Podcasts about politics and government

Join Travel Brat Sof as she dives into some of the United States' most loved cities with author Christopher Weld. Chris Weld has been writing short stories and novels for over twenty years. He is writing The Mice of Dumpler, a children's adventure series similar to The Magic Treehouse books.  He also writes adult fantasy and science fiction. His new fantasy novel, Silk and the Assassin, comes out this summer.  

Michigan AG files felony charges against 16 fake Trump electors | Missouri regulators say federal radioactive groundwater contamination efforts are not working | MO Gov Mike Parson signs bill easing restrictions on retired educators' ability to teach | Illinois Supreme Court rules SAFE-T Act Constitutional, making Illinois the first state to ban cash bail | Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announces 800,000 student loan borrowers to receive forgiveness in the next month. Support this show and all of the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the patreon link to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month and goes up from there with extra shows and special access at the higher levels. Heartlandpod.com, click the patreon link or just go to Patreon and search for the heartland pod. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.INTRO: Welcome to Flyover View, a member of the Heartland Pod family of podcasts and a look at heartland news from 30,000 feet. I'm your host, Sean Diller, and I want to thank you for joining me today.Here we go! DETROIT NEWS:16 false Trump electors face felony charges in MichiganCraig MaugerBeth LeBlancThe Detroit NewsLansing — Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed felony charges against 16 Republicans who signed a certificate falsely stating that Donald Trump won Michigan's 2020 presidential election, launching criminal cases against top political figures inside the state GOP.Each of the 16 electors have been charged with eight felony counts, including forgery and conspiracy to commit election law forgery, according to Nessel's office.The revelation capped six months of investigation and produced the most serious allegations yet in Michigan over the campaign to overturn Trump's loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Biden won Michigan by 154,000 votes or 3 percentage points, but Trump and his supporters maintained false claims that fraud swung the result.As part of the push to undermine Biden's victory, Trump supporters gathered inside the Michigan Republican Party headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, and signed a certificate, claiming to cast the state's 16 electoral votes for Trump.Eventually the false certificate was sent to the National Archives and Congress. The document falsely claimed the Trump electors had met inside the Michigan State Capitol on Dec. 14.  But that's not what happened. In fact Dec. 14 at the real state capitol is where the real electors met to cast their real electoral votes for the real winner, Joe Biden. The Michigan Attorney General said "The false electors' actions undermined the public's faith in the integrity of our elections and, we believe, also plainly violated the laws by which we administer our elections in Michigan.""My department has prosecuted numerous cases of election law violations throughout my tenure, and it would be malfeasance of the greatest magnitude if my department failed to act here in the face of overwhelming evidence of an organized effort to circumvent the lawfully cast ballots of millions of Michigan voters in a presidential election."Ryan Goodman, a law professor New York University School of Law, called the charges "a strong case" and noted the fake electors signed a sworn statement attesting "we convened and organized in the State Capitol.""In truth, they met (secretly) in GOP headquarters basement," Goodman wrote on Twitter.The felony complaints indicate the warrants for each of the electors were signed Thursday and Friday of last week, according to copies of the documents.The names and positions of the electors are available in news articles, and include several current and former state GOP committee chairs and local elected officials.Each of the 16 electors is charged with eight felonies: two counts of election law forgery; two counts of forgery; and one count each of uttering and publishing, conspiracy to commit forgery, conspiracy to commit election law forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery. Conspiracy to commit forgery carries one of the steepest penalties, punishable by up to 14 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.The conspiracy charges allege the defendants worked with specific named others to falsely make a public record: which was the false certificate of votes of the 2020 fake electors from Michigan.The 16 fake electors convened in the basement of Michigan GOP headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, and produced a certificate that claimed Trump had won the state's 16 electoral votes.An affidavit prepared by Michigan AG Nessel's office in support of the complaint indicated Republican staffers in interviews with investigators said that non-electors were blocked from entering the building and the electors themselves were required to surrender their cellphones to prevent any recording of the event. GOP elector Mayra Rodriguez would later tell the Jan. 6 Select Committee that Trump campaign aide Shawn Flynn was present and spoke to the fake electors at the site.Attorney Ian Northon attempted to deliver a manila envelope similar to the size of the false electoral vote certificate to the Michigan Senate, claiming it contained the Republican electoral votes, the filing said. The U.S. National Archives and U.S. Senate Archives reported receiving a copy of the false certificate as well. Michigan election law bans someone from knowingly making or publishing a false document "with the intent to defraud."Each defendant, or their attorneys, has been notified of the charges, and the court will provide each with a date to appear in Ingham County district court for an arraignment. In a statement, AG Nessel's office also said "This remains an ongoing investigation, and the Michigan Department of Attorney General has not ruled out charges against additional defendants," Nessel's office said.YIKES: 14 years for conspiracy to commit forgery. And I'm not a practicing attorney, but I would bet anyone connected to Rudy Giuoini, Sydney Powell, Lindsey Graham, and some of these other goofballs could be looking at conspiracy charges as well. Because the tough thing about conspiracy crimes - so here it's conspiracy to commit election forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery - so the tough part if you're a defendant, is that once you talk with another person about the plan, and anyone involved takes even the smallest step toward moving on it, the crime of conspiracy is complete. You'll be found guilty if the prosecutor can prove it. MISSOURI INDEPENDENT: Something in the water.BY: ALLISON KITE - JULY 17, 2023 4:40 PM     A joint investigation by The Independent and MuckRock.In 2021, Missouri environmental regulators warned the federal government that radioactive contamination of groundwater from a uranium processing site near St. Louis was not improving despite cleanup efforts, according to documents reviewed by The Missouri Independent and MuckRock.Officials with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Energy in May 2021, responding to the agency's five-year review of its cleanup efforts at a Weldon Spring site where uranium was refined during the Cold War.While the radioactive waste and contaminated debris from the uranium processing site have been contained, Missouri regulators said contamination in the surrounding groundwater wasn't getting better.The letter, which has not been reported publicly, is the latest example of Missouri officials pushing the federal government to do more to protect the health of St. Louis-area residents near the litany of World War II and Cold War-era nuclear sites in the region. A six-month investigation by The Independent, MuckRock and The Associated Press found that federal agencies and private companies, for decades, downplayed concerns about radiological contamination or failed to investigate it fully at sites in St. Louis and St. Charles counties.St. Louis and surrounding areas played a key role in the development of the first atomic bomb during World War II. Uranium processed in downtown St. Louis was used in the first sustained nuclear reaction in Chicago. After the war, Mallinckrodt, which operated the downtown plant, started similar operations at a new facility on Missouri Highway 94 just north of the Missouri River.The more than 200-acre site has been contaminated for decades by radium, thorium and uranium as well as dangerous non-radioactive chemicals from its use to manufacture explosives and process uranium ore. The Weldon Spring plant was demolished and the debris buried, along with residue leftover from uranium processing, in a 41-acre containment cell covered with rock. The containment cell, the highest point in St. Charles County, is accessible to the public and has a monument to the communities displaced by the war effort and information on the cleanup effort at the top.Closer to the Missouri River, a quarry the federal government used to store radioactive waste was also contaminated. It's separated from the main site but part of the same cleanup and monitoring effort.Remediation of the plant is complete, but monitoring has shown uranium contamination is not decreasing. The Environmental Protection Agency shared some of the state's concerns that the groundwater monitoring network was insufficient and the groundwater is not projected to be restored in a reasonable timeframe. Beyond that, the state says, the extent of the contamination hasn't been sufficiently defined, meaning it could be more widespread than the Department of Energy knows based on its sampling. The federal sampling program, the state argues, is inadequate.Missouri regulators, in their letter, repeatedly corrected the Department of Energy when the federal agency said uranium levels were falling in groundwater wells at the site.In a response to the state, the federal government said it would revise its conclusion that the remedy was working. MISSOURI INDEPENDENT: Pulled out of retirementNew law tackles Missouri teacher shortage by encouraging retirees to return to classroomGov. Mike Parson signed legislation last week that allows educators to return to work without losing retirement benefitsBY: ANNELISE HANSHAW - JULY 13, 2023 9:00 AMMissouri's school districts are struggling - not just with a teacher shortage but a scarcity of bus drivers, custodians and other essential personnel.In the most recent school year, teachers with inadequate teaching certification taught over 8% of Missouri public school classes, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.The crisis has led larger school districts to consider adopting four-day school weeks to address teacher retention and recruitment problems.Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, has been working on one way to address the problem for four years. And last week, the governor signed a bill into law, set to take effect Aug. 28, that will allow retired public-school staff to work full-time for a district for up to four years without losing retirement benefits.Prior to Black's legislation, teachers and non-certificated staff could work full-time for only two years post-retirement without losing benefits.The law also addresses other positions, like bus drivers and janitors. Retired school employees can work in positions that don't require a teaching certificate for more hours. CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS:UPDATED: Cash bail will end in Illinois as state supreme court rules the SAFE-T Act is constitutionalTuesday, July 18, 2023By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.comSPRINGFIELD – A landmark criminal justice reform that eliminates cash bail in Illinois is constitutional, the state's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, paving the way for the change to take effect Sept. 18. The 5-2 decision – handed down on partisan lines – means that an individual's wealth will no longer play a role in whether they are incarcerated while awaiting trial. Judges can still order someone to be detained as they await trial, but the new system will instead be based on an offender's level of risk of reoffending or fleeing prosecution. With the new law's implementation, Illinois will become the first state in the U.S. to fully eliminate cash bail – and all provisions of the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform will have taken full effect.Short for Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today, the wide-ranging measure was an initiative of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus that passed in the wake of a nationwide reckoning with racism in the criminal justice system following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.The act reformed police training, certification and use-of-force standards, expanded detainee rights, and gave the attorney general's office authority to investigate alleged civil rights violations by law enforcement. It also requires body cameras at all police departments by 2025. Some larger departments are already required to use body cameras under the law.State Rep. Justin Slaughter, a Chicago Democrat who sponsored the measure in the House, said the pretrial detention overhaul addresses an “overly punitive criminal justice system” for impoverished Illinoisans – especially those in Black and brown communities.It's a system that often forces innocent individuals to take plea deals – and to accept a criminal record – to obtain their freedom when they don't have money to post bail.“So this is not about being tough on crime or soft on crime,” he said. “This is about being smart on crime, reworking our system, streamlining our system to address those higher-level, more violent, dangerous alleged offenses. It's not about having someone unnecessarily sit in jail.”While opponents of the new law have argued it will strain smaller court systems and hinder judicial discretion, the lawsuit centered on the meaning of two mentions of the word “bail” in the Illinois Constitution, and the interplay between branches of government.The Supreme Court ruled on a set of consolidated cases filed against Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Gov. JB Pritzker and the state's Democratic legislative leaders by state's attorneys and sheriffs from over 60 counties.The lawsuit specifically cited Article VIII of the state constitution, which states, “all persons” accused of crimes “shall be bailable by sufficient sureties.” Any changes to the language, the lawsuit argued, would require a constitutional amendment to be approved by voters.While a Kankakee County judge ruled with the state's attorneys and sheriffs late last year, Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, writing for the majority, said the lower court misinterpreted the state constitution..  She wrote, “The Illinois Constitution does not mandate that monetary bail is the only means to ensure criminal defendants appear for trials or the only means to protect the public,”Theis' majority opinion also said that the pretrial release provisions “expressly take crime victims into account.”“As we have already mentioned, those provisions require a court to consider the ‘nature and seriousness of the real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons that would be posed by the defendant's release,' including crime victims and their family members,” she wrote.  The pretrial detention changes – often referred to as the Pretrial Fairness Act, or PFA – will create a “presumption” in favor of pretrial release, meaning “the state bears the burden of establishing a defendant's eligibility for pretrial detention,” Theis wrote.Advocates say the intent of that provision is to divert lower-level nonviolent offenders from pretrial incarceration while giving judges authority to detain individuals accused of more serious crimes if they are deemed dangerous or at risk of fleeing prosecution.Another facet of the reform entitles defendants to a more intensive first appearance in court. During that appearance, defendants will now have a right to legal representation and prosecutors can detail their reasons for continued detention.The new hearings replace standard bail hearings, which often last less than five minutes and end with a judge deciding the conditions of release, including how much money the defendant must post to be released.Advocates for the bail reform have noted that it gives judges greater authority to detain individuals accused of crimes such as domestic battery and violations of orders of protection prior to trial than does prior law.Kaethe Morris Hoffer, the executive director of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, spoke in favor of the reform at a virtual news conference Tuesday.  “I want to be clear – safety and interests and voices of people who have endured rape and violence in the sex trade have never been prioritized when the criminal legal system is asked to make decisions about the liberty of people who are accused of serious crimes of violence. This changes that.”While the new law directs law enforcement officers to cite and release anyone accused of a crime below a Class A misdemeanor, they would maintain discretion to make an arrest if the person is a threat or if making the arrest is necessary to prevent further lawbreaking.Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart was one of two state's attorneys in Illinois who backed the SAFE-T Act alongside Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. He noted that many smaller jurisdictions will lose revenue from cash bail payments when the system is eliminated – a point that reform advocates have repeatedly noted shows a flaw in the system.Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.KANSAS REFLECTOR: Promises made, promises kept.White House announces more than 800,000 student loan borrowers to have debt forgiven. You heard that right. BY: ARIANA FIGUEROA - JULY 14, 2023 10:41 AM    WASHINGTON — The $39 billion in debt relief will come through fixes to mismanagement of the agency's income-driven repayment plans. Many long-time borrowers, including those who had been making payments for 20 years or more, were denied relief they were eligible for under the repayment plans. This happens when qualified payments were made but aren't being counted accurately. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.“For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness,” The Department of Education has already begun to notify those 804,000 borrowers of their forgiveness, and within 30 days their debts will be wiped out.The plan includes borrowers with Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loans held by the department who have reached a forgiveness threshold specified by the department.Cardona said “By fixing past administrative failures, we are ensuring everyone gets the forgiveness they deserve, just as we have already done for public servants, students who were cheated by their colleges, veterans and other borrowers with permanent disabilities”A 2022 NPR investigation found numerous problems with the agency's handling of IDR plans, which are meant to help low-income borrowers. Loan servicers failed to keep track of borrowers' progress toward forgiveness and payment histories were not properly transferred from one loan servicer to another. In January of this year, The Department of Education announced plans to overhaul the income-driven repayment plan.Under the new plan, monthly payments would decline to 5% of a borrower's income — down from 10% — and the repayment timeline for loan forgiveness would be decreased to 10 years from 20 or 25 if the initial loan is less than $12,000.The announcement Friday followed the Supreme Court's decision in late June to strike down the Biden administration's student debt relief program that would have canceled up to $20,000 in student loan debt for some borrowers.Under the Biden administration, the Department of Education has canceled about $116 billion in student loan debt for borrowers who were misled by for-profit institutions, borrowers with disabilities and those with loans in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.Welp, that's it for me. From Denver I'm Sean Diller, original reporting for the stories in todays show is from Capitol News Illinois, Missouri Independent, Detroit News, and Kansas Reflector.

Michigan AG files felony charges against 16 fake Trump electors | Missouri regulators say federal radioactive groundwater contamination efforts are not working | MO Gov Mike Parson signs bill easing restrictions on retired educators' ability to teach | Illinois Supreme Court rules SAFE-T Act Constitutional, making Illinois the first state to ban cash bail | Education Secretary Miguel Cardona announces 800,000 student loan borrowers to receive forgiveness in the next month. Support this show and all of the work in the Heartland POD universe by going to heartlandpod.com and clicking the patreon link to sign up. Membership starts at $1/month and goes up from there with extra shows and special access at the higher levels. Heartlandpod.com, click the patreon link or just go to Patreon and search for the heartland pod. No matter the level you choose, your membership helps us create these independent shows as we work together to change the conversation.INTRO: Welcome to Flyover View, a member of the Heartland Pod family of podcasts and a look at heartland news from 30,000 feet. I'm your host, Sean Diller, and I want to thank you for joining me today.Here we go! DETROIT NEWS:16 false Trump electors face felony charges in MichiganCraig MaugerBeth LeBlancThe Detroit NewsLansing — Attorney General Dana Nessel has filed felony charges against 16 Republicans who signed a certificate falsely stating that Donald Trump won Michigan's 2020 presidential election, launching criminal cases against top political figures inside the state GOP.Each of the 16 electors have been charged with eight felony counts, including forgery and conspiracy to commit election law forgery, according to Nessel's office.The revelation capped six months of investigation and produced the most serious allegations yet in Michigan over the campaign to overturn Trump's loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Biden won Michigan by 154,000 votes or 3 percentage points, but Trump and his supporters maintained false claims that fraud swung the result.As part of the push to undermine Biden's victory, Trump supporters gathered inside the Michigan Republican Party headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, and signed a certificate, claiming to cast the state's 16 electoral votes for Trump.Eventually the false certificate was sent to the National Archives and Congress. The document falsely claimed the Trump electors had met inside the Michigan State Capitol on Dec. 14.  But that's not what happened. In fact Dec. 14 at the real state capitol is where the real electors met to cast their real electoral votes for the real winner, Joe Biden. The Michigan Attorney General said "The false electors' actions undermined the public's faith in the integrity of our elections and, we believe, also plainly violated the laws by which we administer our elections in Michigan.""My department has prosecuted numerous cases of election law violations throughout my tenure, and it would be malfeasance of the greatest magnitude if my department failed to act here in the face of overwhelming evidence of an organized effort to circumvent the lawfully cast ballots of millions of Michigan voters in a presidential election."Ryan Goodman, a law professor New York University School of Law, called the charges "a strong case" and noted the fake electors signed a sworn statement attesting "we convened and organized in the State Capitol.""In truth, they met (secretly) in GOP headquarters basement," Goodman wrote on Twitter.The felony complaints indicate the warrants for each of the electors were signed Thursday and Friday of last week, according to copies of the documents.The names and positions of the electors are available in news articles, and include several current and former state GOP committee chairs and local elected officials.Each of the 16 electors is charged with eight felonies: two counts of election law forgery; two counts of forgery; and one count each of uttering and publishing, conspiracy to commit forgery, conspiracy to commit election law forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery. Conspiracy to commit forgery carries one of the steepest penalties, punishable by up to 14 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.The conspiracy charges allege the defendants worked with specific named others to falsely make a public record: which was the false certificate of votes of the 2020 fake electors from Michigan.The 16 fake electors convened in the basement of Michigan GOP headquarters on Dec. 14, 2020, and produced a certificate that claimed Trump had won the state's 16 electoral votes.An affidavit prepared by Michigan AG Nessel's office in support of the complaint indicated Republican staffers in interviews with investigators said that non-electors were blocked from entering the building and the electors themselves were required to surrender their cellphones to prevent any recording of the event. GOP elector Mayra Rodriguez would later tell the Jan. 6 Select Committee that Trump campaign aide Shawn Flynn was present and spoke to the fake electors at the site.Attorney Ian Northon attempted to deliver a manila envelope similar to the size of the false electoral vote certificate to the Michigan Senate, claiming it contained the Republican electoral votes, the filing said. The U.S. National Archives and U.S. Senate Archives reported receiving a copy of the false certificate as well. Michigan election law bans someone from knowingly making or publishing a false document "with the intent to defraud."Each defendant, or their attorneys, has been notified of the charges, and the court will provide each with a date to appear in Ingham County district court for an arraignment. In a statement, AG Nessel's office also said "This remains an ongoing investigation, and the Michigan Department of Attorney General has not ruled out charges against additional defendants," Nessel's office said.YIKES: 14 years for conspiracy to commit forgery. And I'm not a practicing attorney, but I would bet anyone connected to Rudy Giuoini, Sydney Powell, Lindsey Graham, and some of these other goofballs could be looking at conspiracy charges as well. Because the tough thing about conspiracy crimes - so here it's conspiracy to commit election forgery and conspiracy to commit forgery - so the tough part if you're a defendant, is that once you talk with another person about the plan, and anyone involved takes even the smallest step toward moving on it, the crime of conspiracy is complete. You'll be found guilty if the prosecutor can prove it. MISSOURI INDEPENDENT: Something in the water.BY: ALLISON KITE - JULY 17, 2023 4:40 PM     A joint investigation by The Independent and MuckRock.In 2021, Missouri environmental regulators warned the federal government that radioactive contamination of groundwater from a uranium processing site near St. Louis was not improving despite cleanup efforts, according to documents reviewed by The Missouri Independent and MuckRock.Officials with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Energy in May 2021, responding to the agency's five-year review of its cleanup efforts at a Weldon Spring site where uranium was refined during the Cold War.While the radioactive waste and contaminated debris from the uranium processing site have been contained, Missouri regulators said contamination in the surrounding groundwater wasn't getting better.The letter, which has not been reported publicly, is the latest example of Missouri officials pushing the federal government to do more to protect the health of St. Louis-area residents near the litany of World War II and Cold War-era nuclear sites in the region. A six-month investigation by The Independent, MuckRock and The Associated Press found that federal agencies and private companies, for decades, downplayed concerns about radiological contamination or failed to investigate it fully at sites in St. Louis and St. Charles counties.St. Louis and surrounding areas played a key role in the development of the first atomic bomb during World War II. Uranium processed in downtown St. Louis was used in the first sustained nuclear reaction in Chicago. After the war, Mallinckrodt, which operated the downtown plant, started similar operations at a new facility on Missouri Highway 94 just north of the Missouri River.The more than 200-acre site has been contaminated for decades by radium, thorium and uranium as well as dangerous non-radioactive chemicals from its use to manufacture explosives and process uranium ore. The Weldon Spring plant was demolished and the debris buried, along with residue leftover from uranium processing, in a 41-acre containment cell covered with rock. The containment cell, the highest point in St. Charles County, is accessible to the public and has a monument to the communities displaced by the war effort and information on the cleanup effort at the top.Closer to the Missouri River, a quarry the federal government used to store radioactive waste was also contaminated. It's separated from the main site but part of the same cleanup and monitoring effort.Remediation of the plant is complete, but monitoring has shown uranium contamination is not decreasing. The Environmental Protection Agency shared some of the state's concerns that the groundwater monitoring network was insufficient and the groundwater is not projected to be restored in a reasonable timeframe. Beyond that, the state says, the extent of the contamination hasn't been sufficiently defined, meaning it could be more widespread than the Department of Energy knows based on its sampling. The federal sampling program, the state argues, is inadequate.Missouri regulators, in their letter, repeatedly corrected the Department of Energy when the federal agency said uranium levels were falling in groundwater wells at the site.In a response to the state, the federal government said it would revise its conclusion that the remedy was working. MISSOURI INDEPENDENT: Pulled out of retirementNew law tackles Missouri teacher shortage by encouraging retirees to return to classroomGov. Mike Parson signed legislation last week that allows educators to return to work without losing retirement benefitsBY: ANNELISE HANSHAW - JULY 13, 2023 9:00 AMMissouri's school districts are struggling - not just with a teacher shortage but a scarcity of bus drivers, custodians and other essential personnel.In the most recent school year, teachers with inadequate teaching certification taught over 8% of Missouri public school classes, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.The crisis has led larger school districts to consider adopting four-day school weeks to address teacher retention and recruitment problems.Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, has been working on one way to address the problem for four years. And last week, the governor signed a bill into law, set to take effect Aug. 28, that will allow retired public-school staff to work full-time for a district for up to four years without losing retirement benefits.Prior to Black's legislation, teachers and non-certificated staff could work full-time for only two years post-retirement without losing benefits.The law also addresses other positions, like bus drivers and janitors. Retired school employees can work in positions that don't require a teaching certificate for more hours. CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS:UPDATED: Cash bail will end in Illinois as state supreme court rules the SAFE-T Act is constitutionalTuesday, July 18, 2023By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.comSPRINGFIELD – A landmark criminal justice reform that eliminates cash bail in Illinois is constitutional, the state's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, paving the way for the change to take effect Sept. 18. The 5-2 decision – handed down on partisan lines – means that an individual's wealth will no longer play a role in whether they are incarcerated while awaiting trial. Judges can still order someone to be detained as they await trial, but the new system will instead be based on an offender's level of risk of reoffending or fleeing prosecution. With the new law's implementation, Illinois will become the first state in the U.S. to fully eliminate cash bail – and all provisions of the SAFE-T Act criminal justice reform will have taken full effect.Short for Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today, the wide-ranging measure was an initiative of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus that passed in the wake of a nationwide reckoning with racism in the criminal justice system following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.The act reformed police training, certification and use-of-force standards, expanded detainee rights, and gave the attorney general's office authority to investigate alleged civil rights violations by law enforcement. It also requires body cameras at all police departments by 2025. Some larger departments are already required to use body cameras under the law.State Rep. Justin Slaughter, a Chicago Democrat who sponsored the measure in the House, said the pretrial detention overhaul addresses an “overly punitive criminal justice system” for impoverished Illinoisans – especially those in Black and brown communities.It's a system that often forces innocent individuals to take plea deals – and to accept a criminal record – to obtain their freedom when they don't have money to post bail.“So this is not about being tough on crime or soft on crime,” he said. “This is about being smart on crime, reworking our system, streamlining our system to address those higher-level, more violent, dangerous alleged offenses. It's not about having someone unnecessarily sit in jail.”While opponents of the new law have argued it will strain smaller court systems and hinder judicial discretion, the lawsuit centered on the meaning of two mentions of the word “bail” in the Illinois Constitution, and the interplay between branches of government.The Supreme Court ruled on a set of consolidated cases filed against Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Gov. JB Pritzker and the state's Democratic legislative leaders by state's attorneys and sheriffs from over 60 counties.The lawsuit specifically cited Article VIII of the state constitution, which states, “all persons” accused of crimes “shall be bailable by sufficient sureties.” Any changes to the language, the lawsuit argued, would require a constitutional amendment to be approved by voters.While a Kankakee County judge ruled with the state's attorneys and sheriffs late last year, Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, writing for the majority, said the lower court misinterpreted the state constitution..  She wrote, “The Illinois Constitution does not mandate that monetary bail is the only means to ensure criminal defendants appear for trials or the only means to protect the public,”Theis' majority opinion also said that the pretrial release provisions “expressly take crime victims into account.”“As we have already mentioned, those provisions require a court to consider the ‘nature and seriousness of the real and present threat to the safety of any person or persons that would be posed by the defendant's release,' including crime victims and their family members,” she wrote.  The pretrial detention changes – often referred to as the Pretrial Fairness Act, or PFA – will create a “presumption” in favor of pretrial release, meaning “the state bears the burden of establishing a defendant's eligibility for pretrial detention,” Theis wrote.Advocates say the intent of that provision is to divert lower-level nonviolent offenders from pretrial incarceration while giving judges authority to detain individuals accused of more serious crimes if they are deemed dangerous or at risk of fleeing prosecution.Another facet of the reform entitles defendants to a more intensive first appearance in court. During that appearance, defendants will now have a right to legal representation and prosecutors can detail their reasons for continued detention.The new hearings replace standard bail hearings, which often last less than five minutes and end with a judge deciding the conditions of release, including how much money the defendant must post to be released.Advocates for the bail reform have noted that it gives judges greater authority to detain individuals accused of crimes such as domestic battery and violations of orders of protection prior to trial than does prior law.Kaethe Morris Hoffer, the executive director of the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, spoke in favor of the reform at a virtual news conference Tuesday.  “I want to be clear – safety and interests and voices of people who have endured rape and violence in the sex trade have never been prioritized when the criminal legal system is asked to make decisions about the liberty of people who are accused of serious crimes of violence. This changes that.”While the new law directs law enforcement officers to cite and release anyone accused of a crime below a Class A misdemeanor, they would maintain discretion to make an arrest if the person is a threat or if making the arrest is necessary to prevent further lawbreaking.Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart was one of two state's attorneys in Illinois who backed the SAFE-T Act alongside Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. He noted that many smaller jurisdictions will lose revenue from cash bail payments when the system is eliminated – a point that reform advocates have repeatedly noted shows a flaw in the system.Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.KANSAS REFLECTOR: Promises made, promises kept.White House announces more than 800,000 student loan borrowers to have debt forgiven. You heard that right. BY: ARIANA FIGUEROA - JULY 14, 2023 10:41 AM    WASHINGTON — The $39 billion in debt relief will come through fixes to mismanagement of the agency's income-driven repayment plans. Many long-time borrowers, including those who had been making payments for 20 years or more, were denied relief they were eligible for under the repayment plans. This happens when qualified payments were made but aren't being counted accurately. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.“For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness,” The Department of Education has already begun to notify those 804,000 borrowers of their forgiveness, and within 30 days their debts will be wiped out.The plan includes borrowers with Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loans held by the department who have reached a forgiveness threshold specified by the department.Cardona said “By fixing past administrative failures, we are ensuring everyone gets the forgiveness they deserve, just as we have already done for public servants, students who were cheated by their colleges, veterans and other borrowers with permanent disabilities”A 2022 NPR investigation found numerous problems with the agency's handling of IDR plans, which are meant to help low-income borrowers. Loan servicers failed to keep track of borrowers' progress toward forgiveness and payment histories were not properly transferred from one loan servicer to another. In January of this year, The Department of Education announced plans to overhaul the income-driven repayment plan.Under the new plan, monthly payments would decline to 5% of a borrower's income — down from 10% — and the repayment timeline for loan forgiveness would be decreased to 10 years from 20 or 25 if the initial loan is less than $12,000.The announcement Friday followed the Supreme Court's decision in late June to strike down the Biden administration's student debt relief program that would have canceled up to $20,000 in student loan debt for some borrowers.Under the Biden administration, the Department of Education has canceled about $116 billion in student loan debt for borrowers who were misled by for-profit institutions, borrowers with disabilities and those with loans in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.Welp, that's it for me. From Denver I'm Sean Diller, original reporting for the stories in todays show is from Capitol News Illinois, Missouri Independent, Detroit News, and Kansas Reflector.

Romans 13:1-8 with Pastor Greg Denham

Scott Shafer is the senior editor for KQED(an NPR/PBS member station)Politics and Government Report. Scott Shafer came to KQED in 1998 to host the statewide California  Report. He is now Senior Editor for KQED's Politics and Government Desk, providing reporting, hosting, and analysis while also overseeing the politics desk. Scott co-hosts the weekly show and podcast Political Breakdown. This podcast explores his extraordinary life and professional journey. (Bio excerpts credited to KQED.com)

Mike discusses political affairs. Just to show he still can.

The Heartland POD on TwitterGo to heartlandpod.com for information on all our political podcasts, and a link to support our work on Patreon. Sign up as an Official PODhead for just $5 per month to access all our premium podcast segments and political writing. To join the conversation on Twitter, find us at THE Heartland POD. Alright! Let's get into it: COLORADO NEWSLINE: RINO hunters looking for a bloodbathAs county clerks across Colorado prepared to send out mail ballots to voters on Monday, former President Donald Trump weighed in on one of the state's most-watched 2022 races.Trump blasted Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joe O'Dea, a Denver construction CEO, as a “RINO,” or Republican in name only, over comments O'Dea made about a potential 2024 Trump presidential campaign.In a Sunday appearance on CNN's State of the Union, O'Dea was asked whether the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol should disqualify Trump from running again. O'Dea called the events of Jan. 6 “a black eye for our country,” though he has previously said he doesn't believe Trump deserves blame for the Capitol attack.“I don't think Donald Trump should run again,” O'Dea said Sunday. “I'm going to actively campaign against Donald Trump and make sure that we've got four or five really great Republicans right now — Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott. They can run and serve for eight years.”Trump responded in a post on his Truth Social website: “MAGA doesn't Vote for stupid people with big mouths”O'Dea faces an uphill battle against incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat who is seeking his third full Senate term, in a state that has trended increasingly blue in recent elections. Bennet has led O'Dea in recent polling by an average of eight percentage points, according to FiveThirtyEight.A first-time candidate who has pitched himself as a moderate on social issues, O'Dea has walked a tightrope throughout his campaign as he seeks to win over moderate voters without alienating the conservative Republican base.He did not publicly state his opposition to a Trump 2024 bid until after the June GOP primary, when he defeated far-right state Rep. Ron Hanks with 55% of the vote. His campaign clarified that O'Dea would still support Trump in the general election if the former president wins the GOP nomination, but O'Dea has since backed off of that position in interviews.GOP state Rep. Dave Williams, a far-right election denier who mounted an unsuccessful primary challenge against U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn earlier this year, reacted to Trump's comments in a Twitter post.“Ouch,” Williams wrote. “Maybe Joe's campaign shouldn't alienate the base 3 weeks before an election.”Trump's criticism follows Ron Hanks' endorsement of the Libertarian in the Senate race, Bryan Peotter, who has put election denial and total opposition to abortion at the center of his campaign. The Libertarian wrote on Twitter that Trump's attack on O'Dea “reads like an endorsement for my campaign pretty clearly.”In an Oct. 7 appearance on the conservative “Chuck and Julie Show,” Ron Hanks, who received just under 45% of the vote in the GOP's June primary, said neither Peotter nor O'Dea have a chance of beating Bennet - and that Republican voters should vote for Peotter to send a message to party leaders.“It's our time now as grassroots Colorado conservatives to step in. We have a big battle ahead to try to reform this leadership,” said Hanks. “It's got to be a bloodbath.”COLORADO NEWSLINE: Will Colorado legalize psychedelic mushrooms?Ten years after Colorado voters made history by approving the ballot measure that legalized recreational marijuana, this November's Proposition 122 would allow licensed ‘healing centers' and decriminalize personal use of some hallucinogens. The Natural Medicine Health Act would establish a regulated market for psilocybin and psilocyn, the psychoactive compounds found in psychedelic mushrooms. Placed on the 2022 ballot by a citizen initiative, it will become law if a majority of Colorado voters give their approval.The measure would allow licensed “healing centers” to provide access to psilocybin and psilocyn for therapeutic purposes. It would also decriminalize the “personal use” of the substances, allowing people to possess and grow psychedelic mushrooms in their own homes.GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOXNatural Medicine Colorado, the group backing the effort says “Natural psychedelic medicines are non-addictive, and can have profound benefits for people struggling with mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, opioid use disorder, and those struggling to find peace at the end of their lives.”Proposition 122 qualified for the ballot in July after organizers submitted more than the required 124,632 valid signatures to the secretary of state's office. An issue committee backing the measure has reported more than $2.8 million in contributions, according to campaign finance disclosures.Nearly all of that funding came from New Approach PAC, a Washington, D.C.-based PAC that advocates for drug policy reform. Top donors to the group include the van Ameringen Foundation, Scotts Miracle-Gro and Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps.New Approach PAC supported successful mushroom decriminalization measures in Oregon and Washington, D.C., in 2020. If voters approve Proposition 122, Colorado would become the third jurisdiction in the country to legalize psilocybin.Denver voters took a more limited step towards the decriminalization of psychedelic mushrooms in 2019, approving a measure that directed police to make possession of psychedelics the city's ”lowest law-enforcement priority.”Legalization advocates point to a vast body of existing research showing that psychedelics can be effective in treating depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. The federal Food and Drug Administration has designated psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy” for the treatment of major depressive disorder.Luke Gruber, an initiative backer and a Marine veteran who suffered from PTSD and depression after serving in Afghanistan, says psilocybin therapy “changed his life.”He said, “I can't really describe the experience, but I can describe what it was like after my first treatment with natural medicine. It was like being reminded of what hope felt like.”If passed, Proposition 122 would establish a 15-member Natural Medicine Advisory Board to oversee the regulation of psychedelic substances. The first licenses for regulated providers would be issued beginning in September 2024. Pending recommendations from the advisory board, other substances, including DMT and mescaline, could be added to the program in 2026.I WILL BE VOTING YES. COLORADO NEWSLINE: SHE'S JUST BLOWING SMOKEKirkmeyer repeats false Colorado oil and gas claims in 8th District debate against CaraveoIn a recent debate in the race for Colorado's new 8th Congressional District, right-wing GOP State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer took the opportunity to repeat a series of false claims about the oil and gas industry, and the impacts of a 2019 law sponsored by her Democratic opponent, state Rep. Dr. Yadira Caraveo.Kirkmeyer called the package of new health, safety and environmental reforms a “de facto ban on oil and gas. We went from 5,100 permits approved in 2018 down to about, I think, 22 — 22 permits this year, something approximately in that area,” she claimed.So, it's not 22. It's actually 842 new drilling permits that have been approved this year. Nearly 40 times higher than what Kirkmeyer claimed. In total, there are 1,314 active drilling permits held by Colorado oil and gas producers as of last week.She made a similar false claim in March, asserting that only four permits had been issued at that point in the year. The true figure was 125.Colorado's oil production levels have dipped slightly from their 2019 peak, but remain near historic highs. Producers within the state are on pace to pump more than 156 million barrels of crude oil out of Colorado this year. That's higher than every other year prior to 2018, and it's more than five times the volume being pumped in Colorado ten years ago. Drillers have reduced growth plans and capital budgets in large part due to the demands of Wall Street investors, who flooded the industry with cheap credit amid the 2010s fracking boom, but have since sought to prioritize more profitable streams of revenue.Kirkmeyer claimed that SB-181 “killed thousands of jobs” in the 8th District, which encompasses an area in north metro Denver and Weld County that is home to the vast majority of Colorado's oil production. Asked why the same trends were observed in drilling-friendly states like Texas and Wyoming recently, Kirkmeyer said, “I have no idea what other laws, or what other kinds of regulations, or what else was going on in those states.” Kirkmeyer also denied the scientific consensus on fossil fuels and climate change. Dr. Caraveo, the Democratic candidate, is a pediatrician who has seen the impacts of drilling and refinery operations in the lungs of the innocent kids who come into her clinic. The Suncor refinery, one of Colorado's largest sources of air pollution, is located within the new district. Dr. Caraveo said 2019's oil and gas reform bill was moderate, and incorporated industry input. The 8th District, the boundaries of which were drawn last year by Colorado's first-ever Independent Redistricting Commission, is the state's most competitive. According to the commission's analysis, former President Donald Trump would have won the district by 1.7 percentage points in the 2016 election, while Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper would have carried the district by the same margin in his defeat of former GOP Sen. Cory Gardner in 2020. Nonpartisan elections analysts rate the race as a toss-up.ARIZONA MIRROR:Oath Keepers are planning to watch drop boxes in Arizona, spurred by conspiracy theories. The groups' violent rhetoric has advocates worried, and some local politicians are stirring the pot. The increased attention to ballot drop boxes comes in the wake of the debunked film “2000 Mules” about a completely made up ballot stuffing operation supposedly benefitting Democratic candidates. Now, groups are organizing events to keep an eye on drop boxes in Arizona. One of those groups is connected directly to the Arizona chapter of the Oath Keepers, a known white supremacist group. They're calling their midterm voter intimidation efforts “Operation Drop Box.” On its website the group members describe themselves as “conservative patriots” who say the country has been hijacked global elites, communists, leftists, deep state bureaucrats, and fake news.”Jim Arroyo, the leader of the Arizona Oath Keepers said the group sent emails to everyone in the group's roster, about 1,000 people. In an Oath Keeprs meeting, Arroyo said “For the November election we would like to post people at drop boxes to have eyes on target to be able to notify law enforcement. We have already coordinated with Sheriff Rhodes and he told us that if we see somebody stuffing a ballot box and we get a license plate number, that deputies would make an arrest and there will be a prosecution.” County Sheriff David Rhodes has spoken to the Arizona chapter of the Oath Keepers on two separate occasions. In an August 2021 meeting, he said “I've got to tell you, this is one of my favorite groups. It is great to be with friends” When asked about coordination between the Sheriff, Lions of Liberty and the Oath Keepers. County spokesperson Kristin Greene said “Sheriff Rhodes has zero to do with their effort to watch the drop boxes.”Rhodes also spoke to the group in late September, a meeting which the Sheriff's Office said was to educate the group on what was legal and what was not legal for the group to do. The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office told the group members that as long as they stay 75 feet away from the drop boxes, they are within their legal rights, but any closer and they could be violating the law. The county is also at the center of another effort led by former Graham County Sheriff Richard Mack, who leads the so-called Constitutional Sheriffs Association, an extremist anti-government group.  CSPOA and the Oath Keepers have long had close ties.State Sen. Kelly Townsend, a Republican, called on “vigilantes” to camp out on drop boxes. At a legislative hearing all about indulging wild conspiracy theories, she said, “I have been so pleased to hear about all you vigilantes out there that want to camp out at these drop boxes. We're going to have hidden trail cameras, we are going to have people parked out there watching you and they are going to follow you to your car and get your license plate, so don't try it. Don't try it anymore.” Lake Havasu Republican Sonny Borrelli has also made similar calls while at an election security forum. “We need to be force multipliers,” Borrelli told the crowd in Tempe. “We need to have people camped on unmanned drop boxes and camp on those and keep an eye on them and take down that data, license plates, pictures and so on and so forth.”Concerned voter advocates are advising that .ocal law enforcement may not be the best option for a voter to turn to, if you end up feeling intimidated at the polls - instead suggesting contacting local election officials, the election protection hotline, or federal law enforcement. Voter intimidation is a federal crime, one that is enforced by the FBI and Department of Justice. When asked for comment about the situation with white supremacists camping out at ballot drop boxes, United States Attorney for Arizona Gary Restaino said “Enough with the election deniers and fear-mongers, who only seek to undermine our democratic process. I'm proud to live in a state that endeavors to remove barriers to voting, and that has long believed in vote-by-mail. Working in partnership with our state and local election officials, the Department of Justice will do its very best to ensure that every eligible voter who chooses to vote can do so easily and efficiently, without interference or discrimination.”Most importantly, voters shouldn't let wackos like the Oath Keepers and so-called Constitutional Sheriffs keep you from participating in American democracy. ON THAT NOTE:Arizona's General Election has officially begun, with ballots being sent out across the state to voters who have signed up to receive them by mail, and with polling places opening up for early voting. Voters who have registered for mail-in ballots will begin receiving their ballots soon, and can check the status of their ballot at my.arizona.voteThose who have not yet requested a mail-in ballot have until Oct. 28 to do so. NEVADA CURRENT:Nevada launches opioid task force as fentanyl overdoses increaseThe Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Attorney General Aaron Ford and Gov. Steve Sisolak have launched an opioid task force designed to provide technical assistance, guidance and resources to local and state jurisdictions amid the rise of opioid overdoses. The increase in overdoses is associated with fentanyl, which is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine. Fentanyl is often found in other drugs like cocaine and pills and is not detectable without a chemical test. Between July and August in Nevada, emergency department visits from suspected opioid-related deaths increased by 66% - and emergency department visits from suspected stimulant-related overdoses increased by 50%.For those looking for help, visit: behavioralhealthnv.org in Nevada, or can call the free, confidential, national treatment and referral hotline at 1-800-662-4357. 1-800-662-helpTo find free naloxone or learn about using fentanyl test strips in Nevada, visit nvopioidresponse.orgLast year, 107,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses. Concert pick of the Week: Todd Snider at Washington's FOCOTodd Snider is an American singer/songwriter who is 1000x more fucking badass than implied by that term. He's got a new Live album called Return of the Storyteller, with extra resonance in our post-pandemic era. Snider says laughingly, “This was really only my second tour – because I went out on the road in '94 and never went home until the pandemic.  And I'm so glad I recorded those shows for this album. Because that was the sound of the country getting to see live music again. Everyone just hugs at the start of a concert-you can tell folks are glad to see each other, and then they get more excited than they used to be about just being out and seeing music. I'm sure that it will go back to normal, but it hasn't yet.”So go to the show! Todd Snider is playing next Wednesday Washington's Fort Collins - tickets at washingtonsfoco.com.Next Friday - October 28 he'll be at Knuckleheads in Kansas City - on Saturday November 19th he'll be play the Sheldon Concert Hall in St Louis, and in between he has near daily shows in Des Moines, Eau Claire, Omaha, Iowa City, Chicago, Madison, Grand Rapids, Ohio, Illinois, Raleigh, Knoxville.Closes out the tour in December with 5 dates in Texas, last of which being Luckenback, on December 10.If you can't tell - I'm definitely hoping to catch a couple of this extraordinary storyteller's shows. God willing.Welp, that's it for me! From Denver I'm Sean Diller. Original reporting for the stories in today's show comes from the Nevada Current, Arizona Mirror, Colorado Newsline, Source New Mexico, and Denver's Westword.Thank you for listening! See you next time.

If you grew up in the evangelical church, you were probably taught there was one certain way to vote if you were a Christian. The problem with that was Jesus never spoke on how to apply our religious beliefs to government.In this week's episode, we unlearn what we were taught growing up and talk about how Christians actually should approach politics and government.Follow us on social:http://instagram.com/jonathan_caronehttp://instagram.com/ericw712https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathan_caronehttps://www.tiktok.com/@ericw712https://www.twitter.com/@jonathan_caronehttps://www.twitter.com/@ericw712Show theme song: High School - 90's Kids Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Agape Updates | Red States Taxing Student Loan Forgiveness | Columbus OH Police shoot unarmed black man in bed | MO Gov Mike Parson rolling back sunshine provisions | Drinking water crisis in Jackson MS | Sports Betting in Now Legal in Kansas | Win for Voting Rights in Wisconsin | Kentucky loses $4 Million in Fed Housing Funds | Alaska sends first Alaska Native to U.S. Congress, handing a Sarah Palin another election loss https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Agape Updates | Red States Taxing Student Loan Forgiveness | Columbus OH Police shoot unarmed black man in bed | MO Gov Mike Parson rolling back sunshine provisions | Drinking water crisis in Jackson MS | Sports Betting in Now Legal in Kansas | Win for Voting Rights in Wisconsin | Kentucky loses $4 Million in Fed Housing Funds | Alaska sends first Alaska Native to U.S. Congress, handing a Sarah Palin another election loss https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

AZ GOP Governor primary a dead heat as early voting starts | Home care workers call for Bill of Rights at the Colorado State Capitol | Biden Administration advances plan for oil transport trains through Glenwood Canyon | Extreme gun rights group sues town of Superior over common sense reforms | Rents out of reach for huge numbers of working-class Nevada residents | US Sen Catherine Cortez Masto blasts GOP for criminalizing reproductive health care https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

AZ GOP Governor primary a dead heat as early voting starts | Home care workers call for Bill of Rights at the Colorado State Capitol | Biden Administration advances plan for oil transport trains through Glenwood Canyon | Extreme gun rights group sues town of Superior over common sense reforms | Rents out of reach for huge numbers of working-class Nevada residents | US Sen Catherine Cortez Masto blasts GOP for criminalizing reproductive health care https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Arizona Attorney General intends to enforce Civil War-era abortion ban with a 2 year minimum prison sentence | Colorado Gov Jared Polis faces questions about his opposition to Rent Stabilization | $135 Million in annual federal funding accompanies approval of new Colorado Option health insurance plan | Nevada Gov Steve Sisolak and Culinary Union Local 226 backing bold action on Rent Stabilization in Nevada https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Arizona Attorney General intends to enforce Civil War-era abortion ban with a 2 year minimum prison sentence | Colorado Gov Jared Polis faces questions about his opposition to Rent Stabilization | $135 Million in annual federal funding accompanies approval of new Colorado Option health insurance plan | Nevada Gov Steve Sisolak and Culinary Union Local 226 backing bold action on Rent Stabilization in Nevada https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Colorado primary elections - Hanks vs O'Dea in GOP Senate contest to take on Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet - Lauren Boebert v State Sen Don Coram in contested 3rd Congressional District GOP primary - Dr. Yadira Caraveo in 8th Congressional District and State Sen. Brittany Pettersen in the 7th are set to win Democratic nominations - AZ GOP works to dismantle popular mail-in voting in use since 1991 https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPODChange The Conversation

Colorado primary elections - Hanks vs O'Dea in GOP Senate contest to take on Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet - Lauren Boebert v State Sen Don Coram in contested 3rd Congressional District GOP primary - Dr. Yadira Caraveo in 8th Congressional District and State Sen. Brittany Pettersen in the 7th are set to win Democratic nominations - AZ GOP works to dismantle popular mail-in voting in use since 1991 https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs $200 Million homelessness bill into law | ARPA funds go to rail projects in 32 states | Housing Sec Marcia Fudge and US Rep Steven Horsford say corporate investors are pushing up housing costs | Interior Sec Deb Haaland announces BLM is cutting fees for solar and wind projects on public lands | Montana issues fentanyl warning as opioid overdose deaths spike | Democrats battle in Denver state house primary https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPODChange The Conversation

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs $200 Million homelessness bill into law | ARPA funds go to rail projects in 32 states | Housing Sec Marcia Fudge and US Rep Steven Horsford say corporate investors are pushing up housing costs | Interior Sec Deb Haaland announces BLM is cutting fees for solar and wind projects on public lands | Montana issues fentanyl warning as opioid overdose deaths spike | Democrats battle in Denver state house primary https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

CO Gov Jared Polis declares formula shortage state of emergency | 20 State Supreme Courts have no justices who are people of color | State kratom legislation expected to pass in Colorado | Millions in ARPA funding will go to teacher stipends and loan forgiveness | CRT ban in AZ expected to die on State Senate floor | Yellowstone tourist gored by bison https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPODChange The Conversation

CO Gov Jared Polis declares formula shortage state of emergency | 20 State Supreme Courts have no justices who are people of color | State kratom legislation expected to pass in Colorado | Millions in ARPA funding will go to teacher stipends and loan forgiveness | CRT ban in AZ expected to die on State Senate floor | Yellowstone tourist gored by bison https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Virginia's Attorney General, Kenneth Cuccinelli II, spoke to the Christendom College community on the topic of “Living the Catholic Faith in Politics and Government” on April 2.Before a crowd of about 400 college students, faculty, staff, and guests, Cuccinelli, who plans on running for the Governorship of Virginia next year, encouraged all present to be active in the political process and to be Catholic leaders in all areas, but particularly in the areas of science, media, and politics.

GOP responses to shootings show they under control of the gun lobby | Rural hospitals - and patients - in real trouble | Oklahoma bans legal abortions | St Charles County MO Dems have a new Executive Director | GA voters looking to oust Marjorie Taylor Greene could boost Democrats Warnock and Abrams | Federal law enforcement officers will be required to intervene if they see fellow officer using excessive force | Max-out donor to MO Republicans accused of covering up sexual abuse | Springfield IL will use ARP funds to reduce homelessness | IA Gov Kim Reynolds fails in attempt to hijack school funding https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPODChange The Conversation

GOP responses to shootings show they under control of the gun lobby | Rural hospitals - and patients - in real trouble | Oklahoma bans legal abortions | St Charles County MO Dems have a new Executive Director | GA voters looking to oust Marjorie Taylor Greene could boost Democrats Warnock and Abrams | Federal law enforcement officers will be required to intervene if they see fellow officer using excessive force | Max-out donor to MO Republicans accused of covering up sexual abuse | Springfield IL will use ARP funds to reduce homelessness | IA Gov Kim Reynolds fails in attempt to hijack school funding https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Texas prosecutors pan state abortion ban | MO voters may legalize recreational cannabis | Oklahoma City high-school students open grocery store in OKC food desert | Nebraska voters snub Trump pick for Governor | Misguided anti-teacher bill dies in MO legislature | LAWSUIT: CVS, Walgreens and Walmart created a public nuisance flooding Ohio with opioid pills | Joe Biden visits Illinois to talk agriculture and competition https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPODChange The Conversation

Texas prosecutors pan state abortion ban | MO voters may legalize recreational cannabis | Oklahoma City high-school students open grocery store in OKC food desert | Nebraska voters snub Trump pick for Governor | Misguided anti-teacher bill dies in MO legislature | LAWSUIT: CVS, Walgreens and Walmart created a public nuisance flooding Ohio with opioid pills | Joe Biden visits Illinois to talk agriculture and competition https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

CO Gov Jared Polis signs cannabis bills | Trumpworld darling Tina Peters leading her GOP primary | NV Sen Catherine Cortez-Masto calls on Senate to protect abortion rights | Colorado Democrats seek first in the nation presidential primary | Biden Administration feeling the pressure on charter schools | Montana child care workers rally in Missoula | AZ and NM Democrats want to reform federal mining laws https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

CO Gov Jared Polis signs cannabis bills | Trumpworld darling Tina Peters leading her GOP primary | NV Sen Catherine Cortez-Masto calls on Senate to protect abortion rights | Colorado Democrats seek first in the nation presidential primary | Biden Administration feeling the pressure on charter schools | Montana child care workers rally in Missoula | AZ and NM Democrats want to reform federal mining laws https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPODChange The Conversation

Jason and Ben dive deep into the tension of how Christians should interact and engage politics and the major issues of our time.

SCOTUS prepared to overturn Roe v Wade, states move to ban abortion and arrest providers | TX Gov Greg Abbott causes 30-hour delays for truckers at border | Missouri GOP determined to be the absolute last in the nation to receive federal Medicaid funds | Kansas middle school fires coach after he reported racist threats | St Louis tech startup Launchcode offering free courses and re-entry assistance for people who are incarcerated | KY Gov Andy Beshear announces $2 Billion investment by Japanese EV battery manufacturer - 2,000 high-paying jobs https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD

SCOTUS prepared to overturn Roe v Wade, states move to ban abortion and arrest providers | TX Gov Greg Abbott causes 30-hour delays for truckers at border | Missouri GOP determined to be the absolute last in the nation to receive federal Medicaid funds | Kansas middle school fires coach after he reported racist threats | St Louis tech startup Launchcode offering free courses and re-entry assistance for people who are incarcerated | KY Gov Andy Beshear announces $2 Billion investment by Japanese EV battery manufacturer - 2,000 high-paying jobs https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Rep Joe Neguse announce projects to receive $130 Million in federal wildfire funds | Public Utilities Commission denies Xcel Energy request to postpone Community Solar projects now moving forward | Indigenous Americans living on tribal lands undercounted by 2020 US Census under Trump | $4 Million in federal COVID aid will help Universal Pre-school take off in Colorado | Mitt Romney declines to endorse Mike Lee in Utah https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Rep Joe Neguse announce projects to receive $130 Million in federal wildfire funds | Public Utilities Commission denies Xcel Energy request to postpone Community Solar projects now moving forward | Indigenous Americans living on tribal lands undercounted by 2020 US Census under Trump | $4 Million in federal COVID aid will help Universal Pre-school take off in Colorado | Mitt Romney declines to endorse Mike Lee in Utah https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD

Sen Catherine Cortez Masto and Rep Susie Lee run on pro-choice platforms in Nevada | President Biden proposes big funding boost for Interior Dept | New Mexico Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham talks cannabis sales in tribal pueblos | Colorado Gov Jared Polis joins legislators from both parties to announce fentanyl bill | Colorado Charter Schools want special education funding https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Sen Catherine Cortez Masto and Rep Susie Lee run on pro-choice platforms in Nevada | President Biden proposes big funding boost for Interior Dept | New Mexico Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham talks cannabis sales in tribal pueblos | Colorado Gov Jared Polis joins legislators from both parties to announce fentanyl bill | Colorado Charter Schools want special education funding https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD

Arizona Gov candidate Democrat Katie Hobbs pitches state child tax credit | Idaho legislature approves Texas style abortion ban | Denver Congresswoman Diana DeGette touts funding for Denver homelessness and health projects | Colorado Governor Jared Polis and law enforcement agencies send supplies to Ukraine | Handgun falls out of CO State Rep's pants on steps into House chamber https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Arizona Gov candidate Democrat Katie Hobbs pitches state child tax credit | Idaho legislature approves Texas style abortion ban | Denver Congresswoman Diana DeGette touts funding for Denver homelessness and health projects | Colorado Governor Jared Polis and law enforcement agencies send supplies to Ukraine | Handgun falls out of CO State Rep's pants on steps into House chamber https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD

Govs Jared Polis, Michelle Lujan Grisham and more join forces for Clean Hydrogen hub | Colorado state legislature votes unanimously to stand with Ukraine, encourage strong action to punish Russia | Denver Elections unveils new public campaign finance database | Colorado Democrats and Republicans caucus this week | Debate over collective bargaining bill getting heated | CO Sen Brittany Pettersen sponsors universal free school lunch bill https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD"Change The Conversation"

Govs Jared Polis, Michelle Lujan Grisham and more join forces for Clean Hydrogen hub | Colorado state legislature votes unanimously to stand with Ukraine, encourage strong action to punish Russia | Denver Elections unveils new public campaign finance database | Colorado Democrats and Republicans caucus this week | Debate over collective bargaining bill getting heated | CO Sen Brittany Pettersen sponsors universal free school lunch bill https://heartlandpod.com/Twitter: @TheHeartlandPOD

This week Mark and Shannon talk about local area permitting process for a residential home along with a little bit of bureaucracy. They touch on the President, the border, White Lady Syndrome and Virginia area issues. Get ready for episode 6. Happy Throat Punch Thursday.   This podcast was produced and edited by the Dirt Sailor duo. Mark and Shannon are a father/daughter team who both served in the United States Navy. This production is protected by US Copyright. All items are discussed as commentary and should not be taken as legal advice.

Sharing brand new independent artists to the global world. Music otherwise ignored by major radio stations. Brand new music from urban artists seven days a week.

In this episode of Let's Talk To The Lord, Apostle John Ross interviews Janet Mefferd from Janet Mefferd Today on The Bott Radio Network..... About Church Politics News and Media as it pertains to the Church and The Kingdom of God!!!!!!

In this episode of Let's Talk To The Lord, Apostle John Ross interviews Janet Mefferd from Janet Mefferd Today on The Bott Radio Network..... About Church Politics News and Media as it pertains to the Church and The Kingdom of God!!!!!!

Citizens for Health Jim Turner reflects on Politics and government and pandemic with Peter Mingils on Building Fortunes Radio

In this audio recording from a live session of the EQUIP class "Burning Questions" Jason Finley, Will Jackson, and Jason Smith engage with pressing ideas and thoughts for Christians as we think through civic engagement and our participation in the upcoming presidential election. They seek to give helpful responses to questions such as, "Should I vote?" or "Should Christians weigh a political candidate's character higher than the political candidate's platform?"

Now here we are, not many weeks away from a very important election in our country and in our local areas. Shall we endorse or even campaign? How shall we pray up front? Can we have signs in our yard? What do we do when some parts of a movement seem so very Christian but other “planks” contradict the teachings of our King? Pastors Knute Larson, Jeff Bogue, and Jim Brown talk about how they respond to politics in their churches.

On this episode we discuss what makes the DC market unique, the audiences we reach well beyond politics and government, and our exciting new contract with WMATA.

Pastor Jason Meyer shares encouraging scripture and offers insight on how to offer people hope during this pandemic outbreak.  Then, Carmen talks with Adam Carrington about the latest political headlines and how we can be praying for our leaders.

Pastor Jason Meyer shares encouraging scripture and offers insight on how to offer people hope during this pandemic outbreak.  Then, Carmen talks with Adam Carrington about the latest political headlines and how we can be praying for our leaders.

Truth Decay is the diminishing role of facts and analysis in American public life. As part of this phenomenon, Americans are losing faith in once-trusted sources of information, including the news. How might media organizations address this? RAND leaders and media experts discussed this topic at a “Truth Decay and the Media” panel on February 20, 2020, at RAND's Santa Monica headquarters.

This episode is my thoughts on religion and how it’s a different meaning for every person. Light and dark balance between the two.

Welcome to the LI Law Podcast.  We feature legal issues and developments which affect Long Island residents and business owners.  The podcast focuses on Long Island law topics and includes greater New York court and legislative happenings.  If you are one of the approximate 8 million residents of Long Island (Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and Kings counties), or want to enjoy all law-related matters on Long Island, this podcast is for you! Your host, Zehava Schechter, is an attorney admitted to the New York Bar for 30 years.  She concentrates her private practice in estate planning, administration, and litigation; real estate law; contracts, and business formation and dissolution.  If you like this podcast, you may want to look for Zehava's monthly articles in the Malverne/West Hempstead Herald and the Beacon newspaper. We are taking a slight turn with this episode.  Our guest on this 11th episode is Larry Wolff, movie critic and lecturer, who will speak to us about 2 movies about politics and government, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” and “All Through the Night,” as well as their connection to Long Island.  This is a not-to-be missed fun episode. Larry Wolff was an expert New York State Residency Tax Auditor for most of his 35 years of employment with the Tax Department. After retiring, he decided to have some fun. He now applies his lifelong accumulated knowledge to film lectures. At an early age, he appreciated the art of the cinema that entertained him. His early film interests were Gangsters, gag men and ghouls. He later came to appreciate dramas, with interesting story lines, as well as film noir. He now brings these interests before the public with Power Point enhanced film and Hollywood personality lectures and film showings. His goal – to entertain and educate his audience. He has appeared on Lou Telano's Street Wise radio program, and has been a regular contributor to the “A and P” Podcast show and the Abbott and Costello New York Fan Club.  Larry has served as Grand Sheik of the Long Island Tent of the Sons of the Desert (Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society) has given public lectures for the last ten years at libraries, synagogues, churches, fraternal organizations, and private groups. Contact information for Larry Wolff: Lawrence Wolff – Public Speaker Lectures of Classic Hollywood Icons Tel: 631.942.5237 E-mail: Wolffman@optonline.net www.classichollywoodlecturesandfilms.com Thank you, Larry, and welcome to the podcast! For more information on Nassau County initiatives to promote film production and local film festivals, please see:https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/film For the Suffolk County Film Commission, please see: https://suffolkcountyfilmcommission.com/ For New York City's media and entertainment information, please see: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/mome/index.page, For New York State's film department, please see: https://esd.ny.gov/industries/tv-and-film, Please contact us with your general questions or comments at LILawPodcast@gmail.com.  W. Zehava Schechter, Esq. specializes in estate planning, administration and litigation; real estate law; and contracts and business law. Her law practice is located on Long Island. No podcast is a substitute for competent legal advice.  Please consult with the attorney of your choice concerning specific legal questions you may have.    

In this episode, Tim briefly explores the differences between politics and government. Though the two terms are VERY closely related, there are some interesting distinctions. Where it gets really interesting, though, is when we consider how government structures enable and limit certain political processes, and how those processes adapt and respond. Crucial to effective citizenship is an understanding of one's role as an individual citizen within the community and awareness of ones relationship with both government and politics. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/timtalkspolitics/support

Pastor Clint speaks on the biblical perspective on how Christians should view and handle politics and government. Message recorded: June 9, 2019 | More info: www.lighthousevineyard.church --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lighthousevineyard/message

Gladys Pyle was the first woman elected to the S.D. House, the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate, and the first woman to address a national political convention. Pyle was born in Huron, South Dakota in 1890. She attended Huron College, earned a degree, and taught school in Miller, Wessington, and Huron. Pyle's father had been a South Dakota attorney general and her mother, Mamie, had been very active in the women's suffrage movement. (South Dakota women were granted voting rights in 1918, a year before federal passage of the 19th Amendment.) In 1923, Gladys Pyle became the first woman elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives. She served in the House until 1927, when she took over as South Dakota's Secretary of State. Pyle sought the Republican nomination for governor in 1930 but lost by a narrow margin. She earned a living outside of politics in the insurance business. After U.S. Senator Peter Norbeck died in 1936, Governor Tom Berry appointed fellow Democrat Herbert E

In this Events @ RAND podcast, the Pew Research Center's Carroll Doherty joins RAND’s Jennifer Kavanagh for a discussion about the causes and consequences of Truth Decay and declining trust in institutions.

In this Events @ RAND podcast, Jennifer Kavanagh addresses the connection between Truth Decay and the erosion of civil discourse, as well as Truth Decay's effects on policymaking and the future of democracy.

The shrinking role of facts and evidence-based analysis in American public life poses a threat to democracy, to policymaking, and to the very notion of civic discourse. RAND has launched an ambitious research project, Truth Decay, to define and study the problem with the ultimate goal of working toward innovative solutions. In this Events @ RAND podcast, a panel of experts discusses the connection between the media and Truth Decay.

In this Call with the Experts, Michael D. Rich and Jennifer Kavanagh discuss the causes and consequences of Truth Decay and how they compare with previous eras in U.S. history.

In this Call with the Experts, RAND senior fellow, James Dobbins, as well as RAND senior international policy analyst, Linda Robinson, discuss the Trump administration's emerging foreign policy strategy as it approaches the symbolic 100-day milestone.

Hey Knuckleheads, Todays episode is rare as F*Ck. We talk politics and goverment. We have 2 episodes this week! Next episode is on Friday we talk comics and movie casting.    Twitter-@Knuckleheadspod #podernfamily Email-Theknuckleheadspodcast@gmail.com  Dont forget to rate,review and subscribe on iTunes!    

Hey Knuckleheads, Todays episode is rare as F*Ck. We talk politics and goverment. We have 2 episodes this week! Next episode is on Friday we talk comics and movie casting.    Twitter-@Knuckleheadspod #podernfamily Email-Theknuckleheadspodcast@gmail.com  Dont forget to rate,review and subscribe on iTunes!

Glen Besa, citizen activist and former director of the Virginia Sierra Club, tells the shocking truth about Dominion Resources, the most politically powerful corporation in Virginia.

In this Call with the Experts, William Courtney, a senior fellow at the RAND Corporation, and John Parachini, Director of RAND's Intelligence Policy Center, discuss the risks and opportunities that lie ahead with regards to U.S.-Russian relations.

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. What does that mean?

Tread carefully, Christian, when it comes to political involvement.

Written copy can be found at www.davesevern.com/blog

If you are a new listener to this award-winning podcast, welcome! With over 40 years of teaching between us, Reza and Craig will help you improve your English and take it to the next level.Grow your grammar, vocalize your vocabulary and perfect your pronunciation In this episode: politics and government vocabulary Más podcasts para mejorar tu ingles en: http://www.inglespodcast.com/  More podcasts to improve your English at: http://www.inglespodcast.com/  Listener Feedback: Gabriela (Peru - living in Australia) Hi, Reza and Craig. I am from Peru, but at the moment I am living in Australia. My native language is Spanish and now I am learning English and it's interesting. Thank you for your help, I listen to your podcasts very often and I like how you explain all of the subjects. Sorry for my mistakes in this message. Can you speak about verb tenses? How do I know if I'm using the correct tenses in my speaking or writing? Thank you so much for your answer. It's very difficult to speak about ALL of the verb tenses in English in one podcast episode, Gabriela. We suggest you go to inglespodcast.com and type in the verb tenses into the search box. Listen to all the past episodes in which we have spoken about verb tenses. False friend: estar constipado - to have a cold / to be constipated - estar estreñido Politics and Government Vocabulary: politics - política (don't forget that the word 'politics' has an 's' in English)politician - político political - político policy - política, plan de accióngovernment - gobierno (coalition - coalición - a temporary alliance for combined action, especially of political parties forming a government."a coalition between Liberals and Conservatives")to govern - gobernarparty - partidoConservative Party - partido conservador - right-wing - de derecha(very right-wing = fascist - fascistaLabour Party - partido laborista - left-wing - de izquierdavery left-wing = communistliberal (líberal) - liberalRepublican Party - partido republicanoDemocratic Party - partido demócratato run for president (to run for office) - ser candidato a presidentedemocracy (n) - democraciademocrat - demócratademocratic (adj.) - democráticoto elect - elegirto vote - votar(a general) election - elección (local/regional elections)ballot - votacióncampaign - campañacandidate - candidatoelectorate - electorado(a government) minister - ministroministry - ministerioopposition - oposiciónparliament - parlamentopoll - encuesta, votaciónpoling station - the place where you vote in an electionreferendum - referendumsocialist - socialistacapitalist - capitalistanationalist - nacionalistamonarchist - monárquicoregionalist - regionalista   Italki ad reaad:   Questions: How old were you when you first voted? - Reza was in his early 20s. Craig has never voted. (to abstain - abstenerse) What characteristics should a good politician have? - Craig: honesty, motivating, idealistic, believe in the common good, serve the publicReza: honesty, to keep their word. Have your political views changed much during your lifetime? Reza: No, but he is more understanding these days. He would never let his political views get in the way of friendship.Craig used to be very left wing. In recent years he's moved a little bit more to the right.to strike - hacer huelga Should voting be compulsory? Reza used to think so, but now he thinks people shouldn't be made to vote. (Voting is compulsory in 22 states worldwide - 12 Latin American countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Congo, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Honduras, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nauru (the smallest state in the South Pacific), Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Singapore, Thailand, Uruguay) Would you vote for an actor or actress who campaigns for a government position? Reza would (if they were politically aware) Do most people really care who runs the country as long as they have a high standard of living? I'm going to lay my cards on the table - voy a mojarme (to lay your cards on the table - poner las cartas sobre la mesa)Reza feels strongly that 65 people should not own half of the world's wealth. He thinks something should be done about that. Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton? - Neither Reza nor Craig will be hoping that Donald Trump wins the US election. ...and now it's your turn to practise your English. We want you to tell us your opinion on politics and answer some of the questions that we asked in this podcast......Send us a voice message and tell us what you think. inglespodcast.com - speakpipe Send us an email with a comment or question to craig@inglespodcast.com or belfastreza@gmail.com. On next week's episode: How to NOT answer personal questions! Más podcasts para mejorar tu ingles en: http://www.inglespodcast.com/  More podcasts to improve your English at: http://www.inglespodcast.com/  The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called 'See You Later'  

Should the United States make a nuclear deal with Iran? What threat do cyber attacks pose to our nation? Mike Rogers speaks to the question, "Is bipartisan national security policy possible in today's political environment?"

In this seventh installment of our Sidetrack shows, we are discussing the political and governmental situation Diocletian found himself in and what he created. The Roman Empire was in terrible shape and massive reforms had to be instituted. Diocletian was a true reformer. We’ll explore Diocletian’s political reforms to see what worked and how these reforms effected early Christianity. You can learn more about the History of Papacy and subscribe at all these great places: http://atozhistorypage.com/ email: steve@atozhistorypage.com http://rss.acast.com/historyofthepapacy Agora: www.agorapodcastnetwork.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

At this October 2013 event, Henry Willis, director of the RAND Homeland Security and Defense Center, moderated a panel discussion on U.S. efforts to strike a balance among privacy, security, and liberty.

In this episode I teach you lots of vocabulary for talking about voting, elections, government and politics. This episode contains some seriously useful and important terms about politics and the way the government runs here in the UK. CLICK HERE TO READ ALL THE VOCABULARY ITEMS IN THIS EPISODE AND FOR A TRANSCRIPT TO THE COMEDY SKETCH http://teacherluke.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/voting-elections-politics-government/