Podcasts about Government Accountability Office

Bob Zimmerman reports SpaceX's 13th Starship Super Heavy launch was a major success, demonstrating the reliability of Raptor 3 engines and the thermal protection system. Zimmerman highlights the shift toward a "capitalism model," where private companies manage missions for NASA. Meanwhile, a schizophrenic GAO report on NASA's workforce reductions suggests that budget cuts have not significantly impacted major projects, despite agency officials' claims that funding decreases are "disastrous." (15)

SCHEDULE FOR THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 7-29-26.1885  CHILE STEEL SIDED WARSHIPRebecca Grant and Gordon Chang report China is escalating provocations against the Philippines and Japan, including dangerous maneuvers near Second Thomas Shoal and firing missiles from submarines. Grant highlights the US Navy's preparedness to defend allies, noting a "red line" if Filipino sailors are killed. Despite China's permanent presence, the US maintains dominance through carrier strike groups and superior undersea warfare. The lack of operational officers on China's Central Military Commission suggests potential command risks. (1)Rick Fisher and Gordon Chang discuss reports that China is transferring hundreds of advanced QW-12 and FN-16 man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) to Iran via Hong Kong intermediaries. Fisher warns this poses a significant threat to US aircraft in the Strait of Hormuz. Chang advocates for reimposing sanctions on Hong Kong. The transfer, which China denies, represents a major escalation and highlights China's ongoing role in arming US adversaries like North Korea and Pakistan. (2)Charles Burton and Gordon Chang note Xi Jinping broke tradition by skipping the 50th anniversary of the devastating Tangshan earthquake, sending a surrogate instead. Burton suggests this absence may signal political instability or paranoia regarding his domestic standing. The earthquake historically symbolizes a loss of the "mandate of heaven." Furthermore, vacancies on the Central Military Commission and the mysterious death of former Premier Li Keqiangindicate profound internal disarray and a lack of clear succession. (3)Charles Burton and Gordon Chang discuss how trade tensions and rhetoric from the US have led to increased disdain among Canadians toward their neighbor. Burton discusses a poll showing Canadians view China more favorably than the US due to perceived economic threats from American tariffs. While the integrated North American market remains strong, Canadian provincial governments are reportedly restricting US alcohol sales. There are even suggestions that Canada should adopt "resistance" strategies similar to Ukraine. (4)Evan Ellis reports Keiko Fujimori has been inaugurated as Peru's president, appointing a respected center-right cabinet focused on fiscal discipline and US alignment. However, she faces challenges from endemic insecurity, corruption, and significant Chinese investment. Meanwhile, the influence of Cuba remains a concern across Latin America, with accusations of espionage and interference in democratic processes. Díaz-Canel's regime is under pressure from the Trump administration, potentially facing coercive negotiations or military action. (5)Evan Ellis previews Brazil's upcoming October election, which pits the leftist Lula da Silva against Flavio Bolsonaro, son of the former president. While Lula currently leads in polls, his Workers' Party background and ties to the São Paulo Forum raise concerns about radicalism and increased engagement with China. Ellis warns that a Lula victory could lead Brazil into a recession and a state-centric social policy, potentially settling political scores while lacking necessary financial resources. (6)Evan Ellis surveys shifting political landscapes: Javier Milei is rallying support for the Bolsonaros in Brazil, highlighting a new era of cross-border political interference. In Colombia, President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella is signaling a pro-US shift by cutting ties with Cuba and Nicaragua. Conversely, Venezuela remains in a "holding pattern" under Delcy Rodríguez. Despite reports of crumbling oil infrastructure, major investment is unlikely until a legitimate government is established to address the nation's $240 billion debt. (7)Evan Ellis notes President Claudia Sheinbaum has seen success in reducing homicides and cooperating on border security, but deep-seated corruption persists. The USMCA's future is uncertain, with the Trump administration using ongoing negotiations as leverage. Additionally, China is quietly expanding its presence in Mexico's telecom and automotive sectors. Sheinbaum must navigate a delicate balance: pursuing economic diversification and relationships with China without jeopardizing critical access to the US market. (8)Michael Bernstam reports Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries have severely pinched Moscow's fuel production, forcing it to import refined products from India. Bernstam argues that the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have merged into a singular global energy crisis. With critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea threatened, a quarter of the world's oil supply is endangered. As governmental reserves dwindle, the US has become a primary exporter. (9)Michael Bernstam notes official statistics reveal the Russian economy has entered a state of stagnation, with GDP growth at a mere 0.2% for the first half of 2026. While weapons production remains high, the civilian economy—including agriculture and construction—is in recession. Bernstam notes that "perceived inflation" for Russian consumers is roughly 15%, significantly higher than official reports. Reckless interest rate cuts have further invited inflation, signaling a deepening commercial and fiscal crisis. (10)Sadanand Dhume observes that despite having a vast pool of engineers and data, India lags behind the US and China in developing frontier AI models. Dhume discusses the "winner-take-all" fear versus the belief that AI technology will eventually diffuse globally. While the Indian government is investing in semiconductors, many IT sector jobs in coding and back-office support are threatened by automation. The debate continues over whether India can successfully reap benefits without being a front-runner. (11)Sadanand Dhume examines India's "reservations" system, a rigid quota-based affirmative action program facing intense criticism for undermining university competitiveness. Originally intended to redress historical caste-based wrongs, quotas have expanded to cover roughly 60% of medical school seats. Dhume notes that while merit-based systems in Chinaprovide a brutal but efficient benchmark, Indian political parties fear touching the quota system would be "electoral suicide." This policy has entrenched caste identities. (12)General Blaine Holt analyzes reports of China supplying advanced shoulder-launched missiles (MANPADS) to Iran via Hong Kong and Pakistan, signaling a major geopolitical shift. Holt explains that while these weapons threaten low-flying aircraft, the supply chain is vulnerable to intelligence interdiction. Holt observes that recent Iranian escalations in Iraq and the Gulf suggest a fragmented leadership in disarray rather than a cohesive strategy. The US and Saudi Arabiaare actively striking Iranian-backed militias. (13)Mary Anastasia O'Grady reports that following a narrow election victory, center-right businessman Abelardo de la Espriella faces fierce opposition from outgoing President Gustavo Petro. Petro, a former M19 terrorist, has refused to recognize the results, alleging fraud and foreign interference. De la Espriella plans to take a hard line against illegal armed groups like the ELN and FARC. To build support, he intends to hold his inauguration at a military garrison, signaling a commitment to restoring national security. (14)Bob Zimmerman reports SpaceX's 13th Starship Super Heavy launch was a major success, demonstrating the reliability of Raptor 3 engines and the thermal protection system. Zimmerman highlights the shift toward a "capitalism model," where private companies manage missions for NASA. Meanwhile, a schizophrenic GAO report on NASA's workforce reductions suggests that budget cuts have not significantly impacted major projects, despite agency officials' claims that funding decreases are "disastrous." (15)Bob Zimmerman notes the Deep Space Network facility in Spain narrowly avoided destruction by wildfires, highlighting the fragility of planetary communication nodes. Beyond Earth, astronomers have observed a precipitous drop in star formation within the Andromeda galaxy as it moves toward an eventual collision with the Milky Way. Additionally, NASA's Dragonfly mission to Titan faces potential power shortages from its nuclear sources. Despite these risks, commercial space continues to expand into private stations. (16)Corrections applied: Rick Fisher (transcribed as "Fischer" in segment 2 — matching the spelling from your earlier batch), Delcy Rodríguez, Díaz-Canel, and São Paulo Forum with accents. Also standardized "man-pads" to MANPADS and hyphenated the QW-12/FN-16 designations. Stray double commas from the source cleaned throughout.5

In this episode, we discuss navigating the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) using updated tools on acquisition.gov, including practitioner albums for change summaries and the new FAR Companion. The panel outlines how to locate agency-specific supplements like the AFARS and DFARS, while providing strategies for researching primary sources such as National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs) and GAO case law. Finally, the episode introduces the newly renamed Acquisition Attorney's Deskbook and explores the evolving role of closed and open AI tools in conducting streamlined legal analysis. Resources Links Deskbooks: Attorney's Acquisition Deskbook: tjaglcs.army.mil/publications Fiscal Law Deskbook: tjaglcs.army.mil/publications Primary Sources: FAR: www.acquisition.gov/ RFO: www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul RFO Practitioner Albums: www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/practitioner albums FAR Companion: www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/page_file_uploads/far-companion.pdf AFARS Link: www.army.mil/armycontracting#org-afars DFARS: www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfarspgi/current/index.html and https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfars_far_overhaul_class_deviations.html U.S. Code and Statutes: uscode.house.gov/ Congress: www.congress.gov/ DoD History & Library Directorate: whs mil.libguides.com/dodappropriationslaws GAO: www.gao.gov/legal/bid-protests/search Court of Federal Claims (COFC): www.uscfc.uscourts.gov/ Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA): www.asbca.mil/ Secondary Sources: Congressional Research Reports: www.congress.gov/quick-search/crs products?qs_expand=true WIFCON.com: www.wifcon.com Small Gov Con: www.smallgov.com StanHinton: www.stanhinton.com Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department).

Fifteen years ago Congress created the CMS Innovation Center to test new ways of delivering quality care at lower costs. Since then, the Innovation Center has tested dozens of models - some have been successes, and many have not. Director Abe Sutton joins The Other 80 for a candid conversation about the Innovation Center's record, its next chapter, and the big bets ahead. Abe identifies three features of successful models:Mandatory participation to avoid cherry pickingDownside risk to drive provider attention and engagementMinimal gaps between first- and second-generation models to maintain momentum Abe says success should not be measured by how many models work, but by overall return on investment:“If we are taking bold bets, if we're trying to say, all right, let's back the next thing that could really transform care in a country and put the country on a more solid fiscal foundation while improving care and the affordability of care. Well, one thing that really was transformative and did that well may be worth the cost of running 20 things.”Relevant LinksRead the CMS Accountable Communities EvaluationAccess the GAO report evaluating the CMMI model from 2011-2024Read the CMMI's most recent Strategic PlanAbout Our GuestAbe Sutton serves as the Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and Deputy Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Before assuming this role in January of 2025, he co-founded two health service companies; Honest Health, which focuses on enabling primary care physicians, and Evergreen Nephrology, which focuses on enabling nephrologists. Sutton focused on health policy with the federal government from 2017 to 2019, serving at the National Economic Council, Domestic Policy Council and Department of Health and Human Services. In these roles, he coordinated health policy across the federal government, with a focus on the shift to paying-for-value within Medicare, increasing choice and competition in health care markets, and updating the federal government's approach to kidney care.He holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and undergraduate degrees in political science, management, and health care management and policy from the Wharton School and the College at the University of Pennsylvania.SourceConnect With UsFor more information on The Other 80 please visit our website - www.theother80.com. To connect with our team, please email claudia@theother80.com and follow us on twitter @claudiawilliams and LinkedInSubscribe to The Other 80 on YouTube so you never miss our video extras or special video episodes!

Wildfires continue to burn in France and Spain, and an incoming heat wave is threatening to make things worse. Reuters’s Manuel Ausloos describes the devastation. The Federal Reserve kicks off a two-day meeting with unusual uncertainty, because new Chair Kevin Warsh has offered no forward guidance on rates. USA Today’s Rachel Barber breaks down the difficult situation the central bank is in. A new GAO report shows a sharp rise in Amazon and gig-economy workers relying on food stamps and Medicaid. The Washington Post’s Lauren Kaori Gurley explains why. Plus, police in Seattle are searching for a third suspect connected to the shooting at a food festival, Sen. Mitch McConnell gave an update on his health, and how signing LeBron James was a bargain for the Philadelphia 76ers. Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.

On this week's Security Sprint, Dave and Andy covered the following topics:Opening:• Cybersecurity Regulations: Multiple Sectors Are Subject to Potentially Duplicative Reporting Requirements — U.S. Government Accountability Office & 70% of federal cybersecurity reporting rules are duplicated, GAO finds — CyberScoop • ANCHOR-CI could fix 20 years of broken government-industry collaboration — CyberScoop • Project Pilot: Can AI models fly drones? — Anthropic — • OpenAI and Hugging Face partner to address security incident during model evaluation — OpenAI — • Bluesky Thread: OpenAI and Hugging Face incident demonstrates both autonomous cyber risk and defensive potential — Pwnallthethings • Hugging Face CISO Post Mortem — Cloud Security Alliance Main Topics:1 dead, 16 injured after car ramming at Berlin CSD Pride event — DW — 25 Jul 2026. One person was killed and 16 others were injured after a vehicle was driven into people attending Berlin's CSD Pride event. Authorities investigated the circumstances and potential motive behind the incident as emergency personnel treated victims and secured the area. The attack underscores the vulnerability of large public gatherings to vehicle-based violence and the potential for mass casualties within seconds. • The suspect in the deadly Berlin Pride attack is killed in a confrontation with police • Car Plows Into Crowd at Berlin Pride Event in Suspected Terror Attack ‘Integrated' cyber and physical attacks concerned FIFA planners — StateScoop — 20 Jul 2026. Security planners for the 2026 FIFA World Cup prepared for blended attacks combining cyber disruption, physical violence, disinformation, swatting, infrastructure attacks, and interference with emergency communications. • The Gate 15 Interview EP 60 – Sasha Larkin: “I like the chaos, chaos makes sense to me.”2026H1 Threat Review: Vulnerabilities Up 51% Year Over Year — Forescout — 20 Jul 2026. Forescout reports a 51 percent year-over-year increase in vulnerabilities during the first half of 2026 as organizations contend with accelerating disclosure volumes across IT, Internet of Things, operational technology, and connected devices. Email threat landscape: Q2 2026 trends and insights — Microsoft Security — 23 Jul 2026. Microsoft detected approximately 7.6 billion email-based phishing threats during the second quarter, while monthly volumes declined modestly from April through June. Quick Hits:• Weekly ransomware & data leak landscape — eCrime.ch — 27 Jul 2026. eCrime.ch recorded 236 public ransomware and data-leak claims involving 45 active groups during the seven-day period ending 27 July, with 63 events showing public evidence of data leakage. Qilin led with 37 claims, followed by Gentlemen and Global Secret Group with 31 each, while construction was the most frequently targeted sector with 17 incidents. The United States accounted for 103 claims, and healthcare recorded 10 incidents among the 88 sectors represented. • Pay up or not? Ransomware surge has victims facing tough choices — Ars Technica • If you pay a hacker's ransom, chances are that they'll come back for more • Cl0p Exploitation of PTC Windchill & FlexPLM (CVE-2026-12569) — Ransom-ISAC — 22 Jul 2026. Ransom-ISAC, eCrime.ch, and DEFUSED warn that Cl0p ransomware affiliates are actively exploiting internet-exposed PTC Windchill and FlexPLM systems. • Black Kite's 2026 Ransomware Report: Ransomware Accelerates 60% in Six Months and Shows No Signs of Slowing as New Ransomware Groups Emerge Weekly

Post-award bid protests filed at the Government Accountability Office will not hold up the Office of Personnel Management's rollout of a governmentwide HR system. OPM spokeswoman McLaurine Pinover confirmed to FedScoop via email that all companies that were entitled to and requested a debriefing received one, and that all debriefings were completed “well over 10 days ago.” Per rules that govern bid protests before the GAO, that means that the nearly $400 million award the agency made to Oracle in June can no longer be challenged before the watchdog agency's adjudicatory body. The eventual 10-year award to Oracle came after a rocky start for the push to build a governmentwide HR platform. OPM initially awarded a sole-source contract — one without a competitive bidding process — to Workday in May 2025 to facilitate the Trump administration's HR modernization efforts, only to walk the award back shortly thereafter. OPM eventually launched open competition for a contract to establish a governmentwide HR system. That contract faced pre-award protests from IBM and Economic Systems, Inc., which were withdrawn or resolved, freeing up the agency to make its award. And ultimately, Oracle was announced as the winner. Most of the Technology Modernization Fund's projects have yet to achieve expected cost savings, according to the Government Accountability Office, but there's big money to be saved on the horizon. Two dozen projects are expected to reach savings of more than $1 billion, a figure that exceeds total TMF investments across its broader 68-project portfolio. Nearly a dozen of those have realized a combined $13.5 million in savings, while another 13 have not achieved savings at all, according to the GAO audit published Thursday. “While savings thus far have been small, the amount is not unexpected given that 21 projects — with expected savings of about $1.04 billion, or 98.3 percent of the total — anticipate achieving their savings in fiscal year 2027 or later,” the watchdog said in its report. Six TMF-funded projects that expected cost savings have been completed. Two were on track to meet their cost savings target. The watchdog found that the others missed the mark. A General Services Administration project went through “a major change that descoped planned work and reduced expected savings,” per the report. At least one other project met a similar fate, leading to less savings than initially planned. Higher-than-expected migration and transition costs led another project's predicted savings to not materialize. Seven other projects were cancelled. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

On Friday's Mark Levin Show, President Trump has repeatedly and clearly condemned Tucker Carlson and for good reason. Carlson has viciously and personally attacked the President, not just disagreed with him here and there. Strange that some close to the President remain close to Carlson, even defend Carlson, given Carlson's relentless personal smears of POTUS. Also, the term “globalist” is oddly misused by those who routinely cut business deals with foreigners yet label others as globalists. Additionally, “establishment” is another term. Such words are being used intentionally and perversely to confound and confuse, but we remain neither. Later, no, we don't need more centralized government.  It's already overwhelmed by hundreds of billions in fraud documented by the GAO and by Musk and DOGE. Instead of endless experiments reinventing the wheel, the focus should simply be ensuring a safe, prosperous, and free society; Americans are not liberals on the dole and do not need government treating them as dependents - Florida serves as the prime example. Any Republican embracing quasi-socialist or centralizing agendas may win a primary but will not win the presidency. Afterward, thanks to communist China, Russia, Qatar, Turkey, Iran, and Hamas much of America's youth is against Israel—an unprecedented level of hatred toward Jews achieved through American podcasters, hosts, social media, and the internet. Israel's small population and limited resources could never win a PR war against the vast funding and influence of these foreign powers. Meanwhile, a poll claims Americans are growing weary of capitalism and losing faith in it. Majority of Americans don't want socialism. The problem is the to demographic changes—new arrivals who do not understand capitalism or the Constitution and simply expect benefits—as well as a broader culture that teaches people not to fend for themselves or pursue individual success but to demand big-government programs and something for nothing.  Finally, Gianno Caldwell calls to discuss the community March Against Violence in Chicago on June 25th.  Four years after his teenage brother Christian was shot and killed in Chicago, Caldwell is marching for justice rather than simply mourning. This is a national stand for victims and accountability through the Caldwell Foundation for Public Safety he founded in his brother's memory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Google gets a billion dollar fine from the EU. The White House considers sanctions against Chinese AI developers. The GAO criticizes overlap in cyber reporting regulations. The Feds warn of Iranian agents targeting OT systems. Researchers disclose a high-severity Linux kernel vulnerability. Dolphin X uses AI profiling to find high-value victims. A new backdoor routes C2 through the browser. Check Point confirms a critical zero-day. A lawsuit accuses ChatGPT of unauthorized medical advice. Ben Yelin explains how political campaigns attempt to influence LLMs. Baseball benches the bots. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Today we are joined by Ben Yelin from University of Maryland Center for Cyber Health and Hazard Strategies talking about how "Politicians Are Trying to Change What Chatbots Say About Them." If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to check out Ben on Caveat every week. Selected Reading Google Hit With $1 Billion Fine for Abusing Its Power in Europe (New York Times) US Eyes Sanctions on Chinese AI Firms Over Distillation (GovInfo Security) Most federal cybersecurity reporting rules are duplicative, study finds (CyberScoop) Federal agencies broaden alert on Iran-linked OT attacks (The Record) New RefluXFS Linux flaw lets attackers gain root privileges (Bleeping Computer) New Dolphin X Stealer Employs AI Profiling to Prioritize Targets (Infosecurity Magazine) New msaRAT malware uses Chrome, Edge browsers to route C2 traffic (Bleeping Computer) New Check Point Zero-Day Vulnerability Exploited in the Wild (SecurityWeek) Lawsuit Claims ChatGPT Dished Out Dangerous Health Advice (GovInfo Security) MLB bans using dugout iPads for AI-powered in-game strategy calls (Engadget) Share your feedback. What do you think about CyberWire Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show. Want to hear your company in the show? N2K CyberWire helps you reach the industry's most influential leaders and operators, while building visibility, authority, and connectivity across the cybersecurity community. Learn more at sponsor.thecyberwire.com. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

The Genesis Mission is expanding beyond the Department of Energy to include 20 federal agencies that are bringing a combined commitment of more than $5 billion and a range of challenges to tackle. The Genesis Mission is a DOE-led effort to combine the advancements in AI, quantum and high-performance computing to stand up supercomputers, launch a national platform and double the productivity of the country's research-and-development budget. The federal agencies enlisting in the initiative include the departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Interior, as well as NASA and the National Science Foundation. The expansion was announced Wednesday at the Genesis Mission 2026 Summit in Washington, D.C., with several agency leads in attendance. Seven out of 10 federal cyber regulations requiring written reports to federal agencies are duplicated elsewhere, a government watchdog found in a report to Congress Wednesday. And so far, efforts to de-conflict haven't had much success, the report from the Government Accountability Office concluded. At the request of two top lawmakers, the GAO examined federal cyber regulations at 37 agencies. It counted 80 out of 117 rules that “either contain the same kind of reporting requirement applicable to a sector or the same reporting requirement as at least one other regulation.” The desire to harmonize those conflicting rules gathered steam under the Biden administration, as it undertook a more aggressive push to regulate cybersecurity than prior administrations. It has continued into the second Trump administration. The GAO scrutinized regulations that required the private sector to report cybersecurity incidents, plans and reviews to federal agencies, as part of a study sought by House Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., and the top Democrat on the Senate counterpart to Garbarino's panel, Gary Peters, D-Mich. The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

Wednesday, July 22, 2026 Today, RFK Jr pauses a billion dollars in Medicaid to California and Minnesota; Rep. Jamie Raskin is seeking documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's foreign contacts; IRS Chief Frank Bisignano spied on colleagues when he worked at JPMorgan; Trump and the OMB are violating the Impoundment Control Act by ignoring Congressional appropriations; an appeals court has overturned the release order of Mohsen Mahdawi; an appeals court has denied Peter Navarro's bid to overturn his contempt of Congress conviction; and a federal judge says Trump has to hand over his financials in discovery in the BBC libel case; plus Allison delivers your Good News. Thank You, Fast Growing Trees Get 20% off your first purchase  FastGrowingTrees.com/dailybeans The Daily Beans is proud to partner with Miles Taylor and our friends at DEFIANCE.org For a limited time, members of the Daily Beans community can receive a FREE 3-month full membership to DEFIANCE.org and gain access to one of the fastest-growing pro-democracy movements in America. Join here: https://www.defiance.org/beans Join The Daily Beans and give a gift today to ensure The Trevor Project can continue its crucial work in the face of continued challenges. Donate to The Trevor Project - Daily Beans Podcast The Latest Breakdown→ Epstein Survivor Recounts Meeting With Todd Blanche StoriesRFK Jr pauses $1bn Medicaid funding to California and Minnesota Raskin seeks documents into Jeffrey Epstein's foreign contacts - Live Updates - POLITICO IRS Chief Frank Bisignano Spied on Colleagues When He Worked at JPMorgan - WSJ Congress rejected some of Trump's proposed budget cuts. OMB is making them anyway. US appeals court raises prospect of re-arrest of pro-Palestinian advocate Mahdawi | Reuters Judge says Trump must hand over financial records to BBC - POLITICOGood Trouble Check your voter registration status →Vote.orgVoter Registration Deadlines - Vote.org →Help save Texas from Ken Paxton! →Urge Democrats to Oppose and Stop Trump's Crypto Corruption | Indivisible Guide →Defiance.org/beans →Show up for our Libraries - action.ala.org →Stand With Minnesota →ICE List  →iceout.org Good NewsGrassRoots Garden | Food for Lane County – Eugene, Oregon INDIVISIBLE KANSAS CITY sfcva.org dana-goldbergs-southwest-funnyfest Oct 9 -Email Dana@DanaGoldberg.com for sponsorship informationTickets for Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago  →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com →Email Dana LGBTQ Owned eating establishments in your area - hello@mswmedia.com Subject: “Dana's Project” Subscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTube Our Donation Links The Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beans Blue Wave California - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser Pathways to Citizenship link to MATCH Allison's Donationhttps://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_86ff5236-dd26-11ec-b5ee-066e3d38bc77&WidgetId=6388736 Join Dana and The Daily Beans in support of Human Rights Campaign http://onecau.se/_ekes71National Security Counselors - Donate, ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers - email AG - fedoath@pm.me Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook,  DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Knowing whether a program is succeeding requires more than good intentions. It requires a disciplined look at results. Congress strengthened federal performance-management requirements in 2024, but a new GAO review finds important pieces still haven't been fully implemented. Here to explain what GAO found is Lori Atkinson, acting director for strategic issues at GAO. Read the report here: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-26-108516.pdf See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oil is up, China is buying again, and America's energy future is at a crossroads. In this episode, we tackle eight stories that matter: geopolitical chaos driving Brent above $90, the SPR disaster, Halliburton's shale boom, the AI data center power crisis, and why the Trump administration is reshaping energy policy. This is the energy news you can't afford to miss.1. Oil Market Volatility & Geopolitical TensionsThe podcast opens with oil prices surging above $90/barrel for Brent crude, driven by attacks in Kuwait, tanker incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, and renewed U.S.-Iran tensions. The Houthis are also active in the Red Sea, creating additional supply chain disruptions. Analysts are predicting higher oil prices for longer, with crack spreads at historic highs.2. U.S. Oil & Gas Production StrengthHalliburton reports positive outlook for North American shale activity in 2026. The U.S. has reached a record 13.586 million barrels per day in 2025, with enhanced oil recovery and the Permian Basin continuing to thrive. Natural gas exports and LNG are highlighted as critical economic drivers.3. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) CrisisThe Biden administration's mismanagement of the SPR is heavily criticized—including massive drawdowns without refill (180-300 million barrels), wasted taxpayer dollars on damaged equipment, and aging infrastructure. The GAO warns of "looming operational limitations," and the host emphasizes the need to refill the SPR given current geopolitical risks.4. Data Center & AI Power Demand ExplosionData centers are on track to consume up to 20% of U.S. electricity by 2035 due to AI growth—a 4-5x increase from current levels. However, grid transmission bottlenecks are a major constraint; the U.S. needs 5,000 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines annually but has only added 392 in the last two years.5. UK North Sea Energy PolicyThe incoming UK Prime Minister is signaling support for North Sea oil and gas projects (Jack Draw gas field, Rosbank oil field), though the host expresses skepticism about bureaucratic obstacles. The irony is highlighted: the UK imports Norwegian gas while sitting on untapped North Sea reserves.6. Iraq's Oil Export StrategyIraq is shipping 4 million barrels per day via 1,400 tanker trucks daily—a forced paradigm shift due to geopolitical constraints. Iraqi oil companies are also partnering with Chevron, ExxonMobil, and ConocoPhillips to capture flared gas, reducing Iraq's reliance on imported energy.7. Trump Administration Energy Policy & Climate Research AccountabilityPresident Trump has ordered a suspension and potential debarment of officials tied to fraudulent climate research. The host criticizes the "false climate narrative" and argues for an "all of the above" energy approach (coal, natural gas, nuclear) until technology allows full transition to renewables.8. Federal Energy Subsidies & SpendingIn fiscal year 2025, federal subsidies and tax expenditures totaled $64.1 billion, with renewables, EVs, and efficiency capturing 90% ($57.9-58 billion), while fossil fuels received only $2.6 billion. The host distinguishes between subsidies and tax incentives.1.Brent Tops $90 as Tanker Hit in Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions — Is “Higher for Longer” Here to Stay?2.Halliburton Sees Improvement in North American Activity in 20263.US Strategic Petroleum Reserve Sites Left Inoperable Under Biden Administration — Trump and Energy Secretary Wright Race to Fix the Damage4.Data Center Growth on Track to Absorb a Fifth of US Power Use by 2035: Nuclear Had Better Be Implemented Before We Get There5.U.S. Needs 5,000 Miles of New High-Voltage Lines Annually — It Only Built 3926.New UK Prime Minister Set to Back North Sea Oil and Gas Projects7.Thousands of Tanker Trucks Haul Iraq's Oil to Secure Revenue: A Forced but Strategic Paradigm Shift8.President Trump Orders a Review of the Green Graft and False Research ProvidedCheck the articles on https://theenergynewsbeat.substack.com/A shout-out to Steve Reese and the Reese Energy Consulting group for sponsoring the Podcast https://reeseenergyconsulting.com/.Data2 if you have any business systems, can you trust A? Well, they have the patent on validation. . https://data2.zoholandingpage.com/energyAnd we have WellDatabase rolling in as a new sponsor. https://welldatabase.com/

First Man (2017) is a “documentary” with an interesting relationship to scientific facts and a disturbing view of human nature. It follows human evolution through four reconstructed ancestors: an early beta cuck ape from Spain; a Tate stan basal hominin from Chad; an ancestral alpha mogger from South Africa; and a brainmaxxing sigma arsonist from China. Join us as we break down the silly walks, unnecessarily blurred monkey genitals, and (content warning!) graphic sexual assault. Links Pierolapithecus Sahelanthropus Gigantopithecus Sivapithecus/Ramapithecus Paranthropus Graecopithecus Peking Man (Homo erectus) Harbin/Dragon Man Our episode on Skullduggery (1970) Our episode on Sasquatch Sunset (2024) Grieving chimpanzee carries dead baby for months Zhoukoudian The myth of the alpha wolf Parsimony Boma predator deterrent Gao et al. (2017) Evidence of hominin use and maintenance of fire at Zhoukoudian Laughter in animals Pusceddu et al. (2025) Animal medical systems from Apis to apes: history, recent advances and future perspectives Ventro-ventro position (doggy is not the only style) Man vs. horse races (horses have won) Persistence hunting Aiello and Wheeler (1995) The Expensive-tissue hypothesis: The brain and the digestive system in human and primate evolution Wrangham (2009) Catching Fire: How Cooking Made us Human Contact Website Bluesky Facebook Letterboxd Email ArchPodNet APN Website: https://www.archpodnet.com APN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnet APN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnet APN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnet APN Store Affiliates Motion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ottawa pushes back against Trump tariff threats over wildfires as nearly 200 blazes ravage Northern Ontario. Urgent evacuation order issued for B.C.'s Big Bar Lake as lightning storms spark dozens of new wildfires. Separatist groups in Alberta are accusing the organization Forever Canadian of dodging fundraising regulations while advertising. The Parti Québécois is reviving a century-old border dispute with Labrador as it campaigns for the upcoming provincial election. The U.S. and Iran trade infrastructure strikes as heavy fighting continues for the seventh day in a row. Joint ambush kills Malian soldiers in Gao; counterattack underway. Former Nigerian beauty queen fights deportation from South Africa amid massive immigration crackdown.

Sam Gao built an AI COO that commands 12 agents running his business around the clock — and it started because he almost lost everything to a broken sales process.Alex Sheridan sits down with Sam Gao, founder of CoCode, to break down how AI agents actually work inside a real business, why AI amplifies chaos just as easily as it amplifies good systems, and what founders need to do right now before they build anything with agents.Key takeaways:00:00:00 Introduction00:08:31Q: What is an AI COO and how does it run a business?A: Sam Gao built an AI COO orchestrator commanding 12 sub agents across lead generation, service delivery, and payment pipelines running 24 hours a day.00:13:12Q: Can AI agents actually generate leads automatically?A: Sam Gao has agents crawling bidding sites for four hours every night. By morning, his sales team has a ready list of opportunities to follow up on.00:19:18Q: What happens when you use AI without solid processes?A: Sam Gao warns that AI amplifies good processes but also amplifies chaos. Every company must document workflows before deploying agents or the automation makes problems worse faster.00:46:40Q: Will AI reduce the number of small businesses?A: Sam Gao believes big corporations will own AI capabilities and absorb startup features, reducing opportunities for smaller companies over time.00:49:44Q: What type of business will survive AI disruption?A: Sam Gao says proprietary knowledge and genuine human relationships are the two assets AI cannot replace. Depth and trust become the real differentiators.Subscribe and share this with a founder who needs it.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office came out with a new report on airline competition and the challenges for lower-cost airlines. But Brett Snyder and guest host Courtney Miller, founder and managing director of Visual Approach, poke holes in why this report isn't all that useful, even if it's not a bad report itself.Thank you to Points, a Plusgrade company and SkyGo for sponsoring this week's episode.SHOW NOTES: GAO's report, "AIRLINE COMPETITION: Indicators SuggestIncreased Competition in the Past Two Decades, but Lower-Cost Airlines Face Challenges" - https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-26-107740.pdf

Border security may be one of government's most visible missions but measuring what's happening along the border is far more complicated. A new GAO report examines whether DHS's metrics and reporting practices are giving Congress an accurate picture of performance. The short answer; not consistently, and Heather MacLeod, Director of Homeland Security and Justice at GAO is here to walk us through the details. Read the reporter here: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-108715 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Medicare and Medicaid often get misunderstood when it comes to long-term care—especially assisted living. In this conversation, U.S. Government Accountability Office Director Michelle Rosenberg explains why many people assume their “regular health insurance” will cover long-term services and support, and why that's usually not the case. Michelle breaks down what Medicare covers (and what it doesn't), what Medicaid covers as a required benefit, and how assisted living coverage depends on the state—because Medicaid assistance with activities of daily living (like bathing, eating, and dressing) is optional at the state level. She also explains how GAO's work is driven by Congress, how Congress uses the findings, and what future research is focused on—particularly oversight of health and welfare in assisted living when Medicaid is funding care.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXW7uXo04aE Hosted by Tony Darnell. Streamed live on Mar 14, 2018. Join Tony Darnell, Dr. Jeff Kuhn, Dr. Svetlana Berdugina and Kevin Lewis as they discuss the latest development in the field of astrobiology.  Want to learn the latest in Exoplanet research? The cutting edge of finding related to our search for life elsewhere?  Then this is the hangout for you!   This week we'll talk about Pi Day, Stephen Hawking's death, the GAO report on the JWST mission and much, much more.   We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs.  Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!  Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations.  Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

In this week's episode of China Insider, Miles Yu covers the passing of Chinese economist, Gao Shanwen, known for his outspoken views on China's economy and capital markets, including China's GDP growth rate in particular, and examine the impact his passing will have in the field. Next, Miles examines China's recent submarine-based ballistic missile test in the Indo-Pacific, and how this fits into China's larger pattern of Indo-Pacific coercion and grey-zone warfare tactics. Finally, Miles observes the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and highlights his lasting legacy both on Japanese society and the greater Indo-Pacific region. China Insider is a weekly podcast project from Hudson Institute's China Center, hosted by China Center Director and Senior Fellow, Dr. Miles Yu, who provides weekly news that mainstream American outlets often miss, as well as in-depth commentary and analysis on the China challenge and the free world's future. 

"$130 on the insanely attractive Deuce Freeley!" - Deuce Snake oil salesman Doctor Gao has disappeared, and the posse investigates, while also digging into the background of the mysterious mayor and preparing for the Showdown at Sundown. Characters: US Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Brendan), Agent A. Smith (Joy), explorer John T. Finderman (Bob), hexslinger Deuce Freeley (Frank), and mad scientist Darcy Feynman (Jung Soo).

As Typhoon Bavi moves farther inland after making landfall in Zhejiang province, the biggest threat to northern China may not be damaging winds, but days of torrential rainfall, meteorologists said.气象专家表示，台风巴威登陆浙江后持续深入内陆，对我国北方地区而言，最大威胁并非大风损毁，而是连日暴雨。By Monday morning, Bavi had weakened as it moved north-northeast slowly across Anhui province. However, its expansive rain bands continued to spread across much of eastern China, affecting provinces from Fujian and Zhejiang to Shandong, Liaoning and Jilin.截至周一早晨，巴威北上东北行，途经安徽时强度逐步减弱，但其庞大雨带持续覆盖我国东部大片区域，影响范围涵盖福建、浙江、山东、辽宁、吉林等省份。Chen Tao, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center, said Bavi is expected to move northeast at about 15 kilometers per hour, crossing Jiangsu and Shandong provinces before entering the northern Yellow Sea around midday on Tuesday.国家气象中心首席预报员陈涛介绍，巴威将以每小时 15 公里左右速度向东北方向移动，途经江苏、山东，预计周二中午前后进入黄海北部海域。Although the typhoon is expected to continue weakening, its impact should not be underestimated, especially in Liaoning and Jilin, where rainfall could be exceptionally intense, Chen said.陈涛称，虽然台风强度会持续衰减，但影响不容小觑，辽宁、吉林两地或将出现极端强降雨。Northern Liaoning and central Jilin could receive exceptionally heavy downpours, with isolated areas forecast to receive 300 to 450 millimeters of rain. In some places, daily rainfall could exceed historical records, he said.辽宁北部、吉林中部有特大暴雨，局地累计降雨量可达 300 至 450 毫米，部分站点单日降雨量或将突破历史极值。Unlike typhoons that strike southern China and rapidly weaken after moving inland, storms that track northward often pose a different threat.登陆华南的台风深入内陆后通常快速减弱，北上台风带来的灾害风险与之截然不同。Even as their winds diminish, they can produce widespread and persistent rainfall, triggering floods far from where they first made landfall.即便风力大幅衰减，仍会带来大范围持续性降雨，在远离登陆点的区域引发洪涝灾害。Bavi continues to draw vast amounts of tropical moisture northward, creating a sustained flow of humid air into northern China. If both the storm and the surrounding weather systems move slowly, rainfall could persist for several days, significantly increasing the risk of flooding, Chen said.陈涛解释，巴威持续将大量热带水汽向北输送，源源不断向北方输送暖湿气流。若台风本体及周边天气系统移动缓慢，降雨将持续多日，洪涝风险显著升高。Zhao Dajun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, explained that a key factor determining a typhoon's track is the western Pacific subtropical high, a large high-pressure system that acts as a steering mechanism for tropical cyclones.中国气象科学研究院研究员赵大军解读，西太平洋副热带高压是决定台风路径的核心系统，如同引导热带气旋移动的 “方向盘”。When the system extends farther west, typhoons are more likely to head toward southern China. When it weakens or shifts eastward, however, storms have more room to turn north, moving across eastern China toward the Yellow Sea and eventually Northeast China.副高西伸时，台风多西行登陆华南；若副高减弱东撤，台风则有北上空间，自华东穿过黄海，最终影响东北地区。As Bavi moves northward, it is also being steered by stronger upper-level winds that help carry the storm to higher latitudes, Zhao said.赵大军表示，巴威北上过程中还受到高空偏北气流牵引，助推其向更高纬度行进。Another reason Bavi has been able to travel so far inland is that sea surface temperatures in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea remain relatively warm, providing enough energy for the storm to maintain its circulation longer than usual.巴威能够长距离深入内陆的另一原因是东海、黄海水温偏高，可为台风环流供给能量，使其维持完整结构的时长超出常规台风。The storm may weaken, but its capacity to produce heavy rainfall often remains intact.台风风力虽减弱，但制造强降雨的能力并未大幅下降。As a result, Northeast China could still experience severe rainfall even if the storm's center does not pass directly overhead, meteorologists said.气象专家指出，即便台风中心不直接经过东北地区，当地仍会遭遇强降雨天气。Gao Xiaoyu, an associate researcher at the academy, said mountainous terrain could further intensify rainfall. As moisture-laden air is forced up mountain slopes, it cools and condenses, producing heavier precipitation. Similar terrain in Liaoning and Jilin could locally enhance rainfall as Bavi moves into Northeast China.该院副研究员高晓宇表示，山地地形会加剧降雨强度：携带充沛水汽的气流爬坡抬升、冷却凝结，形成更强降水。巴威进入东北后，辽宁、吉林山地将出现降雨增幅效应。The storm could also affect coastal areas.此次台风还将给沿海地区带来次生灾害。As it passes over the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, strong winds may push seawater toward the coast, raising sea levels and increasing the risk of storm surges in parts of Shandong and Liaoning, especially if the storm coincides with high tide, Gao said.高晓宇介绍，台风途经黄海、渤海期间，大风会推动海水涌向岸边，抬升沿岸水位，山东、辽宁部分区域风暴增水风险升高，恰逢天文大潮时风险将进一步加剧。Looking ahead, China is likely to face two to three more typhoons during the late July to early August flood season, Chen Tao said.陈涛表示，展望后期，7 月末至 8 月初主汛期我国还将迎来 2 至 3 个台风影响。Five to six typhoons are expected to form over the Northwest Pacific and the South China Sea during the period, with two to three making landfall in or affecting China.此期间西北太平洋、南海预计生成 5 至 6 个台风，其中 2 至 3 个登陆或影响我国。One particularly strong typhoon could bring significant wind and rain to northern regions, Chen added.陈涛补充，或将有一个强度较强的台风给我国北方带来明显风雨影响。torrential /təˈrenʃl/adj. 暴雨的，倾泻的subtropical /ˌsʌbˈtrɒpɪkl/adj. 副热带的；亚热带的precipitation /prɪˌsɪpɪˈteɪʃn/n. 降水；降水量surge /sɜːdʒ/n. 激增；风暴增水

In this episode of Truthspresso I chat about Jesus and socialism.A coworker a while ago made the claim to me that Jesus was a socialist. I have certainly heard this claim before, but I figured I would address it.In part 12 we look at the account of Mary, sister of Martha, anointing Jesus with expensive perfume for His burial. Jesus' disciples murmured about the "waste," and Judas Iscariot suggested that it should have been sold and given to the poor. Jesus, knowing Judas was a thief, answered in a way that a politician might think was calloused and insensitive.Looking at recent arguments from politicians that sound like Judas' question, I observe what I term "Judas Iscariot socialists." The Judas question repeats itself in modern political posturing and virtue signaling.Scriptures Referenced:John 12:1-8John 6:64, 70-71Hebrews 5:14Matthew 26:6-13Mark 14:3-9Sources Referenced:Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders), "While working families at home struggle," X (formerly Twitter), July 1, 2026 11:00 a.m.House Democrats (@HouseDemocrats), "Donald Trump is spending MILLIONS on a UFC fight," X (formerly Twitter), June 12, 2026 2:21 p.m."Stolen SNAP Benefits Cost Beneficiaries Millions," Government Accountability Office, December 2, 2025.We value your feedback!Have questions for Truthspresso? Contact us!

In this podcast, recorded before a live audience in China, John is joined by Professor Gao Xiqing, the former Vice Chairman, President, and Chief Investment Officer of the China Investment Corporation, China's largest sovereign wealth fund.They discuss Professor Gao's extraordinary career, from his early days building a railroad in rural China during the Cultural Revolution to earning his JD at Duke University and becoming one of the first Chinese lawyers to pass the New York Bar and work at a major Wall Street law firm.Professor Gao's work on Wall Street led to him explaining, as a third-year associate, the causes of the Black Friday stock market crash to Chinese business and government leaders. He was later called back to China to help design the country's first stock exchange and its securities regulator, the Chinese equivalent of the SEC.They also discuss Professor Gao's role in leading the China Investment Corporation (CIC), one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds. CIC invests exclusively in businesses outside China, typically acquiring stakes of less than 10%, and allocates its investments roughly equally between publicly listed companies and private equity.Finally, they discuss Professor Gao's perspective on Sino-American relations. He believes that, when viewed in historical context, the two countries have grown significantly closer since the Cold War and that shared cultural values, such as a strong work ethic and a drive to achieve, will help strengthen relations in the future.Podcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

Tribal fishing access sites along the Columbia River will be getting needed upgrades and repairs, based on the findings of a new federal report, as Isobel Charle reports. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found some infrastructure at 31 fishing access sites along the river – including docks and fish cleaning stations – is breaking down. Laurie Jordan is with the Columbia River Inter Tribal Fish Commission, which works with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to maintain the sites. She says they are known as jewels of Tribal sovereignty that are still shimmering along the sprawling waterway “I just can’t stress how fundamental the ability to maintain access to the river and to exercise the fishing right is to the member Tribes of our commission. The treaty rights are a property right. It was taken, and you gotta compensate for that.” The fishing access locations were built by the federal government after 1930s dam construction flooded traditional fishing areas. Under their treaties, four Columbia River Tribes retain fishing rights. Jordan says the Tribes look forward to improvements, including restroom repairs, additions, and updates to water systems. Anna Maria Ortiz is with the GAO. She says the report also looked at why the repairs have been delayed for so long. “If BIA could be more effective in terms of its internal communications, the way it maintains data, and its funding formula, it would have a better chance at improving the safety and sanitation of these sites.” Jordan adds with all the steps to secure funding, design the changes, permits and construction, it will likely take a couple years before the repairs and updates are done. The damaged Hopi headdress (kopatsoki) from the Desert View Watchtower at Grand Canyon National Park. (Courtesy National Park Service) Grand Canyon National Park rangers are still seeking the public's help identifying a tourist who damaged a tribal artifact last month while trying to photograph it. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has more on the broken piece and its famed artist. According to witnesses, a white man – believed to be in his 60s or 70s – fell while standing atop furniture inside the Desert View Watchtower. Staff rendered first aid to the man, who left before law enforcement was dispatched. The colorful, hand-carved wooden crown worn during Butterfly Dance ceremonies was fashioned years ago by the late Fred Kabotie. Kelley Hayes-Gilpin is with the Museum of Northern Arizona. “If people have heard of one Hopi artist, it'll be Fred Kabotie.” Kabotie worked alongside architect Mary Coulter to depict Kiva murals inside the South Rim watchtower. Meg Kabotie is one of his granddaughters. “I remember one of the stories. There was like a certain color of blue that she was trying to get. He kept having to go up and down the ladder and it still wasn't the right color and he finally slashed open the whole tube of paint – just kind of a renaissance man.” The damaged headdress is being evaluated to see whether repairs can be made. “It's hard to see people not caring about beautiful pieces of artwork or artifacts or things that are very sacred and special, and just kind of being dumb tourists.” The oil painting “Washington the Soldier” by Jacques Auguste Regnier depicts the battle. (Courtesy Library of Congress) On this day in 1755 at the Battle of the Monongahela, French forces and their Indigenous allies defeated a British army led by Edward Braddock. Warriors from several Indigenous nations, including members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy on different sides of the conflict, played a major role in the outcome. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, July 9, 2026 – Native programs aimed at cultivating responsible tourism

The Defense Department significantly reduced the size of its civilian workforce in 2025. The department however, started shedding its employees prior to 2025. A government watchdog found that the Pentagon didn't consistently analyze the impacts of these reductions, either during the 2025 downsizing or in prior years. It also found that the Pentagon has no plan to assess lessons learned from its 2025 workforce reduction efforts. For more, Federal News Network's Anastasia Obis spoke with Government Accountability Office's director of defense capabilities and management Kristy Williams.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Deux mois et demi après leur première offensive d'envergure, les jihadistes du Jnim, affiliés à al-Qaïda, et les indépendantistes du FLA (le Front de libération de l'Azawad) ont mené de nouvelles attaques ce week-end du nord au sud du pays. D'après le site Afrik.com, confirmant des informations de l'AFP, l'Agence France presse, « des affrontements se poursuivaient encore à la mi-journée hier à Anefis, localité stratégique située sur l'axe menant vers Kidal. À la mi-journée, la ville demeurait sous le contrôle des groupes armés. Les combattants du Front de libération de l'Azawad et leurs alliés y retenaient également des militaires maliens faits prisonniers lors des combats. Les Forces armées maliennes, soutenues par des combattants russes de l'Africa Corps, restaient retranchées dans leur camp militaire, relève encore Afrik.com. Des hélicoptères de l'armée ont été déployés afin d'évacuer des blessés et d'acheminer du ravitaillement, mais ils n'auraient pas pu se poser en raison de la situation sécuritaire autour du camp. » À lire aussiMali: les combats ont repris dans la localité stratégique d'Anéfis Pression accrue pour la junte Pour Le Monde Afrique, « cette nouvelle vague d'attaques accentue encore la pression qui pèse sur le général Assimi Goïta et sur ses partenaires russes. La perte d'Anefis, en particulier, serait un nouveau coup dur pour la junte de Bamako. Nœud stratégique permettant aux rebelles du FLA de sanctuariser la région de Kidal, dont la plupart de ses chefs sont originaires, cette ville est aussi un verrou sur la route descendant vers Gao et Tombouctou, les deux plus importantes agglomérations du nord du Mali, clairement désignées comme de prochaines cibles par les combattants indépendantistes. "Si la prise d'Anéfis se confirme, Gao [située à 240 kilomètres au sud] sera en danger", estime un bon connaisseur de la zone proche des rebelles », cité par le journal. À lire aussiMali: les jihadistes attaquent des cars et des infrastructures électriques, l'armée poursuit ses opérations Internationalisation du conflit ? Pour sa part, la presse malienne répercute les communiqués de la junte… « Toutes les attaques menées par des groupes armés terroristes, appuyés par des sponsors étatiques étrangers, ont été repoussées, s'exclame ainsi Sahel Tribune. 26 terroristes neutralisés. Les FAMa et leurs partenaires d'Africa Corps ont tenu chaque position. La situation est sous contrôle. Les opérations de ratissage aériennes et terrestres se poursuivent. » Le quotidien L'Aube, proche de la junte, dénonce une « internationalisation du conflit. Sur le terrain, la guerre asymétrique a changé de visage, affirme L'Aube : ce ne sont plus seulement des insurgés locaux, mais de véritables bataillons de mercenaires recrutés aux quatre coins du globe (…) : des combattants algériens, des éléments du Front Polisario, des vétérans des théâtres syrien et afghan, ainsi que des instructeurs ukrainiens. (…) L'Ukraine, qui est soupçonnée, poursuit le quotidien malien, d'avoir fourni des pilotes de drones et des instructeurs, dans une logique de guerre indirecte contre la Russie, présente au Mali et au Niger via Africa Corps. (…) À cette nébuleuse s'ajoute un élément explosif, dénonce encore L'Aube : le rôle de légionnaires français, accusés de coordonner et de diriger des cellules dormantes. (…) Ces professionnels de la guerre ne combattent pour aucune cause locale ; ils obéissent à des agendas extérieurs et à des logiques de sous-traitance géostratégique financées par des puissances étrangères connues. » Impasse… Pour Ledjely en Guinée, il ne faut pas se voiler la face : on assiste à une « dégradation sécuritaire accélérée » au Mali depuis septembre dernier. « Confronté au blocus que le JNIM impose autour de Bamako et aux attaques coordonnées menées sur l'ensemble du territoire, Assimi Goïta est tout accaparé par le défi intérieur. Redevenu ventre mou de la lutte contre l'insécurité, le Mali est de plus en plus déconnecté des ambitions régionales qu'il portait. » Alors quelle issue à ce conflit ? Réponse de Ledjely : « Sans réformes profondes dans la gouvernance des territoires, dans la justice locale et dans la gestion des ressources naturelles, les causes profondes de la violence qui se rapportent aux frustrations socio-économiques, à la marginalisation politique et aux conflits identitaires continueront d'alimenter l'instabilité. Mais la mise en œuvre de ces réformes supposerait une lucidité et une capacité que le régime actuel n'a pas encore démontrées, pointe le site guinéen. Ce qui nous ramène à une impasse, conclut-il. Car le Mali a besoin de rebâtir un État qui gouverne, d'une économie qui offre des perspectives et d'une politique qui intègre plutôt qu'elle n'exclut. » À lire aussiMali: «Le terrorisme est la négation de la paix, on ne peut plus ignorer la responsabilité du pouvoir»

The extreme left often claims to follow logic and "the science". But I've noticed a glaring pattern that contradicts this. And once you see it, you can't unsee it. In this Take, I share my thoughts on the "holy trinity" the woke left actually worships. It starts with treating other people's money like magic. But seizing wealth is just the beginning. I break down the dangerous obsession with political authority and blind submission driving this hostile new religion. Chapters (00:00:00) - Woke left claims logic (00:00:55) - Other people's money (00:01:38) - Money as magic wand (00:02:17) - Money isn't enough (00:03:04) - Gov waste vs billionaires (00:05:14) - Power as second god (00:07:31) - “Trust the science” dogma (00:09:24) - The holy trinity (00:11:23) - Saving their own world Affiliate Links Become sovereign, hold your keys, be censorship resistant with the Bitbox hardware wallet. Get 5% off everything in the store with code GUY (Link: https://bitbox.swiss/guy/) Get 10% off the best Bitcoin board game in the world, HODLUP! Or any of the other great games from The Free Market Kids! Use code GUY10 at checkout for 10% off your cart! (Link: https://www.freemarketkids.com/collections/games-1) Host Links ⁠Guy on Nostr ⁠(Link: http://tinyurl.com/2xc96ney) Guy on X ⁠(Link: https://twitter.com/theguyswann) Guy on Instagram (Link: https://www.instagram.com/theguyswann) Guy on TikTok (Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@theguyswann) Guy's Takes on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@GuysTake) Guy Swann on YouTube (Link: https://www.youtube.com/@theguyswann) ⁠Bitcoin Audible on X⁠ (Link: https://twitter.com/BitcoinAudible) The Guy Swann Network Broadcast Room on Keet (Link: https://tinyurl.com/3na6v839) References from the episode Demand Sage: https://tinyurl.com/2blh4j3x CNBC: https://tinyurl.com/y86nqau8 Fox News: https://tinyurl.com/25tpbxjz NewsBreak: https://tinyurl.com/29wlamev GAO.Gov: https://tinyurl.com/24szjfr5 NPR: https://tinyurl.com/2yfms6k7 Yahoo News: https://tinyurl.com/2cfvzxuy Fox News: https://tinyurl.com/2xmslvkp We Forum: https://tinyurl.com/26ltmt5r The Hill: https://tinyurl.com/23wqhj5d NewsWeek: https://tinyurl.com/28apgpqt BBC: https://tinyurl.com/2y8zhvs4 BBC: https://tinyurl.com/23b522tn

Steven Gao hat in Deutschland studiert, für Elon Musk in China gearbeitet und in den USA gegründet. Im Podcast erzählt er über den unterschiedlichen Umgang mit Problemen – und die Zukunft des Maschinenbaus.

An airport director discusses air service and passenger growth, airport expansion, ATC impacts, and the implementation of a new RNP approach. In the news: DCA changes may increase the likelihood of helicopter-on-helicopter collisions, Collaborative Combat Aircraft airframers are selected while mission autonomy software is decoupled, Canada and the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), harmonizing FAA and EASA certification rules, and another runway near-miss. Guest Paul Bradbury is the Airport Director at the Portland Jetport in Maine. We look at Air service and passenger statistics, and Paul announces the Jetport's first seasonal transcontinental service with United to San Francisco and Los Angeles. He explains the opportunities small hub airports can realize through continued upgauging of aircraft. Paul notes that passengers have been willing to pay higher fares due to increased fuel prices.    See: United Airlines Launches Nonstop Flights from SFO and LAX to Portland Maine. To address parking capacity issues, Paul is now wrapping up the design and permitting for the revised $8.6 million surface parking plan, which the Portland City Council approved in April. This has been a lengthy process, and opposition from some area residents had to be resolved. See: Portland approves $10 million Jetport parking expansion. Paul also tells us about the challenges of Air Traffic Control capacity issues and the FAA’s capping of flights. We also learn about how the Jetport worked with Flight Tech Engineering to implement a new RNP approach to PWM that keeps flights over water. This approach was published on April 16, 2026, but is just now available for assignment by PWM ATC. Aviation News Helicopter collision risk higher after D.C. airspace changes, Coast Guard leaders say Following the January 2025 midair collision, the FAA made changes to the congested airspace around Washington, D.C. But in a public Transportation Research Board (TRB) meeting, U.S. Coast Guard representatives criticized the FAA, saying the revisions may increase the risk of a serious accident between helicopters. The Air Current reports that USCG pilots suggested that “the FAA did not adequately weigh the risks of a helicopter-on-helicopter collision when moving to eliminate helicopter routes and change airspace procedures to protect against close calls between rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft.”  The changes put helicopters closer together and made it harder for crews to train for proficiency. The pilots said there was an increased risk of helicopter controlled flight into terrain. In a written statement, FAA assistant administrator for communications Hannah Walden said, “Claims that these changes increased the risk of helicopter-to-helicopter collisions are not supported by the data.” She added that the FAA’s actions were guided by the National Transportation Safety Board’s emergency recommendations following the 2025 crash. The Transportation Research Board is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Board seeks “to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges.” This is accomplished through more than 5,500 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia. The program is supported by state departments of transportation, federal agencies, and other organizations and individuals. Air Force picks General Atomics, Anduril to build first CCA drone wingmen The Air Force selected General Atomics and Anduril to build the U.S. military’s first Collaborative Combat Aircraft, beating out Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman in a re-solicited competition. The Anduril FQ-44A Furry and the General Atomics FQ-42A Dark Merlin will be fielded as production aircraft. The acquisition strategy is unique in that the Air Force is pursuing a “software sold separately” approach, in which the purchase of the airframe and the CCA’s mission autonomy software are decoupled. Anduril, RTX Collins Aerospace, and Shield AI were awarded production options for the autonomy software and will compete in a six-month head-to-head round. A primary autonomy provider is expected to be named by summer 2027. Canada Throws A Curveball As It Signals Interest In Joining GCAP Sixth-Gen Fighter Program In a Tokyo meeting, David McGuinty, the Minister of National Defense of Canada, said he is “interested in learning more about” the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). That next-generation fighter program is a joint venture with BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd (JAIEC). Each holds a one-third share in Edgewing. The Tempest is a crewed fighter with a targeted service date of 2035. A demonstrator is currently underway with BAE Systems in the UK. McGuinty said, “I'll take it back to my team and see what it looks ‌like.” The speculation is that Canada could join the GCAP program with “observer status.” FAA Proposes to Speed New Commercial Aircraft Certifications The FAA recently proposed changes to modernize and harmonize commercial aircraft certification rules with EASA. The proposal would provide consistent requirements and reduce the cost, time, and complexity of certifications. This would streamline certification and benefit manufacturers. Aircraft Certification: Comparison of U.S. and European Processes for Approving New Designs of Commercial Transport Airplanes The U.S. Government Accountability Office issued GAO-22-104480 on June 30, 2022. The study directly compared FAA and EASA certification processes and found a significant asymmetry that harmonization could eliminate in the wrong direction. EASA uses a risk-based approach to evaluate compliance findings and reviews the technical basis for compliance determinations, including oversight of all aspects of the airplane’s design. The FAA, by contrast, reviews the completeness of certification packages and compliance determinations in high-risk areas, but this review does not customarily include an independent review of the technical basis for compliance determinations. American Airlines flight aborts takeoff in Miami after business jet enters the same runway After American Airlines Flight 308 bound for Bermuda received takeoff clearance at Miami, the flight crew observed NetJets Flight EJA434 entering the same runway and aborted their takeoff. Addressing the NetJets plane, the controller said, “You just crossed an active runway.” The pilot responded, “You just told me to cross the runway, sir.” The controller said, “No, we said Amerijet 461.” National Air and Space Museum Celebrates 50 Years With Opening of Five New Galleries Hillel attended the National Air & Space Museum media preview for the opening of the five new galleries. He recorded the opening remarks by Christopher Browne, the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Chris joined the museum as deputy director in 2017 and served as acting director from 2021 to 2022, when he was named director. Hillel also interviewed Carolyn Russo, the curator of the art and trophy collections and the temporary curator of the poster collection. She has over 30 years of experience at the Museum, and is the author of four books: Art of the Airport Tower (Washington, DC: Smithsonian Books, 2015), In Plane View: Abstractions of Flight (New York: powerHouse Books, 2007), Artifacts of Flight (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2003), and Women and Flight: Portraits of Contemporary Women Pilots (Boston, New York, London: Bulfinch Press, 1997). Mentioned Cirrus announced the opening of its Duluth Talent Center, a multi-million-dollar investment that serves as a hub for community engagement, recruiting, and workforce development. Designed to connect individuals with careers in aerospace, the Talent Center provides direct access to recruiting, technical training, and career development resources in one centralized location. Plane Spotting C-130 Hercules spotted by Micah. Upcomming Hosts this Episode Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.

Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman. Guest: Joerg Eberhart, CEO, ITA Airways. Also: Two go-arounds at Boston Logan; GAO report issued on airfares indicates strong competition persists; Aviation Week Boeing and Airbus CEO interviews reveal two very different outlooks; Improved ATC system starts taking shape; Listener Q: How to compete in CLT. Happy July 4th! Next episode: July 15th.

"Watch out for rainbows, my friend" - Smith While investigating a series of disappearances in the town of Sundown, Wyoming, the posse is about to meet Doctor Gao, a newcomer to town, when the local marshal and his deputies start assaulting the man. How will they react? Characters: US Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Brendan), Agent A. Smith (Joy), explorer John T. Finderman (Bob), hexslinger Deuce Freeley (Frank), and mad scientist Darcy Feynman (Jung Soo).

In this special update episode of JFK The Enduring Secret,  Andrew Isler and Mark Adamczyk and myself  recap our recent trip to Washington, D.C., for a highly anticipated meeting with Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna. After a chaotic day of travel, we secured nearly an hour with the Congresswoman and her staff to discuss the ongoing issues and lack of compliance surrounding the 1992 JFK Records Act.The conversation highlights how we made the case for shifting the focus  from requesting specific, isolated documents to addressing the broader, systemic issues regarding the National Archives (NARA) and their compliance with the JFK Records Act.  We were delighted at Representative Luna's bias toward action on the topic; she eagerly reviewed Andrew and Mark's  prepared briefs and material that we also delivered to her on behalf of Doug Horne, highlighted critical points, and demonstrated a serious commitment to the JFK task force's transparency mission.Listeners will get an inside look at the team's key recommendations to Congress, which include requesting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit of the JFK records collection to establish a true, accurate inventory of what the National Archives holds. We also discuss a push for  the release of Lee Harvey Oswald and Jack Ruby's heavily guarded tax returns, and the urgent need to track down 27,000 missing legal orders previously issued by the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB). Congresswoman Luna was so receptive to the GAO audit, that she instructed her staff to draft a letter to the agency right there in the meeting.  Andrew provided them with a pre-drafted request letter to make it even easier to do. Imagine that. Thank you Andrew!Finally, our episode wraps up on a lighter note, as we share our  post-meeting sightseeing adventures around D.C., including a hike up the famous Exorcist stairs in Georgetown, a celebratory dinner at the Watergate Hotel, and a reflective nighttime visit to the Lincoln Memorial. Tune in to hear the full breakdown of this monumental step forward, and learn how you can contact the Congresswoman's office to support the push for complete transparency.  In order to get all the details of what we were asking  here is a link where Andrew posted some of these documents on the Chokeholds website. And for additional kicks, here is the link to the Rand Paul comment on his inability to gain access to Church Committee records. Rand Paul Clip:https://x.com/jfkchokeholds/status/2067263368507871334?s=46Chokeholds-Where you can find our recommendationshttps://jfkchokeholds.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026.06.09-Brief-for-Meeting-with-Representative-Luna.pdf

This week's episode covers a GSA proposed rule on AI and large language models, an Executive Order on post-quantum cryptography, a recent GAO decision about protest filing deadlines, and the latest in the FAR overhaul, and is hosted by Peter Eyre and Yuan Zhou. Crowell & Moring's “Fastest 5 Minutes” is a biweekly podcast that provides a brief summary of significant government contracts legal and regulatory developments that no government contracts lawyer or executive should be without.

The Department of Energy is kickstarting a quantum computing effort tied to the Genesis Mission following a pair of quantum-focused executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on Monday. The newly launched Quantum Genesis initiative aims to develop and deploy a more resilient quantum computing capability by 2028. Darío Gil, under secretary for science and Genesis Mission lead, told FedScoop that the new initiative serves as a foundation for the charges Trump issued in his directives for “challenging America's quantum information science community and industry to build the world's first fault-tolerant quantum computing capability that will transform scientific discovery, strengthen national security, and power the next era of American innovation.” To reach that goal, DOE has three main priorities: set up a competition to accelerate quantum system development, conduct targeted research to advance high-impact, scientific quantum use cases, and build a supercomputing facility for engineers to access the new capabilities. The facility, along with DOE's existing high-performance computing systems and the Genesis Mission's in-progress American Science and Security Platform, will form a unified high-performance computing, AI and quantum computing ecosystem. The Pentagon's workforce shrank by roughly 10.7% during the height of the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency implementation efforts, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office. That decrease represents 82,940 employees — from a baseline 778,188 civilian employees at the Defense Department in December 2024 near the end of the Biden administration, down to 695,248 in January 2026. Outlining governmentwide workforce contractions across 2025 that were sparked by multiple presidential directives, GAO's report offers a fresh, data-driven look at DOGE's downsizing impacts inside the Pentagon. It indicates that, while DOD remains America's largest employer of federal civilian personnel, the department's workforce is now substantially smaller in volume than it was in prior years. Dawn Locke, director with GAO's Strategic Issues team and lead on the review, told DefenseScoop: “A key takeaway for DOD is the role the Deferred Resignation Program played in the agency's efforts to reduce the size of its civilian workforce.” The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

It's not just drones pushing aviation into new territory. Electric aircraft are edging closer to commercial use, but certification is still the gatekeeper. The FAA is trying to adapt existing rules while building a longer-term framework that can scale with new designs and risks. Joining me to explain that tension is Derrick Collins, Director of GAO's Physical Infrastructure team.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Facing the Future, we hear why the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) is warning the President and Congress that urgent and sustained action is needed to improve the nation's fiscal outlook. Jeff Arkin, Director of Strategic Issues at GAO, is our guest.

The Failure to Counter Chinese Influence. Guest: Bill Gertz and Gordon Chang. Bill Gertz details a GAO report revealing that the US spent $1.2 billion on countering Chinese influence without evaluating its impact. The discussion highlights the superior effectiveness of Chinese information warfare, which outspends the US significantly to shape global narratives while American efforts lack a cohesive strategy. 7

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-22-26.1787The Fog of Diplomacy in the Strait of Hormuz. Guest: Ambassador Hussain Haqqani and Bill Roggio. Guests discuss competing headlines regarding "progress" in US-Iran negotiations and ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ambassador Haqqani notes neither side has achieved its original war aims, while Bill Roggio argues the US lacks the military will to reopen the Strait, leaving Iran with the strategic advantage. 1Pakistan as a Strategic Mediator. Guest: Ambassador Hussain Haqqani and Bill Roggio. John Batchelor examines Pakistan's role as a mediator between the United States and Iran. Ambassador Haqqani explains that Pakistan provided an "exit ramp" for the Trump administration by utilizing its unique access to the IRGC and Iran's power structure to facilitate communication and avoid further military escalation. 2Hamas Sidelined in Regional Talks. Guest: Samuel Ben-Ur and Bill Roggio. Samuel Ben-Ur explains why Hamas has been sidelined in recent Iranian negotiations compared to Hezbollah. Relations soured when Hamas failed to support Iranian strikes against Qatari targets. Currently, Hamas remains funded by Qatar and Turkey while maintaining a brutal "reign of terror" over the portions of Gaza it still controls. 3The Legality and Lethality of Armed Conflict. Guest: Henry Sokolski. Henry Sokolski analyzes a public memo from Admiral Brad Cooper regarding the legitimacy of lethal force. They discuss the necessity of proportionality in conflict, arguing that avoiding civilian targets like nuclear reactors is a military requirement for success, as destroying essential infrastructure alienates populations and complicates future operations. 4Latin America's Shift to the Right. Guest: Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Guests discuss the right-wing political shift in Latin America following Abelardo De La Espriella's apparent victory in Colombia. They compare his security-focused platform to the Bukele model in El Salvador, emphasizing a mandate to combat the organized crime that has historically penetrated the region's political systems. 5The Slow-Motion Coup in Bolivia. Guest: Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa. The segment addresses the crisis in Bolivia, where Evo Morales is accused of orchestrating a "slow motion coup" via blockades. Ernesto Araújo criticizes Brazilian President Lula's silence on the matter, while Alejandro Peña Esclusa suggests that regional support for the elected government may finally lead to Morales facing legal consequences. 6The Failure to Counter Chinese Influence. Guest: Bill Gertz and Gordon Chang. Bill Gertz details a GAO report revealing that the US spent $1.2 billion on countering Chinese influence without evaluating its impact. The discussion highlights the superior effectiveness of Chinese information warfare, which outspends the US significantly to shape global narratives while American efforts lack a cohesive strategy. 7The Crisis in Air Force Procurement. Guest: General Blaine Holt and Gordon Chang. General Blaine Holt critiques the broken US procurement system, specifically the Air Force's contradictory stance on retiring the A-10 Warthog while keeping the B-52 bomber for a century. He advocates for reform to break contractor monopolies, allowing the military to innovate faster and field cheaper equipment. 8Iran's Economic Demands in Switzerland. Guest: Jonathan Schanzer and Bill Roggio. Jonathan Schanzer argues that Iran is seeking a systemic economic lifeline through billions in unfrozen assets. He criticizes recent US oil waivers as a sign of caving to pressure. Iran aims to link a Lebanon ceasefire to negotiations to delay nuclear discussions and drive a wedge. 9Resurgent Piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Guest: Bridget Toomey and Bill Roggio. Bridget Toomey reports a resurgence of Somali piracy, with three ships recently captured for ransom in the Gulf of Aden. Bill Roggio links this spike to Al-Shabaab's growth and suggests that pirate networks may be coordinating with the Houthis to facilitate weapons smuggling and increase regional instability. 10The Flaws of the Iran Memorandum. Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio. Edmund Fitton-Brown critiques the current US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, calling it a failure of negotiation that incorporates "every Iranian trick." He argues Iran's core goals—the destruction of Israel and the expulsion of US influence—remain unchanged, and that the US has displayed a defeatist lack of patience. 11Eurasian Interests in Middle East Conflict. Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio. Guests discuss how Russia and China are benefiting from America's Middle East difficulties, often frustrating US objectives on the nuclear file. Fitton-Brown notes the Europeans have been "anemic," failing to coordinate a forceful naval presence to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains reliably open for global energy trade. 12Ukraine's Military Manpower Crisis. Guest: John Hardie and Bill Roggio. John Hardie discusses Ukrainian military reforms aimed at addressing the manpower crisis by clarifying pay and contract lengths. While intended to prevent desertion, there is skepticism that the government can fulfill promises to discharge long-serving troops without risking a collapse of the front lines against Russia. 13Hezbollah's Shadow Banking System. Guest: Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio. Ahmad Sharawi examines Al-Qard Al-Hassan, Hezbollah's financial arm that provides social services and interest-free loans outside the official banking system. Although Israel has targeted its branches, the Lebanese government is hesitant to shut it down, allowing it to sustain the group's operations through gold-backed financing. 14The $216 Billion Rebuild of Syria. Guest: Josh Rogin and Bill Roggio. Josh Rogin reports that Syria requires $216 billion for reconstruction following the fall of the Assad regime. He explains that US "State Sponsor of Terrorism" sanctions prevent American businesses from bidding on contracts, leaving an opening for Chinese and Russian technology to dominate the new government's infrastructure. 15Recommendations for a New Syria Policy. Guest: Josh Rogin and Bill Roggio. Josh Rogin recommends that the US prepare to lift the terrorism designation on Syria to support reconstruction and counter adversarial influence. He argues the current Al-Shara government is the only viable partner for stability and that US bureaucratic inertia is currently benefiting China, Russia, and Iran. 16

President Donald Trump signed two executive orders Monday to accelerate the federal government's transition to post-quantum encryption and reprioritize government financing to support the domestic quantum computing industry. The orders, which CyberScoop first reported on last year, direct the government to throw its weight behind the quantum computing industry. They are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to put its stamp on the development of another key emerging technology. Ahead of the signing, sources previewed details of those orders to CyberScoop. Per one of those sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss pending administration actions, a “whole of government approach is used to empower research and development into quantum computing, as well as quantum sensing [and other resources].” They described the Trump administration's attitude for propping up industry as “don't let us miss out on prioritizing the feeders for the research or the development of quantum.” The second order requires federal civilian networks to adopt quantum-resistant encryption faster than the current 2035 deadline. The new encryption algorithms, vetted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, will protect against future quantum computer attacks. Agencies that miss the new deadline must report to the Office of Management and Budget explaining why. Four proposed rules to begin formally overhauling 20 sections of the Federal Acquisition Regulation were published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. While the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council has been rewriting and deviating from the FAR for over a year now as part of what it's calling “the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul”, the unpublished proposed rules are a step toward codification of these changes. Over a combined total of more than 1,000 pages of proposed rules, the overhaul would establish regular regulatory reviews and sunsets, as well as move the bid protest system to the agencies involved in disputes instead of the Government Accountability Office. The FAR update comes in response to an April 2025 executive order mandating the procurement policy be pared down to the essentials and presented in plain language, void of any “undue barriers” and “unnecessary regulations.” The FAR has not been significantly updated in 40 years. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

CBS News found that the Justice Department's massive Epstein-file release still leaves major holes in the public record. Although the DOJ said it collected more than six million pages, it released only about three million, claiming the remainder consisted of duplicates, unrelated material or legally protected records. The files that were published also contain questionable redactions, including the names and images of prominent Epstein contacts even though the disclosure law specifically barred officials from withholding information merely to prevent political embarrassment or reputational damage. Some redactions were quietly removed only after CBS News questioned the department, while thousands of older emails, email attachments, internal FBI communications and records from Epstein's earliest accounts remain absent or difficult to trace.The missing material extends into some of the most important unresolved areas of the Epstein investigation. CBS News could not locate substantial records connected to a DEA money-laundering investigation, earlier federal inquiries, massage scheduling, encrypted Signal messages, suspicious financial transactions and missing FBI interview reports. More than 70 percent of the documents listed in an index used during Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal case could not be found under their original identification numbers, and prison footage from 147 cameras—along with video from the night of Epstein's first reported jail incident—was not released. The continuing gaps have prompted a Government Accountability Office investigation, congressional scrutiny and litigation seeking clearer explanations for the redactions and the release of additional documentsto contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:What's missing from the Epstein files? Questions persist about unexplained redactions, missing documents, email gaps - CBS News

CBS News found that the Justice Department's massive Epstein-file release still leaves major holes in the public record. Although the DOJ said it collected more than six million pages, it released only about three million, claiming the remainder consisted of duplicates, unrelated material or legally protected records. The files that were published also contain questionable redactions, including the names and images of prominent Epstein contacts even though the disclosure law specifically barred officials from withholding information merely to prevent political embarrassment or reputational damage. Some redactions were quietly removed only after CBS News questioned the department, while thousands of older emails, email attachments, internal FBI communications and records from Epstein's earliest accounts remain absent or difficult to trace.The missing material extends into some of the most important unresolved areas of the Epstein investigation. CBS News could not locate substantial records connected to a DEA money-laundering investigation, earlier federal inquiries, massage scheduling, encrypted Signal messages, suspicious financial transactions and missing FBI interview reports. More than 70 percent of the documents listed in an index used during Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal case could not be found under their original identification numbers, and prison footage from 147 cameras—along with video from the night of Epstein's first reported jail incident—was not released. The continuing gaps have prompted a Government Accountability Office investigation, congressional scrutiny and litigation seeking clearer explanations for the redactions and the release of additional documentsto contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:What's missing from the Epstein files? Questions persist about unexplained redactions, missing documents, email gaps - CBS NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

CBS News found that the Justice Department's massive Epstein-file release still leaves major holes in the public record. Although the DOJ said it collected more than six million pages, it released only about three million, claiming the remainder consisted of duplicates, unrelated material or legally protected records. The files that were published also contain questionable redactions, including the names and images of prominent Epstein contacts even though the disclosure law specifically barred officials from withholding information merely to prevent political embarrassment or reputational damage. Some redactions were quietly removed only after CBS News questioned the department, while thousands of older emails, email attachments, internal FBI communications and records from Epstein's earliest accounts remain absent or difficult to trace.The missing material extends into some of the most important unresolved areas of the Epstein investigation. CBS News could not locate substantial records connected to a DEA money-laundering investigation, earlier federal inquiries, massage scheduling, encrypted Signal messages, suspicious financial transactions and missing FBI interview reports. More than 70 percent of the documents listed in an index used during Ghislaine Maxwell's criminal case could not be found under their original identification numbers, and prison footage from 147 cameras—along with video from the night of Epstein's first reported jail incident—was not released. The continuing gaps have prompted a Government Accountability Office investigation, congressional scrutiny and litigation seeking clearer explanations for the redactions and the release of additional documentsto contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:What's missing from the Epstein files? Questions persist about unexplained redactions, missing documents, email gaps - CBS NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging reports that 1.3 million older adults and people with disabilities are under guardianship. Senators Bob Casey and Mike Braun have highlighted serious flaws in guardianship laws, citing alarming statistics from the Government Accountability Office.In New York, the Farley family is embroiled in a legal battle over the guardianship of 84-year-old Dr. Ena Farley. Jonathan Farley claims his mother was unjustly placed under guardianship and removed from her home by police, an incident caught on video. He alleges that his brother Chris, acting as Power of Attorney and temporary guardian, is responsible for her year-long confinement in a nursing home, despite no finding of mental incompetence. Jonathan says authorities and agencies have sided with Chris, denied an independent medical evaluation, and restricted contact with Dr. Farley.A court hearing in June will address the dispute. The Farley case highlights ongoing ethical and legal concerns in guardianship, echoing calls for stronger protection for vulnerable individuals.https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCZw6IGlhtj3GuC_VlEOFCAhttp://www.yourlotandparcel.orgSupport the show

Last time we spoke about the Hubei-Henan Campaign of 1940-1941. In November 1940, a Central Hubei operation using multiple task forces aimed to exploit Chinese dispersal, achieving only local successes and no lasting territorial gains. The Japanese then tried again in late January 1941 with a major offensive into southern Henan. Despite concentrating a large force, the campaign failed strategically. After the Henan failure, Japan attempted to regain momentum in spring 1941 by attacking western Hubei around Yichang on the Yangtze. Despite an initial barrage and rapid early gains, Japanese forces became exposed in a narrow salient. The Chinese reorganized their river defenses and launched a converging counteroffensive, driving the invaders back and ending the engagement where it began, with the Japanese suffering heavy casualties and their westward push thwarted.   #206 The Battle of Shanggao Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. The year 1940 had brought a particular humiliation. In August of that year, Communist General Peng Dehuai had launched the Hundred Regiments Offensive — a massive, coordinated assault across North China that shattered Japanese rail and supply lines, embarrassed Imperial General Headquarters, and demonstrated that the Chinese were far from finished. Japan's response had been brutal, the infamous "Three Alls" campaign of reprisals across the countryside. But the damage had been done, and the attention of Imperial General Headquarters shifted northward. The autumn of 1940 had also seen the First Battle of Changsha, where the Japanese 11th Army under General Sonobe Yahachirō pushed south into Hunan Province expecting to overwhelm the Chinese defenders and finally deal a decisive blow to Chiang Kai-shek's armies. Instead, General Xue Yue — the "Tiger of Changsha" — had allowed the Japanese to advance deep into his prepared killing ground before counterattacking from multiple directions. The Japanese had been forced to retreat in disorder, and the front in Hunan and Jiangxi settled once again into sullen stalemate. It was in this atmosphere of frustrated ambition and strategic inertia that the seeds of Shanggao were sown. By February 1941, Imperial General Headquarters had decided to redeploy the 33rd Division — then garrisoned in the town of Anyi, in northwestern Jiangxi — to North China. The transfer was scheduled to begin in early April, and it made strategic sense: the north required reinforcement, and the front in Jiangxi had been quiet enough that one division could be spared. The problem was that the 33rd Division's departure would leave a gap in Japanese dispositions, and no significant offensive operation had yet been conducted to weaken the Chinese forces that would be left facing a thinned-out Japanese line. Lieutenant General Ōga Shigeru, the energetic commander of the Japanese 34th Division, saw opportunity in the window that existed before the 33rd departed. His division was concentrated around Xishan and Wanshou Palace, astride the Xiang–Gan Highway — the main road running westward through Jiangxi — and across that highway lay the town of Shanggao and the Chinese forces defending it. Ōga proposed exploiting the presence of both divisions for a coordinated strike: a sharp, limited offensive to crush Chinese field forces around Nanchang and the Jiangxi interior before the 33rd Division's train north. The 11th Army headquarters, now commanded by General Marube, endorsed a cautious concept — a "quick strike" with limited objectives. But the 34th Division's staff, energized by Ōga's ambition, had already run well ahead of this guidance. Large-scale requisitioning of coolies for logistics was underway; training exercises aimed at the specific terrain around Shanggao had been conducted; planning had progressed in far more detail than a "limited" operation warranted. This eagerness would prove to be the Japanese undoing before the first shot was fired. Chinese intelligence networks, always attentive to the movement of porters and the telltale preparations that preceded a Japanese offensive, quickly detected the scale of these preparations and reported them to General Luo Zhuoying, commander of the Chinese 19th Army Group. By the time the Japanese columns were forming up to march, Luo had already hardened his defenses and laid the groundwork for a trap. General Luo Zhuoying was not a passive commander. He served simultaneously as commander of the 19th Army Group and as Deputy Commander of the 9th War Zone — the latter post placing him directly under General Xue Yue, the victor of Changsha. Luo had spent the lull after Changsha doing what Chinese commanders across the theater had learned was essential: reorganizing, retraining, and above all improving the defensive architecture of his sector. The plan Luo devised for meeting the anticipated Japanese offensive was elegant in its simplicity and demanding in its execution. Rather than contesting the Japanese advance at the frontier, he would allow the enemy to push westward, yielding ground through three successive defensive lines while bleeding the attackers at every step. The first and second lines would slow the Japanese, exact casualties, and stretch their logistics. The third line — anchored at Shanggao itself — would be the killing ground. There, the Chinese forces would hold fast while other formations swung around the Japanese flanks and rear to close the encirclement. The Japanese, having marched deep into Chinese-held territory with their supply lines thinning and their flanks exposed, would find themselves surrounded rather than victorious. For this plan to work, each Chinese formation had to perform its role with discipline. The 70th Corps, deployed in the north along the arc from Shitou Street through Fengxin to Jing'an, would have to conduct a controlled fighting retreat — yielding ground but making the Japanese pay for it, never breaking and running. The 49th Corps would hold the southern flank and create conditions for flanking action. And the 74th Corps — General Wang Yaowu's elite formation, comprising the 51st, 57th, and 58th Divisions — would hold the final line at Shanggao and serve as the anvil upon which the Japanese advance would shatter. The 74th Corps was by 1941 one of the most battle-hardened formations in the Nationalist Army. It had fought at Shanghai in 1937, at Wuhan in 1938, and in the hills and valleys of Jiangxi through the years since. Its men knew the terrain around Shanggao. They had prepared positions in depth, studied the approaches, and rehearsed the defensive plan Luo had designed. When the Japanese came, they would be ready. Against the Chinese 70,000 — distributed across eleven divisions in four corps, with additional provincial security forces for local coverage — the Japanese would throw roughly 20,000 men: three major formations advancing in coordinated columns. The disparity in numbers was stark, but the Japanese had the advantages of offensive initiative, air superiority, and the formidable fighting quality that the Imperial Army had demonstrated throughout the war in China. The question was whether those advantages would be enough to overcome a prepared defense wielded by a commander who had invited the attack. The operational plan devised by the Japanese 11th Army called for three columns to converge simultaneously on Shanggao from north, center, and south — a classic encirclement concept that, if executed with precision, would catch the Chinese defenders in a tightening vice. In the north, the main force of the 33rd Division under Lieutenant General Sakurai Shōzō would drive westward from its bases around Anyi and Ganzhoujie, descending the Liao River valley to threaten the Chinese right flank and prevent the 70th Corps from interfering with operations in the center.In the center, Ōga's 34th Division would advance along the Xiang–Gan Highway — the direct route from Nanchang toward Shanggao — capturing the town of Gao'an along the way and pressing relentlessly westward until it reached the main defensive positions. This was the principal striking force, the column designed to crack open the Chinese defenses and seize the objective.In the south, the Independent Mixed 20th Brigade under Major General Ikeda would cross the Jin River and advance along its south bank, eventually swinging north to link up with the 34th Division and complete the encirclement of whatever Chinese forces remained in the Shanggao area. The plan was coherent on paper. But it contained a structural flaw so serious that, in retrospect, it is difficult to understand how the 11th Army's staff allowed it to proceed uncorrected. The success of any converging operation depends on synchronization — on each column hitting its objectives on schedule and maintaining communication with the others so that each can react to developments on the other prongs. Yet the 11th Army headquarters made no recorded effort to coordinate the 33rd and 34th Divisions before the battle began. There was no forward command post established to oversee the operation. General Marube remained at Hankou, hundreds of miles to the north, throughout the battle — as remote from the fighting as a Tokyo bureaucrat. Operational decisions were left entirely to the individual divisions, with no mechanism to coordinate their actions if something went wrong. Something was going to go wrong. Luo Zhuoying had seen to that. On the morning of March 15, 1941, all three Japanese columns stepped off simultaneously, advancing into the misty hills and rice paddies of northwestern Jiangxi. In the north, Sakurai's 33rd Division moved briskly from Anyi toward Fengxin. The town fell by noon, and the division pressed westward in good order. The Japanese infantry moved confidently along the Liao River valley, experienced soldiers who had fought across China and had no particular reason to expect what was coming. The Chinese 70th Corps gave ground — as it had been ordered to — but did so on its own terms, occupying and then abandoning successive pieces of high ground along both banks of the river, making the Japanese advance uncomfortable and costly. Gradually, almost imperceptibly, the 33rd Division was being drawn forward into terrain that favored the defender. By March 18 and 19, the 33rd Division had pushed all the way to Guzhu'ao and Huamenlo — a considerable advance, but one that had taken the division far from its base at Anyi. And it was here, far from support and with flanks increasingly exposed, that the Chinese blocking forces closed in. Chinese infantry, who had been waiting in prepared positions in the high ground overlooking the river valley, launched coordinated counter-attacks that struck the 33rd Division from multiple directions. The fighting was fierce and costly. In two days of close combat, the division suffered more than 2,500 casualties — a grievous toll that represented a significant fraction of its effective strength. The northern column had been stopped dead. On March 19, Sakurai ordered the 33rd Division to reverse course. By March 23, after four days of painful withdrawal under pressure, it had pulled back to Anyi — the same place it had started. The northern prong of the Japanese offensive had accomplished nothing except the loss of thousands of men. In the south, the Independent Mixed 20th Brigade had a rougher start. Its initial attempt to cross the Gan-Jin river junction at noon on March 15 was repulsed by Chinese defenders, and it was only under cover of darkness that the brigade managed to force a crossing. Once across, it moved westward along the south bank of the Jin River, but progress was slow and contested. A detachment — the Gan River Detachment — ran into fierce resistance from the 26th Division of the Chinese 49th Corps on March 19. The brigade's main body meanwhile fought its way through the 51st Division of the 74th Corps, but the 107th Division and elements of the 51st managed to contain the advance at the Laichunling–Zhutoushan line. On the night of March 20, the main body of the 20th Brigade crossed the Jin River at Huifu to link up with the 34th Division — but a portion of its troops, cut off on the south bank, was destroyed by Chinese forces. The southern column was across the Jin River, but it had taken losses and was already engaged in ways its planners had not anticipated. In the center, the 34th Division fared best in the early going. Ōga's division moved westward from Xishan along the Xiang–Gan Highway on March 16, and by the 17th had captured Gao'an — a meaningful early success. The Chinese 74th Corps, executing Luo's plan faithfully, dispatched only screening forces east of the Tangpu River to slow the Japanese advance rather than contesting it decisively. The main body of the 74th Corps fell back to the third-line positions at Sixi, Guanqiao, and Tangpu, preparing the killing ground that Luo had designated. Simultaneously, the 26th Division and most of the 105th Division from the 49th Corps were shifted across the Gan River to operate south of the Jin River on the Japanese left flank, and the 72nd Corps was ordered to maneuver on a wide envelopment around Daxia and south of Ganfang. By March 20–21, the 34th Division had pressed forward to attack the Chinese positions at Sixi and Guanqiao. Ōga's men were confident — they had taken Gao'an, they were moving, and the objective of Shanggao lay within reach. But as the division pushed toward Shangjijia, it ran squarely into the 57th and 58th Divisions of the 74th Corps, fighting with a tenacity that told the Japanese plainly enough: this was where the Chinese intended to stand. The week of March 21–24 brought the battle to its crisis. The 34th Division hammered at the Chinese positions defending Shanggao itself, while on the flanks, the fighting took on a character that neither side had entirely anticipated. On March 21, General Wang Yaowu — commanding the 74th Corps from his headquarters in Shanggao — decided it was time to do more than absorb Japanese blows. He ordered General Li Tianxia to clear Japanese forces from the south bank of the Jin River and advance on Gao'an, with the aim of cutting the 34th Division's supply line and threatening its rear. It was an aggressive move, and if it had worked, it might have produced a decisive result earlier than history would record. It did not work — at least not immediately. That very evening, the Independent Mixed 20th Brigade, which had been reorganizing after the chaos of the river crossing, launched a powerful offensive at dawn on the 22nd. Li Tianxia's lead elements had barely set out from Shitou Street when they collided head-on with the main force of the 20th Brigade, which had crossed back from the north bank of the Jin River. The Japanese thrust was coordinated and aggressive: one column circled wide to attack Lazhu Mountain; another swung south of Hu Family west of Shitou Street to strike Li's division in the flank and rear; and nine aircraft with four artillery pieces bombarded the Chinese positions from north to south. Li's division could not hold against this convergent assault and fell back to the high ground southwest of Shitou Street. Wang Yaowu reacted quickly. He ordered Li's main body to wheel left to face the new threat and simultaneously dispatched the Army's Field Supplementary Regiment — held in reserve near Yintang — on a forced march to Huayang to block the Japanese westward drive. This regiment, racing down roads strafed by nine enemy aircraft, covered 15 li per hour and seized Huayang and the high ground to its northeast by around seven in the morning. By nine, the 20th Brigade arrived in strength and — supported by more than ten aircraft — launched a fierce assault on the regiment's positions. The regiment's officers and men held firm, taking heavy casualties but refusing to break. Frustrated at Huayang, the 20th Brigade shifted its effort to the Kuang Family area, linking up with over a thousand men who had crossed from Baichetou to the south bank and pushing along the river toward Xiongfang in an attempt to outflank the Chinese left wing. The Supplementary Regiment sent its 1st Battalion with a mortar company to meet this threat, and the two forces met in a fierce engagement. When the Japanese reinforced their assault and deployed incendiary bombs and poison gas, Xiongfang fell by early afternoon — but Li Tianxia immediately sent two regiments from his right flank to take it back, and by midnight the position was in Chinese hands again. Shitou Street and Jigong Ridge were simultaneously recaptured. The Independent Mixed 20th Brigade now found itself in an increasingly uncomfortable position, fighting with the Jin River at its back and the initiative slipping away. Meanwhile, the main event was being fought in the rubble and ridgelines around Shanggao itself. From March 22 to 25, the 34th Division and whatever remnants of the 20th Brigade could contribute threw themselves repeatedly at the defensive line anchored on Stone Arch Bridge, Xia Po Bridge, Xu Lou, Pan Family Bridge, Cloud Head Mountain, and Lei Family Mountain. This was not the fluid, mobile warfare that the Japanese had envisioned but brutal, grinding attritional combat for individual strongpoints and ridgelines, with positions changing hands multiple times in a single day. The Japanese air arm was deeply involved. Ōga's division had close air support that could operate even in poor weather, and Group 3 of the Japanese Air Force hammered the Chinese positions with sustained effort. On the morning of March 24, after the 34th Division fed in more than 3,000 additional troops transferred across the Jin River, the Air Force dispatched over seventy aircraft that dropped more than 1,700 bombs, largely destroying the defensive positions of Liao Lingqi's division. The Japanese exploited the resulting chaos and twice broke through gaps in the line — but were driven out each time by Chinese counterattacks. At noon, enemy aircraft bombarded in relays and Japanese infantry broke through at Xia Po Bridge. It was at this moment that Li Hanqing, commanding the Chinese infantry defense in that sector, did what officers throughout history have done when systems fail and only personal example can stem the tide: he personally led his officer cadre in repeated counter-attacks, hand-to-hand fighting in the rubble until the Japanese were finally expelled. By this point, the 34th Division's offensive capacity was nearly spent. At the same time — and this was the critical shift that would determine the battle's outcome — General Luo Zhuoying recognized that the moment to spring the trap had arrived. The northern column had already been broken and sent reeling back toward Anyi. The southern column was pinned against the Jin River with its back to the water. The central column was bled white against the defenses of Shanggao. Luo now ordered all his armies to close in from multiple directions. On the morning of March 22, he had already begun revising his orders; by noon on the 23rd, the forces of Liu Duoquan and Li Jue had occupied Shitou Street, Guanqiao Street, and Yanggong Market, pressing on Huifu and Gaoyao. The encirclement of the 34th Division was not yet complete, but its shape was unmistakably forming. By March 25, the 34th Division knew it was in mortal danger. Surrounded on three sides, its ammunition running low and its casualty lists growing by the hour, the division urgently appealed to the 11th Army for rescue. The message that arrived in Hankou was a shock. General Marube and his staff, who had remained at their distant headquarters throughout the battle without establishing a forward command post, had not properly grasped the scale of the disaster unfolding in Jiangxi. The lack of coordination between the 33rd and 34th Divisions — the structural flaw that had been built into the operation from its conception — had allowed Luo Zhuoying to defeat each column separately, and now the central column faced annihilation. The 11th Army responded in a scramble. Chief of Staff Kinoshita was dispatched by aircraft to Nanchang with Operations Staff Officer Lieutenant Colonel Yamaguchi and Captain Ōne to organize a relief operation. The 33rd Division — barely recovered from its own battering in the north — was ordered to sortie immediately and fight its way to the 34th Division's relief. Sakurai organized his battered 33rd Division into three rescue columns. Infantry Brigade Commander Araki Shōji took the right column, leading Infantry Regiment 215 with one mountain artillery battalion. Infantry Regiment 214 formed the left column. The divisional commander himself led the central column with the main divisional force. On March 24 and 25, all three columns sortied from strongpoints at Niuxing, Fengxin, and other positions, attacking across the Wuqiao River and through Cunqian Street toward Tangpu and Guanqiao. The relief operation brought the battle to its most complicated moment. On the morning of March 25, the 33rd Division launched a fierce assault on the forces that Luo Zhuoying had positioned to tighten the encirclement from the north — striking Zhang Yanchuan's division at Kengkou Leng, Jiezipo, and Nancha Luo. Zhang's division, struck simultaneously from the front and rear, withdrew at dusk to near Tu Di Wang Temple, where it linked up with Tang Boyin's division. What happened next became one of the most controversial decisions of the entire battle. Zhang Yanchuan was serving as deputy army commander in the absence of Li Jue from the front. Surveying the situation — his own division under heavy pressure, the 33rd Division's relief columns pushing aggressively — Zhang concluded that the position was untenable. On his own authority, without authorization from Luo Zhuoying or any superior commander, he withdrew both his own and Tang Boyin's divisions to Fenghuang Market and Zhuangfang. The consequence was immediate and severe. The withdrawal opened a corridor through which the 33rd Division entered Guanqiao and linked up with the encircled 34th Division. An encirclement that had taken days of blood and sacrifice to construct was torn open by a single unauthorized decision. Luo Zhuoying, when he received word of Zhang's withdrawal the following morning, was furious — but he could not change what had already happened. He could only adapt. The breakout itself was an ordeal. A portion of the 34th Division that attempted to escape to the east was intercepted near Huifu by a division of the 49th Corps and lost roughly half its strength before being compelled to turn back. The main body ultimately broke out on March 27, withdrawing in march order that told its own story of disaster: headquarters, baggage, artillery, casualties, field hospital, rear guard — all moving in what the records describe as "a wretched state." On the night of March 27, Japanese troops escorting the 34th Division's field hospital — a field artillery company of the 8th Battery — were completely annihilated in a Chinese night attack. When the division reached Longtuan Xu on March 28, the stretcher-bearer column carrying the wounded stretched some seven to eight kilometers along the road. That same day, the 33rd Division's Infantry Regiment 214 finally made contact with the 34th Division's headquarters, completing what amounted to a rescue of men who had already endured their defeat. The 33rd Division's mountain artillery batteries exhausted their entire ammunition supply covering the retreat and required emergency aerial resupply drops to continue. The 34th Division limped back to its original garrison on April 2. Despite the setback caused by Zhang Yanchuan's unauthorized withdrawal, Luo Zhuoying did not abandon his design. Assessing his situation on the morning of March 26, he found reason for cautious optimism: Wang Yaowu's army was still making progress at Shanggao; the Japanese south of the Jin River had largely been cleared; and Sichuan Army and Northeastern Army units that had been moving to reinforce the battle had now reached the field, meaning Chinese forces retained significant numerical superiority. He resolved to execute a second encirclement. At nine in the morning of March 26, Luo issued strict orders: Zhang Yanchuan's and Tang Boyin's divisions were to immediately comply with their original orders and block the enemy near Guanqiao; Yu Chengwan's division was to attack northward via Pan Family Bridge; Liao Lingqi's and Song Yingzhong's divisions were to press toward Guanqiao with full force; Wang Kejun's division was to strike the enemy's flank and rear east of Guanqiao; Fu Yi's division was to advance south of Jiang Family Isle; and Chen Liangji's division was to swing southeast via Changpu to complete the enemy's destruction. The second ring was being drawn. On March 28, as the 34th Division's battered column trudged eastward toward survival, Wang Kejun's division advancing from Yanggong Market moved to intercept it. The Chinese occupied high ground north and south of Yanggong Market and along Mozi Ridge, and what followed was a grinding all-day battle that fixed the Japanese column at the Xiama Bei–Huxing Ridge line. Part of the 20th Brigade, moving up from Gao'an to assist the withdrawing 34th Division, was blocked near Long Tu Market. Liao Lingqi's division pursued the enemy rear guard to the Changling–Manmei high ground, where the fighting erupted with renewed intensity. At noon, part of Li Tianxia's division arrived and deployed along the Shangluoxiang–Shanyuan–Fangtounao line to harass the Japanese right flank; part of Yu Chengwan's division reached Longxing Mountain and outflanked Guanqiao Street from the south. The surviving Japanese defenders in Guanqiao withdrew into the town for a last stand, and after Liao's division pressed the assault, street fighting raged until five in the afternoon, when over 600 defenders were annihilated. Over 2,000 troops of the Independent Mixed 20th Brigade conducted a fighting withdrawal from Long Tu Market and Yanggong Market, covered by Japanese aircraft bombing to shield the 34th Division's retreat. By noon on March 30, the Japanese had abandoned both strongpoints and scattered northeastward. One group of over 600 men fled directly into the main positions of Zhang Yanchuan's division — an ironic fate, given Zhang's earlier withdrawal — and were largely annihilated. The encircling forces had been essentially dispersed, and the two pursuit columns now pressed forward under the overall direction of General Xue Yue, who had assumed personal coordination of the chase. On March 27, Luo Zhuoying — confident that victory was secured — issued a general order for a final offensive and announced substantial cash rewards to his troops: prizes offered for the capture of Japanese officers, artillery pieces, regimental colors, and other materiel. The rewards were both a practical incentive and a mark of how far the battle had tipped. By midnight on March 31, Chen Hongshi's advance column had recovered Gao'an; Wang Tiehan's division had recovered Xiangfu Guan. On April 2, the divisions of Zhang Yanchuan and Song Yingzhong recovered Fengxin; that afternoon Wang Tiehan's division took back Xishan and Wanshou Palace — the very base from which the 34th Division had launched its offensive. By April 3, the pursuing armies had reached the vicinity of Dacheng and Ganzhoujie. On April 8 and 9, the 70th Corps recovered the outpost strongpoints around Anyi before halting operations. The Japanese had retreated into their original positions and were defending from prepared terrain. The pursuit was over. The Battle of Shanggao had lasted nineteen days and nights. No battle of the Second Sino-Japanese War was ever free of the fog of competing claims, and Shanggao was no exception. On March 29, before the pursuit had even concluded, Luo Zhuoying telegraphed Chiang Kai-shek with his accounting of the victory. His numbers were dramatic: Major General Iwanaga, the Japanese infantry commander, killed; regimental commander Colonel Hamada, killed; over 15,000 Japanese killed or wounded in total. Chinese losses, Luo reported, exceeded 20,000. Ten guns, over a thousand rifles, and numerous machine guns had been captured. His superior, General Xue Yue, was skeptical. In a telegram to Chiang Kai-shek on April 5, Xue reduced Luo's numbers by twenty percent, reporting 12,520 Japanese killed or wounded and 14 prisoners captured. The discrepancy between two Chinese commanders reporting on the same battle speaks to the difficulty of battlefield accounting in any era, and suggests something of the competitive pressures that shaped how Chinese commanders reported their victories to Chongqing. The official Chinese histories, compiled after the war in the History of the War of Resistance, reported approximately 15,000 Japanese killed or wounded, 17 prisoners taken, and significant quantities of captured materiel: 6 mountain guns, 1 mortar, 24 light machine guns, 408 rifles, 24 grenade launchers, and over 111,717 rounds of various ammunition. Chinese casualties, by the same records, were 17,119 killed or wounded and 2,814 missing. Japanese records for the battle do not survive — a consequence of the wholesale destruction of Imperial Army documentation at the war's end. Contemporary scholars, working from other sources, estimate actual Japanese combat losses at approximately 5,500 killed and wounded. This is substantially lower than the Chinese claims, as was nearly always the case in the war, but represents a significant defeat by any measure: roughly a quarter of the force committed, many of them veterans impossible to replace. Chiang Kai-shek subsequently awarded the victorious Chinese units a commendation prize of 150,000 yuan — a substantial sum that marked the battle's significance in Nationalist eyes. The outcome at Shanggao was not accidental. Several interlocking factors combined to produce a Chinese victory, and each deserves consideration. The most fundamental was Luo Zhuoying's defensive plan. The decision to trade space for time — to absorb the Japanese advance through three successive defensive lines rather than contest the frontier — required both tactical confidence and a willingness to accept initial setbacks that could easily be misread as defeat. Chinese forces had to give ground, and they did. They had to suffer through the early days of Japanese advance without breaking and running, drawing the enemy forward and allowing the encirclement to take shape. That they largely succeeded in executing this plan reflects the improving quality of the Nationalist Army by 1941: better trained, better led at the operational level, and — critically — equipped with a strategic design that matched the actual balance of forces. The defeat in detail of the Japanese columns was equally important. By neutralizing the 33rd Division in the north before it could contribute to the central effort, and by pinning the 20th Brigade against the Jin River with its back to the water, Luo's forces ensured that the 34th Division faced the third-line defenses essentially alone — outnumbered, overextended, and unsupported. The Japanese operational concept had been a three-pronged convergence; what actually materialized was a single exhausted division hammering at a prepared defense while two other columns were rendered ineffective. The absence of coordination within the Japanese 11th Army was a gift that kept giving throughout the battle. No forward command post. No mechanism for the divisions to adjust their operations in response to each other's situations. No ability to recognize, in real time, that the northern column was being destroyed and redirect resources accordingly. General Marube's decision to remain at Hankou while his men died in Jiangxi was not merely an administrative failure; it was an operational catastrophe. Japanese commanders acknowledged this failing explicitly after the battle, but the acknowledgment changed nothing for the dead. Zhang Yanchuan's unauthorized withdrawal — the single most consequential individual decision of the battle — ultimately prevented a complete annihilation of the 34th Division rather than affecting the battle's outcome. The 34th Division escaped; but it did so in a "wretched state," having lost enormous numbers of men and equipment. It broke out, not triumphed. The encirclement Luo had constructed was torn open, but the Japanese paid dearly for the breach. The consequences of Shanggao rippled outward in ways that shaped the subsequent course of the war in central China. The transfer of the 33rd Division to North China — the original logistical rationale for the entire operation — was delayed by the division's involvement and subsequent losses at Shanggao. When it finally arrived at the Battle of Central Plains  the following month, it did so on the eve of battle with no time for preparation or orientation, entering combat under severely disadvantaged conditions. The operation that was supposed to facilitate a smooth redeployment had instead damaged one of the two units involved and delayed the other. For the Chinese 74th Corps, Shanggao had an ironic consequence. The Japanese 11th Army, following the battle, formally designated the 74th Corps as a priority target — a "standing enemy" and directed its forces to seek out and destroy it in future operations. At the First Battle of Changsha that September, the 11th Army specifically oriented its forces against the 74th Corps, a testament to the lasting impression that corps's fierce resistance at Shanggao had made on its adversaries. The compliment of being specifically targeted by the enemy was one the 74th Corps had earned in blood at Shanggao's ridgelines and shattered bridges. More broadly, the battle was widely regarded at the time, and has been regarded since, as one of the most significant Chinese tactical victories of the first four years of the War of Resistance. Its significance lay not only in the casualties inflicted — those were contested and probably inflated in the Chinese records — but in what it demonstrated. The improving tactical and operational competence of the Nationalist Army was on display. The deliberate defense, the layered withdrawal, the coordinated encirclement — these were not the operations of an army that had been fighting desperately for survival since 1937 and had learned nothing. They were the operations of an army that had studied its defeats and adapted. Shanggao did not change the strategic situation in China. The front in Jiangxi remained where it had been; the Japanese still occupied Nanchang and the major cities; Chiang Kai-shek was still in Chongqing and the war was still far from over. But it demonstrated something important: that the Chinese Army, given capable commanders, a sound plan, and the discipline to execute it, could do more than survive Japanese offensives. It could reverse them, encircle them, and pursue them back to where they came from. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In March–April 1940, Japanese forces attacked Shanggao with a limited, multi-pronged plan. Chinese troops used elastic defense and coordinated counter-moves, turning initial advantages into a trap. After intense fighting and air strikes, a coordinated encirclement and timely breakout routed the Japanese, forcing retreat despite their numbers in a costly battle.

All of this week's episodes of It Could Happen Here put together in one large file. - Bovino’s Visit to Europe - Idealogical Totalism with Andrew - The Globalization of Resistance with Andrew - The Arab Gulf States in the Line of Fire - Executive Disorder: Pogrom in Belfast, Trans Healthcare, Denaturalization Cases You can now listen to all Cool Zone Media shows, 100% ad-free through the Cooler Zone Media subscription, available exclusively on Apple Podcasts. So, open your Apple Podcasts app, search for “Cooler Zone Media” and subscribe today! http://apple.co/coolerzone Sources/Links: Bovino’s Visit to Europe https://remigrationsummit.com/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/16/christchurch-shooters-links-to-austrian-far-right-more-extensive-than-thought https://www.breizh-info.com/2026/05/28/260619/gregory-bovino-lhomme-qui-a-pilote-les-operations-trump-contre-limmigration-illegale-parle-a-leurope-interview/ http://www.toddmillerwriter.com/border-patrol-nation/ https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/08/RE_2025.08.21_Unauthorized-Immigrants_REPORT.pdf https://www.cbp.gov/about https://www.startribune.com/fact-check-federal-officials-claims-about-fatal-minneapolis-shooting/601570444 https://youtu.be/OYIK2-pO_7Y The Arab Gulf States in the Line of Fire Andrew Leber’s profile and articles - https://carnegieendowment.org/people/andrew-leber How Palestine is linked to domestic grievances - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13510347.2022.2038567 Executive Disorder: Pogrom in Belfast, Trans Healthcare, Denaturalization Cases https://www.independent.com/2026/06/04/new-details-emerge-about-leadup-to-largest-fire-in-channel-islands-history/ https://austinkocher.substack.com/p/ice-reports-19th-death-of-2026-georgian https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.293201/gov.uscourts.mad.293201.106.0.pdf https://x.com/JacobEngels/status/2062157399255847030?s=20 https://wcca.wicourts.gov/caseDetail.html?caseNo=2026CF000289&countyNo=55&index=0&mode=details https://www.whois.com/whois/bovino2028.com https://x.com/CBSNews/status/2064422223541154065?s=20 https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2/text https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/whats-in-the-secure-america-act/ https://www.mediamatters.org/donald-trump/compromised-votes-still-being-counted-right-wing-media-promote-election-misinformation https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116690027934241490 https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28199744-dorcasopn060526/ https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-moves-strip-us-citizenship-17-naturalized-sex-offenders-fraudsters-drug https://files.gao.gov/reports/GAO-26-108886/index.html https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2026/06/25-5087-2176040.pdf https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-secures-landmark-resolution-end-pediatric-gender-affirming-care-and https://www.acluok.org/news/senate-bill-904-faq/ https://www.aclu.org/qa-coe-et-al-v-blanche https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-parents-say-mount-sinai-plans-to-share-trans-childrens-records-with-trump-administration https://gothamist.com/news/mamdani-admin-weighs-how-to-provide-care-for-nyc-trans-kids-amid-trump-backlash https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/06/transcript--mayor-mamdani-appears-on-wnyc-s-the-brian-lehrer-sho https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/metropolitan/services/lgbtq-health-center/ https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/us/julio-sosa-celis-ice-minneapolis-shooting.html https://www.hennepinattorney.org/news/news/2026/May/castro-arrested https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2064457103134343170?s=20 https://x.com/BarakRavid/status/2064393192162660733?s=20 https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/2064290478091067601?s=20 https://t.co/lY0s8D3jZy https://x.com/DanLamothe/status/2064336646376505687?s=20 https://x.com/Reuters/status/2064794729477447978?s=20 https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/09/europe/northern-ireland-knife-attack-belfast-intl https://bsky.app/profile/enddbelfast.bsky.social/post/3mnxbrtzgsk2ySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday, June 10th, 2026 Today, Epstein's assistant for over 20 years Lesley Groff denied any knowledge of his crimes during her House Oversight Committee testimony; a U.S. Apache helicopter was shot down over the Gulf according to Trump; Republicans in the House have passed the $70B ICE funding bill; ICE has detained over 500 babies and toddlers under this administration; a new report out from the Government Accountability Office says the Camp East Montana ICE facility wasted millions and put detainees at risk; a Somali referee says his World Cup dreams have been dashed after the U.S. denied him entry; the Broadview Six grand jury transcripts have been released; and Allison and Dana deliver your Good News. Thank You, 3DayBlinds For their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal, head to 3DayBlinds.com/DAILYBEANS. Guest: Sean Vitka Executive Director at Demand Progress  https://demandprogress.org/issues/surveillance/   The Latest Breakdown:Trump DOJ CORNERED by Judge in Jan 6 Cover-Up | The Breakdown StoriesLongtime Epstein assistant denies knowledge of his crimes to House Oversight Committee | MS NOW U.S. Apache helicopter shot down by Iran, Trump says; crew rescued by sea drone | CBS News Senate OKs $70B immigration bill after rejecting efforts to permanently ban Trump's settlement fund | AP News Largest ICE detention facility wasted millions and put detainees at risk, report finds | AP NewsICE has detained over 500 babies and toddlers under Trump | MS NOW Somali Referee Says His World Cup Dream Is Dashed After U.S. Denies Entry | New York Times Good Trouble  Lands Between Fundraiser Stream:Noah Caldwell-Gervais - YouTube  is doing a 12hr Livestream June 13, benefiting the Kawaguchi O'Connor Initiative → https://riseupsingout.com and http://nokings.org →Triumphal Arch - Section 106 Assessment of Effect and Draft Programmatic Agreement →Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance -  Open For Comments →The Forest Service is accepting public comments until June 7th →Form WTAF-8647 →Recall Gov. Jeff Landry - Louisianadeservesbetter.com →STOP the deportation of Mohsen Mahdawi - Action Network →detentionwatchnetwork.org →FieldTeam6.org →Standwithminnesota.com →Tell Congress Ice out Now | Indivisible, Defund ICE | 5Calls →Congress: Divest From ICE and CBP | ACLU →ICE List  →iceout.org Good Newshttps://youtube.com/@barbarastone-un4ir?si=0mmuzMT0Fcj7flqn https://www.route66-centennial.com/ →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com →Email Dana LGBTQ Owned eating establishments in your area - hello@mswmedia.com Subject: “Dana's Project” Subscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTube Harry Dunn is running for CongressHarry Dunn for Maryland Our Donation Links Blue Wave California - bluewavecalifornia.org/concert Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ The Daily Beans is donating $10,000 and invites you to give what you can to support their life-affirming work - Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser   Pathways to Citizenship link to MATCH Allison's Donationhttps://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_86ff5236-dd26-11ec-b5ee-066e3d38bc77&WidgetId=6388736 Join Dana and The Daily Beans in support of Human Rights Campaign http://onecau.se/_ekes71 More Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - Donate, ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers - email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen.  Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook,  DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has called for a formal investigation into how the Justice Department handled the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, arguing that the department may not have fully complied with the law requiring the disclosure of those files. The lawmakers asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an independent review of the process used to collect, review, and release the records. Their request focuses on whether the Justice Department followed the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated that the government make Epstein-related investigative records public while limiting redactions to specific categories such as protecting victims. Senators involved in the request raised concerns that the files released so far appear incomplete and contain inconsistent redactions, prompting questions about how decisions were made regarding what information was withheld or disclosed.The senators also asked investigators to examine the internal procedures used by the Justice Department when reviewing the Epstein materials, including staffing levels, guidance given to reviewers, and the transparency of the redaction process. Their concerns mirror earlier criticism from members of the House who helped write the disclosure law and have questioned why some documents appear heavily redacted while sensitive information about victims was reportedly left insufficiently protected in some cases. Attorney General Pam Bondi has defended the department's handling of the files, stating that more than three million pages of records have been released and describing the effort as an unprecedented level of transparency. Nevertheless, lawmakers from both parties say the continuing questions surrounding the disclosures justify an outside audit to determine whether the Justice Department properly followed the law when releasing the Epstein files.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Senators seek review of Justice Department's handling of Epstein files - The Washington PostBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Thursday, May 29th, 2025 A federal judge STRIKES DOWN Trump's entire executive order targeting the Wilmer Hale law firm for political retribution; Judge Chutkan allows a lawsuit seeking to enjoin Elon Musk and DOGE's operations to proceed; another federal judge has ordered the release of the Russian scientist that brought inert frog embryos into the US; yet another judge blocks Trump's attempt to stop congestion pricing in New York; immigration courts are dismissing cases of those sent to El Salvador potentially cutting off their return; the Government Accountability Office rebuffs Trump's power grab; another SpaceX Starship launch fails while Musk cries about people not liking him; U-Haul bans Patriot Front nazis after they rented their trucks for a march in Kansas City; the Tate brothers have been charged with rape and sex trafficking in the UK; Nancy Mace's former staff claim she had them create burner accounts to promote her online; Trump gets mad about the Wall Street acronym TACO during a press conference; and Allison delivers your Good News. MSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlue Guest: Adam Klasfeld All Rise News All Rise News - Bluesky Adam Klasfeld (@klasfeldreports.com) - BlueSky Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) - Twitter Federal judge on Trump DOJ's defense of orders targeting BigLaw: "Give me a break" | AllRiseNews Stories: Immigration courts are dismissing cases of those sent to El Salvador, potentially cutting off their return | NBC News US judge allows states' lawsuit against DOGE to proceed | Reuters US judge grants Russian-born Harvard scientist bail in immigration case | Reuters Judge temporarily blocks Trump from retaliating against New York over congestion toll | ABC Action News Tate brothers face rape and trafficking charges in the UK | AP News SpaceX launches another Starship rocket after back-to-back explosions, but it tumbles out of control | AP News Nancy Mace's Former Staff Claim She Had Them Create Burner Accounts to Promote Her | WIRED Trump's not happy about Wall Street's name for tariff flip-flops | POLITICO Congressional Agency Rebuffs Trump Bid to Expand Power Grab | Democracy Docket U-Haul bans Patriot Front members after trucks rented in KC for march | The Kansas City Star Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.