Podcasts about NEA

Marc Cox and Dan Buck talk with Jean Evans about the judge's ruling on the NEA challenge to the Missouri Scholars program and the approval of 7,500 scholarships with $51 million in new funding. They explain how the tax credit program works, offering donors a dollar-for-dollar return and raising millions statewide for school choice. Evans outlines how scholarships are prioritized for students with IEPs and low-income families while addressing legal challenges from the NEA.

In this episode of The Sweet Tea Series, Ariana Guajardo is joined by Sienna Rose from the Freedom Foundation to unravel why people are choosing to leave their public sector unions. From coercive tactics like locking workers in rooms to sign membership cards to forcing Jewish teachers into representation by unions with anti-Semitic agendas, Sienna exposes the shady practices driving educators and others away. Tune in for a compelling discussion on workers rights, the myth of collective bargaining, education reform, and the fight for individual liberty!Sweet Tea Socials: https://linktr.ee/sweetteaseriesThe Freedom Foundation Website: https://www.freedomfoundation.comThe Texas Public Policy Foundation's mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation by educating and affecting policymakers and the Texas public policy debate with academically sound research and outreach.Funded by thousands of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Foundation does not accept government funds or contributions to influence the outcomes of its research.The public is demanding a different direction for their government, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation is providing the ideas that enable policymakers to chart that new course.Website: https://texaspolicy.comX: https://twitter.com/tppfFacebook: https://facebook.com/texaspolicyInstagram: https://instagram.com/texaspolicyLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/texas-public-policy-foundation/Keywords: teachers opting out, public sector unions, Freedom Foundation, Teacher Freedom Alliance, union tactics, education reform, teachers' rights, collective bargaining, union dues, anti-Semitism in unions, NEA reform, Oregon union bill, liability insurance for teachers, non-partisan curriculumHashtags: #TeachersOptingOut #ExposingUnions #FreedomFoundation #TeacherFreedomAlliance #EducationReform #TeachersRights #UnionTactics #SweetTeaSeries #IndividualLiberty #NEAReform

Today we discuss how the Democrats continue to implode heading into the midterms, and how will all this redistricting affect the 2026 elections? Plus Trump's remarkable achievements in a short 8 months in office, reshaping government, antisemitism at the NEA, the Tish James case. John Solomon and Ned Ryan join the show to talk about all this and more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Solomon joins Joe to discuss antisemitism at the NEA, Trump's remarkable achievements in 8 months, the midterm elections and James Comey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NEA partner Aaron Jacobson joins Sand Hill Road to discuss the next wave of robotics and AI — from warehouse automation and drone manufacturing to autonomous construction and defense innovation. Jacobson explains why the future of robotics isn't humanoids but specialized machines that perform one task perfectly. He shares insights on startups like Outrider, Built Robotics, Second Front Systems, and Firestorm, and why he believes AI-driven intelligence and flexible manufacturing will reshape industries from green energy to national security.

Award-winning poets and founding editors of the groundbreaking journal, New American Writing, Maxine Chernoff and Paul Hoover talk with Roxi Power about their most recent books from MadHat Press and how poetry canreveal then reconstitute the brokenness of the world.  Hoover says of writing poetry, “You have to purposefully break a few dishes along the way. The brokenness and emotional force bring the pieces back together.”   Chernoff, writing under the shadow of Covid, says, “We stand at the margins of this bustling, often cruel but beautiful world and, in a way, the poem writes itself because the world gives us conditions to think about at the same time—the ecology of the world, governments falling apart, etc.  It's happening to all of us.  Part of being a writer is simply noticing the moment you're in, personalizing and capturing it in a way that only your particular words at this particular time can do.” These beloved Bay Area poets collage philosophy, film, history, and—in Hoover's newest work—Old Testament stories and cadences in poems that redesign rather than restore theshattered surfaces of the world in new forms—like poetic wabi-sabi.  Peter Johnson recently called Chernoff the most important contemporary prose poet born during his generation. Marjorie Perloff wrote of Paul Hoover's most recent book, “He's atthe top of his game.”  Tune into this interview with two of the most articulate poets about their own craft.  It's part 1 of a two-part interview.  More to come!   Maxine Chernoff is professor emeritus of creative writing at San Francisco State University. She is the author of 19 books of poetry and six of fiction, including recent collections from MadHat Press:  Light and Clay: New and Selected Poems (2023) and Under the Music: Collected Prose Poems (2019).  She is a recipient of a 2013 National Endowment for the Arts in Poetry and, along with Paul Hoover, the 2009 PEN Translation Award for their translation of The Selected Poems of Friedrich Hölderlin. In 2016 she was a visiting writer at the American Academy in Rome. A former editor of New American Writing, she lives in Mill Valley.  Paul Hoover is the author of over a dozen collections of poetry; his most recent book of poetry is O, and Green: New and Selected Poems (MadHat Press, 2021). He has also published a collection of essays and a novel, and translated or co-translated a few books, including Black Dog, Black Night: Contemporary Vietnamese Poetry.  Founding and current Editor of theliterary annual, New American Writing–now published by MadHat Press–and two editions of the indispensable Postmodern American Poetry: A Norton Anthology, Hooverteaches at San Francisco State University.  He's also won an NEA and numerous awards, including the Carl Sandberg Award in poetry which Chernoff has also won.   

12 - The Frank Rizzo statue returns to Philadelphia! But, what is the stipulation the re-erection must follow? 1205 - Larry Krasner dominated Kaitlan Collins on CNN last night, completely domineering the interview with her and blaming the city and the nation's ills on Trump. 1215 - CNN Analyst Scott Jennings joins us today. What are the distilleries in Kentucky looking like? Scott details a story he told on CNN of a man next to him getting shot at the tie shop he was at in Union Station. Is the crime in DC really falling? Is there really an “acceptable murder rate'? How bad are car jackings in the Capital? How will the meetings between Putin and Trump look after this week? Will there be diplomacy in this conflict? How will Politics and Pints go? 1230 - Side Question - what deserves a reboot? 1240 - Your calls. 1245 - Former advisor to Frank Rizzo and President of Girard Estates Area Residents Jody Della Barba joins us today to discuss the Rizzo statue being re-erected. How much will it cost to get it back up? Where will the statue be placed? Does the private property stipulation throw a wrench into their plans? How is Jody and Trump's influence affecting South Philly? Will Dugan challenge Krasner in the District Attorney race with the help of the unions? How many people will show out for the Columbus Day parade? 1 - Linda Kerns joins us live from Graceland! How big is the campus there? How many times has she been to the location? What does she think about the names headlining the next event at The Kennedy Center? Elvis was on drugs? What kind of grade is Linda giving out to the state of Pennsylvania? Linda has a suggestion for Mulligan's on Friday? 110 - New Jersey parents could go to prison if their kids repeat bad behavior. Is this a good idea? The crew disagrees. 120 - Your calls. What can be done to make parents care for their kids? 135 - Emanuel Heller Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley John Yoo joins us to discuss Trump taking over the police department in the nation's capital, as well as deploying the national guard to clean up crime? Is this the correct move from the president? Was there a certain level of apathy regarding crime in DC? Why does John clamor for the way DC was pre-1970s? What is the biggest issue heading up through the federal courts system? 150 - Why are NFL teams continuing to deploy male cheerleaders? What's your go-to Wawa order? Some local congresspeople let us know. 2 - As we head back to school, we welcome School Choice Evangelist Corey DeAngelis to the program. Is Oklahoma City a nice place to visit? Why has Corey taken aim at Becky Pringle and the NEA? What's the back to school word of the day? How can we curtail the power that teachers' unions have wielded over parents and students alike? What is the secret sauce in weakening the unions? 215 - Dom's Money Melody! 225 - Producers should have to take a spelling test on local town names. What does Mayor Mayer think about Gloucester Twp.'s decision to arrest parents for their kids who are repeat crime offenders? 240 - How many male cheerleaders are on the Baltimore Ravens? Your calls. 250 - The Lightning Round!

2 - As we head back to school, we welcome School Choice Evangelist Corey DeAngelis to the program. Is Oklahoma City a nice place to visit? Why has Corey taken aim at Becky Pringle and the NEA? What's the back to school word of the day? How can we curtail the power that teachers' unions have wielded over parents and students alike? What is the secret sauce in weakening the unions? 215 - Dom's Money Melody! 225 - Producers should have to take a spelling test on local town names. What does Mayor Mayer think about Gloucester Twp.'s decision to arrest parents for their kids who are repeat crime offenders? 240 - How many male cheerleaders are on the Baltimore Ravens? Your calls. 250 - The Lightning Round!

Bob kicks off the show talking about the federalization of police in DC. Bob then talks about a community that wants to punish the parents for repeated crimes by their chilfren. Bob and Seth argue about who should be held accountable. Bob then welcomes John R Lott Jr from the Crime Prevention and Research Center to the show to talk about the stats of crime in DC and across the country. Bob is then joined by Kendall Tietz from Defending Education to talk about the NEA and what they are teaching our kids.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're a cultural worker navigating the messy, magical middle ground of art and activism, who's taking care of you?Now, if you've been with us over the last two episodes, you'll know we've been tackling what we call the building blocks of effective community arts practice—those foundational elements that help artists not just make meaningful work, but do so in ways that are ethical, sustainable, and rooted in justice.In Episode 1, we explored Accountability: To whom, and for what, are we truly responsible in our work?In Episode 2, we examined Leadership: How do cultural workers lead without domination, and how do they grow others in the process?And today, we turn inward—to a topic that is as personal as it is political: self-care.Because the truth is, being a cultural activist is not just a calling—it's also exhausting. In this conversation, my partners-in-crime—artist and historian Leni Sloan and cultural organizer Barbara Shaffer Bacon—and I dive into the real and raw question: How do we sustain ourselves in this work?We'll talk about the material needs often left unmet—like housing, healthcare, childcare—and why self-care isn't just bubble baths, it's a structural necessity. We'll share stories about burnout, soul-feeding practices, and what it means to build and rely on an ecosystem of mutual care.And as always, we're not just reflecting—we're passing on what we've learned over a collective century of practice. So whether you're a parade leader, a prickly cactus, or a builder of the long tail, we hope this episode gives you room to breathe, reflect, and reimagine what sustainability can look like in the world of community-based art.Let's get into it.Great! Below is a version of the requested list formatted specifically for show notes on Captivate.fm. It is optimized for readability, includes clickable hyperlinks, and presents the categories clearly to support podcast listeners looking to explore the episode's references further.Series: Building Blocks of Effective Community Arts PracticeNotable Mentions

IDF plans to control Gaza & eliminate Hamas. Gary Lane interviews Garion Finkel about the NEA's efforts to insert an anti-Semitic narrative in US curriculums. Two Israeli brothers grow grapes in Judea, and a Jewish village lives safely in Azerbaijan.

IDF plans to control Gaza & eliminate Hamas. Gary Lane interviews Garion Finkel about the NEA's efforts to insert an anti-Semitic narrative in US curriculums. Two Israeli brothers grow grapes in Judea, and a Jewish village lives safely in Azerbaijan.

A weekly magazine-style radio show featuring the voices and stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders from all corners of our community. The show is produced by a collective of media makers, deejays, and activists. On tonight's edition of Obbligato on APEX Express, which focuses on AAPI artists, musicians, and composers in the classical music world, host Isabel Li is joined by LA based performer and composer Richard An, who plays and creates new avant-garde music, usually with the ensemble House on Fire, and his music has been performed by the LA Phil and the Calder Quartet to name a few. Join us in our conversation, exploring the possibilities of avant-garde music, raising questions regarding Asian identities in the classical music world, and Richard's insights on art making during a time when Trump's cuts to the NEA are affecting artists and institutions nationwide. Featured Music: Sonatrinas: https://richardan.bandcamp.com/album/sonatrinas i got the electroshock blues: https://rasprecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-got-the-electroshock-blues   RICHARD AN (b.1995) is a performer and composer, born and raised in Los Angeles. Richard plays new music – usually with House on Fire – co-founded the tiny backpack new music series, and has performed with Monday Evening Concerts' Echoi Ensemble, Piano Spheres, The Industry and on Bang on a Can's LOUD Weekend. Richard plays piano and percussion, and has been known to sing, conduct, and teach. Richard's music has been performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Calder Quartet, HOCKET, C3LA, and more. His music has been released on CMNTX Records. Richard has a BM in Composition from USC and an MFA from CalArts. He is on faculty at the Pasadena Waldorf School, Glendale Community College and Harvard-Westlake. He plays taiko and tabla, and makes YouTube videos. Learn more about Richard's work on his website: https://richardanmusic.com/ Richard's social media: https://www.instagram.com/richardanmusic/ If you are in LA and want hear Richard's work, he's playing with House on Fire at the Sierra Madre Playhouse on August 17! https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org/event/richardan2025   Transcript Opening: [00:00:00] APEX Express. Asian Pacific expression. Community and cultural coverage, music and calendar, new visions and voices, coming to you with an Asian Pacific Islander point of view. It's time to get on board the APEX Express. 00:00:46 Isabel Li Good evening and welcome back to a new episode of Apex Express on KPFA, 94.1 FM. We are bringing you an Asian and Asian American view from the Bay and around the world. I'm your host, Isabel Li, and tonight is a new edition of Obbligato, which explores AAPI identities and classical music. Tonight I'm joined by LA based performer and composer Richard An, who plays and creates new avant-garde music, usually with the ensemble House on Fire, and his music has been performed by the LA Phil and the Calder Quartet to name a few. Join us in our conversation, exploring the possibilities of avant-garde music, raising questions regarding Asian identities in the classical music world, and Richard's insights on art making during a time when Trump's cuts to the NEA are affecting artists and institutions nationwide. 00:01:41 Isabel Li Welcome to the show. Welcome to APEX Express, Richard. My first question for you is how do you identify and what communities would you say that you're a part of? 00:01:50 Richard An My name is Richard An I use he/him pronouns and I'm a second generation Korean American. My parents are both Korean. My dad came from Busan, which is a large city in South Korea, and my mom was born in Seoul and then moved to South America and then made her way up to Los Angeles where they met. And as for identity, like, I think Korean American would be the most accurate one. This is and I think an ever evolving part of first of all my identity and the way that it intersects with my practice and also I think that's the case with many Asian American artists, I mean artists from immigrant families, you know, the the matter of your identity, especially if you feel more distanced from it for one reason or another, is like an unsolved question for everyone like there is no one answer. That works for people and that's a thing that me people like myself I think will be exploring for our entire lives. When I introduce myself to people, I say that I'm a classical musician. And at the very core of it, that is true. That's not a lie. And I am, you know, a part of the classical music community in Los Angeles. But as time goes on, I have noticed and realized. That I tend to align myself more with like the avant-garde and experimental contemporary music communities of Los Angeles, which has certainly an overlap with the classical community, both in practice and historically, but yeah, I I would say those are the sort of two biggest ones, classical musicians and experimental avant-garde, contemporary musicians, whatever label you want to use for that. 00:03:47 Isabel Li Yeah. Some of our listeners might not know what avant-garde music entails. Can you — how would you describe avant-garde music to someone who might not be as familiar with this particular movement? 00:03:57 Richard An Yeah. So avant-garde music, a sort of flippant and joking way to to talk about it is ugly music or music. You know, my dad, for example, wouldn't like, but I think. It's music that either interfaces with elements or confronts facets or issues in music that aren't typical of other kinds of music. The music that you might hear that is labeled of on guard might be noisy or dissonant or uncomfortable, or any kind of, you know, adjectives that are synonyms for noisy or ugly, but I have come to love that kind of music, you know 1. Because of the the kind of questions that they might ask about our perceptions of music and two, because I guess one way to put it is that to be a classical musician, you need to be in a practice room for many hours a day for many years and go to what is unfortunately a college, which is usually very expensive and I guess for lack of a better term, paywalled for like you need to have the kind of resources that allow you to attend a four year undergrad and then a two year masters and then a three-year doctorate. But avant-garde music, contemporary music, experimental music doesn't necessitate that kind of thing. Often those musicians do have a background that gives them some amount of, you know, virtuosity or facility in an instrument. But like some of the best experimental musicians. Alive and some of the best ones that I know have no, like extensive training in a particular instrument and some may not have a degree in music at all. And that's one thing that I in like that separates it from classical music is that. 00:05:44 Richard An Classical music can be, unfortunately a little bit exclusionary. I don't think by any one specific design, but the fact that you need so many hours and very specific instructions from a mentor that necessitate that kind of relationship. But experimental music, I think does a little bit better job of diversifying or making it feel more equitable. 00:06:12 Isabel Li That's a great point, actually. One of my questions following up with that was what do you think is possible with this genre, which you kind of mentioned earlier with perhaps how this genre makes classical music a little bit more equitable for those who are interested in this field. In your experience, composing, what do you think makes the genre special, and how do you go about it? 00:06:35 Richard An One thing that I've noticed about being involved in the sort of contemporary experimental avant-garde music sphere is that it makes me a better listener, and I think other people who attend these concerts will agree. Like for example a large part of this kind of music is drone or repetition or, you know, like long spans of unchanging sound. And if the the sound that is being produced at face value is not changing, well then what do you notice about it? What do you grab on to and one of the most, I think, gratifying experiences is listening deeper and realizing that, ohh, even though you know for example this piano playing two notes for 30 minutes might not like the instructions will say to do the same thing for 30 minutes, but your experience as a human being will certainly change over those 30 minutes, even if the the notes are not like you will notice the slight fluctuations in the way that someone is playing, you will notice the beating patterns in the pitches on an instrument that may not be perfectly in tune, you will note other ambient sounds, you will note like you will notice so much more about the world when you are confronted with the kind of music that you know. You can say it forces you to listen to these sounds but also invites you to listen to these things. And I think that's really, really special. That's not to say that that can't happen with other kinds of music. Or even with classical music. Surely you know there are many, many ways to listen to everything. But I've noticed this within myself. When I listen to long, repetitive drone based music that it really opens my ears and makes me a more active participant as a listener. 00:08:30 Isabel Li It's a great point actually. Part of my work– because I studied music, history and theory in college– was how music can engage various listeners to participate. Have you composed anything that perhaps engages the listener in this more of a participatory setting? 00:08:47 Richard An Yeah. So I guess in order the some of the stuff that I've done to engage the audience, I guess both literally, and maybe more figuratively is, I wrote a piece last year for the Dog Star festival, which is a a contemporary and experimental music festival that is actually happening right now, at the time of this recording. It's a multi week long festival that focuses on music of this type that was founded by people in the sort of CalArts music world. But I wrote a piece for that last year for three melodicas, which are these basically toy instruments that look like keyboards, but you blow into them and you blowing air through these makes the sound happen. It's basically like if you cross a harmonica and a piano together. But I I wrote a piece for three of these, playing essentially the same notes. And because these instruments are pretty cheap, and they're often considered toys or, you know, instruments for children, they're not tuned to the exact way that, like a piano or a vibraphone or an expensive instrument might be. But I wanted to use that for my advantage. For example, if I play an F# on one melodica the same F# on another melodica will not be exactly the same and playing those two pitches together will produce what's known as a a beat or beat frequency. Which is, you know, a complicated, you know, mathematic physics thing, but basically 2 notes that are really, really close, but not quite together will create a kind of third rhythm because the the pitches are so close. Like, for example, if if I play an A at 4:40 and another A at 441, you will notice that difference of 1 Hertz inside of your ears. And that's a really cool phenomenon that happens explicitly because you were there listening to the piece. They don't happen necessarily, you know, like in, in recorded formats like, it's a very difficult thing to capture unless you are in the room with these instruments. And the fact that we had this audience of, let's say, 40 people meant that all forty of these people were experiencing these beat frequencies and another really cool factor of this is depending on where you are located in the room. With the way that the beats will sound in your ears are different and purely by the fact of acoustics like a wave bouncing off of the wall over on your left, will feel really different if you are closer or further from that wall. So not only do the audiences ears themselves, you know, invite these this this participation, but the pure physicality of each listener means that they will have a very slightly different experience of what the piece is, and again like this will happen in any concert. If you're at a classical show, if you're at a rock show if, if you're further from the stage, if you're further to the left or right, you will get a slightly different position in the stereo field that the musicians are playing in, but pieces like what I wrote and many others that exist emphasize this kind of like acoustic phenomena. That is really, really fascinating to listen to. 00:12:23 Isabel Li That's fascinating. And to get a sense of Richard's work, we'll be hearing coming up next. The short excerpt from his album Sonatrinas. This is the duo excerpt performed by Wells Leng, Katie Aikam, Kevin Good and composer Richard An himself. [COMP MUSIC: Sonatrinas (Excerpt: Duo)] 00:17:38 Richard An And so the back story for this piece is this was written for one of my recitals at CalArts. I was planning on playing this piece by Michael Gordon called Sonatra, which is a really, really beautiful and difficult piece for solo piano that I gave myself as an assignment, which I was not able to do with the amount of time. And, you know, like I just didn't give myself enough time to do this thing, so I still had this program of several pieces written with the idea of having this Michael Gordon Sonatra in the middle, but now that that sort of middle part was gone, there was a bunch of pieces about a piece that didn't exist. So in order to fill that hole, I wrote this piece called Sonatrinas which is a cheeky nod to the Michael Gordon Sonatra, but also to the fact that each part of this is kind of a diminutive Sonata form. Everything has a sort of ABA– here's some idea. Here's a different idea, and now we go back to that first idea. Every single part of this has a little bit of that in it. 00:18:51 Isabel Li Yeah, that's fascinating. Even the name itself reminds me of Sonata form in classical music, where it's kind of like an ABA section. As you sort of talked about earlier. And it's really cool that you're adapting this in a more avant-garde context. This is a reminder you're listening to Apex Express. Today we are interviewing composer and musician Richard An. 00:19:12 Isabel Li I think the general question that I have next is can you tell me a bit about what drew you to music and how you got your start in music, how you got introduced to it and what things have inspired you over the years? 00:19:24 Richard An Yeah. So a real quick sort of, I guess, history of my involvement with music is that I started piano lessons when I was pretty young, either three or four years old. I continued that until I was 12 or 13. I decided I really wanted to become a musician. I started taking composition lessons with this composer, AJ McCaffrey, who is really responsible for a lot of what I know and my successes, if you can call it that. He got me into a lot of the music that I am into now and set the foundation for what I would study and what I would write he was one of the instructors for this program called the LA Phil Composer Fellowship program, which back when I was a participant from 2011 to 2013, was a program hosted by the Los Angeles Philharmonic that took 4 high school age students every two years. And you know, they they taught us, you know, everything. How a young composer needs to know how instruments work, how to write a score, how to talk to musicians, how to do everything that a that a composer needs to learn how to do and at the end of this program, after the two years the young composers write a piece for the at the LA Philharmonic. So I was extremely lucky that by the age of 17 I was able to write a piece for orchestra and get that played and not just any orchestra, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, you know, undisputedly one of the best orchestras in the world. Right. And then after that I I went to USC for my undergrad and then went to CalArts for my masters. And then here we are now. And that those are sort of the like, you know if someone writes a biography about me, that's what we'll be, you know, involved in the thing. But I really started to develop my love for music in my freshman and sophomore year. In high school I I started to get into more and more modern composers. I started to get into more and more noisy things and a lot of this coincided actually with the passing of my mother. She died when I was 14 and you know that in any human the death of a parent will cause you to reevaluate and rethink aspects of your life. Things that you thought were certainties will not be there anymore. So for me, I stopped taking piano lessons and I sort of went headfirst into composition and which is why my degrees are specifically in composition and not piano. Had my mother's passing not happened, you know, who knows what I would be doing now? Maybe I'm not a composer at all. Maybe I'm not into avant-garde music at all, but because things happen the way that they did, I suddenly took a quick turn into avant-garde music and my involvement there only grew more and more and more. Until you know where I am today, I'm almost 30 years old, so I've been listening to and a participant of this music for maybe 15 years or so and I'm quite happy. 00:22:43 Isabel Li That's awesome to hear. 00:22:45 Isabel Li And perhaps a testament to Richard one's very versatile compositional style and avant-garde music coming up next are three pieces from his album i got the electroshock blues. There are five pieces in the album in total, but we will be hearing three of them. The first one called “feeling, scared today,” the second one, “pink pill,” and the fifth one, “la la.” [COMP MUSIC: i got the electroshock blues: 1. “feeling, scared today”, 2. “pink pill”, 3. “la la”.] 00:36:41 Richard An Earlier last year, I released a collection of live recordings under the title of I got the Electroshock Blues. Electroshock Blues is a song by the band Eels I encountered at a pivotal moment in my life. This was right around the time that my mother passed and this record and this song is heavily centered in grief. The main musician in the Eels, Mark Oliver Everett, was dealing with the passing of multiple family members and people who were close to him so it hit me in just the right way at just the right time. And because of that, this song specifically has stayed with me for many, many years. I found myself coming back to the contents of this song as I was composing and all the pieces on this album, of which there are 5 heavily take material from this song, whether that's words, chords, the melody. I really, you know, take it apart, dissect it and use those as ingredients in the pieces that I have written here and all of these are live recordings except for the first piece which was recorded in my studio. I just sort of overdubbed the parts myself, and there are credits in the liner notes for this album, but I just want to say that. The first piece which is called “feeling, scared today,” was originally written for the Hockett piano duo, which is a duo comprised of Thomas Kotcheff and Sarah Gibson. Sarah Gibson was a really close friend of mine who passed away last year and now this piece which in some way came out of a feeling of grief now has renewed meaning and another facet or aspect of this piece is centered in grief now. Because this was dedicated to Thomas and Sarah. Yeah. So these pieces are all derived from this one song. 00:38:57 Isabel Li That's a beautiful response. Thank you so much. Kind of following along your background and how you got to where you are. How do you think your identity has informed your work as a composer and musician? And this could be– you can interpret this in any way that you wish. 00:39:11 Richard An Yeah, this is a really interesting question. The question of how my identity interfaces with my music. In my art, particularly because no person's answer is quite the same, and I don't necessarily have this figured out either. So for a little bit of I guess for a little bit of context on me, I'm second generation Korean American, but I've never been to Korea and I never went to Korean school. My parents never really emphasize that part of my education. You could call it assimilation. You can call it whatever, but I think they valued other aspects of my growth than my explicit tie to Koreanness or, you know my specific identity as a Korean or Korean American, and because of that, I've always felt a little bit awkwardly distanced from that part of my identity, which is something that I will never be completely rid of. So in in a world and the field where whiteness is sort of the default part you know, particularly because you know, classical music does come from Europe, you know, for hundreds of years, like all of the development in this particular kind of music did happen in a place where everyone was white. So because of that background of where I come from and where my musical activity comes from, whiteness has been the default and still feels like it is. So me looking the way that I do as, an obvious not white person, as a person of color will always have a little bit of an outsider status to the thing. And with that comes the question of what are you bringing to classical music? What do you bring to the kind of music that you're creating? Like for example, the most I think the most well known East Asian composers are people like Toru Takemitsu or Tan Dun, people who will interface with their Asianness, in many different ways, but that often involves bringing, for example, a Japanese scale into your classical composition, or bringing a Japanese instrument into your classical composition. Those are, you know, examples of of of pieces by Toru Takemitsu, and other, you know, very successful. Asian American composers now may do similarly. Texu Kim is maybe someone who can also give insight into this, but nothing about me feels explicitly Korean, maybe besides the way that I look. And besides, the way that I grew up a little bit like I've never been to Korea. What right does that give me as a Korean, to for example, use a Korean instrument or use a Korean scale? I've never studied that music. I've never studied that culture. I in in some arguments I would be guilty of cultural appropriation, because I, you know, have not done the work to study and to properly represent. And for example, like Pansori, if I were to use that in any of my music. 00:42:46 Richard An But then the the the difficult question is well, then who does have the right? Does being Korean give me all the license that I need to incorporate aspects of my identity? And if I am not Korean, does that, does that bar my access to that kind of music forever? Another way of looking at this is, I've studied North Indian Classical Hindustani music for a while. I've played tabla and and studied that music at CalArts and I really, really love playing tabla. It's it doesn't make its way into my composition so much, but it is certainly a big part of my musicianship and who I am and, like, but am I barred from using ideas or aspects of that music and culture and my music because simply for the fact that I am not Indian? Many musicians would say no. Of course you've done your homework, you've done your research. You're doing due diligence. You're you're representing it properly. And many people who study this music will say music cannot go forward if it's not like the innervated and continued and studied by people like me who are not explicitly South Asian or Indian. That's an example of the flip side of this of me using or representing the music from a culture that I am not a part of, but again, am I really Korean? I've never been there. I wasn't born there. I speak the language conversationally. But this is an extremely long winded way of saying that I feel a tenuous connection to my Korean this my Korean American identity that hasn't been solved, that isn't solved and probably will never be completely solved. But I think that's exciting. I think that's an evolving aspect of my music and will continue to be that way as long as I continue to be involved in music and as as long as I continue to write. 00:45:05 Isabel Li Yeah, absolutely. That's a wonderful response. Actually. I was, as I was studying different types of world music and learning how people kind of borrow from different cultures. There is this always, this kind of question like ohh, like which types of musical elements from which cultures can I incorporate and obviously the aspects of personal identity definitely play into that a little bit. And part of my senior thesis in college was studying AAPI artists in classical music, and specifically that there are a lot of Asian-identifying musicians in the classical music world. But as you kind of mentioned earlier, I think classical music is very much still like grounded in whiteness and has this kind of air of elitism to it just because of its roots. How do you think this kind of identity intersects with the classical music world? And forgive me if you've already kind of talked about it before, but it's an interesting juxtaposition between like, for example, musicians who identify as AAPI or Asian in this kind of genre that is very– it's very associated with whiteness. Could you kind of talk about the dynamics of how these two aspects of like culture kind of interplay with one another? 00:46:26 Richard An Yeah, absolutely. So, you know, there are ways that I personally feel like I intersect with classical music with reference to my identity, and that also plays with the sort of cultural expectations, like there are stereotypes of Asian musicians, of Asian classical musicians. But there are not necessarily the same the same kind of stereotypes with white classical musicians. A very dominant like stereotype that you'll run into is the young Asian prodigy who practices 10 hours a day and may therefore be labeled as mechanical or unfeeling or, you know, are involved in in this a lot. So much so to the fact to the to the point where to excel an Asian American classical musician or as an Asian classical musician, in general, seems to always carry that stereotype. Like you know, Seong-Jin Cho's success as a pianist may not necessarily be attributed to his musicianship or his skill as a pianist. Because he is an Asian person, an Asian guy. Like how much of his success is because of the perceived tiger mom-ness that he might have existed under? How much of it is attributed to the same type of stereotypes that are labeled like that that label the five year old pianist on YouTube that that is clearly better than I am? Like some of these stereotypes help and some of these don't, but the I think it's undeniable that they exist in a way that doesn't in a way that doesn't carry for white people in the classical music sphere. And I think part of that is that classical music is still rooted in its Eurological identity. I think I'm using that correctly. That's an idea from George Lewis. Eurological versus Afrological. The context that I'm using Eurological right now is specifically in reference to George Lewis, who is a composer, trombonist, and musicologist who, I think coined the two terms to differentiate the roots of different styles of music, and you know, I haven't read enough to confidently say, but classical music is Eurological by example and like jazz would be Afrological by an example and the contexts in which they develop and exist and grew up are fundamentally different, which is what makes them different from each other. And again like this needs a little bit more research on my part. 00:49:23 Richard An Yeah, and because the classical music is so rooted in this thing, I don't believe that the stereotypes that exist for Asian classical musicians exist for white people. And I think that is something that will naturally dissipate with time, like after another 100 years of Asians, and, you know, people of color in, you know, every country in the world, with their continued involvement and innova otypes will disappear like this. You know, it may require certain concerted efforts from certain people, but I do believe that after a while these things will not exist. They'll sort of equalize right in the same way. That the divisions that we make between a Russian pianist and a French pianist and a German pianist, though you know people still do study those things like those aren't really dividing lines quite as strong as an Asian composer or an Indian composer might be. 00:50:27 Isabel Li Thank you for that perspective. I think it's, I think these are conversations that people don't kind of bring up as much in the classical music world and it's great that, you know, we're kind of thinking about these and probably possibly like opening some conversations up to our listeners hopefully. And so my next kind of pivot here is as you know with our current administration, Trump has canceled millions of dollars in National Endowment of the Arts grants, and it's been affecting arts organizations all over the nation. And I was kind of wondering, have you been affected by these cuts to arts programs and what kinds of advice would give upcoming musicians or composers in this era? 00:51:07 Richard An Yeah, that's a yeah, that's a big thing. And like, you know, changing day by day, right. So the Trump administration's effects on my life as a musician is simultaneously huge and also not really that much. So in one way these grant cuts have not affected my personal musical life because I haven't ever received a government grant for any of my arts making. So in one way like my life is the same, but in many, many, many other ways it has changed. Like I am involved with and I work with concert series and organizations and nonprofits that do rely on NEA funding and other government arts based funding. And if they have less money to fund their next season, that means certain projects have to be cut. That means certain musicians have to be paid less. That means certain programs have to change, especially if these funding cuts are aimed towards DEI or quote and quote, woke programming like that is, you know this that will by design disproportionately affect people of color in this field, which already you know, like is in a Eurocentric urological tradition like this is already something that people of color don't have a head start in if the funding cuts are aimed at certain types of programming that will disadvantage already disadvantaged groups of people, well then I don't know, that's even–we're starting even later than other people might be, and you know, like, if a musicians, if a person's reaction to this is despair, I think that's reasonable. I think that is an absolutely, like that's an appropriate reaction to what is fundamentally an attack on your voice as an artist. But I I have for as long as I can, you know, I have always worked under the impression that I will have to do the thing myself, and that's in the piece of advice that I give for a lot of people. You shouldn't necessarily wait for this ensemble to come pick you to play or or to to, you know, commission you to write a piece if you want to write the piece, you should do it and figure out how to put it on yourself. If you want to perform you know music by a certain composer, you should do it and then figure out how to do it yourself. That certainly comes from a place of privilege, like I can do this because I have enough work as a musician to be able to pay for the the passion projects it comes from a place of privilege, because I live in Los Angeles and the resources and musicians and other people who I would like to collaborate with live here, so you know, completely acknowledging and understanding that I I do believe that it's better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. I think if you're a young musician and are feeling some despair about these funding cuts and you know the many, many, many other transgressions against humanity by this current administration. 00:54:38 Richard An I recommend you just go out and do it yourself. You find your people, you find your community, you pull favors, you work long nights and you do it and the reward will firstly be the good you're putting out into the world and then the the art you're making. But also this will be paid in kind by the community you're building, the musicians you're working with. And the the connections you make like you know I I have, I am currently conducting this interview from a studio space that I am renting out in Pasadena that I have built over the last two years that I do all of my rehearsals and my performances in, and that I, you know, host rehearsals and performances for other people, and this cannot happen and could not have happened without the goodwill and help and contribution from other people. When I say go out and do it yourself, I'm not saying that you as a human being are alone. I'm saying you don't need to wait for institutional approval or permission to go out and do these things. Get your friends and do them themselves. And my optimistic belief is that the support and the work will follow. 00:55:53 Isabel Li Richard, thank you so much for sharing your perspectives and your voice on this show today. And thank you to our many listeners of KPFA on tonight's episode of Obbligato on Apex Express. Which focuses on the AAPI community of the classical music world. There were some inspirational words on arts and arts making by Richard An musician and composer based in Los Angeles. 00:56:18 Isabel Li Please check our website kpfa.org to find out more about Richard An and his work as well as the state of the arts during this period of funding cuts. 00:56:29 Isabel Li We thank all of you listeners out there. Keep resisting, keep organizing, keep creating and sharing your visions with the world, your voices and your art are important. 00:56:41 Isabel Li APEX Express is produced by Ayame Keane-Lee, Anuj Vaidya, Cheryl Truong, Jalena Keane-Lee, Miko Lee, Preeti Mangala Shekar and Swati Rayasam. Tonight's show was produced by Isabel Li. Have a great evening. The post APEX Express – 8.7.25 – Obbligato with Richard An appeared first on KPFA.

Can an artist lead a community? What does it take for cultural activists to become trusted stewards of change in divisive times?In a world grappling with polarization and rising authoritarianism, the need for compassionate, imaginative leadership has never been more urgent. This episode dives into how artists and cultural workers already operating in community spaces can embrace roles as civic leaders—balancing creativity with responsibility and vision with service.Discover how leadership can be reframed through metaphors like the wedding planner, the parade leader, and the soul shepherd.Hear powerful stories of artistic ingenuity in places like death row and urban neighborhoods that reveal art's transformative power.Learn the foundational traits and practical strategies for leading with courage, communication, and care in culturally complex contexts.Notable Mentions: Here's a categorized, hyperlinked list of the People, Events, Organizations, and Publications mentioned in the podcast episode,

How to access the mind's expansiveness? Geraldine Connolly reads poems from her new book, Instructions at Sunset, and talks about this as well as excavating the past, family, and how poetry serves as a means of interrogating the self. A two-time recipient of NEA fellowships and the author of four previous books of poetry, Connolly has taught workshops for the Maryland Poetry-in-the-Schools Program and the Graduate Writing Program at Johns Hopkins University in Washington D.C. Find out more about Connolly here.

Here's the harsh truth: If your business model can't survive a spreadsheet, it won't survive the market.Every year, ambitious founders pour months into product, pitch, and brand—yet the single biggest reason startups die isn't funding, it's flawed modeling.What are the four variables investors use to spot winners before anyone else?In this episode, investor and hands-on builder Alex Oppenheimer (Founder & GP at Verissimo Ventures, ex-Facebook IPO, ex-NEA, Monday.com advisor) reveals why most startup advice misses the point—and how the best founders reverse-engineer success long before a single euro is raised.

On this episode of the podcast, Senator Marsha Blackburn joins the conversation to expose the obstructionist tactics of Senate Democrats and highlight critical national security legislation, including bills to ban foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, specifically targeting China, end Sister City agreements with adversarial nations, and require U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assess the impact of foreign buyers on housing markets. The Tennessee Republican also calls for accountability in the wake of newly declassified documents implicating the FBI and the Clinton campaign in amplifying the debunked Russia collusion narrative.The second conversation on this episode is between Amanda Head and retired FBI Executive Assistant Director Chris Piehota who weighs in on the politicization of the Bureau, criticizing the weaponization of federal agencies for partisan purposes and praising current leadership for trying to restore the FBI's integrity. He warns of growing threats to national security if institutional trust isn't rebuilt.And finally, American Principles Project Executive Director Anthony LaBruna slams the National Education Association (NEA) after its annual convention devolves into a political rally against President Donald Trump. LaBruna calls for the NEA's charter to be revoked, citing a radical agenda that prioritizes gender politics over academic fundamentals. He predicts a mass exodus to homeschooling, private, and faith-based education as families seek refuge from failing public schools, and warns that union leaders' six-figure salaries are coming at the cost of students' futures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#holocausteducation #jewishidentity #sovietunionHas Holocaust Education Failed the Jewish Community? | Rabbi Daniel Levine & Naya Lekht

In this episode, Senator Marsha Blackburn breaks down the dangers of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies infiltrating American education. She calls out the National Education Association for pushing political agendas over academics, discusses the radical shift within the Democratic Party, and outlines her latest efforts to safeguard federal law enforcement. The Tudor Dixon Podcast is part of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Podcast Network. For more visit TudorDixonPodcast.com Watch and Subscribe to The Tudor Dixon Podcast on RumbleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More evidence of how what we were told during the Q operation is coming to light right now, and how some who never followed it to begin with are now confused; I also cover many sections of the NEA's 2025 Handbook and how discriminatory it is against White's; and a quick story about sloppy steaks. Substack:  https://theamericanclassroom.substack.com/p/treason-doesnt-pay-well   Book Websites: https://www.moneytreepublishing.com/shop PROMO CODE: “AEFM” for 10% OFF https://armreg.co.uk PROMO CODE: "americaneducationfm" for 15% off all books and products. (I receive no kickbacks).

The discussion covered a variety of topics, beginning with an incident involving a woman attempting to break into a house, which led to a light-hearted exchange about her tactics and the presence of alarm systems. The conversation then shifted to recent movie releases, particularly an Adam Sandler film, where skepticism about sequels was expressed, referencing the mixed reception of "Boondock Saints 2." Testecleese humorously commented on the physical appearance of an actress in the new film, suggesting it could impact her golfing ability. Jeffrey and Brian addressed serious issues, including controversial resolutions from the NEA that they believe undermine Holocaust education and contribute to a generation's susceptibility to extreme political ideologies. They discussed New York's political landscape, particularly the implications of ranked-choice voting and the potential rise of a socialist candidate in the mayoral race, expressing concerns about economic impacts and public safety in light of recent violent incidents.

From Kellyanne Conway torching Jessica Tarlov to the NEA trying to rewrite Holocaust history—this episode is wild. We break down the most viral, ridiculous, and outrageous stories of the week: Scott Adams exposes the real Russian collusion narrative, Mayor Pete flails in front of Charlamagne, and a “hot woman in marketing” sparks the internet's favorite debate. Plus: Ghislaine resurfaces, South Park wins again, the Young Turks implode (as usual), and why Temu + Andrew Tate + Hitler = the worst headline of the year. Don't miss our takedown of the Dems' biggest Twitter blunder and the shady new push to recognize Palestine.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW! Head over to https://RepublicanRed.com and grab the Drill Baby Drill wines while they're still in stock. Save $5 OFF a bottle with code CHICKS or more by joining the wine club.Donate $20 to support women's success and receive the book, A Woman's Guide, Seven Rules for Success in Business and Life from Concerned Women for America. Visit https://ConcernedWomen.org/ChicksGive your liver a boost with Dose Liver Health. Save 30% on your first month's subscription at https://DoseDaily.co/CHICKS or enter code “C” at checkout.Bare Bar got it right—a high-quality protein bar with no junk. Try it now and get 15% off! Use code CHICKS at https://GetBareBars.comVISIT OUR WEBSITE DAILY!  https://chicksonright.com SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST: https://link.chtbl.com/BtHbvS8C?sid=youtube JOIN OUR SUPPORTER COMMUNITY ON LOCALS:  https://chicksontheright.locals.com/ JOIN OUR SUPER DOUBLE AWESOME SECRET BUT NOT SECRET EXCLUSIVE GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/388315619071775 Subscribe to our email list: https://politics.chicksonright.com/subscribe/ GET OUR BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H5D3CF1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_JdhQFbZ363CAY Venmo: @chicksonrightPaypal: https://www.paypal.me/chicksonright Get exclusive Chicks merch here:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/InRealLifeCreations?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=50399398 Even more Merch: https://shop.spreadshirt.com/chicksonright/ Thank you for the Superchats!  Watch live to donate and be recognized! Facebook:  Chicks on the RightFacebook Group:  Chicks on the RightTwitter, IG, Parler, Rumble:   @chicksonright

From Kellyanne Conway torching Jessica Tarlov to the NEA trying to rewrite Holocaust history—this episode is wild. We break down the most viral, ridiculous, and outrageous stories of the week: Scott Adams exposes the real Russian collusion narrative, Mayor Pete flails in front of Charlamagne, and a “hot woman in marketing” sparks the internet's favorite […]

On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Corey DeAngelis is a senior fellow at the American Culture Project. He's the author of the new book, The Parent Revolution, rescuing our kids from the radicals ruining our schools.

The president of UAW Local 95 talks to Labor Radio as her union continues its strike against Mercy Health East in Janesville, faculty and staff at institutions of higher education across the US are organizing against federal cuts and academic interference, the NEA executive board backs off from its rank-and-file proposed ban of the ADL, an Australian journalist is awarded damages after being fired for commenting on Gaza, a Palestinian union federation issues a desperate call, Representative Ilhan Omar speaks on worker safety deregulation at the Trump Department of Labor, workers at a Tucson movie theater join IATSE Local 415, the Teamsters are striking Airgas across the US and the cops are investigating whether the company gassed strikers, Doctor Feroze Sidhwa addresses what he saw in Gaza, and the AFL-CIO has announced that John Smallwood is the new Community Services Liaison.

Douglas Co. Veterans, why so much wildfire smoke, zombie fires, more NEA talk, the Incline Village game is over, Rob from Bears Den, a listener donated artwork of Central High School, more on Ghislaine Maxwell testimorny, Nick answered the Central field question, and we played Taps...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff from Superior is going swimming, the NEA biannual report, Andrew from Genereau & Co., the beef deal with Australia, Jerry from Duluth/the teachers union topic, J-Serv, Ilhan Omar, deportations have begun at Alligator Alcatraz, and the smoke and fires in Canada...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we speak with Snehal Antani, Co-Founder and CEO of Horizon3.ai, a cybersecurity company that delivers autonomous penetration testing through its flagship platform, NodeZero. Designed to run real attacks in live environments, the platform helps organizations proactively find, fix, and verify exploitable vulnerabilities before malicious actors can strike. The company recently raised $100 million in Series D funding, led by NEA with participation from SignalFire, Craft Ventures, and 9Yards Capital. The funding will support global expansion, enhance product innovation across autonomous security operations, and scale the company's presence in critical infrastructure and federal markets. Snehal supports Spookstock. To learn more about this organization click here. I am your host RJ Lumba. We hope you enjoy the show. If you like the episode click to follow.

Warehouse Workers Against ICE Petition: https://form.jotform.com/251684939561066 Petition Supporting Columbia Students: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/1d7c3280b87eb84ead62ae8750dbe02c6edfbfd4/?hash=ee7d69beeb2f8db225aa3325fd24f306 Big episode this week as the billionaire assault on workers rights isn't slowing down, nor are efforts to organize against it. We start with updates on workers at Lowe's, Costco, Amazon, Wells Fargo, Republic Services, Airgas,  GM, and Newark Airport.  Waste management workers aren't just fighting for a fair wage in the US, in Birmingham in the UK they've been on a series of strikes since March. We've got several stories this week of how educators are organizing against attacks on anti-genocide speech. The AAUP are fighting against the McCarthyite attacks in court, Rank and File members of the NEA are fighting to get the ADL's anti-Palestinian materials out of schools, and student workers at CUNY and University of Michigan are fighting to keep speech alive on their campuses. Finally, we check in on some of the impacts of ICE's reign of terror around the country, and the ways workers are coming up with new tactics of community resistance. Join the discord: discord.gg/tDvmNzX  Follow the pod at instagram.com/workstoppage, @WorkStoppagePod on Twitter,  John @facebookvillain, and Lina @solidaritybee

Tiffany Luck, a partner at NEA, outlined what she looks for in a pitch, during a presentation at TechCrunch's All Stage event in Boston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There was a time when being a member of the ACLU meant defending the speech of people you despised—not because you endorsed them, but because the principle of liberty mattered more than comfort. I joined for that reason. I wasn't virtue signaling. I was pledging allegiance to the Constitution, the real one—not the cosplay version people wave when it suits them.Now? The ACLU defends speech selectively. The Human Rights Campaign operates more like a branding arm of one political party. And free speech? Somehow that's been redefined as violence. Ironically, actual violence is often written off as passion or protest.I'm not saying this in a red hat. I'm saying this as someone who remembers when progressives stood for open discourse. I grew up in Hawai‘i surrounded by every possible kind of person—different skin, different languages, different politics. They were still mine. I worked with Frank Burns, the general who wrote “Be All You Can Be.” I was close to his son, Scott. I loved Hope O'Keeffe, a brilliant constitutional lawyer. These people weren't footnotes. They shaped my beliefs.Someone once said I was trying to get myself on the SPLC watchlist. It hurt because it felt a little true. I've been next to too many counternarratives for too long—from New Media Strategies to memes.org to spelunking rabbit holes on forums nobody talks about in polite company. I don't think I'm flagged. But I'm filtered—soft-shadowbanned, algorithmically sidelined, quietly removed from the conversation without anyone needing to tell me so.And the language—God, the language. I watched “racist” morph from describing segregationists to being tossed like a beer can at people like me: 55, white, straight, Christian, gun-owning, ex-ACLU donor. “Fascist” now applies to suburban parents who speak up at school board meetings. These words used to be magic spells. Now they're wallpaper.And when every act is fascism, when every opinion is white supremacy, the terms lose meaning. The public square becomes a theater of accusation. And many of us? We quietly walked away. The left won the culture war, sure. The right didn't argue. They built something else.While the activist class raged on TikTok and MSNBC, the right unplugged. They stopped donating. They stopped attending. They didn't march. They starved the beast. Defund NPR? You don't need a vote—just stop the grants that trickle in through CPB, NEA, USAID, and other soft-funding channels. NPR says it only receives 2% of its budget from the federal government. But insiders know better—those streams run deep.Same for universities. You can't shut them down outright—it would look authoritarian. But redefine their worst excesses (and many now qualify) as violations of civil rights law—like antisemitism—and you can cut off Title VI funding. You don't need bayonets. You need bean counters.The left made everything sacred: identity, language, tone, even silence. The right made nothing sacred except autonomy. The right didn't want to control cities. They wanted to starve them—cut off food, fuel, infrastructure—and watch the bloated coastlines retreat. The right doesn't dream of invading blue cities. They plan to outlast them.And still, the same spells are being cast: bigot, fascist, hater, Hitler. But the spell is broken. Because I see the restaurant going dark. I see the check left unpaid. I see the waiter backing away. And I see the activists arguing about the pronouns on the dessert menu.I'm not here to storm anything. I'm not calling for a new party, a movement, or revolt. I'm just the watcher. I was here when speech was sacred. I was here when dissent wasn't pathology. And I'll still be here when the lights go out and the last credit card gets declined.

Our resident constitutional expert Bruce Fein joins to make the case for impeaching the Supreme Court AND the President, and what we—as citizens—can do to make it happen. Then we welcome Lori Wallach of Rethink Trade to evaluate Trump's tariff policy. Are these trade deals bringing manufacturing back to the US? Or is Trump just using tariffs as a cudgel to punish countries that annoy him?Bruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.This has real consequences for you people all over the country because one of their shadow docket decisions (without explanation or hearing) briefs just very recently said that Trump can fire all these people in the IRS or the Education Department or EPA and get away with it. And, in fact, paralyze the workings of his (statutorily-established-by-Congress) Cabinet Secretary and Department…So this is devastating to your health, economic safety, environment, workplace safety, education, all kinds of things that are being ridden into the ground.Ralph NaderIn my judgment, the court has basically abandoned its role as a check on executive power…It's actually become an appendage of the executive branch. Nothing placing any kind of serious or material handcuff on what the President can do on his own. And the President is taking full advantage of that.Bruce FeinLori Wallach is a 30-year veteran of international and U.S. congressional trade battles— starting with the 1990s fights over NAFTA and WTO when she founded the “Global Trade Watch” group at Public Citizen. She is now the director of the Rethink Trade program at the American Economic Liberties Project, and a Senior Advisor to the Citizens Trade Campaign.What these guys are doing [with Trump's tariff policy] it's basically trying to build a house with just a hammer—we are against saws; we are against screwdrivers; we do not actually believe in nails, no other tools; we will just hammer a bunch of wood. And as a result, we're going to make some noise and we're definitely going to break some things, but we're not actually building a new redistributed trade system—which we could.Lori WallachBest that we can tell, the dynamic is something like: Trump is so engaged in the fun and chaos—fun (from his perspective) and chaos of throwing tariff news around like a lightning bolt that he really is not taking advice about it from people who know how you could use tariffs to try and ostensibly achieve the things he promised. He's just enjoying throwing around tariffs.Lori WallachNews 7/18/25* Last week, Elon Musk's pet AI program – Grok – began identifying itself as “MechaHitler,” and spitting out intricate rape threats and sexual fantasies directed at individuals like liberal pundit Will Stancil and now-ex X CEO Linda Yaccarino. This week, Musk rolled out Grok's new “sexy mode” which includes a visual avatar feature depicting the artificial entity as a quasi-pornographic anime-esque character who can flirt with users, per the Standard. So, naturally, the Trump Defense Department awarded xAI, the parent company behind Grok, a $200 million contract. According to CNN, “The contracts will enable the DoD to develop agentic AI workflows and use them to address critical national security challenges.” It is unclear how exactly the entity calling itself MechaHitler will accomplish that.* In local news, a special election was held in Washington DC's Ward 8 this week, seeking to replace corrupt councilmember Trayon White. White was implicated in an FBI bribery investigation and was expelled from the council in February. Yet, because of the splintered opposition, White pulled out a narrow victory on Wednesday, winning with 29.7% of the vote compared to his opponents' 24.3%, 23.7% and 22.3% respectively, per WTOP. In 2024, DC Voters approved a ballot measure to implement ranked-choice voting, which could have helped prevent this outcome, but it has yet to take effect. The DC Council could vote to expel White again more or less immediately; if not, they would likely wait for his trial to commence in January 2026.* Turning to foreign affairs, Israel has bombed the Syrian capital of Damascus, killing three and wounding 34, in strikes primarily targeting the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters, per NPR. Israel's attack comes amid tensions between the new, post-Assad Syrian government and the Druze minority in the Southern Syrian city of Sweida. The government claims the Druze violated a ceasefire reached earlier in the week and Syrian troops responded; a new ceasefire deal has been reached and the office of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa issued a statement reading, the “rights [of the citizens of Sweida] will always be protected and…we will not allow any party to tamper with their security or stability.” Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, said in a statement that the U.N. chief “condemns Israel's escalatory airstrikes,” as well as reports of the Israeli military's redeployment of forces in the Golan Heights. As journalist Séamus Malekafzali notes, “Damascus is now the 4th Middle Eastern capital to be bombed by Israel in the past 6 weeks, alongside Tehran, Beirut, and Sana'a.”* In more news from Israel, the Knesset this week sought to expel Palestinian lawmaker Ayman Odeh, leader of the Hadash-Ta'al party. According to Haaretz, “The vote was triggered by a Likud lawmaker after Odeh published a social media post in January, saying that he ‘rejoices' over the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.” However, the motion failed to reach the 90-vote threshold, meaning Odeh will remain in the legislature. Six members of Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party voted for the motion, but not Lapid himself. The United Torah Judaism party did not back the motion. Haaretz quotes Hassan Jabareen, an attorney, director of the Adalah Legal Center and legal counsel for Odeh, who said, “The overwhelming support for this initiative – from both the coalition and the opposition – reveals the state's intent to crush Palestinian political representation...This was not a legitimate legal process, but rather a racist, fascist incitement campaign aimed at punishing Odeh for his principled stance against occupation, oppression and Israeli violence.” Senator Bernie Sanders celebrated the failure of the motion, writing “Israel's far right tried to expel Ayman Odeh, an Arab Israeli opposition leader, from the Knesset because of his opposition to Netanyahu's war. Today, they failed. If Israel is going to be considered a democracy, it cannot expel members of parliament for their political views.” This from the Middle East Eye.* Sanders also made news this week by declaring that “Given the illegal and immoral war being waged against the Palestinian people by Netanyahu, NO Democrat should accept money from AIPAC – an organization that also helped deliver the presidency to Donald Trump,” per the Jerusalem Post. Sanders posted this statement in response to a video by Obama foreign policy advisor Ben Rhodes, who said “AIPAC is part of the constellation of forces that have delivered this country into the hands of Donald Trump…These are the wrong people to have under your tent...The kind of people that they are supporting, Bibi Netanyahu and Donald Trump, I don't want my leaders and my political party cozying up to these people.” Bernie's statement is perhaps the strongest stand taken by any American politician against AIPAC, Israel's front group in American politics and one of the biggest special interest groups in the country. AIPAC throws around eye-popping sums of money to members of both parties; to name just one example, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has accepted over $1.6 million from the group, according to Track AIPAC's Hall of Shame.* In a similar vein, last week we discussed the National Education Association's vote to suspend its ties with the Anti-Defamation League due to the ADL's shift in focus from Jewish civil rights to laundering the reputation of Israel. Since then, the ADL has sought to mobilize their allies to demand the NEA reject the vote. To this end, the ADL has sought the support of J Street, a liberal Jewish group critical of Israel, per the Forward. J Street however has rebuffed the ADL, refusing to sign the group's letter. Though they oppose the NEA resolution, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami issued a statement reading in part, “charges of antisemitism must not be wielded to quash legitimate criticism of Israeli policy...the NEA vote can[not] be dismissed as being driven by fringe ‘pro-Hamas' antisemitic activists.” Hopefully, more Jewish groups will follow the example of J Street and break with the Zionist orthodoxy of the ADL.* In other foreign policy news, the Guardian reports French President Macron has reached a deal with the leadership of the French “overseas territory” New Caledonia to grant the island statehood and more autonomy within the French legal system. New Caledonia is one of several UN-designated ‘non-self-governing territories.' France has exerted rule over the Pacific Island – over 10,000 miles from Paris – and its nearly 300,000 inhabitants since the 19th century. Last May, riots broke out over France's decision to grant voting rights to thousands of non-indigenous residents. This violence “claimed the lives of 14 people, [and] is estimated to have cost the territory…$2.3 bn... shaving 10% off its gross domestic product.” However, the Times reports indigenous Kanak independence activists reject the deal outright. Brenda Wanabo-Ipeze, a leader of the Co-ordination Cell for Actions on the Ground, who is currently detained in France, said, “This text was signed without us. It does not bind us.” The Times adds that, “The conservative and hard-right French opposition accused Macron of failing to ensure security in the territory. The left accused the president of imposing colonial tactics on a people who should be allowed self-determination.” It remains to be seen whether this deal will prove durable enough to weather criticism from so many angles.* Much has been made of Attorney General Pam Bondi's decision last week to not release any more information related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. A Department of Justice memo reads, “it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.” This has created a firestorm in the MAGA world, with many Trump supporters feeling betrayed as the president implied he would declassify these files if reelected. Now, Congressmen Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna have introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act which would “force the House of Representatives to vote on the complete release of the government's files related to Jeffrey Epstein,” according to a press release from Massie's office. This resolution specifically states the files cannot “be withheld, delayed, or redacted” should they cause “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.” The resolution is attracting support from some Republicans, but it is unclear how far this will go under Speaker Johnson, who maintains there is “no daylight between his position and that of Trump,” per the Hill. The position of congressional Republicans has been further complicated by a bombshell report in the Wall Street Journal documenting previously unknown details of the intimate relationship between the late pedophile financier and the president.* Meanwhile, the Trump administration is once again torching America's reputation abroad – this time literally. The Atlantic reports “Five months into its unprecedented dismantling of foreign-aid programs, the Trump administration has given the order to incinerate food instead of sending it to people abroad who need it. Nearly 500 metric tons of emergency food—enough to feed about 1.5 million children for a week—are set to expire tomorrow, according to current and former government employees with direct knowledge of the rations. Within weeks…the food, meant for children in Afghanistan and Pakistan, will be ash.” This cartoonishly evil decision paired with the “Big Beautiful Bill”'s provisions cutting food assistance for children in poverty, point to one inescapable conclusion: the Trump administration wants children to starve.* Finally, on the opposite end of the spectrum, Mexico News Daily reports the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum is debuting a healthy, domestically produced and affordable staple for Mexican consumers – chocolate bars. “This ‘Chocolate de Bienestar' is part of the government's ‘Food for Well-Being' strategy, which aims to bring nutritious and affordable food options to consumers while supporting national producers, particularly those in the southern states of Tabasco and Chiapas — a region that has historically lagged behind other regions in several social and economic indicators.” The Sheinbaum administration is stressing the health benefits of chocolate, noting that, “Studies have shown that chocolate improves cardiovascular health via its antioxidants, provides energy, helps control blood pressure, improves cognitive capacity, satisfies hunger and lifts mood.” At the same time, the administration is seeking to minimize the sugar content “striking a supposedly healthier balance between natural cane sugar and the cacao itself.” This chocolate will be available in three forms:“Chocolate bar containing 50% cacao, and priced at…less than $1.Powdered chocolate with 30% cocoa, priced...$2Chocolate de mesa or tablet chocolate, with 35% cacao, priced at …$5”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

We begin on a positive note by welcoming a “doer,” citizen extraordinaire, Jon Merryman, who couldn't stand the trash, especially old tires, being dumped in his neighborhood. So, he took it upon himself to clean it up and has now expanded his efforts across the country. Then co-president of Public Citizen, Robert Weissman, joins us to explain how spending in the recent bill passed by the Republican controlled Congress prioritizes the Pentagon and deportation enforcement at the expense of the social safety net, essentially trading life for death.Jon Merryman was a software designer at Lockheed Martin, who after retiring found his true calling, cleaning up trash in every county in America.When I first started looking at the environment next to my place of work, one of the things I did uncover was tires. And they were definitely there from the '20s, the '30s, and the '40s, they've been there for decades. And then just after a while, the soil and the erosion just covers them up. And you just discover them, and you realize this has been going on forever.Jon MerrymanNature is innocent. It really doesn't deserve what we've given it. And I feel like someone's got to step up to undo what we've done.Jon MerrymanRobert Weissman is a staunch public interest advocate and activist, as well as an expert on a wide variety of issues ranging from corporate accountability and government transparency to trade and globalization, to economic and regulatory policy. As the Co-President of Public Citizen, he has spearheaded the effort to loosen the chokehold corporations, and the wealthy have over our democracy.The best estimates are that the loss of insurance and measures in this bill will cost 40,000 lives every year. Not once. Every year.Robert Weissman co-president of Public Citizen on the Budget BillPeople understand there's a rigged system. They understand that generally. They understand that with healthcare. But if you (the Democrats) don't name the health insurance companies as an enemy, as a barrier towards moving forward. You don't say United Health; you don't go after a Big Pharma, which is probably the most despised health sector in the economy, people don't think you're serious. And partially it's because you're not.Robert WeissmanNews 7/11/251. This week, the Financial Times published a stunning story showing the Tony Blair Institute – founded by the former New Labour British Prime Minister and Iraq War accomplice Tony Blair – “participated” in a project to “reimagine Gaza as a thriving trading hub.” This project would include a “Trump Riviera” and an “Elon Musk Smart Manufacturing Zone”. To accomplish this, the investors would pay half a million Palestinians to leave Gaza to open the enclave up for development – and that is just the tip of the harebrained iceberg. This scheme would also involve creating “artificial islands off the coast akin to those in Dubai, blockchain-based trade initiatives…and low-tax ‘special economic zones'.” The development of this plot is somewhat shadowy. The FT story names a, “group of Israeli businessmen…including tech investor Liran Tancman and venture capitalist Michael Eisenberg,” who helped establish the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in February 2025. GHF has been accused of using supposed aid distribution sites as “death traps,” per France 24. Boston Consulting Group, also named in the FT story, strongly disavowed the project, as did the Tony Blair Institute.2. In more positive news related to Gaza, the National Education Association – the largest labor union in the United States – voted this week to sever ties with the Anti-Defamation League. The ADL, once an important group safeguarding the civil rights and wellbeing of American Jews, has completely abandoned its historic mission and has instead devoted its considerable resources to trying to crush the anti-Zionist movement. The NEA passed a resolution stating that the NEA “will not use, endorse, or publicize materials from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), such as its curricular materials or statistics,” because, “Despite its reputation as a civil rights organization, the ADL is not the social justice educational partner it claims to be.” Labor Notes writes that the ADL “has been a ubiquitous presence in U.S. schools for forty years, pushing curriculum, direct programming, and teacher training into K-12 schools and increasingly into universities.” One NEA delegate, Stephen Siegel, said from the assembly floor, “Allowing the ADL to determine what constitutes antisemitism would be like allowing the fossil fuel industry to determine what constitutes climate change.”3. Another major labor story from this week concerns sanitation workers in Philadelphia. According to the Delaware News Journal, AFSCME District Council 33 has reached a deal with the city to raise wages for their 9,000 workers by 9% over three years. The union went on strike July 1st, resulting in, “massive piles of trash piling up on city streets and around trash drop-off sites designated by the city,” and “changes to the city's annual Fourth of July concert with headliner LL Cool J and city native Jazmine Sullivan both dropping out,” in solidarity with the striking workers, per WHYY. The deal reached is a major compromise for the union, which was seeking a 32% total pay increase, but they held off on an extended trash pickup strike equivalent to 1986 strike, which went on for three weeks and left 45,000 tons of rotting garbage in the streets, per ABC.4. Yet another labor story brings us to New York City. ABC7 reports the United Federation of Teachers has endorsed Democratic Socialist – and Democratic Party nominee – Zohran Mamdani for mayor. This report notes “UFT is the city's second largest union…[with] 200,000 members.” Announcing the endorsement, UFT President Michael Mulgrew stated, “This is a real crisis and it's a moment for our city, and our city is starting to speak out very loudly…The voters are saying the same thing, 'enough is enough.' The income gap disparity is above…that which we saw during the Gilded Age." All eyes now turn to District Council 37, which ABC7 notes “endorsed Council speaker Adrienne Adams in the primary and has yet to endorse in the general election.”5. The margin of Mamdani's victory, meanwhile, continues to grow as the Board of Elections updates its ranked choice voting tallies. According to the conservative New York Post, Zohran has “won more votes than any other mayoral candidate in New York City primary election history.” Mamdani can now boast having won over 565,000 votes after 102,000 votes were transferred from other candidates. Not only that, “Mamdani's totals are expected to grow as…a small percent of ballots are still being counted.”6. Meanwhile, scandal-ridden incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams has yet another scandal on his hands. The New York Daily News reports, “Four high-ranking former NYPD chiefs are suing Mayor Adams, claiming they were forced to retire from the department after complaining that his ‘unqualified' friends were being placed in prestigious police positions, sometimes after allegedly bribing their way into the jobs.” Former Police Commissioner Edward Caban, who was already forced to resign in disgrace amidst a federal corruption investigation, features prominently in this new lawsuit. Among other things, Caban is alleged to have been “selling promotions” to cops for up to $15,000. Adams is running for reelection as an independent, but trails Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo.7. Turning to the federal government, as the U.S. disinvests in science and technology, a new report published in the Financial Times finds that, “Almost three-quarters of all solar and wind power projects being built globally are in China.” According to the data, gathered by Global Energy Monitor, “China is building 510 gigawatts of utility-scale solar and wind projects… [out of] 689GW under construction globally.” As this report notes, one gigawatt can potentially supply electricity for about one million homes. This report goes on to say that, “China is expected to add at least 246.5GW of solar and 97.7GW of wind this year,” on top of the “1.5 terawatts of solar and wind power capacity up and running as of the end of March.” In the first quarter of 2025, solar and wind accounted for 22.5% of China's total electricity consumption; in 2023, solar and wind accounted for around 14% of electricity consumption in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.8. Developments this week put two key rules promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission under former Chair Lina Khan in jeopardy. First and worse, NPR reports the Republican-controlled FTC is abandoning a rule which would have banned non-compete clauses in employment contracts. These anti-worker provisions “trap workers and depress wages,” according to Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, who has introduced legislation to ban them by statute. Perhaps more irritatingly however, Reuters reports the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis has blocked the so-called “click to cancel” rule just days before it was set to take effect. This rule would have, “required retailers, gyms and other businesses to provide cancellation methods for subscriptions, auto-renewals and free trials that convert to paid memberships that are ‘at least as easy to use' as the sign up process.” A coalition of corporate interests sued to block the rule, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a trade group representing major cable and internet providers such as Charter Communications, Comcast and Cox Communications along with media companies like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery. Lina Khan decried “Firms…making people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription, trapping Americans in needless bureaucracy and wasting their time & money.”9. In another betrayal of consumers, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to break promises and speak out of both sides of his mouth. A new report in NPR documents RFK Jr. speaking at a conference in April, where he “spoke about the health effects of exposure to harmful chemicals in our food, air and water…[and] cited recent research on microplastics from researchers in Oregon, finding these tiny particles had shown up in 99% of the seafood they sampled.” Yet Susanne Brander, the author of the study, had gotten word just an hour earlier that “a federal grant she'd relied on to fund her research for years…was being terminated.” Brander is quoted saying "It feels like they are promoting the field while ripping out the foundation." Ripping out the foundation of this research is felt acutely, as “regulators are weakening safeguards that limit pollution and other toxic chemicals.” So Mr. Secretary, which is more important – stopping the proliferation of microplastics or slashing funding for the very scientists studying the issue?10. Finally, in Los Angeles masked federal troops are marauding through the streets on horseback, sowing terror through immigrant communities, per the New York Times. President Trump mobilized approximately 4,000 National Guard members – putting them under federal control – alongside 700 Marines in response to protests against immigration raids in June. As the Times notes, “It has been more than three weeks since the last major demonstration in downtown Los Angeles,” but the federal forces have not been demobilized. While some have dismissed the shows of force as nothing more than stunts designed to fire up the president's base, Gregory Bovino, a Customs and Border Protection chief in Southern California told Fox News “[LA] Better get used to us now, cause this is going to be normal very soon.” As LA Mayor Karen Bass put it, “What I saw…looked like a city under siege, under armed occupation…It's the way a city looks before a coup.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

0:00 - Jayden Perkins' mom chides Pritzker in open letter 11:44 - Replacing Walter Burnett with Walter Burnett 31:42 - Epstein 54:13 - John Solomon, award-winning investigative journalist and founder of Just the News, breaks down the DOJ’s investigation into John Brennan and the decade-long effort to undermine Donald Trump’s presidency. Follow John on X @jsolomonReports 01:12:02 - NEA cuts ties with ADL 01:32:46 - Chris T. Clem, former HHS advisor and retired Chief Patrol Agent, says that with the border now secured and efforts underway to remove criminal elements, it’s time for common-sense solutions to stabilize the immigration system. Keep up with Chris at chrisclemofficial.com 01:50:31 - Jennifer Bilek, investigative journalist tracking the funding of the gender industry: The architects of ‘AI rights’ are a threat to humanity. Jennifer writes at The 11th Hour Blog - the11thhourblog.com and is author of Transsexual Transgender Transhuman: Dispatches from The 11th Hour 02:10:21 - OPEN MIC FRIDAYSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2 - A man was impaled by a runaway beach umbrella. Are umbrellas a faux pas on the beach? 205 - The NEA can't spell! We haven't talked about Epstein yet today… X's CEO has resigned after its AI went crazy. 215 - Dom's Money Melody! Can anyone get it? 220 - An iconic local staple is being sold. Your calls on the beach umbrella and more! 235 - Superman actor Sean Gunn sparks controversy with his thoughts on Superman and immigration. 240 - Your calls. Is Trump for amnesty for farm hands? 250 - The Lightning Round!

12 - What is going on in the PA governor's race now that Dan Meuser is dropping out? 1205 - Becky Pringle is still going crazy from the podium? 1210 - New York is going to give people's condos away if you go on vacation? 1215 - Side - all time public reveal 1220 - Trump isn't going to allow elections to happen in the future? Your calls. 1230 - Journalist and Author Salena Zito joins us today to discuss her new book “Butler The Untold Story of the Near Assassination of Donald Trump and the Fight for America's Heartland”. What was it like being on the ground that day? How did Trump apologize for missing his scheduled interview with her that day? How many times did he call the next day to talk and apologize? Why did Trump say “Fight, Fight, Fight” after he was shot? What does Salena think about the New Jersey governor's race? 1250 - Your calls quickly. 1 - PA Representative of House District 199 Barb Gleim joins the program. Why is the Save Women's Sports Act having so much trouble passing in the house? Why has this bill been passed from one committee to another? How many times can they keep passing the bill from committee to committee? Why is there a lack of media coverage on this issue? Do Democrats secretly want the bill behind the scenes? Why won't the government bail out SEPTA? 115 - Joe Biden's doctor pleads the fifth. Why? When has this happened in movies? 120 - Mamdani had an old social media post resurface, disparaging a Columbus statue and instead asking his followers which people would make for a better statue. Your calls. 135 - Congressman Jeff Van Drew joins as the dust settles from the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill. What does Jeff think about the bill now that things have calmed down? How damaging is it that Biden's doctor is pleading the fifth when answering questions about the former president's health? How will the cuts to Medicaid help every day Americans? Should Dom be a political strategist? What is his subcommittee working on? 150 - Your calls to round this hour out. 2 - A man was impaled by a runaway beach umbrella. Are umbrellas a faux pas on the beach? 205 - The NEA can't spell! We haven't talked about Epstein yet today… X's CEO has resigned after its AI went crazy. 215 - Dom's Money Melody! Can anyone get it? 220 - An iconic local staple is being sold. Your calls on the beach umbrella and more! 235 - Superman actor Sean Gunn sparks controversy with his thoughts on Superman and immigration. 240 - Your calls. Is Trump for amnesty for farm hands? 250 - The Lightning Round!

Genevieve Wood of the Heritage Foundation breaks down the shocking decision by the National Education Association, America's largest teachers union, to sever ties with the Anti-Defamation League over its longstanding pro-Israel stance. The NEA's move reflects a disturbing shift within education unions influenced by anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiments, extending beyond campuses into K-12 schools nationwide. Wood highlights alarming reports that 83% of Jewish college students face hate on campuses, with little institutional pushback—as seen in a heartbreaking story from Kenyon College. The conversation shifts to Elon Musk's potential third-party run, which Wood dismisses as a likely vote-splitter harmful to conservatives. She advises conservatives to focus on reform within existing parties rather than chasing unlikely third-party success.

The final hour of the Marc Cox Morning Show tackles pressing national security concerns as the one-year anniversary of the attempted assassination on President Trump raises questions about Secret Service readiness and investigation delays. The hosts condemn the left's escalating violent rhetoric, spotlighting Chris Cuomo's rare warning and Claire McCaskill's hypocrisy cashing in as a commentator while attacking Trump. Trade tensions heat up with tariffs set to resume August 1, despite pending deals. Antisemitism's surge sparks outrage over the NEA cutting ties with the Anti-Defamation League, while Israel's Netanyahu reinforces a hard stance against Hamas and praises Trump's historic Middle East peace efforts, calling for a deserved Nobel Peace Prize. Taylor Riggs from the Big Money Show breaks down the Fed's cautious rate strategy amid strong job reports and tariff uncertainty, and teases an explanation about Fort Knox's undervalued gold reserves with insights from Larry Kudlow. Finally, the hosts dissect Tucker Carlson's polarizing interview with Iran's president, exposing the regime's deceptive rhetoric and genuine threats toward the U.S. and Israel.

Marc & Kim open the show calling out Democrats and the media for weaponizing the Texas flood tragedy to unfairly blame Trump, with pushback from Gov. Abbott and Chris Cuomo. The Epstein scandal deepens as Trump dodges questions and Pam Bondi backpedals, fueling outrage. “Kim on a Whim” celebrates a win for religious freedom as the IRS now allows churches to endorse candidates, while Marc exposes leftist hypocrisy in black churches. Senator Josh Hawley scores a hard-fought victory passing RECA to compensate Coldwater Creek radiation victims, unveiling government and media coverups. The show moves into storms, Cardinals rain delays, and attacks LA Mayor Karen Bass's lies on ICE raids, featuring GOP strategist Nicholee Ambrose exposing Bass's radical left agenda. Security upgrades at MetroLink and market updates highlight economic shifts, from Trump's tariff threats to Bezos unloading stock. The crew debates Gen Z dating and vents over lane-assist tech. “In Other News” covers shocking Chick-fil-A health rankings, soaring car payments, a French bee attack, and a North Carolina man's alligator rescue of his dog. Hour three dives deeper into Coldwater Creek's RECA expansion with co-founder Kim Thone Visentine urging affected residents to prepare. The Epstein case's missing jail footage and Pam Bondi's evasiveness demand accountability. Heritage's Genevieve Wood comments on the NEA breaking with the Anti-Defamation League amid rising antisemitism, warning about Elon Musk's potential third-party run. The IRS ruling on political speech in churches fuels cultural debate in “Kim on a Whim.” The final hour focuses on national security as the Trump assassination attempt anniversary spotlights Secret Service failures and investigation lags. The hosts condemn leftist violent rhetoric, highlighting Chris Cuomo's rare warning and Claire McCaskill's commentator hypocrisy. Tariffs are set to resume August 1 despite pending deals. Antisemitism spikes as the NEA drops the Anti-Defamation League; Netanyahu stands firm against Hamas and praises Trump's Middle East peace legacy. Taylor Riggs explains the Fed's cautious rate strategy amid resilient job numbers and tariff uncertainty, teasing insights on Fort Knox's undervalued gold reserves from Larry Kudlow. The show closes with a critical review of Tucker Carlson's controversial interview with Iran's president, exposing regime lies and real threats to the U.S. and Israel.

He got his hands on the NEA's documents, and he's sharing them here. How does any of this have to do with kids? Well, everything in a way. Corey DeAngelis is Senior Fellow at the American Culture Project.

The show opens with more discussion over the DOJ's and the FBI's Sunday night memo claiming Epstein committed suicide and had no list of clients. Even CNN cannot buy it. Then, on top of it, we had a very irritated and condescending explanation from AG Pam Bondi on the whole premise. It was preceded by an even more condescending comment from President Trump. A radical activist judge now believes she has power over the Congress. The Leftist judge thinks she can cancel part of a law that demanded tax dollars will no longer be used to fund Planned Parenthood. We provide an example of how the Legacy/mainstream media are nothing but propagandist shills for their own Democrat party by showing us was MSNBC's Katy Tur said two weeks after Hurricane Helene versus three days after the storms in Texas. By the way, did you know a cloud-seeding company was working to make it rain in that part of Texas just two days earlier? The Judge in Milwaukee who tried to help an illegal avoid ICE has been told she does not have judicial immunity in the case. Thus, her trial will proceed. There is a new branding to the Deep State and it is called DemocracyAID. It is a group made of former members of USAID and the State Department, with the stated mission of toppling Donald Trump and this country via color revolution. 10 members of a radical Antifa movement in Texas will be charged with multiple felonies after plotting to kill ICE employees. Another radical judge believes Laken Riley's murderer needs to be checked for mental competency to see if he should get another trial. The NEA, the biggest public school teacher's union in the country seems to have adopted a new agenda for their members, all of it based on anti-Trump messaging. Pay attention to what the teachers are going to be telling your children this school year. Another investigation shows a group going by the 50501 label are all interconnected with Communist and violent extremist groups. Needless to say they are all aligned with the Democrats. Finally, it looks like the Secretary of Agriculture is moving to make sure the CCP and other adversarial nations cannot buy up our farmland. It's a common sense policy, so you can be assured most Democrats will try to stop it. Please take a moment to rate and review the show and then share the episode on social media. You can find me on Facebook, X, Instagram, GETTR,  TRUTH Social and YouTube by searching for The Alan Sanders Show. And, consider becoming a sponsor of the show by visiting my Patreon page!!

2 - NJ Senator Mike Testa joins us to kick this third hour off. Why is Senator Testa so prideful about the state's oysters and how that affects the potential renaming of the Delaware Bay? What is he looking to rename the bay to? Why are there two plots of land in Salem County that belong to Delaware? What is Mike doing to get that land back? What does Mike think about the new budgeting? Why couldn't Mikie Sherrill properly answer questions when under the gun? 215 - Dom's Money Melody! 220 - Your calls. 240 - The Teacher's Union heads are at each other's throats over parental rights. We replay Becky Pringle's speech for the NEA right here in Philadelphia. Your calls. 250 - The Lightning Round!

12 - What will become of the Big Beautiful Bill vote? Is Trump right in defending his stance not to slash Medicaid for those who are mooching off of it? 1205 - BREAKING: the Big Beautiful Bill passes the Senate vote. JD Vance is the tiebreak and Dom reacts. 1210 - What is “Project 29?” 1215 - Side - all time Kirks and Kurts 1220 - Why is Bryan Kohberger getting off with no death penalty in the wake of 4 murders of Idaho students? It certainly wasn't the family's decision! Your calls. 1230 - Cursive coming back to The Commonwealth? PA State Representative Dane Watro joins us to discuss the cursive bill he is sponsoring. Why did Dane get behind this bill to bring cursive back into our schools? How did he get bipartisan support? What inspired him to get behind this? What is the mental aspect behind learning and knowing cursive? Does Dane have good handwriting? How does he sign his name? 1250 - Your calls to round out the hour. 1 - Dr. EJ Antoni, Chief Economist, and Richard Aster Fellow, in The Heritage Foundation's Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, joins us as the Big Beautiful Bill passes the Senate. What does EJ think of the bill? Why is Medicaid such an expensive program to maintain? Why are Republicans continuing to hold out on Medicaid? How are interest rates coming along? How much hold up on the Bill is regarding AI and the Chinese? What are investors realizing about the slashing of interest rates? 110 - Your calls. 120 - Why is pride in being an American at an all-time low? What does Dom take from this news? 140 - Bring Your Own Chains type of protest over trash collecting? Why Caitlin Clark ranked as a middle of the pack starting guard in the WNBA? 150 - Your calls. 2 - NJ Senator Mike Testa joins us to kick this third hour off. Why is Senator Testa so prideful about the state's oysters and how that affects the potential renaming of the Delaware Bay? What is he looking to rename the bay to? Why are there two plots of land in Salem County that belong to Delaware? What is Mike doing to get that land back? What does Mike think about the new budgeting? Why couldn't Mikie Sherrill properly answer questions when under the gun? 215 - Dom's Money Melody! 220 - Your calls. 240 - The Teacher's Union heads are at each other's throats over parental rights. We replay Becky Pringle's speech for the NEA right here in Philadelphia. Your calls. 250 - The Lightning Round!

Celebrated writer and memoirist Melissa Febos on the art of the memoir,  the alchemy of personal experience and literary craft, and how to turn the raw material of life into art. We also her latest book, The Dry Season,  where she examines the solitude, freedoms, and feminist heroes Febos found during a year of celibacy.We also talk about:- Writing the unspeakable and undoing shame.- The role of research and personal obsession in memoir.- Finding structure through inventory, list-making & reflection.- Balancing vulnerability with privacy on the page.- How Melissa decides what's hers to tell—and when.- Her advice on discouragement, creative play & sustaining the practice. ABOUT MELISSA FEBOSMelissa Febos is the nationally bestselling author of four books, including Girlhood, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism, and Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative. She has received fellowships and awards from the Guggenheim Foundation, NEA, LAMBDA Literary, the British Library, and more. Her essays appear in The Paris Review, The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, and Best American Essays. She is a full professor at the University of Iowa and lives in Iowa City with her wife, poet Donika Kelly. RESOURCES & LINKS:

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.comPaul is a writer, an editor, and an old friend. He's a regular contributor to The New Yorker and a senior fellow in Georgetown's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. He's the author of The Life You Save May Be Your Own and Reinventing Bach, and his new book is The Last Supper: Art, Faith, Sex, and Controversy in the 1980s.For two clips of our convo — on Martin Scorsese's extraordinary religious films, and the strikingly resilient Catholicism of Andy Warhol — head to our YouTube page.Other topics: Paul raised in upstate NY as a child of Vatican II; his great-uncle was the bishop of Burlington who attended the 2nd Council; Thomas Merton and Flannery O'Connor as formative influences; working in publishing with McPhee and Wolfe; Cullen Murphy on the historical Christ; Jesus as tetchy; Czesław Miłosz; Leonard Cohen making it cool to be religious; the row over The Last Temptation of Christ and Scorsese's response with Silence; Bill Donahue the South Park caricature; Bono and U2; The Smiths; The Velvet Underground; Madonna and her Catholic upbringing; “Like A Prayer” and “Papa Don't Preach”; her campaign for condom use; when I accidentally met her at a party; Camille Paglia; Warhol the iconographer; his near-death experience that led to churchgoing; Robert Mapplethorpe; S&M culture in NYC; Andres Serrano's “Piss Christ”; Jesse Helms' crusade against the NEA; Sinead O'Connor's refusal to get an abortion; tearing up the JP II photo on SNL; the sex-abuse crisis; Cardinal O'Connor; the AIDS crisis; ACT-UP's antics at St. Patrick's Cathedral; the AIDS quilt as a cathedral; and Paul's gobsmacking omission of the Pet Shop Boys.Coming up: Edward Luce on the war with Iran, Walter Isaacson on Ben Franklin, Tara Zahra on the revolt against globalization after WWI, Thomas Mallon on the AIDS crisis, and Johann Hari turning the tables to interview me. (NS Lyons indefinitely postponed a pod appearance — and his own substack — because he just accepted an appointment at the State Department; and the Arthur Brooks pod is postponed because of calendar conflicts.) Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.

'Tis the season for Shakespeare in the park(s)! Ian Gallanar, the founding artistic director of Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Baltimore, discusses CSC's touring program Shakespeare Beyond, which is taking Ian's highly localized but still mostly Shakespeare adaptation It's the Comedy of Errors, Hon to parks and outdoor venues all over Maryland. Gallanar reveals how Shakespeare Beyond combines the best of Shakespeare, vaudeville, and circus; the beauty and versatility of the Shakespeare Wagon; the art of deploying local slang and specific Maryland references; having to deal with the withdrawal of already-earmarked NEA funds; shout-outs to the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern; and the importance of blurring the false distinction between "Shakespeare" and "entertainment." (Length 20:42) The post Shakespeare Goes ‘Beyond' appeared first on Reduced Shakespeare Company.

Kennedy, host of the Kennedy Saves The World podcast, joined The Guy Benson Show today to discuss the utter dysfunction in California, pointing to the violent ICE riots in Los Angeles as the latest proof of failed leadership in the state. Kennedy laid into the reckless waste of taxpayer dollars and the state's warped priorities in the face of the riots and the ongoing wildfire recovery. Kennedy and Benson also reacted to a hilarious clip of NEA president Becky Pringle, as Kennedy says that the teachers unions only care about "bodies" and "money." Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The White House triggered a sharp increase in tariffs on imported metals on Wednesday. The tax at the border is now 50%. But one trading partner got an exemption: the UK. Our BBC colleague Leanna Byrne joins us to explain. Also on the program: federal funding cuts hit the arts. We check in with the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music after the nonprofit lost its NEA grant.

The White House triggered a sharp increase in tariffs on imported metals on Wednesday. The tax at the border is now 50%. But one trading partner got an exemption: the UK. Our BBC colleague Leanna Byrne joins us to explain. Also on the program: federal funding cuts hit the arts. We check in with the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music after the nonprofit lost its NEA grant.

In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, we delve into the transformative power of sports in shaping young minds. Joining us are Coach Alex Compton and Coach Kevin Dalafu, authors of Wisest Learners: Guiding Your Child's Athletic Journey.With over a decade of experience in coaching, parenting, and education, they offer invaluable insights into how sports can be a powerful tool for teaching young people morals, work ethic, and resilience. Drawing from their extensive backgrounds, Compton and Dalafu discuss how youth sports go beyond physical development, serving as a platform for instilling essential life skills. They share practical strategies for parents and coaches to foster environments where young athletes can thrive both on and off the field. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone involved in the development of young athletes, offering a fresh perspective on the integral role sports play in holistic education. Tune in to explore how guiding young athletes through their sports journey can lead to the cultivation of wisdom, resilience, and character. SPONSOR LINK: The School Me Podcast from NEA