Podcasts about Midtown Manhattan

Julian, Madeline, and Emilio are joined by Brendan McDonald, the producer of 'WTF with Marc Maron,' to finish off their cycle of New York City movies with a "Close-Up" on the works of legendary cinematographer Owen Roizman. A versatile visual talent ready for whatever came his way, Roizman burst out of the gate with William Friedkin's crime drama "The French Connection" (1971), in which he unforgettably and frantically photographed a plethora of New York locales. This showcase of his skills made him the perfect choice to shoot "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" (1974), the Joseph Sargent-directed, subway-set thriller infused with workplace humor that indelibly captures a timeless spirit of New York. But Roizman's aptitude also extended beyond the grimy streets and subway tunnels, and rose up to the broadcasting towers of Midtown Manhattan in "Network" (1976), the darkly prescient media satire written by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Sidney Lumet. Blending their eyes for detail with their lived experience as New Yorkers, the group get into how Roizman's visual sense cemented the iconic status of these films, and why they stand the test of time even as they were made just a few years apart from one another. To hear Brendan discuss movies and other topics regularly, subscribe to the WTF bonus feed, "The Full Maron," for access to The Friday Show and other bonus material. Learn more at https://www.wtfpod.com/If you enjoy our podcast, please rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice.  This really helps us find new listeners and grow!Follow us on IG and TikTok: @sleeplesscinematicpodSend us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.comOn Letterboxd? Follow Julian at julian_barthold and Madeline at patronessofcats

President Trump says he's given instructions to his trade envoy ahead of this weekend's talks with Beijing. While he's calling on China to open its markets to the U.S., he also says he's fine with doing no business with China at all.Newark Mayor Ras Baraka has been arrested and charged with trespassing—after refusing to leave an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center earlier today. He was accompanied by a congressional delegation at the time.Marching through the rain, thousands of Falun Dafa practitioners paraded through Midtown Manhattan—celebrating Falun Dafa Day and honoring those who persevere through hardship.

New York City's Arrival Center, located inside The Roosevelt Hotel in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, emerged as the new Ellis Island and a critical resource for asylum seekers from around the world. In this episode, host Dr. Michael Shen is joined by Shane Hanlon and Besa Rexha, Program Director and Deputy Director of the Arrival Center, to discuss the trauma faced by newly arriving asylum seekers, the medical services provided, and the vital role of NYC Health + Hospitals in their journey. Shane and Besa share stories of harrowing journeys, explain the need for medical and mental health screenings, and highlight how the center's efforts have changed lives. Tune in to learn about this important work that's helped thousands of families build a healthier future in New York City and beyond.Follow UsTwitter @NYCHealthSystemFacebook @NYCHealthSystemInstagram @NYCHealthSystemLinkedIn @NYC Health + Hospitals YouTube @NYCHealthSystem Related Links:NYC Health + Hospitals Celebrates One Year Anniversary of Arrival CenterBlueprint to Address the City's Response to the Asylum Seeker CrisisPresented by NYC Health + Hospitalswww.NYCHealthAndHospitals.org

Join Nick Lamagna on The A Game Podcast with our guest Jason Yang, aka "The Criminal Defense Butcher" a former NYC criminal defense attorney, turned butcher and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt!  Jason is an instructor at Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu HQ in Midtown Manhattan and has an incredible and inspiring story of successfully reinventing himself multiple times in life.  He is an athlete, entrepreneur, and many of many talents who studied pre-med before changing his focus to law school. He played soccer, wrestled and even did some rowing before landing on his passion of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He started his Jiu Jitsu journey with his first instructor Matt Serra at Columbia College and then transitioned into teaching there for almost 20 years while training at Renzo's famous blue basement in midtown.  As a black belt with a white belt mentality he is constantly learning and reinventing himself showing courage and inspiration to change.  Many people in life feel stuck in their careers or choices or even identity and Jason shows us that it is never too late to shift your life and focus on the things that bring you happiness, keep you curious and allow you to constantly evolve and mature as a person.  You can find him shaping minds and talents of all shapes, sizes and ranks on the mats at Renzo Gracie's doing group and private lessons throughout the week!  You will not regret following this journey from a very intelligent and well spoken guest! Topics for this episode include: ✅ The key to learning new things in life and business ✅ What drives big life and career decisions? ✅ The principle that will give you the best chance of success ✅ How to spot the right fit in business and life ✅ Achieving success through curiosity and critical thinking + More See the show notes to connect with all things Jason!   Connect with Jason: Jason Yang on Instagram Jason Yang on Facebook Jason Yang on TikTok   Connect with Renzo Gracie Academy NYC: renzogracieacademy.com Renzo Gracie Academy On Facebook Renzo Gracie Academy on Instragram Renzo Gracie Academy on TikTok   --- Connect with Nick Lamagna www.nicknicknick.com Text Nick (516)540-5733 Connect on ALL Social Media and Podcast Platforms Here FREE Checklist on how to bring more value to your buyers   how to make millions in business overcoming adversity

Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer Docuseries Coming to Netflix It took a terrified 911 call from a young woman named Shannan Gilbert to expose what had been hiding in plain sight—eleven sets of remains scattered along Gilgo Beach, the work of a serial killer who had eluded justice for decades. In May 2010, Shannan disappeared after placing a frantic 22-minute call to 911, insisting that someone was trying to kill her. She ran through the quiet gated community of Oak Beach, banging on doors for help, before vanishing into the marshland. It wasn't just her sudden disappearance that rattled Suffolk County—it was what investigators stumbled upon during the search for her. In the thick brush off Ocean Parkway, police discovered a set of human remains. And then another. And another. By the time they were done, there were 11 victims—nine women, one toddler, and one man. It was a horrifying find, but even worse, it begged a question: How did no one notice this sooner? For years, the investigation dragged with no real traction. Families begged for answers. Reporters pressed. The public speculated. And all the while, Suffolk County PD maintained tight control over the case. But in the background, something else was quietly rotting—police leadership. Specifically, then-Police Chief James Burke, who was later convicted in a corruption scandal involving the beating of a handcuffed suspect and a massive coverup operation. That kind of mess didn't just tarnish reputations—it likely delayed justice. Fast-forward 13 years. On July 14, 2023, police arrested Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect from Massapequa Park. He lived a seemingly ordinary life, commuting to Midtown Manhattan for work and returning home to a quiet suburban street. But authorities now say Heuermann is connected to at least seven of the victims—and possibly more. So how did they finally catch him? The answer lies in a long-overdue task force that, within weeks of being formed in 2022 under new leadership, connected the dots that had been missed—or ignored—for over a decade. Cell phone data, burner phones, search history, and DNA evidence from pizza crust—yes, pizza crust—all pointed directly to Heuermann. Turns out, all of that evidence had been sitting in police files for years. The new Netflix docuseries Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, directed by Liz Garbus, picks up where justice left off. Garbus doesn't just walk us through the crime scenes—she drags the system into the light. It's raw, it's personal, and it doesn't let the viewer look away. Garbus is no stranger to this story. Back in 2020, she directed Lost Girls, a scripted film based on Robert Kolker's book, which centered on Mari Gilbert's relentless fight for justice after her daughter Shannan vanished. After Heuermann's arrest, actress Amy Ryan—who portrayed Mari in the film—texted Garbus in shock: the suspect had once been in her apartment building. A literal brush with evil. That eerie personal connection sent Garbus straight back to the families. She knew this story wasn't over—and it wasn't just about one killer. It was about how a system failed to care until a case landed on its front lawn. The documentary doesn't hold back. It features first-person accounts from survivors and friends of the victims, including women who once worked in the sex trade and shared chilling stories about close calls with Heuermann. One woman, Taylor, tells the harrowing tale of being lured into a house where she believes someone else was trapped upstairs. Her story is laced with trauma, but also strength. She, and others like her, speak now because they couldn't before. The first episode focuses heavily on Shannan Gilbert, and for good reason. Her case was the catalyst. Her 911 call was the moment that broke the dam. Unlike many of the other victims, Shannan's disappearance came with undeniable evidence—an actual recording of her begging for help. And even then, it took years for police to release that audio to the public. Without her, the Gilgo case might still be buried beneath the sand. Episode 2 pivots to the corruption scandal. Burke's behavior didn't just stain the department—it made families feel invisible. It validated what victims' relatives had been saying all along: that their daughters weren't taken seriously. That police leadership didn't care. That sex workers could disappear without a ripple. And the fact that a fresh task force—formed under a new district attorney and command—was able to identify a suspect in just six weeks? That speaks volumes. Garbus's documentary doesn't sensationalize. It humanizes. It lets us meet the women whose lives were lost, not just their mugshots. It invites viewers to understand how those in the sex industry looked out for one another in ways law enforcement didn't. Through Craigslist and cell phones, they created safety plans. They warned each other. They were resourceful, strong, and all too aware of the risks. The show also pulls back the curtain on the man accused of being the Gilgo Beach killer. Heuermann's professional life in architecture brought him into dozens of buildings, including some in Brooklyn—right where Garbus and Amy Ryan live. People who worked with him now recount disturbing interactions: his unpredictable demeanor, inappropriate questions, and an unnerving fixation with true crime. And then there's the timeline. Evidence used to charge Heuermann had been sitting there for years. DNA from one of the victims' burlap wrappings. Cell tower pings. A clue trail that should've been followed long ago. But under Burke's leadership, the department was too busy protecting itself. Gone Girls isn't just a true crime documentary. It's a blueprint of institutional failure, wrapped around a story of unthinkable violence. It shows us what happens when people in power ignore the cries of victims and dismiss entire communities as disposable. It also reminds us what persistence looks like. Families who never gave up. Journalists who kept digging. And filmmakers like Garbus, who knew there was more to tell—even when the headlines stopped coming. #GilgoBeachMurders #RexHeuermann #GoneGirlsNetflix #TrueCrimeJustice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer Docuseries Coming to Netflix It took a terrified 911 call from a young woman named Shannan Gilbert to expose what had been hiding in plain sight—eleven sets of remains scattered along Gilgo Beach, the work of a serial killer who had eluded justice for decades. In May 2010, Shannan disappeared after placing a frantic 22-minute call to 911, insisting that someone was trying to kill her. She ran through the quiet gated community of Oak Beach, banging on doors for help, before vanishing into the marshland. It wasn't just her sudden disappearance that rattled Suffolk County—it was what investigators stumbled upon during the search for her. In the thick brush off Ocean Parkway, police discovered a set of human remains. And then another. And another. By the time they were done, there were 11 victims—nine women, one toddler, and one man. It was a horrifying find, but even worse, it begged a question: How did no one notice this sooner? For years, the investigation dragged with no real traction. Families begged for answers. Reporters pressed. The public speculated. And all the while, Suffolk County PD maintained tight control over the case. But in the background, something else was quietly rotting—police leadership. Specifically, then-Police Chief James Burke, who was later convicted in a corruption scandal involving the beating of a handcuffed suspect and a massive coverup operation. That kind of mess didn't just tarnish reputations—it likely delayed justice. Fast-forward 13 years. On July 14, 2023, police arrested Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect from Massapequa Park. He lived a seemingly ordinary life, commuting to Midtown Manhattan for work and returning home to a quiet suburban street. But authorities now say Heuermann is connected to at least seven of the victims—and possibly more. So how did they finally catch him? The answer lies in a long-overdue task force that, within weeks of being formed in 2022 under new leadership, connected the dots that had been missed—or ignored—for over a decade. Cell phone data, burner phones, search history, and DNA evidence from pizza crust—yes, pizza crust—all pointed directly to Heuermann. Turns out, all of that evidence had been sitting in police files for years. The new Netflix docuseries Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, directed by Liz Garbus, picks up where justice left off. Garbus doesn't just walk us through the crime scenes—she drags the system into the light. It's raw, it's personal, and it doesn't let the viewer look away. Garbus is no stranger to this story. Back in 2020, she directed Lost Girls, a scripted film based on Robert Kolker's book, which centered on Mari Gilbert's relentless fight for justice after her daughter Shannan vanished. After Heuermann's arrest, actress Amy Ryan—who portrayed Mari in the film—texted Garbus in shock: the suspect had once been in her apartment building. A literal brush with evil. That eerie personal connection sent Garbus straight back to the families. She knew this story wasn't over—and it wasn't just about one killer. It was about how a system failed to care until a case landed on its front lawn. The documentary doesn't hold back. It features first-person accounts from survivors and friends of the victims, including women who once worked in the sex trade and shared chilling stories about close calls with Heuermann. One woman, Taylor, tells the harrowing tale of being lured into a house where she believes someone else was trapped upstairs. Her story is laced with trauma, but also strength. She, and others like her, speak now because they couldn't before. The first episode focuses heavily on Shannan Gilbert, and for good reason. Her case was the catalyst. Her 911 call was the moment that broke the dam. Unlike many of the other victims, Shannan's disappearance came with undeniable evidence—an actual recording of her begging for help. And even then, it took years for police to release that audio to the public. Without her, the Gilgo case might still be buried beneath the sand. Episode 2 pivots to the corruption scandal. Burke's behavior didn't just stain the department—it made families feel invisible. It validated what victims' relatives had been saying all along: that their daughters weren't taken seriously. That police leadership didn't care. That sex workers could disappear without a ripple. And the fact that a fresh task force—formed under a new district attorney and command—was able to identify a suspect in just six weeks? That speaks volumes. Garbus's documentary doesn't sensationalize. It humanizes. It lets us meet the women whose lives were lost, not just their mugshots. It invites viewers to understand how those in the sex industry looked out for one another in ways law enforcement didn't. Through Craigslist and cell phones, they created safety plans. They warned each other. They were resourceful, strong, and all too aware of the risks. The show also pulls back the curtain on the man accused of being the Gilgo Beach killer. Heuermann's professional life in architecture brought him into dozens of buildings, including some in Brooklyn—right where Garbus and Amy Ryan live. People who worked with him now recount disturbing interactions: his unpredictable demeanor, inappropriate questions, and an unnerving fixation with true crime. And then there's the timeline. Evidence used to charge Heuermann had been sitting there for years. DNA from one of the victims' burlap wrappings. Cell tower pings. A clue trail that should've been followed long ago. But under Burke's leadership, the department was too busy protecting itself. Gone Girls isn't just a true crime documentary. It's a blueprint of institutional failure, wrapped around a story of unthinkable violence. It shows us what happens when people in power ignore the cries of victims and dismiss entire communities as disposable. It also reminds us what persistence looks like. Families who never gave up. Journalists who kept digging. And filmmakers like Garbus, who knew there was more to tell—even when the headlines stopped coming. #GilgoBeachMurders #RexHeuermann #GoneGirlsNetflix #TrueCrimeJustice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

It took a terrified 911 call from a young woman named Shannan Gilbert to expose what had been hiding in plain sight—eleven sets of remains scattered along Gilgo Beach, the work of a serial killer who had eluded justice for decades. In May 2010, Shannan disappeared after placing a frantic 22-minute call to 911, insisting that someone was trying to kill her. She ran through the quiet gated community of Oak Beach, banging on doors for help, before vanishing into the marshland. It wasn't just her sudden disappearance that rattled Suffolk County—it was what investigators stumbled upon during the search for her. In the thick brush off Ocean Parkway, police discovered a set of human remains. And then another. And another. By the time they were done, there were 11 victims—nine women, one toddler, and one man. It was a horrifying find, but even worse, it begged a question: How did no one notice this sooner? For years, the investigation dragged with no real traction. Families begged for answers. Reporters pressed. The public speculated. And all the while, Suffolk County PD maintained tight control over the case. But in the background, something else was quietly rotting—police leadership. Specifically, then-Police Chief James Burke, who was later convicted in a corruption scandal involving the beating of a handcuffed suspect and a massive coverup operation. That kind of mess didn't just tarnish reputations—it likely delayed justice. Fast-forward 13 years. On July 14, 2023, police arrested Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect from Massapequa Park. He lived a seemingly ordinary life, commuting to Midtown Manhattan for work and returning home to a quiet suburban street. But authorities now say Heuermann is connected to at least seven of the victims—and possibly more. So how did they finally catch him? The answer lies in a long-overdue task force that, within weeks of being formed in 2022 under new leadership, connected the dots that had been missed—or ignored—for over a decade. Cell phone data, burner phones, search history, and DNA evidence from pizza crust—yes, pizza crust—all pointed directly to Heuermann. Turns out, all of that evidence had been sitting in police files for years. The new Netflix docuseries Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, directed by Liz Garbus, picks up where justice left off. Garbus doesn't just walk us through the crime scenes—she drags the system into the light. It's raw, it's personal, and it doesn't let the viewer look away. Garbus is no stranger to this story. Back in 2020, she directed Lost Girls, a scripted film based on Robert Kolker's book, which centered on Mari Gilbert's relentless fight for justice after her daughter Shannan vanished. After Heuermann's arrest, actress Amy Ryan—who portrayed Mari in the film—texted Garbus in shock: the suspect had once been in her apartment building. A literal brush with evil. That eerie personal connection sent Garbus straight back to the families. She knew this story wasn't over—and it wasn't just about one killer. It was about how a system failed to care until a case landed on its front lawn. The documentary doesn't hold back. It features first-person accounts from survivors and friends of the victims, including women who once worked in the sex trade and shared chilling stories about close calls with Heuermann. One woman, Taylor, tells the harrowing tale of being lured into a house where she believes someone else was trapped upstairs. Her story is laced with trauma, but also strength. She, and others like her, speak now because they couldn't before. The first episode focuses heavily on Shannan Gilbert, and for good reason. Her case was the catalyst. Her 911 call was the moment that broke the dam. Unlike many of the other victims, Shannan's disappearance came with undeniable evidence—an actual recording of her begging for help. And even then, it took years for police to release that audio to the public. Without her, the Gilgo case might still be buried beneath the sand. Episode 2 pivots to the corruption scandal. Burke's behavior didn't just stain the department—it made families feel invisible. It validated what victims' relatives had been saying all along: that their daughters weren't taken seriously. That police leadership didn't care. That sex workers could disappear without a ripple. And the fact that a fresh task force—formed under a new district attorney and command—was able to identify a suspect in just six weeks? That speaks volumes. Garbus's documentary doesn't sensationalize. It humanizes. It lets us meet the women whose lives were lost, not just their mugshots. It invites viewers to understand how those in the sex industry looked out for one another in ways law enforcement didn't. Through Craigslist and cell phones, they created safety plans. They warned each other. They were resourceful, strong, and all too aware of the risks. The show also pulls back the curtain on the man accused of being the Gilgo Beach killer. Heuermann's professional life in architecture brought him into dozens of buildings, including some in Brooklyn—right where Garbus and Amy Ryan live. People who worked with him now recount disturbing interactions: his unpredictable demeanor, inappropriate questions, and an unnerving fixation with true crime. And then there's the timeline. Evidence used to charge Heuermann had been sitting there for years. DNA from one of the victims' burlap wrappings. Cell tower pings. A clue trail that should've been followed long ago. But under Burke's leadership, the department was too busy protecting itself. Gone Girls isn't just a true crime documentary. It's a blueprint of institutional failure, wrapped around a story of unthinkable violence. It shows us what happens when people in power ignore the cries of victims and dismiss entire communities as disposable. It also reminds us what persistence looks like. Families who never gave up. Journalists who kept digging. And filmmakers like Garbus, who knew there was more to tell—even when the headlines stopped coming. #GilgoBeachMurders #RexHeuermann #GoneGirlsNetflix #TrueCrimeJustice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer Docuseries Coming to Netflix It took a terrified 911 call from a young woman named Shannan Gilbert to expose what had been hiding in plain sight—eleven sets of remains scattered along Gilgo Beach, the work of a serial killer who had eluded justice for decades. In May 2010, Shannan disappeared after placing a frantic 22-minute call to 911, insisting that someone was trying to kill her. She ran through the quiet gated community of Oak Beach, banging on doors for help, before vanishing into the marshland. It wasn't just her sudden disappearance that rattled Suffolk County—it was what investigators stumbled upon during the search for her. In the thick brush off Ocean Parkway, police discovered a set of human remains. And then another. And another. By the time they were done, there were 11 victims—nine women, one toddler, and one man. It was a horrifying find, but even worse, it begged a question: How did no one notice this sooner? For years, the investigation dragged with no real traction. Families begged for answers. Reporters pressed. The public speculated. And all the while, Suffolk County PD maintained tight control over the case. But in the background, something else was quietly rotting—police leadership. Specifically, then-Police Chief James Burke, who was later convicted in a corruption scandal involving the beating of a handcuffed suspect and a massive coverup operation. That kind of mess didn't just tarnish reputations—it likely delayed justice. Fast-forward 13 years. On July 14, 2023, police arrested Rex Heuermann, a 59-year-old architect from Massapequa Park. He lived a seemingly ordinary life, commuting to Midtown Manhattan for work and returning home to a quiet suburban street. But authorities now say Heuermann is connected to at least seven of the victims—and possibly more. So how did they finally catch him? The answer lies in a long-overdue task force that, within weeks of being formed in 2022 under new leadership, connected the dots that had been missed—or ignored—for over a decade. Cell phone data, burner phones, search history, and DNA evidence from pizza crust—yes, pizza crust—all pointed directly to Heuermann. Turns out, all of that evidence had been sitting in police files for years. The new Netflix docuseries Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, directed by Liz Garbus, picks up where justice left off. Garbus doesn't just walk us through the crime scenes—she drags the system into the light. It's raw, it's personal, and it doesn't let the viewer look away. Garbus is no stranger to this story. Back in 2020, she directed Lost Girls, a scripted film based on Robert Kolker's book, which centered on Mari Gilbert's relentless fight for justice after her daughter Shannan vanished. After Heuermann's arrest, actress Amy Ryan—who portrayed Mari in the film—texted Garbus in shock: the suspect had once been in her apartment building. A literal brush with evil. That eerie personal connection sent Garbus straight back to the families. She knew this story wasn't over—and it wasn't just about one killer. It was about how a system failed to care until a case landed on its front lawn. The documentary doesn't hold back. It features first-person accounts from survivors and friends of the victims, including women who once worked in the sex trade and shared chilling stories about close calls with Heuermann. One woman, Taylor, tells the harrowing tale of being lured into a house where she believes someone else was trapped upstairs. Her story is laced with trauma, but also strength. She, and others like her, speak now because they couldn't before. The first episode focuses heavily on Shannan Gilbert, and for good reason. Her case was the catalyst. Her 911 call was the moment that broke the dam. Unlike many of the other victims, Shannan's disappearance came with undeniable evidence—an actual recording of her begging for help. And even then, it took years for police to release that audio to the public. Without her, the Gilgo case might still be buried beneath the sand. Episode 2 pivots to the corruption scandal. Burke's behavior didn't just stain the department—it made families feel invisible. It validated what victims' relatives had been saying all along: that their daughters weren't taken seriously. That police leadership didn't care. That sex workers could disappear without a ripple. And the fact that a fresh task force—formed under a new district attorney and command—was able to identify a suspect in just six weeks? That speaks volumes. Garbus's documentary doesn't sensationalize. It humanizes. It lets us meet the women whose lives were lost, not just their mugshots. It invites viewers to understand how those in the sex industry looked out for one another in ways law enforcement didn't. Through Craigslist and cell phones, they created safety plans. They warned each other. They were resourceful, strong, and all too aware of the risks. The show also pulls back the curtain on the man accused of being the Gilgo Beach killer. Heuermann's professional life in architecture brought him into dozens of buildings, including some in Brooklyn—right where Garbus and Amy Ryan live. People who worked with him now recount disturbing interactions: his unpredictable demeanor, inappropriate questions, and an unnerving fixation with true crime. And then there's the timeline. Evidence used to charge Heuermann had been sitting there for years. DNA from one of the victims' burlap wrappings. Cell tower pings. A clue trail that should've been followed long ago. But under Burke's leadership, the department was too busy protecting itself. Gone Girls isn't just a true crime documentary. It's a blueprint of institutional failure, wrapped around a story of unthinkable violence. It shows us what happens when people in power ignore the cries of victims and dismiss entire communities as disposable. It also reminds us what persistence looks like. Families who never gave up. Journalists who kept digging. And filmmakers like Garbus, who knew there was more to tell—even when the headlines stopped coming. #GilgoBeachMurders #RexHeuermann #GoneGirlsNetflix #TrueCrimeJustice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com 

Eduardo Marquez, founder of Mortal Triumph, stops by to have a chat with us.  He built an apparel and lifestyle brand as a tribute to those who made sacrafices for others.  Whether it be in the line of duty or to give those you love a better life, his brand stands for something.  Be sure to tune in for this inspiring episode with a truly wonderful man.  Eduardo talks about being the son of Mexican immigrants and how he overcame tragedy at a young age to be the man he is today.  We chat about his upbringing in Fresno, time in the military and what ultimately brought him by the Paddy Wagon today... Mortal Triumph.   Be sure to check out Mortal Triumph at: IG: @mortaltriumphofficial TT: @mortal.triumph https://www.mortaltriumph.com/   Episode Sponsors:   Somatic Therapy NYC   https://somatictherapybrooklyn.com/ IG: @somatictherapyny   Finding a qualified somatic practitioner near NYC can be essential for addressing your mental, emotional, and physical well-being in a holistic approach that honors the interconnectedness of the mind and body. At Somatic Therapy NYC Andria Lea is  conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan and offers in-person sessions for those seeking hands-on therapy. Whether you're located in New York City or beyond, Andria Lea also offers the convenience and ease of remote sessions so support is available where and how works best for you.  When searching for qualified Somatic Therapists near NYC, it's essential to find professionals who are experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable.  Andria has undergone extensive training specializing  in various somatic modalities to help you achieve your therapeutic goals and has honed her skills through over a decade meeting minds and touching hearts and bodies.   If you're ready to experience the transformative power of somatic therapy, schedule a consultation for free today to explore if this blended approach and if Andria Lea is a good fit for you.   LawLaw   https://www.lawlaw.app/   It's 2024, you no longer need an expensive, time consuming attorney to create wills, trusts, and prenups for you! LawLaw Ai will guide you through a series of questions and in seconds generate a state-specific, legally valid document. Fill out our questionnaire and get a preview of all the following documents. Purchase the ones you want or a package that fits your needs.  Be sure to use coupon code "PADDYWAGON24" at checkout for 10% off   Intro/Outro Music Provided by: https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/achaidh-cheide https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/celtic-impulse

Blunt Business explores the complexities of New York's nascent legal cannabis market through a conversation with Joshua Wilson, the general manager of Culture House, a dispensary located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The discussion illuminates the hurdles and successes encountered by social equity license holders, the regulatory challenges faced by established brands, the influence of the newly formed Trade Practices Bureau, the nuances of True Party of Interest (TPI) rules, and the day-to-day operations of a cannabis retailer in New York City.Joshua's firsthand experience as a social equity license holder underscores the demanding journey from license acquisition to operational establishment. He stresses the pivotal role of carefully selected partnerships and active community involvement in accelerating the process, highlighting the necessity of maneuvering through a labyrinth of bureaucratic procedures. He acknowledges that success often hinges on a combination of strategic planning and favorable circumstances. Constant, transparent communication with the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) and other stakeholders is essential, demanding a level of diligence that can be overwhelming. Financial constraints are a persistent concern, forcing license holders to make difficult choices, such as postponing investments and limiting additional investor participation, to maintain financial stability. This delicate financial balancing act emphasizes the inherent risks and vulnerabilities faced by those striving to establish themselves in the market.The discussion then shifts to the obstacles encountered by the Cookies brand in New York. Initial plans to establish a Cookies dispensary were thwarted by regulatory complexities, necessitating a rebranding to Culture House. Joshua explains that while Cookies typically operates through partnerships with existing license holders in other states, New York required them to apply for a license independently. The decision to adopt the Culture House name was a strategic move to gain approval from the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Further complicating matters, the iconic Cookies logo had to be removed from the building's facade due to concerns about its visibility during the Macy's Day Parade, illustrating the stringent oversight and unique considerations within New York's regulatory landscape.The establishment of the Trade Practices Bureau in New York marks a significant step towards stricter enforcement of compliance standards. This bureau aims to curb illicit activities, including off-the-books product sourcing, undisclosed investor involvement, and misreported financials. Joshua expresses strong support for the bureau's mission, recognizing its potential to ensure fair competition and safeguard consumer safety. He anticipates that the bureau's enforcement will lead to a reduction in illicit cannabis operations, creating a more equitable market for legal businesses. However, he also acknowledges the potential for over-regulation and unnecessary measures, highlighting the delicate balance between enforcement and fostering a thriving market. Notably, Culture House has experienced an increase in revenue following the closure of illicit operations, demonstrating the tangible impact of regulatory enforcement on legal businesses.Navigating the intricacies of the True Party of Interest (TPI) rules presents another significant challenge for businesses operating in New York's cannabis market. Joshua explains that Culture House was able to circumvent the TPI agreement by structuring their operations to avoid direct ownership of the license. This strategic maneuver underscores the importance of understanding and adapting to the specific regulatory requirements of New York. The conversation also contrasts the cannabis markets in California and New York. Joshua observes that New York has implemented a more effective tax management system, while the saturated market in California has diminished the significance of retail operations. He also points to the struggles faced by cultivators in New York, suggesting that easing cultivation regulations could lead to improved product quality for retailers.The operational success of Culture House in Midtown Manhattan is attributed to its strategic location near Herald Square Park, a high-traffic area that ensures consistent foot traffic. The dispensary's location caters to the convenience-driven consumer behavior of New Yorkers. However, the complexities of payment processing for delivery services have led Culture House to discontinue this service. The walkability of New York City is a significant advantage, allowing customers to easily access the dispensary. Adapting to the unique consumer behavior of New Yorkers is an ongoing process, requiring a deep understanding of local preferences and trends. Joshua expresses optimism about the future growth of the cannabis industry in New York, anticipating further expansion and evolution as the market matures.In essence, this exploration provides a detailed overview of the challenges and opportunities within New York's evolving cannabis market. It highlights the resilience and adaptability required to navigate the complex regulatory landscape, the importance of strategic partnerships and community engagement, and the ongoing evolution of consumer behavior. The insights shared underscore the dynamic nature of the industry and the continuous need for businesses to adapt and innovate to thrive in this rapidly changing environment.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

New York City is the largest city in the United States, greater than the next largest (Los Angeles) by roughly 5 million people, it is also the 13th largest city in the world. The New York Metropolitan area or the Tri-State area (NJ, NY, CT) contain 7% of the U.S population and contribute 12% to the national GDP (gross domestic product). The region is home to millions of people and jobs, cultural and historic resources, environmental treasures, international ports, and so much more, all thriving off of the city's 24 hour + 7 day a week subway system. However, that system, including the actual mechanics and infrastructure (cables, switches, train cars, etc.), stations and platforms, and access points are all in need of improvement and modernization. In January 2025, the City of New York launched its congestion tolling or congestion pricing system to disincentivize driving in one of the world's most gridlocked areas - Midtown Manhattan and to finance the much needed capital repairs along the city's transit system. Join the host of the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast in conversation with Tiffany-Ann Taylor, Vice President of Transportation for the Regional Plan Association, the region's oldest and premier urban planning research and advocacy organization dating back to 1922, as we discuss the impact of congestion pricing and the opportunities/challenges facing the New York Tri-State area for the years to come. Share theses insights from the episode: Congestion pricing revenue is forecasted to generate $1B annually and is designated for MTA capital improvements. New York City is the first city in the United States to implement a congestion pricing network, inspiring many North American cities including Toronto, Canada and Los Angeles, California to consider congestion tolling of their own. The New York City metropolitan area struggles with the compounding challenge of an old system, with many parts of the system 100+ years old, and the impacts of climate change that cause freezing, flooding, and overheating of various parts of the transit system. Note: This episode was recorded in November 2024 prior to the tolling starting in January 2025 and prior to President Trump proposed changes to the program. Read the Regional Plan Association Press Release here: RPA Statement on Trump Administration Plan to Revoke Congestion Pricing Links: Contact RPA RPA.org / @regionplan on X / @regional_plan on Instagram Follow the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast on Instagram @the4degreespod

The New Yorker turns one century old -- and it hasn't aged a day! The witty, cosmopolitan magazine was first published on February 21, 1925. And even though present-day issues are often quite contemporary in content, the magazine's tone and style still recall its glamorous Jazz Age origins.The New Yorker traces itself to members of that legendary group of wits known as the Algonquin Round Table -- renowned artists, critics and playwrights who met every day for lunch at the Algonquin Hotel.And in particular, to two married journalists – Harold Ross and Jane Grant – who infused the magazine with a very distinct cosmopolitan zest. High fashion, martinis and Midtown Manhattan mixed with the droll wit of a worldly literati.A new exhibition at the New York Public Library --  “A Century of the New Yorker” -- chronicles the magazine's history, from its origins and creation by Harold Ross and Jane Grant to its current era, under the editorship of David Remnick.Greg and Tom interview the show's two curators Julie Golia and Julie Carlsen about the treasures on display from the New Yorker's glorious past -- from the magazine's first cover (featuring everybody's favorite snob Eustace Tilly) to artifacts and manuscripts from the world's greatest writers.Visit the website for more information and other Bowery Boys podcastsThis episode was edited by Kieran Gannon  

Today on America in the Morning   House Passes Budget Blueprint The House narrowly passed a Republican budget resolution with the last-minute help from President Trump that calls for $4 point 5 trillion dollars in tax cuts and another $2 trillion in federal spending cuts over a decade, and by a nearly party line vote of 217 to 215, clears the way for major elements of the president's domestic agenda and finance a huge tax cut. However, as correspondent Clayton Neville reports, the blueprint passed by the House is only a first step in the GOP's “big, beautiful bill” budget process.    Trump Makes Deal With Zelensky President Trump says that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who Trump referred to as a dictator on multiple occasions in the last week, could be coming to the White House on Friday to sign an economic partnership deal. John Stolnis has more from Washington.    Chicago Plane Crash Averted There was a near catastrophe at Chicago's Midway Airport when a commuter jet had to abort their landing at the last second to avoid another plane on the ground. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.    DHS New Migrant Plan The Department of Homeland Security announced that it planned to make undocumented immigrants age 14 or older in the United States register and provide their fingerprints to the U.S. government or potentially face criminal prosecution.    SCOTUS Rules On Oklahoma Case The Supreme Court has thrown out a death sentence case in Oklahoma, one that both legal sides were in favor of. Correspondent Ed Donahue reports.     Selling Graceland A Missouri woman is in big trouble with the law and could soon be singing “Jailhouse Rock,” admitting to a scheme of trying to auction off Graceland. Correspondent Donna Warder reports.       DOGE Resignations & The Person In Charge The Department of Government Efficiency continues to come under scrutiny as more federal jobs are being purged to cut costs. Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports this comes after a surprise announcement of a mass technology resignation at DOGE.    A Costly Path To Citizenship The Trump administration vows more changes to immigration policies as the President introduces a new path to citizenship for the wealthy. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.    Migrant Hotel Closes But Warehouse Opens Just 24 hours after New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced he was going to close a large Midtown Manhattan hotel that was turned into the city's largest migrant shelter and processing center, nearby residents in a Bronx neighborhood are outraged that an unused warehouse is going to be turned into a more than 2,000-man migrant housing complex. Bob Brown has details.    Latest On Tariffs Just a day after President Trump announced he would initiate 25 percent tariffs on products coming into the United States from Canada and Mexico in March, the White House now says those tariffs are still pending negotiations.     Foreign Aid Lawsuit A Federal judge has ruled in a case brought against the Trump administration regarding billions in foreign aid. Lisa Dwyer reports the judge also put a time limit on his order.    Feds Loss Is NY's Gain Some states are trying to take advantage of skilled people who were laid off by federal job cuts. Correspondent Julie Walker reports on what New York is offering to get recently fired federal workers to think about jobs in the Empire State.    Tech News Don't let the name fool you - Russian cyber attackers who call themselves "cozy bear" have found a unique way to gain your trust, and hack your Microsoft account. Here's Chuck Palm with today's tech news.   Finally   After the success of Suits on TV and Netflix, the premiere of the spinoff Suits L-A was streamed to mixed reviews. Kevin Carr has the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on America in the Morning   Musk's Work E-Mail Getting Brushback Confusion is growing by the day over the email sent by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to federal workers to detail what they did last week. Fox News is reporting that the Office of Personnel Management has concerns those emails could be read by who they describe as “malign foreign actors.” Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports that Kash Patel told FBI workers not to respond.    Macron's White House Visit As the Trump administration continues talks with Russia over the war in Ukraine, the President welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to the White House to hear his thoughts on the path forward. John Stolnis has more from Washington.     NYC Shutting Some Migrant Housing The Mayor of New York is closing a migrant shelter in Midtown Manhattan as part of his pledge to close dozens of shelters in the city by June. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.     Vivek For Governor Vivek Ramaswamy helped Donald Trump win the White House, and was one of the founders of the Office of Government Efficiency. Now the multi-millionaire is kicking off a campaign to become the next governor of Ohio. Jennifer King has more.    DoorDash Settlement A settlement has been reached in a court case involving the delivery app DoorDash.  Lisa Dwyer reports it centered around delivery drivers getting stiffed on tips.       Judge Says No To Associated Press A Federal Judge has weighed-in on the Trump administration's decision to bar the Associated Press from the Oval Office. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.    US Hits Ukraine Roadblock At The UN The United States openly clashed with European allies at the United Nations, failing to get the UN to approve its Ukraine resolution, but did move forward with a different one that passed calling for Russia to pull out of Ukrainian territory. This comes as President Trump has not ruled out going to Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin. Correspondent Julie Walker reports.    Latest On The Budget Battle The federal government's current stopgap budget expires on March 14th, and House Speaker Mike Johnson is trying to find the votes in his own caucus to pass the Republican spending resolution – what President Trump has labeled “the big beautiful bill.” More from Correspondent Rich Johnson.    Trouble For Delta & American Flights A scary scene at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport when a Delta Airlines flight was evacuated after a smoky haze filled the cabin. On an American Airlines flight passengers looked out their windows and saw fighter jets on either side of the plane.    July 4 Shooting Trial Getting Underway In Illinois, the trial of a man accused in a deadly Independence Day parade shooting in suburban Chicago is soon to get underway. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.    Starbucks Job Cuts One of the best-known coffee houses is going to be handing out pink slips. Correspondent Ed Donahue has details.    Supreme Court Cases Justice Clarence Thomas issued a scathing dissent after the Supreme Court declined to hear a case challenging free speech around abortion clinics.     Finally   Pope Francis remains in critical condition, but he seems to be improving slightly as he has now been in a Rome hospital for 11 days.  Correspondent Laurence Brooks reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Often I tell you about guests I first met at the podcast event known as Podapalooza. This time we have another such guest. He is Jessper Maquindang. He tells us that, although he doesn't remember the event, his mother tells him that at the age of five he told her that when he grew up he wanted to be a leader. He tells us that he always had a fascination for leaders and the study of leadership. When he attended USC he attained an Executive Master's degree in leadership. Jessper was born and raised in California and lives in the state today.   Since graduating he has experienced observing and working in large and small companies. A number of years ago he formed his own consulting company, FamiLEAD  Management Consulting.   During our episode Jessper and I talk a great deal about leadership. He describes what makes a good leader in today's corporate and thriving world. His observations and lessons are quite poignant and I would say relevant to all of us. Jessper discusses how leadership has evolved and how today good leaders consciously work to build solid teams and spend much less time bossing people around and flaunting their power.   Another fact about Jessper is that he grew up with Asthma. Even so, he worked through the condition and today has run a number of full marathons. He also loves to travel and has visited all fifty states in the U.S.   Clearly Jessper is quite unstoppable and as you listen to our conversation he will tell you how you can become more unstoppable too.       About the Guest:   Jessper Maquindang, a seasoned leader with a rich experience spanning over 12 years, is the owner of FamiLEAD Management Consulting, helping leaders and managers build effective teams. His leadership journey is marked by his commitment to fostering workplace cultures that champion collaboration and innovation. Driven by a passion for creative brainstorming and continuous improvement, Jessper is always on the lookout for fresh ideas and novel approaches.   As an alumnus of the University of Southern California, Jessper holds an Executive Master's Degree in Leadership.  His leadership impact has been recognized with the “40 Under Forty” award in Santa Clarita Valley, a testament to his significant contributions to the community.   Jessper's influence extends beyond his immediate professional sphere. Jessper has served on the executive board of JCI USA (Junior Chamber International, USA), a national organization dedicated to providing leadership development opportunities for young people. He continues to guide future leaders as a mentor at his alma mater, the University of Southern California. Jessper has also served on the boards of an advanced Toastmasters club and the Southern California chapter of the National Speakers Association (NSA SoCal).   When he's not leading teams or coaching leaders, Jessper immerses himself in training for marathons, delving into business books, and traveling around the country. In spite of growing up with asthma, Jessper has become a 15-time marathon runner. His story is one of passion, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.   Ways to connect with Jessper:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmaquindang Website: https://www.famileadconsulting.com Jessper's personal story: https://signalscv.com/2024/07/once-an-asthma-victim-now-a-marathon-runner/   About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Well, a pleasant hello to you, wherever you happen to be today. Welcome to another episode of unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected, which is more fun. Meet I am your host. Mike Hingson, we're really glad that you're here with us today and today, well, we're going to what, what has to be a California podcast, because our guest jes Jessper Maquindang is from California. He's a USC graduate. So was my wife. He lives in Santa Clarita, so he's over the mountains from where we live. He has degrees in leadership. He's a marathon runner, and that, after a story that he'll tell you in just a little bit growing up, had some challenges regarding that, but nevertheless, he is here, and we're here, and we're glad that all of you are here with us. So Jessper, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're really glad you're here. Michael,   Jessper Maquindang ** 02:22 thank you for having me. I'm excited to join you today. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 02:26 glad you're really here. Well, why don't we start by you telling us a little bit about kind of the early Jessper growing up and all that sort of thing. Absolutely,   Jessper Maquindang ** 02:34 it starts with a memory, and a memory from my mother, and she shared it a few years ago, and I myself don't remember that memory myself, but she told me when I was about five or six, I went up to her and said, When I grow up, I want to be a leader. When I grow up, I want to be a leader. Now, when you think about it, it sounds really neat for a five or six year old to want to be a leader when they grow up, but when you reflect deeply, what does a five or six year old know about leadership? It's such an advanced topic for someone that age, I might as well said mom, when I grow up, I want to study microeconomics, but that was my journey. I don't remember that memory, but she had shared it with me a few years ago, but I realized over the years, various leadership opportunities just fell into my lap. I remember at a young age, serving the community, volunteering that was ingrained within me so supporting nonprofits as I grew older. When I went to college, I was involved in extracurricular activities such as student government and new student orientation. And after I graduated, I landed in a travel company where I was promoted to a supervisory role, where I did get first hand experience in leading a team. And then over the years, I was just so inspired by what I did, I went back to school, went to USC for my Executive Master's degree in leadership, learn more about those best practices in the field. And after I graduated, I landed in a fortune 500 management development program where I had the opportunity to get a peek of what the operations look like for a larger company, and I can take those insights and pretty much share them anywhere. But overall, just looking at my background and the experiences that I've gained over the years, I've come to learn that leadership is really that opportunity to learn and grow from your experiences and share that experience with others. So I would say that's the early journey of the younger Jasper McCune,   Michael Hingson ** 04:50 well, certainly relevant by any standard. I I love talking about leadership. I've been very deeply involved. With it most of my life, starting in sales and then sales management and owning my own company and being a senior manager for other companies as well. And one of the things that I love to say is and I've read about leaders, and I've read books about leadership and studied them and so on, but I love to say that I have learned more about leadership and teamwork and trust and motivation from working with eight guide dogs than I've ever learned from Ken Blanchard and Tony Robbins and all those folks, because it becomes very personal and the additional challenge that someone like I have is that I work with and build a team with someone who doesn't speak the same language I do. And we have to learn to communicate, and we have to learn to build trust. The value is and the the wonderful part of it is working with dogs, they're more open to trust than we tend to be, and so I can see how to develop a trusting relationship and then make it happen. Dogs love unconditionally, I do believe that, but they don't trust unconditionally. And I was even asked yesterday, how long does it take to really develop a good, strong relationship with your guide dogs? And I'd say it takes a good year to truly develop the seamless, teaming relationship that one wants, and it takes a lot of work. So I stand by I learn more from dogs than I have from other sources. Michael, that   Jessper Maquindang ** 06:40 is such an interesting insight. I didn't even think about the leadership connection between dog and humans, and when you brought that up, that gave me another perspective to think about.   Michael Hingson ** 06:52 And well, the the issue is that the purpose of a guide dog is to make sure that we walk safely. It's my job to know where to go and how to get there. So we each have a job to do, and our jobs, although they interrelate, are different, and so someone has to be the leader of the team. And dogs really want us to be the leaders. They look to us. They recognize that value when we carry it out. Well, it works in a wonderful way. So for me, working with a guide dog and developing that relationship means that I need to be confident and tell the dog what I want the dog to do, like turn left, right, go forward, or whatever, and also recognize that the dog has some authority to do things such as, let's say we're at a street corner and I suddenly tell the dog to go forward, and the dog doesn't go. I need to respect the fact that there's probably a reason that the dog didn't go. That is to say, very rarely do guide dogs really get distracted. And when they do get distracted, I mean, if a bird flies right in front of their nose, they're going to see it, but I can tell that, and I know what's happening. But primarily, when a dog doesn't do what I expect it to do, it's because of a service called Intelligent Disobedience. That is to say, the dog has the authority not to do what I want if it feels it's going to put us in danger. So I'm at the street corner and I tell the dog to go forward, and the dog won't go probably today, that is because there's a quiet car or hybrid vehicle coming down the road, and I don't hear it, but the dog sees it, and the dog going, on, I'm not going to get out there and get either of us hit, and they have the authority to do that. So as I said, we each have a job to do in the process, and we have to carry out those those processes well. And the dog looks to Me for guidance, to know when it's doing its job well. And likewise, I have to observe the dog communicate with the dog when the dog's not feeling well, or feeling unhappy, or whatever. I'm the one that has to interpret that and act as the team leader, the confess II, the spiritual guide, if you will, for the for the team, and so many other things. And there is also so much to learn from working with dogs like dogs don't do, what if, when a dog works or does whatever it does, is doing it in the moment. So dogs don't do a lot of what if, hence, they don't tend to have the same kind of fears that we do, because we What if everything, and we never seem to learn how to be introspective and recognize that we should really only worry about the things that we can control and stop worrying about everything else, because it's not going to do us any good. And so we worry about everything. And we develop so many fears that really are a problem. I talk about that in the new book that's that I've written, called Live like a guide dog. It's all about learning to control fear, but it's about the lessons I learned in that regard from eight dogs. And it is fascinating. Yeah, there's a lot to learn from dogs, if we would, but try   Jessper Maquindang ** 10:21 very great insight and leadership well, so you wanted   Michael Hingson ** 10:25 to be a leader from five or six years old, and you obviously did things to kind of make that happen or get attracted to it. So tell me about when you went to USC or your college days, and how did leadership interact or become a part of what you did there? That's   Jessper Maquindang ** 10:46 right. So when I went to USC, I wanted to learn more about the field, because when I was a supervisor at my first job, I had the opportunity to really learn what works and what doesn't work, and I wanted to expand on that. And when I was at USC, we were reading books from such great authors like Marshall Goldsmith, other sources that give us another perspective of what leadership really means. And in today's world, we've moved on from traditional leadership, where you see a manager being very demanding and showing high levels of authority. We want to moved on to that today, leadership is more about empathy and really supporting the growth and development of the people that work for you, the people that report to you. It's all about making sure as a team, we're all working together to achieve our goals, instead of having one person send their demands and expect everyone to follow those days are not effective today and as we move forward into the future, what I've learned about leadership, and especially at USC, leadership, is being more adaptable and supportive with the people that we work with.   Michael Hingson ** 12:12 How many leaders or what kind of percentage of people do you think really understand that, as opposed to being a boss and continuing to just try to exert their authority. Based   Jessper Maquindang ** 12:25 on my experience, I would say more and more people are embracing this new form of leadership where we are supportive, there are still leaders and managers that are attracted to their power. They're not effective as they could be. But on the other hand, the leaders who are embracing this constructive form of leadership where other people are getting the opportunity to share their voices, they're getting better results compared to managers who are showing off their authority and being bossy and stepping on the foot of other people and not really giving them a voice. So I would say there are more people who are embracing more adaptable and supportive form of leadership.   Michael Hingson ** 13:13 What are some of the basic characteristics that you would define that exist in leaders today, what makes you a leader?   Jessper Maquindang ** 13:23 So with leadership, there are four Super skills that make a leader effective, and the four Super skills are public speaking, public listening, private speaking and private listening. So for public speaking, it's what we do know about people going up on stage, not literally, but they can be in front of the boardroom at a meeting and really sharing the direction of where everyone needs to go. I know there are some people who are nervous about the idea of public speaking. You don't have to necessarily like it. You don't have to Love Public Speaking. You can even despise it. But as a leader, it does get to a point where other people look up to you to display and promote the vision and direction of where the team is going, and that's where people will depend on you as a leader to really express that direction, and the next one is public listening, and that is where a leader has the courage to step aside and give other people the stage, and again, not the literal stage, but they could be At the office in front of everyone else or along the same table, but the idea behind public listening is to give your team members the opportunity to share their voice, share their perspectives, share their thoughts. Because when it comes to leadership, the leader does not. Really have to be the only one throwing all those ideas out there and perspectives demands. It's important to give other people that opportunity to really share what's on their mind. And then next is private speaking. And for that, I know, when people hear private speaking, does that mean a leader hides in the corner and start talking? Starts talking to themselves? No, not necessarily. What private speaking means to me is it's a phrase I use for coaching and mentoring, those one on one conversations with your employers, with your team members, with your staff. I call it private speaking because those conversations should be held in private. Whatever you and your team member shares with you, for example, it's it wouldn't be fair to say, oh, everyone did you? Did you know what Michael told me today? He said, this, this and this, again, when it comes to coaching and mentoring, you want to respect the privacy of those conversations, because your employees will share information that you would not get publicly. And lastly, it is private listening, and for this, a leader is really spending the time to discover their capabilities from within. So for some people, that comes in the form of meditation, where they're really being in the moment, present and just listening to the voice within themselves, also an effective way for private listening to occur and learn more about yourself is to take leadership development assistance, where you are seeing firsthand the strengths and the areas that you can work on, giving you the opportunity to really reflect and see how you can be a more effective leader. So the four Super skills of an effective leader is public speaking, public listening, private speaking and private listening.   Michael Hingson ** 16:56 I like the way you put all of that, and I like especially when you're talking about private listening, meditating, and really stepping back and becoming more self, analytical and introspective. That's something that we talk about a lot in live like a guide dog, because you will develop your mind. I guess the best way to put is heal developing your mind if you use it, and one of the best ways to use it is to look at what you do. Look at yourself. I encourage people at the end of the day to take a step back and look at what happened today, and look at what worked what didn't work. Don't ever regard something as a failure. It's a learning experience. But I think we gotta get away from negativity. For years, I used to use the term, I'm my own worst critic, and I realized literally, just over the last year, wrong thing to say, I'm my own best teacher, because I'm the only one who can really teach me. Other people can give me information, but I'm the one that has to internalize it. And so the fact is that I would rather look at it from a positive standpoint. That is, I'm my own best teacher than anything else, and I should look at everything that happens during the day to see what I can learn from and even the things that went well, could I have done it even better? And look at how all of that comes together? And I think that it's it's so important that we deal with ourselves in that way, because that helps us develop a much better mindset of how to move forward in the future, and it also helps cut back on fears, because invariably, you're going to think about things like, Why was I afraid of that today? Oh, maybe I really shouldn't have been because I didn't really have any influence over that. It's just something that occurred, and people can start to learn that they don't need to fear everything that they fear.   Jessper Maquindang ** 19:06 That's right. When it comes to private listening, it's all about that self awareness and overall, over all awareness and turning problems into opportunities. So you did bring up a excellent perspective. Michael, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 19:22 we should. We should really always look at what goes on and again. We should always look for ways to hone our skills and improve ourselves, because we're the best ones at making that happen, if we're open to really listening to our inner voice that is ready to guide us anytime that we will allow it to do. So it's not a noisy voice, it's a quiet voice, but it's there if we would learn to listen to it   Jessper Maquindang ** 19:53 absolutely and when it comes to taking that moment to really reflect, you can come up with. So many ideas that you would not have discovered if you were in a rush and just moving in a fast paced world and getting lost in into it. But when you take a moment to step back, take a deep breath and really slow down, it gives you an opportunity to come up with new insights that you wouldn't have discovered otherwise,   Michael Hingson ** 20:24 yeah, and it's so important to do that, and the insights were always there, but you weren't paying attention to them. You were just running around crazy. So you do need to take the time to stop and listen and learn. And it's amazing what will happen. One of the things that that I've always felt as as a leader, my job was, and I would always tell people I hired about this, my job is to not boss you around. I hired you because I assumed that you could do the job. You can miss me, that you could do the job that I want you to do. My job is to add value to you, to help you. And what that really means is that you and I need to work to see how we blend our skills so that I can better enhance what you do, because I want you to be successful.   Jessper Maquindang ** 21:17 That's right, that reminds me of a quote that I was as I was scrolling through LinkedIn, there was a quote that I saw that you hired smart people, let them do their job, trust them to do their job. And it was something along those lines, but Right, yes,   Michael Hingson ** 21:31 but even so, you do trust them to do their job. But the other part about it is, can you help them do their job better, and that's a that's a skill that I think a lot of people still really need to learn. On both sides, I have had people who I've said that to who never really figured it out, and they weren't really great listeners at sales, and they didn't do some of the things that they needed to do to be more successful at selling, but they also weren't willing to explore how to to better themselves and send and hence, they didn't necessarily stay at the company as long as they might have. But the people who really got it and who discovered that I, for example, am very technical, I listen. I'm unique being blind in the kind of world where we were selling high tech products to Wall Street, I was was enough of a unique individual that it was worth taking me along and letting me do demonstrations and product discussions. Again, my master's degree is in physics, so I'm pretty technical anyway. But one of the fun things that happened after one of those presentations was my sales guy, who was my best sales guy, said, How come, you know, all this stuff, and I don't, and I said, Did you read the product bulletin that came out last week? Well, no, I didn't have time. I said, there you go. If you had, you might have known more than what you would have known more than you do, which doesn't necessarily, in of itself, mean that you're would be better at presenting it. I didn't say that part, but, but the reality is that it is what I knew how to do. And we fed off each other very well, and we were both able to make him more successful than he otherwise would have been, which is really what it's all about,   Jessper Maquindang ** 23:27 that's right. It reminds me of the writings from Brian Tracy, where he would remind us that the people who really take an effective approach in their learning and personal growth, those are the ones who are more likely to succeed in this world,   Michael Hingson ** 23:44 yeah, which is very true. You've got to take responsibility for and take charge of your own growth and recognize that there's always stuff to learn there. There's always stuff that somebody else knows that would be helpful for you to get to know as well. And you should never resent people just because they know something you didn't know. It's cool when you get to learn it, and then you get to use it, and probably will impress them, because then they see you using and they go, I you caught on that, huh? So it is what we have to do that we don't do nearly as much as we should.   Jessper Maquindang ** 24:26 That's right, that reminds me of the world of coaching and mentoring too. There are so many more experienced professionals in the world that when we learn from them, that gives us the opportunity to really take in their insights, and when we use their insights that'll accelerate our process in becoming more successful in our journey of Professor professional development.   Michael Hingson ** 24:49 Yeah, our leaders, or should leaders be pretty resilient people?   Jessper Maquindang ** 24:55 I believe so. Because when you think about it, in today's world of leadership, there's. Just so much going on, especially in our fast paced society. When you look at working with teams, people have different perspectives. When you look at projects, there are so many items that just go into a project, and so many moving parts. And when you look at change itself, it's disruption, interruption, you name it. It's moving in all directions. And as a leader, sometimes something somewhere can knock you off course or knock you down. But you have a choice. You can stay down and worry, but that's not very productive, or you can get back up again. And when you do get back up, you get another chance to really find ways to whatever you were working on. You can make that better. It's a much more productive process when you're when you continue to get back up and really challenge yourself to find new ways to move forward. So it is important to be resilient, because there's when you look, look at change itself and how it's just shifting so many things around. If you're not as resilient, you're not going to be able to adapt to that change. But if you continue to get back up, roll your sleeves up, you'll be in a much better position as you really find new ways to build on yourself and move forward.   Michael Hingson ** 26:26 But a resilient leader isn't someone who is so stubborn that they think that they've got the only solution. It's really getting back up and looking at what happened and then moving forward in whatever way is the most appropriate to really make progress for you as the leader and your team.   Jessper Maquindang ** 26:48 That's an excellent insight, especially when a leader is so stuck in one way, it's really going to present challenges. It reminds me of the quote we've always done it that way, if a leader sticks to that message, they're going to get lost in the past, and they're not really going to be able to adapt to the future, or at the same time, their team members might not really relate well to that leader who just sticks with one idea. Because in today's world, if you want to be more successful in the projects and the processes that you're trying to build. It really helps to get the perspectives and insights of everyone on your team, instead of that one person who's just promoting one idea. It's not going to get very far. I think   Michael Hingson ** 27:37 one of the characteristics of a good leader is also knowing when to relinquish leadership because someone else has a skill that maybe they are able to do something better than you, and you've got to allow them to help guide the team, because they've got the particular skill that's necessary to do That.   Jessper Maquindang ** 28:01 That reminds me of two things. The first thing is that leaders should not be intimidated by other people who have a skill that they're lacking. They should actually embrace that opportunity, because our skills are complimentary when we work with our teams, someone has a certain ability or skill set that when we're all working together, it's like a puzzle piece, and when all the puzzle all puzzle pieces fit together, you'll be able to solve whatever you were working on. And the second part that this reminds me of is the idea of servant leadership for a leader, gone are the days where a leader should be demanding and be the best in terms of thinking they know everything and have everything. In today's world, a leader should be in a more servant leadership role, where they're supporting the growth and development of their team members and accepting that other people have skills that they might not have, because, as I mentioned earlier, working in a team is like having different puzzle pieces, and when it all fits together, you're solving that puzzle piece faster.   Michael Hingson ** 29:17 And you know, we talked about introspection and looking at the end of the day and analyzing what goes on. The more of that that you do, and the more time, as every day as you can and should do, every time you do that, your mind muscle develops more. And the more of it you do, the faster you'll be able to do it, and the faster you'll be able to then analyze and make decisions. So that the whole idea, though, is that you've got to train yourself to do that, and that's not something that anyone can do for you, but you can certainly learn to recognize a lot of the different kinds of things that we're both talking about, and you. Can work faster and smarter if you take the time to teach yourself how to deal with all that. That's   Jessper Maquindang ** 30:07 right. And then I know one way for leaders who have implemented that idea is journaling, just that open flow of getting your thoughts on a page that really helps, because you're getting the opportunity to really look at the ideas that you're writing down, positive or negative, and once those ideas are on the page, you can reflect deeper on each item that you've written down, giving you a much better understanding of how you can really improve that process or project or task that you were working on. So journaling really does help in really building your perspective someone   Michael Hingson ** 30:50 who really does that well and who journals, or however you do it. I tend not to journal a lot, but I've got other ways of recording information. So, so I do that. But the point is, then five years later, you go back and look at some of those early journal things, and you go, Oh my gosh, look what I've learned. Or, oh my gosh, I forgot all about that. What a neat thing I got to pick that up and do that again, journaling and having a way to record and be able to look back at what your thoughts are is extremely important, and it again, adds another dimension and a lot of value to you as an effective leader,   Jessper Maquindang ** 31:36 absolutely, because when you're journaling, you're writing down a lot of the ideas that have been on your mind. And for me, I use a more free flowing type of journaling where I'm really just dumping whatever I have on my mind and just throwing it out there. Because although there are no connections at that moment over time, I realized that there are certain themes that I can connect, and start to really see where all the dots are connecting, and find certain ideas and similar similarities and maybe even contrast, but working with those ideas and seeing what I can do and how I can actually use those ideas in Some of the future projects that I'm working on. So it really helps to get your thoughts out there. When   Michael Hingson ** 32:25 I was at UC Irvine, I actually went and took a course in transcendental meditation, and one of the things that they said is, when you're meditating, you need to let your mind just flow. You don't want to write things down, because it might very well be nonsense and and so on. But at the end, you can learn and remember and then write down ideas that came to you during the time that you meditate. And the reality is that the free flowing kind of technique that you're talking about makes a lot of sense, because what you want to do is get the thoughts down. There's no such thing as a good idea or a bad idea, they're all ideas. You may find that it won't work or some idea won't work today, but that doesn't make it a bad idea, because in five years, it might just be the way to go. But if you don't write it down and you forget it, then you've lost it.   Jessper Maquindang ** 33:17 That's right, that also works with a team in the form of brainstorming, I've seen situations where someone leading the team, where another team member will share an idea, and that leader of that team will say, well, that's not really realistic. When it comes to brainstorming, it is important to let all ideas flow. You don't want to turn anyone down, because, as you said, maybe a unique idea today will be useful and valuable in the future.   Michael Hingson ** 33:45 My typical reaction when I even think that something might not be overly realistic, it means to me, somebody's thought about something and I don't really understand it. So my immediate response would be, tell me more about that. And a lot of times that request leads to insights that I never had that make for a better situation all the way around. And it turns out, the idea wasn't really such a horrible and unrealistic idea at all, but you're right being negative. That's not realistic. That's not a good way to support a team, and I think it's very important that we recognize that it's all about supporting the team. So tell me a little bit about your thoughts about unstoppable perseverance and why that helps to make a good leader. Oh, that's right, I guess that goes into a little bit resilience. But, yeah, go ahead. Similar   Jessper Maquindang ** 34:47 with resilience. It's the opportunity when you get knocked down. It's that opportunity to get back up. And for perseverance, very similar for unstoppable perseverance, for a leader to not give up in. Keep pushing through, because with the situations that I shared earlier, the teams that you work with, the projects even change itself. In today's fast paced world, it's going to push you aside and maybe push you down. But if you're going to be worried about all these changes, it's not productive. It's not going to get you anywhere. But if you continue to push through and really show your perseverance and take charge and just really push forward, you'll get much better results when you continue to have that energy to just never get knocked down.   Michael Hingson ** 35:41 Of course, taking charge also means taking charge in a in a positive way, and not in a bossy way. That's right, yeah, and that's that's really crucial,   Jessper Maquindang ** 35:51 yes. So when it comes to taking charge, it's really being proactive about growing and your well being, and really understanding what you can do better. And again, it's not about that manager having too much power when it comes to taking charge. It's about being proactive about your personal growth.   Michael Hingson ** 36:14 So kind of summing up some of this in a bit. What is the most effective style of leadership. You think the   Jessper Maquindang ** 36:21 effective style of leadership that I've learned based on my experience is servant leadership, and I've learned of two different major definitions. I like one better than the other, and I'll explain why, but the first definition that I've heard about servant leadership is putting the needs of others above yourself. And the second definition of servant leadership is serving in the sense of supporting the growth and well being of others. And what I like is that growth and well being, because when it comes to supporting other people, you don't necessarily have to lower your own priority of yourself. When it comes to servant leadership, you're part of a team. You're on the same level as everyone else. You want to share your voice, and at the same time, you don't want to be the one taking all the all the power you want to share it. And when it comes to servant leadership, you're really giving other people the opportunity to share what's on their mind and what they'd like to do to become more effective in themselves. So servant leadership is supporting that journey of helping other people succeed?   Michael Hingson ** 37:44 Yeah, well, when we talk about leadership, and we've talked about teamwork and so on, in a sense, they're, they're equate, they're not equivalent, but they're, they're related, but they're also different. So the whole issue of building an effective team is a real challenge, and I've been involved in a lot of team building exercises and so on over the years. But how do you go about really growing a good, effective human team? And I put it that way, because I can sit here and talk about what I do with with dogs and and how we develop a very close bonding relationship. And what is really scary is it is very easy to destroy that or, or at least injure the relationship with the dog. If you don't respect the dog, and you look down on the dog, and you don't really realize recognizing the dog is doing its job, and they sense that, and they won't always necessarily communicate it back to you directly. But you know, in the case of humans, how do we develop good human teams?   Jessper Maquindang ** 38:58 That's right, the first part, I would say, is really getting a pulse on the morale. You want to make sure everyone is being heard and not being ignored or shut out as a leader. You want to ensure that the team member is really part of the team. And the second part is active listening, where the leader needs to intentionally and deliberately provide that space for other people to share their voice. Because if a leader is just taking everything up and doing all the talking and just doing all of the things himself or herself. It's really going to cut off the opportunities where an employee could have shared a great idea, but then you're just leaving it to one person to implement their idea of what needs to happen. So for an effective team to develop, one is. All about that morale and giving other people the space to feel like they are part of a team. And the second part is listening to the other team members and giving them that space to share what's on their mind and maybe even provide great ideas.   Michael Hingson ** 40:17 And you know, the issue is that, once again, in developing the relationships, you're going to have some ideas that are stronger and more productive than others. I'm not going to use the word bad, but still, everyone does have to have the opportunity to say what they think and to contribute, and when they have the opportunity to do that, they're going to be much more productive, and they're going to be much more willing to be part of the team.   Jessper Maquindang ** 40:50 That's right when you're giving another person the floor, metaphorically, but when you're giving them that space to share what's on their mind, you're really giving them those opportunities to share what the team can do to really grow together again, when there's no such thing as a bad idea, you want to give that space for everyone to share, because, As we've learned earlier, maybe an idea that's unique today will be useful and valuable maybe a few months down the line, or maybe a year down the line. But when you dig deeper into an idea, again, no bad ideas. When you dig deeper, you'll get more insights into what that team member was sharing.   Michael Hingson ** 41:38 One of the best books. One of my favorite books that I've read through the years is a book called The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. Have you read that I have? Yeah, I really like the ways that he discusses teams and teamwork and one of the most important things that he talks about in sometimes subtle but still very, very strong ways, is developing trust and allowing the team to be a group of people that learn to work together. But it is, it's about accountability, which really is all about developing trust. And I mentioned that earlier, that dogs are open to trust, we have learned so much about not trusting on how not to trust because we think everyone has a hidden agenda. And how can we trust this person? How do we break out of that pattern?   Jessper Maquindang ** 42:33 Yes, so especially when it comes to the Five Dysfunctions of a Team in that book, Patrick Lencioni does start with trust, and to really build in that trust, you want to have open conversations with your team to really express themselves and give them that voice, because if you're cutting other people off, they're not going to feel safe, they're not going to feel secure in their role. On the other hand, when you open up that space, you're giving other people to you're giving other people that opportunity to really understand each other. So that's where it really starts from, that sense of understanding and building that time for that understanding in there, because if you cut off that understanding again, you're going to make other people feel unsafe. And when people feel unsafe, that's where trust starts to break down. But on the other hand, when you're building a psychologically safe environment, people are more likely likely to speak up and really trust each other in how they want to work with each other.   Michael Hingson ** 43:40 So tell me, what do you do when you have a person who doesn't earn trust, because trust is something that has to be earned, or some person who just really, I don't want to use the term rubs people the wrong way, but maybe that's a good term to use in some senses. But what do you do when you have a person that doesn't seem to have any interest in really developing a two way trusting relationship? That's   Jessper Maquindang ** 44:11 right? In this case, maybe the leader or not, I wouldn't say the leader, but this member. Perhaps, maybe it's ego. Perhaps it's selfishness you want to really figure out what's going on. Perhaps there are maybe problems at home or just outside the workplace, or maybe inside the workplace, what I would do is take this member and have a one on one conversation to really discover, is there anything that's going on that's really hindering their ability to connect with others are they just disengaged in general? That's something you want to figure out, because when you really dig deep and discover what's really happening, you can start to find ways to alleviate that situation and. Help the member find ways to cope and really work better together. So if a team member is disengaged, why are they disengaged? Is it the work that they're doing? Are they not excited about it? Have that conversation. See, Employee Mr. Mrs. Employee, you're not really engaged by the work you do. Can you tell me more about what energizes you? And then, from those types of conversations, you can discover ways to really find tasks that have more meaning and significance for that person. And then another way, another reason that an employee might not be open is maybe there's some problems at home again to have those conversations say Mr. Mrs. Employee, just curious. You haven't been very open to other team members. Want to know what's going on is, is it something personal? Just want to make sure you're okay. And then when you open these conversations again, you can discover what this person is going through, and then over time, find ways to alleviate that search situation, and then you might have an opportunity to really get that team member back on track and have them interact better with other team members in a more healthier and productive way. So it's really about discovering what's going on so you can look into that and find ways to help that team member. You   Michael Hingson ** 46:27 ever find that there are people that just don't respond to any of that, though, and just won't work to develop trust? It's   Jessper Maquindang ** 46:33 possible, absolutely it's possible. There are team members who are just completely not open, and again, it's still very valuable to have a one on one conversation, sure, just to see what's going on, and then if the team member is just completely shut out, that might be an opportunity to have a conversation with that employee and say, Jasper, I know times have been Tough in working with this team. Is, it perhaps, maybe, is there another role you'd like to consider? You know, it's really about the giving the the member an opportunity to discover what's going to work well for them. Because if they're just not going to open up at all, it might be that. It might be a situation where that member wants to find something else, and again, have that conversation to see what's on that mind of that employee. But   Michael Hingson ** 47:27 I think that no matter what you do, it's important not to judge or be judgmental, because whatever is going on with that person is going on, and you as the leader, have to worry about the team, and if that person can't be part of it, then you help that person. Again, it goes back to you're adding value by helping that person find something else that makes sense to do, even if it's somewhere else. And I believe that that level of being supportive is extremely important.   Jessper Maquindang ** 47:58 That's right, it's very important to be supportive. If that team member is just not open again, you don't want to call out that team member for being unsupportive. You really want to be that open leader who really lends in a hand to see what you can do to help that team member move forward and find a productive way out, or maybe integrate, reintegrate back with that team. But again, it's all about giving that employee space to discover what's really going on, how they can move forward in a more productive and healthy way, right?   Michael Hingson ** 48:37 It's it, but you have to take ego out of it. That's right. So switching gears a little bit, you haven't talked about yet, the fact that you grew up having asthma and then you ended up starting to run marathons. Tell me more about that. That's   Jessper Maquindang ** 48:54 right. I believe it was at the age of eight. I was in second grade, and I was diagnosed with asthma, and I just remember that my parents, I know they were trying to be supportive, but they were really protective, and I just remember that for my safety, they would want me away from pets so I don't have a reaction to fur. They would keep me indoors just so I don't get a reaction to pollen or dust or any other pollutants outside, and I would just get stuck indoors for a while. And over time, I fell into that trap of placing those limits on myself as well. And I realized over time, I don't want my life to be defined by those limits, and I wanted to do something significant where I can overcome that type of obstacle. And the first thing that came up to my mind was something physical. And I just remember, for marathon runners having that big, major goal, I decided to add that to my bucket list. But I. Knew something like that would not be an overnight magic formula. I knew I had to take it one step at a time. So what I what I did is I started with a 5k of course, there were challenges along the way. Moved up to a 10k and then when I felt more comfortable a half marathon, and then when I finally reached the finish line of my first full marathon, that sense of joy and relief and really knowing that I could achieve something like that despite growing up with what I had as a young just throughout my life, it was a really meaningful goal that I had accomplished. So really, when it comes to having that marathon goal, for me, it was really a sense of not letting past limits define my life and really moving forward to accomplishing something more meaningful and significant for myself.   Michael Hingson ** 50:54 So clearly, there are symptoms that you experience that that indicated asthma. Did a lot of that dissipate or go away as you began to run more and more marathons and became more physical,   Jessper Maquindang ** 51:07 so as I became more physical, I learned to manage it, and when I came to training, I didn't want to overextend myself. And again, I knew I wasn't going to run 26.2 miles in one night. I worked my way up to make sure my body understood what I was doing again. No rushing, no intense, no over and, no over extending myself, not going too intense, but reaching a more comfortable space, comfortable space pace that I can take throughout my training. That way, I didn't put too much pressure on my body, but my body understood over time and managed itself to really reach that level once I got to that marathon and just completed it.   Michael Hingson ** 51:58 What's the fastest you've ever run a marathon.   Jessper Maquindang ** 52:01 So I believe it was either Las Vegas rock and roll or Santa Clarita, and it was about four hours and five minutes. Okay, so today not it's not the same. I was a lot younger and more speedy back then, but it's still a hobby I still enjoy well,   Michael Hingson ** 52:24 but still, that's still over six miles an hour. That's, it's not too bad, but it's, it's, it's fun to do, but you've done marathons in all states, I believe, have you not? Oh, no, uh, just 15. Oh, just 15. Okay, but I have traveled to all 50 states. You've traveled to all 50 states. So what caused you to do that just happened? Or what?   Jessper Maquindang ** 52:54 So for me, when I was younger, I had actually not imagined traveling to all 50 states, but when I landed my first job, it happened to be at a travel company, and the department I was working for, we created custom guidebooks for our clients who were traveling across the United States. And just throughout my time there, as I would flip through those guidebooks, I was just inspired by the landmarks and attractions that were featured on those pages, and I decided, one day, you know what, I will do some traveling and see where it goes. I had booked a trip with another company that provided bus tours, and I took one that took me through the southern states and the eastern states, and that was from Louisiana all the way to Florida, and from Florida all the way up to New York. And after that trip, well, actually, when I reached New York, the timing, unusually, I find my I found myself in the midst of Hurricane Sandy, so I did not get to do a lot of that full exploration and get that full New York experience. But when the storm was over, I still had the opportunity to walk around and take a look at what was available and what was safely opened. So again, I didn't get that full experience at the time because of the hurricane, but I would return a year later with my siblings to get the full tourist experience. So just after that group, after that bus tour, I was really inspired to finally put 50 states on my bucket list.   Michael Hingson ** 54:36 I have fond memories of living in New Jersey, and my wife and I going into New York and touring a lot of people around Midtown Manhattan. We'd walk over to Saint Patrick's Cathedral and walk up Fifth Avenue and just have a lot of fun touring around and and visiting some of the restaurants, which was was really enjoyable. What are some of the the. Memories and life lessons you think you've learned from traveling to all 50 states.   Jessper Maquindang ** 55:03 So the memories, I would say, starting with the memories is that first trip that I did with that bus tour, saw, well, I believe at least 12 states. So I really did get a great understanding of what's outside of my home state of California, because prior to 2012 I had only been to two states, which was my home state of California and Nevada. Because my family used to enjoy going to Las Vegas, but after that, I really got to see more of what our country had to offer. Another memory, I would say, is the state of Rhode Island. It's a small state, but I realized once I stepped foot there, there was a lot to explore. I remember seeing the Gilded Age mansions. Remember taking a walk on the Cliff Walk and just getting the view of the Atlantic Ocean from Eastern beach. So you can get a full day of Rhode Island when you plan accordingly. And then I would say another memory that I had with traveling was just really historic landmarks and attractions, the Alamo in Texas, freedom walk in Boston, well, the Freedom Trail in Boston, Freedom Trail, right? And the government buildings in Washington, DC. I'm not necessarily a history buff myself, but surrounding yourself with just artifacts that have been around for over 100 or 200 years. It's just a really neat feeling. So I would say it's just the history has been a great memory for me, and the lessons I've learned from traveling is, the first lesson is it's important to be adaptable. Plans change, especially when it comes to traveling. And for me, I've been in a handful of either delayed flights or canceled flights. In that situation, you want to really give yourself that space to discover what you can do with your time to be more productive. So if there's a delay, you have a choice. You can sit back and worry, or you can you can figure out ways to find another flight that works for your schedule, or you can find other productive ways to fill your schedule, maybe catch up on work. Maybe you can discover the airport, or if you have a lot of time, you can leave the airport and discover the city that you're in. So in any case, very important to be adaptable. The second part about the lessons I've learned is to be curious. There's a lot the world has to offer. If you're at a restaurant and you're ordering the same kinds of foods that you would normally eat at home, that's not really giving you the opportunity to explore what's out there. No, when you're in a new restaurant, maybe try ordering something that you've never tried before, and then that really gives you that opportunity to see what's out there. So be curious, and especially when you're going to new cities, instead of going to the typical tourist spots, maybe take some time to figure out, maybe in the moment, that there's an area that's less discovered, and you might want to see and check those out to see what's available there. So really be curious and explore the world out there. And then the last one, I would say, as a lesson that I've learned in traveling to all 50 states, is be present, be in the moment. I've seen many people where they're on vacation in a new city, and they're looking head down, staring at their phone, and they're really missing out in the opportunity of really being in another destination, because when you're in a different state and different city, you're not really going to get that opportunity as frequently as you would. So when you're at home, you know it's it's so easy to just stare at our phone and get distracted, but when you're in a different destination, you really want to take the opportunity to really understand that you're in a new situation. Be present. Be mindful. Be aware of the new things to discover around you, because when you are present, you're really giving yourself that space to enjoy where you are in the world,   Michael Hingson ** 59:36 right? Tell me about your company, yes.   Jessper Maquindang ** 59:40 So with the family management consulting, we help leaders and managers build stronger teams through team building activities, leadership development assessments and executive coaching. So for leadership development assessments, I find those really important, because it gives people that first. Experience of really understanding where they're coming from, what their strengths are, how they can improve. Because when you're getting that opportunity to learn more about yourself, you can find ways to be more effective. And when it comes to my approach, I believe in the power of teams, because when you're focused on your team, you're getting more work done than what an individual person can do by themselves. So I see value in promoting teamwork than having one person do all the work.   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:36 It's interesting the so your company, the name of the company is family, F, A, M, I, L, E, A, D, interesting name.   Jessper Maquindang ** 1:00:44 Yes, absolutely. So it is a playoff of the word family, because when it comes to a team, not necessarily believing that a team is the family, but when it comes to building a team, it's about that sense of community, that sense of belonging, that sense of togetherness, which is the values of being part of a family. And then the lead part, it's emphasized because leadership is an important aspect of bringing that sense of belonging, bringing that sense of togetherness, bringing that sense of community,   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:28 so people engage with you to come and help them develop better leadership styles or improve how they interact With the people in their own companies, or what correct   Jessper Maquindang ** 1:01:43 so it is having the leaders find more ways to be more effective, because when you have buy in from the leaders, and they're working on becoming more productive, again, when it when you look at Leadership, it all starts at the top, and when you're getting that productiveness from the leaders, that spills over to having a more effective team. And then once you have your team together, really finding ways to build them into just a stronger unit, and the ability to really open up that space to be more productive and working together and finding that strength as a team. Well, if people   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:24 want to reach out and and talk with you more, learn what you do, maybe engage you in your services. How do they do that? Absolutely.   Jessper Maquindang ** 1:02:32 So there are two ways. The first way is to visit my website, familead consulting.com, and if you'd like to contact me there. There is a contact form, F,   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:42 F A, M, I, L, E, A, D, consulting,   Jessper Maquindang ** 1:02:45 correct.com. Okay. And then the other way to reach me is through LinkedIn, search for Jesper mukundang, I absolutely enjoy conversations about leadership, personal growth, professional development. If you just want to have a conversation about those topics, I'm absolutely happy to have them. So feel free to reach out search on LinkedIn for Jessper Maquindang. Spell that, if you would your first last name, please. First Name Jasper, J, E, S, S, P, E, R, last name mccunding, M, A, Q, U, I N, D, A N, G, Jassper Maquindang, dang well,   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:20 great. Well, Jessper, this has been fun. We need to do it again. I mean, it's kind of hard to really cover everything that we want to cover or can cover in an hour. So we should, we should have more discussions about this. I'd love to do that, but I really appreciate you taking the time to spend with us, and I hope all of you out there listening, enjoyed listening to Jessper and his many insights and his observations on leadership. I think there's a lot to be said for all the things that Jessper had to bring to us. I'd love to hear from you about your thoughts concerning our podcast. Please feel free to email me. Michael. H, i, m, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I, B, e.com, or go to our podcast page. There's a contact form there as well. It's w, w, w, dot Michael hingson.com/podcast, Michael hingson is m, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, s, o, n.com/podcast, wherever you're listening, we sure would appreciate it if you'd give us a five star rating. We value very much your ratings and your thoughts. Love to really get any insights that you have, and Jessper for you and for all of you listening, if you know of anyone that you think ought to be a good guest on unstoppable mindset, please introduce us. We'd love to meet more people to bring on to the podcast, because we want to help everyone see we all can be and are more unstoppable than we think we are. So again, I hope that you'll do that. I really hope that you'll reach out to Jessper and that he can help you with any leadership. Training and challenges that you need. So once again. Jessper, I want to thank you for being here. This has been absolutely wonderful. Michael   Jessper Maquindang ** 1:05:07 leadership, is just a beautiful topic. I enjoyed today's conversation. Thank you again for having me.   Michael Hingson ** 1:05:17 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Michael McCarty is the owner of two restaurants, Michael's in Santa Monica, which opened in 1979, and Michael's on West 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan, which followed a decade later. McCarty is truly the father of California cuisine, at the center of a culinary movement that produced top Los Angeles chefs like Jonathan Waxman, Mark Peel, Nancy Silverton, and many others. I had so much fun having Michael back into the studio, and he was happy to go over his deep history in the American restaurant scene. He also talked about his early days cooking in Paris, and how he ended up in Santa Monica and helped establish the legendary farmers' market there. It's Michael, the early years, in this amazing episode.Also on the show we catch up with Eater Chicago editor Ashok Selvam. He recently wrote about the revival of Charlie Trotter's in Chicago, and how Dylan Trotter is taking a big role in the rebirth.Do you enjoy This Is TASTE? Drop us a review on Apple, or star us on Spotify. We'd love to hear from you. MORE FROM MICHAEL MCCARTY:This Is TASTE 383: The Father of California Cuisine with Michael McCarty [TASTE]A Pioneer of California Cuisine Turns 35 [NYT]See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From the friendly confines of T-Squared Social in Midtown Manhattan, Jon & Benjy give their immediate reactions to the Knicks loss to the Lakers on Saturday before discussing OG Anunoby's injury, how severe is could be, how the current roster will survive without him & much more. The also give out Game Balls, Detentions & Predictions before the STUNNING trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis occurred, forcing an immediate but detailed reaction. 02:10 - Knicks lose to the Lakers 010:48 - OG Anunoby's Injury 16:50 - Replacing OG (& Landry Shamet) via trade 24:30 - Precious vs Deuce 2.0 37:21 - GAME BALL 43:11 - DETENTION 46:59 - PREDICITIONS 53:18 - LUKA DONCIC TRADED TO THE LAKERS FOR ANTHONY DAVIS WTFFFFFF?????? Watch the video version of this podcast on our YouTube channel! FOLLOW MACRI - @JCMacriNBA FOLLOW BENJY - @BenRitholtzaNBA FOLLOW GMAC - @AndrewJClaudio_ SIGN UP FOR THE NEW BRUNSON TIER ON PATREON TO GET BONUS CONTENT FROM BENJY & DJ! FOR AN AD-FREE, UNINTERUPTED VERSION OF THIS EPISODE, SIGN UP FOR THE MELO TIER ON PATREON! CHECK OUT THE KFS MERCH STORE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The murder of UnitedHealthcare's CEO on a Midtown Manhattan street “unleashed,” the New York Times reported, “a torrent of morbid glee from patients and others who say they have had negative experiences with health insurance companies at some of the hardest times of their lives.” Some comments were, “Thoughts and deductibles to the family.” Another one said, “Unfortunately, my condolences are out of network.” The dark commentary highlighted deep anger over the state of health insurance. Millions can't afford it and go without it. And many who are on some plan have inadequate coverage with high deductibles. The answer, Ralph Nader says, is single-payer: “Everybody in, nobody out.” That would bring down prices. But the handful of corporations monopolizing the health insurance industry don't want that. Why? That would cut into their profits. So, the insanity continues.

Tonight on NJ Spotlight News: New data shows one million fewer vehicles are entering Midtown Manhattan with commuting times improving as well; Former Senator Bob Menendez makes a plea to President Trump for a pardon; Pastors from nearly 500 NJ churches tell stories of mothers fearing sending their children to school as the Trump administration carries out mass deportations; A bill that aligns New Jersey's definition of antisemitism with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is expected to pass despite criticism over the inability to speak freely about Israel; Newark sees improvement in curbing certain crimes but sees a significant spike in domestic violence.

An MTA worker died Sunday night after an NYPD says a bus driver hit a boom lift he was working on in Midtown Manhattan. Meanwhile, the Hoboken PATH station will close just before midnight Thursday through February 24th as part of a $430 million modernization project. Plus, the Adams administration announced Operation Restore Roosevelt, an effort to crack down on prostitution in Queens, will continue past the original 90-day enforcement period. WNYC's Arun Venugopal explains.

What if your biggest financial loss could become your greatest teacher? In this episode, Russ and Joey sit down with Gavin J. Gallagher, who candidly shares the lessons he learned from losing $80 million during the global financial crisis. Gavin reveals how unchecked ego, cognitive bias, and market volatility led to his downfall and explains the mindset shifts and strategies that helped him rebuild.Through this riveting discussion, you'll discover the dangers of over-leveraging, the importance of due diligence, and why humility is crucial in navigating investments. Gavin's journey is a powerful reminder that even in failure, there's a pathway to success for those willing to learn and adapt.If you want to avoid costly investment mistakes, tune in for lessons you can't afford to miss!Top three things you will learn: -The dangers of over-leveraging and cognitive bias in investing-How to rebuild after financial loss -Why humility and due diligence are critical to sustainable successAbout Our Guest:Gavin J. Gallagher is a property investor-developer and entrepreneur with an international track record and career spanning 25 years. He has bought, sold, built, and managed properties all the way from Midtown Manhattan to Downtown Dubai.Gavin is also the Director of Earlsfort Group and has been actively involved in the development of commercial real estate and corporate workplace solutions for more than two decades.Connect with Gavin J. Gallagher:-Podcast - https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/behindthefacade-Website - https://gavinjgallagher.com/Free IBCA or Financial Freedom Discovery Calls:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/freecallTurn Active Income Into Passive Income:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/piosWealth Without Wall Street New Book:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/newbookJoin Our Next Inner Circle Live Event:-https://www.wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/live-Promo Code: PODCASTIBC Webinar:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/ibcApply to Join the Passive Income Mastermind:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/wwws-passive-income-mastermindJoin the Community:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/communityTake the Financial Freedom Analyzer:-https://wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/quizDiscover Your Path to Financial Freedom: -

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: City officials are moving to create a new residential neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan by rezoning 42 blocks south of 40th Street. Meanwhile, Kamel Hawkins has pleaded not guilty to charges of shoving a stranger onto the subway tracks on New Year's Eve. Plus, New Yorkers receiving SNAP benefits are being warned about scams following the end of a federal reimbursement fund for theft victims.

**Discussion begins at 5:30**On December 4, 2024, the week after Thanksgiving and well into the bustling holiday season, Brian Thompson, United Healthcare's CEO was gunned down right outside of a hotel in Midtown Manhattan - where he was on his way to a shareholder meeting.  In the chilling street camera video, you see the shooter loitering as Thompson approaches the hotel, before the suspect shoots the CEO in the back, fires a couple more, and then turns and walks away. In the days that follow, there is a massive manhunt in NYC.  NYPD swept the city, even taking to the river, for the shooter and killer of Brian Thompson.   Meanwhile, news channels and social media accounts shared the grainy picture of a similarly dressed man checking into a hostel days prior - a white male with a dark hood up over his head and a mask over his face. He's shown leaning over the counter, his black mask pulled down, smiling at someone across the counter that is not pictured.  Then, on Monday, December 9, a phone call came in from a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, approximately 223 miles away from the crime scene, the caller claiming that someone matching the suspects description was there.  The police, responding to the call, arrested 26 year old Luigi Mangione.  Found on him during the arrest was the gun, the silencer, and a three page note detailing his plan to kill Mr. Thompson.  But… something about Luigi's thick eyebrows seems out of place and doesn't match with the surveillance video that has many people pause over this seemingly too clean murder investigation. Outcries on reddit are claiming that Luigi is a Patsy, very much like our beloved Lee Harvery Oswald (Justice for Lee!), because how does one just get caught in a McDonalds with the murder weapon and a manifesto in his book bag just 5 days later? Is Luigi just too arrogant to believe he would be caught? Or is he being set up? Let's get into it. Send us a textSupport the showTheme song by INDA

Luigi Mangione, 26, has been charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York in connection with the December 4, 2024, murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan. The federal complaint includes four counts: two for interstate stalking—one involving travel from Georgia to New York, the other utilizing electronic communications—both resulting in Thompson's death; one count of murder through the use of a firearm; and one firearms offense related to the possession of a silencer during a crime of violence. These charges carry severe penalties, including the possibility of the death penalty for the murder through the use of a firearm count.The complaint details Mangione's alleged premeditated actions, including traveling to New York, surveilling Thompson, and using a 3D-printed "ghost gun" equipped with a homemade silencer to carry out the shooting. Upon his arrest, authorities recovered a handwritten manifesto expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives, which prosecutors argue demonstrates a clear motive linked to the charges. Mangione is currently in federal custody and has been presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker in Manhattan federal court. (commercial at 11:00)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:u.s._v._mangione_complaint.pdf

A Russian anti-aircraft system may be behind the plane crash that killed 23 people in Azerbaijan. As conditions deteriorate in Gaza, some newborns have frozen to death. College campuses warn international students ahead of a potential travel ban. The strike against Amazon is over, but the Teamsters are warning to “stay tuned.” And a cab driver in New York struck six people in Midtown Manhattan.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The killing of a top health insurance executive outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel this month triggered an outpouring of public anger at private health insurance companies. WSJ's Julie Wernau reports that many doctors are among the aggrieved. And two doctors explain how dealing with health insurers is getting worse. Further Listening: - The Suspect in the UnitedHealth Killing  Further Reading: - Doctors Say Dealing With Health Insurers Is Only Getting Worse  - Clues Left by a Killer Echo Widespread Anger at Health Insurers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Terror in Midtown: Luigi Mangione Indicted for UnitedHealthcare CEO's Murder  Two days before Luigi Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania, his mother, Kathleen Mangione, made a chilling statement to investigators, saying she "could see him" committing the crime. Her comments were revealed as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced an indictment charging Mangione with first-degree murder for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which prosecutors described as an act of terrorism. Thompson, 50, was walking through Midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4 when he was gunned down in what authorities believe was a targeted attack. Police allege that Mangione, 26, approached Thompson from behind, fired multiple shots, and fled the scene, leaving shell casings with cryptic inscriptions and other evidence behind. In early December, investigators received a tip from San Francisco police linking Mangione to the crime. Surveillance footage from a hostel showed a man resembling Mangione, prompting New York police to contact his mother. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny recounted their conversation: “She didn't confirm it was her son in the photo, but she did state that it was something she could see him doing.” Kathleen Mangione had filed a missing person report for her son in November, months after he had gone out of contact with his family and friends. The day before Luigi Mangione was arrested, her statement about his potential involvement was being prepared for follow-up by detectives, but his capture in Pennsylvania preempted further inquiries. Mangione was arrested on Dec. 9 at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa., after an observant customer recognized him and alerted staff. He was found in possession of a 9 mm ghost gun, a suppressor, and several fake IDs. Police say Mangione left behind a trail of evidence linking him to the murder, including fingerprints on shell casings, a water bottle, and a granola bar at the scene. The shell casings bore words like “deny,” “depose,” and “delay,” reflecting common criticisms of health insurance practices. Investigators also recovered a three-page manifesto in Mangione's possession, where he condemned the health insurance industry and referred to its employees as “parasites.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg described the attack as an act of terrorism designed to instill fear. “Midtown Manhattan is the heart of New York City. This crime, committed at the start of a busy day among commuters and tourists, was intended to spread terror,” he said. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family, had been estranged from his loved ones for six months before his arrest. He is currently being held without bail in Pennsylvania on weapons and forgery charges while fighting extradition to New York. First-degree murder charges in New York require specific aggravating factors, such as acts of terrorism. Bragg argued that Mangione's actions meet the legal definition, citing his alleged intent to coerce a civilian population through violence. Online activity linked to Mangione suggests deep-seated grievances with the healthcare system. A Reddit account believed to belong to him described chronic health issues, including a misaligned spine and irritable bowel syndrome, and frustrations with navigating insurance claims. Efforts to contact Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, and his cousin, Maryland politician Nino Mangione, were unsuccessful. Mangione is set to appear in court again on Dec. 19, as prosecutors continue building their case against him. #TrueCrime #NYC #Healthcare #MurderCase #Terrorism #BrianThompson #Justice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Terror in Midtown: Luigi Mangione Indicted for UnitedHealthcare CEO's Murder  Two days before Luigi Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania, his mother, Kathleen Mangione, made a chilling statement to investigators, saying she "could see him" committing the crime. Her comments were revealed as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced an indictment charging Mangione with first-degree murder for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which prosecutors described as an act of terrorism. Thompson, 50, was walking through Midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4 when he was gunned down in what authorities believe was a targeted attack. Police allege that Mangione, 26, approached Thompson from behind, fired multiple shots, and fled the scene, leaving shell casings with cryptic inscriptions and other evidence behind. In early December, investigators received a tip from San Francisco police linking Mangione to the crime. Surveillance footage from a hostel showed a man resembling Mangione, prompting New York police to contact his mother. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny recounted their conversation: “She didn't confirm it was her son in the photo, but she did state that it was something she could see him doing.” Kathleen Mangione had filed a missing person report for her son in November, months after he had gone out of contact with his family and friends. The day before Luigi Mangione was arrested, her statement about his potential involvement was being prepared for follow-up by detectives, but his capture in Pennsylvania preempted further inquiries. Mangione was arrested on Dec. 9 at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa., after an observant customer recognized him and alerted staff. He was found in possession of a 9 mm ghost gun, a suppressor, and several fake IDs. Police say Mangione left behind a trail of evidence linking him to the murder, including fingerprints on shell casings, a water bottle, and a granola bar at the scene. The shell casings bore words like “deny,” “depose,” and “delay,” reflecting common criticisms of health insurance practices. Investigators also recovered a three-page manifesto in Mangione's possession, where he condemned the health insurance industry and referred to its employees as “parasites.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg described the attack as an act of terrorism designed to instill fear. “Midtown Manhattan is the heart of New York City. This crime, committed at the start of a busy day among commuters and tourists, was intended to spread terror,” he said. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family, had been estranged from his loved ones for six months before his arrest. He is currently being held without bail in Pennsylvania on weapons and forgery charges while fighting extradition to New York. First-degree murder charges in New York require specific aggravating factors, such as acts of terrorism. Bragg argued that Mangione's actions meet the legal definition, citing his alleged intent to coerce a civilian population through violence. Online activity linked to Mangione suggests deep-seated grievances with the healthcare system. A Reddit account believed to belong to him described chronic health issues, including a misaligned spine and irritable bowel syndrome, and frustrations with navigating insurance claims. Efforts to contact Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, and his cousin, Maryland politician Nino Mangione, were unsuccessful. Mangione is set to appear in court again on Dec. 19, as prosecutors continue building their case against him. #TrueCrime #NYC #Healthcare #MurderCase #Terrorism #BrianThompson #Justice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com 

As many Jews deepen their sense of Jewish identity, Dr. Mijal Bitton joins the podcast to explore the significance of our Jewish heritage, texts, and peoplehood and what it means as we enter the Hanukkah season. Bitton is a sociologist, storyteller, podcast host, and Jewish advocate who also serves as the spiritual leader of the Downtown Minyan in Manhattan.  As one of the first Sacks Scholars, she helps young people reclaim and reimagine Jewish traditions. In this week's episode, Dr. Bitton discusses  Sephardic Jewry, Jewish peoplehood, academia, the needs of young Jews, and the realities of intergroup and interfaith after October 7. Resources: The Morality and Ethics of Global Jewish Advocacy: Lessons from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks - AJC Advocacy Anywhere Jewish Unpacked - Wondering Jews podcast, with guest AJC CEO Ted Deutch Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: with Hen Mazzig, Einat Admony, and more. People of the Pod:  The Next Chapter in Catholic-Jewish Relations What's Next for the Abraham Accords Under President Trump? Honoring Israel's Lone Soldiers This Thanksgiving: Celebrating Service and Sacrifice Away from Home The ICC Issues Arrest Warrants: What You Need to Know Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. __ Transcript of Conversation with Mijal Bitton: Manya Brachear Pashman:   Dr. Mijal Bitton is a sociologist, storyteller and Jewish advocate. As the spiritual leader of the Downtown Minyan in Manhattan and one of the first Sacks Scholars, she helps young people reclaim and reimagine Jewish traditions.  Michal is no stranger to our AJC audiences. Earlier this month, she delivered a powerful Advocacy Anywhere to commemorate Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, for which the Sacks Scholars are, of course named.  And as co-host of Jewish Unpacked's podcast Wondering Jews, she and Jewish educator Noah Weisman explore questions we all ask about the Jewish experience, from the mundane to the miraculous. In fact, just recently, they interviewed AJC CEO Ted Deutch. The podcast has covered topics spanning from how summer camp shapes Jewish lives, how to constantly juggle joy and pain, the impact of the Jewish vote in the most recent election, and in turn, the impact of Trump's resulting victory on Jewish America. Mijal is with us now in our Midtown Manhattan studio to rehash a little of that, but also to discuss what led her to take on her many roles, including her newest project. Mijal, welcome to People of the Pod. Mijal Bitton:  Thank you, thank you for having me. Manya Brachear Pashman:   If you could please share with our listeners about your heritage, about your upbringing. You were born in Argentina, correct?  Mijal Bitton: I was born in Argentina. My father's family moved to Argentina from Morocco and Syria. My mother is from Spain. And part of what shaped my interest in Jews from the Middle East and North Africa, is that when we moved to America, we moved to a Persian Jewish community. So that was like my introduction to American Jews, this very tight knit Persian community in Long Island.  Eventually, I met my husband, who is a Syrian Jew, with Egyptian and Iraqi background, and I wrote my PhD on the Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn, which all just shows you a little bit my fascination. It's not just an identity, it's a tradition that I draw from and that I believe can actually give us very powerful tools right now. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Now, is this a Syrian Jewish community from Aleppo or Damascus?  Mijal Bitton: Historically, there is a big difference. I would say that a lot of these communities, you can think of them as pre-immigration and then new settlement in America. Right now in America, it's one community. The differences between Aleppo and Damascus are not that pronounced, maybe like when you cook a little bit the recipe that you use, or slightly different songs that you might have, depending where your family is from. Manya Brachear Pashman:  You are, in fact, a visiting researcher at NYU, and you are the director of the National Study of the Sephardic and Mizrahi in the United States. What is that study all about? Mijal Bitton: Yeah. So when I wanted to do a PhD at NYU, which I did, on Syrian Jews, and I wanted to study Sephardic Jews, what I realized very quickly, and you might have seen this from your other podcast, is that there is very little good scholarship, good literature to explain to us who these Jews are. This is a problem, both in terms of historical research, and for me, I'm really interested in contemporary Jewish life.  There was a huge gap of not having resources to understand Sephardic Jews in the United States. So I had to do my PhD, kind of trying to reconstruct, you know, even, like the categories of study, how do we think about Jewish observance and really religiosity with Jews from the Middle East. So this study is an early attempt by early I mean, we hope it's the first of many studies to begin to tease out the main pillars of what we need to know to understand Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews roughly.  And again, we'll go into this more in the actual report, which will come out in a couple of months, roughly 10% of American Jews are Sephardic or Mizrahi, very similar to, let's say, the Orthodox Jewish population, the Russian-speaking Jewish population, but much less understood, much less studied. So it's an important first attempt to begin to lay out the foundations of knowledge. Manya Brachear Pashman:  So would you say that study is overdue?  Mijal Bitton: Yes, very much overdue. I think it's overdue for many reasons. One of them is that in the American Jewish community we've had for many years now, conversations around diversity, around inclusion and the like. And Sephardic Jews have not really been part of this conversation. Or let me say this with more precision, they have not been part of this conversation in terms that they would want to be part of this conversation. Maybe I'll be a little bit more explicit as to what I mean.  Many of the Jews that we've cited that I know tend to reflect more socially conservative, Middle Eastern forms of Jewish life, and these communities don't fit in very neatly in diversity efforts that tend to align with progressive understandings of diversity. So that means that there's been a real gap in how Sephardic Jews are included or not included in many spaces that are trying to be more inclusive. So we really believe that diversity is not easy, and that it begins with listening and understanding, who are the individuals and communities that we want to include.  Manya Brachear Pashman:  I mean, how does kind of a deeper and broader knowledge of one's Jewish identity, one's Jewish history, how does your deeper and broader knowledge of your identity and history help you be a better advocate? And how can it help others be better Jewish advocates? Mijal Bitton: That's a great question. So you know, you mentioned before that I started a weekly Jewish wisdom Substack. It's called Committed and I'll be grateful to share the link with everyone. The first piece that I wrote there on Genesis was actually about Jewish pride, and it was an idea that I had been thinking for a long time about, and it was that, especially since October 7, I have been in all of these spaces with people who are newly reawakened, energized, outraged about what's been happening. And they speak constantly about the need for Jewish pride, Jewish pride. We need more Jewish pride, more Jewish pride, more Jewish pride.  And on the one hand, I love that. I love that awakening. It resonates with me strongly. On the other hand, I had like this little voice whispering to me, because, as a sociologist, I've actually done research that talks about pride as something, I want to try to say this carefully, as something that is sometimes the last thing a group holds on to before assimilating fully.  So in very simplistic terms, if you think about Italian Americans or Irish Americans right over three or four generations in this country, they will slowly lose a lot of their communal elements. They will move away from their neighborhoods. They will stop only cooking Italian food. They will stop working in certain professions. But they will still have a little bit of that Irish pride in St Patrick's Day.  So I have been concerned when we speak about Jewish pride, that Jewish pride can be seen as unsustainable if we don't know what we are proud of. There is a world of a difference between someone who says there's something here, that seems really good, and I think I'm proud. I'm proud. And it's different that if you're standing there and you say, I am proud of a heritage spanning 1000s of years, I stand on the shoulders of giants. I am continuing a legacy of Jews who have survived persecutions, who've survived assimilation, who've survived living in different countries and in different times, and I am holding all of this when I stand up as a Jew. That, to me, is the kind of confident pride that can help us as advocates when we are facing challenges, because we are facing challenges and we're going to continue to face challenges. So we desperately need that sense of Jewish history, that sense of spiritual sustenance. We have to know what we are proud of, what we are fighting for. Manya Brachear Pashman:  You wrote a piece shortly after October 7, and it was titled, The Pain You're Feeling is Peoplehood. And it was incredibly powerful. It went viral. Because it so perfectly captured what so many Jews were feeling at that moment. And for those who haven't read it, can you share what led you to write it and kind of summarize it for our listeners. Mijal Bitton: I lead a community, I'm the spiritual leader of a community called the Downtown Minyan. And like many spiritual leaders and clergy on that Simchat Torah. I had to, you know, I'm not saying anything new. Here I was, I was heartbroken, reeling. I don't use a phone on Shabbat didn't always happening. My family in Israel, the reports that were coming in, I felt like my soul, my heart was being ripped. I think many of us felt this. And I had a Shul to run, and I had to figure out, like, what Jewish wisdom can I use right now? And it was very primal and instinctive.  There was a teaching that I had taught before because I thought it was important, but at that moment, it felt essential, and it just like, came out. I stood in front of my community who were in pain, and I wanted to give them names to explain what was happening. And I described, I use a very famous teaching by Rav Soloveichik, who speaks about who asked the question, can we still speak of ourselves as Jewish people, even with all of our diversity and differences and disagreements?  And it brings up a Talmudic question about, if you have a man of two heads, is this considered one person or two? And it's a complicated question, if you take it seriously, and he offers a gruesome test to figure this out. You pour boiling water on one head, and then you look at the other, and if it cries out in pain, it is one people. If it doesn't, it is two. The reason that this teaching was important for me to say, and I think the reason you said it went viral is because, you know. I haven't said this like this before, so I am expressing this now, thinking with you. I think for very long, for us Jews in America, we have been pushed and compelled to think of Judaism along Protestant religious terms.  What I mean by this, it's a faith, it's a set of beliefs, it's a value system. It has to fit in like some universalistic framework, and that pain that we felt on October 7 was different. It was a reminder that to be a Jew is to be part of a family. That it doesn't matter how different we are from each other, how much we disagree. When your relative is in pain, you cry with them. And it's almost like that pain, to me was like a way of saying we are reminded that we're part of a family. And there's something. I don't have the right words here. There's something almost to treasure about the pain, because it reminds us that we are connected to each other, committed to each other, responsible for each other.  And I think we all felt it, and it took away some of the layers of conditioning that many of us have had, to pretend like we aren't a family. That's what I think was one of the things that were so powerful about the tragedy that we all experienced. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Yeah, because we're so trained to be individuals, right, especially here in America, right, that individual spirit, and that's, that's not part of peoplehood. Or is it? I don't know. Maybe that's not the point.  Mijal Bitton: Yeah, listen, I think our tradition is amazing and complex, and there's strands of faith that brings up individualism and agency, but there's powerful strengths that talk about us as a family, as a collective, as a tribe, and there's powerful elements in our culture that have been pushing against that. And in many parts of our community, I think we drank the Kool Aid and we said we are not like, you know, that's backwards. That's not who we are anymore.  And then we were reminded that there's something there that we all felt was true. It existed before October 7, but I think October 7 kind of like woke it up. When I've shared this metaphor of the two headed men with people, many of them have offered an objection, and they've said, how awful is it for us to speak about who we are based on antisemitism? It shouldn't have to be like that. But, I mean, I would agree with that critique on theoretical terms. On sociological human terms, there is nothing that is more potent than having a shared enemy, a shared tragedy. Think about a family again, how tragedy brings us together.  So I think that unfortunately, the fact that there is still antisemitism vibrant in our societies and our streets has served to continue to reinforce that initial sense that we had after October 7. Of course, there are rifts. We can talk about debates that are happening. We are not as united as right after the tragedy. But, you know, I wrote a piece for CNN basically saying that the virulent anti semitism in the anti-Zionist movement is creating more Zionists. It's creating more Jewish solidarity. And it hasn't gone away. I am a religious woman. When I pray to God, I ask God that God should give us the challenge of having to remain connected in good times. I prefer that, but being that we don't have that right now, I do think that we have to double down on what our response is. Manya Brachear Pashman:  You wrote another piece for CNN that had to do with the anti-Israel protests on university campuses and the fear that it was inducing in so many Jewish young people, and the solidarity that was coming out of that. So with that in mind, one thing that the Jewish communal world is experiencing, we're certainly seeing it here at AJC, is an influx in involvement. Not just solidarity, but activism and advocacy, people who want to be more involved. Have you given any thought to this influx, and whether or not the infrastructure is in place here in America especially, to kind of sustain that, that level of involvement and activism.  Mijal Bitton: So one of the things that I've seen, and I'll be honest, that I'm still trying to understand it, but one of the things that I'm seeing is, there's, there's the thing called the organized Jewish community, okay? And it's a powerful ecosystem, you know, with lovers of power and influence. And I'm also privy, partially because of my work with young Jews, to a whole world of people who are wanting to be active, but who either don't have the access or the orientation to do so, you know, within the organized Jewish community And for me, part of what's still missing are the bridges between these different ecosystems. There's all of these people who are active on social media, right? The world of influencers, there's these groups of young Jews who are creating pop up Shabbat dinners, like all over the place, and like creating new clubs to celebrate Shabbat with each other and Jewish identity. And there is a lot of energy there. And what I'm trying to figure out is, I'm thinking of this as almost two powerful ecosystems, and I think that they would both be more powerful if they're in better conversation with each other.  So that, to me, again, it's a little bit abstract. I'm still thinking it through. I am a scholar in residence at the Maimonides Fund, and this is one of the questions that I have right now in this post-October 7 world: what would it mean to better bridge between these different ecosystems? Manya Brachear Pashman:  We just talked about the campus protests and the solidarity that they fuel, and we've also talked about the lack of research and scholarship out there about Jews in the Middle East and and North Africa and the diversity of the Jewish community. Do you think if young people had a better grasp of the thousands of years of history, of Jewish history in the Middle East, do you think that would shift the conversation at all, that education? And I don't mean obviously just within the Jewish community, I mean more broadly. Mijal Bitton: I mean, broadly speaking, yeah. So I would say two things I take to heart with my friend Haviv Retig Gur, who's a brilliant analyst. He speaks a lot about the fact that Jews, we don't know our own story. And I do think there is, like, huge lack of literacy in understanding that there were nearly 1 million Jews all across the Middle East and North Africa, and they left, fled, or were expelled in like massive Arab nationalist, anti-Zionist regimes that were propped up across the region. So I do think that for people to know these stories would be incredibly powerful.  I do want to note something, though, as someone who has been active in academia, I still have one foot there. I think that in many places, and we need to not be naive. In many places, people have vested interest in certain narratives, and they are emotionally attached to this narrative, and they have no incentive to change them, no matter how many counterfactuals you provide to them.  So there are definitely many parts in academia that want to think of the world as divided between the oppressors and the oppressed, and who want to think of Jews and Israel and Zionists as aligned with the oppressors, who they equate to Europeans and white and Westerners. And no matter how many counterfactuals you will give to them, they will find a way again, and I'm happy to explain this. They will find ways to make it fit into their narrative.  So we need a multi-pronged approach. One approach is to give the literacy to those who are seeking it as a way to have greater strength and intellectual tools at their disposal. Also, there's like a huge middle to convince, you know that can be moved. And when it comes to those ideologues, we have to battle their narratives. Manya Brachear Pashman:  In other words, offering that literacy to the Jewish community first, to those who actually want it, who are curious enough to want it, that's step one.  Mijal Bitton: Yeah, Jewish community, friends of the Jewish community, people who are intellectually honest and want to have a better discourse around Israel, the Middle East and current reality. Manya Brachear Pashman:  So Mijal, I am curious how your conversations have changed and evolved since October 7. Initially I wanted to ask you about interfaith dialog, but maybe intercultural dialog is a better way to put it. But did you have more intercultural dialog before October 7 or after October 7, or is your work really immersed in the Jewish community and Jewish dialog? Mijal Bitton: Yeah, so I would say like this: I think before October 7, I had spent many years focused on interfaith work. I think that the interfaith work was often anchored in more liberal and progressive spaces, and many of those efforts really imploded. And I think that I represent, because I've heard this from so many people who basically said, we've invested years into showing up for others and into relationships. And then if I can't get someone to say that–you don't need to like Israel, you don't need to like Netanyahu, but just that Hamas raping and murdering is wrong and evil–then what am I doing here? So I think that definitely, I have been affected by that, by seeing that.  And right now, I think we're in a place a year out when there is new energy in trying to figure out, okay, like, who are those people that we can still talk to, and they exist. And also I think that, and this is like work that is ongoing, there is a real sense that we need to re-examine the work that we were doing. Perhaps we were investing in the wrong interfaith relationships and spaces. Which doesn't mean interfaith work is bad, but maybe we need to invest in other parts of interfaith work. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Can you expand on that a little bit? Mijal Bitton: I mean, yeah, this is like, personal. I am not going to be spending time in interfaith work with people who give Hamas a pass. I'll just say this, you know, like that. And I think there's a lot for me. I am much more interested right now in pursuing relationships with socially conservative leaders of other faiths, that perhaps in the past, we wouldn't have been in the same tables around interfaith work and who have spoken up with clarity when it comes to defending Jews and speaking up against antisemitism.  This doesn't mean, again, I don't want to imply that we should walk away from spaces you said before, it's important to have people fighting in many different areas. I think the real question we have to ask ourselves is, what are the lines, that if they are crossed, we walk away? Because I think too many Jews, for too long, have stayed in spaces where our basic story, dignity and humanity, was trampled, and we accepted that price. And that is not something we can do anymore.  So we have to figure out, how do we reconfigure relationships? How do we stand up for ourselves in different ways? How do we, and I'll say this: in many places Jews showed up and agreed to, you know, like, pound their chest about, like, their white Jewish privilege as a price of entry into coalitions and relationships in ways that just were not honest. We need to fight all of this. Manya Brachear Pashman:  You recently hosted AJC CEO Ted Deutch on your podcast Wondering Jews, and I'm curious what you learned from that exchange with him, both on and off the air. Mijal Bitton: Yeah, it was wonderful. I co-host the podcast Wondering Jews with Noam  Weissman, and it was really nice. I mentioned this on that episode, but I have a very fond personal memory of my first encounter with Ted. It was the March in Washington. I was one of their earliest featured speakers at the March. You know, 300,000 people in person, many watching live. And I was very nervous. And I was like, pacing behind backstage. And I see Ted.  I've never met him before, but I had read about him. And when I read about him, I was very curious. I'm like, who leaves sitting Congress to go and work for the Jews? So I was already, fascinated by like, who would make this career switch? And then I saw him, and I don't know why, I turned to him, and I asked him if I could practice with him. And he literally had me practice my speech. I memorized it, and I practiced, and he gave me some feedback, and I changed some of the words, and his wife lent me a hostage tag necklace because I wanted to have one on stage. And it was early days, I didn't have one.  So my first encounter with him was that it felt like a very personal one, and that's what came across, I think, in the in the podcast, that Ted is this, you know, was a member of Congress, like runs AJC, but he just, he's so warm, and it is so obvious in everything that he says, that this is not like a job for him, but it is a passion and a life's mission. And the way that he spoke about just his love for the Jewish people, for spirituality, for what it means to stand up in the world, his hope and optimism. He speaks about relationships that you can insist on and make sure that you can have right now. It's very moving to find leaders who are running institutions and who themselves are able to embody a very powerful sense of conviction. We need more leaders like that. Manya Brachear Pashman:  So tell us about your newest project.  Mijal Bitton: Yeah, it's called Committed. That's the name of the Substack. I started it on Simchat Torah. I'm still tinkering with it. Like you know, how long it should be, the tone, this, that. I'm very lucky to have a lot of readers and students who eagerly give me feedback as to what works and what doesn't, which is lovely, because I love learning Torah with them. But really, as many conversations that I've had with people about anti semitism and advocacy and Zionism on campus, as many conversations that I've been having around like antisemitism and Israel and politics, I have been having the same number of conversations about Judaism and spirituality and the soul and what it means to be part of this magnificent tradition.  I have been taken aback that often in my my classes and lectures, it will end with people coming to me afterwards and wanting to speak about their Jewish journeys, what it means to raise Jewish children, what it means to learn Torah, if you didn't grow up learning Torah, and now you want to what it means to to know that we are souls with bodies, as opposed to bodies with souls, all of these things.  I have felt that it's really important to try to to have weekly touch points that we can have to ask big questions and to be able to address them using Jewish tradition. So I've in my Substack so far, I've explored, like I mentioned before, Jewish pride, what it means to have Jewish pride. I've explored what it means to have, using the stories of Abraham and Rebecca, what it means to, when the world is burning, to know that we have multiple modes of responses. One of them is to provide justice, put out the flame.  Another mode is to help those who have burn marks and to just show care to them and be with them in times of need. The one that I wrote that I think went the farthest. One was around sacrifice, the binding of Isaac, which I wrote about what it means to from America. Look at Israeli parents and know that they are raising children who are willing to sacrifice in a way that American children are just not being taught.  I use the story of Jacob and Esau, and I did a beautiful thought experiment. What would have happened if a Chabad emissary would have met the bad twin of Jacob? And there's all of this text that actually allow us to imagine that Esau could have become a leader of the Jewish people if he would have been shown the kind of love that Chabad emissaries give. So I think there's amazing ways to approach Jewish tradition and to use those as and use Jewish tradition as a way to ask the most critical questions about what it means to live as a Jew today.  Manya Brachear Pashman: I imagine you'll be lighting candles soon for Hanukkah. Any other special traditions? Mijal Bitton The one thing I would say that I love that we do in our Sephardic communities, we light a little bit differently. And this is a traditional way. There's some Sephardic Jews that have changed this a little bit, but traditionally we light one Hanukkiah (menorah) as a family. So in many Ashkenazic communities, each individual lights their own. Classically, in the Sephardic tradition, a family has one Hanukkiah, and we try to light it either by a window or, even better, outside. So my family, my parents, my siblings, they have a special Hanukkiah with glass panels, and we always light it outside the house, facing the streets in a very real way.  And I think that's an important symbol for us, what it means to insist on our lights in public spaces, what it means to fight for public spaces, and what it means, I would say . . . you know, Hanukkah has become such a commercialized holiday in America that, like lives alongside Christmas, and that feels good.  And it's become not just a watered down version of its original premise, but in many ways the opposite, because what the Maccabees did is they took on not just the Greek Empire in military terms. They took on the Greek Empire in cultural and spiritual terms, and they resisted assimilation with everything they had. So in a funny way, in America, to fit in, we've remade Hanukkah in terms that have been opposite in its original meaning.  And I think this last year asked us to reconsider what Hanukkah should look like, and what would it mean, you know, we shouldn't, I'm not saying we should be like the Maccabees exactly. You know, they're a complicated story as well. But what would it mean to make sure that we're not only lighting a light outside, but that we are expressing our Judaism in Jewish terms, even when it's a little bit uncomfortable for others.  Manya Brachear Pashman:  Mijal, thank you so much for joining us.  Mijal Bitton: Thank you for having me. Really great to be here. 

Two days before Luigi Mangione was arrested in Pennsylvania, his mother, Kathleen Mangione, made a chilling statement to investigators, saying she "could see him" committing the crime. Her comments were revealed as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced an indictment charging Mangione with first-degree murder for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, which prosecutors described as an act of terrorism. Thompson, 50, was walking through Midtown Manhattan on Dec. 4 when he was gunned down in what authorities believe was a targeted attack. Police allege that Mangione, 26, approached Thompson from behind, fired multiple shots, and fled the scene, leaving shell casings with cryptic inscriptions and other evidence behind. In early December, investigators received a tip from San Francisco police linking Mangione to the crime. Surveillance footage from a hostel showed a man resembling Mangione, prompting New York police to contact his mother. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny recounted their conversation: “She didn't confirm it was her son in the photo, but she did state that it was something she could see him doing.” Kathleen Mangione had filed a missing person report for her son in November, months after he had gone out of contact with his family and friends. The day before Luigi Mangione was arrested, her statement about his potential involvement was being prepared for follow-up by detectives, but his capture in Pennsylvania preempted further inquiries. Mangione was arrested on Dec. 9 at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa., after an observant customer recognized him and alerted staff. He was found in possession of a 9 mm ghost gun, a suppressor, and several fake IDs. Police say Mangione left behind a trail of evidence linking him to the murder, including fingerprints on shell casings, a water bottle, and a granola bar at the scene. The shell casings bore words like “deny,” “depose,” and “delay,” reflecting common criticisms of health insurance practices. Investigators also recovered a three-page manifesto in Mangione's possession, where he condemned the health insurance industry and referred to its employees as “parasites.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg described the attack as an act of terrorism designed to instill fear. “Midtown Manhattan is the heart of New York City. This crime, committed at the start of a busy day among commuters and tourists, was intended to spread terror,” he said. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family, had been estranged from his loved ones for six months before his arrest. He is currently being held without bail in Pennsylvania on weapons and forgery charges while fighting extradition to New York. First-degree murder charges in New York require specific aggravating factors, such as acts of terrorism. Bragg argued that Mangione's actions meet the legal definition, citing his alleged intent to coerce a civilian population through violence. Online activity linked to Mangione suggests deep-seated grievances with the healthcare system. A Reddit account believed to belong to him described chronic health issues, including a misaligned spine and irritable bowel syndrome, and frustrations with navigating insurance claims. Efforts to contact Mangione's attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, and his cousin, Maryland politician Nino Mangione, were unsuccessful. Mangione is set to appear in court again on Dec. 19, as prosecutors continue building their case against him. #TrueCrime #NYC #Healthcare #MurderCase #Terrorism #BrianThompson #Justice Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

Brian Thompson, the CEO of the health insurance company UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan on December 4th. Five days later, police arrested Luigi Mangione as a suspect in the killing at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Liv, Julian, and Travis discuss the ideological waters that Magione swam in and how this incident proves that everyone is an online investigator. Plus we explore the reaction to the killing, which includes a surprising amount of AO3 fan fiction. Finally, we break down the popular claim that there's a special connection between the killing and the number 286, which isn't as impressive when closely examined. Subscribe for $5 a month to get all the premium episodes: https://www.patreon.com/qaa Editing by Corey Klotz. Theme by Nick Sena. Additional music by Pontus Berghe. Theme Vocals by THEY/LIVE (https://instagram.com/theyylivve / https://sptfy.com/QrDm). Cover Art by Pedro Correa: (https://pedrocorrea.com) https://qaapodcast.com QAA was known as the QAnon Anonymous podcast. REFERENCES Discover, Defend, Desire https://archiveofourown.org/works/61349623/chapters/156809128

UnitedHealthcare Shooter Prompts Talks of CEO Hotline: Public Outrage Ensues  The December 4 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson sent shockwaves through New York City, not only for its brazen nature but for the political and public firestorm that followed. The alleged perpetrator, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, was apprehended after a multi-day manhunt, and the case has since escalated into a broader debate about corporate privilege, public safety, and the allocation of government resources. Initial Reaction to the Murder In the aftermath of Thompson's death, sources revealed that Governor Kathy Hochul's office had considered creating a hotline specifically for CEOs to report security concerns. This alleged proposal ignited widespread outrage, particularly after details emerged that Mangione had been charged with terrorism for what Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called a “frightening, well-planned, targeted murder.” As the state's political leadership scrambled to address the incident, questions swirled about whether protecting wealthy executives was being prioritized over addressing broader public safety concerns. According to reports, Hochul's administration was contemplating measures to reassure corporate leaders in the wake of the attack. Sources told CNN that these measures included a hotline for executives to directly report threats or security concerns to state authorities. Kathy Wylde, CEO of the Partnership for New York City, confirmed that a meeting with 175 companies and their security personnel had taken place, facilitated by Hochul's Director of Operations Kathryn Garcia. “It's a demonstration that New York really has the most prepared and informed counterterrorism capacity in the country,” Wylde said, emphasizing the state's commitment to protecting corporate interests. Public Backlash and Controversy However, the backlash was swift. Hochul's press secretary, Avi Smalls, denied the existence of a hotline proposal, stating, “There is no CEO hotline, and that proposal was never under consideration by this Administration.” Despite this denial, the mere suggestion of such a measure drew ire from critics who saw it as emblematic of a system skewed in favor of the wealthy and powerful. On social media, users expressed outrage at what they perceived as a misuse of taxpayer dollars. “Why the f*** would my tax dollars go to helping protect people who are more than capable of hiring private security? F****ng NY is so stupid....” one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Another commenter quipped, “I don't seem to remember this kind of state response and resources going to NYC when the homicide rate spiked around 2022, but I guess that was just regular people.” The sentiment echoed across the platform, with others questioning why the state appeared to prioritize corporate security over protections for schools and public spaces. The Murder and Its Implications This public outcry forced a closer examination of the December 4 incident and its broader implications. Mangione's alleged actions were chilling in their precision. According to authorities, he targeted Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel in a calculated attack designed to intimidate and shock. District Attorney Bragg described the murder as “one of the most bustling parts of our city,” and emphasized its implications for public safety, noting that it endangered “local residents, tourists, commuters, and businesspeople just starting out on their day.” The arrest of Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate from a prominent Maryland family, added another layer of intrigue to the case. Police have yet to release a clear motive, but some reports suggest Mangione may have been grappling with personal issues, including a chronic back injury. His background and alleged actions have sparked widespread curiosity, particularly as his legal team, led by high-profile attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo, prepares for a defense that will undoubtedly capture national attention. Agnifilo, whose husband Marc Agnifilo is representing embattled rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs in a separate legal matter, is no stranger to high-stakes cases. Corporate Security vs. Public Safety Amid the unfolding drama, the meeting with corporate leaders facilitated by Hochul's office has raised critical questions about the balance between corporate security and public safety. Wylde, speaking to Politico, framed the meeting as a necessary step in fostering collaboration between businesses and state counterterrorism officials. “[Hochul] understood how serious the impact of both the killing and the hateful reaction to it is, and she wants to make sure that the state resources, specifically the domestic counterterrorism resources, are focused on being supportive, sharing information,” Wylde said. Yet, this rationale has done little to mollify critics who argue that such measures disproportionately benefit the wealthy. “So I just file an LLC and get a special hotline and privileges?” one critic sarcastically remarked online. Others pointed to the broader societal implications, questioning why similar resources were not mobilized during previous spikes in crime that primarily affected lower-income communities. Broader Societal Response The broader societal response has been no less revealing. For many, the idea of a hotline dedicated to CEOs—even if it was never formally proposed—has become a symbol of the disconnect between government priorities and the needs of ordinary citizens. In a city where economic inequality has become increasingly visible, the very notion of such a measure struck a raw nerve. Advocacy groups have seized upon the controversy to demand greater transparency and accountability in how public resources are allocated. For Mangione, the legal battle ahead will likely delve into his psychological state and potential motivations. The charges against him include not only murder but also terrorism, a designation that Manhattan DA Bragg said was warranted given the attack's intent to “cause shock, attention, and intimidation.” Mangione's defense team faces an uphill battle in a case that has already attracted national attention and polarized public opinion. With the weight of public scrutiny on both the case and the political response, the stakes could not be higher. Media Coverage and Public Discourse Adding further complexity to the situation is the role of media coverage. The murder and its aftermath have been the subject of extensive reporting, with news outlets dissecting every angle of the story. From the specifics of the crime to the broader societal questions it raises, the case has become a focal point for discussions about privilege, security, and governance. For some, the incident has highlighted the need for systemic change in how public safety is approached. For others, it has underscored the enduring challenges of balancing corporate interests with the well-being of the general population. Unresolved Questions As the legal proceedings continue, the broader questions raised by this case remain unresolved. Who deserves the protection of state resources in a society grappling with rising inequality? How should governments balance the needs of corporate entities with the safety and well-being of the general public? And what does this incident reveal about the intersection of privilege, security, and public trust? These questions strike at the heart of a debate that extends far beyond New York. They touch on the systemic inequities that define modern governance, the perception of who benefits from public resources, and the psychological toll of living in a society where safety often feels like a privilege rather than a right. As the story unfolds, it offers a stark reminder of the tensions that underlie efforts to address security in an increasingly divided world. Challenges for Policymakers The evolving narrative also poses a challenge for policymakers, who must grapple with the complex realities of public safety in a diverse and unequal society. While the outrage over the alleged hotline has drawn attention to broader systemic issues, it has also highlighted the difficulties of addressing security concerns in a way that feels equitable and just. For Governor Hochul, the controversy represents both a political liability and an opportunity—a chance to demonstrate leadership in navigating the delicate balance between corporate interests and public welfare. Impact on Families and Communities Meanwhile, the families and communities affected by the December 4 murder continue to grapple with the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. For them, the broader debates about privilege and resource allocation are deeply personal, underscoring the human cost of a system that often seems to prioritize the few over the many. As they await justice, their voices serve as a poignant reminder of what is at stake in this ongoing saga. Looking Ahead In the coming months, the case against Luigi Mangione will likely take center stage, providing further insights into the circumstances surrounding Brian Thompson's murder and the motivations behind it. The trial will undoubtedly be closely watched, not only for its legal implications but also for what it reveals about the broader societal issues that have come to define this case. As the story continues to unfold, it promises to remain a powerful lens through which to examine the complexities of modern governance, the challenges of public safety, and the enduring quest for justice in an unequal world.   Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com 

In the early hours of December 4, 2024, the bustling streets of Midtown Manhattan bore witness to a chilling act of violence. Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel. The assailant, captured briefly on surveillance footage, vanished into the city's labyrinthine streets, leaving behind a cloud of fear and a cascade of questions. This targeted killing, in the heart of one of the world's busiest cities, was not just a tragedy but a statement, the implications of which would unfold over the following days. For Kathleen Mangione, a suburban Maryland mother, the events of that December morning were about to collide with her own life in ways she could never have foreseen. Just days earlier, Kathleen had reported her son, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, missing. Luigi, an Ivy League graduate and once a promising computer scientist, had fallen off the grid entirely. Kathleen, unaware of his location since July 1, believed he was residing and working in San Francisco, though she later learned he had been laid off from his job at TrueCar in 2023. Her concern had grown into panic by mid-November, prompting her to file a missing person's report with the San Francisco Police Department. Then came the call from the FBI. On December 7, Kathleen found herself on the phone with agents who had linked her missing son to the man captured on surveillance footage. They showed her the image of the suspected shooter. Her initial reaction was not immediate recognition but rather a chilling confession: she could envision Luigi committing such an act. The weight of this admission hung in the air. For Kathleen, it was an unthinkable moment of reckoning—a mother's instinct clashing with her desperate hope that her son could not be involved. Two days later, Luigi Mangione was apprehended in a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. His arrest came after a San Francisco police officer recognized him from the surveillance image and alerted the FBI. Upon his capture, Mangione was found with a 3D-printed firearm, a suppressor, fake identification, and a document outlining grievances against the U.S. healthcare system. The document painted a portrait of a man consumed by anger and disillusionment, blaming corporate greed and systemic inefficiencies for what he perceived as societal failures. As Mangione awaited extradition to New York, his mother grappled with the public and personal fallout. The family released a statement expressing their devastation and offering prayers to Brian Thompson's family. Kathleen's earlier admission to the FBI now took on new weight, casting her in an unenviable light. She had done what few parents could—acknowledge the possibility of her child's involvement in a heinous act—but the repercussions were profound. The legal proceedings began swiftly. Mangione was charged with first-degree murder as an act of terrorism under New York law, which defines such charges as crimes intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or influence government policy. The gravity of the charge underscored the calculated nature of the attack. District Attorney Alvin Bragg described the murder as "frightening, well-planned, targeted" and designed to "cause shock, attention, and intimidation." Evidence mounted against Mangione. Ballistic tests matched the 3D-printed gun found in his possession with shell casings recovered at the scene. His fingerprints were discovered on a water bottle and an energy bar wrapper left near the crime site. The document, coupled with these physical links, created a damning case. Yet, questions persisted about his motivations and mental state. Was this the calculated act of a politically driven individual, or the desperate cry of a man unraveling under personal and systemic pressures? Mangione's background added another layer of complexity. As an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family, his trajectory seemed poised for success. His family, known for their real estate ventures and nursing home empire, was a fixture in their community. Yet, behind the facade of privilege and promise, cracks had long been forming. His layoff in 2023 marked the beginning of a downward spiral, one that culminated in his radicalized worldview and, ultimately, the fatal act in Manhattan. Public reaction to the case was swift and polarized. In the corporate world, particularly among healthcare executives, fear and outrage reverberated. The targeted nature of the attack raised concerns about security and the growing hostility toward corporate leadership in a time of economic disparity and social unrest. Meanwhile, media coverage dissected every detail of Mangione's life, from his academic achievements to his family's wealth, painting a portrait of a man whose fall from grace was as shocking as his crime. As the case moved forward, legal experts weighed in on Mangione's options. Some suggested a defense strategy focused on mitigating factors, such as mental health issues or extreme emotional disturbance, rather than contesting the overwhelming evidence. For Kathleen Mangione, the journey ahead was one of navigating the unthinkable. Her son's actions had irrevocably altered countless lives, including her own. The image of Luigi—the bright, ambitious boy she had raised—now stood in stark contrast to the man accused of an act of terror. Her admission to the FBI, made in a moment of honesty, remained a poignant reminder of the complexities of familial love and accountability. The case of Luigi Mangione is far from over. As he faces his first court hearings and the process of extradition, the questions surrounding his motivations and mental state continue to loom large. For the Mangione family, for Brian Thompson's loved ones, and for a nation grappling with the implications of such targeted violence, the search for answers is only beginning.  Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In the early hours of December 4, 2024, the bustling streets of Midtown Manhattan bore witness to a chilling act of violence. Brian Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel. The assailant, captured briefly on surveillance footage, vanished into the city's labyrinthine streets, leaving behind a cloud of fear and a cascade of questions. This targeted killing, in the heart of one of the world's busiest cities, was not just a tragedy but a statement, the implications of which would unfold over the following days. For Kathleen Mangione, a suburban Maryland mother, the events of that December morning were about to collide with her own life in ways she could never have foreseen. Just days earlier, Kathleen had reported her son, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, missing. Luigi, an Ivy League graduate and once a promising computer scientist, had fallen off the grid entirely. Kathleen, unaware of his location since July 1, believed he was residing and working in San Francisco, though she later learned he had been laid off from his job at TrueCar in 2023. Her concern had grown into panic by mid-November, prompting her to file a missing person's report with the San Francisco Police Department. Then came the call from the FBI. On December 7, Kathleen found herself on the phone with agents who had linked her missing son to the man captured on surveillance footage. They showed her the image of the suspected shooter. Her initial reaction was not immediate recognition but rather a chilling confession: she could envision Luigi committing such an act. The weight of this admission hung in the air. For Kathleen, it was an unthinkable moment of reckoning—a mother's instinct clashing with her desperate hope that her son could not be involved. Two days later, Luigi Mangione was apprehended in a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. His arrest came after a San Francisco police officer recognized him from the surveillance image and alerted the FBI. Upon his capture, Mangione was found with a 3D-printed firearm, a suppressor, fake identification, and a document outlining grievances against the U.S. healthcare system. The document painted a portrait of a man consumed by anger and disillusionment, blaming corporate greed and systemic inefficiencies for what he perceived as societal failures. As Mangione awaited extradition to New York, his mother grappled with the public and personal fallout. The family released a statement expressing their devastation and offering prayers to Brian Thompson's family. Kathleen's earlier admission to the FBI now took on new weight, casting her in an unenviable light. She had done what few parents could—acknowledge the possibility of her child's involvement in a heinous act—but the repercussions were profound. The legal proceedings began swiftly. Mangione was charged with first-degree murder as an act of terrorism under New York law, which defines such charges as crimes intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or influence government policy. The gravity of the charge underscored the calculated nature of the attack. District Attorney Alvin Bragg described the murder as "frightening, well-planned, targeted" and designed to "cause shock, attention, and intimidation." Evidence mounted against Mangione. Ballistic tests matched the 3D-printed gun found in his possession with shell casings recovered at the scene. His fingerprints were discovered on a water bottle and an energy bar wrapper left near the crime site. The document, coupled with these physical links, created a damning case. Yet, questions persisted about his motivations and mental state. Was this the calculated act of a politically driven individual, or the desperate cry of a man unraveling under personal and systemic pressures? Mangione's background added another layer of complexity. As an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland family, his trajectory seemed poised for success. His family, known for their real estate ventures and nursing home empire, was a fixture in their community. Yet, behind the facade of privilege and promise, cracks had long been forming. His layoff in 2023 marked the beginning of a downward spiral, one that culminated in his radicalized worldview and, ultimately, the fatal act in Manhattan. Public reaction to the case was swift and polarized. In the corporate world, particularly among healthcare executives, fear and outrage reverberated. The targeted nature of the attack raised concerns about security and the growing hostility toward corporate leadership in a time of economic disparity and social unrest. Meanwhile, media coverage dissected every detail of Mangione's life, from his academic achievements to his family's wealth, painting a portrait of a man whose fall from grace was as shocking as his crime. As the case moved forward, legal experts weighed in on Mangione's options. Some suggested a defense strategy focused on mitigating factors, such as mental health issues or extreme emotional disturbance, rather than contesting the overwhelming evidence. For Kathleen Mangione, the journey ahead was one of navigating the unthinkable. Her son's actions had irrevocably altered countless lives, including her own. The image of Luigi—the bright, ambitious boy she had raised—now stood in stark contrast to the man accused of an act of terror. Her admission to the FBI, made in a moment of honesty, remained a poignant reminder of the complexities of familial love and accountability. The case of Luigi Mangione is far from over. As he faces his first court hearings and the process of extradition, the questions surrounding his motivations and mental state continue to loom large. For the Mangione family, for Brian Thompson's loved ones, and for a nation grappling with the implications of such targeted violence, the search for answers is only beginning.    Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com 

The December 4 murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson sent shockwaves through New York City, not only for its brazen nature but for the political and public firestorm that followed. The alleged perpetrator, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, was apprehended after a multi-day manhunt, and the case has since escalated into a broader debate about corporate privilege, public safety, and the allocation of government resources. Initial Reaction to the Murder In the aftermath of Thompson's death, sources revealed that Governor Kathy Hochul's office had considered creating a hotline specifically for CEOs to report security concerns. This alleged proposal ignited widespread outrage, particularly after details emerged that Mangione had been charged with terrorism for what Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg called a “frightening, well-planned, targeted murder.” As the state's political leadership scrambled to address the incident, questions swirled about whether protecting wealthy executives was being prioritized over addressing broader public safety concerns. According to reports, Hochul's administration was contemplating measures to reassure corporate leaders in the wake of the attack. Sources told CNN that these measures included a hotline for executives to directly report threats or security concerns to state authorities. Kathy Wylde, CEO of the Partnership for New York City, confirmed that a meeting with 175 companies and their security personnel had taken place, facilitated by Hochul's Director of Operations Kathryn Garcia. “It's a demonstration that New York really has the most prepared and informed counterterrorism capacity in the country,” Wylde said, emphasizing the state's commitment to protecting corporate interests. Public Backlash and Controversy However, the backlash was swift. Hochul's press secretary, Avi Smalls, denied the existence of a hotline proposal, stating, “There is no CEO hotline, and that proposal was never under consideration by this Administration.” Despite this denial, the mere suggestion of such a measure drew ire from critics who saw it as emblematic of a system skewed in favor of the wealthy and powerful. On social media, users expressed outrage at what they perceived as a misuse of taxpayer dollars. “Why the f*** would my tax dollars go to helping protect people who are more than capable of hiring private security? F****ng NY is so stupid....” one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Another commenter quipped, “I don't seem to remember this kind of state response and resources going to NYC when the homicide rate spiked around 2022, but I guess that was just regular people.” The sentiment echoed across the platform, with others questioning why the state appeared to prioritize corporate security over protections for schools and public spaces. The Murder and Its Implications This public outcry forced a closer examination of the December 4 incident and its broader implications. Mangione's alleged actions were chilling in their precision. According to authorities, he targeted Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel in a calculated attack designed to intimidate and shock. District Attorney Bragg described the murder as “one of the most bustling parts of our city,” and emphasized its implications for public safety, noting that it endangered “local residents, tourists, commuters, and businesspeople just starting out on their day.” The arrest of Mangione, a University of Pennsylvania graduate from a prominent Maryland family, added another layer of intrigue to the case. Police have yet to release a clear motive, but some reports suggest Mangione may have been grappling with personal issues, including a chronic back injury. His background and alleged actions have sparked widespread curiosity, particularly as his legal team, led by high-profile attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo, prepares for a defense that will undoubtedly capture national attention. Agnifilo, whose husband Marc Agnifilo is representing embattled rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs in a separate legal matter, is no stranger to high-stakes cases. Corporate Security vs. Public Safety Amid the unfolding drama, the meeting with corporate leaders facilitated by Hochul's office has raised critical questions about the balance between corporate security and public safety. Wylde, speaking to Politico, framed the meeting as a necessary step in fostering collaboration between businesses and state counterterrorism officials. “[Hochul] understood how serious the impact of both the killing and the hateful reaction to it is, and she wants to make sure that the state resources, specifically the domestic counterterrorism resources, are focused on being supportive, sharing information,” Wylde said. Yet, this rationale has done little to mollify critics who argue that such measures disproportionately benefit the wealthy. “So I just file an LLC and get a special hotline and privileges?” one critic sarcastically remarked online. Others pointed to the broader societal implications, questioning why similar resources were not mobilized during previous spikes in crime that primarily affected lower-income communities. Broader Societal Response The broader societal response has been no less revealing. For many, the idea of a hotline dedicated to CEOs—even if it was never formally proposed—has become a symbol of the disconnect between government priorities and the needs of ordinary citizens. In a city where economic inequality has become increasingly visible, the very notion of such a measure struck a raw nerve. Advocacy groups have seized upon the controversy to demand greater transparency and accountability in how public resources are allocated. For Mangione, the legal battle ahead will likely delve into his psychological state and potential motivations. The charges against him include not only murder but also terrorism, a designation that Manhattan DA Bragg said was warranted given the attack's intent to “cause shock, attention, and intimidation.” Mangione's defense team faces an uphill battle in a case that has already attracted national attention and polarized public opinion. With the weight of public scrutiny on both the case and the political response, the stakes could not be higher. Media Coverage and Public Discourse Adding further complexity to the situation is the role of media coverage. The murder and its aftermath have been the subject of extensive reporting, with news outlets dissecting every angle of the story. From the specifics of the crime to the broader societal questions it raises, the case has become a focal point for discussions about privilege, security, and governance. For some, the incident has highlighted the need for systemic change in how public safety is approached. For others, it has underscored the enduring challenges of balancing corporate interests with the well-being of the general population. Unresolved Questions As the legal proceedings continue, the broader questions raised by this case remain unresolved. Who deserves the protection of state resources in a society grappling with rising inequality? How should governments balance the needs of corporate entities with the safety and well-being of the general public? And what does this incident reveal about the intersection of privilege, security, and public trust? These questions strike at the heart of a debate that extends far beyond New York. They touch on the systemic inequities that define modern governance, the perception of who benefits from public resources, and the psychological toll of living in a society where safety often feels like a privilege rather than a right. As the story unfolds, it offers a stark reminder of the tensions that underlie efforts to address security in an increasingly divided world. Challenges for Policymakers The evolving narrative also poses a challenge for policymakers, who must grapple with the complex realities of public safety in a diverse and unequal society. While the outrage over the alleged hotline has drawn attention to broader systemic issues, it has also highlighted the difficulties of addressing security concerns in a way that feels equitable and just. For Governor Hochul, the controversy represents both a political liability and an opportunity—a chance to demonstrate leadership in navigating the delicate balance between corporate interests and public welfare. Impact on Families and Communities Meanwhile, the families and communities affected by the December 4 murder continue to grapple with the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. For them, the broader debates about privilege and resource allocation are deeply personal, underscoring the human cost of a system that often seems to prioritize the few over the many. As they await justice, their voices serve as a poignant reminder of what is at stake in this ongoing saga. Looking Ahead In the coming months, the case against Luigi Mangione will likely take center stage, providing further insights into the circumstances surrounding Brian Thompson's murder and the motivations behind it. The trial will undoubtedly be closely watched, not only for its legal implications but also for what it reveals about the broader societal issues that have come to define this case. As the story continues to unfold, it promises to remain a powerful lens through which to examine the complexities of modern governance, the challenges of public safety, and the enduring quest for justice in an unequal world.   Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK's Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com 

Josh Hammer unpacks the new grand jury indictment of Luigi Mangione, who recently murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in cold blood on the streets of Midtown Manhattan. Thankfully, the NYC grand jury got it right here—but a deeply disturbing new Emerson College poll on the matter bespeaks a broader societal rot. Plus, we at the Article III Project just notched a big judicial ethics win against a far-left federal judge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been nearly two weeks since UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down in Midtown Manhattan by alleged shooter, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione. Since then, the nation has been captivated (both good and bad) by the murder. Former NYPD Inspector and FOX News Contributor Paul Mauro discusses why this case is so unique, Mangione's possible motivation, and the public's perception as the case progresses. Follow Kennedy on Twitter: @KennedyNation Kennedy Now Available on YouTube: https://bit.ly/4311mhD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ralph welcomes retired diplomat Ambassador Chas Freeman to discuss the United States' disregard for international law, the incoming Trump administration's approach to foreign policy, and the decline of the American Empire (among other topics).Ambassador Chas Freeman is a retired career diplomat who has negotiated on behalf of the United States with over 100 foreign governments in East and South Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and both Western and Eastern Europe. Ambassador Freeman was previously a Senior Fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, acting Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, and Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d'Affaires in the American embassies at both Bangkok and Beijing. He was Director for Chinese Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 1979-1981. He was the principal American interpreter during the late President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972. In addition to Chinese, Ambassador Freeman speaks French and Spanish at the professional level and can converse in Arabic and several other languages.He concluded his thirty years in public service as Assistant Secretary of Defense, responsible for managing defense relations with all regions of the world except the countries of the former Soviet Union. Ambassador Freeman is the author of several well-received books on statecraft and diplomacy, including The Diplomat's Dictionary, America's Misadventures in the Middle East, and America's Continuing Misadventures in the Middle East.I think it's fair to say that our country led the drive for international law, a world order that was based on rules established by consensus and legitimized at the United Nations. But we have also led the drive away from the rule of law, both internationally and domestically. And I think the connection is contempt for procedural justice or due process.Chas FreemanThat whole area of international law—which was a stabilizing force in the world—has gone [when Trump removed us from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Agreement in Europe.] And the UN Charter is disrespected—not just the US Constitution is—in its fundamentals. We invade the sovereignty of other countries with no serious regard for the legal prohibitions against that. And in fact, those legal prohibitions—which once were something that smaller countries could rely upon when they confronted the great powers—are no longer effective. Therefore, we see at the local level, the regional level, a proliferation of weapons designed to counter and defend against attack by greater powers. So the whole world is in effect arming itself. This is very good for arms manufacturers, but it's very bad for the prospects for our species.Chas FreemanThere are no realistic threats against the United States—except those that we are provoking. Our view seems to be that the best way to deal with the hornet's nest—I'm speaking of West Asia, the Middle East here—is to go and poke the hornets in their nest.Chas FreemanThe real risk now…is Israel has so much power in the US that it could create incidents which would flip the United States into a blazing barrage of empire expansion— and suppression in the United States domestically. And they have an incoming president who is ripe for that kind of manipulation to begin with.Ralph NaderIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 12/11/241. On December 4th, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was assassinated in broad daylight in Midtown Manhattan. Clues indicated that the killing was political; most notably, the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were each written on one of the three bullets fired at the scene. As AP notes, “The messages mirror the phrase ‘delay, deny, defend,' which is commonly used by lawyers and critics about insurers that delay payments, deny claims and defend their actions.” Following nearly two full days of nescience, authorities turned up a suspect – Luigi Mangione, the Ivy League-educated scion of an established Baltimore family who had shown signs of increasingly erratic behavior in recent months, perhaps related to ever-worsening back pain. When Mangione was apprehended in an Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonald's, he was found with “a three-page handwritten document that indicated ‘motivation and mindset,'” the BBC reports, however authorities have not released this manifesto. Perhaps unsurprisingly, ABC 7 New York reports that Mangione's actions have unleashed a torrent of “‘volcanic' anger,” toward health insurance agencies, which many regard as capricious and cruel. It remains to be seen how this public sentiment will factor into what is sure to be a highly-publicized criminal trial.2. The reverberations of Mangione's actions are already being felt. Back in November, the American Society of Anesthesiologists issued a statement decrying Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's unilateral declaration that it would refuse to “pay for anesthesia care if [a] surgery or procedure goes beyond an arbitrary time limit, regardless of how long the surgical procedure takes.” The ASA called on Anthem to reverse that proposal, but their pleas were ignored. That is until December 5th – just one day after the UnitedHealthcare shooting – when the company abruptly reversed themselves and even scrubbed the announcement of the policy from their website. Of course, Anthem insists that the outcry was based on “misinformation” and denies any correlation between the assassination and their decision, per NBC, but the timing frankly makes that difficult to believe.3. Another New York City killing also made the news last week: the trial of Daniel Penny, a former U.S. Marine on trial for strangling Jordan Neely to death in a New York subway car. Neely was an African-American street artist who had been experiencing homelessness. CNN reports Penny was found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide, already a lesser charge than the original second-degree manslaughter allegation, which Judge Maxwell Wiley dismissed Friday after jurors “twice told the court they could not come to a verdict on the count.” Neely's father, Andre Zachary, is quoted saying “I miss my son. My son didn't have to go through this. I didn't have to go through this either…What's going to happen to us now? I've had enough of this. The system is rigged.”4. Turning to the Middle East, the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria has fallen. Assad, with help from Russia, has clung to power since the country descended into civil war in 2011, beating back all manner of rival forces ranging from U.S.-backed rebels to left-wing Kurdish militias to ISIS. The faction that finally did wrest power from Assad is called Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham or HTS, which splintered from Al-Qaeda but is now engaging in a so-called “charm offensive” per France24, and promoting itself as a tolerant faction that will not subjugate women or oppress ethnic and religious minorities such as Syrian Christians, Druze, and Kurds. In a statement, the group told the Kurds of Aleppo “You have the right to live freely … Diversity is a strength of which we are proud…We denounce the actions of the Islamic State group against the Kurds, including the enslavement of women … We are with the Kurds to build the Syria of tomorrow.” ABC reports the U.S. will “recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks and protects the rights of minorities and women.” So far HTS seems to fit the bill. And if this all wasn't enough, the Syrian situation is further complicated by Israel using this moment to expand its foothold in the country. CNN reports Israel has “launched airstrikes at military targets across Syria and deployed ground troops both into and beyond a demilitarized buffer zone for the first time in 50 years,” setting the stage for a possible new front in Netanyahu's ongoing regional war.5. In Palestine, the Intercept reports five Palestinians in the West Bank, along with the councils of the three villages they hail from have filed “a formal regulatory complaint in Germany accusing the media giant Axel Springer of contributing to human rights abuses in Palestine.” Specifically, the complaint concerns Yad2, a classified ads platform and subsidiary of Axel Springer that has been compared to Craigslist, which the plaintiffs allege enables illegal settlements. According to the complaint filed by Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Centre, Yad2's facilitation of settler activity violates Germany's Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which “requires German companies to identify and mitigate human rights risks within their global supply chains, including in subsidiaries which they control.”6. In more Israel/Palestine news, the student body at Yale has “overwhelmingly,” passed three pro-Palestine referenda, including two demanding that the university “disclose and divest from its holdings in military weapons manufacturers, ‘including those arming Israel,'” per Yale Daily News. These measures passed with around 80% of the vote. Han Pimental-Hayes, an organizer with the pro-Palestine Sumud Coalition, is quoted saying “University leaders have long tried to paint pro-Palestine and pro-divestment students as a fringe minority. The results of this referendum demonstrate that in reality, the movement for a free Palestine and a more ethical endowment is overwhelmingly popular.” Yale Friends of Israel however expressed that they are “certain” Yale will not change its investment policy regarding Israel's weapons of war.7. Looking to Africa, Semafor reports that the incoming Trump White House appears set to recognize the breakaway state of Somaliland, spurred on by right-wing elements who wish to use the unrecognized country as a base for anti-China intelligence operations. This piece highlights that this move would rattle the governments of East Africa and draw the ire of the African Union, but Trump's China hawks see it as a critical element of countering Chinese influence in the region and particularly in Djibouti where the People's Liberation Army has set up one of its handful of foreign military bases. Even if Trump does not recognize Somaliland however, and instead hews to the traditional American “One Somalia” policy, Republicans are calling for Trump to take an approach akin to Taiwan – treating it as independent without formal recognition.8. Turning to domestic politics, POLITICO reports Democrats are staging a “mutiny” against the old guard who have monopolized power in the House. This report focuses on Rep. Jerry Nadler, 77, who will vacate his position as the top Democrat on Judiciary to clear the way for Jamie Raskin, Rep. Raul Grijalva, 76, who announced he would step down as the top Dem on the Natural Resources Committee, and David Scott of Georgia, 79, who is looking down the barrel at multiple challenges for his spot on the Agriculture Committee. Since this piece was published, another major challenge has emerged – NBC reports AOC is gunning for the top Democratic spot on the Oversight Committee. The POLITICO piece emphasizes Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' approach of letting the challenges “speak for themselves,” as an indication that he will not fight this wave of challenges.9. Washington Post labor reporter Lauren Kaori Gurley reports the Teamsters are demanding Amazon agree to bargaining dates by December 15. In a statement, Teamsters President Sean O'Brien writes “The Teamsters are done asking nicely for Amazon to stop breaking the law. Amazon must commit to come to the table and bargain a Teamsters contract with its workers — or face the consequences of its inaction.” This gambit by the Teamsters comes just as the winter holiday gift deliveries are getting into full swing, maximizing the union's leverage. Moreover, the Teamster's Faustian bargain with the Trump administration may yield results for them, as the normally business friendly Republicans may be inclined to put the screws to Amazon on behalf of this particular union. Whatever the circumstances, the Amazon Teamsters deserve a contract and it is heartening that O'Brien is fighting for his members.10. In decidedly worse Trump news, the president-elect has announced former Missouri Republican Congressman Billy Long as his pick to lead the IRS. A story by the Lever sounds the alarm on how he might use the “non-profit killer” bill to pursue political vendettas against tax-exempt organizations he dislikes. This piece exposes Long's role in trying to pressure the IRS to launch a probe into, of all things, the Humane Society following their support of a Missouri ballot measure strengthening dog breeder regulations. Put another way, if Long was ready to use the long-arm of the IRS to crack down on an organization whose sole political goal is the protection of animals, what might he do to organizations devoted to civil rights or social justice?This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

The shocking shooting death of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive in Midtown Manhattan prompted a public outcry about the problems with the nation's health care system, as stories of delayed and denied care filled social media. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump continues to avoid providing specifics about his plans for the Affordable Care Act and other health issues.Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Sandhya Raman of CQ Roll Call, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Francis Collins, who was the director of the National Institutes of Health and a science adviser to President Joe Biden. Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF's “Medicare Spending was 27% More for People Who Disenrolled From Medicare Advantage Than for Similar People in Traditional Medicare,” by Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, Alex Cottrill, Nolan Sroczynski, and Tricia Neuman. Alice Miranda Ollstein: CNN's “Most Women in the US Aren't Accessing Family Planning Services, Even as Abortion Restrictions Grow,” by Deidre McPhillips. Sandhya Raman: Stat's “Spending Less, Living Longer: What the U.S. Can Learn From Portugal's Innovative Health System,” by Usha Lee McFarling. Rachel Cohrs Zhang: ProPublica's “‘Eat What You Kill,'” by J. David McSwane. Visit our website for a transcript of the episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Luigi Mangione, 26, has been charged in the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot on a sidewalk in Midtown Manhattan last week. The Baltimore Banner's Justin Fenton tells us more. Then, after the sudden downfall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria this past weekend, we hear from Rehab Alkadi, a refugee who entered the U.S. via Chicago in 2015. And, the New York Mets made history this week when it signed Dominican superstar outfielder Juan Soto to a record $765 million contract. Sports Business Journal's Mike Mazzeo joins us.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Brian Thompson, the CEO of major insurance group UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death at point blank range in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning before he was set to attend an investor conference. The masked gunman, who remains on the loose, appeared to be lying in wait and shot Thompson several times from behind, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. The motive for the shooting remains unknown, but speculation has surrounded the company's policy of denying health care to customers as well as Thompson's impending testimony about the company's business practices. Jimmy and Americans' Comedian Kurt Metzger discuss the shocking and brazen attack.

A manhunt is underway in New York City for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He was shot and killed on a busy Midtown Manhattan street in a targeted early morning attack.And despite saying that he wouldn't do so, President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, this week for federal crimes.Also this week, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. The move was rejected by the parliament and reversed by the president six hours later. His political future hangs in limbo. And rebel groups now control significant parts of the Syrian cities of Aleppo and Hama, forcing government forces to retreat. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

John Yoo returns to discuss a lotta legal stuff this week. He talks presidential pardons, Daniel Penny, United States v. Skrmetti and the murder of UnitedHealth's CEO in Midtown Manhattan. Plus, after an extra-long Thanksgiving season hiatus, the boys are back with much to be grateful for. Sound from today's open: Chris Wallace predicted Hunter pardon on June 10; Ted Cruz reacts on NewsMax and Joe says Goodbye, Angola

Felipe Rodriguez, adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and former NYPD detective sergeant, offers analysis of the ongoing police investigation into the brazen shooting of a health care executive on a Midtown Manhattan street. 

John Yoo returns to discuss a lotta legal stuff this week. He talks presidential pardons, Daniel Penny, United States v. Skrmetti and the murder of UnitedHealth’s CEO in Midtown Manhattan. Plus, after an extra-long Thanksgiving season hiatus, the boys are back with much to be grateful for. Sound from today’s open: Chris Wallace predicted Hunter pardon […]

Episode 1602, brought to you by our incredible sponsors: Chubbies: For a limited time, our friends at Chubbies are giving our listeners 20% off with the promo code HARDFACTOR20 at checkout at chubbiesshorts.com. Kalshi: Go to Kalshi.com/hardfactor to get $20 free credit when you deposit $50 in the first and only legal prediction market in the US Hims: Start your free online visit at Hims.com/hardfactor for your personalized ED treatment options Prize Picks: Download the PrizePicks app today and use code HARDFACTOR and get $50 instantly when you play $5!! Timestamps: 00:03:01 World War 3 board game 00:05:54 United Healthcare CEO assassinated 00:22:46 Werewolf babies 00:28:03 Kobayashi update 00:30:41 Sex crazed VA facility 00:35:22 Defense Secretary appointee Hesgeth might be out 00:37:08 Michelin Star pies stolen Thank you for listening, go to Patreon.com/HardFactor to support the pod and get access to discord chat and bonus podcasts.... But MOST Importantly, HAGFD!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's Headlines: United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel yesterday morning before an investor conference. The masked shooter, who fled on a Citibike, remains at large. Thompson had reportedly received threats related to insurance disputes. Donald Trump is considering replacing Pete Hegseth with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as his Secretary of Defense pick, citing DeSantis' better chances of Senate confirmation. Meanwhile, Trump tapped billionaire Jared Isaacman, a SpaceX enthusiast, to lead NASA despite his lack of government experience. Republicans narrowly retained control of the House with 220 seats to Democrats' 215, though three GOP members will leave for Trump's cabinet. This results in a net Democratic gain and a slimmer majority for Speaker Mike Johnson. In France, Prime Minister Michael Barnier and his cabinet are resigning after a no-confidence vote, marking the country's first such political crisis since 1962. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: Ap News: Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street WA Post: Hegseth defiant as Trump considers replacing him as defense secretary pick NBC News: Trump picks billionaire Jared Isaacman to lead NASA WA Post: Trump and the GOP will have a historically tiny House majority. What that means. NBC News: French government is toppled in no-confidence vote Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage alongside Bridget Schwartz and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the morning of Wednesday, December 4th, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot outside of a hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Surveillance photos show the perpetrator wearing a backpack and a black face mask leaving the scene of the crime on an e-bike. According to investigators, the murder was the result of a targeted attack, though the motive for the killing is still unknown. Retired NYPD Inspector and FOX News Contributor Paul Mauro reviews the details of this shocking case and provides his analysis of the suspect's actions. Follow Emily on Instagram: @realemilycompagno If you have a story or topic we should feature on the FOX True Crime Podcast, send us an email at: truecrimepodcast@fox.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed in Midtown Manhattan, triggering an ongoing manhunt for the suspect. Also, the latest on Donald Trump's transition to the White House and his controversial pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. Plus, U.S. airline executives are in the hot seat after being accused of charging 'junk' fees. And, controversy bubbles over an 'AI Jesus' being used in a Swiss church confessional booth.

On episode #132 of The Shallow End, hilarity ensues when Jethro regales us with the tale of a laundry hamper. Not just any hamper, mind you – but one placed inadvertently in a man's bedroom so as to catch something other than dirty tee shirts and socks. What the man “caught” in his hamper was quite a surprise. Let's just say it culminated with a call to 9-11. Then Lindsay has a story from the Wayback Machine. It takes us all on a holiday in 1964 in Midtown Manhattan. If you thought the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades were spectacular enough, you ain't heard nothin' yet. Just add a drunk TV star and an inflatable dinosaur who has a disagreement with a light pole! Someone call the fire department – ‘cause this episode is EN FUEGO! If you would like to advertise on The Shallow End with Schnebly and Toth, contact  advertising@airwavemedia.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices