Podcasts about European

When Giorgia Meloni was elected Italy's prime minister, many people feared she would prove divisive and volatile. Instead, at a time when many other European governments have been in turmoil, her three years in office have been remarkably tranquil. Why German trains no longer run on time. And a very British battle: conker competitions. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HEADLINE: China Retaliates Against Dutch Chipmaker Seizure Amid European Fragmentation GUEST NAME:Theresa Fallon SUMMARY: Theresa Fallon discusses China imposing export controls on Nexperia after the Dutch government seized control of the chipmaker, which was owned by China's Wingtech. The Dutch acted due to fears the Chinese owner would strip the technology and equipment, despite Nexperia producing low-quality chips for cars. Fallon notes Europe needs a better chip policy but struggles to speak with one voice, as fragmented policy allows China to drive wedges and weaken the EU. 1966 TIBET

HEADLINE: SpaceX Starship Success, Private Space Dominance, and Government Inaction GUEST NAME: Bob Zimmerman SUMMARY: Bob Zimmerman describes SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy 11th test flight as "remarkable," highlighting successful booster reuse and controlled re-entry despite missing tiles. He asserts that private enterprise, like SpaceX, runs the "real American space program" aimed at Mars colonization, outpacing government efforts. In contrast, European projects like Callisto, proposed in 2015, demonstrate government "inaction." JPL is also laying off staff following the cancellation of the Mars sample return project, forcing organizations like Lowell Observatory to seek private funding. 1958

HEADLINE: SpaceX Starship Success, Private Space Dominance, and Government Inaction GUEST NAME: Bob Zimmerman SUMMARY: Bob Zimmerman describes SpaceX's Starship Super Heavy 11th test flight as "remarkable," highlighting successful booster reuse and controlled re-entry despite missing tiles. He asserts that private enterprise, like SpaceX, runs the "real American space program" aimed at Mars colonization, outpacing government efforts. In contrast, European projects like Callisto, proposed in 2015, demonstrate government "inaction." JPL is also laying off staff following the cancellation of the Mars sample return project, forcing organizations like Lowell Observatory to seek private funding. 1962

When Giorgia Meloni was elected Italy's prime minister, many people feared she would prove divisive and volatile. Instead, at a time when many other European governments have been in turmoil, her three years in office have been remarkably tranquil. Why German trains no longer run on time. And a very British battle: conker competitions. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S&P futures are up +0.3% and pointing to a higher open today. Asian equities posted mixed results on Thursday, with Japan's Nikkei up +1.2% and Korea's Kospi outperforming on optimism around U.S.-South Korea trade talks. European markets opened narrowly mixed. The Trump administration maintained a hawkish stance on trade as U.S.-China tensions escalated. USTR Greer criticized China's new rare earth export restrictions, labeling them a global supply chain power grab and a violation of trade agreements. Treasury Secretary Bessent dismissed reports that China is leveraging U.S. stock market concerns to push for negotiations, asserting the U.S. won't capitulate due to market fluctuations. Companies Mentioned: Microsoft, Estée Lauder, SL Green Realty

Here's a free clip of today's episode, where Musa and Ryan chat all about England becoming the first European team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, after their 5-0 away win in Latvia (02:09). Head over to Patreon for more on the game, the campaign, Harry Kane, Thomas Tuchel's job so far, as well as the Jude Bellingham situation and why they think he will still be one of England's most important players at next summer's tournament. They also shout out the other teams to qualify, another Pedri masterclass and much, much more.Don't forget, we're live at the Southbank Centre in London on December 4th, go get your tickets here!For more podcasts each week, ad-free and in full, plus access to the Stadio Social Club and much more, become a Stadio member by going to patreon.com/stadio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly a year ago, mysterious drones of unknown origin began buzzing military bases and other sensitive sites, mostly in the eastern U.S. They swooped in out of nowhere, hovered and maneuvered over airfields, didn't try to hide their presence, and could not be tracked when they abruptly departed. Entire U.S. bases were shut down, including Langley and Wright-Patterson AFB. Similar incursions were reported at joint bases in the UK, where personnel deployed advanced anti-drone tech - with no effect. Now, several European countries are experiencing similarly troubling incursions. In recent weeks, mystery drones have caused fear and confusion in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Belgium. Governments suspect the drones are being controlled by Russia, though there isn't a shred of evidence to prove that, and these drones cannot be tracked or brought down. In this episode of WEAPONIZED, Jeremy and George are joined by British journalist Chris Sharp, editor and founder of the Liberation Times, whose insightful coverage of the mystery drones over the past year is among the best in the world. Chris shares new information about the most recent incursions, has insight about attempts to track and disable the mystery drones, and speculates about why the drone invasions might be a measured response by earthly forces, payback for something that was initiated by NATO allies. Also in this episode, additional information about a gigantic black triangle spotted hovering over a runway at Eglin Air Force Base, as described by an eyewitness in a previous episode. Check out Chris Sharp's publication https://LiberationTimes.com GOT A TIP? Reach out to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WeaponizedPodcast@Proton.me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ••• Watch Corbell's six-part UFO docuseries titled UFO REVOLUTION on TUBI here : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tubitv.com/series/300002259/tmz-presents-ufo-revolution/season-2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch Knapp's six-part UFO docuseries titled INVESTIGATION ALIEN on NETFLIX here : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://netflix.com/title/81674441⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ••• For breaking news, follow Corbell & Knapp on all social media. Extras and bonuses from the episode can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WeaponizedPodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we're heading deep into the muggy heart of Florida — into the swamps, forests, and backroads most people only see from the safety of an airboat. Out here, under the cover of night and cypress moss, something moves through the shadows. Something big. Something that hundreds of people claim to have seen over the last two centuries — but science still refuses to acknowledge.We're talking about the Florida Skunk Ape — the Sunshine State's answer to Bigfoot, and one of the most unsettling mysteries still hiding in America's wilderness.You might think Florida's too developed for anything unknown to stay hidden. But across generations, the reports haven't stopped. Law enforcement officers, hunters, families, and veterans have all described seeing the same thing: a massive, hair-covered figure with glowing red eyes and a smell so strong it made their stomachs turn.These aren't campfire tales — they're official reports, eyewitness accounts, and in some cases, physical evidence collected by people who had everything to lose and nothing to gain by speaking up.We'll explore nearly 200 years of sightings and encounters, from frontier settlers in the early 1800s who described “man-sized monkeys” raiding fishing camps, to the terrifying 1929 incident at the Perky Bat Tower, where something powerful enough to shake a thirty-foot structure drove out every bat inside. We'll look at the case of two Palm Beach County deputies in the 1970s — both seasoned outdoorsmen — who came face to face with a seven-foot creature while investigating livestock attacks. They even recovered hair samples caught on a barbed wire fence. You'll also hear about the Vietnam veteran who, in 1977, watched an eight-foot creature emerge from the mangroves behind his home and was so shaken that he cleared thirty feet of brush from around his property just to sleep at night. And then there are the photographs. In 2000, an elderly woman in Sarasota County sent two chilling images to the sheriff's office, showing what appeared to be a reddish-brown, ape-like creature crouched behind her backyard. The so-called Myakka Photos are still being analyzed and debated over two decades later.We'll talk about Dave Shealy, the man who's dedicated his life to proving the Skunk Ape exists — running his Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in the heart of the Everglades. His 2000 video footage of a creature running through the swamp is still one of the most-watched cryptid videos online. But this episode goes deeper than the sightings.We're asking why so many people — trained law enforcement officers, hunters, and locals — believe they've seen something that modern science says shouldn't exist. We'll dive into the psychology, the skepticism, the cultural roots of the legend, and even the Seminole people's stories of Esti Capcaki, the “tall hairy man” that predates European settlement by centuries.By the end of this episode, you'll feel the humid air, hear the buzz of the swamp at night, and maybe understand why so many Floridians won't step foot into certain parts of the wilderness after dark. This isn't just another campfire tale. This is a journey through real encounters, credible witnesses, and the enduring mystery of something hiding out there in the heart of Florida's wild places.Whether you're a believer, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, this episode might just make you slow down a little the next time you're driving through the backroads of the Everglades after sunset — especially if you see a pair of glowing eyes staring back at you from the tree line.This is the episode the swamp doesn't want you to hear.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sasquatch-odyssey--4839697/support.

Patrick addresses controversies around UK misgendering laws, the growing pains of multiculturalism, and immigration’s impact on Western identity. Callers spark lively reflection on family Mass routines, Muslims praying in European churches, and the loss of Catholic spaces, with Patrick sharing personal stories and issuing strong opinions about faith, society, and the turmoil facing Christians worldwide. Tension, raw honesty, and glimpses of hope land side by side in a fast-moving blend of current affairs, candid audience exchanges, and striking spiritual insights. Audio: UK Resident “I now have a criminal record because I wrote in the Critic magazine that my stalker was a man. Because he is a man.” (00:20) Alejandro - I am an usher. They recommend going to another separate mass so that you can focus. (03:27) Sarah - Muslims asking for a prayer area. I do think there should be reciprocity and do agree with you. Muslims want to take over and show dominance. (05:18) Rusty - Free donuts and coffee are just things that the Church does to encourage teens (and others) to come to mass. (11:52) Kris (email) - Not to belabor the usher at communion topic, but I think just saying “we’re all adults” as it relates to our ability to use order when queuing up for communion can easily be refuted by the example people set for exiting an airplane (16:37) Nancy - I think politicians are ignorant and don't know enough about Islam to have an informed policy (18:13) Kathy - Muslims and Islam. I am bothered by people who say Christians and Muslims can coexist when they don’t realize that Muslims want to dominate Christians. Also, it bothers me that Catholic dioceses sell property to Muslims. (23:32) Carol - I think that the Church and Western countries are starting to adhere to Islam. (26:09) Carolyn - I found Mary's belt in Damascus. Is the Assumption biblical? (28:36) Therese - I was born and raised in Nigeria. I am from the Eastern part. They keep killing us and want every Nigerian to be Muslim. (31:22) Tony - How do I refute the Mormon practice of Baptism of the Dead? (35:22)

Right now, you should invest in anything but the S&P 500... Today we talk about what you should invest in instead. We focus was on market dynamics, particularly the strong performance of precious metals like gold and silver, the technical risks of recent market breakouts, and the caution needed after periods of rapid gains. We examine broader market trends, highlighting the relatively stronger performance of European and emerging market stocks versus the U.S., the importance of diversification, and more. We discuss... Precious metals, especially gold and silver, have been performing strongly, but recent market breakouts are showing signs of weakness, signaling caution for over-leveraged investors. September was a high-gain month, leading many investors to become overextended, with earnings season potentially introducing volatility. The precise reasons for gold's rise are unclear, though factors like central bank purchases and possible stablecoin-backed demand may contribute. Gold acts as a fear indicator rather than a production-based asset, with rising prices reflecting concerns over fiat currency and economic uncertainty. Historical comparisons show current gold-to-oil ratios are anomalous, echoing aspects of the 1970s stagflation period while oil prices remain low. U.S. stock market gains are outpaced by European and emerging markets this year, emphasizing the importance of global diversification. Average S&P 500 returns differ from actual realized returns due to volatility and sequence-of-returns risk, affecting long-term retirement planning. Electricity prices have surged in most U.S. states, highlighting structural energy supply challenges and rising costs for consumers. AI expansion is creating unprecedented energy demand, potentially driving electricity prices higher and stressing grid capacity. Nuclear energy development is critical to meet growing energy needs, yet decades of poor policy and infrastructure deficiencies hinder progress. Media narratives on energy and investment trends can be manipulated, requiring investors to critically evaluate information. Historical tech and AI boom comparisons suggest caution, as overhyped markets with high valuations may lead to significant losses. Investors should manage risk carefully, use first-principles thinking, and avoid greed-driven overexposure to emerging trends like AI.   Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Douglas Heagren | Mergent College Advisors Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/invest-in-anything-but-755 

Was Margaret of Anjou a mastermind of strategy or a pawn in a deadly game? In this insightful episode of the Jeremy Ryan Slate Show, we take a deep dive into how a queen's tenacity changed history forever. Margaret of Anjou's relentless fight during the War of the Roses reshaped European politics, from leading armies to forging alliances that influenced borders and power dynamics still relevant today. This critical examination explores her rise as a fearless figure battling betrayal, political intrigue, and conspiracies. Join us as we unravel the unique perspective on her life—from her beginnings as a French princess to her transformation into a warrior queen. Discover the untold story of her decisions, victories, and devastating losses. Was she a brilliant strategist or simply outmaneuvered by powerful players around her? We'll explore the conspiracies, hidden alliances, and the lasting legacy of her actions.This must-watch episode is not just about history—it's about power, survival, and resilience. It's a story that resonates in today's world of shifting alliances and high-stakes decisions. I'm Jeremy Ryan Slate, your host and CEO of Command Your Brand, bringing you the context and depth you won't find elsewhere. Let's continue the conversation—drop a comment with your thoughts, smash that like button, and subscribe for more deep dives into the hidden corners of history and power. Together, we'll uncover the secrets of the past and the lessons they hold for the future. Don't miss out—join the conversation now!#medievalqueens #warofroses #queenhistory #forgottenqueens #margaretanjou___________________________________________________________________________⇩ SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ⇩BRAVE TV HEALTH: Parasites are one of the main reasons that so many of our health problems happen! Guess what? They're more active around the full moon. That's why friend of the Show, Dr. Jason Dean, developed the Full Moon Parasite Protocol. Get 15% off now by using our link: https://bravetv.store/JRSCOMMAND YOUR BRAND: Legacy Media is dying, we fight for the free speech of our clients by placing them on top-rated podcasts as guests. We also have the go-to podcast production team. We are your premier podcast agency. Book a call with our team https://www.commandyourbrand.com/book-a-call MY PILLOW: By FAR one of my favorite products I own for the best night's sleep in the world, unless my four year old jumps on my, the My Pillow. Get up to 66% off select products, including the My Pillow Classic or the new My Pillow 2.0, go to https://www.mypillow.com/cyol or use PROMO CODE: CYOL________________________________________________________________⇩ GET MY BEST SELLING BOOK ⇩Unremarkable to Extraordinary: Ignite Your Passion to Go From Passive Observer to Creator of Your Own Lifehttps://getextraordinarybook.com/________________________________________________________________DOWNLOAD AUDIO PODCAST & GIVE A 5 STAR RATING!:APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-create-your-own-life-show/id1059619918SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UFFtmJqBUJHTU6iFch3QU(also available Google Podcasts & wherever else podcasts are streamed_________________________________________________________________⇩ SOCIAL MEDIA ⇩➤ X: https://twitter.com/jeremyryanslate➤ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/jeremyryanslate➤ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/jeremyryanslate_________________________________________________________________➤ CONTACT: JEREMY@COMMANDYOURBRAND.COM

The leaders of Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Citi warned that investor exuberance risked driving financial markets into bubble territory, and US investors are hunting for private data as the federal government shutdown is blocking the release of crucial reports. Plus, silver hit a record on Tuesday, and investors are facing a growing concern that European defence start-ups are oversaturating the market. Mentioned in this podcast:Banks caution over bubble as they report bumper profitsUS government shutdown leaves traders ‘flying blind' on jobs dataSilver price hits record amid scramble in London marketInvestors confront top of European defence start-up ‘hype cycle'Today's FT News Briefing was produced by Ethan Plotkin, Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, and Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann and Michael Lello. The FT's acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show's theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We look back at the results from the first half of 2025 and check in on the performances of the world's largest global beer companies (Heineken, Carlsberg, AB InBev, Molson Coors, Constellation Brands, and Royal Unibrew). We also look at three major themes affecting the beer business in 2025: the dramatic impact of harsh immigration policies on American Latinos, the struggles of European brewers to push costs onto consumers, and the urgency and surprising success of global beer businesses betting big on non-alcoholic beverages.  Want to sign up for our written research? Have a question, qualm, or story to tell, reach out via email: Bourcard.Nesin@rabobank.com Check out the rest of our written research: rabobank.com/knowledge Note: The content and opinions presented within this podcast are not intended as investment advice, and the opinions rendered are that of the individuals and not Rabobank or its affiliates and should not be considered a solicitation or offer to sell or provide services.   Disclaimer: Please refer to our global RaboResearch disclaimer at https://www.rabobank.com/knowledge/disclaimer/011417027/disclaimer for information about the scope and limitations of the material published on the podcast.  

Which players have impressed the most over the last couple of games? How excited can we really get by England's 100% record in qualifying? Does the European qualifying format for the World Cup need to be refreshed? Gary, Alan and Micah discuss England's two convincing wins in the last week and look ahead to what we can expect from them at the World Cup this summer. Get started today at https://www.hubspot.com Join The Players Lounge: The official fantasy football club of The Rest Is Football. It's time to take on Gary, Alan and Micah for the chance to win monthly prizes and shoutouts on the pod. It's FREE to join and as a member, you'll get access to exclusive tips from Fantasy Football Hub including AI-powered team ratings, transfer tips, and expert team reveals to help you climb the table - plus access to our private Slack community. Sign up today at therestisfootball.com. https://therestisfootball.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode_description&utm_content=link_cta For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most conversations about the environment fall into polarized camps — either denial or panic. But living responsibly doesn't have to be political or extreme. In this episode, I take a practical look at what stewardship can look like at home, from how we grow food to how we build, heat, and maintain the spaces we live in.  For our family, that means raising chemical-free produce and livestock, managing soil through regenerative practices, and thinking about proximity so we can walk, bike, and rely less on cars. The result is healthier food, healthier soil and less dependence on the systems that created most of today's environmental problems. We've learned that smaller and simpler often means smarter. A compact, well-insulated home cuts energy use and forces intentional living — less waste, less clutter, and fewer pointless purchases.  The same mindset applies to energy: we combine solar power with conventional fuel instead of pretending one option solves everything. We avoid plastics where possible, use natural materials that last, and work with nature instead of against it. That means embracing weeds where they serve a purpose, using biodiversity instead of monocultures, and letting natural cycles do the work we once tried to control. I also unpack why large-scale mandates, like the EU's plan to ban new fossil-fuel cars by 2035, sound good in theory but overlook the realities of infrastructure, materials, and trade-offs. Real change won't come from legislation alone; it happens when individuals choose differently — when we buy less, waste less, and make each decision with the long view in mind. The goal isn't perfection, it's progress: small, sustainable choices that make our lives and our planet better over time. If that approach resonates with you, share this episode with someone who's trying to live more intentionally. Real stewardship doesn't start with politics — it starts with practice. Learn more: To follow along with us as we learn the ropes of homestead living, check out our Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/kummerhomestead/), where we share the useful tips and tricks we discover. You can also visit us at https://www.kummerhomestead.com Thank you to this episode's sponsor, OneSkin! OneSkin's lineup of topical skin health products leverage the power of the company's proprietary OS-01 peptide to remove dead skin cells, improve collagen production, increase skin hydration and more.  Check out my before and after photos in my OneSkin review: https://michaelkummer.com/health/oneskin-review/  Get 15% off with my discount code MKUMMER: https://michaelkummer.com/go/oneskinshop  In this episode: 00:00 Intro 00:59 Living as good stewards of the planet 01:42 Growing chemical-free food 02:16 Regenerative soil practices 03:23 Walking, biking, and proximity living 04:14 Hybrid energy approach 05:09 Benefits of smaller homes 06:21 Reducing plastic footprint 07:01 Cooperating with nature 08:17 Questioning our needs 09:14 Critique of European fossil fuel ban 12:37 Individual responsibility and practical changes 15:06 Final thoughts Find me on social media for more health and wellness content: Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelKummer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primalshiftpodcast/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michaelkummer/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mkummer82 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmichaelkummer/ [Medical Disclaimer] The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health. [Affiliate Disclaimer] I earn affiliate commissions from some of the brands and products I review on this channel. While that doesn't change my editorial integrity, it helps make this channel happen. If you'd like to support me, please use my affiliate links or discount code.  

S&P futures are up +0.5% and pointing to a higher open today. Asian markets posted solid gains on Wednesday, led by Japan's Nikkei and Hong Kong's Hang Seng, both up over +1.5% as tech shares rebounded. European markets are also moving higher in early trades. The French CAC is leading with a +1.5% advance as French PM Lecornu's willingness to suspend pension reform to secure political support provided some relief, though a vote of confidence is looming on Thursday. U.S.-China trade tensions continue to generate volatility, with President Trump indicating on Truth Social a potential halt to trade on cooking oil products, citing China's refusal to purchase U.S. soybeans. This follows recent threats to double tariffs in response to China's expanded rare earth restrictions, although Trump later reassured that resolution is possible. Companies Mentioned: Apple, Eli Lily, Papa John's

Want Portuguese you can actually use the moment you land? We invited our friend David to walk us through a traveler's toolkit that works in both Brazil and Portugal, focusing on sounds, phrases, and tiny tweaks that turn confusion into connection. From the musical softness of Brazilian Portuguese to the crisp edges you'll hear in Lisbon, we break down what changes, what stays the same, and how to be understood anywhere you roam.We start with high‑impact essentials: bom dia vs boa noite, when tchau fits, and why “obrigado/obrigada” depends on who's speaking. David demystifies the nasal vowels that give Portuguese its character—think sim that feels like “seen,” and não with a gentle hum you feel more than hear. You'll learn how to get attention with com licença, own a slip with desculpe, and navigate everyday moments with clarity: “Fala inglês?” “Falo.” If the reply races by, “mais uma vez?” slows the world down without killing the vibe.Then we get practical with maps and menus. Use onde fica to find the places travelers need most: o banheiro, a estação, o ponto de ônibus, o hotel, a farmácia. Order like a local by naming the item plus por favor—água, café com leite, chá—no stress, no essays. Introductions are simple and warm: “Meu nome é…” followed by “muito prazer” builds instant rapport. We also cover numbers with a twist—um/uma and dois/duas reflect gendered nouns—so you can ask for duas águas and then request a conta with confidence.This is language stripped to what works: sound patterns you can mimic, phrases built for real life, and a traveler's mindset that favors clarity over perfection. If Portugal's tiles or Brazil's beaches are calling, this guide gets you from shy nods to small wins fast. Hit play, learn a handful, and see how far “tudo bem?” can take you. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who's dreaming of Lisbon or Rio.Thanks for your ongoing support!http://paypal.me/TheROAMiesAlexa and RoryThe ROAMiesPlease subscribe, rate and share our podcast! Follow us at:http://www.TheROAMies.comThe ROAMies: Facebook and Instagram YouTube and X.

For most of human history, economic growth was, well, pretty bleak. But around the Enlightenment, things started clicking. This year's Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences went to a trio of researchers whose work focuses on how technological progress led to this sustained economic growth. Today we hear from one of them, Joel Mokyr, about his work on European economic history. Related episodes: Why are some nations richer? (2024 Economics Nobel) A conversation with Nobel laureate Claudia Goldin (2023 Economics Nobel) When Luddites attack (Update) (Featuring Joel Mokyr) For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.  Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

PREVIEW HEADLINE: China Implements Rare Earth Export Controls Amid Trade Deal Negotiations GUEST NAME: Elizabeth Peek 50-WORD SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Elizabeth Peek about Beijing's decision to implement export controls, potentially blocking rare earth materials essential for US and European electronics. China leverages its 70% global share, causing supply chain disruptions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent condemned the "desperate act," claiming China aims to pull down the world economy alongside its sinking one. 1901 PEKING

PREVIEW HEADLINE: European Relief Over Gaza Ceasefire and Germany's Reaction to the "Doha Shake" GUEST NAME: Judy Dempsey 50-WORD SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Judy Dempsey about the positive European and specific German reactions to the Gaza ceasefire and "Doha shake." European governments feel relief, hoping for an end to demonstrations and challenges to their support for peace. While America is credited with delivering the peace element, Europeans remain bystanders, offering only financial help to rebuild Gaza. 1898 WEST BANK

In today's Episode Ken Returns form Europe, and tells us about ticket scandals, losing 5k, and meeting women of the night from Dubai. We discover why Jake Paul is all over Sora AI, and that Mike is being tricked. We break Down The Cleetus vs Granny's racing Grudge Match and ask you guys to help us choose our NEXT giveaway. Sign up for your $1 per month trail at https://www.shopify.com/wideopen Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/WIDEOPEN and use code WIDEOPEN and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/zz85607d #CashAppPod.Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Direct Deposit, Overdraft Coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. To watch the podcast on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/LifeWideOpenYT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/LifeWideOpenWithCboysTV⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be amazing! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/LifeWideOpenWithCboysTV⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can also check out our main YouTube channel CboysTV: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/CboysTV⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Plus: Walmart will sell products directly on ChatGPT. And the EU's trade chief says China's latest export controls on rare-earth materials are a concern for European companies. Julie Chang hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Obama makes an official statement celebrating the release of the hostages and refuses to credit President Trump. Dana reacts to the body language of European leaders who almost derailed the entire peace deal as Trump spoke. CNN's Christiane Amanpour has to apologize after sparking outrage for saying the Israeli hostages were probably being treated better than the average Gazan. What's next after the ceasefire? Actress Cheryl Hines says she has to HIDE her snacking from her husband, RFK Jr. Speaker Johnson exposes some of the ridiculous projects Democrats want to fund in the CR. Multiple airports refuse to play Kristi Noem video that blames Democrats for the government shutdown. Portland leftists are blocking roads while holding a "NUDE DIE-IN" to "protest ICE". Alec Baldwin blames a massive garbage truck for why he crashed his wife's car into a "big fat tree" in the Hamptons, but the CCTV footage shows otherwise. Cincinnati's Police Chief tells criminals to “learn how to behave in our city” instead of doing her job. Hamas is already threatening to violate the peace plan. Obama's Presidential Library project in Chicago is facing massive backlash over design flaws and skyrocketing costs.Thank you for supporting our sponsors that make The Dana Show possible…Boll&Branchhttps://BollandBranch.com/danashow Start building your sanctuary of comfort this fall with Boll & Branch. For a limited time get 20% off your first set of sheets plus free shipping.Webroothttps://Webroot.com/danaChange your October from cyber-scary to cyber-secure with 60% off Webroot Total Protection.AmmoSquaredhttps://AmmoSquared.comDon't get caught without ammo and be sure to tell them you heard about Ammo Squared on this show. PreBornhttps://PreBorn.com/DANA Or DIAL #250 Say the keyword BABY. That's #250, BABY. Together, we can save lives — one mom and one baby at a time.ChapterFor free and unbiased Medicare help from my partners Chapter, dial #250 and say keyword “My Medicare”Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand-alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan's contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.Keltechttps://KelTecWeapons.comKelTec builds every KS7 GEN2 right here in the USA with American materials and workers—upgrade your home defense today. All Family Pharmacyhttps://AllFamilyPharmacy.com/Dana Don't wait until flu season knocks at your door. Use code DANA10 at checkout to save 10%. Relief Factorhttps://ReliefFactor.com OR CALL 1-800-4-RELIEFTurn the clock back on pain with Relief Factor. Get their 3-week Relief Factor Quick Start for only $19.95 today! Byrnahttps://Byrna.com/danaGet your hands on the new compact Byrna CL. Visit Byrna.com/Dana to receive 10% off. Patriot Mobilehttps://PatriotMobile.com/DanaDana's personal cell phone provider is Patriot Mobile. Get a FREE MONTH of service code DANAHumanNhttps://HumanN.comStart supporting your cardiovascular health with SuperBeets now available at your local Walmart. 

This is just a teaser for today's episode, which is available for Patreon subscribers only! We can't do the show without your support, so help us keep the lights on over here and access tons of bonus content, including Roqayah's new weekly column “Last Week in Lebanon,” by subscribing on our Patreon for as little as $5 a month. While you're at it, we also love it when you subscribe, rate, and review us on Apple Podcasts.  Kumars is off this week, so Roqayah is joined in Beirut by writer and video journalist Hadi Hoteit, war correspondent for Press TV and producer of “Wartime Cafe with Laith Marouf” along with other programming at Free Palestine TV.  Together, Hadi and Roqayah react to the latest ceasefire agreement in Gaza, reflecting on the regional impact of the genocide, the interconnectedness of the Levant before and despite European colonization, and what Israel's campaign in Lebanon portends for Gaza in the coming months and years.  Hadi and Roqayah also discuss Israel's targeting of construction machinery and efforts to rebuild south Lebanon, the history of Israeli aggression against Lebanon dating back to 1948, how popular support for Hezbollah's refusal to disarm is informed by the longstanding marginalization of the Shia community, and finding hope in the global tradition of indigenous resistance.  You can watch Free Palestine TV on YouTube and follow Hadi Hoteit on Twitter.  

Portugal's Golden Visa with Your IRA? David's Path to Investing & Retiring AbroadWhat happens when a regular gay man says “enough” to U.S. chaos and starts building a fabulous Plan B abroad? Meet David Govacker, a medical professional who leveraged a self-directed IRA to invest in a diversified fund, qualify for Portugal's Golden Visa, and set up a life with sunshine, safety, and equality—without Trump-era stress or American price tags. If you're exploring investing for residency and retiring abroad, this episode is your blueprint.Top Takeaways:Why Portugal? LGBTQ+-affirming culture, stable politics, urban lifestyle, big airports, and easy U.S. access.Golden Visa 101: The €500k investment route, residency timeline, and minimal stay rules (think: ~14 days every 2 years).Investing via IRA: How a self-directed IRA rollover (not a taxable distribution) can fund a qualifying investment.Fund choice matters: Why a diversified, open-ended mutual fund (vs. private equity lockups) matched David's risk profile.Logistics made simple: Paperwork, biometrics, realistic timing, and avoiding tax pitfalls with clean rollovers.Plan B → Peace of mind: Build optionality now so you're not scrambling later.Real talk for LGBTQ+ folks: Looking for places where equality is both law and lived.Perfect for: LGBTQ+ professionals curious about Portugal, the Golden Visa, investing for residency, and retiring abroad—without giving up financial sanity or safety.Loved this? Share with a friend who's Golden-Visa-curious, and subscribe for our Netherlands retirement countdown next week.Download: Get your Happy Gay Retirement CalculatorMentioned in this episode:Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Faster Here!Want a European passport with access to living in nearly any European country? Just click the link below to find out how. Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

Actor/Director Helen Hunt & Actor singer/songwriter psych/mythology PHD phd Helen Slater discuss a deep friendship and love, growing up in art, the beginning of their friendship on a trip to russia, Winnie The Pooh,, growing beyond your first dream, parenting, parenting artists, Helen H. introducing Helen S. to her husband, improv, acting styles, baseball, French Fries, & clown school.Bio: Helen Hunt has enjoyed a distinguished career not only as an award-winning actor, but as an accomplished writer, director, and producer. As an actress, her extensive and diverse body of work includes roles in film, theater, and television.      Hunt enjoyed a residency at The Old Vic Theatre in EUREKA DAY, a story about parents on the Executive Committee of a progressive private school in Berkeley, California. While taking pride in their ability to accept everyone, a public health scare erupts, testing their tolerance and revealing their true colors. Written by Jonathan Spector and directed by Katy Rudd. It was the European premiere of a multi award-winning story. Hunt performed alongside Kirsten Foster, Mark McKinney, Ben Schnetzer and Susan Kelechi Watson. In television, Hunt can most recently be seen as Winnie Landell in HACKS, created by Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky. She can also be seen as Rainey in Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal's BLINDSPOTTING, a show based on the film with the same title. In 2022 it was nominated for a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best New Scripted Series. The second season was released in April 2023. Hunt returned to the stage this February in Susan V. Booth's major revival of Pinter's famed masterwork BETRAYAL at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. The Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award winner currently stars in the play alongside Tony nominee and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Ian Barford, respectively playing Emma and Robert. In 2019, Hunt revived her role as Jamie Buchman for another season of the hit show MAD ABOUT YOU opposite Paul Reiser. The show returned as a limited series on Spectrum Originals with all episodes available on demand.    In 2012 Hunt's performance in THE SESSIONS earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female and notations in the same category by the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, SAG Awards, Broadcast Film Critics' Awards and the BAFTA Awards.  The film premiered in competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and took home the Audience Award as well as the jury prize for Best Ensemble.  Other film credits include: Netflix's Comedy CANDY JAR, RIDE (which Hunt also co-wrote, produced, and directed), DECODING ANNIE PARKER, SOUL SURFER, EVERY DAY, BOBBY, THEN SHE FOUND ME (which Hunt again also co-wrote, produced, and directed), AS GOOD AS IT GETS, WHAT WOMEN WANT, CASTAWAY, A GOOD WOMAN, Woody Allen's THE CURSE OF THE JADE SCORPION, Robert Altman's DR. T AND THE WOMEN, PAY IT FORWARD, and TWISTER. Hunt can last be seen in HOW IT ENDS, Michael Cristopher's THE NIGHT CLERK and Adam Randall's thriller I SEE YOU. Early career film credits are: THE WATERDANCE, KISS OF DEATH, MR. SATURDAY NIGHT, PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED, NEXT OF KIN, GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, PROJECT X. and MILES FROM HOME.     Additional television credits include “MAD ABOUT YOU” and the critically acclaimed HBO Miniseries EMPIRE FALLS. For her role as Jamie Buchman in MAD ABOUT YOU, Hunt garnered four Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards (three as lead actress and one as Producer for Best Comedy), and a Screen Actors Guild Award.  She was also named “Best Actress” for her role in the film AS GOOD AS IT GETS for which Hunt won a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Oscar.     Helen Slater is an American actress and singer-songwriter. In 1982 she was cast in the title role of the film Supergirl (1984) opposite Peter O'Toole and Faye Dunaway. Other credits include The Legend of Billie Jean (1985), Ruthless People (1986), The Secret of My Success (1987), City Slickers (1991), Sticky Fingers (1988), Lassie (1994), No Way Back (1995), The Steal (1995), Seeing Other People (2004) and most recently, Confetti (2021). Slater starred in the Fox original movie 12:01 (1993), Hallmark Hall of Fame's Best Friends for Life (1998), Toothless (1997) and Lifetime's The Good Mother (2013). She was also a part of the all-star ensemble cast of Showtimes guided improvisational films Chantilly Lace (1993), Parallel Lives (1994) and most recently completed filming the sequel Chantilly Bridge (2021). In series television, Helen starred in ABC's The Lying Game (2011-2013), Gigantic (2010-2011) and the CW series Supergirl (2015-2022). As a guest star, she has appeared on such series as Seinfeld, Caroline in the City, HBO's Dream On, CBS' Michael Hayes, Will and Grace, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Supernatural, Smallville and the series finale episode of Madmen. Slater appeared in the off-Broadway plays Almost Romance (1987), Responsible Parties (1988), and starred in the Pasadena Playhouse's world premiere production of The Big Day (1990). She is a co-founder of the theatre group The Naked Angels and one of the founding members of the Los Angeles improvisational group, The Bubalaires, and SHPLOTZ!   She is also a member of Turbine Arts Collective  (https://www.turbine-arts.org/), a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the exploration of creativity.

Ready to sail through the stunning fjords of Norway?

We begin with the domestic "Compliance Crunch," a sudden and significant contraction in US trucking capacity driven by intensified immigration enforcement actions causing non-citizen drivers to exit the market, independent of demand. This rapid capacity disappearance resulted in a noticeable -6.7% decrease in unique US DOT numbers between September and October 2025, leading to intense regional volatility where spot rates in places like Gary, Indiana, skyrocketed up to 42%. The squeeze gets tighter in drayage, as ocean carriers and ports strictly enforce accessorial charges to maintain revenue, shifting higher storage and waiting costs to shippers, compounded by new rules restricting non-domiciled CDLs. Globally, we detail the major turbulence brewing over maritime carbon regulation, following the US administration's forceful rejection of the International Maritime Organization's proposed Net-Zero Framework. The US administration labeled the NZF a "European-led neocolonial export" and threatened severe retaliatory measures, including blocking vessels from US ports and imposing extra fees, warning that the global carbon tax could hike shipping costs by 10% or more. Amid this volatility, supply chain leaders must leverage technology that drives actionable resilience and prediction, moving beyond mere visibility dashboards that only show chaos after it happens. AI-powered procurement platforms like Arkestro are helping teams shift from costly, reactive compliance to proactive, predictive sourcing, which can cut sourcing time by 60% to 90% by predicting negotiation outcomes and streamlining bids. On the ground, collaboration platforms such as C3 Hive are becoming the essential connective environment, sitting between a company's transportation, warehouse, and yard management systems to synchronize information and actions across the supply chain. Customers typically report a 90% drop in just calls and emails within two weeks of deployment, proving this action-oriented tech is replacing the phone as the messy integration layer. Finally, we look inside the warehouse walls, where intelligence platforms are rapidly advancing, highlighted by Dexory securing $165 million in funding to accelerate its AI-powered warehouse intelligence platform. Dexory uses autonomous mobile robots that scan over 10,000 locations per hour, creating a real-time digital twin of the warehouse, which speeds up the shift to truly adaptive, self-learning warehouses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. rail traffic increased for a second consecutive week for the period ending Oct. 4, 2025, with overall volume up 3.6%. North American rail volume also saw gains, rising 4.7% for the week, notably boosted by substantial weekly growth in Mexican rail traffic, which saw intermodal units jump 82.9%. Trade volatility means tariffs are serving as the "Tariffs are the wake-up call supply chains needed” for innovation, compelling savvy leaders to utilize AI to transform resource-intensive procurement tasks. Platforms like Arkestro, which uses behavioral science and AI, are now being adopted by Fortune 500 companies to move from reactive compliance to predictive strategies that can cut 60% to 90% of sourcing time while improving pricing accuracy. We also cover escalating global tensions as the U.S. administration vehemently rejects the IMO's Net-Zero Framework. Calling the NZF a "European-led neocolonial export," the U.S. warned nations that voting for the mandatory GHG limits and emissions pricing system could lead to severe retaliatory measures, including blocking vessels from U.S. ports and imposing additional port fees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S&P futures are under pressure, down (1%) as risk sentiment deteriorates following Asian equity weakness and reports that Beijing imposed fees on U.S.-related shipping. China has added five U.S. units of Hanwha Ocean to its sanctions list, escalating trade tensions with the U.S. The move prohibits these entities from conducting business with China and follows reciprocal fee hikes on ships at ports by both nations. Japan's Nikkei fell near (3%) today after reopening post-holiday, while Hong Kong also dropped (1.3%). European markets mostly opened in the red with major benchmarks down near (1%).Companies Mentioned: Goldman Sachs, Broadcom, Ford, Robinhood

Andy has returned from traveling abroad with news of a Quiet Revival happening in European churches.  Andy and Derek discuss reasons for this and what it could mean for ministries in this secular age.

4. The Dodo: Icon of Extinction and Conservation Inspiration AUTHOR: Stephen Moss BOOK TITLE: 10 Birds That Changed the World This section focuses on the Dodo, which became the icon of extinction. It went extinct on Mauritius within about 80 years after European sailors arrived (c. 1597), introducing ground predators (dogs, rats, cats, monkeys) that ate the flightless bird's eggs and chicks. Since the idea of extinction was incomprehensible to 17th-century society, few specimens were preserved. The dodo's fate has since inspired conservation successes, such as Carl Jones saving the Mauritius Kestreland Pink Pigeon using methods like double clutching.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Monday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, we cover the historic Middle East ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the growing civil war inside Gaza, Trump's new Air Force training deal with Qatar, and China's shocking escalation in the global Mineral Wars. Quick hits to launch your week with the facts shaping America and the world.   Hostages Freed as Trump Arrives for Ceasefire Signing: Twenty surviving Israeli hostages are being released to the Red Cross today as President Trump lands in Israel and prepares to sign the ceasefire in Egypt. The deal, brokered through Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, includes a full Israeli withdrawal to defensive lines, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, and the start of Gaza's transition toward international oversight. Bryan says, “It's remarkable that we've gotten this far — and it's largely driven by President Trump.”   Civil War Erupts Inside Gaza: As the ceasefire holds, Hamas is now killing rival Palestinian clans who refuse to submit to its rule. The Dormush clan was attacked while sheltering in a Gaza hospital. Arab outlets confirm that Hamas is executing and torturing noncompliant Palestinians from north to south. Bryan warns, “They are drowning rats now — butchers to the very end.”   The Next Phase: Rebuilding and Corruption Fears: Eighty-three percent of Gaza's buildings are damaged or destroyed, comparable to post–World War II Europe. Israel has mapped only 30 percent of Hamas's 350-mile tunnel network, which must be filled before reconstruction. Aid officials propose a Gaza-only cryptocurrency to track relief money and curb corruption as Arab and European funds begin pouring in.   Trump's Qatar Deal and Backlash in Idaho: Qatar will build an Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho to train its pilots on American F-15s. Critics like Steve Bannon and Laura Loomer warn that allowing a foreign Arab government to operate on U.S. soil invites danger. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth responded that “it's not a base — it's a building — and it's under Pentagon control.” Bryan adds, “That's the price Trump was willing to pay to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and pivot our focus to China.”   China Escalates the Mineral Wars: Beijing shocked the world with sweeping new export restrictions on rare earth minerals, magnets, and chip materials, cutting off 90 percent of global supply. The White House responded with 100 percent tariffs on all Chinese goods. Europe is panicking as factories and defense contractors face shortages, while Trump urges calm: “Don't worry about China. It will all be fine.” Bryan warns, “Xi has the world by the neck — and he knows it.”   Market Panic and Pentagon Stockpiling: Global markets plunged Friday before stabilizing after Trump's comments. The Pentagon is buying $1 billion in critical metals, including tungsten, cobalt, and bismuth, and pitching Australia a joint $1 billion production plan. Bryan cautions, “It's going to be a wild ride for your pocketbooks and investments.”   Health Breakthrough: Mitochondria and Anxiety Relief: Swiss and Columbia University researchers found that Urolithin A, a compound in the supplement MitoPure, reversed anxiety in lab animals by repairing brain mitochondria. Bryan celebrates the result, saying, “It's awesome to know that the hard work of finding companies that truly deliver is paying off.”   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Trump Israel Hamas ceasefire Egypt, Israeli hostages release Red Cross, Gaza civil war Hamas clans, Dormush clan Gaza hospital attack, Gaza reconstruction tunnels 350 miles, Gaza crypto aid corruption, Qatar Air Force facility Idaho Mountain Home, Steve Bannon Laura Loomer Qatar criticism, Pete Hegseth Pentagon control quote, China rare earth export controls, Trump 100 percent tariffs Chinese goods, Pentagon critical metals stockpile tungsten cobalt, Australia mineral partnership, Urolithin A MitoPure anxiety mitochondria study

Support Birthright Israel: https://birthrightisrael.foundation/callmebackSubscribe to Inside Call me Back: https://inside.arkmedia.orgGift a subscription of Inside Call me Back: http://inside.arkmedia.org/giftsSubscribe to Amit Segal's newsletter ‘It's Noon in Israel': https://arkmedia.org/amitsegal/Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastCheck out Ark Media's other podcasts: For Heaven's Sake: https://lnk.to/rfGlrA‘What's Your Number?': https://lnk.to/rfGlrAFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.orgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: https://arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: https://instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: https://x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dansenorTo order Dan Senor & Saul Singer's book, The Genius of Israel: https://tinyurl.com/bdeyjsdnToday's Episode: On Monday, October 13th, all 20 live hostages were returned to Israel and reunited with their families after two years in Hamas captivity. Israelis all over the country erupted in cheer, with tens of thousands of people in Tel Aviv's hostage square celebrating as news of returns trickled in. Hamas has also handed over just 4 of the 28 bodies of deceased hostages, in what Israel is calling a “blatant breach” of the ceasefire agreement. While all of this unfolded, President Trump landed in Israel, where he met with former hostages and hostage families and gave an hour-long speech at the Knesset in which he lauded his administration's support for Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu's leadership throughout this war. President Trump then traveled to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, where European, Arab, and Muslim leaders are meeting to discuss Trump's plan for the future of Gaza. To discuss all the many dramatic events that took place on this historic day, in which President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that the war is over, Dan was joined by Ark Media Contributor Nadav Eyal and International Law Expert Tal Becker. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorADAAM JAMES LEVIN-AREDDY - Executive ProducerMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingMAYA RACKOFF - Operations DirectorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Last time we spoke about the Battle of Taierzhuang. Following the fall of Nanjing in December 1937, the Second Sino-Japanese War entered a brutal phase of attrition as Japan sought to consolidate control and press toward central China. Chinese defense prioritized key rail corridors and urban strongholds, with Xuzhou, the JinPu and Longhai lines, and the Huai River system forming crucial lifelines. By early 1938, Japanese offensives aimed to link with forces around Beijing and Nanjing and encircle Chinese positions in the Central Yangtze region, threatening Wuhan. In response, Chiang Kai-shek fortified Xuzhou and expanded defenses to deter a pincer move, eventually amassing roughly 300,000 troops along strategic lines. Taierzhuang became a focal point when Japanese divisions attempted to press south and link with northern elements. Chinese commanders Li Zongren, Bai Chongxi, Tang Enbo, and Sun Lianzhong coordinated to complicate Japanese plans through offensive-defensive actions, counterattacks, and encirclement efforts. The victory, though numerically costly, thwarted immediate Japanese objectives and foreshadowed further attritional struggles ahead.   #171 The Flooding of the Yellow River Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. We last left off with a significant event during the Xuzhou campaign. Three Japanese divisions under General Itagaki Seishiro moved south to attack Taierzhuang and were met by forces commanded by Li Zongren, Sun Lianzhong, and Tang Enbo, whose units possessed a decent amount of artillery. In a two-week engagement from March 22 to April 7, the battle devolved into a costly urban warfare. Fighting was vicious, often conducted in close quarters and at night. The urban environment negated Japanese advantages in armor and artillery, allowing Chinese forces to contend on equal terms. The Chinese also disrupted Japanese logistics by resupplying their own troops and severing rear supply lines, draining Japanese ammunition, supplies, and reinforcements. By April 7, the Japanese were compelled to retreat, marking the first Chinese victory of the war. However both sides suffered heavy losses, with around 20,000 casualties on each side. In the aftermath of this rare victory, Chiang Kai-Shek pushed Tang Enbo and Li Zongren to capitalize on their success and increased deployments in the Taierzhuang theater to about 450,000 troops. Yet the Chinese Army remained hampered by fundamental problems. The parochialism that had crippled Chiang's forces over the preceding months resurfaced. Although the generals had agreed to coordinate in a war of resistance, each still prioritized the safety of his own troops, wary of Chiang's bid to consolidate power. Li Zongren, for example, did not deploy his top Guangxi provincial troops at Taierzhuang and sought to shift most of the fighting onto Tang Enbo's forces. Chiang's colleagues were mindful of the fates of Han Fuju of Shandong and Zhang Xueliang of Manchuria: Han was executed for refusing to fight, while Zhang, after allowing Chiang to reduce the size of his northeastern army, ended up under house arrest. They were right to distrust Chiang. He believed, after all, that provincial armies should come under a unified national command, which he would lead. From a national-unity perspective, his aspiration was not unreasonable. But it fed suspicion among other military leaders that participation in the anti-Japanese war would dilute their power. The divided nature of the command also hindered logistics, making ammunition and food supplies to the front unreliable and easy to cut off. By late April the Chinese had reinforced the Xuzhou area to between 450,000-600,000 to capitalize on their victory. However these armies were plagued with command and control issues. Likewise the Japanese licked their wounds and reinforced the area to roughly 400,000, with fresh troops and supplies flowing in from Tianjin and Nanjing. The Japanese continued with their objective of encircling Chinese forces. The North China Area Army comprised four divisions and two infantry brigades drawn from the Kwantung Army, while the Central China Expeditionary Army consisted of three divisions and the 1st and 2nd Tank Battalions along with motorized support units. The 5th Tank Battalion supported the 3rd Infantry Division as it advanced north along the railway toward Xuzhou. Fighting to the west, east, and north of Xuzhou was intense, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. On 18 April, the Japanese advanced southward toward Pizhou. Tang Enbo's 20th Army Corps, together with the 2nd, 22nd, 46th, and 59th corps, resisted fiercely, culminating in a stalemate by the end of April. The 60th Corps of the Yunnan Army engaged the Japanese 10th Division at Yuwang Mountain for nearly a month, repelling multiple assaults. By the time it ceded its position to the Guizhou 140th Division and withdrew on 15 May, the corps had sustained losses exceeding half of its forces. Simultaneously, the Japanese conducted offensives along both banks of the Huai River, where Chinese defenders held out for several weeks. Nevertheless, Japanese artillery and aerial bombardment gradually tilted the balance, allowing the attackers to seize Mengcheng on 9 May and Hefei on 14 May. From there, the southern flank split into two parts: one force moved west and then north to cut off the Longhai Railway escape route from Xuzhou, while another division moved directly north along the railway toward Suxian, just outside Xuzhou. Simultaneously, to the north, Japanese units from north China massed at Jining and began moving south beyond Tengxian. Along the coast, an amphibious landing was made at Lianyungang to reinforce troops attacking from the east. The remaining portions of Taierzhuang were captured in May, a development symbolically significant to Tokyo. On 17 May, Japanese artillery further tightened the noose around Xuzhou, striking targets inside the city.  To preserve its strength, the Nationalist government ordered the abandonment of Xuzhou and directed its main forces to break out toward northern Jiangsu, northern Anhui, and eastern Henan. To deter the Japanese army's rapid westward advance and penetration into northern Henan and western Shandong, many leading military and political figures within the Nationalist government proposed breaching dams over the Yellow River to delay the offensive, a strategy that would have been highly advantageous to the Nationalist forces at the time. Chiang Kai-shek vetoed the proposal outright, insisting that the Nationalist army could still resist. He understood that with tens of millions of Chinese lives at stake and a sliver of hope remaining, the levee plan must not be undertaken. Then a significant battle broke out at Lanfeng. Chiang also recognized that defeat could allow the elite Japanese mechanized divisions, the 14th, 16th, and 10th, to advance directly toward Zhengzhou. If Zhengzhou fell, the Japanese mechanized forces on the plains could advance unimpeded toward Tongguan. Their southward push would threaten Xi'an, Xiangfan, and Nanyang, directly jeopardizing the southwest's rear defenses. Concurrently, the Japanese would advance along the Huai River north of the Dabie Mountains toward Wuhan, creating a pincer with operations along the Yangtze River.  Now what followed was arguably the most important and skillful Chinese maneuver of the Xuzhou campaign: a brilliantly executed strategic retreat to the south and west across the Jinpu railway line. On May 15, Li Zongren, in consultation with Chiang Kai-shek, decided to withdraw from Xuzhou and focus on an escape plan. The evacuation of civilians and military personnel began that day. Li ordered troops to melt into the countryside and move south and west at night, crossing the Jinpu Railway and splitting into four groups that would head west. The plan was to regroup in the rugged Dabie Mountains region to the south and prepare for the defense of Wuhan. Li's generals departed reluctantly, having held out for so long; Tang Enbo was said to have wept. Under cover of night, about forty divisions, over 200,000 men, marched out of Japanese reach in less than a week. A critical moment occurred on May 18, when fog and a sandstorm obscured the retreating troops as they crossed the Jinpu Railway. By May 21, Li wired Chiang Kai-shek to report that the withdrawal was complete. He mobilized nearly all of the Kuomintang Central Army's elite units, such as the 74th Army, withdrawn from Xuzhou and transferred directly to Lanfeng, with a resolute intent to “burn their boats.” The force engaged the Japanese in a decisive battle at Lanfeng, aiming to secure the last line of defense for the Yellow River, a position carrying the lives of millions of Chinese civilians. Yet Chiang Kai-shek's strategy was not universally understood by all participating generals, who regarded it as akin to striking a rock with an egg. For the battle of Lanfeng the Chinese mobilized nearly all of the Kuomintang Central Army's elite forces, comprising 14 divisions totaling over 150,000 men. Among these, the 46th Division of the 27th Army, formerly the Central Training Brigade and the 36th, 88th, and 87th Divisions of the 71st Army were German-equipped. Additionally, the 8th Army, the Tax Police Corps having been reorganized into the Ministry of Finance's Anti-Smuggling Corps, the 74th Army, and Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps, the new 1st Army, equipped with the 8th Division were elite Nationalist troops that had demonstrated strong performance in the battle of Shanghai and the battle of Nanjing, and were outfitted with advanced matériel. However, these so-called “elite” forces were heavily degraded during the campaigns in Shanghai and Nanjing. The 46th Division and Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps sustained casualties above 85% in Nanjing, while the 88th and 87th Divisions suffered losses of up to 90%. The 74th Army and the 36th Division also endured losses exceeding 75%. Their German-made equipment incurred substantial losses; although replenishment occurred, inventories resembled roughly a half-German and half-Chinese mix. With very limited heavy weapons and a severe shortage of anti-tank artillery, they could not effectively match the elite Japanese regiments. Hu Zongnan's 17th Corps maintained its national equipment via a close relationship with Chiang Kai-shek. In contrast, the 74th Army, after fighting in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Xuzhou, suffered heavy casualties, and the few German weapons it had were largely destroyed at Nanjing, leaving it to rely on a mix of domestically produced and Hanyang-made armaments. The new recruits added to each unit largely lacked combat experience, with nearly half of the intake having received basic training. The hardest hit was Li Hanhun's 64th Army, established less than a year prior and already unpopular within the Guangdong Army. Although classified as one of the three Type A divisions, the 155th, 156th, and 187th Divisions, it was equipped entirely with Hanyang-made firearms. Its direct artillery battalion possessed only about 20 older mortars and three Type 92 infantry guns, limiting its heavy firepower to roughly that of a Japanese battalion. The 195th Division and several miscellaneous units were even less prominent, reorganized from local militias and lacking Hanyang rifles. Additionally, three batches of artillery purchased from the Soviet Union arrived in Lanzhou via Xinjiang between March and June 1938. Except for the 52nd Artillery Regiment assigned to the 200th Division, the other artillery regiments had recently received their weapons and were still undergoing training. The 200th Division, had been fighting awhile for in the Xuzhou area and incurred heavy casualties, was still in training and could only deploy its remaining tank battalion and armored vehicle company. The tank battalion was equipped with T-26 light tanks and a small number of remaining British Vickers tanks, while the armored vehicle company consisted entirely of Italian Fiat CV33 armored cars. The disparity in numbers was substantial, and this tank unit did not participate in the battle.  As for the Japanese, the 14th Division was an elite Type A formation. Originally organized with four regiments totaling over 30,000 men, the division's strength was later augmented. Doihara's 14th Division received supplements, a full infantry regiment and three artillery regiments, to prevent it from being surrounded and annihilated, effectively transforming the unit into a mobile reinforced division. Consequently, the division's mounted strength expanded to more than 40,000 personnel, comprising five infantry regiments and four artillery regiments. The four artillery regiments, the 24th Artillery Regiment, the 3rd Independence Mountain Artillery Regiment, the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, and the 6th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment, possessed substantial heavy firepower, including 150mm heavy howitzers and 105mm long-range field cannons, placing them far in excess of the Nationalist forces at Lanfeng. In addition, both the 14th and later the 16th Divisions commanded tank regiments with nearly 200 light and medium tanks each, while Nationalist forces were markedly short of anti-tank artillery. At the same time, the Nationalist Air Force, though it had procured more than 200 aircraft of various types from the Soviet Union, remained heavily reliant on Soviet aid-to-China aircraft, amounting to over 100 machines, and could defend only a few cities such as Wuhan, Nanchang, and Chongqing. In this context, Japanese forces effectively dominated the Battle of Lanfeng. Moreover, reports indicate that the Japanese employed poison gas on the battlefield, while elite Nationalist troops possessed only a limited number of gas masks, creating a stark disparity in chemical warfare preparedness. Despite these disparities, Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalist government were initially unaware of the updated strength and composition of the Doihara Division. Faced with constrained options, Chiang chose to press ahead with combat operations. On May 12, 1939, after crossing the Yellow River, the IJA 14th Division continued its southward advance toward Lanfeng. The division's objective was to sever the Longhai Railway, disrupt the main Nationalist retreat toward Zhengzhou, and seize Zhengzhou itself. By May 15, the division split into two columns at Caoxian and moved toward key nodes on the Longhai Line. Major General Toyotomi Fusatarou led two infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, and one artillery regiment in the main assault toward Kaocheng with the aim of directly capturing Lanfeng. Doihara led three infantry regiments and three artillery regiments toward Neihuang and Minquan, threatening Guide. In response, the Nationalist forces concentrated along the railway from Lanfeng to Guide, uniting Song Xilian's 71st Army, Gui Yongqing's 27th Army, Yu Jishi's 74th Army, Li Hanhun's 64th Army, and Huang Jie's 8th Army. From May 15 to 17, the Fengjiu Brigade, advancing toward Lanfeng, met stubborn resistance near Kaocheng from roughly five divisions under Song Xilian and was forced to shift its effort toward Yejigang and Neihuang. The defense near Neihuang, including Shen Ke's 106th Division and Liang Kai's 195th Division, ultimately faltered, allowing Doihara's division to seize Neihuang, Yejigang, Mazhuangzhai, and Renheji. Nevertheless, the Nationalist forces managed to contain the Japanese advance east and west of the area, preventing a complete encirclement. Chiang Kai-shek ordered Cheng Qian, commander-in-chief of the 1st War Zone, to encircle and annihilate the Japanese 14th Division. The deployment plan mapped three routes: the Eastern Route Army, under Li Hanhun, would include the 74th Army, the 155th Division of the 64th Army, a brigade of the 88th Division, and a regiment of the 87th Division, advancing westward from Guide); the Western Route Army, commanded by Gui Yongqing, would comprise the 27th Army, the 71st Army, the 61st Division, and the 78th Division, advancing eastward from Lanfeng; and the Northern Route Army, formed by Sun Tongxuan's 3rd Army and Shang Zhen's 20th Army, was to cut off the enemy's retreat to the north bank of the Yellow River near Dingtao, Heze, Dongming, and Kaocheng, while attacking the Doihara Division from the east, west, and north to annihilate it in a single decisive operation.  On May 21, the Nationalist Army mounted a full-scale offensive. Yu Jishi's 74th Army, commanded by Wang Yaowu's 51st Division, joined a brigade of Song Xilian's 71st Army, led by the 88th Division, and drove the Japanese forces at Mazhuangzhai into retreat, capturing Neihuang and Renheji. The main Japanese force, more than 6,000 strong, withdrew southwest to Yangjiji and Shuangtaji. Song Xilian, commanding Shen Fazao's 87th Division, launched a sharp assault on Yejigang (Yifeng). The Japanese abandoned the stronghold, but their main body continued advancing toward Yangjiji, with some units retreating to Donggangtou and Maoguzhai. On May 23, Song Xilian's 71st Army and Yu Jishi's 74th Army enveloped and annihilated enemy forces at Donggangtou and Maoguzhai. That evening they seized Ximaoguzhai, Yangzhuang, and Helou, eliminating more than a thousand Japanese troops. The Japanese troops at Donggangtou fled toward Lanfeng. Meanwhile, Gui Yongqing's forces were retreating through Lanfeng. His superior strength, Jiang Fusheng's 36th Division, Li Liangrong's 46th Division, Zhong Song's 61st Division, Li Wen's 78th Division, Long Muhan's 88th Division, and Shen Ke's 106th Division—had held defensive positions along the Lanfeng–Yangji line. Equipped with a tank battalion and armored vehicle company commanded by Qiu Qingquan, they blocked the enemy's westward advance and awaited Japanese exhaustion. However, under the Japanese offensive, Gui Yongqing's poor command led to the loss of Maji and Mengjiaoji, forcing the 27th Army to retreat across its entire front. Its main force fled toward Qixian and Kaifeng. The Japanese seized the opportunity to capture Quxingji, Luowangzhai, and Luowang Railway Station west of Lanfeng. Before retreating, Gui Yongqing ordered Long Muhan to dispatch a brigade to replace the 106th Division in defending Lanfeng, while he directed the 106th Division to fall back to Shiyuan. Frightened by the enemy, Long Muhan unilaterally withdrew his troops on the night of the 23rd, leaving Lanfeng undefended. On the 24th, Japanese troops advancing westward from Donggangtou entered Lanfeng unopposed and, relying on well-fortified fortifications, held their ground until reinforcements arrived. In the initial four days, the Nationalist offensive failed to overwhelm the Japanese, who escaped encirclement and annihilation. The four infantry and artillery regiments and one cavalry regiment on the Japanese side managed to hold the line along Lanfeng, Luowangzhai, Sanyizhai, Lanfengkou, Quxingji, Yang'erzhai, and Chenliukou on the south bank of the Yellow River, offering stubborn resistance. The Longhai Railway was completely cut off. Chiang Kai-shek, furious upon hearing the news while stationed in Zhengzhou, ordered the execution of Long Muhan, commander of the 88th Division, to restore military morale. He also decided to consolidate Hu Zongnan's, Li Hanhun's, Yu Jishi's, Song Xilian's, and Gui Yongqing's troops into the 1st Corps, with Xue Yue as commander-in-chief. On the morning of May 25, they launched a determined counterattack on Doihara's 14th Division. Song Xilian personally led the front lines on May 24 to rally the defeated 88th Division.  Starting on May 25, after three days of intense combat, Li Hanhun's 64th Army advanced to seize Luowang Station and Luowangzhai, while Song Xilian's 71st Army retook Lanfeng City, temporarily reopening the Longhai Line to traffic. At Sanyi Village, Gui Yongqing's 27th Army and Yu Jishi's 74th Army captured a series of outlying positions, including Yang'eyao, Chailou, Cailou, Hezhai, Xuelou, and Baowangsi. Despite these gains, more than 6,000 Japanese troops offered stubborn resistance. During the fighting, Ji Hongru, commander of the 302nd Regiment, was seriously wounded but continued to fight, shouting, “Don't worry about my death! Brothers, fight on!” He ultimately died a heroic death from his wounds. By May 27, Chiang Kai-shek, concerned that the forces had not yet delivered a decisive victory at Lanfeng, personally reprimanded the participating generals and ordered them to completely encircle and annihilate the enemy west of Lanfeng by the following day. He warned that if the opportunity was missed and Japanese reinforcements arrived, the position could be endangered. The next day, Chiang Kai-shek issued another telegram, urging Cheng Qian's First War Zone and all participating units to press the offensive. The telegram allegedly had this in it “It will forever be a laughingstock in the history of warfare.” Meanwhile on the other side, to prevent the annihilation of Doihara's 14th Division, the elite Japanese 16th Division and the 3rd Mixed Brigade, totaling over 40,000 men, launched a westward assault from Dangshan, capturing Yucheng on May 26. They then began probing the outskirts of Guide. Huang Jie's Eighth Army, responsible for the defense, withdrew to the outskirts of Guide that evening. On May 28, Huang Jie again led his troops on his own initiative, retreating to Liuhe and Kaifeng, leaving only the 187th Division to defend Zhuji Station and Guide City. At dawn on May 29, Peng Linsheng, commander of the 187th Division, also withdrew his troops, leaving Guide a deserted city. The Japanese occupied Guide without a fight. The loss of Guide dramatically shifted the tide of the war. Threatened on the flanks by the Japanese 16th Division, the Nationalist forces were forced onto the defensive. On May 28, the Japanese 14th Division concentrated its forces to counterattack Gui Yongqing's troops, but they were defeated again, allowing the Japanese to stabilize their position. At the same time, the fall of Shangqiu compelled Xue Yue's corps to withdraw five divisions to block the enemy in Shangqiu, and the Nationalist Army shifted to a defensive posture with the 14th Division holding Sanyizhai and Quxingji. To the north of the battlefield, the Japanese 4th Mixed Brigade, numbering over 10,000 men, was preparing to force a crossing of the Yellow River in order to join with the nearby 14th Division. More seriously, the 10th Division, together with its 13th Mixed Brigade and totaling more than 40,000 men, had captured Woyang and Bozhou on the Henan-Anhui border and was rapidly encircling eastern Henan. By the time of the Battle of Lanfeng, Japanese forces had deployed more than 100,000 troops, effectively surrounding the Nationalist army. On May 31, the First War Zone decided to withdraw completely, and the Battle of Lanfeng ended in defeat for the Nationalists, forcing Chiang Kai-shek to authorize diverting the Yellow River embankment to relieve pressure. The consequence was a deteriorating strategic situation, as encirclement tightened and reinforcement options dwindled, driving a retreat from the Lanfeng front. The National Army suffered more than 67,000 casualties, killed and wounded more than 10,000 Japanese soldiers, Lanfeng was lost, and Zhengzhou was in danger.  As in Nanjing, this Chinese army might have lived to fight another day, but the effect on Xuzhou itself was horrific. The city had endured Japanese bombardment since August 1937, and the population's mood swung between cautious hope and utter despair. In March, Du Zhongyuan visited Xuzhou. Before he left Wuhan, friends told him that “the city was desolate and the people were terrified, all the inhabitants of Xuzhou were quietly getting on with their business … sometimes it was even calmer than Wuhan.” The Australian journalist Rhodes Farmer recalled a similar image in a book published at war's end, noting the “ordinary townsfolk who became wardens, fire-fighters and first-aid workers during the raid and then went back to their civil jobs.” Yet the mid-May departure of Nationalist troops left the city and its outskirts at the mercy of an angry Imperial Army. Bombing continued through the final days of battle, and a single raid on May 14, 1938 killed 700 people. Around Xuzhou, buildings and bridges were destroyed—some by retreating Chinese forces, some by advancing Japanese troops. Taierzhuang, the scene of the earlier iconic defense, was utterly destroyed. Canadian Jesuits who remained in Xuzhou after its fall recorded that more than a third of the houses were razed, and most of the local population had fled in terror. In rural areas around the city, massacres were repeatedly reported, many witnessed by missionaries. Beyond the atrocities of the Japanese, locals faced banditry in the absence of law enforcement, and vital agricultural work such as planting seed ground to a halt. The loss of Xuzhou was both strategic and symbolic. It dealt a severe blow to Chiang's attempt to hold central China and to control regional troop movements. Morale, which Taierzhuang had briefly boosted, was battered again though not extinguished. The fall signaled that the war would be long, and that swift victory against Japan was no longer likely. Mao Zedong's Yan'an base, far to the northwest, grasped the meaning of defeat there. In May 1938 he delivered one of his most celebrated lectures, “On Protracted War,” chiding those who had over-optimistically claimed the Xuzhou campaign could be a quasi-decisive victory and arguing that, after Taierzhuang, some had become “giddy.” Mao insisted that China would ultimately prevail, yet he warned that it could not be won quickly, and that the War of Resistance would be protracted. In the meantime, the development of guerrilla warfare remained an essential piece of the long-term strategy that the Communist armies would pursue in north China. Yet the loss of Xuzhou did not necessarily portend a long war; it could, instead, presage a war that would be terrifyingly short. By spring 1938 the Chinese defenders were desperate. There was a real danger that the entire war effort could collapse, and the Nationalist governments' notable success as protectors of a shrinking “Free China” lay in avoiding total disaster. Government propaganda had successfully portrayed a plan beyond retreat to foreign observers, yet had Tokyo captured Wuhan in the spring, the Chinese Army would have had to withdraw at speed, reinforcing perceptions of disintegration. Western governments were unlikely to intervene unless convinced it was in their interests. Within the Nationalist leadership, competing instincts persisted. The government pursued welfare measures for the people in the midst of a massive refugee relief effort, the state and local organizations, aided by the International Red Cross, housed large numbers of refugees in 1937–1938. Yet there was a harsher strain within policy circles, with some officials willing to sacrifice individual lives for strategic or political ends as the Japanese threat intensified. Throughout central China, the Yellow River, China's “Sorrow”, loomed as the dominant geographic force shaping history. The loess-laden river, notorious for floods and shifting channels, was banked by massive dikes near Zhengzhou, exactly along the line the Japanese would traverse toward Wuhan. Using the river as a military instrument was discussed as a drastic option: Chiang and Cheng Qian's First War Zone contemplated diverting or breaching the dikes to halt or slow the Japanese advance, a measure that could buy time but would unleash enormous civilian suffering. The idea dated back to 1887 floods that cost hundreds of thousands of lives, and even in 1935 Alexander von Falkenhausen had warned that the Yellow River could become the final line of defense. In 1938 Chiang, recognizing the futility of defeating the Japanese by conventional means at Zhengzhou, considered unleashing the river's force if necessary to impede the invaders. The political and strategic calculus was stark: protect central China and Wuhan, even if it required drastic and morally fraught measures. A more humane leader might have hesitated to break the dikes and spare the dams, allowing the Japanese to take Wuhan. But Chiang Kai-shek believed that if the dikes were not breached and Wuhan fell within days, the Nationalist government might be unable to relocate to Chongqing in time and would likely surrender, leaving Japan in control of almost all of China. Some have compared the choice to France's surrender in June 1940, underscoring that Chiang's decision came during the country's most terrifying assault, with Chinese forces much weaker and less trained than their European counterparts. The dilemma over whether to break the Yellow River dikes grew out of desperation. Chiang ultimately ordered General Wei Rulin to blow the dike that held the Yellow River in central Henan. There was no doubt about the consequences: floods would inundate vast areas of central China, creating a waterlogged barrier that would halt the Japanese advance. Yet for the plan to succeed, it had to be carried out quickly, and the government could offer no public warning in case the Japanese detected it and accelerated their movement. Xiong Xianyu, chief of staff in the 8th Division at the time, recorded the urgency of those hours in his diary. The Japanese were already on the north bank of the Yellow River, briefly delayed when the Chinese army blew up the railway bridge across the river. The destruction of the dikes was the next step: if the area became a sea of mud, there would be no way the Japanese could even attempt to reconstruct the bridge. Blasting the dikes proved easier in theory than in practice. Holding back such a massive body of water required substantial engineering, dams thick and well fortified. The army made its first attempts to blow the dike at the small town of Zhaokou between June 4 and 6, 1938, but the structure proved too durable; another nearby attempt failed as well. Hour by hour, the Japanese moved closer. Division commander Jiang Zaizhen asked Xiong Xianyu for his opinion on where they might breach the dams. Xiong wrote “I discussed the topography, and said that two places, Madukou and Huayuankou, were both possible.” But Madukou was too close to Zhaokou, where the breach had already failed, presenting a danger that the Japanese might reach it very soon. The village of Huayuankou, however, lay farther away and on a bend in the river: “To give ourselves enough time, Huayuankou would be best.” At first, the soldiers treated the task as a military engineering assignment, an “exciting” one in Xiong's words. Xiong and Wei Rulin conducted their first site inspection after dark, late on June 6. The surroundings offered a deceptive calm: Xiong recounted “The wind blew softly, and the river water trickled pleasantly.” Yet gauging the water level proved difficult, hampered by murky moonlight and burned-out flashlights. They spent the night in their car to determine precisely where to break the dike as soon as day broke. But daylight seemed to bring home the consequences of what they planned to do, and the soldiers grew increasingly anxious. Wang Songmei, commander of the 2nd Regiment, addressed the workers about to breach the dike: “My brothers, this plan will be of benefit to our country and our nation, and will lessen the harm that is being done to the people.In the future, you'll find good wives and have plenty of children.” Wang's words were meant to reassure the men of the political necessity of their actions and that fate would not, in the traditional Chinese sense, deny them a family because of the enormity of their deeds. General Wei confirmed that Huayuankou was the right spot, and on June 8 the work began, with about 2,000 men taking part. The Nationalist government was eager to ensure rapid progress. Xiong recorded that the “highest authorities”,, kept making telephone calls from Wuhan to check on progress. In addition, the party sent performers to sing and play music to bolster the workers' spirits. Senior General Shang Zhen announced to the laborers that if they breached the dam by midnight on June 8, each would receive 2,000 yuan; if they achieved it by six the next morning, they would still be paid 1,000 yuan. They needed encouragement, for the diggers had no artificial assistance. After the initial failures at Zhaokou, Wei's troops relied entirely on manual labor, with no explosives used. Yet the workers earned their payments, and the dike was breached in just a few hours. On the morning of June 9, Xiong recorded a rapid shift in mood: the atmosphere became tense and solemn. Initially, the river flow was modest, but by about 1:00 p.m. the water surged “fiercely,” flowing “like 10,000 horses.” Looking toward the distance, Xiong felt as though a sea had appeared before him. “My heart ached,” he wrote. The force of the water widened the breach, and a deadly stream hundreds of feet wide comprising about three-quarters of the river's volume—rushed southeast across the central Chinese plains. “We did this to stop the enemy,” Xiong reflected, “so we didn't regret the huge sacrifice, as it was for a greater victory.” Yet he and the other soldiers also saw a grim reality: the troops who had taken on the task of destroying the railway bridge and the dikes could not bear the flood's consequences alone. It would be up to the government and the people of the nation to provide relief for the countless households uprooted by the flood. In fact, the previous evening Commander Jiang had telephoned to request assistance for those flooded out of their homes.   Wei, Xiong, and their troops managed to escape by wooden boats. Hundreds of thousands of farmers trapped in the floods were far less fortunate. Time magazine's correspondent Theodore White reported on the devastation a few days later “Last week “The Ungovernable” [i.e. the Yellow River] lashed out with a flood which promised to change not only its own course but also the course of the whole Sino-Japanese War. Severe breaks in the dikes near Kaifeng sent a five-foot wall of water fanning out over a 500-squaremile area, spreading death. Toll from Yellow River floods is not so much from quick drowning as from gradual disease and starvation. The river's filth settles ankle-deep on the fields, mothering germs, smothering crops. Last week, about 500,000 peasants were driven from 2,000 communities to await rescue or death on whatever dry ground they could find”. Chiang's government had committed one of the grossest acts of violence against its own people, and he knew that the publicity could be a damaging blow to its reputation. He decided to divert blame by announcing that the dike had been broken, but blaming the breach on Japanese aerial bombing. The Japanese, in turn, fiercely denied having bombed the dikes. White's reporting reflected the immediate response of most foreigners; having heard about the atrocities at Nanjing and Xuzhou, he was disinclined to give the Japanese the benefit of the doubt. Furthermore, at the very time that the Yellow River was flooding central China, the Japanese were heavily bombing Guangzhou, causing thousands of casualties. To White, the Japanese counterargument—that the Chinese themselves were responsible, seemed unthinkable: “These accusations, foreign observers thought, were absurd. For the Chinese to check the Japanese advance at possible sacrifice of half a million lives would be a monstrous pyrrhic victory. Besides, dike-cutting is the blackest of Chinese crimes, and the Chinese Army would hardly risk universal censure for slight tactical gains.” But, of course, that is exactly what they had done. During the war the Nationalists never admitted that they, not the Japanese, had breached the dikes. But the truth quickly became widely known. Just a month later, on July 19, US Ambassador Johnson noted, in private communication, that the “Chinese blocked the advance on Chengchow [Zhengzhou] by breaching the Yellow River dikes.” Eventually some 54,000 square kilometers of central China were inundated by the floods. If the Japanese had committed such an act, it would have been remembered as the prime atrocity of the war, dwarfing even the Nanjing Massacre or the Chongqing air raids in terms of the number of people who suffered. Accurate statistics were impossible to obtain in the midst of wartime chaos and disaster, but in 1948 figures issued by the Nationalists themselves suggested enormous casualties: for the three affected provinces of Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu, the number of dead was put at 844,489, with some 4.8 million becoming refugees. More recent studies place the numbers lower, but still estimate the dead at around 500,000, and 3–5 million refugees. In contrast, the devastating May 1939 air raids on Chongqing killed some thousands. Xiong reflected in his diary that the breaching of the Yellow River dikes was a sacrifice for a greater victory. Even to some Japanese it seemed that the tactic had been successful in the short term: the first secretary at the US Embassy in Wuhan reported that the flood had “completely checked the Japanese advance on Chengchow” and had prevented them taking Wuhan by rail. Instead, he predicted, the attack was likely to come by water and along the north shore of the Yangtze. Supporters of the dike breaches could argue that these acts saved central China and Chiang's headquarters in Wuhan for another five months. The Japanese were indeed prevented from advancing along the Long–Hai railway toward Wuhan. In the short term the floods did what the Nationalists wanted. But the flooding was a tactic, a breathing space, and did not solve the fundamental problem: China's armies needed strong leadership and rapid reform. Some historians suggest that Chiang's decision was pointless anyway, since it merely delayed the inevitable. Theodore White was right: no strategic advantage could make the deaths of 500,000 of China's own people a worthwhile price to pay. However, Chiang Kai-shek's decision can be partly explained, though not excused, by the context. We can now look back at the actions of the Nationalists and argue that they should not have held on to Wuhan, or that their actions in breaching the dam were unjustifiable in the extreme. But for Chiang, in the hot summer of 1938, it seemed his only hope was to deny Japan as much of China for as long as possible and create the best possible circumstances for a long war from China's interior, while keeping the world's attention on what Japan was doing. The short delay won by the flooding was itself part of the strategy. In the struggle raging within the soul of the Nationalist Party, the callous, calculating streak had won, for the time being. The breaking of the dikes marked a turning point as the Nationalists committed an act whose terrible consequences they would eventually have to expiate. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In late 1937, China's frontline trembled as Japanese forces closed in on Wuhan. Chiang Kai-shek faced a brutal choice: endure costly defenses or unleash a desperate gamble. Chiangs' radical plan emerged: breach the Yellow River dikes at Huayuankou to flood central China, buying time. The flood roared, washing villages and futures away, yet slowing the enemy. The battlefield paused, while a nation weighed courage against civilian suffering, victory against devastating costs.

Record nerd Harry Portnof started Greenway Records, revived Reverb Appreciation Society, and now leads Levitation's label operations - today we discuss the elaborate vinyl variants and the clear passion for music the Levitation festival inspires. Topics Include: Harry Portnof runs Greenway Records, Levitation, and Reverberation Appreciation Society labels. Dad blasted southern rock and Allman Brothers at excessive volumes throughout childhood. Discovered dad's CD collection, dove deep into classic rock discographies. Taught himself guitar in high school after getting kicked off tennis team. Found grandmother's records in attic with broken turntable playing in mono. Mesmerized by grooves holding information, felt more futuristic than digital files. Got Project turntable in college, started seriously collecting vinyl records. College dorm had file sharing programs to download everyone's music collections. Became obsessed with seven-inch singles and exclusive B-side hunting on Discogs. Studied accounting, got CPA, worked Manhattan while spending money on records. Brooklyn DIY scene 2010-12: Death by Audio, Glasslands, 285 Kent venues thriving. Third Man Records inspired with collectible releases, impossible to get from New York. Playing in surf rock cover band The Midnight Snacks around Long Island. Started Greenway with friend Joey's pop punk band, 300 hand-screened seven-inches sold. Online forum of ten new labels supporting each other, Greenway only one remaining. Artist Dan Curran created lino cut covers for first thirty Greenway releases. Met LA Witch outside Music Hall, promised European tour records in two months. LA Witch success led to more touring bands wanting Greenway releases. Met Levitation founder Rob Fitzpatrick backstage at Desert Daze festival in California. Pandemic hit, launched Levitation Sessions producing concert films with thirty bands. Suddenly working with dream artists like Ty Segall and The Oh Sees. Levitation started as Austin Psych Fest in 2008, became major three-day festival. Flash flood disaster canceled festival one year despite bands and fans arriving. Austin's psych legacy rooted in 13th Floor Elevators and Rocky Erickson era. Levitation Sessions are filmed concerts; Live at Levitation are actual festival recordings. King Gizzard bootleg program allows labels to press their live shows freely. Learned vinyl manufacturing hands-on at New Jersey plant, experimenting with color pours. Most proud of Frankie and the Witch Fingers KEXP recording for Record Store Day. Market tightened post-pandemic, had to adjust pressing quantities and strategy accordingly. Creates regional variants for Australia, UK, EU retailers using Precision Record Pressing. High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide Apple: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-ios Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-spot Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/tvg-amazon Support the show at Patreon.com/VinylGuide

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (10/13/25), Hank discusses Columbus Day, a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. In 2020, Columbus Day was the scene of carnage as demonstrators toppled statues of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt in Portland's South Park Block. Moreover, the moniker “Stolen Land” was ominously spray-painted across its concrete base. Protest organizers dubbed the event “Indigenous Peoples Day of Rage.” What could possibly motivate American citizens—supposed exemplars of social justice—to behave with such wanton recklessness in a supposed era of “wokeness” and progressive values? In trying to come to grips with this question, Hank was cowed by page after page of Google search results with exclamations that Columbus was a nefarious character—a ruthless money-grubbing, genocidal maniac, who severed hands, raped women, and enslaved gentle people to satisfy white Europeans' lust for gold. One starts to wonder “how can I trust history?” Mary Grabar, author of the book, Debunking Howard Zinn: Exposing the Fake History That Turned a Generation Against America asked this very question. A good deal of what you read on the internet is based on Zinn's historical revisionism. It constitutes a steady diet of poison seeping into the hearts and minds of impressionable children. Grabar exposes the fake history lessons that are systematically turning a new generation of kids against American exceptionalism.

US President Donald Trump has threatened new “large scale” export controls on China, and Wall Street's investment banks just wrapped up a record-breaking quarter. Plus, dozens of European lawmakers are earning income from side hustles connected to their legislative responsibilities, and OpenAI's ownership structure is making it harder for the company to raise money. Mentioned in this podcast:China blames Trump and US for escalating trade warWall Street investment banking revenues poised to top $9bn Scores of MEPs hold side jobs in sectors where they steer EU lawsWho owns OpenAI? blockbuster deals complicate investor payouts Check out ‘Toxic Legacy' from the FT's Untold podcastToday's FT News Briefing was produced by Ethan Plotkin, Josh Gabert-Doyon, Sonja Hutson, and Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Alex Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. The FT's acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show's theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was once called Columbus Day, and it still is in many parts. A day to celebrate the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, who supposedly “discovered” America. But America was there long before Columbus came. And so were millions of people up and down the continent. Experts estimate that there were anywhere from 60–90 million people in the Americas at the time. Possibly even more people in the Americas than in Europe at the time. But disease and successive wars by waves of invading Europeans decimated the local Indigenous populations. Over the next century, roughly 90% of Indigenous peoples in the Western Hemisphere had been wiped out.But they have constantly resisted to this day.Please consider supporting this podcast and Michael Fox's reporting on his Patreon account: patreon.com/mfox. There you can also see exclusive pictures, video, and interviews. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, like, share, comment, or leave a review. And please consider signing up for the Stories of Resistance podcast feed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, or wherever you listen.Written and produced by Michael Fox.Stories of Resistance Indigenous resistance episodes:Episode 4: How Indigenous peoples in Brazil fought COVID-19Episode 8: Celebrating Indigenous roots in Chile's Arica carnivalEpisode 23: Reforesting the Andes, one tree at a timeEpisode 48: Protecting Q'eswachaka, the last Incan rope bridgeEpisode 50: Inti Raymi returns as an act of resistanceEpisode 54: How Indigenous field hockey is reviving Mapuche cultureEpisode 56: Karipuna resistance: Defending the AmazonBecome a member and join the Stories of Resistance Supporters Club today!Follow Stories of Resistance on Spotify or Apple PodcastsSign up for our newsletterFollow us on:Bluesky: @therealnews.comFacebook: The Real News NetworkTwitter: @TheRealNewsYouTube: @therealnewsInstagram: @therealnewsnetwork

This week we shine a light on REITs in the U.K. Two London-based experts discuss what's driving deal flow, investment strategies and long-term returns, especially in logistics, retail and hospitality.· Triple-net REITs in the U.K. offer predictable income and resilience through market cycles.· Urban logistics and convenience retail are leading sectors, driven by consumer behavior and e-commerce demand.· Sub–£20-million lot sizes are drawing interest from family offices and regional investors focused on low-debt, high-efficiency deals.· M&A is accelerating REIT scale and relevance, enabling cost synergies, dividend growth and greater appeal to global capital.· Interest rate spreads and swap differentials can make U.K. real estate increasingly competitive against European and U.S. markets.

It's Monday, and you know what that means: A new Between the Sheets with J.D. Oliva joining Kris and David to discuss 1989! Topics of discussion include:Saturday Night's Main Event featuring the return of ZEUS.The WWF debuts in England with the famous London Arena show that aired live on Sky One as part of their latest European tour.Jim Troy getting fired after his fight with Koko Ware on the same tour.Steve Beverly giving his suggestions to remedy WCW's early weak points, some of which sound oddly familiar in 2025.Bret Hart's discussions with WCW that didn't go anywhere.Antonio Inoki getting stabbed during a speech.A Florida independent promotion is trying to go public. Again. But this time it's the PWF.The dying days of Continental TV.Memphis attendance bottoming out.Tim Brooks' NAWA holds its first TV taping at the Longhorn Ballroom and soundly outdraws what the USWA had been doing at the Sportatorium.All that and much more this week, with J.D. doing a great job in the guest chair.Timestamps:0:00:00 WWF1:14:36 Int'l: AJPW, NJPW, FMW, Stampede, EMLL, & UWF1:39:21 Classic Commercial Break1:44:26 Halftime2:13:55 Other USA: PWF, Continental, CWA/Memphis, USWA (TX), NAWA (TX), & Portland3:33:57 NWA/WCWTo support the show and get access to exclusive rewards like special members-only monthly themed shows, go to our Patreon page at Patreon.com/BetweenTheSheets and become an ongoing Patron. Becoming a Between the Sheets Patron will also get you exclusive access to not only the monthly themed episode of Between the Sheets, but also access to our new mailbag segment, a Patron-only chat room on Slack, and anything else we do outside of the main shows!If you're looking for the best deal on a VPN service—short for Virtual Private Network, it helps you get around regional restrictions as well as browse the internet more securely—then Private Internet Access is what you've been looking for. Not only will using our link help support Between The Sheets, but you'll get a special discount, with prices as low as $1.98/month if you go with a 40 month subscription. With numerous great features and even a TV-specific Android app to make streaming easier, there is no better choice if you're looking to subscribe to WWE Network, AEW Plus, and other region-locked services.For the best in both current and classic indie wrestling streaming, make sure to check out IndependentWrestling.tv and use coupon code BTSPOD for a free 5 day trial! (You can also go directly to TinyURL.com/IWTVsheets to sign up that way.) If you convert to a paid subscriber, we get a kickback for referring you, allowing you to support both the show and the indie scene.You can also use code BTSPOD to save 25% on your first payment — whether paying month to month or annually — when you subscribe to Ultimate Classic Wrestling Network at ClassicWrestling.net!To subscribe, you can find us on iTunes, Google Play, and just about every other podcast app's directory, or you can also paste Feeds.FeedBurner.com/BTSheets into your favorite podcast app using whatever “add feed manually” option it has.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/between-the-sheets/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Hugh talks to Ronan McCrea, professor of constitutional and European law at University College London, about his new book, The End of the Gay Rights Revolution. McCrea believes that the achievements of the most successful civil rights movement of the last few decades may be more politically fragile than most people assume. He argues that these successes were largely an incidental dividend of the wider sexual revolution rather than a standalone victory. What law and culture give quickly, he says, they can also take away.The book traces the shift from decriminalisation to equality, the AIDS-era turn to pragmatism, and the post-marriage-equality problem of purpose. McCrea contends that movement overreach, mission creep to ever-broader agendas, and a reluctance to confront awkward truths leaves freedoms exposed to changing demographics, populism and a revived moral conservatism. The conversation asks what a strategy of consolidation rather than perpetual expansion would actually look like and whether it carries costs as well as benefits in a world where history rarely moves in straight lines.The End of The Gay Rights Revolution is published by Polity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the son of a Turkish international, Tan Kesler was always going to have a deep affinity with the beautiful game. However, from an early age, Tan realised he didn't want to follow in his father's footsteps but instead forge his own journey in sport.Today, the Pogoń Szczecin vice-president and CEO sits down with Andy to discuss his career so far, how the Polish Ekstraklasa currently compares to the other major European leagues and how to make the next generation interested in watching football.Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025Ask us a question on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and email us here: otc@footballramble.com.For ad-free shows, head over to our Patreon and subscribe: patreon.com/footballramble. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Growth Series! Tourpreneur hosts Peter Syme and Mitch Bach attended GetYourGuide's Unlocked event in Berlin in September, and recorded several conversations with tour operators who have scaled their businesses to tens and hundreds of thousands of travelers. They share their insights and secrets in this series.In this conversation, Peter talks with Arzu Turk, Founder and Managing Director of Walks in Europe. She shares her journey from being a solo tour guide in Istanbul to running a scaled operation across multiple cities in Europe. They talk about the importance of delegation, leveraging technology, understanding pricing strategies, managing cash flow, and enhancing customer communication. Arzu highlights the need for small operators to expand their partner networks and adapt to market trends, particularly the growing demand for personalized and private tours.Key takeawaysDelegation is crucial for scaling a business.Your time as a business owner is more valuable than guiding.Invest in customer service to free up your time.Utilize technology to streamline operations and bookings.Pricing strategies should be dynamic and responsive to market demand.Cash flow management is essential for business sustainability.Effective communication with customers can increase bookings.Private and customized tours are becoming increasingly popular.Expanding your partner network can accelerate growth.Diversifying sales channels is key to reaching more customers.More on tourpreneur.com

This week on Wonderland on Points, we're chatting with our friend Joy from @SavvyTravelMamas about her family's European Harry Potter trip—and how she made it all happen with points. From planning the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London to finding family-friendly stays, Joy shares the highs, the hiccups, and what she'd do differently next time. She talks us through the best tips and tricks for an amazing Harry Potter experience in both London and Scotland.We talk through the logistics of using points for flights and hotels, balancing Harry Potter experiences with other sightseeing, and how to make big international trips feel manageable. Whether you're a Potter fan or just dreaming of a magical European family adventure, this episode is packed with practical tips, honest reflections, and plenty of travel inspiration.Find Us On OnlineMary Ellen | JoFacebook GroupWonderland On Points BlogAffiliate LinksChase/Capital One/Amex Card Links30% off the CardPointers subscription!FlyKitt- the BEST Jet Lag Solution!Tripiamo Driving TutorialsComfrt Hoodie 15% OFF!Our Favorite Travel NecessitiesWe receive a small commission when you choose to use any of our links to purchase your products or apply for your cards! We SO appreciate when you choose to give back to the podcast in this way!

US equity futures sharply higher with S&P up around 1.5%. Follows worst S&P session on Friday since early April Liberation Day slide. European markets are higher while Asia's ended largely lower. Bonds are firmer in Asia after Treasuries made big gains on Friday. 2-year yield flat to 3.5% and 10-year flat to 4.1%. Dollar slightly higher versus European FX majors and Japanese yen, softer versus Aussie. Oil up. Gold rallies to fresh record high. Big gains also in copper and industrial metals space. Bitcoin near two-week low. Spike in US-China trade tensions remained talking point over the weekend after President Trump on Friday announced additional 100% tariffs on China in response to what he described as hostile actions by Beijing involving announcement of rare earths export curbs, a Qualcomm antitrust probe, tightened customs inspections of Nvidia chip imports, and new port fees for US ships. Companies Mentioned: RPMGlobal Holdings, Big Yellow Group, Blackstone, Caterpillar

Long-Term Stewardship, the Lindy Effect, and Why Alignment Matters More Than ValuationFind me on Substack: https://bogumilbaranowski.substack.com/Michael Gielkens is a partner and co-founder of Tresor Capital, a Netherlands-based independent investment boutique specializing in actively managing wealth through family holding companies and serial acquirers, with deep expertise in capital allocation and owner-operator alignment.EPISODE NOTES3:00 - Discussion of Omaha Berkshire meeting as unique phenomenon bringing global investors together; Michael's Dutch-American background and financial upbringing with CFO father teaching value of money6:00 - Netherlands as birthplace of shareholder concept and securities trading; connection between Dutch Republic's innovation and modern capital markets; family ownership enabling multi-generational wealth preservation12:00 - Core investment philosophy: skin in the game as non-negotiable prerequisite; alignment of interests at every level including portfolio managers investing alongside clients15:00 - Family holding companies explained: listed family offices with long-term orientation, no quarterly guidance pressure, avoiding short-term thinking that plagues typical public companies21:00 - Serial acquirers as superior capital allocators; decentralized decision-making allowing continuous reinvestment at high returns; Swedish companies as breeding ground for this model28:00 - Return on incremental invested capital as key metric; Munger principle that long-term returns match business returns on capital; importance of reinvestment runway34:00 - Quality over value traps: companies at small discounts with proven track records versus deep discounts hiding mismanagement; French holding company cautionary tale of nepotism and value destruction42:00 - Learning from mistakes: avoiding cheap stocks requiring constant attention; importance of doing your own homework rather than blindly cloning positions46:00 - Market volatility response: having valuations ready, buying quality companies at 45-50% discounts during external shocks when they normally trade at 20% discount51:00 - Success defined by relationships and fulfillment, not financial metrics; open collaboration and transparency building compounding relationships; Munger's funeral testPodcast Program – Disclosure StatementBlue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm's employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

Ken and Dave discuss peace in the Middle East, MTG blames the Republicans, the market reaction to new tariff talks, Congress discovers the Fourth Amendment, the Georgia House mourns a member, and the tables have turned in New York. Topics Discussed: Travel Recap: Dave recounts his 12-day trip to Italy, including visits to Florence Bologna, and Venice, Highlights include the experience of Florentine steak and soaking in the European cafe atmosphere. International Affairs & Peace: Analysis of the temporary Israel-Palestine ceasefire brokered by Trump and the controversy surrounding the proportional response in Gaza. Nobel Recognition: Discussion of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Maria Karina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader, and her dedication of the award to President Trump. Market Volatility: Examination of the market tanking following Trump's threats of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods, and the complexities of trade policy. Healthcare & Government Shutdown: Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) breaks with the GOP concerning the upcoming shutdown and the expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) healthcare subsidies. Local Controversy: A deep dive into the Pike County water rights dispute involving a private landowner seeking to extract water from a natural spring for bottling. FBI Overreach: Republican Senators, including Lindsey Graham and Josh Hawley, are outraged after discovering the FBI analyzed their phone records following the 2020 election. Legal Troubles: New York Attorney General Letitia James is indicted on charges related to mortgage fraud, mirroring claims she made against Donald Trump. Georgia State Politics: A tribute to Georgia House of Representatives member Mandi Ballinger, who passed away after a long battle with cancer.