Podcasts about under secretary

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is considered a model of strong and effective cooperation between seafarers and the global shipping industry, and its implementation is all the more crucial as the high seas continue to face unprecedented pressures and crises. Podcast guests: Max Johns, Former Shipowner, Vice-Chair of the Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC, Professor Maritime at HSBA, Hamburg Carlos Muller, Secretary General of CONTTMAF National Confederation of Workers, Brazil and Chair of the ITF Sustainable Transport Committee Jainal T. Rasul, Undersecretary, Department of Migrant Workers, Philippines Beatriz Vacotto, Head of the Maritime Unit, International Labour Organization

This week's Open Mic guest is Dr. Scott Hutchins, Undersecretary for Research, Education and Economics at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hutchins says the USDA's Proving Grounds for Network for AgTech will help farmers adopt technologies to improve production and boost efficiency.  Hutchins says the USDA restructuring will streamline operations, strengthen leadership accountability and position resources closer to the ag communities USDA serves. 

In this episode of Capital for Good we speak with Bob Steel, partner and vice chairman of Perella Weinberg Partners, whose career has spanned the pinnacles of business, government and nonprofit leadership. Following nearly three decades at Goldman Sachs, Steel held senior roles at the US Treasury, as Under Secretary for Domestic Finance under President George W. Bush, and in New York City government as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development under Mike Bloomberg; was CEO of Wachovia Corporation and Perella Weinberg; and along the way has served on numerous boards, corporate and civic, including at major universities like Duke, important ideas and policy organizations like the Aspen Institute, and several of New York City's anchor institutions. We begin with some of the formative individuals and institutions that would shape Steel's trajectory: his parents, who set an example of service to their North Carolina community; the attention of Dr. Joel Fleishman, a Duke Professor who challenged Steel to become a more engaged student; and the opportunity to join Goldman Sachs in 1976 when John Whitehead and John Weinberg took over the leadership of the firm. "I got on the bus at the right time," Steel says. Steel describes what it was like to work at Goldman Sachs in a period of extraordinary growth and globalization. Over close to three decades, he built several businesses across the US and Europe — "multiple careers in one institution" — and ultimately served as the firm's vice chairman and member of its management committee. "The moral of the story," he observes, "is that well-led firms that are growing create opportunities that are pretty special." In 2006, at the urging of fellow Goldman Sachs partner — and recently confirmed US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson — Steel went to Treasury to serve as Under Secretary for Domestic Finance. Within a year, the country was in the throes of the financial crisis, and with the support of Paulson and Fed Chair Ben Bernanke, Steel and his colleagues labored to prevent the worst impacts of the crisis on the American people, and to begin to steer the economy to more stable ground. After Treasury, Steel returned to the private sector as CEO of Wachovia, where he led the bank's sale to Wells Fargo. Soon after Mike Bloomberg recruited him to serve as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, where he would oversee the administration's five borough economic development strategy and job creation efforts across more than a dozen city agencies: tens of thousands of employees and billions of dollars in annual operating budgets. We discuss a number of the major initiatives that Steel and the Bloomberg team undertook, among them the creation of the Cornell Technion campus, today a center of applied science in the city and region. We also discuss Mayor Bloomberg's vision for long-term investments, and the latitude given to an exceptional and collegial cohort of talented commissioners. "It might be my best job ever, I learned so much," Steel says. Through these experiences, Steel has come to understand the distinct but complementary roles of the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, and their respective and mutually supportive "vectors of leverage." "You can't have successful business without government," he believes, "and you can't have good government without successful businesses. And then you add NGOs that provide exceptional seasoning and consciousness that is beneficial." Although no longer at city hall, Steel remains deeply involved in the life of the city, with board roles at Lincoln Center, Rockefeller University, the Hospital for Special Surgery, the Economic Club of New York, the Partnership for New York City, The Morgan Library, and the New York Climate Exchange. We touch on New York's recovery from the pandemic; why some of today's challenges, including affordability, are a function of the city's success (i.e., not enough housing for all the people who want to be in New York); the competition from smaller cities across the country as attractive places to live and work; and the opportunity and imperative to make long-term investments in the city's future: schools, infrastructure, arts, parks, among them.  We conclude where the conversation began: "I'm so appreciative of the organizations and people that helped me grow," Steel says. "If you did a balance of trade, I've gained so much more than I gave that I feel incredibly fortunate."   Mentioned in this episode: Cornell Tech  

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins; Dudley Hoskins, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; APHIS Associate Administrator/NWS Directorate Rear Admiral Michael Schmoyer; Dr. Bud Dinges, Texas Animal Health Commission Executive Director. 

Rusty Halvorson and Sarah Heinrich shares some of the week's top stories in agriculture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former undersecretary at DHS, John Cohen, joins Arizona’s Morning News to talk about the recent White House shooting as the Trump administration pushes for the importance of a ballroom, and the security issues that come with hosting the World Cup. 

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MARKDAVIS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/markdavisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of NucleCast, the official podcast of the ANWA Deterrence Center, Adam sits down with Todd Sriver, Director of Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3), to examine the current state and future of one of the most critical components of the U.S. nuclear enterprise.Together, they explore the ongoing modernization of NC3—from legacy systems rooted in 1980s-era technology to a more resilient, digital network-of-networks architecture designed for today's threat environment. The conversation highlights the technical and strategic challenges of upgrading NC3 while maintaining uninterrupted deterrence.The episode also dives into emerging threats, including hypersonic weapons, cyber vulnerabilities, and quantum computing, and what they mean for detection, decision-making, and system resilience. Sriver outlines how the U.S. is prioritizing cybersecurity, advanced sensors, and next-generation technologies to ensure NC3 remains secure, survivable, and effective.Dr. Todd Sriver serves as Director of Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) within the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, where he leads modernization, risk management, and development of the NC3 enterprise. He works closely with U.S. Strategic Command to secure resources and address acquisition challenges critical to nuclear deterrence.A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with 27 years of service, Dr. Sriver held senior Pentagon roles on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Headquarters Air Force, overseeing national and nuclear command and control systems. He previously served as a Principal Systems Engineer at MITRE, focusing on NC3 and Joint All-Domain Command and Control integration.He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Operations Research from the Air Force Institute of Technology, an M.S. from the Eisenhower School, and a B.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University.Follow us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nuclecast3665?si=h1kCO6NqUtL87w6qFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to Kimberly@anwadeter.org

Testing new technology is one thing. Making it work in real conditions and earning trust is another. USDA's new National Proving Grounds Network is designed to close that gap, testing emerging agriculture technologies on working farms and ranches so they can move from idea to adoption. Here to explain how that model is taking shape is Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics and Chief Scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Scott Hutchins.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome Elizabeth Field as guest to the show.   About Elizabeth Field, Chief Operating Officer at the Elizabeth Dole Foundation:   Elizabeth Field joined the Elizabeth Dole Foundation in February 2024 as its first Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, she served as a Senior Executive Director in the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) Defense Capabilities and Management Team, where she led a broad body of work related to military quality-of-life issues, as well as defense management, business operations, and reform.   A recognized expert on the Department of Defense, she has testified several times before Congress, and her work has been featured by various news outlets, including National Public Radio, CNN, and The New York Times. Before joining GAO in September 2017, Ms. Field served as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights. Ms. Field also previously served as Assistant Inspector General for Audits and Inspections at the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, which was charged by Congress with conducting audits, inspections, and investigations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Afghanistan reconstruction effort and to detect and deter waste, fraud, and abuse.   Ms. Field's first tenure with GAO lasted from 2002-2010, during which she worked primarily as a Senior Analyst in the International Affairs and Trade Team and conducted fieldwork in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. From 2000-2001, she served as a Jacob K. Javits Fellow on the Public Health Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ms. Field holds a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Duke University and a Bachelor's Degree in History from Davidson College, where she graduated cum laude.   The proud daughter of an Army veteran, she lives in Washington, D.C. with her two sons, Graham and Henry (a West Point cadet), and their rescue dog, Maisie.     About the Elizabeth Dole Foundation:   The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation's 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers—the spouses, parents, family members, and friends who care for America's wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans. Established by Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2012, the Foundation works to empower military and veteran caregivers, their families, and their communities through programs, partnerships, and advocacy that drive innovative, impactful, and sustainable solutions.   About the 11th Annual National Convening:   Registration is now open for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's 11th Annual National Convening – and you won't want to miss it!   Join us on May 19, 2026, in Washington, D.C., at the iconic Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, where leaders, advocates, and caregivers from across the country will come together for a powerful day of connection, conversation, and action. If you are unable to join us in-person, you can register for virtual attendance using the same link.   Last year, Convening attendees helped us begin to develop the National Blueprint for Action—a practical, solutions-driven roadmap designed to strengthen support for the 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers nationwide. Now, as we officially launch that Blueprint, we commit to act—bringing together caregivers, business and industry leaders, and policymakers to advance a nationwide Culture of Caregiving. Inspired by thought-provoking plenary speakers, you will participate in interactive working sessions and breakout discussions to learn how you can make a difference.   In-person attendees will also experience our dynamic Innovation Expo, featuring more than 30 organizations across military and veteran services, healthcare, and beyond. There, explore valuable resources, spark meaningful connections, enjoy a complimentary headshot, and take a moment for yourself at our chair massage station.  

President Donald Trump has landed in Beijing for a highly anticipated two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. CNBC's Eamon Javers reports on the stakes for trade, diplomacy, and U.S.-China relations. Bob Hormats, former Goldman Sachs International vice chairman and former Under Secretary of State, shares his perspective on the meeting and the state of the relationship between the two global powers. Plus, Tech Journalist Joanna Stern discusses her new book, “I Am Not a Robot,” and what she learned after letting AI control her life for a year.   Eamon Javers 3:53 Robert Hormats 16:03 Joanna Stern 28:25   In this episode: Joanna Stern, @joannastern Eamon Javers, @eamonjavers Joe Kernen, @JoeSquawk Andrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkin Katie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

//The Wire//2300Z May 12, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: DETAILS COME TO LIGHT REGARDING YESTERDAY'S FIREFIGHT IN CAMBRIDGE. GLOBAL ENERGY CRISIS GROWS AS MISHAPS AND INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS CONTINUE TO IMPACT REFINERIES. CALIFORNIA MAYOR PLEADS GUILTY TO SERVING AS A CHINESE AGENT.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-United Kingdom: Over the past few weeks, Prime Minister Starmer has faced growing calls for his resignation, with a total of 90 Labour MPs now openly requesting his resignation. Following the political tensions of the morning, more resignations have taken place, with Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding Jess Phillips and Under-Secretary of State for Health Innovation and Safety Zubir Ahmed both resigning their posts this morning.Analyst Comment: This tidal wave of dissent from within Starmer's own party is probably a knee-jerk reaction to the devastating election losses over the past few days, in which his political opponents gained significant ground in Parliament. Many Britons have begun to dump the Labour Party for alternate choices due to the social, political, economic, and immigration issues being at a breaking point. PM Starmer has vowed to not step down for the time being, but the political situation remains in the balance as pressure on Starmer's government mounts.Mexico: Overnight a large fire was reported at the Salina Cruz Refinery in Oaxaca. Pemex officials have stated that the fire began inside a cooling tower at the Hidros 2 plant, which was in the process of being brought online to increase production at the facility. The fire was brought under control and extinguished after a few hours, and 6x workers at the refinery were injured as a result of the blaze.-HomeFront-Oklahoma: Yesterday afternoon an explosion was reported at the HF Sinclair Refinery in west Tulsa. The facility was able to contain the spread of the fire, and firefighters extinguished the fire after a few hours. The cause of the incident is not known as the investigation into the incident continues.California: Yesterday the mayor of Arcadia resigned after accepting a deal with the Department of Justice to plead guilty to serving as an unregistered Chinese agent. Mayor Eileen Wang admitted to serving the interests of the Chinese Communist Party, specifically with regards to promoting propaganda efforts directly from the Chinese government. According to the documents provided by the DoJ, Wang was in direct communication with high-ranking Chinese officials and was taking direct orders from leadership in Beijing regarding political decisions that were made by her office. Wang is expected to formally accept the plea deal within the next few weeks.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Yesterday's mass shooter in Cambridge has been identified as Tyler E. Brown, a resident of Boston. Brown has a long criminal history, and has displayed violent intent (just for the sake of violence) for many years. The latest example of this history includes a previous incident that took place under nearly identical circumstances. In 2020, Brown engaged in a shootout with police in Boston in a similar manner to yesterday's skirmish. During that incident six years ago, Brown began harassing and threatening random people on Northampton Street, before engaging police in a gun battle in the street. Brown was eventually wounded and detained, after attempting to kill everyone in his immediate vicinity. In the news articles from that 2020 shooting, Boston Police Commissioner William Gross was quoted as criticizing local judges for letting people like this out of jail and giving them a slap on the wrist, as even in 2020, Brown had been given light sentences for his previous crimes.Nevertheless, Brown was sentenced to only 5 years of prison time by Suffolk Superior Court Judge Janet Sanders, who rejected the recommended 10-12

0:30 - TN State Rep. Justin Pearson 14:14 - Jessica Gorman on Ald. Hadden: not wrong place, wrong time 34:02 - Trump: ceasefire still on, you'll know when it isn't 55:42 - Noted economist Stephen Moore: The biggest wealth transfer in history isn't happening on Wall St, it's happening in UHauls. Get more Steve @StephenMoore 01:11:13 - Benefits Fraud 01:27:54 - Seth Cropsey, founder and president of Yorktown Institute and former deputy Undersecretary of the Navy: Iran is important, but Trump must not take his eye off the ball in Taiwan. Seth is also the author of Mayday and Seablindness 01:47:34 - Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee, Glenn Reynolds, shares details from his new book Seductive AI. Professor Reynolds is also known for his American politics weblog, Instapundit 02:02:22 - Open Mic FridaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Across three decades Rose Gottemoeller has had a ringside seat at key moments in the changing relationship between Russia, the US, and allies like the UK.As a former Deputy Secretary General of NATO and U.S. Undersecretary of State she's seen the highs, as well as the lows.Rose talks to Kate Gerbeau about those experiences, and the driving mission behind her new book “Security Through Cooperation”In it she sets out to debunk President Putin's narrative that the US is determined to destroy Russia, and shares memories from her own time in Moscow.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss the passing of CNN founder Ted Turner today at the age of 87. Also, they look at yesterday's election results in Indiana where at least five GOP state lawmakers who opposed President Trump's redistricting plans were defeated by Trump-backed challengers. And they have a discussion about billionaire Ken Griffin, who talked yesterday about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's efforts to increase taxes on the wealthy. Next, James Freeman of The Wall Street Journal joins the guys to discuss his latest “Best of the Web” column on the future of former Vice President Kamala Harris and why she has not endorsed a candidate in California's gubernatorial primary. And, they take a look at last night's California's gubernatorial candidate debate. Then, they discuss a decision by an Arlington, VA prosecutor not to pursue criminal charges against the woman who distributed leaflets disclosing the address of White House aide Stephen Miller's family, citing the woman's freedom of speech. And finally, they chat about Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers being the State Department's new “free speech warrior,” according to a new profile in The Free Press. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In September 2025, the U.S. Department of State, Gilead Sciences, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced a novel partnership to procure and deliver lenacapavir—a groundbreaking twice-yearly injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention—to up to two million people over next three years.  On Tuesday, April 14, the leadership of these three entities convened to discuss the partnership now that doses have begun to arrive in country and have been delivered. Katherine E. Bliss, Director of Immunizations and Health Systems Resilience and Senior Fellow with the CSIS Global Health Policy Center moderated the conversation with Jeremy P. Lewin, Senior Official for the Office of the Under Secretary for Foreign Assistance, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom at the U.S. Department of State; Daniel O'Day, Chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences; and Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.  Together they examined how this deal fits into a renewed U.S. strategy for foreign assistance focused on big bets and advancing American innovations around the world, what challenges lie on the horizon as implementation unfolds, and what additional innovations may accelerate scaling this effort. 

Katherine Boyle speaks with Sarah Rogers, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, about the intersection of AI, free speech, and global information systems. They discuss how major technological shifts, from the printing press to the internet to AI, have reshaped communication and power, and why this moment may be even more consequential. Recorded at the a16z American Dynamism Summit, the conversation explores the role of public diplomacy in the digital age, the risks of censorship and overregulation, and how governments are approaching AI as both a national security priority and a platform for global influence. Rogers also highlights the importance of maintaining “AI with a Western soul,” and why preserving open systems and freedom of expression will shape the future of innovation.   Resources: Follow Sarah B. Rogers on X: https://x.com/UnderSecPD Stay Updated:Find a16z on YouTube: YouTubeFind a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Show on SpotifyListen to the a16z Show on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce explains the login.gov process used in applications for the Farmer Bridge Assistance program and its potential in future program sign-ups. USDA Radio NewslineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For review:1. Iranian forces seized two container ships on Wednesday, according to global security monitors and the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. They also attacked but didn't seize a third.2. US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the US Navy would “shoot and kill” any boat mining the Strait of Hormuz.Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel was ready to renew the fighting with Iran and was awaiting a “green light” from the US to target Iranian energy sites and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.3. The ceasefire between Israel & Lebanon will be extended by another three weeks, President Trump said after hosting the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in the Oval Office on Thursday.4. French President Macron said Thursday he will not continue in politics after leaving in 2027, after serving two terms, the maximum number allowed.5. The Kremlin said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but only if such a meeting is to sign peace agreements.6. France is moving closer to a decision on its future rocket artillery system, with the country testing domestically developed weapons this month that will allow for a comparison with foreign systems in a few weeks' time, the head of the country's armaments agency said.7. Estonia's government has decided to put on hold its planned acquisition of new infantry fighting vehicles.The Baltic nation will instead direct the funds toward drones, counter-drone measures and air defense systems, while squeezing more service life out of the country's existing fleet of second-hand CV90 vehicles.8. John Phelan is out as the Secretary of the Navy, the Pentagon announced Wednesday. 

This week's episode features Juan Biset, consultant and former Undersecretary of Mining and Sustainability in Argentina, in conversation with host Adrian Pocobelli on the reform of Argentina's 2010 glacier mining law and what it could mean for the country's mining industry. He also examines the environmental opposition to the reform, along with emerging discussions around a South American “Copper Triangle” involving Argentina, Chile and Peru. All this and more with host Adrian Pocobelli. “Rattlesnake Railroad”, “Big Western Sky”, “Western Adventure” and “Battle on the Western Frontier” by Brett Van Donsel (⁠www.incompetech.com⁠). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License ⁠creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0⁠ Apple Podcasts:⁠ https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-northern-miner-podcast/id1099281201⁠ Spotify:⁠ https://open.spotify.com/show/78lyjMTRlRwZxQwz2fwQ4K⁠ YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@NorthernMiner⁠ Soundcloud:⁠ https://soundcloud.com/northern-miner

Every few weeks, a Trump administration official comes up with an insane plan that would devastate some American industry, region, or demographic. Maybe an Undersecretary of the Interior decides that aluminum is "woke" and should be banned. They circulate a draft order saying it will be illegal for US companies to use aluminum, starting in two weeks, Thank You For Your Attention To This Matter. Next begins a frantic scramble on the parts of everyone affected, trying to make them back down. Industry lobbies, think tanks, and public intellectuals exchange frantic emails, starting with "They said WHAT?", progressing on to "Oh God we are so fucked", and occasionally ending in some kind of plan. Sending letters. Phoning members of Congress. Calling up that one lobbyist who had a fancy dinner with Trump a year ago and is still riding that high to claim he has vast administration influence. I've been on the periphery of a handful of these campaigns, usually in medicine or AI. The common thread is that protests by liberals rarely work. The Trump administration loves offending liberals! If every Democratic member of Congress condemns the plan to ban aluminum, that just proves that aluminum really was "woke", and makes them want to do it more. What works, sometimes, is objections/protests from Republicans and Trump supporters. These are hard to get. Trump supporters might support the insane plan. Even if they don't, they might be nervous to speak up or appear disloyal. You've got to find someone who's supported Trump until now, built up a reputation for loyalty, but this one time they finally snap and cash in some of their favors and agree to speak out. Sometimes it's because they're an aluminum magnate themselves and this would destroy their business. Other times they're just a think tank guy or influencer who happens to be really knowledgeable on this one issue and willing to take a stand on it. By such people is the world preserved. https://readscottalexander.com/posts/acx-support-your-local-collaborator

Emil Michael is the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering at the Pentagon. Michael joins Big Technology to discuss how AI is transforming the Department of War, from targeting systems to drone warfare to cyber defense. Tune in to hear his account of why the Pentagon designated Anthropic a supply chain risk, what actually happened in the contract negotiations, and whether the decision was wise. We also cover how the military's Maven Smart System works in practice, what the U.S. learned from drone warfare in Ukraine and Iran, and whether the Pentagon Pizza Index is credible. Hit play for one of the most candid conversations you'll hear about AI and national security. --- Questions? Feedback? Write bigtechnologypodcast@gmail.com Enjoying Big Technology Podcast? Please rate us five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app of choice. Want a discount for Big Technology on Substack + Discord? Here's 25% off for the first year: https://www.bigtechnology.com/subscribe?coupon=0843016b Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick Murphy, Executive Director: Geopolitical Advisory at Hilco Global & former Under Secretary of the Army, discusses the economic consequences of the Hormuz blockadeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comments/ideas: ACFpod@outlook.comChina has emerged as the global clean tech leader through a national mandate for ecological progress and massive investments in solar, wind, and battery technology. Policy expert Christine Loh joins the show to explore China's transition away from coal and Hong Kong's ambitious push for carbon neutrality by 2050. Listeners will gain vital insights into the future of green finance, including sourcing "deep green" materials like green steel and using climate science for insurance risk assessment. This episode provides an essential guide to the technical innovations and building retrofitting projects currently transforming the climate business landscape in Asia.ABOUT CHRISTINE: Professor Christine Loh, SBS, JP, OBE, Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite, is Chief Development Strategist at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She served as Under Secretary for the Environment in the HKSAR Government, Special Consultant on the mainland's ecological civilisation policy, and was twice a Member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. She founded and led the think tank Civic Exchange and has long been active in public policy, establishing multiple non‑profit organisations in environment, equal opportunity, arts, culture and human rights. She sits on the boards of New Forests and Towngas Smart Energy, was Asia Society's Scholar in Residence (2023-2025), and serves on several advisory and steering bodies. A lawyer by training and former commodities trader, she has taught in the US and published widely. She holds honorary doctorates from the University of Hull and the University of Exeter.HOST, PRODUCTION, ARTWORK: Joseph Jacobelli  |  MUSIC: Ep76 onward excerpts from Vivaldi's La Follia, played by Luca Jacobelli.

This week's Open Mic guest is Richard Fordyce, USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation. Fordyce says USDA staff is working to implement farm program updates provided under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, disburse funds under the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program as well as disaster assistance to farmers who have suffered loss to natural disasters and wildfires. He discusses USDA reorganization efforts and how the agency is trying to streamline applications and reporting.

Ralph welcomes Haley Hinkle, policy counsel at Fairplay to tell us about how a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million for harming children's mental health and safety, violating state law. Then when present highlights from last week's symposium on impeachment, featuring Dennis Kucinich, CIA whistleblower, Jeffrey Sterling, Public Citizen co-president, Rob Weissman, GW law dean Alan Morrison and many more.Haley Hinkle is policy counsel at Fairplay, where she advocates for laws and regulations that protect children and teens' autonomy and safety online. Ms. Hinkle has also worked on issues at the intersection of government surveillance technology and civil liberties.We saw a lot of that in the discovery for these cases and other lawsuits that are currently being brought against the companies—that they have a lot of internal research where they're very specific with their features. And also their safety features. They test them to make sure safety features aren't too effective. They don't reduce too much screen time. And this is completely overwhelming for young brains. And it's completely overwhelming for families that are trying to make the choice between protecting their children and isolating them from the virtual spaces where all of their friends and classmates are gathering. And so it's not straightforward. And in many cases, the parental controls or settings that may give a family some semblance of control are not usually very effective.Haley HinkleI think if juries continue to make such resounding decisions on behalf of families, that's maybe going to motivate these companies to try to find ways to avoid further jury trials and to settle. But all of this raises the fact that as these processes continue (and they're so important), we can't wait for lawmakers to do their part to also step in and act and try to get some strong rules of the road in place to fill the void that has created this situation.Haley HinkleWe're in a moment right now where we have to decide who we are as a people—not who the President is. We already have an estimation of that. The question is who we are. Because, with few exceptions, almost each and every statement the President has made in the last month has been an impeachable offense. He is a walking, talking impeachment machine.Dennis KucinichLet me remind everybody watching this and this panel that this entire Congress is complicit in every crime of this administration for letting Donald Trump pass that threshold into his illegal presidency by not upholding Section 3 of the 14th Amendment on January 6, 2025. I am preaching to the choir if I tell this audience that we have passed so many thresholds when accountability should have happened, when somebody's foot should have been put down, and this should have stopped. This obscene, lawless war launched by a draft dodging pedophile domestic terrorist in concert with an international war criminal…Generations are going to be looking back to this moment to see what those people, those men and women (Democrats and Republicans in that body, but at the end of the day, human beings with moral compasses somewhere deep within themselves) were doing when American democracy was being burned to the ground.Jessica Denson, founder of the Removal CoalitionNews 4/10/26* This week, many felt that the U.S. came as close to a nuclear conflagration as it has since the Cuban Missile Crisis, as President Trump whipsawed between vowing that Iran's “'whole civilization will die” and striking peace deals with the Islamic Republic. Ultimately, the U.S., Iran and Israel all signed a two-week cease-fire agreement, mediated by Pakistan, including a provision that Iran will “allow oil, gas and other vessels to proceed unmolested” through the Strait of Hormuz, per the New York Times. However, this is just a cease-fire – not a peace treaty – and is being immediately pushed to the brink as Israel continues their ongoing, devastating assault on Lebanon. The Guardian reports that both Iran and Pakistan view Lebanon as included within the deal, while Israel maintains that it is a separate matter. In retaliation, Iran is now demanding tolls as high as $2 million per ship to pass through the Strait. With Israel showing little interest in acceding to a ceasefire in Lebanon, it seems unlikely this crisis will be resolved swiftly.* In the lead up to Trump's address Tuesday night, a large number of Democrats came out publicly in favor of Trump's removal via the 25th amendment, or failing that, a new congressional impeachment effort. According to Axios, this group includes both progressives like AOC, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, as well as more moderate members, including even Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. Some Democratic Senators, including Senators Ed Markey and Ron Wyden also signaled their support. Perhaps most strikingly, former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene called for Trump to be removed through an invocation of the 25th amendment, though she stopped short of calling for impeachment. This all coincided with Congressman John Larson introducing a new set of 13 articles of impeachment – that he may soon force a vote on under House Rule IX – and the legal symposium on impeachment organized by our own Ralph Nader and friend of the show Bruce Fein, available on C-SPAN.* Leading the moral opposition to the Iran war meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV – the first American Pope – has come out in opposition, telling journalists that “all people of goodwill” should “always search for peace and not violence… [and] reject war,” emphasizing that many have called this war “unjust” and that it is ”continuing to escalate and…not resolving anything.” Pope Leo stressed that “the innocent: children, the elderly, the sick…will become victims of this continued warfare.” The pontiff even went so far as to conclude with a call for political action, urging the people of the world “to contact the authorities—political leaders, congressmen—to ask them, to tell them, to work for peace and to reject war and violence.” This from Vatican News.* However, this is just the latest flashpoint between Pope Leo and the Trump administration. Administration officials were already irate with the Vatican earlier this week, following Pope Leo's statements on Easter Sunday, when he called for world leaders to give up their “desire to dominate others” and “the imperialist occupation of the world.” In response, Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby – grandson of former CIA Director William Colby – reportedly told Vatican officials that “America has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world,””and “The Catholic Church had better take its side.” They also reportedly invoked the Avignon Papacy, implying that the United States could sponsor an heretical anti-pope as an alternative for rightwing Catholics. This exchange was apparently so shocking that Vatican officials canceled a planned American visit by the first American Pope. This from Newsweek.* Another deeply immoral story comes to us from Michigan, where the Detroit News reports Danhao Wang – a Chinese electrical and computer engineering research assistant at the University of Michigan – has died after falling from an upper level of the George G. Brown Building. According to this report, the university's police department is investigating this incident as a “possible act of self harm,” but Chinese authorities are demanding an investigation into his death, noting that it came on the heels of Wang enduring “hostile questioning” by federal law enforcement. This tragedy has occurred within the context of a Trump administration-led “crackdown” on foreign influence at U.S. universities. The Chinese Consulate in Chicago meanwhile put out a public statement decrying that “For some time now, the U.S. has overstretched the concept of national security for political manipulation and groundlessly interrogated and harassed Chinese students and scholars,” like Wang, implying some role in his death, while simultaneously “infring[ing] on Chinese citizens' legitimate and lawful rights and interests, poison[ing] the atmosphere of people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the U.S., and creat[ing] a serious chilling effect.” The Consulate is also demanding that law enforcement “carry out a full investigation, give the family of the victim and the Chinese side a responsible explanation, stop any discriminatory law enforcement targeting Chinese students and scholars in the U.S., and stop imposing wrongful convictions.”* Elsewhere in the midwest, Republican lawmakers in Ohio are taking first steps to do something about the out of control sports gambling epidemic. These legislators have introduced two bills, one designed to ban in-game gambling, parlay and prop bets and wagers on all college athletics and a second bill which would prohibit the “use of credit cards to make bets…[limit] bets to $100 and only [allow] up to eight wagers per 24 hour [period].” It would also ban ads during events broadcast live. However, the number one biggest rule these laws would impose would be banning online sports gambling period. Republican State Rep. Gary Click is quoted saying “[We're] going to put some common sense consumer protections in place to protect Ohio citizens.” Yet, this report also notes a huge loophole in these bills: they would not apply to prediction markets like Polymarket or Kalshi, just pure sportsbooks. This from ABC News 5 Cleveland.* Turning back to foreign affairs, French authorities have arrested Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Jean-luc Mélenchon left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party. The charge? According to Al Jazeera, suspicion of “apology for terrorism” for a post that referenced Kozo Okamoto, a participant in the deadly attack at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport in 1972. However, Hassan's allies in the LFI see this as a thinly veiled attempt to silence pro-Palestine voices. Sophia Chikirou, an LFI MP said “The French police and justice system are being used to intimidate those who support the Palestinian people,” while Mélenchon himself wrote “So there is no longer parliamentary immunity in France. Intolerable.” Mathilde Panot, an MP and head of the LFI delegation in the National Assembly, said “the criminalisation of political opponents has reached a new level,” under President Emmanuel Macron and demanded that “This relentless attack, trampling on the most fundamental rights, must end immediately.”* Our final stories this week cover Latin America. First, a delegation of American members of Congress, including Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Congressman Jonathan Jackson, visited Cuba in an attempt to see “firsthand the devastation and suffering caused by the U.S. blockade of fuel,” according to Jayapal. In their joint statement, Jayapal and Jackson wrote that they met with “families, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, the Cuban government, Latin American and African ambassadors, humanitarian aid organizations, and Cubans across the political spectrum, including dissidents,” all of whom demanded an end to the blockade. Further, they wrote that they witnessed “premature babies in incubators, weighing just two pounds, who are at tremendous risk because their ventilators and incubators cannot function without electricity. Children cannot attend school because there is no fuel for them or their teachers to travel. Cancer patients cannot receive lifesaving treatments because of lack of medications. There is a water shortage because there is little electricity to pump water. Businesses have closed. Families cannot keep food refrigerated, and food production on the island has dropped to just 10 percent of the people's needs.” They concluded by calling for “real negotiations” between both countries. Sadly, it is unlikely that those will come after such a long, acrimonious relationship since the 1959 revolution.* Next, in Venezuela, NPR reports that the Office of Foreign Assets Control – a division of the Treasury Department – has lifted sanctions on acting President Delcy Rodríguez. NPR notes that this sanctions relief “allows Rodríguez to more freely work with U.S. companies and investors.” In a statement on the platform Telegram, Rodríguez wrote “We value President Donald Trump's decision as a step toward normalizing and strengthening relations between our countries...We trust that this progress will allow for the lifting of current sanctions against our country, enabling us to build and guarantee an effective bilateral cooperation agenda for the benefit of our people.” Yet, her presidency rests on shaky legal grounds. While the Trump administration recognizes her as the “sole Head of State” the Venezuelan political system still recognizes Nicolás Maduro as the rightful president and Rodríguez as acting president for just 90 days – a window that is ending as we record this segment – though the National Assembly, presided over by her brother, can extend her acting term by six months. After that point however, the future of Venezuela looks far murkier, particularly if Maduro remains in U.S. custody.* Finally, in Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her government will consolidate the various branches of the Mexican public health apparatus – including the Mexican Social Security Institute, the Social Security Institute and Social Services of Workers of the State, and the IMSS Bienestar program – into a single Universal Health Service. According to TeleSUR English, President Sheinbaum stated that the “objective is that any citizen can attend any health institution and be guaranteed full and free coverage throughout the national system.” President Sheinbaum emphasized that “universal breast cancer care will also be incorporated, including mammograms, biopsies, and treatments at the nearest facility, expanding preventive and therapeutic coverage for women nationwide,” and that the plan would “ensure continuity of complex treatments for conditions such as cancer, HIV, kidney disease, and hemophilia, even if the patient loses or changes their health insurance coverage, preventing interruptions in critical therapies.” She hopes to have this system in place by next year. While Mexico has a much more robust public health infrastructure than the U.S. to begin with, it is remarkable how, with the right combination of administrative competence, popular government and political will, Sheinbaum is poised to achieve yet another social safety net expansion considered a complete political impossibility in this country in such a short window of time. Never let yourself be beaten down. A better world is possible.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Story of the Week (DR):Elon Musk's SpaceX set to go public in $1 trillion share listingElon Musk's rocket and satellite company SpaceX has confidentially filed for an initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange CommissionThe firm could seek a valuation of $1.75 trillion with a public listing around June.A confidential filing means that SpaceX will submit its financials to the SEC before revealing them to the public, which must occur at least 15 days before the IPO roadshow.Musk owns 42% of the SpaceX now, according to Pitchbook, though that figure will change with the IPO when new owners are issued shares.Among current SpaceX owners is Donald Trump Jr, the president's oldest son. He owns a shares through 1789 Capital. That venture capital firm made him a partner shortly after his father won the presidency for a second time and has been buying up federal contractors seeking to win taxpayer money ever since.The White House and Trump himself have repeatedly denied there are any conflicts of interest between his role as president and his family's businesses.Public investors may get low-vote shares, while insiders could hold super-voting stock with roughly 10 to 20 votes per share, if the reported structure is adopted.Reports suggest SpaceX has been adding board members as it prepares for the IPO process.The company's board has historically included Elon Musk, Gwynne Shotwell, Antonio Gracias, Luke Nosek, Steve Jurvetson, and Donald Harrison in reporting about its governance.Gwynne Shotwell is widely reported as president and COO, and Bret Johnsen as CFOBig Banks Seeking a Piece of SpaceX's I.P.O. Must Subscribe to Elon Musk'sMusk is requiring Wall Street firms to purchase subscriptions to his A.I. chatbot if they want to advise on one of the largest initial public offerings in history.Air Canada CEO will retire this year after his English-only crash message was criticizedMichael Rousseau is stepping down following a massive public outcry after he delivered a condolence video almost entirely in English regarding a fatal plane crash that killed a French-speaking pilot.Critics and politicians, including Quebec's Premier, were outraged that Rousseau failed to fulfill a high-profile 2021 promise to learn French, viewing his English-only response to a tragedy as a sign of deep cultural disrespect.Air Canada's board has launched a global search for a successor and explicitly stated that fluency in both English and French is now a non-negotiable requirement for the next CEO.The company clarified that while a "comprehensive internal development program" has been in place for two years, the recent controversy accelerated the timeline for his departure.Rousseau will officially retire at the end of the third quarter (September 30, 2026), staying on until then to ensure a "seamless transition" and assist the board during the handover.Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau initially stated he did not intend to step down following backlash over an English-only video regarding a runway incidentElon Musk called the decision “crazy” and suggested “it is not reciprocal.”“There are many one-sided laws in Canada that mandate French at the expense of English,” he posted to X, along with a Grok answering his request to provide a list of Canada's French language laws and explain “how this is hypocritical compared to no English mandate laws.”“Extremely hypocritical and unfair!”Oracle fired up to 30,000 workers via email after a 95% profit surge. Tech companies are cutting almost 1,000 jobs/day DROracle Corp.'s mass layoffs on Tuesday were part of the company's cost-cutting measures as it continues to build out expensive data centers for powering artificial intelligence.But one aspect of the mass layoffs — which were estimated to be as many as 30,000 people — was alerting workers over email at 6 a.m. Eastern that Tuesday would be their last day.The terse message, sent to workers in multiple regions and time zones, carried no executive name and was instead signed off simply as 'Oracle Leadership.'“We are sharing some difficult news regarding your position.After careful consideration of Oracle's current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organizational change. As a result, today is your last working day.We are grateful for your dedication, hard work, and the impact you have made during your time with us.After signing your termination paperwork, you will be eligible to receive a severance package subject to the terms and conditions of the severance plan. You will receive an email from DocuSign to your Oracle email address with details on your severance and termination date.Immediate Action RequiredTo receive important follow-up information, including FAQs and separation documents to help you through this transition, you must provide a personal email address.Please click here to submit a personal email address immediately. If you make a submission error, please re-submit a new form. Please Note: The personal email address will only be used for correspondence regarding separation-related information and severance agreements.Access to your computer, email, voicemail, and files will be deactivated soon, and you will be unable to log into your computer. As a reminder, you are prohibited from downloading, copying or retaining (including emailing yourself) any Oracle confidential information.Thank you for your contributions to our organization. If you have additional questions, please reach out to the HR team via the Ask HR page or at (888) 404-2494.Oracle Leadership”“After careful consideration of Oracle's current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role,” an email to one affected employee, obtained by MarketWatch, read.Survivors of the cuts were allegedly told by senior management that they would need to 'ramp up efficiency' and 'stretch' to cover the workload left by departed colleagues, a suggestion that many are resisting.Allegations that automated tools influenced redundancy decisions have become a central issue in the fallout.Iran Claims Oracle Strike in UAE as Dubai Attack Fears EscalateAnti-DEI crusade:Trump ousts Pam Bondi as attorney generalTrump Tells Karoline Leavitt She's 'Doing a Terrible Job,' Asks 'Should We Keep Her?'Is Kash Patel Getting Fired? FBI Director Might Be Next After Pam Bondi OustingHegseth ousts top Army generalArmy Chief of State Gen. Randy George.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Army's chief of staff had recently clashed over promotions, leading to his eventual ouster.Hegseth reportedly told Gen. Randy George to pull the names of four Army officers from a list of promotions to the rank of one-star general. The list consisted of about three dozen officers, most of whom were white men. However, two of them were Black and two were women, and those were the names Hegseth wanted removed.According to The New York Times, George refused, citing the officers' history of exemplary service. George reportedly asked Hegseth to meet two weeks ago to discuss the matter, but Hegseth declined. The defense secretary then struck the officers' names from the promotion list, even though it's not clear he has the authority to do so, per The Times.Hegseth has repeatedly taken steps to block or delay the promotions of Black and female senior officers in all four branches of the military.Secretary of the ArmyLabor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemerArmy Secretary Daniel Driscoll (26th Secretary of the Army)2004–2007 Student (B.S. Business Administration)2007–2011 Military service: Officer2011 Investment Banking Associate2011–2014 JDCandidateYale Law School2014–2015 Judicial Clerk2016–2019 Venture Capital Executive Winston-Salem, NC2020Congressional Candidate (NC-11)US House of Representatives (Campaign)2021–2023 Chief Operating Officer (COO) Flex Capital Management LLC2023–2024 Chief Strategy Officer On Call Physician StaffingJ.D. Vance / Senior Advisor 2024 Senior Advisor Donald Trump Presidential Campaign2025–26th Secretary of the ArmyChristine Wormuth (25th Secretary of the Army)1995–1996 Presidential Management Intern Department of Defense1996–2002 Policy Officer / French Desk Officer Office of the Secretary of Defense2002–2006 Principal (Consulting) DFI Government Services2007–2008 Staff Director (Jones Commission) Independent Commission on Iraq Security Forces2008–2009 Senior Fellow Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS)2009–2010 Prin. Dep. Asst. Secretary (Homeland Defense) US Department of Defense2010–2012 Special Asst. to the President / Senior Director National Security Council (White House)2012–2014 Dep. Under Secretary (Strategy, Plans, Forces) US Department of Defense2014–2016 Under Secretary of Defense for Policy US Department of Defense2017–2021 Director, International Defense & Security Center RAND Corporation2021–2025 25th Secretary of the Army Goodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Judge rules Trump order eliminating NPR, PBS funding is unconstitutionalDR: United Airlines and flight attendants reached a tentative deal with $740 million in bonusesMM: Amazon to add 3.5% fuel and logistics surcharge for sellers as Iran war drives up energy pricesGO TO A LOCAL STORE!Assholiest of the Week (MM):Lying-iestChevron and Microsoft Team Up for Giant Texas Gas Power PlantTeam includes Chevron, Microsoft, and ENGINE NO 1Microsoft pledged to be carbon NEGATIVE by 2050Since they keep doing things like building gas plants, they're relying on carbon credits through reforestation to hit their targetSo they went out to buy the credits and picked a company called Mombak, a startup that has signed massive reforestation deals for Amazon reforestation but has yet to actually produce a carbon credit yet, has only started in theory, and the company admits there's still little information on how to quantify the carbon absorption in restoration projects.Despite that, Microsoft and Google both made massive investments to look green as they build out data farms for AI no one asked forEngine No 1, meanwhile, after its climate-darling turn at Exxon 5 years ago, has taken its all white male executive team AND board with climate investment banking and VC/PE expertise to partner with Chevron, who celebrated the Big Bullshit BIll that rolled back renewables and decided to happily take Venezuelan oil at the behest of TrumpInvestor-iestFirst, the results from investors at Starbucks:Average 95.7% approve of the boardMarissa Mayer, the new and highly interlocked director, got a team high 99% approvalResults were more correlated with drink disclosures by directors than performance metricsDespite campaigns by New York State, NYC, Mercyside, Trillium, and others to target Beth Ford and Jorgen Knudstorp, as well as advice from ISS to target just Beth Ford (absurd), given labor issues, Andy Campion instead had the lowest vote total at 87% for reasons that are unclearAnd of course…Then, the reason why there was a campaign to vote out directors in the first place:Starbucks to offer baristas up to $1,200 a year in bonusesWith this nugget:Baristas at unionized locations are unlikely to see the bonus program right away. At approximately five percent of its U.S. locations where employees have union representation, Starbucks acknowledged that federal labor law requires the bonus program to go through the collective bargaining process before it can take effect. According to CNBC, the two sides have not made meaningful progress at the bargaining table in over a yearAI-iestJack Dorsey says he wants 6,000 Block employees reporting straight to himThey already do asshat, you have dual class controlSam Altman says he 'miscalibrated' the mood of distrust toward AI and the government in the Pentagon dealNvidia CEO Jensen Huang's advice to workers scared of AI: You're just confusing your job with the tools you use to do itLarry Ellison Says AI Now Does Oracle's Coding Amid Mass Layoffs—3 Strategic Moves for Tech Workers (Oracle Fires 30,000 With a Cold 6 a.m. Email: Here's What It Said That Devastated Teams)Marc Andreessen says AI layoffs are a farce: Companies are 75% overstaffed, and AI is the ‘silver bullet excuse' to clean house DR“Essentially, every large company is overstaffed,” he said. “It's at least overstaffed by 25%. I think most large companies are overstaffed by 50%. I think a lot of them are overstaffed by 75%.” He added, “Now they all have the silver bullet excuse: Ah, it's AI.”So despite record profits every single year, increasing CEO pay, companies are OVERSTAFFED? They get paid less than inflation, and they have TOO MANY people? Some populist math:Assume “every large company” is companies with market cap > $20bn (~415 companies)Total employment as of last year: 27,795,346Total estimated employed people in US: 162,900,000 (62% labor participation)“Every large company” is 17% of all US employmentCurrently, 7,239,000 unemployed in USAndreessens mid point - “most large companies are overstaffed by 50%” - means he thinks they'll blame AI but that they “overemployed” by 13,897,717He is suggesting they are ALL FIREABLE because they are OVERSTAFFEDEmployment goes from 162,900,000 to 149,002,283, unemployment goes to 21,136,717, and the unemployment rate goes to 12% overnight - a 3x increase on the 4% it's at nowBecause Marc Andreessen thinks we're overstaffed… I wonder why…Studies historically have shown that the few days after layoffs stocks are down - but it depends on the reason for the layoff. Proactive layoffs (not a result of down financials, for instance) are rewardedRecent studies show that layoffs actually push stocks UP as time goes one - up to 22% cumulative return over normal 30 days out, and 5% 10 days out. Let's assume a 5% bump for all the proactive AI job cut assholes - the Block and Oracles of the world Other studies show that CEO pay goes up after layoffs if performance improves - so cutting staff for AI pushes stock up, stock up is better performance, CEO pay goes up Using the CEO pay ratio, the “cost savings” of cutting 14m employees is ~$1.4 TRILLION dollars (that's $1.4tn no longer in the hands of people who would be buying stuff like food and houses and gas and rubber chickens and inflatable pool floats)The cuts would add $3tn to market cap of all companies, save $1.4tn in employee costs - the average CEO pay ratio would go from 306 to 319, and the average CEO would make $22m moreThis isn't about overstaffing or AI - this is about CEOs getting paidHeadliniest of the WeekDR: CEO of Epic Games apologizes after laying off employee with terminal brain cancerDR: BlackRock CEO admits 'woke' era went too farDR: Raising Cane's CEO says he doesn't care for this one menu item, but had to sell it anyway: he always substitutes coleslaw for an extra piece of toastMM: New lawsuit alleges DraftKings and FanDuel are digital heroinMM: Scientists Say Half the World Could Be Nearsighted by 2050, and It's Not Just Screens. This Indoor Habit May Be WhySITTING IN THE DARK. This is where we're at as a society.Jamie Dimon Says…Jamie Dimon's warning: More geopolitical risk for America than since WWIIJamie Dimon blasts remote work as JPMorgan staff revolts over office mandateJamie Dimon says JPMorgan could do prediction markets — with big guardrailsJamie Dimon says the American Dream is ‘slipping out of reach'—and JPMorgan is spending billions to fix itJPMorgan's Jamie Dimon predicts AI will cut the working week to 3.5 days, cure cancers, and free up time for hobbiesWho Won the Week?DR: Angry French people in QuebecMM: Headhunting firms who suddenly can expect as much as 75% of large company employees to be calling them to find them workPredictionsDR: Air Canada hires a woman who speaks 845 languages who continually apologies for something she never didMM: Jamie Dimon says speaking French is stupid

After 22 years at IBM, where he rose to senior vice president and director of IBM Research, Dr. Dario Gil now leads one of the most ambitious science and technology initiatives in a generation. As the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Under Secretary for Science and director of the Genesis Mission, Gil is orchestrating a convergence of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing aimed at transforming how America does science and engineering. The Genesis Mission rests on a straightforward premise: a computing revolution is underway, and the U.S. should harness it to double the productivity of its trillion-dollar-a-year research and development engine within a decade. The initiative is built on three pillars: a platform for accelerating discovery anchored in high-performance computing, AI supercomputing, and quantum computing; a portfolio of national challenges in energy, physical sciences, and national security; and a university engagement effort to rethink how future scientists and engineers are educated in the age of AI. Gil offered fusion energy as a prime example of how AI can compress timelines. By training neural networks on validated simulation data, researchers can build surrogate models that run thousands to tens of thousands of times faster, allowing engineers to iterate on reactor designs in hours rather than months. AI is also being applied to real-time plasma control through collaborative work involving Google DeepMind and Commonwealth Fusion Systems. On the grid, Gil shared two striking examples. The DOE's Office of Electricity is developing AI agents to help developers fix deficient interconnection applications—which account for 80% to 90% of submissions—potentially accelerating studies by up to a year. Meanwhile, Brookhaven National Laboratory's Grid FM emulator can speed power flow calculations by 100x, compressing what would be 20 years of conventional analysis of the Texas transmission grid into roughly two months. Gil was candid about the tension between AI as an energy solution and AI as a source of surging electricity demand, noting that planned data centers now reach gigawatt scale. The path forward, he said, involves optimizing the existing grid, accelerating nuclear energy, investing in fusion, and driving major efficiency gains in AI hardware. New supercomputing infrastructure is already being built through the Genesis Consortium, a partnership of 27 industrial players. Argonne and Oak Ridge National Laboratories are each standing up large GPU clusters this year, with a 100,000-GPU system planned for Argonne in 2027—the largest science-oriented cluster in the world. Asked what success looks like, Gil pointed to the AlphaFold story: 50 years of work produced 200,000 protein structures, then AI predicted 200 million in two years. Success, he said, will mean 50 to 100 comparable breakthroughs across all domains of science within three to five years.

Join Torsten Kriening, publisher of SpaceWatch.Global, for this special episode recorded live at the second Middle East Space Conference in Muscat, Oman in January 2026, featuring His Excellency Dr. Ali Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of Communications and IT at Oman's Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.In a historic moment for the Gulf region, Dr. Al Shidhani reveals the breaking news: Oman has just become the 61st nation to sign the Artemis Accords -announced on the conference's opening day, just 24 hours after the third round of Oman-U.S. Strategic Dialogue where space cooperation was a key agenda item.Discover:How Oman Vision 2040 is transforming the nation from oil economy to knowledge economy, with space as one of eight strategic pillars of the National Digital Economy ProgramThe remarkable growth story: 200% increase in space sector investments, 400 employees, and 150% growth in space companies-all in just three yearsWhy Oman chose to build a rocket launch port "to fly rockets for science rather than other maybe not so peaceful activities"How foreign companies can achieve 100% ownership and fast-track regulatory approval - launching a rocket in just 45 days from permit applicationThe philosophy behind Oman's upcoming space law: enabling innovation while ensuring responsible developmentWhy success for Oman isn't measured against other nations, but against themselves: "How can Oman tomorrow become better than Oman today?"Dr. Al Shidhani articulates a compelling vision where space is not just about satellites and rockets, but about digital sovereignty, youth inspiration, capacity building, and localizing space technology capabilities with Omani talent.From downstream applications to upstream enablement, from regulatory red tape to red carpet treatment - this is the story of how a Gulf nation is carving its distinctive path in the global space ecosystem.We love to hear from you. Send us your thought, comments, suggestions, love lettersSupport the showYou can find us on: Spotify and Apple Podcast!Please visit us at SpaceWatch.Global, subscribe to our newsletters. Follow us on LinkedIn and X!

It's an Emmajority Report Thursday on The Majority Report On today's program: Donald Trump admits that his war in Iran is violating the constitution at a fund-raising dinner where he said, "they don't like the word war because you have to get approval, so I'll just say military operation". Trump lashes out at reporting that he is desperate to find a way out of Iran and claims that Iran is begging him for a deal. Andrew Arsan, Professor of Arab and Global History at the University of Cambridge joins Emma for a conversation about his piece in Equator entitled, "Tearing up the Map - Netanyahu's War to Remake the Middle East". Ed Zitron, publisher of the Where's Your Ed At? newsletter and host of the Better Offline podcast join the program to discuss his piece "The AI Industry is Lying to You". In the Fun Half Brandon Sutton and Matt Binder join. Emerson Polling shows Graham Platner with a massive on Janet Mills as well as a solid lead over Susan Collins. Melania Trump introduces a robot meant to replace teachers and childcare providers. Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security dodges questions from Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) on whether or not Israel has nuclear capabilities. Former Secretary of State under Biden, Antony Blinken is confronted by a student at an event at Harvard Law School over his role in the genocide in Palestine. Blinken responds with his usual smarmy condescension. Adam Schiff has a hilarious exchange with the child lawyer that Donald Trump nominated for the U.S. District Court in Montana. all that and more   No Kings Protests across the country this Saturday, March 28. Check out NoKings.Org to find the protest closest to you.   Check out longtime MR listener Jim Di Bartolo's new graphic novel F*ck Billionaires   To connect and organize with your local ICE rapid response team visit ICERRT.com The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: LIQUID IV: Go to LIQUIDIV.com and use code MAJORITYREP at checkout for 20% off your first order. SUNSET LAKE: Use coupon code "Left Is Best" (all one word) for 20% off of your entire order at SunsetLakeCBD.com  Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech On Instagram: @MrBryanVokey Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com

Emil Michael went from scaling Uber across 600 cities to rewiring the world's largest military.In the midst of the Pentagon-Silicon Valley debate, the now U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering opens up about what a real partnership demands from both sides.He also shares how he's built three new entry points for defense tech companies, and why America's military is called the "Department of War" again.Guest: Emil Michael, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Research and EngineeringConnect with Emil MichaelXLinkedInConnect with JoubinXLinkedInEmail: grit@kleinerperkins.comFollow on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpgritFollow on X:https://x.com/KPGrit​Learn more about Kleiner Perkins

Regenerative Agriculture is a conservation management approach that emphasizes natural resources through improved soil health, water management, and natural vitality for the productivity and prosperity of American agriculture and communities. In December 2025, USDA launched the NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program, a farmer first, outcomes-based approach to conservation designed to return the agency to its core mission – helping people help the land. During the Feb. 2026 Commodity Classic Convention, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Aubrey Bettencourt joined U.S. Ag Secretary Secretary Brooke Rollins and Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce in talking about some of the agency's newer initiatives. In this episode, hear Bettencourt share some details of the new Regenerative Pilot Program. NRCS is investing $700 million to specifically support regenerative agriculture, including: $400 million through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP); and $300 million through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

On this episode of Spilling the T, we're joined by Reggie Ramos, Executive Director of Transportation for Massachusetts (T4MA). Reggie shares the story of how she got into advocacy from an early start as an outspoken 12 year old activist in the Philippines, to being the Under Secretary of Transportation for an entire country, to her current role at T4MA. Reggie has almost literally done it all, and her dedication to equitable transport remains unwavering. Got questions or ideas for the show? Email us at social@mbta.com – your feedback might end up in a future episode!

In this episode of Farm4Profit, we sit down with Richard Fordyce, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, for a timely conversation about federal policy and what it means for American producers.

In this episode, Michael Brown dives into the complexities of bureaucracy and the power of taking action. He shares a personal story about his experience as the Undersecretary, where he learned to break the rules and make tough decisions in the face of disaster. Michael also discusses the current situation in Iran, where the US has the technology to bring light to the darkness, but is held back by bureaucratic red tape. He argues that sometimes, all it takes is someone to "flip the switch" to make a difference.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How concerned should U.S. citizens be about Iranian sleeper cells? John Cohen, former undersecretary for intelligence and analysis and counterterrorism coordinator for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, explains national threats.

March 9 2026; 6pm; MS NOW's Ari Melber is joined by a panel of experts to discuss the latest developments in President Trump's war with Iran. Guests include former Under Secretary of State Rick Stengel, CNBC senior economics reporter Steve Liesman, and legendary Democratic strategist James Carville. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(0:00) The Besties welcome Under Secretary of War Emil Michael (2:30) US war with Iran: Bigger picture and why now? (13:16) Trump's new approach to warfare, AI, drones, rules of engagement (28:39) Israel's role in the conflict, relationship with the US, Iron Beam (37:24) Oil prices, Trump's maritime insurance play (41:19) Pentagon vs Anthropic: Why Anthropic was labeled a supply-chain risk (1:02:03) How to value Anthropic after its supply chain risk designation (1:11:14) State of the US defense supply chain, the defense tech industry, DARPA, and China's military Follow Emil Michael: https://x.com/USWREMichael https://x.com/emilmichael Follow the besties: https://x.com/chamath https://x.com/Jason https://x.com/DavidSacks https://x.com/friedberg Follow on X: https://x.com/theallinpod Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theallinpod Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theallinpod Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allinpod Intro Music Credit: https://rb.gy/tppkzl https://x.com/yung_spielburg Intro Video Credit: https://x.com/TheZachEffect Referenced in the show: https://x.com/chamath/status/2029584905831891069 https://polymarket.com/event/us-forces-enter-iran-by https://polymarket.com/event/will-the-iranian-regime-fall-by-the-end-of-2026 https://x.com/chamath/status/2029416079781736844 https://x.com/USWREMichael/status/2029539950962626734 https://x.com/addyosmani/status/2029372736267805081 https://github.com/googleworkspace/cli https://x.com/chamath/status/2029634071966666964 https://www.lloyds.com/about-lloyds/history/lloyds-buildings https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-05/pentagon-says-it-s-told-anthropic-the-firm-is-supply-chain-risk https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-03/anthropic-nears-20-billion-revenue-run-rate-amid-pentagon-feud

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee asks Undersecretary of State about Biden Administration using tax dollars to make maps... gay? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Kendall served as the 26th Secretary of the Air Force from 2021 to 2025. Before that he was Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics under Obama. His new book, Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare, comes out in June. Cohosting today is Bryan Clark of Hudson, JustinMc and Eric Robinson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank Kendall served as the 26th Secretary of the Air Force from 2021 to 2025. Before that he was Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics under Obama. His new book, Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare, comes out in June. Cohosting today is Bryan Clark of Hudson, JustinMc and Eric Robinson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby discusses the U.S. National Defense Strategy under the Donald Trump administration.   Background Reading: In this article, seven CFR experts consider the implications of the National Security Strategy document released on December 5, 2025, by the Trump administration.  Host: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations   Guests: Elbridge A. Colby, Under Secretary of War for Policy, U.S. Department of War; CFR Member   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR's Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: A Conversation with Elbridge Colby

Thursday, March 2nd, 2023 In the Hot Notes; a showdown between the FBI and the DoJ over the surprise search of Mar-a-Lago; Matt Gaetz tries to gotcha Biden's Under Secretary of Defense by accidentally introducing propaganda from the People's Republic of China; an intelligence review finds the Havana Syndrome is not caused by an energy weapon or a foreign adversary; Congressional Dem leaders send a letter to Fox News following the Dominion lawsuit revelations; plus AG delivers your Good News. Dana is on a boat. Kat Calvin https://linktr.ee/Katcalvinla Project ID https://www.projectid.org/ American Identity in Crisis: Notes from an Accidental Activist Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

America is bringing freedom. A new website from the State Department is about to make freedom of speech great again, and the checks notes Europeans aren't happy? Well, maybe when Emmanuel Macron says freedom of speech is BS, they should be worried. A Transport for London Public Service Announcement has been banned because it's racist. Let's find out exactly how it's racist. Simu Liu, famous Asian Canadian, has opinions about things. And those opinions are trash. What a piece of sh*t. GUEST: Josh Firestine Link to today's sources: https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/sources-february-19-2026 Get your St. Patrick's Day apparel now at: https://crowdershop.com/collections/saint-patricks-day-apparel Download Rumble Wallet now and step away from the big banks — for good! https://rumblewallet.onelink.me/bJsX/crowder Foundation Daily is made up of premium ingredients to reduce inflammation and stress and promote clean energy and mental clarity. Subscribe now and receive 40% off for life. https://foundationdaily.com/ Check out Steven's interview with Undersecretary of State Sarah Rogers here: youtube.com/watch?v=fGP92yaP6nQ&feature=youtu.be DOWNLOAD THE RUMBLE APP TODAY: https://rumble.com/our-apps Join Rumble Premium to watch this show every day! http://louderwithcrowder.com/Premium Get your favorite LWC gear: https://crowdershop.com/ Bite-Sized Content: https://rumble.com/c/CrowderBits Subscribe to my podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/576250/rss FOLLOW ME: Website: https://louderwithcrowder.com/ X: https://x.com/scrowder Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/louderwithcrowder Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevencrowderofficial Music by @Pogo

At a time when Trump wages war against expertise, with scores of career ambassadors being recalled and a thinning of officers in the field, Undersecretary of State John Bass holds forth on why real estate and business experience, as well as AI, cannot substitute for diplomatic tradecraft.

Yesterday, a shooter opened fire at an ice skating rink in Rhode Island. We have the details and…well, let's just say they/them are starting to notice a trend. Undersecretary of State Sarah Rogers joins us today to discuss Secretary of State Marco Rubio's banger speech at the Munich Security Council. We pick her brain about all things foreign policy. GUEST: Josh Firestine | Undersecretary of State Sarah Rogers Link to today's sources: https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/sources-february-17-2026 Admonish Gerald every day! Get the Admonish shirt at Crowder Shop now! https://crowdershop.com/products/o-g-die-hard-is-a-christmas-movie-long-sleeve-copy Do not wait for another IRS letter or a frozen bank account. Call 1800 958 1000 or visit https://tnusa.com/CROWDER Download Rumble Wallet now and step away from the big banks — for good! https://rumblewallet.onelink.me/bJsX/crowder Foundation Daily is made up of premium ingredients to reduce inflammation and stress and promote clean energy and mental clarity. Subscribe now and receive 40% off for life. https://foundationdaily.com/ DOWNLOAD THE RUMBLE APP TODAY: https://rumble.com/our-apps Join Rumble Premium to watch this show every day! http://louderwithcrowder.com/Premium Get your favorite LWC gear: https://crowdershop.com/ Bite-Sized Content: https://rumble.com/c/CrowderBits Subscribe to my podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/576250/rss FOLLOW ME: Website: https://louderwithcrowder.com/ X: https://x.com/scrowder Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/louderwithcrowder Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevencrowderofficial Music by @Pogo

Michael Klein reports from a packed USA Rice Farm Policy Fly-In in D.C., where growers discussed rising input costs, trade pressures, emergency assistance, world rice stocks, planting intentions, and more. USA Rice members Paul T. Combs and Fred Zaunbrecher talked planting strategy and rice's reception on Capitol Hill. USDA senior leaders shared their thoughts on the ag economy, and then recently retired USDA ag economist Nathan Childs was honored and sat down to share his uncensored thoughts on applied economics, agriculture, the PIK years, market instability and how to counteract it, and learning from history. With special guests: Nathan Childs, USDA-ERS (Retired) Paul T. Combs, Sunrise Land Company Fred Zaunbrecher, Chair, USA Rice Farmers Board of Directors Richard Fordyce, Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, USDA Stephen Vaden, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, USDA Hosted by: Michael Klein

Eric and Eliot begin with a buffet of administration jackassery before pivoting to a preview of the Munich Security Conference. They discuss Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Bridge Colby's remarks, as well as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's speech highlighting the importance of transatlantic ties. They also examine the New START treaty's recent lapse and the future of arms control, the prospect for additional U.S. strikes on Iran, and the apparent shutdown of Russian Starlink terminals. They conclude with a discussion of the ongoing international fallout from the Epstein affair and his many unexplained Russian connections.Eric and Frank Miller's Latest on New START:https://thedispatch.com/article/new-start-expiration-russia-united-states-nuclear-program/Eric and Frank Miller on NATO:https://www.nationalreview.com/2026/01/natos-not-dead/Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

Last Thursday, the last Cold War-era nuclear treaty between the US and Russia came to an end. Erin Dumbacher from the Council on Foreign Relations joins to help us understand the global nuclear situation. Then, the New York governor signs the Medical Aid in Dying Act into law, legalizing assisted suicide. Russell Moore and Mike Cosper consider the implications. Finally, CT's Bonnie Kristian stops by to discuss the overemphasis on gender on both sides of the political aisle. REFERENCED IN THE EPISODE: We Are Obsessed with Gender - Bonnie Kristian ABOUT THE GUESTS: Erin Dumbacher is an international security and technology policy researcher and advisor. She is the Stanton nuclear security senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Previously, she served in the U.S. Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and worked as a director at In-Q-Tel and senior program officer at the Nuclear Threat Initiative. Bonnie Kristian is the deputy editor at Christianity Today. She is the author of Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community and A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What It Means to Follow Jesus Today. Her writing has been published at outlets including The New York Times, The Week, USA Today, CNN, Politico, and others. GO DEEPER WITH THE BULLETIN: Join the conversation at our Substack. Find us on YouTube. Rate and review the show in your podcast app of choice. ABOUT THE BULLETIN: The Bulletin is a twice-weekly politics and current events show from Christianity Today moderated by Clarissa Moll, with senior commentary from Russell Moore (Christianity Today's editor-at-large and columnist) and Mike Cosper (senior contributor). Each week, the show explores current events and breaking news and shares a Christian perspective on issues that are shaping our world. We also offer special one-on-one conversations with writers, artists, and thought leaders whose impact on the world brings important significance to a Christian worldview, like Bono, Sharon McMahon, Harrison Scott Key, Frank Bruni, and more. The Bulletin listeners get 25% off CT. Go to https://orderct.com/THEBULLETIN to learn more. “The Bulletin” is a production of Christianity Today Producer: Clarissa Moll Associate Producer: Alexa Burke Editing and Mix: Kevin Morris Graphic Design: Rick Szuecs Music: Dan Phelps Executive Producer: Erik Petrik Senior Producer: Matt Stevens Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do new UAP sightings mean alien contact is imminent? Lue Elizondo is a former U.S. Army counterintelligence special agent and a former senior intelligence officer for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. With decades of experience in national security, he conducted and supervised clandestine operations worldwide, specializing in counterterrorism, espionage, and advanced aerospace threats. He is best known for his role as the former head of the Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), where he investigated unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and pushed for greater transparency on non-human intelligence (NHI). In this show, Elizondo reveals the existence of a decades-long “Legacy Program”—a covert operation investigating unidentified aerial phenomena that operated without congressional oversight for more than 80 years. This isn't about blurry lights in the sky. It's about crash retrievals, exotic materials, and physical craft allegedly in U.S. possession dating back to Roswell and beyond, quietly studied by the military-industrial complex while the public was fed weather balloon and swamp gas cover stories. He describes the Cold War you never learned about—not just a race to the moon, but a race to reverse-engineer technology so advanced it makes nuclear weapons look primitive. Then comes the phrase that changed everything: “non-human biologics.” The conversation shifted from metal to flesh. Not drones—occupants. Craft that were piloted. Pilots that didn't survive. The science is even more unsettling. These UAPs demonstrate capabilities that defy known physics: instantaneous acceleration, hypersonic speed without sonic booms, and right-angle turns that would liquefy a human body. The implication? They may not be “traveling” at all—but warping space-time itself, moving inside a gravitational bubble. And what if they aren't coming from far away? Elizondo weighs theories that these entities may be interdimensional, not extraterrestrial—originating not light-years away, but right here, just beyond our perceptual bandwidth. While we smash particles at CERN to glimpse the fabric of reality, these craft appear to move through it. From the Tic Tac incident, to swarms over Langley Air Force Base, to a recent triangle-shaped craft sighting over Area 51, the phenomenon is becoming more visible, more aggressive, and harder to dismiss. Elizondo's message—echoed in the title of his book, Imminent—is clear: the clock is ticking. If contact is coming, the real question isn't whether we're ready technologically—but whether we're ready socially, psychologically, and spiritually. A relationship with a non-human intelligence wouldn't mean trade agreements. Elizondo explains what it could mean for a fundamental rewrite of physics, religion, power, and humanity's place in the universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices