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8.27.2025 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Maxine Waters Shreds Trump Power Grabs, Chicago Pushback, GA Election Denier FightCalifornia Congresswoman Maxine Waters is here to talk about what that twice-impeached, criminally convicted felon-in-chief, Donald "The Con" Trump, has been up to: from "firing" Federal Reserve Governor, Lisa Cook, to deploying the National Guard to D.C., to threatening other cities, like Baltimore and Chicago.Speaking of Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson says Trump's authoritarianism is not welcome in his city. He'll be here. Those idiots in the White House are telling the world they are taking over D.C. Union Station, when it's already under federal control. We'll talk to a D.C. councilmember about the real reason MAGA is attacking the capital city. A Fulton County, Georgia Commissioner says he's willing to go to jail to keep two 2020 election deniers off the county elections board. He'll be here to explain why. Download the Black Star Network app at http://www.blackstarnetwork.com! We're on iOS, AppleTV, Android, AndroidTV, Roku, FireTV, XBox and SamsungTV.The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
CannCon and Ashe in America bring sharp commentary and humor to a jam-packed news cycle. They kick things off with pop culture absurdities like Trump's tongue-in-cheek response to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's engagement, before diving into Cracker Barrel's logo flip-flop and the deeper culture war at play. The hosts tackle Snoop Dogg's swipe at woke Hollywood, expose shocking immigration failures including a sex offender hiding in a daycare, and unpack the federal trial of a judge accused of helping an illegal immigrant escape ICE custody. They then dig into the explosive revelation of “burn bags” tied to 2020 election corruption, Trump's push to sanction EU censors, and a heated battle over Pennsylvania's mail-in ballot rules. From Zelensky's illegitimacy and pipeline attacks in Europe to Fulton County's election board defiance and Trump's call to RICO the Soros family, this episode ties together cultural battles, global geopolitics, and the fight for election integrity.
Dr. Pamela Roshell's Plan for a Healthier Fulton County: Solving Health Deserts & Boosting Community Wellness Dr. Pamela Roshell is leading a comprehensive effort to transform public health in Fulton County, Georgia. Her strategy is a tailored, holistic approach that addresses the unique needs of communities from North to South Fulton. Roshell's mission focuses on tackling "health deserts"—areas with limited healthcare access. Through strategic partnerships, like the one with Morehouse School of Medicine, she is establishing new community clinics. These hubs offer essential services, including primary care and preventative screenings, to create a more equitable healthcare system for underserved residents. Leveraging her background as a former Obama Administration official and Regional Director for HHS, Roshell brings a deep understanding of securing federal funding for innovative, community-based solutions. A top priority is mental and behavioral health. Roshell is fighting the stigma and lack of access to care through new programs and expanded access points. Her work also directly benefits Fulton County's senior population, with initiatives that improve access to care and promote social engagement to combat isolation. Roshell believes in a holistic approach to community well-being, recognizing that public safety and the arts are interconnected with health. This 360-degree view helps her create policies that improve the overall wellness of the county's residents. Follow @fultoninfo Web: https://www.FultonCounty.gov Call: (404) 612-4000 About: Dr. Roshell, one of the highest regarded experts on health services in the south (and an Obama Administration Presidential Appointee!) – she'd love to talk about how Fulton County is improving quality of life for its residents through developing new clinics in “health deserts,” and working to solve critical health issues for individuals and families in the county's 15 municipalities (Fulton County extends from cities like Milton, Alpharetta, Johns Creek at the top to Fairburn, Chatahoochee Hills and more at the base of the long county!). This includes behavioral health and mental health, some very important topics these days! She is a delight! Please let me know the coordinates I should share with her, and I should have at least one other person to send you for the following day too... Dr. Pamela Roshell serves as Chief Operating Officer for Fulton County Government, where she provides executive leadership and operational oversight across key service areas including Health and Human Services, Economic Development, Public Safety, and Arts and Libraries. In this role, she manages a broad portfolio of countywide initiatives, directs a large and diverse workforce, and stewards a multi-million dollar operating budget that supports critical programs and services for Fulton County residents. She also ensures alignment with essential community partners, including the Fulton County Board of Health and the Department of Family and Children Services. Since joining Fulton County in 2017, Dr. Roshell has held several senior leadership roles, including Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Director of Senior Services. Her work has focused on advancing innovative strategies to improve service delivery, expand access to care, and strengthen outcomes for vulnerable populations. Prior to her service in county government, Dr. Roshell was appointed Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she oversaw federal health programs across the Southeast. She also held executive roles at the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), including serving as State Director for AARP Georgia, where she led advocacy, outreach, and program development for more than one million members. Dr. Roshell holds a bachelor's degree from Columbia College, a Master of Social Work with a concentration in administration from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. in social policy, planning, and administration from Clark Atlanta University. Ash Brown: Your Ultimate Guide to Inspiration, Empowerment, and Action Are you searching for a dynamic motivational speaker, an authentic podcaster, or an influential media personality who can ignite your passion for personal growth? Look no further than Ash Brown. This American multi-talented powerhouse is a captivating event host, an insightful blogger, and a dedicated advocate for helping people unlock their full potential. With her infectious optimism and genuine desire to empower others, Ash Brown has become a leading voice in the personal development and motivation space. Discover the World of Ash Brown: AshSaidit.com & The Ash Said It Show AshSaidit.com: A vibrant lifestyle blog and event platform, AshSaidit.com is your gateway to Ash's world. Here you'll find exclusive event invitations, honest product reviews, and a wealth of engaging content designed to inform and inspire. It's the perfect online destination to stay connected and get your daily dose of Ash's unique personality and insights. The Ash Said It Show: With over 2,100 episodes and over half a million global listens, "The Ash Said It Show" is a powerful and popular podcast. Ash engages in meaningful conversations with inspiring guests, diving into topics that truly matter. Listeners gain valuable life lessons, encouragement, and practical advice to help them navigate their own journeys. Why Ash Brown is a Leading Voice in Personal Development What truly distinguishes Ash Brown is her authentic and relatable approach to personal growth. She builds a genuine connection with her audience, offering practical advice and encouragement that feels like a conversation with a trusted friend. Ash doesn't shy away from life's challenges; instead, she provides the tools to tackle them head-on with confidence. Authentic Optimism: Ash's positive energy is contagious, empowering her audience to embrace new challenges with a more capable and hopeful mindset. Relatable Advice: Ash offers unfiltered, real-world guidance that resonates with people from all backgrounds. Her understanding that life can be tough makes her advice both honest and deeply encouraging. Actionable Strategies: Beyond just feeling good, Ash provides practical tips and strategies designed to help you turn your aspirations into tangible results. For a consistent source of inspiration, genuine encouragement, and actionable advice, Ash Brown is your ultimate resource. Her incredible positivity and unwavering dedication to helping others make her the ideal guide for maximizing your life's potential. Connect with Ash Brown: Goli Gummy Discounts: https://go.goli.com/1loveash5 Luxury Handbag Discounts: https://www.theofficialathena.... Review Us: https://itunes.apple.com/us/po... Subscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/AshSa... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1lov... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashsa... Blog: http://www.ashsaidit.com/blog #atlanta #ashsaidit #theashsaiditshow #ashblogsit #ashsaidit®Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-ash-said-it-show--1213325/support.
MUSICRIP: Ex-Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds has died at age of 51. Atlanta police say that Hinds was driving his Harley Davidson Wednesday night when the driver of a BMW SUV failed to yield while making a turn at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Boulevard and struck him. The Fulton County medical examiner's office confirmed Hinds's death to Atlanta TV station WANF this morning. https://loudwire.com/mastodon-brent-hinds-dead/ Bon Jovi's “Livin' on a Prayer” has surpassed two-million streams on Spotify.Millie Bobby Brown is a mom! The 21-year-old Stranger Things star and her husband, Jake Bongiovi, welcomed a daughter through adoption. They shared the baby news in a message to fans on Instagram. https://people.com/millie-bobby-brown-and-husband-jake-bongiovi-welcome-first-baby-together-8731794 Lil Nas X was arrested and hospitalized yesterday, after he was found wandering around Ventura Boulevard in nothing but his skivvies and a pair of cowboy boots. https://www.tmz.com/2025/08/21/lil-nas-x-hospitalized-possible-overdose/ NEW IN RECORD STORES AND STREAMING:Three Days Grace's Alienation includes "Mayday" and "Apologies," and sees original singer Adam Gontier rejoin the band.Deftones' 10th album is called Private Music.The Who's Live at the Oval 1971 is a previously unreleased concert.The Warning's Live From Auditorio Nacional, CDMX was recorded earlier this year in Mexico City. TVNetflix has dropped the first teaser trailer for Black Rabbit, a gripping limited series starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman. https://people.com/black-rabbit-trailer-jason-bateman-and-jude-law-11794409 Nicolas Cage is in talks for Season 5 of "True Detective". Cage is in talks for the lead role of Henry Logan, a New York detective on the case at the center of the new season, sources said. A rep for HBO declined comment.https://deadline.com/2025/08/nicolas-cage-true-detective-season-5-hbo-1236494884/ Erik Menendez was denied parole Thursday after more than 36 years behind bars for the 1989 murders of his parents. Menendez, now 54, appeared via videoconference at a nearly 10-hour hearing before the California Board of Parole Hearings, which cited concerns over his prison misconduct — including contraband cellphones and other violations — and ongoing risk to public safety. The board ruled he must serve at least three more years before becoming eligible again. Officials also noted that his brother, Lyle Menendez, is scheduled for a separate hearing the following day. Apple TV Plus is hiking its prices to $13 per month effective now. https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/apple-tv-plus-price-increase-streaming-subscription-1236494949/ Serena Williams is the latest celebrity to admit to using the GLP-1 weight-loss medication. https://www.today.com/health/womens-health/serena-williams-glp-1-weight-loss-rcna226141?taid=68a70e2b1c816e0001ca7f3c&utm_campaign=trueAnthem_manual&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter MOVING ON INTO MOVIE NEWS:1. "Relay" (R) Trailer: A thriller starring Riz Ahmed as a corporate fixer who risks his life to protect a new client played by Lily James. She's on the run from a team led by Sam Worthington after coming into possession of evidence of an unlawful coverup. 2. "Honey Don't" (R) Trailer: Margaret Qualley plays a private investigator looking into some mysterious deaths tied to a shady church run by Chris Evans. It's directed by Ethan Coen and also stars Charlie Day and Aubrey Plaza. 3. "Eden" (R) Trailer (Limited): A survival thriller about three group of outsiders who settle on a remote island in 1929, only to discover that their greatest threat is each other. It's directed by Ron Howard and based on a true story. Jude Law and Vanessa Kirby just wanted to live in isolation, but their solitude is broken first by Daniel Bruhl and Sydney Sweeney, then by a baroness (Ana de Armas) who threatens to build a hotel on their island paradise. 4. "Splitsville" (R) (Limited) It opens nationwide on September 5th: Adria Arjona tells her husband she's been cheating and wants a divorce. But once their neighbors reveal the secret to their happiness is an open marriage . . . he crosses a line by having his own affair with Dakota Johnson. Glen Powell is taking himself out of the James Bond conversation. https://www.eonline.com/news/1421403/glen-powell-on-james-bond-casting-rumors AND FINALLY Is there a celebrity you absolutely CANNOT stand for petty reasons? People online are sharing their thoughts: https://www.buzzfeed.com/chelseastewart/disliked-celebs-for-petty-reasonsAND THAT IS YOUR CRAP ON CELEBRITIES!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Two national figures made stops in Georgia this week to test out political messaging for the 2026 elections. Meanwhile, four major U.S. Senate candidates all gathered in one room. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Rahul Bali and Brendan Rivers discuss the early start to the campaign season. Plus, Fulton County Commissioners defy a judge’s order and could face jail time and a Georgian who rose to national prominence during the 2020 election considers running for Secretary of State.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Two national figures made stops in Georgia this week to test out political messaging for the 2026 elections. Meanwhile, four major U.S. Senate candidates all gathered in one room. On this week’s episode of “Plugged In,” hosts Rahul Bali and Brendan Rivers discuss the early start to the campaign season. Plus, Fulton County Commissioners defy a judge’s order and could face jail time and a Georgian who rose to national prominence during the 2020 election considers running for Secretary of State.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We're at the "elected local officials could be jailed for their votes" portion of the slow-roll to full-on MAGA authoritarianism in the United States. Fulton County Democrats are refusing to seat two election denier Republican nominees to its election board, with the county and state GOP now seeking legal recourse which could include fines and jail time for commissioners who keep voting to refuse seating those nominees. They're not refusing to seat Republicans, period; just these two, particular (as Fair Fight calls them) 'conspiracy theorists.' Joining me to discuss are Fulton County district three commissioner Dana Barrett - who's seeking to unseat commission chair Rob Pitts - and Fair Fight's Max Flugrath. Max and I further discuss Fair Fight's activism for voters being disenfranchised by mass voter purges occurring right now; purges that disproportionately affect voters of color. ------In Florida, that state's transportation department cowering to Trump transportation secretary Sean Duffy's anti-gay, anti-woke screed to whitewash rainbow crosswalks and other street messaging from America's roads, took all the color out of the Pulse Nightclub crosswalk memorial.Because the cruelty is the point. It isn't speaking to "all lives matter," for sure.
Hey writers! Sarina here! I have never been quiet about how much I enjoy Karin Slaughter's work. So when the opportunity arose for me to read her brand new book, We Are All Guilty Here, and then interview her about it, I raised my hand faster than an extra in a deodorant ad. The new book is a series starter with a kickass female heroine, and I could not have loved it more! Join as as I quiz Karin on: * How to write a sweeping series starter* Small towns as a setting. How small is too small?* The difference between a procedural and psychological suspense* Character development and much more! Karin is incredibly smart and such an important voice in suspense. You won't want to miss this one!Other favorite's of Karin's that we discussed include:Pieces of Her The Grant County seriesHey, Jess here to talk to you about a series I have created just for supporters of the #AmWriting Podcast.I met an aspiring author and speaker who has an idea for a book that just knocked me over. I said, please, please write that book. This is someone who had an idea that has a place in the market. It's timely. She's the perfect person to write it, and I asked her, I begged her, if I could please mentor her through this process publicly on the podcast.So while we're not giving her full name and we're not giving the actual title of the book, because we don't want to hand those things away, I am coaching her through the entire process, from preparing her book proposal to querying an agent. I'm going through the whole thing with her. She knows nothing about the publishing industry, she knows very little about how one goes about writing a book—so essentially, this is as I mentioned before, from soup to nuts, From Authority to Author, and hopefully we'll get her there.But really, whether or not this book ends up selling, whether after this book she ends up having a speaking career, this is about the process of preparing to do that. I hope you'll join us.This series is for supporters only, so if you are a free subscriber right now, consider upgrading. Remember, if you upgrade, you'll also get the ability to submit for our First Pages Booklab, and lots of other fun stuff that we put out just for supporters—So come join us. It's a lot of fun.Transcript below!EPISODE 461 - TRANSCRIPTJess LaheyHey, Jess here to talk to you about a new series I have created just for supporters of the Hashtag AmWriting Podcast. I met an aspiring author and speaker who has an idea for a book that just knocked me over. I said, please, please write that book. This is someone who had an idea that—it has a place in the market, it's timely, she's the perfect person to write it—and I asked her, I begged her, if I could please mentor her through this process publicly on the podcast. So while we're not giving her full name and we're not giving the actual title of the book, because we don't want to hand those things away, I am coaching her through the entire process, from preparing her book proposal to querying an agent. I'm going through the whole thing with her. She knows nothing about the publishing industry. She knows very little about how, you know, one goes about writing a book. And so she—essentially, this is, as I mentioned before, From Soup to Nuts, From Authority to Author, and hopefully we'll get her there. But really, whether or not this book ends up selling, whether this book—she ends up having a speaking career—this is about the process of preparing to do that. How do you write a book? How do you prepare to become a speaker on the back of that book? So I hope you join us. This is a series for supporters only, so if you are a free supporter—or if you're a free subscriber right now—consider upgrading. Remember, if you upgrade, you'll also get access to the ability to submit for our First Pages Booklab and lots of other fun stuff that we put out just for supporters. So come join us. It's a lot of fun.Multiple SpeakersIs it recording? Now it's recording, yay. Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. I don't remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay, now one, two, three.Sarina BowenHello, my name is Sarina Bowen, and you're listening to the AmWriting Podcast. This is the podcast about writing all the things—short things, long things, fictional things, non-fictional things, pitches and proposals—in short, this is the podcast about sitting down and getting the work done. I am alone today with an interview that I could not be more excited about. I don't know how I drew the long straw here, but today I have the pleasure of interviewing Karin Slaughter. She is the author of more than 20 instant New York Times best-selling novels, including the Edgar-nominated Cop Town and standalone novels The Good Daughter, Pretty Girls, and Girl Forgotten. That's actually an amazing one, by the way—go read it. She's published in 120 countries, with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. She also has a number one Netflix series and another long-running series. She has hit all the bells and checked all the boxes in thriller land, and she is also just one of my favorite writers. So happy to be here. Welcome, Karin Slaughter.Karin SlaughterIt's my pleasure. Thank you.Sarina BowenWe're here to talk about your August release, which is called We Are All Guilty Here. I received this ARC a few months ago—actually read it immediately—because I love your suspense, and I also was really excited to see that it was clear as day on the release. So you owe me now that it's a series starter.Karin SlaughterIt is, yeah. It was a lot of fun planning it out.Sarina BowenOh, good, yeah. And I want to hear a little bit about that, but I'm just going to read the very short flap copy for We Are All Guilty Here so we all know what we're talking about.[Reads flap copy]The first thrilling mystery in the new North Falls series from Karin Slaughter. Welcome to North Falls—a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think. Until the night of the fireworks, when two teenage girls vanish and the town ignites. For Officer Emmy Clifton, it's personal. She turned away when her best friend's daughter needed help—and now she must bring her home. But as Emmy combs through the puzzle the girls left behind, she realizes she never really knew them. Nobody did. Every teenage girl has secrets. But who would kill for them? And what else is the town hiding?So, flap copy very much pitched as a thriller. Here is the problem here—you know, we're wanting the solution, but I would argue that your novels are always, always about bigger than the problem and its solution. So how did you conceive of this town, and what does North Falls mean to you as you were getting into it?Karin SlaughterWell, I mean, North Falls is a very small town inside of a larger county. So it's rural, but it's not tiny like my Grant County Series. And I think that I learned some lessons in Grant County—mainly, make it a larger town so there's more people you can kill, because at a certain point, why would anyone live in this tiny town? But also, I knew going into it that it was going to be a series. And so, you know, unlike Grant County and Will Trent—which I was hoping would be series, but I wasn't sure, and I was at a different point in my writing life—you know, I'm pretty sure, 25 books in, that they're going to publish at least two or three more of my books. So I thought, let me set this up as a series, and let me do this world building that can carry on into several books, and let's make this town. You know, North Falls is the seat of the county, but it's also in a county called Clifton County. And the main narrator you meet is called Emmy Clifton, and she's a sheriff's deputy. Her father, Gerald Clifton, is the sheriff of this county. There are Cliftons everywhere—there are rich Cliftons and poor Cliftons—and so you have this family saga potential. But also, it gave me the opportunity to plant a lot of different seeds that will later grow into novels. So I was really happy about that, but I definitely structured the county in a way where there's plenty of space to tell stories.Sarina BowenRight. So I noticed, and when I read a book like this, I am reading it as a reader, but also as a writer.Karin SlaughterYes.Sarina BowenAnd so I really noticed how long the character count in this book is—by which I mean how many characters there really are, how many named characters. There's so many of them, and that felt really fearless to me, you know, like you weren't sitting there at your keyboard wondering if you were going to ask your reader to remember this other family member, but you just went for it. And is that something that you ever try to balance? Like, you're not taking it easy on us here, and ultimately, I loved every word of it. But do you ever worry about that? Like, do you let that voice from other books past into your brain to say, like, well, that one time…Karin SlaughterNot really. You know, I think a writer's job is to trust the reader, and it's certainly my job to tell a story that is gripping and that makes sense and that pulls them into the world. And so what I was thinking about as I was writing this was, I need to write these characters in such a way that you care about them; otherwise, you won't care what happens. And, you know, Emmy is in a pretty universal position for a lot of millennial women. She's in a marriage that's not a great marriage. She's trying to raise her son. Her parents are starting to get older—you know, they're failing a little bit—so she's noticing that. And in the middle of this, she has this horrific crime happen where these two girls are abducted. And because they are in this small town, she knows one of these girls, who's actually a stepdaughter of her best friend—her best friend since kindergarten—and so just that one thing happening blows her world apart. To me, that's what the hook is. You know, there's this greater mystery of what happened to these girls, what's going to happen, who took them—all those things—but there's also something that I rely on a lot in my books, which is the mystery of character, and people wanting to know more about how does Emmy navigate this. What happens to her brother and her sister-in-law, and this handsome guy who is the school resource officer? You know, how does this all play out? And that, to me, is the job of the writer—to make these characters interesting and make the plot and the balance of the character stories fit together in a way that, you know, when there's not a car chase or a gunfight or whatever, you still want to keep reading because you're involved in the mystery of the character.Sarina BowenYeah, and we sure are. And Emmy is just the beating heart of this book, but she is not your only point of view character. And how—is that something you really have to fiddle with as you go, like, do you try on other point of view characters and then pick the winners as you go?Karin SlaughterYeah... I never have, you know, I think that I'm a very opinionated writer. I have a very firm sense of point of view. And so I knew that Emmy was going to get the bulk of the first part of the story. And then I knew that Jude was going to come in when she came in, and that I would have to build out, like, just drop the reader in this unfamiliar, new world, right in San Francisco, with like, a completely different character, and you don't know what's going on, and you make assumptions about her based on what she does for a living and all this other stuff. And you know, I knew that was coming all along and that the book would be told from these two women's points of view. I never felt—other than the early part with Madison, one of the girls who is abducted—I never really felt like anyone else could tell these stories.Sarina BowenOkay! And you mentioned that you learned some things from writing your Grant County Series that informed your choice of the size and milieu of what you chose for North Falls and for Clifton County. What do you think? How did it feel to start a series in 2025 versus starting one, you know, a decade ago? Like, is there anything about the world that made your choices different, or is it all, um, you know, coming from what you've learned as an author?Karin SlaughterYeah, I think it's cumulative. I mean, the point of being an author with a 25-year career is to learn from each book, and I never want to feel like when I finish a book, oh, that's perfect. I can't do better than that. I always, you know, want to learn something, and then the next book I want to try something new. I mean, I could have just kept writing Will Trent novels and occasionally standalones for the rest of my life. I mean, and I am going to write more Will Trent novels interspersed with North Falls. It's really important to me to—I love that character, I love Sara Linton, and I want to keep telling those stories. And I actually have another idea for a standalone I want to do. But, you know, the point of being a writer is to get better at it. I think anybody who loves writing and the challenge of writing, and feels a calling, wants to be better with each story—to hone certain skills, to do novel things (to use a pun there) in their writing that challenge them and make the work more interesting—and that's what I try to do with every book. So starting North Falls this far into my career was a leap, but I think, hopefully, it's one that has paid off for me as a writer, just to have the ability to tell new stories and kind of prove that I've got more stories in me.Sarina BowenYeah, I confess that I regularly have moments where I stop myself and ask, have I said this before this way? Have I done this little thing before? And what would you tell me about that—like, to just, like, get over myself? Or, you know, what happens when you come to a moment like that in your own story craft?Karin SlaughterWell, I mean, in polite terms, you could think of it as an homage to yourself. I mean, honestly, I'm writing about murder. I'm writing about violence against women. I mean, I do write about men dying, but no one seems to care—so sorry, guys. You know, I had one book where I killed, like, six men, and then the next one I killed one woman, and they were like, wow, this return to violence. I'm like, come on, guys. But yeah, you know? So I think how you do it is you have to think of it through the lens of the character, and that's a choice I made in Grant County and Will Trent—was that they were going to be affected by what happened in the previous book, right? So, you know, you don't have a situation—you know, I love series novels, but there are some where… and Jack Reacher is an exception because I love Jack Reacher, and every Reacher book is: he gets to a new town, people are doing bad s**t, and he shoots a lot of people, and he makes it right, you know. And I love Jack Reacher. But, you know, some writers do write the same thing over and over again—they have the same concept or the same gimmick—and that's never been a career that I'm interested in. For me, I want to tell new stories and do new things. And, you know, after a while you run out of crimes that are new crimes. You know, I've written about abduction before, I've written about abuse before, but it's the character—the way the character sees a story, and the connection, the emotional connection the character has—that makes a difference. And, you know, in many ways, it's harder to write a novel in North Falls, where Emmy has a personal connection to the crimes that are occurring, as opposed to writing a Will Trent novel set in Atlanta, where, you know, it's a stranger to them. And so I have to...Sarina BowenIf Will Trent knew—yeah, if Will Trent knew every dead person, that would just seem weird.Karin SlaughterYeah, exactly, yeah. And so I have to find a way into the story, and with Will and Sara, for instance, it's a little more difficult than something where, okay, there's this immediate emotional connection, because I'm writing in North Falls more psychological thrillers, as opposed to Will Trent, which is more procedural.Sarina BowenOkay, can I poke you about that a little bit? Because, um, these words are used a lot. Procedural, to me, I've always understood to be a professional character. So Emmy Clifton is a law enforcement officer—she's a pro—so in strictly, strict definition, this is a procedural novel. But how do you feel the difference between psychological versus procedural functions in those two series?Karin SlaughterWell, you know, I think absolutely, if you want to be strictly by definition, it would be procedural. But, you know, the thing about thrillers is they're all things now, right? I mean, you could call it domestic—a domestic thriller, or domestic mystery, or whatever—you could call it, you know, a family story. And I think of it more as a saga, because it is about a family spanning generations, and this town spanning generations. But, you know, yeah, there's a procedural element. There's also—like, it's very emotionally tied into the character. There's a darkness to it, so it's psychologically, you know, you're very close to the bone on it. And I think that's why I would call it more of a psychological thriller, as opposed to Will Trent where, you know, it's very led by the investigatory steps, right? Like, you know, if Will Trent is going to be there, they're going to talk to witnesses, they're going to talk to suspects, they're going to, you know, have to fill in with their boss. There are just different parts of that that, in one way, the structure makes it easier to write than something like We Are All Guilty Here. But, you know, with this in particular, where you have it talking about not just the crime, but how f*****g hard it is to grow yourself into a woman, as Emmy says, and friendships and relationships and family and dealing with aging parents and, you know, siblings and that sort of stuff—that, to me, is what makes it more in the realm of psychological.Sarina BowenOkay. I've actually really admired the way that you sometimes walk the line on this. For example, I really enjoyed Girl Forgotten, which is the character that is first introduced in Pieces of Her, where she is not a professional. And then in Girl Forgotten, she has joined a law enforcement agency, but it's still her first day on the job—which is just such a wonderfully fun way to throw things at that character—because then it becomes both a procedural and not. Like, she is technically a professional, but she doesn't know what the heck she's doing, and not everybody there is willing to help her. So to me, that was a fantastically fun way of making both things true at once. And when I was reading that book, and of course then this one, I wonder—how you get the legal—the law enforcement stuff? So, like, how did…I know that by now, at this point in your career, you must have many people you can talk to about this, but how did you start that? Like, how did you inform yourself of what you didn't know so that you could fix it and not get those things wrong?Karin SlaughterYeah, you know, when I wrote my second book, I had met a guy who's a doctor, and he is married to a pediatrician, and his brother works on a body farm in Texas. So this is, like, the perfect family for me for what I'm doing to make Sara the smartest doctor on the entire planet. Because, you know, it might take my friend David, who advises me, four days to come up with a solution, but Sara has to do it in half a paragraph. So she's definitely the doctor you want if anything very unusual happens. I mean, her career would be the subject of scholarly articles forever.Sarina BowenZebra is not horses for her.Karin SlaughterExactly, yeah. And so I am…I have them—I have a lot of police officers I speak to, a lot of retired GBI officers. One of them was very helpful in this novel because, you know, the GBI—it escalates, you know, crimes in the state of Georgia escalate completely when there's a child involved, just because, you know, somebody who's in Fulton County can't jump to Acworth, for instance, as far as policing, but the GBI is in charge of the entire state—Georgia Bureau of Investigation—so they handle a lot of kidnappings and abductions. And most of the time, you know, it's statistically…there's a 1% chance it's going to be a stranger. Usually it's a parent or “Uncle Bob,” or, you know, the youth pastor, or someone like that who has access to a child. And so she hooked me into the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which is a remarkable resource. And, I mean, I think they're just amazing in what they do. But, you know, the thing is, as much as I know about this stuff, I always check my work because I'm not a professional. And, you know, it's very rare these days, I think, for people to say, hey, I'm not an expert in this, let me talk to someone who is and has spent 20 years becoming an expert. But it's really important to me to get those details as correct as I can. Now, they're not always going to be 100% accurate because I'm telling a story, you know? If putting in a chest tube takes 20 different steps…Sara's going to do it, you know, in like a sentence.Sarina BowenRight.Karin SlaughterSo I have to—but I feel like I need to know the rules and I need to know the facts before I fudge them so that I can still give them a sense of believability. I'm writing…not writing textbooks, I'm writing fiction, but I want to be as accurate as possible, and I think that's really important, you know? And I know that a lot of my readers are very immersed in true crime and podcasts and all these sorts of things. And sometimes you can get the accurate information from those. A lot of times you don't. And I want them to say, wait a minute, you know, on “Murder Death Podcast”, they said this would never happen, and if they look it up, or they talk to an expert, they'll be like, ha, “Murder Death Podcast” was wrong. You know, maybe I shouldn't trust this guy or gal who's doing a podcast out of the backseat of her car for my forensic knowledge. So that's my job as a writer—to get it as factually accurate as I can.Sarina BowenYeah, and there are areas, um, where readers care more. Like, when I ask readers, um, what do you—what drives you nuts in research? It's the nurses are really, like, um, triggered by bad medicine. But…Karin SlaughterYeah.Sarina BowenBut there are some areas, you know, like technology, and there are some places where, you know, less accuracy—or more creative accuracy—is more excusable than if you do the nurse thing wrong, because they will come for you.Karin SlaughterYeah, yeah, they will. Or guns…Sarina BowenRight.Karin SlaughterYou know? And it's really because the armorer for the GBI—I actually confirmed some details with him in a book—and, like, some guy in, I don't know, Idaho sent me this angry email saying I got it wrong. And I'm like, talk to the armorer, right? I mean, people…people just want to fight sometimes. But yeah, nurses can be brutal when they come for you. It's like, come on, man. It's funny that you mentioned doctors, actually; doctors are like, you know, people get it wrong, but nurses are like, no, you got this wrong, you need to apologize.Sarina BowenIt's funny that you mentioned the guns, because I heard last year Gregg Hurwitz speak, and he said, “Don't get the guns wrong. The gun people will come for you. And don't hurt the cat, because the cat people will come for you.”Karin SlaughterTrue. It's true. I would say the cat people are more brutal than the gun people.Sarina BowenYeah.Karin SlaughterAs it should be. You should never hurt an animal in a book.Sarina BowenRight. So back to the idea of a series again. I was so excited to see that this will be a series, and I—the expansiveness of the first book makes a lot of sense series-wise. What do you think is actually harder about writing a series versus a standalone, or the reverse?Karin SlaughterWell, you know, in a standalone, the stakes can be much higher because you're not going—you can damage these characters. I mean, you can kill the characters. You can kill them all by the end of the book, you know? So the sense of jeopardy is always heightened in a standalone, at least in my standalones, because I'm not precious with people, even if they're narrators. But, you know, I think it's really important to—no matter what you're writing—just keep in mind that there's someone out there who has experienced the crimes you're writing about. And, you know, a case of gender violence is happening right now, and right now, right now, and right now, right? So it's like every second of the day in the world, it's happening somewhere. And I keep that in mind when I'm writing, and I want to make it matter. I don't want to use it for effect—it's not titillating or sexualized, or any of those things. So, you know, when I'm writing—whether it's a standalone or a series—I want to set up that world where the lives of these people matter, and you understand that the loss of life is felt in the community, and by the family, and the characters, and the investigators, and everyone there. And so, you know, the challenge with the standalone is finding that world, building that world, and then leaving that world, right? It's a lot of work, as opposed to in a series where you know you're going to carry it on. So you have to be a little careful about how you structure things, and you don't want to leave your character in a place where the next book you don't know how they're going to go on, also. And so you have to have some sense of hope, or some sense of closing that one chapter and moving on to the other. I mean, I use a lot of humor in my books. I get a lot of questions about the violence, but I never get questions about the humor. I think it's really important to have that lightness among the darkness. I mean, my grandmother used to say, “You can't fall off the floor,” and I'm a big proponent of that. I think at some point, you know, you have to have some relief from it. And in a standalone, you know, you have a very short runway to do that, but in a series, you have a longer…you know, you can trust the reader, as they get to know these characters, that they have a little more empathy and sympathy with what they're going through.Sarina BowenYeah, so you mentioned darkness, and I've been thinking a lot about this. And your books have some very dark topics and themes, as they must, because you are carrying storylines that are, um, can be very dramatic and have very high stakes. One thing I've noticed about your books, and why I like them so much, is that even in the year of our Lord 2025, when I pick up a Karin Slaughter book, it could be dark as anything, but I know from at least chapter one and a half who I am rooting for and who I care about. So Emmy is a wonderful example of this. Ten minutes into my journey with her, I know that she's my girl. You know, I'm very invested in her, even though that does not mean she has to be perfect, that she isn't flawed, or that she even knows what's going on—but I know, because of the cues that you've given me, that I'm supposed to care about her, and I do instantly. So when I began reading lots and lots of suspense three or four years ago, as I was writing my own, I very quickly sorted all of the suspense in the world that's selling right now into two pots, without trying to—which is the books where I know who I'm supposed to root for immediately, and the books where you don't. And I noticed that that second category is awfully popular now, and maybe is sort of on an upswing, like where the mystery, the story, might be very beautifully rendered, but I don't necessarily care about any of the people, or I'm not sure who to pull for. And that's not because these books aren't well written, but because that's a mood, and I wonder if you've noticed that, and, um, and how you feel about it, just from a writerly perspective. Like, what is going on there? Like, why is there so much darkness in the reader's perspective, and, you know, not just in the themes right now?Karin SlaughterWell, I mean, I think it's where we are, just in the world, right? You had a lot of that before 9/11, and then there was a need after—I mean that, and I speak to 9/11 because that's…my first book was published a few days after 9/11, so…Sarina BowenOh, wow.Karin SlaughterAnd there was this idea, like, you saw it in the TV show 24, where there's good and bad, and there's, you know, black and white. It's very—and then we've moved definitively toward grays. But, you know, I like books where you know where you stand. And I have written books with unreliable narrators at times, and, you know, Gillian Flynn did it best and kicked that off. But, you know the thing about an unreliable narrator or an antagonist being your narrator is, I prefer a Tom Ripley, right? I mean, Tom Ripley, Patricia Highsmith's character, is decidedly a bad guy. He murders and steals and, you know, but you're rooting for him, even not to get caught, you know. And a lot of the tension comes from him making really stupid mistakes, and you're cringing as a reader and thinking, God, how's he going to get out of this? And I don't want him to get arrested, even though he's this bad guy. And I love books that play against that. I think sometimes we have books where people—I mean, what you're saying about not knowing who to root for—I mean, if they're a good antagonist or they're a good foil, like a Moriarty…I mean, a lot of times you're not rooting for Sherlock, you're rooting for Moriarty. It just depends on how it's drawn. But for me, I just felt like, you know, this is sort of a return to Grant County, which is…I started writing Grant County, and, you know, you believe that Jeffrey and Sara and Lena, for the most part, were always trying to do the right thing. And I think we've lost the benefit of the doubt for a lot of people—particularly police officers have lost the benefit of the doubt—which is very troubling, because they police with our consent. And we need to understand who we're giving consent to. And we need to understand—you know, “defund the police” has been, like, a buzz…buzzword, phrase, whatever, for a while now, but rural areas, particularly in smaller states, have been defunding the police for years. And it's not a movement or anything; it's just not paying people enough money to live off of, right? So we've got police officers who have two or three jobs, rather than professionals who have one job, and that pays their bills, and they can take care of their responsibilities with that. So we've been defunding them. We don't give them enough training, and we're just seeing an erosion of that. And so it's something that I'm going to talk about a little bit in this next novel—is that defunding of police and how it's been, like, a nationally…it's been a real issue. We're seeing a deterioration in police forces because of it, and particularly in retention. And so that's definitely something I want to talk about, but I think you have to put it in context and take the politics out of it, because it's not politics. It's just people not having money to pay, or choosing not to pay for services that they really need.Sarina BowenRight. Or it is politics. It's just not party politics. It's just…Karin SlaughterExactly, yeah, yeah.Sarina BowenIt's just bad politics.Karin SlaughterYeah, well, it's bad social engineering.Sarina BowenYes.Karin SlaughterBasically. So it's there…if you could look at it from a sociological standpoint, it's just a really bad idea. And, you know, you don't retain good officers. So what do you have when that's over? You know, and not to say, like, paint entire police forces as bad because they're just not making money—but, you know, it takes…all it takes is a few bad cops, and a police force is in jeopardy.Sarina BowenRight, like, would you rather live in a state where the cops and the teachers were paid well, or a state where they weren't and…?Karin SlaughterYeah, yeah.Sarina BowenWell, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with us today about all of these story craft problems that were mired in all week along. If listeners want to find you, where is the best place for them to look, besides the bookstore, where this this book is coming?Karin SlaughterWell, I I'm all over social media. All you have to do is search for me. You see a little black cat with gorgeous green eyes. That's my baby boy, Dexter. So that gives you an indication of it. You're in the right place, or Facebook, obviously, but yeah, I'm all over the place.Sarina BowenWonderful! Thank you so much for being with us today, and listeners, until next week—keep your butts in the chair and your heads in the game.Jess LaheyThe Hashtag AmWriting Podcast is produced by Andrew Perilla. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe
A shooting suspect and one DeKalb County police officer are dead after an active shooter situation played out near the campuses of the CDC and Emory University; Class action lawsuit seeks to reverse state's denial of transgender care to inmates; and drinking and flushing are about to cost more in Fulton County. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's August 6, 2025, and these past several days have felt like a relentless ride on the legal rollercoaster that is the ongoing saga of Donald Trump's court trials. Just this week, chatter around Trump's name in courtrooms from Manhattan to Atlanta has heated up again, and the energy outside those courthouses is as buzzing as ever. Let me walk you through where all the high-stakes proceedings stand, and how Trump—now back in the White House—remains a central figure in the courtroom drama that continues to grip the nation.First, New York. The city's legal powerhouse, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, made history last year by securing Donald Trump's felony conviction. Back on May 30, 2024, a jury found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, stemming from hush money payments and bookkeeping maneuvers during his first presidential run. But what turned more heads in January 2025 was the sentence. Justice Juan Merchan handed Trump an unconditional discharge—which means no jail time, but the felony conviction remains on his record. Even with Trump now serving as president again, the legal and political weight of being the only U.S. president ever convicted of a felony still looms large over his administration. Protesters and supporters alike continue making their presence known along Centre Street, where the courthouse became a national stage.Down in Florida, federal prosecutors faced a stunning twist in what was billed as the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. Last July, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the entire indictment against Donald Trump. Special Counsel Jack Smith, who had charged Trump with more than 30 counts of mishandling national defense information and several counts of obstruction, suddenly saw his case collapse over a controversy about his own appointment and funding. Although Smith appealed, by the end of January 2025 the Department of Justice had withdrawn all appeals—effectively ending federal prosecution in that venue, at least for now.Meanwhile, Fulton County, Georgia remains a focal point of public interest, as Trump and a cohort of alleged co-conspirators face charges connected to alleged interference in the 2020 election. The sheer number of defendants and legal maneuvers has kept this case from reaching trial quickly, but it's set to escalate in the coming weeks. Observers in Atlanta watch for the next moves from District Attorney Fani Willis, whose office charges Trump and others with racketeering and other election-related offenses.While those three criminal trials dominate headlines, there's more just beneath the surface. Federal courts in Washington, D.C. have paused most proceedings as higher courts continue to hash out Trump's arguments that he's immune from prosecution for acts taken while president—a fight reignited by a Supreme Court decision just days ago, sending questions about presidential immunity back to the lower courts. That pause means, for now, any trial regarding Trump's actions leading up to January 6 remains at a legal crossroads, adding yet more uncertainty to the picture.From Manhattan to Miami and Atlanta to Washington, the narrative of Trump in court remains ever-evolving—a mix of sharp legal arguments, unexpected dismissals, and the ceaseless spin of political consequence. As the country watches, the weight of these court proceedings shadows the highest levels of government.Thanks for tuning in to this week's recap. Don't forget to come back next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out QuietPlease.ai.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
Judge tells state election board it must welcome two controversial GOPers; Geoff Duncan, long accused of being a RINO [Republican in name only], cleared all that up today by jumping to the Democratic party; and Fulton County seems likely to pass double-digit property tax hike. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Donald Trump's court battles have dominated national headlines this past week, unfolding across multiple jurisdictions and touching on core questions about presidential power and American democracy. I'm here to take you through the whirlwind developments, connecting the dots so you get the full picture.Let's begin with the most high-profile outcome: the historic New York case, The People for the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump. After a months-long trial, Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in Manhattan. That guilty verdict was delivered back in May of 2024, but what many found surprising was Justice Juan Merchan's sentencing decision in January. Trump faced the possibility of jail time, but ultimately received an unconditional discharge. That means, despite the felony convictions, no jail, fines, or probation—a legal oddity that analysts say was influenced by both the unprecedented nature of the case and its proximity to the 2024 election.Meanwhile, in the Southern District of Florida, things took a sharp turn regarding Trump's handling of classified documents. Originally, the indictment included 32 counts of retaining national defense information and several other obstruction-related charges. However, on July 15, 2024, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the indictment altogether, ruling that Special Counsel Jack Smith's appointment was improper. The Department of Justice did try to appeal, but by early 2025, those efforts had quietly ended, leaving Trump unscathed in that federal case.Georgia's Fulton County has also played host to legal drama. Trump and 18 others were indicted, accused of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results. While this sprawling RICO case has moved slowly, it remains one of the most closely watched state efforts.On a separate legal front, there's been fresh turmoil over Trump's executive actions. This week, Chief Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. ordered the Trump administration to answer tough questions about how they implemented Executive Order 14248, which mandates proof of citizenship for federal voting, restricts mail-in ballots, and ties election funding to compliance. Plaintiffs, which include the Democratic Party and civil rights groups, argue the order threatens to disenfranchise millions. The administration now faces a tight August 15 deadline to provide answers. This is happening as Trump's team also appeals a court order that blocked key provisions of the same order, keeping uncertainty swirling around future voting rules.And it's not just voting rights on the docket. The Trump administration's new policy authorizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest people attending mandatory court hearings has triggered an urgent lawsuit. Groups like the New York Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU are fighting this policy, calling it an unprecedented assault on due process and immigrant rights.It's a dizzying array of legal fights involving not just Donald Trump himself but the very machinery of his administration—the outcomes of which could fundamentally reshape the legal landscape and the 2026 election season.Thank you for tuning in to this court update. Come back next week for more insights and breaking developments. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out QuietPlease.ai.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
The Georgia State Election Board voted to seek assistance from the DOJ to “bring any action necessary” to obtain the voting records of Fulton County from the corrupt 2020 election. Yet, Fulton County continues to refuse to turn over their results, defying a subpoena, because they know what it will reveal. Later, Morgan Lerette joins to talk about his book, Guns, Girls, Greed, which recounts his time in the Middle East as a private contractor! All this and more on today's Untamed! Happy Friday!
I want to jump right in and take you through the remarkable and historic courtroom drama of Donald Trump's past few days as we stand here on August 1, 2025. With legal developments swirling on multiple fronts, Trump's name remains front and center in American headlines, and the cascade of rulings, verdicts, and appeals is still shaping the nation's political landscape.First, let's talk about the New York trial that made history earlier this year. In Manhattan, in the case of The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump, a grand jury indicted Trump on thirty-four counts of falsifying business records. This trial kicked off on April 15, 2024, and by May 30, a Manhattan jury reached a decision that shook the nation: Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts. On January 10, 2025, Justice Juan Merchan sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge, meaning no jail time or probation, but the felony convictions will remain—a symbolic but significant mark in legal and presidential history. Despite the magnitude of this unprecedented conviction of a former and now future president—he won the 2024 election—Trump continues to contest these results in the court of public opinion.Meanwhile, there's been major movement in federal court as well. Down in the Southern District of Florida, Trump and two aides, Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, faced a sweeping indictment over handling of classified documents after leaving office. But in a stunning twist on July 15, 2024, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the charges, ruling that Special Counsel Jack Smith had been improperly appointed and funded. The Justice Department initially appealed, but as of January 29, 2025, they dropped the challenge—a technical but decisive win for Trump, who had always proclaimed his innocence and called the prosecution a witch hunt.Over in Washington, D.C., the federal case hinging on Trump's actions surrounding January 6 and allegations of conspiracy to defraud the United States has also been a source of high drama. Earlier this summer, the Supreme Court determined that Trump had presidential immunity for official acts but not for private conduct. This sent the January 6 case back to District Judge Tanya Chutkan to sort out which of Trump's actions were actually official and which weren't. As of right now, all pretrial activity is paused until at least October 24, 2024, as the courts sort through the legal aftermath of that ruling.Georgia's massive racketeering case in Fulton County has been another headline-maker. Originally, District Attorney Fani Willis was leading the charge, but in December 2024, the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified Willis after fierce legal battles. That left prosecution leadership in limbo, and as of now, the case remains stalled, with Trump and co-defendants awaiting a new direction from Georgia prosecutors.Throughout it all, Trump maintains he is not guilty of any crime, arguing that all indictments are politically motivated. None of the convictions or pending trials disqualified him from running in 2024, and in fact, on November 6, 2024, Trump won back the presidency. After inauguration, long-standing Justice Department policy means prosecution would be paused while he is in office, shifting legal momentum in his favor.Thank you for tuning in to this whirlwind court update on Donald Trump. Make sure to come back next week for more, and remember, this has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 30, 2025Must County Boards Certify an Election? Yes, Says Unanimous Georgia Appeals Court.Last year, we reported that the Georgia State Board of Elections passed new rules aimed at disrupting or overturning the 2024 Presidential election. One of those rules, allowing members of county election boards to do their own investigation before certifying an election, was just unanimously struck down.Some podcasting platforms strip out our links. To read our resources and see the whole script of today's report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgToday's LinksArticles & Resources:American Democracy Minute - (2024) Ninety Days Before the Election Georgia Launches ‘Voter Registration Cancellation Portal' and Changes Rules on Certifying Elections American Democracy Minute - (2024) Republicans Appeal to Georgia Supreme Court to Restore Fringe Georgia Election Board Rulings Struck Down by Lower CourtsState Court Report - (2024) Georgia Supreme Court Declines to Reinstate Controversial Election Rules Georgia Court of Appeals - Opinion in A25A0685. ADAMS v. FULTON COUNTY et al. Georgia Pulic Radio - Georgia appeals court agrees: Local election officials must certify resultsGroups Taking Action:Protect Elections, ACLU GA, Common Cause GARegister or Check Your Voter Registration:U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your StatePlease follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email? Sign up here!Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #ElectionCertification #Georgia #ElectionSabotage #2024Election
It's Sunday, July 27, 2025, and what a stretch it's been in America's courtrooms — and, as always, at the center of it all is Donald Trump. Listeners, you hardly need another reminder, but the whirlwind of legal proceedings around the former President has only escalated these past days.Let's begin with the New York saga, which has truly left its mark. Back on May 30, 2024, a Manhattan jury convicted Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, the culmination of the People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump, a trial that gripped the city and the nation. On January 10, 2025, Justice Juan Merchan issued a sentence that was both historic and controversial: unconditional discharge. That means although Trump's record will show these felony convictions, he won't serve jail time or probation. Even after sentencing, new legal skirmishes followed, as Trump's legal team sought a federal court removal of the state case — and when Judge Hellerstein rebuffed that attempt, Trump appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, keeping the legal drama alive.Meanwhile, the classified documents case in the Southern District of Florida has taken a dramatic turn. Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the federal indictment on July 15, 2024, agreeing with Trump's lawyers that Special Counsel Jack Smith's appointment and funding were improper. The Justice Department filed a rapid appeal, but on November 29, 2024, they dropped their challenge against Trump, and by January 29, 2025, dropped the remaining appeals against Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, Trump's co-defendants. This effectively closed, for now, perhaps the most nationally watched criminal case over allegations that Trump retained national defense documents after leaving office.Georgia presents another battlefield. Trump and 18 co-defendants were indicted in Fulton County on August 14, 2023, for alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Litigation has been relentless: fellow defendant Mark Meadows petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for a review after losing an attempt to move his state case to federal court. Meanwhile, all the defendants' appeals and attempts to have District Attorney Fani Willis disqualified have been combined for a massive set of upcoming oral arguments.The Supreme Court hasn't been quiet either. Just this week, on July 23 and June 27, the Court issued stays involving Trump. These touch on his presidential powers and executive authority, especially battles over the reach and block of various injunctions — and a host of new challenges with both political and practical consequences.If you've been counting, that's a thicket of legal action stretching from Manhattan courthouses to the Supreme Court in Washington, embroidering Donald Trump's 2025 with history-making spectacle. Every day seems to bring a new filing, a fresh appeal, or a landmark ruling, ensuring the Trump trials remain front-page news and the top story at every legal water cooler.Thanks for tuning in to this week's courtroom chronicle. Don't miss us next week for more updates and insights — this has been a Quiet Please production. For more, visit QuietPlease.ai.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
In the most recent developments surrounding Donald Trump's court trials, things have remained complex and charged with legal maneuvering. Starting with the situation in New York, the case known as The People for the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump saw a definitive moment early this year. On January 10, 2025, Judge Merchan issued a sentence in the case involving 34 counts of falsifying business records. This stemmed from charges brought by a Manhattan grand jury back in March 2023. The trial began in April 2024 and concluded with Trump being found guilty on all counts by a jury in May 2024. Notably, rather than imposing jail time, Judge Merchan sentenced Trump to an unconditional discharge, effectively ending that chapter of the criminal proceedings in New York City.Meanwhile, the federal case out of the Southern District of Florida took quite a different turn. This indictment, originally unsealed in mid-2023, accused Trump, along with aides Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, of multiple serious offenses including 32 counts of willfully retaining national defense information, along with obstruction of justice and making false statements. However, on July 15, 2024, Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the indictment, ruling that Special Counsel Jack Smith had been improperly appointed and funded. Despite the Justice Department's initial plans to appeal this dismissal to the 11th Circuit Court, the appeal was later dropped in early 2025 for Trump and his co-defendants. This dismissal significantly stalled the federal government's efforts on that front.In Georgia, Fulton County prosecutors indicted Trump and 18 co-defendants on August 14, 2023, on charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. This case has been closely watched as it involves state-level allegations tied to election interference. Trump has pursued strategies to move the state charges into federal court, but as of late 2024, those efforts were unsuccessful. Appeals and motions continue to shape the battlefield there, showing that Georgia's legal drama remains active and ongoing.Adding dimension to the legal landscape, the federal courts recently allowed Trump's administration plans to move forward toward significant federal workforce reductions. On July 8, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily stayed a federal judge's injunction against these reductions, signaling a judicial willingness to let the executive order proceed for now. This work force downsizing stems from an executive order Trump issued in February and marks continued legal engagement beyond just criminal trials.Throughout these parallel legal stories, Trump's persistent use of appeals and motions characterizes much of what's unfolding. From questions about the appointment of special counsels to multiple attempts to shift venues or delay proceedings, the legal strategy has been as important as the evidence itself. As these cases unfold in courtrooms from New York to Florida to Georgia, the nation watches a historic legal saga that could redefine presidential accountability.Thank you for tuning in to this update on the ongoing court trials involving Donald Trump. Be sure to come back next week for more insights. This has been a production of Quiet Please, and for more information, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
Welcome to The Georgia Politics Podcast! On the show today, we are joined by Sandy Springs City Councilman Tibby DeJulio for Part 2 of our mini-series on the incorporation of the City of Sandy Springs. Sandy Springs City Councilman Tibby DeJulio joins to recount the decades-long push to incorporate Sandy Springs and the grassroots movement that powered it. He reflects on the community's determination and the 2005 vote in which an overwhelming 94% of residents supported cityhood. DeJulio offers a behind-the-scenes look at how residents transformed a long-standing vision into one of Georgia's most successful incorporations. Connect with The Georgia Politics Podcast on Twitter @gapoliticspod Hans Appen on Twitter @hansappen Craig Kidd on Twitter @CraigKidd1 Proud member of the Appen Podcast Network. #gapol
These past few days in American history have been a test of endurance for everyone following the legal odyssey of Donald Trump. Listeners, as of today, July 16, 2025, the former president has remained right at the center of an extraordinary legal saga. Let me walk you through what's unfolded—because the courtrooms, from Manhattan to Florida to Georgia, have been abuzz with critical developments.Let's get right to the main event from the past year: the Manhattan criminal trial. Back on April 15 of last year, in People v. Donald J. Trump, proceedings began in New York City where Trump faced 34 felony counts for falsifying business records—an unprecedented criminal case against an American president. The details emerged rapidly, and less than two months later, on May 30, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts. The charges stemmed from the alleged cover-up of hush money payments intended to influence the 2016 election. Justice Juan Merchan presided and, on January 10 of this year, handed down a sentence—but delivered an unconditional discharge. This means Trump was legally convicted on all counts, but did not face incarceration or probation. The courtroom was tense, with Trump's legal team seeking to appeal, but the conviction remains on the books. In the aftermath, both sides filed motions and appeals, but New York became the first place in U.S. history where a former president stood convicted of felony crimes.The legal battles didn't stop there. Down in Florida, in the Southern District, Trump faced federal charges for handling classified documents—32 counts of willfully retaining national defense information, five counts of obstruction, plus charges for making false statements. Trump's team caught a major break on July 15 of last year: Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that Special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought the charges, was improperly appointed and funded, leading to the dismissal of the indictment. The Department of Justice tried to appeal, but ultimately dropped it, closing that chapter for Trump and his co-defendants.Georgia's Fulton County, meanwhile, brought its own storm, with sweeping indictments accusing Trump and a group of allies of racketeering and conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election. Even as these state charges wind through the courts, each defendant is trying various legal maneuvers—Mark Meadows, for example, took his case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to move it to federal court, but was turned down. Disputes over the roles of prosecutors, especially District Attorney Fani Willis, continue, but the tight legal calendar pushed most action into next year.Stepping back, the Supreme Court has also been central in Trump news this July. Just last week, on July 8, the Court allowed the Trump administration to move forward with executive orders to reduce the federal workforce—a case that isn't directly criminal but dramatically affects Trump's influence over government operations. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson famously dissented, warning about “irreparable harm” and raising concerns over presidential power. So, even outside the criminal courts, legal battles tied to Trump's presidency are shaping the landscape.Listeners, it's hard to recall a time when so much of American legal and political life revolved around a single figure. With trials, appeals, and Supreme Court showdowns, the Trump era remains anything but settled. Thanks for tuning in—don't miss next week for more. This has been a Quiet Please production; for more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
I am not able to generate a full script in excess of 350 words within this platform's response limits, but I can craft a sample script that is vivid, natural, and within the word range you requested, based on recent events and current news regarding Donald Trump's court trials and legal actions.Let's dive in.This is a story of legal battles and presidential power, right from the headlines of the past few days—a story where Donald Trump continues to loom large over the American legal landscape. Just as the summer heat rises, so too does the temperature in the courtroom. According to multiple sources, including Lawfare and SCOTUSblog, Trump's legal journey has been anything but predictable.In early May, Lawfare covered the twists and turns of Trump's trials, starting with the aftermath of the New York case where, back in May 2024, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. By January 2025, Justice Juan Merchan had sentenced Trump to unconditional discharge, essentially closing the book on that chapter for now—though appeals and challenges continue to ripple through the system. Over in Florida, the federal indictment concerning classified documents saw a dramatic turn. Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case after ruling that Special Counsel Jack Smith's appointment was improper. The Justice Department eventually dismissed its appeals against Trump and his co-defendants, Waltine Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, in early 2025. That case, for now, has quieted.But the Supreme Court has not. The 2024-25 term, as SCOTUSblog recounts, was filled with legal fireworks, especially for Trump. The Supreme Court ruled that former presidents enjoy presumptive immunity for official acts—a major win that played a role in Trump's return to the White House and his outsized influence over the Court's docket. The justices also handed Trump another victory by limiting the power of federal district judges to issue nationwide injunctions. That set the stage for new legal battles, such as challenges to Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship—described as “blatantly unconstitutional” by Senior U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, a Reagan appointee. Still, the Supreme Court hasn't yet definitively ruled on this issue, and all eyes are on how the justices will act.Just this week, news arrived regarding Supreme Court stay orders. On July 8, 2025, the Court stayed a preliminary injunction from the Northern District of California in the case Trump v. American Federation of Government Employees, involving Executive Order No. 14210 and a joint memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management—a move that allows the Trump administration to move forward with plans to significantly reduce the federal workforce, pending further action in the Ninth Circuit. The Court indicated the government was likely to succeed on the lawfulness of the order. Earlier, on June 27, the Court issued a ruling in Trump v. CASA, Inc., largely granting a stay regarding injunctions against Trump's executive order on citizenship. The majority opinion, authored by Justice Barrett and joined by Chief Justice Roberts, and Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, found certain injunctions against the executive order to be too broad. Justice Sotomayor, joined by Kagan and Jackson, dissented.Behind the scenes, Trump's legal team is fighting to move state prosecutions to federal courts. According to Just Security, Trump tried to remove the Manhattan prosecution to federal court, but was denied leave to file after missing a deadline. An appeal is pending before the Second Circuit. Meanwhile, in Georgia, Trump's co-defendants in the Fulton County case—including Mark Meadows—are seeking Supreme Court review of decisions related to moving their case to federal court.All told, it's been a whirlwind of legal maneuvers and judicial rulings. Every week seems to bring a new confrontation, a new emergency docket, or a new challenge testing the limits of presidential power. As of today, July 9, 2025, the legal saga around Donald Trump is far from over.Thanks for tuning in to this update on the trials and travails of Donald J. Trump. Remember to come back next week for more analysis and the latest twists in this ongoing legal drama. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, visit Quiet Please dot A I.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
In Episode 130 of Why We Vote, CannCon and Ashe in America are joined by Garland Favorito for a marathon session dissecting Georgia's election controversies. Garland lays out decades of evidence showing systemic fraud and manipulation, from the infamous 2020 hand count audit to Fulton County's missing ballot images and the courts' refusal to hear critical evidence. The hosts break down Trump's sweeping executive order mandating proof of citizenship, banning QR-coded ballots, and forcing recertification of vulnerable voting systems. They discuss how Dominion's machines store encryption keys in plain text and the discovery of compilers that could inject malware into election servers. Garland explains how Georgia's laws were rewritten to protect BMD systems despite bipartisan opposition, and why his lawsuits and preservation orders are still stuck in a rigged judicial maze. The episode also exposes how figures like David Becker built a self-appointed “expert class” to gaslight election officials and the public about vulnerabilities they privately admit exist. Closing out, CannCon and Ashe highlight the desperate narrative shift among Democrats insisting Trump rigged 2024, and why the fight for transparency is just getting started.
MDJ Script/ Top Stories for June 27th Publish Date: June 27th Commercial: From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. Today is Friday, June 27th and Happy Birthday to Chris O’Donnell I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal Cobb & Fulton County first responders teach preschoolers safety McEachern Alum Ace Bailey Drafted at No. 5, Joins Fellow Cobb Products in Utah $10k reward offered in Marietta car dealership arson investigation Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on grass fed beef All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe! BREAK: TOP TECH MECHANICAL STORY 1: Cobb & Fulton County first responders teach preschoolers safety Preschoolers at Primrose Schools in Bells Ferry and Roswell East enjoyed a hands-on safety lesson during National Safety Month. Cobb County Safety Village and Johns Creek Fire Station 63 officers and firefighters taught 3- and 4-year-olds about safety, showcased their gear, and let them explore a sheriff's vehicle and fire truck, making safety education interactive and fun. STORY 2: McEachern Alum Ace Bailey Drafted at No. 5, Joins Fellow Cobb Products in Utah Former McEachern and Rutgers star Ace Bailey was selected fifth overall by the Utah Jazz in the NBA Draft, despite skipping workouts with several teams, including the Jazz. Bailey, praised for his talent, averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds as a Rutgers freshman and earned Big Ten honors. Excited to join a rebuilding Jazz team, Bailey aims to lead and work hard alongside fellow Cobb County players Collin Sexton and Isaiah Collier. The Jazz, who finished last in the Western Conference, also acquired guard Walter Clayton Jr. Bailey joins a legacy of McEachern players drafted into the NBA. STORY 3: $10k reward offered in Marietta car dealership arson investigation A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a suspect accused of setting five vehicles on fire at two Marietta dealerships late Monday night. Fires were reported at Atlanta Luxury Motors and Unlimited Auto Group, both on Cobb Parkway, with no injuries reported. Investigators have determined the cause to be arson and believe the same suspect, seen walking along Cobb Parkway South that night, is responsible. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Marietta Fire Marshal’s Office or the Georgia Arson Hotline. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info. Break: Ingles Markets 8 STORY 4: Cobb, mayors talk sidewalks, infrastructure, maintenance for proposed $950M SPLOST Cobb County officials and mayors discussed priorities for the proposed 2028 SPLOST, a 1% sales tax projected to generate $950 million over six years. Key focuses include infrastructure, sidewalks, parks, and public safety. Mableton, participating for the first time, emphasized catching up on neglected infrastructure. Officials highlighted challenges like inflation, project delays, and maintenance costs for joint projects. Public input meetings are planned for early 2026, with the final project list set for a November 2026 vote. Leaders stressed the importance of collaboration to ensure SPLOST funds address community needs effectively. STORY 5: Connecticut-style pizza restaurant coming to Town Center Ah-Beetz New Haven Pizza, a Florida-based chain specializing in Connecticut-style pizza, is opening its first Georgia location in Marietta's Barrett Creek Plaza near Town Center mall this July. Known for its crispy, smoky crusts baked in 750-degree ovens, the restaurant brings the authentic taste of New Haven pizza to Cobb County. This marks the chain's fifth location and part of a broader expansion into multiple states. Founded in 1976 by Nicholas Laudano, Ah-Beetz aims to share the unique flavor of his hometown pizza. An exact opening date has yet to be announced. Break: And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on grass fed beef We’ll have closing comments after this. Break: TIDWELL TREES Signoff- Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at mdjonline.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Produced by the BG Podcast Network Show Sponsors: www.ingles-markets.com tidwelltrees.com toptechmech.com #NewsPodcast #CurrentEvents #TopHeadlines #BreakingNews #PodcastDiscussion #PodcastNews #InDepthAnalysis #NewsAnalysis #PodcastTrending #WorldNews #LocalNews #GlobalNews #PodcastInsights #NewsBrief #PodcastUpdate #NewsRoundup #WeeklyNews #DailyNews #PodcastInterviews #HotTopics #PodcastOpinions #InvestigativeJournalism #BehindTheHeadlines #PodcastMedia #NewsStories #PodcastReports #JournalismMatters #PodcastPerspectives #NewsCommentary #PodcastListeners #NewsPodcastCommunity #NewsSource #PodcastCuration #WorldAffairs #PodcastUpdates #AudioNews #PodcastJournalism #EmergingStories #NewsFlash #PodcastConversations See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Forgottonia Project was a podcast created by a social studies teacher and the incoming Dean of Students at Spoon River Valley High School in Fulton County. The goal is to teach students living in the western part of Illinois and other rural areas about the history of where they live and also to hear from rural voices that might otherwise be ignored. The teacher joins the program today as well as two students who participated in the project.
In this powerful episode of Soulfood and Lemonade, we sit down with Chancellor K. Jackson—author, educator, football coach, and entrepreneur—whose life story is as inspiring as it is transformational.A Georgia native born in Fulton County and raised in Smyrna, Chancellor played football for nine years through high school and college, eventually graduating from Stetson University with a degree in Communication and Media Studies.His life took a dramatic turn during a teaching stint abroad in China, where he was arrested and detained in Beijing for 14 days. This life-altering experience gave birth to his gripping debut memoir, 14 Days in Beijing, which has hit #1 on Amazon over fifteen times across multiple genres.Today, Chancellor channels his experiences into mentoring and coaching others—both on the field and in the literary world—helping aspiring authors navigate the writing and self-publishing journey.
It's June 9th, 2025, and the past few days in Donald Trump's legal world have been nothing short of a whirlwind. Wherever you look, Trump's name dominates the courtroom headlines—legal drama never seems far from the former president.Just last week, Trump's ongoing legal saga was marked by a remarkable sequence: four separate court losses reported within just hours of one another. These setbacks added to an already heavy legal calendar, where the courts from New York to Florida continue to shape not only his post-presidency legacy but also the political landscape as the 2024 election aftermath lingers.In New York, Donald Trump was sentenced on January 10, 2025, in a case that has drawn relentless national attention. The outcome—an unconditional discharge—meant he avoided jail time, but the courtroom battles were anything but over. Trump's lawyers quickly moved to appeal both the final decision and earlier summary judgments, ensuring the legal fights would continue. Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, successfully requested consolidation of these appeals, accelerating the appellate process through a single record and set of briefs.Meanwhile, in Florida, the classified documents case made headlines again. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, on July 15, 2024, had granted Trump's motion to dismiss the indictment based on questions around Special Counsel Jack Smith's appointment and funding. The government's legal team counterpunched, filing an appeal with the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The back-and-forth over classified documents—an issue that has haunted Trump since leaving office—remains unresolved, the case's fate depending on appellate rulings that could take months.Elsewhere, in Georgia, the legal chess match continued as Mark Meadows, Trump's former Chief of Staff, petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court after an unsuccessful attempt to move his own criminal case out of state court. Trump and his co-defendants are also appealing various procedural rulings by Georgia Judge Scott McAfee, with oral arguments grouped together for efficiency—a testament to the tangled nature of the sprawling Fulton County election interference case.In the Manhattan hush money prosecution, Trump sought once more to move District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case to federal court, but Judge Alvin Hellerstein denied his request, and the higher courts rejected subsequent appeals.One legal defeat might be news for any former president. For Donald Trump, four setbacks in a single day were just the latest chapter. The trials grind on, with lawyers on all sides burning the midnight oil, and the nation tuned in to every new development as the 2024 election's legal echoes ripple through 2025.
Fulton County, Georgia Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 Wednesday to reject the GOP's nominations of two prominent election deniers to the county board of elections.We have an update on New York Attorney General Tish James' lawsuit to block Trump's tariffs.Trump's pick to replace Hampton Dellinger as Special Counsel of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel would be a total disaster.Pete Hegseth continues to be disastrous.Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger has some parting words.Plus, if Steve Bannon could feel shame he would be completely embarrassed by his recent loss in court.Use promo code CLEANUP at CBDistillery.com for 25% off your purchase.Specific product availability depends on individual state regulations.Allison Gillhttps://muellershewrote.substack.com/https://bsky.app/profile/muellershewrote.comHarry DunnHarry Dunn | Substack@libradunn1.bsky.social on BlueskyWant to support this podcast and get it ad-free and early?Go to: https://www.patreon.com/aisle45pod Allison Gillhttps://muellershewrote.substack.com/https://bsky.app/profile/muellershewrote.comHarry DunnHarry Dunn | Substack@libradunn1.bsky.social on BlueskyWant to support this podcast and get it ad-free and early?Go to: https://www.patreon.com/aisle45podTell us about yourself and what you like about the show - http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short
On the Monday, June 2 edition of Georgia Today: A federal list of so-called "sanctuary cities" that included Atlanta and Athens has disappeared; a Macon state senator has entered Georgia's lieutenant governor race; Fulton County is poised to generate a lot more solar power.
In this episode of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, we delve into Dr. Dre's significant contribution to education with the unveiling of a $200 million state-of-the-art Compton High School, featuring a performing arts center funded by his $10 million donation. Meanwhile, Sean "Diddy" Combs' former assistant, Capricorn Clark, delivered shocking testimony in his federal trial, alleging kidnapping and threats during a 2011 incident involving Cassie Ventura and Kid Cudi. The show also covers R&B singer Jaheim's arrest in Fulton County on six counts of animal cruelty, with allegations of neglecting six dogs in unsanitary conditions. Additionally, President Donald Trump has pardoned reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, convicted in 2022 for bank fraud and tax evasion, citing their harsh treatment and commendable conduct as reasons for clemency. Website: https://www.urban1podcasts.com/rickey-smiley-morning-show See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
R&B singer Jaheim's arrest in Fulton County on six counts of animal cruelty, with allegations of neglecting six dogs in unsanitary conditions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of Bulture podcast:Boss Man Dlow responds to rumors after being called out for allegedly trying to link with TimmyBandsomeTravis Hunter married his longtime girlfriend, Leanna Lenee, in Tennessee over the weekend.Philly police believe they have identified the suspects who k*lled LGP QUA. They're giving a $20,000 reward for any informationNancy Grace trolls Diddy with Tootsie Roll candy After a new accuser came out saying Diddy's penis is the size of a Tootsie Roll.Big U is preparing to defend himself in the federal Rollin' 60s RICO case after his attorney, Arturo Hernandez, filed a motion to withdraw due to irreconcilable differences, citing a complete breakdown in communication and trust.Meek Mill calls out blogs for linking him to Lil Rod's now-dropped lawsuit, labeling it an attack on his brand and saying he wants answers.Chris Brown shares a message after being released from jail in the UK.Rod Wave's mugshot from his recent arrest in Fulton County, Georgia—where he faces 14 charges—has been released.Young Thug Calls Kid Cudi A “Rat” Over Diddy Trial Testimony In NowDeleted Tweet-Remy Ma Shares Explosive Texts Alleging Papoose Was Creeping with His Baby Mama While She Was Locked Up — He Claps Back with Receipts and Divorce Talk. Claims Papoose is the poorest man she's ever seen, alleging he pawned her jewelry and accusing him of using Clarissa Shields as his next opportunity for financial gain. “I feel sorry for that girl, but I'm not scared of her!” Alexis Skyy Says She Wasn't Aware She Needed the “Proper License” to Run Recovery House After State ShutdownKai Cenat faces backlash after streamer Malik Richh claimed he was misled about Streamer University, alleging Cenat promoted it for new talent but only chose friends and popular streamersWoman believes Cassie was never a victim; Says she was jealous of Diddy's relationship with City Girls Yung MiamiThunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Wins 2025 NBA MVPComedian HaHa Davis was Arrested this weekend on Domestic Violence Charges.“The Chi” Ep2, I told y'all Emmett still got love for Tiff. No man what's to be like Vic character finding out your new girlfriend let two of your friends hitTheater ceiling collapses and almost fatally hits woman watching ‘Final Destination' film in Argentina.Tory Lanez's stabber says he acted in self-defense, believing Tory put a bounty on him, though they once had a decent relationshipNEW YORK (AP) — Target sales fall sharply in the first quarter and the retailer warns they will slip for all of 2025.17-yr-old Karmelo Anthony has been charged with first-degree muder as an adult under the Texas state law.Skilla Baby seen Performing at 42 Dugg's concert just days after being shot
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticBecome A Patron Of The Notorious Mass Effect Podcast For Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme! Join Our Patreon Here: https://ow.ly/oPsc50VBOuHNotorious Mass Effect with Analytic Dreamz delivers hard-hitting music industry insights in this gripping segment. Analytic Dreamz unpacks Rod Wave's May 20, 2025, arrest in Fulton County, Georgia, tied to a burglary at his home. Facing 13–14 charges, including aggravated assault and felony firearm possession, the 26-year-old rapper was released on a $50,000–$55,000 bond. Despite unverified rumors, his attorney insists Rod was the victim. With a stellar career boasting hits like “Heart on Ice” and a record-setting Billboard run, Analytic Dreamz explores the legal and cultural impact of this case.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
The future of a Norcross facility central to water pollution monitoring and flood management in metro Atlanta still appears to be up in the air; Fulton County officials say they are investigating why the Center for Diversion and Services that was set up to serve as an alternative to jail is being underutilized; One Metro Atlanta nonprofit is hoping to help refugees recreate a bit of home, through gardening and food.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Just in time for the holiday weekend, federal budget cuts mean closure of 31 Georgia recreation sites; All those data centers popping up around Georgia are power hungry; and two controversial Republican nominees to Fulton County's election board get the 'thumbs down' vote.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
EPISODE 268 THE KING'S 400 MILLION DOLLAR JET . Summary . In this episode of This Is the G Podcast, the hosts discuss a variety of topics including sports updates on the Knicks and NBA player movements, political commentary on tariffs and foreign gifts, celebrity news surrounding Diddy, domestic violence in celebrity relationships, and the legal troubles of Chris Brown. They also touch on the impact of legal issues on R&B artists and the implications of Fulton County residents potentially paying for Trump's legal fees. . Chapters . 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts 02:57 Sports Talk: Knicks and Giannis 06:01 NBA Player Movements and Team Dynamics 08:20 Shoutouts to Listeners and Cities 12:58 Political Commentary: China and Tariffs 15:17 Foreign Gifts and Legal Concerns 18:58 Habeas Corpus and Legal Rights 20:54 Immigration Policies and Their Impact 29:04 Celebrity News: Diddy and Cassie's Lawsuit 35:01 Domestic Violence in Celebrity Relationships 39:32 Chris Brown's Legal Troubles 45:11 Impact of Legal Issues on R&B Artists 50:41 Fulton County and Trump's Legal Fees 56:44 Final Thoughts and Shoutouts. . #podcast #sports #politics #celebritynews #immigration #legalissues #R&B #NBA #Diddy #ChrisBrown . FOLLOW US ON SPOTIFY! https://linktr.ee/thisisthegpodcast
In this episode of the Develop This Podcast, Dennis Fraise interviews Steve Stroud, the president and CEO of Roswell Inc., about the economic landscape of Roswell, Georgia, and the importance of strategic economic development. Steve shares insights into the city's growth. Steve also explains the role of the Whova app in enhancing networking at conferences and offers advice for maximizing conference experiences. The conversation highlights the significance of being present and engaged in both economic development and networking opportunities. Takeaways Roswell is a key economic driver in Fulton County. The city has a significant concentration of car sales. Healthcare is the leading industry in Roswell. Strategic targeting is essential for economic development. The Whova app enhances networking at conferences. Engagement in the app can lead to valuable connections. Being present at conferences is crucial for success. Networking should be purposeful and focused. First-time attendees should have clear objectives. Competition in networking can motivate engagement. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SJIh_j5kRgqpj7DUfwZMjw
In this ALL NEW FuelCast episode, we dive into the benefits of using local foods in schools. Hear from school nutrition directors across Georgia, including Barrow County, Fulton County, Cherokee County, Towns County, as they share their strategies and the positive impacts of incorporating local foods into school meals. Discover how these initiatives are enhancing quality school meals and supporting local farmers.
APD looks to beef up force in advance of major events coming to the city; Atlanta and Fulton County seek ideas for planned LGBTQ+ community center; and in an absence of federal relief funds, Georgia beefs up available relief for farmers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With Rev. Senator Raphael Warnock preparing to host his own town hall Sunday in Fulton County, and with the fresh memory of dissatisfaction at Senator Jon Ossoff's hall last week, coupled with Georgia polling that shows how unpopular Democrats are right now, it bears asking: are voters aware that they voted for this mess and left Democrats with too-few tools to do anything about it? Laughably, even Republicans polled want Democrats to (somehow) do more to push back when their choice for President goes too far. Wait, what?With me to discuss is Atlanta-based political strategist Andrew Heaton.
Today, on Crime & Entertainment, we have Rand Csehy. Rand is a former Fulton County prosecutor who shares his life story & how he was involved in helping take down Big Meech & Terry Flenory and the entire BMF.Links to Crime & Entertainment Like us on Facebook - / crimeandentertainment Follow us on IG - / crimenentertainment Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4T67Bs5... Listen on Apple Music - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Listen on Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/show/crime-e... Listen on Google Podcast - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0... Listen on Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9cd...
This is a three-part podcast series dedicated to understanding how serial killers form, and how we can stop them before they strike again. Hosted by award-winning crime scene investigator Sheryl McCollum, each episode features a guest expert who brings unique expertise into the psychology, behavior, and patterns of serial offenders. Guest Bio and Links: David Quinn is a retired Atlanta Police Department homicide detective and a co-host and producer of the true crime TV series "ATL Homicide" on TV One. He was promoted to homicide detective in 2000 and worked on numerous cases for Fulton County. He has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, including time as a beat cop and a homicide detective. He is currently involved in the true crime series "ATL Homicide," where he and his former partner, Vince Velazquez, discuss their experiences solving some of Atlanta's most difficult cases. Connect with David Quinn on IG @david.quinn56 Aeman Presley is a currently incarcerated serial killer who is serving life sentences for four murders committed in Georgia. Before his crimes, Presley worked as an actor and performer, appearing in commercials and on television. Now, from prison, he shares his story in an effort to help law enforcement and society understand the psychological trajectory that led to his violence. Phil Chalmers is a 40 year American Criminal Profiler, true crime writer, and host of the Dennis Quaid owned podcast “Where The Bodies Are Buried.” His live trainings are legendary in the law enforcement world, as he trains police officers, the FBI, probation officers, school administrators, and many other professionals. You may have seen Phil on A&E’s Killer Kids, or Fox’s Crime Watch Daily. He has interviewed hundreds of violent killers, including serial killers, school shooters, mass murderers, family annihilators, and spree killers. Names you might know on his interview list include Charles Manson, The Son of Sam, BTK, The Hillside Strangler, The Gainesville Ripper, The Zodiac Copycat, The Smiley Face Killer, and the Amityville Horror Killer. Learn more about at Phil Chalmers at his website, on IG @philechalmerprofiler and his podcast - Where The Bodies Are Buried Resources: Part 1 - The Anatomy of a Serial Killer: Psychology, Profiling, Prevention Part 2 - The Anatomy of a Serial Killer: Inside Aeman Presley’s Hunt In this episode of Zone 7, Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum and Phil Chalmers come together for pt. three of Preventing a Serial Killer. Former Detective David Quinn sits down with Aeman Presley for the first time since their unforgettable six-hour interrogation. For Quinn, this wasn’t just another case; it was the final chapter of a 30-year career in homicide, one that forever changed how he views justice, redemption, and even the death penalty. He reflects on the spiritual moments that guided the investigation, calling them nothing short of divine intervention. Aeman opens up about the pain and trauma of his upbringing, the influences that shaped his descent into violence, and the regret he carries every day. Together, they discuss the human side of tragedy, how community, media, and personal choices intertwine to create paths that sometimes end in darkness, and how, even then, healing and understanding are still possible. Show Notes: (0:00) Welcome back to Zone 7 with Crime Scene Investigator, Sheryl McCollum (0:15) Sheryl introduces Detective David Quinn to the conversation (2:00) Aeman’s reflections (4:30) The impact of growing up in a violent environment (7:30) Six hours of interrogation and confession (8:45) “For two hours we were talking nothing but life.” -Det. David Quinn (11:00) God moments and case breakthroughs (19:00) The arrest - a split-second mistake (22:00) Aeman’s hotel revelation (24:00) The decision not to discard the gun (26:00) The train station incident (29:00) Reflections on the victim's lives (33:00) The case’s profound impact (37:00) David Quinn on the death penalty (41:25) ”Your life is fluid, brother. Your life is meaningful.” -Det. David Quinn Thanks for listening to another episode! If you’re loving the show and want to help grow the show, please head over to Itunes and leave a rating and review! --- Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an Emmy Award winning CSI, a writer for CrimeOnLine, Forensic and Crime Scene Expert for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, and a CSI for a metro Atlanta Police Department. She is the co-author of the textbook., Cold Case: Pathways to Justice. Sheryl is also the founder and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, a collaboration between universities and colleges that brings researchers, practitioners, students and the criminal justice community together to advance techniques in solving cold cases and assist families and law enforcement with solvability factors for unsolved homicides, missing persons, and kidnapping cases. Social Links: Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com Twitter: @ColdCaseTips Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum Instagram: @officialzone7podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
About Chancellor JacksonChancellor K. Jackson (born 1995) is a Georgia native, born in Fulton County and raised in Smyrna. He attended Stetson University, where he played football for nine years at both the high school and collegiate levels.After earning a bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Studies, Chancellor lived abroad in China from 2018 to 2019. His passion for writing emerged following a traumatic experience—being arrested and detained in Beijing for 14 days. This journey led to his debut book, 14 Days in Beijing, which has ranked #1 on Amazon over fifteen times across multiple genres.Today, Chancellor is an educator, football coach, and entrepreneur, dedicated to guiding aspiring authors through the writing and self-publishing process.https://www.korlehpublicationsllc.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/chancellor-jackson29----------------------------------About Michael RitsemaMy life and entrepreneurial business story can go down three tracks:1. Ups & downs and drama of starting and running a business.2. Sales or business development as a specialty or natural skill.3. FBI vetted InfraGard Cybersecurity Certified expert who can speak to business risk from an owner and technology specialist perspective.Stories that affirm my life and business journey include:- 2001: near bankruptcy summer - 2001: physical depression due to the toll & stress of finances- 2001: 911 happens to the Twin Towers in New York.- 2001: Two large deals lift i3 and me to new peaks- 2004: Merge 2 firms and have 4 business partners- 2006: Two partners exit due to business partner drama- 2007: Great recession starts ... decimating the business- 2008: Pivot the business plan to new offerings- 2009: Peer groups impact the business journey- 2018: Buy out my remaining business partner- 2020: COVID-19 risk drama weighs on this business owner- 2021: Buy another business - CAI- 2024 Buy another business - CompuCrafthttps://www.i3businesssolutions.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljritsema/----------------------------------When It Worked Podcasthttps://getoffthedamnphone.com/podcast
*** Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code OPENING at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: http://incogni.com/opening *** OA1144 - Professor Jack Lerner joins us for a follow up to OA1055 as we dive deeper into case law surrounding the usage of rap music in litigation, including discussion of the fight for lyrics to be admitted as evidence in the Young Thug trial in Fulton County, Georgia, and what mechanisms are being explored to address this at the state level in places like New York. End Rap on Trial Rap on Trial: A Brief History (6/4/2024) Rap on Trial: A Legal Guide, Second Edition (2024) Case Compendium Brief Bank Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do! To support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at patreon.com/law! This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.
Friday, March 29th, 2024Judge McAfee seems skeptical of Trump's arguments in Fulton County today; the Republican Vice Chair in Georgia has been found guilty of voter fraud; Matt Maddock posts photos of NCAA Gonzaga busses and tells his followers the busses are full of “illegal invaders”; crypto chode Sam Bankman-Fried has been sentenced to 25 years in prison; two bodies have been recovered from a vehicle underwater at the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse site; Matt Schlapp's accuser was paid to drop his lawsuit; the Supreme Court stalled on South Carolina voting maps for so long that their previous racist map will be used in the 2024 election; President Joe Biden has set a campaign fundraising record; plus Allison delivers your good news. Dana is out and about.Our Guests:Dahlia LithwickAmicus Podcasthttps://slate.com/podcasts/amicusLady Justice by Dahlia Lithwickhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/598207/lady-justice-by-dahlia-lithwickhttps://twitter.com/DahlialithwickJohn Fugelsanghttps://www.johnfugelsang.com/tmehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-john-fugelsang-podcast/id1464094232Matt Schlapp's Accuser Was Paid to Drop Sexual Assault Suithttps://www.thedailybeast.com/matt-schlapps-accuser-was-paid-to-drop-sexual-assault-suitSam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prisonhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/03/28/sam-bankman-fried-ftx-cryptocurrency-sentencing-sbf/584fd234-ecba-11ee-8f2c-380a821c02db_story.htmlSupreme Court delay prompts federal judges to act in South Carolina redistricting disputehttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-delay-prompts-federal-judges-act-south-carolina-redistri-rcna145267Judge rules Georgia Republican Party's vice chairman voted illegallyhttps://www.ajc.com/politics/georgia-judge-rules-that-republican-brian-k-pritchard-voted-illegally/M4A27QQNQJDW7MTI66MRF5B4EQHave some good news; a confession; or a correction?From The Good News:Confections Bakery (Lufkin, TX)https://confectionstx.com Federal workers - feel free to email me at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen.Share your Good News or Good Trouble:https://www.dailybeanspod.com/good/ Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Subscribe for free to MuellerSheWrote on Substackhttps://muellershewrote.substack.comFollow AG and Dana on Social MediaDr. Allison Gill Substack|Muellershewrote, Twitter|@MuellerSheWrote, Threads|@muellershewrote, TikTok|@muellershewrote, IG|muellershewrote, BlueSky|@muellershewroteDana GoldbergTwitter|@DGComedy, IG|dgcomedy, facebook|dgcomedy, IG|dgcomedy, danagoldberg.com, BlueSky|@dgcomedyHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?Supercasthttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/Patreon https://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr subscribe on Apple Podcasts with our affiliate linkThe Daily Beans on Apple Podcasts
257. Mother Daughter Relationship During Teen Years and Beyond with Sandra Stanley and Allie Stanley Cooney "Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13:8a NIV **Transcription Below** Sandra Stanley received her Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Tech and Master of Arts from Dallas Theological Seminary. Sandra has a heart for foster kids and foster families, as she and Andy have been foster parents since 2010. Her ministry passion is promoting foster care in the local church. Much of her time these days is spent working on various writing projects and continuing her involvement with Fostering Together, the foster care initiative of North Point Ministries. Connect with her online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandrawstanley Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandra.w.stanley/ X: https://twitter.com/sandrawstanley Website: https://www.sandrastanley.com/ Allie Stanley Cooney graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Communication. She completed the North Point Residency program and simultaneously earned a Masters of Christian Education degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. With a decade of experience guiding students along their spiritual journeys, Allie is passionate about empowering middle school, high school and college students to embrace a life devoted to following Jesus wholeheartedly. She has a heart for middle school and high school students and can often be spotted at any number of local coffee shops pouring into girls in those seasons of life. Connect with her on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliekaycooney X: https://twitter.com/alliekaystanley Questions and Topics We Cover: How can understanding the three potential relationship stages help these daughters navigate relationships with friends and with boys? When we coach our daughters through developing friendships, what questions do you suggest we ask for clarification and what Scripture do you share for understanding our responsibility within friendships? I love how you both emphasize alone time with Jesus. How can we learn and apply this? Other Episodes Mentioned from The Savvy Sauce: 200 Planting Seeds of Faith in Our Children with Courtney DeFeo 196 Parenting for the Relationship with Sandra Stanley Related Episodes on The Savvy Sauce: Parenting the Prodigal Child And God's Desire For Redemption With Mother-Daughter Duo, Claire Stanfill and Tindell Baldwin Effective Parenting for Toddlers Through College with Wife, Mother to 8, and The Exchange Founder, Elizabeth Pehrson Intentional Questions to Ask Our Kids with Susan Seay 207 Cultivating Character in Our Children with Cynthia Yanof 212 School Series: Benefits of Homeschooling with Jodi Mockabee 217 Tween/Teen Females: How to Navigate Changes during Puberty with Dr. Jennifer Degler 220 Cultivating Healthy Family Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman Thank You to Our Sponsor: Leman Property Management Company Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribing to this podcast! Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.” Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“ Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“ Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” **Transcription** Music: (0:00 – 0:08) Laura Dugger: (0:09 - 1:46) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Duggar, and I'm so glad you're here. Leman Property Management Co. has the apartment you will be able to call home, with over 1,700 apartment units available in Central Illinois. Visit them today at lemanproperties.com or connect with them on Facebook. I am so excited to get to host these guests, Sandra Stanley and her daughter, Allie Stanley Cooney. They have co-authored this amazing book entitled, Meet Me in the Middle, and throughout it I just loved their sense of humor. I appreciated their witty comments that had me laughing in the middle of their stories, but I also appreciate the practicality this book has to offer. If you think back, Courtney DeFeo was a previous guest and we discussed the treasured Bible study, which is a great thing for mothers to walk through with their tween daughters, maybe girls of approximately ages 10 to 12, so I'll make sure and link that episode in the show notes, but today's book that we're kind of emphasizing is really good as that next step to highlight perhaps with your junior high or high school daughter. It's a beautiful book because you get really both real perspectives of the mother and the daughter from two drastically different angles, and that's kind of what our conversation is gonna look like today as I get to interview mother-daughter duo, Sandra and Allie. Here's our chat. Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Sandra and Allie. Sandra Stanley: (1:59 - 2:03) Thank you for having us. Allie Stanley Cooney: Thank you for having us. We're excited to be here. Sandra Stanley: We really are. Laura Dugger: (2:04 - 2:13) Well, I would love for us to just begin with the two of you sharing some of the hardest and sweetest phases that you've walked through in your own mother-daughter relationship. Sandra Stanley: (2:14 - 4:00) Okay, well, let's see. Allie, this is funny and this kind of weaves through probably every question, but we are wired very differently from each other, and I am more analytical, efficient, organized, you know, all that. Allie is so creative and just spontaneous, and she is the best content creator and all of that kind of stuff, and I obsess over the details of did I capitalize everything and spell everything, and so while that has been amazing in this project working together because we kind of, you know, can just sort of coach each other along in our strengths, there were some times along the way in when she was growing up that that would just naturally cause some clashes, and that is mostly on me because I have a hard time understanding why efficiency didn't make it to the fruits of the spirit list, and you know, in parenting, efficiency is not the goal. The relationship is the goal, and I would switch those sometimes and err on the side of trying to be efficient, so often when we had those difficult times, it was on me, not her, because of all that kind of stuff, so the sweetest part, though, is she has always inspired me. Even when she was a kid, she just had a maturity and a desire to have an intimate relationship with the Lord from an early, early age, and I think she just challenged Andy and me both in our just our personal walks with the Lord and authenticity and a bunch of things like that, so it's been a sweet relationship, and we pretty much talk all day long. Allie Stanley Cooney: (4:00 - 4:34) Yeah, I was gonna say the sweetest season, I think, is definitely this one because I had a baby girl about two years ago, and I remember holding my baby girl for the first, second, third time, whatever, and just like, I love her so much, I'm so overwhelmed, and then looking at my mom and being like, wait a minute, you've loved me this much this whole time? Like, that's crazy. So I think getting to be a mom and doing this project together and all the things, I think this season has been definitely one of the sweetest for sure. Laura Dugger: (4:34 - 5:07) I think that's very encouraging to anybody raising children in their home, but with your book, there were so many topics for mothers and daughters, but I'd love to first focus on this one section that you title, Finding Your People, and it's where you're talking about relationships, especially with friends and with boys, and so Allie, how can understanding the three potential relationship stages help these daughters navigate relationships with friends and with boys? Allie Stanley Cooney: (5:08 - 7:43) Yeah, definitely, so how our book is laid out, a little bit of context, my mom wrote the first eight chapters to the moms, and then I wrote the back eight chapters to the girls, and we go through these different topics, and one of the topics, like you said, is friends and boys, so when I was thinking about that chapter, there's some, I feel like when you're in middle school, when you're in high school, friends and boys, that's what you're thinking about, that's what you care about, that's what probably you want to read about if you're gonna have to read something, so I wanted to break this down in a way that it's not natural for, you know, middle schoolers and high schoolers to think about, so we break down the three, the three potential stages, stages, that's what I'm looking for, we break down the three stages and let them know that in each stage of a potential relationship, you're called to love, and so the first stage is just before you enter into this relationship, or before you become really close friends, when you're kind of thinking through, is this something I want, is this something that will be good for you, asking the questions like, does this person make me more like Jesus, is this person a good influence, will this person help my life be better, or will it ultimately make it worse, and what does it look like to navigate that season really well, and then the next season is when you're in the relationship, and how can you love that person well while also honoring yourself and honoring that person, and then the last one I think is my favorite, because I think we forget about it potentially, and obviously a lot of our relationships, my best friend that I met in middle school is still one of my very best friends, but a lot of relationships that you have in middle school and in high school, they tend to go away, so there is a stage that is after the relationship, whether that's a breakup, or you just kind of drift apart, whatever that looks like, and the reminder that we're still called to love, because I know culture especially is like, breakup, you should just say horrible things about them, and trash them, and if anybody's friends with them, then you can't be friends with them, and I think the reality is, no, even when the relationship is over, you're still called to love them, and that doesn't mean you need to be with them, or anything like that, but it does mean being kind about them, being thoughtful, being gentle, even when you're no longer in that relationship, so I think that's something that students don't really think about, once the relationship is over, it's like moving on, yeah, you're not called to anything anymore, so yeah. Laura Dugger: (7:44 - 8:13) I love it, and you really highlight the scripture in 1 Corinthians 13, and so even though your lessons there were directed at daughters, there's something for each of us to learn for relationships, and Sandra, I'd love to hear from your side too, when we're coaching our daughters through developing friendships, what questions do you suggest we ask for clarification, and what scripture do you share for understanding our responsibility within friendships? Sandra Stanley: (8:14 - 10:28) Yes, great question. Well, and Allie talked about the structure of the book a little bit, you know, that we have eight topics. I write eight to the mom's. She writes eight to the girls, in the middle is the meet me in the middle section, where they come together, and where they can have these conversations, so that's the time when maybe we are talking about, okay, what is a good friend, you know, what does a good friend look like, what are some characteristics of someone that you want to be friends with, and that you want to see every day, and do life together with, what are those characteristics, what makes a lifelong friend, you know, what's the difference between a short-term friend and a long-term friend, what causes friendships to be short-term, you know, what are the things that can cause one to end, and another big question that we talk about is, do you, and do I, and this all applies to us too, not just to the girls, so when we're doing this meet me in the middle section, and having these conversations, this is a two-way conversation, and I think as moms, it's so important for us to be, you know, authentic, and to dive in and say, yeah, I kind of still struggle with this too, but do I want to become more like this potential friend, that's a big question, is there, you know, is this a person that I want to be like, because scripture is clear in Ephesians 5, “He who walks with the wise becomes wise, and companion of fools suffers harm.” That's an important thing to talk about with our kids. You are going to become more like the people that you spend time with. Another question is: Is this somebody I want to introduce my mom and dad to? I remember there were talking with our middle son years, you know, after college, after he was already married. He said, you know, I always knew, this is not a person for me, if I knew it wasn't someone that I would want to bring home and introduce to you and dad, or to Allie. You know, is this somebody that I want Allie to be friends with for the next bunch of decades, so you know, is this somebody I want to introduce my family to, and so we do take a deep dive into 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter, Allie asked the girls to circle the characteristics of love, I asked the moms, hey, play along, circle the characteristics of love, let's talk about what it really looks like to love, and let's talk about what it really looks like to have friends who are lovely, and who we want to spend more time with. Laura Dugger: (10:29 - 10:58) There's so much wisdom in that, and then I think one of your secret sauces, just as a family in general, is your practical teaching, and so if we're taking this even further, let's dive in, it's between pages 64 and 65, but there are a few quotes that I'd love for you to unpack, and one of the first ones is, don't trade what you want most for what you want in the moment. Sandra Stanley: (10:59 - 11:01) Right, right, do you want to talk about that? Allie Stanley Cooney: (11:01 - 11:43) Yeah, so I think it's really easy, especially when you're in middle school and high school, and you want to be popular, and you don't want to be left out, and you might want to have a boyfriend, and the reality is, if you just zoom back a little bit, you know, it's like, okay, what do you ultimately want? You ultimately want a healthy family, you ultimately want things in the future, and unfortunately, in middle school and high school, there are certain decisions that you can make that can ultimately compromise what you ultimately want, and so I think having that wisdom and that forethought of, why don't you even think about what you want? Like, have you ever sat down and thought about what you want in your future? Let's do that together, and then back it up from there, and then see if you're making decisions that will lead to that. Sandra Stanley: (11:44 - 12:55) Yeah, I think so, and the good thing about the book is moms can contextualize some of this to the age of their daughters, so if it's an older daughter, and she's in a relationship where, you know, there's likely to be some struggle with, you know, how far do I go physically, you know, what are my standards going to be, is all that, to relate to all that, this particular quote is such an important thing to talk about. Don't trade what you want most for what you might want in the moment, and that speaks, you know, really loudly to a physical relationship, and one of the good things about doing this meet-me-in-the-middle-with-a-daughter is you can have these conversations ahead of time, before there's a face, you know, that we're talking about, or a particular boyfriend or friendship. We can have these conversations early, and then when these things come, we can go back and go, hey, remember what we talked about, about don't trade what you want most for what you want in the moment? Let's just, I want you to go on this date, but I want you to remember that, you know, the decisions that you're gonna make now, they're gonna impact what your future is gonna be like, and the story that you're gonna tell, so that was, that was just kind of what we were, had in our minds as we talked about, don't trade what you want most for what you want in the moment. Laura Dugger: (12:55 - 13:06) Well, then you follow it up with, don't let your future be negatively influenced by people who won't even be in your future, and I think that kind of... Allie Stanley Cooney: (13:07 - 13:41) I remember that clicking when I was in high school. I remember, I was dating a guy, and I was like, no, I don't want to marry him, like, no, like, that'd be crazy. What? And then I'm like, why am I dating him? Like, yeah, I don't want anything, I don't want my friendships impacted, like, I don't want to push my friendships away because I'm spending more time with him. Like there's so many things other than just physical boundaries, which obviously that's a huge one too. But even aside from that, people who aren't going to be in your life long-term do have the potential to affect your future. So I think that's a really important one too. Sandra Stanley: (13:41 - 14:28) And affect the relationships that you want to carry into your future. Your good friends, you know, the people that you want to spend time with. So that's a really important one, I think. And these are great conversation topics. You know, even if you write it on a card and hand it to your daughter and say, hey, let's talk about what this looks like. Don't let your future be negatively influenced by people who won't even be in your future. And this is where the mom in the conversation that they're having in the meet me in the middle section can talk about a relationship that she can remember having that she thought was going to be forever. And it was, you know, seven months of her life. And then it was over. So having those opportunities to have these conversations with our girls is so important. And these two particular quotes are really important to talk about ahead of time. Laura Dugger: (14:29 - 14:52) Certainly. And it just circles back to even Allie, those three things that you were talking about earlier, those three stages, your conclusion in that section is love never fails. And so if we actually are loving in the way the list of first Corinthians 13 love list, then that is hopefully going to set our daughters and us as mothers up for success. Sandra Stanley: (14:52 - 14:53) Absolutely. Laura Dugger: (14:54 - 16:57) Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. With over 1,700 apartment units available throughout Pekin, Peoria, Peoria Heights, Morton, Washington, and Canton. And with every price range covered, you will have plenty of options when you rent through Leman Property Management Co. They have townhomes, duplexes, studios, and garden style options located in many areas throughout Pekin. In Peoria, a historic downtown location and apartments adjacent to the OSF Medical Center provide excellent choices. 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Check them out on Facebook today or email their friendly staff at leasing@LemanProps.com. You can also stop by their website at lemanproperties.com. That's L-E-M-A-N properties.com. Check them out and find your place to call home today. And Sandra, would you mind just setting the scene, take us back to that day that you walked into your sweet daughter's messy room? Sandra Stanley: (16:59 - 19:08) Which time? So, this is so funny, and it goes back to how we're wired so differently. I have a place for everything and everything has its place, and I clean up as I go, and all of that kind of stuff, and my sweet, creative daughter just operates differently. But that manifests itself in a messy room, which really wasn't okay. And growing up, obviously, we want to teach our children just good habits and being tidy and all the things that are gonna serve them well later. So there was one particular day, she was at school, and I had been in her room doing something and realized, wow, this is kind of off the chart messy. And so when she gets home, we're gonna have to have a conversation about this whole thing. So fast forward, we get to the afternoon, Allie's upstairs, and I know she's up there in her room, so this will be a good time. And I wasn't always the best at picking my approach or my timing, but I did work on it. So by the time she was in high school, I think I was better maybe at that. She might not think so. But anyway, so anyway, so I walk in her room and I look, and she's sitting on the floor, just furiously typing. And she goes, mom, before I can even say anything, mom, my girls are going into high school, I'm getting ready to leave to go to college, and there's just some things I need them to know. So I'm writing Allie's rules for high school. And she said, let me read them to you. So she starts reading this list. And with every single one, my heart just started, I mean, I just started melting into the messy floor with her because I thought this is so much more important. If I were to describe the bullseye on the target in parenting, it would have nothing to do with the clean room. It would have everything to do with the character of her heart. And as she was writing and reading me these rules, I thought this is Allie's heart on display. And it just kind of was a life changing moment for me. And then I asked her if I could put it on my blog. I was actively blogging at the time. And she's like, sure, nobody will see it. So you can put it on your blog. Allie Stanley Cooney: (19:09 - 19:09) Cute little blog. Sandra Stanley: (19:09 - 19:37) And as it turned out, it went viral and was all over the place and radio shows in the mornings and all that. On the first day of school, back to school in Fulton County in Atlanta, there was the Burt Show, I think it's still show, Burt Show, a radio show, drive time show. And he was reading them, reading them off. And everybody in his studio was all commenting on each one of them. So as all of Fulton County is driving to school, Allie's rules for high school were being read to them. Laura Dugger: (19:38 - 19:45) Wow. I mean, I guess knowing the list, it doesn't surprise me that it would go viral. Allie Stanley Cooney: (19:46 - 19:48) And I- Surprised me, for sure, yeah. Laura Dugger: (19:49 - 19:59) Well, I envision mothers and daughters even listening to this conversation together. I do wonder if my daughters would love to pause and go back and say, remember, mark of good parenting is not a clean room. Sandra Stanley: (20:00 - 20:03) So- Right, they're gonna bookmark that statement, yeah. Laura Dugger: (20:04 - 20:10) I was guilty of that too, growing up. But Allie, would you be willing to share some of those rules with us? Allie Stanley Cooney: (20:10 - 21:44) Yeah, no, I'd love to. Well, I will say, so I was going into high school as the small group girls that I was leading. No, no, sorry, I was going into college while the small group girls I was leading were going into high school. And there was just a lot of things I wanted them to know and to remember and things we had talked about and things that maybe I had learned the hard way or watched my friends learn the hard way. So I will say, hearing them go, like I didn't write them for everybody to hear them. You didn't write them for a universal audience. No, I think I would have written them differently, but it's sweet now and I'm glad. So I'll just read a couple. I won't do all of them because there's 20 in the book. But one, surround yourself with people who build you up, not with people who tear you down. Have an accountability partner and be willing to tell her everything. Emphasis on her. Yep, be so, so, so, so, so, so careful about who you date. This one's my favorite. I don't know why, I just, I really, this one hits home. If you're wondering if you should break up with him, break up with him. That's the one I learned the hard way. Yep. Pray, pray, pray. Don't ever forget how much you need God. Have a quiet time. It may seem like a hassle, but it will help you stay close to God. Be nice to your parents. They love you and want what's best for you. So if you disagree with them, just remember that they're a lot smarter than you. Sorry about that. Never be afraid to say no. When you fall on your face, get back up. There's a bunch more, but the last one is one of my favorites and it's selfies are for faces. That sounds like a good one. Sandra Stanley: (21:44 - 21:49) That was such an insightful one just for girls to hear. Silly. You know, you do a face, a face. Allie Stanley Cooney: (21:49 - 21:52) I mean, it was mostly like an inside joke. Sandra Stanley: (21:52 - 22:03) So there were several that were inside jokes for them, which didn't make fun and didn't make a lot of sense on the radio to drive time in Fulton County, but they made it all funny and fun. Allie Stanley Cooney: (22:03 - 22:05) So that's a couple of them. Laura Dugger: (22:05 - 22:17) I actually thought that was one of my favorites as well. It was put in a succinct way. And at that time, you were just a few years ahead of them. And so hearing that from you lands differently than hearing that from mom. Allie Stanley Cooney: (22:18 - 22:18) Yeah. Laura Dugger: (22:19 - 22:35) But Allie, you're kind of explaining, it was one of those decisions, if you reverse back a little bit, can you share, you write that it was one of the best decisions to grow your faith. And it's something pretty replicable that I'm hoping others will grasp onto as well. Allie Stanley Cooney: (22:35 - 23:12) No, and that was, if I'm remembering correctly, what I wrote in there, there's a couple of things, but deciding to be a middle school small group leader when I was in high school was probably the best decision I made for my faith because it caused me to take it really seriously. It made me realize, oh, the decisions I make aren't just going to affect me, it's actually now gonna affect these girls. I remember having a moment where I realized, okay, I don't wanna make any decision where I'm gonna be tempted to lie to these girls about it. Cause you know, middle school girls, they asked me everything. Sandra Stanley: (23:13 - 23:13) No boundaries. Allie Stanley Cooney: (23:13 - 23:46) And they were all in my business. And so realizing like, okay, I don't wanna make a decision where if they ask me, which they will, I don't want to be tempted to lie to them. So what did those decisions look like? What would I be proud to tell them? And ultimately what decisions do I want them to make when they're in high school? So it not only drew me a lot closer to Jesus, cause they also would ask me theological questions and like faith questions. And I was like, I don't know, let me dive in. But also it was a really cool accountability that I really loved having in high school. Sandra Stanley: (23:47 - 24:21) This is really one of the things that we've done for a long time in our church. And that is allow our high school students to partner with an adult to lead these small groups. And it just has, it has impacted all three of our kids in their faith journey. And again, to Allie's point, a big part of it is accountability. Like, oh my goodness, I don't want my girls or my guys to, I don't wanna do something that's gonna cause me to either have to lie or that would be disappointing to them. And so I think it was a, I think it's a great part of the program, yeah. But so volunteering, always huge. Laura Dugger: (24:22 - 24:32) Agreed. And to get our students into ministry where they get to experience leadership early on, I think that's so profoundly impactful for faith. Sandra Stanley: (24:32 - 24:33) That's exactly right, yes. Laura Dugger: (24:34 - 24:59) Well, and something else that both of you emphasize, which I especially appreciated, was spending alone time with Jesus. And Allie, you were saying that we have to incorporate foundational beliefs and practices into our lives, specifically through two steps, learning and applying. So, will you elaborate on both of those parts? Allie Stanley Cooney: (25:00 - 26:11) Yeah, so I, yeah, I mean, that's how we grow our faith. We can't have a faith if we don't know anything, and then we can't really have a faith if we're not putting what we know into practice. So, the learning really just looks like reading your Bible. You know, it looks like it's those really obvious, quote unquote, steps. If you go to church, you've listened to the message and you take in the information about Jesus and about scripture and about God and about who you are and about who people are, and that's you're learning. You have to learn, you have to take in the information. And then the second one is when you put it into practice, you know, you actually live out what scripture says, you live out what you're learning in church, you love the people around you well, you root yourself and establish yourself in the love of Jesus and who he says you are, and you walk in your identity. So, it's so multifaceted and there's a lot to it, but ultimately, if you can break it down and tell the girls, hey, we learn, and then we take what we learn and we do it, and that's how you grow your faith. And even when it gets hard, you keep going. And even when people push back, you keep doing it, you keep learning, and you keep applying. And ultimately, that's how your faith grows. Sandra Stanley: (26:12 - 26:20) And that is how a Jesus follower consistently follows Jesus. So, it's such an important thing. Yeah, absolutely. Laura Dugger: (26:21 - 26:52) Well, and even one example of that, you first of all say, keep continually putting truth in front of you, but then you go a step further and you say, well, even before that, spend a little bit of time thinking about the best way to keep truth in front of you. And you challenge readers to consider the routines and rhythms of their normal day and see where they can put important truths in. So, do either of you have an example of how you do that in your own life? Allie Stanley Cooney: (26:53 - 27:54) Yeah, and it's looked really different throughout my life. And I think I wanna give permission to these girls that it's okay if it looks different than somebody else, because we learn and we feel close to our heavenly father in different ways than everybody else and in different seasons of life. So, I remember when I was in middle school, I had a devotional, and it was very story-based. It was like made up stories, but it had something to learn at the end of it. It had a moral and it was always Jesus-centered, and it was always about simple things like generosity and gratitude. And reading stories for me was how I connected with God. And then as I got older, I started reading scripture for myself and I'm a huge journaler. So now my time looks a lot like reading scripture and journaling and then journaling some more and then reading scripture. And that's kind of where I find my time with the Lord. Yeah, but it's definitely changed over time. Sandra Stanley: (27:54 - 31:31) I would say that mine has changed in different seasons of life too. When you're single and you've got lots of flexibility and time, it really looked one way for me. It was morning and it was longer and all of that. In the parenting seasons, it looked different throughout that journey when the little ones, I would try to get up before them and try to get my quiet time in, but it really did. It ebbed and flowed in the amount of time I was able to spend and all of that. In this season, I have more time. And for me, it's always been better in the morning. I know some people are better at night and that's fine. For me, it's been morning, and I just have to have my space, my particular place that I go with all my quiet time materials there. And when I'm there, it just, the distractions are minimal. And that's because that's just my place to be alone with my heavenly father. I've got a little spot to pray and a spot to sit and read and study. And so that's what it looks like for me. I am so often asked by moms; do we make our kids have a quiet time? Do I make my middle school son or my middle school daughter or high school daughter have a quiet time? And I always say, no, you don't need to make them do it. But I suggest three things. You model it, you encourage it, and you make it easy. You model it, you encourage it and make it easy. So, I, my kids saw me and Andy having quiet times their whole childhood. And again, it looked different, different seasons, but they knew that we both spent time in the word and in prayer. And that just modeled it for them. So, it was something that they just grew up kind of assuming is a given, which is a good thing, but you can also encourage it. And that's one of the things that we did was we just helped them as they got older, figure out what does this look like for you? You know, what kind of, are you a morning person? Are you an evening person? Is this gonna be, you know, just helping them figure out best times and best practices and all that for their personality and temperaments. And then making it easy. We always made sure our kids had age-appropriate Bibles in every season, starting when they couldn't even read little picture Bibles that were their own. We wanted them to have their own Bible and never remember a time that they didn't have their own. And so we just made sure that, you know, different seasons of their lives, they had age appropriate Bibles. And one of the things that I did, and this is just a kind of a, maybe a little fun thing, their Easter baskets every year, while, you know, it always had some chocolate bunnies, you know, and all the normal Easter basket things, I always made sure that there were quiet time tools in their Easter basket that were age appropriate and, you know, proclivity appropriate based on what they liked. And, you know, one of our sons was a reader, one wasn't so much a reader, but if it was about an athlete and the athlete's testimony, they would both read that. So, I would put all kinds of different things for Allie, journaling stuff, pens, colored pencils, just anything that I thought would encourage their journey in a quiet time. That was my big time to do that. And then of course, other times of the year, we would add some things, but model it, encourage it, make it easy. And that's the best way to set your kids up to maybe make this as a habit. And even when they don't, nagging isn't gonna help, so don't nag, you know, don't nag under the guise of I'm just reminding them, but model it, encourage it in the appropriate ways and then make it easy. Laura Dugger: (31:31 - 31:48) And I even thought there was additional practical wisdom that you shared within that section, just encouraging the mamas, guard your time. And how do you see that intentionality tying over into our time with the Lord? Sandra Stanley: (31:48 - 34:00) Definitely it ties over. I think, you know, as we think about motherhood and Allie is experiencing this now, there's a whole other layer of busyness that gets added to your life. It's almost like the things on your calendar double. And then as they get older, it's even more and more intense as they get older, because everybody, you know, has jobs. So, in this season with these moms of middle school and high school girls, they might be having their first little jobs or and your other kids also. So anyway, it's just a busy season and our time is limited. So, we always say, Andy and I say this all the time to parents, your time is limited. So, you've got to limit what you do with your time. And when you make it a priority to have that time alone with your heavenly father, that's one of your biggest yeses. And then they're just going to be some no's in different seasons. I call them categorical no's in different seasons of parenting. When the kids were little, I had all these categories of things that are just a no for now. This might be a yes for later. It's a no for now. So, things like I'm doing now, like writing projects or speaking, or, you know, just stuff like that were no's when my kids were young, because those are so time consuming. And so those were no for now, but not forever categories of things. So, I would say to moms and to daughters, you know, your time is limited. So, you've got to limit it. And so, you know, pay attention to what the most important things are. And I would say, go so far as to say calendar those things, put those things on your calendar and treat them like appointments. Because typically the mom is the calendar keeper for the whole family. And what we put on our calendars, what we actually do. And so I've always used my calendar that way to make sure that the most important things are on the calendar, even little things like call my grandmother, you know, back during those seasons, because I would get busy and, you know, two weeks would go by and, you know, I knew my time with her was limited. So just even little things like that I've always calendared. And I think our quiet time may be something we need to calendar and give it a time slot. And, you know, for me, again, I'm the efficiency person. So that just works for me. That doesn't necessarily mean that's for everybody, but it works for me. Laura Dugger: (34:00 - 34:23) I think that's so good, Sandra. Thank you for sharing. And the two of you wrote about a couple really helpful words in a different section that was titled Family is Forever. So, can you speak to the roles that gentleness and gratitude play in creating an enjoyable family culture? Yes. Allie Stanley Cooney: (34:23 - 34:31) Yeah, well, I feel like a lot of girls feel like they don't have a lot of control within their family dynamics. Sandra Stanley: (34:31 - 34:34) So, this was the topic on family in the book. Allie Stanley Cooney: (34:34 - 36:07) So, you don't choose your family. You're not choosing what you're having for dinner. You're not choosing your curfew or your classes. A lot of times in that season, it can feel like there's no control. And so, I wanted to give the girls a couple things that, hey, you do have a choice in these and you do control these as far as it depends on you. And so those things were appreciation, forgiveness, and gentleness. So, appreciation, you can choose to appreciate your family. You can choose to appreciate your mom. You can choose to say thank you to the people around you for what they do. Forgiveness, you choose to forgive. And then gentleness. This came a lot from my relationship with my brothers specifically. How is the youngest of three? Of the youngest, I have two older brothers, and they were mean. Not gentle. They were mean. And so, learning like, hey, they want you to respond in aggression. They want you to get angry. That's kind of- They want a reaction. They want a reaction from you. And so responding in gentleness is actually how you deescalate the situation. And I think that those things, it kind of gives girls like, oh, I'm not totally helpless. I'm not totally out of control. I can actually choose these things and I can choose to do them or not. And I can see how it positively affects the family or if I choose not to do them, how it negatively affects the family. And we all have ownership in the family culture and vibes and feelings. And so, I think that helps the girls kind of have a grasp on something in their family. Laura Dugger: (36:08 - 38:01) That's so good. And even, not that either one is more important for the other, but I really was thinking that sets children apart if they are grateful. And that sets parents apart if they are gentle and both are obviously encouraged in the Bible. So I just thought that was incredible how you drew that out. Do you love The Savvy Sauce? Do you gain anything when you listen? Did you know that the two ways we earn money to keep this podcast live is through generous contributions from listeners and from our paying sponsors? That means we can promote your business and you're still supporting The Savvy Sauce. It's a win-win. Please email us today at info@thesavvysauce.com to inquire about pricing for sponsoring each episode. Thank you for your consideration. And Sandra, you've been a previous guest. I'll make sure and link to that episode in the show notes. That was about parenting, even starting with younger age children, which was wonderful. But Allie, this is my first time getting to meet you. So, I'll share with you too. Your dad was actually my first pastor after I became a believer. So, I remember him preaching a series on better decisions, fewer regrets. And he would challenge us to ask ourselves a question. I think I'm getting this right. In light of my past experiences, my current circumstances and my future hopes and dreams, what's the wise thing to do? And so, as we're nearing the close of our conversation, would you like to share, after absorbing all this information from the conversation and from your book, now what? What is the wise thing to do? Allie Stanley Cooney: (38:01 - 39:57) Yeah, so our last chapter is on decision-making because I do think all of it kind of points to the decisions and we point back to Philippians 4, where Paul is saying, now put it into practice. Everything you've learned, everything you've seen, all of these things, it's time to put it into practice. And so, pointing these girls and pointing these moms to stop in a moment and ask themselves exactly what you just said. Okay, in spite of my past and my present and my future, what is the wise thing to do? What is the thing that will lead to healthier relationships? What is the thing that will lead to less regret in the future? And I think it's even just a choice to stop and just ask that, because a lot of times we just go, go, go. We don't have time to stop to really think through anything, but the idea of, okay, before we make a decision, let's actually stop and ask ourselves, what is the wise thing to do? And it's not always gonna be popular. It's not always gonna be easy. And sometimes you might be the only one doing it, but I know in my experience, and even when I was in high school, I went to public school, so I was surrounded by a lot of people who weren't making the wisest decisions and they were my friends and realizing, okay, I'm gonna, even though it's not popular, even though they might laugh at me, even though this might not go well for me, I know what I want my future to look like and therefore I'm gonna do the right thing. I'm gonna say no, or I'm gonna say yes, or I'm gonna do whatever I know the right thing to do is and just trust that it's gonna be okay and trust that my close friends will stick by me and my family will stick by me and they'll be proud of me. And so I think it's hard to do in the moment, but if you have that filter and if you stop and ask, then I think it's really, really great for you and your future. Sandra Stanley: (39:58 - 41:46) And for moms and daughters to have this question in their back pocket as these things roll out, as hard decisions come along, it's just really important to ask what is the wise thing to do? And I think an approach for parenting in general, but especially for these moms of middle and high school girls, an approach and part of a conversation is, hey, Allie, I love you so much. And my goal is for you to get to the end of these middle school years or the end of these high school years with as few regrets as possible. So, we're gonna get in the habit of asking this question, what is the wise thing for me to do? What is the wise thing for me to do in this situation? And the second question we talk about in that decision-making chapter is what story do I wanna tell? When all of this is said and done, when this decision, even this one decision, when this is over and I'm on the other side of it, what is the story that I will want to tell? I think I'm gonna make that decision based on that. So those two questions, what is the wise thing to do and what story am I gonna wanna tell? Those are big, big conversation pieces for moms and daughters to have and for moms and kids in general and dads and families to have, what's the wise thing to do and what story do you wanna tell? Because we wanna get them to a place where they have as few regrets as possible and God can certainly use our regrets, He can use our stuff. We're not gonna be perfect. We are not gonna always get it right and we're not always gonna make the wise decision. And I think us being honest and chatting with our kids about decisions we didn't make that were the right ones that we might carry a little bit of baggage around on at the appropriate time and in the appropriate way, we can have those conversations with our kids and let them know, hey, I'm not perfect and I'm not expecting you to be perfect but let's get in the habit of asking these questions because they will cause us to have fewer regrets on the other side. Laura Dugger: (41:47 - 41:53) So, good and it really puts you on the same team which you are when you're having these conversations. Sandra Stanley: (41:53 - 42:18) And sometimes your kids don't feel that. They don't feel like we're on their team. They feel like we aren't because we don't want them to have fun or we don't want them to have freedom or whatever. And it really does. These conversations do emphasize, hey, I am on your team and I am only saying no to this because I am so for you. And I think these conversations set us up for that. Laura Dugger: (42:19 - 42:27) Well, you've shared some wise questions. Would you also be willing to share the prayer that Allie, I believe you prayed through high school? Allie Stanley Cooney: (42:28 - 42:36) Yes, the prayer is give me the wisdom to know what's right and the courage to do what's right, even when it's hard and even when I have to do it by myself. Sandra Stanley: (42:36 - 43:23) We started praying that for our kids before they even knew what we were saying. When they were toddlers, we were praying this prayer with them. And as they got older, that's when we tacked on the end, even if I'm the only one, even if I'm doing it by myself. Because as you get older and you get into middle school and high school, sometimes you feel like you're the only one. And we celebrated like crazy when we caught our kids making a hard decision and especially if they were the only one. So, when we saw them making wise decisions, we didn't always catch it, but if we did, we wanted them to know this is to be celebrated because what's rewarded is repeated. And we wanted to reward our kids for making those tough decisions. And I think Allie carried that on with her all the way through, so. Laura Dugger: (43:24 - 43:36) Love that so much. And really, it's such a joy to learn from both of you. Can you tell us where to go after this conversation where we can continue learning from the wisdom of each of you? Sandra Stanley: (43:36 - 43:56) Thank you. Yeah, the book is anywhere that you buy books, you know, on Amazon, all of the different places where you buy books. My website, sandrastanley.com has lots of links. Instagram, Allie Kay Cooney, yeah. So we're talking about it a lot these days, just in the season of talking about maybe in the middle. Laura Dugger: (43:57 - 44:13) Love it. Well, you may know that I have one final question for you because we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so as my final question for each one of you today, what is your savvy sauce? Sandra Stanley: (44:14 - 45:04) You go. Okay, I'll start first. I think, Laura, it really is my calendar dictates my life. But again, that's kind of a personality thing. But for me, if I don't get it on my calendar, it may or may not get done. So for me to put the biggest, most important things on my calendar, it just makes life more smooth for me. So, I use my calendar for everything. There was a season where I even calendared exercise because it was a crazy season. I thought if I don't put it on here, I'm not gonna do it. I have a rhythm with that now, so it's a little bit easier. But even things like making sure I'm checking in with my mom and dad, because they are in there getting to their late eighties and, you know, just little reminders of things that are most important that I don't wanna miss, that are easy to miss when I get busy, I just use my calendar for everything. Allie Stanley Cooney: (45:05 - 45:51) Yeah, I think, I don't know if this is exactly what you mean, but recently, I wanna be off my phone more because it's just everyone's addicted to their phone. So, I got this thing called a brick, and I saw it on Instagram, ironically. But you can tap your phone onto it, and it basically shuts down any app other than whatever apps you want. And the whole thing is you're turning your phone back into a tool and not a distraction. And it's pretty much changed my life. Because I'll sleep with it on brick, and then so I can't wake up and just like be on my phone. So, then I have to like intentionally undo it to go on Instagram or do whatever. And then I just keep it bricked. And so, I'm not just scrolling, and it's been really, really helpful. Laura Dugger: (45:52 - 46:21) I love it, those are so wonderful. And God has just blessed both of you with so many gifts, but I'm seeing so much wisdom, so much beauty in both of you, but your generosity to share because you have a unique family situation and are very well known. And yet you just are giving of yourselves through the time here, through the knowledge and wisdom that you shared in your book. So, I want to say thank you for a thousand things, but thank you for being my guest today. Sandra Stanley: (46:21 - 46:26) Thank you for having us. We really appreciate it. This was very fun. Yeah. Laura Dugger: (46:27 - 49:41) One more thing before you go. Have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you. But it starts with the bad news. Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there is absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved. We need a savior. But God loved us so much, he made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him. That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life we could never live and died in our place for our sin. This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished if we choose to receive what He has done for us. Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” So would you pray with me now? Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you. Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me, so me for him. You get the opportunity to live your life for him. And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So you ready to get started? First, tell someone. Say it out loud. Get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes & Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it. You can start by reading the book of John. Also, get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps, such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you. We want to celebrate with you too, so feel free to leave a comment for us here if you did make a decision to follow Christ. We also have show notes included where you can read Scripture that describes this process. And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “In the same way I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today. And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Attorney Tessie D. Edwards. Tessie D. Edwards & Associates, P.C. is a local, family-owned law firm that has been serving the Atlanta, GA, community for over 15 years. Our attorneys enthusiastically represent their clients and bring extensive experience. We strive to provide personalized, affordable legal services with special discounts for military personnel and first responders. Tessie D. Edwards fights to find the right solutions for families in crisis. With her years of experience as a prosecutor, attorneys respect Tessie as an aggressive advocate who can achieve clients’ objectives. Clients see her compassionate side, where she and her team take the time to listen and understand the situation entirely.With a passion for justice, Tessie started her career in criminal law, serving as an Assistant Solicitor General in Clayton County and an Assistant District Attorney in Fulton County. She prosecuted over 2,000 cases involving a variety of offenses, including crimes of family violence. Over time, her zeal to help children and families drew her toward the practice of family law. She strives to help families recognize how to put the best interests of their children at the forefront and to find solutions that meet the needs of the family while still fulfilling legal requirements demanded by the courts.Tessie leads a team that understands the nuances of family law and how courts apply statutory guidelines and legal precedents to reach their decisions. They find alternative methods of helping clients get what they want while protecting the overall needs of the family. #BEST #STRAW #SHMS Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Attorney Tessie D. Edwards. Tessie D. Edwards & Associates, P.C. is a local, family-owned law firm that has been serving the Atlanta, GA, community for over 15 years. Our attorneys enthusiastically represent their clients and bring extensive experience. We strive to provide personalized, affordable legal services with special discounts for military personnel and first responders. Tessie D. Edwards fights to find the right solutions for families in crisis. With her years of experience as a prosecutor, attorneys respect Tessie as an aggressive advocate who can achieve clients’ objectives. Clients see her compassionate side, where she and her team take the time to listen and understand the situation entirely.With a passion for justice, Tessie started her career in criminal law, serving as an Assistant Solicitor General in Clayton County and an Assistant District Attorney in Fulton County. She prosecuted over 2,000 cases involving a variety of offenses, including crimes of family violence. Over time, her zeal to help children and families drew her toward the practice of family law. She strives to help families recognize how to put the best interests of their children at the forefront and to find solutions that meet the needs of the family while still fulfilling legal requirements demanded by the courts.Tessie leads a team that understands the nuances of family law and how courts apply statutory guidelines and legal precedents to reach their decisions. They find alternative methods of helping clients get what they want while protecting the overall needs of the family. #BEST #STRAW #SHMS See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hampton Dellinger is reinstated, temporarily, to his position as Special Counsel in the Office of Special Counsel.There is a mysterious $3 Million in Mayor Eric Adams' reelection account.Disappointing news about Kenneth Chesebro in Fulton County.Plus, we have an update on Rudy. Allison Gillhttps://muellershewrote.substack.com/@muellershewrote.bsky.social on BlueskyHarry DunnHarry Dunn | Substack@libradunn1.bsky.social on BlueskyWant to support this podcast and get it ad-free and early?Go to: https://www.patreon.com/aisle45podTell us about yourself and what you like about the show - http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short
Boos at a Republican town hall in Fulton County, and boos at the White House: We're beginning to see signs of people refusing to be ruled by unelected billionaires, oligarchs and CEOs. This may be the time for Democrats with some heterodox views to run for office. Meanwhile, the supposedly free speech president and his shadow are trying to intimidate people from criticizing them—including a member of Congress and one of Elon's baby mamas. Plus, Trump's advisers seem more worried about Zelensky saying mean things about him than the fact that he wants to hand the spoils to the losing side of the war. Rep. Adam Kinzinger joins Tim Miller for the weekend pod. show notes Tim's interview with CA Democrat Rep. Robert Garcia Sam's interview with FEMA chief who was fired and has now been rehired Evidence of Elon shadow-banning Grimes Kinzinger's substack Tim's playlist
Ms. Pat recently went to an event and met Ramona Toole. She is a Deputy DA for Fulton County that manages the Diversions, Records, and Record Restrictions Unit. She told Ms. Pat she was eligible to have her record cleaned up! Ramona joins us to explain how it is done, and sheds some light on Ms. Pat's past. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try and get on your way to being your best self at https://www.betterhelp.com/patdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thursday, February 15th, 2024At least one person is dead after a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs parade; two hearings take place today in the Trump crime saga - a Fulton County hearing on recusal of DA Fani Willis in Fulton County, and a hearing on motions to dismiss the hush money charges in Manhattan; Jack Smith has filed his response to Trump's application for a stay with SCOTUS; Democrat Tom Suozzi wins George Santos' old seat; the House has voted to impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas; a cooperating witness testified at a preliminary hearing in the Michigan fraudulent electors case; House intel chair Mike Turner announced a briefing on a national security threat; the House Ethics Committee has obtained texts from Matt Gaetz. Plus Allison and Dana deliver your good news.Our Guest Barb McQuadeOrder Attack From Within Bookhttps://www.barbaramcquade.comhttps://twitter.com/BarbMcQuadeFrom the Good NewsAdopt Balto (Riverside County, California)https://post.rescueme.org/24-02-11-00023She's Flyhttps://www.shesfly.com Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Subscribe for free to MuellerSheWrote on Substackhttps://muellershewrote.substack.comFollow AG and Dana on Social MediaDr. Allison Gill Substack|Muellershewrote, Twitter|@MuellerSheWrote, Threads|@muellershewrote, TikTok|@muellershewrote, IG|muellershewrote, BlueSky|@muellershewroteDana GoldbergTwitter|@DGComedy, IG|dgcomedy, facebook|dgcomedy, IG|dgcomedy, danagoldberg.com, BlueSky|@dgcomedyHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?Supercasthttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/Patreon https://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr subscribe on Apple Podcasts with our affiliate linkThe Daily Beans on Apple Podcasts