Podcasts about Emirati

 About Dr. Sultan Al-Sha'aliDr. Sultan Al-Sha'ali is an Emirati and a UAE-based leadership architect and systems thinker whose work sits at the intersection of strategy, structural innovation, and real-world execution. Born in Dubai and educated in the UK, he studied naval architecture before completing advanced degrees in business administration, strategic planning, and development. His career began hands-on inside his family's third-generation boat manufacturing business, where he worked across departments and learned a principle that would shape everything that followed: people are rarely the bottleneck, but the systems around them often are.Across private enterprise, government, and family business, Dr. Sultan has built a reputation for redesigning structures so performance and innovation become inevitable. As the founding director of the UAE Government Accelerator, he helped institutionalise an acceleration methodology designed to compress years of progress into focused, measurable delivery cycles. Today, he brings that same DNA into leadership development through The Executive Accelerator, a KHDA-aligned program built to help leaders upgrade their operating system, sharpen decision-making, and translate vision into results with clarity and speed.About this EpisodeIn this energising conversation, host Hilmarie Hutchison sits down with Dr. Sultan Al-Sha'ali to explore why many leadership challenges are actually design challenges and how real transformation happens when you stop blaming people and start reworking the structure around them. Drawing on stories from the factory floor to national government reform, Dr. Sultan explains how behaviour follows design, why accountability needs authority, and how small frontline insights can unlock huge operational gains.The episode dives into the mindset behind acceleration work, what makes it different from traditional consulting, and how the UAE's Government Accelerator model has delivered outcomes once thought to take years, in just 100 days. Dr. Sultan also shares the philosophy behind The Executive Accelerator, including the “100-hour challenge” framework, and why modern leaders need clarity plus design, not more theory. Along the way, listeners will take away practical insights on strengths-based leadership, cross-pollination of ideas across industries, and the confidence gap that quietly holds many leaders back.From matrix metaphors to real-world delivery, this episode is a powerful reminder that acceleration is not speed. It is clarity, design, and the courage to rewrite the system you are operating inside.Quotes3:10 - Human potential is often limited, not by talent, by the design around it. 4:04 - The people were not hostage to their own function, but they were looking at the bigger picture around them. 6:24 - You have to be agile enough to accept what you can use and develop what needs to be developed. 7:53 - The environment dictates the rules, and people adapt to survive within those rules. 9:37 - When management starts delegating more so they can free themselves to think strategically.12:30 - Working in the private sector taught me how organizations grow. Working in the government and through the government leadership program taught me how nations grow. But both had the same constraints.14:00 - Joining the government accelerator felt like stepping into a higher level of the simulation. 23:27 - Acceleration, it's more about clarity plus design. So, if you have that clarity of your own possibilities, of your own strengths, and this is actually one of the things that we combined different best practices and createdThe Matrix Green Pill Podcast: https://thematrixgreenpill.com/Please review us: https://g.page/r/CS8IW35GvlraEAI/review

We're "keeping it at the resort" this week with a Carriage House Catch-Up. After some talk about the new Wuthering Heights movie and why you never want an Emirati to call the police on you, Ronna (& Bryan) give advice on navigating a rocky relationship between friends, proper houseguest etiquette, and what to do when your coworker keeps bringing their noisy dog to work. Sponsor: See visibly thicker, stronger, faster growing hair with Nutrafol! Go to nutrafol.com and use code BRYAN for $10 off your first month's subscription. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahmed Ali, the local behind Emirati Food Geeks, gives us an etiquette lesson on attending iftars and suhoors. Plus, a quick guide on where to dine during the Holy Month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rassegna stampa economico-finanziaria del 19 febbraio 2026, strutturata per macro-temi e basata sulle principali testate giornalistiche nazionali.Investimenti, Mercati e CorporateTestate coinvolte: Il Sole 24 Ore / Milano Finanza * Operazione Mps-Mediobanca: Il CdA di Monte dei Paschi di Siena ha deliberato la fusione per incorporazione e il conseguente delisting di Mediobanca. Le attività di corporate & investment banking e private banking confluiranno in una nuova società non quotata interamente controllata da Mps, che manterrà il brand "Mediobanca S.p.A.". * KPI Finanziari Operazione:   * Sinergie attese: Oltre 700 milioni di euro.   * Partecipazione Generali: La nuova Mediobanca manterrà il controllo diretto del 13,2% di Generali.   * Partecipazione Mps in Mediobanca: Siena controlla attualmente l'86% di Piazzetta Cuccia e dovrà riacquistare il restante 14% circa sul mercato. * Calendario Strategico Mps: Presentazione del nuovo piano industriale di Luigi Lovaglio fissata per l'Investor Day del 27 febbraio; rinnovo del CdA previsto per il 15 aprile. Industria e Made in ItalyTestate coinvolte: Il Messaggero / Il Sole 24 Ore / Corriere della Sera * Record Export 2025: Il fatturato estero del Made in Italy ha raggiunto il record storico di 643 miliardi di euro (+3,3% rispetto al 2024), posizionando l'Italia come quarta potenza esportatrice mondiale. * KPI Settoriali e Geografici:   * Farmaceutica: Settore trainante con +28,5% di crescita e un apporto di 15 miliardi di euro in più.   * Stati Uniti: Export in aumento del 7,2%, nonostante le incertezze sui dazi. Senza il comparto farmaceutico (+54% verso USA), il dato sarebbe negativo.   * Aerospazio (Roma Hub): Il settore nel Lazio vale 5 miliardi di euro di fatturato annuo, con 1,6 miliardi derivanti dall'export. Coinvolge 300 aziende e 23.000 addetti.   * Automotive: Comparto in forte crisi con un calo dell'export del 6,8% e una produzione interna scesa ai livelli di metà anni '50.Fisco, Normativa e P.A.Testate coinvolte: Il Sole 24 Ore / Italia Oggi / Corriere della Sera * Proroghe Decreto Milleproroghe: Arrivano emendamenti cruciali per assunzioni e scadenze fiscali. * KPI e Scadenze Fiscali:   * Incentivi Assunzioni: Proroga per giovani e ZES fino al 30 aprile; per le donne fino al 31 dicembre.   * Rottamazione Quater: Possibilità di saldare la rata saltata del 30 novembre entro il 28 febbraio 2026 (tolleranza fino al 9 marzo per i giorni festivi).   * Assicurazione Dipendenti Pubblici: L'obbligo di polizza per i danni erariali slitta al 2027.   * Editoria: Confermati sconti postali con una dote di 30 milioni di euro l'anno fino al 31 dicembre 2031.Energia e UtilityTestate coinvolte: La Repubblica / Corriere della Sera / La Stampa * Decreto Bollette 2026: Il Governo approva un pacchetto di aiuti per circa 3,5-4 miliardi di euro. * KPI Energia:   * Bonus Famiglie: Sconto una tantum di circa 115 euro (range 100-120€) per 4,5 milioni di famiglie con ISEE fino a 9.796€.   * Imprese e ETS: Si tratta con l'UE per sterilizzare i certificati ETS; il rischio è che la misura venga configurata come aiuto di Stato. * Nomine Strategiche: Al GSE (Gestore Servizi Energetici) è in pole position Alfredo Maria Becchetti (attuale presidente Infratel) per sostituire il dimissionario Paolo Arrigoni.Geopolitica e SicurezzaTestate coinvolte: Corriere della Sera / La Repubblica / Il Giornale * Board of Peace (Gaza): L'Italia parteciperà come osservatore al primo incontro a Washington voluto da Donald Trump. Il Vaticano ha declinato l'invito criticando la debolezza del multilateralismo. * KPI Board of Peace:   * Partecipanti: 27 Paesi fondatori (tra cui Ungheria e Bulgaria per l'UE).   * Finanziamenti: Promessi 5 miliardi di dollari (1,25 mld ciascuno da USA, Emirati, Qatar e Kuwait), contro una necessità stimata di 50 miliardi per la ricostruzione. * Cybersecurity: Hacker cinesi hanno sottratto i dati sensibili di 5.000 agenti della Digos tramite un'intrusione silenziosa nei sistemi del Viminale.Giustizia e ReferendumTestate coinvolte: Corriere della Sera / Il Fatto Quotidiano / La Stampa * Campagna Referendaria (22-23 marzo): Scontro acceso sulla separazione delle carriere e riforma del CSM. Il Guardasigilli Nordio sotto attacco per aver definito "para-mafioso" il sistema del CSM. * KPI Politici e Sondaggi:   * Spesa Sondaggi: Palazzo Chigi ha stanziato 120.000 euro per Tecnè e 48.000 euro per Ipsos per monitorare il sentiment degli elettori.   * Trend Voto: Il fronte del "No" è in rimonta; ultime stime Noto danno il "No" al 47% e il "Sì" al 53% (in calo di 6 punti da gennaio).   * Donazioni: Il comitato "Sì Riforma" ha raccolto 180.000 euro; l'ANM ha deliberato una donazione di 800.000 euro al comitato del "No".Executive Takeaway (Insight per C-suite) * Banking Consolidation: La mossa blitz di Mps su Mediobanca non è solo una fusione, ma il ridisegno di un polo di private banking d'eccellenza, garantendo al contempo la stabilità dell'asset Generali. * Resilienza Export: Nonostante le minacce protezionistiche USA, il Made in Italy dimostra una competitività strutturale guidata dall'innovazione farmaceutica; tuttavia, la dipendenza da un singolo settore per la crescita dell'export è un fattore di rischio. * Incertezza Energetica: Il Decreto Bollette sconta forti tensioni politiche (Lega vs FI) e normative (confronto con Bruxelles sugli ETS), rendendo instabile la pianificazione dei costi energetici per le imprese energivore nel breve termine. * Cyber-Risk Sistemico: La violazione dei dati del Viminale evidenzia una vulnerabilità critica delle infrastrutture statali italiane, segnalando la necessità di investimenti urgenti in difesa cibernetica per le aziende che operano in settori sensibili. * Rischio Politico Referendario: La possibile "sconfitta" di Giorgia Meloni al referendum della giustizia viene percepita dai mercati e dai partner internazionali come un fattore di potenziale indebolimento della stabilità dell'Esecutivo.

From Mars to the Moon: The UAE's Bold Space VisionIn this powerful episode of Space Cafe Radio, recorded live at the Middle East Space Conference 2026 in Muscat, Oman, Torsten Kriening sits down with H.E. Salem Al Marri, Managing Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), to reflect on one of the most remarkable space transformations of the past two decades.From its beginnings in Earth observation with DubaiSat-1 to developing fully indigenous satellite systems, MBRSC has evolved into a project-driven powerhouse - focused not on bureaucracy, but on delivery.But the story does not stop in orbit around Earth.

Rassegna stampa economico-finanziaria del 18 febbraio 2026, strutturata per macro-temi e basata sulle principali testate giornalistiche nazionali.Investimenti, Mercati e CorporateTestate coinvolte: Il Sole 24 Ore / Milano Finanza * Operazione Mps-Mediobanca: Il CdA di Monte dei Paschi di Siena ha deliberato la fusione per incorporazione e il conseguente delisting di Mediobanca. Le attività di corporate & investment banking e private banking confluiranno in una nuova società non quotata interamente controllata da Mps, che manterrà il brand "Mediobanca S.p.A.". * KPI Finanziari Operazione:   * Sinergie attese: Oltre 700 milioni di euro.   * Partecipazione Generali: La nuova Mediobanca manterrà il controllo diretto del 13,2% di Generali.   * Partecipazione Mps in Mediobanca: Siena controlla attualmente l'86% di Piazzetta Cuccia e dovrà riacquistare il restante 14% circa sul mercato. * Calendario Strategico Mps: Presentazione del nuovo piano industriale di Luigi Lovaglio fissata per l'Investor Day del 27 febbraio; rinnovo del CdA previsto per il 15 aprile.Industria e Made in ItalyTestate coinvolte: Il Messaggero / Il Sole 24 Ore / Corriere della Sera * Record Export 2025: Il fatturato estero del Made in Italy ha raggiunto il record storico di 643 miliardi di euro (+3,3% rispetto al 2024), posizionando l'Italia come quarta potenza esportatrice mondiale. * KPI Settoriali e Geografici:   * Farmaceutica: Settore trainante con +28,5% di crescita e un apporto di 15 miliardi di euro in più.   * Stati Uniti: Export in aumento del 7,2%, nonostante le incertezze sui dazi. Senza il comparto farmaceutico (+54% verso USA), il dato sarebbe negativo.   * Aerospazio (Roma Hub): Il settore nel Lazio vale 5 miliardi di euro di fatturato annuo, con 1,6 miliardi derivanti dall'export. Coinvolge 300 aziende e 23.000 addetti.   * Automotive: Comparto in forte crisi con un calo dell'export del 6,8% e una produzione interna scesa ai livelli di metà anni '50.Fisco, Normativa e P.A.Testate coinvolte: Il Sole 24 Ore / Italia Oggi / Corriere della Sera * Proroghe Decreto Milleproroghe: Arrivano emendamenti cruciali per assunzioni e scadenze fiscali. * KPI e Scadenze Fiscali:   * Incentivi Assunzioni: Proroga per giovani e ZES fino al 30 aprile; per le donne fino al 31 dicembre.   * Rottamazione Quater: Possibilità di saldare la rata saltata del 30 novembre entro il 28 febbraio 2026 (tolleranza fino al 9 marzo per i giorni festivi).   * Assicurazione Dipendenti Pubblici: L'obbligo di polizza per i danni erariali slitta al 2027.   * Editoria: Confermati sconti postali con una dote di 30 milioni di euro l'anno fino al 31 dicembre 2031.Energia e UtilityTestate coinvolte: La Repubblica / Corriere della Sera / La Stampa * Decreto Bollette 2026: Il Governo approva un pacchetto di aiuti per circa 3,5-4 miliardi di euro. * KPI Energia:   * Bonus Famiglie: Sconto una tantum di circa 115 euro (range 100-120€) per 4,5 milioni di famiglie con ISEE fino a 9.796€.   * Imprese e ETS: Si tratta con l'UE per sterilizzare i certificati ETS; il rischio è che la misura venga configurata come aiuto di Stato. * Nomine Strategiche: Al GSE (Gestore Servizi Energetici) è in pole position Alfredo Maria Becchetti (attuale presidente Infratel) per sostituire il dimissionario Paolo Arrigoni.Geopolitica e SicurezzaTestate coinvolte: Corriere della Sera / La Repubblica / Il Giornale * Board of Peace (Gaza): L'Italia parteciperà come osservatore al primo incontro a Washington voluto da Donald Trump. Il Vaticano ha declinato l'invito criticando la debolezza del multilateralismo. * KPI Board of Peace:   * Partecipanti: 27 Paesi fondatori (tra cui Ungheria e Bulgaria per l'UE).   * Finanziamenti: Promessi 5 miliardi di dollari (1,25 mld ciascuno da USA, Emirati, Qatar e Kuwait), contro una necessità stimata di 50 miliardi per la ricostruzione. * Cybersecurity: Hacker cinesi hanno sottratto i dati sensibili di 5.000 agenti della Digos tramite un'intrusione silenziosa nei sistemi del Viminale.Giustizia e ReferendumTestate coinvolte: Corriere della Sera / Il Fatto Quotidiano / La Stampa * Campagna Referendaria (22-23 marzo): Scontro acceso sulla separazione delle carriere e riforma del CSM. Il Guardasigilli Nordio sotto attacco per aver definito "para-mafioso" il sistema del CSM. * KPI Politici e Sondaggi:   * Spesa Sondaggi: Palazzo Chigi ha stanziato 120.000 euro per Tecnè e 48.000 euro per Ipsos per monitorare il sentiment degli elettori.   * Trend Voto: Il fronte del "No" è in rimonta; ultime stime Noto danno il "No" al 47% e il "Sì" al 53% (in calo di 6 punti da gennaio).   * Donazioni: Il comitato "Sì Riforma" ha raccolto 180.000 euro; l'ANM ha deliberato una donazione di 800.000 euro al comitato del "No".Executive Takeaway (Insight per C-suite) * Banking Consolidation: La mossa blitz di Mps su Mediobanca non è solo una fusione, ma il ridisegno di un polo di private banking d'eccellenza, garantendo al contempo la stabilità dell'asset Generali. * Resilienza Export: Nonostante le minacce protezionistiche USA, il Made in Italy dimostra una competitività strutturale guidata dall'innovazione farmaceutica; tuttavia, la dipendenza da un singolo settore per la crescita dell'export è un fattore di rischio. * Incertezza Energetica: Il Decreto Bollette sconta forti tensioni politiche (Lega vs FI) e normative (confronto con Bruxelles sugli ETS), rendendo instabile la pianificazione dei costi energetici per le imprese energivore nel breve termine. * Cyber-Risk Sistemico: La violazione dei dati del Viminale evidenzia una vulnerabilità critica delle infrastrutture statali italiane, segnalando la necessità di investimenti urgenti in difesa cibernetica per le aziende che operano in settori sensibili. * Rischio Politico Referendario: La possibile "sconfitta" di Giorgia Meloni al referendum della giustizia viene percepita dai mercati e dai partner internazionali come un fattore di potenziale indebolimento della stabilità dell'Esecutivo.

Ad Abu Dhabi, Motto Podcast incontra Susanna Iacona Salafia, direttrice dell'Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Abu Dhabi, per un'intervista esclusiva che ci porta dentro il cuore della presenza italiana negli Emirati.Parliamo del ruolo dell'Istituto, dei progetti culturali che promuove, di come sono percepiti gli italiani negli Emirati Arabi Uniti e di cosa fanno concretamente sul territorio tra impresa, cultura e innovazione.L'episodio fa parte di Motto on Tour, il progetto con cui Roberto Lachin ed Elena Travaini viaggiano nel mondo alla scoperta dell'accessibilità e costruiscono dialoghi con le istituzioni italiane all'estero. Un assaggio di diplomazia culturale, inclusione e visione internazionale raccontato dalla voce di chi rappresenta l'Italia negli Emirati.

Ralph welcomes, Robert Weissman co-president of Public Citizen, to discuss his Senate testimony about the many ways the Trump Administration's assault on fraud is itself fraudulent. Plus, Ralph informs us of a report from Aljazeera about the MK-84 weapon the IDF is using in Gaza that is designed to generate so much heat it literally vaporizes people.Robert Weissman is a staunch public interest advocate and activist, as well as an expert on a wide variety of issues ranging from corporate accountability and government transparency, to trade and globalization, to economic and regulatory policy. As the president of Public Citizen, he has spearheaded the effort to loosen the chokehold corporations and the wealthy have over our democracy.Every American should be worried about fraud. So it's fine for the committee to be talking about fraud, but it should be based on actual facts and what's actually happening, which is not what's going on with this focus on Minnesota… And without a doubt, if the concern is about fraud in the public or the private economy right now, the number one problem with fraud is the Trump administration.Robert WeissmanThanks to the Supreme Court decision on Presidential immunity, Trump believes (correctly) that he will not be held criminally accountable for anything that he does while he's President. And that is true so long as that Supreme Court decision stands. And I think it's fair to say that basically everyone who's working for him right now—who I think are committing all kinds of crimes, including through the sale of pardons and through the outrageous use of ICE in Minnesota and around the country—I think they expect they're going to get pardoned before he goes. So I think they think they too will be (and they're probably not wrong in expecting it) that they too will be immune from criminal prosecution (at least federal criminal prosecution) for any crimes they commit while they're in the administration.Robert WeissmanIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 2/13/26* Our top stories this week concern the Jeffrey Epstein case. According to POLITICO, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who, along with Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has led the charge to release the Epstein files, “took to the House floor Tuesday and read aloud the names of six ‘wealthy, powerful men' whose names were originally redacted,” in the files. These names include billionaire Victoria's Secret owner Leslie Wexner, Emirati shipping magnate Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, and Italian politician Nicola Caputo, among other more mysterious figures like Salvatore Nuara and Leonic Leonov. Khanna used congressional representatives' unique power under the speech and debate clause to make these names public, after combing through the files personally along with Rep. Massie. Khanna added “if we found six men that they were hiding in two hours, imagine how many men they are covering up for in those 3 million files.”* Speaking of hiding names in the files, Axios reports that Representative Jamie Raskin stated that “when he searched President Trump's name in the unredacted Epstein files… it came up ‘more than a million times.'” The implication of this statement is clear: Trump's cronies in the Justice Department are covering up the extent of Trump's relationship and involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Another member of the administration, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, admitted under Senate questioning that he had lunch with Epstein on his island, along with his family, claiming he “could not recall” why they did. The administration is allowing members of Congress to view the unredacted files within certain hours via a database they describe as confusing, unreliable, and clunky.* Another surprising revelation from the files is that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries apparently solicited campaign donations from Epstein back in 2013. According to MSN, Epstein received a campaign solicitation via email from a fundraising firm touting Jeffries as “one of the rising stars in the New York Congressional delegation,” and offering Epstein “an opportunity to get to know Hakeem better.” Jeffries denies having any knowledge of this firm's outreach to Epstein and decried House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer's implication that he had any relationship with the late sexual predator and financier, calling Comer a “stone cold liar” and a “malignant clown.”* In non-Epstein related news from Capitol Hill, last week lawmakers held a hearing to probe the operations of autonomous taxi service Waymo. While Republicans chose to focus on Waymo's supposed ties to Chinese companies, Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts grilled the chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, on the company's reliance on workers abroad for key safety decisions. Peña admitted that while some operators are located in the US, others – who step in when robotaxis encounter “unusual situations” – work remotely from the Philippines. Markey called this “completely unacceptable,” emphasizing that these workers may need to react “in a split second” during dangerous scenarios. Waymo is just the latest company marketing its services as high tech and autonomous, but later revealed to be reliant on cheap foreign labor. This from Business Insider.* ICE lawlessness continues to roil Congress. Many Democrats are now sounding the alarm that Trump's immigration police – masked, armed, accountable directly to him and backed to the hilt by the administration – could be used as a tool to suppress voter turnout by conducting raids at or near polling locations, thereby scaring citizens into staying home. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said “Trump is trying to create a pretext to rig the election.” Murphy, along with some Senate Democratic allies, pushed leadership to demand that ICE be banned from polling sites as a condition of government shutdown negotiations, but leadership balked, per POLITICO. While such a scenario can sound far-fetched, Trump has “falsely and repeatedly claimed for more than a decade that millions of illegal immigrants vote in the U.S., arguing that was one factor in his 2020 loss,” and, just before the 2020 election, he pledged to send “sheriffs” and “law enforcement” to polling places.* Drop Site News' Jacqueline Sweet reports 70 organizations, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Unitarian, as well as civil rights, academic, legal, peace, and human rights groups, submitted a formal request to the National Security Division of the Justice Department seeking a “Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) investigation into Canary Mission.” Canary Mission is a shadowy, infamous group that tracks pro-Palestine activity on college campuses. In 2018, they appeared at the George Washington University wearing spooky masks in an attempt to intimidate the student government into voting down a BDS resolution. They failed. This latest letter comes on the heels of a Drop Site story from January that “showed among other things that Canary is operated in Israel by a large Israeli team.” As the letter notes, the Foreign Agent Registration Act “exists precisely to address this type of potential activity carried out in the United States for the benefit of a foreign country.”* In more news regarding pro-Palestine activism, last week, six defendants linked to Palestine Action, a direct action protest group in the United Kingdom, were acquitted of aggravated burglary in connection with an alleged break in at Elbit Systems, a defense firm with close ties to the Israeli military, in August 2024. The persecution of Palestine Action has gone far beyond normal law enforcement. Some activists have been in pre-trial detention for over 500 days, more than double the maximum limit set by the Crown Prosecution Service. The case of the Palestine Action protestors has drawn outcry from international human rights groups, including the United Nations and Human Rights Watch. As HRW notes, in July of last year, the British government declared Palestine Action a terrorist organization and have now detained over 2,700 protestors over infractions as minor as holding a sign reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” As of now, over 20 activists are still in detention awaiting trial, many beyond the legal limits, and the six acquitted activists may face retrial. But for now, the group has scored a major victory in the face of overwhelming odds.* Turning back to domestic news, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appears to have pulled off a fait accompli in her reelection campaign. Last year, former Representative Elise Stefanik dropped her bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination and sitting Rep. Mike Lawler declined to run. Now, Hochul's main primary opponent – Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado – has dropped his bid after Hochul secured the endorsements of New York City Mayor and political superstar Zohran Mamdani as well as the entirety of the New York Democratic congressional delegation. This from the New York Times. This is a stunning political feat for a Governor who won the narrowest gubernatorial election in the state since 1994 when she was last up in 2022. It now seems that Hochul will square off against Bruce Blakeman, the Trump-endorsed Republican executive of Nassau County in November.* Meanwhile in Los Angeles, the dynamic of the Mayoral race was upended this week by the last-minute decision of Councilmember Nithya Raman to throw her hat into the ring against incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Raman, an urban planner by trade, chairs the Council's Housing and Homelessness Committee and has “built her political identity around tenant protections, homelessness policy and efforts to accelerate housing production,” per the Los Angeles Daily News. Raman was the first of several Councilmembers elected with DSA support and she has maintained a strong relationship with the local branch despite tensions with the national organization, primarily over Israel/Palestine issues. Bass, who won a narrow election against billionaire developer Rick Caruso in 2022, has faced harsh criticism over her handling of the devastating fires in 2025 and her inability to make significant progress on the city's homelessness crisis. However, Bass maintains the support of much of the city's Democratic establishment, including the unions and much of the City Council and Raman's late entry will make it difficult for her to consolidate majority support across the sprawling western metropolis.* Finally, in a David-and-Goliath tale, we turn to TJ Sabula, the UAW Local 600 Ford factory line worker who called Trump a “pedophile protector.” Infamously, the president retorted by giving Sabula the finger and mouthing, “F--- you.” Ironically, Trump also trotted out his iconic catchphrase “You're fired.” Well, Sabula was not fired – and in fact “has no discipline on his record,” – because he was protected by his union, per the Detroit News. In a recent address, UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson said “TJ, we got your back,” adding “In that moment, we saw what the president really thinks about working people…As UAW members, we speak truth to power. We don't just protect rights, we exercise them.” UAW President Shawn Fain, who has emerged as a firebrand leader of the revitalized labor movement, commented “That's a union brother who spoke up…He put his constitutional rights to work. He put his union rights to work.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Almo١٠٠ is an Emirati-born selector and an avid record digger who draws inspiration from the archives of the electronic scene in Glasgow and Sydney. His sets are known for being packed with rare finds and timeless dancefloor staples. and Select 375, he delivers an all-vinyl mix drawn straight from his personal archive, moving from deep New York house to wavy italo detours and classic U.S. garage edits, with no shortage of electrifying club moments. The set features a tastemaking selection of tunes, such as 'Remember' by Vivien Vee, and 'What I Like' (Dub Version) by Anthony and The Camp.

Send a textThe Season 3 opener of Money Majlis puts you right in the cockpit of Dubai's aviation story, with Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, as your guide. He isn't just running DXB and DWC; he is shaping how a city's ambition takes flight, turning runways and terminals into engines of GDP, jobs and global connectivity.Across this conversation, Paul unpacks the now-famous mandate he received from Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum on day one: “never constrain the growth of aviation in Dubai.” That single KPI becomes the spine of the episode, as he explains how Dubai has grown into the world's busiest international hub, while constantly pushing the limits of what its land‑constrained infrastructure can do.We go behind the scenes of DXB's quiet revolution in operations, where real-time data and AI help aircraft turn around like Formula 1 pit stops and passengers glide through terminals with fewer queues, less friction and more time to enjoy the airport as a hospitality experience rather than a stress test. Paul's philosophy is simple but powerful: treat every guest as an individual, respect their time, and design every process around the journey, not the bureaucracy.From there, the conversation widens to the next big leap at DWC, where Paul imagines a network of human-scale terminals that feel less like an airport and more like a sentient city: natural spaces, seamless biometrics, invisible security and dwell zones that combine lounges, retail, dining and entertainment into one fluid experience. The future airport, in his telling, is a calm, intuitive environment where the technology disappears into the background and the traveller remains firmly at the centre.Sustainability and leadership add a deeply human dimension to the episode. Paul talks candidly about the urgency of sustainable aviation fuel, the scale of the challenge, and why aviation must reinvent its energy model without pricing ordinary travellers out of the skies. He also reflects on Covid as a “never waste a good crisis” moment: a time to re-engineer costs, redesign partnerships and prove Dubai's resilience to the world.Threaded through it all is Paul's own story: a classically trained organist turned aviation leader who still sees airports as living orchestras, where frontline teams, Emirati talent and partner organisations have to play in harmony. It's part macroeconomics, part technology playbook, part leadership masterclass—and a vivid love letter to travel itself.Production partner : PoddsterGiving partner: GoodworldAll past episodes and details of the Money Majlis giving movement can be viewed on www.moneymajlis.com. 

Inizia il racconto del nostro ultimo viaggio internazionale e partiamo da Abu Dhabi, una città che ci ha sorpresi, emozionati e messi alla prova.In questa puntata ti portiamo con noi dentro un'esperienza intensa e profondamente inclusiva: siamo stati ospiti di Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Abu Dhabi, dove Elena ha tenuto una toccante masterclass di Blindly Dancing e si è esibita insieme a Graziano Zaniboni della Fusion Dance di Brescia in una performance che ha conquistato tutti

Today's Headlines: While U.S. officials continue to shrug at the Epstein files, Europe is once again doing the most. Lithuanian prosecutors announced a human trafficking investigation after reviewing information tied to the Epstein documents, citing connections to Lithuanian models and artists and urging potential victims to come forward. Back stateside, DHS said it will pull 700 federal immigration agents out of Minnesota following weeks of aggressive enforcement, though roughly 2,000 agents will remain after about 3,000 arrests during “Operation Metro Surge.” The Supreme Court also issued an emergency ruling allowing California to use its newly redrawn congressional map, after Democrats responded to Trump's push for GOP-led states to aggressively gerrymander ahead of the 2026 midterms. Meanwhile, new reporting revealed that days before Trump's inauguration, his family quietly sold nearly half of their crypto company to an Emirati royal with deep intelligence ties, a deal now under scrutiny by House Democrats over national security concerns tied to advanced U.S. AI chips. Elsewhere, the EEOC announced it is investigating Nike for allegedly discriminating against white employees as part of its DEI programs, marking a first-of-its-kind case. And finally, the Washington Post laid off roughly a third of its staff — gutting entire desks — as Jeff Bezos continues his very normal billionaire media ownership arc. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: Reuters: Lithuania launches human trafficking probe related to Epstein files NBC News: Trump administration to withdraw 700 immigration agents from Minnesota NYT: Supreme Court Clears Way for California Voting Map WSJ: ‘Spy Sheikh' Bought Secret Stake in Trump Company WSJ: Top Democrat Launches Probe Into ‘Spy Sheikh' Deal With Trump Company Axios: Nike facing federal probe of alleged discrimination against white employees NPR: Bezos orders deep job cuts at 'Washington Post' Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 #notizie #podcast #politica #rassegnastampa

2/2 Sell-off generalizzato. A WS e in Europa futures in rosso, Nasdaq pesante. Continua la debacle di Oro (-6%) e argento (-12%): tutto quello che dovete sapere sui metalli preziosi. Dollaro e Treasury stabili, tornano safe heavens. Bitcoin sotto 76mila. Petrolio in forte calo su de-escalation Iran, verso incontro in Turchia. Trump: L'India comprerà petrolio dal Venezuela. In Asia tonfo del Kospi (-5%) guidato da Samsung e SK Hynex. Male anche Nikkei e Hang-Seng. In Cina pmi sopra le attese, Xi Jinping: Yuan sia valuta di riserva globale. La premier Takaichi scivola su yen debole, verso le elezioni previsti 300 seggi. Trimestrali Usa, il 25% delle società dell'S&P500 alla prova dei conti: questa sera Palantir, in settimana focus su hyperscaler Alphabet(mercoledì) e Amazon (giovedì). Oracle punta a raccogliere fino a 50mld $ per lo sviluppo cloud. Nvidia, Jensen Huang smentisce FT su OpenAI: faremo un grande investimento e aggiunge: “non è mai stato un obbligo”. Lo “sceicco spia”degli Emirati ha investito 500mln$ in World Liberty Financial di Trump. Casa Bianca: nessun conflitto di interessi. Moltbot il social degli Agenti AI fa discutere. Europa nel segno delle trimestrali. Boe e Bce, primo meeting dell'anno. Focus su euro. Piazza Affari: banche protagoniste, si parte oggi con Intesa SanPaolo. Focus su Generali, possibile incontro Orcel-Donnet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we speak with Rashed Alsumaiti, an Emirati photographer whose work moves between landscapes, wildlife, and the hidden details of the natural world. Rashed shares how his journey began in 2009 and how curiosity led him from wide natural scenes into the microscopic world of crystallised salt. We talk about his latest project at Xposure International Photography Festival, the patience and precision behind micro photography, and the importance of Emirati voices being represented on global creative platforms. The conversation explores how slowing down and looking closer can completely change the way we see nature. Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on your radio (95.00 FM) or online on our website: www.pulse95radio.com ************************ Follow us on Social. www.facebook.com/pulse95radio www.twitter.com/pulse95radio www.instagram.com/pulse95radio

The recent surge in users in the United States abandoning TikTok after the announcement of a so-called "Americanized" joint venture offers an ironic footnote to the long-running political drama around the popular video-sharing app.美国用户近期大规模放弃TikTok的现象，恰恰为围绕这款热门视频分享应用的长期政治风波增添了讽刺性的注脚。此前美国政府宣布将成立所谓“美国化”的合资企业。For years, some US politicians have claimed that TikTok represents a grave "national security threat". Invoking slogans such as "privacy leakage risks" and "China threatens US data security" they created the specter of "Big Brother spying" on users of the app in the US.多年来，美国某些政客声称TikTok构成严重的“国家安全威胁”。他们打着“隐私泄露风险”和“中国威胁美国数据安全”等口号，在美国用户中制造出“老大哥监视”的幽灵。Yet, now that a deal has been forced through for US capital to acquire control of the app in the country under these pretexts, it is not China that users in the US appear to fear. It is the US elites and government.然而，当美国资本以这些借口强行达成协议，取得该应用在中国的控制权后，美国用户似乎并非担忧中国，而是美国精英阶层和政府。According to data from market intelligence company Sensor Tower, the daily average of US users deleting TikTok has jumped nearly 150 percent over the five days from Thursday to Monday compared with the previous three months. The spike followed TikTok's announcement that its US services would be operated by a new joint venture controlled by US capital, with a new leadership and a majority-US board. The message from users has been blunt: the promised "security solution" has only deepened anxiety.据市场情报公司Sensor Tower数据显示，在TikTok宣布其美国业务将由一家由美国资本控股的新合资企业运营之后的周四至周一这五天内，美国用户每日平均删除TikTok应用的数量较此前三个月激增近150%。该企业将组建新管理层并由美国籍成员主导董事会。而用户传递的信息直截了当——所谓的“安全解决方案”反而加剧了不安情绪。Social media skepticism flared after users were prompted to agree to an updated privacy policy. Critics seized on language describing potential data collection involving sensitive personal information. Yet archived versions of the policy show that this language was already present months earlier. What changed was not the policy itself, but who would ultimately sit behind the curtain of control.社交媒体质疑声浪高涨，起因是用户被要求同意更新后的隐私政策。批评者抓住政策中描述可能收集敏感个人信息的相关表述大做文章。然而政策存档版本显示，这些表述早在数月前就已存在。真正改变的并非政策本身，而是最终掌控幕后大权的究竟是谁。For years as it tried to wrest control of the company from its Chinese parent ByteDance, Washington claimed it was acting to protect US-based users from "foreign surveillance". Now, the same users are openly questioning whether the real risk lies in the concentration of data and influence in the hands of domestic political and financial elites. As one commenter in an Associated Press analysis put it, "There is something inherently wrong with allowing the people who control government policy to invest in the outcome. I believe it's called lining their own pockets."多年来，美国政府在试图从中国母公司字节跳动手中夺取控制权时，声称此举是为了保护美国用户免受“外国监视”。如今，这些用户公开质疑真正的风险是否在于数据和影响力集中在国内政治金融精英手中。正如美联社分析报道中一位评论者所言：“允许掌控政府政策的人投资于政策结果本身就存在根本性问题。我认为这叫中饱私囊。”The structure of the deal does little to dispel such doubts. The new TikTok US entity is backed by Oracle, Silver Lake and the Emirati investment company MGX, each holding 15 percent, alongside other US investors linked to powerful technology and media interests. ByteDance retains a 19.9 percent stake and licenses itsalgorithm to the US entity, which will retrain and operate it on US user data. In other words, the core technology remains Chinese intellectual property, while control over the data, moderation and distribution increasingly shifts to US capital.TikTok的交易结构更是难以消除此类疑虑。新成立的TikTok美国实体由甲骨文、银湖资本和阿联酋投资公司MGX共同支持，三者各持股15%，另有其他与美国科技及媒体巨头相关的投资者参与。字节跳动保留19.9%股权，并将算法授权给美方，后者将利用美国用户数据对算法进行重新训练并运营。换言之，核心技术仍属中国知识产权，而数据控制权、内容审核权及分发权正日益向美国资本转移。This arrangement exposes the essential nature of the deal: a forced transaction achieved through political pressure though it is claimed to be the outcome of "market negotiations".这种模式暴露了交易的本质：尽管声称是“市场谈判”的结果，实则是通过政治压力强行达成的交易。Under the threat of a congressionally mandated ban, a prized global digital asset was compelled to open its ownership to select US tycoons. "National security" rhetoric provided the packaging; capital redistribution was the content.在国会强制禁令的威胁下，某项备受追捧的全球数字资产被迫向美国特定富豪开放所有权。“国家安全”的口号是包装，资本再分配才是实质内容。Ironically, the very algorithm once portrayed as a "dangerous foreign weapon" is now expected to be "retrained" to produce a more "distinctly American" feed. As analysts note, this means trends will shift, rankings will change, and what dominates users' screens may increasingly reflect domestic political and commercial priorities. Who controls TikTok in the US has a lot of sway over what US citizens see on the app.讽刺的是，曾经被描绘为“危险的外国武器”的算法，如今却被寄予厚望，要通过“重新训练”来生成更具“鲜明美国特色”的内容推送。正如分析人士所指出的，这意味着内容趋势将发生转变，内容排名将随之调整，而占据用户屏幕主导地位的内容，将日益反映国内政治与商业的优先事项。谁掌控美国境内的TikTok运营权，就将在很大程度上决定美国公民在该应用上所见的内容。Unsurprisingly, creators are uneasy. Nadya Okamoto, a TikTok creator with more than 4 million followers, told the media that the company had failed to explain what the joint venture means for users. "That's why there is so muchparanoia," she said, adding that technical disruptions only intensified fears of censorship. Another viral comment summarized the mood with biting satire: The US didn't "save" TikTok—it redistributed its ownership to White House-aligned billionaires while leaving ByteDance's algorithm at the core.不出所料，这让创作者们感到不安。拥有400多万粉丝的TikTok创作者娜迪娅·冈本（Nadya Okamoto）向媒体表示，该公司未能解释合资企业对用户意味着什么。她说：“这就是为什么有这么多疑虑。”并补充说技术中断只会加剧人们对审查的担忧。另一则疯传的评论以犀利讽刺概括了当前氛围：美国并未“拯救”TikTok；它只是将所有权重新分配给有美国政府撑腰的亿万富豪，同时保留字节跳动的核心算法。Small business owners, whose livelihoods depend on the platform, are watching closely. Although they were relieved the ban threat was lifted, they are still worried the new owners might sideline e-commerce features. These business owners hold a wait-and-see mindset, as they really doubt whether TikTok's role in empowering voices that once lacked access to mass platforms can be retained.小企业主们正密切关注事态发展，因为他们的生计依赖于该平台。尽管禁令威胁解除令他们松了口气，但他们仍担忧新东家可能削弱电商功能。这些企业主们持观望态度，因为他们深切怀疑TikTok能否继续发挥其赋能作用，让那些曾经无法接触大众平台的声音获得发声渠道。The wave of uninstalls has not yet translated into a meaningful drop in active users, reflecting TikTok's massive user base and the reluctance of frequent users to leave. But the symbolic message is unmistakable. As one user wrote, "The new American TikTok will be like Panda Express for Chinese food: familiar on the surface, sanitized for mass appeal, owned by different interests, and stripped of the original's deeper flavor and context."尽管卸载潮尚未导致活跃用户数量出现显著下滑，从这方面也反映出TikTok庞大的用户基数以及高频用户不愿离开的特性。但其中蕴含的象征意义不言而喻。正如一位用户所言：“新美国版TikTok将如同中餐界的熊猫快餐：表面熟悉，为迎合大众而过度净化，被不同利益集团掌控，并丧失了原版的深层风味与文化底蕴。”In reality, the TikTok deal may already represent the maximum compromise possible under current circumstances. It satisfies US regulatory demands while preserving ByteDance's control over core intellectual property. If "privacy" and "data security" were truly the concerns, the deal should have reassured users. But it has not. Instead, it has suggested a deeper unease: In today's Washington, "national security" has become negotiable—provided the right people get a share.实际上，TikTok的这场交易或许已是当前形势下可能达成的最大妥协。它既满足了美国监管机构的要求，又使字节跳动保留了对核心知识产权的控制权。若“隐私”与“数据安全”确为核心关切，该协议本应消除用户疑虑。但事实恰恰相反——它揭示出更深层的不安：在当今华盛顿，特定利益集团能分得一杯羹，“国家安全”已沦为可交易的商品。The users' verdict, expressed through uninstall buttons and sharp-edged comments, may be the most telling commentary of all.用户通过点击卸载按钮和发表尖锐评论所表达的判断，或许是最具说服力的评价。algorithmn./ˈæl.ɡə.rɪ.ðəm/算法paranoian./ˌper.əˈnɔɪ.ə/疑虑

This week we talk about social networks, propaganda, and Oracle.We also discuss foreign adversaries, ByteDance, and X.Recommended Book: Rewiring Democracy by Bruce Schneier and Nathan E. SandersTranscriptIn 2021, TikTok, a short-form video platform that's ostensibly also a social network, though which leans heavily toward consuming content over socializing, was ranked the most popular website by internet services company Cloudflare, beating out all the other big tech players, including search engine juggernaut, Google.It was a neck and neck sort of thing, with Google taking the lead some days that year, but 2021 was definitely TikTok's time to shine, as it was already popular with young people and was starting to become popular with the general public, of all ages and across a huge swathe of the planet. It even beat Facebook as the most popular social media website that year, despite, again, being mostly about consuming content rather than interacting—that was actually a prime motivator for Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, to redirect its own apps in a similar direction, shifting its focus from communication and interaction between users toward the creation of binge-able content, and feeding users more of that content in a feed optimized for time-losing levels of consumption.2021 was also the first full year that TikTok was coming under scrutiny from the US government. In the preceding year, 2020, then first-term president Donald Trump said he was considering banning the app because it was becoming so popular, with young people in particular, and because it was owned by a Chinese company, ByteDance it represented a potential national security threat.So the idea was that because Chinese companies are forced, by their very nature, to do what the Chinese government tells them—that's just how things work over there—and to do so on the down-low if that's what the governments demands, and to lie about having to do what the government tells them to do, if the government tells them to thus lie, it doesn't matter that ByteDance's leadership swore up and down to the world that the company will never use its popularity, and the data it soaks up from all its users as a result of that popularity, to help the Chinese government, the Chinese military, or Chinese intelligence services.It of course will have to do that, and if it doesn't, its leaders could be black-bagged and disappeared in the night—because again, that's just how things work over there. So the Trump administration decided to make TikTok a sort of bogeyman, representing Chinese companies in general, and to some degree the presence of China in the US and throughout the Western world, and said, nope, we're not gonna let this thing continue to operate over here.It's worth remembering, too, that by 2021 the world was enmeshed in the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in China, and which Trump and his administration were ardently attempting to tie to the Chinese government—calling Covid the Chinese Flu, and even worse things, as part of that effort.So this move against TikTok and its parent company, while based on genuine concerns about the ownership of the company and how and where the data being collected by said company is handled, it should also be seen as a political maneuver, allowing Trump, during the 2020 election run-up, to look like he was taking a big stand against a big foreign threat, China.What I'd like to talk about today is a deal that was proposed way back then by the Trump administration, as a potential way out for TikTok and ByteDance, allowing it to continue operating in the US despite threats to shut it down, now that said deal, or a version of it, seems to have finally come to fruition—and what we know about the shape of the resulting new, US-based version of TikTok.—On January 18, 2025, TikTok stopped worked in the US. It voluntarily suspended all services in the country in the lead-up to the implementation of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which was passed by the US congress and signed into law by then-president Joe Biden in April of 2024. This law gave social networking services controlled by ‘foreign adversaries' 270 days, with the possibility of a 90-day extension, to divest themselves so that they're no longer considered foreign adversary-owned.This law was almost exclusively aimed at TikTok, and the idea was that TikTok, in the US, would no longer be able to legally function following that deadline if it was still owned by China, which for the purposes of this law has been labeled a foreign adversary.ByteDance could keep TikTok in the US going if it sold a majority, controlling stake of its US-based assets to non-adversary owners, but otherwise it would have to shut down.Interestingly, though Trump was the original source of concerns about TikTok and its Chinese ownership during his first administration, when he stepped back into office in January 2025, he signed a new executive order that delayed the enforcement of this Biden-signed law, and then delayed it still-further, three more times after that, saying that he wanted to give American investors the time to negotiate controlling interest of US TikTok, rather than banning it.Those efforts eventually bore fruit in the shape of a new controlling entity called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, which is made up of a bunch of non-Chinese investment entities, including US software behemoth Oracle, an Emirati investment firm called MGX, a US investment firm called Silver Lake, and a personal investment company owned by Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Technologies. There are other, smaller investors also involved, but the red thread that runs through almost all of them is that they're big Trump supporters and funders, funneling a lot of money into Trump's campaigns, and his family businesses.So six years after the initial legal salvo was fired at TikTok in the US, the local assets are now controlled by non-Chinese investors, though the original Chinese owner, ByteDance, still owns just under 20%, compared to about 15% apiece for Oracle, MGX, and Silver Lake.The new company's board is majority-run by those investors, too, which means it's majority-run by ardent Trump supporters. We don't yet know what effect this will have on content within the app, but under full Chinese ownership, topics related to democracy, Tianamen Square, and the LGBTQ community, among others, were significantly downgraded in the algorithm, ensuring they were seldom shown to anyone, which in turn disincentivized content that those owners didn't like while incentivizing content that was pro-China, and pro-Chinese government priorities.It's considered to be likely, by analysts who watch these sorts of maneuverings, that the same will be true of this new entity, but for and against subject matter that the Trump administration is for and against. Which raises the possibility that the new US TikTok, while superficially the same as the previous US TikTok, will slowly go the way X, formerly Twitter, has gone under Elon Musk, which was dramatically pushed in a new direction under its own owner, focusing on his political and ideological priorities and punishing users who spoke against those priorities.TikTok could become more or less an extension of the Trump-verse, in other words, and could thus become something more akin to Trump's own network, Truth Social, or other right-leaning and far-right social networks, like conservative YouTube-clone, Rumble, rather than something less ideological, or maybe I should say less overtly politically ideological, like Meta's Facebook, Threads, and Instagram.Users have already noticed some changes to US TikTok after the change in ownership, though, including what sorts of data are collected.TikTok's new privacy policy, which all users have to agree to before using the app, now that the platform has changed hands, says that TikTok will be using precise location tracking, keeping tabs on exactly where users are located via their device's GPS. That's compared to the app's previous approximate location-tracking effort, which used SIM card and IP address data to understand general proximity—it still uses that data, too, but now, rather than knowing what neighborhood you're probably in, it may also know what room in your house you're scrolling from.The new US TikTok also tracks users' interactions with AI tools, including their prompts, outputs, and metadata attached to said interactions, which includes details about where users are when they're using such tools, and what time they used them.They also collect gobs of marketing data from outside sources, and based on the users' activity within the app. So things you buy, websites and other apps you visit and use, and conversations you have will all be sucked up and agglomerated into a profile that's then used to show you targeted advertising. This isn't unique to US TikTok, but the company does seem to intend to make use of more such data, and to combine it with that other stuff it's now collecting, to increase the price it can charge for ads, because they'll be a lot more specifically targeted than before.Some users are beginning to comb through the new user agreement with a fine-toothed comb, noticing, in addition to those aforementioned major changes, that the company also reserves the right to collect information about your physical and mental health, to use identifying information in the videos and images you might share, and information gleaned from people and their identifying characteristics in images and videos, and to collect biometric data, which usually means eyes and faces and walking gate and things like that, to differentiate and track people across such content. They can keep tabs on your sex life, sexual orientation and gender, your drug usage, your ethnic and racial origins, your citizenship and immigration status, your financial situation and information—all sorts of stuff is collected, and they say in the privacy policy and user agreement that they intend to do gather and store and cross-reference this kind of information whenever possible.Again, much of this isn't novel, as social platforms are gobbling up all sorts of stuff about their users all the time, mostly to refine their ad placements because that allows them to charge advertisers more for better-targeted placements, over time.That said, because of the nature of the group that now owns US TikTok and which is making executive decisions about it, including, potentially, how this data is shared, including with the US government and its many agencies, there's a chance we might see an exodus of sorts from the still younger-than-average user base of this network, because there is a nonzero chance it could become a tool in the Trump administration's utility belt for tracking down people they don't like and spreading messages that are favorable to them and their ideological aims; so basically what was happening under the previous ownership, but for the current US administration's priorities, rather than those of the Chinese government.Show Noteshttps://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/tiktok-surpasses-google-popular-website-year-new-data-suggests-rcna9648https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/technology/tiktok-deal-oracle-bytedance-china-us.htmlhttps://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-new-privacy-policy/https://archive.is/20260123005655/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-23/tiktok-seals-deal-to-create-us-venture-with-oracle-silver-lakehttps://www.axios.com/2026/01/23/tiktok-deal-trump-app-banhttps://www.theverge.com/tech/866868/tiktok-usds-new-owners-algorithm-explainedhttps://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/22/5-things-to-know-about-the-tiktok-deal-00743316https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/business/media/tiktok-us-terms-conditions.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikTokhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump%E2%80%93TikTok_controversyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efforts_to_ban_TikTok_in_the_United_Stateshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protecting_Americans_from_Foreign_Adversary_Controlled_Applications_Act This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Ospite in studio della trasmissione Corrado Tinterri, direttore della Breast Unit di Humanitas, con il quale parliamo del campanello d'allarme lanciato da più parti sul futuro cupo che attende la sanità italiana per la carenza di personale medico e infermieristico. Prima però, con Andrew Spannaus, ampio spazio all'attualità internazionale e, in particolare, al trilaterale ospitato negli Emirati tra Usa, Russia e Ucraina per cercare di porre fine al conflitto tra Mosca e Kiev.

Una settimana segnata da Davos e poi la trattativa si muove nella capitale degli Emirati arabi uniti Abu Dhabi. I Grigioni svizzeri per una settimana sono stati al centro della scena mondiale con l'arrivo mercoledì scorso del presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump. Poi Zelensky che non nasconde la frustrazione nei confronti dell'Europa e delle sue divisioni. Ne parliamo a Europa Europa, in onda domenica alle 11:30.Sulla Groenlandia lo scontro Usa-Ue viene rimandato: l'intesa per la Groenlandia prevede che "possiamo fare tutto quello che vogliamo" dicono alla casa Bianca. "Nessuno può concludere accordi sull'isola tranne noi e la Danimarca", replica il governo di Nuuk (capitale della Groenlandia). Trump sfida con lo stesso tono anche l'Onu, firmando la fondazione del Board of Peace su Gaza: una cerimonia a Davos con i 20 rappresentanti dei paesi che hanno aderito tra i quali Orban e Milei. Muro dell'Ue, col tycoon che ricorda però la disponibilità di Roma e Varsavia. In studio con Gigi Donelli ci sono Piero Meda (capomissione Ucraina- Kyiv WeWorld) Beda Romano, corrispondente de Il Sole24Ore a Bruxelles e dall'Ucraina orientale Doriana Somma responsabile progetti di Missione Calcutta.

Nel The Essential di venerdì 23 gennaio, Chiara Piotto parla di: 00:00 la nuova legge sul dissenso; 04:50 i vertici sull'Ucraina di Trump, Zelensky, Putin e il trilaterale negli Emirati; 06:27 il piano immobiliare per Gaza che Trump ha presentato a Davos. La puntata di Nessuno escluso di giovedì 22 gennaio, sulla comunicazione social di Giorgia Meloni e Roberto Gualtieri -> https://www.youtube.com/live/0zuYZ6xLimY?si=0KoLDIhpJQL01-6_ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23/1 Listini asiatici record, Kospi rompe nuovi massimi storici. BOJ: Tassi fermi, rivede al rialzo stime crescita 2025-2026 ma avverte che le stime di inflazione aumentano. Takaichi dissolve il Parlamento, verso il voto 8 febbraio. Dollaro in calo, nuovi record di oro (a un passo da 5mila dollari) argento e platino.Tik Tok made in Usa è pronta: Oracle, SilverLake e MGX avranno 15% ciascuno. A Wall Street riscossa Tech. Intel, tonfo dopo i conti. Meta +5% su promozione Jeffries. Russell sovraperforma S&P500 per il 13esimo giorno consecutivo: quanto può durare? Trump fa causa a Jpm e Dimon per 5 mld$ per de-banking. Spacex verso l'Ipo con Bofa, Jpm, Goldman Sachs, M. Stanley. Musk: robotaxi entro fine anno e Optimus a fine 2026. Trump: armada verso l'Iran. WSJ: la prossima è Cuba.Groenlandia: Usa vogliono carta bianca su presenza militare. EUCO straordinario: Groenlandia è sovrana, ci saranno investimenti. Avanti con Mercosur Provvisorio. Verso indipendenza strategica. Oggi trilaterale Usa- Russia-Ucraina negli Emirati. WSJ: Trump punta a regime change a Cuba entro fine anno. Europa in verde, Mps, tutto rimandato al 28 gennaio. Ivision, il rally grazie a Macron. Perissinotto nuovo Ceo di Anima Holding.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Negoziati per la pace in Ucraina. Oggi e domani negli Emirati il trilaterale Washington-Mosca-Kyiv. Zelensky contro l'Europa: “Persa e frammentata” Il Papa ai partecipanti della Marcia della vita che si tiene oggi a Washington: una società è sana solo quando tutela la sacralità della vita umana Settimana di preghiera per l'unità dei cristiani, la basilica di San Paolo di prepara ad accogliere il Papa domenica per i Vepri

The incredible Sharjah African Literature Festival kicked off, showcasing and celebrating the similarities and differences between African and Emirati culture and storytelling. AbdulKarim grabbed engaging conversations with both Moaza Rand and Tsitsi Dangarembga who are both participating in this 5 day festival. Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on your radio (95.00 FM) or online on our website: www.pulse95radio.com ************************ Follow us on Social. www.facebook.com/pulse95radio www.twitter.com/pulse95radio

In this episode, the hosts dig into a $6.9M luxury transportation company in Dubai featuring Rolls Royce limos, juicy cashflow, and an ultra-regulated moat — but uncover big risks tied to politics, licensing, and the challenges of operating in a tightly networked Emirati ecosystem.Business Listing – https://synergybb.com/listings/established-and-synergistic-luxury-transport-operations-uae/Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.

In this episode, the hosts dig into a $6.9M luxury transportation company in Dubai featuring Rolls Royce limos, juicy cashflow, and an ultra-regulated moat — but uncover big risks tied to politics, licensing, and the challenges of operating in a tightly networked Emirati ecosystem.Business Listing – https://synergybb.com/listings/established-and-synergistic-luxury-transport-operations-uae/Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.

HEADLINES:• Dubai Will Trial School Bus Pooling Initiative This Year• Dubai Issues Warning Regarding Dangerous Physical Behaviours Among Students• A Tinder Nightclub Scam Leaves Victims With An AED 8,000 Bill• The Pet-Lovers Community Came Together To Help A Resident Who Shelters 60+ Cats• BAAB And Beyond: Nayla Al Khaja On Fearless Emirati Filmmaking 

BAAB And Beyond: Nayla Al Khaja On Fearless Emirati Filmmaking

A rare public rupture has emerged between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Triggered by a dramatic escalation over Yemen in late December 2025, the dispute has exposed deeper ideological and strategic differences between the two Gulf powers. In this episode, Thomas and Aimen step back from the battlefield to examine the historical roots of Saudi–Emirati rivalry and why Yemen became the arena where these differences finally collided in public. They discuss: The 30 December 2025 Saudi airstrikes and the ultimatum to UAE forces Why Yemen is the arena, not the cause, of the Saudi–UAE dispute Continental vs maritime power in the Arabian Peninsula The British influence on the Emirati state The Buraimi Oasis dispute Tribal allegiance and ‘weird borders' in Gulf geopolitics Why the UAE tolerates breakaway regions and Saudi Arabia cannot Whether this rupture will be patched up and what happens if it isn't Join the Conflicted Community here: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/  Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflicted And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conflictedpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Conflicted is a Message Heard production. Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren. Produced by Thomas Small and edited by Alan Leer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

UAE National Orchestra: Performance Guide for Season 1 The debut season of UAENO features several performances. The first event, The Beginning, will be a world premiere composed by Lebanese contemporary classical composer Nadim Tarabay. This concert combines traditional Emirati elements with symphonic music to tell a story of unity, pride, and cultural heritage. Here is the schedule of UAE National Orchestra's performances for Season One: Abu Dhabi: January 15 at Emirates Palace Auditorium (sold out) Al Ain: January 17 at Al Ain City Municipality Theatre Dubai: January 19 at Dubai Opera Sharjah: January 29 at Sharjah Performing Arts Academy Get your tickets here https://platinumlist.net/guide/everything-to-know-about-the-uae-national-orchestra/ Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on your radio (95.00 FM) or online on our website: www.pulse95radio.com ************************ Follow us on Social. www.instagram.com/pulse95radio www.facebook.com/pulse95radio www.twitter.com/pulse95radio

New footage of ICE agent involved shooting in Minneapolis; Philly Sheriff says she's going to arrest ICE. Leftist woman says she “feels wrong” for paying her respects to Renee Good because she's a “white woman who's privileged.” Has the feminization of society caused wokeism. 8 Republican Senators, including Josh Hawley, voted with Democrats on the War Powers Act vote today. The UAE announces it will cut funds for citizens who want to study in the UK out of fear of Emirati students being radicalized by Muslim Brotherhood Islamists on British campuses. #minneapolis #foxnews #trump #cnn #iran #uae

The Natural History Museum has opened as a living research hub – but how can it help shape how we understand our planet, our past and our future? Helen asks the museum’s Director of Science and Research, Professor Phillip Manning, Director of Science and Research, and Emirati curator Noora Albalooshi. Meanwhile, on the food front, we celebrate Sharjah’s homegrown food scene with restaurateur Lourds Adalia-Evertse, delve into the food trends and openings to expect in 2026 with Laura Coughlin, and our resident culture expert William Mullally is on hand with all the recommendations you need for big and small screen enjoyment this January.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Arab Emirates has become the largest state investor in Africa. It's spending billions of dollars across the continent; building ports, power plants and renewable energy projects. We look at why Emirati companies are expanding so rapidly, and find out how much this investment is reshaping economies.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by Sameer Hashmi(Picture: General view of Berbera Port and Bebera city in Somaliland in the Horn of Africa, on 31st August 2021. Dubai-based port operator DP World and the Government of Somaliland, opened a container terminal at Berbera Port in June 2021. Credit: Getty Images)

The United Arab Emirates said it would pull out its remaining troops from Yemen after Saudi Arabia backed calls for a withdrawal of Emirati forces within 24 hours. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our news wrap Tuesday, more artists are cancelling shows at the Kennedy Center after President Trump's name was added to the arts facility, the UAE is pulling its remaining forces out of Yemen after Saudi Arabia attacked an Emirati shipment in a Yemeni port and travelers were left stranded after Eurostar suspended train service due to a power failure in the Channel Tunnel. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Maitha Alawadi is a prominent Emirati filmmaker, screenwriter, and television presenter, recognized for her award-winning work in cinema and storytelling across the UAE, Australia, India, and the UK. With over a decade of experience, she has directed and written films such as the Saudi-Emirati family comedy Al Eid Eiden and developed acclaimed scripts like Nour, earning more than 13 awards at over 40 international film festivals. Beyond filmmaking, Maitha engages in television presenting, industry panels, and mentorship, advocating for cultural authenticity and amplifying female and Arab perspectives in global cinema.#hikmatwehbipodcast #podcast#arabicpodcast #maitha.alawadi#wstudiodxbحكمت_وهبي#حكمت_وهبي_بودكاست#

Send us a textUnderstanding Israel Palestine: Beyond the Walls – The Oligarchs, The Spies, and The Grand Bargain that Sold Out the Palestinians and the United States Host: Jeremy Rothe-Kushel Guests: Seth Abramson (Proof), Richard Silverstein (Tikun Olam)Episode Summary: For this episode, I feature segments of 2 interviews from the last half of 2020 with public interest writers & analysts Seth Abramson and Richard Silverstein, both quite prescient in their insights into the current geopolitical crisis surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, most glaring in the international relational faultlines constructed amongst the United States & the Middle East, especially the Israeli security state and its Emirati and Saudi state partners, directly tied to the geopolitical collusion to attack American elections while selling out the Palestinians, and the role of Russian sphere Kremlin-associated oligarchs, some publicly defended from sanctions by Israeli officials, in sponsoring the escalation of Israeli settler politics bent on ethnically cleansing the Palestinian people.Government officials and the media largely told us that the 2016 election interference was just about Russian "troll farms." They lied by omission. In this explosive episode of Understanding Israel Palestine: Beyond the Walls, we tear down the firewall between "Russiagate" and the Middle East to reveal the true geopolitical architecture of the Trump era.We go deep with Seth Abramson, author of the Proof trilogy, to decode the Senate Intelligence Committee's massive Volume 5 report. Abramson exposes what the Mueller Report ignored: the "Grand Bargain" between the Trump campaign, Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. We track the fingerprints of Israeli cyber-intelligence mercenaries like Psy-Group and Joel Zamel, the shadowy role of George Nader, and the August 2016 Trump Tower meeting that cemented an alliance of autocrats against democracy and Palestinian rights.Then, we pivot to the money trail with security journalist Richard Silverstein. Breaking down the FinCEN files, Silverstein reveals how Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich funneled over $100 million into Elad, the settler organization aggressively "Judaizing" East Jerusalem. We discuss how dirty money from the post-Soviet sphere is being laundered into the ethnic cleansing of Silwan, turning the biblical "City of David" into a weapon of displacement.This is the deep politics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—where intelligence operations, oligarchic wealth, and settler ideology collide to sell out the Palestinian people and compromise the American republic.Featured Guests:Seth Abramson [PROOF]: https://www.sethabramson.net Richard Silverstein [TIKUN OLAM]: https://www.richardsilverstein.comHost/Producer: Jeremy Rothe-Kushel [BEYOND THE WALLS]: https://beyondthewalls.substack.com

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get all of our episodes. Derek is joined by Annelle Sheline of the Quincy Institute to discuss the Southern Transitional Council's recent territorial advances in Yemen, what they mean for the country's already-fractured political order, and why the “internationally recognized government” remains mostly theoretical. They also delve into the history of southern secessionism, the dysfunction of the Presidential Leadership Council, and how Emirati-backed forces have consolidated control over much of former South Yemen. Follow Annelle on Twitter.

Leadership demands grit, clarity and conviction. SUMMARY On Long Blue Leadership, Congressman August Pfluger '00 reflects on these qualities through his experiences at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in the cockpit and as part of the U.S. House of Representatives. His story challenges every leader to ask where courage is calling them to go next. SHARE THIS PODCAST LINKEDIN  |  FACEBOOK    CONGRESSMAN PFLUGER'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Courageous career leaps require conviction, timing and faith. Pfluger left active duty at 19 years and four months — a highly unconventional choice — demonstrating that major pivots sometimes require stepping into uncertainty. Work ethic is a lifelong differentiator. He emphasizes that he has never been “the best,” but has always been willing to outwork anyone. Hard work + grit consistently opened doors. Failure and setbacks shape long-term success. Missed opportunities at USAFA and earlier career disappointments taught him timing, resilience and long-term perspective. Leadership is transferable across domains. His fighter pilot and command experience directly enabled his political success — planning, debrief culture and thick skin all mapped over perfectly. Credibility requires deep study and prioritization. You cannot master everything; leaders must choose focus areas and know them cold so others trust their expertise. Humility, credibility and approachability are foundational leadership traits. These principles translate powerfully to Congress and team leadership. Family and faith must anchor leadership. His family's summer crisis reframed his priorities: “None of this matters if you don't take care of your family.” The nation needs more military and Academy graduates in public leadership. He stresses that only four USAFA grads have ever served in Congress — and more are needed to restore civility and mission-focused service. The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force are under-resourced relative to global threats. Pfluger advocates vigorously for rebalancing defense spending to meet modern challenges. Self-reflection is critical to growth. Leaders must ask: How do I see myself? How do others see me? If those don't align, adjust the work ethic, mindset or behaviors accordingly.   CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction & Biography 01:44 — Opening Remarks 01:47 — Leaving Active Duty at 19 Years and 4 Months 04:06 — Why Run for Office? 05:40 — Family, Faith & Influences 07:14 — Representing His Hometown District 08:29 — Learning to Represent a District 11:07 — Work Ethic and USAFA Foundations 12:22 — Failure, Setbacks & Long-Term Rewards 15:10 — Unexpected Assignments Becoming Career High Points 17:24 — Pentagon, Fellowship & NSC 19:49 — USAFA Grads in Congress 21:03 — Role of the Board of Visitors 23:24 — Key Focus Areas for the Board of Visitors 25:11 — Top National Security Challenges 27:13 — Balancing Congress, Leadership, and Family 29:01 — Leadership Style & Decision-Making 30:40 — Humble, Credible, Approachable 33:38 — Building Credibility as a Younger Leader 34:43 — What's Next: A More United Country 37:29 — Daily Habits for Growth 39:37 — Advice for Emerging Leaders 41:24 — Final Reflections & Call to Action 43:45 — Closing Thoughts & Outro   ABOUT CONGRESSMAN PFLUGER BIO U.S. Rep. August Pfluger '00 is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represents 20 counties in Texas' 11th Congressional District. After graduating from the U.S Air Force Academy, he served in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve for 25 years as an F-22 and F-15 pilot with over 300 combat hours. In Congress, he is chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus on Capitol Hill. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. CONNECT WITH THE CONGRESSMAN LINKEDIN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org   Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org      ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS Guest, Rep. August Pfluger '00  |  Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99   Naviere Walkewicz 0:00 Welcome to Long Blue Leadership, the podcast where we share insights on leadership through the lives and experiences of Air Force Academy graduates. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. In this edition of Long Blue Leadership, we're honored to welcome a distinguished leader whose career spans military service, national security and public office, Congressman August Pfluger is a proud graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Class of 2000, and currently represents the 11th Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before entering Congress, Congressman Pfluger served for nearly two decades in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of colonel. He is currently a member of the Air Force Reserve as an F-15 and F-22 fighter pilot. He logged over 300 combat hours in defense of our nation. He has also served as a member of the National Security Council, bringing strategic insight to some of the most complex global threats we face today. Since taking office in 2021 Congressman Pfluger has remained deeply committed to strengthening our national defense. He currently serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee to critical platforms from which he continues to represent and lead. He is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee and serves as the chairman of the Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors, appointed to the BOV by the speaker of the house in 2023 and elected by his colleagues to serve as chair. Whether in the halls of Congress or in the cockpit, Congressman Pfluger's career has been defined by a steadfast commitment to courageous service and leadership. Congressman Pfluger, welcome to Long Blue Leadership. Rep. August Pfluger 1:44 Thank you, Naviere. It's honor to be here with you.   Naviere Walkewicz 1:47 Well, we are so glad to have you. And there's something that I want to jump right into, because it really occurred to me how odd this is, but you served for nearly two decades, and when I say nearly two decades in the Air Force, 19 years and four months, and then you pulled the plug, you didn't go to retirement right then. Can we talk about that a little bit? Rep. August Pfluger 2:09 Well, this is not something that most financial advisers would advise you of doing. And I'll tell you, this was a journey in faith, because at almost 20 years. September of 2019, we made a decision, my wife and I made a decision to run for Congress, which meant that we got out of the active duty, joined the Reserve, and started a campaign, something that just a month prior, we had absolutely no intention of doing, and had not even talked about doing. Running for office was something that was always of interest, but certainly not at 19 years and four months. So the opportunity came up, had a couple of phone calls from friends and family to say that the representative who represented my hometown and where I grew up was retiring after 16 years, and a lot of factors. And I'll really take you down this faith journey, a lot of factors happened that we couldn't ignore. And we literally moved back to my hometown of San Angelo that I had not lived in for over 20 years, and started a campaign, which, as you can imagine, was, I mean, it took a lot of courage for my wife, from my family, three little girls, who we uprooted and went through this. But I'm so glad that we did it. But it wasn't without, you know, I can say anxiety and just, you know, the fear, the unknown maybe, and not knowing exactly what would happen. So when you say and use the words, we burned the ships. That was the moment in time that we literally burned the ships and ran a campaign with every piece of our heart and soul. Naviere Walkewicz 3:48 Wow. Well, let's talk about that a little bit, because, you know, we have listeners that make these pivotal moments in their careers. They make these decisions that really shaped them. What was it about that time, other than the incumbent was going to retire. Like, why you? Why then, you know? Let's talk about that a little bit more. Rep. August Pfluger 4:06 Well, this is pre-Covid. And the thought of running for office always sounds good. You know, if you have that interest, you're like, “OK, that'd be great.” Well, then when you kind of get down to the brass tax that you're going to have to put in 14- to 16-hour days and learn how to talk to people about what's important in this district that then it kind of changes things. But honestly, there were signs and things that pointed me and my wife in this direction that we couldn't ignore. And when you look at this type of district, I mean, it's really, in the past 100 years, there's only been about six representatives. So it's not one of those things you say, “Well, maybe we'll wait for next time.” The opportunity was there, there was a window of time. It was about 30 days where we had to make a decision to literally move from northern Virginia back to Texas and start a whole new career. And ended doing so forego the pension for what would now be five or six years, because I've had to work as a reservist to, you know, kind of get back to that point. So there was a financial piece to it. There was a career that was, was going very well that, you know, maybe, are we giving that up? And what happens if we don't win? And then, you know, all these unknowns. So I will say it was, it was definitely the biggest professional decision that I've ever made in my career. Naviere Walkewicz 5:40 So you talked about some of your family members — you had phone calls. It sounds like, your faith and your family are a big part of your decision making. And, when you go forward with things, I think you've talked about your grandfather having been someone that inspired you to go into the Air Force. You know, who are those key players in your family that have really inspired you in your big leadership decisions. Rep. August Pfluger 6:02 Yes, you're right. I had two grandfathers that served in World War II. One was a pilot, and that that led me to make the first decision to go to the Air Force Academy. And that stayed with me. We had nobody in my family who was in politics. I mean, not a single person. In fact, a lot of my family, I had several great uncles and different family members that I'm close to, and they said, “What?” Like, ”What are — you sure you want to do this? And why? Don't you have a really good Air Force career and you've been able to, you know, rise in the ranks and all the things that you've tried to do?” But I honestly — it was kind of a word of wisdom to say, “If you're going to do this, have some good reasons.” Like, “Why do you want to do this?” And the district that I get to represent in my hometown, we have military bases, agriculture and energy, and I love all three of those things. And I think of those as national security-level entities that really dovetail very nicely with my first part of my professional career. Naviere Walkewicz 7:14 That makes sense. So it really was an extension — this new path in your journey was really an extension of what you had done in uniform and active duty and now being able to give it back to your hometown district and the patrons in there as well. Rep. August Pfluger 7:30 Absolutely. And in the campaign I talked about how important it was to be able to provide our own food. We have a lot of cattle ranchers there that are in my district, that you don't want to be dependent on some other country, especially an adversarial country, for your food needs. And the same thing for energy production: that you can't be dependent for energy needs on your adversaries. So those were things that I was able to really talk about, and I mean, oh my gosh, after I actually was elected and got into office, I mean, they became front and center and still are of that discussion. And I think that was the really interesting piece about having been deployed. We were stationed all over the world, almost seven years outside of the United States, on three different continents, and to be able to tie it together and kind of bring that back home and communicate why this place where I grew up and now where I live and where I represent is so important to our national security? Naviere Walkewicz 8:29 Well, you talked a little bit about earlier, about you weren't sure if you were going to get elected, and then when you did, you had to go out and talk to people and really understand the challenges. What is that journey like when it's completely new, right? It's not the same. It's you're not getting into a cockpit. You're not an instructor pilot now. Now you are — you're representing all of them. How do you how do you approach that new path? Because I think that's something when our leaders take this leap of faith and they're looking at, well, how do I approach it? It's completely different from anything I've done. I think they'd like to know how you did it so well. Rep. August Pfluger 8:59 Well, thanks for the question. It was a huge challenge in being a squadron commander, having been an instructor pilot or a mission commander, and having led in actual combat, that that was everything. I mean, I didn't know anything about politics, but what I did know was how to map out a plan and how to put the pieces and parts together. And I knew that nobody was going to outwork me. I mean, come on, you know, when you have a SAMI on Saturday morning, you got to wake up and make your bed and do all the things to get that weekend pass. I mean, you're going to work hard. And so I knew that I had a competitive advantage on the work ethic and the ability to plan and so really, the thing that I realize now, now six years later, is that I think people — what they really appreciated was that I wasn't a career politician, that the things that I was saying and campaigning on were like true passions, and they weren't empty promises. I told them this is what I'm going to do, and I'm proud to report I've done every single one of those things that I told them that I would do, and it's because we were instructed so well, both at school and then as members of the active-duty Air Force about how to follow through and be persistent and just carry through with what you said you're going to do. I mean, integrity is a big piece of this, but I will tell you also that now staying in touch after being elected, elected, I travel throughout these 20 counties all the time, and you have to have some thick skin, because you're going to get some feedback from people that is not always flattering, and they're going to ask you, “Well, why did you vote this way, or what happened here, and why are you not doing this? And this is expensive.” And, I mean, so you have to be willing to take that feedback, which, by the way, sitting in a fighter pilot debrief — I mean, that was the perfect training for having thick skin, to understand that what people are trying to tell you: Is it critical? Without substance? That you really need to listen to them and try to solve these problems? Naviere Walkewicz 11:07 So earlier, you had talked about, I think there are these things that you did at the Academy. No one is going to outwork you have. You always been that type of person, someone that, you know, just kind of works really hard. Or is that something that you kind of developed at the Academy. Rep. August Pfluger 11:21 I developed it at the Academy. But I would say I came in with a with a good work ethic and then was challenged by our classmates, who are amazing, you know? It's like, “Oh my gosh, I'm really not that smart and not that fast and not that… you know, whatever,” because you see all these amazing people. But yes, work ethic was, I mean, I look at it now, having administered how many nominations to service academies? I mean, dozens and dozens of kids that I've gotten a chance to work with over the past five years who are absolutely incredible. I'm like, I don't know if I could get in at this point in time, because they're just incredible. And I had to work very hard at everything I ever did, everything I ever achieved, was because of hard work. It wasn't because I was the best. It was because I just, at the end of the day, worked very hard to get it. I think that's something that's a lesson that we learned during four years at the Academy, but it served me very well in this profession. Naviere Walkewicz 12:22 Was there a particular time at the Academy where you worked really hard and it didn't go your way? And, you know, how did you overcome that? Because I think sometimes the outcome is, “If I if I give it all and I work really hard, I'm going to get to where I want to go.” And if that wasn't the case, how did that actually change the trajectory or shape you? Rep. August Pfluger 12:42 There were multiple times at the Academy that you work hard for something. I mean, I came in as a recruited athlete, had some injuries, and so didn't get a chance to finish all four years that that was hard to go through that process, and it just didn't work out. And or you're just not good enough. And then that was the case too for me, on the football team. But they're just better people, which is awesome and that, but that shaped who I am now, because it is not just about how hard you work. That's a huge piece of it. But you also have to have good timing. You have to have some luck. You have to be in the right place and have been brought up by the right people. And when the when the opportunity strikes you, you've got to be able to take advantage of that timing to do that. And that those lessons — I absolutely remember that there was one instance where I really, really wanted to go to do this exchange program in Egypt, and they were going to bring some of the political science department over there. Well, apparently my grades were not in the right area to be selected for this program. I think I was an alternate or something, unless that's good, that's — it's not nothing. But I was very disappointed, because I thought I worked hard, you know, maybe not hard enough on the grades, but had worked hard to be a part of the conversation, to go. Well, didn't get a chance to do it. So always had that in the back of my mind. Well, I went to Egypt, but it was as a congressman. I led a congressional delegation of six or seven members. We met with the president of Egypt and had very serious conversations about the negotiation for what Gaza has now with the peace deal that we have gotten to and had a, you know, went to the president's palace, got to sit down right next to him and talk to him for over an hour. So I always kept that in the back of my mind that I was going to Egypt one day. Naviere Walkewicz 14:37 That's right. And honestly, you worked really, really hard. You didn't get there, but it kept you — kept that fire going, because you knew at some point you're going to, so it did end up working out, in that case, for sure. You know, one of the things that I find really interesting and fascinating about you is, as you talk about these different experiences you've had, you said they've shaped you. And when you're in the military, can you share a time when you maybe we're in a position that it wasn't what you'd hoped for. You thought it was going to be, but you found it to be incredibly rewarding. Was there anything in that kind of space that happened to you? Rep. August Pfluger 15:10 Yes, several times. You know you want things, you think you want things, and then it doesn't work out. You don't get selected. And always in the back of my mind, every young lieutenant wants to be a weapons officer wants to then be a squadron commander of a fighter squadron, and that's just the competitive side of this. And I was no different when it came time to select who the next squadron commanders were going to be. I'll never forget: My operations group commander came to be and he said, “Well, we got a problem. We have six really talented lieutenant colonels. You're all promoted below the zone, and we have four squadrons, so we're going to have to figure out a Plan B for a couple of you, and I've got something in mind for you.” He said, “I think that you should go be a deployed squadron, commander of an OSS, an operational support squadron.” He said, “We've got a war going on, a conflict with ISIS, and you'd be great.” Well, that's not exactly an easy conversation to go home and to tell your spouse: “Oh, I just got told that I was going to deploy. I'm not going to be a fighter squadron commander here. I'm going to go somewhere else, and I'll be gone a year.” So that was hard, but oh my goodness, what an experience professionally. Obviously, I missed my family, but this was the height of the conflict against ISIS. I had hundreds of people that I got a chance to work with, command, flying combat missions, doing something that mattered, working with our international partners. You know, we were on an Emirati base, and so I worked with the Emiratis on a daily basis, because we had almost 20 different weapon systems, 20 different aircraft there and it was the highlight of my professional career. So God had a plan. It worked out much better than I could have ever engineered, and it turned out — minus the fact that I had to be gone for a year; obviously, nobody likes that — but it turned out to be the best professional year of my Air Force career. Naviere Walkewicz 17:13 I find that really interesting because that — so would that have been the last kind of position you held before going into the move for Congress? Is that correct? Rep. August Pfluger 17:24 You know, actually, I came back — was PCSed to the Pentagon, worked for the chief of staff of the Air Force, General Goldfein, OK, went to a year of War College equivalent in D.C., a fellowship program, and then was assigned to the White House, to the National Security Council, for just about two and a half months before we made — three months before we made the decision to run for Congress. Naviere Walkewicz 17:49 So just a couple things happened after that. [Laughs]. What an amazing run, and the amazing leaders that you got to work with. So was that experience that when you were deployed as a squadron commander and then coming back, did that help shape your thoughts specifically to the Congress role, because you talked about the very three important things, right? Energy, you know, national security and there was one more… and agriculture. Thank you. And so, you know, did that all kind of get settled in when you were in that transition piece from, you know, squadron commander, to your time at the Pentagon in the White House area. Rep. August Pfluger 18:26 Absolutely, I had a year as a deployed squadron commander, came back and worked a year at the Pentagon, which I didn't know how lucky that was. Most people get there two or three years, but work directly for the chief of staff. Heard all of the conversations between Gen. Goldfein and Secretary Heather Wilson and then had a year where I studied at a think tank on Middle East policy. It could not have been a better education with a little bit of time in the White House to prepare me to run for Congress. You look back on that, you go, “Oh, so that's why.” “Oh, these steps were to prepare for this job now,” which I mean, just the fact that, as a member of Congress, I've probably met with 10 or 15 heads of states, one on one, presidents from different countries around the world, and to have that education, to be able to speak intelligently, at least somewhat intelligently, on these issues. Took that the steps that I just went through right there. Naviere Walkewicz 19:31 And you know, something that I think is really interesting to what you just said, working with Gen. Goldfein and with Secretary Wilson, you know, there are so few Academy graduates that have had the opportunities to serve in Congress and to be in the role that you are. How many Academy, Air Force Academy grads we have now have that have done this? Rep. August Pfluger 19:49 There's two currently serving, myself and Don Davis, opposite sides of the aisle, but great friends, and there were only two prior, so there's only been four. And the first two were Heather Wilson was the first Martha McSally, I'll never forget when I got elected. Heather Wilson called me and she said, “Congratulations, you're finally keeping up with us ladies.” And I thought it was great. But you know, we need more graduates, honestly. And I don't care who's listening to this, what side of the aisle you're on, we need more air force academy graduates. There are nine West Pointers currently serving, and seven from Annapolis currently serving, and we've only had four total. Naviere Walkewicz 20:30 All right, it's out there now. We've got our, you know, got our calling. So here we go. You know, I want to ask you a question about, you know, being in Congress, you are on several committees, and you're in leading roles in them. Let's talk a little bit. First about, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk about the Board of Visitors, because I think it's a great opportunity for our graduates to understand actually what the Board of Visitors actually does. So if you don't mind, kind of sharing in your words, you know what your priorities are with the Board of Visitors and what that looks like. I think it'd be really helpful in educating our listeners. Rep. August Pfluger 21:03 Well. Thank you. It's an honor to be on the Board of Visitors. It's statutorily set up by Congress decades ago, and it basically provides an avenue of oversight, something that is appointed both legislatively, by the speaker of the house and by the Senate majority leader and also the president. And, you know, we've got a number of several grads, but a number of senators and congressmen. And, you know, again, one of these timing things that I didn't necessarily intend to run for the chairmanship, but we needed, I think, a graduate to do that, and am proud to be the chairman of this group. You know, Charlie Kirk was on this board, and what a tragic situation that was. We've got a number of really passionate leaders, and our job really is to interact with the institution, to ask questions and to report back directly to the Secretary of War and into the Secretary of the Air Force on the health and welfare of the institution, on any other issues that we think are important. And for me, kind of the driving principle is that I love this institution, the leadership lessons that I learned there and those that I hear from so many graduates are important well beyond military service. They're important for the rest of a graduate's life. And I want to make sure that everything that is going on there, the resources that are needed there, the schedule and the curriculum and the ability to train the next generation of young warriors, both for the space and the Air Force, are the best in the country, and that we are prepared no matter what, that those graduates can go do their job. So it really is an honor to be on the board, but then to be the chairman of it. Naviere Walkewicz 23:03 I can imagine that, and I think it really speaks volumes, the fact that, you know, you're so passionate about it, you've taken what you've had from the Academy, you've applied it in this role. What are the first things that I think you're looking at? You said you talked about the resources and kind of the schedule and things that are happening at the academy. What are the key things that you're looking at right now as a Board of Visitors? Rep. August Pfluger 23:24 Well, I think to start with, I mean, we all know you wake up early, you go bed late, and you're trying to cram, you know, 28 hours into 24 and so the No. 1 thing that I want to see and work through is, how are we continuing to innovate with the best training possible, so that, you know, you can't teach the solution to every problem, but you want to teach a framework of how to think, and that, you know, there's going to be cadets that are challenged through their academic studies, there's going to be cadets that are challenged through their military studies. There's going to be cadets that are challenged athletically, and some that get all three of those, obviously, we all get got all three. But no matter which piece of the puzzle fills, you know, their time, they should get the training that teaches them how to respond in stressful situations, that teaches them how to function as a team, and that that offers them the opportunity to honestly, to experience a little bit of failure, while also knowing that success is right down the road, and that with a little grit, a little determination and a little persistence, that they're going to get there, and that is a challenge, I mean, In a resource-confined environment that we have right now that that's a big challenge, but that's why we have legislators, Senators and House members, They can go fight for those resources to make sure that they're getting that training that they need. Naviere Walkewicz 24:56 Thank you for sharing that you know, I think when you talk about having that framework to critically work through whatever is coming at you, and, you know, fighting for resources. Can you share what is the greatest challenge that you're faced with right now and how you're working through it? Rep. August Pfluger 25:11 Yeah, absolutely. I mean, just, you know, from a military standpoint, I'm obviously very biased on what air power and space power does I mean the army will deploy to certain locations. In the Navy will deploy to certain locations. But the Air Force and the Space Force are everywhere. We're in every theater. We've been in every conflict. We are the constant and I don't think resource wise, that that our Department of the Air Force is receiving the resources that it needs proportionately speaking to the threat that we face. We're the smallest and the oldest that we've ever been, and we need to change that immediately. As chairman — you mentioned I was chairman of the Republican Study Committee. What is that? Well, it's a 189-member caucus, committee, policy committee...   Naviere Walkewicz 26:01 It's the largest one, right?   Rep. August Pfluger 26:02 It's huge. It's the largest committee in Congress, and we meet weekly with Cabinet members and other leaders to discuss policy. But this has been something that I've been passionate about, which we have to take advantage of an environment where some more resources are being put towards our military, and I want to make sure that a larger portion of those go to the Department of the Air Force to meet the threat. And that's just a neat opportunity that it's a competitive election. I had to get elected by my peers. You know, 188 other congressmen and women from across the country. I had to run an election to get elected to it, and now trying to communicate to them why the business of Air and Space power is so important, but, but I'm we're slowly but surely getting there. Naviere Walkewicz 26:53 Well, I'm not sure where you have time when you're you know, you're doing so many things, you're on the road, meeting with your constituents. You're leading. You know these major committees, the Board of Visitors, as chair. Can you talk about how you're balancing? You know, you always talked about being your family is really important to you. How are you balancing that? What does that look like for someone in a leadership role? Rep. August Pfluger 27:13 Well, it's obviously the biggest challenge that any of us face, which is making sure that you take care of the most fundamental and important piece of your life, which is your family and being gone. I mean, I go to Washington, D.C., on Monday, and generally come home Thursday or Friday, and that's about three weeks out of every four. So my wife, is the most important piece of this, because she allows me to do this, and I couldn't do it without her, honestly. And then secondly, you know, we had a scare this summer because two of my girls were at Camp Mystic. And you know, that was that really brought things back to such a fundamental level that, you know, my No. 1 job on this earth is to be a husband and a father, a person of faith. And I'll tell you that that was, that was a transformational moment in it, just in my in my life, because when you have two daughters that were that thankfully came home and in then you see 27 others that didn't, that they knew that we knew the families and we were close to that. This has put everything back into perspective, that the service that I'm doing should be focused on a foundation of family and faith, and that none of it matters if you don't take care of that. Naviere Walkewicz 28:41 So what does that look like in how you lead? How does that shape the decisions you make in your role in Congress, as a reservist? And then for our listeners, you know, how do they put those important things first in the midst of having to make other decisions professionally? Rep. August Pfluger 29:01 I think a lot of it is, maybe not so much, the “what” in the decision, but it's the “how,” you know, you carry yourself, and you know on the other side of the aisle. I mean, I'm going to fight policies that I don't agree with all day long. But I think the how I do that, what I want my daughters to know is that they had a dad that was very firm in his beliefs. So I think that's, you know, when I look at it kind of like from the, “OK, what's important?” OK, being a good dad, not just saying the right things, but actually going and carrying those out. I think the how you carry them out is really important. And then, you know the specifics of legislation. There are things that, if I believe in in taking care of the American family, then there are things that I'm going to advocate for, not, not to make this to political of a discussion, but I think you can see through my track record that that I have focused on those things that would help strengthen the family, Naviere Walkewicz 30:08 The “how” is really, it's part of your legacy, right? And I think that's what your children are seeing as well, in the way that you, you, you do what you do. And I think as leaders, that's something really important to be thinking about. So I'm really thankful that you shared that example. Shared that example. Have you found that your leadership style has evolved, or has it already always been kind of rooted in you know, who you've been and you've just kind of tweaked it a little bit? Or have you seen yourself evolve more than you would have expected? Rep. August Pfluger 30:40 Yes, it has evolved, but, and I hope for the better, we'd have to ask others what they think of that, but, but, you know, look, growing up in a professionally in a fighter squadron, there were three tenants that they even though I didn't go to weapon school, they teach you this to be humble, credible and approachable. I mean, think about that. Those are the core tenants of who our lead warriors are, and that is not what you see. When you think of politicians. You think, Well, they're braggadocious and annoying. And you know, OK, and I hope I don't fall into that category. I need to do some self-reflection every once while, but, but I've got a staff of almost 40 people, and I have 434 other colleagues that you have to work with. So you better believe that you've got to be humble because there are people who are better than you in every category. You better believe that being approachable in this job is really important, because people are going to come to you and they're going to need something, or you're going to need something from them, and if you don't have the credibility of what you're talking about or what you're leading, then you're not going to get anything done. And so I've really had to work on all three of those things since I was elected to make sure that tying that to a servant leadership model. We started out in 2021, and I told my team, I said, we are going to do everything we possibly can to make other people that I am working with, other congressmen and women better. And they said, Wait, what? I said, Yeah, this isn't about me getting the limelight. We will get plenty of limelight, but let's work on giving other people the credit, giving other people the opportunities, calling on their expertise, pushing them up. And it will all work out, and we will achieve everything we wanted to achieve for the district that I represent, and it was just like this lightning bolt of it was so antithetical to the way that many people in Congress think. And I am not saying that we have changed the world, but when you're elected to basically a conference-wide position like I am, then you really have hard conversations with people, and those conversations people said, You know what, you've helped me out. I'm going to vote for you. And that meant everything, Naviere Walkewicz 33:08 Humble, approachable, credible, what great lessons for our leaders. And I think that translates across anything you're doing. Of the three, it seems that credible would probably be the hardest to achieve, right? It's a time-based thing. How would you recommend that our leaders, especially those that are growing in their leadership roles, achieve that when they don't necessarily have the time right in? Rep. August Pfluger 33:38 It's so hard, but that grit, that determination, I mean, the study, the thing, all the things we learned, you know, it's like they give you. The academic instructors are like a torture chamber, because they know you can't study everything, so you have to prioritize, which is a lesson I think I still draw on today. But I think that credibility comes from if you're going to be an expert in something, you've got to study it. You've got to know it, and people have to trust you. So when you tell them something, it has to be the truth, and they have to know well, I don't know that particular policy issue, but I know Pfluger does, because, you know he did that in his career. He studied that. So I think that grit and that determination and the prioritization of your time is so important, you can't do it all. I mean, we just can't. You have to. You have to make a choice, and those choices have to then go towards the goals that you're setting for yourself. Naviere Walkewicz 34:32 Excellent, excellent lessons. So you've accomplished so much since 2021, you know? What's next? What are you trying to work towards next? Rep. August Pfluger 34:43 I mean, there's so many different like policy issues I'm not going to bore you with. Let's just talk about the big picture, the elephant in the room, which is how divided our country is, and it's heartbreaking to see. You know, I think back to like, the aftermath of 911 I literally 911 happened two weeks prior to my pilot training graduation. You as a Class of '99 were right in the same boat. I mean, we were our professional careers were turned upside down, but our country came together, and that that was kind of the I think that that was the best thing to see how many people that were divided on whatever lines kind of came together. We're very divided, and it is hard to see and from I want to see an end of the radical sides of our parties and a normal conversation. We should be able to have a normal debate in Congress about whatever issues of spending and things like that. And we should be able to then slap each other on the back and say, Yeah, good job you won that one. Or, you know, good job I won this one. That should be kind of the norm. And I've got so many good friends who are Democrats that it's there, but the pull to radicalization is it's alive and well. And to be honest, this is why we need more Academy graduates who are doing this type of work, whether it's running for local office or running for Congress or Senate or whatever, because we get it. We get it from being a part of something that was greater than ourselves and being a part of a mission that it wasn't about, I it was literally about the team of success. And I think it's, it's veterans that are in these leadership positions that are going to help be a part of this, so that that really, I really do want to see that that doesn't mean that I'm not going to fight tooth and nail for policy that I believe in, which is partisan at times. And I'm OK with that, but what I'm not OK with is demonizing somebody for having a different belief. Let's go fight the merits of it, but not, not the character of the other person. Naviere Walkewicz 37:03 Thank you for sharing that. I think, you know, just putting the elephant on the table, I think, is really important. That's what it is about conversation. It's about dialog and so thank you for sharing that. For sure, this has been an incredible conversation. We've kind of navigated different parts of your career, you know, your leadership journey, maybe, if I could ask you this, what is something you're doing every day, Congressman Pfluger, to be better? Rep. August Pfluger 37:29 I think, in faith life, really trying to tie in spiritually, and to not be the one in control, trying to be more present in in my family's life, I'm going to give you three or four. So, you know, just being more intentional, putting the phone down, like if I'm going to sit down with my kids and be there, because I could be on the phone 24 hours a day. So put the phone down, talk to my wife be engaged, and that that's really that, that, I think that's a challenge for anybody who is in any adult right now, quite frankly, but especially those that are in leadership positions, which all of our graduates are, and so just put the phone down and being engaged, and it's hard. It's like, “Oh, I got to take care of this, you know, I got to call that person back. We've got to do this.” But you know that is, I think that that is probably the No. 1 thing that then allows a stronger faith life, a stronger relationship with my family. Physically, still taking the Air Force PT test, got a 99 last year. Was very proud of that and so trying to stay physically fit.   Naviere Walkewicz 38:48 That's outstanding!   Rep. August Pfluger 38:49 There are some other graduates who have challenged me with that. You may know Joel Neeb? A classmate of yours.   Naviere Walkewicz 38:58 Oh yeah! I know Thor.   Rep. August Pfluger 39:00 Thor is awesome. And he's been such an inspiration. I could name 100 people, but he said he's a really good inspiration to so many people. And on all the things that you just the things that I answered for your question, he's been a good inspiration on. Naviere Walkewicz 39:15 I would agree with that wholeheartedly. Yes. Well, thank you for that. Can you also share, you know, knowing what you know now through the years that you've experienced, you know your hardships, the triumphs — what would you share with our growing leaders that they can do today to help them be stronger down the road? Rep. August Pfluger 39:37 You know, I think some self-reflection, like, how do you see yourself, and how does the world see you? And is this — does it match up? Because if it's different, if your opinion of yourself is higher than that of what other people are thinking and your work ethic and what you're bringing to the to the table, then then you need to do some self-reflection. And I again, I got back to my career as a fighter pilot, which was perfect for politics. You know, you got to learn to work as a team. You have people debriefing you, and there's critical thoughts on your actions, of how you perform. But I think any leader, it needs to first have the grit to be able to stick with it. It's not always the best person that gets the job, but I can promise you, the person who keeps seeking that job and has that drive, they're going to get there. That has been the story of my life and self-reflection, to go What's stopping me from getting there is probably the key, as long as you have that grit, that self-reflection, to have some clarity for whatever goal you want to achieve. That's my humble opinion of what I would tell myself 15 years ago. Naviere Walkewicz 41:00 Wow. And I think that does kind of give us a moment to just sit in it and think about that as we are, you know, trying to be our best selves and to continue to evolve as leaders. What a great way to do that, right? Just reflect some self-reflection. I want to make sure we have an opportunity. If there's anything that I didn't ask you, that you feel is really important to share with our listeners. What would that be? Rep. August Pfluger 41:24 Well, there were a couple of things. No. 1, I was trying to think back — because your Class of '99 and I'm Class of 2000 — on whether or not I had to get in the front-leaning rest and recite John Stuart Mill's poem, or not. I can't remember that, so maybe I snuck by.   Naviere Walkewicz 41:45 Definitely a front-leaning rest kind of gal. I have pretty strong abs. I can handle that.   Rep. August Pfluger 41:51 You know, I just, I want to go back to what how important our institution is, because we're in that other dimension. We're in the air, in the space domain. We're solving problems in our professional career that I mean, think about where we've come since the Wright Brothers demonstrated we could fly and now, you know all the things that we're doing in air and space, and that's because of our graduates. And you know, I just, I really want to have a call out to our graduates that your leadership in a variety of ways is needed. It's needed in the business community, in Fortune 500 companies. It's needed in your local communities. It's needed at the national level of politics; there are several candidates for Congress right now who are graduates. I'm helping them, and I will help anybody. I don't care what party you are, of course, I have my favorite, but I will help any person who is looking to run for something like this. This is what I know now. But we really do need your leadership in order to bring the temperature down, to unite our country, to make sure that we're going to be successful. It's not if it's a matter of when we're going to face that next big, truly existential threat and challenge to our country. And guess what? I trust the people that were right there next to be in the front, winning rest, reciting all of those quotes and having to do a little bit harder of a standard in our four years of education than other institutions. And so I trust our graduates, but we need you, and we really need you to take that opportunity and serve in any possible way that you can. Naviere Walkewicz 43:45 Wow. Thank you for sharing that. I think that that is a perfect way a call to action, so to speak, for all of us you know the service after the service, so this has been incredible. Congressman Pfluger, thank you for your time today. Rep. August Pfluger 43:57 Well, Naviere, thank you for reaching so many graduates and looking forward to a Bitton Army and Navy again next year. Naviere Walkewicz 44:04 That's right next year. Well, you know, as I reflect on this conversation, you know, one theme really rises above others, courage, the grit, you know, not just the courage we often associate with the battlefield or moments of crises, but the quiet, steady courage that it takes to lead with conviction every day, Congressman Pfluger reminded us that true leadership means standing firm in your values even when the path may be uncertain or the stakes may be high, it's the kind of courage that doesn't seek comfort, but instead answers to responsibility. So as you think about your own leadership journey, ask yourself, Where is courage calling you? Where is that grit gonna take you? Whether it's in the workplace, in your community or your personal life, lean into those moments, because courage, real, principled, humble, courage is what transforms good leaders into great ones. Thank you for listening to this edition of Long Blue Leadership. If you know someone who needs encouraging words in their leadership journey, please share this podcast with them as well. I'm Naviere Walkewicz. Until next time.   KEYWORDS August Pfluger, Long Blue Leadership Podcast, U.S. Air Force Academy, leadership lessons, congressional service, fighter pilot, national security, grit and resilience, service after service, Air Force Board of Visitors, faith and family leadership, career transition, public service, humble credible approachable, air and space power.       The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation    

In this powerful episode of Recipe To Success, we sit down with Ahmed Ben Chaibah, better known as The Aquaman — a self-made Emirati entrepreneur and CEO who built one of the largest inflatable water park businesses in the world, leading teams of hundreds across global operations.This conversation goes deep into what it really takes to build at scale — from discipline and standards to pressure, sacrifice and zero excuses.Ahmed speaks with brutal honesty about success, laziness, leadership and why most people never reach their potential.Ahmed opens up about:• Going from an idea to global success• Building and scaling a world-class business• Leading teams of hundreds with responsibility and standards• The discipline required to succeed at the highest level• Why excuses, comfort and entitlement hold people back• The harsh realities behind entrepreneurship that nobody talks about• Pressure, sacrifice and life as a CEO• Faith, grounding and staying focused under intensity• What separates builders from dreamersThis episode goes far beyond business.It's about discipline, accountability, character and execution — and the uncomfortable truths people avoid when chasing success.If you value honest conversations about leadership, ambition and real-world entrepreneurship, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

In the United Arab Emirates, the government has imposed quotas for hiring Emirati citizens across the private sector, with the aim of having them make up 10 percent of the workforce by 2026. So how are companies complying with these new rules and how can they change the habits of a population long accustomed to generous subsidies and low-stress government jobs? FRANCE 24's Sophie Guignon and Amélie Zaccour report. 

This Eid Al Etihad, Helen meets Emirati entrepreneur, founder and athlete Asmah Hilal Lootah to talk 20 years in business in the UAE, and talks one expat celebrating a significant anniversary of her own – 50 years in the country…Plus, with winter travels approaching, we talk skincare and allergy management abroad with Dr Faheem Lateef, and if you’re experiencing end of year burnout, you’re not alone – executive coach Noona Nafoosi explains why high performers often struggle during the holidays - and what you can do about it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

La France et les Émirats arabes unis ont annoncé un partenariat stratégique pour développer un campus dédié à l'intelligence artificielle en France.Traduction :France and the United Arab Emirates announced a strategic partnership to develop an artificial intelligence campus in France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

La France et les Émirats arabes unis ont annoncé un partenariat stratégique pour développer un campus dédié à l'intelligence artificielle en France.Traduction :France and the United Arab Emirates announced a strategic partnership to develop an artificial intelligence campus in France. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you love what we do and want to support more of the work we do at Map It Forward, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or a paid Patreon backer here for perks:• https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforward••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 5th of a five-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with Saeed Al Blooshi, the Emirati founder of El Matador Coffee Roasters and Lama Cafe, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.This series first aired on the Map It Forward Middle podcast.In this series, host Lee Safar and Saeed explore the insights of what it is to build a coffee business in the UAE.The five episodes in this series are:1. Changes in the UAE Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/eJBQVwriJM82. The UAE and the Coffee Crisis - https://youtu.be/UztBP2Zk3gg3. Business Owners and the Coffee Supply Chain - https://youtu.be/TgaNiik_GVc4. Owners and Staff in the UAE - https://youtu.be/0la1XSMVKtk5. Trends in UAE Cafes- https://youtu.be/FHXvgF1gcEQIn this final episode of the podcast series, Lee Safar and Saeed discuss the impact of trends on the coffee industry in the UAE, highlighting how social media-driven trends like hot chocolate, matcha, and Labubu toys can significantly boost business. Saeed shares insights on the challenges and opportunities in the evolving coffee market, and they explore future trends like infused coffees and cold brew. Subscribe to the podcast to hear inspiring stories from values-driven entrepreneurs in the Middle East.Connect with Saeed Al Blooshi, El Matador Coffee Roasters, and Lama Cafe here:https://elmatadorcoffee.com/our-story.php https://www.instagram.com/elmatador.ae/ https://www.instagram.com/lamacafe_ae/ ‍ ‍••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Looking to join an interesting monthly live coffee industry online meetup? - Exclusively for "Roasted Coffee" Patreon backers. https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 4th of a five-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with Saeed Al Blooshi, the Emirati founder of El Matador Coffee Roasters and Lama Cafe, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.This series first aired on the Map It Forward Middle podcast.In this series, host Lee Safar and Saeed explore the insights of what it is to build a coffee business in the UAE.The five episodes in this series are:1. Changes in the UAE Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/eJBQVwriJM82. The UAE and the Coffee Crisis - https://youtu.be/UztBP2Zk3gg3. Business Owners and the Coffee Supply Chain - https://youtu.be/TgaNiik_GVc4. Owners and Staff in the UAE - https://youtu.be/0la1XSMVKtk5. Trends in UAE Cafes- https://youtu.be/FHXvgF1gcEQIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee and Saeed discuss the disconnect between coffee shop owners and their staff in the UAE. Saeed shares stories about successful staff development, including the inspiring journey of Jerry from cleaner to barista. They also touch upon the importance of communication, vision, and investment in employee growth. Additionally, they discuss the unique staffing and cultural challenges in the UAE coffee industry and how fostering a good team culture can transform a business. The episode wraps up with a sneak peek into the final episode of this series, focusing on the role of trends in the coffee industry.Connect with Saeed Al Blooshi, El Matador Coffee Roasters, and Lama Cafe here:https://elmatadorcoffee.com/our-story.php https://www.instagram.com/elmatador.ae/ https://www.instagram.com/lamacafe_ae/ ‍ ‍••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Interested in our business advisory services for your small, medium, or large business across the coffee value chain? All services come with a 100% money-back guarantee.Email us here: support@mapitforward.org••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 3rd of a five-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with Saeed Al Blooshi, the Emirati founder of El Matador Coffee Roasters and Lama Cafe, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.This series first aired on the Map It Forward Middle podcast.In this series, host Lee Safar and Saeed explore the insights of what it is to build a coffee business in the UAE.The five episodes in this series are:1. Changes in the UAE Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/eJBQVwriJM82. The UAE and the Coffee Crisis - https://youtu.be/UztBP2Zk3gg3. Business Owners and the Coffee Supply Chain - https://youtu.be/TgaNiik_GVc4. Owners and Staff in the UAE - https://youtu.be/0la1XSMVKtk5. Trends in UAE Cafes- https://youtu.be/FHXvgF1gcEQIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee and Saeed discuss the challenges faced by cafe owners in the UAE's coffee industry.They explore the lack of involvement from owners in their businesses, issues arising from poor supply chain understanding, and the impact of inconsistent sourcing decisions. The episode highlights the importance of understanding the coffee supply chain, building strong relationships with suppliers, and involving staff in the business for long-term success. Tune in to learn more about the complexities of managing a coffee business in the UAE.Connect with Saeed Al Blooshi, El Matador Coffee Roasters, and Lama Cafe here:https://elmatadorcoffee.com/our-story.php https://www.instagram.com/elmatador.ae/ https://www.instagram.com/lamacafe_ae/ ‍ ‍••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

"Future-Proofing Your Coffee Business: Planning for 2026 and Beyond" - A Map It Forward Live Workshop for Small to Medium Business Owners Across the Coffee Supply Chain with Lee Safar https://mapitforward.coffee/workshops••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 2nd of a five-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with Saeed Al Blooshi, the Emirati founder of El Matador Coffee Roasters and Lama Cafe, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.This series first aired on the Map It Forward Middle podcast.In this series, host Lee Safar and Saeed explore the insights of what it is to build a coffee business in the UAE.The five episodes in this series are:1. Changes in the UAE Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/eJBQVwriJM82. The UAE and the Coffee Crisis - https://youtu.be/UztBP2Zk3gg3. Business Owners and the Coffee Supply Chain - https://youtu.be/TgaNiik_GVc4. Owners and Staff in the UAE - https://youtu.be/0la1XSMVKtk5. Trends in UAE Cafes- https://youtu.be/FHXvgF1gcEQIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee and Saeed discuss the coffee crisis in the UAE.They explore the booming demand for quality coffee and the intense competition in the market. Saeed shares insights on starting and growing a coffee business, the importance of clear identity and long-term vision, and the challenges around staffing and green coffee supply. Connect with Saeed Al Blooshi, El Matador Coffee Roasters, and Lama Cafe here:https://elmatadorcoffee.com/our-story.php https://www.instagram.com/elmatador.ae/ https://www.instagram.com/lamacafe_ae/ ‍ ‍••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Get to know Ahmed Al Ahbabi in this inspiring episode of Count Me In Podcast, hosted by Adam Larson! Ahmed shares his journey from discovering a passion for accounting and numbers in university, to earning his CMA certification and becoming the first Emirati on the IMA Global Board. He talks about the power of professional communities, the value of connecting with IMA chapters around the world, and how volunteering opens doors for learning, networking, and personal growth. Hear Ahmed discuss real-world skills, building local chapters, and why being part of a global community matters for accountants and finance professionals everywhere. Whether you're thinking about joining IMA or leveling up your career, this conversation is packed with practical advice, encouragement, and stories you won't want to miss.

This episode is brought to you by Arkena Coffee Marketplace - Connecting you to the next coffee harvest in Ethiopia through direct trade.https://arkenacoffee.com/https://www.instagram.com/arkenacoffee/Email: hello@arkenacoffee.com••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the first of a five-part series on the Daily Coffee Pro Podcast by Map It Forward with Saeed Al Blooshi, the Emirati founder of El Matador Coffee Roasters and Lama Cafe, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.This series first aired on the Map It Forward Middle podcast.In this series, host Lee Safar and Saeed explore the insights of what it is to build a coffee business in the UAE.The five episodes in this series are:1. Changes in the UAE Coffee Industry - https://youtu.be/eJBQVwriJM82. The UAE and the Coffee Crisis - https://youtu.be/UztBP2Zk3gg3. Business Owners and the Coffee Supply Chain - https://youtu.be/TgaNiik_GVc4. Owners and Staff in the UAE - https://youtu.be/0la1XSMVKtk5. Trends in UAE Cafes- https://youtu.be/FHXvgF1gcEQIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee and Saeed discuss the evolution of the coffee industry in the UAE, emphasizing the shift from commercial to specialty coffee cultures, the rise of local roasters, and the increasing consumer knowledge and expectations. Saeed shares his journey, from starting with a small coffee roasting setup to operating successful cafes and a roastery. They also set the stage for future episodes in the series by hinting at upcoming discussions on the coffee crisis in the UAE. Join us for an insightful look into the craft of coffee and the challenges of building a coffee business in the UAE.Connect with Saeed Al Blooshi, El Matador Coffee Roasters, and Lama Cafe here:https://elmatadorcoffee.com/our-story.php https://www.instagram.com/elmatador.ae/ https://www.instagram.com/lamacafe_ae/ ‍ ‍••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Sudan's collapse isn't a natural disaster — it's a deliberate act of imperial design.For decades, Washington has waged economic warfare and proxy conflicts to dismantle Sudan's sovereignty. Now, with Israel and the UAE leading the charge, Sudan is being stripped of its gold, oil, and independence under the banner of “stability.”In this episode, Mnar Adley exposes how U.S. policy, Israeli intelligence, and Emirati financing have turned Sudan into a war laboratory — and why its destruction is central to the West's war on the Axis of Resistance and China's Belt and Road Initiative.From the famine in Darfur to the blood gold flowing to Dubai, this is the architecture of U.S. imperialism at work — and a warning to every nation daring to defy it.Guests:Mnar Adley — Founder and director of MintPress News, host of Behind The HeadlinesAlan MacLeod — Senior Staff Writer and producer at MintPress NewsTopics Covered:U.S. sanctions and the deliberate destabilization of SudanIsrael and the UAE's proxy war roleThe theft of Sudan's gold and control of Red Sea portsWashington's strategy against China, Russia, and Iran in AfricaThe humanitarian façade behind imperial wars