Podcasts about Government Accountability Office

We don't talk enough about how hard it actually is to build a healthcare startup. Behind SmarterDx's story, now one of the biggest health AI exits to date, were 18 months without a single customer, a pivot that seemed to make no product sense, and two co-founders who went back to working as hospitalists just to get by.In this episode, Steve gets the real story from Dr. Michael Gao and Dr. Joshua Geleris about the challenges they faced and what ultimately unlocked real growth and led to their billion+ acquisition by New Mountain Capital.We cover:Why their first product idea failed and what customer objections actually taught them to build insteadThe counterintuitive workflow that made contingency pricing possibleHow AI translation of clinical notes into billing codes now outperforms the average human, and what that means for coders and nursesWhy "moat" is the wrong metaphor and what a flywheel looks like insteadWhat they'd do differently in the acquisition processAbout our guests:Michael Gao, MD, the CEO and co-founder of SmarterDx. Prior to founding SmarterDx, Dr. Gao was the Medical Director for Transformation at NewYork-Presbyterian, where he led applied AI development, implementation, and strategy for the health system. Dr. Gao holds faculty positions at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Gao completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian.. He received his M.D. from the University of Michigan and a B.S from the University of California Los Angeles.Josh Geleris, MD, is the Head of Product and co-founder of SmarterDx. Prior to SmarterDx, he was Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University, where he was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense for clinical informatics and data science, and led implementation of Epic for providers. Dr. Geleris completed his MD at the Technion-Israeli Institute of Technology and his Internal Medicine internship and residency at NewYork-Presbyterian. ⸺

The PBM Reform Podcast, sponsored by APCI, welcomes John Vinson, PharmD, Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, for a timely conversation with host Greg Reybold about the management of the TRICARE pharmacy benefit.   Express Scripts administers pharmacy benefits for TRICARE, the Department of Defense healthcare program serving more than 9 million active-duty service members, military retirees, and family members. In fiscal year 2023 alone, TRICARE spent more than $8 billion on prescription medications.   Greg and John examine concerns surrounding Express Scripts' administration of the program, including shrinking pharmacy networks, reduced patient choice, questionable contractor reporting, specialty-drug delivery oversight, and the consequences for independent and rural pharmacies.   A 2025 Government Accountability Office investigation found that:   TRICARE's minimum network requirement fell from 50,000 to 35,000 pharmacies. The network had approximately 13,165 fewer pharmacies in late 2024 than in late 2022. An estimated 380,000 beneficiaries may have been forced to find another pharmacy. The Defense Health Agency relied heavily on contractor-submitted reports that contained inaccuracies. DHA had not consistently audited the data used to evaluate beneficiary access. GAO's two corrective recommendations remain open as of August 2026, although DHA has begun adding reporting and auditing requirements.   The episode also addresses higher 2026 prescription copayments. For most non-active-duty beneficiaries, home-delivery copays are now $14 for generic formulary drugs, $44 for brand-name drugs, and $85 for non-formulary medications. At retail network pharmacies, the corresponding 30-day copays are $16, $48, and $85.   Greg and John discuss whether PBM-driven network reductions represent true savings—or simply transfer costs, inconvenience, and access barriers to military families and the community pharmacies serving them.   Key discussion points Express Scripts' role in administering the TRICARE pharmacy benefit Pharmacy network contraction and beneficiary disruption Access challenges facing rural communities and military families Inaccurate contractor data and insufficient federal oversight Specialty-pharmacy delivery and monitoring concerns Rising 2026 copayments and pressure toward mail order Arkansas' leadership in challenging PBM vertical integration The need for transparency, accountability, adequate reimbursement, and patient choice   Important clarification: TRICARE is administered by the Department of Defense and is distinct from healthcare and pharmacy services operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs.   Sponsored by APCI — American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc.   Sources: U.S. Government Accountability Office, TRICARE's 2026 pharmacy-benefit update, official 2026–2027 pharmacy costs.

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

//The Wire//1800Z August 12, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: OIL CRISIS CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE AS STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE DROPS BELOW 300 MILLION BARRELS. WAR IN MIDDLE EAST REMAINS COMPLICATED, SHIPPING REMAINS STAGNANT. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESULTS IN MURDERS AT DAYCARE IN MINNESOTA.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: Around the region the war remains as before, with no major strikes being reported overnight. The war between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has continued to increase in complexity following the Houthi strikes on the Jazan refinery last week. Saudi Arabia has stepped up efforts to fund and supply the official Yemeni government, which was outcast by the Houthis capturing and holding the capital city years ago. Analyst Comment: For the past decade, the Saudis have tried to undermine the Houthi control of Yemen by funding the exiled government forces which still control pockets of influence around the country. A few days ago, a strike was reported in the city of Mocha in Yemen, which was originally reported as being of Saudi origin. Turns out, it was the Houthis themselves striking the sector of the city that still remains in government control, targeting a collection of Saudi advisors which were working with the Yemeni government.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - This morning a suspicious device was discovered in the vicinity of the Engine Company 20 fire station. One device comprised of a thermos container with wires wrapped around it was discovered by authorities, prompting a lockdown of the area. EOD responded to the scene and stated that the device was not a threat.Minnesota: This morning a stabbing attack was reported at a child care facility in Hopkins. Local authorities state that two adults and one child were stabbed at Brown Bear Childcare, a private residence converted to a daycare. All three individuals are reported deceased. Throughout the day, official sources have indicated that this was a domestic violence incident between the owners of the daycare, which resulted in one of the adults murdering the other, before murdering their child, and then themselves. The attack was witnessed by six other children, as well as a parent who had arrived at the residence to drop off their child.Analyst Comment: This attack took place at 236 Tyler Ave North. The business itself is registered with the state and has an active childcare license, with no violations or concerns being readily available online. Reviews are very positive, and the business appeared to be a small and wholesome daycare run out of a private residence. Prior to the murders this morning, this address had been listed on a local garage sale page. The listing claiming that the daycare had been scheduled to close at the end of the month, but how (or if) this fits in is unclear at the moment. As a result, this horrifically brutal attack is very out of the ordinary for Hopkins, and further analysis will be required to determine why this happened.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Concerning the impact of the Gulf War on global energy markets, the situation is still desperate. Oil transits through Hormuz are very minimal, with the NAVCENT-run reporting sources no longer publicly disclosing all of the Iranian strikes on tanker vessels. Many observers visually seeing a burning hull on the horizon, or crude oil washing ashore, is about as "confirmed" as it can get, and over the past few weeks several strikes have taken place that have not been reported by the UKMTO. In terms of what this is doing to the oil markets, Hormuz is back to very minimal oil flows. The constant Houthi targeting down in the Red Sea region has also resulted in the Saudi's cutting production at many oil terminals and processing facilities, and the Omanis are quietly trying to export more oil from their terminals which bypass the Strait...efforts which get derailed when a tanker gets struck by a drone/cruise missle.Where we go from here is hard to say, but the situation has been slow to develop. If a person is watching a car crash in slow motion, and it takes 6 months for the impact, people get bored. This appears to be what's happened as this war has dragged on for almost half a year. This has resulted in complacency, even though the overall situation is incredibly serious. The United States has continued to drain the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) at a breakneck pace, to the point that we are approaching the physical limits of how much oil can be withdrawn from storage. This oil is not really being processed within the US, but rather sold on the international market so as to keep the price of oil artificially low globally. Last week, the SPR dropped to 298.7 million barrels of oil in storage, all total. This is the first time that the SPR has dipped this low since the 1980's, when the demand was 20-30% lower than it is today. More broadly, this is also a major milestone in terms of how close we're getting to tank bottom. There is debate regarding how low the SPR can be drawn down. A common figure over the years has been that the US can theoretically drain the SPR down to 70 million barrels. There is also a legal floor as well, with 42 USC § 6241 mandating that the SPR cannot be drawn below 252 million barrels for national security reasons. Of course, this is a law that can be reliably ignored by both the White House and Congress itself, but it is a number to work from...and we're getting close to it.Last year the Government Accountability Office conducted a large-scale study on the SPR, which found that due to infrastructure degradation over the years, the entire system can only pump out a fraction of what it was previously capable of. The report did not explicitly state the magic number of how low we can go, but the report did state that regardless of where the bottom of the tank actually is, we can only pump it out at a rate that is 61% of what it was designed for. This means that not only are our tanks scraping bottom, but we are also limited in how fast we can drain what's left. Like a broken record, the story has constantly repeated since the war began...demand remains the same, but supply is down. The basics of that fact can only be concealed, manipulated, and talked-down for so long before supply itself runs out. As the SPR cruises past the 300 million barrel milestone, more motivation is stacking up to re-enter the diplomatic phase once again, before the energy crisis gets much worse.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground NomadNet: 5fa68c88be727a0e1a250a75e5e79269 Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

Text the show! What if changing nothing but the political name attached to a fact could change whether you believe it?Turns out, researchers have tested exactly that—and the results aren't particularly flattering to either side.This Wacky Wednesday starts with a strange reaction to a previous Common Sense episode: government and academic wildfire research being dismissed as a “Trump talking point.” From there, Chad follows the same mechanism through decades of American politics.Xavier Becerra blames Trump talking points when confronted with reporting about migrant children. Hillary Clinton invokes a “vast right-wing conspiracy”—while Bill Clinton still had an affair. The COVID lab-leak question gets branded a conspiracy before the evidence is settled. Caveats disappear from the Hunter Biden laptop story. And political-science experiments show Americans changing their views when the exact same policy gets a different politician's name attached to it. Then the bill arrives for both sides.California's own auditors raise questions about billions in homelessness spending. The GAO documents enormous improper federal payments across administrations. And after years of Republicans championing forest management, federal fuel-treatment acreage falls under Trump—because reality doesn't particularly care which team claimed an issue first. The problem isn't disagreement.It's allowing the label to answer the question before we've examined what's inside the package.But is it true?IN THIS EPISODE

Today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton Clinical trials need participants. Regulators are examining whether existing rules on participant compensation are helping or getting in the way Government asks for public input all the time. Most people don't know what to do with that invitation OPM has spent the past year helping reshape the federal workforce. A new GAO report looks at what's happened inside OPM itselfSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

OPM has played a central role in shaping federal workforce policy over the past 18 months. At the same time, the agency itself has undergone substantial staffing reductions. A new GAO report examines what those changes could mean for OPM's ability to carry out its mission and support other agencies. Joining me to walk through the details is Dawn Locke, director in GAO's Strategic Issues team.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Department of Energy is gearing up to create a new class of science-specific, open-weight AI models in collaboration with industry as part of its recently launched Genesis Open Models Initiative. The agency is collecting information from interested organizations that want to partner on the project. Contributions are welcome throughout the development lifecycle — from the base, foundational systems to domain-specific datasets and fine-tuning expertise to shape adapted versions for particular applications. In an overview of the initiative, the department explained: “These Genesis models aim to provide researchers, national laboratories, industry partners, and the broader open science community with powerful, transparent, and extensible AI models that can be adapted to a wide range of scientific domains and use cases. By releasing models with open-weights, DOE seeks to galvanize the scientific and AI communities around shared infrastructure for science.” The agency said the first model in its new class, called Genesis-Science-1, is under development. U.S.-based open intelligence lab Arcee is working on the model alongside DOE scientists and other contributors. The Genesis Open Models Initiative is the newest branch to grow from the ever-expanding Genesis Mission. The core of the effort includes goals to combine the latest technological advancements to stand up supercomputers, launch a national platform and double the productivity of the country's research-and-development budget. Taxpayers felt a slowdown in the IRS's processing of paper returns this filing season due in part to a reduction in experienced IT acquisition staff, according to a watchdog report released Monday. Despite a 19% year-over-year decrease in the number of paper returns it received, the tax agency processed 46% fewer individual paper returns and 80% fewer business paper returns over the same time period, the Government Accountability Office found. A March report from the watchdog predicted the delays, flagging that the agency's “critical systems for processing and scanning paper tax documents would be unavailable at the start of the 2026 filing season and that IRS would rely on vendors to mitigate the issue.” Per IRS officials, the system to process individual paper returns was unavailable for the first six weeks of 2026, while the scanning system for business paper returns was out of commission for the entirety of the most recent filing season. 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.

In today's episode, Dennis and Dana cover a lot of news on the federal and state level: Updates on court actions around borrow defense claims. The first Workforce Pell Grant program approved (in Iowa!). ED's release of further guidance on Schedule of Reductions (SOR). GAO report on a lack of coordination between ED and loan services. FSA beginning beta testing for 2027-2028 FAFSA in August. And more! WHAT'S BREWING, CCCSFAAA is a Studio 1051 production.  Studio 1051 is a creative collaboration of Dennis Schroeder and Dana Yarbrough.  Contact us at wbcccsfaaa@gmail.com.  Find all of our current and past episodes at wbcccsfaaa.podbean.com or in your favorite podcast app.   Episode # 011 / 211

La Policía confirma que las tres personas asesinadas en la playa de Cojimíes pertenecían al Grupo Armado Organizado R7 y registraban antecedentes; Tras concluir el descanso por el 10 de Agosto, a Ecuador le restan cuatro feriados nacionales en el calendario de 2026; Un potente terremoto de magnitud 7,4 en Colombia deja cerca de 240 fallecidos y graves daños estructurales en el oeste del país; La NASA desmiente rumores virales y aclara que el eclipse solar total del 12 de agosto no alterará la gravedad terrestre; El futbolista Willian Pacho dedica una emotiva carta a la memoria de su madre en la plataforma The Players' Tribune.

A website created by President Donald Trump's DOGE to tally its purported cost savings contained myriad data quality issues and inaccuracies, a congressional watchdog reported Thursday. In a review of the Department of Government Efficiency's “Wall of Receipts” website, the Government Accountability Office found the group didn't use transparent methods to produce its figures, included lease terminations that predated DOGE's creation, and listed savings with unknown origins. The findings again call into question the roughly $215 billion DOGE claimed to have saved the government and adds to reporting on the deficiencies of the website's accounting. The New York Times, for example, has previously documented errors and deletions on that page. FedScoop has reported inconsistencies between officials' publicly stated savings claims and the figures included on the website. GAO concluded its report by recommending that the website prominently display the existence of the data-quality issues and limitations. “Prominently displaying data limitations would enhance the value of the Wall of Receipts by providing users with the information that they need to interpret and use the data appropriately,” the report said. According to a letter included within the report, the audit was ordered by Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. Peters is the ranking member on the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Blumenthal is ranking member of its subcommittee on investigations. The report came a day after GAO released another report that revealed little available documentation of financial disclosures and completion of ethics and records management training by DOGE personnel. A House-passed bill to scrap educational requirements in federal contracting jobs cleared a key Senate panel Thursday, putting it on track for a vote before the full chamber. The Skills-Based Federal Contracting Act (H.R. 5235) advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by a 10-0 vote. No senators commented on the legislation during the business meeting. The bill, led by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., would block federal solicitations from including any minimum education standards, unless the contracting officer provides a written justification on why the agency needs an exemption. “Washington created the paper ceiling. This bill tears it down,” Mace said in a statement. “A four-year degree should not be a government-mandated checkbox when hardworking Americans have already proven they can do the job. Demonstrated ability should open doors in this country.” The legislation passed the House in February and has been a pet project of Mace's for years. 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.

A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report asserts that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, significantly exaggerated its financial impact on federal spending. Investigators found that the group's "Wall of Receipts" included inaccurate data, such as claiming credit for lease cancellations that were already underway before the initiative began. The audit revealed that thousands of supposedly terminated contracts remained active, while other reported savings were mathematically overstated or entirely unverifiable. This congressional inquiry suggests that the Trump administration's claims of massive fiscal reform were built on unreliable metrics and lacked transparency. Consequently, the GAO recommends that the public be warned about the data-quality issues present on the official DOGE website.

In his weekly clinical update, Daniel Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are distressed by Erica Schwartz' confirmation as CDC director, the GAO proposed pandemic preparedness plans, the national cyclospora outbreak and resulting two deaths, new screwworm and the scale of the Ebola outbreak in the Congo, and clear results from some of President Trump's policies dismantling public health activites including water safety, before Dr. Griffin deep dives into the measles outbreak, recent statistics on RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, FDA approval of Moderna's mRNA vaccine for seasonal flu, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, where to go for answers about long COVID-19, how SARS-CoV-2 infections may reactivate latent viral infections, particularly Aniello virus, and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Senate confirms Erica Schwartz as CDC director (CIDRAP) PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS: Experts Identified Actions to Improve Surveillance for Emerging Disease Threats (Government Accountability Office) Association Between First MMR Vaccination Before Age 2 Years and Childhood Autism in a U.S. EHR Cohort of 2.5 Million Children (The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal) F.D.A. Approves Moderna's mRNA Flu Vaccine (NY Times) Efficacy and Safety of an mRNA Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in Adults (NEJM) Two Deaths Linked to Cyclosporiasis in Michigan (NY Times) CDC expands largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak to 15 states (Washington Post) Surveillance of Cyclosporiasis (CDC: Cyclosporiasis) Infectious DiseaseOutbreaks (Michigan: Health & Human Services) Cyclosporiasis Cases in North Carolina (North Carolina: Division of Public Health) Cyclospora Infection (Cyclosporiasis) (NYC Health) Missouri Communicable Disease Report (2026) (Missouri Health) Irrigation & Water Use (USDA: Economic Research Service) A Guide to OSHA's Field Sanitation Standard (OSHA) Turm purge at FDA and USDA triggers food safety 'brain drain' (FOODNavigator) Foodborne Illness Surveillance Systems (CDC) About Campylobacter infection (CDC: Campylobacter infection (Campylobacteriosis)) About Cyclosporiasis (CDC: Cyclosporiasis) About Listeria Infection (CDC: Listeria Infection (Listeriosis)) About Salmonella Infection (CDC: Salmonella Infection (Salmonellosis)) About Escherichia coli Infection (CDC: E.Coli Infection (Escherichia coli)) About Shigella Infection (CDC: Shigella-Shigellosis) About Vibrio Infection (CDC: Vibrio Infection (Vibriosis)) About Yersinia Infection (CDC: Yersinia Infection (Yersiniosis)) CDC Reveals Cause of Malaria's Return to US After 20 Years(Newsweek) Trump Dismantles USAID: Experts Say Move Will Help America's Rivals and Harm Millions (Newsweek) What we truly know about the huge US Cyclospora outbreak—and what we don't (CIDRAP) It's The Water, Not Produce, Likely Driving Cyclospora Outbreaks (Forbes) Dashboard SCREWWORM.Gov (USDA: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) CDC Activates Emergency Operations Center for New World Screwworm Response (CDC Newroom) Ebola dashboard (ebola.fyi) EBOLA: The Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2026(WHO) Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak Democratic Republic of the Congo (WHO: Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola Outbreak: Current Situation (CDC:Ebola) EXCLUSIVE: Congo's Ebola epidemic started at least 4 months before it was detected (Science) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) Big outbreak, bright lights…Measles Dashboard (South Carolina Department of Public Health) Utah measles outbreak response (Utah Department of Health and Human Services) Utah Measles Dashboard (Utah Department of Health and Human Services) Measles (VDH: Virginia Department of Health) Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins) HAP's Latest News Pa. Launches New Measles Dashboard (Hospital + HealthSystem Association of Pennsylvania) Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg) Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) Measles (WHO) Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC) Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC) Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM) Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts (ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America) Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine) Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Flu vaccine recommendations: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee March 12, 2026 Meeting Announcement (FDA) WHO updates all 3 viral strains to be included in fall flu shots (CIDRAP) FDA vaccine advisers recommend adding subclade K to fall shots (CIDRAP) Moderna's mRNA flu shot mFlusiva snags FDA nod after refusal-to-file imbroglio (Fierece Pharma) Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView) OPTION 2: XOFLUZA $50 Cash Pay Option (xofluza) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) Respiratory Diseases (Yale School of Public Health) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection) Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)) Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP) Respiratory Diseases (Yale School of Public Health) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 deaths (CDC) Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses) COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain) Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Washington and Oregon, United States, 2022-2024 (Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society) Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUA for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD) Infusion center (Prime Fusions) CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Help your eligible patients access PAXLOVID with the PAXCESS Patient Support Program (Pfizer Pro) Understanding Coverage Options (PAXCESS) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society) What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Anticoagulation guidelines (hematology.org) Daniel Griffin's evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID) Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center) The answers: Long COVID Virus reactivation in acute and long COVID-19 (Nature) Reaching out to US house representative Letters read on TWiV 1346 Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Philip dives into the controversy surrounding Amanda Knox's new one-woman comedy show, "Cartwheel," which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and has sparked a debate over free speech, artistic expression, and the lingering impact of one of the most famous criminal cases of the 21st century. A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the cost-cutting initiative formerly led by Elon Musk, significantly overstated the amount of money it claimed to save taxpayers. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip dives into the controversy surrounding Amanda Knox's new one-woman comedy show, "Cartwheel," which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and has sparked a debate over free speech, artistic expression, and the lingering impact of one of the most famous criminal cases of the 21st century. A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the cost-cutting initiative formerly led by Elon Musk, significantly overstated the amount of money it claimed to save taxpayers. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Story of the Week (DR):Uber's Strategy for Fighting Sexual Assault Suits: ‘What Were You Wearing?'An aggressive defense strategy is being used in response to an avalanche of litigation, with over 4,000 lawsuits filed by passengers accusing Uber of failing to protect them from sexual assaultWhile Uber publicly champions itself as a "survivor-centric" ally and trains support staff against victim-blaming, its defense lawyers ruthlessly contradict this to protect the $145 billion company.Uber's attorneys aggressively interrogate survivors about their clothing (e.g., asking if they wore underwear or heels), drug and alcohol consumption, and sexual history.The legal team weaponizes past trauma by scouring private medical records and therapy notes, even petitioning courts to force survivors to undergo psychiatric exams or reveal details of childhood abuse to paint them as "unreliable narrators".Legal experts warn these scorched-earth tactics are deliberately designed to re-traumatize victims, discouraging lawsuits and intimidating survivors into settling.Chief Legal Officer Tony West: “Why safety is personal to me”Cites his public service career to cover for ruthless corporate tactics, like drafting Prop 22 to strip driver protections.Frames survivor trauma as a flaw of the "adversarial legal system," deflecting from Uber's own attorneys using aggressive, victim-blaming tactics to minimize payouts.Uses a single favorable quote from one trial judge to dismiss widespread litigation abuse.Touts ending forced arbitration while continuing to block class-action lawsuits, trapping survivors in isolated 1-on-1 fights.Brags about transparent reporting despite Uber burying 400,000+ assault complaints (2017–2022) under labels like "unaudited."TikTok Withheld a Safety Feature From Millions. One Died by SuicideWhen TikTok tweaked its algorithm in 2021 to stop users from being overwhelmed with harmful content, the company didn't roll out the safer version to everyone, a confidential internal document shows.Instead, to see if the change might reduce the app's stickiness, the company conducted an experiment. It created a control group of 10% of US users — at the time, that would have been about 15 million people — who kept the old version of the app.This group, according to the document, included 16-year-old Chase Nasca. TikTok's algorithm pushed him thousands of videos about suicide, sadness, hopelessness and loneliness, right up until he killed himself.TikTok says moderator error delayed removal of Perez Hilton's livestream showing acts of self-harmGAO finds Elon Musk's DOGE inflated claims of $110 billion in savings for federal governmentThe GAO found that 96% of the savings DOGE claimed from grant cancellations lacked supporting evidence or methodology to verify.DOGE claimed $27.4 billion in savings across 2,503 contracts—including a $1.7 billion Pentagon IT deal—that were never actually terminated or reduced.Over 40% of the lease cancellations listed on DOGE's "Wall of Receipts" were already in progress before the agency was created.GAO uncovered widespread data errors, such as overstating total lease savings by nearly $60 million and failing to report baseline limitations.DOGE failed to disclose how it calculated its metrics and completely ignored GAO requests for interviews and supporting data.Where are Elon Musk's former DOGE staffers now?Edward “Big Balls” Coristine: a whistleblower alleged that Coristine planned to upload sensitive Social Security Administration data to an unsecured server. He also helped dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID.Coristine now appears to work at the National Design Studio, an office created to overhaul federal websites and other public-facing services, making them more usable, visually consistent and less expensive to build.Jeremy Lewin: helped oversee the dismantling of USAIDLewin later became the State Department's senior official for foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs and religious freedom, giving a former DOGE operative authority over the programs his old team had helped slash.He was subsequently reported to be moving to the White House National Security Council.Nate Cavanaugh and Justin FoxFounded a holding company called Special, which promises to do for private businesses what DOGE did for the federal government.“To achieve this, Special is building an operating system to transform critical American industries with AI. We call it SpecialOS.”Gavin Kliger, Luke Farritor, Marko Elez and Jack SteinFounded Cathedral, a startup that plans to use AI to expand U.S. military cyber capabilities, including defenses against adversaries such as China.Reuters reported that the company raised $160 million at a $1.4 billion valuation.Ethan Shaotran: helped move thousands of immigrants into the government's “Master Death File,” effectively deactivating their Social Security numbers.Founded Blitz Industries, which he described to Wired as “a defense company backed by big names.”Elon Musk: SpaceX Achieves Its First Moon Landing by Accidentally Crashing Into It at 5,400 Miles Per Hour, Causing Huge Explosion and 60-Foot CraterWhy companies that call themselves meritocracies don't always pay equally AND Meritocracy claims make managers pay men more than equally qualified women MMExplicitly branding an organization a "meritocracy" lowers managers' vigilance against bias, ironically making them more likely to discriminate.Given identical job titles and performance ratings, managers in self-proclaimed meritocracies systematically award higher bonuses and raises to men over equally qualified women.The meritocracy illusion compounds wage gaps across demographics, yielding lower financial rewards for women, racial minorities, and immigrants with identical output.Vague definitions of "merit" allow supervisors to act on personal favorability and affinity bias while genuinely believing their choices are purely objective.Trusting the "meritocracy" label creates false complacency, leading companies to eliminate or skip active pay-equity audits that would otherwise catch these disparities.Goodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Google Scraps AI Satellite Images Within 24 Hours: Why 'Deepfakes in the Sky' Alarmed ResearchersThis happened after facing fierce backlash from journalists, researchers, and open-source intelligence experts who warned that it could accelerate the spread of misinformation.The feature allowed users to generate AI-created satellite images by zooming into any location in Google Earth and entering a text prompt.MM: Courts: MM DRCourt rules against Trump EPA's freeze of $20B in ‘green bank' fundsUBS fined record $125 million for money laundering violationsMeta fined $567m in largest child safety ruling against social media giantJudge says Nexstar can't appoint its executives to TEGNA's Board of DirectorsAssholiest of the Week (MM):Everything's a publicity stunt:Jealously Watching OpenAI and Anthropic, Meta Suddenly Claims That Its AI Went on a Hacking Spree TooZuckerberg conveys ‘apologies' for child sex abuse material, errors in operating the platform, government sources say‘Pure insanity'—Elon Musk details SpaceX's plan to turn the moon into its newest manufacturing siteAnthropic's Mythos created fake identities to fool humans in new cyber incidentGAO finds Elon Musk's DOGE inflated claims of $110 billion in savings for federal governmentEverything's a vanity projectJeff Bezos Says He's Selling $1 Billion In Amazon Stock Every Year to Fund Blue Origin — ‘It's The Most Important Work I'm Doing'SpaceX Achieves Its First Moon Landing by Accidentally Crashing Into It at 5,400 Miles Per Hour, Causing Huge Explosion and 60-Foot CraterJudge Sets Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Trial for MarchEveryone's a victimThe AI bros are lonelyPalantir CEO Alex Karp Says Frontier AI Labs Will Steal Your IP, Your Know-How, and Your Expertise — ‘You Deserve To Be Colonized'‘Socialism is a disaster': Bill Ackman says Zohran Mamdani's bad left-wing housing policy is worsening New York's affordability crisisNo one is accountable DRBobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision, may join Paramount's board of directorsJefferies analyst calls out ‘simple-minded' criticism of SpaceX's governanceABC, CBS, and NBC aired nearly 200 segments about three U.S. heat events without mentioning climate changeDisney (Iger, still), Ellison family, and Roberts family - one cowed exec, two dictators!Headliniest of the WeekDR: Pepsi is launching soda-scented body wash and scrub in a beauty collaborationPwC U.S. CEO [Paul Griggs] advises young workers to say yes a lot, even if it means working on the weekends—‘That person climbs into the next role'Top Consulting Group PwC Caught Using AI on “Thought Leadership” Report About AI, Resulting in Corporate Document Filled With Bizarre HallucinationsDoorDash CEO Tony Xu once thought his $87 billion company would only make $100 million. He tells founders to be ‘greedy' and dream biggerClass A = 1 vote; Class B = 20 votes; CEO Tony Xu personally owns roughly 3% of actual shares but controls 55% of voting power via a “binding agreement” with the other co-foundersMisleading proxy shows he got paid $432k (they cited a 12:1 pay ratio) but he actually made $343M from shares and stocksDoorDash excludes Dashers from SEC disclosures by classifying them as 1099 independent contractors.Factoring drivers into the worker pool expands the headcount from 20,000 to over 7 million, moving the median worker from corporate offices directly onto the delivery platform.Dasher: while gross pay averages ~$15–$22/hour, net driver earnings sink further after deducting out-of-pocket expenses like fuel, vehicle wear, and self-employment taxes, pulling true net median compensation closer to $400–$900 annuallyAnthropic CEO reportedly worried new hires only care about money: reportedly expressed concern about new talent coming to the company for the money rather than the missionMM: Stripe CEO says his ‘urgency' to drop out of MIT ‘was a bit unnecessary'Who Won the Week?DR: Harvard Business School graduates TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and TikTok US CEO Adam Presser, because nobody ever talks about you or knows who you areMM: Meat. After seeing Salad and Go files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after cyclospora fears worsened its challenges, you can't help but wonder if RFK Jr orchestrated a parasite to get people to buy more meat.PredictionsDR: Tony Xu introduces Class F stock where shareholders' children enter indentured servitude and must deliver 1000 Cheesy Gordita Crunches from Taco Bell before they are set free ; they will then get 0.0002 shares per voteMM: Boards are calling retired CEOs back as succession pipelines run dry: Boards run out of ex-CEOs to re-king and begin looking for different, egalitarian, integrated professionals to fill new roles. They call it DEI.

Jon Herold recovers from a canceled Florida trip (thanks to an airport radar outage) to dig into Trump's wide ranging Punchbowl News interview, breaking down his lukewarm comments on Senate Leader Thune, his surprisingly uncertain tone on the midterms, and some fascinating remarks on crypto, AI, and a possible 2028 run. He also plays a clip of John Solomon making the case that the intelligence community's election interference dwarfs anything foreign adversaries did, walks through two new executive orders cracking down on birth tourism and birthright citizenship, and covers a federal court blocking White House ballroom construction. There's also a pointed breakdown of a new GAO report finding DOGE's claimed savings didn't hold up to scrutiny, plus a disappointing July jobs report. Sponsor reads, meetup logistics, and plenty of live chat banter round out a newsy Friday show.

In this episode Randel and Owen talk with Rory Sandstone about training and teaching in the Guang Hua Zhe Zong Tong Yi Pai branch of the Gao Bagua style. From Pacific Rim Acupuncture College:"Rory Sandstone has been practicing acupuncture and Chinese medicine since 2009. As a faculty member at Pacific Rim College since 2016, he has taught diverse subjects including orthopedic acupuncture, surface anatomy, tai ji quan, Chinese medicine foundations, and clinical supervision. His research focuses on connecting classical Chinese medicine with modern fascial research. Rory advocates for preserving the integrity of Chinese medicine while integrating contemporary research to enhance practitioners' understanding of classical theory. A lifelong martial artist, he is a lineage disciple of the Guang Hua Zhe Zong Tong Yi Pai lineage of Gao Baguazhang. Currently residing in Victoria, BC, Rory maintains a busy clinical practice and enjoys raising his two energetic daughters."Contact:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Acupuncture⁠⁠Website⁠⁠Insta⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need More From Kung Fu Conversations (KFC)?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KFC Email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KFC Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KFC Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KFC Buy-Me-A-Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KFC Merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Need Kung Fu Training?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Xingyi and Bagua in Colorado - Boulder Internal Arts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wing Chun in Colorado - Red Forest Chinese Boxing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#kungfupanda #taichi #kungfu #kungfuconversations #meditation #qigong #wingchun #baguazhang #gaobagua

The Trump administration pledged to shift the Federal Emergency Management Agency away from a “bloated, DC-centric dead weight.” But FEMA's regions, not its Washington headquarters, bore the brunt of workforce cuts that happened without any strategic planning. That's according to the latest Government Accountability Office report on FEMA's workforce challenges. Federal News Network's Justin Doubleday joins me for more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Air Force hopes to get another 25 years out of its B-52 Bomber fleet but it's running into some cost, scheduling and performance challenges.The B-52 was first introduced in 1955 and the Air Force is hoping that a series of updates can keep the fleet in the air until 2050. It intends to spend $21 billion to improve the engines, radar, communications, software and weapon systems for the more than 70 B-52s still in service.The Air Force already has the B-1 and B-2 along with the in-development B-21, but it said the B-52 still remains critical to the U.S.'s ability to deploy nuclear capabilities. Plus, it can fly nearly 9,000 miles without refueling and carry up to 70,000 pounds.However, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), which represents the bulk of modernization costs, has increased by about $3 billion since a 2023 estimate, and initial operational capability has been delayed more than 15 months. While 10 out of the 13 B-52 modernizations experience challenges, the GAO said the Air Force still wants to proceed with engine production before critical flight testing is completed.#B52, #USAirForce, #Defense, #Military, #Aerospace, #MilitaryAviation, #Aircraft, #DefenseIndustry, #Engineering, #Manufacturing, #Government, #GAO, #Aviation, #NationalSecurity, #MilitaryTechnology

Only a fraction of the 206 DOGE personnel identified by a congressional watchdog had paper trails associated with ethics and records management training and financial disclosures, a congressional watchdog reported Wednesday. The findings came as part of a Government Accountability Office report focused on identifying the employment statuses and administrative activities of personnel while a part of the notorious, and now mostly defunct, Department of Government Efficiency. According to the report, GAO obtained relevant training and disclosure records for just 64 of the DOGE personnel it identified. Of that number, 49 completed ethics training, 18 completed records management training, and 38 submitted financial disclosures. It also identified that 27 DOGE officials were “special government employees,” which means they could hold employment elsewhere while working for the federal government temporarily. GAO noted that type of designation creates difficult ethics issues. But GAO reported difficulty finding even that level of information as a result of lack of responsiveness from multiple federal entities and limited information it received, the report revealed. The Technology Modernization Fund would be able to finance new projects through Dec. 11 under a provision in a Senate bill to avoid a government shutdown this fall. The current version of the fiscal 2027 Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill authorizes $5 million for the fund, and though the bill has not yet received a floor vote in either chamber, the TMF is prioritizing artificial intelligence and projects to support faster permitting with the money it has left. But the Senate version of the continuing resolution, moving through a legislative vehicle (HR 6500), cleared its first hurdle Monday night with a motion to invoke cloture 89-4. While the chamber is set to continue consideration throughout the week, the House is out until the last day of the month, and its “clean” version stands in opposition to the Senate bill's authorizing extensions like the TMF. 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.

Whether it's backup power for a hospital or a microgrid for a public facility, FEMA's hazard-mitigation programs are designed to reduce future disaster losses before they occur. A recent GAO review examined how communities make the case for those investments and how FEMA evaluates whether they're worth the cost Joining me now is Janet McKelvey, Acting Director for Natural Resources and Environment at GAO. Read the report here: https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-26-108470.pdf See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is tasked with helping Americans and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. But recent reductions in staffing at FEMA may jeopardize these efforts. Here to tell us more is GAO…

Past performance can make the difference in a best-value procurement. But agencies still have to evaluate it the way they said they would. That's the lesson from a recent GAO protest involving a Veterans Affairs acquisition support contract. Joining me now with the details is Zach Prince, partner at Haynes Boone.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

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)

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

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. 

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

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.

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

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

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.