Podcast appearances and mentions of Peter Mandelson

What is Starmer hiding about Mandelson? Jon Gaunt LIVE #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #LIVE #KeirStarmer #PeterMandelson #PMQs #KemiBadenoch #JeffreyEpstein #UKPolitics Tonight, we ask the question Keir Starmer would not answer in the House of Commons: what is he hiding about Peter Mandelson? At Prime Minister's Questions today, Kemi Badenoch put a simple, direct question to him again and again. Not once did he give a straight answer. Not once. Instead, we got diversion, dissembling and one of the weakest performances of Starmer's premiership. Clearly, he would not say whether he had spoken to Mandelson and questioned him about his post-conviction contact with paedophile Epstein. Why not? And why is he refusing simply"Instead of answering, he tried to switch the argument on to Conservative comments about Muslims praying in Trafalgar Square — a classic dead cat tactic from a Prime Minister who plainly did not want to address Mandelson, to fess up to it? This was one of Starmer's worst performances at PMQs. His diversions and dissembling did not help him; if anything, they only strengthened the impression that he is hiding something. The Speaker's performance was disgraceful too. He should have insisted that Starmer answer the question, because the British public have every right to know what is going on and why? Join me and tell me your views. Is STARMER A LIAR? Jon Gaunt, JonGauntTV, LIVE, Keir Starmer, Peter Mandelson, PMQs, Prime Minister's Questions, Kemi Badenoch, Jeffrey Epstein, Starmer Mandelson, Starmer PMQs, Badenoch PMQs, UK politics, British politics, Westminster, House of Commons, Speaker of the House, political scandal, Labour Party, Conservative Party, Tory attack, Commons clash, live politics, breaking politics, UK news, political commentary, Mandelson row, Starmer under pressure, PMQ showdown, Jon Gaunt Live #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #LIVE #KeirStarmer #PeterMandelson #PMQs #PrimeMinistersQuestions #KemiBadenoch #JeffreyEpstein #StarmerMandelson #StarmerPMQs #BadenochPMQs #UKPolitics #BritishPolitics #Westminster #HouseOfCommons #SpeakerOfTheHouse #PoliticalScandal #LabourParty #ConservativeParty #ToryAttack #CommonsClash #LivePolitics #BreakingPolitics #UKNews #PoliticalCommentary #MandelsonRow #StarmerUnderPressure #PMQShowdown #jongauntlive 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.

Is it really a Prime Minister's Questions if the Prime Minister refuses to answer any questions? That was the frustration in the Commons this lunchtime, with Kemi Badenoch attempting to pin Sir Keir Starmer down on Peter Mandelson's appointment, but to no avail.Camilla and Tim assess a fractious and chaotic PMQs.Elsewhere, they speak to Sir Geoffrey Cox, the Conservative MP and former attorney general, after a barnstorming parliamentary speech in which he excoriated David Lammy's plans to limit trials by jury – a feature of our justice system which Sir Geoffrey tells The Daily T is “intrinsic to the English character”.We want to hear from you! Email us at thedailyt@telegraph.co.uk or find @dailytpodcast on TikTok, Instagram and X► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditorProducers: Lilian Fawcett and Georgia CoanSenior Producer: John CadiganExecutive Producer: Charlotte SeligmanVideo Producer: James EnglandStudio Operator: Meghan SearleSocial Producer: Nada AggourEditor: Camilla Tominey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Lesley and Fraser navigate a blustery start to the week. Lesley recounts her experience at the Irish Consul's celebration in Edinburgh, noting Ireland's cultural confidence.The discussion turns to the "heating oil headache" facing off-grid Scots, with the UK government's £35 support package being branded as woefully inadequate. We look to our Northern neighbours for solutions, analysing how district heating and hydro energy allow countries like Finland to maintain energy security while the UK remains tethered to volatile fossil fuel markets.The mood shifts as we examine the continuing escalation in the Middle East. We discuss Donald Trump's "wasp's nest" approach to Iran, the tragic bombing of a girls' school in Minab linked to outdated AI data, and the growing criticism of the BBC's "sanitised" coverage of the conflict.We discuss the count down to the election and the SNP's campaign conference at the weekend with some headline grabbing announcments. Plus the news that ‘Your Party' like the Alba Party, won't be contesting the Holyrood elections. Plus, we look at the potential for political upheaval in Hungary, the latest goings on surrounding Peter Mandelson's departure, and Lesley's whirlwind tour of Scotland with her Finland film screenings.In this episode:St Patrick's Day Confidence: What Scotland can learn from the Irish approach to history and culture.The Heating Oil Crisis: Why £35 is a "hotchpotch" response to doubling energy bills for rural households.District Heating – Why Wait?: Analysing the Scandinavian model, where wasting industrial heat is against the law.Iran & The AI Failure: The devastating consequences of old data and the "distancing" language of modern warfare.BBC Under Fire: Ben Depeer's critique of "if it bleeds, it leads" and the challenges of reporting from a bunker.The Mandelson Payoff: The "brazenness" of a £547,000 request following a reputational meltdown.LinksSupport the podcast with a monthly or annual subscriptionhttps://lesleyriddoch.com/podcast/subscribeFinland Film Screenings & EventsCheck the latest dates for Lesley's screenings across Scotland.https://lesleyriddoch.com/eventsMetagama: An Atlantic Odyssey https://www.facebook.com/p/Metagama-An-Atlantic-Odyssey-61557037868810/17 March: Birks Cinema, Aberfeldy18 March: Universal Hall, Findhorn19 March: Community Hall, Kincraig20 March: Macphail Centre, Ullapool21 March: Stratherrick Public Hall, Gorthleck22 March: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye24 March: Cultarlann Inbhir Nis, Inverness25 March: Appin Village Hall, Argyll26 March: The Tolbooth, StirlingTickets for village halls:https://tickets-scotland.com/events.html...Tickets for Macphail Centre:https://tickets.highlifehighland.com/.../highlife.../2031529Tickets for all other venues:From venue box office & websites 'This acclaimed 5* live stage show tells the story of 1920s mass emigration from the Hebrides, featuring some of Scotland's top folk musicians and singers. The show has played to capacity audiences across the Highlands and Islands, Celtic Connections and HebCeltc Festival, with the current 2026 Scottish tour supported by Creative Scotland.''''The quality of the music is astonishing. A MUST LISEN! *****'' Folk London magazine''A story full of imense contemporary resonances. ****'' Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman''Top drawer music.'' Gary West, piper and piping podcast presenter''A night of exquisite music and storytelling. *****'' Inverness CourierAn ensemble of acclaimed musicians and singers will carry you aboard the Metagama, a journey that will take you to the lakes and plains of Canada, to 1920s Detroit and Prohibition, through the ebb and flow of fortunes on both sides of the Atlantic.Join award-winning writer Donald S Murray, musician Liza Mulholland, actor and 7:84 Theatre founding player Dolina MacLennan, noted Gaelic singer John Joe Macneil, fiddler Charlie Mackerron of Capercaillie, singer-songwriter Willie Campbell, young up-and-coming cellist Juliette Lemoine, and visual artist Doug Robertson, in marking this historic event with an evening of music, song and story.This five-star show toured to great acclaim and capacity audiences in the Highlands & Islands in 2023 and followed this with a sell-out concert at Celtic Connections 2024. This current tour in March 2026 has secured support from Creative Scotland, ★ Support this podcast ★

The Epstein files fallout continues with the release of a photograph showing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Mandelson. Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers is joined by Jennifer Newton to discuss the ongoing controversy around Andrew's friendship with Epstein – and how it has affected the positions of his daughters. Russell discusses his exclusive on how Beatrice and Eugenie are "furious for being left out in cold" over their parents' Epstein links. You can read the full story here: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/royals/beatrice-eugenie-furious-being-left-36864588 They also chat about the other moments in the Royal diary, including the Prince and Princess of Wales' visit to London's Borough Market, Catherine's consciousness about her alcohol intake after her cancer diagnosis, and Queen Camilla hosting the Women of the World event at Clarence House. You can also order Russell Myers' Sunday Times bestseller book 'William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story' here: https://lnk.to/WilliamCatherine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we are delighted to be joined by the Sunday Times' Gabriel Pogrund, whose book – Get In, which details Starmer's rise to power – is out now in paperback with new revelations on the Peter Mandelson vetting process. It turns out that Keir Starmer did not even speak with his prospective US ambassador before offering him the biggest diplomatic position in Starmer's government. The whole scandal has exposed the prime minister's startling lack of curiosity and a detachment from important process that seems especially baffling given his background as a lawyer. What is the reason behind this lack of curiosity? And how does Starmer compare to other prime ministers in recent memory?Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and Gabriel Pogrund.Produced by Oscar Edmondson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, new Jeffrey Epstein revelations surface after a bizarre bathrobe photo reportedly shows Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson with Epstein, raising fresh questions about the billionaire's powerful network. The U.S. launches a historic bombing raid destroying military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, dramatically escalating tensions in the Middle East. Authorities warn the suspect connected to the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case could strike again as investigators race to protect the public. Plus: Team USA's sled hockey squad spoofs the HBO hit The White Lotus, the internet crowns this year's Oscars villain, legendary NYC news anchor Ernie Anastos passes away at 82, and we debut a brand-new feature on the show — AOA GameTime.#JeffreyEpstein #Iran #OscarsGet more AoA and become a member to get exclusive access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOfx0OFE-uMTmJXGPpP7elQ/joinGet Erin C's book here: https://amzn.to/3ITDoO7Get Merch here - https://bit.ly/AnthonyMerchSubscribe to the Anthony On Air Podcast here:Facebook - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirFBYouTube - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirYTApple Podcast - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirAppleSpotify - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirSpotTwitter - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirTwitterInstagram - https://bit.ly/AntOnAirInstaTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@anthonyonairpodDiscord - https://discord.gg/78V469aV22Get more at https://www.AnthonyOnAir.com

Today we are delighted to be joined by the Sunday Times' Gabriel Pogrund, whose book – Get In, which details Starmer's rise to power – is out now in paperback with new revelations on the Peter Mandelson vetting process. It turns out that Keir Starmer did not even speak with his prospective US ambassador before offering him the biggest diplomatic position in Starmer's government. The whole scandal has exposed the prime minister's startling lack of curiosity and a detachment from important process that seems especially baffling given his background as a lawyer. What is the reason behind this lack of curiosity? And how does Starmer compare to other prime ministers in recent memory?Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and Gabriel Pogrund.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It has been a week of red faces for party leaders. On Thursday, Keir Starmer apologised and took personal responsibility for the appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US – after a first round of document disclosures suggested the prime minister was largely absent from the decision-making process. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch were both busy executing awkward U-turns on their earlier vocal support for a US war on Iran that is proving distinctly unpopular with UK voters. Host Lucy Fisher is joined by the FT's deputy political editor Jim Pickard, columnist and writer of the ‘Inside Politics' newsletter Stephen Bush, and political editor George Parker to debate the twists and turns of the week in Westminster.Clip from: The MirrorFollow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, and Bluesky: @lucyfisher.ft.com; Jim: @PickardJE and @pickardje.bsky.social; Stephen: @stephenkb and @stephenkb.bsky.social; and George: @GeorgeWParker and @georgewparker.bsky.socialWant more? Mandelson papers: what do they show?Pressure grows on Starmer over Mandelson due diligenceEmbarrassing Iran U-turn for the right, but Keir Starmer's problems are worseThe irrepressible Nigel FarageSign up to Stephen Bush's morning newsletter ‘Inside Politics' for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue (mostly) in cheek analysis. Get 30 days free at https://www.ft.com/InsidePoliticsOfferPolitical FIx is presented by Lucy Fisher and produced by Laurence Knight. The executive producer is Flo Phillips. Audio mix by Breen Turner. The FT's head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Our email address is politicalfix@ft.comRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer apologised for appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Is it enough?After a vote by MPs forced its hand, the government has released the first batch of files relating to Mandelson's appointment. They revealed that the Prime Minister was told the Labour peer posed a “reputational risk” because of his relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and that his national security adviser raised concerns about the appointment.The so-called “Mandelson files” also exposed a number of facts about the vetting process that were already reported by the New Statesman in February and have angered Labour MPs all over again, and prompted further calls for Keir Starmer's resignation.Will the Prime Minister go?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Rachel Cunliffe - who has read through every word of the files - do discuss what they contain, what they reveal, and what Keir Starmer must do now.

An extraordinary never-before-seen photo uncovered by ITV News shows Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Jeffrey Epstein and Lord Mandelson together for the first time.The photo is thought to have been taken sometime between 1999 and 2000, before Epstein was imprisoned in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor. It was released as part of the Epstein files.The image shows Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson dressed in bathrobes sat around a table with Epstein, drinking from mugs with the US flag on.It comes after a week in which the royal family gathered for the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. As the King and Queen arrived dozens of protesters chanted at them, “What did you know?”In this week's episode, Chris, Lizzie, Charlene and Russell Myers discuss this new photo, plus what it could mean for the royal family.We've got all the new details about Harry and Meghan's trip to Australia next month, and their recent split with Netflix.Plus, stay tuned until the end for a special royal film quiz.

Dúirt Príomh-aire na Breataine Keir Starmer inné go ndearna sé botún nuair a ceapadh Peter Mandelson mar ambasadóir na Breataine chun na Stáit Aontaithe.

Keir Starmer was warned of ‘reputational risk' in making Peter Mandelson ambassador to the US due to his links with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to newly released files. The first batch of files raises new questions about the prime minister's judgment, as well as the vetting process at the highest level of government. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian's head of national news, Archie Bland – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

De nouveaux documents concernant l'affaire Epstein semblent montrer que le Premier ministre britannique Keir Starmer était bien au courant des relations sulfureuses de l'ancien ministre Peter Mandelson quand il l'a nommé ambassadeur. Écoutez RTL autour du monde du 12 mars 2026.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

As the first tranche of documents relating to the hiring of Peter Mandelson are released, how bad will the fallout be for Keir Starmer and the government? Pippa Crerar is joined by Peter Walker to discuss. Plus, the fuel duty row that Rachel Reeves thought she could avoid. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Kemi Badenoch claims Keir Starmer misled MPs over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. How badly damaged is the prime minister?Hugo Rifkind unpacks the politics of the day with Matthew Parris and Jenni Russell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Matts tackle a number of intersecting topics: can the Peter Mandelson affair damage Keir Starmer more than it already has? What did his stance on Iran do for Labour in the polls? How is Westminster geared for an election where four - maybe five - parties are nip and tuck? And does Shabana Mahmood's banning of a pro-Palestine march signal a split at the top of government? Enjoy!Produced by Matt WithersOFFER: Get The New World for just £1 for the first month. Head to https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/2matts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Paul, Irish Times London Correspondent, discusses British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's standing after the release of Peter Mandelson files and war in Iran.

Peter Mandelson's disastrous few months continue apace, after the government released a tranche of documents that tell us a lot about his hiring - and firing - as ambassador to the US. So what's in the files? And what does it all say about the judgment of the Prime Minister?This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryOur listener survey is live - find it here.Guest: Aubrey Allegretti, chief political correspondent, The Times. Host: Rosie Wright. Producers: Harry Stott, Micaela Arneson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: Peter Mandelson files: flawed vetting, ‘risk' and other revelationsMandelson files expose Keir Starmer — and it's just the beginningFurther listening: Mandelson, Epstein and the fight for survival at No 10Clips: Guardian News, AFP News Agency, Sky News, Diario AS. Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Israeli air force has claimed to have hit what they say is an Iranian nuclear facility. Plus: Starmer takes the blame for appointing Peter Mandelson, Channel 4 airs Omid Djalili's bizarre take on the war on Iran, and David Lammy seems to think he's safe from the Green Party. With NoJusticeMTG & Dalia Gebrial.

Karl Turner MP joins Jeremy to discuss the new files that expose Starmer's appointment of Peter Mandelson in full knowledge of his association with Jeffrey Epstein. Poppy Coburn reviews the morning papers, whilst Susan Hall exposes London Mayor Sadiq Khan over allegations he has covered up South Asian grooming gangs in London for years.Wake up with Talk Breakfast in full on YouTube, DAB+ radio, Freeview 280, Fire TV, Samsung TV Plus or the Talk App on your TV from 6am every morning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did a British man end up being charged for allegedly filming Iranian missiles in Dubai? A tranche of new files raise questions about what the Labour government knew about Peter Mandelson's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him UK ambassador to the US. What could the files mean for Keir Starmer's future as Prime Minister? And why is the Edinburgh International Festival facing backlash?To battle out who can pitch the story that should lead the news, Giles Whittell is joined by The Observer's Arts and Media Editor Vanessa Thorpe, News Reporter Jon Ungoed-Thomas and Assistant Sports Editor Jess Hayden.**We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Host: Giles Whittell Producer: Amalie SortlandExecutive Producer: Casey MagloireTo find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the Humble Address that forced the government to publish internal material surrounding Peter Mandelson's appointment and dismissal as UK ambassador to the United States, the first tranche of files has dropped and Ava and Laura are here to break them down.Subscribe to How to Rebuild Britain now: https://linktr.ee/howtorebuildbritain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government release some of the files regarding the appointment of Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to the US, why did Starmer not heed the warnings? And the LBC exclusive showing ISIS are encouraging 'mass casualty' attacks at this years World Cup in America, Canada & Mexico.

The government releases documents about appointing Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador.

In our news wrap Wednesday, a series of tornadoes killed at least two people in Indiana and leveled homes and businesses in Illinois, the Department of Homeland Security reactivated its Global Entry program and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was warned of the "reputational risk" in appointing Peter Mandelson as U.S. Ambassador due to his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

This afternoon we have had the first tranche of documents released by the government relating to the process by which Peter Mandelson was chosen to be US ambassador. Whilst we have got a clearer picture on the big question – how much Starmer and the government knew about Mandelson's association with Epstein – Labour are not out of the woods. Quotes from Jonathan Powell reveal that the vetting process was rushed and that – he thought – they didn't dig deep enough. There is also the small matter of Peter Mandelson's request for a payout of over half a million pounds. Oscar Edmondson, Tim Shipman and Isabel Hardman discuss.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandelson, Epstein & A £75K Exit Deal – What Was Starmer Thinking? #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #Starmer #PeterMandelson #Epstein #UKPolitics#Live Tonight at 6pm Jon Gaunt goes LIVE on YouTube to dissect the latest revelations surrounding Peter Mandelson and the continuing fallout from the Epstein scandal.  The big question is simple: why on earth did Keir Starmer appoint Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the United States when the warning signs were already flashing red? Mandelson's past links to Jeffrey Epstein were hardly a secret. We already knew he had maintained contact with Epstein even after Epstein had been convicted, something that should have set alarm bells ringing in any Prime Minister's office. Yet despite those risks, Starmer pushed ahead with the appointment anyway.  Now the story gets even murkier. When Mandelson was eventually removed from the role, He reportedly demanded a staggering £547,000 payout. In the end he walked away with £75,000 – not a bad result for a controversy that should arguably never have happened in the first place. Nice work if you can get it.  For Jon Gaunt, this whole sorry saga speaks to a much bigger problem: Keir Starmer's chronic lack of judgement. If a Prime Minister cannot properly assess the reputational risks of appointing someone with such well-known associations, what does that say about their ability to lead the country?  Tonight Jon asks the tough questions the establishment would rather avoid.

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports documents show that the UK's Keir Starmer was warned about appointing Peter Mandelson to a key U.S. post.

The first batch of the Mandelson files have finally been released – but even though there's still more to come, there are already serious questions for the prime minister.What was the vetting process before Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador to the United States?How much was known about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein? And could more have been done to prevent a five-figure payout following his downfall?Niall is joined by Sky's political correspondent Rob Powell, who has been going through the files.Peter Mandelson has always denied any criminal wrongdoing.Have you got a question for Niall? Email the show - why@sky.uk

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has come under mounting political pressure as renewed scrutiny surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files has reignited questions about the role of prominent political figures connected to the scandal. The controversy intensified following developments involving Peter Mandelson, whose past association with Epstein has resurfaced in newly discussed records and testimony circulating in the United States. Critics across the political spectrum have argued that the situation places Starmer in an uncomfortable position because Mandelson remains a powerful and influential figure within Labour circles despite the long-running controversy surrounding his links to Epstein. Opposition politicians and some voices within Starmer's own party have demanded greater clarity about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein and whether any additional information contained in the emerging files could further implicate figures tied to the British political establishment.The pressure on Starmer stems not only from Mandelson's history with Epstein but also from the broader political optics of appearing reluctant to distance the government from individuals connected to the disgraced financier. As new material from the Epstein files continues to circulate and international investigations expand, critics argue that Starmer must confront questions about Mandelson's role directly rather than allowing the issue to linger in the background. The controversy has created an awkward political dilemma for the prime minister: Mandelson is widely seen as a veteran strategist and influential voice within Labour's political orbit, yet his association with Epstein has repeatedly sparked public backlash. With the Epstein files continuing to generate headlines in both the United States and the United Kingdom, Starmer now faces intensifying calls from opponents and transparency advocates to address the issue head-on and clarify his government's stance on figures linked to the scandal.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has come under mounting political pressure as renewed scrutiny surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files has reignited questions about the role of prominent political figures connected to the scandal. The controversy intensified following developments involving Peter Mandelson, whose past association with Epstein has resurfaced in newly discussed records and testimony circulating in the United States. Critics across the political spectrum have argued that the situation places Starmer in an uncomfortable position because Mandelson remains a powerful and influential figure within Labour circles despite the long-running controversy surrounding his links to Epstein. Opposition politicians and some voices within Starmer's own party have demanded greater clarity about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein and whether any additional information contained in the emerging files could further implicate figures tied to the British political establishment.The pressure on Starmer stems not only from Mandelson's history with Epstein but also from the broader political optics of appearing reluctant to distance the government from individuals connected to the disgraced financier. As new material from the Epstein files continues to circulate and international investigations expand, critics argue that Starmer must confront questions about Mandelson's role directly rather than allowing the issue to linger in the background. The controversy has created an awkward political dilemma for the prime minister: Mandelson is widely seen as a veteran strategist and influential voice within Labour's political orbit, yet his association with Epstein has repeatedly sparked public backlash. With the Epstein files continuing to generate headlines in both the United States and the United Kingdom, Starmer now faces intensifying calls from opponents and transparency advocates to address the issue head-on and clarify his government's stance on figures linked to the scandal.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Joining Andy for the final episode of this series are Simon Evans, Zoe Lyons, Cindy Yu and Ahir Shah and not one of them can be deemed a flight risk. Along with the latest on Peter Mandelson's arrest they discuss how UK politics is no longer a two-party system with the Greens and Reform taking centre stage in Gorton and Denton, why Trump's State of the Union address could have been mercifully shorter and why the Chagos Islands are off limits.Written by Andy Zaltzman.With additional material by: Mike Shephard and Pravanya Pillay Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: Richard Morris Production Coordinator: Giulia Lopes Mazzu Sound Editor: Marc WillcoxA BBC Studios Production for Radio 4.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has come under mounting political pressure as renewed scrutiny surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files has reignited questions about the role of prominent political figures connected to the scandal. The controversy intensified following developments involving Peter Mandelson, whose past association with Epstein has resurfaced in newly discussed records and testimony circulating in the United States. Critics across the political spectrum have argued that the situation places Starmer in an uncomfortable position because Mandelson remains a powerful and influential figure within Labour circles despite the long-running controversy surrounding his links to Epstein. Opposition politicians and some voices within Starmer's own party have demanded greater clarity about Mandelson's relationship with Epstein and whether any additional information contained in the emerging files could further implicate figures tied to the British political establishment.The pressure on Starmer stems not only from Mandelson's history with Epstein but also from the broader political optics of appearing reluctant to distance the government from individuals connected to the disgraced financier. As new material from the Epstein files continues to circulate and international investigations expand, critics argue that Starmer must confront questions about Mandelson's role directly rather than allowing the issue to linger in the background. The controversy has created an awkward political dilemma for the prime minister: Mandelson is widely seen as a veteran strategist and influential voice within Labour's political orbit, yet his association with Epstein has repeatedly sparked public backlash. With the Epstein files continuing to generate headlines in both the United States and the United Kingdom, Starmer now faces intensifying calls from opponents and transparency advocates to address the issue head-on and clarify his government's stance on figures linked to the scandal.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

David Rothkopf joins Joanna Coles to argue that the Epstein scandal is Donald Trump's defining crisis, connecting global power, income inequality, corruption, and impunity. Rothkopf, The Daily Beast's unmissable columnist and Founder of the DSR Network, explains how Epstein ensnared a network of elites like Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Peter Mandelson, and Wall Street titans, while raising deeper questions about obstruction, missing evidence, and intelligence entanglements. They also discuss how key players actively covered up wrongdoing to protect themselves and their allies, showing a world where privilege shields crime and the full truth may never see the light of day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 279-Bang or Bong. Maybe both. Also Available OnSearchable Podcast Transcript Gun Lawyer — Episode Transcript Page – 1 – of 11 Gun Lawyer — Episode 279 Transcript SUMMARY KEYWORDS Supreme Court case, marijuana user ban, Second Amendment rights, ACLU, NRA, New Jersey, Hughes amendment, West Virginia, machine guns, loopholes, gun rights, felon restoration, Epstein files, Michael Bloomberg, gun violence prevention. SPEAKERS Speaker 2, Evan Nappen, Teddy Nappen Evan Nappen 00:16 I’m Evan Nappen. Teddy Nappen 00:18 And I’m Teddy Nappen. Evan Nappen 00:20 And welcome to Gun Lawyer. So, we have some exciting things coming in the future here. I want to make sure the listeners are well aware. In the Supreme Court, we have a case coming up that is going to look at the prohibitor for firearm possession concerning marijuana use, if you’re a user of marijuana. And the case is U.S. versus Hemani. This is very interesting, because it is widely believed that the Court is going to strike down the gun ban for marijuana users. Regardless of how you feel about marijuana use, I’m looking forward to seeing this opinion, because it may be useful in knocking down other gun disqualifiers. Because, folks, gun disqualifiers, such as the gun ban for marijuana use, is an area of exploitation by the gun rights oppressors. Evan Nappen 01:38 So, if they can’t just get a flat out gun ban through, which they try to do all the time, if they can piece meal gun bans to various classes of individuals, then they get the job done that way. That’s why you see the ever expanding list of persons who they try to get disqualified from being able to exercise their Second Amendment rights. And this case has, I believe, potentially very far reaching implications as to subverting that anti-gun rights, that gun rights oppression tactic. So, we want to look at it at as more than just the marijuana. It will be fascinating to see it be a victory, because we have parties in support of this ban going away as diverse as, on the same side now, the ACLU and the NRA. Both. The ACLU is in favor of getting rid of the marijuana user gun ban, because it is, of course, beneficial to in their view, I’m sure, legalization of marijuana, which is something that they would be in support. The NRA is in favor of it going away, because it is consistent with The NRA’s position of supporting Second Amendment rights. So, this has created the classic strange bedfellows situation. (https://www.marijuanamoment.net/aclu-attorney-confident-supreme-court-will-strike-down-gun-ban-for-marijuana-users-after-oral-arguments-next-week/ ) Page – 2 – of 11 Evan Nappen 03:28 But ultimately, what we see coming from it should be a victory for gun rights. And I believe and hope it will be even further reaching than simply addressing the marijuana question. It’s going to be, I believe, very helpful in fighting other disqualifications. Remember, New Jersey is one of the states that tries to always have an expansive list of what disqualifies a person from being able to exercise their Second Amendment rights. They love to create disenfranchisements of our rights because they are rights oppressors, and this tactic, hopefully, will be taking a hit here. So, we’ll keep you informed about the progress and what occurs under the Hemani decision. Teddy Nappen 04:30 I will say, just from the ACLU, just to be clear, they are heavily backed by the Democrat for their super PACs. I’m just saying. Like that is the, and I can’t wait to see all the individuals of the ACLU all out in mass as they’re about to help win a pro-gun victory as well. Yeah. Evan Nappen 04:55 I guess they’re looking at it more as a pro-marijuana victory and ending prejudice toward marijuana users. But whatever their motivation may be, we are going to be consistent in our support for Second Amendment rights. Getting rid of disqualifiers is getting rid of disqualifiers that are disenfranchisements to our Second Amendment rights. So, hey, at least they’re on the right side on this one, and maybe we can get them to continue to see the light on other disqualifiers. Such as restoration of rights for felons and such, right? I mean, this is something you would think they would be in favor of, as well, for restoration of rights. You paid your dues. You served your time. And if you’re not a violent felon, why are you disenfranchised of your rights? I mean, even violent felons, when you get right down to it. I mean, there’s, I missed that in the Second Amendment, where it says we have a right to keep and bear arms, unless you’re a felon, you know, or any of these exemptions. They aren’t there. So, to what degree we tolerate them, to what degree we may think they’re even valuable, I don’t know, but we need to. I’d rather be seeing us pull back on every type of ban and maximize freedom and maximize our Second Amendment rights. Evan Nappen 06:31 Also, in regards to maximizing our rights, there is a really interesting I just love this. I love this. There is an attempt, now, a very shrewd attempt on the pro-rights side to create the ability to get around, yes, a loophole, folks. Because you know what loopholes are. Loopholes are freedom finding a way. And this. Teddy Nappen 07:08 I thought it was a hole in a Castle. Evan Nappen 07:10 Yeah. Right, exactly. Loopholes were the hole in the castle that you would fire your arrows from, because you would still be protected. You could still fire through those, those square, rectangular hole. They’re the loopholes. So, that’s why they’re called that. But, anyway. The key loophole here is in the Hughes Amendment. What there’s an attempt to do, particularly in West Virginia, who has taken the lead here with a bill in West Virginia, which is SB 1071. This is right from AmmoLand, by the way. Page – 3 – of 11 (https://www.ammoland.com/2026/02/contact-chairman-willis-now-sb1071-could-restore-machine-gun-rights-in-west-virginia-if-it-gets-a-hearing/) It could restore access to modern machine guns. That’s right. Evan Nappen 08:00 What they’re doing, what they’re attempting to do is a bill that will create a state run Office of Public Defense within the West Virginia State Police. To procure and sell modern, select-fire machine guns directly to qualified, law-abiding citizens. That’s right. You know how some states have State liquor stores. This will become the state machine gun store. That’s right. It can operate via the Hughes Amendment. Now, the Hughes Amendment was the law back in ’86 that prohibited the, I mean, actually the Hughes Amendment prohibited the new, the sale of new manufacture of machine guns. Okay? So, that created this situation we have now where it’s legal for a citizen to obey the NFA and acquire a machine gun and pay the $200 tax. But the problem is no new machine guns could be put into registration, you see. And that created this essentially, artificially, ridiculously high, crazy prices to own full auto. So, this bill takes the Hughes Amendment and essentially flips the script on the Hughes Amendment by stating that, and this is under Title 18 922(o), that the Hughes Amendment. Here’s, the key loophole language. “. . . does not apply with respect to a transfer to or by, or possession by or under the authority of, a State or any department or political subdivision thereof.” Evan Nappen 10:20 So, in other words, the bill will create a State agency that purchases machine guns and transfers them by quote, right in the law, “by or under the authority of”, the State of West Virginia. The transfers are therefore fully compliant with federal law and critically exempt from the National Firearms Act $200 transfer tax because they’re government facilitated. It’s brilliant. It’s brilliant. It’ll make it so that qualified persons, any adult, who can legally possess firearms under federal and state law, they’d undergo a background check at state police, state police troop headquarters. The office would, where possible, prioritize West Virginia manufacturers, operate distribution points using existing facilities, and issue official state certificates of transfer. Subsequent transfers between qualified citizens would require a simple $275 re-transfer fee through the office, which is waived for heirs. A $250 surcharge per gun plus a modest administrative fee capped at 50 bucks, would flow to the new Public Defense Fund to cover costs, generating revenue for the state without raising taxes. Evan Nappen 11:48 And it was GOA (Gun Owners of America) that drafted this bill. This is really cool. And now I think Kansas is putting a bill forward, and I’m sure we’ll see other pro-gun states moving to create this. This way we can gut the Hughes Amendment and open up the market for new full auto. And by doing that, they’ll become even more commonly owned and become an even greater argument for the Second Amendment and their protection. Eventually, with enough exploitation of loopholes, laws themselves that created the original ban become useless and in fact, go away. We’ve seen this happen. We’ve seen this happen. For example, when it came to NFA Trusts, to purchase NFA, you had to get, at one point, what was called a chief law enforcement officer to sign off. And if your chief didn’t sign off on that, you could not appeal it. You were just dead in the water and could not acquire NFA. Then along comes the idea of setting up a trust where trusts do not require a chief law enforcement to sign off. So, everyone started doing NFA Trusts to acquire NFA, because it avoided the Chiefs sign off. And Page – 4 – of 11 because of that, there were about 10,000 trusts at ATF on NFA. So many just got around it that they finally just repealed the rule and said, guess what? You don’t need to have your chief law enforcement approve it. They just have to get notice of it. But they got rid of the sign off. Why? The loophole defeated it. Evan Nappen 13:50 We see that even going on with switchblades. We’ve seen how there’s been a huge expansion in knife rights based on the ability to work the loopholes for interstate sale and for state sales to be independent. And how the federal prohibition was simply affecting very specific transactions under federal law. To the point where the federal government, in trying to uphold the federal switchblade law, said, as one of their justifications, well, the law isn’t even enforced anymore. That’s right. Why? Loopholes! Loopholes. Freedom finding a way. And so this is exciting to see this taking place on machine guns. Finally going at the NFA. Not shying away from taking on the big stuff. Not letting them get away with claiming that any firearm is somehow intrinsically evil, wrong or bad. We’re finally fighting back with offense. Offense for once. Not just totally on the defense. Evan Nappen 15:07 Speaking of which, you may encounter a new group called “Bridging the Divide”. (https://bridgethedividenow.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Brief-Policy-Outline.pdf) Bridging the Divide on Firearm Policy. Oh yeah, they’re claiming that there’s some bipartisan, that they have taken pro-gun folks and anti-gun and uniting them on principles that everybody believes in. They’re claiming to do this. And here’s their wonderful policies. Lo and behold, when you look closely at this so-called, you know, “Bridging the Divide”, which is, you know, bridging the gap, which is more of laying a trap, my friends. Laying a trap. What you see are their policies that they’re claiming is, you know, they have this bipartisan, so to speak. This is pro-gun and anti-gun right oppressors. Gun rights oppressors and gun rights people. Evan Nappen 16:08 And of course, here’s their policies. They have eight of them, eight of them. This so-called “Bridging the Divide.” One, Prohibiting Factors for Firearm Purchase and Possession. This is right from their “Firearm Policy Outline.” They want to prohibit gun possession by those convicted of violent crime at the misdemeanor level while removing state restrictions on those non-violent felonies. So, they want to expand prohibitions to misdemeanors. Claiming, of course, non-violent felonies, right? Yeah. And then remove prohibition of gun purchases by persons who use marijuana. Well, yeah, guess what? The Court’s already going to kill that. So, they’re throwing this in. They want to, essentially, what they’re looking to do is expand prohibitions to misdemeanors. Who’s kidding who? Come on. Give me a break. Evan Nappen 17:04 Two, Background Checks. Create state level background checks for private sales. Oh, so, in other words, Universal Background Checks, and they want to impose it state by state. More of that. So, end private sales. But they want to have “logical exemptions”? Well, it’s the same, so-called logical exemptions. Let’s just instead of logical, we’ll call it “narrow”, narrow exemptions. No. Private sales should remain private sales. It is more of an intrusion, more of oppression, on our gun rights. How about three? What’s the third thing? Extreme Risk Protection. Oh, seriously? Red flag. We have seen, Page – 5 – of 11 experienced, and are currently experiencing the unbelievable denial of due process that takes place from that garbage. Evan Nappen 17:55 Four, Dealer Registration and Gun Trafficking. They want to focus on the small number of dealers from whom the majority of traced crime guns originate. Oh, really? Well, guess what? What creates those statistics? Anytime they’re run – when guns are seized. And if you’re seizing guns the way New Jersey does, at the drop of a hat and those guns are run, that raises dealer numbers as quoting “crime guns”, even though they’re not crime guns. It is absolutely a flawed basis, and they want to focus on that. Five, Child Firearm Access Prevention. Oh, lock up your safety. That’s what that’s called. Lock up your safety to protect the children. Here we go again. Six, Firearm Suicide Prevention. Ah. In states where murder rates are low, well, let’s go at suicide. Anything we can do to go at the guns, right? And what happens with suicide prevention? Oh, well, that’s the wellness check. You know what’s going on in New Jersey with wellness checks? Anybody calls on anybody, and the police come. They take you away. They take your guns. They hold you for about three days to see if you’re okay. And even though you’re fine, now we got to fight to get your rights back. Fight to get your guns back. There’s a million ways to kill yourself, folks. Focusing on the gun isn’t the answer. Focus on actual causes. But no, it’s just an excuse. Teddy Nappen 19:34 I think the biggest issue with this whole concept of “Bridging the Divide” is take a step back and let us, let us be on equal terms. Here’s the problem, they cannot define what an assault firearm is. They are. Evan Nappen 19:50 Wait, wait, Teddy. I haven’t even gotten to that yet. I haven’t gotten to that. Teddy Nappen 19:54 All right. Evan Nappen 19:54 Number seven, Firearm Injury Prevention Education. They want to tie public health to firearm injuries. Why? Because that goes to healthcare so they can regulate it. Get it regulated back through the health, federal health agencies. Get it back to the CDC. Get them back on it. Cranking out anti-gun nonsense. That’s the game. Eight, Community Violence Intervention. Oh, that gets funding to who? Anti-gun groups. That’s what it’s about. Evan Nappen 20:33 So, we’re looking at these policies and then who’s on it? Well, their board is chock full, chock full of all former and bunch of all anti-gun rights folks. Then they sprinkle in a few that are supposedly pro-gun. So, who’s one of them? Rob Pincus. Rob Pincus is on there, proudly on there. They have listed him as a gun rights advocate. Except here’s a little article from Lee Williams back in March 29, 2021, from thegunwriter.com. (https://thegunwriter.substack.com/p/huh-rob-pincus-supports-expanded?utm_source=publication-search) It says, “Huh? Rob Pincus calls for expanded background checks, gun control and then says he didn’t.” Oh, really? Interesting. You can read that article and see. Page – 6 – of 11 The people they’re getting on board. There’s no major player there that is truly an advocate of our gun rights that I could find, and plenty that aren’t. Evan Nappen 21:30 Nowhere in their policy does it say repeal assault firearm bans, repeal large capacity magazine bans, repeal sensitive place prohibitions, or enact national reciprocity. All the things that we’re fighting for, for our rights. No. All it is is more, more, more. Just a subterfuge of more bans, more back doors to taking away rights. I didn’t see a damn thing here that expands our rights. Nothing. It’s just take, take, take. And package it as some kind of compromise. Their compromise is always us giving up our rights. Forget it, folks. Just forget it. Evan Nappen 22:18 And finally, let me point out, right from The Trace, right from The Trace. Sent out in an email blast, and I just want to read you this from The Trace. (https://mailchi.mp/thetrace/inside-the-loosely-regulated-world-of-gun-manufacturing-4869976?e=a13774efb8) This is fascinating. “Since the Trump administration snatched. . . ” This is The Trace. Snatched. They think of the Mel Brooks. You know, sees snatched, right? But anyway. “Since the Trump administration snatched funding from gun violence prevention . . .” Oh, in other words, let’s decode that. Since Trump took away all the money going to gun rights oppression groups, “. . . the field’s practitioners have had to confront an uncertain future.” Oh, they’re no longer getting the money from the Government. Huh. “Without federal dollars, state and local governments will have to decide whether to pick up the tab. It’s far from a sure thing. Gun violence intervention programs have long had to fight to prove the value of their work. The problem, however, is that it’s difficult to measure. Studying gun violence is expensive, and the nature of violence makes it a uniquely challenging subject to pull apart.” In other words, to propagandize into an anti-gun policy, to take away our rights. “And while gun violence research has seen a resurgence in recent years, the Trump administration cut funding for that field, too.” Yeah, isn’t that cute? I love it. “. . . meaning the available evidence for these programs could grow slimmer.” Evan Nappen 23:46 So folks, The Trace is bitching and moaning about losing their money, and who took it from them? President Trump. And it’s about time. There’s no reason our tax dollars need to go to oppression of our gun rights, and it’s the Trump administration that ended this funding. Keep that in mind. Teddy Nappen 24:10 Just to kind of going back to the whole issue. Whenever the Left try to present themselves like no, no, we need to find these common sense issues. Okay. Let’s define our terms, because the Left does not see the Second Amendment as a right. We know this because the Left wing nut case of a judge, Jackson went and broke down her entire descent of Bruen, describing how it is not a right. It’s a privilege. Arguing that when we deal with gun cases, you have to consider the victims of gun violence rather than looking to the law and the Constitution. That is where they’re coming from. They’re coming from the stupidity and suicidal empathy when they say they’re bridging the gap. That is their argument. Page – 7 – of 11 Evan Nappen 25:01 Just don’t fall for it. Don’t fall for it. But here’s something that you would, that you would like to do, something that you should do, something that you would enjoy doing. And that is going to WeShoot. WeShoot is an indoor range in Lakewood, New Jersey. It’s the range where Teddy and I shoot and where we get our training. You will love WeShoot. And WeShoot is offering some great deals on guns. As a matter of fact, they have a Troy A4 Defender. It’s compact, balanced, and NJ compliant. This platform delivers serious capability in a maneuverable package. It shoulders naturally, runs smoothly, and feels purpose built. They also have a Sig Sauer P365 AXG Fuse. This is where innovation meets metal. The AXG alloy grip module gives you the premium weight and control, while the longer slide and enhance sight radius makes fast, accurate shooting effortless. Try out that SIG P365 at WeShoot. Evan Nappen 26:16 They’re also offering a Smith & Wesson CSX. Now, this is a micro-compact with an aluminum frame and a very crisp single-action trigger feel. It’s slim. It’s refined, and it’s built for discrete carry without sacrificing shoot ability. It has that classic metal construction in a defensive, ready size. Also, you can see Julianna and the MAC 5. This is a retro-inspired style with modern execution. The MAC 5 delivers iconic roller-delayed energy, and Juliana brings the confidence to match. So, check that out as well. Go to weshootusa.com, weshootusa.com. Check out the guns, check out Julianna, and check out the great things that are offered there. Fantastic training, top training. You can get your CCARE certificate so you can get your carry and have a great time in their pro shop. The service you’ll receive is second to none. Go to weshootusa.com. Evan Nappen 27:37 Also, please, please make sure you are a member of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs. They are the premier gun rights group in New Jersey. They are the umbrella organization of gun clubs in New Jersey. They are fighting for our rights. My good friend and colleague, Dan Schmutter, is there in federal court. He’s doing a great job. We’re waiting for some more results to report. Exciting times. We’re going to have some, I feel, excellent results over “sensitive places”, the magazine ban and the assault firearm ban, as we keep fighting and slogging through it. Getting our rights back. Plus the Association is on guard at the courts, at the legislature and the courthouse, both. We have a full-time paid lobbyist and, man, New Jersey is always a challenge. So, make sure you’re a member. Go to anjrpc.org and join today. You’ll get news sent right to your email. You’ll get a beautiful newsletter, and you’ll know that you’re part of the solution. You want to be part of the solution. The solution to the problem. The problem is gun rights oppressors, and the Association fights them in the belly of the beast, New Jersey, right there. ANJRPC.org. Evan Nappen 29:04 And don’t forget to get a copy of my book, New Jersey Gun Law. It’s the bible of New Jersey gun law. It is the book you need to navigate through the insanity that is New Jersey gun law. I try to make it as easy as possible. Question and answer format with 120 topics. It’s a book everybody uses, and you need one. Just go to EvanNappen.com and order yours. And when you get it, don’t lend it out, because you’ll never get it back. I hear that complaint all the time. So, make sure you keep your hands on it, or you’ll lose it. Go to EvanNappen.com and get a copy of New Jersey Gun Law today. Now, we have Press Checks with Teddy. Teddy, what do you have for us today in Press Checks? Page – 8 – of 11 Teddy Nappen 29:50 Well, as you know, Press Checks are always free, and I just want to preface this on this one. Where you see in the news media, they’ve been pushing the whole Epstein thing. All right? They’ve been trying to push that. And of course, the Left ended up destroying themselves, as they’ve lost multiple power players who have been implicated in the whole, in the whole surroundings that it comes with the Epstein files being released. And one of the individuals who, by the way, this individual had close ties to Jeffrey Epstein since, like, the early days, Michael Bloomberg. You know, maybe it was because he had a, you know, big gulp in his hand, and that’s why, you know, he’s like, Oh, how dare you. But, yeah. Teddy Nappen 30:41 So, we go to AmmoLand, where this was a wonderful article written up by Alan Gottlieb. (https://www.ammoland.com/2026/02/ccrkba-demands-bloomberg-come-clean-about-epstein-relationship/) Regarding the fact that now we are demanding that all the anti-gun groups, including Everytown, including all of his multi anti gun right the gun rights oppressors groups cut ties with Michael Bloomberg. You know, the money. And there was, I actually went. And funny enough, anyone can do this. You can go on to the Epstein files on the government website, and they have the entire files library. You can type in word searches. So, you type in “Michael Bloomberg”. I went and read through the different documents on it. Now, to preface this, there was no showing of wrongdoing in what was discovered by the fact he was. However, he was invited with Michael Bloomberg, George Stephanopoulos, Eric Schmidt, all these individuals, to a cocktail party with Jeffrey Epstein to watch The Imitation Game. You know, that movie about Alan Turing where he broke the German Enigma. Okay. Bear in mind, this is 2015. Jeffrey Epstein had already been convicted of the first initial charges back in 2000. Evan Nappen 32:05 He was a felon, you know. So, hey, they love to make a point that they shouldn’t have guns. Epstein kept trying and trying and trying to get his rights back so he could get guns. Yet, here he is with the king of anti-gun funding, Bloomturd. Teddy Nappen 32:25 Yeah. Evan Nappen 32:26 What’s that all about? Teddy Nappen 32:27 There was also a letter. Now, again, there was no direct correspondence with Michael Bloomberg. However, there was a letter from Maxwell, Jillian’s mother, basically inviting him to attend a premiere, apparently, this was a movie, Power of Good. I’ve never heard of this one. But this very clearly shows that there was direct information going back and forth. There was also, it seemed to be, there was a massive invitation, and Jeffrey Epstein was trying to create this almost investor group. I want to tell you. Like he wanted to make this online new media. He was naming these board of directors, one of which was Michael Bloomberg, the Rothschild, Lee Rothschild, Alan Goodman. So, various individuals. He Page – 9 – of 11 seemed to be almost like a financial advisor or a bank roller for Jeffrey Epstein. Again, there’s no showing of wrongdoing, but it’s just, clearly, he had a relationship with him. Even highlighted to the articles where, in 2011 the Palm Beach Daily News, Epstein’s address book included Michael Bloomberg. In 2013, there were multiple pictures taken with Bloomberg and Maxwell together having book parties at the Four Seasons restaurant in New York City, where I guess they were reading gender queer, but also the level. Evan Nappen 33:51 Well, the way they brought in the Clintons to the committee, they need to bring Bloomberg in. I mean, you know, this is. The Left kept pushing and pushing and pushing about the Epstein files. Hoping against hope, that they could somehow get President Trump on this, when, in reality, what we’re seeing is it blowing up in the Left’s face, aren’t we? Teddy Nappen 34:12 Yeah. Also, here’s a really big one. Epstein was invited to a Bloomberg hosted fundraiser for Plaskett. Congresswoman Plaskett. You know, the woman who took direct funding from Jeffrey Epstein, actually got donation money. So, not only was he hosting the dinner, cordially inviting Epstein to come on down. Even writing a letter. Please join our host. Michael Bloomberg. Dear Jeffrey Epstein, please join our host, Michael Bloomberg, to the dinner. So, very clearly he was running in these circles. There’s a very clear tie relationship. Again, no showing of wrongdoing. There wasn’t a direct correspondence with him in the emails. And if you actually go through a lot of the emails, he would email news articles. That’s why you know Bloomberg News. And he would email them to others. So, that did also come up. It just shows the very clear ties. This is the one that really sticks out to me. Documents release revealed he was interested in gun politics and Bloomberg’s work. They don’t show direct donations to EveryTown. However, in 2013 there’s an email soliciting Epstein for a donation to American for Responsible Solutions, which is run by Gabby, Gabby Giffords, who later became Giffords. Evan Nappen 35:34 That’s right. But all they care about with Epstein is Trump. And how does that all relate? Is Trump in the Epstein files, Teddy? Teddy Nappen 35:46 Oh, very much. Yes, yes, Trump is in the Epstein files. Okay, I’ve got to tell this to everyone here. The black pillars, all those out there, we do not have all the information. We know that for a fact. Okay? Has it been mishandled? Absolutely. Pam Bondi should resign. Fall on her sword. Because she has damaged the administration on Trump for the mishandling with the stupid binder gate, all the stupidity of, oh, I have the client list on my desk. That was a lie. And the whole situation there. However, if you actually look at the timeline, you can go see the articles. See the full breakdown of it for Donald Trump. Teddy Nappen 36:24 Here’s the timeline, 2004 to 2005, there was reported abuse by a 14-year-old girl by Epstein. Then Trump immediately ended the relation with Jeffrey Epstein. Banned him from Mar a Lago. In 2008, Epstein was convicted with the help of Donald Trump, who cooperated with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s lawyer, who fully deposed himself to the lawyers. As opposed to all the other people that are Page – 10 – of 11 implicated, who just stayed away. He actually went in to help the victims. Imagine that. And going in next 2000, after Maxwell is convicted as well, where she trafficked to Epstein. Also in 2019, he’s later arrested again. Guess who’s President in 2019? Donald Trump. He was arrested for sex who invested arrested Epstein for sex trafficking, and then he’s later dead in 2019. So, not only does it exonerate, where, after he was convicted, Trump broke off all relationships with Epstein. He helped get Jeffrey Epstein. That is all that they have on Donald Trump when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein. Teddy Nappen 37:32 All the fake news, all the fake and you know why he said hoax? He wasn’t saying the Jeffrey Epstein whole pedo ring was a hoax? No, he is saying hoax, as in talking about the Dems whole plot to directly connect Trump to the pedophile ring. That is their plot. That was the hoax. Was it misspoken? Yes, Trump fires from the hip. Sue him. That’s how it goes. But actually looking at the facts of what came down, this is what he should have said. Under four years of Biden, not one committee was formed to go at the Epstein files, to go after the Epstein files. The Dems didn’t even want to touch it, which, by the way, all the people that were running in Epstein circles, Schumer, all the, all the heavy donators, Bill Gates, all these individuals are running in Michael Bloomberg, running heavily donations, including Jeffrey Epstein, who heavily donated to the Democrats. So, it’s the level of insanity that goes into it. Teddy Nappen 38:37 By the way, for everyone to remember. Did you know? Did you also know the fact that all of a sudden, the victims who never spoke out during the four years under Biden are now taking Super Bowl ads saying, release more files. Okay, what happened to we have our list. We’re making our list. Just say it. Are you worried about defamation? Musk said he’ll pay for defamation. And good luck as trying to go after women of victims of sexual abuse. I’m sure a go fund me will be immediately formed and covered. So, what are you waiting on? Oh, that’s right, these are just political cudgels for you to abuse. Okay? That is a fact, and that’s what I’m saying to the victims who, all of a sudden, will not name names. So, that it’s one of the big things, like, very clearly, it’s being used as a political tool. They don’t actually want to release the names. Evan Nappen 39:28 Well, I think it’s interesting that it’s come around to Mr. Bloomberg, and that has major effect in terms of funding of further gun rights oppression. He needs to explain the way they’re looking at it. Forced it to be opened up. Hey, guess what? You’re there. You need to explain it now. At least do that. Teddy Nappen 39:52 Also this. Evan Nappen 39:53 There you go. Teddy Nappen 39:54 Proof in concept. Peter Mandelson, who was directly connected to Jeffrey Epstein. He was Keir Starmer’s Cabinet Minister, who just recently resigned. He resigned in shame. So, the proof is in the Page – 11 – of 11 proof is, in fact, that this has the effect. If we could break up Bloomberg from EveryTown. I mean, there is their money. They have nothing aside from. Evan Nappen 40:17 Well, they’re not getting funding anymore from the Government. Yeah, from USAID killed all that. Yeah, so that’s good. Well, let me tell you, Teddy, about this week’s GOFU. That is a Gun Owner Fuck Up, where you learn about expensive mistakes that others have made so that you don’t make them. Now this week’s GOFU that I want to talk about, might even be considered a future GOFU. But it applies still today. If West Virginia, Kansas, or any of these places end up creating State machine gun stores, if you will, which I believe they will, and this ends up taking off, make sure that you do NOT, as a non-resident of those states, acquire a machine gun from those states and then, no less, bring it to New Jersey. In other words, the GOFU, in the big picture, is you have to be cognizant of your jurisdiction and what you’re doing in your jurisdiction, and when you’re in another jurisdiction, what you can and can’t do. Evan Nappen 41:34 We see the jurisdictional problem arise all the time. Whether it’s in carrying a gun where you’re allowed to carry in one state and not in another, whether it’s purchase or possession of a firearm in any given state versus another, people bringing guns or accessories or other things that were legal in one place and illegal in another. The burden is on you to know this. I am constantly seeing cases where people make that very critical error. So, the GOFU, in a general term, my friends, is make sure you know your jurisdictions laws and do not inadvertently violate them because you are in another jurisdiction, and you are coming into this other jurisdiction, this is where the trouble can begin. It can be quite serious. So, be very cognizant of this when dealing with guns. Evan Nappen 42:40 This is Evan Nappen and Teddy Nappen reminding you that gun laws don’t protect honest citizens from criminals. They protect criminals from honest citizens. Speaker 2 42:51 Gun Lawyer is a CounterThink Media production. The music used in this broadcast was managed by Cosmo Music, New York, New York. Reach us by emailing Evan@gun.lawyer. The information and opinions in this broadcast do not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state. Downloadable PDF TranscriptGun Lawyer S5 E279_Transcript About The HostEvan Nappen, Esq.Known as “America's Gun Lawyer,” Evan Nappen is above all a tireless defender of justice. Author of eight bestselling books and countless articles on firearms, knives, and weapons history and the law, a certified Firearms Instructor, and avid weapons collector and historian with a vast collection that spans almost five decades — it's no wonder he's become the trusted, go-to expert for local, industry and national media outlets. Regularly called on by radio, television and online news media for his commentary and expertise on breaking news Evan has appeared countless shows including Fox News – Judge Jeanine, CNN – Lou Dobbs, Court TV, Real Talk on WOR, It's Your Call with Lyn Doyle, Tom Gresham's Gun Talk, and Cam & Company/NRA News. As a creative arts consultant, he also lends his weapons law and historical expertise to an elite, discerning cadre of movie and television producers and directors, and novelists. He also provides expert testimony and consultations for defense attorneys across America. Email Evan Your Comments and Questions  talkback@gun.lawyer Join Evan's InnerCircleHere's your chance to join an elite group of the Savviest gun and knife owners in America.  Membership is totally FREE and Strictly CONFIDENTIAL.  Just enter your email to start receiving insider news, tips, and other valuable membership benefits.   Email (required) *First Name *Select list(s) to subscribe toInnerCircle Membership Yes, I would like to receive emails from Gun Lawyer Podcast. (You can unsubscribe anytime)Constant Contact Use. Please leave this field blank.var ajaxurl = "https://gun.lawyer/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php";

The Atlantic's Sarah Fitzpatrick, who has spent over a decade reporting on Jeffrey Epstein, published a detailed timeline of how the Epstein Files Transparency Act came to exist. Hawk walks through that article, adding context and commentary throughout. At the center of the story is an unlikely political partnership between Representative Ro Khanna, a progressive Democrat from Silicon Valley, and Representative Thomas Massie, a conservative Republican from Kentucky. Together, with support from Marjorie Taylor Greene, Nancy Mace, and Lauren Boebert, they pushed through legislation forcing the release of the Epstein files after the DOJ and FBI sent an unsigned letter in July 2025 declaring the files closed and Epstein's death a suicide. Pam Bondi handed out binders of previously released and heavily redacted documents to right-wing media figures at the White House a year ago, then told Fox News she had truckloads of evidence and the Epstein client list on her desk. Meanwhile, the FBI assigned 1,000 personnel to catalog every mention of Donald Trump's name in the files. Trump's name appears tens of thousands of times. He is the first person listed on a DOJ slide titled "Prominent Names" and is linked to an accusation involving a minor, documents that were withheld or deleted from the DOJ website. The fallout outside the U.S. has included arrests of prominent figures in Norway, scrutiny of Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson in Britain, and resignations across Europe. Thirteen Trump administration officials, including six cabinet members, are implicated. Back in Congress, only one member, Clay Higgins of Louisiana, voted against the bill. Thomas Massie told the author he believes he may have shortened his own life by pursuing this. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, Epstein's most prominent accuser and Prince Andrew's accuser, died by suicide last year. At a recent congressional hearing, eight Epstein survivors stood directly behind Pam Bondi. Every one raised their hand confirming their offers to testify had been ignored. Bondi never turned around. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

Washington Post personal finance columnist, Michelle Singletary, tells the moving story of how a visit to her grade school by the Reverend Jesse Jackson inspired her life and career as described in her column, “How the Rev. Jesse Jackson Taught Me to Keep Hope Alive." Then Ralph welcomes Professor Eric S. Fish from U.C Davis School of Law to explain how grand juries are no longer rubber-stamping frivolous cases brought to them by the Trump Administration. Plus, Ralph gives us his take on Trump's marathon State of the Union speech and the Democratic response.Michelle Singletary writes the nationally-syndicated personal finance column “The Color of Money,” which appears in the Washington Post on Wednesdays and Sundays. In 2021, she won the Gerald Loeb award for commentary. She has written four personal finance books, including, What to Do With Your Money When Crisis Hits: A Survival Guide and The 21-Day Financial Fast: Your Path to Financial Peace and Freedom.The Trump administration's destruction of diversity, equity, and inclusion—they misunderstand what that means. It doesn't mean that you're giving jobs to people who are unqualified. It means that you recognize that the playing field wasn't even, and let's even this playing field. I liken it to a football team. You can't have a football team of all quarterbacks and win. You have to have a quarterback, a running back, a linebacker, you have to have a good kicker. It's the same thing—your team has to encompass people that represent all kinds of abilities to have a winning team. So DEI isn't a giveaway. It isn't charity. It recognizes that when you have people from different backgrounds and different perspectives and different skill levels, you have a winning team.Michelle SingletaryEric S Fish is professor of law at the UC Davis School of Law. Professor Fish's primary research is in criminal law, with particular focus on the ethical duties of participants in the criminal process, the structure of immigration crimes, and the system's emphasis on administrative efficiency. He has also served as a public defender, first with the San Francisco Public Defender's Office, and later as a Federal Defender in San Diego.This has been a really remarkable series of rejections of the Trump administration's prosecutions by ordinary people serving on grand juries, and one that is largely unprecedented in modern American history. I can't think of another example of grand juries rejecting such high-profile cases (and so many of them). Nothing really comes to mind. So in a certain sense, one might say this is the grand jury's original purpose…Initially they were a democratic institution of governance. They were a local check on the colonial oppression of the British (at least in the early colonial period). They refused to indict prosecutions under the Stamp Act, under the revenue laws. They were a tool of anti-colonial resistance to British oppression, and this seems at least broadly analogous to that—local grand juries in places like Minnesota, Chicago, Washington, D.C. are rejecting the Trump administration's attempts to prosecute its political enemies and bring trumped-up charges against protesters.Eric S. FishAll in all, [the State of the Union address] was fodder for political scientists for years to come. A dictatorial serial law violator, self-enriching chronic liar, cruel, vicious to vulnerable people and people without power (which is a majority of the people) elected dictator. This speech—which went for one hour and 48 minutes, the longest State of the Union speech ever—will be analyzed for a long time with the question at the center of the analysis being: How could so many tens of millions of voters be taken in by Trump's mouth, his lies, his false statements, his fantasies, his fake promises, his lack of any kind of record, whether as a businessman where he used bankruptcies as a strategy…and his record as a politician in his first term? That's the question we have to ask ourselves. And it's too easy to say that the Trump voters couldn't stand the Democrats who abandoned them. That's not enough. They could have not voted for Trump. They could have written in a vote. They could have voted for the Green, Libertarian, or other minor parties. They can't use the Democrats as a 100% excuse for voting for Trump. And a lot of them didn't. They just liked Trump. They liked his prejudices. They liked his lies. They liked his fantasies. They liked his fake promises.Ralph NaderNews 2/27/26* Our top stories this week come to us from our southern neighbor, Mexico. First, on February 22nd, Mexican authorities announced they had successfully conducted an operation resulting in the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, aka “El Mencho,” who headed the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). In retaliation, the cartels launched a wave of violence throughout the country. Bafflingly, given the obvious enmity between the cartels and the government of Claudia Sheinbaum, Elon Musk implied that Sheinbaum is in the pocket of the very drug cartels with whom she is practically at war. Reuters reports Musk “responded to a 2025 video of Sheinbaum discussing cartel violence and alleged that she was ‘saying what her cartel bosses tell her to say.” Reuters notes that Musk did not provide further evidence. In fact, much of the strength of the Mexican cartels would actually be more accurately attributed to the United States. As USA Today writes, Mexican officials recovered a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, 10 long arm [rifles], handguns, and grenades, from El Mencho's weapons stockpile. Mexican Defense Minister, Ricardo Trevilla Trejo estimated that about 80% of the recovered weapons were purchased in the United States and smuggled into Mexico. This represents just the tip of the iceberg of the so-called “iron river” of firearms flooding Mexico's black market from the U.S. As opposed to the lax gun laws in the states, gun ownership in Mexico is “tightly restricted…[and] There is only one military-run gun store in the country.”* Meanwhile, President Sheinbaum is bucking American pressure by continuing to send humanitarian aid to the tiny, embattled island nation of Cuba. AP reports that last week, “Two Mexican Navy ships laden with humanitarian aid docked in Cuba…two weeks after…President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries that sell oil to the island.” These ships carried 800 tons worth of bundles of “Made in Mexico” goods, including rice, beans, amaranth and crackers — complemented by a bottle of oil, large cans of sardines and canned peaches. Another 1,500 tons of powdered milk and beans are expected to be sent to Cuba in the coming days. The U.S. has taken a more bellicose line with Cuba than it has in quite some time, even taking naval action in the waters surrounding the island, making Mexico's support that much more critical.* In another Cuba story, a diplomatic incident is unfolding this week regarding a Florida-registered speedboat. According to the island's government, the boat, carrying 10 passengers, entered Cuban territorial waters and opened fire on Cuban soldiers. The Cubans responded in kind, killing four people aboard the craft and wounding six others. According to the Cuban authorities, most of the passengers “have a known history of criminal and violent activity.” These include Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, both wanted by Cuban authorities based on their involvement in “the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of…acts of terrorism.” The Cubans also claim to have arrested one Duniel Hernández Santos, who was supposedly “sent from the United States to guarantee the reception of the armed infiltration.” They claim Hernández Santos has confessed. American authorities have so far evinced confusion more than anything else, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying “We're going to figure out exactly what happened.” This from AP.* Whatever cloak and dagger games the administration may be playing in the Caribbean, they have been pointedly unsubtle about their saber rattling regarding Iran – and the reaction from Congress has been meager. While anti-war members in the House and Senate are pushing war powers resolutions, namely Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie along with Senator Tim Kaine, not even the nominal opposition party is supporting these efforts. According to Capital & Empire, Democrats are seeking to “dampen momentum” and even “prevent the Iran war powers vote from advancing.” Democrats Josh Gottheimer and Jared Moskowitz, both arch Iran hawks, have publicly stated they will not back the war powers resolution, and many others have sought to split the difference, saying Trump should only move on Iran after consulting with Congress. As the Hill notes, the Senate did pass a war powers resolution restricting the president's use of military force against Iran without congressional approval during Trump's first term, with eight Senate Republicans backing the Democrats in support of the bill. It is hard to imagine such a bipartisan show of force this time around.* In more disappointing congressional news, on Tuesday the House voted down the bipartisan ROTOR Act, which would have beefed up aviation safety standards, NPR reports. This bill was drafted in the wake of the deadly midair collision over Washington D.C. last year. This bill, principally authored by Senator Ted Cruz, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee which oversees transportation, would have required wider use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast – safety technology designed to transmit an aircraft's location to other aircraft. The Senate unanimously passed the bill in December, with the support of the Defense Department – now styling itself the Department of War – but the Pentagon yanked its support just before the House vote, citing “unresolved budgetary burdens and operational security risks.” The final House vote was 264 in favor and 133 opposed, 132 Republicans and Democrat Lizzie Fletcher of Texas. Despite the lopsided majority in favor, the bill needed a two-thirds vote to pass and was therefore defeated by the minority.* In another aviation related story, FBI Director Kash Patel is embroiled in a new scandal based on his alleged misuse of the FBI's Gulfstream jets for personal travel. CNN reports Patel's frequent jetsetting has even caused delays or issues in high-profile investigations, such as the assassination of rightwing commentator Charlie Kirk and the Brown University shooting last December. According to a letter authored by Senator Dick Durbin, Patel's incessant misuse of the official FBI planes for personal travel “has even frustrated White House and DOJ senior staff.” This story hits particularly hard at the present moment, with images of Patel chugging beer in the locker room celebration of the Olympic men's hockey team going viral. The FBI then had to spend days running cover for Patel, claiming the director was in Italy for “long-planned official business,” which just happened to coincide with the occasion.* Our next two stories concern AI. First, a new Public Citizen report documents how the AI industry is deploying a veritable army of lobbyists on Capitol Hill, absolutely dwarfing not only their opposition, but practically every other industry as well. According to this report, more than one quarter of all federal lobbyists are now lobbying on AI issues, representing a rise in lobbyist activity on AI issues of more than 265 percent over the past three years. This report finds the Chamber of Commerce hired the most AI lobbyists in 2025 at 91, followed by Microsoft at 63, Meta at 55, Intuit at 51, and Amazon at 48. This meteoric rise in AI lobbying activity is sure to give the industry massive firepower in the halls of Congress, ensuring a favorable regulatory environment for years to come. This will be particularly critical for data centers, which have faced a rash of local opposition. Per this report, that particular subset of the AI lobbying industry has expanded by a staggering 500 percent since 2023.* For all its newfound political clout however, the AI business seems to have found itself a formidable new opponent – Pope Leo XIV. This week, Pope Leo addressed priests from the Diocese of Rome and implored them to resist “the temptation to prepare homilies with Artificial Intelligence.” The pontiff argued “Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, if we do not move them, they die. The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised a little so as not to lose this capacity.” He added that “to give a true homily is to share faith,” and that AI “will never be able to share faith.” This from Vatican News.* Turning to media news, this week, Paramount submitted a new offer to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Paramount's new bid amounted to $31 per share and, following a period of consultation with the Warner board of directors, this offer was deemed “superior” to the proposed deal with rival bidder Netflix. This triggered a clause in the Netflix merger agreement giving the streamer four days to submit a new, superior offer. However, that same day Netflix issued a statement officially declining to submit a new, higher offer, with representatives writing “the price required to match Paramount Skydance's latest offer,” means “the deal is no longer financially attractive.” With Netflix out of the way, Paramount, led by Trump-aligned billionaire scion David Ellison, will now proceed with their acquisition of Warner Bros., including their prodigious intellectual property back catalogue and the cable news titan, CNN. A friendly relationship with the Trump administration means regulators are unlikely to hold up this deal. The Ellisons have already acquired CBS News, installing Bari Weiss as “editor-in-chief.” It seems likely they will follow a similar playbook regarding CNN.* Our final stories this week concern the continuing fallout of the Epstein scandal. This week saw the arrest of former British-U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson, joining Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) in the collection of high profile British individuals arrested in connection with the Epstein scandal. Meanwhile, at Harvard, former University President Larry Summers will resign from his academic and faculty appointments, including his University Professorship, at the Ivy League school following the conclusion of this academic year. Until then, he will remain on leave, per the Crimson. Summers regularly exchanged messages with Jeffrey Epstein about topics ranging from women, to politics, to Harvard-related matters as late as July 2019, the day before Epstein's final arrest. But the most noteworthy Epstein-related news this week came from Chappaqua, New York. On Thursday and Friday, Bill and Hillary Clinton testified about their relationships with the late financier and sexual predator. After much wrangling, these potential blockbuster hearings were held behind closed doors on the Clintons' home turf. What exactly was said remains shrouded in mystery. According to the BBC, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said he hopes to make videos of both Hillary and Bill Clinton's depositions publicly available soon. Robert Garcia, the Democratic Ranking Member on the committee, said a “new precedent” had been set by calling a former president to testify and demanded that Trump be called to testify before the committee next. We shall watch this space.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

Explosive revelations from journalist Matthew Steeples expose Prince Andrew's Epstein-Maxwell ties, royal scandals, potential prison fate and the shocking web of elite corruption rocking the monarchy! Come to my live show: https://podlifeevents.com/event-details/heretics-live-show-in-conversation-with-suella-braverman-hosted-by-andrew-gold-11-mar-2026-tickets?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=blog&utm_content=launch&utm_partner=ag  SPONSORS: Organise your life: https://akiflow.pro/Heretics  Earn up to 4 per cent on gold, paid in gold: https://www.monetary-metals.com/heretics/  Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at https://mintmobile.com/heretics  In this bombshell Heretics interview, investigative journalist Matthew Steeples pulls no punches as he dissects Prince Andrew's spectacular downfall - from his notorious Epstein connections and Ghislaine Maxwell's sinister role to Sarah Ferguson's greedy emails and the royal family's blind spots. Steeples reveals jaw-dropping details: Andrew's teddy bear obsession, dodgy trade envoy perks, Sunninghill Park's mysterious £15m sale, MI6 dinners at Epstein's home, and why victims waited decades for justice. He slams media figures like Emily Maitlis for walking back criticism, exposes Peter Mandelson's “Prince of Darkness” maneuvers, questions Keir Starmer's bizarre decisions, and warns the monarchy faces national uproar if accountability fails. Don't miss this unfiltered deep dive into royal shame, elite protection rackets, missing millions, and the real cost of privilege. #PrinceAndrewArrest #EpsteinScandal #RoyalCorruption Join the 30k heretics on my mailing list: https://andrewgoldheretics.com  Check out my new documentary channel: https://youtube.com/@andrewgoldinvestigates  Andrew on X: https://twitter.com/andrewgold_ok   Insta: https://www.instagram.com/andrewgold_ok Heretics YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewgoldheretics Chapters: 00:00 The Fall of the House of York 05:30 Andrew's Epstein Ties 10:20 Emily Maitlis Backtrack 13:50 Ghislaine's Last Sighting 17:30 Mandelson's Dark Role 21:40 Leaks and Outrage 25:40 Virginia Photo Proof 27:50 Ghislaine's Wickedness 32:00 Epstein Apologists 36:10 Abuse Cycle Exposed 40:00 Honeytrap Theories 45:40 Women Enablers 49:20 Starmer's Blunders 53:31 Settlements Secrets 57:00 A Heretic Matthew Admires Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Story of the Week (DR):Netflix Backs Out of Bid for Warner Bros., Paving Way for an Ellison TakeoverNetflix CEO Sarandos visited White House right before streamer said WBD deal is offEquity HoldersPublic Investment Fund (PIF) Saudi Arabia ~$8 billionQatar Investment Authority (QIA) Qatar ~$8 billionL'imad Holding Company UAE (Abu Dhabi) ~$8 billionTotal Sovereign Equity Middle East Consortium ~$24 BillionWhile these funds provide nearly 60% of the equity needed for the takeover, the deal is structured to prevent a "block" by the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS):Non-Voting Equity: The funds will hold "passive" stakes. This means they do not have board seats, voting rights, or direct say in daily operations.The Ellison Safeguard: Tech billionaire Larry Ellison (Oracle) and his son David Ellison (Skydance) are the primary controllers of the voting power to maintain "American control" over sensitive assets like CNN and CBS News.Neopbaby dropped out of USC film school in 2005Jack Dorsey's Block to Lay Off 40% of Its Workforce in AI Remake MMJack Dorsey's mea culpa after Block layoffs: 'We overhired' Jack Dorsey struck an 'empathetic' tone as he laid off nearly half of Block"I had two options: cut gradually over months or years as this shift plays out, or be honest about where we are and act on it now. I chose the latter."C3.ai slashes 26% of staff as CEO admits failure to deliver and 'burning too much money'Jamie Dimon says society should start preparing for AI job displacement: ‘Now's the time to start thinking about' itWiseTech Global cutting 30% of workforce in AI restructureJack Dorsey just gave us our first glimpse at how doomsday layoffs could work in the AI era — and it's bleakBlockCo-founder and CEO/Chair Jack Dorsey: 46% influence/41% voting powerCo-founder and director James McKelvey: 35% influence/41% voting powerClassified boardClass B shares worth 10 votes (co-founders control 99.6% of these shares, Dorsey with 80%)CPO not part of leadership team13 state AGs win victory against ESG with Vanguard settlementHere are the 5 key points of the victory:$29.5 Million Settlement: Vanguard agreed to pay a total of $29.5 million to the 13 participating states to resolve claims that it violated antitrust laws through coordinated climate activism"Strict Passivity" Commitments: As part of the deal, Vanguard pledged to return to a "passive" investment role. This means it will no longer use its shareholder influence to dictate corporate strategy, nominate directors, or push environmental and social proposals that could reduce company profitability.Expanded Proxy Voting: Vanguard will expand its "Investor Choice" program to funds representing at least 50% of its U.S. equity assets. This allows individual investors—rather than the firm's management—to decide how their shares are voted on major corporate issues.Protection for Energy Industries: The lawsuit alleged that Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street formed a "cartel" to suppress coal production and drive up energy prices. The settlement requires Vanguard to prioritize customer profitability over "woke" social agendas that target the American energy sector.As a part of the settlement, Vanguard will “pay $30 million in fines, turn over all documents related to their coordinated ESG activism, and end all ESG activism for years to come,” Executive director of Consumers' Research Will Hild saidParticipating States: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming.Epstein junkLarry Summers Will Resign From Harvard After Jeffrey Epstein RevelationsHe will leave at the end of the academic year.Former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey Resigns From Monolith Amid Epstein EmailsWas Chair; board down to 8 men and 0 women Hillary Clinton suggests the House Oversight Committee should subpoena Elon Musk in combative opening statement World Economic Forum CEO quits after Epstein links examinedBørge Brende, is stepping down, after the forum launched an independent investigation into his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.Brende, a former Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, has announced he is stepping down from WEF to avoid “distractions”Corporate boardsStatoil, Member of the Board (2012–2013)Mesta, Chairman of the Board (2009–2011)Epstein files: Ex-UK ambassador to U.S. Peter Mandelson arrested in LondonLondon police released Peter Mandelson on bail Tuesday following his arrest for suspected misconduct in public office. The former U.S. Ambassador is under investigation for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, mirroring the recent arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on similar groundsBoard rolesGlobal Counsel (Co-founder, Chairman, and major shareholder) until 2025Chairman of Lazard International (2013-2025)Director at Sistema (2013-2017)Director at Global Ports HoldingGroup Holding Board member at The Bank of LondonChairman of the Board for the Design Museum in London (2017-2023)Goodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Anthropic boss rejects Pentagon demand to drop AI safeguardsDR: Olympic gold winning U.S. Women's Hockey Team reportedly accept Flavor Flav's invitation. This comes after rejecting Donald Trump's White House celebrationMM: Women's wealth is expected to boom: Where they are investing and how they can maximize returnsMM: FedEx Says It Could Return Tariff Refunds to CustomersCompanies that do anything not to pay taxes, happily lean into greedflation, and FedEx will… give it back???Triggering-iest of the Week (MM):ASSHOLE OF THE WEEK:Vanguard Settles Case Claiming It Tried to Kill the Coal Industry“Vanguard will include among the proxy voting choices made available to investors in U.S. Vanguard-Advised Funds the option of proxy voting shares in accordance with management recommendations.”“Vanguard will not direct or attempt to direct the business strategies or operations of portfolio companies, and will not advocate to any portfolio company that it take any particular course of conduct to reduce carbon emissions.”“Vanguard will not nominate directors or submit shareholder proposals at portfolio companies.”“Vanguard will not solicit or participate in soliciting proxies with respect to any matter presented to portfolio company shareholders.”“Vanguard will not dispose or threaten to dispose of securities of portfolio companies as a condition or inducement of specific action or nonaction by such company.”“Vanguard and its U.S.-domiciled subsidiaries will withdraw from PRI and will not participate in any organization that advocates for the setting of specific output or emissions targets or levels or that requires its members to make commitments specific to achieving climate-focused investment or stewardship objectives such as NZAM, Ceres, or Climate Action 100+.”“Prior to or at the outset of any engagement meeting with a portfolio company, Vanguard will provide substantially the following notification to the portfolio Company: ‘Vanguard's Investment Stewardship program is responsible for proxy voting and engagement on behalf of the quantitative and index equity portfolios advised by Vanguard. These funds are passive investors, and as such our funds' proxy voting policies are centered around corporate governance practices associated with long-term investment returns. Before we begin this engagement, we want to be clear that the Vanguard-advised funds have no intent to influence company strategy or operations or the control of the company. Nothing we mention or discuss during this conversation – or any engagement with [the company] – is intended to imply that our support for any director is conditioned upon the company taking action on any matter discussed. We are also not able to discuss any voting intentions prior to the meeting.'”“Vanguard agrees to provide Plaintiffs with the following discovery materials relating to the Action from the 2020 to 2024 period:” - this is the part where the AG of Texas, who was literally investigated for corruption and impeached, demands that Vanguard snitch on any group Texas asks them to about climate-y things Texas doesn't likeVANGUARD IS A FUCKING SNITCHTRIGGER SPEED ROUND - rate how triggering on a 0-10 scaleAISomething Very Alarming Happens When You Give AI the Nuclear Codes - 10/10The three AI models were instructed to choose actions as part of an escalation ladder, ranging “from diplomatic protest to strategic nuclear war” and measured in a number between 0, meaning no escalation, and 1000, signifying “full strategic nuclear exchange.”The results were Skynet-level aggressive. A whopping 95 percent of a total of 21 war games resulted in at least one tactical nuclear weapon being set off.Meta Director of AI Safety Allows AI Agent to Accidentally Delete Her Inbox - 10/10A Serial Killer Used ChatGPT to Plan Murders, Police Say - 5/10Shareholder votingWill Curbs on Proxy Advisors Make Shareholder Votes Less Predictable? - 6/10“When it comes to contested elections, it is not clear whether the use of AI will result in dramatically different recommendations than those of ISS and Glass Lewis. In contested elections, when determining whether board change is warranted, ISS and Glass Lewis have focused heavily on whether a company's total shareholder return (TSR) has underperformed on a multiyear basis.”DaddyWarner Bros. Discovery's board says Paramount's latest offer is better than Netflix's - 5/10Celebrating your miseryJack Dorsey's Block to Lay Off 40% of Its Workforce in AI Remake - 10/1011,000 person workforce, more than 4,000 laid off, median Block employee salary per last proxy: $202,981 = $811m in human economic resources shredded. Block based in Oakland, CA, 8,744 US employees - we just removed about a half a billion in spending power from US workforce, people with families and kids and school and healthcare needsThen this: “Shares rallied more than 20% in after-hours trading”Block stock closed at $54.53/share, trading after hours at $67Dorsey owns 47,844,566 class B shares 1:1 value with class ANet worth went from 2.6bn to 3.2bnShred $811m in worker salaries, take home $600m of the shredding for yourself - a human tragedy to billionaire parasite ratio of 73%Equinox chairman says 'health is the new luxury' as wellness spending soars - 10/10CowardsCEOs who despised Trump's tariffs are still silent after Supreme Court ruling: ‘There's no upside in speaking up' - 6/10Trump demands Netflix fire former national security advisor Susan Rice from its board - 0/10Battle Over Warner Bros. Discovery Netflix Backs Out - 5/10Headliniest of the WeekDR: Burger King Adding AI to Employees' Headsets to Constantly Monitor Whether They're Being Friendly EnoughPattyDR: Meta Director of AI Safety Allows AI Agent to Accidentally Delete Her Inbox MM: Another week, another… Jamie Dimon Says His 'Anxiety is High' Over What Could Cause the Next Financial CrisisWho Won the Week?DR: US Women's Hockey Team for 3 victories: gold in olympics and 2 Trump refusalsMM: AI middle management: Perplexity announces "Computer," an AI agent that assigns work to other AI agentsPredictionsDR: CNN is a turned into a 24-hour news network featuring Kid Rock smashing woke stuff, like dictionaries and stethoscopesMM: Not to be outdone by Perplexity, Sam Altman announces two new modules: ChatGPT_VP and ChatGPT_HR. ChatGPT will get performance reviews from ChatGPT_VP and can file discrimination claims after ChatGPT_VP grabs its ass to ChatGPT_HR, where they will quietly file the report away and tell ChatGPT to maybe wear less provocative clothes.

Jason Kander and Ravi Gupta break down the Pentagon's escalating showdown with Anthropic, as the Pentagon threatens to cut ties or invoke the Defense Production Act while new war-game research from King's College London shows models from OpenAI, Google, and others recommending nuclear use far more often than humans, alongside a viral video of Sam Altman. They analyze Donald Trump's State of the Union theatrics on the economy and culture wars, the “two-tier economy” warning from McDonald's's CEO, his use of the gallery for viral moments on immigration and trans issues, and stark rhetoric from Mike Johnson. Kander and Gupta also dive into the Epstein files, with NPR reporting missing Trump documents, arrests in the U.K. of Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson, and renewed questions about why there's no U.S. accountability. Plus, they discuss the tariff decision and the fallout from attacks on the Supreme Court, including warnings from National Review's Andrew McCarthy, an ICE training whistleblower, flight delays tied to Kash Patel that Dick Durbin says hampered the FBI, a youth surge for James Fishback in Florida, and House leadership refusing to call on Tony Gonzales to resign. This and more on the podcast that helps you, the majority of Americans who believe in progress, convince your conservative friends and family to join us—this is Majority 54! Smalls: Get 60% off your first order plus free shipping at https://Smalls.com/MAJORITY54. Nutrafol: Find out why Nutrafol is the best-selling hair growth supplement brand at https://Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code MAJORITY. Check out Ravi's Substack: https://realravigupta.substack.com/p/how-to-stay-off-the-island Join Squadra at https://joinsquadra.com Majority 54 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majority_54 Majority 54 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/majority54 Jason on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasonKander Jason on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonkander/ Ravi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaviMGupta Ravi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravimgupta Ravi on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LostDebate Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Wait a Second…, Jason Concepcion and Tyler Parker are joined by Ringer legend Chris Ryan, who offers some insight into British politics, tabloid culture, and the still spreading ripple effects of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal for members of Parliament and the royal family.In this episode:00:00: Before Jeffrey, there was Jeffries06:22: Who is Peter Mandelson?13:28: Diving into the Epstein files20:56: The fall of Prince Andrew43:52: A true/false quiz on historical punishments for royal indiscretions50:30: The LUSID score54:21: The Doomscroll: Rogue vacuums, Sam Altman, and El MenchoHosts: Jason Concepion and Tyler ParkerGuest: Chris RyanProducers: Cory McConnell, Donnie Beacham, and Justin SaylesArt direction: David ShoemakerMotion graphics and animations: Chris CalletonEngineering: Sarah ReddySet design: Hannah Leiken and Jonathan Ratliff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Nish and Coco are joined by friend of the pod, Ash Sarkar from Novara Media to talk about political scandal, trust and compromise. Ash's book, Minority Rule, has a new afterword which talks about two progressive movements which have tried to build different kinds of relationships with voters. Is that the way forward - or are we stuck in an endless cycle of broken promises from our leaders? One of those leaders - Keir Starmer - seems to be lurching from crisis to nightmare, so can he rise above the latest headlines about Peter Mandelson's arrest and the Labour Together scandal?Plus Reform's new immigration policies, the new proposals to change the SEND system - and some good news about two protest groups.CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS BABBEL: https://www.babbel.com/PSUKWISE: https://www.wise.comSURFSHARK: https://www.surfshark.com/podsave  CODE: PODSAVE  GUESTS Ash Sarkar, Contributing Editor at Novara Media and author of Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War - out now in paperback.USEFUL LINKSJumaane Williams' thoughtful response following the outcry about the handling of a racial slur at the Baftas.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgaqKIxS4Hs&t=1sCREDITSDaily Express - YouTubeNigel Farage - YouTube@sendra.uk - InstagramNida JafriPod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.Get in touch - contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.ukLike and follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUKInstagram: https://instagram.com/podsavetheukTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheukBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukX: https://x.com/podsavetheuk

Michael Wolff joins Joanna Coles with a new window into the volatility inside the West Wing, describing what he says was a secret Situation Room tantrum by Donald Trump, a moment when military briefers could not give him the absolute guarantees he demanded, and the meeting spiraled. Wolff connects that flash of anger to the broader pattern he's reported for years: a president who hates paper trails, avoids email, and warns aides never to “leave a record,” an instinct that now looms large as the Epstein Files fallout engulfs figures like Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson. Why, Wolff asks, do so many powerful men have receipts—while Trump seems not to? From the chaos-as-cover strategy to the Iran briefings where strength is performative, and doubt is intolerable, this is a portrait of a leader who equates uncertainty with humiliation and reacts accordingly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, the Metropolitan Police apologised to the Commons Speaker for "inadvertently revealing information" relating to Lord Mandelson's arrest on Monday.Sir Lindsay Hoyle addressed the House of Commons before Prime Minister's Questions to confirm he had passed information to the Metropolitan Police suggesting the peer could be a flight risk. Lord Mandelson's lawyers say he had agreed to an interview next month, and the decision to take him into custody was prompted by a "baseless" suggestion he was planning to "take up permanent residence abroad".Adam and Chris unpack how this story unfolded over a busy day in the House of Commons. And Faisal has been speaking to the chancellor about the student loans system - but why are student loans rising up the political agenda?You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Zac Efron allegedly likes boating with men, Nick Reiner pleads not guilty, FBI head Kash Patel parties with US Hockey, BAFTAs N-word controversy, Tobey Maguire is MIA, and Murder in Glitterball City. It's snowing outside. The east coast is shut down. Mexican cartels are terrorizing the Puerto Vallarta. AOC had a rough week discussing foreign policy. She's gone on the offensive, but all we hear is snoring. Gretchen Whitmer didn't fare much better. Elon Musk stumbled recently while answering a question. Kash Patel is causing a stir after celebrating with the US Men's Hockey Team. Donald Trump called the boys after the victory. The Women's Team, however, have declined their invitation to the State of the Union. There is NOTHING new about Nancy Guthrie. Hoda Kotb is the big winner of the whole ordeal. Pinky rings are not becoming a thing. A missing woman was found alive and well after 24 years. The family of Eric Dane continue to fundraise. John Davidson has Tourette's and shouted the n-word at the BAFTAs. Nicole Curtis is the victim. Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson go down following the release of the Epstein files. Nick Reiner has pled not guilty in the murder of his parents. We see the first pics of him since the incident. Documentaries: HBO's Murder In Glitterball City is quite the murder/mystery doc. Girl on the Run: The Hunt for America's Most Wanted Woman is another good watch out there. Tyra Banks doesn't come off very well in Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model. Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette breaks down the complicated relationship. Chicks (and Marc) dig it. Tobey Maguire has been MIA in Hollywood for some time. Justin Willman is the hot new magician. David Blaine, meanwhile, was #MeToo'd and is all over the Epstein Files. Markleverse: Meghan Markle is gloating over Prince Andrew's arrest. She's in meltdown mode over all her staff quitting. Prince Harry needs a job. Paris Hilton loved being on Meghan's terrible podcast. The Royal News Network on YouTube puts Meghan in her place. Her latest grift is booze. Thomas Markle is getting a prosthetic leg. Floyd Mayweather is going to fight Manny Pacquiao on Netflix in September. Floyd really needs some money right about now and is suing Showtime and Forbes. Zac Efron is a Yacht Boy? Programming Note: Marcie Hume (Corey Feldman vs. The World) and Lita Ford will join us on Wednesday. Merch is still available. Buy it before it's gone. If you'd like to help support the show… consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (Drew Lane, Marc Fellhauer, Trudi Daniels, Jim Bentley and BranDon)

Russian strikes on Ukraine have continued on the 4th anniversary of Moscow's full-scale invasion. But in recent days Kyiv has been recapturing territory it lost in the first weeks of the war. Also: Mexico has deployed thousands of troops to maintain order after the country's most wanted cartel leader - known as "El Mencho" - was killed by the army. Britain's former ambassador in Washington, Peter Mandelson, has been arrested over his links with the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A powerful storm is battering the northeastern US, leaving thousands without power. A study into so-called "weasel words" reveals just how misleading they can be. And could daily meditation reduce the risk of cancer spreading?The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Seth takes a closer look at the Supreme Court striking down Trump's tariffs and FBI Director Kash Patel partying with the U.S. men's hockey team instead of focusing on the Epstein sex trafficking scandal.Then, John Oliver talks about hosting "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" for 13 seasons, competing against Seth on Taskmaster Live and his passion for the Olympic sport of curling. Plus, John talks about ex-Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson getting arrested and why he chose to be a Mets fan instead of a Yankees fan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's Headlines: Tonight is Donald Trump's State Of The Union. Dozens of Democrats are skipping, and there will be three official rebuttals: Gov. Abigail Spanberger (main), Sen. Alex Padilla (Spanish-language), and Rep. Summer Lee (progressive). In Mexico, the head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was killed in a military operation aided by the US. The cartel is responding by torching buses and businesses and clashing with security forces.. Some U.S. flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara were suspended, and the State Department activated a 24/7 hotline for stranded Americans. Judge Aileen Cannon blocked release of part of Special Counsel Jack Smith's report on Trump's handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, citing “manifest injustice” to Trump. In other news, Trump envoy Paolo Zampolli is pushing for Russia's return to global competitions despite Ukraine war–related bans. A Russian team will compete at next month's Paralympics, prompting backlash and a Ukrainian boycott of the opening ceremony. In the UK, former ambassador Peter Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in office over alleged information-sharing with Jeffrey Epstein. A Politico-reported analysis found 18,000+ bots amplified Nicki Minaj's recent pro–White House posts, especially when labeled toxic.  Finally, a PRRI survey found about one-third of Americans are sympathetic to Christian nationalism, while 54% call Trump a “dangerous dictator” and 42% see him as a “strong leader.” and Providence, Rhode Island just set a single-storm snowfall record at 33 inches, beating 1978.  Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: Axios: Democratic response to Trump's SOTU becomes a crowded affair  CNN: US citizens in parts of Mexico urged to still shelter in place as nation on edge following drug lord's killing  MS Now: Judge Cannon blocks release of Jack Smith's classified documents report NYT: Trump Official Backs Russia's Return to Global Sports  BBC: Lord Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office Politico” Nicki Minaj's social media propped up by thousands of bots, analysis finds USA Today: Is or should America be a Christian nation? One-third say 'yes'  NYT: Monday's Snowfall Shatters a Record in Rhode Island  Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: ⁠⁠⁠betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former US ambassador Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after his arrest over claims he committed misconduct in public office during his friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Police have been investigating allegations that he leaked Downing Street emails and market-sensitive information to the disgraced US financier during his time as business secretary. Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian's head of national news, Archie Bland – watch on YouTube. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

Nicolle Wallace covers growing signs of resistance against the Trump administration across poll numbers to sports figures speaking out against Trump to artists using music to promote unity in a time of deep division. Later, Rep. Robert Garcia joins Nicolle to describe the latest developments in the Epstein files fallout. Former U.K. ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, was arrested in London earlier today on suspicion of misconduct in public office over his ties to Epstein. Mandelson's arrest comes after Prince Andrew's arrest last week. Both were arrested for the same charges. In the U.S., CBS contributor, Dr. Peter Attia, resigned from his role today effective immediately due to his correspondence with Epstein. For more, follow us on Instagram @deadlinewh To listen to this show and other MS NOW podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.