Podcasts about National Guard

The U.S. moves closer to striking Iran as Trump faces backlash over conflicting military messaging, a prolonged National Guard presence in D.C. could be on the way, Congress fights over Epstein files, Comey is once again subpoenaed in renewed Russia investigations, and a major media merger is raising concerns about local news (but it's not the merger you're thinking about). Iran-via CBS News and ABC News Trump and the National Guard-via ABC News Bondi Hearing-via AP News and CNN Comey Subpoenaed Again-via CBS News Nextar Buys Tegna-via Washington PostTakethe pledgeto be a voter at raisingvoters.org/beavoterdecember.-on AmazonSubscribe to theSubstack:kimmoffat.substack.comAll episodescanbe foundat:kimmoffat.com/thenewsAs always, youcan findme on Instagram/Twitter/Bluesky @kimmoffat and TikTok @kimmoffatishere

A new bill seeks to exempt National Guard and Reserve drill pay from federal income taxes. The No Tax on Drill Pay Act would eliminate taxes on income earned during Inactive Duty Training, which typically includes monthly drill weekends and other readiness training throughout the year. Congressman Andy Barr, who introduced the bill, said eliminating federal taxes on drill pay would reward the more than 800,000 Americans who serve in the Guard and Reserve. The bill follows several recent proposals aimed at making certain military pay tax-free. Last year, a group of lawmakers introduced legislation to exempt all military bonuses from federal income tax, while another proposal is seeking to fully exempt military compensation from federal income tax. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

//The Wire//2300Z March 13, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: TERROR ATTACKS CONTINUE IN THE AMERICAN HOMELAND. WAR CONTINUES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. AMERICAN AIRCRAFT CRASHES IN IRAQ, NO SURVIVORS REPORTED.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Persian Gulf: Last night CENTCOM reported the loss of one KC-135 Stratotanker, which crashed in western Iraq. Rescue operations were conducted immediately, however all six crew members have been confirmed deceased. The incident occurred as a result of a mid-air collision, which involved another KC-135 aircraft that was also damaged.Strait of Hormuz: This morning another commercial vessel was struck while attempting to transit the Strait, which resulted in catastrophic damage to the vessel. The crew abandoned ship, and several crew members remain missing.Turkey: Another ballistic missile was intercepted overnight, as Iranian forces continue to target Incirlik Airbase. This is the third such interception since the war began.UAE: Overnight drone attacks continued to strike Dubai, with the International Financial Center being struck by a Shahed drone yesterday evening.Analyst Comment: Today was also the third day in a row that the UAE has changed their reporting criteria. Social media reports no longer list the total number of drones that impact within their country, with the daily rollup reports instead stating the number of drones and missiles that were "dealt with". Due to the video confirmation of drones impacting within Dubai overnight, these reports are now openly misleading, as the number of successful Iranian strikes remains unreported.-HomeFront-Michigan: Yesterday afternoon a vehicle ramming and small arms attack was reported at Temple Israel, one of the largest synagogues in Michigan. The attack began as a vehicle ramming attack targeting the main entrance to the facility. After the suspect breached the entrance, he exited the vehicle and was engaged by security personnel on site, who neutralized the attacker. Initial reports claim that the suspect also had explosives inside his vehicle, however authorities have not confirmed this yet as the vehicle caught fire during the incident and burned down a substantial portion of the structure, including the suspect. No one but the attacker was killed during the attack.Analyst Comment: The suspect in this case has been identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a naturalized US Citizen originally from Lebanon. Some sources claim that he conducted the attack due to to his family being killed in an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Beirut yesterday, however these claims cannot be independently verified at this time. Either way, the suspect attacked the 12,000-member synagogue on a Thursday afternoon when almost no one was at the facility, which is an indicator that the terrorist did not have much time to plan the attack. More information is expected later on, as forensic analysis of the remains and vehicle debris is conducted.Virginia: Yesterday a mass shooting was reported at Old Dominion University after a terrorist entered a classroom and began targeting students. Local authorities state that a lone gunman entered an ROTC classroom at ODU shortly before 11:00am yesterday morning, first shooting the instructor, who has been identified as LTC Brandon Shah. Immediately after the first shots were fired, the cadets in the classroom mounted a counterattack, using violence of action to subdue the attacker. At some point during the attack one cadet produced a pocket knife which was subsequently utilized in stabbing the attacker to death. The assailant was found dead by police at the scene after being stabbed 22x times.Analyst Comment: The suspect in this case has been identified as Mohamad Bailor Jalloh, a naturalized US citizen from Sierra Leone and former National Guard soldier who had previously been convicted of attemp

In the 5 AM hour, Larry O’Connor and Patrice Onwuka discussed: MICHIGAN ATTACK: A suspect identified as a naturalized citizen from Lebanon rammed his vehicle into a West Bloomfield synagogue; security guards are being hailed as heroes for stopping the threat. ODU SHOOTING: A deadly attack at Old Dominion University carried out by Mohamed Jalloh, a former National Guard member with previous ISIS ties; a heroic ROTC cadet reportedly stopped the shooter by fatally stabbing him. LOBSTERGATE: Backlash over reports that the Pentagon spent $6.9 million on lobster tails and $15.1 million on ribeye steaks during a "use-it-or-lose-it" spending spree. MORALE VS. WASTE: Marine veteran Joey Jones defends the "surf and turf" meals as a critical morale booster for troops in combat zones. Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Audible, and Spotify Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @JGunlock, @PatricePinkfile, and @HeatherHunterDC Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Website: WMAL.com/OConnor-Company Episode: Friday, March 13, 2026 / 5 AM HourSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Texas woman who spent more than two decades in prison for the scalding death of a baby she was babysitting is now free after courts ruled she was actually innocent, and federal officials confirm she will not be deported. In Louisiana, an eighteen-year-old National Guard soldier is accused of firing a loaded pistol she believed was empty and shooting a fellow soldier in the chest at a military base in New Orleans. Drew Nelson reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

-Our newest sponsor is Dominion Wealth Strategists! -Get the NAD treatment Jeff is on, go to Ion Layer and put “IONAPOLOGIA” into the coupon code and get $100 off your first three months! -Check out Amtac Blades and use code APOLOGIA in the check out for 5% off!  -You can get in touch with Heritage Defense and use coupon code “APOLOGIA” to get your first month free!  -For some Presip Blend Coffee Check out our Store.  -Check out the Ezra Institute

We're catching up on the top stories of the day. A Boston firefighter and National Guard member are recovering in Germany after an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait. Governor Maura Healey spoke about the incident, which killed six people. We'll celebrate the safe return of Mark Garcia, a firefighter with Engine 50 in Charles Town. There's also news on World Cup security in Foxborough, where the Craft Group has agreed to cover costs. Plus, updates on Taylor Swift's net worth, Harry Styles hosting SNL, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stu Burguiere takes on New York Magazine and debunks some of its depressing claims about parental regret in the United States. Then, former investment banker and author Carol Roth joins for a snapshot of the economy and a look ahead at oil prices as the conflict in Iran rages on. And should the National Guard be involved in a state's elections? Stu reacts to a troubling new poll. TODAY'S SPONSOR BEAM ORGANICS PRODUCTS Get up to 40% off Beam's Dream Powder when you use the discount code STU at http://www.shopbeam.com/stu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join host Steven Gould for an in-depth interview with St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick, a 32-year law enforcement veteran, former homicide detective, police chief, and retired National Guard member. Sheriff Hardwick shares powerful stories from his career, including his first homicide call involving a childhood friend, the bizarre 2008 staged murder case of Summer Smith (where investigators wired a coffin for a confession), and the heartbreaking 2021 Tristyn Bailey murder by Aiden Fucci. SJSO Unlocked, a St. Johns County Sheriff's Office podcast https://media.rss.com/sjsounlockedpodcast/feed.xml YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJsWnAMeSsc Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today!https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055 Sergeant Steve YouTube Channel  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSergeantSteve

Synopsis:  The Trump administration's aggressive use of ICE agents and National Guardsmen has sparked outrage among lawmakers like Rep. Pramila Jayapal and veteran activists such as Janessa Goldbeck; they join forces to discuss what can be done now. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate Description [original air-date November 2025]:  The U.S. military is sworn to serve the Constitution, but that's getting complicated under Donald Trump. The President has deployed National Guard troops to half a dozen U.S. cities against the wishes of local officials and ICE agents are roaming around communities acting under unclear rules. Now the President is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act. What difference would that make? Laura's guests are U.S. House Representative Pramila Jayapal and Marine veteran Janessa Goldbeck, who say it's time to reject authoritarianism and uphold the Constitution. Congresswoman Jayapal is the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement and represents Washington State's 7th Congressional District. She has been at the forefront of congressional oversight and opposition to the Trump administration's immigration policies. Captain Goldbeck is CEO of Vet Voice, a national nonprofit that mobilizes veterans and military families to shape American democracy and defend the values they swore to protect. What can Congress, veterans and the general public do to stop the militarization of our cities? Join us for this powerful conversation, plus a commentary on the other times that the U.S. government has turned its military inward. Note: This conversation took place prior to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in MN] “What we're seeing now is the president attempting to reshape the U.S. military into a tool of his own domestic political control . . . And then to deploy uniformed service members and the National Guard across the country against the wishes of local elected leaders . . . I feel a lot of sadness and frustration on behalf of those who are serving in uniform today who are being put into this very partisan political position by the United States president.” - Janessa Goldbeck “What law enforcement should be doing — of any kind, whether it's ICE, National Guard, whoever — is trying to deescalate. What we clearly see this set of military actors doing is escalate, right? When you crack down brutally, when you shoot a rubber bullet at a faith leader in Chicago, or when you violently push someone down to the ground, who by the way happens to be the father of three U.S. Marines . . . I think that is really an attempt to suppress any kind of dissent.” - Rep. Pramila Jayapal Guests: •  Captain Janessa Goldbeck: Marine Corps Veteran; CEO, Vet Voice Foundation •  Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal: D-WA, 7th Congressional District Full Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters. Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel 11:30am ET Sundays, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episodes air on community radio  (check here to see if your station is airing the show) & as a podcast. RESOURCES: Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes: •  Another January 6 Insurrection? 'War Game' Film Asks if We're Ready: Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation •  Community Safety in a Time of Insurrection: Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut •  Inside the MAGA Movement: What Happens Now?:  Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation   Related Articles and Resources: •  The Resistance Lab, grassroots trainings led by Pramila Jayapal and thought leaders from across the movement.  •  Pentagon orders states' national guards to form ‘quick reaction forces' for ‘crowd control' by Aaron Glantz, October 29, 2025, The Guardian •  Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal at No Kings protest Seattle:  ‘We are the people's movement that will save our democracy', October 18, 2025 - Watch - King5.com •  Former Military Leaders Decry National Guard Deployment in Illinois, by Hannah Meisel, Capitol News Illinois, October 16, 2025, WTTW-PBS •  Where has Trump suggested sending troops?  In cities run by Democratic mayors, by Juliana Kim, October 16, 2025, NPR •. We Found That More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents.  They've Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days. by Nicole Foy & photography by Sarahbeth Maney,  October 16, 2025, ProPublica •. Trump open to invoking the Insurrection Act, by Irie Sentner, October 6, 2025, Politico •  FAQ on Refusing Illegal Orders, by JMB, June 18, 2025, Military Law Task Force   Full Episode Notes are located HERE. Music Credit: "Steppin" by Podington Bear, “Of Peace” by Galliano from the album Halfway Somewhere Expanded released on Brownswood Recordings and original sound design by Jeannie Hopper Support Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

On this Wednesday episode of Right On Radio host Jeff is joined by John Brisson of We've Read the Documents for a wide‑ranging, fast‑moving conversation that mixes scripture, current events and prophetic interpretation. The show opens with the regular "Word on Word" segment comparing John 10:11 and Deuteronomy 7:9, followed by a preview of an important Podbean announcement Jeff teases for Friday. Jeff and John dissect a viral literary oddity — Leslie Donald Epstein's 1979 novel King of the Jews — and compare it to earlier prophetic/fictional coincidences (Ingersoll Lockwood, Baron Trump) as they explore themes of cultural projection, anti‑Christian currents in modern thought, and symbolic covers and characters that mirror contemporary figures. The discussion shifts to U.S. domestic politics: controversy around election integrity, the SAVE Act, subpoenas and evidence retrieval in Maricopa and Georgia, reports about DOJ actions around autopen cases, and concerns about National Guard mobilization and expanding detention infrastructure. They weigh possibilities from humiliation rituals to actual exposures that could reshape American politics. Internationally, Jeff and John analyze the Iran conflict, Israel's rhetoric, recent U.S.–Russia communications (including Trump's call with Putin), and shifting energy/financial alignments — including talk of moving energy trades back into U.S. dollars and fractures in BRICS. Military developments and new weapons technology (particle beams/laser/orbital strike) and their strategic implications are examined, with references to historical programs and contemporary contractors. Interwoven with political analysis are prophetic readings: the hosts debate interpretations of the rider on the white horse, whether Trump or another figure fits end‑time archetypes, and how emerging geopolitics might tie to eschatological timelines. They also touch on cultural disclosure topics (institutionalized sexual abuse revelations) and the societal consequences of increasing mainstream acknowledgment. The episode closes with practical notes: an invitation to the weekly Wednesday prayer call on Telegram, a personal update about Jeff's father's hospitalization and a pastoral reminder to love God, family and community. Listeners can expect theology, politics, conspiracy analysis, prophetic reflection and calls to prayer across this episode. Want to Understand and Explain Everything Biblically?  Click Here: Decoding the Power of Three: Understand and Explain Everything or go to www.rightonu.com and click learn more.  Thank you for Listening to Right on Radio. Prayerfully consider supporting Right on Radio. Click Here for all links, Right on Community ROC, Podcast web links, Freebies, Products (healing mushrooms, EMP Protection) Social media, courses and more... https://linktr.ee/RightonRadio Live Right in the Real World! We talk God and Politics, Faith Based Broadcast News, views, Opinions and Attitudes We are Your News Now. Keep the Faith

Nat'l Media , Historic EventI am BOTH a Northerner & present Washingtonian who was born after the Historic Marches for My Civil Rights to Vote, Education, Public Accommodations,Transportation & EmploymentMajor Media Nationally & Internationally covered in the Marches. Citizens & Celebrities also participated:Joan Baez, James Baldwin, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Leonard Bernstein, Sammy Davis, Jr., Billy Eckstein, Dick Gregory, Lena Home, Mahalia Jackson, William Marshall, Johnny Mathis, Nina Simone, Susan Sarandon, Pernell Roberts, Peter,Paul & Mary....My Guest is the Reverend Clarence Varner who was in Grade School when he joined the Marches for Civil Rights in the 1960's. Although it cost Him is Part-Time Job while a Teenager, He held on to his Beliefs to Stay in the Fight, even getting Arrested Several times & Tear Gassed, Cattle Prod Shocked, Attack Dogs & Fire Hosed because he stood with others to Petition the the Governor for the Right for Blacks to Vote.Rev. Clarence Varner served  The United States in the Marine Corps for 8 years & served in during Vietnam during the War , he was wounded. Today he serves his God,  Country & Community in the continued fight for Civil Rights*In 1965, Blacks could not: *go to eat, Blacks were served at the Side or Back Door.*Social Movie Theatres, & Clubs too*Schools in the South & other State were Segregated*Housing was Segregated in Much of America. Redlining was the norm.* Thriving Middle Class Black Business's in Black Communities were forced out of Business due to the Federal Highway's that were built OVER that land.* Separate water Fountains & Bathrooms*Separate Transportation on Buses & Trains, etc.* Upper Corporate Jobs were not opened to most Blacks These Marches were ignited by the Death of SCLC local Jimmie Lee JacksonWhat did Jimmie Lee Jackson accomplish?Jimmie Lee Jackson, was a Vietnam veteran, Baptist deacon, activist and martyr of the Civil Rights Movement. Jackson, active in the fight for equal rights, had tried multiple times to register to vote in Alabama and was denied each time.When Jimmie Lee Jackson saw his frail 80-year-old grandfather rudely turned away from the registrar's office in 1962 after attempting to register to vote in Marion, Ala. He knew he had to join the civil rights movement.On Feb. 18, 1965, he was among more than 200 people participating in a night march in Marion. Before they had walked a block, they were confronted by state troopers and the police chief, who ordered them to disperse.Jackson and his mother huddled for safety in a café. When Jackson's grandfather entered the café bloodied and beaten, the young man tried to take him to a hospital. But they were quickly shoved back by a crowd of club-swinging troopers and terrified marchers. Another trooper pulled his pistol and shot Jackson in the stomach. It was two hours before Jackson arrived at the hospital in Selma. He died eight days later.At one of two services for Jackson, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. told a crowd of 2,000: “Jimmie Lee Jackson's death says to us that we must work passionately and unrelentingly to make the American dream a reality. His death must prove that unmerited suffering does not go unredeemed.”© 2026 Building Abundant Success!!2026 All Rights ReservedJoin Me on ~ iHeart Media @ https://tinyurl.com/iHeartBASAmazon Music ~ https://tinyurl.com/AmzBASAudacy:  https://tinyurl.com/BASAud

Synopsis:  What happens when the President threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act? Two leading voices weigh in on how Congress, veterans, and citizens can push back against rising militarization. This show is made possible by you! To become a sustaining member go to LauraFlanders.org/donate Description [original air-date November 2025]:  The U.S. military is sworn to serve the Constitution, but that's getting complicated under Donald Trump. The President has deployed National Guard troops to half a dozen U.S. cities against the wishes of local officials and ICE agents are roaming around communities acting under unclear rules. Now the President is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act. What difference would that make? Laura's guests are U.S. House Representative Pramila Jayapal and Marine veteran Janessa Goldbeck, who say it's time to reject authoritarianism and uphold the Constitution. Congresswoman Jayapal is the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement and represents Washington State's 7th Congressional District. She has been at the forefront of congressional oversight and opposition to the Trump administration's immigration policies. Captain Goldbeck is CEO of Vet Voice, a national nonprofit that mobilizes veterans and military families to shape American democracy and defend the values they swore to protect. What can Congress, veterans and the general public do to stop the militarization of our cities? Join us for this powerful conversation, plus a commentary on the other times that the U.S. government has turned its military inward. Note: This conversation took place prior to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in MN] “What we're seeing now is the president attempting to reshape the U.S. military into a tool of his own domestic political control . . . And then to deploy uniformed service members and the National Guard across the country against the wishes of local elected leaders . . . I feel a lot of sadness and frustration on behalf of those who are serving in uniform today who are being put into this very partisan political position by the United States president.” - Janessa Goldbeck “What law enforcement should be doing — of any kind, whether it's ICE, National Guard, whoever — is trying to deescalate. What we clearly see this set of military actors doing is escalate, right? When you crack down brutally, when you shoot a rubber bullet at a faith leader in Chicago, or when you violently push someone down to the ground, who by the way happens to be the father of three U.S. Marines . . . I think that is really an attempt to suppress any kind of dissent.” - Rep. Pramila Jayapal Guests: •  Captain Janessa Goldbeck: Marine Corps Veteran; CEO, Vet Voice Foundation •  Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal: D-WA, 7th Congressional District Full Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters. Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel 11:30am ET Sundays, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episodes air on community radio  (check here to see if your station is airing the show) & as a podcast. RESOURCES: Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes: •  Another January 6 Insurrection? 'War Game' Film Asks if We're Ready: Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation •  Community Safety in a Time of Insurrection: Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut •  Inside the MAGA Movement: What Happens Now?:  Watch / Listen:  Episode Cut and Full Uncut Conversation   Related Articles and Resources: •  The Resistance Lab, grassroots trainings led by Pramila Jayapal and thought leaders from across the movement.  •  Pentagon orders states' national guards to form ‘quick reaction forces' for ‘crowd control' by Aaron Glantz, October 29, 2025, The Guardian •  Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal at No Kings protest Seattle:  ‘We are the people's movement that will save our democracy', October 18, 2025 - Watch - King5.com •  Former Military Leaders Decry National Guard Deployment in Illinois, by Hannah Meisel, Capitol News Illinois, October 16, 2025, WTTW-PBS •  Where has Trump suggested sending troops?  In cities run by Democratic mayors, by Juliana Kim, October 16, 2025, NPR •. We Found That More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents.  They've Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days. by Nicole Foy & photography by Sarahbeth Maney,  October 16, 2025, ProPublica •. Trump open to invoking the Insurrection Act, by Irie Sentner, October 6, 2025, Politico •  FAQ on Refusing Illegal Orders, by JMB, June 18, 2025, Military Law Task Force   Full Episode Notes are located HERE. Music Credit:  'Thrum of Soil' by Bluedot Sessions, and original sound design by Jeannie Hopper Support Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

(Mar 9, 2026) A year after the end of the illegal "wildcat" strike by thousands of corrections officers, prisons are still understaffed, family visits are limited, and inmates are enduring the consequences. We look at the crisis facing New York's prison system as taxpayers continue to pour hundreds of millions of dollars into paying the National Guard to step in. Also: The relationship between the North Star Health Alliance and a healthcare consulting group based in Maine has come under scrutiny after a recent court filing.

On the Your Message Received podcast, host John Duffin interviews multiple-published author and former active-duty/National Guard officer Richard Spegal about authenticity in storytelling and his path from military service to writing. Spegal explains how reading Anne Rice led him to write adult vampire/paranormal fiction and why he prioritizes realism—characters should act like real people and never pander to the audience—letting them drive the plot. He discusses writing mostly by typing due to nerve damage, deploying to Iraq and Egypt (including the MFO Sinai mission with multinational forces), and medically retiring after serving about a decade and a half in the Guard. Spegal describes publishing Redemption after a 10-year gap, reader reactions to Origins and its mental-health themes, and upcoming relaunches through a new publisher, including Broken Angel and future science-fiction entries in the Eternal Knights series, plus where to find him online.00:00 Immersion Over Pandering00:55 Podcast Welcome and Guest Intro02:35 Origins of Dark Fantasy Writing03:32 Writing Habits and Process04:43 Military Path and National Guard07:59 Deployments Iraq and Egypt09:28 Inside the MFO Sinai Mission10:05 Multinational Ops and Communication14:03 Going Full Time as an Author15:17 Realistic Characters Drive Plot19:04 Building a Series and New Genres21:00 Avoiding Mouthpiece Characters22:03 Living in the Story World23:28 Publishing After A Decade24:48 Favorite Scene In Redemption26:27 Writing Dark Mature Themes28:27 Military Realism In Fiction30:22 Reader Email That Hit Hard33:46 Mental Health On The Page36:16 Writing Changes The Writer38:23 Relaunch And New Publisher39:22 Hardest Book Broken Angel40:58 Climbing Out Of The Darkness44:08 Where To Find The Author45:42 Final Thanks And Sign Off

Experience is everything, and "The Apprentice" on President Trump's resume is coming in handy. He revealed he will involved in picking Iran's new leader, just like with Venezuela, and is still urging the Iranian people to "help take back your country" and granting them full immunity. Also on the show: Kristi Noem is being replaced as DHS Secretary with Markwayne Mullin, Wendy's has a six-figure tasting position available, and the latest on the lawsuit brought on by Memphis leaders arguing Gov. Bill Lee overstepped by ordering National Guard troops to Memphis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Firefighter/paramedic Seth Barr of the Grand Chute Fire Department is currently deployed to the Middle East with his Appleton-based National Guard unit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sen. Martine Gulick joins us to discuss property taxes and education reforms as we head into the mid-session legislative deadlines. Then, outgoing Adjutant General Gregory Knight sits down for a review of his time as Adjutant General and his 42-year military career. We also dive into the role of the Guard in this active US aggression.This episode of Vermont Viewpoint was published 03/05/2026.

Greg Belfrage interviews Iowa Senator Joni Ernst. They talk about the National Guard who lost their lives in the recent Iran conflict, the War Powers Act and Tim Kaine, Iran's nuclear weapons, Trump, illegal immigrants, and CDLs, and more...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham sent about 70 troops with the New Mexico National Guard to Albuquerque's International District. According to the governor, the guard worked alongside the Albuquerque Police Department to address “immediate quality of life concerns” of people living in the area, while "working towards long-term solutions to the city's most pressing public safety concerns." City Councilor Nichole Rogers represents District 6, where most of the troops were deployed, and recently stopped by our studio to talk about what the National Guard did and didn't get done during their six months in the city. Podcast Host: Lou DiVizioGuest: Nichole Rogers, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 6

Last year, the attention on a federal law enforcement rollout in Memphis was on the involvement of the National Guard. Perhaps we should have paid more attention to the Highway Patrol, instead. Plus the local news for March 3, 2026 and environmental reviews for Nashville's tunnel project. Credits: This is a production of Nashville Public RadioHost/producer: Nina CardonaEditor: LaTonya TurnerAdditional support: Mack Linebaugh, Tony Gonzalez, Megan Jones and the staff of WPLN and WNXP

Lee Lambert is the Chancellor at Foothill-De Anza Community College District and a visionary leader who has served as a senior-level community college executive for more than two decades. Prior to Foothill-De Anza, Lambert served as chancellor of Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, where he led a transformation of the college into Centers of Excellence in applied technology, health care, hospitality, information technology and cybersecurity, public safety, and the arts. Lambert is a dynamic advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, student success, and community engagement. He also believes and invests in employee professional development and growth to better serve students and the community. Among Lambert's many achievements and recognitions, he was the recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) awarded him with the Marie Y. Martin CEO of the Year Award, and the National Guard and Reserves of the U.S. named him a Patriotic Employer. Earlier this year, Lee was named Tucson Man of the Year. He currently serves on several committees and boards, including the Advisory Committee of Presidents for ACCT and the National Association of Workforce Boards' executive committee. He previously served on the American Association of Community Colleges board. In addition to his published writings, Lee is an international and nationally recognized speaker on the future of work and learning. Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea, grew up on three continents, and served in the U.S Army. He received a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and a Juris Doctor degree from Seattle University School of Law.

* We'll recap what President Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have said about the conflict with political scientist David Schultz. Will voters be persuaded? Will they care? * The National Guard's deployment in New Orleans is being extended six months. We'll talk to Rafael Goyeneche with the Metropolitan Crime Commission about the impact they have on the crime fighting effort

The National Guard's deployment in New Orleans is being extended six months. We talk to Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission about the impact they have on the crime fighting effort

Your Nebraska Update headlines for today, March 2, include: Nebraska's elected officials support U.S. military strikes on Iran as tensions escalate and Gov. Jim Pillen calls for prayers for National Guard members, medical marijuana dispensary could soon open on Omaha reservation in northeast Nebraska, lawmakers face a new $175 million revenue shortfall as economic fallout from Lexington Tyson plant closure deepens, University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold joins White House roundtable on college sports reforms, immigration rights groups back bills to limit ICE activity in Nebraska, Boyd County hires new sheriff after sudden resignations leave law enforcement gap, Nebraska men's basketball sets single-season records with win over USC.

Guest Spotlight: Approximately 60% of active-duty officers commission through ROTC programs at more than 1,500 colleges and universities—making campus ministry to cadets and midshipmen a strategic mission field. In this episode of the OCF Crosspoint podcast, we hear from John Hoyman, OCF's Director of ROTC Ministry and a 30-year Army veteran (Active Duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve), about the renewed vision and momentum in ROTC outreach.  John shares his personal connection to OCF, why evangelism and discipleship are central to his vision, what he is witnessing spiritually among cadets and midshipmen, and how OCF members can tangibly invest in the next generation of Christ-following officers. If you are an active duty, Guard, Reserve officer, retiree, or ROTC cadet wondering how faith intersects with military leadership, this conversation offers both encouragement and clear next steps.  Learn more: https://www.ocfusa.org/rotc  Contact: rotc@ocfusa.org    Questions answered and themes covered in this interview include:  1. Why is Christian evangelism and discipleship in ROTC programs essential for future military officers?  John explains that his vision for ROTC Ministry begins with "evangelism and discipleship." His first priority is "how do we bring cadets and midshipmen to Christ and then build that relationship and help them become more Christ-like." Because these students are preparing to lead in the military, their faith decisions now will shape their entire careers.  While he affirms the value of campus ministries such as Cru, Navigators, and Baptist Student Union, he emphasizes that OCF uniquely helps cadets think about "how to apply their coming profession in their spiritual life." ROTC ministry allows them to ask, "How do they become an officer that represents Christ?" It also connects them to a lifelong fellowship that continues beyond graduation and throughout a military career.    2. What is God doing spiritually among ROTC cadets and midshipmen right now?  John describes the current season as "total excitement." He points to the Eastern ROTC Retreat, which has exceeded previous attendance—filling both the Heritage House and the Harrison House with a waitlist still growing weeks before the event. He sees "an outpouring of people that want to grow in their faith… find out who Jesus Christ is… connect with other believers."  Beyond numbers, he highlights student initiative. Cadets are stepping into leadership, asking how to start fellowships, and seeking to serve younger students. He also observes "a renewed interest in spiritual things," with young people asking deeper questions—not just about occupation, but about purpose and truth. John calls it "an exciting time to be in this ministry."    3. How can a Christian military officer disciple and mentor ROTC cadets in a practical way?  John shares a simple framework from former ROTC Director Tom Hemingway: "Find a cadet, pray daily, communicate weekly, and meet monthly." He encourages active-duty officers, retirees, and even those in graduate school near campuses to invest in one-on-one mentoring and discipleship relationships.  He describes what he calls the "OCF diaspora"—officers who retire or relocate and may unknowingly live near a university with an ROTC program. Even visiting a campus Bible study once a month can be impactful. John notes that his own monthly investment at Penn State has been spiritually refreshing, saying it was "really refreshing to see these young people seeking Christ." Those interested can email John (rotc@ocfusa.org) to explore involvement.    4. Why does OCF provide unique Christian fellowship continuity for officers throughout their military careers?  John explains that while cadets should find a local church during school and after commissioning, military life often involves frequent moves and limited continuity. OCF offers a network that "carries with you past your undergraduate years into a vital relationship with other believers throughout your career."  Unlike most campus ministries that naturally conclude after graduation, OCF fellowship continues into active duty and even retirement. John highlights how retired officers can later reinvest in ROTC ministry, creating a generational cycle of mentorship. This continuity helps officers integrate faith with profession over the long term, rather than compartmentalizing their spiritual lives from their leadership responsibilities.    5. How are Christian military ministries collaborating to serve ROTC cadets more effectively?  John emphasizes a spirit of cooperation rather than competition among ministries serving ROTC students. He references collaboration with Valor (Cru's ministry to ROTC students) and leaders such as David Preston and CH(MAJ) Jeff Struecker, USA (Ret.), including work on a film series addressing the moral ramifications of killing from a Christian perspective.  He describes "a cool synergy" between young cadets eager to grow in Christ and seasoned officers who have sought to honor Christ in their careers. From retreats to weekly calls to shared leadership at programs like Rocky Mountain High, John says there is consistent partnership happening behind the scenes. He expresses gratitude for standing "on the shoulders of giants" who have built strong inter-ministry relationships.    Key Takeaway:  John hopes listeners remember that "God is doing a work among college students right now." There is a present opportunity for investing in the spiritual lives of future military leaders. Whether through prayer, mentoring, or partnership, OCF members are invited to join that work while the door is open.    OCF Ministry News:  Enjoy an impactful Conference Center visit: If you're looking for an opportunity to hit the pause button and reconnect with loved ones, consider a summer program at White Sulphur Springs (Manns Choice, Pa.) or Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, Colo.).  Support OCF during your visits to the grocery store: Find out if a store near you is eligible, enroll using OCF's organization number, then shop as normal to contribute effortlessly to OCF's mission and vision at no added cost to you.  Share your life updates: Visit ocfusa.org/deployment to let us know about an ongoing or upcoming deployment. Visit ocfusa.org/update to let us know of a change in rank, duty status, contact information, or something else. 

WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former President Bill Clinton tells lawmakers he knew nothing about Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse. President Trump says he's not happy about how talks with Iran are going. The National Guard helps Brockton dig out. Stay in "The Loop" with WBZ NewsRadio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send a text

On February 22, 2026, the Mexican military successfully neutralized Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera Cervantes, the elusive leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The fallout was immediate: a coordinated wave of violence involving over 250 roadblocks, burning vehicles, and attacks on security forces across 20 Mexican states. In this episode, we break down the high-stakes military operation in Tapalpa, the unprecedented intelligence sharing between the Sheinbaum administration and the U.S. government, and the "ghost town" atmosphere currently gripping Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. Key Topics Discussed:The Operation: How Mexican Special Forces, aided by U.S. Northern Command intelligence, tracked El Mencho to a remote cabin via a romantic partner.The Retaliation: Analysis of the "specular violence" used by CJNG, including the deaths of 25 National Guard members and prison breaks in Jalisco.The Power Vacuum: Who is next? We look at potential successors like "El Jardinero" and "El RR" and the risk of the cartel fracturing.Travel Impact: What the U.S. State Department's "shelter in place" orders mean for tourists and the upcoming 2026 World Cup matches in Guadalajara.Political Fallout: How this "kingpin" strategy shift affects relations between President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Trump administration.Safety Alert: As of February 24, 2026, travel advisories remain in effect for Jalisco, Michoacán, and Colima. Listeners in these regions are advised to monitor local authorities and avoid major highways.

(Feb 25, 2026) A New York Focus investigation found the state police has no clear standard for disciplining troopers, and troopers found guilty of misconduct were given lax or inconsistent treatment. We talk with the reporter who sorted through the documents. Also: Some state lawmakers, including Adirondack Senator Dan Stec, are questioning the continued use of the National Guard to help staff state prisons.

Stay connected with us at americangroundradio.com, on Facebook, and Instagram. You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for February 24, 2026. In this episode of American Ground Radio, we dive into the explosive violence rocking Mexico after the killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader "El Mencho." American tourists are trapped in resorts like Puerto Vallarta amid cartel roadblocks, explosions, and attacks on the National Guard—raising urgent questions about safety for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup games in Mexico. We discuss President Trump's tough stance: if Mexico can't dismantle the cartels fueling drugs and human trafficking across our border, the U.S. may have to act decisively, echoing historical interventions like the hunt for Pancho Villa. Plus, ahead of President Trump's first State of the Union address of his second term, we break down his expected highlights: a 96% drop in illegal border crossings (from hundreds of thousands under Biden to historic lows), economic wins, and calls to keep Republicans in Congress to protect his agenda. We expose Democrat plans to bring illegal immigrants as guests—literally giving seats to non-citizens over Americans—and slam anti-Second Amendment bills in states like Virginia and Minnesota that treat gun owners harsher than violent criminals. Don't miss the fun segment with our American Mamas on what Gen X got right: killer music, real consequences, strong work ethic, and face-to-face social skills that built resilience. And if you'd like to Ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button. Tune in for unfiltered truth, bright spots in border security, and a reminder to confront reality before it confronts us. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, and visit AmericanGroundRadio.com for more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last night’s State of the Union Address was, though indirectly, in many ways largely indicative of the ‘State of our Union’; irascible, beleaguered, gaslighted, schizophrenic. Despite getting sidetracked for a bit on today’s episode, below you’ll find my extensive coverage of last night’s SOTU, including a timestamped breakdown of my live observations while watching. You’re sure to find some things the MSM has obfuscated or ignored… #Links American civil religion, ceremonial deism, apotheosis American civil religion – Wikipedia The Apotheosis of Washington – Wikipedia Ceremonial deism – Wikipedia Biblical Religion and Civil Religion in America by Robert N. Bellah The Network / Enterprise / Octopus Unlimited Hangout podcast, Ep. #37, One Nation Under Blackmail[1] Bruce Hemmings quote 37-Audiogram.mp4 Linda McMahon – Wikipedia #SOTU 2026 Coverage Online sources: Video: C-SPAN LIVE: Trump delivers State of the Union address (full speech) – AP – YouTube Video + Transcript: Donald Trump: State of the Union Address – Roll Call SOTU Donald Trump: State of the Union Address – Roll Call Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address, 2026 – Ballotpedia President Donald J. Trump’s 2026 State of the Union Address – The White House – YouTube President Trump 2026 State of the Union Address & Democratic Response – C-SPAN – YouTube WATCH: Trump delivers State of the Union address, Va Gov. Spanberger gives Dem response – Fox News – YouTube Rebuttal Democratic Response to State of the Union Address | Video | C-SPAN.org State of the Union Democratic Response: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger to deliver party’s rebuttal | FOX 5 DC Reaction Pelosi Joins CNN Following The State of The Union Address – Nancy Pelosi – YouTube WATCH: Key moments from Trump’s 2026 State of the Union – PBS NewsHour – YouTube Key moments from Trump’s State of the Union – Washington Post – YouTube Jimmy Kimmel Reacts to Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address 2026 – Jimmy Kimmel Live – YouTube Pod Save America Hosts on Trump’s State of the Union, the Epstein Files & Writing Speeches for Obama – Jimmy Kimmel Live – YouTube LIVE Monologue: A Dark Speech Filled With Divisive Lies | USA Women’s Hockey Gets A Better Offer – The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – YouTube Fact-Checking Fact checking Trump’s State of the Union address | CNN Politics PolitiFact | Live fact-check: Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address Fact-checking Trump’s State of the Union address | ABC News Fact checking Trump’s SOTU speech live: His remarks on Iran, tariffs, ICE, Supreme Court, and more | Hindustan Times Live fact-checking Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address | PBS News Follow PolitiFact’s live fact-check of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union – Poynter A look at Trump’s false and misleading claims in his State of the Union address | AP News Fact checking President Trump’s State of the Union address A Pre-SOTU Guide to Trump’s Economic Claims – FactCheck.org The State of the Union (According to Trump): Live Updates Protests Democratic Lawmakers Protest Pres. Trump’s State of the Union Address | Video | C-SPAN.org Celebrities, Lawmakers & Fmr. Gov’t Officials Gather to Protest State of the Union Address | Video | C-SPAN.org WATCH LIVE: Epstein survivors join House Democrats ahead of Trump’s State of the Union – PBS NewsHour – YouTube Epstein Saga Lawmakers & Epstein Survivors Hold Briefing Ahead of State of the Union | Video | C-SPAN.org Epstein Abuse Survivor Attending State of the Union Asks, “Where Are the Rest of the Files?” | Video | C-SPAN.org SOTU Related Headlines Trump boasts of a ‘golden age’ in State of the Union amid sharp partisan divisions | LA Times Trump says State of the Union will be ‘long speech’: What’s the record? | The Hill Trump set an all-time record with his second joint address on March 4, 2025, clocking in at one hour, 39 minutes and 32 seconds. Viewers disturbed by Trump’s ‘joyous look’ describing graphic violence and murder | Alternet Iran reacts to Trump’s 2026 State of the Union, accuses him of “big lies” | CBS News Trump brutally shut down when he tried to give himself the Medal of Honor | The Mirror Woman severely injured by Trump’s ICE thrown out of State of the Union | Raw Story Trump’s stare down with Mark Kelly ignites MAGA meltdown | Alternet Trump defends immigration crackdown at State of Union as approval ratings plummet | LA Times Speechwriters split after Trump’s record-breaking SOTU: ‘Living in his own reality’ vs. ‘Resounding speech’ | Fox News Here are all the awards Trump announced during his State of the Union | CBS News Yelling Trump Gets Into Wild Screaming Match with Democrats | The Daily Beast I went to Trump’s State of the Union. This was the moment when the room’s mood shifted. | Business Insider Pelosi explains white buttons at State of the Union address | The Hill Takeaways from Trump’s State of the Union address to Congress | Reuters Other Headlines Regarding the ‘State of the Union’ Judge Aileen Cannon bars the release of special counsel report on Trump’s handling of classified documents | CNN Politics Ro Khanna Claimed Epstein Visited ‘CIA Headquarters.’ It Was Almost Certainly An Hermès Design Studio. Another Black Man Found Hanging Quickly Ruled a Suicide Grandfather kidnapped from his bed and murdered in case of mistaken identity, police say 4 people fatally stabbed outside home near Seattle, suspect shot dead by deputy 2 Missouri deputies killed, 2 wounded after suspect opens fire Kristi Noem, DHS violated 1st Amendment by using facial recognition software to intimidate citizens observing them, complaint says Discord cuts ties with Peter Thiel–backed verification software after its code was found tied to U.S. surveillance efforts BMW to recall nearly 59,000 vehicles in US over damaged wiring harness, NHTSA says | Reuters US senators demand answers about utility companies’ ‘secret contracts’ with tech giants: ‘Forcing local communities to sign NDAs’ Bill Gates admits he had 2 affairs with Russian women, apologizes to staff over Jeffrey Epstein ties Trump’s ICE Is Quietly Stockpiling Weaponry—and It Should Alarm Us All Trump Administration Moves to Allow Intelligence Agencies Easier Access to Law Enforcement Files Son turns on his lawmaker dad for using ‘Epstein loophole’ to avoid jail for allegedly touching kids: ‘Inexplicable trauma’ ‘This should terrify you’: Meta Superintelligence safety director lost control of her AI agent—it deleted her emails Nearly two-thirds of companies have lost track of their data just as they’re letting AI in through the front door to wander around #Fact Check Drawn from CNN’s Fact checking Trump’s State of the Union address. For more balanced, detailed coverage, see PolitiFact article. Claim Rebuttal Source Rebuttal ‘$18 trillion’ in investments CNN’s Daniel Dale “…the White House’s own website said the figure for “major investment announcements” during this Trump term was “$9.7 trillion,” and even that is a major exaggeration; a detailed CNN review in [Oct 2025] found [WH counting trillions in] vague investment pledges, pledges that were about “bilateral trade” or “economic exchange” rather than investment in the US and vague statements that didn’t even rise to the level of pledges.” Low gas prices (2.30, 1.99, 1.85) CNN’s Daniel Dale According to AAA: only 2 states w/ avg < $2.50/gal; GasBuddy: 4:150k (.003%) gas stations w/ gas < $2/gal Inherited record inflation CNN’s Daniel Dale Dec, 2024 Y-O-Y inflation (CPI): 2.9% Inherited stagnant economy CNN’s Daniel Dale False (see details) Passed largest tax cuts (GBBB) in American history CNN’s Tami Luhby “It ranks seventh in terms of share of GDP since 1918, according to Chris Towner, policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan watchdog group.” Biden allowed ‘11,888 murderers’ to enter US as migrants CNN’s Daniel Dale ““11,888” number is about non-citizens who entered the US not just under Biden but over the course of multiple decades, including during Trump’s own first administration.” Foreign countries are paying T47 tariffs CNN’s Daniel Dale “In an analysis released in February, officials at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York wrote, “We find that nearly 90 percent of the tariffs’ economic burden fell on U.S. firms and consumers.”…[CBO] wrote in a February report that “the net effect of tariffs is to raise U.S. consumer prices by the full portion of the cost of the tariffs borne domestically (95 percent)”…” Fraud in Minnesota CNN’s Daniel Dale “…Walz admin official said in December that they had “evidence of tens of millions of dollars in fraud to this point,” not $9[/18/19] billion…” US elections claims CNN’s Daniel Dale Disputed (see details) More Americans are working today than ever CNN’s Daniel Dale “The labor force participation rate, which measures the percentage of the population that is employed or actively looking for work, has been almost unchanged…” Ended eight wars CNN’s Daniel Dale Largely disputed (see details) Achieved no tax on Social Security CNN’s Tami Luhby Disputed, misleading (see details) Balancing the federal budget by ending fraud CNN’s Tami Luhby 2024 GAO estimate “found that [$233–521B] is lost to fraud annually. But the federal budget deficit came in at just under $1.8 trillion for the most recent fiscal year, which ended in September, according to the Treasury Department – more than triple the highest estimated fraud total.” #Contemporaneous Notes Duration: 01:47:43 (longest SOTU in history – breaking the modern record he set last year.) Timestamp (approx. w/ lag) CH Notes N/A No mention of Epstein or Trump / Epstein Files! Despite many survivors in chamber. No mention of Renee Good, Alex Pretti. T19:13:57-07:00 …our nation is back, bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before. T19:13:58-07:00 “This is the Golden age of America.” T19:14:36-07:00 “…we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before and a turnaround for the ages. It is indeed a turnaround for the ages.” T19:15:04-07:00 And we will never go back to where we were just a very short time ago. We’re not going back. T19:16:03-07:00 “Illegal aliens” / border T19:16:35-07:00 past 9 mo “ZERO illegal aliens admitted” T19:18:22-07:00 Inflation: 1.7% T19:18:37-07:00 Gas as low as 2.30 – 1.99 – 1.85 T19:19:08-07:00 Mortgage rates T19:20:25-07:00 $18T [in foreign investment] “pouring in from all over the globe.” T19:21:14-07:00 70k new construction jobs (AI Data centers?) T19:21:34-07:00 Oil, ‘new partner’, Venezuela: 80M barrels of oil T19:22:35-07:00 100% of all new jobs created, private sector T19:22:42-07:00 We ended DEI in America T19:23:32-07:00 The State of our Union is Strong T19:23:43-07:00 Our country is winning again. In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, please, please, please, Mr. President, we’re winning too much. We can’t take it anymore. We’re not used to winning in our country. Until you came along, we were just always losing, but now we’re winning too much. And I say no, no, no, you’re going to win again. You’re going to win big; you’re going to win bigger than ever. (Narcissistic rant) T19:24:40-07:00 U.S. Men’s Olympic (Gold Medal) Hockey Team… Connor Hellebuyck… T19:26:22-07:00 U.S. Women’s Olympic hockey team “will soon be coming to the White House” (the team declined invitation to attend WH SOTU)[2][3] T19:28:57-07:00 I will soon be presenting Connor with … the highest civilian honor in our country, the Presidential Medal of Freedom T19:31:05-07:00 World Cup and Olympics coming to America T19:36:20-07:00 …government answers to the people, not the powerful… T19:37:27-07:00 GBBB, Republicans voted for it, all Democrats voted against it. T19:38:04-07:00 only if car is made in America T19:38:29-07:00 Megan [Hemhauser]’s story (child tax credit) T19:39:44-07:00 Trump Accounts, “Tax-free child investment accounts”, supporters; Michael & Susan Dell, Brad Gerstner (“hedge fund mgr”, founder, Altimeter Capital) T19:41:14-07:00 “$100k by the time they turn 18 – or a lot more (Uh…??) – go to TrumpAccounts.gov” T19:41:55-07:00 Dow hit 50k, S&P hit 7k T19:43:43-07:00 Tariffs: ‘country-saving, peace-protecting, time-tested and approved’… taking the great financial burden off the people… T19:44:47-07:00 A POTUS who put’s America first. I love America T19:45:11-07:00 For decades before I came along… T19:45:47-07:00 11,888 (illegal alien) murders T19:46:46-07:00 “They [Democrats] knew their statements were a dirty, rotten, lie.” T19:47:13-07:00 ” The cost of chicken, butter, fruit, hotels, automobiles, rent, is lower today than when I took office, by a lot. And even beef, which was very high, is starting to come down significantly.” T19:47:56-07:00 Crushing cost of healthcare. I want to stop large pmts to healthcare co’s, and give it to the people. (Isn’t it already the peoples’ money??) T19:49:25-07:00 Deflating prescription drug costs… Other presidents said they would, tried… didn’t do it… I got it done… T19:50:29-07:00 “So in my first year of the second term, should be my third term, but strange things happen.” (doublespeak, like Whitney Webb’s Bruce Hemmings quote[1:1]) T19:50:54-07:00 “… price differences of 300, 400, 500, 600 percent and more, (impossible) all available right now at a new website called TrumpRX.gov – and I didn’t name that one either, BTW.” T19:51:15-07:00 Catherine Rayner (IVF) story T19:54:34-07:00 We want homes for people, not corporations T19:54:49-07:00 Making it easier for people to save. Protecting Social Security & Medicare T19:55:24-07:00 Avg. 401k bal up $30k (How the AF can they possibly know that??? WH / POTUS should NOT know those numbers! If they know that, what else do they know??) T19:56:11-07:00 Members of Congress should not benefit (What about WH & friends???) from using inside information (ironic! Based on last point) Pass the Insider Trading Act right away. T19:57:19-07:00 MN – members of Somali community pillaging community, $19B. War on Fraud to be led by JD Vance. T19:59:32-07:00 Dalilah Coleman’s story (child, hit by illegal alien w/ CDL – interesting NOTE: spelling variations: Delilah / Dalilah Law) T20:01:34-07:00 Angel moms & families. Lizbeth Medina’s story (stabbed 25+ times by Rafeal Govea Romero) T20:04:00-07:00 Democrat(‘s) shutdown. Helping people clean up the snow. T20:05:20-07:00 First responsibility of American Gov is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens. T20:07:13-07:00 You should be ashamed of yourself for not standing up (Heckling: Justice Democrats [Omar, Tlaib][4][5][6][7] primarily shouting back) T20:08:11-07:00 I’m asking you to approve the SAVE America Act. It’s very simple: all voters must show voter ID, proof of citizenship to vote. No more crooked mail-in ballots, except for… Polling at 89%, incl Dems. Even Communist NY Mayor wants shovelers to show 2 forms of ID + SS card T20:11:37-07:00 Sage Blair (& mom, Michelle), gender transition story T20:13:47-07:00 Look – nobody stands up. These people are crazy. … Democrats have destroyed the country. But we’ve stopped it, just in time. T20:14:27-07:00 First Lady – now a movie star. T20:15:29-07:00 Sierra Burns (Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence Program participant) and Everest Nevraumont (11-year-old Alpha School student, AI-advocate, and TedX speaker) representing Melania Trump’s BE BEST Fostering the Future initiative.[8] T20:16:22-07:00 [Then, immediately after] …Christianity, and belief in God. … My great friend, Charlie Kirk. … martyred… Erika is with us tonight. [Fake Tammy Faye tears – and did she mouth ‘I miss you’ to Trump??] T20:17:35-07:00 America is one nation under God, and we must reject political violence of any kind T20:17:59-07:00 We love religion. It’s making a great comeback T20:18:50-07:00 [Aug 22, 2025 killing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee] Iryna Zarutska T20:20:41-07:00 Starting last summer, I deployed National Guard and federal law enforcement to restore law and order to our most dangerous cities, incl.; Memphis TN, New Orleans LA, Washington DC T20:22:15-07:00 Sarah Beckstrom’s story T20:27:23-07:00 In my first 10 months I ended eight wars, incl.; (1) Cambodia and Thailand, (2) Pakistan and India, (3) Kosovo and Serbia, (4) Israel and Iran, 5 Egypt and Ethiopia, (6) Armenia and Azerbaijan, (7) the Congo and Rwanda “and, of course, (8) the war in Gaza”. Isn’t it funny? They’re sick people. Cambodia and Thailand… Thank you Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for your help. And I also want to thank the man they report to; Sec. of State, Marco Rubio. … I think he’ll go down as the best ever. Under the cease fire, every hostage, living & dead, has been returned home. T20:31:42-07:00 And we’re working very hard to end the ninth war, the killing and slaughter between Russia and Ukraine… 25k soldiers die each mo. T20:32:12-07:00 Operation Midnight Hammer (Iranian attack) T20:33:57-07:00 [Iran] building weapons that will soon reach America… Renewing their sinister efforts… We haven’t heard those words; ‘We will never have a weapon…’ I will never allow the world’s #1 sponsor of terror (U.S.?!?) to have a nuclear weapon. (Are we de-nuking, then???) T20:35:43-07:00 we call ‘peace through strength’… and it’s been very effective. (and Orwellian) T20:38:06-07:00 We got a lotta money… (Really??? Not the American people???) T20:40:39-07:00 In January (Venezuela) …one of the most spectacular and impressive military feats. … Space Force is my baby. Nicolas Maduro, to face justice… New Pres. of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez. T20:42:24-07:00 Alejandra Gonzalez (Venezuela) and her uncle story. Uncle released – and here tonight! Enrique, please come down. … Thank you, Enrique. Have a good time. (CREEPY! Esp. since I was thinking ‘Epstein Files’ – unmentioned, BTW! – in back of mind as Alejandra & Enrique embraced, but mostly emotionless) T20:46:34-07:00 CWO Eric Slover (Venezuelan invasion) story, wife Amy [Slover]‘s holy water… Nation’s highest military award: Congressional Medal of Honor T20:50:19-07:00 Met w/ [Slovers] at Fort Bragg – we got the name back. … Eric’s fellow warriors will soon be receiving awards @ WH. T20:51:14-07:00 One last living legend to honor before we go… WWII / Korean ‘War’ Navy pilot, Royce Williams (100 yr-old): Congressional Medal of Honor T20:54:54-07:00 [Draft dodger!] I’ve always wanted the Congressional Medal of Honor, they say I can’t give it to myself. But, if they ever open that up… T20:58:18-07:00 “And when God needs a nation to work his miracles, He knows exactly who to ask. There is no challenge Americans cannot overcome, no frontier too vast for us to conquer, no dream too bold for us to chase, no horizon too distant for us to claim. For our destiny is written by the hand of Providence and these first 250 years were just the beginning.” T20:59:07-07:00 From TX to MI to FL to Dakotas, from Philly to DC, “the Golden Age of America is upon us.” The Revolution that began in 1776 has not ended… b/c Flame of Liberty and independence still burns… Thank you, God Bless you, and God Bless America. #Footnotes Unlimited Hangout podcast with Whitney Webb, Ep. #37, One Nation Under Blackmail (Aug 10, 2022) ︎ ︎ Why Team USA women’s hockey turned down invitation to White House State of the Union address – Yahoo Sports ︎ Trump joked he is being forced to invite the women’s hockey team to DC. Now, they’ve turned down his request ︎ WATCH: Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib Heckle Trump During State Of The Union, ‘You Killed Americans’ | US News – Times Now ︎ Ilhan Omar And Rashida Tlaib Leave State Of The Union Early After Heckling Trump ︎ ‘You have killed Americans’: Ilhan Omar tries to shout down Trump’s immigration attacks | CNN Politics ︎ Midwest ‘Squad’ members shout down Trump during GOP’s biggest State of the Union applause lines: ‘You’re killing Americans’ | The Independent ︎ First Lady Melania Trump’s State of the Union Guests Reflect Her Impact on Education, Tech, and the Foster Community – The White House ︎

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan provides new details on the high-stakes operation that killed cartel boss El Mencho, including CIA and Special Forces involvement, follow-on arrests across seven Mexican states, and why the crackdown could disrupt grocery prices, electronics supply chains, and travel plans in the weeks ahead. Bryan then previews President Trump's State of the Union address, breaking down the latest data on inflation, wages, deportations, crime rates, and housing, along with the psychological hurdle he faces with voters still feeling burned by the Biden-era economy. The episode closes with a stark look at what leading Democrats are promising if they retake the White House, including explicit vows of political retribution and a complete moratorium on deportations, raising serious questions about the future direction of the country.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: February 24 2026 Wright Report, El Mencho raid CIA Mexico operation, Jalisco New Generation Cartel crackdown, grocery price disruption Mexico trade partner, World Cup security cartel fight, Trump State of the Union economy immigration crime, inflation 2.4 percent wages up 4.3 percent, 2.5 million deportations Biden open border comparison, National Guard crime drop DC Chicago Memphis, Susan Rice retribution warning, Ana-lilia Mejía deportation moratorium proposal

Australians are being urged to reconsider travelling to Mexico after a deadly surge in cartel violence triggered by the killing of a notorious drug lord known as El Mencho. The leader of one of the country's largest cartels was fatally wounded during a military raid in Jalisco, sparking coordinated retaliatory attacks that have killed at least 25 members of Mexico's National Guard as well as several civilians.

//The Wire//1900Z February 23, 2026////ROUTINE////BLUF: SECRET SERVICE NEUTRALIZES GUNMAN AT MAR-A-LAGO. BUILDUP CONTINUES IN MIDDLE EAST AS MASS EVACUATIONS BEGIN. CONFLICT REMAINS INTENSE IN MEXICO.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -International Events-Mexico: Following yesterday's intense fighting in Jalisco, most airlines have canceled flights out of Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. The main hospital in Guadalajara was evacuated for a few hours, after CJNG forces threatened to attack the facility due to rumors that wounded Federal forces were being treated there. The National Guard base in San Juan de Los Lagos was attacked with explosives (possibly RPGs), which resulted in several casualties.Far to the north, schools throughout Baja and Tijuana have been cancelled for all levels of education until further notice, and various Cartel-affiliated social media pages have declared a 10:00pm curfew for civilians, announcing that anyone caught outside after this hour will be shot.Concerning casualties sustained so far, Government forces report a total of 25x KIA as of this morning, most of which occurred as a result of the attack on the National Guard base. For CJNG, casualties are not known, as they usually withdraw with their wounded/dead without disclosing casualty figures until much later (if at all).Analyst Comment: Officially, the position of the Federal government is that absolutely nothing is happening whatsoever. This morning, President Sheinbaum stated several times that no blockades were in place, no engagements took place at all this morning, and everything is perfectly calm. This is mostly a lie, as multiple arson attacks have been reported this morning, but it's the story that the federales are sticking to. It is true that the knee-jerk response yesterday was an intense flash-in-the-pan, however much more substantial resources are staging throughout the nation, as many different cartels get ready for a protracted fight, if that is the chosen course of action.At lower levels of government, officials are not taking any chances. Authorities being concerned enough to cancel classes and close businesses in Baja is interesting as most people thought that this state was entirely controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel...not CJNG. This also means that conflict is likely to spread throughout the country, not just Jalisco where the violence first began. Cross border-conflict has not yet been observed in American border towns just yet, however with the speed at which hostilities have developed, a hot, shooting war can break out in any location at any time.-HomeFront-Florida: Over the weekend, a suspected assassination attempt was reported at Mar-a-Lago, after an assailant armed with a shotgun and incendiary materials breached the inner perimeter of the compound. Sunday morning, the US Secret Service posted a press statement confirming that one suspect had been killed at Mar-a-Lago after breaching a perimeter fence.Analyst Comment: Due to the sensitivity of the site, zero details have been provided on where the suspect breached the fence, or where the individual was engaged within the compound. No information has been posted regarding the shooter's identity or motive for the attack.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the Middle East, wartime preparations continue as before. Meanwhile on the diplomatic front, negotiations between the United States and Iran are scheduled to resume in Geneva on Thursday. Over the weekend, the Iranian diplomatic delegation was presented with a letter from the United States, outlining the proposals for limits on the Iranian missile program. As the Iranians have stated from the very start that their missile program itself is not up for discussion in any way, they returned the letter, reportedly unopened. At the time, most surmised that this was the last chance the Iranians h

1. Criticism of Democratic Leaders on Law Enforcement Barack Obama, Gavin Newsom, and other Democratic figures are hostile toward law enforcement agencies, particularly ICE and National Guard deployments. Obama is quoted as describing some federal agents’ actions as “rogue,” which the speakers interpret as an attack on ICE. Gavin Newsom is criticized for comments comparing masked federal agents to authoritarian “secret police,” specifically referencing imagery associated with Germany’s past. Newsom’s claim that National Guard federalization was unprecedented. President Eisenhower’s 1957 use of federal authority to enforce desegregation in Little Rock, Arkansas. Newsom is “historically illiterate,” which later triggers a public Twitter exchange. 2. Newsom’s Response and the Dyslexia Angle Newsom accuses Ted Cruz of mocking his dyslexia. Cruz responds that “historically illiterate” referred to misunderstanding history, not reading ability. A social‑media back‑and‑forth unfolds, including jokes, memes, and comparisons of engagement statistics. Obama is: Highly partisan, Influential on younger progressive Democrats, Associated with cultural or “Marxist” ideological trends (as described by the speakers), Possibly influential behind the scenes during the Biden administration. Obama’s presidency contributed to increased political division. 3. Discussion of Tucker Carlson’s Recent Behavior Carlson has changed significantly since leaving Fox News. Anti‑Israel sentiment Hosting extremist guests Favoring authoritarians such as Putin or Iranian leadership Attacking Christian Zionists He may have ulterior financial or ideological motivations (while acknowledging no direct evidence). Carlson claimed Israeli airport officials detained him and questioned his team. Video footage showed him freely interacting with people at the airport, Israeli officials denied detaining him, A U.S. embassy statement also contradicted Carlson’s story. Carlson traveled to Israel to interview the ambassador but insisted on conducting the interview at the airport. Carlson claiming safety concerns while contrasting it with his willingness to travel in Russia or Qatar. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast 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 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Friday, February 20th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus 100 U.S. troops on the ground in Northeast Nigeria U.S. officials confirmed that roughly 100 U.S. troops arrived in Nigeria on Monday, tasked with a mission to train and equip Nigerian anti-terror forces in their ongoing struggle against the country's rising Islamic terrorist threat, reports International Christian Concern. About 200 troops are expected to be deployed in the coming weeks. Nigeria has witnessed an uptick in religious-based violence in the central and north by the Islamic Boko Haram terrorist group against Christians. The U.S. soldiers were sent to Bauchi State located in northeastern Nigeria at the invitation of the Nigerian government. British police arrested Prince Andrew Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the man formerly known as Prince Andrew before his royal title was stripped from him, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office at around 8:00am on his 66th birthday yesterday, reports The U.S. Sun. Andrew allegedly shared sensitive information with his pedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein while serving as the United Kingdom's trade envoy. He spent time in Vietnam, Singapore, China, and Hong Kong in October 2010 on taxpayer-funded official business and high-level trade talks. An email to Epstein on November 30, 2010, sent by Andrew's “Special Adviser” Amit Patel, contained four documents reporting on what had been discussed on his trip. The email and its four attachments were sent to Andrew at 4.57pm, and forwarded to multi- millionaire Jeffrey Epstein five minutes later, at 5.02pm. Cops also confirmed at the time that they were separately probing allegations that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein to have a sexual encounter with Prince Andrew. Yesterday, police raided royal residences in Windsor and Norfolk. Andrew's brother, King Charles III, age 77, said, “I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair, and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. They have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation.” Andrew's arrest comes almost a year after Virginia Giuffre, a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her while she was a minor, committed suicide last April. Virginia's emotional brothers Sky and Daniel said: “At last, today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty. On behalf of our sister, Virginia Giuffre, we extend our gratitude to the UK's Thames Valley Police for their investigation, and the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you.” Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Black D.C. grandma about Trump:  “I love him!” Back in 2017, Forlesia Cook's grandson was murdered in cold blood in Washington D.C.  Yesterday, at the Black History Month Reception at the White House, she spoke glowingly about President Donald Trump's concern about her family and his willingness to send in the National Guard to D.C. to put the criminals behind bars, reports FoxNews.com. Listen. COOK: “One thing I like about him, he keeps it real, just like Grandma. I appreciate that because I can trust Him, because he tells exactly how he feel and what he think. Thank God for this President. (applause) “I am filled. My cup runneth over because he allowed his people to come to my house to interview me, to talk about the murder of my grandson. It seemed like nobody cared. I marched. I rallied. I pulled out other families in the District of Columbia that had murders and did not have answers. Ooh! We marched and we rallied. And nobody heard me, Democrats, until this Republican sent his people out there to interview me in my home. Have you ever heard of a thing? “Then they invited me twice before Congress to testify for the Beautiful Bill that's going to change crime in the District.  (applause)  If you kill somebody, okay, you take a life, you do life. Just that simple. (applause)  If you do a harsh crime, you do harsh time. Just that simple. “And then we need National Guard, and which we did years ago, he brought it on. “I love him. I don't want to hear nothing you got to say about that racist stuff. And don't be looking at me on the news hatin' on me because I'm standing up for somebody that deserves to be standin' up for. Get off the man's back. Let him do his job. He's doing the right thing. Back up off of me. And Grandma said it.” (applause) Cook cited Psalm 23:5 in her remarks.  The full verse says, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” President Trump was clearly touched by Forlesia Cook's passion and gratitude. TRUMP: “Thank you, darling. That's great, and it's from the heart. Your little baby was just so horribly taken from you. “Under the Trump administration, we believe that no community should be abandoned to the scourge of violent crime. We're saving 1000s and 1000s of lives in many cities. And frankly, if these radical left lunatic Democrats would come and say, ‘Please help us. Please,' we'd stop crimes all over the place. “Every town that we go in, every city that we go in, like Washington, Felicia, you feel much safer now, totally safe. You can walk to a restaurant. The restaurants were all closing. Now, the bad news is you can't get into a restaurant. It's a great thing to see what's happening in Washington.” American abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass remembered And finally, 131 years ago today, on February 20, 1895, American abolitionist Frederick Douglass met his maker. He was the most important leader of the American movement for black civil rights in the 19th century. After escaping from slavery in Maryland in 1838, Douglass became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York. He gained fame for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings. Accordingly, he was described by abolitionists, in his time, as a living counterexample to claims by supporters of slavery that enslaved people lacked the intellectual capacity to function as independent American citizens. Indeed, Northerners, at the time, found it hard to believe that such a great orator had once been enslaved. It was in response to this disbelief that Douglass wrote Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas: An American Slave in 1845.  It was influential in promoting the cause of abolition, as was his second book, written in 1855, entitled My Bondage and My Freedom. Following the Civil War, Douglass was an active campaigner for the rights of freed slaves and wrote his last autobiography entitled Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, February 20th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman join our podcast to discuss how psychedelic policy is actually moving in Washington, DC. Lavasani leads Psychedelic Medicine Coalition, a DC-based advocacy organization focused on educating federal officials and advancing legislation around psychedelic medicine. Kopelman is CEO of Mission Within Foundation, which provides scholarships for veterans and first responders seeking psychedelic-assisted therapy retreats, often outside the United States. The conversation centers on veterans, the VA, and why that system may be the first realistic federal pathway for psychedelic care. Early Themes Lavasani describes PMC's work on Capitol Hill, including hosting events that bring lawmakers, staffers, and advocates into the same room. Her focus is steady engagement. In DC, progress often happens through repeated conversations, not headlines. Kopelman shares his background as a Marine and how his own psychedelic-assisted therapy experience led him to Mission Within. The foundation has funded more than 250 scholarships for veterans and first responders seeking treatment for PTSD, mild traumatic brain injury, depression, and addiction. They connect this work to pending veteran-focused legislation and explain why the VA matters. As a closed health system, the VA can pilot programs, gather data, and refine protocols without the pressures of private healthcare markets. Core Insights A recent Capitol Hill gathering, For Veteran Society, brought together members of Congress and leaders from the psychedelic caucus. Lavasani describes candid feedback from lawmakers. The message was clear: coordinate messaging, avoid fragmentation, and move while bipartisan interest remains. Veteran healthcare is not framed as the final goal. It is a starting point. If psychedelic therapies can demonstrate safety and effectiveness within the VA, broader adoption becomes more plausible. Kopelman raises operational realities that must be addressed: Standardized safety protocols across providers Integration support, not medication alone Clear training pathways for clinicians Real-world data beyond tightly screened clinical trials They also address recent negative headlines involving ibogaine treatment abroad. Kopelman emphasizes the need for shared learning across providers, especially when adverse events occur. Lavasani argues that inconsistency within the ecosystem can slow federal confidence. Later Discussion and Takeaways The discussion widens to federal momentum around addiction and mental health. Lavasani notes that new funding initiatives signal growing openness to innovative treatment models, even if psychedelics are not named explicitly in every announcement. Both guests stress that policy moves slowly by design. Meetings, follow-ups, and relationship building often matter more than public statements. For clinicians, researchers, operators, and advocates, the takeaways are direct: Veterans are likely the first federal pathway Public education remains essential Safety standards must be shared and transparent Integration and workforce development need attention now If psychedelic medicine enters federal systems, infrastructure will determine success. Frequently Asked Questions What do Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman say about VA psychedelic policy? They argue that veteran-focused legislation offers a realistic first federal pathway for psychedelic-assisted care. Is ibogaine currently available through the VA? No. They discuss ibogaine in the context of private retreats and future possibilities, not an existing VA program. Why do Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman emphasize coordination? Lawmakers respond more positively when advocates present aligned messaging and clear priorities. What safety issues are discussed by Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman? They highlight the need for standardized screening, monitoring, integration support, and transparent review of adverse events. Closing Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman provide a grounded look at how psychedelic policy develops inside federal systems. Their message is practical: veterans may be the first lane, but long-term success depends on coordination, safety standards, and sustained engagement. Closing This episode captures a real-time view of how federal policy could shape the next phase of the psychedelic resurgence, especially through veteran-facing legislation and VA infrastructure. Melissa Lavasani & Jay Kopelman argue that coordination, public education, and shared safety standards will shape whether access expands with credibility and care. Transcript Joe Moore: [00:00:00] Hello everybody. Welcome back to Psychedelics Today. Today we have two guests, um, got Melissa Sani from Psychedelic Medicine Coalition. We got Jake Pelman from Mission Within Foundation. We're gonna talk about I bga I became policy on a recent, uh, set of meetings in Washington, DC and, uh, all sorts of other things I'm sure. Joe Moore: But thank you both for joining me. Melissa Lavasani: Thanks for having us. Jay Kopelman: Yeah, it's a pleasure. Thanks. Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, Melissa, I wanna have you, uh, jump in. First. Can you tell us a little bit about, uh, your work and what you do at PMC? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, so Psychedelic Medicine Coalition is, um, the only DC based Washington DC based advocacy organization dedicated to the advancing the issue of psychedelics, um, and making sure the federal government has the education they need, um, and understands the issue inside out so that they can generate good policy around, around psychedelic medicines. Melissa Lavasani: [00:01:00] Uh, we. Host Hill events. We host other convenings. Our big event every year is the Federal Summit on psychedelic medicine. Um, that's going to be May 14th this year. Um, where we talk about kinda the pressing issues that need to be talked about, uh, with government officials in the room, um, so that we can incrementally move this forward. Melissa Lavasani: Um, our presence here in Washington DC is, is really critical for this issue's success because, um, when we're talking about psychedelic medicines, um, from the federal government pers perspective, you know, they are, they are the ones that are going to initiate the policies that create a healthcare system that can properly facilitate these medicines and make sure, um, patient safety is a priority. Melissa Lavasani: And there's guardrails on this. And, um, you know, there, it's, it's really important that we have. A home base for this issue in Washington DC just [00:02:00] because, uh, this is very complicated as a lot of your viewers probably understand, and, you know, this can get lost in the mix of all the other issues that, um, lawmakers in DC are focused on right now. Melissa Lavasani: And we need to keep that consistent presence here so that this continues to be a priority for members of Congress. Joe Moore: Mm. I love this. And Jay, can you tell us a bit about yourself and mission within Foundation? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, sure. Joe, thanks. Uh, I, I am the CEO of Mission within Foundation. Prior to this, most of my adult life was spent in the military as a Marine. Jay Kopelman: And I came to this. Role after having, uh, a psychedelic assisted therapy experience myself at the mission within down in Mexico, which is where pretty much we all go. Um, we are here to help [00:03:00] provide, uh, access for veterans and first responders to be able to attend psychedelic assisted therapy retreats to treat issues like mild TBI, post-traumatic stress disorder, uh, depression, sometimes addiction at, at a very low level. Jay Kopelman: Um, and, and so we've, we've been doing this for a little more than a year now and have provided 250 plus scholarships to veterans and first responders to be able to access. These retreats and these, these lifesaving medicines. Um, we're also partnered, uh, you may or may not know with Melissa at Psychedelic Medicine Coalition to help advance education and policy, specifically the innovative, uh, therapy Centers of Excellence Act [00:04:00] that Melissa has worked for a number of years on now to bring to both Houses of Congress. Joe Moore: Thank you for that. Um, so let's chat a little bit about what this event was that just, uh, went down, uh, what, what was it two weeks ago at this point? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Yeah. It's called For Veteran Society and it's all, um, there's a lot of dialogue on Capitol Hill about veterans healthcare and psychedelics, but where I've been frustrated is that, you know, it was just a lot of. Melissa Lavasani: Talk about what the problems are and not a lot of talk about like how we actually propel things forward. Um, so it, at that event, I thought it was really important and we had three members of Congress there, um, Morgan Latrell, who has been a champion from day one and his time in Congress, um, having gone through the experience himself, um, [00:05:00] at Mission within, um, and then the two chairs of the psychedelic caucus, uh, Lou Correa and Jack Bergman. Melissa Lavasani: And we really got down to the nitty gritty of like w like why this has taken so long and you know, what is actually happening right now? What are the possibilities and what the roadblocks are. And it was, I thought it was a great conversation. Um, we had an interesting kind of dynamic with Latres is like a very passionate about this issue in particular. Melissa Lavasani: Um, I think it was, I think it was really. A great event. And, you know, two days later, Jack Bergman introduced his new bill for the va. Um, so it was kind of like the precursor to that bill getting introduced. And we're just excited for more and more conversations about how the government can gently guide this issue to success. Joe Moore: Hmm. Yeah. [00:06:00] That's fantastic. Um, yeah, I was a little bummed I couldn't make it, but next time, I hope. But I've heard a lot of good things and, um, it's, it sounded like there was some really important messages in, in terms of like feedback from legislators. Yeah. Yeah. Could you speak to that? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, I mean, I think when, uh, representative Latrell was speaking, he really impressed on us a couple things. Melissa Lavasani: Um, first is that, you know, they really kind of need the advocates to. Coordinate, collaborate and come up with like a, a strategic plan, you know, without public education. Um, talking to members of Congress about this issue is, is really difficult. You know, like PMC is just one organization. We're very little mission within, very little, um, you know, we're all like, kind of new in navigating, um, this not so new issue, but new to Washington DC [00:07:00] issue. Melissa Lavasani: Um, without that public education as a baseline, uh, it's, it's, you have to spend a lot of time educating members of Congress. You know, that's like one of our things is, you know, we have to, we don't wanna tell Congress what direction to go to. We wanna provide them the information so they understand it very intimately and know how to navigate through things. Melissa Lavasani: Um, and secondly. Um, he got pretty frank with us and said, you know, we've got one cha one chance at this issue. And it's like, that's, that's kind of been like my talking point since I started. PMC is like, you have a very limited window, um, when these kind of issues pop up and they're new and they're fresh and you have a lot of the veteran community coming out and talking about it. Melissa Lavasani: And there's a lot of energy there. But now is the time to really move forward, um, with some real legislation that can be impactful. Um, but, you know, we've gotta [00:08:00] be careful. We, we forget, I think sometimes those of us who are in the ecosystem forget that our level of knowledge about these medicines and a lot of us have firsthand experience, um, with these drugs and, and our own healing journeys is, um, we forget that there is a public out there that doesn't have the level of knowledge that we all have. Melissa Lavasani: And, um. We gotta make sure that we're sticking to the right elements of, of, of what needs to happen. We need to be sure that our talking points are on track and we're not getting sideways about anything and going down roads that we don't need to talk about. It's why, um, you know, PMC is very focused on, um, moving forward veteran legislation right now. Melissa Lavasani: Not because we're a veteran organization, but because we're, we see this long-term policy track here. Um, we know where we want to get [00:09:00] to, um. Um, and watching other healthcare issues kind of come up and then go through the VA healthcare system, I think it's a really unique opportunity, um, to utilize the VA as this closed system, the biggest healthcare system in the country to evaluate, uh, how psychedelics operate within systems like that. Melissa Lavasani: And, you know, before they get into, um, other healthcare systems. What do we need to fix? What do we need to pay attention to? What's something that we're paying too much attention to that doesn't necessarily need that much attention? So it's, um, it's a real opportunity to look at psychedelic medicines within a healthcare system and obviously continue to gather the data. Melissa Lavasani: Um, Bergman's Bill emerging, uh, expanding veteran access to emerging treatments. Um, not only mandates the research, it gives the VA authority for this, uh, for running trials and, and creating programs around psychedelic medicines. But also, [00:10:00] one of the great things about it, I think, is it provides an on-ramp for veterans that don't necessarily qualify for clinical trials. Melissa Lavasani: You know, I think that's one of the biggest criticisms of clinical trials is like you're cre you're creating a vacuum for people and people don't live in a vacuum. So we don't necessarily know what psychedelics are gonna look like in real life. Um, but with this expanding veteran access bill that Bergman introduced, it provides the VA an opportunity to provide this access under. Melissa Lavasani: Um, in a, in a safe container with medical supervision while collecting data, um, while ensuring that the veteran that is going through this process has the support systems that it needs. So, um, you know, I think that there's a really unique opportunity here, and like Latrell said, like, we've got one shot at this. Melissa Lavasani: We have people's attention in Congress. Um, now's the time to start acting, and let's be really considerate and thoughtful about what we're doing with it. Joe Moore: Thanks for that, Melissa and Jay, how, [00:11:00] anything to add there on kind of your takeaways from the this, uh, last visit in dc? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, I, I think that Melissa highlighted it really well and there, there were a couple other things that I, I think, you know, you could kind of tie it all together with some other issues that we face in this country, uh, and that. Jay Kopelman: Uh, representative Correa brought up as well, but one of the things I wanted to go back and say is that veterans have kind of led this movement already, right? So, so it's a, it's a good jumping off point, right? That it's something people from both sides of the aisle, from any community in America can get behind. Jay Kopelman: You know, if you think about it, uh, in World War ii, you know, we had a million people serving our population was like, not even 200 million, but now [00:12:00] we have a population of 330 million, and at any given time there might be a million people in uniform, including the Reserve and the National Guard. So it's, it, it's an easy thing to get behind this small part of the population that is willing to sign that contract. Jay Kopelman: Where you are saying, yeah, I'm going to defend my country, possibly at the risk of my l my own life. So that's the first thing. The other thing is that the VA being a closed health system, and they don't have shareholders to answer to, they can take some risks, they can be innovative and be forward thinking in the ways that some other healthcare systems can't. Jay Kopelman: And so they have a perfect opportunity to show that they truly care for their veterans, which don't, I'm not saying they don't, but this would be an [00:13:00] opportunity to show that carrot at a whole different level. Uh, it would allow them to innovate and be a leader in something as, uh, as our friend Jim Hancock will say, you know. Jay Kopelman: When he went to the Naval Academy, they had the world's best shipbuilding program. Why doesn't the VA have the world's best care program for things like TBI and PTSD, which affects, you know, 40 something percent of all veterans, right? So, so there's, there's an opportunity here for the VA to lead from the front. Jay Kopelman: Um, the, these medicines provide, you know, reasonably lasting care where it's kind of a one and done. Whereas with the current systems, the, you know, and, and [00:14:00] again, not to denigrate the VA in any way, they're doing the best job they can with the tools in their toolbox, right? But maybe it's time for a trip to Home Depot. Jay Kopelman: Let's get some new tools. And have some new ways of fixing what's broken, which is really the way of doing things. It's not, veterans aren't broken, we are who we are. Um, but it's a, it's a way to fix what isn't working. So I, I think that, you know, given there's tremendous veteran homelessness still, you know, addiction issues, all these things that do translate to the population at large are things that can be worked on in this one system, the va that can then be shown to have efficacy, have good data, have [00:15:00] good outcomes, and, and take it to the population at large. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Brilliant. Thanks for that. And so there was another thing I wanted to pivot to, which is some of the recent press. So we've, um, seen a little bit of press around some, um, in one instance, some bad behavior in Mexico that a FI put out Americans thrive again, put out. And then another case there was a, a recent fatality. Joe Moore: And I think, um, both are tragic. Like we shouldn't be having to deal with this at this point. Um, but there's a lot of things that got us here. Um, it's not necessarily the operator's fault entirely, um, or even at all, honestly, like some medical interventions just carry a lot of risk. Like think, think about like, uh, how risky bypass surgery was in the nineties, right? Joe Moore: Like people were dying a lot from medical interventions and um, you know, this is a major intervention, uh, ibogaine [00:16:00] and also a lot of promise. To help people quite a bit. Um, but as of right now, there's, there's risk. And part of that risk, in my opinion, comes from the inability of organizations to necessarily collaborate. Joe Moore: Like there's no kind of convening body, sitting in the middle, allowing, um, for, and facilitating really good data sharing and learnings. Um, and I don't, I don't necessarily see an organization stepping up and being the, um, the convener for that kind of work. I've heard rumors that something's gonna happen there, and I'm, I'm hopeful I'll always wanna share my opinion on that. Joe Moore: But yeah. I don't know. Jay, from your perspective, is there anything you want to kind of speak to about, uh, these two recent incidents that Americans for Iboga kind of publicized recently? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, so I, I'll echo your sentiment, of course, that these are tragic incidents. Um, and I, [00:17:00] I think that at least in the case of the death at Ambio, AMBIO has done a very good job of talking about it, right? Jay Kopelman: They've been very honest with the information that they have. And like you said, there are risks inherent to these medicines, and it's like anything else in medicine, there are going to be risks. You know, when I went through, uh, when I, when I went through chemo, you know, there were, there are risks. You know, you don't feel well, you get sick. Jay Kopelman: Um, and, and it. There are processes in place to counter that when it happens. And there are processes and, and procedures and safety protocols in place when caring for somebody going through an ibogaine [00:18:00] journey. Uh, when I did it, we had EKG echocardiogram. You're on a heart monitor the entire time they push magnesium via iv. Jay Kopelman: You have to provide a urinalysis sample to make sure that there is nothing in your system that is going to potentially harm you. During the ibogaine, they have, uh, a cardiologist who is monitoring the heart monitors throughout the ibogaine experience. So the, the safety protocols are there. I think it's, I think it's just a matter of. Jay Kopelman: Standardizing them across all, all providers, right? Like, that would be a good thing if people would talk to one another. Um, as, as in any system, right? You've gotta have [00:19:00] some collaboration. You've gotta have standardization, you know, so, you know, they're not called standard operating procedures for nothing. Jay Kopelman: That means that in a, you know, in a given environment, everybody does things the same way. It's true in Navy and Marine Corps, air Force, army Aviation, they have standard operating procedures for every single aircraft. So if you fly, let's say the F 35 now, right? Because it's flown by the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Air Force. Jay Kopelman: The, the emergency procedures in that airplane are standardized across all three services, so you should have the same, or, you know, with within a couple of different words, the same procedures and processes [00:20:00] across all the providers, right? Like maybe in one document you're gonna change, happy to glad and small dog to puppy, but it's still pretty much the, the same thing. Jay Kopelman: And as a service that provides scholarships to people to go access these medicines and go to these retreats, you know, my criteria is that the, this provider has to be safe. Number one, safety's paramount. It's always gotta be very safe. It should, it has to be effective. And you know, once you have those two things in place, then I have a comfort level saying, okay, yeah, we'll work with this provider. Jay Kopelman: But until those standardized processes are in place, you'll probably see these one-off things. I mean, some providers have been doing this longer than others and have [00:21:00] really figured out, you know, they've, they've cracked the code and, you know, sharing that across the spectrum would be good. Um, but just when these things happen, having a clearing house, right, where everybody can come together and talk about it, you know, like once the facts are known because. Jay Kopelman: To my knowledge, we still don't know all the facts. Like as, you know, as horrible as this is, you still have to talk about like an, has an autopsy been performed? What was found in the patient's system? You know, there, there are things there that we don't know. So we need to, we need to know that before we can start saying, okay, well this is how we can fix that, because we just don't know. Jay Kopelman: And, you know, to their credit, you know, Amio has always been safe to, to the, to the best of my knowledge. You know, I, [00:22:00] I haven't been to Ambio myself, but people that I have worked with have been there. They have observed, they have seen the process. They believe it's safe, and I trust their opinion because they've seen it elsewhere as well. Jay Kopelman: So yeah, having, having that one place where we can all come together when this happens, it, it's almost like it should be mandatory. In the military when there's a training accident, we, you know, we would have to have what's called a safety standout. And you don't do that again for a little while until you figure out, okay, how are we going to mitigate that happening again? Jay Kopelman: Believe me, you can go overboard and we don't want to do that. Like, we don't wanna just stop all care, but maybe stop detox for a week and then come back to it. [00:23:00] Joe Moore: Yeah. A dream would be, let's get like the, I don't know, 10, 20 most popular, uh, or well-known operators together somewhere and just do like a three day debrief. Joe Moore: Hey, everybody, like, here's what we see. Let's work on this together. You know how normal medicine works. And this is, it's hard because this is not necessarily, um, something people feel safe about in America talking about 'cause it's illicit here. Um, I don't understand necessarily how the operations, uh, relate to each other in Mexico, but I think that's something to like the public should dig into. Joe Moore: Like, what, what is this? And I, I'll start digging into that. Um, I, I asked a question recently of somebody like, is there some sort of like back channel signal everybody's using and there's no clear Yes. You know? Um, I think it would be good. That's just a [00:24:00] start, you know, that's like, okay, we can actually kind of say hi and watch out for this to each other. Jay Kopelman: It's not like we don't all know one another, right? Joe Moore: Yes. Jay Kopelman: Like at least three operators we're represented. At the Aspen Ibogaine meeting. So like that could be, and I think there was a panel kind of loosely related to this during Aspen Ibogaine meeting, but Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: It, you know, have a breakout where the operators can go sit down and kind of compare notes. Joe Moore: Right. Yeah. Melissa, do you have any, uh, comments on this thread here? And I, I put you on mute if you didn't see that. Um, Melissa Lavasani: all right, I'm off mute. Um, yeah, I think that Jay's hits the nail on the head with the collaboration thing. Um, I think that it's just a [00:25:00] problem across the entire ecosystem, and I think that's just a product of us being relatively new and upcoming field. Melissa Lavasani: Um, uh, it's a product of, you know. Our fundraising community is really small, so organizations feel like they are competing for the same dollars, even though their, their goals are all the same, they have different functions. Um, I think with time, I mean, let's be honest, like if we don't start collaborating and, and the federal government's moving forward, the federal government's gonna coordinate for us. Melissa Lavasani: And not, that might not necessarily be a bad thing, but, you know, we understand this issue to a whole other level that the federal government doesn't, and they're not required to understand it deeply. They just need to know how to really move forward with it the proper way. Um, but I think that it. It's really essential [00:26:00] that we all have this come together moment here so we can avoid things. Melissa Lavasani: Uh, I mean, no one's gonna die from bad advocacy. So like I've, I have a bit of an easier job. Um, but it can a, a absolutely stall efforts, um, to move things forward in Washington DC when, um, one group is saying one thing, another group is saying another thing, like, we're not quite at a point yet where we can have multiple lines of conversation and multiple things moving forward. Melissa Lavasani: Um, you know, for PMC, it's like, just let's get the first thing across the finish line. And we think that is, um, veteran healthcare. And, um, I know there's plenty of other groups out there that, that want the same thing. So, you know, I always, the reason why I put on the Federal Summit last year was I kind of hit my breaking point with a lack of collaboration and I wanted to just bring everyone in the same room and say like, all right, here are the things that we need to talk about. Melissa Lavasani: And I think the goal for this year is, um. To bring people in the same room and say, we talked about [00:27:00] we scratched the surface last year and this is where we need to really put our efforts into. And this is where the opportunities are. Um, I think that is going to, that's going to show the federal government if we can organize ourselves, that they need to take this issue really seriously. Melissa Lavasani: Um, I don't think we've done a great job at that thus far, but I think there's still plenty of time for us to get it together. Um, and I'm hoping with these two, uh, VA bills that are in the house right now and Senate is, is putting together their version of these two bills, um, so that they can move in tandem with each other. Melissa Lavasani: I think that, you know, there's an opportunity here for. Us to show the federal government as an ecosystem, Hey, we, we are so much further ahead and you know, this is what we've organized and here's how we can help you, um, that would make them buy into this issue a bit more and potentially move things forward faster. Melissa Lavasani: Uh, at this point in time, it's, I think that, [00:28:00] you know, psychedelics aren't necessarily the taboo thing that they, they used to be, but there's certainly places that need attention. Um, there's certainly conversations that need to be had, and like I said, like PMC is just one organization that can do this. Um, we can certainly organize and drive forward collaboration, but I, like we alone, cannot cover all this ground and we need the subject matter experts to collaborate with us so we can, you know, once we get in the door, we wanna bring the experts in to talk to these officials about it. Melissa Lavasani: So I. I, I really want listeners to really think about us as a convener of sorts when it comes to federal policy. Um, and you know, I think when, like for example, in the early eighties, a lot of people have made comparisons to the issue of psychedelics to the issue of AIDS research and how you have in a subject matter that's like extremely taboo and a patient population that the government [00:29:00] quite honestly didn't really care about in the early eighties. Melissa Lavasani: But what they did as an ecosystem is really organized themselves, get very clear on what they wanted the federal government to do. And within a matter of a couple years, uh, AIDS research funding was a thing that was happening. And what that, what that did was that ripple effect turned that into basically finding new therapies for something that we thought was a death, death sentence before. Melissa Lavasani: So I think. We just need to look at things in the past that have been really successful, um, and, and try to take the lessons from all of these issues and, and move forward with psychedelics. Joe Moore: Love that. And yes, we always need to be figuring out efficient approaches and where it has been successful in the past is often, um, an opportunity to mimic and, and potentially improve on that. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Jay Kopelman: One, one thing I think it's important to add to this part of the conversation is that, [00:30:00] you know, Melissa pointed out there are a number of organizations that are essentially doing the same thing. Jay Kopelman: Um, you know, I like to think we do things a little bit differently at Mission within Foundation in that we don't target any one specific type of service member. We, we work with all veterans. We work with first responders, but. What that leads to is that there are, as far as I've seen, nothing but good intentioned people in this space. Jay Kopelman: You know, people who really care about their patient population, they care about healing, they are trying to do a good job, and more importantly, they're trying to do good. Right? It, it, I think they all see the benefit down the road that this has, [00:31:00] pardon me, not just for veterans, but for society as a whole. Jay Kopelman: And, and ultimately that's where I would like to see this go. You know, I, I would love to see the VA take this. Take up this mantle and, and run with it and provide great data, great outcomes. You know, we are doing some data collection ourselves at Mission within foundation, albeit anecdotal based on surveys given before and after retreats. Jay Kopelman: But we're also working with, uh, Greg Fonzo down at UT Austin on a brain study he's doing that will have 40 patients in it when it's all said and done. And I think we have two more guys to put through that. Uh, and then we'll hit the 40. So there, there's a lot of good here that's being done by some really, really good people who've been doing this for a long time [00:32:00] and want to want nothing more than to, to see this. Jay Kopelman: Come to, come full circle so that we can take care of many, many, many people. Um, you know, like I say, I, I wanna work myself out of a job here. I, I just, I would love to see this happen and then I, you know, I don't have to send guys to Mexico to do this. They can go to their local VA and get the care that they need. Jay Kopelman: Um, but one thing that I don't think we've touched on yet, or regarding that is that the VA isn't designed for that. So it's gonna be a pretty big lift to get the right types of providers into the va with the knowledge, right, with the institutional knowledge of how this should be done, what is safe, what is effective, um, and then it, it's not just providing these medicines to [00:33:00] people and sending them home. Jay Kopelman: You don't just do that, you've gotta have the right therapists on the backend who can provide the integration coaching to the folks who are receiving these medicines. And I'm not just talking, I bga, even with MDMA and psilocybin, you should have a proper period of integration. It helps you to understand how this is going to affect you, what it, what the experience really meant, you know, because it's very difficult sometimes to just interpret it on your own. Jay Kopelman: And so what the experience was and what it meant to you. And, and so it will take some time to spin all that up. But once it's, once it's in place, you know, the sky's the limit. I think. Joe Moore: Kinda curious Jay, about what's, what's going on with Ibogaine at the federal level. Is there anything at VA right now? [00:34:00] Jay Kopelman: At the va? No, not with ibogaine. And, you know, uh, we, we send people specifically for IBOGAINE and five MEO, right? And, and so that, that doesn't preclude my interest in seeing this legislation passed, right? Jay Kopelman: Because it, it will start with something like MDMA or psilocybin, but ultimately it could grow to iboga, right? It the think about the cost savings at, at the va, even with psilocybin, right? Where you could potentially treat somebody with a very inexpensive dose of psilocybin or, or iboga one time, and then you, you don't have to treat them again. Jay Kopelman: Now, if I were, uh, you know, a VA therapist who's not trained in psychedelic trauma therapy. I might be worried [00:35:00] about job security, but it's like with anything, right? Like ultimately it will open pathways for new people to get that training or the existing people to get that training and, and stay on and do that work. Jay Kopelman: Um, which only adds another arrow to their quiver as far as I'm concerned, because this is coming and we're gonna need the people. It's just like ai, right? Like ai, yeah. Some people are gonna lose some jobs initially, and that's unfortunate. But productivity ultimately across all industries will increase and new jobs will be created as a result of that. Jay Kopelman: I mean, I was watching Squawk Box one morning. They were talking about the AI revolution and how there's gonna be a need for 500,000 electricians to. Build these systems that are going to work with the AI [00:36:00] supercomputers and, and so, Joe Moore: mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: Where, where an opportunity may be lost. I think several more can be gained going forward. Melissa Lavasani: And just to add on what Jay just said there, there's nothing specific going on with Ibogaine at, at the va, but I think this administration is, is taking a real look at addiction in particular. Uh, they just launched, uh, a new initiative, uh, that's really centered on addiction treatments called the Great American Recovery. Melissa Lavasani: And, um, they're dedicating a hundred million dollars towards treating addiction as like a chronic treatable disease and not necessarily a law enforcement issue. So, um, in that initiative there will be federal grant programs for prevention and treatment and recovery. And, um, while this isn't just for psychedelic medicines, uh, I think it's a really great opportunity for the discussion of psychedelics to get elevated to the White House. Melissa Lavasani: Um, [00:37:00] there's also, previous to this announcement last week from the White House, there's been a hundred million dollars that was dedicated at, um, at ARPA h, which is. The advanced research projects, uh, agency for healthcare, um, and that is kind of an agency that's really focused on forward looking, um, treatments and technologies, uh, for, um, a, a whole slew of. Melissa Lavasani: Of issues, but this a hundred million dollars is dedicated to mental health and addiction. So there's a lot of opportunity there as well. So we, while I think, you know, some people are talking about, oh, we need a executive order on Iboga, it's like, well, you know, the, the president is thinking, um, about, you know, what issues can land with his, uh, voting block. Melissa Lavasani: And I think it's, I don't think we necessarily need a specific executive order on Iboga to call this a success. It's like, let's look at what, [00:38:00] um, what's just been announced from the White House. They're, they're all in on. Thinking creatively and finding, uh, new solutions for this. And this is kind of, this aligns with, um, HHS secretaries, uh, Robert F. Melissa Lavasani: Kennedy Junior's goals when he took on this, this role of Health Secretary. Um, addiction has been a discussion that, you know, he has personal, um, a personal tie to from his own experience. And, um, I think when this administration started, there was so much like fervor around the, the dialogue of like, everyone's talking about psychedelics. Melissa Lavasani: It was Secretary Kennedy, it was, uh, secretary Collins at the va. It was FDA Commissioner Marty Macari. And I think that there's like a lot of undue frustration within folks 'cause um, you don't necessarily snap your fingers and change happens in Washington dc This is not the city for that. And it's intentionally designed to move slow so that we can avoid really big mistakes. Melissa Lavasani: Um. [00:39:00] I think we're a year into this administration and these two announcements are, are pretty huge considering, um, you know, the, we, there are known people within domestic policy council that don't, aren't necessarily supportive of psychedelic medicine. So there's a really amazing progress here, and frustrating as it might be to, um, just be waiting for this administration to make some major move. Melissa Lavasani: I think they are making major moves like for Washington, DC These, these are major moves and we just gotta figure out how we can, um, take these initiatives and apply them to the issue of psychedelic medicines. Joe Moore: Thanks, Melissa. Um, yeah, it is, it is interesting like the amount of fervor there was at the beginning. You know, we had, uh. Kind of one of my old lawyers, Matt Zorn, jumped in with the administration. Right. And, um, you know, it was, uh, really cool to [00:40:00] see and hopeful how much energy was going on. It's been a little quiet, kind of feels like a black box a little bit, but I, you know, there was, Melissa Lavasani: that's on me. Melissa Lavasani: Maybe I, we need to be more out in public about like, what's actually happening, because I feel like, like day in and day out, it's just been, you gotta just mm-hmm. Like have that constant beat with the government. Mm-hmm. And, um, it's, it's, it's not the photo ops on the hill, it's the conversations that you have. Melissa Lavasani: It's the dinner parties you go to, it's the fundraisers you attend, you know? Mm-hmm. That's why I, I kind of have to like toot my own horn with PCs. Like, we need to be present here at, at not only on the Hill, not only at the White House, but kind of in the ecosystem of Washington DC itself. There's, it's, there are like power players here. Melissa Lavasani: There are people that are connected that can get things done, like. I mean, the other last week we had a big snow storm. I walked over to my friend's house, um, to have like a little fire sesh with them and our kids, and his next door neighbor came over. He was a member of Congress. I talked about the VA bills, like [00:41:00] we're reaching out to his office now, um, to get them, um, up to speed and hopefully get their co-sponsorship for, uh, the two VA bills. Melissa Lavasani: So, I mean, it, the little conversations you have here are just as important as the big ones with the photo ops. So, um, it, it's, it's really like, you know, building up that momentum and, and finding that time where you can really strike and make something happen. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Jay, anything to add there? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, I was just gonna say that, you know, I, I, I think the fervor is still there, right? Jay Kopelman: But real life happens. Melissa Lavasani: Yes, Jay Kopelman: yes. And gets in the way, right? So, Melissa Lavasani: yeah, Jay Kopelman: I, I can't imagine how many issues. Secretary Kennedy has every day much less the president. Like there's so many things that they are dealing with on a daily basis, right? It, we, we just have to work to be the squeaky wheel in, in the right way, right. Jay Kopelman: [00:42:00] With the, with the right information at the right time. Like just inundating one of these organizations with noise, it's then it be with Informa, it just becomes noise, right? It it, it doesn't help. So when we have things to say that are meaningful and impactful, we do, and Melissa does an amazing job of that. Jay Kopelman: But, you know, it, it takes time. You know, it's, you know, we're not, this is, this is like turning an aircraft carrier, not a ski boat. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, Joe Moore: yeah, absolutely. Um, and. It's, it's understandably frustrating, I think for the public and the psychedelic public in particular because we see all this hope, you know, we continue to get frustrated at politics. It's nothing new, right? Um, and we, we wanna see more people get well immediately. [00:43:00] And I, I kind of, Jay from the veteran perspective, I do love the kind of loud voices like, you're making me go to Mexico for this. Joe Moore: I did that and you're making me leave the country for the thing that's gonna fix me. Like, no way. And barely a recognition that this is a valid treatment. You know, like, you know, that is complicated given how medicine is structured here domestically. But it's also, let's face the facts, like the drug war kind of prevented us from being able to do this research in the first place. Joe Moore: You know? Thanks Nixon. And like, how do we actually kind of correct course and say like, we need to spend appropriately on science here so we can heal our own people, including veterans and everybody really. It's a, it's a dire situation out there. Jay Kopelman: Yeah. It, it really is. Um, you know, we were talking briefly about addicts, right? Jay Kopelman: And you know, it's not sexy. People think of addicts as people who are weak-minded, [00:44:00] right? They don't have any self-control. Um, but, but look at, look at the opioid crisis, right? That Brian Hubbard was fighting against in Kentucky for all those years. That that was something that was given to the patient by a doctor that they then became dependent on, and a lot of people died from that. Jay Kopelman: And, and so you, you know, it's, I I don't think it's fair to just put all addicts in a box. Just like it's not fair to put all veterans in a box. Just like it's not fair for doctors, put all their patients in a box. We're individuals. We, we have individual needs. Our, our health is very individual. Like, I, I don't think I should be put in the same box as every other 66-year-old that my doctor sees. Jay Kopelman: It's not fair. [00:45:00] You know, if you, if you took my high school classmates and put us all in a photo, we're all gonna have different needs, right? Like, some look like they're 76, not 66. Some look like they're 56. Not like they're, we, we do things differently. We live our lives differently. And the same is true of addicts. Jay Kopelman: They come to addiction from different places. Not everybody decides they want to just try heroin at a party, and all of a sudden they're addicted. It happens in, in different ways, you know, and the whole fentanyl thing has been so daggum nefarious, right? You know, pushing fentanyl into marijuana. Jay Kopelman: Somebody's smoking a joint and all of a sudden they're addicted to fentanyl or they die. Melissa Lavasani: I think we're having a, Jay Kopelman: it's, it's just not fair to, to say everybody in this pot is the same, or everybody in this one is the same. We have [00:46:00] to look at it differently. Joe Moore: Yeah. I like to zoom one level out and kind of talk about, um, just how hurt we are as a country, as a world really, but as a country specifically, and how many people are out of work for so many. Joe Moore: Difficult reasons and away from their families for so many kind of tragic reasons. And if we can get people back to their families and back to work, a lot of these things start to self-correct, but we have to like have those interventions where we can heal folks and, and get them back. Um, yeah. And you know, everything from trauma, uh, in childhood, you know, adulthood, combat, whatever it is. Joe Moore: Like these things can put people on the sidelines. And Jay, to your point, like you get knee surgery and all of a sudden you're, you know, two years later you're on the hunt for Fentanyl daily. You know, that's tough. It's really tough. Carl Hart does a good job talking about this kind of addiction pipeline and [00:47:00] a few others do as well. Joe Moore: But it's just, you know, kind of putting it in a moral failure bucket. It's not great. I was chatting with somebody about, um, veterans, it's like you come back and you're like, what's gonna make me feel okay right now? And it's not always alcohol. Um, like this is the first thing that made me feel okay, because there's not great treatments and there's, there's a lot of improvements in this kind of like bringing people back from the field that needs to happen. Joe Moore: In my opinion. I, it seems to be shared by a lot of people, but yeah, there's, it's, it's, IGA is gonna be great. It's gonna be really important. I really can't wait for it to be at scale appropriately, but there's a lot of other things we need to fix too, um, so that we can just, you know, not have so many people we need to, you know, spend so much money healing. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Jay Kopelman: Yeah. You ahead with that. We don't need the president to sign an executive order to automatically legalize Ibogaine. Right. But it would be nice if he would reschedule it so that [00:48:00] then then researchers could do this research on a larger scale. You know, we could, we could now get some real data that would show the efficacy. Jay Kopelman: And it could be done in a safe environment, you know? And, and so that would be, do Joe Moore: you have any kind of figures, like, like, I've been talking about this for a while, Jay. Like, does it drop the cost a lot of doing research when we deschedule things? Jay Kopelman: I, I would imagine so, because it'll drop the cost of accessing the medicines that are being researched. Jay Kopelman: Right? You, you would have buy-in from more organizations. You know, you might even have a pharma company that comes into this, you know, look at j and j with the ketamine, right? They have, they have a nasal spray version of ketamine that's doing very well. I mean, it's probably their, their biggest revenue [00:49:00] provider for them right now. Jay Kopelman: And, and so. You know, you, it would certainly help and I think, I think it would lower costs of research to have something rescheduled rather than being schedule one. You know it, people are afraid to take chances when you're talking about Schedule one Melissa Lavasani: labs or they just don't have the money to research things that are on Schedule one. Melissa Lavasani: 'cause there's so much in an incredible amount of red tape that you have to go through and, and your facility has to be a certain way and how you contain those, uh, medicines. Oh, researching has to be in a specific container and it's just very cumbersome to research schedule one drugs. So absolutely the cost would go down. Melissa Lavasani: Um, but Joe Moore: yeah, absolutely. Less safes. Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. Joe Moore: Yes. Less uh, Melissa Lavasani: right. Joe Moore: Locked. Yeah. Um, it'll be really interesting when that happens. I'm gonna hold out faith. That we can see some [00:50:00] movement here. Um, because yeah, like why make healing more expensive than it needs to be? I think like that's potentially a protectionist move. Joe Moore: Like, I'm not, I'm not here yet, but, um, look at AbbVie's, uh, acquisition of the Gilgamesh ip. Mm-hmm. Like that's a really interesting move. I think it was $1.2 billion. Mm-hmm. So they're gonna wanna protect that investment. Um, and it's likely going to be an approved medication. Like, I don't, I don't see a world in which it's not an approved medication. Joe Moore: Um, you know, I don't know a timeline, I would say Jay Kopelman: yeah. Joe Moore: Less than six years, just given how much cash they've got. But who knows, like, I haven't followed it too closely. So, and that's an I bga derivative to be clear, everybody, um mm-hmm. If you're not, um, in, in the loop on that, which is hopeful, you know? Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. But I don't know what the efficacy is gonna be with that compared to Ibogaine and then we have to talk about the kind of proprietary molecule stuff. Um, there's like a whole bunch of things that are gonna go on here, and this is one of the reasons why I'm excited about. Federal involvement [00:51:00] because we might actually be able to have some sort of centralized manufacturer, um, or at least the VA could license three or four generic manufacturers per for instance, and that way prices aren't gonna be, you know, eight grand a dose or whatever. Joe Moore: You know, it's, Jay Kopelman: well, I think it's a very exciting time in the space. You know, I, I think that there's the opportunity for innovation. There is the opportunity for collaboration. There's the opportunity for, you know, long-term healing at a very low cost. You know, that we, we have the highest healthcare cost per capita in the world right here in the us. Jay Kopelman: And, and yet we are not the number one health system in the world. So to me, that doesn't add up. So we need to figure out a way to start. Bringing costs down for a lot of people and [00:52:00] at the same time increasing, increasing outcomes. Joe Moore: Absolutely. Yeah. There's a lot of possible outcome improvements here and, and you know, everything from relapse rates, like we hear often about people leaving a clinic and they go and overdose when they get home. Tragically, too common. I think there's everything from, you know, I'm Jay, I'm involved in an organization called the Psychedelics and Pain Association. Joe Moore: We look at chronic pain very seriously, and IGA is something we are really interested in. And if. We could have better, you know, research, there better outcome measures there. Um, you know, perhaps we can have less people on opioids to begin with from chronic pain conditions. Um, Jay Kopelman: yeah, I, I might be due for another Ibogaine journey then, because I deal with chronic pain from Jiujitsu, but, Joe Moore: oh gosh, let's Jay Kopelman: talk Joe Moore: later. Jay Kopelman: That's self inflicted. Some people would say take a month off, but Melissa Lavasani: yeah, Jay Kopelman: I'm [00:53:00] not, I'm not that smart. Joe Moore: Yeah. Um, but you know, this, uh, yeah, this whole thing is gonna be really interesting to see how it plays out. I'm endlessly hopeful pull because I'm still here. Right. I, I've been at this for almost 10 years now, very publicly, and I think we are seeing a lot of movement. Joe Moore: It's not always what we actually wanna see, but it is movement nonetheless. You know, how many people are writing on this now than there were before? Right. You know, we, we have people in New York Times writing somewhat regularly about psychedelics and. Even international media is covering it. What do we have legalization in Australia somewhat recently for psilocybin and MDMA, Czech Republic. Joe Moore: I think Germany made some moves recently. Mm-hmm. Um, really interesting to see how this is gonna just keep shifting. Um Jay Kopelman: mm-hmm. Joe Moore: And I think there's no way that we're not gonna have prescription psychedelics in three years in the United States. It pro probably more like a [00:54:00] year and a half. I don't know. Do you, are you all taking odds? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah. I mean, I think Jay Kopelman: I, I gotta check Cal sheet, see what they're saying. Melissa Lavasani: I think it's safe to say, I mean, this could even come potentially the end of this year, I think, but definitely by the end of 2027, there's gonna be at least one psychedelic that's FDA approved. Joe Moore: Yeah. Yeah. Melissa Lavasani: If you're not counting Ketamine. Joe Moore: Right. Jay Kopelman: I, I mean, I mean it mm-hmm. It, it doesn't make sense that it. Shouldn't be or wouldn't be. Right. The, we've seen the benefits. Mm-hmm. We know what they are. It's at a very low cost, but you have to keep in mind that these things, they need to be done with the right set setting and container. Right. And, and gotta be able to provide that environment. Jay Kopelman: So, but I would, I would love, like I said, I'd love to work myself out of a job here and see this happen, not just for our veterans, [00:55:00] but for everybody. Joe Moore: Mm-hmm. Um, so Melissa, is there a way people can get involved or follow PMC or how can they support your work at PMC? Melissa Lavasani: Yeah, I mean, follow us in social media. Melissa Lavasani: Um, our two biggest platforms are LinkedIn and Instagram. Um, I'm bringing my newsletter back because I'm realizing, um, you know, there is a big gap in, in kind of like the knowledge of Washington DC just in general. What's happening here, and I think, you know, part of PC's value is that we're, we are plugged into conversations that are being had, um, here in the city. Melissa Lavasani: And, you know, we do get a little insight. Um, and I think that that would really quiet a lot of, you know, the, a lot of noise that, um, exists in the, our ecosystem. If, if people just had some clarity on like, what's actually happening or happening here and what are the opportunities and, [00:56:00] um, where do we need more reinforcement? Melissa Lavasani: Um, and, and also, you know, as we're putting together public education campaign, you know. My, like, if I could get everything I wanted like that, that campaign would be this like multi-stakeholder collaborative effort, right? Where we're covering all the ground that we need to cover. We're talking to the patient groups, we're talking to traditional mental health organizations, we're talking to the medical community, we're talking to the general population. Melissa Lavasani: I think that's like another area that we, we just seem to be, um, lacking some effort in. And, you know, ultimately the veteran story's always super compelling. It pulls on your heartstrings. These are our heroes, um, of our country. Like that, that is, that is meaningful. But a lot of the veteran population is small and we need the, like a, the just.[00:57:00] Melissa Lavasani: Basic American living in middle America, um, understanding what psychedelics are so that in, in, in presenting to them the stories that they can relate to, um, because that's how you activate the public and you activate the public and you get them to see what's happening in these clinical trials, what the data's been saying, what the opportunities are with psychedelics, and then they start calling their members of Congress and saying, Hey, there is this. Melissa Lavasani: Bill sitting in Congress and why haven't you signed onto it? And that political pressure, uh, when used the right way can be really powerful. So, um, I think, you know, now we're at this really amazing moment where we have a good amount of congressional offices that are familiar enough with psychedelics that they're willing to move on it. Melissa Lavasani: Um, there's another larger group, uh, that is familiar with psychedelics and will assist and co-sponsor legislation, but there's still so many offices that we haven't been able to get to just 'cause like we don't have all the time in the world and all the manpower in the world to [00:58:00] do it. But, you know, that is one avenue is like the advocates can speak to the, the lawmakers, the experts speak to the lawmakers, and we not, we want the public engaged in this, you know, ultimately, like that's. Melissa Lavasani: Like the best form of harm reduction is having an informed public. So we are not, they're not seeing these media headlines of like, oh, this miracle cure that, um, saved my family. It's like, yes, that can happen psychedelics. I mean, person speaking personally, psychedelics did save my family. But what you miss out of that story is the incredible amount of work I put into myself and put into my mental health to this day to maintain, um, like myself, my, my own agency and like be the parent that I wanna be and be the spouse that I wanna be. Melissa Lavasani: So, um, we, we need to continue to share these stories and we need to continue to collaborate to get this message out because we're all, we're all in the same boat right now. We all want the same things. We want patients to have safe and [00:59:00] affordable access to psychedelic assisted care. Um, and, uh. We're just in the beginning here, so, um, sign up for our newsletter and we can sign up on our website and then follow us on social media. Melissa Lavasani: And, um, I anticipate more and more events, um, happening with PMC and hopefully we can scale up some of these events to be much more public facing, um, as this issue grows. So, um, I'm really excited about the future and I'm, I've been enjoying this partnership with Mission Within. Jay is such a professional and, and it really shows up when he needs to show up and, um, I look forward to more of that in the future. Joe Moore: Fantastic. And Jay, how can people follow along and support mission within Foundation? Jay Kopelman: Yeah, again, social media is gonna be a good way to do that. So we, we are also pretty heavily engaged on LinkedIn and on Instagram. Um, I do [01:00:00] share, uh, a bit of my own stuff as well. On social media. So we have social media pages for Mission within Foundation, and we have a LinkedIn page for mission within foundation. Jay Kopelman: I have my own profiles on both of those as well where people can follow along. Um, one of the other things you know that would probably help get more attention for this is if the general public was more aware of the numbers of professional athletes who are also now pursuing. I began specifically to help treat their traumatic brain injuries and the chronic traumatic encephalopathy that they've, uh, suffered as a result of their time in professional sports or even college sports. Jay Kopelman: And, you know. I people worship these athletes, and I [01:01:00] think that if more of them, like Robert Gall, were more outspoken about these treatments and the healing properties that they've provided them, that it would get even more attention. Um, I think though what Melissa said, you know, I don't wanna parrot anything she just said because she said it perfectly Right. Jay Kopelman: And I'd just be speaking to hear myself talk. Um, but being collaborative the way that we are with PMC and with Melissa is I think, the way to move the needle on this overall. And like she said, if she could get more groups involved in, in these discussions, it would, it would do wonders for us. Joe Moore: Well, thank you both so much for your hard work out there. I always appreciate it when people are showing up and doing this important, [01:02:00] sometimes boring and tedious, but nevertheless sometimes, sometimes exciting work. And um, so yeah, just thank you both and thank you both for showing up here to psychedelics today to join us and I hope we can continue to support you all in the future. Jay Kopelman: Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Joe. It's a pleasure being with you today and with Melissa, of course, always Melissa Lavasani: appreciate the time and space. Joe Moore: Thanks.  

Since the beginning of 2026, US forces have killed people in Caracas, Venezuela, on boat strikes in the Pacific, and in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is a new era, where US law enforcement kill people in plain sight and then blame it on the victims, accusing them of being agitators or terrorists — domestic or foreign — whether they are in fishing boats in the Caribbean and Pacific or protesting on the streets of Minneapolis.Today's episode turns the lens back on the United States. Because the shadow of the United States itself is hanging dangerously over US cities and communities like never before.This is episode 6 of Under the Shadow, Season 2.Under the Shadow is an investigative narrative podcast series that walks back in time, telling the story of the past by visiting momentous places in the present. Season 2 responds in real time to the Trump administration's onslaught on Latin America.Hosted by Latin America-based journalist Michael Fox.This podcast is produced in partnership between The Real News Network and NACLA.Theme music by Michael Fox's band, Monte Perdido. Monte Perdido's 2024 album Ofrenda is available on Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube or wherever you listen to music. Other music from Blue Dot Sessions.Guests: Nikhil SinghAlexander AvinaSarah LazareGreg WilpertScript editing by Heather Gies. Hosted, written, produced, mixed and edited by Michael Fox.Please consider supporting this podcast and Michael Fox's reporting on his Patreon account: patreon.com/mfox. There, you can also see exclusive pictures, video, and interviews.Resources: Notes From The Palestine-Mexico Border | NACLAThe 13th Largest Army in World Is Unleashing Violence in Chicago | In These Times“You Could Be Arrested,” ICE Agent Confronts Minneapolis Resident as ICE Continues Arrest | AC1NFrom Minneapolis To Baltimore, Anti-Ice Protests Explode | TRNNU.S. Citizens Describe Surviving Violent Attacks by Immigration Agents | Democracy Now!De-ICEing The Big Easy (Documentary Report) | TRNNUNSEEN VIDEO: ICE Agents SURROUNDED by Furious Crowd After Stopping Man in Minneapolis | AC1GTrump Seizes Control of DC Police, Activates National Guard | TODAYTrump declares D.C. ‘Liberation Day' as he orders National Guard takeover | ABC10Governor Walz Addresses Ongoing Federal Presence in MinnesotaUnder the Shadow, Season 1:You can check out the first season of Under the Shadow by clicking hereThe Beginning: Monroe and migration | Under the Shadow, Episode 1Panama. US Invasion. | Under the Shadow, Episode 13The legacy of Monroe | Under the Shadow, Bonus Episode 4 Michael Fox's recent reporting on the boat strikes and the ramp-up for war in Venezuela: With the strike on a ‘drug-carrying boat,' Trump returns to a dangerous US policy for Latin AmericaCaribbean leaders call for unified Latin American resistance to US attacksTrump's Monroe Doctrine 2.0 outlines imperial intentions for Latin AmericaYou can check out Michael's recent episode of Stories of Resistance about the protests against US intervention in Venezuela.NACLA's Curated Guide to the US Attack on Venezuela Truthout's ongoing reporting on War and Peace and the US invasion of VenezuelaVisit TRNN for all of TRNN's coverage on this and so much moreBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-news-podcast--2952221/support.Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer.Follow us on:Bluesky: @therealnews.comFacebook: The Real News NetworkTwitter: @TheRealNewsYouTube: @therealnewsInstagram: @therealnewsnetworkBecome a member and join the Supporters Club for The Real News Podcast today!

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.In these episodes, Hangar Z hosts Jack Schonely and Jon Gray are joined by pilot Scott Hines and tactical flight officer (TFO) Alex Marti from the Fort Worth Police Department's Aviation Unit. Scott brings a deep aviation background as an U.S. Army aviator who flew the Bell OH-58D Kiowa, completing two combat tours in Iraq, before later transitioning to Black Hawks with the National Guard and flying medevac for Air Methods. That experience ultimately led him to Fort Worth PD. Alex is also an Army veteran who joined Fort Worth PD and worked his way into aviation, first serving as a reserve TFO before earning a full-time position in the unit. Together, we dig into changing the culture within an aviation unit, the challenges and wins of developing and formalizing a TFO program, operating the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, and share impactful experiences flying over Fort Worth. Along the way, we also take a deep dive into the OH-58D Kiowa, its capabilities, and why it left such a lasting impression on those who flew it.Please take a moment to like and subscribe to the Hangar Z Podcast. We appreciate your support.Thank you to our sponsors Robinson Helicopter, Summit Aviation and Technisonic Industries Limited.

1. Tribute to Robert Duvall Robert Duvall passed away at 95 years old. Hosts discuss his most iconic roles, including: To Kill a Mockingbird (as Boo Radley) The Godfather (as Tom Hagen) Lonesome Dove Apocalypse Now Gone in 60 Seconds Secondhand Lions Emphasis on Duvall’s legacy as one of the greatest American actors. Noted that Duvall chose not to have a funeral, instead asking people to enjoy a good movie. 2. Gavin Newsom Controversy A previous podcast episode involving Gavin Newsom. Newsom responded on social media, accusing Ted Cruz of attacking his dyslexia. Ted Cruz replied stating he called Newsom “historically illiterate,” not unable to read. Cruz references President Eisenhower federalizing the National Guard in 1957 as historical evidence contradicting Newsom's claim. We poke fun at Newsom’s reaction and discuss how social media posts performed online. Referenced AOC, Gretchen Whitmer, and Gavin Newsom attending a meeting in Munich Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast 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 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As talks between Kyiv and Moscow end in Geneva, the two sides remain at loggerheads over the status of territory in Eastern Ukraine. We hear from Brigadier General Oleksandr Pivnenko, Commander of Ukraine's National Guard.Also in the programme: a trial in Austria raises questions about the circumstances in which mountain climbers may be held responsible for their companions; and the widow of the American actor and playwright Chadwick Boseman, most famous as the star of Black Panther, tells us how she feels about her late husband's play being staged in London.(IMAGE: Ukrainian chief of the general staff Andrii Hnatov walks outside the InterContinental hotel on the day of U.S.-mediated peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, in Geneva, Switzerland, February 18, 2026 / CREDIT: Reuters/Pierre Albouy)

Join Jim and Greg for the Tuesday 3 Martini Lunch as they discuss California Gov. Gavin Newsom's pathetic response to being accurately called "historically illiterate," growing speculation about a possible Supreme Court vacancy, and a new clash among Stephen Colbert, CBS, and federal regulators over election law.First, they dissect Gavin Newsom's controversial comments in Germany comparing ICE to the Gestapo or the Stasi, along with his claim that President Trump was the first commander-in-chief to deploy the National Guard and active-duty military inside the United States. After Texas Sen. Ted Cruz labeled Newsom “historically illiterate,” Newsom fired back by accusing Cruz of mocking his dyslexia. Jim and Greg explain why Newsom is wrong on all counts.Next, they examine rumors that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito may be considering retirement this year. While much of the speculation appears thin, Jim and Greg outline one practical reason why Alito could decide this is the right moment to step down from the high court.Then, they dive into the dispute involving Stephen Colbert, CBS, and the FCC over Colbert's planned interview with Texas Democrat James Talarico just weeks before the Texas U.S. Senate primary. CBS and the FCC say equal time applies in this situation, meaning Colbert needed to offer an interview to Democrat Jasmine Crockett and possible the Republican U.S. Senate candidates.Finally, they reflect on the passing of the Rev. Jesse Jackson.Please visit our great sponsors:Help protect your family with life insurance through Ethos. Visit https://ETHOS.com/3ML to get your instant, free quote.  Every missed call is a missed opportunity. Capture every lead with QUO. Start today and save 20% on your first 6 months: https://Quo.com/3MLFind your way forward with BetterHelp when you sign up at https://www.BetterHelp.com/3ML to get 10% off your first month.New episodes every weekday. 

On May 4 1970, four students were shot dead by the Ohio National Guard during a protest. What were they protesting? Why were the National Guard brought in? And what chain of events led them to shoot?Don is joined by historian Brian VanDeMark, formerly of the United States Naval Academy, whose latest book is Kent State: An American Tragedy.Edited by Aidan Lonergan, produced by Sophie Gee. Senior Producer was Freddy Chick.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  All music from Epidemic Sounds.American History Hit is a History Hit podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Magazine.In these episodes, Hangar Z hosts Jack Schonely and Jon Gray are joined by pilot Scott Hines and tactical flight officer (TFO) Alex Marti from the Fort Worth Police Department's Aviation Unit. Scott brings a deep aviation background as an U.S. Army aviator who flew the Bell OH-58D Kiowa, completing two combat tours in Iraq, before later transitioning to Black Hawks with the National Guard and flying medevac for Air Methods. That experience ultimately led him to Fort Worth PD. Alex is also an Army veteran who joined Fort Worth PD and worked his way into aviation, first serving as a reserve TFO before earning a full-time position in the unit. Together, we dig into changing the culture within an aviation unit, the challenges and wins of developing and formalizing a TFO program, operating the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, and share impactful experiences flying over Fort Worth. Along the way, we also take a deep dive into the OH-58D Kiowa, its capabilities, and why it left such a lasting impression on those who flew it.Please take a moment to like and subscribe to the Hangar Z Podcast. We appreciate your support.Thank you to our sponsors Rotorcraft Support, Inc., Summit Aviation and Trakka Systems.

On May 17, 1995, a quiet evening in San Diego turned into a scene out of a war movie. Shawn Timothy Nelson, a struggling Army veteran and plumber, breached a National Guard armory, hot-wired an M60A3 tank, and began a 25-minute path of destruction through suburban streets. --For early, ad free episodes and monthly exclusive bonus content, join our Patreon! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1. Oil Prices & National Security Lower global oil prices weaken hostile regimes like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela by reducing their revenue. The Trump administration aims for a “sweet spot” oil price ($60–$70/barrel): Low enough to hurt adversaries. High enough to avoid bankrupting U.S. independent oil producers. If prices drop into the $40s, it could collapse small oil producers in Texas and the Permian Basin. 2. Venezuela’s Oil Infrastructure Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but decades of mismanagement have destroyed its infrastructure. Estimates from oil executives: Increasing production from 1 million to 3 million barrels/day could take 10 years and require $100B+ in investment. Even going from 1 million to 2 million/day would take 5–7 years. Gulf Coast refineries can process Venezuela’s heavy sour crude, but expanded imports would mostly affect Canada and Mexico, not U.S. light-sweet crude producers. 3. Cuba’s Economic Crisis Cuba historically survived on financial support from: The Soviet Union (until its collapse). Venezuela under Chávez/Maduro (oil and money). With Venezuela no longer able to support Cuba, the island is in economic freefall. Mexico is currently providing oil that helps sustain the Cuban regime. The Trump administration may pressure Mexico to cut this supply, potentially pushing Cuba toward political collapse. 4. Jack Smith & January 6th Investigation Smith is accused of leading a politically motivated prosecution against Donald Trump. He allegedly relied on questionable or disproven testimony, notably from Cassidy Hutchinson. Hutchinson’s dramatic claims (e.g., Trump lunging for a steering wheel) were not confirmed by eyewitnesses. Jim Jordan challenged Smith in hearings, accusing him of: Using unreliable witnesses. Conducting a partisan, anti-Trump investigation. Targeting large numbers of Republicans with subpoenas. 5. Crime Statistics & Trump Administration Policies Nationwide murder rates reportedly declined ~20% from 2024 to 2025. Approx. 1,400 fewer murders. Major cities showing decreases: Chicago: 30% NYC: 20% Baltimore: 31% Oakland: 33% Washington, D.C.: 31% (after National Guard deployment) Other violent crimes also declined: Motor vehicle theft: ↓25% Robbery: ↓18% Aggravated assault: ↓8% Law enforcement stats cited: Violent crime arrests: ↑100% Gangs disrupted: ↑210% Fentanyl seized: ↑31% Missing/abducted children located: ↑22% Human traffickers arrested: ↑15% Significant increase in arrests of espionage suspects and fugitives. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast 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 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.