Podcasts about state secretary

American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 2, 2026New Hampshire's Proof of Citizenship Law Violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments as Undue Burden, Rules Federal District Judge A federal judge ruled May 29th that New Hampshire's 2024 proof of citizenship law intended to stop a microscopic noncitizen voting and voter fraud threat created a significant burden to eligible voters and violated the U.S. Constitution.  It's the first such law to be tested. Some podcasting platforms strip out our links.  To read our resources and see the whole script of today's report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgToday's LinksArticles & Resources:U.S. District Court for NH (via New Hampshire Bulletin - Decision in Coalition for Open Democracy v. Scanlan, NH Youth Movement v. Scanlan New Hampshire Bulletin - Ahead of midterms, federal court strikes down NH proof-of-citizenship voter registration law New Hampshire Public Radio - Judge strikes down NH's ‘proof of citizenship' voting lawNH Secretary of State -  Secretary of State David Scanlan Issues Statement Following District Court's Ruling on HB 1569 Related ADM Reports:American Democracy Minute - (Feb. 2026) Proof of Citizenship: Trial Begins on Strict NH Law; FL Bill Advances; VA Bill Ends Voter Roll Searches for Registered Noncitizens 90 Days Before the ElectionAmerican Democracy Minute - (June 2024) NH Voter Suppression Bill Eliminates Sworn Affidavits for Voter Registration, Demanding Citizenship Documents for Otherwise Qualified Voters. It Could Disenfranchise Thousands.Groups Taking Action:Coalition for Open Democracy, ACLU NH, NH Youth MovementFind all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.#NewsAlerts #AmericanDemocracy #HB1569 #VoterSuppression #ProofofCitizenship #NHPolitics #14thAmendment #1stAmendment

00:00 - Intro (Hormuz, Energy Risks)08:40 - Gold Mining Adventure11:45 - Mining History In US14:30 - Gold Road Inc.16:51 - Why Should People Invest In Gold?20:00 - Upcoming IPO in Norway?25:29 - The Energy Venture In Brazil32:28 - From Energy To Fin-Tech In Brazil35:00 - The Incredible Oil Field In Venezuela!40:40 - Energy Future In Venezuela, Brasil and Guyana42:40 - US VS China And Global Statistics48:47 - Being Interim Central Bank Governor In IcelandSvein Harald Øygard has lived several careers in one lifetime. He helped steer Norway through the banking crisis of 1992 as State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, spent 21 years as a senior partner at McKinsey, and in 2009 was called in as interim Central Bank Governor of Iceland when the country's economy collapsed. He later co-founded the oil company DBO in Brazil, which later merged into Maha Capital. In Norway, he has chaired Norwegian Air Shuttle and DOF Group through major restructurings. And today he is working on taking the US gold mining company Gold Road on the Oslo Stock Exchange! Tune in, and leave a comment if you like the episode.Links discussed in the episode:Gold Road Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG0v4jZphB8In The Combat Zone of Finance - https://www.amazon.com/Combat-Zone-Finance-Svein-Oyhard/dp/1912555654Christopher Vonheim is a Norwegian host focused on business, ocean industries, investing, and start-ups. I hope you enjoy these conversations! Connect on YouTube and LinkedIn for more episodes and updates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October 1973, the Netherlands was the only western European country to face a full oil embargo from the Organisation of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, OAPEC.During the global oil crisis, they became the first country in Europe to introduce car-free Sundays with most private cars banned from public roads on Sundays. Wim Meijer was the State Secretary for Culture, Recreation and Social Work in the Den Uyl Labour Government. He speaks to Surya Elango.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines' life and Omar Sharif's legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives' ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.(Photo: Car-free Sundays in the Netherlands. Credit: Anefo Collection, Nationaal Archief)

What are the positions of Canada, Norway, and Greenland in the Arctic? And how are each navigating the region's rapidly changing political, strategic, and environmental dynamics?Joining the conversation are:Vivian Motzfeldt, then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Research of GreenlandMona Fortier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of CanadaEivind Vad Petersson, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of NorwayThe Session is moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and Former President of Iceland.This discussion was recorded live at the Arctic Circle Rome Forum -  Polar Dialogue, held March 3rd–4th, 2026.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization.  Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org

When the CDA and governments were falling apart, Marnix van Rij was called back to bring calm to the chaos. Most people told him not to do it. He did it anyway. Not because it was easy, but because as he says, “someone has to stay optimistic.”With the release of his new book ‘Reflections of a Political Optimist', Van Rij shares his visions on leadership, responsibility, and finances to stay hopeful. Even in his role as Member of the Executive Board at the IMF, his name remains relevant in the Netherlands. However, how many times can one man be called in to save a party – and a country – before optimism runs out?

We continue our coverage of the ND state convention for the Knights of Columbus Father Wilhelm opens with a blessing and discusses his role as a priest within the Knights Then, State Secretary Brian Dukart tell us about his role as State Secretary

The EU Ambassador to the U.S. Jovita Neliupšienė addresses the European Union's growing role as a key defense actor. Framed within the broader context of EU-U.S. relations and NATO, the discussion focuses on shifting European security concerns, particularly in response to Russian aggression. The conversation highlights the EU's strategic perspective and defense dynamics, and showcases its commitment to increased defense spending. About the speaker: Ambassador Jovita Neliupšienė. She became the Ambassador of the European Union to the United States on January 1, 2024. Before that, she was a Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania from September 2022, where she was responsible for the coordination of European Affairs, European bilateral and regional issues, as well as national sanctions coordinator. From 2020-2022, she was Vice Minister of Economy and Innovation of Lithuania, tasked with investment and export promotion, international cooperation, including policy coordination of state-owned enterprises, as well as chairing the interagency commission for export control. In 2020, she held the post of Chancellor and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. This position included responsibility for staff coordination, legal and consular affairs. Between 2015-2020, she served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the EU. These years were marked by the migration crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2009-2015, she worked as an advisor and chief foreign policy advisor to the President of the Republic of Lithuania Ms. Dalia Grybauskaite. She was responsible for foreign policy coordination, inter-institutional relations, as well as the role of sherpa/EU advisor, and in this respect took a leading position in preparing and coordinating the Lithuanian presidency of the EU Council in 2013. In 2014, she was awarded the State Decoration Order ""For Merit to Lithuania"" Commander's Cross. Rear Admiral Henning Faltin. Previous to his posting as military attaché for the EU Delegation, he served as a German Flotilla Commander and Director of the NATO Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters. **Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academics/graduate-degree-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3

1. Trump Iran Regime Change and Active Negotiations Donald Trump asserts that Iran’s former leadership (including the Supreme Leader) has been eliminated and replaced by a “new and more reasonable regime.” The U.S. is already in serious discussions with this new leadership, despite Iran publicly denying direct talks. Contradiction highlighted: Iran denies talks while simultaneously acknowledging responses to U.S. proposals, implying indirect communication. 2. Explicit Threats Against Iranian Infrastructure Trump issues direct threats to obliterate Iran’s energy infrastructure if negotiations fail. Targets named: Electric power plants Oil wells Kharg (Carg) Island Potentially desalination plants This destruction is retribution for decades of Iranian-sponsored violence and attacks on U.S. forces. 3. Temporary Pause on Energy Infrastructure Attacks Trump announces the U.S. will not strike Iranian energy assets until April 6 (Easter Sunday). This pause is presented as a diplomatic window to secure a deal, reinforcing a pressure-based negotiation strategy. 4. U.S. Military Objectives Clarified by Secretary of State Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlines four core objectives of U.S. military operations: Destruction of Iran’s air force Destruction of Iran’s navy Severe reduction of missile launch capabilities Destruction of missile and drone manufacturing facilities Rubio claims these goals are being met ahead of schedule and within weeks. The stated overarching goal: prevent Iran from ever acquiring a nuclear weapon. 5. Iran Described as Militarily Weakened Iran is being at its weakest point in years following weeks of sustained military damage. Rubio argues delay would have allowed Iran to grow stronger through expanded missile and drone production. 6. Hormuz Strait as a Red Line Iran has threatened to control or restrict access to the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. states this will never be allowed, emphasizing the global — not just American — economic consequences. 7. Regional Escalation and Civilian Impact Iran is responding by launching missiles and drones at neighboring countries, including: Saudi Arabia Turkey Kuwait, Qatar, UAE Israel, Cyprus Despite claims of targeting U.S. and Israeli sites, the strikes reportedly hit civilian and energy infrastructure, escalating regional instability. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Airing on Mach 28-29, 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digital embassies offer an emerging model that allows nations to extend sovereign digital infrastructure beyond their borders while maintaining control over data, compute and governance. However, establishing such arrangements requires political alignment, legal clarity and robust technical and operational safeguards. The Digital Embassy Framework, spearheaded by the World Economic Forum and co-developed with stakeholders, will provide a shared baseline for designing, governing and operating trusted digital embassies worldwide. This is the full audio from a session at the Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos. Watch it here: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/sessions/digital-embassies-for-sovereign-ai/ Speakers: Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital, Malaysia Government Cathy Li, Head, Centre for AI Excellence; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum Alexandre Fasel, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, State Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:  YouTube: - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552  

Leadership in the public sector has always demanded resilience. This is best exemplified by three elements: 1) the ability to hold long-term vision steady while reacting to short-term pressures, 2) to build consensus across institutions that do not naturally cooperate, and 3) to keep an organisation moving when the ground shifts beneath it. Digital transformation has sharpened all of these demands. The leaders steering this process need more than technical knowledge. They need self-awareness, the capacity to build the team and trust it, and the judgment to know when a crisis is also an opportunity.In this episode of the Digital Government Podcast, hosted by Merle Maigre, Head of Cybersecurity at e-Governance Academy, we hear from Taimar Peterkop – former State Secretary of Estonia, former Director General of the Information System Authority, and now Senior Expert at the e-Governance Academy. Drawing on over two decades at some of Estonia's most consequential institutions, Peterkop shares practical wisdom on what it takes to lead through change and crisis – with honesty and without pretending to have all the answers.Tune in!

Today's guest is Olli-Pekka Heinonen, one of the significant voices in global education and a leader who has spent decades shaping how the world thinks about learning. Olli-Pekka is the Director General of the International Baccalaureate, guiding a worldwide community of schools committed to developing curious, capable and principled young people. Before stepping into this global role, he served as Finland's Minister of Education and Culture and later as State Secretary, playing a key part in the evolution of Finland's internationally respected education system. He is also the author of Learning as if Life Depended on It, a powerful reflection on why education must help us see the world anew. Drawing on Finnish heritage, statesmanship and a deep understanding of global challenges, Olli-Pekka explores what it means to move beyond being overtrained and undereducated, and why learning is central to the future of humanity itself. In this conversation, we explore leadership, identity, global responsibility, and what it truly means to educate for a world that is changing faster than any curriculum ever could. It's thoughtful, expansive, and quietly urgent. A conversation that reminds us why this work matters so much.

On Europe Today, your daily Euronews podcast presented by Méabh Mc Mahon, we examine rising tensions in Iran after the government declared European armed forces “terrorist groups.” We also speak with Poland's State Secretary for EU Affairs, Ignacy Niemczycki. Plus, our correspondent Giorgia Orlandi reports from Italy on the deployment of US ICE agents ahead of the Winter Olympics, which begin this Friday.Europe Today is Euronews' daily podcast hosted by Maria Tadeo and Méabh Mc Mahon, broadcasting directly from Brussels, at the heart of Europe. Every morning, we deliver the top and exclusive stories shaping the European Union (EU) and beyond.Stay ahead with the key news and insights that matter in Europe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are Norway's foreign and defense policy priorities in today's Arctic? And what role does Norway play in Arctic relations and governance?Joining the conversation are Maria Varteressian, then State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Andreas Flåm, State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. The open Q&A with the audience is moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and former President of Iceland.This Session was recorded live at the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly, held in Reykjavík, Iceland, from October 16th to 18th.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org

What are Denmark's vision and priorities in the Arctic? And how is the country addressing emerging challenges and opportunities in the region?Joining the conversation is Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark. His remarks are followed by an open Q&A with Jonas Bering Liisberg, State Secretary for European Affairs and the Arctic of Denmark, and moderated by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chairman of Arctic Circle and former President of Iceland.This Session was recorded live at the 2025 Arctic Circle Assembly, held in Reykjavík, Iceland, from October 16th to 18th.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org

COP30 in Belém is over. What happened at the conference? What were the main outcomes? And what needs to happen next?   To find out, Anna speaks to Jennifer Morgan (Senior Fellow at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; Fellow at the Hertie School of Governance; and former State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action at the German Federal Foreign Office) and David Waskow (Director for the International Climate Initiative at the World Resources Institute).

How does Finland view strategic linkages between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions? What is the Finnish model of ‘Comprehensive Security', and how does it work in practice? How does Finland communicate openly with the public about national security risks without fuelling alarm or polarisation? What lessons can Australia learn from Finland's societal-led approach to preparedness? In this episode, Pasi Rajala joins Rory Medcalf to discuss the evolving geopolitical landscape, the importance of international cooperation among democracies, and Finland's unique approach to security and resilience. Pasi Rajala is the State Secretary to Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence. Professor Rory Medcalf AM FAIIA is Head of the ANU National Security College. His professional experience spans more than three decades across diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks, journalism and academia. TRANSCRIPT  Show notes NSC academic programs – find out more  North star: why Australia should look to Finland on resilience and preparedness We'd love to hear from you! Send in your questions, comments, and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on future episodes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thomasville native Wayne Rogers announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Alabama Secretary of State on Sept. 18, coinciding with his 63rd birthday. Rogers, a 1980 graduate of Thomasville High School, was a member of the THS marching band alongside Mayor Sheldon Day. He announced his run at the Thomasville Public Library. Rogers has practiced law in Alabama since graduating from Samford's law school in 1988 and since 2019 has served as executive assistant to Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, the first Black sheriff in the county's history. In that role, Rogers has worked to improve election security, expand...Article Link

Prior to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moldova was ranked by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as among the least self sufficient countries in the world in terms of energy. The country imported nearly all of its natural gas from Russia, and gas provided to the Transnistrian region by Russia free of charge was used to generate about 75% of the country's electricity. With the onset of the war, and Russia's choice to spark multiple energy crises in Moldova as a tool of coercion, the country has had to make rapid changes. Moldova's Renewable Energy Revolution In April 2025, an all-time record of 36% of the country's total electricity consumption was provided by locally produced renewable energy. Right now, Moldova has more than 750 MW of installed renewables capacity - more than an 8x increase from 4 years ago. Of this, 529 MW is from photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, 212 MW is from wind energy and the rest is from biogas and hydroelectric. By far the fastest growing source of power generation in Moldova is PV panels. The Complex Public-Private Mix Driving Investment Since Moldova fully broke away from Russian supplied energy, consumer electricity prices have skyrocketed. This has led to a major push from the government to diversify energy sources and modernize the country's energy market. In a situation where the country's only major traditional power generation capability is two small scale Soviet-era thermoelectric plants, this has led to a major pivot towards renewables. Carolina Novac, State Secretary of the newly created Ministry of Energy, explained that the government now has 3 priorities in the energy market - security, affordability and competition. Taken together these priorities mean Moldovan made energy, especially renewables. The Ministry recently approved the results of a series of tenders for the construction of new renewable energy installations, namely 105 MW of wind and 60 MW of solar. According to Irina Apostol, Energy Manager at NGO Green City Lab in Chisinau, investments like these are attractive because the suppliers can benefit from 15 year fixed-rate supply contracts. But there are also options for smaller investors to get involved in Moldova's energy transition. For "small producers" building photovoltaic plants up to 1 MW there is another program allowing for regulated fixed-rates for power production also on 15-year contracts. This program has limits though, equipment can't be older than 36 months and there is a cap on the total capacity that can be licensed under this plan. The country's existing power grid and regulatory framework mean that there are lots of new opportunities, but also lots of upgrades and reforms needed to build a modern, green energy system. Energy Aggregators and Small Investors Navitas Energy, a subsidiary of Moldova's largest power company Premier Energy, is a major player in Moldova's renewable energy market. The company operates on the unregulated market, buying and selling energy according to market prices without long term guaranteed contracts. They have constructed 5 photovoltaic parks of their own with a capacity of 18 MW, but also work with other small producers as an aggregator. Caption: A new photovoltaic park built by Navitas in Budesti near Vadul lui Voda. PV parks have become a regular appearance in the Moldovan countryside set amidst vineyards and rolling fields. "Navitas Energy SRL, acting as an aggregator together with the producers that own 121 renewable energy power generation plants, accumulates a total installed capacity of 180 MW." writes Navitas CEO Mihail Gidei The small investors behind those 121 solar and wind power plants sell energy to Navitas which bundles this power and sells it forward - both to Moldovan customers and on the Romanian and Ukrainian markets. This allows small producers who might not be eligible for fixed contract government programs to invest and sell their energy to consumers. The average producer in Navitas' network is rela...

Washington has sent warships, submarines, and thousands of Marines into the Caribbean, raising questions about America's intentions toward Venezuela. The Trump administration says it is targeting narco-terrorists linked to Nicolás Maduro's regime – but how accurate is that picture, and what does it mean for regional stability and security? There was already an attack on an alleged drug trafficker's boat that killed 11 people. The State Secretary, Marco Rubio, explained that the strike was ordered personally by President Donald Trump. And while it would have been possible to stop the boat, the decision was made to destroy it, which raises questions about the legality of such an attack. To unpack the situation, I speak with Wilder Alejandro Sánchez, president of Second Floor Strategies in Washington, D.C., and an analyst specializing in defense, security, and geopolitics across the Americas and beyond. How likely is direct US military action against Venezuela? Listen to our conversation. And if you enjoy what I do, please support me on Ko-fi! Thank you. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/amatisak

State Rep. Joe D'Orsie gets Straight to the Point with Leah Flinchbaugh, State Secretary for Future Farmers of America in Pennsylvania. Why agriculture education is so important for the future of the industry in PA.

State Rep. Joe D'Orsie gets Straight to the Point with Leah Flinchbaugh, State Secretary for Future Farmers of America in Pennsylvania. Why agriculture education is so important for the future of the industry in PA.

June 24 marked International Women in Diplomacy Day. To mark the occasion, a public discussion was held at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bratislava. In this follow-up, we bring you some highlights from that event and speak with both the host and guests about the importance of women's representation in diplomacy and high-ranking positions. Joining the conversation are former Slovak ambassador, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and twice Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the OECD in Paris – Ingrid Brocková; former ambassador, head of protocol, and director of the press department at the Office of President Michal Kováč in the 1990s – Anna Tureničová; researcher at the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences at Comenius University – Zuzana Maďarová; and the event's organizers. They share personal stories from diplomatic missions, reflect on how the field has changed, and speak candidly about challenges and progress toward gender equality in society. The new episode of the Slovak Sound Check introducse the conjugation of the verb mať – to have.

In this mega-episode, Stephen Donnelly goes on a whirlwind tour of Australia's most hotly-contested seats for Labor. He is joined by campaign experts (see below) from each state, who shine a spotlight on the candidates, the constituents, and the issues shaping each electorate.They share the betting odds and lay their predictions on the table. This is the ultimate election night primer.***Use the Chapter headings to jump to the seats that pique your interest - or listen to the whole episode like the absolute beast you are.***Can Labor get to 76 this Saturday night? Join us to find out. CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction01:18 Welcome to NSW06:00 Bennelong12:42 Gilmore21:51 Paterson29:52 Hunter34:48 Robertson41:47 Welcome to QLD45:39 Leichardt54:39 Bonner01:03:23 Brisbane01:08:51 Longman01:14:16 Welcome to TAS01:15:44 Lyons 01:30:27 Bass01:35:49 Franklin01:38:22 Welcome to the NT01:39:20 Solomon01:48:18 Lingiari01:56:35 Welcome to SA02:00:42 Boothby02:10:19 Sturt02:19:41 Welcome to WA02:25:13 Bullwinkle02:29:32 Tangney02:37:16 Pearce02:42:47 Canning02:48:58 Welcome to VIC02:52:58 Chisolm 03:00:58 Menzies03:03:19 Aston03:07:50 Dunkley03:10:33 Bruce03:11:59 McEwan03:15:21 Hawke03:17:37 Mcnamara03:29:08 Wills 03:40:27 Wrap UpSPECIAL GUESTS:NSW - Todd PinkertonTodd is the director of campaigns and strategy at Unions NSW, a former federal and state Labor staffer, and he's been on every campaign cycle since 2011.QLD - Evan MoorheadEvan is the director of Anacta Strategies, former Director of Strategy for the Office of the Premier and Minister for Trade, former State Secretary for Queensland Labor, and former State Member for Waterford.WA - Priya BrownPriya is a partner at GRA Partners, the former Chief of Staff in the WA Government, a former Senior Advisor in the Vic Government, and the former Regional Field Director for the Community Action Network.TAS - Jack MilroyJack is a senior strategist and public affairs professional with more than 20 years of experience in progressive political campaigns in Australia and abroad.SA - Matt ClemowMatt is a former Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff in the SA Labor Government, to successive SA Labor Premiers and current consultant for Capetal Advisory in Adelaide.NT - Ryan NeveRyan has over 20 years of experience as an advisor in the NT Government, as well as stints in the UK and Victoria. Most recently he was Executive Director for the Finance, Communications, Policy, and Strategy Divisions within the Dept. of Environment, Parks, and Water Security in the NT. VIC - Jessie McCroneJessie is a managing partner at FMRS advisory, the former Deputy Chief of Staff to Daniel Andrews, and former ALP National Organiser.The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and Support the showNew episodes out every Friday.If you like the show leave a comment below or leave us a review on Podchaser: https://bit.ly/36uFbp8Support the show on Patreon. Follow us on YouTube, Facebook, X, Bluesky, and Instagram.

What does it mean to lead digital transformation when the stakes are high, and the playbook is being written in real time? Statesmanship shines in this Digital Government Podcast episode with Taimar Peterkop, Estonia's former State Secretary now with e-Governance Academy, and one of the architects behind the country's acclaimed digital governance model.  From navigating the 2017 ID-card crisis, to coordinating national responses during the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Peterkop brings front-row insight into the real-world meaning of purposeful leadership. 

In this episode of DISINFORMATION WARS, host Ilan Berman speaks with Janis Sarts, Director of NATO's Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, about the current informational environment in Europe, and the threats now being posed to the West by Russia, China and others. BIO:Jānis Sārts is the Director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, a multinational, cross-sector organisation providing comprehensive analysis, advice, and practical support in strategic communications to the Alliance and its allied nations. Prior to that, he served as State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Defence for more than seven years, leading defence sector reforms during an economic crisis period, developing a new state defence concept, and encouraging regional defence cooperation within NATO and the EU. He has also led the Latvian Government's efforts to increase its security and defence in cyberspace. As Chair of the National Cyber Security Board, he was responsible for formulating and overseeing the implementation of Latvia's cyber security policy, as well as for overseeing the work of the National Information Technology Security Incident Response Institution.

The State Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources explores how national politics could impact South Dakota's farmers. And we meet a woman who's revolutionizing regenerative ag in the state.

Senate Votes to Advance Kash Patel's Nomination; U.S. State Secretary Rubio Finishes Talks in Riyadh | NTD Good Morning

On today's program: Tommy Tuberville, U.S. Senator from Alabama, discusses President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Pentagon's abortion travel policy reversal. Triszt

In this episode, Maria Varteressian, State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, advocates for the irreplaceable role of the Arctic Council in promoting regional cooperation amid climate change and geopolitical tensions, emphasizing its function as the only forum representing the shared interests and concerns of Arctic communities.This speech was originally delivered at the 2024 Arctic Circle Assembly.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org

In this episode, Sec. Nash talks to us about this career to-date and his current role within the US state of Oklahoma. It has a legacy of aerospace innovation and success dating back more than a century, so Sec. Nash goes into more detail about this and talks about why aerospace and defence are Oklahoma's second largest industries. He shares insights into the work that goes on in Oklahoma, where it is home to more than 1,000 aerospace entities, including manufaturing, MRO, UAS, R&D and military. We hear more about the advantages of setting up business here, project highlights and what the state is doing to encourage the next generation of workers wanting to forge a career in aerospace.

On Episode 431 of The Core Report, financial journalist Govindraj Ethiraj talks to Surendra Mehta, National Secretary of the Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association as well as Dr Rajiv Kovil, State Secretary for the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI). SHOW NOTES (00:00) The Take (06:17) FIIs have now pulled out $12.5 billion since October, why market overhang will continue (08:11) The rupee hits a fresh low as strong dollar reigns (09:50) Crude oil markets are trying to make sense of the Trump victory (10:26) Gold prices are down, where could they go now? (16:56) Diabetes is the highest cause of deaths in Mumbai now, what does that mean for you? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listeners! We await your feedback....⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Core and The Core Report is ad supported and FREE for all readers and listeners. Write in to shiva@thecore.in for sponsorships and brand studio requirements For more of our coverage check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thecore.in⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join and Interact anonymously on our whatsapp channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠

The Honourable Milton Dick MP, who is currently the Federal Member for Oxley, had the honouring in being elected as the 32nd Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives in July, 2022. With a strong focus on serving the community and helping whenever and wherever he can, Milton has had an association with the political landscape since he joined the ALP at the age of 18 as a university student and served as National President of Young Labor.  He's worked in a number of other roles, from Electorate Officer for David Beddall and a position working for Senator John Hogg, the President of the Senate at the time. In 2004, he was appointed as the ALP's State Secretary and Campaign Director, having served as a delegate to the national conference since 2001. He led the party's successful campaign in Queensland at the 2007 Federal Election and announced his resignation in December 2007 to stand for political office, which he was successful in being elected as the Brisbane City Councillor for the Richlands Ward. During his time as a Councillor, he held the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and then Leader of the Opposition from 2012 to the time of his resignation in 2016, where he he was pre-selected and elected as the Federal Member for Oxley, following the Hon Bernie Ripoll's retirement. During this episode, Milton's passion for people, for community and for increasing the level of what he calls Democratic Literacy is very evident. As the 32nd Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, he takes huge pride in his position and the responsibility of the role is certainly not taken for granted.  It's a great conversation where he shares plenty of his thoughts, reflections and information on life, people and politics.   

State Secretary and Incoming State Deputy - Bou Gazley

Nasser provides commenatary on geopolitcial issues relating to Israel-led drone strikes in Iran, Australian politics and the dehumanisation of Palestinians, BDS campaigns affect on global corporations, and the upcoming A15 global economic blockades. Nasser also interviews Tony Piccolo, Asst. State Secretary Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), about the role of union solidairity with resistive and social justice movements. A15 Actions - Coordinated economic blockade to Free Palestine, Worldwide, Mon 15 Apr 2024. More info. Petition - End partnership with Elbit Systems. Sign petition.Film screening - The Lab by Yotem Feldman (AAWL fundraiser). CFMEU Construction, Tue 23 Apr, 6pm. More info.Free Palestine Melbourne rally, State Library Victoria, Sundays 12pm.The Sit-Intifada, Parliament House steps, every day 9am - 9pm.Updated info on upcoming events and actions via Free Palestine Melbourne Instagram.Daily broadcast updates via Let's Talk Palestine. Get Up, Stand Up / Bob Marley and The Wailers 

In Ozark's corner of the country, the State Secretary has written a comprehensive missive to the Administration's Justice Department, urging them to cease the implementation of a significant executive order. This order, they fear, may pave the way for those legally ineligible to enter the voting roll, specifically convicts and unlawful immigrants. Our State Secretary, Michael Watson, recalls that the said order was enacted on March 7th, 2021. It was formulated to shift the Department of Justice from its longstanding law enforcement objectives towards a new goal of encouraging voter registration. Watson's letter addresses Merrick Garland, the country's Attorney General, highlighting this federal maneuver into state dynamics as an improper familiarity. As per Mr. Watson, the federal revenue and resources indulged in these endeavors are recklessly spent. More troublingly, the subsequent actions under the said executive order have begun to encourage voter registration, inclusive of potentially ineligible felons, which Watson believes to be an overreach of the federal jurisdiction. The controversial executive order was originated in 2021 with the intention to fight racial discrimination. Proponents touted it as a bold stride to protect democratic rights, charging government entities to devise ways that could increase public participation in electoral processes. Yet, some share the reservations of Watson, regarding the potential misuse of this directive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest news from home and abroad, with a close eye on Northeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula in particular

Officials from Egypt, the United States, and Qatar highlighted active measures being taken to resume the transfer of injured Gaza citizens and those carrying foreign passports via the Rafah crossing into Egypt. This critical humanitarian operation experienced a suspension after a devastating ambulance attack on Saturday. Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, used a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to underscore the need for an urgent cessation of Israeli hostilities. Despite being amidst a contentious scenario, Blinken's covert journey to the occupied West Bank revealed a strategic intent to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from escalating. The Rafah traverse towards Egypt's Sinai peninsula is a crucial gate for Gazans as it's not under Israel's control. Up until now, aid trucks continued to deliver much-needed supplies into Gaza, say two Egyptian sources. The evacuation process had initially commenced on Wednesday thanks to an agreement facilitated by international intermediaries. As the dawn broke over the Maghzai refugee camp in Gaza, locals began desperately searching for survivors or the remains of those less fortunate. The Hamas-run health ministry's spokesperson accused the Israeli military of an incursion on the camp which reportedly caused the tragic death of 47 individuals. Furthermore, an entirely separate onslaught by the Israeli forces led to the tragic annihilation of 21 Palestinian family members, including women and children. Abbas asserted his message to Blinken with urgency, insisting he intervene to halt the 'crimes' being perpetuated. The Palestinian leader was insistent on securing an immediate ceasefire from Israel. Abbas painted a mournful picture of the 'genocide and destruction' being rained on Palestinians in Gaza via the unstoppable force of Israel's military machinery. He further emphasized that this military offensive had little to no regard for established norms of international law. His fervent plea for respite was echoed by foreign ministers from leading Middle East countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE, who met Blinken in Amman to ask him to convince Israel to agree to a ceasefire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, Slovakian politician and academic Martin Klus talks with us during a trip to Texas about the state of the Slovak Republic following the recent elections favoring a more Moscow-friendly government. Slovakia's move towards the pro-Russia camp in which Victor Orban's Hungary sits will make things difficult for its eastern neighbor Ukraine and easier for Putin in the European space. Per statistics that Dr. Klus cited as a fellow at the Bratislava-based think tank GLOBSEC, 55% of Slovakians believe that the war in Ukraine was started by an actor other than Russia, which is a direct effect of Russian propaganda through social media platforms, in particular TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The European Commission introduced the Digital Service Act which Dr. Klus hopes will help to mitigate the negative effects of free speech for trolls and hate speech-propagating bots. Thanks for listening! Related episodes: "Milan Rastislav Štefánik: The Slovak National Hero and Co-Founder of Czechoslovakia" https://www.slavxradio.com/stefanik ABOUT THE GUEST Martin Klus is a Slovak political scientist and theorist. Prior to entering Slovak politics and since leaving office recently, he worked as university lecturer and political analyst, providing political analyses and commentaries for renowned domestic and foreign media. Dr. Klus holds a PhD in Theory of Politics and an MBA. He entered communal politics in Banská Bystrica in 2014. Between the years 2016 and 2020 he was a Member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, Vice Chairman of the NCSR EU Affairs Committee and member of the NCSR Foreign Affairs Committee, even the NCSR Deputy Speaker during last six months of his tenure. He held the position of Vice Chairman of the NATO PA Subcommittee on NATO Partnership, as the first Slovak appointee in such position. In March 2020, he served as the State Secretary for EU affairs at the Slovak MFEA as both the GAC minister and the Sherpa to the Prime Minister. Besides EU Affairs, his contemporary agenda and research consists of Disinformation and Hybrid Threats, Human Rights, Crisis Management and Consular Affairs. He is now returning to academia, to resume his post as associate professor at the Higher School of Economics and Management in Bratislava, Slovakia. PRODUCER'S NOTE: This episode was recorded on October 19, 2023 in Austin, Texas. If you have questions, comments, or would like to be a guest on the show, please email slavxradio@utexas.edu and we will be in touch! CREDITS Host/Associate Producer: Cullan Bendig (@cullanwithana) Host/Supervising Producer: Nicholas Pierce Assistant EP: Misha Simanovskyy (@MSimanovskyy) Associate Producer: Sergio Glajar Assistant Producer: Taylor Helmcamp Production Assistant: Faith VanVleet Production Assistant: Eliza Fisher Recording, Editing, and Sound Design: Michelle Daniel Music Producer: Charlie Harper (@charlieharpermusic) - Main Theme by Charlie Harper and additional background music by Eme Hache, Joey Hendrixx. Executive Producer & Creator: Michelle Daniel (@MSDaniel) www.msdaniel.com DISCLAIMER: Texas Podcast Network is brought to you by The University of Texas at Austin. Podcasts are produced by faculty members and staffers at UT Austin who work with University Communications to craft content that adheres to journalistic best practices. The University of Texas at Austin offers these podcasts at no charge. Podcasts appearing on the network and this webpage represent the views of the hosts, not of The University of Texas at Austin. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/9/9a59b135-7876-4254-b600-3839b3aa3ab1/P1EKcswq.png Special Guest: Martin Klus.

In the midst of the world's urgent call for clean energy, a new project in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana casts a contentious light on the line between economic progress and environmental destruction. At the center of this new project is the proposed liquified natural gas (LNG) export facility, which is projected to provide prosperity to some while posing environmental risks to others. Two corporate titans with ties to Oklahoma are behind the idea. Dr. Nick Alexandrov traveled to Louisiana to bring us the story.In 2015, the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing released recommendations on police reforms in response to unrest in Ferguson, Missouri that occurred after the police shooting of Michael Brown. Would those reforms, if embraced by state law enforcement officers, help deter police killings and help build community? Shonda Little brings us part two of her series. State Secretary of Education Ryan Walters recently announced that the Oklahoma Department of Education is partnering with right-wing advocacy group Prager University to provide educational resources to Oklahoma classrooms. On Monday, September 11, at a church event in Tulsa, Walters said PragerU Kids would be in every classroom as a part of “continuing the MAGA agenda” but many school districts have been opting out of using the material. Dr. Kristen Oertel, Chair of the Department of History at the University of Tulsa, shares details.In February, the US Department of Transportation announced the grant awardees for its new Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. Oklahoma's only awardee is the North Peoria Church of Christ in Tulsa. Britny Cordera spoke with Oklahoma House District 73's Representative Regina Goodwin about what the congregation hopes to accomplish.Black Tech Street is ready to propel Tulsa to the top of the worldwide cybersecurity field. Who is their partner in this challenging project? IT giant Microsoft. By the end of the decade, Black Tech Street and Microsoft are providing Black professionals in the computer industry 1,000 new career opportunities. Anthony Cherry explores the revolutionary ideas that will revitalize the city's technical and cultural environment.Sonda Slade reports that, In 2014, Tulsa's 36 Street North corridor was rebranded the Phoenix District as part of an economic development plan. One entrepreneur is working to increase options to turn the neighborhood into a food destination and revenue generator.

Ralph welcomes journalist and executive director for intellectual capital at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Hal Weitzman, to discuss his book “What's The Matter With Delaware? How the First State Has Favored the Rich, Powerful, and Criminal—and How It Costs Us All.”Hal Weitzman is Executive Director for Intellectual Capital at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and editor-in-chief of Chicago Booth Review. A former Financial Times editor and foreign correspondent, he is the author of Latin Lessons: How South America Stopped Listening to the United States and Started Prospering and What's the Matter with Delaware?: How the First State Has Favored the Rich, Powerful, and Criminal—and How It Costs Us All.We know that lawyers and investors in corporations hate political uncertainty because it might affect their profit-making process. And in Delaware they've perfected that system. They have completely bypassed any political uncertainty, and therefore also bypassed any oversight or regulation.Hal WeitzmanThe state of Delaware, the major law firms, the legislature, and the State Secretary of State over the years have created a very powerful embrace to make sure that Delaware stays #1 in terms of being a haven for these kinds of corporations, and in terms of making sure that the federal government interferes the least.Ralph NaderIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantis1. The Lever reports that in Delaware, The Company State, in a little town called Seaford, corporations may soon have the right to vote. The town has proposed an amendment to their charter granting LLCs, corporations, trusts or partnerships suffrage in municipal elections. Claire Snyder-Hall, executive director of Common Cause Delaware called this a "shocking...attempt to [give] artificial entities… voting rights," and characterized it as the “flipside [of voter suppression]." This proposal would require the blessing of both houses of the Delaware legislature, and while unlikely to pass, the corporate control of the First State is so powerful that passage cannot be entirely counted out either.2. Senate HELP Committee Chair Bernie Sanders has launched an investigation into safety at Amazon. Chairman Sanders wrote on Twitter “If Amazon can afford to spend $6 billion on stock buybacks last year, it can afford to make sure its warehouses are safe. If Amazon can afford to pay its CEO $289 million over the past 2 years, it can afford to treat all of its workers with dignity and respect, not contempt.” To further this investigation, the HELP committee has launched an online portal allowing “current or former workers, supervisors, medical staff, or anyone else in Amazon's warehouses,” to submit their stories of mistreatment.3. A troubling new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) highlights the rise in pedestrian fatalities in recent years. According to the data, over 8,000 pedestrians were killed on US roadways in 2022, more than double the number who were killed in 2010 and higher than any year since 1980. Regulators must take pedestrian safety as seriously as that of automobile drivers.4. Last Thursday, Indian Prime Minister and Right-wing extremist Narendra Modi addressed Congress, following his meeting with President Biden. A number of progressive Democrats boycotted the event, including Reps. Summer Lee, Cori Bush, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, Rashida Tlaib, and AOC. In a joint statement issued by Bush and Bowman, the members wrote “by bestowing Prime Minister Modi…the rare honor of a joint address, Congress undermines its ability to be a credible advocate for the rights of religious minorities and journalists around the world.” This from the Hill.5. People's Dispatch reports that the New York City Council has passed a resolution calling for the United States to end the blockade on Cuba. New York City now joins Washington, D.C. and Chicago in passing such resolutions. This resolution notes “Every year since 1992, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly has adopted a resolution declaring the embargo a violation of both the Charter of the United Nations and international law”.6. In the recent Virginia primaries, reform prosecutors swept their respective elections, per Bolts Magazine. Steve Descano, Parisa Dehghani-Tafti, and Buta Biberaj, prosecutors in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Arlington each fended off primary challenges from the right, two of whom were endorsed by police unions and a third who was backed by none other than the local Republican Party. The reform prosecutors trounced these regressive opponents by margins of 10 to 13 points. Deghani-Tafti told the magazine “If this election was a referendum on reform, our voters emphatically responded that they will not go backward.”7. The Reykjavik Grapevine reports that no whaling will occur in Iceland this Summer, following months of protest. Interestingly, the article notes that “Whaling is not a traditional practice in Iceland. Not only is Hvalur hf. the one and only company in Iceland engaging in commercial whaling…it does so at a loss.”8. Martin Austermuhle of WAMU reports that Republicans in the House are once again seeking to meddle in the sovereign affairs of Washington, DC. Riders in a draft spending bill promulgated by the GOP include banning reproductive rights legislation, reversing the legalization of marijuana, and other conservative priorities that would never get off the ground in the district. The major concern here is that spineless Congressional Democrats will serve up DC on a silver platter in exchange for other Republican concessions. Just another reason DC statehood must be a top priority.9. A group of House Democrats sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen calling on her to ease the sanctions regime imposed on Venezuela, NBC reports. The authors include Reps. Joaquin Castro and Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, along with progressives like Jim McGovern of Massachusetts and Barbara Lee of California. The letter described how sanctions "have often been found to be ineffective in achieving their objectives," and "to purposefully continue contributing to economic hardship experienced by an entire population is immoral and unworthy of the United States.” Hopefully Secretary Yellen will heed these words.10. Finally, how much does a trashcan cost? A new report in Responsible Statecraft highlights price gouging at the Pentagon, including a trashcan sold to the Defense Department for $52,000. Must be one hell of a bin! Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

How might a background in politics, including as Minister of Education, shape an approach to public education? What significant initiatives or reforms from Government might spearhead successful and positive education reform in the public sector? Mr Olli-Pekka Heinonen became the 8th Director General of the International Baccalaureate Organization on 1 May 2021. Prior to joining the IB, Mr Heinonen was Director General of the Finnish National Agency for Education where he worked from January 2017. Mr Heinonen had an active career in politics in Finland between 1994 and 2002: he was Minister of Education and Science from 1994-1999; Minister of Transport and Communication from 1999-2002 and a Member of Parliament from 1995-2002. From 2002 to 2012, Mr Heinonen was Director of Yle, the Finnish national public broadcasting company, before joining the Finnish Prime Minister's Office in March 2012 as State Secretary, responsible for organizing and leading the office. He has also been responsible, as State Secretary, for the portfolios of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development and then as State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance of Finland. Mr Heinonen holds a Master of Laws from the University of Helsinki in Finland and has been awarded honorary doctorates by both the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Turku in Finland. He is married and has three children. Transcript available at thelearningfuture.com

NATO reinforcements started arriving in Kosovo this week, following violent clashes in majority-Serb north Kosovo in late May. Outbreaks of violence erupted following disputed local elections, which Kosovo Serbs boycotted, allowing ethnic Albanians to take control of councils in northern Kosovo. The unrest comes after an apparent breakthrough in March when Kosovo and Serbia agreed to an EU-backed plan aimed at normalising ties. On the Real Story this week we'll ask whether the latest crisis endangers those negotiations, and what needs to happen to defuse tensions in both the short and long-term. How do people living and working in North Kosovo deal with the complex issues of ethnic identity that have shaped the region for decades? What is the role of outside players like the United States and European Union? And how has Russia's invasion of Ukraine changed the West's approach to the Balkans? Shaun Ley is joined by: Misha Glenny, Rector of the Institute of Human Sciences in Vienna and a former BBC Central Europe Correspondent. Dr Gezim Visoka, Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University Dr Helena Ivanov, visiting fellow in the international relations department at the LSE and an Associate Research Fellow with The Henry Jackson Society, a London-based think tank that advocates the spread of liberal democracy. Also featuring: Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo Nemanja Starović, State Secretary, Serbia's Ministry of Defence Jovana Radosavljevic, Executive Director at the New Social Initiative, a civil society organization based in North Mitrovica Guy Delauney, the BBC's Balkans Correspondent Image: Members of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) stand guard in Zvecan, Kosovo, May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski Produced by Imogen Wallace and Rozita Riazati

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, June 1st, 2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/chick-fil-a-faces-growing-backlash-over-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-efforts_5300643.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport Chick-fil-A Faces Growing Backlash Over ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ Efforts Some conservatives have suggested a boycott of Chick-fil-A after the fast-food chain was discovered to have a vice president of “diversity, equity, [and] inclusion,” or DEI. In a previously issued Chick-fil-A news release, the company said that Erick McReynolds serves as its vice president of DEI, saying: “Chick-fil-A restaurants have long been recognized as a place where people know they will be treated well. Modeling care for others starts in the restaurant, and we are committed to ensuring mutual respect, understanding, and dignity everywhere we do business.” DEI is a set of principles that large corporations, government agencies, and schools have increasingly incorporated into their work environments, often mandating employees receive such training. However, these principles are rooted in Marxism, according to prominent critics including Christopher Rufo and James Lindsay, that are essentially vehicles for “left-wing racialist ideology and partisan political activism.” “They are designed to replace the system of academic merit with a system of race-based preferences and discrimination—which, in many cases, explicitly violates federal civil rights law,” wrote Rufo for his Substack page earlier this year. The Chick-fil-A announcement was highlighted this week by several prominent conservative accounts. According to McReynolds’s LinkedIn page, he was hired as Chick-fil-A’s vice president for “Diversity, Equity [and] Inclusion” in late 2021. The chicken-based fast-food chain has been generally well respected among conservatives due to the company’s religious values and its prior support for religious groups. In the McReynolds DEI announcement, Chick-fil-A makes reference to its corporate purpose, which is “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us” and “to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.” In recent weeks, a number of companies have faced backlash for embracing what critics say are left-wing values or a pro-LGBT agenda. Since early April, Bud Light has seen a significant backlash after it produced a beer can with transgender activist and influencer Dylan Mulvaney’s face and as Mulvaney suggested a partnership with the brand. Sales of Bud Light have dropped significantly year-over-year, with consumers opting to drink brands like Coors or Miller in its place, according to data released by industry analysts. Data published by Bump Williams Consulting and Nielsen IQ shows that by the week ending May 20, Bud Light sales declined 29.5 percent year-over-year, while revenue is down 25.7 percent. The CEO of Anheuser-Busch has, on multiple occasions, said that Bud Light did not partner with Mulvaney, a man who identifies as a woman, and that only “one can” with Mulvaney’s face was produced. Local distributors in some areas also released advertisements saying as much in a bid to lure back customers, while Bud Light has marketed several deals to move cases of beer. Another major boycott was directed at Target after the company released a line of LGBT clothing for children—including onesies for infants—for its “pride collection,” according to its website. Other companies, like Kohl’s and PetSmart, have similarly been criticized for selling similar products. Last week, Target said in a news release that it would be moving its “pride” merchandise to other areas of the store. The company, meanwhile, has seen its stock drop considerably since mid-May, falling another 3.5 percentage points on Tuesday. https://www.dailywire.com/news/9-teenagers-arrested-over-brutal-assault-of-3-u-s-marines 9 Teenagers Arrested Over Brutal Assault Of 3 U.S. Marines Sheriff’s deputies in San Clemente, California, arrested nine teenagers over the brutal assault of three U.S. Marines last Saturday. San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan announced that Orange County Sheriff’s Department had charged the teenagers, five of whom were accused of assault with a deadly weapon and the other four with misdemeanor assault and battery. “They think they have the people they are looking for,” Duncan stated. “Not to say that there might not be a few others out there. They feel pretty confident that they have the main perpetrators. … They had some videotape that wasn’t readily available to the public that had a lot better images of the individuals involved.” “In today’s age, you’re going to get caught — people are going to record it,” Duncan continued. “I hope this serves as a learning lesson for young folks in the community not to let themselves get out of control when something like this happens.” As many as 40 young people were involved when the three U.S. Marines near a California beach Saturday night were attacked in a horrific moment caught on now-viral video. The Marines were enjoying time off from their service at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside at approximately 10 p.m. along the beach in San Clemente. One of the Marines, Hunter Antonino, said a piece of debris hit him in the face, prompting him to ask the group to stop lighting fireworks. “They were lighting off fireworks, they were being belligerent and obnoxious and annoying other people, so I went up to them and told them to stop,” he recalled. Antonio said the group then followed the Marines as they returned to the pier, whereupon Antonio and another Marine informed the group that they were Marines so the group would leave them alone. Instead, the group savagely attacked the Marines. One individual punched a Marine in the back, prompting the Marine to turn and charge at him, sparking the melee. Video shows two of the Marines lying in the fetal position on the ground as the group kicked them and hurled racial epithets at them. The Marines were kicked in the head and upper body. Although the Marines were injured, they refused to go to a hospital, according to Orange County Sheriff’s deputies. Antonio thought he may have suffered a concussion. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/anti-abortion-protesters-beaten-baltimore-planned-parenthood Two anti-abortion protesters beaten outside Planned Parenthood in Baltimore Two senior citizen anti-abortion protesters were attacked outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic in North Baltimore on Friday morning, sending one to the University of Maryland Medical Center. “Please pray for my dear friend, Mark Crosby,” President of the Baltimore County Right to Life organization Jay Walton said on Facebook Friday. “He was viciously attacked yesterday, May 26, 2023 while he was praying in front of Planned Parenthood in Baltimore City. He and another prolifer were attacked from behind and the thug ran away.” Mark Crosby and Dick Shafer have been confirmed as the victims in Friday's attack. Both men are over the age of 70, according to police reports. WMAR reported that surveillance video shows the suspect tackling Shafer, disturbing a large flower planter outside of the abortion facility. When Crosby came to Shafer’s aid, the assailant shoved Crosby to the ground, and the person was seen punching and kicking him in the face. Baltimore anti-abortion advocate John Roswell told LifeSiteNews that while Shafer is recovering well, Crosby “is bleeding from some unidentified area behind his eye and the bone eye orbit is completely shattered.” Walton said on Monday morning that Crosby, who had been released from the hospital, had to be transported back to the emergency room due to further complications. Roswell told LifeSiteNews that a Planned Parenthood escort, who guides abortion patients into the organization's facilities, was present at the scene and engaged with the assailant prior to the attack. In his experience, Roswell said that escorts are usually present in the rare cases that pro-abortion rights activists engage in violent altercations with anti-abortion advocates. Investigators told local news outlets WBAL and WMAR that they are searching for the suspect. https://www.theblaze.com/news/tony-holford-us-canada-border-explosives-sign Police open fire on driver at US-Canada border; truck had 'sign' indicating 'explosive device on- board' Police opened fire on a truck driver on Memorial Day as the driver aproached the U.S.-Canadian border with a sign indicating he had an explosive device on board. The motorist, 42-year-old Tony Holford of Providence, Rhode Island, faces charges of aggravated reckless conduct, a class B crime; terrorizing, a Class D crime, and failure to stop, a class E crime, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit said in a press release. At 10:39 a.m. Monday, Maine State Police Trooper Denver Roy attempted to stop a vehicle heading north on Interstate 95 in Houlton, Maine. The driver did not stop, instead continuing north. Trooper Roy "observed a sign indicating that the operator had an explosive device on-board," the MSP wrote. It is not clear what sort of sign was displayed. When the vehicle eventually stopped between the U.S. and Canadian ports of entry, troopers commanded him to get out of the vehicle. When the vehicle's operator reportedly maneuvered the truck toward the Canadian port of entry, Corporal Eric Paquette shot at him. Holford, who was uninjured, surrendered to Main State Police troopers and was taken to the Aroostook County Jail after being medically cleared. MSP say the scene is contained and there is no ongoing danger to the public. Authorities in Canada and the United States are collaborating on an investigation into the incident. The Maine State Police Bomb Squad and crime scene technicians advised motorists to use alternative points of entry as they processed the scene. The Woodstock, New Brunswick, border crossing was reopened Monday night, according to a tweet posted by the Canada Border Services Agency's Atlantic Region. The Office of the Maine Attorney General and the Maine State Police will work together "in the coming days to continue the investigation and the events that led up to the officer-involved shooting." https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/education/virginia-eliminates-degree-requirements-most-state-jobs Virginia eliminates degree requirements for most state jobs Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday announced a change in state hiring practices that would eliminate requirements or preferences that applicants for most state positions have a college degree. A press release from Youngkin indicated that the change will take effect on July 1 and affect roughly 90% of state positions. The Old Dominion's myriad agencies post as many as 20,000 job listings per year. "On day one we went to work reimagining workforce solutions in government and this key reform will expand opportunities for qualified applicants who are ready to serve Virginians," Youngkin said in a statement. State Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater further, in the same release, indicated that the state was looking into heavily regulated private industries to streamline the professional certification processes. The move comes as American high school graduates increasingly opt against pursuing college degrees to due affordability and return on investment concerns. President Joe Biden has moved to lessen the financial burden of incurring debt to pay for college by offering up to $10,000 in repayment relief for most loan recipients and up to $20,000 for those who received a Pell Grant, though that plan has faced legal scrutiny and may well end up permanently blocked by the judiciary. The proposed deal to raise the debt limit facing Congress includes a measure to end a temporary freeze on student loan repayments.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, June 1st, 2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/chick-fil-a-faces-growing-backlash-over-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-efforts_5300643.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport Chick-fil-A Faces Growing Backlash Over ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ Efforts Some conservatives have suggested a boycott of Chick-fil-A after the fast-food chain was discovered to have a vice president of “diversity, equity, [and] inclusion,” or DEI. In a previously issued Chick-fil-A news release, the company said that Erick McReynolds serves as its vice president of DEI, saying: “Chick-fil-A restaurants have long been recognized as a place where people know they will be treated well. Modeling care for others starts in the restaurant, and we are committed to ensuring mutual respect, understanding, and dignity everywhere we do business.” DEI is a set of principles that large corporations, government agencies, and schools have increasingly incorporated into their work environments, often mandating employees receive such training. However, these principles are rooted in Marxism, according to prominent critics including Christopher Rufo and James Lindsay, that are essentially vehicles for “left-wing racialist ideology and partisan political activism.” “They are designed to replace the system of academic merit with a system of race-based preferences and discrimination—which, in many cases, explicitly violates federal civil rights law,” wrote Rufo for his Substack page earlier this year. The Chick-fil-A announcement was highlighted this week by several prominent conservative accounts. According to McReynolds’s LinkedIn page, he was hired as Chick-fil-A’s vice president for “Diversity, Equity [and] Inclusion” in late 2021. The chicken-based fast-food chain has been generally well respected among conservatives due to the company’s religious values and its prior support for religious groups. In the McReynolds DEI announcement, Chick-fil-A makes reference to its corporate purpose, which is “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us” and “to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.” In recent weeks, a number of companies have faced backlash for embracing what critics say are left-wing values or a pro-LGBT agenda. Since early April, Bud Light has seen a significant backlash after it produced a beer can with transgender activist and influencer Dylan Mulvaney’s face and as Mulvaney suggested a partnership with the brand. Sales of Bud Light have dropped significantly year-over-year, with consumers opting to drink brands like Coors or Miller in its place, according to data released by industry analysts. Data published by Bump Williams Consulting and Nielsen IQ shows that by the week ending May 20, Bud Light sales declined 29.5 percent year-over-year, while revenue is down 25.7 percent. The CEO of Anheuser-Busch has, on multiple occasions, said that Bud Light did not partner with Mulvaney, a man who identifies as a woman, and that only “one can” with Mulvaney’s face was produced. Local distributors in some areas also released advertisements saying as much in a bid to lure back customers, while Bud Light has marketed several deals to move cases of beer. Another major boycott was directed at Target after the company released a line of LGBT clothing for children—including onesies for infants—for its “pride collection,” according to its website. Other companies, like Kohl’s and PetSmart, have similarly been criticized for selling similar products. Last week, Target said in a news release that it would be moving its “pride” merchandise to other areas of the store. The company, meanwhile, has seen its stock drop considerably since mid-May, falling another 3.5 percentage points on Tuesday. https://www.dailywire.com/news/9-teenagers-arrested-over-brutal-assault-of-3-u-s-marines 9 Teenagers Arrested Over Brutal Assault Of 3 U.S. Marines Sheriff’s deputies in San Clemente, California, arrested nine teenagers over the brutal assault of three U.S. Marines last Saturday. San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan announced that Orange County Sheriff’s Department had charged the teenagers, five of whom were accused of assault with a deadly weapon and the other four with misdemeanor assault and battery. “They think they have the people they are looking for,” Duncan stated. “Not to say that there might not be a few others out there. They feel pretty confident that they have the main perpetrators. … They had some videotape that wasn’t readily available to the public that had a lot better images of the individuals involved.” “In today’s age, you’re going to get caught — people are going to record it,” Duncan continued. “I hope this serves as a learning lesson for young folks in the community not to let themselves get out of control when something like this happens.” As many as 40 young people were involved when the three U.S. Marines near a California beach Saturday night were attacked in a horrific moment caught on now-viral video. The Marines were enjoying time off from their service at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside at approximately 10 p.m. along the beach in San Clemente. One of the Marines, Hunter Antonino, said a piece of debris hit him in the face, prompting him to ask the group to stop lighting fireworks. “They were lighting off fireworks, they were being belligerent and obnoxious and annoying other people, so I went up to them and told them to stop,” he recalled. Antonio said the group then followed the Marines as they returned to the pier, whereupon Antonio and another Marine informed the group that they were Marines so the group would leave them alone. Instead, the group savagely attacked the Marines. One individual punched a Marine in the back, prompting the Marine to turn and charge at him, sparking the melee. Video shows two of the Marines lying in the fetal position on the ground as the group kicked them and hurled racial epithets at them. The Marines were kicked in the head and upper body. Although the Marines were injured, they refused to go to a hospital, according to Orange County Sheriff’s deputies. Antonio thought he may have suffered a concussion. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/anti-abortion-protesters-beaten-baltimore-planned-parenthood Two anti-abortion protesters beaten outside Planned Parenthood in Baltimore Two senior citizen anti-abortion protesters were attacked outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic in North Baltimore on Friday morning, sending one to the University of Maryland Medical Center. “Please pray for my dear friend, Mark Crosby,” President of the Baltimore County Right to Life organization Jay Walton said on Facebook Friday. “He was viciously attacked yesterday, May 26, 2023 while he was praying in front of Planned Parenthood in Baltimore City. He and another prolifer were attacked from behind and the thug ran away.” Mark Crosby and Dick Shafer have been confirmed as the victims in Friday's attack. Both men are over the age of 70, according to police reports. WMAR reported that surveillance video shows the suspect tackling Shafer, disturbing a large flower planter outside of the abortion facility. When Crosby came to Shafer’s aid, the assailant shoved Crosby to the ground, and the person was seen punching and kicking him in the face. Baltimore anti-abortion advocate John Roswell told LifeSiteNews that while Shafer is recovering well, Crosby “is bleeding from some unidentified area behind his eye and the bone eye orbit is completely shattered.” Walton said on Monday morning that Crosby, who had been released from the hospital, had to be transported back to the emergency room due to further complications. Roswell told LifeSiteNews that a Planned Parenthood escort, who guides abortion patients into the organization's facilities, was present at the scene and engaged with the assailant prior to the attack. In his experience, Roswell said that escorts are usually present in the rare cases that pro-abortion rights activists engage in violent altercations with anti-abortion advocates. Investigators told local news outlets WBAL and WMAR that they are searching for the suspect. https://www.theblaze.com/news/tony-holford-us-canada-border-explosives-sign Police open fire on driver at US-Canada border; truck had 'sign' indicating 'explosive device on- board' Police opened fire on a truck driver on Memorial Day as the driver aproached the U.S.-Canadian border with a sign indicating he had an explosive device on board. The motorist, 42-year-old Tony Holford of Providence, Rhode Island, faces charges of aggravated reckless conduct, a class B crime; terrorizing, a Class D crime, and failure to stop, a class E crime, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit said in a press release. At 10:39 a.m. Monday, Maine State Police Trooper Denver Roy attempted to stop a vehicle heading north on Interstate 95 in Houlton, Maine. The driver did not stop, instead continuing north. Trooper Roy "observed a sign indicating that the operator had an explosive device on-board," the MSP wrote. It is not clear what sort of sign was displayed. When the vehicle eventually stopped between the U.S. and Canadian ports of entry, troopers commanded him to get out of the vehicle. When the vehicle's operator reportedly maneuvered the truck toward the Canadian port of entry, Corporal Eric Paquette shot at him. Holford, who was uninjured, surrendered to Main State Police troopers and was taken to the Aroostook County Jail after being medically cleared. MSP say the scene is contained and there is no ongoing danger to the public. Authorities in Canada and the United States are collaborating on an investigation into the incident. The Maine State Police Bomb Squad and crime scene technicians advised motorists to use alternative points of entry as they processed the scene. The Woodstock, New Brunswick, border crossing was reopened Monday night, according to a tweet posted by the Canada Border Services Agency's Atlantic Region. The Office of the Maine Attorney General and the Maine State Police will work together "in the coming days to continue the investigation and the events that led up to the officer-involved shooting." https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/education/virginia-eliminates-degree-requirements-most-state-jobs Virginia eliminates degree requirements for most state jobs Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday announced a change in state hiring practices that would eliminate requirements or preferences that applicants for most state positions have a college degree. A press release from Youngkin indicated that the change will take effect on July 1 and affect roughly 90% of state positions. The Old Dominion's myriad agencies post as many as 20,000 job listings per year. "On day one we went to work reimagining workforce solutions in government and this key reform will expand opportunities for qualified applicants who are ready to serve Virginians," Youngkin said in a statement. State Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater further, in the same release, indicated that the state was looking into heavily regulated private industries to streamline the professional certification processes. The move comes as American high school graduates increasingly opt against pursuing college degrees to due affordability and return on investment concerns. President Joe Biden has moved to lessen the financial burden of incurring debt to pay for college by offering up to $10,000 in repayment relief for most loan recipients and up to $20,000 for those who received a Pell Grant, though that plan has faced legal scrutiny and may well end up permanently blocked by the judiciary. The proposed deal to raise the debt limit facing Congress includes a measure to end a temporary freeze on student loan repayments.

Stephen Sackur is in Berlin for a special interview with Niels Annen, Germany's State Secretary for Economic Co-operation. For decades Germany built its economic power on Russian energy and trade with China – that has left Germany looking vulnerable. So what is the new strategy? (Photo: Niels Annen, State Secretary for Economic Co-operation)

Aidan Yoho is the 2022 State Star Farmer of Kansas FFA and the State Secretary.  He will hold both of those titles until July of 2023.  But back in July of 2022, Aidan was simply an FFA Member from Yates Center, Kansas who was attending his state convention and who had thrown his hat in the ring in these two categories.  As it turned out, state star farmer and the state officer team were both announced during the same session of the state convention.  So, within 20 minutes of Aidan's life he went from not holding either of these titles to holding both! So, where did this all start for him.  It started with a passion for farming that still exists on Aidan's land today, his great-grandfather.  Aidan's great-grandfather started farming with his brother on leased ground over 50 years ago.  Today, Aidan farms with his father and his great-grandfather, but unfortunately his grandfather passed away in 2021.  Being able to work with and learn from this great-grandfather has taught Aidan many valuable lessons about being successful in agriculture. One of those lessons is that there is money to be made doing things that nobody else wants to do.  Aidan listened to this advice, and that is how he got his start.  Both in cattle and forage production, he applied the same philosophy.  Aidan started out purchasing dairy cross calves that needed to be dehorned because they were cheap and not many people wanted them.  He also identified problem areas on the farm that nobody wanted to mess with and started growing hay on them. Today that has developed into an operation that allows Aidan to farm the more desirable hay ground and to purchase better cattle that end up making him more money in the long run.  He has his sights set on returning to the family farm and running it when the time is right, but for now he is giving his full focus to making a run at being the American Star Farmer in a couple of years!  

Despite the claims of voter fraud propelled by former President Donald Trump that were wholly unfounded, widespread distrust in the election process lingers in Wisconsin. Here & Now's Chris Bentley reports from Green Bay about the election officials and poll workers trying to restore trust in the system. Then, underserved communities were disproportionately impacted by hurricane Ian, and many wonder how disaster relief will get to them. Former Tampa emergency manager and CEO of the Institute of Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management, Chauncia Willis, joins us. And, OPEC+, or the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, announced plans Wednesday to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day. This comes amid security concerns around the Nord Stream pipeline. Andreas Eriksen, Norway's State Secretary for Petroleum and Energy, joins us.

Europe is in the throes of a severe energy crisis, with oil, gas, electricity, and coal prices skyrocketing this year. As the continent braces for winter, its leaders face difficult questions about whether or not there will be enough energy to heat homes and power the economy into 2023 and beyond.  Meanwhile Europeans are contending with the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. As they try to pressure Russia economically, they're attempting to minimize how much they squeeze their own energy sectors.  This energy crisis is occurring against the backdrop of an unfolding climate crisis. It has taken a toll on Europe this summer, inflicting major heat waves and drought across much of the continent. European governments, which have accelerated their efforts to fight climate change through the European Green Deal, must now balance the need for reducing carbon emissions with the need to meet current fossil fuel demand.  How can Europe's leaders find a compromise? How can they meet the current energy demands of their constituents? And what does a long-term energy security plan look like for Europe? This week we are airing host Jason Bordoff's recent interview with Frans Timmermans from Columbia's World Leaders Forum. They sat down for a conversation titled, “Staying the Course in a World of Turmoil.”  Frans is the executive vice-president of the European Commission for the European Green Deal and the European commissioner for climate action. He has an extensive background in Dutch politics, serving as a member of the House of Representatives, the State Secretary of Foriegn Affairs, and, most recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs.  Jason and Frans talk about how the European Union can balance decarbonization, affordability, and energy security in the upcoming months. They also discuss what this crisis means for energy planning in the long-term.