Podcasts about government departments

25 years after Joanne Harris introduced readers to the soothing delights of Chocolat, she's released her new book Vianne. It's the prequel that explains how her heroine found her way into the world of high end French confectionery. A new exhibition at the British Museum sheds light on the provenance of popular images of the Hindu god Ganesha, the Buddha and Jain enlightened teachers. We talk to curator Sushma Jansari about Ancient India: living traditions, alongside expert in Indian ritual art, Professor Partha Mitter.The 2025 Cannes Film Festival is well underway. We get the latest from Daily Telegraph Critic, Robbie Collin.Rumours abound about the planned axing of the Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. Alison Cole, head of the Cultural Policy Unit think tank, tells us what this could mean for the arts.Presenter Samira Ahmed. Producer Harry Graham

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Donald Trump's America First policy has reignited a debate that has shaped U.S. history for centuries: Should America lead on the world stage, or should it pull back and focus on problems at home? In this episode, Hillari Lombard sits down with Charles Kupchan—senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, professor at Georgetown, and author of Isolationism: A History of America's Efforts to Shield Itself from the World—to unpack the past, present, and future of American isolationism.This episode is a good-faith attempt to understand what America First really means—not just as a campaign slogan, but as a governing philosophy. Whether you support it, fear it, or are just trying to make sense of it, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.Resources that informed this episode:Isolationism: A History of America's Efforts to Shield Itself From the World | Council on Foreign RelationsSupporting Ukraine Is in Trump's Interest by Michael Froman & Charles A. Kupchan - Project SyndicateTrump Is Right That Pax Americana Is Over - The AtlanticThe Past and Future of American Isolationism | Council on Foreign Relations---Charles A. Kupchan is Professor of International Affairs in the School of Foreign Service and Government Department at Georgetown University, and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. From 2014 to 2017, Kupchan served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council in the Obama White House. He was also Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council during the first Clinton administration. His most recent books are Anchoring the World: International Order in the Twenty-First Century (2021), Isolationism: A History of America's Efforts to Shield Itself from the World (2020), No One's World: The West, the Rising Rest, and the Coming Global Turn (2012), and How Enemies Become Friends: The Sources of Stable Peace (2010). His forthcoming book is Bringing Order to Anarchy: Governing the World To Come.

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The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier is leaving his role next month after 10 years in the role. The current Government asked him to stay in the role after he quit last year as he approaches 72, the oldest someone can be in the position. His ten year term is coming to an end once and for all and he has a strong parting message. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve and Ted get the latest from Fox's Tonya J. Powers in New York. Elon Musk sent out emails demanding workers justify their positions and efforts. Department heads (including recently installed Trump appointees) have been instructing their employees to ignore the email.

The departments of Housing, Health and Education were among the top spenders, along with funding for roads and public transport. With Jack Chambers, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation.

Ireland's three Regional Assemblies, in collaboration with the All-Island Research Observatory (AIRO) at Maynooth University, are proud to announce the launch of the National Census Atlas, a groundbreaking tool that provides an unprecedented view of over 200 social, economic, and environmental indicators at the neighbourhood level across Ireland. Alongside this, a new section on the Regional Development Monitor (RDM) dedicated to key Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) indicators is also being unveiled. This pioneering atlas is hosted on the Tailte Éireann GeoHive platform via the Regional Development Monitor (RDM), enabling users to explore a wealth of data in an accessible and interactive format. From housing trends and employment statistics to environmental factors, the atlas delivers valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, businesses, and citizens alike. The National Census Atlas offers: Neighbourhood-level insights: Detailed mapping of data for informed decision-making at the local level. Comprehensive indicators: Over 200 datasets covering critical aspects of Irish life, including demographics, social and cultural factors, education, health and wellbeing, housing, employment and economy, communications and ICT, and transport and commuting. User-friendly access: An intuitive interface powered by the GeoHive platform, making data exploration straightforward for all users. All data in the atlas comes from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) Census 2022 results, ensuring the most up-to-date and accurate representation of Ireland's social and economic characteristics. A Resource for Evidence-Based Planning and Beyond The National Census Atlas is primarily aimed at supporting the planning sector in Ireland, providing a robust resource for evidence-based planning and policymaking. It will be a useful support tool for Government Department and State bodies, local authorities, community groups and planning consultants. However, its applications extend far beyond, offering valuable insights for secondary and third-level students in understanding the social and economic characteristics of the country. Examples of the Tool in Use The National Census Atlas illustrates its potential to support current and future policy development for key social issues. For instance: Population change: The tool shows levels of population change over the last twenty years, highlighting areas of major population growth alongside regions experiencing continual population decline. Household heating sources: The atlas details variations in household heating methods within and across counties, providing essential data for policies aimed at achieving a just transition from fossil fuels. Employment clustering: Insights into the clustering of employment in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing industries, and professional services can guide regional economic development strategies. Religious affiliation trends: The tool reveals differing trends in religious affiliation between urban and rural areas, offering a nuanced understanding of cultural shifts. Commuting patterns: Detailed data on commuting patterns to cities and large towns helps inform transport and infrastructure planning. Setting Ireland Apart as an International Leader The National Census Atlas is unique in its scope and detail. No other country has developed a national resource as comprehensive as this, positioning Ireland as an example of international best practice. This innovative approach highlights Ireland's commitment to leveraging data for sustainable development and inclusive planning. Technological Advancements for Local Authorities One of the key advancements in this tool is its ability to allow local authorities to develop their own maps tailored to their specific areas - counties, cities and towns, local electoral areas and municipal districts. This feature empowers local authorities and elected members to better understand and respond to the unique needs of their commu...

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); }); Original Podcast with clickable words https://tinyurl.com/28he7koz Contact: irishlingos@gmail.com Sick children from Gaza in Ireland for medical treatment. Leanaí tinne as Gaza in Éirinn le cóireáil leighis a chur orthu. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has confirmed that eight sick children have arrived in Ireland from Gaza for treatment in hospitals in this country. Tá sé dearbhaithe ag an Aire Sláinte Stephen Donnelly go bhfuil ochtar páistí tinne tagtha go hÉirinn as Gaza le cóir leighis a chur orthu in ospidéil sa tír seo. Ireland is one of ten countries that has accepted a request from the World Health Organization to come to the aid of children from Gaza suffering from cancer, blood disorders or other serious illnesses. Tá Éire ar cheann de dheich dtír a ghlac le hiarratas ón Eagraíocht Dhomhanda Sláinte teacht i gcabhair ar leanaí as Gaza a bhfuil ailse, aicíd fola nó galar tromchúiseach eile orthu. Around 30 sick children are due to arrive in Ireland from Gaza in the next few months and the first eight were welcomed as they disembarked from a Slovak Government plane at Dublin Airport last night. Tá thart ar 30 leanbh tinn le teacht go Éirinn as Gaza as seo go ceann roinnt míonna agus cuireadh fáilte roimh an gcéad ochtar nuair a tháinig siad amach as eitleán de chuid Rialtas na Slóvaice ag Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath aréir. The children were accompanied by caregivers and siblings, and they will live with health workers who have volunteered to provide them with accommodation. In éineacht leis na páistí tháinig cúramóirí agus deartháireacha agus deirfiúracha dóibh, agus cónóidh siadsan le hoibrithe sláinte a dheonaigh lóistín a chur ar fáil dóibh. In light of its implications, the plan has been in preparation for some time by various Government Departments and the Health Service Executive in collaboration with medical professionals and the Irish Red Cross. I bhfianaise a aimpléisí atá sé, tá an plean á réiteach le tamall ag Ranna Rialtais éagsúla agus Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte i gcomhar le lucht leighis agus Cros Dhearg na hÉireann. It is understood that a medical team from Ireland went to Gaza to assess sick children and to obtain further information about their needs from their families or other caregivers. Tuigtear go ndeachaigh foireann leighis as Éirinn go Gaza le measúnú a dhéanamh ar leanaí tinne agus le tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoina gcuid riachtanas óna muintreacha nó ó dhaoine eile a thugann aire dóibh. However, children with orthopedic needs are not currently being considered due to lack of resources. Níl leanaí a bhfuil riachtanais ortaipéideacha acu á gcur san áireamh faoi láthair, áfach, de cheal acmhainne. RTÉ News and Current Affairs Nuacht agus Cúrsaí Reatha RTÉ

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Donald Trump is tapping the shoulder of billionaire Elon Musk for a new role. The incoming US president has handed the Tesla boss leadership of the new Department of Government Efficiency, alongside Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Its goal will be cutting regulations and bureaucracy. But US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says it's not necessarily a job. "These guys can keep their real jobs that pay a gazillion dollars - and still have influence over policy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It will soon be mandatory for government departments to pay invoices within ten days, a move the government says will help small businesses and improve productivity. 

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ cab.clickify(); }); Original Podcast with clickable words https://tinyurl.com/23fwv5n7 Contact: irishlingos@gmail.com Sick children from Gaza to receive medical treatment in Ireland. Leanaí tinne as Gaza le cóireáil leighis a fháil in Éirinn. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is to ask the Cabinet for permission to bring scores of sick children from Gaza to Ireland to be treated in hospitals in this country. Tá an tAire Sláinte Stephen Donnelly le cead a iarraidh ar an gComhaireacht na scórtha leanaí tinne a thabhairt as Gaza go hÉirinn le cóir leighis a chur orthu in ospidéil sa tír seo. Children with cancer, blood acidosis or other serious illness are involved, but children with orthopedic needs are not currently being taken into account. Leanaí a bhfuil ailse, aicíd fola nó galar tromchúiseach eile orthu atá i gceist, ach níl leanaí a bhfuil riachtanais ortaipéideacha acu á gcur san áireamh faoi láthair. The matter will be discussed in a meeting of the Cabinet today. Pléifear an scéal i gcruinniú den Chomhaireacht inniu. The plan has been prepared for several months by various Government Departments in collaboration with medical professionals and the Irish Red Cross. Tá an plean á réiteach le roinnt míonna ag Ranna Rialtais éagsúla i gcomhar le lucht leighis agus Cros Dhearg na hÉireann. According to the plan, a medical team from Ireland will go to Gaza to assess sick children and to get more information about their needs from their families or other people who are caring for them. De réir an phlean, rachaidh foireann leighis as Éirinn go Gaza le measúnú a dhéanamh ar leanaí tinne agus le tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoina gcuid riachtanas óna muintreacha nó ó dhaoine eile atá ag tabhairt aire dóibh. It is intended to bring around 30 children to Ireland before the end of the year and more afterwards. Tá sé i gceist thart ar 30 leanbh a thabhairt go hÉirinn roimh dheireadh na bliana agus tuilleadh ina dhiaidh sin. Caregivers will accompany the children and they will live in homes with health care workers working in this country. Tiocfaidh cúramóirí in éineacht leis na leanaí agus cónóidh siadsan i dtithe le cúramóirí sláinte atá ag obair sa tír seo. RTÉ News and Current Affairs Nuacht agus Cúrsaí Reatha RTÉ

Alisha Holland, a Professor in the Government Department at Harvard University, discusses the situation in Ecuador, an Andean country that faces multiple challenges from organized crime, as well as economic and energy crises.

RFK Jr., in a press briefing, has announced he is suspending his presidential campaign and will be endorsing President Donald Trump. Now the question is: how will the Independents' supporters be of influence in determining who the next president will be? RFK did say he will be taking himself off battleground state ballots in an effort to 'not' play 'spoiler.' FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Dr. Daron Shaw, professor in the Government Department at the of the University of Texas at Austin and member of the Fox News Decision Team, who says RFK supporters may not all be racing to vote in this election and what staying away from battleground states could mean. Click Here To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RFK Jr., in a press briefing, has announced he is suspending his presidential campaign and will be endorsing President Donald Trump. Now the question is: how will the Independents' supporters be of influence in determining who the next president will be? RFK did say he will be taking himself off battleground state ballots in an effort to 'not' play 'spoiler.' FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Dr. Daron Shaw, professor in the Government Department at the of the University of Texas at Austin and member of the Fox News Decision Team, who says RFK supporters may not all be racing to vote in this election and what staying away from battleground states could mean. Click Here To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RFK Jr., in a press briefing, has announced he is suspending his presidential campaign and will be endorsing President Donald Trump. Now the question is: how will the Independents' supporters be of influence in determining who the next president will be? RFK did say he will be taking himself off battleground state ballots in an effort to 'not' play 'spoiler.' FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Dr. Daron Shaw, professor in the Government Department at the of the University of Texas at Austin and member of the Fox News Decision Team, who says RFK supporters may not all be racing to vote in this election and what staying away from battleground states could mean. Click Here To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

******Support the channel****** Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenter PayPal: paypal.me/thedissenter PayPal Subscription 1 Dollar: https://tinyurl.com/yb3acuuy PayPal Subscription 3 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ybn6bg9l PayPal Subscription 5 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ycmr9gpz PayPal Subscription 10 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y9r3fc9m PayPal Subscription 20 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y95uvkao   ******Follow me on****** Website: https://www.thedissenter.net/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedissenteryt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDissenterYT   This show is sponsored by Enlites, Learning & Development done differently. Check the website here: http://enlites.com/   Dr. Abraham Newman is a Professor at the School of Foreign Service and Government Department at Georgetown University. Known for his research on the politics generated by globalization, he serves as a frequent commentator on international affairs, appearing on news programs ranging from Al Jazeera to Deutsche Welle and NPR. He is a 2022–2023 Berlin Prize winner. His latest book, together with Henry Farrell, is Underground Empire: How America Weaponized the World Economy.   In this episode, we focus on Underground Empire. We first discuss in what ways the US is an (underground) empire. We talk about the development of the global banking system and the role played by the internet. We discuss the US government's response to 9/11. We talk about how the US can make use of global networks to cut entire countries out of the global economy. We discuss the influence of the European Union and China on the global stage, and the political relationship between the US and China. We talk about the benefits and vulnerabilities of globalization. Finally, we discuss how we can leverage the global networks to better serve the interests of the global population. -- A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, JERRY MULLER, HANS FREDRIK SUNDE, BERNARDO SEIXAS, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, FILIP FORS CONNOLLY, DAN DEMETRIOU, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, PHIL KAVANAGH, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, DIEGO LONDOÑO CORREA, YANICK PUNTER, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, EDWARD HALL, HEDIN BRØNNER, DOUGLAS FRY, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, PAUL-GEORGE ARNAUD, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ANTON ERIKSSON, ALEX CHAU, AMAURI MARTÍNEZ, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, MICHAEL BAILEY, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, IGOR N, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, BARNABAS RADICS, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, NIKLAS CARLSSON, GEORGE CHORIATIS, VALENTIN STEINMANN, PER KRAULIS, KATE VON GOELER, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, BR, MASOUD ALIMOHAMMADI, JONAS HERTNER, URSULA GOODENOUGH, DAVID PINSOF, SEAN NELSON, MIKE LAVIGNE, JOS KNECHT, ERIK ENGMAN, LUCY, YHONATAN SHEMESH, MANVIR SINGH, PETRA WEIMANN, PEDRO BONILLA, AND CAROLA FEEST! A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PRODUCERS, YZAR WEHBE, JIM FRANK, ŁUKASZ STAFINIAK, TOM VANEGDOM, BERNARD HUGUENEY, CURTIS DIXON, BENEDIKT MUELLER, THOMAS TRUMBLE, KATHRINE AND PATRICK TOBIN, JONCARLO MONTENEGRO, AL NICK ORTIZ, NICK GOLDEN, AND CHRISTINE GLASS! AND TO MY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, MATTHEW LAVENDER, SERGIU CODREANU, BOGDAN KANIVETS, ROSEY, AND GREGORY HASTINGS!

A fascinating interview on the Mike Hosking breakfast this morning, with the lawyer acting on behalf of former workers at Auckland's Manurewa marae, where it is alleged that private information was improperly accessed to help with election campaigning.   Now these are really, really serious allegations and it is just so important to note that Te Pāti Māori and John Tamihere have denied all allegations of wrongdoing so far. At the moment we have Stats New Zealand investigating, the police are investigating as well. Health New Zealand is involved and now the privacy commissioner is considering what, if any steps to take.   But I for one think it's probably reached a point with this issue where a broader inquiry can be justified. Not only to restore public confidence in the census and in election processes, but also for Te Pāti Māori and for John Tamihere to have the opportunity to be publicly cleared of wrongdoing.   You see, there are several issues with this. We have, for starters, several interrelated allegations - which are in themselves a little confusing and a little murky. We have a government department that is investigating, while a legal representative for some of the workers at the centre of these allegations says that another government department, the MSD, has acted improperly. And I think that having won the Government Department essentially investigating another department's role risks perceptions when it comes around a lack of independence, at least in the eyes of some voters.   It's interesting, Christopher Luxon says he's not ruling out a public inquiry, but at the same time he probably needs to be pretty careful to be seen not to be using (as yet unproven) allegations for political advantage. So he suggests the current processes need to be seen through. But I think we probably need something broader. I think we need something broader, something with clear terms of reference, something as transparent as possible. Because it is in the best interests of the voting public, but also the best interests of clearing those who say they've done absolutely nothing wrong.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Populism—the political term that describes a group of self-described common people who oppose elite—has turned up in what for many is an unexpected place: the push for a worldwide transition to clean energy. Even though they're vital to preventing the most catastrophic consequences of the manmade global climate crisis, clean energy measures are encountering pushback from multiple sources ranging from local citizens groups, to cost-conscious consumers, to self-styled conservationists, to right-wing politicians, and to corporate boardrooms. Harvard Kennedy School Professor Robert Z. Lawrence and Professor Dustin Tingley from Harvard's Department of Government say a number of forces are shaping the new clean energy pushback, including genuine popular resentment in some communities left over from economic transitions like the loss of manufacturing jobs due to globalization. Robert Lawrence is a former member of the President's Council of Economic Advisers and an economist who studies trade policy. Dustin Tingley is a political scientist researching the politics of the climate crisis and co-author of the new book “Uncertain Futures: How to Unlock the Climate Impasse.” With time running out for the world to make significant reductions in fossil fuel use, they join PolicyCast host Ralph Ranalli to discuss strategies and policy ideas to keep the momentum going toward a sustainable energy future.Policy Recommendations:Robert Z. Lawrence's Policy recommendations:Move away from protectionism and use international open trade to create opportunities for developing countries to contribute to the energy transition and grow economically.Accelerate investment in clean energy technology development to ensure that green energy solutions are significantly more cost-effective than fossil fuel alternatives.Replace current incentive-based government programs to encourage clean energy development with a carbon tax to bring in increased revenue and fund clean energy research and infrastructure changeover.Exempt imported steel from current U.S. tariffs when it is used in making clean energy infrastructure such as wind turbines.Dustin Tingley's policy recommendationsAt the federal level, systematically analyze the public finance challenge that states and communities are going to face from the clean energy transition and plan supportPrioritize transparency when making green investments in communities, to ensure they are effective and that companies are playing by the rules.Pass legislation to share revenue from wind and solar project leases on federal lands with state and regional governments in the same manner those governments receive funds from oil and gas leases.Encourage clean energy technology companies to get more civically involved with the communities where they are located.Episode Notes:Robert Z. Lawrence is the Albert L. Williams Professor of International Trade and Investment at HKS, a Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. His research focuses on trade policy and he currently serves as Faculty Chair of The Practice of Trade Policy executive program at Harvard Kennedy School. He served as a member of the President's Council of Economic Advisers from 1998 to 2000 and has also been a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He is the author or co-author of numerous books, including “Crimes and Punishments? Retaliation under the WTO;” “Regionalism, Multilateralism and Deeper Integration;” and “Can America Compete?” Lawrence has served on the advisory boards of the Congressional Budget Office, the Overseas Development Council, and the Presidential Commission on United States-Pacific Trade and Investment Policy. He earned his PhD in economics at Yale University.Dustin Tingley is Professor of Government in the Government Department at Harvard University and  Deputy Vice Provost for Advances in Learning. His research has spanned international relations, international political economy, climate change, causal inference, data science/machine learning, and digital education, with most focus now on the politics of climate change and energy transitions. His new book with Alex Gazmararian, “Uncertain Futures: How to Unlock the Climate Impasse,” was published with Cambridge University Press. The book features the voices of those on the front lines of the energy transition -- a commissioner in Carbon County deciding whether to welcome wind, executives at energy companies searching for solutions, mayors and unions in Minnesota battling for local jobs, and fairgoers in coal country navigating their community's uncertain future.  His book on American foreign policy with Helen Milner, Sailing the Water's Edge, was published in fall 2015, and was awarded the Gladys M. Kammerer Award for the best book published in the field of U.S. national policy.He teaches courses on the politics of climate change and the environment, data science, and international relations. In the fall of 2023 he is teaching a new course called Energy at Harvard Business School. He received a PhD in Politics from Princeton and BA from the University of Rochester.Ralph Ranalli of the HKS Office of Communications and Public Affairs is the host, producer, and editor of HKS PolicyCast. A former journalist, public television producer, and entrepreneur, he holds an AB in Political Science from UCLA and an MS in Journalism from Columbia University.Editorial assistance for PolicyCast is provided by Nora Delaney, Robert O'Neill, and Jim Smith of the Harvard Kennedy School Office of Communications and Public Affairs. Design and graphics support is provided by Lydia Rosenberg, Delane Meadows and the OCPA Design Team. Social media promotion and support is provided by Natalie Montaner and the OCPA Digital Team. 

Ministries of Whatever! We all love some fantastical bureaucracy, right? Right?! We also leave this one up to chance with a full improve approach. Let us know what stuck for you at spaghettilaunchers@gmail.com.

A government department has pulled the plug on a multi-million-dollar project meant to give people more secure access to birth, death and marriage data online. Internal Affairs won't say how much money was sunk into the project central to a $150 million dollar overhaul. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

When someone makes the “roads” argument for the presence of government, they fail to point out that the final government product is substandard and often a hazard to people who use those roads. There is a better way.Original Article: Who Will Take Care of the Roads? Why, The Coercive, Substandard, and Monopolistic Government Department, That's Who

When someone makes the “roads” argument for the presence of government, they fail to point out that the final government product is substandard and often a hazard to people who use those roads. There is a better way.Original Article: Who Will Take Care of the Roads? Why, The Coercive, Substandard, and Monopolistic Government Department, That's Who

A lawyer who's represented Gloriavale leavers is suing four Government departments, alleging they allowed abuse to happen for years. The West Coast Christian community's been thrust into the spotlight again, following the release of documentary miniseries Escaping Utopia. Barrister Brian Henry has accused the community of being 'groomers' who abused women and neglected children. "It's all set out there. I'm not saying anything other than what the court says." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When someone makes the “roads” argument for the presence of government, they fail to point out that the final government product is substandard and often a hazard to people who use those roads. There is a better way. Narrated by Millian Quinteros.

Abraham Newman, Professor in the Foreign Service and Government Departments, Georgetown University

24th February 2024 The Spokesmen Cycling Podcast EPISODE 347: Richard Fletcher SPONSOR: Tern Bicycles HOST: Carlton Reid GUEST: Richard Fletcher, Isle of Man TOPICS: LINKS: https://www.the-spokesmen.com/ https://www.ternbicycles.com https://twitter.com/CarltonReid https://www.cycling.im https://www.bikestyle.im https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru1PYzU1k_w https://www.visitisleofman.com Carlton Reid 0:13 Welcome to Episode 347 of the Spokesmen cycling podcast. This show was engineered on Saturday 24th of February 2020. For David Bernstein 0:29 The Spokesmen cycling roundtable podcast is brought to you by Tern bicycles. The good people at Tern are committed to building bikes that are useful enough to ride every day and dependable enough to carry the people you love. In other words, they make the kind of bikes that they want to ride. Tern has e-bikes for every type of rider. Whether you're commuting, taking your kids to school or even carrying another adult, visit www.ternbicycles.com. That's t e r n bicycles.com to learn more. Carlton Reid 1:04 The plan was to record this interview while riding to Laxey on the Isle of Man with cycle guide and event organiser Richard Fletcher, pointing out the roads long used by fellow Manxman Mark Cavendish, but then weather! I'm Carlton Reid, and I was on the Isle of Man for the AGM of the British guild of travel writers. members could choose a one day fam trip activity. And while others chose spa and yoga retreats or cookery sessions, all indoors, I had asked to go cycling. I brought my road bike on the Steam Packet ferry from Heysham and was eager to hook up Richard with a radio mic and then chat, as we pootled along. The driving rain put paid to that idea. And after a bitterly cold two hour ride, we drip-dripped into a Douglas bike shop. Right. And I've just seen a photograph of you there that I took on the road, and you're smiling. But there's sleet. There's rain, there's basically we're riding through it almost a river coming up through to Douglas. So that was pretty grim out there. Richard Fletcher 2:23 Yes, as bad as it gets over here. But yeah, you're out on your bike. And there's the worst places to be. So as long as you don't do more than an hour and a half in that sort of that sort of weather, then it's fine. Right? Carlton Reid 2:35 So warmed up, we had a cup of coffee, and a bit of cake in Noa's bakery, and that's Noa. And next door to that is Bike Style. The bike shops who are now sitting on very nice sofas here, in in a nice bike shop. I'd like to say overlooking, you know, the scenic wonders of Douglas, but we can't actually see a great deal. And when we were out riding this morning, you you basically you took me out to some scenic places, but we didn't actually see anything. So just describe the ride that we did this morning. What would we have seen if it would be a beautiful day? Because we're kind of going towards Snaefell, weren't we? Richard Fletcher 3:12 Yeah, well, the hills, the route, we went on the hills all around it, basically. So and yeah, on a clear day, that's what you see. You can you can see the island from sort of side to side and top to bottom only when you're out it's particularly if you get some height. But today, because it's hilly, you get white-out effectively. So yeah, there's quite low cloud and you don't see a lot. But yeah, it would have been a nice ride if our view wise if it had been clear. Carlton Reid 3:42 Because we did get pretty damn cold out there today. So the route you were originally planning to take me on would have been towards Laxey Richard Fletcher 3:52 We'd have gone north of the east coast of the island. And you get some stunning views on the East coast. Well on all the coastal routes on the island, and the island basically has villages and towns dotted around the coastline. So as soon as you come in from the towns, you start climbing, and you go either over a hill into a valley and over another hill and back to the coast. The island is only 12 miles wide and it's been its widest point, and 36 miles long. So you can cross from coast to coast or top to bottom in a day. But there's lots of minor roads. I think some of the roads we went on. They were most of them were single carriageway roads to the benefit that is the nicer island because they're quiet, very little traffic. But yeah, it's just today was a rough day for it. Carlton Reid 4:42 So if we had done that ride, which we're planning to do towards Laxey would have basically written past Cav's house, yeah? Richard Fletcher 4:51 Well, he's born and brought up in Douglas and Laxey still has a house in Laxey. And Laxey's got a lot of history from it was an old mining village years ago not a big population there. It's people have a possibly have an impression of Cav that because he's a sprinter the same of the Tour de France with a sprint train that he's a rider for the flatlands but the he was born and brought up over here where you there are hills everywhere you go. And in his amateur racing, I think you see that that he's used to coping with that type of terrain. Carlton Reid 5:29 And tell me about Dot Tilbury because Dot Tilbury you're talking about basically before when we're in the coffee shop about a big funnel of riders. Then at the bottom, you would spit out these well known riders that we've all heard of. Richard Fletcher 5:42 Yeah, I mean, I've been cycling for 40. More well, more than 40 years and until Dot came around, and the cycling tended to be quite insular. And people would get into cycling because their parents had all their brothers or sisters. Dot started a children's league on a Tuesday night, more than 20 years ago now. And it started attracting more and more children into it, who weren't anything to do with the normal cycling scene. And within a relatively short space of time, it got to the stage where she was getting 200, then 250. And now 300 kids would turn up on a Tuesday night and be introduced to cycling as an activity. And that's been going on now say for over 20 years. And I'd say for a small population out the Isle of Man 86,000 people, that's the most directly cause of of the high standard of cycling because you use the word then there is a sort of wide funnel of kids becoming involved in cycling. And yes, there's when they get to 14, 15, 16. And all the distractions come around or other activities come around, particularly in this day and age where there's so many alternatives to to spend your time still a larger number drop out at the bottom of the funnel than would have if she didn't run that league. And I think she's the most direct link to the success of of elite cycling over here. I remember when did that exactly set that up? I don't exactly 20, 20 something years ago be more than 20 years Carlton Reid 7:20 Where Where does she where's that is it's just like an off road circuit? Richard Fletcher 7:24 It's on a perimeter road around the National Sports Centre. So it's about half a mile round pan flat. And it's like an oval, like a 600 metre version of an athletic track effectively, but it's tarmac. And they race round there on a Tuesday night, they start when they're almost just off balance bikes then through to when they're 16. And they that's where they get into cycling, and then as they get to the older age groups, and they then move into the more sort of traditional cycling. Dot also takes them away on trips. So they go to places like a day on the Manchester Velodrome they take part in the youth series that British Cycling runs. And we run around with that over here. So they get to perform on home soil as well. In fact that is coming up in April, this year, there'll be over 200 kids come from the UK, the best 200 Kids in the UK will come over to ride in the Isle of Man. And about 50 of Dot's kids will be in those races as well. Carlton Reid 8:32 Because you're one of the organisers of yeah, they used to it Richard Fletcher 8:36 I recently do, the youth has been running for 14 or 15 years now. And last couple of years, the organisers sort of change over time, became involved and become involved. So Emma Dyer who has been involved for many years and organising it Rob Holden, ex professional cyclist and myself are the three main organisers but it's a big team of people that put it together and it's closed roads Yeah, we get Road Club full road closure which is one of the USPS if you like of them coming to the Isle of Man that the kids aren't used to riding on closed roads they used to running on closed circuits around parks and things like that. And we get the national escort group guys come over so it's quite a an atmosphere for the kids the it's not to to France but it's sort of to ride on closed roads with national escort and we bring Tony Barry's neutral service cars over as well so they've they've actually got a almost like professional experience that they get and I think that's why I like coming over for it. Carlton Reid 9:39 And one of the ways you're able to close the roads is the Isle of Man government is pretty well used to closing roads for the TT so is that part of it? You can you they are used to closing roads? Richard Fletcher 9:53 Yeah, they are and there's an acceptance by the public there's always some resistance to close. as roads, whatever it's for, and we try and minimise that. But yeah, the sort of structures and the policies and laws are in place to help you do that. The TT happens has happened for 100 years. 1907. Yeah. That that's an established thing over here. What people probably don't know as much about is that at this, the bicycle TT started in the 30s. And it was, again, it was because they couldn't do it. on the Isle of Man; in the UK rather. So you had the I don't know, whatever the governing body of cycling was then. And you had a breakaway group called British League of racing cyclists. And they, they got together with the Isle of Man. And we ran one of the first big mass start races over here in the 1930s last century. And that for a time that became the biggest race in Britain for cycling, so you had top names like Tom Simpson, and all the big riders at the time came over and race the Isle of Man, the International, before in this sort of following the Second World War, Carlton Reid 11:12 when there was no nothing like that everybody was time trialling, yeah, famously and alpaca Yeah, you know, black alpaca going out in secret in the morning Richard Fletcher 11:20 Yeah, so the road racing scene was established, cycling was established then right, and then became Manx International Cycling Week, which ran through till 2003, which was a week long festival where we close roads for two the whole week for cycling. That went into decline mainly because people's habits changed. And they didn't want to take a week off from their work holidays to come to Isle of Man for cycling when Majorca and other places were, were beckoning. So now we tend to have smaller scale races, we had the we've had rounds of the British National series for seniors. So the premier calendar, we've hosted the national championships. And consistently we've run the National Youth and junior two sets around the British youth series and around the British Junior series, the Peter Buckley series, which it's still I still call it that. Peter Buckley was actually from the Isle of Man. And when the Commonwealth Games gold medal, and you're from the Isle of Man too, so you're a born and bred Manxman Yeah, I spent a little bit time off the island but mainly on the island. Yeah. My wife's from the UK. And my dad was from the UK. So it's, but yeah, it's been my home is here. Carlton Reid 12:40 And tell me a little bit about how you sort of semi funded Cav's early career with some cash, but indirectly. Richard Fletcher 12:51 Yes, that's my claim. And I don't think Mark would want to know about it or agree with it. But Mark's mother. For many years, Adele ran a dance workshop, not far from this shop, actually. And both my daughters did ballet. So I spent quite a lot of money on pointe shoes over the years with with Adele. And so I say that and that was about the time Mark was getting into cycling. So yeah, I must have contributed in a small way to Yes, Carlton Reid 13:16 yes. And he of course had a dance background at first. Richard Fletcher 13:19 I believe so. I think I think a lot more is made of it than that. But yeah, when I think he was nine or 10 or 11, I think he did some ballroom dancing. So I wouldn't be surprised if in the next three or four years, he appears on Strictly or something like that. Be a good candidate. Carlton Reid 13:37 And he's got a house, you said at Laxey. He's got houses dotted around, but one of them. One of them is certainly here. So he would be a known figure here. And I'm here, obviously for the the AGM of the Travel Writers Guild, and even you know, the top big wigs. And when we had our gala dinner, they mentioned Mark Cavendish. Yeah, you know, so he he's a known figure, quite apart from in the cycling scene, but he will appear and he will do local, local, right. He Richard Fletcher 14:10 He comes up frequently to see his Mum and Dad, who both live on the island. And yeah, when you see, he goes out with the local lads on both training rides, and you'll he'll, he'll pop up and do events as well. I run a sportif each year, and I haven't had any contact with him. But the British Cycling entry system that was used, the entries pop up in your email inbox and there's one M Cavendish OBE, who just paid his entry fee and rocked up like any other rider to it to just make a big thing about you made the day because he's turned up and he was late getting to the start and we sportifs quite relaxed. But when he got to start on when went round with the lads who were strong enough to ride with him, and he because he was They started you went past everybody in the event and it made the event all you could hear in the sort of coffee shop afterwards was because Cav passed me on this hill or Cav passed me here. So it's great, but he does. He just slots in. And I think I think I don't know, you have to speak to him. But I think he enjoys the fact you can just behave normally over here and go about his business without getting accosted for this, that and the other. So, Carlton Reid 15:23 So we're about on the roads before most of the people were getting with this wide berth. But we had a couple, and it was such atrocious weather. And they were coming past at speed. Yeah. And that wasn't that wasn't very nice. And you might have told one of the drivers they shouldn't have been doing. And that was it was a horrible close pass. So how much respect do you generally get? And could it be some of it down to you've got that funnel of riders, and you've certainly got somebody as famous as Mark Cavendish, that, you know, the big wigs talk about him? So might there be some, even if it's just a small bit of people's brains? Like why can't you know, close past those cyclists; one of them might be Cav and then I'm in the national news? Richard Fletcher 16:10 It's a bit subjective, my gut feel, because I do do quite a lot of riding off the island is my gut feeling. I think the drivers over here are a little bit more considerate than elsewhere in the in the in the British Isles is a bit subjective. But generally speaking, I think the overall rise in popularity of cycling, whether it's here or in the UK, has also contributed to maybe people being a bit more aware. I don't I don't think it's it's not malice of people in cars. I think it's it's ignorance of, of the fact they're inside us. steel box, and you're not. So it's not something that would ever I mean, I've been cyclists for many years, it's not going to put me off cycling anyway. But I think it is the it's still the main barrier to people taking up cycling who aren't experienced cyclists. So it's a bit of culture change people's personalities change when they get in the car. And then that's, I see to unbonded really, but no, it's not too bad over here. And the roads themselves because they're not big roads, people have to drive with a bit of care and attention most people to give you plenty of room. Carlton Reid 17:23 So, okay, well, a few seconds ago you said British Isles rather than the UK. So Isle of Man isn't in the UK isn't in the EU, ever. It's but it's part of the British Isles, and it's a crown dependency. There are different rules here. Because if you've got your own government and one of those rules, or lack of rules, is you can go as fast as you want in a car on certain roads. And that's partly maybe a legacy of the, the TT that's been going on. So if you've got this TT circuit, and even on Ordnance Survey maps, it says, you know, this is the TT course. But these are public roads. These are these are not not closed circuit at all apart from when it's running in June, and the roads are closed. So at those roads being no speed limits, means some drivers, not all of them for some drivers are going to be going crackers on those roads, because then you can overtake a policeman, police car 200mph nand they can't do anything about it. So does that mean cyclists avoid that, that course, that road? Richard Fletcher 18:31 There's only one section that most cyclists avoid. That's the what's called the mountain road. It runs through Ramsey over alongside Snaefell the only mountain on the island and drops down into Douglas. So whereas 20, 30 years ago I used to commute over that road. Most people would avoid it now and I would avoid now is because and there's a number of reasons for that. One is that yes. A lot of drivers do put the foot down when they get on a mountain road. There are safe passing places on the mountain road. If you were doing excessive speed and you took a police car, they would still pull you in because it's below there's no speed limit. It's allowing us to do art drive. Um, I'm not sure the legal definition but in a safe manner effectively. So it's not unlimited speed, it's driving to the road conditions and if you overtook them at 70 and it was misty, they put you in so it's them. There's there is some control over it. But particularly motorbikes because of the history. They like to really push it over the mountain. And it's so I wouldn't go up there on a bike now for two reasons. One, you can although we've got terrible weather today, and even in on a summer's day, the mountain in patches can be misty. So you could set off from Douglas or Ramsey in bright sunshine. And once you get above 1000 feet or whatever in the mist, and the speed differential between a car even not absolutely ragging over the mountain, and the bicycle going uphill is such that you be at risk of being hit from behind. Because the driver just wouldn't see you in time, Carlton Reid 20:17 Do motorists avoid it, do they also seem motorists to go I'm not gonna get that because Richard Fletcher 20:22 I mean, I say I lived in Ramsey and commuted to work in Douglas, for 20 years. And I could, I could probably drive the mountain road blindfold. But I do know some drivers and even taxi drivers who don't like riding, because the because it's the TT course there are no cat's eyes in the middle of the road. So it's actually quite a difficult road to drive in the mist. You need to know where the roads going up ahead. So yeah, there are some motorists avoid, as well. Carlton Reid 20:54 So that's a 37 mile stretch of, in effect, a triangle of roads that are marked on the OS map as the as the TT course. But the island has something like 688 miles, all other roads. So we're talking, you know, 640 Odd miles of other roads. Yeah. So that's something that right, avoid them. You don't have to sometimes use that road to link up with other things, you can always avoid it. Richard Fletcher 21:23 And the funny part is that the when we have bike races or their motorcycle races, there mountain road, because it's very, there are maybe three businesses on the mountain, or I think you went to one victory cafe, that they were allowed actually to close the mountain road with very little resistance, because they're alternative routes around the island for motorists. And there's not many people live in the mountain road. So it's it's actually a lot, it's a road you wouldn't use when the roads are open, it's for an event, you can often get a road closure on the mountain road quite quite easily because of that. But now the other road, most of the active cyclists, they wouldn't use a TT course because they are effectively the island's equivalent of sort of arterial roads. Most of the traffic is on those roads. But it means the roads the side I mean, we went on some of them today can't learn without being able to see where we were. But they're the roads that run alongside or crisscross those roads. And the traffic is fairly light. Still, we didn't have a chance to go up to the north of the island where it's the northern plane is flat. But that's where virtually all the local racing takes place. Now because there's very little traffic it's mainly just farmland, but farms and fields. Carlton Reid 22:48 At this point we'll cut to a break. Take it away, David, David Bernstein 22:52 This podcast is brought to you by Tern bicycles. The good people at Tern understand that while a large cargo bike can carry oodles of stuff, many of us prefer something a little more manageable. That's why they've come up with the HSD e-cargobike for folks with big aspirations to go car free, delivered in a compact size, with its rear shock, 280 kilos, and a combined hauling capacity of 180 kilos. The robust new HSD is stable and easy to manoeuvre, even when under load. And with its Bosch eBIKE SYSTEM tested and certified to meet the highest UL standards for electric and fire safety you'll be able to share many worryfree adventures with a loved one whether it's your kiddo or Nan. Visit www.ternbicycles. That's te r n turn bicycles.com to learn more Carlton Reid 23:52 Thanks, David. And we are back with Isle of Man Mr. Cycling, Richard Fletcher. So describe where maybe Kev or Pete Kennaugh where they would have ridden where would they go? Do you think would they have a standard training ride? Or would they mix it up? Richard Fletcher 24:09 No, they mix it up and I know Cav's thing that he doesn't like to repeat the same road on any training ride. I think he covered that when he did a piece over here with Matt Stevens. But they ride the ride all over basically. And you can it's for small island, there are a lot of roads, you can you can mix it up. And you tend to look at the weather and see which way the winds blowing and decide a new route then rather than have a planned route, but they will know both those two and any boys have been involved in cycling over here you get to know every road on the island basically. So Carlton Reid 24:51 you would link it up in your head and then just kind Richard Fletcher 24:54 of criss cross and go where the coffee is really Carlton Reid 24:59 and then Then on this trip, maybe they're just pulling our leg I don't know. But the bus driver everybody who's been talking to us on this trip has been stressing the folklore element of the Isle of Man, which I wasn't really terribly familiar with at all. So everybody is stressing, you know, you've got to when you go across the Fairy Bridge, you've got to say hello to the fairies. How much of this is would you tell that to the tourists? And how much of that is no people on the island genuinely, you know, believe in this stuff. Richard Fletcher 25:36 I don't know if I believe in it. A lot of a lot of the people buy into it. Carlton Reid 25:42 And why? Richard Fletcher 25:44 Because I'm I'm not one of those I'm not a superstitious person. But there is. I mean, there is a big Celtic background the history of the Isle of Man is interesting. So don't buy into all the folklore stuff. The background history of the island where the Vikings were heavily involved in the Isle of Man if you look at it geographic on a map, you can see that if you're military strategist, where would you base yourself if you want to rape and pillage all over the British Isles, you got the Isle of Man because you can bet your base here and strike out and hit violent Wales England or Scotland from it. So the Vikings were have a big influence on the islands. Longer history. And then because of that, the Scottish Lords got rid of the Vikings and then the Lords of Darby took over from the Scots. So there's a lot of not folklore that but there's a lot of good, meaty history about the island. The the other stuff? I don't know, I think it's it's the stuff about mythical creatures and fairies is, is probably because you then you've got a small island race basically. So you get myths and things from a an environment like that. But yeah, it's uh, it's, it sells a lot of gin. Yes. Carlton Reid 27:17 Definitely good stories. Yeah. And we've been given, you know, books of folklore. And so you've got to say, hello to the fairies Richard Fletcher 27:25 doesn't mean the other Celtic nations have similar things. So Irish, Irish methylene and Welsh and Scottish as well. That so there is quite a strong Celtic presence here. And there are quite, there's quite a lot of exchanges between, particularly in the arts around the Celtic side, so you've got them Normandy, Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and they do get together, particularly in the art side and, and share the same sort of music and poetry and everything else. It doesn't overlap as much in into sport. Although we've got a really interesting event coming over here in July this year, called Pan-Celtic, which is like an ultra endurance event. And I was amazing guy, I didn't know anything about the event until earlier this year. And the guy who organised a guy called Matt Ryan, who lives in north Wales, the opening entries for it and had to close them within 48 hours later because he'd filled the field and it's people from all over the world coming. We completely coincidentally bumped into a German couple on a cycling holiday and they said Are you from Alabama? We're coming for the pan Celtic this year. And so they're flying in, mins booked to Gatwick and Gatwick to here to do this event that starts does 100 mile loop around the Isle of Man and they're getting on the ferry and they go off to Scotland right around there. Carlton Reid 28:59 You know the route and what they what are they doing loose route Richard Fletcher 29:03 it's about like it's about 1500 miles in total. It's one of these ultra distance the other man is strange and it's been set as the because we got very right it's been set as the first stage they've been classed as a time trial. It's not it is a race and it isn't a race it's a it's a race where nobody wins anything is the way that if the organisers describes it, but it's a personal challenge thing so when the clock starts normally on the pan Celtic it doesn't stop until you get to the very end whereas for this year because the argument is being used the first stage they don't do a ride through the night here and then get their morning ferry over to patient and then ride I think they go north then and ride around Scotland for the rest of it. But I'm seeing the rest of the room Carlton Reid 29:48 because normally on the pan Celtic it's if you get to the ferry port late well you're gonna get the ferry the next day and that's that's added to your time. Yeah, where is this one? And usually they're gonna stop the times there is like a time drive. Richard Fletcher 30:04 Yeah, because it's a three to four hour journey over I think so yeah, they're they've got they've got a big enough window the starting at seven o'clock on Saturday evening and they've got to do better thing is boundary and five miles. So the very least 8.45 next day so I can't see anybody missing that that they should have a little bit sleep actually Carlton Reid 30:27 do what route they're doing actually on yeah went Richard Fletcher 30:30 through the route with the organiser because he we've actually got another big cycling event the next day. So we needed to avoid clashing with that. And it basically does a big loop of the island round round the perimeter mainly but they cut into they've got the participants left some interesting clients did it as well they go burn the client pool faulty will, which is effectively going up the mountain it's not the mountain road TT causeway but it's the it's a, it's a nicer if you can have a nice climb, it's a nicer climb than the TT course one Carlton Reid 31:07 and they are avoiding the TT course completely. There's not not not hitting it at all Richard Fletcher 31:11 on it for about a mile. And that's it because when you get to the top of that climb, you actually go backwards along with TT good for you then go back into the interior. But that's that's fine. It's then it's the middle of summer it'll be the middle of the night when they get there as well. So there won't be a lot of traffic on that road. Carlton Reid 31:31 So that's it as you're saying before there's there's there's no cat size on that road. So that's a road that maybe people avoided that night anyway. Richard Fletcher 31:37 Um, yeah, this well. There are alternative routes. So yes, you will, they will fit in on if there's not misty then you would go that way. Because the quickest way from north to say, most direct way. But generally speaking in nighttime, it's quiet anyway. Carlton Reid 31:55 So last night, we had a talk from Milky Quayle. Who's one of these guys who who averages 186 miles an hour on his motorbike as he's going around the corner, sometimes hitting 200 miles an hour. And he was one of the questions I asked him was, you would die if you hit a pothole at 30 miles an hour, nevermind 200 miles an hour. So the local authority, the government must be pumping a huge amount of money into keeping that road. absolutely pristine. And there's never going to be a pothole on that road. However, does that mean that other roads, the roads, maybe the cyclists are on? Does that mean they're getting short shrift there because they're getting roads where there's gonna be potholes, and then all the money has been pumped into that mountain road? Richard Fletcher 32:46 The don't know the answers are so the there's a perception certainly that the TT course will not upset from the TT course it has a priority. And it is always, as you say, perfectly maintained. And it has to be actually sculptured sometimes to accommodate the motorcycling. So the the course has probably got faster over the years, because it's been improved. There's a on the mountain road section, there's a couple of places where the road is actually been that not banked. But is lends itself to is certainly not off camber for it that way. So that there is a lot of money spent on the TT course. But that's justified by the fact that the TT races are revenue generating. So whether the, whether that means it whether that's to the detriment of other roads is a moot point. Some people locally would say, definitely, whether it's financial or just resource wise, in terms of the time spent. And generally speaking, I think our roads are fairly good. I tend to ride a gravel bike now anyway, so on You seek out rough road sometimes. So it's not as I don't think we certainly don't think we're the roads elsewhere. The roads outside of TT girls over here are certainly not any worse than UK roads now. And I'd say overall, slightly better than a lot of areas of the UK. So be it as much the time I think is nCn calm the isn't more than the money you've got limited resources to do road maintenance. So if you're spending quite a lot of that time on a TT course you've you've a limited timeframe. Carlton Reid 34:40 By the same token, you probably got some pretty good experts who are probably using some pretty good scientific equipment to spot potholes forming and that might benefit. Richard Fletcher 34:52 Maybe not seeing that but we've got the we've got reporting so you can report potholes and they do that for very quickly to them when you report them. When it's inevitable, you'll get where and turn around. Look at the weather today. It's there'll be, I'm sure when this week is out, there'll be a lot more potholes than they were last week. Carlton Reid 35:15 So, so far, we've talked about road cycling, and you've talked a little bit about gravel cycling there. What about mountain biking? Richard Fletcher 35:22 Mountain biking is is a growing thing. It's been under exploited. I think Carlton Reid 35:26 in that get in the bank shop here. I'm just turning my head. It some of this road bikes over there. But there's a tonne of mountain bikes. Yeah. Richard Fletcher 35:33 I mean, the there are 26 plantations over here Carlton Reid 35:37 are found they are what we would call Forestry Commission. Yeah, yeah, Department Richard Fletcher 35:41 of the Department of Government that looks after them and uses them for growing trees, basically, and harvesting those trees. But within those plantations, a lot of them have had over the years. sanctioned and unsanctioned trails built, they tended to be built, historically, they've tended to be built. And then forgiveness, asked afterwards, rather than permission to go and build the trails. And the government, the barn has been quite friendly in that respect, in that they generally want to encourage access to those plantations. The we tried to formalise that in the last couple of years and recognise that we've probably got as many trails and the quality of those trails and the accessibility Australia is just as good as some of the sort of identified cycling parks in particularly in Wales, Scotland and Ireland more recently, but we've never really produced a a tourism product that, and we've never really joined them all up. So there's been quite a big effort in the last two years to do that. And there's a there's a scheme, just kicking off at the moment government agreed funding in October last year, to produce effectively a, an Isle of Man trail Park. And that's taking a cluster of seven plantations that are quite close to Douglas, and joining them together, they're about they're only about four road crossings to join them together, because they either abort each other or they're, there's a road crossing to get into the next one. So that's a project that's, that's starting now. To join those up. And then I think it will be used as a as a tourism product, but also be of great benefit to local population. And then you're involved in that. Yeah, the I'm involved in advising the government on it. The the rise of gravel cycling as well, because a lot of it. Within those plantations, you have forestry, roads, fire fire roads. And so we're going out from this bike shop actually, on Saturday and on a gravel ride, and we'll take in at least two of the plantations during that if the weather improves. Carlton Reid 38:03 So the government is pumping money into into these plantation rides. It recognises all the big wigs recognise Mark Cavendish, or they use Mark Cavendish as something to talk to a general audience and there's not wasn't a noise of scientists at all. It's an audience of, of just general travel writers who they were talking to. So is their awareness that cycling is important to the economy and potentially could become even more important in future. Yeah, Richard Fletcher 38:35 it's growing thing that the Isle of Man's tourism product has changed over the years. If you go back to my childhood, it was a bucket and spade tourism, where the the mill towns of the Northwest would shut down for a week and the there was Scottish week, there was Irish week. And it was that type of holiday that fell away when the trips to Spain and things like that came about. So that was one section. Then it it moved on to basically in more niche tourism, such as around the heritage railways and things like that. And that became very popular. More recently, so last three, four years. All the studies and reports that have been done around the future tourism on the island says actually that generation is these strong say flatlining because that flood that is declining. The new demographic, a tourism want the outdoors and that's what the Ironman has got in spades. So, the activities such as I think the government does now realise that activities particularly such as walking, cycling, golf as well, there are numerous golf courses over here. And then anything, the more sort of general, outdoor and active type of activities are they will be the future tourism on the island. So cycling and walking in particular are being focused on we've got some I'm not a hill Walker at all. But the the that is as an asset over here this does access all around us there's an 82 mile coastal path, go the route route fall on them that is under use is it's not known about really, but it's there. And it doesn't need a lot of work to make it a top rate tourism product, like some of the the Pennine routes that you have in the UK. And cycling wise. Yes, the there's mountain biking has been absolutely recognised and the see the money has been allocated to do that. And I think that will become a product and I think gravel and sort of lead you into road as well. So I mean, the challenge that mean chance, I think is is for cycling is getting a bike go via Carlton Reid 41:02 the ferry. I mean, some people might fly but the ferry it's a brand new ship. Yeah, Richard Fletcher 41:07 they use those pretty friendly with the bikes. I mean that there's room yeah, there's actual Carlton Reid 41:12 room where you put your bike? Yes, and you hang them up. And it's like what most varies, even in fact, I don't know any ferries where there's a room where you put your bike? Well, that's come about Richard Fletcher 41:20 because I say about three or four years ago, there was a recognition that the future lay in those niche, outdoor active elements, the various brand new so we did a gap analysis effectively. And what's the difference between the Isle of Man and an established cycling destination to take the weather out of it because if you comparing, say Croatia to the Isle of Man or basically to the weather booked the other things, the more the more basic things are the same. It's they're having cycling friendly accommodation, which can be the most basic thing where you don't get looked at as if you're from a different planet when you turn up in lycra with a bike through to the proper cycling friendly hotels, which would have secure bike storage, maybe a little workshop, side tap to clean your bike, that type of thing. So looking at the combination in the Government Department concerned has now a registered recycling friendly hotels and gives them advice as to what they need to do. In terms of that. The very youth was another one where back in my day, the crew were really friendly, but you'd roll up down the ramp and it says sticky bike over there mate. And it'd be just put against the side of the deck where all the cars work. Now as you see the new ferry the Manxman has got a dedicated cycle storage park so it's that type of messaging if you like people coming over that actually cycling is welcome here the big ticket items are things like putting together a proper trail Park product the route became in on blinded by rain in the last couple of miles went past what's called a nunnery estate which is an older stately home and been in talks with the owners of that put a close road title circuit in it. And they're quite keen on that funding won't be an issue. But but that so there is recognition particularly around so I think that it's it's a it can become an an important tourism product. Carlton Reid 43:31 And when people are laughing they because maybe not in February Richard Fletcher 43:36 no I don't think and there's a big push to try and encourage visitors to the island in what they call the shoulder periods. But no if I was I'm blunt about these things when people ask about the Ironman and cycling cyclists more enjoyable in good weather. It's as simple as that. So yeah, you would come in the not this year the high season but he come between April May June July August September. I wouldn't I personally wouldn't do a trip outside those months I'd be them a lot of people would say well there's no such thing as bad weather just blanket but Carlton Reid 44:14 we had some good kit on today and we still got cold I Richard Fletcher 44:18 know yeah the the sort of you were you can tweak the sides a bit on now are around mountain biking because you what we tend to do with the locals anyway. On a day like this, if you were going to go out you go on a mountain bike in the plantations and you don't hear the wind and basically So building that mountain bike trail Park product could actually extend the season because yes, you still gonna get money, but you don't get score and worse because you there's just no wind in plantations. That's where I would probably do my gravel riding or mountain biking Not quite not quite as bad as this but you can extend it a little bit in that respect I think Carlton Reid 45:05 so people listening to this they thought right definitely not in February but in the months that you've just recommended summer basically they want to come across they want to see this this fantastic very with its dedicated bike room they want to do the same roads that cab has done and other top local riders they want to do the plantations maybe on a mountain bike How did they find out about this and how do they find out about you? So what social media and what websites can they go look at will the Richard Fletcher 45:41 there is a cycling website we're trying to build up quite a lot now called https://www.cycling.im and that will become hopefully one of the main portals to visit Isle of Man website as well has quite a lot of information. But nowadays a loop it's not totally reliable you can easily find on Strava or rider GPS routes on the island that aren't somebody's commuter route, but they are actually a decent ride. So it's quite so much easier nowadays I think to find you yourself new routes or or you can you can hire a guide but it's small enough Island to find your way around. What where it's more difficult I think and that's why we're putting the work into is on the mountain bike side. I go out with mountain bike I'm because I'm mainly road cyclists. I'll go to mountain bikers and I'll go trails I never would have found if I hadn't gone out with the group that did the old time. So the idea with trail Park is that it will just be on trail forks are one of the products like that it will actually be very well signposted. So that you can the the network we've designed is it's about 64 kilometres of trails. And we agree right start the project actually although it might seem cosmetic, the most important thing is the signage. So people can without a guide or or necessarily GPS files that they can find their way around and find the know where the coffee shop or the toilet block or whatever on their ride. So that's it's probably going to take 18 months to complete it but the aim is we'll have that a credible product for people wanting to do that for the start of the 25 season. Carlton Reid 47:38 So famously Majorcar is a destination without cycling product and clearly part of the attraction of of New Yorker is nice weather yeah early season well yes or late season one and but also beautiful road but the certainly the nice weather is a is a is a pool, but here could become a cycling paradise could become either a cycling paradise in many ways already, but could become even bigger in the future, especially with like short haul stuff you having to be necessarily, you know, in the future, we're gonna have to start basically holiday much closer to home. Yeah, I don't like climate change and not flying everywhere. And taking a ferry is much more ego than flying to Majorca. So cyclists could come to the Isle of Man and not go to Majorca Richard Fletcher 48:33 and I think to say the weather is important factor. But yeah, it is more the hassle of I mean, I've done it all my life cycles since I was 15. Taking your bike on a plane is a faff, it's now because I'm old and grumpy when I go I do still do a lot of cycling outside of the UK. But it was hired by want to do that. Now if I go to France of France, alright, well, France is different. Unfortunately I've got a friend lives in France with a house and I leave a bike there. But I'm gonna go anywhere else Spain or Italy or further afield I was hired by because I don't like the faff of going through airports and boxing it up and unboxing it and wondering whether we'll get there. The ferry is a lovely way to do that you can just literally ride on the boat. So yeah, that that is the best way for cyclists to get the Isle of Man is to bring it to bring their bike on the ferry. That and yeah, I think it is a viable alternative is going it's going overseas without going too far. Carlton Reid 49:38 You're going out of the UK, Richard Fletcher 49:41 You are going out of the UK and the rod. There are a variety of road to get here is quite fun. That to me. The sweet spot for a visitor is about a three or four day trip. And then you can ride different roads every day and enjoy them in that way. Say they it's been record week, we spoke to a few of the tour on cycling tour operators because one of the other things in sort of gap analysis that was done is it the Arman is not on in the portfolio of a lot of tour operators. Some like there's a company that I've done some work with bikeadventures.co.uk, they, they've got the Isle of Man because I did a trip for them, basically, and, but a lot of the larger ones don't have the Ironman as a destination. So we need to convince them that the Ironman should be a destination on their portfolio, and then put together the trips for them to do. So that's another sort of initiative that needs to Carlton Reid 50:42 get across here before those companies put it on and they become saturated. And it's another Majorca. Yeah, Richard Fletcher 50:48 it's we've got we've got lots of space that we could handle. Carlton Reid 50:53 Thanks to Richard Fletcher there and thanks to you for listening to Episode 347 of the spokesmen podcast brought to you in association with Tern bicycles. Show notes and more can be found at the-spokesmen.com. The next episode will be about the bike navigation app Komoot, but it soon veers off to a discussion of a round the world cycle trip. That show will be out at the beginning of March. Meanwhile, get out there and ride ...

  Thabo Shole-Mashao, in for Clement Manyathela speaks to Vusumuzi Mavuso a Commissioner at the Public Service Commission about the commission's latest findings that there are over a hundred thousand unpaid invoices between national and provincial government departments and small business. The commission says this poses a significant risk to service providers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Taxpayers Union has offered themselves up to re-brand Government departments on the cheap. The organisation wants to redesign logos at no cost, for departments required to be renamed under the new Government. Campaigns Manager Connor Molloy told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they don't want tax payers money spent unnecessarily, when agencies use the change as an excuse to do a full brand refresh - even though they have no competition. Molloy says the union will also create better brand guidelines and consistency across the public service.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Taxpayers' Union is offering to redesign the logos of Government departments for free, after becoming concerned about the potential cost of the new coalition's plan to make them use English branding. Its executive director Jordan Williams says logos do not need to be expensive. Williams spoke to Corin Dann.

Many African countries have undergone various phases of public sector reform aimed at enhancing efficiency and service delivery. But how effective have such reforms been? How and to what extent can some of these reforms be characterised as "institutional mimicry", where institutions adopt the language and behavior of reform without necessarily achieving substantial changes on the ground? How meritocratic is the civil service? And what about political interference, bureaucratic motivation and/or demotivation, corruption, and the role and influence of external actors?Happy Kayuni is a professor of political science at the University of Malawi's Politics and Government Department. He is currently also the Executive Dean of the School of Law, Economics and Government at the University of Malawi. His main areas of expertise are in the following areas: political governance, public administration and management, and gender and international development policy. @HappyKayuni Key highlightsIntroduction - 00:24Development or the lack of it in Malawi - 03:50State capacity, policy formulation and implementation - 06:56Everyday challenges facing civil servants - 13:50The major areas of public sector reforms on the African continent - 22:20Reforms for whom and for what - 29:05Instituting discipline in the civil service - 40:55Legitimacy of the state and role of external actors - 46:44 HostProfessor Dan Banik (@danbanik  @GlobalDevPod)Apple Google Spotify YouTubeSubscribe: https://globaldevpod.substack.com/

This Week's Elayne Devlin & Social Democrats TD for Wicklow & Spokesperson on Climate, Environment and Biodiversity, Jennifer Whitmore.

Ecuadoran presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, an anti-corruption crusader, was assassinated at gunpoint August 9, just two weeks before the country's elections. Alisha Holland, Associate Professor in Harvard's Government Department who specializes in the Andean region, analyzes the horrific event and what it means for Ecuador.

[See below for the written description of this 2007 program.] * Tragic 2020 Update: Considered a solid Christian leader by many thousands of believers (and in many ways beloved by us here at BEL), the founder and host of Stand to Reason, Greg Koukl has tragically stated, beginning at 9:40 into a podcast, that "some same sex couples are fabulous." Please pray for Greg and for the man who phoned in a question, and for all those Greg is not-so-subtly influencing to become moral relativists. Here's what happened... 9:20 A caller asks whether children are better off in foster care or adopted by same sex parents. 9:56 "Some same sex couples are fabulous. Some same sex couples are deplorable. And actually, the same is true for heterosexual couples." Greg then offers the softest possible objection to one of the fiercest moral dangers of our day, which is homosexuality. (For, "In the public square, biblical Christianity and homosexuality are mutually exclusive. One or the other will be in the closet.") He followed that by repeatedly obfuscating with moral relativist utilitarian distinctions about which parents give the "advantage" and which is "better".  Koukl draws false equivalencies between homosexuality and heterosexual singleness, cohabitation, and bad parenting. Regarding same sex parenting, "there are other things [aspects of their parenting] that may be really good... there are a number of factors that are involved here. ... All things being equal I think it is better for heterosexual couples to raise children." 12:24 "A father brings something different to the relationship than a mother does. Period." Koukl puts much more emphasis on practical distinctions than he does on the far greater matter of the utter perversion and rebellion of homosexuality. Greg exhibits more fear about how his audience will view him than he does about the child raised in a dystopian world of normalized homosexuality. "Just to show that I'm not unfairly prejudiced here... I don't believe that single people should adopt." 14:50 "What we want to do is to make decisions based on the ideal." 15:45 "This is why it's hard to make a judgment. Are children in foster care better off [being adopted by] same sex couples or better off staying in foster care. It depends on the individual circumstance. I would rather see a child in a reasonably healthy environment with a same sex couple than in an abusive environment with a heterosexual couple." If that isn't moral relativism, then there is no such thing. 16:13 Constantly equivocating on underlying morality and legitimacy, "The big thing is, what's best for the kid... Heterosexual parents are better than same sex parents, on balance." 17:07 "However if this child had no parent whatsoever and was living in the squalor in the street somewhere..." Talk about situational ethics. Would Greg rather see a child rescued from a volcanic eruption by a human trafficker, than be burned alive? Oh brother. Come on. (Here's an actual example. In our 2007 debate Greg was defending pro-abort Rudi Guiliani, who got 3% of the pimary vote, and Christian listeners applied his arguments to pro-abort Mitt Romney of course, who got 22% of the vote, with pro-abort McCain winning. Regarding Romney, the presidential candidate four years later who regarding an unborn child who might end up being raised by a crack-addicted mother, would be only too happy to support the premptive killing of that baby. Or, for that matter, he supported killing any unborn child for any reason, for Romney is the father of tax-funded late-term abortion on demand.) 18:13 "Heterosexual couples bring something more to the parenting environment than same sex couples bring." 19:05 "You've got to start from the standards and work to the circumstances that you're faced with." Which is exactly the opposite of what Greg had just done in yet another text-book case of moral relativism. * Correction: Bob unintentionally exaggerated Clinton's willingness to support the PBA ban. See the full correction at the end of this show summary. * Christian Leader Koukl Defends Candidate Giuliani: Stu Epperson moderates the debate between Bob Enyart and STR.org's Greg Koukl on Stu's syndicated TruthTalkLive.com talk show. In the debate, Koukl defends Rudi Giuliani, an aggressively pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, anti-Christian worldview candidate, as acceptable to Christian voters. Koukl denies that Giuliani is a mass murderer and denied the parallel between Koukl's own position and that of the Herodians of the New Testament. To start the debate, Bob asked Greg, "What if Rudi Giuliani is the Republican nominee, should Christians support someone like Rudi Giuliani?" Greg spent the whole show answering that question in the affirmative, stipulating only that his answer applies if two candidates in the running are Rudi and a Democrat candidate like Hillary Clinton. Bob characterized Greg's position as moral relativism. * Bob's Notes Against Christian Support for Giuliani: Christians should not support mass murderers. Rudi Giuliani is a mass murderer who as a governing official and candidate promotes child killing through public hospitals, tax funding, police enforcement, etc. Moral relativist Christians would oppose a candidate who was caught embezzling funds (not because it violates God's command, Do not steal, but because it is politically-incorrect). And while they'd not support a Republican caught embezzling, they support Republican candidates who brag of their support for killing children. The Gospels mention a pragmatic political party, the Herodians, the religious leaders who allied themselves with Herod Antipas, thinking that the Herodian dynasty was the lesser evil (than any alternative allegiance, with a choice between Herod or Christ, they would choose Herod), thinking the Herods were the best the Jewish worshippers could pragmatically expect in their hopes of attaining to their kingdom on Earth. (I have this understanding of the Herodians from my recollection of reading, way back in the 1970s, Alfred Edershiem's Life & Times of Jesus the Messiah, a classic written in the 1800s.) Like Rudi Giuliani, Herod was personally sexually immoral and murderous. Greg Koukl's moral relativism would defend supporting Herod. But John the Baptist, instead of joining the Herodians, rebuked Herod, and for his courage, this wicked ruler beheaded the man whom Jesus described as the greatest born to women (Mat. 11:11). But how would Jesus describe Koukl? Greg's moral relativism might have led him to campaign for Herod (as he does for Giuliani), and instead of persecution, Herod might have hired Koukl as an apologist for his murderous reign and his hopes for the continued support of Ceasar after Antipas built Tiberias (Koukl: yes, Herod murdered John the Baptist, but I would still campaign for him to rule). Greg Koukl is imitating the pragmatic religious leaders, the Herodians. Mat 22:16, 18 ...the Herodians, [said], "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth [lip service]... But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?" [also at Mark 12:13] Mark 3:5-6   [Jesus saw] the hardness of their hearts, [and] the Herodians [plotted] against Him, how they might destroy Him. "You shall not murder" (Rom. 13:9) "Do not kill the innocent" (Exodus 23:7) Romans 3:8 mentions "do[ing] evil that good may come of it" (Romans 3:8), Paul considered it slander to be accused of something Christians now embrace, doing evil, that good may come of it. "we must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29) Giuliani is not only radically pro-abortion, but for years even supported the especially horrific partial-birth abortion. Giuliani is radically pro-homosexual, and would ban all handguns. New York Daily News, March 8, 2004  Rudy Giuliani came out yesterday against President Bush's call for a ban on gay marriage. ... "I certainly wouldn't support [a ban] at this time," added Giuliani, who lived with a gay Manhattan couple when he moved out of Gracie Mansion during his nasty divorce. Secular humanists who support Giuliani: Sean Hannity, Hugh Hewitt, Michael Medved, etc. Publicans: tax collectors, public building contractors, and military suppliers. The New Testament condemns the publicans, so Christians now sell their souls for the Re-publicans. The theme of much of the Old Testament, from the books of Moses, through Joshua & Judges, through the prophets, is that God's people did not trust Him, nor obey Him, not with national politics, and instead made alliances with wicked leaders, and so God abandoned them to their own destruction. * Comments at TruthTalkLive.com: Carl: where does Koukl draw the line? ... at 100,000,000? What line must be crossed that will turn Christians from supporting wickedness and back to God? Dave: Koukl thinks that Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and Alito would fight for the Personhood of a child. I guess he did not read the Supreme Court decision of Gonzales v. Carhart. John quotes Reagan: "Politics I supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first." Gus B: Mr. Koukl says Giuliani will appoint justices like Thomas and Scalia. Pastor Enyart points out these two do not believe in personhood... to which Koukl says, "Pro-Life Justices are not relevant to this topic." Andrew: To support the better of two murderers is relative. ... Webster should post your photograph next to "moral relativist." * Give your opinion at TruthTalkLive.com. * Koukl on Foster Care: The socialist foster care system of the government being intimately involved in the funding and raising of children should be abolished. Sadly, in Greg Koukl's ten-minute call beginning at 9:20 about homosexuality and foster care, he never gets around to condemning either and instead makes destructive comments such as, "some same sex couples are fabulous" and misleads on a terrible aspect of socialism by saying at 15:05 that "in the foster care system there are many saints." Today's Resource: Have you seen the Government Department at our KGOV Store? You can view BOTH of our powerhouse Focus on the Strategy DVDs for only $22.99! Also, we are featuring Bruce Shortt's vitally-important book, The Harsh Truth about Public Schools. And also, check out the classic God's Criminal Justice System seminar, God and the Death Penalty, Bob on Drugs and the Live from Las Vegas DVDs! * Correction: I need to clarify a comment I made debating Greg Koukl. I unintentionally exaggerated when I stated that Hillary supported the PBA ban. I was taking this position from the years of public position the Clinton administration maintained regarding the PBA ban. When Hillary and Bill came to Colorado in 1999 and spoke as a couple to Columbine parents, Brian Rohrbough told Bill, "Mr. President, when you vetoed the PBA ban, you became responsible for murder far more violent than what happened to our children." Clinton replied, with Hillary at his side, that he would have signed the bill, but it did not have an exception for the life of the mother. To the extent that they were a two-for-one deal in the White House, I had always assumed that was her position also: willing to support the law, as long as it had exceptions (like many "pro-life" Republicans). At any rate, it was wrong to say outright that Hillary supported the ban. I should have clarified, and in the intensity of the debate, I did not realize that I had mistated her position. Also, I kept wanting to talk about Rudy's pro-abortion actions as NYC mayor, but never got that in. And finally on this, since the 1990s, we have had an Errata link on our homepage and on every page at kgov.com (just scroll down to see it) And I've also posted this correction at Stu Epperson's TruthTalkLive blog. Thanks! -Bob Enyart * Dec. 21, 2015 Update: Bob Enyart posted the following to STR... Hi STR! Dr. Richard Holland of Liberty University wrote "God, Time and the Incarnation" surveying the leading Christian theologians on this topic and concluded that specifically with respect to the Incarnation the church has never openly defended its claim that God is utterly unchangeable. In my debate with theologian Dr. James White I took that insight and five times asked him about whether God the Son took upon Himself a human nature. (There's a 2-min YouTube showing those excerpts.) So far beyond the old/new covenant issue, reaching right into the heart of the Trinity, God the Son became a Man. God is unchanging in His fierce commitment to righteousness (i.e., His holiness), but because He is the Living God, He changes in immeasurable ways, including when the Son became the Son of Man. * For Bob's Many Other Fun and Educational Debates: See kgov.com/debates for our creation/evolution sparring with Lawrence Krauss, Eugenie Scott, AronRa, Michael Shermer (and spats with Jack Horner, PZ Myers, Phil Plait, & Jerry Coyne), and our exposing the liberal in the conservative with Ann Coulter, Dan Caplis, Greg Koukl (of course), Tom Tancredo, AFA's Bryan Fischer, AUL's Paul Linton, CWA's Robert Knight, National RTL's Board, NRTL's Political Director, Focus on the Family's Washington State Affiliate; and exposing the wickedness in the liberal with Barry Lynn and libertarian candidates; and opposing the national sales tax with Ken Hoagland and Neal Boortz; and debating sexual immorality with homosexual activists Wayne Besen and Gregory Flood; and defending the death penalty on Court TV; and theology with a Seventh Day Adventist, drinking alcohol with a Church of Christ minister; and whether or not God is inexhaustibly and eternally creative with Dr. James White, and King James Onlyism with one of their leading advocates; and finally, abortion with Ilana Goldman, Peggy Loonan, and Boulder, Colorado's infamous late-term abortionist Warren Hern.  

In this episode, Alicia recaps the experience of attending Cannes Lions Festival with 3 Black creatives and professionals she attended Cannes with, along with 50+ Black creatives. See the bio of each episode feature below: Denise  Denise Maxwell is the multi genre international Photographer behind Lensi Photography; covering genres such as sports, fashion, events, portraits and photojournalism, workshops and mentoring to name some. She has been named as 1 of 7 female documentary photographers to be highlighted by the BBC during lockdown. Her art work has been exhibited at The Midlands Arts Centre, The Harris Museum and The Photography Show. She has had work published in major publications such as OK Magazine, The Independent and Metro. Denise is 1 of 15 female photographers chosen to be exhibited by F22 of The Association of Photographers Was the award winning photographer behind the Starling Bank “Make Money Equal” Campaign. She guest lectures at various International Universities and UK Colleges . In 2022 she had 8 features in mainstream photography magazines and has delivered Masterclases on the Super-stage at The Photography Show. Alongside continuing to create imagery for clients including Uber, Google, Government Departments, Gumtree and the BBC; Denise continues to speak across the UK sharing her knowledge and experience with over 12 years in the field, specialising in teaching photographers how to set up multiple streams of income and creating  Subscribe to Denises Mentoring site if you wish to learn more about Photography - patreon.com/LensiPhotography  See more about Denises work -  https://lensilearning.co.uk/  Sinead  Sinead has campaigned for diversity and inclusion since her youth: co-founding Google's AfroGoogle Network, launching a social enterprise to support the LGBTQ community, and founding the charity, We Are We to combat discrimination against women and to end period poverty in the UK.  Outside of the charity, she is also a powerhouse consultant, having worked with over 80 multi-million dollar companies listed on the London, Euronext and New York Stock Exchanges.  Her 10 year experience expands across world leading companies such as Google, Shopify Plus, SocialTalent and Salesforce where she travels the world engaging in consultative relationships focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategies focused on changing mindsets, breaking biases and removing barriers to create a truly inclusive and psychologically safe environment for all.  She also runs a construction company with her partner, where they buy land in the U.K. and build commercial spaces and residentials Connect with Sinead - IG - @sineadsir & https://www.linkedin.com/in/sineadrose Bolaji  Bolaji has over 18 years of corporate experience working for top investment banks, Bolaji has directed many multi million dollar enterprise implementations and has notably secured over £6,000,000 in sales for one of his clients a top SAAS company. He has also spearheaded multiple high ticket business launches and has recently been helping business owners and entrepreneurs use their online profiles to create highly profitable online courses and academies To book a consultation with Bolaji - https://go.bolajiolatoye.com/consultation 

A funny and in-depth  interview with Fiona Neary.  Fiona talks about  being single after 50 and online dating; her experience of menopause and what works for her and the role of a step mother.  Among many things Fiona is a freelance consultant supporting organisations, teams and people to develop, adapt and remain strategic. She has three decades experience at senior level in the Not For Profit sector, including delivery of national strategy oversight and leading EU wide projects with up to 28 partner agencies, and has represented Ireland at both EU and UN levels. Fiona brings proven expertise in organisation systems, structures and change management. Recent consultancy includes delivery of Feasibility Studies for both Local Authorities and Government Departments, Strategic Support to Senior Management of third level institutions and more.  Fiona has also produced a play recently. .................. This podcast is for information purposes only and represents the views and opinions of the speakers. Always use your own discernment in relation to anything discussed. Any information presented relating to any aspect of health & well being is for information purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

In part two of a discussion by Mark Grove and Dr Gary Blackburn with host Iain Ballantyne, the tasty and varied menu includes naval aspects of the Ukraine War and whether or not a new Battle of the Atlantic is shaping up as Russia seeks to win its so-called ‘special military operation' in Ukraine it has sought to establish stronger links with China, so this begs the question, which Iain puts out there: what does Moscow have to offer Beijing? Does the answer possibly lie in naval technology? After also touching on Russia reinforcing its submarine forces in the Pacific, the chat turns to the Ukraine War itself. Among the topics touched on are Moscow effort's to impose a distant blockade in the Black Sea and the use of drones, plus implications for the Royal Navy as it struggles to achieve critical mass in aerial capabilities. The discussion turns to the new contest in the Atlantic between Russia and the West. Bearing in mind this is the 80 th anniversary year of the Allies gaining a decisive upper hand in the WW2 struggle for that vast and strategically vital ocean, does naval history offer anything relevant to where we are now? Would convoys of merchant vessels need to make a comeback if the 21 st Century Atlantic contest turns hot? And, as a worthwhile digression, what about the importance of safeguarding seabed infrastructure - especially in the wake of the Nord Stream sabotage attack - and how to avoid dangerous escalation? The expert analysis and commentary of Mark and Gary on all the above subjects is well worth a listen. Also touched on in this episode is China seeking to exert sea control in oceans off its shores, via land-based ballistic missiles, but why? The conundrum of prioritising UK army or naval expenditure is mentioned, along with the folly of the UK's notorious 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. Mark Grove is a Senior Lecturer in Strategic Studies specialising in Maritime Strategy, Warfare, and Security at the University of Lincoln's Maritime Studies Centre at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, where he has taught for 24 years, originally working directly for the Ministry of Defence. Mark has written on amphibious warfare, the naval history of the Second World War, and the Falklands. Over the last decade or more has spent most of his research time examining the threats posed by the Russian and Chinese navies, on which he has provided briefings for several UK and NATO Headquarters and Government Departments. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJGrove Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull, which seeks to enhance understanding on the nature of war and strategy while also providing guidance on best practice in war and strategy to professional stakeholders. Gary has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. Follow him on Twitter @gjb70 • For more on Warships IFR magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR • Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR. He is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, with his most recent books being ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' and ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (new editions for Canelo History). For more details on Iain and his books visit the websites http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/ Follow him on Twitter @IBallantyn

In part one of a two-part special, guests Dr Gary Blackburn and Mark Grove discuss an array of hot topics with host Iain Ballantyne. Iain asks Gary and Mark to give their perspectives on submarine aspects of the Australia- United Kingdom-USA (AUKUS) defence pact following the recent big announcement on the way ahead in San Diego. They consider the implications, along with the scale and nature of the challenge, both industrially and strategically. The UK's Integrated Review 23 Refresh' (IR23) comes under scrutiny to assess what we know so far and what may be to come, including naval cuts/or reshaping that will be revealed in the forthcoming Command Paper. How the UK might weight its defence forces is considered. Britain's much-vaunted Pacific Tilt in relation to China v. West tensions is also discussed, along with the prospect of a retreat from major naval commitments in Indo-Pacific - under a possible new Labour Government - as the Army lobbies for a return to a focus on a new ‘Central Front' on land against Russia. • Part two will look at naval aspects of the Ukraine-Russia War and what a future Battle of the Atlantic may be like. It is an apt topic in the 80th anniversary year of the culmination in the WW2 struggle for the Atlantic. Mark Grove is a Senior Lecturer in Strategic Studies specialising in Maritime Strategy, Warfare, and Security at the University of Lincoln's Maritime Studies Centre at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, where he has taught for 24 years, originally working directly for the Ministry of Defence. Mark has written on amphibious warfare, the naval history of the Second World War, and the Falklands. Over the last decade or more has spent most of his research time examining the threats posed by the Russian and Chinese navies, on which he has provided briefings for several UK and NATO Headquarters and Government Departments. Follow him on Twitter @MarkJGrove Dr Gary Blackburn is an honorary fellow of the Centre for Security Studies at the University of Hull, which seeks to enhance understanding on the nature of war and strategy while also providing guidance on best practice in war and strategy to professional stakeholders. Gary has taught Security Studies and Military History at the Universities of Leeds and Hull, respectively - and has written for Defence Studies and The Critic, and for the latter about aspects of the UK's 2021 Integrated Review of Defence and Security. Follow him on Twitter @gjb70 • For more on Warships IFR magazine http://bit.ly/wifrmag  Follow it on Twitter @WarshipsIFR and on Facebook @WarshipsIFR • Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of Warships IFR. He is also the author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld &  Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, with his most recent books being ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' and ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (new editions for Canelo History). For more details on Iain and his books visit the web sites http://iainballantyne.com and https://www.bismarckbattle.com/ Follow him on Twitter @IBallantyn

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters - eyeing a political comeback - says taxpayer money is being used for an all-out assault on western values. In a speech in Auckland, he warned of a powerful elite, devoted to the destruction of "our cultural inheritance". He promised his party, if re-elected, would take action, such as changing every government department's Te Reo Māori name back to English. New Zealand First was ejected from Parliament at the last election, falling short of the 5 percent threshold required for parties with no electorate seats. The party has been sitting around the 3 percent mark in recent polls. Peters spoke to Māni Dunlop.

Michael Macolino is the Managing Director for the APAC region at SVG Ventures THRIVE, as well as a serial entrepreneur and business advisor. He launched his first company at 21, which started a 15 year journey to launch four other businesses across a range of industries. His long term support of entrepreneurship and mentoring was recognised in 2020, as a winner in the InDaily 40 under 40 awards. Michael's curiosity for solving problems using technology led him to Agriculture and the food system, where he now leverages his skills, experience and network to help AgriFood Tech startups commercialise and scale their innovations to redesign the food system. Prior to joining SVG Ventures Thrive Michael led AgriFood Tech at BDO Australia for 4 years, where he was an advisor to several Investors, Start-ups, Agribusinesses and Government Departments. Michael is deeply engaged in the development of the AgriFood tech eco-system, working with various startup events and programs, as well as being the co-organiser of the South Australian AgriTech Meetup Group. Michael's thinking on redesigning the food system was featured in his TEDx talk, in which he detailed the potential of emerging technologies in agriculture to build a more sustainable and resilient food system. Connect with Michael Website | LinkedIn | SVG Ventures Thrive

On this week's episode, Francine welcomes Dr. Jeremy Ladd of Cornell University's Government Department to unpack his lecture titled, "The Unintended Consequences of Repression in the Electoral Regimes in the Social Media Era". During the episode, Francine delves into Dr. Ladd's utilization of social media data to explore the effects of political suppression on Cambodia's political scene during the 2010s. Stay tuned to hear about Dr. Ladd's work as a mixed-methods political theorist in Southeast Asia!   Lightning Round: 04:02 Research and lecture summary: 8:11 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 39:00 Dr. Ladd's Top Recommendations: From Development to Democracy: The Transformations of Modern Asia (link) The Hidden History of Burma: Race, Capitalism, and the Crisis of Democracy in the 21st Century (link) The music on the podcast is from "Me and Some Friends", a musical project by a group of friends at Cornell, to experiment with how the beautiful timbres of Gamelan music can meld with hypnotic guitar parts to create a contemplative and unique experience. Check them out here. 

On this episode of Virtual Sentiments, Kristen Collins interviews Hans Noel, an Associate Professor in the Government Department at Georgetown University, on the increasingly polarized nature of politics in the current age. Noel begins by examining the nature of polarization and the many ways in which it manifests itself. He then points to changes in polarization since the 20th century and, while noting the effects of social media, offers a multicausal explanation for its increase, particularly among those who are most politically engaged. Additionally, Collins and Noel tackle the issue of affective polarization, which leads to stronger emotions and disliking of those with different political opinions from our own.To learn more about the topics discussed in today's conversation, consider reading one of Hans Noel's books on Amazon.Read more work from Hans Noel.Read more work from Kristen Collins.If you like the show, please leave a 5-star review for us on Apple Podcasts and tell others about the show! We're available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and wherever else you get your podcasts.Follow the Hayek Program on Twitter: @HayekProgramLearn more about Academic & Student ProgramsFollow the Mercatus Center on Twitter: @mercatus

This week's episode has a special co-host! Welcome Hui-Yuan Neo, a graduate student in the Government Department at Cornell University. On this week's episode, Francine and Neo meet with Dr. Eddy Malesky, from the Department of Political Science at Duke University, to unpack his new publication on trade literacy among migrants in Vietnam and their enthusiasm for global economic knowledge, for purposes of analyzing trade shocks in emerging economies like Vietnam. Stay tuned for a lively yet informative discussion conversation on conducting surveys, analyzing statistics, competitive tennis, advice for fieldwork and more! Lightning Round: 04:30 Research and lecture summary: 16:33 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 50:50 Dr. Malesky's Top Recommendations: GRIT documentary (link) Ròm movie (trailer) Bad Genius movie (trailer) Bronze Drum by Phong Nguyen (link)   The music on the podcast is from "Me and Some Friends", a musical project by a group of friends at Cornell, to experiment with how the beautiful timbres of Gamelan music can meld with hypnotic guitar parts to create a contemplative and unique experience. Check them out here. 

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Charles Kupchan, author of Isolationism: A History of America's Efforts to Shield Itself from the World. Dr. Charles A. Kupchan is Professor of International Affairs in the School of Foreign Service and Government Department at Georgetown University, and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we're going back to a debate between the late great Bob Enyart and famed Christian apologist and talk show host Greg Koukl of Reasons to Believe. Tragically, Koukl puts on full display his moral relativism, which Bob takes issue with. This debate is the battle of two conservatives, both intellectual powerhouses. Dominic Enyart will also be adding some commentary on today's broadcast classic, then next week on Bob Enyart Live we're going to get to a devastating 2020 update from Koukl where he said, "some same sex couples are fabulous." Today's Resource: Monthly Bible Study Subscription Receive Bible studies once a month, and start by getting a firm foundation of the basics. Once you have a solid understanding of the overall plot of the Bible, the origins of Israel, the integration of the gentiles, and the character of God, then you'll be ready to dive into the deeper details of the Bible. Start with the milk, then graduate to the meat. Those who have subscribed to the Monthly Bible studies have said it's changed their life dramatically for the better and given them a new appreciation for the Bible and God Himself. Sign up now, before prices rise! (Due to inflation. Thanks, Biden- ugh.) See the original show summary below from October 26th, 2007.  [See below for the written description of this 2007 program.] * Tragic 2020 Update: Considered a solid Christian leader by many thousands of believers (and in many ways beloved by us here at BEL), the founder and host of Stand to Reason, Greg Koukl has tragically stated, beginning at 9:40 into a podcast, that "some same sex couples are fabulous." Please pray for Greg and for the man who phoned in a question, and for all those Greg is not-so-subtly influencing to become moral relativists. Here's what happened... A caller asks whether children are better off in foster care or adopted by same sex parents. "Some same sex couples are fabulous. Some same sex couples are deplorable. And actually, the same is true for heterosexual couples." Greg then offers the softest possible objection to one of the fiercest moral dangers of our day, which is homosexuality. (For, "In the public square, biblical Christianity and homosexuality are mutually exclusive. One or the other will be in the closet.") He followed that by repeatedly obfuscating with moral relativist utilitarian distinctions about which parents give the "advantage" and which is "better".  Koukl draws false equivalencies between homosexuality and heterosexual singleness, cohabitation, and bad parenting. Regarding same sex parenting, "there are other things [aspects of their parenting] that may be really good... there are a number of factors that are involved here. ... All things being equal I think it is better for heterosexual couples to raise children." "A father brings something different to the relationship than a mother does. Period." Koukl puts much more emphasis on practical distinctions than he does on the far greater matter of the utter perversion and rebellion of homosexuality. Greg exhibits more fear about how his audience will view him than he does about the child raised in a dystopian world of normalized homosexuality. "Just to show that I'm not unfairly prejudiced here... I don't believe that single people should adopt." "What we want to do is to make decisions based on the ideal." "This is why it's hard to make a judgment. Are children in foster care better off [being adopted by] same sex couples or better off staying in foster care. It depends on the individual circumstance. I would rather see a child in a reasonably healthy environment with a same sex couple than in an abusive environment with a heterosexual couple." If that isn't moral relativism, then there is no such thing. Constantly equivocating on underlying morality and legitimacy, "The big thing is, what's best for the kid... Heterosexual parents are better than same sex parents, on balance." "However if this child had no parent whatsoever and was living in the squalor in the street somewhere..." Talk about situational ethics. Would Greg rather see a child rescued from a volcanic eruption by a human trafficker, than be burned alive? Oh brother. Come on. (Here's an actual example. In our 2007 debate Greg was defending pro-abort Rudi Guiliani, who got 3% of the pimary vote, and Christian listeners applied his arguments to pro-abort Mitt Romney of course, who got 22% of the vote, with pro-abort McCain winning. Regarding Romney, the presidential candidate four years later who regarding an unborn child who might end up being raised by a crack-addicted mother, would be only too happy to support the premptive killing of that baby. Or, for that matter, he supported killing any unborn child for any reason, for Romney is the father of tax-funded late-term abortion on demand.) "Heterosexual couples bring something more to the parenting environment than same sex couples bring." "You've got to start from the standards and work to the circumstances that you're faced with." Which is exactly the opposite of what Greg had just done in yet another text-book case of moral relativism. * Correction: Bob unintentionally exaggerated Clinton's willingness to support the PBA ban. See the full correction at the end of this show summary. * Christian Leader Koukl Defends Candidate Giuliani: Stu Epperson moderates the debate between Bob Enyart and STR.org's Greg Koukl on Stu's syndicated TruthTalkLive.com talk show. In the debate, Koukl defends Rudi Giuliani, an aggressively pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, anti-Christian worldview candidate, as acceptable to Christian voters. Koukl denies that Giuliani is a mass murderer and denied the parallel between Koukl's own position and that of the Herodians of the New Testament. To start the debate, Bob asked Greg, "What if Rudi Giuliani is the Republican nominee, should Christians support someone like Rudi Giuliani?" Greg spent the whole show answering that question in the affirmative, stipulating only that his answer applies if two candidates in the running are Rudi and a Democrat candidate like Hillary Clinton. Bob characterized Greg's position as moral relativism. * Bob's Notes Against Christian Support for Giuliani: Christians should not support mass murderers. Rudi Giuliani is a mass murderer who as a governing official and candidate promotes child killing through public hospitals, tax funding, police enforcement, etc. Moral relativist Christians would oppose a candidate who was caught embezzling funds (not because it violates God's command, Do not steal, but because it is politically-incorrect). And while they'd not support a Republican caught embezzling, they support Republican candidates who brag of their support for killing children. The Gospels mention a pragmatic political party, the Herodians, the religious leaders who allied themselves with Herod Antipas, thinking that the Herodian dynasty was the lesser evil (than any alternative allegiance, with a choice between Herod or Christ, they would choose Herod), thinking the Herods were the best the Jewish worshippers could pragmatically expect in their hopes of attaining to their kingdom on Earth. (I have this understanding of the Herodians from my recollection of reading, way back in the 1970s, Alfred Edershiem's Life & Times of Jesus the Messiah, a classic written in the 1800s.) Like Rudi Giuliani, Herod was personally sexually immoral and murderous. Greg Koukl's moral relativism would defend supporting Herod. But John the Baptist, instead of joining the Herodians, rebuked Herod, and for his courage, this wicked ruler beheaded the man whom Jesus described as the greatest born to women (Mat. 11:11). But how would Jesus describe Koukl? Greg's moral relativism might have led him to campaign for Herod (as he does for Giuliani), and instead of persecution, Herod might have hired Koukl as an apologist for his murderous reign and his hopes for the continued support of Ceasar after Antipas built Tiberias (Koukl: yes, Herod murdered John the Baptist, but I would still campaign for him to rule). Greg Koukl is imitating the pragmatic religious leaders, the Herodians. Mat 22:16, 18 ...the Herodians, [said], "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth [lip service]... But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?" [also at Mark 12:13] Mark 3:5-6   [Jesus saw] the hardness of their hearts, [and] the Herodians [plotted] against Him, how they might destroy Him. "You shall not murder" (Rom. 13:9) "Do not kill the innocent" (Exodus 23:7) Romans 3:8 mentions "do[ing] evil that good may come of it" (Romans 3:8), Paul considered it slander to be accused of something Christians now embrace, doing evil, that good may come of it. "we must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29) Giuliani is not only radically pro-abortion, but for years even supported the especially horrific partial-birth abortion. Giuliani is radically pro-homosexual, and would ban all handguns. New York Daily News, March 8, 2004  Rudy Giuliani came out yesterday against President Bush's call for a ban on gay marriage. ... "I certainly wouldn't support [a ban] at this time," added Giuliani, who lived with a gay Manhattan couple when he moved out of Gracie Mansion during his nasty divorce. Secular humanists who support Giuliani: Sean Hannity, Hugh Hewitt, Michael Medved, etc. Publicans: tax collectors, public building contractors, and military suppliers. The New Testament condemns the publicans, so Christians now sell their souls for the Re-publicans. The theme of much of the Old Testament, from the books of Moses, through Joshua & Judges, through the prophets, is that God's people did not trust Him, nor obey Him, not with national politics, and instead made alliances with wicked leaders, and so God abandoned them to their own destruction. * Comments at TruthTalkLive.com: Carl: where does Koukl draw the line? ... at 100,000,000? What line must be crossed that will turn Christians from supporting wickedness and back to God? Dave: Koukl thinks that Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and Alito would fight for the Personhood of a child. I guess he did not read the Supreme Court decision of Gonzales v. Carhart. John quotes Reagan: "Politics I supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first." Gus B: Mr. Koukl says Giuliani will appoint justices like Thomas and Scalia. Pastor Enyart points out these two do not believe in personhood... to which Koukl says, "Pro-Life Justices are not relevant to this topic." Andrew: To support the better of two murderers is relative. ... Webster should post your photograph next to "moral relativist." * Give your opinion at TruthTalkLive.com. * Koukl on Foster Care: The socialist foster care system of the government being intimately involved in the funding and raising of children should be abolished. Sadly, in Greg Koukl's ten-minute call beginning at 9:20 about homosexuality and foster care, he never gets around to condemning either and instead makes destructive comments such as, "some same sex couples are fabulous" and misleads on a terrible aspect of socialism by saying at 15:05 that "in the foster care system there are many saints." Today's Resource: Have you seen the Government Department at our KGOV Store? You can view BOTH of our powerhouse Focus on the Strategy DVDs for only $22.99! Also, we are featuring Bruce Shortt's vitally-important book, The Harsh Truth about Public Schools. And also, check out the classic God's Criminal Justice System seminar, God and the Death Penalty, Bob on Drugs and the Live from Las Vegas DVDs! * Correction: I need to clarify a comment I made debating Greg Koukl. I unintentionally exaggerated when I stated that Hillary supported the PBA ban. I was taking this position from the years of public position the Clinton administration maintained regarding the PBA ban. When Hillary and Bill came to Colorado in 1999 and spoke as a couple to Columbine parents, Brian Rohrbough told Bill, "Mr. President, when you vetoed the PBA ban, you became responsible for murder far more violent than what happened to our children." Clinton replied, with Hillary at his side, that he would have signed the bill, but it did not have an exception for the life of the mother. To the extent that they were a two-for-one deal in the White House, I had always assumed that was her position also: willing to support the law, as long as it had exceptions (like many "pro-life" Republicans). At any rate, it was wrong to say outright that Hillary supported the ban. I should have clarified, and in the intensity of the debate, I did not realize that I had mistated her position. Also, I kept wanting to talk about Rudy's pro-abortion actions as NYC mayor, but never got that in. And finally on this, since the 1990s, we have had an Errata link on our homepage and on every page at kgov.com (just scroll down to see it) And I've also posted this correction at Stu Epperson's TruthTalkLive blog. Thanks! -Bob Enyart * Dec. 21, 2015 Update: Bob Enyart posted the following to STR... Hi STR! Dr. Richard Holland of Liberty University wrote "God, Time and the Incarnation" surveying the leading Christian theologians on this topic and concluded that specifically *with respect to the Incarnation* the church has never openly defended its claim that God is utterly unchangeable. In my debate with theologian Dr. James White I took that insight and five times asked him about whether God the Son took upon Himself a human nature. (There's a 2-min YouTube showing those excerpts.) So far beyond the old/new covenant issue, reaching right into the heart of the Trinity, God the Son became a Man. God is unchanging in His fierce commitment to righteousness (i.e., His holiness), but because He is the Living God, He changes in immeasurable ways, including when the Son became the Son of Man. * For Bob's Many Other Fun and Educational Debates: See kgov.com/debates for our creation/evolution sparring with Lawrence Krauss, Eugenie Scott, AronRa, Michael Shermer (and spats with Jack Horner, PZ Myers, Phil Plait, & Jerry Coyne), and our exposing the liberal in the conservative with Ann Coulter, Dan Caplis, Greg Koukl (of course), Tom Tancredo, AFA's Bryan Fischer, AUL's Paul Linton, CWA's Robert Knight, National RTL's Board, NRTL's Political Director, Focus on the Family's Washington State Affiliate; and exposing the wickedness in the liberal with Barry Lynn and libertarian candidates; and opposing the national sales tax with Ken Hoagland and Neal Boortz; and debating sexual immorality with homosexual activists Wayne Besen and Gregory Flood; and defending the death penalty on Court TV; and theology with a Seventh Day Adventist, drinking alcohol with a Church of Christ minister; and whether or not God is inexhaustibly and eternally creative with Dr. James White, and King James Onlyism with one of their leading advocates; and finally, abortion with Ilana Goldman, Peggy Loonan, and Boulder, Colorado's infamous late-term abortionist Warren Hern.  

The show which can originally be found at kgov.com/crime [Updated June 13, 2021] - The death penalty is at the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. - Salvation is presented in terms of crime and punishment. - The Bible is a criminal justice textbook. - Five of the Ten Commandments are for criminal justice - See below our list of ways to reduce crime. Murders per Million Source: See the FBI's 2018 Homicide Data Table 6 and the simple spreadsheet calculation. While many crimes go unreported, even sexual assaults, murder is almost always reported. This chart's statistics are highly reliable. Won't vs. Can't: Public policy should prioritize deterrence over inability. Human beings are almost infinitely creative. Thus, a government's top priority should be making it so that people won't commit crime rather than that they can't commit crime. List of Ways: Don't worry! Below, in our List of Ways to Reduce Crime, of the 25 specifics, none of them say, let's just stop shooting each other; don't judge; just love everyone; love God; all sins are equal; or forgive everyone. Flashback #1: Court TV interviews Bob Enyart regarding Scott Peterson's death sentence. Flashback #2: We purchased OJ Simpson's memorabilia at auction and then burned both his Hall of Fame Award and his Heisman '68 Jersey (which had been hanging in his Brentwood mansion) to call for the installation of a new criminal justice system in America. See KGOV.com/oj. Flashback #3: Bill Clinton raped Juanita Broaddrick as documented at ShadowGov.com and as an editor of the Wall Street Journal wrote, that Bill Clinton's rape of Juanita Broaddrick was an event that "in fact took place." Hear also Bob's worldwide exclusive interview with Juanita Broaddrick and with nurse Norma Rogers, her friend who found Broaddrick wounded and in tears shortly after the assault. Flashback #4: BEL aired never-before-heard Columbine recordings and we get to the real story (i.e., one murderer's Natural Selection t-shirt) behind the massacre, the search warrant application that was squashed that may have prevented the murders, and the disgraced sheriff's refusal to let SWAT intervene. Flashback #5: Check out Bob Enyart's phone call to Michael Jackson attorney's office on the very day that Mark Geragos threatened to sue anyone who "besmirched Jackson's reputation" and see the three pieces of information on the homosexual child molester that Bob gave to the Santa Barbara District Attorney. Flashback #6: Reporters whom we identify by name from the New York Times, the LA Times, and Reuters called for comment about the Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado Springs. But as fake news they all refused to show the petition signature or even report that the kgov.com/hero Officer Garrett Swasey who was murdered by the pothead who shot up the mill had been helping us to try to stop all killing at that abortion mill, including by the abortionist. Flashback #7: After our meager effort to get justice for JonBenet failed, we presented our Clue that Breaks the Case and our Concise List of Inculpatory Evidence Against the Ramseys including in this 200,000+ views YouTube: Five of the Ten Commandments: Five of the Bible's Ten Commandments lay the foundation for a valid criminal justice system: - Do not murder (basis for the right to life and prohibiting crimes of bodily harm crimes) - Do not steal (basis for the right to own private property and prohibiting socialism and other economic crimes)- Do not commit adultery (basis for prohibiting extra-marital intimacy, etc.) - Do not bear false witness (prohibiting of kgov.com/perjury as the basis for the right to due process) - Do not covet (goes to establishing motive in court proceedings) See kgov.com/americas-criminal-code for our one-page long proposed criminal code that can replace a million pages of the country's current codes. Death Penalty at the Heart of the Gospel of Christ: Question: Do any New Testament people or books support execution?Answer: As shown directly in the verses below, Jesus, Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, Hebrews, Revelation, and an angel all give strong support for the death penalty. But first consider the case of an American mass murderer. Here are the New Testament scriptures this article quotes: "For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar." -Apostle Paul, Acts 25:11 "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying... 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say..." -Jesus Christ, Mat. 15:3‑4 & Mark 7:8‑11 …rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. For [the governing authority] is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. -Paul, Rom. 13:3-4 And if anyone wants to harm them… he must be killed… -Apostle John, Rev. 11:5 he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. -John, Rev. 13:10 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies (present tense) without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot. Hebrews 10:28‑29 [death penalty = deterrent for unbelief] "[we] are under the same condemnation, indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong" -repentant criminal being executed Luke 23:40-41 Here are a few Old Testament scriptures for capital punishment: Be afraid of the sword for yourselves; for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment. Job 19:29 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance… So that men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth." Ps. 58:10‑11 "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man." Gen. 9:6 'take no ransom for the life of a murderer… but he shall surely be put to death' Num. 35:31‑33 "Will you profane Me among My people… killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live…?" Ezek. 13:19 Thus the death penalty still applies for murder, kidnapping, etc. But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless... for murderers [Ex. 21:16]... for perjurers... -Paul 1 Tim. 1:8-10 Finally, KGOV's New Testament Support for Capital Punishment explains that Christians should not advocate for the death penalty for the Mosaic symbolic offenses. Why not? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law Hebrews 7:12 As of shortly after Christ's death, no government, not even Israel's, should punish, let alone execute, those who violate the symbolic ordinances which reinforced Israel's priestly role (Lev. 24:16; Mat. 15:4; etc.). Listener's Neighbors Murdered: Please pray for a BEL listener going to visit in jail a husband who turned himself in, who murdered his wife on Feb. 21, 2019. Both were Chuck's neighbors. Our listener will urge the murderer to forbid his defense attorneys from entering a not guilty plea, and even to dismiss them. Further, that he should not fight the death penalty. And, even if he asks God to forgive Him to save His soul (which would be wise, that should have no affect on the punishment that he is due in this life,

On tonight's edition of the Other Side of Midnight: Frank Morano takes up yoga. Friday mornings means Ask Frank Anything! Later, Dr. Charles Kupchan, Professor of International Affairs in the School of Foreign Service and Government Department at Georgetown University, and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins the show to give a more balanced take on Ukraine. Even further down the line, everyone's favorite attorney and film critic, Debbie Schlussel, discusses everything from Elvis to The Black Phone. We go through this week's round of denunciations, examine Amazon's strange new feature for Alexa, and sing the praises of punctuality. Why don't you go into the long weekend with a healthy dose of TOSOM? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever found a newfound passion amidst chaos?    Do you ever hear voices or whispers of other possibilities for your life that is scary?   That is what may amazing husband, Didier Koffi, had struggled with for years.   The pandemic brought it to a head with thousands of ghosts/passed on loved ones that came to him in the middle of the night - sometimes in very very scary life threatening experiences - that wanted to get his attention.   While terrifying to go inward and learn about your shadow self - to find your Higher Self - it can be the most rewarding/life changing experience    IF you find the right help   That is what Didier found for himself (as have I as his wife witnessing his transformation amidst seeking my own Higher Purpose & Truth alongside him)   Thankfully, we did just that over the last 15 months   Didier has more than 25 years of professional experience as an accomplished consultant in the fields of Systems Engineering and Software Engineering.   Didier has offered services to several U.S. Government Departments and leading fortune 500 corporations.   Didier is a published author in his area of scientific expertise.   Didier has developed in the past year a passion for spiritually-channeled paintings and sacred communications with people who have crossed over.   You can check out his artwork on his newly created Instagram channel https://www.instagram.com/didierkoffiart/   Connect with him on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/adidierk/   To order art or ghost whisperer support, you can also go to his website: https://ghost-whisperer-painter.now.site/   FOR COACH LOIS' RESOURCES - go to www.loiskoffi.com/resources       FIND HER 4 STEP PROVEN FRAMEWORK AT: http://www.loiskoffi.com/framework       JOIN HER FACEBOOK COMMUNITY AT HER PODCAST WEBSITE: www.loiskoffi.com/podcast     SUBSCRIBE TO HER YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/loiskofficoffee       BECOME A FOUNDING MEMBER OF HER INNER CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP AT: http://loiskoffi.com/membership