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Donald Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of his Gaza peace plan. During an extraordinary round table on the Antifa organisation last night, the US President was interrupted by Marco Rubio and given a hand-written message. He told those assembled at the White House: ‘I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we're very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they'll need me pretty quickly.' Details of the deal, including the finalised list of prisoners Hamas wants freed as part of an exchange, remain unclear. But the first part of the deal could be set in motion as soon as today once the Israeli government approves the plan at around 2 p.m. local time. Is he heading for a Nobel Peace Prize?Meanwhile, Starmer is in Mumbai, researching India's digital ID system as a potential model for the UK. The Prime Minister said India's scheme, which has been rolled out to almost all 1.4 billion citizens over the past 15 years, had been a ‘massive success'. Lucy Dunn speaks to Tim Shipman and Michael Stephens, senior fellow at RUSI.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Daugherty, US Head of Norton Rose Fulbright's Cybersecurity practice, discussing the upcoming expiration of CISA 2015. Ben discusses Apple's decision to remove the ICEBlock app after pressure from the White House. Dave's got the story of the Secretary of Defense dialing back cyber training fro troops. While this show covers legal topics, and Ben is a lawyer, the views expressed do not constitute legal advice. For official legal advice on any of the topics we cover, please contact your attorney.  Links to today's stories: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple removes ICE tracking apps after Trump administration says they threaten officers US Department of War reduces cybersecurity training, tells soldiers to focus on their mission ⁠Get the weekly Caveat Briefing delivered to your inbox. Like what you heard? Be sure to check out and subscribe to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Caveat Briefing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a weekly newsletter available exclusively to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠N2K Pro⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ members on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠N2K CyberWire's⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ website. N2K Pro members receive our Thursday wrap-up covering the latest in privacy, policy, and research news, including incidents, techniques, compliance, trends, and more. This week's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Caveat Briefing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ covers ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠China's covert influence campaign in the Philippines, where a Beijing-funded marketing firm used fake social media accounts to amplify pro-China narratives, attack U.S. alliances, and spread disinformation. The operation aimed to sway public opinion, undermine democratic discourse, and shape the country's political landscape ahead of future elections. Curious about the details? Head over to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Caveat Briefing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for the full scoop and additional compelling stories. Got a question you'd like us to answer on our show? You can send your audio file to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠caveat@thecyberwire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Hope to hear from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 3: 5:00pm- Bill D'Agostino— Senior Research Analyst at Media Research Center—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to break down some of the best (and worst) moments from corporate media and Democrats. The Democrat candidate for Attorney General in Virginia, Jay Jones, discussed shooting Republicans in a text chain and then Rep. Nancy Pelosi went on CNN to defend his candidacy! 5:30pm- During his Wednesday cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump took questions from the press. At one point, Trump stated: "I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we're very close to a deal in the Middle East." 5:45pm- Kamala Harris says curse words in order to wake up her audience + Is Amazon already ruining James Bond?

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Show (10/08/2025): 3:05pm- On Friday, The Rich Zeoli Show will be broadcasting LIVE from Wildwood, New Jersey for an America First rally. Speakers include Jack Ciattarelli, Scott Presler, Benny Johnson, Jack Posobiec, Congressman Jeff Van Drew, Cliff Maloney, Paula Scanlan, Matt Rooney, and (of course) Rich Zeoli! To register for free, visit: https://www.capegop.com/. 3:10pm- Data from Emerson College Polling suggests that Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill are tied 43% to 43% in their head-to-head gubernatorial matchup. Meanwhile, National Research—which is considered one of the country's most accurate polling organizations, according to FiveThirtyEight—now has Ciattarelli running 1-point ahead of Sherrill. Republicans in NJ believe Ciattarelli can win, which should boost voter turnout. According to DecisionDeskHQ, Republicans have a mail-in ballot return rate of 18.61%—outpacing Democrats who are at 16.55%. 3:15pm- Government Shutdown: Now even late-night host Jon Stewart is mocking Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer—calling him a “human flat tire.” Are Democrats losing the messaging battle? 3:30pm- Complete Embarrassment: Far-left Katie Porter—the front runner to become the next Governor of California in 2026—had a complete meltdown after a CBS reporter asked her about her strategy for winning bipartisan support. Porter insisted she didn't need the support of Trump voters and then abruptly ended the interview—explicitly complaining about being asked too many “follow up” questions. Porter, a former congresswoman and accolade of Elizabeth Warren, lost her 2024 race for U.S. Senate. I wonder why? 3:40pm- On Wednesday, President Donald Trump held a roundtable meeting from the White House with Cabinet members—discussing the radical left-wing group Antifa. The Trump administration recently designated Antifa a domestic terrorist organization. 4:00pm- On Wednesday, President Donald Trump held a roundtable meeting from the White House with Cabinet members—discussing the radical left-wing group Antifa. The Trump administration recently designated Antifa a domestic terrorist organization. Trump spoke directly with victims of Antifa's violence. 4:15pm- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker outlandishly claimed that President Trump is reenacting the early days of Nazi Germany. Ironically, last week Pritzker said it was “dangerous” for people to compare Democrats to “fascists.” 4:30pm- According to documents discovered by FBI Director Kash Patel, former Special Counsel Jack Smith tracked the private communications of several Republican Senators and Congressmembers as part of his investigation into the January 6th riots at the U.S. Capitol. Brooke Singman of Fox News writes that Smith's “Arctic Frost” team tracked the phone calls of Lindsey Graham (SC), Marsha Blackburn (TN), Ron Johnson (WI), Josh Hawley (MO), Tommy Tuberville (AL), and others. In response to the revelation, President Donald Trump referred to Smith as a “sleazebag” and a “bad guy” who tried to ruin people's lives. 5:00pm- Bill D'Agostino— Senior Research Analyst at Media Research Center—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to break down some of the best (and worst) moments from corporate media and Democrats. The Democrat candidate for Attorney General in Virginia, Jay Jones, discussed shooting Republicans in a text chain and then Rep. Nancy Pelosi went on CNN to defend his candidacy! 5:30pm- During his Wednesday cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump took questions from the press. At one point, Trump stated: "I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we're very close to a deal in the Middle East." 5:45pm- Kamala Harris says curse words in order to wake up her audience + Is Amazon already ruining James Bond? 6:00pm Cliff Maloney—Citizens Alliance CEO & PA CHASE Founder—joins The Rich Zeoli Show in studio for the 6pm hour and helps break down the New Jersey gubernatorial race! In 2021, Jack Ciattarelli lost to Phil Murphy ...

Beau Bayh, son of former Indiana Governor and US Senator Evan Bayh has announced he is running for Secretary of State. This sets up a potential matchup between Bayh and Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales. Bayh's entry to the race gives Democrats perhaps their best opportunity in years to pick up a statewide office. Can Bayh bring the Democrats back to relevance in Indiana? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss on Statehouse Happenings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“President Trump talks about ‘drill, baby, drill.' We've also got to mine, baby, mine. We've got to get back into this business,” says U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.China has a stranglehold on rare earths and critical minerals, controlling at least 85 percent of the refining of the 20 most important rare earth minerals, Burgum says.As secretary of the interior, Burgum oversees nearly half a billion acres of federal land and plays a key role in the Trump administration's energy dominance agenda.In this episode, we dive into what the Trump administration is doing to end America's rare earth minerals dependency on China, accelerate energy production, and win the AI arms race against China, which will require major increases in energy supply.We also discuss the government shutdown and how it impacts the Department of the Interior and the American people.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

On Friday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that the United States had struck a small boat in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, killing four people. Hegseth alleged that the boat was operated by the drug cartel Tren de Aragua and was trafficking narcotics to the United States. The strike is the fourth confirmed time the Trump administration has sunk a small craft it alleges was controlled by “narco-terrorists,” including a strike on September 2 that killed 11 and two others on September 15 and September 19. Tangle LIVE tickets are available!We're excited to announce that our third installment of Tangle Live will be held on October 24, 2025, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre in Irvine, California. If you're in the area (or want to make the trip), we'd love to have you join Isaac and the team for a night of spirited discussion, live Q&A, and opportunities to meet the team in person. You can read more about the event and purchase tickets here.Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “Under the Radar” story ⁠here and today's “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.Take the survey: Do you think the U.S. will go to war with Venezuela? Let us know.Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was written by: Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“. . . [The Trump administration is] using Palestine. They are using the pretext of antisemitism and combating antisemitism to go after us because they know that this is the weakness of the Democratic party. When they go to the universities, they start with combating antisemitism, but then the second ask would be to abolish all DEI programs, to sanitize the history on slavery and the inception of America. And the list goes on and on and on.” - Mahmoud KhalilDescription: Mahmoud Khalil was coming home from an Iftar dinner with his pregnant wife on March 8, 2025 when he was detained without a warrant and transported 1,500 miles to a Louisiana detention camp. A negotiator for the 2024 pro-Palestine student protests at Columbia University, Khalil was a legal permanent resident who'd committed no violence or crime; his abduction shocked the world. The Trump administration was seeking to expel Khalil, not for his acts, but for his otherwise legal “beliefs, statements and associations” which Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in short letter, would “compromise a compelling US foreign policy interest.” A New Jersey federal judge threw out that case and Khalil was released after 104 days in detention, but the backlash keeps on coming. In this courageous conversation, Mahmoud Khalil joins Laura Flanders to discuss the night of his terrifying detainment, the “Palestinian Exception” and the case brought against him by the Trump administration. They are alleging errors on his green card application and have ordered Khalil to be deported — possibly to Algeria or Syria where his life would be under threat. Despite the risks of deportation, Mahmoud Khalil continues to speak out, and he and his legal team have filed a civil rights lawsuit with the U.S. District Court of New Jersey against the Trump administration to challenge his arrest and detention by ICE. Join Khalil and Flanders as they ask why the question of Palestine is a test for U.S. democracy — and one we are failing.“People mistakenly think that what's happening is far from their doors. They think that this would never happen to them, because of their social status, because of their ethnicity or any of that. But what's happening around us should alarm us . . . It's not about that the U.S. is becoming authoritarian. It is authoritarianism now.” - Mahmoud KhalilGuest:  Mahmoud Khalil, Human Rights AdvocateUPDATE - since this interview was recorded-  “The recent decision by a federal court in Massachusetts in the AAUP v. Rubio case confirms what Mahmoud has maintained all along: that Trump administration officials have acted in concert to suppress and silence anti-genocide, pro-Palestinian speech, in violation of the First Amendment. We look forward to the remedies that court will order and to pursuing Mahmoud's own separate and ongoing federal court challenge to this unconstitutional policy.”  -Ramzi Kassem, co-director of CLEAR, and one of the lawyers representing Mahmoud Khalil.Full Conversation Release: While our weekly shows are edited to time for broadcast on Public TV and community radio, we offer to our members and podcast subscribers the full uncut conversation. These audio exclusives are made possible thanks to our member supporters.Watch the special report on YouTube; PBS World Channel September 21st, and on over 300 public stations across the country (check your listings, or search here via zipcode). Listen: Episode airing on community radio September 24th  (check here to see if your station is airing the show) & available as a podcast.Full Episode Notes are located HERE.Music Credit:  "Gazan Skies” by Ghost Producer Badawi from the album "Sonically Dismantling Western Imperialism” courtesy of Underground Producers Alliance (UPA),  'Steppin' by Podington Bear, and original sound design by Jeannie HopperRESOURCES:Related Laura Flanders Show Episodes:•  UNCUT CONVERSATION from this episode with Mahmoud Khalil Listen• Behind the Barricades at Columbia University: “The Encampments” for Gaza- Watch / Listen:  Episode and Uncut Conversation• Israel, Hamas & Gaza: UN Insider Craig Mokhiber Exposes Genocide, Apartheid & Human Rights Failures- Watch / Listen:  Episode and Uncut Conversation• Organizing for Gaza Ceasefire Through Policy & Protest: Meet JVP & NY Assemblymember Mamdani- Watch / Listen:  Episode and Uncut Conversation•  Israel-Palestine News - YouTube Playlist   Related Articles and Resources:•  Federal judge rules Trump unconstitutionally targeted Gaza war protesters for deportation, by Michael Casey, Associated Press, PBS• What is Better US, the group pushing to deport pro-Palestinain students? By Al Jazeera Staff, March 25, 2025, Al Jazeera• Google Secretly Handed ICE Data About Pro-Palestine Student Activist, by Shawn Musgrave, September 16, 2025, The Intercept• UC Berkeley Gives Trump Administration 160 Names in Antisemitism Investigation, by Brian Krans, September 12, 2025, KQED• Block the Bombs Act To Israel Support Laura Flanders and Friends by becoming a member at https://www.patreon.com/c/lauraflandersandfriends Laura Flanders and Friends Crew: Laura Flanders-Executive Producer, Writer; Sabrina Artel-Supervising Producer; Jeremiah Cothren-Senior Producer; Veronica Delgado-Video Editor, Janet Hernandez-Communications Director; Jeannie Hopper-Audio Director, Podcast & Radio Producer, Audio Editor, Sound Design, Narrator; Sarah Miller-Development Director, Nat Needham-Editor, Graphic Design emeritus; David Neuman-Senior Video Editor, and Rory O'Conner-Senior Consulting Producer. FOLLOW Laura Flanders and FriendsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraflandersandfriends/Blueky: https://bsky.app/profile/lfandfriends.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraFlandersAndFriends/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauraflandersandfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFLRxVeYcB1H7DbuYZQG-lgLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lauraflandersandfriendsPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/lauraflandersandfriendsACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel

270: I sat down with Ryland and Mollie Engelhart, farmers, filmmakers and real food advocates. This dynamic brother-sister duo is at the forefront of the regenerative farming movement, which they've explored in the critically-acclaimed documentaries “Kiss the Ground” and “Common Ground.” We're talking about MAHA (and where it can improve), rethinking SNAP to include whole foods, and the dire challenges facing local farms today.  Topics Discussed:  → How can we make health and nutrition a truly bipartisan issue? → What changes does MAHA need to actually support real food reform? → How could reframing SNAP bring more whole foods to families in need? → Are corporations and the government helping or harming our food system? → What can we do to save family farms and strengthen local food economies? Sponsored By: → Timeline | Timeline is offering 10% off your order of Mitopure Go to www.timeline.com/REALFOODOLOGY. → Function Health | Function is a near-360 view to see what's happening in your body, and my 1000 followers get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit www.functionhealth.com/realfoodology or use code REALFOODOLOGY100 at sign-up to own your health. → Clearstem | Go to www.clearstem.com/realfoodology and use code REALFOODOLOGY at checkout for 15% off your first order.  → BIOptimizers | For 15% off go to www.bioptimizers.com/realfoodology and use promo code REALFOODOLOGY. → Puori | Feel the difference for yourself, go to www.puori.com/REALFOODOLOGY and use the code REALFOODOLOGY at checkout for 20% off. → Everyday Dose | Buy any two Everyday Dose products at a Target store near you, and they'll pay you back for one! Visit www.everydaydose.com/REALFOODOLOGYBOGO for more details. → Beekeeper's Naturals | Go to www.beekeepersnaturals.com/REALFOODOLOGY or enter code REALFOODOLOGY to get 20% off your order. Timestamps:  → 00:00:00 - Introduction  → 00:05:26 - Make America Healthy Again    → 00:17:50 - Where MAHA Needs Improvement  → 00:24:36 - Making Health Bipartisan  → 00:38:52 - Reforming SNAP  → 00:53:09 - Saving Family Farms  → 00:57:00 - Creating Community  → 01:00:21 - Soda, SNAP + Corporate Collusion  → 01:04:05 - Farm Supply Struggles → 01:06:24 - Advice for the Secretary of Agriculture Show Links: → Kiss the Ground (Documentary) → Common Ground (Documentary)  Check Out: → Ryland Engelhart  → Mollie Engelhart  → Sovereignty Ranch  Check Out Courtney:  →  LEAVE US A VOICE MESSAGE →  Check Out My new FREE Grocery Guide! →  @realfoodology →  www.realfoodology.com →  My Immune Supplement by 2x4 →  Air Dr Air Purifier →  AquaTru Water Filter →  EWG Tap Water Database Produced By: Drake Peterson

Join us at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy for a special talk with Fr. Chris Alar in honor of the Feast of St. Faustina Kowalska, the Secretary and Apostle of Divine Mercy.St. Faustina was entrusted by Christ with the mission of proclaiming His message of Divine Mercy to the world, a mission that continues to transform lives through her Diary, through prayer, and through the Sacraments. On this special day, Fr. Chris will guide us deeper into the life, message, and spirituality of St. Faustina, helping us see how her trust in Jesus remains a path of hope and holiness for our times.This talk is a beautiful opportunity to celebrate St. Faustina's legacy and to rediscover the message of Divine Mercy at its very source. Come and encounter the love of Christ through the witness of the saint who gave her life to make His mercy known.

Philip Taubman and his brother William have written what the publisher Norton is calling "McNamara at War: A New History." It's a full life biography of former Secretary of Defense Robert Strange McNamara. "It's a portrait of a man at war with himself," according to the authors. "It's riven with melancholy, guilt, zealous loyalty, and profound inability to admit his flawed thinking about Vietnam before it was too late." William Taubman, seven years older than his brother at 83, is an emeritus political science professor from Amherst College. Brother Phil spent 30 years with the New York Times and is an author of several books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's Top News in 10, we cover: After one federal judge blocks President Trump from sending the Oregon National Guard to Portland, Trump instead sends the California National Guard. The Sunday shows drudge up retired generals to complain about the Secretary of War's higher standards in the military. Text messages from a Democrat candidate for Attorney General calling for the murder of a Virginia politician and his wife and family may drag down the Virginia Democrat ticket. Keep Up With The Daily Signal Sign up for our email newsletters:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.dailysignal.com/email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠     Subscribe to our other shows:  The Tony Kinnett Cast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/7AFk8xjiOOBEynVg3JiN6g⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  The Signal Sitdown: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://megaphone.link/THEDAILYSIGNAL2026390376⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Problematic Women:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://megaphone.link/THEDAILYSIGNAL7765680741⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Victor Davis Hanson: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://megaphone.link/THEDAILYSIGNAL9809784327⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Follow The Daily Signal:  X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/intent/user?screen_name=DailySignal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Truth Social:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth convened an extraordinary meeting of hundreds of the nations Flag officers and essentially challenged them to pass the same Presidential Physical Fitness test that so many of us ancient relics had to attempt in elementary school. Word on the base is that the enlisted personnel seem to like the meeting better than they did.

While the government shutdown continues, Congress remains at a standstill on whether it can reopen the government anytime soon. Meanwhile, both Democrats and Republicans are fighting over who is to blame for the shutdown. Last week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the mayoral race. With just weeks to go until Election Day, three candidates remain. New York Republican Representative Nicole Malliotakis joins the Rundown to discuss whether Congress can reopen the government soon. She also provides insight into the current state of the New York City mayoral race.   American farmers say they're feeling the pain of President Trump's trade policies. Soybean crops are among those in storage, as Chinese importers, the top buyers of US-grown soybeans, are now looking elsewhere while America and China work on a trade deal. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins joins the Rundown to discuss the concerns of American farmers and what the Trump administration is doing to bring them relief.   Plus, commentary from Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Council, CJ Pearson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Last time we spoke about the continuation of the war after Nanjing's fall. The fall of Nanjing in December 1937 marked a pivotal juncture in the Second Sino-Japanese War, ushering in a brutal phase of attrition that shaped both strategy and diplomacy in early 1938. As Japanese forces sought to restructure China's political order, their strategy extended beyond battlefield victories to the establishment of puppet arrangements and coercive diplomacy. Soviet aid provided critical support, while German and broader Axis diplomacy wavered, shaping a nuanced backdrop for China's options. In response, Chinese command decisions focused on defending crucial rail corridors and urban strongholds, with Wuhan emerging as a strategic hub and the Jinpu and Longhai railways becoming lifelines of resistance. The defense around Xuzhou and the Huai River system illustrated Chinese determination to prolong resistance despite daunting odds. By early 1938, the war appeared as a drawn-out struggle, with China conserving core bases even as Japan pressed toward central China.   #170 The Battle of Taierzhuang Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Following their victory at Nanjing, the Japanese North China Area Army sought to push southward and link up with the Japanese Eleventh Army between Beijing and Nanjing. The two formations were intended to advance along the northern and southern ends of the JinPu railway, meet at Xuzhou, and then coordinate a pincer movement into Chinese strongholds in the Central Yangtze region, capturing Jiujiang first and then Wuhan. Recognizing Xuzhou's strategic importance, Chinese leadership made its defense a top priority. Xuzhou stood at the midpoint of the JinPu line and at the intersection with the Longhai Line, China's main east–west corridor from Lanzhou to Lianyungang. If seized, Japanese control of these routes would grant mobility for north–south movement across central China. At the end of January, Chiang Kai-shek convened a military conference in Wuchang and declared the defense of Xuzhou the highest strategic objective. Chinese preparations expanded from an initial core of 80,000 troops to about 300,000, deployed along the JinPu and Longhai lines to draw in and overstretch Japanese offensives. A frightening reality loomed by late March 1938: the Japanese were nearing victory on the Xuzhou front. The North China Area Army, led by Generals Itagaki Seishirô, Nishio Toshizô, and Isogai Rensuke, aimed to link up with the Central China Expeditionary Force under General Hata Shunroku for a coordinated drive into central China. Li Zongren and his senior colleagues, including Generals Bai Chongxi and Tang Enbo, resolved to meet the Japanese at the traditional stone-walled city of Taierzhuang. Taierzhuang was not large, but it held strategic significance. It sat along the Grand Canal, China's major north–south waterway, and on a rail line that connected the Jinpu and Longhai lines, thus bypassing Xuzhou. Chiang Kai-shek himself visited Xuzhou on March 24. While Xuzhou remained in Chinese hands, the Japanese forces to the north and south were still separated. Losing Xuzhou would close the pincer. By late March, Chinese troops seemed to be gaining ground at Taierzhuang, but the Japanese began reinforcing, pulling soldiers from General Isogai Rensuke's column. The defending commanders grew uncertain about their ability to hold the position, yet Chiang Kai-shek made his stance clear in an April 1, 1938 telegram: “the enemy at Taierzhuang must be destroyed.” Chiang Kai-shek dispatched his Vice Chief of Staff, Bai Chongxi, to Xuzhou in January 1938. Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi were old comrades from the New Guangxi Clique, and their collaboration dated back to the Northern Expedition, including the Battle of Longtan. Li also received the 21st Group Army from the 3rd War Area. This Guangxi unit, commanded by Liao Lei, comprised the 7th and 47th Armies. Around the same time, Sun Zhen's 22nd Group Army, another Sichuan clique unit, arrived in the Shanxi-Henan region, but was rebuffed by both Yan Xishan, then commander of the 2nd War Area and Shanxi's chairman and Cheng Qian, commander of the 1st War Area and Henan's chairman. Yan and Cheng harbored strong reservations about Sichuan units due to discipline issues, notably their rampant opium consumption. Under Sun Zhen's leadership, the 22nd Group Army deployed four of its six divisions to aid the Northern China effort. Organized under the 41st and 45th Armies, the contingent began a foot march toward Taiyuan on September 1, covering more than 50 days and approximately 1,400 kilometers. Upon reaching Shanxi, they faced a harsh, icy winter and had no winter uniforms or even a single map of the province. They nevertheless engaged the Japanese for ten days at Yangquan, suffering heavy casualties. Strapped for supplies, they broke into a Shanxi clique supply depot, which enraged Yan Xishan and led to their expulsion from the province. The 22nd withdrew westward into the 1st War Area, only to have its request for resupply rejected by Cheng Qian. Meanwhile to the south Colonel Rippei Ogisu led Japanese 13th Division to push westward from Nanjing in two columns during early February: the northern column targeted Mingguang, while the southern column aimed for Chuxian. Both routes were checked by Wei Yunsong's 31st Army, which had been assigned to defend the southern stretch of the Jinpu railway under Li Zongren. Despite facing a clearly inferior force, the Japanese could not gain ground after more than a month of sustained attacks. In response, Japan deployed armored and artillery reinforcements from Nanjing. The Chinese withdrew to the southwestern outskirts of Dingyuan to avoid a direct clash with their reinforced adversaries. By this point, Yu Xuezhong's 51st Army had taken up a defensive position on the northern banks of the Huai River, establishing a line between Bengbu and Huaiyuan. The Japanese then captured Mingguang, Dingyuan, and Bengbu in succession and pressed toward Huaiyuan. However, their supply lines were intercepted by the Chinese 31st Corps, which conducted flanking attacks from the southwest. The situation worsened when the Chinese 7th Army, commanded by Liao Lei, arrived at Hefei to reinforce the 31st Army. Facing three Chinese corps simultaneously, the Japanese were effectively boxed south of the Huai River and, despite air superiority and a superior overall firepower, could not advance further. As a result, the Chinese thwarted the Japanese plan to move the 13th Division north along the Jinpu railway and link up with the Isogai 10th Division to execute a pincer against Xuzhou. Meanwhile in the north, after amphibious landings at Qingdao, the Japanese 5th Division, commanded by Seishiro Itagaki, advanced southwest along the Taiwei Highway, spearheaded by its 21st Infantry Brigade. They faced Pang Bingxun's 3rd Group Army. Although labeled a Group Army, Pang's force actually comprised only the 40th Army, which itself consisted of the 39th Division from the Northwestern Army, commanded by Ma-Fawu. The 39th Division's five regiments delayed the Japanese advance toward Linyi for over a month. The Japanese captured Ju County on 22 February and moved toward Linyi by 2 March. The 59th Army, commanded by Zhang Zizhong, led its troops on a forced march day and night toward Linyi. Seizing the opportunity, the 59th Army did not rest after reaching Yishui. In the early morning of the 14th, Zhang Zizhong ordered the entire army to covertly cross the Yishui River and attack the right flank of the Japanese “Iron Army” 5th Division. They broke through enemy defenses at Tingzitou, Dataiping, Shenjia Taiping, Xujia Taiping, and Shalingzi. Initially caught off guard, the enemy sustained heavy losses, and over a night more than a thousand Japanese soldiers were annihilated. The 59th Army fought fiercely, engaging in brutal hand-to-hand combat. By 4:00 a.m. on the 17th, the 59th Army had secured all of the Japanese main positions. That same day, Pang Bingxun seized the moment to lead his troops in a fierce flank attack, effectively supporting the 59th Army's frontal assault. On the 18th, Zhang and Pang's forces attacked the Japanese from the east, south, and west. After three days and nights of bloody fighting, they finally defeated the 3rd Battalion of the 11th Regiment, which had crossed the river, and annihilated most of it. The 59th Army completed its counterattack but suffered over 6,000 casualties, with more than 2,000 Japanese killed or wounded. News of the Linyi victory prompted commendations from Chiang Kai-shek and Li Zongren. General Li Zongren, commander of the 5th War Zone, judged that the Japanese were temporarily unable to mount a large-scale offensive and that Linyi could be held for the time being. On March 20, he ordered the 59th Army westward to block the Japanese Seya Detachment. On March 21, the Japanese Sakamoto Detachment, after a brief reorganization and learning of the Linyi detachment, launched another offensive. The 3rd Corps, understrength and without reinforcements, was compelled to retreat steadily before the Japanese. General Pang Bingxun, commander of the 3rd Corps, urgently telegraphed Chiang Kai-shek, requesting reinforcements. Chiang Kai-shek received the telegram and, at approximately 9:00 AM on the 23rd, ordered the 59th Army to return to Linyi to join with the 3rd Corps in repelling the Sakamoto Detachment. Fierce fighting ensued with heavy Chinese losses, and the situation in Linyi again grew precarious. At a critical moment, the 333rd Brigade of the 111th Division and the Cavalry Regiment of the 13th Army were rushed to reinforce Linyi. Facing attacks from two directions, the Japanese withdrew, losing almost two battalions in the process. This engagement shattered the myth of Japanese invincibility and embarrassed commander Seishirō Itagaki, even startling IJA headquarters. Although the 5th Division later regrouped and attempted another push, it had lost the element of surprise. The defeat at Linyi at the hands of comparatively poorly equipped Chinese regional units set the stage for the eventual battle at Tai'erzhuang. Of the three Japanese divisions advancing into the Chinese 5th War Area, the 10th Division, commanded by Rensuke Isogai, achieved the greatest initial success. Departing from Hebei, it crossed the Yellow River and moved south along the Jinpu railway. With KMT General Han Fuju ordering his forces to desert their posts, the Japanese captured Zhoucun and reached Jinan with little resistance. They then pushed south along two columns from Tai'an. The eastern column captured Mengyin before driving west to seize Sishui; the western column moved southwest along the Jinpu railway, capturing Yanzhou, Zouxian, and Jining, before turning northwest to take Wenshang. Chiang Kai-shek subsequently ordered Li Zongren to employ “offensive defense”, seizing the initiative to strike rather than merely defend. Li deployed Sun Zhen's 22nd Group Army to attack Zouxian from the south, while Pang Bingxun's 40th Division advanced north along the 22nd's left flank to strike Mengyin and Sishui. Sun Tongxuan's 3rd Group Army also advanced from the south, delivering a two-pronged assault on the Japanese at Jining. Fierce fighting from 12 to 25 February, particularly by the 12th Corps, helped mitigate the reputational damage previously inflicted on Shandong units by Han Fuju. In response to Chinese counterattacks, the Japanese revised their strategy: they canceled their original plan to push directly westward from Nanjing toward Wuhan, freeing more troops for the push toward Xuzhou. On March 15, the Japanese 10th Division struck the Chinese 122nd Division, focusing the action around Tengxian and Lincheng. Chinese reinforcements from the 85th Corps arrived the following day but were driven back on March 17. With air support, tanks, and heavy artillery, the Japanese breached the Chinese lines on March 18. The remaining Chinese forces, bolstered by the 52nd Corps, withdrew to the town of Yixian. The Japanese attacked Yixian and overran an entire Chinese regiment in a brutal 24-hour engagement. By March 19, the Japanese began advancing on the walled town of Taierzhuang. To counter the Japanese advance, the Chinese 2nd Army Group under General Sun Lianzhong was deployed to Taierzhuang. The 31st Division, commanded by General Chi Fengcheng, reached Taierzhuang on March 22 and was ordered to delay the Japanese advance until the remainder of the Army Group could arrive. On March 23, the 31st Division sallied from Taierzhuang toward Yixian, where they were engaged by two Japanese battalions reinforced with three tanks and four armored cars. The Chinese troops occupied a series of hills and managed to defend against a Japanese regiment (~3,000 men) for the rest of the day. On March 24, a Japanese force of about 5,000 attacked the 31st Division. Another Japanese unit pressed the Chinese from Yixian, forcing them to withdraw back into Taierzhuang itself. The Japanese then assaulted the town, with a 300-strong contingent breaching the northeast gate at 20:00. They were subsequently driven back toward the Chenghuang temple, which the Chinese set on fire, annihilating the Japanese force. The next day, the Japanese renewed the assault through the breached gate and secured the eastern portion of the district, while also breaking through the northwest corner from the outside and capturing the Wenchang Pavilion. On March 25, a morning Japanese onslaught was repelled. The Japanese then shelled Chinese positions with artillery and air strikes. In the afternoon, the Chinese deployed an armored train toward Yixian, which ambushed a column of Japanese soldiers near a hamlet, killing or wounding several dozen before retreating back to Taierzhuang. By nightfall, three thousand Chinese troops launched a night assault, pushing the Japanese lines northeast to dawn. The following three days subjected the Chinese defenders to sustained aerial and artillery bombardment. The Chinese managed to repulse several successive Japanese assaults but sustained thousands of casualties in the process. On March 28, Chinese artillery support arrived, including two 155 mm and ten 75 mm pieces. On the night of March 29, the Japanese finally breached the wall. Setting out from the district's southern outskirts, a Chinese assault squad stormed the Wenchang Pavilion from the south and east, killing nearly the entire Japanese garrison aside from four taken as prisoners of war. The Chinese then retook the northwest corner of the district. Even by the brutal standards already established in the war, the fighting at Taierzhuang was fierce, with combatants facing one another at close quarters. Sheng Cheng's notes preserve the battlefield memories of Chi Fengcheng, one of the campaign's standout officers “We had a battle for the little lanes [of the town], and unprecedentedly, not just streets and lanes, but even courtyards and houses. Neither side was willing to budge. Sometimes we'd capture a house, and dig a hole in the wall to approach the enemy. Sometimes the enemy would be digging a hole in the same wall at the same time. Sometimes we faced each other with hand grenades — or we might even bite each other. Or when we could hear that the enemy was in the house, then we'd climb the roof and drop bombs inside — and kill them all.” The battle raged for a week. On April 1, General Chi requested volunteers for a near-suicide mission to seize a building: among fifty-seven selected, only ten survived. A single soldier claimed to have fired on a Japanese bomber and succeeded in bringing it down; he and his comrades then set the aircraft ablaze before another plane could arrive to rescue the pilot. One participant described the brutal conditions of the battle “"The battle continued day and night. The flames lit up the sky. Often all that separated our forces was a single wall. The soldiers would beat holes in the masonry to snipe at each other. We would be fighting for days over a single building, causing dozens of fatalities." The conditions were so brutal that Chinese officers imposed severe measures to maintain discipline. Junior officers were repeatedly forbidden to retreat and were often ordered to personally replace casualties within their ranks. Li Zongren even warned Tang Enbo that failure to fulfill his duties would lead him to be “treated as Han Fuju had been.” In Taierzhuang's cramped streets, Japan's artillery and air superiority offered little advantage; whenever either service was employed amid the dense melee, casualties were roughly even on both sides. The fighting devolved into close-quarters combat carried out primarily by infantry, with rifles, pistols, hand grenades, bayonets, and knives forming the core of each side's arsenal. The battle unfolded largely hand-to-hand, frequently in darkness. The stone buildings of Taierzhuang provided substantial cover from fire and shrapnel. It was precisely under these close-quarters conditions that Chinese soldiers could stand as equals, if not superior, to their Japanese opponents, mirroring, in some respects, the experiences seen in Luodian, Shanghai, the year before. On March 31, General Sun Lianzhong arrived to assume command of the 2nd Army Group. A Japanese assault later that day was repulsed, but a Chinese counterattack also stalled. At 04:00 on April 1, the Japanese attacked the Chinese lines with support from 11 tanks. The Chinese defenders, armed with German-made 37mm Pak-36 antitank guns, destroyed eight of the armored vehicles at point-blank range. Similar incidents recurred throughout the battle, with numerous Japanese tanks knocked out by Chinese artillery and by suicide squads. In one engagement, Chinese suicide bombers annihilated four Japanese tanks with bundles of grenades. On April 2 and 3, Chi urged the Chinese defenders around Taierzhuang's north station to assess the evolving situation. The troops reported distress, crying and sneezing, caused by tear gas deployed by the Japanese against Chinese positions at Taierzhuang's north station, but the defenders remained unmoved. They then launched a massive armored assault outside the city walls, with 30 tanks and 60 armored cars, yet managed only to drive the Chinese 27th Division back to the Grand Canal. The fighting continued to rage on April 4 and 5. By then, the Japanese had captured roughly two-thirds of Taierzhuang, though the Chinese still held the South Gate. It was through this entry point that the Chinese command managed to keep their troops supplied. The Chinese also thwarted Japanese efforts to replenish their dwindling stocks of arms and ammunition. In consequence, the Japanese attackers were worn down progressively. Although the Japanese possessed superior firepower, including cannon and heavy artillery, the cramped conditions within Taierzhuang nullified this advantage for the moment. The Chinese command succeeded in keeping their own supplies flowing, a recurring weakness in other engagements and also prevented the Japanese from replenishing their dwindling stock of arms and bullets. Gradually, the Japanese maneuvered into a state of attrition. The deadlock of the battle was broken by events unfolding outside Taierzhuang, where fresh Chinese divisions had encircled the Japanese forces in Taierzhuang from the flanks and rear. After consulting their German advisors earlier, the commanders of the 5th War Area prepared a double envelopment of the exposed Japanese forces in Taierzhuang. Between March and April 1938, the Nationalist Air Force deployed squadrons from the 3rd and 4th Pursuit Groups, fighter-attack aircraft, in long-distance air interdiction and close-air support of the Taierzhuang operations. Approximately 30 aircraft, mostly Soviet-made, were deployed in bombing raids against Japanese positions. On 26 March, Tang Enbo's 20th Army, equipped with artillery units, attacked Japanese forces at Yixian, inflicting heavy casualties and routing the survivors. Tang then swung south to strike the Japanese flank northeast of Taierzhuang. Simultaneously, the Chinese 55th Corps, comprised of two divisions, executed a surprise crossing of the Grand Canal and cut the railway line near Lincheng. As a result, Tang isolated the Japanese attackers from their rear and severed their supply lines. On 1 April, the Japanese 5th Division sent a brigade to relieve the encircled 10th Division. Tang countered by blocking the brigade's advance and then attacking from the rear, driving them south into the encirclement. On 3 April, the Chinese 2nd Group Army launched a counter-offensive, with the 30th and 110th Divisions pushing northward into Beiluo and Nigou, respectively. By 6 April, the Chinese 85th and 52nd Armies linked up at Taodun, just west of Lanling. The combined force then advanced north-westward, capturing Ganlugou. Two more Chinese divisions arrived a few days later. By April 5, Taierzhuang's Japanese units were fully surrounded, with seven Chinese divisions to the north and four to the south closing in. The Japanese divisions inside Taierzhuang had exhausted their supplies, running critically low on ammunition, fuel, and food, while many troops endured fatigue and dehydration after more than a week of brutal fighting. Sensing imminent victory, the Chinese forces surged with renewed fury and attacked the encircled Japanese, executing wounded soldiers where they lay with rifle and pistol shots. Chinese troops also deployed Soviet tanks against the defenders. Japanese artillery could not reply effectively due to a shortage of shells, and their tanks were immobilized by a lack of fuel. Attempts to drop supplies by air failed, with most packages falling into Chinese hands. Over time, Japanese infantry were progressively reduced to firing only their machine guns and mortars, then their rifles and machine guns, and ultimately resorted to bayonet charges. With the success of the Chinese counter-attacks, the Japanese line finally collapsed on April 7. The 10th and 5th Divisions, drained of personnel and ammunition, were forced to retreat. By this point, around 2,000 Japanese soldiers managed to break out of Taierzhuang, leaving thousands of their comrades dead behind. Some of the escapees reportedly committed hara-kiri. Chinese casualties were roughly comparable, marking a significant improvement over the heavier losses suffered in Shanghai and Nanjing. The Japanese had lost the battle for numerous reasons. Japanese efforts were hampered by the "offensive-defensive" operations carried out by various Chinese regional units, effectively preventing the three Japanese divisions from ever linking up with each other. Despite repeated use of heavy artillery, air strikes, and gas, the Japanese could not expel the Chinese 2nd Group Army from Taierzhuang and its surrounding areas, even as the defenders risked total annihilation. The Japanese also failed to block the Chinese 20th Group Army's maneuver around their rear positions, which severed retreat routes and enabled a Chinese counter-encirclement. After Han Fuju's insubordination and subsequent execution, the Chinese high command tightened discipline at the top, transmitting a stringent order flow down to the ranks. This atmosphere of strict discipline inspired even junior soldiers to risk their lives in executing orders. A “dare-to-die corps” was effectively employed against Japanese units. They used swords and wore suicide vests fashioned from grenades. Due to a lack of anti-armor weaponry, suicide bombing was also employed against the Japanese. Chinese troops, as part of the “dare-to-die” corps, strapped explosives such as grenade packs or dynamite to their bodies and charged at Japanese tanks to blow them up.  The Chinese later asserted that about 20,000 Japanese had perished, though the actual toll was likely closer to 8,000. The Japanese also sustained heavy material losses. Because of fuel shortages and their rapid retreat, many tanks, trucks, and artillery pieces were abandoned on the battlefield and subsequently captured by Chinese forces. Frank Dorn recorded losses of 40 tanks, over 70 armored cars, and 100 trucks of various sizes. In addition to vehicles, the Japanese lost dozens of artillery pieces and thousands of machine guns and rifles. Many of these weapons were collected by the Chinese for future use. The Chinese side also endured severe casualties, possibly up to 30,000, with Taierzhuang itself nearly razed. Yet for once, the Chinese achieved a decisive victory, sparking an outburst of joy across unoccupied China. Du Zhongyuan wrote of “the glorious killing of the enemy,” and even Katharine Hand, though isolated in Japanese-controlled Shandong, heard the news. The victory delivered a much-needed morale boost to both the army and the broader population. Sheng Cheng recorded evening conversations with soldiers from General Chi Fengcheng's division, who shared light-hearted banter with their senior officer. At one moment, the men recalled Chi as having given them “the secret of war. when you get food, eat it; when you can sleep, take it.” Such familiar, brisk maxims carried extra resonance now that the Nationalist forces had demonstrated their willingness and ability to stand their ground rather than retreat. The victors may have celebrated a glorious victory, but they did not forget that their enemies were human. Chi recalled a scene he encountered: he had picked up a Japanese officer's helmet, its left side scorched by gunpowder, with a trace of blood, the mark of a fatal wound taken from behind. Elsewhere in Taierzhuang, relics of the fallen were found: images of the Buddha, wooden fish, and flags bearing slogans. A makeshift crematorium in the north station had been interrupted mid-process: “Not all the bones had been completely burned.” After the battle, Li Zongren asked Sheng if he had found souvenirs on the battlefield. Sheng replied that he had discovered love letters on the corpses of Japanese soldiers, as well as a photograph of a girl, perhaps a hometown sweetheart labeled “19 years old, February 1938.” These details stood in stark contrast to news coverage that depicted the Japanese solely as demons, devils, and “dwarf bandits.” The foreign community noted the new, optimistic turn of events and the way it seemed to revive the resistance effort. US ambassador Nelson Johnson wrote to Secretary of State Cordell Hull from Wuhan just days after Taierzhuang, passing on reports from American military observers: one had spent time in Shanxi and been impressed by Communist success in mobilizing guerrilla fighters against the Japanese; another had spent three days observing the fighting at Taierzhuang and confirmed that “Chinese troops in the field there won a well-deserved victory over Japanese troops, administering the first defeat that Japanese troops have suffered in the field in modern times.” This reinforced Johnson's view that Japan would need to apply far more force than it had anticipated to pacify China. He noted that the mood in unoccupied China had likewise shifted. “Conditions here at Hankow have changed from an atmosphere of pessimism to one of dogged optimism. The Government is more united under Chiang and there is a feeling that the future is not entirely hopeless due to the recent failure of Japanese arms at Hsuchow [Xuzhou] . . . I find no evidence for a desire for a peace by compromise among  Chinese, and doubt whether the Government could persuade its army or its people to accept such a peace. The spirit of resistance is slowly spreading among the people who are awakening to a feeling that this is their war. Japanese air raids in the interior and atrocities by Japanese soldiers upon civilian populations are responsible for this stiffening of the people.”. The British had long been wary of Chiang Kai-shek, but Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, the British ambassador in China, wrote to the new British foreign secretary, Lord Halifax, on April 29, 1938, shortly after the Taierzhuang victory, and offered grudging credit to China's leader “[Chiang] has now become the symbol of Chinese unity, which he himself has so far failed to achieve, but which the Japanese are well on the way to achieving for him . . . The days when Chinese people did not care who governed them seem to have gone . . . my visit to Central China from out of the gloom and depression of Shanghai has left me stimulated and more than disposed to believe that provided the financial end can be kept up Chinese resistance may be so prolonged and effective that in the end the Japanese effort may be frustrated . . . Chiang Kai-shek is obstinate and difficult to deal with . . . Nonetheless [the Nationalists] are making in their muddlIn the exhilaration of a rare victory”. Chiang pressured Tang and Li to build on their success, increasing the area's troop strength to about 450,000. Yet the Chinese Army remained plagued by deeper structural issues. The parochialism that had repeatedly hampered Chiang's forces over the past six months resurfaced. Although the various generals had agreed to unite in a broader war of resistance, each prioritized the safety of his own troops, wary of any move by Chiang to centralize power. For example, Li Zongren refrained from utilizing his top Guangxi forces at Taierzhuang, attempting to shift the bulk of the fighting onto Tang Enbo's units. The generals were aware of the fates of two colleagues: Han Fuju of Shandong was executed for his refusal to fight, while Zhang Xueliang of Manchuria had allowed Chiang to reduce the size of his northeastern army and ended up under house arrest. They were justified in distrusting Chiang. He truly believed, after all, that provincial armies should come under a national military command led by himself. From a national-unity standpoint, Chiang's aim was not unreasonable. But it bred suspicion among other military leaders that participation in the anti-Japanese war would erode their own power. The fragmented command structure also hindered logistics, making ammunition and food supplies to the front unreliable and easy to cut off a good job of things in extremely difficult circumstances. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The Chinese victory at the battle of Tairzhuang was a much needed morale boost after the long string of defeats to Japan. As incredible as it was however, it would amount to merely a bloody nose for the Imperial Japanese Army. Now Japan would unleash even more devastation to secure Xuzhou and ultimately march upon Wuhan.

In recent weeks, President Donald Trump deployed Illinois National Guard troops to Chicago and attempted to mobilize the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, leading to arrests and clashes with protesters in the cities. In Chicago, hundreds of federal officers carried out a large-scale raid at an apartment building on Tuesday, leading to a reported 37 arrests of alleged unauthorized immigrants. In Portland, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying the Oregon National Guard. Then on Sunday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called up 400 members of the Texas National Guard for deployments to Portland, Chicago, and other cities to support federal agents and protect property.Ad-free podcasts are here!To listen to this podcast ad-free, and to enjoy our subscriber only premium content, go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “Under the Radar” story ⁠here and today's “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: What do you think of the government deploying the National Guard to U.S. cities? Let us know.Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Lindsey Knuth, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Monday, October 6, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Muslims decapitated or shot 30 Christians in Mozambique, Africa Over 30 Christians were beheaded in a series of recent attacks in northern Mozambique, Africa by Islamic State-affiliated terrorists who also released graphic photographs showing the executions, shootings, and widespread arson, reports The Christian Post. The group targeted multiple villages across Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces, setting fire to churches and homes in a campaign of violence against civilians. According to The Middle East Media Research Institute, the Islamic State Mozambique group released a 20-image photoset this week, documenting its operatives executing civilians by beheading and close-range gunfire, and burning down homes and churches. The Mozambican insurgency, active since 2017, has led to the deaths of at least 6,200 people. In Deuteronomy 32:35, God says, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time, their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near, and their doom rushes upon them.” The United Nations estimates that more than 1 million people in northern Mozambique have been displaced since the conflict began, due to a combination of militant violence, prolonged drought and extreme weather events. Open Doors ranks Mozambique, Africa as the 37th most dangerous country worldwide for Christians. Nigerian Muslims killed kidnapped pastor after receiving ransom Armed Muslim groups in Kwara State, Nigeria killed a local pastor after abducting him and receiving ransom payments from his community, reports International Christian Concern. Rev. James Issa, a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All, was taken from Ekati village on August 28.  His abductors initially demanded $67,000. Weeks of negotiations followed, with family members, church leaders, and villagers contributing funds to secure his release.  The community raised $3,300, a sum far beyond the means of the rural community. The money was delivered to the kidnappers, but instead of releasing the pastor, the armed group demanded an additional $30,000. Before any further talks could take place, they killed Rev. Issa.  Netanyahu demands release of all 48 hostages in order to end war On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that no part of U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan will be enacted until all 48 hostages, alive and dead, are returned to Israeli territory, reports The Jerusalem Post. Additionally, Netanyahu stated that if the hostages are not released by Trump's deadline, "Israel will resume fighting with full backing from all involved countries." However, speaking to Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, President Trump told Netanyahu, “Bibi, this is your chance for victory.”  Currently, there is no set deadline for the hostage release, although negotiations to finalize the plan are set to begin in Cairo, Egypt today. An anonymous source told the Jerusalem Post that (a) Hamas, the Muslim terrorist group, is committed to reaching an agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip and (b) the release of the hostages will be carried out gradually over several days through the International Red Cross. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared on NBC's “Meet the Press” with Kristen Welker. WELKER: “I want to start with these peace negotiations in the Middle East. Is this now the end of the war in Gaza?” RUBIO: “Well, not yet. There's some work remains to be done, and I would view it in two phases, in terms of understanding how to break this out. “The first piece of it, which is very clear from the letter in Hamas' response, is they have agreed to the President's hostage release framework. And what needs to happen now, and they acknowledge in the letter in their response, is there now needs to be meetings which are occurring, even as I speak to you now, and hopefully will be finalized very quickly on the logistics of that. “What that means is, who goes in to get them? Is it the Red Cross? You know, when do they show up? What place are they going to be? And the conditions have to be created for that to happen. You can't have bombs going off and fighting going on in the middle of this exchange. So, that's piece one. And we want to see that happen as soon as possible, all 48 hostages, both living and deceased. “The second part of it, it's even harder, and that is the long term piece. What happens after Israel pulls back to the yellow line, and potentially beyond that, as this thing develops? How do you create this Palestinian technocratic leadership that's not Hamas, that's not terrorists, and with the help of the international community? “How do you disarm any sort of terrorist groups that are going to be building tunnels and conducting attacks against Israel? How do you get them to demobilize? All that work -- that's going to be hard. But that's critical, because without that, you're not going to have lasting peace. You may get the hostages back, you may get a cessation of hostilities, but in the long term, it's going to happen all over again.” Hero Ukrainian soldier kills 27 Russian troops A heroic Ukrainian warrior killed 27 Russian soldiers singlehandedly while defending two bridges surrounded by enemy forces, reports The U.S. Sun. Rus spent over seven weeks crouched in a putrid-smelling basement protecting the crossings -- armed with nothing more than a firearm and pure grit. The valiant soldier has been recommended for the Hero of Ukraine medal, the country's highest military honor, for his brave work. He personally killed 27 Kremlin forces - steadfast in his defense of the crossings in Dopropilia, in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Speaking to The Times, he recalled the grim reality of spending almost two months taking cover in a gloomy basement as Russian drones buzzed overhead.  He could only use the toilet "at dusk or at dawn" over fears of being struck and for seven weeks only washed with baby wipes. First-ever woman becomes Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally has been chosen as the new Anglican archbishop of Canterbury, marking the first time a woman has been named to the highest ecclesiastical position in the Anglican Church, reports LifeSiteNews.com. In 1 Timothy 2:12, the Apostle Paul wrote, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.” The seat of the archbishop of Canterbury had been vacant since January 7, 2025, when Archbishop Justin Welby resigned due to allegations of mishandling an abuse case involving John Smyth who beat Winchester Boarding School students until they bled, leaving permanent scars. MarketWatch: 22 states already in recession And finally, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, the U.S. economy is very close to falling into a damaging contraction. Many states are already experiencing a recession. Zandi estimates that 22 states, plus the District of Columbia, are now experiencing persistent economic weakness and job losses that are likely to continue. Another 13 states are treading water. The overall picture is one of a weak U.S. economy that is vulnerable to being pushed into a ditch by a strong wind. The economist added, “The economy is still not in recession, but the risks are very high. We're on the precipice.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, October 6th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Oregon's Secretary of State tells us nobody there of any political stripe wants the president to send in the National Guard -- so the state is doing everything it can to prevent that.We'll hear how people inside the CBS newsroom are reacting to the announcement that a firebrand media critic known for criticizing outlets like theirs will now be their boss. The late forensic scientist Edward T. Blake's work on DNA testing changed criminal trials and helped exonerate wrongfully convicted people. A rural newspaper editor tells us about the small army of volunteers who are making sure readers still have access to local news during the Canada Post strike. Connor McDavid signs a contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers -- and whatever that contract contains, Superfan Magoo can barely contain himself. A new trial project will see toilet paper from sewage transformed into glucose -- but the utility swears that sugar won't be used in any food products.As It Happens, the Monday Edition. Radio gives new meaning to en sweet bathroom.

On today's show, Josh breaks down the so-called “partial government shutdown” and exposes what Democrats are still demanding you pay for — even after Republicans already passed a bill to stop it. He lays out the only real way the war in Gaza ends and explains why Hamas has zero intention of making peace. And Josh backs Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's mission to cut the bloat, strip away the nonsense, and return the military to what it's supposed to be: strong, lean, and focused on winning.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Damon and Damo catch up as Damon highlights his first week as a CMC. Damo had to shave his mustache and did not like it one bit. The guys discuss the impact of the current furlough on servicemembers and civilian teammates, along with available resources for anyone in need. Diddy was sentenced to four years in prison after a guilty verdict in a prostitution case, and Damon makes a plea against political violence and mass shootings. Earlier this week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and President Trump called top military generals and admirals to Quantico for a brief, summit, conference, or “All Call.” At the same time, the SecDef dropped a load of memos focused on refocusing the fleet and putting the warrior spirit at the forefront. This week's hero is Pfc. Jacklyn Harold Lucas, and last week's “Do Better” segment gets a much-needed follow-up with a shout-out to Freddy Whisner. A new listener-submitted “Do Better” sparks a conversation about how DRB can be handled more privately. The guys also debate whether the Super Bowl music choices alienate two-thirds of the NFL's fanbase as Damo praises PTA and Leo's latest movie, One Battle After Another, and much more.     Do you have a “Do Better” that you want us to review on a future episode? Reach out at ptsfpodcast@gmail.com       Stay connected with the PTSF Podcast: https://linktr.ee/Ptsfpodcast       Links and more from this episode:   FY26 Government Shutdown Resources - https://stjececmsdusgva001.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/public/documents/2025_Guide_to_Fleet_for_Government_Shutdown.pdf   Hero of the Week: Private First Class Jacklyn Harold Lucas https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/jacklyn-h-lucas   Picks of the Week: Damo: Chance The Rapper - Starline https://chancestuff.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorWA02aAprglTEVCypj5YxOlRdh4TGV531SgdcqPPUpNrTYIoBT   Damon: BMW       PTSF Theme Music: Produced by Lim0

GOP CHAIR BRITA HORN JOINS ME AT 2:30 To talk about the latest nonsense happening in the party. Now two messages have been sent to the Secretary of State's office about what happened at the meeting two Saturdays ago. We'll find out from Chair Brita Horn what is actually going on at 2:30. This as a new poll shows that Republicans have a chance to capitalize on anti-Democrat feelings in the state right now.

Bill Frost (CityWeekly.net, X96 Radio From Hell) and Tommy Milagro (SlamWrestling.net) talk Riyadh Comedy Festival, Family Guy: A Little Fright Music, Ozzy: No Escape From Now, Red Alert, One Day In October, Is It Cake? Halloween, 9-1-1: Nashville, Grey's Anatomy Season 200, Norman Lear's Boots, The Woman In Cabin 10, John Candy: I Like Me, The Last Frontier, Modern Problems, SNL: Amy Poehler, The Chair Company, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, V/H/S/85, KPop Demon Hunters, The Great North: Officially dead, the Trump Ratings Bump, The Golden Globes for (only famous) podcasts, The Toxic Avenger's future Oscars sweep, Rasslin' News, another Wilson brother in a golf comedy, English Teacher, The Lowdown, Gen V, and more.Drinking: Helles Bock lager from OFFICIAL TV Tan sponsor Bohemian Brewery.Yell at us (or order a TV Tan T-shirt) @TVTanPodcast on Threads, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, or Gmail.Rate us and comment: Substack, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, YouTube, Amazon Podcasts, Audible, TuneIn Radio, etc. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tvtanpodcast.substack.com

Meagan Grega, MD, is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Kellyn Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice. Through the “Healthy Neighborhood Immersion Strategy”, Kellyn provides school-based healthy lifestyle education and “Garden as a Classroom” programs; supports access to nutrient-dense produce and delicious plant-powered prepared meals via the Eat Real Food Mobile Market; engages participants in hands-on, plant-based cooking classes in community settings and offers intensive therapeutic lifestyle change interventions for families, employers and community groups. Dr. Grega serves on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and as annual conference chair and Secretary of the Board of Directors for the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Follow her journey:website: www.kellynfoundation.orgFB: www.facebook.com/kellynfoundationIG: https://www.instagram.com/kellynfoundationX: https://x.com/kellynorgYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCExGWMptPhBzfokJX5fvwyg ***********Susanne Mueller / www.susannemueller.biz TEDX Talk, May 2022: Running and Life: 5KM Formula for YOUR Successhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT_5Er1cLvY 700+ weekly blogs / 500 podcasts / 1 Ironman Triathlon / 5 half ironman races / 26 marathon races / 4 books / 1 Mt. Kilimanjaro / 1 TEDx Talk

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reacts to Hamas agreeing to release all Israeli hostages from Gaza. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) weigh in on the government shutdown. Andrea Mitchell, Ryan Nobles, Marc Short and Neera Tanden join the roundtable. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced new standards Tuesday as part of an ongoing cultural shift at the Pentagon ending the “war on warriors” led by woke politicians and Pentagon leaders. Hegseth made his announced addressing top military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, ahead of remarks by President Donald Trump. He said the old days of lazy and out of shape leaders is over!Guest: Marc Morano, ClimateDepot.comSponsor:My PillowWww.MyPillow.com/johnSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week's A.M. Update: Week in Review dives into Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's bold speech on military culture and combat readiness, the historic indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, and a call for unity amid the tragic attack on an LDS church in Michigan. Aaron McIntire unpacks these stories with sharp commentary on leadership, justice, and cultural divides.   military reform, Pete Hegseth, James Comey, FBI indictment, LDS church attack, culture war, leadership, justice system, government shutdown, political accountability

This week's episode of The Necessary Conversation gets heated after a brutal argument about Trump's government shutdown and ICE's military-style raids.

This week on Face the Nation, nearly two years after the October 7 massacre, is a serious plan for a full hostage release and cease-fire in Gaza finally materializing? Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells us where that deal stands, and what's ahead for the region. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, the government shutdown continues, with no end in sight. We talk with Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Democrat Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about whether either party can break through the gridlock. We also take a closer look at the Trump Department of War's new rules for the military. Illinois Democrat Senator Tammy Duckworth joins us, as well as retired Army Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, to discuss the changes and what comes next for the Pentagon. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What tactic did Donald Trump steal from Gordon Brown? What can we learn from when Labour beat UKIP in the 2012 Rotherham by-election when it comes to taking on Farage? As a New Labour alumnus, why does John Healey think there was more patience for change in 1997 compared to 2024?  Rory and Alastair are joined by John Healey, The Secretary of State for Defence, to discuss all this and more.  For Leading listeners, there's free access to the Wordsmith Academy - plus their report on the future of legal skills. Visit https://www.wordsmithai/politics To save your company time and money, open a Revolut Business account today via https://www.revolut.com/rb/leading, and add money to your account by 31st of December 2025 to get a £200 welcome bonus or equivalent in your local currency. Feature availability varies by plan. This offer's available for New Business customers in the UK, US, Australia and Ireland. Fees and Terms & Conditions apply. For US customers, Revolut is not a bank. Banking services and card issuance are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. Visa® and Mastercard® cards issued under license. Funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000 through Lead Bank, in the event Lead Bank fails. Fees may apply. See full terms in description. For Irish customers, Revolut Bank UAB is authorised and regulated by the Bank of Lithuania in the Republic of Lithuania and by the European Central Bank and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. For AU customers, consider PDS & TMD at revolut.com/en-AU. Revolut Payments Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 517589). Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair's miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members' newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. Instagram: @restispolitics  Twitter: @RestIsPolitics  Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Social Producer: Celine Charles Producer: Alice Horrell Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen Head of Politics: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MOPs & MOEs is powered by TrainHeroic, the best coaching app on the planet. ⁠Click here to get 14 days FREE and a consult with the coaches at TrainHeroic to help you get your coaching business rolling on TrainHeroic. ⁠ MOPs & MOEs delivers our training through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TrainHeroic and you can ⁠get your first 7 days of training with us FREE by clicking here.⁠To continue the conversation, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We have experts standing by to answer your questions.On September 30th, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth spoke to an audience of the US military's most senior leaders, announcing a sweeping set of policy reforms. These included a heavy emphasis on fitness, both force-wide and for particular education and training courses. In this episode we review many of those changes. We start with a rapid overview of the "non-fitness" changes, like grooming standards and adjustments to investigation processes. After than we move into a more focused discussion of the fitness-specific changes and the ramifications these will have.Drew mentioned our "Fitness Aptitude Test" (FAT), if you want to check that out and try it for yourself, here's a blog post about it.

The war in Gaza isn’t over yet, says U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who expects a potential hostage deal early this week; Reece Walsh starred in one of the all-time great grand final performances as the Broncos ended a 17-year title drought, beating Melbourne 26-22 in the 2025 NRL decider; Fire crews worked overnight to contain a bushfire on Queensland’s Moreton Island, with stronger winds expected early this week; Saturday Night Live kicked off its 51st season on October 4, with Bad Bunny hosting and Doja Cat performing, featuring several Donald Trump parodies. Support independent women's media CREDITS Host/Producer: Tahli BlackmanBecome a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Congress failed to reach an agreement to keep the doors in Washington open, the government has shut down. This comes as tens of thousands of federal workers are set to exit the federal payroll due to firings and deferred buyout agreements.Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called all military generals to Quantico, Virginia, to listen to an address about his vision for the armed forces.President Donald Trump said he plans on sending troops to Portland, Oregon, to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents working there.Meanwhile, overseas, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a 20-point plan to end Israel's war in Gaza.Following multiple Russian incursions into NATO airspace, the alliance has stepped up its drone defense, with Ukraine sharing its expertise with Denmark.Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is ready to declare a state of emergency, as the U.S. military builds up presence in the Caribbean.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

Simon and Julie chat with John about Pete Hegseth's decision—as Trump's new Secretary of War—to let U.S. soldiers keep their Medals of Honor from the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre, calling it “final". The move has outraged many people and Native communities.They also honored Orange Shirt Day (Sept 30)—a National Day of Remembrance for children lost to residential schools and the survivors who carry their stories. To find out more check out Julie's Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/juliefrancella/p/orange-shirt-day?r=1u83jb&utm_medium=iosNext, they reflect on Dr. Jane Goodall's partnerships with Indigenous communities and her call to make decisions with “seven generations ahead” in mind. They also take listener calls and share updates on new Native-led bills in California.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ralph welcomes Michael Mann, Professor in the “Department of Earth and Environmental Science” at the University of Pennsylvania and author along with Dr. Peter Hotez of “Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World.” Then we are joined by Martin O'Malley, former governor of Maryland and one time Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to refute all the lies being told about the state of Social Security.Dr. Michael E. Mann is Presidential Distinguished Professor in the “Department of Earth and Environmental Science” at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a co-founder of the award-winning science website RealClimate.org, and the author of more than 200 peer-reviewed and edited publications, numerous op-eds and commentaries, and seven books, including “Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World” (co-authored with Dr. Peter Hotez).It's the five actors that we talk about, the five forces that threaten our world: the Plutocrats, the Petro States, the Polluters, the Propagandists, and yes, the Press, not all media outlets, but many of them, including even what we used to think of as legacy. Objective news outlets like the New York Times and the Washington Post too often engage in what we call performative neutrality, where anti-science positions are placed on an equal footing with the overwhelming consensus of the world's scientists.Dr. Michael MannPeople like to finger point at China, which currently is the largest emitter (of greenhouse gases) because they industrialized much later than the United States, more than a century later. But their trajectory is actually a downward trajectory. They've contributed far less carbon pollution to the atmosphere than we have, and they're taking greater action.Dr. Michael MannThe United States doesn't get to determine the future course of human civilization at this point. It's going to be the rest of the world. All the United States gets to determine is whether it's going to be on the front line of the clean energy transition, the great economic development of this century, whether they're going to be on board or left behind.Dr. Michael MannMartin O'Malley served as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration from December 20, 2023 to November 29, 2024. He previously served as Governor of Maryland from 2007 to 2015, following two terms as Mayor of the City of Baltimore.Once they (the Trump Administration) got rid of the heads of all of the offices of Inspectors General, they started launching these big lies, like the lie that there are 12 million dead people that continue to receive checks. And as Trump said himself to Congress, some of them are as much as 300 years old, which would have had them here for the founding of Jamestown.Martin O'MalleyThey (Republicans) are trying to wreck it (Social Security), wreck its reputation, wreck its customer service, so then they can rob it.Martin O'MalleyNews 10/3/25* Our top story this week is President Trump's chilling speech to the military high command, in which he proclaimed that “America is under invasion from within,” per PBS. Trump went on to say that he plans to use American cities – citing Chicago, San Francisco, and Portland – as “training grounds for our military.” Warning against conscientious objections by the military to this weaponization against domestic opponents, Trump added “I'm going to be meeting with generals and with admirals and with leaders. And if I don't like somebody, I'm going to fire them right on this spot.” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has recently styled himself Secretary of War, reiterated this message, saying “if the words I'm speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign.” In terms of actual policy, a new draft National Defense Strategy calls for prioritizing defense of the “homeland,” over potential foreign threats, such as from China, per POLITICO. The administration followed up this declaration with a dystopian deployment in Chicago, where federal agents rappelled down from helicopters to raid a South Side apartment building, arresting Venezuelan migrants and Black American citizens alike. In a statement given to ABC7 Chicago, one man detained by feds stated “They had the Black people in one van, and the immigrants in another.” Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker decried the presence of “jackbooted thugs roaming around a peaceful downtown,” and demanded federal troops “Get out of Chicago...You are not helping us,” per the New York Times.* Speaking of conflicts abroad, this week Trump unveiled his proposal for a peace deal in Gaza. According to CNN, “The plan calls for Israel to release 250 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences, as well as 1,700 Palestinians detained since the start of the war, in exchange for Hamas freeing 48 hostages.” Once these exchanges have been completed, Israel is to gradually withdraw from Gaza and turn over administration of the enclave to a “Board of Peace,” which will include Trump himself along with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in a bizarre historical echo of the British mandatory rule over Palestine. If this process proceeds, it will supposedly create “a path for a just peace on the basis of a two-state solution.” The odds of success however are slim.* In more Gaza news, the Global Sumud Flotilla has been intercepted off the coast of Gaza and Israel has detained the activists on board. Video evidence shows the IDF detaining activist Greta Thunberg specifically. According to Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, “The Israeli government has illegally abducted over 450 participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including nearly two dozen U.S. citizens…We must demand their immediate release and their protection from abuse and torture in Israeli detention. End the siege and genocide of Gaza now.” According to the Flotilla organizers, one of the ships – the Mikeno – got as close as 9.3 miles from the coast, within Gaza's territorial waters, before they lost its signal. While disappointing, given that this is the largest aid flotilla to Gaza in history and came so close to the shore, it seems that at least the flotilla gave fishermen in Gaza the opportunity to go out on the water without interference from the Israeli navy – a crack in the all-encompassing blockade.* Meanwhile, Fox News reports that Israeli intelligence hijacked all cellphones in Gaza in order to forcibly broadcast Prime Minister Netanyahu's United Nations General Assembly speech last week, in which he accused the leaders of western nations who recently recognized the state of Palestine – France, Australia, and the U.K. among others – of being “Leaders who appease evil rather than support a nation whose brave soldiers guard you from the barbarians at the gate,” adding, “They're already penetrating your gates. When will you learn?” Netanyahu's speech was also blasted into Gaza via loudspeakers on the Israeli side of the border. The families of the hostages still held in Gaza released a statement decrying this provocative action, writing “We know from our children…that the loudspeakers were placed inside Gaza. This action endangers their lives, all for the sake of a so-called public diplomacy campaign to preserve [Netanyahu's] rule…He is doing PR at the expense of our children's lives and security. Today we lost the last shred of trust we had in the political echelon and in the army leaders who approved this scandalous operation.”* In Latin America, Trump is planning to bailout Argentina, which has suffered tremendous economic shocks under the stewardship of radical Libertarian President Javier Milei. According to Newsweek, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has offered Argentina a, “$20 billion swap line and other forms of assistance to help stabilize the Argentine peso, and said the U.S. remained ‘prepared to do what is necessary' to sustain the ‘important strides' taken by Milei.” This kind of ideologically driven foreign assistance flies in the face of Trump's supposed “America First” policies, but beyond that it has infuriated domestic interests, especially in the agricultural sector. American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland posted a statement reading, “The frustration is overwhelming…U.S. soybean prices are falling, harvest is underway, and farmers read headlines not about securing a trade agreement with China, but that the U.S. is extending…economic support to Argentina.” This is a particular twist of the knife because following Trump's offer, Argentina lowered export restrictions and sent “20 shiploads of Argentine soybeans to China in just two days.” Republicans representing agricultural interests share this fury. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley wrote “Why would [America] help bail out Argentina while they take American soybean producers' biggest market???...We should use leverage at every turn to help [the] hurting farm economy. Family farmers should be top of mind in negotiations by representatives of [the] USA.” North Dakota Representative Julie Fedorchak added “This is a bitter pill for North Dakota soybean farmers to swallow.”* Moving on from foreign affairs, this week saw the release of a new batch of Epstein files, demanded by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee and turned over by the Jeffrey Epstein Estate. These files include “phone message logs, copies of flight logs and manifests for aircraft,” along with “copies of financial ledgers and Epstein's daily schedule.” These new releases implicate many big names, including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Steve Bannon, and well-documented Epstein associate, Prince Andrew of the British royal family, per the BBC. The release of these files is the latest victory in the campaign to expose everyone involved with Epstein's underage sex ring, a campaign Republicans in government – led by President Trump – have resisted. According to the Hill, Speaker Mike Johnson is refusing to allow the swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva, who was elected last week in a special election to fill the seat vacated by her father's death. In this move, many see an attempt by Speaker Johnson to stave off the discharge petition to release the Epstein files. Grijalva has already committed to signing the petition.* In the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, Republicans have hammered the left for what they see as violent rhetoric, with the White House going so far as to classify certain ideas – among them anti-fascism, anti-capitalism and “extremism on migration, race, and gender” – as potentially punishable under domestic terrorism laws. Meanwhile, however, the Arizona Mirror reports a Republican lawmaker in the state has called for the Washington Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal to be “tried convicted and hanged.” The lawmaker, state Representative John Gillette, was responding to a video in which Jayapal counseled protestors on “non-violent resistance” to Trump's policies. Gillette on the other hand has vocally supported the January 6th insurrectionaries, labeling them “political prisoners” and calling for their release. Asked for comment, Gillette said “The comment is what it is.” For her part, Congresswoman Jayapal has called for “All political leaders, of all parties, [to] denounce” these comments.* Turning to local news, incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams has dropped his bid for reelection, Reuters reports. Adams has been mired in scandal of all kinds, including a federal indictment for bribery. Speculation abounds as to why he chose to suspend his campaign now. It is too late to take his name off of the ballot and he declined to endorse any other candidate, making it unlikely that he did so to bolster the chances of disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is still continuing his independent bid for the mayoralty despite lagging behind Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani by a substantial margin. On the other hand, Adams has previously been offered incentives by President Trump to drop out of the race, including potential protection from prosecution and an ambassadorial post in Saudi Arabia. Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee, claims “Seven different people,” have offered him a “total of $10 million,” to withdraw from the race, but he adamantly refuses to do so, saying “you can't bribe me, buy me, lease me, I'm not for sale.” This from the New York Post.* Next, on September 25th, Black liberation activist Assata Shakur passed away at the age of 78, per Democracy Now!. Shakur had been convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973, though serious doubts remain about her role in the death. She escaped from prison in 1979 and fled to Cuba, where she received asylum in 1984 and continued to maintain her innocence until her death. In 1998, Pope John Paul II visited Cuba and faced calls to demand Assata's extradition to the United States to “face justice” for the murder. In a highly-publicized letter, Assata wrote “The New Jersey State Police and other law enforcement officials say they want to see me brought to ‘justice.' But I would like to know what they mean by ‘justice.' Is torture justice?... When my people receive justice, I am sure that I will receive it, too.” Rest in power, Assata.* Our final story comes to us from, where else, but Hollywood. Variety reports, AI production studio Particle6 has created an AI “actress” who is “named” Tilly Norwood and thereby created a firestorm within the entertainment industry. Tilly's creator, Eline Van der Velden argues that she sees, “AI not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool…Just as animation, puppetry, or CGI opened fresh possibilities without taking away from live acting…nothing – certainly not an AI character – can take away the craft or joy of human performance.” However, SAG-AFTRA – the union representing screen actors – has issued a blistering statement, writing “To be clear, ‘Tilly Norwood' is not an actor, it's a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation…It has no life experience to draw from, no emotion and, from what we've seen, audiences aren't interested in watching computer-generated content untethered from the human experience.” The statement continues, “It doesn't solve any ‘problem' — it creates the problem of using stolen performances to put actors out of work, jeopardizing performer livelihoods and devaluing human artistry.” This episode is simply the latest clash within the entertainment industry between workers and the rising tide of AI. It will not be the last.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

This past week, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed top U.S. commanders at the Marine Base in Quantico, Virginia, calling for a renewed focus on discipline and elevated standards in basic training. He complained that the military has spent the past few years putting too much focus on being “politically correct” or “woke”. He announced that the mindset was coming to an end. Earlier this week, Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Bob Maginnis joined FOX News Rundown host Dave Anthony to share his take on the speech and weigh in on Sec. Hegseth's plan to restore higher military standards. Maginnis agreed with the need to focus less on ‘political correctness' and put more emphasis on readiness. The military analyst also discusses the multiple global threats our military is facing and how our country must adapt to the coming national security threats that artificial intelligence advancements will bring. We often have to cut interviews short during the week, but we thought you might like to hear the full interview. Today on Fox News Rundown Extra, we will share our entire interview with Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Bob Maginnis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump and his “Secretary of War” addressed hundreds of generals and admirals this week to prime our military's top brass for a new enemy: the "enemy within"; how this government shutdown has laid bare that Congress is more broken than ever under rule of Republicans' who pledge fealty to the president; and gone are the days of “regular order' in Congress, which would have the late Sen. John McCain rolling in his grave. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On a special edition of Shield of the Republic, Eric and Eliot break down Secretary of Defense Hegseth and President Donald Trump's speeches to the General Officer Corps at Quantico this week. They discuss the administration's ongoing damage to civil-military relations and the implications for the future of our armed forces. Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. Tickets to Bulwark Live in DC (10/8) with Sarah, Tim and JVL are on sale now at https://TheBulwark.com/events

In this weekend's episode, three segments from this past week's Washington Journal. First, a discussion about the government shutdown and its impact on federal workers, with Max Stier – President & CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. Then, Retired Army Colonel Peter Mansoor – now a military historian at Ohio State University - discusses President Trump and Secretary Hegseth's speech to generals earlier this week. Finally, a conversation with Rob Henderson of the Manhattan Institute on combating political extremism in the U.S. -- and why some young men are increasingly being radicalized online. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An audio documentary podcast series about the sea-faring classic - Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. On this very special bonus episode, I join one of the original online movie news men, Alan Cerny, to discuss the long overdue 4K release of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.Guest: Alan Cerny has been writing reviews for several years. Formerly known as Nordling at Ain't It Cool News until 2016, he began writing for ComingSoon.net and is now a writer and reviewer for Vital Thrills. He has also contributed guest articles to CHUD and Birth.Movies.Death. Cerny has been a member of the Houston Film Critics Society since 2011 and has previously served as both Vice President and Secretary of the organization. He has covered the South by Southwest Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, Houston's Cinema Arts Festival, and WorldFest Houston.Publications: ComingSoon.net, VitalThrills.comNarrator: Ken JeacleTheme composer: Andrew VillerJoin our Patreon for as little as $1 a month for an exclusive weekly podcast + access to the OHM discord here.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/one-heat-minute-productions/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Titus Podcast... SCREAM SANITY! For Christopher Titus tour dates, specials, and merch visit: https://www.christophertitus.com/ For Rachel Bradley tour dates and merch visit: https://www.rachelbradleycomedy.com/ For The Hylinder's music and merch visit: https://www.thewillingbureau.com To advertise on our podcast, please reach out to sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://www.advertisecast.com/ChristopherTitusPodcast

This past week Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth boldly proclaimed that the US Military will now disregard the rules of war so that the war fighter can do what he is trained to do...kill and win. For many Americans these comments were about returning to a strong military that seeks to win. The truth is very different. The United States is bankrupt. We are no longer the world's primary super power. We are also in a moment of massive economic and cultural change. Hegseth's comments were a warning to the world to not attack, as we retract from our global footprint and assume our new diminished position as part of a multi-polar world.  #BardsFM  #EmpireInDecline #EverythingThatCanBeShaken Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com BardsFM CAP, Celebrating 50 Million Downloads: https://ambitiousfaith.net Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMF Solutions to keep your home safe: https://www.emfsol.com/?aff=bards Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS: TreadliteBroadforks.com No Knot Today Natural Skin Products: NoKnotToday.com Health, Nutrition and Detox Consulting: HealthIsLocal.com Destination Real Food Book on Amazon: click here Images In Bloom Soaps and Things: ImagesInBloom.com Angeline Design: AngelineDesign.com DONATE: Click here Mailing Address: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

We're a few days into a government shutdown, but James, Steve, and Charles are managing to get by. So it's business as usual as the trio pick apart the oddities of the week: Democrats attempt to dodge responsibility for their own filibuster; OMB's Russ Vought gets to work on his master plan; the Secretary of War stands accused of fat-shaming his generals; a man named Jihad does the unthinkable in Manchester; the Chicago Teachers' Union mourns the passing of a '70s cop-killer; and Hollywood resists the rise of digitally diverse actors.Sound from this week's opening: Pete Hegseth speaks in Quantico, listing practices that the military is "done with" going forward.

This week, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump ranted to the assembled leadership of the U.S. armed forces about fitness, wokeness and the "war within." Hegseth told the generals and admirals that they were too fat, while low energy Trump gave a rambling speech about many things that included using American cities a "training grounds" for military operations. The brass didn't seem amused. In our latest, we give a history of military dissent and civilian-military relations from the Vietnam War era to the Iraq war and talk about Generals David Shoup, Anthony Zinni and Eric Shinseki. We also get into the politics of Trum, Hegseth and today's Pentagon. ——

President Donald Trump's approval ratings are historically low compared to other presidents, but have mostly plateaued in recent months.USA TODAY First Amendment Reporter BrieAnna Frank breaks down a ruling against the Trump administration that found Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem misused their authority to target non-citizen pro-Palestinians for deportation.The White House is encouraging leaders at nine universities to sign a compact committing their schools to adopt President Donald Trump's policy agenda for higher education in exchange for preferential access to federal funds.The Pentagon tells Congress Trump has determined the U.S. is in 'armed conflict' with cartels.USA TODAY National Music Writer Melissa Ruggieri chats about Taylor Swift's new album - "The Life of a Showgirl" - out today.Have feedback on the show? Please send us an email at podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Antony Blinken was the 71st Secretary of State, serving under President Joe Biden. As the nation's top diplomat, he worked on restoring U.S. ties with allies and multilateral institutions following Trump's first term. He also led U.S. aid responses in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Israel's war in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attack. Both of those wars rage on today. Secretary Blinken joins Preet to discuss Trump's latest peace proposal for Gaza, the President's recent about-face on Ukraine, and the relevance of the U.N. Then, Preet answers your questions about the Comey indictment.  In the bonus for Insiders, Secretary Blinken shares his thoughts on his successor, Secretary Marco Rubio. Join the CAFE Insider community to stay informed without hysteria, fear-mongering, or rage-baiting. Head to cafe.com/insider to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work. Show notes and a transcript of the episode are available on our website.  You can now watch this episode! Head to CAFE's 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, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House advisor Stephen Miller launch a federal crime crackdown in Memphis, where 53 arrests have already been made. National Guard troops begin training ahead of a federally ordered deployment to Portland to protect ICE facilities, over the objections of Oregon officials. A joint sting by Oklahoma Highway Patrol and ICE arrests 130 alleged illegal alien semi-truck drivers at a border weigh station. The Supreme Court grants Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook a temporary reprieve as President Trump seeks to remove her from the board. Vice President JD Vance defends Trump's “sombrero memes,” joking they'll stop only once Democrats agree to end the shutdown.Riverbend Ranch: Visit https://riverbendranch.com/ | Use promo code MEGYN for $20 off your first order.Chapter: For Free and unbiased Medicare help dial 27-MEDICARE (276-334-2273) or go to https://askchapter.org/kellyDisclaimer: Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and standalone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan's contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all your options. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats shut down the government last night and VP Vance stops by to discuss; Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and President Trump speak before the top military brass and re-launch America's warfighting attitude; and Hillary Clinton attacks white Christian men. Click here to join the member-exclusive portion of my show: https://bit.ly/3WDjgHE Ep.2290 - - - Facts Don't Care About Your Feelings - - - DailyWire+: Go to https://dailywireplus.com to join and get 40% off new DailyWire+ annual memberships with code FALL40 at checkout. Watch the Isabel Brown Show Daily at 1pm ET wherever you get your podcasts. Get your Ben Shapiro merch here: https://bit.ly/3TAu2cw - - - Today's Sponsors: Perplexity - Ask anything at https://pplx.ai/benshapiro and try out their new AI-powered web browser Comet at https://comet.perplexity.ai/. ExpressVPN - Go to https://expressvpn.com/ben and find out how you can get 4 months of ExpressVPN free! Prize Picks - Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/BEN and use code BEN and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! American Financing - Call 866-574-2500 or visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/Shapiro for details about credit costs and terms. NMLS 182334, https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. HIYA - Receive 50% off your first order. Go to https://hiyahealth.com/SHAPIRO Balance of Nature - Go to https://balanceofnature.com and use promo code SHAPIRO for 35% off your first order as a preferred customer, PLUS get a free bottle of Fiber and Spice Simplisafe - Visit https://SimpliSafe.com/SHAPIRO to claim 50% off a new system. - - - Socials: Follow on Twitter: https://bit.ly/3cXUn53  Follow on Instagram: https://bit.ly/3QtuibJ  Follow on Facebook: https://bit.ly/3TTirqd  Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3RPyBiB - - - Privacy Policy: https://www.dailywire.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four Tuesday takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. The Kick Ass Standard President Trump’s announcement on prescription drug pricing, revealing that Pfizer will now offer medications at “most favored nation” prices, a move aimed at reducing costs for American consumers. Clay then shifts to a fiery cultural debate sparked by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s speech to military leaders, emphasizing a return to strict physical standards and meritocracy in the U.S. Armed Forces. Hegseth rejects DEI mandates and insists on combat readiness over diversity quotas, sparking a broader conversation about whether elite positions in the military—or any field—should reflect demographics or prioritize performance. Clay uses examples from Olympic basketball and the National Spelling Bee to argue that excellence rarely mirrors population diversity and that merit should always come first. Golden Handcuffs An in-depth discussion on JK Rowling’s viral takedown of Emma Watson and the gender ideology debate. Clay praises Rowling’s courage in standing against what she calls “gender insanity,” reading excerpts from her powerful statement that has garnered tens of millions of views. He challenges wealthy and influential Americans to show similar bravery in defending truth and common sense. OK Sen. Markwayne Mullin Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin does a deep dive into the budget impasse, blaming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for obstructing a “clean CR” (Continuing Resolution) due to pressure from progressive challengers like AOC. Mullin outlines the shutdown’s impact on military pay, federal employees, and mandatory vs. discretionary spending, while criticizing continued COVID-era healthcare subsidies and Obamacare enrollment for undocumented immigrants—a $350 billion taxpayer burden, he claims. Mullin and Travis assert that Donald Trump’s 2024 landslide victory was a rejection of socialism and far-left policies. They argue the Democratic Party is now led by figures like Bernie Sanders, Ilhan Omar, and Jasmine Crockett, and suffering an identity crisis. Mullin also praises military fitness standards, referencing Pete Seth’s call for accountability among generals, and shares his own leadership philosophy rooted in discipline and example-setting. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise Congressman and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise joins the show to reflect on the Charlie Kirk shooting, drawing parallels to his own experience as a victim of political violence in 2017. Scalise emphasizes the importance of civil discourse, condemns cancel culture, and highlights the resilience of Turning Point USA, which has seen over 50,000 students express interest in launching chapters. He praises Erica Kirk’s commitment to continuing Charlie’s legacy and notes a religious revival among youth inspired by Kirk’s faith. Scalise also discusses the House-passed funding bill, warning that Schumer and the far-left are pushing a shutdown out of political spite. He urges Democrats to prioritize governance over ideological battles. The hour closes with Scalise’s thoughts on LSU football, NIL funding, and the electrifying experience of Saturday nights in Tiger Stadium, complete with Cajun tailgating and Garth Brooks anthems. Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8 For the latest updates from Clay and Buck: https://www.clayandbuck.com/ Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Social Media: X - https://x.com/clayandbuck FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tommy & Ben react to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump's bizarre and alarming gathering of top military officials, including Trump's fascistic rhetoric about the "enemy within", wildly inappropriate partisan rants, and Hegseth's anti-DEI, pro-war-crimes lecture that could have been an email. They also talk about Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement of a 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas, Netanyahu's apology to Qatar for striking Hamas leaders in Doha and why the hell Tony Blair is involved. Also discussed: Marco Rubio's secret plan for regime change in Venezuela, the revocation of the Colombian president's visa by the U.S., how Trump's trade war with China could sell out Taiwan and hurt American farmers, "Gen Z" protests in Madagascar, and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy's latest prison sentence. Finally, they explain why the comedy world is headed to Saudi Arabia and how Trump bonded with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over rigged elections. Then, Ben speaks to foreign policy analyst, author, and journalist Rula Jebreal about the sidelining of Palestinians in Trump's peace plan, the threat of West Bank annexation, and what the international community can do for Palestine. Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.