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Once again, the issue of Data Centers are coming up in Virginia as many the local boards of supervisors are making plans to at least set up “commissions” to study more regulations on this industry. The nay-sayers point to the energy load required by these centers as they pump up to 70% of internet traffic through Virginia. However, as we laid out in our June 10th column, it's the politicians that put us in this pickle and they are the ones we will need to get us out of it. We sat down with Caleb Taylor, policy director of the Virginia Institute for Public Policy, to find out what the solutions should really look like and how long they could take to implement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Guests: Mary Carlson of HelpForTrauma.com and Pete Peterson of PublicPolicy.Pepperdine.eduSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
"Older adults have this special clarity about who they are and what they want, which is incredibly inspiring," says Dr. Julia Hiner, explaining, in part, why she loves her work as a geriatrician in Houston, Texas. She also enjoys the challenge of the medical complexity these patients present and the opportunity it creates to see the patient as a whole person. In fact, as you'll hear in this upbeat conversation with Raise the Line host Lindsey Smith, there's almost nothing about geriatrics that Dr. Hiner does not enjoy, which explains her passion for teaching the subject at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and trying to convince more students to pursue it as their specialty. The need is great, given that there are only 8,000 geriatricians in the US despite a rapidly growing senior population. Tune in to learn why Dr. Hiner thinks clinicians avoid the field and the steps that can be taken to improve the situation, including requiring courses in geriatrics. You'll also learn about the importance of capacity assessments, the troubling, and under-reported, problem of elder mistreatment, ageism among health professionals and much more in this super informative episode. Mentioned in this episode:University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/raisethelinepodcast
Globally, the liberal international order has been under pressure for quite some time, but we often tend to discuss this in relation to big international players such as the United States and China. But how do small states like Singapore navigate and shape this increasingly contested space? Join Petra Alderman as she talks to Dylan Loh about Singapore's understanding of the liberal international order, its position on liberal democratic values and human rights, its relations with big international players, and the ways in which this small city state seeks to uphold and modify the liberal international order, so it better aligns with its own interests. Read Dylan's article ‘Singapore's conception of the liberal international order as a small state' in International Affairs. *** This episode was originally recorded in November 2024. *** Dylan Loh is an Assistant Professor at the Public Policy and Global Affairs programme, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He studies China's foreign policy, international diplomacy, and ASEAN regionalism. He is the author of a recently published book ‘China's Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy' which was published by Stanford University Press (2024). Petra Alderman is a researcher, CEDAR affiliate, and a manager of the LSE Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
In Episode 97 of Andrew and Jerry Save The World, Andrew Langer and Jerry Rogers take on the spiraling irrationality of our political and media culture with their trademark clarity and wit. The episode kicks off with a light-hearted take on Trump's now-iconic sign-off, “Thank you for your attention to this matter,” before diving deep into serious issues—from foreign policy to domestic dysfunction.Andrew and Jerry analyze Trump's recent strike on Iran, the media's apocalyptic overreaction, and the bizarre claim that America is living under tyranny. They call out the double standards of the legacy media and progressive elites, noting that policies executed under Trump spark outrage while identical actions under Biden are ignored—or celebrated. The hosts highlight the hypocrisy around military authority, judicial overreach, and the unhinged discourse from anti-Trump voices who've abandoned logic and consistency.The conversation then shifts to immigration, cultural decay, and the consequences of a political class that no longer respects American principles. They question whether Democrats are embracing far-left extremism at the cost of reason and national unity, citing recent political wins by anti-Israel, socialist candidates. The episode closes with a spirited debate over whether the country is reaching a cultural breaking point or if a common-sense majority still has the power to reclaim the narrative.Packed with humor, insight, and principled commentary, this episode is a must-listen for anyone concerned about where America is headed—and what it will take to save it.
Globally, the liberal international order has been under pressure for quite some time, but we often tend to discuss this in relation to big international players such as the United States and China. But how do small states like Singapore navigate and shape this increasingly contested space? Join Petra Alderman as she talks to Dylan Loh about Singapore's understanding of the liberal international order, its position on liberal democratic values and human rights, its relations with big international players, and the ways in which this small city state seeks to uphold and modify the liberal international order, so it better aligns with its own interests. Read Dylan's article ‘Singapore's conception of the liberal international order as a small state' in International Affairs. *** This episode was originally recorded in November 2024. *** Dylan Loh is an Assistant Professor at the Public Policy and Global Affairs programme, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He studies China's foreign policy, international diplomacy, and ASEAN regionalism. He is the author of a recently published book ‘China's Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy' which was published by Stanford University Press (2024). Petra Alderman is a researcher, CEDAR affiliate, and a manager of the LSE Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies
Globally, the liberal international order has been under pressure for quite some time, but we often tend to discuss this in relation to big international players such as the United States and China. But how do small states like Singapore navigate and shape this increasingly contested space? Join Petra Alderman as she talks to Dylan Loh about Singapore's understanding of the liberal international order, its position on liberal democratic values and human rights, its relations with big international players, and the ways in which this small city state seeks to uphold and modify the liberal international order, so it better aligns with its own interests. Read Dylan's article ‘Singapore's conception of the liberal international order as a small state' in International Affairs. *** This episode was originally recorded in November 2024. *** Dylan Loh is an Assistant Professor at the Public Policy and Global Affairs programme, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He studies China's foreign policy, international diplomacy, and ASEAN regionalism. He is the author of a recently published book ‘China's Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy' which was published by Stanford University Press (2024). Petra Alderman is a researcher, CEDAR affiliate, and a manager of the LSE Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science
Information about Summer R&R 7 at White Sulphur Springs, and speaker LtGen Clint Hinote, USAF (Ret.): About the Topic: Wherever we are, God calls us to lead. He calls us to lead ourselves, our families, our units, our communities, and our culture. The Bible contains many accounts of leaders, including stories about their successes and failures. In this session, we will examine Biblical leaders and learn from their experiences. We will celebrate the good and be honest about the bad. In doing so, we will seek practical truths we can apply to our lives because we can always learn and grow as leaders. About the Speaker: Clint retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2023 after a 35-year career as a fighter pilot, military strategist, and senior leader. In his last assignment, he served as the futurist for the Air Force, responsible for creating the vision for the future force. He now writes and speaks on defense reform and leadership. He also teaches leadership and policy implementation at RAND's School of Public Policy. Links: Direct registration link: http://www.ultracamp.com/info/sessiondetail.aspx?idCamp=294&campCode=wss&idSession=495759 WSS Summer R&R page: https://www.whitesulphursprings.org/summer-rnr/ Spring Canyon Summer Celebration page: https://www.springcanyon.org/summer-celebration/
34% is the share of New Yorkers who now rate the city's quality of life excellent or good in CBC's recent citywide survey "Straight from New Yorkers." This is substantially lower than the 51% who rated quality of life positively in 2017. At the same time, the competition with other places to attract and keep residents and business is fierce. In this episode, CBC brought together leaders from New York's business, labor, nonprofit, and real estate sectors to discuss the ways in which we can come together to make New York an affordable, competitive, and vibrant City. -Vincent Alvarez, President of The New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO -Wayne Ho, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chinese-American Planning Council -Jim Whelan, President of the Real Estate Board of New York -Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City -Moderated by CBC Vice Chair William Floyd, Senior Director, U.S. State and Local Government Affairs and Public Policy at Google You can learn more about CBC's campaign "Smart Choices, Better Future" by visiting https://bit.ly/SmartChoicesBetterFuture
The 2024 UK General Election was nothing short of exceptional. Labour achieved one of the largest majorities in the history of the House of Commons — yet on the lowest vote share ever recorded for a winning party. Meanwhile, the Conservatives suffered their most devastating defeat in modern political history.In this episode, we unpack the seismic shifts that led to this remarkable result. Why did the vote fragment across so many parties? What drove the electorate's choices in this cycle? And what happened to the underlying dynamics of voting behavior?To explore these questions, we turn to a special issue of The Political Quarterly, our partner journal, which dives into the election's implications and causes in depth.Joining us are three distinguished contributors to that issue:Professor Jane Green – Professor of Political Science and British Politics, University of OxfordProfessor Paula Surridge – Professor of Political Sociology, University of BristolMarta Miori– Research Officer on British Electoral Behaviour, PhD candidate at the University of ManchesterTogether, they provide expert insights into both the immediate drivers of the 2024 result and the longer-term transformations reshaping UK politics.Mentioned in this episode:Miori, M. and Green, J. (2025), The Most Disproportionate UK Election: How the Labour Party Doubled its Seat Share with a 1.6-Point Increase in Vote Share in 2024. The Political Quarterly, 96: 37-64.Surridge, P. (2025), Values in the Valence Election: Fragmentation and the 2024 General Election. The Political Quarterly, 96: 26-36. UCL's Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.
Globally, the liberal international order has been under pressure for quite some time, but we often tend to discuss this in relation to big international players such as the United States and China. But how do small states like Singapore navigate and shape this increasingly contested space? Join Petra Alderman as she talks to Dylan Loh about Singapore's understanding of the liberal international order, its position on liberal democratic values and human rights, its relations with big international players, and the ways in which this small city state seeks to uphold and modify the liberal international order, so it better aligns with its own interests. Read Dylan's article ‘Singapore's conception of the liberal international order as a small state' in International Affairs. *** This episode was originally recorded in November 2024. *** Dylan Loh is an Assistant Professor at the Public Policy and Global Affairs programme, at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He studies China's foreign policy, international diplomacy, and ASEAN regionalism. He is the author of a recently published book ‘China's Rising Foreign Ministry: Practices and Representations of Assertive Diplomacy' which was published by Stanford University Press (2024). Petra Alderman is a researcher, CEDAR affiliate, and a manager of the LSE Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs
Their volatile, inconsistent messaging isn't new. Victor Davis Hanson unpacks the deeper story behind the chaos of how the Democrat Party has surrendered to its most radical base on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “The Left knows that they are not polling well. They know that the party's base is controlling their narrative, and they know that that narrative supports issues from transgenderism, to an open border, to lax enforcement of criminal statutes, to something like Kabul, abroad, that has no public support. And they're angry. “ Whatever Donald Trump has done to them—and maybe that will be his lasting legacy—he had the ability to expose what used to be Democrats, as absolutely unhinged and nihilistic. And I don't think anybody wants any part of them.”
John Stemberger is president of Liberty Counsel Action & Senior Counsel of Liberty Counsel. He's been a conservative policy advocate for over 30 years. Abigail Forman is public policy analyst and a writer for Liberty Counsel Action. She is a former Minnesota state legislator and former Director of Public Policy for Right to Life UK. She is primary author of a groundbreaking, academic white paper exposing the horror of aborted babies from chemical abortions being flushed into our water system. For multiple decades, regardless of the administration in Washington, we've heard the mantra about clean air and water. As a result, environmental policies are set. In light of that, Jim noted a new report that has recently been issued titled: Abortion in our Water: Chemical Home Abortions and the Disposition of Aborted Fetal Remains. It notes that under the Trump administration, having the cleanest air and water in the world for generations is a priority. However, on a daily basis, our waterways are being contaminated by chemical abortion drugs and human remains. This is due to the fact that American women are often left alone at home to endure the agonizing process of expelling their pregnancy as they're often instructed by abortion providers to dispose of the remains of their aborted babies by flushing them down the toilet. This edition of Crosstalk covers much ground as it begins by looking at the back-story of this topic which takes us back to the year 2000 when chemical abortions were first approved by the FDA. At that time, such abortions were small in number. Today, they represent somewhere between 64% to 70% of all abortions.
Dr. Niambi Carter, author and Associate Professor at the School of Public Policy at The University of Maryland, gives her analysis about the impact of Trump's leadership in geopolitics and other trending political topics.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.
John Stemberger is president of Liberty Counsel Action & Senior Counsel of Liberty Counsel. He's been a conservative policy advocate for over 30 years. Abigail Forman is public policy analyst and a writer for Liberty Counsel Action. She is a former Minnesota state legislator and former Director of Public Policy for Right to Life UK. She is primary author of a groundbreaking, academic white paper exposing the horror of aborted babies from chemical abortions being flushed into our water system. For multiple decades, regardless of the administration in Washington, we've heard the mantra about clean air and water. As a result, environmental policies are set. In light of that, Jim noted a new report that has recently been issued titled: Abortion in our Water: Chemical Home Abortions and the Disposition of Aborted Fetal Remains. It notes that under the Trump administration, having the cleanest air and water in the world for generations is a priority. However, on a daily basis, our waterways are being contaminated by chemical abortion drugs and human remains. This is due to the fact that American women are often left alone at home to endure the agonizing process of expelling their pregnancy as they're often instructed by abortion providers to dispose of the remains of their aborted babies by flushing them down the toilet. This edition of Crosstalk covers much ground as it begins by looking at the back-story of this topic which takes us back to the year 2000 when chemical abortions were first approved by the FDA. At that time, such abortions were small in number. Today, they represent somewhere between 64% to 70% of all abortions.
What has Canada learned from its participation in the war in Afghanistan? Is a two-state solution the only way forward for Israel and Palestine? And while the West sees Russia as a destabilizing force on the world stage, is there another legitimate interpretation of what they're doing in Ukraine? Over 19 seasons of The Agenda, we've revisited these themes time and again, to help viewers understand the complex and often troubling times in which we find ourselves. And, with the U.S. now involved in the war between Iran and Israel, all the more reason we do one final program on a world that often feels like it's gone berserk. For more, host Steve Paikin asks: Erin O'Toole (former leader of the Conservative Party of Canada), Arne Kislenko (Professor of History at Toronto Metropolitan University), Doug Saunders, (International Affairs columnist at The Globe and Mail), and Janice Stein (Founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and then the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, many thought the world was going to be a much better place going forward. That has not turned out to be the case. 9/11; the failed promise of the Arab Spring; the Middle East still on fire; Russia-Ukraine; political tribalism. Does it sometimes feel as if the world is no longer capable of making progress? Host Steve Paikin asks Janice Stein (Founding Director, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and Belzberg Professor of Conflict Management, University of Toronto). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Under President Trump, America's role on the global stage is being redefined — but can other countries trust its allyship under his leadership? Critics argue his transactional approach and threats to abandon allies undermine trust and force nations to reconsider their security. Supporters counter that demanding more from partners is “tough love” that will lead to stronger, more balanced alliances. Now we debate: Is Trump's America a Reliable Ally? Arguing Yes: Joshua Shifrinson, Associate Professor at University of Maryland's School of Public Policy; Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute Kelly Grieco, Senior Fellow with the Reimagining US Grand Strategy Program at the Stimson Center Arguing No: Liana Fix, Fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations Charles Kupchan, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Steve Forbes calls out the Federal Reserve for its refusal to reduce interest rates due to its animus against President Trump, who attacks Chair Jerome Powell routinely—and explains why DOGE-like massive reforms are required to put the central bank back on course.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dr. Molly Macek, director of education policy for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. MI Democrats are considering throwing $1 billion in funding increases for schools, but Molly says that spending hikes (and decreasing the class sizes) will not fix the education system.
This week we're looking at AI and public services. How far could AI tools help to tackle stagnant public sector productivity? What dangers are associated with AI adoption? And how can these dangers be addressed? Artificial intelligence is increasingly being touted as a game-changer across various sectors, including public services. But while AI presents significant opportunities for improving efficiency and effectiveness, concerns about fairness, equity, and past failures in public sector IT transformations loom large. And, of course, the idea of tech moguls like Elon Musk wielding immense influence over our daily lives is unsettling for many. So, what are the real opportunities AI offers for public services? What risks need to be managed? And how well are governments—particularly in the UK—rising to the challenge? In this episode, we dive into these questions with three expert guests who have recently published an article in The Political Quarterly on the subject: Helen Margetts – Professor of Society and the Internet at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, and Director of the Public Policy Programme at The Alan Turing Institute. Previously, she was Director of the School of Public Policy at UCL. Cosmina Dorobantu – Co-director of the Public Policy Programme at The Alan Turing Institute. Jonathan Bright – Head of Public Services and AI Safety at The Alan Turing Institute. Mentioned in this episode: Margetts, H., Dorobantu, C. and Bright, J. (2024), How to Build Progressive Public Services with Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. The Political Quarterly. Transcription link: https://uncoveringpolitics.com/episodes/ai-and-public-services/transcript Date of episode recording: 2025-02-13T00:00:00Z Duration: 00:42:48 Language of episode: English (UK) TAGS: AI, government, politics, bureaucracy, political quarterly, efficiency Presenter:Alan Renwick Guests: Helen Margettes, Cosmina Dorobantu, Jonathan Bright Producer: Eleanor Kingwell-Banham
Preston Manning. Bob Rae. Jean Charest. Paul Martin. Former NDP premier of BC, Michael Harcourt. What do they all have in common? Well, they were all part of the now defunct Ecofiscal Commission, which advocated for a carbon price in Canada. Chris Ragan was the chair of that commission. He is also an associate Professor and the founding director of McGill University's Max Bell School of Public Policy. He joins us from beautiful Gimli, Manitoba to look back on the long and strange journey of carbon pricing in this country and what went wrong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Public Policy Strategist David Grasso joins Bob Miller and Chris Michaels during the Morning News Express to discuss what could happen next in this situation between Iran, Israel and the United States.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On Saturday night, June 22, President Donald Trump's Operation Midnight Hammer sent a message to Tehran, and the world, that can't be ignored. Seven Missouri-based B-2 bombers dropped 14 bunker-busting bombs on Iran's Fordow nuclear site, while U.S. Navy vessels launched a barrage of cruise missiles at other strategic nuclear infrastructure. Victor Davis Hanson explains what just happened—and what could come next—on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “ [Iran] must know that people are angry. That over 50 years, nearly, they spent a trillion dollars subsidizing the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Assad dynasty. And for what? It's all up in smoke. And then they probably lost another trillion dollars, over 50 years, through sanctions and oil embargoes. For what? It's up in smoke. “ Right now the ball is in the court of Iran. Trump has said to them, you can come back and negotiate. But, what would they negotiate over? Their one card was that we have the specter of a nuclear bomb. So, you better come to us and talk. They don't have that anymore. At least not for the foreseeable future. The only negotiable item is whether they survive or not.” (0:00) Trump's Bold Military Move in the Middle East (0:57) Historical Context of U.S. Actions in the Middle East (2:23) Details of the Recent Military Operation (4:34) Potential Repercussions and Future Speculations (5:55) Iran's Next Move and Global Reactions (6:39) Israel and U.S. Stature Post-Operation
Tony Payan joined David Satterfield, director of Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and host of the “Baker Briefing” podcast, to discuss the challenges Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is facing — both domestically and in its relationship with the United States. This conversation was recorded on May 14, 2025. You can subscribe to “Baker Briefing” wherever you get your podcasts. More about Tony Payan, Ph.D.: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/tony-payan Follow Tony Payan on X (@PayanTony) and LinkedIn. Learn more about our annual Mexico Country Outlook report and conference, happening Oct. 16, 2025, at Rice University: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/mco You can follow @BakerInstitute and @BakerInstMexico on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.
An historic data breach that wasn't. Aflac says it stopped a ransomware attack. Cloudflare thwarts a record breaking DDoS attack. Mocha Manakin combines clever social engineering with custom-built malware. The Godfather Android trojan uses a sophisticated virtualization technique to hijack banking and crypto apps. A British expert on Russian information warfare is targeted in a sophisticated spear phishing campaign. A federal judge dismisses a lawsuit against CrowdStrike filed by airline passengers. Banana Squad disguises malicious code as legitimate open-source software. The U.S. Justice Department wants to seize over $225 million in cryptocurrency linked to romance and investment scams. Ben Yelin explains the recent Oversight Committee request for Microsoft to hand over GitHub logs related to alleged DOGE misconduct. This one weird audio trick leaves AI scam calls speechless. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Today, we are joined Ben Yelin, co host of Caveat podcast and Program Director for Public Policy & External Affairs at the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussing the recent Oversight Committee request for Microsoft to hand over GitHub logs related to alleged misconduct by Elon Musk's "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). You can learn more here. Selected Reading No, the 16 billion credentials leak is not a new data breach (Bleeping Computer) Aflac says it stopped ransomware attack launched by ‘sophisticated cybercrime group' (The Record) Record-Breaking 7.3 Tbps DDoS Attack Targets Hosting Provider (SecurityWeek) New Mocha Manakin Malware Deploys NodeInitRAT via Clickfix Attack (Hackread) Godfather Android Trojan Creates Sandbox on Infected Devices (SecurityWeek) Russia Expert Falls Prey to Elite Hackers Disguised as US Officials (Infosecurity Magazine) Judge Axes Flight Disruption Suit Tied to CrowdStrike Outage (GovInfo Security) Banana Squad Hides Data-Stealing Malware in Fake GitHub Repositories (Hackread) DOJ moves to seize $225 million in crypto stolen by scammers (The Record) Boffins devise voice-altering tech to jam 'vishing' ploys (The Register) Audience Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at cyberwire@n2k.com to request more info. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode Overview In this episode, recorded live at the ACORE Finance Forum in NYC, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Ray Long, President & CEO of ACORE. They discuss the evolving clean energy finance landscape, grid permitting challenges, policy battles around the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the exponential demand for power driven by AI and electrification. Ray also shares the history and mission of ACORE—from its origins connecting Wall Street to developers in 2001, to its current role as a leading voice in renewable energy policy and finance. Key Themes & Takeaways Explosive Growth in Power Demand U.S. energy demand remained flat for decades—but is now rising due to: AI and cloud computing Electrification of buildings and manufacturing EV charging infrastructure Urgent need for scalable solutions—wind, solar, storage, and natural gas are critical in the next 5–10 years IRA Threatened by Tax Bill “Big Beautiful Bill” proposes eliminating key tax incentives from the IRA Would undermine progress and financing certainty across clean energy markets Industry needs a thoughtful, phased approach, not abrupt disruption Permitting & Interconnection Bottlenecks Interconnection Crisis Major ISOs like PJM are overwhelmed—some developers face 7+ year delays Load centers like Virginia see 100+ data center projects awaiting connection ACORE's Macro Grid Initiative pushes for regulatory fixes and grid modernization Bipartisan Momentum & Strategy ACORE promotes an “all of the above” strategy—recognizing solar, wind, storage, natural gas, and emerging tech Urges policymakers to emulate China's aggressive infrastructure and energy approach Emphasizes renewables as a national competitiveness issue—not just environmental Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market. This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio. He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business. Ray Long Ray Long leads the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) as President and Chief Executive Officer. ACORE is the oldest nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to expanding the use of renewable energy technologies for American homes and businesses. This mission is as important and relevant today as it was back in 2001. As CEO, Long is privileged to lead a team of dedicated professionals and an equally passionate group of members and contributors who enable ACORE's strategic initiatives. ACORE's members operate in all 50 states, and in 2022, they financed, developed, built and owned over 90% of new, utility-scale renewable energy projects. Under Long's leadership, ACORE continues to expand the framework that has enabled the industry's growth through bipartisan outreach, accurate and compelling analysis, and effective collaboration. Long is a respected energy executive, having spent over 25 years representing and growing conventional and renewable energy companies in the United States. Most recently, Long was Senior Vice President of External Affairs and a member of the management team at Clearway Energy. Throughout his career, Long helped to build successful government, regulatory and communications teams, utilizing a campaign management approach to policy and project development challenges. Long earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy and Administration from Suffolk University and a Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com Ray Long Website: https://acore.org/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-long-a89a816/ WRISE 20th Anniversary Gala Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Location: Gotham Hall, New York City Occasion: Celebrating 20 years of championing women and underrepresented groups in the renewable & sustainable energy sector Host & Highlight: Presented by Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE); evening includes networking, recognition of community leaders, and celebration of industry milestones The link to register is below. https://wrise20thanniversarygala.rsvpify.com/?mc_cid=2c22b50623&mc_eid=0dfa02be45&securityToken=qZn8wqQI1mC1uMRPyb08kNwbscQ23wtX
The 9th Circuit unanimously rules in favor of President Trump regarding the National Guard in California. National Defense as the government's greatest responsibility to its people. Trials begin over the Iranian plot to assassinate President Trump. Pete Peterson, Dean of the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, on the creation of the Policy school's second graduate degree, a master's in Middle East policy studies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of The Rational Egoist, Michael Leibowitz sits down with renowned economist and historian Lawrence W. Reed to uncover the real causes and consequences of the Great Depression. Was it a failure of capitalism—or a failure of government?Drawing from decades of economic scholarship, Larry Reed dismantles the prevailing myths and reveals how misguided monetary policy, protectionism, and central planning turned a market correction into a global catastrophe. If you've ever been told that the Great Depression proves capitalism doesn't work, this episode is for you.About Our Guest:Lawrence W. (“Larry”) Reed is the former President of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), where he served from 2008 after a long history with the organisation dating back to the late 1970s. Before FEE, Reed spent 21 years as President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Michigan and was a professor and department chair of economics at Northwood University. He remains one of the most articulate defenders of economic liberty alive today.About Michael Liebowitz – Host of The Rational EgoistMichael Liebowitz is the host of The Rational Egoist podcast, a philosopher, author, and political activist committed to the principles of reason, individualism, and rational self-interest. Deeply influenced by the philosophy of Ayn Rand, Michael uses his platform to challenge cultural dogma, expose moral contradictions, and defend the values that make human flourishing possible.His journey from a 25-year prison sentence to becoming a respected voice in the libertarian and Objectivist communities is a testament to the transformative power of philosophy. Today, Michael speaks, writes, and debates passionately in defence of individual rights and intellectual clarity.He is the co-author of two compelling books that examine the failures of the correctional system and the redemptive power of moral conviction:Down the Rabbit Hole: How the Culture of Corrections Encourages Crimehttps://www.amazon.com.au/Down-Rabbit-Hole-Corrections-Encourages/dp/197448064XView from a Cage: From Convict to Crusader for Libertyhttps://books2read.com/u/4jN6xjAbout Xenia Ioannou – Producer of The Rational EgoistXenia Ioannou is the producer of The Rational Egoist, overseeing the publishing and promotion of each episode to reflect a consistent standard of clarity, professionalism, and intellectual integrity.As a CEO, property manager, entrepreneur, and lifelong advocate for capitalism and individual rights, Xenia ensures the podcast stays true to its core values of reason, freedom, and personal responsibility.Xenia also leads Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup in Adelaide, where passionate thinkers gather to discuss Ayn Rand's ideas and their application to life, politics, and culture.Join us at: https://www.meetup.com/adelaide-ayn-rand-meetup/(Capitalism and Coffee – An Objectivist Meetup)Because freedom is worth thinking about—and talking about.Follow Life on Purpose – Xenia's thought-provoking essays at her Substack:https://substack.com/@xeniaioannou?utm_source=user-menu
Holly Quan of Audacy sister station KCBS spoke to Henry Brady Former Dean of UC Berkeley School of Public Policy to talk about new Reuters poll shows 62 percent of Democrats want new leadership.
In this episode of All Things Policy, Carl Jaison sits down with Suryaprabha Sadasivan, Senior VP of Public Policy and FIPRA India Lead at Chase Advisors, to unpack what truly drives policy success in India's complex political economy. Drawing from her cross-sectoral experience, Suryaprabha reflects on navigating Union–State dynamics, building multi-stakeholder coalitions, and helping clients shift from reactive posturing to strategic influence. She offers candid perspectives on the human, political, and narrative forces that shape outcomes in the policy advisory space.All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.Find out more on our research and other work here: https://takshashila.org.in/...Check out our public policy courses here: https://school.takshashila.org.in
June 20, 2025 ~ Sheetz's expansion into metro Detroit faces resistance from local businesses fearing competition. Jarrett Skorup, vice president for Marketing and Communications at Mackinac Center for Public Policy, talks with Chris, Lloyd, and Jamie about what residents are arguing about this expansion to local governments.
Steve Forbes shares his unvarnished reaction to the Federal Reserve's continued refusal to cut interest rates due to its absurd belief in the patently false premise that to control inflation, it must deliberately try to stimulate or depress economic activity.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week marked a decisive victory in protecting minors from harmful gender transition procedures. The Supreme Court justices ruled 6-3 in favor of the Tennessee law banning healthcare providers from prescribing medication or performing procedures on minors to “transition” to an identity opposite of their biological sex. The protection of minors from harmful “gender transition” surgeries and interventions is good and appropriate. Furthermore, states have a constitutional responsibility to protect children from harm. Because of this, the ERLC advocated against such procedures, and filed an amicus brief alongside the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board in favor of the Tennessee lawmakers and the protection of children. Before the ruling was released, we talked about the importance of this case with Matt Sharp, who serves as senior counsel and director of the Center for Public Policy at Alliance Defending Freedom. Sharp earned his J.D. in 2006 from the Vanderbilt University School of Law. Since joining ADF in 2010, Sharp has authored federal and state legislation, regularly provides testimony and legal analysis on how proposed legislation will impact constitutional freedoms, and advises governors, legislators, and state and national policy organizations on the importance of laws and policies that protect First Amendment rights.
In this episode of UCL Uncovering Politics, we explore one of the most foundational questions in human rights theory: Is there a human right against discrimination?While many of us instinctively view discrimination based on attributes like sexual orientation as inherently wrong, not all human rights theorists agree that this wrong is best understood as a violation of a human right. Some argue that discrimination, though harmful, doesn't necessarily fall under the scope of human rights protections.Joining us to unpack this complex debate is Dr. Saladin Meckled-Garcia, Associate Professor in Human Rights and Political Philosophy at UCL's Department of Political Science. Dr. Meckled-Garcia presents a powerful case for why the right against discrimination should be considered a core human right — and offers a fresh philosophical grounding for why such rights matter.Mentioned in this episode:The Routledge Handbook of the Philosophy of Human Rights, edited by Jesse Tomalty, Kerri Woods. Chapter 21: "Is there a human right against discrimination?" Saladin Meckled-Garcia UCL's Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.
Is the choice for women just farm or corner office?Join Ariana Guajardo on The Sweet Tea Series as she dives into the 10th annual Young Women's Leadership Summit hosted by Turning Point USA in Grapevine, Texas. Ariana reflects on the evolving role of women in the conservative movement, exploring cultural shifts, motherhood, and the balance between career and family. She breaks down speeches from Dana Loesch, Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk, and Brett Cooper, and discusses key topics like Second Amendment rights for women, the tension in modern dating, and the dangers of rigid traditionalism. Ariana also challenges stereotypes, advocating for a conservatism that empowers women to shape society through family, community, and policy engagement. She explores what it means to be a conservative woman today, the importance of civic education, and how women can reclaim social institutions to strengthen America's future. Follow @spillingsweettea on Instagram and subscribe to the Texas Public Policy Foundation's YouTube channel for more episodes!Link to socials & more: https://linktr.ee/sweetteaseriesKeywords: Conservative women, Young Women's Leadership Summit, Turning Point USA, TPUSA, Dana Loesch, Second Amendment, motherhood, traditionalism, conservative movement, women in politics, cultural issues, civic education, Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Regardless of whether Israel has the capabilities to decimate Iran's entire nuclear program, or if the United States needs to become further involved in the war and provide Israel with “bunker-buster” bombs, one thing is clear: “If this war should end with the Iranian regime intact and the elements of its nuclear program recoverable, then, in some ways, it will be all for naught,” argues Victor Davis Hanson on today's edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “It is surreal. If we had this conversation five years ago and I said to you, ‘the Iranian nation—that is huge compared to Israel, 10 times the population—the Iranian nation has lost all control of the Houthi terrorists and they are themselves neutered. Their surrogates in the West Bank, Gaza are neutered. They're gone, Hamas as a fighting force. The formidable, the terrifying Hezbollah cadres, they're inert. ‘“‘There is no Russian presence. It's not a patron. It is not a protector. It's not a power in the Middle East. It's tied down in Ukraine. And Iran itself, the formidable powerhouse of the Middle East that evoked terror all over, has no defenses. “And we're down to a single critical issue… if this war should end with the Iranian regime intact and the elements of its nuclear program recoverable, then, in some ways, it will be all for naught.'”
Steve Forbes explains that in this extremely precarious geopolitical situation, President Trump must stay firm by backing Israel against Iran and Ukraine against Russia.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
For decades, the U.S. has prioritized the four-year degree path, but millions of workers thrive through alternative routes. In this episode, Kyle Hayes, Senior Director of Public Policy at the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), joins host Jason Altmire to discuss how one bipartisan proposal could fundamentally change workforce preparation. The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act would allow families to use 529 Savings Plans to fund short-term credentials, career training, and workforce development programs. With strong bipartisan support and minimal federal cost, this policy shift could be the key to unlocking more affordable, practical education pathways for millions.To learn more about Career Education Colleges & Universities, visit our website.
This week on Facing the Future, Prof. Philip Joyce of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, explains the high stakes in Washington's battle over the power of the purse and why protecting the Congressional Budget Office matters.
In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, David Bashevkin and historian Malka Simkovich discuss the future of technology, AI, and the Jewish People. This episode was recorded live at the Moise Safra Center as 18Forty celebrated its Fifth Anniversary with our community.We begin with words from Sruli Fruchter and Mitch Eichen delivered at the program, as well as questions from the audience to conclude. In this episode we discuss: What is the point of academia and asking questions?Will AI replace rabbinic authority or the conversations we have on 18Forty? Is there any topic that 18Forty will never take on? Tune in to hear a conversation about what we've learned through the seismic shifts we've experienced over the past half-decade.Interview begins at 17:26.Dr. Malka Simkovich is the director and editor-in-chief of the Jewish Publication Society and previously served as the Crown-Ryan Chair of Jewish Studies and Director of the Catholic-Jewish Studies program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She earned a doctoral degree in Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism from Brandeis University and a Master's degree in Hebrew Bible from Harvard University. She is the author of The Making of Jewish Universalism: From Exile to Alexandria (2016), Discovering Second Temple Literature: The Scriptures and Stories That Shaped Early Judaism (2018), and Letters From Home: The Creation of Diaspora in Jewish Antiquity, (2024). She has been a three-time guest on the 18Forty Podcast and led our Book Journey on the essence of antisemitism. David Bashevkin is the founder and host of 18Forty. He is also the director of education for NCSY, the youth movement of the Orthodox Union, and the Clinical Assistant Professor of Jewish Values at the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University. He completed rabbinic ordination at Yeshiva University's Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, as well as a master's degree at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies focusing on the thought of Rabbi Zadok of Lublin under the guidance of Dr. Yaakov Elman. He completed his doctorate in Public Policy and Management at The New School's Milano School of International Affairs, focusing on crisis management. He has published four books: Sin·a·gogue: Sin and Failure in Jewish Thought, a Hebrew work B'Rogez Rachem Tizkor (trans. In Anger, Remember Mercy), Top 5: Lists of Jewish Character and Character, and Just One: The NCSY Haggadah. David has been rejected from several prestigious fellowships and awards.References:“18Forty: Exploring Big Questions (An Introduction)”18Forty Podcast: “Philo Judaeus: Is There a Room for Dialogue?”18Forty Podcast: “Daniel Hagler and Aryeh Englander: Can Jews Who Stay Talk With Jews Who Left?”The Nineties: A Book by by Chuck KlostermanEinstein's Dreams by Alan LightmanTime Must Have a Stop by Aldous Huxley“Laughing with Kafka” by David Foster WallaceThe Most Human Human: What Talking with Computers Teaches Us About What It Means to Be Alive by Brian ChristianGödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter"Failure Comes To Yeshivah" by David BashevkinFor more 18Forty:NEWSLETTER: 18forty.org/joinCALL: (212) 582-1840EMAIL: info@18forty.orgWEBSITE: 18forty.orgIG: @18fortyX: @18_fortyWhatsApp: join hereBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.
In this special bonus edition of Andrew and Jerry Save the World, the hosts share two thought-provoking segments from their recent solo appearances on major platforms.First, Andrew Langer brings you his full presentation from FreedomFest 2025, where he explores the dangers of regulatory overreach in health care, the need for innovation-driven policy, and the urgent necessity of expanding the supply of physicians in America. He addresses everything from government interference in dialysis care to the threat of drug price controls and the economic consequences of regulatory bloat—calling for a principled, free-market approach to both health care and governance.Then, Jerry Rogers shares his guest spot on The Steve Gruber Show, where he discusses his recent piece, “It's the Hospitals, Senator,” and breaks down how nonprofit hospital systems are driving up health care costs. Jerry calls for common-sense, bipartisan reforms like ending tax breaks for million-dollar hospital execs, enforcing price transparency, and ensuring patients aren't penalized based on where care is delivered.Packed with insight, urgency, and real-world policy ideas, this bonus episode gives listeners a no-nonsense look at how to rescue America's health care system from bureaucratic failure and cronyism.
State of the State is the monthly round up of policy and research for the state of Michigan from Michigan State University's Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR). Matt Grossmann and Arnold Weinfeld from IPPSR are joined by economist Charley Ballard to discuss the latest in politics and the economy.Bryan Beverly is director of the Office of K-12 Outreach in MSU's College of Education. He and members of the team join the conversation to talk about their work on how school districts are responding to expiring COVID-19 funds.Conversation Highlights:(1:12) – Beverly introduces his team and describes the research.(2:47) – Tyler Thur adds his perspective.(6:11) – Abigail Bies adds her perspective.(7:02) – Are districts having to cut back on programs?(9:37) – Are there examples school districts can point to that was successful due to temporary funding?(13:40) – Closing thoughtsListen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.
After Elon Musk publicly criticized Trump's “Big, Beautiful Bill” for overspending, a once-productive relationship spiraled into mutual recriminations, accusations, and veiled threats. Victor Davis Hanson breaks down the sudden, bizarre, and historically unprecedented rupture between two powerful figures who, until recently, appeared to be allies in reshaping America's economic and political direction on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “ So, what was it all about? People have given all sorts of different explanations. One of them is that the new big, beautiful bill will phase out subsidies for all electric vehicles. And given Tesla's attacks on—people attacking stations, chargers, dealers, individual drivers, the bad publicity the Democrats ginned up, he can't afford that right now. … He's angry about this bill. And then, when Trump sort of brushed it off, he went DEFCON 1. “Elon Musk needs Donald Trump for the space exploration, for a fair shake on his business deals. And Donald Trump is aided by Elon Musk, especially the SpaceX. So, it's a mutually beneficiary relationship, not just for both of them, but for us, the American people.”
“People are so hungry to really be understood and the challenge that's primary now, is a growing inability to understand each other.”What if doing less could actually lead to more impact? Greg McKeown, is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's most influential voices on productivity, purpose, and leadership. Greg shares the story his book "Essentialism – The Disciplined Pursuit of Less", and powerful insights on how leaders can cut through the noise to focus on what truly matters. If you've ever felt stretched too thin or overwhelmed by too many priorities, this conversation will inspire you to take a bold step: do less, but better. LEARN MORE: gregmckeown.comGreg has delivered keynote addresses in over 40 countries and worked with more than 500 organizations, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Nike — and hosts a top podcast in self-improvement and education. A Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, Greg also serves on nonprofit boards and has co-created Stanford's popular “Designing Life, Essentially” course. Greg is currently conducting doctoral research at the University of Cambridge, holds an MBA from Stanford, and completed a Global Leadership and Public Policy certificate at Harvard Kennedy School. You'll enjoy this candid conversation on how to say no more often, how to lead without overwhelm, and how to build cultures where excellence becomes effortless. This conversation is from from P&G Alum Stefan Homeister's top podcast “LEITWOLF” - for more inspirational conversations on leadership subscribe to Leitwolf wherever you get your favorite podcasts. LEARN MORE: stefan-homeister-leadership.comGot an idea for a future “Learnings from Leaders” episode? Reach out at pgalumpod@gmail.com
Stocks are bouncing back from Friday's drop amid reports of de-escalation. Oil prices paring their gains as well, but the threat of a price spike could have major implications for this week's Fed meeting. And President Trump is in Canada for the G7 Summit. We'll speak with PIMCO's Head of Public Policy, Libby Cantrill, about what to expect and what it means for the GOP spending bill on Capitol Hill.
First up, Georgetown law professor and former national legal director at the ACLU, David Cole, joins us to discuss the legal response to the Trump Administration's serial violations of the Constitution. Then Mike Ferner of Veterans for Peace checks in to update us halfway through his Fast for Gaza, 40 days of living on 250 calories per day, which is the average caloric intake of Palestinian survivors in Gaza. Finally, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Joe Holley, stops by to pay tribute to his mentor and colleague, the late crusading journalist, Ronnie Dugger, founder of the progressive Texas Observer.David Cole is the Honorable George J. Mitchell Professor in Law and Public Policy and former National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He writes about and teaches constitutional law, freedom of speech, and constitutional criminal procedure. He is a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books and is the legal affairs correspondent for The Nation.Trump is obviously not concerned about antisemitism. He's concerned about targeting schools because they are places where people can criticize the president, where people can think independently, are taught to think independently, and often don't support what the president is doing. He's using his excuse to target a central institution of civil society.David ColeThe decision on Trump versus the United States is only about criminal liability for criminal acts, not for unconstitutional acts. And violating the Constitution is not a crime. Every president has violated the Constitution probably since George Washington. That's not a crime.David ColeMike Ferner served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and he is former National Director and current Special Projects Coordinator for Veterans for Peace. He is the author of Inside the Red Zone: A Veteran for Peace Reports from Iraq.Two hundred and fifty calories is technically, officially, a starvation diet, and we're doing it for 40 days. The people in Gaza have been doing it for months and months and months, and they're dying like crazy. That's the whole concern that we're trying to raise. And I'll tell you at the end of this fast, on the 40th day, we are not just going out silently. There are going to be some fireworks before we're done with this thing. So all I'm saying is: stay tuned.Mike Ferner: Special Projects Coordinator of Veterans for Peace on “FastforGaza”They're (The Veterans Administration is) being defamed, Ralph, for the same reason that those right-wing corporatists defamed public education. So they can privatize it. And that's exactly what they're trying to do with the VA. And I can tell you every single member of Veterans for Peace has got nothing but praise for the VA.Mike FernerJoe Holley was the editor of the Texas Observer in the early 1980s. A former staff writer at The Washington Post and a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial writer and columnist at the Houston Chronicle, he is the author of eight books, mostly about Texas.He would talk to people, and he would find out things going on about racial discrimination, about farm workers being mistreated, all kind of stories that the big papers weren't reporting. And this one guy, young Ronnie Dugger, would write these stories and expose things about Texas that a lot of Texans just did not know.Joe Holley on the late progressive journalist, Ronnie DuggerHe knew the dark side of Texas, but he always had an upbeat personality. I had numerous conversations with Ronnie (Dugger), and he was ferociously independent.Ralph NaderNews 6/13/251. On Monday, Israeli forces seized the Madleen, the ship carrying activist Greta Thunberg and others attempting to bring food and other supplies past the Israeli blockade into Gaza, and detained the crew. The ship was part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thunberg had been designated an “Ambassador of Conscience,” by Amnesty International. The group decried her detention, with Secretary General Agnès Callamard writing, “Israel has once again flouted its legal obligations towards civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip and demonstrated its chilling contempt for legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice.” On Tuesday, CBS reported that Israel deported Thunberg. Eight other passengers refused deportation and the Jerusalem Post reports they remain in Israeli custody. They will be represented in Israeli courts by Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel. One of these detainees is Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.2. Shortly before the Madleen was intercepted, members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing concern for the safety of these activists, citing the deadly 2010 raid of the Mavi Marmara, which ultimately resulted in the death of ten activists, including an American. This letter continued, “any attack on the Madleen or its civilian crew is a clear and blatant violation of international law. United Nations experts have called for the ship's safe passage and warned Israel to “refrain from any act of hostility” against the Madleen and its passengers…We call on you to monitor the Madleen's journey and deter any such hostile actions.” This letter was led by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and drew signatures from Congressional progressives like Reps. Summer Lee, AOC, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casar, and others.3. On the other end of the political spectrum, Trump – ever unpredictable – seemed to criticize Israel's detention of Thunberg. In a press conference, “Trump was…asked about Thunberg's claim that she had been kidnapped.” The president responded “I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg…Is that what she said? She was kidnapped by Israel?” The reporter replied “Yes, sir,” to which “Trump responded by shaking his head.” This from Newsweek.4. Of course, the major Trump news this week is his response to the uprising in Los Angeles. Set off by a new wave of ICE raids, protesters have clashed with police in the streets and Trump has responded by increasingly upping the ante, including threatening to arrest California Governor Gavin Newsom, per KTLA. Beyond such bluster however, Trump has moved to deploy U.S. Marines onto the streets of the nation's second-largest city. Reuters reports, “About 700 Marines were in a staging area in the Seal Beach area about 30 miles…south of Los Angeles, awaiting deployment to specific locations,” in addition to 2,100 National Guard troops. The deployment of these troops raises thorny legal questions. Per Reuters, “The Marines and National Guard troops lack the authority to makes arrests and will be charged only with protecting federal property and personnel,” but “California Attorney General Rob Bonta… [said] there was a risk that could violate an 1878 law that…forbids the U.S. military, including the National Guard, from taking part in civilian law enforcement.” Yet, despite all the tumult, these protests seem to have gotten the goods, so to speak: the City of Glendale announced it would, “end its agreement with…ICE to house federal immigration detainees.” All of this sets quite a scene going into Trump's military parade in DC slated for Saturday, June 14th.5. In classic fashion however, Trump's tough posture does not extend to corporate crime. Public Citizen's Rick Claypool reports, “Trump's DOJ just announced American corporations that engage in criminal bribery schemes abroad will no longer be prosecuted.” Claypool cites a June 9th memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, which reads, “Effective today, prosecutors shall…not attribute…malfeasance to corporate structures.” Claypool also cites a Wall Street Journal piece noting that “the DOJ has already ended half of its criminal investigations into corporate bribery in foreign countries and shrunk its [Foreign Corrupt Practices Act] unit down to 25 employees.”6. Americans can at least take small comfort in one thing: the departure of Elon Musk from the top rungs of government. It remains to be seen what exactly precipitated his final exit and how deep his rift with Trump goes – Musk has already backed down on his harshest criticisms of the president, deleting his tweet claiming Trump was in Epstein files, per ABC. Yet, this appears to be a victory for Steve Bannon and the forces he represents within Trump's inner circle. On June 5th, the New York Times reported that Bannon, “said he was advising the president to cancel all [Musk's] contracts and… ‘initiate a formal investigation of his immigration status'.” Bannon added, “[Musk] should be deported from the country immediately.'” Bannon has even called for a special counsel probe, per the Hill. Bannon's apparent ascendency goes beyond the Oval Office as well. POLITICO Playbook reports Bannon had a 20-minute-long conversation with Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman on Monday evening – while Fetterman dined with Washington bureau chief for Breitbart, Matt Boyle – at Butterworth's, the DC MAGA “watering hole.” This also from the Hill.7. On the way out, the Daily Beast reports, “Elon Musk's goons at the Department of Government Efficiency transmitted a large amount of data—all of it undetected—using a Starlink Wi-Fi terminal they installed on top of the White House.” Sources “suggested that the [the installation of the Starlink terminal] was intended to bypass White House systems that track the transmission of data—with names and time stamps—and secure it from spies.” It is unknown exactly what data Musk and his minions absconded with, and for what purpose. We can only hope the public gets some answers.8. With Musk and Trump parting ways, other political forces are now seeking to woo the richest man in the world. Semafor reports enigmatic Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley and chaired Bernie Sanders' campaign in California, “talked with one of…Musk's ‘senior confidants' …about whether the ex-DOGE leader…might want to help the Democratic Party in the midterms.” Khanna added, “Having Elon speak out against the irrational tariff policy, against the deficit exploding Trump bill, and the anti-science and anti-immigrant agenda can help check Trump's unconstitutional administration…I look forward to Elon turning his fire against MAGA Republicans instead of Democrats in 2026.” On the other hand, the Hill reports ex-Democrat Andrew Yang is publicly appealing to Musk for an alliance following Musk's call for the establishment of an “America Party.” Yang himself founded the Forward Party in 2021. Yang indicated Musk has not responded to his overtures.9. Meanwhile, the leadership of the Democratic Party appears to be giving up entirely. In a leaked Zoom meeting, DNC Chair Ken Martin – only elected in February – said, “I don't know if I wanna do this anymore,” per POLITICO. On this call, Martin expressed frustration with DNC Vice Chair David Hogg, blaming him for, “[destroying] any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to.” Hogg meanwhile has doubled down, defying DNC leadership by “wading into another primary,” this time for the open seat left by the death of Congressman Gerry Conolly in Virginia, the Washington Post reports. The DNC is still weighing whether to void Hogg's election as Vice Chair.10. Finally, in some good news from New York City, State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani appears to have closed the gap with disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo began the race with a 40-point lead; a new Data for Progress poll shows that lead has been cut down to just two points. Moreover, that poll was conducted before Mamdani was endorsed by AOC, who is expected to bring with her substantial support from Latinos and residents of Queens, among other groups. Notably, Mamdani has racked up tremendous numbers among young men, a demographic the Democratic Party has struggled to attract in recent elections. Cuomo will not go down without a fight however. The political nepo-baby has already secured a separate ballot line for the November election, meaning he will be in the race even if he loses the Democratic primary, and he is being boosted by a new million-dollar digital ad spend by Airbnb, per POLITICO. The New York City Democratic Primary will be held on June 24th.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
Despite relentless media attacks on Donald Trump—especially on the economy—polls show a 17-point edge for Trump over Democrats when it comes to economic leadership. Why? Because Americans aren't buying the Left's hysteria. Victor Davis Hanson exposes the glaring disconnect between elite narratives and what the American people actually believe on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “ And yet with all of that bias and prejudicial news reporting, 54% of the American people favored deportation. Not just apprehension. Deportation. “ The criticism of Donald Trump is not resonating with the people. On all those issues he polls favorably. And why is that? I think it's a disconnect.”
After more than three years of bloody stalemate, Ukraine has launched unprecedented strikes deep into Russian territory—destroying nearly a third of Russia's strategic bomber fleet and targeting the crucial Kerch Bridge to Crimea. Now, Trump's peace push may now be stalled—not by Ukraine, but by Putin himself. With over $400 billion in Western aid already spent and millions of lives disrupted, is the war entering a more dangerous phase? Victor Davis Hanson examines this latest development on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “ Just when we thought the war might have some type of conciliation or armistice, Ukraine struck in a way that it had never done before and it was very effective. “ There was a drone attack on the Kerch Bridge, that only link, really, that's accessible for easy transport from mainland Russia into the Crimea. It's essential. … It shows you that Ukraine is now kind of having a turtle strategy. It's not going to waste its limited manpower slugging it out. But it's going to use drones and it's going to make over a million of them.”