Podcasts about Secretary

(1) Scott Harold discusses the unprecedented question from Japan's Defense Minister at the Shangri-La Dialogueregarding America's Indo-Pacific commitment. He notes the omission of Taiwan in Secretary Hegseth's speech compared to last year. Japan remains a hawkish front-line ally, despite regional concerns over shifting US national defense priorities.

On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, in a Senate hearing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified on Iran negotiations, emphasizing condition-based sanctions relief and the critical need to address Iran's ballistic missile capabilities. Any sanctions relief for Iran would fund the regime's army, IRGC, and security forces rather than the suffering people. We need to arm the Iranian people to enable an uprising. This terrorist regime seeks to destroy America and Israel while the current efforts fail to apply maximum pressure. We should not negotiate with or cut deals with terrorists because it emboldens enemies. The isolationists and the Woke Reich give aid and comfort to our adversaries. There is a growing domestic Marxist-Islamist threat, funded by Qatar, China, and others, that is organizing, building enclaves, and infiltrating politics. In breaking news, there are reports of multiple explosions in Bahrain, hours after Iran claimed precise missile strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait and the IRGC warned of further seismic responses to American actions. Iran appears emboldened rather than defeated by reading U.S. restraint as weakness. The IRGC needs to be pounded, and the Iranian people need to be armed.  Later, the core defect of Marxism is its fundamental misstatement and misapplication of human nature. Rather than being an economic philosophy aimed at equality or fairness, it uses economics and redistribution as camouflage to advance totalitarianism, seeking to control individuals, thought processes, and ultimately create a society of compliant robots. This ideology, like Islam, employs appeal to compassion and justice as propaganda while intending the opposite. It cannot work because human nature, created by God, cannot be intentionally destroyed and rejiggered by man. The practical goal is demographic transformation to build dependent, like-minded societies that can be dominated, eventually extending this control nationally. Finally, Noah Rothman calls in to discuss his book, Blood and Progress: A Century of Left-Wing Violence in America. https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Progress-Century-Left-Wing-Violence/dp/1546011412/ref=sr_1_1?crid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he's appointing the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Bill Pulte, as acting Director of National Intelligence. The news comes after Tulsi Gabbard announced she was resigning from the position amid her husband's battle with cancer. So who is Bill Pulte? From what we know, Pulte is another Trump-henchman type whose only qualification for the high-stakes position seems to be the ability to do just about anything Trump wants him to do. And that's raised red flags among many people, including our guest, Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly. He serves on the Senate Intelligence and Armed Services Committees.And in headlines, Russia launches a massive attack against Ukraine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies on Capitol Hill, and whac-a-mole? More like whac-a-manhole! Videos of people popping out of New York City sewers are popping up online.Show Notes: Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/whataday

June 2, 2026 5pm; Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also up on Capitol Hill today, appearing before Congress for the first time publicly since the conflict with Iran began. For more, follow us on Instagram @deadlinewh For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Department of Justice abandoned its plan for a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. The Wall Street Journal reports the fund had threatened to sink Trump’s broader immigration priorities. President Trump appointed Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. Reuters’s Jonathan Landay joins to explain why he’s a controversial pick. The NBA Finals begin tonight. Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press breaks down the matchup between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. Plus, why the Pentagon hired a Jan. 6 rioter for sensitive counterterrorism work, Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly testified in Congress, and how Ozempic may be reshaping some people’s brains. Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.

(13) Mary Kissel discusses Secretary Marco Rubio's budget focused on Iran, Ukraine, and China. Rubio emphasizes hemispheric security and the need for strategic planning to address malign influences in Cuba and Venezuela.1909

June 2, 2026Administration officials have repeatedly tried to limit access to detention centers across the country, Detainees at the Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey start a hunger strike to protest dangerous conditions and the lack of access to the legal system, New Jersey's attorney general is suing the GEO Group which operates Delaney Hall, The destruction of the rule of law at Delaney Hall is part of the larger effort by the Trump administration to destroy it across the country, The newly appointed acting director of national intelligence, who has no relevant expertise, is willing to use the government to persecute Trump's perceived enemies, Trump's slush fund will be dropped but the DOJ is not dropping the plan to provide tax amnesty to the Trumps, Secretary of Homeland Security refuses to commit to abide by court rulings, Former Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino publicly embraces white nationalism, claiming that 100 million people in the US must be removed and going after government and elected officials.Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

President Trump admits he exchanged harsh words with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Iran War as Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells Congress that the conflict is over. NBC News Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki examines the results of multiple primary elections including the uncalled California governor's race. Judges Esther Salas and John Jones III speak in a Common Ground conversation on the threats facing the judiciary in America. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

John's monologue this time delves into Acting A.G. Todd Blanche telling congress that they will take Trump's slush fund "settlement" off the table in his lawsuit against the IRS but they are keeping Trump and his family's IRS immunity in and it stays intact. John also discusses Secretary of State AND National Security Advisor Marco Rubio saying to lawmakers that they are winning the non-war in Iran. Plus, they marvel at the forehead slapping stupidity of Trump appointing boot-licking nepo-baby Bill Pulte as Director of National Intelligence replacing Tulsi Gabbord. Next, John interviews Colonel Edmund J. Barrett (Ret.) who is running for the Maryland State Senate in legislative district 37, facing off in a June 23rd primary against Katie Clendaniel to see who will take on incumbent Republican Johnny Mautz in the general election this fall. And finally, comedian Greg Proops returns and they talk about his new album "KIDDING... BUT STILL" which is out now from A Special Thing records. It's fully improvised and recorded at The Punchline in San Francisco.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a busy day on Capitol Hill for the Trump Cabinet! Secretary of State Marco Rubio and DHS Chief Markwayne Mullin were there to testify and boy did they not disappoint! While all that was happening, Dr.Oz was at the podium at the White House and he as well did not disappoint! Trump also appointed a new DNI chief today and it has the democrats melting down unlimited!Sponsor: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.

Day 1,558.Today, as more civilians across Ukraine are murdered by Russia in the latest mass aerial attack we look to the US for a response, given Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week that Russia planned only to strike Ukrainian "decision-making centers". We ask, again, when the United Nations is going to take a meaningful interest in the war, and look at the continuing diplomatic spat between Ukraine and Poland. And later, we examine possibly the most consequential election for Putin in years: this weekend's contest in Armenia and a, perhaps surprising, intervention by Donald Trump.Contributors: Dom Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Venetia Rainey (Telegraph journalist and host on Iran: The Latest). @venetiarainey on X.James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @Jkjourno on X.Producer: Phil AtkinsSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O'SullivanSocial Producer: Katie InglisStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest CONTENT REFERENCED:Listen to our sister podcast, Iran: The Latest: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran--the-latest/Read the Irish Times' coverage of the Aughinish Alumina story: https://www.irishtimes.com/tags/aughinish-alumina/Magyar signals Ukraine reset ahead of expected talks with Zelenskyy next week (Politico)https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-peter-magyar-ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy-upcoming-talks/Danish shipyard still servicing LNG tankers for Russia trade (Financial Times)https://www.ft.com/content/945c6085-e14a-4acb-8e41-3986e7486480?syn-25a6b1a6=1Russian Officer Accused of Bucha Atrocities Secures Candidate Slot for Parliament Elections (United 24 Media) https://united24media.com/world/russian-officer-accused-of-bucha-atrocities-secures-candidate-slot-for-parliament-elections-19382 EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:'Loser' Putin rains missiles on Ukraine as Russia 'out of ideas' Zelensky warns Moscow there are ‘no safe roads' in south and east Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Americans who know Cuba best—those who fled the Communist-ruled island and their descendants—loathe the country's Communist regime, in power since Fidel Castro overthrew an American-backed strongman in 1959. Thanks to Cold War geopolitics and the political influence of those Cuban-American communities (especially those around Miami, home city of Secretary of State Marco Rubio), the United […]

Sec. Scott Turner, former NFL player, former Texas State Rep, and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, joined us on the Guy Benson Show today to discuss the record of failures from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to prevent homelessness and what he and the Trump administration are doing to bring results to the issue. Sec. Turner discussed why HUD is moving to a "merit based" system for providing funding, and why this system is meant to provide results to the homelessness issue. Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode we talk about a man whose influence on the trajectory of American history is undeniable and pervasive, but whose name you may never have heard of: John Hay, a secretary to President Lincoln and Secretary of State under Mckinley and Teddy Roosevelt. What might the world be like without him?

This episode is a must-listen for anyone following the ongoing Iran war and its implications on global politics. Michael dives into the recent hearing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where he presented a prepared statement that's more about Venezuela than Iran, and the strategy behind it. The discussion also touches on the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the impact of the war on oil prices, and the role of the US in the Middle East. Michael breaks down the process of how Rubio's prepared statement was crafted, involving multiple iterations and approvals from various government offices. He also analyze the content of the statement, which focuses on the Western Hemisphere and avoids mentioning the ongoing military operations in the Middle East. The discussion highlights the administration's approach to the war and the potential consequences of their strategy. The episode also explores the tension within the Republican party, with some members expressing hesitation about the war. Michael shares their own thoughts on the matter, emphasizing the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the need for the US to take a stronger stance. They also discuss the role of the US in the Middle East and the impact of the war on oil prices. If you're interested in staying up-to-date on the latest developments in the Iran war and its implications on global politics, this episode is a must-listen. Michael provides a unique perspective on the situation and offers insights into the complexities of the conflict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The wind stops blowing. The sun goes down.What happens next?Former U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz explains why the transition to clean energy may be far more complicated than most people realize.In one of the most clear-eyed conversations about our energy future, Moniz pulls back the curtain on what it will actually take to build energy that is clean, reliable, and affordable - and why some of the hardest challenges have little to do with solar panels or wind turbines.He reveals which emerging technologies - from hydrogen to nuclear fusion - could reshape the future of energy, why storage remains a major hurdle, and what many people misunderstand about renewable power.What will it really take to keep the lights on in a low-carbon world?

The Washington Stand's Casey Harper recaps Secretary of State Marco Rubio's testimony before the House Appropriations Committee, his first since the beginning of the war with Iran; as well as DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin's testimony before the

Day Break | MAHA Momentum, Iran Tensions & Another Platner Scandal --- 00:00 - Monologue 19:12 – Alireza Jafarzadeh, Deputy Director of the U.S. office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI-US) and author of The Iran Threat. Jafarzadeh discusses the latest developments in Iran, including reports that U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire and begin new nuclear talks. He provides analysis on what the negotiations could mean for the region and the future of U.S.-Iran relations. 28:09 – Will Hild, Executive Director of Consumers' Research. Hild discusses ExxonMobil shareholders' decision to move corporate operations to Texas and examines broader debates over corporate governance, shareholder activism, and the influence of proxy advisory firms. 38:19 - Monologue Featuring Ivey Gruber 47:21 – Eric Eggers, Vice President of Research at the Government Accountability Institute and author of Fraud: How the Left Plans to Steal the Next Election. Eggers discusses election integrity concerns heading into the midterm elections, voter confidence, and ongoing debates over election security and administration. 57:36 – Mayra Flores, former U.S. Representative for Texas's 34th Congressional District and the first Mexican-born woman elected to Congress. Flores discusses the growing importance of Latino voters, ongoing redistricting battles, and how demographic and political shifts could shape future elections. 1:06:27 – Charlotte Bergmann, candidate for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District. Bergmann discusses comments made by a CNN contributor regarding Black Republican candidates and shares her perspective on race, politics, faith, and representation in America. 1:16:35 - Monologue 1:25:34 – Katie Heid, News Director for Michigan News Source. Heid presents the Michigan Rundown, covering stories including calls for an investigation into alleged ties between Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and the Southern Poverty Law Center, as well as ballot-access controversies affecting Michigan gubernatorial candidates. 1:35:31 – Bill Wild, President and CEO of the Midwest Independent Retailers Association (MIRA). Wild discusses efforts to reform Michigan's Bottle Bill and promote expanded curbside recycling programs. He explains why retailers are advocating for changes to the state's recycling and deposit system. 1:44:27 – Ivey Gruber, President of the Michigan Talk Network. Gruber discusses the recurring issue of visitors approaching large wildlife such as bison and oxen in national parks, often resulting in injuries. The conversation also touches on a resurfaced video showing cloud-seeding operations and broader discussions surrounding weather modification technology. --- Check out our brand new podcast, 'Forgotten America'... Episode 17 is live NOW at Steve Gruber on YouTube! Link below: https://youtu.be/ULMlE_xv87Q

Americans who know Cuba best—those who fled the Communist-ruled island and their descendants—loathe the country's Communist regime, in power since Fidel Castro overthrew an American-backed strongman in 1959. Thanks to Cold War geopolitics and the political influence of those Cuban-American communities (especially those around Miami, home city of Secretary of State Marco Rubio), the United States has maintained strict restrictions on trade and travel to the island, largely on a bipartisan basis. But left-of-center activists often operate as if laws they don't like don't apply to them, and that any infractions will be dismissed with a wink and a nod by their “moderate” allies. And with an aggressive right-of-center government in power, that is increasingly a bad bet, as a number of radical-left activists including podcaster Hasan Piker and CodePink leader Medea Benjamin have reportedly been subpoenaed for information about their participation in the “Nuestra America Convoy” supporting the Communist regime. How much trouble are these leftist agitators potentially in? What are they doing, and who's funding it? Stu Smith of the Manhattan Institute joins us to discuss.Feds subpoena Hasan Piker, Medea Benjamin over Cuba tripsHasan PikerCode Pink (CODEPINK)Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)The Cuban regime's American sympathizersStu Smith

Send us Fan MailAaron and Peaches are back in the team room for a public episode, and this one goes exactly where you think it's going: military fitness standards, Pete Hegseth, the UFC, fat troops, fake plate outrage, human performance, AI, bad tactical training, Marines getting yelled at in public, and yes… somehow the Vandenberg UFO incident.They get into why physical standards still matter, why people are suddenly pretending government officials need to be elite athletes, how human performance is finally becoming a serious military priority, and why some “tactical” training videos on the internet are basically just paid auditions for disaster.They also hit AI tools, admin dominance, general officer career paths, Space Force weirdness, and a woman trying to debate Marines during Fleet Week.Drop a comment with your take: are standards coming back, or are we still pretending being out of shape is fine?Like the video, subscribe to Ones Ready, and hit the notification bell so you don't miss the next one.Join the members-only side on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple for early access, extra episodes, and fewer rules.Merch restock is coming soon at onesready.com. Grab something and stop dressing like you lost a bet.Bottom line: be fit, be useful, and don't pay money to get shot by your buddy on a flat range.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 Something Has to Die 01:06 Welcome to the Team Room 01:22 Why Does Everyone Hate Fat Troops? 02:18 Blues Monday and Uniform Reality Checks 03:24 UFC at the White House 04:10 Fitness Standards and Exclusive Events 05:04 Military Influencers Are Coming 05:38 Pete Hegseth, Fake Plates, and Outrage Culture 06:59 Working Out With the Troops 07:36 Secretary of Defense Fitness Expectations 08:13 Lloyd Austin, COVID, and Mask Optics 09:06 Vaccine Mandates and Myocarditis Discussion 12:17 Comparing Hegseth and Austin 13:42 Modern Athlete Strength Systems 15:17 The Pepe Silvia Breakdown 16:10 Is Human Performance Finally Turning a Corner? 17:18 Air Force Special Warfare as a Human Weapon System 18:31 Recovery, Readiness, and Smarter Scheduling 19:48 Why HPO Is About to Explode 21:26 Staying Operational After Retirement 22:13 PhDs Who Can Win Bar Fights 23:01 How Officers Become Generals 25:19 The Military's Risk Problem 27:46 Officer Team Time and Career Acceleration 30:49 Why Admin Skills Actually Matter 32:03 How to Win End-of-Year Funding 34:15 Using AI to Build Better Products 36:15 Air Force News and Internet Chaos 37:14 Woman Harasses Marines During Fleet Week 40:17 Marines Handle It Like Pros 42:51 Missing Scientists and Space Force Weirdness 45:33 Small Unit Tactics Gone Wrong 46:36 Dangerous Live-Fire Training Videos 49:00 How This Gets People Killed 51:42 Loot Dropping and Not Training 52:13 Vandenberg UFO Missile Test Story 54:34 Tasty Gains and Creatine Gummies 56:02 Merch, Memberships, and Final Notes

Sec. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon joins Howie to discuss the fight to protect Title IX and more.  Visit the Howie Carr Radio Network website to access columns, podcasts, and other exclusive content.

Trump news fatigue is real. That's not an accident — it's the playbook. Exhaust the public, contaminate every institution, and the most radical agenda in modern American history slides through while we're too tired to notice. On episode 538, Paul Rieckhoff delivers a solo Manosphere Monday briefing for the angry middle: the people who are done with the rigged two-party system but refuse to check out of the fight. Paul breaks down acting Secretary of Culture War Pete Hegseth blocking the promotions of at least seven Navy women and minority officers, leaving a one-star admiral slate with zero women. He unpacks Graham Platner's escalating problems in Maine and what the Democrats' all-in posture says about a party that keeps doing Democrat things. He gets into Jaxon Dart introducing Trump at a partisan campaign event and why Trump contaminates everything he touches — including the New York Giants. Plus Scott Pelley calling out the murder of 60 Minutes, Iran suspending talks, the Bab al-Mandab threat, and a mailbag from a DoD civilian combat vet getting the shaft on pay. There's a war going on outside. Stay vigilant. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On today's episode, Vince sits down with Karlo Villalpando, a 10-year veteran of Mexican Customs and former Port Director in Sonoyta, to discuss the recent surrender of Sinaloa's Secretary of Public Safety to the DEA, the SDNY indictment naming Sinaloa state officials allegedly on the cartel's payroll, and what President Claudia Sheinbaum's government is and isn't doing about it. They also cover the cartel's parallel governance over U.S. companies operating in Mexico and whether U.S. operators are already on the ground. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (03:05) What Americans Get Wrong About the Cartels (05:17) The Cartels Are a Parallel Government in Mexico (12:17) Why Corruption Runs Mexico's Government (16:38) "They Offered Me Cash, Cars, and Properties" — A Cartel Bribe Attempt (21:21) A Sinaloa Cabinet Official Surrenders to the DEA (22:21) Cartels Inside U.S. Companies Operating in Mexico (33:26) Is Sheinbaum's Government Actually Fighting the Cartels? (44:30) Will the U.S. Strike Mexico? And Why U.S. Operators May Already Be There Sponsors: 1st Phorm: Go to⁠ ⁠https://www.1stphorm.com/borderland⁠⁠ and get free shipping on any orders over $75, free 30 days in the app for new customers, and 110% money back guarantee on all of our products. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=ironclad&utm_campaign=ironclad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for May 29, 2026. We open with a question millions of Americans have been asking for years: when does accountability finally arrive? As federal investigators expand major fraud cases involving government programs in Minnesota and beyond, we examine why so many voters believe there has been one standard of justice for ordinary citizens and another for politically connected insiders. From allegations of massive misuse of taxpayer funds to the broader erosion of trust in public institutions, we discuss why political embarrassment is not the same thing as accountability — and why many Americans believe real consequences matter more than press conferences and resignations. We also cover the indictment of an Iraqi-Iranian man accused of plotting terrorist attacks against Americans, including President Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her family, the historic decision by ExxonMobil to officially move its corporate domicile from New Jersey to Texas after more than a century, and the latest inflation numbers as gas prices continue to drive costs higher across the country. Later, we take a closer look at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass's claim that the city is safer than it has been since the 1950s, why many residents appear unconvinced, and how quality-of-life concerns are increasingly shaping local politics. We also explore California Democrats' continued push for taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants and the larger debate over incentives, government spending, and immigration policy. In our Digging Deep segment, we break down new polling on the 2028 presidential race. On the Republican side, Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio appear to be emerging as the early frontrunners. On the Democratic side, a fragmented field reveals uncertainty about the party's future, with no clear consensus candidate taking control of the race. The American Mamas join us to answer a listener question about jealousy — how to recognize it, how to avoid it, and why genuinely celebrating the success of others may be one of the most important character traits we can teach the next generation. Plus, we discuss why rocket failures are often signs of progress rather than defeat, revisit the lessons of American innovation and risk-taking, and wrap up with another edition of Fake News Friday featuring everything from George Floyd memorials to spelling bee champions, exploding rockets, and some headlines so outrageous they just might be true. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ralph speaks to independent investigative journalist Lylla Younes to discuss her reporting on Israel's assault on southern Lebanon. Then, Ralph and media studies professor Robin Andersen discuss her new book "The Complicit Lens: US Media Coverage of the Genocide in Gaza."Lylla Younes is a Beirut-based journalist. She is an editor at The Public Source, and a frequent contributor to Drop Site News.What we've seen in the past several days is really an escalation of what's been happening since March 2nd (when the US-Israeli assault on Iran took off) and then obviously the ceasefire… What we see is a campaign of ethnic cleansing from the Israeli military in Lebanon. And that has looked like the Gaza playbook sped up, you could say, in southern Lebanon. It's looked like invading and bulldozing homes; tearing up roads; destroying, booby-trapping, and detonating entire villages and cultural sites. It's looked like targeting medical personnel—killing, at this point, over 100 since March 2nd (this is in addition to the 130 or so who were killed in the last round of fighting in 2024). In addition to that, the targeting and killing of journalists who are reporting near the border. I think it's important to note there's practically no one left in the border region. Having a press vest on and a microphone and a camera is basically like having a target on your back at this point.Lylla YounesThe pager attack was, I think it's fair to say, one of the darker days of Lebanese history. I think regardless of people's feelings about Hezbollah, the fact that you are setting men alight literally in the streets in cities all across the country, killing children, maiming children—the mark of the pager attack was that these pagers that Hezbollah members were carrying exploded in their faces and blinded them. So you have thousands of blinded people, people missing fingers. And again, some of these are relatives of Hezbollah members. It was a massive event that overwhelmed hospitals across the country. And it also marked the beginning of that 66 day [period] of escalated fighting. And it showed how deeply infiltrated Hezbollah was in an intelligence capacity. This was quite a feat by the Israeli Mossad.Lylla YounesRobin Andersen is professor emerita of media studies at Fordham University and an award-winning author of a dozen single- and co-authored books. She serves as a Project Censored Judge, and contributes to the annual State of the Free Press. She is on the Board of Directors of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), where she also writes regularly, and is an Izzy Award Judge for the Park Center for Independent Media. Her latest book is The Complicit Lens: US Media Coverage of Israel's Genocide in Gaza.In my book, I look at the directives of the New York Times and CNN, and then I compare it to media coverage. And I found that, in fact, these were the ways [the directives that were passed down] in which the media was presenting the genocide in Gaza…But in terms of the Israeli directives, CNN was putting their copy through their Jerusalem bureau and the IDF was looking at it. The New York Times was simply going along with Israeli talking points. So we did find that. And the real telling part was when they finally did say that Israel dropped the bomb, it was only when Israel had admitted—or put their propaganda to the next level, which was to claim that they had killed a Hamas commander or a fighter or somebody involved in Hamas. And we found that also in the BBC. So those were direct things that came from Israel. And abandoning their journalistic mission, the US media was basically following the dictates of a foreign government.Robin AndersenTheir form of censorship was basically murder. They knew that as the genocide wore on (and Israel controlled the narrative for a very long time, and then it started to collapse) as over time we saw on the internet, we saw on our handheld devices the documentation of what was happening [they'd lose control of the narrative]. And so in a total propaganda environment, what we have to have is no noise, no opposition, no alternative information. And Israel really was trying to achieve a total propaganda environment. It wasn't enough that they had establishment in legacy media and those media were allowing outside influences to direct their editorial decisions. That wasn't quite enough.Robin AndersenNews 5/29/26* This week, Democratic Socialist Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani unveiled his plan to construct 200,000 new rent-stabilized homes in the city over the next decade, PIX 11 reports, making good on a campaign promise that many supposedly savvy political observers doubted. In addition to the new construction, Mamdani vowed to “preserve and stabilize” an additional 200,000 via New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) repairs, increased housing code enforcement, and a special focus on development in the Bronx. In his announcement, Mamdani said “We are the largest city in the nation. We have the resources, the talent, and the will to achieve this.”* In the federal government, one of the most controversial members of the Trump administration – former Democratic Congresswoman and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard – has resigned her position as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The BBC reports Gabbard is citing her husband's recent bone cancer diagnosis as the reason for her departure, but also notes that Gabbard “has largely been out of public view even as the US took military action against Iran, put pressure on Cuba, and…removed Venezuela's president.” In theory, these would all require a substantial degree of participation from and coordination with the DNI, but Gabbard seemed pointedly out of the loop. The actions of the administration have also been diametrically opposed to Gabbard's past foreign policy positions, defined by her 2020 slogan “no more regime change wars.” Others have noted that Gabbard now joins former Attorney General Pam Bondi, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem as high-profile women ousted from the Trump administration while glaringly incompetent men like Pete Hegseth remain in their posts.* Turning to Texas, this week saw a political bloodbath in the runoffs for the primaries held back in March. The topline of course is that scandal-plagued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, backed by Trump, triumphed over powerful longtime incumbent Senator John Cornyn. With the backing of the president, Paxton wiped the floor with Cornyn, winning around two-thirds of the vote. Yet Paxton goes into the general election against James Talarico very weak. 35% of those polled “Disapprove Strongly” of Paxton with only 15% saying they “Strongly Approve” according to the Texas Politics Project and even the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) condemned Paxton's “lies” “incompetence” personal scandals and corruption in now-deleted press releases. Further down the ballot, incumbent Democratic Members of Congress Al Green and Julie Johnson have been defeated in their primary run-offs, after being forced into Member-on-Member races by the Texas redistricting scheme.* Meanwhile in Michigan, NOTUS reports the Working Families Party (WFP) has endorsed progressive Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed. This primary campaign, with El-Sayed running against moderate Congresswoman Haley Stevens and liberal state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, has become a bruising tripartite affair pitting the three major factions within the Democratic Party against one another. Recently, El-Sayed has taken the lead in this race, which WFP hopes to help consolidate, saying it is prepared to go “all in” on this race. WFP is feeling confident following their role in helping to ensure victory for Chris Rabb in Pennsylvania and Analilia Mejia in New Jersey.* In the Garden State, Senator Andy Kim was caught in a cloud of pepper spray this week as he joined protestors outside of a privately-run ICE detention facility, NJ.com reports. The protests began as a result of an ongoing hunger strike inside of the facility, which has led many high-profile New Jersey Democrats – including Governor Mikie Sherill and Congressman Robert Menendez Jr. in addition to Senator Kim – to call for the facility's closure. Following the confrontation, Kim stated that “What we saw here is unfortunately just what we see all over the country…It's sad…sad day.” At another point, Kim said “The cruelty that you see behind me, this is the point…Right now, I'm trying to have them not point guns at us.”* In another case of outrageous overreach by the Trump administration, Fox reports the Treasury Department has served subpoenas to CodePink activist Medea Benjamin and political streamer and influencer Hasan Piker seeking “financial, logistical and communications information” regarding their recent humanitarian voyage to Cuba. According to this story, the Treasury probe – handled through their Office of Foreign Assets Control – is primarily concerned with whether the convoy “violated U.S. sanctions laws through the financing, coordination or delivery of goods to Cuba, including potential contacts with Cuban government personnel or entities on the island.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned the probe, writing that “Weaponizing the Treasury Department to target Americans for exercising their constitutional right to support human rights is unacceptable.” CAIR went on to call the investigation “performative and politically-motivated,” contending that “Every American who believes in the rule of law and human rights should stand in solidarity with Medea and demand that the Treasury Department drop its McCarthyite witch hunt.”* The Democrats meanwhile are once again conspiring against one another. The Bulwark reports the campaign to unseat Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin is back on – and now includes viable alternatives. Previously, discontent was mounting but there did not appear to be any other options. Presently though, the list circulating in Democratic circles consists of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, former EMILY's List president Stephanie Schriock, former president of the Service Employees International Union Mary Kay Henry, former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro, former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party Lavora Barnes, and former Wisconsin party chair Ben Wikler. Wikler, who revitalized the Beaver State party and placed second against Martin in the DNC Chair election, has “rebuffed discussions about leading the DNC, saying he wants nothing to do with effort to remove Martin and isn't interested in replacing him.” Yet even with no obvious alternative, calls are mounting for Martin to step aside. This piece cites statements by progressive Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan, as well as a new initiative by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee on one side, alongside statements by more moderate Reps. Marc Veasey and Seth Moulton to the same effect. Still, many state parties and an equally ideologically diverse coalition is standing by Martin, so he will likely remain in place, at least for the time being.* Looking southward, this week Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that her country will host the Iranian team ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Per Al Jazeera, the United States, which is hosting many of the matches, including all three the Iranian team was scheduled to play in, expressed that they did not think it “appropriate” for Iranian team members to be in the country, “for their own life and safety.” FIFA approached Mexico as an alternative. In her daily press conference, Sheinbaum stated that “We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico.” The Iranian team has also announced they will be moving their training base from Tucson to Tijuana, but still plan to enter the United States to play their games – with Trump saying they will be “welcome,” despite the fact American authorities have yet to issue the necessary visas.* Our final two stories involve the Pope. First, AP reports that this week Pope Leo XIV made an historic apology not only for the Catholic Church's role in legitimizing slavery, but its failure to condemn the practice for centuries afterwards. Pope Leo called this a “wound in Christian memory.” Leo, the first American Pope, can point to both enslaved people and slave owners in his familial lineage, a remarkable vantage point from which to issue this statement in his first ever encyclical ”Magnifica Humanitas.”* Yet, for how historic this section of the encyclical is, it is not the portion of it that drew the most attention. That would be the section on Artificial Intelligence. Pope Leo writes “Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together.” Leo goes on to make the critical point that “technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise, finance, regulate, and use it.” He further goes on to state that “the pressure of new ideologies or certain highly powerful interests” can reduce the human person to “a resource to be used and exploited” or evaluated “on what they achieve or produce,” whereas God creates each individual person in His image and imbues them with inherent dignity. It is impossible to say whether the Pontiff's words will move the titans of the tech industry to change their ways, but his moving rhetoric is sure to significantly influence the world's view of AI, both today and for students of history.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

Protests outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, continued on May 30. Multiple arrests have been made throughout the protests, and concerns are growing over violence directed at federal officers.Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned that China must not dominate the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking at a defense summit in Singapore, Hegseth also emphasized U.S. commitment to regional security as concerns grow over China's increasing military buildup in the region.

Former President Bill Clinton testified under subpoena in a closed-door deposition before the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his network. Over about six hours of questioning in Chappaqua, New York, Clinton repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities, emphasized that their interactions were limited and long predating Epstein's known crimes, and stressed he “did nothing wrong.” He said he saw “nothing” that gave him pause, may say “I don't recall” on old interactions, and maintained that any association ended years before Epstein's first criminal conviction. Clinton also defended his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who had testified a day earlier and said she had no meaningful connection to Epstein.Republicans on the committee used the deposition to probe Clinton's past travel on Epstein's plane and old photos released in the Epstein Files, while Democrats framed the testimony as part of a broader push for transparency and have called for other high-profile figures, including President Donald Trump, to testify as well. Clinton's testimony marked the first time a former U.S. president was compelled to testify before Congress under subpoena in this context, and the committee may release the transcript or video publicly at its discretionto contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Bill Clinton faces grilling from lawmakers over Epstein ties | AP NewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Washington Watch Reporter Mary Stackhouse reports on Treasury Secretary Bessent's speech at the Reagan National Economic Forum, former Attorney General Pam Bondi's closed-door testimony on the Epstein Files, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio's

On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore breaks it all down with James Sherr, an Honorary Fellow at the International Center for Defense and Security and an Associate Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs; and former U.S. State Department official Max Bergmann, director of the Europe and Russia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who served as a member of the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff and as a speechwriter for former Secretary of State John Kerry. 

In EVN Report's news roundup for the week of May 29: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio makes a whirlwind visit to Yerevan; days later President Donald Trump publicly endorses PM Nikol Pashinyan in a social media post; Armenia holds its first military parade in a decade, drawing criticism from opposition parties who say the event served as a campaign tool; Russia ramps up pressure on Armenia, warning of possible economic consequences if Yerevan continues moving closer to the European Union.

The AgNet News Hour featured California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton in a wide-ranging interview focused on agriculture, water policy, energy costs, regulations, and the future direction of the state ahead of the upcoming jungle primary. Hosts Nick Papagni and Josh McGill opened the program by noting frustration that recent gubernatorial debates largely ignored agriculture despite California's massive farming economy. Hilton said agriculture has been “strangled and throttled” by state leadership and promised major changes if elected governor. “You're never going to have a stronger champion for farming and agriculture than me when I'm governor,” Hilton said. Hilton repeatedly criticized California's current water management system, arguing that environmental policies and regulatory decisions have limited water deliveries to growers while hurting rural communities. “We can increase deliveries within our current water infrastructure,” he said while discussing the State Water Resources Control Board and water allocation policies. Energy policy was another major topic throughout the interview. Hilton blamed California's high diesel, electricity, and fuel costs on climate regulations, restrictions on oil production, and state environmental mandates that he argued increase costs for farmers and consumers alike. “Energy costs go into everything,” Hilton explained, pointing to fuel, transportation, processing, and irrigation expenses impacting agriculture across the state. Hilton also criticized California's push toward solar development on farmland and accused state leadership of neglecting agriculture in favor of environmental ideology. “They are happy to see farmland ripped out and replaced by solar farms,” Hilton said. The interview also focused heavily on regulations and labor costs. Hilton discussed concerns over PAGA lawsuits, overtime rules, Air Resources Board regulations, and the cost of complying with state mandates. “We've got to deal with the lawsuits that are crippling so many industries,” he said. Hilton said his administration would work closely with the federal government on agriculture, transportation, and water projects rather than maintaining ongoing political conflict with Washington. “I know Brooke Rollins very well,” Hilton said, referencing the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. “We're going to be working together well.” Transportation infrastructure and taxes also became part of the discussion. Hilton criticized California's gas tax, vehicle registration fees, and the state's ongoing high-speed rail project, arguing taxpayers are not seeing results from the money being spent. “We put in the highest taxes in the country and get the worst results,” Hilton said. Throughout the conversation, Hilton framed the election as a choice between continuing current policies or pursuing major reforms focused on affordability, water reliability, lower energy costs, and regulatory relief. “We've got everything we need in California,” Hilton said. “We just need common sense leadership.” The broadcast also featured a Growing Edge segment with Valent USA discussing organic pest management tools, including PyGanic and the Debug product line, along with challenges facing organic growers dealing with thrips, aphids, navel orangeworm, and spotted wing drosophila. Listen to the full interview below or on your favorite podcast app.

Secretary of State Diego Morales pushes back against allegations of wrongdoing while in office. Governor Mike Braun calls for further property tax relief in the next legislative session. Ball State University to pay Suzanne Swierc $225,000 to settle a lawsuit stemming from her firing over Charlie Kirk comments.

Not long after U.S. commandos swiftly extracted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and flew him to the United States, Donald Trump set his sights on the next target: Cuba. Some administration officials seem interested in Cuba's nickel and cobalt deposits. Secretary of State Marco Rubio shares the dream of many Cuban exiles for regime change on the island. Although, from the Cuban perspective, the prospect of the U.S. bringing regime change is fraught, coming after centuries of conflict and colonial extraction.  On this week's Radio Atlantic: Host Hanna Rosin speaks with Atlantic staff writer Vivian Salama, and with historian Ada Ferrer, author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning Cuba: An American History, as well as the new book Keeper of My Kin: Memoir of an Immigrant Daughter. - - -Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You'll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lots to discuss and I hope we get to all of it today, though I doubt it.Just too much, and I need to make bigger points. For months, the political spotlight has belonged to Marco Rubio.The Secretary of State has been sprinting across the global stage like a man extinguishing geopolitical dumpster fires with a fire cannon on loan from God.Foreign policy crises erupt every morning now with the reliability of Starbucks opening at 5 a.m., and Rubio has managed to stay in the center of nearly all of them.China flexes. Iran threatens. Europe panics. Somebody somewhere launches something at someone else, and there's Rubio on television again, looking like a guy who hasn't slept since the Bush administration.Meanwhile, JD Vance had largely faded into the political wallpaper.Not gone. Not irrelevant. Just…waiting.Washington is cruel to vice presidents.The office has historically carried all the prestige of being the backup drummer in a legendary rock band. If the president succeeds, the VP gets polite applause. If the administration stumbles, suddenly everybody remembers the vice president exists. It's why men like Dan Quayle became cultural punchlines instead of political heavyweights. America remembers vice presidents the way people remember the side salad that came with the steak.And JD Vance knows this.He understands that in modern politics, invisibility is death wrapped in a necktie.So when President Donald Trump handed him oversight of major fraud investigations, Vance didn't treat it like ceremonial busywork. He treated it like a launch sequence.Because this assignment is not small.This is not “chair a committee studying paperclips” territory. Trump effectively handed Vance a political flamethrower and pointed him toward some of the bluest states in America, where public money has allegedly vanished with the magical elegance of socks in a hotel dryer.And Vance appears eager to pull on every thread.The opening battlefield? Minnesota.Which honestly makes perfect sense. Minnesota has quietly become one of the most fascinating contradictions in modern American politics. It presents itself as the land of clean governance, sensible moderation, and aggressively cheerful public radio voices that sound like they apologize to furniture after bumping into it. Yet beneath that wholesome Scandinavian frosting sits a government apparatus repeatedly rocked by fraud scandals large enough to make casino accountants blush.Vance recently announced major indictments tied to fraud schemes in the state and posted this on X:Today, the task force and the DOJ announced a massive take down of two of the largest Medicaid fraud cases in Minnesota state history, as well as the largest autism fraud scheme ever charged by the federal government. Our message is simple: if you're committing fraud, we will… pic.twitter.com/MNfkLlOY0R— JD Vance (@JDVance) May 22, 2026See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Illinois is in a panic over the Bears leaving. More strikes against Iran. Trump doesn't care about the midterms. Jill Biden thought that Joe was having. Illegal alien insects invading California. Proportion of Americans without health insurance holds steady at about 8%. What do the Republican delegates want when it comes to Secretary of StateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Illinois is in a panic over the Bears leaving. More strikes against Iran. Trump doesn't care about the midterms. Jill Biden thought that Joe was having. Illegal alien insects invading California. Proportion of Americans without health insurance holds steady at about 8%. What do the Republican delegates want when it comes to Secretary of State Indiana Gov. Mike Braun wants to eliminate property taxes for seniors and those who have paid off their mortgage. Today’s Popcorn Moment: AOC engaging in cultural appropriation. Jill Biden: "Oh my god, he's having a stroke" Today on the Marketplace: Get your Bears memorabilia now before they move to Hammond! (Hopefully!!) Democrats aren't going to reverse their weird ways. Maine Dems having second thoughts about about Graham Platner? Time to rethink property taxes and gas taxes. Get those Trump accounts going if you're eligible. Meta AI subscription plan. Thursday Music Moment: Jungle Love. TV Theme Song: Jonny QuestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode, host and NewDEAL CEO Debbie Cox Bultan speaks with Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read to discuss how he is navigating the Trump Administration's efforts to interfere with state election administration, the state's recent primary elections, threats to our democracy, his experience being sued by the Trump administration, and what other states can learn from Oregon's vote-at-home system. They specifically delve into the unconstitutional mail-in-ballot executive order and its impracticality. The Secretary emphasizes the importance of holding politicians accountable to protect our right to vote and how politicians should go about earning constituents' trust.Tune in to hear how Secretary Read is working to ensure free, fair, and secure elections are not a partisan idea, but a patriotic one.

As today's UFO conversation becomes increasingly centered on American military footage and government hearings, it's important to remember that this phenomenon has never respected borders. In this re-release of Somewhere in the Skies, Ryan revisits the 2004 Mexican Air Force UFO encounter, where infrared cameras aboard a military patrol aircraft captured multiple unknown objects during an official mission. Along with military testimony, radio transmissions, and reports delivered to Mexico's Secretary of Defense, the case remains one of the strongest examples of UFO activity beyond the United States. Joined by researcher Ruben Uriarte, Ryan explores extraordinary cases spanning Mexico and the American Southwest, including the Cisco Grove encounter, the Carlos de los Santos incident, and the rumored Coyame UFO crash. Revisiting this conversation today serves as a reminder that the UFO mystery is global, deeply human, and far bigger than any one country's narrative. Follow Ruben Uriarte's work: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Ruben-Uriarte/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ARuben%2BUriarte Use promo code: SOMEWHERE15 for 15% OFF Anomalous Cards: https://www.letsgetanomalous.com/ Send us a voicemail with questions, comments, or topic suggestions: https://www.speakpipe.com/SomewhereSkiesPod Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/somewhereskies ByMeACoffee: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/UFxzyzHOaQ Substack: https://ryansprague.substack.com/ All socials and books: https://linktr.ee/somewhereskiespod Email: ryan.sprague51@gmail.com Opening theme song by Septembryo Closing song by Per Kiilstofte Copyright © 2026 Ryan Sprague. All rights reserved. #Mexico #Southwest #Coyame #UFO #UFOs #UFOcrashes #UAP #Alien #CiscoGrove #AlienEncounters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran has accused the U.S. of a “grave violations” of the fragile ceasefire after U.S. defensive strikes in southern Iran and near the Strait of Hormuz. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said diplomacy remains possible, but Tehran continues to signal distrust over key issues. And Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that its forces are “lying in wait” if the President Trump orders the resumption of combat operations, with the outlook for a potential deal remaining uncertain. FOX's Eben Brown speaks with David Schenker, Taube Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, who says there are multiple signs Iran's economy is faltering, but also hints that could suggest the regime is still in control of its population. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is at the center of the Trump administration. He's helping to lead negotiations over the war in Iran, the pressure campaign on Cuba's communist regime, and U.S. efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine. It wasn't always this way. Journalist and author Manuel Roig-Franzia breaks down how Rubio went from Trump critic to his chief booster, and whether it's all in service of a potential presidential run in 2028.And, in a sharp and rare rebuke of President Trump, Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell slammed the administration's $1.776 billion so-called 'anti-weaponization' fund, calling it "utterly stupid" and "morally wrong." Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer explains McConnell's reaction and why it should be viewed through the lens of McConnell's decision not to convict Trump after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Oil Drops – Still highest cost for Memorial Day in years Consumer Sentiment Drops again New Fertilizer coming – Kinda Soilent Green vibe Everyone is talking about SpaceX PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter Warm-Up - Oil Drops - Still highest cost for Memorial Day in years - Consumer Sentiment Drops again - New Fertilizer coming - Kinda Soilent Green Concept - Everyone is talking about SpaceX Markets - Nothing Really Matters - Anyone can see - New HIGHS - Governments picking the winners again - CHIPS ! - Concentration NVDA - Over the weekend, Jensen Huang said that his forecast of a $200 billion market for CPUs includes China, signalling Nvidia still sees significant long-term demand in the market amid ongoing U.S.-China technology tensions. - During an earnings call on Wednesday, Huang said Nvidia's new "Vera" central processors give it access to a new $200 billion market. - So, once again the PR machine is running overtime to make sure there is no reason for anyone to sell the stock - needed to make this clarification over the weekend - Nvidia has received licenses from the U.S. government to sell its H200 chips but has not received approval from Chinese officials who are fostering China's own chip suppliers. Consumers - Consumer sentiment has tumbled to a fresh record low in May as fears of higher prices grow due to the U.S.-Iran war and elevated oil prices, the University of Michigan's Surveys of Consumers said Friday. - The index of consumer sentiment fell to 44.8 from a preliminary reading of 48.2. It's also well below the 49.8 level seen at the end of April. Consumers Upset South Korea - Record after record... - This is an impressive chart - Two companies -Samsung and SK Hynix -----40% of the entire KOSPI index's total market capitalization. Kospi Index Who Believes this Crap? - U.S. forces have conducted “self defense” strikes in southern Iran early Tuesday, with U.S. Central Command saying that this was to “protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.“ - “U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing ceasefire,” Hawkins added. - Meanwhile there was some talk over the weekend that --- 1) We are very close to a deal and it will happen soon ----2) We are in no rush for a deal ----3) How many times is this same line going to be used to try to push the price of oil down (it did move towards $90 after the weekend resumption of futures trading) - Neither side can agree on anything... Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the United States has seen some progress towards a deal but that more work was required, while Iran's foreign ministry said the differences remained deep and significant. - Tiresome CEO of Ford - Did you know -??? - The CEO of Ford (Jim Farley) is cousin to Chris Farley Farley and Farley Crops - Farmers worldwide are under pressure due to the Iran war disrupting supplies of conventional nitrogen fertilizers, forcing them to improvise ahead of the fall planting season. - Some farmers are turning to age-old solutions like manure, while others are experimenting with newer technologies, including waste-based inputs and microbial products. -----Circular bio-economy The crisis is giving fresh momentum to products that have long struggled to gain widespread adoption, with demand for biofertilizers and biostimulants rising and companies seeing rising interest and increased sales. - Municipal wastewater and treated human urine, which contain high levels of nutrients that can be processed. ---- So, if your corn is a little extra yellow this summer - now you know... Government's Hand - Quantum computing shares popped last Thursday, as the U.S. government said it would award $2 billion in grants to nine firms operating in the space. - IBM is the biggest beneficiary of the package, with the U.S. Commerce Department agreeing to give the firm $1 billion. - Chipmaker GlobalFoundries is receiving $375 million, while other grant recipients D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing and Infleqtion will be awarded $100 million. - Shares of D-Wave added 33%, Rigetti soared 30% and Infleqtion skyrocketed about 31%. - Funding will come from the 2022 Chips and Science Act. More Money Throwing - Nvidia Corp. bought $500 million worth of rights for shares in Corning Inc. as part of a partnership to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure. - Corning pledged to increase US fiber production capacity by more than 50% to supply more optical fiber for AI data centers. - The partnership includes Corning's plan to construct three new complexes in North Carolina and Texas, which is estimated to create more than 3,000 new US jobs. DEBT - Global debt hits new record, IIF (institute for International Finance) report shows - Global debt rose for a fifth consecutive quarter in Q1 2026, increasing by more than $4.4 trillion to a record high of over $350 trillion, with the increase concentrated largely in the United States and China. - Investors shows signs of shift away from Treasuries - Global debt-to-GDP ratio stable around 305% - NOTHING TO SEE HERE Global Debt More Charts AI Reality? - Starbucks retires AI tool nine months after North American deployment - Tool was part of CEO Brian Niccol's campaign to fix product shortages - AI tool miscounted items, leading to errors, Reuters has reported Starbucks cites need for consistency, supply chain improvements in ending program More AI - Elon Musk's Grok is seeing minimal adoption in US government - even though it's cheap- - Grok lags far behind OpenAI and other rivals that analysts call more capable - Data shows uptake by corporations is also weak, suggesting Grok's problems stretch beyond government - Is it possible that corps don't trust Musk after the way he heavy handled the DOGE process? - Is this going to impact SpaceX growth story? Employment and Ai - The co-founder of AI company Anthropic said on Monday that the development of artificial intelligence cannot be left solely to technology companies, urging greater oversight from religious leaders, governments and civil society. - Speaking at the presentation of Pope Leo's first encyclical, addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, Chris Olah said there was "a real possibility" that AI will displace human labour "at very large scale". Scared - China is restricting overseas travel for top AI professionals in private firms, requiring them to get approval from relevant authorities before embarking on overseas travel. - The government is targeting talent within the AI sphere, including startup founders, researchers, and executives, and adding individuals to the list based on assessments of their critical importance to the country. - The restrictions risk undermining the ability of AI firms in China to recruit and retain talent, and may force engineers with global ambitions to choose between staying home or going abroad earlier in their careers. CHIPS - Micron topped a $1 trillion market value for the first time on Tuesday as shares popped 18%, driven by insatiable artificial intelligence demand for its memory chips. - The stock surge came as UBS tripled its price target on the stock from $535 to $1,625 a share, citing long-term agreement opportunities with partially fixed pricing. - “We believe the market will start to put a more ‘normal' multiple on the stock and MU will continue to re-rate higher as more details emerge about the structural changes AI has driven to the entire memory complex,” the firm wrote. SpaceX - Lots of interest on this... - Lots of clients calling on this and we are working on this for them - Here is a bit of a reality check... --- First - company still losing billions of dollars - some may look past that - - Weird inclusion period for indices and that may take stock up due to required buying ahead of the inclusion (keeping a floor on prices in the beginning) ---- SpaceX plans to allow a large portion of its shares to become eligible for resale before the usual six-month restriction period post-IPO, under a staged system conditioned to the company's performance, a company filing shows. - The approach, designed to avoid a large wave of shares hitting the market at once, would depart from the standard 180-day lock-up that has prevailed in the U.S. Most companies going public restrict early investors from selling shares to help stabilize the stock. - Valuation somewhere between $1.5T and $2T (a year ago it was like $400 million) - Valuation in December was $750 M - Rationale for the big valuation: SpaceX is leveraging its satellite network to build massive, space-based AI data centers, which take advantage of limitless solar energy and off-planet cooling Retail  - Ross Stores Inc. raised its sales and profit guidance after first-quarter results surpassed consensus estimates, aided by strong customer traffic among younger shoppers. - The company reported sales of $6.01 billion and earnings of $2.02 per share, with same-store sales growing 17% in the period, a record for Ross. - Ross now expects full-year same-store sales to grow 6% to 7%, and earnings of $7.50 to $7.74 per share, with executives citing increased customer traffic as a key driver of profit. Meanwhile - Walmart issued a worse-than-expected financial outlook amid soaring gas prices. - Finance chief John David Rainey said high tax returns may have muted some of the impact high gas prices had on shoppers in the first quarter, indicating consumer pressures could rise in the current quarter - The big-box retailer issued fiscal first-quarter results that beat Wall Street's expectations on the top line but were only in line on the bottom. - The retailer said it's expecting adjusted earnings per share to be between $2.75 and $2.85, lower than expectations of $2.91, according to LSEG. - Walmart said it anticipates net sales will rise between 3.5% and 4.5% for the year. Ferrari - Electric - Ferrari (RACE) is trading lower today after the company unveiled its first fully electric vehicle, the Ferrari Luce, marking a major strategic shift away from its traditional combustion-engine supercar identity. - The Luce is a four-door, five-seat ultra-luxury EV developed with former Apple (AAPL) design chief Jony Ive, featuring a quad-motor setup producing over 1,000 horsepower, a 0--60 mph time of roughly 2.5 seconds, and a price tag around $640,000. - Despite these headline-grabbing performance specs, investors reacted negatively because the design is seen as a sharp break from RACE's iconic styling, with many critics arguing it looks closer to a mass-market EV than a traditional Ferrari. Saying goodbye - One of America's once-dominant beer brands is being discontinued after more than 175 years. - Schlitz Premium, a beer brand that traces its roots to Milwaukee in the 1840s and was once among the largest breweries in the country, is being put "on hiatus," parent company Pabst Brewing Co. confirmed Friday after Wisconsin Brewing Company announced it would brew the brand's final batch later this month. - "Unfortunately, we have seen continued increases in our costs to store and ship certain products and have had to make the tough choice to place Schlitz Premium on hiatus," Zac Nadile, Pabst head of brand strategy, said in a statement to Milwaukee Magazine. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Announcing the THE CLOSEST TO THE PIN for SALESFORCE (CRM)   Winners will be getting great stuff like the new "OFFICIAL" DHUnplugged Shirt!     FED AND CRYPTO LIMERICKS   See this week's stock picks HERE Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter

Five years ago to the day, Matthew "Whiz" Buckley woke up on a mattress on the floor of a home in Mexico overlooking the Pacific — and met the man he had always been. Decades of abuse, shame, trauma, addiction, sadness, and depression were gone. In their place: the most profound spiritual experience of his life. A reconnection with God. With his sister. With his father. A clarity of purpose that would launch a five-year mission no one could have scripted.In this deeply personal anniversary episode, Whiz debriefs all of it — the highs, the lows, the people and organizations who came and went, the situations that broke him open and built him back up. He reflects on what that single weekend set in motion: hundreds of veterans, first responders, and their families healed. The founding of Sacred Warrior Fellowship. Standing in the White House for the President's executive order signing. Conversations at Harvard Law and Harvard Divinity School. A meeting with the Secretary of the VA. National news appearances. And underneath all of it — a man reconnected to purpose, family, and faith.Whiz doesn't shy away from the cost. He talks honestly about the losses, the betrayals, the seasons of doubt, and the gratitude he now holds for every ounce of suffering that brought him here. He looks ahead to the next five years, but refuses to grip the future too tightly. Everything that is supposed to happen will happen when it is supposed to. He trusts God's plan.This one is for anyone carrying a burden they think they have to carry alone. For the warrior wondering if healing is even possible. For the family member who has been watching someone they love disappear. Share it with someone who needs to hear it.Fight's On!

DJ J Worra says she's been fooled by AI but believes the human touch will always supercede it. It comes after Spotify launch a new tool allowing fans to create covers and remixes of their favorite songs from participating artists and songwriters.Oil prices have fallen more than 5% after Rubio says that US will give Iran talks 'every chance to succeed', with Iran reporting details of draft peace proposal. Fifa has been ordered to explain World Cup ticket pricing after allegations of 'artificially inflating prices' and 'misleading fans' over the sale of tickets for the 2026 tournament. (Picture: U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio attend a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 27, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci)

Board members and university administrators are spending an increasing amount of time on athletics.   Ryan McCarthy — Board of Visitors Member at Virginia Tech — joined our podcast with insight on the goals of a university and the role that athletics plays in serving its broader mission.   As the former U.S. Secretary of the Army, Ryan has a unique perspective on leadership and navigating a diverse group of stakeholders.   Timestamps: 1:10 - Board members spending more and more time on athletics  4:25 - Navigate's engagement with Virginia Tech 8:20 - What does VT athletics look like in 2030? 12:25 - Ryan's Background as Secretary of the Army 16:50 - Advice for other universities 22:40 - Rapid Fire Questions   Show Notes: Our interview with Virginia Tech Athletic Director Whit Babcock: https://nvgt.com/podcast?ppplayer=1e977ebc536a4f7840f232ca6e253547&ppepisode=ae8d2b98dc149a023be6909fd08d9af4 Book Rec: Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin   For more insights, visit our LinkedIn page or learn more about Navigate at https://nvgt.com/.

The U.S. launched fresh strikes on Iran, targeting missile sites and boats laying mines, even as Secretary of State Marco Rubio says negotiations to end the war could still take a few more days, with Israel warning the emerging deal is a bad one as it escalates attacks in Lebanon. Russia carried out one of its largest attacks on Ukraine, hitting every district in Kyiv over the weekend while Ukraine continues long-range drone strikes on Russian oil facilities and warns it desperately needs more air defense systems.Texas Republicans are voting today in the most expensive primary in U.S. history, with President Trump's endorsed candidate Ken Paxton challenging longtime Senator John Cornyn in a high-stakes race that could have major implications for the midterms.Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Tina Kraya, Anna Yukhananov, Mohamad ElBardicy and John Stolnis.It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.Our director is Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Zo van Ginhoven. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.And our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.(0:00) Introduction(01:59) US Hits Iran Amid Talks(05:49) Russia-Ukraine War Intensifies(09:44) Texas Primary RunoffSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

-- On the Show: -- Xavier Becerra, former Secretary of Health and Human Services now running for Governor of California, joins us to discuss the campaign -- Democrats prepare House investigations into Donald Trump focused on Epstein files, alleged family corruption and more if they retake Congress -- JD Vance is becoming isolated inside Donald Trump's White House as Marco Rubio gains influence and allies connected to Vance resign -- Internet conspiracy theories explode after a shooter opens fire near the White House and Secret Service agents return fire -- Donald Trump returns to Walter Reed for another medical evaluation as questions grow about his overall physical condition -- Kevin Hassett argues grocery prices are rising because refrigerator regulations close stores, while also claiming higher spending is good -- Donald Trump posts aggressively on Truth Social overnight in yet another online public political meltdown -- Donald Trump struggles through a Memorial Day speech, nearly falls asleep during Hegseth's remarks, and claims he took over Venezuela -- On the Bonus Show: Paxton vs. Cornyn runoff today in Texas, Tulsi Gabbard resigns as DNI, Hasan Piker is subpoenaed after Cuba trip, and much more...

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Just as peace negotiations with Iran appeared to be gaining momentum, U.S. and Iranian forces are exchanging fire again in the Strait of Hormuz after American strikes on Iranian mine-laying boats and missile sites overnight. Russia is ramping up threats against Kyiv, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly warning Secretary of State Marco Rubio to evacuate American citizens ahead of what Moscow is calling “systematic strikes” on the Ukrainian capital. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief MUD/WTR: Our listeners get an exclusive deal up to 43% off your entire order, plus free shipping and a free rechargeable frother when you use code PDB at https://mudwtr.com Poncho Outdoors: Upgrade your spring wardrobe with breathable shirts from Poncho Outdoors and grab $10 off plus free shipping at https://ponchooutdoors.com/PDB Chapter: Compare every medicare plan call 915-671-5252 today! 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 stand alone 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 https://Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special Memorial Day episode, Will is spending time with the family, but that doesn't mean the conversation stops. Today we'll be revisiting two of our most patriotic and inspirational conversations of the past year as the nation honors its fallen warriors. First up, a look back on Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's new standards for the military in fitness, hygiene, and personal appearance with Co-Host of ‘The Big Weekend Show' Joey Jones.Plus, Former NFL Player and Author of 'Every Day Counts,' David Pollack joins Will to explore the intersection of discipline and faith, offering practical advice on avoiding modern distractions in the age of tech as well as sharing some healthy strategies for raising the next generation of athletes. Subscribe to ‘Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Will Cain Country!⁠⁠⁠ Follow ‘Will Cain Country' on X (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), Instagram (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), TikTok (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), and Facebook (⁠⁠⁠@WillCainNews) Follow Will on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@WillCain⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Luis Elizondo, former head of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program(AATIP), discusses his decision to resign from the Pentagon in 2017. Frustrated by the bureaucracy's refusal to acknowledge unusual aerial systems interfering with military platforms, he wrote a final appeal to Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Elizondo details his transition from a counterintelligence career to leading a secret program focused on UAPs. Initially skeptical, he was recruited by Dr. Jim Lacatski, who warned him not to let analytic bias hinder his understanding of these real, national security-threatening phenomena. (1/4)Luis Elizondo explains that the Roswell incident of 1947 was not a joke but a serious event involving recovered biological evidence and crash materials. He notes a significant uptick in UAP activity coinciding with the dawn of the atomic age, particularly near sensitive military installations and nuclear carrier groups. Despite historical briefings to presidents like Truman and Eisenhower, a counternarrative was established to stigmatize the topic. Elizondo argues that the data from multiple sensors places the reality of these objects beyond reasonable doubt, debunking the "mass delusion" theory. (2/4)Luis Elizondo explores the "legacy program," a term for historic efforts by the government and defense contractors to exploit recovered UAP technology. He confirms the existence of material artifacts from non-conventional crashes, though specific locations remain classified. He mentions "DIRDs"—Defense Intelligence Reference Documents—written to investigate how to replicate UAP performance. Elizondo emphasizes that his book, Imminent, is just the beginning. He urges the American public to demand transparency and accountability from their elected officials to overcome the systemic corruption and secrecy surrounding the phenomenon. (3/4)Luis Elizondo credits journalists and Chris Mellon for bringing the UAP issue into the public eye through The New York Times. He describes Mellon as a "national treasure" who pushed for congressional oversight after discovering the Pentagon was withholding data. Despite bipartisan legislative efforts, "pockets" within the Pentagon—often termed "weebies" who outlast political appointees—continue to use propaganda and classification to hide malfeasance. Elizondo highlights the danger of these objects splitting combat air formations and stresses that the military-industrial complex often operates unilaterally, ignoring the chain of command. (4/4)Note: corrected "durs" → "DIRDs" (Defense Intelligence Reference Documents). Flag if you want the phonetic spelling kept.

Luis Elizondo, former head of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), discusses his decision to resign from the Pentagon in 2017. Frustrated by the bureaucracy's refusal to acknowledge unusual aerial systems interfering with military platforms, he wrote a final appeal to Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Elizondo details his transition from a counterintelligence career to leading a secret program focused on UAPs. Initially skeptical, he was recruited by Dr. Jim Lacatski, who warned him not to let analytic bias hinder his understanding of these real, national security-threatening phenomena. (1/4)V