Podcasts about Union Jack

Sympathetic snores roll across London, Rose has a Union Jack and the Doctor sits for dinner, all as you sleep.This is a special release from the SWM Vault. It's been remastered and re-edited, but it might be a little looser than a new episode. If you want access to the full vault, you can join Sleep With Me Plus at sleepwithmepodcast.com/plusGet your Sleep With Me SleepPhones. Use "sleepwithme" for $5 off!!Are you looking for Story Only versions or two more nights of Sleep With Me a week? Then check out Bedtime Stories from Sleep With MeLearn more about producer Russell aka Rusty Biscuit at russellsperberg.com and @BabyTeethLA on IG.Show Artwork by Emily TatGoing through a hard time? You can find support at the Crisis Textline and see more global helplines here.HELIX SLEEP - Take the 2-minute sleep quiz and they'll match you to a customized mattress that'll give you the best sleep of your life. Visit helixsleep.com/sleep and get a special deal exclusive for SWM listeners!ZOCDOC - With Zocdoc, you can search for local doctors who take your insurance, read verified patient reviews and book an appointment, in-person or video chat. Download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE at zocdoc.com/sleep PROGRESSIVE - With the Name Your Price tool, you tell Progressive how much you want to pay for car insurance, and they'll show you coverage options that fit your budget. Get your quote today at progressive.comKINDRED - Kindred is a members-only home swapping network. It isn't a hotel. It isn't a short-term rental. It's a smarter way to travel where each stay feels like home. Apply now at LiveKindred.com and use code SLEEP to join for free. Plus, you'll earn 5 nights of travel credit just for signing up!ODOO - Odoo is an all-in-one management platform with a suite of user-friendly applications designed to simplify and connect every aspect of your company in one, easy-to-use software. Odoo is the affordable, all-in-one management software with a library of fully-integrated business applications that help you get MORE done in LESS time for a FRACTION of the price.To learn more, visit www.odoo.com/withmeUNCOMMON GOODS - Uncommon Goods scours the globe for original, remarkable, handmade things. Surprise your friends and family with unique - and even personalized! - gifts this holiday season. Head to uncommongoods.com/sleep for 15% off! Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Jack Hadfield discusses his experiences as an independent journalist covering protests about migrant accommodations in the UK. He highlights the disparity in police responses to right-wing versus left-leaning protests, emphasizing instances of police brutality and the application of restrictive measures against right-wing demonstrations. Hadfield critiques systemic biases in law enforcement influenced by government policies, and he addresses rising public concern over immigration and anti-Semitism. He underscores the importance of independent media in challenging mainstream narratives and stresses the need to balance public safety with the right to peaceful protest.   Jack Hadfield

Những tuần qua ở Anh rộ lên phong trào treo cờ xứ Anh, màu trắng-đỏ, như một biểu hiện của phong trào dân túy, xác lập « nước Anh là của người Anh ». Tại cuộc tuần hành hơn 100 nghìn người ủng hộ phe cực hữu ở Luân Đôn hôm 14/09/2025, nhiều nhóm thanh niên nam người Anh đã khoác lá cờ xứ Anh và quốc kỳ (Union Jack) của Vương quốc Anh lên vai để hô khẩu hiệu phỉ báng Hồi Giáo và chống người nhập cư. Thủ tướng Anh Keir Starmer sau đó đã lên án hành động của họ và lên tiếng rằng « Không thể để quốc kỳ Anh bị chiếm đoạt ». Nhưng lá cờ xứ Anh có khá nhiều thăng trầm trong lịch sử và việc dùng nó làm biểu tượng chính trị đang gây lo ngại cho các cộng đồng nhập cư tại Vương quốc Anh. Thông tín viên Nguyễn Giang tìm hiểu chủ đề này từ những tháng qua. RFI Tiếng Việt : Đầu tiên, xin anh cho biết trước cuộc biểu tình ở Luân Đôn ngày 14/09 thì Anh Quốc đã có hiện tượng treo cờ khắp nơi ở những chỗ không phải là cột cờ, công sở ? TTV. Nguyễn Giang : Đúng là từ hai ba tháng qua, chính xác là giữa mùa hè 2025, những người sống ở Anh như chúng tôi đột nhiên thấy lá cờ England flag - màu trắng có chữ thập của Thánh George màu đỏ, được các nhóm thiên hữu tự tổ chức treo lên các cột đèn, buộc vào thành cầu vượt trên xa lộ để phản đối di dân, phản đối nhiều cờ của cánh tả như cờ cầu vồng ủng hộ người đồng tính, lưỡng tính (LGBT+) được một số hội đồng địa phương treo. Cũng có ý kiến từ phía hữu phản đối điều họ gọi là « ý thức hệ cực tả », áp đặt các giá trị khác với truyền thống Anh, ví dụ như cổ vũ cho phong trào Black Lives Matters, có nguồn gốc từ Mỹ. Điều cần nói rõ là Anh quốc tôn trọng tự do cá nhân và tự do biểu đạt nên ai muốn treo cờ ở vườn nhà riêng, ở cửa sổ nhà riêng thì cứ thoải mái. Tôi thấy ở nơi mình sống thường thì trước các sự kiện thể thao như bóng đá, rugby thì cờ Anh (England), cờ Ireland, cờ Scotland, rồi cả cờ Jamaica, cờ Ý... được người dân treo ở nhà của họ. Tức là cả người Anh và di dân cứ treo cờ của đội tuyển quốc gia mà họ ủng hộ. Dân nghiền bóng đá treo cả cờ các đội bóng như Barcelona (Tây Ban Nha), cờ Đức khi có các trận của Giải Bundesliga (Liên bang Đức) thi đấu. Các trận tranh tài thường được chiếu ở các quán bia và tôi từng đi xem nên thấy có quán chăng cả dãy cờ. Đó là chuyện rất bình thường. Nhưng điều bất thường với hai lá cờ England flag và quốc kỳ Anh (Union Jack) là chúng được ai đó treo khắp các chỗ công cộng nhưng không phải là ở cột cờ, ở công sở, trường học, ở sân bóng, sân rugby. Treo ở công sở thì là chuyện bình thường nhưng đây là hàng loạt lá cờ được các nhóm tự phát trèo lên các cột đèn, trên cây, tạo ra không khí khá căng thẳng. Bởi vì nó không nói lên sự vui mừng hân hoan của các giải thể thao mà mang tính chất đe dọa ai đó không phải người thuộc nhóm sắc tộc Anh gốc, bản địa da trắng. Có ý kiến nào trên báo Anh phân tích về hiện tượng này chưa ? Có khá nhiều. Ví dụ nhà báo Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, cây bút của trang The iPaper cho rằng cờ Thánh George đột nhiên xuất hiện ở khắp nơi không phải là hiện tượng hiền lành, vô hại (harmless), mà khiến những ai không muốn bị ép buộc phải tuân thủ « tình ái quốc kiểu Anh » sẽ thấy họ bị « loại ra khỏi cộng đồng ». Thay vì tạo sự đoàn kết quốc gia thì việc buộc và treo cờ khắp nơi gây cảm giác « chủ nghĩa ái quốc Anh » có tính loại trừ (exclusive) đối với người không thuộc nhóm sắc tộc Anh tức là English. Một số nhà bình luận khác, như Ian Birren cho rằng việc phe cực hữu giành lấy quyền sử dụng lá cờ Anh là biểu hiện của chủ nghĩa sắc tộc và dân tộc Anh (ethnonationalism). Các trang Facebook đã xuất hiện khá nhiều « tấm gương yêu nước » của ai đó sơn chữ thập đỏ và nền trắng lên toàn bộ tường nhà họ, rồi có chỗ họ sơn trên kính hậu của xe hơi, kèm dòng chữ : Love England or Leave It. Thông điệp bài ngoại khá rõ ở đây : Hoặc các người hãy yêu xứ Anh, hoặc biến đi. Mới đây nhất, một người đàn ông Anh còn tự bỏ tiền ra mua hàng trăm lá cờ để treo dọc một xa lộ 8km (đường A1198 ở Cambridgeshire) để « bày tỏ lòng tự hào là người Anh » nhưng báo chí địa phương phản ánh rằng không ít người dân gốc nhập cư cảm thấy lo ngại bị họ cho là « bị áp chế tinh thần ». Về lịch sử và pháp luật thì lá cờ chữ thập đỏ trên nền trắng này có gì đặc biệt và vì sao nó lại được các nhóm cánh hữu Anh sử dụng ? Cũng cần nhắc là trong lịch sử châu Âu thì bốn dân tộc Anh, Scottish, Welsh và Irish trong Vương quốc Liên hiệp Anh và Bắc Ireland, có bốn vị thánh khác nhau phù hộ họ, theo đức tin Ki Tô giáo: Thánh George của người Anh, Thánh Andrew của người Scotland, Thánh David của người xứ Wales và Thánh Patrick của người Ireland. Tất nhiên các dân tộc khác ở châu Âu cũng có thể tôn thời chung một vị thánh, theo đức tin ngày xưa của họ. Cờ Thánh George (chữ thập đỏ trên nền trắng) không phải là cờ độc quyền của người Anh (Englishmen). Nó cũng không xuất phát từ đất Anh mà là cờ mang tính tôn giáo của những quân đoàn Thập Tự chinh ở châu Âu sang Trung Cận Đông « giành lại đất thánh » chống người Hồi Giáo ở các thế kỷ 10-12. Các vương quốc ở Địa Trung Hải như xứ Sardinia, Genoa đã dùng lá cờ này. Và quốc kỳ của nước Georgia (Gruzia) ở Hắc Hải cũng có mẫu giống hệt. Huyền thoại nói vua Richard Sư tử tâm của Anh được Thánh George hiện ra trước một trận đánh vào thế kỷ 12 ban phước nên ông đã dùng Thập tự Thánh George vẽ lên cờ. Sau đó, một số vua Anh như Edward I đã dùng cờ này, và vì là cờ của vua nên nó trở thành cờ của xứ Anh, còn Scotland, Wales lại có cờ riêng của họ. Thời Nữ hoàng Elizabeth I đã bỏ lá cờ này và sau đó, đến năm 1606 thì triều đình Anh chọn lá cờ Liên hiệp Anh - mà ngày nay là cờ nền xanh dương đậm, có thập tự Thánh George màu đỏ và Thập tự Thánh Andrew màu trắng lồng vào nhau. Đây mới là lá cờ ngày nay được Liên Hiệp Quốc công nhận là quốc kỳ của Vương quốc Liên hiệp Anh và Bắc Ireland. Cờ xứ England chỉ tồn tại trong thể thao và một số sự kiện văn hóa. Nó không có trên văn bản hay trên hộ chiếu, bằng lái xe. Cờ của Hoàng gia Anh cũng không có lá cờ England. Trên cờ hoàng gia, xứ Anh được biểu hiện bằng hình sư tử nằm vươn móng, bên cạnh các hình như đàn harp của Bắc Ireland và sư tử đứng của Scotland. Việc lá cờ xứ Anh được đưa từ sân bóng đá, từ lễ hội tôn giáo ra ngoài phố gây tác động thế nào, tiêu cực hay tích cực trong dư luận và với chính quyền ? Chính vì thiếu một biểu tượng rõ rệt cho England, quốc gia đông dân nhất (56 triệu) trong Liên hiệp Vương quốc Anh nên các chính quyền địa phương lo ngại việc những nhóm cực hữu dùng nhiều lá cờ này theo ý riêng sẽ thổi lên tâm lý bài ngoại, không chỉ với người nhập cư mà còn chia rẽ đoàn kết giữa bốn dân tộc bản địa của Vương quốc Anh, như người Irish, người xứ Wales, người Scotland. Như đã nói, họ đều có các vị thánh bảo trợ cho dân tộc của họ, nên nếu người Anh áp đặt cờ Thánh George của Anh là gây mất đoàn kết ngay. Tôi vào các trang Facebook thấy giữa bốn nhóm cư dân bản địa ở Anh đã có tranh cãi. Có người viết, « Này, đừng bắt Scoland thuộc về England nhé. Chúng tôi có vương quốc riêng. » Có người Irish thì phản đối việc gọi dân Bắc Ireland « là một dân tộc - nation », và viết rằng « chúng tôi muốn thống nhất với miền Nam - tức là Cộng hòa Ireland, tránh xa England! ». Chúng ta cần nhớ là xung khắc tôn giáo và dân tộc ở vùng Bắc Ireland chỉ mới chấm dứt nhờ Thỏa thuận Ngày thứ Sáu Tốt Lành (Good Friday Agreement) năm 1997. Còn trước đó là các cộng đồng địa phương có hiềm khích, thậm chí có các vụ đánh bom của Đội quân Cộng hòa Ái Nhĩ Lan (IRA) nhắm vào quân đội, cảnh sát Anh mà họ nói là « quân chiếm đóng ». Việc đề cao chủ nghĩa dân tộc đặc thù của người Anh là không khôn ngoan. Thế nhưng cộng đồng mạng cũng có những phản ứng hài hước. Có người còn vẽ biếm hoạ là cờ xứ Wales bị một đàn cừu trắng trên lưng có vẽ chữ thập Thánh George màu đỏ bước vào, với dòng chữ « Bọn cừu Anh để yên cho xứ Wales nhé ! ». Báo Daily Express vừa đăng là dân làng Henllyes ở xứ Wales phải họp nhau lại tổ chức các nhóm đi xóa hình graffiti cờ Anh ai đó vẽ lên bến xe bus, lên tường nhà của họ. Vì người xứ Wales có cờ riêng và họ phản đối cờ Anh được coi là « quan trọng hơn ». Không lạ khi mà chính phủ Vương quốc Anh phê phán việc dùng quá tải biểu tượng của một trong bốn dân tộc gốc của đảo Anh tức England vì họ cũng thấy phản ứng mạnh của dân ba xứ còn lại từng bị người Anh (English) thống trị. Đây là bằng chứng chủ nghĩa dân tộc không bao giờ là chất xúc tác kết nối xã hội mà chỉ gây chia rẽ. Và rồi có các nhóm nhập cư mới hơn như dân gốc Jamaica, gốc Hồi Giáo, họ cũng treo cờ của họ bên cạnh lá cờ England trên cột trong vườn, hoặc theo báo đăng thì có một gia đình nào đó cũng lên cầu vượt ở xa lộ chăng luôn 10 lá cờ các nước khác nhau, để đáp trả phong trào đề cao một hai lá cờ « thuần túy Anh quốc ». Về phía chính quyền thì có thể thấy rõ là nhà nước Anh chỉ khuyến khích việc treo và dùng lá cờ của cả Vương quốc chứ không khuyến khích cờ xứ Anh. Tất nhiên, các hội đồng địa phương ở England thì có quyền treo cờ chữ thập đỏ nền trắng đó. Còn tại các sự kiện âm nhạc như BBC Proms thì phần cuối luôn có màn phất cờ và người ta phất cờ Union Jack, cùng cờ EU, cờ Pháp, cờ Mỹ. Một người bạn tôi đăng thử hình cờ England vào một nhóm Facebook cộng đồng chính thức, do chính quyền địa phương mở (community page) ở Kent thì chỉ 5 phút sau là bị admin xóa. Lý do là biểu tượng quá rõ thể hiện thông điệp dân tộc chủ nghĩa Anh dễ bị cho là gây chia rẽ cộng đồng dân cư đa sắc tộc. Cuối cùng, là công dân Anh gốc Việt, anh nghĩ gì về vấn đề lá cờ và « chủ nghĩa dân tộc Anh » ? Khi tuyên thệ nhập tịch Anh, gia đình chúng tôi tuyên thệ trung thành với Hoàng gia và tại buổi lễ có lá cờ Liên hiệp Vương quốc Anh, nên sự tôn trọng với lá quốc kỳ Anh đó là điều người nhập cư nào cũng hiểu được và tuân theo. Lá cờ xứ Anh với tôi cũng là một biểu tượng của dân tộc Anh và lịch sử Anh. Chỉ riêng điều đó không có gì sai hay đúng cả. Bản thân tôi quan tâm đến lịch sử và rất thích tìm hiểu về các phù hiệu, biểu tượng quý tộc, phong kiến, hiệp sĩ châu Âu. Đó là những giá trị văn hóa rất hay, nhưng nên để chúng trong sách, trong phim ảnh. Còn đem các biểu tượng xưa ra ngoài phố, dùng nó quá đà và áp đặt các niềm tin bản địa, rồi cài vào đó ẩn ý phân biệt đối xử thì lại là hiện tượng chính trị-xã hội thời nay rất nguy hiểm. Ví dụ trên một số trang Facebook của phe cực hữu Anh đã xuất hiện các tranh vẽ (dùng AI, khá mới) có hình cậu bé hiệp sĩ tóc vàng cầm gươm chém rồng để bảo vệ tổ quốc Anh. Chủ nghĩa tự vệ bản địa (nativism) này là một hiện tượng xã hội quan trọng vì người dân cảm thấy mất quyền kiểm soát các vấn đề lớn, như toàn cầu hóa, và di cư ồ ạt. Phải nói rằng bất cứ việc áp đặt quá mạnh quan điểm và biểu tượng của phe tả cứng rắn (hard left) hay cực hữu (far-right) đều làm cho không gian tranh luận văn minh, bình đẳng, tôn trọng lẫn nhau bị thu hẹp và những người ôn hòa cảm thấy bị áp chế. Yêu nước Anh thì mỗi người có cách yêu của riêng mình, không nên áp đặt và đe dọa, bắt phải yêu theo một kiểu của đám đông. Thêm vào đó, việc biểu tượng tôn giáo từ các cuộc thánh chiến thời Trung Cổ để kêu gọi « bảo vệ nước Anh », thì có vẻ như họ đã gián tiếp cổ vũ bạo lực trong bối cảnh căng thẳng sắc tộc, phân cực Tả-Hữu lên cao. Bảo vệ tổ quốc là việc của quân đội chứ nếu để cho các nhóm tự phát lập dân quân hay hội đoàn tự trang bị vũ khí để « xử lý người nhập cư » thì xã hội sẽ có nguy cơ rơi vào vòng xoáy bạo lực. Điều đáng lo ngại là thái độ cực đoan của một số người Anh đã và đang làm nổ ra phản ứng cũng rất cực đoạn của một số nhóm Hồi giáo chống Phương Tây ngay trong giới trẻ theo đạo Hồi sinh ra lớn lên ở Anh. Các căng thẳng này nếu không được hóa giải sẽ chỉ tạo ra va chạm chủng tộc, tôn giáo với hệ lụy khó lường.

Church of England vicars with a difference Tom Pelham, Daniel French and Jamie Franklin sit down down for a special livestream reaction to the selection of Sarah Mullally as the next Archbishop of Canterbury. What are the implications for the global Anglican Communion? What is the role of the Archbishop anyway? Why stay in the Church of England? And what are our hopes for the future?We also touch on the pope blessing a large ice cube at a climate change conference and Gary Neville going full Gary Lineker as he assaults some Union Jack flags on one of his building sites and makes a video to tell us all about it!Thanks for listening and please enjoy!You make this podcast possible. Please support us!On Substack - https://irreverendpod.substack.com/On Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/irreverendBuy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/irreverend To make a direct donation or to get in touch with questions or comments please email irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Buy Jamie's Book! THE GREAT RETURNDaniel French Substack: https://undergroundchurch.substack.com/Jamie Franklin's "Good Things" Substack: https://jamiefranklin.substack.comIrreverend Substack: https://irreverendpod.substack.comFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/IrreverendPodFind me a church: https://irreverendpod.com/church-finder/Join our Irreverend Telegram group: https://t.me/irreverendpodFind links to our episodes, social media accounts and much more https://www.irreverendpod.com!Thursday Circles: http://thursdaycircle.com Support the show

Domani, sabato 11 e domenica 12 ottobre, Schio si trasformerà ancora una volta nella città più britannica d'Italia. Le strade e le piazze del centro storico si coloreranno con le bandiere della Union Jack, la musica animerà ogni angolo e sempre più persone vestiranno costumi ispirati all'affascinante cultura inglese. Sarà un weekend da vivere a passo di danza e con lo sguardo rivolto oltremanica.

CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1900 KYIV THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS THAT CONGRESS IS CAPABLE OF CUTTING SPENDING..... 10-8-25 FIRST HOUR 9-915 HEADLINE: Arab Intellectuals Fail Palestinians by Prioritizing Populism and Victimhood Narrative in Gaza ConflictGUEST NAME: Hussain Abdul-Hussain SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Hussain Abdul-Hussain about Hamas utilizing the power of victimhood to justify atrocities and vilify opponents. Arab and Muslim intellectuals have failed Palestinians by prioritizing populism over introspection and self-critique. Regional actors like Egypt prioritize populist narratives over national interests, exemplified by refusing to open the Sinai border despite humanitarian suffering. The key recommendation is challenging the narrative and fostering a reliable, mature Palestinian government. 915-930 HEADLINE: Arab Intellectuals Fail Palestinians by Prioritizing Populism and Victimhood Narrative in Gaza ConflictGUEST NAME: Hussain Abdul-Hussain SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Hussain Abdul-Hussain about Hamas utilizing the power of victimhood to justify atrocities and vilify opponents. Arab and Muslim intellectuals have failed Palestinians by prioritizing populism over introspection and self-critique. Regional actors like Egypt prioritize populist narratives over national interests, exemplified by refusing to open the Sinai border despite humanitarian suffering. The key recommendation is challenging the narrative and fostering a reliable, mature Palestinian government. 930-945 HEADLINE: Russian Oil and Gas Revenue Squeezed as Prices Drop, Turkey Shifts to US LNG, and China Delays Pipeline GUEST NAME: Michael Bernstam SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Michael Bernstam about Russia facing severe budget pressure due to declining oil prices projected to reach $40 per barrel for Russian oil and global oil surplus. Turkey, a major buyer, is abandoning Russian natural gas after signing a 20-year LNG contract with the US. Russia refuses Indian rupee payments, demanding Chinese renminbi, which India lacks. China has stalled the major Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project indefinitely. Russia utilizes stablecoin and Bitcoin via Central Asian banks to circumvent payment sanctions. 945-1000 HEADLINE: UN Snapback Sanctions Imposed on Iran; Debate Over Nuclear Dismantlement and Enrichment GUEST NAME: Andrea Stricker SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Andrea Stricker about the US and Europe securing the snapback of UN sanctions against Iran after 2015 JCPOA restrictions expired. Iran's non-compliance with inspection demands triggered these severe sanctions. The discussion covers the need for full dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program, including both enrichment and weaponization capabilities, to avoid future conflict. Concerns persist about Iran potentially retaining enrichment capabilities through low-level enrichment proposals and its continued non-cooperation with IAEA inspections. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 HEADLINE: Commodities Rise and UK Flag Controversy: French Weather, Market Trends, and British Politics GUEST NAME: Simon Constable SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Simon Constable about key commodities like copper up 16% and steel up 15% signaling strong economic demand. Coffee prices remain very high at 52% increase. The conversation addresses French political turmoil, though non-citizens cannot vote. In the UK, the St. George's flag has become highly controversial, viewed by some as associated with racism, unlike the Union Jack. This flag controversy reflects a desire among segments like the white working class to assert English identity. 1015-1030 HEADLINE: Commodities Rise and UK Flag Controversy: French Weather, Market Trends, and British Politics GUEST NAME: Simon Constable SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Simon Constable about key commodities like copper up 16% and steel up 15% signaling strong economic demand. Coffee prices remain very high at 52% increase. The conversation addresses French political turmoil, though non-citizens cannot vote. In the UK, the St. George's flag has become highly controversial, viewed by some as associated with racism, unlike the Union Jack. This flag controversy reflects a desire among segments like the white working class to assert English identity. 1030-1045 HEADLINE: China's Economic Contradictions: Deflation and Consumer Wariness Undermine GDP Growth ClaimsGUEST NAME: Fraser Howie SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Fraser Howie about China facing severe economic contradictions despite high World Bank forecasts. Deflation remains rampant with frequently negative CPI and PPI figures. Consumer wariness and high youth unemployment at one in seven persist throughout the economy. The GDP growth figure is viewed as untrustworthy, manufactured through debt in a command economy. Decreased container ship arrivals point to limited actual growth, exacerbated by higher US tariffs. Economic reforms appear unlikely as centralization under Xi Jinping continues. 1045-1100 HEADLINE: Takaichi Sanae Elected LDP Head, Faces Coalition Challenge to Become Japan's First Female Prime Minister GUEST NAME: Lance Gatling SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Lance Gatling about Takaichi Sanae being elected head of Japan's LDP, positioning her to potentially become the first female Prime Minister. A conservative figure, she supports visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine. Her immediate challenge is forming a majority coalition, as the junior partner Komeito disagrees with her conservative positions and social policies. President Trump praised her election, signaling potential for strong bilateral relations. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 VHEADLINE: DeepSeek AI: Chinese LLM Performance and Security Flaws Revealed Amid Semiconductor Export Circumvention GUEST NAME: Jack Burnham SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Jack Burnham about competition in Large Language Models between the US and China's DeepSeek. A NIST study found US models superior in software engineering, though DeepSeek showed parity in scientific questions. Critically, DeepSeek models exhibited significant security flaws. China attempts to circumvent US export controls on GPUs by smuggling and using cloud computing centers in Southeast Asia. Additionally, China aims to dominate global telecommunications through control of supply chains and legal mechanisms granting the CCP access to firm data.E V 1115-1130 HEADLINE: DeepSeek AI: Chinese LLM Performance and Security Flaws Revealed Amid Semiconductor Export Circumvention GUEST NAME: Jack Burnham SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Jack Burnham about competition in Large Language Models between the US and China's DeepSeek. A NIST study found US models superior in software engineering, though DeepSeek showed parity in scientific questions. Critically, DeepSeek models exhibited significant security flaws. China attempts to circumvent US export controls on GPUs by smuggling and using cloud computing centers in Southeast Asia. Additionally, China aims to dominate global telecommunications through control of supply chains and legal mechanisms granting the CCP access to firm data. 1130-1145 HEADLINE: Taiwanese Influencer Charged for Threatening President; Mainland Chinese Influence Tactics ExposedGUEST NAME: Mark Simon SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Mark Simon about internet personality Holger Chen under investigation in Taiwan for calling for President William Lai's decapitation. This highlights mainland Chinese influence operations utilizing influencers who push themes of military threat and Chinese greatness. Chen is suspected of having a mainland-affiliated paymaster due to lack of local commercial support. Taiwan's population primarily identifies as Taiwanese and is unnerved by constant military threats. A key propaganda goal is convincing Taiwan that the US will not intervene. 1145-1200 HEADLINE: Sentinel ICBM Modernization is Critical and Cost-Effective Deterrent Against Great Power CompetitionGUEST NAME: Peter Huessy SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Peter Huessy about the Sentinel program replacing aging 55-year-old Minuteman ICBMs, aiming for lower operating costs and improved capabilities. Cost overruns stem from necessary infrastructure upgrades, including replacing thousands of miles of digital command and control cabling and building new silos. Maintaining the ICBM deterrent is financially and strategically crucial, saving hundreds of billions compared to relying solely on submarines. The need for modernization reflects the end of the post-Cold War "holiday from history," requiring rebuilding against threats from China and Russia. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 HEADLINE: Supreme Court Battles Over Presidential Impoundment Authority and the Separation of Powers GUEST NAME: Josh Blackman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Josh Blackman about Supreme Court eras focusing on the separation of powers. Currently, the court is addressing presidential impoundment—the executive's authority to withhold appropriated funds. Earlier rulings, particularly 1975's Train v. City of New York, constrained this power. The Roberts Court appears sympathetic to reclaiming presidential authority lost during the Nixon era. The outcome of this ongoing litigation will determine the proper balance between executive and legislative branches. 1215-1230 HEADLINE: Supreme Court Battles Over Presidential Impoundment Authority and the Separation of Powers GUEST NAME: Josh Blackman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Josh Blackman about Supreme Court eras focusing on the separation of powers. Currently, the court is addressing presidential impoundment—the executive's authority to withhold appropriated funds. Earlier rulings, particularly 1975's Train v. City of New York, constrained this power. The Roberts Court appears sympathetic to reclaiming presidential authority lost during the Nixon era. The outcome of this ongoing litigation will determine the proper balance between executive and legislative branches. 1230-1245 HEADLINE: Space Force Awards Contracts to SpaceX and ULA; Juno Mission Ending, Launch Competition Heats UpGUEST NAME: Bob Zimmerman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Bob Zimmerman about Space Force awarding over $1 billion in launch contracts to SpaceX for five launches and ULA for two launches, highlighting growing demand for launch services. ULA's non-reusable rockets contrast with SpaceX's cheaper, reusable approach, while Blue Origin continues to lag behind. Other developments include Firefly entering defense contracting through its Scitec acquisition, Rocket Lab securing additional commercial launches, and the likely end of the long-running Juno Jupiter mission due to budget constraints. 1245-100 AM HEADLINE: Space Force Awards Contracts to SpaceX and ULA; Juno Mission Ending, Launch Competition Heats UpGUEST NAME: Bob Zimmerman SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Bob Zimmerman about Space Force awarding over $1 billion in launch contracts to SpaceX for five launches and ULA for two launches, highlighting growing demand for launch services. ULA's non-reusable rockets contrast with SpaceX's cheaper, reusable approach, while Blue Origin continues to lag behind. Other developments include Firefly entering defense contracting through its Scitec acquisition, Rocket Lab securing additional commercial launches, and the likely end of the long-running Juno Jupiter mission due to budget constraints.

HEADLINE: Commodities Rise and UK Flag Controversy: French Weather, Market Trends, and British Politics GUEST NAME: Simon Constable SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Simon Constable about key commodities like copper up 16% and steel up 15% signaling strong economic demand. Coffee prices remain very high at 52% increase. The conversation addresses French political turmoil, though non-citizens cannot vote. In the UK, the St. George's flag has become highly controversial, viewed by some as associated with racism, unlike the Union Jack. This flag controversy reflects a desire among segments like the white working class to assert English identity. 1913 OXFORD AND THE COTSWOLDS

HEADLINE: Commodities Rise and UK Flag Controversy: French Weather, Market Trends, and British Politics GUEST NAME: Simon Constable SUMMARY: John Batchelor speaks with Simon Constable about key commodities like copper up 16% and steel up 15% signaling strong economic demand. Coffee prices remain very high at 52% increase. The conversation addresses French political turmoil, though non-citizens cannot vote. In the UK, the St. George's flag has become highly controversial, viewed by some as associated with racism, unlike the Union Jack. This flag controversy reflects a desire among segments like the white working class to assert English identity.

#GaryNeville #JonGaunt #flags #Manchester #terrorism #MiddleAgedMen #UKPolitics  Gary Neville reckons it's “angry middle-aged white blokes” causing division in Britain. Well, here's one of them — guilty as charged — and I'm sick of hearing the same lazy blame. It wasn't “middle-aged white blokes” who killed two Jewish people last week.  Maybe Gary should look a bit wider before pointing the finger.  And what about the politicians? The ones who've spent years wrecking the immigration system — legal and illegal — and are only now admitting they've lost control.  They've fuelled division, not the fans who love this country and actually pay his wages every weekend.  This video isn't hate — it's frustration. Frustration at hypocrisy, at double standards, and at a country where ordinary people get called the problem while those in power and in the media walk away scot-free.  Neville needs to be shown the red card. If that hits a nerve, good. Let's talk about it.  #GaryNeville #RedCard #MiddleAgedMen #UKPride #BritishFootball #Rant #Patriotism #ImmigrationCrisis #DoubleStandards #FreeSpeech #FootballFans #UKPolitics #UnionJack #GaryNevilleControversy #AngryRant  Gary Neville, red card, Gary Neville rant, middle aged men, UK pride, British football, patriotism, immigration crisis, double standards, free speech, football fans, UK politics, Union Jack, Gary Neville controversy, angry rant, Jon Gaunt,  This is political blogging and hard-hitting social commentary from Triple Sony Gold Award-winning talk radio legend, Jon Gaunt — former host on BBC, Talk Radio, and Sky News. On Jon Gaunt TV, we cut through the noise and say what others won't. No political correctness. No censorship. Just real conversations that matter.

Is this the way they say the future's meant to be?It's November 1995. Pop was pulling in many different directions. But predominantly, it was swaggering its way towards the end of the century in a confident, Union Jack draped fashion. Whilst dance music, boybands, TV based retro crooners and a range of other co-stars were vying for our well earned pounds in the likes of HMV and Virgin, it was the guitar driven sounds of Britpop that were sitting at the heart of most CD wish lists as Christmas approached. As always, the team at NOW were on hand to make sense of the latest and greatest hits from 1995 and successfully curate another selection of Top Chart Hits for us. Volume 32, graced with a wonderful wintry sunsheeeine (sorry) setting, welcomed listeners into two CDs (or cassettes or even vinyl!) containing forty of them. Legacy acts such as Queen, Meat Loaf, U2, Tina Turner and Cher provided the familiarity. A sparkling range of great (and, lets be honest, a few not so great) dance bangers including N-Trance, Berri and The Original. But for most purchasing or unwrapping NOW32 in 1995, it was the allure of the likes of Pulp, Radiohead, Cast, Paul Weller AND, of course, the chart battle of blur and Oasis that makes this particular volume of our favourite compilation so iconic. A moment in time?A moment when Britpop demonstrated that it has outgrown NME and was now on the Nine O' clock news.Joining me for this episode is music and travel journalist Emma Harrison.Together, come back with us THIRTY years to revisit a time when Pulp were the biggest pre-selling artist on Island records, when Jimmy Nail was a genuine pin up for 12 year old girls(!), when Bono and The Edge were writing Bond themes and something called Sacred Spirit was breaking out of aromatherapy rooms into the (very low end of the) charts!Rediscover some genuine 90s classics from the likes of McAlmont & Butler and Everything but the Girl. Revel at how wonderful the HELP compilation album still is. Amaze yourself at a time when Christmas TOTP was presented by Bjork and Jack Dee (and they got away with it, spectacularly) and as always, argue with the presenters and their ‘missing' track selections from 1995. And celebrate (yes, CELEBRATE) the total lack of Robson and Jerome!Sometimes, NOW really do get it completely right. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this latest episode Tracy DW takes us on a journey through the vibrant and contentious landscape of British patriotism as she explores the phenomenon known as ‘Operation Raise the Colours,' raising critical questions about the implications of flag displays of the Union Jack around the streets of the UK.  Is this a mere expression of pride, or do they carry the weight of historical baggage and potential exclusion? With insights from recent polls and socio-political research, she sheds light on the diverse perspectives that shape our understanding of these national symbols. Listeners are invited to reflect on the evolving meanings of the Union Jack and the St George's Cross, as Tracy discusses the generational divide in attitudes towards patriotism and the desire for a more inclusive representation of British identity. This episode serves as a compelling exploration of the tensions between tradition and modernity, inviting us to consider how we can reclaim symbols of national pride in a way that fosters unity rather than division. If you enjoy these podcasts then visit us for our stories (poetic narratives) and more information about what we do.  You can also contact Tracy via audio on the speakpipe link or email Tracy info@storiestobetolled.com

On this week's episode, Peter and Sarah tussle with medical tourism and bloody murder. Peter wants to know what drives an assassin to kill and Sarah is asking why we're allowing our already overrun NHS to become a destination for so called health tourists.Elsewhere, modern Methodism, being heckled by Danny Kruger while he was still a staunch Tory and is it the Union Jack or Union Flag or can it be both? Tune in to find out.On our reading, watch and listening list this week: · Night Falls On The City – Sarah Gainham· The Rage Against God – Peter Hitchens· Critical: Why the NHS is being betrayed and how we can fight for it – Dr Julia Grace PattersonPlease do get in touch, email: alas@mailonline.co.uk, you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas'.Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter HitchensProducer: Philip WildingEditor: Chelsey MooreProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniExecutive Producer: Jamie EastA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The British flag - the Union Jack - has been appearing on streets across the UK. What does this express? Is this a desire to return to 'British values? And is this flag a Christian symbol? Is patriotism a good thing? What does God think about love of country? What about other countries and their flags? Are St George, St Andrew & St Patrick to be celebrated in Britain?Tom, Matt & Karen are back in the Plough to explore patriotism, nationalism, patron saints, immigration and what Jesus might say about all this. Join them and some more weird drinks for a fascinating discussion.Facebook: Two Pastors in a Pub

Last time we spoke about the beginning of the battle of Nanjing. As the relentless tide of war approached Nanjing in December 1937, fear gripped its residents. As atrocities unfolded in the countryside, civilians flocked toward safety zones, desperate for refuge. Under the command of General Tang Shengzhi, the Chinese forces prepared for a fierce defense, determined to hold their ground against the technologically superior invaders. Despite heavy losses and internal strife, hopes flickered among the defenders, fueled by the valor of their troops. Key positions like Old Tiger's Cave became battlegrounds, exemplifying the fierce resistance against the Japanese advance. On December 9, as artillery fire enveloped the city, a battle for the Gate of Enlightenment commenced. Both sides suffered grievously, with the Chinese soldiers fighting to the last, unwilling to yield an inch of their soil. Each assault from Japan met with relentless counterattacks, turning Nanjing into a symbol of perseverance amidst impending doom, as the siege marked a critical chapter in the conflict, foreshadowing the brutal events that would follow.   #167 The Battle of Nanjing Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. By mid-December, the landscape surrounding Nanjing was eerily quiet. The Japanese Army marched through what seemed to be desolate fields and mountains, but they were not truly empty. Civilians were scarce, with most having fled, but a few remained in their homes, hiding in cellars and barns, clinging to the hope that the war would bypass them. Meanwhile, thousands of Chinese soldiers, left behind and unable to keep pace with their units, still posed a significant danger to the Japanese forces. The Japanese Army had not truly conquered the territory east and south of Nanjing; they had merely passed through. Mopping-up operations became a top priority. Soldiers from the 16th Infantry Division, stationed near Purple Mountain, spent early December conducting these missions far from the city's walls. “Chinese stragglers may be hiding in this area, and they must be flushed out. Any small structure of no strategic value to the Japanese Army must be burned!” This command rang out to the division's soldiers as they spread across the countryside around Unicorn Gate. Soon, isolated fires began to illuminate the horizon, one for each home. Soldiers from the 9th Infantry Division, who were not directly engaged in combat south of the Gate of Enlightenment, were also conducting similar mopping-up operations. On December 11 at noon, one squad received orders to investigate a suspicious farm building. Although it had been searched previously, movement inside prompted renewed caution. The Japanese entered carefully, moving from room to room. In the basement, they discovered eight Chinese soldiers who offered no resistance, immediately raising their hands in surrender. Bound together, they were brought outside. Using a few Chinese words supplemented by sign language, the Japanese gathered that the Chinese had been in the vicinity where one of their comrades had been killed days earlier. Unanimously, they decided the prisoners should be executed in front of their comrade's grave. Some of the older soldiers hesitated, reluctant to partake in the killings, leaving it to the younger ones to carry out the order. Soon, eight headless bodies lay sprawled before a solitary Japanese grave.  On the morning of December 11, the first soldiers of the 6th Japanese Infantry Division finally spotted the distant city wall of Nanjing. They had been engaged in fierce combat for nearly two days, attempting to dislodge the tenacious defenders of the Yuhuatai plateau, the elite soldiers of the 88th Division. In a desperate bid to maintain their foothold on Yuhuatai, the 88th Division deployed its reserved 528th Regiment along with a battalion of engineers. Despite their efforts, the regiment's ranks had been depleted, filled with inexperienced recruits, and their leadership nearly obliterated, limiting their effectiveness. Under the relentless assaults from the Japanese forces, their defenses began to falter almost immediately. Faced with the stiff resistance at the Gate of Enlightenment, the Japanese shifted their focus to the Chinese Gate on December 11. Japanese aircraft were summoned for tactical air support, forcing the 88th Division's defenders to retreat behind the wall. This withdrawal occurred swiftly and somewhat chaotically, allowing the Japanese to pursue closely. Before the Chinese could regroup, 300 Japanese soldiers had breached the wall. Only the mobilization of all available forces enabled the Chinese to push the attackers back outside. Meanwhile, the left flank of the 88th Division, stationed east of Chinese Gate, remained outside the wall. Here, they clashed with elements of the 9th Japanese Division but faced intense pressure and were compelled to fall back. By the end of the day, the Chinese division had shortened its defensive line, regrouping in front of the city wall. Plans for a nighttime counterattack were ultimately abandoned, as it became clear that the division's soldiers were too fatigued to mount an effective offensive. Overall, it proved to be a successful day for the Japanese 10th Army. Further south, the Kunisaki Detachment successfully crossed the Yangtze River at Cihu village, beginning their advance toward Pukou. Its special amphibious training made the detachment ideally suited for the operation, but its limited numbers, essentially a reinforced infantry regiment, raised concerns at field headquarters about whether it could accomplish the task alone. Prince Asaka proposed transporting part of the 13th Division across the Yangtze further north to sever the railway connecting Tianjin to Pukou, cutting off a potential retreat route for Chinese forces that had escaped Nanjing.  On December 11, Japanese artillery shells rained down relentlessly, targeting both the interior and exterior of Nanjing's city walls. Administrators of the Safety Zone were alarmed to witness several shells landing perilously close to its southern edge. In a bid to provide some semblance of security, American and foreign flags were raised around the zone's perimeter, though their protective influence against artillery fire from miles away was negligible. The leaders of the Safety Zone faced an unexpected dilemma: how to handle lawbreakers with the city courts now out of operation. That day, they encountered a thief caught in the act. As Rabe noted in his diary “We sentence the thief to death, then pardon him and reduce his punishment to 24 hours in jail, and ultimately, due to the absence of a jail, we simply let him go”. Refugees continued to pour in, with a total of 850 having found shelter at Ginling College. Vautrin and her colleagues began to feel that their initial estimate of 2,700 women and children seeking refuge on the campus was overly optimistic. They were soon proven wrong. On the banks of the Yangtze River, hundreds of injured soldiers and civilians were lining up to be ferried across to Pukou, where trains awaited to transport them further inland and away from danger. Many had been waiting for days without food. While ferries made continuous trips across the river to rescue as many as possible, the process was painfully slow. As of late December 10, approximately 1,500 wounded civilians remained stranded on the south bank of the Yangtze. The Japanese forces were confronted by a fiercely determined enemy composed largely of young soldiers from the Training Division. These soldiers had the advantage of having been stationed near Purple Mountain for several years, making them familiar with the terrain. Additionally, they were part of an elite unit, groomed not just in equipment and training but also instilled with a sense of nationalism rooted in Chiang Kai-shek's ideology. Li Xikai, the commander of the division's 3rd Regiment, had set up his command post directly in the path of the primary Japanese advance, yet his regiment continued to resist. Despite the fierce resistance, the Japanese gradually gained control over the Purple Mountain area. General Nakajima Kesago, commander of the 16th Division, visited an artillery observation post early in the day and was pleased to receive reports that his troops had captured two peaks of Purple Mountain and were poised to take the main peak.  Yet there loomed a problem on Nakajima's right flank. A widening gap was emerging between the 16th Division and the 13th Division, which had advanced along the southern bank of the Yangtze. There was a risk that Chinese forces could escape through this lightly guarded area. The 13th Division was stationed in the strategically important river port city of Zhenjiang, preparing to cross the Yangtze. The Central China Area Army ordered the 13th Division to mobilize three infantry battalions and one artillery battalion. This new formation, known as the Yamada Detachment after its commander, Yamada Senji, was tasked with remaining on the Yangtze's south bank and advancing westward to capture two Chinese fortresses on the river: Mt. Wulong and Mt. Mufu. This redeployment alleviated concerns about the gap, allowing the 16th Division to focus on the city wall. As the sun dipped towards the horizon, one Captain Akao Junzo prepared for what he believed would be his final assault. He had been ordered to seize a hill northeast of Sun Yat-sen Gate that overlooked the city entrance. His commander told him “The attack on Nanjing will likely be the last battle of this war, and I hope your company can be at the front when the enemy's lines are breached”. The hill was fortified with numerous machine gun positions, reinforced with mud, bricks, and tiles, and connected by an intricate network of trenches. Dense rows of barbed wire lay before the positions, designed to halt attackers and expose them to machine-gun fire. Additionally, the area was likely heavily mined, and Chinese soldiers maintained a high level of alertness. Akao knew this all too well; when he crawled forward and slightly lifted his head to survey the landscape, he triggered a hail of bullets, one of which grazed his helmet. Around late afternoon, four mountain guns from the regimental artillery began firing on the Chinese positions, sustaining the bombardment for over an hour. By 5:00 pm, as the winter sky darkened, Akao decided it was time to launch the attack. Expecting close-quarters combat, he instructed his men to carry only their rifles and small entrenchment tools. With the entire company poised to move, he dispatched a small group of soldiers ahead to cut openings in the barbed wire while receiving covering fire from the mountain guns and the rifles and machine guns of their comrades. The remainder of the company advanced with swords raised and bayonets fixed. As they approached within about 700 feet of the enemy positions, the artillery bombardment ceased as planned. The enemy, still reeling from the ferocity of the earlier assault, scrambled in a panic from their trenches, retreating in disarray. Akao and his fellow soldiers pressed forward, cutting down any opposition in their path. Seizing the momentum, Akao charged to occupy the hill that had been his target. He found it deserted upon his arrival and sent a triumphant message back to command, reporting that the objective had been achieved. However, the reply he received left him baffled: he was ordered to withdraw with his company and return to their lines. Apparently, the regimental command deemed the position too precarious. Sensing that a precious advantage was being squandered, Akao disregarded the order. Before his company could establish a defensive position on the hill, the Chinese launched a counterattack. Lying down, the Japanese soldiers returned fire while frantically digging into the earth to fortify their position. Gradually, they began to form a rudimentary perimeter at the summit. The fighting continued into the night. Exhausted from days without sleep, many soldiers rotated between guard duty and rest, dozing off intermittently in their shallow trenches, reassuring one another that everything would be alright before drifting back to sleep. They successfully repelled all attempts by the Chinese to reclaim the hill and were eventually relieved. On December 11, after leaving his capital, Chiang Kai-shek took time to reflect on everything that had happened in his diary. He reassured himself that his nationalist revolution would persist, regardless of whether he held Nanjing, “Temporary defeat can be turned into eventual victory.” Yet he did not fear so much the Japanese invasion itself, but rather how the weakening of his nationalist government might allow the Communists to rise. He wrote about how his nation was on the brink of becoming a second Spain. While foreign invasions were undoubtedly disastrous, they could eventually be overcome, if not immediately, then over years or decades. Sometimes, this could be achieved merely by absorbing the outmatched invader and assimilating them into Chinese society. In contrast, internal unrest posed a far more fundamental threat to the survival of any regime. As we have seen in this series, going back to the mid 19th century, was it the foreign empires of Britain, France and Russia that threatened to destroy the Qing dynasty, or was it the internal civil war brought on by the Taiping? As Chiang famously put it “the Japanese were a treatable disease of the skin. Communism however was a disease of the heart”. Chiang could accept a humiliating but rapid retreat from Nanjing. In his view, it would be far more difficult to recover from a bloody yet futile struggle for the city that might cost him what remained of his best troops. A prolonged defensive battle, he reasoned, would be a tragic waste and could shift the balance of power decisively in favor of the Communists. This new mindset was reflected in a telegram he sent late on December 11 to Tang Shengzhi: “If the situation becomes untenable, it is permissible to find the opportune moment to retreat to regroup in the rear in anticipation of future counterattacks.” On December 12, tankettes cautiously plunged into the Yuhuatai plateau. Unexpectedly the Chinese defenders abandoned their positions and rushed down the hillside toward Nanjing's walls. Upon discovering this, the Japanese tankettes opened fire on the retreating Chinese, cutting swathes through the masses and sending bodies tumbling down the slope. Some Japanese infantry caught up, joining in the slaughter and laughing boisterously as they reveled in the chaos. A tankette column escorted a group of engineers to the Nanjing wall and then drove east along the moat until they reached a large gate, flanked by two smaller openings, all securely shut. A chilling message, painted in blue, adorned the gate's surface. Written in Chinese characters, it conveyed a stark warning: “We Swear Revenge on the Enemy.” The wall itself loomed three stories high, but Japanese artillery was already targeting it, this was known as the Chinese Gate. Now that Yuhuatai was virtually in Japanese hands, capturing the gate had become the primary objective. At this location, the wall stood 70 feet tall, protected by a 100-foot moat to the outside. All bridges spanning the moat had been destroyed. The area around the gate was heavily defended, with approximately one machine gun positioned every 50 yards atop the wall. Inside, the gate was reinforced with a formidable barrier of sandbags. Chinese infantry armed with mortars and small arms could fire down on the Japanese attackers while others had established isolated positions in nearby buildings that had survived the “scorched earth” policy. Taking the gate and the heavily fortified southwestern corner of the wall was the responsibility of the 6th Division. The division was deploying its regiments: the 13th, the 47th, and the 23rd from east to west. The 45th Regiment, the final unit of the division, was tasked with skirting the western side of the wall and advancing northward, aiming for the Yangtze docks at Xiaguan. The soldiers of the division had already formed a rough understanding of the formidable defenses they were facing. During the night between December 11 and 12, they had advanced nearly to the wall, gathering intelligence to prepare for an assault at dawn. As planned, the assault commenced. Field artillery fired round after round at the gate, but the wall sustained minimal damage. A Japanese tank rolled up, firing point-blank at the gate but producing no visible effect. Next, it was the engineers' turn. A “dare-to-die” squad, equipped with long ladders, crept as close to the wall as possible without exposing themselves and then sprinted the final distance. The moment they broke into the open, a Chinese machine gun opened fire, cutting them down to the last man. At noon, three Japanese planes soared overhead, dropping bombs near a Chinese-held building outside the gate. The smoke from the resulting fire briefly obscured the area. Seizing the opportunity presented by the reduced visibility, a large group of Chinese soldiers holed up inside attempted to dash back to the wall. The Japanese spotted their movement instantly, and every soldier in the line opened fire. The fleeing Chinese were mowed down like ripe grass, collapsing in heaps.  Meanwhile the battle for the Gate of Enlightenment was drawing to a close. On the Chinese side of the wall, confusion reigned regarding the overall situation on December 12. Chen Yiding, brigade commander of the 87th Division, had been warned that heads would roll if the Gate of Enlightenment fell to the Japanese. Hearing the sounds of fierce fighting on the edges of Yuhuatai and seeing the smoke rise from numerous fires on Purple Mountain, he was left in the dark about their implications, surrounded by the fog of war. Chen's troops had finally managed to establish a telephone link to the rear, but by mid-afternoon, it was cut off, likely due to a stray artillery shell. After dark, Chen sent an officer to his left flank to make contact with the Chinese forces there. The report that followed was far from reassuring. A unit from Guangdong Province was abandoning its positions and retreating north, attempting to exit the capital through one of the gates in the city wall. The officer had attempted to inquire about their destination, but the retreating soldiers ignored him. With neighboring units evacuating autonomously, a significant gap was opening in the Chinese line atop the wall between the Gate of Enlightenment and Sun Yat-sen Gate. A frightening possibility emerged: the Japanese could walk right in across the undefended southeastern corner of the city wall and surround Chen Yiding's troops before they had a chance to withdraw. The situation was becoming untenable, a fact underscored by the artillery fire raining down on Chen's position. Despite this, retreat was not a simple decision for Chen and the other commanders of the 87th Division. They had been garrisoned in Nanjing before the war, and the city had become home to many of the soldiers. Shortly after midnight, Chen called a meeting with his senior officers. After considerable discussion, they concluded that they had no choice but to withdraw. Nonetheless, Chen insisted that everyone sign a document confirming their support for this decision, recognizing the potential danger of taking such a significant step without consensus. After all, his own life had been threatened if the situation deteriorated further. Soon after, the Chinese began to move out of their positions. The Japanese were initially unaware of the retreat; all they noticed during the night between December 12 and 13 was that the Chinese artillery fire began to grow increasingly distant. By 4:00 am it had stopped completely. The few remaining Chinese were quickly overwhelmed and killed. In the end, the gate, which had cost so many lives during the seemingly endless battle, was taken almost effortlessly by the Japanese. Soldiers of the 9th Division, stationed outside the wall, scrambled up the slope created by the previous days' shelling. Once at the top, they thrust their hands into the air, shouting “Banzai!” so loudly that they believed their families back home in Japan might hear them. Tears streamed down their faces as soldiers embraced and shook hands, reflecting on the friends they had lost throughout the months of fighting, from Shanghai to their current position. They reassured each other that their sacrifices had been worth it for this very moment. On December 12,  the slopes of Purple Mountain  were ablaze. Zhou Zhenqiang, commander of the Training Division's 1st Brigade, led his men in a desperate struggle to maintain control of the mountain's forested peaks. However, they were being overwhelmed by the better-equipped Japanese troops, and Zhou knew it was only a matter of time before he would have to relinquish his position. Zhou found himself unable to obtain any information from his superiors about the overall situation, despite repeated attempts to contact the Training Division's headquarters. He dispatched a runner, who returned a few hours later with disheartening news: the divisional commander had left late in the afternoon. Other reports indicated a general breakdown in command. The elite 88th Division was in disarray, and an entire division of Guangdong troops, that being the same force that had abandoned the wall near the Gate of Enlightenment, had been spotted marching out of the Gate of Great Peace, seemingly intent on returning home. With indications of collapse all around him, Zhou decided to execute an orderly withdrawal from Purple Mountain, leaving a small contingent behind to cover the retreat. His troops entered through the city wall at Sun Yat-sen Gate and marched in disciplined columns through the streets of Nanjing, where signs of imminent anarchy were evident. Chinese soldiers were scattered everywhere, speaking a cacophony of dialects, yet they appeared to lack any coherent command. Tang Shengzhi's grip on the situation was weakening. Meanwhile Japan's 13th Air Group had been busy with the final stages of the battle for Nanjing.  In the morning of December 12, after raiding Chinese positions at Sun Yat-sen Gate, they  received new orders. Intelligence indicated that Chinese ships, laden with troops, were moving up the Yangtze from Nanjing. Japanese infantry on the ground could only watch as this prize slipped through their fingers, and the army requested air support. All available planes at Changzhou, a mix of A4N fighters and Yokosuka B4Y bombers, totaling 24 aircraft, were assembled for the crucial mission. The day was clear, providing excellent visibility as the pilots headed toward the section of the Yangtze where they believed the vessels would be, based on reasonable assumptions about their speed. At 1:30 p.m., 28 nautical miles upriver from Nanjing, the pilots sighted four ships. Trusting their military intelligence, they saw no need for further identification. Initially, the B4Ys bombed the vessels from a considerable height. One bomb struck the lead ship, a military vessel, disabling its forward gun and snapping the foremast. Then, a first wave of six A4Ns dove down over the line of ships, attacking individually. In total, they dropped about 20 bombs. Several exploded close enough to the lead vessel to damage its hull and injure crew members on deck. A 30-caliber machine gun on board was manned, with gunners stripped to the waist firing at the Japanese planes but failing to score a hit. Several of the A4Ns strafed the ship with machine-gun fire. After 20 minutes of sustained bombing and strafing, the result was utter devastation. The lead vessel was stuck in mid-river, riddled with bullets, aflame, and listing to starboard. Two other ships were beached on the right bank, while another sat stranded on the left. Satisfied with their mission, the Japanese aviators broke off and returned to their temporary base. Upon their landing in Changzhou, instead of receiving accolades, the pilots were met with reprimands. Why hadn't they sunk all the vessels? They were ordered to return immediately to finish the job. Though they didn't find the original targets, they stumbled upon four other vessels closer to Nanjing. One aircraft dove toward the ships, releasing a 60-kilogram bomb that struck one vessel. As the pilot pulled up, he caught sight of the Union Jack on the hull and realized his mistake; he had inadvertently targeted neutral ships. The other pilots recognized the significance of the markings as well and withheld their bombs. The vessel was identified as the SS Wantung. Soon after, the Japanese pilots understood that the ships they had attacked earlier upriver from Nanjing were also Western; three of them were Standard Oil tankers. The last vessel, which had sustained the most damage, was the USS Panay, a lightly armed flat-bottomed gunboat,  tasked with protecting American lives and property along China's longest river. The Panay had been instrumental in evacuating American citizens from the war zone in November and December. On the day it was attacked, the Panay was carrying four American embassy personnel and ten American and foreign journalists to safety. The ship's doctor converted the engine room into a makeshift sick bay, treating a steady stream of injured personnel. By the end, he was tending to 45 patients. The soldiers and passengers were evacuated in two small boats to a nearby marshy island covered in reeds, where they hid, fearful of further strafing. From their hiding place, they watched as a Japanese powerboat filled with soldiers approached the Panay. After firing more volleys at the vessel, the soldiers boarded it, remaining for only five minutes before departing. The American flag still flew from the bow at that time. At 3:54 pm, the Panay rolled over to starboard and sank in seven to ten fathoms of water. Cold and frightened, the survivors waded through knee-deep mud to a nearby village, assisting those too severely wounded to walk.  Meanwhile back at Chinese Gate, the mutual slaughter continued into the afternoon of December 12. The Japanese made no significant progress, although their failure was not for lack of trying. The commanders of the 6th Division had strategically placed the boundary between the 13th and 47th Regiments exactly at the gate, encouraging both units to compete to be the first to seize the position. Yet, despite their efforts, it became clear that willpower alone was not enough to breach the Chinese defenses at Chinese Gate. In peacetime, Nanjing's city gates served as entry points into a bustling capital, but in wartime, they transformed into heavily fortified and nearly impregnable strongholds. Any Japanese officer hoping for a swift victory would soon be disappointed; by early afternoon, the situation at the gate had devolved into a stalemate. The section of the wall manned by the 47th Infantry Regiment, located east of the gate, also saw little meaningful movement as the day wore on. Japanese soldiers, pinned down by Chinese fire from atop the wall, could do little more than take pride in a symbolic triumph. A small group of soldiers had managed to reach the wall and place a ladder against it, but it fell nearly ten feet short of the top. One soldier skillfully scaled the last portion, gripping protruding bricks and crevices of the nearly vertical surface. The entire Japanese front watched him with bated breath. He reached the top and unfurled a Japanese flag, but it immediately drew intense Chinese fire, forcing him to duck for cover. Soon, he vanished from sight, raising concerns among his compatriots about his fate. Later, it was revealed that he had taken refuge in a depression in the wall, waiting out the battle. The real breakthrough of the day would occur west of the gate. The 23rd Regiment was deployed there with orders to capture sections of the wall near the southwestern corner. It became evident that the wall could not be scaled without first bringing up artillery to create gaps in its solid masonry. A significant portion of the divisional fire support, 36 small-caliber mountain guns, four 100mm howitzers, and four 150mm howitzers, was assigned to this section. Artillery observers were also sent to the 23rd Regiment's forward command post to coordinate with the infantry and assess the effects of the shelling. By mid-afternoon, the artillery bombardment had created a ravine-like hole in the wall large enough for an assault. The 23rd Regiment positioned its 2nd and 3rd Battalions at the front, with the 1st Battalion held in reserve. First, the engineers undertook the challenging task. As the assault commenced, the rest of the regiment provided covering fire to force the Chinese defenders to seek shelter while the engineers charged into the 70-foot-wide moat. Once a human chain formed, they held up ladders as a makeshift bridge, allowing a company from the 3rd Battalion to rush across and into the gap in the wall. As the batteries switched to close infantry support, they laid down a barrage around the breach to prevent Chinese interference as the attack entered its decisive phase. The Japanese soldiers scrambled up the rubble, created by the artillery fire, which rose several dozen feet high. Shortly before 5:00 p.m., the Japanese seized control of the southwestern segment of the wall. The Chinese launched several counterattacks to reclaim the position, but none were successful. This action ultimately sealed Nanjing's fate; beyond the wall, there was nothing left to save the ancient city and its inhabitants. As defeat appeared imminent, more and more civilians sought safety in foreign-controlled areas, though danger still loomed large. Bits of shrapnel narrowly missed Dr. Robert Wilson while he operated in the Safety Zone. Every square foot of John Rabe's property became filled with families, many camping in the open with their own blankets. Some sought refuge under his large swastika flag, believing that this would make the area especially “bomb-proof” given the growing friendship between Tokyo and Berlin; they assumed Japanese aviators would think twice before targeting a region seemingly under German protection. With just hours left before the Japanese Army was expected to gain control, the residents of Nanjing made their last preparations, prioritizing personal survival. The brutal behavior of Japanese troops in conquered territories fueled intense concern over the possible fate of injured soldiers who might fall into enemy hands. As Nanjing's last hours as a free city unfolded, it became imperative for local hospitals to evacuate as many wounded soldiers as possible across the Yangtze. On December 12, doctors found a motorboat stranded on the riverbank, having apparently broken down. They managed to repair it and ferried several hundred patients to safety throughout the day. Throughout December 12, the citizens of Nanjing were subjected to the unsettling cacophony of heavy shelling, mixed with the roar of bombers overhead. By evening, the entire horizon south of the city glowed with flames. The sound of fighting emanated from all directions, continuing long after sunset. However, in the middle of the night, activity began to wan. Every few minutes, the muffled thuds of shells could still be heard, though their origin was unclear. For the most part, an eerie silence prevailed, as if the city was holding its breath in anticipation of the final onslaught. Chiang Kai-shek had indicated he would understand if Tang chose to abandon the capital. However, on December 12, he reversed his stance, sending a telegram to Tang expressing optimism that the Nanjing garrison could hold out significantly longer. In his words “If you do not shy away from sacrifices, you will be able to hold high the banner of our nation and our army, and this could transform defeat into victory. If you can hold out one more day, you will add to the pride of the Chinese nation. If you can hold out for half a month or more, the domestic and international situation could see a substantial change.” Tang adopted a hardline approach toward any signs of defeatism among his troops. When he learned that General Sun Yuanliang, commander of the formerly elite 88th Division, was leading approximately 2,000 men from the Gate of Enlightenment to the dock area, Tang acted swiftly. He dispatched Song Xilian, the commanding general of the 36th Division, to halt the retreat. When the two units met, a fratricidal clash nearly occurred. Fortunately, the 88th Division agreed to return to the gate and continue fighting. Whatever Tang's plans, they were rendered irrelevant at 3:00 pm,  when he received another telegram from Chiang, this time ordering a full retreat. Rumors that the Chinese Army had started evacuating Nanjing triggerec panic among many units. Thousands abandoned their positions and joined the throngs of soldiers and civilians moving slowly down the city's main avenues. The crowd seemed to have collectively decided that getting a boat out of Nanjing was the best option, and by late afternoon, a solid mass of humanity stretched for miles through the city toward the dock areas at Xiaguan. To reach Xiaguan, everyone had to pass through Yijiang Gate. This relatively modern structure had served as the main entry point for visitors arriving in Nanjing by boat in recent decades and now only half of the main entrance was open. A crowd of that size trying to get through such a narrow bottleneck was a recipe for disaster. Those unfortunate enough to be right at the front felt the crushing pressure of tens of thousands of individuals pushing from behind. In that densely packed throng, stumbling and falling to the ground was akin to a death sentence; anyone who went down was inevitably crushed by the oncoming waves of terrified civilians and soldiers. As chaos erupted, discipline evaporated entirely. Officers lost control over their men, leading to infighting among the soldiers. Pushing and shoving escalated into fistfights, and trucks drove directly into the mass of people to force their way through. Tanks, emitting sounds akin to prehistoric beasts, rolled through the mob, crushing many under their weight. Amid the madness, some soldiers, driven by frustration over the lack of movement, began shooting into the crowd at random. To relieve the pressure at Yijiang Gate, some units were ordered to exit Nanjing via the Gate of Great Peace at the northeastern corner of the city wall. Upon arrival, they found the entrance nearly sealed shut. Thick walls of sandbags had been erected around it, leaving only a narrow opening through which one person could pass at a time. Massive crowds fought among themselves to get through; even under perfect order and discipline, it would have taken the entire night and most of the following day for everyone to pass. In the midst of the frantic chaos, it could take a week or more. During the night of the 12th, a select group of Japanese soldiers, chosen for the offensive, stripped their equipment down to the bare essentials: rifles, bayonets, and helmets. They avoided any gear that could produce a metallic noise, alerting the Chinese defenders to their approach. Stealthily, they moved up to the wall, carrying bamboo ladders tied together in threes for added height. Ascending the rungs, they ensured not to make a sound that could betray their position to an alert Chinese sentry. Everything hinged on remaining undetected; even a couple of hand grenades tossed down the wall could halt the attack in its tracks. Reaching the top without being noticed, the soldiers quickly fanned out. Chinese soldiers stationed on the wall saw the swift dark figures and opened fire, but it was too late to thwart the assault. A brief fight ensued; most Japanese soldiers were too close to use their rifles and immediately resorted to their bayonets. The stunned defenders were pushed back, and the successful assault team established a perimeter, awaiting reinforcements from outside the wall. They didn't have to wait long. A massive assault along the length of the 6th Division's front line commenced at dawn on December 13. Japanese artillery concentrated its fire on a narrow section of the city wall, progressively working its way from the bottom up. Gradually, the shells formed a slope of debris that soldiers could use to scale the wall. A short air raid was executed, and after the planes had weakened the remaining resistance, a group of soldiers rushed up the slope. While their comrades provided covering fire, they climbed the last stretch, rolling down a rope ladder. Within minutes, 40 other Japanese soldiers had joined them. By 10:30 am, the Rising Sun flag was flying over the wall. The Japanese invaders were met with a horrific sight at the top of the wall. Beyond lay the grim aftermath of days of shelling. Some houses were leveled, while others burned. The ground was littered with bodies, some decapitated or disemboweled, and pools of blood surrounded them. As Chiang Kai-shek's order to abandon the city gradually filtered down to the troops manning the wall around Nanjing, things began to move rapidly.  By late morning on December 13, all the major entry points into the city had fallen to the Japanese. These included Chinese Gate in the southwest, the Gate of Enlightenment in the south, and Sun Yat-sen Gate in the east. The first thing that struck the Japanese soldiers upon ascending the wall was how starkly different it was from their expectations. They had anticipated a bustling city teeming with people, but instead, the area adjacent to the wall was characterized by farm plots, resembling countryside more than an urban center. The second notable observation was the complete absence of inhabitants. Cautiously, the Japanese soldiers entered the city they had just conquered, their bayonets fixed and rifles at the ready. Yet, surprisingly, very few shots were fired. After weeks of fearing death and injury, once the immediate danger receded, a certain stupor settled in. For most civilians in Nanjing, their initial encounter with the city's new rulers was uneventful. It took several hours for the Japanese to move from the wall into the urban parts of the capital. It was not until around noon that residents noticed the first groups of Japanese soldiers marching down the streets in clusters of six to twelve men. Initially, many met the conquerors with relief, hoping they would be treated fairly. Their optimism was bolstered by Japanese planes dropping leaflets over the city, reassuring residents of humane treatment. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. On December 9, fierce battles erupted, especially at the Gate of Enlightenment. Despite heavy fighting, the Chinese showed remarkable resilience, turning Nanjing into a symbol of determination. However, the tide shifted as overwhelming Japanese artillery and tactics began to breach defenses. By December 13, as chaos engulfed the city, the invaders claimed victory, but not without significant loss. Civilians, caught amid the destruction, clung to hope amid despair.

On this week's episode, Peter and Sarah discuss vexillology, or flags for the layman. Not least how Peter was once saved by flying a rather tattered Union Jack while attempting to flee Somalia.While Sarah pores over our copious emails to mull over the suggestion from a listener that we take illegal migrants and put them in the army or at least to work.Elsewhere, someone's been dreaming lucid dreams about Peter and our hosts bemoan the state of our ever-failing education system. On our reading, watch and listening list this week: · Worth Dying For: The Power and Politics of Flags – Tim Marshall· Jabberwocky – Lewis Carroll· Education in Britain: 1944 to the Present, 2nd Edition – Ken JonesPlease do get in touch, email: alas@mailonline.co.uk, you can leave a comment on Spotify or even send us a voice note on Whatsapp – on 07796 657512, start your message with the word ‘alas'.Presenters: Sarah Vine & Peter HitchensProducer: Philip WildingEditor: Chelsey MooreProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniExecutive Producer: Jamie EastA Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chaos, what chaos? Rayner's out. The cabinet's reshuffled. The lurch to the right hasn't stopped. But in the words of Homer Simpson, could Keir Starmer's shit show be a "crisitunity" for the left?  To tell us how we can seize this moment, Nish and Coco are joined by leftwing royalty - Zarah Sultana MP and Bimini Bon-Boulash - live at the London Podcast Festival.  Zarah shares why she feels liberated from Labour, has zero sympathy for Angela Rayner and zero tolerance for colleagues who don't agree on trans rights.  And as the government goes flag crazy, the gang reclaim some patriotic merch for the left. Zarah champions her Princess Diana mug and Bimini channels their inner Spice Girl by reclaiming the Union Jack. CHECK OUT THIS DEAL FROM OUR SPONSOR https://www.shopify.co.uk/podsavetheuk  GUESTS: Zarah Sultana  Bimini Bon-Boulash IMAGE CREDIT:  Kings Place / Monika S. Jakubowska Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media. Contact us via email: PSUK@reducedlistening.co.uk BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/podsavetheuk.crooked.com Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheukYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@PodSavetheUK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Labour Party dominates this week's podcast, which might be a bit of a shock for followers of Independents, but not in a very good way for Keir Starmer. We discuss the fall out of Angela Rayner's resignation and the further collapse in confidence since the departure of the golden girl of the working class side of Labour stepped out. We look at the fall out over her stamp duty debacle on her what actually was a third residence.We also take a look at the race for the deputy leadership and what that might mean for UK Labour and for Scottish Labour's chances in next year's Holyrood election. The election campaign which will be masterminded by Douglass Alexander after poor old Ian Murray, who sacrificed life principles actually over nuclear weapons to be loyal to Keir Starmer was brutally sacked on the phone. Have a wee look at Douglas Alexander and how liked he is north of the border by his own folk.And flags and more flags from the use of the Saltire in Scotland and English politicians obsession with mentioning the Union Jack in every press conference.LinksBirthplace of Scotland's Saltire - https://saltire.scot/Public opionon Frage and Reformhttps://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/52896-how-do-britons-see-reform-uk-ahead-of-their-2025-conference ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode, we explore the chilling legend of Sir Edwin Landseer's ‘Man Proposes, God Disposes,' a painting of polar bears scavenging the doomed Franklin expedition. Housed at Royal Holloway, University of London, students and staff believe it brings bad luck during exams, so it's traditionally covered with a Union Jack. It has been responsible for multiple exam failures, feelings of intense fear and dread, as well as a purported suicide. We dive into the history, the folklore, and the eerie aura that keeps this painting shrouded in superstition. Superstition is one thing, but is it truly cursed?-----------------Head to the Strange Places home website, asylum817.com to keep up with all things Strange Places, as well as the host. Billie Dean Shoemate III is an author with over 40 novels published, a master-trained painter, and multi-instrumentalist musician with multiple albums released. To check out Billie's books, albums, paintings and other artistic ventures, head to asylum817.com. Official Strange Places merch is now available as well!-----------------This podcast can also be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Pandora, and wherever you get your Podcast listening experience.-----------------If you like what you hear and wish to donate to this podcast to help keep it going, visit:https://www.fiverr.com/s/WEY9lex-----------------Visit us on Patreon for ad free early access and exclusive content!!!patreon.com/asylum817Shout-out to our top tier patrons, Summer Rain Zen, DILLIGAF and Old School!-----------------

Richie Brave sits down with award-winning journalist, writer and digital content creator Chante Joseph and broadcaster and financial analyst Albie Amankona as they delve into the latest thing that has dominated news headlines the last few weeks: Operation Raise the Colours: where streets, roundabouts and lampposts are being cloaked in the red and white of the St George's Cross and the Union Jack.In this show, they discuss their opposing views and answer the question, does the recent wave of raising the England Flag across the country have racist undertones or is it simply a way to showcase English pride? Separately, this week, we look at the situation that has been unfolding in Sudan. Richie sits down with Sky News Africa Correspondent Yousra Elbagir. Over the past year-plus, she's regularly returned to a country under siege, bearing witness to devastation, not from afar, but up close and through the very places she once called home. And she's on the show to tell us all about what she's witnessed and reported on.

In this special episode of Willy Willy Harry Stee, Charlie Higson takes a moment to look at the history of the English flag, the Union Jack and the Cross of St George. Where did they come from? What do they mean? What do they represent?With the current outbreak of flag raising around the country and furious arguments about what these flags represent, Charlie un-furls the truth to help us understand the real origins of the flags of the United Kingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Operation Raise The Colours' has sparked a nationwide debate. For some, flying the St George's Cross and Union Jack is a patriotic act of defiance against a broken asylum system. For others, it's a dangerous far-right signal. The truth may lie somewhere in between. With over 32,000 asylum seekers housed in UK hotels, migration pressures are rising - and social media is pouring fuel on the fire. Elon Musk's platform X is driving viral stories about immigration, while critics accuse him of stoking Islamophobia. He's even backing a brand-new political party, Advance UK, calling Nigel Farage's Reform “weak sauce.” Joining Piers Morgan to discuss all this and more is leader of ‘Advance UK' Ben Habib, political commentator with Joe, Ava Santina, CEO and host at ‘The Young Turks' Cenk Uygur, host of ‘The Crucible' Andrew Wilson and former State Department official Mike Benz. Piers Morgan Uncensored is proudly independent and supported by: Birch Gold: Visit https://birchgold.com/piers to get your free info kit on gold. Oxford Natural: To watch their full stories, scan the QR code on your screen or visit https://oxfordnatural.com/piers/ to get 70% off your first order when you use code PIERS. Pique: Get 20% off your order plus a FREE frother & glass beaker with this exclusive link: https://piquelife.com/PIERS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On todays Show James, Charlotte, and Glenn talk about multitasking, vaccines, rental control, public health, autism, DEI, Federal Reserve, Lisa Cook, LSU law school, Giuliani, election fraud, British government, migrant housing, Sharia law, nuclear weapons, Boudica, Union Jack, American flag, voter ID, gerrymandering, democracy, capitalist debate, anti-capitalist, David Patrick, Minnesota shooting, prayer criticism, Democratic Party, crime, inflation, Trump. Don't miss it.

This week I discuss the rise of the Union Jack flags, Neal McDonough's speech, BKchat Ldn and much more. #LOUDITPodcast is hosted by Nnedinso. Tune in every Monday for some funny stories and girl talk to cheer up your Monday blues. From life experiences to wild stories and current media, no topic is off limits. Let's LOUD IT and talk some rubbish! Twitter: @Nneddy121 and YouTube: ItsNnedinso

On In The Market with Janet Parshall this week we heard the moving story of a man who was brought to his knees as he desperately prayed and sought God for the life of his micro preemie daughter. His powerful journey story is one of faith born in fire, heart wrenching prayer and miracles above and beyond his expectations. His story is a reminder to us all of what the power of a mustard seed of faith in God can do. The singular uniqueness of man as God’s creation in His image is constantly under attack today. Our guest who is a staunch defender of human exceptionalism updated us on the efforts to redefine human health through technology and the latest on the efforts in Wisconsin to give human rights to nature. The United States is not the only place struggling with the issue of immigration. The United Kingdom is also having its own issues, and the frustration has led to demonstrations in the streets and an increase presence of the Union Jack flag across the country. Our favorite Scottish apologist explained what is behind this fervor for increased nationalism in the U.K. He also commented on the increased use as well as increase change of misuse of AI as we see more stories of emotional dependance on the technology with horrific consequences including some who have taken their own lives. College students are choosing avoidance as a way of dealing with people they don’t like. Our guest a respected family therapist explained why this “no contact” way of life is gaining popularity in the halls of higher education. She also explained the dangers for kids who do not learn how to address and work through the natural challenges that come with relationships to others. Her advice was timely guidance for parents as their kids head back to universities across the nation. Once again, we pull back the curtain on some of the biggest news stories of the week and examine them under the magnifying glass of God’s unchanging truth.Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who let the flags out? We look at the mania for running a Cross of St George or Union Jack up the nearest lamp-post, who's fomenting it and why it's smart but dangerous politics for the far-right. Meanwhile Nigel Farage launches his completely uncosted, unrealistic, fantasy plan for mass deportations. Are the press so completely on the Reform bandwagon that they'll just let it go unquestioned? Our special guest David Klemperer puts the case for compulsory voting and why it solves more problems than you think. And in the Extra Bit for Patreon people: TfL and the Tories team up against the scourge of people playing music on their phone speakers on public transport. Will they succeed – and what would we ban if we could? ESCAPE ROUTES  • David recommends Love and Death in Long Island by Gilbert Adair.  • Marie recommends French Exit by Patrick deWitt.  • Hannah recommends Evenings And Weekends by Oisin McKenna.  • Ros recommends A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Bridge Theatre (but it's finished and you can't see it).  When you buy books through our affiliate bookshop, you help fund the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org's fees help support independent bookshops too. • Advertisers! Want to reach smart, engaged, influential people with money to spend? (Yes, they do exist). Some 3.5 MILLION people download and watch our podcasts every month – and they love our shows. Why not get YOUR brand in front of our influential listeners with podcast advertising? Contact ads@podmasters.co.uk to find out more • Back us on Patreon for ad-free listening, bonus materials and more.  Written and presented by Ros Taylor, Hannah Fearn and Marie le Conte. Audio and video production by Chris Jones, Tom Taylor and Simon Williams. Theme music by Cornershop. Art direction: James Parrett. Produced by Chris Jones. Managing Editor: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. OH GOD, WHAT NOW? is a Podmasters production. www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

//The Wire//2100Z August 22, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: "FLAGGING" OPERATIONS CONTINUE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AS DISSENT GROWS REGARDING MIGRATION EFFORTS. JOHN BOLTON'S RESIDENCE RAIDED BY FBI.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-United Kingdom: Opposition to migrant centers continues, mostly in the form of "flagging" operations around England. For the English, a common point of resistance has been the public display of the English flag, which in some context has been classified as a criminal act. As such, the emplacement of the St. George's Cross flag has become a focus point for British society over the past few days.-HomeFront-Colorado: The investigation into the stabbing of a park ranger at Staunton State Park has concluded with the arrest of the park ranger who initially made the allegations. Callum Heskett was arrested for making false claims regarding the attack, which turned out to be an elaborate hoax.Analyst Comment: It's not clear why he did it, but the Sheriff stated that Heskett intentionally stabbed himself and radioed in the "attack", which triggered a very widespread manhunt and lockdown of the surrounding area.Nebraska: Approximately two weeks since the raids first took place, two of the four hotels complicit in the Chaudhari child slavery scandal from have been shut down. The AmericInn and the Victorian Inn and Suites in Omaha were observed to be shuttered to the public yesterday afternoon, pending the human trafficking network investigations.Analyst Comment: The other two hotels, the Inn (formerly the Super 8) and the Roadway Inn are reported by local media to still be open for business, for the time being. Somewhat interestingly, the local media coverage of these closures has focused on the displacement of long-term residents of these hotels, many of which were formerly homeless. In an interview with local media, one hotel resident stated that these hotels were used as residences by people who couldn't rent due to poor credit, rental history, and so on. If these hotels were quietly serving as a sort of informal halfway house for long term residents, this human trafficking network could be much larger and more substantial than previously known.New York: This afternoon a tourbus suffered a rollover accident on Interstate 90 near Pembroke. The initial response was treated as a mass casualty event due to 52x patients being reported at the scene. Many fatalities and entrapments were also reported as a result of the crash.Maryland: This morning the home of John Bolton was raided by the FBI as part of an ongoing national security probe. The raid lasted several hours, and many boxes of documents were observed being removed from the residence.Analyst Comment: Beyond the headline, not much is known. Most journalistic speculation has theorized that the DoJ is trying to get him on mishandling of classified information, which is an easy charge to levy against most political elites who very rarely handle classified information properly.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the United Kingdom, a bit of context for the "flagging" operations is important. Unlike in the United States (where the national flag is a common sight) throughout Europe in general national flags are not a typical observation throughout society. The one exception being...foreign flags. In many parts of the United Kingdom, the sight of Indian and Pakistani flags is vastly more common than the Union Jack, with foreign flags even being flown from government buildings.Even more important is that the official flag of the United Kingdom (but especially the flag of England, the St. George's Cross) has been demonized to the point of quite literally being illegal to display in some cases. Many people have been arrested for displaying the Union Jack at Hindu or Islamic street parades or events, a

Woke professor rants incoherently about the Union Jack and St George cross being racist.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/radio-baloney-the-richie-baloney-show--4036781/support.

The United Kingdom is embroiled in a strange controversy: Officials are trying to ban the English flag from the public square. As immigration-driven violence rises, national identity has become central. Many Englishmen, watching as immigrants pour in and grooming gangs prey on their daughters, have begun raising the red-and-white St. George's Cross. Officials invent excuses to tear those flags down — even as immigrant groups replace the Union Jack with the flag of Pakistan. To outsiders, this may look like a petty fight over fabric, but it is a symbol of the existential struggle gripping Britain. When citizens clash over flags, it signals that civil war could be near. Follow on: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-auron-macintyre-show/id1657770114 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3S6z4LBs8Fi7COupy7YYuM?si=4d9662cb34d148af Substack: https://auronmacintyre.substack.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuronMacintyre Gab: https://gab.com/AuronMacIntyre YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/AuronMacIntyre Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-390155 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@AuronMacIntyre:f Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auronmacintyre/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show: Court rules asylum seekers must be moved from Essex hotel. Where will they go? Also: Fallout from Trump's meetings with Zelensky and European leaders. What next in the pursuit of a peace deal? What's in a flag? UK councils remove English flag and Union Jack to appease so called "anti-racists." Where will this end? And much more.

UKPolitics #Immigration #WokeCulture #Labour #Starmer #BBC #UnionJack #JonGaunt #SaintGeorgesFlag Has Britain lost its greatness — or can we still be proud of our nation? Tonight, Jon Gaunt takes on the biggest issues dividing the country:

Cameron Hill from Off The Ball tells us story of Peter O'Connor, the Irish Olympian at the 1906 Athens games. He refused to be recognised under the British flag and took matters into his own hands when the Union Jack was raised during his medal ceremony.

Summers in Louisiana tend to linger longer than elsewhere in the U.S., and for many locals, the heat is a perfect excuse to skip town for more exotic destinations. But for those of us who plan to stick around, there are plenty of ways to take a vacation without needing to pack a bag. On this week's show, we travel virtually to the French Riviera with New Orleans chef Samuel Peery. Finding inspiration from coastal brasseries in French cities like Nice and Marseille, Sam has created a menu at the Kimpton Hotel's King Brasserie that offers a taste of the Côte d'Azur only half a mile from the Mississippi River. Over at The Bell, a British-inspired pub in New Orleans' Mid-City neighborhood, locals can stop in for an ale or lager served in imperial pints – or dine in a room decked in tartan fabrics, dark woods, and Union Jack flags. Owner Andrew Bell tells us how he went from a career in professional soccer to become a British publican in the Pelican State. Finally, we get a behind-the-scenes look at Exhibition Hub's newest immersive exhibit in New Orleans. Titanic: An Immersive Voyage takes visitors back to 1912 to experience the ship as a passenger on its ill-fated maiden voyage. Executive producer John Zaller tells us about the exhibition and the important role food played on the luxury liner. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Summers in Louisiana tend to linger longer than elsewhere in the U.S., and for many locals, the heat is a perfect excuse to skip town for more exotic destinations. But for those of us who plan to stick around, there are plenty of ways to take a vacation without needing to pack a bag. On this week's show, we travel virtually to the French Riviera with New Orleans chef Samuel Peery. Finding inspiration from coastal brasseries in French cities like Nice and Marseille, Sam has created a menu at the Kimpton Hotel's King Brasserie that offers a taste of the Côte d'Azur only half a mile from the Mississippi River. Over at The Bell, a British-inspired pub in New Orleans' Mid-City neighborhood, locals can stop in for an ale or lager served in imperial pints – or dine in a room decked in tartan fabrics, dark woods, and Union Jack flags. Owner Andrew Bell tells us how he went from a career in professional soccer to become a British publican in the Pelican State. Finally, we get a behind-the-scenes look at Exhibition Hub's newest immersive exhibit in New Orleans. Titanic: An Immersive Voyage takes visitors back to 1912 to experience the ship as a passenger on its ill-fated maiden voyage. Executive producer John Zaller tells us about the exhibition and the important role food played on the luxury liner. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Agents Scott & Cam welcome climber and stuntman Rick Sylvester to the show to reveal the secrets behind performing The Spy Who Loved Me's iconic Union Jack parachute jump. He also discusses his suspenseful mountaineering fall in For Your Eyes Only!  Become a SpyHards Patron and gain access to top secret "Agents in the Field" bonus episodes, movie commentaries and more! Social media: @spyhards Purchase the latest exclusive SpyHards merch at Redbubble. View the NOC List and the Disavowed List at Letterboxd.com/spyhards Podcast artwork by Hannah Hughes. Theme music by Doug Astley.

This is an episode packed with odd resonances, echoes, large whiskers, many presidents and the origin of a modern bank. Now that the diamond fields were being exploited, this being1870, a plethora of politicians lined up to claim ownership — the ever-ambitious and unrealistic President Pretorius of the Transvaal among these, who as you heard last episode, had been chased away by the diggers. These were an international lot, not prone to being intimidated by old bearded men from the Transvaal. His attempt at unilaterally granting drights to the diamond fields to messers Webb, Posno and Munnich had gone done like a lead balloon. As you heard, too, Nicholas Waterboer also claimed these fields, so too the Free State government under President Steyn. Waterboer was persuaded by his Cape educated lawyer the vigorous pen-and-ink warfare expert David Arnot, to ask the British Government to honour his claim on behalf of the Griqua. Waterboer didn't need much convincing. Author and Journalist Frederick Boyle who wrote “To the Cape For Diamonds” published in 1873 respected Arnot, meeting him in 1871 and describing him as very short, very thick, with a large face clean shaven and a dark skin burnt darker by South African suns. “Mr David Arnot is one of those gentlemen who, in a larger or smaller sphere, make history…” He'd conducted Waterboer's business for 17 years, and as Boyle said, had made “..not one mistake..” Which is a miracle considering the forces at work in the transOrangia. A diplomats diplomat they said. Tenacious, unfailing, undaunted. He was President Pretorius and President Brands nemesis in some ways, a highly educated coloured man who was connected to the levers of power. He was also relatively wealthy, working as an attorney in Colesberg earning 2000 pounds a year. A man of his time, like other educated men and women of the Victorian era, he collected plants and wrote letters to famous scientists in his spare time. Devout imperialist and friend, Richard Southey agreed. But the incoming high Commissioner, Sir Henry Barkly, needed to be pursuaded. He'd just arrived, sporting enormous black whiskers, a large commanding figure, an authoritarian, gruff, former member of the English parliament, he didn't want to be dragged into some territorial dispute so early in his governorship. He'd replaced Sir Philip Wodehouse as High Commissioner — Wodehouse congratulated himself when he left in May 1870 claiming not a shot had been fired by a British soldier during his stint — which was a stunning turnaround from the preceding 70 years, particularly the turbulent 1840s. In the interregnum between the discovery of diamonds and annexation of the diamondiferous land by Great Britain, a short-lived but highly entertaining Free Diamond Republic sprang into being. Self-appointed, proudly chaotic, and run by the diggers for the diggers. The Diggers Republic had all the trappings — including a flag which a ccording to historical accounts, featured the Union Jack in the top corner, similar to other colonial flags of the era. And its President? Stafford Parker was his name, and he was to rule over the territory for the grand total of twelve months. One reporter from London said that he “behaved modestly and does honour to his position … the order of the day — is solid civility —- listen to, but say nothing, and dig away….” Golden rule amongst treasure hunters. Stay shtum as you grind away. President Stafford Parker—ever the showman with a wink and a waistcoat—launched his corrugated iron canteen at Klipdrift on the banks of the Vaal with all the flair of a Mar-a-Lago meets muddy boots affair. Not content with presiding over a ragtag republic of diggers and dreamers, Parker decided he'd double as chief entertainer and purveyor of refreshments, slinging drinks and good cheer beneath a roof of rippling iron. Why not? If you're going to rule, you might as well pour the pints too.

Big Australia gets even bigger with record migrant arrivals last month, British schoolgirl booted from diversity day for wearing a Union Jack dress. Plus, young adults say climate anxiety is stopping them from having kids.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls grow to fix GST as yoghurt stays tax-free unless it’s frozen, school apologises after girl punished for wearing Union Jack dress. Plus, report reveals push by UK Muslim group to censor British media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UnionJack #BritishPride #CultureDay #UKPolitics #JonGaunt

The government's secret Afghan asylum scheme after deadly data leak exposed Plus: Three general election opinion polls make for interesting reading, a Reform councillor takes a surprising stance on migration and a 12 year-old girl gets ‘punished' for wearing a Union Jack dress to school. With Aaron Bastani and Helena ( @NoJusticeMTG )

Agents Scott and Cam, along with guest operative Scott Mantz, film critic & producer, pull the ripcords on their Union Jack parachutes and decode Roger Moore's third Bond adventure, The Spy Who Loved Me. Directed by Lewis Gilbert. Starring Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curd Jürgens, Richard Kiel, Caroline Munro, Walter Gotell, Geoffrey Keen, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn and Lois Maxwell. Make sure to follow Scott Mantz on X and Instagram. You can also hear Scott on the Enterprise Incidents podcast. Become a SpyHards Patron and gain access to top secret "Agents in the Field" bonus episodes, movie commentaries and more! Purchase the latest exclusive SpyHards merch at Redbubble. Social media: @spyhards View the NOC List and the Disavowed List at Letterboxd.com/spyhards Podcast artwork by Hannah Hughes.

Jeff Hancock is the CEO of Coinpass, a UK-based crypto exchange acquired by OANDA in 2023. He's bringing crypto and traditional finance closer together in a secure, regulated way. Why you should listen ​​Born in London in 2018, Coinpass climbed the regulatory mountain early, securing an FCA crypto-asset registration and then catching the eye of multi-asset heavyweight OANDA, which snapped up a majority stake in August 2023. Now the exchange enjoys the deep pockets and risk-management chops of a global FX giant while keeping its Union-Jack credentials intact.  Coinpass is unapologetically business-first: corporate and SSAS pension accounts, OTC desks, Faster Payments for GBP, SEPA Instant for EUR, and a Fireblocks-secured custody stack. The offering tops out at roughly 18 coins across 50 pairs, with auto-trade DCA tools and a staking “Earn” programme. As the FCA's May 2025 paper ushers in a tougher regulatory era, Coinpass is already playing the game two moves ahead—fully registered, audit-ready, and backed by OANDA's deep balance sheet. Its curated asset list and institutional-grade spreads may forego meme-coin noise, but they deliver what CFOs and treasurers actually need: transparent pricing, instant GBP rails, and a compliance posture built to glide through tomorrow's rulebook. While other exchanges scramble to retrofit governance, Coinpass stands out as the gold-standard gateway for UK digital-asset professionals—future-proof, rock-solid, and ready to scale. Supporting links Stabull Finance Coinpass Andy on Twitter  Brave New Coin on Twitter Brave New Coin If you enjoyed the show please subscribe to the Crypto Conversation and give us a 5-star rating and a positive review in whatever podcast app you are using.

Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full hour long podcast, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

On The Cycling Podcast Féminin this month, Rose Manley, Denny Gray and Rebecca Charlton head back to their virtual cabana to talk about everything that happened in the Spanish racing block. With a win at Vuelta a Burgos, Marlen Reusser's ascendency continues. The Movistar rider has put a difficult 2024 behind her to become one of the very best GC stage race contenders in the world. Plus we can't agree on whether to put Team SD Worx's lacklustre GC stage racing campaign in Burgos and Itzulia down to overreaching team orders or plain old bad luck. And there are some new names to look out for in the peloton, with riders like Mie Bjørndal Ottestad and Celia Géry enjoying breakthrough performances. For this month's mini feature, we speak to two Irish riders who have joined the World Tour this season - Lara Gillespie of UAE-ADQ and Mia Griffin of Roland. The pair formed half of the quartet that made history at the Paris Olympics as Ireland's first ever female pursuit team, a feat all the more remarkable considering the country is yet to have an indoor velodrome. We hear from both riders as they turn their attentions to the road. Also on the agenda, week-long Nienke Vinke Fan Club celebrations, Denny's Union Jack bowler hat and how the TCP Féminin budget REALLY gets spent. Follow us on social media: Twitter @cycling_podcast Instagram @thecyclingpodcast Friends of the Podcast Sign up as a Friend of the Podcast at thecyclingpodcast.com to listen to new special episodes every month plus a back catalogue of more than 300 exclusive episodes. The Cannibal & Badger Friends of the Podcast can join the discussion at our new virtual pub, The Cannibal & Badger. A friendly forum to talk about cycling and the podcast. Log in to your Friends of the Podcast account to join in. The 11.01 Cappuccino Our regular email newsletter is now on Substack. Subscribe here for frothy, full-fat updates to enjoy any time (as long as it's after 11am). The Cycling Podcast is on Strava The Cycling Podcast was founded in 2013 by Richard Moore, Daniel Friebe and Lionel Birnie.

Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the UK monarch, represents centuries of British heritage while offering visitors a glimpse into the royal lifestyle through its magnificent State Rooms and gardens. We share comprehensive insights for planning your visit, from ticket options and tour experiences to practical tips and fascinating palace facts.• Palace has 750 rooms, including 78 bathrooms, its own post office, and a cinema• Built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham, became a royal residence in 1761• Royal Standard flag indicates the monarch is in residence; Union Jack means they're away• State Rooms open July-September with standard, small group, and exclusive tour options• Essential to book tickets months in advance as tours sell out quickly• Exclusive small group tours are available at other times throughout the year• New for 2025: opportunity to enter through the iconic front gates• Highlights include the State Rooms, Throne Room, Picture Gallery, and Grand Staircase• Gardens open in summer, featuring 39 acres with a lake, rose garden, and tennis court• Green Park tube station is closest at a 6-minute walk• Photography is not permitted inside the palace, but is allowed in the gardens• Convert your ticket to a one-year pass by signing it and getting it stamped• Nearby attractions include Changing of the Guard, St. James's Park, and Westminster AbbeyIf you're planning a visit to Buckingham Palace or have questions, leave us a voice message via the SpeakPipe link in our show notes.

Subscribe: iTUNES, RSSSupport us on PatreonDiscuss this Episode on Reddit or DiscordEmail UsLINKS:OvercastBank Notes (via Spencer O'Dowd)Flag of New EnglandEvolution of the Union Jack (via Spencer O'Dowd)Neal.funPassword GameInfinite Craft1851 New England Election (via Spencer O'Dowd)2 New England DollarsNew Maps of YcairnDublin SpireCompass Roses the Old MapsCourt ProceedingsSpecial Criminal CourtAdam NeelyMusic:Writing with pencil by vladnegrila -- https://freesound.org/s/388874/ -- License: Creative Commons 0210619_1633_FR_RainAndThunder.wav by kevp888 -- https://freesound.org/s/577456/ -- License: Attribution 4.0fireplace.wav by klangstrand -- https://freesound.org/s/178219/ -- License: Attribution 4.0Saint Paul April 16th 2016 - Long Rolling Thunder by allesmachine -- https://freesound.org/s/367509/ -- License: Attribution 3.0 Thanks for listening, everyone. ❤️

Happy St George's Day! To celebrate, we thought we would discuss who is the most patriotic political leader — and why some struggle to communicate their love of country. Keir Starmer declared in an interview with the Mirror this morning that Labour is ‘the patriotic party'. This follows a more concerted effort from those within the party to become more comfortable with the flag. But is Keir Starmer actually a patriot? How will the ‘battle of the Union Jack' play out at the local elections? And does Reform have a point to prove when it comes to patriotism? Oscar Edmondson speaks to James Heale and Claire Ainsley, former executive director of policy for the Labour party, now at the Progressive Policy Institute. Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

Firestone Walker Brewing Company's CMO says connected TV has made it easier to reach its sports-loving customers. Episode TranscriptPlease note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio.Damian (00:01):I'm Damian Fowler.Ilyse (00:02):And I'm Ilyse Liffreing.Damian (00:03):This week we're really excited to talk with Dustin Hinz, the Chief marketing officer of Firestone Walker Brewing the craft brewery based in California.Ilyse (00:12):Dustin has been the chief marketer at Firestone for almost six years. He's an award-winning marketer who knows how to build a culturally relevant brand.Damian (00:21):Also, he's a musician and he helped build Guitar Center into that powerhouse brand It is today. He worked there for 17 years and you can ask any guitarist about Guitar Center and its Importance. And then he was an Ernie Ball music man, which is famous for its guitar strings, which I love. I'm curious though, Ilyse, do you play the guitar?Ilyse (00:40):I wish, but Okay. Damian, we're here to talk beer and how to market it in a crowded marketplace. So let's begin. So Dustin, can you tell us a little bit about Firestone and the brand 805? It seems it really has a West Coast vibe just like me. I'm from the West coast so I can see that. I feel it.Dustin (01:04):Firestone Walker is the culmination of David Walker and Adam Firestone's love for beer. And they met back in the nineties when David fell in love with Adam's sister and there's great stories about that. And then they found they had this mutual love for beer and the central coast of California. David being an expat in British and Adam being a Californian, they founded this amazing brewery on the central coast and really focused on just a few craft beers. DBA was their first beer and then Union Jack and there was a lot of craft was sort of an early movement. And then back in 2012 they stumbled upon this idea of 8 0 5 and 8 0 5 is the area code for the big swath of the Central coast, a big piece of California all the way down to Ventura County where actually I grew up. We like to say that the goal of 8 0 5 is to be the most globally recognized, regionally available beer in the world.Ilyse (02:03):Very cool. But there are a lot of beers out there, even craft beers. What would you say is the point of differentiation? Is it the taste? Is it the West coast vibes? What would you say?Dustin (02:15):I think the biggest point of differentiation in beer is the brand position. Obviously great brand position and great marketing is not going to solve a lousy product, so you got to have amazing product and we're trying to focus on being odds of the evens and really investing in our own legend and trying to stand for something and be the alternative choice. And thankfully beer is so big and there's so much opportunity that you can carve out a pretty nice size of the pie for yourself if you want to focus on being the alternative premium choice.Damian (02:43):One of things that you just said about the importance of marketing and how marketing can drive the business seems key to this. Is there anything that you could point us to that you'd say, this was the moment where I created brand awareness above and beyond or something like that?Dustin (03:05):The first one with the traditional 8 0 5, the black can I was very lucky to inherit five and a half years ago a slogan called Properly Chill and Properly Chill sort of was the slogan for this idea that life on the central coast was a little different, right? And what we did last year and then going into this year, and I believe that this is going to come out right around this new campaign is going to drop, is this idea telling the story of our brand through the lens of our customer. We have this amazing roster of ambassadors, we call them Authentico and eight oh five Authentico and Professional surfers, motocross Riders, boxers, MMA, fighters, artists, tattoo artists, you name it, it spans the spectrum. There's over 50 of them and they kind of cover every single different customer group that we believe the brand represents and we tell the story of that brand through those consumers or through those athletes.(04:06):And then a couple other examples were what we did was Summer of Cervesa when we launched the extension of 8 0 5, the first extension after 10 years, which was a Mexican lagger themed version of 8 0 5 with a little bit of lime in it. And the idea at the time was when you were looking at the marketplace, Mexican laggers were really on the rise. Corona obviously as an incredible background. Modelo has now at this point become the number one brand in the US surpassing Bud Light and Consumers were definitely reaching for this idea of sort of an escapism beer. So when we launched the campaign with summer survey, so we realized that we had to do something to stand out and create some differentiation between 8 0 5 blonde and 8 0 5. And so the 8 0 5 cervesa campaign was the first time we ever showed the product in color. 8 0 5 has been black and white since its inception in 2012. And with 8 0 5 Cervesa was the first time we ever put the product in color in the advertising. And it was a game changer. I mean, we sales went from moderately successful to up 20% pretty consistently because we were able to create that differentiation in the idea that Cervesa was a light and refreshing product.Damian (05:24):Wow, I love that just by adding color. But it is interesting that you started out in black and white as a kind of campaign. Why black and white?Dustin (05:32):I think they realized they needed to do something different to stand out back then. And trust me, it is a conversation pretty regularly when we're working on new ideas of, there is a lot of consternation around the idea of how do we maintain the brand identity and not stray from it because we want to be timeless, not timely. So we're very, very focused on, hey, every decision we make is going to have an impact a decade from now, two decades from now. Because the greatest brands in beer are multi-generational.Ilyse (06:02):Totally. And I know we talked about this earlier because it can be really difficult to market alcohol products, especially on platforms like social media where there are age roadblocks. What are the channels that you decided to lean into for these campaigns and are there any that you're experimenting with now?Dustin (06:24):I'd say at-home is a good third of our total media investment and then a big shift to TV about two years ago. And with connected TV platforms continuing to become more robust, it's made it a hell of a lot easier for us to get more geo-targeted because I think that spray and prey doesn't work when you're a regional brand and you want to get really focused on zip codes and you want to try to drive measurement. And so connected TV has been huge for us and whether that's through our partnerships with the World Surf League or we're just doing a sports our brand, what we know though is that from all of our consumer data is that a huge percentage of our customers are sports fans. They watch a lot of football, they watch a lot of baseball. So what we do is we take our brand to those channels and through partnerships like ESPN, we've been able to really connect with consumers and drive some really nice measurable lift for the brand. You're watching a sports game and you're going to see beer brand X or insurance brand X with an athlete for that sport. And then you see our spot, which might have a bull rider in it or a surfer or a motocross rider, and it just stands outIlyse (07:33):With your brands embrace of sports and kind of that measurement piece of CTV, you must love that more live sports are coming into the connected TV space.Dustin (07:47):I think the beneficiaries of this sort of democratization of content and it's making things more competitive. So as you see the Disney Network, Hulu, ESPN, or you go to YouTube TV and some of the other platforms that are continuing to open up, it makes it really easy to be competitive in the space or to at least have a voice. I think our team's been really good at identifying those opportunities, proving the efficacy of those investments so that we can continue to do them.Damian (08:15):You hinted at something about the seasonality of marketing and I'm kind of interested in that as a marketer of beer and I guess in lots of ways, as you said, you're kind of marketing lifestyle, you have associations with surfers and athletes and the summer. I'm curious how often you think about the need to refresh campaigns and how do you keep them relevant to the culture cultural moment?Dustin (08:42):Yeah, great question. You definitely have to, in beer, especially with the retail partners, you need to be seasonal. I spent the first 20 years of my career on the music side as a retailer, so I know what retailers want. They're going to want, Hey, it's Memorial Day, I'm going to have a display in my store for a week and a half, two weeks. It better fit the theme of Memorial Day. Now how you do that, you can do that without just stars and stripes. There's other ways to do that, but the I idea of escapism and patriotism to a degree, but when you look at the retail calendar, there are a myriad, there's like 16 major temples that you have to win. So our team is definitely working to make sure that we're taking the overall thematic of our brand and pulling that down into those temples.(09:33):And that fits the larger brand story because obviously you don't want to have 16 different TV spots throughout the year. So we'll have several different campaigns throughout the year, but then those drop down into Cinco de Mayo or Day of the Dead or 4th of July. So you have to, depending on the channel that we're in, yeah, some stuff has to be far more granular to make sure that it's serving the need of that retailer or the desire of that retailer, and as well as making sure that we're still maintaining the brand identity that we want to have. While everybody else does Super Bowl and does football, we're doing the World Surf League pipeline, which is the Super Bowl of surf, so is the official beer of the WSL when everyone's doing Super Bowl, we're doing surfing.Damian (10:10):Now, Dustin listeners can't see this, but I know behind you you've got some fantastic vintage guitars there, which I wanted. I know that you are a musician and before you worked at 8 0 5, you worked as a marketer in the music industry, including for Ernie Ball, music Man and Guitar Center. And I'm kind of interested in the kind of synergies that you might have found there between marketing to musicians and the kind of now the position you're in now marketing beer.Dustin (10:42):It's really sort of a story of serendipity. I got my first guitar when I was 14 years old and it sort of changed my life. Music just bordered became this obsession and it's what I wanted to do, started a band and typical story, didn't go to college, was like college, I'm going to be in a band, mom, what are you talking about? So I begged her at the time she was working, she was the executive assistant to the CEO O of Guitar Center back in the nineties when they were still a small company. And I said, Hey, just give me a job in the mail room or something, and so just give me the summer. Let me prove to you that my band can be in great before I have to go to college. And so she got me a job in the mail room and said, three months, that's it. And three months turned into 18 years.(11:35):I worked my way up to vice president and that typical age old story. But what I found really early on when I got there was, and I remember there was a moment, I was there a couple of months working in the mail room, excited in the mail room is right next to the marketing department and there was a great VP of marketing. It was Mike. I still talk to him to this day, 20 something years later. He always says, his joke is, you're the best hire I ever made. But I remember looking at the marketing materials and saying to the guys like, Hey, we're not marketing to, I'm the customer. Why don't you talk to me? We should change the way that we talk to the customers because this doesn't make sense. I'm the customer, I don't want to read this. So I pitched him some ideas and he's like, yeah, that's a great idea. You want a job in marketing?(12:18):And I went from $4 and 50 cents an hour to $9 an hour. I thought it was rich. I'm 18 years old. And I started that journey. And I think what I realized really early on, and what was great about Guitar Center was that our mission was to mint new customers. We realized early on through a great visionary, CEO, we had Marty Albertson was that we had to make sure that we were creating musicians. There wasn't a lot of 'em. When you think about the population of the world, it think it's like 2% our musicians. So if you want to continue to sell guitars and you want to continue to sell instruments, you've got to inspire people to want to play music. So our mission became taking this great feeling and propelling that and perpetuating it to get more people excited about it. And we became a platform for artists and creating, over the course of my 20 years, I got to create TV shows and write documentaries and make slashes documentary.(13:09):I got to things that you would only dream of when you were a kid to make art with other artists that inspired the world. And I think the common thread through all of that was that great marketing, great brands stand for something clear and enduring. I'm very, very lucky that as a songwriter and a musician early on, that I found this extension of that creative process to sort of keep me inspired. I mean marketing in a lot of ways, your writers, your songwriters, your creatives, and you get to do that while also tackling, for me at least the necessary evil of lift analysis, analytics andDamian (13:46):Some of those things that come with the business. Our musicians have to be marketers these days anyway. Right.Ilyse (13:50):That's very true. And that 2%, we at least have two in our miss because Damian's a musician as well. But yeah, it's so interesting that you talk about that area of the population and in some ways it's almost harder to reach those very niche communities.Dustin (14:09):Yeah, there's that great quote. I don't know if it came from Nike, it was probably Nike, but what's that speak to the core loud enough that everyone else can hear? I mean, I think that's been a mission of music. I mean, remember the indie movement or the punk movement, it was like everybody didn't want to be mainstream, and it was just like, do this thing, own your audience. And then what happens is the cool thing, everybody wants to sit at the cool table. Everybody wants to be a part of the movement, but you can't market to the people that want to be in the movement. You have to market to the people who have started the movement, and then what happens is then you can maintain some credibility.Damian (14:40):I'm just curious to get your high level perspective on what do you think needs to change in the ad marketplace today, which as we all know, is very much digital programmatic.Dustin (14:52):I think product placement right now, especially on podcasts, is just incredibly oversaturated. And I understand that when you've got a major budget and you're moving money around and you're trying to do everything you can to drive eyeballs, but I have this conversation all the time with the agency. I'm not interested in the most amount of eyeballs. I want the right ones. And when I look at a podcast and I just see energy drinks on tables and then right behind it, I see a Starbucks cup and the cans aren't open, I just think there's too much of that going on. To me, there's not real connections. So I think one of the things for me that's just unfortunate is because of the amount of money and the amount of ad money that's available and it's all moving from different platforms, is that sort of approach has created, I think a really high level of high bar for entry into some of these categories.(15:40):The expectations of money that are tied to some of these opportunities are so overblown. So I think that to me, that's always been something that I've always struggled with that I always hope is going to work itself out and well. I think that you go through ebbs and flows, especially when times get tough, people will cut back on their marketing, they cut back on sponsorships, and that's when opportunities open up. And if you're smart and you manage your money effectively and you have dollars, when other brands are carving back, that's when you can start to find really interesting opportunities. But for me, yeah, influencer marketing, product seating, I've never been excited about it. One of the things that we say all the time at Firestone Walker is keep the main thing, the main thing. And by doing that, we put on ourselves from chasing too many squirrels in the backyard.Ilyse (16:30):I love that.Dustin (16:31):Yeah.Ilyse (16:32):Is there anything you are obsessed with figuring out right now?Dustin (16:35):I mean, we sell millions of cases of beer and our first party data. We've done an amazing job of our first party data, emails building customer attention, but there is this weird thing with social, and I'm just obsessed with trying to figure out what it is. And our agency's got great relationships with meta and these platforms, and nobody, one can seem to give me the answer of what is happening on the backend within the algorithms that is preventing some of the biggest brands in the world with tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions of consumers. This ability to create real audiences on these platforms, because we live in a world now where all content is consumed through just a few channels. When you think about YouTube, whatever happens with TikTok, Instagram Meta, et cetera, there's a only handful of channels where a majority of all of the content consumption is taking place.(17:31):And if every single one of those has a toll booth between you and your customer, but then there's also a filter that is preventing you from really building your audience. I'm obsessed with trying to figure that out. If we do believe in this idea of the zeitgeist and that culture matters and that brands stand for something clear and enduring, the world is going to continue and down this digital path. And sure, point of sale and billboards and TV advertising are great ways to tell people about your brand, but it is the way to get your arms around them. It's going to be on these platforms and the ones that are coming. And I think that's what the industry as a whole is always the industry as a whole struggles with this. And I think it can be dangerous in the sense that you over obsess it and then you put too much money into like, well, I got to grow followers, or I got to grow my audience. Versus like, well, I just got to drive, drive affinity in purchase intent. And so that's, I think the balance of how do we focus on stuffing the funnel, creating a tremendous amount of energy for our brands. The right partnerships is omnipresent in the right cultural segments that we want to be in, but at the same time try to figure out how we can expand our tent and get more people into it.Damian (18:46):Wow. Ali, I love that conversation with Dustin. I mean, it's not every day you get to talk to somebody who's a musician and a marketer and who's able to tie both of those things together so well as he did. But what was the standout thing to you that he said?Ilyse (19:02):I think what really stuck out was kind of playing how Firestone and Dustin kind of play that fine line of keeping consistent, but also not being too rigid and trying new things with customers. I know with 9,000 plus breweries, it's kind of crazy that there's so much competition to stick out and beer brands have to stick out. But what he said was really interesting about staying consistent with an agency and measurement and really trying to find, making sure that what you're making art essentially actually makes sense.Damian (19:45):Yeah, I agree with you and I feel like one of the most powerful things he said to me was when he was at Guitar Center, when he was there for 17 years, his vision was to mint new musicians and identifying that only 2% of the world population, 2%, I think he said musicians. So you have to inspire more people to want to create music. And taking that sort of core philosophy and applying it to his current role at 8 0 5 seems to be something that's driving him as a mission driven marketer. I think as he said, great brands have to stand for something enduring. So in that regard, I think he's really smart, and to do this at this cultural moment where there's so much fragmentation, that is one way to help him clear through all the clutter and stay focused.Ilyse (20:30):Yeah, I think one of my favorite quotes too was like keep the main thing, the main thing, and that keeps us basically from chasing those squirrels.Damian (20:44):That's it for this edition of The Current Podcast. I'm Ilyse, and I'm Damian, and we'll see you next time.

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In the aftermath of the Irish War of Independence in 1921, Michael Collins is sent to London to meet Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George and other British officials to negotiate a treaty.  After weeks of travelling back and forth across the Irish Sea, Collins and his fellow Sinn Féin negotiators return with a deal. Ireland would become a Free State, but it would remain in the British Empire, and the Irish must swear an oath of allegiance to the King. Eamonn De Valera, the president of the republic, refuses to accept. De Valera and Collins, who were on the same side, are suddenly enemies. A rift tears through the republicans, splitting them into pro-Treaty and anti-Treaty forces. Families are divided, and soldiers who once fought together are on opposite sides. As the Irish tricolour replaces the Union Jack above Dublin castle, war breaks out between the two factions. Will Collins and De Valera survive their third war on home soil? Listen as William and Anita are joined once again by Diarmaid Ferriter, author of A Nation Not A Rabble, to discuss how the Anglo-Irish Treaty descended into civil war.  _____________ Empire UK Live Tour: The podcast is going on a UK tour! William and Anita will be live on stage in Glasgow, Birmingham, York and Bristol, discussing how the British Empire continues to shape our everyday lives. Tickets are on sale NOW, to buy yours head to empirepoduk.com. Empire Club: Become a member of the Empire Club to receive early access to miniseries, ad-free listening, early access to live show tickets, bonus episodes, book discounts, and a weekly newsletter! Head to empirepoduk.com to sign up. Email: empire@goalhanger.com Instagram: @empirepoduk  Blue Sky: @empirepoduk  X: @empirepoduk goalhanger.com Assistant Producer: Becki Hills Producer: Anouska Lewis Senior Producer: Callum Hill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices