking at him, suddenly he assumed rather an amicable expression of countenance. I felt that whatever else that man might be, he was no friend to my people. “I heard Mr. Lincoln deliver his wonderful address,” Douglass continued. “It was very short. And he answered all the objections raised to his prolonging the war in one sentence. And it was a remarkable sentence. ‘Fondly do we hope, profoundly do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war shall soon pass away. Yet if God wills it to continue until all the wealth piled up by two hundred years of bondage shall have been wasted, and each drop of blood drawn by the lash shall have been paid for by one drawn by the sword, we will still say, as was said three thousand years ago:  the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.'” Douglass was deeply moved by the profound nature of Lincoln's enlightened perspective and later wrote that his speech sounded more like a sermon than an inaugural address.   Later that evening, the formal ball was held in the White House. Even though the idea of a black man attending a social function at the nation's Grand Mansion was socially out of the question at the time, Lincoln had invited him anyway. And Douglass was happy to attend. According to Douglass's description, “For the first time in my life, and I suppose the first time in any colored man's life, I attended the reception of President Lincoln on the evening of the inauguration. As I approached the door, I was seized by two policemen and forbidden to enter. I said to them that they were mistaken entirely in what they were doing, that if Mr. Lincoln knew that I was at the door, he would order my admission. And I bolted in by them. “On the inside. I was taken charge of by two other policemen, to be conducted, as I suppose, to the President. But instead of that, they were conducting me out the window on a plank. “Oh,” I said. “This will not do, gentleman.”  And as a gentleman was passing in, I said to him, “Just say to Mr. Lincoln that Fred Douglas is at the door.” He rushed in to President Lincoln, and almost in less than half a minute I was invited into the East Room of the White House. A perfect sea of beauty and eloquence too, it was. The ladies were in very fine attire and Mrs. Lincoln was standing there. “I could not have been more than ten feet from him when Mr. Lincoln saw me. His countenance lighted up and he said in a voice that was heard all around, ‘Here comes my friend Douglas!'” “As I approached him, he reached out his hand, gave me a cordial shake, and said, ‘Douglass, I saw you in the crowd today listening to my inaugural address. There is no man's opinion that I value more than yours. What did you think of it?'”  “Mr. Lincoln,” I said. “I cannot stop here to talk with you, as there are thousands waiting to shake you by the hand.” “But,” he said again. ‘What did you think of it?'”  “I said, “Mr. Lincoln, it was a sacred effort,” and then I walked off. “I'm glad you liked it,” he said. That was the last time I saw him to speak with him.” So, instead of being barred entrance or thrown out, Douglass was welcomed as an honored guest by the smiling, 6-foot 6 tall giant, the center of attention of the entire room, who loudly and happily greeted him as a dear old friend.  It was indeed a transformative moment and later Douglass wrote, “Now in this multitude of the elite of the land, I felt myself a man among men.” That night was a truly historic event in the East Room, but tragically, just forty-six days later, Lincoln's body was lying in state in the very same chamber, the result of the first assassination of an American president. Following the assassination, Douglass's reaction to his friend's death was simple, but profound. He stated publicly that it was a “day for silence and meditation: for grief and tears.” Over the years, Douglass continued to express many of his deeper sentiments about Lincoln, culminating in the keynote address he made in Washington DC at the dedication of a statue in Lincoln's honor on April 14, 1876, the eleventh anniversary of the assassination. In that speech he said, “We are here to express… our grateful sense of the vast, high and preeminent services rendered to ourselves, to our race, to our country and to the whole world by Abraham Lincoln. “He was a mystery to no man who saw him and heard him. Though high in position, the humblest could approach him and feel at home in his presence. Though deep, he was transparent. Though strong he was gentle.” Then, about the issue of the abolition of slavery, Douglass offered a keen insight that he was in a most unique position to make. “Viewed from the genuine abolition ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed tardy, cold, dull and indifferent. But measuring him by the sentiment of his country, a sentiment that as a statesman he was bound to consult, he was swift, zealous, radical and determined.” And he continued, with a profound sense of how instrumental Lincoln would have been to the betterment of the freed slaves, as well as the rest of the black population throughout the nation when he added, “Whosoever else may have cause to mourn the loss of Abraham Lincoln, to the colored people of the country his death is an unspeakable calamity.” He went on, “In all my interviews with Mr. Lincoln, I was impressed with his entire freedom from popular prejudice against the colored race. He was the first great man that I talked with in the United States freely, who in no single instance reminded me of the difference between himself and myself, of the difference of color, and I thought that all the more remarkable because he came from a state where there were black laws. Then he concluded, “I account partially for his kindness to me because of the similarity with which I had fought my way up, we both starting at the lowest round of the ladder.” And this is quite true because they were both anomalies of their time.  Lincoln, the esteemed and revered president, was born and raised in a one-room log cabin in the middle of the wilderness and had less than a year of formal schooling. And Douglass, a truly iconic human rights leader of global stature, as well as an internationally respected writer, publisher and orator, had endured an incredibly brutal life of slavery until he was able to escape at age twenty. And he acquired his vast intelligence completely on his own, against nearly insurmountable obstacles. So, the two men had defied all odds to achieve their lofty positions. And they both knew it about each other.   Then Douglass took it a step deeper when he wrote, “There was another feeling that I had with reference to him, and that was that while in his presence I felt I was in the presence of a very great man, as great as the greatest. I felt as though I could go and put my hand on him if I wanted to, to put my hand on his shoulder. Of course, I did not do it, but I felt that I could. I felt as though I was in the presence of a big brother. There was safety in his atmosphere.” It was that last line that always got me and this is what I alluded to at the beginning of this episode. Let's take a closer look at it. “There was safety in his atmosphere,” he wrote. What an incredibly powerful idea, especially coming from Frederick Douglass, who was in his day, one of the most hated people in the entire South. And many in the North didn't like him too much either. This had been the darkest hour in American history, with almost six hundred and twenty thousand US soldiers killing each other over the course of the war which lasted four years, almost to the day. There was still a large and vicious group of rebels who would have loved to see him killed, or at least returned to slavery. Still in this truly dangerous time, Douglass expressed that he felt safe around Lincoln, that there was safety in his atmosphere.   The lofty statement seems to go far beyond the idea of just plain power. You can be around a lot of extremely powerful people and never feel safe with them. Quite the contrary, there is often danger around those whose lust for power is just a disguise that's masking a deeper weakness of character. Lincoln was different. At the time he was arguably the most powerful person on the planet, but look at the amiable, “big brother” picture Douglass painted of him. The former fugitive slave felt both comfortable and safe when he was near. To me, this seems to bespeak the idea of something greater, that the person of power is also a manifestation of the most noble characteristics of humanity, and the feelings around such a person emanate from a much deeper, inner place, which elevates the entire atmosphere.    It seems that the next logical question would be - do we each have a higher part of our own inner nature that can exude this elevated atmosphere of true safety, both within ourselves as well as on the outside? Saints and sages throughout the ages have assured us that we do and that we can absolutely aspire to reach it. That's an idea that has always appealed to me as a great thing to believe in, and an even better one to know. Well, that's the end of this episode. As always, keep your eyes, mind and heart opened and let's get together in the next one.

Anna Crawford, a therapist and longtime advocate for children in Cherokee County, has died at 80 after a battle with cancer. Crawford, the founder of The Anna Crawford Children's Center and Cherokee Counseling and Psychological Associates, both in Woodstock, died December 15 at her home in Mississippi. Crawford dedicated her life to serving and helping children, women and families in need in her community, said Barbara Thomason, her partner of 28 years. Crawford founded Cherokee Counseling and Psychological Associates in downtown Woodstock in 1985. The multidisciplinary team of professionals continues to provide therapeutic services to individuals and families. Warren Kaplan was part of the group of people who helped Crawford open the counseling center. Crawford, who worked for years with children who have been abused, was also one of the original founders of the Cherokee Council on Child Abuse Inc. in 1990, later known as the Cherokee Child Advocacy Center. This would eventually be renamed The Anna Crawford Children's Center in the mid-1990s, Thomason said. Amy Economopoulos, executive director of the Anna Crawford Children's Center, said Crawford interviewed her in 2000 for a therapist and forensic interviewer position at the center. Amy described Crawford as "an art lover, elegant, kind, compassionate, giving, and a strong female role model who brought beauty wherever she went." In addition to her work with children, Crawford also served on the board of directors for the Cobb County Young Women's Christian Association, The Cherokee Family Violence Center, The Georgia Council and Task Force on Domestic Violence and was a trainer and supervisor for the Cobb and Cherokee Battered Women's shelters. Crawford had expertise knowledge in rape crisis, battering, abuse and family disfunction, which led to her appointment by former Georgia Governor  Zell Miller to the Governor's Advisory Council on Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Woodstock Mayor Michael Caldwell will present the 2023 State of the City Address at two events in January, the city announced. In the address, the mayor will outline the city' accomplishments of 2022 and provide a preview of where Woodstock is heading in 2023. IN WDSTK will host the State of the City Breakfast January 20 in the Woodstock Arts City Center Theater. Registration and a networking breakfast is scheduled to start at 7:45 a.m. and the program will begin at 8:15 a.m. Mayor Caldwell will deliver the address again to the Woodstock City Council at the mayor and council meeting at 7 p.m. January 23 at the Chambers at City Center. For tickets to the IN WDSTK event, visit inwdstk.org/events. IN WDSTK investors will receive a complimentary ticket by logging into their account. Guest tickets are $15. A bulldog that calls Cherokee County home is now the “Best in Show.” Star, a three-and-a-half-year-old bulldog, earned this honor as the winner of the 22nd American Kennel Club National Championship competition December 18 in Orlando. The show aired on New Year's Day on ABC. Star's owners, the Mason family of Woodstock, Alaina Moulton of Pensacola and Star's handler, Dennis O'Connor of Glen Rose, Texas, received a $50,000 check, while Star was named “Best in Show” against 5,300 other dogs. This was Star's first time competing in this show. This was also the first time a bulldog has ever won this AKC National Championship. As part of the competition, Star and the other dogs were judged “on a standard of what that dog or breed should look like. Star travels with her handler, Dennis O'Connor, to compete in these competitions, winning 18 “best in show” titles so far, including the AKC show. Star and O'Connor work together before shows to prepare for upcoming competitions. Some of the shows that Star competes in are against bulldogs, while others such as the AKC National Championship are against dogs of all breeds. When the time comes to settle down into retirement, Natalie Mason said Star will come home and live with the Mason family permanently in Woodstock.   A Canton man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was found guilty of molesting a child, the Cherokee County District Attorney's office announced. David Blackburn of Canton, was found guilty of child molestation and cruelty to children in the first degree. Senior Judge Jack Partain sentenced Blackburn on October 6 to 20 years, with the first 10 years to be served in confinement and the remainder to be served on probation. According to the district attorney's office, Canton police began investigating Blackburn in December 2019 after a child reported that she was being sexually abused by a member of her family. In a forensic interview at the Anna Crawford Children's Center, the child provided detailed accounts of acts of sexual abuse that occurred from 2014 through 2019. “For years, this child tried to tell individuals in her life that Mr. Blackburn was touching her in inappropriate and sexual ways. Instead of believing her, they insisted that she was mistaken and confused about his intentions,” said Assistant District Attorney Rachel Hines of the Special Victims Unit, who prosecuted the case. “This case divided a family and forced a child to choose between telling the truth or lying to appease family members. The victim in this case showed amazing strength throughout the investigation and prosecution of this crime.” At the conclusion of the four-day trial, the jury convicted Blackburn of three counts of child molestation and one count of cruelty to children in the first degree.  Woodstock resident Barry Pencek is holding a book signing in Acworth today on his memoir of a 1970 top-secret raid in Laos. "Operation Tailwind: Memoirs of a Secret Battle in a Secret War" is a memoir of a top-secret raid in Laos conducted in 1970 in support of a CIA operation there. The book takes the reader from the jungles of Laos to the boardrooms of CNN, to the East Room of the White House. The book signing is at 1 p.m. this afternoon at Acworth Bookstore & Coffee Shop. For more information about the "Operation Tailwind" memoir, visit Barry Pencek dot com. A new women's soccer team will be competing in Canton this spring and summer, with the Georgia Impact set to play its inaugural game in the Women's Premier Soccer League in May.The WPSL, comprised of college players seeking a playing outlet before their college seasons begin in the fall, features more than 135 teams in 35 states across the country. The Georgia Impact will compete in the Southeast division with Alabama FC, Chattanooga FC, Nashville Rhythm FC, North Alabama SC and TN Force FC.The National Premier Soccer League, the WPSL's counterpart for men's players, expanded into the area last year with Apotheos FC, which played its games at North Cobb Christian School in Kennesaw. Georgia Impact will host its five matches at Tommy Baker Field on the Cherokee High School campus. #CherokeeCounty #Georgia #LocalNews           -          -          -          -          -          -          The Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast is local news for Woodstock, Canton, and all of Cherokee County. Register Here for your essential digital news.             This podcast was produced and published for the Cherokee Tribune-Ledger and TribuneLedgerNews.com by BG Ad Group     For more information be sure to visit https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/    https://cuofga.org/   https://www.drakerealty.com/   https://www.esogrepair.com/   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Joe Biden take part in a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House.

This episode covers the last day of the administration of Richard Nixon. It begins with the arrogant Special Prosecutors as they reminisce about their plans to figure out a way to get Richard Nixon indicted knowing they had him at his weakest moment. Host Randal Wallace will discuss the fairness of that attempt, the stealing of the President's records and tapes even as he was having them packed to be shipped to San Clemente, and several other of the indignities thrust on him as his power slipped away on that August day. Then we travel back in time and hear from the oral histories of three men intimately involved with the events of that day, President Richard Nixon, Vice President Gerald Ford and speechwriter Ray Price. It was a day of high drama an extreme emotion as the power of the Presidency moved smoothly in the orderly transfer of power that has been the hallmark of our national history. You will also get to hear one of the most inspirational speeches ever given by an American President as Richard Nixon addresses his White House Staff from the East Room just before he leaves to go back to San Clemente, California. Then you will listen in as Vice President Gerald Ford is sworn in as the nations 38th President and delivers his own Inaugural Address. As we close out our three season look at the Watergate Scandal, if you agree with our presentation we hope you will consider contacting the United States Justice Department and let them know that you would like to see a resolution to the current complaint registered there by Geoff Shepard of Prosecutorial Misconduct by the Watergate Special Prosecutors Office. You can do that by writing to:  United States Department of Justice950 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington D.C. 20530or calling the Department comment line at 202-353-1555Let's get Justice for Richard Nixon and allow him to take his rightful place in American History.  It is after all long overdue. Stay tuned for our Epilogue series on the Re-Rise of Richard Nixon and our special bonus episodes too!! Questions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

Barack and Michelle Obama returned to the White House on Wednesday for the unveiling of their official White House portraits, in an East Room ceremony hosted by President Biden and first lady Jill Biden. “Barack and Michelle, welcome home,” said Joe Biden, who served as vice president under Obama for eight years. John Rogers, chairman of the White House Historical Association, said Wednesday's ceremony was also a celebration of “the unlikely story that is America,” noting the Obamas as the first Black American first family at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. “Today is a reminder that America is governed not by a disconnected series of presidents, but rather by the enduring presidency,” Rogers said. “And within the greater story that's told by the 43 other portraits, we boldly celebrate their contrast and their confluence … as distinguished chapters in the American narrative.” The event also marked the return of the long-standing tradition of sitting presidents welcoming their predecessors — regardless of party — to the White House to unveil their official portraits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barack and Michelle Obama returned to the White House on Wednesday for the unveiling of their official White House portraits, in an East Room ceremony hosted by President Biden and first lady Jill Biden. “Barack and Michelle, welcome home,” said Joe Biden, who served as vice president under Obama for eight years. John Rogers, chairman of the White House Historical Association, said Wednesday's ceremony was also a celebration of “the unlikely story that is America,” noting the Obamas as the first Black American first family at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. “Today is a reminder that America is governed not by a disconnected series of presidents, but rather by the enduring presidency,” Rogers said. “And within the greater story that's told by the 43 other portraits, we boldly celebrate their contrast and their confluence … as distinguished chapters in the American narrative.” The event also marked the return of the long-standing tradition of sitting presidents welcoming their predecessors — regardless of party — to the White House to unveil their official portraits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cappy McGarr is an Emmy-nominated author, a creator of the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize, the National Award for Humor, and The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize.McGarr serves on the boards of The Foundation for the National Archives and The Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. He serves on The Better Angels Board of Directors, filmmaker Ken Burns' advisory board. McGarr has chaired a White House Fellows Regional Panel in 2012 and 2013 and has served as a panelist from 2009 to 2013.McGarr was appointed by President Barack Obama to the board of trustees of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2011, and was previously appointed to the same post by President Bill Clinton, serving from 1996 to 2002. He is only one of two people that have been appointed to The Kennedy Center by two different Presidents. He is an executive producer and creator of The Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize, the nation's highest honor for humor, now in its 16th year, which has been awarded to Billy Crystal, Will Ferrell, Steve Martin, and Richard Pryor, among others. He also is an executive producer and creator of The Library of Congress George Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the nation's highest honor for popular song that is held each year, in the East Room of the White House which has been awarded to Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, and in 2013 Carole King. McGarr was nominated for a 2008-2009 Prime Time Emmy for The Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize Honoring George Carlin and nominated for a 2010 NAACP Image Award for The Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize Honoring Bill Cosby.McGarr is married to Janie Strauss McGarr for 35 years, and has two daughters, Elizabeth McGarr McCue and Kathryn McGarr.

Devalued sits down with the talent bookers for The Basement and The East Room to figure out how to build the sustainable ecosystem of venues and artists.

US President Joe Biden delivered an impassioned plea to Congress to take action against gun violence in an address to the nation Thursday (Friday NZT), calling on lawmakers to restore a ban on the sale of assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines after a string of mass shootings. If legislators fail to act, he warned, voters should use their "outrage" to turn gun violence into a central issue in November's midterm elections.Speaking at the White House, Biden acknowledged the stiff political headwinds as he sought to drive up pressure on Congress to pass stricter gun limits after such efforts failed following past attacks. He said if Congress won't embrace all of his proposals, they must at least find compromise on other measures, like limiting access to firearms to those with mental health issues or raising the age to buy assault-style weapons from 18 to 21."How much more carnage are we willing to accept," Biden said after last week's shootings by an 18-year-old gunman, who killed 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and another attack on Wednesday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a gunman shot and killed four people and himself at a medical office.And those came after the May 14 assault in Buffalo, New York, where a white 18-year-old wearing military gear and livestreaming with a helmet camera opened fire with a rifle at a supermarket in a predominantly black neighbourhood, killing 10 people and wounding three others in what authorities described as "racially motivated violent extremism"."This time we have to take the time to do something," Biden said, calling out the Senate, where 10 Republican votes would be needed to pass legislation."I know how hard it is, but I'll never give up and if Congress fails, I believe this time a majority of the American people won't give up either," he added. "I believe the majority of you will act to turn your outrage into making this issue central to your vote." US President Joe Biden walks from the East Room of the White House. Photo / APAll major broadcast networks broke away from regular programming to carry Biden's remarks at 7:30pm EDT, before the start of primetime shows.Biden has used national speeches in the past to speak about the Covid-19 pandemic and the chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. But the president has used such addresses sparingly during his nearly 18 months in office, especially during evening hoursEarlier Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke about the Oklahoma shooting, saying, "All of us hold the people of Tulsa in our hearts, but we also reaffirm our commitment to passing commonsense gun safety laws.""No more excuses. Thoughts and prayers are important, but not enough," Harris said. "We need Congress to act."Before marking Memorial Day on Monday, Biden told reporters at the White House that there may be some bipartisan support to tighten restrictions on the kind of high-powered weapons used by the gunman in Uvalde. But he also noted that, while he had taken some steps via executive actions, he didn't have the power as president to "outlaw a weapon".He also said that "things have gotten so bad that everybody's getting more rational, at least that's my hope," adding, "There's realisation on the part of rational Republicans" who realise "we can't keep repeating ourselves". US President Joe Biden speaks from the East Room of the White House. Photo / APVisiting Uvalde on Sunday, Biden mourned privately for three-plus hours with anguished families. Faced with chants of "do something" as he departed a church service, the president pledged: "We will."His Thursday night address coincided with bipartisan talks that are intensifying among a core group of senators discussing modest gun policy changes. Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine said the group is "making rapid progress," and Biden has spoken to Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, among those leading their party's efforts on the issue.De...

This is the second episode in a series of excerpts from my memoir, Wilt, Ike & Me. The last one took place at the end of the summer of 1965 when instead of being able to continue with my sizzling teenage summer romance, I unexpectedly had to drive to Brooklyn with my parents to attend my first funeral. In the chapters that follow in the book, I begin eleventh grade and the 76ers begin the NBA season. The team that my father had personally built over the last two years was now the most powerful team in basketball. It is still looked upon as one of the greatest NBA teams ever and this was a very exciting time for us. But the focus of this series is on the events that took place just before and just following the sudden death of my father. Although it's a sad part of the saga, it does lead up to a rather fascinating conclusion, so my advice is to stick with it through to the end. This episode marks the beginning of some of the strange things that began to happen to me then. And so, the story continues.      Sometimes, things can be going along normally and then all of a sudden, your whole world gets turned upside down. There's no point in dwelling on it, but the truth is, you never really know what's coming around the next corner in this life. Something unexpected can happen and suddenly, you're never the same again. It seems to happen to everyone. One way or another, we each enter into the dark night of the soul. That's exactly where I was heading as the last week of November began. I didn't see it coming. We rarely do. But looking back, there were plenty of signs.  The first one was subtle. My brother's wife was about seven months pregnant. Mike had been the first child in the generation following my father's. Now this new baby would be the first child of the next generation. We were all unbelievably excited. My father and I had driven over to visit them one afternoon. When we got home and pulled into the driveway, I asked him, “So how does it feel now that you're going to be a grandfather?” “What do you mean?” he asked me. “Does it make you feel old or anything?” He didn't respond right away and stared out at the rose garden near the back door. “I'm never going to be the grandfather to this child,” he said matter-of-factly, but in a distant tone of voice. I didn't say anything. “No. I won't be the grandfather,” he repeated. “I'll be the father's father, but never the grandfather.” He used to say quirky things like this all the time. It sounded like he was splitting hairs, and I didn't pay any attention to it.   ***   A second subtle omen came in the form of a comic book. Eleventh grade was turning out to be a great year for me. I was in student council and started thinking about running for school president. Cheltenham was a big high school, with about two thousand students. If I wanted to run, there would be a lot to do, and it was time to give it some serious thought. One night at dinner, I mentioned it to my parents and they both encouraged me. The next day, when I got home from school, an old comic book of mine was on the end table next to my bed. It had stories about each president of the United States. I hadn't seen it in years. My mother kept a few boxes of my childhood things in the basement and had pulled it out after our dinner conversation, probably to inspire me.  I recognized it immediately and remembered there was a strange story about Abraham Lincoln in the middle of it. I flipped to the center and sure enough, there it was, “Lincoln, the Mystic.” It had two parts. The first one was called, “I Am Not Dead – I Still Live.” It showed a letter from a famous psychic that was found in Lincoln's desk after he died. Supposedly, following the assassination, the President's son Robert Todd Lincoln went through all of Lincolns personal papers and destroyed a large amount. But for some reason, he preserved this one particular letter, which is now in the Abraham Lincoln Collection at the Library of Congress.   It was a life-after-death message that was brought to the White House by a psychic who had supposedly channeled it from Edward Baker, a close friend of Lincoln's who had been killed in battle. It was written backwards and had to be read in a mirror. It said - “I am not dead. I still live…I experienced a happy reality - a glorious change by the process called death… Man lives on Earth, to live elsewhere, and that elsewhere is ever present. Heaven and Hell are conditions, not localities.” The fact that Lincoln had a letter from a psychic in his desk was somewhat interesting news. But when I read the second part of the comic book tale, called “The Most Famous Pre-Cognitive Dream in American History,” I found it disturbing.  It showed Lincoln asleep in the White House. A mournful sound wakes him up. He gets out of bed and starts walking toward it. As he gets closer, he realizes that it is the sound of people crying miserably. He enters the East Room and sees a coffin on a stand, guarded by soldiers. “Who is dead in the White House?” he asks one of them. “The President,” comes the reply. “He was killed by an assassin.” The crying gets louder. Lincoln looks in the coffin and sees himself lying there. The shock of it startles him, and he suddenly wakes up and finds himself lying in his bed. He realizes it had all been a bad dream. I looked at the image of Lincoln, staring at himself in the coffin, and for some reason, I thought of my old Davy Crockett comic book and how crushed I felt when I realized my hero was dead. And as I sat on my bed, next to the end table, a quick flash of intense grief rippled through me like a shock wave. I quickly got up and put the comic away in a drawer. But that picture of Lincoln staring at his own dead body was haunting, and the image stayed with me for quite a while.   ***   A more profound sign awaited me on Saturday morning. My father and I were sitting in services in the modern synagogue near our home in Elkins Park. He was thinking about changing our affiliation. We still belonged to Temple Sholom, but it was a long drive each way. This place was close enough that we could walk, which was a dream come true for him. Toward the end of every Jewish service, a prayer is recited called the Mourner's Kaddish. It's one of the keystones of the religion, and every congregation does it, all over the world. Interestingly, even though it's done to honor the dead, it's a prayer of praise and never once mentions death or dying. The idea is that you always praise God, no matter what happens. As we sat there, the rabbi invited the mourners to rise to say Kaddish, and one of the kids from my school stood up, which surprised me. “I know that kid,” I whispered to my father. “I didn't know anybody in his family died.” All of a sudden, my father got extremely serious. “This Kaddish prayer is much more important than you know,” he said.  Then he spoke to me in a strange tone of voice, one I had never heard before. I could barely tell it was him.  “I want you to promise me that after I die, you will come to services and say Kaddish for me, every morning and every night. And that you will do it for the full eleven months and never miss a time.” I had never heard him that somber before, and it didn't make sense. I was definitely going to say Kaddish for him after he died, but that was twenty or thirty years down the road - he was only fifty-two. “Of course, I will, Dad,” I said matter-of-factly. “You know I will.” Then the weird got weirder. “We're in the synagogue now,” he said, still in the same somber tone. “There's the ark and we're in front of the Torah. I want you to make a solemn vow to me now. And understand, this is a vow made before God.” Now, we were very close and nothing like this had ever happened between us. He had never asked me to promise him anything before in my life. “OK,” I said, somewhat taken aback. It seemed like an old-fashioned idea, but why not? “Good,” he said. “Now, repeat after me.” He paused, and then, like a judge administering an oath of office, he recited the vow, one sentence at a time. And I repeated it after him, word for word. “I promise before God, that after you die, I will come to services and say Kaddish for you every morning and night for the full eleven months. And never miss a time.” When I said the last phrase, he exhaled deeply and slumped forward in his seat, with his eyes closed. The next thing I knew, they started singing Adon Olam, which is the very last song of the service. It's a happy, cheerful hymn. My father opened his eyes and looked relieved. He seemed like his normal self again and started singing along. Whatever that strange spell was, it was over. When we got outside, it was a beautiful day. On the walk home, we were both happy, I always loved that time after services on a Saturday. I had fulfilled my obligation to God and my father and could get on with the carefree part of my weekend.

00:00 - Intro3:30 - Las Vegas life9:40 - Its all for the Opposite Sex12:00 - Social media, Are you not entertained?15:30 - 1994 What a horrible year 17:00 - frank ocean19:20 - “Rich” - song and music video by Solo The Dweeb25:30 - Meditation is the shit27:30 - "Call me now for ya free Tarot Card reading29:40 - Ryan's a brilliant dancer33:00 - Drakes dad tryna mess with  Doja Cats friends34:45 - “I'd fuck for clout”37:00 -  “I'm not gone lie I miss East Room.”44:00 -  Da baby's 30 for 3046:50 - Maintaining Hunger51:50 - Outro

CNN experts dissect President Biden's just-completed East Room speech promoting what he called a “consequential” framework with Congress on his massive spending agenda. What he doesn't have is a deal. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Note: This episode contains strong language. This hour, we air an updated version of the most recent episode of our weekly impeachment show, Pardon Me, which normally airs Saturdays at noon. The Senate acquitted President Trump on both articles of the impeachment. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, was the only Republican who voted to convict the president on one charge, for "egregious" behavior he believed rose to the level of a "high crime and misdemeanor." President Trump responded with anger. He fumed at his perceived enemies at Thursday's National Prayer Breakfast, he swore on live TV and radio at a rambling East Room acquittal "celebration," and then he fired two impeachment witnesses and an impeachment witness's twin brother... just to make sure he definitely got the right one, maybe? This week, Colin speaks with Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and professor Ryan Goodman about how the fallout from the Senate acquittal of the president could affect the future of the election and the country. And more. GUESTS: Ryan Goodman - Founding co-editor-in-chief of Just Security, professor of law at NYU School of Law, and professor of politics and sociology at NYU Kyle Knickerbocker - A merchant mariner from Essex, Conn., who went to see the impeachment hearings and trial in person a whole bunch of times Chris Murphy - Democratic U.S. Senator from Connecticut Chion Wolf - A producer, photographer, and announcer at Connecticut Public Radio Thanks to Eugene Amatruda. Email us your questions at pardonme@ctpublic.org. Pardon Me is a production of The Colin McEnroe Show on Connecticut Public Radio.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.