Podcasts about secretary austin

american black president speaking joe biden white house defense secretary pentagon apologizes american people withholding walter reed health information defense lloyd austin walter reed medical center secretary austin

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 2:03

WASHINGTON (AURN News) — In a rare public apology, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed regret and took full responsibility for failing to disclose his health complications following recent prostate cancer surgery. The apology comes amidst allegations that Secretary Austin did not inform President Biden or the White House promptly, raising concerns about transparency. Speaking at his first press briefing at the Pentagon since his release from Walter Reed Medical Center, Austin acknowledged his lapse in handling the situation. He outlined the challenges he continues facing post-surgery. “I'm recovering well, but as you can see, I'm still recovering. Still having some leg pain and doing physical therapy and -- to get past it. I'm deeply grateful to my doctors and the nursing staff at Walter Reed, and I very much appreciate all of the good wishes,” he shared. The Secretary of Defense revealed that the decision to keep his prostate cancer diagnosis private was rooted in his initial shock and the desire not to burden others. “But I want to be crystal clear -- we did not handle this right and I did not handle this right. I should have told the President about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public. And I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people,” he admitted. “I was being treated for prostate cancer. The news shook me, and I know that it shakes so many others, especially in the black community. It was a gut punch, and frankly, my first instinct was to keep it private. I don't think it's news that I'm a pretty private guy. I never like burdening others with my problems. It's just not my way,” Austin said. The apology comes at a time when discussions about health disparities, particularly in the Black community, have gained prominence. Black men have a 1.7 times higher likelihood of being diagnosed with prostate cancer and are 2.1 times more likely to die from it than their white counterparts, according to the non-profit organization Zero Prostate Cancer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States Keeps Starting Conflicts It Can't Win

Connecting the Dots with Dr Wilmer Leon

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 63:08

Find me and the show on social media @DrWilmerLeon on X (Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube Facebook page is www.facebook.com/Drwilmerleonctd TRANSCRIPT: Announcer (00:38): Connecting the dots with Dr. Wilmer Leon, where the analysis of politics, culture, and history converge. Dr Wilmer Leon (00:46): Welcome to the Connecting the Dots podcast with Dr. Wilmer Leon. I'm Wilmer Leon. Here's the point. We have a tendency to view current events as though they occur in a vacuum, failing to understand the broader historical context in which most events take place. During each episode of this podcast, my guests and I will have probing, provocative, and in-depth discussions that connect the dots between current events in the broader historic context in which they occur. This will enable you to get a better understanding and be able to analyze the events that impact the global village in which we live. On today's episode, we explore the genocide in Gaza, the development of conflict on the continent of Africa, and what does all this tell us about American foreign and domestic policy? And to help to connect these dots is my next guest. He holds the John Jay and Rebecca Moore's chair of history and African-American Studies at the University of Houston. He's one of the most prolific writers of our time. His latest books are entitled, I dare Say, A Gerald Horn Reader and Acknowledging Radical Histories. Dr. Gerald Horn, as always, welcome to the show and let's connect some dots. Gerald Horne (02:05): Thank you for inviting me. Dr Wilmer Leon (02:08): If you would please your two most recent books, I dare say, a Gerald Horn Reader and acknowledging radical histories. If you could tell us a little bit about these two most recent works that you've been able to put together. Gerald Horne (02:23): So the former work, I dare say, is a collection of articles and essays and reviews that written in recent decades dealing with such disparate matters as the anti-apartheid movement in the United States, the urban revolts in Los Angeles in the 1960s and the 1990s, the relationship between black nationalism and the rise of Japan and the first few decades of the 20th century, A number of articles of that vein and character. Now acknowledging radical histories is a conversation or a series of conversations I had with a younger scholar from Colorado where we talk about a number of books that are published over the years, which as you know, includes, works on the black press, on the music we call jazz on the colonial and post-colonial history of North America, slavery, Haitian Revolution, et cetera. Dr Wilmer Leon (03:26): To those varying titles that you've researched, you are one of the preeminent historians, again, one of the most phenomenal writers. What is it that motivates and drives your research? Because everyone, now, I don't have all of your books, but I counted them. I got about 17 of 'em. The topics are just incredibly broad. One thing we can never do with you is put you in a box or pigeonhole you. What drives your research? Gerald Horne (04:04): What drives my research? Well, I would say that particularly concerning research, it's curiosity. Curiosity about something that has not been addressed. And to that end, I should say that from my point of view, the research is much more invigorating than the writing. I mean, the writing is fine, but the writing is like work because what Dr Wilmer Leon (04:29): I meant, I'm sorry, what I meant was what piques your interest and motivates you? How do you pick your topics? Gerald Horne (04:42): How do I pick my topics? Well, I'll give you an example. I was watching a documentary just the other day on black British history, and it was shepherded by a black British subject. He happened to be in Sierra Leone. The Sierra Leone in West Africa was started as a direct result of the British being ousted from what is now in the United States in the late 18th century, and many so-called black loyalists wound up moving to Nova Scotia and Canada to London and eventually to Sierra Leone. And so as he was walking through the archive in Sierra Leone, it occurred to me that there might be an interesting story there concerning black loyalists. That is to say black people who fought against the formation of the United States of America post 1776 and then wound up in Sierra Leone. So I made a mental note to write the Sierra Leone archive to see if they have a website. (05:42) I know that in Sierra Leone they also had a major university for bay, F-O-U-R-A-H, and even though they've had rather crushing internal disputes, but not so much recently, probably more so in the previous decade, first decade or so of the 21st century, it seems to me there's a story there to be told. Now I'm not sure what the story will be. Likewise, this summer I'll probably be traveling to Cooperstown, New York to the Baseball Hall of Fame. I'm not sure what I'll come up with there with regard to a project, but I know I'm interested in the topic, like I'm interested in West African history, black loyalist history. So I'm sure after I poke around for a few days, I'll come up with a topic. Dr Wilmer Leon (06:30): Gotcha, gotcha. It's that constant state of wonder and always interested in looking for the next question that's really telling. Let's move to some of the current topics of the day. Israel's war in Gaza threatens to spill into Lebanon and beyond in response to over 75 years of occupation and oppression. On October 7th, Hamas launched an attack on the settler colony known as Israel. And in response to that attack, Israel has escalated its response to a genocidal devastation of Gaza. Hamas has confirmed the targeting of a deputy head in Dia, a residential area in southern Beirut. Saori was just recently killed. What are your thoughts on the US policy towards this genocide and how do you see this, it seems now to be expanding and escalating beyond the confines of Gaza? Gerald Horne (07:48): Well, obviously the United States is an aider and a better with regard to this enfolding genocide and the US authorities should be very careful because in light of the fact that the South African government pursuant to the Genocide Convention, has brought a case before the International Court of Justice, the World Court, there is a possibility that there will be figures, Lloyd Austin, Anthony Blinken, perhaps Mr by himself who may have to consult a lawyer or a travel agent before they step out of the jurisdiction of the United States of America. Recall that there is a topic under international law known as universal jurisdiction that led to the late Chilean dictator Gusto Pinoche being detained in London for a number of weeks pursuant to a warrant issued by a Spanish magistrate in light of Chile. The others to say the country of Mr. Pinoche torturing and slaughtering Spanish nationals. He barely escaped being brought before the Bar of Justice in Madrid. (08:59) And I dare say that a similar fate might befall some of these US authorities as well, but you mentioned the recent slang of a Hamas leader in Beirut. I'm afraid that there might be a further danger of the Israeli authorities and their US comrades seeking to expand this conflict. Already, you know that the Israeli authorities have said they're fighting a seven front war. Now, ordinarily countries tried to avoid fighting a two front war. Recall what happened during the US Civil War when President Lincoln was being encouraged to attack Great Britain because there was this reasonable suspicion that Great Britain was supporting the so-called Confederate states of America. And Mr. Lincoln said, well, one war at a time, my friends one war at a time. Right now, according to the Israelis, they're fighting wars from their point of view against Gaza, west Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and probably there are others that I have omitted. (10:14) Perhaps the most formidable challenge right now is not only in Gaza where despite these Israeli claims that they have killed 8,000 Hamas fighters, you still have an enormous toll with regard to Israeli casualties including deaths of Israeli soldiers. We all know that Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon has caused the abandonment of Northern Israel by reigning rockets from Southern Lebanon down on Northern Israel. In fact, you've had an abandonment effectively of Southern Israel as well. This is presenting an enormous problem for the Israeli economy because what happens when you have these areas abandoned, combined with Israel being heavily dependent upon reservists, that means that folks who ordinarily are involved in the economy sitting in office cubicles, stocking grocery shelves, are either now staying in hotels in Central Israel at the behest of the Israeli government. That is to say they're picking up the tab. Or alternatively, you have people on the front lines who are dodging bullets and projectiles. (11:32) You might've noticed that on New Year's Eve at Tel Aviv, the commercial and intellectual capital of Israel, you had the Hamas fighters shooting missiles at midnight as sort of a welcome to 2024 bravado into Tel Aviv, and this Bess speaks the enormous problems that the Israelis face. We saw that the United States has withdrawn this massive aircraft carrier, the Gerald or Ford, although it still has the Eisenhower carrier near Southern Yemen, where of course the Ansar Allah referred to as tis in the United States have been shooting missiles into I Iraq and Southern Israel, and of course coming into conflict with the US authorities as well. Now, if you monitor Israeli media, they are not necessarily happy about that. They feel that this might be the result of all of these press articles. We've been skimming in the US media in particular where supposedly there are these bitter arguments between Mr. (12:45) Biden and Mr. Netanyahu over Mr. Biden telling Mr. Netanyahu that he needs to stop bombing civilians and needs to have a more targeted campaign against amass fighters. And therefore, by withdrawing this drill, r Ford, the US authorities are saying, you're on your own Israel. Well, I'm not so sure because my understanding is that as opposed to this massive drill or forward or aircraft carrier, they're just substituting, they're sending destroyers amphibious carriers as well, which may be more useful in terms of a ground invasion, particularly into Southern Lebanon. So this war is spinning out of control. But let me also say that as a person, as noted who's been monitoring Israeli media, I must say it's quite striking to listen to a number of these Israeli commentators. Many of them of course have US accents, which is not as a surprise, but many of them, if you step outside of Israel and that conflict, they have a much more realistic viewpoint of international politics, which I guess is understandable. (14:00) What I mean by that is their analysis of the Russia Ukraine conflict is not altogether on board with the mainstream US analysis. Their analysis of the Chinese economy is not necessarily on board with the denigration of China that you hear routinely and regularly in the US media. And that Bess speaks the fact that they're a sovereign state that bespeaks the fact that they're watching very closely and carefully the incipient decline of us imperialism and are deciding perhaps to hedge their betts. And I think that that's a very wise decision because that's something that I would hope and I would wish that many of our Black American leaders would do that is to say they made a wager, whether they it or not, that there would be us hegemony indefinitely into the future. But obviously that's not the case with the rise of the Chinese economy. (15:00) But unlike these Israeli intellectuals I was just making reference to, I'm talking about right wing Israelis intellectual, it's not progressives. You don't see any sort of clue amongst many of our black American intellectuals and leaders as to whether or not they should reconfigure whether or not they should rejigger, but instead they're motoring ahead as if this were 1991. I should also say that this October 7th attack on Israel by the forces from Gaza reminds us as to how matters can change in a matter of hours. What I mean by that is few of us would acknowledge that on October 6th, a few months later, Israel would be fighting for its very survival. But that's basically what's at play Now. There's no guarantee that Israel as an apartheid state will continue to survive and continue to thrive, and that is something that I would once again hope that many of our black American intellectuals and leaders would consider when they contemplate the future of this country. Dr Wilmer Leon (16:08): To that point, I think a lot of folks either didn't listen to what the Hezbollah leader Nasra said on the eighth or the ninth when he gave his speech, one of the points that he was very, very clear to make or one of the questions he was very, very clear to ask was How long are you all willing to do this? And that question just to me was very reminiscent of the Vietnam question, the Kong question, the general Jaap question, who wrote the book? What people's war, people's army, how long are you willing to fight a counter insurgent urban gorilla war that you're not really prepared to fight? And the point that he was making was, we're here till the end because we're fighting for our freedom and we'll die standing on our feet. We refuse to keep living on our knees. Gerald Horne (17:16): Well, that's a very important ideological point. And speaking of which, one of the heartening aspects of this otherwise tragic situation is that because of this understandable focus on historic Palestine in the US media, you see that many of our friends on the left and some even beyond the left or beginning to refer to Israel as a settler colonial project. What's interesting about that is that I think it's also leading some on this side of the Atlantic to begin to look at the United States itself as a settler colonial project. That is to say that that was its origins hundreds of years ago before the settlers revolt of 1776. And speaking of which, it's not beyond the realm of imagination that as this conflict in historic Palestine unfolds that the 708,800,000 settlers on the West Bank occupied territory may be forced to evacuate as a part of a wider peace deal. (18:28) Now, I admit that that does not seem in the cards right now, particularly in light of the fact that all polls suggest that the Israeli populace, if anything, feels that their government is not hitting Gaza hard enough, believe it or not. So obviously to talk about settlers being forced to withdraw, it seems farfetched. But then again, it seemed farfetched on October 6th to talk about Israel fighting for its very survival. Now, if the way folks have analyzed the United States post 1776 would apply to Israel, if there's a settler's revolt on the West Bank of occupied territory, then you can expect if you use that US prism for many to see that as a step forward since after all, they're revolting against an Israeli regime, which we do not necessarily approve of, just like the settlers in the 18th century revolted against a British regime that many did not approve of. (19:33) I mean, that sounds ludicrous, perhaps fantastical, but I'm trying to make a point about how we should use this conflict in Israel and the focus on it to leverage it on our behalf so we can get a deeper analysis of our plight. You recall in my opening comments, I talked about the black loyalists. It's no secret. Historians have acknowledged for some time that the black population of North America, by several orders of magnitude did not stand with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and Patrick Henry. They did not engage in class collaboration, which has been a hallmark of the settler population of European descent across class lines obviously. And therefore they lost and many of them fled as noted to Nova Scotia, to London, to Sierra Leone, and then those who were left behind were treated atrociously because if you fight a war lose, you should expect to be treated atrociously. (20:35) Likewise, if there's a settlers revolt on the West Bank, do not expect the bulk of Palestinians to stand by the settlers. I mean, it's unfortunate I even have to make that statement. But in any case, to go back to a global view of this conflict, what's also striking is how there's daylight that's emerging between the us and its so-called European allies with regard to this conflict. Now, on the one hand, you have the federal Republic of Germany, which in some ways is more hawkish than the United States of America with regard to the Israel question, after all, Germany is occupied by US military forces. One of the most important US military bases in the world is the Ramstein in what used to be West Germany. But already you see that with regard to the United States trying to knock together a convoy to confront the Yemenis that initially it was announced that France, Spain, and Italy were on board, but that was premature. (21:45) They ultimately said that they would not fight or confront the Yemenis under US command. It would have to be under European Union Command or United Nations command or some other entity That Bess speaks how also that the alliances that the United States has come to rely upon may be in need of repair. And you also see that the need of repair with regard to this Ill-advised venture venture in Ukraine, where you see Hungary obviously not on board a key European union country, and France has been making noises about not being on board. And perhaps at some point those noises will be concretized. And likewise, with regard to the new Cold War against with China, which the Israeli right has been talking about quite a bit lately, you notice that France is not on board Germany, even though it's occupied territory is not on board because they see what side of the bread their bread is buttered on, and they want those deals from China whose manufacturing capacity dwarfs that of the United States. By certain measures, this economy is already larger than that of the United States. And so this crisis, this conflict in historic Palestine has exposed and revealed to the world not only the weaknesses and frailties of the Israeli regime, but also the weaknesses and frailties of its partner in arms speaking of the United States of America. Dr Wilmer Leon (23:32): And to that point, what you see when you look at the dynamics in the region, you've mentioned Hezbollah in the north, you've got Syria, you've got Anah in Yemen or the Houthis as they are known, and they are all acting on one hand in their best interest, but their common enemy is the United States and it's aircraft carrier in the region known as Israel. And on October 7th, there was a lot of analysis that was saying, oh, Hezbollah was behind this, that Hezbollah was collaborative. And again, Hassan Raah was very clear. He said, we weren't involved on November 7th, but we're in on November 8th, October. We weren't in on October 7th, but we're in on October 8th. So if you would talk about those dynamics, particularly Anah, because they seem to be wanting this smoke, they seem to be wanting this fight, who would've thought that a small poor country like Yemen would now be having the international impact that it's having on world trade as it is selectively attacking ships that are traversing that body of water? Gerald Horne (25:04): Well, there's quite a backstory to go back a year or so recall that the Ansara law was in a death match with its neighbor in Saudi Arabia and fighting the Saudis to a standstill. But then what happens is that China brokers a peace accord between Iran, a close ally of the Yemenis and the Saudis, and then of course, that leads to a drawdown of the conflict between the Saudis and the Yemenis. And note that with regard to this, so-called Convoy, that the United States is trying to knock together for a confrontation with the Yemenis that the Saudis have not joined in, in fact, the only neighboring country that has joined in as the Seychelles, which is far distant from the Saudi Yemeni border, far distant from the Red Sea and far distant from the Suez Canal as well. Dr Wilmer Leon (26:11): Are you referring to Joe Biden's coalition of the willing that seems to be unwilling? Is that what you're Gerald Horne (26:18): Referring coalition of the willing that's unraveling. Dr Wilmer Leon (26:21): And Gerald Horne (26:23): It's understandable because if you know anything about US foreign policy in recent years and decades is that Washington is an unreliable partner. Despite spending a trillion dollars a year on the Pentagon, they were chased out of Afghanistan in August, 2021. They were able to overthrow Libya in 2010, 2011, but obviously have turned that North African country into a kind of charnel house. They were Ed in Vietnam, 19 75, 19 53, after sending thousands of troops to the Korean peninsula, they were forced into a truce, which is held until recently. Although keep in mind that the North Koreans who fought the United States to a standstill in 1953 has been suggesting that they're willing to rumble again if the United States does not stop its provocations. So it's understandable why the Saudis would not be enthusiastic about joining the So-called Coalition of the Willing. But I should also go back a bit further than the past year. (27:33) Recall that during the height of the Cold War culminating in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, you had a socialist party in control of Aidan. Aidan, of course, is a southern Yemen. It's now a launching pad for attacks on Israeli flagships or ships set it to Israel. But what happens that the United States as ever could not leave well enough alone, it did everything in its power to destabilize that particular regime and succeeded. And so now they're faced with an even more formidable challenge coming from Ansar, Allah, Allah. And then if you look at Syria, for example, recall that one of the criticisms that has been made of Mr. Obama was that Juan had an opportunity circa 2013 to bomb Syria and the regime in Damascus of President Al Assad that he backed down the hawks, thought that he should have moved forward even though he tried to say that he did not have support from London, the usual sidekick in these imperialist adventures of US imperialism. (28:54) And he did not necessarily have support in Congress as well, but in any case, that did not prevent the United States from supporting under the table various disreputable forces, including forces with suspicious ties to Al-Qaeda and to isis, but for an intervention by the Iranians and Moscow, perhaps President al-Assad in Damascus would've been overthrown by now. So this is a very open and notorious train of events that I'm describing. It also sheds light on why Egypt is not necessarily enthusiastic about joining this convoy to help to circumvent the Yemeni defacto blockade on the Red Sea because the Egyptians get a significant portion of their government revenues from operating the Suez Canal about 9 billion annually. But the Egyptians also have reason to suspect the good intentions of US imperialism particularly, and in light of the fact that the US imperialism is backing this genocidal campaign in Gaza. (30:20) And to that end, I should mention that there's the Rafa crossing between Gaza and Egypt and the scuttlebutt from Israeli sources is that you should expect a more massive attack on that Rafa crossing, which in some ways would be a declaration of war against Egypt, believe it or not. To that end, Jordan was not on that list of seven fronts where Israel is supposedly now involved in conflict. But if you monitor Israeli media, they're beginning to raise serious questions about the pacifist intentions of the Jordanians. I recall that a significant percentage, if not the bulk of the Jordanian population is Palestinians. They're particularly important with regard to skilled labor, with regard to engineers and physicians and all the rest. And the Israelis are now charging that they suspect that there is a smuggling of weapons from into the West Bank occupied territory, which is allowing the Palestinians on the West Bank to resist more stoutly. (31:42) The incursions made by the 800,000 settlers who by the way, are armed with rifles from the United States of America. And so this seven front war easily could turn into an eight front war, a nine front war with folks in your audience. That is to say the US nationals and citizens basically picking up the tab at the same time when homelessness stalks the land, when hunger is out of control, when many of our children do not have adequate textbooks or they're fed inadequate versions of history per Governor DeSantis of Florida. And so it reminds me of the slogan raised in 1972 by Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern, the senator from South Dakota, when he said, come home United States of America, he was referring to come home from Vietnam. Now we can say, come home United States of America, come home from these wild-eyed schemes of war and conflict in West Asia. Dr Wilmer Leon (32:51): And you and I for the last 30 minutes, we've been discussing Gaza, we've been discussing the settler colony of Israel, we've been discussing Yemen and Anah. Why should African-Americans care? That is something on my radio show inside the issues on SiriusXM that people call in and ask all the time. Wilmer, you spend all this time talking about the Palestinians, Wilmer, you spend all the time pick up what's happening in Venezuela, what's happening in Argentina, what's happening in Peru, why should we care? Now, you just touched on a bit of it, but explain to my audience as African-Americans, why does this matter to us? Gerald Horne (33:46): Well, first of all, I pay quite a bit in taxes, and I'm sure there are many in your audience who do the same politics amongst other things is about where do your tax dollars go. Now, if those who call into your other programs and object to talking about foreign policy, I guess they don't care where their tax dollars go. Well, sorry, I do care where my tax dollars go. I just mentioned that a trillion dollars is spent annually on the Pentagon, which can't seem to win a war anywhere. So obviously there is a mismatch of revenue, taxes, and purposes war when we should have a match between revenue, taxes, and education and healthcare. Secondly, with regard to historic Palestine in particular, that conflict could trigger World War iii. Now, maybe there are those in your audience who think that there's some sort of black neutron bomb. (34:54) You recall that the neutron bomb under Ronald Wilson Reagan, it killed people, but left property standing. I guess they think that a neutron bomb would kill everybody except black people, and so therefore we don't have to be concerned. Well, I think that that's science fiction of the worst kind, and then we also know that there is a disproportionate percentage of black people in the military. It's no accident as historians like to say that the top military man and the top civilian in the military are both black Americans. Lloyd Austin, chief of the Pentagon, CQ Brown, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. You might've noticed that in the anti-affirmative action decision rendered by the US Supreme Court about eight or nine months ago, they had a special carve out for US military academies for West Point, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, the Naval Academy, and Annapolis, Maryland, because those who rule this country recognize that because of the horrendous history that we've suffered, that's bred a culture of fighting. (36:08) I wrote a whole book about boxing where I tried to explain why there was a disproportionate percentage of black Americans excelling in the sweet science, Muhammad Ali, Joe Lewis, Jack Johnson, sugar Ray Leonard to list us long and likewise, that feeds and bleeds into the military. You know that during the conflict in Vietnam, one of the startling aspects of that genocidal conflict was the disproportionate number of black Americans who were killed during this war because we were overrepresented not to mention the disproportionate percentage who were subject to court martial and other kinds of pulverizing penalties. So there are so many reasons of why we should be concerned beyond just being humanitarians, beyond just being folks who are concerned about our own future. Because when these wars happen, inevitably what happens is that it puts wind in the sails of many of our chief antagonists right here at home. And they might get the bright idea that if the Israelis can liquidate Willy-nilly, the Palestinians, perhaps the Israeli comrades here in North America can liquidate Willy-nilly their long-time, long-term antagonists, speaking of black folk. So it's a shame that we have to spend time explicating the obvious because explicating the obvious prevents us from going on to discuss more naughty and difficult questions to our detriment. Dr Wilmer Leon (37:56): You mentioned the Zionist settler colony of Israel and a seven front war, and what we see playing out right before us in terms of American foreign policy is I'll just say a multi-front war. We've got the United States and Ukraine, we have the United States in Gaza, we have the United States trying its damnedest to pick a fight with China. So those are three fronts. Then we've got Venezuela and Guyana with the United States convincing Britain to send a ship over there. We've got the United States involved now in Argentina. So help me understand who it is that seems to think that a getting involved in these multi-front conflicts is a good idea, let alone who thinks we can win. To your earlier point, we haven't won anything since 1953. And the other point is we're the ones that are starting the conflicts, we're starting fights, we can't win. I don't get the logic, and I know there isn't any, Gerald Horne (39:22): Well, I'm sure that those who are nit pickers would point to the successful invasion of Grenada in 1983, Dr Wilmer Leon (39:34): And Panama Gerald Horne (39:35): Could sit comfortably in Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. I guess you could count that as a victory. But I think in Dr Wilmer Leon (39:44): Order Panama, Gerald Horne (39:45): On Panama, and of course, Dr Wilmer Leon (39:46): Oh wait, I left one out because now we're also trying to get Kenya to be the menstrual black face on white foolishness as we try to invade Haiti. Gerald Horne (39:58): I think that in order to understand these conflicts, you have to understand the military industrial complex. That is to say, if you look at the stock of Lockheed Martin, look at the stock of Raytheon, look at the stock of Boeing, or look at the front page of the New York Times a day or so ago talking about how high level Pentagon officials like Esper, the Pentagon chief under Mr. Trump and Top Generals, they're now defecting to Silicon Valley with all of these harebrained science fiction schemes about new weapons that they expect the Pentagon to pick up the tab for. So the US military and the Pentagon is basically a slush fund for the 1%. And obviously it does not matter to a degree whether or not the Pentagon is fit for purpose or whether or not the Pentagon actually is spending tax dollars in a manner that will allow us imperialism to overthrow regimes. (41:08) Of course, US imperialism, to be fair, was able to overthrow the regime in Libya, for example, about a decade or so ago. However, I should say that with regard to China, if the United States cannot adequately confront Russia a country of 150 million compared to the United States, 330 million, not to mention the United States being backed up by the federal public of Germany, Germany, 82 million, France and Britain, 60 million each. Not to mention Poland, which by some measures is spending more on the military proportionately and per capita than a number of its Western European allies combined. They are obviously not able to subdue Russia and Ukraine. So how are they going to subdue China? A country with a population of 1.3 billion, which as noted has an economy by some measures larger than that of the United States of America. We have the Taiwanese elections coming up in less than two weeks. Taiwan is the island of 20 million or so off the southern coast of China that China claims as its own. (42:22) The United States, of course, sometimes explicitly, sometimes implicitly would like to see Taiwan declare independence, which would violate the pacs with China going back to the era of not only Richard Nixon, but Jimmy Carter, that would be a flashpoint. That would be a red line for the people's republic of China. So far, the United States has been able to sign up the Philippines to be a kind of pit bull nipping at the heels of the people's Republic of China. I don't think the United States should be counting on Australia, although Australia supposedly is part of Aus, Australia, United States, Japan, India, et cetera. And so once again, Washington is playing with fire because it keeps sticking its nose into business that does not concern it. And at the same time, thus far, it has been able to escape without any substantial blows or at least military blows to the homeland. (43:34) But that lucky training of events is not inevitable, and in any case, even if there's not a military blow to the homeland, there is all manner of collateral damage, which you can see in the streets of Washington DC in terms of the tents for the homeless, you can see it with regard to the streets of Portland, Oregon with folks sleeping on sidewalks as if they're seeking to emulate a Calcutta in the 1940s. So at some point, I think that the majority of the citizenry of this country will have to realize that the present course is not sustainable and that a course correction is long overdue. Dr Wilmer Leon (44:25): We saw recently Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, go to Kenya, sign a five year mutual defense pact with Kenya as the United States is trying to convince Kenya that they need again to be the black face on American imperialism and go into Haiti. The Kenyan Supreme Court has said, wait, not so fast. And I think on around the 25th or 26th of this month, we'll get a decision from the Kenyan Supreme Court. When I saw the photograph of Secretary Austin with his counterpart from Kenya signing this agreement, it made me wonder if the United States is trying to buy a bulwark in Kenya as we see Niger fading and we're seeing a turn anti colonialist turn in a number of other African countries. Is the United States trying to buy a friend in Kenya? Gerald Horne (45:26): Well, that's a possibility because if you look at East Africa in general, particularly East Africa that abuts the Red Sea, which we've already made reference to, that region is on fire right now. I mean, look at Ethiopia, one of the most populous nations on the continent, which just had this internal conflict with regard to Tig Gray. The latest news is that the Ethiopians in search of an outlet to the Red Sea, which they lost when their former province Eritrea seceded from Ethiopia about three or so decades ago, they've just cut a deal with Somali land, which is not a recognized nation, although it's part of the larger Somalia. And now what's happening is that Ethiopia now has that outlet to the Red Sea through Somali land. The Somalis are in high dungeon, they're very upset. Now, some of you may think that there's nothing they can do about it because after all, they have their own internal problems with Al-Shabaab, but oftentimes you need an external issue like Ethiopia to get Somalis to rally around the flag. (46:44) And so this could lead to an explosion on the Red Sea, and you mentioned Kenya. We should not see it as accidental that the first, thus far, only US president had roots, African ancestry had roots in Kenya. Kenya has had a long-term, long-time relationship in the United States of America. As a matter of fact, I wrote a book on Kenya some years ago, and what I pointed out was something that I would hope other scholars would follow up on, which is that Great Britain, which had this massive empire was always looking for those who could be defined as white to staff its empire. And if you look at the early history of Kenya, going back to the 1890s, some of the key personnel happened to be Euro-Americans, for example. And all through the decades leading up to independence from Kenya in 1963, you had a substantial number of Euro Americas. (47:54) As a matter of fact, I start my book talking about the British committing atrocities against the so-called Mal Mal Revolt pre 1963. The figures that I focus on are Euro Americans committing atrocities against Kenya pre 1963. So there's this very close relationship between Nairobi and Washington. That's why this attempt to have Kenya come to police, Haiti should not be seen as a shock, nor a surprise, particularly since the President Ruta now in power, many of us were surprised by his victory in the election of late. He was not necessarily the anointed successor of his predecessor, speaking of President Hu Kenyata. And so he, by his own admission as a hustler, as a matter of fact, that was his slogan, he wants to have a hustler society. Well, this Hustler society might involve accepting dollars from the US Treasury in return for doing dirty deeds in the Caribbean. Dr Wilmer Leon (49:20): Where's the Congressional Black Caucus? Where's the naacp? Where's the voice? The conscience of the Congress, I wrote a piece a while ago, is the conscience of the Congress unconscious, particularly as it relates to the invasion of Haiti. You've got people like Hakeem Jeffries and Kamala Harris trying to go down to Racom and twist arms to get some of the Caribbean countries to have backed his play. They all said no, which is why the United States, I believe, which is why the United States wound up in Kenya and a willing recipient of America's larges in terms of again, being the minstrel face on American imperialism. Where is the conscience of the Congress here? Gerald Horne (50:11): Well, with regard to the Congress, there's a split in the Congressional Black Caucus, particularly with regard to Palestine, where you have a stalwarts like Cory Bush of St. Louis and Andre Carson of Indiana, who happens to be a Muslim, some Lee of Western Pennsylvania, Jamal Bowman of Bronx, Westchester, New York calling for a ceasefire. And as a result, the Israeli lobby, the Zionist lobby, is pledging to spend a hundred million dollars or more during the 2024 electoral cycle to make sure they do not return to Congress. Those stalwarts do not include the aforementioned speaker in waiting. So-called honking Jefferies. Wait a Dr Wilmer Leon (50:52): Minute, wait a minute. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I get a sense of some hypocrisy or inconsistency here because you have APAC openly threatening and admitting to what I would interpret as involving themselves in American elections. But somehow if China is alleged to have done it, or if Russia is alleged to have done it, that's the reason for us to go to war. Is it me or is that some sense of hypocrisy? Gerald Horne (51:27): Well, obviously when we come to power, we'll have to have a thorough investigation of the Zionist lobby. As a matter of fact, I was just rereading DU autobiography and I got into the chapter where he talks about when he was indicted 1951, allegedly being the agent of a foreign power because he was campaigning against nuclear weapons and campaigning for peace. Now, fortunately, he was able to escape prison at the age of 83, but that tells you how seriously, the US Justice Department, at least at one time took this question of registering as foreign agents. But in any case, the list of stalwarts that I was reciting does not include Gregory Meeks of Southeast Queens, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and I could go on in this vein. So obviously we have some house cleaning to do with regard to these elections. (52:31) Setting aside the Israeli lobby, which you may recall dangled a cool 20 million before the nose of Hill Harper, the actor who was running for office in the state of Michigan, if he would go after Congresswoman Rashida Tib of Michigan, the only Congress person of Palestinian origin in the US Congress. But I would caution and warn the Israeli lobby that they need to pay more attention to what's going on in Israel, because as I said, as I monitor the Israeli media, I see much more understanding even on the Israeli right, by the way, about the global correlation of forces. I mean, for example, you just heard the news, I'm sure that the Zionist lobby forced Claudine gay, the first black woman, president Farber, to walk the plank because she was not vociferous enough in terms of denouncing amass post October 7th, and they gen up these plagiarism charges against her. (53:42) And you also see that it'll be quite easy as US imperialism goes into decline for the Zionists to be scapegoated, although obviously that would be a simple minded explanation. But it reminds me of the who Lost China debate post 1949 after the Communist Party came to power. It wasn't the United States to lose China. It didn't belong to the United States, but certainly that led to the destruction of careers, et cetera. And already, perhaps to follow up on this point, there may be members of the Zionist lobby who are paying attention. For example, Nelson Pelts, a car carrying member of the 1% who is fighting a gorilla war to replace board members of Disney, which has been hemorrhaging cash because of a futile attempt to keep up in the streaming wars with Netflix. He's also on the board of Unilever, a major European corporation among his assets, or Ben and Jerry's ice cream. (54:50) Ben and Jerry's, as you know, are staunch and stern critics of Israel. And what happened is that the Simon Wiesenthal Center of Southern California, which is a leading member of the pro-Israel camp in this country, then went after Ben and Jerry's, and then Nelson Peltz went after Simon Wiesenthal Center. He resigned from their board. I found that to be extraordinary. Perhaps he's keeping up with the news. Perhaps he recognizes the danger that happens when you have the Zionist lobby overreaching. And the analogy I've often brought into play is a major force in US society, circa 18 60, 18 61 who owned billions of dollars in assets in the body, some enslaved Africans, my ancestors likely yours as well, and they overreached. They decided to go for the gusto and try to overthrow the Lincoln government so that they could perpetuate the enslavement of Africans forevermore. Well, they were a powerful force. (56:01) After all, Virginians and slave owners that controlled the White House had controlled the US Supreme Court were disproportionately represented in the State Department and the Treasury Department, et cetera, but they overreached and wound up losing everything that is to say losing their most valuable property. That is to say their investment in enslaved Africans. And now Israel might be on the verge of replicating that dastardly example. And I trust, and I hope that the Zionist lobby will not be caught with its pants down and will recognize that it needs to draw back. It needs to cool its jets, it needs to cool the hotheads. Otherwise it may find itself in an analogous boat that would couple them with the unlamented departure of the Confederate states of America. Dr Wilmer Leon (56:58): Isn't that overreach the very same problem that the United States is facing on the global scale as again, we look at the failure in Ukraine and newsflash to folks that war is lost as we look at the fight that the United States is trying to pick, as we look at the development of bricks and the growth of bricks, as we look at what's happening again in Peru and what's happening in Argentina and what's happening in Bolivia and what's happening in Venezuela, the United States, and again, the United States trying to overthrow Haiti, well, not overthrow, but reinve because it already controls the government, what's left of the government. So we're transitioning from the unipolar to the multipolar, and with the United States fomenting, all of this unrest has to a great degree sanctioned itself right out of the party because a lot of the countries that I've mentioned, Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, they have all developed relationships. They're developing currencies to lessen the impact, if not eliminate the impact of American sanctions. So all of that isn't that overreach what the American Empire has been experiencing, and we will look back 10 years from now and say, that was the beginning of the end. Gerald Horne (58:24): Well, certainly it's overreach. I mean, I'm glad you mentioned Argentina because in a message to comrade earlier today, I was drawing an analogy between the new government in Argentina coming to Power about three weeks ago under President Belay and the Zionist lobby, because Argentina had the rare honor of being asked to join the bricks, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, which is the rising challenger to us, imperialist hegemony, but for various reasons that need not detain us here, they slapped the side, that invitation because they're making a bet on the pass, on the continuation, (59:09) On the continuation of dollar hegemony. And if people were trying to figure that out, you may want to add to your equation the fact that by some measures, Argentina has more psychiatrists per capita than any other country in the world. I mean, they're trying to sort out who they are. I mean, they border Brazil, which has the largest black population west of Nigeria, and there's this real hysteria and fear in Buenos Aires about being considered, so-called Third World. And so joining an alliance led by an Asian China and including a heavily black Brazil was something that apparently among other things, offended their racial sensibilities, or I should say racist sensibilities, but do not fret because I do not expect President Malay to serve out his term. A general strike has been called within days. I expect them to be driven out of office, not least because Pricess are going through the roof. (01:00:15) It reminds me of when the United States had exerted sanctions against Zimbabwe some years ago after Zimbabwe had moved to extrapolate the land of the settlers, reversing the fruits of settler colonialism, which still was quite rare, and the United States tried to drive the economy into the ditch, and so you could go into a tavern and harra the capital and spend maybe 1 million Zimm dollars to order a beer. By the time you drank the beer and was time to pay the tab, you had to pay 5 million or perhaps even 5 trillion Zim dollars. That's how terrible inflation was, and that's where Argentina is heading. Now at Lee Zimbabwe had the excuse that it was trying to do right by its landless population. It was trying to reverse the fruits of settler colonialism, and so therefore, it was fighting a just war. Argentina does not have that excuse. It was invited into the bricks. (01:01:19) It was invited to join the winning side. As a matter of fact, I've made the joke that perhaps it's not a joke that I'm hoping that the Bricks has individual memberships because I'd like to join the bricks, quite frankly, and get off this sinking ship known as the United States of America. So certainly, once again, I think that as I monitor the Israeli media, they recognize what they're up against. But despite that, they're not necessarily curtailing their genocidal war campaign. I guess the best you can say is that they know what they're up against, but they're saying full speed ahead. And it reminds me of the book by the journalist Seymour Hearst, a Samson option, where he suggested that in a crisis like the biblical figure, Samson, the Israelis would bring down the temple on all of us, which would of course mean triggering World War iii, which could mean destruction of Israel, perhaps even destruction of its sidekick in Washington. Dr Wilmer Leon (01:02:33): Dr. Gerald Horn, as always, my brother, thank you so much for your time. I greatly, greatly appreciate that analysis. Thank you so much for giving me your time, giving us your time, and joining us today. Gerald Horne (01:02:45): Thank you for inviting me, Dr Wilmer Leon (01:02:47): Folks. Thank you so much for listening to the Connecting the Dots podcast with me, Dr. Wiler Leon. Stay tuned for the new episodes every week. Also, please follow and subscribe. Leave a review, share the show, follow me on social media. You can find all the links below in the show description. And remember, this is where analysis of politics, culture, and history, converge and talk without analysis is just chatter, and we don't chatter here on connecting the dots. See you again next time. Until then, I'm Dr. Warmer Leon. Have a great one. Peace and blessings. I'm out Speaker 2 (01:03:32): Connecting the dots with Dr. Where of politics, culture, and history.

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No Word On Secretary Austin's Return to Pentagon

congress defense secretary pentagon defense lloyd austin no word secretary austin

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 1:42

(AURN News) -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin continues on the path to recovery after complications from recent prostate cancer surgery, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder. “The Secretary continues to recuperate from home. He's recovering well. As I highlighted last week, part of his care at home continues to be physical therapy. But again, we'll keep you updated on his return date to the Pentagon,” Ryder affirmed. On Tuesday, during a virtual meeting for the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Secretary Austin made his first public appearance since his hospitalization. “As you can tell, I'm joining from home today. I'm feeling good and looking forward to being back at the Pentagon very soon. And I'm grateful for all of your warm wishes,” he said. The Secretary of Defense, however, is not only battling health challenges but also facing political pressure. Some members of Congress, spanning both political aisles, have called for Austin's resignation. The criticism stems from allegations that he did not initially disclose his health issues and complications following the surgery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the News: Missing Secretary Austin

Civil Discourse

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 29:19

Nia and Aughie discuss the "disappearance" of General Lloyd Austin, Secretary of the Department of Defense, and the importance of a plan of succession within the Cabinet positions.

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Hour 3: The Culture War Before Your Eyes

I'm Right w/Jesse Kelly

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2024 37:21 Transcription Available

The ongoing culture war in the military and the media and why The Left has a vested interest in trying to hide it. Why would the media be editing out religious figures in interviews? Secretary Austin's secret hospital visit. Both democrat and republican voters get exactly what they voted for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Trump Wins Iowa Caucus, Secretary Austin Released From Hospital, Artic Freeze Continues

America In The Morning

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2024 39:57

Trump Wins Iowa Caucus Donald Trump has won Iowa's leadoff presidential caucuses. The former president's victory with 51% of the vote gives him a strong start in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination as the contest moves to New Hampshire. Secretary Austin Released From Hospital Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is out of the hospital following a controversial couple weeks for the Pentagon Chief. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports. Artic Freeze Continues An arctic freeze continues to blast huge swaths of the US with sub-zero temperatures. Correspondent Julie Walker reports. The National Forecast The East Coast will continue to have cold and stormy weather today. Meteorologist Carl Erickson has your national forecast. Iraq and Syria Hit by Missiles Iran has announced strikes in northern Iraq and Syria as regional tensions escalate. Correspondent Norman Hall has details. U.S. Cargo Ship Hit by Missile A missile fired from Yemen struck a U.S.-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden. Correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports. Business News Investors are back at work after the holiday. Jessica Ettingerhas your Monday business report. Search for Missing Navy SEALs There is a search in the Gulf of Aden for 2 Navy SEALs missing after a mission to confiscate Iranian missile parts. Correspondent Ed Donahue reports. Biden Admin Sends Cease and Desist to Texas The Biden administration has told Texas to stop impeding U.S. Border Patrol access to part of the U.S.-Mexico border that the state National Guard took over last week. Washington States Sues Grocery Chains Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson has sued to block the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons, two of the nation's largest grocery chains. Big Winnners at the Emmys “Succession” and “The Bear” took the top honors at the Emmy Awards. Correspondent Margie Szaroleta has more. Deadly Hot Air Balloon Crash Four people were killed and another critically injured after a hot air balloon crash Sunday morning near Eloy, Arizona, about 60 miles south of Phoenix. Planes Collide on Runway in Chicago The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a ground collision of two Boeing planes in Chicago. Correspondent Norman Hall has more. White House Swatted The White House was the latest target of a swatting attempt. Fire engines and other emergency vehicles responded to a fake 911 call that the White House was ablaze and a person was trapped inside. UN Worried about Gaza Conditions The UN is issuing a dire warning about a catastrophe in Gaza. Correspondent Rita Foley reports. Top Tech Stories of 2023 Today's tech report is the top 5 tech news stories from 2023, brought to you by Chuck Palm. Ukraine War Continues The war in Ukraine marches on. Correspondent Charles de Ledesma has an update on the latest with the fighting. Gamestop NFT Market to Close NFT's used to be all the rage, now, another popular marketplace for NFTs' is shutting down, claiming "regulatory limbo." Chuck has that story in today's tech report. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Washington: Defense Secretary's Health Raises Questions Amid Middle East Conflict

The FOX News Rundown

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2024 32:03

This week, the U.S. and U.K. launched significant airstrikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen. The airstrikes were carried out by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin while hospitalized at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. The Defense Secretary is under scrutiny due to the lack of transparency about his health concerns, prompting many to question the country's military readiness. FOX News White House Correspondent Jacqui Heinrich discusses Secretary Austin's future and provides updates amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. On Wednesday, Hunter Biden shocked Representatives when he appeared at a House Oversight Committee hearing, defying a subpoena for a closed-door testimony. Meanwhile, the House Homeland Security Committee held an impeachment hearing for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in which they criticized his performance in handling the crisis at the U.S. Southern border. FOX News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram shares a firsthand look at the drama that unfolded at the Capitol this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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From Washington: Defense Secretary's Health Raises Questions Amid Middle East Conflict

From Washington – FOX News Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2024 32:03

From Washington: Defense Secretary's Health Raises Questions Amid Middle East Conflict

Fox News Rundown Evening Edition

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2024 32:03

My Prostatectomy Tells Me Secretary Austin Should Be Fired for Hiding His

Communism Exposed:East & West(PDF)

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 4:32

News

tv news secretary fired hiding prostatectomy secretary austin

Democrat Calls for Secretary Austin's Resignation

donald trump monster southeast gulf coast walter reed secretary austin

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 1:45

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin faces growing pressure to resign after the revelation of undisclosed health issues and complications following his recent prostate cancer surgery. He continues to recover at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The controversy has sparked heated debates on Capitol Hill, with a Democrat now joining the Republican chorus of voices demanding transparency and accountability. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby addressed the unfolding situation, admitting the lack of information surrounding Austin's hospitalization. “We did not know he was in the hospital until Thursday. We did not know the condition that put him in the — in the hospital at that time. We certainly didn't know about the prostate surgery that occurred earlier in December,” Kirby stated during a press briefing Wednesday. The growing discontent reached a tipping point when Congressman Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, representing portions of the Pittsburgh area, became the first Democrat to publicly call for Austin's resignation. Deluzio, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and is the Vice Ranking Member on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, cited a loss of trust in Austin's leadership. “I have lost trust in Secretary Lloyd Austin's leadership of the Defense Department due to the lack of transparency about his recent medical treatment and its impact on the continuity of the chain of command,” he said. “I have a solemn duty in Congress to conduct oversight of the Defense Department through my service on the House Armed Services Committee. That duty today requires me to call on Secretary Austin to resign.” The Pentagon says Austin is in good condition and that no date has been set for his release. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Tuesday, January 9, 2024

NBC Nightly News

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 20:45

Monster storm system sparks deadly tornado outbreak in Gulf Coast and Southeast; Secretary Austin hospitalized for prostate cancer treatment complications: Walter Reed officials; Trump's lawyer urges court to find him immune from prosecution for efforts to overturn election; and more on tonight's broadcast.

Rep. Mike Waltz on Defense Secretary Scandal and Hunter Biden Contempt Charges

O'Connor & Company

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 8:24

7:35 AM - INTERVIEW - REP MIKE WALTZ - R-FL - a combat-decorated Green Beret, former White House Pentagon policy advisor and a member of the House Oversight Committee Discuss what's going on with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Also he's on the Oversight Committee and can also preview the Hunter contempt charges markup later this morning DEFENSE SECRETARY AUSTIN Rep. Mike Waltz on X: "I wish Secretary Austin the best on his recovery but any commanding officer in the military would have been relieved for disappearing for a week, not delegating to their deputy, and breaking the chain of command." / X (twitter.com) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin treated for prostate cancer, severe infection: Pentagon Biden learned of Austin's prostate cancer diagnosis Tuesday HUNTER BIDEN House Republicans release contempt resolution against Hunter Biden Hunter Biden gallerist tells lawmakers he never spoke to White House about paintings: sources Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Wednesday, January 10, 2024 / 7 AM Hour O'Connor and Company is proudly presented by Veritas Academy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Secretary Austin update and your calls

Mornings on the Mall

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 35:48

In this second hour Vince Vince talks with Harmeet Dhillon, CEO and Founder of the Center for American Liberty. . Also, They discuss the left's gender affirming surgery. Also, Vince takes your calls on the updated information about Secretary Austin's procedure. For more coverage on the issues that matter to you visit www.WMAL.com, download the WMAL app or tune in live on WMAL-FM 105.9 from 3-6pm. To join the conversation, check us out on social media: @WMAL @VinceCoglianese. Executive Producer: Corey Inganamort @TheBirdWords See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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01-09 Leland Live Seg 2 - Secretary Austin is on thin ice as Austin leaves intensive care amid growing scrutiny, Filing alleges ‘improper' relationship between Fulton DA, top Trump prosecutor, Secret Tunnels Found Under NYC Synagogue, Last batch of uns

relationships new york city donald trump secretary amid jeffrey epstein prosecutors batch filing tunnels synagogues fulton scrutiny thin ice improper intensive care top trump secretary austin fulton da

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 22:35

Secretary Austin is on thin ice as Austin leaves intensive care amid growing scrutiny, Filing alleges ‘improper' relationship between Fulton DA, top Trump prosecutor, Secret Tunnels Found Under NYC Synagogue, Last batch of unsealed Jeffrey Epstein documents released, Ecuador Plunges Into Crisis Amid Prison Riots.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-09 Leland Live Seg 4

donald trump jeffrey epstein filing secretary austin fulton da

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 39:14

01-09 Leland Live Seg 1 - Secretary Austin is on thin ice as Austin leaves intensive care amid growing scrutiny, Filing alleges ‘improper' relationship between Fulton DA, top Trump prosecutor, Secret Tunnels Found Under NYC Synagogue, Last batch of uns

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 43:18

01-09 Leland Live Seg 3

donald trump jeffrey epstein filing secretary austin fulton da

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 36:01

The Mark Arum Show 01-10-24

Mark Arum

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 97:08

Today on the show: Mississippi Braves headed to Columbus. Will we have a new city in Gwinnett? Live updates on the Secretary Austin story and unrest in the Mid-East. Police recruitment plummets. Plus, we go live to Panama City Beach to check storm damage. 9am-noon on 95.5 WSB.

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Biden in Congress, Brooklyn school, Secretary Austin & Lopez-Obrador demands

CANTO TALK RADIO SHOW

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 13:00

Biden in Congress....Brooklyn high school...Secretary Austin.....Lopez-Obrador demands....The catch 1982....and other stories..... ...Check our blog....and follow our friend Carlos Guedes......

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Secretary Austin, Penn back, Mexico and the border and more

CANTO TALK RADIO SHOW

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 14:00

Secretary Austin....Penn back...Mexico and the border....President Nixon (1913-1994) and other stories..... ...Check our blog....and follow our friend Carlos Guedes......

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Defense Secretary Austin's Prostate Cancer Treatment Highlights Racial Disparities in Healthcare

black healthcare treatments secretary statistics pentagon genetics systemic prostate prostate cancer cancer treatment racial disparities defense lloyd austin secretary austin defense secretary austin

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 1:45

The Pentagon revealed this week that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin recently underwent treatment for prostate cancer, sparking increased attention to the disease and its disproportionate impact on Black men. The disclosure sheds light on the broader issue of racial disparities in healthcare, particularly concerning prostate cancer. Secretary Austin's medical care is being overseen by Dr. John Maddox and Dr. Gregory Chesnut at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. In a recent statement released by the Pentagon, physicians emphasized the importance of early screening for the detection and treatment of prostate cancer. “Despite the frequency of prostate cancer, discussions about screening, treatment, and support are often deeply personal and private ones. Early screening is important for detection and treatment of prostate cancer and people should talk to their doctors to see what screening is appropriate for them,” the statement read. Prostate cancer is a prevalent concern for men, especially its impact on the Black community. According to the non-profit organization Zero Prostate Cancer, Black men face a significantly higher risk of diagnosis compared to other racial groups. Statistics reveal that one in six Black men will develop prostate cancer, in contrast to one in eight for men of other races. Moreover, Black men have a 1.7 times higher likelihood of being diagnosed with the disease and are 2.1 times more likely to die from it than their white counterparts. Genetics is only one part of the equation; the racial disparities in healthcare contribute significantly to the increased risk and mortality rates among Black men. Systemic issues such as unequal access to healthcare services, socioeconomic factors, and implicit bias within the medical community all play a role in hindering timely detection and effective treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Complete Breakdown: D.C. Court of Appeals Hears Trump Presidential Immunity Argument

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 177:19

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (01/09/2024): 3:05pm- On Tuesday, a three-judge panel from the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard arguments to determine the validity of Donald Trump's presidential immunity defense in his federal election subversion indictment. Two of the judges on the panel are Democratic appointees—Judge J. Michelle Childs and Judge Florence Y. Pan. Though, the third judge—Judge Karen L. Henderson—seemed equally unconvinced by the Trump team's legal argument. 3:15pm- Charlie Savage and Alan Feuer of The New York Times write: “Judge [Florence Y.] Pan asked [Donald Trump's Attorney John] Sauer to address a series of hypotheticals intended to test the limits of his position that presidents are absolutely immune from criminal prosecution over their officials acts, unless they have first been impeached and convicted by the Senate over the same matter. Among them, she asked, what if a president ordered SEAL Team 6, the Navy commando unit, to assassinate a president's political rival? Mr. Sauer said such a president would surely be impeached and convicted, but he insisted that courts would not have jurisdiction to oversee a murder trial unless that first happened.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/09/us/politics/trump-immunity-hearing-takeaways.html?smid=url-share 3:30pm- Following Tuesday's Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit hearing, former president Donald Trump said that if his presidential immunity argument is proven to be unfounded then former president Barack Obama could, and should, be prosecuted for covert drone strikes he ordered in the Middle East—including one that resulted in the death of an American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki. The strikes were conducted without congressional approval. 3:40pm- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spent several days in an intensive care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland following elective surgery—though the precise surgery has not been disclosed. Alarmingly, the White House—including President Joe Biden—was not informed of Secretary Austin's incapacitation for more than three days. Equally concerning, while Secretary Austin was in intensive care, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was on vacation in Puerto Rico. Will anyone be held accountable for this disastrous breakdown in communication? Secretary Austin released a statement on Saturday addressing the issue: “I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon. I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better.” On Tuesday, it was announced that Secretary Austin has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. 4:05pm- Zack Smith—Legal Fellow and Manager of the Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy Program in the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit hearing arguments on Tuesday to determine the validity of Donald Trump's presidential immunity defense in his federal election subversion indictment. If the presidential immunity defense is dismissed, does that mean former president Barack Obama could be held accountable for his authorization of drone strikes which resulted in the death of an American citizen? 4:25pm- On a recent episode of The Journal podcast, New Hampshire voters revealed that they are changing their party affiliation from Democrat to Republican prior to the state's January 23rd primary. Because they can't vote for their preferred candidate—Joe Biden—as he won't appear on the ballot following a Democrat National Committee feud with the state over scheduling dates, many Democrat voters are now registering as Republicans in order to vote against Donald Trump, supporting rival candidates like Nikki Haley and Chris Christie. Democrats have seemingly destroyed their own New Hampshire primary, are they impacting the Republican primary as well? 4:35pm- During a Fox News town hall event on Monday, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley accused her primary opponent Donald Trump of orchestrating chaos. 4:40pm- Lisa Kashinsky of Politico writes: “The New Hampshire attorney general's office is accusing the Democratic National Committee of engaging in unlawful voter suppression after the national party dismissed the state's upcoming primary as ‘meaningless.' Assistant Attorney General Brendan O'Donnell on Monday fired off a cease-and-desist order to the DNC, saying that instructing state Democrats to ‘educate the public' that the primary is ‘meaningless' violates the state's voter suppression laws.” You can read the full article here: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/08/new-hampshire-attorney-general-dnc-voter-suppression-primary-00134378 4:45pm- Steven Nelson and Josh Christenson of The New York Post write: “First son Hunter Biden's Manhattan art dealer shared details Tuesday about purchasers of the first son's novice works—while contradicting the White House's claim that officials brokered an ethics arrangement to keep buyer identities anonymous to prevent corruption. Georges Bergès said that Hunter, 53, actually knew who bought about 70% of his art—including Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali, whom the dealer revealed purchased works by the first son both before and after scoring a prestigious appointment from President Biden.” You can read the full article here: https://nypost.com/2024/01/09/news/hunter-biden-knew-most-of-his-art-buyers-despite-ethics-plan-dealer-says/ 5:05pm- Over the weekend, MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart began to cry while discussing the three-year anniversary of the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021. 5:10pm- Ryan Saavedra of The Daily Wire writes: “One of the co-defendants in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' sprawling RICO case—against former President Donald Trump and several of his top associates—claimed in court filings this week that Willis had an ‘improper' relationship with one of the prosecutors in the case. The court filing claims that special prosecutor Nathan Wade, a private lawyer, paid for vacations that he allegedly took with Willis using funds his law firm received from the county as compensation for his work on the case. His firm has been paid approximately $650,000.” You can read the full article here: https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-co-defendant-in-georgia-rico-case-claims-da-fani-willis-had-relationship-with-prosecutor-report 5:20pm- On Monday, former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Dr. Anthony Fauci testified before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. During the hearing Dr. Fauci repeatedly denied remembering details about his decision making during the pandemic when pressed by members of Congress. 5:40pm- Haley Strack of National Review writes: “Maryland's largest school district drove up its legal expenses by 548 percent last year hiring counsel to investigate the school district's potential cover-up of sexual harassment and defend the district against parental complaints over mandatory LGBTQ curriculum. Montgomery County Public Schools has so far spent $412,544 more on legal fees this fiscal period than last, ‘due to substantial litigation on two separate matters pending in Federal Court,' according to the district's most recent legal-fees report.” You can read the full article here:https://www.nationalreview.com/news/maryland-school-district-amassed-exorbitant-legal-fees-defending-mandatory-lgbtq-curriculum/ 5:55pm- Rich got a shoutout in The Philadelphia Inquirer's article documenting how The National Park Service's decision to remove a statue of William Penn from Welcome Park was halted. The decision was quickly reversed after numerous people voiced their displeasure with the move online, on the radio, and on television. You can read the article here: https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/william-penn-statue-philadelphia-nps-social-media-outrage-20240109.html 6:05pm- Ray Epps—a former Trump support who some believe was an asset of the federal government who instigated the riot at Capitol Hill on January 6th, 2021—was sentenced to one-year of probation for his participation in the riot. 6:20pm- On Tuesday, a three-judge panel from the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard arguments to determine the validity of Donald Trump's presidential immunity defense in his federal election subversion indictment. Two of the judges on the panel are Democratic appointees—Judge J. Michelle Childs and Judge Florence Y. Pan. Though, the third judge—Judge Karen L. Henderson—seemed equally unconvinced by the Trump team's legal argument. 6:25pm- Ryan Saavedra of The Daily Wire writes: “One of the co-defendants in Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis' sprawling RICO case—against former President Donald Trump and several of his top associates—claimed in court filings this week that Willis had an ‘improper' relationship with one of the prosecutors in the case. The court filing claims that special prosecutor Nathan Wade, a private lawyer, paid for vacations that he allegedly took with Willis using funds his law firm received from the county as compensation for his work on the case. His firm has been paid approximately $650,000.” You can read the full article here: https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-co-defendant-in-georgia-rico-case-claims-da-fani-willis-had-relationship-with-prosecutor-report 6:40pm- Following Tuesday's Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit hearing, former president Donald Trump said that if his presidential immunity argument is proven to be unfounded then former president Barack Obama could, and should, be prosecuted for covert drone strikes he ordered in the Middle East—including one that resulted in the death of an American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki. The strikes were conducted without congressional approval.

american donald trump new york times joe biden rich lgbtq barack obama congress white house maryland legal journal middle east court supreme court republicans manhattan navy democrats senate puerto rico presidential fox news democratic capitol new hampshire rico pentagon msnbc national institutes capitol hill argument bethesda anthony fauci immunity willis dnc hunter biden appeals politico new york post hears coronavirus pandemic equally allergy nikki haley heritage foundation national park service federal court chris christie daily wire philadelphia inquirer national review sauer seal team anwar democratic national committee presidential immunity court of appeals ray epps william penn defense secretary lloyd austin steven nelson columbia circuit jonathan capehart judicial studies montgomery county public schools charlie savage edwin meese iii center secretary austin house select subcommittee awlaki democrat national committee alan feuer rich zeoli show

If Trump Loses in Court, Could Obama Also Be Prosecuted for Drone Strikes?

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 37:25

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: On Tuesday, a three-judge panel from the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit heard arguments to determine the validity of Donald Trump's presidential immunity defense in his federal election subversion indictment. Two of the judges on the panel are Democratic appointees—Judge J. Michelle Childs and Judge Florence Y. Pan. Though, the third judge—Judge Karen L. Henderson—seemed equally unconvinced by the Trump team's legal argument. Charlie Savage and Alan Feuer of The New York Times write: “Judge [Florence Y.] Pan asked [Donald Trump's Attorney John] Sauer to address a series of hypotheticals intended to test the limits of his position that presidents are absolutely immune from criminal prosecution over their officials acts, unless they have first been impeached and convicted by the Senate over the same matter. Among them, she asked, what if a president ordered SEAL Team 6, the Navy commando unit, to assassinate a president's political rival? Mr. Sauer said such a president would surely be impeached and convicted, but he insisted that courts would not have jurisdiction to oversee a murder trial unless that first happened.” You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/09/us/politics/trump-immunity-hearing-takeaways.html?smid=url-share Following Tuesday's Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit hearing, former president Donald Trump said that if his presidential immunity argument is proven to be unfounded then former president Barack Obama could, and should, be prosecuted for covert drone strikes he ordered in the Middle East—including one that resulted in the death of an American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki. The strikes were conducted without congressional approval. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spent several days in an intensive care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland following elective surgery—though the precise surgery has not been disclosed. Alarmingly, the White House—including President Joe Biden—was not informed of Secretary Austin's incapacitation for more than three days. Equally concerning, while Secretary Austin was in intensive care, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was on vacation in Puerto Rico. Will anyone be held accountable for this disastrous breakdown in communication? Secretary Austin released a statement on Saturday addressing the issue: “I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon. I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better.” On Tuesday, it was announced that Secretary Austin has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Lawyer Argues Trump Targeted in DC Trial, AOC Calls for Justice Thomas to Recuse Himself, Secretary Austin Treated for Cancer | Jan. 9

Daily Signal News

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 8:35

TOP NEWS | On today's Daily Signal Top News, we break down: At a trial in Washington, D.C. Trump's lawyer says his client is being targeted before an electionRep. Ocasio-Cortez says Justice Clarence Thomas must recuse himself in a Colorado Trump ballot caseConservatives are unhappy with recent congressional budget dealBiden administration announces new law that with put a damper on the gig economyRelevant LinksListen to other podcasts from The Daily Signal: https://www.dailysignal.com/podcasts/Get daily conservative news you can trust from our Morning Bell newsletter: DailySignal.com/morningbellsubscription Listen to more Heritage podcasts: https://www.heritage.org/podcastsSign up for The Agenda newsletter — the lowdown on top issues conservatives need to know about each week: https://www.heritage.org/agenda Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

donald trump washington cancer trial lawyers acast secretary heritage alexandria ocasio cortez targeted treated clarence thomas argues justice thomas daily signal recuse secretary austin morning bell

Secretary of Defense Hospitalized, Biden Not Notified for 3+ Days!

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2024 47:08

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spent several days in an intensive care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland following elective surgery—though the precise surgery has not been disclosed. Alarmingly, the White House—including President Joe Biden—was not informed of Secretary Austin's incapacitation for more than three days. Equally concerning, while Secretary Austin was in intensive care, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was on vacation in Puerto Rico. Will anyone be held accountable for this disastrous breakdown in communication? Secretary Austin released a statement on Saturday addressing the issue: “I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon. I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better.” While appearing on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said it should be up to the states to determine whether or not Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump appears on primary ballots. While speaking with Symone Sanders on MSNBC, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said states should take “very aggressive action” to keep Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump off their ballot. #1 Global Best-Selling Author Terry Hayes joins The Rich Zeoli Show to announce he'll be participating in a 1210 WPHT Speaker Series event on February 7th at Rosemont College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Hayes is the author of the new book, “The Year of the Locust”—and has won numerous awards for his work as an author and film producer. His credits include I Am Pilgrim, Payback, Road Warrior, Mad Max, and Dead Calm—and has worked with Mel Gibson, Johnny Depp, and Nicole Kidman. For event and ticket information visit: https://www.audacy.com/1210wpht/events/terry-hayes-with-special-guest-host-rich-zeoli

Rich's BIG Event Announcement + Biden Admin Attempts to Remove William Penn Statue in Philly

Chicago's Morning Answer with Dan Proft & Amy Jacobson

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2024 186:57

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (01/08/2024): 3:05pm- Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spent several days in an intensive care unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland following elective surgery—though the precise surgery has not been disclosed. Alarmingly, the White House—including President Joe Biden—was not informed of Secretary Austin's incapacitation for more than three days. Equally concerning, while Secretary Austin was in intensive care, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was on vacation in Puerto Rico. Will anyone be held accountable for this disastrous breakdown in communication? Secretary Austin released a statement on Saturday addressing the issue: “I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon. I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better.” 3:30pm- While appearing on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said it should be up to the states to determine whether or not Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump appears on primary ballots. 3:35pm- While speaking with Symone Sanders on MSNBC, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said states should take “very aggressive action” to keep Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump off their ballot. 3:40pm- #1 Global Best-Selling Author Terry Hayes joins The Rich Zeoli Show to announce he'll be participating in a 1210 WPHT Speaker Series event on February 7th at Rosemont College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Hayes is the author of the new book, “The Year of the Locust”—and has won numerous awards for his work as an author and film producer. His credits include I Am Pilgrim, Payback, Road Warrior, Mad Max, and Dead Calm—and has worked with Mel Gibson, Johnny Depp, and Nicole Kidman. For event and ticket information visit: https://www.audacy.com/1210wpht/events/terry-hayes-with-special-guest-host-rich-zeoli 4:05pm- The National Park Service has announced its plan to remove the William Penn statue from Welcome Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—citing a desire to be more inclusive and an “expanded interpretation of the Native American history of Philadelphia.” Welcome Park is, of course, named after the ship which carried Penn to Philadelphia in 1682 and his statue currently marks the location of his home. The National Park Service is currently seeking commentary on its decision to redesign Welcome Park—including the removal of Penn's statue. You can leave your comments here: https://parkplanning.nps.gov 4:30pm- Rich refuses to watch movies with subtitles, Matt believes “The Holdovers” starring Paul Giamatti was the best picture of 2023, and is Microsoft's Clippy male or female? 5:05pm- In a new editorial for Reason, Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott argue that universities are now using diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statements to “enforce group think” on campuses. They write: “Yoel Inbar must not be allowed to teach psychology at UCLA—or so a student petition informed the California university's administration this past July. Inbar is an eminent, influential, and highly cited researcher with a Ph.D. in social psychology from Cornell University. There is no question that he is qualified. Anyone worth their salt doing work on political polarization knows Inbar's name. Inbar also jumped through all the hoops UCLA put up for the job, including submitting a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statement, which is currently all the rage in colleges and universities. He even shares the politics of the majority of the psychology department. But on his podcast, Inbar had expressed relatively mild concerns over the ideological pressures that DEI statements impose and wondered aloud whether they do harm to diversity of thought. As a result of this petition—signed by only 66 students—UCLA did not hire Inbar. And he's not the only academic this has happened to. Far from it.” You can read the full editorial here: https://reason.com/2024/01/06/the-conformity-gauntlet/ 5:20pm- A brief debate on deontological ethics. Would Immanuel Kant agree that it is ok to lie if a woman asks you, “does this dress make me look fat?” 5:25pm- On Monday, former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Dr. Anthony Fauci testified before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. PLUS, Howard Stern tells his audience that he finally contracted Covid. Now that he has immunity, will he continue to avoid society? 5:40pm- While appearing on State of the Union with Jake Tapper, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) said “I'm not worried, I'm very concerned” about President Joe Biden having underwhelming support from Black voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election. 5:50pm- Tyler Pager of The Washington Post writes: “Former president Barack Obama has raised questions about the structure of President Biden's reelection campaign, discussing the matter directly with Biden and telling the president's aides and allies the campaign needs to be empowered to make decisions without clearing them with the White House, according to three people familiar with the conversations.” You can read the full article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/06/obama-biden-meeting-campaign-2024/ 5:55pm- Is Transylvania a real place? 6:05pm- Dr. Victoria Coates— Former Deputy National Security Advisor & the Vice President of the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss The National Park Service's bizarre decision to remove William Penn's statue from Welcome Park in Philadelphia, PA as part of an effort to better promote “inclusivity.” Dr. Coates is the author of “David's Sling: A History of Democracy in Ten Works of Art.” You can find her book here: https://www.amazon.com/Davids-Sling-History-Democracy-Works/dp/1594037213 6:30pm- #1 Global Best-Selling Author Terry Hayes joins The Rich Zeoli Show to announce he'll be participating in a 1210 WPHT Speaker Series event on February 7th at Rosemont College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Hayes is the author of the new book, “The Year of the Locust”—and has won numerous awards for his work as an author and film producer. His credits include I Am Pilgrim, Payback, Road Warrior, Mad Max, and Dead Calm—and has worked with Mel Gibson, Johnny Depp, and Nicole Kidman. For event and ticket information visit: https://www.audacy.com/1210wpht/events/terry-hayes-with-special-guest-host-rich-zeoli

covid-19 california black donald trump art joe biden rich washington dc philadelphia vice president microsoft pennsylvania barack obama white house abc maryland republicans washington post puerto rico ucla democracy native americans remove dei reason johnny depp state of the union pentagon msnbc national institutes bethesda anthony fauci cornell university mad max statue penn mel gibson foreign policy national security nicole kidman coronavirus pandemic equally howard stern allergy payback heritage foundation national park service coates locust holdovers paul giamatti road warrior big events jake tapper biden admin george stephanopoulos clippy greg lukianoff william penn defense secretary lloyd austin bryn mawr muriel bowser dead calm symone sanders rikki schlott secretary austin house select subcommittee i am pilgrim davis institute tyler pager yoel inbar nancy pelosi d ca rich zeoli show

January 8, 2024

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2024 131:34

0:00 - Biden J6 speech 10:59 - First Biden campaign ad: all Trump voters are extremists, insurrectionists 31:19 - Gov. Abbott on Fox News Sunday: Mayor Adams is suing the wrong party, Biden not bus companies 52:23 - Dan & Amy introduce Dolton Mayor/Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard 01:09:47 - Steven Bucci, visiting fellow in The Heritage Foundation's Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, explains the seriousness of Secretary Austin's secret hospitalization 01:22:46 - Julie Kelly, substack – Declassified with July Kelly, and author of January 6: How Democrats Used the Capitol Protest to Launch a War on Terror Against the Political Right, shows how the left's plan to use Jan 6 to bring down the MAGA movement has backfired. Julie is a must follow on X @julie_kelly2 01:39:12 - Pro Palestine Protests 01:55:38 - James L. Perry, Founder, CIO Perry International Capital Partners, LLC., goes over the December jobs numbersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

founders donald trump joe biden launch llc maga gov abbott war on terror heritage foundation declassified julie kelly political right secretary austin capitol protest foreign policy studies how democrats used numberssee steven bucci

Episode 284: Need to Know? Or Need to Share? Secretary of Defense Austin's Hospitalization.

Fault Lines

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2024 8:42

Today, Jamil, Jess, and Les discuss U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's recent hospitalization and the breakdown of communication that had President Biden, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and Secretary Austin's own Deputy Kathleen Hicks, who was on vacation, out of the loop. Sec. Austin's absence occurred as the U.S. and its allies gave an ultimatum to Houthi rebels, as well as conducted a successful airstrike on the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad.Is the Secretary of Defense out of the Biden Administration's decision-making loop? Why were key administration and Pentagon officials left in the dark over the Secretary's hospitalization? Who ultimately should be held responsible for this breakdown? Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/07/politics/austin-hospitalization-leaders-not-informed/index.html https://apnews.com/article/defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-biden-859cc79631d6c96dbdff161faf8e4f96 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/top-military-officials-were-initially-unaware-austins-hospitalization-media-2024-01-07/ https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/06/pentagon-took-3-days-to-inform-white-houses-nsc-of-austins-hospitalization-00134176https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3633506/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-medical-care/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

joe biden defense iran acast sec secretary pentagon biden administration baghdad houthis hospitalization jamil secretary of defense defense lloyd austin national security adviser jake sullivan secretary austin news releases release article

Alaskan Airlines incident details, January 6 “hostages”, Secretary Austin scrutiny

CNN This Morning

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2024 128:34

Why did a door blowout of an Alaskan Airlines plane during flight, terrifyingly ripping off headrests and a child's shirt? Major new details are released on warnings that might have been missed. Plus, Trump calls for January 6 “Hostages” to be released ahead of a week that will see the former president's campaign message toggle between two courthouses. And, Defense Secretary Austin is under scrutiny for keeping his hospitalization a secret from the White House for three days. Also this morning, the Supreme Court allows Idaho's near-total abortion ban, and the first US Moon landing mission in decades lifts off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

donald trump white house supreme court idaho secretary january 6th incident hostages scrutiny alaskan airlines secretary austin defense secretary austin

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Remains Hospitalized

president joe biden congress sec secretary transparency pentagon remains dod maj hospitalized secretary of defense defense lloyd austin secretary austin

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2024 1:45

(AURN News) – U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin remains under medical care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He was admitted to the hospital after complications following a recent elective medical procedure, according to the Pentagon. In a recent statement, Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder provided an update on Secretary Austin's health, revealing that Austin continues to recover and is reported to be in "good spirits." “Since resuming his duties on Friday evening, the Secretary has received operational updates and has provided necessary guidance to his team. He has full access to required secure communications capabilities and continues to monitor DoD's day-to-day operations worldwide,” Maj. Gen. Ryder said. It was further disclosed by the Pentagon that Secretary Austin spoke with President Biden over the weekend. But amidst the updates on Secretary Austin's health, a new development has emerged on the political front. In a joint statement, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), want more information about Austin's condition and whether or not he has been able to continue his duties. “While we wish Sec. Austin a speedy recovery, we are concerned with how the disclosure of the Secretary's condition was handled. Several questions remain unanswered including what the medical procedure and resulting complications were, what the Secretary's current health status is, how and when the delegation of the Secretary's responsibilities were made, and the reason for the delay in notification to the President and Congress,” they said. “Transparency is vitally important. Sec. Austin must provide these additional details on his health and the decision-making process that occurred in the past week as soon as possible,” the statement continued. As of now, no official release date for Secretary Austin has been announced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trial update, Birthplace of Jesus, Protests.

O'Connor & Company

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2023 29:46

In this second hour; Larry O'Connor and Julie Gunlock discuss Updates on Trump, Viewpoints on the Birthplace of Jesus, Protesters were outside Secretary Austin's home. Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Tuesday, December 26, 2023 / 6 AM Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

jesus christ spotify donald trump apple trial protests audible birthplace viewpoints secretary austin wmal julie gunlock

Senate Democrats Extend Session to Seek Ukraine-Border Deal

C-SPAN Radio - Washington Today

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023 33:37

On Capitol Hill, Senate lawmakers from both sides of the aisle say they're encouraged with the direction of talks on a border security but they remain unclear about when they'll reach an agreement. Negotiators have been huddled together for weeks as they attempt to reach a deal that will also unlock additional aid for Ukraine and Israel. We'll hear from Sens. Schumer and McConnell and get the details from Politico legislative reporter Ursula Perano coming up Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in Tel Aviv today meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials. Among the topics of conversation Gaza's future and the need to stabilize the situations in the West Bank, where violence among settlers has erupted, and in the north, where Hezbollah terrorists have been firing rockets at settlements and military sites. We'll hear more from Secretary Austin and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The body of the late Sandra Day O'Connor, the nation's first female Supreme Court justice, is lying in repose in the Court's Great Hall today so the public can pay their respects. We'll hear what current Justice Sonia Sotomayor had to say at a private ceremony earlier today that included all nine current justices. Sandra Day O'Connor died on December 1 at the age of 93. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Venezuela Votes to Annex Guyana, Secretary Austin Warns Israel of Strategic Defeat & Israel's Conundrum

Centered From Reality

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2023 35:59

In this episode, Alex mainly takes a dive into recent events happening in Gaza. Israel has ramped up its attacks again as the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, warns that more civillian casulaties could lead to a strategic failure in Gaza that could hurt Israel. Alex also looks into the moral and ethical dilemma Israel faces. Finally, Alex analyzes a recent referendum that occurred in Venezuela where 95% of particpants voting yes for practically annexing Guyana due to oil interests.

israel vote defense venezuela strategic secretary gaza defeat conundrum warns guyana us secretary annex secretary austin

We All Saw It (feat. Dan Przygoda)

The Daily Beans

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2023 65:06

Tuesday, November 21st, 2023Today, in the Hot Notes: the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals deals a devastating blow to the Voting Rights Act; the Supreme Court rejects former officer Derek Chauvin's appeal in the murder of George Floyd; Senator Mike Lee promotes a debunked conspiracy theory about a January 6th rioter; the appeals court hears arguments over Trump's limited gag order in the DC special counsel case; Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a surprise trip to Kyiv; plus Allison and Dana deliver your Good News.Promo CodeGo to JOINdeleteme.com/Dailybeans and use promo code Dailybeans for 20% off. GuestDan Przygodahttps://twitter.com/dprzygodaHow We Win The House 2024!https://swingleft.org/fundraise/howwewin2024Want some sweet Daily Beans Merchhttps://shop.dailybeanspod.comSubscribe to Lawyers, Guns, And MoneyAd-free premium feed: https://lawyersgunsandmoney.supercast.comSubscribe for free everywhere else:https://lawyersgunsandmoney.simplecast.com/episodes/1-miami-1985Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Follow AG and Dana on Social MediaDr. Allison Gill Follow Mueller, She Wrote on Posthttps://twitter.com/MuellerSheWrotehttps://twitter.com/dailybeanspodhttps://www.tiktok.com/@muellershewrotehttps://instagram.com/muellershewroteDana Goldberghttps://twitter.com/DGComedyhttps://www.instagram.com/dgcomedyhttps://www.facebook.com/dgcomedyhttps://danagoldberg.comHave some good news; a confession; or a correction?Good News & Confessions - The Daily BeansFrom the Good Newshttps://organicfarmschool.orghttps://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/giant-pandaListener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://dailybeans.supercast.techOrhttps://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr subscribe on Apple Podcasts with our affiliate linkThe Daily Beans on Apple Podcasts

Secretary Austin makes surprise visit to show support for Ukraine

Early Bird Brief

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2023 9:58

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin makes an unannounced visit to Ukraine in a reminder of continued U.S. support for the country in its conflict with Russia.

russia ukraine surprise secretary defense secretary lloyd austin secretary austin

What Biden's Wartime Visit to Israel Signals to Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah

AJC Passport

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2023 17:53

Jason Isaacson, AJC's Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer, joins us to break down U.S. President Joe Biden's historic wartime visit to Israel and his message to Iran and its terror proxies Hamas and Hezbollah. Jason also shares his take on the fast-moving situation, including the fallout from the explosion at the Gaza hospital, the announcement of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the growing antisemitic attacks in the Middle East and Europe. *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC. Episode Lineup: (0:40) Jason Isaacson Show Notes: Listen – People of the Pod on the Israel-Hamas War: Mai Gutman Was Supposed to Be at the Music Festival: IDF Lone Soldier Recounts Harrowing Week Responding to Hamas Terror: IsraAID CEO on How You Can Help Israelis Right Now Learn: What Everyone Needs to Know About Hamas' Lie About a Rocket Strike on a Gaza Hospital AJC.org/AttackonIsrael Donate: AJC.org/SupportIsrael Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Transcript of Interview with Jason Isaacson: President Joe Biden: October 7th, which was a sacred Jewish holiday, became the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. It has brought to the surface painful memories and scars left by a millennia of antisemitism and the genocide of the Jewish people. The world watched then, it knew, and the world did nothing. We will not stand by and do nothing again. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. To those who are living in limbo waiting desperately to learn the fate of a loved one, especially to families of the hostages: You're not alone. Manya Brachear Pashman: On October 18th, 2023, President Joe Biden became the first American President to visit Israel during wartime, demonstrating his unequivocal support for the Israeli government. Here to talk about President Biden's visit is Jason Isaacson, AJC's chief policy and political affairs officer, joining us from Berlin where he's witnessed some of the European response to the crisis. Jason, welcome back to People of the Pod. Jason Isaacson: Thank you, Manya. Manya Brachear Pashman: I am always shocked when the President goes to a war zone like he did go to Ukraine in February, or in this case, Israel. What did President Biden's visit signal about his support for Israel during this time? Jason Isaacson: This is a president who has long identified himself as a strong supporter of Israel, who has spoken again and again, throughout his political career, from the time that he was a young man serving in the US Senate, of his support for, his identification with Israel. But to hear him speak, as he spoke on Wednesday, in Tel Aviv, after meeting with the Israeli war cabinet that Prime Minister Netanyahu assembled, after other meetings that took place as well, to hear him speak with such passion, such conviction about the priority for the United States, of standing by Israel, of identifying with the struggle that Israel now faces against Hamas terror. To hear him talk about “the nations of conscience,” as he referred to the US and Israel together. The struggle that the Jewish people have had over the centuries, the fight against antisemitism, his references to the Holocaust. All of that, and to say that the United States was standing by Israel, in the fullest possible way, the deployment of an aircraft carrier battle group to the eastern Mediterranean. Another aircraft carrier battle group, steaming to the eastern Mediterranean as well to provide additional support. The package of additional military assistance. He described it as an unprecedented package of military assistance that he is asking Congress to approve, to help Israel through this difficult time. All of these statements and his just physical presence in Israel, in the midst of war, spoke volumes of the support that the United States has for Israel. And he also spoke frankly, about the tragedy that occurred the night before he arrived, at a hospital in Gaza. And the fact that all the indications are that this was caused by the fire of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the rocket that misfired. It wasn't, as so much of the media and so much of the region, frankly, has alleged that it was somehow the work of Israel. Very clearly from the evidence that has been accumulated by U.S. surveillance and other means of data collection. This was something that was a misfire from the Palestinian side. All of that, packaged into a single presentation by the president at the old American Embassy in Tel Aviv, just spoke volumes of the support that the United States has for Israel, that the US is standing by Israel in this very difficult time. Manya Brachear Pashman: Let's talk about people who immediately assumed that it was an Israeli airstrike that caused that explosion at that hospital. Many did jump on board with that argument, including Jordan and Egypt. And those are countries with whom Israel has had peace agreements for quite some time, but they seem to embrace that story right away. What is going on with the the Arab nations? What has their response been to this violence? Jason Isaacson: It's profoundly disappointing. Lies have velocity and in the age of social media, enormous power, and circulation that really just can't be turned back without a huge effort to introduce the truth into the narrative. The lies that have been told about Israel for decades, have saturated the region and frankly, the world, and a lot of the international media as well, quite regrettably. Even in our own country. So it's easy to believe that if you've been told for decades, that Israel is a colonizer, Israel is an oppressor, Israel is heartless in its treatment of its Palestinian neighbors, then you see pictures of people carrying wounded people or bodies strewn about a courtyard in Gaza, knowing that Israel is attacking Gaza, because it's trying to root out the Hamas terrorists have attacked Israel just a few days before. It's easy to believe if you've got that background, and you've been hearing this and been raised on this kind of media saturation, that Israel is to blame. And it is only later that the facts come out, that the imagery that we have been now seeing on social media from a few sources, highly credible sources, what the United States government has now found through its own quite formidable means of data collection, that that this was not Israel, targeting a hospital or firing on a hospital. It was a Palestinian rocket that fell on this hospital while they were sending a barrage of rockets into Israel. There have been hundreds of Palestinian rockets and missiles that have fallen in Gaza and have killed Palestinians. This was the latest incident. It's horrible. The people of Gaza are suffering. The Palestinians are suffering because of the rule of Hamas. And the more that the region talks about that openly–instead of talking about it privately. AJC knows from our many years, including recently, of traveling across the Arab world and speaking to Arab leaders who know better, know the reality: that Israel is fighting ruthless terrorists, funded by, supported by, armed by Iran. And waging this war that is really their war, against these kinds of extremists who are hijacking a great faith and fighting in the name of a great faith when they are actually doing everything they possibly can to damage the reputation of and the standing and the principles of a great faith. And Israel is fighting this fight not only for itself and for its people, but frankly, for the possibility of peace and stability and prosperity in that region. I'm hopeful that at some point, it will be possible for the leaders of that region to step forward and say publicly what they have said so many times privately that they know that Israel's struggle is their struggle. And there have been a few assertions of this, I have to point out, in the last week and a half, there have been some statements that have identified by name, Hamas. I was struck by a statement made by the UAE ambassador to the UN. Statements that were issued on Twitter, by the Kingdom of Bahrain and by the United Arab Emirates a few days after the October 7 atrocities in Israel. But so many of the statements that we've seen in the last week, have been profoundly disappointing and hypocritical. Manya Brachear Pashman: You mentioned the actual threat of Iran to Arab nations. I'm curious what message Biden's visit sends to Iran and its terror proxies on the border with Lebanon? Jason Isaacson: Well, I very much hope that having the USS Gerald R. Ford in the eastern Mediterranean, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on its way as well. There was also, I believe, a fighter squadron that was being repositioned to the region. There are enormous military assets that were already in the region. But the US has made it very clear, President Biden, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin, in their visits to the region as well, have made it very clear that the US is telling the region as President Biden said, again and again, you know, my message to the region is: don't. Don't even think about the possibility of adding to this fight against Israel of joining this fight against Israel. The US will step forward. Whether the US will not only provide additional military hardware, as the President has offered, and there of course are many friends in Congress who are stepping forward right now to provide for that as well. But the US could also enter this fight, depending on the circumstance, on the possibility of a widening of the war. Should Iran make the tragic blunder of deciding to somehow enter into this fight in a more direct way, there would be a powerful response. I think the President has made that quite clear. Manya Brachear Pashman: Do you think Biden's visit will deter Hezbollah? Or are Iran and Hezbollah one in the same? Jason Isaacson: Closely connected, maybe not exactly one of the same, but clearly, Iran would like to see Hezbollah take a more, it appears, take a more aggressive posture. There have been some incursions that have been conducted by Hezbollah, or by people from the Hezbollah controlled territory of southern Lebanon into northern Israel, there have been the firings of certain missiles and mortars. Some of them are not the full scale kind of attack that Israel would need to respond to forcefully and that and that would actually represent a second front that hasn't happened. As of the time that you and I are speaking, let's hope that that doesn't happen. Let's hope that the messages that have been sent by the President, clearly messages sent by Israel, that it is prepared for any fight and will not allow its citizens of the North and the country as a whole to be invaded by by Hezbollah, it will resist powerfully and it will punish any incursion, any attack in a way that Israel has had to do in the past–at great cost. But Israel will defend itself, Israel will stand strong. And the United States will have its back as the President has said repeatedly and demonstrated by his latest visit, and the announcement that he made when he was in Israel this week. Manya Brachear Pashman: You know speaking of Iran, I want to go back to that, they have called for an oil embargo on Israel, how likely is that to happen? Jason Isaacson: I'd say pretty unlikely. I think that Iran's threats are hollow, and will be met by the oil suppliers from not only the region but from elsewhere, including Europe, including Azerbaijan. There are energy supplies that Israel produces, as you know, on its own through an abundant supply of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean. I'm not concerned about a cut off of energy to Israel. Manya Brachear Pashman: In Tel Aviv, President Biden announced that humanitarian aid – food, water, medical supplies – would start to flow to Gaza from Egypt. Prime Minister Netanyahu then added that Israel would prevent any aid from reaching Hamas. Why this turn of events, Jason? Jason Isaacson: My assumption is, in the early days of the fight against Hamas, there was a sense that by putting pressure on Gaza as a whole, Hamas could be induced to release the hostages, some 200 hostages that it is holding, that the Palestinian people would put pressure on Hamas, to do so, to save themselves. I believe that there was also a concern that providing anything, allowing anything to flow into Gaza, would provide the wherewithal for Hamas to continue to build the rockets and missiles and make other preparations, build out its infrastructure, and fuel its fight against Israel. So I think the idea was, as in many war situations, you know, cut them off, then move in and try to surgically, as surgically as possible, take out the leadership and, and dismantle the infrastructure of terror. But as the situation evolves, and as it's clear that the Palestinians are, are suffering from a lack of, of food or water power, I think the thinking has shifted with, with the United States and other countries offering to provide additional assistance. I think it's very clear that Israel feels also that their intention is not to harm the Palestinian people, their intention is to eliminate Hamas. Manya Brachear Pashman: So, Jason, I am speaking to you, actually, you are in Berlin right now. Can you tell me a little bit, tell our listeners a little bit about what you're hearing, what you're seeing there on that side of the ocean. Jason Isaacson: Of course, Manya. Before I came to Berlin, I was in Paris, briefly as well. And I know the Jewish communities in Paris and Berlin, elsewhere in Europe, are on edge. There have been large street demonstrations in London and Brussels, in Paris and elsewhere. There was a firebombing the night before you and I are having this conversation at a synagogue in Berlin. There was a teacher who was stabbed to death outside of Paris, a couple of days ago. There were two people who were shot to death in Brussels, as well. There have been other acts of violence. Also within a day of our conversation, Manya, there was a firebombing of a synagogue in Tunisia, which has a small Jewish community that's been, in that country for 2000 years. So there are Jewish communities that are feeling the fallout, the impact of the propaganda that has raced across the world, about Israel being responsible for the suffering of Palestinians. And supporters of the Palestinian cause have come to the streets. And some of them have come to the streets with knives and Molotov cocktails, and have expressed their anger, and targets have been Jews, not just Israelis. And this is dangerous, and it needs to be confronted, extremely directly and forcefully as it has been, for the most part, I would say, by police authorities, by federal authorities as well across Europe. AJC is very concerned about the well-being of Jewish communities in the diaspora as a result of what's happening in Israel and Gaza. We were seeing in the first hours and days of the attacks of October 7, expressions of sympathy from across the planet, striking expressions, powerful expressions. I will not forget the statements by Prime Minister Modi, for instance of India, the most populous nation on earth, expressing solidarity with Israel. But then in the days following that, really attention has shifted entirely, the narratives have changed. And now, what we're seeing more, are demonstrations in the street. There were demonstrations in the streets of solidarity with Israel in the first day or two, including here in Berlin. But, now we're seeing a very different and a very ugly, and a completely misplaced set of priorities and angers and prejudices against Jewish communities. So we need to do what we can, working with Jewish communities, with governments to provide protection to Jewish communities that are vulnerable. And we need to hear expressions of support, solidarity, and truth from governments around the world: what really is happening, what the threats really are, and standing by Jewish communities as we stand by the State of Israel as it recovers from the trauma of October 7. Manya Brachear Pashman: Thank you so much Jason, for joining us. Jason Isaacson: Thank you. Always a pleasure, Manya. Take care. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you missed last week's episodes – listen to: Yotam Polizer, the CEO of IsraAID, on how Israel's leading international humanitarian organization is responding to the immediate and long-term needs on the ground. And Mai Gutman, a 28 year old graduate student and member of AJC's Campus Global Board, who planned to join her friends at the Supernova music festival near Israel's border with Gaza on Saturday, October 7. But when relatives came to visit, she decided to celebrate Shabbat and Simchat Torah in Jerusalem instead—a change of plans that saved her life.

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