Podcasts about seeking

The Pentagon is in open chaos and the man in charge is the reason. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll — a Ukraine hawk, a drone-defense innovator, and a close ally of JD Vance — just walked into the Oval Office, resigned to President Trump personally, and told him exactly why. Pete Hegseth has frozen flag officer promotions, is reportedly paying people inside the Pentagon to troll Americans on X, and is dragging senior leaders back to Washington for another culture war TED Talk while the Iran war goes sideways. Paul Rieckhoff has been warning about this since the confirmation fight, and on News Nation with Connell McShane he lays out why Hegseth is on thinner ice than anyone else in the cabinet. Then the map. Massachusetts just handed Ed Markey another term over Marine veteran Seth Moulton in a primary where more than 60% of the state's independents were shut out entirely. That's the rigged two-party system in miniature — a general election decided by a closed primary, and moderates left homeless while both parties race to their poles. But there's a counter-current worth watching: independent veteran Senate candidates Todd Achilles in Idaho, Brian Bengs in South Dakota, and Seth Bodnar in Montana are all looking more competitive by the week. This one is a fast, sharp read on what's collapsing at the Pentagon and what's rising in the Senate map. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code INDEPENDENT to get $25 when you trade $25. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Iran was supposed to be over. It isn't. The ceasefire is going nowhere, 40% of the Navy is parked in the region, the tab is past $29 billion and climbing, and new reporting suggests as much as 70% of Iran's missile capacity is still standing. Meanwhile Ukraine just took the largest drone and missile barrage of the entire war and corporate media couldn't be bothered to lead with it. Paul sits down with Preston Stewart — West Point 2009, field artillery officer, two tours in Afghanistan, and one of the fastest-growing independent national security voices on YouTube — to get the no-BS read on where we actually are. They get into the Strait of Hormuz, the exaggerations coming out of both the Iranian regime and the Trump regime, why drones matter more than ballistic missiles right now, and how Ukraine's "kinetic sanctions" are quietly bleeding the Russian economy dry. They dig into Trump's weak hand in Beijing, Taiwan's window of vulnerability, the terrorism threat we've stopped paying attention to, and the dangerous partisan politicization of the National Guard on American streets. If you're tired of cable-news noise and want a briefing that sounds like it came from someone who's actually been on the ground, this is the conversation. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When you lose something, you have to seek it in order to find it. In the same way, when you ask God for an answer or solution to your situation, you have to actively look for the solution He has for you. Seeking is not a lack of faith; it is part of the faith process. Faith is not simply waiting for God to place the answer in your lap. Faith requires you to get up and seek the solution God has for you. __________ Matthew 7:7–8 KJV, Acts 17:27 NLT, Jeremiah 29:13–14 NLT __________ Partner with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com/partner Connect with Us: https://churchforentrepreneurs.com __________    

Today's Promise: Luke 11:9-10 Do you ever feel like you've prayed about something long enough and still don't have an answer? It's easy to become discouraged and give up. But Jesus gives us this powerful promise to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking. His message is clear: don't stop praying.   Prayer isn't a one-time conversation with God. Jesus calls us to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. Sometimes the answer doesn't come as quickly as we would like, but that doesn't mean God isn't working. Daniel waited 21 days for an answer to his prayer because spiritual warfare was taking place in the heavenly realm.   So, whatever you're praying about today, don't give up. Keep bringing it to the Lord. Keep trusting Him. Keep knocking on the door.   Remember the acronym PUSH: Pray Until Something Happens. God hears your prayers, and His answer is on the way. Keep asking, seeking, and knocking.

Preached at Tuesday Mid Week Service on 1st September, 2026.

When does the spiritual search end—and the actual living begin? Rev. Michael J.S. Carter returns to the Unity Manifest Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about consciousness, manifestation, spiritual maturity, channeling, AI, the nature of reality, and the difference between collecting knowledge and actually becoming the person your spiritual path is pointing toward. Michael and Gary explore why our perception can shape the world we experience, why making a real decision can change the direction of our lives, and why endless spiritual seeking can eventually become another way of avoiding transformation. They also discuss the Cube of Space, metaphysics, reincarnation, ancient astronaut theory, technology, human consciousness, and the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Michael ultimately brings the conversation back to a deceptively simple question: What do you actually want—and are you willing to live it? A grounded conversation about moving beyond belief and beginning to embody what you've learned.AppleSpotify

The waters are rough and Americans deserve a pathfinder who can actually read the map. Admiral James Stavridis — former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, former SOUTHCOM commander, and author of 2084: A Novel of Future War — returns to Independent Americans to cut through the noise on Trump's Iran roller coaster, the redirection of masked ICE agents into airport terminals, and the looming cyber threat almost no one in Washington is talking about. Paul and the Admiral trade a candid strategic assessment on the Strait of Hormuz, the thousand pounds of enriched uranium still unaccounted for, and the three specific things any serious observer should be watching right now. They also get real about the culture problem inside ICE, the checks that could still hold a rogue executive accountable — the courts, Congress, NATO, and the American people at the ballot box in November — and why the executive branch always wins the sprint but rarely the race. The Admiral makes the case for a centrist party that doesn't yet exist, names the cyber tower nobody's watching, and closes with a reminder about the young Americans in harm's way tonight. This is exactly the kind of rigorous, non-partisan, veteran-led analysis the rigged two-party system doesn't want you to hear. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sabbath problem. What power was casting out demons? The unpardonable sin. Seeking for a sign. Who was Jesus' mother?

Plus: The Last Us Troops Leave Iraq. “Who Talks Like That?” The Four-Star General on Trump's Greenland Threats, Davos Humiliation, and ICE Moving Like It's Mosul.  General Barry McCaffrey has seen more war and more national security decision-making than almost anyone alive. A retired four-star, four combat tours, three Purple Hearts, veteran of the National Security Council under three administrations. In this replay, he sits down with Paul Rieckhoff for a no-BS conversation about a moment most Americans still haven't fully absorbed: the U.S. is no longer trusted by its closest allies, our institutions have been hollowed out, and the most trusted institution in American life — the armed forces — is being dragged into domestic politics in ways that should alarm every citizen, regardless of party. McCaffrey walks through the politicization of the military and federal law enforcement, ICE units operating like infantry in Los Angeles, the 11th Airborne on standby for Minneapolis, and what the Insurrection Act would actually mean if Trump pulls that lever. He unpacks Davos, Greenland, the humiliation of our closest allies, and why "NATO is dead" is not hyperbole. He reflects on the quiet exit of the last U.S. troops from Iraq, the political failures that defined the forever wars, and the 60,000 Americans killed and wounded in the war on terror. This is the kind of intelligence-grade analysis independents are starving for — grounded in decades of service, delivered straight. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You can enjoy exclusive and intense erotic audio by grabbing your copy of the Wylde Erotic App on the Apple Store.When tempers clash, hidden desires surface. Simon's world has been turned upside down by his family's recent move to a picturesque house near the beach. Eager to take advantage of his new surroundings before his bodyguard arrives, Simon grabs a surfboard and heads to the waves. But his attempt at surfing ends in a collision with an angry young man, sparking an intense confrontation. In "Unveiling Desires," Simon's accidental encounter leads to a heated argument that shifts into something far more electrifying. Seeking solace under a beach shower, Simon unexpectedly bumps into the same angry young man. As their tempers flare once more, the tension between them ignites into a ferocious passion, revealing a side of Simon he never knew existed. Caught in a whirlwind of raw emotions and newfound desires, Simon must navigate this uncharted territory of his sexuality. Will this explosive connection with a stranger lead to something more, or will it remain a fleeting moment of intense discovery? Join Simon on a journey of self-exploration and fiery passion, where every wave brings him closer to uncovering his true self. Dive into "Unveiling Desires" and experience a tale of unexpected romance, sizzling encounters, and the awakening of hidden desires. Note: This story contains mature themes and is intended for adult readers only. Let the tides of passion sweep you away. Download "Unveiling Desires" today and immerse yourself in a world of erotic discovery and unrestrained desire!

Stoic Lessons for Men Over 40, 50 & 60Episode SummarySome of the most important battles you'll ever fight aren't happening around you.They're happening within you.Between fear and courage. Discipline and comfort. Acceptance and resistance. Seeking approval and trusting yourself. And ultimately, between the man you've been and the man you're trying to become.In this Mindset Academy Monday episode of the Over 40 Alpha Podcast, Funk Roberts explores nine internal battles every man must learn to face, using lessons inspired by the Stoic philosophers Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus and Seneca.Stoicism isn't about becoming emotionless, shutting people out or trying to handle everything alone. Funk explains why strong men still need Brotherhood, family, friends, mentors, coaches, and sometimes professional help. The difference is that while others can stand beside you, there are certain internal battles they cannot win for you.You'll learn how to deal with failure without allowing it to define you, handle being misunderstood, process loss, make difficult decisions without certainty, confront your own weaknesses, live with uncertainty, and stop handing other people control over your confidence.And ultimately, you'll discover why the greatest battle is deciding which man you're building through the choices you make every day.Because after 40, 50 and 60, you have something your younger self didn't have:Experience.You've succeeded. You've failed. You've lost people. You've made mistakes. You've watched plans fall apart. And you've hopefully gained wisdom along the way.The question now is:What are you going to do with that wisdom?What You'll LearnWhy your greatest battles often happen within youWhat Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus and Seneca can teach modern menThe difference between healthy solitude and isolationWhy failure doesn't make you a failureHow to stop needing everyone to understand your decisionsWhy Stoicism does NOT mean suppressing grief or emotionHow to make difficult decisions when you don't have certaintyWhy confronting your own weaknesses is essential for growthThe difference between preparing for the future and obsessing over itHow seeking approval gives other people control over your confidenceWhy your everyday choices are constantly building your characterThe Stoic question that can change how you handle difficult situations: “What is actually within my control?Join The Over 40 Alpha Brotherhood Today - https://www.over40alpha.com/

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Time Arist Title Duration Label Listeners 0:00:00 Kristoffer Gildenlow Rendering 3:44 [humanised] 2026 Kristoffer Gildenlow 37 0:03:44 1156 1:10 40 0:09:08 Resistor Arrival 7:38 Underground 2017 38 0:16:46 The Samurai of Prog End of the Day 8:54 The 7 Voyages of Sinbad 2026 Alessandro Di Benedetti 38 0:29:11 Pattern-Seeking Animals Maybe All a Dream 8:50 Grimalkin 2026 40 0:38:01 Howard Jones Dream into Action 3:45 Dream into Action 1985 Howard Jones 41 0:41:46 Musicinwidescreen ID2 0:09 Hugo Flores 2100 43 0:41:54 Factory of Dreams Transmission Fails 3:53 Poles 2008 Hugo Flores Prog Rock 43 0:45:47 Pattern-Seeking Animals Jade Sky 4:48 Grimalkin 2026 37 0:53:26 Kevin Gilbert Waiting 4:55 Thud Remastered 2015 Kevin Gilbert PRA Records 37 0:59:28 Mile Marker Zero Best is Yet to Come 7:37 Coming of Age 2024 37 1:07:07 Kingcrow In Crescendo 10:40 In Crescendo 2013 Diego Cafolla; Diego Marchesi Sensory 36 1:17:47 IT God Is Dead 3:28 IT – Progdreams VIII Live 2020 37 1:21:15 It Bites Ghosts 4:43 The Tall Ships 2008 It Bites 38 1:25:58 Pattern-Seeking Animals Slowly Falls the Flying Man 8:28 Grimalkin 2026 40 1:28:22 Pattern-Seeking Animals Things I Don’t Do 2:35 Grimalkin 2026 40 1:31:45 Enchant Circles 7:52 The Great Divide 2014 Koch Records 39 1:39:37 A Perfect Circle Get The Lead Out 6:00 Eat The Elephant 2018 39 1:45:37 A Chinese Firedrill Circles 6:02 Circles 2006 Joey Vera Prog Rock Records 39 1:54:43 IQ Born Brilliant 5:15 Dark Matter 2004 IQ Primal Vinyl 38 2:00:13 The Devil’s Staircase Rule 34 3:58 The Devil’s Staircase 39 2:04:11 Pattern-Seeking Animals Slowly Falls the Flying Man 8:28 Grimalkin 2026 39 2:16:16 The Twenty Committee The Cycle Undone (w Annie Haslam) 13:29 The Cycle Undone 2023 self released 41 2:30:02 Chris Stars Align 6:15 City Of Light 2012 Christian Bruuin 39 2:36:16 Herin White Dandelions 3:34 Hiding In Plain Sight Matthew Parmenter 42 2:39:50 Pattern-Seeking Animals Traveler on the Wrong Road Home 4:52 Grimalkin 2026 39 2:49:27 Kristoffer Gildenlow Rendering 3:44 [humanised] 2026 Kristoffer Gildenlow 35 2:49:36 Pattern-Seeking Animals I Dream the World 3:27 Grimalkin 2026 35 2:53:03 Kristoffer Gildenlow Rendering 3:44 [humanised] 2026 Kristoffer Gildenlow 38

In a Way-Seeking Mind talk, a sangha member shares their personal narrative, key turning points, and how the Dharma has moved in their life. Manuel reflects on the experiences that brought him to Zen practice and how it continues to shape his path.

Given on the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 2026.

Daniel's Prayer Was “seeking him {God} by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting . . . ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God . . . we have sinned and done wrong'” MESSAGE SUMMARY: There are times when you need clarity, understanding, knowledge and insights from God about the specific issues that you, your family, your church, or your country are facing. In your personal relationship with God as a Jesus Follower, the Lord will speak to you; but sometimes it takes your listening and fasting to hear Him. For example, when Joel received a Word when the land was to be destroyed, he called a fast (i.e. Joel 1:14): “Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.”. Some things you are facing in your life must be dealt with by both prayer and fasting. Fasting releases a spiritual power – in your weakness, God is made strong in your life. Daniel's prayer, from Daniel 9:3-5, provides a context for asking direction from God: “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.'".   TODAY'S PRAYER: Lord, Sabbath rest is truly an unbelievable gift! Thank you that there is nothing I can do to earn your love; it comes without any strings attached. As I close my eyes for these few minutes before you, all I can say is, thank you! In Jesus' name, amen.  Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day (p. 133). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. TODAY'S AFFIRMATION: Today, I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, I AM RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Joel 1:13-16; Matthew 6:16; Daniel 9:3-7; Psalms138:1-8. A WORD FROM THE LORD WEBSITE: www.AWFTL.org. THIS SUNDAY'S AUDIO SERMON: You can listen to Archbishop Beach's Current Sunday Sermon: “Is Your Life's Focus on Jesus the Narrow Door and the Only Door to Your Eternal Life?”, at our Website: https://awordfromthelord.org/listen/    DONATE TO AWFTL: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0Ui000000DglsqEAB

Series - Hebrews: The Supremacy of the Son of God Text - Heb 11:13-16 by Paul Abeyta, pastor | Lord's Day Morning | 8.30.26

Ralph speaks with Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff for Colin Powell, about the fall of the American Empire and self-proclaimed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. Then we welcome the CEO and co-founder of the Canadian-based organization Corporate Knights, Toby Heap, to break down Trump's unprecedented trade war with our closest ally. Plus, Ralph has some choice words for Hakeem Jeffries and his meeting with Jared Kushner and for Hillary Clinton and her take on the war with Iran.Lawrence Wilkerson is a retired U.S. Army colonel. Over his 31 years of service, Colonel Wilkerson served as Secretary of State Colin Powell's Chief of Staff from 2002 to 2005, and Special Assistant to General Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993. Colonel Wilkerson also served as Deputy Director and Director of the U.S. Marine Corps War College at Quantico, Virginia, and for fifteen years he was the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Government and Public Policy at the College of William and Mary. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, senior advisor to the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and co-founder of the All-Volunteer Force Forum.Two-thirds of the world now thinks that we are an enemy of their state. Two-thirds of the world. And it happens to be the two-third that has the greatest amount of the GDP in the world.Colonel Lawrence WilkersonI've lived for 81 years, almost 82, and I've watched my country go to hell right in front of my face… And the billionaires who want all of this to happen, they do not want a democracy. A democracy is fallible. A democracy can't beat China. A democracy can't beat Russia. A democracy can't even beat Iran. They want a technocracy that is run by them, armed by them, technical revolution by them. They want all of this, and oh by the way they want to live to 150 while they're doing it too.Colonel Lawrence WilkersonEvery freaking hour they create a series of war crimes in Iran. Every freaking hour they perpetrate war crimes in the Persian Gulf. Every freaking hour they perpetrate war crimes in Lebanon with Israel. “What's new?,” I want to say. We are a criminal state. There is no other way to describe it. We are a criminal state. We pay no attention whatsoever to domestic or international law. Only when it benefits the person who is doing the deed do we pay any attention at all.Colonel Lawrence WilkersonToby Heaps is the CEO and co-founder of Corporate Knights, and Editor-in-Chief of Corporate Knights magazine. He spearheaded the first global ranking of the world's 100 most sustainable corporations in 2005, and in 2007 coined the term “clean capitalism.”What we're seeing is a sort of political physics—for every action is an equal and opposite reaction. Canada has in many ways benefited and rallied around our nationhood. We're often not the most boisterous or loudest type of folks. But this continued disrespect for our statehood and the continued attacks and the unreasonableness and the unfair play, our prime minister said something to the effect of: when the United States signs something, it's in pencil. It's really denigrating the United States' reputation globally and in Canadians' minds.Toby HeapsNews 8/28/26* This week, the left-wing insurgency in the Democratic Party scored several new victories. First, NBC reports that in Oklahoma, N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Markwayne Mullin, who Trump selected to lead the Department of Homeland Security following the resignation of Secretary Kristi Noem. Thomas will go up against Republican Congressman Kevin Hern in November. Unfortunately, Thomas stands little chance of winning the state, which has not elected a Democratic Senator since 1990. Thomas is a member of the Chickasaw Nation and identifies as a Democratic Socialist, but is “not yet” a member of DSA.* Next, in California, Democracy Now! reports progressive state lawmaker Aisha Wahab has prevailed in the special election to fill the seat vacated by disgraced former Congressman Eric Swalwell. This piece notes that Wahab “overcame a flood of attack ads from pro-Israel groups,” which sought to bolster her Democratic primary rival, Melissa Hernandez. In an interview, Wahab said that she “appreciates” voters in her district for “seeing through” the “lies that were spread by AIPAC.” Wahab will make history as the first Afghan American in Congress and has called for the United States to engage with the Taliban government and attempt to “[steer] them in the right direction” on human rights.* In Georgia, the Hill reports another progressive – Everton Blair – won the special election to fill the seat of Congressman David Scott, who passed away in April during his 12th term in the seat. Blair, the former chair of the Gwinnett County School Board, defeated Scott's daughter Marcye Scott. However, Blair will only represent this seat until the end of the year. Beginning in January, State Rep. Jasmine Clark, who won the May primary, will fill the seat for the 120th Congress.* Meanwhile, in the Cornhusker State, the Nebraska Examiner reports that the “Legal Marijuana NOW U.S. Senate candidate Mike Marvin announced he can't put more ‘energy' into the Senate race because of health issues and endorsed nonpartisan U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn.” Marvin will remain on the ballot, but is “urging all who supported [him] to now support…Osborn.” This piece notes that this announcement comes on heels of reporting by Flatwater Free Press showing that two staffers from Osborn's 2024 independent Senate campaign joined the Legal Marijuana NOW executive board and sought to dissolve the party from the inside. This, combined with the fact that former Democratic Senate nominee Cindy Burbank paid Mike Marvin's $1,740 candidate filing fee and dropped out of the race one day after the secretary of state verified Osborn's signatures to be on the fall ballot has fueled speculation that these were coordinated efforts to clear the field for Osborn. Marvin for his part disputes this and says he never planned to leave the race. Osborn is quoted saying “We hope to earn the support of the LMN voters and hope that we can represent their concerns well in the US Senate.”* In more third party news, Trump has launched new broadsides against the emerging ex-MAGA clique – consisting of Tucker Carlson, Congressman Thomas Massie, and former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. According to the Hill, Trump attacked the group, said to be exploring the possibility of founding a new right-wing party, calling Carlson “a loser,” Greene “a highly neurotic woman” and Massie a “real JERK” on Truth Social. The president added, “What a team this would be, THREE LOSERS, and a pocketful of change!...The only chance they have is to join the Radical Left Dumocrats, and try breaking into the Primary System. To all of them I say, PRAISE BE TO ALLAH!” The proximate cause of this latest flare-up between the camps is Trump's decision to allow in 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to be imported in the next 90 days, a move Massie called “worse than socialism.” Greene, who has been perhaps the most vocal defector from the MAGA camp, said “He attacks us with such vitriol because we actually are everything he claimed to be…he has proven as President that he is nothing more than a neocon puppet for Israel, corporations, big donors with special interests, and his dear friends in the Epstein class…We never changed, Trump did.”* Another story from this side of the aisle comes to us from NOTUS, which reports that an “unknown actor” has stolen over $16,000 from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). This incident, alternatively characterized as a “theft” from a “foreign country” or simply a “fraud,” occurred in early July, when the NRCC “attempted to pay a bill from Ranger Wi-Fi Consulting, a Texas-based firm that specializes in helping clients ‘optimize their wireless networks while ensuring healthy security measures are in place.'” Seeking to assuage the fears of donors, NRCC spokesman Will Kiley told the press that “Protecting donor funds is a top priority for the NRCC,” and vowed that the committee is “working to recover the funds, and…taken steps to ensure it can't happen again.” Listeners might remember that in July, the DNC admitted that they had fallen prey to a scammer, losing almost $30,000 in the process. It would seem that these committees do not have functional safeguards against such schemes.* Our final stories this week all deal with the Middle East. First up, Axios reports that while AIPAC was gearing up for a major ad blitz in Michigan against Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed and on behalf of Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers, those plans have apparently been iced at the behest of the Rogers campaign. According to this story, Rogers believes that AIPAC spending in the Democratic primary – over $30 million on behalf of El-Syed's rival Haley Stevens – actually helped boost El-Sayed's candidacy, making his opposition to AIPAC a “centerpiece of his…campaign, using the group's spending against him to portray Democratic opponent Haley Stevens as beholden to the pro-Israel lobby.” Rogers fears the same fate, so he has sought to keep his distance from AIPAC while his allies are urging AIPAC to “get involved without putting the group's name front and center.” However, Rogers' attempts to put some daylight between his campaign and AIPAC has resulted in the latter turning cold towards the Republican candidate. Republicans now worry that AIPAC will “sit out the general election entirely.” As for the perception of AIPAC in Michigan, a recent poll found that “55% of Michigan voters oppose continued U.S. aid to Israel.”* On the other end of the Michigan political spectrum, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding that he “ensure the immediateand permanent release of U.S. citizen Sama Safi, a 20-year-old university student with a severe complex chronic health condition, who the Israeli military has arbitrarily and wrongfully detained since June 2nd.” This letter goes on to describe how “armed Israeli soldiers raided her family's home in the occupied West Bank in the middle of the night and tore her from her family,” and that since then, she has “suffered under appalling conditions in Israeli military detention including “frequent physical assault, shackling, and the throwing of gas and stun grenades into already overcrowded and poorly ventilated cells,” among other horrors. 40 more members of Congress signed this letter, including six senators, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey and Chris Van Hollen among them. 85 civic groups also signed onto this demand, ranging from faith-based groups to human rights organizations and beyond.* In the region itself, a broad coalition of Muslim states – including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and, perhaps most notably, the United Arab Emirates – have issued a categorical condemnation of Israel's new “E1” settlement plan. This plan relates to new settlement activities east of occupied East Jerusalem and the signatories decry the plan as constituting “a dangerous escalation that further advances settlement expansion and annexation and undermines the geographical contiguity of the Occupied Palestinian Territory…thereby threatening the viability and realization of an independent, contiguous Palestinian State based on the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.” The UAE was the most significant state in the region to sign onto the Trump-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, which sought to normalize relations between Israel and its neighbors at the expense of the Palestinians. Saudi Arabia was said to be on the verge of signing the accords prior to October 7th and Israel's subsequent genocidal military campaign in Gaza. The UAE taking a new stand against Israel on behalf of the Palestinian cause is widely seen as the final death knell of the Abraham Accords and the beginning of a new era of relations in the Middle East.* Finally, the Economist reports that a group of seven top officials within the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is consolidating power in Iran. The man rumored to be leading this junta is Mohsen Rezaei, the new national-security adviser, former presidential candidate and the longest-serving chief of the IRGC, having led the corps though the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s. Others include the head of the navy, currently overseeing Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the IRGC's commander-in-chief and founder of the Quds Force. Notably absent from this group is Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. This piece judiciously avoids making any definite predictions about whether this new clique will rule as hardliners or pragmatists, but emphasizes that the late Ali Khamenei expertly “balanced the competing interests of his realm” while these military men favor action.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

The Path of SurrenderWhat does it really mean to surrender?To many people, surrender sounds like defeat—giving up control, becoming passive, or allowing someone else to dictate your life.But the Bhagavad-gita presents something very different.At the conclusion of His teachings to Arjuna, Krishna gives perhaps His most famous and far-reaching instruction:“Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.”But surrender doesn't mean running away from life.Arjuna surrendered—and then acted.The change was not simply in what he did, but in why he did it and whom he was living for.This brings us to the culmination of the Bhagavad-gita's teaching.We begin by understanding:I am not this temporary body or mind. I am an eternal spiritual being.We learn that action is unavoidable, but that selfishly motivated action binds us. We learn that the restless mind can become either our friend or our enemy. And we discover that spiritual realization ultimately means awakening our forgotten relationship with Krishna.Then comes the question:How do we actually live this understanding?The answer is śaraṇāgati—the path of surrender.Accept what nourishes our spiritual life.Reject what obstructs it.Trust in Krishna's protection.Depend upon Him as our maintainer.Offer ourselves in His service.Cultivate genuine humility.This isn't passive surrender. It is an active reorientation of our life away from:“How can everything serve me?” toward: “How can my life become an offering?”It is a conscious change in the center of your life:From “What can I get?”to “What can I give?”From living primarily for ourselves to making our work, relationships, abilities and daily activities an offering to the Supreme.And this is where the Bhagavad-gita moves from philosophy to practice.Hearing. Chanting. Remembering Krishna. Serving. Seeking spiritual association. Offering our work and daily activities. Cultivating humility. Learning to live for something greater than ourselves.Ultimately, Krishna does not force Arjuna to accept any of it. After giving His instruction, He tells Arjuna to consider what he has heard—and then freely choose what he will do.Because genuine love requires freedom.The Bhagavad-gita begins with a man who doesn't know what to do.It ends with a man who knows who he is, whom he belongs to, and what he wants to live for.Perhaps that is what it really means to have a guide for life.Chapters 00:00:00 Spiritual Identity, Action, and the Foundation of Gita Practice ‎ 00:04:06 Krishna's Final Teaching: Change the Purpose of Action ‎ 00:08:35 Saranagati: Surrender as Taking Refuge‎ 00:11:36 The Six Practices of Surrender ‎ 00:20:00 Active Devotion Through Sadhana Bhakti ‎ 00:22:52 Association, Social Pressure, and Spiritual Community ‎ 00:27:10 A Daily Example of Sadhana and the Value of Service ‎ 00:34:02 Free Will, Gratitude, and Humble Chanting ‎#BhagavadGita #GuideForLife #Krishna #Surrender #Saranagati #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualWisdom #SpiritualLife #SelfRealization

Fortune behaves however she pleases, as Seneca put it.

This week on Horror Hill, descend beneath the streets of Salem for Henry Kuttner's classic “The Salem Horror”, a tale of witchcraft, forbidden knowledge, cosmic evil, and the terrible designs concealed just beneath the surface of the ordinary. Seeking solitude in an aging Salem house, a novelist discovers a secret chamber buried behind the walls of his cellar, a forgotten room belonging to a witch whose name has haunted the city for centuries. Within its strange geometric designs, he finds something he desperately needs: silence, concentration, and inspiration unlike anything he has experienced before. As forgotten dreams, whispered legends, and increasingly ominous warnings begin to converge, the sanctuary beneath his home starts to feel less like a workspace and more like a doorway. And somewhere beyond that doorway, something ancient may have been waiting a very long time for someone to open it.Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chillingtalesfordarknights/

Paul Rieckhoff sounded the alarm on Pete Hegseth before he was confirmed, and everything he warned about is now playing out in real time. The acting secretary of culture war is purging leaders, driving out women and Democrats, extending deployments without honor, and turning the U.S. military into a loyalty test for MAGA. The USS Lincoln has been stranded at sea for nine months. Two more destroyers aren't coming home. Families are being gutted. Recruiting and retention are cratering. And when the Army Chief of Staff wanted to follow protocol on an unauthorized helicopter flyby of Kid Rock's Tennessee estate, he was fired without explanation. In this Media Blitz episode, Paul joins Jacob Soboroff on MS Now for a no-BS breakdown of what Hegseth's culture war is doing to national security from the inside out. He connects the reporting from PRIA and the Washington Post to a bigger structural rot: a military built on trust that no longer trusts its leadership, a chain of command being reshaped around fealty instead of competence, and a generation of service academy graduates so morally alienated they're filing as conscientious objectors. If you care about who gets sent where, why, and whether they come home — this one is for you. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There is a sentence here from St. Isaac that overturns almost everything we are inclined to think about asceticism: You suppose these things were ordained simply to oblige you to labor. We imagine the vigil primarily as something difficult. Sleep is surrendered. The body is constrained. Psalms are prayed while the world sleeps. Nature protests and the monk remains standing before God. Looked at from the outside, it appears to be an extraordinary act of discipline. But Isaac tells us that if this is all we see, we have not yet understood the vigil. The question is not how much a man can endure for God. The question is what begins to happen within the heart of a man who desires God enough to seek Him in the night. Something is born there. This is why Isaac speaks so fiercely about the following day. The tragedy would not simply be that we failed in some ascetical rule. The tragedy would be that we received something precious and then lived carelessly enough to lose it. Seeking the One Who Has Already Come to Us The night vigil is born from desire. The monk rises because Someone is there. This is what distinguishes Christian asceticism from mere religious exertion. We are not trying to force our way toward an absent God. We are responding to the God who has already drawn near, already called us, already awakened desire within us. The Beloved has come seeking us. And eventually the heart begins seeking Him. There comes a moment in the spiritual life when prayer is no longer adequately described as obligation. The language of duty becomes too small. A man discovers within himself a hunger for silence because silence allows him to hear more clearly. He desires solitude because solitude removes the thousand competing claims upon his attention. He rises in the night because there are hours when the world has become quiet enough for the heart to recognize what it has always desired. Isaac knows this experience. This is why he speaks of Scripture as well. Reading is not merely preparation for prayer or the acquisition of religious knowledge. Scripture “sows” something within the soul. It gathers the scattered mind. It irrigates prayer. It plants the remembrance of God. It makes the understanding subtle enough to perceive things that previously escaped it. Scripture, silence, prayer, vigil—all begin converging upon the one thing necessary. Christ Himself. And once the heart begins to taste this, the whole ordering of life must change. The Day Must Become the Guardian of the Night Here Isaac becomes extraordinarily demanding. What sense is there, he asks, in sowing throughout the night only to scatter the seed during the day? We stand before God in darkness, struggling to gather the mind. Perhaps after a long while the thoughts settle. Something softens. The Name descends more deeply. Scripture opens itself in a way that cannot easily be explained. A stillness appears that we could never manufacture. Then morning comes. And we throw ourselves back into dispersion. Conversation. Curiosity. News. Opinions. Tasks that did not need to be done. Encounters that did not need to occur. Words that did not need to be spoken. The endless grazing of the mind among things. Isaac's question is devastatingly simple: Why would you do this? Why labor through the night to gather what you willingly scatter during the day? This reveals something essential about the monastic heart. Vigil cannot be isolated from the rest of life. There cannot be one life before God and another life afterward. Isaac says that we must place “no wall of separation” between the night and the day. That phrase is astonishing. The stillness of the night is meant to flow into the day. The remembrance of God cultivated in darkness must become the hidden atmosphere in which we move beneath the light of the sun. The silence of the cell must follow us. The Name must remain near. Our encounters, our speech, our work, even the manner in which we allow ourselves to think must begin to be governed by one question: Will this help me remain with the One whom I have found? This is not narrowness. It is love. Love Makes a Man Careful When something becomes precious to us, we become careful around it. This perhaps explains Isaac's asceticism better than almost anything else. The Fathers guard the senses because something precious has been entrusted to the heart. They guard speech because words can disturb what silence has gathered. They flee unnecessary encounters because the mind can quickly become populated by images, arguments, memories, anxieties, and judgments. They restrain curiosity because the heart cannot gaze simultaneously in every direction and remain simple before God. From outside, such a life may appear severe. From within, it is tenderness. A man in love does not experience every renunciation as deprivation. Some things simply become less interesting because something infinitely more beautiful has appeared. This is why the ascetical life is so counterintuitive. We ordinarily construct our days around what must be accomplished and then attempt to fit prayer somewhere within them. Isaac reverses the order. Order the day around what must not be lost. What if the most important thing that happened today occurred while the world was sleeping? What if the deepest work was not something we accomplished but the quiet gathering of the heart before God? What if the purpose of tomorrow were, in part, simply not to lose it? Then discernment changes. We begin asking not merely whether something is sinful, permissible, useful, interesting, or productive. We begin asking whether it preserves the heart's capacity for God. This is a much more demanding question. “You Would Have Embraced Jesus' Bosom” And then Isaac says something almost unbearably beautiful. Had the monk allowed his daytime life to correspond to the meditation of the night, had he placed no division between them, Isaac says that “in a short time you would have embraced Jesus' bosom.” Here the entire meaning of vigil is unveiled. Not achievement. Not spiritual heroism. Not mastery over sleep. The bosom of Jesus. Communion. Intimacy. Rest in the Beloved. Everything else exists for this. We constrain ourselves because we desire freedom from everything that prevents love. We become silent because we desire to hear. We remain awake because we desire to see. We read because we desire the mind of Christ. We guard ourselves because we have discovered something worth guarding. Even the night itself becomes sacramental in this sense. The darkness strips things of their urgency. The machinery of the world slows. The identities we carry during the day become less important. There is less to perform and less to defend. There is simply the creature before the Creator. The beloved before the Beloved. And the Name. Lord Jesus Christ. The New Life Begins in the Night Isaac finally speaks of those who desire “knowledge of the new life.” That is what vigil opens before us. A new life. Not merely a more disciplined version of the old one. Perhaps this is why the call to stillness can become stronger rather than weaker as the spiritual life deepens. The field of vision narrows. Things once regarded as indispensable reveal themselves as secondary. Activities that once seemed important begin to feel strangely weightless. Even good works must find their proper place. Not because love has diminished. Because desire has become concentrated. One thing is necessary. The night teaches this with a clarity the day rarely permits. And so perhaps Isaac's teaching on vigil reaches far beyond the question of how many hours we sleep. He is teaching us how to construct an entire life around the remembrance of God. Receive the night as gift. Read until the mind is gathered. Call upon the Name. Stand before God when nothing seems to be happening. Remain. And when something begins to awaken within you—some tenderness, some compunction, some clarity, some quiet awareness of the One who has been waiting for you—do not rush away from it. Guard it. Carry it into the morning. Let your speech become quieter because of it. Let your choices become simpler. Let unnecessary things fall away. Let the day itself become an extension of the vigil. For the purpose of the vigil was never simply that we should remain awake. It was that we should awaken. And having awakened, that we should refuse to return to sleep. The Fathers went into the night because they had begun to glimpse the astonishing truth hidden beneath all asceticism: God is worth seeking. God is worth waiting for. God is worth arranging an entire life around. And once the heart has begun to discover Him in the silence, wisdom consists largely in learning not to lose during the day what Love has given us in the night. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:21:49 Ambrose Little: It's supposed to make your head hurt.

What if the thing you're avoiding is exactly what you should pursue? Jack Cai broke three world records solving Rubik's Cubes blindfolded, for teh same reason America suppsoedly went to the moon. "Not because it is easy, but because it is hard" This episode explores the mindset shift that happens when you stop asking "How can I make this easier?" and start asking "What's so hard that almost no one else is doing it?" Jack shares his five-year journey from curiosity to world record, the habit systems that made elite performance possible, and the surprising question that emerged after he achieved his goal: now what? We discuss deliberate practice, the introvert's edge in mastery, and why the hardest problems often offer the best opportunities for people willing to embrace discomfort. Reframe difficulty as a competitive advantage, not a barrier Build systems that make extraordinary performance automatic over time After winning, redefine success on your own terms The remarkable life isn't found in avoiding hard things—it's found in seeking them deliberately. SPONSORS ☺️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MOD.com⁠ Prescription Modafinil for energy and focus. Free consultation, free shipping and 10% off Promo code PSYCHOLOGY at ⁠MOD.com⁠ UPGRADE to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Premium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:00 The purpose of the preliminary prayers is to pacify obstacles to achieving full enlightenment and the complete qualities of cessation and realization, for oneself and others.00:11:14 Lama Tsongkhapa emphasized bodhicitta in every teaching. Seeking enlightenment for oneself alone results in a limited realization. One must seek enlightenment to benefit all sentient beings.00:43:52 Buddhas liberate sentient beings by revealing the ultimate truth and reality, which is the teaching of the perfection of wisdom. This is the heart of the 84,000 teachings of the Buddha.01:21:15 Practicing kindness, forgiveness, tolerance, and rejoicing in others' happiness keep the mind peaceful and joyful. Even without deep realizations, these basic practices make one a good human being and bring peace to the world. Ultimately, realizing emptiness—the heart of the Heart Sutra—leads to liberation from samsara.01:41:16 Without depending on the guru appearing in ordinary aspect, even if there are countless buddhas, they cannot guide you to enlightenment. The guru in ordinary aspect is most precious.02:47:42 In daily life, practice mindfulness of looking at the nature of phenomena as empty. This helps control delusions from arising. Even if one doesn't have realizations, strong faith in Lama Tsongkhapa's explanation of emptiness gives hope to realize it in the future.03:27:07 In this retreat, even if one is unable to finish 100,000 migtsemas, if one achieves realization of guru devotion, one will have succeeded. That's the main goal, the main objective of doing this Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga. We're not looking for the number of mantras; we're looking for realizations.04:07:03 Rinpoche leads extensive dedications.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Five years after the bombing at Abbey Gate, 13 Gold Star families are still waiting for a real, bipartisan accounting of what happened during the withdrawal from Afghanistan — and of the two decades of war that led to it. Paul Rieckhoff sits down with Connell McShane on News Nation for the weekly Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Wednesday hit and refuses to let the anniversary pass as another partisan food fight. He walks through what he calls the great American betrayal of Afghanistan, the Afghan allies still hung out to dry at home and abroad, and why an honest after-action review matters more than another round of finger-pointing. From there, the conversation pivots to the story the legacy media keeps missing: independents are now the plurality in sixteen states, roughly 48% of the country, while Republicans and Democrats sit at 27% each. Ten thousand Americans leave the two parties every single week. Paul breaks down the new farm team of independent veteran candidates — Todd Achilles up 5 on Jim Risch in Idaho, Seth Bodnar in Montana, competitive races in Nebraska and South Dakota — and explains why a single independent win in November could break the logjam the way Joe Manchin, Angus King, and Jesse Ventura have shown is possible. This is the map of the movement the MAGA machine and the DNC both want you to ignore. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Principle 49, Matthew – Seeking the Truth    Matthew 21:12-22:14    We should not allow what we want to believe to cause us to reject what is God's truth. Support the show

Seeking three quiet months away from New York City, Jeremy retreats to an isolated farm in rural New Jersey with little more than a roomful of books and plans to spend the summer immersed in the classics of Gothic literature. At first, Poroth Farm seems ideal. His landlords, Sarr and Deborah Poroth, are reserved but welcoming, the countryside is peaceful, and Jeremy finally has all the solitude he could want. Then the natural rhythms of the farm begin to falter. Something strange moves through the woods. Animals behave in ways Jeremy cannot explain. Familiar creatures become suddenly unfamiliar. And as the summer wears on, Jeremy's comfortable skepticism is tested by a mounting series of incidents that seem increasingly difficult to dismiss as coincidence, superstition, or imagination. Surrounded by the very horror stories he came there to study, Jeremy begins to confront a far more disturbing possibility: perhaps the darkest ideas preserved in old books were never entirely fictional.T.E.D. Klein's “The Events at Poroth Farm” is a masterful slow burn of isolation, paranoia, cosmic dread, and creeping transformation, now presented as a standalone audio horror release and performed by Erik Peabody, longtime host of Horror Hill.Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chillingtalesfordarknights/

Seeking three quiet months away from New York City, Jeremy retreats to an isolated farm in rural New Jersey with little more than a roomful of books and plans to spend the summer immersed in the classics of Gothic literature. At first, Poroth Farm seems ideal. His landlords, Sarr and Deborah Poroth, are reserved but welcoming, the countryside is peaceful, and Jeremy finally has all the solitude he could want. Then the natural rhythms of the farm begin to falter. Something strange moves through the woods. Animals behave in ways Jeremy cannot explain. Familiar creatures become suddenly unfamiliar. And as the summer wears on, Jeremy's comfortable skepticism is tested by a mounting series of incidents that seem increasingly difficult to dismiss as coincidence, superstition, or imagination. Surrounded by the very horror stories he came there to study, Jeremy begins to confront a far more disturbing possibility: perhaps the darkest ideas preserved in old books were never entirely fictional.T.E.D. Klein's “The Events at Poroth Farm” is a masterful slow burn of isolation, paranoia, cosmic dread, and creeping transformation, now presented as a standalone audio horror release and performed by Erik Peabody.Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chillingtalesfordarknights/

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The Cold War is over. The weapons are not. The United States and Russia still hold roughly 6,000 nuclear warheads each — most on hair-trigger alert — and one person, the president, can launch them inside seven minutes with no vice president, no secretary of defense, no Congress, no court. Paul Rieckhoff opens with the news of the moment — Trump's escalating economic war on Canada and the passing of the great Dolly Parton — before diving into a replay conversation with Joe Cirincione, one of the most respected nuclear policy voices in the world, on why this existential threat has been buried under partisan noise while a bipartisan defense-contractor machine keeps the arsenal fat and the debate quiet. Cirincione walks through the full landscape: the seven nuclear states, the nightmare India-Pakistan scenario that could kill a billion people through nuclear winter, the atomic veterans and downwinders America poisoned and abandoned, and the new arms race unfolding in space, cyber, and hypersonics. He explains why Joe Biden — if allowed to be Biden — would cut the arsenal by a third, and why the Pentagon bureaucracy and contractor lobby make that nearly impossible. This is intelligence-grade analysis about the one threat that can end human civilization in an afternoon — and why staying vigilant on nukes is a truly independent American issue. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Seeking validation from relationships, achievements, appearance, or approval may give you a temporary sense of worth, but lasting self-worth begins within. In this episode of Permission to Thrive, Suzi Lula shares a gentle guided practice to help you release external validation, reconnect with self-love, create inner safety, and embody the truth: I am worthy because I am.Deepen this practice with Suzi's I AM Love Guided Meditation, a heartfelt meditation designed to guide you back to self-love, inner peace, and the truth of who you are.If you're ready to continue your journey in a deeper, more immersive way, join Suzi's upcoming SANCTUARY experience: https://courses.suzilula.com/SANCTUARYIf this episode spoke to your heart and you're ready to go deeper, I would love to support you inside my programs. I've created these experiences to help you embody self-love, reconnect with your inner light, and gently step into a more grounded, supported, and thriving life: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://courses.suzilula.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Have questions? You can always reach us at Team@SuziLula.comIf this episode supported you, please follow or subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode every Wednesday.Thank you for being here with me. Your support helps this message reach more people who are ready to move from surviving to truly thriving.Until next week, give yourself permission to thrive.Much love,SuziConnect with MeWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.suzilula.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SuziLula⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/suzi.lula/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SuziLula⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This Podcast Is Produced, Engineered & Edited By: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Simplified Impact⁠⁠⁠⁠

402-521-3080In this episode, we explore postpartum mental health, focusing on postpartum depression and psychosis, through the lens of the Lindsay Clancy case. We aim to raise awareness, dispel myths, and encourage support for mothers experiencing mental health challenges.Key  TopicsDifferences between postpartum depression and psychosisSigns and symptoms of postpartum mental illnessesImportance of support systems and communityMyth busting around maternal mental healthThe impact of social media on postpartum awarenessEncouraging open conversations and seeking help Sound Bites"Postpartum psychosis involves delusions and hallucinations""You can love your baby and still have postpartum depression""Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness"Support the showEveryone has resilience, but what does that mean, and how do we use it in life and leadership? Join Stephanie Olson, an expert in resiliency and trauma, every week as she talks to other experts living lives of resilience. Stephanie also shares her own stories of addictions, disordered eating, domestic and sexual violence, abandonment, and trauma, and shares the everyday struggles and joys of everyday life. As a wife, mom, and CEO she gives commentaries and, sometimes, a few rants to shed light on what makes a person resilient. So, if you have experienced adversity in life in any way and want to learn how to better lead your family, your workplace, and, well, your life, this podcast is for you!https://setmefreeproject.nethttps://www.stephanieolson.com/

Send us Fan MailSometimes our lives look “fine” on the outside while we feel ruled on the inside by pressure, cravings, people-pleasing, and the belief that we have to earn rest. In this episode, we get practical about boundaries as loving limits that protect our freedom—especially when food, body image, exercise, and coping habits become tangled up with shame and urgency. We begin with movement and exercise, talking honestly about how easy it is to use workouts to repay eating, chase worthiness, or push through pain. From there, we explore “counterfeit comforts” like scrolling, streaming, shopping, overworking, alcohol, and reassurance-seeking. One of the simplest tools we return to is the pause: before we reach for the next distraction or comfort, we stop, name what we're feeling, ask, “What am I hoping to receive?”, and invite God into the moment so we can choose rather than simply react.We also talk about boundaries with our time, relationships, and rest, including practical words we can use when we encounter pressure, disrespect, harsh tones, or yelling. We explore how over-explaining can become an attempt to manage someone else's opinion and how Galatians 6 helps us distinguish between carrying another person's burdens and taking responsibility for their load. And because productivity culture often teaches us that we can rest only after everything is finished—which is basically never—we come back to the importance of receiving rest without having to earn it. We close with five discernment questions to bring to God, helping us recognize the difference between healthy boundaries and fear-based walls, punishment, or control.If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a grace-filled “no,” and leave a review so more people can find the podcast.Support the showLearn more about our Revelation Within Community: https://www.revelationwithin.org

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports several Democrat-controlled states are again challenging President Trump's executive order on mail-in ballots.

A group of Gloriavale leavers are seeking tens of millions of dollars in lost wages, compensation and damages from a leader at the secretive Christian community. 61 former sect residents have filed an Employment Relations Authority claim, alleging the work they did amount to what they call modern day slavery. Lawyer Brian Henry spoke to Lisa Owen.

Rosie Perez has spent her whole life getting back up. From a brutal childhood to an Oscar nomination, from Do the Right Thing to Birds of Prey, from AIDS activism in the Giuliani years to the front row of every big fight, she has refused to be anyone but herself. In this replay conversation, Paul sits down with the queen of boxing to talk about the Weinstein verdict as a historic reckoning, the mental game that decides heavyweight fights and presidential elections, and why so many Latino voters — Cubans, Venezuelans, Mexicans, Central and South Americans who fled dictators — refuse to embrace a candidate who won't stop flirting with the word socialist. Along the way, Rosie breaks down Tyson Fury versus Deontay Wilder like the fight analyst she actually is, tells the story of the first car she bought off a college crackhead for two hundred bucks, and gets real about her own mental health, her PTSD, and why she still refuses to shame anyone who voted the other way. She and Paul dig into how we raise our boys, what real integrity looks like when nobody's watching, and why fighting the good fight requires knowing when to rest. It's a conversation about class, courage, and the American project — from one of the sharpest, funniest, most fearless voices we've got. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Did you like the episode? Send me a text and let me know!! In the late 1980s, a tiny startup called Qualcomm kept losing massive trucking contracts — not to better technology, not to a cheaper product, but to something that didn't even exist. Their competitor was selling a promise, a delay, a ghost. And Qualcomm almost died for it. In this episode of Business Conversations with Pi and Piette 2.0, PI and Piette answer a listener's ultimate founder anxiety question from tuepodcast.net/askpi: "How do I compete in a saturated market against big, well-funded competitors?" The answer draws from Y Combinator archives, Forbes strategy pieces, startup veterans, and some of the most instructive David vs. Goliath business stories ever told — from Instacart vs. Amazon to Zappos vs. every retail giant in existence. The conclusion? Your biggest competitive advantage isn't your brilliance. It's their comfort. What You'll Learn: Why obsessing over your competitor's every move is the single biggest strategic error a founder can makeThe race car driver analogy that explains why looking at the wall means hitting the wallThe Justin.tv story: how copying a competitor's feature caused two companies to waste their own runway simultaneouslyWhy vaporware is a psychological weapon — and how Qualcomm survived itWhy competing on price against a well-funded Goliath is always a death sentenceThe Willie Keeler "hit them where they ain't" strategy and the blue ocean approachHow Maxim Integrated built a billion-dollar company by serving the customers giants couldn't afford to bother withHow Prego's extra chunky sauce discovered a hidden one-third of the American market that nobody was servingHow Absolut Vodka carved out a premium niche in a market where the product is legally identical to every competitorWhy Zappos and Digi-Key weaponized speed and customer service to outmaneuver corporate giantsThe 100X rule: why being 30% better isn't enough — and how Instacart solved the avocado problem Amazon couldn'tHow Cruise beat Google's decade-long self-driving head start by seeking out the hardest problems on purposeTimestamps: [00:00:00] – Introduction & The Listener Question[00:01:00] – Qualcomm vs. a Product That Didn't Exist: The Opening Hook[00:02:30] – The Classic Goliath Problem: How Every Ambitious Founder Gets Here[00:03:00] – The Race Car Driver Analogy: Why Looking at the Wall Means Hitting It[00:04:00] – Justin.tv (Later Twitch) and the Corporate Imposter Syndrome Trap[00:05:00] – The Blind Leading the Blind: When Both Competitors Are Copying Each Other's Mistakes[00:06:00] – The Theater Set Illusion: Why Your Competitor's PR Is Just Duct Tape and Panic[00:06:30] – Markets Support Multiple Winners: The Regional Bank Reality Check[00:07:00] – Stop Watching Competitors — Start Watching Alternatives[00:07:30] – Qualcomm's Full Story: Fighting Vaporware With a Real Product[00:08:30] – The Pork Chop Joke: Why Competing on Price Is the Fastest Way to Die[00:09:30] – Hawaiian Airlines vs. Southwest: How Well-Funded Giants Use Cross-Subsidization to Destroy You[00:10:30] – Willie Keeler's "Hit Them Where They Ain't" — The Blue Ocean Approach[00:11:00] – Maxim Integrated: Building a Billion-Dollar Empire on the Long Tail Nobody Else Wanted[00:12:30] – Howard Moskowitz and Prego's Extra Chunky Sauce: Finding the Hidden Cluster[00:13:30] – Absolut Vodka: Competing on Packaging When the Product Is Legally Identical[00:14:00] – The Meatball Shop & Bonobos: Do One Thing, Own It[00:14:30] – Weaponizing Speed and Customer Service: Your Two Asymmetrical Advantages[00:15:30] – Digi-Key: $2 Billion in Revenue With Zero Salespeople[00:16:30] – Zappos: How Human Customer Service Creates Loyalty Corporate Advertising Can't Buy[00:17:30] – The Psychology of the Sale: Addressing Hopes, Fears & Structural Tension[00:18:30] – What Happens When the Giant Wakes Up? The 100X Rule[00:19:30] – Instacart vs. Amazon: Why a Trillion-Dollar Company Couldn't Pick the Right Avocado[00:20:30] – Cruise vs. Google: Beating a 10-Year Head Start by Seeking the Hardest Problems[00:21:30] – Full Playbook Summary & the Final Provocative Thought[00:23:00] – Submit Your Question & Wrap-UpCompanies & Stories Referenced: Qualcomm / Omnitracs, Justin.tv (Twitch), Shelby.tv, Maxim Integrated, Prego (Howard Moskowitz), Absolut Vodka, The Meatball Shop, Bonobos, Digi-Key, Zappos, Instacart vs. Amazon, Cruise vs. Google, Southwest vs. Hawaiian Airlines Submit Your Question:

Trump is not hiding the ball. He is telegraphing, in plain sight, that his number one strategic priority is dismantling the next election — because free and fair voting is the one circuit breaker his power can't survive. This episode drills into the emerging steal-the-midterms playbook aimed squarely at Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, the hypocrisy of a president attacking mail-in voting while mailing in his own Florida ballot, and why Ossoff and Kelly punching back hard is the template every serious candidate needs to copy. From there the conversation widens out to the crypto-bro press conference at a White House that is quite literally open for business, the tapered flagpoles and bomb-bunker cocktail bar while Americans get crushed on gas, groceries, and rent, the nepotism spectacle in South Carolina and a genuine call for Stephen Colbert to come home and run, and the AOC-Markey-Moulton fight in Massachusetts that will test whether progressives can still out-organize the establishment. It's a no-BS scan of a rigged two-party system where one side is stealing the country in broad daylight and the other keeps eating its own. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Father Hudgins' homily: Seeking Understanding

CBS Sports college football writer Shehan Jeyarajah Good, Bad & Ugly 49ers owner Jed York in hot water

A Secretary of Defense stumping at a congressional campaign event in Iowa. A carrier crew stretched past the breaking point with no embedded reporters to tell the story. A crypto press conference from the White House on the same day primary voters were talking about gas prices, housing, and the Iran war. Paul Rieckhoff pulls together a week of his MSNBC, CNN, and NewsNation hits to connect the dots the cable segments only got to touch — and to name what the two-party conversation keeps missing. He lays out why the USS Lincoln is becoming a political problem that cuts across every partisan line, why data centers and AI have quietly become the new third rail in 2026 races up and down the ballot, and why three million Florida independents sitting out a primary is a bigger story than any single candidate. Along the way: Mark Kelly finding his range, military families going around the Pentagon to reach the American people, and a reminder that when the guardrails between politics and the troops come down, the country gets less safe — not more. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Head to cozyearth.com and use the code AMERICANS for an exclusive 20% off. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

TABLE OF CONTENTS THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 8-21-2026Jeff Bliss reports Las Vegas is planning major upgrades to Allegiant Stadium, with the Raiders seeking $75 million in taxpayer funding to resolve pedestrian choke points and add retail opportunities. In Los Angeles, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass faced criticism after a poor debate performance against challenger Nithya Raman, highlighting her perceived disconnect from critical city problems like expanding homeless encampments. Meanwhile, CaliforniaGovernor Gavin Newsom faces backlash over a state commission's decision to phase out standard car tires, raising costs by hundreds of dollars. Lastly, former Representative Swalwell was detained by the FBI, who seized his electronics over alleged sexual improprieties. (1)Richard Epstein examines the suit by Disney and ABC against the FCC, claiming that threats to review their local television station licenses constitute unconstitutional retaliation for their political late-night and morning show commentary. Epstein agrees ABC's case is strong, arguing that FCC Chair Brendan Carr is abusing regulatory power by treating public airwave licensing as a private property right to suppress critics. Additionally, Epstein asserts that Trump Media's paid service offering fast-access Truth Social posts is, by definition, insider trading, criticizing the president for using inside government knowledge for personal profit. (2)James M. Scott, Part Two: The Potsdam Declaration offered Japan a choice between rebuilding or "utter destruction." President Harry Truman greenlit the atomic bomb on the back of a pink telegram sheet, leading to historic missions piloted by Paul Tibbets, who trained his crew using concrete-filled "pumpkin" bombs. Following the devastating atomic strikes on Hiroshima and Nagasaki—where little was initially understood about radiation's long-term effects—Japan's military leaders still resisted surrendering. Junior officers launched a failed palace coup to destroy Emperor Hirohito's recorded surrender broadcast, but the rapid succession of the two bombings ultimately proved that total annihilation was imminent. (3)Jim McTague reports Lancaster County's diverse economy—spanning tourism, agriculture, light manufacturing, and healthcare—is showing signs of notable resilience. While heavy July rains and high fuel costs temporarily slowed business, economic activity stabilized in August. Local tourist destinations like Kitchen Kettle Village report strong traffic, attracting over a million visitors annually with unique local goods and food. Lower gasoline prices have also arrived just in time to boost back-to-school shopping. Meanwhile, high inflation is driving steady consumer traffic to Costco for essentials, and local hotels remain heavily booked on weekends through October. (4)Lorenzo Fiori reports Europe's severe heatwave is finally breaking as heavy rain and storms across Switzerland and Northern Italy drop temperatures by up to 20 degrees. This rainfall offers critical, long-awaited relief for the dry Po River, which has reached record lows. To escape over-tourism, Fiori recommends Chieti, a historic hilltop town in the Abruzzo region boasting Roman ruins, scenic views of the Adriatic Sea, and nearby mountain peaks. Visitors can explore the medieval fortress of Rocca Calascio and enjoy local culinary traditions, including macaroni with fresh pesto, paired with local white Trebbiano or full-bodied red Montepulciano wine. (5)Bob Zimmerman reports SpaceX is rumored to be expanding to Louisiana with a massive 130,000-acre launch and data center site, while aerospace startup Castelion is successfully building low-cost hypersonic missiles for the Pentagon. Internationally, China achieved a vertical soft landing of its Zhuque-3 rocket first stage, and Ukraine damaged a key Russian rocket factory. In space science, NASA and Catalyst canceled their telescope rescue mission, while Marsexploration continues to reveal delicate rock formations and "taffy terrain." Finally, the James Webb Space Telescopehas discovered unexpected low-mass stars in the early universe, challenging previous cosmological models. (6)Henry Sokolski warns that while nuclear negotiations focus heavily on Iran's uranium, Iran has a neglected second path to weapons: hundreds of bombs' worth of plutonium stored at the Bushehr plant. Sokolski also criticizes the geopolitical reliance on Elon Musk's Starlink, arguing that a private company should not make critical military decisions, such as approving Ukrainian drone strikes inside Russia. In Asia, Sokolski addresses North Korea's estimated arsenal of 57 nuclear weapons. Finally, he discusses gray-zone warfare with Russia and the debated trillion-dollar cost of the proposed "Golden Dome" U.S. missile defense system. (7)Jonathan Marcus reports American universities are suffering from declining public trust, soaring tuition costs, and a looming demographic drop in enrollment tracing back to the 2008 recession. Schools that became financially dependent on high-paying international students face severe budget cuts and program closures as foreign enrollment drops. This financial squeeze has forced a shift, prompting the rapid rise of three-year "applied bachelor's degrees" designed to save students time and money. Additionally, domestic universities face a STEM crisis fueled by weak K-12 math performance, leaving advanced research programs vulnerable as China's PhD output rapidly outpaces the United States. (8)Jonathan Marcus applied at (8) as directed. Other fixes: Nithya Raman (transcribed as "Nitia Ramen," segment 1 — the LA councilmember), Castelion (transcribed as "Castellion," segment 6 — the hypersonics startup, one l), and segment 3 marked Part Two of the James M. Scott Empire of Ashes series, continuing from yesterday's Part One. Flag any of these if the audio differs.

Jeff Bliss reports Las Vegas is planning major upgrades to Allegiant Stadium, with the Raiders seeking $75 million in taxpayer funding to resolve pedestrian choke points and add retail opportunities. In Los Angeles, incumbent Mayor Karen Bass faced criticism after a poor debate performance against challenger Nithya Raman, highlighting her perceived disconnect from critical city problems like expanding homeless encampments. Meanwhile, CaliforniaGovernor Gavin Newsom faces backlash over a state commission's decision to phase out standard car tires, raising costs by hundreds of dollars. Lastly, former Representative Swalwell was detained by the FBI, who seized his electronics over alleged sexual improprieties. (1)

Support the show on Patreon! - https://patreon.com/gogOther ways to support the show! - https://gog.show/donateJoin our Discord! - https://discord.gg/r4ZmSHBBuy some merch! - https://shop.gog.show/Meta is facing a $1.4 trillion legal ass-whupping over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were deliberately engineered to be addictive and harmful to kids, while OpenAI appears to be doing the exact opposite of what you might expect from a company selling "safe" AI: reportedly sidelining its catastrophic-risk preparedness team just as its models are learning to go rogue. Then, in a move straight out of the "let's have the robots write the laws" file, members of Congress are apparently using ChatGPT and Claude to draft legislation so badly that House lawyers have to clean up the mess, and some staffers aren't even learning the issues their bills are supposed to address. Meanwhile, Amazon may be dismantling physical books and scanning them into AI training datasets, because apparently the future of literature is being fed into a wood chipper.And then there's the surveillance and privacy edition of Tech Hell™. Comcast can now turn compatible Wi-Fi routers into motion sensors that detect movement in your home through radio signals, Kalshi is getting smacked down by a Washington judge who says its sports contracts are just gambling wearing a tiny financial-services mustache, and Tesla is finally recalling 20,000 cars over headlights that have been too damn bright since 2024. Plus, the AI industry continues discovering that “autonomous” means “capable of doing something catastrophically stupid without asking permission.”Elsewhere, we investigate why young people apparently trust AI CEOs about as much as Gen X trusted record-company executives, Peter Thiel gets a Gandalf-themed welcome in Argentina, and we dig into the increasingly uncomfortable intersection of AI, surveillance, pornography, politics, and billionaire bullshit. We also get into the mobile podcasting rig, Sonos finally remembers the iPhone has a Lock Screen, internet-connected pet feeders remind us why cats should never depend on the cloud. Media Candy brings Widow's Bay, Silo, Ted Lasso, It: Welcome to Derry, Kitchen Undercover and enough Spider-Man to make us all desperately crave something that doesn't involve a fucking multiverse.Sponsors:Shopify - Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/grumpyDeleteMe - Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use promo code GOG at checkout.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/759Watch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/RMhCndozH-0SHOW NOTESMeta faces a $1.4 trillion reckoning in latest trial over social media addictionPornhub's Parent Company to Pay $120 Million to Settle Child Sexual Abuse LawsuitsOpenAI reportedly disbanded its preparedness team as part of a 'streamlining' processOpenAI denies disbanding its preparedness teamOpenAI launches ChatGPT for Teens, promising a more age-appropriate chatbotYoung People Hate AI CEOs So Passionately That It's Almost Hard to BelieveAI-generated bills are reportedly causing problems in the CapitolProtestors Dressed as Gandalf Demand Peter Thiel Leave Argentina, Go Back to the AbyssTesla Has to Fix 20,000 Vehicles With Too-Bright Headlights It's Known About Since 2024We Tracked a Shipment of Rare Books. It Ended at an Amazon AI Training FacilityState Judge to Kalshi: Your Sports Betting Is Obviously IllegalDario Amodei's Wife Is Closely Linked to Jeffrey EpsteinComcast just turned millions of Xfinity routers into motion sensorsBONTEC Mobile Standing Desk, Pneumatic Lift, Rolling Laptop CartMOALLIA N86 360 Rotating Laptop Stand for Desk with Locking Knobs, BlackNEEWER Basics 7"" Desk Ring Light for Video Recording, 10W Dimmable, R06TROND Desk Clamp Power Bar Surge Protector with PD 20W USB, 6 Outlets, 10ftSonos just launched Live Activities on iPhoneInternet-Connected Pet Feeders Go Down, Leaving Kitties HungryWidow's BaySlow Horses — Season 6 Official Trailer | Apple TVKitchen UndercoverHBO Has Finally Made ‘It: Welcome to Derry' Season 2 OfficialCertainty: A Novel by John Twelve HawksLockstep by Karl SchroederA Gift of Time by Jerry MerrittSilicon Valley Dreams of AuthoritarianismThe Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy by Gil DuránDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingNorthern ExposureSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.