Podcasts about Fitch

Fitch dejará de calificar a bancos mexicanos señalados por EUPrevén lluvias fuertes y granizo este jueves en CDMX y Edomex EU retira a 2 mil soldados de la Guardia Nacional desplegados en LAMás información en nuestro podcast

Agențiile de rating sunt în continuare „cu ochii” pe România. Este normal, pentru că vor să vadă efectele programelor de reducere a deficitului bugetar. Rezultatele ar trebui să fie cele așteptate. Ieri a fost ziua agențiilor de rating. Pe de o parte, a fost publicat un raport al Fitch, care dorește să îi aducă la zi pe investitori cu situația din economia și politică românească. Pe de altă parte, premierul și ministrul finanțelor s-au întâlnit cu reprezentanții agenției Standard and Poor's. Dialogul guvernului cu agențiile de rating este important, pentru că în continuare sunt așteptate calificativele pentru România, în următoarele luni. De aceea, întâlnirile cu experții agențiilor de rating sunt esențiale, pentru că în felul acesta reprezentanții companiilor pot afla direct de la sursă ce își propune guvernul pentru a reduce deficitul bugetar și ambele părți pot câștiga încredere. De altfel, nota de ieri a Fitch pleacă exact de la adoptarea primului pachet de ajustare bugetară. Agenția de rating reamintește că în data de 15 august va fi publicat calificativul de țară, un termen pe care îl știam, dar prin care se reconfirmă că pericolul unei retrogradări a ratingului nu a fost complet depășit. O citire atentă a analizei Fitch ne oferă câteva chei de înțelegere a modului în care agenția vede evoluția societății românești (economică, dar și politică, pe alocuri). Așadar, ce spune nota redactată de Fitch? Analiza arată că primul pachet va avea impact asupra bugetului, în sensul că anul acesta efectul va fi de 1,1% din PIB, iar anul viitor se va ajunge la 3,5% din PIB. Sunt cifre încurajatoare, mai ales dacă se are în vedere că măsurile de reducere a deficitului bugetar se aplică anul acesta doar pe parcursul a cinci luni în loc de 12. Analiza Fitch trebuie citită nu doar cuvânt cu cuvânt, ci și printre rânduri. Raportul constată că riscurile politice s-au diminuat o dată cu rezultatele alegerilor de anul acesta, iar președintele țării, Nicușor Dan și premierul, Ilie Bolojan, subliniază, împreună, necesitatea reducerii deficitului bugetar. Acordul politic încheiat între partidele care formează coaliția guvernamentală își propune o consolidare fiscală ambițioasă. Dar, agenția de rating atrage atenția și asupra efectelor posibil negative pe care măsurile de reducere a deficitului bugetar le pot induce în economie. Le știe toată lumea, și sindicatele, și patronatele, și politicienii. Numai că atenționarea agenției poate avea altă miză. Raportul Fitch scrie despre riscul de creștere a inflației, pentru că mai mult de jumătate din veniturile suplimentare preconizate că vor fi încasate anul acesta la buget vin din creșterea TVA. Ori, se știe că o creștere de TVA, dincolo de partea pozitivă (că aduce mai mulți bani la buget), are și un efect negativ (și anume creșterea prețurilor). „Creșterea TVA va genera o inflație mai mare, care va eroda veniturile reale”, scrie în raportul Fitch. Fără îndoială, într-o analiză adresată investitorilor nu poți trece peste riscurile induse de măsurile de consolidare fiscală. Dar, la un moment dat te poți întreba: ce vor de fapt, agențiile de rating de la România? Ar vrea și o reducere a deficitului și creștere economică. Ar vrea și venituri bugetare mai mari și evitarea creșterii inflației. Dintre cele bune și cele rele, coaliția guvernamentală a ales să scadă deficitul, o măsură absolut necesară. De aceea, ne-am fi așteptat, dacă nu la câteva fraze de încurajare în acțiunile guvernului de a reduce deficitul, măcar la un mesaj subliminal care să arate că pe 15 august a.c. ratingul va rămâne neatins. În schimb, printre rânduri putem citi o oarecare îngrijorare legată de schimbarea premierului din anul 2027, atunci când PSD ar putea să „o lase mai moale” cu reducerea deficitului bugetar. În concluzie, tonul analizei Fitch este la fel cu cel al experților din țară: așteaptă rezultatele pentru a avea confirmarea că eforturile făcute nu sunt degeaba.

Depending on your disposition for integrating technology into your work day, you believe AI is either a tool for increased efficiency and productivity. Or it presents challenges such as job displacement, the potential for bias and misinformation, and other ethical concerns. By the way, AI wrote that, which might foretell the end of my career as a writer and radio host. My two lunch guests today potentially worry about the future of their jobs too. Taylor Bennett is the founder & CEO of Mesh, an integrated advertising agency specializing in brand strategy, creative, web and digital marketing. For more than 20 years, Mesh has worked with local businesses such as Baton Rouge General and Visit Baton Rouge, as well as providing pro bono work for the Manship Theatre, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation, Ducks Unlimited and Jefferson United Methodist Church. In 2021, Mesh received the Best in Show Overall at the annual American Advertising Awards, also known as the Addy Awards. Max Zoghbi launched his career in cinematography with a daring adventure: together with his two best friends, Max traveled the entire 2,300 miles of the Mississippi River over 61 days in a kayak, documenting the journey through photos and video. After returning home, Max began picking up small video gigs—weddings, a commercial for a friend’s dad’s business—while working to break into the film and commercial industry. In 2011, Max founded Loupe Theory, providing direct production and agency work for Tostitos, Keller Williams, Cisco, NBA, Smoothie King, Lamar, Abercrombie & Fitch among others. Not since the introduction of the personal computer has technology influenced the workplace like AI seems poised to do. Whether you believe AI is an existential threat to the creative class or makes design work more efficient, it’s fair to say AI is here to stay. Max Zoghbi and Taylor Bennett are business people working in creative fields, both navigating a rapidly changing workplace. Yet, as with any business, flexibility, adaptation, and innovation have and will be the markers of their continued success. Out to Lunch is recorded live over lunch at Mansurs on the Boulevard. You can find photos from this show by Ian Ledo and Miranda Albarez at itsbatonrouge.la.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember the heady days of Abercrombie and Fitch's utter domination of the young, white middle class fashion market? What was that about? This week I'm joined by Ethan Lascity, an assistant professor and director of the fashion media program at Southern Methodist University, to discuss his book The Abercrombie Age: Millennial Aspiration and the Promise of Consumer Culture. Ethan helps me understand the wider historical context and significance of a very specific moment in American pop culture, when a vision of affluence was packaged and sold to a generation that would never actually attain it. Subscribe to Nostalgia Trap to access all our bonus episodes and News Trap updates

US President Trump announced a 35% tariff for Canada and flagged a potential 20% blanket tariffs for other countries; US is set to keep the tariff exemption for USMCA goods, according to a US official.Brazil's President Lula said the main thing is the reciprocity law, and if US charges 50%, they will charge him 50%.US President Trump noted the EU will receive a letter notifying them of new tariff rates by Friday.APAC stocks were ultimately mixed; European equity futures indicate a lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures down 0.2% after the cash market finished with losses of 0.1%.Looking ahead, highlights include German WPI, UK GDP Estimate, Canadian Jobs, IEA OMR, Fitch on Germany, DBRS on Sweden, Speakers including ECB's Panetta & Cipollone.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

US President Trump announced a 35% tariff for Canada and flagged a potential 20% blanket tariff for other countries; US is set to keep the tariff exemption for USMCA goods, according to a US official.Trump also noted the EU will receive a letter by Friday. Ahead of this, European bourses are in the red with sectors (ex-energy, post-BP) following suit.Stateside, futures are lower into a docket headlined by potential trade developments, ES -0.6%.USD extends on its recent recovery, resilient to trade updates. DXY notched a 97.89 peak, G10s broadly under pressure with the JPY lagging.Fixed was lifted by the above updates, since pulled back and moved into the red, a pullback intensified by a hawkish interview with ECB's Schnabel.Choppy trade for crude awaiting developments on numerous in-play factors, precious metals glean from the risk tone while base peers are tarnished.Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian Jobs, Fitch on Germany, DBRS on Sweden, Speakers including ECB's Cipollone. Click for the Newsquawk Week Ahead.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

On this episode Pabz, Kyle and Julio are all out on some weird vacation which leaves Brian to man all stations, Mason Fitch joins him to talk all things PatCon!Check the IPMS Patcon instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/ipmspatriot?igsh=NXdzbGVmeHFweTIxAnd PatCon's website here: https://www.ipmspatriot.org/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLbZ_RleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp-JmdOUoRxsMsfRDWW0ckuVBQRRRAYdLMzk3iOihttB1i-0pwVQZ4f7Cuj7X_aem_Afh8EmaCKtgiG0HPLtzzwAJoin our Discord! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/aXFPjZDmCE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Patreon! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/builtsidewayspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This Episode is proudly sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠usagundamstore!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hosts:Julio: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Clippinubs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brian: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Bro_Builder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pabz: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Chris_Pabz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kyle: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Clueless_Gunpla_Builder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Z:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @The_Old_Ronin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Innovative Trans Cartoonists: In the second of two Pride themed episodes of Panel Borders, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of innovative trans cartoonists about their magical realist books inspired by autobiography. Artist and musician The Mollusc Dimension discusses his short story collection The Weird and Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse which sees the creator […]

In Dinner for Shoes episode 75, host Sarah Wasilak breaks down the iconic fashion of “Love Island USA” Season 7 — from villa outfit trends to the surprising style stars of the show. She reveals the most-worn fashion brands on the island, dishes on how contestants swap clothes behind the scenes, and compares their fast fashion ‘fits to host Ariana Madix's cutting-edge, runway-ready looks.And if you're looking to channel that effortless, steamy vacation style, you're in luck — Sarah shares her ultimate “Love Island Fashion Starter Pack” — think cowboy hats, Y2K designer sunglasses, denim cutoffs, and pearls (yes, pearls). And in classic villa tradition, she whips up her own breakfast — no bombshell boyfriend required.

09 Jul 2025. With a 4% rise in new roles compared to 2%, according to Cooper Fitch. But are companies playing wait and see on the hiring front? We ask Dr Trefor Murphy. Plus, Kearney breaks down how the UAE, Saudi and Qatar are transforming the business of sport and what it means for the region’s global influence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Scott Becker breaks down the sharp downturn of four major companies over the last 52 weeks, including Stellantis Jeep, Abercrombie & Fitch, Centene, and Moderna.

Send us a textIf you're a postpartum provider, you know the juggle: supporting new moms while often navigating your own intense motherhood journey, battling burnout, and feeling stretched thin. This episode gets real with midwife Corina Fitch & Maranda who share their deeply personal struggles with postpartum mental health – from depression to bipolar disorder – and how those experiences completely shifted their approach to holistic postpartum care. If you're a doula, midwife, or any birth worker focused on maternal wellness and improving our current system, you'll want to hear this. They explore how understanding and embracing matrescence is crucial not just for your clients to thrive, but for you as well.Check out this episode on the blog HERE. Key time stamps: 0:43 Postpartum recovery is a multi-year transformation, not just weeks2:13 Corina's own postpartum depression fueled her passion for maternal wellness4:00 Even birth professionals face their own postpartum struggles10:48 Personal healing ignited innovative holistic maternal support programs17:05 Postpartum University grew from provider demand for root-cause healing for moms19:58 Many moms turn to alternative support after traditional healthcare fails them22:43 Postpartum University addresses the gap in provider education27:19 New laws push for extended, comprehensive postpartum care plans31:33 Pregnancy causes immediate brain changes & motherhood's lifelong impact.Connect with Corina: Corina Fitch is a Certified Professional Midwife and Neonatal Intensive Care nurse with over 27 years of experience in the field of maternal health.  She is also a Certified Feminine Power Transformational Facilitator and has been leading women's circles and ceremonies for over 2 decades.  Corina has three daughters, each one bringing deeper meaning to her work. In 2017, after experiencing postpartum depression following the birth of her third daughter, Corina founded MotherFly, an organization dedicated to supporting maternal wellness and thriving.  Website | IG NEXT STEPS:

In this episode, Scott Becker breaks down the sharp downturn of four major companies over the last 52 weeks, including Stellantis Jeep, Abercrombie & Fitch, Centene, and Moderna.

Brian Coulton, Chief Economist, and Ed Parker, Sovereigns Managing Director, discuss Fitch's mid-year Global Economic Outlook, focusing on global growth forecast updates since April and how tariffs are driving key changes to projections.

Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I'm Nelson John and here are today's top stories. Markets on Edge: Five Triggers to Watch India's stock markets cooled off last week, snapping a two-week rally. Both the Sensex and Nifty 50 fell 0.7%, amid global trade tension and FPI outflows (₹5,773 crore in July so far). Mid and small caps stayed resilient. What's Next? Five key signals will shape this week: India-US Trade Deal: With the July 9 deadline looming and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal standing firm, uncertainty lingers. Q1 Earnings Kick Off: TCS and Tata Elxsi report July 10. Monsoon Progress: Above-normal rains = boost for kharif sowing. FPI Flows: Still in withdrawal mode, eyes on earnings and trade talks. US Fed Minutes: Could hint at when rate cuts might come. Modi in Rio: Trade, Terror & Teamwork At the BRICS Summit in Brazil, PM Modi met Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to push ties in Ayurveda, biotech, pharma, and digital payments. The leaders agreed on strengthening cooperation on global issues like pandemics and climate change. Modi also took a hard line on terror, calling for sanctions after the Pahalgam attack. “Backing terrorists for political gain should never be acceptable,” he said. UAE's Golden Gateway for Indians A lifetime UAE Golden Visa is now within reach for Indians—without needing to buy property. What's new? Nomination-based entry. One-time fee: AED 1,00,000 (~₹23.3 lakh). No Dubai visit needed for pre-approval. Includes family, business, and job rights. Launched under UAE's CEPA strategy, this pilot includes India and Bangladesh first, with China and others to follow. Applicants will undergo intense vetting—criminal checks, social media scrutiny, and potential economic value to the UAE. Yes Bank CEO Search Paused Amid Japan Deal Yes Bank has paused its CEO search as it awaits RBI's green light on a ₹13,482 crore investment from Japan's SMBC Group, which plans to acquire a 20% stake—the largest cross-border banking deal in India. The board felt it prudent to wait for SMBC's input before appointing a new chief. Current CEO Prashant Kumar has been given a six-month extension, and the search firm has been told to stand down. Fitch calls the SMBC deal a potential game-changer for foreign investment in Indian banks—if RBI opens the door. Bengaluru Startup's 12-Hour Days Spark Debate Work from 10 to 10. Six days a week. Sometimes Sundays too. That's the reality at mobile gaming startup Matiks, where founder Mohan Kumar says it's not a job, it's a mission. His post on X set off a firestorm—some admired the grind, others slammed it as burnout in disguise. Critics questioned equity sharing, mental health, and the ethics of glorifying extreme hours. Kumar insists no one is forced. “We're not here for paychecks—we're chasing a dream,” he said, calling his all-under-25 team co-builders, not employees. Beds in the office, dinners at desks—is this startup grit or toxic hustle? What do you think? Driven dreamers or burnout in disguise? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

« Il faut mobiliser 4 000 milliards de dollars par an pour le développement des pays du Sud », a déclaré, lundi 30 juin, le secrétaire général de l'ONU, Antonio Guterres, à l'ouverture de la Conférence de Séville, aux côtés du Français Emmanuel Macron, du Sénégalais Bassirou Diomaye Faye et de cinquante autres chefs d'État. Mais à quoi sert cette Conférence de l'ONU sur le financement du développement au moment où le monde est en crise ? L'économiste italien Mario Pezzini a été le directeur du Centre de développement de l'OCDE. Il est aujourd'hui conseiller spécial à l'Unesco. Il répond aux questions de Christophe Boisbouvier. RFI : Cette conférence sur le développement s'est ouverte lundi 30 juin à Séville, en l'absence des Américains, qui avaient déjà dit il y a quinze jours qu'ils ne viendraient pas. Est-ce que ce n'est pas mauvais signe ? Mario Pezzini : Oui, c'est un problème sérieux parce que la coopération multilatérale, à travers ce signe, on le voit très clairement, est mise à rude épreuve. Un autre signe, si vous voulez, c'est aussi la réduction progressive des financements au développement. On est tous au courant du fait que les États-Unis ont décidé donc de réduire à zéro l'instrument principal de la coopération qu'on appelait USAID. Mais ce ne sont pas les seuls, les États-Unis ne sont pas le seul pays. Le Royaume-Uni réduit de moitié sa contribution, au point que la ministre du Développement a démissionné. Et aussi plusieurs pays européens ont fait le même. Entre autres, la France aussi a réduit. À mon avis, le problème n'est pas que le financement, c'est aussi : qu'est-ce qu'il faut faire avec ? Quelles capacités on doit mettre en place pour y arriver ? Pour la FEPS, la Fondation pour les études progressistes en Europe, vous proposez justement à l'Union européenne une nouvelle stratégie à l'égard des pays du Sud. Vous écrivez notamment : « l'incitation aux investissements privés en Afrique, c'est bien, mais cela ne suffit pas ». Mais oui, vous savez, dans ce monde, on voit apparaître une voix des pays du Sud qui appelle à une réforme de la gouvernance mondiale et à une coopération qui soit plus alignée avec les priorités des pays du Sud, pays d'Afrique, d'Asie ou d'Amérique. Ces pays demandent un financement équitable, mais ils demandent aussi une voix, une voix autour de la table où on décide et on discute de « l'ordre mondial », comme on aime dire. Alors, à ce propos, l'Europe, que doit-elle faire ? Moi, je suis persuadé qu'il faut redéfinir son rôle parce que le monde, vous l'avez dit, est plus fragmenté, parce que l'Europe doit avoir des partenaires dans son action. Et donc là-dessus, nous, on propose, j'ai écrit l'article avec Stefano Manservisi qui a été le directeur de la coopération à l'Union européenne à deux reprises… Donc, nous, on propose une nouvelle alliance avec les pays du Sud. Il s'agit pour l'Europe d'avoir des interlocuteurs, compte tenu de la fracture atlantique, compte tenu des difficultés avec la Russie et la Chine. Donc l'interlocuteur naturel pour l'Europe, ce sont les pays du Sud. Regardez la Commission européenne, elle s'est déplacée entièrement pour la première fois dans son histoire et c'était en Inde. Voilà, c'est dans cette direction qu'il faut aller. Mais alors l'Europe, qu'est-ce qu'elle peut faire ? L'Europe, ça fait un certain temps qu'elle a changé son approche et a pensé qu'il fallait renforcer ses interventions avec des ressources privées. Mais pour le faire, il faut donner des garanties aux capitaux privés afin que les résistances à investir soient réduites. Donc, il faut le faire en créant une gouvernance partagée avec les pays du Sud. Il faut qu'il y ait une plateforme derrière ce type d'intervention, dans laquelle, autour de la table, il y a le Nord, l'Europe, et il y a le Sud, ensemble. Avec un ordre du jour commun et une sorte de copropriété ? Oui, vous savez, l'aide aujourd'hui est discutée, dans ses règles et dans son architecture, dans des comités dans lesquels il n'y a aucun pays du Sud. Donc c'est évident que le Sud veut y être aussi. Les pays du Sud ont déjà obtenu le fait d'être un membre permanent du G20. Donc, il faut aller davantage dans cette direction. « L'un des freins aux investissements privés en Afrique », écrivez-vous, « c'est l'évaluation du risque par des entrepreneurs qui sont souvent frileux ». Qu'est-ce que vous proposez pour rassurer ces opérateurs économiques ? Aujourd'hui, les investissements privés s'orientent sur la base des agences de notation et de la notation que ces agences donnent aux pays en développement. Or, ces notations sont construites sur la base de critères qui ne sont pas transparents, qui la plupart des fois sont subjectifs et qui tendent à pénaliser les pays du Sud. Je vous donne un seul exemple : quand on était au milieu de la crise du Covid-19, les pays qui souffraient le plus, qui étaient le plus atteints, étaient les pays du Nord. N'empêche que les agences de notation ont pénalisé dans ce moment-là les pays du Sud, bien plus que les pays du Nord. Il y a toujours une sorte de pénalisation, et ça, il faut le revoir. Alors la vraie question est comment est-ce qu'on va le faire ? L'Union africaine, différents acteurs africains, proposent de créer des agences africaines de notation. D'accord. C'est une hypothèse. Il faut aussi faire en sorte que les investisseurs regardent les notations de ces agences-là et pas celles des quatre agences privées, Fitch et compagnie, qu'on regarde toujours.

This week's guest is Kylie Fitch!   We talked about her passion project, "The Humans Of Phish". We also learned about how she got into Phish, and heard some fun stories from the road.   Check out the full episode here!

Clausuran crematorio ilegal en Ciudad Juárez CDMX ilumina su cielo por el LGBTTTIQ+Budapest Pride celebrará, a pesar de prohibiciónMás información en nuestro podcast 

El dólar cayó a un mínimo de tres años tras reporte de que Donald Trump podría nombrar un reemplazo para Jerome Powell en septiembre; Fitch espera una menor contracción de México; S&P rebaja calificación de Bolivia; y escuchamos extractos de una entrevista con Josefina Valdivia, directora de research de Credicorp Corredores de Bolsa, sobre el atractivo de la renta fija latinoamericana.Más de Bloomberg en EspañolNewsletter Cinco cosas: bloom.bg/42Gu4pGLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bloomberg-en-espanol/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/BloombergEspanolWhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaFVFoWKAwEg9Fdhml1lTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bloombergenespanolX: https://twitter.com/BBGenEspanolProducción: Eduardo ThomsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textIn this weeks episode Monica Monique gives you the latest fashion tea From France's new law against fast fashion brands and what Gap, Coach  & Abercrombie and Fitch did to revive their brands Give this episode 5 stars or more to keep the good vibes going! Support the show

For some federal employees, working remotely was a reasonable accommodation that helped them make meaningful contributions in their jobs. The Trump Administration's blanket "return to the office" directive has upended those remote work arrangements and created uncertainty for those who depended on that flexibility. Here with insight on how the reasonable accommodation process should be working is Partner at Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, Aaron Szot.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Quaranteam – Book 1: Part 13 Decisions are made on who's being added to the Rook family. Based on a post by CorruptingPower, in 25 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Chapter 27 For most of the next day, Andy kept to himself a bit, staying mostly in his office with the cats. Jenny had swung by to bring him lunch midday, and after he finished it, he decided it was time to talk with his best friend Xander Baker. While Andy was a little chunky, Xander was the whole damn brick. Xander wasn't so much fat as just a mountain of a man. But also a bit fat, if people were being blunt. Xander stood some four inches taller than Andy but was at least a hundred pounds heavier, maybe more, a weird combination of muscle and blubber, much of his skin covered in tattoos. And god help him, Xander was still rocking a mullet, as out of fashion as ever. Much of the time, the back of the mullet was pulled into a rattish ponytail, but today it hung free over his shoulders. He and Xander had grown up together, best friends since they were seven. They'd met playing Little League, something they'd both hated. The two of them had quit playing the next year, but they'd never stopped hanging out. They'd been roommates throughout college, and when Andy had moved to the West Coast, Xander had driven with him and then flown home one way. For years, Andy had been trying to convince Xander to abandon the Midwest, and it always felt like Xander was considering it, though it just never seemed to happen. There had been a two year period where they'd stopped speaking, because Xander had gotten married and gotten divorced all within those two years. Xander's ex wife had hated all of his friends and had driven them away, insisting none of them be invited to the wedding. She'd actually been living with Xander and Andy for the last year Andy lived in Cleveland. They'd gotten married six months after he left, and divorced two years to the day afterwards. On the very day that Xander had decided to divorce her, the first person he'd called was Andy, to apologize for the two years of radio silence. Andy hadn't been mad, and had welcomed his oldest friend back into his life with welcome arms. Xander had drifted from job to job for a couple of years until he'd seemed to find his natural calling as an auto mechanic, one specifically focused on restoration and maintenance of classic and vintage cars, although he did work on pretty much anything to keep the bills paid. Some of Xander's restorations had won awards at car shows, though, and he'd done a few special commissions for some well known people that was starting to get him a little national recognition. For the last six months, Xander had been living vicariously through Andy, when he wasn't working on cars. Thankfully, Xander's work backlog had been more than enough to keep him occupied for a couple of years. He'd even had a 3D printer delivered to help him make molds so he could smelt custom parts when he couldn't find what he needed via mail. It had been a frustratingly solitary life, so his contact with Andy had been what kept him going. They generally talked via FaceTime for an hour every week, like clockwork. When Andy had first gotten Aisling in his life, he'd called Xander the next day to introduce her to him first, and they'd gotten along perfectly. Since then, generally the day after someone had been added to the household, he'd called Xander the day after to introduce them, although it had been about a week or so since they'd talked, simply because between the poker game, his brother's death and all the various arrivals. It had been an overwhelming week, and for the first half an hour of the videocall, Andy had literally simply relied all the various information. Xander had been sad to hear about Matty's death, and had also told Andy that his Xander's own brother, Randy, also passed away, along with his father. Both of them had lost a lot of family in a very short period of time. So the two of them had shared a little cry for a bit, before they'd decided to just plow on. From there, Andy had to inform Xander that not only was he getting married, he was getting married to multiple women, including two that he hadn't even been introduced to yet, but Xander had been laughing at that point. He'd also asked Xander to be his best man, something he'd readily agreed to, even if he was a bit jealous of some of the women lined up to wed Andy. He had sent Xander the group photo shortly before the call, and Xander's immediate question was how the hell he'd ended up hooking up with not only Sarah Washington, but Emily Stevens as well. That had turned into Andy relaying the entire poker story to Xander, who went through a roller coaster of emotions while Andy talked him through it. Xander had long been a Daggerfall Academy fan, not just of the movies but of the books as well, so he was understandably a little jealous of Andy's connection to Emily, but promised not to get too hung up on it when they finally did meet. Xander had still never forgiven him for not meeting E.F. Winston, but Andy had explained to him over and over again that she was simply too big a person to show up to conventions and do meet'n'greets. And then, of course, Andy had needed to tell Xander that he was also going to be a father, and that both Niko and Aisling were pregnant, which resulted in the oddest moment ever, because Xander had just been grinning. Apparently, Niko had called Xander to tell him about it before they'd even told Andy, just to make sure that he'd really be cool with it. Andy found himself a little annoyed with Niko and Aisling, but the moment was fleeting, and in the end, he also found it a little funny, knowing that Xander had had the news about the girls' pregnancies before he did. The last thing they had to talk about was the previous day where the girls had spent hours pitching their friends and colleagues to him, and how overwhelmed by it all Andy was. That was why he'd called Xander, because while Andy had done some thinking about whittling it down, he wanted to talk it all over with his best friend, the person who knew him best in this world. For the next hour or so, Andy and Xander had talked through all of the pitches one by one, covering all of the women, Andy's pros and cons (because of course Andy had made a pros and cons list) and where his head was at with each of them. The call went on long enough that both men had been forced to plug their phones in and let them charge while they continued talking. Internet calling was truly a wonderful thing. It helped his state of mind, being able to talk it all out with someone. He'd thought about talking it all over with Aisling, but he felt like involving any of the girls in the actual decision making process might put undue stress on their relations, and he didn't want to put any of the girls in that kind of awkward position. Xander had proven to be an excellent sounding board, as he always was, and Andy was able to talk himself through all of his decisions over the course of their conversation. At least a couple of times, Andy had joked that maybe it would be better if he didn't invite anyone in, to which point Xander had threatened to phone Niko, so she could slap Andy in the head for him, since Xander was still in Cleveland. He didn't doubt that Xander would do it in the least, and Andy joked that his friend was getting too reliant on one of Andy's soon to be wives to do his dirty work for him. Which, of course, led Xander into dropping a bombshell of his own on Andy. As it turned out, once the quarantine was lifted, Xander was likely going to be moving out to Fresno, a city about an hour away from the Bay area, which meant the two best friends would be able to hang out and see each other regularly, something that made Andy cry a little more. Xander also said, however, that there was also a decent chance the relocation might happen much sooner than that. One of the women he was getting paired up with was a Major in the Air Force, and so she was leaning on people to get him safely relocated across the country, where she could protect him. He'd laughed, saying it was weird to be treated as such precious cargo when just a year ago he was getting turned down by nearly every woman he approached at a bar. Xander, like Andy, had lost most of his roots, especially after the deaths of his brother and father, so he didn't really have much keeping him in the Midwest. In fact, he'd actually been told to pack all of his things immediately, so that if the relocation came through, he'd be ready to move. That was why he felt like the relocation was going to happen much sooner than the "after quarantine" he'd originally been told to expect. If anything, Xander seemed a little annoyed by his lack of information or control in his own relocation, but Andy gave him just enough information to make it all make sense, and after that, Xander seemed a lot more prepared to get to safe ground as fast as possible. Andy had asked to see pictures of the women Xander was getting paired up with, but his friend didn't have those yet. Once he did, though, he would inform Andy and the two could hash it out then. Xander had originally been marked as a level 1, but what with the incredibly high male mortality rate in the country, even level 1s were suddenly moving up in terms of importance for protecting. His friend had some excellent points about some of Andy's initial thoughts and in a few cases, was able to help Andy put his finger on what had been bothering him about a few of the pitches, as well as helping him get out of his own way on a few personal quirks. The thing Xander had stressed to him, above all else, was that he needed to trust his instincts about whether or not the women would personally get along with him, and that if they wouldn't, that he would be doing them a disservice by mixing them into his family. He already had a couple of women whom he knew weren't very much into him beyond their needs, and the last thing he wanted to do was compound that problem. His friend tried to settle his worries about disappointing some of the women, noting for him yet again that any of the women who didn't want to come would have the option of declining his invitation, something that Andy had to keep reminding himself of. The last thing he wanted was to be someone like Covington, abducting women against their will for his own desires. He didn't need any of that shit. With the list finally settled on, and Andy caught up on all the news that Xander had to share, his best friend had asked him if he'd given much thought about who he was going to use his one personal choice on, which had made Andy smile. Andy pointed out that he suspected his invite would be turned down, but that he would be kicking himself if he didn't extend it to the one and only obvious choice, which made Xander punch the sky and cheer. "She's going to say yes," Xander told him, the grin from ear to ear, while he danced around in his bedroom in Cleveland. "You know this. I know this. Everyone knows this. Why are you pretending to yourself that she won't?" "Because," Andy said, in between laughs, "she and I haven't spoken in, what, ten, fifteen years? She could be married for all we know." "Liar!" Xander cackled. "You and I both know you're lying, because we are both Facebook friends with her, and if she had gotten married, we absolutely would have been invited to the wedding, or at the very least heard about it! She's the kind of person who would've had that all over her social media, but she hasn't, which means she isn't, which means she's going to say yes to you, because she's still pining for you like you're still pining for her! I fucking knew you weren't over her, you goddamn liar! How many times did you tell me you were okay with it? How many times did I tell you that you were full of shit? She's going to say yes to you, my most righteous dude, " "It's not just me she would have to say yes to, Xan! She's been living in DC for a decade now! I'm sure she's put roots down." "She's hated living in DC for a decade now, you mean. She would hook up with a lemur if it got her out of DC. I doubt she's put any real roots down so that if she wanted to bail on that shithole cesspit of political vipers, she could." "She works in DC. Her entire job is in DC. She's a political reporter. She may not be working at the White House any more, but she's a congressional reporter. She needs to be in DC to do that job." Xander rolled his eyes. "She will take another option if there's one available, and if she moves out there with you, she'll just get into some other kind of reporting. Or maybe she'll just start writing political books. Or historical novels. Or fucking anything else. I never understood why you two didn't stay together in the first place." "She wanted to be a White House reporter, and she actually got the job with the bureau, so she moved out there, and I got the job writing for Netflix and had to move out here," Andy said with a shrug. "We talked about trying long distance, but it was the entire length of the country, and I didn't want to be a burden on her." "You two have unfinished business, Andy," Xander said to him. "Extend the invite, and then we'll see who's right in the long run, huh?" "That's what I'm going to do, Xan," Andy said. "Let her make her own mind up. My money's on her still being upset with how we ended things." "Willing to make a little wager on that?" "Sure, what did you have in mind for stakes?" "Since you're mister moneybags now, when I win, you buy me a Tesla." Andy laughed and nodded. "And if I win?" "Then I owe you one complete restoration of a car, no matter what the state it's in, but it's never gonna happen." "I'll remind you that you said that when you're having to completely rebuild a Ferrari from a busted frame." Xander waggled a finger at him. "We'll see then, won't we?" He sighed a little bit. "Shit, brother, we've been talking for hours. You should probably get your list done and tell your girls so you can start that whole process, since your buddy Phil seemed to think you should get it started as soon as possible. How much shit are we going to be in next week?" Andy shrugged slightly. "Let's just say if they show up to move you soon, Xan, let them. The sooner you can get settled in your new home, the better off you'll be." His friend nodded. "Yeah, most definitely. Hey, you think you've got enough clout that you could get me and my ladies to move into New Eden with you guys?" Andy rolled his eyes. "I doubt it, but shit, I can ask Phil. What's the name of the Major you're getting hooked up with? Maybe Phil can get her reassigned to the base here." "Okay look, I'm gonna tell you, and you're gonna laugh, so get all your laughing done now, get all your jokes off your chest, and then do not tease her about it when you meet her, okay?" Andy shot his best friend a dirty look. "C'mon. I'm usually above that kind of thing. You really think I'm going to take pot shots at her name?" Xander looked at him dead on and said. "Her name is Captain Betsy Ross." While he waited for Andy to say something, he lifted both hands into the frame of the camera and flicked his fingers inward in a 'come at me' gesture. Andy did his stoic best to hold as long as he could, but finally he couldn't hold it back any more. "Does that make you Xander Washington? Is she going to wear a flag for your wedding? Oh my god, are you going to take her last name and become Xanderous?" "Finished?" "Yeah, 'kay, I won't say shit about it to her, but I will talk to Phil and see if I can get all of you brought here. She's stationed in Fresno you said?" "I assume so, considering that's where they're relocating me." "Got it. I'll give you a call in a couple of days when I know what's going on." "Cool. Cool cool cool. Anyway, congrats on all the things,  the engagements, the pregnancies, the sudden wealth and the influx of beautiful women. Your life is such a struggle." Andy chortled at the serious tone with which his friend Xander had delivered that. "Fuck you too, buddy. Hopefully I'll see you in person soon." The two hung up and all that left was for Andy to write up the list. So he opened up a fresh document in Word and started typing. At the top of the page he made a clear note that anyone he hadn't chosen would be recommended over to trusted friends, to see if they could be brought into the community at the very least. He also stressed that just invitations were being extended, and that if anyone didn't want to join the family, they certainly were not going to be compelled to on his behalf. Beneath that, he wrote that the names were in alphabetical order, not in order of preference. The list did include one alternate, in case anyone said no. If multiple people said no, well, then they would have less people than originally planned. He also said that anyone who was a friend of someone listed below had until tomorrow morning to craft an invitation video for their friend that would be delivered, along with a video invitation from Andy himself, to the women in question. Phil would be by for lunch tomorrow, so the deadline on recording an invitation video was hard set and non negotiable. Finally, if anyone was upset by his decisions, they could come and talk to him about it, and he would explain his reasoning to them, but he also hoped the girls would trust in his judgment on the matter and not try to convince him to change his mind, because as he wrote on the sheet, his decisions were final. The List,  staff Alexis Coleman (security) Dr. Morgan Fitch (pediatrics) Whitney Wells (technical support) The List,  family Fiona Smith Larissa Cotton Maya Summer Steele Tabitha Jefferson Tala Jordan The List,  alternate Jade Dillon Andy looked over the list on his screen for a few minutes, making sure all of his decisions were final in his head, before he finally muttered to himself, "Yeah, fuck it." He hit Control P print, and a minute later, his laser printer hummed to life. As the printer vomited its single page, he considered for a moment the people he hadn't chosen. He'd decided to pass on Olivia because she just felt like she and he wouldn't have had anything in common. He'd never say it aloud to Asha, but her friend struck him as a little vapid and self centered, at least for his tastes. She did, however, seem like someone his friend Eric's first partner Lily could whip into shape, or at the very least would mesh well with Lily's friend (and another of Eric's partner) Jenny, who was not to be confused with his own chef, whom was also named Jenny. Piper's friend Brooke had practically been tailor made for his best friend Xander, and since Xander was on his way out to California anyway, Andy was going to see if he could maneuver the two of them together. Their mutual love of classic cars would be an instant tie binding the two together. Of course, he hadn't told Xander about that, but he figured it didn't hurt to put some good into his friends world when he had the chance. Taylor's friend Natalie had seemed nice enough, but she was also young, and Andy had to be honest with himself that he needed at least a few more women who were closer to his own age, people whom he could relate to a little better. He also fully suspected at least one or two of his invitations would be declined, and that Jade would end up being extended an invitation in the end. He'd put her as an alternate simply because he liked the other options slightly better, but if (or rather when, he figured) someone said no, Jade would be invited and no one would ever mention that she hadn't been a first choice. Although, if he thought about it, considering Jade's relentless positivity, she might not even care. All of the staff pitches had made sense, and while he was a little nervous about how Dr. Fitch had been described as overly blunt, he had hopes that they could make it work, or if they couldn't that she would decline the invite. Lexi and Whitney had been slam dunks from the second they'd been presented. Once the sheet was printed out, he opened the sheet of paper that Aisling had given him with her predictions, not having looked at it before then. It read: "In: Maya, Tabitha, Lexi, Jade, Whitney, Natalie. Alternate: Tala." When he came out of his office with the paper in hand, he couldn't see anyone around, but was fairly certain he heard someone shuffling around a corner behind him as he started to walk down the hall towards the stairs. He strode down the stairs and then down another hall before entering the downstairs living room area, where Aisling was sitting watching TV. She'd clearly been waiting in the room for him, to his amusement. That meant he still had the ability to surprise her, and he found himself delighted by that. However confident she'd pretended to be in her predictions, obviously she hadn't been that confident if she'd rushed to look at what the list said. "That the list?" she asked him, as he strolled over towards a highly exposed section of the wall. "It is." "How'd I do on my predictions?" "75%, so very well," he said, as he taped the list up to the wall, hearing the sound of some footsteps near the entrances of the room. Aisling scooted over quickly to read it, as other girls were standing in the doorways, not yet ready to rush into the room. She nodded, then started walking with Andy out of the room, as the room was suddenly flooded behind him, various members of the house swarming in to read the list. "Passed on the stripper, huh?" the redhead teased, as they headed back up to his office. "I suppose I'm not surprised, just a little disappointed. I wanted her to teach me some of those pole tricks." Andy smirked. "I needed to make sure some of these women I can have a conversation with, Ash, and I just don't know that me and girls barely out of college are going to connect on that much. I'm going to recommend Natalie over to Eric, or, let's be honest, I'm going to recommend her over to Lily, and Lily will decide whether or not to bring her over for Eric." The Irish girl snickered, nodding fiercely. "I'm sure Lily will bring her in, if for no other reason that to see Eric get all bashful about it. I wasn't sure if Tala's kink might have been a bit much for you, so I put her in as an alternate." He waved a hand in the air. "I don't care about that one way or another, but she's a musician, she makes puzzle boxes and she's got a wicked sense of humor. How did you not think that would be a shoo in for me?" She grinned, shrugging. "I guess I gave a bit more weight to the virgin sacrifice, although I did see she was an alternate." "Yeah. I'm betting either Tabitha or Larissa, or maybe both, will pass on joining the family, for whatever reason, and that Jade will get an invite in the end, but I have to admit, I'm a little nervous about the idea of being someone's first and only male partner." "You'll do fine, love," she said, as they stepped into his office and closed the door behind them. "So now you have to tell me: Who's Fiona?" Andy moved over to his arm chair, picking up the cat that had settled there, sliding in to sit down. He was about to put the cat into his lap, when Ash slid to sit on his lap, then took Huginn from his hands and set the black cat atop her own lap. "Fiona's my choice. She lives in Washington D.C." "But who is she, Andy?" "She's my ex. My college ex. So you know that Xander and I were roommates all five years of college, but for the last half of it or so, both he and I had girlfriends living with us. Annie was living with Xander  " "Wait, psycho bitch 'I found her cheating on me with two guys on my birthday' Xander's ex wife Annie? That Annie?" Andy laughed and nodded. "Yep. Annie never much liked me or, hell, anyone Xander was friends with. But she's gone from his life now, so thankfully you'll never meet her, because she's insane. Did I tell you that she tried to argue, in court, that Xander's lack of attention to her forced her to cheat on him with those two dudes?" "What a cunt," Aisling groaned. "Awright, so forget her. Tell me about Fiona! Why haven't you ever mentioned her before?" "I haven't talked to her in at least a dozen years!" he chuckled. "She going to say no anyway, but if I had any major regrets in my life, it's that Fi and I split up, even though I don't see any way my life could've gone in which we didn't. We met as sophomores in a political science class together, and she was dating my boss at the newspaper at the time. She dumped him like two weeks after that, and just after I got back for Christmas, she asked me out and we started dating." "Awww!" "About a year and a half or so later, her two roommates bailed on her like two weeks after the spring semester started, and she couldn't find someone to take their places. With no roommates she couldn't afford the rent on the three bedroom house she was renting, and breaking the lease was going to put her hard into debt, so she invited me and Xander, who were renting out a shitty apartment month to month, to leave our place and move into hers." "Why is this the first I'm hearing of any of this?" "I didn't think it was important! It was a long, long time ago!" he sighed. "Anyway, when we graduated, Fiona had gotten a job offer to work in the DC Bureau of the Associated Press as a reporter, and I had gotten the offer to come out here for Netflix. I visited DC with her, and she visited SF with me, while we tried to figure out what we were going to do about it. Neither of us really liked DC all that much, but she very much wanted the job. I loved the Bay. I asked her to move out with me, but she insisted she wanted to give the DC job a chance, and so we parted ways." "What? Just like that?" "Well, we tried having a long distance relationship for a few months, but this was like fifteen years ago, and after about six months, we agreed it wasn't working, and sort of fell out of touch. About three months later, I started dating Erin, and you know how that worked out, and she started dating some cop named Sam. After that, we basically just stopped talking to one another, although about two years ago, both Xander and I got Facebook friend requests from her, which we both accepted, although neither of us has had a conversation with her yet." "Why not?" "Shit, Ash, I dunno. How do you even start that conversation? 'Hi, remember me? I know we were talking about getting married at one point, but we didn't and then we moved across the country from one another. I'm getting married to at least four women now and wondered if you might want to join us. Oh, how've you been?'" "You have to start it somewhere, Andy." "Well, she's not married, at least she doesn't have herself marked as married on Facebook, and Xander's done a little internet stalking of her, I'm sure on my unwilling behalf, and says she doesn't even seem to have a regular boyfriend, and that she's spent most of the last several years bitching and moaning about how she hates living in DC, although considering she's more liberal than I am, I'm not all that surprised." "Do you think she's going to accept your invitation?" "Ye ” n  , I really don't have a fucking clue, Ash," he said with a laugh, which made her laugh as well. "I guess we'll just wait and see." Over the rest of the day and into the evening, the girls all came to thank him, even if he hadn't chosen the girl they'd put forth, and to see how he was doing, making sure he hadn't been too stressed out by the whole process. The rest of the time, everyone was recording their invitation videos. Each of the girls made a video for their friends, although a few of them recorded multiple videos, one for the person they'd put forth and one for someone they also knew. Andy himself recorded a unique video for each and every invitation, and also made sure to record one for Jade, in case it was needed. The next day, Phil showed up for lunch, and had a bit of a grim look on his face. "Why the dark cloud, friend?" Andy asked him, as the two walked out onto the back patio, where Jenny had set up a nice lunch for them. "So we had our first death in New Eden yesterday," he sighed. "And it was absolutely unnecessary." "I thought only vaccinated people were allowed into New Eden?" "They are. A woman decided she didn't believe all the warnings we give them at the base about not partaking of a man's cum that she isn't paired with." "Wait, what?" "So some woman decided she wanted a bit of strange, so she was fooling around with some guy other than the one she was paired with." "What the fuck happened? I thought there were early warnings that would've discouraged her." "Apparently they were using a condom, and they were convinced because that seemed fine that everything we told them must be utter bullshit." "Goddamn it." Niko had filled him in on some of the details of how the vaccine paired people just after they'd arrived in New Eden, at least as how she understood it. If a woman came in contact with semen from a man other than the one she was paired with, it would cause her to break out in a violent rash. The rash happened almost immediately on skin contact, so even a tiny bit of precum would be enough to discourage anyone from going further. "So she took off the condom right before the dude popped, and then swallowed his load, and it ate her open from the inside." "Fuck, Phil!" Andy said, wincing a little. "I hate to say it, but you may need to show pictures of that to people so they understand what kind of danger they're in if they're unfaithful." "I so don't want to, but it's up to the mayor now, and he's considering it." "Who were the people?" "Don't think it's anyone you know. The guy's name is Brian Morrison, a banker. He's in custody right now, because he might be guilty of manslaughter or murder, nobody's really sure." "And who was the woman?" "Veronica De La Cruz. She was part of that bastard Arthur Covington's house." "Oh shit," Andy muttered. "I met her, briefly. She was supposed to be the dealer at the poker game. I thought it was particularly in poor taste that Covington made her be topless in front of a bunch of strangers, but I didn't realize she was quite that unhappy there." "This new world is so utterly fucked up some days. Oh, also Audrey's pregnant, so I've apparently picked the best time to bring a new life into the world." "You and me both, friend. Ash and Niko are both pregnant as well." Phil grinned a little at that. "Well, at least our kids will grow up with good friends nearby. Anyway, you get your list and videos done?" Andy slid across a thumb drive to him. "All on there, including contact information for everyone we have, or at least general location for the ones we don't. I'm not going crazy and asking for a bunch of celebrities like Covington did." "Seemed like his requests worked out pretty well for you, though." "Can't blame me if the dude's a shit card player." "Well, I can but I won't, because fuck that guy. Anyone I might recognize on the list?" "A couple of people. And, uh," he said before lowering his voice to almost a whisper. "Fi's on there." "What was that? I believe your pride was stuck in your throat, or maybe that's just your foot," the Filipino engineer laughed. "I'm sending Fiona an invite, okay?" "Good for you," Phil said, as he finished his sandwich. "I've been telling you to reach out to that woman ever since she added you on Facebook, but you just kept avoiding it. Nothing like an apocalypse to get you to get off your ass, huh?" "Yeah yeah, Phil, go fuck yourself." "Anyway, tell all your girls about the death, and prepare them that they may be shown some rather graphic autopsy photos in the near future if the mayor decides to go ahead with his discouragement campaign. I don't think any of your girls would fool around with other guys, but I think they're just gonna show everyone." "Oh, you know Xander, right?" "Your friend from Ohio? Sure." "Apparently he's paired up with Captain Betsy Ross," he said, raising a finger. "No jokes." Phil was struggling not to laugh, but managed. "He was wondering if maybe you could relocate them to New Eden." "I'm not a goddamn genie, Rook." "You know you'd like having him around here. Besides, I've got a few recommendations for you and Eric on that thumb drive as well, so don't say I never gave you anything. There's also one in there who might be a great match for Xander. Plus, look at it this way,  you get him out here, and he'll probably build you a classic car as a way of saying thank you." Phil smirked for a bit, picked up the thumb drive and walked away humming the "I Dream of Genie" theme song. Chapter 28 As Phil had promised, things moved incredibly quickly from there. The next morning, Andy got a call from Xander, informing Andy that Xander was being relocated to New Eden, and that he would see him in just a few short days. He also told Andy that he'd heard Andy had lined up some kind of welcoming present for him, and that he hoped he'd enjoy unwrapping it. It was clear that Xander didn't actually know what was waiting for him, but Phil had already sent word that Brooke, Piper's friend, had accepted the offer for her to be paired up with Xander, all without Xander's knowledge. It would make for a hell of a surprise when Xander showed up. Andy intended to make sure he was there to greet his friend upon his arrival, and it was nice to help his best friend out. Andy was quickly learning how to trade in on favors, so having Xander owe him a few was bound to pay off sooner or later, even if he wasn't sure quite how. But it also just felt good improving his friend's life. Later that day, Andy also found out which of his offers had been accepted and which had been rejected. He was surprised to find that he'd been rejected not twice, but three times, which Niko teased him not to take personally. The first to decline his offer to join the family was Dr. Morgan Fitch, Katie's friend and ex girlfriend. Dr. Fitch had said in the video message she'd sent back that she appreciated Katie thinking of her, but that living in a house with one of her exes simply did not appeal to her, and that she had sworn off men regardless. Katie seemed more bothered by it than Andy did, but Andy assured her that if Dr. Fitch had been having reservations about it, it was best for her to decide that now than after she was locked in, to which Katie reluctantly agreed. The second to pass was Larissa Cotton, which came as no real surprise to Andy. As it turned out, Larissa had in fact gotten married years ago, and she and her husband were doing well in lockdown. The complaint she'd had to Sarah about not having gotten laid recently months ago had stemmed from an accident that Larissa's husband had endured, which left him temporarily impotent, but which he had thankfully recovered from since then. She also mentioned that she didn't always think to put on her wedding ring, so she admitted she might not have been wearing it the last time she'd video chatted with Sarah, so she could see where the misconceptions might have sprung from. Larissa also offered Andy her sincerest congratulations on his partnership with Sarah (as well as all the others) and insisted he call her up some time so that they could gossip as only colleagues could. Finally, she promised to be more thankful if he would give her another first edit pass in the future. His final rejection of the day came from Hannah's former cheerleading instructor Tabitha Jefferson. She had also declined to take the Rook family up on their offer, not because she wasn't intrigued by the idea, but because in the past two weeks, she had relocated up to Portland, where she had moved in with her former lovers Dom and Mike. With her mother no longer around, Tabby had simply decided California no longer held any sway over her, and she reached out to her previous partners, who had welcomed her back with open arms. The two men had been living in virtual isolation, and had taken their quarantine deathly serious, so they'd both remained completely uninfected. Tabby also sent along a message just for Hannah, encouraging her to make the most of her new situation, and giving her a contact number so they could remain friends moving forward. Hannah had been a little saddened at first, but after hearing that the reason was that Tabby was now reunited with her throuple and extremely happy once more, she brightened immensely and skipped out of the room to go and call Tabby so the two could catch up. There had also been one more call for the day, a complication that only intrigued Andy even further. Late in the afternoon, Phil called to inform Andy that the women who had accepted (which included Jade) would be arriving in a few waves, with those who were already local being delivered to his house tomorrow, and those who lived further out coming in one or two more separate waves. But that hadn't been why Phil had been calling. The videoscreen suddenly split into two, with Phil on the left, and the still achingly beautiful Fiona on the right. "Hey Andy," she said, that sly, lazy smile he was all too familiar with on her face, the smile he knew could hold a thousand different meanings in its subtext. "Hey Fi." He stopped there, because for once in his life, Andy was at a complete loss for words. "So, about this offer of yours," she said, trailing off a little. She didn't just look good; she looked fucking great. Despite the fact that it had been fifteen years since they'd been a couple, she had shrugged off the signs of aging far better than he had, only a few scant wrinkles around her distractingly deep green eyes, the shade of newly clipped summer grass. Her brown hair still had reddish highlights in it, as it had when they'd been dating what felt like lifetimes ago. It currently hung down to her shoulders, like it might have been a bob when the pandemic started and she'd just let it grow out. She'd grown up in Georgia, and while she'd lost almost all of that southern accent, Andy could still hear very faint hints of it, just around the edges, like she'd never quite been able to shake it fully. It was certainly less prominent than it was back in college. "I have a couple of questions, and that'll determine my answer, if that's alright." "Yeah, sure, go ahead." "Hi Fiona!" Niko chimed in, poking her head into the camera's view, giving an enthusiastic wave. "I'm one of Andy's partners, well, one of his fiances, actually, so you can ask me anything as well." Andy wasn't sure, but he felt like he saw Fi try and stifle a slight smile, but whether that was at Niko's interjection or Andy's blushing in response to it, he couldn't tell. Fiona didn't choose to acknowledge Niko's comment, and instead focused intently on Andy. "Alright, first, why haven't you reached out to me before now Andy?" He sighed and shrugged, a sheepish smile on his face. "I wasn't sure what to say, or even how to start, Fi. When you sent me that friend request a couple of years back, I assumed there was something you wanted to talk to me about, so I accepted it, and then, nothing." "Did it ever occur to you that maybe I wanted you to make the first move?" "You know me pretty well, Fi, or at least you did," he laughed, arching one of his bushy blonde eyebrows at her. "Did you honestly think I'd come to that conclusion on my own?" She openly smiled that time, nodding. "Alright, you've got me there. I suppose that's fair. Second, why didn't you ask me to come with you when you moved out to California, all those years ago when we graduated from college together?" "I did ask, Fi. You know I did." She scowled at him, shaking her head a little. "You gave it one half assed try at best, Andrew," she said, the use of his full name definitely feeling like it was meant to belittle him a bit, or at the very least scold him. "You asked just the one time, I said no, and you never brought it up again, which isn't like you at all. Why didn't you really try and convince me to come out west with you?" He bit his bottom lip for half a second, but decided too much had gone unspoken between him and Fiona for too long now, so he came to the conclusion that he should just be upfront and direct. "Because I was afraid I would've gotten you to say yes." She started to speak, frustration plain on her face, Andy could see, so he raised a hand to silence her for a moment longer and continued. "And that would've made me the happiest man in the world, Fi, I promise you, it really and truly would have. But I knew that it would come with dire consequences you couldn't see yet, things that I could. I knew, I mean really knew, that if you moved out to California with me, it would've been preventing you from chasing your dreams, the ones you'd had since you were a little girl. I would've always been worried that you resented me for keeping you from that life, even just a little bit. It probably would've eventually led to us breaking up over it, and you wouldn't have known why, and I wouldn't have been able to fix it, no matter how hard I tried. You wanted so desperately to work in the White House; I didn't want to give you any excuse at all not to go chasing after that dream. I felt like you were trying to use me as an excuse not to go and do the thing you really wanted." "I wouldn't have resented you, Andy," she sighed. "I wanted you to talk me out of it. I did. I really, really did. DC has been nothing but a decade and a half of frustration and disappointment." "Sure, but you only know that now, Fi. You couldn't have known that back then. There's no way you could've know that then. You needed to see it through for yourself, to have the experiences needed to make that decision. And if you really wanted me to talk you out of it, you should've said something back then. If you thought you were hinting at it, you were far too subtle for me to pick up on it. I'm not a mind reader. Wasn't then, and I'm still not now. I can't just guess that you're looking for me to help sway you one way or another." Fiona looked like she wanted to object further, but then nodded once more, as if coming to grips with all of that in her head, like a million puzzle pieces were suddenly falling into place, and she could see the entire picture for the first time. "Okay then. I have one more thing, though. A condition. I have a condition for me coming to join your household. Well, two conditions, actually." "Sure," Andy said, "fire away." "The first is that you have to actually marry me. I know you said in your message said that you're marrying some of your partners and not others, but I absolutely insist I be one of the people that you do marry, if we're going to do this. You know that I'm Catholic. I also know you're an atheist, and that's fine, but my religion still means something to me, and you've always respected that, so I need you to respect that now. Because I'm going to want to get pregnant, if we do go through with this, so I have to be married before that happens. We lived together for two years, so you know we're both compatible in sharing a home and a bed together. So that's the first thing. Are you okay with that?" Andy smiled a little bit shyly. "More than okay, but I think you knew that already, as long as you're still alright with me not going into church every week with you. I imagine you're going to have a harder time convincing the Catholic church that polygamy's okay, though." "Are you kidding?" she snorted. "When word gets out how many American men are dead, they're going to be desperate to get every good Catholic boy and girl out there to be doing as much being fruitful and multiplying as they can get." Niko began to quietly hum Monty Python's "Every Sperm Is Sacred" until Andy swatted her on the thigh and she stopped, although her grin had only widened. "Hey, it's your religion, not mine," he said to Fi. "If they're cool with it, so am I. What's the other thing?" "The other thing is that you need to agree to something, one specific thing, not knowing what it is or anything about it." He blinked in confusion. "Er, what?" This was uncharacteristic for Fiona, being deliberately vague, and Andy wondered what was behind it. "I have another condition but you need to agree to it without knowing anything about it. You just have to trust me and either agree to it, or I'll have to pass." Andy paused and considered for a moment, perhaps even a moment longer than Fiona had expected him to. He could give Fiona an almost complete blank check, almost, but he decided he needed to clarify one thing. "Assure me that this condition that I can't know anything about won't harm or injure anyone. Since arriving here in New Eden, I've learned first hand that people can be capable of some truly terrible things, and while I don't think that you are, Fi, I just want to make sure I'm not getting anyone else hurt because of this. I couldn't live with myself if it was." "The only thing that might be injured is your pride, that's all," she said, a playful smirk resting on her face. "I might bust your balls a bit for ditching me, but I'm not going to do anything you'd always regret over the long term. So what's it gonna be, Chuckles?" The fact that she still remembered her old nickname for him told him everything he needed to know. Of course he was in. He was all in. "Fine, you got yourself a deal, Peaches," he replied, using his old nickname for her, which made her smile widen a little more on the other end of the video call. "Great," she said. "I'll start packing and we'll see you in a few days. Later skater." She tapped the button and ended her portion of the call, leaving just him and Phil on the line. Phil had been quietly watching the entire conversation with a bemused look on his face, like he was supposed to be doing or saying something, but couldn't tear himself away from the drama. "You're an idiot, you know that, right?" he said, rolling his eyes a little at Andy's naivety. "Based on just a few minutes worth of watching you two talk, I don't think either of you ever fell out of love with the other." "As much a surprise to me as it was to you, Phil," Andy chuckled. "It's been a long time." "You did hear what she said though, right Andy?" Niko said to him, poking him lightly. "Wait. What did I miss?" "She said we'll see you in a few days," Niko giggled. "I somehow don't think she was talking about the royal we." "Ah hell. Well, I did agree to anything, so we'll burn that bridge when we come to it." "Pretty sure that's not how that line goes," Phil joked. "Anyway, I'll be by tomorrow to drop off your locals. Jade, Tala and Whitney are on their way here to the base, and will get their injections tonight so they'll be ready to meet you tomorrow. You know what they're like when they're newly injected, so be prepared to take care of them for their initial imprinting within a few days. Also, you can tell Taylor her friend Natalie will be in New Eden tomorrow as well, just over at my house." "Decided you just couldn't pass her up, huh? I thought you were going to ship her over to Eric." "Audrey's always wanted to take pole dancing lessons, so I figured why not have an in house teacher?" "Having an overly flexible eager teenage stripper in your bed is just a bonus, huh?" Phil's grin spread from ear to ear. "Oh, sure, sure. I mean, I'll learn to live with it, I guess. If I have to." He rolled his eyes in mock exasperation. "We all make sacrifices. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" "You got it, man. Stay safe." "You know it, brother." "So that's the girl who took your virginity, huh? Your first true love? She didn't look at all like I expected her to look like, Andy," Niko said to him, as he stood up from the couch, stretching his arms over his head. "What did you expect her to look like?" "I dunno, but under possible things this mythical mysterious ex of yours might look like, I don't think I ever considered 'a lot like a young Gina Davis' to be anywhere in the vicinity." Andy smirked a little bit. He'd heard the comparison more than a couple of times back when they were dating, what felt like a lifetime ago. "I take it that she meets with your approval then?" "Hell, she called you Chuckles. For that alone, the woman immediately earned a place in my heart. I'm sure there's a story behind that." "There is," Andy said, not elaborating further. "You gonna tell me what it is?" "I am not," he said, smugly. "You can dig it out of Fiona yourself when she arrives." He rolled his eyes with anticipated dread. "She probably still even has the photo, knowing her,” "Did you keep up on her coverage of politics after you two split up?" He shrugged. His emotional state after they'd split from one another had been messy at best, and his mind had been a whirlwind of emotions. "I mean, I'd see her name on a byline from time to time, but I didn't go out of my way to find her work. After we'd split up, I figured she wouldn't ever want to talk to me again. Ending a relationship sometimes does mean things to a person, and despite the fact that I thought we broke up pretty gracefully, one day about fourteen years ago, we ended a phone conversation and she said she'd call me in a week, and she never called again." "And you didn't call her?" "After about a month, sure. But by then, her phone number had been disconnected, as she'd apparently moved, so I figured it was a none too subtle way of telling me to fuck off." "Or a test to see if she still mattered enough to you for you to track her down." "God," Andy groaned. "Maybe. Probably? Maybe. Fuck, I don't know. But that's a shitty thing to do to a guy, especially one who's always dealt with low self esteem. It's like I told you, like I've told each and every one of you who've decided to stick out your lives with me,  sometimes you're just going to have to come right out and say what it is that's on your mind, because if you're expecting me to guess it, I'm probably gonna make a few giant mistakes here and there." Niko giggled a little, nodding. "We women can be needlessly cruel from time to time, but you have to realize, we don't even know we're doing it sometimes. It's just something we've been indoctrinated into making second nature. At least you can see that it might have been a mistake now, though." "Yep. And then she went and complicated things further by adding me and Xander on Facebook as friends a couple of years ago, which we both accepted. But neither of us felt comfortable messaging her first, and she never messaged us either, so it's just been one long detente." Niko shook her head in mock disappointment at him. "You can definitely be an idiot some times, you know that, Chuckles?" "Hey hey hey," he tsked. "You can't call me that until after you get the story out of Fiona." "You should've reached out to her, Andy," Niko said with a sigh. "It sounds like that's what she very much wanted from you." "Should've, would've, could've. We're here now, so I'll just have to live and learn. And when Fiona gets here, I'll give her the 'speak your mind speech I gave to you, so we're all on the same starting point." The house had mostly kept itself busy today by the girls getting all their things moved in, as well as adding some décor to the house that wasn't purely Andy's. Sure, the publicity posters for all of his novels were still hanging on the walls, but now they'd been joined by movie posters for both Sarah and Emily's movies, framed photographs that Asha had taken before leaving London, framed posters from Sheridan's Cirque Du Soleil shows, a couple of framed articles detailing Piper's rise in the volleyball community, a framed sand painting done by Niko's mother and a few original paintings that Aisling had done as a break from her more commercial work. It helped make the place feel less like his house and more like their house. He would encourage all the girls to make sure they left some kind of a mark on the house as they arrived. He didn't want any of them to feel lesser that the girls who'd arrived first. Emily and Sarah had also converted one bedroom into a makeshift studio for them to use, lining the walls with sound dampening foam, setting up cameras and microphones, so the room could be used for them to record lines for voice overs, or to film video auditions. There

In this episode, Loye and Fola discuss some recent developments in Nigeria's Fintech space, ongoing corruption trials involving a British-Malawian citizen, and the downgrading of Afreximbank's credit rating by Fitch.Time stamps:01:00 Fintech developments13:18 Malawi corruption trial20:19 Afreximbank's credit rating32:50 What in the Worldhttps://www.instagram.com/thebrief.xyz/

Retail executive Ramon Marquez can point to virtually every store in a shopping mall and explain how he helped that brand grow. With a passion for retail dating back to his childhood, he's built a career as a leader in merchandising, product management and retail operations for major retailers like JCPenney, Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, and is now shaping the future of Kmart and Sears. As a newly minted MBA graduate, Ramon gained not only a degree from Rice, but also a meaningful board appointment with Panama-based company, Effluz. After working with Effluz on his Global Field Experience, Ramon remained close with the company, which was founded by Taylin Luzcando and specializes in premature baby clothing and accessories. Ramon and Taylin join co-host Brian Jackson '21 to chat about Ramon's career journey from his grandfather's general store in Mexico to the C-suite of some of the biggest global retailers, as well as why he decided to pursue an MBA at Rice and how he's made an impact at Effluz. Founder Taylin also shares the personal origins of Effluz and why entrepreneurs should jump at the chance to partner with Rice's Global Field Experience program. Episode Guide:01:41 Ramon's Early Career and Rise in Retail06:05 Leadership and Adaptability in Retail07:41 Pursuing an MBA at Rice Business10:52 Joining the Board of a Panamanian Startup13:34 Insights on Retail and Future Plans21:03 Personal Life and Community Involvement26:10 Meet Taylin Luzcando, founder of Effluz31:11 Taylin's Experience with Rice's Global Field Experience ProgramOwl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:How one class changed Ramon's path19:14: [Ramon Marquez] Towards the end of the MBA... and one of the very last classes I took was Life of Meaning. It's an entrepreneurship lab. And what that class does is that it takes a look at where you want to be and how you fill the gap. And we did a lot of frameworks that helped me map out what is next. So, there were a lot of great things that came out of it. One was that I really didn't have a plan in writing or a roadmap to where I want to land. In the class, part of the frameworks will get you back to, like, what are you passionate about? What is it that you wanted to do when you were a kid? What are the things that you don't want to be left undone? And it helped me realize that, you know, there's an entrepreneurial side of me that I have never explored.Why Ramon says passion for your job matter14:37: [Ramon Marquez] I encourage everyone, whatever you do, position yourself in a place where you love it, that you're so intrigued and so inquisitive and so passionate. And a lot of people come to me and say, you know, “How do you get your job?” And I say, “Well, you have to be interested and passionate about retail. If you're not, don't get my job, because then it's too much pressure. It's too hectic. It's too fast. It's too vulnerable. It's too difficult right now. Retail is really difficult.” But if you think about the fact that, you know, merchants have been around for thousands of years and commerce has existed from the beginning of time, retail's not going to go away. It's just the way that we will get to know what it's like. And for that, I don't have the answer, in case you were wondering.Show Links: TranscriptGuest Profiles:Ramon Marquez | LinkedInTaylin Luzcando | LinkedInEffluz

Quaranteam – Book 1: Part 11 The girls suggest to Andy who to bring in. Based on a post by CorruptingPower, in 25 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. Eric's house now stood with seven women in it, and Andy had agreed that he would try to learn all of their names eventually, just as Eric did for Andy's household, although both of them agreed that the task would definitely take some time. The two men and Phil had all planned to meet up for dinner on Thursday, as they usually did. It was good to keep a routine. Also on that Sunday, Ash had commandeered the pool house, giving each girl the chance to pitch to her twice, once in the midday and then again in the evening, allowing them to improve and refine upon their pitch. That had kept the entire house occupied, and allowed Andy to spend all of his time writing, although he did make an exception for lunch, when he'd tended to Jenny and Katie's needs. In a move that had surprised him, Jenny had insisted Katie ride his cock until he came inside of her, then sucked her share out of her partner's cunt afterwards. It had proven an excellent test, and Katie had still gotten her fix out of the experience. She'd described it to Andy as "filthy in the best possible way." Other than that, Andy went two days without engaging in any sex, a sort of chance to recharge his batteries. He suspected he might have a bit on Monday, but also acknowledged to himself that he was going to be booked wall to wall with the meetings, hearing the girls pitches, so it might even be a third day off from sex. Monday morning he awoke in bed alone, an absence he definitely noted, but it let him get his morning workout in, followed by a shower. After he got out of the shower, when he went to get dressed, he found a printed schedule of his day on top of his dresser. 10 11: Asha, Emily, Hannah, Jenny 11 12: Katie, Lauren, Nicolette, Niko 12 1: Lunch 1 2: Piper, Sarah, Sheridan, Taylor 2 3: debrief with Aisling Ash had decided to just organize the girl's pitches in alphabetical order, so that Andy wouldn't see any prejudgment on her part. On the schedule, there was also a map of the house's lower level, a room marked with an X and a note from Ash that read simply "See you there!" The house was the quietest it had ever been, even his two cats seeming a little perplexed at the lack of people moving around. Andy wandered down to the marked room at about fifteen minutes to 10, finding Aisling already in the room, which had been set up as a little conference room, a large television on the wall doubling as a computer monitor. On the screen was a black screen with the words "Project Pair Up" in friendly white lettering. "Hey love," she said to him with a smile. She was dressed in professional looking attire, the most dressed up he'd ever seen her. With the quarantine, everyone had been completely casual, and Andy suddenly felt wildly underdressed, wearing just a pair of jeans and an old, faded Jesus Jones t shirt. She saw his look and immediately grabbed his arm. "Relax. You're the one everyone's pitching to, so you're allowed to dress however you like. It's good to be the king," she giggled. "You've heard all the pitches already, Ash," he said to her, as she led him to the head of the table, making him sit down. "Anything truly shocking?" "I told you I wasn't going to make decisions for you, babe, so you'll just have to wait and see." "I wasn't asking you to make a decision, Ash," Andy laughed, "simply whether or not you thought this was a good idea or not." "Oh, aye," she nodded. "There's some truly remarkable women up on offer for you today, and I'm certain there will be some hard decisions in your future, in more ways than one. A few dodgy ones too, by my reckoning, but I'm not the final say in the matter, am I?" She moved to sit down next to him, at his right hand spot, the television screen on the wall opposite him. "There are pros and cons to all of them. But all the girls have agreed nobody will be upset at you, no matter what you decide." "And you think they're all going to hold to that?" "I told them if they couldn't then they shouldn't bother pitching anyone at all. That sort of got them in line." Andy nodded sagely. "Where are they?" "Everyone's hanging out in the pool house right now, and they'll come up when we text them, one at a time, so if anyone runs short, or needs to run long, nobody will get interrupted." "Okay then, let's get to it, I suppose." Ash nodded, and then picked up her iPhone from the table, sending Asha a text to come to the room. A few minutes later, the half Indian half French girl strolled into the room in a powder blue power suit, her hair done up in a bun, wearing bright red 1950s librarian glasses. "Thanks for letting us pitch ta ye, Andy," she said, moving to sit down on the chair at the opposite end of the table from him. "Going first is a bit of a pisser, but I s'pose I'll set the bar high for the lot of'em." She picked up the little remote from the table and clicked it, as the monitor behind her sprung to life, an image of a bright, bubbly blonde girl appearing on it. "This is Olivia Shoemaker, my bestie from me London days. Now I know what you're thinkin', that she's young, and you're nervous or whateva about bringin' too many young birds into the house. But Livvy's a doll. She's a student down at UCSD, so she could just transfer up here and go ta UCSF or Berkeley or Stanford or whateva." Asha clicked the button and the screen advanced, showing Olivia in a colorful yellow sundress, standing on the Santa Monica pier. "She's also a right big social media influencer, with half a million followers on Insta and about as many on TikTok. They were tryin' to get her to appear on Love Island back home, but she said she wanted to wait until she was a bit older for that. She's 19, she's fit and she's a babe. We've been friends since we was toddlers, an' I know she'd likely fall for you like I have." "What's she going to school for?" Andy asked. "She's undecided right now, but she's thinking she might get into international finance. Banking, stocks, that lot. She changes her mind about that all the time, though, so who knows where she'll end up. Girl's got a mind that goes a kilometer a minute, you ask me." "You think I'd be her type?" Andy asked, a touch of doubt in his voice. "I have trouble imagining someone like her being satisfied with someone older like me. I'm not particularly social media savvy, and she looks like the kind of girl who would take one look at me and think 'old man.' And that's no judgment on her,  I'm just saying, you want to make sure this is someone who you think is going to be happy here, and with me. Simply because I can request anyone I want to doesn't mean that I necessarily should." "She and I have been friends since we were wee high, so if I tell her she'll like you, she'll trust me on tha', and once she gets to know you, she'll fall for you like e'eryone does, Daddy." He still wasn't entirely comfortable with her calling him that, but he'd learned that telling Asha no just made her do the thing twice as much, so he was hoping she'd get it out of her system eventually. "And part of the pitch process was also you identifying what the challenges might be if I were to extend her an invite to our family. So what do you think those would be?" "Um," Asha said, looking down at the table a moment. "I'm not gonna lie ta ye, Andy. She can be a mite tad possessive. Her last relationship imploded because her boyfriend gave another girl a ride home after a party, and she thought he'd cheated on her." Andy winced a little bit. That struck him as more than a challenge. "So you think that's not going to be a problem here, where she has to share me with all of these other women?" "She'll get over it!" Asha pouted. "She just needs to be shown that not all men are lads, and that she doesn't have to have someone's complete attention all the time to get by in the world." "Do you know what she likes and dislikes sexually?" Ash asked her, cutting straight to the point. "Are you sure she's compatible with Andy?" "She's a bit more reserved than I am," Asha sighed. "More reserved than she oughta be, you ask me, but I don' like the idea of her just fallin' in with some bloke who won't do right by her. She deserves better'n that. The prude walls hafta come down sooner or later." "But do you think she and I would make each other happy?" Andy asked. "I'd like to think so, Andy," Asha said, "but I'm no' sure one way or the other. I'm just tryin' to look out for her." "Okay, Asha. You're the first one we've talked to today, so obviously we have a lot more pitches to hear, so we'll keep your friend in mind." Asha nodded, standing up again. "An' if you decide she's not for you, Andy, I'd understand, but, y'know, maybe pass her on to one of your friends around the town as a thought? It'd just be nice to have one of me mates around here." Andy smiled. "I'll see what I can do." Asha walked over, leaned down and gave Andy a soft kiss. "Thanks, Da. I'll see you at dinner, yeah?" Before Andy could answer, Asha was already heading out the door, closing it behind her. Aisling pushed the button and the screen moved to a simple black background with "next: Emily" in white letters on it in a classy font. He turned to look at Aisling, not entirely sure what to say, which made Ash giggle. "They're all very different, Andy, so you'll just have to decide for yourself." She sent a text message on her phone to Emily, letting her know to start heading to the conference room. "An influencer, though?" Andy said, rolling his eyes. "I still don't get how anyone can think that's a real job." He sighed, seeing the smirk on Ash's face. "I think it's more likely that I'll recommend her over to Eric or Phil, but I'll try to keep an open mind." "That's all anyone's asking, love." "Emily's pitch isn't also for a social media influencer, is it?" he asked, caution plain on his face. "Olivia was the only one, silly, so you can relax." He nodded, hearing a knock at the door. "C'mon in, Emily!" Emily entered the room, and it seemed as though all the girls were going to be in their best professional wear today. She had a modest dress than hung nearly to her ankles and a bright red silk blouse that was almost entirely buttoned up. She looked like was planning to meet the head of some movie studio more than simply talking to Andy and Aisling. She gave a warm, impish little smile and wave, then pulled the door closed behind her. "Hey love. Ash. This is so exciting!" she giggled. "How did Asha do?" Andy was about to say something when Ash put her hand on his wrist to quiet him. "He's not going to talk about any of the pitches to anyone other than me until he's heard them all, Emily, so I don't know why you're asking." The blonde Brit giggled again, flashing a little wink. "I asked because I almost got him to spill the goss." Emily moved to sit down in the pitcher's chair, and picked up the remote. "But it's fine, it's fine. Andy darling, let me present to you Summer Steele." She clicked on the remote and the screen behind her flickered and turned into an image of a woman in her late 30s sitting behind a camera, clearly on a set somewhere. Summer was fit, although not overly muscular, with hair a deep dark brown, like a freshly cut walnut tree. Her nose was slightly crooked, like it had been broken and reset at least once. Her skin had a natural tan to it. Andy suspected her heritage was either Jewish or Palestinian. She looked focused on whatever she was working on. She was certainly lovely, but also had a tough, street fighter kind of vibe to her. She was dressed in leather pants and a leather jacket over some kind of t shirt, as she peered at the camera's monitor. "Her real first name is Maya, but professionally she's been Summer Steele for nearly a decade now. I think you can call her either." Click. The image turned to show the woman on set of one of the Daggerfall Academy movies with Emily, one of the later ones clearly, judging by Emily's age in the picture. It looked as though Maya was teaching Emily some moves for an upcoming scene. "We first met when she was the stunt coordinator and 2nd AD for 'Power Taken: Daggerfall Academy IV.' We've been friends since then, but she's gone on to direct episodes of all sorts of shows: 'The Last Garrison,' 'Everyone Dies At Midnight,' 'Uprising From Below,' and even a couple for Disney+, although she obviously can't tell me about any of those." Click. The image shifted and was replaced by an image of current Hollywood it guy Scotty Jansen with his arm around her, as she sipped from a beer, probably at some afterparty in the Hollywood hills. "She was with Scott Jansen up until January of this year when they split after Scotty got drunk and put his foot in his mouth one too many times. There were lots of reasons they were never going to work out, but this was the final straw." Click. A new image appeared, with Maya in between Sarah and Emily, the three women clearly out for a night on the town, although based on the buildings behind them, Andy would've guessed they were somewhere in central Europe. "So, she knows Sarah and I rather well, and we can both vouch that under her occasionally crass veneer, she's a sweetheart with a kind spirit. Many of the things some lesser men would find turnoffs,  her tendency to drink and swear, her sometimes lacking sense of tact, her habit of acting first and thinking later,  those are all things you like in a woman, so that's delightful." "Well, as long as she isn't sloshingly drunk all the time, Emily," Andy said. "I don't want to bring in a dangerous alcoholic we're going to need to check into rehab all the time." Emily flapped a hand dismissively in his direction. "Nothing so coarse, my love. While she can attack a bottle with a gusto I've yet to see rivaled, she does keep those benders to a manageable number, and never lets them affect the rest of her life." "Alright, carry on." "She likes the same kind of sex you do, Andy,  she's a talker, and she enjoys both the softer and harder sides of it. She's very professional and you've made a point to tell all of us that if we want to continue working and chasing our dreams, we should do it, something she would very much appreciate, as she's certainly making headway. She directed her first film last year, 'The Secret In The Shadows,' and while it didn't win any awards, it came in under budget and over performed expectations by a sizable amount, so she's in talks to do another movie after the pandemic has passed." "Where's she from?" Ash asked her. Click. Andy suspected this was the most recent photo of the woman, and she'd undergone a drastic haircut. The left side of her head was shorn down to almost a buzz, while the front had a large flop of hair dyed bright green hanging over one eye, a look Andy had been told was called an undercut. She was wearing a white tanktop and he could see the woman had tattoos on each of her shoulders, epaulets of ink depicting fighting fish in a lake, done in a Japanese style. "Upstate New York. Her father was a rabbi and a jeweler, her mother ran a deli. Dad passed away last year from a heart attack, so her mom's running both businesses now. No brothers or sisters. Maya's got a few friends in the L A area, but for the most part, she's on the go so much that she really never settled anywhere. I'd like for her to settle with us." "What sort of challenges do you anticipate?" Andy questioned. He had a yellow legal pad of paper in front of him, and he'd been keeping small notes during the presentations, mostly so he could keep everything straight in his head at the end. "Two, but both I think aren't deal breakers. First, she's going to want to continue working so there may come a time when Andy might need to do a bit of travel to accommodate Maya's schedule, or Maya will simply need to ensure that most of her work as a director is done relatively local to here. I know that there have been some sound stages built in Oakland for the purpose of doing more film work here, so we will simply need to remind her of that." "And the other?" "The other is a little more of a challenge, but mostly just for you, love," Emily said to Andy, her coy smile widening a little. "Maya isn't at all bi curious. She is absolutely, positively, 100% heterosexual, meaning that you would need to tend to her needs without anyone else as company. I know this because both Sarah and I have made passes at her, only to be told that she's very much 'men only.' She would be completely aware of the rest of us, but simply wouldn't want to partake in any group activities. That also might mean you would need to share a bed with just her every once in a while, so she feels like she has as much a stake in you as everyone else, but you're clever, so I think you would do fine. Like you told me, constraints are simply gifts to creativity." "Do you think I would make her happy? Do you think she would make me happy?" Emily nodded. "It wouldn't be without minor complications, naturally, but I think you two would get along like a house on fire, and she would fit into the house much like Lauren does,  present and eager with you when she's spending time with you, and self reliant and capable when she isn't. She started as a stuntwoman before she got into directing, so she has always had an uphill climb in her life. We aren't best mates, but she'd thrive here, she'd adore you and I think she'd make you happy as well." The tiny Brit clicked the button and the screen advanced to black once more, with white letters reading "next: Hannah" in the center of it. "No matter what you decide, love," Emily said, getting up from her chair, making her way over to Andy, "I just want to say that all of the girls are thrilled you're asking us for our opinions on this, and it means the world to the lot of us that you're letting us have a say in who we want to join the family. You didn't have to ask anyone for their opinion, so the fact that you are, well, it shows even further that you're quite the good man, Andy Rook." Emily leaned in and kissed him, soft and tender, but backed with a lot of love, before she finally pulled away and gave him and Ash a little wave goodbye, slipping out of the room, closing the door behind her. Ash smirked as he looked over in her direction. "They're all probably going to say something like that, just so you know, love," she told him. "They've all been getting stories from Niko about how things are on the base, or from the girls involved in the poker game, and so they know what a weird place the world is in right now, and everyone's delighted how you're handling this." "Hell, if I was handling it my way, I'd probably just have stopped here, Ash, and not added anyone else to the family, but based on what Phil's told me, I'm going to spend the next five years hearing that I need to help usher in a new generation to save this one." The Irish girl giggled and offered him a little shrug. "It's such a hard life, isn't it, having beautiful women constantly throwing themselves at you, begging for sex." Andy scowled, although the expression was done with amusement. "Agreed, Alcatraz it ain't, but it's still quite the change from my life six months ago." "Which reminds me, you have to be sure and call Xander tomorrow and fill him on all the changes that have happened here in the last week. He texted you yesterday offering his condolences about Matty, but hell, he doesn't know about how quickly your house has exploded. Maybe we should send him a picture of you in bed, surrounded by all your women, like a modern day Hugh Heffner." Andy started laughing at that, shaking his head. "Oh god, he's gonna fucking kill me. He had quite the crush on Emily a few years back, although I think he grew out of that. Lord, I'm never going to hear the end of it." "Well, it'll be something you two can use to keep your spirits up when you talk. Are you ready for Hannah to make her pitch?" He nodded. "Sure, she's the one who got this all started. Let's see who she thinks we should bring into the house." A few minutes later, Hannah strolled into the room confidently, although Andy was surprised to see her in her cheerleading outfit again, the first time she'd worn it again since she'd shown up to the house a few days ago. Andy found the outfit choice odd, but decided not to remark on it. "Two days enough time for you to think it over, Hannah?" he asked the Asian cheerleader, who smiled and nodded. "Totes, but I didn't know I was gonna have hella competition at the end of it!" Over the past few days, the one thing Andy had determined first and foremost about Hannah was that she was always operating at 110% energy. That's simply who she was. "It's all good, though. I think you'll vibe with my candidate, even if she's not immediately your type." Hannah picked up the remote from the table and clicked it, as a picture sprung to life behind her. The minute the image popped onto the screen, Andy was taken back a bit. "I'm fairly certain that taking on an entire cheerleading team would be well over the limit of you suggesting one person, Hannah," he laughed. The image behind her must have been from the spring of this year, as it was Hannah and her entire cheerleading team over at Woodside High, where she'd graduated from in May. There were fourteen girls in the photo, in addition to the coach, and they were completely varied in terms of size, shape and race, although he couldn't deny, they all seemed lovely. It took him half a second to find Hannah as her hair lacked the blonde highlights in the photo. "Not the team, sir," she said, clicking the button again, as the screen shifted, this time the only person on the screen being the cheerleading coach. "Just the woman running it. Tabitha Jefferson." Without all the other people on the screen, Andy could focus on the woman being suggested. She was an African American woman with milk chocolate colored skin around Andy's age, although she was in far better shape than he was. In the picture, she was in black gym shorts with an orange stripe and a large orange t shirt with the word "Wildcats" in highly stylized lettering across the front of it. She had straightened hair drawn back in a short ponytail that hung to the nape of her neck, and a friendly face, although her expression was one of shouting. "Coach Jefferson has been the cheerleading coach and P.E. Teacher for Woodside High for the last five years. She's whip smart, funny and really cares about us girls. When I was kinda a troublemaker, she'd pull me aside and give me a good talking to, tell me that she thought I was super smart, and that I was capable of anything if I'd stop fucking around and quit self sabotaging my own life. And she never gave up on me, and never let me focus just on cheerleading or the petty drama and shit a bunch of wound up girls get into with each other." Hannah pushed the button and the image changed again, showing a slightly younger Tabitha with her arm around a good looking African American man with much darker skin in military fatigues. "Just before she moved to Woodside, she was an Army wife, until her husband, Nicky, was killed in action in the Middle East. They'd only been married for about two years, and only together about four, but it still broke her heart. She moved across the country to live out here, closer to her mother, only for her moms to die last year due to lung cancer." Hannah pushed the button again. The new image also had to have been taken in the spring, just before the pandemic had set in. Tabitha had her arm around Hannah, and both of them were smiling, both of them in formal wear, this time with the blonde highlight in Hannah's hair. "She was one of the chaperons for senior Prom, and when she found out I didn't have anyone to go with, she made me go on my own, and I still had a great time. She drove by my parents house to drop off my diploma and told me to call her Tabby from now on, since I wasn't a student of hers any more, and that she hoped school would start back up soon, because she was feeling a little lost." The Asian girl sighed a little, her face contracting in sadness. "She's had a really rough go of it, Andy, between losing Nicky then her mom and now her ability to teach and be around people. I don't know a thing about what she likes sexually, so I dunno what to say about any of that, but she's a good person, the best person I know, and if I can give her just one little bit of happiness, then I fucking owe that to her." Hannah looked like she was about to cry, so Aisling reached over and took the girl's hand in her own, giving it a little squeeze. "Thanks Ash, I'm okay," she said, smiling a bit as if it might help her make it more true. "The person you most reminded me of when we were first met, Andy, was Tabby. You could've just fucked my brains out and not given a fuck about my feelings, but you didn't. You talked to me first, made sure I knew what I was getting myself into, when you so didn't have to, hell, I wasn't even expecting you to. I wanted to get back at that little shit Benny so fuckin' badly, but you wouldn't let me just charge into it without us talking it out first. That's the kind of thing Tabby did for me all the time, not letting me just leap into the first idea that popped into my head, but really making me think it all out. So I want to give something back to her, and I think that something could be her hooking up with you." "This whole polyamory thing isn't for everyone, Hannah," Ash said. "You think she'll be up for sharing Andy with all of us?" Hannah laughed a little, rolling her eyes. "Her last relationship was part of a throuple, so I totally wouldn't worry about it, Ash, although this one would be a little different." "Oh yeah?" Andy asked. "How so?" "Well, she was in a relationship with two bi guys, so she was used to having cock on tap." The busty cheerleader giggled a little bit. "But I know she's into girls too, because she refused to come into the locker room when we were changing. Said it was only respectful, but I saw that glimmer in her eyes that said she desperately wanted to peek, but wasn't going to, because that's what us girls deserved." "What ended their relationship?" "The two guys decided to move to Portland, and Tabby's mother hadn't passed yet, so she refused to leave her. They were all kinda in different headspaces anyway, I think, since Tabby never said another word about them after they left, so maybe she was kinda okay with it? Maybe it was just an easier way to end it than ending it? I dunno. It was all spring of my junior year." "Challenges you foresee?" Aisling asked. "Well, I dunno how she likes to fuck, so I dunno if you two can make that work for you or not, but I think you'd be okay. And I don't know if you're her type, so I don't even know that she'll say yes. You're a little less,” Hannah trailed off, trying to find a way to phrase what she wanted to say. "Less what?" Andy asked. "Less butch, I guess," Hannah giggled. "Dom and Mike were ultra cut, and Nicky was pretty buff himself, so I guess her type is a bit more ripped than you are, but it's not like I know everything about what kinda dudes she likes to bone. But without her being able to teach until, like, at least a year from now, I wanted to make sure she's not getting stuck inside her own head too much." Hannah clicked the button and the screen behind her changed to say "next: Jenny" on it. "Anyway, if I was you, I'd totally wanna fuck Tabby. Hell, I kinda wanna fuck her myself, if she's down for that. And she's a good person, and good people deserve to have good things happen to them in the world, so that's why I think you should invite her here. Thanks for letting me tell you all this, Andy. I didn't know how much I needed to tell someone this whole story about this amazing woman who changed my life, and I'm glad it's to the man who did the same thing." She stood up, came over and gave Ash a hug, then one to Andy as well followed by a sloppy kiss, before pulling back and heading out of the room, almost skipping in her step, making the skirt flutter a little each time. "So I know I said I wasn't going to offer you any opinions on all of this, love," Aisling said, "but I do want to make two exceptions. First, I think you should invite Tabby here. It means a lot to Hannah, maybe more to her than to any of the other girls involved, and I think Tabby seems like a fine match for you, based on what Hannah's told me." Andy nodded. "She was speaking very strongly from the heart, so I don't blame you. I won't commit to 100% saying yes right now, but I'll mark her down as a very strong likely, if that's okay." "Natch love," she said, squeezing his arm. "The other exception I want to make is to set you up for Jenny's pitch, and to tell you to tread lightly. Her pitch is for a staff person, but I suspect the person being pitched might want something more than that from you, and I think you should probably give it to her, but at her own pace. Jenny's got quite the tale to tell, and her friend has had a very rough life. I think even Jenny knows that if you bring this girl on, she's going to grow from staff to family member eventually, but that's okay with me, and all the rest of the girls, so keep all that in mind when she's talking, that we all know it's unsteady waters, and we're all okay with it, awright love?" He wasn't entirely sure what to make of that, so he simply nodded, giving himself a second to get his words in order. "She's the first staff pitch I'm hearing, but if you're telling me in advance that it's going to be different than all the rest, then that's good to know, and I'll keep it in mind." Ash smiled, kissing him on the cheek. "I think you'll like who she's pitching anyway. Has a completely different tone than anyone else you're gonna hear about today, and if I'm honest, I'd love ta meet her myself." Just as she was saying that, Jenny opened the door and made her way into the conference room, moving to sit down opposite them, her warm comforting smile well set on her face. Jenny hadn't chosen to dress up more than her usual attire, looking like a plump Martha Stewart, as she folded her hands on the table, just over the remote. "Thanks for letting us do this, sir. None of us had even thought about this until you and Ash told us about it, and the fact that you're letting the staff pitch as well, gosh, that's just the sweetest thing. My story's gonna be a little bit of a rollercoaster, so I hope you don't mind, sir." Andy chuckled, leaning back in his chair a little bit. "Fire away, Jenny." Jenny picked up the remote and clicked on it, as the image behind her changed to a much younger one of her and another woman, really more of a girl at that point, what had to be at least a decade ago. Jenny was thinner then, wearing an oversize P!nk t shirt, with her arm around a Latin girl, a little less thin, with massively blown out hair, wearing a red tanktop with a sheer mesh black shirt over it. The two girls were laughing in the picture, each holding up a red Solo cup that Andy suspected held alcohol that neither was old enough to be drinking at the time of the photo. "This is me with my college roommate, Alexis Coleman, better known as Lexi. We were both freshman at UCLA when we were randomly paired together to share a dorm room together at Hendrick Hall." The image changed again, and showed the two girls playing beer pong at some Greek event. "I'd just moved out here from Cleveland, and she'd just moved here from D.C., and so we became best friends." "You didn't go to culinary school?" Andy asked. "You're such an excellent cook, I find that impossible to believe." Jenny blushed a little. "Thank you, sir, but I did, after I got my Bachelor's degree in art history. I had wanted to become an art custodian, but couldn't seem to make it work, so I went to culinary school in SF after giving up on the art world." "And Lexi?" Ash asked. "What was she majoring in?" "Criminal justice," Jenny said, clicking the button again to show an image of Lexi, a little older, in a bikini out on the Santa Monica boardwalk, on roller skates that she looked a little unsteady on. "I know she looks like a Victoria's Secret model, but she was determined to get into law enforcement during college. She also minored in political science and theory, as well as picking up several languages along the way. I know she speaks Spanish, French, German, Russian and Portuguese, and knowing her, she's probably picked up a few more since then." "All of this has to be a while ago, though, Jenny," Andy said. "What year did you two graduate?" Jenny pushed the button again to show a graduation of the two of them together, holding up their diplomas with big smiles. "2007 sir, and I realize I'm giving you a bunch of background, but I think it's very important that I do, so you understand who Lexi is, and how she's a sweet, adorable person, despite the rest of what I'm about to tell you." Andy leaned forward a little bit. "As a professional storyteller, Jenny, let me tell you that's a hell of a way to perk your audience's interest. Go on." "Yes sir," she said, clicking the button to advance the image again. This time, Lexi was a few years older, dressed in more of jungle wear,  thick pants, a heavy shirt with a vest on, and her hair pulled back tightly. The background was thick trees and dirt, with sunlight peeking through. Of more note, however, was the AK 47 slung over her shoulder. "In her last year of college, Lexi was recruited to join the CIA. My details about this period of her life are very unreliable, but I think she was training with the agency for another year or two, and then served as a combination of analyst and field agent for most of the next decade, primarily in South and Central America, until 2017." The next image took Andy a little aback, although Ash had clearly seen it before. It was relatively recent, Jenny and Lexi together, in the kitchen of some restaurant or hotel. Both of the women were older than they were in the earlier photos, and most notably, Lexi had some significant scarring along part of her neck and the bottom left part of her chin line, although it looked as though the scarring was at least a few years old. "I don't know what happened to Lexi in 2017, but it must've been particularly gruesome. She couldn't tell me how she got the scars, only that she got them in the service of her country, and that she regretted how they were keeping her out of field work, because they were too identifiable. She'd been saddled with desk duty, and in 2018, she finally quit the CIA." The image jumped again, and this time Lexi was in a dark suit with sunglasses, opening a door for some Middle Eastern shiek. "She tried her hand at personal protection for a while, but eventually gave up on that and just became a mercenary, drifting through private security firms, independent contractors who go where the money and the work is. Just before the virus set in, she'd returned to her place in Los Angeles from a six month tour as part of a PMC in Afghanistan, and she was shaken. She said she felt like her life was a mess, she didn't know what she was doing with it, and felt like she was just a giant burden on her friends and family." With another click of the button, a new image of Lexi popped on the screen, her at a gun range, the whole image practically the still from an action movie. "What I'm suggesting is this, sir. I think you should bring Lexi into the house to be your driver and personal security." Andy was about to say something when Jenny raised her hand to silence him. "I know what you're about to say, sir, and frankly it's bullcrap, pardon my French. With the small population of men remaining left in the United States, every single one of you has suddenly become a V I P, and you need to think not just of your own health, but the health of all the women who are dependent on your health for their own health. If something happens to you, you have over a dozen women right now alone who suddenly run the very real risk of dying. Being that my health is fundamentally based on yours for the time being, I know I would feel safer having Lexi watch out for you." Andy scratched his goatee for a long moment, realizing that every single thing Jenny had said to him was true, making him a little ashamed of how cavalierly he'd been treating his own health, the ramifications of it not having fully sunken in until this very moment. "You are completely justified in that thought, Jenny, and you are right, I had not been giving it the diligence it deserved." "Lexi has some heavy scars from whatever accident sidelined her at the CIA. They cover just a bit of her face, but almost a third of her neck and down to her collarbone. In spite of that, I think she's still a stunning woman, and I still wish she was bisexual, because I would do her in a heartbeat, but she only likes men. I know, because we fooled around together freshmen year, and the next morning, we woke up with very different perspectives on it. It's never gotten in the way of our friendship, though, so you don't have to worry there." "Scars only add character, they never remove it," Andy said, quoting a line from one of his books. "They're a point in her favor, not against it." Jenny's smile widened a bit more at that, as if she was proud of Andy for saying it. "That's how I feel too. She was pretty adventurous sexually in college, so I don't think there would be any deal breakers between the two of you there. The two red flags I feel obligated to bring up are these. First, she has a bit of PTSD, so she can tend to be a little jumpy from time to time, and likes to keep as much of her life as she can to routine, because it helps her feel organized about all of it. I don't worry about her having a full breakdown, but she gets stressed by firecrackers on the fourth of July, so there's clearly some strain still going on there." "I think New Eden is about as far from a warzone as you can get, Jenny." "Sure, but we won't be locked in here forever, sir. And your family already includes two women who are actresses known to love doing action films, so if you go to visit them on sets, you'll need to be aware of Lexi's elevated stress levels when you do." "That's entirely manageable," Andy said. "What's the other red flag?" Jenny frowned a little bit, looked to Ash, who nodded, then looked back to Andy. "The other red flag is that I suspect she's going to want more than a staff relationship with you at some point. I don't know that for certain, but Lexi is a diehard romantic, and when she finds out that so many men have died, it's going to hit her very hard, because she's always dreamed of having her own prince charming, someone who will love her for her, through thick and thin. I think she'll be able to get past the idea of sharing you with lots of other women, I think she'll be okay with you dividing your time or having multiple people in your bed, but I think she's going to want to forge that emotional connection with you like your partners do, and that's more than what you asked us for in terms of suggesting staff. She will absolutely be the best bodyguard you could ask for, and I don't think there's a better driver I know. But the terms Ash laid down were pretty clear,  staff should only recommend staff, not partners, and I think Lexi might well end up being both, so I'm hoping that's okay." "As I told ya when you pitched her t' me, Jenny," Ash said, "sometimes exceptions have to be made for exceptional people, and Lexi seems like a hell of an accomplished and talented woman. If Andy's okay with it, the rest of the house will be okay with it." Andy smirked a little bit. "No pressure or anything, but it's fine. And you're right, I hadn't been thinking about how much my health impacted so many people until right now, so it's important that I give that consideration. She seems like a lovely woman, and you speak of her very fondly, so while I'm not making any final decisions until I've heard from everyone, I think you wouldn't be wasting your time if you wanted to start crafting a video invite for Lexi." Jenny jumped up and ran around the table to hug Andy tightly, crying a little bit. "Thank you so much, sir. When I talked to her on the phone last week, she told me how much she wished she could meet a nice man just like you, so I just know she'll say yes. I already know she thinks you're cute." "Don't tell anyone else about this, though," Ash said. "All the staff decisions are being made independently from the family member ones, and while I know all the girls were rooting for Lexi to be brought here in some regard, not a word to anyone, not even Katie, until it's final, yeah?" Jenny pulled back and wiped the tears from her face, nodding so quickly Andy was afraid her head would roll off. "Yes. Got it. Very clear. Understood, ma'am. Sir. And thanks again." The portly girl made her way out of the room without even remembering to push the button to advance the screen to the next person, leaving Andy and Ash alone in the room. "Okay, Mr. Rook," Ash said to him, "five minute break. Stand up, walk around, stretch a bit. I'd ask if you wanted to squeeze in a quick shag, but I had me turn yesterday, so I'm good to wait a few more days. Wouldn't want to deprive some of the other girls of getting their itches scratched." Andy stood up, pulling one arm behind his head, then the other, stretching out. "Four presentations down, eight to go,” Chapter 25 After a handful of minutes stretching, Ash sent a text message for the next girl to make her way up. Andy had turned his notes over so that Aisling couldn't look at them, and he smirked a little, noticing her frowning at the back of the legal pad. "You said you didn't want to influence my decision, so I don't know why you should want to look at my notes, Ash." They had built a wonderfully natural teasing rapport with each other over the past few months, so Aisling knew he was joking with her, but was willing to roll with him. She grinned up as she reached across the table to push the button and advance the slide. "Next: Katie." The redhead moved to sit back in her chair, and shrugged in his direction. "I'm mostly just curious how you're reacting to what you've heard so far, and how your opinions differ from mine, which I'm sure they will, here and there. I've heard all these pitches a couple of times, so it'll be interesting to see how many predictions I get right." "Did you write them down?" "Well, no," Ash said. Andy grabbed his yellow legal pad and ripped out a single sheet from the bottom of it, sliding it and his pen across to her. "Alright, predictions then. Write them down now. Don't show them to me, but fold up the paper when you're done. We can have whoever's after Katie bring us an envelope to seal it up. Just around the time that Aisling was folding up the sheet of paper, Katie walked into the room, confident in her stride. Andy cocked his head to one side as she walked in the room. The Hispanic woman was, as it seemed she always was, wearing a button up shirt underneath jean overalls. "Do you own other clothes besides overalls, Katie?" he asked her. She stuck her tongue out at him, which made Ash giggle again. "I can be girly and shit, sir, but I mostly keep that for Jenny. How're the presentations going so far?" "You know the rules, Katie," Aisling politely scolded, "no talking about anyone else's pitch until the very end." Katie winked at her, shrugging a little. After Andy had settled her nerves about keeping a level of removal between him and her and her wife, Katie had relaxed massively and grown into a more comfortable relationship with the rest of the house. "Had to try. Anyway, let's get this fucking show on the road!" She grabbed the remote in her calloused hand and clicked the button as the screen behind her changed to an image of a slightly matronly looking woman in her early 40s, dark chocolate hair up in a bun, skin just slightly olive, some mix of European heritage that surely had to include either Italian or Spanish. The woman on screen wasn't overweight, but was certainly the most bulky woman that had been on the screen thus far, not fat, simply hefty. "This is Doctor Morgan Fitch. She's a general practitioner in Los Altos who also dabbles in pediatrics. In talking with everyone in the house, it's clear at some point, you are going to be in dire need of a nanny around this place, and having one who's also a damn doctor just seems like smart thinking to me. By this time in a couple of years, this house is practically gonna be a little city, so you need to make sure all the major staples are taken care of. Some of the girls will wanna be full time mommies, no doubt, but for the rest, you're going to want to have child care. If you need that anyway, why not have that person be a doctor?" "How do you know Dr. Fitch?" Andy asked. Katie blanched a little bit. "She's kinda an ex of mine." She raised her hand immediately, a sheepish smile on her face. "We didn't part on bad terms, promise! At the end of the day, she was into the whole polyamory thing, and I wasn't, so we split, but remained good friends. That was five years ago, just before I met Jenny, so it all worked out okay in the end. She's had relationships on and off since then, but nothing's stuck. She's mostly a lesbian, but doesn't mind the occasional bit of cock here and there, so I think she might be a good fit for a staff member. She once told me that she likes to fuck men, but never gets emotionally attached to them the way she does to women, and what with her being staff, she'd be okay to pursue a female partner to take care of her emotional needs." "What makes you think she'll want to join the household?" Ash queried. "Morgan loves constantly shifting problems, and this house is like nothing I've ever seen before. Even before you start spawning, you're gonna need a doctor to make sure your family is in the best condition possible. Until you're having kids, she can staff a clinic in town on a volunteer basis, so she's getting settled here in the mean time. She's bored with the people in Los Altos, and we've always been good friends, so I think knowing I'm here would make her more likely to come aboard." "Challenges you anticipate?" he said. "She'd be the oldest person in the house at 46, but I think it gives her wisdom. Also, you might find her a bit, blunt, until you get used to her." "How blunt?" Katie tried to hide a little smile, shrugging, as she pushed the button to advance the slide to a screen reading "Next: Lauren" in friendly white letters. "Subtle she ain't, sir. I have never met anyone more direct in my life. I've always been a little thankful that she wasn't my doctor, because her bedside manner is more than a bit lacking. But sometimes you need someone to just slap you upside the head. Sir. We all do. Morgan would fill that role. And if she ever gets too blunt for your liking, you can tell her, and maybe she'll dial it down a little bit, or realize that she might've once gone too far. She's direct, but she's never intentionally mean. And even if you don't think Morgan's a good fit for here, and I can completely respect that if that's what you decide, I still want to stress that you're going to be in dire need of a nanny here at some point soon, so to keep that in mind moving forward." "Point taken and noted, Katie. Anything else you wanna say?" Katie brought her finger to her lips, considering for a moment, then slowly stood up. "Just one thing. I know Jenny brought you her old roommate Lexi as a candidate, and I want to throw my weight behind that, even if it's at the cost of my own candidate. I would've not pitched someone else if I could've pitched Lexi twice, y'know what I mean? Lexi's had a shitty go of it and I desperately want her to be happy, and I really think she can be here." Andy chuckled a little. "Unorthodox, but sure, I'll keep it under advisement. Alexis did seem like an excellent candidate, so we'll see how it goes." "Thanks sir! Enjoy the rest of the cunt parade!" she laughed, heading out of the room. Ash shook her head at him with a smile. "I have no idea how you can be such a good poker player with a poker face like that." He grinned, giving her a saucy wink. "It's easier when you don't give a shit about your opponents. This is family, so I don't have to stay so stoic. Besides, I know Jenny and Katie are close, so it's okay to let them share a little secret on my behalf." "Oh we've all got our little secrets, Andy. If you're nice, maybe I'll even let you in on one eventually." He tsked her in jest, waggling a finger in her direction. "My girls are keeping secrets from me? Heaven forbid, what next?" "What's next is Lauren, and frankly, I will probably be spending this entire presentation with my hand over my mouth, desperately trying to stay quiet, and likely failing miserably." Aisling had a strange grin on her face that told Andy this next one might be a little unusual. He didn't have long to consider it, though, as the door opened and the statuesque Lauren strode into the room decked out in a workout track suit with the 49ers logo on it. "Hey Andy, Ash. Thanks for letting all of us do this. I can't tell ya if I'm presenting my candidate to you on a lark, because I think she's actually a good idea or because of the girl herself. Maybe some combination of all three. So let me just get right down to brass tacks," the Aussie said, as she moved to sit down across from them. She picked up the remote and clicked the button as the screen sprung to life. On the screen was an image of a 49ers cheerleader, a fit woman with a large blonde mane of hair like sun dried grass, bubblegum pink lipstick and a smile that was so wide Andy wondered if it hurt when she finally let her face relax. She was pretty in a sort of pageant kind of way, although he suspected she didn't look quite so forced in regular photos that weren't taken from the 49ers website. "This is Jade Dillon. She's been a cheerleader for the 49ers for about three years now, and is literally the most optimistic person I have ever met in my entire life. She is bubbly and chipper and all smiles even at the worst of times. When the pandemic set in, she sent the entire 49ers organization an email reminding them that adversity is simply opportunity in disguise. No lie, Andy, she is completely unflappable in every way possible. She's, she's like a golden retriever in a person! Peppy and enthusiastic and always full of confidence." Andy looked over and saw that Ash had, indeed, both of her hands over her mouth, trying to hold in her desire to laugh, but he could still hear tiny giggles threatening to escape. He looked back to Lauren, a slightly quizzical expression on his face. "I can't tell if you admire her for that or if it drives you crazy." "Both!" Lauren said, throwing up her hands, laughing at herself. "It's infuriating! Even when she was kneeling in protest alongside Colin Kaepernick, she was still smiling about it. I don't know what to do with her! I mean, I get it. She's a kindergarten teacher as her day job, so pennies on the dollar that's what helps her keep all that energy up, but strewth, I just don't know how she does it! I mean, she comes from money, so I imagine that's gotta help." "Oh yeah?" The tall blonde tanned Aussie nodded, pushing the button to show Jade in a more normal setting, in an evening dress standing next to an older gentleman who Andy knew he'd seen somewhere before. "Her daddy is Cormack Dillon, one of the cofounders of Bindr, that teleconferencing tool everyone's using these days, but she's sort of tried to distance herself from 'er daddy over the last few years. An', in a 'ain't it a small world' moment, Cormack Dillon was the guy Katie used to work for before she came here, so she and Jade know one another already." "I could've asked Katie about her then," Andy lamented. "Shame she was just here." Jade looked much more lovely without the pancake makeup, her blonde hair a waterfall of curls, although Andy was also taken aback for a moment, reflexively trying to estimate how much that necklace she was wearing must have cost. After a second, Andy recognized where the photo was taken “ at the prestigious Palace of Fine Arts, where every year the Silicon Valley elite held their own private high end gala. Lauren pushed the button again and the image changed to Jade in more casual clothes, sitting with a handful of other girls in some sidewalk cafe overlooking the Pacific ocean. She had to be under thirty. There was no denying she was fit and lovely, although Andy did wonder if growing up steeped in money had warped her in some way. "Well, you kin ask her before make your mind up. She might have some things to say to sway your mind one way or another, but I simply gotta tell you this one thing, because it is first and foremost the reason I want to bring her to you,” Aisling looked like she was ready to turn blue, trying to hold in her breath and her laughter, her face scrunched up, actual tears rolling down her cheeks, all to Andy's confusion. Lauren pushed the button again and the photo zoomed in, showing just Jade now, laughing and smiling. "Jade Dillion,” She pushed the button again and the image of Jade suddenly had a very large cartoon cherry resting on top of her head. "...is an honest to god twenty six year old virgin." At that, Aisling couldn't help herself, and started laughing furiously, which only made Lauren grin even wider as Andy kept looking between the two of them, wondering desperately if they were putting him on. "It's not for religious reasons, an' it's not something she goes out of her way ta advertise, hell, I doubt very many people even know that she's cherry. But I went out drinking with her and the rest of the Gold Rush girls one night after an away game, and Jade got pretty hammered so I had to help her back to her hotel room. And when I was holding her hair back while she chundered in the dunny, she told me that she'd never lost her virginity, and that boys suck, and sh

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In this deeply moving and powerful episode, Amy sits down with Nicole Fitch, a yoga therapist-in-training and future occupational therapist from Brisbane, Australia. Nicole shares her inspiring story of transformation—from losing her father in a tragic accident at age 15, through years of shutdown, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, to a life of purpose, connection, and embodied healing.Nicole's story is not just one of overcoming trauma—it's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the healing power of integrative practices. We explore how her early experiences shaped her nervous system, her years of navigating mental health systems, and how yoga became her refuge, offering her hope, empowerment, and the tools to reclaim joy.From teaching yoga in community centers and mental health hospitals to stepping away from teaching to focus on self-care and finishing her degree in occupational therapy, Nicole's journey is a rich example of conscious healing, radical self-compassion, and the winding, non-linear path to wholeness. Topics Covered:The moment that changed her life: a tragic loss at age 15Trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and dorsal vagal shutdownThe dark period of numbing, partying, and intrusive thoughtsOCD diagnosis and navigating the biomedical mental health systemThe turning point: a dream, a move to Queensland, and discovering yogaThe power of japa, prāṇāyāma, and meditation in finding peaceYoga as a tool and a potential bypass—why integration mattersTeaching yoga in non-traditional spaces and building communityBalancing being a mother and maintaining a personal identityWhy she's taking a pause—and how she's preparing for what's nextThe connection between OT and Yoga Therapy in mental health care Key Takeaway Quote from Nicole:"You can't rush your healing. Even if you are in complete darkness, there's always that glimmer of light through the clouds." Connect with Nicole: Nicole's offerings are currently on pause while she finishes her Occupational Therapy degree, but you can follow her journey and future updates via  Embodied Wisdom Therapies-https://www.embodiedwisdomtherapies.com.au/

In this episode, Scott Becker highlights three of the biggest stock declines over the past year, including Stellantis, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Trump Media.

In this episode, Scott Becker highlights three of the biggest stock declines over the past year, including Stellantis, Abercrombie and Fitch, and Trump Media.

Podcast Website: http://www.shakedownradio.com Mixcloud: http://www.mixcloud.com/chriscaggs Amazon Music Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3PhNuvZ Apple Podcasts / iTunes:  https://apple.co/3tfyyDP iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/3ss7wr2 Tune In App: http://tun.in/pmkVI Castbox: https://bit.ly/3maXTcb You Tube: http://www.YouTube.com/@chriscaggs 4PLAY.fm Dance Radio programmer by JimmyZ from Wild FM, Nova FM, 2RDJ-TM & Club [V] at www.4Play.fm ShakeDown Radio wiith Chris Caggs on Oxx Mixx Dance Radio every Friday Night 7pm Melbourne Australia at https://ozzmixxradio.com/ Catch ShakeDown Radio with Chris Caggs on the Liquid Radio Network at http://www.liquidradio.au Music for this radio show courtesy of the labels based in Australia Play MPE, Global PR Pool, Inflyte App and Xelon Digital Please Donate to help with running costs of this podcast on Patreon and buy me a $5 dollars Australian coffee - http://www.patreon.com/ChrisCaggs Or donate via Go Fund Me https://gofund.me/67c7b653 Follow Chris Caggs on Social Media: Threads @ChrisCaggs Facebook Friend Page www.facebook.com/chriscaggs Facebook Fan Page www.facebook.com/chriscaggsradio X www.twitter.com/chriscaggs Instagram www.instagram.com/chriscaggs Linkedin https://au.linkedin.com/in/chriscaggs TikTok @ChrisCaggs Hashtag #ChrisCaggs #ShakedownRadio Over the span of 25 Years across 15 Radio Stations - Chris Caggs has been on air at: Groove FM 96.9FM & 94.5FM - Sydney Groove FM 97.3FM - Brisbane DJ-FM 87.6FM - Sydney 2RDJ 88.1FM - Sydney 2NSB 99.3FM - Northside Radio Sydney Pump FM 99.3FM - Sydney 2ICR Radio - Sydney Mix It Up Radio - Brisbane STR8OUT Radio - Melbourne Mixxbosses Radio - Sydney Urban Movement Radio - Brisbane Liquid Radio - Snowy Mountains New South Wales - Dance Starter FM - Sydney - Dance Tune 1 Radio - Perth - Dance 4PLAY Radio - Queensland - Dance V1Radio - Melbourne - Dance Ozz Mixx Dance Radio - Melbourne Tracklist Super Disco Club vs Rubber People - I'm Going Back (Chusap Remix) Gordon City feat Caroline Byrne - Run It Back (Edit) Chris Lake - Savana (Edit) Calvin Harris feat Clementine Douglas - Blessings (Sgt Slick's Discotizer ReCut) AFTC feat Lisa Millet - Bad Habit (Club De Combat Remix Radio Edit) Sonny Fodera, Clementine Douglas - Tell Me (Prunk Radio Edit) Nic Fanciulli & Marc E Bassy - Hold On (Radio Edit) Poolclvb & Buoy - Clouds & Rain Ely Oaks - Running Around Vassy x RSCL - Beg (Radio Edit) WhO & David Penn - La Fiesta Catz n Dogz & Chandler - Classic Tiesto, Odd Mob & Goodboys - Won't Be Possible Armin Van Buuren & Sam Gray - Dream A Little Dream Pee Wee Ferris & John Ferris - Time To Make The Floor Burn (Club Mix 2025) Prok & Fitch, Kevin Knapp - Hey You

Podcast Website: http://www.shakedownradio.com Mixcloud: http://www.mixcloud.com/chriscaggs Amazon Music Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3PhNuvZ Apple Podcasts / iTunes:  https://apple.co/3tfyyDP iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/3ss7wr2 Tune In App: http://tun.in/pmkVI Castbox: https://bit.ly/3maXTcb You Tube: http://www.YouTube.com/@chriscaggs 4PLAY.fm Dance Radio programmer by JimmyZ from Wild FM, Nova FM, 2RDJ-TM & Club [V] at www.4Play.fm ShakeDown Radio wiith Chris Caggs on Oxx Mixx Dance Radio every Friday Night 7pm Melbourne Australia at https://ozzmixxradio.com/ Catch ShakeDown Radio with Chris Caggs on the Liquid Radio Network at http://www.liquidradio.au Music for this radio show courtesy of the labels based in Australia Play MPE, Global PR Pool, Inflyte App and Xelon Digital Please Donate to help with running costs of this podcast on Patreon and buy me a $5 dollars Australian coffee - http://www.patreon.com/ChrisCaggs Or donate via Go Fund Me https://gofund.me/67c7b653 Follow Chris Caggs on Social Media: Threads @ChrisCaggs Facebook Friend Page www.facebook.com/chriscaggs Facebook Fan Page www.facebook.com/chriscaggsradio X www.twitter.com/chriscaggs Instagram www.instagram.com/chriscaggs Linkedin https://au.linkedin.com/in/chriscaggs TikTok @ChrisCaggs Hashtag #ChrisCaggs #ShakedownRadio Over the span of 25 Years across 15 Radio Stations - Chris Caggs has been on air at: Groove FM 96.9FM & 94.5FM - Sydney Groove FM 97.3FM - Brisbane DJ-FM 87.6FM - Sydney 2RDJ 88.1FM - Sydney 2NSB 99.3FM - Northside Radio Sydney Pump FM 99.3FM - Sydney 2ICR Radio - Sydney Mix It Up Radio - Brisbane STR8OUT Radio - Melbourne Mixxbosses Radio - Sydney Urban Movement Radio - Brisbane Liquid Radio - Snowy Mountains New South Wales - Dance Starter FM - Sydney - Dance Tune 1 Radio - Perth - Dance 4PLAY Radio - Queensland - Dance V1Radio - Melbourne - Dance Ozz Mixx Dance Radio - Melbourne Tracklist Super Disco Club vs Rubber People - I'm Going Back (Chusap Remix) Gordon City feat Caroline Byrne - Run It Back (Edit) Chris Lake - Savana (Edit) Calvin Harris feat Clementine Douglas - Blessings (Sgt Slick's Discotizer ReCut) AFTC feat Lisa Millet - Bad Habit (Club De Combat Remix Radio Edit) Sonny Fodera, Clementine Douglas - Tell Me (Prunk Radio Edit) Nic Fanciulli & Marc E Bassy - Hold On (Radio Edit) Poolclvb & Buoy - Clouds & Rain Ely Oaks - Running Around VASSY x RSCL - Beg (Radio Edit) WhO & David Penn - La Fiesta Catz n Dogz & Chandler - Classic Tiesto, Odd Mob & Goodboys - Won't Be Possible Armin Van Buuren & Sam Gray - Dream A Little Dream Pee Wee Ferris & John Ferris - Time To Make The Floor Burn (Club Mix 2025) Prok & Fitch, Kevin Knapp - Hey You

Podcast Website: http://www.shakedownradio.com Mixcloud: http://www.mixcloud.com/chriscaggs Amazon Music Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3PhNuvZ Apple Podcasts / iTunes:  https://apple.co/3tfyyDP iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/3ss7wr2 Tune In App: http://tun.in/pmkVI Castbox: https://bit.ly/3maXTcb You Tube: http://www.YouTube.com/@chriscaggs 4PLAY.fm Dance Radio programmer by JimmyZ from Wild FM, Nova FM, 2RDJ-TM & Club [V] at www.4Play.fm ShakeDown Radio wiith Chris Caggs on Oxx Mixx Dance Radio every Friday Night 7pm Melbourne Australia at https://ozzmixxradio.com/ Catch ShakeDown Radio with Chris Caggs on the Liquid Radio Network at http://www.liquidradio.au Music for this radio show courtesy of the labels based in Australia Play MPE, Global PR Pool, Inflyte App and Xelon Digital Please Donate to help with running costs of this podcast on Patreon and buy me a $5 dollars Australian coffee - http://www.patreon.com/ChrisCaggs Or donate via Go Fund Me https://gofund.me/67c7b653 Follow Chris Caggs on Social Media: Threads @ChrisCaggs Facebook Friend Page www.facebook.com/chriscaggs Facebook Fan Page www.facebook.com/chriscaggsradio X www.twitter.com/chriscaggs Instagram www.instagram.com/chriscaggs Linkedin https://au.linkedin.com/in/chriscaggs TikTok @ChrisCaggs Hashtag #ChrisCaggs #ShakedownRadio Over the span of 25 Years across 15 Radio Stations - Chris Caggs has been on air at: Groove FM 96.9FM & 94.5FM - Sydney Groove FM 97.3FM - Brisbane DJ-FM 87.6FM - Sydney 2RDJ 88.1FM - Sydney 2NSB 99.3FM - Northside Radio Sydney Pump FM 99.3FM - Sydney 2ICR Radio - Sydney Mix It Up Radio - Brisbane STR8OUT Radio - Melbourne Mixxbosses Radio - Sydney Urban Movement Radio - Brisbane Liquid Radio - Snowy Mountains New South Wales - Dance Starter FM - Sydney - Dance Tune 1 Radio - Perth - Dance 4PLAY Radio - Queensland - Dance V1Radio - Melbourne - Dance Ozz Mixx Dance Radio - Melbourne Tracklist Super Disco Club vs Rubber People - I'm Going Back (Chusap Remix) Gordon City feat Caroline Byrne - Run It Back (Edit) Chris Lake - Savana (Edit) Calvin Harris feat Clementine Douglas - Blessings (Sgt Slick's Discotizer ReCut) AFTC feat Lisa Millet - Bad Habit (Club De Combat Remix Radio Edit) Sonny Fodera, Clementine Douglas - Tell Me (Prunk Radio Edit) Nic Fanciulli & Marc E Bassy - Hold On (Radio Edit) Poolclvb & Buoy - Clouds & Rain Ely Oaks - Running Around VASSY x RSCL - Beg (Radio Edit) WhO & David Penn - La Fiesta Catz n Dogz & Chandler - Classic Tiesto, Odd Mob & Goodboys - Won't Be Possible Armin Van Buuren & Sam Gray - Dream A Little Dream Pee Wee Ferris & John Ferris - Time To Make The Floor Burn (Club Mix 2025) Prok & Fitch, Kevin Knapp - Hey You

Joe Francis - Girls Gone WildOf all the late 90s and 2000s cultural phenomena to come under recent scrutiny – the Pam and Tommy sex tape, Woodstock 99, Abercrombie & Fitch, over-inflated Silicon Valley startups, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson's “wardrobe malfunction” – Girls Gone Wild is arguably the least surprisingly toxic. Started in 1997 by a fratty entrepreneur named Joe Francis, Girls Gone Wild sold VHS and then DVD videos of co-ed women, almost always intoxicated, baring their breasts on some hedonistic spring break trip in exchange for free underwear or hats.Francis dominated the soft-core porn market in the early internet days; millions of people purchased footage of the girls – often barely over 18 and sometimes younger, predominantly white, thin and blonde – getting badgered by cameramen to take more shots, take their tops off, make out with their friends, use sex toys on themselves. Obviously, this has not aged well. (Nor was it without controversy at the time.)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

RJ Larese is Vice President of Talent and Influencer Marketing for Paramount Global. He works with digital creators and unscripted talent for all the iconic Paramount brands and franchises, finding them opportunities within scripted and unscripted content, brand partnerships, consumer marketing, events, and more. Prior to joining Paramount, he was a talent, casting, and development executive with over a decade of experience at networks, production companies, and publishers, including ABC, ATTN:, Endemol, ITV America, and PopSugar. RJ has also cast and developed shows for Bravo, E!, Lifetime, MTV, NBC, TLC, TruTV, and VH1. He's worked with brands ranging from Abercrombie and Fitch, Banana Republic, Delta, General Mills, H&M, Invisalign, Moose Akedo, Sephora, Target, and Ulta. In 2021, RJ was named an AdWeek Young Influential. In 2022, he was on the Variety Power of Pride list for his contributions empowering the LGBTQUIA+ community in the entertainment space. In 2023, he was named on LA TV Week's 40 Under 40 honoree list, backed by Broadcasting and Cable.

HEADLINES:♦ HH Sheikh Hamdan Visits World's Largest Diamond Exchange at DMCC♦ Cloud Kitchens Are Booming in the GCC — And Kaykroo Is Leading the Charge♦ UAE-Based Flower Company Creates Labubu Bouquet Worth $8,100♦ Dubai Real Estate CEO Pushes Back on Fitch's 15% Property Drop Forecast

Americans are feeling better about the economy. What's that mean for stock investors? (00:21) David Meier and Asit Sharma discuss: - Why Americans are feeling better about the economy. - The headwinds facing Okta, and fundamentals for long-term investors to watch. - A retail round-up including Abercrombie & Fitch and Pinduoduo. (19:11) Former CEO of Siemens and Alcoa, Klaus Kleinberg, discusses his book, “Leading to Thrive: Mastering Strategies for Sustainable Success in Business and Life” and finding companies with sustainable competitive advantages. (32:03) David and Asit discuss Southwest implementing baggage fees and two radar stocks: SentinelOne and SoundHound AI. Companies discussed: CRM, INFA, OKTA, ANF, PDD, TJX, BBY, OTC: SIEGY, AA, LUV, SOUN, S Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: David Meier, Asit Sharma, Klaus Kleinfeld Engineer: Dan Boyd Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, "TMF") do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MRKT Matrix - Wednesday, May 28th Dow closes more than 200 points lower Wednesday ahead of Nvidia earnings (CNBC) Trump orders US chip designers to stop selling to China ⁠(FT)⁠ Fed worried it could face ‘difficult tradeoffs' if tariffs reaggravate inflation, minutes show (CNBC) Asia's $7.5 Trillion Bet on US Assets Is Suddenly Unravelling (Bloomberg) Japan Bonds Draw Weak Demand as Rise in Superlong Yields Sparks Concern (⁠WSJ⁠) Trump Bristles at ‘TACO Trade' That Bets On Him Backing Down (Bloomberg) Musk Says He's ‘Disappointed' That Trump Tax Bill Raises Deficit (Bloomberg) GM Invests in V-8 Engines as It Backpedals on EVs (⁠⁠WSJ⁠⁠) Luxury Brands Are Paying for Over-the-Top Price Hikes (⁠WSJ⁠ Dick's Sporting Goods stands by full-year guidance - even with tariff looming (CNBC) Macy's cuts profit outlook as tariffs, promotions hit its business (CNBC) Abercrombie & Fitch soars more than 15% even as retailer slashes profit outlook due to tariffs (CNBC) --- Subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠https://riskreversalmedia.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ MRKT Matrix by RiskReversal Media is a daily AI powered podcast bringing you the top stories moving financial markets Story curation by RiskReversal, scripts by Perplexity Pro, voice by ElevenLabs

Jharrone Martis believes there's pockets of strength in the retail space. She points investors to Abercrombie & Fitch's (ANF) 25% rally after earnings that showed strong sales from Hollister. She also sees upside in Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) and Five Below (FIVE). On Macy's (M), Jharrone mentions a "sea of red" in analyst expectations as she estimates the retailer to have downside tariff impact. George Tsilis offers example options trades in Abercrombie & Fitch and Dick's Sporting Goods.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Peter Schiff discusses recent financial market turmoil, significant growth in precious metals, and critiques Trump's policies and actions.This episode is sponsored by Square. Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://square.com/go/peterIn the latest episode of The Peter Schiff Show, host Peter Schiff provides an in-depth analysis of the recent turbulence in financial markets. Schiff discusses the significant rise in gold prices, which closed at its highest weekly price ever, while other precious metals like silver and platinum also saw a notable increase. He highlights the decline of the US dollar and reveals the consequences of tariff policies, emphasizing the need for listeners to consider precious metals and foreign equities as a hedge against impending economic challenges. Schiff also examines the Fitch downgrade of US government credit, linking it to unsustainable fiscal policies under both Trump and Biden administrations. Additionally, he scrutinizes the political and economic conflicts surrounding tariffs, privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and personal financial gains made by Trump during his presidency. Listeners are encouraged to stay in tune for more insights and remain proactive in safeguarding their financial portfolios.

The episode discusses Moody's recent downgrade of the US credit rating from AAA to AA1, outlining the potential impacts on rent, savings, and jobs. Matt explores the reasons behind the downgrade, previous downgrades by Standard & Poor's and Fitch, and the broader economic implications. It criticizes the US government's handling of its debt and highlights contrasting views from President Trump and major financial entities. The episode also provides a 'five-step exploit and escape strategy' to protect oneself, focusing on hedging with gold and Bitcoin, leveraging debt, securing cheap loans, investing in income-producing real estate, and using inflation to one's advantage. BUT BEFORE THAT, hear why Costco is acting like a central bank! About the "EXPLOIT & ESCAPE" strategy: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16EZMfOM_JYXbqs7t3OZ_fGXDqrWo0sdQ/view?pli=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Lee founded Parallaxes Capital in 2017. Previously, he was with Lone Star Funds, focused on investing in the Americas. He began his career at Citigroup. He has been featured in publications including The Wall Street Journal, Capital Allocators, Institutional Investor, NBC, Forbes, ReOrg Radio and Fitch's LevFin Insights. He has spoken at events and conferences for organizations such as the Association of Asian American Investment Manager (“AAAIM”) and leading academic institutions including the University of Illinois, University of Pennsylvania and Texas Christian University (“TCU”). Connect with Jon Dwoskin: Twitter: @jdwoskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.dwoskin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejondwoskinexperience/ Website: https://jondwoskin.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondwoskin/ Email: jon@jondwoskin.com Get Jon's Book: The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big!   Connect with Andy Lee: Website: https://parallaxescapital.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-andy/                             *E – explicit language may be used in this podcast.

00;02;30;09 - 00;03;41;11America's Debt Crisis: U.S. credit rating downgraded by Moody's, S&P, and Fitch, signaling a loss of confidence in America's fiscal stability. National debt nears $30 trillion, reflecting a chronic debt addiction rooted in decades of fiscal mismanagement.00;09;32;08 - 00;10;57;12Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill": Narrowly passed in the House (215-214), the bill includes tax cuts, no tax on tips/overtime, and border security funding. Critics warn it balloons deficits, lacking fiscal discipline, and mixes popular measures with controversial spending.00;34;20;19 - 00;36;48;05Scott Adams' Cancer Diagnosis: Dilbert creator Scott Adams announces stage 4 prostate cancer and plans assisted suicide. He admits anti-vaxxers were right about COVID shots but denies a link to his cancer. The host urges prayers for his healing and salvation.00;50;08;20 - 00;57;06;07David Knight's Stroke Timeline: David Knight suffered strokes on May 7 and 8, 2025, with critical blood pressure (233/150). Surgery on May 12 caused a third stroke and nerve damage. Partial recovery is underway, with gratitude for listener prayers.01;19;39;10 - 01;24;39;29Why Pray? (C.S. Lewis Institute): Questions why prayer matters if God is omniscient and omnipotent. Biblical passages (e.g., Matthew 7:7) and John Calvin emphasize prayer as essential for receiving God's promises and invoking providence. Failing to pray can forfeit blessings and hinder God's kingdom.01;46;50;27 - 01;49;04;24Fatal Police Error in New Mexico: New Mexico police killed Robert Dodson in April 2023 at the wrong address during a misdirected call. A judge deemed the shooting “reasonable,” raising concerns about militarized policing and lack of accountability for fatal errors.01;49;35;10 - 01;54;21;22Epstein's Intelligence Ties: Alan Dershowitz's plea deal for Jeffrey Epstein was influenced by Epstein's alleged Mossad ties, as confirmed by Acosta and other sources. Dershowitz's shifting stance and evidence from former associates highlight Epstein's role in a potential intelligence honeypot operation.02;00;58;27 - 02;07;39;11Game B's Origins and Influence: Conceived in 2011 by Jim Rutt and Jordan Hall, Game B promotes a trans-political alternative to the two-party system, linked to the Intellectual Dark Web. Figures like Brett Weinstein pushed the Emancipation Party, but critics see it as an influence operation steering toward a technological singularity.02;22;38;03 - 02;29;44;06Technocratic Dystopia and Ideological Manipulation: Game B's “sense-making” risks brainwashing, while Dark Enlightenment embraces technocracy. Both aim for a noosphere via internet-driven collective intelligence, using spiral metaphors and AI to erode free will, aligning with globalist visions like the UN's AI World Society.02;29;44;06 - 02;37;38;03Internet of Bio-Nano Things and Smart Cities: The AI World Society pushes smart cities (e.g., C40, Freedom Cities) and human-powered 6G technologies like the Internet of Nano-Bio Things. Ukraine is a central hub, with corporate ESG agendas (e.g., B Corps) enforcing control, masking dystopian surveillance as environmentalism.Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHT Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

00;02;30;09 - 00;03;41;11 America's Debt Crisis: U.S. credit rating downgraded by Moody's, S&P, and Fitch, signaling a loss of confidence in America's fiscal stability. National debt nears $30 trillion, reflecting a chronic debt addiction rooted in decades of fiscal mismanagement.00;09;32;08 - 00;10;57;12 Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill": Narrowly passed in the House (215-214), the bill includes tax cuts, no tax on tips/overtime, and border security funding. Critics warn it balloons deficits, lacking fiscal discipline, and mixes popular measures with controversial spending.00;34;20;19 - 00;36;48;05 Scott Adams' Cancer Diagnosis: Dilbert creator Scott Adams announces stage 4 prostate cancer and plans assisted suicide. He admits anti-vaxxers were right about COVID shots but denies a link to his cancer. The host urges prayers for his healing and salvation.00;50;08;20 - 00;57;06;07 David Knight's Stroke Timeline: David Knight suffered strokes on May 7 and 8, 2025, with critical blood pressure (233/150). Surgery on May 12 caused a third stroke and nerve damage. Partial recovery is underway, with gratitude for listener prayers.01;19;39;10 - 01;24;39;29 Why Pray? (C.S. Lewis Institute): Questions why prayer matters if God is omniscient and omnipotent. Biblical passages (e.g., Matthew 7:7) and John Calvin emphasize prayer as essential for receiving God's promises and invoking providence. Failing to pray can forfeit blessings and hinder God's kingdom.01;46;50;27 - 01;49;04;24 Fatal Police Error in New Mexico: New Mexico police killed Robert Dodson in April 2023 at the wrong address during a misdirected call. A judge deemed the shooting “reasonable,” raising concerns about militarized policing and lack of accountability for fatal errors.01;49;35;10 - 01;54;21;22 Epstein's Intelligence Ties: Alan Dershowitz's plea deal for Jeffrey Epstein was influenced by Epstein's alleged Mossad ties, as confirmed by Acosta and other sources. Dershowitz's shifting stance and evidence from former associates highlight Epstein's role in a potential intelligence honeypot operation.02;00;58;27 - 02;07;39;11 Game B's Origins and Influence: Conceived in 2011 by Jim Rutt and Jordan Hall, Game B promotes a trans-political alternative to the two-party system, linked to the Intellectual Dark Web. Figures like Brett Weinstein pushed the Emancipation Party, but critics see it as an influence operation steering toward a technological singularity.02;22;38;03 - 02;29;44;06 Technocratic Dystopia and Ideological Manipulation: Game B's “sense-making” risks brainwashing, while Dark Enlightenment embraces technocracy. Both aim for a noosphere via internet-driven collective intelligence, using spiral metaphors and AI to erode free will, aligning with globalist visions like the UN's AI World Society.02;29;44;06 - 02;37;38;03 Internet of Bio-Nano Things and Smart Cities: The AI World Society pushes smart cities (e.g., C40, Freedom Cities) and human-powered 6G technologies like the Internet of Nano-Bio Things. Ukraine is a central hub, with corporate ESG agendas (e.g., B Corps) enforcing control, masking dystopian surveillance as environmentalism.Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHT Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

On today's show we are talking about the risk premium being attached to US sovereign debt and how this has the potential to destabilize real estate markets for all US investors. We are accustomed to thinking that the Fed sets the interest rate. But the truth is that the Fed only sets one interest rate. That is the Fed Funds rate that banks use to lend to each other. The downgrade of the US debt by Moody's debt rating agency last Friday was a reflection of the government's persistent failure to adopt measures that would “reverse the trend of large annual fiscal deficits and growing interest costs.” Moody's was the third bond rating agency to downgrade the US sovereign debt after S&P and Fitch downgraded the US debt in August of 2023. It's not the downgrade per se that is the problem. The market makes its own determination and does not just look at what the bond rating agencies have to say.Spending is heading higher, regardless of who is in the White House. The demographic impact on entitlement programs is unavoidable. The population is aging and when the social security program was launched, there were 16.5 people in the workforce for every one person collecting benefits. Today there are 2.71 people in the workforce for every one person collecting benefits. By the mid 2030's, that number is expected to fall to 2.3 people working for every one person collecting. The math doesn't fund the liabilities. The current White House was elected on the promise of the economy and of fiscal responsibility. The latest budget bill that had wound its way through the Congress shows an increase in spending and a widening budget deficit. Despite desires to cut government waste and abuse, the impact seems somewhat muted. The bond market is clearly seeing significant risk to the ballooning US sovereign debt. This week's auction in new US Treasuries did not go well. The appetite for new paper from the US government was muted and the price that was bid for the 30 year was so low that the yield on the 30 year is now above 5%. The 30 year Treasury is a long denomination bond and its yield moves very slowly. To have the price for that bond drop so sharply in a matter of days has definitely rattled markets. ------------**Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

With longer-term U.S. interest rates rising and no plan to reduce the budget deficit, is a U.S. national debt crisis imminent?Topics covered include:Why S&P, Fitch, and now Moody's stripped the U.S. of its pristine AAA debt ratingHow the U.S. national debt dynamics compare to Greece, Italy, and JapanWhat are four things investors should monitor for signs that the national debt crisis is worsening or spiraling out of controlInsiders Guide Email NewsletterGet our free Investors' Checklist when you sign up for the free Money for the Rest of Us email newsletterOur Premium ProductsAsset CampMoney for the Rest of Us PlusShow NotesMoody's Ratings downgrades United States ratings to Aa1 from Aaa; changes outlook to stable—Moody's RatingsResearch Update: United States of America Long-Term Rating Lowered To 'AA+' On Political Risks And Rising Debt Burden; Outlook Negative—S&P GlobalInterest Expense and Average Interest Rates on the National Debt FY 2010 – FYTD 2025—FiscalData.Treasury.govThe Stark Math on the GOP Tax Plan: It Doesn't Cut the Deficit by Richard Rubin—The Wall Street JournalThe Long-Term Budget Outlook: 2025 to 2055—Congressional Budget OfficeWalmart says higher prices could hit this month due to tariffs by Natalie Sherman—BBCPost on May 17th, 2025; 7:27 AM by Donald J. Trump—Truth SocialWalmart responds to Trump comment that retailer should ‘eat the tariffs' by Kyler Swaim—The HillWhat's behind Japan's High Government Debt? by YiLi Chien and Ashley H. Stewart—Federal Reserve Bank of St. LouisRelated Episodes487: Are We Heading for a 2030s Depression? Global Economic and Population Shifts479: National Debt Master Class Finale – What To DoSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Moody's has officially downgraded the U.S. credit rating, joining S&P and Fitch in knocking the government off its AAA pedestal. NLW breaks down the political reaction, the muted market response, and why institutional investors still seem bullish on Bitcoin despite fiscal dysfunction. Plus, what rising transaction fees and ETF flows reveal about the next phase of the Bitcoin cycle. Enjoying this content? SUBSCRIBE to the Podcast: https://pod.link/1438693620 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBreakdownBW Subscribe to the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://blockworks.co/newsletter/thebreakdown⁠⁠⁠ Join the discussion: https://discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8 Follow on Twitter: NLW: https://twitter.com/nlw Breakdown: https://twitter.com/BreakdownBW

It's Tuesday, May 20th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson Fulani Muslim killed 15 unarmed Nigerian Christians On Saturday, May 17th, armed Fulani Muslim militia opened fire on Agatu Christians in Benue State, Nigeria, killing 15 unarmed men. Throughout that North Central region, the Fulani have also killed 159 Christian residents over the last 40 days, according to TruthNigeria.com.   Pray for Christians in Nigeria, suffering the most severe violence in the world today. Romania turns left after election interference On Sunday, Romania has taken the centrist-left position with the election of a new president named Nicușor Dan. Dan is supportive of Romania's participation in the European Union, and has made moves to approve the homosexual/transgender movement in his country. The more conservative candidate, George-Nicolae Simion, lost the election in a vote of 54% to 46%. Romania is the second largest Eastern European country by population.  The mainstream media is interpreting this election as an international rejection of the Trump agenda.  The back story is that Călin Georgescu, the conservative in the first round of the Romanian presidential election last December, garnered the most votes among the six presidential candidates at that time. After his opponents claimed that Russia had influenced the election through TikTok accounts, Romanian government officials detained Georgescu, canceled that election, and re-set it for May 18th.  Tens of thousands of Romanians protested in the streets back in March. At the time, Elon Musk said, “They just arrested the person who won the most votes in the Romanian presidential election. This is messed up.” Most and least benevolent countries According to this year's Gallup World Happiness Report, the most benevolent countries in the world, judged by donations and volunteer hours, are Indonesia, the United States, Kenya, Gambia, United Arab Emirates, Ireland, Canada, and New Zealand. The least benevolent countries are Afghanistan, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco.  Biden announces advanced prostate cancer Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an "aggressive form" of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, reports CBS News. On Sunday, President Trump posted on social media that he and First Lady Melania Trump are "saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis." Appearing on MSNBC's “Morning Joe” on Monday, former Obama health advisor Dr. Zeke Emanuel said the cancer is so advanced, he has had it for many years. SCARBOROUGH: “Doesn't it take some time for prostate cancer to develop to a point where it would spread to the bones?” EMANUEL: “He's had this for many years, maybe even a decade, growing there and spreading.” Dr. Emanuel explained how serious Biden's prostate cancer truly is. EMANUEL: “That Gleason score, that score is from 2 up to 10, and he's at a 9. That means that the cancer doesn't look normal. It looks very abnormal.” Appearing on Fox News with Jesse Waters, talk show host Hugh Hewitt was incredulous. HEWITT: “This is the fourth time, in a little over 100 years, that a Democratic president -- Woodrow Wilson, FDR, John F. Kennedy and now Joe Biden, have hidden crucial details about their health as Commander-in-Chief from the American people. Ronald Reagan did not do that. “And it just astonishes me that in a free republic, we have to worry about our leaders telling us whether they're healthy or not.” Supremes allows Trump to revoke protection for thousands of illegal Venezuelans On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling allowing the Trump administration to deport 350,000 Venezuelans who are presently living in the U.S. on what they call a “humanitarian parole,” reports NBC News. Christian camp sues over foolish transgender mandates The State of Colorado is threatening to shut down a Christian Camp called Idrahaje -- short for “I'd Rather Have Jesus.” The Colorado Department of Early Childhood has refused to grant the camp a religious exemption concerning its transgender policies. This would require the camp to allow boys, pretending to be girls, to sleep, shower, and dress with female campers. The camp has sued the state, with representation from Alliance Defending Freedom. The camp disciples 2,500 to 3,000 students each year with the mission to “win souls to Jesus Christ through the spreading of the Gospel.”  Camp Idrahaje has complied with all regulations until this year when the Colorado government officials released new gender identity rules that became effective on February 14, 2025. 96% of atheists embrace homosexual/transgender agenda The most likely group in America to support the homosexual/transgender agenda are atheists with 96% professing support.  By contrast, 70% of white Evangelical Protestants oppose the lifestyle. Psalm 14:1 describes the atheist this way: "The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works.” Mother loses right to disciple daughter Liberty Counsel is defending a mother in the state of Maine who has lost the right to guide the religious upbringing of her 11-year-old girl in a custody case.  This includes taking her daughter to Calvary Chapel services on Sunday.   A state district judge has ruled against the mother, citing “The ‘fear mongering,' paranoia, and anxiety taught by Calvary Chapel has, more likely than not, already had an impact on [the daughter's] childhood development.”   Expert testimony concluded that Calvary Chapel is a cult, the church's pastor a “charismatic” speaker, who spoke “authoritatively” in his messages, and that he asserted his messages were objective truth.   Liberty Counsel is appealing the case to the Maine Supreme Court. They still persecute people who preach about Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 says, “For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.” Housing prices sag Since June 2022, housing prices are sagging in some metro areas around the U.S. — 22.8% in the Austin market, 9.9% in the Phoenix market, 9.2% in the San Francisco market, 9.1% in the San Antonio Market, 7.3% in the Denver market, and 6.7% in the Dallas Market. The Consumer Price Index has also risen about 10% over that period of time. Moody's downgraded America's financial rating And finally, in a year-over-year comparison, the U.S. government is still breaking records for fiscal expenditures running 10% over Fiscal Year 2024. Moody's has downgraded the U.S. as a long-term issuer of bonds by one notch, ending a perfect rating for America over the last 108 years.  No longer does the U.S, government get a Aaa rating, the highest level available. Now, it's an Aa1. Moody's noted that the downgrade "reflects the increase over more than a decade in government debt and interest payment ratios to levels that are significantly higher than similarly rated sovereigns.” The rating organization added that: “Successive U.S. administrations and Congress have failed to agree on measures to reverse the trend of large annual fiscal deficits and growing interest costs.”   Another independent rating service, named Fitch, downgraded the United States in 2023.  Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, May 20th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe [CB] is pushing that tariffs are going to raise prices, it hasn't happened yet so they will try to show the people by raising prices, Trump is calling them out on this. The Fed has been in a holding pattern, Moody's just downgraded the US credit rating, picture becoming clearer. The big beautiful bill will destroy the fake news/D's narrative. Economic boomerang. Trump is exposing the entire [DS] system, the people need to see this. The system is fighting against Trump and We The People every step of the way. Trump needed the people to see this if we were going to go to the next phase, the people needed to approve Trumps next actions. Trump is now bringing in the Clinton/Obama angle. Did Trump just set the stage that all roads lead to Obama? Scavino sends message that the military might be the only way.   Economy  (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Foreign Investors Loaded Up on Treasury Securities in March Despite all the Turmoil in the Media  And in April, their purchases of long-term securities at Treasury auctions increased.  Buying US Treasury securities was all the rage among foreign investors in March, despite whatever turmoil there was in the media. All foreign investors combined, from central banks to private investors, increased their holdings of Treasury securities by $233 billion in March from February, and by $942 billion over the past 12 months, to a record $9.05 trillion (red in the chart). The majority of what they bought were long-term Treasury securities, which increased by $133 billion to a record $7.63 trillion, according to data by the Treasury Department Friday afternoon (blue in the chart). The buying was across the major holders, except for China and Hong Kong combined, and for Ireland. Of particular note: Canada's holdings of Treasury securities spiked majestically in February and March, despite the tariffs and the ultra-sour mood in Canada about US-anything. Increases in March, and total Treasury holdings: United Kingdom: +$29 billion, to $779 billion Luxembourg: unchanged, at $412 billion Cayman Islands: +$37 billion to $455 billion Ireland: -10 billion to $329 billion Belgium: +$7 billion to $402 billion Switzerland: +$21 billion to $312 billion.   Source: wolfstreet.com https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1923470842089902157 Moody's downgrade of US rating may not dent stock markets much: Analysts Global financial markets may not react much to Moody's Ratings downgrade of United States' rating from AAA to Aa1, believe analysts, except for a knee-jerk reaction, if any. At the domestic level, Indian stock markets would be focussed more developments such as progress of monsoon, corporate results and economic data. Talks on tariff-related issues with the US will also impact sentiment.   Moody's downgrade, they said, was more to get the rating in sync with Fitch and S&P, who have already downgraded US' ratings. While Fitch had downgraded the rating to AA+ from AAA in August 2023, S&P had lowered US' rating back in August 2011.  Source: business-standard.com https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1923496054017708041   The ‘Big,