POPULARITY
Anthony is joined by Casey Dreier, Chief of Space Policy at The Planetary Society, and Eric Berger, Senior Space Editor at Ars Technica, to talk about the NASA 2026 budget proposal, the Jared Isaacman saga, and all the space policy storylines you could imagine.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 201 - Bad Ass, But Also Bad (with Casey Dreier and Eric Berger) (with Casey Dreier and Eric Berger) - YouTubeNASA's disastrous 2026 budget proposal in… | The Planetary SocietyThe Space Review: How NASA's proposed budget cuts are felt across the AtlanticThe Space Review: NASA's 2026 budget in brief: Unprecedented, unstrategic, and wastefulThe Planetary Society's NASA Data DashboardsIsaacman's bold plan for NASA: Nuclear ships, seven-crew Dragons, accelerated Artemis - Ars TechnicaThe administration's anti-consensus Mars plan will fail - SpaceNewsSpaceX's next Starship just blew up on its test stand in South Texas - Ars TechnicaShe was a Disney star with platinum records, but Bridgit Mendler gave it up to change the world - Ars TechnicaFollow CaseyCasey Dreier | The Planetary SocietyThe Planetary SocietyFollow EricEric Berger | Ars TechnicaEric Berger (@SciGuySpace) / XFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@offnom@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@meco@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo@jawns.club) - jawns.club
My fellow pro-growth/progress/abundance Up Wingers,America is embarking upon a New Space Age, with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin ready to partner with NASA to take Americans to a new frontier — possibly as far as Mars. Lately, however, the world is witnessing uncertainty surrounding NASA leadership and even an odd feud between SpaceX boss Elon Musk and the White House. At a critical time for US space competition, let's hope key players can stick the landing.Today on Faster, Please! — The Podcast, I chat with James Meigs about the SLS rocket, NASA reforms, and the evolving private sector landscape.Meigs is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He is a contributing editor of City Journal and writer of the Tech Commentary column at Commentary magazine. He is also the former editor of Popular Mechanics.Meigs is the author of a recent report from the Manhattan Institute, U.S. Space Policy: The Next Frontier.In This Episode* So long, Jared Isaacman (1:29)* Public sector priorities (5:36)* Supporting the space ecosystem (11:52)* A new role for NASA (17:27)* American space leadership (21:17)Below is a lightly edited transcript of our conversation. So long, Jared Isaacman (1:29)The withdrawal of Jared Isaacman . . . has really been met with total dismay in the space community. Everyone felt like he was the right kind of change agent for the agency that desperately needs reform, but not destruction.Pethokoukis: We're going to talk a lot about your great space policy report, which you wrote before the withdrawal of President Trump's NASA nominee, Jared Isaacman.What do you think of that? Does that change your conclusions? Good move, bad move? Just sort of your general thoughts apart from the surprising nature of it.Meigs: I worked sort of on and off for about a year on this report for the Manhattan Institute about recommendations for space policy, and it just came out a couple of months ago and already it's a different world. So much has happened. The withdrawal of Jared Isaacman — or the yanking of his nomination — has really been met with total dismay in the space community. Everyone felt like he was the right kind of change agent for the agency that desperately needs reform, but not destruction.Now, it remains to be seen what happens in terms of his replacement, but it certainly pulled the rug out from under the idea that NASA could be reformed and yet stay on track for some ambitious goals. I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic that some of these things will happen, but my sense is that the White House is not particularly interested in space.Interestingly, Musk wasn't really that involved in his role of DOGE and stuff. He didn't spend that much time on NASA. He wasn't micromanaging NASA policy, and I don't think Isaacman would've been just a mouthpiece for Musk either. He showed a sense of independence. So it remains to be seen, but my recommendations . . . and I share this with a lot of people advocating reform, is that NASA more or less needs to get out of the rocket-building business, and the Space Launch System, this big overpriced rocket they've been working on for years — we may need to fly it two more times to get us back to the moon, but after that, that thing should be retired. If there's a way to retire it sooner, that would be great. At more than $4 billion a launch, it's simply not affordable, and NASA will not be an agency that can routinely send people into space if we're relying on that white elephant.To me what was exciting about Isaacman was his genuine enthusiasm about space. It seemed like he understood that NASA needed reform and changes to the budget, but that the result would be an agency that still does big things. Is there a fear that his replacement won't be interested in NASA creative destruction, just destruction?We don't know for sure, but the budget that's been proposed is pretty draconian, cutting NASA's funding by about a quarter and recommending particularly heavy cuts in the science missions, which would require cutting short some existing missions that are underway and not moving ahead with other planned missions.There is room for saving in some of these things. I advocate a more nimble approach to NASA's big science missions. Instead of sending one $4 billion rover to Mars every 20 years, once launch costs come down, how about we send ten little ones and if a couple of them don't make it, we could still be getting much more science done for the same price or less. So that's the kind of thing Isaacman was talking about, and that's the kind of thing that will be made possible as launch costs continue to fall, as you've written about, Jim. So it requires a new way of thinking at NASA. It requires a more entrepreneurial spirit and it remains to be seen whether another administrator can bring that along the way. We were hoping that Isaacman would.Public sector priorities (5:36)Congress has never deviated from focusing more on keeping these projects alive than on whether these projects achieve their goals.It seems to me that there are only two reasons, at this point, to be in favor of the SLS rocket. One: There's a political pork jobs aspect. And the other is that it's important to beat China to the moon, which the Artemis program is meant to do. Does that seem accurate?Pretty much, yeah. You can be for beating China the moon and still be against the SLS rocket, you kind of just grit your teeth and say, okay, we've got to fly it two more times because it would be hard to cobble together, in the timeframe available, a different approach — but not impossible. There are other heavy lift rockets. Once you can refuel in orbit and do other things, there's a lot of ways to get a heavy payload into orbit. When I started my report, it looked like SLS was the only game in town, but that's really not the case. There are other options.The Starship has to quit blowing up.I would've loved to have seen the last couple of Starship missions be a little more successful. That's unfortunate. The pork part of SLS just can't be underestimated. From the get go, going way back to when the Space Shuttle was retired in 2011, and even before to when after the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster — that's the second disaster — there was a really big effort to figure out how to replace the space shuttle, what would come next. There was a strong movement in Congress at that time to say, “Well, whatever you build, whatever you do, all the factories that are involved in working on the Space Shuttle, all of the huge workforces in NASA that work on the space shuttle, all of this manpower has to be retained.” And Congress talked a lot about keeping the experience, the expertise, the talent going.I can see some legitimacy to that argument, but if you looked at the world that way, then you would always focus on keeping the jobs of the past viable instead of the jobs of the future: What are we going to do with the blacksmiths who shoe horses? If we lose all this technological capability of shoeing horses . . . we'd better not bring in all these cars! That's an exaggeration, but as a result, first they aim to replace the Space Shuttle with a rocket called Constellation that would recycle some of the Shuttle components. And then eventually they realized that that was just too bloated, too expensive. That got canceled during the Obama administration replaced with the Space Launch System, which is supposed to be cheaper, more efficient, able to be built in a reasonable amount of time.It wound up being just as bloated and also technologically backward. They're still keeping technology from the Shuttle era. The solid fuel engines, which, as we recall from the first Shuttle disaster, were problematic, and the Shuttle main engine design as well. So when SLS flies with humans on board for the first time, supposedly next year, it'll be using technology that was designed before any of the astronauts were even born.In this day and age, that's kind of mind-blowing, and it will retain these enormous workforces in these plants that happen to be located in states with powerful lawmakers. So there's an incredible incentive to just keep it all going, not to let things change, not to let anything be retired, and to keep that money flowing to contractors, to workers and to individual states. Congress has never deviated from focusing more on keeping these projects alive than on whether these projects achieve their goals.I've seen a video of congressional hearings from 15 years ago, and the hostility toward the idea of there being a private-sector alternative to NASA, now it seems almost inexplicable seeing that even some of these people were Republicans from Texas.Seeing where we are now, it's just amazing because now that we have the private sector, we're seeing innovation, we're seeing the drop in launch costs, the reusability — just a completely different world than what existed 15, 16, 17 years ago.I don't think people really realize how revolutionary NASA's commercial programs were. They really sort of snuck them in quietly at first, starting as far back as 2005, a small program to help companies develop their own space transportation systems that could deliver cargo to the International Space Station.SpaceX was initially not necessarily considered a leader in that. It was a little startup company nobody took very seriously, but they wound up doing the best job. Then later they also led the race to be the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station, saved NASA billions of dollars, and helped launch this private-industry revolution in space that we're seeing today that's really exciting.It's easy to say, “Oh, NASA's just this old sclerotic bureaucracy,” and there's some truth to that, but NASA has always had a lot of innovative people, and a lot of the pressure of the push to move to this commercial approach where NASA essentially charters a rocket the way you would charter a fishing boat rather than trying to build and own its own equipment. That's the key distinction. You've got to give them credit for that and you also have to give SpaceX enormous credit for endless technological innovation that has brought down these prices.So I totally agree, it's inconceivable to think of trying to run NASA today without their commercial partners. Of course, we'd like to see more than just SpaceX in there. That's been a surprise to people. In a weird way, SpaceX's success is a problem because you want an ecosystem of competitors that NASA can choose from, not just one dominant supplier.Supporting the space ecosystem (11:52)There's a reason that the private space industry is booming in the US much more than elsewhere in the world. But I think they could do better and I'd like to see reform there.Other than the technical difficulty of the task, is there something government could be doing or not doing, perhaps on the regulatory side, to encourage a more sort of a bigger, more vibrant space ecosystem.In my Manhattan Institute report, I recommend some changes, particularly, the FAA needs to continue reforming its launch regulations. They're more restrictive and take longer than they should. I think they're making some progress. They recently authorized more launches of the experimental SpaceX Starship, but it shouldn't take months to go through the paperwork to authorize the launch of a new spacecraft.I think the US, we're currently better than most countries in terms of allowing private space. There's a reason that the private space industry is booming in the US much more than elsewhere in the world. But I think they could do better and I'd like to see reform there.I also think NASA needs to continue its efforts to work with a wide range of vendors in this commercial paradigm and accept that a lot of them might not pan out. We've seen a really neat NASA program to help a lot of different companies, but a lot of startups have been involved in trying to build and land small rovers on the moon. Well, a lot of them have crashed.Not an easy task apparently.No. When I used to be editor of Popular Mechanics magazine, one of the great things I got to do was hang out with Buzz Aldrin, and Buzz Aldrin talking about landing on the moon — now, looking back, you realize just how insanely risky that was. You see all these rovers designed today with all the modern technology failing to land a much smaller, lighter object safely on the moon, and you just think, “Wow, that was an incredible accomplishment.” And you have so much admiration for the guts of the guys who did it.As they always say, space is hard, and I think NASA working with commercial vendors to help them, give them some seed money, help them get started, pay them a set fee for the mission that you're asking for, but also build into your planning — just the way an entrepreneur would — that some product launches aren't going to work, some ideas are going to fail, sometimes you're going to have to start over. That's just part of the process, and if you're not spending ridiculous amounts of money, that's okay.When we talk about vendors, who are we talking about? When we talk about this ecosystem as it currently exists, what do these companies do besides SpaceX?The big one that everybody always mentions first, of course, is Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos's startup that's been around as long as SpaceX, but just moved much more slowly. Partly because when it first started up, it was almost as much of a think tank to explore different ideas about space and less of a scrappy startup trying to just make money by launching satellites for paying customers as soon as possible. That was Musk's model. But they've finally launched. They've launched a bunch of suborbital flights, you've seen where they carry various celebrities and stuff up to the edge of space for a few minutes and they come right back down. That's been a chance for them to test out their engines, which have seemed solid and reliable, but they've finally done one mission with their New Glenn rocket. Like SpaceX, it's a reusable rocket which can launch pretty heavy payloads. Once that gets proven and they've had a few more launches under their belt, should be an important part of this ecosystem.But you've got other companies, you've got Stoke Aerospace, you've got Firefly . . . You've got a few companies that are in the launch business, so they want to compete with SpaceX to launch mostly satellites for paying customers, also cargo for payloads for governments. And then you have a lot of other companies that are doing various kinds of space services and they're not necessarily going to try to be in the launch business per se. We don't need 40 different companies doing launches with different engines, different designs, different fuels, and stuff like that. Eight or 10 might be great, six might be great. We'll see how the market sorts out.But then if you look at the development of the auto industry, it started with probably hundreds of little small shops, hand-building cars, but by the mid-century it had settled down to a few big companies through consolidation. And instead of hundreds of engine designs that were given 1950, there were probably in the US, I don't know, 12 engine designs or something like that. Stuff got standardized — we'll see the same thing happen in space — but you also saw an enormous ecosystem of companies building batteries, tires, transmissions, parts, wipers, all sorts of little things and servicing in an industry to service the automobile. Now, rockets are a lot more centralized and high-tech, but you're going to see something like that in the space economy, and it's already happening.A new role for NASA (17:27)I think NASA should get more ambitious in deep-space flight, both crewed and uncrewed.What do you see NASA should be doing? We don't want them designing rockets anymore, so what should they do? What does that portfolio look like?That's an excellent question. I think that we are in this pivotal time when, because of the success of SpaceX, and hopefully soon other vendors, they can relieve themselves of that responsibility to build their own rockets. That gets out of a lot of the problems of Congress meddling to maximize pork flowing to their states and all of that kind of stuff. So that's a positive in itself.Perhaps a bug rather than a feature for Congress.Right, but it also means that technology will move much, much faster as private companies are innovating and competing with each other. That gives NASA an opportunity. What should they do with it? I think NASA should get more ambitious in deep-space flight, both crewed and uncrewed. Because it'll get much cheaper to get cargo into orbit to get payload up there, as I said, they can launch more science missions, and then when it comes to human missions, I like the overall plan of Artemis. The details were really pulled together during the first Trump administration, which had a really good space policy overall, which is to return to the moon, set up a permanent or long-term habitation on the moon. The way NASA sketches it out, not all the burden is carried by NASA.They envision — or did envision — a kind of ecosystem on the moon where you might have private vendors there providing services. You might have a company that mines ice and makes oxygen, and fuel, and water for the residents of these space stations. You might have somebody else building habitation that could be used by visiting scientists who are not NASA astronauts, but also used by NASA.There's all this possibility to combine what NASA does with the private sector, and what NASA should always do is be focused on the stuff the private sector can't yet do. That would be the deep-space probes. That would be sending astronauts on the most daring non-routine missions. As the private sector develops the ability to do some of those things, then NASA can move on to the next thing. That's one set of goals.Another set of goals is to do the research into technologies, things that are hard for the private sector to undertake. In particular, things like new propulsion for deep-space travel. There's a couple of different designs for nuclear rocket engines that I think are really promising, super efficient. Sadly, under the current budget cuts that are proposed at NASA, that's one of the programs that's being cut, and if you really want to do deep space travel routinely, ultimately, chemical fuels, they're not impossible, but they're not as feasible because you've got to get all that heavy — whatever your fuel is, methane or whatever it is — up into either into orbit or you've got to manufacture it on the moon or somewhere. The energy density of plutonium or uranium is just so much higher and it just allows you to do so much more with lighter weight. So I'd like to see them research those kinds of things that no individual private company could really afford to do at this point, and then when the technology is more mature, hand it off to the private sector.American space leadership (21:17)Exploration's never been totally safe, and if people want to take risks on behalf of a spirit of adventure and on behalf of humanity at large, I say we let them.If things go well —reforms, funding, lower launch costs — what does America's role in space look like in 10 to 15 years, and what's your concern if things go a darker route, like cutting nuclear engine research you were just talking about?I'll sketch out the bright scenario. This is very up your alley, Jim.Yeah, I viewed this as a good thing, so you tell me what it is.In 15 years I would love to see a small permanent colony at the south pole of the moon where you can harvest ice from the craters and maybe you'd have some habitation there, maybe even a little bit of space tourism starting up. People turn up their nose at space tourism, but it's a great way to help fund really important research. Remember the Golden Age of Exploration, James Cook and Darwin, those expeditions were self-funded. They were funded by rich people. If rich people want to go to space, I say I'm all for it.So a little base on the moon, important research going on, we're learning how to have people live on a foreign body, NASA is gathering tons of information and training for the next goal, which I think is even more important: I do agree we should get people to Mars. I don't think we should bypass the moon to get to Mars, I don't think that's feasible, that's what Elon Musk keeps suggesting. I think it's too soon for that. We want to learn about how people handle living off-planet for a long period of time closer to home — and how to mine ice and how to do all these things — closer to home, three or four days away, not months and months away. If something goes wrong, they'll be a lot more accessible.But I'd like to see, by then, some Mars missions and maybe an attempt to start the first long-term habitation of Mars. I don't think we're going to see that in 10 years, but I think that's a great goal, and I don't think it's a goal that taxpayers should be expected to fund 100 percent. I think by then we should see even more partnerships where the private companies that really want to do this — and I'm looking at Elon Musk because he's been talking about it for 20 years — they should shoulder a lot of the costs of that. If they see a benefit in that, they should also bear some of the costs. So that's the bright scenario.Along with that, all kinds of stuff going on in low-earth orbit: manufacturing drugs, seeing if you can harness solar energy, private space stations, better communications, and a robust science program exploring deep space with unmanned spacecraft. I'd like to see all of that. I think that could be done for a reasonable amount of money with the proper planning.The darker scenario is that we've just had too much chaos and indecision in NASA for years. We think of NASA as being this agency of great exploration, but they've done very little for 20 years . . . I take that back — NASA's uncrewed space program has had a lot of successes. It's done some great stuff. But when it comes to manned space flight, it's pretty much just been the International Space Station, and I think we've gotten most of the benefit out of that. They're planning to retire that in 2030. So then what happens? After we retired the Space Shuttle, space practically went into a very low-growth period. We haven't had a human being outside of low-earth orbit since Apollo, and that's embarrassing, frankly. We should be much more ambitious.I'm afraid we're entering a period where, without strong leadership and without a strong focus on really grand goals, then Congress will reassert its desire to use NASA as a piggy bank for their states and districts and aerospace manufacturers will build the stuff they're asked to build, but nothing will move very quickly. That's the worst-case scenario. We'll see, but right now, with all of the kind of disorder in Washington, I think we are in a period where we should be concerned.Can America still call itself the world's space leader if its role is mainly launching things into Earth orbit, with private companies running space stations for activities like drug testing or movie production if, meanwhile, China is building space stations and establishing a presence on the Moon? In that scenario, doesn't it seem like China is the world's leader in space?That's a real issue. China has a coherent nationalistic plan for space, and they are pursuing it, they're pouring a lot of resources into it, and they're making a lot of headway. As always, when China rolls out its new, cutting-edge technology, it usually looks a lot like something originally built in the US, and they're certainly following SpaceX's model as closely as they can in terms of reusable rockets right now.China wants to get to the moon. They see this as a space race the way the Soviets saw a space race. It's a battle for national prestige. One thing that worries me, is under the Artemis plan during the first Trump administration, there was also something called the Artemis Accords — it still exists — which is an international agreement among countries to A) join in where they can if they want, with various American initiatives. So we've got partners that we're planning to build different parts of the Artemis program, including a space station around the moon called Gateway, which actually isn't the greatest idea, but the European Space Agency and others were involved in helping build it.But also, all these countries, more than 50 countries have signed on to these aspirational goals of the Artemis Accords, which are: freedom of navigation, shared use of space, going for purposes of peaceful exploration, being transparent about what you're doing in space so that other countries can see it, avoiding generating more space junk, space debris, which is a huge problem with all the stuff we've got up there now, including a lot of old decrepit satellites and rocket bodies. So committing to not just leaving your upper-stage rocket bodies drifting around in space. A lot of different good goals, and the fact that all these countries wanted to join in on this shows America's preeminence. But if we back away, or become chaotic, or start disrespecting those allies who've signed on, they're going to look for another partner in space and China is going to roll out the red carpet for them.You get a phone call from SpaceX. They've made some great leap forwards. That Starship, it's ready to go to Mars. They're going to create a human habitation out there. They need a journalist. By the way, it's a one-way trip. Do you go?I don't go to Mars. I've got family here. That comes first for me. But I know some people want to do that, and I think that we should celebrate that. The space journalist Rand Simberg wrote a book years ago called Safe Is Not An Option — that we should not be too hung up on trying to make space exploration totally safe. Exploration's never been totally safe, and if people want to take risks on behalf of a spirit of adventure and on behalf of humanity at large, I say we let them. So maybe that first trip to Mars is a one-way trip, or at least a one-way for a couple of years until more flights become feasible and more back-and-forth return flights become something that can be done routinely. It doesn't really appeal to me, but it'll appeal to somebody, and I'm glad we have those kinds of people in our society.On sale everywhere The Conservative Futurist: How To Create the Sci-Fi World We Were PromisedMicro Reads▶ Economics* Trump economy shows surprising resilience despite tariff impacts - Wapo* Supply Chains Become New Battleground in the Global Trade War - WSJ* This A.I. Company Wants to Take Your Job - NYT* The Mirage of Geoeconomics - PS* Japan urged to use gloomier population forecasts after plunge in births - FT* Europe's nuclear fusion potential draws record investment round - FT▶ Business* How Disney's AI lawsuit could shift the future of entertainment - Wapo* Meta plans big bet on AI's secret ingredient: human brains - FT* Nvidia and Perplexity Team Up in European AI Push - WSJ* CRMArena-Pro: Holistic Assessment of LLM Agents Across Diverse Business Scenarios and Interactions - Arxiv* Fervo Snags $206 Million for Cape Station Geothermal - Heatmap* BYD launches cut-price EVs in Europe amid global price war - Semafor▶ Policy/Politics* The right refuses to take AI seriously - Vox* The Gig Economy Benefits Freelance Workers—Until Regulation Steps In - AEI* The war is on for Congress' AI law ban - The Verge* Disney and Universal Sue AI Company Midjourney for Copyright Infringement - Wired* Big Tech Is Finally Losing - NYT Opinion* American Science's Culture Has Contributed to the Grave Threat It Now Faces - Real Clear Science▶ AI/Digital* New Apple study challenges whether AI models truly “reason” through problems - Ars* The problem of AI chatbots telling people what they want to hear - FT* With the launch of o3-pro, let's talk about what AI “reasoning” actually does - Ars* ‘This is coming for everyone': A new kind of AI bot takes over the web - Wapo* Europe's AI computing shortage ‘will be resolved' soon, says Nvidia chief - FT* We're Not Ready for the AI Power Surge - Free Press▶ Biotech/Health* Pancreatic cancer vaccine eradicates trace of disease in early trials - New Atlas* World first: brain implant lets man speak with expression — and sing - Nature* The Alzheimer's drug pipeline is healthier than you might think - The Economist▶ Clean Energy/Climate* Big Tech Cares About Clean Energy Tax Credits — But Maybe Not Enough - Heatmap* Nvidia ‘Climate in a Bottle' Opens a View Into Earth's Future. What Will We Do With It? - WSJ* Oil's Lost Decade Is About to Be Repeated - Bberg Opinion* How the Pentagon Secretly Sparked America's Clean Energy Boom - The Debrief▶ Space/Transportation* Musk-Trump feud is a wake-up call on space - FT* Trump's 2026 budget cuts would force the world's most powerful solar telescope to close - Space▶ Up Wing/Down Wing* ‘Invasive Species'? Japan's Growing Pains on Immigration - Bberg Opinion* Incredible Testimonies - Aeon* How and When Was the Wheel Invented? - Real Clear Science▶ Substacks/Newsletters* Trump's "beautiful" bill wrecks our energy future - Slow Boring* DOGE Looked Broken Before the Trump-Musk Breakup - The Dispatch* Steve Teles on abundance: prehistory, present, and future - The Permanent Problem* Is Macroeconomics a Mature Science? - Conversable EconomistFaster, Please! is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fasterplease.substack.com/subscribe
On Friday's Mark Levin Show, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a so-called ‘Maryland dad' was sent to an El Salvador prison and brought back to the U.S. today by AG Pam Bondi to face criminal charges. Despite evidence of his crimes, including human trafficking and domestic violence, Democrats, media, and some judges defended him, claiming Trump acted dictatorially and that Garcia lacked due process. They lied; he got due process with an immigration judge and an immigration board. Senators Chris Van Hollen and his Democrats still publicly supported him. How will we ever get this country under control given that the Democrat Party hates America? Rep Jamie Raskin argues that even under the Alien Enemies Act, due process is necessary, referencing a D.C. Circuit judge who noted that Nazi saboteurs in the U.S. during World War II received due process hearings as a historical precedent for legal fairness. This is the example that Raskin uses? The Nazis had a trial and were executed in less than 3 months. Also, the FBI and DHS are highlighting threats to Jewish and Israeli communities. It's interesting all the violence goes one way. You don't see Jews trying to kill Palestinians. This is what open borders and the Democrat party gets you. Afterward, there's a hit piece out on the Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office Sergio Gor. The piece claims that Gor influenced Trump to withdraw Jared Isaacman's nomination as NASA administrator, allegedly to target Elon Musk, who recommended Isaacman. However, the withdrawal stemmed from Isaacman's donations to Democrats, including $100,000 to a Schumer-aligned PAC, $50,000 to Josh Shapiro's campaign, and other Democratic contributions, with no support for Trump until after the election. This background made Isaacman unsuitable for a key role in a Republican administration. Later, Iran reportedly ordered thousands of tons of ballistic missile components from China, potentially enabling the production of around 800 missiles. Iran is stalling nuclear negotiations with the U.S. while bolstering its missile capabilities and supplying groups like the Houthis in Yemen. These actions, supported by China, are efforts to undermine Israel and Western interests. Finally, Mark honors the 81st anniversary of D-Day. If we had lost on D-Day we would have lost WW2. The casualties were enormous, yet these brave young men put their lives on the line, many knowing they would die. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Truth Be Told with Booker Scott – Discover the explosive fallout between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, sparked by staff conflicts and the controversial NASA nomination withdrawal. Live reactions from an X Space town hall reveal tension within the administration, highlighting key players like Sergio Gor and Jared Isaacman in power struggles. See how these personnel decisions might shape Trump's second term...
Lori Garver, former NASA Deputy Administrator, joins me to talk about the chaos of the last week: the withdraw of Jared Isaacman's nomination for NASA Administrator, Starship Flight 9, and of course, the wild public breakup of Elon Musk and President Trump.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 33 executive producers—David, Donald, Matt, Frank, Better Every Day Studios, Warren, Bob, Russell, Pat from KC, Pat, Lee, Joel, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Ryan, Josh from Impulse, Joonas, Natasha Tsakos (pronounced Tszakos), Heiko, Will and Lars from Agile, Fred, Kris, Stealth Julian, Joakim (Jo-Kim), Theo and Violet, Jan, Steve, The Astrogators at SEE, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.TopicsMusk-Trump dispute includes threats to SpaceX contracts - SpaceNewsIsaacman: people with ‘axes to grind' about Musk caused withdrawn NASA nomination - SpaceNewsWhite House to withdraw Isaacman nomination to lead NASA - SpaceNewsNASA Copes with Details of $6 Billion Budget Cut, Leadership Uncertainty – SpacePolicyOnline.comNASA withdraws support for conferences - SpaceNewsCruz seeks $10 billion for NASA programs in budget reconciliation bill - SpaceNewsStarship breaks up on reentry after loss of attitude control - SpaceNewsStatus Update on ispace Mission 2 SMBC x HAKUTO-R Venture Moon | ispaceThe ShowLike the show? Support the show on Patreon or Substack!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOFollow @meco@spacey.space on MastodonListen to MECO HeadlinesListen to Off-NominalJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterArtwork photo by NASAWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works
Send us a textThe Daily Drop is here and this one is overflowing with fraud, firepower, and the federal fumble reel. Jared dives into the Pentagon's latest week of insanity: $10.8B in fraud? Check. Hypersonic missiles making a comeback? Check. A free Qatari plane that's somehow costing $400M to modify? Check. And that's before we even get to the Air Force's new anti-ship missile flex, transgender cadet policy chaos, and the absurd SpaceX-White House pissing match.Oh yeah—Space Force nostalgia? F-47 cockpit speculation? Missileer cancer rates? Welcome to another episode of “Who's Driving This Thing?” The answer is: no one. Absolutely no one.
The White House pulls Jared Isaacman's nomination, the 2026 NASA budget is released, the Hubble Tension might not be a problem after all, the Milky Way and Andromeda might not merge after all. And on SpaceBites+, which ozone isn't a good biosignature.
What a wild week it's been for NASA. With drastic budget cuts looming—pending any action by Congress—then comes the sudden and unexpected pulling of Jared Isaacman for the role of NASA Administrator, with no replacement named. Then came the very public split between President Trump and Elon Musk, and a flurry of furious Twitter/X and Truth Social postings, aimed at each other with razor-sharp edges. And finally, the proposed and drastic cuts to NASA outreach and education budgets, slimming them to nearly nothing. These are strange and concerning times for America's space agency, a premier global brand and icon of peaceful American prowess. We turned to Casey Dreier, the Chief of Space Policy for The Planetary Society, who has been quite vocal in his concern, for context. These are critical times for spaceflight, so you won't want to miss this episode!Headlines Trump and Musk "Bromance" Ends: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the public falling out between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which included Trump's threats to cancel SpaceX contracts and Musk's counter-accusations regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. Commercial Crew Program and Boeing's Starliner: Tariq Malik highlights the critical role of SpaceX's Dragon in NASA's commercial crew program, especially given Boeing's Starliner delays, making NASA dependent on SpaceX for U.S. independent access to space. Japanese ispace Lunar Lander Failure: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the second failed attempt by the Japanese company ispace to land its Hakuto-R lunar lander on the moon, losing the European Space Agency's mini-rover, called Tenacious, in the process. Speculation on SpaceX Nationalization: The hosts discuss online speculation, including from Steve Bannon, about the possibility of the U.S. government nationalizing SpaceX, and Elon Musk's subsequent de-escalation. LAUNCH Act: Rod Pyle introduces the bipartisan LAUNCH Act, aimed at streamlining licensing for commercial space companies to encourage more rocket launches with faster approvals. Senate Reconciliation Bill: Tariq Malik and Rod Pyle discuss Senator Ted Cruz's Senate reconciliation bill, which proposes to restore funding for the Space Launch System (SLS), increase NASA's budget by $10 billion, and fund Artemis 4 and 5, missions previously targeted for alternate architectures. 60th Anniversary of First U.S. Spacewalk: The hosts commemorate Ed White's historic spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission in 1965 and discuss anecdotes and lingering questions surrounding the event. Definition of an Astronaut/Spacewalker Debate: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik briefly touch on the ongoing debate about what defines an "astronaut" or "spacewalker," given varying definitions and commercial spaceflight. Tribute to Marc Garneau: The hosts pay tribute to Marc Garneau, Canada's first astronaut, who passed away at 76, highlighting his career with the Canadian Space Agency and his later political career. The Dark Age of NASA Science The Planetary Society's Mission: Space policy expert Casey Dreier provides an overview of the Planetary Society, its founding by Carl Sagan, its independence from government and corporate funding, and its projects like the Lightsail 2. Catastrophic NASA Budget Proposal: Casey Dreier These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/164 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Casey Dreier
As the White House pulls Jared Isaacman's nomination, it wants to cut the space agency's budget back to pre-Apollo levels. Aviation Week's Joe Anselmo, Irene Klotz and Graham Warwick discuss what it means.
What a wild week it's been for NASA. With drastic budget cuts looming—pending any action by Congress—then comes the sudden and unexpected pulling of Jared Isaacman for the role of NASA Administrator, with no replacement named. Then came the very public split between President Trump and Elon Musk, and a flurry of furious Twitter/X and Truth Social postings, aimed at each other with razor-sharp edges. And finally, the proposed and drastic cuts to NASA outreach and education budgets, slimming them to nearly nothing. These are strange and concerning times for America's space agency, a premier global brand and icon of peaceful American prowess. We turned to Casey Dreier, the Chief of Space Policy for The Planetary Society, who has been quite vocal in his concern, for context. These are critical times for spaceflight, so you won't want to miss this episode!Headlines Trump and Musk "Bromance" Ends: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the public falling out between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which included Trump's threats to cancel SpaceX contracts and Musk's counter-accusations regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. Commercial Crew Program and Boeing's Starliner: Tariq Malik highlights the critical role of SpaceX's Dragon in NASA's commercial crew program, especially given Boeing's Starliner delays, making NASA dependent on SpaceX for U.S. independent access to space. Japanese ispace Lunar Lander Failure: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the second failed attempt by the Japanese company ispace to land its Hakuto-R lunar lander on the moon, losing the European Space Agency's mini-rover, called Tenacious, in the process. Speculation on SpaceX Nationalization: The hosts discuss online speculation, including from Steve Bannon, about the possibility of the U.S. government nationalizing SpaceX, and Elon Musk's subsequent de-escalation. LAUNCH Act: Rod Pyle introduces the bipartisan LAUNCH Act, aimed at streamlining licensing for commercial space companies to encourage more rocket launches with faster approvals. Senate Reconciliation Bill: Tariq Malik and Rod Pyle discuss Senator Ted Cruz's Senate reconciliation bill, which proposes to restore funding for the Space Launch System (SLS), increase NASA's budget by $10 billion, and fund Artemis 4 and 5, missions previously targeted for alternate architectures. 60th Anniversary of First U.S. Spacewalk: The hosts commemorate Ed White's historic spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission in 1965 and discuss anecdotes and lingering questions surrounding the event. Definition of an Astronaut/Spacewalker Debate: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik briefly touch on the ongoing debate about what defines an "astronaut" or "spacewalker," given varying definitions and commercial spaceflight. Tribute to Marc Garneau: The hosts pay tribute to Marc Garneau, Canada's first astronaut, who passed away at 76, highlighting his career with the Canadian Space Agency and his later political career. The Dark Age of NASA Science The Planetary Society's Mission: Space policy expert Casey Dreier provides an overview of the Planetary Society, its founding by Carl Sagan, its independence from government and corporate funding, and its projects like the Lightsail 2. Catastrophic NASA Budget Proposal: Casey Dreier These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/164 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Casey Dreier
What a wild week it's been for NASA. With drastic budget cuts looming—pending any action by Congress—then comes the sudden and unexpected pulling of Jared Isaacman for the role of NASA Administrator, with no replacement named. Then came the very public split between President Trump and Elon Musk, and a flurry of furious Twitter/X and Truth Social postings, aimed at each other with razor-sharp edges. And finally, the proposed and drastic cuts to NASA outreach and education budgets, slimming them to nearly nothing. These are strange and concerning times for America's space agency, a premier global brand and icon of peaceful American prowess. We turned to Casey Dreier, the Chief of Space Policy for The Planetary Society, who has been quite vocal in his concern, for context. These are critical times for spaceflight, so you won't want to miss this episode!Headlines Trump and Musk "Bromance" Ends: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the public falling out between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which included Trump's threats to cancel SpaceX contracts and Musk's counter-accusations regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files. Commercial Crew Program and Boeing's Starliner: Tariq Malik highlights the critical role of SpaceX's Dragon in NASA's commercial crew program, especially given Boeing's Starliner delays, making NASA dependent on SpaceX for U.S. independent access to space. Japanese ispace Lunar Lander Failure: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik discuss the second failed attempt by the Japanese company ispace to land its Hakuto-R lunar lander on the moon, losing the European Space Agency's mini-rover, called Tenacious, in the process. Speculation on SpaceX Nationalization: The hosts discuss online speculation, including from Steve Bannon, about the possibility of the U.S. government nationalizing SpaceX, and Elon Musk's subsequent de-escalation. LAUNCH Act: Rod Pyle introduces the bipartisan LAUNCH Act, aimed at streamlining licensing for commercial space companies to encourage more rocket launches with faster approvals. Senate Reconciliation Bill: Tariq Malik and Rod Pyle discuss Senator Ted Cruz's Senate reconciliation bill, which proposes to restore funding for the Space Launch System (SLS), increase NASA's budget by $10 billion, and fund Artemis 4 and 5, missions previously targeted for alternate architectures. 60th Anniversary of First U.S. Spacewalk: The hosts commemorate Ed White's historic spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission in 1965 and discuss anecdotes and lingering questions surrounding the event. Definition of an Astronaut/Spacewalker Debate: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik briefly touch on the ongoing debate about what defines an "astronaut" or "spacewalker," given varying definitions and commercial spaceflight. Tribute to Marc Garneau: The hosts pay tribute to Marc Garneau, Canada's first astronaut, who passed away at 76, highlighting his career with the Canadian Space Agency and his later political career. The Dark Age of NASA Science The Planetary Society's Mission: Space policy expert Casey Dreier provides an overview of the Planetary Society, its founding by Carl Sagan, its independence from government and corporate funding, and its projects like the Lightsail 2. Catastrophic NASA Budget Proposal: Casey Dreier These show notes have been truncated due to length. For the full show notes, visit https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space/episodes/164 Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Casey Dreier
Après plusieurs jours de tensions, c'est la rupture entre Donald Trump et Elon Musk. Un divorce bruyant entre le président américain et le patron de X et Tesla qui a eu l'audace de critiquer le projet de budget de son ancien allié. Depuis jeudi 5 juin, c'est le grand déballage par réseaux sociaux interposés, avec des menaces de part et d'autre. Face au caractère imprévisible de ces deux personnalités, les médias américains s'interrogent sur la suite des événements. Analyse des conséquences possibles de cette nouvelle donne avec Maud Quessard, directrice Espace Euratlantique-Russie à l'IRSEM, spécialiste de la politique étrangère américaine. Également autrice des livres Alliances et politique de pouvoir à l'ère trumpienne (Palgrave MacMillan) et Les guerres de l'information à l'ère numérique (PUF). RFI : Le président américain a menacé de suspendre les subventions et les contrats gouvernementaux signés avec les entreprises d'Elon Musk. A-t-on une idée des conséquences pour Tesla et SpaceX ?Maud Quessard : Absolument. Ce qui est intéressant dans cette prise de position de Trump, très virulente vis-à-vis de Musk et de SpaceX, c'est davantage la purge qui est à l'œuvre. Vous avez sans doute remarqué qu'un des proches de Musk, Jared Isaacman, milliardaire lui aussi, était candidat à la tête de la Nasa et il a été écarté. Donc davantage que de soutiens financiers, ce sont plutôt des purges que Donald Trump annonce, y compris dans les équipes de Musk. Et ce qui se dessine, ce n'est pas seulement l'affrontement de deux hommes, mais de deux camps, les libertariens soutenus par Musk avec Ron Paul d'un côté et de l'autre les MAGA de toujours comme Trump et le président de la Chambre des représentants qui s'est également positionné contre Elon Musk.Cette division peut-elle avoir au sein du parti républicain ?Il peut y avoir des conséquences sachant que Musk a reçu, comme je le rappelais, le soutien de Ron Paul, lui, fait partie du Tea Party et qui incarne les libertariens. On sait que les barons de la tech sont des libertariens convaincus, qu'ils incarnent ce techno-capitalisme nationaliste fortement libertarien. Ça ne concerne pas qu'Elon Musk, mais l'ensemble en fait des grands barons de la tech qui sont venus soutenir Trump. Et ce qui est intéressant, c'est que ces libertariens - un courant finalement minoritaire au sein du Parti républicain - deviennent plus importants avec les barons de la tech.Il y a un point majeur dans leurs opinions et leurs lignes politiques : le budget américain. En cela, ils sont assez cohérents, autant Musk que Ron Paul. Et finalement, dans cette affaire, Musk peut paraître beaucoup moins fou que Trump ne voudrait le dire car s'intéresser au déficit budgétaire américain, qui est extrêmement conséquent puisqu'il atteint à 6,25% du PIB, est un sujet majeur et pourrait créer une division. La question budgétaire et puis celle de la loyauté.Elon Musk n'est pas le seul à critiquer le budget du président américain. Est-ce que ça pourrait déstabiliser Donald Trump ?Peut-être pas le déstabiliser, Trump peut paraître inébranlable, mais le contrarier, sans doute. Il appelle ce projet de loi le « Big Beautiful Bill », le très beau projet de loi, comme toujours, c'est comme le « Golden Dome », tout est enrobé d'une rhétorique qui est toujours un petit peu exubérante. Et cela touche aussi toujours à cette personnalité de Donald Trump, particulièrement imbu de lui-même et très susceptible.C'est une ligne de crête que doivent adopter les républicains loyaux pour finalement passer sous le radar des foudres de Trump. Fidèles à leurs convictions et peut-être aux intérêts du pays. Et l'intérêt du pays serait de ne pas creuser davantage le déficit budgétaire. Cela risque de déstabiliser Trump, car lui, il a fait des promesses de campagne et il faut que, avant le 4 juillet, il ait pu tenir ses promesses de campagne et faire passer son « Big Beautiful Bill » avant cette date fatidique pour rester crédible auprès de son électorat MAGA.En tout cas, l'affaire semble avoir été prise au sérieux puisque hier, les hauts conseillers de la Maison Blanche ont quasiment tous annulé leur passage à la télé pour se réunir avec Donald Trump. Et puis, Elon Musk n'a pas parlé uniquement du budget. Il a aussi dit que Donald Trump figurait dans les dossiers Epstein. Ces fichiers, ce sont des milliers de documents qui doivent permettre, selon le mouvement MAGA, de déterminer qui était complice ou qui aurait couvert des complices de Jeffrey Epstein, cet homme d'affaires qui s'est suicidé en détention juste avant d'être jugé pour une affaire de trafic sexuel de grande ampleur. Est-ce que ça, ça pourrait avoir des conséquences ? Absolument. On est dans le battage médiatique. Musk sort des dossiers qui pourraient atteindre le président et peut-être atteindre son électorat. Mais encore, au-delà de ce scandale majeur, ce qui est particulièrement intéressant, c'est, comme je le rappelais, ces deux camps qui se forment, dont les MAGA autour de Trump qui vont le soutenir envers et contre tout.Et puis de l'autre côté, les masculinistes blancs, les « TechGuys » qui sont déjà très actifs en ligne pour soutenir Musk. Et là, on voit qu'il y a une fracture, non pas qu'entre deux hommes, mais entre deux courants. Et même sur cette question-là, les masculinistes blancs adeptes de la tech qui soutiennent Musk ont déjà pris position depuis hier, si on regarde ce qui circule sur X en faveur de Musk. Et ces gens-là sont plutôt des hommes jeunes blancs qui ont fait partie de l'électorat de Trump et des MAGA.Là, ça crée une scission. Trump n'en est pas à son premier scandale sexuel, il faut le rappeler, et de toute façon, il démentira. Et aujourd'hui, on a donc deux courants, l'un qui est porté par Musk et avec des partisans sur X et l'autre qui est porté par Trump avec des partisans sur Truth Social. Et dans ce monde de la vérité alternative, chacun des deux camps va pouvoir conduire sa vérité et ses messages sur son propre réseau social. C'est aussi ça la bataille entre Trump et Musk, un clivage de l'espace informationnel du camp républicain, MAGA et techno-nationaliste.À lire aussi«Il est devenu fou», «quelle ingratitude»: la querelle entre Trump et Musk vire au pugilat
President Donald Trump and Space X & Tesla CEO Elon Musk, former head of the Dept of Government Efficiency, trade online insults and threats, while Musk continues to call for the defeat of the tax cut & spend cut budget reconciliation bill because he says it will increase the nation's debt substantially; Interview with The Hill's Congressional Reporter Alex Bolton on challenges facing the budget reconciliation bill in the Senate (6); President Trump asked about his phone call today with Chinese President Xi Jinping about trade and tariffs and his travel ban on 12 countries, with restrictions on immigration from seven more; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the NATO defense minister's meeting in Brussels speaks about President Trump's goal of NATO countries spending at least 5% of GDP on defense; Jared Isaacman talks about getting a phone call last week from the White House that his nomination for NASA Administrator has been withdrawn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jared Isaacman will not be NASA's next administrator. Active region 4100 has ended. Axiom's Ax-4 launch has been delayed to June 10. New research says the Milky Way and Andromeda won't be colliding after all. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
(0:00) David Friedberg welcomes Jared Isaacman (1:10) Jared's background: billion-dollar founder, pilot, commercial astronaut (7:15) Relationship with Elon Musk, road to becoming a commercial astronaut (16:37) Becoming Trump's nominee to lead NASA, the major issues at NASA and his plan to fix things (31:52) Breaking down NASA's proposed budget cuts, the space race against China, private vs public space industry (48:31) The truth behind Jared's nomination being withdrawn by President Trump Follow Jared: https://x.com/rookisaacman Follow the besties: https://x.com/chamath https://x.com/Jason https://x.com/DavidSacks https://x.com/friedberg Follow on X: https://x.com/theallinpod Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theallinpod Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theallinpod Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allinpod Intro Music Credit: https://rb.gy/tppkzl https://x.com/yung_spielburg Intro Video Credit: https://x.com/TheZachEffect Referenced in the show: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114605559474286180 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pv01sSq44w https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1439412791815950336 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaJmUUtr2SI
Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he breaks down today's biggest stories shaping America and the world. Chinese Nationals Charged with Agro-Terrorism in Michigan – The FBI arrests a Chinese student and her boyfriend for smuggling a wheat-killing fungus into the U.S., potentially targeting America's food supply. One suspect expressed loyalty to Xi Jinping and is linked to the Communist Party. FBI Director Kash Patel calls it a wake-up call for food security and national defense. Trump Expands Emergency Powers to Boost Weapons and Rare Earth Mining – In response to Chinese rare earth blackmail and global supply chain vulnerabilities, President Trump invokes the Defense Production Act to increase U.S. arms and mineral output. Allies warn China's squeeze on magnets may signal an impending Taiwan blockade or invasion. Elon Musk vs. Trump Over “Disgusting” Spending Bill – Musk lashes out at Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, calling it reckless and bloated. The rift deepens after Trump withdraws NASA nominee Jared Isaacman and House Republicans defend cuts to EV subsidies and NPR. A rescission bill is introduced to walk back $9.4B in spending. Vietnam Faces U.S. Trade Pressure, South Korea Elects Pro-China Socialist – Vietnam agrees to buy $2B in U.S. goods but resists Trump's demand to curb Chinese transshipping. Meanwhile, South Korea elects Lee Jae-myung, a Bernie Sanders-style leftist who questions U.S. troop presence and cozies up to Beijing, complicating future Taiwan conflict strategy. China's Auto Glut and Rare Earth Strategy Spark Global Tensions – Chinese car dealers beg automakers to slow production as $7,500 vehicles swamp the market. Simultaneously, China ramps up global espionage, especially targeting Dutch chip firms, while tightening its grip on global rare earth exports. Dutch Government Collapses Over Immigration – The Netherlands' ruling coalition falls apart after nationalist leader Geert Wilders demands mass deportations. European voters cite economic hardship and cultural tensions as driving factors. Gaza Aid Effort Stalls, Hamas Rejects Peace Deal – Israeli military progress in Gaza is overshadowed by disrupted food distribution. Hamas kills civilians to create propaganda, and U.S.-backed aid operations struggle internally. Peace remains elusive as Hamas refuses to accept Israel's right to exist. Study Confirms Diverse Diet Key to Long-Term Health – A decade-long international study finds that consuming a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables delivers the best antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits - great news for your brain, heart, and longevity. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." – John 8:32
A budget proposal from the White House would cut about a quarter of NASA's budget and cut key science missions if approved by Congress. Plus, President Trump withdrew his nomination of Jared Isaacman for NASA administrator and SpaceX once again launched its massive Starship rocket.
Today's Headlines: A man threw Molotov cocktails at a Jewish community group in Boulder, Colorado, injuring six elderly people in what the FBI and DOJ are investigating as a targeted terror attack. In international news, Ukraine launched a major drone strike deep inside Russia without U.S. approval, just before announcing new ceasefire talks. Meanwhile, ceasefire efforts in Gaza stalled as Hamas rejected a U.S.-backed proposal, and over 30 people were killed at an aid site in Rafah. Tensions with China continue to rise, with Trump accusing them of violating tariff agreements, and responding to reports that China is restricting rare-earth exports. Trump also doubled tariffs on steel, days after approving a foreign acquisition of U.S. Steel. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused China of preparing for war over Taiwan, prompting international pushback. Meanwhile, Trump reportedly gets so few intelligence briefings that Tulsi Gabbard is considering turning them into Fox News-style video packages to hold his attention. He also reposted a conspiracy claiming Biden is a clone. Lastly, Trump withdrew his NASA nominee after learning of the nominee's past donations to Democrats, further straining his alliance with Elon Musk. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: AP News: FBI and law enforcement respond to 'terror attack' in Boulder, Colorado Axios: Ukraine launches massive drone strike on air bases deep inside Russia NPR: Hamas pushes back on the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal offered by the U.S. AP News: 31 Palestinians are killed heading to a Gaza aid site, witnesses say. Israel denies responsibility Axios: U.S. gives Iran updated nuclear deal offer Axios: Trump, Xi to talk this week about trade, key advisor says The Guardian: China accuses Pete Hegseth of sowing division in Asia in speech ‘filled with provocations' Axios: The rare minerals battle behind Rubio's ban on Chinese students NBC News: Gabbard considering ways to revamp Trump's intelligence briefing AP News: Trump says he's withdrawing the nomination of Musk associate Jared Isaacman to lead NASA The Independent: Trump shares baseless conspiracy that Joe Biden died and was replaced by a clone Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Funding for science is very much on the chopping block in President Trump's proposed budget. It's a fraught moment for NASA, particularly for those focused on earth science and not human space travel. Over the weekend, Trump announced he was withdrawing the nomination of his original pick to lead NASA, billionaire Jared Isaacman. Miles O'Brien reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
Joe Piscopo's guest host this morning is Anthony Pope, prominent attorney in New Jersey and New York and legal analyst 38:08- Jack Ciattarelli, Former New Jersey Assemblyman running as a Republican in the New Jersey Gubernatorial Race Topic: Trump's tele-rally for Jack Ciattarelli 49:50- Craig Shirley, Presidential Historian, Political Consultant, and Reagan biographer Topic: "Biden cover-up scandal could usher in new era of Republican dominance" (Fox news op ed) 1:00:06- Chris Grollnek, Retired Police Detective Corporal and Active Shooting Expert Topic: North Carolina shooting leaves one dead and 11 injured 1:29:10- Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis, a retired U.S. Army officer and an experienced military analyst with on-the-ground experience inside Russia and Ukraine and the author of "Preparing for World War III" Topic: Ukraine drone strike, "9 signs Beijing's Taiwan invasion may be imminent" (Fox News op ed) 1:41:08- E.J. Antoni, Chief Economist and the Richard F. Aster fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a senior fellow at Unleash Prosperity Topic: "Elon built the DOGE rocket and it’s going to keep flying" (Fox News op ed) 2:04:48- Dr. Charlie Camarda, NASA Astronaut, Former Director of Engineering at Johnson Space Center in Houston, and the author of "Mission Out of Control" Topic: Trump pulls Jared Isaacman's nomination for NASA administrator 2:16:28- Chris Swecker, attorney who served as assistant director of the FBI for the Criminal Investigative Division from 2004 to 2006 Topic: Suspect in Boulder terror attack found to be an Egyptian man in the U.S. illegally, latest with New Orleans escapeesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The US Administration has withdrawn the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA. The eighth GPS III space vehicle launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday. Maxar Space Systems has been awarded a contract by EchoStar Corporation to manufacture EchoStar XXVI, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Aegis Space Law Attorney's Bailey Reichelt and Jack Shelton bring you the Aegis Space Law monthly segment. You can connect with Bailey Reichelt and Jack Shelton on LinkedIn, and send your questions to space@n2k.com. Selected Reading https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114605559474286180 Another Lockheed Martin-Built GPS III Satellite Lifts Off into Orbit Maxar Space Systems Selected to Build High-Power EchoStar XXVI Satellite Uganda Hosts First Workshop for the African Development Satellite Project - Space in Africa ispace Completes Success 8 of Mission 2 Milestones Trailblazing STEM Educator Amy Medina Jorge Completes Spaceflight on Blue Origin's NS-32 Mission - AIAA - Shaping the future of aerospace North Korea no longer bans military use of space for defense purposes SES's O3b mPOWER System Receives Platinum Space Sustainability Rating T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On today's episode: A man with a makeshift flamethrower attacked a group of people in Boulder, Colorado, calling for the release of Israeli hostages; Russia and Ukraine will continue peace talks despite new drone attacks; Poland has a new president; South Korea will hold a presidential election; and a look at the NBA Finals. US Senators warn Russia, as it continues it's war with Ukraine. Trump says he's withdrawing the nomination of Musk associate Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Ernst draws groans at Iowa town hall after retort on Medicaid cuts, saying 'we all are going to die.' Turmoil, worry swirl over cuts to key federal agencies as hurricane season begins. FDA approves Moderna's new lower-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Trump fast-tracks Utah uranium mine, but industry revival may wait for higher prices. Kristi Noem said an immigrant threatened to kill Trump. The story quickly fell apart. President Donald Trump says he's once again raising tariffs on steel. Biden says he's 'feeling good' in first remarks after cancer diagnosis announced. Trump's list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions' includes some that support his immigration policies. Trump gives Elon Musk an Oval Office sendoff, crediting him with 'colossal change.' 1 officer killed, 1 wounded and another person dead in Los Angeles County shooting. Wildfires burning across central Canada force more people to evacuate. Philadelphia kicks off Pride Month with flag raising. Inmates clear tornado damage to free Oklahoma family stuck for over a week. Dozens sickened in expanding salmonella outbreak linked to recalled cucumbers. Wall Street glides to the end of its best month since 2023. Actor Valerie Mahaffey, 'Northern Exposure' Emmy winner, dies after cancer battle, publicist says. Loretta Swit, Emmy-winner who played Maj. Houlihan on pioneering series 'M.A.S.H.,' has died at 87. Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyers say ex-assistant’s social media posts undercut her rape allegation. Scottie Scheffler stays hot at the Memorial, a first-time major winner in women’s golf, defending champs Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek reach the quarterfinals and a rare American feat at the French Open, and the Yankees bounce back from a thumping in a World Series rematch. Stanley Cup Final rematch begins Wednesday in Edmonton. Lance McCullers gets 24-hour security after online death threats, some aimed at 5-year-old daughter. French Open tennis players say nasal strips aren't just for snoring. Olympic boxing champ Imane Khelif must undergo genetic sex screening to fight for new governing body. Britain is getting a defense boost aimed at sending a message to Moscow, and to Trump. The number of migrants reaching the UK in small boats in a single day hits a 2025 high. Climate activist Greta Thunberg joins aid ship sailing to Gaza aimed at breaking Israel's blockade. Iran has amassed even more near weapons-grade uranium, UN watchdog says. Death toll reaches 151 in north-central Nigerian town submerged in floods, thousands displaced. On this week's AP Religion Roundup, a Jewish museum reopens after a deadly shooting, and beat boxing nuns go viral. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Theme music The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX
Listen to Daily Global #News from Grecian Echoes and WNTN 1550 AM - 31 dead after Israeli forces attack near Gaza aid centre - Ukraine drone attack hits more than 40 Russian bomber planes- President Trump dropped Jared Isaacman as his nominee to run NASA - S&P 500 has 6% May gain as investors continue to look past trade policy confusion
AP correspondent Julie Walker reports the White House pulls the nomination of President Trump's pick to lead NASA.
Aidan Magee delivers the news on Hamas' response to the US ceasefire proposal, President Trump pulling Jared Isaacman's nomination to lead NASA and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's speech about the threat of China at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on 6/1/25.
A SpaceX encontrou outro obstáculo em sua busca por "tornar a vida multiplanetária". Durante o nono voo de seu foguete integrado Starship-Super Heavy na terça-feira, o veículo mais uma vez falhou em completar o voo completo conforme o planejado, perdendo a capacidade de controlar sua orientação pouco mais de 20 minutos após o início do voo.A SpaceX interrompeu a exibição de imagens ao vivo do estágio superior por cerca de 10 minutos. Quando as imagens das câmeras foram retomadas, cerca de 30 minutos após o início do voo, a Starship pôde ser vista começando a girar.“A Starship atingiu o corte programado do motor da nave, uma grande melhoria em relação ao último voo! Além disso, não houve perda significativa das placas de proteção térmica durante a subida”, disse o fundador da SpaceX, Elon Musk, em um comunicado pós-lançamento no X. “Vazamentos causaram perda de pressão do tanque principal durante a fase de navegação costeira e reentrada. Muitos dados úteis para revisar.”A missão, batizada de Starship Flight 9, foi a terceira tentativa da SpaceX de voar a versão atualizada do Bloco 2 de seu estágio superior. Nos dois voos anteriores, a nave perdeu o controle de atitude antes do desligamento de seus seis motores Raptor, menos de nove minutos após o início de suas respectivas subidas.Em um comunicado divulgado pela Administração Federal de Aviação, a agência disse estar "ciente de que uma anomalia ocorreu durante a missão SpaceX Starship Flight 9, que foi lançada na terça-feira, 27 de maio, da Starbase, Texas, e está trabalhando ativamente com a SpaceX no evento".“Não há relatos de ferimentos públicos ou danos à propriedade pública neste momento”, disse a FAA.Antes da missão Starship Flight 9, Musk disse que realizaria uma palestra da empresa, intitulada "O Caminho para Tornar a Vida Multiplanetária", que, segundo ele, seria transmitida ao vivo. No entanto, a palestra estava originalmente agendada para antes do lançamento, mas foi adiada para depois e agora parece estar descartada por enquanto.Musk conversou com alguns veículos de notícias antes do lançamento, incluindo a Ars Technica. Nessa conversa , ele disse que havia "80% de chance de resolver esses problemas" relacionados ao estágio superior."Para realmente termos 100% de chance, é necessária a iteração do projeto do motor. E parte disso foi que tivemos que descobrir que precisávamos apertar os parafusos que prendiam a câmara de empuxo à cabeça do injetor após o disparo", disse Musk a Eric Berger, da Ars Technica.Musk disse na entrevista que a SpaceX pretende lançar a terceira versão de seu motor Raptor até o final do ano. Ele acrescentou que "a versão 3 da nave e do propulsor tem um redesenho bastante radical".Embora o estágio superior da Starship Versão 2 usado neste voo, número de cauda S35, tenha superado as falhas observadas com as S33 e S34, ele sofreu vários contratempos, incluindo um problema que impediu a abertura da porta do compartimento de carga. A SpaceX pretendia lançar oito painéis grandes que simulassem o tamanho e a massa dos satélites Starlink Versão 3.A perda do controle de atitude do estágio superior também impediu a SpaceX de realizar o reacendimento planejado de um dos motores Raptor no espaço. Este é um recurso que a SpaceX precisará em missões futuras para permitir que a Starship desorbite com segurança e realize queimas secundárias durante uma missão.As imagens das câmeras de bordo foram irregulares em alguns momentos, mas duraram mais de 45 minutos de voo. Após o término da missão, Jared Isaacman, o indicado para ser o próximo administrador da NASA, aplaudiu o esforço da SpaceX.
Paris Marx is joined by Tim Fernholz to discuss how Elon Musk's influence in the White House is shaping the US Space Program, why he's pushing NASA toward Mars instead of the Moon, and whether the Starship rocket is in trouble.Tim Fernholz is a senior reporter at Payload Space and the author of Rocket Billionaires: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the New Space Race.Tech Won't Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode:Tim wrote about Donald Trump's NASA budget and Jared Isaacman's confirmation hearing.The Wall Street Journal wrote about Elon Musk's plans to get NASA to refocus on Mars.Trump's proposed budget aims to cut NASA's science budget by 47% as part of a larger 24% cut to the agency's top-line funding.SpaceX's Starship rocket is running into serious problems.Support the show
Welcome to our ISDC 2025 preview program. Aggie Kobrin & Rod Pyle were with us to let you know what you will experience at this year's ISDC in Orlando. For more info, visit https://isdc.nss.org. Aggie and Rod took us through the list of very exciting speakers and program track participants that you will hear, including the likely next NASA Administrator, Jared Isaacman. Along with the conference schedule, you will have the opportunity to participate in special tours of KSC, the Cape and the great musuem that has one of the few remaining Saturn 5 rockets on full display. There will be a SpaceX band gig to die for, lots of networking opportunities, astronauts to meet plus many awards to those you have heard of but now get the opportunity to meet. If you are into wildlife, just drive around the Cape and see most of it. We fielded several questions about the conference, the schedule, logistics along with the Orlando area. Space Settlement has a great track as does Living in Space with Dr. Bell. AI is strongly represented at this event along with other important topics such as space health, New Space, and more. We talked about the great value of joining the National Space Society (NSS) with membership benefits include the great quarterly print magazine, Ad Astra. For more information on this event, contact our guests or DrSpace @ drspace@thespaceshow.com. Be sure to check our our new Substack page, doctorspace.substack.com.
Norman Chad tackles the dark side of America's gambling industry, highlighting predatory practices by major sportsbooks and revealing the surprising connection between Trump's NASA nominee and bounced checks at Trump casinos. We explore how the industry targets problem gamblers while facing mounting legal challenges from individuals, cities, and potentially Congress.Support the showGambling Mad with Norman Chad is written by Norman Chad and ghost written by...Norman Chad. Executive Producer Rick Barrio Dill and Jon Sheinberg. Produced by Rick Barrio Dill and Bri Coorey. Associate Producer Asher Freidberg. Socials Asher Freidberg. Engineering and Editing by Bri Coorey and Asher Freidberg. Equipment provided by SLAP Studios LA (SLAPStudiosLA.com) and studios provided by SLAP Studios LA and 360-Pod. If you, or someone you know needs help around gambling related issues, there are more ways than ever to get connected with help. Call the Problem Gambling HelpLine at 888-ADMIT-IT (236-4848) or go to www.gamblinghelp.org
Jared Isaacman awaits the final Senate vote to conform him as the new administrator of NASA. A 50 year-old Russian spacecraft is heading for Earth. What are mush balls on Jupiter? Don Pettit's recent trip to space deserves a deep dive. And it seems that the Sun was not responsible for the recent Iberian power outage.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
The Hubble Space Telescope has been one of NASA's most successful flagship missions, recently celebrating 35 years in space. Often referred to as "the gift that keeps giving," the HST has provided not just magnificent science—shared worldwide—but also some of our universe's most significant and stunning images, inspiring wonder and driving countless young people into the sciences and STEM fields in general. And for the general public, Hubble continues to provide a profound sense of the wonders of the universe and our place in it. We are joined this week by Dr. John Grunsfeld, who flew five times on the space shuttle and spent over 50 hours on Hubble servicing missions to keep those incredible images coming. Join us for a fascinating deep dive into this magnificent project. Headlines NASA Budget Cuts: The episode starts with a discussion about proposed budget cuts to NASA, including concerns from future NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, who expressed reservations about the cuts. Hercules-Corona-Borealis Great Wall: The hosts discuss the discovery of the largest structure in the universe, the Hercules-Corona-Borealis Great Wall, and the ongoing efforts to understand its size and implications. China's Tiangong Space Station: An update on China's Tiangong space station and their successful crew rotation operations, as well as their recent agreement to train astronauts from Pakistan. Interview with Dr. John Grunsfeld John Grunsfeld's Background: Grunsfeld shares his early inspirations, including the pioneering Gemini program during the Space Race, and how this influenced his path to becoming an astronaut and physicist. Hubble's 35th Anniversary: The conversation shifts to the Hubble Space Telescope's 35th anniversary and Grunsfeld's unique perspective as someone who flew on the space shuttle and performed multiple Hubble servicing missions. Hubble Servicing and EVAs: Grunsfeld details the challenges and complexities of performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) to repair and upgrade Hubble, highlighting the extensive training involved. Hubble's Scientific Contributions: The discussion covers Hubble's significant scientific achievements, including measuring the age and expansion of the universe and the discovery of dark energy. NASA's Value and Budget Concerns: Grunsfeld emphasizes NASA's importance in driving innovation, inspiring the public, and its positive impact on the economy, expressing concern over proposed budget cuts. Future of Space Telescopes: The episode concludes with a look at the future of space telescopes, including the Habitable Worlds Observatory and the potential for robotic servicing to maintain these complex instruments. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. John Grunsfeld Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
The Hubble Space Telescope has been one of NASA's most successful flagship missions, recently celebrating 35 years in space. Often referred to as "the gift that keeps giving," the HST has provided not just magnificent science—shared worldwide—but also some of our universe's most significant and stunning images, inspiring wonder and driving countless young people into the sciences and STEM fields in general. And for the general public, Hubble continues to provide a profound sense of the wonders of the universe and our place in it. We are joined this week by Dr. John Grunsfeld, who flew five times on the space shuttle and spent over 50 hours on Hubble servicing missions to keep those incredible images coming. Join us for a fascinating deep dive into this magnificent project. Headlines NASA Budget Cuts: The episode starts with a discussion about proposed budget cuts to NASA, including concerns from future NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, who expressed reservations about the cuts. Hercules-Corona-Borealis Great Wall: The hosts discuss the discovery of the largest structure in the universe, the Hercules-Corona-Borealis Great Wall, and the ongoing efforts to understand its size and implications. China's Tiangong Space Station: An update on China's Tiangong space station and their successful crew rotation operations, as well as their recent agreement to train astronauts from Pakistan. Interview with Dr. John Grunsfeld John Grunsfeld's Background: Grunsfeld shares his early inspirations, including the pioneering Gemini program during the Space Race, and how this influenced his path to becoming an astronaut and physicist. Hubble's 35th Anniversary: The conversation shifts to the Hubble Space Telescope's 35th anniversary and Grunsfeld's unique perspective as someone who flew on the space shuttle and performed multiple Hubble servicing missions. Hubble Servicing and EVAs: Grunsfeld details the challenges and complexities of performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) to repair and upgrade Hubble, highlighting the extensive training involved. Hubble's Scientific Contributions: The discussion covers Hubble's significant scientific achievements, including measuring the age and expansion of the universe and the discovery of dark energy. NASA's Value and Budget Concerns: Grunsfeld emphasizes NASA's importance in driving innovation, inspiring the public, and its positive impact on the economy, expressing concern over proposed budget cuts. Future of Space Telescopes: The episode concludes with a look at the future of space telescopes, including the Habitable Worlds Observatory and the potential for robotic servicing to maintain these complex instruments. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. John Grunsfeld Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
The Hubble Space Telescope has been one of NASA's most successful flagship missions, recently celebrating 35 years in space. Often referred to as "the gift that keeps giving," the HST has provided not just magnificent science—shared worldwide—but also some of our universe's most significant and stunning images, inspiring wonder and driving countless young people into the sciences and STEM fields in general. And for the general public, Hubble continues to provide a profound sense of the wonders of the universe and our place in it. We are joined this week by Dr. John Grunsfeld, who flew five times on the space shuttle and spent over 50 hours on Hubble servicing missions to keep those incredible images coming. Join us for a fascinating deep dive into this magnificent project. Headlines NASA Budget Cuts: The episode starts with a discussion about proposed budget cuts to NASA, including concerns from future NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, who expressed reservations about the cuts. Hercules-Corona-Borealis Great Wall: The hosts discuss the discovery of the largest structure in the universe, the Hercules-Corona-Borealis Great Wall, and the ongoing efforts to understand its size and implications. China's Tiangong Space Station: An update on China's Tiangong space station and their successful crew rotation operations, as well as their recent agreement to train astronauts from Pakistan. Interview with Dr. John Grunsfeld John Grunsfeld's Background: Grunsfeld shares his early inspirations, including the pioneering Gemini program during the Space Race, and how this influenced his path to becoming an astronaut and physicist. Hubble's 35th Anniversary: The conversation shifts to the Hubble Space Telescope's 35th anniversary and Grunsfeld's unique perspective as someone who flew on the space shuttle and performed multiple Hubble servicing missions. Hubble Servicing and EVAs: Grunsfeld details the challenges and complexities of performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) to repair and upgrade Hubble, highlighting the extensive training involved. Hubble's Scientific Contributions: The discussion covers Hubble's significant scientific achievements, including measuring the age and expansion of the universe and the discovery of dark energy. NASA's Value and Budget Concerns: Grunsfeld emphasizes NASA's importance in driving innovation, inspiring the public, and its positive impact on the economy, expressing concern over proposed budget cuts. Future of Space Telescopes: The episode concludes with a look at the future of space telescopes, including the Habitable Worlds Observatory and the potential for robotic servicing to maintain these complex instruments. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. John Grunsfeld Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
NASA: JARED ISAACMAN, ADMINISTRATOR. JEFF FAUST, SPACENEWS.COM 2010
Jared Isaacman was in Congress for a confirmation hearing for his nomination as NASA Administrator, which was followed up by reports of huge proposed budget cuts at NASA and NOAA. And as expected, SpaceX, ULA, and Blue Origin all received awards for NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2.This episode of Main Engine Cut Off is brought to you by 33 executive producers—nt, Frank, Joonas, Will and Lars from Agile, Pat from KC, Joakim (Jo-Kim), Josh from Impulse, Pat, Bob, Warren, Heiko, Steve, Theo and Violet, David, Kris, Donald, Joel, Fred, Jan, Lee, Russell, The Astrogators at SEE, Ryan, Matt, Stealth Julian, Tim Dodd (the Everyday Astronaut!), Better Every Day Studios, and four anonymous—and hundreds of supporters.TopicsIsaacman Insists NASA Can Pursue Moon and Mars Goals Simultaneously – SpacePolicyOnline.comTrump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA - Ars TechnicaPlanetary Science Caucus Co-Chairs Bacon & Chu Statement on White House's Proposed Budget Cuts to NASA Science | U.S. Representative Don BaconNOAA budget proposal would affect weather satellite, other space programs - SpaceNewsSpaceX, ULA, Blue Origin win $13.7 billion in U.S. military launch contracts through 2029 - SpaceNewsSpace Force reassigns GPS satellite launch from ULA to SpaceX - SpaceNewsSpaceX secures majority of NSSL Phase 3 fiscal year 2025 missions - SpaceNewsThe ShowLike the show? Support the show on Patreon or Substack!Email your thoughts, comments, and questions to anthony@mainenginecutoff.comFollow @WeHaveMECOFollow @meco@spacey.space on MastodonListen to MECO HeadlinesListen to Off-NominalJoin the Off-Nominal DiscordSubscribe on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn or elsewhereSubscribe to the Main Engine Cut Off NewsletterArtwork photo by FireflyWork with me and my design and development agency: Pine Works
Jake and Anthony talk about Jared Isaacman's confirmation hearing, and the apocalyptic NASA science budget.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 193 - The Secretary of Land - YouTubeIsaacman Insists NASA Can Pursue Moon and Mars Goals Simultaneously – SpacePolicyOnline.comIsaacman's “Golden Age of Science & Discovery” on Shaky Ground – SpacePolicyOnline.comTrump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA - Ars TechnicaPlanetary Science Caucus Co-Chairs Bacon & Chu Statement on White House's Proposed Budget Cuts to NASA Science | U.S. Representative Don BaconNOAA budget proposal would affect weather satellite, other space programs - SpaceNewsFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@offnom@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@meco@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo@jawns.club) - jawns.club
Bob return for multi-topic discussion ranging from the recent successful Blue Origin all woman suborbital flight to the latest with NASA budget and science cut rumors, Jared Isaacman hearings for NASA Administrator, Starship demos, repairs, Artemis good and bad, possible SLS, Orion and Gateway cuts and much more. Bob spent lots of time with his analysis of the pending Nancy Roman telescope which is rumored to be on the budget cutting list though Bob see the OMB rumored and leaked news as a Trump administration negotiating tactic. Bob talked about the need to clean house regarding costly, overdue and not so necessary NASA and other government projects and continued as he always does to support private commercial everything over government. We talked about the private space station efforts on the part of VAST, cislunar development, and other recent human spaceflight missions Bob said many times that the F9 was approaching airline like operations. For threats to commercial space, he focused in on excessive regulations. Listen to the entire program for all our discussion points. Please read the summary at www.thespaceshow.com when posted at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation heard testimony from Jared Isaacman, President Trump's nominee to lead NASA. During the confirmation hearing, Isaacman indicated a priority of sending humans to Mars—while maintaining the agency's plans to return people to the lunar surface.In response to a question from Senator Ted Cruz, Isaacman said “I don't think we have to make any tough trades here, Senator. I think if we can concentrate our resources at the world's greatest space agency, we don't have to make a binary decision of moon versus Mars, or moon has to come first versus Mars.” Senators questioned how a strategy involving both options would be possible under current funding levels, and stressed that a bipartisan law had codified the current approach of targeting the moon first, then Mars.The fate of the Artemis lunar exploration program has faced questions in the new administration. In his inaugural address, President Trump expressed a desire to send astronauts to Mars, but didn't mention the moon. Elon Musk, head of SpaceX and a favored advisor to the president, is in favor of prioritizing crewed Mars missions ahead of lunar programs. Under questioning, Isaacman repeatedly refused to say directly whether Musk had been present for his job interview with the President.Host Flora Lichtman talks with Senior Producer Charles Bergquist about the nomination and the path ahead for NASA. They also talk about other stories from the week in science, including the controversy over claims of a “de-extincted” dire wolf, advances in rapid bird flu sensors, and the detailed physics of a cup of pour-over coffee.Transcript for this segment will be available after the show airs on sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.
In this episode of This Week in Space, hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik welcome Dr. Phil Metzger from the University of Central Florida to discuss the dangerous realities of rocket plumes when landing spacecraft on the Moon and Mars. Before diving into the main topic, the hosts talk about Jared Isaacman's NASA administrator confirmation hearing, Katy Perry's upcoming Blue Origin spaceflight, and a newly discovered comet. Headlines: Jared Isaacman's NASA Administrator Confirmation Hearing - The billionaire Shift4 CEO and astronaut faced intense questioning about his independence from Elon Musk, with senators repeatedly asking if Musk was present during his meeting with Trump. Isaacman confirmed he'll continue with Artemis missions and the ISS through 2030. Katy Perry's Space Flight - The pop star will join the world's first all-female crew aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard, scheduled for April 14. The crew includes Gayle King and other accomplished women, though the flight has received criticism for being extravagant during tough economic times. New Comet Discovered - Comet C/2025 F2 Swan was discovered on March 29 by a Ukrainian skywatcher and is currently visible to the naked eye in dark skies, though it will soon only be visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Main Topic - Rocket Plume Effects with Dr. Phil Metzger: Rocket Plume Dangers - Dr. Metzger explains how rocket exhaust can propel lunar soil at speeds up to 3 km/second (above lunar escape velocity), potentially damaging equipment far from landing sites and even ejecting material entirely off the Moon. Apollo 12 Evidence - The Surveyor 3 spacecraft, visited by Apollo 12 astronauts, showed significant sandblasting damage from the lunar module landing 160 meters away, with paint surfaces scoured and peppered with holes from high-velocity particles. SpaceX Starship Launch Analysis - Dr. Metzger studied the first Starship test launch and found concrete chunks traveling at 90 meters per second, with sand carried 6 miles away in raindrops formed within a rotating cloud of hot exhaust. Landing Pad Solutions - Various approaches for building lunar landing pads include microwave sintering of lunar soil, bringing polymers from Earth as binders, creating rock beds, and baking pavers in ovens—all requiring robotic construction methods. Future of Space Industry - Dr. Metzger advocates moving computing and energy production to space to reduce Earth's industrial burden. He estimates it could take 20-30 years to reach a tipping point where space industry becomes self-sustaining, potentially accelerated by billionaire investment or government support. Lunar Mining Potential - Dr. Metzger discusses surface mining approaches versus underground operations, noting the Moon's surface has been bombarded for billions of years with bedrock lying 10 kilometers deep. Science Budget Concerns - The hosts and Dr. Metzger express concerns about reported cuts to NASA's science budget, particularly affecting Earth science programs, with Dr. Metzger warning this could harm America's leadership in scientific research. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Phil Metzger Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
In this episode of This Week in Space, hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik welcome Dr. Phil Metzger from the University of Central Florida to discuss the dangerous realities of rocket plumes when landing spacecraft on the Moon and Mars. Before diving into the main topic, the hosts talk about Jared Isaacman's NASA administrator confirmation hearing, Katy Perry's upcoming Blue Origin spaceflight, and a newly discovered comet. Headlines: Jared Isaacman's NASA Administrator Confirmation Hearing - The billionaire Shift4 CEO and astronaut faced intense questioning about his independence from Elon Musk, with senators repeatedly asking if Musk was present during his meeting with Trump. Isaacman confirmed he'll continue with Artemis missions and the ISS through 2030. Katy Perry's Space Flight - The pop star will join the world's first all-female crew aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard, scheduled for April 14. The crew includes Gayle King and other accomplished women, though the flight has received criticism for being extravagant during tough economic times. New Comet Discovered - Comet C/2025 F2 Swan was discovered on March 29 by a Ukrainian skywatcher and is currently visible to the naked eye in dark skies, though it will soon only be visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Main Topic - Rocket Plume Effects with Dr. Phil Metzger: Rocket Plume Dangers - Dr. Metzger explains how rocket exhaust can propel lunar soil at speeds up to 3 km/second (above lunar escape velocity), potentially damaging equipment far from landing sites and even ejecting material entirely off the Moon. Apollo 12 Evidence - The Surveyor 3 spacecraft, visited by Apollo 12 astronauts, showed significant sandblasting damage from the lunar module landing 160 meters away, with paint surfaces scoured and peppered with holes from high-velocity particles. SpaceX Starship Launch Analysis - Dr. Metzger studied the first Starship test launch and found concrete chunks traveling at 90 meters per second, with sand carried 6 miles away in raindrops formed within a rotating cloud of hot exhaust. Landing Pad Solutions - Various approaches for building lunar landing pads include microwave sintering of lunar soil, bringing polymers from Earth as binders, creating rock beds, and baking pavers in ovens—all requiring robotic construction methods. Future of Space Industry - Dr. Metzger advocates moving computing and energy production to space to reduce Earth's industrial burden. He estimates it could take 20-30 years to reach a tipping point where space industry becomes self-sustaining, potentially accelerated by billionaire investment or government support. Lunar Mining Potential - Dr. Metzger discusses surface mining approaches versus underground operations, noting the Moon's surface has been bombarded for billions of years with bedrock lying 10 kilometers deep. Science Budget Concerns - The hosts and Dr. Metzger express concerns about reported cuts to NASA's science budget, particularly affecting Earth science programs, with Dr. Metzger warning this could harm America's leadership in scientific research. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Phil Metzger Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
In this episode of This Week in Space, hosts Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik welcome Dr. Phil Metzger from the University of Central Florida to discuss the dangerous realities of rocket plumes when landing spacecraft on the Moon and Mars. Before diving into the main topic, the hosts talk about Jared Isaacman's NASA administrator confirmation hearing, Katy Perry's upcoming Blue Origin spaceflight, and a newly discovered comet. Headlines: Jared Isaacman's NASA Administrator Confirmation Hearing - The billionaire Shift4 CEO and astronaut faced intense questioning about his independence from Elon Musk, with senators repeatedly asking if Musk was present during his meeting with Trump. Isaacman confirmed he'll continue with Artemis missions and the ISS through 2030. Katy Perry's Space Flight - The pop star will join the world's first all-female crew aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard, scheduled for April 14. The crew includes Gayle King and other accomplished women, though the flight has received criticism for being extravagant during tough economic times. New Comet Discovered - Comet C/2025 F2 Swan was discovered on March 29 by a Ukrainian skywatcher and is currently visible to the naked eye in dark skies, though it will soon only be visible from the Southern Hemisphere. Main Topic - Rocket Plume Effects with Dr. Phil Metzger: Rocket Plume Dangers - Dr. Metzger explains how rocket exhaust can propel lunar soil at speeds up to 3 km/second (above lunar escape velocity), potentially damaging equipment far from landing sites and even ejecting material entirely off the Moon. Apollo 12 Evidence - The Surveyor 3 spacecraft, visited by Apollo 12 astronauts, showed significant sandblasting damage from the lunar module landing 160 meters away, with paint surfaces scoured and peppered with holes from high-velocity particles. SpaceX Starship Launch Analysis - Dr. Metzger studied the first Starship test launch and found concrete chunks traveling at 90 meters per second, with sand carried 6 miles away in raindrops formed within a rotating cloud of hot exhaust. Landing Pad Solutions - Various approaches for building lunar landing pads include microwave sintering of lunar soil, bringing polymers from Earth as binders, creating rock beds, and baking pavers in ovens—all requiring robotic construction methods. Future of Space Industry - Dr. Metzger advocates moving computing and energy production to space to reduce Earth's industrial burden. He estimates it could take 20-30 years to reach a tipping point where space industry becomes self-sustaining, potentially accelerated by billionaire investment or government support. Lunar Mining Potential - Dr. Metzger discusses surface mining approaches versus underground operations, noting the Moon's surface has been bombarded for billions of years with bedrock lying 10 kilometers deep. Science Budget Concerns - The hosts and Dr. Metzger express concerns about reported cuts to NASA's science budget, particularly affecting Earth science programs, with Dr. Metzger warning this could harm America's leadership in scientific research. Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Phil Metzger Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit
NASA administrator nominee Jared Isaacman appeared at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Intelsat has become the first and only satellite operator to complete a satellite life-extension mission. Sirius Space is collaborating with Ursa Major on the development of a medium-launch (ML) engine, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Oklahoma Lt Governor Matt Pinnell. You can learn more about the Lt Governor on his website and more on the Aerospace States Association on this website. Selected Reading NASA administrator nominee Jared Isaacman supports a return to the moon, argues for a parallel path to Mars - CBS News Intelsat Completes Satellite Life-Extension Mission, Makes Space History Ursa Major to expand partnership with Sirius Technologies Sidus Space and Reflex Aerospace Sign MOU to Launch Joint Venture for Global Satellite Solutions Space ISAC LinkedIn Atlas V Kuiper 1 Karman Space & Defense Reports Full-Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Billionaire and SpaceX astronaut , Jared Isaacman NASA confirmation hearing opening regards.⚡Support STAGE ZERO on Patreon - https://patreon.com/stagezero⚡
Jared Isaacman is a step closer to being conformed as the new head of NASA. The FRAM2 private astronaut mission is complete. SPHEREx and JWST both have wins! Comet SWAN is brightening. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/made-of-stars--4746260/support.
President Trump pauses reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, raises tariffs on China to 125%; House debates and votes on the Senate version of the Budget Resolution; Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem meets with family of victims of crimes committed by migrants in the U.S. illegally; wife of a Maryland man illegally deported to El Salvador meets with Members of Congress and pleads for his return; former Facebook employee, now a whistleblower, testifies before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Facebook's alleged dealings with the Chinese Communist Party; NASA Administrator nominee Jared Isaacman appears before the Senate Commerce Committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
US Space Systems Command has awarded three National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contracts to SpaceX, ULA and Blue Origin. Aetherflux has raised $50 million in a Series A funding round. A US Senate Committee will hold a hearing on Jared Isaacman's nomination to be NASA Administrator on April 9, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Bailey Reichelt and Jack Shelton bring us the ‘Ask Aegis Space Law” monthly segment. Feel free to email space@n2k.com with your questions for Aegis Space Law. Selected Reading Space Systems Command awards National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts Contracts for April 4, 2025 Aetherflux Raises $50 Million to Deliver Energy to Planet Earth Isaacman Nomination Hearing Set for April 9 – SpacePolicyOnline.com Here's what to expect from Project Kuiper's first full-scale satellite launch NASA Welcomes Gateway Lunar Space Station's HALO Module to US Vanguard 1 is the oldest satellite orbiting Earth. Scientists want to bring it home after 67 years- Space T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It'll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jake and Anthony are joined by writer and podcaster Jason Snell, to talk about Jared Isaacman's nomination to lead NASA, what's been up in the NASA CFO scene, what astronauts really want to be doing, and so much more. Also, this episode completes the Lifoff-Nominal crossover spectacular, AND makes 10 year old Anthony very happy that he's podcasting with Jason friggin' Snell.TopicsOff-Nominal - YouTubeEpisode 190 - Poolonauts (with Jason Snell) - YouTubeAnthony on CNN Last WeekMomentum seems to be building for Jared Isaacman to become NASA administrator - Ars TechnicaWhite House nominates Autry to be NASA's chief financial officer - SpaceNewsTrump White House drops diversity plan for Moon landing it created back in 2019 - Ars TechnicaEpisode 128 - These Were Bad Movies - Off-NominalFollow JasonJason Snell (@jsnell@zeppelin.flights) - The IncomparableSix Colors – Apple, technology, and other stuff by Jason Snell & Dan MorenUpgrade - RelayLiftoff - RelayThe Incomparable - Smart, funny pop culture podcastsNow entering the Snell ZoneFollow Off-NominalSubscribe to the show! - Off-NominalSupport the show, join the DiscordOff-Nominal (@offnom) / TwitterOff-Nominal (@offnom@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow JakeWeMartians Podcast - Follow Humanity's Journey to MarsWeMartians Podcast (@We_Martians) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit) | TwitterJake Robins (@JakeOnOrbit@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceFollow AnthonyMain Engine Cut OffMain Engine Cut Off (@WeHaveMECO) | TwitterMain Engine Cut Off (@meco@spacey.space) - Spacey SpaceAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo) | TwitterAnthony Colangelo (@acolangelo@jawns.club) - jawns.club
#NASA: WHERE'S THE HEARING FOR JARED ISAACMAN? BOB ZIMMERMAN BEHINDTHEBLACK.COM 1958
Subscriber-only episodeSend us a textWelcome back to the Ones Ready podcast—where we cut through the BS and talk about what actually matters. Today, retired Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula joins the team room to drop some truth bombs about the state of the Air Force, Space Force, and whether or not we're actually prepared for the next war. Spoiler alert: It's not looking great.
#NASA: IWHAT DELAYS JARED ISAACMAN? BOB ZIMMERMAN BEHINDTHEBLACK.COM 1951