Podcasts about Parliament

PREVIEW STARMER COMPARED TO CROMWELL AS MONARCHY FACES THREATS Colleague Gregory Copley. Gregory Copley analyzes the tension between the British King and Parliament, comparing politician Keir Starmer to Oliver Cromwell. Copley suggests Starmer aims to dismantle the monarchy, while the King must carefully navigate these threats, retaining reserve powers as Commander-in-Chief to prevent civil unrest or stagnation caused by parliamentary taxation.

British officials had a problem: Their American colonists wouldn't stop smuggling. Even after Parliament slashed tea prices and passed laws to make legal imports cheaper, colonists kept buying Dutch and French goods on the black market. So what was really going on? If it wasn't just about saving money, what drove thousands of merchants and consumers to risk fines, seizure, and worse? In this revisited episode, we follow the illicit trade networks that connected colonial port cities to the "Golden Rock,” Sint Eustatius, a tiny Dutch island that became the Atlantic World's busiest smuggling hub. You'll discover why American merchants risked everything to trade there, how these underground networks shaped revolutionary resistance, and what Britain's crackdown on smuggling reveals about the deeper economic and political tensions that ignited the Revolution. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/161 RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

In Ukraine, the Christmas season is being observed even amid war. We hear one story from a Christian ministry leader and Kyiv resident. Also, the Trump Administration has recalled nearly 30 ambassadors and senior embassy officials, serving mostly in African and Asian countries, from their posts. And, a $500 million AI factory is set to open in Armenia. Plus, members of Parliament grant full clearance for Santa Claus to use Ireland's airspace to deliver toys to the country's children. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Imagine Scotland locked in winter's grip: snow whispering across cobbled streets, hearth fires glowing against the dark, families drawn close for warmth. While much of the world fixes its gaze on Christmas Day, Scotland's true winter soul once beat loudest on another night entirely — Hogmanay, New Year's Eve. Ancient, fierce, and alive with ritual, Hogmanay was not simply a celebration. It was survival, identity, and hope rolled into one blazing night. No one knows exactly where the word Hogmanay comes from — perhaps Old French, perhaps Norse, echoes of Yule carried on northern winds. Its origins hardly mattered. The Scots claimed it and it has flourished ever since. In 1560, the Scottish Reformation reshaped the nation. The newly formed Presbyterian Kirk condemned Christmas as a "Popish" feast, and by 1640 Parliament had banned it outright. December 25th became an ordinary working day. For generations, there were no Christmas trees, no carols, no gifts — only cold labour and dark skies. But celebration did not disappear. It moved - to the New Year. Hogmanay became Scotland's great release — a night of fire, song, and superstition when the year itself could be cleansed and reborn. Homes were "redded": floors swept, ashes cleared, debts settled. Only a clean house could welcome a clean future. As midnight approached, the world seemed to hold its breath. Then came first-footing. The first person to cross a threshold after midnight would shape a household's fortune for the year ahead. It had to be a tall, dark-haired visitor — a lingering memory of blond hair Viking terror — carrying gifts heavy with meaning: coal for warmth, bread or black bun for food, salt for flavour, a coin for prosperity, and whisky for cheer. Doors opened. Glasses filled. Neighbours moved from house to house, laughter growing louder as night blurred into morning. Across the Highlands and islands, fire took centre stage. Ancient pagan echoes flared to life as flaming rituals lit the darkness, burning away evil and calling back the sun. Nowhere is this more vivid than Stonehaven, where huge blazing fireballs are swung through the streets by locals - a spectacle of raw power and communal joy that has endured for centuries. Today, Hogmanay has burst onto the world stage. Edinburgh ignites with torchlight processions, roaring street parties, and fireworks crowning the castle sky. Visitors from every corner of the globe feel it — the pulse of something older than the city itself. And yet, beneath the spectacle, the heart remains unchanged. At midnight, hands link. Voices rise. Auld Lang Syne carries across streets, hills, and glens, a song of memory, friendship, and shared humanity. The old year is released. The new one welcomed with thunderous cheers. In Scotland, Hogmanay is more than celebration. It is defiance — a promise that even in the deepest winter, fire will burn, songs will be sung, whisky will warm the blood, and hope will return. It is the past roaring into the present, daring the darkness to linger. So if you ever stand on Scottish soil as the year turns, wrap up against the cold, learn the words of Auld Lang Syn, raise a glass — and step into a night where history, community, and joy collide in one unforgettable moment.

Democracy in the UK is under strain. Many voters feel deeply alienated from politics, believing that those elected to represent them often pursue narrow or personal interests rather than the public good. Political polarisation, intensified by changes in the media landscape, is undermining constructive debate. And for many citizens, it can feel as though money (rather than votes) is what really speaks loudest in politics.Against this backdrop, there is growing interest in how democratic systems might be reformed to function better and become more resilient. A wide range of proposals has emerged, tackling different aspects of democratic decline. While we can't cover them all in a single episode, today's discussion focuses on two specific reform ideas explored in recent articles published in the journal The Political Quarterly.The first examines the role of donations to political parties, asking how political finance shapes power, influence, and public trust in the democratic system. The second looks at the position of smaller parties in the House of Commons, exploring how parliamentary procedures affect their ability to contribute meaningfully to debate and scrutiny.To discuss these ideas, we're joined by the authors of both pieces:Iain McMenamin, Professor of Comparative Politics at Dublin City University, is an expert on political finance and co-author of the article on party donations.Louise Thompson, Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Manchester, is a leading scholar of parliamentary politics and the author of the study on the role of small parties in the Commons.Together, we explore whether reforming party funding and giving smaller parties a stronger voice in Parliament could help rebuild trust, improve representation, and strengthen UK democracy.Mentioned in this episode:‘Unbroken, but Dangerous: The UK's Political Finance Regime and the Rationale for Reform', by Logan De la Torre, Kevin Fahey, and Iain McMenamin 'Modernising the House: Why the 2024 Parliament Highlights the Need to Formalise Party-Group Rights in the House of Commons', by Louise Thompson.  UCL's Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.

Laws to restrict the right to protest in New South Wales after the Bondi terror attack have passed the Parliament after a marathon sitting. A broad coalition of groups has expressed strong opposition, characterising the reforms as overreach and a serious threat to democracy. A constitutional challenge has been announced but the government is standing firm, setting the stage for a High Court challenge.

About Michael Hampton  After studying jazz guitar in high school, an impromptu backstage audition for George Clinton in 1974 earned 17-year-old Michael a seat on the Parliament mothership alongside the immortal Eddie Hazel, under the name "Kidd Funkadelic". Hampton has spent the past half-century playing nearly 400 shows with the band, in 25 countries across 6 continents. Highlights include multiple appearances at world-renowned festivals like Montreux Jazz, Glastonbury, Reading, Woodstock '99, Coachella, Bonnaroo, Roskilde, Lollapalooza, Fuji Rock, and Isle of Wight, and venues like the Apollo Theater, The Fillmore, Royal Albert Hall, Madison Square Garden, The Troubadour, Red Rocks, The Beacon, and Sydney Opera House. Among Hampton's Funkadelic writing credits are group staples like "Who Says a Funk Band Can't Play Rock?!" and "Funk Gets Stronger", both released during the group's late-'70s/early-80s hit run. His lead guitar is also embedded in the DNA of 90s hip-hop's G-Funk movement-Dr. Dre's "Let Me Ride" samples Parliament's "Mothership Connection", Ice Cube's "Bop Gun" borrows elements of Funkadelic's "One Nation Under a Groove" Michael's latest album "Into the Public Domain" is available now on all streaming outlets.  Social Media: www.Instagram.com/michaelwhampton www.youtube.com/@MaWaHa Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Je4BDRuE01NHCoWlw5hG9?si=pECMNHHxT6-tUONc9pbi-g  About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry. Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.comFollow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh For inquiries, contact: musicmatterspodcastshow@gmail.com Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell  voice over intro by Nigel J. Farmer        

EPISODE SUMMARY The first-ever One Shot musical! Broadside pass the time on their last-ditch escape with a game of dice, but the heat of the game brings up the past and all the sins that put them on this train to begin with.  SHOW NOTES Last Train to Bremen One Shot News & Updates One Shot Patreon One Shot TWITCH Back my upcoming game! Follow the cast here! Dillin Lauren Drake Camilla Franklin Noah Samuels Helix RPG Major podcast ----------------------------------------------------- Story Pirates Changemakers Find and call your representatives and be heard (US) Find and call your members of Parliament and be heard (Canada) Find and call your members of Parliament and be heard (UK) ---------------------------------------------------- Editing and sound design by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaghik Manè ⁠and ⁠Helix⁠. Episode Illustrations by ⁠Camilla Franklin.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prince's Sign O' the Times is one of our most requested albums at You'll Hear It. But, there is a certain window of millennial that doesn't really "get" Prince. If that's you, this episode is your on ramp into his music. We start with Prince's earliest albums, tracing his incredible run from 1978 through to 1986. By the time we hit 1987 (around the time our dear mid-millennials were born), you can hear exactly why Sign O' the Times has become so beloved by critics and music-lovers alike.If you're already a Prince fan (like us!), get comfy. Put on your purple rain coat. We talk through the influences we hear all over this music: James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Parliament, Earth, Wind & Fire. We share our apex moments from Sign O' the Times. And yes… we've got a few quibble bits too.We'll be taking a short break in January, and returning with more great episodes in February 2026. We'll be dropping a few special episodes in the meantime, so keep an eye on the feed. 00:00 - Intro Jam: "U Got the Look"02:10 - Welcome + New at Open Studio03:50 - Coming Up Next Season05:10 - How We Make Decisions for the Show08:35 - Why "Sign O' the Times"?11:35 - "Soft and Wet" from For You (1978)14:50 - "I Wanna Be Your Lover" from Prince (1979)17:50 - "Head" from Dirty Mind (1980)19:15 - "Controversy" from Controversy (1981)22:35 - "1999" from 1999 (1982)25:15 - "Purple Rain" from Purple Rain (1984)28:40 - "Raspberry Beret" from Around the World in a Day (1985)29:45 - "Kiss" from Parade (1986)40:20 - "Sign O' the Times"45:40 - "Housequake" 47:20 - "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker"51:50 - "Starfish and Coffee"53:05 - "Slow Love"55:20 - "Hot Thing"57:10 - "U Got the Look"59:25 - Miles on Prince1:02:25 - "If I Was Your Girlfriend"1:04:00 - "Strange Relationship"1:05:20 - "The Cross"1:08:00 - "Adore" 1:09:50 - Apex Moments1:14:55 - Categories1:19:35 - Snobometer1:23:55 - Coming Up on YHI1:24:20 - Outro Jam: "U Got the Look" Play better in 2026 and beyond at Open Studio. Join today with our last BIG savings of the year at openstudiojazz.com/yhi

Is Starmer Abuse Fair Criticism — or Crude and Offensive? #Starmer #UKPolitics #FootballChants #DartsChants #RoyalVarietyShow #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #LIVE Is the abuse aimed at Keir Starmer now fair political criticism — or has it crossed into something crude and offensive? From "wanker" chants at football grounds and darts events, to his name being loudly booed at the Royal Variety Show in front of Prince William, hostility towards the Prime Minister is no longer confined to social media or fringe protests. It's public, audible, and increasingly mainstream. Tonight's debate asks uncomfortable questions: Are these chants a legitimate expression of public anger, or a breakdown in political respect? Does mass ridicule signal democratic accountability — or cultural contempt? Can a sitting Prime Minister recover once he becomes a figure of mockery? Or is Keir Starmer already a dead man walking in the eyes of the British public, regardless of polls or Parliament? This is not about politeness. It's about power, legitimacy, and what public humiliation really means in modern British politics. #KeirStarmer #Starmer #UKPolitics #BritishPolitics #StarmerAbuse #FootballChants #DartsChants #RoyalVarietyShow #PrinceWilliam #PoliticalAnger #PublicBacklash #DeadManWalking #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #LIVE Keir Starmer, Starmer, UK politics, British politics, Starmer abuse, football chants, darts chants, Royal Variety Show, Prince William, political anger, public backlash, dead man walking, Jon Gaunt, Jon Gaunt TV, LIVE This is political blogging and hard-hitting social commentary from Triple Sony Gold Award-winning talk radio legend, Jon Gaunt — former host on BBC, Talk Radio, and Sky News. On Jon Gaunt TV, we cut through the noise and say what others won't. No political correctness. No censorship. Just real conversations that matter.

First, The Indian Express' Amitabh Sinha talks about Parliament's consideration of a rewrite of India's nuclear power rulebook, a move that could change who builds and maintains nuclear power plants in the country. Next, we speak to The Indian Express' Himanshu Harsh about a brutal assault in Bihar that began as a suspicion of theft, and ended in a man's death. (12:35)In the end, we take a look at data on political funding showing how corporate donations through electoral trusts surged this year. (18:15)Hosted by Ichha SharmaWritten and produced by Shashank Bhargava, Niharika Nanda, and Ichha SharmaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

EPISODE SUMMARY The first-ever One Shot musical! Broadside pass the time on their last-ditch escape with a game of dice, but the heat of the game brings up the past and all the sins that put them on this train to begin with.  SHOW NOTES Last Train to Bremen One Shot News & Updates One Shot Patreon One Shot TWITCH Back my upcoming game! Follow the cast here! Dillin Lauren Drake Camilla Franklin Noah Samuels Helix RPG Major podcast ----------------------------------------------------- Story Pirates Changemakers Find and call your representatives and be heard (US) Find and call your members of Parliament and be heard (Canada) Find and call your members of Parliament and be heard (UK) ---------------------------------------------------- Editing and sound design by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaghik Manè ⁠and ⁠Helix⁠. Episode Illustrations by ⁠Camilla Franklin.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

STARMER'S BANANA REPUBLIC | HE MUST BE DEPOSED  #Starmer #BananaRepublic #UKPolitics #BBCBias #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #Live #FreeSpeech #HateCrimeLaws #BBCBias  Today's live show lays out the case that under Keir Starmer, Britain is being reshaped away from constitutional democracy and toward something far more dangerous — a system where power flows downward from the state, not upward from the people.  This is not about personality. It's about how Starmer governs, what he tolerates, and what his system incentivises . We examine how Starmer's leadership is marked by: • Elections treated as an inconvenience rather than a mandate • Governing while sidelining or ignoring the House of Commons • Abandoning manifesto commitments once power is secured • Criminalising "offensive" political speech • Expanding police powers through vague and subjective hate crime laws • Undermining trial by jury in favour of administrative efficiency • Handing Ofcom sweeping control over online speech • Regulating dissent via unelected bodies instead of Parliament We also address selective enforcement and cultural engineering: • Ideological "re-education" of boys on misogyny • While ignoring or downplaying Pakistani grooming gangs • FGM, forced marriage, sectarian coercion, and parallel legal cultures • Equality before the law replaced by political fear and silence And the wider system surrounding Starmer: • Media narrative control and framing, especially the role of the BBC • Loyal but incompetent appointments beneath the leadership • Weakening of the family and replacement with the state • Denial and rewriting of British history as shame • Expansion of welfare dependency to create political compliance • Use of foreign war — Ukraine / Russia — as moral cover and domestic distraction This is not left vs right. It's Keir Starmer vs democratic consent. What does "deposed" mean? It means politically removed — through Parliament, party mechanisms, elections, and sustained lawful public pressure. Not violence. Not chaos. Democracy correcting itself before it's too late.  If you think this case is wrong, challenge it. If you think it's exaggerated, defend the record. But don't pretend this is normal.

In this week's episode of Wise_N_Nerdy, Charles and Joe kick things off with the Question of the Week: “Which fictional character would make the best podcast guest — and why?” Joe goes with a timeless classic—Space Ghost—and Devocite immediately backs him up. Charles shoots for the brilliantly unhinged and selects Rick Sanchez, because what could possibly go wrong inviting Rick onto a podcast?With the ceremonial roll of the dice, the chaos begins as the hosts dive into a mountain of bad dad jokes. Devocite delivers his signature groan-worthy punches, Bob jumps in with his own comedic ammunition, Joe brings the heat, and even Charles drops a rare joke of his own. If you love puns that hurt so good, this round is pure gold.The dice then pull the show into the Parliament of Papas, where Charles and Joe unpack one of adulthood's hardest lessons: knowing when to say no. From friends to coworkers to the people you really want to help but maybe shouldn't, they discuss personal boundaries, burnout, expectations, and how to balance compassion with self-preservation.Next comes Daddy, Tell Me A Story, where Joe takes listeners on a whirlwind chapter of his life—graduating college, landing a new job, and moving in with his in-laws all in the same week. It's heartfelt, funny, and relatable for anyone who's ever had life come at them fast.Then it's time for What Are You Nerding Out About? Joe gushes over a new wholesome romantasy anime, Pass The Monster Meat, Milady, a delightful blend of magical creatures, charming relationships, and cozy fantasy vibes. Charles isn't nerding out this week, but he opens up in an honest moment about taking steps to improve his mental health through therapy—reminding listeners that growth takes many forms.Finally, the show wraps with How Do I…?, as the dads tackle burnout and lack of motivation. They share strategies for rebuilding momentum, protecting your energy, and reconnecting with the things that make life meaningful. It's encouraging, practical, and a great reminder to Find your FAMdom—the communities and passions that lift you up.Wise_N_Nerdy: Where Fatherhood Meets Fandom

House of Read, a beautiful coffee shop on Parliament street, is Dublin's oldest merchant house. The business once began on Crane Lane, where Richard goes to meet Clem Kenny, the owner of the building.

rWotD Episode 3152: Thomas Pitt of Boconnoc Welcome to random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia's vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Saturday, 20 December 2025, is Thomas Pitt of Boconnoc.Thomas Pitt (c. 1705 – 17 July 1761), of Boconnoc, Cornwall, was a British landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1727 and 1761. He was Lord Warden of the Stannaries from 1742 to 1751. Pitt was the grandson and namesake of the better known Thomas Pitt and the son of Robert Pitt, MP, of Boconnoc, near Lostwithiel in Cornwall. His mother was Harriet Villiers, daughter of Edward FitzGerald-Villiers and the Irish heiress Katherine FitzGerald. Thomas Pitt was the elder brother of William Pitt the Elder. He succeeded his father in 1727 to his estates, including Boconnoc.As head of the family, Pitt inherited both his grandfather's immense fortune and his parliamentary boroughs - he had the complete power to nominate both MPs at Old Sarum and one of the two at Okehampton, as well as considerable influence in at least two Cornish boroughs, Camelford and Grampound. He had himself elected Member of Parliament for Okehampton in 1727, the first election after he came of age, and represented the borough until 1754; but on a number of occasions he was also elected for Old Sarum, which meant that when he chose to sit for Okehampton the Old Sarum seat was free to offer at a by-election to somebody else who had failed to get into Parliament.Pitt was Assay master of the Stannaries from March 1738 to February 1742 and Lord Warden of the Stannaries from February 1742 to March 1751, when the Cornish Stannary Parliament met for the last time.Pitt was ambitious for political influence and, attaching himself to the retinue of Frederick, Prince of Wales, managed the general elections of 1741 and 1747 in Cornwall in the Prince's interests; but this involved massive expenditure - especially at the notoriously-corrupt Grampound, where he spent huge sums both on bribing the voters and on lawsuits attempting to deprive the most rapacious of their votes. By 1751 he had bankrupted himself, and the death that year of the Prince of Wales destroyed his hopes of securing influence or patronage for his efforts. He mortgaged his boroughs to the Treasury, allowing the government to name two MPs at Old Sarum and one at Okehampton in return for a pension of £1000 a year. After sitting briefly for Old Sarum in the 1754 Parliament, he resigned his seat and fled the country.Returning to England in 1761, however, Pitt persuaded the government to allow him to be once more elected for Old Sarum - a temporary measure, he promised, to prevent his being arrested for debt until he was able satisfy his creditors. (MPs were immune from civil arrest.) He promised to relinquish the seat at the earliest possible moment and allow the government to name his replacement in accordance with the original arrangement; but he died a few months later, still MP for Old Sarum.Pitt had married, c.1731, Christian, the daughter of Sir Thomas Lyttelton, 4th Baronet, M. P., of Hagley, Worcestershire and the sister of Lord Lyttelton. They had two sons and two daughters. He afterwards married, in 1761, Maria, the daughter of General Murray.Pitt died on 17 July 1761. His only surviving son was the first Baron Camelford, who repudiated his father's arrangement for Old Sarum, and chose himself as MP when he inherited the borough.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:17 UTC on Saturday, 20 December 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Thomas Pitt of Boconnoc on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Salli.

Listen to the latest SBS Hindi news from India. 19/12/2025

In the aftermath of the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack that killed at least 16 people, Sydney's Indian community gathered in Harris Park to mourn the victims and call for unity. Federal and state Members of Parliament, community leaders and police urged calm, vigilance and trust. Meanwhile Australia debates tougher gun laws and misinformation risks, as state government pledges action for social cohesion and safety.

The federal and state governments will share the cost of a national gun buyback and impose limits on the number of firearms any individual can own - but the Prime Minister says there’s no need to recall federal Parliament. Plus, NSW Police say arrests of seven men were linked to ‘extremist ideology’ in today’s headlines from The Australian.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament's youngest MP, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke of Te Pāti Māori, has teased a coming Waitangi Day announcement with an Instagram post to her 271K Instagram followers. The post alluded to a collaboration between herself and Green MP Tamatha Paul. And, as election year approaches questions of Winston Peter's political alliance come to the forefront. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year Parliament ends in a more or less identical way, with the adjournment debate. To prove it, we sift its moments using previous years' descriptors. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

The prime minister of Denmark apologized for the forced contraception of thousands of Indigenous women in Greenland dating back to the 1960s. The Danish government is also ending problematic parent competency tests associated with disproportionately high numbers of babies being taken away from Indigenous mothers. Both milestones come as Greenland — an autonomous territory of Danish rule — is making strides toward independence. The Trump administration has also made public comments about exerting U.S. control over the mineral-rich territory occupied almost entirely by Indigenous Inuit residents. We'll talk with Greenlanders about how these developments address Denmark's complicated past and what remains to be done. GUESTS Najannguaq Hegelund, chair for SILA 360 Johannes Geisler (Inuk), Greenlandic parent Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam, Member of the Parliament of Greenland Ujammiugaq Engell, museum director for the Nuuk Local Museum Break 1 Music: Ikitaa (song) PIQSIQ (artist) Break 2 Music: Hug Room (song) Chuck Copenace (artist) Oshki Manitou (album)

This episode pulls back the curtain on daily life inside a country under siege. From a darkened apartment in Kyiv, Ukrainian Member of Parliament and mother Halyna Yanchenko describes nights without electricity, heat, water, or internet. Elevators stop. Food cannot be cooked. Homes go cold. This is not a war fought only on front lines or maps. It is a deliberate campaign aimed at civilians, families, and children, designed to exhaust, frighten, and break a society from the inside out. In her own words, Yanchenko explains what it means to raise children in darkness, and why Ukraine says this is not just war, but an attempt to erase civilian life itself.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Parliament has passed the Sustainable Harnessing & Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill. Episode 1773 of #CutTheClutter explains Modi govt's SHANTI Bill, the changes it brings in & how it opens the nuclear power sector for private players. ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta also details how the SHANTI Bill is a leap ahead of UPA-era law.----more----Watch CutTheClutter on India - U.S. Joint Statement here: https://youtu.be/jebvoMV3D3g

Possibly the longest shownotes in history thanks to Gemini 3 Pro. Bless the swamp from which this AI slop emerged and enjoy the episode. Or just read this, I suppose. The title sucks terribly. Do better, Gemmo! Show Notes with Time‑Shifted Timestamps(All timestamps below have been shifted forward by 25 seconds to allow for theme music, as requested.)00:00 – Welcome, Cricket and the Pink Ball at the Gabba00:00:25 – Jack the Insider (Joel Hill) opens episode 137 of The Two Jacks and notes they're recording just after midday on 4 December.00:00:36 – Quick chat about the looming day–night Test at the Gabba and the prospect it could finish very quickly.00:00:44 – Hong Kong Jack explains why dusk session timings in Hong Kong line up perfectly with “Asahi o'clock”.00:01:07 – The Jacks wonder which pink ball is in use – Duke or Kookaburra – and what that means for Mitchell Starc and the batters.00:01:30 – They flag that full cricket chat will come later in the episode.Tai Po Fire, Mourning and Accountability in Hong Kong00:01:53 – Jack the Insider pivots from sport to tragedy: an update on the Tai Po (Typo) fire in Hong Kong, now with 159 dead, from ages 1 to 97.00:02:07 – Hong Kong Jack describes the government‑ordered three‑day citywide mourning period, mass flower layings, official ceremonies and a three‑minute silence.00:02:35 – Discussion of schools cancelling Christmas parties and staff functions in solidarity; a sense the tragedy is being taken seriously across society.00:02:55 – Hong Kong Jack outlines the judge‑led inquiry: not only into the Tai Po fire's causes, but also systemic issues in building management and renovation contracts on large estates, with hints of corruption.00:03:30 – Evidence emerging that the green construction cloth lacked proper fire retardant and that flammable materials were used to seal lift wells, helping the fire move inside.00:04:23 – Bodies, including one man, found in stairwells and lobbies; Hong Kong Jack cautions against jumping to conclusions before investigators reconstruct the fire.00:04:53 – Arrest tally climbs to around 12, mostly consultants/contractors involved in management and renovations rather than labourers.00:05:35 – Hong Kong Jack notes large numbers of displaced residents in hotels and temporary accommodation and outlines generous government payments to families of foreign domestic workers killed (about HKD 800,000 per family).00:06:05 – A harrowing vignette: a Javanese truck driver receives a final phone call from his wife, trapped with her employers' baby, seeking forgiveness because there is no escape.00:06:35 – The Jacks reflect on the horror of the story and promise to revisit the inquiry as more facts emerge.Australia's Under‑16 Social Media Restrictions & VPNs00:06:50 – Jack the Insider turns to domestic Australian politics: the under‑16 social media restrictions about to kick in.00:07:05 – He notes overwhelming parental support (around 80%) but says the government is now “hosing down expectations” and reframing the policy as a long‑term “cultural change” effort.00:07:30 – Platforms not yet on the restricted list – Roblox and Discord – are flagged as problematic globally for child sexual exploitation, illustrating rollout gaps.00:08:05 – They discuss technical enforcement: existing account age data, length of time on a platform and the likelihood that some adults will be wrongly flagged but quickly reinstated.00:08:35 – Jack the Insider explains the government's theory of cultural change: a generation that grows up never having had TikTok or Instagram under 16 “won't know what they're missing”.00:09:00 – Hong Kong Jack compares Australia to mainland China's efforts to control the internet and points out China still can't stamp out VPN usage, predicting similar Australian difficulties.00:09:25 – Jack the Insider clarifies that VPNs are not illegal in Australia; about 27% of connected Australians already use one, probably now closer to a third.00:09:55 – He strongly recommends everyone use a VPN for privacy and location masking, and warns that good VPNs now explicitly advise not to choose Australia as an exit node because of the new regime.00:11:00 – They note that Malaysia and several European countries (Denmark, Spain, France and EU initiatives) are eyeing similar under‑age social media restrictions, with large fines (Australia's up to about AUD 50 million or 1% of turnover).00:12:20 – Meta is already scanning and booting under‑age users, but teenagers are sharing tips on evading age checks. Jack the Insider describes various age‑verification methods: selfie‑based AI checks, account age, and Roblox's move to ban under‑15s.00:13:45 – Anecdote about Macau security doing ID checks: Hong Kong Jack's son is checked for being over 21, while Jack's own age makes ID unnecessary—an amusing generational moment.00:14:55 – The Jacks agree the policy is unlikely to stop kids having TikTok accounts but might “nudge” behaviour toward less screen time.00:16:00 – Jack the Insider stresses the real dangers of the internet—particularly organised child sexual exploitation rings like the notorious “764” network—and questions whether blunt prohibition can solve these issues.Bruce Lehrmann, Appeals and Costs00:18:22 – They move to the Bruce Lehrmann defamation saga: his appeal has failed and he's likely millions of dollars in debt.00:18:45 – Discussion of the prospect of a High Court appeal, the low likelihood of leave being granted, and the sense that further appeals are “good money after bad”.00:19:22 – Jack the Insider notes outstanding criminal charges against Lehrmann in Toowoomba relating to an alleged statutory rape, and outlines the allegation about removing a condom after earlier consensual sex.00:20:07 – They discuss the probable difficulty of prosecuting that case, and then pivot to the practical question: who is funding Lehrmann's ongoing legal adventures?00:20:35 – Hong Kong Jack explains why some lawyers or firms may take on such cases for profile, despite poor prospects of payment, and they canvass talk of crowdfunding efforts.00:21:07 – The Jacks agree Lehrmann should have left the public stage after the criminal trial was discontinued; now, bankruptcy in 2026 looks likely.00:21:58 – Limited sympathy for Channel 10 or Lisa Wilkinson; more sympathy reserved for Brittany Higgins and Fiona Brown, who are seen as exceptions in an otherwise “pretty ordinary” cast.NACC, Commissioner Brereton and Conflicts of Interest00:23:24 – The Jacks turn to the National Anti‑Corruption Commission (NACC) and Commissioner Paul Brereton's side work for Defence.00:24:03 – Hong Kong Jack recounts Senate Estimates footage where officials first claimed Brereton's Defence consulting work occurred outside NACC hours, then later admitted more than ten instances (possibly close to 20) during NACC office time.00:25:25 – Discussion of conflict‑of‑interest: the Commissioner maintaining a paid Defence relationship while heading the body that may need to investigate Defence.00:25:57 – The Jacks question the tenability of his position, especially given the NACC's opaque nature, its minimal public reporting obligations and a salary around AUD 800k–900k plus expenses.The Struggling Australian and Global Economy, Productivity and ANZ00:26:20 – Jack the Insider outlines Australia's sluggish economy: inflation remains sticky, GDP growth is flat, and government spending is driving much of the growth.00:27:00 – They discuss a small, tentative rise in productivity (around 0.2% for the quarter) and the Treasurer's caution that productivity figures are volatile.00:27:57 – Hong Kong Jack stresses that historically, economies escape malaise through productivity‑driven growth; there is no easy alternative, in Australia or globally.00:28:23 – Broader global picture: the US isn't in outright recession but is crawling; Europe is sluggish; Poland is a rare bright spot but rapid growth brings its own risks.ANZ and Post‑Royal Commission Failures00:28:54 – Focus shifts to ANZ's continuing governance and compliance failures after the Banking Royal Commission.00:29:30 – Jack the Insider shares a personal story about dealing with ANZ's deceased estates department following his mother and stepfather's deaths and the difficulty in releasing funds to pay for funerals.00:30:20 – Justice Jonathan Beach's scathing remarks: ANZ is still mishandling deceased estates, charging fees and interest to dead customers, despite years of warnings.00:31:34 – They recall Royal Commission revelations about “fees for no service” and charging the dead, plus ANZ's recent exclusion from certain Commonwealth bond business due to rorting.00:32:12 – The Jacks see this as a clear culture problem: five years on, the basics still aren't fixed, suggesting inadequate investment in compliance and little genuine reform.UK Justice Backlog and Curtailing Jury Trials00:33:05 – The conversation moves to the UK's proposal to restrict jury trials for offences likely to attract less than a two‑year sentence.00:33:35 – Hong Kong Jack notes the English historical attachment to jury trials dating back to Magna Carta, and that defendants have long had the right to opt for a jury if imprisonment is possible.00:34:38 – Justice Minister David Lammy, once a fierce critic of similar Tory proposals, is now advancing the idea himself, creating a political shambles.00:35:02 – They weigh up pros and cons of judge‑only trials for complex financial crimes, where juries may struggle to follow long, technical evidence.00:36:10 – Jack the Insider points out that even judges can find such cases difficult, but there is at least some expertise advantage.00:36:22 – They revisit the Southport riots and harsh sentences for people inciting attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers, arguing that common‑sense community judgment via juries may be better in such politically charged cases.00:37:26 – Ultimately, they doubt the reforms will meaningfully reduce the UK's huge court backlog and see it as another noisy but ineffective response.Ethics in Politics, Misleading Voters and the “Ethics Czar” Problem00:39:21 – Discussion moves to the UK budget, alleged “black holes” and whether the Chancellor misled voters about a AUD 22 billion‑equivalent gap.00:40:14 – They examine calls for the Prime Minister's ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, to rule on ministerial truthfulness, and Hong Kong Jack's discomfort with handing moral judgment to “anointed officials”.00:40:51 – The Jacks argue accountability should rest with Parliament and ultimately voters, not appointed ethics czars, whether in the Johnson era or now.00:41:36 – In Australia, Tony Burke's handling of “ISIS brides” returning to Australia is cited: he asked officials to leave a meeting so he could talk politically with constituents. The Jacks see this as legitimate hard‑headed politics in a very complex area rather than an ethical scandal.00:43:03 – Jack the Insider defends the principle that Australian citizenship must mean something, especially for children of ISIS‑linked families; stripping citizenship or abandoning citizens overseas can be a dangerous precedent.00:44:08 – Anecdotes segue into a broader reflection: politicians have always misled voters to some extent. They quote stories about Huey Long and Graham Richardson's defence of political lying.00:45:24 – They swap observations about “tells” when leaders like Malcolm Turnbull or Julia Gillard were lying; Scott Morrison, they say, had no visible tell at all.00:46:22 – Cabinet solidarity is framed as institutionally sanctioned lying: ministers must publicly back decisions they privately opposed, and yet the system requires that to function.Ukraine War, Peace Efforts and Putin's Rhetoric00:46:42 – The Jacks discuss reports of draft peace deals between Ukraine, the US and Russia that Moscow rejected over wording and guarantees.00:47:17 – Jack the Insider describes a gaunt Foreign Ministry spokesman, not Sergey Lavrov, delivering Russia's objections, sparking rumours about Lavrov's status.00:47:56 – Putin goes on TV to reassure Russians they're winning, threatens destruction of Europe if conflict escalates and claims territorial gains Russia doesn't actually hold.00:48:17 – Hong Kong Jack argues European fantasies of imposing a “strategic defeat” on Russia are unrealistic; retaking all occupied regions and Crimea would exact unbearable costs in lives and money.00:49:33 – The Jacks infer that Putin will eventually need to “sell” a negotiated deal as a victory to his own public; his current bluster is partly domestic theatre.00:49:50 – They note some odd, Trump‑like US talk of structuring peace as a “business deal” with economic incentives for Russia, which they find an odd fit for a brutal territorial war.Trump's Polling Collapse, Economic Credibility and 202600:50:13 – Attention turns to Donald Trump's polling in his second term: his net approval is negative across all major polls, in some cases approaching minus 20.00:51:04 – Jack the Insider highlights Trump's recent promises of USD 2,000 cheques to every American plus no income tax—claims they see as fantastical and electorally risky when voters inevitably ask “where's my money?”.00:51:39 – They compare Trump's denial of inflation and cost‑of‑living pressures to Biden's earlier mistakes in minimising pain; telling people “everything's cheaper now” when their lived experience contradicts that is politically fatal.00:52:34 – Hong Kong Jack notes history shows that insisting things are fine when voters know they aren't only accelerates your polling collapse.00:53:02 – They briefly touch on a special election in Tennessee: a safe Trump district where the Republican margin has shrunk. They caution against over‑reading the result but note softening support.00:54:14 – CNN's Harry Enten is quoted: this has been Trump's worst ten‑day polling run of the second term, with net approval among independents plunging to about minus 43 and a negative 34 on inflation.00:55:15 – They speculate about what this means for the 2026 midterms: Trump won't be on the ballot but will loom large. A future Republican president, they note, might still face governing without a Congressional majority.Disability, Elite Colleges and the Accommodation Arms Race00:56:07 – The Jacks discuss Derek Thompson's forthcoming Atlantic piece on surging disability registrations at elite US colleges: more than 20% at Brown and Harvard, 34% at Amherst and 38% at Stanford.00:57:10 – Hong Kong Jack explains how disability status yields exam and assessment advantages: extra time, flexible deadlines, better housing, etc., and why wealthy students are more likely to secure diagnoses.00:57:48 – They cite intake breakdowns at one college: small numbers for visual/hearing disabilities, larger numbers for autism, neurological conditions and especially psychological or emotional disabilities—suggesting a big shift in what counts as disabling.00:58:45 – Jack the Insider counters that many of these conditions were under‑diagnosed or ignored in the 1970s and 80s; growing recognition doesn't automatically mean fraud.00:59:40 – He brings in chronic conditions like ME/CFS: historically treated as malingering or “all in the head”, now increasingly accepted as serious and often disabling.01:00:02 – Hong Kong Jack quotes a Stanford professor asking, “At what point can we say no? 50%? 60%?”—underlining institutional concern that the system can't cope if a majority claim accommodations.01:01:05 – They wrestle with the employer's problem: how to interpret grades achieved with significant accommodations, and whether workplaces must also provide similar allowances.01:02:21 – Jack the Insider's answer is essentially yes: good employers should accommodate genuine disability, and it's on applicants to be upfront. He stresses diversity of ability and that many high‑achieving disabled people are valuable hires.01:03:40 – Hong Kong Jack remains more sceptical, shaped by long legal experience of people gaming systems, but agrees lawyers shouldn't be the priestly class defining morality.Cricket: India–South Africa, NZ–West Indies, BBL and the Gabba01:04:25 – They pivot back to sport: a successful South African tour of India, including a series win in Tests and a 1–1 one‑day series with big hundreds from Virat Kohli, Gaikwad and Aiden Markram.01:05:31 – Quick update on New Zealand's Test against the West Indies in Christchurch, with New Zealand rebuilding in their second innings through Ravindra and Latham.Women's Cricket and Phoebe Litchfield01:06:19 – Jack the Insider raves about the Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat game and singles out Phoebe Litchfield as the best women's batter in the world: technically sound, not a slogger, scoring “runs for fun” and hailing from Orange.Gabba Day–Night Test: Australia v England01:06:50 – With Usman Khawaja out, they discuss the unchanged 12 and whether Bo Webster plays, potentially pushing Travis Head up to open.01:07:39 – For England, Mark Wood hasn't recovered; they bring in Will Jacks, a batting all‑rounder and part‑time spinner, to bolster the order but lose their fastest bowler.01:08:11 – If you win the toss? Bat first, they say—if the conditions allow—and look to control the game with the bat for four hours or more.01:08:44 – They caution that with recent heavy Queensland rain, the pitch could be juicy whether you bat first or second; the key is getting cricket on Saturday.01:08:48 – Hong Kong Jack rates this as the best England attack to tour Australia in a long time, especially with Wood and Archer firing in Perth, although Archer's pace dropped markedly in the second innings.01:09:36 – They dissect England's first‑Test collapse: at one stage it was an “unlosable” match according to Ponting and the stats, but reckless strokes from set batters (Duckett, Pope, Root, Brook) handed it back to Australia.01:09:55 – Mitchell Starc's extraordinary home day–night record—averaging around 17 with the pink ball—looms as a big factor.Franchise Cricket, Empty Stadiums and Saving the Red‑Ball Game01:12:11 – Jack the Insider describes watching the ILT20 in the UAE: near‑empty stands, disengaged fielders and an overall “soulless” spectacle aimed solely at TV viewers in South Asia and the Gulf.01:13:49 – Despite his love of cricket, he worries this is a glimpse of the future if the longer formats aren't protected and nurtured. He pleads, in effect, for saving Test and other red‑ball cricket from being cannibalised by anonymous franchise leagues.Class and Cricket: Private Schools, Clubs and Stuart Broad01:14:11 – The Jacks explore the class divide in English cricket: all but one of England's Perth XI finished school at private schools; the sole exception is captain Ben Stokes, who grew up partly in New Zealand.01:15:05 – In contrast, Australia's pathway still runs largely through club cricket, though private schools with professional coaching (like Cranbrook) give some players a head start.01:15:47 – Jack the Insider notes Sam Conscientious (Sam Constance / Cummins reference is implied) spending two years at Cranbrook, reflecting how elite schools build academies with ex‑first‑class coaches that state systems can't match.01:16:20 – They agree state‑school kids like the Waugh twins still come through club cricket, but in England, some top private schools effectively operate as de facto county academies.01:17:31 – Anecdotes about Stuart Broad: a likeable “nepo baby” of former England player Chris Broad, who was toughened up by a formative season at Hoppers Crossing in Melbourne sub‑district cricket. Local players loved him.01:18:20 – Hong Kong Jack recommends Broad's appearance on The Front Bar as essential viewing for understanding his character and the cultural contrasts between English and Australian cricket.01:18:40 – More class culture: Chris Cowdrey, briefly England captain, shows up in full whites and blazer to toss with Viv Richards in surf shorts and thongs. When Cowdrey starts reading out England's XI, Viv cuts him off: “Mate, I don't care who you play, it's not going to make any difference.”F1, Oscar Piastri's Bad Luck and AFLW Glory01:21:11 – Brief detour to Formula 1: Oscar Piastri's season with McLaren seems dogged by terrible luck and questionable team decisions that have cost him a near‑certain championship.01:21:57 – Jack the Insider reflects on how F1 drivers like Piastri have effectively been in vehicles since toddlerhood, climbing the ladder from go‑karts to supercars.01:22:50 – They express hope he can clinch the title in the final race, but wryly note that F1 rarely grants fairytale endings.AFLW01:22:23 – AFLW: North Melbourne complete an undefeated season to win the premiership, comfortably beating Brisbane in the grand final.01:23:07 – Hong Kong Jack praises it as the best AFLW season yet, with marked improvement in depth and skill across the competition. North remain the benchmark everyone else must chase.Wrap‑Up, Tom Stoppard Anecdote and Season Timing01:23:49 – The Jacks look ahead to watching the Gabba Test, beers on ice for Jack the Insider and the late Hong Kong dusk session for Hong Kong Jack.01:24:01 – They note the death of playwright Tom Stoppard at 88 and share a favourite story: Spielberg offers him the Jaws screenplay; Stoppard declines because he's writing a play—“actually for BBC Radio”.01:25:11 – Final reflections on how Stoppard would have improved Jaws, then a note that the podcast will soon reach its final episodes for the year, with plans to feature listener feedback before a short summer break.01:25:56 – Jack the Insider signs off, thanking listeners and Hong Kong Jack, and promises they'll be back next week.

Environment and business groups says work has just begun to ensure Australia's environment laws are more effective in practice. Parliament passed the first major overhaul in two decades this year, but stakeholders say the devil may be in the detail.

We hear from Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, along with ACT Party Leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour.

We've got some Christmas messages from the political leaders at Parliament to bring you throughout the programme. First up we have the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and Labour leader, Chris Hipkins.

As Parliament wraps up for 2025 – Sam and Anne reflect on a tumultuous year in British politics, looking at the highlights but mainly the lowlights.The duo use their ‘glass half empty, glass half full' approach to gauge if anyone can look forward to 2026 with pleasure or look back to 2025 in horror.Politics at Sam and Anne's will be back for a special look ahead episode to 2026 on Monday 29th December, with normal daily service resuming on Monday 5th January. 

Dr. Todd Boyd, USC media studies professor, a.k.a. “Notorious Ph.D.,” celebrates today's 50th anniversary of the seminal Parliament album “Mothership Connection” and shares his favorite hip-hop albums of 2025.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Join Mr. Christopher and NPG/Soul Asylum drummer Michael Bland as they discuss the 50th anniversary of Parliament's Mothership Connection, the 11th anniversary of D'Angelo's Black Messiah, and also chat about their first vinyl memory and first album bought with their money. Plus tons of other topics including what it must be like to be famous and under total scrutiny, overtone singing, and the magic of nostrils.

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for December 16, 2025. 0:30 A comment on The View is lighting up the airwaves — and not in a good way. We break down Whoopi Goldberg's comment that a dog would do a better job running the FBI than Director Kash Patel. But while the insult makes headlines, the facts tell a very different story. Under Patel’s leadership, the FBI has disrupted terror plots, stopped bomb threats, and arrested top fugitives — results critics conveniently ignore. This isn’t just about a Trump appointee or a TV soundbite. It’s about media figures undermining public trust in federal law enforcement at a moment of real national security threats — and replacing serious debate with cheap insults. 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. According to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs in the United States rose by 64,000 positions last month. President Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC for deceptively editing his speech from January 6, 2021. Judge Hannah Dugan, who allegedly tried to help an illegal alien avoid being arrested and deported by ICE, is on trial herself this week after she was charged with obstruction. 13:00 Phil Mickelson isn’t backing down — and his latest comments on gun control are setting off alarms around the world. After the deadly Bondi Beach attack in Australia, the golf legend pointed out an uncomfortable truth: the terrorists didn’t seem remotely hindered by some of the strictest gun laws on the planet. In countries where law-abiding citizens are disarmed, criminals and extremists know exactly who won’t be shooting back. The conversation cuts through the familiar calls for “more laws” and asks the harder question — why do politicians keep blaming legal gun owners when violent criminals ignore the law entirely? 16:00 We ask the American Mamas what they think about Erika Kirk's meeting with Candace Owens. Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, sat down privately with Candace Owens after claims and speculation threatened to fracture the conservative movement during a moment of national mourning. With no cameras, no microphones, and no social media theatrics, the two women chose conversation over chaos. American Mamas Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson weigh in on why the meeting mattered, how unchecked speculation can poison unity, and why resolving conflict face-to-face may be the only way to stop grief from being weaponized. If you'd like to ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button. 22:30 Cheap gas isn’t just a talking point — it’s a pay raise, especially for working families living paycheck to paycheck. We break down why lower gas prices hit far beyond the pump, driving down grocery costs, transportation expenses, and overall inflation. When fuel gets cheaper, everything gets cheaper — and the people who feel it most are the poorest Americans. With GasBuddy projecting sub-$3 gas prices for Christmas Day, the conversation turns to energy policy, economic relief, and why “drill, baby, drill” is being framed as compassion, not politics. 26:00 Republicans are finally putting a healthcare alternative on the table — 15 years after Obamacare, but better late than never. We Dig Deep into the GOP’s new “Lower Healthcare Premiums for All Americans Act,” what it claims to fix, and why no one should expect a miracle. From soaring premiums and broken Obamacare promises to patient choice, small-business relief, and cutting red tape, the conversation centers on whether this plan can actually move the system in a better direction. It’s a hard look at healthcare reform, government control versus freedom, and why real healthcare isn’t delivered by Washington — it’s delivered between doctors and patients. 32:00 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 A brutal attack in a Savannah public park leaves a woman with third-degree burns — and the mayor’s response is sparking outrage. We react to a shocking chemical assault at Forsyth Park, the victim’s ongoing recovery, and a moment from city leadership that many are calling cold, dismissive, and indefensible. Instead of compassion or accountability, the mayor’s remarks raise serious questions about leadership, public safety, and basic human decency. 35:30 Education freedom is gaining momentum — and it may be one of the real bright spots in the national conversation. We break down what “education freedom” actually means, why it matters to working families, and why support is growing across the country. From open enrollment and school choice to education savings accounts and tax credits, the discussion cuts through the buzzwords and gets to the core issue: parents having real control over how and where their children are educated. 39:30 Buy now, pay later sounds convenient — but is it quietly training Americans to spend money they don’t actually have? We dig into the rise of “split payment” apps and why turning everyday purchases into installment plans may be more dangerous than credit cards. It’s a conversation about debt, discipline, and how removing the “pain of paying” can lead to overspending — exactly as the companies behind it intend. Just because you can break a purchase into payments doesn’t mean you should. 41:30 And we finish off today’s show with a reminder that American resistance didn’t begin in a courtroom — it began in a harbor. On this day in history, the Boston Tea Party marked a turning point in the fight against taxation without representation, as ordinary colonists took an extraordinary stand against government overreach. Disguised, defiant, and determined, the Sons of Liberty sent a clear message to Parliament that freedom would not be negotiated quietly. Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Professor Jonathan Healey details King Charles I's failed 1642 attempt to impeach and arrest five MPs, a move driven by Queen Henrietta Maria calling him a "poltroon." This "cinematic" blunder, betrayed by Lady Carlisle, unified Parliament against the King, marking a decisive step toward the English Civil War. 1650

        Professor Jonathan Healey details King Charles I's failed 1642 attempt to impeach and arrest five MPs, a move driven by Queen Henrietta Maria calling him a "poltroon." This "cinematic" blunder, betrayed by Lady Carlisle, unified Parliament against the King, marking a decisive step toward the English Civil War. 1649

SOMALIA PUNTLAND 2022 Ambassador Hussein Haqqani and Bill Roggio discuss global terror outbreaks, including ISIS-linked attacks in Australia and Afghanistan. Haqqani argues the West prematurely declared victory, ignoring radical ideologies. He notes Pakistan's internal power struggles and failure to track jihadists, warning the region remains a launchpad for international terrorism. Bill Roggio analyzes the ISIS allegiance of Australian shooters, distinguishing ISIS's immediate caliphate goals from Al-Qaeda's patient state-building. He warns that while Al-Qaeda focuses on consolidating control in places like Somalia (Al-Shabaab), they remain a potent global threat capable of launching external attacks when strategically advantageous. John Hardie discusses US pressure on Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk and drop NATO bids for peace. He details Russian advances near Pokrovsk but doubts their ability to capture remaining fortress cities. Hardie notes Ukrainian resistance to territorial concessions despite Russian battlefield initiative and Western diplomatic maneuvering. David Daoud reports on Hezbollah's regeneration in Lebanon, aided by Iranian funding and weapons. He criticizes the Lebanese government's inaction and the international community's appeasement strategy. Daoudargues that failing to disarm Hezbollah to avoid civil war only guarantees Lebanon's slow deterioration into a failed state. Malcolm Hoenlein condemns the Bondi Beach terror attack as part of a global pattern of Islamist violence fueled by appeasement. He highlights the Australian government's failure to address warning signs, including anti-Semitic marches, and notes Iranian influence, warning that ignoring these threats invites further radicalization and violence. Malcolm Hoenlein expresses skepticism about Syria's leader, Al-Sharaa, calling him a "terrorist in a suit" despite Washington's support. He details Israel's concerns over weapons flowing into southern Syria and Hezbollah'srearmament, warning that Iran continues to build missile capabilities and destabilize the region despite economic ruin. Cleo Paskal critiques the UK's deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, endangering the strategic US base on Diego Garcia. She warns that China's influence in Mauritius could compromise the base. Paskal argues the deal ignores Chagossian rights and leaves the region vulnerable to Chinese expansionism. Akmed Sharawi reports on a "blue-on-green" attack in Syria where an infiltrated security officer killed Americans. He attributes this to the Syrian leadership's reckless integration of jihadist militias into security forces without vetting. Sharawi and Roggio argue this proves terrorists cannot be trusted to police other terrorists. Edmund Fitton-Brown warns that the West's premature "retirement" of counterterrorism efforts has allowed threats to incubate in conflict zones like Afghanistan. He argues that ignoring these regions inevitably leads to attacks in the West, as terrorists seek attention by striking "peaceful" environments, necessitating renewed forward engagement. Edmund Fitton-Brown argues the Muslim Brotherhood creates an environment for violent extremists like ISIS. He criticizes Western governments, specifically Australia, for appeasing Islamists and recognizing Palestine, which he claims fuels anti-Semitism and radicalization. He warns of "copycat" attacks spreading to the US and Europe due to this permissiveness. Alejandro Pena Esclusa and Ernesto Araujo celebrate the Nobel Peace Prize for Venezuela's Maria Corina Machado, viewing it as recognition of peaceful resistance against the Maduro regime. They discuss the regional struggle against a "project of power" linking Marxist socialism, drug trafficking, and authoritarian allies like Russiaand Iran. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Pena Esclusa analyze Latin America's rightward shift, citing Chile's rejection of a leftist constitution and election disputes in Honduras. They attribute leftist defeats to the failure of socialism and credit the "Trump Corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine for encouraging democratic changes against regional narco-regimes. Professor Jonathan Healey details King Charles I's failed 1642 attempt to impeach and arrest five MPs, a move driven by Queen Henrietta Maria calling him a "poltroon." This "cinematic" blunder, betrayed by Lady Carlisle, unified Parliament against the King, marking a decisive step toward the English Civil War. Professor Jonathan Healey explains how the plague and volatile London crowds, including "Roundhead" apprentices, eroded King Charles I's authority in early 1642. The King's failed arrest attempt alienated moderates, shifting support to Parliamentarian John Pym, while the atmosphere of fear and disease accelerated the nation toward inevitable conflict. Professor Jonathan Healey describes the collapse of royal authority as King Charles I flees London after facing hostile crowds and biblical threats. While Queen Henrietta Maria seeks foreign aid, Charles establishes a court in York, accepting that armed conflict is necessary to subdue Parliament's radical legislative challenges. Professor Jonathan Healey recounts the humiliating refusal of Hull's governor to admit King Charles I, a key moment signaling open warfare. He discusses the irreconcilable ideological split over whether power derives from God or the people, illustrating the tragedy through figures like John Bankes who sought futile compromise.

Professor Jonathan Healey details King Charles I's failed 1642 attempt to impeach and arrest five MPs, a move driven by Queen Henrietta Maria calling him a "poltroon." This "cinematic" blunder, betrayed by Lady Carlisle, unified Parliament against the King, marking a decisive step toward the English Civil War. 1625 JAMES I.

Angel Studios https://Angel.com/HermanJoin the Angel Guild today where you can stream Thank You, Dr. Fauci and be part of the conversation demanding truth and accountability.  Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit https://Renue.Healthcare/Todd Bulwark Capital https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.comBe confident in your portfolio with Bulwark! Schedule your free Know Your Risk Portfolio review. Go to KnowYourRiskPodcast.com today. Alan's Soaps https://www.AlansArtisanSoaps.comUse coupon code TODD to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com/ToddThe new GOLDEN AGE is here!  Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE at:The Todd Herman Show - Podcast - Apple PodcastsThe Todd Herman Show | Podcast on SpotifyWATCH and SUBSCRIBE at: Todd Herman - The Todd Herman Show - YouTubePresident Trump Decided To Lose To Rob Reiner's Ghost. //  If These Are Our Betters, Who Are They Following? // The Holy Spirit Won't Let Me Care About RaceEpisode Links:CBS just had Hunter Kozak appear at the Erika Kirk townhall and ask her to condemn Trump's rhetoric. This is the leftist who asked Charlie his last question in Utah. He never even said sorry for your lossI disagreed with nearly everything Rob Reiner believed politically, but I won't celebrate his death. His thoughts on Charlie Kirk were heartfelt and caring. Justice Thomas grills Russia collusion hoaxer Marc Elias about his rambling campaign finance arguments. “I still don't understand what you're saying.”@RepThomasMassie calls out @SpeakerJohnson for flip-flopping on FISA reform, stating that the SCIF meeting that allegedly changed his mind — which Massie also attended — had nothing of substanceDigital ID - I made my thoughts abundantly clear in Parliament. We must resist it. Because once it's in, we are never turning back. I plan on resisting. I will not download a Digital ID. I will not comply.

Think the Boston Tea Party made America a coffee-drinking nation? Historian Michelle McDonald reveals the truth: colonists were already choosing coffee over tea because it was cheaper. Michelle Craig McDonald, the Librarian/Director of the Library & Museum at the American Philosophical Society and author of Coffee Nation: How One Commodity Transformed the Early United States, explains how coffee shaped American identity long before the Revolution. You'll hear about Revolutionary-era women storming a Boston warehouse to seize hoarded coffee and sell it at regulated prices. You'll discover why Parliament protected coffee while taxing tea. And you'll learn how enslaved Caribbean laborers made America's favorite beverage possible. From colonial coffee houses to debates about caffeine addiction in the early republic, discover how one imported commodity became distinctly American. Michelle's Website | Book |Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/429 EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00  Introduction 00:03:20  Meet our Guest  00:04:35  Coffee vs. Tea in Early America 00:06:50  Coffeehouses and How Coffee Was Served 00:08:04  Medical Concerns About Coffee 00:09:12  Coffee Production 00:12:35  Attempts to Grow Coffee in North America 00:14:04 The Use of Enslaved Labor in Coffee Cultivation 00:19:50 The Early American Market for Coffee 00:22:21  Early American Coffee Connoisseurs 00:29:57  Early American Coffeehouses 00:34:48  Coffee and the American Revolution 00:36:40 The Boston Coffee Riot, 1777 00:42:48 Coffee in the Early Republic 00:45:00 Coffee and the Haitian Revolution 00:47:53 Early Republic Attempts to Grow Coffee 00:50:55 Early Republic Coffee Culture 00:53:56 Time Warp 00:58:31 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES

As 2025 spirals around the plughole of posterity, The Guardian's parliamentary speechwriter John Crace joins us to look at the year inside the Westminster Village. Did Farage successfully cross over from consequence-free rabble-rouser to horribly plausible Prime Minister? Will the growing racism allegations halt his ambitions? Is there more going on in Starmer's government than meets the eye? And what did we learn from the launch of Your Party, the fall of Angela Rayner and the Tories' gap year?

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

In this episode of All Quiet on the Second Front, Tyler Sweatt is joined by Fred Thomas, UK Member of Parliament for Plymouth Moor View, Royal Marines Reservist, and member of the House of Commons Defence Committee.Fred brings a perspective shaped by time in uniform and now inside Parliament, where he focuses on modernizing defense capability and accelerating the adoption of new technology. Together, they examine how allied defense ecosystems can move faster without sacrificing sovereignty, why procurement and information-sharing remain persistent friction points, and where NATO and partner nations have real opportunity to collaborate more effectively.The conversation spans the UK, US, and broader NATO landscape at a moment when security, technology, and public trust are increasingly intertwined.What's happening on the Second Front: Why defense innovation continues to lag behind the threatThe tension between sovereignty and interoperability across allied nationsNATO's underutilized role in collaborative procurementWhere emerging technologies could unlock advantage in the next 3–5 yearsThe role of public service and cohesion in long-term securityConnect with Fred ThomasConnect with Tyler Sweatt

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 in Parliament, proposing a major overhaul of India's higher education system. The Bill seeks to replace existing regulators with a single commission and three councils to streamline regulation, improve quality, and enforce standards, while also granting the Centre significant oversight powers. ThePrint's Fareeha Iftikhar explains.

Be it resolved that the Minister of Podcasts, Stephen Carter, together with the Chair of Oral Questions, Zain Velji, do convene this sitting of The Ministry of Podcasts.Be it further resolved that the House shall hear testimony from the sworn Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary, Corey Hogan, on matters pertaining to:The unintended lifecycle of political content in the outrage economy,The perils of attempting a pipeline gotcha with a motion that solves nothing,The difficulty of separating fact from fiction in a town that runs almost entirely on rumour,And the strategic advantage of naming the opposition play instead of reacting to it.Therefore be it finally resolved that this episode, having no formal agenda but much informal candour, stands as both a record of proceedings and an acknowledgement that a win is a win, even when it arrives with just 7.8% of the vote. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EPISODE SUMMARY The first-ever One Shot musical! Years ago, the band Broadside made a deal with the devil for their success. Now he's coming to collect. Before we find out what happens, we have to create the band and explore their past. SHOW NOTES Last Train to Bremen One Shot News & Updates One Shot Patreon One Shot TWITCH The Ultimate RPG Villain Backstory Guide Follow the cast here! Dillin Lauren Drake Camilla Franklin Noah Samuels Helix RPG Major podcast ----------------------------------------------------- Story Pirates Changemakers Find and call your representatives and be heard (US) Find and call your members of Parliament and be heard (Canada) Find and call your members of Parliament and be heard (UK) ---------------------------------------------------- Editing and sound design by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shaghik Manè and Helix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The American funk band, led by George Clinton, made more than just music — they had a revolutionary vision including stage performance, art and more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

First, the latest on the massacre at Bondi Beach in Australia. The mass shooting targeted the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.We speak with Sean Tarek Goodwin, a reporter with ABC News, who was one of the first to arrive on the scene.Second, a surprise defection on Parliament Hill.Late last week, just hours after Parliament wrapped for the year, the Liberals welcomed another floor crosser into the party. With 171 seats, they are now just one MP away from holding a majority.Aaron Wherry is a senior writer with CBC's Parliamentary bureau.He's here to talk about all that, and look back at Prime Minister Carney's first sitting.For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

The Junto and Puritan Influence in Parliament: Colleague Jonathan Healey describes the political geography of London, introducing the "Junto," a reformist party coordinating between Parliament's houses, analyzing the influence of Puritans and key opposition figures like John Pym and Mandeville who strategically challenged Charles I's authority regarding church reform and arbitrary taxation. 1649

SHOW 12-12-2025 THE SHOW BEGINS IN DOUBTS ABOUT 2026.2 Las Vegas Venues, California Rail, and Disney's AI Investment: Colleague Jeff Bliss reports that Las Vegas's Allegiant Stadium is now a top-grossing venue while many resorts are dropping unpopular fees, discussing California's new rail line to Anaheim, mismanagement of the Pacific Palisades fire, and high gas prices, additionally covering Disney's investment in OpenAI and its new luxury community, Cotino. Nvidia's Jensen Huang and the AI Revolution: Colleague Brandon Weichert praises Nvidia's Jensen Huang as a pivotal geopolitical figure driving the AI revolution, comparing AI's growth to the railroad boom and predicting long-term economic benefits and massive opportunities for construction and energy sectors as the US builds infrastructure to support data centers. Business Resilience and AI Tools in Construction: Colleague Gene Marks reports on business resilience in Austin despite tariff concerns and describes a safety conference in Fargo where AI tools were a focus, explaining that AI and robotics like Boston Dynamics' Spot are supplementing rather than replacing workers in construction, helping address severe labor shortages. Health Reimbursement Arrangements and AI's Economic Potential: Colleague Gene Marks advocates for Health Reimbursement Arrangements, noting they allow small businesses to control costs while employees buy their own insurance tax-free, also discussing AI's potential to double economic growth and advising businesses to ignore doomsday predictions and embrace tools that enhance productivity and daily life. Lancaster County's Economic Divide and Holiday Retail: Colleague Jim McTague reports from Lancaster County, highlighting the economic divide between flush Baby Boomers and struggling younger generations, observing strong holiday retail activity exemplified by crowded venues like Shady Maple and a proliferation of Amazon delivery trucks, suggesting the economy remains afloat despite challenges. La Scala's Season Opening and Milan's Christmas Atmosphere: Colleague Lorenzo Fiori describes attending the season opening at La Scala, featuring a dramatic Russian opera that audiences connected to current geopolitical tensions, also noting the festive Christmas atmosphere in Milan and Prime Minister Meloni's continued, albeit non-military, support for Ukraine. SpaceX IPO Rumors and EU Space Regulations: Colleague Bob Zimmerman discusses rumors of a SpaceX IPO and new scientific strategies for using Starship for Mars exploration, reporting on the Pentagon's certification requirements for Blue Origin's New Glenn and critiquing proposed EU space laws that could impose bureaucratic hurdles on international private space companies. Mapping the Sun's Corona and Rethinking Ice Giants: Colleague Bob Zimmerman details scientific advances including mapping the sun's corona and rethinking Uranus and Neptune as having rocky interiors rather than just ice, mentioning discoveries regarding supernova composition, the lack of supermassive black holes in small galaxies, and new images of Mars' polar ice layers. "The Incident" of 1641 and Charles I's Failed Plot: Colleague Jonathan Healey narrates "The Incident" of 1641, a failed plot by Charles I to arrest Scottish Covenanter leaders, explaining that the conspiracy's exposure and Charles's subsequent denial destroyed his political standing in Scotland, forcing him to concede power to the Scottish Parliament and weakening his position before the English Civil War. The Prelude to the English Civil War: Colleague Jonathan Healey discusses the prelude to the English Civil War, detailing the power struggles between Charles I and the Commons and Lords, explaining the execution of the King's advisor Strafford, noting Charles's regret and the rising influence of reformists who feared royal tyranny and supported impeachment. The Junto and Puritan Influence in Parliament: Colleague Jonathan Healey describes the political geography of London, introducing the "Junto," a reformist party coordinating between Parliament's houses, analyzing the influence of Puritans and key opposition figures like John Pym and Mandeville who strategically challenged Charles I's authority regarding church reform and arbitrary taxation. The Grand Remonstrance and Popular Politics: Colleague Jonathan Healey explains the "Grand Remonstrance," a document used by the Junto to rally public support against the King, highlighting how rising literacy and the printing press fueled popular politics in London, while also discussing Queen Henrietta Maria's political acumen and Catholic faith amidst the growing conflict. Critiquing Isolationism and the Risks of Disengagement: Colleague Henry Sokolski critiques isolationist arguments, comparing current sentiments to pre-WWII attitudes, warning against relying solely on missile defense bubbles and discussing the distinct threats posed by Russia and China, emphasizing that US disengagement could lead to global instability and unchecked nuclear proliferation. Saudi Uranium Enrichment and Proliferation Risks: Colleague Henry Sokolski discusses the risks of allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium, fearing it creates a bomb-making option, warning that making exceptions for Saudi Arabia could trigger a proliferation cascade among neighbors like Turkey and Egypt, undermining global non-proliferation efforts amidst rising tensions involving Russia and NATO. The Historical Context of Humphrey's Executor: Colleague Richard Epstein analyzes the historical context of Humphrey's Executor, explaining how the administrative state grew from the 1930s, detailing FDR's attempt to politicize independent commissions and the Supreme Court's justification, arguing that while constitutionally questionable, long-standing prescription has solidified these agencies' legal status over time. Presidential Power and Independent Agency Dismissals: Colleague Richard Epstein discusses current Supreme Court arguments regarding presidential power to fire independent board members, referencing actions by both Trump and Biden, critiquing the politicization of agencies like the FTC under Lina Khan and warning that unchecked executive authority to dismiss advisory boards undermines necessary checks and balances.

James I, American Colonies, and Tobacco Revenue: Colleague Clare Jackson discusses James I's oversight of American colonies like Jamestown, using chartered companies for deniability against Spanish claims, noting his initial opposition to tobacco before accepting its revenue and describing his fluctuating relationship with Parliament regarding funding and military action. MAY 1952

SHOW 12-11-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR JUNE 1957 THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT THE TRUMP COROLLARY  FIRST HOUR 9-915 Ukraine-Russia Conflict and the Transformation of Warfare: Colleague Anatol Lieven discusses the Ukraine-Russia conflict, noting that drone warfare has fundamentally changed battle tactics, analyzing Trump's influence on peace negotiations and suggesting Ukraine risks losing support without concessions, while explaining that EU membership is being offered as a prize in exchange for territorial losses. 915-930 Why Russia Will Not Attack NATO: Colleague Anatol Lieven dismisses fears that Russia intends to attack NATO Baltic states, arguing such a move would lack strategic gain and risk nuclear war, contending these defenses are unnecessary because attacking NATO would unite the West, contrary to Russian interests. 930-945 China's Intellectual Property Theft and the K-Shaped Economy: Colleague Chris Riegel discusses "The Great Heist," a book detailing China's campaign to steal American intellectual property via spies and students, also noting a US consumer slowdown and describing a "K-shaped" economy where lower-income earners struggle with affordability despite infrastructure spending. 945-1000 Iran's Currency Collapse and Legitimacy Crisis: Colleague Jonathan Sayeh reports that Iran's currency has collapsed to historic lows, fueling inflation and social dissatisfaction, explaining that while the regime uses repression and temporary social loosening to maintain control, it faces a legitimacy crisis and difficulty recruiting loyal security forces. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Warnings Against a US-Saudi Nuclear Deal: Colleague Andrea Stricker warns against a US-Saudi nuclear deal that allows uranium enrichment, advocating for the "gold standard" of non-proliferation, arguing any agreement must include the Additional Protocol for inspections and ensure the US retains a right of return for nuclear materials. 1015-1030 Credit Card Interest Rate Caps Would Harm Low-Income Borrowers: Colleague Veronique de Rugy criticizes proposals by Senators Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez to cap credit card interest rates at 10 percent, arguing price controls will force companies to reduce risk, ultimately denying credit to the low-income borrowers the bill aims to protect. 1030-1045 1045-1100 American Universities Have Abandoned Liberal Education: Colleague Peter Berkowitz argues that American universities have abandoned liberal education, replacing the study of Western civilization with narrow specialization and political agendas, lamenting that students are no longer taught about historical heroes or the realities of the Revolutionary War, depriving them of national identity. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 James I, Mary Queen of Scots, and the English Succession: Colleague Clare Jackson explains how James I managed the tension between his imprisoned mother, Mary Queen of Scots, and Queen Elizabeth I, noting James protested his mother's execution but prioritized his claim to the English throne, maintaining a complex correspondence with Elizabeth to ensure his succession. 1115-1130 James I's Sea Voyage to Denmark and Dynastic Tragedies: Colleague Clare Jackson details James I's decision to travel by sea to marry Anna of Denmark, viewing it as a dynastic duty despite the risks, also discussing the death of his heir Prince Henry and his daughter's involvement in the conflicts sparking the Thirty Years' War. 1130-1145 James I's Male Favorites and the Madrid Adventure: Colleague Clare Jackson explores James I's intense relationships with male favorites like Robert Carr and George Villiers, noting the political complications these caused, describing the bizarre, risky journey Prince Charles and Villiers took to Madrid in disguise to woo the Spanish Infanta. 1145-1200 James I, American Colonies, and Tobacco Revenue: Colleague Clare Jackson discusses James I's oversight of American colonies like Jamestown, using chartered companies for deniability against Spanish claims, noting his initial opposition to tobacco before accepting its revenue and describing his fluctuating relationship with Parliament regarding funding and military action. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Venezuelan Opposition Leader Accepts Nobel Prize in Oslo: Colleague Evan Ellis reports on Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado accepting a Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo after escaping her country, outlining a new US national security strategy increasing military presence in the hemisphere and the seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker. 1215-1230 Caribbean Reactions to US Military Operations Against Venezuela: Colleague Evan Ellis analyzes Caribbean reactions to US military operations against Venezuela, noting support from the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago, explaining that islands like Curacao and Aruba fear becoming targets, while political shifts in St. Vincent offer new cooperation opportunities. 1230-1245 Electoral Chaos in Honduras and Chile's Stark Choice: Colleague Evan Ellis describes electoral chaos in Honduras, where US-backed candidate Asfura leads amidst claims of irregularities and potential unrest, contrasting this with Chile's election where voters choose between conservative Kast and communist "Hara" due to fears of communism or desire for social rights. 1245-100 A China's New White Paper on Latin America: Colleague Evan Ellis details China's new white paper on Latin America, which ignores US pressure and asserts a "full speed ahead" diplomatic and economic approach, emphasizing expanding infrastructure, technology, and security cooperation while securing access to critical commodities like copper.