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CBS Sports Lead Draft Analyst Ryan Wilson and Former NFL GM Ran Carthon break down the latest surrounding Brendan Sorsby. They discuss his decision to apply for the NFL Supplemental Draft, compare him to other 2027 NFL Draft QB prospects, and much more! Ryan and Ran also begin their Summer Scouting series looking at the QBs they rank 6-10 right now for the 2027 NFL Draft.-(00:00) Intro(2:13) Brendan Sorsby Supplemental Draft Outlook(16:00) Nico Iamaleava | UCLA(20:30) Drew Mestemaker | Oklahoma State(25:00) Trinidad Chambliss | Ole Miss (33:00) Sam Leavitt | LSU(40:30) Jayden Maiava | USC-Watch With the First Pick on the CBS Sports YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CBSSports'With the First Pick' is available for free on the Audacy app as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Castbox and wherever else you listen to podcasts.You can listen to With the First Pick on your smart speakers! Simply say "Alexa, play the latest episode of the With the First Pick podcast" or "Hey Google, play the latest episode of the With the First Pick podcast."Follow the With the First Pick team on X: @nfldraftcbs, @ryanwilsonCBS, @E_DeBerardinis, @ryan__strykerFollow With the First Pick on TikTok & Instagram: @nfldraftcbsProduced by: Ryan StrykerFor more NFL Draft coverage from CBS Sports, visit https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit https://www.cbssports.com/podcast
The Dazai no Sochi--the head of the Yamato government in Kyushu--was a powerful position, with a lot of autonomy with lucrative opportunities. The people in this position were often powerful members of the court capable of representing the sovereign. They would often go on to become quite powerful in their own right. So who were the movers and shakers that held this prestigious position during Uno no Sarara's reign? This episode, we take a look at those who held the position and those who supported them. For more, check out our blogpost: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-151 PS: Hang around to the end (or check the end of the transcript) for information on some possible updates coming to the show. Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan. My name is Joshua and this is Episode 151: The Dazai no Sochi of the late 7th century Tsukushi no Masaru was busy. A new boss was coming in, and he wanted to make sure everything was prepared. The Dazai may have been about as far as one could get from the capital and still be in Yamato, but it was also the first—and sometimes only—encounter some would have with the archipelago, so there was no excuse to be slacking off. Of course, this was hardly his first new boss, though for as long as he'd been on the job, each one could well be his last. He was getting a bit long in the tooth, after all. Twenty-nine years was a long time to be working in the same position. As Masaru paused, he thought back on some of the people he'd served. There was Soga no Akae—he was ambitious. Apparently he'd been in some rather compromising positions before coming out, but he'd done well enough when he went back. Shame that he backed the wrong horse. That did bring a chuckle to old Masaru's throat, though. He remembered when Prince Kurikuma had come out there, to the the Dazai, , and there were still people around who told stories of him. When those Afumi court stooges had showed up to try and conscript the barrier guards, Prince Kurikuma and his sons just stared them down. Everyone had been afraid that it would end in bloodshed, or at least that there would be consequences for defying the court, but Kurikuma was adamant, and the messenger had left with his tail firmly between his legs. Then there was Shima. By the time he came, Masaru already knew how everything was supposed to work. He may not have been in charge, but that wasn't his ambition. It was enough for him to be good at what he did. He didn't need to go all the way to the Palace and deal with the politics there—there were enough politics out here already. Shima, though, he was clearly suited for that Palace life. He was a capable administrator, but Masaru could tell he was ambitious. When he left, everyone knew that he would be going on to bigger and better things. And now there was another Prince coming out. So they would get the government offices prepared and greet him with proper fanfare. They'd bring him in and hold the ceremonies, and then they would get down to work. A stream of officers would present him with what they were working on and what had to happen. Masaru would be there to help make sure that everything was running smoothly and nothing got too out of hand. And that was the way things worked out on the edge of the realm. Welcome back to Sengoku Daimyo. We are still covering the reign of Uno no Sarara, and, similar to last episode, we are going to continue to talk about the people who made up Yamato at this time. This episode, more specifically, we are going to be turning away from the capital, in Asuka, and looking all the way over to Tsukushi—modern Kyushu—and at the people who served as Dazai no Sochi, or head of the local government out there, as well as the bureaucrats and staff that worked for them—at least as far we know. Many of them went on to have considerable careers that took them well beyond Kyushu. At the same time, we'll take a look at some of the things that happened under their rule as what Aston translates as the "Viceroy of Tsukushi". After that, I have a special announcement about the podcast at the end of the episode, so if you are interested in learning more about what we plan on doing, please listen all the way to the end to hear about some plans for the future. And with that out of the way, let's begin. So we are talking about the position of Dazai no Sochi or the Viceroy of Tsukushi. Often these people are referred to only as being of the "Tsukushi no Dazai" or the "Tsukushi no Ohomochi". The term "Sochi" appears later, and we first see this term applied to Prince Kawachi, in 689. It seems to show up with two different characters, which might be a term from the later Taihou code that was retroactively applied or may refer to an evolution of the position over time. I'm honestly not sure. There is still plenty of confusion over what was meant in some of the references. We've discussed this position before on the podcast: This was the sovereign's representative to the world outside of the archipelago. Not only did the Dazai no Sochi oversee all of Tsukushi—all of Kyushu— and extensive defensive forces stationed there and in the outlying islands, but they oversaw all diplomatic and trade missions to and from the archipelago. Envoy missions would come to Tsushima, where they would get a local pilot and send word ahead. They would then be received at the government center, the Dazai, near modern Fukuoka and Hakata bay. For most envoys, this was as close as they would ever get to Yamato proper. They would offload their goods there and be put up at the government supplied quarters in Wogohori. They would be wined and dined there, entertained as appropriate to their status, while word was sent on to the capital. In rare cases, envoys would be sent on another journey through the inland sea to Naniwa, and then on to Asuka, but otherwise their journey would end at the Dazaifu. Any return gifts would come back with the correspondence from the capital, and thus be handed out to the envoys and their escorts before the mission was sent back home to Silla, Tamna, or wherever they had come from. Being the middle man in this operation offered a lot of power and authority, but it also would have been quite lucrative. While diplomatic missions brought gifts for the court, they also brought trade goods, of which the Dazai no Sochi could have first pick. This is on top of the fact that this position often came with a stipend equaling the labor of hundreds of individuals. Many of the Dazai no Sochi would serve limited terms, eventually returning to Asuka, where we see them take on powerful positions. Take, for example, our first Dazai no Sochi, Tajihi no Mabito no Shima. Tajihi no Shima was born, we are told, in or around 624 to Tajihi no Maro and a daughter of Ohotomo no Hirafu. Tajihi no Maro, Shima's father was a powerful noble in the court of Ohoama, aka Temmu Tennou, and he had enough standing that he was one of the named individuals who provided eulogies for Ohoama on the occasion of his passing. The Tajihi family were quite well placed: they were descendants of Hinokuma no Takata no Miko, aka Senka Tennou, Shima's great-grandfather. This earned them the kabane of "Mabito", or "True Person" because of their royal lineage. Tajihi no Shima was placed in charge of the Dazai from at least 682. His predecessor that we know about is Prince Yagaki, who was dismissed around 676, and we don't know who filled the gap between him and Shima. Shima had quite the run. We don't know exactly when he returned to the court in Asuka, but it cannot have been later than 689, when we see Awada no Mahito in the position. A year later, in 690, Shima was made Udaijin, or minister of the right. That's a huge deal and we will talk about that in a bit, but what did Shima actually oversee during his tenure as Dazai no Sochi? We have quite a few events attributed to him, this reign. In 686, we see the Tsukushi no Dazai sending tribute in the form of human beings: Common men and women of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, along with 62 priests and nuns. We aren't told where these men and women came from, but I suspect that they were refugees or captives from all the fighting on the peninsula. That they were given as tribute suggests to me that they were enslaved—or at the very least they were not free. If they were uneducated, they were likely put to work as labor, perhaps building out the new capital or opening new farmlands. Later we see the various missions from Silla around the death of Ohoama, and the back and forth that went on, there, and in 688 the Tsukushi no Dazai entertained Kara, a Minister of Tamna, aka modern Jeju island, who had been sent by the king of that small country. You may recall that Tamna, while late to the game, may have been one of the last holdouts of an early Japonic speaking people outside of the archipelago. Being the Tsukushi no Dazai, Shima would not have only been concerned with foreign envoys, but also with two other groups of Hayato—specifically the Ohosumi no Hayato and the Ata no Hayato. Little is known about them, other than that Yamato considered them to be distinct ethnic and cultural groups living in the far south of Kyushu. We've talked before about how southern Kyushu maintained a significantly different material culture through Kofun period until more recent times. We also have indication that they had a distinctive shield and even art style—the famous "Hayato shields" appear to have been appropriated by the court, along with a contingent of Hayato men that were expected to act as an exotic guard for the sovereign and the court. The earliest reliable evidence we have for them is a record from 682. There are some questions as to whether or not they were related to the groups previously called Kumaso or even the Tsuchigumo, but there is no clear historical or archaeological evidence linking them other than the common cultural finds in Kyushu more generally. The Ata and Ohosumi Hayato may have been distinct clans or lineage groups living in Ohosumi and the area of modern Satsuma. We have a record in 687 of the Ata no Hayato attending Ohoama's funeral and presenting a eulogy. The chiefs who came brought 337 others—a sizeable contingent—and they were all given presents by the court. Later, we would see presents given out to 174 Hayato by Shima's successor in the Dazai, Awada no Mahito, and then in 692 we know that the court sent priests to preach Buddhism to Ata and Ohosumi. In 695, Hayato of Ohosumi were entertained in the capital, and they even held a wrestling match for the Queen and her attendants in the area west of Asukadera, by the site of the famous Tsuki tree. So the Hayato would have been another group that Shima no doubt dealt with on a somewhat regular basis in his capacity as Dazi no Sochi—and then later on when he returned to Asuka and took up his new role as Udaijin. And as I mentioned, that appointment was a Big Deal. The position of Udaijin had been vacant since Nakatomi no Kane, one of the infamous leaders of the Afumi court, was non-consensually removed from the position—and this plane of existence—when he was executed in 672, at the closure of the Jinshin no Ran. After that, Ohoama appears to have been gun-shy about sharing power with anyone outside the royal family. The position had been left vacant for about 18 years. So what made Uno no Sarara take up Shima as Minister of the Right? And what about the Minister of the Left, or the Sadaijin? Well, we don't have a Sadaijin, but we do have a Dajodaijin in the form of Prince Takechi, Ohoama's first-born son. The Dajodaijin was the Prime Minister in charge of the entire Dajokan, the Council of State, made up of the ministers of the left and right and the 8 bureaus of the government. The Sadaijin and Udaijin served under the Dajodaijin, in that hierarchical order, with the Sadaijin generally being considered higher in precedence. So it looks like, in this case, they had the Dajodaijin, Prince Takechi to run the Council and Shima, as Udaijin would have been responsible for ensuring the administration of the eight bureaus was properly carried out. That Shima was appointed just under Prince Takechi again shows the power and influence he likely had and the trust he must have had from Uno no Sarara. Remember, the Crown Prince, Kusakabe, had died before he could take the throne. Uno was enthroned as Queen, while the Crown Prince, Karu, was still a minor. Whereas Ohoama had his wife and many sons to help him run things, Uno no Sarara was running thin. As had been seen with Prince Ohotsu, there was always the threat that one of Ohoama's other sons could be propped up on the throne. Uno had to look after Karu's birthright, but there was no guarantee that he would make it to adulthood in times before modern medicine. It appears that Prince Takechi was actually considered the next in line, just in case something happened to Karu before he could ascend the throne, which makes sense that Prince Takechi was also trusted as Dajo Daijin. Shima's place as Udaijin must have been indicative of similar trust that he would look after the royal family's interests. This was no doubt helped by the role he played as Dazai no Sochi. As Udajin, Tajihi no Shima went on to have a rather incredible career. He was given 4 cho of land for his residence. This appears to be around 10 acres or so—a not inconsiderable amount of land, and it probably refers to the amount of land he was granted in the new Fujiwara capital city. Later, in the Nara capital of Heijo-kyo, Prince Nagaya's residence was about that size and Fujiwara no Nakamaro's residence is thought to have been about twice that. This would have given Shima space for multiple buildings, sprawling gardens, servants quarters, quarters for his wives and children, and much more. Tajihi no Shima would continue in his role as Udaijin, and would eventually, be promoted to the position of Sadaijin, a post he held only briefly, as he passed away almost a year later. He was not forgotten, however. It is thought that he was the model for one of the suitors of Kaguya Hime in the famous story of Taketori Monogatari—the tale of the Bamboo Cutter. Taketori Monogatari, also known as Kaguya Hime Monogatari, is considered the oldest known story in the Monogatari form. It was probably written in the late 9th or early 10th century, with references to it appearing in works as early as 909 CE. This suggests that Tajihi no Shima and others were still remembered, at least in part, over a century later. Shima is also thought to have been the patron of the famous poet, Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, one of the famous 36 immortal poets. We'll have to include Hitomaro in a later episode, though we might come back to him after this reign, as he isn't mentioned in the Chronicles, but we do have some fragmentary biographical information thanks to his inclusion in the Man'yoshu. In fact, he's probably one of the most famous poets in the Man'yoshu who is not otherwise mentioned. We are told that he was the court poet during the reign of Uno no Sarara, so it makes sense that Shima may have very well been his patron and helped him get his start. Now while Shima was back in Asuka, making it big in the court, the position of Tsukushi no Dazai had to be filled, and we are told that the mantle was taken up by Awada no Mahito no Ason. This name is a bit tricky, as it seems to have two kabane: Mahito and Ason. Since his father is said to have been Kasuga no Awada no Omi no Kudara, the assumption seems to be that "Mahito" was his name, rather than his kabane. Although it was likely pronounced "Mabito" at the time, I'm going to go with the modern pronunciation of "Mahito" in part to distinguish it from the kabane. A quick side note: When reading names from this period, we usually see the kabane coming right after the family name, as the kabane is basically a rank for the family and not the individual. But we do occasionally see the kabane tacked on at the end of a name, as in Awada no Mahito's case. I would also like to quickly draw your attention to his father's name: Kudara. That can also be read as Baekje. Was this an indication that his father or an ancestor came from the continent, perhaps from Baekje? Or just that he had close ties to that kingdom? I couldn't find anything specific, but it seems interesting that he was put in place at the Dazai, where dealing with the continent would have been an important part of his duties. Awada no Mahito was not just a noble of the court, and even if his father was of Baekje descent, that may not have been the main thing that gained him the position. It may have also had to do with an earlier incident. We are told that in 653 Mahito was one of those who traveled with the 2nd envoy to the Tang court as a scholar monk. He would later return to secular life, but that experience must have been a big feather in his cap, helping him land a good position at court. In fact, in 685, we are told that he was Jikikwoushi rank—a fairly respectable position for anyone at the time—and he apparently tried to get his father raised to the same rank as he was. Aston translates the record as saying he was willing to give his rank to his father, but it is unclear to me if this means he was offering to give up his rank altogether. At the very least it seems that he felt awkward outranking his father—a good, filial attitude, it would seem. However, Ohoama didn't care. In the past, rank may have been given to entire families, but now the court was giving rank to individuals, and the rank Mahito had earned was his, not his father's. And so his request was denied. Four years later, Ohoama was gone and Awada no Mahito was sent to the Tsukushi no Dazai. We are told that he was in that position as of 689. If that was the position of Dazai no Sochi, however, he didn't hold it for long, as Prince Kawachi was raised up to that position that same year, and here we have a bit of a conundrum. Mahito is only mentioned as "Tsukushi no Dazai" while Prince Kawachi is specifically mentioned, at least twice, as Tsukushi no Dazai no Sochi. There are some who suggest that Mahito may have been the Dazai Daini, an assistant to the Dazai no Sochi—effectively the second-in-command it would appear. This makes some sense, when you consider it, and he may even have been acting Dazai no Sochi until Prince Kawachi was appointed. Of course, because our records are quite lackluster, and we are never actually told when Tajihi no Shima left the position, it is possible that Awada no Mahito was actually the Dazai Sochi for many years leading up to 689, and that Shima had returned to Asuka some time ago. This is the problem with the way things are written—sometimes they mention a name and sometimes just a position, and rarely do they mention when someone stepped down. Still, Mahito oversaw a few things that we can be somewhat sure about as they happened after he is first mentioned in the position, though it was all in the same year. For one thing, he is the one who presented gifts to the 174 Hayato in the first month of 689. This included cloth, ox hides, and deerskins. He was also there when the Queen sent relief to the Barrier Wardens whose terms were up. These were the Sakimori, a position set up to defend the archipelago and repel any potential invasions. I would assume they were regularly rotated out, especially if they were expected to man the fortifications out on some of the islands. It is interesting that we don't often see them referenced, so it isn't clear to me why the reference was made here—it may have just been a note in one of the sources the Chroniclers were using. Later that same year, we also see garments being given out—likely meaning official court clothing—to the Tsukushi Dazai and others. This was probably to bring them all in line with the latest formal wear being used in the court in Asuka. We also know that in the 6th month of that year they entertained the Silla envoys, who were given various presents. And then, two months later, Mahito is out and Prince Kawachi comes in. At the same time that Prince Kawachi is being made the Dazai no Sochi, our previous Dazai no Sochi, Tajihi no Shima, had his rank and fief increased. I doubt this was a coincidence, and it is one of the things that, for me, lends credence to the idea that Shima had just then returned to Asuka and Prince Kawachi was his replacement, suggesting that Mahito had really just been in an acting capacity while the change over was taking place. Unfortunately, if we were looking for more information about Prince Kawachi's background, we would be disappointed. Although he is a prince, probably descended from Nunakura, aka Bidatsu Tennou, we don't have a lot about him. He—or someone with the same name, since we do see these Princely titles get reused, it seems—is found in the reign of Ohoama traveling with Ohotomo no Yasumaro and Fujiwara no Ohoshima to go entertain Gim Jisyang of Silla. Later we see a Prince Kawachi delivering eulogies during Ohoama's funeral. That suggests he held an important position, and that he was somewhat familiar with the continent, but we don't get a whole lot more. Our next evidence is when he was appointed to the post of Dazai no Sochi in 689, a position he would hold until his death in 694—which may also explain why we just don't see too much of him in the record. A promising career may have been cut short, as happened all too often back in that day and age. Still, as Dazai no Sochi, he had plenty to keep him busy. Not a month after he arrived, Isonokami no Maro and Ishikawa no Mishina arrived at the head of a delegation. They were there to deliver patents of rank to members of the Tsukushi government and to inspect the fortifications at the edge of the archipelago. These were the same fortifications being manned by the newly arrived Sakimori. Speaking of the members of the Tsukushi government, it took a lot of people to make the Dazaifu work, not just the Sochi giving people orders about what they should do. There were numerous assistants helping to keep everything running. Some of them would have just been dealing with the Sochi's own residence, while others were clerks, guards, and more. It really was a miniature version of the court in Asuka, and would have required a lot of people to tend to it. And we know of at least one of them: Tsukushi no Fubito no Masaru, whose imagined thoughts we heard at the top of the episode. In 691, Masaru was recognized for 29 years of service as a secretary to the Tsuksuhi no Dazai. Twenty-nine years in place suggests to me that he would have likely been one of the longest serving members of the Tsukushi government center. He would have known where all the bodies were buried—perhaps quite literally. While the Dazai no Sochi was often a temporary appointment, sometimes just for a few years, they would have likely leaned on Masaru for his expertise. This is just like how modern government appointees like ambassadors may come and go, including for political reasons, but they rely on permanent staff, including a lot of locals, to provide the institutional knowledge they need to do their jobs. One can assume that if Masaru had been successful for 29 years he knew how things were supposed to work. And so I hope that his superiors made sure to remember that when Secretary's day rolled around. Prince Kawachi didn't make it 29 years, but he made it five. He might have gone even longer, but he died in office in 694 and was posthumously raised in rank for his service. History is full of stories, but in real life, the stories don't always follow the expected narratives. As much as we'd like to think otherwise, good, moral people do not always triumph and sometimes those who do awful things are never punished. And some times stories come to abrupt ends. Of course, looking back, it just is what it is. Prince Kawachi's life becomes little more than a footnote. And yet, what if he had gone on? Would he have followed Tajihi no Shima to help become one of the grand ministers of the court? Unfortunately, we will never know. He could have been a rising star, but we just know about his passing. Five months after Prince Kawachi's untimely death, he was followed in the post by Prince Mino. Prince Mino would continue in the position, it seems, through the end of the reign in 697—or at least nobody else was appointed until 700, when Isonokami no Maro—apparently the same one who had previously come out to inspect the fortifications during Prince Kawachi's tenure—was appointed. Although he came into the position in the next reign, we'll still touch on him, as he was another notable figure at this time. Looking back at Prince Mino, however, we seem to run into a problem—there are too many Princes Mino in the record. If you just use the English translations, you'll find several references to Prince Mino, but if you look at the original text, you'll see that there are at least three different spellings. For one it means "Beautiful Field" and another is just "Three Fields". A third "Mino" is spelled with characters that don't necessarily create obvious meaning, and may just be a phonetic spelling. It is possible that all of these Princes Mino are the same. Spelling wasn't standard, and different characters could be used for the same name. On the other hand, we have one set of characters being used to describe a Prince Mino who supported Ohoama during the Jinshin no Ran, while another, the "Three Fields" Prince Mino, describes one of the sons of Prince Kurikuma, who was with his father in Tsukushi when the Afumi court came calling. Since travel wasn't necessarily an overnight endeavor—unless you were Ohoama, rushing through the mountains to the east—it would seem that the Prince Mino in Tsukushi is unlikely to be the same one as the Prince Mino who joined Ohoama's forces back in the Home Provinces. So let's make the assumption that Prince Mino—Prince "Three Fields" Mino—is one person and the others are separate. What do we know about him? Well, he appears to have had experience with Tsukushi and the government out there, since he would be the son of Prince Kurikuma, a former Tsukushi Dazai no Sochi. We talked about Prince Kurikuma before, back in numerous episodes, but particularly in episodes 128 and Episode 144, as well as references in betweend. Prince Kurikuma was not only a significant factor in the outcome of the Jinshin no Ran, denying the Afumi court the resources of all of the defenders at the Tsukushi fortifications, he shows up in local legends in Tsukushi still today. So he definitely seems to have had an impact on the region. It also suggests that Prince Mino had connections in the area through his father. After his father's posting as Dazai no Sochi ended, Prince Mino appears to have returned with him to Asuka. He is described as a key member in Ohoama's court. He was one of the Princes mentioned in the audience at the Daigokuden in 681, when Ohoama instituted the commission to bring together the various court sources that we presume would eventually lead to the creation of the Chronicles—the Nihon Shoki and the Kojiki. Later, he become a daibu, a high official, of the Household Bureau, responsible for the household of the sovereign, the sumera no mikoto. This meant the upkeep of the palace, the kitchens, and the various servants waiting on the sovereign and his family. This also means that he was likely close to the movers and shakers of the court. One of the projects under his purview appears to have been the laying out of a new palace and a new capital city. In 682 he headed up the investigations at the place called Nihiki, determining that it would be a good location for what would eventually become Fujiwara-kyo—a project still underway in Queen Uno's reign. He was also sent out to Shinano two years later to look for a site for a second capital. It ended up not happening, but he spent a couple months and eventually came back with a map of the region. It may be that the Fujiwara-kyo project took up a lot of Mino's time and effort, because we then don't hear from him for another decade, during which Ohama passed away and so much more happened. Assuming he was still involved with the Fujiwara capital project, however, we see that in 691 there was a ceremony held for the tranquility of the new capital—a Chin-sai or, what we would today call a "Ji-chin-sai". This is a "land pacification ceremony" done when breaking ground on a new building or other project. So it looks like planning and land clearing had taken some 10 years, but it was finally ready to get started. Later that same year we hear of them laying out the residences of high ranking nobles, like the Udaijin, Tajihi no Shima, and we also see the Queen inspecting the roads. Then, a year later in 692, they were holding the land pacification ceremony for the new palace. The queen would move into the new palace in the very last months of 694. But by that time, Prince Mino was on to his next assignment. He had been appointed Tsukushi Dazai no Sochi earlier that year following the death of Prince Kawachi. Not much more is said of Tsukushi for the next three years of the reign, but we do see the Hayato visiting Asuka, presumably with Prince Mino's assistance. We don't have a clear idea of when Prince Mino retired—it's certainly not in the Nihon Shoki—but we know that he did because he was succeeded in the role by none other than Isonokami no Maro, who would take up the position in 700. Prince Mino, on the other hand, returned to the court, where he would eventually pass away in the year 708. And that was the last Dazai no Sochi who held the position during this reign, but I do want to talk about the one who came after Prince Mino just a bit—though more because this was an up-and-coming court noble whom we should be watching. Isonokami no Maro was born, by all accounts, in the year 640. Despite his name he was actually born to a family that we know somewhat well from much earlier on: The Mononobe. In fact, his father is apparently Mononobe no Muraji no Umaro, and he appears to be descended from the main line of the Mononobe family, which had declined ever since Mononobe no Moriya had been defeated and killed by Soga no Umako and others. And it seems that the Mononobe curse of being on the losing side in a contest for power hit Maro during the Jinshin no Ran, because we see him, at that time referenced as Mononobe no Muraji no Maro, along with two servants, or Toneri, serving Prince Ohotomo—aka Koubun Tennou—up to the very end. In fact, when Ohotomo fled and the Afumi court deserted him, only Mononobe no Maro and the servants stayed with him when he eventually strangled himself. And one would think that would be it. You were with the rival for the throne in the most contentious fight in recent memory. You couldn't protect him and you were on the wrong side. Sure, Ohoama was going to pardon you because he couldn't just rid himself of half of the court and hope things would still run smoothly—that would be a surefire recipe for disaster, and nobody wanted the government crippled like that. However, you can't imagine that those on the losing side would be given any position of trust or authority. And yet, in 676, we see that Mononobe no Maro was sent to Silla. And he wasn't just helping out: he was sent as the chief envoy of Ohoama's court. That is quite the turnaround in four years, and we don't really know why, but it has been speculated that Ohoama was actually impressed. While other members of the Afumi court fled and abandoned Ohotomo to his enemies, Maro and the two toneri with him did not, staying with Ohotomo until the bitter end, and likely conveying what had happened to the other side once it was all over. That kind of loyalty was impressive, especially back then. It is also thought that Maro may have benefited from the fact that Enoi no Okimi, who was also descended from the Mononobe family, fought on the side of Ohoama. This is a common scenario we see throughout Japanese history, where different members of the same family fight on different sides of a conflict, often meaning that no matter who wins the family can still claim to have been on the winning side. When Okimi passed away in 676 he was posthumously recognized as the ujigami, or clan head, of the Mononobe, leading some to suspect that a bit of his shine may have rubbed off on Maro as well. In 684, when the various kabane were being rectified by Ohoama's court, the Mononobe no Muraji were included as Ason, or Asaomi. There is some thought that around this time is when Maro changed his name to Isonokami, which is a name that was previously used by members of the Mononobe, including one of the brothers to Mononobe no Moriya. We see him mentioned as Isonokami no Maro in 686, as one of those giving a eulogy for Ohoama: specifically he gives the eulogy on behalf of the Houkan, or Nori no Tsukasa, the Judicial officers. He is mentioned right after Fuse no Miushi, whom we talked about last episode, who would go on to become a Dainagon and, later, Udaijin, or Minister of the Right. The first connection between Isonokami no Maro and Tsukushi was in 689, and we noted it earlier—he came out to inspect the fortifications as well as to hand out patents of rank to the court officials working out there on the edge of the realm. He would return to Asuka in time to be a part of Uno no Sarara's official enthronement ceremonies. There he is named Mononobe no Maro, and is in charge of the shields. Given what we know of the role of the Mononobe as the early soldiers of the court, it makes sense that he would play this role, and that they would use the name Mononobe rather than Isonokami. In the same way, the ritual was conducted by Fujiwara no Ohoshima, but he is recorded as Nakatomi no Ohoshima, probably because these were roles specifically for the Mononobe and Nakatomi, rather than for the Isonokami and the Fujiwara. This is another thing that can be quite frustrating when researching Japanese history—names can change at the drop of a hat, and people often had various ancestral names and titles that could be pulled out for various political or ceremonial reasons. If you don't have the history or understand the nuance it can be easy to just think that it is a different person altogether. And when you don't have much information, sometimes you have to ask yourself which is it? Maro would stay close to Queen Uno, even accompanying her to Ise shrine, and then, in the following reign, he would succeed Prince Mino as Dazai no Sochi in the year 700. It isn't clear, however, if he left for the Dazaifu immediately, since in 701 he is noted as having been promoted from the office of Chunagon to Dainagon, and in that same year he went with Royal Prince Osakabe to pay respects at the house of the late Udaijin, Tajihi no Shima, who had just passed away. He then left for Tsukushi in 702—or possibly headed back. But in 703, he was once again back in Asuka, paying condolences on the death of the next Udaijin, Abe no Miushi—aka Fuse no Miushi, the same one whom Maro had pronounced a Eulogy with during the funeral ceremonies for Ohoama. Isonokami no Maro would go on to take the mantle of Udaijin, and then eventually Sadaijin as well. He would be raised up to the second rank, along with the famous Fujiwara no Fubito, who took the vacated position of Udaijin. This meant that technically Maro was the senior of the two, though many people think that Fujiwara no Fubito held most of the actual power. Regardless of that, Isonokami no Maro nonetheless would go on to become the highest ranking court noble before his eventual death in 717. At that point he was 78 years old, by the reckoning of the day, and he had seen multiple sovereigns, several bloody conflicts, and the creation of two permanent capitals—Fujiwara kyo and Heijo kyo, in modern Nara. He went from being a supporter in the Afumi court, on the wrong side of the Jinshin no Ran to become the highest ranking court noble in the land. He would be granted the head of the Mononobe family and would continue to prosper as Isonokami. It was truly a remarkable career over an incredible span of time. And there you have it. A look at some of those that were sent out to the Dazaifu in Tsukushi. In later years, the post of Dazai no Sochi would be seen more as a burden than a blessing, but at this point it was still a lucrative and powerful position. Several of those involved in the Dazaifu or who held the position as Dazai no Sochi would go on to even more powerful positions back in Asuka. Whilst this posting did move you further away from the politics—perhaps not always a bad thing—it also put you atop a structure where one had considerable power, authority, and autonomy, at least at this point. Next episode we'll get back to the court in Asuka and take a look at a little more of what is going on. Before I end this, however, a quick administrative note about the podcast. This creation is a labor of love. It was started largely as a way to get myself to regularly dive into the Chronicles and really see what was going on. In particular, I was excited about the Asuka period, because I don't think we really have enough of a sense of what life was like and what was going on back then. It was clearly a very dynamic time, and yet we tend to see it through the lens of later Nara and Heian court culture, which was still very much evolving. The stories that I *didn't* know about were what drew me to this project, and I hope that we've all learned a bit more as the project has continued. And we are reaching the end of the area that is covered by the main Chronicles, the Kojiki, the Nihon Shoki, and the Sendai Kuji Hongi, which have been our main guides through this period. But that doesn't mean we are bringing things to a close. Next we have the Shoku Nihongi and many other grecords, and I am going to keep up with the project and the schedule as best I can. In fact, it looks like I may be able to devote even more time to it in the near future as some drastic life changes are coming for me, such that I will no longer be working a 9-to-5 job while also trying to get this podcast out like clockwork twice a month—not to mention my other passion, teaching traditional Japanese martial arts here in the DC region at a local not-for-profit dojo. This is happening as we are also in the process of building a house, traveling, and more. But it does mean that we are going to be looking into alternative sources of funding beyond just donations. We are eternally grateful to everyone who has donated, but I may end up doing something that I've been putting off for a while: allowing advertisements. I want to do this so that we can continue to offer this for podcast for free, but hosting, staying up to date on sources, etc. does cost money. I'm not looking to make a huge profit, but if we can at least get the podcast paying for itself, that would be a good start. Before I do that I'll look to find a way that we can get subscribers on Patreon and elsewhere ad-free copy. I just need to figure that out, but once I do, I'll let you all know. So there you have it. We aren't going to stop the podcast, but we may be adding a bit more to it in the future. I hope, though, that we can do more beyond the historical chronicles. For instance, did you know that we have an English translation of a 17th century cookbook up on our website, SengokuDaimyo.com? I would love to redact those recipes and maybe provide some cooking videos for anyone who would want to try them. A shoutout to Max Miller of Tasting History, who reached out to us about using a couple of our translations for his episodes on historical Japanese cooking – Max is a great guy and his series and cookbook are well worth following. But there's a lot more to explore: one of my favorites so far that we've tried is "keiran", or "eggs": doughy balls filled with brown sugar and cooked in a miso based soup. I don't know if there is anything like that still being served in Japan, but it's a strange and pleasant recipe and I would love to do that again and record it for everyone to try. All of this is in the works, and nothing will change immediately, but I wanted to keep you all in the loop. Thank you so much for listening, I can't tell you how much it means. And of course, as always, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts. If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page. You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com. Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now. Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.
Health Update: Still fighting this stomach bug. Starting to feel better. I will return next week. I wanted to play a reloaded episode of one of my favorite intros. Ben writes "Well I finally got up the nerves to send this, back in 2015 I was a Jr in high school. My buddy had called me to see if I wanted to hangout and see his new toy. The toy was a Jeep Wrangler YJ that was abandoned. Even more interesting it was abandoned by a gentlemen that later that same year went to his friends house and shot him. He had some issues I guess. So whilst we went out there we swapped from my brothers truck to mine and proceeded to meet them in the woods. So this is Sweden Maine where he found this. Kinda middle of nowhere. So we get to the Jeep and my friend and my brothers friend go out in the Jeep, leaving my brother and I with my pickup in this clearing. We noticed it was very quiet where we were. Right about then is when a gum ball sized rock landed between us. We looked at each other and played it off. Both kinda bothered we agreed to go towards the entry of the trail to get out of there. (Guess it felt safer) well when we got a little further down the trailer my brother pulled over. (He always drove) it was getting dark probably like 6:30-7pm in May. When I jumped out I looked at this tree too admiring the sky. I saw an entire flock of birds fly out of this tree. I proceeded to slowly drop my head looking down the tree the whole time. When I got to the middle of the tree is when I saw something. I saw a figure in the woods. Left arm and leg obscured by the tree looked as if it's left palm was against the tree. It was rocking slightly, it had a long arm that I could see on its right side and a big build. I couldn't see the feet but the head, shoulder, torso, and leg all on the left was clearly visible (as a silhouette). It was rocking slightly left to right and could see it breather. I looked at my brother and he was frozen looking at it. I asked him "what is that?" He only responded with "get in the truck" I looked back and it was still standing there swaying. I looked back at my brother and said again "what the f— is that?" To which my brother responded with "get in the f—— truck." My door was still open so I kinda dove backwards into it. My brother quickly had it started and the clutch already out and fishtailing away. I couldn't bring myself to look backwards. But we were spooked. There was an interesting situation with a set of lights behind us upon our escape but I'm not sure what to make of it. We called the friends that we were leaving so they either had to ditch the Jeep or drive it back to his house. Oddly they too sounded distressed. But they agreed to meet on the trail. We flew back down the trail driving way faster than anyone should. We came up to them and they stuffed the Jeep in the woods. What caught my attention next was they ran and I mean RAN to my truck, keeping a hand on my hood the whole time. I slid up against my brother so to make room for them. It was a regular cab. We drove out of there and my brother and I not wanting to get played asked them why they were so worked up. They stated to us the they had gotten stuck for a moment and whilst working it out of the mud something slapped the side of the Jeep and rocked it side to side. It was too dark for them to see anything under the heavy tree canopy and the night setting in more. It certainly was a wild time. Only other thing was some vocalizations the year prior that sounded exactly like the other howl captured in Maine. That's my story Wes thanks for doing what you do."
CBS Sports Lead Draft Analyst Ryan Wilson and Former NFL GM Ran Carthon are going through breakout candidates for the 2026 season. From rookies to vets, the guys will give players they think could be poised for a big year! Ryan and Ran will also discuss which Coach & GM they would pick to start an NFL franchise right now.-(00:00) Intro(4:42) Commanders WR Antonio Williams(8:08) Steelers WR Germie Bernard(10:30) Chargers RB Omarion Hampton(15:10) Packers WR Matthew Golden(19:45) Browns QB Deshaun Watson(25:42) Vikings QB Kyler Murray(30:40) Picking A Coach To Start A Franchise(37:26) Picking A GM To Start A Franchise(41:41) Inside Front NFL Offices During Offseason-Watch With the First Pick on the CBS Sports YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CBSSports'With the First Pick' is available for free on the Audacy app as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Castbox and wherever else you listen to podcasts.You can listen to With the First Pick on your smart speakers! Simply say "Alexa, play the latest episode of the With the First Pick podcast" or "Hey Google, play the latest episode of the With the First Pick podcast."Follow the With the First Pick team on X: @nfldraftcbs, @ryanwilsonCBS, @E_DeBerardinis, @ryan__strykerFollow With the First Pick on TikTok & Instagram: @nfldraftcbsProduced by: Ryan StrykerFor more NFL Draft coverage from CBS Sports, visit https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit https://www.cbssports.com/podcast
Comentando os Comentários #69 – Ep. 90 Ranço de Gente Olá Amigos e Inimigos do Papo Delas! Conforme combinado, graças aos nossos apoiadores, temos o Comentando os Comentários #69 – Ep. 90 Ranço de Gente. Neste episódio, Cafeína e Patsy exercitando a arte do bullying e da gratidão com vocês #OuvintesIncríveis !! Não deixem de ouvir nossos recadinhos no final do episódio. Afinal, agradecemos a todos vocês ouvintes! #papodelaspodcast #podcast #mulherespodcasters #ouvintesincríveis #2026 Porque Quem ama ouve, quem ouve comenta! Edição Cafeína Conheça a Lojinha do Papo Delas Podcast e garanta seu presente. #ouvintesincríveis https://podcaststore.com.br Comente! Envie um bilhete para contato@papodelas.com ou comente no post. Siga na Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/papodelaspodcast Grupo #OuvintesIncríveis no Telegram: https://t.me/papodelas Curta no Facebook: www.facebook.com/podcastPapoDelas
Warum dein Newsletter auch 2026 noch dein wichtigstes Buchmarketing-Tool ist In dieser Episode spreche ich über das Thema Newsletter und E-Mail-Marketing für Autorinnen und Autoren. Ich führe aus, warum ein eigener Newsletter auch im Jahr 2026 ein unverzichtbares Werkzeug für alle Schreibenden bleibt, wie du Abonnent:innen gewinnst und welche technischen Tools sinnvoll sind. Auf dich warten praxisnahe Tipps, ein Überblick über verschiedene Wege, mit Leserinnen und Lesern in Kontakt zu bleiben und Vorschläge wie du deinen Newsletter spannend und gewinnbringend gestaltest. Egal, ob du gerade erst mit dem Thema startest oder schon Erfahrungen gesammelt hast – in dieser Folge findest du wertvolle Anregungen, wie du mit deinem eigenen Newsletter als Autor oder Autorin langfristig erfolgreich sein kannst. Hier die wichtigsten Aspekte, die ich in dieser Folge anspreche: 1. Einführung in das Thema Newsletter-Marketing für Autor:innen Vorstellung des Themas und Verweis auf einen vertiefenden Artikel https://mission-bestseller.com/newsletter-marketing-fuer-autoren-und-autorinnen-aufbau-nutzen-fallstricke/ Überblick über Inhalte und Zielsetzung der Folge 2. Bedeutung von E-Mail-Marketing für Autor:innen Relevanz des Newsletters 2026 und darüber hinaus Ziele: Leser:innen erreichen und Buchverkäufe unterstützen Vergleich der Kommunikationswege: Offline, Social Media, Newsletter 3. Vor- und Nachteile von Offline- und Social-Media-Kontakten Möglichkeiten über Buchmessen, Lesungen und lokale Netzwerke Social Media: Vorprogrammieren, Unverbindlichkeit, besonders für Introvertierte vorteilhaft Nachteile von Social Media: Eigentum der Kontakte bei den Plattformen ([Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.]) Gefahr von Kontosperrungen Organische Reichweite sinkt ständig 4. Vorteile des eigenen Newsletters Kontrolle und Eigentum über die eigenen Kontakte Direktkontakt zu Interessierten Wichtigkeit von Double Opt-in auch bei Offline-Kontakten Datenminimierung (nur Vorname und E-Mail) 5. Aufbau und Nutzen von E-Mail-Listen Möglichkeiten zur Sammlung von Adressen Nutzen der Liste bei Buchveröffentlichungen Beispielhafte Quoten (10% Kaufquote als realistisch) Motivation, einfach zu starten, egal wie viele Adressen vorhanden sind 6. Newsletter als Produkt: Nutzen und Anreize für Abonnent:innen Newsletter als zu bewerbendes Produkt verstehen Emotionale und praktische Argumente für den Mehrwert Spezielle Anreize: Bonuskapitel, Zusatzgeschichten, Materialien (Lesezeichen, Karten, Übungsblätter, Bilder) Notwendigkeit zur DSGVO-konformen Anmeldung Abgrenzung zu alten „Tauschgeschäften" ohne echte Einwilligung 7. Technische Grundlagen: Die eigene Autor:innen-Webseite Zweck der eigenen Webseite: Integration von Anmeldeformularen und Bereitstellung von Materialien Baukastensysteme oder WordPress als Grundlage Aspekte von Investition und Amortisation 8. Optimale Struktur einer Autor:innen-Webseite Wichtige Seiten: Startseite, Über-mich, Bücher, Datenschutzerklärung Empfehlung: Eigene Verkaufs-/Infoseite nur für den Newsletter Angebotsgestaltung: Darstellung der Newsletter-Inhalte und Werbegeschenke 9. Inhaltliche Gestaltung des Newsletters Inhalte: Alltagsschilderungen, Recherchereisen, Buchempfehlungen, Fortschrittsberichte Ziel: Beziehung zu Leser:innen halten, auch wenn zwischen Veröffentlichungen längere Pausen liegen Nutzen für regelmäßige Sichtbarkeit 10. Versandfrequenz und Umgang mit Feedback Kein starres Dogma zur Versandfrequenz (zwischen 2 und 4 Wochen empfohlen) Achten auf Feedback der Leser:innen und Anpassung der Häufigkeit Erwartungen an Rückmeldungen realistisch halten (meist Konsum, weniger direkte Reaktionen) 11. Technische Umsetzung: Auswahl der Newsletter-Software Notwendigkeit professioneller Tools (bei mehr als ca. 30 Kontakten) Empfohlene Anbieter: GetResponse (EU-Server, Datenschutz), Erwähnung von Active Campaign & ConvertKit (USA, zu komplex), Clicktip (deutschsprachig, teuer, zu umfangreich) Relevante Features: Adressorganisation, automatisierter Versand, Segmentierung 12. Anwendungsmöglichkeiten und Zielsetzung des Newsletters Direktvertrieb der Bücher über abgestufte Versandaktionen Langfristige Beziehungspflege als gleichwertiges Ziel neben dem Verkauf Aufbau eines „fernfreundschaftlichen" Kontaktnetzwerks 13. Abschluss und Handlungsaufruf Einladung, mit dem Newsletter zu beginnen oder die eigene Strategie zu optimieren Hinweis auf ein 7-Tage-Programm im Blogartikel für Einsteiger und Fortgeschrittene https://mission-bestseller.com/newsletter-marketing-fuer-autoren-und-autorinnen-aufbau-nutzen-fallstricke/ Aufforderung zu Rückmeldungen und Austausch per E-Mail oder Kommentar # Newsletter und E-Mail-Marketing für Autor:innen: Deine Community, deine Regeln Newsletter und E-Mail-Marketing sind für dich als Autor:in wichtiger denn je. Vielleicht schiebst du das Thema schon länger vor dir her, vielleicht hast du schon einen Newsletter, nutzt ihn aber noch nicht voll aus – oder du bist ganz neu dabei und möchtest wissen, wie du starten sollst. In dieser Podcastfolge erfährst du von mir, warum gerade jetzt ein eigener Newsletter das beste Mittel ist, um mit deinen Leser:innen in Kontakt zu treten und zu bleiben. ## Warum solltest du als Autor:in einen Newsletter haben? Zuerst einmal: Deine Leser:innen wollen von dir hören! Sie wollen wissen, wann dein nächstes Buch erscheint, ob es gerade eine coole Aktion gibt oder einfach ein bisserln mehr über dich und deine Buchwelt erfahren. Aber warum reicht nicht einfach Social Media? 1. Du hast die Kontrolle über deine Kontakte: Bei Facebook, Instagram & Co. gehören die Daten alle der Plattform. Accounts können ohne Vorwarnung gesperrt werden, die Reichweite deiner Beiträge ist begrenzt und abhängig vom Algorithmus. Selbst in Gruppen sehen viele die Beiträge nicht, wenn sie nicht täglich aktiv sind. 2. Nachhaltige Beziehungen aufbauen: Bei einem eigenen Newsletter entscheidest du, wann und was du verschickst – und erreichst die Lesenden direkt. Die E-Mail-Adressen gehören dir, und niemand kann dir den Zugang dazu wegnehmen. Offline-Events, Lesungen und Buchmessen sind wichtig, aber sie bieten keine langfristige Möglichkeit, den Kontakt zu halten. Deshalb ist der Newsletter das wertvollste Werkzeug für dich als Autor:in. ## Wie gewinnst du Newsletter-Abonnent:innen? Die wenigsten Menschen tragen sich »einfach so« für deinen Newsletter ein. Ich empfehle deshalb, deinen Newsletter wie ein Produkt zu behandeln, das du »verkaufst« – und das bedeutet, du musst überzeugende Argumente liefern, warum sich jemand eintragen soll. Am besten funktioniert das mit einem Gratis-Mehrwert: - Bonuskapitel - Exklusive Kurzgeschichte (z. B. zu einer beliebten Nebenfigur) - Leseproben, Lesezeichen, Kartenmaterial oder Illustrationen als Download - Im Sachbuchbereich: Checklisten, Arbeitsblätter oder ergänzende Materialien Wichtig: Frag möglichst wenige Daten ab – Vorname und E-Mail-Adresse reichen. Je niedriger die Hürde, desto eher werden sich Menschen eintragen. Technischer Hinweis: Aufgrund der Datenschutzgrundverordnung (DSGVO) brauchst du Double Opt-in: Die Leute müssen ihre Anmeldung aktiv bestätigen. ## Die richtige Basis: Deine Autor:innen-Webseite Neben dem Newsletter brauchst du eine eigene Website. Hier kannst du das Anmeldeformular einbinden und z. B. auch deine Gratis-Extras zum Download bereitstellen. Ob du dafür WordPress, Jimdo oder ein anderes Baukastensystem nutzt, bleibt dir überlassen. Mein Tipp: Lege zusätzlich zu Startseite, Über-mich, Bücherseite und Datenschutzerklärung eine eigene Newsletter-Verkaufsseite an. Dort erklärst du genau, was deine Abonnent:innen erwartet, was sie bekommen und wie oft du schreibst. Das steigert die Eintragungen deutlich, weil Interessierte hier gezielt angesprochen werden. ## Was gehört in deinen Newsletter? Natürlich ist der wichtigste Anlass der nächste Buchlaunch oder eine Preisaktion. Doch echte Beziehungen entstehen darüber hinaus. Einige Ideen für den Inhalt: - Einblicke in deinen Schreibprozess oder Alltag - Berichte von Recherchereisen oder aus deiner Umgebung - Empfehlungen von befreundeten Autor:innen - »Making-of« zum nächsten Buch, Updates zum Fortschritt - Geschichten hinter den Kulissen und Inspirationen Du musst nicht befürchten, dass du zu viel von dir preisgibst: Die meisten Leser:innen finden es spannend, ein bisschen mehr über den Menschen hinter den Büchern zu erfahren. ## Wie oft solltest du schreiben? Ein zu häufiger Versand schreckt ab – aber zu selten ist auch nicht optimal, sonst vergessen deine Abonnent:innen dich. Ich empfehle einen Rhythmus von alle zwei bis vier Wochen. Das ist genug, um präsent zu bleiben, aber nicht aufdringlich. Natürlich kannst du auch nach Feedback fragen und die Rückmeldungen berücksichtigen. ## Welche Tools eignen sich? Für kleinere Newsletter-Listen reicht es am Anfang, wenn du bei etwa 20–30 Leuten noch manuell mailst – aber sobald deine E-Mail-Liste wächst und du DSGVO-konform arbeiten willst, ist eine Newsletter-Software nötig. Meine Empfehlungen: - GetResponse: datenschutzkonform, preislich fair, einfacher Einstieg - Brevo ebenfalls beliebt im deutschsprachigen Raum - Finger weg von zu teuren oder komplizierten US-Anbietern (datenschutzrechtlich schwierig, unnötig komplex für unsere Zwecke) Wichtig sind: automatische Anmeldebestätigungen (Double Opt-In), einfaches Versand- und Listentool und die Möglichkeit, Willkommensmails bzw. kleine »Freebies« zu verschicken. ##Nutze den direkten Draht zu deinen Fans! Mit einem eigenen Newsletter baust du dir eine treue Leserschaft auf, die wirklich an dir und deinen Büchern interessiert ist. Nutze die Chance, Beziehungen zu pflegen, tolle Inhalte zu teilen und vor allem deine Veröffentlichungen erfolgreich zu begleiten. Trends kommen und gehen – aber deine eigene Community bleibt dir erhalten. Wenn du noch keinen Newsletter hast, fang heute an. Und wenn du schon einen hast, prüfe, wo du ihn noch besser gestalten kannst, um mehr Freude – und mehr Verkäufe – herauszuholen. Ran an die Tasten! Hier die Links, die ich im Podcast anspreche, und weiterführende Informationen, Tipps und Erfahrungsberichte rund um Bücher, eBooks und deinen Erfolg: Hier kannst du meinen ausführlichen Blogartikel zu diesem Thema nachlesen: https://mission-bestseller.com/newsletter-marketing-fuer-autoren-und-autorinnen-aufbau-nutzen-fallstricke/ Und wenn du trotz alledem wie ich weiterhin über Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) veröffentlichst, dann brauchst du diesen Kurs, um deinem Buch mehr Sichtbarkeit zu verschaffen: https://mission-bestseller.com/keywords Hier kommst du zum Mission Bestseller Schreib-Bootcamp: https://mission-bestseller.com/bootcamp Hier findest du alles rund ums Selfpublishing: https://mission-bestseller.com Einige der Links auf dieser Seite sind Affiliate-Links und ich erhalte eine Provision, wenn du über sie kaufst, die sich nicht auf deinen Kaufpreis auswirkt.
Get David's book here: https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/.../rainforest-radicals/ Rainforest Radicals presents the first history of one of the most innovative and successful environmental organizations of the late twentieth century. Rainforest Action Network emerged in 1985, when it took over a fledgling effort to protect rainforests from transnational corporations funding the expansion of tropical cattle ranching. It excelled at using nonviolent, civil disobedience in dramatic campaigns that captured the attention of the public, media, and RAN's corporate adversaries. As a result, two decades later rainforest conservation went from a niche academic topic to a fixture in American popular culture, the rights of Indigenous people had gone from ignored or romanticized to at least considered in discussions of the management of their ancestral homelands, and RAN had scored a series of victories over some of the planet's largest corporations. In Rainforest Radicals David Benac traces the evolution of RAN and radical, transnational grassroots environmentalism through the four campaigns identified at the group's founding: rainforest beef, Hawai‘ian rainforests, tropical timber, and multinational development banks. Forty years after RAN's inception, there is much to learn from how it organized people in small towns and large cities across the United States, created alliances that spanned oceans, and inspired a new movement that integrated human rights, Indigenous sovereignty, and environmental protection to challenge multinational corporations, national governments, and neocolonial corporate-led globalism. Through more than thirty oral histories, including those of key players from different eras of RAN's history as well as leaders from other environmental and Indigenous rights organizations, Rainforest Radicals provides unparalleled insight into the network. Check out our new bi-weekly series, "The Crisis Papers" here: https://www.patreon.com/bitterlakepresents/shop READ THE WEEKLY TIR NEWSLETTER HERE: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1853497 Thank you guys again for taking the time to check this out. We appreciate each and everyone of you. If you have the means, and you feel so inclined, BECOME A PATRON! We're creating patron only programing, you'll get bonus content from many of the episodes, and you get MERCH! Become a patron now https://www.patreon.com/join/BitterLakePresents? Please also like, subscribe, and follow us on these platforms as well, (specially YouTube!) THANKS Y'ALL YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG9WtLyoP9QU8sxuIfxk3eg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thisisrevolutionpodcast/ Twitter: @TIRShowOakland Instagram: @thisisrevolutionoakland Substack: https://jmylesoftir.substack.com/.../the-money-will-roll... Read Jason Myles in Current Affairs Magazine here: https://www.currentaffairs.org/.../donald-trump-is-a-pro... Read Jason Myles in Damage Magazine https://damagemag.com/2023/11/07/the-man-who-sold-the-world/ Read Jason in Black Agenda Report: https://www.blackagendareport.com/rainbow-and-machine S
We Like Shooting - Ep 665 This episode of We Like Shooting is brought to you by: Foxtrot Mike (Code: WLSISLIFE) C&G Holsters (Code: WLSISLIFE) Midwest Industries (Code: WLSISLIFE) Blue Alpha Bowers Group (Code: WLS) Otis Technology (Code: WELIKESHOOTING15) Second Call Defense Text Dear WLS or Reviews +1 743 500 2171 Public Show Titles GOA GOALS Aug 1-2 in Iowa. https://goals.goa.org/ GunCon.net Tickets on sale now. Use code AGENCY171 GEAR CHAT (Nick) Nick's Dumb 6.5 Creedmoor Nick's Dumb 6.5 Creedmoor DERYA RELEASES THE RAN AND RAN Derya RAN and RAN-X Series Lever-Action Rifles Derya announced the official launch of its RAN and RAN-X lever-action series, featuring modernized designs with factory-integrated aftermarket upgrades including threaded barrels, M-LOK forends, and adjustable stocks. Available in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Long Colt, the series will be showcased at GunCon 2026. Derya has launched the RAN full-size and RAN-X compact pistol lever-action series in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .45 Long Colt. The rifles feature a mono-block steel receiver, threaded suppressor-ready barrel, M-LOK compatible forend with Picatinny rail, fixed front and adjustable rear sights with optics rail, and rebounding hammer. The RAN offers wood or patented adjustable aluminum Ironwolf stock options while the RAN-X uses a 12″ barrel with Steelfang PSB Ironwolf grip system at 22.95″ overall length. BULLET POINTS SOLDIERSYSTEMS Roni Nano Roni Pistol-to-Carbine Conversion Kit Houston, TX – Roni Corporaton, the leading designer and manufacturer of the renown Micro-Roni, PDW-style pistol-to-carbine conversion kits and other fi … The Nano Roni is Roni's most compact pistol-to-carbine conversion kit that installs a handgun into a chassis in seconds without tools, transforming it into a pistol-braced PDW. It includes a complete system with chassis plus accessories such as magazine holders, light mounts, Picatinny rails, charging handles, optics mounts, slings, and a belt holster. Initial compatibility covers multiple Glock models with additional Glock, SIG Sauer, Taurus, and Canik models planned; available in black, OD Green, and Flat Dark Earth. THE TRUTH ABOUT GUNS Can You Shoot 5.56 Through a .22 Suppressor? – The Truth About Guns Can you shoot 5.56 through a .22 suppressor? Usually no. Here's why pressure, heat, and gas volume matter so much. The article addresses whether .556/.223 ammunition can be safely fired through a standard .22LR (rimfire) suppressor. In the general case, it is not safe or recommended. Most dedicated rimfire suppressors are engineered only for the much lower pressures, smaller gas volumes, and reduced heat produced by .22LR, .22WMR, or similar rimfire cartridges. NSSF NSSF Releases Most Recent Firearm Production Figures (ATF AFMER 2023) Over 32 million Modern Sporting Rifles in Circulation WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, released the Firearm Production in the United States including the Firearm Import and Export Data 2025 Edition (reporting 2023 data) to its members. The report compiles the most up-to-date information based on data sourced from the Bureau of Alcohol, […] According to the NSSF article dated January 15, 2026, ATF AFMER data shows 2023 U.S. domestic firearm production at 8,466,729 units, a 15.4% decrease from 2022. Total firearms made available for the U.S. market in 2023 were 13,574,653 (handguns 8,176,535; rifles 3,899,907; shotguns 1,498,211). Cumulative civilian firearms in possession 1990–2023 reached 506.1 million, with modern sporting rifles (MSRs) in circulation estimated at over 32 million. GUN FIGHTS Play the best Price Is Right-style GunBroker game on the internet. BANGRANK A live cast ranking segment for anything and everything in the gun world, powered by questionable certainty, strong opinions, and audience voting. THE AGENCY BRIEF Agency Update 1. AGENCY BRIEF: RUBY RIDGEWhat Ruby Ridge really was: a federal pressure campaign over a minor, technical gun charge that turned into a botched siege, unconstitutional rules of engagement, and the killing of a mother and her child. The setup started in 1989. The ATF wanted an informant inside Aryan Nations circles in northern Idaho. They targeted Randy Weaver, an Army veteran living off-grid with his family. Weaver had racist beliefs and associations, but constitutional limits matter most when the person in the government's sights is unpopular. The ATF used an informant to cultivate Weaver and buy two shotguns. The agency claimed the barrels were cut a fraction of an inch below the 18-inch legal minimum. Whether Weaver cut them at the informant's request or sold them as-is is heavily disputed. What is confirmed is what happened next: the ATF did not arrest him to protect the public. They used the federal firearms charge as leverage to pressure Weaver into becoming a paid snitch. Weaver refused. Because he refused, the ATF pushed the case to prosecutors, and Weaver was indicted in late 1990. Then came the bureaucratic failure. Weaver's court-appointed attorney was sent a notice with the wrong appearance date, and Weaver missed his hearing. Instead of resolving a government paperwork error cleanly, the system escalated. The U.S. Marshals launched an 18-month surveillance operation on his remote cabin. In August 1992, an armed reconnaissance team of Marshals encountered Weaver's 14-year-old son Sammy and family friend Kevin Harris in the woods. A firefight erupted. Exactly who fired first remains disputed, but the results are not: the family dog was killed, Sammy Weaver was shot and killed while running back toward the cabin, and Deputy U.S. Marshal William Degan was killed. The FBI's Hostage Rescue Team was called in to take over. Instead of containment, the FBI adopted modified, unconstitutional rules of engagement. In plain English, agents were told they “could and should” shoot any armed adult male seen outside the cabin. FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi fired two shots. The first wounded Randy Weaver. The second shot, fired as Weaver and Harris retreated, passed through the cabin door and hit Vicki Weaver in the head while she stood in the doorway holding her 10-month-old infant. She died instantly. The legal aftermath demolished the government's narrative: A federal jury acquitted Kevin Harris of murder on self-defense grounds. Randy Weaver was acquitted of all original firearms and murder charges, convicted only of failure to appear and a bail condition violation. A 1995 Department of Justice review found the FBI's modified rules of engagement unconstitutional. The federal government paid over $3 million in civil settlements to the surviving family. Despite Senate hearings and state-level indictments, no federal agent ever served a day in prison for the killings. 2. WHY IT MATTERS Ruby Ridge is the ultimate case study in how federal agencies use technical firearms violations to manufacture leverage, and what happens when their targets refuse to bend. This operation was never about public safety. It was about coercion. When Weaver wouldn't play ball, the agency's objective shifted from investigation to punishment, kicking off a predictable escalation ladder: Use a regulatory charge as a trap. Demand intelligence cooperation, and turn refusal into a target on the citizen's back. Treat a procedural court-date mistake as a fugitive manhunt. Deploy paramilitary recon teams for a paperwork warrant. Rewrite deadly force rules on the fly to authorize a shoot-on-sight posture. Once federal agencies invest that much time, manpower, and ego, the institutional pressure to justify the operation takes over. They stop seeing citizens with rights, and start treating them as enemy combatants on American soil. 3. THE 2A ANGLE For gun owners, Ruby Ridge is the blood-soaked warning label on every “it's just a paperwork violation” argument. The underlying charge was a National Firearms Act measurement. That is the exact kind of regulatory trap Washington loves to describe as narrow, reasonable, and harmless. But in practice, technical gun laws give agencies the legal cover to ruin lives. That is the modern lesson for FFLs navigating zero-tolerance revocations, home builders facing shifting administrative definitions, and ordinary owners one bad pistol-brace ruling away from becoming a federal case file. Apply the Supreme Court's Bruen standard to the government's actions. There is zero text, history, or tradition from the founding era of a permanent federal bureaucracy measuring the barrels of defensive weapons to coerce citizens into acting as informants, and then militarizing a warrant service when the citizen refuses. The Founders would not recognize a system that turns a man into a felon over a quarter-inch of steel. Heller proved that the Second Amendment protects an individual right. But rights on paper mean nothing if the enforcement state can use a minor regulatory allegation to justify surveillance, coercion, and deadly force. The strongest takeaway from Ruby Ridge is that when the federal government wields broad, discretionary power over firearms, abuse is not a glitch. It is the natural result. When agencies can turn a fractional barrel measurement into a capital siege, the process itself becomes the punishment. Being technically compliant doesn't protect you; it just makes you useful until you aren't anymore. GOING BALLISTIC AMMOLAND SHOOTING SPORTS NEWS(Savage) NRA, FPC, SAF v. Maryland (SB 334 Glock-Style Handgun Ban) NRA, FPC, and SAF filed a federal lawsuit challenging Maryland's SB 334, arguing the state's Glock-style handgun ban violates the Second Amendment. The National Rifle Association, Firearms Policy Coalition,...
A big part of the court are the actual court nobles, so this episode we are taking a look at some of the ones mentioned in the Chronicles for this reign. For more, check out https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-150 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan. My name is Joshua and this is episode 150: Nobles of Jitou Tennou's Court Maro donned his light blue robes and made his way to the court. As he arrived, the sun was just peaking over the horizon, and as it bathed the court in the golden morning light the dark shadows were dispelled, leaving in their wake a colorful scene, as various court officials headed this way and that, gathering in their offices to pick up on the work that they had left unfinished the day before. As an ohotoneri, Maro was often sent to and fro between the offices of the different departments. As such, he was able to see how they worked, and he wondered to himself which department would have the best opportunity for advancement. His family had connections over at the Department of Prisons, and it was definitely a place he could make a name for himself, especially if he attached himself to one of the newly minted magistrates. On the other hand, the Jingikan, the Ministry for Kami Matters, had some of the most important and sought after positions. After all, no matter what the secular administration did, when there was no rain for the fields, it was the kami to whom the court turned. And the members of the Jingikan who helped make those ceremonies happen were known to be well rewarded for their troubles. Perhaps he would be better off taking a more modest position, such as with the Jibu-sho, the Department of Civil Administration. It was mostly focused on the maintenance and execution of the bureaucracy, and wasn't necessarily a place to seek the limelight, but perhaps that also offered some opportunity. Do well in one position, and who knows what that could open up to you in the long run? Maybe one day Maro could make it up to become a Nagon, a Counsellor, or even one of the Daijin, the great ministers at the very head of the council of state.Maro almost laughed at the thought, but he didn't put it aside entirely. After all, as impossible as it might seem now, the world was still changing, and who knew what opportunities might be waiting just around the corner? This episode continues our look at the reign of Uno no Sarara, aka Jitou Tennou. I would note that we have now reached the last chapter of the Nihon Shoki, which ends with the end of Uno no Sarara's reign in 697. In this chapter, we have not quite 11 years to cover, and we've already talked about the first three of those years, which featured succession issues and a long mourning time for Uno's husband Ohoama, aka Temmu Tennou, culminating in the sudden death of her only son, the Crown Prince and heir apparent, Prince Kusakabe, in 689. We also went over what was happening on the continent, with powerful women like Uno no Sarara either on or behind the throne in Silla and the Tang dynasty. To quickly recap the succession issues: When Kusakabe died, tthat left the throne in a somewhat tenuous position. There were two other male heirs that would seem to have a claim on the throne as well. The first was Prince Takechi, who was technically Ohoama's eldest son, but the Chroniclers claim that his late mother was not sufficiently royal for him to have a serious claim. Then there was Prince Karu, the only known son of the late Crown Prince Kusakabe, and had been born 6 years earlier, in 683, to the Crown Prince and his wife, Princess Abe. Princess Abe was a daughter of Naka no Oe, and a half-sister to Uno no Sarara. She was actually a year older than Kusakabe, and would continue to look after the young Prince Karu. So, Prince Karu was only about 7 years old when his father passed away: much too young to be taking the throne, let alone a firm hand in the politics of the time. And given the mortality statistics of the time, there is so much that could happen to him before he reached the age of majority. And remember, there were already some questions about legitimacy, and we already discussed the fact that about 30 nobles had gathered in support of Prince Ohotsu right after Ohoama's death. Uno no Sarara had that whole issue quashed and Prince Ohotsu had died, but it was nonetheless a stark reminder that things could change quickly. So at this point in Uno no Sarara's reign, there is a great deal of uncertainty afoot, and there are quite a few individuals named in the Chronicles who stand to benefit from sticking their fingers into politics in one way or another. This episode, we're going to look at some of those individuals, their roles in the court, and the effect they had on Yamato. Some of those people named are particularly interesting in that they were involved in the conspiracy with Prince Ohotsu, and would continue to be highly influential in the government. For example, Iki no Hakatoko, Nakatomi no Omimaro, and Kose no Tayasu, and Yakuchi no Wotokashi are all name-dropped, which we'll get into more later. It feels significant, however, that there were some 30 nobles all told, and beyond these four and the apparent ringleaders, we don't learn anyone else's names. The importance of prominent individuals in the court has been a constant theme in the Chronicles and in this podcast, so getting to know the court is definitely important. Moreover, during this time period as we get more and more written sources from which to work from we will see more and more information on individuals. Some of that will come from the Nihon Shoki and the records that come after—the Shoku Nihongi. Others, however, are from sources like the Man'yoshu, where bits of biographical data are found about the authors that they mention. There are also family diaries and later genealogies. Some of these sources are a bit more trusted than others, especially when they were compiled centuries later and we don't exactly know what sources they, themselves, were working on. Still, even if it isn't 100% accurate, it does give us a picture of what was going on beyond just the royal family. I think it is also helpful to understand some of the overall court dynamics. If you are familiar with the Heian period, especially around the time of things like the Tale of Genji, you are probably well acquainted with the Fujiwara family—I'll probably need to do an entire episode just on them at some point. Essentially, there would come a time where almost the entire court was made up either of royals or of members of the Fujiwara clan, or uji. In fact, even that distinction wasn't really accurate as the Fujiwara family had so intermarried with the Royal family that every sovereign—every Tennou and even most of their consorts—were directly related to members of the Fujiwara. Not only that, but members of the Fujiwara family held the position of regent—whether the sovereign was of age or not—and effectively ruled the country, with the Tennou being largely relegated to a mouthpiece with ceremonial duties. It would get so bad that we would see the splitting of the Fujiwara uji into smaller households, and the political fights were often between members of the different households of the same family. There is a reason that a good portion of the Heian period is sometimes called the Fujiwara period. However, now during the late Asuka period, we see something a little different. The marriage politics of the Soga had been violently suppressed about a half century earlier, and a lot of different names flourished in the Yamato court, as youmay have noticed any time I've rattled off a bunch of names and your eyes started crossing because of it. But that's the reality we see: there were a lot of different families, and individuals, all jockeying for influence. And they were in a period of disruption, where lots of change was happening. That change meant there was also a lot of potential. And I hope you don't mind if I take a quick time-out here, but so often we read history and we forget to learn lessons from it, and one overarching lesson is: if you are a part of an organization—a company, a club, government, school, or anything like that—one thing you are going to have to deal with is change. It comes in many forms and happens whether or not you personally agree with it. It can be destructive and it can be frightening, because we often don't know what is on the other side of it, but it also presents opportunities. After all, if you don't know what comes next it probably means other people don't, either. And if you can be the one to provide direction you can have a huge influence on what comes next. And change has been a constant theme in this period of Yamato history, in so many ways. Take the reorganization of the government as one example: they had introduced these 8 departments, which had names and were set up in various ways, but it wasn't like you had experienced people to run them as they had been on the continent. So you had names and the forms of things, but there were a lot of people figuring out just how to actually put this new structure into practice, and leverage them to do what they were supposed to do. In the process, there were a lot of opportunities to innovate and figure out how to do it within the cultural milieu of the archipelago. So all of these individuals, from these various families, all had opportunities staring them in the face. They just had to figure out how to make the best of it. Now, don't get me wrong: Those with the money, the connections, and the influence still had a leg up, and this was still a hierarchical society, where your family dictated, to some extent, your position in society. The introduction of individual court rank, as opposed to just the kabane that ranked uji, was pushing against that, and had already caused a reformation that flattened a lot of the previous kabane into just eight distinctions, but those distinctions still existed. Even had they not, simple matters of inherited wealth and the value of goods produced in a family's home territory would still have provided tremendous advantages. But there isn't an indication of the kind of large-scale consolidation of resources that we will see in later periods, such as the Fujiwara example that we were just discussing. Oh, sure, we aren't going to see a farmer suddenly make it big at court in some kind of rags-to-riches story, but at the upper end of society we still have a lot of apparent diversity. And so, let's get to know some of these individuals that the Chronicles tell us about. Before we do that, though, let's recap a little bit about how the court worked. Every member of the court was effectively employed by the State. They had an official job with duties they were supposed to oversee. In the case of lower level functionaries, they were likely expected to actually do most of the work, while at the top of the hierarchy you had nobles who were more likely decision-makers, who would approve or disapprove of the work and direct strategic resources. Those working in the court had official uniforms—the round-necked garments of the continent. What would be called a "caftan" farther west. These were based on the foreign garments popular in the Tang court and elsewhere. The color and pattern of official clothing appears to be something that goes back to early in this new continental style government, and we see suggestions of color schemes from a relatively early age. However, in 690 we see the clearest such outline of just what everyone was wearing. As a reminder, the court rank system of the day was made up of a Princely and a Commoner system. Princely ranks originally included two ranks of the Myo class, and four of the Jou class, each rank divided into either "Great" or "Broad", for twelve Princely ranks, though honestly we only ever really see the four Jou class of ranks in use. Below that were the ranks for the common nobles—those with family names who did not have any kind of royal claim. For them there were six classes of rank—Shou, Jiki, Gon, Mu, Tsui, and Shin, in that order. Each class was made up of four ranks, which were further divided into upper and broad categories, creating 48 total ranks. Your rank determined your precedence at court—where you were sat, what jobs you were allowed to take on and, most importantly, the amount of money that you could expect to receive as part of a stipend. Naka no Oe had previously consolidated the land-holdings and asserted claim over all of it. The taxes from the households on the land went to the government to pay the stipends of the nobles in the court, who were, ostensibly, employees of that same government. Your rank determined what you were owed, though this could also be augmented by various edicts. So there you go: rank in the court was tied to many of the things that the elites wanted, from wealth to status and access to various opportunities. The color of official clothing followed the rank system. So Princes of the first two ranks of the Jou class were given robes of dark purple, and the third and four ranks were given robes of bright purple, which they shared with highest class of rank of the common nobles, the Shou rank class. Below that, nobles of the Jiki class would wear robes of dark red, and those of Gon would wear dark green. The Mu rank class, the next down, was Light Green, and then Tsui was Deep Blue and Shin was Light blue. So in order you would see robes of Dark Purple, Bright Purple, Dark Red, Dark Green, Light Green, Deep Blue, and Light Blue. The color gave you a certain indication of where the person sat in the overall hierarchy of the court, and provided you clues as to how you should address them, who would give deference, etc. In later centuries, we are even told that deference was given in meetings, which is to say that once a person of higher rank provided input on a topic, nobody of lower rank was able to contradict them for fear of the consequences. So it also told you who got the last word. This then was the world that the nobles of the court inhabited. As we've seen in previous episodes it wasn't just bureaucratic work, but also banquets, archery contests, and Buddhist congregations and sutra readings. There were rituals, dances, and diplomatic embassies—not to mention all of the ceremonies around the death or ascension of the sovereign. In this world, one's reputation was everything. You wanted to be seen as good at your job, but also, just like today, people were more likely to promote and support those they knew, and so it helped to have friends. However, there were also a limited number of top spots, and so every promotion would have likewise meant plenty of disappointed nobles who didn't get the job. But that is enough background. Let's take a look at some of the nobles themselves, starting with the four from the Prince Ohotsu conspiracy. The first name in the list is perhaps the least interesting. His name is Yakuchi no Wotokashi. Although he was the highest ranking of the four, he is also the least mentioned in the Chronicles and elsewhere, and we know very little about him. So we'll talk about him later on, for completeness, but for now it may be best to skip him until we have a better handle on others in the court. In contrast, we know a bit more about his co-conspirators. In fact, we've already talked about one of them at length: Iki no Hakatoko. We first heard about Iki no Hakatoko when talking about the Tang dynasty, and discussed him at length in Episode 123. He was one of the members of the embassy to the Tang dynasty back in the early 660s that got delayed on account of Tang Gaozong initiating the war against Yamato's ally Baekje. The fact that the Nihon Shoki directly pulls from Hakatoko's work, known to us, today, as the Iki no Hakatoko Sho, makes it one of the few early named written works that we know about. Unfortunately, it is no longer extant except for what is preserved in the Chronicles, but it is still incredible that we have essentially an eyewitness account of what happened. He would later be one of the escort envoys for one of the Tang embassies during the reign of Naka no Oe. That he was then embroiled in the conspiracy with Prince Ohotsu would seem to be at odds with his standing, and yet after his pardon he eventually got back into the court's good graces. In 695, about 9 years after the incident, he was assigned as an assistant envoy to Silla. By that point he was of Mudaini rank, which was only about 35th in the overall scheme of things. Later on we know he would work on the famous Taiho code, which was published in 701, and enacted a couple of years later. It was here that he worked with the famous Fujiwara no Fubito—about whom we will discuss more, later—and although he would pass away in 703, this may be how his own writings came to find their way into the Chronicles, since Fubito is said to have had a large influence on them—as he had on many of the court's projects. Overall, Iki no Hakatoko may not have been the one in charge, but we see in his life an incredible career, much of it spent on multiple voyages across the ocean, whether on an embassy or as an escort. He likely was highly proficient in the language of the Tang court—what we typically refer to, broadly, as Middle Chinese. He also had direct experience with the Tang court and system, and so it makes sense that he was one of those helping to build an administrative state based on that system. If we were to imagine Hakatoko in the court of the day, at least in 695, he would have likely had light green colored robes, indicating that he was of the "Mu" class of ranks. He would have worn the black gauze cap of the court and worn white hakama, or trousers, underneath. His long, continental style, round-necked robes—likely relatively slim, with overly long, but narrow, sleeves—would have been tied closed in the front with a braided silk cord. He likely worn black leather boots, covered in a light lacquer to protect them from the elements, with cloth insoles and perhaps a hint of brocade along the top. He likely kept with him a ruler, and perhaps a few slips of paper or even just wood on which to take occasional notes. A mid-level functionary of the court. We can compare and contrast Hakatoko to two other co-conspirators: Nakatomi no Omimaro and Kose no Tayasu. We are given neither Omimaro's rank nor Tayasu's at this time. It is interesting that they listed after Hakatoko, who is actually listed as having "Lower Shousen" rank—an older rank that was no longer in use at this point in time. Also, both Nakatomi and Kose were Ason level families while Iki no Hakatoko is listed as being merely "Muraji". So it seems that the Chroniclers were probably pulling from what they could find elsewhere, although where they found that Wotokashi had Jikikwoshi rank I have no idea, as we don't have any other record for him. And it is possible that deference to Wotokashi and Hakatoko are as much a nod to their age as anything else, though probably not by much. Of four co-conspirators mentioned here—and I'm leaving out the two who were exiled or banished, as they were clearly not hanging around the court later—Nakatomi no Omimaro and Kose no Tayasu were probably from the most established families. Indeed, we see both of their names show up multiple times in the record, giving us a better idea of who they might have been. Of the two, the name Nakatomi probably is more likely to ring a bell, as that as the surname of the famous Nakatomi no Kamatari—as well as the later Nakatomi no Kane. Nakatomi no Kamatari was the head of court ritual when he and Naka no Oe kicked things off with the Isshi Incident and the Taika reforms, at which point he became the "Inner Prime Minister", or Naidaijin. Much of what we know of Omimaro comes from outside of the Chronicles themselves. For instance, we are told that he was the son of Nakatomi no Kunitari, a cousin to the famous Kamatari, at least according to the 10th century Engi Shiki. However, we have no other records of Kunitari, and so there is more than a little doubt cast as to whether or not that was actually the case. Similarly, we are told that Omimaro married one of Kamatari's daughters, and was eventually adopted by Kamatari. Once again, the evidence for this is pretty thin, and it is unclear to me just how adoption worked at this point. Certainly in later periods, adoption was often a way to ensure that a family had a male heir to ensure the family's continuity, and marrying someone's daughter and being adopted into the family is an age old tradition in the archipelago and Japan more generally. At the same time, give some thought to what we know about this period: male primogeniture was not exactly the norm, although Confucian values had definitely made inroads into court. The family headship often went to the eldest—or most prominent—family member. This wasn't necessarily a son and often was a brother, a nephew, or even a cousin. We have a few famous Nakatomi at this point in time, and all I can say for certain is that they were part of the same family. Later traditions would make things a bit more clear. Whatever his parentage, our first encounter with Omimaro appears to be in the Ohotsu conspiracy, when he was arrested and then pardoned. He shows up again in the record just three years later, along with Kose no Tayasu, as both were made judges, along with Fujiwara no Fubito—Nakatomi no Kamatari's biological son and eventual heir. In fact, there were nine judges, or magistrates, made that year, and they are listed in rank order. The first is Prince Takeda, said to be a great-grandson of Nunakura, aka Bidatsu Tennou. He was Joukwoshi rank, meaning he wore bright purple court robes, sitting in the lower half of the princely ranks. He had been quite prolific ever since 681, when he was one of the Princes called to help bring together the Chronicles. After being made a judge, he would continue in that position, it seems, and by 708 he would become the head of the Ministry of Prisons. After him we have Haji no Nemaro, in the dark red robes of the Jiki rank class. Though someone of rank, less is known about Nemaro. His father is said to be Haji no Mi, who was part of the forces that set out to Yamada-dera to capture—and likely kill—Soga no Kurayamadera. Haji no Nemaro's son is Haji no Oi, who was sent to the Tang court but returned in 684, along with several repatriated soldiers. Oi would assist with the Taihou code, but little more is said about him or his father. Other judges were Ohoyake no Maro, Fujiwara no Fubito—also of the Jiki class rank. Maro would go on to take a job as a jusenshi, responsible for minting coins, and Fubito would go on to reach the highest levels of government. Then there was Tahema no Sakurawi, Hodzumi no Yamamori, Nakatomi no Omimaro, Kose no Tayasu, and Ohomiwa no Yasumaro. They were all Mudaishi rank at this point, wearing dark green. Sakurai would go on to become the governor of Ise in 705, and then the governor of Musashi in 708. Hodzumi no Yamamori we don't have as much information on, other than that he kept climbing the ranks, by 704 he had made Junior 5th rank, lower grade in the system that replaced the cap-ranks, and by 712 he made it to the senior fifth rank, lower grade. Ohomiwa no Yasumaro, on the other hand, would make it to the Senior 5th rank, lower grade by 707, and the upper grade by 708, when he was made the Dayu—the high minister in charge—of Settsu. He would eventually make it into the Junior Fourth rank, upper grade, as the Minister of the Military Department, or Hyobu-sho. So this gives you an idea of the people with whom Nakatomi no Omimaro and Kose no Tayasu were rubbing elbows. That they were made judges, responsible for justice, seems to say something as that would seem to be a powerful position. At the same time, they are both lower ranked than the much younger Fujiwara no Fubito—but once again, he was the direct son of Nakatomi no Kamatari. He also seems to have avoided any unpleasantness from the Jinshin no Ran as he was only 14 at the time, and though it does seem that the Nakatomi were generally knocked down a peg or two in court—thanks in large part to the fact that Nakatomi no Kane had been one of the leaders of the Afumi court. That and the whole thing with Prince Ohotsu may be why Omimaro was not exactly in the top ranks, but his appointments weren't nothing, either. By 693, Omimaro would be granted the rank of Jikikwoshi, the lower fourth rank of the Jiki class. In that entry he is recorded as Fujiwara no Omimaro. I believe we discussed this a few episodes back, but the Fujiwara name was still new. It had been granted to Nakatomi no Kamatari on his deathbed—or possibly even posthumously—by Naka no Oe, and to his family. So technically that would seem to extend to the entire Nakatomi family. And with Nakatomi no Kane having been one of the main figures on the losing side of the Jinshin no Ran, it was no doubt a savvy political move for Nakatomi courtiers to lean into the Fujiwara name, and they seem to have done just that. It wouldn't be until later, in the reign just following this, that a new decree would straighten everything out, such that only the actual descendants of Fujiwara no Kamatari, such as Fujiwara no Fubito, would be allowed to use the Fujiwara name. Throughout this, I have focused mostly on Omimaro, but Kose no Tayasu was in the mix as well. He, too, was made a judge and in 693 he would also be awarded the same Jikikwoshi rank. In addition, in 689, he was made a "commissioner of good words", along with the Royal Prince Shiki and others. This seems to be a singular position, and Aston suggests that it was their job to figure out the kind of auspicious language that should be used in the court. What kind of language should be used by the sovereign and the courtiers in drawing up official edicts. I imagine that they were figuring out the form to give to formal court documents as well as the kinds of titles and honorifics to use for the sovereign and the state more generally. Of course, that is just an assumption based on Aston's understanding of what is, ultimately, a single line. Still, it is clear that Tayasu was helping to make things happen. Tayasu would eventually go on to become the Minister of the Department of Ceremonies, the Shikibu-sho, and would later serve as a secretary to the Viceroy in Tsukushi—the Dazai Daini. He would pass away in 710, one year before Omimaro. Before leaving Tayasu behind completely, I would like to point out his family name: Kose. The Kose family were one of the families granted the kabane of Ason, or Asaomi. They had previously been known as the Kose no Omi, and had a long history in the court, claiming descent from the famous Takeuchi no Sukune, legendarily known as the first Oho-omi of Yamato. Kose no Tokuda had been a supporter of Soga no Iruka, but after the Isshi Incident he supported Naka no Oe and eventually replace Abe no Uchimaro as Sadaijin—Minister of the Left. Another Kose, Kose no Hito, would also rise in the government, becoming one of two Goshi-daibu made when Prince Ohotomo was appointed Dajodaijin. The other was Ki no Ushi. They were both in attendance and counted among the six who swore to protect and support Ohotomo, along with Nakatomi no Kane and others. So they, too, found themselves on the wrong side of the Jinshin no Ran. In this case, however, it is unclear how much Tayasu was impacted by that. He may have been the son of Kose no Shitano, brother to Kose no Hito, but the Kose were prolific in the court, with many people of the name. The family would continue going through the Heian period. Their fortunes ebbed and flowed, as did so many families, but they would eventually find themselves as Hatamoto to the Tokugawa shogun, so they never actually disappeared. Finally, let's talk about Yakuchi no Wotokashi. As I mentioned earlier, he is actually one of the first names mentioned in the list of co-conspirators with Prince Ohotsu, suggesting that he outranked others in the group. Indeed, he is noted as being of Jikikwoshi rank—fourth lower Jiki rank. The bottom of the Jiki class, but that was still the third class from the top. However, despite this, very little is actually said about him. In fact, this is the only instance I could find of the name Yakuchi in the Nihon Shoki, at least in that spelling—there is also a Yakuchi no Uneme, but it is spelled differently and is probably not related. It is also the only evidence of the name Wotokashi. That means we don't even see him in the list of names being granted Ason in the first place. It is quite possible that Yakuchi was a name he took later and that he was from another family. Indeed, there are a couple of traditions around Wotokashi that suggest he was the founder of the Yakuchi family in Shinano. Indeed, there is a Yakuchi family that comes out of Shinano, near Adzumino. And Shinano was one of the places that Ohoama had sent people to examine as another site for an alternative capital, and Prince Mino and others had gone to check it out. So maybe Wotokashi headed out there—or his descendants, anyway—and decided to try and make a go of it. Proponents of this theory also connect Wotokashi to a line descended from the Soga family, which would certainly explain his prominence. There are others, however, who claim that the Yakuchi family out of Shinano is actually descended from the Otomo, suggesting that the similarities in the name are just coincidental, which is also possible. Ultimately, our sources fail us here, and so we just have speculation. It is possible that even with the pardon, Wotokashi was just never able to regain the trust of the sovereign or his position in court, and so whether he took a hike for the hinterlands or just faded from the picture it is hard to say. With that, let's take a look at just two more courtiers, and what kinds of lives and careers they had at court, at least from what we can see. These two we've also mentioned in passing: Fuse no Miushi—whom Aston transliterates as Miaruji—and Ohotomo no Miyuki. Fuse no Miushi and Ohotomo no Miyuki were both mentioned as performing eulogies for Ohoama, though there is more to them than just that. We'll start with Fuse no Miushi, who is said to have been the son of none other than the Taika era Sadaijin, or Minister of the Left, Abe no Uchimaro. You may recall that Abe no Uchimaro was the Sadaijin under Karu no Ohokimi, aka Koutoku Tennou, along with the Udaijin, Soga no Kurayamadera. They were both supporters of Naka no Oe, though much of the Chronicles focus appeared to be more on Kurayamadera than on Uchimaro. We don't know when Miushi was born, nor when he received the name "Fuse", the name by which he is known when we first meet him in the Chronicles. That family name only shows up two other times in the Chronicles. Based on other sources, it seems that the Abe family was divided at some point into the Fuse and the Hikida, likely because it became too large and they needed to distinguish the different parts of the family. It is said that Fuse no Miushi served as a retainer to Ohoama during the Jinshin no Ran. That, along with his family connections, helped secure him a good place in the government. By 686, we see him pronouncing the eulogy for Ohoama's funeral on behalf of the Dajokan, the Counil of State. He was already Jikidaishi, one rank above the standard Jikikwoshi, but still clothed in the same dark red robes. In 687, he is again pronouncing the eulogy, but this time we are told that his a Nagon, or councilor, a rather prestigious posting that would later get broken up into three different levels: Dainagon, Chunagon, and Shonagon. For my Heian fans out there, that last is the same Shonagon as in the name of the famous poet, author, diary-keeper, and all around queen of snark, Sei Shonagon. By 688, pronouncing the Eulogy seems to have become an annual event for Miushi, only this time he teamed up with Ohotomo no Miyuki. The two of them seem to have had similar careers, and would, for a time, come up together through the ranks. Ohotomo no Miyuki is said to have been born in 646, though that isn't recorded in the Nihon Shoki and comes from other sources. The Ohotomo family goes back quite a ways, and we are told that his father was Ohotomo no Nagatoko, who served as Minister of the Right under Naka no Oe. However, in 672, the Ohotomo, including Miyuki, sided with Ohoama in the Jinshin no ran. In 675 he was made Tayu while Prince Kurikuma was made Director of Military Affairs. He then drops out of the narrative until 688, when he is pronouncing the eulogy with Fuse no Miushi. Miushi would go on, two years later, to present the formal congratulations from the court to the Queen upon her ascencion to the throne, and then the following year, 691, both Miushi and Miyuki were granted the rank of Jikidaiichi, the highest rank in the Jiki class, along with 80 households to support them and their families. This brought both of their stipends up to roughly 300 households each. Then, in 694, they were both raised in rank again, this time to Shoukwoushi. Only one rank up, yet they went from the top of the Jiki class to the bottom of the Shou class. They would have gotten new robes of Bright Purple to indicate their new status, and they each had their stipends increased by the taxes of 200 households each. At the same time, they were also acknowledged as senior members of their houses. That means that Miushi was considered the head of the Fuse branch of the Abe family and Miyuki was now acknowledged as the head of the entire Ohotomo family. Two years after that, in 696, they were each given 80 retainers to support them. Fuse no Miushi is actually mentioned at that time as Abe no Miushi. That same year, we again see Fujiwara no Fubito show up, but with only 50 retainers. Fubito would eventually rise to the top of the court food chain, but at this point, it was still in the hands of courtiers like Fuse no Abe no Miushi and Ohotomo no Miyuki. Fuse no Miushi would go on to have an incredible career. He would become Dainagon and eventually he would become the Udaijin, the Minister of the Right, one of the highest positions anyone could hope to achieve at court. Ohotomo no Miyuki would not make it quite so far. Like Miushi, he made it to Dainagon, but he died in the first month of 701, just 55 years old. He had made it to the third rank, and he was posthumously granted the title of Udaijin—the position was vacant at the time—and granted second rank. His colleague, Abe no Miushi, would go on to take the position only four months later and serve for a couple of years before passing away himself. These two would have worked closely together throughout their careers, and the fact that they were raised in rank and position on similar timelines suggests to me that they ran together in very close circles. They would have been working in similar positions, at the same levels of the government. They would have been going to the same parties and partaking in the same banquets and entertainments. They were no doubt rivals, in a sense, but also equals. Both families would go on, even as the Fujiwara clan came to dominate the politics of the era, the Ohotomo and Abe would continue to hold power in the court during the Nara period, though eventually it would decline. The Ohotomo would eventually become just the Tomo, to avoid conflicting with the name of a slater sovereign, and the main house would eventually decline, though branch families would continue to claim descent from the Ohotomo into to the Edo period. The Abe would continue, similarly pushing against the Fujiwara. The most famous Abe was probably Abe no Seimei, who became known for his skills as an Onmyouji, or master of Yin-yang divination and magic. The Tsuchimikado branch of the Abe family would continue that tradition, and it would come to largely define the main branch of the family. I hope that gives a bit of an idea of what was going on in the court and the kinds of careers that people were looking at and what was happening. We cannot get into every single person, but I'm going to try and note some of the more prominent courtiers and what they were doing. It isn't always clear from the Chronicles what was going on between the various houses, but one can largely assume that the court was highly political. Different factions were vying for power and position. Sitting atop all of it, Uno no Sarara would have to perform her own kind of balancing act, doling out rewards and punishments as necessary, and ensuring to place the right people in positions of power and authority. On the one hand, that ambition was a motivating factor, keeping the people of the court focused on the tasks at hand and ensuring that the court was running smoothly. On the other hand, too much power in the hands of any one individual could cause them to get ideas that they should have even more. The main bulwark against this was everyone else in the system—the checks and balances were literally the other court nobles, who weren't going to just let someone take power unless there was something in it for them as well. More on that as we watch this reign unfold. But for now, thank you so much for listening and downloading the podcast. If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts. If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page. You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com. Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now. Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.
Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade — the independent who won a culturally conservative city by running as a true centrist who refuses to be boxed into either party — joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that quality-of-life governance still beats partisanship when voters are actually given the chance to choose it. Mobolade, who adapted his governing principles from Abraham Lincoln, argues that there's a genuine and growing appetite for leadership that isn't red or blue — but warns that working for unity is incredibly hard and tiring work that few politicians want to do anymore. He walks through Colorado Springs' fight to retain Space Command after Trump and Biden moved the headquarters back and forth between Colorado Springs and Huntsville, Alabama, and explains why he ultimately chose not to sue over the relocation (the decision was within the president's purview, and burning that bridge would have cost the city more than it gained). Mobolade describes hiring his own mayoral opponent Wayne Williams after the campaign — a move he calls part of his "radical collaboration" approach — and argues that mayors don't have the luxury of partisan posturing because their job is fundamentally about producing deliverables for actual residents who want safer streets, better services, and a higher quality of life. The conversation moves into the practical challenges facing every American mayor in 2026, with data centers emerging as the political pain point in nearly every community across the country. Mobolade describes calling an emergency meeting to develop a data center strategy for Colorado Springs, walks through the balanced-but-responsible-growth framework his team has settled on, and explains the tradeoffs honestly: residents are worried about quality-of-life impacts, but the tax revenue from data centers is exactly what cities need to fund essential services. Larger data centers in his city are now forced to pay impact fees to offset their costs, some are being placed on military bases for security purposes, and Mobolade is candid with residents that they cannot have the services they demand without the revenue base to pay for them. The conversation turns to Colorado Springs' housing shortage — the city has been named one of the best places for young people, but only if young people can actually afford to live there — and Mobolade discusses his work with HUD to expand supply, his belief that the country needs genuine innovation in finding cheaper ways to build, and his frustration with a Colorado political landscape that he says no longer has room for center-left and center-right voices the way it used to. His closing argument is the one that ties the whole episode together: the country needs more independent leadership, not because partisanship is bad in theory, but because the current version of it is incapable of delivering the basics that voters actually care about. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Mayor Yemi Mobolade joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 The people care more about quality of life than partisanship 02:45 Adapted governing principles from Abraham Lincoln 03:45 Colorado Springs is culturally conservative, yet elected an independent 05:30 Ran as a true centrist, hard to box in his politics 06:45 There’s an appetite for leadership that isn’t red or blue 7:30 Trump & Biden moved space command back and forth from Co. Springs 08:45 The city fought hard to keep space command 09:30 Worked with the mayor of Huntsville to ensure smooth transition 10:30 Why did you decide not to sue over relocation of space command? 11:15 The decision was within the president’s purview 12:30 The city is safer now than when he took office 13:45 A mayor’s job is to produce deliverables for the people 15:45 There’s a lack of competition of ideas in Colorado politics 16:45 Have a good relationship with the governor and statehouse 17:30 People get too stuck in their partisan lanes 18:00 Working for unity is incredibly hard and tiring 20:15 There used to be room for center-left and center-right in Colorado 21:15 Hired his mayoral opponent Wayne Williams 21:45 Wayne ran a more traditional campaign, Yemi ran on different leadership 23:00 The goal was radical collaboration and the community embraced it 23:45 Data centers are a political pain point of every local community 24:30 Called an emergency meeting to discuss data center strategy 25:15 The sweet spot of data center policy is balanced but responsible growth 26:00 Residents are worried data centers will lower their quality of life 27:30 Data centers being placed on military bases for security 29:30 Larger data centers are forced to pay a fee to offset impact 33:00 Data centers bring in much needed tax dollars 34:00 The city budget needs the revenue to provide essential services 34:30 Residents want services but no data centers… can’t have it both ways 36:30 Colorado Springs also struggling with a housing shortage 38:30 Working with HUD to try to increase housing supply 39:15 Colorado Springs named one of the best cities for young people 40:45 Need innovation in housing construction, find cheaper ways to build 42:30 The country needs more independent leadershipSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chuck Todd opens with the latest from the Iran war's increasingly costly stalemate, arguing Trump doesn't actually want a deal — he wants the ability to declare an accomplishment without ever looking like he capitulated, the same trick he ran with NAFTA and the JCPOA where he ripped up agreements only to sign nearly identical ones under new names. June, Chuck warns, is when the energy shock will start showing up in domestic prices, every day Hormuz stays closed exponentially increases the damage, consumers may begin behaving irrationally and hoarding, and a single bad natural disaster on top of all this could trigger a genuine crisis. But the heart of the episode is Chuck’s meditation on a single phrase: character is destiny in politics. It's not whether character flaws exist — everyone has them — but when those flaws become public and start affecting the people you were elected to serve. Trump's character problems were on display long before he ever became president, but his defenders now include the exact same Rubios and Grahams who used to blast him as morally unfit. And the most uncomfortable part of Chuck argument for the Democratic base: the same progressives who mocked Trump supporters for excusing his behavior are now using essentially identical defenses for Maine's Graham Platner — who has been accused of sexting in 2023, behavior that isn't youthful indiscretion and isn't going away. Chuck argues political parties used to function as imperfect but real vetting organizations, that once voters become emotionally invested in a candidate they will defend literally anything, that running for office sometimes becomes a substitute for therapy rather than a vehicle for service, and that democracy itself depends on elected officials being able to separate their personal motivations from their public obligations — something Biden failed at when his family obligations led to those preemptive pardons. He notes the Bidens were genuinely beloved before the election but Biden's ambition did real harm to his party, his family, and his own legacy. Todd points to Pope Leo as a potential moral leader Americans seem desperate for at exactly the moment when neither party seems remotely interested in finding the best possible actors. He observes that Platner vs. Collins is starting to feel like a rerun of Trump vs. Clinton in 2016 — two candidates voters genuinely don't want to choose between — and closes with quick hits on Jill Biden's forthcoming memoir, the California gubernatorial primary (where Xavier Becerra and Tom Steyer could finish in the top two), and the increasingly strange Los Angeles mayoral race in which Karen Bass appears to be deliberately ignoring Spencer Pratt because she would much rather face him in a general election than the genuinely formidable Nithya Raman. Then, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade — the independent who won a culturally conservative city by running as a true centrist who refuses to be boxed into either party — joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that quality-of-life governance still beats partisanship when voters are actually given the chance to choose it. Mobolade, who adapted his governing principles from Abraham Lincoln, argues that there's a genuine and growing appetite for leadership that isn't red or blue — but warns that working for unity is incredibly hard and tiring work that few politicians want to do anymore. He walks through Colorado Springs' fight to retain Space Command after Trump and Biden moved the headquarters back and forth between Colorado Springs and Huntsville, Alabama, and explains why he ultimately chose not to sue over the relocation (the decision was within the president's purview, and burning that bridge would have cost the city more than it gained). Mobolade describes hiring his own mayoral opponent Wayne Williams after the campaign — a move he calls part of his "radical collaboration" approach — and argues that mayors don't have the luxury of partisan posturing because their job is fundamentally about producing deliverables for actual residents who want safer streets, better services, and a higher quality of life. The conversation moves into the practical challenges facing every American mayor in 2026, with data centers emerging as the political pain point in nearly every community across the country. Mobolade describes calling an emergency meeting to develop a data center strategy for Colorado Springs, walks through the balanced-but-responsible-growth framework his team has settled on, and explains the tradeoffs honestly: residents are worried about quality-of-life impacts, but the tax revenue from data centers is exactly what cities need to fund essential services. Larger data centers in his city are now forced to pay impact fees to offset their costs, some are being placed on military bases for security purposes, and Mobolade is candid with residents that they cannot have the services they demand without the revenue base to pay for them. The conversation turns to Colorado Springs' housing shortage — the city has been named one of the best places for young people, but only if young people can actually afford to live there — and Mobolade discusses his work with HUD to expand supply, his belief that the country needs genuine innovation in finding cheaper ways to build, and his frustration with a Colorado political landscape that he says no longer has room for center-left and center-right voices the way it used to. His closing argument is the one that ties the whole episode together: the country needs more independent leadership, not because partisanship is bad in theory, but because the current version of it is incapable of delivering the basics that voters actually care about. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit two stories that occurred on the same day… the Tiananmen square massacre, and Poland’s first post-soviet elections. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Predict the action all the way through the finals. Sign up now for your twenty-five dollar bonus on https://fanduel.com/predicts Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:30 Iran war/ceasefire has settled into a costly stalemate 06:45 Trump doesn’t want a deal, just ability to declare an accomplishment 07:30 Trump doesn’t want to look like he capitulated 08:00 Trump ripped up other deals, then got same deals with new names 09:15 June will be when the impacts of energy shock show up domestically 10:30 Every day Hormuz remains closed exponentially increases the damage 11:30 Consumers may begin to behave irrationally, start hoarding 12:30 If a natural disaster hits during energy shock, it could be major crisis 13:45 Pulling out of WHO has exacerbated Ebola outbreak 15:00 We can’t foresee all negative impacts, we just know they’re coming 16:15 Character is always destiny in politics, it’s a matter of when people see it 18:00 Everybody has their own motivation for voting, character isn’t always important 18:45 People defending character flaws are a huge part of the problem 20:00 Rubio & Graham used to blast Trump’s character, now defend it 20:30 People criticizing Trump’s behavior are now defending Graham Platner’s 22:00 People run for office for a variety of reasons, and sometimes not good ones 23:15 Sometimes entering politics become a substitute for therapy 24:30 Character matters because it’s predictive 25:30 Trump’s character flaws did not stay private, they became public 26:30 Biden ran for office when his kids were in crisis 27:30 Biden’s family obligations competed with public ones, gave preemptive pardons 28:15 Democracy depends on elected officials separating personal & public 29:15 Political parties used to be vetting organizations, even if imperfect 30:00 Once people become emotionally invested in a candidate, they defend them 30:45 Character flaws don’t just disappear, they show up… and affect us all 33:00 Democrats in a difficult spot having to defend Graham Platner 33:45 Plater accused of sexting in 2023, these aren’t youthful indiscretions 34:45 Eric Swalwell’s indiscretions were ignored until they became too much to ignore 37:15 Platner can still win, Susan Collins has worn out her welcome 38:00 Progressives may have put blinders on for Platner 38:45 People who mocked support for Trump using same defenses for Platner 40:00 At some point credibility will matter to a majority of voters 42:30 Trump’s bad behavior has alienated 1/3rd of Republican voters 44:30 Trump is politicizing celebrating America 250…making it hard to celebrate 45:45 Trump’s character flaws were on display well before he became president 46:30 The Pope may become the moral leader Americans are desperate for 48:30 Parties don’t seem to be worried about finding the best possible actors 49:30 Platner vs. Collins feels like a rerun of Trump vs. Clinton in 2016 51:15 Jill Biden to release new memoir - Bidens seem insulated from public opinion 52:15 Before election, the Biden family was fairly beloved by most 52:45 Biden’s ambition did real harm to the party, family and their legacy 53:30 The Bidens are good people and people were willing to overlook their flaws 54:30 Xavier Becerra & Tom Steyer could finish in Top 2 spots in CA gov primary 56:30 Karen Bass has mostly ignored Spencer Pratt in LA mayoral race 57:00 Bass wants to face Pratt rather than Nithya Raman 1:07:00 Mayor Yemi Mobolade joins the Chuck ToddCast 1:08:30 The people care more about quality of life than partisanship 1:09:45 Adapted governing principles from Abraham Lincoln 1:10:45 Colorado Springs is culturally conservative, yet elected an independent 1:12:30 Ran as a true centrist, hard to box in his politics 1:13:45 There’s an appetite for leadership that isn’t red or blue 1:14:30 Trump & Biden moved space command back and forth from Co. Springs 1:15:45 The city fought hard to keep space command 1:16:30 Worked with the mayor of Huntsville to ensure smooth transition 1:17:30 Why did you decide not to sue over relocation of space command? 1:18:15 The decision was within the president’s purview 1:19:30 The city is safer now than when he took office 1:20:45 A mayor’s job is to produce deliverables for the people 1:22:45 There’s a lack of competition of ideas in Colorado politics 1:23:45 Have a good relationship with the governor and statehouse 1:24:30 People get too stuck in their partisan lanes 1:25:00 Working for unity is incredibly hard and tiring 1:27:15 There used to be room for center-left and center-right in Colorado 1:28:15 Hired his mayoral opponent Wayne Williams 1:28:45 Wayne ran a more traditional campaign, Yemi ran on different leadership 1:30:00 The goal was radical collaboration and the community embraced it 1:30:45 Data centers are a political pain point of every local community 1:31:30 Called an emergency meeting to discuss data center strategy 1:32:15 The sweet spot of data center policy is balanced but responsible growth 1:33:00 Residents are worried data centers will lower their quality of life 1:34:30 Data centers being placed on military bases for security 1:36:30 Larger data centers are forced to pay a fee to offset impact 1:40:00 Data centers bring in much needed tax dollars 1:41:00 The city budget needs the revenue to provide essential services 1:41:30 Residents want services but no data centers… can’t have it both ways 1:43:30 Colorado Springs also struggling with a housing shortage 1:45:30 Working with HUD to try to increase housing supply 1:46:15 Colorado Springs named one of the best cities for young people 1:47:45 Need innovation in housing construction, find cheaper ways to build 1:49:30 The country needs more independent leadership 1:50:30 ToddCast Time Machine - June 4th, 1989 - Tiananmen Square massacre 1:51:00 The image of a man standing in front of a tank is iconic 1:52:00 On the same day, Polish citizens were casting ballots in a post soviet election 1:52:30 One communist system responded with elections, another responded with force 1:53:30 The Chinese students protesting were easy to empathize with 1:54:15 At the time it felt like freedom was advancing and communism was retreating 1:55:15 The elections in Poland humiliated the communist government 1:56:00 Chinese leaders closely watched events in Europe 1:56:45 Protest movement in China was one of the largest in their history 1:58:15 Chinese government cracked down on reformers and protest movement 1:59:00 Martial law was declared and troops moved into Beijing 1:59:45 We don’t have an accounting of the total death toll of protestors 2:00:15 The image we all remember is “tank man” 2:00:45 The incorrect assumption was that China’s middle class would demand rights 2:02:00 China proved that their model could survive and remain durable 2:04:00 Tiananmen ultimately was the birth of the current bipolar world 2:05:00 Poland chose the ballot box, China chose the tank 2:05:30 Ask Chuck 2:05:45 Would you ever consider running for president? Colbert as a running mate? 2:09:00 Do you think Paxton heads into the general overconfident? 2:15:45 Could the “Wyoming Rule” be a more realistic step than expanding house? 2:18:45 Any lesser known founding fathers that deserve more credit? 2:23:45 Thoughts on the Catholic church as a source of moral authority? 2:27:45 Any advice for people needing to step back from news while staying informed?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
I like stories; true stories are the best and can inspire us in our Christian walk.Today, we take a high-level overview of the Battle of Marathon. From this battle, the Athenian hoplites used a two-word flex, “I ran.”As children of God, we don't flex, but we do greatly rejoice at every instance of redemption. We also note that once we suit up in the full armor of God, we pray:“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” Ephesians 6:13-18We highlight Charles Haddon Spurgeon:Charles Haddon Spurgeon:“No young mother ever rejoiced so much over her first-born child - no warrior was so exultant over a hard won victory. Oh the joy of knowing tat a sinner once at enmity has been reconciled to God by the Holy Spirit, through the words spoken by our feeble lips.”Our So What?Together, let's commit not to “I. Ran.” But “I Prayed” “No young mother ever rejoiced so much over her first-born child - no warrior was so exultant over a hard won victory. Oh the joy of knowing that a sinner once at enmity has been reconciled to God by the Holy Spirit, through the words spoken by our feeble prayers.” (Modified) Donation link:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G9JGGR5W97D64Or go to www.freerangepreacheronprayer.com and use the Donations tab."What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more."Robert Murray M'CheyneAssistant Editor: Seven Jefferson Gossardwww.freerangepreacheronprayer.comfreerangeprayer@gmail.comFacebook - Free Range Preacher MinistriesInstagram: freerangeministriesAll our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition.For access to the voice-over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.comOur podcast art was designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 on InstagramSeason 008 Episode 029
The Boys are BACK! Well one anyway, as Ran watches the new trailer and reacts. The X-Pod you know and love will return with new episodes leading up to the July 1 series premiere and beyond. Back to you, your X-Pod! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on "I've Been Meaning To Listen To That", we review ICEMAN by Drake with special guest Dakota West Foss! Plus, we discuss whether the rollout strategy of dropping 3 albums was an effective one, how there are a lot of parallels between ICEMAN and the Michael movie, how this album caters to his core audience, Drake's relationship to vulnerability and how it perpetrates a billionaire mindset, whether this album is better or worse than J Cole's THE FALL OFF, whether or not Drake is beating the allegations, and more!0:00 cold open0:17 theme song0:55 introduction1:46 preconceived notions on Drake4:10 not like us vs. story of Addison13:08 what's Drakes strategy?46:41 ICEMAN is MICHAEL (2026)51:15 Does Hip Hop need Drake?58:22 Make them cry1:05:12 Make them know1:07:25 2 Hard for the Radio1:11:59 National Treasures1:17:38 Is Drake the Culture?1:27:10 dust1:29:38 make them pay1:30:29 firm friends1:35:25 plot twist1:38:40 What did I miss1:42:18 Don't Worry1:45:17 Bs on the Table1:48:14 Little Birdy1:50:49 Make them Remember1:55:19 Ran to Atlanta2:01:21 Final Thoughts and RatingsPATREON SUPPORTERSSamuel LeeCarissa ZaffiroStenley PhilippeJon ButtsTanner Richard CraftSean WilkinsonSpencer RoystonSubscribe to our "I've Been Meaning To Watch That" Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IBMTLTTFollow Jon Butts on Instagram (@jonbuttsishere)Follow Dakota West Foss on Instagram (@down_with_fun)Follow Andrew Ambrose Lee on Instagram (@andrewambroselee)Follow Stenley Philippe on Instagram (@snapasten)Follow Stefanie Senior on Instagram (@stefmsenior)Cover Art by Megan Rika Young (Instagram: @meganrika)Theme Song by OTNES (Instagram: @mxotnes)Follow us at (@ibmtltt) on Tiktok & Instagram, and email us at ivebeenmeaningtolistentothat@gmail.comHave a good daaay!
Depois do Leon destilar ranço em Março, agora é a vez do Samuca chafurdar no ranço! Conheça dez jogos que, pelos mais variados motivos, o Samuca não quer ver nem pintados de ouro. E ainda tem cartinhas, o que tá rolando e um destaque pra um MMORPG brasileiro na Voz do Brasil dos Games.VOTE NO EVENTO GALINHA VIAJANTE + B.O.D.E.Acesse o formulário de voto clicando aqui, ajude a decidir como a Galinha vai aparecer no jogo, e concorra a cinco keys quando o jogo for lançado!APOIE O GALINHA VIAJANTEAcesse catarse.me/galinhaviajanteLINKS DA GALINHACatarse | Youtube | Instagram | BlueskyContato: cast@galinhaviajante.com.brAcesse nosso SITE: galinhaviajante.com.brJOGO BR DO MÊSDrakantosTRILHA SONORAMidside Notes, A Funny Soul, Rootin Tootin, Lucky Spin (Martin Landstrom)Alberto's Best Day (Harry Edvino)Castle Festivities (Bonnie Grace)Battle On The Jazzy Bridge (Quasar)CITADOS NO EPISÓDIOVideogames: Jogos: Devil's Drizzle, B.O.D.E., Dark Cloud, Parappa the Rapper, Sly Cooper, Jak and Dexter, Rayman Origins, Twisted Metal, WH40K: Speed Freeks; Bust-a-Groove, Dance Dance Revolution, Just Dance, Red Dead Redemption 2, Legend of Dragoon, Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy Tactics, Beyond the Beyond, Legend of Legaia, Jade Cocoon, Nier Automata, Nier Replicant, Axiom Verge, Pokopia, Mega Man X7, Death Stranding, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy XIV, Everspace 1 e 2, No Man's Sky, Undertale, Dead Space 2, Call of Duty, Metroid Prime 4, Darksiders 2, FF Dissidia NT, Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory, Exteel, Aion, Lineage 2, Guild Wars, Cabal Online, Drakantos, Elden Ring Convergence Mod, 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim, Mixtape, Saros, Bubsy 4D, Raider Kid and the Ruby ChestOutras Mídias: Breaking Bad, Death Note, The Boys, Shangri-la Frontier, Digimon Beatbreak, Fullmetal Alchemist BrotherhoodCAPÍTULOS00:00:00 - Abertura do Episódio00:03:11 - Evento Galinha Viajante + B.O.D.E.00:09:00 - Cartinhas Viajantes00:48:09 - Top 10 Jogos que o Samuca tem Ranço01:47:05 - Voz do Brasil dos Games01:55:00 - O Que Tá Rolando02:17:41 - Encerramento do EpisódioO Galinha vai ao ar toda semana graças aos Escudeiros da Galinha Viajante! Apoie você também o nosso projeto no Catarse e junte-se à Escudaria!Apresentado e produzido por Leon Cleveland e Samuel R. Auras.Contato: cast@galinhaviajante.com.brSupport the show
Runners of NYC is relaunching. We're changing up the format — fewer studio sit-downs, more conversations out in the wild across the five boroughs — and we're thrilled to welcome Patryk Odedina as our new co-host. Same mission of surfacing the untold stories behind NYC's running culture, with a fresh approach to how we tell them. More soon.First...Meet Patryk.------"I was at the gym one day, doing the typical dude thing — asking my neighbor Kenny what he was working on. Chest? Back? Arms? He just looked at me, straight-faced, and said: 'Five or six miles on the treadmill.' I swear, I had never heard someone say something like that in my life. And Kenny's not some lean guy — he's a husky dude. So I'm standing there like, what is he talking about? Then he tells me he's training for the New York City Marathon. That's all I needed. I thought, if Kenny can do it, I can do it."Patryk Odedina is a Bronx-based runner who picked up the sport at 29 after a gym conversation with his neighbor Kenny, and has since completed all six World Marathon Majors while chipping nearly 90 minutes off his debut time.Background:– Born in Poland, raised in the Bronx from age 3. Polish mother, Nigerian father.– Played basketball at Lincoln High School (the one in Yonkers) and Lehman College. No running background.– Spent six-plus years in tech salesThe origin story: Late 2018, lifting weights in a Harlem gym, his neighbor Kenny mentioned he was training for the NYC Marathon. Patryk had never heard anyone say something like that out loud. He signed up for the 2020 race through Team for Kids before knowing what a 5K was.Marathon résumé:– 2020 NYC (virtual): 4:40. Ran the actual route solo in the rain; mom as support crew.– 2021 NYC: ~4:57. The 50th anniversary edition.– 2023 London: 3:58. Finally cracked sub-4 on his fourth attempt.– Six Stars: NYC → London → Berlin → Tokyo → Boston → Chicago. Wore a Yankees singlet in Boston.– 2026 Jersey City: 3:09. Now chasing sub-3.Beyond the race: Associate board member of the Bronx Burners, a 501(c)3 that has distributed $100K+ in college scholarships to Bronx youth. Creator of the Run Clubs of NYC video series — 49 NYC clubs and counting.This is Runners of NYC. A podcast from CITIUS MAG. You can catch the latest episode of the podcast on iTunes so subscribe and leave a five-star review. We are also on Spotify. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter | @RunnersOfNYCEmail any comments, feedback or possible sponsorship ideas to runnersofnyc@gmail.com
Show Notes 0:00: Justin and Helen once again go over what they’ve been up to while working with a mix of cold and hot weather changes in the past few weeks! Helen found time to check out light novel series True Love Fades Away When the Contract Ends while Justin, as mentioned in the last episode, watched the latest Detective Conan collection set. News 9:57: Japanese talent agency Amuleto released a statement after unauthorized photos of voice actor Aoi Nagatsuki were released online; we had the Delicious in Dungeon: Ryoko Kui exhibition in New York last year, this year it’ll now happen in Los Angeles. 13:23: We have a couple manga returns: The Elden Ring manga resumed following a 3-month hiatus; Mari Yamazaki’s Thermae Romae sequel manga Zoku Thermae Romae resumed serialization with a new chapter in Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ platform; Aki Hamaji’s Bocchi the Rock! will return in the next issue of Houbunsha’s Manga Time Kirara Max magazine; and Days of Diamond, after it’s been on a bit of a break, will return in June. 16:09: And in possibly a first for this podcast, we can cover the return of a music group! Home Made Kazoku is back after a 10-year hiatus and they’ll be working on music again, so for those who grew up with Bleach, Eureka Seven, and Naruto: Shippuden, here’s your dose of nostalgia in 2026! 18:03: Even the Student Council Has Its Holes! will go on break due to Muchimuro’s health, but it will resume early June; Kumichi Yoshizuki announced a break from publishing the Nankai Trough Kyodai Jishin manga due to a good number of health ailments. 19:33: English voice actor Bill Wise, who voiced in a number of anime dub roles from Initial D: Legend to Moeyo Ken, passed away at the age of 61; Japanese voice actor Takahiro Fujiwara passed away a few weeks ago at the age of 43 — had a number of roles in anime but while voicing the character Kan Jou (Huan Chang) in the Kingdom anime, he had to step down from the role in August last year due to health reasons; Musician and composer Yuji Ohno — known for the iconic opening and soundtrack of the Lupin the 3rd series — passed away due to natural causes at the age of 84. 24:05: Talent agency Aoni Production announced that Wakana Yamazaki passed away at 61. She had an health ailment earlier this year that was serious enough for her to stop recording episodes of Detective Conan in February. The long-time voice of Ran and her experience in the voice acting industry was a huge loss, and from her Conan castmates and staff to other talents across different industries, her impact was notable and will be sorely missed. Akemi Okamura, who voiced the character since March 14 while Yamazaki was undergoing medical treatment, will now take over the role of Ran moving forward. Licenses 29:54: Yen Press apparently had to have announcements pre-convention and at a convention! And there is a lot of licenses they announced: Kumo Kagyu, Kōtarō Sekine, & Noboru Kannatuki's Moscow 2160 manga Fujino Ōmori, kakage, & Suzuhito Yasuda's Argonaut: Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Tales of Heroes (Yen On) Sakuhiro's Love at the City’s Edge on a Moonlit Night Ryoko Kui's Terrarium in a Drawer Akumi Agitogi & Hidari's The Story of the Moon Waiting for the Evening (Yen On) Minoru Matsuda's He Was My Brother Sino Torino's egg: I'm Your Child Gakuto Coda, Meiji, & potg's After-School Duty Yomu Mishima & Pinakes's Valkyrie Bullet (Yen On) Hijiki's Contract Sisters Nagimiso's Izumi and the Dragon Encyclopedia sanorin's My Girlfriend is a Colossal Cutie Hyōgo Amagasa, sugino, & LINO's Tale of the Wizrain Kingdom: The Dragon Is the Bride Rainy Kamitsuki, Minori Tsukahara, & LAM's Witch and Hound Ichiro Sakaki & Shiba's On the Way Home After Defeating the Demon King (Yen On) Kosaka Hanane & Kurogiri's Rise of the Lowborn: Ascending the Ranks by Crushing Incompetent Nobles (Yen On) Kamaseinuesu & Yuu Oukawa's The Demon King Seems to Have Infiltrated the Hero’s Party (Yen On) Fujino Ōmori & Yūnagi's Wistoria: Wand and Sword (Yen On) Anju Goshirakawa & Mayu Murata's Honey Lemon Soda Nauchi's Snowmelt and Agapanthus Yodaka Kuroi's Witch and Cat Yukari Sakai's Sinful Is the Angel Who Loves Hirohisa Satō's Shigahime Uma Agri's Studio Cabana Karuho Shiina's Gusts and Beats Shin Yamamoto's Twilight Vessel-Gods 35:21: Seven Seas had considerably less announcements and they’ll be on a Wonderful Wednesdays break for a bit. So here’s their set of announcements until then: Hana Hasumi's Pendulum: The Beastmen Omegaverse Saga Rico Sakura's Good Night, My Little Bird Oki Eiko's The Cat Who Didn’t Believe in “What-ifs” KNOTS' The Tomorrow I Want to See with Kako: A Time-Loop Romantic Comedy Dokuzu Kento & Nekosuke Ookuma's Goetia Shock (Airship, digital) Hagane Kurodome & Kayahara's Wandmaker of the Ruined World (Airship, digital) Two new Siren audiobooks: Sohei Mikawa's Magic User: Reborn in Another World as a Max Level Wizard (Narrated by John Patneaude) & Satori Satori’s A Good Day Starts with Cats and Books (Narrated by Sara Matsui-Colby) 38:13: Abrams ComicArts’ Kana imprint announced they’ve licensed Tsubonari’s Antengai: Twilight Metropolis; Manga Mavericks Books announced they’ve licensed Zawayuki Taki’s Tie Me Up, Stare Me Down; One Peace Books announced on Behind the Manga that they've licensed Toshimichi Uzou, Si-me, & Kewi Hayashi’s My Sweet Marriage to My Ex-Nemesis; and we have a new title added to K MANGA: Rin Mikimoto’s Keepsake Heartache. 39:34: California-based distribution company Deaf Crocodile announced they’ve licensed the Frankenstein, Legend of Terror anime, which Helen explains seems like an odd title for them to bring to home media. Streaming News 40:45: We will have a Macross screening of Do You Remember Love? at Anime Expo — and there will be guests at the con too; Netflix revealed they will stream Ginga Tokkyū Milky☆Subway Kakueki Teisha Gekijō Iki, the re-edited film for Yōhei Kameyama’s Milky☆Subway: The Galactic Limited Express in the U.S. on June 1, while announcing a few other anime that will appear on their service, from My Dress-up Darling Season 2 starting yesterday to Shangri-La Frontier: Season 2 appearing June 1. 44:42: Licensing and dubbing studio SkySet Entertainment announced they will stream the Go Forward anime series over the summer; Streaming service Darkroom has added the Haré+Guu Deluxe anime with the English dub for streaming with a premium membership; Cineverse’s RetroCrush streaming service will have the Medabots anime stream on the RetroCrush FAST channel every Saturday and Sunday, which gets Helen once again wondering what the appeal of watching anime at certain times of the day; and Tubi TV announced on Monday that it has licensed Yokoso Scooby-Doo!, a new anime in the Scooby-Doo mystery comedy franchise — this gets the hosts wondering if we’ll be seeing more of Tubi TV and anime streaming moving forward. Weird News 52:10: The two hosts discuss Ken Ogino commenting on his Lady Justice manga that he created for Weekly Shonen Jump back in 2015, and what the editors told him that shifted the mindset of his serialization back then. 56:46: Let’s just say the Gamestop buying eBay did not last very long, and Helen could not believe the statement eBay gave after rejecting the bid; well, this took a turn in a good way involving singer aiko and why she hugged a fan during a concert; There’s apparently going to be a Hello Kitty live-action/animation film coming in 2028, but it sure went through some changes since 2019! 1:01:47: And well, the crossover of all crossovers has happened that makes total sense this year: Detective Conan and Detective Star Precure are crossing over this year — maybe Justin will give thoughts on both in the next episode! If there’s anything you’d like to share about the latest news or about the episode, please feel free to reach out to us on Twitter (@TheOASG) or comment below with your thoughts! The post TheOASG Podcast Episode 244: Returns, Licenses, and Weird News To Talk About! appeared first on TheOASG.
Former Marine sniper AJ Pasciuti — author of the new book Dark Horse and host of the Combat Story podcast — joins the Chuck Toddcast for one of the most riveting and clear-eyed conversations about military service, leadership, and the realities of modern war. Pasciuti was 16 years old on September 11th, enlisted at 17, and eventually became the Marine who led the team that killed "Juba" — the notorious Iraqi sniper who uploaded videos of his American kills to the internet to taunt the U.S. military. He walks listeners through the entire hunt: how Marines studied Juba's uploaded footage to identify his patterns, how the team set a trap, how Pasciuti spotted Juba in his hide by catching the glint off the lens of a Sony Handycam, and how he knew within minutes that they'd gotten him — while emphasizing that he may have pulled the trigger but it was an entire team that brought Juba down. Pasciuti reflects on the strange experience of fighting enemies who saw themselves as freedom fighters rather than terrorists, why attention to detail is the trait that weeds out most sniper candidates, and how snipers are ultimately meant to combat the enemy emotionally as much as physically. The conversation broadens into a sweeping meditation on what military service teaches you about America — and where Pasciuti worries the country is heading. He calls the military one of the last bastions of the American dream, where opportunity is real but has to be earned, and argues that a culture promoting service to the greater good over the accumulation of wealth would make America measurably healthier.. Pasciuti is openly worried about political leadership infecting the values of the military, makes the case that empathy must be viewed as a strength rather than a weakness in military leadership, and insists his book is political but not partisan — it's about values. He offers a vital warning that the Taliban proved asymmetrical warfare can defeat a stronger foe, that drone warfare is dangerously dehumanizing combat by reducing casualties to dollars and cents, and that the most important thing any soldier carries home is their soul intact — something he says becomes harder every year as the social contract between America and its veterans erodes. Pasciuti describes seeing fear rather than hatred in the eyes of a dying enemy combatant, a moment that has stayed with him, and explains why he can't support any politician who describes a political opponent as an enemy. He shares his experience running for city council and personally knocking on thousands of doors, his frustration with the financial barriers to entry in modern politics, and his belief that current discourse simply doesn't allow for real dialogue. He closes with the most powerful observation of the episode, made for Memorial Day: the holiday isn't about those who came home — it's about those who didn't — and anyone calling for war should be required to first sit down and have a conversation with a Gold Star family. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 AJ Pasciuti (Dark Horse) joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 If you wrote the book 10 years ago, how would it have been different? 03:30 You gain extra perspective about “why” when more time has passed 04:15 Leadership is currently in very short supply 06:15 The book is a love letter and thank you to people who shaped AJ’s life 08:15 The military is one of the last bastions of the American dream 09:15 Was 16 years old on 9/11 and the attack inspired AJ to enlist at 17 10:15 How did you identify that you had the skills to be a sniper? 11:45 Gunnery Sgt. Jackson helped set AJ on his trajectory 12:30 What is training for a sniper like? 13:30 Attention to details is the trait that weeds out most sniper candidates 14:15 Snipers have to be self-dependent, must rely on yourself for survival 15:30 Snipers are meant to combat the enemy emotionally, scare them 16:15 “Juba” may not have been just one enemy sniper & hunted Americans 16:45 Juba uploaded videos of sniper kills of Americans to the internet 17:30 Watching the videos allowed marines to understand Juba’s patterns 18:00 Set up a trap for Juba and Juba fell into it 19:00 AJ knew they had killed Juba within minutes 20:00 Caught a glint of the lens of a Sony handycam to spot Juba 21:15 AJ may have pulled the trigger, but it was an entire team that got him 22:45 Marines were shocked that people would fight for a tyrant like Saddam 23:30 We viewed the enemies as terrorists, they viewed themselves as freedom fighters 25:15 Does the message to the troops today seem different than when you served? 26:15 When we send Americans into conflict, it must be for a just cause 26:45 There’s a responsibility that comes with having the greatest military in history 27:45 Are you worried political leadership is infecting the values of the military? 28:45 Leadership needs to project values people are inspired to defend 30:30 Military leadership needs to view empathy as a strength, not a weakness 31:30 The book is political but not partisan. It’s about values 33:15 A culture that promotes services to the greater good is healthier 35:00 If the culture promotes service over wealth, we’d be better off 35:30 Mandatory service in Israel has helped to bond their society 38:00 Service strips away the illusion that we succeed alone 39:15 Veterans aren’t easily categorized in their politics 40:00 Military provides an opportunity, but you have to earn it 42:00 Competitive advantage for the military is to think, adapt & react quicker 43:15 Marine culture should create soldiers that are problem solvers 44:15 Taliban found that asymmetrical warfare could defeat a stronger foe 46:30 We have to better prepare for asymmetrical warfare 47:15 The American Revolution was fought with asymmetrical warfare 48:00 Drone warfare dehumanizes war. Casualties counted in dollars and cents 49:15 War is a chess game, and modern tech has leveled the playing field 51:15 Have to avoid being dehumanized by war 52:00 Saw an enemy combatant dying, saw fear in his eyes, not hatred 52:45 Wrote the book not to glorify war, but to tell the realities of it 54:15 The hardest part of coming home was doing so with your soul intact 55:30 The social contract with our soldiers must be protected 56:45 How are you able to publicly express your experience when many can’t? 59:00 Can’t support someone that says a political opponent is an enemy 1:00:00 Tell us about your podcast “Combat Story” 1:01:30 Ran for city council, personally knocked on thousands of doors 1:03:00 Our current politics doesn’t allow for dialogue 1:05:15 There’s a financial barrier to entry into politics 1:08:00 Memorial Day is tough, it’s about those who didn’t come home 1:08:30 Anyone calling for war should have a conversation with a gold star familySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chuck Todd opens with a brutal verdict on the emerging Iran "deal": it's just a worse version of the Obama agreement Trump once tore up, Iran has effectively avoided every stated goal Trump and Israel set out to achieve, and Tehran retains control of the Strait of Hormuz — meaning this is unambiguously a loss for the United States, no matter how the administration tries to spin it. He argues Trump bit off far more than he could chew, that Bibi Netanyahu put his faith into Donald Trump (which never ends well), and that America's standing has been diminished in ways that will reverberate for years. Iran's regime won't be able to repress its own people forever, He notes, but the window to actually topple it during the protests was missed — and Gulf state allies will now be dealing with the Iranians for much longer than they bargained for, having quietly hoped the U.S. and Israel would do their dirty work for them. The political damage at home is just as severe. He cites the Wall Street Journal christening the past seven days as "the week that broke Trump's hold on Congress," with the president now underwater on every single issue, consumer confidence unlikely to recover before the midterms, the Senate unable to fund DHS through reconciliation because Trump makes bipartisan solutions impossible, and his January 6th slush fund producing a backlash that won't go away — with Republican senators visibly wavering. Chuck's verdict on the lame duck arriving early: this is a failed first two years of the Trump presidency, and the stronger his grip on the party, the weaker that party becomes in general elections. He blasts Todd Blanche for turning the DOJ into Trump's personal legal team (Blanche should be impeached, Todd argues, and nothing coming out of this DOJ can be trusted), tears into the long-awaited DNC autopsy of the 2024 loss as paralyzed, tone-deaf, and poorly thought-out — naming Ken Martin as the wrong person to lead the DNC and noting that the simple truth Democrats can't bring themselves to face is that the party is perceived as too liberal in a country with more conservatives than progressives. He flags Mike Duggan dropping out of the Michigan governor's race after his hoped-for contentious Democratic primary never materialized, and Tulsi Gabbard's resignation as DNI proving that the position itself was never really necessary Then, former Marine sniper AJ Pasciuti — author of the new book Dark Horse and host of the Combat Story podcast — joins the Chuck Toddcast for one of the most riveting and clear-eyed conversations about military service, leadership, and the realities of modern war. Pasciuti was 16 years old on September 11th, enlisted at 17, and eventually became the Marine who led the team that killed "Juba" — the notorious Iraqi sniper who uploaded videos of his American kills to the internet to taunt the U.S. military. He walks listeners through the entire hunt: how Marines studied Juba's uploaded footage to identify his patterns, how the team set a trap, how Pasciuti spotted Juba in his hide by catching the glint off the lens of a Sony Handycam, and how he knew within minutes that they'd gotten him — while emphasizing that he may have pulled the trigger but it was an entire team that brought Juba down. Pasciuti reflects on the strange experience of fighting enemies who saw themselves as freedom fighters rather than terrorists, why attention to detail is the trait that weeds out most sniper candidates, and how snipers are ultimately meant to combat the enemy emotionally as much as physically. The conversation broadens into a sweeping meditation on what military service teaches you about America — and where Pasciuti worries the country is heading. He calls the military one of the last bastions of the American dream, where opportunity is real but has to be earned, and argues that a culture promoting service to the greater good over the accumulation of wealth would make America measurably healthier.. Pasciuti is openly worried about political leadership infecting the values of the military, makes the case that empathy must be viewed as a strength rather than a weakness in military leadership, and insists his book is political but not partisan — it's about values. He offers a vital warning that the Taliban proved asymmetrical warfare can defeat a stronger foe, that drone warfare is dangerously dehumanizing combat by reducing casualties to dollars and cents, and that the most important thing any soldier carries home is their soul intact — something he says becomes harder every year as the social contract between America and its veterans erodes. Pasciuti describes seeing fear rather than hatred in the eyes of a dying enemy combatant, a moment that has stayed with him, and explains why he can't support any politician who describes a political opponent as an enemy. He shares his experience running for city council and personally knocking on thousands of doors, his frustration with the financial barriers to entry in modern politics, and his belief that current discourse simply doesn't allow for real dialogue. He closes with the most powerful observation of the episode, made for Memorial Day: the holiday isn't about those who came home — it's about those who didn't — and anyone calling for war should be required to first sit down and have a conversation with a Gold Star family. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine for a thoughtful Memorial Day reflection on how countries honor their war dead — and how the rituals they choose reveal who they understand themselves to be. He traces Memorial Day back to its actual origins in the Civil War and its 600,000 American dead, including the powerful and often-forgotten story of formerly enslaved people who reburied Union soldiers from a mass grave to give them the dignified resting place their country had failed to provide. He explains that the date was chosen not because of a specific battle but because of when flowers bloom, that Southern states kept parallel remembrance traditions for the Confederacy, and that Memorial Day's secondary role as the unofficial start of summer has always made it a uniquely American hybrid of grief and gathering — which, Chuck argues, is actually one of its virtues, because coming together is how communities find common ground. He surveys how other nations approach the same task: WWI created a uniquely Canadian identity around remembrance, Russia centers its V-Day celebrations on WWII triumph as the foundation of national identity, Germany approaches its war dead cautiously and somberly with a deep awareness of historical responsibility, and Japan frames remembrance through loss, peace, and explicit anti-war reflection. His larger argument is that the story and tone of a country's remembrance day reveals exactly how it understands itself — what it celebrates, what it confronts, and what it would rather not look at. He closes with the smallest but most important reminder of the day: you don't say "Happy Memorial Day." He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Predict the action all the way through the finals. Sign up now for your twenty-five dollar bonus on https://fanduel.com/predicts Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:00 Pending Iran deal looks like a worse version of Obama’s deal 04:45 Iran looks to have avoided all of Trump + Israel’s stated goals 05:15 Iran retains control of Strait, that means this is a loss for Trump 06:15 Trump is capitulating, and this diminishes America’s standing 07:15 Administration hoping to sweep Iran under the rug in time for the midterms 08:00 Normally, America would be leading Ebola response. Trump destroyed USAID 08:45 Helping with disease outbreaks was about protecting us at home 10:00 Unlikely the Iranian regime will be able to repress their people forever 11:00 Trump bit off more than he could chew and needs an offramp 11:45 Bibi put his faith into Donald Trump, which never goes well 13:00 Trump hires flawed people that could only work for him. Makes them loyal 14:15 Politics infects every decision Trump makes 15:45 Gulf state allies will have to deal with Iran for much longer now 16:30 Missed the window to topple the regime during the protests 18:00 Gulf states were hoping U.S. and Israel would do their dirty work 18:30 Trump was worst possible commander in chief for this moment 19:30 It’s a big loss for Trump, but he had no choice but to end the war 22:00 New polling shows Trump approval tanking, huge generic Dem advantage 23:45 WSJ dubs the past week, “The week the broke Trump’s hold on Congress” 25:00 Trump is underwater on every issue 26:00 It’s highly unlikely consumer confidence will rise before the midterms 27:00 Trump is directly responsible for higher inflation and cost of living 28:00 Senate cannot find way to fund DHS through reconciliation 29:30 Trump makes any bipartisan solution impossible 30:15 Todd Banche is making DOJ Trump’s personal attorneys 31:45 Can’t trust anything this DOJ says. Blanche should be impeached* 33:15 Trump’s J6 slush fund is likely illegal and has GOP senators wavering 34:15 Backlash to slush fund isn’t going away 35:45 The stronger Trump grips the party, the weaker it is in general elections 36:30 The lame duck is here. This a failed first two years of Trump’s presidency 37:15 DNC finally releases autopsy of 2024 election loss 37:45 Ken Martin is the wrong person for the DNC chair. In over his head 38:15 The simple fact of the matter is the party is perceived as too liberal 40:45 There are more conservatives than progressives, need to win the moderates 42:00 Autopsy offering gubernatorial wins as a counterpoint is tone deaf 43:45 Trump’s electoral strength doesn’t translate when he isn’t on ballot 44:30 DNC was in a no-win situation with the autopsy 45:15 Seems like the autopsy was just going through motions, poorly thought out 46:30 DNC is paralyzed, in need of new leadership 48:30 Mike Duggan drops out as independent in MI governor’s race 50:00 Duggan counted on contentious primary & that didn’t happen 52:00 Duggan didn’t want a Republican elected and dropped out 52:30 Tulsi Gabbard resigns. DNI post shown to not be necessary 53:00 The CIA has won the “turf battle” amongst intel agencies 54:30 Gabbard isn’t the first DNI that’s been marginalized. 55:15 It’s easy to eye roll Don Jr & Hunter Biden… Their fathers screwed them up 1:03:30 AJ Pasciuti (Dark Horse) joins the Chuck ToddCast 1:05:30 If you wrote the book 10 years ago, how would it have been different? 1:07:00 You gain extra perspective about “why” when more time has passed 1:07:45 Leadership is currently in very short supply 1:09:45 The book is a love letter and thank you to people who shaped AJ’s life 1:11:45 The military is one of the last bastions of the American dream 1:12:45 Was 16 years old on 9/11 and the attack inspired AJ to enlist at 17 1:13:45 How did you identify that you had the skills to be a sniper? 1:15:15 Gunnery Sgt. Jackson helped set AJ on his trajectory 1:16:00 What is training for a sniper like? 1:17:00 Attention to details is the trait that weeds out most sniper candidates 1:17:45 Snipers have to be self-dependent, must rely on yourself for survival 1:19:00 Snipers are meant to combat the enemy emotionally, scare them 1:19:45 “Juba” may not have been just one enemy sniper & hunted Americans 1:20:15 Juba uploaded videos of sniper kills of Americans to the internet 1:21:00 Watching the videos allowed marines to understand Juba’s patterns 1:21:30 Set up a trap for Juba and Juba fell into it 1:22:30 AJ knew they had killed Juba within minutes 1:23:30 Caught a glint of the lens of a Sony handycam to spot Juba 1:24:45 AJ may have pulled the trigger, but it was an entire team that got him 1:26:15 Marines were shocked that people would fight for a tyrant like Saddam 1:27:00 We viewed the enemies as terrorists, they viewed themselves as freedom fighters 1:28:45 Does the message to the troops today seem different than when you served? 1:29:45 When we send Americans into conflict, it must be for a just cause 1:30:15 There’s a responsibility that comes with having the greatest military in history 1:31:15 Are you worried political leadership is infecting the values of the military? 1:32:15 Leadership needs to project values people are inspired to defend 1:34:00 Military leadership needs to view empathy as a strength, not a weakness 1:35:00 The book is political but not partisan. It’s about values 1:36:45 A culture that promotes services to the greater good is healthier 1:38:30 If the culture promotes service over wealth, we’d be better off 1:39:00 Mandatory service in Israel has helped to bond their society 1:41:30 Service strips away the illusion that we succeed alone 1:42:45 Veterans aren’t easily categorized in their politics 1:43:30 Military provides an opportunity, but you have to earn it 1:45:30 Competitive advantage for the military is to think, adapt & react quicker 1:46:45 Marine culture should create soldiers that are problem solvers 1:47:45 Taliban found that asymmetrical warfare could defeat a stronger foe 1:50:00 We have to better prepare for asymmetrical warfare 1:50:45 The American Revolution was fought with asymmetrical warfare 1:51:30 Drone warfare dehumanizes war. Casualties counted in dollars and cents 1:52:45 War is a chess game, and modern tech has leveled the playing field 1:54:45 Have to avoid being dehumanized by war 1:55:30 Saw an enemy combatant dying, saw fear in his eyes, not hatred 1:56:15 Wrote the book not to glorify war, but to tell the realities of it 1:57:45 The hardest part of coming home was doing so with your soul intact 1:59:00 The social contract with our soldiers must be protected 2:00:15 How are you able to publicly express your experience when many can’t? 2:02:30 Can’t support someone that says a political opponent is an enemy 2:03:30 Tell us about your podcast “Combat Story” 2:05:00 Ran for city council, personally knocked on thousands of doors 2:06:30 Our current politics doesn’t allow for dialogue 2:08:45 There’s a financial barrier to entry into politics 2:11:30 Memorial Day is tough, it’s about those who didn’t come home 2:12:00 Anyone calling for war should have a conversation with a gold star family 2:15:15 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with AJ Pasciuti 2:16:00 ToddCast Time Machine 2:16:30 Every country honors war dead, but don’t do it the same way 2:17:15 Memorial Day was borne out of the civil war and 600k Americans dead 2:18:00 Formally enslaved people reburied union soldiers from mass grave 2:18:45 Holiday is also about who gets remembered in our national story 2:19:15 Date was chosen due to flowers blooming & not a specific battle 2:20:30 Southern states kept remembrance traditions for the confederacy 2:21:15 Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer 2:21:45 Gathering together is an important way to find common ground 2:22:45 Different memorial traditions & rituals in other countries 2:23:30 WW1 created a unique identity in Canada 2:24:00 Russia celebrates V-Day, triumph in WW2 central to identity 2:24:45 Germany remembers war cautiously and somberly 2:25:30 Japan remembers war through loss, peace and anti-war reflection 2:26:15 Other memorial rituals around the world 2:27:45 Story and tone of remembrance days are how countries view themselves 2:28:45 You don’t say “Happy Memorial Day” 2:30:00 Ask Chuck 2:30:15 Isn’t it odd that we know so little about attempted Trump assassins? 2:37:00 Why didn’t Dems lean into “Trump Lie Trackers” more in campaigns? 2:41:00 Does the “Epstein Class” framing feel stronger than the “1%”? 2:45:00 Did “No Child Left Behind” do real damage to civics education? 2:51:15 Does the 2.5 swing in presidential elections show most voters are locked in?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week, the boys have a blast getting political, discussing 1969's “Z”. This French-language movie was filmed in Algeria about a true story in Greece, and it feels like it could be 2026. The themes of the film are deep, and the tension is high, but we drink whiskey and beer, so we had fun discussing! Grab a beer and listen along, unless you're a child. linktr.ee/theloveofcinema - Check out our YouTube page! Our phone number is 646-484-9298. It accepts texts or voice messages. 0:00 Intro; 9:27 1969 Year in Review; 37:18 “Z”: Films of 1969; 01:17:04 What You Been Watching?; 1:28:04 Next Week's Episode Teaser. Additional Cast/Crew: Costa-Gavras, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Jacques Perrin, Yves Montand. Hosts: Dave Green, Jeff Ostermueller, John Say Edited & Produced by Dave Green. Beer Sponsor: Carlos Barrozo Music Sponsor: Dasein Dasein on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ Dasein on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dasein/1637517407 Recommendations: Kurosawa's Ran, Throne of Blood, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, Taxi Driver 50th Anniversary, Shrinking. Additional Tags: Robert Duvall, Sports Documentary, Bowling, Bette Davis, SZA, Keke Palmer, Amazon Studios, Warner Discovery, Paramount Skydance, Conan O'Brien, Weapons, Sinners, One Battle After Another, Frankenstein, Annapurna Films, Old Man Marley, Home Alone, Shawshenk Redemption, Gordon Ramsay, Thelma Schoonmaker, Stephen King's It, The Tenant, Rosemary's Baby, The Pianist, Cul-de-Sac, AI, The New York City Marathon, Apartments, Tenants, Rent Prices, Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa, Amazon, Robotics, AMC, IMAX Issues, Tron, The Dallas Cowboys, Short-term memory loss, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Netflix, AMC Times Square, Tom Cruise, George Clooney, MGM, Amazon Prime, Marvel, Sony, Conclave, Here, Venom: The Last Dance, Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, Oscars 2026, Academy Awards, BFI, BAFTA, BAFTAS, British Cinema. England, Vienna, Leopoldstadt, The Golden Globes, Past Lives, Apple Podcasts, West Side Story, Adelaide, Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Melbourne, The British, England, The SEC, Ronald Reagan, Stock Buybacks, Marvel, MCU, DCEU, Film, Movies, Southeast Asia, plague, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, casket maker, Seven Samurai, Roshomon, Sergio Leone, Clint Eastwood, Stellan Skarsgard, the matt and mark movie show.The Southern District's Waratah Championship, Night of a Thousand Stars, The Pan Pacific Grand Prix (The Pan Pacifics), Jeff Bezos, Rupert Murdoch, Larry Ellison, David Ellison, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg.
My team builds you a $167K/month client machine in 8 weeks. You just approve it. Interested? → https://wearetherainmakers.com/demowatch In this video, I'm taking you inside a private consulting session with one of our clients, breaking down his exact funnel, his real numbers, and the three highest-leverage moves that will take him from consistent to completely dialed in. -- Ok, quick intro if we haven't met. I'm Chris Dufey. I run The Rainmakers. We help coaches and consultants do $1M/yr working 2-4 hours a day. Couple years ago I was sleeping on a couch. Wife pregnant. Daughter on the way. She showed up on time. I did not. Fast forward — 4 kids, two houses (Bali + Australia), sold my last company. Now I get to be the guy behind the scenes of some of the best online businesses on the internet. And still do school pickup. Still surf on Tuesdays. Nothing glamorous about it. That's kinda the whole point. The speedrun of how I got here: 18 — Got into personal training. I was the fat kid. Wanted abs. Wanted girls to notice. Whatever, it worked. 21 — Ran a PT agency across Sydney gyms. 25 — Moved to Dubai. First kid. Discovered that new dads can survive on vibes and espresso alone. 27 — Moved to Bali to "start an online business." Translation: I had no idea what I was doing. 28 — Launched a supplement company. Blew it up. (Not proud. Not hiding it.) 29 — Accidentally became a business coach because PTs kept asking how I was living abroad. 31 — Founded Coaches Cartel — coaching + software + virtual teams for fitness pros. 34 — Became a dad of four. 10/10 do not recommend doing this and running a business simultaneously unless you like chaos. 35 — Sold the coaching business. Multi-7-figures. 36 — Started consulting 6/7/8-figure CEOs. $25K/month retainers. Weird flex but ok. 38 — Started The Rainmakers. Today — my team and I build the machines behind some of the best operators online. P.S. — talking to a camera all day gets old. Drop a comment. Ask me something. Disagree with me. Whatever. I actually read them. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdufey Substack: https://chrisdufey.substack.com/ Website: https://chrisdufey.com Website: https://wearetherainmakers.com
Démar and Adriel discuss Drake's latest three albums, but primarily 'Iceman", whether current Drake is Lakers Lebron and if this is a true comeback for The Boy. Timecodes:2:14 The Biggest Comeback in Music History7:15 Comparisons to Taylor Swift12:32 Jordan/LeBron comparisons24:22 Past Drake Reviews32:49 What does lyrical growth look like for Drake?41:00 Ran to Atlanta43:44 Brat vs Iceman51:25 Are there too many similes?54:44 Too Hard for the Radio57:19 Adriel's favourites1:06:44 Government-mandated 21 Savage feature1:10:15 Make Them Series1:22:41 Maid of Honour & Habibti1:33:31 The Nokia test1:37:39 The Covers1:47:47 The ScoreFollow us: TikTok:Album Mode: https://www.tiktok.com/@albummodepodAdriel: https://www.tiktok.com/@adrielsmileydotcomDémar: https://www.tiktok.com/@godkingdemiInstagram:Album Mode: https://www.instagram.com/albummodepod/Adriel: https://www.instagram.com/adrielsmileydotcom/Démar: https://www.instagram.com/demarjgrant/Twitter:Album Mode: https://twitter.com/AlbumModepodAdriel: https://twitter.com/AdrielSmiley_Démar: https://twitter.com/DemarJGrant===================================Démar's rating: 4.5 / 10 Adriel's rating: 6.5 / 10The Love List: Shabang, Make Them Remember, Little Birdie
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Mishlei 25:26 - When a Rasha Contaminates a Tzadik (Part 2)מַעְיָן נִרְפָּשׂ וּמָקוֹר מׇשְׁחָת צַדִּיק מָט לִפְנֵי רָשָׁע:Length: 51 minutesSynopsis: This morning (5/21/26), in our Morning Mishlei shiur, we reviewed yesterday's interpretations then focused on two meforshim: Rabbeinu Yonah (excerpted from Shaarei Teshuvah, presumably) and the Meiri, who offered several interpretations. Not only were all the ideas we learned good and practical, but this also provided excellent support for my approach to the Meiri's nigleh/nistar style. We had a nice foray into the Derashos ha'Ran!---מקורות:משלי כה:כורבינו יונהמאירידרשות הר"ן - הדרוש העשיריאבן עזרא - תהלים א:א-----The Torah content for this month has been sponsored by Meir Areman, l'zeicher nishmas Zelda bas Ziesel, his grandmother, whose yahrzeit is on the 21st of Sivan.-----If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider supporting my work via Patreon, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal — links below. Even a small contribution helps cover production costs and gives me the freedom to create more Torah content. To sponsor a day's or week's worth of content, or to inquire about tutoring or teaching, reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you for listening, reading, and supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.Patreon | [Venmo: @Matt-Schneeweiss] | [Zelle/PayPal: mattschneeweiss at gmail]Substack | YouTube | YUTorah | InstagramPodcasts: The Stoic Jew | Machshavah Lab | The Mishlei Podcast | Rambam Bekius | The Tefilah PodcastWhatsApp Content Hub | Old Blog | Amazon Wishlist
Jedinečný true crime román, aký na Slovensku ešte nebol. Očami detektíva prežijete vyšetrovanie najznámejšej a najbrutálnejšej série vrážd po roku 1989. Kriminálne podhubie divokých deväťdesiatok nedefinovala len mafia, ale aj krimi scéna, ktorá dovtedy nemala obdobu. Rané 90. roky tak priniesli do slovníka strážcov zákona aj nový pojem – sériový vrah. Práve začiatok ponovembrovej dekády je pre pamätníkov nielen obdobím nových možností a slobody, ale aj synonymom strachu a nesmiernej brutality, šíriacej sa ulicami Bratislavy. Pred vyše tridsiatimi rokmi sériový vrah Ondrej Rigo odštartoval svoju brutálnu vražednú šnúru, počas ktorej pripravil o život deväť obetí – osem žien a jedno dieťa. Bezprecedentné vraždenie v tom čase postavilo na nohy viacerých slovenských vyšetrovateľov a kriminalistov. Jedným z detektívov, ktorí sériového vraha napokon dostali za mreže, bol aj Jozef Vachálek. Ten sa rozhodol spolu s novinárom Pavlom Knapkom rozpovedať svoj príbeh. Príbeh detektíva po prvýkrát detailne opisuje pátranie po jednom z najznámejších sériových vrahov, ale tiež to, ako policajnú prácu zmenila priekopnícka metóda testov DNA. V koži kriminalistu sa tak stanete svedkami najdivokejších rokov moderného Slovenska. Audiokniha: Príbeh detektíva Autori: Jozef Vachálek, Pavel Knapko Interpret: Juraj Smutný Dĺžka: 7:55 h Vydavateľstvo: Publixing a Interez Audiokniha Príbeh detektíva na webe Publixing (MP3 na stiahnutie) Audiokniha Príbeh detektíva na webe Audiolibrix (MP3 na stiahnutie)
‘Nemesis' Creator Courtney A. Kemp on Making Her Explosive Netflix Debut and Crafting a Finale That Ushers in a Season 2M.I.A. is a Peacock crime drama series created by Bill Dubuque. The 9-episode revenge thriller, which dropped on the platform on May 7, 2026Washington, D.C., announces they will start going after the parents of teens who attend street takeovers and could face up to 6 months in jailStefon Diggs' former chef is going viral as she shows herself cooking Mila Adams, Stefon Diggs' personal chef, is alleging that Stefon abused Cardi B while she was pregnant. Boston Richey shows he had 100 women come to his yacht party after the club.Philadelphia Eagles Fred Johnson accused of kicking out his 8-month-pregnant girlfriend influencer Alyssa Okada and then cheating with women on HingWoman berated at Kroger after customer gets upset over her gym clothes: “I wish I had a dk!… You look like you want to be fked. This is not LA Fitness.”Meek Mill says his song “Dreams and Nightmares” is one of the best rap songs to ever come outStefon Diggs and Caylea Benji celebrate their daughter's 1st birthday! Cardi B Fan Waited For Her Argument With Stefon Diggs To End Before Asking For A Pic Cardi B Breaks Her Silence After Viral Stefon Diggs Argument Video: ‘Y'all Ain't Never Cuss Your Babydad Out?'The District Attorney reportedly plans to block ChudTheBuilder from using his fundraiser money toward his bond.Dalton Eatherly, known as "Chud the Builder" online, had his bond set at $1.25 million in court on Friday morning.Ex-Warden Argues 20-Year-Old Sean Gathright, Convicted In Rapper Julio Foolio K!lling, Should Get Life Sentence Instead Of De@th Penalty For Prison Labor Value. We Need That Sweat EquitySean Gathright speaks out for the first time since avoiding the death penalty for Foolio's deathDJ Akademiks says getting an OVO chain from Drake after meeting him for the first time felt like a dream:LaMelo Ball and Kaliah/KBallout reportedly reached a private agreement outside the courtroom. She's said to be receiving $25K–$30K a month under a strict NDA-style arrangement that prevents her from mentioning him publicly, speaking negatively about him, or acknowledging him as the father.Keith Lee and his family were PISSED after finding out they missed a HUGE collab with Marlon Wayans & the Wayans brothers for Scary Movie 6 because someone on his team asked for a SIX-FIGURE appearance feeDrake's three new albums are on pace to move a combined 705-785K units in their first week‘ICEMAN' — 480-520K,‘MAID OF HONOUR' — 115-135K‘HABIBTI'— 110-130KDrake really made whole albums for different parts of his fan base.ICEMAN - Rapping DrakeHABIBTI - Lover Boy DRAKEMADE OF HONOR - Honestly Nevermind Pt.2That 3 song run on ICE Man was ridiculous, “Ran to Atlanta” Ft Future and Molly Santana. Then have Quavo/ Migos to do theAD-LIBSon “Shabang” was genius. Then “Make Them Pay” was probably one best Drake song ever because you got everything you like from Drake dissing everybody and to singing with the sample vibes playing in the background!!Drake has just released 3 new albums. If all 3 albums occupy the Top 3 spots on the Billboard 200 charts, he will become the first artist in history to do it since Michael Jackson Timbaland says Drake's "Janice STFU" will be a timeless track. Drake had words for EVERYONE on his 3 new albums. DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Kendrick, Pusha T, Pharrell and even Jay-Z received shots from the Toronto superstar Lizzo Responds To Backlash After Claiming The Algorithm Is ‘Destroying Music Marketing & Making It Hard For Fans To Keep Up With The Favs Lizzo shares her frustration on social media platforms because of lack of visibility that is hurting her marketing towards her music.A gas station worker refused to give a man gas after he talked crazily to her: “Go frat in your tank.”
- It's do‑or‑die tonight in Cayman basketball—two semi‑finals, two teams on the brink. Who's punching their ticket to the Finals under the ARC lights? - Cayman rugby sends a message in their RAN opener—52 points on the road and a statement win over Bermuda. The Caymancycling classic delivered a test of speed and power with the Individual Time Trial.
Commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy on the eve of World War II, HMAS Perth (I) was the only RAN vessel in the Atlantic at the outbreak of war. She returned to Australia for a short period before serving in the Mediterranean, gaining praise for her crew's seamanship and accurate gunnery. Returning to Australia for repairs she was present at the outbreak of the Pacific War and was eventually assigned to waters surrounding the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). It was here that she would meet her fate after an unexpected contact with the Japanese invasion fleet.https://www.australianmilitaryhistorypodcast.com/https://www.patreon.com/c/u46029761?view_as=patron&vanity=u46029761 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The church needs to figure out what to do about Israel. Since the second century, a wedge has been driven between Christians and Jews. Sadly, Christians have often been guilty of pouring gasoline on this long–smoldering fire. It happened again after the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023.Our guest, Ran Silberman, is a messianic Jew and a professional tour guide in Israel. He can speak to the subject of Jew hatred in the church from a unique perspective—not only is he a Christian living in Israel, but he is also a Jew. He explains that the church has a long, shameful history of demonizing Jews, one that must be confronted in this hour. Ran will be in the United States during the month of June to speak to groups and churches about this topic. If you are in the Mid South, the Ozarks, Oklahoma, or North Texas, you can contact us by email at info@gilberthouse.org or by reaching out to Ran through at facebook.com/ran.silberman.
On this episode of RaN, we discuss what is a queer normative fictional world? What does this give and take away from the characters and story? And our favorite books with queer normative worlds.
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticJoin The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K Analytic Dreamz delivers a full breakdown of Drake's Iceman Episode 4 livestream and the surprise triple album drop on May 15, 2026. In this segment, we dissect the 75-minute cinematic visual album that peaked at over 458,000 concurrent viewers, featuring Toronto-shot music videos, thermal surveillance aesthetics, Pinocchio callbacks, red/white motifs, Michael Jackson glove symbolism, and a fiery bot farm climax. We cover the complete Iceman tracklist including “Make Them Cry” (revealing Drake's father's cancer battle), “Ran to Atlanta” with Future and Molly Santana, “Make Them Pay” with direct disses at Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, J. Cole, and the “big three,” plus “Burning Bridges,” “National Treasures,” “What Did I Miss?,” and more. Analytic Dreamz also examines the companion projects Habibti (11 tracks, moody R&B with “WNBA,” “Slap The City” feat. Qendresa) and Maid of Honour (14 tracks, dancehall/house energy with “Cheetah Print” feat. Sexyy Red, “Amazing Shape” feat. Popcaan, family cover art of Sandi Graham). Key cameos include Shane Gillis, DJ Akademiks (gifted OVO chain), Adonis, Stunna Sandy, and Future. Full analysis of symbolism, feud references to Kendrick Lamar, LeBron James, A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and the record-breaking streaming dominance across all 43 tracks. Essential listening for Drake fans unpacking the lore, visuals, and post-beef narrative.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticJoin The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0KAnalytic Dreamz delivers a full breakdown of Drake's Iceman Episode 4 livestream and the surprise triple album drop on May 15, 2026. In this segment, we dissect the 75-minute cinematic visual album that peaked at over 458,000 concurrent viewers, featuring Toronto-shot music videos, thermal surveillance aesthetics, Pinocchio callbacks, red/white motifs, Michael Jackson glove symbolism, and a fiery bot farm climax. We cover the complete Iceman tracklist including “Make Them Cry” (revealing Drake's father's cancer battle), “Ran to Atlanta” with Future and Molly Santana, “Make Them Pay” with direct disses at Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, J. Cole, and the “big three,” plus “Burning Bridges,” “National Treasures,” “What Did I Miss?,” and more. Analytic Dreamz also examines the companion projects Habibti (11 tracks, moody R&B with “WNBA,” “Slap The City” feat. Qendresa) and Maid of Honour (14 tracks, dancehall/house energy with “Cheetah Print” feat. Sexyy Red, “Amazing Shape” feat. Popcaan, family cover art of Sandi Graham). Key cameos include Shane Gillis, DJ Akademiks (gifted OVO chain), Adonis, Stunna Sandy, and Future. Full analysis of symbolism, feud references to Kendrick Lamar, LeBron James, A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and the record-breaking streaming dominance across all 43 tracks. Essential listening for Drake fans unpacking the lore, visuals, and post-beef narrative.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticJoin The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0KAnalytic Dreamz delivers a full breakdown of Drake's Iceman Episode 4 livestream and the surprise triple album drop on May 15, 2026. In this segment, we dissect the 75-minute cinematic visual album that peaked at over 458,000 concurrent viewers, featuring Toronto-shot music videos, thermal surveillance aesthetics, Pinocchio callbacks, red/white motifs, Michael Jackson glove symbolism, and a fiery bot farm climax. We cover the complete Iceman tracklist including “Make Them Cry” (revealing Drake's father's cancer battle), “Ran to Atlanta” with Future and Molly Santana, “Make Them Pay” with direct disses at Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, J. Cole, and the “big three,” plus “Burning Bridges,” “National Treasures,” “What Did I Miss?,” and more. Analytic Dreamz also examines the companion projects Habibti (11 tracks, moody R&B with “WNBA,” “Slap The City” feat. Qendresa) and Maid of Honour (14 tracks, dancehall/house energy with “Cheetah Print” feat. Sexyy Red, “Amazing Shape” feat. Popcaan, family cover art of Sandi Graham). Key cameos include Shane Gillis, DJ Akademiks (gifted OVO chain), Adonis, Stunna Sandy, and Future. Full analysis of symbolism, feud references to Kendrick Lamar, LeBron James, A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and the record-breaking streaming dominance across all 43 tracks. Essential listening for Drake fans unpacking the lore, visuals, and post-beef narrative.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticJoin The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here: https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0KAnalytic Dreamz delivers a full breakdown of Drake's Iceman Episode 4 livestream and the surprise triple album drop on May 15, 2026. In this segment, we dissect the 75-minute cinematic visual album that peaked at over 458,000 concurrent viewers, featuring Toronto-shot music videos, thermal surveillance aesthetics, Pinocchio callbacks, red/white motifs, Michael Jackson glove symbolism, and a fiery bot farm climax. We cover the complete Iceman tracklist including “Make Them Cry” (revealing Drake's father's cancer battle), “Ran to Atlanta” with Future and Molly Santana, “Make Them Pay” with direct disses at Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, J. Cole, and the “big three,” plus “Burning Bridges,” “National Treasures,” “What Did I Miss?,” and more. Analytic Dreamz also examines the companion projects Habibti (11 tracks, moody R&B with “WNBA,” “Slap The City” feat. Qendresa) and Maid of Honour (14 tracks, dancehall/house energy with “Cheetah Print” feat. Sexyy Red, “Amazing Shape” feat. Popcaan, family cover art of Sandi Graham). Key cameos include Shane Gillis, DJ Akademiks (gifted OVO chain), Adonis, Stunna Sandy, and Future. Full analysis of symbolism, feud references to Kendrick Lamar, LeBron James, A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and the record-breaking streaming dominance across all 43 tracks. Essential listening for Drake fans unpacking the lore, visuals, and post-beef narrative.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Join Kethees Ketheesan, Co-founder and CEO of Puloli (SkopeOne.io), for a masterclass on scaling deep-tech solutions for the planet's most urgent challenges. With over 20 years of experience in wireless infrastructure and R&D—spanning the evolution of 3G at Motorola to leading flagship RAN products at Netscout—Kethees is now applying his technical pedigree to the climate crisis. In this episode, we explore how SkopeOne.io is revolutionizing methane emissions monitoring through a data-subscription model and what it takes to build a resilient climate tech startup in the 2026 economic landscape.
The church needs to figure out what to do about Israel. Since the second century, a wedge has been driven between Christians and Jews. Sadly, Christians have often been guilty of pouring gasoline on this long–smoldering fire. It happened again after the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Our guest, Ran Silberman, is a messianic Jew and a professional tour guide in Israel. He can speak to the subject of Jew hatred in the church from a unique perspective—not only is he a Christian living in Israel, but he is also a Jew. He explains that the church has a long, shameful history of demonizing Jews, one that must be confronted in this hour. Ran will be in the United States during the month of June to speak to groups and churches about this topic. If you are in the Mid South, the Ozarks, Oklahoma, or North Texas, you can contact us by email at info@gilberthouse.org or by reaching out to Ran through at facebook.com/ran.silberman. Follow us! X: @viewfrombunker | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbertTelegram: t.me/gilberthouseSubstack: gilberthouse.substack.com | sharonkgibert.substack.comYouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelationFacebook.com/viewfromthebunker Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! The building has HVAC, a new floor, windows, insulation, ceiling fans, and an upgraded electrical system! We truly appreciate your support. If you are so led, you can help out at www.GilbertHouse.org/donate. —— Download our free app! This brings all of our content directly to your smartphone or tablet. Best of all, we'll never get canceled from our own app! Links to the app stores for iOS, iPadOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle Fire devices are at www.GilbertHouse.org/app. Please join us each Sunday for the Gilbert House Fellowship, our weekly Bible study podcast. Log on to www.GilbertHouse.org for more details. JOIN US IN ISRAEL! We will tour the Holy Land October 11–23, 2026 with an optional three-day extension to Jordan. For more information, log on to GilbertHouse.org/travel. —— Special offers on our books and DVDs: www.gilberthouse.org/store. Discuss these topics at the VFTB Facebook page (facebook.com/viewfromthebunker) and check out the great podcasters at the Fringe Radio Network (Spreaker.com/show/fringe-radio-network)!
On this episode of RaN, we lay out our resume of why you should have US, avid readers, by YOUR side during the apocalype (what kind? any kind!).
The church needs to figure out what to do about Israel. Since the second century, a wedge has been driven between Christians and Jews. Sadly, Christians have often been guilty of pouring gasoline on this long–smoldering fire. It happened again soon after the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023.Our guest, Ran Silberman, is a messianic Jew and a professional tour guide in Israel. He can speak to the subject of Jew hatred in the church from a unique perspective—not only is he a Christian living in Israel, but he is also a Jew. He explains that the church has a long, shameful history of demonizing Jews, one that must be confronted in this hour. Ran will be in the United States during the month of June to speak to groups and churches about this topic. If you are in the Mid South, the Ozarks, Oklahoma, or North Texas, you can contact us by email at info@gilberthouse.org or by reaching out to Ran through at facebook.com/ran.silberman.
This is a special episode but not one I was hoping I would have to record anytime soon. This is Sam and I'm back this week because my dear close personal "friend", Ran Dice has passed away. He meant a lot to all of us at Violent People and we are so sad he has left us. Miss you and RSP brother. Love live VPRPS couldn't find the theme Ran made so used whatever I had on my computer. Sorry.
Papo Delas #90 – Ranço de Gente que… Olá Amigos e Inimigos do Papo Delas! Conforme combinado, graças aos nossos apoiadores de abril de 2026 , temos o Papo Delas #90 – Ranço de Gente que…. No Ep. 90 do Papo Delas Podcast, Cafeína e Patsy convidam Queen Prih para desabafar seus ranços de pessoas que falam e agem de maneiras diversas.
Last episode we briefly talked about what happened when Ōama passed away, including the apparent conspiracy around the Royal Prince Ōtsu, and then the question as to why his son, Crown Prince Kusakabe, didn't then succeed him to the throne. This episode we are taking a look at that period, but more focused on the rituals and what went into a royal funeral, and then take a look all the way to the eventual ascension to the throne of not Crown Prince Kusakabe, but instead his mother, Ōama's queen, Uno no Sarara. She would eventually be known as Jitō Tennō. For photos and links to other episodes, check out our blog post: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-148 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan. My name is Joshua and this is Episode 148: A Nation Mourns Crown Prince Kusakabe approached the temporary palace structure that had been hastily assembled in the courtyard in front of the Kiyomihara Palace. Solemnly arrayed around him, dressed in their court garments, were the ministers and government officials. Together, they approached the palace building, where the Crown Prince's father, Ohoama, also known as Ame no Nunahara oki no Mabito, lay in state. He had passed away, and according to the imported Confucian values of filial piety, Kusakabe was now expected to mourn in ritual fashion. The court ritualists had seen to every detail of what should be done and even said, to the extent that the crown prince's actions almost felt like a performance of grief, rather than a heartfelt tribute. And yet, Kusakabe could not help but feel some emotion at the sight of his father, once the most powerful man under heaven, now laid out in this place of temporary interment. There would be many more ceremonies and rituals before the final mausoleum would be built and the former sovereign's body finally laid to rest. Until then, even though Ohoama's spirit had left, his body would remain as a symbol to the people, and as the centerpiece of an elaborate ritual, designed, in part, to continue to bolster the state he had helped to create. Last episode we went into some of the shenanigans around the death of Ohoama and the succession to the throne. As we saw, not everyone was apparently on board with the idea that Crown Prince Kusakabe would take the throne, leading to the arrest and execution of Prince Ohotsu. However, we noted that Crown Prince Kusakabe didn't end up on the throne after all: for whatever reason, he never ascended to the honor, and died in 689 – not even three years after the death of his father. And so we saw Uno no Sarara, Ohoama's wife and queen and mother of Crown Prince Kusakabe, formally take the reins of state and go on to reign as the sovereign, the Sumera Mikoto, or Tennou, until 697. From there she would become the first ever Retired Sovereign, keeping her hand in government until her death in 703. This episode we are going to look a little more in depth regarding everything that went on around Ohoama's death and the various rites accompanying his passing. Ohoama's was obviously not the first royal death that we have seen in the Chronicles. It is perhaps, however, one of the best documented in terms of the funerary arrangements and the various rituals that accompanied his passing. Some of those arrangements are mentioned previously in the Chronicles, but not to the same extent as we see for Ohoama. This leaves me wondering: are we seeing something novel—new rites for a new type of sovereign, perhaps? Or was this just the first time the ritual had been documented to this level of detail?. Before jumping into what we see this time around, we should probably look back at what we have seen around the death of previous sovereigns, and which are still going on here. First and foremost is the creation—or at least the designation—of a "Palace of Temporary Interment". This is the Mogari no Miya, with "mogari" being the term for the period between an individual's death and their eventual burial. In the Nihon Shoki we see this practice go back to the earliest times. After all, most deaths do not occur on a set schedule, and once someone has passed away, funerary arrangements would need to be made. Now, if all you are doing is putting a body into a box and lowering it into the ground, you can probably bring it all together rather quickly. However, for centuries the burial practices on the archipelago had been significantly more elaborate. Even those without royal blood might be afforded a special mound, or kofun. There would be giant stones selected to create the chamber, and then tons of earth and pebbles placed on top. There might also be haniwa—clay cylinders—which then might even be topped with special figures. All of this had to be planned out and taken care of, and in some cases, such as the creation of haniwa, it appears as there was a major industry involved in funerary preparations. In the case of royal family members things got even more elaborate, and based on the size of many of the kofun that we see one can assume that their construction took time. In fact, I would not be surprised if the construction of a new tomb mound might not have kicked off on or near the ascension of the sovereign just to make sure it would be ready, but even still it would take time for all of the rites associated with a royal burial to be ready to go. And so it was common practice that one would have to wait before a burial could actually take place. Since you couldn't just leave a body out in the open in the community, the corpse would be deposited, instead, in a temporary building. These are sometimes referred to as mogari huts, which would likely be placed well away from others. Here we should also take into account the general pollution associated with death in its various forms. So you would want to have the body kept out of sight and away from people as best you could while you prepared for the actual burial at some later date. For sovereigns, this mogari hut, or hut of temporary interment, was eventually referred to as a "miya", or "palace". In some cases it seems as if one of the buildings of the sovereign's old palace was used for this purpose, while a new palace was then also built for the new reign. In addition to the place of temporary interment, one of the common traditions we see in funerals in the Chronicles is the role of the eulogy. While a person lay in state during their temporary interment, we are told that people could come to eulogize and lament. In the case of a sovereign, the high ministers and politically connected would come together and deliver speeches. This served multiple purposes. On the one hand, these rituals reinforced concepts of the State and the central authority in the body of the sovereign. On the other hand, they also served as markers of status for those delivering the speeches, and provided opportunities to be seen and heard, signaling their support of the system that provided them their own power and authority. So all of this process and ritual that we see for Ohoama is familiar, from previous royal deaths. However, it's interesting to note that in the most recent years before Ohoama's funeral, a lot of these traditions seem to have been scaled back. For one thing, there was the decline of large, keyhole shaped kofun, ever since the introduction of Buddhism in the 6th century and the move to memorial temples over large tombs. Furthermore, as part of the Taika era reforms we see regulations on how long temporary interment may last for those of princely rank and below—though nothing is clearly stated for the sovereign themselves. Let's look at the most recent royal death's before Ohoama's, but since the beginning of the Taika era. There are at least three we've talked about. First off is the death of Karu, aka Koutoku Tennou. Karu's death is barely remarked upon—he was buried about two months after he passed away, and very little fanfare is given. One can't help but wonder if this was, in part at least, due to the fact that Naka no Oe was actually in charge and running things at the Crown Prince. Takara hime, aka Saimei Tennou, would pass away in the middle of the Baekje war against the Silla-Tang alliance. Her body was sent back to Yamato, but the Crown Prince and many of the elites established themselves in Tsukushi—modern Kyushu—to better conduct the war on the peninsula. Not only was her interment thus delayed, but Naka no Oe's own ascension wouldn't take place for several more years, possibly because of the new capital he was building in Ohotsu. Naka no Oe's own funerary arrangements were interrupted by the events of the Jinshin no Ran. In fact, the building of his tumulus was used by the government as a cover to bring in soldiers to prepare for the conflict. There may have been various funerary rituals planned or even carried out by the Afumi court, but if so they were overshadowed by the civil war that broke out between the two claimants to the throne. As such, Ohoama's appears to be the first royal funeral of this magnitude in a while, and in this case they really pulled out all the stops. There were various activities and rituals associated with Ohoama's passing up through the 11th month of 688, over two years later, when he was finally buried. So let's go over what happened and maybe what dragged it out so much longer. First off were the immediate lamentations and eulogies. Ohoama passed away on the 9th day of the 9th month, according to the Nihon Shoki. It was the year 686 according to the western calendar. Two months later the erection of the temporary palace of interment began in the southern courtyard—presumably the area south of the Asuka Kiyomihara palace, where they had previously held the various archery competitions. This took a couple of weeks, and Ohoama's body was finally placed in the temporary palace as of the 24th of that month. While ritual lamentations were raised at the start of the building of the mogari palace and when the sovereign's body was interred, the major rites appear to have started three days after he was laid to rest, on the 27th day, proceeding for the next three days, from the 27th until the 30th. The rites started with Buddhist monks and nuns who arrived before sunrise and began to perform lamentations in the courtyard of the mogari. Later that day, we see food offerings, apparently for the first time in the Chronicles. Offering food to the dead is not unique to Japan. Some in Japan will offer food to their ancestors, especially during the Obon festival. People will also offer food to kami. In the case of Obon, a bowl of rice is often served with two chopsticks sticking straight out of it. This has actually led to a social taboo on leaving your chopsticks "stuck" in food, as it looks as though you are offering the food up to the dead. Instead, chopsticks will be placed on a chopstick rest, on the table, or even across the top of a dish, just not sticking up out of the food, especially the rice. In this case it isn't clear exactly how the food offering was done, nor what happened to the food afterwards. In the case of food offered to the kami, it is often the case that once the kami have had enough time to partake of the aura of the food—its spiritual essence—the food will then be removed and often consumed by people. So for Ohoama's funerary offerings, something similar may have happened—possibly with a feast of some kind to which the various nobles were also invited. Along with the offering of food, we are told of a whole list of individuals who gave eulogies—though we aren't told what the content was. It is likely that these eulogies were largely ritual utterances—stock phrasing by the participant to demonstrate their active performance of the rituals, rather than a deeply thought sermon about the sovereign. After all, this seems to have gone on at a rather constant pace for the next several days. The ritual order seems to have stayed the same, with priests and nuns kicking things off with lamentations in the courtyard, and various nobles presenting their eulogy. The third day, the 29th, was the same. On the fourth day, the 30th, the last day of the month, the priests and nuns raised lament, and the eulogies were given by a Baekje prince in exile, on behalf of his father, as well as the various Miyatsuko of the various provinces. In addition there were all performances of all manner of singing and dancing—which makes it sound more like a wake than anything else. With the close of the 9th month, we have a break in the tale of Ohoama's funeral, as the narrative switches over to the next part of the Chronicles covering the reign of Uno no Sarara, aka Jitou Tennou. The first order of business—other than telling us who Uno no Sarara was and covering some of her history—was to deal with the Prince Ohotsu conspiracy. So we see Prince Ohotsu arrested, along with 30 conspirators. Prince Ohotsu was killed at his residence, where his wife and consort ran to him and took her own life as well. That all happened the 2nd and 3rd days of the 10th month. The 30 co-conspirators were apparently held for about twenty-seven days while the court debated what to do with them. Finally, the decree was made to pardon all except Toki no MIchidzukuri, who was only banished instead of executed, and the monk Heng-sin, who was exiled to a temple in Hida, over on Kyushu. The month after that, Ohotsu's sister, Royal Princess Ohoku, returned to the capital from Ise Shrine where she had been serving as the Shrine Princess—though we aren't told who replaced her. And so it isn't until the twelfth month that we see what appears to be the rites for Ohoama's passing seem to resume. This takes the form of a universal great assembly held in Ohoama's name at the Five temples, listed as Daikandaiji, Asukadera, Kawaradera, Toyoradera in Woharida, and Sakadadera. This is an interesting list, as one would have expected that the rites would have occurred at the National Temples established previously—for more on the National temples, we talked about that back in Episode 142.. Daikandaiji, Asukadera, and Kawaradera were, of course, national temples. Yakushiji is not mentioned, probably because it was still under construction. At this date it's only been dedicated, and we won't see it show up in the Chronicles until 688—a year and change from the current gathering. Toyoradera was the nunnery of Toyoura temple, and Sakada temple appears to be another nunnery, formerly known as Kongoji. It is said to have been in MInabuchi, and ruins of a temple are found in the southeast of Asuka, in an area known today as, funnily enough, Sakada. There is also a modern temple known as Kongoji nearby, though I can't tell if there is any connection between the two other than the name— whether its a true successor temple or just given that name because of the proximity of the ruins. Either way, in this phase of the funerary rites, we have a combination of temples and nunneries involved. I wonder if that was so that men and women could gather in spaces for them. Either way, it is clear that these rites were held specifically to build merit for Ohoama. This was probably also the intent behind the actions of the court a week later, when presents of cloth and silk were made to orphans, as well as childless, widowed, and elderly men and women of the capital—those who didn't have someone else to look after them or who were assumed to not have a stable income. Come the first day of the new year of 687, we see a return to the palace of temporary interment, and this time it is in a new and different fashion. We are told that the Crown Prince, accompanied by ministers and public functionaries, proceeded to the Palace of Temporary Interments and made lament. We are told that it was the Nagon, Fuwe no Ason no Miaruji, who performed the eulogy, after which everyone once again raised a lament. Then the common people raised a lament. Then Ki no Ason and others of the High Stewards of the Palace made food offerings. After this, the Uneme of the Steward's department raised a lament and then music was performed by the officials of the Department of Music. This clearly indicates an involved ceremony, with set roles and functions. It is being headed by Ohoama's son, Crown Prince Kusakabe, and attended by all the high ministers, and it is being held on the first of the year in place of other festivities for that day. Other than the timing, the basic pattern of events is similar to the other rituals of lamentation. . The contents of the ceremony might be different, and it was always someone new who was chosen to give the formal eulogy, but there does seem to be some ritual and pattern to the rites performed. For major ceremonies, we are told of the Crown Prince, the ministers, and the various public functionaries who are there, in attendance, but in other instances we are just told of who is providing the lamentations or the eulogy. For example, on the 5th day of the first month—four months after the big ceremony, we are told that everyone—Crown Prince down to the common people—proceeded to the Palace of temporary interment and made lamentations. Either way, the period for the next year and change is filled with various ceremonies either at the palace of temporary interment, where Ohoama's body lay in state, or elsewhere in the capital, such as at various temples. There were also various gifts from the court. All of this was as much political spectacle as it was grieving. There are some suggestions that, according to Confucian tradition, a son was expected to mourn the loss of his father for up to three years. So perhaps that is part of what was happening—the royal family was participating in some costly signaling to both raise Ohoama—and thus, themselves—up on a pedestal and to try to demonstrate the virtue of Crown Prince Kusakabe. After all, the Queen and her son had been effectively running the government before Ohoama had passed, so it wasn't like there was any actual change and only minor risk. The timeframe also allowed the court time to send messengers out to inform the far reaches of the archipelago of Ohoama's passing and give them time to come and do homage. They even sent messengers to Silla, no doubt to both let them know about what had happened and possibly to solicit a condolence embassy. All of that would also play into the pageantry and mythmaking of the moment, further strengthening the position of the Yamato court, which was, of course, under the control of Uno no Sarara and her son. And so we see numerous, and quite public, displays. Besides the lamentations and the eulogies, we see repeated gifts to the underprivileged, like giving gifts of coarse and floss silk to those residents of the Capital who were at least 80 years old, as well as to invalids with little hope as well as to the poor people who had no other means to support themselves. All of it being done in Ohoama's name, even though the reputation no doubt was actually accruing to his son and widow. In the third month we see a special mention: an ornamental chaplet of flowers, known as a mikage, was offered at the Palace of Temporary Interment. Today, flowers are often found in abundance at Japanese funerals. Certain flowers may be "gifted" to the deceased as a last gift from mourners, and large, elaborate flower constructions are often used to decorate the funeral parlor where the corpse is laid out. Groups and individuals may pay exorbitant sums to place flowers with a name card indicating who donated it, and some flowers may be for the grieving family to take home. There are meanings behind the type of flowers, and often white flowers are preferred, as white is often seen as the color of death. Some of this appears to be influenced by the West, but flowers have long been symbols and used in various ceremonies and rites. It is possible that some of this was influenced by Buddhist and Tang court rituals. Or maybe they just wanted something that was sweet smelling to help cover up the inevitable odor that no doubt resulted from leaving a body out for about six months at that point. Whatever the purpose, we aren't given too many details on just what this floral display was. Aston calls the "mikage" a "chaplet" and Bentley simply describes it as decorative flowers placed at the mogari palace—the palace of temporary interment. Once the flowers were placed, then Taji no Mabito no Maro performed the ceremony of the eulogy. Next, in the 5th month, we see the Crown Prince and various government officials once again involved. This time they were accompanied by the chiefs of the Hayato and the Ata of Ohosumi, accompanied by their people, advancing and providing a eulogy. The Hayato and the Ata were both indigenous groups of people from southern Kyushu, who were considered to be outside of the Yamato polity, with distinct cultural differences. It is unclear if they were ethnically Wa people. Evidence from that area suggests that the people there, whatever their ethnicity, had adopted many of the Yayoi and Kofun cultural life-ways. This was not without some differences, such as distinct burial practices, such as underground burial chambers. Hayato were also known in Yamato for their shields, which are often depicted as long, thin pentagonal shapes with red, white, and black figural paintings. The propaganda-slash-merit making continued over the next few months. In the 6th month we see an amnesty, where criminals were pardoned, and in the 7th month the court unilaterally cancelled out any interest on debts contracted in the year 685 or earlier. In cases where the debtors already owed service to their creditors, for some reason, they made it so that the creditors could not demand that they provide additional service. People still had to pay back the balance, but they didn't have to pay back anything extra. The next ceremony at the palace of temporary interment wasn't for about three months later, in the 8th month of 687. We are told that offerings of food were made, and that only awokimono—green things—were offered. Bentley translates this passage to say that it was the feast of first fruits, the Niinamesai, and they do use the character for "namé", but not the full name. As for "Awokimono" – Aston translates this as plain, boiled rice, and says it is meant that it was without meat of any kind. Indeed, the characters appear to be for blue or green cooked rice. There is another reading for "Awokimono" as "Hijikioono", and Aston suggests that there may have been some hijiki, or seaweed, involved. Regardless this appears to have been specifically a funerary tradition. A day after the food was offered—and we aren't told who did that—the elderly people of the capital, both men and women—some possibly with new duds thanks to the silk they had received earlier—came and made lamentation west of the bridge. I suspect that this means they didn't enter the actual courtyard where the palace of temporary interment was set up, but simply gathered on the west side of the Asuka River, which flowed past the west side of the courtyard. Later that month, we see another Buddhist ceremony. Fujiwara no Ason no Ohoshima and Kibumi no Muraji no Ohotomo invited 300 Buddhist dignitaries, known as Ryuuzou and Daitoku, to Asukadera. There they gave each one of them the present of a kesa—a Buddhist sash worn as part of their vestments. Kesa were typically stitched together from cloth donated by Buddhist laypersons, and we are told that these kesa were made from the garments of the late sovereign. The language of the decree itself was apparently so painful—Aston translates it as pathetic—that it couldn't be fully set forth. That sounds to me like someone forgot to write it down. Eleven days after the assembly at Asukadera, a national Buddhist feast was sponsored at all of the Temples in the capital. The day after that, a feast was sponsored at the mogari palace. Later that same month, Silla ambassadors arrived at the archipelago. The Dazai, the viceroy of Tsukushi, met with them and informed them of what had happened. It is likely that they had left before any word had reached the peninsula, so this was the first they heard of it. Nonetheless, they all put on mourning clothes, turned to face the East, and bowed three times and raised lamentations. This was all being done in Kyushu, but nonetheless it was clearly important to the people who were recording these interactions. A similar note in the record appears on the 23rd day of the first month of the following year, where we are told that Ohoama's death was announced to the Silla ambassador, Gim Sangnim, and his colleagues. They, in turn, made their lament three times. It is possible that these are records of the same event, and I even wonder if one was recorded on the date they arrived and the other was recorded on the date that they were formally told what was happening. Either that, or the events of the 9th month of 687 were an informal notice, so that they could get ready, after which they traveled the three months and change to Asuka, where they then were given the formal notification. Moving on to finish out the year 687: on the 22nd day of the 10th month, the Crown Prince and government officials, along with all of the governors and Kuni no MIyatsuko—and not forgetting the common people—all began work on the sovereign's tomb. This is one of the few tombs that we have some confidence in, though it isn't a keyhole shaped kofun like many others from previous eras. Today it looks mostly like a round hill, but originally it seems to have been an eight-sided tomb with five distinct levels. Eight sides suggests a Buddhist influence, as eight is an auspicious number, such as in the 8-fold path. I can't help but wonder if the five levels were connected to concepts of five in Confucian and Daoist teachings. For instance, there was the idea of five Confucian virtues as well as the Wuxing, or Gogyou, where we have five specific elements. Given the importance and influence of continental thinking at the time, neither one would surprise me. The tomb would take almost a year to complete, which almost doesn't seem like enough time given everything that they did. It is possible that they had already prepped much of what they needed and that the 10th month of 687 was simply the date they broke ground, but either way it was an impressive feat. Meanwhile, as the construction was ongoing, the public displays of mourning continued. Once again, new year's day celebrations of 688 were postponed in favor of public mourning, with the Crown Prince and all of the ministers making their lamentations on the first day of the year, followed by a company of priests the following day. On the 8th day of the first month of the year we are told that there was a public great congregation of priests held at Yakushiji. This is the first official event held at Yakushiji, and so presumably the temple was now finished—or at least finished enough. Since Ohoama isn't mentioned, it is certainly possible that this wasn't directly connected to the ceremonies around the official mourning of Ohoama. On the other hand, Yakushiji was commissioned by Ohoama for the health of his wife, Uno no Sarara, so I have a hard time thinking that there weren't any connections at all. In the second month of 688, we get a decree that has a few different interpretations. The decree states that, "in the future, on all days of national mourning, it is absolutely necessary that abstinence be practiced." Bentley translates this to mean that there would be a feast on the day of national mourning every year after. The key contention appears to be whether or not the day of mourning was a monthly or annual thing. The court appears to have been creating a national holiday around the memory of Ohoama, and it may have chosen the second month for that day of mourning and remembrance. Alternatively, this was for a day of mourning each month of the current year. The wording is vague. It is like the question of whether or not "Bi-weekly" means twice a week or once every two weeks, and I don't know that there is any consensus. Still, it is interesting that they created their own holiday to remember Ohoama, and as far as I can tell this is the first such example of a holiday being used to remember a person in this way. Once again on the 22nd day of the third month, flowers were again presented at the palace of temporary interment. This was only two days different from when the mikage had been set up in the previous year, so it would seem that the timing was significant—possibly because it was spring and the flowers were blooming. Fujiwara no Ason no Ohoshima, the same individual who had helped gather the various priests together at Asukadera to hand out kesa made of the sovereign's own garments, presented the eulogy. The ceremonies are then put on hold for a bit. There is an account from the 11th day of the 6th month where prisoners guilty of capital crimes would have their punishment mitigated one degree while those in prison for lighter offenses would be pardoned altogether. In addition, only half of the commuted taxes were to be levied. This might have been more merit-working for Ohoama or it may have been because the nation itself was undergoing a drought and they were seeking the Buddha's favor to bring the rains. Once again in the 8th month we see offerings of food are made, and a lament raised inside the palace of temporary interment. This time the eulogy was performed by Ohotomo no Sukune no Yasumaro. The day after that, Prince Ise was given commands regarding how the upcoming funeral was to be handled, which was to happen three months later. The 11th month kicked off with the Crown prince and the ministers once more going to the palace of temporary interment, this time on the 4th day of the month. They had with them guests from the "frontier lands" as Aston notes—Bentley says foreign countries. Offerings of food were made, and the Tatefushi dance was performed. This was a dance with shields and swords, according to later records. It seems that the dancers also wore armor, or something to approximate armor. All of the ministers then advanced, each in turn, and pronounced a eulogy, with each recounting the services that their ancestors had rendered to the throne. The following day, there was further ceremony as over 190 Emishi brought tribute in on their backs, and pronounced a eulogy for the departed sovereign. Six days later, on the 11th day of the 11th month, Fuse no Ason no Miaruji and Ohotomo no Sukune no Mimiyuki both pronounced eulogies, and then Tahema no Mabito no Chitoko recited, as a eulogy, the succession to the throne of the royal ancestors. And when that was finished, Ohoama's body was finally placed in the Ohouchi tomb and the tomb was sealed. And with that, the sovereign was put to rest, after over two years of mourning and ceremony, specifically designed to put on display the court's apparent grief. Whether they were actually grieved or not, the importance was the performance of grief through the rituals set forth by the state. Individuals and groups demonstrated their loyalty through their participation. Noble families used the platform to recount their service and thus demonstrate their own history and pedigree and thus why they were deserving of their status in the court. Furthermore, during all this ceremony around the funerary arrangements, to try to also have an ascension ceremony for the new sovereign was probably a little too much to try and push through. It would have also meant that they would been holding a ceremony that should be joyful and august under the pall of the mourning period. For the Crown Prince to don the robes of office while his father's body lay in the courtyard was probably, as they say, a bad look. And, as I mentioned earlier, it wasn't like it was making any real, practical difference. The ship of state was hardly rudderless, with Kusakabe and his mother both guiding it through the various ceremonies. Sure enough, in the following year, 689, the new year ceremonies were no longer about mourning and lamentation. The queen gave an audience to all the lands in the Front Hall, and the following day the Ministry of Education presented 80 wooden staves, presumably for an old form of the Setsubun festival. Today, Setsubun, the day before Spring, is celebrated with soybeans, which are tossed at characters in oni masks, and then inside the house. The cries ring out "Oni ga soto" – "Demons Out" and then again, "Fuku ga uchi" – "Good luck inside!" Thus evil spirits are kept at bay and good fortune is welcomed into the home. In the older version of a similar ritual, it seems that wooden staves were used to symbolically drive the demons out, rather than just a handful of auspicious beans. The first month of year 689 continued to look a lot like previous years, prior to Ohoama's death. There was a banquet given to the Ministers, and gifts of clothing were handed out to them. And then, halfway through the month, the various officials brought presents of firewood to the palace. And then a meal was given to the various public functionaries. A few days after that, Queen Uno left to visit the Yoshino palace for a few days, returning two days later. There is something that is not mentioned in all of this that I suspect was happening. First of all, they had no doubt torn down the palace of Temporary Interment, and they were likely preparing for Crown Prince Kusakabe's ascension. There are some that suspect Prince Kusakabe was waiting until three years had passed before taking the throne, mimicking a tradition sometimes observed on the continent, but nothing is explicitly said. Instead, we see that on the 24th day of the 3rd month there was another amnesty across the realm, and we are explicitly told that crimes that hadn't been pardoned in ordinary amnesties were also excepted in this amnesty. Amnesties typically seem to be part of merit-making to either prevent disaster or to celebrate something auspicious. Was this clearing the way for the ascension ceremony to take place? Or had something befallen the royal family? We aren't given many details, but on the 13th day of the 4th month, we are simply told that Crown Prince Kusakabe died. We aren't told that he had previously been ill, or that anything in particular had happened. It is just a simple line in the text. And yet, this must have had tremendously serious consequences. I think we can fairly safely assume that he was prepared to ascend the throne—unless he was thinking of pulling something like Naka no Oe and running things from behind the scenes. However, there is plenty of evidence that Uno no Sarara was more likely to be the one to step back and be the power in the shadow. She had operated from that position before. Whatever the plan was, clearly that plan was no more. Crown Prince Kusakabe was dead, and his only heir was still a young child. He also had no brothers to take the throne. The Chronicles don't mention it, but this must have been a moment of incredible weakness for the court and the Queen. History as we know it could have turned out very differently from this point. Also, sidebar—Prince Kusakabe's death is recorded on the 13th day of the 4th month. While 13 would not necessarily be an inauspicious day until the Western superstition was introduced in recent times, the number 4 has long been associated with death because the pronunciation, "Shi" is the same as—or at least very similar to—the pronunciation of the character for death. This is also the case in Chinese, and so the number four is often avoided and seen as unlucky. Sometimes hotels will skip both the 4th and 13th floors in Asia to avoid any inauspicious vibes. In Japanese, the numbers 4—"Shi" and seven—"Shichi"—will often be pronounced with their kun'yomi readings, so "yon" and "nana" respectively. So I just find it rather an unfortunate coincidence that Crown Prince Kusakabe died on the 13th day of the 4th month. Yikes. Anyway, if there was any wavering or grief by Uno no Sarara, it isn't mentioned in the Chronicles. They continue to march on. Later that same month, Prince Kasuga passed away. Prince Kasuga was a non-royal prince, and the death of Prince Kasuga and the Crown Prince were met with an equal lack of fanfare or explanation. Compare to the death of Prince Ohotsu, who was given an entire eulogy about how he was really well liked. Instead, the Chronicle simply moves on. The rest of the year passes by as though nothing had happened. The government continued with Uno no Sarara at its head. In the first day of the first month of the following year, Uno no Sarara formally ascended to the royal dignity in a ceremony where Mononobe no Maro set up the shields, Nakatomi no Ohoshima recited a prayer for the blessings of Heaven, and Imbe no Shikofuchi delivered the divine seal, sword, and mirror to her majesty. At that point all of the ministers and government officials made their obeisance in turn, clapping their hands as they did so. One has to wonder if this ceremony wasn't a little bittersweet, given everything that had happened. A few things about the ceremony to note. First are the three families mentioned: Despite the fact that the Mononobe house had been defeated by the Soga centuries back, here they stand in their traditional role as soldiers, raising up the shield. Then we see Nakatomi no Ohoshima—earlier mentioned as Fujiwara no Ohoshima—as the director of the Ministry of Kami matters, handling the ceremony. And then there is the Imbe, in some ways the rival to the Nakatomi and their descendants, the Fujiwara, who is handling the regalia. Also of note is that the three regalia here are not the jewel, sword, and mirror, but the seal, sword, and mirror. We mentioned this many episodes back when we had seen these same three used for the ascension ceremony, and noted then that a royal seal appears to be used, rather than mention of a jewel. The character used, on the continent, referred to the imperial seal of the dynasty, which itself would have been carved into jade, or a jewel. And in Japan the character is also said to refer to the "Yasakani-magatama", the sacred jewel. So was it the jewel, and they just called it the seal? Or is that a later attribution to try and maintain the concept that the three regalia remained the same? I couldn't honestly say, but either way we see the concept of these three regalia as central to the ceremony. And with that, Uno no Sarara, known to us as Jitou Tennou, ascended the throne. She would continue the process of making updates to the court and to the laws and regulations. She would also see the creation of the Fujiwara palace and accompanying city—designed as the first permanent capital city in all of Japan. She would also take a hard line with Silla and make her mark on the world stage, as well. But we'll talk about that in future episodes. And so, until next time, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts. If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page. You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com. Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now. Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.
On this episode of the Product for Product Podcast, we're joined by Ran Erez, product leader, podcaster, and founder of Re.focus, for a highly practical episode on competitive intelligence tools and tactics for product managers.With over a decade in B2B, B2C, and cyber (including three years on the mobile pod at monday.com), Ran has seen the same pattern repeat: teams either copy competitors blindly or ignore them entirely. He argues there's a better way, treating competitors as a massive time‑saver for validation and strategy, without letting them drive your roadmap.Join Matt and Moshe as they explore with Ran:How Ran went from QA manager in cyber to owning product and driving millions in salesThe biggest mistakes PMs make with competition: copying feature lists, believing marketing at face value, and doing “one‑and‑done” competitive intelligence Why focusing only on direct “budget competitors” misses the real job‑to‑be‑doneThe Competitive Intelligence Pyramid:Feature level – how others solve the same problemProduct capabilities – pros/cons at whole‑product levelMessaging – how value is communicated and evolvesProduct strategy – what bets they're makingCompany strategy – where the business is actually headingConcrete methods and tools at each level, including:Finding real users of competitors through screeners, communities, and support/KB pagesRunning “SUSHI” competitive user research: side‑by‑side tests of your product vs. theirs over timeTalking to integration partners and freelancers who implement multiple competing toolsUsing Wayback Machine, screenshots + Gemini, and Perplexity to track how sites, pricing, and positioning changeMining public earnings calls for strategic signals in the language leaders useHow to systematically identify your true competitors (and what it means if you can't find any)Treating CI as a muscle: what “small start” looks like and how to keep learning over timeUsing competitors to validate your ideas by putting their products in front of your usersAnd much more!Want to connect with Ran or learn more?LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ran-erezYou can also connect with us and find more episodes:Product for Product Podcast: http://linkedin.com/company/product-for-product-podcastMatt Green: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgreenproductMoshe Mikanovsky: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikanovskyNote: Any views mentioned in the podcast are the sole views of our hosts and guests, and do not represent the products mentioned in any way.Please leave us a review and feedback ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With special guest: Brett Mason… in conversation with Bill Kable Most Australians have some knowledge of the turning point in the Pacific war when the fear of invasion lessened. Most of us know something of the heroic story of Lieutenant John F Kennedy or JFK as he became known. Brett Mason in his book Saving Lieutenant Kennedy fills in the gaps in this amazing and hugely consequential story. These events literally changed the history of the world because if JFK had not survived it is conceivable that nuclear conflict could have erupted in the years that followed. The story happens to involve an Australian who was also heroic, namely Lieutenant Reg Evans of the RAN. Reg Evans operated behind enemy lines knowing that if they were to be betrayed he would certainly be tortured and killed. Evans relied on his Solomons Islands friends who faced the same threats in what they were doing. Evans and JFK were two very different personalities brought together in August 1943 in a way that echoes the discovery of Dr Livingstone in the African jungle. JFK’s words on being discovered on an uninhabited island of the south Pacific? “Man, am I glad to see you!” Podcast (mp3)
Chuck Todd delivers a deeply personal, harrowing account of being inside the Washington Hilton when a gunman charged through security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner — and uses the experience to issue a sobering warning about the political tinderbox America has become. He walks listeners through the night minute by minute: arriving through the back entrance to avoid protests, passing through magnetometers, the moment about a minute after the waitstaff emerged when gunfire erupted two floors above the ballroom and everyone immediately dropped to the ground, the realization that the shots weren't inside the room itself, the lockdown, senior leadership being escorted out, and journalists in the room immediately going to work to find out what happened. He recounts exiting through the kitchen and out a back door, running into the Fettermans on the street, and eventually finding an Uber home — a night he says he will never forget. He then steps back and argues that high-profile shootings have become weirdly normal but are not isolated incidents — they are the predictable culmination of rhetoric and events in an era where Americans are growing dangerously comfortable with political violence. He insists that "did Trump cause this?" is the wrong question, but argues that presidents don't just govern, they set the tone for the country — and Trump has publicly celebrated the deaths of political enemies, used existential language that frames everything through grievance, and views being targeted as personal validation. He warns that escalation invites escalation; that when everything becomes existential, anything becomes justifiable; and that previous leaders knew how to turn the temperature down while Trump deliberately pits Americans against each other. On the security questions, he dentifies two specific loopholes the shooter exploited — the lack of security on Amtrak (which he took from California) and his ability to stay at the Hilton as a regular hotel guest — but emphasizes that this was not a security failure: the screening worked exactly as intended, the gunman never made it down the stairs to the ballroom, and there's no such thing as 100% security against a determined lone wolf actor. He closes by flatly rejecting Trump's attempt to use the incident to justify his planned White House ballroom project, calling it what it is: a vanity play that has nothing to do with security and everything to do with ego, in a moment when the country desperately needs leadership willing to lower the temperature rather than turn it up. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit an event that further eroded Americans’ trust in their government… a U2 spy plane being shot down by the Soviet Union and the government lying directly to the public about the nature of the mission. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment” and weighs in on the NFL Draft. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 Chuck’s experience at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner 04:15 Had trepidation about attending the event beforehand 05:45 It’s not the president’s event, it belongs to the press corp 07:30 Went through the back way to avoid the protests outside 09:15 The ballroom section can be secured from rest of the building 11:00 Guests must pass through magnetometers before entering ballroom 12:00 The gunman never made it down the stairs to the ballroom 14:00 About a minute after the waitstaff came out was when gunfire erupted 15:15 Everybody dropped to the ground immediately 16:00 Didn’t take long to realize shots didn’t occur in the ballroom 16:45 There was security personnel everywhere 17:15 Senior leadership was escorted out, then room went into lockdown 18:15 Attendees immediately went to work trying to find out what happened 19:15 Gunshots were behind closed doors, two floors up from the ballroom 20:15 Will never forget that night at the correspondent’s dinner 21:30 Chuck exited through the kitchen and out a back door 22:30 Even if program resumed, wasn’t going back to the event 23:00 Ran into the Fettermans on the street outside 24:15 Eventually found an Uber and went home 25:15 We’re living in a political tinderbox 25:45 High profile shootings are weirdly normal now, but not isolated 26:15 We’re growing more comfortable with & normalizing political violence 27:30 The Trump era ushered in a new environment of division & violence 28:30 “Did Trump cause this?” is the wrong question 29:30 Presidents don’t just govern, they set the tone for the country 30:45 Trump has publicly celebrated the deaths of political enemies 31:30 Trump uses existential language, sets a terrible tone 32:00 Everything is now framed through political grievance 32:45 Trump views being targeted as validation for his presidency 33:45 If Trump thinks he’s going to be martyred, he’ll take extra risks 34:45 Trump thrives on division, and escalation invites escalation 36:00 When everything is existential, anything becomes justifiable 36:30 Previous leaders knew how to turn temperature down, Trump doesn’t 37:30 Trump is pitting Americans against each other on purpose 39:45 We don’t have the leadership we need to meet the moment 40:45 We’re not doing anything to make political violence less likely 42:30 This era has been led by someone who supports violent rhetoric 43:30 This was not an isolated incident, it was a culmination of rhetoric & events 44:00 Two security vulnerabilities the shooter exploited 44:30 Loophole #1 was lack of security on Amtrak 45:30 Loophole #2 was shooter staying at the Hilton as a hotel guest 46:45 This wasn’t a security failure, it worked as intended 47:45 This incident had nothing to do with building the ballroom 48:45 There’s no such thing as 100% security against a lone wolf actor 49:30 The ballroom isn’t about security, it’s a vanity project 55:30 ToddCast Time Machine May 1, 1960 56:45 Cold War tensions were rising, but felt manageable 57:15 U2 spy planes flew high above Soviet Union 57:45 U2 shot down over USSR, pilot parachuted to safety & was captured 58:30 US denied spy mission and called it a “weather monitoring plane” 59:00 Kruschev let the US lie to the world before revealing the truth 59:45 The issue wasn’t the spying, it was the lying to the public 1:00:15 Within a year we had the Bay of Pigs, American credibility takes a hit 1:01:00 Trust was already stretched after the McCarthy era 1:02:15 People stopped believing the government’s version of events 1:02:45 Ask Chuck 1:03:30 What advice would you give amateur podcasters? 1:08:15 How does a nation apologize to the world? 1:11:00 Could a Supreme Court vacancy increase GOP chances in midterms? 1:15:00 How can Democrats regain a foothold in Missouri? 1:20:15 Will Trump provoke strong polarized reactions long after his presidency? 1:24:00 How likely is it that Republicans can push back on Trump successfully? 1:26:15 Is there a scenario where Vance tries to distance himself from Trump?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chuck Todd delivers a deeply personal, harrowing account of being inside the Washington Hilton when a gunman charged through security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner — and uses the experience to issue a sobering warning about the political tinderbox America has become. He walks listeners through the night minute by minute: arriving through the back entrance to avoid protests, passing through magnetometers, the moment about a minute after the waitstaff emerged when gunfire erupted two floors above the ballroom and everyone immediately dropped to the ground, the realization that the shots weren't inside the room itself, the lockdown, senior leadership being escorted out, and journalists in the room immediately going to work to find out what happened. He recounts exiting through the kitchen and out a back door, running into the Fettermans on the street, and eventually finding an Uber home — a night he says he will never forget. He then steps back and argues that high-profile shootings have become weirdly normal but are not isolated incidents — they are the predictable culmination of rhetoric and events in an era where Americans are growing dangerously comfortable with political violence. He insists that "did Trump cause this?" is the wrong question, but argues that presidents don't just govern, they set the tone for the country — and Trump has publicly celebrated the deaths of political enemies, used existential language that frames everything through grievance, and views being targeted as personal validation. He warns that escalation invites escalation; that when everything becomes existential, anything becomes justifiable; and that previous leaders knew how to turn the temperature down while Trump deliberately pits Americans against each other. On the security questions, he dentifies two specific loopholes the shooter exploited — the lack of security on Amtrak (which he took from California) and his ability to stay at the Hilton as a regular hotel guest — but emphasizes that this was not a security failure: the screening worked exactly as intended, the gunman never made it down the stairs to the ballroom, and there's no such thing as 100% security against a determined lone wolf actor. He closes by flatly rejecting Trump's attempt to use the incident to justify his planned White House ballroom project, calling it what it is: a vanity play that has nothing to do with security and everything to do with ego, in a moment when the country desperately needs leadership willing to lower the temperature rather than turn it up. Then, Pete Curran — meteorologist for Watch Duty, the nonprofit fire alert app that became indispensable for Californians during the devastating LA fires earlier this year — joins the Chuck Toddcast to discuss why fire season in the West is now effectively a 12-month phenomenon and what every American needs to know to prepare. Curran explains that Watch Duty has revolutionized real-time fire information by providing constant updates, replacing a system where the public previously got just twice-daily official updates that were dangerously inadequate during fast-moving emergencies. The conditions heading into 2026 are alarming: the West had a wet winter but very little snow, California recorded its hottest March ever, a Category 5 cyclone hit the Pacific in April, fuels are drying out at a record rate, and there were already massive fires in Nebraska and Kansas in mid-March that should serve as a wake-up call to a country that still thinks of wildfires as a California problem. Curran walks through what people can actually do to protect their homes, why they should consider non-combustible roofing, which he notes was the single biggest factor in determining which LA homes survived this year's fires. He explains that water pressure typically collapses during major fires (so hosing your house only helps so much), that firefighters now actively triage which homes have been "hardened" before deciding what to defend, and that California utilities are finally getting serious about burying power lines — though vulnerable communities will likely bear the cost. The conversation broadens into how meteorology and firefighting have become deeply integrated, and what's keeping experts up at night. Curran explains that weather is the single most important thing firefighters must prepare for to stay safe, and reveals that major firefighter organizations now employ staff meteorologists and fire behavior analysts on every incident. He flags serious concerns about firefighter staffing shortages, the fact that federal firefighting resources have been cut and reorganized under the Trump administration, and the biggest nightmare scenario: multiple major fires breaking out simultaneously across regions, leaving no resources to redeploy. His ultimate message is hopeful but urgent: we have better data than ever before, but data alone isn't enough — it requires the resources, attention, and personal preparation to actually save lives. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit an event that further eroded Americans’ trust in their government… a U2 spy plane being shot down by the Soviet Union and the government lying directly to the public about the nature of the mission. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment” and weighs in on the NFL Draft. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 Chuck’s experience at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner 04:15 Had trepidation about attending the event beforehand 05:45 It’s not the president’s event, it belongs to the press corp 07:30 Went through the back way to avoid the protests outside 09:15 The ballroom section can be secured from rest of the building 11:00 Guests must pass through magnetometers before entering ballroom 12:00 The gunman never made it down the stairs to the ballroom 14:00 About a minute after the waitstaff came out was when gunfire erupted 15:15 Everybody dropped to the ground immediately 16:00 Didn’t take long to realize shots didn’t occur in the ballroom 16:45 There was security personnel everywhere 17:15 Senior leadership was escorted out, then room went into lockdown 18:15 Attendees immediately went to work trying to find out what happened 19:15 Gunshots were behind closed doors, two floors up from the ballroom 20:15 Will never forget that night at the correspondent’s dinner 21:30 Chuck exited through the kitchen and out a back door 22:30 Even if program resumed, wasn’t going back to the event 23:00 Ran into the Fettermans on the street outside 24:15 Eventually found an Uber and went home 25:15 We’re living in a political tinderbox 25:45 High profile shootings are weirdly normal now, but not isolated 26:15 We’re growing more comfortable with & normalizing political violence 27:30 The Trump era ushered in a new environment of division & violence 28:30 “Did Trump cause this?” is the wrong question 29:30 Presidents don’t just govern, they set the tone for the country 30:45 Trump has publicly celebrated the deaths of political enemies 31:30 Trump uses existential language, sets a terrible tone 32:00 Everything is now framed through political grievance 32:45 Trump views being targeted as validation for his presidency 33:45 If Trump thinks he’s going to be martyred, he’ll take extra risks 34:45 Trump thrives on division, and escalation invites escalation 36:00 When everything is existential, anything becomes justifiable 36:30 Previous leaders knew how to turn temperature down, Trump doesn’t 37:30 Trump is pitting Americans against each other on purpose 39:45 We don’t have the leadership we need to meet the moment 40:45 We’re not doing anything to make political violence less likely 42:30 This era has been led by someone who supports violent rhetoric 43:30 This was not an isolated incident, it was a culmination of rhetoric & events 44:00 Two security vulnerabilities the shooter exploited 44:30 Loophole #1 was lack of security on Amtrak 45:30 Loophole #2 was shooter staying at the Hilton as a hotel guest 46:45 This wasn’t a security failure, it worked as intended 47:45 This incident had nothing to do with building the ballroom 48:45 There’s no such thing as 100% security against a lone wolf actor 49:30 The ballroom isn’t about security, it’s a vanity project 58:00 Pete Curran (Watch Duty) joins the Chuck ToddCast 59:30 Fire season in California is basically all twelve months now 1:00:45 Fire season used to only last a few months 1:01:30 Watch Duty became the must-have app during LA fires 1:02:00 What was the information flow to the public before Watch Duty? 1:02:45 Watch Duty updates fire information in real time 1:03:45 Previous to watch duty, official updates were only twice daily 1:05:15 The west had a wet winter, but not much snow. Bad for fire season 1:06:10 There were massive fires in Nebraska and Kansas in mid-March 1:06:45 California had its hottest March ever, Cat 5 cyclone in Pacific in April 1:07:15 It’s going to be a very significant fire season 1:08:15 Fuels are drying out this year at a record rate 1:09:30 Tropical storms on the west coast bring lightning that start fires 1:10:45 Humans are procrastinators, how do you advise them to prepare? 1:11:30 People should clear their properties of anything combustible 1:12:15 Does hosing the house and yard actually help? 1:13:00 In a big fire, water pressure becomes a massive problem 1:14:00 How can people build differently to adapt to fire threat? 1:14:45 New homes with non combustible roofs survived the LA fires 1:15:30 Firefighters assess which homes have been hardened during a fire 1:16:15 Wooden fences bring fire to the house 1:17:15 What’s the status of California utilities burying power lines? 1:18:30 Power companies have been proactive about fire danger 1:19:30 At some point burying lines won’t be a choice 1:20:15 Vulnerable communities will likely have to bear cost of burying lines 1:21:30 What fire conditions cause you to lose sleep? 1:23:15 Elevated danger conditions will begin around June 1:24:00 Experience of working for the fire service prior to becoming a meteorologist 1:25:30 Weather is the most important thing for firefighters to prepare for to stay safe 1:26:15 Firefighter organizations have a staff meteorologist & fire behavior analyst 1:27:15 Best practices now that meteorology has been infused with firefighting? 1:28:45 Every year we see new fire behavior that’s unprecedented 1:30:30 Remote, solar powered stations provide updated data once an hour 1:32:00 The more data meteorologists have… the better 1:32:30 Nobody in climate science denies that there’s global warming 1:33:00 Every year now becomes “the hottest year ever” 1:34:30 Fire seasons are getting worse globally, not just in western U.S. 1:35:30 There aren’t enough candidates to fill all the firefighting roles 1:37:30 Federal firefighting resources get moved seasonally 1:38:15 The biggest risk is fires breaking out everywhere at once 1:38:45 Federal resources have been cut & changed under Trump administration 1:39:45 The wake up call for this year was the massive fire in Nebraska in March 1:40:30 Colorado has been under red flag warnings 30 times already this year 1:41:00 The public gets “warning fatigue” leading them to not prepare 1:41:45 Watch Duty isn’t just in California, it serves the entire nation 1:42:15 Watch Duty will be adding flood warnings in the future 1:44:00 We have better data than ever, just need the resources & attention 1:45:00 If you live in an area prone to wildfires, download Watch Duty 1:45:45 ToddCast Time Machine May 1, 1960 1:47:00 Cold War tensions were rising, but felt manageable 1:47:30 U2 spy planes flew high above Soviet Union 1:48:00 U2 shot down over USSR, pilot parachuted to safety & was captured 1:48:45 US denied spy mission and called it a “weather monitoring plane” 1:49:15 Kruschev let the US lie to the world before revealing the truth 1:50:00 The issue wasn’t the spying, it was the lying to the public 1:50:30 Within a year we had the Bay of Pigs, American credibility takes a hit 1:51:15 Trust was already stretched after the McCarthy era 1:52:30 People stopped believing the government’s version of events 1:53:00 Ask Chuck 1:53:45 What advice would you give amateur podcasters? 1:58:30 How does a nation apologize to the world? 2:01:15 Could a Supreme Court vacancy increase GOP chances in midterms? 2:05:15 How can Democrats regain a foothold in Missouri? 2:10:30 Will Trump provoke strong polarized reactions long after his presidency? 2:14:15 How likely is it that Republicans can push back on Trump successfully? 2:16:30 Is there a scenario where Vance tries to distance himself from Trump? 2:20:30 NFL Draft reactionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
President Trump addressed reporters in the Oval Office, stating that the U.S. has already struck the majority of Iranian military targets and warning that he will “finish it up militarily” if Iran refuses to reach a deal. Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei suffered severe burns to his face in Israeli strikes, and reports are now saying that he desperately needs plastic surgery. He is hiding from public view, unable to speak or lead effectively. This leadership uncertainty, combined with U.S. naval blockades and ongoing pressure, has weakened Iran's negotiating position. With negotiations continuing, will Trump launch final strikes before Khamenei recovers and regains control?We also cover: CNN reports on stock market under President Trump France24 reports of Trump intentionally locked out 2026 NFL Draft STARTS! Michael Jackson biopic "Michael" debuts amid controversy Secretary Lutnick update on Trump Gold Card 00:00 Pat Gray UNLEASHED! 00:59 Trump Locked Out of Iran Rescue? 02:52 Trump Asked about Nuking Iran 04:38 Trump on Strait of Hormuz 05:42 Trump Evokes Vietnam 07:53 Trump Asked about Iran Timeline 10:33 Trump Asked about Gas Prices 13:28 Clearing Mines from Strait of Hormuz 14:42 New Iran Poll 15:19 Martial Plan for UAE 16:21 Trump on Betting Markets 20:35 Anna Paulina Luna on Maduro Raid Bets 26:02 Harry Enten on the Stock Market 28:47 Ken Griffin Pissed Off at Zohran Mamdani 30:38 Jeffy as the New Ayatollah? 33:33 NFL Draft 35:59 Fat Five 46:36 No Required Visible ID for ICE 51:01 Joe Biden on Why he Ran for President 55:15 Hakeem Jeffries Answers Questions from Kids 58:56 Hakeem Jeffries Asked about Ilhan Omar 1:00:53 Valentina Gomez on Pakistan 1:04:40 Howard Lutnick on Gold Cards 1:10:14 Jeff Fisher's Many Titles 1:12:17 Blow Dryer on Paris Airport Weather Sensor 1:13:56 More Tucker Carlson Parodies from Ami Kozak 1:18:53 Chuck Schumer on Border Patrol / ICE 1:21:08 CBS News Report on Eagle Pass Border 1:24:44 California Governor Candidates & CDLs 1:30:44 California Governor Poll 1:32:26 Washington DC gets 'Beautified' 1:34:01 Doug Burgum on the DC Triumphal Arch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Introduction to solution Green banks “provide financing and technical assistance for clean energy and climate solutions” while driving “economic, health, and environmental benefits for communities across the country” (US Green Bank 50). They attempt to spend, save, and invest people's money conscientiously so they “can grow [their] money while making the world a better place” (GreenFi). Background The fossil fuel industry is the primary driver of our climate crisis, creating an imperative to implement reductions of greenhouse gas as soon as possible to minimize the potential for catastrophic impacts. Unfortunately, traditional banks have exacerbated this problem; specifically, they have “financed fossil fuels by $7.9 trillion dollars since the Paris Agreement,” enabling the building of new oil and gas pipelines, large-scale equipment purchases, and more oil and gas explorations to expand their businesses (Rainforest Action Network). Advantages of Climate-Friendly Banks Green banks pledge to never fund projects involving fossil fuels. Many also donate a percentage of the monthly amount that customers pay to “non-profits that support climate action” while providing transparency about the carbon footprints of their funded businesses (GreenFi). Some “optimistic studies even estimate that [this] divestment [of resources]… can lead to an effective reduction in carbon footprint of up to 7%” (Mieux Donner). Drawbacks of this Solution However, critics argue that the impact of divestment is not equal to the carbon impact of the investment: “under the current system, divested funds can be quickly replaced by other investors, which limits the direct effect on the behaviour of companies and their CO2 emissions” (Mieux Donner). Companies can also adjust their financial strategies to offset the impact of divestment, which limits its effect on their emissions. Specifically, while green banking is well-intentioned, staying with a conventional bank may allow customers to save more money, which they could then donate to high-impact environmental nonprofits. Guest's take Charley Cummings, the CEO of a climate-friendly bank known as Walden Mutual, emphasizes how the largest funders of fossil fuel companies are banks in the United States. He encourages listeners to switch to greener banks that divest their funds towards sustainability while remaining as reliable as traditional banks. About our guest Charley Cummings is the CEO of Walden Mutual Bank, which solely invests their holdings in local sustainable companies. Resources BusinessGreen, ‘Historic bid for greener banking': 21 universities threaten to switch billions of pounds to 'green' banks Greenfi, Greenfi Mieux Donner, A critical analysis of green neo-banks: greenwashing or effective leverage? Rainforest Action Network, Banks fossil fuel finance totals $869 billion in 2024, a dramatic increase in financing Ran, Banks Fossil Fuel Financing U.S. Green Bank 50, The U.S. Green Bank 50 Further Reading Edie, Timeline: What's Included in the IEA's new Net-Zero Roadmap for energy? Financial Times, Cambridge-led coalition of universities threatens banks over fossil-fuel financing US EPA, Green Banks For a transcript, please visit climatebreak.org. For a transcript please visit climatebreak.org/climate-friendly-banking-with-charley-cummings/
Another episode, another new reign--same old problems. This episode we talk about what happened after Ohoama, aka Temmu Tenno, passed away. We'll touch on the fact that it wasn't entirely a smooth transition, and there are certainly hints that not everyone was in agreement as to what should happen. And then there were other problems, such that the heir apparent never actually took the throne. So what happened? For more information on the main characters in this episode, check out the blogpost at https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-147 (Also apologies ahead of time--my voice was not in great shape, and that may come through on the audio) Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan. My name is Joshua, and this is episode 147: Here We Go Again Iki no Hakatoko looked around the spacious room and recognized many of the faces he saw there. There were various nobles from around the court present. All of them were familiar, even if they were not the closest of acquaintances—they ran in similar circles and were connected to each other over various political positions. Some were connected by marriage, some were just allies, and others were almost rivals—but they were all there for a common cause. The open chamber had been buzzing as all of those elites of Yamato talked about why they might have gathered. Of course, the big news was the death of the sovereign. Ohoama had passed away, and the court was formally in mourning. And yet the government seemed stable. The Queen was at the helm, guiding t he government, and her son was beside her as the Crown Prince. So what was everyone doing here, gathering for what they could only assume were… other options? Finally, the buzzing started to die down as the doors to the chamber were closed and guards posted. And then, the host for the discussion arrived, as Royal Prince Ohotsu stepped out and greeted all of his soon-to-be co-conspirators…. This episode, at long last, we are about to dive into a new reign. And if you haven't picked up by now, this, the end of the 7th century, was a turbulent time. Although the court had been instituting reforms to be more like the courts on the continent—and it wasn't like Ohoama died without any heir whatsoever—things were still unstable. I know, shocker, right? So what happened? Let's go over the history some, and the main players, and then we can see what happened and the aftermath. Before that, however, let's talk about what we might expect to have happened, if everything had worked like clockwork. While Ohoama passed away in 686, it wasn't as if he hadn't made any plans. His wife and Queen, Uno no Sarara, was deeply entrenched in governmental affairs, and their son, Prince Kusakabe, had been named Crown Prince in 681. This meant that both were in positions of significant power within the current government. All things being equal, and assuming a Confucian model, one would expect that upon Ohoama's passing, Kusakabe would step up and take the reins of the government, ascending to the throne as the new ruler. Uno would oversee the transition and take her place as the Queen Mother, remaining in the palace and helping to shepherd the new rule, while one of Kusakabe's wives—probably Abe-hime, who, like her half-sister Uno, was also a daughter of Naka no Oe—would become his queen. And yet that is not what happened. Prince Kusakabe does not show up in our list of sovereigns, and we are told he never ascended the throne. Instead, his mother, Uno no Sarara, came to power. So what exactly happened? Why would she not have handed over power to her only son and set him up on the throne? To understand all of that, I think there are several things we need to discuss, first of them being just how tenuous and fragile transitions like this were. If you've been listening to the podcast for a while, you might be nodding in agreement with this statement: for more than a century, at this point, whatever high-minded ideals the rulers of Yamato may have espoused, their path to the throne had been covered in blood. Let's roll back to the events of 587. We talked about this in Episode 91, when the Soga and Mononobe families had each lined up behind different aspirants to the royal throne. The Mononobe were a powerful family, known to be warriors for the throne, and the head of the Mononobe, the Ohomuraji, Moriya, was one of the most influential people at court. However, in recent years, the Soga family had been on the rise. Soga no Iname had married his daughters to members of the royal family, and he and his son, Umako, were known as the Ohoomi. The Mononobe were not having it with these uppity newcomers, but the Soga seem to have built their power, anyway, likely using their connections to the continent to do so. In a series of succession disputes, the Soga came out on top, defeating the Mononobe and eventually killing Moriya. It was a bloody fight, but eventually the Soga's royal relatives won out. This brought Hasebe Wakasasagi, aka Sushun Tennou, to the throne. For a time, Wakasasagi and Soga no Umako ruled the land, but eventually Wakasasagi grew suspicious of Umako—perhaps jealous of his power. He considered taking him out, but Umako caught wind and had the sovereign assassinated, instead. Umako then put his own niece, Kashikiya Hime, on the throne, where most know her as Suiko Tennou. Kashikiya was no stranger to the court, having served as the wife of her own half-brother, Nunakura, aka Bidatsu Tennou. Kashikya is thought to have been a compromise candidate, chosen specifically to avert any further power struggles. Certainly, Umako did not want a repeat performance of what had just happened with Wakasasagi. And though she reigned, power was apparently shared between Soga no Umako, Kashikiya Hime, and Kashikiya Hime's nephew—Umako's grandnephew—Crown Prince Umayado, aka the legendary Shotoku Taishi. By all rights, it seemed like things should have gone smoothly. Umako, the eldest, would pass away to be succeeded by his niece, and it would make sense that after Kashikiya Hime's passing, Umayado would assume the throne. Instead, Umayado would be the first to pass, creating uncertainty as to the future of the throne. Then Umako would follow several years later. Finally, Suiko would pass away soon thereafter. So, in about six years the three most powerful people in court all passed away. Soga no Umako's son, Soga no Emishi, was still coming out from under his father's shadow. Furthermore, it was not clear who should sit the throne—should it be Prince Yamashiro no Oe, the son of the Crown Prince, Umayado? After all, his father would have likely inherited the throne and then it would have no doubt been passed to him. And yet, there was another contender: Prince Tamura. Ultimately Soga no Emishi backed Prince Tamura, a man with ties to Nunakura through both his father and mother, and yet who was not truly a royal prince in that his own parents had never held the throne. Then again, neither had Umayado. Eventually, Prince Yamashiro no Oe would back down from his claim to avoid bloodshed—and yet blood would be shed anyway. When Prince Tamura died, in an apparent bid to keep Soga power and quash any resistance before it started up, Soga no Emishi had Tamura's wife, Takara hime, aka Kougyoku Tennou, installed—but Prince Yamashiro no Ohoe was still alive, and his heirs were still out there. Soga no Emishi appeared to be content, but his son and heir, Soga no Iruka, was not. And when his father was ill and Iruka had a free hand, he ordered the destruction of Prince Yamashiro no Oe, presumably to avoid a future challenge to the throne and thus to the Soga family's hold on power. This move shocked many, and rather than preventing conflict, it seems to have stirred up ill feelings against the Soga for their heavy hand in the politics of the period. This would lead Prince Naka no Ohoe and several co-conspirators to rise up, killing Soga no Iruka in court, and then attacking his father, Soga no Emishi, in their home. See episode 106 for more on that, known as the Isshi Incident. Naka no Ohoe and his supporters would take their place in the court, but Naka no Ohoe would not ascend to the throne, himself – at least not yet. Instead, he took the position of Crown Prince, and his uncle, Prince Karu,aka Kotoku Tennou, took the throne. However, that still left a loose end. Prince Furubito no Oe, who had appeared to be the favorite for the throne under the Soga, was still alive. Furubito no Oe was the son of Tamura and a Soga consort—Hotei no Iratsume, the daughter of Soga no Umako. Although the Chronicles do not mention it, he seems to have been well placed to be Crown Prince in place of Naka no Oe, especially in a Soga dominated court. Without that backing, however, his claim may not have been quite so strong. He had gone into exile in Yoshino, but opponents of Naka no Oe's faction and their bloody coup began to use him as a rallying point. It is unclear if Prince Furubito himself had any ambitions, but the fact remained that he was a threat, nonetheless, and Prince Naka no Oe had him taken out. By controlling things from behind the throne, Prince Naka no Oe seems to have been able to keep things fairly stable. When his uncle Karu passed away, the throne went back to his mother, who is known as Saimei Tennou in her second reign, but Naka no Oe was still in a place of considerable power, and the continuity likely helped keep things on track. Then Takara Hime passed away in the midst of a national crisis—the mobilization to support Baekje against the Silla-Tang alliance. That military effort turned out to be less than successful, but by that point, there does not seem to have been much question over who was in charge – it was finally Naka no Oe's turn to take the throne, and he did, as Tenji Tennou. And so it wasn't until Naka no Oe's own death that we again see major violence. Naka no Oe's brother, Ohoama, is said to have been the Crown Prince, but then Naka no Oe's son, Ohotomo, came of age. He was made the Dajo Daijin and supported by the most powerful nobles in court. It is clear that there were divergent factions within the court itself, though, with some supporting Ohotomo and others supporting Ohoama. In the midst of this, Ohoama chose to bow out, at least while his brother Naka no Oe was still on the throne. However, Ohotomo and his supporters could not leave Ohoama out there as a loose end. They knew that he still had a claim and supporters, and they started to make plans to move against him after Naka no Oe's death. They were too slow, however—Ohoama caught word and moved against the court, instead. In a bloody struggle that upended the politics of the court one more time, Ohoama came to the throne. That struggle, the Jinshin no Ran, was covered in detail in episodes 129 to 132. So if we look back we can see that for all of the thoughts of inheritance and legitimacy, most of those who had ascended the throne had done so by eliminating their rivals—either before or just after they assumed the royal mantle. As such, this is something that Ohoama was, himself, quite concerned about, and he took several steps to try to avoid a repeat of this scenario. First, and perhaps somewhat confusingly, he ensured that those in positions of authority in the government were largely tied by blood to the royal family. The royal and non-royal princes were all nominally related in one way, shape, or form. If nothing else this meant that the nobility— those elites without direct blood ties to the throne—were not, themselves, gaining the kind of power and authority that had previously been given out to families like the Ohotomo, the Mononobe, and the Soga. We don't even hear that much about the relatives of Nakatomi no Kamatari, who had achieved such heights under Naka no Oe that he had become the Naidaijin, the great minister of the interior. One might think that this system still had issues, however. After all, each princely line had their own tie to a previous sovereign, and we've certainly seen times where a sovereign came in out of left field, with a nominal, but hardly convincing, connection to the throne. This is particularly true in a time when succession was still not necessarily a strictly patrilineal custom; where it was not unusual for a senior family member to take up the mantle of leadership, rather than just the first-born son of the current ruler. And that seems to be why Ohoama also held the Yoshino conference with his immediate family members in 679. This included his Queen Consort, Uno; the Royal Prince Kusakabe, the Royal Prince Ohotsu, the Royal Prince Takechi, the Royal Prince Kawashima, the Royal Prince Osakabe, and the Royal Prince Shiki. These were sons of both Ohoama and Naka no Oe, but they were all considered to be loyal insiders of the royal family. Ohoama had them swear to work together and to protect one another. And yet, as we shall see, that promise does not seem to have survived Ohoama himself. So let's talk about some of these characters, now that we are here at another question of succession. We'll start with the Queen herself, Uno no Sarara. Uno was born in 645, the daughter of Naka no Oe and a consort, Wochi no Iratsume, daughter of Soga no Yamada no Ishikawa no Maro. Ishikawa no Maro had been a powerful ally of Naka no Oe, assisting with the overthrow of his own uncle and cousin, Soga no Emishi and Soga no Iruka. In turn, he seems to have become the head of the Soga family. Despite the rhetoric that the Soga family was destroyed, it was more that the power of Emishi and Iruka was broken. Ishikawa no Maro had parlayed his assistance into another means to access power at the court, and married his own daughter to Naka no Oe. That worked until it didn't—enemies in court slandered Ishikawa no Maro and Naka no Oe had him killed in 649. Wochi no Iratsume would have three children with Naka no Oe. The eldest was Princess Ota, followed by Princess Uno, and finally Prince Takeru. There is a theory that she died in 651, giving birth to Prince Takeru. Prince Takeru himself would only survive a short while passing away in 658. He was only seven years old. Both Princess Ohota and Princess Uno were married off to their uncle, Prince Ohoama. Princess Ohota was the elder of the two, and bore Princess Ohoku and Prince Ohotsu, whom we'll discuss in a bit. However, Princess Ohota passed away in 667, during the reign of Naka no Oe, and so did not play as big a role in the politics of the day as her younger sister. Uno, on the other hand, appears to have been Ohoama's ride-or-die. They were married when she was only thirteen years old, and she followed him when he and Naka no Oe went to Kyushu to oversee the war on the peninsula. It was there that she gave birth to her first and only son in 662. She left the court behind to follow Ohoama to Yoshino, along with their son, Prince Kusakabe. She then followed Ohoama on his lightning blitz through the mountains over to the east. It is said that while he went on to the front, she maintained a place in the relative safety of the land of Mie. From there she likely organized the rearguard and would have been involved with the back-end logistics. She is also said to have made particular entreaties to the deities of Ise shrine, and may have had a hand in raising the Shrine to greater prominence during the reign of Ohoama and later. A key note is the fact that, when Ohoama became ill, and could not effectively manage the affairs of state, Uno stepped in and made sure that things continued to operate. And so, when Ohoama finally passed away, his projects were not simply left hanging—his queen and consort, Uno no Sarara, was there to see that everything remained on track. As queen, Uno's son, Prince Kusakabe, was the favorite to succeed his father. In fact, in 681, he was named Crown Prince at the age of 19. Kusakabe had even married his own aunt, Princess Abe—his mother's half-sister. Princess Abe was another daughter of Naka no Oe and a Soga related consort; in this case it was Wochi no Iratsume's younger sister, Mehi no Iratsume—sometimes called Sakurai no Iratsume. I should note that Princess Abe was only about 20 years old in 681, only a year older than the Crown Prince, so it isn't like there was a huge age gap between them, even if he was technically marrying his own aunt. Still, they had already had a child between them the year before, in 680—this was Princess Hidaka or Niimi. Two years later, in 683, they had another child, Prince Karu, and later we know that they had a third child, Princess Kibi. This is all a pretty good start for a future sovereign, and Kusakabe seems to have been on track to succeed his father. By all rights, it seems that Kusakabe should have stepped up in 686 to take the throne, but that was not to be. Instead, his mother, Queen Uno no Sarara, would retain her place at the head of the government. It is possible that this was meant to be merely temporary —there were still many things to be taken care of. With Ohoama's death there were numerous rituals having to do with his interment, and the Crown Prince, Kusakabe, appears to have been integral to those events. Whereas we may have previously seen powerful nobles step up, with the increased influence of Confucianism, it makes sense that a son would be responsible for ensuring that things were taken care of. There was also the issue of a new palace that would need to be built, and the court would need to prepare for the various enthronement ceremonies. After all, Naka no Oe himself wasn't formally enthroned for three years into his supposed reign. And just like his grandfather, as Crown Prince, Kusakabe maintained a powerful portfolio at the court that would still allow him to have a heavy hand on the rudder of the ship of state. In fact, had things gone differently, then the Chroniclers may have simply counted these early years as part of Kusakabe's reign, as they had done with Naka no Oe. And all that would have been great—except that, despite all those nice family agreements at Yoshino, there were others who seem to have had designs on the throne. The first claim that likely could have been made was by Prince Takechi. Prince Takechi—written as Takaichi, like the district of the same name—was technically the eldest son of Ohoama. He had been called to Ohoama's side during the Jinshin no Ran, and given nominal control over the troops waiting to cross the pass from Ohowari into Afumi. This was likely more of a sinecure, however; Prince Takechi was still quite young, and while the position would no doubt teach him much about organization and leadership, I certainly hope that there were more experienced individuals assisting him. However, for all of that, Prince Takechi had a major strike against him In the form of his parentage. Although he was Ohoama's eldest son, his mother was not a royal princess. Instead she was Amago no Iratsume, the daughter of the powerful head of the Munakata family, Munakata no Tokusen. Munakata was a powerful area on the northwest coast of Tsukushi—modern Kyushu. It is famous for the three Munakata shrines. The outer, or Hetsu, shrine is on the land, but the middle shrine is on the island of Ohoshima, 11 kilometers from the Hetsu shrine. Then the Oki, or deep sea, shrine is on the aptly named Okinoshima, another 49 kilometers past that, out in the middle of the Genkai Sea, the body of water between Kyushu, Tsushima, and the Korean peninsula. Even today, Okinoshima is considered a sacred place, and has never been developed: even today, only those closely associated with the shrine are allowed to set foot there. Because of that we can see something remarkable, as Okinoshima was held as sacred for hundreds of years, during which time, offerings were regularly made to the kami there, presumably for safe passage across the waters. These offerings have accumulated over the centuries and serve as a fascinating glimpse back into the history of the shrine and of the relations between the archipelago and the peninsula. The land of Munakata—and by extension the rulers, or Kimi—appear to have had not inconsiderable influence over the trade back and forth across the ocean to the continent. This is further corroborated by the wealth left at Okinoshima and elsewhere, as well as by large kofun nearby, thought to be those of the ruling family of the area. This would have no doubt been a powerful and prestigious family to be allied with, especially in Ohoama's role as a Prince. However, despite all of that, they were not, ultimately, a royal family. That would seem to have made Prince Takechi ineligible to take the throne—at least without some serious backing and perhaps a little re-working of his parentage. And this brings us to the third eldest son of Ohoama: Prince Ohotsu. Unlike Prince Takechi, Prince Ohotsu was the son of a royal princess—Princess Ohota. In fact, not only was she a royal princess, but she was the sister to Queen Uno. And Prince Ohotsu was born only a year later than Prince Kusakabe. Furthermore, during the Jinshin no Ran, Prince Ohotsu was called to Ohoama's side, along with his half-brother, Prince Takechi, and he is specifically mentioned in that role, despite the fact that he was still too young to have played much of a role. Like Prince Kusakabe, Prince Ohotsu was in his early twenties. So if we put Kusakabe and Ohotsu side-by-side, we can see that they have a lot of similar qualifications. Both were the sons of Ohoama by daughters of Naka no Oe, giving them double-royal lineages. Their mothers were even full sisters, so they were both great-grandsons of Soga no Ishikawa no Maro, for whatever that means. Kusakabe was older by a day, but Ohotsu's mother was the eldest of the two sisters. But for the fact that his mother had passed away, she could possibly have been declared Queen, and Ohotsu might have ended up as Crown Prince, instead of Kusakabe. Even if something had simply befallen Kusakabe, Ohotsu likely would have been able to step in, especially since Kusakabe had no full-blooded siblings, himself. The reign of Ohoama is replete with examples of Kusakabe, Ohotsu, and Takechi often acting together or being given honors together. While it is always clear to rank them in that order, it is also clear that all three seemed to hold a place of high esteem. What we don't seem to see is any ill will between them—but then again, the Chronicles rarely give much attention to anyone who is not the sovereign except to mention them in passing. As such, we get only a simple sentence in the record, dated barely two weeks after Ohoama's passing, that Prince Ohotsu conspired against the Crown Prince, which is to say, Prince Kusakabe. As is so frustratingly often the case we aren't told how he was conspiring. Clearly, it refers to succession and we can see that it wouldn't take much for Ohotsu to gather support and place himself on the throne—had that occurred, we likely would see some differences in the Chronicles as well. However, as it stood, the conspiracy came to naught. We are told that about one more week later, after the temporary interment of Ohoama's body and the many, many days spent eulogizing him and those around him—seriously, the Chronicles go into way too much detail, which is great for giving us a lot of details on people in the court and their court ranks, but otherwise is mostly paragraphs of names of individuals who were likely important enough for the Chroniclers to ensure that they got at least a mention. It was after that was finished that we are told that Prince Ohotsu's conspiracy was discovered. He had the support of some thirty nobles, including a priest from Silla and the famous Iki no Muraji no Hakatoko—the one who had written the detailed account of the embassy that had been held under arrest by the Tang court, which we talked about back in Episode 123. The point is these were people with some amount of clout and who moved in important circles, and for thirty of them to be in Ohotsu's camp might not seem like much, but that doesn't begin to illuminate all of the people that they would have brought with them to the party. Furthermore, once they went public, who knows how many others might have joined them. Fortunately for Kusakabe—and unfortunately for Ohotsu—the would-be conspiracy was quashed and quashed hard. We are told that it was discovered on the second day of the tenth month of 686—less than 30 days after Ohoama's death—and the Queen herself, Uno no Sarara, stepped in and had Ohotsu executed at his own mansion in Wosada. She then issued a royal decree, stating to everyone that Ohotsu had committed treason, and that the punishment for treason was death. She also stated that those who had assisted him were also guilty, and should likewise receive the same sentence, except that she was going to be merciful. And so she ended up pardoning Prince Ohotsu's co-conspirators. The only exceptions were Toki no Michidzukuri, who was banished to Idzu, and the Silla priest, who was exiled to a temple in Hida. While we aren't told what roles they played, those two apparently were considered more complicit than the others. A few days later, Prince Ohotsu's sister, Princess Oku, was recalled from her position as the shrine princess of Ise. It is unclear if this is related, but it seems relevant given the proximity of the two events. There is one other thing I should likely mention, and that seems to come from the Kaifuso. The Kaifuso is a collection of continental style poetry from the 8th century, similar to the Man'yoshu, but with a different focus. In both works they often given some description of the authors of the poems, which provide us more information on the people of the time. For instance, the Kaifuso speaks favorably of Prince Ohotomo, Ohoama's rival in the Jinshin no Ran, and seems more than a little sympathetic towards him and his cause, compared to the way he is treated in the Nihon Shoki's main narrative. In regards to our current point in the narrative and the treason of Prince Ohotsu the Kaifuso tells us that Prince Ohotsu was ratted out to the Queen by none other than his best friend, Prince Kawashima. Prince Kawashima was another one of the princes who had been called to Yoshino and who had pledged to work together. He was not Ohotsu's brother or even half-brother, however, as Kawashima was the son of Naka no Oe. He was actually a good deal older than Ohoama's actual sons, but apparently trusted by Ohoama at the same time. The Kaifuso also seems to tell us that Kawashima was rewarded for his efforts by the court. The only problem is that the Nihon Shoki, our primary source, tells us none of this. Not only is Prince Kawashima not mentioned in regards to the plot, neither is he mentioned as having received any kind of reward or gift by the court. That doesn't mean the Kaifuso is wrong, but it does raise the question. Similarly, it is just as easy to suggest that the Nihon Shoki itself may be covering up what actually happened. After all, we only have one side of the story. What if there wasn't a conspiracy? Or what if the conspiracy were of the Queen's making, instead. Prince Ohotsu was clearly popular, and had a reasonable claim to the throne. That was a threat to her own son's eventual ascension. It is possible that the Queen, Uno no Sarara, saw a threat and decided to do away with it, herself, keeping her own son's hands relatively clean in the process. Whatever the truth, we likely will never know, and so this is all we have to go on. Whether it was an actual conspiracy or just the paranoid concerns of a queen and mother, it is clear that it was not yet enough to have an heir named—there was always the possibility for these things to go sideways and for someone else to jump in with a claim of their own. For all of that, while it seems that Prince Kusakabe was intended to ascend to the throne, for one reason or another, that was delayed. For some three years, as we've mentioned, Kusakabe and his mother ruled as Queen and Crown Prince, perhaps just because they were handling Ohoama's burial and the creation of a new palace from which Kusakabe himself could then reign. Unfortunately, it seems that time accomplished what Prince Ohotsu and his conspirators could not, and in 689, Prince Kusakabe passed away. Shortly thereafter, the Queen, Uno no Sarara, ascended to the throne herself. This appears to have been because Kusakabe's own son and heir, Royal Prince Karu, was only about 6 years old, having been born in 683, and his daughter was only 9. So rather than giving up the throne to some other woman's child, Uno no Sarara took the throne for herself. She is remembered, today, as Jitou Tennou. Jitou Tennou continued to work the initiatives that had been pushed forward during the reign of her husband. These were projects that she herself was quite familiar with, and in fact, many of the projects are sometimes thought to have been hers, with attribution given to her husband just to give it a greater air of legitimacy. Ultimately, however, she would oversee some quite formidable changes, even if many of them started in the previous reign or not. And so begins the last reign of the Nihon Shoki, covering the years 686 to 697. The Nihon Shoki itself wouldn't be complete and presented to the court for another 23 years or so, and yet this is where they chose to leave off. Perhaps that is because of when it was started, or they just didn't have all the records ready for anything beyond. They clearly had to end somewhere, after all. And given that both Ohoama and Uno had such a hand in many of the changes, perhaps it just made sense to end here. Much of what would come would set the tone for centuries to come. There is one more thing that I want to address in all of this. We've talked about the lineages of the various individuals, who trace their lineages back to either powerful noble families, like the Soga, or to specific sovereigns. There is a tendancy by some to talk about Ohoama having started what some would call the Temmu Dynasty. The idea being that Ohoama's offspring would continue to reign for a time, displacing the offspring of his brother, Naka no Oe. Then, at a later date, Naka no Oe's line would reassert itself. This seems to be pretty clear cut from a strictly patrilineal viewpoint of royal succession, but I think it ignores a lot about the cultural aspects of the time. For one thing, descent was about both the father AND the mother, and too often people discount the mother's influence, when, in fact, the mother most likely had more influence in the raising of children than did a royal father. After all, we don't exactly get a lot of anecdotes about sovereigns spending quality time with their children—and I don't think calling them to help you on campaign counts. To be fair we get hardly any anecdotes about children. But we also see that sovereigns were having multiple children with multiple consorts. Naka no Oe is said to have had about 14 children—possibly more. I count 17 children for Ohoama. And we see the ages spread out across the sovereigns' lifetimes, with some children being born at a point that they had not even attained the age of majority by the time their father passed away. Put another way, look at how Prince Kusakabe was able to marry his own aunt, who was only a year older than he was. Clearly there was a bit of an age difference between siblings. I don't imagine that they were being raised by their father, necessarily, but probably by their mothers and the servants at the palace, generally. I would also point out that Ohoama included both his own children as well as children of his brother in the Yoshino conference, further indicating that he did not have any specific intention to entirely shut out the his brother's line. And then there is Uno no Sarara. She was Ohoama's spouse, but also the daughter of Naka no Oe. Are we to think that she stopped being her father's daughter because she married someone? That doesn't mean that labels might not be helpful in some ways, but I just don't want to over emphasize the familial or dynastic connections. Brothers regularly turned on each other, and blood ties were no guarantee of cordial relations. In fact, only maternal siblings—those with the same mother—were actually considered true siblings in most cases. That's how they justified so much of what we would consider incest in the royal family in the first place. So while I do think that Ohoama and Uno tweaked the system set up by Naka no Oe and made their own impression on Yamato and, by extension, Japanese culture, I just don't want to read too much into the lineages. The stories of politics and royal succession are often much more involved and complex. And hopefully, we'll get to see how complex as we continue on down this path. For now, I think I'm going to leave it here, and so, until next time, if you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts. If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website, SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page. You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com. Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now. Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.
In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason sits down with his sister-in-law Keshia Sawyer. This episode is dedicated to Franki, Riggins, Rider, Race, and Kortni, the family members they lost in a devastating car accident four and a half years ago. Keshia has been in the thick of it ever since the accident. Learning how to parent Ran and Faith through unimaginable loss and carrying the weight of doing it without Race. Keshia and Mason swap tender stories about the people they loved before diving into the honest, messy reality of what grief actually looks like years later: the progress, the setbacks, the guilt, and the moments that still break you open. They revisit the night of the accident and talk about the unanswered calls, the voicemail, the collapse on the sidewalk, and the moment everything changed forever. It's a conversation about survival, about love, and about what it means to keep showing up even when everything tells you not to.
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/roomwherepod.bsky.social Discord: https://discord.gg/uTxewBrkA5 Website: https://roomwherepod.com/ Patreon: https://roomwherepod.cash Of course, some small communities still thrived out in the world. Someone had the feed the cities after all. However, one by one these small farms and the villages that supported them come under the ownership of groups like Viletech. Soon only a few, truly independent farming communities remained. The town of Dunk was one of the most prosperous. Ran by a town council, decisions maybe didn't happen fast in Dunk, but it does work to help keep outside parties and the interests at bay.