Podcast appearances and mentions of John McCain

Meghan McCain joins Bruce and Gaydos to react to the the political assassination of Turning Point USA Co-founder Charlie Kirk.

Meghan McCain joins Bruce and Gaydos and discuss a new NBC News poll that shows stark differences in Gen-Z men versus Gen-Z women.

Wednesday, September 4th, 2024Donald Trump has lost another bid to delay his September 18th sentencing; RFK Jr. is being forced to remain on the ballot in Michigan; John McCain's youngest son has condemned Trump's behavior at Arlington and has said he will vote for Kamala Harris; a judge has issued an injunction against Donald Trump barring him from playing Isaac Hayes song at his rallies; the Harris campaign has announced unprecedented down ballot spending; a murderer who was pardoned by Donald Trump has been convicted domestic violence; the Justice Department has filed criminal charges against Hamas leaders for their role in the 10/7 attack on Israel; plus Aimee Carrero joins Allison to deliver your good news. Steve BenenMinistry of Truthmaddowblog.comstevebenen.comFollow:Aimee Carrerohttps://www.instagram.com/aimeecarrero Our Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - DonateMSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlueWhistleblowerAid.org/beansFederal workers - feel free to email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. Find Upcoming Actions 50501 Movement, No Kings.org, Indivisible.orgDr. Allison Gill - Substack, BlueSky , TikTok, IG, TwitterDana Goldberg - BlueSky, Twitter, IG, facebook, danagoldberg.comCheck out more from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | SubstackShare your Good News or Good TroubleMSW Good News and Good TroubleHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?The Daily Beans | SupercastThe Daily Beans & Mueller, She Wrote | PatreonThe Daily Beans | Apple Podcasts

Another example of the kind of kismet that happens when Jennifer and I meet up. We don't plan a guest list, we have Luana Anders, our moderator on the Flipside who does that for us. In this episode, the first person that comes through is Mr. Bailey, Luana's cat.  When Luana was on her death bed, her cat escaped from her house and disappeared. She called me in a panic. My soon to be wife Sherry went with me to see if we could find her. Sherry went into the backyard and said a prayer aloud: "Mr. Bailey, Luana needs you now." The cat appeared in the tree above, and jumped into Sherry's arms, a person she'd never met. Mr. Bailey wanted to talk about how animals have the ability to communicate to the afterlife, and while people may have filters on the brain that prevent them from that awareness, animals do not. Mr. Bailey confirmed what we've heard in the past; "animals understand how incarnation works, but humans do not." Hard for some folks to contemplate; dogs smell cancer, elephants can communicate over ten miles, octopuses have 9 brains, and do more with one year of life than humans can do in 90.  Some other pets stopped by to give their support. Then former President Reagan stopped by.  He said that our interview with JFK (a number of years ago, it's in the book BACKSTAGE PASS TO THE FLIPSIDE) inspired him to say hello.  He pointed out that he's had a number of lifetimes with Nancy in the past - even if he was married to someone else to begin with. (Jane Wyman whom Ronald said "raised him.")  I asked who in our classroom of notaries had invited him and he said it was John McCain. John came by some years ago after he passed to ask us to pass along a private message to his daughter, which I did through a producer at Coast to Coast radio.  I don't know if she dismissed the message, as I've yet to hear from her. But in those earlier conversations he confirmed a number of things only he could know - or be aware of.  People I interviewed in his office for the film "Three for the Road" and later, talked about meeting his victims of the Vietnam war on the flipside - and them understanding each other as players in a drama. He talked about the politics of the era when he passed, and this veiled reference to Steve Schmidt's 2020 comments about the current President were what I was referring to as someone had reposted them the other day. We've heard it often - people act out difficult roles onstage to get others to react and do that thing that they're supposed to do.  However, in terms of political debate, the former President deferred from doing so - as he put it "I just came by to express concern for how divide the country is." I asked if there was any advice he could give - some kind of grand gesture or action people could do. His answer was simple, yet profound. Smile.  Start smiling to people we know, then more that to people we don't know, then move that to people we may not like. Just the physical act of smiling changes the paradigm, and everyone can do that on their own. It sounds miniscule - but instead of arguing with someone who clearly still exists on the flipside, I think it's wise to consider that they're saying instead of belittling or berating it.  He was consider the great communicator - and why not listen to his advice. To be clear; we've communicated with a number of Presidents, both Bushes, Jimmy Carter, LBJ, Nixon, JFK, FDR and Truman.  Again - I ask the questions and Jennifer gives verbatim what she's hearing or sensing. It's possible miscommunicate, but when you've been working with someone weekly for ten years, if one is paying attention, we can see that these folks show up often to talk to us. And in this case - Ronnie himself.  While people may start with a defensive posture - defending him, or upset that he might speak on our podcast - the point is that anyone can invite him to have a conversation and see what he says. As noted, we have the current President's father and brother on a podcast, and the last President's late son Beau on that same podcast. It's mind bending to hear them talk about the play we're all involved in.  How we should spend more time talking to each other, coming together, than coming apart. Hard to fathom in today's climate, that that is the message that is repeated often. Enjoy. 

On CNN's State of the Union, Brianna Keilar and White House Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka spar over right-wing claims about the prevalence of mass shootings by transgender people. Next, Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar joins to respond and discuss how her community is dealing with the aftermath of the Minneapolis school shooting. Then, Democratic Congressman Wesley Bell, Republican Congressman Buddy Carter, CNN Political Commentator Kate Bedingfield, and CNN Senior Political Commentator Scott Jennings discuss the upheaval at the CDC and confusion over vaccine access. Finally, World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain joins Brianna to share what she saw on a recent trip to Gaza, as well as to reflect on the anniversary of her husband John McCain's passing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen to Zooming In at The UnPopulist in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RSS | YouTubeLandry Ayres: Welcome back to Zooming In at The UnPopulist. I'm Landry Ayres.We find ourselves in a deeply troubling moment for American democracy, grappling with the stark realities of a political landscape increasingly defined by fear, performative cruelty, and a conscious assault on established norms and institutions.This special live recording from ISMA's “Liberalism for the 21st Century” conference features host Aaron Ross Powell, as well as longtime observer of the militarization of police and author of the Substack, The Watch, Radley Balko, and co-founder and former contributor of The Bulwark, Charlie Sykes, author now of the Substack To the Contrary. They explore the mechanisms of this assault, how a manufactured crisis of fear is being weaponized by law enforcement, and the profound implications for civil liberties and the rule of law in America.The discussion is insightful, if unsettling.A transcript of today's podcast appears below. It has been edited for flow and clarity.Aaron Ross Powell: Welcome to a special live recording of The UnPopulist's Zooming In podcast here at the “Liberalism for the 21st Century” conference in Washington, D.C. I am Aaron Powell and I'm delighted to be joined by Radley Balko and Charlie Sykes to talk about the situation we find ourselves in.To me, the most striking image of Trump's campaign, months before he was reelected, was from the RNC. Before that, there was the weird one of him in the construction vest. But the most terrifying image was the one depicting the “Mass Deportation Now!” signs and the sneering and cruel faces celebrating the culture that they were wallowing in. Those faces made me think, as I was looking at them, of the faces in photographs during the Civil Rights Movement of police officers about to inflict violence, turn on firehoses, let dogs loose, and so on. And it felt like what we are seeing now.The “Mass Deportation Now!” images characterize not just the policies of Trump 2.0, but the attitude that they're trying to inflict upon the country. It feels like a rolling back of what we achieved in the 1960s from the Civil Rights Movement—it feels like we're in a retreat from that. This is a conscious attempt to roll that back. So I wanted to talk about that.Radley, I'll start with you. We're sitting in D.C. right now as National Guard troops and members of all sorts of agencies are patrolling the streets. Is this surprising to you—the pace at which these nominally public servants, who are supposed to serve and protect, have embraced this role of violence and fear and chaos?Radley Balko: I'm surprised at how quickly it's happened. I've been talking to people about this day for the last 20 years. I've been warning about the gradual militarization of our police, which is something that has happened in conjunction with the drug war and then the war on terror over 40 or 50 years.That debate was always about, “How militarized should our police be? How do we balance safety, and giving police officers what they need to protect public safety, with civil liberties and constitutional rights?” The fear was always that another Sept. 11 type event would cause what we're seeing now—that there would be a threat, a threat that everybody acknowledges as a threat, that would cause an administration, states, mayors, to crack down on civil liberties. But it would at least be a threat that everyone recognizes as a threat. We would be debating about how to react to it.When it comes to what's playing out today, there's no threat. This is all manufactured. This is all made up.Your juxtaposition of those two images—the clownish image of Trump in the construction vest and the other one depicting this genuinely terrifying anger and glee a lot of his followers get from watching grandmothers be raided and handcuffed and dragged out of their homes—show the clownishness and incompetence of this administration juxtaposed with the actual threat and danger, the hate and vitriol, that we see from his followers.We always hear that story about Ben Franklin after the Constitutional Convention: a woman comes up to him and says, “So, what is it, Mr. Franklin, do we have a republic or a monarchy?” And he says, “A republic, if you can keep it.” That phrase, of course, has been echoed throughout the ages. If Franklin were alive today, he would say, “You know, when I said that, I was worried about a Caracalla or a Sulla or a Caesar.” Instead it's like, this guy, the guy that has to win every handshake, that's who you're going to roll over for?I saw a lot of libertarian-ish people making this point before the election—that Trump's not a threat, he's a clown, he's incompetent, he's not dangerous. And you know what? He may be incompetent, but he's put people around him this time who do know what they're doing and who are genuinely evil.So, on some level, this was the worst case scenario that I never really articulated over the years when I've talked about police militarization. This is actual military acting as police, not police acting as the military. But here we are and they're threatening to spread it around the country to every blue city they can find.Powell: He's a clown, he's rightfully an object of ridicule, he doesn't know anything, he's riddled with pathologies that are obvious to everyone except him. And yet it's not just that he won, but that he effectively turned, not all of the American right, but certainly a large chunk of it into a personality cult. Charlie, given that he seems to be a singularly uninspiring personality, what happened?Charlie Sykes: Well, he's inspiring to his followers.Let me break down the question into two parts.I was in Milwaukee during the Republican Convention, when they were holding up the “Mass Deportation” signs—which was rather extraordinary, if you think about it, that they would actually put that in writing and cheer it. It's something that they'd been talking about for 10 years, but you could see that they were ramping it up.But you put your finger on this culture of performative cruelty and brutality that they have embraced. Trump has made no secret of that. It's one of the aspects of his appeal. For many, many years he's been saying that his idea of law and order is to have cops who will break heads and inflict harm. He's talked about putting razor blades on the top of the wall that Mexico was going to pay for. He's told stories about atrocities. One of his standard stories—that I think the media just stopped even quoting—was about Gen. “Black Jack” Pershing in World War I taking Muslim terrorists and shooting them with bullets that had been dipped in pig's blood. Totally b******t—he made the whole thing up. But it was an indication of a kind of bloodlust. He's talked about extrajudicial killings. He has expressed his admiration for strongmen like Duterte in the Philippines who have done this. He's talked about having drug courts that would have trials and executions the same day. So this is not a secret.What is really remarkable is the extent to which he's communicated that to his base. I mean, there are Americans who legitimately have concerns about immigration and about the border. But what he's also tapped into is this really visceral hatred of the other and the desire to inflict pain and suffering on them. I think that that is one of the ugliest aspects of his presence in our politics, and we saw that with the “Mass Deportation Now!” signs.Now, the second part is how he is implementing all of this with his raw police state, his masked brute squads sent into the city streets. And, again, he's made no secret of wanting to put active military troops into the streets of American cities. He was blocked from doing that in Trump 1.0, but obviously this is something that he's thought about and wants to do. And one of the most disturbing parts about this is the embrace of these kinds of tactics and this culture by law enforcement itself. Radley's written a lot about this. Donald Trump has gone out of his way, not only to defend war criminals, but also to defend police officers who've been accused of brutality. So he's basically put up a bat signal to law enforcement that: The gloves are off. We're coming in. There's a new sheriff in town.What's happening in Washington, D.C. is just a trial run. He's going to do this in New York. He's going to do this in Chicago. He's going to do this in one blue city after another. And the question is, “Will Americans just accept armed troops in their streets as normal?”Now, let me give a cautionary note here: Let's not gaslight Americans that there's not actually a crime problem. I think Democrats are falling into a kind of trap because there are legitimate concerns about public safety. So the argument shouldn't be: There's no crime problem. The argument should be: This is exactly the wrong way to go about dealing with it. Having mass, brute squads on the street is one step toward really running roughshod over a lot of different rights—due process rights and other constitutional rights—that most Americans are going to be reluctant to give up. But we're going to find out, because all of this is being tested right now.Balko: I'd like to jump in on the crime point. I mean, crime is down in D.C. D.C. does have a comparatively high crime rate for a city of its size. There's no question. It's always been that way here. But the idea that there's something happening right now that merits this response is what I meant when I called it a manufactured crisis.I think it's important to point out that, like you said, he's always wanted to do this. This is just the reason that he's managed to put his finger on and thinks is going to resonate.“I've been talking to people about this day for the last 20 years. I've been warning about the gradual militarization of our police, which is something that has happened in conjunction with the drug war and then the war on terror over 40 or 50 years. That debate was always about, ‘How militarized should our police be? How do we balance safety, and giving police officers what they need to protect public safety, with civil liberties and constitutional rights?' The fear was always that another Sept. 11 type event would cause what we're seeing now—that there would be a threat, that everybody acknowledges as a threat, that would cause an administration, states, mayors, to crack down on civil liberties. But there would at least be a threat that everyone recognizes as a threat. We'd be debating about how to react to it. When it comes to what's playing out today, there's no threat. This is all manufactured. This is all made up.” — Radley BalkoI do think we need to talk about crime and about what works and what doesn't. But I think it's important to acknowledge that “crime” is just the reason that he's found right now. This is something that he's been planning to do forever. Like Kristi Noem said, it is basically about deposing the leadership in these cities. In Los Angeles, she said that their goal was to “liberate” it from the socialist elected leaders.Sykes: I agree with you completely about that. I'm just saying that there is a danger of putting too much emphasis on the idea that there is not a crime problem—because in Chicago, there's a crime problem, in New York, there's a crime problem. People feel it. And, I mean, didn't Democrats learn a lesson in 2024 when there was inflation and they said, “Oh no, no, no, there's not really inflation here. Let me show you a chart. You can't think that the cost of living is a problem because here are some statistics that I have for you. There's not really a problem at the border—if you think there's a problem of immigration, a problem at the border, here, I have a chart showing you that there isn't a problem.” Well, you can't.If the public honestly thinks that there is a problem at the border, that there's a problem with inflation, and that there's a problem with crime, it's politically problematic to deny it because as David Frum wrote presciently in The Atlantic several years ago: If liberals will not enforce the border—you could add in, “or keep the city streets safe”—the public will turn to the fascists. If they think you will solve this problem and you're pretending it does not exist or you're trying to minimize it, they'll turn to the fascists.Balko: I don't want to belabor this, but I just think it's dangerous to concede the point when the premise itself is wrong.So, Trump made crime an issue in 2016, right? Recall the American Carnage inauguration speech. When Trump took office in Jan. 2017, he inherited the lowest murder rate of any president in the last 50 years. And yet he ran on crime. I think that it's important to push back and say, “Wait a minute, no, Obama did not cause a massive spike in crime. There was a tiny uptick in 2015, but that was only because 2014 was basically the safest year in recent memory.”Trump is also the first president in 30 years to leave office with a higher murder rate than when he entered it. You know, I don't think that presidents have a huge effect on crime, but Trump certainly does.So, I agree with you that we can't say crime isn't a problem, but we can also point out that crime went up under Trump and that what he's doing will make things worse.Sykes: I think these are all legitimate points to make. It's just that, Trump has this reptilian instinct to go for vulnerabilities. And one of the vulnerabilities of the progressive left is the problem of governance. If there is a perception that these urban centers are badly governed, that they are overrun with homeless encampments and crime and carjacking, then the public will see what he's doing as a solution.By the way, I'm making this argument because I think that we can't overstate how dangerous and demagogic what he's doing is. But I'm saying that this is going to be a huge fight. He's going to go into Chicago where crime is just demonstrably a problem, and where I think the mayor has an approval rating of about 12 to 16%, and he's going to say, “I am here with the cavalry.”There's got to be a better answer for this. There's got to be a way to focus on the real threat to the constitutional order that he is posing, as opposed to arguing on his ground and saying, “No, no, don't pay attention to crime, inflation, the border.”And, again, I'm making this argument because this is one that I think the country really has to win. Otherwise we are going to see militarization and an actual police state.Powell: Let me see if I can pull together some of the threads from the conversation so far, because I think there's a nexus, or something that needs to be diagnosed, to see the way through.When you [Charlie] were mentioning the bullets covered in pig's blood, what occurred to me was ... I was a kid at the height of '80s action movies. And that's the kind of thing that the bad guys did in '80s action movies. That's the kind of thing that justified the muscular American blowing them up or otherwise dispatching them.There's been a turn, now, in that we're seeing behavior from Americans that they would have at one point said, “This isn't who we are.” The Christianity that many Americans hold to, this is not the way that Jesus tells them to act. There's been a shift in our willingness to embrace this sort of thing, and it's behavior that I would have expected to horrify basically everyone watching it happening.And it is—his approval readings are declining rapidly. It is horrifying a lot of people—but fewer than I would have hoped. One of you mentioned that, on the one hand, there's the cruelty, but there's also the fear—and those are feeding into each other. And what I wonder is, yes, there's crime, but at the same time, if your media consumption habits are those of a committed Trump supporter, you are being told constantly to be afraid that everybody outside your door, except for the people who you recognize, or maybe the people who share your skin color or speak with the same accent you do, is a threat to you and your family.I see this with members of my own family who are Trump supporters. They are just terrified. “I can't ride the subway. It's too scary to ride the subway.” Or, “I go out in D.C. and I see youths doing the kinds of things youths do, and now I don't feel safe having my family there.” We don't have a war. We don't have a crisis. But we've told a huge portion of the country, “You should be afraid of every last thing except your immediate family and that guy who now rules the country.” And the crime rates are part of it. It's like, “You should be scared of every single one of these cities.”Sykes: It's a story. One of the speakers today was talking about the power of stories, that demagogues will tell a story. And a story of fear and anger is a very, very powerful story that you can't counteract with statistics. You need to counteract it with other stories.“This culture of performative cruelty and brutality is one of the aspects of his appeal. For many years he's been saying that his idea of law and order is to have cops who will break heads and inflict harm. He's talked about putting razor blades on the top of the wall that Mexico was going to pay for. He's told stories about atrocities. He would tell the story about Gen. ‘Black Jack' Pershing in World War I taking Muslim terrorists and shooting them with bullets that had been dipped in pig's blood. He's talked about extrajudicial killings. He has expressed his admiration for strongmen like Duterte in the Philippines who have done this. He's talked about having drug courts that would have trials and executions the same day. What is really remarkable is the extent to which he's communicated that to his base. He's tapped into this really visceral hatred of the other and the desire to inflict pain and suffering on them. I think that that is one of the ugliest aspects, and we saw that with the ‘Mass Deportation Now!' signs.” — Charlie SykesPart of the problem is that Trump has made that narrative. So, for example, you have members of your family who are Trump supporters. My guess is that they could name the young women who had been raped and murdered by illegal immigrants. Because, I mean, on Fox News, this is happening all the time, right? On Fox News, illegal immigrants are criminals. “Look at the crimes they are committing.” They tell that story in the most graphic way possible, and then turn around and say, “If you oppose what Donald Trump is doing, you are defending these ‘animals'”—as Trump described them.It is deeply dishonest. It is deeply dangerous. But it is potent. And we ought to look at it in the face and recognize how he is going to weaponize those stories and that fear, which is really the story of our era now. We're living in this era of peace, prosperity, general safety—and yet he's created this “American carnage” hellscape story.Balko: Yeah, I also think there's this weird paradox of masculinity in the MAGA movement. It's not about masculinity—it's about projecting masculinity. It's about co-opting aspects of masculinity. And it's like, “We're the manly men. We need men to be men again. And that's why we support men who sexually assault and sexually harass women. And, at the same time, we're all going to genuflect and debase ourselves in front of this 79-year-old man, because he's our leader and we need to let him insult our wives. And we're also scared to take the subway.” I think there were 10 murders last year in the New York city subway. The subway is one of the safest public spaces you'll find anywhere. But you'll regularly see MAGA people go on Fox News and talk about how scared they are of it.I mean, I don't know how persuadable any of MAGA is, but I do think pointing out the sheer cowardliness might resonate. When Markwayne Mullin goes on the Sunday shows and says he doesn't wear a seatbelt anymore because he's afraid he'll get carjacked and he needs to be able to jump out of his car quickly ...Sykes: ... He actually did say that.Balko: Yeah. And, I don't know what the stats are, but it's something like you're 40 or 50 times more likely to die in a car accident than you are in a carjacking. So, you know, he's sealing his own fate, I guess.But I do think that maybe there's something to appealing to their lack of masculinity when they try to push some of these narratives.Sykes: Well, yeah, I do think there are narratives out there.We have National Guard troops here in Washington, D.C.—where were they on Jan. 6th? Why did the president not bring them in then? We had one of the greatest assaults on law enforcement. So we can call b******t on Donald Trump being the “law and order,” “back the blue” president.One of the first things he did when he took office was issue the blanket pardons to all the rioters and seditionists who not only assaulted the Capitol, but specifically the ones who attacked police officers. We can stand up and say, “I don't want to be lectured by the man who gave the Get Out of Jail Free card to the people who tased and bear sprayed police officers in this city. Not to mention,”—before he brings up the whole “defund the police” thing—“the man who right now is dismantling the nation's premier law enforcement agency, the FBI.” Because all of these FBI agents who are being gutted or tasked with hassling homeless people in Washington, D.C., you know what they're not doing? They are not investigating child sex trafficking. They are not engaging in any anti-terrorism activities.So, what you do is call them out, saying, “You are not making this country safer. You are not the ‘law and order' president. You are a convicted felon. You in fact have freed and celebrated people who actually beat cops.” If Barack Obama would have pardoned someone who had attacked police officers, the right would have been utterly incandescent. And yet Donald Trump does it and he's not called out on it.I understand that there are some who are reluctant to say, “Well, no, we're actually the party of law and order. We're actually the party of public safety.” But you hit him right in what I think is a real vulnerability.Balko: One of the guys who literally told Jan. 6 rioters to kill the police is now a respected senior member of the Justice Department, whereas the guy who threw a sandwich at a cop is facing a felony charge. That is Trump's approach to law enforcement.Sykes: I always hate it when people go on TV and say, “This should be a talking point.” But that ought to be a talking point. Don't you think everybody ought to know his name? We have the video of Jared Wise saying, “Kill ‘em! Kill ‘em!” and calling the police Nazis. And he is now a top official in Donald Trump's Justice Department.Powell: This is my concern, though—and this allows me to belabor my Civil Rights Movement point some more. One of the reasons that the anti-civil rights movement, the counter-movement, was as vicious and as ugly as it was is because it was a group of people who felt like they had a status level by virtue of being white, of being men. As they saw things, “If we help minorities and others rise up, that lowers the baseline status that I have.” So they wanted to fight back. It was, “I'm going to keep these people down because it keeps me up.” And when Radley said that they're “projecting masculinity,” I think that's a big part.A big part of the appeal is, “Now I'm seeing guys like me dominating. Now I'm seeing guys who are from my area or share my cultural values or dress like me or are into the same slogans or have the same fantasies of power as I do, or just aren't the coastal elites with their fancy educations and so on, dominating.” And my worry is if that's what's driving a lot of it—that urge to domination coupled with the fear, which I think then allows them to overcome any barriers they have to cruelty—if you marry, “I can have power” and “I'm scared of these people,” that to them justifies their actions in the same way that it does the action movie heroes killing the guys who put the pig's blood on bullets. It becomes justified to inflict cruelty upon those they hate.My worry is if you go after them in that way, it feels like, “Okay, now what you're saying is these guys who look like me, who were dominating, don't actually deserve it.” I don't think that means that we stay away from it, but I think it risks triggering even more of this, “What I want is for it to be my boot on people's necks and I want them to stop putting me down. And I want them to stop telling me that I'm not good, that I'm incompetent, that it's not okay for me to beat my wife” (or whatever it happens to be). Trump is like an avatar for very mediocre men.Sykes: Well, I wouldn't use that as a talking point.Balko: A few years ago, I wrote a piece about a Black police chief who was hired in Little Rock by a mayor who ran on a reform platform and this police chief had a good record. He was in Norman, Okla. before that—he was the first Black chief in Oklahoma. And he was not a progressive by any means, but he was a reformer in that he wanted things to be merit-based and Little Rock has a really strong white police union. I say that because they also have a Black police union, because the Black officers didn't feel like they were represented by the white union.One of the first things that Chief Humphrey did was make the promotional interviews, that you get to move up through the ranks, blind. So you didn't know who you're talking to. If you were white, you didn't know if it was a fellow white person you were interviewing. Most of the people in charge were. The result of removing race from that process was that more Black officers were getting promoted than before. And I wrote about him because he ended up getting chased out of town. They hit him with fake sexual harassment charges; the union claimed he was harassing white women. Basically, they exerted their power and managed to chase him out.But one of the things he told me when I interviewed him was—and other people have said different versions of this—that when your entire life you've been the beneficiary of racial preferences as a white person, as happened in this country for most of its existence, meritocracy looks a lot like racial discrimination. Because things that you got just simply because you were entitled to now you have to earn. And that looks like, “Hey, this Black guy is getting this job over me. And that's not right. Because my dad got that job over the Black guy and his dad got the job over the Black guy.”And I think this backlash that we're seeing against DEI—I'm sure there are parts of this country where DEI was promoting unqualified people just to have diversity, and I do think there's there's value in diversity for diversity's sake—is white people, who have been benefiting from our racial hierarchy system that's been in place since the Founding, were starting to see themselves passed over because we were now moving to a merit-based system and they saw that as discrimination. That's a big part of the backlash.I don't know what the solution is. I don't know that we just re-impose all of the former policies once Trump's out of power, if he's ever out of power. But I do think that there is value in diversity for diversity's sake. Obviously I don't support strict quota systems, but I do think it's important to make that point that addressing historical injustices is critical.We went to the art museum in Nashville the other day and they had a whole exhibit about Interstate I-40 going through Nashville. It was supposed to go through this industrial area where there were no neighborhoods or private homes. And the Tennessee legislature deliberately made it run through the wealthiest Black neighborhood in Nashville and destroyed about 80% of Black wealth in the city. That was 1968—that was not 1868. That's relatively recently that you're destroying a ton of wealth. And you can find that history in every single city.I think a big part of this backlash is not knowing that history—and only knowing what's happening now and experiencing it out of context. For those people, it feels like reverse discrimination.Sykes: So, yes, a lot of this is true. But it's not the whole story. In the state of Wisconsin, overwhelmingly white voters voted for Barack Obama, a Black man, twice in a row before voting for Donald Trump. So we do have that long, deep history of racism, but then also an America that I think was making some progress. I'm just going to put this out as a counterpoint: I think that if people were appealing to the “better angels of their nature,” a lot of these people would not be buying into the cruelty, the brutality, the racism. Instead, we're appealing to their sense of victimization.But let's be honest about it. We moved from a Civil Rights Movement that was morally based on fairness and the immorality of discrimination to one that increasingly was identity politics that morphed into DEI, which was profoundly illiberal. What happened was a lot of the guys we're talking about were thinking not just that they want their boots on people's head, but they're constantly being told that they were bad, that their contributions were not significant. There were invisible tripwires of grievance—what you could say, what you could do, the way you had to behave. In the before times, a lot of the attacks on free speech and the demands for ideological conformity on university campuses were not coming from the illiberal right—they were coming from the illiberal left.And as I'm listening to the speakers at this conference talk about the assault on liberalism, I think one of the questions we have to ask—and maybe this is a little meta—is why it was so brittle. Well, it was brittle because it was caught in a pincer movement by the illiberal left and the illiberal right. My point is that a lot of this reaction is in fact based on racial animus, but there's also a sense that I hear from a lot of folks, a sense of liberation that they feel, that the boot was on their necks and is now being taken off, that they're not having to go to these highly ideological DEI training sessions where they were told how terrible and awful they were all the time. And how, if you believed in a race-blind society, that was a sign you were racist. If white women actually were moved by stories of racism and wept, that was white women's tears. This was heavy handed.“I do think the people who signed off on extraordinary rendition and snatching people off the street and sending them to a literal torture prison in El Salvador, those people need to be criminally charged. But I also think there need to be civil society repercussions. There are so many people in media—pundits, politicians who know better—who have a long record of pointing out how dangerous Trump was and then turned on a dime and started supporting him. I don't wish any physical harm on those people. I don't think any of those people should be put in prison. But I think those people should never be trusted as public intellectuals.” — Radley BalkoSo there was a backlash that was going to be inevitable. What's tragic is the way that it has been co-opted by the people who have really malign motives, who are not acting out of good will—the Stephen Millers who have figured out a way to weaponize this. But that line that goes from the racism of 1957 to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, to a broad-based civil rights consensus—and, again, there's caveats in all of this—to identity-based politics. Let's be honest about it. That was not without sin. That was not without problems.Balko: So, I agree that there was I guess what you could call an illiberal approach to a mutual exchange of ideas on college campuses. There was a lot of shouting down of conservative speakers. In some cases, there were invitations revoked to valedictory speeches. There was some cutting off of funding for conservative speakers. But I want to make sure we're not delving into false equivalences here. I mean, the boot that you're talking about, Charlie, was a metaphorical boot, and we're talking about a very literal boot now.Sykes: Absolutely. That distinction is a significant one.Balko: So, my preferred way of expressing my disagreement with someone isn't to shout them down. I will say, though, that protest is a form of speech. I think, even to some extent, interrupting speeches that are particularly problematic or extremist is a form of speech. It's not one that I personally would engage in. But the type of censorship we're seeing now is direct. It is government censorship. It is not a violation of the spirit of free expression that we were seeing on college campuses before.Sykes: Oh, it was more than just that kind of violation. You had universities that required people to sign a DEI statement where they had to make ideological commitments in order to get a job. I mean, this was very heavy handed. There were no literal boots, but ... I like Jonathan Rauch's analogy that the illiberalism of the left is still a real problem, but it's like a slow-growing cancer. Right now, what we're facing with the illiberalism of the right is a heart attack. We have to deal with the heart attack right now, but let's not pretend that everyone who objects to some of the things that were happening are doing so because they are just vile, white racists.This is part of the problem. People spent decades accusing others of being racist on flimsy grounds. If you support Mitt Romney, you're a racist. If you support tax cuts, you're a racist. You know what happened? I come from this world and there was a time when to be called a racist was the worst thing you could possibly say about somebody. And it got to the point where, literally, if you were in favor of school choice, you were racist; in favor of tax cuts, you were racist. If you voted for a Republican … John McCain was a racist, George Bush was a racist. So when the real thing came along, guess what people said? They just rolled their eyes, shrugged, and said, “We've heard this before.” I mean, it was crying wolf for decades.And I've had these conversations when I would say, “How can you support someone who is just espousing this raw, vicious racism about Haitians eating dogs?” You know what I would get? “Oh, we've been hearing this for 20 years. Literally everyone I know has been accused of being a racist.”So we need to come back to a consensus. If we're going to restore that liberal consensus, we're going to have to say, “This is acceptable behavior. And this is not acceptable behavior.” But we are not going to use these labels to vilify. The politics of contempt is just not helpful. It is not helpful to tell people, “By the way, I think you're an idiot. I think you're stupid. I think you're racist. Would you like to hear my ideas about taxes now?” It doesn't work. And I think that one of the things that, tragically, Trump has tapped into is the sense that these elites look down on you.So, Aaron, when you say that this is the revolution of mediocre men, not helpful. Now, some of them are mediocre. I certainly agree. I write about mediocre people all the time—but, again, the politics of contempt is not the way to get ourselves out of this.Powell: I think there's a distinction between messaging and diagnosis. And if we're to understand how we got here, or the kinds of beliefs or values that can lead someone ... and I don't mean, you've been a partisan Republican voter for your entire life, and you come from a family of this, and you pulled the lever for Trump, but you're mostly an uninformed voter, which is a lot of people—I mean, the people who are cheering on Stephen Miller, they're in a different category. So it might be that, if you have one of those people in front of you, the message is not to say, “There's a broken set of morals at play here,” or “there's a cramped view of humanity at play here,” because they're not going to hear that in the moment.But if we're to understand how we got here and what we're up against, I think we have to be fairly clear-eyed about the fact that the [Trumpian] values that we've discovered over the last 10, 15 years have much more appeal and purchase among a lot of Americans than I think any of us had really expected or certainly hoped, and then figure out how to address that. And, again, it's not everybody—but it's more than I would like. If those values are central to someone's being, and the way that they view others around them and the way they relate to their fellow man, then I think a lot of the less condemning arguments also won't find purchase because, ultimately, it's not a policy difference. It's a, “I want a crueler world.”Sykes: This is where I think the argument that says, “Let's look at this cruelty. Let's look at this brutality. Let's look at the Stephen Millers” ... believe it or not, I actually think it's potent to say to somebody, “Do you want to be like that? Is that really what you want America to be? You're better than that.” And then, “Let me tell you the story of decency.”The story that we heard earlier today about how neighbors who are Trump voters will be there if your house is burning down or your father dies ... you appeal to that innate decency and say, “Do you really want this cruelty?” This is what's lacking, I think, on the right and in the Republican Party right now: people who say, “Okay, you may want less taxes, smaller government, a crackdown on street crime, less illegal immigration ... but is this who you want to be?” Show them the masked officer who is dragging the grandmother away. I do think that there is the better angel that says, “No, that is really not the American story.” You have to appeal to them as opposed to just condemn them. I'm not sure we're disagreeing, but I actually think that that's potent.Balko: I think there is not only room for ridicule when you're up against an aspiring authoritarian, but a lot of history shows it's often one of the few things that works because they really hate to be disrespected.I agree with Charlie that I don't think it's necessarily productive to make fun of people who have been tricked or who have been lied to, but I also think it's worth pointing out that Trump has contempt for his own supporters. I mean, one of the great ironies of our time is that when Trump would need a boost of self-esteem, he would go hold a rally in a state that, before he ran for president, he would never have been caught dead in. He grifts from his own supporters. His lies about Covid got his own supporters killed at higher rates than people in states that didn't vote for him. But I agree that it doesn't serve much benefit to denigrate people.Sykes: But do ridicule the people who are doing it. I mean, don't get me wrong. South Park is doing God's work right now.Balko: Absolutely.Powell: What, then, is the way forward?“This is part of the problem. People spent decades accusing others of being racist on flimsy grounds. If you support Mitt Romney, you're a racist. If you support tax cuts, you're a racist. You know what happened? I come from this world and there was a time when to be called a racist was the worst thing you could possibly say about somebody. And it got to the point where, literally, if you were in favor of school choice, you were racist; in favor of tax cuts, you were racist. If you you voted for Republican. John McCain was a racist. George Bush was a racist. So when the real thing came along, guess what people said? They just rolled their eyes, shrugged, and said, ‘We've heard this before.' I mean, it was crying wolf for decades.” — Charlie SykesLet's assume that democracy survives this current moment and that we somehow put Trump behind us. We can't go back to the status quo before this. We can't just say, “We're going to go back to the kind of politics we had during the Biden administration.” That seems to be off the table. We need something new. We need a new direction. What does that look like?Sykes: I honestly do not know at this point. And I don't think anybody knows. But I do think that we ought to remember, because we throw around the term “liberal democracy” a lot, that democracies are not necessarily liberal. Democracies are not necessarily kind. And I think we need to go back to things like the rule of law.I think it's going to involve some kind of restoration of balance in society. The damage that's being done now is so deep and some of it is so irreparable that I'm hoping that there will be a backlash against it, that there will be a pendulum swing back towards fundamental decency. And even though we keep talking about democracy a lot, I think we need to start talking about freedom and decency a little bit more.You know, I was listening to the Russian dissident who spoke tonight and he asked us to imagine what it's like trying to create a democratic society in Russia with all of their history and all their institutions. As bad as things are for us, we have a big head start. We still have an infrastructure, compared to what he is up against. We still can restore, I think, that fundamental decency and sense of freedom and equality before the law.Balko: I also don't know exactly what it's going to look like. I will say this: I think one of the big reasons why we are where we are today is that there wasn't a proper reckoning, and no real accountability, after the Civil War and Reconstruction. It's been the same with Jan. 6. There was no real accountability. The Democrats waited too long for impeachment. The DOJ was slow.I do think there have to be repercussions. I'm not saying that we throw everybody in the Trump administration in prison, but I do think the people who signed off on extraordinary rendition and snatching people off the street and sending them to a literal torture prison in El Salvador, those people need to be criminally charged.But I also think there need to be civil society repercussions. There are so many people in media—pundits, politicians who know better—who have a long record of pointing out how dangerous Trump was and then turned on a dime and started supporting him. I don't wish any physical harm on those people. I don't think any of those people should be put in prison. But I think those people should never be trusted as public intellectuals. We shouldn't employ them in that realm. I think they should be able to earn a living. I don't think they should earn our trust.I have zero confidence that that's going to happen. But I can personally say that I have no interest in participating in events like this with those people. I have no interest in giving those people any kind of legitimacy because they tried to take our birthright away from us, which is a free and democratic society—the country that, for all its flaws, has been an exemplary country in the history of humankind. They literally are trying to end that. And I don't think you just get to walk away from that and pretend like it never happened.Sykes: I totally agree.Powell: With that, thank you, Radley. Thank you, Charlie.© The UnPopulist, 2025Follow us on Bluesky, Threads, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X.We welcome your reactions and replies. Please adhere to our comments policy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theunpopulist.net

Meghan McCain joined Bruce and Gaydos and shared her thoughts on the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington D.C.

To kick off the show Chad is joined by former Governor Minnesota Tim Pawlenty. Tim shares his earliest State Fair memory and his plans for the day with his family. Chad asks what it was like to visit the Fair back when he was Governor. They discuss what the days were like when he was under consideration for the Vice Presidency on John McCain's ticket in the 2008 election. They also chat about fraud at the state level and the lack of oversight in keeping track of public money and Tim's thoughts on the Republicans running for Governor.

BUY GOLD HERE: https://firstnationalbullion.com/schedule-consult/ Avoid CBDCs and work with Mark Gonzales! Get Your SUPER-SUPPLIMENTS HERE: https://vni.life/wam Use Code WAM15 & Save 15%! Life changing formulas you can't find anywhere else! HELP SUPPORT US AS WE DOCUMENT HISTORY HERE: https://gogetfunding.com/help-keep-wam-alive/# Josh Sigurdson talks with Mark Gonzales about the decisions being made to bring in a new chair at the Federal Reserve following the Jacksonhole conference in Wyoming. The Federal Reserve which has printed the United States into oblivion with inflation has been headed up by people like Paul Volker, Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Janey Yellen and currently Jerome Powell. What's the difference among them? Absolutely nothing, except Paul Volker headed the central bank for a short period of deflation. Now, Powell is set to be replaced and there are 11 candidates for Fed Chair. 2 of them are the most likely candidates. The names are Kevin Hassett and Kevin Warsh. A small amount of research will tell you that both of these candidates are the typical establishment economists promoting the same old Keynesian Economics of the past with intention to expand into a global cashless currency system. Hassett worked on John McCain 2000 and 2008 campaigns as an economic adviser. He was also an economic adviser to George W Bush and Mitt Romney, or as some people call him "Obama 2.0." Hassett has also been an adviser to President Trump during both terms and was heavily involved in closing businesses in 2020 and pushing for the printing of 25% of currency ever printed in the United States including $3 trillion in 2020 that lead to the massive inflation we see today. Kevin Warsh worked as a fed governor as well as worked for the Group of 20 and the Group of 30, both of which heavily promote a global digital currency system. He has worked under Bush and Obama. He worked on the steering committee of the Bilderberg Group. Like we have said, in with the new boss, same as the old boss... Regardless of who is in power as a so-called "president," the economic policies remain technically speaking the same. The same old script will continue to play out as one side or the other sits on their hands for 4 to 8 years as people devolve further into poverty and through weakening of the spirit and demoralization, the people are more easy to control. The coming technocratic system is being put in place as we speak and people are still playing the game of politics, doing nothing to prepare. Perhaps it's time people take this more seriously, throw away the "hopium" and seek real world solutions for themselves. Stay tuned for more from WAM! GET NON-MRNA FREEZE DRIED MEAT HERE: https://wambeef.com/ Use code WAMBEEF to save 20%! GET HEIRLOOM SEEDS & NON GMO SURVIVAL FOOD HERE: https://heavensharvest.com/ USE Code WAM to save 5% plus free shipping! Get local, healthy, pasture raised meat delivered to your door here: https://wildpastures.com/promos/save-20-for-life/bonus15?oid=6&affid=321 USE THE LINK & get 20% off for life and $15 off your first box! DITCH YOUR DOCTOR! https://www.livelongerformula.com/wam Get a natural health practitioner and work with Christian Yordanov! Mention WAM and get a FREE masterclass! You will ALSO get a FREE metabolic function assessment! GET YOUR APRICOT SEEDS at the life-saving Richardson Nutritional Center HERE: https://rncstore.com/r?id=bg8qc1 Use code JOSH to save money! SIGN UP FOR HOMESTEADING COURSES NOW: https://freedomfarmers.com/link/17150/ Get Prepared & Start The Move Towards Real Independence With Curtis Stone's Courses! GET YOUR WAV WATCH HERE: https://buy.wavwatch.com/WAM Use Code WAM to save $100 and purchase amazing healing frequency technology! GET ORGANIC CHAGA MUSHROOMS HERE: https://alaskachaga.com/wam Use code WAM to save money! See shop for a wide range of products! GET AMAZING MEAT STICKS HERE: https://4db671-1e.myshopify.com/discount/WAM?rfsn=8425577.918561&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=8425577.918561 USE CODE WAM TO SAVE MONEY! GET YOUR FREEDOM KELLY KETTLE KIT HERE: https://patriotprepared.com/shop/freedom-kettle/ Use Code WAM and enjoy many solutions for the outdoors in the face of the impending reset! PayPal: ancientwonderstelevision@gmail.com FIND OUR CoinTree page here: https://cointr.ee/joshsigurdson PURCHASE MERECHANDISE HERE: https://world-alternative-media.creator-spring.com/ JOIN US on SubscribeStar here: https://www.subscribestar.com/world-alternative-media For subscriber only content! Pledge here! Just a dollar a month can help us alive! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2652072&ty=h&u=2652072 BITCOIN ADDRESS: 18d1WEnYYhBRgZVbeyLr6UfiJhrQygcgNU World Alternative Media 2025

The story we've been told is simple: in February 2022, Vladimir Putin woke up one morning, decided to invade a peaceful, democratic Ukraine, and launched an “unprovoked war.” That's the official narrative. But history is never that simple.From the 1990s onward, Moscow warned that NATO expansion into its backyard was a red line. Gorbachev and later Yeltsin were assured that the alliance would not creep eastward. Yet step by step—Poland, Hungary, the Baltics, talk of Georgia and Ukraine—NATO advanced. To Washington, enlargement was “stability.” To Moscow, it was encirclement.The real break came in 2014. Ukraine's elected president, Viktor Yanukovych, leaned toward Moscow on trade and energy. That was unacceptable to Washington and Brussels. When mass protests erupted in Kyiv, the U.S. wasn't a bystander. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland and Senator John McCain both appeared on the ground, cheering the crowds. In a leaked call, Nuland infamously dismissed Europe's hesitance—“F*** the EU”—while handpicking who should form the next government. To Moscow, this was regime change with CIA, State, and USAID fingerprints all over it.The revolution ousted Yanukovych and installed a Western-leaning government. Overnight, Ukraine shifted from Moscow's orbit to Brussels'. What followed wasn't peace. In Donbas, the Russian-speaking east rose in rebellion. Kyiv responded with force. Shelling, rockets, and artillery fire turned towns into rubble. Between 2014 and 2022, more than 14,000 people died in a grinding low-intensity war. For people in Donetsk or Luhansk, the war didn't begin in 2022—it had already been burning for eight years.This backstory matters because it reframes 2022. Putin didn't invade a neutral neighbor out of nowhere. He acted after decades of ignored warnings and eight years of bloodshed in the Donbas. Was the invasion brutal? Yes. Was it unprovoked? Hardly.Critics will call this “carrying water for Putin.” But acknowledging how the West lit the fuse doesn't absolve Moscow of blame. It explains why Russia saw the stakes as existential. When Ukraine amended its constitution to commit to NATO membership, Moscow heard one message: eventually, U.S. missiles could sit 300 miles from Moscow. For a nuclear power that lost 27 million lives in World War II, this wasn't abstract.The West believed sanctions would collapse Russia's economy and that Putin would face regime change. Instead, Moscow built its own military-industrial base, deepened ties with China, India, and the BRICS bloc, and weathered the storm. Far from isolating Russia, the war accelerated a global realignment away from dollar dominance.Meanwhile, Ukraine—brilliant engineers, fertile farmland, energy transit routes—has become a pawn. Western politicians invoke democracy while oligarchs, defense contractors, and energy interests profit. Hunter Biden's Burisma board seat was not an outlier; it was a symptom of how entangled Washington had become in Ukraine's internal affairs.This isn't a defense of Russia's invasion. It's a reminder that wars don't appear overnight. They build. They escalate. They ignite only after a fuse has been laid. In Ukraine, that fuse was NATO expansion, the 2014 coup, and the long, bloody stalemate in Donbas.The world didn't start burning in 2022. We just finally saw the explosion.

Meghan McCain joins Bruce and Gaydos and shares her thoughts on the meeting between President Trump, President Putin and President Zelenskyy.

Meghan McCain joins Bruce and Lady La to discuss Trump taking over the Washington police force, and the Trump-Putin Alaska summit.

Meghan McCain joins Bruce and Gaydos to discuss the firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner, the Sydney Sweeney controversy and more.

Meghan McCain joins Bruce and Gaydos and shares her thoughts on the latest on the Israel and Palestine conflict.

By Scotty Reid | Black Talk Radio News A Breaking Points segment claimed U.S. mainstream media and establishment politicians only recently began broadcasting graphic images of famine in Gaza. While that holds, it overlooks earlier warnings and vital grassroots documentation. Cindy McCain: Leading the Alarm from 2023 As Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme since March 2023, Cindy McCain, widow of Sen. John McCain, consistently warned the world about looming famine in Gaza. By November 2023, she was predicting widespread starvation—and by May 2024, declared that northern Gaza was in full-blown famine, calling for humanitarian corridors and massive aid scale-up. TikTok: Visual Evidence when Other Platforms Shut It Down While platforms like Facebook and Instagram suppressed pro‑Palestinian content, Israel, AIPAC, the US Congress, and Donald Trump lobbied and got a law passed to ban TikTok explictly because of real images coming out of Gaza but despite this, the platform remained a channel where Palestinians and journalists could upload live footage of the mass starvation—unfiltered and uncensored. These viral videos reached global audiences long before mainstream outlets aired similar imagery. Tweets: Politicians Begin Commenting — Only in Mid‑2025 Hillary Clinton (X/Twitter — July 2025) “Aid organizations report that thousands of children in Gaza are at risk of starvation while trucks full of food sit waiting across the border.” This tweet appears to be her first public statement on Gaza since 2023, and it specifically called out stalled aid. Barack Obama (X/Twitter — July 28, 2025) “While a lasting resolution to the crisis in Gaza must involve a return of all hostages and a cessation of Israel's military operations… these articles underscore the immediate need for action to prevent the travesty of innocent people dying of preventable starvation. Aid must be permitted to reach people in Gaza. There is no justification for keeping food and water away from civilian families.” This marked his first public engagement on starvation in Gaza. Cory Booker (Statement — circa July 25, 2025) “Witnessing the catastrophic hunger and suffering of civilians… in Gaza has been heartbreaking. … It is our collective moral duty to ensure that humanitarian relief reaches those who need it most urgently.” His first publicly documented comment in six months; he notably did not name Israel explicitly. Amy Klobuchar (Photo-op & subsequent post — July 2025) • On July 9, she appeared in a smiling photo-op with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, indicted by the ICC, alongside other U.S. senators including Cory Booker. • Days later, she issued her first public statement on Gaza starvation, calling the humanitarian crisis “unacceptable” and urged urgent aid in response to NGO warnings. ✅ Fact-Check Summary Table The Bigger Picture • TikTok's citizen content—posted and viewed globally—helped fuel broader awareness when corporate platforms muted or removed sensitive imagery. • Cindy McCain and global humanitarian agencies were sounding alarms well before U.S. politicians spoke publicly. • U.S. lawmakers and cable news editors held back graphic images and messages until public pressure and viral documentation forced wider exposure. • Politicians whose campaign funding benefited from AIPAC-aligned electorates remained silent until months into the crisis—raising concerns about ideological complicity beyond mere omission. Conclusion By mid-2025, establishment voices finally echoed what humanitarian agencies and Palestinian journalists had been documenting since 2023. But the visuals and urgency that pressed the world into broader awareness came through TikTok, not state newsrooms. The delayed public commentary from Democrat's questionable leadership is not a case of them expressing real-time ethics and this appears more like reactive optics—born of the undeniab...

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In this podcast interview, Martin Armstrong provides a critical geopolitical analysis of current global tensions, focusing on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and potential escalation towards World War III. Armstrong argues that the 50-day deadline imposed by Trump is an unrealistic negotiation tactic that fundamentally misunderstands geopolitical dynamics. Armstrong suggests that Ukraine is on the verge of collapse and that NATO's interventionist strategies are deliberately provocative. He criticizes neoconservative influences, particularly figures like Lindsey Graham and John McCain, for consistently pushing for military confrontation without understanding the long-term consequences. He highlights how these interventions have historically failed, citing examples from Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The discussion emphasizes the economic implications of ongoing tensions, with Armstrong predicting a steep recession lasting until 2028. He argues that sanctions against Russia have accelerated the formation of BRICS and are driving countries to seek alternative economic arrangements. The movement of gold and capital away from traditional Western financial centers is seen as a significant indicator of these shifts. Armstrong is particularly critical of European leadership, describing them as the "worst crop of world leaders" in history. He points out the economic challenges facing Germany and the broader European Union, including capital controls and increasing governmental restrictions on financial movements. Regarding potential conflict, Armstrong warns that Putin is unlikely to capitulate and that the current strategies risk escalating into a broader global confrontation. He suggests that the financial capital of the world will likely move to China after 2032, drawing parallels with the historical decline of Athens due to internal polarization and continuous warfare. The interview concludes with a stark warning about the potential for significant geopolitical and economic disruption, with Armstrong emphasizing that the current trajectory benefits no one and risks triggering a catastrophic global conflict.

Ex-White House insider Gabrielle Cuccia reveals how the Autopen process works and who signs off in the White House. We dive into the Russia hoax conspiracy, exposing the Steele Dossier's role, John McCain's involvement, and Victor Davis Hanson's take on a three-year coup against Donald Trump. Hear a montage of mainstream media claiming Russia ‘hacked' the election, and President Trump's bold Oval Office statement tying it to Obama. DNI Tulsi Gabbard's DOJ referral raises questions—will Obama face charges? Plus, Hunter Biden's scorched-earth attack on Democrats and the USA Women's Fencing Association's new female-only rule. Please take a moment to rate and review the show and then share the episode on social media. You can find me on Facebook, X, Instagram, GETTR,  TRUTH Social and YouTube by searching for The Alan Sanders Show. And, consider becoming a sponsor of the show by visiting my Patreon page!!

Meghan McCain joins Bruce and Gaydos to discuss the Jeffrey Epstein files and the latest news from Washington D.C.

Angel Studios https://Angel.com/ToddJoin the Angel Guild today and stream Testament, a powerful new series featuring the retelling of the book of Acts. Alan's Soaps https://www.AlansArtisanSoaps.comUse coupon code TODD to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bioptimizers https://Bioptimizers.com/toddEnter promo code TODD to get 10% off your order of Berberine Breakthrough today.Bizable https://GoBizable.comUntie your business exposure from your personal exposure with BiZABLE.  Schedule your FREE consultation at GoBizAble.com today.  Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com/toddThe new GOLDEN AGE is here!  Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.Bulwark Capital https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.comHear directly from Zach Abraham as he shares insights in this FREE “Halftime” Webinar, THURSDAY, July 24th at 3:30 Pacific.  Register now at Know Your Risk Podcast dot com. Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddLISTEN and SUBSCRIBE at:The Todd Herman Show - Podcast - Apple PodcastsThe Todd Herman Show | Podcast on SpotifyWATCH and SUBSCRIBE at: Todd Herman - The Todd Herman Show - YouTubeNancy Pelosi Loves Jeff Epstein's Ghost // That they not be judged … // God does not NEED you to do anything.NOW - Trump: "I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It's pretty boring stuff. I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going."NEW: Metadata from the “raw” Epstein prison video shows approximately 2 minutes and 53 seconds were removed from one of two stitched-together clips. The cut starts right at the “missing minute.”Cindy McCain admits: John McCain and the Neocon cabal knew about Jeffrey Epstein and his pedophile ring—but claims they could do nothing about it. No: They didn't WANT to do anything about it—so they could blackmail people into supporting the warmongers.FLASHBACK 2019: @ABC News SPIKED the Epstein story - “We would not put it on air…I was told “Who's Jeffrey Epstein”…She(Virginia Roberts) told me everything. She had pictures… unbelievable what we had…Prince Andrew…Clinton(Bill)…we had everything.”Ghislaine Maxwell was found guilty on five out of six counts of assisting Jeffrey Epstein to traffic young children.Distressed father appears emotional after revealing the General Manager of Cumberland Mall in Atlanta told him his wheelchair bound son with cerebral palsy had to leave the mall.Wow. Trump suggests Christ is the reason for America's greatness: “A nation that prays is a nation that prospers."  Glory be to GodWhat Does God's Word Say?Micah 6:8 NIVHe has shown you, O mortal, what is good.    And what does the Lord require of you?To act justly and to love mercy    and to walk humbly with your God.Matthew 9:9-13The Calling of Matthew9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mondays with Meghan! Bruce and Gaydos talk to Meghan McCain about the Epstein files and who cares if they are released or not. They also talk about how this hurts or helps President Donald Trump.

Capitol and Kayfabe - Exploring the Intersection of Wrestling and Politics. This week, hosts Jack Hunter and John Poz discuss the Big Beautiful Bill, Bill Goldberg, John McCain's legacy, Tariffs, The 4 Horsemen, AEW ALL IN, and much more!About Capitol and KayfabeCapitol and Kayfabe is a podcast that explores the intersection of political issues and professional wrestling. Hosted by John Poz and Jack Hunter, the show offers in-depth discussions on current events, political figures, and wrestling legends, providing a unique take on both worlds.

This week's episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast explores a topic rarely covered in the media: marriage fraud. Guest host Marguerite Telford, the Center's Director of Communications, sits down with Richard Lee, a former USCIS Immigration Officer and author, to discuss how sham marriages are orchestrated to gain a green card—and eventually citizenship—often then bringing extended family members through chain migration. They also examine how existing U.S. laws and loopholes make it easier for bad actors to exploit the system, in part, by sharing real-life stories.Key topics:What is marriage fraud? A marriage entered with the primary intention of securing immigration benefits—green cards, citizenship, and eventual chain migration.Types of marriage fraudSingle scheme marriage (friendship marriages)Single scheme one sided marriage (U.S. citizen used and defrauded)Arranged marriage (a paid broker is used and includes fraud rings)Cases of marriage fraudThe Numbers: Rich Lee draws on his USCIS experience in Atlanta, where he uncovered approximately 3,000 marriage-fraud cases over three years, primarily involving immigrant communities common to the region – the two most common foreign nationals involved were from Nigeria and Ghana.Where do brokers find the U.S. citizens to exploit?Lee discusses how homeless people are preyed upon.VAWA fraudAliens exploit the Violence Against Women Act, a federal law that provides protection for victims of domestic violence. The law provides an easy pathway to a green card due to a huge bias towards the alien, who can claim abuse and then self-petition for a green card, all without any in-person interview. This claim of abuse often takes place without the alleged abuser's knowledge. No evidence or information can be taken from the alleged abuser or his family.Telford questions whether it would be a good idea to amend the law so abuse can be contested – maybe adding an adversarial proceeding before an immigration judge.Lee believes that VAWA cases should be taken away from the Vermont Service Center.Lee also believes that in-person interviews should be required to safeguard against fraudulent misuse.USCIS cultureLee explains that he experienced a shift in the agency's culture during his time as an immigration officer. USCIS is now focused almost exclusively on serving immigrants with little support provided to U.S. citizens.Victims are encouraged to report fraud on the ICE tipline:1-866-DHS-2-ICE or ICE.gov/tiplineHostMarguerite Telford is the Director of Communications at the Center for Immigration Studies.GuestRichard Lee is a former USCIS Immigration Officer and author.RelatedAfter the Border: 42 Eye-Opening, Shocking, Crazy, Happy & Fun Stories from a Retired U.S. Immigration OfficerIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Envy leads to hypocrisy. Hakeem Jeffries says we need good Republicans like...John McCain? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It wasn't easy to get caught on video making a campaign gaffe in 2007, but John McCain pulled it off. The strange history of an impromptu song that helped derail his presidential ambitions. Plus, how Democratic Socialists in Phoenix are responding to Zohran Mamdani's primary victory.

Scott is mad as a hornet—and for good reason. After more than 24 hours of Senate stalling, the Trump-endorsed "Big Beautiful Bill" still teeters on the edge of collapse. Who's holding it up? GOP Senator Lisa Murkowski, a.k.a. “the new John McCain,” whose grandstanding earns her the title of today's official eye-roller. Meanwhile, Elon Musk is back to trolling legislation, Trump is headed to Florida's controversial migrant detention center (now affectionately known as “Alligator Alcatraz”), and Crystal Dueker joins to tackle proposed voting changes in Fargo. This firecracker of a July 1st episode hits politics, policy, parody—and yes, even weather—and proves that nothing gets done in D.C. without a deadline, a gavel, or a gator. ⏰ Timestamps – Standout Moments: [00:01:10] – Scott's fired up: “I'm mad as a hornet today.” Senate stalling, voter-a-rama fatigue, and Murkowski mayhem. [00:12:40] – Listener text lightning round: taxes, tips, and traitorous Republicans. [00:21:33] – Crystal Dueker joins: defends Fargo's current voting system and questions the need for change. [00:48:05] – Kevin chimes in: Is Murkowski even a Republican anymore? [00:59:00] – Ron DeSantis & Trump team up to unveil the migrant center dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” [01:04:20] – Sean Farish's Trump parody takes a hilarious bite out of liberal outrage over Florida's detention island. [01:12:00] – Rep. Julie Fedorchak gives her optimistic take on the House side of the bill—and blasts wind/solar subsidies. [01:24:30] – Trump lands on the island. “Joe Biden, it'd take you three years. We did it in two days!”

Meghan McCain joins Outspoken and shares her thoughts on President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, recent SCOTUS decisions and more.

Tune in here to this Monday’s edition of the Brett Winterble Show with Chris Krok filling in! Chris kicks off the program by discussing Senator Thom Tillis’s announcement that he won’t seek re-election, framing it as a pivotal moment for Republican voters—especially those aligned with Trump or the further right. Chirs critiques Tillis as a “milquetoast moderate” who lacks the boldness expected by MAGA-aligned conservatives. He questions Tillis’s opposition to Medicaid cuts and his hesitancy to support key GOP initiatives, citing stats from the Wall Street Journal to argue that many Medicaid recipients are either non-citizens or able-bodied individuals not working. Chris also compares Tillis to figures like John Cornyn and the late John McCain, debating whether the GOP should nominate a staunch conservative with “stones,” or a more electable centrist. Listen here for all of this and more on The Brett Winterble Show! For more from Brett Winterble check out his YouTube channel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johnny Mac covers a wide array of topics starting with Conan O'Brien's political discussions with Diego Luna on his podcast. The episode then dives into the arrest of social media influencer 'The Liver King' for making terroristic threats towards Joe Rogan. As for Joe Rogan, he recently hosted Bernie Sanders and Jim Norton on his podcast. Excitingly, Adam Sandler has announced a 30-city North American fall tour and upcoming Happy Gilmore 2 release on Netflix. Rainn Wilson shares insights on Steve Carell's departure from 'The Office', and Patton Oswalt talks about his daughter's adventurous spirit. Kevin Hart is seen filming his movie '72 Hours' in New Jersey. The episode also touches on historical and current parody songs, and Billboard's list of top musical comedians.  00:09 Conan O'Brien Discusses Politics with Diego Luna00:39 The Liver King Arrested for Threatening Joe Rogan02:46 Joe Rogan's Interviews with Bernie Sanders and Jim Norton03:56 Adam Sandler Announces 30-City Fall Tour06:10 Rainn Wilson on Steve Carell Leaving 'The Office'07:03 Patton Oswalt's Daughter Swims with Sharks07:22 Kevin Hart Filming in New Jersey08:55 Parody Songs and John McCain's 'Bomb Iran'10:11 Billboard's Top 15 Musical Comedians14:25 Conclusion and Upcoming Mel Brooks SegmentGet the show without ads. Five bucks.  For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app which says UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus.    Contact John at john@thesharkdeck dot com  John's free substack about the media:  Media Thoughts  is mcdpod.substack.com DCN on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dailycomedynews https://linktr.ee/dailycomedynews You can also support the show at www.buymeacoffee.com/dailycomedynewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news--4522158/support.

This week's episode of the Parsing Immigration Policy podcast delves into the Insurrection Act, its historical uses, and whether it could legally authorize the use of the military to assist in the arrest and removal of illegal aliens.The Insurrection Act allows presidents to deploy federal troops not only in cases of insurrection but also when federal law can't practicably be enforced through conventional means. The Posse Comitatus Act, which many point to as preventing such a use of troops, is not the obstacle many assume it is.President Trump so far has only tasked troops with protection of federal facilities and agents, but, if he chooses to exercise it, he does have authority under the Insurrection Act to put them to work actually enforcing immigration law.“The Insurrection Act has been invoked by leaders of both parties to protect civil rights and to enforce federal law. President Trump would have ample justification to use the Insurrection Act to allow the U.S. military to assist with large-scale deportation efforts,” said podcast guest George Fishman, Senior Legal Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies and former Deputy General Counsel at DHS.Historical precedent:Over the past more than 200 years, presidents have relied on the Insurrection Act to deal with some 30 crises.Presidents of both parties have relied on the Insurrection Act: Grant to suppress the early KKK, Cleveland to protect Chinese immigrants, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson to enforce civil rights for African Americans, Bush to restore order during the 1992 LA riots.Misconceptions about the Posse Comitatus Act (PCA):The PCA does not apply where Congress has explicitly authorized military use — such as under the Insurrection Act.Immigration enforcement today:More than 15 million illegal aliens are in the U.S.3.6 million backlog in immigration court.1.4 million aliens have final removal orders, yet remain at large. Millions of removable aliens were released by the Biden administration, and ICE has no knowledge of their location.ICE has only 6,000 officers to manage enforcement nationwide.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration StudiesGuestGeorge Fishman is the Senior Legal Fellow at the Center for Immigration StudiesRelatedDon't Fear the Insurrection ActPresident Trump Doesn't Need to Invoke the Insurrection Act — He Already HasIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

The US military will "very likely" fight a three-way war with Iran, Russia, and China, predicted Palantir CEO Alex Karp in 2024. American imperial strategist Zbigniew Brzezinski warned back in the 1990s of this Eurasian "anti-hegemonic coalition" that could challenge US global dominance. Ben Norton explains. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcZJ0eKfWFM Topics 0:00 Trump bombs Iran 0:26 Iran hits US base in retaliation 1:21 A ceasefire? 1:53 US "peace talks" were a trap 2:07 Israel's fake Gaza "ceasefire" 2:53 Iran nuclear deal 3:40 Trump called for regime change 4:30 History of US coup, shah, & revolution 5:23 Geopolitical strategy 6:01 Palantir CEO predicted three-way war 6:41 Palantir's mass surveillance 7:05 CIA helped create Palantir 7:17 JD Vance and Peter Thiel 7:52 US calls for war on Iran 8:21 (CLIP) George Bush's "Axis of Evil" 8:44 John McCain wanted to bomb Iran 9:04 (CLIP) Senator McCain sings "bomb Iran" 9:11 John Bolton called to bomb Iran 9:45 Mike Pompeo wanted war on Iran 10:20 Trump backed war on Iran 10:49 Targets: Iran, Russia, and China 11:02 CRINK: new "Axis of Evil" rhetoric 11:42 Multipolarity challenges unipolar US empire 12:17 Rise of China 12:51 Brzezinski feared "anti-hegemonic coalition" 14:16 Palantir and US war plans 14:48 US-Israeli war on Iran 15:55 Iran fights back 16:50 Outro

Meghan McCain joins Outspoken and shares her thoughts on the United States' airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association, joins Parsing Immigration Policy for a wide-ranging discussion of immigration enforcement, voter integrity, and state-federal cooperation.A key national voice on immigration issues, Kobach shares with host Mark Krikorian insights into the practical and legal efforts that states like Kansas are taking to combat illegal immigration.Highlights include:Illegal Population in KansasAn estimated 90,000 to 100,000 illegal aliens reside in Kansas, many working in industries like construction.State-Federal Law Enforcement CooperationKansas was among the first two states to sign 287(g) cooperation agreements with ICE.ICE has only 15,000 agents for interior enforcement – insufficient for mass removals. Kobach emphasized that under 287(g) the daily “net” cast by local officers provides the eyes and ears for federals agents.Legal Advocacy & LitigationDACA Challenge: Kobach represented ICE agents in early litigation against President Obama's DACA program.Obamacare Benefits Case: Led a multi-state coalition to stop illegal aliens from receiving Affordable Care Act benefits and received a victory from the 8th Circuit.Census Litigation: Currently leading a multi-state effort to exclude illegal aliens from the census for purposes of congressional apportionment. Including illegal aliens and those here on temporary visas causes “all kinds of constitutional problems.”Election IntegrityFormer vice chair of the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity under the first Trump administration.As Secretary State of the State of Kansas, Kobach implemented strict voter ID laws, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.Warns that illegal immigrants voting dilutes the votes of U.S. citizens.E-VerifyPrivate businesses in Kansas are not required to use E-Verify, but the agencies and contractors under the Attorney General are mandated to use it for new hires.Broader E-Verify bills have not been enacted due to a strong business lobby in the state.NSEERS (National Security Entry-Exit Registration System)This was a post-9/11 system designed by Kobach when he was at the U.S. Department of Justice to stop the terrorist threat posed by the ease of getting a temporary visa and overstaying that visa.Whenever an alien from a high-risk terrorist country overstayed a temporary visa, he was flagged so that local law enforcement across the country could arrest him during any routine stop.The INS system led to 1,500 arrests of Pakistani illegal aliens, and caused the self-deportation of an estimated 15,000 more.Went into effect in 2002, but President Obama cancelled the program. If it were still in effect, the recent attack by a visa overstayer in Colorado might have been stopped.In today's commentary, Krikorian, the Center's executive director, highlights a corporate-backed push – championed by Agriculture Secretary Rollins – to exempt certain sectors from immigration enforcement. President Trump briefly embraced it, triggering swift backlash from the base and within the administration. The move was quickly reversed, but serves as a reminder that pro-unlimited immigration forces remain active, even within the GOP. Eternal vigilance is essential to ensure that immigration policy forces employers to hustle for workers – not the other way around. A tight labor market is in the national interest.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration StudiesGuestKansas Attorney General Kris Kobach.Related287(g) Program: A Force Multiplier for Immigration EnforcementA Preventable Terrorist Attack: NSEERS never should have been cancelledAttorney General of Kansas WebsiteKris Kobach personal websiteThat Was FastIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Meghan McCain joins Bruce and Gaydos and shares her thoughts on the uptick in political violence, President Trump's military parade and the latest rise in tensions in the Middle East.

Healthy Decisions, Bold Moves: Dr. Linda Henman on Strategy-Driven Leadership Healthy Decisions, Bold Moves: Dr. Linda Henman on Strategy-Driven Leadership In this thought-provoking episode of The Hurricane H Show we welcome Dr. Linda Henman, renowned organizational strategist, C-suite advisor, and author of Healthy Decisions: Critical Thinking Skills for Healthcare Executives. Dr. Henman breaks down why culture alone isn't enough—and how strategy, clarity, and critical thinking must take center stage in high-stakes decision-making. Drawing from real-world examples like Mercy, Cleveland Clinic, and Banner Health, she explains how top-performing healthcare systems succeed by making the right calls, not just the popular ones. We dive into: Why leaders must stop chasing abstract ideals and start thinking analytically How to make hard decisions in mergers, crises, and operational pivots Why many executives fail to assess risks objectively The overlooked power of dispassionate leadership Lessons from POWs (including John McCain) that shape high-resilience decision-making How healthcare leaders can inspire real innovation—without losing control

Healthy Decisions, Bold Moves: Dr. Linda Henman on Strategy-Driven Leadership Healthy Decisions, Bold Moves: Dr. Linda Henman on Strategy-Driven Leadership In this thought-provoking episode of The Hurricane H Show we welcome Dr. Linda Henman, renowned organizational strategist, C-suite advisor, and author of Healthy Decisions: Critical Thinking Skills for Healthcare Executives. Dr. Henman breaks down why culture alone isn't enough—and how strategy, clarity, and critical thinking must take center stage in high-stakes decision-making. Drawing from real-world examples like Mercy, Cleveland Clinic, and Banner Health, she explains how top-performing healthcare systems succeed by making the right calls, not just the popular ones. We dive into: Why leaders must stop chasing abstract ideals and start thinking analytically How to make hard decisions in mergers, crises, and operational pivots Why many executives fail to assess risks objectively The overlooked power of dispassionate leadership Lessons from POWs (including John McCain) that shape high-resilience decision-making How healthcare leaders can inspire real innovation—without losing control

The Center for Immigration Studies releases a new podcast episode focusing on the 287(g) program, an ICE initiative that empowers and trains local law enforcement to help identify and detain illegal aliens involved in criminal activity. The Center's director of policy studies Jessica Vaughan joins host Mark Krikorian to explain how the program works, why it matters, and what's next.Highlights include:What is 287(g)?A federal program established in 1996 that deputizes state and local law enforcement officers to perform certain ICE functions under ICE supervision.The Three Models:Jail Enforcement Model – Officers in the jail have access to DHS databases to investigate the immigration status of inmates, conduct interviews, and even start the deportation process by issuing charging documents.Warrant Service Officer Model – Officers serve ICE warrants and can detain and transport aliens to ICE custody.Task Force/Street Model – Officers can identify and detain aliens encountered during routine police work. In addition, agencies can address specific crime problems related to illegal immigration, such as drug or human trafficking, gangs, or identity theft, but this model has not yet been reinstated by the Trump administration.Training & Oversight:Officers receive ICE training in immigration law and civil rights protections. Agreements are regularly audited to prevent abuse of authority.Policy Shifts:Under Biden: No new agreements accepted, funding cut, most existing agreements terminated; at the end of his term only 43 active agreements were still in effect.Under Trump & Post-2024: Program rapidly expanding – now 635 agreements in 40 states, with Texas and Florida mandating statewide participation.Why It Matters:287(g) is a force multiplier that helps areas underserved by ICE or in areas where the criminal alien caseload exceeds ICE's resources, ensuring criminal aliens don't slip through the cracks.In today's commentary, host Mark Krikorian, the Center's executive director, highlights the return of the “Maryland man,” Kilmar Abrego Garcia, to face federal prosecution. What can be learned from the legal battle and the coverage and reaction to the case?HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration StudiesGuestJessica Vaughan is the Director of Policy Studies at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedLearn more about 287(g) program at ICE.govThe 287(g) Program: Protecting Home Towns and HomelandBiden Administration Changes ICE's 287(g) Page and Admits There is a Hold on ProgramWe Are All Less Safe: Biden Targets ICE Law Enforcement ProgramKilmar Abrego Garcia Is Back — to Face Federal Prosecution: Key takeaways from the grand jury indictment and the AG's press conferenceIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

Meghan McCain joins Bruce and Gaydos for Mondays with Meghan! They discuss the political ramificafications of the ICE protests in Los Angeles.

With foreign student visas at Harvard and elsewhere in the news, today's episode of Parsing Immigration Policy features Andrew Arthur, the Center for Immigration Studies fellow in law and policy, providing a crash course on the subject. He explains the foreign student admissions process, the responsibilities of schools certified to enroll foreign students, and recent policy issues. With over one million foreign students studying (and working) in America, this episode covers the national security implications of not having proper knowledge of who is being brought in and what they are doing while in the U.S.Key topics covered:Admissions OverviewThe role of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)Student's Application to SEVP-certified institutions.Issuance of Form I-20 upon acceptance.Visa application at U.S. consulates.Which branch controls visa issuance?Role of Designated School Officials (DSOs)A DSO plays the role of a "deputized immigration officer."Monitoring student status via SEVIS.Reporting changes in enrollment or course of study.Conflict of interest? Balancing institutional responsibilities with immigration compliance.Optional Practical Training (OPT)Students working under the OPT program are still on student visas.Will these students lose their ability to be employed as cheap labor?Policy ChallengesWhy did the Trump administration revoke Harvard University's SEVP certification?Potential impact/lack of impact of the District Court's temporary restraining order (TRO).Impact on other schools.In today's commentary, Mark Krikorian, podcast host and executive director of the Center, highlights today's main illegal immigration challenge: visa overstays. He cites the recent Colorado attack committed by a visa overstayer as an example of the importance of action and describes some of the solutions which are in the reconciliation bill.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration StudiesGuestAndrew Arthur is the Resident Fellow of Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedDHS Pulls Harvard's Student-Visa Certification Authority Controversial DHS Program Allows Foreign Students to Train in Sensitive Fields There Are 1.5 Million Foreign Students in the United States (and Over a Third Have Work Authorization) Not all illegal-alien criminals are border-jumpersIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Candidate Trump in 2015 campaign speech.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

This episode is a special one. The podcast has a conversation with Fox Butterfield, the first correspondent for the New York Times after 1949. Mr. Butterfield set up the Beijing Bureau for the New York Times in 1979 and was the bureau chief from 1979 to 1981.  Mr. Butterfield started studying Chinese in 1958, and was a student of John Fairbank.  In this episode, I got the priveldge of interviewing Mr. Butterfield at his home. We talked about his experience with John Fairbank, his friendship with Senators John McCain and Joe Biden, his work on the Pentagon Papers and many other topics.   

This episode delivers a searing exposé on the roots of the U.S.-Russia conflict, tracing it back to 2016 when Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Amy Klobuchar flew to Ukraine with tanks on Russia's border—while knowing the Russia collusion narrative was false. Now, amid drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, the mystery deepens: Did Donald Trump know? His aides say no. Ukraine says yes. Former intelligence officials and commentators, including Mike Flynn, Steve Bannon, and Rebecca Koffler, warn of escalating NATO involvement and a dangerously uninformed Trump. Is the U.S. already in a direct kinetic war with Russia? And if Trump's being kept in the dark, who's really in control?

In this two-part deep dive, we trace a dangerous arc from the 2016 Russia collusion hoax to today's open proxy war with Moscow. Part one revisits how key figures like Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Amy Klobuchar—armed with tanks and false accusations—provoked Russia while knowing the narrative of election interference was fabricated. Part two uncovers the alarming disconnect between U.S. intelligence agencies and Donald Trump, as massive drone strikes target Russian nuclear bombers. Former intel officials and insiders sound the alarm: if Trump didn't know, we may be heading toward World War III under a shadow government. If he did—why is he silent? A gripping investigation into the lies, cover-ups, and escalations driving us to the brink.

In this two-part deep dive, we trace a dangerous arc from the 2016 Russia collusion hoax to today's open proxy war with Moscow. Part one revisits how key figures like Lindsey Graham, John McCain, and Amy Klobuchar—armed with tanks and false accusations—provoked Russia while knowing the narrative of election interference was fabricated. Part two uncovers the alarming disconnect between U.S. intelligence agencies and Donald Trump, as massive drone strikes target Russian nuclear bombers. Former intel officials and insiders sound the alarm: if Trump didn't know, we may be heading toward World War III under a shadow government. If he did—why is he silent? A gripping investigation into the lies, cover-ups, and escalations driving us to the brink.

Meghan McCain joins Outspoken and shares her thoughts on the attack in Boulder Colorado on demonstrators marching in support of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.

BRIGHTMOSS – heal your body from the inside out. Visit: https://mybrightcore.com/andweknow and get 25% off with code: AWK Or call (888) 317-9941) for up to 50% off!  ———— Get your protection from EMF damages to your body: https://ftwproject.com/ref/532 ——— Protect your investments with And We Know http://andweknow.com/gold Or call 720-605-3900, Tell them “LT” sent you. ————————————————————— *Our AWK Website: https://www.andweknow.com/ *Our 24/7 NEWS SITE: https://thepatriotlight.com/ ————————— Leftist woman is mad Target https://x.com/andweknow/status/1929337157027786999 SCOTUS HANDS TRUMP FULL CONTROL OF FEDERAL AGENCIES — LAWFARE ERA IS OVER https://x.com/andweknow/status/1929450871370272819 It's a good time to share this video of John Kasich admitting live on air that John McCain was put to death. https://x.com/MelissaRedpill/status/1929301419774922866 Good thing the far right didn't win in France. https://x.com/NiohBerg/status/1928963490422636769 ‘Let's face it, Joe's shot.' https://x.com/ShteinMichael/status/1929023036541317620 2016. After Trump won, Lindsey Graham and his warmonger friends went to Ukraine https://x.com/mazemoore/status/1929285246710669666 White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller torches the Democratic Party, https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1929142160172982477 Just a reminder that on Inauguration Day in 2021, Biden got a gun salute reserved for funerals, https://x.com/JackStr42679640/status/1929326133398618143 ————————— *DONATIONS SITE: https://bit.ly/2Lgdrh5 *Mail your gift to: And We Know 30650 Rancho California Rd STE D406-123 (or D406-126) Temecula, CA 92591 ➜ AWK Shirts and gifts: https://shop.andweknow.com/ ➜ Audio Bible https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/1John.3.16 Connect with us in the following ways:

CBS News has learned the State Department intends to shut down the office tasked with helping to resettle the Afghans who fought alongside U.S. servicemembers against the Taliban. Thousands of our Afghan partners are still waiting for their visas, some of whom are in hiding for fear of retribution at the hands of the Taliban. Ahead of that change, Jack McCain, Navy veteran of the War in Afghanistan and son of late Senator John McCain, joined Face the Nation on Memorial Day weekend to honor their service and call on Congress to act.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, Senior Legal Fellow George Fishman explains that verifying Social Security numbers could be the solution to two issues: States' need for tools to help identify those eligible to vote in the United States and DHS's need for tools to uncover employers who are knowingly employing illegal aliens.Voter Eligibility VerificationExecutive Order: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will be giving states and localities the ability to check SSNs of individuals registering to vote and those already on the voter rolls to verify citizenship.History: Fishman reflects on his role in proposing this idea nearly three decades ago as part of the 1997 Voter Eligibility Verification Act. How it will work: State and local governments will be given access to federal databases through an upgrade of USCIS's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements system to confirm citizenship.Employment Eligibility VerificationNo-Match Letters: Although the administration has not announced any action on re-instating “no-match” letters, the SSA could revive the practice of notifying employers when a worker's Social Security number doesn't match the name listed in the SSA's database.History: The episode covers the history of no-match letters, including their origins, past implementations, and abandonment by the Obama and Biden administrations. Policy Recommendations: Fishman recommends that SSA resume issuing no-match letters and DHS reissue its regulations instructing employers that they may be found to know that they are employing illegal aliens if they don't take certain actions upon receipt of no-match letters.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration StudiesGuestGeorge Fishman is the Senior Legal Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies.RelatedThe Trump Administration is Empowering States to Verify Voters Citizenship“Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections”Reviving No-Match Letters: A powerful tool against illegal employmentIs the Harvard TRO Likely to be Effective?DHS Pulls Harvard's Student-Visa Certification AuthorityIntro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

In this week's episode of Parsing Immigration Policy, Todd Bensman, the Center's Texas-based Senior National Security Fellow, discusses his experiences at the Center as he prepares to depart for a new role working with Border Czar Tom Homan. Bensman and host Mark Krikorian reflect on his nearly seven-year tenure at the Center, focusing on his firsthand experiences with border issues, extensively documented in two books authored while at the Center.Growing out of field research for the Center in Latin America and his graduate studies at the Naval Postgraduate School, Bensman's first book, America's Covert Border War, addressed the national security challenges of the border, specifically focusing on “special interest aliens” – i.e. illegal border-crossers from countries where jihadist terror groups operate.Bensman's second book, Overrun, is a history of the Biden border crisis, based also on numerous visits to Mexico and Central and South America, where he interviewed hundreds of migrants, officials, aid workers, and others. Bensman uncovered the CBP One program during its pilot phase, prior to its public disclosure, shed light on UN funding for illegal immigration, and provided on-the-ground reporting during significant events such as the Del Rio migrant crisis and the lead-up to the end of Title 42.In his closing commentary, Krikorian weighed in on the recent admission of several dozen Afrikaners from South Africa into the United States as refugees, highlighting facets of the issue not addressed in most media coverage.HostMark Krikorian is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigration StudiesGuestTodd Bensman is the (soon to be former) Senior National Security Fellow.RelatedBenman's Author PageBensman's Video PlaylistAmerica's Covert Border War: The Untold Story of the Nation's Battle to Prevent Jihadist InfiltrationOverrun: How Joe Biden Unleashed the Greatest Border Crisis in U.S. HistoryAfrikaners: Persecuted Refugees or White-Privileged Aliens?Intro MontageVoices in the opening montage:Sen. Barack Obama at a 2005 press conference.Sen. John McCain in a 2010 election ad.President Lyndon Johnson, upon signing the 1965 Immigration Act.Booker T. Washington, reading in 1908 from his 1895 Atlanta Exposition speech.Laraine Newman as a "Conehead" on SNL in 1977.Hillary Clinton in a 2003 radio interview.Cesar Chavez in a 1974 interview.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaking to reporters in 2019.Prof. George Borjas in a 2016 C-SPAN appearance.Sen. Jeff Sessions in 2008 comments on the Senate floor.Charlton Heston in "Planet of the Apes".

In this 21WIRE LIVE midweek edition, host Patrick Henningsen speaks with guest Freddie Ponton about Trump's Neocon exhibitionism in Saudi Arabia this week, finishing the life's work of career criminals like John McCain and Hillary Clinton by legitimizing the Al-Qaeda/ISIS terrorist leader in Syria. We also probe the real issue behind the region's nuclear negotiations, and why Israel could upend all of it. All this and more.  *SUBSCRIBE/DONATE TO OUR MEDIA PLATFORM HERE: https://21w.co/support VISIT OUR AFFILIATE SPONSORS: Health Solutions - Shop at Clive de Carle: https://21w.co/shop-clive FOLLOW OUR TELEGRAM CHANNEL: https://t.me/My21wire Countdown Music:Song: Cartoon, Jéja - On & On (feat. Daniel Levi) [NCS Release] - Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds Free Download/Stream: http://ncs.io/onandon Watch: http://youtu.be/K4DyBUG242c

Donald Trump took office as president on January 20, 2025, having already served one term. Immediately, however, he made clear his second term would be even more unpredictable than his first. He put one of the world's richest men — and his biggest campaign donor — in charge of a shadowy new entity with seemingly unfettered access to government data. Trump also blitzed the system with a barrage of executive orders, which have seemingly upended the government. He has done everything from threatening judges and lawyers to attacking the very concept of birthright citizenship, while Congress has remained largely on the sidelines.In short, Trump has moved aggressively against many of the checks and balances that American democracy has built in. As he works to consolidate power for the executive branch, other players have stepped up to challenge the president's moves — Campaign Legal Center among them. In this special episode of Democracy Decoded, our host Simone Leeper speaks with Trevor Potter, the president and founder of Campaign Legal Center, and Adav Noti, the executive director of Campaign Legal Center, to discuss what they've seen and what they're doing during this unprecedented moment.Host and Guests:Simone Leeper litigates a wide range of redistricting-related cases at Campaign Legal Center, challenging gerrymanders and advocating for election systems that guarantee all voters an equal opportunity to influence our democracy. Prior to arriving at CLC, Simone was a law clerk in the office of Senator Ed Markey and at the Library of Congress, Office of General Counsel. She received her J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in 2019 and a bachelor's degree in political science from Columbia University in 2016.Trevor Potter is President at Campaign Legal Center. A Republican former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Trevor was general counsel to John McCain's 2000 and 2008 presidential campaigns and an adviser to the drafters of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. To many, he is perhaps best known for his recurring appearances on The Colbert Report as the lawyer for Stephen Colbert's super PAC, Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, during the 2012 election, a program that won a Peabody Award for excellence in reporting on money in politics. The American Bar Association Journal has described Trevor as “hands-down one of the top lawyers in the country on the delicate intersection of politics, law and money.” He has provided testimony and written statements to Congress on federal election proposals, campaign finance regulation and, recently, the effects of the January 6th attack on our democracy. During the 2020 election season, Trevor was named to the cross-partisan National Task Force on Election Crises.Adav Noti is Executive Director at Campaign Legal Center. He has conducted dozens of constitutional cases in trial and appellate courts and the United States Supreme Court. He also advises Members of Congress and other policymakers on advancing democracy through legislation. Prior to joining CLC, Adav served for more than 10 years in nonpartisan leadership capacities within the Office of General Counsel of the Federal Election Commission, and he served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. Adav regularly provides expert analysis for television, radio, and print journalism. He has appeared on broadcasts such as The Rachel Maddow Show, Anderson Cooper 360, PBS NewsHour, and National Public Radio's Morning Edition, and he is regularly cited in publications nationwide, including the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Politico, Slate, and Reuters.Links:The Trump Administration's (Second) 100 Days: What You Need to Know – Campaign Legal CenterIt's almost Inauguration Day. Will there be any checks on Trump's power? – The Hill op-ed by Trevor PotterBad Signs for Democracy as First 100 Days Begins – CLC newsletter, From the Desk of Trevor PotterOn the Question of Crisis – CLC newsletter, From the Desk of Trevor PotterAbout CLC:Democracy Decoded is a production of Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization which advances democracy through law at the federal, state and local levels, fighting for every American's right to responsive government and a fair opportunity to participate in and affect the democratic process. Learn more about us.Democracy Decoded is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.