Podcasts about labor department

What's the latest on inflation? And what's pushing shares of old-school energy companies higher? Plus, why is Reddit joining the S&P 500? Host Shradha Dinesh discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What's the latest on inflation? And what's pushing shares of old-school energy companies higher? Plus, why is Reddit joining the S&P 500? Host Shradha Dinesh discusses the biggest stock moves of the week and the news that drove them. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: Tapestry warns of slowing revenue following a quarterly profit of nearly $348 million. And the Labor Department's producer-price index was flat in July. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: Enthusiasm for the AI trade continues to build overseas. South Korea's Kospi index gained more than 3% for a second straight day, and Lenovo Group's shares rose 20% in Hong Kong after the company posted record-high revenue. Pierre Bienaimé hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Trump administration says more than 40 countries are involved in a scam to bypass U.S. tariffs. A recent report says the U.S. could have lost between $10 and $100 billion dollars. Wholesale inflation dropped last month. The Labor Department's producer price index rose 4.7% from July a year ago. The NWS Climate Prediction Center suggests the current El Nino could be the strongest since 1950.

P.M. Edition for Aug. 12. Former Disney CEO Bob Iger and investor Joshua Kushner are buying the Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5 billion—the highest-ever valuation for any sports team. WSJ sports reporter Andrew Beaton discusses the sale, which he calls a “stunning twist.” Plus, inflation cooled slightly last month to 3.4%. Journal economics reporter Matt Grossman joins to talk about what it could mean for the Federal Reserve. And ticket reseller StubHub reported record revenue, thanks in part to this summer's World Cup. But as retail reporter Hanna Krueger details, both during and well before the World Cup, some fans were disappointed when the tickets they bought on StubHub didn't work and they faced lengthy fights to get their money back. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner agree to buy a controlling interest in the Los Angeles Lakers from billionaire Mark Walter. And Home Depot CEO Ted Decker is taking a temporary medical leave of absence. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Democratic nominee for Wisconsin governor David Crowley calls for unity after his surprise upset victory over Francesca Hong, whose views align more with Democratic Socialist agenda, while in the Minnesota U.S. Senate Democratic primary, the more progressive candidate Peggy Flanagan beats the moderate Angie Craig. Also in Minnesota, Republican candidate for governor Mike Lindell, an ally of President Donald Trump, refuses to concede defeat to Lisa Demuth, who was declared the winner in the primary by the Associated Press, citing voting 'anomalies'. Attorney General Todd Blanche announces arrests in an alleged scheme to orchestrate over 1,000 sham marriages with foreign nationals, primarily from China, to obtain U.S. Green Cards; Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) & NY Attorney General Letitia James (D) are asked about plans to buy for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks; Labor Department's inflation report: prices increased 0.1%, or 3.4% year over year, down from 3.5% in June; FDA's Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas provides an update on the response to the cyclospora outbreak; Justice Department says the President can claim Executive Privilege to shield his conversations not just with government employees, but also 'private advisers'. We will talk about the implications with The Hill's National Security and Legal Affairs Reporter Rebecca Beitsch. (50) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for August 7, 2026. We open up with a deep dive into the legal fight over President Trump's new White House ballroom, breaking down the deceptively simple question the Supreme Court may ultimately have to answer: is replacing the demolished East Wing an "improvement" to the executive residence, or is it a brand new building requiring congressional approval? We walk through the history of White House alterations, the D.C. Circuit's 2-1 ruling against the administration, and why this fight matters for presidential authority going forward. From there, we hit our Top 3 stories you need to know: Marsha Blackburn's win in the Tennessee GOP gubernatorial primary, and Tesla and SpaceX's massive joint venture to build the TeraFab chip factory in Texas. We dig into fresh Labor Department numbers showing manufacturing output and productivity are both up, pushing back on predictions that tariffs would tank American factories. Our American Mama Teri Netterville joins us to tackle a listener question about whether men have the right to ask their girlfriends to dress more modestly. We break down new data on the shrinking foreign-born workforce and what it means for wages and job competition for American workers, then dig deep into the new mutual defense pact between Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, and what it means for a boxed-in Iran, including our take on the argument that Trump has already won the Iran war. We cover Kellogg's promise to strip artificial dyes from its cereals a year ahead of schedule, then it's time for Fake News Friday, our weekly game separating real headlines from the ones we made up ourselves. We close out with a look at the growing rift between the Democratic establishment and the Democratic Socialists of America, and Washington D.C.'s record-breaking 4th of July fireworks display. May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plus: Wendy's halves its dividend as same-restaurant sales fall. And Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign a mutual defense agreement to strengthen military ties. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plus: President Trump signs two executive orders aimed at cracking down on birthright citizenship. And Airbnb boosts its full-year forecast on strong demand as the company's AI bets start to pay off. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a surprise to Wall Street, the Labor Department reported a loss of 23,000 nonfarm jobs in July. CNBC's Rick Santelli and Steve Liesman break down the report and what it means for the broader health of the economy. Representative Greg Casar (D-TX) is focused on AI's impact on the labor force in his latest legislation to tax hyperscalers, while MIT Associate Professor Kevin Esvelt is closely watching AI's achievements in science. He considers the implications of a new study from the Arc Institute that showed AI-created viruses are viable in the real world. Plus, in a child harms case in New Mexico, Meta was ordered to pay $567 million into an abatement fund, and OpenAI plans to release a home device to consumers.    Rep. Greg Casar - 14:23 Rick Santelli & Steve Liesman - 25:24 Kevin Esvelt - 32:13   In this episode: Greg Casar, @RepCasar Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Melissa Lee, @MelissaLeeCNBC Steve Liesman, @steveliesman Rick Santelli, @RickSantelli Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Senate is on track to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General, after the final two undecided Republicans announced how they will vote: Lisa Murkowski (AK) is a 'no', but Bill Cassidy (LA) is a 'yes', meaning Blanche has just enough support to make it; Senate passes the 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia & Iran Act' with an overwhelming bipartisan vote. It gives the U.S. President power to sanction countries that import Russian oil and gas, aiming to cut off the Russia's money supply to continue its war against Ukraine; Labor Department says the U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July… not what forecasters had expected; Federal appeals court panel rules construction of President Trump's White House ballroom must stop because it requires Congressional approval. President says he will appeal to the Supreme Court, calling the project necessary for presidential security and the court's decision was "horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful"; What is next for the Farm Bill now that the Senate Agriculture Committee has voted it down over party disagreements about food aid funding? We will talk with Grace Yarrow, Food & Agriculture Reporter for Politico (36); House Speaker Mike Johnson predicts his Republican party will buck the historical trend of the President's party losing House seats in the midterm elections.. and he will remain Speaker after November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department reported Initial Jobless Claims, additionally, their Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the 2nd Quarter U.S. Nonfarm Productivity Report: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released the Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey; the U.S. Senate introduced the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act and a couple of States have enacted or will be enacting their own similar measures and hiring investigators; oil prices react to developments in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and Yemen's Houthis attacking "Saudi deployments"; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department reported Initial Jobless Claims, additionally, their Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the 2nd Quarter U.S. Nonfarm Productivity Report: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released the Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey; the U.S. Senate introduced the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act and a couple of States have enacted or will be enacting their own similar measures and hiring investigators; oil prices react to developments in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and Yemen's Houthis attacking "Saudi deployments"; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: enjoying show on the deck and summer memories; U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics released their June Jobs Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) Report; the latest estimate for the 2027 Social Security Cost of Living Allowance (COLA); the U.S. Commerce Department released data on the June U.S. Trade Deficit; payroll processor ADP released their July National Employment Report; oil prices react to increased expectations of an end to the Iran War, reports of an attack on a Saudi tanker in the Red Sea; Kevin has the details, digs into the details, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insight and opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: enjoying show on the deck and summer memories; U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics released their June Jobs Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) Report; the latest estimate for the 2027 Social Security Cost of Living Allowance (COLA); the U.S. Commerce Department released data on the June U.S. Trade Deficit; payroll processor ADP released their July National Employment Report; oil prices react to increased expectations of an end to the Iran War, reports of an attack on a Saudi tanker in the Red Sea; Kevin has the details, digs into the details, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insight and opinions.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department reported the Weekly Initial Jobless Claims, interesting coverage from two different news services; the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported the advance estimate of 2nd Quarter GDP, in a separate report, the BEA, released the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index and Core PCE, which is the Federal Reserve's primary forecasting gauge; oil prices reacts to increased "hostilities" between the U.S. and Iran, a proposed Saudi Arabia led 14 country coalition to boost defense around the Red Sea, an attack on an Egyptian port and events in the war between Ukraine and Russia; Kevin has the details digs into the details, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department reported the Weekly Initial Jobless Claims, interesting coverage from two different news services; the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported the advance estimate of 2nd Quarter GDP, in a separate report, the BEA, released the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index and Core PCE, which is the Federal Reserve's primary forecasting gauge; oil prices reacts to increased "hostilities" between the U.S. and Iran, a proposed Saudi Arabia led 14 country coalition to boost defense around the Red Sea, an attack on an Egyptian port and events in the war between Ukraine and Russia; Kevin has the details digs into the details, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: the U.S. Labor Department reported the Weekly Initial Jobless Claims, interesting coverage from two different news services; the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported the advance estimate of 2nd Quarter GDP, in a separate report, the BEA, released the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index and Core PCE, which is the Federal Reserve's primary forecasting gauge; oil prices reacts to increased "hostilities" between the U.S. and Iran, a proposed Saudi Arabia led 14 country coalition to boost defense around the Red Sea, an attack on an Egyptian port and events in the war between Ukraine and Russia; Kevin has the details digs into the details, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The APs Marcela Sanchez has the Labor Department's latest numbers on jobless benefits.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: dangerous weather in parts of the country; the U.S. Labor Department reported the Producer Price Index (PPI) and Core PPI; Phil Flynn, Senior Market Analyst, The PRICE Futures Group, Author of the Energy Report, Fox Business Contributor joins the show to discuss the world oil market and which Country is emerging as the dominant energy producer; oil prices react to the latest events between the U.S. and Iran , Goldman Sachs predicts oil prices in the 4th quarter and Gulf oil exports; gas prices inch up; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and few opinions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: dangerous weather in parts of the country; the U.S. Labor Department reported the Producer Price Index (PPI) and Core PPI; Phil Flynn, Senior Market Analyst, The PRICE Futures Group, Author of the Energy Report, Fox Business Contributor joins the show to discuss the world oil market and which Country is emerging as the dominant energy producer; oil prices react to the latest events between the U.S. and Iran , Goldman Sachs predicts oil prices in the 4th quarter and Gulf oil exports; gas prices inch up; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and few opinions. 

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. Henry Mack, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor, Department of Labor's Employment & Training AdministrationIn this episode, sponsored by EdUp Leadership, the ​HigherEd PodCon​ II happening July 16 & 17, & the 2026 AcOps Conference July 29-31 by CoursedogYOUR cohost is Christi Segal, Senior Vice President, Managed Services and Executive Business Development, EllucianYOUR host is Dr. Joe SallustioHow does the assistant secretary who taught philosophy at the University of Miami say the time for a fragmented, duplicative & siloed approach to workforce is over?Why does higher ed need to "skillify" the curriculum while honoring the time tested tradition of what it means to be liberally educated for democratic citizenship?What makes tying measures of success to real wage potential the accountability that matters when relevance is about jobs & mobility?Thank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠● Join YOUR EdUp community at The EdUp ExperienceWe make education YOUR business!P.S. Want access to the only intelligence platform built exclusively from presidential conversations in higher ed? Well, we have an app for that!Join EdUp Leadership!

President Donald Trump welcomed the newly elected Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to the White House on Tuesday. Trump said the United States is shifting toward economic partnerships with Iraq with a focus on oil and added that U.S. forces will leave the country by Sept. 30. The U.S. president also highlighted a major drop in inflation and attributed it to policy measures. Inflation declined to a lower-than-expected 3.5 percent, down from 4.2 percent, the Labor Department said Tuesday.The Department of Justice said its Trade Fraud Task Force reached a new milestone less than a year after its launch. Colin McDonald, the lead attorney of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, announced a $1 billion recovery from a crackdown on individuals and companies accused of violating U.S. trade and customs laws.Meta is facing a lawsuit over claims that artificial intelligence helped decide who the company would lay off. Twenty-six current and former employees say the system unfairly penalized workers who took protected leave.

President Donald Trump walks back his previous demand of 20 percent of the value of all cargo through the Strait of Hormuz as payment for the U.S. patrolling the Strait and instead says Gulf nations will be making major economic investments in the U.S.; Senate Democrats block the Senate from taking up the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), citing resumption of the war with Iran and failure of Republican and Democratic negotiators to reach agreement on spending levels, defense and non-defense, for the next fiscal year; Labor Department's Consumer Price Index inflation report for June was 3.5% year over year, less than expected; Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh testifies before a House committee, promising the Fed will tackle inflation and make its decisions without regard to politics; Senate swears-in its newest member, Darline Graham, appointed to serve out the term of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC); Russia sanctions bill championed by Sen. Lindsey Graham before he died gets bipartisan support on Capitol Hill and in the White House; Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan testify before Congress on the Supreme Court's budget request, which includes more money for security in light of increase threats; CDC update on the cyclosporiasis outbreak across the country; House passes the Sunshine Protection Act, to make daylight saving time permanent nationwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Labor Department's June jobs report came in with just 57,000 new jobs added. Economists expected double that, and while the unemployment rate ticked down, we consider why job growth may be middling. Also in this episode, we look at stagnant wage growth, a start-up that's looking to de-extinct the woolly mammoth, the “lump of labor” fallacy, Saudi Aramco's World Cup sponsorship, and a social worker who leads tours to supplement retirement.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

The Labor Department's June jobs report came in with just 57,000 new jobs added. Economists expected double that, and while the unemployment rate ticked down, we consider why job growth may be middling. Also in this episode, we look at stagnant wage growth, a start-up that's looking to de-extinct the woolly mammoth, the “lump of labor” fallacy, Saudi Aramco's World Cup sponsorship, and a social worker who leads tours to supplement retirement.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

U.S. economy adds 57,000 jobs in June, according to the Labor Department, about half what many economists expected. Unemployment rate falls from 4.3% to 4.2%, mainly due to people leaving the labor market; U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer explains why the Trump Administration has decided not to extend the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. We hear from him and talk with Washington Post trade reporter David Lynch (10); Former Olympian David Hearn has been indicted on a felony charge of property destruction for what President Donald Trump has called vandalism of the Reflecting Pool between the Washington Monument & Lincoln Memorial; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanks National Guard members at a park in Washington, DC for their part in the work of the Administration's D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. He is met by protesters; More celebrations of America's 250th anniversary ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. We hear from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker (D) and historian Doris Kearns Goodwin on the legacy of former President Theodore Roosevelt, as a new library dedicated to the 26th president is opening in North Dakota. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. applications for jobless aid inched down last week as layoffs remain at historically healthy levels. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits in the week ending June 27 fell by 1,000 to 215,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.U.S. employers slowed hiring last month and added only 57,000 jobs, less than half the previous month's total and a sign companies still have a cautious economic outlook.New York City is preparing for one of its busiest Fourth of July weekends in years under dangerous heat and heightened security. The challenges come as a major heat wave expands across much of the country.

Kevin cover and discusses the following stories: Adobe reported the results of last week's online spending during Amazon's Prime event, as well as overlapping promotions by Walmart and Target; Nestle announces major changes to their ingredients across all products worldwide; Aviation Expert, Jay Ratliff, joins the show to talk about airline news and summer travel tips; The Conference Board released their Consumer Confidence Index; the U.S. Labor Department reported Job Openings, Hires and Quit Rates; oil prices react to Peace Talk host Qatar reported that "high level" talks will not take place in Doha but "technical talks" will and analyst's estimates of crude inventory inventories; Phil Flynn, Senior Analyst, PRICE Futures Group, has some interesting comments in his Energy Report, Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and a few opinions along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announces changes to trucking regulations; Americas Commercial Transportation Research Co. (ACT) and Freight Transportation Research Associates – Transportation Intelligence (FTR) reported their respective May U.S. Trailer Orders; the U.S. Commerce Department (USCD) reported May Durable Goods Orders; USCD's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported their 3rd estimate of 1st Quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP); U.S. GDP compared to the European Union GDP; the U.S. Labor Department reported Weekly Initial Jobless Claims; oil prices react to UK Maritime Trade Operations reporting that a cargo ship was struck by an "unknown projectile" near Oman, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright's comments regarding the Strait of Hormuz and Rystad Energy comments on Persian Gulf oil production; Gas prices continue to fall; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announces changes to trucking regulations; Americas Commercial Transportation Research Co. (ACT) and Freight Transportation Research Associates – Transportation Intelligence (FTR) reported their respective May U.S. Trailer Orders; the U.S. Commerce Department (USCD) reported May Durable Goods Orders; USCD's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported their 3rd estimate of 1st Quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP); U.S. GDP compared to the European Union GDP; the U.S. Labor Department reported Weekly Initial Jobless Claims; oil prices react to UK Maritime Trade Operations reporting that a cargo ship was struck by an "unknown projectile" near Oman, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright's comments regarding the Strait of Hormuz and Rystad Energy comments on Persian Gulf oil production; Gas prices continue to fall; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announces changes to trucking regulations; Americas Commercial Transportation Research Co. (ACT) and Freight Transportation Research Associates – Transportation Intelligence (FTR) reported their respective May U.S. Trailer Orders; the U.S. Commerce Department (USCD) reported May Durable Goods Orders; USCD's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported their 3rd estimate of 1st Quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP); U.S. GDP compared to the European Union GDP; the U.S. Labor Department reported Weekly Initial Jobless Claims; oil prices react to UK Maritime Trade Operations reporting that a cargo ship was struck by an "unknown projectile" near Oman, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright's comments regarding the Strait of Hormuz and Rystad Energy comments on Persian Gulf oil production; Gas prices continue to fall; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: soccer fans from around world are discovering the REAL America; the U.S. Labor Department reported Weekly Jobless Claims; the Conference Board released the May Leading Economic Index; the Philadelphia Fed reported business activity in the Mid-Atlantic region; coffee linked to significant new side effect; Smucker announced a coffee price adjustment in 2027; oil prices react to U.S. - Iran 14-point agreement extending the ceasefire for 60 days and escalation in the Ukraine-Russian war; gas prices hit a milestone; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and some opinions along the way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Wednesday, the United States releases the 14-point memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. On the final day of the G7 summit, President Donald Trump predicts that the plummeting price of oil will boost the economy and that the United States will "end up having the lowest energy anywhere in the world.""Now that the oil is coming down, you're going to see everything follow, everything follows the cost of energy," Trump told NTD's Mari Otsu.The Labor Department is putting all 50 states on notice, warning that they must comply with measures to stop fraud schemes related to unemployment insurance, or risk losing federal funding. This warning comes after the DOJ sued New York state on June 16 over alleged fraud tied to New York's $10 billion home-care program provided to Medicaid patients as part of the Trump administration's efforts to combat fraud across the country.Steve Hilton, Republican gubernatorial candidate for California, announces plan to introduce a flat state income tax that would remove state income taxes for families earning up to $150,000.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: weather is in the news; the U.S. Labor Department reported Weekly Initial Jobless Claims; the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Producer Price Index (PPI) and Core PPI; the European Central Bank voted to raise their benchmark interest rate, and what that means for the Federal Reserve meeting next week; the National Association of Realtors reported the May Existing Home Sales; Phil Flynn, Senior Market Analyst, Author of the Energy Report, explains why President Trump refrained from striking Iran over the last few weeks; oil prices reacted to Trump cancelling further planned strikes on Iran, Trump's announcement that peace talks have been brought to the highest levels of the Iranian leadership; gas prices continue to retreat; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and opinions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin covers and discusses the following stories: this past Friday, the U.S. Labor Department released the May Jobs Report, interesting numbers compared to the "experts'" predictions; on Wednesday morning, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index Report; oil prices react to President Trump's comments that Iran is too slow to negotiate a deal, must pay price, retaliation for the downing of an Apache helicopter, airstrikes on Iran to continue and the U.S. Energy Information Administration's release of U.S. Crude Oil Inventories; gas prices continue to fall; Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical perspective, offers his insights and several opinions along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York City's unemployment rate is higher than it was before the coronavirus pandemic, and job growth has stalled. James Parrott, senior fellow and senior advisor at the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School, talks about factors contributing to these economic concerns. Photo: A 'help wanted' advertisement is displayed in Manhattan on January 09, 2026, in New York City. The Labor Department reported on Friday that employers added 50,000 jobs in December, bringing the unemployment rate down to 4.4% (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kevin discusses and covers the following stories: participation in a daily Zoom call with Israel's Defense and Security Forum discussing the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon; the U.S. Labor Department released the Initial Jobless Claims Report; the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 1st Quarter Nonfarm Productivity and Unit Labor Costs; the White House to adjust tariffs on certain items; European Union lawmakers are approaching a final approval of a Trade Deal with the U.S.; United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) reported whether any Iranian crude passed through the U.S. Navy's blockade; oil and gas prices react to the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, possible progress in U.S. -Iran talks, crude oil inventory reports; comments on the upcoming 82nd anniversary of D-Day on Saturday, June 6;Kevin has the details, digs into the data, puts the information into historical, offers his insights and a few opinions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last August  President Trump signed an executive order directing the Secretary of Labor to, among other things, “reexamine the Department of Labor's guidance on a fiduciary's duties regarding alternative asset investments in ERISA-governed 401(k) and other defined-contribution plans” – a stance widely seen as encouraging the consideration of alternative assets in defined contribution plans, including401(k)s and 403(b)s.Then on March 30, the Labor Department issued a proposedregulation in response to that directive, titled “Fiduciary Duties In Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives.”  However, while it acknowledged that while the executiveorder “focused on fiduciary responsibilities for offering an asset allocation fund that includes investments in alternative assets, the proposed regulation would apply to the selection of any type of investment as a designated investment alternative, including investments in so-called “alternative assets.”That said, the comment period closed with more than 47,000comments!In this episode, Nevin and Fred consider the…alternatives…and the future of the proposal.Episode Resources:Regulations.gov(the comments)DOL Archives - Fred ReishSeason 6 Episode 4: The Investment Selection Proposal | Nevin & Fred % %Talking Points: Retirement Income, Defaults and Fiduciary DutySpecial Edition: Fiduciary Duties In Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives Proposed Rule  https://endeavor- retirement.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=f770b62bc8f42a0b66751fe636fc6eb0.467&s=f1b8e69fc34995b9d807df36b7a3c6f3AGs, Congressional Democrats Say DOL Proposal Weakens Prudence StandardEBSA's Aronowitz Outlines Fiduciary Framework for ‘Investment Selection Rule'How Many Times Does the DOL Proposed Rule Mention ‘Litigation?'Fiduciary Duties in Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives (the “Investment Selection Rule”)Breaking News: Trump Signs EO to Advance Private Market Investments in 401(k)s

In this episode of the Undefeated Defining Moments Podcast, host Wong Lam sits down with Lisa Janloo—single mom of three, small business owner, and 2026 candidate for Oklahoma Labor Commissioner. Lisa shares how her Persian father's journey from Iran to Oklahoma shaped her foundation of faith, hard work, and personal responsibility, and why she sees serving as Labor Commissioner as her way to give back to the state and country she loves. Lisa pulls back the curtain on: Balancing motherhood, business ownership, and a statewide campaign as a single parent What the Oklahoma Labor Commissioner actually does—and why most voters don't know How she wants to modernize the Labor Department, cut red tape, and turn it into a pro-business, pro-worker resource Her passion for workforce development, especially for youth, the homeless, formerly incarcerated Oklahomans, and veterans Raising kids with a strong foundation of faith, gratitude for America, and respect for others You'll also hear candid stories about: Paying off her home by age 33 Running her own print and copy shop and managing rental properties Her daughter calling out double standards in the classroom Why she proudly wears the label “single mom” and wants to change how people see it This is a high-energy, heartfelt conversation about faith, family, freedom, and the future of Oklahoma's workforce. If you care about small business, education, or public service—or you just need inspiration to tackle your own “impossible” goals—you'll get a lot from Lisa's story. Follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement to step into their own defining moment.

Inflation may have sunk the Democratic Party at the ballot box in 2024. But high prices at the grocery store and the gas station are now a problem for the GOP. According to the Labor Department, consumer prices in April saw their biggest year-over-year jump in three years and gasoline prices were up 28% from a year earlier. For our special What's News series The Cost-of-Living Election, WSJ national politics reporter Sabrina Siddiqui met with voters and congressional candidates in and around Allentown, Pa., to uncover what stubborn inflation could mean for the area's primary election this Tuesday. She then speaks with the sitting congressman for Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district, Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, about what he's doing to address the rising cost of living. Relevant links: Tariffs' Messy Reality: The Cost-of-Living Election | Part 1: Ohio Inflation Soared to 3.8% in April, Driven by Gasoline Prices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate approves the Federal Reserve's new leader 54-45, one day after new figures from the Labor Department show consumer prices accelerating, and not only due to oil stuck at the Strait of Hormuz. How will Warsh approach the job of getting back to 2%, and what's the legacy of outgoing Chair Jerome Powell? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Bortin, CEO of Classical Conversations and co-author of Woke and Weaponized, makes the documented case that America's public school system was never broken — it's working exactly as its Marxist architects designed, producing a country where less than half of adults read above a sixth-grade level and 73% of church-attending kids abandon their faith within two years of graduating. The Prussian model imported by Horace Mann, the Frankfurt School's march through teachers colleges, B.F. Skinner's behaviorist blueprint taught in education master's programs — none of this is conspiracy theory, it's quoted directly from the architects themselves. Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education, Bortin argues, is a sleight of hand: the laws remain, the funding continues, and moving it to the Labor Department only deepens the ideology that children exist to be trained as corporate widgets. The exit ramp is the same it's always been — get your kids out of the building before it burns yours down too.Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

Robert Bortin, CEO of Classical Conversations and co-author of Woke and Weaponized, makes the documented case that America's public school system was never broken — it's working exactly as its Marxist architects designed, producing a country where less than half of adults read above a sixth-grade level and 73% of church-attending kids abandon their faith within two years of graduating. The Prussian model imported by Horace Mann, the Frankfurt School's march through teachers colleges, B.F. Skinner's behaviorist blueprint taught in education master's programs — none of this is conspiracy theory, it's quoted directly from the architects themselves. Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education, Bortin argues, is a sleight of hand: the laws remain, the funding continues, and moving it to the Labor Department only deepens the ideology that children exist to be trained as corporate widgets. The exit ramp is the same it's always been — get your kids out of the building before it burns yours down too. Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

The latest inflation report shows price increases for American consumers in April hit a three-year high, driven by a spike in the cost of gasoline. The Consumer Price Index, which includes energy and food costs, rose 3.8% year-over-year, according to the Labor Department. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Heather Long, Chief Economist at Navy Federal Credit Union. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The Labor Department reported on Tuesday that consumer prices increased by 3.8% in April compared to a year ago. That's the fastest pace of price increases in around three years. Wailin Wong, host of the Indicator from NPR's Planet Money, joins us. Then, the subject of Taiwan is one of the main priorities for Beijing in the upcoming talks between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. How will Trump approach the topic of Taiwan? We hear from Eyck Freymann, a fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford and the author of the new book “Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China."See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The Labor Department reported Friday that unemployment held steady in April and that the U.S. added 115,000 jobs, surpassing expectations. For more on the numbers and what they tell us about the state of the economy, Amna Nawaz speaks with Mohamed El-Erian, a professor at the Wharton School of Business and chief economic advisor at Allianz. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Ralph welcomes Professor Nicholas Chater, co-author of “It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We're to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems.” Then, as most of the media turns its attention to Iran, we return to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and welcome back Dr. Feroze Sidhwa to break down his three-part series published in Zeteo called “The Truth About Gaza's Dead.”Nick Chater is Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School. He has written and co-written more than two hundred research papers and six books, including It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We're to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems (co-written with George Loewenstein).I was on a UK government committee as the representative of behavioural science for six years, where my role was (at least I understood my role to be) coming up with smart-aleck ideas about what individual nudges or bits of useful information we could give to the public—how that would help people reduce their carbon emissions. And I came away from that experience extremely chastened. Because almost all the interesting issues were nothing to do whatsoever with individual behavior. They were all about big systemic changes… And the shock for me was realizing that the tools that I was hoping to wield were in fact completely ineffective.Nick ChaterI think it's absolutely true that many of the things that behavioral scientists are supposedly “discovering” [are] the things that campaigners and activists and indeed people in the political world generally and journalists intuitively have long known, and indeed probably have good evidence for. It's simply— it's sort of a sad process of trailing-along-behind which I think the academic world has been engaged in, where we've been slowly realizing that things that everybody else knew initially are actually true after all.Nick ChaterOne of the most powerful things that each of us has is the ability to propagate our own perspective and to campaign for change…I think getting people pulling together and pushing for change can be incredibly powerful. So seeing ourselves as citizens who are actively able to have our voice, make our voices heard, I think that's where the real power lies. And I think that the campaigners and political activists and so on have always known this. And of course, also, big businesses have always known this too. And they certainly don't want us to be doing too much of that. They want us to be focusing on quite the opposite. They want us to be focusing on our own gardens and not worrying about the big picture. They don't want organized opposition.Nick ChaterDr. Feroze Sidhwa is a general, trauma, and critical care surgeon in California. He is also a humanitarian surgeon who has worked in Palestine, Ukraine, Haiti, Zimbabwe, and Burkina Faso. He most recently volunteered at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, Gaza. He was blocked from entering Gaza by Israel's Shin Bet intelligence service in November 2025.In the first 25 days of the assault on Gaza, more children were killed than in the entire worst year of conflict that Airwars had ever studied previously, which was Syria in 2016. In the first 25 days in Gaza, between 2,200 and 2,600 children were killed in Gaza, compared to 1,900 in Syria. So again, if you adjust for the size of the population (because Syria is a much bigger country than Gaza is a territory), the rate of killing of children in Gaza was 71 to 142 times higher than it was in the worst year on record for children in conflict—Syria in 2016.Dr. Feroze SidhwaGaza is a place where infants freeze to death if they are not sheltered. Well, there are no sheltered infants in Gaza for any practical purposes. They're all unsheltered. So we have a list of the actual names of a dozen or two dozen children who have actually frozen to death…And there is shelter—ready-made mobile shelters for hundreds of thousands of people right outside of Gaza. It's in Egypt and it's in Jordan. The only thing that's stopping anybody from bringing it in is the US and Israel…This is just dastardly. We should think about it for a second—we (meaning Americans) [are] living in a country where neither political party seems to care that we are freezing infants to death.Dr. Feroze SidhwaRight now, the Israelis are blocking cough medicine from going into Gaza. And the reason (they say) is because it contains glycerin. Now, glycerin, in theory, can be used to make explosives. But it's one picogram or something—it's just part of a pill or the syrup that goes into it, right? This is children's cough medicine. The idea that Hamas or Islamic Jihad or anybody else in Gaza has the laboratory equipment and facilities that would be needed to extract the 0.01% of glycerin that's in a pill or a medical syrup to then make a bomb is beyond idiotic. Furthermore, we all know that there's (and I'm speaking literally) hundreds of tons of unexploded Israeli bombs—actually I should say unexploded US bombs—all over the Gaza Strip. That's where Hamas gets all of its explosives from. It just repurposes unexploded Israeli munitions. So all of this is just sheer nonsense.Dr. Feroze SidhwaNews 4/24/26* Our top stories this week have to do with people losing their jobs. First up, Apple CEO Tim Cook – the handpicked successor of Steve Jobs who has led the tech giant for the past 15 years – announced this week that he would transition away from the CEO role. While he will remain on as Executive Chairman, John Ternus, the company's head of hardware engineering, will take over at the helm, PBS reports. Cook's tenure at Apple has received mixed evaluations, with many applauding the steady handed executive for adding an estimated $3.6 trillion in market value to the company, while others have critiqued his supposed lack of innovation compared to his predecessor. Some hope his more technical-minded successor will put more emphasis on product development moving forward. Like many tech CEOs, Cook went to great lengths to ingratiate himself with President Trump in his second term, donating $1 million to his inaugural committee and gifting Trump a glass plaque set in 24-karat gold last August.* Meanwhile, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned this week amid “an internal investigation into her conduct,” which included “instructing staff to buy her bottles of sauvignon blanc on work trips… [stashing] liquor in her office, [encouraging] young female staffers to ‘pay attention' to her father and husband, [having] an affair with a member of her security detail, and [arranging] work travel to visit family and friends,” per Vox. For the time being, the Labor Department will be headed by Keith Sonderling, whom POLITICO calls a “quintessential Washington insider who is well-connected in the capital's Republican circles and his home state of Florida.” Sources quoted in this piece identify Sonderling as a key behind-the-scenes player in the administration whose accumulated influence “extends well beyond DOL.” The choice of Chavez-DeRemer, a former Congresswoman who was seen as perhaps the most labor-friendly Republican in the House, was supported at the time by Trump-aligned Teamster boss Sean O'Brien; her ouster therefore, represents the latest humiliating setback for his strategy of cozying up to Trump to win favorable treatment for his membership. In the words of a recent Current Affairs piece published before the downfall of Chavez-DeRemer, “Sean O'Brien Sold Labor to Trump, and Got Nothing.”* In the House, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned her seat this week, just minutes before the House Ethics Committee was set to weigh punishment for the Congresswoman, whom the panel had previously found guilty of “a slew of ethics violations, including accusations that she stole millions in pandemic relief funds and used it to bolster her 2021 campaign,” according to CNN. Cherfilus-McCormick was one of the four Members of Congress included in the proposed bipartisan expulsion deal some weeks ago, along with Representatives Swalwell, Gonzales, and Mills. With the first two gone, a tremendous amount of pressure is sure to be exerted on Congressman Mills to resign as well. Prior to resigning, Cherfilus-McCormick was already facing a stiff primary challenge from young progressive Elijah Manley. Now, it seems her seat – representing hundreds of thousands in Broward and Palm Beach counties – could remain vacant until a new member is sworn in next January, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unlikely to call a special election before then.* Also in Congress, Axios reports Representative David Scott of Georgia, a powerful Black Georgia Democrat who served in the lower house for over 20 years, passed away this week at age 80. Scott, who rose to become the first Black chair of the key House Committee on Agriculture, had filed to run again in 2026 despite rumored resistance from his colleagues. His death leaves Georgia's 13th district without representation in the House and amounts to a stunning fourth death-based Democratic House vacancy in the past year. Like the ones that preceded it, this must be seen as a bright red warning signal to Democratic leadership.* In DC more broadly, the employment picture looks even worse. According to a new report in the Guardian, the combined purging of 300,000 jobs from the federal government – the piece notes this is the “region's largest employer” – by Elon Musk's absurd Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, with another 13,000 job cuts in the private sector, has left DC with the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 6.7%. With little sign of increased hiring in the public or private sectors, there is no indication this trend will reverse itself any time soon.* Elsewhere in the DMV, this week Virginia voters approved a referendum to amend the state constitution allowing Democrats to redraw the state's congressional districts in their favor. Currently, Virginia Democrats hold six districts to the Republicans' five; under the new map, Democrats are poised to hold 10 districts and the Republicans just one. This is the latest episode in the mid-decade redistricting fight begun last year, when Texas Republicans sought to redraw the Lone Star state's maps to be more favorable to the GOP. This set off a stampede of states seeking to redraw their district lines. Now, in light of the Virginia referendum passing, Florida is threatening to redraw their maps to the detriment of Democrats there. The Hill reports House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, taking a sharper tone than usual, responded to news of the Florida redistricting attempt with a statement reading “If Florida Republicans proceed with this illegal scheme, they will only create more prime pick-up opportunities for Democrats, just as they did with Trump's dummymander in Texas…[he vowed] maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time.”* In California, the downfall of Eric Swalwell has resulted in the unexpected rise of another candidate – former Congressman, California Attorney General, and Biden-era Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Between April 10th and April 22nd, Becerra surged from a polling average of under 4% to an average of 13% – and in some polls, even moved into first place. While Becerra seeks to consolidate this spike in support, progressives are airing long-held grievances. David Sirota, former Bernie Sanders campaign advisor and founder of the Lever, cited that publication's 2021 report on how “As California AG, [Becerra] demanded the HHS secretary use existing law to lower medicine prices - and then he became HHS secretary & literally refused to do that.” Others have pointed out that, according to Transparency USA, Becerra's campaign has received massive donations from the likes of Chevron. Progressive billionaire Tom Steyer on the other hand this week received the endorsement of Our Revolution, closely aligned with Bernie Sanders, which noted that “Yes, Tom Steyer is a billionaire. But it matters what he is doing with that power: pushing for taxes on the wealthy, expanding universal programs, and dismantling corporate influence in our politics.”* In another case of politics making strange bedfellows, the Chicago Tribune reports the political arm of Planned Parenthood is making an endorsement in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García in Illinois 4th congressional district. Except, in this case, the reproductive rights group is not endorsing the Democrat in the race. Listeners may recall that Congressman García was sharply criticized for his maneuvering to ensure his chief of staff Patty García would be the Democratic nominee. This has forced other potential aspirants to run as independents. These include DSA-aligned Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-López and activist Mayra Macías – the latter of whom won the Planned Parenthood Action endorsement this week. The Tribune notes that Macías served on the board of Planned Parenthood Action until the beginning of this year. In a statement, Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson called Macías “a proven leader,” who “will be unrelenting in the fight to protect access to sexual and reproductive health care.”* Turning to international news, in South Africa, leftist politician and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party Julius Malema was sentenced to five years in prison this week for “firing a rifle in ⁠the air at a party rally,” Al Jazeera reports. Unsurprisingly, given that the EFF is the fourth largest political party in South Africa, this case has become a rallying cry for Malema's supporters, with those same supporters accusing the prosecution of being politically motivated. Presiding Magistrate Twanet Olivier disputes this, contending that it “is not a political party who has been convicted here … it is a person, an individual.” Malema's lawyers immediately applied for – and were granted – leave to appeal, but if these appeals fail Malema could be barred from serving as a Member of Parliament.* Finally, in more positive news from abroad, Reuters reports that the much-trumpeted summit of the global Left held in Barcelona this week – designed to help progressives rally their forces to defeat modern reactionary Right-wing nationalism characterized by figures like Trump – drew over 6,000 attendees from over 40 countries. Headline speakers included Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Brazilian President Lula, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. From the United States, an ecclectic group addressed the summit, ranging from video messages of support from Hilary Clinton to Bernie Sanders to Zohran Mamdani, with an in-person address by Minnesota Governor and former Vice-Presidential candidate Tim Walz. A recurrent theme, hammered home by Isabel Allende, former Senate president ​of Chile and daughter of Salvador Allende, Chile's leftist president ousted in a U.S.-backed coup and replaced with the dictator Augusto Pinochet, was that the left has become too distant from the daily concerns of workers, stating in no uncertain terms that “It's unimaginable to fight against the right ‌if we can't ⁠get closer to ordinary people.”This has been Francesco DeSantis with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe