Podcast appearances and mentions of Martha McSally

Leadership demands grit, clarity and conviction. SUMMARY On Long Blue Leadership, Congressman August Pfluger '00 reflects on these qualities through his experiences at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in the cockpit and as part of the U.S. House of Representatives. His story challenges every leader to ask where courage is calling them to go next. SHARE THIS PODCAST LINKEDIN  |  FACEBOOK    CONGRESSMAN PFLUGER'S TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS Courageous career leaps require conviction, timing and faith. Pfluger left active duty at 19 years and four months — a highly unconventional choice — demonstrating that major pivots sometimes require stepping into uncertainty. Work ethic is a lifelong differentiator. He emphasizes that he has never been “the best,” but has always been willing to outwork anyone. Hard work + grit consistently opened doors. Failure and setbacks shape long-term success. Missed opportunities at USAFA and earlier career disappointments taught him timing, resilience and long-term perspective. Leadership is transferable across domains. His fighter pilot and command experience directly enabled his political success — planning, debrief culture and thick skin all mapped over perfectly. Credibility requires deep study and prioritization. You cannot master everything; leaders must choose focus areas and know them cold so others trust their expertise. Humility, credibility and approachability are foundational leadership traits. These principles translate powerfully to Congress and team leadership. Family and faith must anchor leadership. His family's summer crisis reframed his priorities: “None of this matters if you don't take care of your family.” The nation needs more military and Academy graduates in public leadership. He stresses that only four USAFA grads have ever served in Congress — and more are needed to restore civility and mission-focused service. The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force are under-resourced relative to global threats. Pfluger advocates vigorously for rebalancing defense spending to meet modern challenges. Self-reflection is critical to growth. Leaders must ask: How do I see myself? How do others see me? If those don't align, adjust the work ethic, mindset or behaviors accordingly.   CHAPTERS 00:00 — Introduction & Biography 01:44 — Opening Remarks 01:47 — Leaving Active Duty at 19 Years and 4 Months 04:06 — Why Run for Office? 05:40 — Family, Faith & Influences 07:14 — Representing His Hometown District 08:29 — Learning to Represent a District 11:07 — Work Ethic and USAFA Foundations 12:22 — Failure, Setbacks & Long-Term Rewards 15:10 — Unexpected Assignments Becoming Career High Points 17:24 — Pentagon, Fellowship & NSC 19:49 — USAFA Grads in Congress 21:03 — Role of the Board of Visitors 23:24 — Key Focus Areas for the Board of Visitors 25:11 — Top National Security Challenges 27:13 — Balancing Congress, Leadership, and Family 29:01 — Leadership Style & Decision-Making 30:40 — Humble, Credible, Approachable 33:38 — Building Credibility as a Younger Leader 34:43 — What's Next: A More United Country 37:29 — Daily Habits for Growth 39:37 — Advice for Emerging Leaders 41:24 — Final Reflections & Call to Action 43:45 — Closing Thoughts & Outro   ABOUT CONGRESSMAN PFLUGER BIO U.S. Rep. August Pfluger '00 is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He represents 20 counties in Texas' 11th Congressional District. After graduating from the U.S Air Force Academy, he served in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve for 25 years as an F-22 and F-15 pilot with over 300 combat hours. In Congress, he is chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus on Capitol Hill. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. CONNECT WITH THE CONGRESSMAN LINKEDIN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org   Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org      ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS Guest, Rep. August Pfluger '00  |  Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99   Naviere Walkewicz 0:00 Welcome to Long Blue Leadership, the podcast where we share insights on leadership through the lives and experiences of Air Force Academy graduates. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. In this edition of Long Blue Leadership, we're honored to welcome a distinguished leader whose career spans military service, national security and public office, Congressman August Pfluger is a proud graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Class of 2000, and currently represents the 11th Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before entering Congress, Congressman Pfluger served for nearly two decades in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of colonel. He is currently a member of the Air Force Reserve as an F-15 and F-22 fighter pilot. He logged over 300 combat hours in defense of our nation. He has also served as a member of the National Security Council, bringing strategic insight to some of the most complex global threats we face today. Since taking office in 2021 Congressman Pfluger has remained deeply committed to strengthening our national defense. He currently serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee to critical platforms from which he continues to represent and lead. He is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee and serves as the chairman of the Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors, appointed to the BOV by the speaker of the house in 2023 and elected by his colleagues to serve as chair. Whether in the halls of Congress or in the cockpit, Congressman Pfluger's career has been defined by a steadfast commitment to courageous service and leadership. Congressman Pfluger, welcome to Long Blue Leadership. Rep. August Pfluger 1:44 Thank you, Naviere. It's honor to be here with you.   Naviere Walkewicz 1:47 Well, we are so glad to have you. And there's something that I want to jump right into, because it really occurred to me how odd this is, but you served for nearly two decades, and when I say nearly two decades in the Air Force, 19 years and four months, and then you pulled the plug, you didn't go to retirement right then. Can we talk about that a little bit? Rep. August Pfluger 2:09 Well, this is not something that most financial advisers would advise you of doing. And I'll tell you, this was a journey in faith, because at almost 20 years. September of 2019, we made a decision, my wife and I made a decision to run for Congress, which meant that we got out of the active duty, joined the Reserve, and started a campaign, something that just a month prior, we had absolutely no intention of doing, and had not even talked about doing. Running for office was something that was always of interest, but certainly not at 19 years and four months. So the opportunity came up, had a couple of phone calls from friends and family to say that the representative who represented my hometown and where I grew up was retiring after 16 years, and a lot of factors. And I'll really take you down this faith journey, a lot of factors happened that we couldn't ignore. And we literally moved back to my hometown of San Angelo that I had not lived in for over 20 years, and started a campaign, which, as you can imagine, was, I mean, it took a lot of courage for my wife, from my family, three little girls, who we uprooted and went through this. But I'm so glad that we did it. But it wasn't without, you know, I can say anxiety and just, you know, the fear, the unknown maybe, and not knowing exactly what would happen. So when you say and use the words, we burned the ships. That was the moment in time that we literally burned the ships and ran a campaign with every piece of our heart and soul. Naviere Walkewicz 3:48 Wow. Well, let's talk about that a little bit, because, you know, we have listeners that make these pivotal moments in their careers. They make these decisions that really shaped them. What was it about that time, other than the incumbent was going to retire. Like, why you? Why then, you know? Let's talk about that a little bit more. Rep. August Pfluger 4:06 Well, this is pre-Covid. And the thought of running for office always sounds good. You know, if you have that interest, you're like, “OK, that'd be great.” Well, then when you kind of get down to the brass tax that you're going to have to put in 14- to 16-hour days and learn how to talk to people about what's important in this district that then it kind of changes things. But honestly, there were signs and things that pointed me and my wife in this direction that we couldn't ignore. And when you look at this type of district, I mean, it's really, in the past 100 years, there's only been about six representatives. So it's not one of those things you say, “Well, maybe we'll wait for next time.” The opportunity was there, there was a window of time. It was about 30 days where we had to make a decision to literally move from northern Virginia back to Texas and start a whole new career. And ended doing so forego the pension for what would now be five or six years, because I've had to work as a reservist to, you know, kind of get back to that point. So there was a financial piece to it. There was a career that was, was going very well that, you know, maybe, are we giving that up? And what happens if we don't win? And then, you know, all these unknowns. So I will say it was, it was definitely the biggest professional decision that I've ever made in my career. Naviere Walkewicz 5:40 So you talked about some of your family members — you had phone calls. It sounds like, your faith and your family are a big part of your decision making. And, when you go forward with things, I think you've talked about your grandfather having been someone that inspired you to go into the Air Force. You know, who are those key players in your family that have really inspired you in your big leadership decisions. Rep. August Pfluger 6:02 Yes, you're right. I had two grandfathers that served in World War II. One was a pilot, and that that led me to make the first decision to go to the Air Force Academy. And that stayed with me. We had nobody in my family who was in politics. I mean, not a single person. In fact, a lot of my family, I had several great uncles and different family members that I'm close to, and they said, “What?” Like, ”What are — you sure you want to do this? And why? Don't you have a really good Air Force career and you've been able to, you know, rise in the ranks and all the things that you've tried to do?” But I honestly — it was kind of a word of wisdom to say, “If you're going to do this, have some good reasons.” Like, “Why do you want to do this?” And the district that I get to represent in my hometown, we have military bases, agriculture and energy, and I love all three of those things. And I think of those as national security-level entities that really dovetail very nicely with my first part of my professional career. Naviere Walkewicz 7:14 That makes sense. So it really was an extension — this new path in your journey was really an extension of what you had done in uniform and active duty and now being able to give it back to your hometown district and the patrons in there as well. Rep. August Pfluger 7:30 Absolutely. And in the campaign I talked about how important it was to be able to provide our own food. We have a lot of cattle ranchers there that are in my district, that you don't want to be dependent on some other country, especially an adversarial country, for your food needs. And the same thing for energy production: that you can't be dependent for energy needs on your adversaries. So those were things that I was able to really talk about, and I mean, oh my gosh, after I actually was elected and got into office, I mean, they became front and center and still are of that discussion. And I think that was the really interesting piece about having been deployed. We were stationed all over the world, almost seven years outside of the United States, on three different continents, and to be able to tie it together and kind of bring that back home and communicate why this place where I grew up and now where I live and where I represent is so important to our national security? Naviere Walkewicz 8:29 Well, you talked a little bit about earlier, about you weren't sure if you were going to get elected, and then when you did, you had to go out and talk to people and really understand the challenges. What is that journey like when it's completely new, right? It's not the same. It's you're not getting into a cockpit. You're not an instructor pilot now. Now you are — you're representing all of them. How do you how do you approach that new path? Because I think that's something when our leaders take this leap of faith and they're looking at, well, how do I approach it? It's completely different from anything I've done. I think they'd like to know how you did it so well. Rep. August Pfluger 8:59 Well, thanks for the question. It was a huge challenge in being a squadron commander, having been an instructor pilot or a mission commander, and having led in actual combat, that that was everything. I mean, I didn't know anything about politics, but what I did know was how to map out a plan and how to put the pieces and parts together. And I knew that nobody was going to outwork me. I mean, come on, you know, when you have a SAMI on Saturday morning, you got to wake up and make your bed and do all the things to get that weekend pass. I mean, you're going to work hard. And so I knew that I had a competitive advantage on the work ethic and the ability to plan and so really, the thing that I realize now, now six years later, is that I think people — what they really appreciated was that I wasn't a career politician, that the things that I was saying and campaigning on were like true passions, and they weren't empty promises. I told them this is what I'm going to do, and I'm proud to report I've done every single one of those things that I told them that I would do, and it's because we were instructed so well, both at school and then as members of the active-duty Air Force about how to follow through and be persistent and just carry through with what you said you're going to do. I mean, integrity is a big piece of this, but I will tell you also that now staying in touch after being elected, elected, I travel throughout these 20 counties all the time, and you have to have some thick skin, because you're going to get some feedback from people that is not always flattering, and they're going to ask you, “Well, why did you vote this way, or what happened here, and why are you not doing this? And this is expensive.” And, I mean, so you have to be willing to take that feedback, which, by the way, sitting in a fighter pilot debrief — I mean, that was the perfect training for having thick skin, to understand that what people are trying to tell you: Is it critical? Without substance? That you really need to listen to them and try to solve these problems? Naviere Walkewicz 11:07 So earlier, you had talked about, I think there are these things that you did at the Academy. No one is going to outwork you have. You always been that type of person, someone that, you know, just kind of works really hard. Or is that something that you kind of developed at the Academy. Rep. August Pfluger 11:21 I developed it at the Academy. But I would say I came in with a with a good work ethic and then was challenged by our classmates, who are amazing, you know? It's like, “Oh my gosh, I'm really not that smart and not that fast and not that… you know, whatever,” because you see all these amazing people. But yes, work ethic was, I mean, I look at it now, having administered how many nominations to service academies? I mean, dozens and dozens of kids that I've gotten a chance to work with over the past five years who are absolutely incredible. I'm like, I don't know if I could get in at this point in time, because they're just incredible. And I had to work very hard at everything I ever did, everything I ever achieved, was because of hard work. It wasn't because I was the best. It was because I just, at the end of the day, worked very hard to get it. I think that's something that's a lesson that we learned during four years at the Academy, but it served me very well in this profession. Naviere Walkewicz 12:22 Was there a particular time at the Academy where you worked really hard and it didn't go your way? And, you know, how did you overcome that? Because I think sometimes the outcome is, “If I if I give it all and I work really hard, I'm going to get to where I want to go.” And if that wasn't the case, how did that actually change the trajectory or shape you? Rep. August Pfluger 12:42 There were multiple times at the Academy that you work hard for something. I mean, I came in as a recruited athlete, had some injuries, and so didn't get a chance to finish all four years that that was hard to go through that process, and it just didn't work out. And or you're just not good enough. And then that was the case too for me, on the football team. But they're just better people, which is awesome and that, but that shaped who I am now, because it is not just about how hard you work. That's a huge piece of it. But you also have to have good timing. You have to have some luck. You have to be in the right place and have been brought up by the right people. And when the when the opportunity strikes you, you've got to be able to take advantage of that timing to do that. And that those lessons — I absolutely remember that there was one instance where I really, really wanted to go to do this exchange program in Egypt, and they were going to bring some of the political science department over there. Well, apparently my grades were not in the right area to be selected for this program. I think I was an alternate or something, unless that's good, that's — it's not nothing. But I was very disappointed, because I thought I worked hard, you know, maybe not hard enough on the grades, but had worked hard to be a part of the conversation, to go. Well, didn't get a chance to do it. So always had that in the back of my mind. Well, I went to Egypt, but it was as a congressman. I led a congressional delegation of six or seven members. We met with the president of Egypt and had very serious conversations about the negotiation for what Gaza has now with the peace deal that we have gotten to and had a, you know, went to the president's palace, got to sit down right next to him and talk to him for over an hour. So I always kept that in the back of my mind that I was going to Egypt one day. Naviere Walkewicz 14:37 That's right. And honestly, you worked really, really hard. You didn't get there, but it kept you — kept that fire going, because you knew at some point you're going to, so it did end up working out, in that case, for sure. You know, one of the things that I find really interesting and fascinating about you is, as you talk about these different experiences you've had, you said they've shaped you. And when you're in the military, can you share a time when you maybe we're in a position that it wasn't what you'd hoped for. You thought it was going to be, but you found it to be incredibly rewarding. Was there anything in that kind of space that happened to you? Rep. August Pfluger 15:10 Yes, several times. You know you want things, you think you want things, and then it doesn't work out. You don't get selected. And always in the back of my mind, every young lieutenant wants to be a weapons officer wants to then be a squadron commander of a fighter squadron, and that's just the competitive side of this. And I was no different when it came time to select who the next squadron commanders were going to be. I'll never forget: My operations group commander came to be and he said, “Well, we got a problem. We have six really talented lieutenant colonels. You're all promoted below the zone, and we have four squadrons, so we're going to have to figure out a Plan B for a couple of you, and I've got something in mind for you.” He said, “I think that you should go be a deployed squadron, commander of an OSS, an operational support squadron.” He said, “We've got a war going on, a conflict with ISIS, and you'd be great.” Well, that's not exactly an easy conversation to go home and to tell your spouse: “Oh, I just got told that I was going to deploy. I'm not going to be a fighter squadron commander here. I'm going to go somewhere else, and I'll be gone a year.” So that was hard, but oh my goodness, what an experience professionally. Obviously, I missed my family, but this was the height of the conflict against ISIS. I had hundreds of people that I got a chance to work with, command, flying combat missions, doing something that mattered, working with our international partners. You know, we were on an Emirati base, and so I worked with the Emiratis on a daily basis, because we had almost 20 different weapon systems, 20 different aircraft there and it was the highlight of my professional career. So God had a plan. It worked out much better than I could have ever engineered, and it turned out — minus the fact that I had to be gone for a year; obviously, nobody likes that — but it turned out to be the best professional year of my Air Force career. Naviere Walkewicz 17:13 I find that really interesting because that — so would that have been the last kind of position you held before going into the move for Congress? Is that correct? Rep. August Pfluger 17:24 You know, actually, I came back — was PCSed to the Pentagon, worked for the chief of staff of the Air Force, General Goldfein, OK, went to a year of War College equivalent in D.C., a fellowship program, and then was assigned to the White House, to the National Security Council, for just about two and a half months before we made — three months before we made the decision to run for Congress. Naviere Walkewicz 17:49 So just a couple things happened after that. [Laughs]. What an amazing run, and the amazing leaders that you got to work with. So was that experience that when you were deployed as a squadron commander and then coming back, did that help shape your thoughts specifically to the Congress role, because you talked about the very three important things, right? Energy, you know, national security and there was one more… and agriculture. Thank you. And so, you know, did that all kind of get settled in when you were in that transition piece from, you know, squadron commander, to your time at the Pentagon in the White House area. Rep. August Pfluger 18:26 Absolutely, I had a year as a deployed squadron commander, came back and worked a year at the Pentagon, which I didn't know how lucky that was. Most people get there two or three years, but work directly for the chief of staff. Heard all of the conversations between Gen. Goldfein and Secretary Heather Wilson and then had a year where I studied at a think tank on Middle East policy. It could not have been a better education with a little bit of time in the White House to prepare me to run for Congress. You look back on that, you go, “Oh, so that's why.” “Oh, these steps were to prepare for this job now,” which I mean, just the fact that, as a member of Congress, I've probably met with 10 or 15 heads of states, one on one, presidents from different countries around the world, and to have that education, to be able to speak intelligently, at least somewhat intelligently, on these issues. Took that the steps that I just went through right there. Naviere Walkewicz 19:31 And you know, something that I think is really interesting to what you just said, working with Gen. Goldfein and with Secretary Wilson, you know, there are so few Academy graduates that have had the opportunities to serve in Congress and to be in the role that you are. How many Academy, Air Force Academy grads we have now have that have done this? Rep. August Pfluger 19:49 There's two currently serving, myself and Don Davis, opposite sides of the aisle, but great friends, and there were only two prior, so there's only been four. And the first two were Heather Wilson was the first Martha McSally, I'll never forget when I got elected. Heather Wilson called me and she said, “Congratulations, you're finally keeping up with us ladies.” And I thought it was great. But you know, we need more graduates, honestly. And I don't care who's listening to this, what side of the aisle you're on, we need more air force academy graduates. There are nine West Pointers currently serving, and seven from Annapolis currently serving, and we've only had four total. Naviere Walkewicz 20:30 All right, it's out there now. We've got our, you know, got our calling. So here we go. You know, I want to ask you a question about, you know, being in Congress, you are on several committees, and you're in leading roles in them. Let's talk a little bit. First about, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk about the Board of Visitors, because I think it's a great opportunity for our graduates to understand actually what the Board of Visitors actually does. So if you don't mind, kind of sharing in your words, you know what your priorities are with the Board of Visitors and what that looks like. I think it'd be really helpful in educating our listeners. Rep. August Pfluger 21:03 Well. Thank you. It's an honor to be on the Board of Visitors. It's statutorily set up by Congress decades ago, and it basically provides an avenue of oversight, something that is appointed both legislatively, by the speaker of the house and by the Senate majority leader and also the president. And, you know, we've got a number of several grads, but a number of senators and congressmen. And, you know, again, one of these timing things that I didn't necessarily intend to run for the chairmanship, but we needed, I think, a graduate to do that, and am proud to be the chairman of this group. You know, Charlie Kirk was on this board, and what a tragic situation that was. We've got a number of really passionate leaders, and our job really is to interact with the institution, to ask questions and to report back directly to the Secretary of War and into the Secretary of the Air Force on the health and welfare of the institution, on any other issues that we think are important. And for me, kind of the driving principle is that I love this institution, the leadership lessons that I learned there and those that I hear from so many graduates are important well beyond military service. They're important for the rest of a graduate's life. And I want to make sure that everything that is going on there, the resources that are needed there, the schedule and the curriculum and the ability to train the next generation of young warriors, both for the space and the Air Force, are the best in the country, and that we are prepared no matter what, that those graduates can go do their job. So it really is an honor to be on the board, but then to be the chairman of it. Naviere Walkewicz 23:03 I can imagine that, and I think it really speaks volumes, the fact that, you know, you're so passionate about it, you've taken what you've had from the Academy, you've applied it in this role. What are the first things that I think you're looking at? You said you talked about the resources and kind of the schedule and things that are happening at the academy. What are the key things that you're looking at right now as a Board of Visitors? Rep. August Pfluger 23:24 Well, I think to start with, I mean, we all know you wake up early, you go bed late, and you're trying to cram, you know, 28 hours into 24 and so the No. 1 thing that I want to see and work through is, how are we continuing to innovate with the best training possible, so that, you know, you can't teach the solution to every problem, but you want to teach a framework of how to think, and that, you know, there's going to be cadets that are challenged through their academic studies, there's going to be cadets that are challenged through their military studies. There's going to be cadets that are challenged athletically, and some that get all three of those, obviously, we all get got all three. But no matter which piece of the puzzle fills, you know, their time, they should get the training that teaches them how to respond in stressful situations, that teaches them how to function as a team, and that that offers them the opportunity to honestly, to experience a little bit of failure, while also knowing that success is right down the road, and that with a little grit, a little determination and a little persistence, that they're going to get there, and that is a challenge, I mean, In a resource-confined environment that we have right now that that's a big challenge, but that's why we have legislators, Senators and House members, They can go fight for those resources to make sure that they're getting that training that they need. Naviere Walkewicz 24:56 Thank you for sharing that you know, I think when you talk about having that framework to critically work through whatever is coming at you, and, you know, fighting for resources. Can you share what is the greatest challenge that you're faced with right now and how you're working through it? Rep. August Pfluger 25:11 Yeah, absolutely. I mean, just, you know, from a military standpoint, I'm obviously very biased on what air power and space power does I mean the army will deploy to certain locations. In the Navy will deploy to certain locations. But the Air Force and the Space Force are everywhere. We're in every theater. We've been in every conflict. We are the constant and I don't think resource wise, that that our Department of the Air Force is receiving the resources that it needs proportionately speaking to the threat that we face. We're the smallest and the oldest that we've ever been, and we need to change that immediately. As chairman — you mentioned I was chairman of the Republican Study Committee. What is that? Well, it's a 189-member caucus, committee, policy committee...   Naviere Walkewicz 26:01 It's the largest one, right?   Rep. August Pfluger 26:02 It's huge. It's the largest committee in Congress, and we meet weekly with Cabinet members and other leaders to discuss policy. But this has been something that I've been passionate about, which we have to take advantage of an environment where some more resources are being put towards our military, and I want to make sure that a larger portion of those go to the Department of the Air Force to meet the threat. And that's just a neat opportunity that it's a competitive election. I had to get elected by my peers. You know, 188 other congressmen and women from across the country. I had to run an election to get elected to it, and now trying to communicate to them why the business of Air and Space power is so important, but, but I'm we're slowly but surely getting there. Naviere Walkewicz 26:53 Well, I'm not sure where you have time when you're you know, you're doing so many things, you're on the road, meeting with your constituents. You're leading. You know these major committees, the Board of Visitors, as chair. Can you talk about how you're balancing? You know, you always talked about being your family is really important to you. How are you balancing that? What does that look like for someone in a leadership role? Rep. August Pfluger 27:13 Well, it's obviously the biggest challenge that any of us face, which is making sure that you take care of the most fundamental and important piece of your life, which is your family and being gone. I mean, I go to Washington, D.C., on Monday, and generally come home Thursday or Friday, and that's about three weeks out of every four. So my wife, is the most important piece of this, because she allows me to do this, and I couldn't do it without her, honestly. And then secondly, you know, we had a scare this summer because two of my girls were at Camp Mystic. And you know, that was that really brought things back to such a fundamental level that, you know, my No. 1 job on this earth is to be a husband and a father, a person of faith. And I'll tell you that that was, that was a transformational moment in it, just in my in my life, because when you have two daughters that were that thankfully came home and in then you see 27 others that didn't, that they knew that we knew the families and we were close to that. This has put everything back into perspective, that the service that I'm doing should be focused on a foundation of family and faith, and that none of it matters if you don't take care of that. Naviere Walkewicz 28:41 So what does that look like in how you lead? How does that shape the decisions you make in your role in Congress, as a reservist? And then for our listeners, you know, how do they put those important things first in the midst of having to make other decisions professionally? Rep. August Pfluger 29:01 I think a lot of it is, maybe not so much, the “what” in the decision, but it's the “how,” you know, you carry yourself, and you know on the other side of the aisle. I mean, I'm going to fight policies that I don't agree with all day long. But I think the how I do that, what I want my daughters to know is that they had a dad that was very firm in his beliefs. So I think that's, you know, when I look at it kind of like from the, “OK, what's important?” OK, being a good dad, not just saying the right things, but actually going and carrying those out. I think the how you carry them out is really important. And then, you know the specifics of legislation. There are things that, if I believe in in taking care of the American family, then there are things that I'm going to advocate for, not, not to make this to political of a discussion, but I think you can see through my track record that that I have focused on those things that would help strengthen the family, Naviere Walkewicz 30:08 The “how” is really, it's part of your legacy, right? And I think that's what your children are seeing as well, in the way that you, you, you do what you do. And I think as leaders, that's something really important to be thinking about. So I'm really thankful that you shared that example. Shared that example. Have you found that your leadership style has evolved, or has it already always been kind of rooted in you know, who you've been and you've just kind of tweaked it a little bit? Or have you seen yourself evolve more than you would have expected? Rep. August Pfluger 30:40 Yes, it has evolved, but, and I hope for the better, we'd have to ask others what they think of that, but, but, you know, look, growing up in a professionally in a fighter squadron, there were three tenants that they even though I didn't go to weapon school, they teach you this to be humble, credible and approachable. I mean, think about that. Those are the core tenants of who our lead warriors are, and that is not what you see. When you think of politicians. You think, Well, they're braggadocious and annoying. And you know, OK, and I hope I don't fall into that category. I need to do some self-reflection every once while, but, but I've got a staff of almost 40 people, and I have 434 other colleagues that you have to work with. So you better believe that you've got to be humble because there are people who are better than you in every category. You better believe that being approachable in this job is really important, because people are going to come to you and they're going to need something, or you're going to need something from them, and if you don't have the credibility of what you're talking about or what you're leading, then you're not going to get anything done. And so I've really had to work on all three of those things since I was elected to make sure that tying that to a servant leadership model. We started out in 2021, and I told my team, I said, we are going to do everything we possibly can to make other people that I am working with, other congressmen and women better. And they said, Wait, what? I said, Yeah, this isn't about me getting the limelight. We will get plenty of limelight, but let's work on giving other people the credit, giving other people the opportunities, calling on their expertise, pushing them up. And it will all work out, and we will achieve everything we wanted to achieve for the district that I represent, and it was just like this lightning bolt of it was so antithetical to the way that many people in Congress think. And I am not saying that we have changed the world, but when you're elected to basically a conference-wide position like I am, then you really have hard conversations with people, and those conversations people said, You know what, you've helped me out. I'm going to vote for you. And that meant everything, Naviere Walkewicz 33:08 Humble, approachable, credible, what great lessons for our leaders. And I think that translates across anything you're doing. Of the three, it seems that credible would probably be the hardest to achieve, right? It's a time-based thing. How would you recommend that our leaders, especially those that are growing in their leadership roles, achieve that when they don't necessarily have the time right in? Rep. August Pfluger 33:38 It's so hard, but that grit, that determination, I mean, the study, the thing, all the things we learned, you know, it's like they give you. The academic instructors are like a torture chamber, because they know you can't study everything, so you have to prioritize, which is a lesson I think I still draw on today. But I think that credibility comes from if you're going to be an expert in something, you've got to study it. You've got to know it, and people have to trust you. So when you tell them something, it has to be the truth, and they have to know well, I don't know that particular policy issue, but I know Pfluger does, because, you know he did that in his career. He studied that. So I think that grit and that determination and the prioritization of your time is so important, you can't do it all. I mean, we just can't. You have to. You have to make a choice, and those choices have to then go towards the goals that you're setting for yourself. Naviere Walkewicz 34:32 Excellent, excellent lessons. So you've accomplished so much since 2021, you know? What's next? What are you trying to work towards next? Rep. August Pfluger 34:43 I mean, there's so many different like policy issues I'm not going to bore you with. Let's just talk about the big picture, the elephant in the room, which is how divided our country is, and it's heartbreaking to see. You know, I think back to like, the aftermath of 911 I literally 911 happened two weeks prior to my pilot training graduation. You as a Class of '99 were right in the same boat. I mean, we were our professional careers were turned upside down, but our country came together, and that that was kind of the I think that that was the best thing to see how many people that were divided on whatever lines kind of came together. We're very divided, and it is hard to see and from I want to see an end of the radical sides of our parties and a normal conversation. We should be able to have a normal debate in Congress about whatever issues of spending and things like that. And we should be able to then slap each other on the back and say, Yeah, good job you won that one. Or, you know, good job I won this one. That should be kind of the norm. And I've got so many good friends who are Democrats that it's there, but the pull to radicalization is it's alive and well. And to be honest, this is why we need more Academy graduates who are doing this type of work, whether it's running for local office or running for Congress or Senate or whatever, because we get it. We get it from being a part of something that was greater than ourselves and being a part of a mission that it wasn't about, I it was literally about the team of success. And I think it's, it's veterans that are in these leadership positions that are going to help be a part of this, so that that really, I really do want to see that that doesn't mean that I'm not going to fight tooth and nail for policy that I believe in, which is partisan at times. And I'm OK with that, but what I'm not OK with is demonizing somebody for having a different belief. Let's go fight the merits of it, but not, not the character of the other person. Naviere Walkewicz 37:03 Thank you for sharing that. I think, you know, just putting the elephant on the table, I think, is really important. That's what it is about conversation. It's about dialog and so thank you for sharing that. For sure, this has been an incredible conversation. We've kind of navigated different parts of your career, you know, your leadership journey, maybe, if I could ask you this, what is something you're doing every day, Congressman Pfluger, to be better? Rep. August Pfluger 37:29 I think, in faith life, really trying to tie in spiritually, and to not be the one in control, trying to be more present in in my family's life, I'm going to give you three or four. So, you know, just being more intentional, putting the phone down, like if I'm going to sit down with my kids and be there, because I could be on the phone 24 hours a day. So put the phone down, talk to my wife be engaged, and that that's really that, that, I think that's a challenge for anybody who is in any adult right now, quite frankly, but especially those that are in leadership positions, which all of our graduates are, and so just put the phone down and being engaged, and it's hard. It's like, “Oh, I got to take care of this, you know, I got to call that person back. We've got to do this.” But you know that is, I think that that is probably the No. 1 thing that then allows a stronger faith life, a stronger relationship with my family. Physically, still taking the Air Force PT test, got a 99 last year. Was very proud of that and so trying to stay physically fit.   Naviere Walkewicz 38:48 That's outstanding!   Rep. August Pfluger 38:49 There are some other graduates who have challenged me with that. You may know Joel Neeb? A classmate of yours.   Naviere Walkewicz 38:58 Oh yeah! I know Thor.   Rep. August Pfluger 39:00 Thor is awesome. And he's been such an inspiration. I could name 100 people, but he said he's a really good inspiration to so many people. And on all the things that you just the things that I answered for your question, he's been a good inspiration on. Naviere Walkewicz 39:15 I would agree with that wholeheartedly. Yes. Well, thank you for that. Can you also share, you know, knowing what you know now through the years that you've experienced, you know your hardships, the triumphs — what would you share with our growing leaders that they can do today to help them be stronger down the road? Rep. August Pfluger 39:37 You know, I think some self-reflection, like, how do you see yourself, and how does the world see you? And is this — does it match up? Because if it's different, if your opinion of yourself is higher than that of what other people are thinking and your work ethic and what you're bringing to the to the table, then then you need to do some self-reflection. And I again, I got back to my career as a fighter pilot, which was perfect for politics. You know, you got to learn to work as a team. You have people debriefing you, and there's critical thoughts on your actions, of how you perform. But I think any leader, it needs to first have the grit to be able to stick with it. It's not always the best person that gets the job, but I can promise you, the person who keeps seeking that job and has that drive, they're going to get there. That has been the story of my life and self-reflection, to go What's stopping me from getting there is probably the key, as long as you have that grit, that self-reflection, to have some clarity for whatever goal you want to achieve. That's my humble opinion of what I would tell myself 15 years ago. Naviere Walkewicz 41:00 Wow. And I think that does kind of give us a moment to just sit in it and think about that as we are, you know, trying to be our best selves and to continue to evolve as leaders. What a great way to do that, right? Just reflect some self-reflection. I want to make sure we have an opportunity. If there's anything that I didn't ask you, that you feel is really important to share with our listeners. What would that be? Rep. August Pfluger 41:24 Well, there were a couple of things. No. 1, I was trying to think back — because your Class of '99 and I'm Class of 2000 — on whether or not I had to get in the front-leaning rest and recite John Stuart Mill's poem, or not. I can't remember that, so maybe I snuck by.   Naviere Walkewicz 41:45 Definitely a front-leaning rest kind of gal. I have pretty strong abs. I can handle that.   Rep. August Pfluger 41:51 You know, I just, I want to go back to what how important our institution is, because we're in that other dimension. We're in the air, in the space domain. We're solving problems in our professional career that I mean, think about where we've come since the Wright Brothers demonstrated we could fly and now, you know all the things that we're doing in air and space, and that's because of our graduates. And you know, I just, I really want to have a call out to our graduates that your leadership in a variety of ways is needed. It's needed in the business community, in Fortune 500 companies. It's needed in your local communities. It's needed at the national level of politics; there are several candidates for Congress right now who are graduates. I'm helping them, and I will help anybody. I don't care what party you are, of course, I have my favorite, but I will help any person who is looking to run for something like this. This is what I know now. But we really do need your leadership in order to bring the temperature down, to unite our country, to make sure that we're going to be successful. It's not if it's a matter of when we're going to face that next big, truly existential threat and challenge to our country. And guess what? I trust the people that were right there next to be in the front, winning rest, reciting all of those quotes and having to do a little bit harder of a standard in our four years of education than other institutions. And so I trust our graduates, but we need you, and we really need you to take that opportunity and serve in any possible way that you can. Naviere Walkewicz 43:45 Wow. Thank you for sharing that. I think that that is a perfect way a call to action, so to speak, for all of us you know the service after the service, so this has been incredible. Congressman Pfluger, thank you for your time today. Rep. August Pfluger 43:57 Well, Naviere, thank you for reaching so many graduates and looking forward to a Bitton Army and Navy again next year. Naviere Walkewicz 44:04 That's right next year. Well, you know, as I reflect on this conversation, you know, one theme really rises above others, courage, the grit, you know, not just the courage we often associate with the battlefield or moments of crises, but the quiet, steady courage that it takes to lead with conviction every day, Congressman Pfluger reminded us that true leadership means standing firm in your values even when the path may be uncertain or the stakes may be high, it's the kind of courage that doesn't seek comfort, but instead answers to responsibility. So as you think about your own leadership journey, ask yourself, Where is courage calling you? Where is that grit gonna take you? Whether it's in the workplace, in your community or your personal life, lean into those moments, because courage, real, principled, humble, courage is what transforms good leaders into great ones. Thank you for listening to this edition of Long Blue Leadership. If you know someone who needs encouraging words in their leadership journey, please share this podcast with them as well. I'm Naviere Walkewicz. Until next time.   KEYWORDS August Pfluger, Long Blue Leadership Podcast, U.S. Air Force Academy, leadership lessons, congressional service, fighter pilot, national security, grit and resilience, service after service, Air Force Board of Visitors, faith and family leadership, career transition, public service, humble credible approachable, air and space power.       The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation    

Deep personal healing requires facing the self with as much courage as one faces the world. Former US Senator and trailblazing military leader Martha McSally, the first American female fighter pilot and the first to command a US Fighter Squadron, shares her raw, intimate story of navigating profound loss, emotional volatility, and a painful cycle of abuse that began after the death of her father and childhood dog. She discusses the critical shift from seeking external saviors to taking radical responsibility for her own recovery, a journey that involved disconnecting from a victim frequency and pursuing a spiritual path to "unpack her trauma." Martha details the simple, yet vital, daily habits—including breathwork, gratitude, and "morning rubs" with her rescue dog—that she uses to regulate her nervous system, raise her energetic frequency, and live a life grounded in resilience and peace.

Former US Senator Martha McSally was the first ever US female combat fighter pilot, and then became the first female Air Force officer to command a fighter squadron. Having survived a sexual predator in high school, rape by a military superior and the many bureaucratic barriers that were put in her way, Martha had the iron constitution to deal with these many setbacks and still push forward to success. Martha's story is summed up in her book 'Dare to Fly: Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up'.   LINKS Martha's Website www.marthamcsally.com   Book on Amazon Dare to Fly: Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up   The Mojo Sessions website www.themojosessions.com   The Mojo Sessions on Patreon www.patreon.com/TheMojoSessions Full transcripts of the show (plus time codes) are available on Patreon.   The Mojo Sessions on Facebook www.facebook.com/TheMojoSessions   Gary on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/gary-bertwistle   Gary on Twitter www.twitter.com/GaryBertwistle   The Mojo Sessions on Instagram www.instagram.com/themojosessions   If you like what you hear, we'd be grateful for a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Happy listening!   © 2025 Gary Bertwistle. All Rights Reserved.  

What does it take to truly rebuild yourself—body, mind, and spirit—after life's hardest moments? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi is joined by Col. Martha McSally, a retired combat veteran, former U.S. Senator, and author of Dare to Fly, for a raw and uplifting conversation about overcoming adversity, redefining resilience, and how true transformation happens with the right support—much like the teammate role a health coach plays in someone's health journey.Show notes: https://functionalmedicinecoaching.org/podcast/martha-mcsally-123/

On this episode of All Quiet on the Second Front, host Tyler Sweatt sits down with Hon. Martha McSally—former A-10 fighter pilot, U.S. Senator, and now 2F Independent Board Director—to talk about resilience, reinvention, and leading with purpose.Martha shares her journey from being one of the first women to fly a fighter jet in combat to navigating the world of politics and now advising leaders and companies. She discusses how to thrive through major career transitions, why identity isn't tied to job titles, and how leaders can build trust, stay adaptable, and create high-performing teams.What's Happening on the Second FrontMartha's path from fighter pilot to senator to board director.Why trust, clear communication, and self-awareness are critical for leadership.How to navigate career transitions and detach from external identity.Practical leadership tools, from curiosity to balancing work intensity.Why now is the best time to lean in, innovate, and lead.Connect with MarthaLinkedIn: Martha McSallyConnect with TylerLinkedIn: Tyler Sweatt

Courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom are not just abstract concepts from Stoic history, they are virtues that are still embodied by individuals today. In 2024, several guests on The Daily Stoic podcast demonstrated these principles, not as theoretical philosophers, but as real people who actively apply these Stoic values in their lives.Courage: Colonel (retired) Martha McSally, former U.S. Congresswoman and U.S. Senator, and author of Dare to Fly: Simple Lessons in Never Giving UpListen to Martha's full episode: Why You Should Run Towards Your FearYou can follow her on Instagram @marthamcsally. Discipline: Texas A&M Men's Basketball Head Coach, Buzz WilliamsListen to Buzz Williams' full episode: Be An Everyday PersonWatch Buzz Williams' full episode on YouTube Follow Buzz Williams on Instagram: @TeamCoachBuzz and on X: @TeamCoachBuzz.Justice: Sharon McMahon is a former high school government teacher who now runs the non-partisan, fact-based Instagram account @sharonsaysso and is the bestselling author of The Small and the Mighty. Listen to Sharon McMahon's full episode on The Unsung Americans Who Altered the Course of HistoryCheck out Sharon's podcast Here's Where It Gets Interesting and follow her on Instagram @SharonSaysSo and on X @Sharon_Says_SoWisdom: Mark Matousek is a teacher, speaker and bestselling author of Lessons from an American Stoic: How Emerson Can Change Your Life. Listen to Mark Matousek's full episode Self-Reliance and the Confidence in Trusting Your Inner Wisdom You can follow him on IG: @mark.matousek and @theseekersforum.

Martha McSally, the first American woman to command a fighter squadron in combat, shares her remarkable journey from aspiring pilot to U.S. Senator. McSally opens up about the personal challenges she faced, her relentless pursuit of breaking gender barriers, and the lessons she learned about courage, resilience, and leadership. She discusses how these experiences shaped her roles in military, corporate, and political arenas, offering insights into what it takes to lead with heart under pressure. A must-watch for anyone looking for inspiration in leadership and resilience! For more info on Martha's keynotes and availability visit: https://premierespeakers.com/speakers/martha-mcsally

Have you ever had a goal that seemed so ambitious that you weren't sure it was achievable? When our minds conceive a dream, we typically try to determine whether it is possible before taking steps to pursue it. However, this may lead to prematurely letting go of dreams that not only make you feel alive and inspired, but that also may in fact be possible with sufficient courage, clarity, and determination.  As a pioneering, combat-proven leader, inspiring speaker, and celebrated author, Colonel Martha McSally is a compelling example of overcoming adversity and fear to achieve extraordinary feats, including becoming the first woman in U.S. history to fly an Air Force fighter jet and command a fighter squadron in combat. Martha deployed six times to the Middle East and Afghanistan, flying 325 combat hours in the A-10 attack plane, for which she earned the Bronze Star and six Air Medals. Her book, “Dare to Fly: Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up,” inspires readers to follow their hearts and live the lives they were meant to live, fully aligned with their divine essence. In Episode 213 of The Mindset Game® podcast, Martha shares incredible stories from her life experiences, as well as the following insights: The importance of getting clear on the vision you have for your future self, embodying it in the present, and taking inspired action toward that vision, rather than getting stuck on how you will achieve it Specific tips for connecting with the true essence of who you are, which can help you identify expansive opportunities that align with your higher calling How to differentiate between the types of goals will enable you to truly expand and grow, versus those that may be rooted in less empowering motivations To learn more about Martha McSally and to sign up for her email list, visit https://marthamcsally.com.  To learn more about The Mindset Game podcast, visit www.TheMindsetGame.com. To subscribe, visit https://apple.co/3oAnR8I.  

Fear and anxiety often feel like enemies to be vanquished...but what if instead we saw them as signals guiding us toward growth and expansion? This is the transformative message Colonel Martha McSally, the first female fighter pilot and former U.S. Senator, brought to our latest episode of "The Enlightened Executive." Join us as we explore Martha's journey, from overcoming early personal adversities to becoming the first woman to command a fighter squadron in combat, and her leadership insights. Through powerful stories from her military career, such as her first solo flight in an A-10 aircraft, Martha shares insights into her philosophy on managing fear and risk. Ready to step out of your comfort zone and deeply connect with your true self? Then don't miss this enlightening episode! 

Retired Air Force Colonel Martha McSally made history as the first woman in the United States to become a Top Gun fighter pilot. Her impressive military career was marked by incredible achievements, honors and awards, but she also endured harassment, abuse and assault by a senior officer. In this episode, Martha shares her journey of overcoming trauma and adversity by rising above all of her fears, facing them head on, and proving the Air Force wrong. When she was told no she couldn't be a fighter pilot because she was a woman, that ignited a fire in her belly to make it happen. “...They told me, ‘You can't do this because you're a girl, and it is against the law.' I never had been told that in my life….It was like, ‘Nope, I am a fighter pilot and I am going to will this into existence'…I kept the dream in my heart…I wouldn't take ‘No' for an answer. I refused to give up...”Martha was deployed six times to the Middle East, and Afghanistan, flying more than 350 combat hours in an A-10 Warthog and earned the Bronze Star. Her book, "Dare to Fly: Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up" can be found on her website: www.marthamcsally.com. Be the first to know of new episodes by subscribing to this show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And, if you enjoy this episode or any previous episodes, be sure to give us a star rating and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.Have a guest idea or want to learn more about Brunner Communications? Contact us at info@LizBrunner.comFor more:Lizbrunner.comBrunnerAcademy.comFacebookTwitter: @lizbrunnerInstagram: @lizbrunnerLiz's best-selling book: Dare to Own You: Taking Your Authenticity and Dreams Into Your Next Chapter Liz's Keynote Sizzle ReelLiz's Podcast Guest Comments#liveyourbestlifepodcast #liveyourbestlifewithlizbrunner https://lizbrunner.com/live-your-best-life/Produced by Peoples Media

Flying an airplane is a challenging activity, even in clear skies and perfect weather… Now imagine you are flying a plane in combat. The enemy on the ground is trying to kill you by shooting down your plane. All while you are trying to save the lives of YOUR TEAM on the ground who are under attack. That's exactly what Martha McSally did as an A-10 fighter pilot in the Air Force.  Martha's life has been spent overcoming things like fear, self-doubt, trauma, adversity, and obstacles.  After arriving at the U.S. Air Force Academy for basic training at 18, she was told that it was against the law for women to become fighter pilots.  So what did she do? She decided that's exactly what she would do and became the first woman in U.S. history to fly a fighter jet in combat!  Plus, she later became the 1st woman in U.S. history to command a fighter squadron….which meant, in combat, she was the first one in and the last one out! She deployed 6 times to the Middle East and Afghanistan, flying 325 combat hours, earning the bronze star and six air metals.  After serving our country for 26 years in the Air Force and retiring as a full Colonel, Martha was elected to Congress. She served 2 terms in the U.S. House of Representative and was appointed to the U.S. Senate after Senator John McCain's passing. As you can imagine, she has had a front row seat, and been an active participant, in shaping the world we live in… always in service to others. Now, Martha continues to serve by sharing her hard-learned life and leadership lessons through keynote speaking, online courses, and beyond.  In this episode, Martha and Cindra talk about the: The ways fear holds you back from your dreams  How you can “Drop the Drag” How to intentionally shape your identity And, she openly shares how she has worked through trauma in her own life to help us understand how we can work through ours.   HIGH PERFORMANCE MINDSET SHOWNOTES FOR THIS EPISODE  LEARN MORE ABOUT THE YOU 3.0 RETREAT MARTHA IS HOSTING MARTHA'S WEEKLY COACHING ON FACEBOOK FOLLOW SIGN UP FOR THE FREE MENTAL BREAKTHROUGH CALL WITH CINDRA'S TEAM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MENTALLY STRONG INSTITUTE Love the show? Rate and review the show to help us reach more and more people. We appreciate you!    

Colonel (retired) Martha McSally was the 1st U.S. woman to command a fighter squadron in combat. She deployed 6 times to the Middle East and Afghanistan, flying 325 combat hours in the A-10 attack plane, earning the Bronze Star and 6 Air Medals. She later served as a U.S. Congresswoman and U.S. Senator representing AZ. She is an endurance athlete and survivor of assault. Her book "Dare to Fly: Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up" can be found on her website: www.marthamcsally.com. www.2024bestyear.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/KvaBaWWHbnsidTJi/?mibextid=LQQJ4dIG: @marthamcsally✉️ Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail

Martha Elizabeth McSally is an American politician and former military pilot who has represented Arizona in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. Martha served in the United States Air Force from 1988 to 2010, achieving the rank of colonel. She is also a marathon runner and survivor of assault. Her book, Dare to Fly: Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up, can be found on her website, marthamcsally.com.X: @MarthaMcSallyIG: @marthamcsally✉️ Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail

Martha Elizabeth McSally is an American politician and former military pilot (A-10 Warthog). During her 26-year military career, McSally deployed six times to the Middle East and Afghanistan, flying 325 combat hours and earning the Bronze Star and six Air Medals. She served as U.S. Representative for (AZ-R 2nd Congressional District) 2015-2019 proceeded by time as United States Senator (AZ-R) 2019 to 2020. In her speeches, Martha McSally has the ability to take her lessons learned from combat, life, and extreme athletic endeavors and enthusiastically apply them in practical, memorable experiences propelling teams to excellence. Through humor, transparency, emotional connection, and powerful storytelling, she brings the audience into the cockpit, behind the scenes of high-stakes leadership moments in our nation's history, and captures hearts along the way, all while imparting actionable take-aways that can immediately empower individuals and teams. As a commander of her A-10 squadron, she oversaw $500M in assets and $40M in annual resources and was responsible to deploy her unit worldwide with just 24-hours' notice. McSally was deployed to Saudi Arabia on 9/11 and became a key leader in planning and executing initial air operations in Afghanistan. As a Colonel, she was hand-picked as initial cadre to stand up U.S. Africa Command from scratch, building a complex organization with limited time and resources. She then led oversight of all African continent operations, including counterterrorism and disaster relief. This experience built on her expertise in strategic planning, process creation/improvement, knowledge management, logistics, and operations. Colonel McSally is a values-driven trailblazer who demonstrates courage and integrity in her leadership, even when coming at a personal cost. She bravely took on the Pentagon in an 8-year battle to overturn discriminatory policies towards servicewomen deployed to Saudi Arabia—and won. McSally holds a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University's JFK School of Government, . As a continuation of her service to our country and others and commitment to not walk by a problem, she served four years in the U.S. House of Representatives and two years as a U.S. Senator, which is not the focus of her speeches unless asked. (She often quips it was the least interesting thing she has done in her life!) She is the author of Dare to Fly—Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up, which motivates readers to overcome fear and adversity to achieve their full potential. McSally lives in Tucson, AZ where she enjoys hiking with her rescue Golden Retriever Boomer, running, and paragliding. Through determination, discipline and grit, McSally has run over a dozen marathons, won three national military triathlon championships, and competed in two Ironman triathlons including the grueling Hawaii Ironman world championship where she won the women's military division and placed 12th in the world in her age group. She also summited many peaks including Mt Kilimanjaro (highest mountain in Africa at 19,340 ft) and Mt Blanc (highest in Western Europe). She is a force of nature ready to inspire and equip your team. Sexual Assault and Misconduct in the Military The Heritage Rhode Island Hall of Fame https://riheritagehalloffame.com/Colonel-Martha-McSally/ https://marthamcsally.com/about/ The Keynote https://thekeynotecurators.com/speaker/martha-mcsally/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mettle-of-honor/message

Martha McSally shares her journey of healing and growth and how to release negative baggage to embrace a future filled with possibility. Listen now and start living life on your own terms. Here's a glance at what you'll discover from Martha in this episode: Courage Under Fire: Discover how Martha McSally's experiences as a Squadron Commander in Afghanistan teach valuable lessons in handling high-pressure situations and making critical decisions. Breaking Barriers: Insights into overcoming monumental challenges, like Martha's journey to allow women to fly in combat, applicable to breaking your own industry barriers. The Resilience of a Fighter Pilot: Learn how the principles of resilience and focus, honed in the cockpit, can be applied to bounce back from personal and professional challenges. Overcoming Personal Trauma: Gain insights into Martha's journey of overcoming personal trauma and how these experiences shaped her strength and determination. The Power of Self-Definition: Explore how Martha emphasizes the importance of defining oneself beyond external roles and titles, focusing on the essence of who you truly are. Harnessing Your Inner Strength: Learn from Martha's approach to identifying and harnessing inner strengths to overcome life's challenges and achieve success. Embracing Vulnerability for Growth: Understand the importance of acknowledging and embracing vulnerability as a path to personal growth and authentic living. Transforming Fear into Action: Discover Martha's strategies for confronting and transforming fear into a driving force for action and change. The Journey of Forgiveness and Healing: Martha shares her insights on the power of forgiveness and the healing process, and how they play a crucial role in moving forward. Creating a Life of Purpose and Integrity: Be inspired by Martha's commitment to living a life aligned with her core values and purpose, encouraging others to do the same.

Martha McSally is a US Senator, Retired Air Force Colonel, Author, Triathlete, and a Driven with an incredible story. In this episode we speak with her about overcoming the challenges associated with being a woman in positions of power and influence, overcoming past trauma, and finding peace through faith in a chaotic and often painful world. Follow her on socials @ MarthaMcSally and join her free masterclass at www.marthamcsally.com

In the News--End of Season 4 for Mac Watson Talks--Wyoming coal mine  purchased 12 years ago for $2 million; now worth $37 billion--Grand Canyon University fined $36 million for deceptive student aid practices--Martha McSally sexually assaulted in Iowa--Major league baseball executives catch virus at Scottsdale's Omni Montelucia--Woman attacked and killed by elk in Northern Arizona--GOP debate goes sideways over Tik Tok commentsTales from the Crib--Cricket is the Thief of JoyLast Word--Man steals electric shopping cart from Piggly Wiggly Support the showBEST PODCAST in Phoenix Magazine's 2020 & 2022 Best of the Valley Readers' Poll

AP correspondent Mike Hempen reports on Former Senator Assaulted-McSally.

Former Arizona U.S. Senator Martha McSally says she was sexually assaulted while running yesterday. In a video on Instagram she detailed the incident, saying she chose to fight instead of run. 

The courage that former U.S. Sen. Martha McSally displayed during and after a sexual assault is something Jim Sharpe hopes his girls emulate — with one notable exception. 

This year's Genius Network Annual Event is a must-attend event for Entrepreneurs who are ready to embrace health, wealth, and lasting success.  This event is not just about expanding your knowledge; it's about life-changing transformation. Discover how understanding and managing your biochemistry can improve every aspect of your life and business. Don't miss out on this exclusive gathering of industry transformers dedicated to making the world a better place. If you'd like to join world-renowned Entrepreneurs at the next Genius Network Event or want to learn more about Genius Network, go to www.GeniusNetwork.com. Here's a glance at what you'll discover from Dan and Joe in this episode:  Join us in this special episode to discover what makes the Genius Network Annual Event 2023 a game-changer for Entrepreneurs. Brief introductions to some of the event's notable speakers, including James Nestor, Steven Kotler, Martha McSally, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Daymond John, Dr. Anna Lembke, Marry Morrissey, and more... who will share insights on health, wealth, and the secrets to achieving lasting success. Uncover the science of success, the magic of achieving a flow state, and the biochemical factors that influence our behavior and performance. Explore the power of healthy dopamine and how understanding your body's chemistry can lead to a more fulfilling life. Get a glimpse into a remarkable event that gathers some of the world's most successful and innovative Entrepreneurs to inspire you on your entrepreneurial journey.

Martha McSally has overcome sexual trauma in both her teen years and in the military. She was the first woman in history to ever fly a fighter jet in combat.  She took on a  lawsuit of the US Defense Dept., and held office as a senator in Arizona. Martha reflects on those experiences and how that has led her into her third chapter known as Martha 3.0.  Sit back and listen to this tenacious and courageous story that will inspire you tap into  your inner badass. Support the showWe are ad and sponsor free. Please consider donating via the link below as it does cost to keep the show going. Thank you for your support.Support The Show

My next guest on The Richard Robbins Show has overcome incredible obstacles in her life to achieve some truly remarkable things. This guest boasts a 26-year military career, she served 4 years in the U.S. House of Representatives and 2 years as a U.S. Senator. Colonel Martha McSally is a pioneering combat-proven leader, inspiring speaker, and celebrated author. Growing up in Rhode Island, Martha was the youngest of 5 children and grew up in a humble household. However, losing her father at the age of 12 altered her life dramatically. “It shifted the trajectory of my life in profound ways,” Martha tells me, “It can be a tough mantel to carry and can sometimes be taken too far.” In Martha's pursuit to make her father proud, she found herself at the doorstep of the U.S. military. While in basic training, the door to her future presented itself. “I thought I was going to be a doctor. I had zero desire to be a pilot but I got there and found out it was against the law for women to be fighter pilots.” Martha put it simply, “It just pissed me off”. From there, Martha became the 1st woman in U.S. history to fly a fighter jet in combat and command a fighter squadron in combat. She has flown 325 combat hours, earning the Bronze Star and six Air Medals for her service. As we continued our conversation, Martha tells me plainly, “Every failure, every tragedy, every diagnosis, all of it is an opportunity for growth.”

Join us for a special episode that will give you TANGIBLE and CONCISE DECISION-MAKING TIPS to help you enter 2023 with CLARITY! This episode combines advice from our skilled guests, pulled from 2022's episodes. See the timestamps below to find links to each full episode. 01:08-3:45 – Ep.19 I Dr. Celeste Holbrook, Sex Therapist: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/48257562/download.mp3 03:50-05:47 - Ep.20 I Dr. Emily Oster, Professor of Economics at Brown University: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/48357122/download.mp3 05:51-07:18 - Ep.21 I The Truth Sisters I Lena Sisco & Elly Johnson, Body Language Experts: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/48445769/download.mp3 07:23-11:28 - Ep.24 I Ryan Goulart, Neuroscience Expert from Think2Perform: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/48749050/download.mp3 11:32-13:53 - Ep.29 I Fotini Iconomopoulos, Negotiator: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/49159015/download.mp3 13:58-15:42 - Ep.37 I Dr. James Langabeer, Decision Scientist: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/49836464/download.mp3 15:46-18:25 - Ep.38 I Jen Clinehens, Behavioral Science Expert: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/49927485/download.mp3 18:29-21:54 - Ep.40 I Col. Martha McSally, First Female Fighter Pilot: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/50111005/download.mp3 21:59-23:13 - Ep.48 I Prof. Wendy Wood, Behavioral Scientist: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/50796238/download.mp3 23:17-25:07 - Ep.50 I Emily Sanders, Psychotherapist: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/50909350/download.mp3 25:11-27:02 - Ep.53 I Aaron Bare, Strategic Leadership Facilitator: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/51132574/download.mp3 27:07-28:44 - Ep.54 I Dandapani, Hindu Priest and Former Monk: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/51234904/download.mp3 28:48-32:19 - Ep.63 I Dr. Nika Kabiri, Decision Scientist: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/51768117/download.mp3 32:24-34:34 - Ep.66 I Rich Diviney, Retired Navy SEAL: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/52089767/download.mp3 34:38-36:05 - Ep.68 I Amy Bruske, President of Kolbe Corp.: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/52214150/download.mp3 CONNECT WITH UShttps://decidedlypodcast.com/Instagram: @decidedlypodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decidedlypodcastShawn's Instagram: @shawn_d_smith Sanger's Instagram: @sangersmith MAKING A FINANCIAL DECISION?At Decidedly Wealth Management, we focus on decision-making as the foundational element of success, in our effort to empower families to purposefully apply their wealth to fulfill their values and build a thriving legacy.LEARN MORE: www.decidedlywealth.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decidedlywealth/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DecidedlyWealth/ Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly decision-making tips: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR Join us every Wednesday for more strategies to DEFEAT bad decision-making - one episode at a time!

Stolen Republic: Ron Paul WON Arizona in 2012..!! That's just one example...DEMAND DANIEL is the call that inspired so many of us Arizonans in the summer of 2020 to get out and Vote for a REAL Human Being who stood to lose more than he would ever gain by serving the People. I, and many others showed up and voted for Daniel McCarthy for Special Senate Elections. It was between him and Trump's anointed-one, Martha McSally. Prior to running himself, Mr McCarthy was a supporter of the 2008 Ron Paul campaign, and followed closely what happened to Ron Paul again in 2012. Ron Paul WON Arizona. In fact, courts were forced to admit so much, but of course the verdict came late, and Obama was already inaugurated for his second appointed (not elected) term. Did you read what I just said?? The Will of the American People was cast to the side, disregarded, and the President of the United States was SELECTED, Not Elected. Could you imagine how different the country would be if we had Ron Paul instead of Obama in 2008? In 2012?Daniel McCarthy fought and continues to push back on the dark forces of deep corruption and sabotage. He and his team of common heroes pushed back on Ducy's attempt to impose Red Flag Laws in Arizona. They successfully limited the amount of pandemic-related tyranny that was planned for our children, our businesses and daily lives. Most people have no idea why our lives were better in Arizona in comparison to other states throughout the country. It was Daniel McCarthy, Steve Daniels, and a lot of heroes in the background that did what was right and virtuous under the laws of God and our country's founding documents. Daniel McCarthy should be a household name. He should be an inspiration to us all, and a role model for your children. If you don't know Daniel, this is your lucky day. This is that opportunity. Carpe Diem, my friends. Stay vigilant of the mind, awaken your American Spirit of Defiance to Tyranny. It is all our duty.See More on Daniel: https://www.demanddaniel.com/Find him on Twitter and Instagram. His wife has a great YouTube channel with his highlights as well.To Support Equipment Fundraiser Please go here:https://GiveSendGo.com/BaalBustersFor Dr Braun's Copperine and Anacardic supplements:https://BioChemScience.com and use code: BB2022 for Free Shipping!Learn the Priceless Health Wisdom of Dr Peter Glidden, ND at:https://riseupintohealth.com/?via=baalbustersRed Pill Expo is still available! Watch it all and get 10% off with code:busterhttps://redpilluniversity.org/expo-homepage/BBRedPill/ref/179/

In this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, I interview Martha McSally. Martha is a compelling example of overcoming adversity and fear to achieve extraordinary feats. Losing her dad at the age of 12 and surviving sexual abuse and assault, she persevered to become the 1st woman in U.S. history to fly a fighter jet in combat and command a fighter squadron in combat. Martha deployed six times to the Middle East and Afghanistan, flying 325 combat hours in the A-10 attack plane, earning the Bronze Star and six air medals. She's the author of the book — Dare to Fly: Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up. More About The Agency Workshop: Apply for the Agency Workshop Take The Marketing Assessment: Marketing Assessment This episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast is brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network.

[As always, this little blog/newsletter is how I pay my bills, and I would be so grateful if you support my writing with a paid subscription.]Four months is a long time these days. At least for me, it used to be that four months was a bit of a jog but easily contextualized in the brain's aerial view. I could look backwards and easily spot that marker. Now, it seems, the space-time continuum has been cruelly mocked and warped by current events in such a way that a month in 2022 honestly feels legitimately equal to a quarter in 2011 and looking backward that far, even that much, is a fool's errand, only bound to disappoint.Whatever you were doing four months ago, the world continues to indifferently spin into spun-up difference from what it once was. Four months ago was before 19 children and two teachers were murdered in Uvalde, TX. Four months ago was before a white supremacist murdered ten innocents, targeting the Black community in Buffalo, NY. Four months ago was before—wait, be honest with me: without looking it up, how easily can you recall the details of that horrific mass shooting on the New York City Subway in April?That wasn't even four months ago.Exactly four months ago yesterday, I was at SXSW watching the world premiere of “Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down”, a documentary about the former Arizona congresswoman who survived a brutal assassination attempt in 2011 that left six others murdered and has since been on a journey of remarkable advocacy, both in her medical rehabilitation after being shot in the head at point-blank range and the widely-praised leadership role she has undertaken in the gun reform movement. The documentary is superb, and we'll get to that in a second. I want to further underline that four months ago was a completely different world, especially for the families in Highland Park and Tulsa and Uvalde and Buffalo and Pittsburgh and Sacramento and I wouldn't blame you at all for missing details on a few of these. In America in 2022, it's hard for even the most news-centric among us to keep up with the mass shootings that make national news, let alone the unending cascade of underreported mass shootings that tear through communities across the country.Since March 12th, 2022—the date of the world premiere at SXSW—there have been 250 mass shootings, according to The Gun Violence Archive.In other words, there has been an average of more than two mass shootings per day since Gabby Giffords premiered her deeply moving and galvanizing documentary in Austin. More than twice daily has there been a mass shooting in the United States over the past four months. More than twice daily. Think about that.This past Monday, July 11th, was a good day for America but particularly meaningful for Gabby Giffords and every other survivor and advocate in the gun reform movement. Just before noon, President Biden presided over a ceremony on the White House South Lawn to celebrate the signing of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first gun reform legislation signed into law in three decades.Brilliantly shepherded through the notoriously inept upper chamber by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), the law does a hell of a lot more than we've seen in recent memory and yet has also drawn criticism for falling well short of what our lawmakers should be doing to curb gun violence in America.That's an observation which, forgive me, seems pretty goddamn redundant. Of course it doesn't do enough. No bill short of taking every single common sense measure would be enough in this crisis. Universal background checks are common sense. Registration of every firearm is common sense. Proper licensing for every gun owner is common sense. Banning civilian ownership of assault weapons is common sense. The absence of any of these in a bill would make the legislation inherently flawed, even if they were the sole absence. That must be the good faith reading of any rational adult in government.But our government is not flush to the gills with rational adults, and so, the most rational adults must not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Let me state resolutely: this new law is substantial progress and deserves celebration, and I personally don't need more than a moment's thought to understand that many thousands of lives will be saved because of it. That is worth celebrating.Of course it's not enough. Why would it ever be enough? Eighteen years from now, thousands of children will have just graduated from high school who would have otherwise been brutally murdered in a mass shooting or by an abusive relative or by themselves with an unsecured firearm in their home after being purchased by a domestic abuser.I was there on Monday with hundreds of other attendees. I saw Manuel Oliver stand up in the middle of the President's remarks, not far in front of me, and let the world know this isn't enough. That's true. It's not enough. He has every right to be angry at the pace of all this. The man lost his child. That is a pain I can't begin to fathom. I also saw numerous advocates carrying full-size photographs of their slain loved ones, far too many of those being a child's school portrait, coming up to President Biden and other elected officials to thank them for taking a few steps forward, saving a few more thousand lives, giving a few more million people a bit more hope for the future.It seemed like just about every single gun reform advocate in the country was at this ceremony and almost all were willing to express two thoughts simultaneously: that this bill is a good thing, won through dogged advocacy, and it's also not nearly enough.This new legislation wouldn't have been possible without countless advocates doing the labor for so many years, and even so, Gabby Giffords' story is one of those that stands out among that extraordinary crowd. A few hours after the ceremony, many of us made our way downtown to the U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza for the D.C. premiere of her documentary.Four months is a long time, as we've now established, and I could feel the difference between the screenings. I didn't feel as depressed or worn out in Austin. Maybe it was the lack of national reporting on mass shootings in the first quarter of this year, but the whole situation seemed to significantly lessen in its incessant horror for a bit, certainly nothing like the gauntlet of terror to which we've all been witness since April.And yet, there was hope. Had we not all just been at the White House to observe some significant steps forward? The documentary seemed to match this balanced tone of grounded optimism and brutal honesty perfectly, beat for beat. The filmmakers, Julie Cohen and Betsy West, previously won widespread critical claim for their documentaries on the late Justice Ginsburg (2018), Pauli Murray (2021), and Julia Child (2021), public figures navigating the exceedingly thorny intersection of power, influence, and gender.“Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down” is firmly within that tradition of excellence while also capturing a potent urgency that confronts the violent uncertainty of this hellish era in which we live. For a long time, there has existed a muted paranoia throughout the nation, a feeling that any of us could be next in a mass shooting. But the decline of our institutions and a corresponding decline of faith in our institutions and the ripped stitches of January 6th, raw and festering and wholly unclean, have added an additional and formidable layer of desperation to our national mood. How the hell are we gonna fix this when the tools required to fix it need fixing themselves?The documentary doesn't blow smoke but it also refuses to back down from the claim that we can get through this together, if only we had the faith in each other to do so. Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly have that kind of faith in each other, and it shows.So… the story.It was 2006, and Gabrielle Dee Giffords, a 36 year-old former CEO of her grandfather's local tire company, had seemingly come out of nowhere to win a congressional seat covering an area the GOP had held for more than 20 years. She had sold the business in 2000, did two years in the state house, two years in the state senate, and then launched a long shot bid to win in a district where the Republican incumbent had trounced both of the Democratic challengers in the two previous election cycles by more than 24 points. Well, the GOP incumbent, Jim Kolbe, decided not to run for reelection and the more moderate GOP candidate most likely to succeed him was plunged into scandal and GOP voters chose a far more conservative successor and Democrats nationwide had one hell of a year in effective political messaging (on their way to taking back the House), and suddenly, this seat seemed very much up for grabs.But that all still fails to account for the magnitude of the pendulum rebound that occurred in Arizona's 8th congressional district that year. Giffords didn't win a nail-biter. She didn't simply take the edge in a photo finish.She won by more than 12 points, a swing of 36 points among voters from Republican to Democrat in only two years. It wasn't just that she won in a landslide but that she did so in a district that was overwhelmingly Republican-supporting.And she did this while being unapologetically pro-choice, supporting a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, and refusing to agree that marriage should be restricted to one man and one woman (remember: this is 2006).How?The documentary highlights Giffords' extraordinary interpersonal intelligence, at once empathetic and authentic and confident and completely disarming to even some of her most conservative constituents who didn't support her, a dynamic on the recipient that's described by admirers as being “gabbyfied”. That's not an exaggeration. Go look up interviews that Giffords did before the shooting. She sounds like a real person. She sounds like the most evolved form of a kind and well informed neighbor who truly wants to make the world a better place. I have been a student of politics for a long time and I've heard countless anecdotes about Clinton and Biden and a handful of others making someone in a crowded room briefly feel like they're the only person in the world. But even that effect carries something of a conceit that we all seem to accept: this is their job and they're the best in the country at it and the Greats are meant to suspend reality for a few moments. It's almost like a magic trick and we understand it's not real and the vast majority of us are okay with that.The thing about Gabby Giffords, what seems abundantly clear, is that she never needed the benefit of reality being suspended in order to reach someone. It wasn't magic. It was just her. The opening scenes of the documentary point to Giffords' most likely trajectory back in the early aughts: a handful of terms in the House, then probably some time in the Senate, and down the road, it is implied (and quite rightly), a truly competitive candidacy for the White House from a notable swing state, probably sooner rather than later.It was the first week of January in 2011 when Giffords and her advisors had made plans to huddle in D.C. and start prepping for a likely run against then-Sen. Jeff Flake in 2012. (By the way, can you imagine that race? She would have cleaned his clock.)Before they could do that, there was a constituent event to attend, “Congress on Your Corner”, a feature of her district outreach that had become a high priority for Giffords. It was supposed to be 90 minutes of greeting folks and talking out their concerns in front of the Safeway in La Toscana Village. Just past 10am, as Giffords and her staff engaged with constituents, a coward whom I refuse to name, armed with a Glock 19 pistol and several magazines he had purchased at a sporting goods store just a 12 minute drive away, walked up to the Congresswoman, shot her in the head at point blank range, and then began firing at everyone else. Gabriel Zimmerman, 30, Gifford's community outreach director; Dorwan Stoddard, 76, retired construction worker; Phyllis Schneck, 79, homemaker; John Roll, 63, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for Arizona; Dorothy “Dot” Morris, 76, retired secretary; and nine year-old Christina-Taylor Green, who was getting interested in civics and wanted to meet the Congresswoman.Six deaths, 14 injured, including Giffords, in less than 60 seconds of shooting. Daniel Hernández, Jr., an intern in her office, had the wherewithal to slow Giffords' bleeding and ensure she didn't choke on her own blood, long enough for paramedics to arrive five minutes after the shooting started. This would save her life at a critical moment.Gabby Giffords was pronounced dead to most of the country for at least an hour that Saturday afternoon. NPR ran with what they thought was a critical scoop, based on two unconfirmed sources, and the rest of national media did the bulk of the work in pushing it out. At one point, every major network was reporting that Giffords had been assassinated. By the way, as much as I love NPR and certainly support their journalism, the close of their explanation and apology over this incident, more than a decade ago, is ludicrous: “While NPR made a significant mistake that dinged its credibility, it should be commended for quickly apologizing and being transparent. Rather than hurting NPR's credibility, taking responsibility for the mistake should enhance it.”What?Mark Kelly, Gifford's husband, a seasoned NASA astronaut who was then prepping for an upcoming shuttle mission, listened to a news broadcast informing him that his wife had been murdered and broke down.As much as this documentary is about gun reform and Giffords' journey of recovery and her love story with Kelly, that particular scene over NPR's callous approach at the time, the normalized rush for media to be first rather than be right, is especially potent. The problem with clumsy media going for clicks and listeners rather than accuracy is one that very much persists to this day.Did I mention that Giffords and her family have a hell of a sense of humor? I certainly didn't expect to laugh as much as I did while watching a documentary on an assassination attempt. Throughout her recovery, Giffords, even through the dense fog of recalibrating her brain, sparks scenes with her wit and warmth. Her chemistry with Kelly—it almost feels underwhelming to describe it that way—is the engine of the movie. During the Q&A after the D.C. screening, CNN's Kate Bolduan asked Giffords and filmmakers Cohen and West about the undeniable theme of a “feminist marriage” between them — a true partnership between Giffords and Kelly that tracks a balanced but nuanced inverse of their public roles before and after the shooting.Giffords eventually returned to the House in the midst of her recovery for critical votes but declined to run again, the health complications being too much to surmount at the time. Kelly, having completed his fourth shuttle mission, retired from NASA, pissed as could be about the lackluster response from Congress following the attempted assassination on his wife and gun violence generally, particularly in the wake of Sandy Hook, and launched a bid for John McCain's old seat in the Senate.Kelly, whom the documentary lovingly describes as far more of an engineer than a politician, is guided through his campaign by Giffords. One notable and hilarious scene shows Giffords tutoring Kelly on the maiden speech he's scheduled to deliver following his victory against Martha McSally. “Slow down, head up”, Giffords playfully urges Kelly, who demonstrates an impressive adaptation to a skill set he's never needed.For his part, Kelly's predominant role is caregiver, tending to Giffords throughout her recovery process, keeping the family steady and optimistic, doing the emotional labor typically expected of women, and, all the while, continuing his demanding work as a literal NASA astronaut.Cohen and West depict an ideal marriage of equals, simply two human beings who love each other and bring out the best qualities in one another's hearts during the worst of times.Their relationships, with each other and their kids and their close circle of friends and family, emphasize the importance of community.I met Gabby Giffords in Austin after that screening back in March and couldn't help but get a picture with her after the D.C. screening on Tuesday. She didn't know me from Jane, just another admirer in the crowd, and yet, she took the time in both moments to thank me for attending, gave me a big hug, and said some encouraging words. I was most certainly gabbyfied.Four months is a long time these days, and the world is already very, very different from March, as it will be in November, four months from now. The speed of change has become so quick, seemingly everything in flux, that we are forced, for our own sense of stability, to grab things that are steady and hold on for dear life.It is in uncertain times that leaders who can offer us a sense of certainty shine the brightest. The Gabby Giffords who was once discussed as a likely future presidential candidate more than a decade ago is the same Gabby Giffords who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, last week.Folks will point to her example of recovery and resilience or the work that's been done by her organization, eponymously named “Giffords”, to educate the public on gun violence and push for common sense reform, or her general leadership in the public arena, which is more respected and influential than ever.With humility, I would offer that none of these are the greatest achievements of Gabby Giffords. Her greatest achievement is reminding us all of the importance of community in an era through which our country has never demonstrated a greater need for it. Four months is a long time and the world is changing quick on its own axis but Gabby Giffords, more than a decade on, even in her most vulnerable moments, hasn't changed much at all. She's always been right there, in the community, doing the work. If leadership means empathetic continuity, she's among the greatest to ever take that walk.God bless her for it.—[“Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down” enters nationwide release in theaters this Friday, July 15th. View the trailer here. Take my word and go see it. Find showtimes here.]Charlotte's Web Thoughts is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Hi, I'm Charlotte Clymer, and this is Charlotte's Web Thoughts, my Substack. It's completely free to access and read, but if you feel so moved to support my writing, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription: just $7/month or save money with the $70/annual sub. You can also go way above and beyond by becoming a Founding Member at $210. Get full access to Charlotte's Web Thoughts at charlotteclymer.substack.com/subscribe

Michael talks with (Then-) Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) about her book "Dare to Fly: Simple Lessons in Never Giving Up." Original air date 27 May 2020. The book was published on 26 May 2020.

This episode is a highlight clip from this week's full episode. To listen to the full episode, see yesterday's episode or use this link: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/50111005/download.mp3Col. Martha McSally, the first female fighter pilot to fly in combat, joins the show to tell her story of shattering glass ceilings and challenging the status quo. This episode offers a decision-making framework that leans into passionate intuition. Afterall, it takes a woman of big heart to not only become a fighter pilot, but to take on the Pentagon in an 8-year battle to overturn discriminatory policies towards servicewomen deployed to Saudi Arabia—and win. How can you alter the status quo? CONNECT WITH US DecidedlyPodcast.com Instagram: @decidedlypodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decidedlypodcast Shawn's Instagram: @shawn_d_smith Sanger's Instagram: @sangersmith Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly decision-making tips: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR Join us every Wednesday for more strategies to DEFEAT bad decision-making – one episode at a time! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The WASPS (Women Airforce Service Pilots): https://www.womenshistory.org/exhibits/women-airforce-service-pilots-wasps-wwii Shailee Basnet on Decidedly, “Ep.26 I Deciding to Conquer Your Everest”: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/48917046/download.mp3 ABOUT COL. MARTHA McSALLY Instagram: @marthamcsally Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marthamcsally LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martha-mcsally-1a5606229/ Dare to Fly (book): https://www.daretofly.us/ Website: https://marthamcsally.com/ Colonel Martha E. McSally is a pioneering combat-proven leader, inspiring speaker, and celebrated author. McSally is a compelling example of overcoming adversity and fear to achieve extraordinary feats. Losing her dad at the age of 12 and surviving sexual abuse and assault, she persevered to become the 1st woman in U.S. history to fly a fighter jet in combat and command a fighter squadron in combat. Along her journey, McSally had to overcome significant obstacles including U.S. law prohibiting women from flying combat jets. She persevered, held onto her dreams, continued to excel, and shattered glass ceilings.

Col. Martha McSally, the first female fighter pilot to fly in combat, joins the show to tell her story of shattering glass ceilings and challenging the status quo. This episode offers a decision-making framework that leans into passionate intuition. Afterall, it takes a woman of big heart to not only become a fighter pilot, but to take on the Pentagon in an 8-year battle to overturn discriminatory policies towards servicewomen deployed to Saudi Arabia—and win. How can you alter the status quo? DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THE FULL EPISODE? No worries!Check out the 15-minute highlight episode, pulled from our conversation with Col. Martha McSally: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/50130398/download.mp3 CONNECT WITH US DecidedlyPodcast.com Instagram: @decidedlypodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decidedlypodcast Shawn's Instagram: @shawn_d_smith Sanger's Instagram: @sangersmith Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly decision-making tips: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001aeU_pPBHJPNJWJBdVbaci6bjGIuEJurH12xHBWDEVT_NxyCadMd7wLSZjcEZglkSjDjehuIbTHD8nABOIdV69ctfYpSzg24RCIytetBUrlIPPKgaGzjGZ8DkM0Wp1LMjbErcYUur7PbZGjeVo4gyXlz821AoJGZR Join us every Wednesday for more strategies to DEFEAT bad decision-making – one episode at a time! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The WASPS (Women Airforce Service Pilots): https://www.womenshistory.org/exhibits/women-airforce-service-pilots-wasps-wwii Shailee Basnet on Decidedly, “Ep.26 I Deciding to Conquer Your Everest”: https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/48917046/download.mp3 ABOUT COL. MARTHA McSALLY Instagram: @marthamcsally Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marthamcsally LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martha-mcsally-1a5606229/ Dare to Fly (book): https://www.daretofly.us/ Website: https://marthamcsally.com/ Colonel Martha E. McSally is a pioneering combat-proven leader, inspiring speaker, and celebrated author. McSally is a compelling example of overcoming adversity and fear to achieve extraordinary feats. Losing her dad at the age of 12 and surviving sexual abuse and assault, she persevered to become the 1st woman in U.S. history to fly a fighter jet in combat and command a fighter squadron in combat. Along her journey, McSally had to overcome significant obstacles including U.S. law prohibiting women from flying combat jets. She persevered, held onto her dreams, continued to excel, and shattered glass ceilings.

One of Martha's favorite sayings is "do things afraid". And her book opens up with the perfect example as she climbs into the seat of an A-10 attack plane. It is a single seat plane and it was her first flight. There were no simulators and no one could teach her how to fly it. She simply had to do it. "Courage is not the absence of fear. It's choosing to do things afraid." From being the first woman to fly in combat in an A-10 to being a Congressperson and Senator, Martha McSally has made it a point to "do things afraid." As a result, she's been an agent of change and a force of nature who is living a most remarkable life. Come meet Col. (ret.) Martha McSally.   #BumpInTheRoad #Aviation

IN THE NEWS While they're geared up to reflect on the more celebratory side of Military Women's History Month, Jeff and Ashley begin by addressing a challenge to women in the military. Ashley shares a report about a concerning increase in reports of sexual assault at U.S. service academies during the 2020-21 academic year, to the highest number ever since DoD began closely tracking in the problem 2006. THIS WEEK'S GUEST Author and activist Erin Miller shares the story of her grandmother, Elaine Danforth Harmon, who served with the Women Airforce Service Pilots - or WASPs - during WWII. When her grandmother's final wish to be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery was denied by the U.S. Army in 2015, Erin began a grassroots, social media and lobbying campaign to fight the decision and have a law passed to recognize the service of the WASP for inurnment eligibility at Arlington National Cemetery. RAPID FIRE Marine and nurse charged with fake vaccine card scam VA propses changing disability ratings for mental health 'Call of Duty' can make you a better sailor or Marine Special Guest: Erin Miller.

Today on Sojourner Truth, our post-election special. Reaction, analysis and a view from poll watchers in Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, November 3, millions of people across the United States headed to the polls and cast their ballots as part of the 2020 elections. Along with over 100 million people who did early voting, this election is reported to be the largest turnout in 100 years. In a race that turned out to be much closer than had been predicted, Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris faced off against Donald Trump and Mike Pence. As of the time we go on the air, it remains still to early to project a winner in the presidential race. Votes are still being counted in Alaska, Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Georgia and Pennsylvania, according to CNN. Biden holds the lead in the Electoral College at this stage, with 224 votes compared to Trump's 213. A total of 270 Electoral College votes are needed to become President. On Election Night, Trump won a tight race in Florida, bumped up by the Latino vote in Miami Dade County, where large Cuban and Venezuelan exile communities live. There, Trump won 51.2 percent of votes compared to Biden's 47.8. In Florida, Latinos make up 19 percent of all of the state's voters, according to Al Jazeera. In contrast, in Arizona, Latino voters favored Biden by nearly 2-1, with Trump barely making a dent. In Wisconsin, with more than 90 percent of votes counted, Biden holds a narrow lead over Trump. In Nevada, with 85 percent of the votes counted, Biden leads by less than a percentage point. Now, all eyes are on Michigan, where the clerk of Wayne County (a key suburb) says they are counting votes, with no foreseeable end in sight. Pennsylvania, a state which Trump falsely claimed he had won, is just beginning to count hundreds of thousands of early votes mailed in that are expected to be heavily in favor of Biden. Aside from the presidential race, a number of important developments have taken place. In the Senate race, as of Wednesday morning, Republicans are in the lead with 47 seats compared with the Democrats 45 seats. 51 seats are needed to form a majority. Republicans appear poised to maintain a narrow Senate majority after winning a number of tight races and with others remaining too close to call. The Republicans currently hold a 53-47 seat majority. Democrats need to win four seats to flip the Senate after Alabama Sen. Doug Jones lost to Republican Tommy Tuberville. Democrats have picked up a seat in Colorado, with John Hickenlooper defeating Republican Sen. Cory Gardner, and one in Arizona, with Democrat Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, beating GOP Sen. Martha McSally. Meanwhile, all four progressive congresswomen referred to as The Squad have all won reelection in the House of Representatives. They include Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. Our guests are Dr. Robin Kelley, Bill Gallegos, Phoebe Jones Schellenberg and Tara Galatt. Dr. Robin Kelley is the Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History at UCLA. He is the author of several books, including Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination, Yo Mamas DisFunktional: Fighting the Culture Wars in Urban America, and Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original. Bill Gallegos is a longtime Chicano Liberation and Environmental Justice activist. He is the author of "The Sunbelt Strategy and Chicano Liberation, and Reflections on The Green Economy." Phoebe Jones is a women's rights campaigner in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Shes a Quaker, a mother and has a PhD in physical education. She was a poll monitor for the Poor Peoples Campaign " A National Call for Moral Revival, covering a polling station in her neighborhood. Tara Galatt served as a poll monitor in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for the 2020 elections. She is based in New Jersey.

Today on Sojourner Truth, our post-election special. Reaction, analysis and a view from poll watchers in Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, November 3, millions of people across the United States headed to the polls and cast their ballots as part of the 2020 elections. Along with over 100 million people who did early voting, this election is reported to be the largest turnout in 100 years. In a race that turned out to be much closer than had been predicted, Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris faced off against Donald Trump and Mike Pence. As of the time we go on the air, it remains still to early to project a winner in the presidential race. Votes are still being counted in Alaska, Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Georgia and Pennsylvania, according to CNN. Biden holds the lead in the Electoral College at this stage, with 224 votes compared to Trump's 213. A total of 270 Electoral College votes are needed to become President. On Election Night, Trump won a tight race in Florida, bumped up by the Latino vote in Miami Dade County, where large Cuban and Venezuelan exile communities live. There, Trump won 51.2 percent of votes compared to Biden's 47.8. In Florida, Latinos make up 19 percent of all of the state's voters, according to Al Jazeera. In contrast, in Arizona, Latino voters favored Biden by nearly 2-1, with Trump barely making a dent. In Wisconsin, with more than 90 percent of votes counted, Biden holds a narrow lead over Trump. In Nevada, with 85 percent of the votes counted, Biden leads by less than a percentage point. Now, all eyes are on Michigan, where the clerk of Wayne County (a key suburb) says they are counting votes, with no foreseeable end in sight. Pennsylvania, a state which Trump falsely claimed he had won, is just beginning to count hundreds of thousands of early votes mailed in that are expected to be heavily in favor of Biden. Aside from the presidential race, a number of important developments have taken place. In the Senate race, as of Wednesday morning, Republicans are in the lead with 47 seats compared with the Democrats 45 seats. 51 seats are needed to form a majority. Republicans appear poised to maintain a narrow Senate majority after winning a number of tight races and with others remaining too close to call. The Republicans currently hold a 53-47 seat majority. Democrats need to win four seats to flip the Senate after Alabama Sen. Doug Jones lost to Republican Tommy Tuberville. Democrats have picked up a seat in Colorado, with John Hickenlooper defeating Republican Sen. Cory Gardner, and one in Arizona, with Democrat Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, beating GOP Sen. Martha McSally. Meanwhile, all four progressive congresswomen referred to as The Squad have all won reelection in the House of Representatives. They include Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. Our guests are Dr. Robin Kelley, Bill Gallegos, Phoebe Jones Schellenberg and Tara Galatt. Dr. Robin Kelley is the Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History at UCLA. He is the author of several books, including Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination, Yo Mamas DisFunktional: Fighting the Culture Wars in Urban America, and Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original. Bill Gallegos is a longtime Chicano Liberation and Environmental Justice activist. He is the author of "The Sunbelt Strategy and Chicano Liberation, and Reflections on The Green Economy." Phoebe Jones is a women's rights campaigner in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Shes a Quaker, a mother and has a PhD in physical education. She was a poll monitor for the Poor Peoples Campaign " A National Call for Moral Revival, covering a polling station in her neighborhood. Tara Galatt served as a poll monitor in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for the 2020 elections. She is based in New Jersey.

Today on Sojourner Truth, our post-election special. Reaction, analysis and a view from poll watchers in Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, November 3, millions of people across the United States headed to the polls and cast their ballots as part of the 2020 elections. Along with over 100 million people who did early voting, this election is reported to be the largest turnout in 100 years. In a race that turned out to be much closer than had been predicted, Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris faced off against Donald Trump and Mike Pence. As of the time we go on the air, it remains still to early to project a winner in the presidential race. Votes are still being counted in Alaska, Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Georgia and Pennsylvania, according to CNN. Biden holds the lead in the Electoral College at this stage, with 224 votes compared to Trump's 213. A total of 270 Electoral College votes are needed to become President. On Election Night, Trump won a tight race in Florida, bumped up by the Latino vote in Miami Dade County, where large Cuban and Venezuelan exile communities live. There, Trump won 51.2 percent of votes compared to Biden's 47.8. In Florida, Latinos make up 19 percent of all of the state's voters, according to Al Jazeera. In contrast, in Arizona, Latino voters favored Biden by nearly 2-1, with Trump barely making a dent. In Wisconsin, with more than 90 percent of votes counted, Biden holds a narrow lead over Trump. In Nevada, with 85 percent of the votes counted, Biden leads by less than a percentage point. Now, all eyes are on Michigan, where the clerk of Wayne County (a key suburb) says they are counting votes, with no foreseeable end in sight. Pennsylvania, a state which Trump falsely claimed he had won, is just beginning to count hundreds of thousands of early votes mailed in that are expected to be heavily in favor of Biden. Aside from the presidential race, a number of important developments have taken place. In the Senate race, as of Wednesday morning, Republicans are in the lead with 47 seats compared with the Democrats 45 seats. 51 seats are needed to form a majority. Republicans appear poised to maintain a narrow Senate majority after winning a number of tight races and with others remaining too close to call. The Republicans currently hold a 53-47 seat majority. Democrats need to win four seats to flip the Senate after Alabama Sen. Doug Jones lost to Republican Tommy Tuberville. Democrats have picked up a seat in Colorado, with John Hickenlooper defeating Republican Sen. Cory Gardner, and one in Arizona, with Democrat Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, beating GOP Sen. Martha McSally. Meanwhile, all four progressive congresswomen referred to as The Squad have all won reelection in the House of Representatives. They include Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. Our guests are Dr. Robin Kelley, Bill Gallegos, Phoebe Jones Schellenberg and Tara Galatt. Dr. Robin Kelley is the Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History at UCLA. He is the author of several books, including Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination, Yo Mamas DisFunktional: Fighting the Culture Wars in Urban America, and Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original. Bill Gallegos is a longtime Chicano Liberation and Environmental Justice activist. He is the author of "The Sunbelt Strategy and Chicano Liberation, and Reflections on The Green Economy." Phoebe Jones is a women's rights campaigner in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Shes a Quaker, a mother and has a PhD in physical education. She was a poll monitor for the Poor Peoples Campaign " A National Call for Moral Revival, covering a polling station in her neighborhood. Tara Galatt served as a poll monitor in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for the 2020 elections. She is based in New Jersey.

Today on Sojourner Truth, our post-election special. Reaction, analysis and a view from poll watchers in Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, November 3, millions of people across the United States headed to the polls and cast their ballots as part of the 2020 elections. Along with over 100 million people who did early voting, this election is reported to be the largest turnout in 100 years. In a race that turned out to be much closer than had been predicted, Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris faced off against Donald Trump and Mike Pence. As of the time we go on the air, it remains still to early to project a winner in the presidential race. Votes are still being counted in Alaska, Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Georgia and Pennsylvania, according to CNN. Biden holds the lead in the Electoral College at this stage, with 224 votes compared to Trump's 213. A total of 270 Electoral College votes are needed to become President. On Election Night, Trump won a tight race in Florida, bumped up by the Latino vote in Miami Dade County, where large Cuban and Venezuelan exile communities live. There, Trump won 51.2 percent of votes compared to Biden's 47.8. In Florida, Latinos make up 19 percent of all of the state's voters, according to Al Jazeera. In contrast, in Arizona, Latino voters favored Biden by nearly 2-1, with Trump barely making a dent. In Wisconsin, with more than 90 percent of votes counted, Biden holds a narrow lead over Trump. In Nevada, with 85 percent of the votes counted, Biden leads by less than a percentage point. Now, all eyes are on Michigan, where the clerk of Wayne County (a key suburb) says they are counting votes, with no foreseeable end in sight. Pennsylvania, a state which Trump falsely claimed he had won, is just beginning to count hundreds of thousands of early votes mailed in that are expected to be heavily in favor of Biden. Aside from the presidential race, a number of important developments have taken place. In the Senate race, as of Wednesday morning, Republicans are in the lead with 47 seats compared with the Democrats 45 seats. 51 seats are needed to form a majority. Republicans appear poised to maintain a narrow Senate majority after winning a number of tight races and with others remaining too close to call. The Republicans currently hold a 53-47 seat majority. Democrats need to win four seats to flip the Senate after Alabama Sen. Doug Jones lost to Republican Tommy Tuberville. Democrats have picked up a seat in Colorado, with John Hickenlooper defeating Republican Sen. Cory Gardner, and one in Arizona, with Democrat Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, beating GOP Sen. Martha McSally. Meanwhile, all four progressive congresswomen referred to as The Squad have all won reelection in the House of Representatives. They include Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. Our guests are Dr. Robin Kelley, Bill Gallegos, Phoebe Jones Schellenberg and Tara Galatt. Dr. Robin Kelley is the Gary B. Nash Endowed Chair in U.S. History at UCLA. He is the author of several books, including Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical Imagination, Yo Mamas DisFunktional: Fighting the Culture Wars in Urban America, and Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original. Bill Gallegos is a longtime Chicano Liberation and Environmental Justice activist. He is the author of "The Sunbelt Strategy and Chicano Liberation, and Reflections on The Green Economy." Phoebe Jones is a women's rights campaigner in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Shes a Quaker, a mother and has a PhD in physical education. She was a poll monitor for the Poor Peoples Campaign " A National Call for Moral Revival, covering a polling station in her neighborhood. Tara Galatt served as a poll monitor in Allentown, Pennsylvania, for the 2020 elections. She is based in New Jersey.

October 24, 2020 | Sen. Martha McSally, Harold & Rachel Earls, Michael & Stormie Omartian | HUCKABEE by Huckabee Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our litigious crook of a president won't go quietly if he's voted out. Breathe deep and stretch those hammies. Democratic strategist Jim Zogby joins Francesca to talk about the violent delusion that is Trumpism, and what GOP cheating means for weeks and months ahead. Plus comedian Laurie Kilmartin on a scary new caravan, what Martha McSally will do after losing the Senate, and why Covid has taken the best people including her mother.Featuring:Laurie Kilmartin (Conan) @anylaurie16Jim Zogby (Arab American Institute) @jjz1600Francesca Fiorentini Rate The Bitchuation Podcast on iTunesWatch LIVE every Sunday 6/9pmEST on YouTube and TwitchSpecial Thanks to Becca Rufer, Kelly Carey, and Dorsey Shaw Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raheem Kassam and Jack Maxey are joined by Steve Bannon to discuss the latest on the coronavirus pandemic as the Democratic National Convention kicks off its first night tonight. Calling in is Drew Hernandez with an on-the-ground report from Portland. Darren Beattie discusses the upheaval in Belarus. David Horowitz calls in to discuss his new book. Senator Martha McSally calls in to discuss her bill to force China to repay its sovereign bonds and also DC Statehood.

Raheem Kassam, Jack Maxey, and Greg Manz are joined by Steve Bannon to discuss the latest on the coronavirus pandemic as a district in Seattle has been taken over by rabid leftists complete with a well-armed warlord declaring himself the de-facto leader of the "autonomous zone". Calling in is Senator Martha McSally to provide some insight as to how the Chinese Communist Party is attempting to interfere with her Senate race in Arizona. Also calling in is Raynard Jackson to talk about how the mainstream media is responsible for more deaths of Black Americans than any other perceived threat.

Act IThe Creation of the FedThe Federal Reserve System, often referred to as the Federal Reserve or simply "the Fed," is the central bank of the United States. It was created by the Congress to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. The Federal Reserve was created on December 23, 1913, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law. Today, the Federal Reserve's responsibilities fall into four general areas.Conducting the nation's monetary policy by influencing money and credit conditions in the economy in pursuit of full employment and stable prices.Supervising and regulating banks and other important financial institutions to ensure the safety and soundness of the nation's banking and financial system and to protect the credit rights of consumers.Maintaining the stability of the financial system and containing systemic risk that may arise in financial markets.Providing certain financial services to the U.S. government, U.S. financial institutions, and foreign official institutions, and playing a major role in operating and overseeing the nation's payments systems.Upon its creation in 1913, twelve central banks all act as a lender of last resort for their regions. Federal Reserve Board is above these central banks that act as a regulatory agency. Originally FRB was only allowed to veto decisions not make them. This caused paralysis in the original system as they all couldn't agree further fuel for the beginnings of the great depression. The Great DepressionWorld War 1 had only ended 10 years after the start of the Great Depression in 1929. All of Europe bankrupted themselves after WW1 because they financed it by borrowing. Their Debt to GDP levels were something like 200-300%. They paid for it by inflating the debt away. The Allies demanded reparations to Germany because they owed the U.S. The U.S. refused to forgive these debts. The Germans thought this was completely unfair and never wanted to pay. Debt to GDP Ratio: Most countries around the world rely on sovereign debt to finance their government and economy. When this debt is used in moderation, it can position an economy to grow more quickly. This is much like using debt to finance a business.The debt-to-GDP ratio is a financial measurement for a country, similar to a business' debt to equity ratio. Both ratios are designed to help interested parties determine if a country has too much debt. It is a measurement of financial health.There is no set ideal ratio for a country to have to indicate it's financial health. However, when the ratio is used with other information, it can help you develop a working concept of a country's health. This can help you decide whether a country's economy is worth investing in.U.S.'s debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to eclipse 120% this year. To put these figures into perspective, the U.S.'s highest debt-to-GDP ratio was 121.7% at the end of World War II, in 1946. Debt levels gradually fell from their post-World War II peak, before plateauing between 31% and 40% in the 1970's—ultimately hitting a historic 31.7% low, in 1974. Ratios have steadily risen since 1980 and then jumped sharply, following 2007's subprime housing crisis and the subsequent financial meltdown.One of the consequences of WW1 was massive inflation which caused hyper inflation in the early 1920's. Central Bankers spent most of the mid to late 1920's trying save the British pound from collapsing. They actually went back to the Gold Standard because they thought it was the cure for hyper-inflation. They were wrong. The world suffered from the shortage of gold in the 1920's as there was not enough to go around (2/3 of the Gold was with the U.S. because of WW1, capital flights, payments etc...) Main problem was Britain went back to the old exchange rate for XAU/GBP (Gold / British pound.) Which caused the British pound to be over valued. In 1927 the central banks got together to discuss a way out of the mess they created. They decided to lower interest rates for European countries to pay back the debt at a lower cost. It was in July 1927 which also happens to be the start of the stock market bubble (within 3 months the stock market was up 21% and never looked back thereafter.) then burst October 1929. What occurred afterwards is what they teach you in school about how there was a run on the banks. (A banking crisis started in 1931, eerily quite the opposite of what we saw in 2020. With the Fed injecting liquidity to central banks and repo markets in 2019.) Eventually through the 1930's Britain, Italy and Germany all defaulted on its war debts and going off the gold standard…which then started the recovery.It is interesting that the ideology of "the gold standard" is that somehow if everyone uses gold everything is resolved. The historical data shows that what actually happens is people simply hoard and/or stop spending money in the economy, therefore no economic progress, then all you have is one or two piles of gold in the world and nothing to show for it, oh except war, famine and depression.....but at least you have your pile of gold.Act IISlow & Steady Transition to ChinaBoiling a Frog: 2008 through 2020The boiling frog is a fable describing a frog being slowly boiled alive. The premise is that if a frog is put suddenly into boiling water, it will jump out, but if the frog is put in tepid water which is then brought to a boil slowly, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death. The story is often used as a metaphor for the inability or unwillingness of people to react to or be aware of threats that arise gradually rather than suddenly.During the 2007–2009 recession, US real GDP fell $650 billion (4.3%) and did not recover its $15 trillion pre-recession level for three years. That recession didn't have the psychological impacts unique to today's current pandemic.Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen recently said some startling things. On April 6, 2020, Yellen told CNBC's Sara Eisen on Squawk on the Street, “The Fed…is far more restricted than most other central banks….” (So far, so good. That's why the U.S. has had one of the least-bad paper currencies. It's “only” lost 90% of its purchasing power since 1950. Most paper currencies have fared much worse.) “It would be a substantial change to give the Federal Reserve the ability to buy stock….” “I frankly don't think it's necessary at this point. I think intervention to support the credit markets is more important, but longer term it wouldn't be a bad thing for Congress to reconsider the powers that the Fed has with respect to assets it can own.”When did junk bonds and unfunded municipal pension liabilities become good collateral for the U.S. Dollar? Equities…whaa?Black Rock Standing by to Exit Scam AmericaWith some $7 trillion under management, Larry Fink's mutual and exchange-traded fund specialist is by far the largest such group on the planet. Its funds typically own 5% or more of listed U.S. companies, often making the BlackRock complex the largest shareholder. The expertise it gleans from its global presence made it the go-to place for the Federal Reserve to get urgent help with parts of its multi-trillion-dollar coronavirus rescue package. In March, the U.S. central bank handed BlackRock's financial markets advisory unit its bailout mandate without a competitive process. Questioned by Senator Martha McSally last month, Fed Chair Jay Powell said speed dictated the choice and the Fed would eventually rebid the contract. Looking further you find a strong conflict of interest with Mitch McConnell and his wife Elaine Chao very much benefiting from the FED handing trillions to BlackRock.China knows that Wall Street is the gateway to America's central nervous system. Finance controls capital. Wall Street is the conduit of highly valuable information about all sectors of the economy. It has privileged access in the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. And Wall Street can be bought.BlackRock's emerging markets ETF holds only about $300 million, a small fraction of the $7.4 trillion in assets under management that it held at its last year-end. But BlackRock is playing a bigger game. At the 2018 BlackRock investor day, the company identified China as a large and fast-growing market with $3.6 trillion of assets under management and limited foreign access. This year is meant to see the elimination of restrictions on foreign ownership of fund-management firms. BlackRock's 2018 annual report highlights China as one of its largest growth opportunities, with Asia expected to drive 50% of the firm's organic growth of assets under management. “China is a market BlackRock has long coveted,” the Wall Street Journal reported last year.We're not bad people, we just come from a bad place. - Steve McQueenAct IIIWhat The Future Holds for Bitcoin Buy Bitcoin and Save the World…

Jimmy speaks with Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) about her new book "Dare To Fly" and why politicians need to "knock it off' and unify the country, NC Lt. Gov. Dan Forest talks about President Trump's threat to take the GOP Convention away from Charlotte, and Fox News Contributor Professor Brian Brenberg discusses what the economy will look like for the rest of 2020 and how it will effect the November election.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jesse and Brittany discuss the problem with men, listener emails and calls related to racism and Nixon, Kylie Jenner as the self-identified “self-made” billionaire, Martha McSally reveals her sexual assault in the military, the North Korea deal, Republicans' inability to hold Donald Trump accountable, and A$$hole of Today featuring a delivery driver in Tennessee. SUPPORT... The post #493 – “Men Problems, Kylie Jenner Not Self-Made, Martha McSally Tells Her Story, Republicans Fail, and A$$hole of Today feat. a Tennessee Delivery Driver.” appeared first on I Doubt It Podcast.

After the deadly shooting in Pittsburgh, the media again made the story all about themselves (naturally). Also, will Kyrsten Sinema really beat Martha McSally in Arizona? The intro/outro song is “Electioneering” by Radiohead. Stephen’s song of the week is “Suspiria” by Thom Yorke and Jon’s is “Eleven Months” by Misty Coast. To listen to all the music featured on The Conservatarians... Source

After the deadly shooting in Pittsburgh, the media again made the story all about themselves (naturally). Also, will Kyrsten Sinema really beat Martha McSally in Arizona? The intro/outro song is “Electioneering” by Radiohead. Stephen's song of the week is “Suspiria” by Thom Yorke and Jon's is “Eleven Months” by Misty Coast. To listen to all the music featured on The Conservatarians... Source

This week we take a look at House races in Virginia and Florida, along with a Senate race in the Sun Belt, and a governor's race in a state where both President Trump and former President Obama have been campaigning recently.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Voters in Arizona have a critical choice before them this November when they consider who to send to the United States Senate. On the one hand, there’s liberal Kyrsten Sinema. For this campaign, she’s pretended to be a moderate who will consider all points of view. But her record belies the facts. She once proclaimed herself a “Prada Socialist” who supported higher taxes, government-run health care, and lobbied to shut down Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix. And then there’s Martha McSally. She was the first American woman to fly in combat and has served our country with honor and distinction. She’s been a tireless advocate for Arizona families in Congress, supporting tax cuts, more affordable health care, and a balanced budget. In Arizona and across the country, voters face important choices that will profoundly impact our future success. On November 6, don’t forget to make your voice heard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Law and Profits we talk about the recent AZ debate between Martha McSally and Krysten Sinema. We discuss the importance of the Biblical instruction to let our yes mean yes, and our no mean no and how this ties into abortion and politicians.

Townhall Review – September 22, 2018 As the Democrats launch a last-minute effort to derail the Kavanaugh confirmation, Hugh Hewitt talks with Senator Grassley about the possible testimony of Kavanaugh's accuser, Christine Ford. Mike Gallagher and Ed Morrissey examine the latest details. Hugh Hewitt solicits the opinion of Congresswoman Martha McSally of Arizona on the hearing and talks about the congresswoman’s campaign for the U.S. Senate. Michael Medved looks at Seattle’s rampant homelessness and the direction Seattle’s government is heading to address the problem. Mike Gallagher looks at job growth among the “underclass” with Alfredo Ortiz, President of the Job Creators Network. Hugh Hewitt talks with Bob Woodward about his new book, Fear on the Trump Administration. Michael Medved talks with journalist James Robbins about his new book, Erasing America: Losing our Future by Destroying our Past. Larry Elder reacts to a leaked video of a Google “all-hands” meeting shortly after President Trump’s election victory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.