Podcasts about senate majority leader

RGF won BIG for taxpayers last week in Albuquerque's City Council defeating Councilor Bassan's proposed gross receipts tax hike (again).  Paul recently traveled around Southeast New Mexico. Here's what he heard and said. Democrat Lt. Gov candidate Maggie Toulouse Oliver drops out of race. What's next?  Sen. Peter Wirth announced that he won't run again and won't stand for Senate Majority Leader in 2027. Paul has thoughts. UNM's Law School dean is under fire for lack of diversity. Paul believes the dean's opponents should join him in opposing state spending for the Law School. The ABQ Journal talks to home builder and recent podcast guest Mackenzie Bishop about his plans to increase his business out of state.  New Mexico, time for a rebate on $850 million. This money would provide for a $1,000 rebate per filed tax return. LFC: New Mexico SNAP program rife with fraud and abuse. The state's SNAP payment error rate has climbed to 16.6 percent, the fifth highest in the country. As a result, New Mexico could face up to $173 million annually in federal cost-sharing penalties. 

With a preliminary agreement to end the Iran conflict now in place, the U.S. is on track to return to a pre-war economy - but not everyone in Washington is celebrating. Senate Majority Leader John Thune sat down with Bret to explain the GOP's opposition to President Trump's Iran deal, and what it means as negotiations enter the final stage. Senator Thune also weighs in on the President's push to attach the SAVE Act to FISA, the unfolding drama over the President's DNI nominee, and the GOP's chances of holding the Senate majority this midterms season. This interview first aired Tuesday, 06/16 on Special Report. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NC Family Policy Council Lobbyist Jere Royall sits down for a fascinating conversation about politics, family, and the power of relationships in #ncpol. Jere is the son of the late Sen. Ken Royall, one of the most influential figures in modern North Carolina political history when he became both the Senate Majority Leader and Appropriations Chairman decades ago. Gov. Jim Hunt described the Durham legislator as "a master of the legislative process" who helped shape state policy from education and economic development to mental health reform and hospitals. Despite growing up in a household led by a Democratic political giant, Jere charted a different path. He became a lobbyist and advocate for many of the social and family policy causes most closely associated with North Carolina conservatives and the Republican Party.  Jere reflects on lessons learned from his father, the values that shaped his own political worldview, and how respect, trust, and personal relationships still matter in a highly polarized political environment. Plus, Skye and Brian break down the latest political news, including budget news, political news, an election bill, a rumor, the Canes win, and more.  The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, the American Heart Association, the NC Pork Council, the NC Realtors, Heal the System NC, and the NC Healthcare Association.

Dan talks about Trump's latest position on Iran, and State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson joins to talk local issues | aired on Thursday, June 11th, 2026 on Nashville's Morning News with Dan MandisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy joins Chad to expand on why she and the DFL continues a push for economic recovery dollars to support businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge

06/08/26: David Hogue is the Senate Majority Leader in the ND Legislature, representing District 38 out of Minot. He joins Joel Heitkamp to talk about why he helped sponsor Measure 1 regarding constitutional amendments. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us Fan MailFor Episode 452 of the podcast, we continue our in-depth exploration of the remarkable life and career of Bob Dole with Part 33 of The Life That Brought Him There. In this episode, we revisit Dole's March 25, 1985 appearance at the prestigious Landon Lecture, where the Kansas senator delivered a speech titled “The Dream of America.” The lecture came at a pivotal moment in Dole's political rise, as he was emerging as one of the most influential voices in the United States Senate and would soon become Senate Majority Leader. Drawing inspiration from the legacy of Alf Landon, Dole reflected on American ideals, opportunity, technological progress, national responsibility, and the challenges facing a new generation. He spoke about the importance of courage in public life, the promise of individual dreams, and the need to confront issues such as poverty, nuclear tensions, and fiscal responsibility while preserving the values that define the American experiment. Join us as we examine the themes, historical context, and political significance of this landmark address, offering a window into Dole's vision for America and the principles that shaped one of the most consequential public servants of the twentieth century. Questions or comments at  , Randalrgw1@aol.com ,  https://twitter.com/randal_wallace   , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

Fox News correspondent Griff Jenkins joins the Marc Cox Morning Show with the kind of inside-the-beltway analysis that cuts straight to the bone. Griff connects the dots between James Carville's unhinged hatred and a dangerous political climate that keeps producing attempts on President Trump's life — and asks the question the mainstream media refuses to touch. Then Griff delivers a stunning assessment of the Jill Biden cover-up, invoking a heartbreaking Washington Post letter from Sally Quinn that asks the question every American should be asking: why didn't she protect him? And on Texas — Griff drops the bombshell that 18 months ago John Cornyn was just votes away from Senate Majority Leader, and this morning his 24-year career is over by 28 points. His verdict: Texas will be the most expensive, most closely watched Senate race of the entire midterm cycle — and nobody knows how it ends. This is the Marc Cox Morning Show at its absolute best. Don't miss a word. HASHTAGS: #MarcCoxMorningShow #GriffJenkins #JamesCarville #JillBiden #BidenCoverUp #JohnCornyn #KenPaxton #TexasSenate #Midterms2026 #TrumpEndorsement #FoxNews #AmericaFirst #MAGA #ConservativeRadio #STLRadio #StLouis #PatriotRadio #CommonSense #NationalSecurity #MorningShow

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mike Klimesh (R - Spillville) discuss the 2026 legislative session and upcoming elections.

1964: The Breaking Point...How a Texas President Helped Reshape American Politics Forever There are years in American history that feel less like moments… and more like fault lines. 1964 was one of them. It was the year the old political order began to crack. Not overnight.Not all at once.But in ways we are still living with today. And at the center of it all stood a Texan. Lyndon B. Johnson Growing up in Texas, Lyndon Johnson was never just another historical figure to some families. People remembered him. In my own family, my great-aunts grew up around Johnson City during the years when Lyndon Johnson was still simply “Lyndon.” Before the presidency. Before Vietnam. Before history turned him into something larger and far more complicated. And that's important to remember. Because Johnson understood Texas.He understood the South.And perhaps more than anyone else in Washington, he understood political power. Especially how to use it. By 1964, America was already under enormous strain. The images coming across television screens were becoming impossible to ignore. Black students being screamed at while trying to attend school.Peaceful protesters attacked with dogs and fire hoses.Freedom Riders beaten.Church bombings.Demonstrations erupting across the South. For many Americans, the Civil Rights Movement was becoming not just a regional issue but a moral one. And television changed everything. For the first time in American history, millions of people could witness these confrontations in their living rooms almost as they happened. The country was being forced to look at itself. John F. Kennedy had moved cautiously on civil rights during his presidency. But after Kennedy's assassination in November of 1963, Lyndon Johnson inherited not only the presidency… but the unfinished battle over civil rights legislation. And Johnson knew something many younger Americans today may not fully appreciate: The bill would not pass simply because it was morally right. It would pass only if someone could force it through Congress. And Lyndon Johnson knew Congress better than almost anyone alive. Before becoming president, Johnson had served as Senate Majority Leader. He understood personalities, pressure, favors, intimidation, timing, all the invisible machinery of power. Historians would later call it “The Johnson Treatment.” He could flatter you.Threaten you.Charm you.Corner you.Convince you. Sometimes all within the same conversation. And in 1964, Johnson unleashed that political machinery behind what became the: Civil Rights Act Today, most Americans remember the Civil Rights Act as inevitable. It wasn't. The legislation faced fierce opposition, especially from Southern Democrats who viewed it as federal overreach into state affairs and Southern society. For decades, many Southern politicians had held enormous power in Congress. Committee chairmanships. Senate influence. Institutional seniority. But the country was changing. And Johnson understood that history was moving whether Congress wanted it to or not. So he pushed. Hard. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed segregation in public accommodations and prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Supporters viewed it as one of the most important moral and constitutional advances in modern American history. Opponents viewed it as a dangerous expansion of federal authority. And beneath the political arguments, something deeper was beginning to happen. The old Democratic coalition, the one that had held together since the days of Franklin D. Roosevelt, was beginning to fracture. Then came the election of 1964. And this is where the political story becomes truly fascinating. The Republican nominee that year was: Barry Goldwater Goldwater was a conservative from Arizona. He opposed the Civil Rights Act, not necessarily because he supported segregation, but because he argued parts of the law violated constitutional limits on federal power. That distinction mattered to Goldwater. But politically, something much larger was unfolding. Goldwater lost the election badly nationwide. Lyndon Johnson crushed him at the national level. But then something unexpected happened. Goldwater carried several Deep South states. States that had been Democratic strongholds for generations. For many observers at the time, it looked strange. Temporary, even. But in hindsight, historians now recognize it as one of the first major warning signs that the political map of the South was beginning to change. Slowly. Unevenly. But undeniably. Now, none of this happened in a single election. The South did not suddenly wake up Republican in 1964. That transformation would take decades. Many Southern Democrats remained loyal to the party well into the 1970s and even the 1980s. Local courthouse politics, state offices, and regional traditions still mattered enormously. But the foundation had shifted. The old alliances were weakening. And the issues reshaping American politics were no longer simply economic. Increasingly, they were becoming cultural. Constitutional. Regional. Moral. And perhaps no one understood the price of what had happened better than Lyndon Johnson himself. According to one famous account, after signing the Civil Rights Act, Johnson reportedly told an aide: “We have lost the South for a generation.” Whether the quote is perfectly remembered or not, the political reality behind it proved remarkably accurate. The transformation had begun. In the next chapter of this story, we move into one of the most chaotic years in modern American history:   Assassinations.Protests.Riots.The Democratic Convention in Chicago.And the rise of a new political message that would reshape conservative politics for decades to come: “Law and order.” And once again… Texas and the South would stand near the center of the storm. Join me on BlueSky or Instagram Talk to me

The Anchormen dive into explosive DOJ fraud charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center, mounting scrutiny over Gov. Gavin Newsom's $1B scheme to import illegals, and allegations the Biden DOJ spied on Rep. Lauren Boebert for a year after simply giving her family a tour of D.C. Plus, a potential U.S.–Russia economic reset under President Trump—and the case for Ron DeSantis to the Supreme Court and Rick Scott as Senate Majority Leader.

Hannah Sabio-Howell, a labor organizer and former Washington State Senate communications staffer, is challenging incumbent Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen for the 43rd Legislative District's state senate seat. The district, which covers Capitol Hill, First Hill, the Central District, and Madison Valley, is widely considered the most politically progressive district in the state. As always, a full text transcript of the show is available at officialhacksandwonks.com. Follow us on Bluesky at @HacksAndWonks. Find the host, Crystal Fincher, on Bluesky at @finchfrii and find Hannah Sabio-Howell at https://hannahforwashington.com/.

What do Minnesotan's need to know about what happened this session? Erin Murphy, the Senate Majority Leader, woke up early to talk with Vineeta on The WCCO Morning News.

Amy Frederiksen is the former Senate Majority Leader. Jeff Hayden is a former Senate Assistant Minority Leader. Both have been watching the past few months and the past few hours with bated breath. Reaction to the sit in, proposals to get a vote on gun legislation and more. It's "The Capitol Clash" on The WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar.

This episode is presented by Create A Video – Five South Carolina state senators joined all their Democrat colleagues to block a new congressional redistricting map. One of those senators was the Senate Majority Leader, Shane Massey. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-kaliner-show--6946691/support.Subscribe to the podcast My preferred podcast platform: SpreakerAll the links to Pete's Prep are free!Get exclusive content here!Media Bias Check: GroundNews promo code!Advertising and Booking inquiries: Pete@ThePeteKalinerShow.com  

The Senate Majority Leader joined Vineeta to look ahead to the final State of The State Address from Governor Walz along with discussion of some other items that are pressing the legislature right now, Funding for Hennepin Healthcare Hospital along with North Memorial, plus dollars for expanding Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.

As the clock ticks down to Sine Die for the Iowa legislature this year Senate Majority Leader, Senator MIKE KLEMISH, talks with SIMON about what's been done this session, what's still to come and what still hangs in limbo.

In part one of this two-part episode, William Frist, MD, and host Chethan Sathya, MD, discuss Dr. Frist's unlikely arc from heart and lung transplant pioneer to U.S. Senate Majority Leader to global conservation advocate. Dr. Frist explains how scientific curiosity and a problem-solving mindset led him from “healing one-on-one” to impact at scale through public policy. He also explores the modern trust gap in public health and institutions, the echo chambers amplified by social media and the clinician's unique responsibility to rebuild credibility through empathy, evidence and alignment. Dr. Frist's optimism is grounded in experience: He recounts the creation and success of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — PEPFAR — a program that has helped keep 26 million people alive and, just as importantly, built durable health infrastructure and democratic transparency across scores of countries. Northwell is New York State's largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 28 hospitals, 890 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We're making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. Get the latest news and insights from our experts in the Northwell Newsroom: Press releases Insights Podcasts Publications Interested in a career at Northwell Health? Visit our career site and explore our many opportunities. Watch episodes of 20-Minute Health Talk on YouTube.  For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Westchester Democrat who has led the Senate since 2019, joined the show to discuss the status of state budget negotiations as the Senate and Assembly majorities and Governor Hochul work to agree on a spending and policy plan. The state fiscal year began April 1, but the parties have passed budget extenders to pay the state's bills while they negotiate the roughly $265 billion spending plan that will also include a variety of major policy decisions, how much aid the state gives New York City, and much more. (Ep 577)

Virginia Roberts Giuffre's allegations against Bill Richardson and George Mitchell are part of her broader claims of being sexually abused and trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. Giuffre has stated that she was recruited by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17 years old and subsequently coerced into a life of sex trafficking.Bill Richardson:Bill Richardson, a former Governor of New Mexico, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and Secretary of Energy, was named by Giuffre in legal documents. She alleged that Richardson was one of the high-profile individuals to whom Epstein trafficked her for sex. Richardson has categorically denied these allegations, stating that he has never met Giuffre and was unaware of Epstein's criminal activities. His spokesperson has emphasized that Richardson's interactions with Epstein were limited to legitimate political and charitable efforts.George Mitchell:George Mitchell, a former U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader, was also implicated by Giuffre. She claimed that Mitchell was among the influential men to whom Epstein trafficked her. Like Richardson, Mitchell has denied the allegations, asserting that he never met, spoke with, or had any contact with Giuffre. Mitchell has stated that his limited interactions with Epstein were in the context of fundraising and other public activities.Broader Context:Giuffre's accusations against Richardson and Mitchell are part of a series of allegations she has made against several prominent individuals. These allegations emerged as part of legal proceedings against Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Giuffre's claims have drawn significant media attention, particularly given the high-profile nature of the individuals she named, however Richardson and Mitchell remain sheltered.  Despite Virginia Roberts Giuffre's serious allegations against Bill Richardson and George Mitchell, both men have largely avoided the intense scrutiny and accountability that some other figures connected to Jeffrey Epstein's network faced. This disparity in attention and accountability raises questions about the role of the media and political connections in shaping public perception and legal outcomes.Bill Richardson and George Mitchell have consistently denied Giuffre's allegations, and there have been no formal charges or legal actions taken against them based on these claims. While both have faced some media coverage regarding the allegations, it has been relatively limited and quickly overshadowed by other news. Their denials and reputations as seasoned public servants might have contributed to the relatively muted response.The media's handling of the allegations against Richardson and Mitchell contrasts sharply with how Alex Acosta, the former U.S. Attorney and Labor Secretary, was scrutinized. Acosta came under intense media and public pressure due to his role in negotiating a controversial plea deal with Epstein in 2008, which was widely criticized for being overly lenient. The deal allowed Epstein to serve a relatively short jail sentence and granted immunity to potential co-conspirators, effectively shielding many of his associates from prosecution.Acosta's connection to Epstein and the perceived leniency of the plea deal led to widespread outrage, culminating in his resignation as Labor Secretary in 2019. The intense scrutiny of Acosta's actions highlighted the inconsistencies in how different figures connected to Epstein were treated by the media and the public.Richardson and Mitchell's relatively protected status can be partly attributed to their longstanding relationships with influential figures and institutions. Both men have extensive political careers and connections within the legacy media, which may have contributed to the subdued coverage of the allegations against them. Media outlets, influenced by these connections, may have been less inclined to pursue aggressive investigations or critical reporting on Richardson and Mitchell compared to Acosta.The disparity in scrutiny reflects broader issues of power and influence in both the media and the justice system. Prominent individuals with substantial political clout and media connections often navigate allegations differently than those with less influence. This disparity can lead to unequal accountability, where some individuals face significant consequences while others remain relatively unscathed.While Richardson and Mitchell have not faced the same level of accountability, the ongoing legal battles and investigations into Epstein's network continue to reveal the complexity and reach of his operations. Ghislaine Maxwell's conviction and the attention on Epstein's other associates maintain a spotlight on the broader issue of sex trafficking and the complicity of powerful individuals.However, without consistent and thorough scrutiny from both the media and the justice system, the full extent of accountability for all involved remains elusive. This situation underscores the importance of equal and unbiased investigative journalism and legal proceedings in addressing allegations of this nature.(commercial at 11:21)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Bill Richardson and George Mitchell deny allegations by alleged Jeffrey Epstein victim | Daily Mail Online

Virginia Roberts Giuffre's allegations against Bill Richardson and George Mitchell are part of her broader claims of being sexually abused and trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. Giuffre has stated that she was recruited by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17 years old and subsequently coerced into a life of sex trafficking.Bill Richardson:Bill Richardson, a former Governor of New Mexico, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and Secretary of Energy, was named by Giuffre in legal documents. She alleged that Richardson was one of the high-profile individuals to whom Epstein trafficked her for sex. Richardson has categorically denied these allegations, stating that he has never met Giuffre and was unaware of Epstein's criminal activities. His spokesperson has emphasized that Richardson's interactions with Epstein were limited to legitimate political and charitable efforts.George Mitchell:George Mitchell, a former U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader, was also implicated by Giuffre. She claimed that Mitchell was among the influential men to whom Epstein trafficked her. Like Richardson, Mitchell has denied the allegations, asserting that he never met, spoke with, or had any contact with Giuffre. Mitchell has stated that his limited interactions with Epstein were in the context of fundraising and other public activities.Broader Context:Giuffre's accusations against Richardson and Mitchell are part of a series of allegations she has made against several prominent individuals. These allegations emerged as part of legal proceedings against Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Giuffre's claims have drawn significant media attention, particularly given the high-profile nature of the individuals she named, however Richardson and Mitchell remain sheltered.  Despite Virginia Roberts Giuffre's serious allegations against Bill Richardson and George Mitchell, both men have largely avoided the intense scrutiny and accountability that some other figures connected to Jeffrey Epstein's network faced. This disparity in attention and accountability raises questions about the role of the media and political connections in shaping public perception and legal outcomes.Bill Richardson and George Mitchell have consistently denied Giuffre's allegations, and there have been no formal charges or legal actions taken against them based on these claims. While both have faced some media coverage regarding the allegations, it has been relatively limited and quickly overshadowed by other news. Their denials and reputations as seasoned public servants might have contributed to the relatively muted response.The media's handling of the allegations against Richardson and Mitchell contrasts sharply with how Alex Acosta, the former U.S. Attorney and Labor Secretary, was scrutinized. Acosta came under intense media and public pressure due to his role in negotiating a controversial plea deal with Epstein in 2008, which was widely criticized for being overly lenient. The deal allowed Epstein to serve a relatively short jail sentence and granted immunity to potential co-conspirators, effectively shielding many of his associates from prosecution.Acosta's connection to Epstein and the perceived leniency of the plea deal led to widespread outrage, culminating in his resignation as Labor Secretary in 2019. The intense scrutiny of Acosta's actions highlighted the inconsistencies in how different figures connected to Epstein were treated by the media and the public.Richardson and Mitchell's relatively protected status can be partly attributed to their longstanding relationships with influential figures and institutions. Both men have extensive political careers and connections within the legacy media, which may have contributed to the subdued coverage of the allegations against them. Media outlets, influenced by these connections, may have been less inclined to pursue aggressive investigations or critical reporting on Richardson and Mitchell compared to Acosta.The disparity in scrutiny reflects broader issues of power and influence in both the media and the justice system. Prominent individuals with substantial political clout and media connections often navigate allegations differently than those with less influence. This disparity can lead to unequal accountability, where some individuals face significant consequences while others remain relatively unscathed.While Richardson and Mitchell have not faced the same level of accountability, the ongoing legal battles and investigations into Epstein's network continue to reveal the complexity and reach of his operations. Ghislaine Maxwell's conviction and the attention on Epstein's other associates maintain a spotlight on the broader issue of sex trafficking and the complicity of powerful individuals.However, without consistent and thorough scrutiny from both the media and the justice system, the full extent of accountability for all involved remains elusive. This situation underscores the importance of equal and unbiased investigative journalism and legal proceedings in addressing allegations of this nature.(commercial at 11:21)to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Bill Richardson and George Mitchell deny allegations by alleged Jeffrey Epstein victim | Daily Mail OnlineBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

In The Last Word, Greg Belfrage gives his final thoughts on the day's news including Trump's discussions with Iran, Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and the Senate's lack of funding bill, the backlash against Senate Majority leader, John Thune, voting in primaries, and more...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg Belfrage talks to listeners about GOP lawmakers calling to replace John Thune as Senate Majority Leader. This is in response to the midnight vote to partially fund the DHS. There is also anger for Thune not trying harder to get rid of the filibuster. The consensus is that Thune is working against republicans and working against TrumpSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Top of the News Stack, Greg Belfrage goes over the latest headlines including Representative Tim Burchett calling for a replacement for Senate Majority Leader, John Thune. Also, the complex below the new White House ballroom, classified briefings on the war in Iran, the No King Rallies, and more...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Guy Benson Show 03-26-2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the SAVE America Act remains President Trump's top legislative priority, its future is clouded by near-universal Democratic opposition and the fallout of an ongoing DHS shutdown. Senate Majority Leader John Thune sat down with Bret on Tuesday to discuss the bill's current standing and explain how certain legislative strategies, like leveraging the filibuster, could carry unintended consequences. Later, Leader Thune also weighs in on the Iran conflict and the Democrats' continued push for ICE reforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh opens the show by breaking down the partial government shutdown, highlighting how Democrats are blocking funding for DHS and TSA—leading to disruptions at airports across the country. He also calls out the media for failing to hold Democrats accountable, despite some openly admitting they’re willing to let Americans feel the impact. Josh is then joined by Rachel Bovard, VP of Programs at CPI, to discuss the latest developments in the Senate surrounding the SAVE America Act. They dive into what the Senate Majority Leader is doing behind the scenes and why Democrats may be unintentionally giving Republicans an opening on voter ID. Later, Josh covers reports that the FBI is investigating former NCTC Director Joe Kent over alleged leaks of classified information. To close the show, Josh shifts to March Madness, sharing why anything short of a championship run for his Duke Blue Devils would be a disappointment—and why the NCAA Tournament brings out emotions in players unlike any other sporting event.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe talks about who could be the next Senate Majority Leader, some great new legislation coming from Andy Ogles, who our favorite Commonwealth Attorney really is, and Caller Dennis calls in on the importance of real accountabilitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile struck a girls' school in the Iranian city of Minab during strikes on an adjacent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval base. The attack killed at least 165-175 people, most of them children inside the school. The Pentagon has launched a formal investigation into the incident. President Trump was asked about the strike in multiple press interactions, where he suggested that Iran could be responsible and stated he did not know enough details while noting that the Pentagon is investigating. Iranian authorities have condemned the attack as a deliberate war crime carried out by the United States and Israel. No final conclusions from the ongoing Pentagon investigation have been publicly released. WE ALSO COVER: 172 million barrels of oil released from reserve. Trump declares victory in Iran. SAVE Act gets a 50th supporter? James Talarico is a DANGER for Texas. Zohran Mamdani hosts anti-Israel protester. 00:00 Pat Gray UNLEASHED! 01:14 BYU News 02:19 Oil Prices 04:20 Karoline Leavitt on Hormuz Oil 05:55 Oil Tankers Attacked by Iran 12:00 Iranian Girls' School Controversy 13:34 Trump on Iranian Girls' School 15:03 Fetterman on Iranian Girls' School 22:40 Trump Declares Victory? 25:50 More of Cardboard Ayatollah 28:25 Trump on Oil Release 31:26 Trump on Thomas Massie 32:43 Ed Gallrein Mocks Thomas Massie 34:15 Jake Paul Running for Office?! 36:41 In Defense of Thomas Massie 38:50 Trump on John Thune/SAVE Act 41:22 Lisa Murkowski on SAVE Act 42:10 John Cornyn on Filibuster 43:00 SAVE ACT/Filibuster Discussion 49:27 Proof Thomas Massie is Not a RINO 52:21 Caller Mikey 53:35 Caller Mitch (McConnell?) 54:53 Caller George 56:11 Caller Dennis 57:57 Who Really IS James Talarico??? 1:09:07 Eric Swalwell LIVES in California! 1:15:06 PAT41 1:16:42 Zohran Mamdani Hosts Mahmoud Khalil 1:18:44 NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards on NYC Attacks 1:20:32 Muslim Prayers in Mamdani's City Hall 1:21:19 Moving Muslims Out? 1:27:41 Bill & Hillary Clinton in NYC 1:31:39 JD Vance as Senate Majority Leader? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

00:00 And welcome to the program on your Wednesday afternoon. Gorgeous Wednesday going on out there. And as usual, we've got a ton of stuff to talk about today. This is, I have found that right around seven o'clock in the morning, 11 o'clock in the morning, and then about 2.30 in the afternoon, that's where everything just goes crazy. 00:25 It just absolutely goes nuts. Those are the three times that I can, Oh, Oh, two 30s Watch out quarter to three that, that area there. Uh, so we've got a lot of stuff breaking. We're trying to get to as much of this as we can. Um, let's, uh, let's go to, um, uh, Esther in Powdersville. How you doing Esther? I'm good. Okay. just wanted to give you, I just wanted to give you, uh, 00:54 called Lindsey Graham's office and Kim Scott's office concerning uh their vote for Senate Majority Leader. And I'm going tell you, you know, I know, and everybody else knows, trying to get a straight answer is like trying to find your shadow in a dark room. Isn't that the truth? It ain't going to happen. Yeah. So what did they say? Anything? Well, the girl that I spoke to, her name was Margot. And she said, 01:24 She just didn't have that information. Oh. And I asked her if he voted, who did he vote for Senate Majority Leader? Did he vote for John Boone? I just don't have that information. And I said, well, can't you find out for me? Can't you ask somebody in the office around you and let me know? No, she said, the best thing to do to that response is to email him. 01:53 Oh, you know what you're get. You're gonna get a form email asking for money. yep, yep. So I said, well, no, I'm right here. I said, I'm on the phone with you right now. You could ask somebody in the office. Yeah. No, no, you need to email him to get a response. Yeah. So like I said, that's what I got from him. Now, I called Tim Scott's office. 02:19 Tim Scott's fellow, his name was John, he hesitated to tell me his name so I questioned whether that was his real name. But anyway, he said, he was honest, he said that that was done by secret vote. And I said, why is anything done concerning the public and your constituents done by secret vote? I said, anything they do in that office should be made public to everybody. 02:48 I said, I'd like to know whether he voted, did he vote for John Thune to be the Senate majority leader? It's done by secret ballot. uh I you not ask him to let me know how he voted? It's done by secret ballot. And I said, anything done in that office should be made public. 03:15 to anybody that they represent. Exactly. That's just the way they do it. I understand. Anyway, they both wanted me to email them. Right. Of course they did. Of course they did. Pretty amazing. Esther, I appreciate you being on top of that. Thank you. So what we were talking about with Esther is yesterday we were wondering um who voted for John Thune to be the Senate Majority Leader. 03:45 And that is a that's a secret ballot. And Esther said, and I said yesterday that I don't think any vote that they have in Washington should be done on a secret ballot. Because if you do something on a secret ballot, I'm not being represented. I can't make sure that I'm being represented. 04:06 And that's my right as an American taxpayer and as a voter. I want to know how my representative voted. But no, they do that on a secret ballot because, you know, just because they do. So thank you, Esther, for staying on top of that. Well, speaking of Senator Tim Scott, oh, my goodness, he has finally come out and said something. Listen, Joe, you and I should both agree. Frankly, everyone in the studio should agree when you have 04:35 80 plus percent of Americans, black ones, white ones, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans, mixed kids, all say the same thing. Voter ID? Common sense. When the vast majority of every demographic in this country comes to the same conclusion that Save America Act should be passed, we should pass it. Only ...

00:00 And welcome to the program on your Wednesday afternoon. Gorgeous Wednesday going on out there. And as usual, we've got a ton of stuff to talk about today. This is, I have found that right around seven o'clock in the morning, 11 o'clock in the morning, and then about 2.30 in the afternoon, that's where everything just goes crazy. 00:25 It just absolutely goes nuts. Those are the three times that I can, Oh, Oh, two 30s Watch out quarter to three that, that area there. Uh, so we've got a lot of stuff breaking. We're trying to get to as much of this as we can. Um, let's, uh, let's go to, um, uh, Esther in Powdersville. How you doing Esther? I'm good. Okay. just wanted to give you, I just wanted to give you, uh, 00:54 I called Lindsey Graham's office and Tim Scott's office concerning uh their vote for Senate Majority Leader. And I'm going tell you, you know, I know, and everybody else knows, trying to get a straight answer is like trying to find your shadow in a dark room. Isn't that the truth? It ain't going to happen. Yeah. So what did they say? Well, the girl that I spoke to, her name was Margot. And she said... 01:24 She just didn't have that information. Oh. And I asked her if he voted, who did he vote for, Senate Majority Leader, did he vote for John Boone? I just don't have that information. And I said, well, can't you find out for me? Can't you ask somebody in the office around you and let them know, I mean, let me know? No, she said, the best thing to do to that response is to email him. 01:53 Oh, you know what you're get. You're gonna get a form email asking for money. yep, yep. So I said, well, no, I'm right here. I said, I'm on the phone with you right now. You could ask somebody in the office. Yeah. No, no, you need to email him to get a response. Yeah. So like I said, that's what I got from him. Now, I called Tim Scott's office. 02:19 Tim Scott's fellow, his name was John, he hesitated to tell me his name so I questioned whether that was his real name. But anyway, he said, he was honest, he said that that was done by secret vote. And I said, why is anything done concerning the public and your constituents done by secret vote? I said, anything they do in that office should be made public to everybody. 02:48 I said, I'd like to know whether he voted, did he vote for John Thune to be the Senate majority leader? It's done by secret ballot. uh I you not ask him to let me know how he voted? It's done by secret ballot. And I said, anything done in that office should be made public. 03:15 to anybody that they represent. Exactly. Well, that's just the way they do it. understand. Anyway, they both wanted me to email them. Right. Of course they did. Of course they did. Pretty amazing. I appreciate you being on top of that. Thank you. So what we were talking about with Esther is yesterday we were wondering um who voted for John Thune to be the Senate Majority Leader. 03:45 And that is a that's a secret ballot. And Esther said, and I said yesterday that I don't think any vote that they have in Washington should be done on a secret ballot. Because if you do something on a secret ballot, I'm not being represented. I can't make sure that I'm being represented. 04:06 And that's my right as an American taxpayer and as a voter. I want to know how my representative voted. But no, they do that on a secret ballot because, you know, just because they do. So thank you, Esther, for staying on top of that. Well, speaking of Senator Tim Scott, oh, my goodness, he has finally come out and said something. Listen, Joe, you and I should both agree. Frankly, everyone in the studio should agree when you have 04:35 80 plus percent of Americans, black ones, white ones, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans, mixed kids, all say the same thing. Voter ID? Common sense. When the vast majority of every demographic in this country comes to the same conclusion that Save America Act should be passed, we should pas ...

00:00 I hate to be the Debbie Downer here. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I don't think we're going to get the SAVE Act. Is anybody else feeling the same way? I do not believe that the SAVE Act is ever going to make it to President Trump's desk, at least as long as John Thune is the Senate Majority Leader. 00:31 John Thune is now saying that nobody cares about this. This is a paid social media influencer driven issue. That is literally what John Thune said. This is an influencer driven issue. It's like a bunch of people getting on Facebook and Instagram and TikTok and all of that and they're saying, want the save act. Where's my check? That's not happening. That is absolutely not happening. 01:02 in fact over at cnn and and caroline levitt pointed this out again today cnn proves that that's not what's happening and what's the racial breakdown on this right because i think a lot of people make the argument that people of color non white americans have a harder time procuring a photo i did about but even here take a look here favor photo i did a vote eighty five percent of white people favorite eighty two percent of latino seventy six percent of black americans favorite so the bottom line is this 01:30 Voter ID is not controversial in this country. A photo ID to vote is not controversial in this country. It is not controversial by party and it is not controversial by race. The vast majority of Americans agree with Nicki Minaj that in fact you should have a photo ID to be able to vote. Absolutely and you should have to prove that you're an American citizen. So why isn't John Thune even trying? I'll give you a hint. He doesn't want to. 02:01 He doesn't want to pass the SAVE Act because you see, I believe and I think he believes. 02:12 that the SAVE Act, if it were passed... 02:16 might spell some doom and gloom for the establishment in the Senate and the House. It just might. They don't want it. just, McConnell doesn't want it. Thune doesn't want it. 02:37 For what reason? For what reason? 02:41 Does the word uniparty mean anything to you? Absolutely. They agree with their colleagues. We could literally see the end, and I'm going to talk about this more in the next segment. We could see the Democrat Party as we know it disappear virtually overnight. 03:06 if you required citizenship and an ID to vote. I mean, they're even admitting, oh, we don't want ICE near the polling places. Wait a minute, hold on. Why would you not want ICE at the polling places? Because you guys are saying that illegal aliens don't vote. Well, we still, we don't want them there. 03:28 because they know illegal aliens vote. They know they do. And they vote in greater numbers than are being told in the mainstream media. So Senator um Mike Lee had a little bit of a response to um John Thune. Tens of millions of Americans have jumped on the cause of supporting the Save America Act and using the talking filibuster to advance it. 03:57 I regret that some in Washington tonight are dismissing all those who feel this way and who have weighed in as somehow paid influencers or the product of paid influencers. This is wrong. So if you're hearing this message and you agree with these objectives, please redouble your efforts. Make clear, this is not the product of paid influencers. These are real Americans doing what Americans do best. Exactly right. 04:27 Exactly right. So if you guys have been calling John Thune in Washington, maybe you to call him some more. Maybe you ought to call him a lot more. You want the number? 04:49 202-224-2321. Now, all of the senators are 202-224. So the only thing you really have to remember is 2321. 202-224-2321. Call John Thune. Say, hey, Senator Thune, I'm not a paid influencer, but I want you to pass the SAVE Act. 05:14 He's trying to say he doesn't have the votes, but yet he also wants his buddy, John Cornyn, to be endorsed by Trump. You see, this is the weird paradox that these people are in ri ...

In Top of the News Stack, Greg Belfrage goes over all the latest news including Trump and the Strait of Hormuz, the news Supreme Leader of Iran, Benjamin Netanyahu recommitting to overthrowing the current Iranian regime, JD Vance and the seventh soldier, Trump and the Save America Act, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the filibuster, and more...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:02 All right, somebody said over on the Common Sense Retirement Planning text line, Charlie Graham voted for Thune. I'm pretty sure he did. But I can't be positive. Because I did a little research into that. I wanted to find out who voted for John Thune to be the Senate Majority Leader. And did you know that's a secret vote? It's a secret ballot. I'm to have to kill the camera here real quick over on the stream. Did you know that? 00:31 That is a secret ballot. But here's my thing. In Washington, D.C., I don't think there should ever be a secret ballot. I think every single vote that they take, I don't care if they vote on where to go for lunch. I want to know about it. All right, Jimmy Johns has 80 % of the vote, therefore we're going to Jimmy Johns. I want to know who voted for Jimmy Johns over Subway. 01:02 That's what I want to know. Every single vote. So while we can assume that Lindsey Graham did vote for John Thune, can't be positive. uh Let's see. Let's go to Larry in Greenville. Larry, welcome. Hey, Charlie. How you doing? I'm doing good. What's up, I'd like to some numbers on the number of people in the primaries that even know who they're voting for. 01:32 i guarantee the majority of the people that vote in the primaries even though the turnout is low you know i started people about in the primaries are voting on name recognition you know i think you know what my uh... i'm to have nothing hold up i think more people in the general election don't know than in the primaries 01:53 well i think the primary the general election in less than port the uh... turnout is more important in the general no no no no i'm i'm gonna disagree with you on that one not here in south carolina because whoever wins the primary goes on to win the general 02:14 And I would say, and I appreciate that, would say 90 % of the time. 90 % of the time. So last non-presidential primary, 85, I'm sorry, 86.5 % of the people decided they were not gonna vote. And because of that, we got what we got. Let's go to Esther in Powdersville. Esther, welcome. Oh, thank you. Most United States senators and congressmen make $174,000 a year. Yeah. Correct? Right. 02:43 but yet they spend millions and millions of dollars to get elected. Isn't that interesting? How does that math add up, of the perks for that kind of a job. Oh, well, here's what I do know. We're hearing that John Thune is a big investor in Mitch McConnell's wife's father's shipping business, you know, the Chinese shipping magnate. Oh, there's plenty of perks. Plenty. 03:13 listen up don't let me go to the end of the question i think you're right here uh well this mission that's new in my next question but uh... we just want to come out and ask me the grand did you know the john de 03:27 Well, if you ever had the guts to call this show, I Well, I'd call him up on over. I'll call him up tomorrow and ask his office if he voted for him. All right. That's a good idea. That's a good idea. Everybody's trying to call the office and say, did Lindsey Graham vote for John Thune? Also, why can't they get rid of John Thune like they got rid of Kevin McCarthy? That's a good question. That is a real good question because they could vacate the chair in the Senate. I mean, it only... 03:55 It only, I read this last night, it takes like five senators, five senators have to come up with a resolution to vacate the seat and then they have to get a big vote on it I think that takes two thirds. I know. Okay, this is the other question I want to ask you about. I understand William Cannon's uh response to the slush fund, okay? Right. But this is my response to him. 04:24 Aren't the taxpayers paying for that? Yeah. Yeah, that's true. That's our money. That's true. That's true. So if my husband and I are paying for their indiscretions, I want names and I have a right to know who I'm paying for. Yeah. But I also understand that there are a lot of victims there that don't want their identities. Now, w ...

i On our radar this week… Trump's “Wag the Dog” tactic has started a war that's quickly engulfing the entire Middle East, is costing taxpayers tens-of-billions of dollars. It has been an expensive and largely unsuccessful diversion tactic, made even worse with the combative testimony of the Clintons in a House Oversight hearing into the Epstein story. If anything, the two days of testimony from Hillary and Bill Clinton increased the heat on Trump and his coverup. © Clay Jones – claytoonz.com Not satisfied with launching a Middle East war, invading Venezuela, sinking a bunch of small boats on the open seas, hinting at a hostile takeover of Cuba and picking out White House drapes, Trump has now launched a military operation in Ecuador. All of Trump's efforts have been aimed at the supply of drugs – with no effort to reduce the domestic demand for drugs that makes the drug trade so profitable. Also this week: Texas Democrats are thinking upset in November, with Dems outnumbering Republican voters in the primary … and Republicans headed to what promises to be a very messy runoff campaign between their corrupt state Attorney General and a beleaguered sitting Senator. In North Carolina, the nomination of a popular former Governor for the Senate … and the Democratic turnout outnumbering Republicans by 200,000 … have the Dems increasingly confident of flipping that Senate seat. In Arkansas, another Democratic flip. Democrat Alex Holladay won a Republican-held seat in the Arkansas state House on Tuesday, marking the ninth time Democrats have flipped a district from red to blue in a special election since the start of Donald Trump's second term One of the behind-the-scenes powers in Lansing is stepping down from the Legislature. State Senator Sam Singh, long considered one of the most effective lawmakers in Lansing, says he won't seek another term despite the prospect of moving up to Senate Majority Leader in 2027. Even as the United States spends tens-of-billions in borrowed money to bomb Iran, more financial problems for Trump's record-setting budget deficits. A federal trade-court judge has ordered the Trump administration to start refunding the more than $130 billion it collected in the global tariffs invalidated by the Supreme Court last month. Joining the conversation is Michigan's senior United States Senator, Gary Peters. He was first elected to the Senate in 2015 after serving as a member of the Rochester Hills City Council, Michigan State Senate, and Director of the State Lottery. During his two terms in the state Senate, he authored and passed more bills signed into law than any other member of his party – a record of productivity that has been mirrored in his two terms as U.S. Senator. (Jeff) Senator Peters is the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and also is a member of the Appropriations Committee, Armed Services Committee, and Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. We’re now on YouTube every week! Click here to subscribe. A Republic, If You Can Keep It is sponsored by © Clay Jones – claytoonz.substack.com  

Kristi Noem is fired from her position as Homeland Security Secretary, but moves to a new and unclear role. The Senate Majority Leader blames Democrats for the ongoing DHS shutdown and the House fails to advance a war powers resolution for Iran.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune joins the Guy Benson Show in this week's Sunday Replay! He discussed Trump's SOTU, the SAVE Act, and the filibuster. Listen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

SIMON talks to Senate Majority Leader, SEN. MIKE KLIMESH, about what's going on in the Senate now that the first funnel has passed. Simon and Sen. Klimesh discuss several bills that have survived that voters should be aware of - especially SF2099 that would make torture of a domestic pet a felony. Iowa is currently the ONLY state in the Union that does not make these heinous acts a felony! Simon definitely wants to see that change!

February 25, 2026 ~ Winnie Brinks, Senate Majority Leader D-Grand Rapids, joins Sandy Baruah ahead of Governor Whitmer's State of the State address. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Harry Reid was the most powerful politician Nevada has ever produced — and the machine he built still shapes state politics today. This week on Ballot Battleground: Nevada, The Nevada Independent CEO and veteran journalist Jon Ralston joins host Ben Margiott to discuss his new book, The Game Changer, and what it reveals about Reid's rise from Searchlight to Senate Majority Leader — and how he rewrote the political playbook for Democrats. Then we turn to the present: the wide-open race for Nevada's 2nd Congressional District following Rep. Mark Amodei's surprise retirement. Who's in, who's out, who could jump in — and do Democrats actually have a shot at flipping CD2? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth is working to quickly pass several measures during the first week of the session, including a few medical compact bills and a change to the state's civil commitment law. NMiF Show Host Nash Jones spoke with Wirth in his Roundhouse office about the so-called “rocket docket.” Also, Jones asks where Wirth stands on a few high-profile proposals, including Senate Democrats' shift to supporting a ban on ICE contracts for immigrant prisons in our state.Podcast Host: Lou DiVizioNMiF Show Host: Nash JonesGuest: Peter Wirth, (D) NM Senate Majority Leader - District 25 - Santa Fe

George Mitchell, the former Senate Majority Leader and respected peace negotiator, was named under oath by Virginia Giuffre as one of the men Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her to. Despite the gravity of the allegation, Mitchell's name was quietly pushed aside, his denial accepted without serious challenge, and the story faded from public discourse. Unlike figures such as Prince Andrew or Donald Trump, who were relentlessly scrutinized, Mitchell received soft handling from the media and political class, his ties to Epstein treated as an uncomfortable detail best ignored. His presence at Epstein's townhouse and social connection to the disgraced financier raised obvious questions, but few dared to pursue them. The result was a glaring double standard that exposed how power and prestige protect certain names from accountability.This selective amnesia reveals how the Epstein scandal has been weaponized rather than fully exposed. Survivors' testimony is amplified when it serves partisan purposes, but buried when it implicates figures like Mitchell who belong to the establishment's “safe” circles. The hypocrisy is stark: those screaming about “the other team's” monsters go silent when their own are implicated. Mitchell's erasure from the mainstream narrative shows how survivors were betrayed not just by their abusers, but by a system that cherry-picks justice. His story underscores the bipartisan rot at the core of the Epstein saga—proof that truth has been traded for theater, and survivors' voices have been muffled in service of political convenience.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

As midterms draw near, President Trump and his policies will be put under more scrutiny than ever, but despite significant losses in off-year elections, some in the party still feel confident about their chances in 2026. Among them is Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who sat down with Bret on Thursday to explain why. Senator Thune explains his opposition to extending Obamacare health subsidies, whether the population should be concerned about a war with Venezuela, and what Republicans are doing to address families grappling with high costs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join host Manya Brachear Pashman for a powerful conversation about Red Alert, the Critics Choice Award-nominated Paramount+ docu-series that confronts the October 7 Hamas massacre with unflinching honesty. Producer Lawrence Bender (Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting) shares why this project couldn't wait—launched in real time to push back against denial, disinformation, and a world struggling to absorb the scale of the tragedy. Bender reflects on the courage and trauma of the ordinary Israelis whose stories anchor the series, including survivors like Batsheva Olami, whose resilience changed the production team forever. Hear how filming during an active war shaped the storytelling, the emotional toll on everyone involved, and why capturing these true accounts is essential to ensuring October 7 is neither minimized nor forgotten. Key Resources: AJC.org/Donate: Please consider supporting AJC's work with a year-end gift today. Right now, your gift will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, making double the impact. Every gift matters. Every dollar makes a difference in the fight for a strong and secure Jewish future. Listen – AJC Podcasts: Architects of Peace The Forgotten Exodus People of the Pod Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: [Clip from Red Alert] Manya Brachear Pashman:   Academy Award nominated film producer Lawrence Bender has quite a repertoire for both feature films and documentaries: Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Bastards, Good Will Hunting and Inconvenient Truth. In fact, his works have earned 36 Academy Award nominations.  His most recent TV miniseries is a more personal project on the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel, Paramount Plus began streaming a four episode series called red alert about the attack on festival goers, innocent passers by and families waking up to terrorists inside their Israeli homes that day, a tragedy that many of us, either on this podcast or listening have watched with overwhelming grief for the last two years. Lawrence is with us now to talk about how he grappled with this attack on Israel and the rise of antisemitism that followed.  Lawrence, welcome to People of the Pod. Lawrence Bender:   Thank you, Manya, it's good to be here.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   So that clip that we played at the top of this episode, it's one of the few clips in English. Most of the dialog in this show is in Hebrew with subtitles. But that scene is a woman, Bathsheba and her two daughters. They're walking across a field trying to return home, and her son has been taken. Her husband is gone. This series weaves together her story and three or four other ordinary civilians fighting for their lives on October 7, 2023. You know, as someone personally who's been immersed in this subject matter for two years, to be honest, I had to muster the energy to watch this, and I'm so glad that I did. But why are, I mean, as we're still waiting for the last hostage to be returned, why was it important for this show to air now? Lawrence Bender:   Well, thank you so much for doing this with me, and thank you for playing that clip. I have to tell you first, I love that clip. I love that scene because one of the things about the show and the stories that we portrayed is that even with the horrific things that happened on that day, people still were able to fight back. People were still able to be strong. A mother with her daughter and her infant stood in the face of a terrorist and stood him down in real life, this happened.  Now, not everybody was so fortunate, and her husband Ohad was not fortunate, and her son was taken hostage, as you mentioned, but it does show her personal power in this horrific situation. And I just thought, you know, this woman is a real hero. I've spent a lot of time with her, Batsheva Olami, she's really an extraordinary human in all ways. So thank you for playing that clip.  So in terms of the show, I felt on October 8, it's just amazing how quickly, before Israel did anything, the entire world quickly turned against the very people who were the victims and having spent subsequently, a lot of time with people on the set, because, as you mentioned, this show was about real people, and those real people spent a lot of time on the set with us. And the very people that were traumatized, felt isolated, they felt alone, and they're the very ones that need to be loved, that need to be hugged, they need to be supported. Anyway, I just felt like I needed to do something fast to try to show the world what really happened. AndRed Alert is the result of that. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Do you fear that the world has already moved on? Lawrence Bender:   Oh, that's a good question. It feels like we've passed a tipping point, actually, in terms of Jew hatred and anti-Israel and antisemitism. Even as we are now trying to have a peace process, right, that somehow we are stumbling forward, and if that's going to happen, people need to understand why we're here and why we're here happened on October 7. And if you watch the show, hopefully you're pulled into the show, and you have a, you know, you have an emotional journey, and then you understand, oh, this really happened. And you understand that's the truth. And only when you really understand the truth of October 7 do I really think that you can really get some sort of peace. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So is this different from other historical events? You know, a lot of movies and television shows commemorate historical events, like the Holocaust, for example, but they happen years later. They're made years later. I kind of call it the never forget genre. But is October 7 unique in that it's not a question of whether people will forget or move on. It's a question of whether they believe that this present is actually true. Lawrence Bender:   That's right, there's the deniers. There's people that just don't know. There's people that forgot, maybe you know, there are people who I know that I had to explain. Like, you know, it's interesting. As an example, when you see the show and you see all these Hamas terrorists invading the kibbutz, and Ohad says to her, his wife, Bathsheva, he whispers in her ear, I just saw about 20 terrorists, and someone said to me, who's not unintelligent, I didn't realize there are that many. I didn't realize that. And if you're not really paying attention, maybe you don't really know. And look, they're the haters, haters which are never going to change. But I think there's a large group of people that just don't really understand, and they're the ones that I feel we have a shot at showing this to and having a conversation with. Manya Brachear Pashman:   In fact, are you actually introducing or experimenting with a new genre of truth or facts in the face of fiction. Lawrence Bender:   I guess that's true. I mean, this just happened. And some people ask over this last, you know, when I released, and we were paramount, released the show. You know, I've been asked a question, is it too soon? And my answer is, I feel like it's not soon enough. And I felt like immediately I needed to work on something, and this is the result of that. For me, personally, there are many collaborators of people on this show that incredible Israeli partners, my American partners. I mean, there's a lot of amazing people that came together to work on this, to make this show, but we really felt like time was of the essence, because the world was shifting so quickly, we wanted this to get out there, to show the world what really happened. Manya Brachear Pashman:   One of the reasons I'm pressing you on this, this was not a fiction film. This was based in reality. You said you met Bathsheba, the actors prepared for their roles by meeting with the very real people who they were portraying in this show whose stories they were recreating. I'm curious what some of the takeaways were for you, for your colleagues, from your encounters with these victims, with these survivors, and did anything about the production ever change after they got involved? Lawrence Bender:   It was truly a life changing experience for myself, but really for everyone involved, of course, myself and my partner, Kevin Brown and Jordana Rubin, and we were basically the only non Israelis that were full time producing the show. And everyone else was a citizen of the country. Everyone else, you know, was affected dramatically, everything but from like our key grips brother ran the kibbutz Raim, where we filmed that area that was a kibbutz overrun by terrorists, right? His brother survived. So it was really like every single person at some point, you know, we call it triggered, but it really happened quite often where you have a scene and people just have to stop for a second and take a moment, whether it's an actor finishing a scene or a crew member, you know, partaking in the making of the scene. But lots of things happen. I'll tell you one story which was, you know, quite interesting. We're working at the Nova festival scene, and one of the actors, Moran, her niece, was on vacation in Greece, and her niece told her, if a red headed police woman shows up on the set, she's the one who saved my life. And indeed, her name was Bat, she showed up, and we said, we need you to meet somebody. And we FaceTimed Moran's niece with Bat, and the young lady she's like in her early 20s, said, You're the one who saved my life. You're the one I was hiding by your feet while you were firing. And we asked, Did you remember the people that you saved? And she said, I really only remember the people I didn't save. You really felt the pain that she is still at that point a year and a half later, this is. In April, May, suffering from what she went through. RPG hit nearby her. She went flying through the air. She had had half reconstructive surgery, on and on and on. It was obviously an extremely traumatic day for her to you know, a moment where there's a woman on the set whose daughter was murdered, and someone on my crew, actually, Mya Fisher, has said, you know, there's someone here I want to introduce you to. It's after lunch. And I spent some time with her, and I asked her, you know, like, how do you go? Fine, I can't, you know, I can't imagine losing my son in this way. It's just unimaginable. And I asked her, do you have a rabbi? What do you do to survive?  And it was a very difficult emotional exchange. And sometime later, she had sort of retold that encounter to somebody else on the set who came to me and said, you know that woman you're talking to. She told me what happened, you know this conversation? And she said, You know this Hollywood producer came all the way from California, she doesn't know me, from Adam, and sat down with me for an hour to hear my story, and it clearly meant a lot to her. And again, you realize that the very people who are traumatized directly are not getting the love, are so isolated and people are against them, and it made me feel even more determined to tell these stories for the world to understand.  Every day we had these type of difficult, emotional and to be honest, I was extremely honored every time I met someone. I spent every Saturday night at Hostage Square because we were making the show, I got to spend time backstage with all the families who had loved ones in the tunnels. There was a deep dive into this. Now, I have to tell you, on the other hand, the filming while a war is still going on is quite it's like things you don't have to think about normally, right? So, as an example, we were in a town and we're shooting a shootout. We're filming a shootout between the IDF actors and the Hamas actor. They're actors. I keep saying they're actors, right? Because they are actors. But the mayor and the chief of police in the town were extremely worried, because they look real, right? They look like real people. And unfortunately, the cemetery is littered with people who have been murdered and killed by the Hamas. And all the other men who are there, they have guns, they carry, and if something's happening, they're going to run towards the problem. So he's worried, what if someone walks by, or someone's up in a building. He looks down and they see an actor who looks like Hamas, they are going to shoot him. So we literally had speakers every 10 yards, like all up and down the street, and every like 15-20 minutes, saying, don't worry, in Hebrew, of course, this is a movie, everything's okay. We had a drone up in the air, never coming down, on a tether with a police officer. They're a full big screen watching case someone walks down the street.  We dressed up the Hamas actors as they're walking from the holding area to the area where they're filming, we put them in these kind of white hazmat-like suits so that they couldn't confuse them, and when they got done filming, we put them right back in these hazmat white suits and brought them back to the holding area. We all had to dress up, and we had to wear these very, very light blue shirts the entire crew, so nobody looked like anything but a crew member. It was something, right?  Manya Brachear Pashman:   I did not even think about that. I mean, I knew that you had filmed on location in Israel, and I knew you had filmed during the war. In fact, I was going to explain to listeners who don't know Red Alert is what Israelis call the sirens and the phone alerts when there are rockets being fired upon Israel and they have time to seek shelter. I was going to ask you if you had been there during a red alert and had to seek shelter, but I didn't even think about the possibility of people confusing the filming with actual war activity. I imagine you were there during a red alert, and did have to seek shelter, yes? Lawrence Bender:   so there's different types of alerts in the south. We did shoot in the guys called the Gaza envelope. We shot within less than a mile away from the Gaza border. So a scene that comes soon after the one that you showed. They're resting under a tree, and we are in the Gaza envelope. And this is a scene where they're running from the Hamas. They're running, they're bare feet, and they're out of breath, and they stop under this tree that's hot, and so forth. And you can hear, just a mile away, the war going on in Gaza. Hear the bombs and everything, and we weren't worried about we're going to be attacked, but it was eerie hearing a war go on, and we're filming a scene where they're running from that war, right?  So it was dramatic every week or so still at that point, the Hamas would lob a missile bomb into southern Israel and an alert would go off. You have 15 seconds to. Get into. So we had to bring these portable concrete safe rooms with us so that crew, at any given moment can run quickly into one of these concrete things. We couldn't always do it. So there's always this conversation, and by the way, it costs a lot of money, so everything you're always carrying these things. There's a lot of planning that went on. But I have to tell you, as an American showing up in Israel for the first time after October 7, I wasn't used to these alarms going off, so we were fortunate that while we were filming in the south, no missiles were lobbed at us. However, my first day there, I'm in a meeting on the eighth floor. It was a Friday morning. I got in there on a Thursday evening, 10 o'clock in the morning, the alarm goes up. I mean, just like that, right? And it's loud.  And you have these buzzers. Everyone's phone is buzzing, not like the Amber Alerts we have, like, really buzzing loud. And everyone stops and looks at me, and they apologize to me. They apologize and they go, Oh, we're really sorry, but it's an alert. We have to go into a safe room. Oh, don't worry, it's just from the Houthis. It takes eight minutes to get here. Now it's an intercontinental ballistic missile. These are real big missiles. They can really do bad damage. Don't worry, the Iron Dome usually gets them. It's really okay. So we go, you know, we go into and they pick up their danish and their coffee, and of course, I take out my cell phone and I'm videotaping. And then we go in there, and when it's off, we go back to the meeting. The meeting starts as if it never happened. And then they stop, and they go, Oh, how was that for you? And then I just didn't realize, what with the emotion that was going on because we're not used to having missiles shot at us. It's not normal. And I started to bubble up with emotion, and I had to, like, stop myself, I didn't want to cry in front of all these people that I barely knew. So I had to suppress my feelings. Like, don't worry, it's okay. You're having a normal reaction, right? And that happened quite often while I was there.  Now, you do get used to it. And the last night I was there, I was having dinner outside, tables outside, you know, in restaurants everywhere. So we're having a typical outside dinner, and they're handing the fish, and the alarm goes off, and we go, let's eat. And we don't go into the restaurant where they're called maamads. You don't go into the safe room. So that's kind of the quote, unquote normal life. Now you imagine here in the United States we get a missile from Mexico or Canada or wherever. No one's going to put up with that. That's just insane. It's insane what people in Israel have to go through. Manya Brachear Pashman:   it really is. But it's interesting that you've kind of adopted the nonchalance that your colleagues had at the very beginning of the trip, and wow, certainly no apologies. I want to know if there's a missile headed my way. Thank you. It does sound like October 7 changed you personally. And I'd like to know as a progressive Jew, on what level did it change you as a human being. I mean, how did it change you the most? Lawrence Bender:   I've been an active Jewish person for maybe 20, somewhere, 2025, years. I went to Israel My first time. I was ready. As far as I'm concerned. I was too old already to go for the first time. It was like 2003 I went with the Israeli policy forum, and we met with a lot of people there, and we ended up going to Ramallah, met with Abu Mazen, we went to Cairo and met with the president there, Barak, and met with a lot of people in Israel and so forth. And I've been involved one way or another for quite a while. But of course, October 7 was dramatic. Of course, I was safe in my house in Los Angeles, but I still watched in horror. And of course, October 8, it's just hard to understand what happened. It was the latent antisemitism, Jew hatred, that sits there. I still don't quite understand that.  It feels like antisemitism never went away, but it was underneath, and it just gave a good excuse to come out, and now the world is where it is. So yeah, for me, I became much more active than I was before. It became much more important to me, my Jewishness, my relationship to Israel. I want to protect Israel as much as I have that power to you know, whatever my ability is, like a lot of people, I know it's become a really important part of my existence, and it's like a new chapter in my life. I'm absolutely looking for more Jewish or Israeli projects. You know, I'm looking to do as much as possible in this area. Manya Brachear Pashman:   A number of your colleagues in Hollywood have proposed boycotting Israeli film festivals, institutions, projects, they're going the opposite direction that you are. And I'm curious if you had difficulty finding an American network to air this series, and what do you say when you confront colleagues who do want to boycott and are hostile toward Israel? Lawrence Bender:   You know, there's different groups of people. They're the true haters. I don't think that you can ever even have a conversation with them. There are people who just don't understand, and there's people you can and there are people who you know they're trying to be good people. They're trying to understand, like, What don't you understand about women being brutally raped and murdered? It's a little hard for me to understand that, actually. But there are a lot of good people who just are either confused or got too much of the wrong message.  But the one thing I would say straight up is, let's take an analogy. You know, there's very few people that I know that you see on TV, on any news show, that is very empathetic with the regime in Iran as an example, right? That means a brutal regime. If you're a liberal or if you're a conservative, there's very few people who support that regime here in this country, right? But they don't boycott their filmmakers, right? They actually give their filmmakers Academy Awards. So why is that with Israel? I feel like there's something very misguided here in Hollywood. Now, we got really lucky when it came to distribution. I just have to say, because we were supposed to go out to sell the show like it was fully financed from equity and from Keshet, who's the local Israeli. This is the biggest network in Israel, by the way. It's the biggest drama in Israel in the last decade. It really performed well there. But now we're going to go sell it here in the United States and the rest of the world, and it's early September, which is our deadline to do that, and Israel bombs Qatar, and then this boycott letter is signed. And I have to tell the investors. You know, it's like, this is not a good time. We cannot go sell. We're just gonna fail, and there's no second chances.  And you know, I was getting into dramatic arguments with my investors because they really felt strong. You got to be like that character in your show, the police officer is going to save his wife and you know, nothing's going to stop you. And I said, Yes, I'm with you. I developed that character I know in the Middle East arguments. I was at Skip Brittenham's memorial. Skip is like this beautiful man who was like the Mount Rushmore of lawyers here in LA. He's just a great human and one of those guys that wants to make deals, not just take everything and have the other guy get nothing. He was just like a he's just a real mensch, right? And well, loved anyway. Unfortunately, he passed, but I was at his memorial, and I ran into David Ellison. Now, I know David a little bit, not well, but I know him a little bit, and I also know that, you know, he loves Israel, from what I've read and so forth. And so I went up to him and said, Hey, man, we talked. I said, you got to know what I'm doing. And it probably got three words out of my mouth, and you can see him go, I'd love to see this. This sounds amazing, and sounds like it's exactly the timing we need.  And we sent him the material, and he watched every episode himself, and then he gave it to Cindy Holland, who runs paramount, plus his main person. And you know, they said, we do this. We want this. It would be an honor to be your partner in this is actually quite humbling. And it was an incredible moment for us to have David Ellison, Cindy Holland, say, hey. You know, we want this now. Then they said, We need to drop it. We want to drop all the episodes on October 7? Well, by the time they got those episodes, it was like two weeks to go before October 7, or a couple days before, because we couldn't give it to them in the midnight before October 7, obviously. And they had pretty much final picture edit, but we had temporary sound, temporary music, temporary effects, and so we had to work double triple shifts to get it done. But of course, we did. Manya Brachear Pashman:   This actually reminds me of a conversation I had with playwright, screenwriter, Oren softy for the Forgotten Exodus, which is a podcast series we did about Jews from the Middle East. He spoke about his father's side of the family, which hails from Aleppo, Syria, and he shared a lot of his frustrations with the modern anti Israel movement and sentiments in Hollywood, the protests which he's been trying to combat in theater and on the stage. And he actually said that investors had pulled out of a film project about Israel when tensions flared. So it's interesting to hear your investors took the opposite approach, but he told me in our conversations, he told me that being Jewish is about stepping up. That's how he sees it. It's about stepping up. And I'm curious if that rings true to you, and do you feel like this series and your plans to do more, is that your way of stepping up? Lawrence Bender:   Hmm, that's beautiful, and I'm so glad to hear you recount that story with him. I'd love to talk to him about that I feel like, without really understanding that it's built into me genetically, right? My grandparents, far as you go back, my family is Jewish, right? From Romania, from Hungary, from Minsk Belarus. So it's the way that you're brought up as a Jew. It's just always been a part of our lives, and we're pretty much taught that that's part of being Jewish, right? So, you know, I've always felt like it's important for me.  Now I tell you, you know, it's interesting, and I think about as we're talking so in the 90s, when I was getting started, and I was actually doing pretty well this one year, I had Good Will Hunting and Jackie Brown and a price above Rubens, those three movies, and things were going well, but I felt like something was missing in my life. And then we screened Good Will Hunting and Camp David in 1998 and it was an amazing moment. And that was like one of these light bulb moments for me. You know, I met the President and Mrs. Clinton and Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense, Sandy Berger and the Chief of Staff and Senate Majority Leader, and on and on, right? They're all there.    And it was Matt Damon, Ban Affleck, Gus Van Zant, Robin Williams, et cetera, et cetera, right? And I felt like these guys are making a difference, and that's what was missing in my life. And so since 1998 I've been always looking for ways that I'm and that's that's that becomes like a more of a fulfilling way of living right for myself. So yes, I would answer that. That's a long way to get to yes. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Wow, Camp David, that's awesome. Lawrence, thank you so much for joining us and for talking about the impetus behind this series. I encourage everyone to take some time, brace yourself emotionally, but do sit down and watch Red Alert. It is really quite worthwhile. Thank you so much. Lawrence Bender: Thank you. Manya Brachear Pashman:   If you missed last week's episode, be sure to tune in for my conversation with AJC colleague, Dr Alexandra Herzog, the granddaughter of Chaim Herzog, Israel's Irish born sixth president. She shared how an attempt by Dublin officials to strip her grandfather's name from a community park illustrates how criticism of Israel can veer into an effort to erase Jewish memory. As I mentioned in my conversation with Lawrence, it took some degree of wherewithal to watch Red Alert, as we've spent the last two years on this podcast speaking with the families of hostages, former hostages themselves, and survivors of the October 7 massacre. I've wanted nothing more than to make sure their voices are heard. We end this week's episode with the voice of Orna Neutra, the mother of Omer Neutra. Orna recently spoke at the AJC Long Island meeting, shortly after the return of her son's remains more than two years after his death, followed by a word from AJC Long Island Director Eric Post. Orna Neutra: When Omer was taken, our world collapsed. But something else happened too. People stood up. People showed up. And many of you here showed up. This community, the broader Long Island Jewish community, AJC, our friends, colleagues, neighbors, complete strangers, carried us. You wrote, you marched, you advocated, you pressured you called you consoled and refused to let the world look away. To our personal friends and honorees here tonight, Veronica, Laurie, and Michael, your leadership has not been symbolic. It has been practical, steady and deeply felt by our family.  Like you said, Veronica, on the first days when we were barely understanding what was going on, you connected us to Senator Schumer's office, and Michael, you helped us write a letter to the White House on October 8, and that was the first sign from hostage families that the White House received. We know that Secretary Blinken had the letter in his hands on October 8, indicating that Omer was probably a hostage.  And AJC as an organization, beyond your many actions and advocacy, I want to specifically acknowledge your DC team. It was mentioned here tonight, throughout our many, many, many visits to Capitol Hill, AJC professionals were instrumental. They arranged meetings, they walked us through endless hallways, opened doors, prepared us and stood beside us, and they're still doing that for us, and we will see them this week. Always professional, with purpose and humanity, and we will never forget that. Over these two years, we learned something essential: that when Jewish families are in danger, the responsibility belongs to all of us, across movements, across generations, across continents. This work is the work that AJC does every day. This is the work that everyone here in this room understands. Eric Post:  Since the horrors of October 7, AJC has been empowering leaders around the world to take action against antisemitism and stand with Israel. But we cannot succeed alone. Please consider supporting AJC's work with a year-end gift today. Right now, your gift will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, making double the impact.  Every gift matters. Every dollar makes a difference in the fight for a strong and secure Jewish future. Donate at AJC.org/donate – that's www - dot - AJC - dot org  slash donate.

In this episode, I sit down with Brittany (Thune) Lindberg. An incredibly gifted singer-songwriter who also happens to be the daughter of the current U.S. Senate Majority Leader.  We talk about the good and hard parts of growing up in the political spotlight.  She also shares honestly about learning to live in the world but not be of it, surrounding yourself with people who think differently than you, and finding her own identity and calling as an artist. I also have to mention that Brittany and her husband Luke are dear friends of my wife and I's. If you're trying to stay true to who God made you to be in a world full of expectations, this conversation will encourage you. Listen to Brittany's music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Mq2zgB3Rw1wDwWonStjUa   Thanks to our amazing partners on this episode:  Vern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.com Are you on the hunt for a new house? Genuinely look no further. The Tyler Goff Group has a proven process that has transformed the lives of many clients. With the Tyler Goff Group by your side, you're not just buying a house – you're investing in a future home you'll love. To learn more and to contact Tyler or his team, visit tylergoffgroup.com   Subscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Brittany: youtube.com/@adamaweber  Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew  

Does John Thune suck as Senate majority leader? The conservative infighting. Why help Americans when you can have legions of foreigners who will work for slave wages. Becoming a commie is committing yourself to a miserable life. Destroying GOP traitors. Follow The Jesse Kelly Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJesseKellyShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.