Podcasts about Lowdown

America's present president is like those egos who feel entitled to carve their name into every park bench they sit on, apparently to “make their mark” and shout to the world, “I wuz here!”Indeed, Trump has demanded that our government patch his “Donald J. Trump” onto such public facilities as the Kennedy Center, the Institute of Peace, Dulles Airport, Penn Station, the Hudson Tunnel – and he might as well add the US Capitol since he treats Congress like his personal possession.Insecurity is what's driving his egomaniacal rebranding frenzy. As Trump candidly explains, “You've got to put your name on stuff or no one will remember you.”Oh, Donald, like the demagogic Joe McCarthy and other narcissistic politicos, you're destined to be long remembered… and mocked! Moreover, those vainglorious, gold-plated Trump nameplates you're tacking onto every public space will soon be unceremoniously stripped off and dumped into the trash bin of history.My friend, Fred Harris, a great populist senator from Oklahoma, told about the fickle nature of political fame. It was a true story about a governor who backed a boondoggle construction project after lobbyists promised to name the structure after him. They did, but as soon as the governor left office, his name was removed. Fred said if anyone ever dedicated a bridge or building to him, he wanted his name built into the structure itself, so if they later tried to remove his name, “the damned thing would fall down.”So don't despair that this president seems omnipresent. This too, will pass. Keep whacking at the autocratic, plutocratic structure of Trumpism – it's not built to withstand the winds time, much less the winds of democratic rebellion.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

Here's something we don't get to say very often: “Way to go Mississippi!”This state has long been ranked dead last in important measurements like healthcare, workers' wages, and rural opportunities. In recent years, though, Mississippi has steadily been advancing to the top in one vital category: Best places for a poor child to get a good education. What a miracle!No. It's the product of ordinary citizens who got fed up with plutocratic state rule that lavishes taxpayer funds on corporate elites, while shortchanging the basic needs of workaday people. In the past decade, savvy grassroots coalitions like Mississppi United have arisen and spread, gaining local political punch in county after county that could not be ignored by legislators.Early on they achieved major state investments in pre-K education, producing remarkable advances, especially by low-income children in many of the state's poverty-stricken, rural counties.This year, building on that success, the movement scored two huge educational victories. First, they produced a unanimous senate vote to defeat a school privatization scheme pushed by the right-wing governor, the corporate establishment, out-of-state school profiteers… and Donald Trump! Then, to emphasize and expand on the state's commitment to quality public education, the legislature passed a $5,000 teacher pay raise.As a legislative leader from Starkville said after the senate vote: “Our public schools are the cornerstone of every community in this state, and this unanimous rejection sends a clear message: Mississippi will not abandon the students and families who depend on quality public education – no matter how much out-of-state money tries to buy our legislators.”To learn more about the uplifting “Mississippi Miracle” go to ACLU-MS.org.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

OB424: The Lowdown on the Up-Down Released to show supporters on 2/11/2026 Public release scheduled for 2/25/2026 Have a great week, and thanks for listening to Opposing Bases Air Traffic Talk! ✈️ Real pilots. Real controllers. Real talk.

Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin joins the show taking a look around the league ahead of the trade deadline.Join Allan, Declan, and our great list of guests for all your Sports needs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send a textIn Episode 147 of The Bass Shed Podcast, Ryan Roberts sits down with freelance double bassist and educator Darren Sacks to explore what truly separates good playing from audition-ready playing.Darren shares the story of hearing the Boston Symphony Orchestra live at sixteen and deciding to switch from saxophone to double bass — a decision that led to rapid advancement, conservatory training, and a performing career throughout the Boston area.This conversation goes far beyond résumé highlights.Ryan and Darren dive into:• Why “innate talent” is often misunderstood• The critical role of rhythmic precision and note length in orchestral auditions• What adjudicators are actually listening for• Why technique on the double bass cannot be optional• The psychology of performing under pressure• And how Darren's Double Bass Audition Accelerator system prepares students for youth orchestra, festival, and conservatory auditionsIf you're preparing for auditions — or guiding someone who is — this episode is tactical, honest, and practical.More About Darren Sacks:https://www.darrensacksbass.com/https://www.darrensacksbasscoach.comListen & SubscribeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThebassshedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_bass_shedFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The.Bass.Shed.official/Join IN THE SHEDGo deeper with Podcast Extras, The 5 Spot, full Listening Room breakdowns, complete Bass Bites, Lessons, LowDown gear reviews, Shed Mindset videos, and access to the Shed Studio practice tools.Join here:https://www.thebassshed.comEpisode FeaturesLemur MusicServing bass players for decades with trusted instruments, accessories, and deep knowledge of the craft.LemurMusic.comPromo Code: THEBASSSHEDJerry Jemmott — 15 Timeless BasslinesA transcription collection focused on feel, phrasing, and truly serving the song.TheBassShedAcademy.orgThe Wood Shed BassVintage-inspired. Modern voice. Built for working players.TheBassShed.com/wood-shed-bassKraft Geek Capsule Music StandLightweight, collapsible, and gig-ready.Use promo code SHED15 to save 15%.https://kraftgeek.com/products/bravo-music-stand-209?ref=SHED15&utm_source=Website&utm_medium=Article&utm_campaign=Support the showInstagram / Twitter / Youtube / Website / BSA / View More Episodes

In this hour of the show we were joined by Kevin McCurdy and Dunkin' with Declan. Join Allan, Declan, and our great list of guests for all your Sports needs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin McCurdy joins the show previewing the Oilers and Ducks tonight. Join Allan, Declan, and our great list of guests for all your Sports needs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this hour of the show previewing the Oilers Ducks matchup, Rumors segment and Daily Faceoff's Matt Larkin. Join Allan, Declan, and our great list of guests for all your Sports needs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1988, I was one of only two white elected Democratic officials in all of America to endorse Jesse Jackson to be our party's nominee for President. (The other was Bernie Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington Vermont).As a Texas politico, my endorsement of the fiery Black leader was both derided as political suicide and hailed as gutsy. But it was neither – it was just the right thing to do. As I had learned from an old-time Texas Democrat, “Every now and then, a politician ought to do something just because it's right.”In the 1970s and 80s, I had gotten to know and work with Jackson. A renown orator, he was an even more effective thinker and uniter. For example, he was able to link white, conservative dirt farmers in common cause with impoverished farmworkers and inner-city families battling chain-store profiteers.So, when he ran for president, I had to ask myself: If this guy (1) is standing for the progressive populist values I believe in, (2) is standing with the grassroots families I'm fighting for, and (3) has the populist grit to stand up to the moneyed elites – why am I not standing with him?Millions of us responded to his deliberate campaign trying to forge a multi-racial populist movement, and it's up to us to carry that historic mission forward. But Jackson's “Rainbow” vision was not one of fluffy hope however, but one of profound “intentionality.” That means doing the grunt-level political work of strategizing, organizing, and mobilizing to make good things happen. Especially in these dark Trumpian times, emphasizing Jesse's deliberate determination is the best way to honor this true champion of democracy.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

In this hour we were joined by Pre & Post Game host Andrew Walker. Join Allan, Declan, and our great list of guests for all your Sports needs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CapeTalk’s design correspondent Bianca Resnekov discusses how art and creatives are driving the economy, and moving away from mass produced goods, to unique, individually made products. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily. Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk5See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Walker joins the show breaking down the gold medal game and Oilers upcoming schedule. Join Allan, Declan, and our great list of guests for all your Sports needs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this hour of the show; discussing what the Oilers trade deadline will look like, Rumors segment and Andrew Walker. Join Allan, Declan, and our great list of guests for all your Sports needs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fifty years on from the death of painter LS Lowry, the BBC has made a documentary featuring recently discovered recordings made in the last years of his life. Recorded by Lowry fan Angela Barratt over a period of four years, the tapes have been lip-synced for the documentary, with Ian McKellen playing Lowry and Annabel Smith as Barratt. Art historian Verity Babbs and curator of the Lowry Collection, Claire Stewart, join Samira Ahmed to discuss the painter's life and legacy. Actress Neve Campbell shot to fame playing the lead role of Sidney Prescott in Scream in 1996. She went on to appear in five of the six sequels - and now returns for another battle with the Ghostface killer in Scream 7. Francis Spufford is the award-winning author of Golden Hill and Light Perpetual. His new novel, Nonesuch, tells the story of a young woman who must thwart an occult plot by time-traveling fascists during the chaos of the London Blitz.And Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw reacts to last night's BAFTAs, as well as the winner of the Berlin Film Festival's coveted Golden Bear Award. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Tim Bano

France is heading for a far right take overIn this latest Lowdown podcast Nick Cohen talks in-depth to with Financial Times journalist Victor Mallet, a former F.T Paris correspondent about his book "Far-Right France: Le Pen, Bardella, and the Future of Europe." Mallett explores how the French far-right, led by Marine Le Pen and her protege Jordan Bardella, has become a mainstream political force after decades of gradual growth since the 1950s. Nick and Victor discuss how the far-right has capitalised on immigration concerns, economic grievances, and media influence to gain power, while the traditional left and centre-right parties have struggled to maintain relevance.Victor Mallet explains how the far-right's seemingly more pragmatic approach and media support have helped them transform from a fringe party to a dominant force in French politics, with significant implications for the European Union's future and the broader European project, and possibly the hard-won peace of Europe.The Far Right is on the march across EuropeNick and Victor discuss how the far right is across the march across Europe, aided and supported by Trump's White House and Putin's Kremlin.They discuss the rise of far-right and nationalist populist parties across Europe and the United States, noting that countries with histories of fascist rule, like Germany and Italy, are now seeing significant support for these parties. They attribute this phenomenon to factors such as immigration, economic challenges, and the "Fox Newsification" of media, which fuels a culture war. Nick suggests that governments' currently tough stances on immigration, mirrored by leaders like Sir Keir Starmer in Britain and Friedrich Mertz in Germany, fail to resonate positively with voters, highlighting the stubborn complexity of addressing anti-immigrant sentiment at the ballot box.Read all about it!Victor Mallet FT @VJMallet is a journalist, and was formerly the paper's Paris correspondent in the last of three stints in France for the FT. He is also an author, most recently of Far-right France: Le Pen, Bardella and the Future of Europe (Published by Hurst, and available now.) Victor is currently still based in Europe.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Hour 1 we were joined by Allan Mitchell from The Lowdown with Lowetide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During Hour 1 Allan Mitchell from The Lowdown with Lowetide joined the show recapping the Canada-US gold medal game and discussing the Oilers' return to action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BetAlytics Rachel Kryshak joins the show discussing yesterday's gold medal game and trade rumors ahead of the deadline.Join Allan, Declan, and our great list of guests for all your Sports needs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Gregor joins the show discussing yesterdays gold medal game and previewing the Oilers schedule coming back from the Olympic break. Join Allan, Declan, and our great list of guests for all your Sports needs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this hour of the show; breaking down the gold medal game, Rachel Kryshak and Rumors segment.Join Allan, Declan, and our great list of guests for all your Sports needs! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it okay to watch a violent movie next to a stranger's kid on a plane? Should you abandon your airline loyalty card? And wait—is March actually the real start of the new year? On this episode of Unpacked, host Aislyn Greene is joined by Afar editorial director Billy Cohen and deputy editor Michelle Baron for a wide-ranging conversation tied to Afar's annual Plan Your Travel Year package on afar.com. Together they break down what travelers actually need to know heading into 2026—from the shifting airline loyalty landscape and the true cost of travel credit cards to the events, destinations, and flight routes worth planning around this year. Plus: Michelle debuts a very special musical interlude. You'll want to stay for that. On this episode you'll learn: Why February (or maybe March?) is the real time to start planning your travel year How the airline loyalty and travel credit card game has changed—and what to do about it Which destinations are worth getting to before they blow up (Malta and Panama are calling) What events—from the World Cup to America's 250th—are shaping travel in 2026 Tips for stretching your PTO using federal holidays strategically Don't miss these moments: [01:45] The lightning round: TSA PreCheck, window vs. aisle, and travel credit cards in one word (or two) [09:45] Why the airline loyalty game "isn't so loyal anymore" [16:00] The Chase Sapphire Reserve breakup, and what it means for your points strategy [25:20] Biometrics, face scanning, and how close we really are to a passport-free airport [30:00] The lounge wars—and the case for a family-friendly soundproof play area [33:30] America 250: Tall ships in New York, a new Roosevelt Presidential Library, and a reexamination of the Battle of Little Bighorn [38:00] World Cup 2026: How to get tickets, where to stay, and why Providence might be smarter than Boston [44:30] How to stretch your PTO using federal holidays—and why Terry Ward changed Michelle's mind [48:30] Places to go before they get popular: Panama, Malta, Warsaw, and more [54:00] Revisiting the lightning round—and Billy's unexpected in-flight encounter with a Mad Men star's dad Resources: Explore Afar's complete ⁠Plan Your Travel Year⁠ package on afar.com. Read our story about whether or not airline loyalty is still worth it. Read Terry Ward's story on ⁠how to maximize your PTO⁠ in 2026. Read Afar's guide to ⁠12 places to visit before they get popular⁠. Explore Afar's ⁠Where to Go in 2026⁠ list. Stay up to date with Afar's ⁠travel news coverage⁠, including airline routes, loyalty programs, and credit card updates. Use ⁠points.me⁠ or ⁠Points Path⁠ to help maximize your miles and points redemptions. Be sure to subscribe to the show and sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠Behind the Mic⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, ⁠Travel Tales⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us, and View From Afar, where we spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of travel. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠Airwave Media⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Low Audi0 takes over the airwaves for an hour to plug you with his favorite house and techno tracks from the month. You can expect to hear newly released tracks from artists we know paired with carefully selected tunes from upcoming producers you might not have heard of. Take a load off and lock in w/ Low Audi0 on the Lowdown! ⚡️Like the Show? Click the [Repost] ↻ button so more people can hear it!

How are monopolistic corporations able to gain their economic dominance? They get politicians to give it to them.Consider the old robber barons. They weren't brilliant investors or managers, they were ruthless exploiters of government giveaways, and they routinely bribed lawmakers and other officials to permit their monopolistic thievery.Likewise, today's monopoly players have captured local, state, and national markets – not through honest competition, but by getting public officials to subsidize their expansion and to rig the rules against small competitors. Monopolizers buy this favoritism with the legalized bribes of dark-money campaign donations they lavish on compliant lawmakers.Investigative digger Stacy Mitchell recently documented how this corrupt political favoritism has allowed massive retail chains like Walmart, Kroger, and Dollar Store to crush thousands of local grocers. This has left millions of Americans living in “food deserts” – worker class, poor, and rural communities with no food store.What happened? As grocery chains spread from local to regional to national, they demanded that food manufacturers give them big discounts – a dramatic monopoly pricing advantage over independent rivals, so hometown grocers began hemorrhaging customers. This raw, anti-competitive, price discrimination was a flagrant violation of America's anti-monopoly law – but here came Big Money to protect the monopolists.In 1980, as Ronald Reagan was railing against “silly” consumer protection laws, supermarket lobbyists poured campaign cash into top officials of both parties. What they bought was bipartisan agreement to simply stop enforcing that “rusty” old antitrust law that had protected a competitive grocery economy for nearly 50 years.But good news! That useful, highly-effective law is still on the books, so let's build a long-term grassroots campaign to rejuvenate it and re-outlaw monopolization, redlining, and price gouging by food giants. For more information, go to ilsr.org.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

Except for Zorro and Batman, people who put on masks to hide their identity when going to work are rarely up to any good.And as Americans learned decades ago when Ku Klux Klanners covered themselves from head to toe, the bigger the mask, the greater the evil hiding behind it. Which brings us full circle to “Operation Metro Surge.”OMS is the muy macho PR slogan for the Republican Party's militaristic invasions of Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and other American cities they hate. Deploying ICE and other bastions of authoritarian power, thousands of massively armed federal belligerents in full assault gear have been rampaging through peaceful neighborhoods in violent and murderous mass sweeps.This is an un-American attack by America's own government on America's founding ideals of liberty and openness. The defining symbol of this government repression is that its forces are all hiding behind full-face masks.Of course, if I was doing some of the stuff ICE commandos are doing, I'd want to cover my face, too. But, like the Klan, masking up the oppressors is not merely about cloaking their personal shame — it's an added ploy by the perpetrators to terrify anyone who might dare to stand up to them.As usual, though, the authoritarian powers misunderstood America and underestimated the deeply rebellious nature of our gutsy, grassroots people. Some 30,000 volunteers in Minneapolis, for example, have become trained “constitutional observers” to police the police, and a citywide “whistle brigade” rushes like Paul Revere to alert neighbors when ICE agents invade their neighborhoods.Their ethic of neighbors-helping-neighbors recognizes their power to “do what's right.” It's the best of America standing up to confront the worst.Do something!Our friends at the Working Families Party are leading the charge to pressure Democrats to vote NO on any DHS bill that does not work to stop ICE's reckless attacks. You can text “ICE OUT” to 30403 or dial 833-636-3260 to call your Senators. Need a sample script? Here you go:When you connect, say your name and where you live to show that you're a constituent. Then, you could say something like:“ICE's reckless and illegal attacks on our communities must be stopped. But instead of ending and investigating ICE's abuses, the DHS spending bill would empower this rogue agency to terrorize and kill even more of our neighbors. As your constituent, I urge you to vote against the DHS funding bill and stand up to ICE.”Here's a whole set of actions they've compiled to help direct your energy.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

Vic Verchereau welcomes Josh Williams, who is CEO at Limitless Innovation. An interesting Journey that allows us to rethink our expectations. Josh Williams, the CEO of Limitless Innovation explains: "I became the one they never expected. At 16 my math teacher told me to drop out, and buy a leather jacket because I was never going to amount to anything. My English teacher told me I didn't deserve to take his class because I could barely read. My freshman year in college, I dropped out. 1.4 GPA. That should have been the end. Go find a job and just accept mediocracy. But here's what no one tells you... Those moments don't define your ceiling, they reveal your edge. They force a decision: accept the story you're given or build one of your own." Leadership Lowdown host, Vic Verchereau gets Josh to share his thoughts on a variety of meaningful leadership topics with this unique pacesetter. Grab a notepad and get ready! This is gonna be fun! » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/

In Hour 1 we were joined by Allan Mitchell from The Lowdown with Lowetide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During Hour 1 Allan Mitchell from The Lowdown with Lowetide joined the show discussing Canada at the Olympics and the Oilers returning to the ice for optional skates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

English nationalism will destroy the UKNick Cohen talks with Lowdown regular, author and historian James Hawes, about the on-going damage wrought on the UK by English nationalists and their failed Brexit project. Now current polls indicate that the same nationalist charlatans look likely to take power at the next general election. James said a Whitehall mandarin's prediction of the future break-up of the UK after the next election is looking increasingly likely: Labour has failed to solve the insoluble shitshow of Brexit - making it ever more likely that a radical right party reform UK led by Nigel Farage - will take power at the next election. This new resurgence of extreme English nationalism along with its loony unworkable policies will be rejected by the people of Northern Ireland and Scotland - and possibly even Wales - and calls for secession from the UK by constituent nations could soon become deafening.Northern Ireland will be the first to leave a failing United Kingdom to escape Farage & coBoth Nick and James agree - Brexit has become like the mad relative squirrelled away in the attic by the embarrassed Victorian family. James predicts Northern Ireland/Ulster will want soon want to unite with the now much richer Republic of Ireland rather than face an increasingly impoverished and culture war-wracked future at the hands of incompetent English and divisive nationalists. Scotland will likely follow suit- dumping Labour for the Scottish nationalists. The future of the United Kingdom has never looked so bleak.Read all about it! James Hawes @jameshawes2 Renaissance man, historian, writer and novelist. James, the author of The Shortest History of England and The Shortest History of Germany. His latest in the series, The Shortest History of Ireland, is out next month.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Visit: www.salty.com.au The LOWDOWN is loaded. We kick off with Kirk Fletcher and Eric Johanson laying down serious intent. Then we roll through local heat — Shane Pacey, Kara Grainger, Stefan Hauk, The McNaMarr Project, Suzannah Espie — proper homegrown soul in the mix. There's grit from Walter Trout, class from John Mayall, texture from Yasmin Williams, and two late-night postcards from Tom Waits before Tom Petty eases us out the back door. Powered by Salty Dog Blues N Roots www.salty.com.au #Podcast #SaltyDogBluesNRoots #bluesmusicvictoria #BluesPodcast #RootsMusic #AustralianBlues ARTIST / TRACK / ALBUM / LABEL / YEAR ** Australia 01. Kirk Fletcher / Keep On Pushing / Keep On Pushing / Vizztone Label Group / 2025 02. Eric Johanson / Just Like New / The Deep And The Dirty / Ruf Records / 2023 03. ** Greg Numan N The General Jacksons / Silent Running / Reds To Blues / Independent / 2024 04. Robbin Kapsalis / Up The Line / The Blues Is In The House / Vizztone Label Group / 2023 05. ** Shane Pacey / Living Cut Throat / Cross Of The Heart / Independent / 2026 06. Handsome Jack / Blue Falls Motel / Barnburners / Alive Naturalsound Records / 2018 07. ** Icecream Hands / Tambourine Mountain / Giant Fox Pineapple Tree / Rubber Records / 1995 08. ** Kara Grainger / Mama Said / That's How I Got To Memphis / Cracked Pepper Records / 2023 09. Boz Scaggs / The Feeling Is Gone / Out Of The Blues / Concord Records / 2018 10. ** Brothers / Winter In The City / Introducing Vintage Sounds In Modern Blues / Independent / 2026 11. ** Stefan Hauk / Right N Wrong / Before The Dawn / Independent / 2023 12. ** The McNaMarr Project / You're The Fighter / Single Release / Independent / 2026 13. Walter Trout Band / Cold Cold Feeling / Life In The Jungle / Alligator Records / 1990 14. Kyle Rowland / Complete This Order / Not Holding Back / Independent / 2023 15. ** Kaliopi N The Blues Messengers / How The Caged Bird Sings / Single Release / Independent / 2025 16. John Mayall / Blues For The Lost Days / Blues For The Lost Days / Silvertone Records / 1997 17. ** Suzannah Espie / Other Side Of The Mountain / Sea Of Lights / Independent / 2023 18. Yasmin Williams / New Beginnings / Unwind / Spinster Records / 2019 19. Sophie Gault / Merlot Dodge Dart / Unhinged / Independent / 2024 20. Tom Waits / Hold On / Mule Variations / Anti- Records / 1999 21. Tom Waits / $29.00 / Blue Valentine / Asylum Records / 1978 22. Tom Petty / You Don't Know How It Feels / Wildflowers / Warner Bros. Records / 1994

Today we have another fun podcast with Luna London and Dolly for their mini-series Spill the T. In this episode, they look back at their highs and lows of filming for Lingerie Lowdown, reminiscing about some of the most beautiful pieces they've had the pleasure of reviewing along with a few that definitely didn't quite hit the mark. This trip down memory lane soon sparks plenty of other stories and reflections, as the conversation wanders through their experiences in front of the camera. Sit back and enjoy their look back at the journey so far and hopefully, there have been far more highs than lows.As a reminder, our podcast is available on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple, Google, Amazon, and more. Simply search for ‘Lingerie Lowdown The Podcast' to access all our episodes, which are free for everyone to enjoy. Plus, you can now watch the video versions of our latest episodes directly, here on Spotify and our Rumble channel too!For a deeper dive and a complete archive of all our engaging audio podcasts, be sure to visit our podcast on Spotify. Happy listening (or watching), and thank you for being part of this incredible podcast journey with us!

George Orwell spoke bluntly about the nefarious nature of advertising, calling it “the rattling of a stick inside a swill bucket.”Even Orwell, though, would've been astonished by the cacophony of swill bucket advertising currently being blasted at us by Amazon, Google, Meta, and other profiteering tech giants. What are they trying to sell?Pure hogwash. Having spent billions to develop artificial intelligence so humanoid robots can displace workers, the tech geniuses are now rushing to build thousands of vast computer data centers necessary to power their Brave New AI World. Each center wills suck up local water supplies, drastically raise people's utility bills, create monstrous industrial blight and pollution, and enthrone such autocratic thugs as Bezos, Musk, and Zuckerberg as absentee bosses with domineering power over each locality.But the billionaires forgot something: You and me. “We the People” are in open rebellion against this Orwellian future, with officials in multiple states and localities “Just Saying Hell No” to the profiteers' invasive scams.Thus, the billionaire hucksters are frantically rattling their swill sticks. For example, Mark Zuckerberg – whose Meta goliath already operates 26 massive data centers and is now spending $600 billion to plop more of them in our communities – has launched a multimillion-dollar offensive to beat back local opponents. It's running BS television ads in state capitol cities, financing political candidates to hype the data centers, deploying untold numbers of lobbyists to rig the rules against opponents, and hiring an army of “community affairs” agents to spread AI propaganda.The swill bucket brigade has the fat cats, but a groundswell of us alley cats that has them on the run. To get involved, go to mediajustice.org/tools.Do something!The Center for Media Justice has been leading the way in fighting data centers in lots of communities around the country— here's how they beat back one in Amarillo, TX, for example. Get involved at mediajustice.org!Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

Hugh and Freddie break down a busy deadline day at Fratton Park, giving the full lowdown on Pompey's new signings and what they bring to the squad. The lads also review the Preston game, discuss the injury crisis, and preview game against Sheffield United.

We are joined by music supervisor, LA punk scenester, singer, songwriter and all around music lover, Tiffany Anders. Most recently you may have heard some tunes Tiffany likes on the soundtracks of hit shows like "The Lowdown" and "Reservation Dogs", but today she helps us trace the histories of American Indie Rock from SST to Sub Pop to...wherever we are now. 

About the Guest(s):Meaghan Dowd is a seasoned insurance expert with a deep passion for risk management and proactive financial protection. She began her career in the insurance brokerage industry, focusing primarily on high-end coverage solutions before transitioning to HolistaPlan, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing insurance analysis software. Meaghan's career is distinguished by her commitment to elevating advisors' capabilities in insurance planning, having successfully leveraged her expertise to help advisors integrate comprehensive insurance reviews into their client service models.Episode Summary:Join Amy Irvine, CEO and founder of Rooted Planning Group, as she welcomes insurance specialist Meaghan Dowd to the Money Roots podcast for an enlightening discussion on the often-overlooked aspects of financial planning: protection products. In this episode, Amy and Meaghan explore the crucial role that home, auto, and liability insurance play in safeguarding one's assets and income. Meaghan shares her journey into the insurance industry, emphasizing the proactiveness of risk management and how crucial it is to have the right insurance policies in place to prevent financial disasters.As the conversation unfolds, the focus shifts to the intricacies of insurance policies, from understanding the difference between replacement and actual cash value to recognizing the importance of stress-testing your insurance coverage. Meaghan outlines common oversights, such as disregarding liabilities attached to lifestyle choices, including pool installations, board memberships, and motorized vehicle ownership. The episode underscores how vital it is to maintain regular communication with your insurance agent and how choosing the right insurance partner can drastically affect the claims process and overall satisfaction. These insights promise to offer listeners practical guidance on ensuring they are adequately prepared for the unexpected.Key Takeaways:Understanding the need for the right type of insurance coverage is essential for transferring risk and protecting both assets and income.Differences between replacement cost and actual cash value can significantly impact claim payouts and should be carefully considered in policy selection.Regularly reviewing and adjusting insurance policies to reflect lifestyle changes and potential liabilities can prevent inadequate coverage.The choice of insurance company plays a crucial role in the claims experience and can ultimately influence both financial and emotional outcomes.Engaging with your insurance agent annually can help align your coverage with any changes in your situation, providing peace of mind.Notable Quotes:"Insurance is really planning ahead, where attorneys kind of wait for worst-case scenarios to happen.""It's not just can the insurance write the check for us, but it's can they support me mentally?""You outgrow your coverages, and it might not be because you moved into a new home or bought a new car.""Insurance is not a maintenance program. It is here for those losses that would financially devastate you.""If...

Years ago, when I announced that I was leaving my job as editor of The Texas Observer to run for political office, I had to admit that into politics is the only downward career move one can make from journalism!But being a both a journalist and a politician does hone in one's ability to detect the smell of BS – and we Americans are presently getting a noxious blast of that stench from our warmongering Department of Defense.The vast, trillion-dollar Pentagon is the ultimate Big Brother bureaucracy, literally empowered to compel thousands of Americans to die in foolish military misadventures cooked up by political partisans and profiteering corporate contractors. That's why it's so alarming that Trump's “Project 2025” autocrats are now rushing to slam an iron door of censorship on reporters trying to inform us commoners about the militaristic schemes and corporate fraud that come from inside this government fortress.In the name of defending freedom, Trump's palace guards are banning media outlets that displease his royal highness. Also, “Pretty Boy Pete Hegseth,” Trump's made-for-TV Pentagon honcho, has even decreed that reporters must be tightly monitored by military escorts while doing interviews, reviewing documents, and otherwise exorcising the essential Constitutional rights of our nation's free press.The good news is that rather than kowtowing to the autocrats, dozens of media organizations have told Pete to stuff it, choosing to do old-school outsider digging into this insider war machine.Meanwhile, the “Project 2025” authoritarians hail their clamp down on free press rights by touting their “fresh relationship” with what they call their “new Pentagon press corps.” Right – it's their partisan press corps, not ours.Do something!Our friends over at Free Press have launched a newsletter, “Pressing Issues,” to cover the future of media—and advocate for the freedoms we need in journalism. Check it out at pressingissues.org.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

Vic Verchereau welcomes Dominic Burkhard, who is Executive Director at 121 Capitol Connection. 121 Capitol Connection is an evangelism and encouragement ministry to state and federal legislators. The purpose of 121 Capitol Connection is to take the gospel to government officials. This is accomplished by creating a system, state by state, in which pastors and churches pursue personal relationships with their specific legislators for the sake of the gospel and by having a minister on the ground consistently in the Capitol. 121 Capitol Connection is active in Michigan, where it began as a state-wide ministry, but it has the long term goal of seeing every legislator in America matched up with at least one church in their district to minister to them consistently. In this edition of the Leadership Lowdown, host Vic Verchereau gets the mission clarity from Executive Director of 121 Capitol Connection, Dominic Burkhard. Listen in to hear all about this noteworthy charge to the Capital! » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/

Drei auf dem Treppchen, rauf und wieder runter mit STRANGER THINGS, Staffel 05, das Finale, THE LOWDOWN, STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY & PLURIBUS. Alles in Serie und dann HAMNET, MARTY SUPREME, GREENLAND 2, 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE, LA GRAZIA, NOUVELLE VAGUE, THE MOMENT, EPIC: ELVIS IN CONCERT. Unten mit den Kings.

EPISODE 126 -  “THE WESTMORE DYNASTY: MAKE-UP TO THE STARS AND BEYOND” - 2/09/2026  Hollywood loves dynasties—acting families, directing families, producing families—but one of the most powerful dynasties in film history didn't appear on screen at all. And it's one of the rare family dynasties that began in silent films and continues working in film and TV to this very day: THE WESTMORE FAMILY.   The Westmores were the architects of illusion and the sculptors of stardom. From the pioneering vision of GEORGE WESTMORE who laid the foundations of cinematic makeup, to the extraordinary careers of his six sons, this family transformed faces into movie stars and shifted the culture of how women thought of and accepted the use of makeup in every day life.  Their techniques, philosophies, and innovations continue to influence how we see characters on screen today—often without even realizing it.  Join us as we spend time with The Westmore Dynasty: Hollywood's ‘First Family' of makeup. SHOW NOTES:  Sources: Makeup Man: From Rocky to Star Trek The Amazing Creations of Hollywood's Michael Westmore (2017), by Michael Westmore and Jake Page; The Westmores of Hollywood (1976), by Frank Westmore and Murial Davidson; “Putting on a Face for Hollywood,” April 12, 1991, by Carie J. Delmar, Los Angeles Times; “Low-Down on Hollywood Make-up:  Five Brothers and Their Father, Ex-Clevelanders All, Have Film Stars Beating a Path to Their Door,” April 7, 1940, by Inez Wallace, Cleveland Plain Dealer; www.westmoreland.com Wikipedia.com; TCM.com; IBDB.com; IMDBPro.com; Movies Mentioned: In the Sultan's Power (1909); The Three Musketeers (1921); The Sheik (1921); The Sea Beast (1926); The King of Kings (1927); It (1927); Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931); Cimarron (1931); Scarface (1932); Lady by Choice (1934); Mutiny on the Bounty (1935); Anthony Adverse (1936); Rhythm on the Range (1936); The Life of Emile Zola (1937); Elephant Boy (1937); Jezebel (1938); The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938); Professor Beware (1938); Gone with the Wind (1939); Intermezzo (1939); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939); The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939); Rebecca (1940); The Strawberry Blonde (1941); Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid (1948); Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954); The Ten Commandments (1956); The Mountain (1956); My Geisha (1962); Two for the Seesaw (1962); Irma la Douce (1963); Sweet Charity (1969); Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970); There Was a Crooked Man (1970); Soylent Green (1973); The Towering Inferno (1974); Rocky (1976); Being There (1979); Raging Bull (1980); Mask (1985); --------------------------------- http://www.airwavemedia.com Please contact sales@advertisecast.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Hour 1 we were joined by Allan Mitchell from The Lowdown with Lowetide and our Monday co-host, former CFLer Eddie Steele. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send a textLet's take you to our first event with us!What happened?What was it like?Your questions answered!Our membership - CLICK HERETo get your hands on some American Creator please check out the links below, beautiful products!Website - www.American-creator.euInstagram - @americancreator.tmTiktok - @americancreatorUK distributor - CLICK HERETo contact Chan for ad enquiries chan@clawgasmic.comfollow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/clawgasmic/subscribe to our YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/clawgasmicJoin our family www.clawgasmic.comMusic: Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/energizerLicense code: B7SMOYOU92ORL3Z3

Brother of the late LowDown co-founder Robbie, Dr. Scott Robertson, shares the story of his path to a career in healthcare. Dr Scott also sheds some light on the concept of 'concierge medicine', why not every one of these programs is the same and what you should look for in such an arrangement with your trusted physician.  Slappy Sal reviews Firewater BBQ and an encore presentation from the LowDown's regular medical correspondent, Dr. Anthony Fartchi, is included.

While the production of my Lowdown commentaries is high-tech, I confess that I'm antiquated.I still write each piece in longhand, applying my ballpoint to paper. This has caused bewildered glances from some who see me scribbling away in local coffeeshops and bars. Recently, one fellow sidled up and whispered: “Watch out! If they see you doin' this, they'll haul you off to the Smithsonian.”But we handwriters might not be as obsolete as the key-tappers assume. A fast-spreading grassroots movement is calling for schools to reemphasize the value of writing and printing by hand, instead of being wholly-dependent on machines. Already, 24 states – as varied as Mississippi and California– now require public schools to teach cursive handwriting in third-through fifth grades.This squares with new understanding of how brains absorb information. While keyboards are faster, the slower, more tactile act of handwriting creates longer lasing comprehension of letters – and better retention of the thoughts they convey. Neuroscientists find that rote keystrokes on a computer require little mental engagement, while physically drawing out words and ideas takes coordination of multiple areas of the brain to focus memory, eyes, and fingers on creating a written product.Just writing this piece conjured up a fond remembrance of my early childhood: Sitting on the floor of our home learning to draw the ABCs, both print and cursive, on those lined practice pads. It was both an artistic exercise and the development of a foundational tool for a life of learning.This is Jim Hightower saying… Yes, computer literacy is an indispensable element of today's childhood curriculum --- but so is the richer development of human thinking through putting pen to paper. So let's teach both!PS—Here's a post we did a couple years ago about how Hightower's work goes from handwritten on paper to whooshing through the ether into your inboxes:Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

There are industries that occasionally do something rotten. And there are industries like Big Oil, Big Pharma, and Big Tobacco – that persistently do rotten things.Then there is the nursing home industry – where rottenness has become a core business principle. The end-of-life “experience” can be rotten enough on its own, with an assortment of natural indignities bedeviling us, and good nursing homes help gentle this time. In the past couple of decades, though, an entirely unnatural force has come to dominate the delivery of aged care: Profiteering corporate chains and Wall Street speculators.The very fact that this essential and sensitive social function, which ought to be the domain of health professionals and charitable enterprises, is now called an “industry” reflects a total perversion of its purpose. Some 70 percent of nursing homes are now corporate operations run by absentee executives who have no experience in nursing homes and who're guided by the market imperative of maximizing investor profits. They constantly demand “efficiencies” from their facilities, which invariably means reducing the number of nurses, which invariably reduces care, which means more injuries, illness… and deaths. As one nursing expert rightly says, “It's criminal.”But it's not against the law, since the industry's lobbying front – a major donor to congressional campaigns – effectively writes the laws, which allows corporate hustlers to provide only one nurse on duty, no matter how many patients are in the facility. A humane nurse-staffing requirement has been proposed, but the profiteering “industry” furiously opposes it… and Congress is dutifully bowing to industry profits. After all, granny doesn't make campaign donations.To help push for sanity and humanity, contact TheConsumerVoice.org.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

S3EP1 – The 2026 Gym Girl Low Down: Fitness Icks, The Next Big Trend & AI Hates Us?GUESS WHO'S BACK? Season 3 is here and it's packed with new guests and conversations that will inspire and motivate you in your fitness journey and in general! In this episode, I share my personal fitness journey over the past year, including the wins celebrated, setbacks overcome, and lessons learnt that anyone chasing goals can relate to.My gym bestie also joins me for a candid conversation about fitness, community, and what's on the horizon for 2026. Together, we explore how personal growth, connection, and embracing new challenges can transform not just your body, but your mindset.In this episode, we cover:* The importance of community and building lasting connections in fitness* Reflecting on past experiences to set meaningful goals for the future* Personal growth through stepping outside your comfort zone* Training for hybrid races, marathons, triathlons, and other challenges with focus and dedication* How technology, from wearables to AI, can impact fitness routines* Women-specific fitness spaces, holistic health, and staying mindful of your body* Emerging trends for 2026: in-person community events, evolving competitions, and the rise of triathlonsThis episode is a reminder that fitness isn't just about workouts, it's about resilience, connection, and embracing the journey. Whether you're chasing personal achievements, curious about fitness trends, or love a good locker room-style chat, there's something here for everyone and you're always welcome.

Audio walking tour of Prohibition era Harlem, courtesy of illustrator E. Simms Campbell: A Night-Club Map of Harlem, 1932.Music: Cab Calloway. "Minnie the Moocher" Presenting Cab Calloway & His Orchestra. Minnie the Moocher (Theme Song) (78rpm Version), 1932; Duke Ellington and His Washingtonians. "Choo-Choo (Gotta Hurry Home)" Choo Choo. Blue Disc, 5001, 1924; Cab Calloway. "Reefer Man" The Best of Cab Calloway (various) . RCA, 1931; Chick Webb and His Orchestra. "Harlem Congo" The Chick Webb Collection . GRP/Decca Jazz Heritage, 1937; Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday; dir. Fred Waller - "Symphony in Black: A Rhapsody of Negro Life " Film short, music. Cult Cinema Classics, 1935; Gladys Bentley - "Worried Blues" (1928) - Roots 'N' Blues/The Retrospective 1925-1950; Fats Waller and His Buddies, "Harlem Fuss " Harlem Fuss. Victor V-38050-B, 1929; Nina Mae McKinney "Half of Me Wants to Be Good" Short film excerpt "The Black Network". Vitaphone, 1936; Garland Wilson, piano; Michel Warlop, violin "Limehouse Blues" Midnight Ivory - The Early Garland Wilson Recordings. ℗ 2025 Jazz Classics, 1938; Adelaide Hall. "As Time Goes By" Barry Humphries Presents So Rare 3. ℗ 2006 Bilarm Music Pty Ltd, 1943; Fats Waller and His Rhythm "Two Sleepy People " If You Got To Ask, You Ain't Got It!. Bluebird/Legacy, 1938; Bert Williams "Nobody " Nobody. Columbia, 1913; Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, "Doin' The Lowdown" Doin' the Lowdown - 78 rpm. Brunswick 12810, 1932.

Reminder: Join us TONIGHT at 6pm CT for Happy Hour with Hightower!The US military has long been an easy mark – for our own avaricious corporate contractors, that is.During the Civil War, for example, J.P. Morgan sold rifles to the Union army that cost him only $3.50 each, but he charged the military $22 each. Worse, his rifles were defective, blowing off the thumbs of soldiers who fired them. Still, a Congressional committee ruled that Morgan had a “legal” contract and had to be paid in full.Which brings us to the screwball contracts the Pentagon routinely signs these days with multibillion-dollar corporate con artists hawking weaponry. These gougers, though, have streamlined their taxpayer thievery by automatically inserting a corporate gotcha in nearly every Pentagon contract. It makes it illegal for the military to repair the weapons and systems they have bought!A drone won't fly? An AI system goes haywire? Anti-aircraft rockets fail? DON'T touch the systems! No — you must call a corporate-approved tech repair person, or take the malfunctioning gizmo to the manufacturer.Yes, this is insane, unworkable, immoral… and the very definition of “snafu.” But corporate profiteers have made it the law. At last, though, soldiers, battleground commanders and common-sense members of both parties are rebelling, supporting Sen. Elizabeth Warren's “Warrior Right to Repair Act.” Pathetically, Congress and avaricious contractor lobbyists recently defeated this bill, wailing contractor property rights is more important than authorizing soldiers to make lifesaving repairs in the field.The fight goes on, though, and you can help. Two lawmakers who engineered this travesty are Mike Rogers of Alabama and Adam Smith of Washington State, both of whom take hundreds of thousands of dollars from the war profiteers. To fight their insanity, go to pirg.org/repair.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

Reminder: Join us live this Thursday at 6pm CT for Happy Hour with Hightower!If you're ever asked to define the word oxymoron, just say, “Congressional ethics.” People instinctively burst out guffawing at the absurdity of linking Congress to upright behavior.But, surprisingly, Republican congressional leaders say they're now taking a bold stand for a little less corruption among their own members, targeting lawmakers who've been secretly enriching themselves through “insider stock trading.” Actually, the leaders were forced to support this bit of reform because of public outrage over the dirty dealing of Rep. Rob Bresnahan. This multimillionaire Republican was caught using his insider position last year to profit from the GOP's gutting of Medicaid benefits for poor people.So, last month, the party's designated ethics watchdog, Bryan Steil, rose on his hind legs to introduce the Stop Insider Trading Act. “If you want to trade stocks,” Steil howled in operatic outrage, “go to Wall Street.”Bravissimo! Except it was a fraud. Far from stopping the self-enriching stock scams of lawmakers like Bresnahan, Steil's bill basically legalizes their corrupt transactions. For example, members could keep trading stocks in corporations they supposedly oversee. And, in the loopiest of loopholes, sneaky lawmakers are authorized to have their spouses buy and sell stocks on the member's behalf.Then, showing his party's true colors, Steil exclaimed that we outsiders should not even push Congress to pass an honest, outright ban on insider trading – because that would discourage wealthy business executives from choosing to enter “public service.”Hello, that gives us two reason to demand a ban – (first) to impose a minimal ethical standard on lawmakers, and (second) to shoo off self-serving monopolists and plutocrats from controlling the public's agenda.Do something!If you're fed up with rigged congressional systems of corruption, check out Citizens For Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), who call Steil's act a “joke,” and are working to pass the Restore Trust in Congress Act.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

WARNING: News headlines can give you a headache.For example, take typical headlines on today's environmental stories:* Earth's climate getting catastrophically hotter, faster* Greenhouse pollution increasing again* President calls global warming a “hoax” * Fracking executive now runs Energy Department * US funding new coal plants * White House abruptly cancels wind-power projects.Whew! My head hurts. The negativity in such headlines tells people that grassroots activism demanding clean energy and environmental sanity is futile, for government has been shanghaied by a political cabal of corporate executives.But wait – while it doesn't get front page treatment, a bracing wind of change is blowing in from the countryside! It turns out that producers, funders, and consumers of alternative energy have not rejected a brighter, sustainable future just because profiteers and politicians command us to follow them off the cliff.Indeed, here's a surprising development that the calcified defenders of dirty monopolized fuels could not have imagined only 10 years ago: Even in the fossilized Kingdom of Texas, solar power now provides more electricity to our people than does King Coal! Despite relentless efforts by our corrupt governor and top Republican officials to rig the marketplace against renewable energy, solar arrays and wind turbines are soon to pass Big Oil's fracked gas as the top supplier of electricity to Texas homes and businesses.Here's an uplifting headline for you: Last year, wind, sun, and other renewable sources surged past coal as America's number one source of electric power. As a leading climate scientist concludes: “We are at the end of the fossil fuel economy.” So, keep pushing.Do something! Want to keep pushing for environmental wins in Texas? Check out the Texas Campaign for the Environment, who have scored some great wins and continue to push for more. Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe