Podcasts about MPD

Attorney Chris Madel joins Chad to talk about the MPD whistleblower he represents and another client of his, Alpha News, and their negotiating attempt to purchase the Star Tribune. Later, Adam Carter joins for the usual Tuesday Q&A with Ask Adam Anything.

Attorney Chris Madel joins Chad to begin the show sharing what he can about the MPD whistleblower he represents that brought issues to light about former chief Brian O'Hara. Plus, Madel, who also represents Alpha News, tells us about the story of Alpha attempting to purchase the Star Tribune and speaks on his strong disagreement with the DOJ not seeing the death penalty against Vance Boelter.

What's your favorite spot to be in Minnesota? Chad opens the show with that topic after spending the weekend his personal favorite location. Later, Bloomington police chief Booker Hodges joins to talk about policing during the summer months and why he has no interest in pursuing the chief job in Minneapolis. Plus, Chad details new accusations against former MPD chief Brian O'Hara shared by the Star Tribune.

Bloomington PD chief Booker Hodges joins Chad to talk about the unique challenges facing his department with summer here and increased gang activity. Plus, Hodges talks about the situation with former MPD chief Brian O'Hara and made it clear he is no interest in pursuing that open job.

Cats are 40% of the pet market, but are somehow still chronically overlooked. Every innovation goes to dogs first. Even your vet's office is built for dogs first. Matt Michaelson, cofounder and CEO of Smalls, and his team have built an incredible cat-first brand precisely because of that blind spot.In this episode, I sit down with Matt to break down:• Why the cat industry is structurally underinvested (which includes VCs simply saying "I don't really like cats")• What "human-grade" actually means for pet food — and the sustainability trade-offs nobody talks about• Ingredient splitting: the regulatory hack that lets pet brands disguise what's actually in the bag• "Wrestling in the mud": a feedback culture where every hire is expected to disagree• Founders Pledge, and why committing 5% early changes the giving conversation laterBig thanks to Matt for coming on the pod and sharing the playbook behind Smalls.⏱️ Chapter Markers:00:00 — Why cats keep getting overlooked01:05 — What is Smalls? Cat-first brand, human-grade nutrition02:09 — What "human-grade" actually means (and the sustainability trade-off)04:26 — Health impact: allergies, ingredient splitting, and the regulatory hack06:31 — Why Matt chose cats: the market psychology nobody's pricing in07:20 — Why every VC and pet brand defaults to dogs first09:21 — From growth marketing to founder: building demand in a commoditized stack11:48 — Emerging channels worth watching (and why DTC is just a channel, not a model)13:17 — AI-native orgs: how the team uses AI without becoming a tech company16:01 — Human-supervised AI teams and what entry-level jobs look like now17:26 — "Wrestling in the mud": the air-grievances feedback culture19:39 — Founders Pledge: committing 5% early changes the whole conversation21:05 — Ingredient transparency: percentages on the label, fixing the labeling game23:32 — MPD's closing thoughts on the cat opportunityLinks:Matt Michaelson: LinkedIn Smalls: Website, LinkedIn, X Interplay: Website, LinkedIn, XMPD: LinkedIn, X

A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. Tonight's APEX Express show is focused on food justice and Asian America. First, Host Miko Lee talks with artist Macy Tran about their work on food as a form of resistance, and then she speaks with researcher Dr. Milkie Vu around her work on food insecurity and Asian American communities.   Show TRANSCRIPT [00:00:00] Opening: Apex Express Asian Pacific expression. Community and cultural coverage, music and calendar, new visions and voices, coming to you with an Asian Pacific Islander point of view. It's time to get on board the Apex Express.   [00:00:30] Miko Lee: Welcome to Apex Express. I'm your host, Miko Lee, and tonight we're talking about food justice and Asian America. First, we talk with artist Macy Tran about their work on food as a form of resistance, and then we speak with researcher Dr. Milkie Vu around her work on food insecurity and Asian American communities. Join us tonight as we delve into food justice. Welcome to Apex Express, Macy Tran, I'm so happy to meet you.    [00:01:03] Macy Tran: I'm happy to meet you as well, Miko. Thanks for having me.   [00:01:06] Miko Lee: I just wanna start with the question I ask all of my guests, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?    [00:01:13] Macy Tran: I come from a legacy of powerful Vietnamese people who were born and raised in Vietnam and now are part of the diaspora in Minnesota. I come from food peoples and healers and chefs and creatives of all sorts who have learned how to make ends meet and to adapt and to work with what they have. I come from a long line of people who have loved through food and who have used food as a means of cultural preservation and education and survival, which has now been passed on to me. There's so much to say about who I come from. My grandparents have stories of survival and resilience throughout the American War in Vietnam. And it's only because of just their love and the decisions they've made on behalf of their love that I am here today. My parents own a restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Vietnamese restaurant called Pho 79/Caravelle That has a 40 plus year legacy of serving Chinese and Vietnamese food to the Minneapolis community. It started with my grandma's brother, and then it passed down to my grandma. And now my grandma has since passed and has passed it down to my father and my mother. And so I like to say that it's restaurant people who raised me. I grew up sleeping in the booths and all of the aunties, even though they weren't blood aunties were my aunties. Because our survival was just so foundationally just predicated on food and what we served and shared with others, and also what we ate at home and the celebrations that we would have both at the restaurant and at home. This is really what makes me.    [00:03:20] Miko Lee: Thank you for sharing. Do you wanna talk more about the legacy part?   [00:03:24] Macy Tran: I carry a legacy of peoples who really know the importance of food and the way we use food to care and support each other. Even in the most hard of times when my family was. On a boat with 200 other people and didn't know if they were going to survive when they kind of landed abroad. The shores of Indonesia, food has been with them throughout it all, and it is how I was raised to love and care for people. I see the ways that food is not just a means for sustenance, but also as joy, as creativity, as love, and I carry all of those, decisions and skills with me.    [00:04:19] Miko Lee: Thank you so much. I learned first about your book when I read a piece that you wrote for 18 million Rising, and I'm wondering if you could just talk about how that piece around food as a form of resistance, how did that come about?   [00:04:33] Macy Tran: I have a friend who works with 18 million Rising, and since the federal occupation in Minneapolis, I've been doing a lot of food justice organizing here. And it has been a way in which I have seen and expressed just the skills and love that I give to my community. I was just feeling compelled to give food. That was what I knew. In the past two months as my friends have been going out on the streets following ICE agents around legally observing, I have felt that my role in this movement is to feed frontline folks who are out doing the work and also feeding our community during a time in which it's very scary and difficult to leave your home without fear of being abducted. In Minneapolis we have created systems of, food resource sharing that have been really powerful to witness and experience and to get engaged with. And so one way that I've been doing it is I've been cooking community meals most Sundays, sometimes Saturdays that feed 200 plus people.   [00:05:47] I am providing delicious food for my friends who are out on the streets and coming home and hungry and cold. And I also helped facilitate and organize a food distribution at my parents' restaurant after the murder of Alex Preti I really wanted to not just be involved in like acting and responding to what was happening but as an artist, as a creative, I felt the need for also remembering and preserving and reflecting about what's been going on in Minneapolis. I kept being pulled in all these different directions and was organizing over here and supporting this community and doing this. And then when my friend reached out to me at 18 million Rising,. It was such a great opportunity for me to really reflect on my practice of food as resistance and food as justice. I've been a food writer in the Twin Cities for about the past three years. Food, events, I mostly cover restaurant stories and festivals and theater and all that sort of stuff in the BIPOC community here in the Twin Cities. And I realized writing this piece that this was the first time in a while, that I had written something actually for myself from my heart that was in my voice. Without an editor saying, no, you have to say it this way. No, we have to cut that part out. No, you use too many words here, and so I really took this piece as an opportunity to share what my life was like here in my own words and my own experiences. And just use it as a moment to really reflect and share the things that I'm learning and the way that I am practicing and using food as a bridge to healing and transformation during this time in which we are ripe for needing that.   [00:07:47] Miko Lee: Can you roll back a little bit and talk to me about how you got started as an organizer? What, when you first learned about social justice work and what pulled you in?   [00:07:56] Macy Tran: It definitely wasn't the way that I was raised. I was born in the us my parents were born in Vietnam and then came over to the US and they really raised me with the mentality of you just put your head down and you work hard and you don't really get involved. And like, yeah, you care for others, but mostly you care for your family. I was actually someone who was always butting heads with my family because I was like, do you not see all of these issues that are happening in the world? Like the issue, the systems that were implicated in. We have to care beyond just ourselves, and we would always butt heads about that.   [00:08:33] Miko Lee: At what age did that start?    [00:08:35] Macy Tran: Oh, probably when I was a teenager. around that time I was finding my voice. and it wasn't until college that I really started putting words and frameworks and theory into what I have already witnessed in my family and my community, which is just community care and the ways that facilitates justice and transformation I would say since college that I really started actively organizing primarily on campus. I went to a smaller liberal arts school. So organizing and just getting involved in our community in that way was pretty easy. And like after I graduated college, I spent five years in Southeast Asia, one year in Vietnam, and then four years in Thailand where I was primarily working at the intersections of education and refugee justice and environmental justice. I got to meet all sorts of organizers and activists from across the region who have taught me. Really everything, a lot of what I know about organizing and what it means to show up specifically within a Southeast Asian context and how to use kind of my feet in both worlds, both my American political identity and my Southeast Asian political identity.   [00:09:59] And to merge those for the better and for my community. So I would say that. I've always had a big heart ever since I was little. And actually my parents were always like, you are too trusting. You people are gonna take advantage of you in the world. And I was like, I just wanna live in this world with so much love. And the way that they taught me to do that was. Through food and through reliability and just what it means to show up consistently for my people. And so in some ways it was all baked into me, even though they might not see that and they might not have raised me in that way. I see the ways in which they have sacrificed for love and nourished their families through food and made incredibly scary risks for the freedom of their family and for their people, and for a new life. And I just feel like I'm walking in their footsteps, doing the same even if they might not feel that way.    [00:11:09] Miko Lee: So did you have to talk your family and the restaurant into getting involved in the food support work for activists in Minnesota?   [00:11:18] Macy Tran: it wasn't a challenging conversation to have and I was surprised by that.    [00:11:22] Miko Lee: Oh, great.    [00:11:23] Macy Tran: Um, yeah, my parents have been, actually, this is the most politically active and vocal I have seen them. It's really incredible. I would say that for a lot of actually the Vietnamese community that I've been witnessing in Minneapolis, like they're saying things that I never thought that they would say. They're putting analysis like what together? The Vietnamese community is, I would say, skews at least the older generation, I should say. The older generation of Viet folks skews pretty right wing, conservative Republican, Trump supporting. And I'm just seeing dissent for the first time. It's not always like that explicit, but it is, I would say in the past what I've seen is just like. When kind of rightwing or more Republican opinions come up, if people disagree with that, it's just like you're just quiet. But now I'm seeing a way in which like people are responding, commenting on social media, like posting publicly about it. It's just been really, really powerful. When I first started organizing in response to the federal occupation, my parents were really quite worried and they did not want me to get involved. And they didn't really understand why I felt compelled to do this. And then when Alex Prety was murdered, I. It was actually my auntie, my mom's youngest sister that brought up the idea of a food distribution because she was feeling like I just wanna do something and like, what is an avenue in which we can do something? Well, we have this restaurant. Mm-hmm. And so she proposed it to my parents first, which Oh    [00:13:05] Miko Lee: wow.   [00:13:06] Macy Tran: Love, shout out to her because    [00:13:09] Miko Lee: Thank you, auntie.    [00:13:10] Macy Tran: She did right. She did the hard work for me. I think I would've been a little more hesitant or would've taken a little bit more time to just process, like how to go about asking them, because there's just a different power dynamic there. Sure. But because my auntie is more of a peer mm-hmm. And she had this idea and she has also worked at the restaurant mm-hmm. For many, many years of her life. I think it really spoke to my parents and I think it really was a moment for them to connect the ways that this restaurant is so important to not only our family and how we show up in community, but also to our community in Minneapolis. Mm-hmm. I have traveled all across the world and have met people who have eaten at Pho 79 and have told me stories of getting engaged there, of getting a tattoo of the, like restaurant on their, on their arm. The, the logo. Yeah, the logo. It's crazy, you know, like people, and I've also heard generations of families like growing up on my parents' food. Mm-hmm. As we share food with people and they support our business, it's only because of our community that we've been able to survive this far you know?. My parents came to Minnesota with nothing, and it's only because of the kindness of other Minnesotans and other Vietnamese Minnesotans that we were able to get anywhere.   [00:14:35] In this moment they saw that and they saw that. We can, we have these resources. This won't be hard for us. We have everything here that we need. This is the channel in which we can work in. And yeah, they were just ready to do it. I think also my parents were ready to take a risk because the business was not doing well, we weren't, there were not people coming out to eat. Everyone was scared to go out to eat. People were not really spending money. And this was really ever since the pandemic and the way that has impacted the restaurant industry and particularly immigrant businesses, and then also the George Floyd uprisings and the way that just the, violence and also the transformation that happened to the street that we were on Eat Street. It just really changed the ways people saw that corridor, that business corridor. And it was a really big business impact. And so my dad was just, I think, in a place where he was really willing to take a risk and a stand for what he believed in. And my mom as well. As a way to also just like. Really be present in community and show that, hey, like we are out here and we believe in loving our community and seeing the ways that people are showing up for our community as and for our business as well. And honestly, since the food distribution business has been steady and I think. My parents are, I mean, they're definitely feeling relieved, but I'm just feeling so grateful that they stood on their values, you know, and they stood grounded in that. And as a result, like the community is reciprocating. and that is such a beautiful thing that I don't, I think my dad took a risk not knowing what would happen, because more exposure is not always good. And I've been telling him that, you know, especially with the Vietnamese community being, of, of his genera generation being more right wing and more conservative. He recognizes that and he recognizes that we had to do something. So I feel so proud of them for just being really chill and okay, and actually impassioned and compelled to do something.   [00:16:57] Miko Lee: It sounds like it brought you a little bit closer with your family too.    [00:17:00] Macy Tran: Definitely. Definitely did. Yeah. I feel like me and my family have never really been able to sit at a table and talk about politics and what's going on in the world without one of us just like getting activated or feeling defensive or not seeing each other. It is a terrible thing what has happened and what continues to happen in our city, under federal occupation and so much beauty and creativity and love has come from it. And I even feel that at the most micro scale between me and my parents.    [00:17:39] Miko Lee: Can you, share with us that are not located in Minnesota, what the experience is like of this federal occupation on a day to day? Like, we're talking today on March 2nd, and I say that because our world, everything's changing every day and this is gonna air on a separate day. So I wanna name that. So right now, what is it like when you're just walking through the streets in downtown Minneapolis ?   [00:18:01] Macy Tran: Yeah. It's interesting because when you ask me this, I think about my experience like a month ago and how different it was and it felt to walk around a month ago compared to now. A month ago. It. I was seeing a neighbor on every corner of major streets, like looking for ice. You know, I was seeing car caravans, honking and following ICE agents. It's interesting 'cause like I actually just had a friend visit from Milwaukee and. She was nervous about ice. She's Asian American as well, and she was like, should I be scared? What's actually going on? And I told her, actually, yes, what's going on is scary and violent. And I feel so safe because I am meeting neighbors I have never met before. I'm making small talk with people who are just. Out on the streets walking their dog in a way that they would not normally, I'm talking to business owners, we're talking about the impacts of this occupation. Everywhere I go, there were eyes and that felt really powerful and strong. And now that operation Metro Surge is technically over they are supposed to be withdrawing ICE agents from the city. I would say there is definitely a decrease in the number of ICE agents in our city. Activity is much slower. However I would say out in the suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul, they are seeing action and enforcement from ICE agents. That is. Either at the, kind of the same amount that we were receiving or escalated. The concentration is higher out in the suburbs And so even though things were quieter in the city, they were elsewhere. And    [00:19:57] Miko Lee: yeah, I just saw videos this morning of protesters that were peacefully marching that just got tackled. Actually by Minnesota Sheriff's department working in conjunction with ice. I know every state in every region is a little bit different. But I thought that was something that Governor Waltz was working on right?    [00:20:15] Macy Tran: So actually the city ordinance that you are talking about is actually on a Minneapolis City level. So that was a decision made by Mayor Fray. Oh, that's only city. So it's only MPD, Minneapolis Police Department, who is not supposed to assist in, federal and right. Federal enforcement. However, on a county level, that's different. I see. So sheriffs might be working with, I know it's like, so complic, what a mess complicated. I    [00:20:41] Miko Lee: know. This is the same, I mean, this is the same everywhere, right? Mm-hmm. It's all broken down. Okay. So, so I think I hear you saying that ICE has kind of moved on with the targeted big city approach and they're going out into the suburbs instead. Is that right?    [00:20:57] Macy Tran: Yes. There are still protestors, and observers going every day to the Whipple building. The Whipple building is where ICE agents are coming from, and so they have definitely recorded a decrease in the number of ICE vehicles. So the volume isn't as high, but the cars are still coming and we're still seeing enforcement and violence in our neighborhoods. Just the other day, just a few streets down, a person was abducted in our neighborhood in Minneapolis. And because the volume isn't as high, they're not as easily able to track. And so they're working a lot more under the radar. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And their tactics have become just a lot more. Under the radar as well. In the early days in January, it was really easy to identify ICE out-of-state license plate, tinted windows. Big vehicles like super easy. Nowadays they're putting like coexist bumper stickers and little things on their dashboards and like, you know, driving little sedans and it's definitely not as easy and they're moving a lot more covertly. And because Operation Metro Surge has technically decreased and because many of our frontline activists have been working at this for months and are getting tired. Mm-hmm. There is a really interesting transition period happening here. Mm-hmm. Where I think we're all trying to align on what is the next.   [00:22:31] What's the next step? Mm-hmm. How? How are we, what is the best way to move given that this is the way that ICE is operating now? Yeah,    [00:22:40] Miko Lee: right. Just    [00:22:41] Macy Tran: under reflection. Mm-hmm.    [00:22:42] Miko Lee: Under such sneaky circumstances, like what they recently did in New York at Columbia, showing up at Columbia University with a missing child picture of a little kid. And that's how they got entry into the dorms, which is so wrong to terrible get a student. So that's actually illegal to like misrepresent being a police officer when they're not, they're a nice officer and    [00:23:05] Macy Tran: mm-hmm.    [00:23:06] Miko Lee: Showing a photo, I mean, it's so awful.    [00:23:08] Macy Tran: Mm-hmm.    [00:23:09] Miko Lee: I'm wondering how people that don't live in Minnesota can get involved.   [00:23:14] Macy Tran: Hmm. The, greatest frontier currently that is in need of support is rent support. There are, probably hundreds of maybe thousands of people who are likely at risk of eviction in the Twin Cities, because they have not been able to work for the past two months without fear of being abducted. We're calling on Governor Waltz for an eviction moratorium, which would prevent folks from being evicted. Governor Waltz is the only person who really has jurisdiction to implement an immediate rental moratorium, and he's done that before during the pandemic, and so we're trying to make arguments that this is. A state of emergency people are like not able, they weren't able to work. Like people are going to get evicted putting calls to his office, sending emails. So that's one way to get involved from abroad, uh, or not abroad outside of Minnesota, but also abroad if you're abroad And listening to this. The other way was, is that there's a lot of hyper-local organizing that is happening within Minneapolis that I can speak to every. Neighborhood and corner, I feel like, of Minneapolis is being accounted for usually by a team of just volunteer mutual aid groups who are fundraising for rent, who are fundraising for groceries who are fundraising for utilities.   [00:24:45] And these are all like live fundraising pages on the internet. And if you have even just 10, $20 to spare to help a Minneapolis resident, um, not get evicted in the next month. Um, every dollar matters. In this moment, rent is due. Soon, we're just at the beginning of March. And if folks aren't able to pay rent now and they haven't been able to pay rent in the last couple of months, like this is only going to have a snowball effect. We cannot risk vulnerable neighbors migrants, immigrants being, like more of them being unhoused at this moment. We already in our city have so many unhoused people who are not being cared for by our city officials, who are having their encampments being taken down and who are already not receiving adequate support. Our system cannot handle an influx of more unhoused people and we can prevent this. I would say that is kind of the biggest frontier at the moment in terms of what I'm seeing organizing on the ground.    [00:26:01] Miko Lee: Would you have links that you could share with us definitely for rent support. That would be really great if, and I'll definitely, I'll add them to the Apex Express show notes so folks that wanna get involved can contribute and help support community. You wrote in your piece about books, lovely books and podcasts and things that inspired you, which I always love hearing about those things. And one of the books you wrote about was Rice and Baguette, A History of Food in Vietnam. Can you talk a little bit about it, how it deepened your understanding of food legacies and resistance?    [00:26:33] Macy Tran: Mm So I read that book while I was living in Vietnam actually. So it was really cool for me to, what I love about that book, it's a little like academic. I will say that it is a food history like you are reading history, you know, it's a little bit like dense at some points, um, for    [00:26:49] Miko Lee: the real foodie audience.    [00:26:51] Macy Tran: For real. I'm like, if, yeah, exactly. And luckily that's me. I was into it. What I loved about it were, the legends, like there were some what I, so in Vietnam when I was living there, something that I loved and was learning more was that like Vietnamese people have so many legends about folk legends about food, like the origins of the watermelon,, the origins of our bunte cake, which is the cake that we eat, the sticky rice cake we eat during, lunar New Year. There are so many Food origin stories that I just did not grow up being raised on. And so, this book talked about some of like, how did pho even get started, you know, is pho even truly Vietnamese? It's, that's a debate I'm not gonna have right now. But. I loved just hearing the greater context in which all of this existed, especially not growing up with those stories and being,    [00:27:55] Miko Lee: Hey, wait, what is the origin of watermelon?    [00:27:58] Macy Tran: So it's this like funny little. Story where, this prince essentially gets banished to an island with his wife. And then on this random island, he finds this like incredible fruit, the watermelon, and he's like, whoa, this is so delicious. I want I must show this to the people back at home, but they won't have me because I'm banished. And then he basically floats the watermelon back to the mainland and they find it and they're like, oh my gosh, this is so incredible. We must, invite this man back to the mainland.    [00:28:38] Miko Lee: How did they know it was from him? Did he like carve his name in the watermelon?    [00:28:43] Macy Tran: I don't know. It's actually been a while since I've heard this story, so I could be just like. You know, I don't know all the details. That's    [00:28:50] Miko Lee: okay. That's always better anyway.   [00:28:53] Macy Tran: just stories like that. I love to hear them. I also learned about what it was like to eat and cook during foreign occupation when, oh, you know, the French were colonizers mm-hmm. When the Chinese were colonizers. Mm-hmm. And just the incredible Vietnamese food ways that emerged from those periods of colonization. Mm-hmm. They were both brutal and violent and also full of adaptation and creativity and survival foods. And so the book just talked about all of that, and I just love knowing those stories that help me know the ways in which our people have been able to survive for this long and are now free under, foreign  occupation.    [00:29:40] Miko Lee: Speaking of, you mentioned creativity and adaptability, and you are a multihyphenate person, as an artist, as an organizer, as a writer, as a visual artist, collage maker, I'm wondering how your artistry impacts your organizing and vice versa. How do they speak to each other? How do they influence each other?    [00:30:01] Macy Tran: Hmm. I am someone who, when there is an issue or a problem that arises, I'm often just confronting it with what can I do? What can I like feasibly do? How can I show up? And I think my artistic practices actually help me slow down. Even the ways that I can show up in community and do things in community, I'm very responsive. I'm always like, okay let's do a thing. Let's organize it. Let's get our hands dirty. I am out there, I am organizing people, you know, like tangibly. And I think the ways that my artistic practices partner with that is that my artistic practices help me reflect and remember and deepen and find spiritual grounding and purpose. my art is a way that I bridge conversations with my ancestors and I bridge what it means to know myself and be a person, a community member, a Vietnamese American daughter in this moment, right? And it reminds me of the skills that I have and wanna bring to the world. It also helps me create different narratives for understanding what's happening and. For finding creative solutions and for collaborating with others. So I think I would honestly be so burnt out and exhausted and sad if it were not for my artistic practices. I think it's because of my artistic practices that I find energy, that I find belonging, that I find meaning in the work that I'm doing.    [00:31:51] Miko Lee: I love that answer. Can you share, because you brought this up, can you share about a conversation or an interaction you've had with an ancestor and how that's influenced you recently?   [00:32:03] Macy Tran: Hmm. That's such a great question. I'm going to tie this answer into Lunar New Year because, lunar New Year is a time in which our material world and the spiritual world really can converge in a meaningful way, at least for me. And every year when I celebrate Lunar New Year, I will do something different. I deepen my practices. I just kind of deepen what I know about. Folk tradition and ancestor worship. And every year I learned new things and I wanna try new things. And so this year was the first year that I built a public altar space in my living room. Usually I just have it in my bedroom or in a small corner of my home somewhere that's like usually private. But I built like. It wasn't like a tiny little altar, like it was big, you know, like I had photos of all my relatives on there. I had flowers, I had five kinds of fruits. I had, you know, little, every time I ate a meal, I was putting a meal aside for my family to eat with me. And, Some cultures you don't eat the food that you leave on the altar, but in my family we do. And the reason for that is because we get to become one with our ancestors. We get to embody what our ancestors are and eat as well and their spirits, and so this past Lunar New Year, I actually threw a, I had celebrations on both sides of the family. And then I organized a new year party for my chosen family who came from all walks of life. And the prompt for the party, it was a potluck. The prompt for the potluck was cook something or bring something that your ancestors would be just delighted to eat on the altar. And so we    [00:34:00] Miko Lee: love that.    [00:34:01] Macy Tran: Oh yeah. It was so sweet. People came out with their best work, I should say, like the food was fantastic. Our ancestors were eating well, and I was sitting there. And this altar was full of tiny little plates of food, beautiful flowers. I also asked people to bring pictures, photos of their ancestors or people that they wanna honor. Incense were lit. The room was filled with incense smoke, and I was just, there was a moment where I was just, kinda in the corner of the room just watching, you know, and I had a feeling like, wow, all of our ancestors are hanging out right now. Not only are me and my chosen family, you know, building a community and belonging for ourselves but also like. I could have never, and probably they could have never predicted that my friend's like Jewish grandpa was hanging out with my Vietnamese grandmother and grandfather, you know, or yeah, my friends like grandparents from Antigua are now hanging out with like my family members and it's, it was just a moment where I just felt not just the joy.   [00:35:16] And love in the space of connecting with my real, like my friends in that moment. But also just the miraculousness of what it meant to hold all of our ancestors in that space. And so, after that I ended up writing a piece on my substack, actually as a letter to my ancestors. I, I kept the altar up for a week, a week and a half. And on the last day I was ready to take it down and move it back upstairs into my room. But on the last day, I thought, I'm gonna light the incense one more time. And have my ancestors in the space as I write this piece to them. There were so many things I wanted to say to them. And also at the same time, I felt like as I was writing, they were saying things to me, this is what I have to teach you in this moment, is kind of what they were saying to me. This is like, this is what it's like to celebrate that under occupation. This is what it was like when we thought it wasn't even possible to celebrate Tet. Like we had literally nothing but rice and water and yet we still did, and my grandma recently passed a I mean, it's not so recent anymore, but it's been just over a year now. And she was like, One of the first like major deaths of the elder generation in my family. And Tet was the time that I could commune with her and share love with her. And, I could just feel her presence in the space and I would even, memories felt like a way that she was talking to me. The memory of just the crackle of her sesame balls, like she made the best sesame balls. They were like. Thin and crispy and fluffy, but also like so like they were not skimping on the mung bean on the inside. It was fantastic. So I'm just like, I haven't had a sesame ball from her in over a year, but I can remember how it tastes and feels, and my mouth and that memory itself is a message from her. To remember what has fed me through so many years, and how important it is to just remember the, not only just the foods that we eat, but the people that have loved that food into existence. And now me, you know,    [00:37:38] Miko Lee: have you made it the dish, the sesame balls.    [00:37:43] Macy Tran: I actually have her recipe books, so I planned to I just didn't have time, this past Tet, but me and my brother were going to, and then I think we decided we wanted to do it on just like on a lower key day, like instead of like in the midst of just like so much family celebration, there was so much to prepare and we were like, let's just plan a low key weekend where it's just me and you and there's no timeline and we don't have to get this anywhere and they don't have to be perfect. Like    [00:38:14] Miko Lee: that sounds lovely. So it's personal and it's family and Exactly. And if for a one year anniversary, death anniversary is coming up, that might be a great time to honor her.    [00:38:22] Macy Tran: Exactly. Exactly.    [00:38:24] Miko Lee: I'm wondering what was like some standout dishes from that lovely event to you?    [00:38:29] Macy Tran: Ooh. I mean, I will talk about the dish I made.   [00:38:33] Miko Lee: Okay.    [00:38:36] Macy Tran: Which I thought was fantastic and I think my friends also thought were delicious. Was delicious. Um, but a dish that is commonly eaten during the lunar new year for Vietnamese people is a tit ka, which is a caramelized, braised pork belly. This caramelized, braised pork was stewing for probably three hours. Wow. And so, yeah, and I used coconut water with it. I didn't like, straight up coconut water and it    [00:39:04] Miko Lee: no Coca-Cola.    [00:39:06] Macy Tran: No Coca-Cola not in this one. And I just made a huge, huge pot and it was basically almost all gone by the end of the night. So that was like a really good feeling. Um, my brother made an incredible duck heart lap. He works at Diane's Place, actually, it's a famous Hmong restaurant in Minneapolis. And they processed duck on the menu. And so he had like access to all these duck organs and he made an incredible loup that he brought to the party. And my, one of my little sisters, Iris, she's Puerto Rican and she made like tostones, like fried plantains and then she also made Puerto Rican rice, and she, she made like three or four dishes. So like, people really went above and beyond for their ancestors. I could really, I mean, it was probably like 20 people who came to this party, so there were so many dishes and they were all. So good. So I, I don't wanna, once I get into it, I'm gonna go into it, so I'm not gonna chat your ear off.    [00:40:13] Miko Lee: Sounds lovely. Sounds yummy. Mm-hmm. And my last question is, I'm wondering what manifestation for the year of the horse you have for yourself.    [00:40:23] Macy Tran: The 18 million rising essay that I wrote came, it was right before the lunar new year that it got published. And it came during a time where I was already thinking a lot about my creative practice and how in, in relationship my creative practice in relationship with also the ways that I organize and the ways that I cook and, organize around food. And when this opportunity for this essay emerged and just the way it has been received has been such an honor, like, because I haven't written for myself, you know, in so long and like really with my own voice I just didn't realize that people were going to resonate with it so much and find like an invitation to engage in food justice themselves and their own ancestry. And also the ways that it made them think about food and their relationship to food. And it was such a blessing for me to receive that resonance from people, you know, and to receive, just the stories that I've heard and the way it spoke to them. And I felt like that has been a blessing for me to just really expand my creative practice and be more public with it. I'm like, dang, if this little thing that I wrote impacted people in the way that they think about the world, like. I have so many more ideas I wanna share and like be in partnership with others about.   [00:41:57] And I just launched my Substack, right after the Lunar New Year and I was like, all right, you're the fire horse. Let's freaking go. I am ready, I am running. So, I just wanna be creating so much and like act manifesting and actualizing a lot of the dreams that I have, my creative dreams that I have continued to put on the back burner. Things about hosting supper clubs and doing more work around my parents' restaurant, like helping them create narrative around the restaurant and sharing our restaurant story with people. And just using my words and experiences as a way to connect with the world and also be open to the ways that people wanna connect with me. So that's kind of the ways that I'm, I'm seeing this year unfold already, and it's already started with a bang. I also wanna add that year of the fire horse for me is just a lot about movement and progress. And so in this sense movement, I think of social movements and the ways that social this particular social movement against ICE in our city will fundamentally. Impact us for the next lunar year. It happened right at the beginning of the lunar New Year and it's going to have deep effects into the year, and we will forever be changed by this. And I am so excited to see the ways in which we harness this energy for transformation, for care into something that's really meaningful.   [00:43:37] Miko Lee: Thank you so much for joining us on Apex Express. It was a delight to talk with you.    [00:43:42] Macy Tran: Thank you, Miko. This was so great. Thanks for having me.   [00:43:45] Miko Lee: Next up, listen to researcher professor, Dr. Milkie Vu, speak on her exploration on Asian Americans and food insecurities. Welcome, Dr. Milkie Vu, assistant professor at Northwestern. Welcome so much to Apex Express.    [00:44:04] Dr. Milkie Vu: Thank you. I'm delighted to be here.    [00:44:07] Miko Lee: Dr. Milkie is a mixed methods researcher focusing on community engagement and health issues, and I'm excited to talk with you today. I wanna start by first asking the question that I ask all of my guests, which is, who are your people and what legacy do you carry with you?   [00:44:24] Dr. Milkie Vu: My people are the Vietnamese community, and when I think of my people, the first word that comes to my mind is resilience. I was raised in Vietnam. I speak Vietnamese fluently and I embrace my culture very deeply. I carry the memory of my parents and grandparents who have lived to colonization multiple world. And the challenge of post-war poverty and the ability to, endure all these hardship is the legacy that I bring with me and in my day to day life it acts as a personal life of hope for me and then professionally in the. Work that I do is really a foundation and it drives my dedication and commitment to working on health solution with Asian American and immigrant communities who have similar stories of hardship, but also perseverance.   [00:45:19] Miko Lee: Thank you so much. I really appreciate how your background has informed the work that you're doing, and I wonder if you could talk a little bit more about this study, this scoping review on food insecurity among Asian Americans. Can you one first start off by breaking down what a scoping review is.   [00:45:37] Dr. Milkie Vu: Yeah, I'm happy to talk about that. So a scoping review is essentially a methodology that we use to be able to summarize existing scientific literature and try to understand how this literature. Answer research questions that we have.   [00:45:56] Miko Lee: Can you tell me what inspired this study?    [00:45:59] Dr. Milkie Vu: I've done community engaged research with, Asian American population for over a decade. In doing so, I have come to realize , as an anecdotal evidence, how food insecurity is a issue in the community. And yet that's very little that has been, done in terms of research or policy that target this problem., So for example, the US Department of Agriculture, will publish annually a report on food insecurity in America and it will include several, racial and ethnic populations, but Asian Americans are frequently ommitted from that report. So, you know, at the national level, that data doesn't exist, which then, makes it very difficult to understand what is the severity of the problem and what are some of the solutions that could be done to address them. So that's why we were interested in doing a deeper dive into summarizing the literature too be able to see what has been done about this problem and what are some of the barriers that exist, towards food security for community members, and what are some of the literature gaps? Our review was published in 2024 was the first scientific review of the literature on food insecurity among Asian Americans.    [00:47:27] Miko Lee: And what did your study uncover?    [00:47:31] Dr. Milkie Vu: We documented several important findings. There is a lack of existing data on this problem. Due to this myth of Asian Americans being the model minority. Assuming that Asian Americans are uniformly successful socioeconomically and thus not experiencing, any challenge including food insecurity. One of the things that we found is the importance of data disaggregation and looking at food insecurity in different Asian origin groups. We found that food insecurity really varied. So for example, if you look at some groups like Japanese Americans, we found the prevalence of between two to 11% of the population reporting food insecurity. But then if you look at some of the Southeast Asian groups, for example, Filipinos or Hmong American or Vietnamese, the rates are much higher. So the studies that we found report, between eight to 41% of food insecurity and among Filipino population. Close to 48% for more Hmong American, and then between 14 or 28% for Vietnamese Americans, so much higher than the rates for other groups.   [00:48:48] Data Dion is important and there shouldn't be this grouping of different Asian groups in research because then it really erased like the struggles specific communities with food insecurity. I think the other finding that was really important is looking at more systemic or structural barriers that prevent people from being food secure. Our review found that limited English proficiency is a important driver of food insecurity. The lack of appropriate language services, whether that's food pantry or for things like snap navigation. These could be important target point infusion policy or interventions that could help address food insecurity, community members. We also look at a couple of qualitative studies that found really interesting things. So for example, even when Asian American community members do use food assistance programs like snap, the benefits are often not sufficient. And they have a negative experience. There's also fear of how that might negatively impact the immigration status or application. Those are important barriers that should be acknowledge.   [00:50:08] Miko Lee: Some of these numbers are so high. You mentioned 48% with Hmong folks with, it's just so surprising, and I wonder if there's a sense of the why some of these communities have a higher food insecurity than others.    [00:50:21] Dr. Milkie Vu: Yeah, one of the things that we did point out in the conclusion was the need for just more studies focusing on these, smaller Asian groups or smaller Asian population that are done in like the appropriate language to be. From some of the experience I've had, part of it is probably shaped by, the historical conditions to which some of these, communities might have come to the us. For example, thinking about my community Vietnamese, coming to America as refugees, fleeing persecution or free fleeing war and how that, historical conditions might create structural and socioeconomic challenge in Britain, in the community. I am also curious about is the availability of service and program that are linguistically appropriate or, providing culturally relevant food for these communities. So those are important points that we can hypothesize, but obviously more research is needed to understand, the root cause of these challenge and how to address them.   [00:51:28] Miko Lee: And were you focused on specific regions or this was national?    [00:51:34] Dr. Milkie Vu: I'm really glad that you asked about this. So the review itself is, summarizing all published literature focusing on Asian Americans. All of the studies take place in the us. A lot of the, studies probably focus on data that are from the coast. So either on Asian American, on the east coast or the west coast. , But we looked at the study like from a nationwide angle and I'm also happy to talk about some of the new committee organizations in Chicago looking at food insecurity and community-based solutions to address that among Asian Americans. Part of the motivation for the follow-up study was just thinking about the lack of data focusing on the Midwest or Chicago where I live.    [00:52:20] Miko Lee: Please, I'd love to hear more about that . [00:52:23] Dr. Milkie Vu: The COVID pandemic, had brought a lot challenges for food insecurity. For people nationwide in general, but then for Asian American, there's also this, so what I call like the double, almost like a double pandemic, like the waves of entire Asian violence and hate crimes. And so thinking about how that impact food insecurity in general among, Asian American community members. About two years ago, we interviewed around, 13 organizations in Chicago. All of them are either community based organizations, social services or food pantry, working with, primarily with Asian American community members, from diverse groups: korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, south Asian, Mongolian, et cetera throughout Chicago. And the question that we asked them was, thinking about what programs they have offered during the COVID pandemic that aim at reducing food insecurity among community members. How did they implement this program? Who are some of the vulnerable populations served by the program? How did the pandemic as far as anti-Asian racism impact the program organization? That was the first study that looked at how community organization in Chicago help address this issue of insecurity on this, the COVID pandemic.   [00:53:57] Miko Lee: And so what is the next step for this study or what is the next piece that you're working on as connected to this?    [00:54:05] Dr. Milkie Vu: Yeah. Think about the role of the community organization as grassroots organizations that work from the ground up , as opposed to more top down program structure. They're doing a lot of the heavy lifting to help community members address food insecurity, because they know the community very well. They are able to provide the in language service that community members need. They're also trusted by community members. So a lot of the time,, certain populations especially say if those with limited their English proficiency or, more newly arrived immigrants, might feel more comfortable going here as opposed to going to this organization as opposed to, another one that are more generic and don't have the staff that speak the right language. I think the other thing is, staff with the similar cultural backgrounds are able to understand. There was one quote from the study that I did in Chicago. That stuck with me. When we tell them you could go to the food bank, the American food is not quite tailored to their taste. So they will get a big chunk of cheese and they will be like, what is this? Nobody wants to eat this. Again, thinking about the role of committee organization as so important in knowing the language, knowing the cultural preferences. And then just thinking of ways that we can further support, the programs and operations that they do. This is a really challenging time for nonprofits, social service organization, both in terms of providing food as well as other social service to Asian American and immigrant communities. How can research from a place like, researchers, from academia like me, are able to partner with them to further the service that they do and be able to find the funding that support them and community members. I think that's the important step for me.   [00:56:02] Miko Lee: Dr. Vu, how can folks find out more about your work?    [00:56:06] Dr. Milkie Vu: Yeah, In order to understand more about the work that we do, so we have a website, for our lab that frequently include, you know, like our current projects as well as publications. So you can go to site, so SI ts.northwestern.edu/vu group. and you'll be able to find more information about the research that we published. We've also recently, in the beginning of the year start, to find ways to disseminate research on social media. So we also have a Facebook group for our lab that disseminates our research findings as well as include information about the community members and partners Other trainees in the lab that make this work possible. The labs Facebook group is at facebook.com/maybe give research. and then you can always reach out to me via my email milkie.vu@northwestern.edu So I'm glad to connect with people who have similar research interests or would like to learn more about the work that we do.   [00:57:06] Miko Lee: Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your information about your important work that you're doing on research with Asian American community. Appreciate hearing from you.    [00:57:15] Dr. Milkie Vu: Thank you so much.   [00:57:18] Miko Lee: Please check out our website, kpfa.org/program/apexexpress to find out more about our show and our guests tonight. We thank all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting, keep organizing, keep creating, and sharing your visions with the world because your voices are important. Apex Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Cheryl Truong, Isabel Li, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Miata Tan, Preti Mangala-Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by me Miko Lee, and edited by Ayame Keane-Lee. Have a great night.   The post APEX Express – 6.4.26 – Food Justice appeared first on KPFA.

Greg Hestness — retired Minneapolis Police Department Deputy Chief with 28 years on the force and a 40-year law enforcement career, pulls no punches as he breaks down the deeply concerning state of MPD morale, the challenges facing officers on the street, and how leadership decisions are impacting recruitment and retention. He addresses the controversial practice of promotions happening while officers have open Internal Affairs investigations, raising serious questions about accountability, standards, and public trust. Plus, he shares new information and behind-the-scenes perspective that hasn't been widely reported.From the front lines to the command staff, this is a veteran insider's view of what's really happening inside one of America's most scrutinized police departments.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A moment of silence for Derek Chauvin was a really bad optic by the state GOP. Missing or dead scientist connected to UFO research are beginning to be found. Teen campers in Idaho spent Memorial Day weekend with Bigfoot. Joe and Kenny get into a big Trump fight and will settle it during the undercard of the UFC match at the White House. Johnny Heidt with guitar news. Heard On The Show:Lisa Demuth to continue bid for Minnesota governor at Republican primary after convention chaosFrey picks 30-year MPD vet as interim police chief week after O'Hara resignedTrump names Bill Pulte acting director of national intelligenceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chad has a packed opening hour today featuring Ask Adam Anything with Adam Carter, Lou Nanne on his 85th birthday, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on the latest MPD news.

Former US Attorney Andy Luger shares with Chad why he feels disappointment in the departure of MPD chief Brian O'Hara while calling O'Hara a good friend and highlighting the good work he did during his time leading the department.

Chad shares three excellent segments with former US Attorney Andy Luger discussing the departer of Brian O'Hara as MPD chief, the large number of lawyers who have left the DOJ, Aimee Bock's lengthy prison sentence, and why Andy has the greatest grandchildren in the world.

On Thursdays (Twins-shortened) Drivetime with DeRusha... 4pm Hour: Following the Twins game Jason talks about MLB's labor proposal and the Union's counter-proposal and whether fans care about millionaires and billionaires fighting over money. Is baseball going to ruin a good thing? Then - the Star Tribune is reporting that MPD responded to very few ICE calls - so why all the OT cost? 5pm Hour: Jason talks about several announced artists - including Morris Day & the Time - saying they won't be performing at the "Freedom 250" show this summer because of its connection to the President. Can we just celebrate America? Left AND Right? Then he talks to Chris Harrington, President and CEO of The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, about this weekend's Flint Hills Family Festival in St. Paul and the good work it supports.

Thursday 4pm Hour: Following the Twins game Jason talks about MLB's labor proposal and the Union's counter-proposal and whether fans care about millionaires and billionaires fighting over money. Is baseball going to ruin a good thing? Then - the Star Tribune is reporting that MPD responded to very few ICE calls - so why all the OT cost?

Pour yourself another one – this one's gonna leave a bad taste. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara gets caught deleting contacts, strong arming for confidential info, and growing his "jacket," all while being probed for sexual misconduct claims. With the city hemorrhaging cops, crime's up, trust is in the toilet, and now the reform savior walks out the door. Retired Minneapolis Police Sargent Ken Tidgwell joins Kenny and Jay to talk about all things MPD and his past personal experiences. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today is Memorial Day and today also marks six years since the murder of George Floyd - we reflect on this tragic event six years later and discuss what has changed with the MPD, racial inequality, Minneapolis as a city and much more - but most importantly - did Minneapolis mess up by posting a tribute to George Floyd BEFORE a post for Memorial Day to honor veterans!

A actualidade africana desta semana fica marcada pelo agravamento do surto de Ébola na República Democrática do Congo, pela mudança política em Cabo Verde após as legislativas, pela contestação ambiental em torno dos investimentos franceses em Moçambique e pela persistente crise energética em São Tomé e Príncipe. Em Angola, o Presidente João Lourenço rejeitou a proposta de pacto para a estabilidade apresentada pela UNITA, considerando não existir uma situação de crise política que o justifique.   As mortes suspeitas provocadas pelo Ébola na República Democrática do Congo ascendem já a 177, enquanto os casos identificados chegaram aos 750. O alerta foi lançado esta sexta-feira pelo director-geral da Organização Mundial da Saúde, que receia que a dimensão real da epidemia possa ser “muito maior”. Numa fase inicial, os sintomas febris confundem-se frequentemente com doenças comuns em África, como a malária, o que pode atrasar o diagnóstico e aumentar o risco de morte. Em Angola, depois do alerta sanitário, foram reforçados os procedimentos de vigilância epidemiológica. O chefe do Departamento de Higiene e Vigilância Epidemiológica do Ministério da Saúde angolano, Eusébio Manuel, explicou as medidas adoptadas para prevenir a propagação da doença. "Um dos principais sintomas é febre. Muitas das vezes cruzamos nos nossos países, onde a malária é a primeira causa de morte e de doença, suspeitamos sempre como seja malária, mas depois os sintomas secundários vão aparecendo, dias depois. As pessoas apresentam sinais de febre e essa febre pode cruzar-se com astenia, dores musculares, mas são sinais-sintomas que vêm a posteriori. O sinal principal para reconhecimento é a febre. E depois vamos fazendo outros diagnósticos diferenciados. As hemorragias aparecem no quinto, sétimo dia, mas aí é onde ocorre o maior perigo, em que a pessoa esquece-se que está frente a uma doença altamente contagiosa como a doença hemorrágica. Mas nesta fase a pessoa já se envolveu com o doente. Por isso o contágio é muito frequente", referiu. Em Cabo Verde, os resultados provisórios das eleições legislativas apontam para uma vitória do PAICV, liderado por Francisco Carvalho. O partido da oposição conta, até ao momento, com 36 deputados eleitos, enquanto o MpD conquistou 32 assentos parlamentares e a UCID dois deputados. Faltam ainda atribuir dois mandatos, decisivos para determinar se o PAICV alcançará uma maioria relativa ou absoluta. Os resultados definitivos deverão ser conhecidos até 25 de Maio. As eleições ficaram igualmente marcadas por uma taxa de abstenção histórica de 53,3%, revelando que mais de metade dos eleitores não participou no acto eleitoral. A investigadora Roselma Évora considera que este elevado nível de abstenção reflecte o descontentamento da população cabo-verdiana em relação à classe política e às actuais lideranças. " Os cabo-verdianos valorizam profundamente a democracia, mas muitos sentem-se frustrados com a forma como ela funciona na prática. Existe a percepção de que o sistema político está demasiado fechado sobre os partidos e que as oportunidades não chegam de forma igual a todos os cidadãos. Apesar de termos uma Constituição moderna, muitas pessoas acreditam que apenas uma pequena elite ligada aos grandes partidos beneficia verdadeiramente do sistema democrático. Os dados mostram isso claramente: apenas 19% dos cabo-verdianos dizem estar satisfeitos com a democracia. E é legítimo perguntar quem são esses 19%. Na minha opinião, trata-se sobretudo das elites partidárias que têm controlado o poder ao longo dos anos. A elevada abstenção é, portanto, um sintoma antigo de descrença e desconfiança. Muitas pessoas deixaram de se rever nos políticos e nas lideranças actuais. Cabo Verde não está isolado desta tendência mundial de crise de liderança e de afastamento entre cidadãos e representantes políticos", sublinhou.  Na sequência da derrota eleitoral, a direcção nacional do MpD reúne-se esta sexta-feira para analisar os resultados e preparar a convenção extraordinária destinada à escolha do sucessor de Ulisses Correia e Silva. O antigo primeiro-ministro apresentou a demissão após dez anos à frente do Governo e do partido. Paulo Veiga e Orlando Dias já manifestaram publicamente a intenção de disputar a liderança do Movimento para a Democracia. Em Angola, o Presidente João Lourenço recebeu no Palácio Presidencial o líder da UNITA, Adalberto Costa Júnior, para discutir a proposta de pacto para a estabilidade nacional. O documento defendia, entre outros pontos, uma revisão constitucional, reformas políticas e uma amnistia para crimes económicos e financeiros. Depois de analisar a proposta, João Lourenço afirmou não haver fundamento para a sua aprovação, argumentando que pactos desta natureza apenas se justificam em contextos de crise política. Em Paris, na véspera das assembleias-gerais da petrolífera Total e dos bancos Crédit Agricole e Société Générale, a ONG francesa CCFD-Terre Solidaire e a organização moçambicana Justiça Ambiental alertaram para os impactos humanitários e ecológicos dos investimentos franceses em Moçambique. Daniel Ribeiro, da Justiça Ambiental, denunciou os efeitos do projecto liderado pela Total, classificando-o como uma “bomba climática” devido às consequências ambientais associadas à exploração de gás. Já em São Tomé e Príncipe, o agravamento da crise energética levou o chefe do Governo a reunir-se com trabalhadores da Empresa de Água e Electricidade (EMAE) para avaliar soluções urgentes. Apesar da aquisição de novos geradores, os problemas de abastecimento persistem. O sindicato dos trabalhadores da empresa aponta decisões políticas inadequadas como uma das principais causas da actual crise energética no país.

Em Cabo Verde, a descentralização do poder continua a marcar o debate político, nomeadamente na cidade do Mindelo, na ilha de São Vicente. Marco Cruz, professor universitário e autor do livro "Cabo Verde Entre o Partidarismo e a Esperança de Descentralização" defende a adopção de um roteiro gradual e faseado para a descentralização e regionalização, sublinhando que só desta forma o país conseguirá combater o fenómeno do “feudalismo partidário”. Quando se fala em regionalização, um dos argumentos mais utilizados contra esta reforma é o custo. Na sua opinião, esse argumento faz sentido? Eu comecei por falar de descentralização, até para não dar a ideia de que se trata de algo muito complexo. A ideia é precisamente chegar à regionalização, mas eu defendo uma abordagem pragmática. Temos de começar pela descentralização administrativa. Isto não implica grandes custos. O Governo já tem delegados, funcionários e representações ministeriais em cada ilha. É nesse sentido que devemos caminhar: atribuir mais competências às ilhas e permitir que as pessoas possam decidir até determinado nível. É aí que começaria a verdadeira descentralização. E quais seriam os benefícios dessa descentralização faseada? Com este Estado hipercentralizado, o que está a acontecer é que muitos jovens estudam, qualificam-se e regressam às suas ilhas cheios de competências, mas acabam por encontrar poucas oportunidades de decisão. A ilha de São Vicente, por exemplo, já foi uma ilha com grande dinâmica. Hoje, mesmo quem integra a administração pública sente limitações enormes. Um delegado ou responsável local percebe rapidamente que tem pouca margem de decisão. Não consegue desenvolver programas ou planear a actividade da sua instituição porque tudo depende de autorizações vindas do centro. O resultado é que as pessoas entendem que, para progredirem profissionalmente, têm de sair da ilha. Cabo Verde vive num regime de forte centralismo, que acaba por promover uma descapitalização dos recursos humanos nas ilhas. Essa partilha de poder não vai gerar conflitos entre o Governo central e as regiões? Naturalmente, isso exige aprendizagem. O primeiro-ministro tem de aprender a conviver com um certo nível de poder das ilhas. O Governo central mantém as suas competências e as ilhas terão as delas. É um novo paradigma e requer maturidade política. No modelo que proponho, não se trata de uma ruptura abrupta que possa tornar o Estado disfuncional. Por isso defendo um roteiro progressivo de descentralização. Começaríamos pela descentralização administrativa, com o Governo a transferir gradualmente mais competências para as delegações nas ilhas. Mais tarde, essas estruturas poderiam começar também a desenvolver programas regionais, alinhados com a visão do Governo. Numa fase seguinte, os responsáveis nas ilhas poderiam deixar de ser nomeados directamente pelo Governo e passar a ser indicados pelos deputados eleitos por cada ilha. Isso permitiria uma maior legitimidade política e um alinhamento mais forte entre as decisões executivas e os representantes locais. É um modelo progressivo e responsável. Concretamente, que impacto poderá esse roteiro progressivo ter nas ilhas? A ideia é criar, gradualmente, uma verdadeira capacidade administrativa e técnica nas ilhas. À medida que os delegados, representações ministeriais e institutos ganham mais responsabilidades, também aumentam a sua capacidade de planear e executar políticas públicas. Chegará um momento em que poderão desenvolver programas e projectos regionais de acordo com a estratégia do Governo. Isso permitirá criar quadros qualificados capazes de pensar o desenvolvimento das ilhas, algo que actualmente ainda é muito limitado. Mas isso permitiria resolver os problemas de forma mais rápida? Exactamente. As decisões passariam a ser tomadas por pessoas que vivem nas ilhas, conhecem melhor a realidade local e têm maior capacidade para agir rapidamente. Isso criaria uma dinâmica muito mais forte no desenvolvimento das ilhas. Considera que se devia realizar um referendo sobre a regionalização e descentralização? Eu considero que a descentralização e a regionalização não devem ser vistas como uma opção facultativa. Não devemos transformar isto numa dúvida permanente, deixando apenas para a população decidir se quer ou não. É preciso liderança política firme para avançar com este processo. Não tenho dúvidas de que existem actores políticos que não têm interesse na descentralização, porque isso implicaria perder poder. Para mim, trata-se de uma urgência nacional. Cabo Verde pode implementar este modelo de forma responsável e, em cinco anos, alcançar avanços significativos. O país tem de decidir: quer continuar centralizado durante mais 50 anos ou quer dar um salto no desenvolvimento? Existe energia e capacidade nas ilhas, mas, se continuarmos assim, vamos continuar a perder recursos e talento. Porque é que existe tanta resistência ao avanço da regionalização? Para mim, o centralismo em Cabo Verde funciona quase como uma ideologia. É uma força muito enraizada. Podemos falar de uma herança da colonização? Sim, em certa medida. Basta olhar para a quantidade de quadros qualificados das outras ilhas que estão concentrados na Praia. Muitas dessas pessoas poderiam desenvolver um trabalho importante nas suas próprias ilhas, caso existisse autonomia suficiente para criar iniciativas locais. É necessário que Cabo Verde confie mais nas ilhas e lhes permita emanciparem-se até determinado nível. Naturalmente, continuará a existir um Governo central para matérias como defesa, diplomacia e relações internacionais. Mas as ilhas precisam de ter maior capacidade de iniciativa e desenvolvimento próprio. Mas como se explica, então, esta recusa em avançar? Trata-se de medo de perder poder? É uma luta entre o MpD e o PAICV? Existe, de certa forma, uma elite política, empresarial e profissional que já se habituou a este modelo centralizado. Com a descentralização, muita coisa mudaria. O orçamento do Estado teria de ser distribuído de forma diferente pelas ilhas, e o poder central perderia algum controlo. Há também uma cultura de controlo muito forte. Em vez de ser facilitador, o Estado assume frequentemente uma postura excessivamente centralizadora. Quando tudo depende de autorização para as questões mais simples, o país perde dinamismo. Por isso considero urgente mudar esta mentalidade. O desafio não está na complexidade nem nos custos. O verdadeiro desafio é existir liderança política - homens e mulheres de Estado - capazes de dar este passo. A descentralização representaria um novo momento para Cabo Verde. Permitiria criar um verdadeiro governo multinível e combater aquilo que muitos já vêem como um fenómeno de "feudalismo partidário". Hoje, muitas vezes, o partido acaba por ser o verdadeiro centro do poder. E, para mim, é isso que está a limitar o desenvolvimento de Cabo Verde.

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A elevada abstenção, o reforço do bipartidarismo e a exigência crescente de descentralização marcaram as eleições legislativas em Cabo Verde. Em entrevista, Roselma Évora, investigadora na área da democracia e dos sistemas de governação, analisa os resultados do escrutínio, o desgaste do MpD após dez anos no poder, a ascensão do PAICV e os desafios que se colocam à democracia cabo-verdiana. Que balanço faz do dia de votação? Penso que devemos continuar a acreditar na democracia cabo-verdiana. Apesar dos desafios, Cabo Verde tem vindo a consolidar, de forma gradual, o rocesso democrático e eleitoral. Há ainda aspectos a melhorar, mas é evidente que o país continua a dar passos importantes nesse caminho. Uma das grandes vantagens de Cabo Verde é precisamente a sua dimensão. Sendo um país pequeno, consegue organizar eleições de forma eficiente e apresentar resultados no próprio dia, o que reforça a confiança no sistema. Além disso, Cabo Verde possui um activo fundamental: a estabilidade política. O país conseguiu, ao longo destes 35 anos de democracia, assegurar alternâncias de poder de forma pacífica, algo que constitui um marco importante, sobretudo no contexto africano e na região onde estamos inseridos, marcada por frequentes episódios de instabilidade. A possibilidade de formar maiorias estáveis permite aos governos aplicar os seus programas e pensar o país numa lógica de continuidade, desenvolvimento e melhoria progressiva da qualidade de vida das populações. Foi uma eleição muito renhida. O PAICV e o MpD estiveram praticamente “taco a taco”. Os resultados provisórios dão 35 deputados ao PAICV, 31 ao MpD e dois à UCID. O presidente do PAICV reclama maioria absoluta. Que cenário se pode adivinhar para o país? Os cabo-verdianos têm uma forte cultura de valorização da estabilidade política. Não digo isto num sentido conservador negativo, mas no sentido de procurarem segurança e previsibilidade na governação. Desde a abertura política, em 1991, Cabo Verde tem demonstrado preferência por soluções governativas estáveis. O país nunca teve uma tradição de coligações fortes. Houve, por exemplo, a experiência da Aliança Democrática para a Mudança, em 2001, mas essa tentativa não conseguiu consolidar-se, elegendo apenas um deputado. Isso mostra que o eleitorado tende a privilegiar partidos com capacidade efectiva para formar governo. No fundo, quando votam, os cabo-verdianos procuram garantir que o partido escolhido terá condições para governar com estabilidade e executar aquilo que prometeu durante a campanha. Pelos dados mais recentes, tudo indica que o PAICV poderá alcançar a maioria absoluta, sobretudo devido aos resultados na diáspora, particularmente no círculo das Américas. Ao mesmo tempo, verificam-se mudanças importantes em círculos tradicionalmente menos favoráveis ao partido, como São Vicente e Santo Antão, onde há agora um equilíbrio de forças. Isso pode representar um regresso a uma lógica de alternância semelhante à vivida no início dos anos 2000. O líder do MpD e primeiro-ministro cessante assumiu a derrota e anunciou a demissão. Era uma decisão expectável, depois de dez anos de governação? Penso que houve vários factores que contribuíram para este desfecho. Desde logo, parece-me que existiram erros na configuração das listas eleitorais, mas também dificuldades evidentes ao nível da coordenação governativa e da comunicação política. Apesar dos indicadores macroeconómicos apontarem para crescimento económico, muitos cabo-verdianos não sentiram melhorias concretas nas suas vidas. O sentimento generalizado era de que esse crescimento não se reflectia no quotidiano das famílias. Ficou também a percepção de que a governação estava excessivamente concentrada num grupo restrito, o que acabou por alimentar algum afastamento entre o poder político e a população. Nesse contexto, Francisco Carvalho conseguiu mobilizar muitos eleitores, inclusive com propostas que considero mais radicais. Ainda assim, é importante reconhecer que Cabo Verde já registou avanços significativos nas condições sociais e no seu percurso de desenvolvimento, passando da categoria de país menos avançado para país de rendimento médio, fruto do esforço colectivo dos cabo-verdianos. O desgaste do partido no poder era evidente, sobretudo em relação ao primeiro-ministro. No entanto, confesso que não esperava o anúncio da sua demissão. Penso que o país continuará a precisar de uma oposição estruturada e orientada. Talvez ele esteja cansado, mas o MpD terá agora de reflectir sobre o seu futuro e redefinir o seu caminho político. A taxa de abstenção atingiu 53,3%, um valor histórico na democracia cabo-verdiana. Que mensagem quiseram os cabo-verdianos transmitir aos líderes políticos? A questão da abstenção deve ser analisada numa perspectiva longitudinal. Nas primeiras eleições multipartidárias, em 1991 e 1995, a participação foi muito elevada, porque a democracia representava uma novidade e uma conquista para os cabo-verdianos. No entanto, a partir de 2001 começou a surgir um crescente descontentamento com o funcionamento do sistema político. Os cabo-verdianos valorizam profundamente a democracia, mas muitos sentem-se frustrados com a forma como ela funciona na prática. Existe a percepção de que o sistema político está demasiado fechado sobre os partidos e que as oportunidades não chegam de forma igual a todos os cidadãos. Apesar de termos uma Constituição moderna, muitas pessoas acreditam que apenas uma pequena elite ligada aos grandes partidos beneficia verdadeiramente do sistema democrático. Os dados mostram isso claramente: apenas 19% dos cabo-verdianos dizem estar satisfeitos com a democracia. E é legítimo perguntar quem são esses 19%. Na minha opinião, trata-se sobretudo das elites partidárias que têm controlado o poder ao longo dos anos. A elevada abstenção é, portanto, um sintoma antigo de descrença e desconfiança. Muitas pessoas deixaram de se rever nos políticos e nas lideranças actuais. Cabo Verde não está isolado desta tendência mundial de crise de liderança e de afastamento entre cidadãos e representantes políticos. Nesta eleição, a UCID perdeu mandatos, passando de quatro deputados para dois. O Partido Popular voltou a não eleger deputados e o PTS, apesar de ter aumentado a votação, também não conseguiu representação parlamentar. Como se explica este resultado? O país está condenado ao bipartidarismo? Não diria que Cabo Verde está condenado ao bipartidarismo. O problema não é a existência de dois grandes partidos, mas sim a qualidade do funcionamento desse sistema e a capacidade de renovação política. Ao longo destes 35 anos de democracia, consolidou-se um sistema claramente bipartidário, no qual os pequenos partidos enfrentam enormes dificuldades para se afirmarem. Há questões estruturais que explicam isso. Desde logo, os grandes partidos têm maior capacidade de implantação em todas as ilhas e beneficiam de mais recursos financeiros e logísticos através da subvenção eleitoral. Isso permite-lhes organizar campanhas muito mais eficazes em todos os círculos eleitorais. Já os partidos pequenos enfrentam limitações materiais, organizativas e até de liderança, o que dificulta a afirmação de alternativas credíveis. Nesse cenário, muitos eleitores acabam por preferir votar nos partidos que efectivamente têm capacidade para formar governo. Vimos também, neste escrutínio, a importância e o peso da diáspora. Isto mostra que as autoridades têm de olhar para a diáspora como uma prioridade? Sem dúvida. A diáspora cabo-verdiana continua a ter um peso político muito inferior àquele que deveria ter. Se Cabo Verde possui mais de um milhão de emigrantes, é difícil compreender como existem apenas cerca de setenta mil eleitores inscritos no exterior. Isso demonstra que ainda há um enorme défice de integração política da diáspora. É necessário aproximar o Estado dessas comunidades, reforçar o recenseamento eleitoral e criar mecanismos que facilitem a sua participação no processo político, incluindo soluções digitais. A diáspora não pode continuar a ser vista apenas como um apoio económico. Ela deve ser encarada como um parceiro estratégico no desenvolvimento do país e na construção de uma nova etapa para Cabo Verde, centrada na qualidade, no conhecimento e na inovação. Durante a campanha eleitoral falou-se muito da centralização do poder em Santiago e na cidade da Praia. A liderança de Francisco Carvalho pode alterar essa realidade ou tende a reforçá-la? Existe uma grande expectativa, sobretudo nas ilhas do Norte, em relação a essa questão. São Vicente, por exemplo, demonstrou nesta eleição uma vontade clara de mudança e espera agora maior reconhecimento político. O próximo governo terá de construir uma composição governativa que transmita a ideia de equilíbrio regional e de inclusão das diferentes ilhas. Há um sentimento crescente de exclusão fora de Santiago, precisamente porque a capital concentra o poder político, económico e administrativo. Essa centralização acaba por empurrar muitas pessoas para Santiago à procura de oportunidades de trabalho e melhores condições de vida. Por isso, penso que Cabo Verde precisa de aprofundar a descentralização, aproximando o poder das populações e criando condições para que as pessoas possam viver e desenvolver-se nas suas próprias ilhas, sem sentirem necessidade de migrar para a capital.

Termina nesta sexta-feira, 15 de Maio, a campanha eleitoral para as oitavas eleições legislativas em Cabo Verde. Celeste Fortes, docente e investigadora da Universidade de Cabo Verde, na cidade do Mindelo, considera que esta campanha eleitoral ficou marcada por um ambiente de agressividade, sem espaço para discussão, com os partidos a não conseguirem apresentar as propostas de forma clara. Como é que avalia o ambiente político e social vivido durante esta campanha eleitoral? Acho que estamos a viver duas situações ao mesmo tempo. Por um lado, no mundo digital e nas redes sociais, vejo um ambiente extremamente agressivo. Não há espaço para discussões de ideias nem para uma análise mais equilibrada, em que as pessoas consigam também fazer autocrítica ao actual governo ou aos outros partidos que concorrem. Por outro lado, fora do digital, também sinto muita agressividade no debate político e social. Mas, ao mesmo tempo, enquanto docente e activista, noto um certo cansaço por parte da população. Há uma sensação de “mais do mesmo”, de saturação em relação ao discurso político. Portanto, o que eu vejo neste momento é um ambiente marcado simultaneamente pela agressividade e pelo cansaço social. Considera que os partidos políticos foram capazes de apresentar o programa político? Não. Acho que os partidos políticos não conseguiram apresentar as suas propostas de forma clara. Se uma pessoa não estiver muito atenta, dificilmente consegue perceber quais são, concretamente, as soluções que cada partido propõe para resolver os principais problemas que a população identifica como prioritários. O que se viu foi uma discussão muito bipolarizada e muito partidarizada, marcada também por uma militância bastante cega. Em vez de comunicarem projectos concretos para o país, os partidos acabaram por comunicar mais as suas ideologias e discursos políticos. Faltou explicar de forma clara onde é que Cabo Verde está hoje, em 2026, e qual é a visão de cada partido para os próximos quatro ou cinco anos. Ou seja, como é que o partido X ou o partido Y pretende levar o país para um outro patamar. Isso, para mim, não ficou claro durante esta campanha. Actualmente, quais são as maiores preocupações dos cabo-verdianos ? Bom, eu não posso falar por todos os cabo-verdianos, mas há preocupações que sinto pessoalmente e que acredito que também são partilhadas por grande parte da população. Uma delas é a questão dos transportes. Continuamos a viver muito isolados entre as ilhas. Eu vivo em São Vicente e, muitas vezes, tenho situações para resolver em Santiago. No entanto, nestas eleições praticamente não se falou da regionalização. Enquanto moradora de São Vicente, esperava que esse debate regressasse à agenda política e que os partidos apresentassem propostas concretas sobre o tema, mas isso não aconteceu. Continuamos a enfrentar um problema grave de centralização em Cabo Verde, sobretudo em relação à Praia. E essa dependência acaba por afectar todo o país. A questão dos transportes e da conectividade continua muito longe de estar resolvida. Isso liga-se directamente a outro grande problema: a saúde. Uma pessoa que vive no Maio, na Brava ou em São Nicolau não tem o mesmo acesso aos cuidados de saúde, porque os principais hospitais estão concentrados em São Vicente e Santiago. E, muitas vezes, nem existem transportes adequados para a deslocação de doentes.  Outra preocupação muito séria é a dignidade habitacional. Enquanto activista, acompanhei de perto todo o processo de acção depois do 11 de Agosto, e a situação é caótica e preocupante. Continua a existir permissividade para a construção de casas de tambor e habitações sem segurança, especialmente em zonas de risco e encostas. Isso mostra que a questão da habitação digna ainda não foi resolvida pelo governo. Além disso, temos situações contraditórias, como casas do programa “Casas para Todos” que continuam fechadas e sem serem atribuídas. Por fim, há uma questão que afecta muito a juventude: o projecto de vida e o futuro da empregabilidade. Muitos jovens sentem dificuldade em construir um futuro estável no país, o que acaba também por alimentar a vontade de emigrar.  Os jovens continuam a ser os mais impactados pelo desemprego... Sim. Os jovens continuam a ser os mais impactados pelo desemprego e pela falta de perspectivas em relação ao futuro. Muitos querem construir a sua vida em Cabo Verde, querem ter um emprego e estabilidade no seu próprio país, sem terem de emigrar para procurar melhores condições de vida. Existe muito esta ideia entre os jovens de: “Eu quero trabalhar, mas quero conseguir fazê-lo aqui, perto da minha família, no meu país.” No entanto, muitas vezes, sentem que não têm oportunidades reais para alcançar esse futuro com tranquilidade e estabilidade. E, para mim, esse é um dos grandes problemas actuais. No entanto, durante a campanha, não vi debates aprofundados nem propostas claras sobre como resolver esta questão do desemprego jovem e da falta de perspectivas para a juventude. Enquanto activista, trabalha muito sobre a questão do género. Como é que é tratada a questão do género em Cabo Verde? Orgulha-me muito os espaços que Cabo Verde tem vindo a criar, tanto através das instituições públicas governamentais como das organizações não governamentais, para avançarmos rumo a uma maior igualdade de género, que ainda está longe de ser plenamente alcançada. Apesar dos avanços, continuam a existir vários problemas por resolver, nomeadamente a violência baseada no género, o feminicídio e a pobreza, que continua a ter um rosto maioritariamente feminino. A maioria das famílias em Cabo Verde são monoparentais e chefiadas por mulheres, o que mostra também como muitas responsabilidades recaem sobre elas. Portanto, ainda temos grandes desafios pela frente, sobretudo ao nível da representação política e da participação das mulheres nos espaços de decisão. São cinco partidos e apenas um é liderado por uma mulher. A política ainda é distante para a mulher em Cabo Verde? Sim, continua a ser distante, porque a política ainda é um espaço muito masculinizado, dominado por lógicas machistas e patriarcais. Muitas vezes, as mulheres não encontram um ambiente favorável nem condições reais para participarem activamente na vida político-partidária do país. Além disso, a política continua a ser um espaço marcado pela agressividade e pela violência. E nós, mulheres, já convivemos diariamente com microviolências em contextos laborais, familiares e sociais. Muitas acabam por evitar também a política precisamente por a sentirem como mais um espaço de confronto e desgaste. Por outro lado, fiquei extremamente contente por ver a Jónica Brites Tavares no debate. Achei-a muito assertiva e isso deu-me alguma esperança. Ver uma mulher naquele espaço, com firmeza e segurança, pode inspirar muitas meninas e mulheres a entrarem também no espaço público e a posicionarem-se. Mas, apesar dos discursos sobre igualdade e dos sinais de paridade nos governos, a política cabo-verdiana continua a ser um espaço muito marcado pela violência, sobretudo pela violência masculina. Considera que nestas eleições vamos voltar a ver esta disputa entre o MpD e o PAICV? Ou há uma possibilidade deste cenário se poder reverter? Eu não acredito que isso vá mudar tão cedo. Acho que vamos continuar presos a esta bipolarização entre o MpD e o PAICV. Os dois partidos construíram, ao longo dos anos, uma narrativa muito baseada no medo: o medo de perder a estabilidade e o receio de ver outras forças políticas a governarem o país.  Mesmo 50 anos depois, ainda somos muito marcados pelo assistencialismo e por relações de dependência política. E essa lógica acaba por alimentar o medo do novo e do diferente. Tanto o MpD como o PAICV continuam a explorar muito esse sentimento. Cabo Verde é muitas vezes visto como o “bom aluno” do continente africano. Quais são os desafios para a democracia cabo-verdiana? Apesar dessa imagem positiva, Cabo Verde não está completamente protegido de fenómenos que hoje ameaçam várias democracias, como o crescimento de discursos populistas, extremistas, racistas, xenófobos e misóginos. Vejo com preocupação o facto de Cabo Verde, enquanto país que tradicionalmente procura manter uma posição equilibrada e não alinhada, nem sempre se posicionar de forma clara perante essas ondas populistas e extremistas. E isso pode representar um risco para a nossa saúde democrática, porque esses discursos acabam por normalizar formas de intolerância e de violência política e social que podem fragilizar a democracia cabo-verdiana no futuro.

Cabo Verde realiza eleições legislativas no próximo dia 17 de Maio para eleger os 72 deputados do Parlamento. Esta eleição conta com cinco formações políticas, entre elas o MpD, liderado por Ulisses Correia e Silva, que se candidata pela terceira vez ao cargo de primeiro-ministro. O partido apresenta como prioridades a diversificação da economia, a aposta na transição energética e a continuidade das políticas de desenvolvimento implementadas nos últimos anos. O país alcançou a taxa de desemprego mais baixa de sempre, fixada em 4,9% no segundo semestre de 2025. Ainda assim, os jovens continuam a ser os mais afectados pelo desemprego. O que pretende fazer o MpD nesta legislatura que não foi capaz de fazer nos últimos dez anos? Em primeiro lugar, 4,9% é a taxa de desemprego global geral. Ao nível dos jovens, onde ainda temos uma taxa de desemprego elevada, à volta dos 20%. A população activa aumentou 4,4%, assim como aumentou o número da população empregada. Isso deita por terra a ideia de que aceitar imigração massiva é um elemento que acabou por, quase, “adocicar” a taxa de desemprego. Não é verdade. Em segundo lugar, as pessoas têm a liberdade de procurar o melhor para as suas vidas. Nós não entendemos isto como um drama. É uma fase transitória. Já temos algumas experiências que estão a demonstrar o contrário: alguns jovens, depois de terem ido para Portugal, chegam à conclusão de que têm de ponderar duas vezes. E alguns estão até a regressar. Desde o primeiro mandato, o senhor defende uma economia virada para o crescimento. Nesta eleição, propõe uma diversificação da economia através da economia azul. De que forma pensa fazê-lo? Já está a acontecer. Nós temos hoje uma economia azul a contribuir cada vez mais para o PIB, estando já próxima dos 20%. A nossa perspectiva é que atinja 25% nos próximos tempos, através de uma maior contribuição da indústria pesqueira transformadora e da aquacultura, que já começa a ter uma actividade exportadora. Através do posicionamento de Cabo Verde no negócio de transhipment, com o investimento que está a ser financiado pela Global Gateway da União Europeia no Porto Grande do Mindelo, queremos posicionar-nos no trânsito de contentores e nas pescas, quer industriais, quer artesanais. Temos aqui todo um caminho que conduz e conduzirá ao aumento da contribuição da economia azul no PIB. A economia digital também é fundamental. Há uns anos não se falava disto, falava-se apenas de telecomunicações. Hoje temos dois parques tecnológicos a atrair e reter quadros qualificados, 350 empresas instaladas, algumas delas multinacionais, que já produzem e exportam serviços tecnológicos para a Europa e para os Estados Unidos. É isto que vai fazer a diversificação da economia, para além do turismo, que ainda tem um grande potencial de crescimento e de diferenciação, conforme as ilhas. Apesar dos avanços na saúde, persistem desigualdades entre ilhas. Que soluções preconiza o MpD para garantir um acesso equitativo à saúde? Há partidos na oposição que defendem a gratuitidade dos serviços. Há partidos da oposição que não fazem contas, não fazem a avaliação das consequências das suas medidas. Nós aumentámos a isenção da taxa moderadora de saúde e alargámo-la a uma série de cuidados para pessoas com deficiência, pessoas idosas, crianças até aos cinco anos, mulheres em período de gravidez e pessoas com doenças crónicas. Mas as pessoas que tenham capacidade contributiva devem pagar. Em segundo lugar, a saúde é essencialmente uma área que tem a cobertura da Segurança Social, garantindo que aqueles que trabalham tenham cobertura e assistência médica e medicamentosa através da Segurança Social. Depois, estamos também a introduzir e a impulsionar o seguro privado de saúde, para haver complementaridade e garantir, essencialmente, aquilo que é a cobertura de redes de proximidade dos serviços de saúde, centros de saúde e redução da procura de evacuação externa. Hoje, Cabo Verde já não faz evacuação para Portugal de doentes crónicos porque temos centros de diálise. Essa é uma tendência que queremos depois transportar para o novo Hospital Central de Cabo Verde, que está a ser construído, para podermos também dar resposta a doenças que têm uma grande procura de evacuação externa. Estou a falar da oncologia, cardiologia de intervenção, neurocirurgia e oftalmologia. Por último, queremos um bom serviço de emergência médica pré-hospitalar. Sendo ilhas, não é possível ter hospitais em todas elas. Mas tem de ser possível que qualquer cidadão, onde estiver, possa ter acesso a serviços de cuidados de referência. Se for ao nível da atenção primária, estará mais perto dos centros de saúde; se for ao nível do sector secundário, estará ao nível dos hospitais regionais; e, ao nível terciário, estará no novo hospital que iremos construir, com um nível de qualidade superior. Os transportes continuam a ser um desafio no país. O que falhou nestes últimos dez anos? Porque é tão difícil garantir as ligações aéreas e marítimas entre ilhas? Porque é difícil em qualquer país arquipelágico, sendo ilhas de pequena população e de rendimento médio-baixo. Viabilizar um determinado número de aviões e barcos para pequenas populações, de baixo rendimento e com o mercado fragmentado, significa custos acrescidos, que só são possíveis com subvenções e indemnizações compensatórias por parte do Estado. Aquilo que temos hoje é um sistema de transportes interilhas que, mesmo tendo problemas, não entrou em disrupção. Em segundo lugar, estamos a aumentar aquilo que é necessário aumentar: a oferta. Há mais barcos, temos embarcações em construção de raiz e mais dois barcos que chegarão brevemente ao país, além de um terceiro barco para uma linha dedicada Fogo-Brava, para podermos desencravar esta ilha, porque não tem aeroporto. Na aviação também teremos mais aparelhos, que já estão encomendados, para podermos aumentar a oferta. A regionalização é um tema recorrente no debate político em Cabo Verde. Porque é que o MpD ainda não foi capaz de avançar com este projecto? Porque não depende só do MpD. A regionalização é uma lei que exige uma maioria qualificada de dois terços do Parlamento. O MpD apresentou, em tempos, uma proposta de lei, mas o PAICV não a viabilizou. Perante isso, preferimos seguir um caminho diferente. Aquilo que fizemos foi investir no desenvolvimento de cada uma das ilhas, ter um plano de desenvolvimento regional, trabalhar na coesão territorial e criar todas as condições de base, quer económicas, quer sociais, quer de mobilidade — área em que ainda temos de melhorar — para que, um dia, possamos ter bases muito sólidas para, havendo consenso, entrar no patamar político. Creio que essa é a melhor via, em vez de colocar o político à frente. Numa altura de maior pressão migratória global, que políticas propõe o seu partido para apoiar a diáspora cabo-verdiana no mundo? Temos já um forte pacote implementado. Nós definimos a diáspora como uma das centralidades do país, porque somos mais do que as ilhas e os seus 500 mil habitantes. A nossa política concreta é reforçar aquilo que tem sido um grande sucesso, que são os serviços consulares digitais. Melhorámos significativamente o nível de atracção de investimento por parte da nossa comunidade emigrada, com incentivos no Estatuto do Investidor Emigrante, fiscais e financeiros, e temos como grande prioridade atrair competências e capacidade para o país. Considera que, ao nível do Parlamento, a comunidade está bem representada? Acho que a representação é boa. Nós temos 72 deputados e seis deputados da diáspora, dois por cada círculo. Proporcionalmente, é uma boa percentagem. E não podemos aumentar significativamente essa proporção porque temos também de garantir proporcionalidades internas. Cabo Verde é um país vulnerável às alterações climáticas. Que medidas concretas defende o MpD para lutar contra este flagelo? O partido é muitas vezes acusado de não trabalhar na prevenção. Essa acusação não corresponde à verdade. Nós trabalhamos na prevenção. Temos um programa de adaptação e a nossa contribuição nacional determinada, relativamente às regras internacionais, está definida e está a ser implementada. Temos um forte programa de transição energética para, em 2026, atingirmos mais de 35% de penetração de energias renováveis na produção de electricidade, chegarmos aos 50% em 2030 e a mais de 80% em 2040. Isso significa reduzir a dependência face aos choques energéticos externos, como temos assistido. Estamos também a trabalhar numa forte estratégia de diversificação da água para a agricultura, aumentando a nossa capacidade de dessalinização da água, massificando a reutilização de águas residuais e a rega gota-a-gota. Criámos ainda um Fundo Nacional de Emergência, capitalizado todos os anos através do Orçamento do Estado e de donativos, o que permitiu, por exemplo, accionar rapidamente mecanismos de financiamento e recuperação sem necessidade imediata de recursos externos. Temos de estar cada vez mais preparados para a adaptação e mitigação dos efeitos das alterações climáticas. Perante os conflitos internacionais, como a guerra no Médio Oriente, que posicionamento deve Cabo Verde assumir em termos de política externa? O nosso posicionamento é sempre definido no sentido da defesa dos nossos interesses nacionais. Nós não fazemos o jogo da geopolítica. Os nossos parceiros sabem exactamente quais são os nossos posicionamentos, sabem quem são os nossos parceiros privilegiados e sabem qual é a nossa visão, particularmente na defesa da nossa localização geoestratégica. Num contexto global de pressão sobre a democracia, quais são os principais desafios para Cabo Verde e como enfrentá-los? Continuar a ser uma democracia estável e garantir que sejamos cada vez menos expostos a fenómenos que hoje estão mundializados, como o populismo, o extremismo ou a ideologia da pós-verdade. Lideranças que tendem a conduzir o país para determinado nível de enfraquecimento da democracia podem tornar as coisas complicadas. Como responde às críticas sobre alegadas represálias a municípios que não são da mesma cor política do Governo, ou às críticas feitas à imprensa? Essas críticas não têm razão de ser. É claro que as pessoas são livres de criticar, mas também são livres de ouvir o contraditório.

Cabo Verde realiza eleições legislativas no próximo dia 17 de Maio para eleger os 72 deputados do Parlamento. Esta eleição conta com cinco formações políticas, entre elas o PAICV, que concorre nos 13 círculos eleitorais. O líder do PAICV, Francisco Carvalho, defende uma reforma do Estado centrada na gratuitidade do ensino superior e saúde, propondo ainda a diversificação da economia, com aposta no turismo, agricultura, pesca. A proposta do PAICV assenta na visão de “Cabo Verde para todos”, e defende – entre outros- uma profunda reforma do Estado?  O que prevê esta reforma ? Esta reforma profunda do Estado de Cabo Verde prevê que o Estado assuma determinadas funções que estão na Constituição da República e que, até agora, não assumiu, nomeadamente na área da educação, ensino superior e formação técnico-profissional, cujo acesso passará a ser gratuito. O Estado tem capacidade para comportar esta despesa? Onde é que o senhor vai buscar esses fundos? Há uma pergunta que nunca se colocou. No momento em que se elaborou a Constituição da República, definiu-se uma meta a ser alcançada, mas não se fizeram as contas para a sua concretização. A mesma pergunta nunca se colocou quando se tratou da garantia da segurança do país, do pagamento da polícia, quando se tratou também da questão da garantia de ter as escolas a funcionar, do pagamento de professores, ou quando se assumiu o pagamento de médicos e enfermeiros. O que nós estamos a fazer aqui é o alargamento destas condições às outras que o Estado já vinha assumindo e que estão todas previstas na Constituição da República. O senhor defende ainda a redução da dimensão do Governo. De que forma será implementada essa medida?  Defendemos a redução da dimensão do Governo para podermos libertar recursos e, assim, financiar estas áreas. Eu coloquei a questão da Constituição da República para demonstrar que há uma razão de fundo para que nós façamos isto e assumamos estas responsabilidades. Por outro lado, nós temos várias gorduras ao nível do Estado que devem ser cortadas e, a partir desse corte, vamos estar em condições de libertar recursos para financiar o Estado. Face à dependência do turismo e das remessas, como pode Cabo Verde diversificar a economia? Começando, desde logo, pela diversificação do próprio turismo. Esse é o primeiro passo a ser dado. Cabo Verde tem excelentes condições para o desenvolvimento do turismo rural e do turismo de montanha. Excelentes condições para isso. E é um tipo de turismo que tem um impacto muito maior e muito mais directo no rendimento das famílias. Por outro lado, a grande aposta que vamos fazer é no desenvolvimento do sector primário: agricultura, pesca e criação de animais. Uma aposta na economia azul? Uma aposta na agricultura, na criação de animais e na economia azul, sim, sem dúvida. Cabo Verde é 99% mar. É nisso que vamos apostar: no desenvolvimento da pesca. E, para financiar esse sector, vamos criar um banco agro-azul, precisamente para financiar a agricultura, a pesca e a criação de animais. Os transportes continuam a ser um desafio no país. Quais são as propostas do PAICV para melhorar a mobilidade entre as ilhas? Nós vamos redimensionar a ligação entre as ilhas, garantindo que todos os dias haja pelo menos uma ligação aérea e marítima para as ilhas que têm portos e aeroportos. A grande medida será ao nível dos preços. Fixámos o preço dos transportes marítimos em 500 escudos e o preço dos transportes aéreos em 5000 escudos, assumindo o Estado a responsabilidade constitucional de garantir a mobilidade dos cidadãos dentro do território nacional. Já temos estudos que confirmam que é possível implementar esses valores. Apesar dos avanços na saúde, persistem desigualdades entre as ilhas. O PAICV quer tornar gratuito o acesso aos cuidados médicos. De que forma pensa fazê-lo, quando muitas vezes vemos que são sectores fragilizados? Aqui a visão é global e coerente. Nós estamos a definir um patamar mínimo de serviços de especialidade na área da saúde, que têm de existir em todas as ilhas do arquipélago. Um patamar mínimo em termos de especialidades médicas, de capacidade de análise e de meios auxiliares de diagnóstico. Ao mesmo tempo, vamos criar melhores condições para atrair médicos para as diferentes ilhas e, desde logo, para atrair médicos para Cabo Verde. Vamos apostar no apoio directo à capacitação permanente dos médicos, de modo a tornar atractiva a fixação e o exercício da profissão em Cabo Verde, bem como em subsídios compensatórios significativos, realistas e suficientemente atractivos para que possam permanecer nas ilhas. Por outro lado, vamos alargar a rede de centros de saúde. E, finalmente, vamos construir, sim, um grande hospital de referência aqui na cidade da Praia, para responder à procura, mas também para dar maior garantia às pessoas que procuram Cabo Verde enquanto destino turístico. E que se evitem também as idas ao estrangeiro para receber tratamento médico? Nós temos um grande problema em Cabo Verde em termos de evacuações. As evacuações são morosas e extremamente complicadas para as pessoas. Vamos formalizar essa ligação entre Cabo Verde e Senegal, criando protocolos que permitam alternativas às evacuações que, neste momento, na sua grande maioria, são feitas para Portugal. A regionalização é um tema recorrente no debate político em Cabo Verde. Que modelo defende o PAICV para descentralizar o poder? Esta é uma questão à qual devemos responder através do diálogo. Eu proponho e defendo claramente, um referendo sobre esta matéria, de modo a permitir que cada cabo-verdiano possa exprimir livremente a posição que considera ser a melhor. Uma comissão totalmente independente deverá organizar todo o processo e implementar o referendo, deixando que o povo cabo-verdiano decida aquilo que quiser. Numa altura de maior pressão migratória ao nível global, que política propõe o PAICV para apoiar a diáspora cabo-verdiana? A retoma da Estratégia Nacional de Imigração e Desenvolvimento, uma estratégia que já tinha sido elaborada e aprovada em 2016. O Governo do MpD atirou a Estratégia Nacional de Imigração e Desenvolvimento para o caixote do lixo, desprezando completamente um trabalho que tinha sido elaborado em parceria e sob orientação técnica da Organização Internacional para as Migrações. Já tínhamos a estratégia elaborada, bem como os respectivos planos de acção. Vamos retomar tudo aquilo que pode e deve ser feito, e que o cabo-verdiano merece.  A estratégia aborda todo o percurso migratório: desde a preparação pré-partida, ao acolhimento nos países de destino, ao desenvolvimento das relações da diáspora com Cabo Verde, até ao momento do retorno. A estratégia prevê tudo isso e nós vamos retomá-la integralmente. O Conselho das Comunidades será uma espécie de parlamento da emigração cabo-verdiana, onde as comunidades da diáspora terão representantes para fazer ouvir a sua voz. E vamos fazer algo de muito importante para os emigrantes: mudar a imagem que têm da alfândega. Queremos uma alfândega célere, rápida, que faça com que o emigrante tenha gosto em vir a Cabo Verde tratar dos seus assuntos. E, por isso, é também fundamental criar melhores condições para os profissionais cabo-verdianos que trabalham nas alfândegas. Cabo Verde é um país vulnerável às alterações climáticas. Que medidas concretas defende o partido para lutar contra este flagelo? É preciso ter planos concretos, porque nunca poderemos controlar totalmente as alterações climáticas. Todos nós estamos conscientes disso. Mas podemos mitigar, antecipar e planificar. Vamos reforçar de forma imediata todo o Serviço Nacional de Protecção Civil. Uma grande aposta será feita nas energias alternativas, criando em Cabo Verde um modelo energético mais saudável e mais compatível com os cuidados que devemos ter com o ambiente no seu todo. Perante os conflitos internacionais, como a guerra no Médio Oriente, que posicionamento deve adoptar Cabo Verde em termos de política externa? Devemos criar, tanto quanto possível, um ambiente de paz, concórdia e diálogo ao nível global. Num contexto global de crescente pressão sobre a democracia, quais são os principais desafios para Cabo Verde e como pode o país enfrentá-los? A crescente descrença dos cidadãos, dos eleitores, nos políticos, nas políticas e nos partidos políticos. Isto porque o que temos observado, um pouco por todo o lado, é o falhanço em termos de compromisso. Os eleitos, depois, esquecem-se dos compromissos que assumem. Esquecem-se, ou fingem que se esquecem, dos compromissos assumidos com os cidadãos. E isto acaba por provocar descrença, afastamento e um crescimento da abstenção. As nossas propostas são propostas que vieram das ruas. As nossas propostas vieram do encontro directo que fomos tendo com os cabo-verdianos, sentindo as suas necessidades básicas e fundamentais, para podermos resolvê-las e, assim, começar a construir o Cabo Verde desenvolvido, que é o sonho de todos nós.

How about some Yolanda Cooper-Sutton in DC? Or what about Charlotte Bergmann finally getting over the hump and winning the 9th District? We discuss the possibilities and candidates now that the Congressional maps have been changed, booting out ol' fried chicken Steve Cohen. Also on the show: MPD released the body camera footage of the shooting of Officer Oscar Torres-Molina, Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke tragically passed away at 29, the Hantavirus seems to be ramping up, and two rounds of Impossible Trivia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Friday. We're talking about the fallout from the MPD's scandal over manipulated crime data. We're talking about the Obama musical that's currently playing in town. And we're talking about a change at the National Mall that DC can actually get behind. Plus, in a members-only fourth segment — which is actually free for everyone today, because it's the LAST DAY of membership drive — we'll talk about how and if the city can help local restaurants and retail survive the DMV's grim economy.  Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this May 8th episode: TodayTix Window Nation Alliance Française Washington DC Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

The Virginia Supreme Court blocked the voter-passed redistricting amendment on Friday, sending shockwaves through the Commonwealth and the nation. The ruling dramatically alters Democrats' plans to take back the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, who represents Virginia's 10th Congressional District, joins the show to give us his take on the ruling and what comes next for his party.Maryland's own redistricting push appeared to be dead, but could recent rulings revive it? We ask WAMU's Maryland reporter Jenny Abamu what she's heard. Plus, the race to replace retiring Prince George's County Congressman Steny Hoyer is heating up. Nearly two dozen candidates are vying for the seat, including state legislators, county councilmembers, and former county executives. Jenny breaks down the huge field of candidates for us.A scandal has erupted in the Metropolitan Police Department over alleged crime data manipulation. Interim Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll has informed 13 MPD leaders that they are on administrative leave and are likely to be terminated for their alleged role in altering crime reports to classify them as lower-level offenses. WAMU's Senior D.C. Politics reporter Alex Koma gets behind the mic to break down what happened, the fallout, and its political implications.Montgomery County lawmakers are at odds over a proposed property tax hike to help fund schools. This week, the Montgomery County Council expressed its opposition to County Executive Marc Elrich's plan to raise property taxes by more than 6%. Instead, Council President Natali Fani-González is leading the charge for a progressive income tax as she explained recently on The Politics Hour. County Executive Elrich joins us to explain why he thinks the council's tax pitch is a "con job." Plus, we get Elrich's take on Councilmember (and candidate for County Executive) Evan Glass's proposal for a six-month moratorium on data center permitting.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

A whistleblower complaint about MMSD management. MPD's use of drones. For the ten-year anniversary of Bubbler Talk, we take you behind the scenes.

Disrupting drilling starts with rethinking the model.Recorded remotely at the Piper Sandler Energy Conference in Las Vegas, this episode features Cam Hewell, President and CEO of Premium Oilfield Holdings.He breaks down how Premium is reshaping managed pressure drilling (MPD) through a rig-centered, vertically integrated approach—now scaled across 160 U.S. land rigs.The conversation also covers rising power demand, new drilling technologies, and where the industry is headed next.00:00 Why Oil And Gas Matters00:36 Podcast And Sponsors01:59 Live From Energy Conference02:15 Conference Themes Power Demand04:03 Meet Cam Hill05:18 Cam Background Consulting Tech07:56 First Oilfield Company Growth10:26 Founding Premium Rig Focus15:08 Premium Shift To MPD17:03 MPD Explained Benefits19:49 Disrupting MPD Cost Tech22:19 Building The Dream Team25:12 Urethane Elements Cloud Software28:54 Beyond MPD Top Drives Tools31:19 New Rig Equipment Roadmap32:30 Remote Bleed Off Valve Win34:36 Chasing Incremental Efficiency36:06 Rapid Prototyping Culture38:00 Expanding Into Production39:44 Growth Strategy And Capital Returns41:56 Downhole Tools And Per Well Focus44:37 Hiring For Innovation48:10 Duke Basketball Detour50:10 Career Advice For Young Pros52:34 Consulting After Running Companies55:34 From Scrappy Startup To Scale57:09 Closing Thanks And Sign Off

Ustadz Nizar Saad Jabal Lc. M.Pd. - Ustadz Nizar Saad Jabal, Lc. Mpd

Cathy Lanier is the Chief Security Officer of the National Football League, where she oversees security across the league office and all 32 clubs. Before the NFL, she served as Chief of Police of Washington, D.C., from 2007 to 2016 — the first woman in the role and the longest-serving chief in the force's history — where her strategies helped cut violent crime by 21 percent even as the city's population grew 15 percent.This episode is brought to you by:Eight Sleep Pod Cover 5 sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: EightSleep.com/Tim Shopify global commerce platform, providing tools to start, grow, market, and manage a retail business: Shopify.com/timHelix Sleep premium mattresses: HelixSleep.com/TimWealthfront high-yield cash account: Wealthfront.com/Tim Wealthfront disclaimer: New clients get 3.30% base APY from program banks + additional 0.75% boost for 3 months on your uninvested cash (max $150k balance). Terms and conditions apply. The Cash Account offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC (“WFB”) member FINRA/SIPC, not a bank. The base APY as of 1/30/26 is representative, can change, and requires no minimum. Tim Ferriss, a non-client, receives compensation from WFB for advertising and holds a non-controlling equity interest in the corporate parent of WFB, which creates a conflict of interest. Individual experiences and outcomes will differ. Instant withdrawals may be limited by your receiving firm and other factors. Investment advisory services provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, not bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.TIMESTAMPS:[00:00] Start.[01:38] Cathy Lanier: from Tuxedo to the top.[03:22] Dad vanishes; Mom holds the line (and takes shorthand to the TV).[08:08] Bused into DC: straight-A student turns chronic truant.[10:37] Married at 15, signed over for $100 off child support.[12:54] The baby-in-the-crib wake-up call.[16:37] GED by a single point; secretary by day, waitress by night.[20:18] The Washington Post ad that changed everything.[20:39] 1990 MPD: into the crack cocaine wars.[23:46] Grandma's gospel: no excuses, damned for doing.[26:23] Mount Pleasant riots: trial by brick, and a better-way epiphany.[33:23] Donny Exum's nudge — and sergeant at 26.[38:56] Being a woman on the '90s force: harassment and the 90-day dodge.[49:38] Marion Barry exits, Chuck Ramsey enters.[51:08] Lieutenant: the sweet spot. Captain: the desk (but keep the cuffs).[56:58] 9/11 and the surprise transfer to Special Ops.[58:07] Mentors lend confidence — and a counterterrorism bureau built from scratch.[1:00:14] Live Sarin, VX, and training with bioweapons legends.[1:02:22] Text the 50, get the 411: the tip line gambit.[1:03:36] Cultivating sources: the white Escalade payoff.[1:09:02] Attention to detail: OCD as a superpower.[1:10:43] Teletubby pagers to smartphones — and the Thomas Maslin reckoning.[1:15:14] NFL security: the scope of "everything."[1:17:10] Red teaming, explained.[1:18:53] NFL vs. MPD: diversity and complexity that goes to 11.[1:21:24] The book club: The Tipping Point and Blink.[1:23:32] Decisions under pressure — and with incomplete information.[1:28:34] Billboard wisdom: it's not what happens; it's what you do.[1:30:08] Parting thoughts.*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Minneapolis city auditor says procedural errors by MPD may have impeded police investigations leading up to two incidents -- the death of Allison Lussier and the non-fatal shooting of Davis Moturi. And the Minneapolis City Council is expected to vote on whether to extend the city's eviction notice period from 30 days to 45. Those stories and more in today's evening update. Hosted by Emily Reese. Music by Gary Meister.

Minneapolis city councilmember Michael Rainville joins Chad to discuss the futures of safety commissioner Todd Barnette and MPD chief Brian O'Hara, the bathhouse proposal in the city, the ideological divide on the council between traditional Democrats and those on the far left and more.

In this week's episode we talk about:Jeremiah Taylor was arrested after he raped a 94-year-old woman in the driveway of her homeA woman says says breaking up with boyfriend sent him into a violent rageKeymon Bledsoe, whom MPD the Memphis Police Department described as "one of the most prolific drivers of crime in our city" was arrested by the department's Fugitive UnitTwitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/PnLJudgementals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@pnljudgementals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/PnLJudgementals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/the__judgementals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pnljudgementals@gmail.com⁠Music: Bread Crumbs - Successful

What was a silly headline yesterday has now turned into a fascinating story a day later after we received an explanation from a friend of Arlington Mayor Mike Wissman. Arlington's biggest conspiracy *could* truly be a misunderstanding, but others think it's a tall tale hiding behind a pair of butt shorts. Also on the show: Jake calls out Mayor Paul Young for relieving four MPD officers of their duty after the No Kings fiasco on Saturday, Kristin Noem's husband is exposed as a cross-dresser, and we play two rounds of Impossible Trivia Tuesday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyranny! Facism! No Kings protestors are crying! Is it over the pepper spray or getting run over by horses? MPD stated Indivisible Memphis, the organizers, did not secure permits to block public roads, and that the orange-vested freedom fighters refused to obey lawful orders. We break down all the reactions and clips. Also on the show: the Mayor of Arlington has been charged with (accidental?) shoplifting, Jake shares his Charlie Sheen story about shoplifting, and Charles Barkley randomly monologues about illegal immigration while on a March Madness broadcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who is the dirtbag that invented a fob that allows you to steal someone else's fob? Chicago city council woman said young murder victim was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Crows are assembling in Tel Aviv. The mayor chooses to believe that it is a sign of doom. Johnny Heidt with guitar news.Heard On The Show:Minneapolis office building values hit 10-year low, homeowners may pay more66 cars stolen since March 20 as MPD warns thieves are using new techIran Rejects US Peace Plan in Blow to Efforts to End WarSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Not only is Brent Taylor pushing for legislation to create an appointed state oversight board for local schools, parents want it too! In recent years, trust in the school district has been low, especially following the controversial dismissal of Dr. Marie Feagins, and parents have had enough! Also on the show: some women want female Uber drivers, Gene Simmons tells celebrities to "shut the f up" about politics, AI is being used to locate the attempted MPD cop killer, and we play two rounds of Impossible Trivia Tuesday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Members of the local congressional delegation are strongly criticizing President Trump's decision to enter into a war with Iran. Iraqi war veteran and U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman joined the show from the U.S. Capitol to discuss why he thinks the military strikes were illegal and what might be next. Plus, Rep. Vindman weighed in on Virginia redistricting as early voting gets underway.The D.C. Council passed two bills this week aimed at increasing transparency around MPD's cooperation with federal immigration agencies. At-Large Councilmember Christina Henderson got behind the mic to talk about the legislation and why the bills are necessary, despite objections from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.She also discussed her efforts to raise taxes on "flushable" wipes. Henderson introduced the bill following an incident in which wipes clogged pumps used to mitigate a sewage spill in the Potomac.It may say flushable on your package, and, sure, it may get down the drain in that immediate, but we know that it is causing backups, not just in the D.C water utility system, but in folks' homes and apartment buildings," she said.The tax revenue generated by the bill would go toward sewer maintenance and repair by D.C. Water. As a potential alternative to the wipes, Henderson's bill also offers a sales tax break on bidetsArlington County is facing major budget challenges that could lead the County Board to raise taxes. Arlington County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti sat down with Kojo and Tom to discuss how the board plans to navigate a nearly $40 million budget gap, including possibly eliminating a popular youth gymnastics program and saving the county nearly $1 million.But some residents are pushing back, saying the program serves thousands of kids. Board Chair de Ferranti said the county needs to make tough budget choices."We have to be looking at all the services that might not be core services or might not be serving the most vulnerable," he said.De Ferranti said the board is considering other options for the program, like changing fees and focusing on serving kids with special needs. Plus, Board Chair de Ferranti talked about how leaders are preparing for a potential surge in federal immigration enforcement in the county.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

Interview with Claudia Tornquist, President and CEO & Christopher Taylor, Chairman of Kodiak CopperOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/kodiak-copper-tsxvkdk-maiden-resource-hits-24b-lbs-to-show-potential-8750Recording date: 2nd of March 2026Kodiak Copper Corp. is positioning for significant growth after releasing its maiden resource estimate at the MPD copper-gold project in southern British Columbia in December 2025. Speaking at the PDAC conference in Toronto, President and CEO Claudia Tornquist and Founder and Chairman Christopher Taylor outlined an aggressive expansion strategy designed to double the resource base while maintaining capital discipline.The initial resource estimate totals 440 million tons of mineralisation containing 2.4 billion pounds of copper and 1.7 million ounces of gold across indicated and inferred categories. This follows seven years of district consolidation and over 90,000 meters of drilling, incorporating significant historical data from previous operators.Management characterised the resource as "a starting point not a finish line," emphasising substantial expansion potential. The company plans a sizable drill program in 2026 focused on systematic infill drilling and testing high-priority extensions. With 70,000 meters of historical exploration drilling creating defined gaps in the resource, management expressed confidence in substantially growing tonnage within 12 months, with an updated resource estimate expected in Q1 2027.The strategy comes as copper sector consolidation accelerates. Hudbay Minerals' recent acquisition of Arizona Sonoran Copper at a 30% premium represents the first material transaction involving a non-producing copper company, validating strategic interest in earlier-stage assets as majors seek to secure future supply amid electrification-driven demand growth.Tornquist explained that demonstrating the project can reach approximately 880 million tons would bring Kodiak into the size range of more advanced peers such as Faraday Copper, Cisco Metals, and Northisle, which trade at multiples of Kodiak's current valuation. Beyond resource expansion at known zones, the company has identified over 20 additional exploration targets across the MPD property, offering substantial discovery upside.With $56 million raised to date and only 96 million shares outstanding, Kodiak has maintained relatively low dilution while advancing the project, positioning the company for increased institutional participation as it transitions from explorer to developer status.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/kodiak-copper-corpSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Unmarked Madison Police Department vehicles now have a placard in the windshield identifying them as MPD cars. This is in response to residents inquiring about how they can tell the difference between MPD cars and those belonging to ICE. Meanwhile, a company that owns a hundred Wisconsin Burger King restaurants has been accused of more than 1,600 child labor law violations by the state's Department of Workforce Development. Executive producer Hayley Sperling breaks down this week's news with producer Jade Iseri-Ramos and newsletter editor Rob Thomas. Plus, do you need Valentine's Day plans? We've got you covered. Mentioned on the show: Fundraiser for Noel Quintana, owner of the Señor Machetes [Facebook]Anti-Valentine's Day celebrations  [City Cast Madison] Bad Bunny teams up with UW-Madison professor [Tone Madison] Check out our new City Cast podcast "Your City Could Be Better" on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted by CEO David Plotz, this week's inaugural episode features the host of City Cast Twin Cities talking about how Minneapolis and St. Paul mobilized so quickly and broadly against the months-long ICE operation there.

Darrell Castle talks about President Trump’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland presented earlier this week and the important issues surrounding the speech including Greenland, Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, and of course Minneapolis. Transcription / Notes TRUMP SPEAKS TO THE WEF Hello, this is Darrell Castle with today's Castle Report. This is Friday the 23rd day of January in the year of our Lord 2026. I will be talking about President Trump's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland which was given on Wednesday of this week. I will also talk about some of the important issues surrounding that speech including Greenland, Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, and of course Minneapolis. Yes, President Trump traveled to Davos this week accompanied by a large U.S. delegation including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. California Governor Gavin Newscom was in attendance although not part of the US delegation. He was quick to gather a news event to question everything the President said. So, the President spoke for over an hour to the richest, most powerful, most pompous and self-important people in this world. He used the occasion to sign the Board of Peace Charter, officially launching a new international organization tasked with overseeing the peace process between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza. Trump said as he signed, “This Board is the chance to be one of the most consequential bodies ever created, and it's my enormous honor to serve as its chairman.” Founding members of the board were in attendance including Bahrain, Morocco, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and the United Arab Emirates. Missing was Bibi Netanyahu because he has an international warrant out for him and he would most likely have been arrested. Could the Board of Peace end up replacing the United Nations? President Trump seems to think so, “I wish the United Nations could do more. I wish we didn't need a Board of Peace. The UN just hasn't been very helpful. I'm a big fan of the UN's potential but it has never lived up to its potential.” Trump, despite his criticism, didn't call for the dissolution of the UN. I suppose he left that duty to me and I have been actively calling for its dissolution since about 1990 when I became associated with the Constitution Party. Many people agree with me but find it very difficult to say so. I supported Ron Paul's presidential campaigns partly because of his end the FED rhetoric and his criticism of international bodies such as the UN. I fear that the Board of Peace will become just another bureaucracy but we will see whether it can really achieve peace in Gaza. The proposal calls for Hamas to lay down its arms which it has publicly refused to do. Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law presented a slide show detailing the architectural plans for the Gaza strip. I hope those plans include the Palestinians still alive but we will see. Perhaps they can find jobs in the fabulous hotels and resorts that are supposed to be built. In the meantime, the IDF has reportedly killed at least 466 Palestinians since the ceasefire started as well as 3 journalists one of whom worked for Bari Weiss the new head of news at CBS. When invited to speak at WEF Denmark announced that it would not be attending because of Trump's position on Greenland. Perhaps the Danes don't quite understand the art of the deal. He renounced any plans to acquire Greenland by force and worked out a deal with NATO to allow US use of Greenland and in return plans for tariffs on EU members were canceled. Trump believes, and it makes sense to me, that the US needs influence there as a hedge against long term adversaries in the Arctic like China and Russia, for example. He assured them that US acquisition of rights in Greenland was not only, not a threat to NATO but would greatly enhance the security of the alliance. He said the new agreement would involve the Danes with the Golden Dome, and mineral rights.  In case you don't know Golden Dome is a new missile defense system being built. Mark Rutte, the head of NATO, said after his meeting with Trump that the discussion about Greenland had changed. Now the discussion is about how the arctic region can be protected and secured. George Friedman is a geopolitical analyst of impeccable reputation and I have been a subscriber to his publication, Geopolitical Futures for many years. In regard to Greenland George said in his recent newsletter that he admitted for the first time he just could not explain or figure out something. He could not explain why Trump would place tariffs on NATO allies in order to acquire interest in Greenland. Now that Trump has lowered the temperature of the discussion the point may be moot but I think he does not have the same regard for the Europeans that many others have. In fact, I think this whole new Strategic Strategies Report that the administration just released is an announcement that the security agreement that has existed since World War ll has run its course and is now over. The US will consider its own hemisphere and its own defense first. In other words, this is all a continuation of the American Revolution which for 250 years has not been able to separate the American people from the European bankers. The bankers got their prize with the formation of the Federal Reserve which was formed to take control of the US financial system and keep the American people in debt slavery forever. The FED prints its own money and loans it to the US so it can be used to pay US interest on the debt that it has, thus 38 trillion debt and one trillion of interest. Take, for example, Mark Carney the Prime Minister of Canada. He is former governor of the Central Bank of England and former governor of the Central Bank of Canada and though in office, still associated with powerful banking and investment firms. That may be rambling a bit but it's still all very true. Trump went on in his speech with his usual carrot and stick approach. “Certain places in Europe are not even recognizable, frankly, anymore, they're not recognizable, and I love Europe, and I want to see Europe do good, but its not heading in the right direction.”  He mentioned his Scottish and German heritage and said the people of the United States care deeply about Europe. He used part of his time to tout what he called restoring the American dream. He mentioned his Executive Order to prevent Wall Street Corporations from buying single family homes thus driving up the cost of rent and making owning a home much more expensive. “Families live in homes, not corporations.” Well, amen to that quote Mr. President, that is exactly right. My approval of that action and the quote is not very libertarian but then I am not a libertarian. The US is not going to subsidize the whole world he told the assembled Davos men and women. Global tariffs were implemented to address the large trade deficits the US was experiencing adding that many countries were taking advantage of the United States. He went on to brag about the economic changes and success that he believes the US is experiencing. So, my conclusion is that he went to Davos to conclude a Greenland deal and to sign the Board of Peace agreement but mostly to explain himself to these people. Wars still rage in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran. The one in Iran seems to be heating up again with the Ayatollah publicly admitting to over 5000 protesters killed. Many reporters from inside Iran report more than 10,000. The Ayatollah has taken a very hard line calling the uprising sedition and blaming the United States and Israel for it and threatening full scale war. Trump has ordered his military leaders to give him strike options that could be done so something is most likely coming. US strategic bombers have been seen over the Persian Gulf region. I said I would say a few words about Minneapolis so here they are. That city seems to be the tip of the iceberg that is the massive fraud being committed against the US government but mainly against the working, taxpaying Americans. If you work and a portion of your labor and money you need to feed your family is taken from you by the IRS apparently a good deal of that is used to feed the terrorists in Somalia and to line the pockets of politicians across America. The politicians look the other way and run interference for the fraudsters and they are then rewarded with millions of fraudulently acquired dollars. It seems that California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and others may even be bigger than Minnesota. You are certainly aware that ICE is in Minnesota trying to round up, arrest and deport illegal criminals but the politicians who have been receiving millions in bribes from the illegals have been protecting them and attacking ICE agents. I suppose they believe that if they scream loud enough we the people will join the criminals, but then who will pay the taxes. This disorder went so far as to involve an attack or at least a forced disruption of Sunday Services at a Baptist church called Cities Church in St. Paul. Yes former news reporter Don Lemon led the mob into the church and disrupted people who were worshiping God on a Sunday morning. Lemon gave a lot of sanctimonious words about how protest is protected by the 1st amendment. He is really attacking Christianity and trying to eliminate the right of Christians to worship freely which is sacrosanct in the 1st amendment. It seems that in Minnesota they really love and value sanctuary except when it involves places that actually are sanctuaries. Contrast my city of Memphis with Minneapolis and notice the difference. Memphis has now had two good mayors in a row and the difference is astounding. The mayor didn't want federal authority here but he said if it's coming let's cooperate and use it to benefit the city. The guard came to help with the street patrols so the MPD could do police work. ICE was here arresting illegal criminals as they found them. Two statistics illustrate the whole thing and the difference. Car left down 70% and murders down 44% and people can walk their own streets at least better than before criminals were allowed to take over our cities. Finally, folks, wither you hate Donald Trump or love him pray for peace. Our children will appreciate it. At least that's the way I see it, Until next time folks, This is Darrell Castle, Thanks for listening.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore is pitching a plan to close the state's $1.4 billion budget without tax hikes. Instead, he's proposing spending cuts, budget shifts, and drawing from a clean energy fund. The governor joined the show to break down his budget proposal. Plus, what's next in the redistricting battle.Maryland House Democrats introduced a bill Friday that would redraw the state's eight congressional districts. The changes could give Democrats the ability to flip Maryland's lone Republican District. This comes only days after the state's redistricting commission recommended a "concept map" favoring Democrats in Congress.Governor Moore said Maryland can't sit on their hands while President Trump pushes for redistricting in other states, like Texas. "This is going to end up being essentially the largest attack on black political leadership that we have seen in generations inside of this country," he said.However, Moore faces opposition in his own party. Senate President Bill Ferguson has so far opposed mid-cycle redistricting. But Moore's not deterred."Bill Ferguson is one vote, and Democracy doesn't stop because of one person," he said. The House is expected to vote on the bill next week. If passed, it would then head to the Senate for a vote.The D.C. Council this week selected Doni Crawford to take former At-Large Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie's job on the council. The former McDuffie staffer and Ward 5 resident is somewhat of an unknown to the general public, though well-regarded in the Wilson Building for her experience in negotiating housing policy and budget matters. Councilmember Crawford got behind the mic to give us her stance on some of the city's biggest issues, including MPD's relationship with federal immigration agents and RFK Stadium. New Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger this week pressed for legislation addressing affordability and signaled her support for redistricting in her first address to lawmakers. WAMU's Northern Virginia reporter Margaret Barthel broke down Gov. Spanberger's first week in office.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

Locals are protesting last week's fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis, while officials wrestle with how to keep residents safe as the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown. In Montgomery County, elected leaders are proposing a law limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. County Executive Marc Elrich joined the show to discuss the Trust Act, and how the county is working to protect its most vulnerable residents.The Trust Act extends county services to all residents regardless of immigration status and prevents local police from working with federal immigration authorities in certain circumstances, including participating in federal immigration raids. County Executive Marc Elrich said that's the extent of the county's power.“If ICE was just generally saying they're gonna go into a workplace and they get into the workplace and they're going to pull out workers, we can't intervene," Elrich said.The county council expects to vote on the Trust Act within the next few months. Plus, we discuss Elrich's plans for funding county schools and federal cuts.A D.C. Council committee released a report saying District police have lost the public's trust by not being transparent about their continued cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Chair Brooke Pinto is leading an effort to get clarity from interim police chief Jeff Carroll about MPD's relationship with ICE. Councilmember Pinto got behind the mic to discuss how the council is pressing District police. She said Chief Carroll's answers this week were “wholly inadequate." "The public has a right to know which federal agents are here," Pinto said. "How many arrests have been made? How many immigration-related arrests have be made? What does that level of deployment response look like?"The MPD head will need to answer these questions at a public oversight hearing set for February 25th.We also ask her about the council's process for picking its next member and the 2026 election season.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

Among the topics here with former MPD Chief Janee Harteau, she discusses some of the tactics and decisions made my ICE officers that could easily get any MPD officer or chief fired if they employed the same measures.

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comThis is the 25th episode feature of the CKLN Mind Control Radio Series that will be airing on all my channels. These lectures, interviews, and presentations are some of the most important documentations on mind control that you will find. This series is extremely difficult to find online and has stood the test of time since 1997 when it aired on CKLN Radio. I will be airing this series over the next couple months for 'Movie Night'. If you listen to this entire series, it'll tremendously help your understanding of MK ULTRA and trauma-based mind control. You will hear from renowned experts, advocates, educators, therapists, survivors, whistleblowers, and researchers who helped pave the way for where we are today. Much of the information you have heard in this series has been suppressed over the years, and some of it may be slightly outdated due to being ahead of it's time. Please pay attention and treat this like going to class - it's a series unlike anything you'll ever hear and I'm grateful to be able to bring this series back to life! Enjoy (and take copious notes!).-----------------------------------------------------------------------Kevin Annett - Uncovering the Systemic Abuse & Murder of Indigenous Children-----------------------------------------------------------------------Wayne Morris and the International Connection Radio Show are proud to deliver the entire nine-month series in this rare exclusive format. (International Connection 2003)The Mind Control Radio Series, a series on Canadian involvement in U.S. CIA and military mind control programs and the links to ritual abuse.International Connection Host Wayne Morris interviewed survivors, therapists, researchers, and writers regarding unethical mind control experiments carried out by Canada and the United States on Toronto radio station CKLN-FM 88.1 Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM."Mind Control Radio Series" focused on different issues of military and government use of mind control with a focus on the Canadian involvement in the experimental programs including:- The documented history of CIA/military mind control programs including the funding of projects at Canadian institutes across the country (Including the Allen Memorial Institute in Montreal).- The military and intelligence uses of mind control including using the child victims for sexual blackmail, message delivery, information stealing, coercion and assassination.- The use of Multiple Personality Disorder for mind control programming and the links to the MPD effects of ritual abuse, sexual abuse and severe trauma- The public debate around recovered memories of abuse- The nature of the mind control experiments from survivors' accounts-------------------------------------------------CONNECT WITH EMMA / THE IMAGINATION: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imaginationpodcastofficialRumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheImaginationPodcastEMAIL: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.com OR standbysurvivors@protonmail.comMy Substack: https://emmakatherine.substack.com/BUY ME A COFFEE: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theimaginationVENMO: @emmapreneurCASHAPP: $EmmaKatherine1204All links: https://direct.me/theimaginationpodcastSupport the show

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comThis is the 23rd episode feature of the CKLN Mind Control Radio Series that will be airing on all my channels. These lectures, interviews, and presentations are some of the most important documentations on mind control that you will find. This series is extremely difficult to find online and has stood the test of time since 1997 when it aired on CKLN Radio. I will be airing this series over the next couple months for 'Movie Night'. If you listen to this entire series, it'll tremendously help your understanding of MK ULTRA and trauma-based mind control. You will hear from renowned experts, advocates, educators, therapists, survivors, whistleblowers, and researchers who helped pave the way for where we are today. Much of the information you have heard in this series has been suppressed over the years, and some of it may be slightly outdated due to being ahead of it's time. Please pay attention and treat this like going to class - it's a series unlike anything you'll ever hear and I'm grateful to be able to bring this series back to life! Enjoy (and take copious notes!).-----------------------------------------------------------------------Don Gillmor - History of Government & Military in Modern Day Mind ControlThis is actually our last show in our radio series on mind control which has been running almost a year now on this time slot. Today we are going to be finishing off the series with a discussion on government and military mind control. Last week we had a panel on the ritual abuse aspects of mind control, and this week we are focusing on the history of government in developing mind control. I am joined in the studio by Don Gillmor who is the author of "I Swear By Apollo" one of the original books to come out about Dr. Ewen Cameron and the experiments that were done at McGill University in Montreal. We are going to be taking phone calls for this show and you can direct comments or questions to Don or myself. We are going to introduce what we are going to talk about. -----------------------------------------------------------------------Wayne Morris and the International Connection Radio Show are proud to deliver the entire nine-month series in this rare exclusive format. (International Connection 2003)The Mind Control Radio Series, a series on Canadian involvement in U.S. CIA and military mind control programs and the links to ritual abuse.International Connection Host Wayne Morris interviewed survivors, therapists, researchers, and writers regarding unethical mind control experiments carried out by Canada and the United States on Toronto radio station CKLN-FM 88.1 Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM."Mind Control Radio Series" focused on different issues of military and government use of mind control with a focus on the Canadian involvement in the experimental programs including:- The documented history of CIA/military mind control programs including the funding of projects at Canadian institutes across the country (Including the Allen Memorial Institute in Montreal).- The military and intelligence uses of mind control including using the child victims for sexual blackmail, message delivery, information stealing, coercion and assassination.- The use of Multiple Personality Disorder for mind control programming and the links to the MPD effects of ritual abuse, sexual abuse and severe trauma- The public debate around recovered memories of abuse- The nature of the mind control experiments from survivors' accounts-------------------------------------------------CONNECT WITH EMMA / THE IMAGINATION: Support the show

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe world is moving away from wind and solar, coal demand is up, China was never going along with the green new scam. Trump is moving carefully through the [CB] minefield economy. Gold is on the move. Trump is moving the country out of the old system. The [DS] try to get Trump with the Epstein hoax, now that the information dropped the people can now see what the [DS] was planning. Ship building is coming back to the US. Trump signs the NDAA that has additional protections for the election. Every step of the way Trump is countering the [DS] cheating system. Economy https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2003156645388406992?s=20   consumption, or 4.95 billion tonnes. By comparison, US coal demand stands at 410 million tonnes, just ~5% of the world's total. Meanwhile, the IEA projects a gradual decline in demand over the next 5 years, to ~8.60 billion tonnes by 2030. However, past forecasts of peak coal demand have repeatedly proven wrong, as consumption continues to rise. Coal remains in high demand 23 US States Are At High Risk Of (Or In) Recession Currently  In 2025, states responsible for about a third of U.S. GDP are in recession, or face high recession risk. Another third are expanding, including Florida and Utah, based on payrolls, employment, and other key economic data. This graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Dorothy Neufeld, shows recession risk by state in 2025, based on analysis from Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics. In Recession/High Risk Treading Water Expanding State/District Business Cycle Status Share of U.S. GDP (%) Georgia In Recession/High Risk 3.03 Montana In Recession/High Risk 0.25 Wyoming In Recession/High Risk 0.18 Michigan In Recession/High Risk 2.44 Massachusetts In Recession/High Risk 2.73 Mississippi In Recession/High Risk 0.53 Minnesota In Recession/High Risk 1.70 Kansas In Recession/High Risk 0.80 Rhode Island In Recession/High Risk 0.28 Delaware In Recession/High Risk 0.34 Washington In Recession/High Risk 3.02 Illinois In Recession/High Risk 3.85 West Virginia In Recession/High Risk 0.36 New Hampshire In Recession/High Risk 0.42 Maryland In Recession/High Risk 1.86 Virginia In Recession/High Risk 2.66 South Dakota In Recession/High Risk 0.25 Connecticut In Recession/High Risk 1.27 Oregon In Recession/High Risk 1.14 Iowa In Recession/High Risk 0.86 New Jersey In Recession/High Risk 2.93 Maine In Recession/High Risk 0.33 District of Columbia In Recession/High Risk 0.64 Missouri Treading Water 1.54 Ohio Treading Water 3.14 Hawaii Treading Water 0.39 Arkansas Treading Water 0.65 New Mexico Treading Water 0.49 Tennessee Treading Water 1.87 New York Treading Water 7.92 Vermont Treading Water 0.16 Alaska Treading Water 0.24 Colorado Treading Water 1.92 California Treading Water 14.50 Nevada Treading Water 0.86 South Carolina Expanding 1.18 Texas Expanding 9.41 Oklahoma Expanding 0.92 Idaho Expanding 0.43 Kentucky Expanding 0.99 Alabama Expanding 1.10 Indiana Expanding 1.81 Nebraska Expanding 0.63 North Carolina Expanding 2.86 Louisiana Expanding 1.11 Florida Expanding 5.78 North Dakota Expanding 0.26 Pennsylvania Expanding 3.54 Arizona Expanding 1.88 Wisconsin Expanding 1.53 Utah Expanding 1.02 Currently, many coastal, Northeastern states are facing some of the worst economic conditions. In Maine, for instance, year-over-year GDP growth is just 0.8% as of Q2 2025, compared to the U.S. average of 2.1%. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C.'s unemployment rate was 6.4% in July, significantly higher than the 4.6% U.S. average given sweeping federal cuts. According to Zandi's analysis, New York and California are “Treading Water”, together responsible for driving over 22% of U.S. GDP. In comparison, Texas, which fuels 9.4% of U.S. economic growth is expanding. Unemployment rates of 4.0% in July remain below the U.S. average. Additionally, the Texas economy is growing faster than the nation, while income growth rose 6.3% annually as of Q2 2025, outpacing the national average.   Source: zerohedge.com (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/unseen1_unseen/status/2003254895143461092?s=20   caused by falling home prices while increasing the affordability of homes. Home builders aren’t going to build more homes if they are losing money. Trump can’t force them to build homes. This is where thinking outside the box comes in play and things like the 50 year mortgage, interest rate cuts, lower down-payments, salt taxes etc get proposed. With deportations and the decline of the boomer generation from old age, supply will be increasing. Prices will come down. The trick is not to allow them to go into a free fall and keep demand high enough to soak up a great deal of that supply. Trump’s proposed $2,000 tariff rebate checks depend on Congress   President Donald Trump needs Congress to take action to make good on a proposal to send some Americans $2,000 tariff rebate checks next year. Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett said the U.S. House and Senate will need to take up the matter. “I would expect that in the new year, the president will bring forth a proposal to Congress to make that happen,” Hassett said on “Face the Nation” on Sunday. Details about Trump’s tariff rebate proposal remain sparse. Trump has said he wants to issue the rebate checks and use the rest of the tariff revenue to pay down the nation’s $38 trillion debt, even as the U.S. Supreme Court has not yet determined whether he has the authority to impose tariffs. Source: thecentersquare.com US Industrial Production Rises At Strongest Annual Rate Since Apr 2022 Following the much-stronger-than-expected GDP print, US Industrial Production also surprised to the upside, rising 0.2% MoM in November and pulling the YoY change up to 2.52% – the strongest annual growth since April 2022… Source: zerohedge.com Trump Boom: U.S. Economy Grows 4.3%, Fastest in Two Years, Smashing Expectations The U.S. economy grew this summer at the fastest pace in two years, far outpacing economists' forecasts. The Commerce Department said U.S. gross domestic product—the government's official economic scorecard—rose at a seasonally and inflation-adjusted 4.3 percent annual rate in the third quarter. The report on the July through September period was delayed due to the shutdown. Consumer spending grew much faster than expected, expanding at a seasonally and inflation-adjusted annual rate of 3.5 percent. That's up from 2.5 percent in the second quarter and above the 2.7 percent expected. Source: breitbart.com    FULL steam ahead — “You haven't seen anything yet!” Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! DONALD J. TRUMP PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2003149733158588868?s=20 This list is just the table setting for the coming booming economy. Wait till Trump transforms the entire fiat world debt system. A Golden Age for the world approaches. https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2003285919668011147?s=20    good news, the Market went up. Nowadays, when there is good news, the Market goes down, because everybody thinks that Interest Rates will be immediately lifted to take care of “potential” Inflation. That means that, essentially, we can never have a Great Market again, those Markets from the time when our Nation was building up, and becoming great. Strong Markets, even phenomenal Markets, don't cause Inflation, stupidity does! I want my new Fed Chairman to lower Interest Rates if the Market is doing well, not destroy the Market for no reason whatsoever. I want to have a Market the likes of which we haven't had in many decades, a Market that goes up on good news, and down on bad news, the way it should be, and the way it was. Inflation will take care of itself and, if it doesn't, we can always raise Rates at the appropriate time — But the appropriate time is not to kill Rallies, which could lift our Nation by 10, 15, and even 20 GDP points in a year — and maybe even more than that! A Nation can never be Economically GREAT if “eggheads” are allowed to do everything within their power to destroy the upward slope. We are going to be encouraging the Good Market to get better, rather than make it impossible for it to do so. We are going to see numbers that are far more natural, and far better, than they have ever been before. We are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! The United States should be rewarded for SUCCESS, not brought down by it. Anybody that disagrees with me will never be the Fed Chairman! Political/Rights https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2003309528805470611?s=20 https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/2003266300832038926?s=20 https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2003271819705389139?s=20   interfere with immigration operations. https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/2003378383862817224?s=20 https://twitter.com/BillMelugin_/status/2002573015142576350?s=20 https://twitter.com/TriciaOhio/status/2002801058897142114?s=20   This was a targeted operation to arrest Fernandez Flores, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras with a criminal conviction for making a false police report. Flores entered the United States illegally at unknown date and location without inspection by an immigration officer. He will remain in ICE custody pending further immigration proceedings. If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will find you, we will arrest you, and you will not return. https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2003130997198713329?s=20https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/2003214521419333695?s=20 https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/2003214521419333695?s=20 WATCH: Justice Department Releases Shocking Recreation Video of Jeffrey Epstein Trying to Kill Himself The Justice Department on Monday released recreation video of Jeffrey Epstein inside of his jail cell trying to kill himself. The video – which was revealed to be computer-generated – is timestamped August 10, 2019 at 4:29 am ET – Epstein was found dead at 6:30 am ET on August 10, 2019. Prosecutors previously said that the two CCTV cameras positioned outside of Epstein's cell had malfunctioned. The 10-second recreation video shows Epstein sitting on the floor of his cell attempting to kill himself. WATCH:  Source: thegatwaypundit.com  https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2003476301970133417?s=20  “a circular line of erythema at the base of the neck” along with other marks of friction and bruising on his knee. Epstein told prison staff he didn't remember what happened but was afraid to return to the Special Housing Unit, saying it was “where he had gotten marks on his neck and he does not know why it happened.” He said he had only slept 30 minutes a night for five days due to noise and stress. His cellmate, ex-cop Nicholas Tartaglione, had reportedly been harassing him, and Epstein claimed “he tried to kill me.” Staff noted Tartaglione had been aggressive and was seen mocking Epstein with a string around his neck. Despite these signs, the incident was labeled a “possible suicide attempt.” https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2003292687835787393?s=20  were actively tracking and attempting to contact 10 individuals connected to Epstein’s crimes. The email references attempts to contact Brunel (modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, who later died in prison), Maxwell (Ghislaine, now serving 20 years), and mentions “Ohio contacting Wexner.” Les Wexner is the billionaire L Brands founder who gave Epstein his $77 million NYC mansion and served as his primary financial benefactor for years. A separate confidential document from law firm Debevoise & Plimpton lists SDNY matters they appeared in, including one entry: “Wexner: Epstein investigation.” 10 co-conspirators. Only Maxwell was ever charged. The names behind those black boxes are the real story here. https://twitter.com/MikeBenzCyber/status/2003358231780032675?s=20 https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2003480729624412240?s=20  and his residence as Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Profession listed: “Manager.” It's part of a trove of thousands of Epstein-related files released overnight. https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2003436034709995730?s=20   from Epstein's properties – computers, hard drives, disks, the digital nervous system of the operation. And they can't get it. At one point, frustration boils over into honesty: “The FBI is completely fucking us on this.” That's not a tweet. That's an internal DOJ message. Translation: the prosecutors responsible for bringing cases did not have a clear, reliable accounting of the evidence in the FBI's possession. Not what was seized. Not what was imaged. Not what was searchable. Not what was missing. This isn't incompetence in a vacuum. It's structural. Evidence control is power. Whoever controls the data controls the pace, the scope, and the fallout. And remember: Epstein died before trial. Maxwell was prosecuted narrowly. No broader conspiracy case ever materialized. Prediction: this is why. Not because the evidence didn't exist- but because it never cohered into something prosecutors could safely touch without detonating their own case. The scandal isn't just who was on the tapes. It's that even the feds couldn't tell you where the tapes went. That's not a cover-up movie plot. That's a system quietly eating itself. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/2003457025695719784?s=20  and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 Election. To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.” New: More Epstein Files Drop, and Donald Trump Appears to Be the Star This Time Around So, what incriminating evidence against President Trump is to be found in this latest drop? Apparently, an email from January 2020 in which a federal prosecutor from New York – of course – to an “undisclosed person” claiming Trump had flown on Jeffrey Epstein’s private plan at least eight times during the 1990s, and one time there was a 20-year-old woman on the flight.  Here’s more: The email, which was sent in January 2020 from a federal prosecutor in New York to an undisclosed person, says, “For your situational awareness, wanted to let you know that the flight records we received yesterday reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein's private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware), including during the period we would expect to charge in a [Ghislaine] Maxwell case.”  This big revelation is that Trump traveled a few more times than we previously knew, although this was during a time period that the president has already acknowledged having had an association with Epstein. Note the timing of the email – January 2020 is when the presidential election would be kicking into full swing. This anonymous federal prosecutor clearly thought they had a gotcha moment, but there’s a pesky little detail that puts things in perspective: “[Trump] is listed as having traveled with, among others and at various times, Marla Maples, his daughter Tiffany, and his son Eric.”  Source: redstate.com The specific document you’re referring to appears to be the complaint filed in the 2020 civil lawsuit Doe v. Indyke et al. (Case No. 1:20-cv-00484, S.D.N.Y.), which was part of the recently released Epstein files by the U.S. Department of Justice.  This lawsuit was brought by an anonymous plaintiff (“Jane Doe”) against the executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate (Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn) and Ghislaine Maxwell, seeking compensation for alleged sexual abuse and trafficking by Epstein.How Trump’s Name Appears in the DocumentOn page 4 of the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that during one of her encounters with Epstein (around the 1990s), he took her to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida when she was 14 years old. Epstein reportedly introduced her to Donald Trump (then the owner of Mar-a-Lago), elbowed him playfully, and asked, referring to the girl, “This is a good one, right?” Trump is described as smiling and nodding in agreement, after which they both chuckled. The plaintiff states she felt uncomfortable but was too young to understand why at the time. The document does not accuse Trump of any criminal wrongdoing or involvement in Epstein’s abuse; it frames this as part of the broader context of her grooming and exploitation by Epstein.How the Name Got Into the DocumentTrump’s name was included as part of the plaintiff’s personal allegations detailing her experiences with Epstein. The complaint is a legal filing where the victim recounts specific incidents to support her claims against Epstein’s estate and associates. It reflects her firsthand account, not a court-verified fact or evidence from other sources.  There is no mention of independent corroboration (e.g., witnesses, photos, or records) in the filing itself, and it has not been adjudicated in court as true.Source of the AllegationThe source is the anonymous plaintiff (“Jane Doe”), who claims to be a victim of Epstein’s abuse starting from age 13 or 14.  She was reportedly recruited at a summer camp in Michigan and alleges ongoing grooming and assaults by Epstein over several years. This Doe is distinct from other known accusers like Virginia Giuffre, though a similar incident (Epstein introducing a 14-year-old to Trump at Mar-a-Lago without the “good one” comment) was testified to by another accuser (“Jane”) during Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 criminal trial.  https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2003236602374713557?s=20 DOGE Geopolitical https://twitter.com/BreannaMorello/status/2003196698974191914?s=20   that are protected under the Constitution. Under D.C. law, anyone wishing to own a firearm must register it with the MPD. However, the D.C. Code imposes a sweeping ban on the registration—and thus the legal possession—of a wide range of firearms. This broad prohibition, the Justice Department argues, infringes on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens who seek to keep and bear commonly owned firearms for lawful purposes. Trump's DOJ Sues Washington, D.C. Police Department Over Unconstitutional Ban on Semi-Automatic Firearms The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department for enforcing a ban on semi-automatic firearms in violation of the Second Amendment. The lawsuit alleges that D.C.'s gun laws require registration of all firearms with the MPD; however, the D.C. Code imposes a sweeping ban on numerous protected weapons, making it legally impossible for residents to own them for self-defense or other lawful purposes. The DOJ said in a press release announcing the lawsuit: “MPD's current pattern and practice of refusing to register protected firearms is forcing residents to sue to protect their rights and to risk facing wrongful arrest for lawfully possessing protected firearms.” “Today's action from the Department of Justice's new Second Amendment Section underscores our ironclad commitment to protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. Bondi continued, “Washington, DC's ban on some of America's most popular firearms is an unconstitutional infringement on the Second Amendment — living in our nation's capital should not preclude law-abiding citizens from exercising their fundamental constitutional right to keep and bear arms.” Echoing this sentiment, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division added, “This Civil Rights Division will defend American citizens from unconstitutional restrictions of commonly used firearms, in violation of their Second Amendment rights. The newly established Second Amendment Section filed this lawsuit to ensure that the very rights D.C. resident Mr. Heller secured 17 years ago are enforced today — and that all law-abiding citizens seeking to own protected firearms for lawful purposes may do so.” The case draws directly from the landmark 2008 Supreme Court decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, where the Court affirmed that the Second Amendment protects the right of law-abiding citizens to own semi-automatic weapons in their homes for self-defense. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2003192220753723840?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2003238094057955337?s=20 War/Peace https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2003334956479558072?s=20 there will be no escalation into broader conflict, and the decision has already been made. However, precision air strikes on cartel assets seems like a probable outcome. Trump is neutralizing Deep State assets around the globe, and South/Central American drug cartels are assets of the Deep State. They are transnational criminal organizations responsible for the drug, weapon, and human trafficking of the Western hemisphere, and their racket feeds the Deep State machine. My guess is, that cartel drug factories and assets are going to get smoked by the US MIL via precision air strikes, and the other powerful leaders of the world have already agreed to some sort of deal with Trump and no one will interfere. Just like Iran and Syria. I think most of the leaders/nations of the world agree with Trump that these transnational criminal organizations must be eradicated, and stability must be brought to the world. President Unveils ‘Trump Class’ Of Warships, Huntington Ingalls Shares Jump    build two new “Trump-class” battleships, to acquire 20-25 of these ships in the coming years.   In his address, the President noted these 30,000-40,000 ton ships will carry a large quantity of missiles, including hypersonic missiles, and will also be outfitted with electromagnetic rail guns and directed energy lasers. Trump-class battleships will also carry nuclear-armed sea launched cruise missiles (currently under development) adding an additional element of nuclear deterrence to the Navy. Trump-class destroyers appear to be designed as the center of enhanced command and control networks at sea, as the Navy looks to field more autonomous assets and traditional vessels in the coming years.   The first “Trump-class” battleship will be named USS Defiant, and it will be even longer than the Iowa-class battleships of the World War II era. However, at 35,000 tons, it will only weigh about half as much, and have a smaller crew of between 650 and 850 sailors; the Iowa had some 2,700 sailors. The new ships — which are being called “guided missile battleships” —  are part of larger vision for a “Golden Fleet.” The Navy has rolled out a website to promote that concept. Sources tell AP that construction of the Defiant is expected to start in the early 2030’s, with another 19 to 24 Trump-class ships to follow.   Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2003231263520379120?s=20   that kind of money, they HAVE to build quickly!”   “We want the dividends to go into the creation of production facilities. We’ll be talking about CapEx, dividends and the pay.” “Also, buybacks…they want to buy back their stock. I want them to put their money in plants and equipment! So they can build these planes FAST, like, IMMEDIATELY!” Medical/False Flags https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2003224842078675311?s=20  of American institutions or threats to our food supply, economy, or public safety. Protecting the homeland means vigilance: every time, no exceptions. https://twitter.com/ThomasMoreSoc/status/2003262595566850541?s=20  precedent-setting victory, a federal court has permanently blocked California AG Rob Bonta and the CA Dept. of Education from forcing teachers to lie to parents about their own children’s secret gender transitions—declaring parents have a constitutional right to know and teachers have a constitutional right to share the truth. [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2003205278796501397?s=20  larger scale. Don't forget that the Malthusians are antihuman and that they believe that 7 out of every 8 human lives on the planet must be terminated in order to save the world. Nearly 100 Minnesota Mayors Send Panicked Letter to Lawmakers Complaining About Fraud Scandal and the Leadership of Tim Walz Almost 100 mayors in the state of Minnesota have sent a letter to state lawmakers complaining about the fraud scandal and how it is going to impact the communities they serve. They are clearly not happy with the leadership of Governor Tim Walz and his connections to the fraud scandal that has rocked the state in recent weeks. The scandal is still unfolding and it's unclear what the final tally will be, but it's looking like something in the tens of billions. FOX News reports:  You can see the full letter here. These mayors should have demanded that Tim Walz resign. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/2002771316345327905?s=20 Our crooked politicians have set up the biggest money laundering operation in the world and that 38 trillion in debt is almost all tied to fraud. this is the tip of the iceberg. Buckle up, its all being exposed. Your harder earned money was used to support a criminal syndicate.  President Trump's Plan  https://twitter.com/DcLidstone/status/2003338615917806050?s=20 John Brennan Lawyers Confirm Their Client is a “Target” of a Grand Jury Investigation Lawfare lawyer Kenneth Wainstein representing former CIA Director John Brennan confirmed in a proactive litigation letter to Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida, their client is a “target” of a grand jury investigation. The word “target” is important here, because the letter specifically outlines how Brennan has received subpoenas for documents and information surrounding his construct of the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment. The letter notes that prosecutors from the Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jason Reding Quiñones, have advised Mr. Brennan that he is “a target” of a grand jury investigation.   [SOURCE] Pay attention to the footnotes being cited by Brennan's lawyers as they begin to pull in some of the commentary by voices who have publicly given opinion about the overall Trump targeting operation.  Mike Davis name appears frequently in this letter, as the Brennan defense team begins to frame the conspiratorial nature of some claims against their client. In essence, the Brennan legal team are attempting to refute the evidence by pointing to the blanket of some crazy commentary that covers it. This is exactly what I have been cautioning about {SEE HERE}. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com https://twitter.com/TheStormRedux/status/2003448097930662069?s=20  Cannon's courtroom. FANTASTIC. https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2003133420021424297?s=20   Thune objected the president would be able to adjourn Congress for ten days and get his full team on the field. https://twitter.com/DavidShafer/status/2002953961595449763?s=20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Contains Hidden Election Integrity Gem – Could Have Huge Implications for Voting Machines    With the National Defense Authorization Act signed by President Donald Trump on December 18th, 2025, a little-known section was snuck into the 3000+ page bill:  Section 6805. Requiring Penetration Testing As Part Of The Testing And Certification of Voting Systems. This section amends the Help America Vote Act of 2002 by adding a “Required Penetration Testing” section that “provides for the conduct of penetration testing as part of the testing, certification, decertification, and recertification of voting system hardware and software” by an accredited laboratory. The amendment now requires the penetration testing as a condition of certification from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and allows consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology or any other federal agency on “lab selection criteria” and “other aspects of the program.” While this is still short of a legitimate attempt at ensuring election integrity, it is an effort toward scrutinizing the voting systems by finally requiring cybersecurity experts to do what Clay Parikh was restricted from doing during his time as a VSTL contractor. Hand-marked paper ballots hand-counted at the precinct level, is being utilized in Dallas County, TX for the 2026 midterm primaries, and is still the ultimate goal of the election integrity community to ensure free and fair elections in the United States. Source: thegatewaypundit.com Penetration testing, often abbreviated as “pen testing,” is a cybersecurity practice where authorized experts simulate real-world cyberattacks on a computer system, network, or application to identify and exploit vulnerabilities before malicious actors can do so. The goal is to uncover weaknesses in security measures, such as software flaws, misconfigurations, or inadequate defenses, and provide recommendations for remediation. It typically involves several stages: Planning and reconnaissance: Gathering information about the target system. Scanning: Using tools to probe for potential entry points. Gaining access: Attempting to exploit vulnerabilities to breach the system. Maintaining access: Testing how long access can be sustained without detection. Analysis and reporting: Documenting findings, risks, and fixes. In the context of Section 6805 of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which incorporates provisions from the SECURE IT Act (H.R. 6315), penetration testing is mandated as part of the testing, certification, decertification, and recertification process for voting system hardware and software. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must implement this requirement within 180 days of enactment, with accreditation of testing entities handled through recommendations from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This ensures that voting systems used in federal elections undergo rigorous cybersecurity assessments to detect and mitigate vulnerabilities, enhancing election security Poll: Trump's Approval Rating Lands at 50 Percent, 9 Points Above Water President Donald Trump enjoys a 50 percent approval rating, with a net approval rating of plus 9 points, according to the latest polling from InsiderAdvantage.  Source: breitbart.com (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

Send me a DM here (it doesn't let me respond), OR email me: imagineabetterworld2020@gmail.comThis is the 23rd episode feature of the CKLN Mind Control Radio Series that will be airing on all my channels. These lectures, interviews, and presentations are some of the most important documentations on mind control that you will find. This series is extremely difficult to find online and has stood the test of time since 1997 when it aired on CKLN Radio. I will be airing this series over the next couple months for 'Movie Night'. If you listen to this entire series, it'll tremendously help your understanding of MK ULTRA and trauma-based mind control. You will hear from renowned experts, advocates, educators, therapists, survivors, whistleblowers, and researchers who helped pave the way for where we are today. Much of the information you have heard in this series has been suppressed over the years, and some of it may be slightly outdated due to being ahead of it's time. Please pay attention and treat this like going to class - it's a series unlike anything you'll ever hear and I'm grateful to be able to bring this series back to life! Enjoy (and take copious notes!).-----------------------------------------------------------------------Gail Fisher-Taylor & Caryn Stardancer - Cult Ritual Abuse PanelThis is broadcast 46 of the radio series that has been going on for about one whole year on this show concerning government military mind control and cult ritual abuse. Today we are going to be focusing on the latter aspect of this - ritual abuse and we are going to be talking about a lot of different issues within that topic and I have with us in the studio Toronto psychotherapist, Gail Fisher-Taylor and we should have by phone, Caryn Stardancer, a California-based advocate for survivors and publisher of "Survivorship"-----------------------------------------------------------------------Wayne Morris and the International Connection Radio Show are proud to deliver the entire nine-month series in this rare exclusive format. (International Connection 2003)The Mind Control Radio Series, a series on Canadian involvement in U.S. CIA and military mind control programs and the links to ritual abuse.International Connection Host Wayne Morris interviewed survivors, therapists, researchers, and writers regarding unethical mind control experiments carried out by Canada and the United States on Toronto radio station CKLN-FM 88.1 Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM."Mind Control Radio Series" focused on different issues of military and government use of mind control with a focus on the Canadian involvement in the experimental programs including:- The documented history of CIA/military mind control programs including the funding of projects at Canadian institutes across the country (Including the Allen Memorial Institute in Montreal).- The military and intelligence uses of mind control including using the child victims for sexual blackmail, message delivery, information stealing, coercion and assassination.- The use of Multiple Personality Disorder for mind control programming and the links to the MPD effects of ritual abuse, sexual abuse and severe trauma- The public debate around recovered memories of abuse- The nature of the mind control experiments from survivors' accounts-------------------------------------------------CONNECT WITH EMMA / THE IMAGINATION: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@imaginationpodcastofficialRumble: https://rumble.com/c/TheImaginationPodcastEMAIL: imagineabeSupport the show

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureCalifornia is destroying their gasoline market, they want the state to own it, socialism. Oil prices are dropping, gas prices are dropping soon gas will be close to $1. Trump is reversing the [CB] illusion, jobs are being returned to the private sector. All in preparation to go back to the Constitution. The [DS] will continue to push back and try to delay everything Trump is trying to do. The House is prepared to make his EO into law, this will protect the country into the future. Trump had the real Generals stand behind him, these are the individuals that will protect the Republic from the [DS]. Trump is undoing decades of corruption, exposing the [DS] treasonous crimes, they will fight to hide their treasonous acts but this will fail. In the end the Military is the only way. Economy (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/US_OGA/status/2000639453866651711?s=20 https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2000951982874636662?s=20 https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2000628845918265518?s=20 https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2000925538131829101?s=20 https://twitter.com/RealEJAntoni/status/2000925018281402525?s=20 https://twitter.com/profstonge/status/2000952081012940948?s=20 https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2000966123274068007?s=20 https://twitter.com/RealEJAntoni/status/2000936248370717073?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000922549060858200?s=20   $2,000 per household, depending on the number of workers.” “[The economy] is gonna start lifting off in Q1 and Q2.” This is HUGE! Political/Rights https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/2000701268806062358?s=20 https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/2000713713423196652?s=20 https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/2000766725231665257?s=20 https://twitter.com/KnightsTempOrg/status/2000645606964933100?s=20 WEIRD? Police Publish and Quickly Delete Photos of Rob Reiner's Son Being Cuffed for Slaughtering Parents, Give No Explanation Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of liberal activist and famed director Rob Reiner, has been arrested and charged with the brutal murder of his parents. The LAPD Gang and Narcotics Division published dramatic photos of Nick's handcuffed arrest on Instagram on Monday, but quickly deleted them without explanation. Rob Reiner, 78, known for classics like The Princess Bride, Spinal Tap, and When Harry Met Sally, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood, Los Angeles home on Sunday afternoon. The New York Post reports: Nick Reiner, whose face is blurred out, is seen being forced to the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back, according to one photo. Another snap showed law enforcement pushing the suspect against the front of a squad car. In the caption, the unit only identified the man as “a double homicide suspect.” The arrest was made by US Marshals with the assistance of the LAPD's robbery homicide division, according to the post. An LAPD spokesperson declined to comment when asked why the force's gang and narcotics unit deleted the arrest photo shortly after it was published. The since-deleted photos: Nick, who has long battled severe drug addiction starting in his teens, co-wrote and starred in the 2016 semi-autobiographical film Being Charlie, directed by his father, which chronicled a young man's struggles with substance abuse and rehab. Insiders report that Nick “really resented” his father and “hated himself for not being as successful,” amid ongoing family tensions. The night before the murders, Rob and Nick reportedly got into a “very loud argument” at Conan O'Brien's Christmas party, loud enough for other guests to notice. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/nypost/status/2000870292227260695?s=20 https://twitter.com/barrycunningham/status/2000736216354853228?s=20   lists are…well you know. TAKE A LISTEN https://twitter.com/RealSLokhova/status/2000919590449394156?s=20 Real Texas Conservative  The tragic deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife Michele on December 14, 2025, have cast a somber shadow over Hollywood, prompting reflections on legacy, loss, and the lingering scars of political division. In response, President Donald Trump’s Truth Social post on December 15, 2025 – framing their passing through the lens of “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS) – has ignited controversy. Yet, when examined against the backdrop of Reiner’s decade-long barrage of vitriolic rhetoric against Trump, the statement emerges not as callous, but as an appropriate blend of pointed satire, genuine sympathy, and a timely concern for mental health. This piece builds an ironclad case for its fittingness, rooted in factual history, psychological insight, and legal precedent. To understand the appropriateness of Trump’s words, one must first confront the unyielding hostility Reiner directed at him since 2015. Reiner, celebrated for directing classics like “This Is Spinal Tap” and “The Princess Bride,” transformed into one of Trump’s most vocal detractors after his presidential candidacy. In a 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Reiner labeled Trump a “con man” and “dangerous,” warning he would erode democratic norms. This escalated over the years. By 2018, Reiner tweeted comparisons of Trump to Hitler, accusing him of fostering fascism and white supremacy. His 2024 documentary “God & Country” explicitly tied Trump’s influence to Christian nationalism, portraying it as a threat to American democracy. Reiner’s social media feed became a relentless stream of attacks, calling Trump a “pathological liar,” “sociopath,” and “existential danger” in posts that amassed millions of views. Even in 2025, shortly before his death, Reiner urged boycotts of Trump-related events, framing his re-election as apocalyptic. These were not isolated jabs but a sustained campaign, often personal and inflammatory, that Reiner himself admitted stemmed from deep-seated outrage. This history of antagonism, predominantly initiated by Reiner, sets the stage for why Trump’s response is not only defensible but proportionate. Far from escalating the feud posthumously, Trump’s post acknowledges Reiner’s talents – “a tortured and struggling, but once very talented movie director and comedy star” – while attributing the tragedy to TDS, a “mind-crippling disease” fueled by “raging obsession.” This framing isn’t baseless invention; it’s grounded in credible psychological analysis. Critics have questioned the timing of Trump’s post, issued just a day after the tragedy, as potentially too raw or opportunistic. However, this immediacy is precisely what makes it authentic and effective, aligning with Trump’s longstanding style of direct, unfiltered leadership in a 24/7 news cycle where narratives solidify within hours. Historical precedents abound; consider how President Lincoln addressed critics’ deaths or political losses with prompt wit during the Civil War, using fresh moments to foster national introspection and prevent distorted legacies. Similarly, Trump’s swift response cuts through emerging media spin – already framing Reiner solely as a heroic anti-Trump voice – by injecting balance and psychological truth right when public discourse peaks. Delaying would risk seeming calculated or detached, whereas this timing underscores sincerity, especially paired with the post’s sympathetic close. In essence, it’s not haste but strategic candor, transforming grief into a teachable moment on division’s dangers before emotions calcify. Transitioning from personal history to broader insight, TDS has been recognized by mental health experts as a manifestation of intense political polarization leading to real psychological strain. Psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow, in analyses shared on platforms like the Mark Simone Show, described TDS as rooted in “mass hysteria,” where individuals project anxieties onto a political figure, resulting in paranoia, chronic stress, and potential health declines. Research in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology supports this, linking partisan hatred to elevated cortisol levels, anxiety disorders, and weakened well-being. Trump’s reference to TDS isn’t mockery; it’s a diagnostic observation, highlighting how Reiner’s fixation – evident in his own words – might have contributed to personal tolls, especially amid reports of familial strife surrounding the deaths. By raising this, Trump shifts the narrative from vendetta to vigilance, urging awareness of how ideological obsessions erode lives. Moreover, the post’s satirical edge aligns with a storied tradition of political commentary, making it intellectually apt rather than insensitive. Trump employs hyperbole – “driving people CRAZY” amid America’s “Golden Age” – to underscore the irony of Reiner’s paranoia against tangible achievements like record economic growth, Middle East peace accords, and energy independence during his administration. This mirrors Jonathan Swift’s exaggerated proposals in “A Modest Proposal” or Abraham Lincoln’s witty rebukes of critics, using humor to expose societal flaws without literal malice. Legally, such expression is shielded by the First Amendment; the Supreme Court’s ruling in Hustler Magazine v. Falwell affirms that satirical opinions about public figures, absent provable falsehoods, are protected speech. Trump’s “reportedly due to” phrasing acknowledges speculation, ensuring it remains opinion, not defamation. What elevates the statement to appropriateness is its undercurrent of grace amid past unkindnesses, including Trump’s rare direct engagement with Reiner pre-tragedy despite the instigations. The post concludes with “May Rob and Michele rest in peace!” This isn’t perfunctory; it’s a sincere extension of sympathy, humanizing both parties and transcending the feud while modeling reciprocity in an era of unrelenting acrimony. Trump’s words match rhetoric’s intensity yet cap it with compassion and a mental health caveat, turning potential gloating into a nudge toward understanding division’s toll. In conclusion, Trump’s response is ironclad in its fittingness because it reciprocates a decade of Reiner’s attacks with measured satire, validates psychological realities, and prioritizes sympathy over score-settling. It doesn’t diminish the tragedy but illuminates division’s costs, encouraging reflection. Postscript: While the author is not an attorney or mental health practitioner, his nearly two decades as a seasoned content writer and editor have honed expert research skills, enabling rigorous analysis grounded in verifiable facts and legal precedents. https://twitter.com/DC_Draino/status/2000931274744324237?s=20 https://twitter.com/AlecLace/status/2000700955457630718?s=20 https://twitter.com/KurtSchlichter/status/2000694706054029700?s=20  reason for it. Sadly, past experience, teaches us that the most likely reason for the lack of transparency is that the answers are not going to support the left-wing agenda of the local Rhode Island Democrats. I could be wrong. But if I was wrong, I have a nagging suspicion. I would've had answers to those questions already. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of this man. Trump blames Brown, not FBI, for delay in finding shooting suspect President Trump blamed Brown University for the delay in locating the suspect in the fatal mass shooting on the school's campus in Rhode Island on Saturday. “You'd really have to ask the school a little bit more about that because this was a school problem,” Trump said when asked on Monday if FBI Director Kash Patel has told him why it's been difficult for the FBI to identify the suspected shooter. “They had their own guards. They had their own police. They had their own everything, but you'd have to ask that question really to the school, not to the FBI. We came in after the fact, and the FBI will do a good job, but they came in after the fact,” he said. Source: thehill.com War/Peace https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2000694318512652750?s=20 JUST IN: US OBLITERATES 3 More Venezuelan Drug Boats Just Hours After President Trump Designates Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction United States Southern Command on Monday announced that Joint Task Force Southern Spear took out three narcotrafficking vessels in the Eastern Pacific.  A total of eight “narco-terrorists” were killed in the strikes. “Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking,” US SOUTHCOM said. Video from the strikes shows massive explosions on each boat, turning them into burning piles of rubble. https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2000756230252314901?s=20 Source: thegatewaypundit.com Trump: Syria is a key part of peace efforts in the Middle East Washington, Dec. 16 (SANA) U.S. President Donald Trump described the developments in Syria this year as “remarkable,” highlighting that the United States is committed to ensuring lasting peace in the Middle East, with Syria playing an essential role in that peace. Source: sana.sy 1306 Q !xowAT4Z3VQ ID: e7b971 No.1248119 Apr 30 2018 10:51:06 (EST) Define the terms of the Iran nuclear deal. Does the agreement define & confine cease & desist ‘PRO' to the republic of Iran? What if Iran created a classified ‘satellite' Nuclear facility in Northern Syria? What if the program never ceased? What other bad actors are possibly involved? Did the U.S. know? Where did the cash payments go? How many planes delivered? Did all planes land in same location? Where did the U1 material end up? Is this material traceable? Yes. Define cover. What if U1 material ended up in Syria? What would be the primary purpose? SUM OF ALL FEARS. In the movie, where did the material come from? What country? What would happen if Russia or another foreign state supplied Uranium to Iran/Syria? WAR. What does U1 provide? Define cover. Why did we strike Syria? Why did we really strike Syria? Define cover. Patriots in control. Q British Intelligence Head Says Prepare for War Against Russia  The newly appointed head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, formerly known by her position as “Q”, is literally the granddaughter of factual Ukraine Nazi, Constantine Dobrowolski.  Now, as head of MI6 Metreweli wants war with Russia. In a rather remarkable speech to the British people, Blaise Metreweli proclaimed Europe is in “the space between peace and war,” with a direct military conflict with Russia looming as the biggest threat.  Metreweli declared, “Our world is being actively remade, with profound implications for national and international security.” Source: theconservativetreehouse.com https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2000898313579561365?s=20 https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2000896186413441184?s=20   have already been filed. The World Bank estimates the total at $524 billion over the next decade – triple Ukraine’s 2024 GDP. Zelensky: “It’s not enough to force Russia into a deal. It’s not enough to make it stop killing. We must make Russia accept that there are rules in the world.” Mechanism: Register of Damage (created 2023): collects claims from individuals, companies, and the Ukrainian state. Claims Commission: reviews, validates, and awards compensation case-by-case. Categories: sexual violence, child deportations, infrastructure destruction, religious sites bombed. Funding plan: Frozen Russian assets held by the EU, supplemented by member contributions. Dutch FM David van Weel: “The goal is to have validated claims that will ultimately be paid by Russia.” Enforcement? Still being worked out. Complication: Trump's team floated amnesty for war crimes as part of a peace deal – makes prosecuting the very individuals being billed impossible. Next steps: Convention takes force after 25 nations ratify it (if funds secured). Russia calls frozen-assets proposal “illegal,” denies war crimes, threatens retaliation. Reality check: This is post-WWII-style reparations applied to an ongoing conflict. The $524B estimate covers through 2024 only – 2025's escalated attacks on utilities, transport, and civilians already make the number outdated. https://twitter.com/AwakenedOutlaw/status/2000626884145754206?s=20   breaking out. Their position is legitimately insane. Sadly, what’s clear is that the European leadership is comprised of war-mongering, bloodthirsty psychopaths. The idiom, “With friends like these, who needs enemies?” comes to mind. Only in this case, it’s not a sarcastic observation. ______ EU Globalists Threaten to Dump $2.34 Trillion in U.S. Debt to Stop Trump's Ukraine Peace Deal JUST IN: Senate Advances $900 BILLION Defense Spending Bill with Military Aid to Ukraine Senate advances $900 billion defense spending bill The US Senate on Monday voted to end the filibuster and advance the National Defense Authorization Act to a final vote.  The bipartisan vote, 76-20, invoked cloture on the bill, bringing it one step closer to final passage, which could still take days. Still, some lawmakers seek to amend the bill further, which would then require House passage before landing on the President's desk. Burchett: Big vote tonight was the NDAA, National Defense Authorization Act, and it was $900.6 billion. There’s money in there for, of course, Ukraine, $800 million total, and some other things, money in there for recognizing an Indian tribe out of North Carolina— has nothing to do with national security— Syria, money, Iraq. But we just got to quit this stuff. Somebody's, America’s got to start paying attention. Trump didn’t even ask for that. You’ve got the war pimps that push for this stuff. And they always will tell you, Oh, it’s, “Burchett, man, they’re gonna spend all that money here buying those missiles.” You know, is that what we’re basing our votes on is they’re going to buy implements to kill other people on? I’m all for getting rid of our enemies, but this is just too much, way too much, and things are just not what they appear. We need to wake up. I voted no. Over 100 Democrats voted to pass this. That ought to tell you right there what this is about. Got some liberal stuff tucked in there, and it’s over 3000 pages. We get it on Sunday, and we’re voting on it today. There’s no way, no way, we will ever know what was in there, and just— anyway, frustrated, we’ll keep fighting. Thank y’all for sending me here. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2000775317577744797?s=20   commands down to 8. Under the plan expected to be presented to Secretary Hegseth this week: U.S. Central Command, European Command, and Africa Command would be downgraded and placed under a new “U.S. International Command.” U.S. Southern Command and Northern Command would merge into “U.S. Americas Command” (Americom), reflecting the administration’s shift toward Western Hemisphere operations. The remaining commands: Indo-Pacific, Cyber, Special Operations, Space, Strategic, and Transportation. A senior defense official on the urgency: “Time ain’t on our side, man. The saying here is, ‘If not us, who, and if not now, when?'” The plan aligns with Trump’s national security strategy declaring that “the days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over.” Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed concern: “The world isn’t getting any less complicated. You want commands that have the capability of heading off problems before they become big problems.” Congress has required the Pentagon to submit a detailed blueprint before any changes can take effect. The Monroe Doctrine comes to CENTCOM. https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2000687672936030583?s=20   been done long ago, which is eradicate the cartels that are plaguing the Western hemisphere via drug/human trafficking. The cartels have gone unchecked for decades, while they murder millions of Americans and commit heinous crimes against humanity. Trump confirms that designating the cartels as a foreign terrorist organizations “is a big deal from a legal and military standpoint”. Trump is going to use the full force of the US MIL to shut this entire corrupt network down. The Dems/MSM, and the weaklings on the Right, are going to squeal and moan the entire way, but this must be done. Trump is going to neutralize this threat to the American People and do what past Presidents failed to do. Medical/False Flags [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/2000857179142680769?s=20   been part of it. Her late father served as a colonel in the Somali army under dictator Siad Barre, whose regime carried out mass killings in the 1980s. That makes her backstory more complicated than she lets on. A resurfaced video shows a man resembling Omar's father discussing brutal tactics. There's no proof he committed war crimes, but some say he was close enough to know what was happening. Photos also show Omar's siblings with General Morgan – known as the “Butcher of Hargeisa” – and Omar herself at a 2022 event where Morgan was present. One relative even referred to him as “uncle.” Omar hasn't commented on the new findings, and her silence has led some to question how she can call for accountability abroad without addressing her own family's history. https://twitter.com/JamesRosenTV/status/2000723473182965780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2000723473182965780%7Ctwgr%5Eb493e83212e9c33013500c56069b3622c19b2e21%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Frusty-weiss%2F2025%2F12%2F16%2Fice-officials-rip-ilhan-omar-over-ridiculous-story-about-her-son-being-racially-profiled-n2197175 https://twitter.com/thestoicplumber/status/2000748048683815183?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000742064959455252?s=20 U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro: D.C. Authorities Were Artificially Deflating Crime Stats With ‘Manipulated' Numbers https://twitter.com/USAttyPirro/status/2000637280789188855?s=20  into MPD's reported deflation of crime statistics. The need for accurate information to fight crime is essential. After a review of almost 6000 reports and the interview of over 50 witnesses, it is evident that a significant number of reports had been misclassified, making crime appear artificially lower than it was. The uncovering of these manipulated crime statistics makes clear that President Trump has reduced crime even more than originally thought, since crimes were actually higher than reported. His crime fighting efforts have delivered even more safety to the people of the District. The conduct here does not rise to the level of a criminal charge. However, it is up to MPD to take steps to internally address these underlying issues. Source: breitbart.com https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2000822708389745055?s=20 There is FEC data analysis that strongly suggests that Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin, Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan and Maggie Goodlander have been recipients of illegally laundered campaign funds. Kelly is currently under investigation. They’re all backed by Soros!! President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/2000710555674325272?s=20  extremists after transitioning. https://twitter.com/george18kennedy/status/2000781888152129887?s=20   Staff of the Army (senior uniformed leader of the U.S. Army, member of the Joint Chiefs). – Admiral Daryl Caudle – Chief of Naval Operations (senior uniformed leader of the U.S. Navy, member of the Joint Chiefs). – General Eric M. Smith – Commandant of the Marine Corps (senior uniformed leader of the U.S. Marine Corps, member of the Joint Chiefs). – General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, USAF – Chief of Staff of the Air Force (senior uniformed leader of the U.S. Air Force, member of the Joint Chiefs). – General B. Chance Saltzman, USSF – Chief of Space Operations (senior uniformed leader of the U.S. Space Force, member of the Joint Chiefs). https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/2000668738203312188?s=20 TAKE A LISTEN https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2000725299420352640?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000916623243300901?s=20   Something BETTER be done about this. https://twitter.com/RobLutherLawyer/status/2000697951295840722?s=20 https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/2000961090612813971?s=20 https://twitter.com/SusieWiles/status/2000943061627548148?s=20   story. I assume, after reading it, that this was done to paint an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative narrative about the President and our team. The truth is the Trump White House has already accomplished more in eleven months than any other President has accomplished in eight years and that is due to the unmatched leadership and vision of President Trump, for whom I have been honored to work for the better part of a decade. None of this will stop our relentless pursuit of Making America Great Again! https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000957946352820238?s=20  codification of the President’s executive orders.” “A very aggressive legislative agenda coming right out of the gates in January. We’re going to continue to work, for example, on health care to continue to bring costs down for the American people, to bring down the cost of living overall.” “He’s up to about 200 of those [orders], probably about 150 of them are codifiable by Congress and we’re working steadily through that list.” “You’re going to see us delivering for the American people while the effects of that giant piece of legislation that we did on July 4th, got signed on July 4th, comes into implementation.” “So much more, much more yet to do and the President and I talk about that almost every day and he’s excited about it and I am.” https://twitter.com/seanmdav/status/2000685717497004167?s=20 to procedurally gum up the works behind the scenes. JD Vance Points Out the Consequence of the Senate “Blue Slip” Veto of Judicial Nominees It was passed by Congress on May 13, 1912, and ratified on April 8, 1913 The 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution grants Congress the authority to impose and collect income taxes without the need to apportion them among the states or base them on census data. constitution.congress.gov It was passed by Congress on July 2, 1909, and ratified on February 3, 1913. all of this is an outcome of the 17th Amendment, which stopped the state legislatures from having control over their senators.  Under the original constitutional framework, the Senate was designed to represent the interests of the state, as the Senators were appointed by state legislature, not popular votes.  The Sea Island assembly destroyed this cornerstone when they triggered the 17th Amendment. Repeal the 17th Amendment, and just about everything in federal government changes. Machiavelli said, “It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institution and merely lukewarm defenders in those who gain by the new ones.”  A prescient and oft repeated quote that is pertinent to the situation. When our founders created the system of government for our constitutional republic, they built in layers of protection from federal control over the lives of people in the states.  Over time, those protections have been eroded as the federal bureaucracy has seized power.  One of the biggest changes that led to the creation of the permanent political class was the 17th Amendment. Our founders created a system where Senators were appointed by the state legislatures.  In this original system, the Senate was bound by obligation to look out for the best interests of their specific states.  Under the ‘advise and consent‘ rules of Senate confirmation for executive branch appointments, the intent was to ensure the presidential appointee -who would now carry out regulatory activity- would not undermine the independent position of the states.  .When the 17th Amendment (direct voting for Senators) took the place of state appointments, the perspective of ‘advise and consent' changed.  The Senate was now in the position of ensuring the presidential appointee did not undermine the power of the permanent bureaucracy, which is the root of power for the upper-chamber. Senate committees, Homeland Security, Judiciary, Intelligence, Armed Services, Foreign Relations, etc. now consists of members who carry an imbalanced level of power within government.  The Senate now controls who will be in charge of executive branch agencies like the DOJ, DHS, FBI, CIA, ODNI, DoD, State Dept and NSA, from the position of their own power and control in Washington DC. In essence, the 17th Amendment flipped the intent of the constitution from protecting the individual states to protecting the federal government. Seventeenth Amendment- “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures. When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.” (link)   The biggest issue following the passage of the 17th Amendment became Senators who were no longer representing the interests of their state.  Instead, they were representing the interests of the power elite groups who were helping them fund the mechanisms of their re-election efforts. A Senator only needs to run for re-election every six years.  The 17th Amendment is the only amendment that changed the structure of the Congress, as it was written by the founders. Over time, the Senate chamber itself began using their advice and consent authority to control the executive and judicial branch.  The origination of a nomination now holds the question: “Can this person pass the Senate confirmation process?” source: theconservativetreehouse.com https://twitter.com/j3669/status/2000683161273897213?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000952036238746070?s=20 https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/2000671858417422538?s=20   is going to save the GOP, AGAIN. (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe [CB] is pushing their agenda across the country and world. They are now pushing their Universal Basic Income in Illinois, this will fail. US production is picking up. SEC is cracking down on ETF’s. Trump has now nominated Kevin Hassett to take over the position of Powell. This restructuring will begin soon and the alternative currency will show it. The [DS] knows they are running out of time and they are losing control over Zelensky, this is why they are now pushing a war with Russia. They do not want peace. Trump is exposing the corruption and pushing for elections to remove Zelensky. Trump has null and voided everything Biden/Obama have done over the last 4 years. It’s like everything they did doesn’t exist. The [DS] is boxed in, there is no escape. Economy https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1996238986650464720?s=20   government, and I’m here to help,”. (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/AwakenedOutlaw/status/1996060994892955661?s=20   logs, program letters, etc. weekly or be limited to 3-months of SNAP benefits in a 3-year period. US Industrial Production Sees Biggest Annual Gain In 3 Years Despite Slowing Capacity Utilization    Industrial Production rose just 0.1% MoM (as expected) up from the downwardly revised 0.3% MoM decline in August. On a YoY basis, production rose 1.62% – its best since Nov 2022… US Manufacturing output was unchanged in September (slowing from the 0.1% MoM rise in August), but, like IP, that supported a 1.5% YoY rise in output, its highest level since April 2022… Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1996217766366400884?s=20  registration of ETFs that seek to provide more than 200% (2x) leveraged exposure to underlying indices or securities,” the SEC wrote. Leverage is clearly out of control. Bessent says White House may ‘veto’ Federal Reserve presidents   Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday he would push a new requirement that the Federal Reserve’s regional bank presidents live in their districts for at least three years before taking office, a move that could give the White House more power over the independent agency.  Bessent said that “there is a disconnect with the framing of the Federal Reserve” and added that, “unless someone has lived in their district for three years, we’re going to veto them.” Source: msn.com https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1995954684859941373?s=20   In a July 2025 interview, Hassett highlighted the Fed’s origins under the gold standard in 1913 to critique current practices: “When the Federal Reserve was created, we were under the Gold Standard—and the idea that the Fed could print money and then spend $2.5B on a building… I think that we’ve got a real problem of oversight and excess spending.”   This aligns with sound money ideals, where gold symbolizes disciplined, non-inflationary currency, but he stops short of calling for reinstatement.  Monetary economist Judy Shelton (author of Good as Gold) praised Hassett in July 2025 for referencing the gold standard, noting it as a reminder that “Fed has a lot to answer for” in deviating from that era’s stability.  Hassett views Bitcoin as “digital gold” for its scarcity and hedge qualities—echoing sound money without physical backing. Political/Rights https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1996252623209373754?s=20  created sweeping exemptions covering Afghans who worked for the Taliban during the first regime (1996-2001) and again after August 2021, enabling hundreds of individuals normally barred under terrorism laws to enter the U.S. TRIG waivers skyrocketed to 6,848 in FY 2024, the vast majority for refugees, including 374 Taliban civil servants and more than 3,000 individuals who provided “limited” support to Tier 1 or 2 terror groups. Now, after the ambush killing of a West Virginia National Guard soldier by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, critics say Biden knowingly imported massive security risks into American neighborhoods. OUTRAGE: Minneapolis Police Chief Urges Somali Community to Dial 911 on Masked ICE Agents — Promises Cops Will “Intervene” Against Federal Arrests Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara speaks at a press conference alongside city officials as he urges Somali residents to call 911 on masked individuals Police leadership in Minneapolis is urging the city's Somali community, and other immigrant residents, to call 911 if they spot masked individuals detaining people in their neighborhoods. He urged community members to call 911 if they were unsure whether those enforcing arrests were legitimate law enforcement — and pledged MPD would investigate and log every such call. He did not stop at documentation, however. “If there is anything that is … a violation of someone's human rights or civil rights, excessive force or anything like that, they absolutely have a duty to intervene as police officers,” O'Hara declared. https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1995956308902879320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995956308902879320%7Ctwgr%5E19002c76c52297fc2dd58664d00870448c39f149%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Foutrage-minneapolis-police-chief-urges-somali-community-dial%2F Source: thegatewaypundit.com UNREAL: Mayor Jacob Frey Declares He Won't Cooperate With ICE… and Suddenly Starts Speaking Somali to His Audience Mid-Speech Minneapolis far-left Mayor Jacob Frey abruptly shifted a public address into Somali, all while promising that city police will refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. At a press conference held on Tuesday, Frey stood alongside St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Ward 6 Council Member Jamal Osman, Police Chief Brian O'Hara, and other city leaders, reacting to reports that the federal government is preparing a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota's Twin Cities. This is not the first time the far-left mayor has drawn backlash from conservatives for switching into Somali during public remarks. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1995991450530553880?s=20 https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1995920756203516224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995920756203516224%7Ctwgr%5E7752673c29b3a4de82187485d2de8512019722ba%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Frusty-weiss%2F2025%2F12%2F02%2Ftim-walz-gets-skewered-by-kristi-noem-over-visa-fraud-warns-minnesota-is-about-to-feel-the-wrath-of-ice-n2196746 https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1995918101200703814?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995918101200703814%7Ctwgr%5E6e01980749bee6d0aabd2036c6c2b51da5cb194a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Fkatie-jerkovich%2F2025%2F12%2F02%2Fpam-bondi-proves-trumps-flipped-script-on-crime-in-us-n2196748 https://twitter.com/DiligentDenizen/status/1996268038895907125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1996268038895907125%7Ctwgr%5Efc686f6c13365f75910a196f3fa3620a5f168083%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Fbreaking-house-oversight-committee-dems-release-never-before%2F https://twitter.com/JoeLang51440671/status/1996022839250461041?s=20 DOGE Geopolitical https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1996173544884154529?s=20  https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/1996233719469035734?s=20 https://twitter.com/JimFergusonUK/status/1996175636352700892?s=20  , and even Hezbollah have a presence in South America — and their anchor presence is inside Venezuela.” Let that sink in. 8 million Venezuelans displaced Spillover into Colombia, Brazil, the U.S. Cartels, trafficking networks, and Iranian intelligence embedded in the region Rubio isn't speaking hypothetically — he's confirming what U.S. intel has known for years: Venezuela is no longer just a failed socialist state. It's a forward operating base for Iran and Hezbollah in the Western Hemisphere. This is why the situation is escalating. This is why Trump's ultimatum matters. This is why Maduro's regime cannot be ignored or “managed.” The threat isn't local — it's global. War/Peace https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1995724042285056018?s=20  that was left in unsecured parking lot in an industrial area near Burg in Saxony-Anhalt, according to the German Ministry of Defense. https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1996226688363979160?s=20   the beginning of the war for fossil fuels. Now we’re down to €1.5 billion per month…we aim to bring it down to ZERO.” “This is a good day for Europe and for our independence from Russian fossil fuels — this is how we make Europe resilient.”    “The European Union agreed on Wednesday to phase out Russian gas imports by late 2027 as part of an effort to end the bloc’s decade-long dependency on Russian energy.” – Reuters https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1996207752134488284?s=20 https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1996197728167043438?s=20   text does not address our concerns.” Meaning: No legal cover, no political suicide. The plan was simple on paper – use immobilized Russian funds as collateral for loans to keep Ukraine afloat. But Belgium is the custodian of the largest chunk of those assets. If something goes wrong, they're the ones holding the radioactive bag. This isn't some bureaucratic squabble. It's the EU's financing strategy cracking in real time. Prévot's pushback signals the core fear: If Europe touches Russian state money without watertight legal armor, Moscow retaliates – economically, diplomatically, and possibly through countersanctions on European firms. And here's the thing: the Commission thought it had majority backing. Belgium saying “nope” on the morning of rollout is a political body-slam. Happening next? The EU will scramble to rewrite the legal plumbing. Germany and France will pressure Belgium quietly – nobody wants to admit the plan is wobbling. Russia will weaponize the hesitation as proof the West can't agree on how to bankroll Ukraine. And Kyiv? Still waiting for the money that was supposed to be “already there.” Another example of Europe discovering that seizing assets is easy. Using them? That's where the real war begins.    Ursula von der Leyen did not state that she received “permission” from the US to seize Russian assets. In a recent appearance at the GLOBSEC forum, she said that she informed the incoming Trump administration (specifically mentioning a conversation with Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent) about the EU’s proposal to use frozen Russian assets as collateral for a “reparations loan” to Ukraine, and that “it was positively received.” https://twitter.com/briefing_block_/status/1996241939931201801?s=20 https://twitter.com/Dubinsky_pro/status/1996242036417028176?s=20  regime. Now the system is falling apart. Yermak is out. The crackdown is collapsing. Ukraine must release all political prisoners. I call on everyone involved in peace talks to demand this from Zelensky. These people committed no crimes. They were jailed for their faith, political views and demanding peace. Zelensky built a dictatorship – and filled prisons with dissent. I know what I'm talking about: I spent 24 months behind bars under this system. https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1996231792752287822?s=20  to Brussels to meet Zelensky, the team returned to Washington. No official reason was given, but the message is clear: there's no deal, yet. Putin's warning didn't help. He said Russia is “ready” for war in Europe and claimed any future conflict would be so fierce that “nobody will be left to negotiate with.” This setback casts doubt on whether a negotiated end to the war is possible anytime soon. It also suggests Kyiv isn't ready to engage on Moscow's terms. What's next: Watch for how Ukraine positions itself diplomatically in the coming weeks, and whether Trump's team will try again with a revised proposal. https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1996059724173754525?s=20   situation may quickly arise where there is no one left for us to negotiate with” https://twitter.com/Panchenko_X/status/1996192741508645286?s=20  been given the black mark and is seen globally as corrupt. Many Ukrainian politicians are already quietly fleeing to Moscow in an attempt to negotiate. They hope that the Russians and Americans will come and shower everyone with money for the elections. It won’t happen that way. According to my information, the US and Russia are already discussing possible candidates for the position of President. I cannot make the names public. https://twitter.com/TimOnPoint/status/1995949121929138184?s=20   targets is the rule, not the exception. The physical status of possible survivors is not part of the consideration with stand-off weapons. This has been the norm under both Republican and Democrat administrations since the first Hellfire was mounted on a Predator years ago. Anyone who tells you otherwise, is lying or ignorant. The method is ugly, no doubt about it, but there's nothing new here except politics. https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/1996006625333727410?s=20 Medical/False Flags https://twitter.com/JoeLang51440671/status/1996048243516456967?s=20 Man in TSA Sues Feds for Not Allowing Him to “Pat Down” Women   A man who says he is a woman is suing the federal government over restrictions in his job at the Transportation Security Administration that do not allow him to “pat down” female travelers. That restriction followed an executive order from President Donald Trump against recognizing transgenderism claims in the federal government. The claim being made by Mittereder is that the policy violates federal civil rights law. According to the report on the recently filed lawsuit, Mittereder began working at the TSA in 2024 and now is stationed at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. He claims because he is not allowed to pat down women, his job prospects are being hurt. Source:  thelibertydaily.com  [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/TheLastRefuge2/status/1996069477197451483?s=20   questioning people (McCord, Wolfe, Jones, Warner and various staff), not merely discussing them. Rather than talk about what XXX is doing, or what motivates XXX, they would simply be going to XXX asking questions (on/off camera) and then reporting on what XXX responds with. Instead, what we are getting is a screenplay, that the ‘journalists’ (battle for influence) sell through various platforms. From here on out when I see it, I will draw attention to it. After a few examples it will become obvious. https://twitter.com/LauraLoomer/status/1996183770790048092?s=20  1, 2025, Maxine's California residence remains in default with a redemption amount still due totaling $21,302.95, despite her recent payment of $19,033.94 on August 13, 2025. Maxine also is incurring a monthly penalty of $301.45. Maxine is not competent to serve as the ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee when she cannot even keep her own house in order. https://twitter.com/SBA_Kelly/status/1995846331202457607?s=20   executives implicated in these schemes. Despite Governor Walz's best efforts to obstruct, SBA continues to work to expose abuse and hold perpetrators accountable, full stop. https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/1996237594514915451?s=20 https://twitter.com/TonySeruga/status/1996226960393957435?s=20 https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1995957774510162165?s=20 https://twitter.com/almostjingo/status/1996051371251155359?s=20 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1996222235783401610?s=20 So all of these people were installed. https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1996195848087384084?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1995934359569007036?s=20 President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1996218048458490302?s=20   imminent threat to the world and to the broader West, but especially the United States who they identify as the chief source of evil on the planet.” https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1996213829802307948?s=20  that received benefits more than twice – multiple people received benefits in 6 states – In February, for the first time ever, the Federal Government asked for alls rates to turn over their data to root out the fraud. —— 29 Red states said yes —— 21 Blue states said no “So as of next week, we have begun and will begin to stop moving federal funds into those states until they comply. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington https://twitter.com/MediasLies/status/1996279507079008317?s=20   states already share the data with zero privacy disasters. – USDA's own audits show $10–15 billion a year in improper payments and fraud. – The “court order” she keeps citing is a preliminary injunction, not a final ruling. Refusing basic federal oversight of a fully federally funded program isn't about privacy. It's about protecting bloated rolls and hiding waste. BREAKING: In Stunning Development, President Trump Issues Full and Unconditional Pardon to Texas Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar  Biden's DOJ charged Cuellar, a nine-term Democrat Texas lawmaker who represents an area along the US-Mexico border, after he lashed out at both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for allowing illegal aliens to pour over the border.    the TRUTH. It is unAmerican and, as I previously stated, the Radical Left Democrats are a complete and total threat to Democracy! They will attack, rob, lie, cheat, destroy, and decimate anyone who dares to oppose their Far Left Agenda, an Agenda that, if left unchecked, will obliterate our magnificent Country. Because of these facts, and others, I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, and Imelda. Henry, I don't know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over! Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1996053923820351745?s=20  despite recent disagreements: Senator Paul: “I know we have been at odds recently but in ur first term you signed an executive order to legalize Association Health Plans (that allow individuals to buy collectively health insurance via Costco, Amazon, or Sam’s Club). This collaboration brought us together and still holds the promise of lowering insurance premiums.” Paul noted the plan failed because Democrat AGs fought it in court, but it could now pass through Congress. Here’s why this matters: the current system forces individuals to buy insurance alone, giving them zero bargaining power against massive insurance companies. Association Health Plans let people band together through retailers or organizations to negotiate as a group, the same way large corporations do for their employees. More buyers in a pool means more leverage. More leverage means lower premiums. It costs nothing to implement and simply changes labor law. Competition works. Let Americans shop for insurance the same way they shop for everything else. https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik/status/1995856738994565416?s=20  Raskin against Trump Republicans to block this provision to protect the deep state. This is an easy one. This bill is DOA unless this provision gets added in as it was passed out of committee https://twitter.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1996205447917781326?s=20 -The Director and I made a long series of important personnel changes. The new leadership team has produced dramatic results which we will produce for you, in detail, as the year wraps up. They will include a historic drop in the homicide rate, along with record disruptions, arrests and drug interdictions. Many of these personnel changes have upset a group of Comey-Wray era disgruntled former agents who prefer the old ways of operating. We are not going back -We have been working on an AI project to assist our investigators and analysts in the national security space. I received an update yesterday and I am happy to report that the product looks promising. More coming on this. – We are in the end stages of a redesign of the FBI crisis management process. The redesign is intended to make information more accessible and transparent in a crisis to enable quick and effective decision making. The project should be complete by the end of the calendar year. -We saved the taxpayers billions of dollars by scrapping the plan for an expensive new FBI headquarters building. We will be moving to the existing Reagan building after decades of fruitless haggling as the current FBI headquarters building crumbles. -We relocated over a thousand headquarters based personnel out of the Washington DC area and into the field to focus on violent crime, crimes against children, and terrorism. Those agents are now working on the mission in those regional offices. -In recognition of the growing threat, and in conjunction with the President's Executive Order, we designed, launched and completed the FBI's first-ever counter-drone school last month. Special thanks to Sebastian Gorka and DDCOS Regan for their help on the project. -The work force apprehended 4 of the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives, and we are hunting down the rest. -We produced unprecedented disclosures, and took action on documents related to January 6, Crossfire Hurricane, Arctic Frost, and more. -The new leadership team, and the work force, made a series of ANTIFA related arrests in multiple states and assisted in record numbers of deportations and apprehensions. -Some of the culture changes we implemented include eliminating DEI, reforming the physical fitness test, making promotions contingent on real world results, severing ties with the SPLC and ADL, and implementing a new training curriculum to reflect current mission requirements. We dedicated significant personnel and financial assets to streamlining FOIA reform to ensure responsiveness. -We shut down multiple open air drug markets nationwide and, in conjunction with the White House, had 12 fentanyl precursors from China listed. -We created CIO and CTO positions to work with the CFO to find efficiencies and implement new technologies to assist in our mission. We conduct bi-weekly meetings and we have found and eliminated tens of millions of dollars in duplicative contracts, unnecessary real estate, and outdated technology. These are real savings to the taxpayer and each budget dollar allocated is intensely scrutinized for value. -We vastly expanded the overseas biometrics program to stop bad actors before they board a plane or vessel to the US. This gives us the ability to expand the border outwards and prevent the problems from coming here. -We are in the end stages of a reform project on our intelligence analysis positions to make them more responsive to current mission needs. We have been working with the field on this and we're happy with the progress. -We implemented a technology working group to ensure our technology tools evolve with the mission. Thank you, and God bless America and all those who defend Her.  https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1995992366553981026?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

House GOP Probe House Republicans, led by Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, launched an investigation into alleged manipulation of Washington, D.C. crime data. Allegations claim Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officials intentionally downgraded charges to make crime statistics appear lower. A whistleblower with knowledge of MPD operations confirmed the alleged manipulation. One commander, Michael Pulliam, was suspended over the incident, but the issue may span all seven patrol districts. Justice Department & Federal Probe The investigation follows the Justice Department announcing its own federal probe into D.C. crime statistics. Discrepancy: official reports say crime is at a 30-year low, but residents and whistleblowers say otherwise. Donald Trump’s Position Trump claims FBI crime stats are “fake” and is framing D.C. as a test case for federal intervention in U.S. cities. He threatened to send troops to Baltimore, raising concerns among local officials. Trump portrays himself as confronting “business as usual” in crime reporting and law enforcement. Cashless Bail Executive Order Trump signed an executive order to end cashless bail, starting in Washington, D.C. The order: Directs federal law enforcement to prosecute arrestees federally where possible. Seeks to prevent pretrial release without bail. Threatens to withhold or revoke federal funding from jurisdictions with cashless bail policies. Attorney General must identify such jurisdictions within 30 days. Political Reactions Democrats: Angry at Trump’s intervention. Argue cashless bail gives judges discretion to detain or release based on risk, not wealth. Say Trump is using the issue as a distraction from other policy failures (e.g., prices, economy). Trump Allies & Conservatives: Portray cashless bail as a failed liberal policy fueling crime. Cite cities like Chicago as examples of negative consequences. Miami’s mayor emphasized public safety as citizens’ top concern, criticizing revolving-door justice. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow #cashlessbail #washingtonDC #crimestatistics #Democrats #OversightCommitteeChairJamesComer #jamescomer #DT #DonaldTrump #MetropolitanPoliceDepartment #washingtonDCYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.