POPULARITY
Categories
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receives his fifth invitation to visit US President Donald Trump at the White House, discusses Berman, an important opportunity given the Gaza ceasefire that is stuck in its first phase. Berman notes that Trump wants to further Israel's security agreements with Syria, where there were clashes last week between IDF troops and Islamist Syrians. He says that conversation will be the centerpiece of the Trump-Netanyahu meetup, if it takes place. After the US signed major agreements with Saudi Arabia during the recent White House meeting between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Berman notes that Trump's focus is on other conflicts right now, and not necessarily on Israel and Saudi relations. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump speaks to Netanyahu, invites him to visit, warns Israel not to ‘interfere’ in Syria As Trump and Saudi prince heat up ties, Israel normalization left out in the cold Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: President Donald Trump talks with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cristiano Ronaldo BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Cristiano Ronaldo has dominated headlines over the past several days with a mix of sports achievements, personal milestones, and high-profile political encounters. The 40-year-old footballer continues to prove his staying power both on and off the pitch.On the sporting front, Sky Sports News reports that Ronaldo avoided a ban for Portugal's World Cup campaign following his red card against the Republic of Ireland during a World Cup qualifier. A FIFA disciplinary committee imposed a three-match ban, but suspended the final two matches for one year, provided he maintains clean conduct. Ronaldo had already missed one match against Armenia, meaning he can play in the opening games of the 2026 World Cup if he stays disciplined. This decision has sparked debate among fans, with many noting Ronaldo's previously unblemished record across 226 international appearances.In club action with Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr, Ronaldo recently capped off a match with a spectacular bicycle kick against Al Khaleej, showcasing his athletic prowess remains sharp despite his age. The moment generated significant social media engagement, with Ronaldo posting a concise three-word message that resonated across platforms.Perhaps most notably, Ronaldo met with United States President Donald Trump at the White House, an encounter that captured global attention. According to Ronaldo's social media statement, he expressed gratitude for the invitation and spoke about inspiring new generations through courage and responsibility. The meeting also included Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, highlighting Ronaldo's unique position bridging sports, politics, and international diplomacy.On the personal front, reports indicate Ronaldo and his fiancee Georgina Rodriguez have chosen to hold their wedding on Madeira Island next summer, strategically scheduled between the 2026 World Cup and the start of the Saudi Pro League season. The couple has been actively sharing moments together on social media.Current statistics underscore Ronaldo's remarkable longevity. He now boasts approximately 954 official career goals, 143 international goals for Portugal, 140 Champions League strikes, and previously scored 35 goals in a single Saudi season. His presence on social media remains substantial, with over 669 million Instagram followers receiving regular updates on his professional and personal life.These developments paint a picture of an athlete whose influence extends far beyond the football pitch, navigating international prominence while maintaining elite athletic performance well into his fifth decade.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
This week, Kelly and Tristen talk through recent COP and G20 summits, and what US absence meant for the world's biggest international fora. They also provide updates on US allies' reactions to boat strikes in the Caribbean, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's meetings with Trump at the White House. The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or any government entity. Produced by Abdalla Nasef and Freddie Mallinson. Recorded on November 24, 2025. Diplomatic Immunity, a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, brings you frank and candid conversations with experts on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision-makers around the world. Funding support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. For more, visit our website, and follow us on Linkedin, Twitter @GUDiplomacy, and Instagram @isd.georgetown
On Thursday's Mark Levin Show, we bring you the best of on Thanksgiving Day! The 9/11 families still lack answers from Saudi Arabia's involvement in September 11th. Mohammed bin Salman's claim that Osama bin Laden used Saudis to destroy U.S.-Saudi relations is crap. MBS says he wants a two state solution with Israel and Palestine but he won't take in one Palestinian from Gaza. Later, NY Post's Miranda Devine criticizes the FBI and Secret Service for mishandling the investigation into Thomas Crooks' attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a 2024 Butler, Pennsylvania rally. An independent source uncovered Crooks' 17 online accounts revealing his ideological shift from pro-Trump supporter in 2019—issuing threats against Democrats—to anti-Trump critic by 2020, with increasingly violent rhetoric advocating terrorism, assassination, and interactions with a neo-Nazi. The Crooks files need to be released. Also, Qatar is pumping tens of billions of dollars into American universities to help the Muslim Brotherhood weaken America and destroy democracy. It's stunning to the extent we are blind to what Qatar is doing. We ignore this at our own peril. Later, CAIR is suing Texas over Gov Greg Abbott's ‘terrorist' designation. Abbott should use this lawsuit to get to the bottom of CAIR's funding. He should counter claim or conduct discovery on all of their contacts, emails, etc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Last week, US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met in the White House, after which there were several announcements. Among them were a $1 trillion investment by the Saudis into the US economy, the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, advancements in critical minerals cooperation, and an AI Memorandum of Understanding. Of course, the one announcement that Israel has been waiting for — Saudi normalization — did not come. This week, we learn about the rise of the crown prince and how he's transformed his country. We talk about how the gains in Washington correspond with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and whether normalization with Israel is even still on the table. Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, November 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gideon talks to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the senior Democrat on the US Senate Committee on foreign relations, about Donald Trump's foreign policy. Can Congress stop the president from making big concessions to Russia and attempting regime change in Caracas? Clip: ABC NewsFree links to read more on this topic: Ukraine has no choice but to engage with US peace planRussia pursues peace deal — on its own termsDonald Trump's affordability problem: in chartsWhat is Venezuela's ‘Cartel of the Suns'?Mohammed bin Salman, the autocratic Saudi moderniser trying to escape his pastRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: New reporting reveals President Trump's meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was far more heated behind closed doors than either side admitted publicly. We'll break down what happened and why it matters. Plus, the U.S. Navy has scrapped its Constellation-class frigate program, a major setback in America's effort to keep up with China's rapidly expanding naval fleet. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Masa Chips: Ready to give MASA or Vandy a try? Get 25% off your first order by going to http://masachips.com/PDBand using code PDB. Lean: Visit https://BrickhouseSale.com for 30% off Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Five years after the signing of the Abraham Accords, the Middle East looks very different—defined by both extraordinary cooperation and unprecedented challenges. In this episode, we unpack how Israel's defensive war on seven fronts affected regional partnerships, why Abraham Accords nations have stood by the Jewish state, and what expanded normalization could look like as countries like Saudi Arabia and others weigh making such monumental decisions. We also explore the growing importance of humanitarian coordination, people-to-people diplomacy, and the critical role AJC is playing in supporting deeper regional collaboration. From shifting narratives to new economic and security opportunities, we chart what the next five years could mean for peace, stability, and integration across the region. *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC. This episode is up-to-date as of November 25, 2025. Read the transcript: Building What's Next | Architects of Peace - Episode 6 | AJC Resources: AJC.org/ArchitectsofPeace - Tune in weekly for new episodes. The Abraham Accords, Explained AJC.org/CNME - Find more from AJC's Center for a New Middle East Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus People of the Pod Follow Architects of Peace on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/ArchitectsofPeace You can reach us at: podcasts@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript: ANNE DREAZEN: One thing that I have learned from my many years at the Department of Defense is that military instruments of power are not sufficient to really build longlasting peace and stability. The importance of trade, of economic development, of people-to-people ties, is so essential to what we think of as an enduring or a lasting peace. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: In September 2020, the world saw what had been years–decades–in the making. Landmark peace agreements dubbed the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and two Arabian Gulf States, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Later, in December, they were joined by the Kingdom of Morocco. Five years later, AJC is pulling back the curtain to meet key individuals who built the trust that led to these breakthroughs and build bonds that would last. Introducing: the Architects of Peace. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: It has been five years since Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords on the South Lawn of the White House. In those five years, Russia invaded Ukraine, sparking a massive refugee crisis. The U.S. elected one president then re-elected his predecessor who had ushered in the Abraham Accords in the first place. And amid news that Saudi Arabia might be next to join the Accords, the Hamas terror group breached the border between Israel and Gaza, murdered more than 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 more. Israel suddenly found itself fighting an existential war against Iran and its terror proxies on multiple fronts – Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Iran itself. At the same time, Israel also fought a worldwide war of public opinion – as Hamas elevated the death toll in Gaza by using Palestinian civilians as human shields and activists waged a war of disinformation on social media that turned international public perception against the Jewish state. Through it all, the Abraham Accords held. ALI RASHID AL NUAIMI: There are those who work hard to undermine what we are doing. And this is where many question: 'How come the UAE is still part of the Abraham Accords?' MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi is a leading parliamentarian and educator in the United Arab Emirates. He has served as the Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University and the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge. He currently serves as the Chairman of the International Steering Board of Hedayah, The International Center of Excellence for Countering Extremism and Violent Extremism. The center is based in Abu Dhabi. He was one of the first to go on Israeli and Arab media to talk to the general public about the Abraham Accords and was known for correcting news anchors and other interview subjects, that the UAE had not simply agreed to live in peace with the Jewish state. It had agreed to actively engage with the Israeli people. ALI RASHID AL NUAIMI: We saw the importance of engaging with both sides. We saw the importance of talking to the Israeli general public. We saw the importance of dialogue with the government in Israel, the Knesset, the NGO, the academician, businessman. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: That engagement started almost immediately with flights back and forth, musical collaborations, culinary exchanges, academic partnerships, business arrangements–much of which came to a halt on October 7, 2023. But that simply meant the nature of the engagement changed. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas War, the UAE has provided extensive humanitarian aid to Gaza, delivering more than 100,000 tons of food, medical supplies, tents, and clothing, by land, air and sea—about 46% of the total assistance that entered Gaza. It established six desalination plants with a combined capacity of two million gallons per day. And, in addition to operating field and floating hospitals that treated 73,000 patients, the UAE also provided five ambulances, facilitated a polio vaccination campaign, and evacuated 2,785 patients for treatment in the UAE. From Dr. Al-Nuami's point of view, the Abraham Accords made all of that humanitarian aid possible. ALI RASHID AL NUAIMI: This is why we were able to have these hospitals in Gaza, we were able to do these water solutions for the Palestinians, and we did so many things because there is a trust between us and the Israelis. That they allowed us to go and save the Palestinian people in Gaza. So there were so many challenges, but because we have the right leadership, who have the courage to make the right decision, who believe in the Abraham Accords principles, the vision, and who's working hard to transform the region. Where every everyone will enjoy security, stability, and prosperity without, you know, excluding anyone. Why the UAE didn't pull out of the Abraham Accords? My answer is this. It's not with the government, our engagement. The government will be there for two, three, four years, and they will change. Our Abraham Accords is with Israel as a nation, with the people, who will stay. Who are, we believe their root is here, and there is a history and there is a future that we have to share together. And this is where we have to work on what I call people to people diplomacy. This is sustainable peace. This is where you really build the bridges of trust, respect, partnership, and a shared responsibility about the whole region. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: On October 9, two years and two days after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, the White House announced a ceasefire would take effect, the first step in a 20-point peace plan proposed for the region. Four days later, President Donald Trump joined the presidents of Egypt and Turkey, and the Emir of Qatar to announce a multilateral agreement to work toward a comprehensive and durable peace in Gaza. Since then, all but the remains of three hostages have been returned home, including Lt. Hadar Goldin, whose remains had been held since 2014, ending the longest hostage ordeal in Israel's history. Finally, the prospect of peace and progress seems to be re-emerging. But what is next for the Abraham Accords? Will they continue to hold and once again offer the possibilities that were promised on the White House Lawn in September 2020? Will they expand? And which countries will be next to sign on to the historic pact, setting aside decades of rejection to finally formalize full diplomatic relations with the Jewish state? The opportunities seem endless, just as they did in September 2020 when the Abraham Accords expanded the scope of what was suddenly possible in government, trade, and so much more. ANNE DREAZEN: The Abraham Accords really opened up lots of opportunities for us in the Department of Defense to really expand cooperation between Israel and its partners in the security sphere. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: Anne Dreazen spent the last 18 years as a civil servant in the U.S. Department of Defense. For most of that time, she worked on Middle East national security and defense policy, focusing on Iran, Iraq and Lebanon. And most recently serving as the principal director for Middle East policy, the senior civil service job overseeing the entire Middle East office. She was working at the Pentagon when the Abraham Accords were signed under the first Trump administration and immediately saw a shift in the region. ANNE DREAZEN: So, one thing that we saw at the very end of the first Trump administration, and it was made possible in part because of the success of the Abraham Accords, was the decision to move Israel from U.S. European Command into U.S. Central Command. And for many decades, it had been thought that that wouldn't be feasible because you wouldn't have any Middle East countries in CENTCOM that would really be willing to engage with Israel, even in very discreet minimal channels. But after the Abraham Accords, I think that led us policymakers and military leaders to sort of rethink that proposition, and it became very clear that, it would be better to increase cooperation between Israel and the other Gulf partners, because in many cases, they have similar security interests, specifically concerns about Iran and Iranian proxies and Iranian malign activity throughout the region. And so I think the Abraham Accords was one item that sort of laid the groundwork and really enabled and encouraged us to think creatively about ways through which we could, in the security and defense sphere, improve cooperation between Israel and other partners in the region. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: But sustaining peace in the region is more than a matter of maintaining security. Making sure young people can fulfill their dreams, make a contribution, build relationships and friendships across borders, and transcend religion and ideologies – even those in the security sphere know those are the necessary ingredients for peace and prosperity across the region. Despite the efforts of Hamas and other Iran-backed terror proxies to derail the Abraham Accords, the U.S., Arab, and Israeli leaders had continued to pursue plans for an Israeli-Saudi peace agreement and to explore a new security architecture to fight common threats. This spirit of optimism and determination led AJC to launch the Center for a New Middle East in June 2024. In October, Anne joined AJC to lead that initiative. ANNE DREAZEN: One thing that I have learned from my many years at the Department of Defense is that military instruments of power are not sufficient to really build long lasting peace and stability. The importance of trade, of economic development, of people-to-people ties is so essential to what we think of as an enduring or a lasting peace. And so at AJC, we're actually focused on those aspects of trying to advance normalization. Really trying to put more meat on the bones, in the case of where we already have agreements in place. So for example, with Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, the UAE and Morocco, trying to really build out what more can be done in terms of building economic ties, building people-to-people ties, and advancing those agreements. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: Of course, that work had already begun prior to Anne's arrival. Just two years after the Abraham Accords, Retired Ambassador to Oman Marc Sievers became director of AJC Abu Dhabi: The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding, the first and only Jewish agency office in an Arab and Islamic country. After more than 30 years as a U.S. diplomat serving across the Middle East and North Africa, Marc has witnessed a number of false starts between Arab nations and Israel. While the Abraham Accords introduced an unprecedented approach, they didn't suddenly stabilize the region. Marc's four years in Abu Dhabi have been fraught. In January 2022, Houthis in north Yemen launched a drone and missile attack on Abu Dhabi, killing three civilians and injuring six others. In 2023, the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel, Israel's retaliation, and Israel's war on seven fronts dimmed Emiratis' public perception of Jews. As recently as this past August, the U.S. Mission to the UAE issued a dire warning to Israeli diplomats and Jewish institutions in Abu Dhabi – a threat that was taken seriously given the kidnapping and murder of a Chabad rabbi in 2024. But just as the UAE stood by its commitment to Israel, Marc and AJC stood by their commitment to the UAE and Arab neighbors, working to advance Arab-Jewish and Muslim-Jewish dialogue; combat regional antisemitism and extremism; and invigorate Jewish life across the region. From Marc's vantage point, the Abraham Accords revolutionized the concept of normalization, inspiring a level of loyalty he's never before seen. It's worth noting the precursor to the Abraham Accords: the Peace to Prosperity Summit. For decades, diplomats had frowned on the idea of an economic peace preceding a two-state solution. MARC SIEVERS: That idea's been out there for a long time. …It was just never embraced by those who thought, you know, first you have a two-state solution. You have a Palestinian state, and then other things will follow. This approach is kind of the opposite. You create an environment in which people feel they have an incentive, they have something to gain from cooperation, and that then can lead to a different political environment. I happen to think that's quite an interesting approach, because the other approach was tried for years and years, and it didn't succeed. Rather than a confrontational approach, this is a constructive approach that everyone benefits from. The Prosperity to Peace Conference was a very important step in that direction. It was harshly criticized by a lot of people, but I think it actually was a very kind of visionary approach to changing how things are done. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: The conference Marc is referring to took place in June 2019 – a two-day workshop in Bahrain's capital city of Manama, where the Trump administration began rolling out the economic portion of its peace plan, titled "Peace to Prosperity." The workshop's host Bahrain, as well as Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the Emirates participated, to varying degrees. The plan called for large scale investment, mostly by other countries in the Gulf and Europe, to advance the Palestinian economy, to integrate the Palestinian and Israelis' economies and establish a small but functional Palestinian state. Angered by Trump's recognition of Jerusalem, Palestinian leadership rejected the plan before ever seeing its details. But as former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman pointed out in an earlier episode of this series, that was expected. The plan enabled Israel to demonstrate that it was open to cooperation. It enabled the Trump administration to illustrate the opportunities missed if countries in the region continued to let Palestinian leadership call the shots. It was economic diplomacy at its finest. And it worked. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: Benjamin Rogers, AJC's Director for Middle East and North Africa Initiatives, who also serves as Deputy Director of the Center for a New Middle East, said the Center has focused heavily on expanding private sector engagement. Israelis and Arab entrepreneurs have quietly traveled to the U.S. as part of the Center's budding business collectives. BENJAMIN ROGERS: So people who are focused on med tech, people who are focused on agri tech, people who are focused on tourism. And what we do is we say, 'Hey, we want to talk about the Middle East. No, we do not want to talk about violence. No, we don't want to talk about death and destruction. Not because these issues are not important, but because we're here today to talk about innovation, and we're here to talk about the next generation, and what can we do?' And when you say, like, food security for example, how can Israelis and Arabs work together in a way that helps provide more food for the entire world? That's powerful. How can the Israelis and Arabs working together with the United States help combat cancer, help find solutions to new diseases? If you really want to get at the essence of the Abraham Accords – the ability to do better and work together, to your average person on the street, that's meaningful. And so one of the initiatives is, hey, let's bring together these innovators, these business leaders, private sector, and let's showcase to Arabs, Israelis, non-Jewish community, what the Middle East can be about. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: People-to-people connections. That's what AJC has done for decades, traveling to the region since 1950 to build bridges and relationships. But providing a platform to help facilitate business ventures? That's a new strategy, which is why AJC partnered with Blue Laurel Advisors. The firm has offices in Tel Aviv, Dubai, and Washington, D.C.. It specializes in helping companies navigate the geopolitics of doing business in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and Israel. At AJC Global Forum in April, founder and Managing Director Tally Zingher told an audience that the Abraham Accords, which effectively lifted the UAE's ban on business with Israel, brought already existing deals above the radar. TALLY ZINGHER: We've been wowed by what the Center for a New Middle East has been able to do and put forth in the very short time that it's been incubated and Blue Laurel Advisors are really delighted to be part of this project and we're really aligned with its mission and its vision. It's quite simple in the region because the region is really driven by national agendas. I think it's no surprise that the appendix to the Abraham Accords was a direct parallel to the Abu Dhabi national vision. It's the key areas of growth in UAE and Saudi Arabia that are now really well aligned with Israeli strength. We're talking about the diversification efforts of the UAE and of Saudi Arabia. At Blue Laurel, we're quite focused on Saudi Arabia because of the real growth story underway there created by the diversification efforts. But they're focused on water, energy, renewable energy, healthy cyber security, tourism. Ten years ago when you were doing this work, 15 years ago there wasn't as much complementarity between Israel and the start-up innovation ecosystem and what was going on. The region is really ready and ripe to have Israeli innovation be a part of its growth trajectory. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: Benjy said there's another advantage to building bridges in the business world – continuity. BENJAMIN ROGERS:Out of the three sectors that we're focused on – diplomatic, business, and civil society – business relations are the most resistant to political conflict. There's this element of self interest in it, which I'm not saying is a bad thing, but when you tie the relationship to your own worth and your own value, you're much more likely to go through kind of the ebbs and flows of the political. Whereas, if you're a civil society, you're really at the mercy of populations. And if the timing is not right, it's not impossible to work together, but it's so much more difficult. Business is even more resistant than political engagement, because if political engagement is bad, the business relationship can still be good, because there's an element of self interest, and that element of we have to work together for the betterment of each other. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: The economic diplomacy complements AJC's partnership with civil society groups, other non-profits that work to bring people together to experience and embody each other's realities in the Middle East. The Center also has continued AJC's trademark traditional diplomacy to expand the circle of peace. Though Marc prefers to call it the circle of productivity. MARC SIEVERS: I think it achieved new relations for Israel that were perhaps different from what had happened with Egypt and Jordan, where we have long standing peace agreements, but very little contact between people, and very little engagement other than through very specific official channels. The Abraham Accords were different because there was a people-to-people element. The UAE in particular was flooded with Israeli tourists almost immediately after the Accords were signed, Bahrain less so, but there have been some. And not as many going the other way, but still, the human contacts were very much there. I think it was also building on this idea that economic engagement, joint partnerships, investment, build a kind of circle of productive relations that gradually hopefully expand and include broader parts of the region or the world that have been either in conflict with Israel or have refused to recognize Israel as a sovereign Jewish state. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: It being all of those things explains why the potential for expansion is all over the map. So where will the Abraham Accords likely go next? The Trump administration recently announced the addition of Kazakhstan. But as the Central Asian country already had diplomatic relations with Israel, the move was more of an endorsement of the Accords rather than an expansion. In November 2025, all eyes were on the White House when Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman paid a visit. In addition to the customary Oval Office meeting, President Trump also hosted the Saudi royal at a black-tie dinner. ANNE DREAZEN: Right now, everyone is really talking about and thinking, of course, about Saudi Arabia, and certainly I think there's a lot of promise now with the ceasefire having been achieved. That sort of lays a better groundwork to be able to think about whether we can, whether the United States can play an important role in bringing Saudi Arabia and Israel to the table to move forward on normalization. Certainly from the Saudis have have made they've cautioned that one of their prerequisites is a viable path toward Palestinian statehood. And we've known that, that's in President Trump's 20-point plan. So I think it remains to be seen whether or not Israel and Saudi Arabia can come to a mutually agreed upon way of addressing that key concern for Saudi Arabia. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: But there are also countries who only a year ago never would have considered a relationship with Israel. With Hezbollah diminished and a moderate and forward-leaning Lebanese government in place, quiet conversations are taking place that could lead to a significant diplomatic achievement, even if not as ambitious as the Abraham Accords. The same in Syria, where Ahmed al-Sharaa is sending positive signals that he would at least be willing to consider security arrangements. ANNE DREAZEN: Even if you don't have a Syrian Embassy opening up in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, even if you don't have an Israeli embassy opening up in Damascus, there could be other arrangements made, short of a full diplomatic peace accord that would lay the groundwork for some understandings on security, on borders. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: Marc said it remains to be seen whether Oman, his final diplomatic post, will join the Accords. Two years before the signing of the Accords, while serving as ambassador, there was a glimmer of hope. Well, more than a glimmer really. MARC SIEVERS: In Oman, the late Sultan Qaboos, a good, almost two years before the Abraham Accords, invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to visit him in his royal palace in Muscat. Netanyahu came with his wife, Sarah, but also with a lot of the top senior leadership. Certainly his military secretary, the head of the Mossad, a few other people. As soon as Netanyahu landed in Israel, the Omanis put it all over the media, and there were some wonderful videos of the Sultan giving Netanyahu a tour of the palace and a choir of children who came and sang, and some other things that the Sultan liked to do when he had important guests. And it was quite an interesting moment, and that was two years before. And that was not initiated by the United States. Unlike the Abraham Accords process, that was an Omani initiative, but again, other than the meeting itself, nothing really came of it. The Omanis took a lot of pride in what they had done, and then they backed away. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: Instead, Marc points to the country with the largest Muslim population in the world: Indonesia – especially following recent remarks to the United Nations General Assembly by Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto. PRABOWO SUBIANTO: We must have an independent Palestine, but we must also recognize, we must also respect, and we must also guarantee the safety and security of Israel. Only then can we have real peace. Real peace and no longer hate and no longer suspicion. The only solution is the two-state solution. The descendants of Abraham must live in reconciliation, peace, and harmony. Arabs, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, all religions. We must live as one human family. Indonesia is committed to being part of making this vision a reality. MARC SIEVERS: We've heard that, you know, Indonesia needs some time to consider this, which makes a lot of sense. It's not something to be done lightly, and yet that would be a huge achievement. Obviously, Indonesia has never been a party to the conflict directly, but they also have never had relations with Israel, and they are the most populous Muslim country. Should that happen, it's a different kind of development than Saudi Arabia, but in some ways, it kind of internationalizes or broadens beyond the Middle East, the circle of peace. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: But in addition to adding signatories, Anne said AJC's Center for a New Middle East will work to strengthen the current relationships with countries that stayed committed during Israel's war against Hamas, despite public apprehensions. Anne recently traveled to Bahrain and the UAE with AJC's Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer Jason Isaacson, who has long led AJC's Middle East outreach. There, Anne discovered a significant slowdown in the momentum she witnessed when the Accords debuted. ANNE DREAZEN: I saw a real hesitancy during my travels in the region for politicians to publicly acknowledge and to publicly celebrate the Abraham Accords. They were much more likely to talk about peaceful coexistence and tolerance in what they characterize as a non-political way, meaning not tied to any sort of diplomatic agreements. So I saw that as a big impediment. I do think that among the leadership of a lot of these countries, though, there is a sense that they have to be more pragmatic than ever before in trying to establish, in time to sustain the ceasefire, and establish a more enduring stability in the region. So there's a bit of a disconnect, I think, between where a lot of the publics lie on this issue. But a lot of the political leaders recognize the importance of maintaining ties with Israel, and want to lay the groundwork for greater stability. We are very interested now in doing what we can as CNME, as the Center for New Middle East, to help rebuild those connections and help reinvigorate those relationships. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: This is especially the case in Bahrain, which has not seen the same economic dividends as the UAE. ANNE DREAZEN: Bahrain is a much smaller country than the UAE, and their key industries – they have less of a developed startup tech ecosystem than the UAE. And frankly, many of Bahrain's sectors don't overlap as neatly with some of Israel's emerging tech sectors, as is the case with the UAE. So, for example, Bahrain is very heavy on steel and aluminum manufacturing, on logistics. Manufacturing is a big part of the sector. Israeli tech doesn't really, in general, provide that many jobs in that type of sector. Tourism is another area where Bahrain is trying to develop as a top priority. This obviously was really challenged during the Abraham Accords, especially when direct flights stopped over Gulf air. So tourism was not a natural one, especially after October 7. Bahrain has really prioritized training their youth workforce to be able to take on jobs in IT and financial services, and this is one area we want to look into more and see what can be done. Bahrain is really prioritizing trying to build relationships in areas that can provide jobs to some of their youth. It is not as wealthy a country as the UAE, but it has a very educated young workforce. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: Again, fulfilling dreams, giving youth an opportunity to contribute. That's the necessary narrative to make the Abraham Accords a success. ALI RASHID AL NUAIMI: It's very important to focus on the youth, and how to create a narrative that will gain the heart and the mind of all youth in the region, the Israeli, the Palestinian, the Arabs, the Muslims. And this is where it is very important to counter hate that comes from both sides. Unfortunately, we still see some hate narratives that come from those far-right extremists who serve the extremists on the Arab side, taking advantage of what they are saying, what they are doing. From the beginning, I convey this message to many Israelis: please don't put the Palestinian people in one basket with Hamas, because if you do so, you will be saving Hamas. Hamas will take advantage of that. This is where it's very important to show the Palestinian people that we care about them. You know, we see them as human beings. We want a better future for them. We want to end their suffering. We want them to fulfill their dream within the region, that where everybody will feel safe, will feel respected, and that we all will live as neighbors, caring about each other's security and peace. We have to engage, have a dialogue, show others that we care about them, you see, and try to empower all those who believe in peace who believe that Israeli and Palestinian have to live together in peace and harmony. And it will take time, yes, but we don't have other options. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: But Dr. Al Nuaimi emphasizes that it can't be just a dialogue. It must be a conversation that includes the American voice. The UAE has been clear with the Israeli public on two occasions that attempts by Israel to unilaterally annex the West Bank would be a red line for the relationship between their two countries. But even as the five-year anniversary of the Abraham Accords approached, a milestone that should've been a reminder of the countries' mutual commitments, it took U.S. intervention for Israel to heed that warning. Anne Dreazen agrees that the U.S. plays an important role. She said Israel must continue to defend itself against threats. But in order to create a safe space for Israel in the long term, the U.S., the American Jewish community in particular, can help bridge connections and overcome cultural differences. That will keep the Accords moving in the right direction. ALI RASHID AL NUAIMI: I believe many Arab and Muslim leaders are eager to join it, but you know, they have to do their internal calculation within their people. We have to help them, not only us, but the Israelis. They are looking for a way, a path, to have them as neighbors, and to have a solution that the Palestinian will fulfill their dreams, but the Israeli also will be secure. I think having such a narrative that will take us to the next level by bringing other Arab countries and Muslim country to join the Abraham Accords. MANYA BRACHEAR PASHMAN: Thank you for listening. Atara Lakritz is our producer. T.K. Broderick is our sound engineer. Special thanks to Jason Isaacson, Sean Savage, and the entire AJC team for making this series possible. You can subscribe to Architects of Peace on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and you can learn more at AJC.org/ArchitectsofPeace. The views and opinions of our guests don't necessarily reflect the positions of AJC. You can reach us at podcasts@ajc.org. If you've enjoyed this episode, please be sure to spread the word, and hop onto Apple Podcasts or Spotify to rate us and write a review to help more listeners find us. Music Credits: Middle East : ID: 279780040; Composer: Eric Sutherland Inspired Middle East: ID: 241884108; Composer: iCENTURY Mystical Middle East: ID: 212471911; Composer: Vicher
In this special two-part episode, Israel Policy Forum Policy Advisor and Tel Aviv-based journalist Neri Zilber and Israel Policy Forum Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow discuss the assassination of Hezbollah's top military commander in Beirut and what it says about the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire deal, the state of play in Gaza amid what appears to be a stalled postwar transition, and what we learned from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's meeting with President Trump last week. Following that, Israel Policy Forum Director of Strategic Initiatives and IPF Atid Shanie Reichman and co-founder of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum U.S. Matan Sivek discuss the story behind the Hostage and Missing Families Forum's efforts over more than two years to free the hostages taken captive by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Support the showFollow us on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Bluesky, and subscribe to our email list here.
For many years the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was a pariah on the world stage, but the US president is bringing him back into the fold. We know Donald Trump wants the US to do business with the wealthy Gulf Arab state, but what else does he like about the country?Today, The New York Times contributor Noah Shachtman on how Trump wants America to be a lot more like Saudi Arabia and how he's trying to achieve it. Featured: Noah Shachtman, national security reporter and The New York Times contributor
November 23, 2025: May God's words be spoken, may God's words be heard. Amen. For some, this is a day called Christ the King Sunday, but as I say every year, that is not a title he would have ever claimed. As we heard in the Gospel, it was a title given to him by the oppressors who crucified him. No, Jesus would not be happy with this King business I believe, Jesus is Lord is enough, and was for centuries for his followers, as Christ the King wasn't even a thing until 1925. So, not Christ the King…but it is Advent. And we have practiced the original seven week Advent here at Christ Church since 2016, and as then, it seems so appropriate now, because Advent is about a people walking in darkness, but not a people without hope. The people are in crisis. Many live in fear. The country is divided against itself. People don't know which way to turn, how to take the next step, what to do, because the leaders have failed them. Certainly, this sounds like it is a time of darkness, and even very familiar – but I am not talking about the events in this country, at least not yet. I am talking about the passage in Jeremiah we heard this morning. If you were in doubt about whether Advent, from a lectionary point of view, is seven weeks long, just look again at our reading today from Jeremiah and the Canticle. Jeremiah begins with a stern warning from God for those in power that because they have abused their people, because they have not care for their flock, they will meet with God's wrath. Jeremiah had been speaking about the failure of leaders in the time of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 587 bce. And the passage ends with a very Advent-y verse “The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch…” God clearly was not happy with the shepherds who failed their sheep. One of the things that our faith, our scriptures, make abundantly clear, is the importance of shepherds. And being a shepherd is about never forgetting that the focus of your work must always be on the welfare of the sheep. This is true, not only for those who watch over flocks, but for all kinds of leadership positions – from President to parent, from CEOs to church leaders. We don't have to have lived in the Ancient Near East to understand what can happen when shepherds fail in their work. We have borne witness to this in our lifetimes. Today, we can certainly understand what it must have felt like back in the days of Jeremiah to be a people divided, scattered, fearful of our leaders, and not sure what tomorrow will bring. Our own nation's leaders have not only failed to be good shepherds, it is far worse than that. They have actually turned on the sheep. Our country – once a beacon of freedom and democracy to the world – has entered into the dark shadows of oligarchy and systemic oppression. The President has put masked troops in the street shooting tear gas and pepper balls into crowds of citizens, and callously throwing people, including clergy, onto the pavement – arresting them for the crime of free speech. He is responsible for the execution of over 80 people without due process of law through drone strikes on boats in international waters. He has had thousands detained, including zip tying children (let that sink in), again without due process of law, and even deported many of them to foreign prisons notorious for their human rights abuses. He has dismissed the concern of over a thousand female victims of a child sex predator to protect his own hide, calling their abuse a hoax. And his government has stolen affordable access to healthcare for the poor to give money in tax breaks to the rich and powerful. And while some may feel this is less important – it goes to his misogyny and eroding of the freedom of the press – the silencing of those who courageously try to protect the flock from predators. He told one woman reporter who dared ask him a question, “Quiet Piggy!” Then he held a meeting at the White House with Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, known for his brutality, including the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a US citizen, by having him chopped up while still alive. When the President was asked about meeting with him by another reporter (also a woman) he called her “insubordinate.” Insubordinate – as though he is a king who cannot be questioned. And to another who asked directly about the murder of Khashoggi, he said “A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen.” Things happen? Sure, a guy walks into a bathroom and things like a bone saw just kinda happen to him. Seriously. You can't make this stuff up. These are dark days we find ourselves walking in, to be sure. And it could make anyone feel like just pulling the covers over their heads and praying that things will change. That perhaps new leaders will emerge and make everything better in some distant future. But, that would be like reading only parts of this passage from Jeremiah – the beginning condemnation of the current leaders in the first two verses, and the promise of a new leader in the final verses, when what we need most to pay attention to today is everything in between. Because if we focus only on the current predicament, and the hope of new leadership, we miss what God intends for us, and it is something so very needed now. After condemning the current leaders, God then says “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock, and…I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing.” God declares “I will raise up shepherds…” Well, guess where God gets those new shepherds? From right within the flock! God intends to call from among the sheep new shepherds. As one commentator noted, “While [Jeremiah] opens with judgment and closes with a promise of a future leader who will save and protect the people, the larger book of Jeremiah does not let us — the people — off the hook as we wait.” So, both sheep and shepherds have responsibilities to the full flock. Everyone has a role to play, especially when we talk about our lives in Christ. Some are called to a dedicated shepherd role. Bishops are the shepherds for a diocese and Deacons assist in that work. Priests are the shepherds for a parish or other type of faith community. But what about the laity, the sheep? Well, that's what we hear about in the Song of Zachariah, the canticle, or for Latin nerds, the Benedictus, chanted so beautifully this morning by our choir. Zachariah, after the miraculous birth of his son John by his wife Elizabeth, had a lot to say. Now, you can understand why when we remember what the angel Gabriel did to him before this. See, back about nine months earlier, Zach was a priest, and it was his turn to serve in the temple. This was not an every week thing. There were a lot of them, and so maybe this was his one shot a year. So, he's back there doing his priestly work, burning some incense, as you do, when the angel Gabe pops in to tell him “Hey Zach! You and Liz are gonna have a baby! You will call him John, and he will be a great prophet, who will proclaim the coming of the Lord.” Now, Zach was a bit skeptical, after all, he and Liz were getting on in years. So, he says “Seriously? How is that gonna happen? My wife and I are already on Medicare for crying out loud.” Gabe was not pleased. “I am Gabriel – the best messenger God has! I came all this way to give you this awesome news and you doubt me?” Knowing priests love to talk, he made Zach mute until the baby was born. Which tells you that if an angel appears, even in flames like the movie Dogma, keep your doubts to yourself. So, as we know now, Liz did get pregnant. Her cousin Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to visit her, etc. Fast forward to today's passage, and that baby was just born. Zach's mouth was opened, and he wasn't holding back. He told all that had gathered to celebrate this birth what this miracle child would do. He told them that salvation was coming for all of them, and that John would be called a prophet, and prepare the way for the coming of Christ. That's a lot right there for this newborn. But there's more. John's prophetic witness would shine light “…on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” This prophet John, through his witness in the world, would give light where there is darkness, and guide others toward peace. John would be a great prophet of God in a time of deep darkness. He was also an example to us all, most especially now. John, a sheep of God's flock, was made for such a time as he lived. And you know what? So are you. So is every single one of you. It is in times such as when John was born, such as what we are experiencing now, that light is needed most within the shadows of despair, longing, fear, and hate. And that is when God raises up prophets to carry the light of hope and love into a world of darkness and discord. While it is true that some will do this in particular calls to ordained life – all of us are called to be John – to be the prophets that guide others to the way of peace. And if you think about it, there is a shepherding quality to prophet work, right? If you are guiding others, you are a shepherd. And in the church, as all are part of the priesthood of all believers, so each of you is called to be both sheep and shepherd. That is our life as a part of the flock of God, most especially when the flock – the people of God, and the creation in which we dwell – are in danger, are being hurt, are living in fear. Folks, is it clear that we are in Advent – both in the church and in the world. And God is looking for prophets, for shepherds, to listen, to lead, and to love. Forget looking to someone else to do it – look in the mirror instead. Because God is calling you – here, now. In Advent most of all, we know that in the darkest of times, the light will always come. But it is up to each of us, following where the Holy Spirit leads, to be that light too – to be Christ's light shining in the world. And one way we do that is by what we will do here today. Later in this service, each of you will bring forward food for the those in need and your pledge cards – a commitment to stewardship of this place, out of which we bring the gospel message of hope to a world in need, and in which we are given restoration for our souls as we do this prophetic work of being shepherds in the world. The food, for both humans and animals, is our commitment to caring for the folk of God. The pledges are a commitment to be the prophet our Creator needs today, and proclaim from the highest hills, and the lowest valleys, that God loves everyone – no exceptions. They are a pledge to be the shepherd of a people who are lost, alone, or living in fear. They are a step in the longer journey of our life, and in the long history of shepherds and prophets of God. Long ago, God, through the prophet Jeremiah, lamented those called to be shepherds who failed their flock, who failed in God's mission and call for them, and declared that other shepherds would be raised up instead. And they were to the hope of all creation. Long ago, John was born with a call to prepare the way for the One who would bring light into the world. Today, we are the ones that God has raised up – born in baptism – not to prepare the way, but to be the way – to guide others, by the light of Christ shining in us and through us, into the path of peace. To be both the sheep of God's pasture, and the shepherd of others. These are dark and dangerous times, and this will not be easy work. And, so I want to leave you with these words of a 13th century woman who heard her own call to be a shepherd. She cast aside all she knew and left the wealthy life of her noble birth to follow Christ. She was Clare of Assisi, who started the monastic order known as the Poor Clares. On her deathbed, St. Clare offered this blessing – words that still ring out through the centuries, serving as a reminder that we never do this work alone. Christ is always our partner in our call. And so I offer them now to you to take into your heart as you leave here today to be the shepherds, the prophets, who light the way and guide others into the path of peace, the ones God calls for the sake of the world: “Live without fear: your Creator has made you whole, always walks with you, and loves you as a mother. So, follow the good road in peace, and may God's blessing remain with you always.” Amen. For the audio, click below, or subscribe to our iTunes Sermon Podcast by clicking here (also available on Audible): Sermon Podcast https://christchurchepiscopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Rec-001-Sermon-November_23_2025.m4a The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge November 23, 2025 Advent 2 (7 Week Advent) – Year C Texts 1st Reading – Jeremiah 23:1-6 Canticle 16 2nd Reading – Colossians 1:11-20 Gospel – Luke 23:33-43 The post “Live Without Fear” appeared first on Christ Episcopal Church.
In this episode, Bill and National Security Analyst Joe Cirincione discuss the implications of recent U.S. foreign policy actions under Donald Trump's administration. They focus on the escalating military actions in Venezuela, the Trump administration's unauthorized and potentially illegal military strikes against alleged drug smugglers, and the broader historical context of U.S. involvement in Latin America. The conversation also touches on the controversial peace plan proposed for Ukraine, which heavily favors Russian interests, and the precarious ceasefire situation in Gaza. Additionally, they examine Saudi Arabia's influence on U.S. policy, highlighting Trump's controversial relationships with foreign leaders like Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The episode underscores the complexities and contradictions of current U.S. foreign policy and raises questions about its legality and effectiveness.Today Bill suggests a great holiday gift, the hand-woven scarves by Carol Press. Check them out at CarolPressScarves.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode of One Decision In Brief, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, break down President Donald Trump's proposed 28-point peace plan for Ukraine. The plan includes Ukraine ceding territory to Russia and never becoming a NATO member state. Ruffini and Dearlove discuss what this plan means not only for Ukrainian security, but also European and American security, and how Europe is pushing back on the plan. Plus, the hosts examine Trump's warm reception of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and what this could signify for the future of the U.S.'s relationship with the Middle East Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today on Mea Culpa, I welcome back journalist and author Vicky Ward to break down the drama surrounding the Epstein transparency bill and how Mike Johnson and MAGA got outmaneuvered in broad daylight. With an investigative journalist's perspective, we dig into why Republicans suddenly backed full release of the files, plus Vicky's insight into what Epstein believed he had on Donald Trump. We also get into Trump's bizarre outbursts at reporters and what his deferential treatment of Mohammed bin Salman reveals about his ambitions in the Middle East. Thanks to our sponsors: IndaCloud: If you're 21 or older, get 40% OFF your first order + free shipping @IndaCloud with code COHEN at https://inda.shop/COHEN #indacloudpod True Classics: You can find them at Amazon, Target, Costco, and Sam's Club, or head to https://TrueClassic.com/COHEN Subscribe to Michael's Substack: https://therealmichaelcohen.substack.com/ Subscribe to Michael's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMichaelCohenShow Join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalBeatdown Add the Mea Culpa podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen Add the Political Beatdown podcast feed: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Donald Trump gives a hero's welcome to Mohammed bin Salman — despite U.S. intelligence concluding the Saudi crown prince likely approved the murder of a U.S. journalist. • Trump doubles down: he publicly calls for the execution of Democrats who reminded military and intelligence personnel of their oath to refuse illegal orders. • The U.S. Coast Guard initially downgrades swastikas & nooses from “hate symbols” to “potentially divisive,” then reverses course after massive backlash. • A shaky jobs report and deep economic concerns fuel rising public discontent — while new polls show Democrats in a strong position heading into the 2026 midterms. In this video we break down:What Trump's embrace of MBS reveals about foreign policy and U.S. intelligence.The alarming implications of a president calling for execution of elected officials.Why the Coast Guard saga matters for military culture & symbolism.How economic weakness + voter sentiment are giving Democrats new momentum.What all this means for 2026: Senate, House, and the shape of U.S. democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to "Inside the Epicenter" with Joel and Lynn Rosenberg. In this episode of Inside the Epicenter, host Joel Rosenberg sits down with former US ambassador and veteran Middle East advisor Dennis Ross to unpack Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's recent visit to Washington and its far-reaching implications. Together, they explore Saudi Arabia's sweeping social and economic changes, the strengthening U.S.-Saudi relationship, and the critical role of technology, defense, and energy in the kingdom's transformation. Dennis Ross shares firsthand insights on the prospects for Israeli-Saudi normalization, how October 7th shifted regional dynamics, and what's at stake for both the US and Middle East allies going forward. If you want a front-row seat to diplomatic strategy, behind-the-scenes stories, and the future of peace in the region, this conversation is not to be missed. (00:02) "US-Saudi Relations and MBS"(10:07) "U.S.-Saudi Relations and Strategy"(12:28) "Biden Administration Defense Treaty Hurdles"(17:18) Saudi Arabia Opening to Diversity(24:51) Saudi-Israeli Relations: Challenges Persist(29:21) "Israel-Saudi Peace & Challenges."(32:47) Support Joshua Fund Monthly(38:31) "Saudi-Israel Strategic Convergence Explaine.d"(43:34) Saudi-Israeli Relations and Coexistence(48:50) "Path to Palestinian Stateho.od"(58:28) "Support Needed for Growing Miss.ion"(01:00:49) "Support The Joshua Fund Mis.sion" Learn more about The Joshua Fund: JoshuaFund.comMake a tax-deductible donation: Donate | The Joshua FundStock Media provided by DimmySad / Pond5 Verse of the Day: Romans 15:25-27: But now, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to contribute to the relief of poverty among the saints in Jerusalem. For they were glad to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to do them a service also in material things. Pray for a much better and more encouraging 2026Pray that God gives leaders in the US, Saudi Arabia, and Israel the wisdom to deal appropriately with issues that come. Related Episodes:Caring for the Needy in Israel's Darkest Hour #329Hamas Is Now Slaughtering Gazans — How Should Trump and Evangelicals Respond? #324Tal Heinrich - Inside Trump and Netanyahu's Middle East #323Alaska Epicenter Cruise Session 3: Behind the Scenes at the Bible Society in Israel with Victor Kalisher #315 Links For Reference Dennis Ross Interview Part 1 | All Israel News https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=A18opwDCe7c&pp=ygUqSm9lbCByb3NlbmJlcmcgZGVubmlzIHJvc3MgYWxsIGlzcmFlbCBuZXdz Statecraft 2.0 https://a.co/d/4A0jXT9 Donate a generous monthly gift to The Joshua Fund to bless Israel and Her Neighbors now and for the long haul. Become an Epicenter Ally today! Dennis Ross https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/dennis-ross Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Joana Marques leva-nos até à Casa Branca, juntamente com os dois príncipes herdeiros: Mohammad bin Salman e Cristiano Ronaldo.
In this week's episode of the Land of Israel Guys Podcast, we break down Donald Trump's major shift in Middle East policy as he meets with top regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while elevating Saudi Arabia to the status of a major non-NATO ally. Experts like Lee Smith say this move signals a return to traditional U.S.–Saudi relations based on arms deals and security—not the Abraham Accords and not Saudi–Israel normalization. So what does this mean for Israel, regional alliances, and the future balance of power? We explore: • Whether the Abraham Accords are losing relevance • How Trump's policy shift could reshape the U.S.–Israel–Saudi triangle • Why Saudi normalization may be more dangerous than it seems • How Biden-era policies revived the Palestinian issue and empowered Iran • Rising tensions in Judea and Samaria and what's happening on the ground • What this realignment means for Israel's security and future Cut through the noise, the propaganda, and the political spin. Get the truth, the context, and the Torah-rooted perspective—right here at The Land of Israel Network.
This week on the Mark Levin Show, the judges in the James Comey case are obstructing the prosecution by granting rare access to secret grand jury information under Federal Rule 6e, despite no evidence of misconduct during the indictment, effectively trying to dismiss the case before trial. The judges continue lecturing the prosecution on alleged faults which create an awful situation. Later, no we are not ready for Michelle Obama to be President. She's a radical leftist who keeps trashing our country and talking down to the people. She'd be unable to hold up to scrutiny on substantive issues had she run. She's no Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi, and on and on. The 9/11 families still lack answers from Saudi Arabia's involvement on September 11th. Mohammed bin Salman's claim that Osama bin Laden used Saudis to destroy U.S.-Saudi relations is crap. MBS says he wants a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine but he won't take in one Palestinian from Gaza. The video with Democratic veterans urging the military and intelligence communities to defy ‘illegal orders' from President Trump, without specifying what those orders are is shocking. This is unprecedented exploitation, implying the President is portrayed as a law-violating dictator. Democrats pretend to support the military while slashing its budgets under Biden. A three-judge panel issued a 160-page order blocking Texas's new congressional redistricting plan, alleging it was unlawfully based on race rather than partisanship. In a scathing 104-page dissent, Judge Jerry Smith accused majority judges Jeffrey Vincent Brown and David Guaderrama of "pernicious judicial misbehavior" by denying him adequate time to review and respond, calling it the most outrageous judicial conduct he had encountered in 37 years. Smith argued the redistricting was driven by partisan gain, not racial animus, dismantling the majority's claims as deceptive, misleading, and factually erroneous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the China-Japan spat, Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the White House, China's lead in scientific paper and patent production, and the apparent rise of Orthodox Christianity among young conservative American men.
From $400 million planes to $300 million ballrooms, from cryptocurrency to just plain… currency, President Donald Trump and his family have profited massively from his return to the White House. According to the Center for American Progress, the Trump family has received nearly $2 billion in cash and gifts since President Trump won the 2024 presidential election. This week, during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the White House, the president downplayed his family's dealings in Saudi Arabia, but the reality is that those business ties have grown significantly during his second term. For more on just how much money Trump and his family are making from his return to the Oval Office, we spoke to Andrea Bernstein, podcast host and author of "American Oligarchs: The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power."And in headlines, President Trump threatens Congressional Democrats with violent rhetoric, Customs and Border Patrol prepares more immigration crackdowns in Louisiana and Mississippi, and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is set to meet with President Trump at the White House.Show Notes:Check out Andrea's book – wwnorton.com/books/american-oligarchsCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Congress voted overwhelmingly to authorize the release of the Epstein files. President Donald Trump welcomed the decision, signing the bill on Wednesday.ICE activity in Charlotte, North Carolina, ramped up this week; authorities reportedly made some 250 arrests.The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the economy added 119,000 jobs in September, while the unemployment rate edged up to 4.4%. It is the only jobs report the BLS will release until December. On Wednesday, the agency canceled the October jobs report for the first time in 77 years.And, in global news, US President Donald Trump said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “knew nothing” about the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in direct contradiction of U.S. intelligence. The president welcomed the kingdom's de facto ruler to the Oval Office where they announced military and investment deals between the two nations.In Gaza this week, some of the deadliest Israeli airstrikes since the U.S. brokered ceasefire took effect on October 10. On Monday, the UN Security Council endorsed Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, including the deployment of an international stabilisation force.And the war of words between Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is heating up. However, both sides have indicated they'd be willing to meet face to face.We cover the most important stories from around the world in the News Roundup.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Hello, media consumers! Bryan and Joel discuss President Trump's recent interactions with the media, including his “piggy” comment, his meeting in the Oval Office with Mohammed bin Salman, and his comments on the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Next, the guys parse through MLB's new media rights deal with NBC, ESPN, and Netflix (18:32). Later, Brian and Joel examine Netflix's newly released broadcast lineup for their Christmas Day NFL games (24:16), before Joel gives his take on the whole Olivia Nuzzi situation (27:24). The show ends with the next installment of 25 for 25 as Zara Rahim joins to talk about the strategy behind Zohran Mamdani's successful mayoral campaign, her relationship with Mamdani, and changes in democratic messaging over time (37:11). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Subscribe now to skip the ads and get all of our episodes. Danny and Derek are praying for Kim Kardashian to pass the bar. In this week's news: Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia visits the White House (1:56); the U.S. pushes a new Ukraine peace deal (8:58); Israel continues killing people in Gaza (12:30), Palestinians' shelters are failing in heavy rain (13:57), the UN votes on Trump's Gaza plan (15:22), and Palestinians seeking relief are put on flights to South Africa, raising ethnic cleansing concerns (18:11); Israel continues to bomb and move borders in Lebanon and Syria (21:50); the U.S. and South Korea agree on a nuclear submarine deal (25:21); an attack on a church in Nigeria draws international attention (27:46); the DRC and M23 sign a new peace framework (29:53); an elections update for Chile (31:17) and Ecuador (33:03); Trump reopens a backchannel to Venezuela (34:47); and an update on Operation Southern Spear (38:14).
Are we Sleep Walking into a War with Venezuela? Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer, former national security advisors to the president and co-hosts of “The Long Game” podcast, join Preet to discuss the escalating situation in Venezuela, including the Trump administration's consideration of airstrikes, the possibility of targeting Nicolás Maduro, and the likelihood of a ground incursion. Plus, the latest on the Gaza peace plan and the expanding role of AI in modern conflict. Then, Preet answers listener questions about a new law that allows senators to sue the U.S. government if it obtained their phone records and what a grand jury investigation actually does. In the bonus for Insiders, Preet and Jon discuss Trump's meeting with Mohammed bin Salman and the lingering fallout from Jamal Khashoggi's killing. Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without the hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Subscribe to The Long Game podcast. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website. You can now watch this episode! Head to the Stay Tuned Youtube channel and subscribe. Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky, or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Attorney General Pam Bondi fields questions about the next steps in disclosures on the Epstein files, which could come within the next month. President Trump courts massive Saudi investment during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's first White House visit in seven years. The criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey teeters after a dramatic courtroom revelation about irregularities in how the indictment was approved. A sympathetic media profile of a 79-year-old man caught up in the immigration crackdown omits key details of his criminal past, including a rape conviction. Lean: Visit https://BrickhouseSale.com for 30% off Walmart: Learn how Walmart is fueling the future of U.S. manufacturing at https://Walmart.com/America-at-work Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss a new oral history of President Trump's Department of Justice, the complex transactional nationalism of this week's visit from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with guest Jake Sullivan, former National Security Advisor and co-host of the new podcast The Long Game, and what is likely to happen now that Trump has signed the bill to release the Justice Department's Epstein files. For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the sordid scandal around the tangled relationships of political reporter Olivia Nuzzi and the complex questions it raises about relationships between journalists and their sources. In the latest Gabfest Reads, John talks with journalist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation — the story of speculation, debt, and the human drives that fueled the Wall Street crash that changed everything. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here. Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss a new oral history of President Trump's Department of Justice, the complex transactional nationalism of this week's visit from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with guest Jake Sullivan, former National Security Advisor and co-host of the new podcast The Long Game, and what is likely to happen now that Trump has signed the bill to release the Justice Department's Epstein files. For this week's Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss the sordid scandal around the tangled relationships of political reporter Olivia Nuzzi and the complex questions it raises about relationships between journalists and their sources. In the latest Gabfest Reads, John talks with journalist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book, 1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation — the story of speculation, debt, and the human drives that fueled the Wall Street crash that changed everything. Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.) Podcast production by Nina Porzucki Research by Emily Ditto You can find the full Political Gabfest show pages here. Want more Political Gabfest? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Political Gabfest show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or visit slate.com/gabfestplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan breaks down President Trump's one trillion dollar deal with Saudi Arabia, the political risk created by the lingering 9/11 lawsuit, the White House's continued push for foreign labor, and new polling that shows major headwinds for Republicans. The global brief then moves to Russian sabotage across Europe, Chinese made vehicles spying on Western militaries, and new research from Australia on autism and prenatal nutrition. Trump Signs One Trillion Dollar Saudi Deal: President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman agreed to sweeping partnerships that span nuclear energy, rare earth mining, financial services, liquified natural gas, advanced AI chips, and the sale of up to forty eight F-35 fighter jets. The deal promises major job gains in states like Texas, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Arizona, and Louisiana. Bryan notes that Congress must still approve the fighter sales and that Israel will require a guaranteed technological edge before any jets reach Riyadh. He also warns that the 9/11 families' lawsuit against the Saudi government could disrupt everything. Court filings allege that two Saudi linked men assisted the first hijackers upon arrival in the United States, and a judge has ruled that the evidence is strong enough to move forward. Foreign Labor Controversy and Political Fallout: Trump defended his plan to use H-1B workers for new chip and battery factories, arguing that American workers are not trained for these roles. He acknowledged that the stance is hurting his poll numbers but insisted that "smart people" support his position. Bryan outlines why many conservatives see this as a repeat of past Big Tech abuses and why Silicon Valley's financial support could become a liability for the White House if working class voters feel sidelined. Polls show two thirds of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, Trump's approval rating sits around thirty eight percent in public surveys, and Democrats hold a fourteen point lead on the congressional generic ballot. Economic Signals Remain Mixed: The trade deficit fell twenty four percent as Americans purchased more U.S. made goods, suggesting the tariffs are strengthening domestic manufacturing. Construction data shows modest growth in housing but weakness in commercial projects. Foreclosures are rising, and Zillow reports that homeowners now face sixteen thousand dollars in annual upkeep on average. Bryan cautions that unless working families feel real relief by summer, the midterms could be difficult for Republicans. Russia Sabotages European Rail Lines: Poland confirmed that Russian intelligence directed two sabotage attempts on rail lines used to deliver weapons and aid to Ukraine. Explosives were placed to derail a passenger train, and investigators arrested two Ukrainian men recruited through online channels. Bryan connects this attack to a wider hybrid war across Europe directed by the GRU, including recent attempts to set off explosives in air cargo shipments. Italy's defense minister declared that Europe is under attack, although Bryan notes that European militaries are too hollowed out to respond meaningfully for years to come. China's Electric Cars and Buses Act as Spy Platforms: The United Kingdom warned that Chinese made hybrid and electric vehicles can record conversations and transmit data back to Beijing. Norway found that Chinese electric buses can be hacked and remotely controlled even in deep underground environments. Israel seized seven hundred Chinese government vehicles after discovering data gathering sensors. Bryan reminds listeners that he first warned of this surveillance threat years ago and says Western governments are only now catching up. Australia Links Prenatal Nutrition to Lower Autism Risk: Researchers found that prenatal supplements containing folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D, iodine, and other micronutrients are associated with a thirty percent reduction in autism risk. Scientists suspect a connection to the mother's gut microbiome and its influence on fetal development. Bryan notes that similar gut based treatments have shown promise in Europe and the United States and encourages listeners to remain open to emerging science. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32 Keywords: Trump Saudi one trillion dollar deal, F-35 sale approval Congress, Saudi 9/11 lawsuit al-Bayoumi al-Thumairy, Trump H-1B foreign workers battery factories, U.S. trade deficit drop tariffs, Poland Russia rail sabotage Ukraine, Chinese electric vehicle spying UK Norway Israel, prenatal vitamins autism Australia study
Philip Bump, MSNOW contributor, author of the "How to Read this Chart" newsletter and the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America (Viking, 2023), talks about the national political news of the week, including President Trump's capitulation on the Epstein files vote, his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and how the president is trying to address inflation concerns.
President Trump defends Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a White House visit, even as the two leaders unveil sweeping military, nuclear, and investment agreements. Congress overwhelmingly passes a bill compelling the Justice Department to release its Epstein files, setting up a 30-day countdown that could spark new political fights over redactions. And a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows Trump at his lowest approval rating of his second term, with voters demanding that he focus on lowering prices as Democrats gain a significant edge heading into 2026.Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Dana Farrington, Kelsey Snell, Megan Pratz, Rebecca Rossman, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
The House and Senate pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act with overwhelming bipartisan support after President Trump abruptly reverses course and urges Congress to release the documents. President Trump welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House as the two sides pursue massive investment deals and renewed strategic ties. Rapper Nicki Minaj, invited by the U.S. ambassador, speaks at the United Nations to condemn the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and praises President Trump for elevating the issue. Congressman Riley Moore of West Virginia expands on the topic and explains why Nigeria's government is wrong about anti-Christian bias. Lean: Visit https://BrickhouseSale.com for 30% off Walmart: Learn how Walmart is fueling the future of U.S. manufacturing at https://Walmart.com/America-at-work Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Tommy and Ben discuss Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington, his request for F-35 fighter jets and a NATO-like security guarantee, the real estate deals the Trump family might get in return, and how corruption is driving US foreign policy, including in the case of a gold-bar bribe from the Swiss. Then they talk about new reports on embattled (and embarrassing) FBI Director Kash Patel, what leaked emails tell us about Jeffrey Epstein's relationship with Israeli intelligence and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, how Chinese hackers used AI in a game-changing new way, why the former prime minister of Bangladesh was sentenced to death, a massive corruption scandal in Ukraine, an update on civilians fleeing violence in Sudan, and a new documentary about how Adolf Hitler's teeny tiny secret caused big problems. Then Ben speaks with author and former assistant administrator at USAID, Atul Gawande, whose new documentary “Rovina's Choice” highlights the staggering rise in preventable malnutrition and deaths after American cuts to foreign aid.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, the 9/11 families still lack answers from Saudi Arabia's involvement in September 11th. Mohammed bin Salman's claim that Osama bin Laden used Saudis to destroy U.S.-Saudi relations is crap. MBS says he wants a two state solution with Israel and Palestine but he won't take in one Palestinian from Gaza. Later, NY Post's Miranda Devine criticizes the FBI and Secret Service for mishandling the investigation into Thomas Crooks' attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a 2024 Butler, Pennsylvania rally. An independent source uncovered Crooks' 17 online accounts revealing his ideological shift from pro-Trump supporter in 2019—issuing threats against Democrats—to anti-Trump critic by 2020, with increasingly violent rhetoric advocating terrorism, assassination, and interactions with a neo-Nazi. The Crooks files need to be released. Also, Gov Mike Dunleavy calls in to discuss a new discovery at Alaska's Graphite Creek site near Nome which has uncovered vast reserves of graphite and rare earth elements potentially dealing a major blow to China's 90% dominance in these minerals. The project qualifies for Defense Production Act materials and plans to ship resources to an Ohio plant, maximizing value through by-product recovery. This find allows the U.S. to wean off China's rare earth minerals. Afterward, all of the so-called Epstein files will be released. Rep Clay Higgins was the only Congressman to vote against it, but he has a good point. There are innocent victims, witnesses and people who were helping investigators that do not want there name out in the media. Finally, Dr Marc Siegel calls in to discuss his new book – The Miracles Among Us: How God's Grace Plays a Role in Healing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
President Donald Trump joyously welcomed Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, also known as MBS, to the White House on Tuesday. That's despite the fact that, according to US intelligence, MBS allegedly ordered the 2018 murder of Saudi dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The meeting was supposed to center on Saudi investments in the United States in exchange for military equipment and possible access to nuclear technology – as the US and Saudi Arabia become closer partners than ever before. So for more on what MBS's very friendly visit means for U.S.-Saudi relations, we spoke with Pod Save the World co-host Tommy Vietor.And in headlines, Education Secretary Linda McMahon works to "break up federal bureaucracy", the US takes one step closer to maybe possibly finally seeing the Epstein files, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott says he'll take the state's redistricting fight to the Supreme Court.Show Notes:Check out Pod Save The World – tinyurl.com/4n6y99muCall Congress – 202-224-3121Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/3kk4nyz8What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcastFollow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
After a resounding vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, the bill is expected to head to President Trump's desk. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits the U.S. for the first time in seven years. And the NTSB says a single loose wire caused a power outage on the cargo ship that ultimately crashed into Baltimore's Key Bridge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week, President Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At a grand White House dinner, an investment summit at the Kennedy Center and a sit-down in the Oval Office, the leaders appeared to be in lockstep.It was a stark contrast to 2018, when the U.S. intelligence community concluded that Mohammed had approved the killing and dismemberment of Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi. Lawmakers condemned the crown prince and withdrew support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. Today, Elahe Izadi speaks to White House correspondent Michael Birnbaum about how the crown prince was welcomed back into the fold — and why the U.S. refuses to cut ties with Saudi Arabia. Today's show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy with help from Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Ariel Plotnick and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Annah Aschbrenner.Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
It's hump day on the Majority Report On today's program: Donald Trump is growing increasingly angry as the Epstein files continue to dominate the news cycle. During a press conference with Mohammed bin Salman, Trump erupted at a reporter who questioned the ethics of his family business working with Saudi Arabia, MBS's role in the killing of a journalist, and the newly released Epstein files. Trump responded by calling for the FCC to revoke ABC's broadcast license, accusing the network of being anti-Trump. Hunter Demster of Vecindarios 901, a rapid-response community organization in Memphis that monitors ICE operations and trains immigrants about their rights to help protect their community. If you are interested in building an ICE rapid response team in your community, feel free to DM Vecindarios on Instagram or Facebook for advice. Also, if you can please donate to their Venmo - @Vecindarios901 or Cash App - these links and handles are verified, sent to us by Hunter Demster. Sabina Aguirre, a Starbucks barista joins Sam to discuss the strikes and consumer boycott of Starbucks amidst their fight to unionize. Current Affairs is offering a FREE year-long digital subscription if you email proof of cancellation of your New York Times subscription. In the Fun Half: Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Representative Mike Kennedy (R-UT) each appear on Fox News to try and describe the GOP vision for health care. Senate candidate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed actually has a vision for a health care system that is effective and affordable. If you are in Michigan vote for Abdul. Fox News has some tips on how to save money this Christmas and the tip is to not buy gifts for adults. Screw you Grannie, if you need something go get it yourself. Jake Tapper reports on CNN that the Epstein discharge petition can easily be locked up in an investigation at the behest of Attorney General Pam Bondi. Former speechwriter for Barack and Michelle Obama, Sarah Hurwitz thinks the younger generations have turned on Israel due to social media and the internationalization of media. All that and more. The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: NUTRAFOL: Get $10 off your first month's subscription + free shipping at Nutrafol.com when you use promo code TMR10 COZY EARTH: Go to FactorMeals.com/majority50off and use code majority50off to get 50% off your first box, plus Free Breakfast for 1 Year. SHOPIFY: Go to zbiotics.com/MAJORITY to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use MAJORITY at checkout. SUNSET LAKE: Head to SunsetLakeCBD.com and use the code FRIDAY25 to save 30% on all their wellness products for people and pets. This sale ends December 1st at 11:59 ᴾᴹ Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech On Instagram: @MrBryanVokey Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com
Muhammad bin Salman's first visit to the White House in seven years earned the Saudi crown prince new weapons, giant tech deals and a burnished reputation. Our correspondent explains Trump's warm welcome. Why gay rights in Hong Kong are going backwards. And how snail farms help Britons dodge tax.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
SHOW 11-18-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1894 "THE ANGEL OF THE REVOLUTION" THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT GAZA. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Liz Peek Liz Peek discusses the "AI bubble," noting the Magnificent Seven stocks are priced to perfection amidst concerns that massive investments may not yield adequate returns, observes that although the market is "risk off" the US economy seems "okay" according to data points, and expresses alarm about New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani, a socialist without management expertise who is surrounding himself with ideologues, including Hassan Sheheryar, his transition director, who is "clearly anti-Semitic" and anti-Israel, raising significant concerns for the city.E 915-930 CONTINUED 930-945 Judy Dempsey Judy Dempsey addresses the rising costs and future decline of the global cocoa crop, linking it to transcontinental climate change caused by Amazon deforestation, criticizes the EU and NATO for reacting too slowly and lacking strategic vision concerning the Ukraine war and defense, notes European military infrastructure is inadequate for rapid deployment forcing reliance on ships instead of trains, and observes that while the Russian threat is understood by most member states, political fumbling in Germany is allowing the anti-NATO, pro-Russia AfD party to gain significant ground. 945-1000 Gregory Copley Gregory Copley discusses the US military presence off Venezuela, noting President Trump seeks a negotiated outcome with Maduro to avoid long-term intervention, covers Mohammed bin Salman's influence in the Abraham Accords and the challenge posed by Turkey-backed Hamas, analyzes the symbolic rail sabotage in Poland questioning Russian involvement, and addresses the declining viability of NATO's Article 5 and the potential for King Charles III to intervene in UK political chaos. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Charles Burton Charles Burton discusses his book, The Beaver and the Dragon, illustrating China's fundamental untrustworthiness and statistical manipulation, which has intensified under centralized leadership, noting Canada's past cooperation with China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) failed as officials often falsely reported data, and despite historical deception and security risks, there is a push in Canada to increase trade with China to offset trade issues with the United States, with Burton cautioning that trusting the Chinese Communist Party has always "gone badly wrong." 1015-1030 CONTINUED. 1030-1045 Jonathan Schanzer Jonathan Schanzer discusses Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), calling him a deeply flawed but essential leader driving Saudi modernization and normalization with Israel, with a "pathway to a Palestinian state" as the current diplomatic objective, emphasizing that resolving the Gaza situation and achieving broader peace hinges on eliminating Hamas, while the region faces long-term challenges from Iran and Turkey, the latter complicating Israel's security operations in chaotic Syria, with the UN endorsement of the Trump 20-point plan for Gaza reconstruction considered a landmark win. 1045-1100 CONTINUED CONTINUED KING CHARLES THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 Gregory Copley Gregory Copley discusses the US military presence off Venezuela, noting President Trump seeks a negotiated outcome with Maduro to avoid long-term intervention, covers Mohammed bin Salman's influence in the Abraham Accords and the challenge posed by Turkey-backed Hamas, analyzes the symbolic rail sabotage in Poland questioning Russian involvement, and addresses the declining viability of NATO's Article 5 and the potential for King Charles III to intervene in UK political chaos. 1115-1130 CONTINUED MBS 1130-1145 CONTINUED KING CHARLES 1145-1200 CONTINUED FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Mary Kissel Mary Kissel addresses three foreign policy dilemmas: regarding Venezuela, the US military buildup is seen as leverage to force dialogue with Maduro following a successful playbook used against North Korea; in Europe, she notes a dichotomy between committed Eastern European states and "weaker lazier" Western powers regarding support for Ukraine; and the China dilemma involves whether to treat Beijing as a legitimate trading partner or an enemy narco-terrorist state responsible for exporting fentanyl precursors, with Kissel suggesting current US policy is confused and benefits the CCP. 1215-1230 1230-1245 oseph Sternberg Joseph Sternberg analyzes the BBC political bias scandal, which is significant because the BBC is "omnipresent" and arranges the "mental furniture for British society," noting the BBC, funded largely by a mandatory license fee, faced allegations ranging from deceptive editing of President Trump's remarks to the Arabic service pushing Hamas propaganda potentially fueling anti-Semitism, while domestically discussing the UK Labour Party's dilemma over controversial immigration policies to control illegal channel crossings, a crisis that has strengthened Nigel Farage's Reform party. 1245-100 AM
CONTINED Gregory Copley covers Mohammed bin Salman's influence in the Abraham Accords and the challenge posed by Turkey-backed Hamas,
-- On the Show: -- Arick Fudali, civil rights attorney who currently represents 11 Epstein survivors, joins us to discuss the potential release of the Epstein files -- The House votes overwhelmingly to release the Epstein files while Donald Trump faces backlash over Republicans reversing themselves under pressure and Rep. Clay Higgins stands alone as the only GOP no vote -- Republicans vote to release the Epstein files while preparing tactics to limit, distort, or weaponize the disclosure to protect Donald Trump and shift blame -- Donald Trump gives Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman an extravagant White House welcome that includes a military flyover and personal praise -- A federal court blocks Texas' new congressional map as unconstitutional, destroying Republicans' plan to add several safe seats and undermining Donald Trump's political strategy -- Donald Trump lashes out at reporters asking about the Epstein files and defends Mohammed bin Salman regarding the killing of Jamal Khashoggi -- Mike Johnson struggles to explain Republican reversals on the Epstein files as Donald Trump pressures the party and conservative media figures attack Johnson for delays -- South Dakota farmers criticize Donald Trump for harming their livelihoods through trade policies and foreign beef decisions that benefit wealthy interests over agricultural communities -- On the Bonus Show: Democrats have their biggest polling advantage in 8 years, a federal judge blocks Texas from using its new gerrymandered congressional map, Larry Summers resigns from the OpenAI board over Epstein ties, and much more...
The bill to release the Epstein files is now on the brink of becoming law, after every single Senate and House member but one agree to send it to the president to sign. Plus, Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who the CIA says likely ordered the murder of a Washington Post journalist, gets a heroes welcome in the White House, and President Trump defends him and bad mouths the dead journalist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Russia launches a surprising crackdown on its own pro-war bloggers, silencing once-loyal voices who helped sell the invasion. We'll break down why the Kremlin is suddenly treating its cheerleaders as a threat. President Trump welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, with fighter jets, security assurances, and major business deals on the table. Spain arrests 20 people linked to a powerful Mexican drug cartel recently designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. And in today's Back of the Brief — the UN Security Council signs off on President Trump's 20-point Gaza plan, approving the creation of a foreign stabilization force for the Strip. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Lean: Visit https://BrickhouseSale.com for 30% off Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold True Classic: Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at https://trueclassic.com/PDB#trueclassicpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Muhammad bin Salman's first visit to the White House in seven years earned the Saudi crown prince new weapons, giant tech deals and a burnished reputation. Our correspondent explains Trump's warm welcome. Why gay rights in Hong Kong are going backwards. And how snail farms help Britons dodge tax.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 4: 6:05pm- Will President Donald Trump sign the Epstein Transparency Act later tonight? If signed into law, the bill requires the Department of Justice to make public all unclassified records and investigative materials relating to Jeffrey Epstein no later than 30 days after the date of enactment. 6:15pm- On Monday night, President Donald Trump was the keynote speaker at the McDonald's Impact Summitt—joking that he loves the Filet-o-Fish sandwich but that it often needs more tartar sauce! He also bragged about getting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to eat a Big Mac while on the campaign trail. 6:20pm- According to reports, President Trump's typical order at McDonald's is: Big Mac, Filet-o-Fish, large fry, diet Coke, and a chocolate milkshake. 6:30pm- According to White House officials, President Donald Trump will sign the Epstein Transparency Act tonight. Looking at his schedule, he has dinner with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at 7:15pm—will Trump sign the bill before or after? 6:35pm- While appearing on CNN with Michael Smerconish, author Barry Levine hypothesized that Donald Trump may have been the 2004 whistleblower that spoke with Palm Beach police about Jeffrey Epstein predations—leading to an investigation. He noted that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has also made a similar claim. 6:40pm- Rich's PragerU Book Club episode released this afternoon! He sat down with The Daily Wire's Michael Knowles to discuss Animal Farm by George Orwell. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmFJ11619bY.
The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Show (11/18/2025): 3:05pm- The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill that directs the Justice Department to release all the files in its possession related to its investigation into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The final vote was 427 to 1—with only Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) in opposition. In a post to social media, Higgins explained his decision—citing concern that the bill does not do enough to protect the identities of victims and witnesses. 3:10pm- Private Property Rights Under Threat in the Garden State: New Jersey towns are beginning to push back against the state's affordable housing obligations. The ambitious quotas are trampling property rights—and, as Rich notes, high density housing will almost certainly lead to more Democrat voters moving to NJ. 3:30pm- On Tuesday, President Donald Trump met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office where Saudi Arabia pledged to invest $1 trillion in the United States economy. During a contentious moment, ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked about the September 11th terror attacks and the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. 4:00pm- According to reporting from Robert Jimison of The New York Times, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he believes the Epstein bill will be voted on in the Senate quickly, without any amendments. He explained, “when a bill passes 427 to 1, and the president says he'll sign it into law, I'm not sure there's going to be a need or desire for an amendment process.” 4:15pm- While speaking with the press, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) was asked why Democrats didn't release the Epstein files when they were in power. Meanwhile, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said Schumer should be replaced as leader—suggesting Chris Murphy, Cory Booker, Brian Schatz, and Elizabeth Warren would be better suited for the position. 4:30pm- While speaking at a Turning Point USA event, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. questioned why there has been a sudden uptick in food allergies over the last 30 to 40 years. “There's a different view of what could be happening in this country. We need to figure out what's causing it and eliminate it.” He continued: “Five of my seven children have allergies. What happened? Something happened. And it appears to have happened sometime around 1990…So, you have to look at an environmental toxin.” 5:00pm- Corey DeAngelis—Senior Fellow at the American Culture Project & Author of the book, “The Parent Revolution: Rescuing Your Kids from the Radicals Ruining Our Schools.”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his latest editorial for The Washington Times, “Dismantle the Teachers Union Cartel.” DeAngelis also discusses American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten protesting alongside Starbucks baristas. She already ruined public schools, is she going to ruin coffee next? Plus, the Trump administration is taking further steps to reduce the size and scope of the Department of Education. 5:30pm- BREAKING NEWS: The Senate has passed the Epstein Transparency Act. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requested that the Senate pass the bill with unanimous consent—no Senator objected and the bill will now head to President Donald Trump's desk to sign. 6:05pm- Will President Donald Trump sign the Epstein Transparency Act later tonight? If signed into law, the bill requires the Department of Justice to make public all unclassified records and investigative materials relating to Jeffrey Epstein no later than 30 days after the date of enactment. 6:15pm- On Monday night, President Donald Trump was the keynote speaker at the McDonald's Impact Summitt—joking that he loves the Filet-o-Fish sandwich but that it often needs more tartar sauce! He also bragged about getting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to eat a Big Mac while on the campaign trail. 6:20pm- According to reports, President Trump's typical order at McDonald's is: Big Ma ...
The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Show (11/19/2025): 3:05pm- The Epstein Transparency Act: On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill that directs the Justice Department to release all the files in its possession related to its investigation into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The final vote was 427 to 1—with only Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) in opposition. In a post to social media, Higgins explained his decision—citing concern that the bill does not do enough to protect the identities of victims and witnesses. Later in the day, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requested that the Senate pass the bill with unanimous consent—no Senator objected and the bill will now head to President Donald Trump's desk to be signed. 3:15pm- After passing the Epstein Transparency Act, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson expressed frustration with the Senate's decision to bypass the amendment process. But, as Rich notes, why didn't Republicans amend the bill before passing it and sending it to the Senate? Speaker Johnson, like Higgins, is concerned that the bill doesn't do enough to protect the identities of victims, witnesses, and those not guilty of any crimes. 3:20pm- On Wednesday, the House of Representatives held a vote to censure Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-USVI) for a text exchange she had with Epstein during a House Oversight Committee hearing. During the exchange, Epstein coached Plaskett on how to question Trump Organization officials. 3:30pm- Kennedy—Fox News Host & Author—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss her MTV days, BBQ/smoking tips, and why commies are ruining everything! Kennedy will be performing at SoulJoel's in Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 22nd at 6pm. You can find tickets here: https://souljoels.com/shop/tickets/kennedy/. 4:00pm- Did California's embrace of far-left policies (specifically high taxes and excessive regulations) destroy Hollywood and the filmmaking industry? More and more films are being shot in Texas and other parts of the country. It's no surprise actor Glen Powell's new production studio is based in Austin, Texas. 4:30pm- Pennsylvania State Treasurer, and Republican candidate for governor, Stacy Garrity is calling for an investigation into how a suspected Uzbekistani terrorist obtained a CDL driver's license—issued by PennDOT under Gov. Josh Shapiro's leadership. 4:50pm- What's occurring on the show sheet? (Not to be confused for “what's on the cut sheet?”) A group of doctors sang songs about climate change and danced awkwardly at COP30. The clip is somehow even worse than you're imagining. 5:05pm- After passing the Epstein Transparency Act, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson expressed frustration with the Senate's decision to bypass the amendment process. But, as Rich notes, why didn't Republicans amend the bill before passing it and sending it to the Senate? Speaker Johnson, like Higgins, is concerned that the bill doesn't do enough to protect the identities of victims, witnesses, and those not guilty of any crimes. 5:30pm- Gerlad Posner—Award-Winning Investigative Journalist & Author of the book “Secrets of the Kingdom: The Inside Story of the Secret Saudi-U.S. Connection”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss President Donald Trump's meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office. During a contentious moment, ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked about the September 11th terror attacks and the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. 6:00pm- Penn State Basketball
The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 3: 5:05pm- After passing the Epstein Transparency Act, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson expressed frustration with the Senate's decision to bypass the amendment process. But, as Rich notes, why didn't Republicans amend the bill before passing it and sending it to the Senate? Speaker Johnson, like Higgins, is concerned that the bill doesn't do enough to protect the identities of victims, witnesses, and those not guilty of any crimes. 5:30pm- Gerlad Posner—Award-Winning Investigative Journalist & Author of the book “Secrets of the Kingdom: The Inside Story of the Secret Saudi-U.S. Connection”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss President Donald Trump's meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office. During a contentious moment, ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked about the September 11th terror attacks and the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. 6:00pm- Penn State Basketball
The bill to release the Epstein files passes by unanimous consent in the Senate. Nicolle Wallace discusses that victory, but also speaks with Marc Elias about his victory in court over Texas Republicans' gerrymandered map after a federal panel of judges moves to block the map. Later, Nicolle discusses Trump's meeting with Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman and the disparaging comments he made about Jamal Khashoggi.For more, follow us on Instagram @deadlinewhTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.