Podcasts about united states department

Stu and Dave react to Gavin Newsom accusing Donald Trump of weaponizing the United States Department of Justice against him and his wife. Recent reports suggest that DOJ officials have made contact with several people connected to the couple. Then, activists and media figures attempt to reshape the narrative surrounding Riley Gaines, but Stu and Dave explain why they believe the story is much different than what's being portrayed. Finally, whatever happened to simply buying ice cream? The guys take a look at the increasingly political world of consumer brands and ask why every purchase now seems to come with a political message — we're looking at you, Ben and Jerry's. TODAY'S SPONSORS Home Title Lock Go to https://hometitlelock.com/stuanddave and use promo code STUANDDAVE to get a FREE title history report and a FREE TRIAL of their Triple Lock Protection! For details visit https://hometitlelock.com/warranty UnderTac This Father's Day, give Dad a gift he'll actually use. Go to Undertac.com and use code “STUANDDAVE20” for 20% off.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Ashok K. Shetty is a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics and Associate Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Texas A&M University, Naresh Vashisht College of Medicine. He is developing treatments for neurological and neurodegenerative disorders using stem cells and stem cell-derived products, such as extracellular vesicles. These are tiny vesicles secreted by stem cells that carry microRNAs and proteins. Once they make their way into the brain, they can induce beneficial changes in neural cells to improve brain function. Science takes up a lot of Ash's time, but when he's able to get a moment to himself, he enjoys spending time with family, cycling on a stationary bicycle, playing brain games like Sudoku, and going out to see movies at the theater. Ash earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, and he completed postdoctoral research at Montana State University and Duke University. Afterward, he joined the faculty at Duke University in the Division of Neurosurgery. He joined the faculty at Texas A&M University College of Medicine in 2011. In 2024, he was honored with the University Distinguished Professor Award from Texas A&M University, and he has also received the College of Medicine's Senior Research Excellence Award. In addition, Ash is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Society for Neural Transplantation and Repair. He has received the Research Career Scientist Award from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, has been recognized among the "World's Top 1% of Scientists" across all scientific fields, and he was the 2025 honoree of Fast Company's World Changing Ideas. In this interview, Ash shares details about his life and his work in science.

Inspector General of the United States Department of Labor Anthony D'Esposito & Acting United States Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling join Sid live in-studio to discuss the great work the Department of Labor is doing for President Trump and for the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While divorce rates among younger adults have declined in recent decades, one demographic is experiencing a dramatic rise in separation: adults over 45. According to research from Bowling Green State University, roughly one-third of all U.S. divorces now occur among couples in midlife and beyond—a phenomenon often referred to as “gray divorce.” The American Psychological Association notes that these life transitions can bring major emotional, financial, and identity-related challenges, while also opening the door to profound resilience, reinvention, and personal growth. In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Heather Theisen-Gándara, founder of Reignite Collective, to explore what it truly means to rebuild life after divorce—and why women over 40 are discovering that their next chapter can become their most powerful one yet. Dr. Theisen-Gándara shares her remarkable journey from rural Wisconsin to becoming an internationally experienced leader, educator, and mentor. As the first person in her family to hold a passport, her life expanded through extensive work and travel across Latin America, where she developed fluency in Spanish and a deep passion for cross-cultural connection. With a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, a Master's in Counseling, and more than two decades of experience in international diplomacy and large-scale organizational leadership, she has partnered with global organizations including the United States Department of State, ExxonMobil, and Baker Hughes. But behind the impressive résumé was a deeply personal reinvention story. After the end of a 24-year marriage, Dr. Theisen-Gándara faced the emotional and financial realities that many women experience after divorce. Instead of allowing that season to define her, she rebuilt from the ground up—reclaiming financial independence, prioritizing wellness, losing nearly 100 pounds, and rediscovering her confidence, identity, and purpose. Through Reignite Collective, she now helps women navigate holistic recovery after divorce by focusing on emotional healing, wellness, financial empowerment, self-confidence, and personal style. Her message is both compassionate and transformational: divorce is not the end of a woman's story—it can be the beginning of her most empowered chapter. In this conversation, we discuss: This episode is a powerful reminder that healing and reinvention are possible at any stage of life—and that sometimes the most beautiful chapters begin after everything changes.     For more information: https://www.reignitecollective.com/ Follow: @HeatherGlowsAgain   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

La tierra agrícola dejó de ser solo un recurso productivo: hoy representa poder económico, control territorial y seguridad nacional. Mientras Estados Unidos restringe compras de tierra por parte de China, México enfrenta una pregunta incómoda: ¿quién controla realmente su campo estratégico?La Reforma Agraria transformó la historia rural mexicana al repartir millones de hectáreas y crear ejidos y comunidades agrarias. Sin embargo, décadas después, la propiedad social enfrenta dos riesgos opuestos: parcelas cada vez más fragmentadas y procesos de reconcentración silenciosa.El problema ya no es únicamente tener tierra, sino contar con condiciones reales para producir: crédito, agua, maquinaria, caminos, insumos, organización y acceso a mercados. Sin esos elementos, muchas parcelas quedan atrapadas, abandonadas, rentadas o vendidas bajo presión económica.La concentración de tierras, el avance del monocultivo, la extranjerización agrícola y la captura del valor por grandes cadenas productivas muestran que el campo mexicano vive una transformación profunda. La disputa actual no es por cualquier tierra, sino por tierra productiva.El futuro del campo depende de fortalecer ejidos, pequeños productores y proyectos colectivos capaces de competir sin perder control territorial. La pregunta central es urgente: ¿la tierra seguirá en manos de quienes la trabajan o terminará convertida en activo financiero?Escucha Agricultura Profesional:https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZuOW2DhD7PK4SM33gtFWy?si=e33021063a114550--Créditos musicales:INTROMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-graham/53License code: 62TIV9S8Q1XCM65WOUTROMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/let-good-times-rollLicense code: KUSUTAITXDLYUTHQ--Fuentes consultadas:United States Department of Agriculture. (2025). _Farm Security is National Security: The Trump Administration Takes Bold Action to Elevate American Agriculture in National Security_. USDA. Comunicado oficial sobre el National Farm Security Action Plan, restricciones a adversarios extranjeros y tratamiento de la tierra agrícola como activo de seguridad nacional.Farm Service Agency, USDA. (2024). _Foreign Holdings of U.S. Agricultural Land through December 31, 2023_. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Reporte AFIDA sobre tenencia extranjera de tierra agrícola en Estados Unidos y evolución de las adquisiciones reportadas.Warman, A. (2003). _La reforma agraria mexicana: una visión de largo plazo_. FAO. Análisis histórico de la Reforma Agraria mexicana, reparto de más de 100 millones de hectáreas, creación de ejidos y papel político del reparto agrario.INEGI. (2023). _Resultados definitivos del Censo Agropecuario 2022_. Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía. Fuente para superficie agrícola, unidades de producción, proporción de riego y temporal, acceso a crédito y principales limitantes productivas del campo mexicano.Procuraduría Agraria. (2025). _Programa Institucional de la Procuraduría Agraria 2025-2030_. Diario Oficial de la Federación. Documento institucional sobre propiedad social en México, superficie de ejidos y comunidades, núcleos agrarios, certeza jurídica y retos de organización territorial.

What better way to end the podcast season than with the creatures that make life a little softer, messier, and infinitely more lovable? Truly, there is both an overt and an unspoken deep emotional bond between humans and animals, especially pets like dogs and cats. From first-time pet parent mistakes to the realities of caring for aging pets, the episode explores the joy, grief, chaos, and companionship that come with opening your home to an animal. Because sometimes the best medicine, comfort, and unconditional love come with four legs and fur. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jesse Tong, DVM, a board-certified Emergency and General Practice Veterinarian based in New York City.Dr. Tong received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Calgary - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and then completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital in New York City. Dr. Tong is Fear Free-Certified and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Certified.Follow Friends of Franz Podcast: Website, Instagram, FacebookFollow Christian Franz (Host): Instagram, YouTube

The United States Department of Defense released a second batch of UFO-related files.  Donald Trump celebrated Stephen Colbert's departure from “The Late Show” as he closed out his final episode with appearances from stars. Plus, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch has died at the age of 41. Hosts: Branson Quirke, Deven Rall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, the United States Department of Justice announced an indictment against former Cuban president Raúl Castro for his involvement in the death of American servicemembers in 1996. Greg and Holly hear parts of the live news conference, then discuss what this indictment actually means for the former leader of Cuba.

Anthropic PBC v. United States Department of War

Joshua Yuhas delivers the latest news on a children's hospital adding a detransition clinic after a United States Department of Justice probe, confirmation of the passing of a major senior Hamas military official, and issues between the United States and Cuba on 5/17/26.

You can find more from Mike here:Upcoming book, What If Anger Is the Answer?https://www.whatifangeristheanswer.com/A non-profit I am building to help Marines transition from the service to civilian lifehttps://www.marinesnextchapter.org/What does it take to go from leading Marines in combat to building humanoid robots for the Department of Defense—and what does that journey teach about confidence, leadership, and unshakeable self-worth? In this powerful episode of The Self Esteem and Confidence Mindset, we sit down with Mike LeBlanc, Marine Corps major, entrepreneur, Harvard Business School graduate, and founder of Foundation Future Industries, to explore his remarkable transition from 14 years in the Marines to creating robotics companies and pathways for veterans into startup and technology careers.Mike shares leadership lessons from the Marine Corps, how military discipline builds authentic confidence and self-esteem, the challenges of transitioning from service to entrepreneurship, and what it takes to build cutting-edge technology—including humanoid robots for the United States Department of War and industrial applications. His story reveals how purpose-driven leadership, resilience, and veteran mindset create unshakeable confidence in business and life.You can find more from Mike here:Upcoming book, What If Anger Is the Answer?⁠https://www.whatifangeristheanswer.com/⁠A non-profit I am building to help Marines transition from the service to civilian life⁠https://www.marinesnextchapter.org/⁠

Guests & Topics Cam Edwards and AWR Hawkins lead the first hour. Discussion Focus Latest Second Amendment news Gun control initiatives backed by the Democratic Party Federal agency developments involving: United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473 issues and updates Legal & Court Coverage Recent court actions and rulings Developments involving Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) Overall Theme Analysis of current threats and challenges to gun rights and the Second Amendment.

Greater Boston Legal Services v. United States Department of Homeland Security

Host and American Family Farmer, Doug Stephan (www.eastleighfarm.com) shares the biggest news affecting family farmers, starting with facts of the Iran war, how it's impacting agriculture, how it's impacting your life, and how it's impacting energy and the cost of things, specifically fertilizer. Right now, the cost of fertilizer is $700 per ton. The last time Doug bought fertilizer by the ton, the cost was around $250 per ton. Now, $700 per ton. One more time . . .   $700 PER TON. Additionally, the oil costs are driving up farm expenses, gasoline prices are averaging over $4 a gallon, diesel fuel prices are averaging nearly $6 a gallon, and immediate oil prices (the crude coming out of the ground) is averaging $100+ per barrel. Moving on, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $115 million investment across eight states to expand timber production, enhance forest health, and reduce wildfire risks. Funded through the Timber Production and Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP), this initiative supports sawmills and wood processing facilities to boost domestic production by 25%. Lastly, Doug addresses the news that the U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing a major appeal from Bayer-owned Monsanto, which seeks to throw out thousands of lawsuits claiming its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Monsanto, it could effectively terminate thousands of active lawsuits that argue for stricter, state-mandated cancer warnings. If the ruling favors the plaintiffs, it could significantly increase the legal liabilities for the company.Website: AmericanFamilyFarmerShow.com Social Media: @GoodDayNetworks

Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. United States Department of Homeland Security

Today's edition is sponsored by Nola BuildsFive times five is not 125, but May 5 is the 125th day of the year and goes by 5/5 no matter what side of the Atlantic you are on. Charlottesville Community Engagement has so far been produced on the Western side but one potential future would be for at least some editions to be created in other parts of the world. After all, it has now been three years since the World Health Organization declared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic global health emergency. This opening paragraph was written while listening to an Italian radio station.In this edition:* Four nonprofit groups that provide support for unhoused people present the annual State of Homelessness report to Charlottesville City Council* There's no new public information about how three of those groups will operate a low-barrier shelter at 2000 Holiday Drive* More support has been requested for those in encampments along the Rivanna River but at least one Councilor said another plan is neededFirst shout-out: Upcoming Charlottesville Area Tree Steward walks to celebrate MayThe mission of the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards is to support rural and urban forests and promote knowledge and understanding of the value of trees for present and future generations.One way the group does that is through holding guided tree walks and there are two opportunities coming up this month.* Charlottesville's Belmont neighborhood is a good example of the city's tree canopy. Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards Steve Huff and Scott Syverud will lead walks on at 9 a.m. on both May 7 and May 8 for people age 14. Sign up for May 7 here or register for May 8 here.* On May 9 at 10 a.m., Charlottesville Area Tree Steward Emily Ferguson will lead a two hour walk at the Virginia Department of Forestry to help identify Hickories, Oaks, and Pines - Oh My! Register here!* On May 12 at 9:30 a.m., Syverud will begin a walk to celebrate Springtime in the Forest at Ivy Creek. Sign up here.All walks are free, but donations are always appreciated. Thanks!The State of Homelessness 2026: Low-barrier homeless shelter edition Every year, nonprofit organizations that work with the unhoused population present City Council with an update on their efforts. The annual State of Homelessness report provides an opportunity to get a big picture look at an intractable issue that the City of Charlottesville is investing millions to solve including the recent purchase of an office building off the U.S. 250 bypass.“This year takes on a different lens because we've had a lot of conversations in regards to 2000 Holiday Drive,” said City Manager Sam Sanders. “This is a chance to go beyond that one facility that we've been discussing and gives the providers an opportunity to provide the Council and the public an update.”Since the last report, several groups have come together to develop an operations plan to run a permanent shelter around the clock. That would include roles for The Haven, People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry (PACEM), and the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless (BRACH).BRACH leads the Continuum of Care The executive director of the latter went first.“Overall we've seen an increase in numbers across the board, stronger collaboration and partnerships between the agencies that are represented here today and just better cohesion of services,” said Shayla Washington. “So I think the overarching message is we're all working together, but there's still a greater need than what we can achieve as single entities.”BRACH is the lead agency in the Continuum of Care, a framework established by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1994 to coordinate services. BRACH formed in 1998 and became a tax-exempt non-profit in 2009.“We are the HUD-designated system, mostly handling the HUD federal application for funding,” Washington said. “Currently, our CoC only receives funding for permanent supportive housing from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. But we do oversee regional planning, data collection and data performance, and really just trying to be that main body that's coordinating all the regional housing and homeless services for folks who are experiencing homelessness.”Every year, BRACH also coordinates the Point in Time count which records population data for HUD. This year's event was held on January 28 in the middle of a long cold snap exacerbated by an ice storm. There was an emphasis on getting people inside that night through emergency hotel room stays but Washington said seven people slept in the cold overnight.“We found four people who were sleeping outside and chose to stay outside for that night from Charlottesville and Albemarle, and then three from Louisa County,” Washington said. “We did not receive numbers from the other counties in our catchment area. We had 87 people who were hotel through emergency hotel stays.”BRACH also runs the Coordinated Entry Management System which contains the names and identities of people documented as homeless. As of May 4, there were 333 individuals on what is referred to as the By Name List.“This is people who are either outside or sleeping in a shelter, any place not meant for human habitation,” Washington said. “So if they have a roof over their head, it's because it's an emergency shelter or it's because they are sleeping in a car or a place that doesn't have running water or electricity. If they're couch surfing or staying with friends or family and just kind of unstably housed, that does not count towards our by name list.”Of those 333 people, 58 identified the City of Charlottesville as their last permanent address and 21 said from Albemarle County. Around two-thirds either did not say or were not asked. Washington said that could be improved over time through better training.“Sometimes people aren't willing to give a lot of information at the first point of contact with them,” Washington said. “And so it's just reminding service providers to continue just trying to collect that data anytime you can.”At the moment there are only 54 permanent shelter beds available year-round operated by the Salvation Army at their facility on Ridge Street. That number increases to just over 100 when PACEM operates night shelters in area churches. There are 30 spots for rapid rehousing. And 30 permanent supportive housing spaces.“With permanent supportive housing, these are folks who are mostly older,” Washington said. “One third of them don't have income and they all have disabling conditions and were homeless for very long periods of time before they got into this housing. And it's the most stable that they've ever been in some cases, many cases.”Supportworks Housing are building another 80 permanent supportive units at their Vista 29 facility on U.S. 29.Rapid rehousing offers up to 24 months of case management to assist a person with handling their finances to stay in a place.Washington also presented data on some of the reasons why Charlottesville is an easy place for some to fall out of the housing system. For instance, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is between $1,700 and $1,850“As a reminder, affordable housing is defined as not paying more than 30% of your income towards rent,” Washington said.The City of Charlottesville now designates BRACH as a fundamental agency so it receives $250,000 a year to provide services deemed to be vital. That has allowed them to hire a full-time grants and data manager. This year the agency will for the first time conduct a Point in Time count for unsheltered people in the summer.PACEM began operations in 2003 and Deputy Director Cindy Chambers said the organization has traditionally relied on volunteers to operate the shelter in the cold weather months.“One of our churches who hosted 40 men for two weeks required at least 100 volunteers and spent roughly $7,000 to do it,” Chambers said. “So we are an organization that has always thrived on the giving and the compassion of the congregations in our community.”In recent years, staff has undergone some professionalization with additional resources from the City of Charlottesville.Seven people work for the organization year round and there are 27 people who work during the season. In addition to the cold weather shelter, PACEM also runs a secure housing program which offers a year of case management to help a client get through to permanent housing.“It's similar to rapid rehousing in the sense that we give intensive case management,” Chambers said. “However, we do not get any sort of state funding. It's all privately funded and we do this with just a bit of move-in help. And this is how we have sustained, this year, 20 folks in housing through our work.”PACEM also offers additional case management to some clients who may have income but have difficulty going through the steps of securing a lease. She said six people this year have found a permanent home through this housing navigation street outreach.“Unfortunately, we just don't currently have the capacity to give everyone a case manager. So we really focus our efforts on folks who could potentially pay rent,” Chambers said. Chambers said additional staffing and training has allowed the agency to step up some of its intake procedures to increase safety such as enhancing bag checks to stop prohibited items from coming in the doors.“This year we also stopped holding people's items that we used to hold based on feedback from our local police,” Chambers said. “We made 62 calls to 911 and only 10 of them were for folks that we really couldn't handle behaviorally as opposed to last year we made 120 calls.”PACEM is an example of a low-barrier shelter which means overnight guests are not required to participate in case management and there are no sobriety checks. Chambers said staff and volunteers are now trained in mental health first aid.“We really are just there to ensure that you are safe tonight and that you receive a hot meal and you can use the restroom,” Chambers said. “To do that, we do still have standards. You have to be able to compose yourself in a group setting, for example, and you have to be able to take care of your basic activities of daily living.”Chambers said PACEM helps provide places to live through shared housing and is working with property owners who want to be part of their solution while also getting paid steady rent. When Councilor Natalie Oschrin asked if they were looking for new participants, Chambers gave out her contact information. Take a look at the PACEM site.Chambers concluded by telling Council that anything the city can do to help people stay in their homes helps the overall system.“What's been a challenge for us is stabilizing them in that they are all just like one step away from maybe not being able to pay rent,” Chambers said. “So we are relying on a lot of the other programs you all fund, like [Piedmont Housing Alliance] to provide arrears assistance if they do fall behind.”That latter refers to a pilot project intended to help some residents at Kindlewood with higher-than-expected rates for newly constructed units.Second shout-out: Design DevelopArchitectural firm Design Develop is offering a new service aimed at the development community that the rest of us might want to know about , too — 3D point cloud scanning! This technique uses specialized equipment, such as 3D scanner systems, to gather a large amount of data points that represent the surface of the scanned object or scene. This really comes in handy when working with historic structures, as the firm knows from its experience in Baltimore and Charlottesville. Read their blog post for more information!The applications of 3D point cloud scanning are extensive and cover various fields, including architecture, construction, cultural heritage preservation, virtual reality, industrial design, manufacturing, and more. These applications require accurate 3D spatial information, and Design Develop's workflow provides precise and comprehensive results, all while being more cost-effective than traditional methods.Design Develop has expertise in this workflow for their own needs and now has a dedicated team offering this service in the Charlottesville and Albemarle Area. If you're involved in the real estate, design, or construction industry, contact them for more information or a free quote.Visit their website for an introductory video that captures the 3D point cloud scanning of the Downtown Transit Center and a booklet that will explain more!The Haven provides a day shelter in downtown CharlottesvilleThe Haven began operations in 2010 in a church on Market Street purchased by filmmaker Tom Shadyac for the express purpose of providing additional resources for those experiencing homelessness.“The heart of what we have done historically is providing our day shelter respite care,” said Executive Director Owen Brennan. “Over the past year, we had just under 26,000 visits to the day shelter. That averages out to about 70 people per day. And then over the course of a year, we see about 430 unique guests. Over that same time, we serve just under 26,000 meals. We serve breakfast every day of the year, and we serve lunch every Friday.”A partnership with UVA Health brings a primary health clinic each Wednesday to the site, a service that has expanded to include a psychiatric and addiction clinic.Brennan said The Haven also implements Continuum of Care services such as staffing a Homeless Information line for anyone in need.“This could be someone who is about to become evicted, someone who's going through the eviction process, or someone who is currently experiencing homelessness,” Brennan said.If that person does become homeless, they are asked to add their name into the coordinated entry system. Brennan said over 6,000 people called the hotline between April 1, 2025 and March 30 of this year. That's up from about 5,000 the year before.The Haven offers three assistance programs with one of them being direct financial assistance of up to $3,500 for people close to losing their rental unit within 14 days and have no other resources.“Oftentimes, we're partnering with other agencies, whether it's the Pathways Fund for the city or [Albemarle County Emergency Relief Program] for the county,” Brennan said. “Piedmont Housing Alliance has rental assistance programs. So we're doing a lot of really good collaboration to prevent folks from entering homelessness.”The other two programs are the Laura DeLapp Haven Housing Fund and a Rapid Re-Housing initiative. This past winter, the Haven served as an emergency shelter during the intense cold and ice snap.“We had an intense weather event this past January, February and the continuum of care came together,” Brennan said. “The city of Charlottesville contributed $25,000. Albemarle county contributed $25,000. And then we fundraised an additional $100,000 to provide hotel, shelter, food and support for a total of 109 unsheltered community members over 18 days.”Salvation Army preparing to launch next phase of Center of Hope campaign next weekThe Salvation Army has had a presence in Charlottesville since 1912 but began to get involved with providing shelter around 1980 according to Major Donald Wilson.“In this past year we have impacted over 9,653 individuals non duplicated counts which includes 16,304 nights of shelter, 1,367 food boxes, over 51,000 meals and also 3,186 personal care kits to help individuals in whatever situation they find themselves,” Wilson saidMajor Wilson said the Salvation Army has also pushed ahead with a plan to add six units for families with funding from Albemarle, Charlottesville and private donors. He said his office receives over 50 calls a day seeking assistance.The Salvation Army also continues fundraising for an expansion of its facility on Ridge Street to be known as the Center for Hope. He said they're about 59 percent of the way to the goal.“$22 million in construction, $2.2 million in furnishings, fixtures and equipment,” Wilson said. “And the Salvation Army… requires that we establish an endowment for that particular structure. Not only for the maintenance of it, but primarily for the continuation of the program so that we won't begin a program and not be able to operate.”The goal is to have 114 beds and to break ground on construction in 2027. More on this when the media campaign launches on May 12.Groups ask Council for additional support for Rivanna River encampmentOne of the questions at the work session is what should be done before a shelter opens at 2000 Holiday Drive. In late March, the City of Charlottesville hired a firm to go through a section of the Rivanna River embankment near Free Bridge where dozens of people have taken to living in tents. The idea was to both clean up trash but to provide outreach.“Outreach efforts will include distributing informational materials and providing fire safety guidance related to heaters, open flames, and carbon monoxide risks, as well as information about available community services,” read a press release from the time.No one was displaced as part of the clean-up. In February, both Brennan and Washington have joined a Public Spaces Working Group.“Our goal is to from each of our respective vantage points identify solutions that we all can get on board with to improve safety, improve health qualities both for the people in camp down at the river, the environmental health and the repercussions for businesses and residents who are adjacent to those encampments,” Brennan said.This week the group sent a letter to Council with additional requests. One is for delivery of portable toilets. The second is to identify an alternate location that would be much safer.“One of the biggest safety concerns is that all of the encampments are currently within what's called the floodway,” Brennan said. “So when we get a heavy rain, that's where the water is actively running. So there was a significant flood. It was 18 months ago. No one died but belongings were washed away. So we would love to find alternative, safer spots for folks.”Washington said BRACH has one outreach coordinator who goes out to the camp once a day to check on people.City Councilor Michael Payne brought up the issue of fire risk after seeing lots of propane tanks being used for heating and cooking.“I observed a lot of unsafe use around open flames,” Payne said. “We're currently in a drought. It's not just a thing to say. I mean, there's a house in Albemarle that burnt down from a propane tank last year.”There were no major updates on the low barrier shelter at 2000 Holiday Drive at this meeting until an hour and 45 minutes in when Washington said Sanders had been sent an updated estimate on Phase 1 that afternoon.“We now have two concrete numbers for phases one and two,” Washington said. “So now we need the city to decide which phase you'd like to move forward with or if you'd like a third option.”This information is not yet public.Councilor Lloyd Snook said he had not seen the report but he said he had a concern.“The broad concern that some of us looking in from the outside have had is that it seems as though the different organizations, the different nonprofits have sort of fundamentally different ways that they think they want to approach the problem and that we need to have one approach,” Snook said.The story will continue to develop.#1045 is also a podcast This is an atypical edition. I very much wanted to be able to get one of these Council work sessions written up quickly. A lot happened at Council but I wanted to prioritize this very important story.I say a lot how this newsletter intends to document complexity and that's what this edition attempts to do. Is this the best way to have told the story? Could there be other voices? The answer is always yes. But, what other media outlet in this community is capable of bringing you this information? Is anyone else even ambitious enough to try? I'm certainly willing to do so and glad for paid subscribers and donors to make it happen. You can learn more about the latter choice here. Today we end with the DJs from Buenos Aires. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

On this Thursday edition of Sid & Friends in the Morning, Sid recaps King Charles & Queen Camilla's day spent yesterday in New York City, where New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani engaged in a formal engagement with the King that only lasted a few moments. In other news of the day, the United States Department of Justice is suing New Jersey and Gov. Mikie Sherrill over recent legislation limiting the power of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the Garden State, a new Netflix documentary entitled Hulk Hogan: Real American features the final interviews and life story of the late wrestling icon - Terry Bollea - who died in July 2025 at age 71 - with the series covering his meteoric rise and major controversies, and former FBI Director James Comey turned himself in yesterday after he was indicted and charged with threatening the life of President Trump last year. Bill O'Reilly, Dana Perino, Joe Benigno, Jonathan Karanek & Rob Shuter join Sid on this Friday-eve installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States Department of Justice  has reached a humiliating but undeniably hilarious new low in its defense of Donald Trump's illegal efforts to create a massive new building on the White House grounds without approval from his Congressional landlords.. Are the president's balls really a matter of national security? Did three of the most important people in DOJ really just put their names on a filing which reads more like a Trutth Social post than a serious motion in a serious case? We waltz in for a closer look. Judge Leon's order staying ballroom construction (3/31/2026) Defendant's Rule 62.1 Motion For An Indicative Ruling Staying the Court's Injunction (4/27/2026)

Leo Terrell, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the United States Department of Justice, makes his return to the morning show on this hump day installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin and William witness Gen Z wanting to live in the past, Lousiana's plan for homelessness, and the United States Department of Justice indicting the Southern Poverty Law Center over its involvement with white supremacist groups. Justin also reviews Michael.

Welcome to the Art, Life, Faith Podcast, and I’m your host, Roger Lowther. Let me take a moment to invite you to our upcoming conference, May 22-27, 2026, just one month away, here in downtown Tokyo with easy access to all the beautiful art and culture of our city. During our time together, we will offer many short presentations, talks, and performances to lead us in worship through the heart art languages of Japan, all around the theme of “The Beauty of Japan, The Beauty of Heaven.” Every session will include discussion times to get to know the people around you, to encourage networking, and to inspire and encourage one another. We will also have an art gallery with plenty of space to display and distribute materials. We will also host unique activities we are calling “Worship in the City,” enabling people to worship God outside the walls of our building and through the art and culture of Tokyo. This gathering has space for up to 200 people. This is not just a conference, it is an experience. You have to come to know what I'm talking about. I know it's going to change your life. God has already blessed tremendously through the preparations for this event, and we can’t wait to see what he already has in store. We are hosting this event specifically over Pentecost weekend to celebrate the things to come, when all the nations will be united across their different languages and different cultures and different arts in worshiping God together. Hear me on this. We will not be speaking one language or sharing one culture, but God delights in the diversity of the cultures and calling us to worship together. So, come spend Pentecost weekend with us here in Tokyo! We look forward to having you. Well, this episode I had the privilege of having a conversation with Alexandra Hudson, or Lexi, the author of “The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves.” A number of weeks ago, she was passing through Tokyo on vacation with her family when she was gracious enough to sit down with me and talk about the various themes in her book and then lead an Art Life Faith event right afterward. One of the things that came up during our conversation was about “porching.” Porch is not usually used as a verb, but Lexi talks about it in her book. She and I share a mutual friend, Joanna Taft, director of the Harrison Center for the Arts in Indianapolis, who invites people onto her porch every week to just share their lives with one another. And through this Art Life Faith event, we realized that that is exactly what these gatherings are. We gather around a table, have a meal together, and get to know each other. This time, three visitors came who I had never met before. And then they came again to gatherings we had in the weeks that followed. This porching was a wonderful opportunity to invite people into our community, and it was wonderful to have Lexi and her family spend that time with us as well. I’m glad I get to share this conversation with all of you. Roger Welcome to the Art Life Faith podcast, and I’m your host, Roger Lowther. Well, tonight we have the privilege of talking with Alexandra Hudson, who was passing through with her family on vacation, and so we got to arrange an Art Life Faith event happening right after our conversation. So I wanted to introduce her to all of you. So thank you, Alexandra, for being on the show. Lexi Thanks for your hospitality. Great to be with you and Abi tonight and excited for the conversation. Roger We just met, so I’m not quite sure how to introduce you. Can you introduce yourself? Lexi Yeah, I am passionate about ideas and storytelling and how they can make our lives richer and better. I love history and philosophy, and I wrote a book called “The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves.” It’s about how to flourish across deep differences, which is the most urgent question of our day in our era of hyper-partisanship, of extremism, of despair, of loneliness. But it’s also a timeless fundamental human question: How do we peacefully coexist amidst competing visions of the good? That’s what I explore my book. Roger Well, it’s an interesting book title because civility, when I try to translate it into Japanese in my head, I’m not quite sure which word to use. Lexi Oh, interesting. What are the options? Roger Well, the one I want to use is politeness, but it’s not politeness, is it? Lexi No, it is not. It’s interesting that you said that. Roger How is it different? Lexi You’re setting me up really nicely. A core argument of my book is that there is an essential distinction between civility and politeness, and in English we have these two words. We have civility and politeness, but people often today use them interchangeably, whether or not they want more of it or less of it. And in America, in the West, we have two vocal groups right now. One group says, “Oh, we are so divided. We’re so broken. Democracy is in peril. We need more civility and politeness in order to save democracy.” So they use this one phrase, “civility and politeness.” And there’s another contingent as well that says, no, civility and politeness are part of the problem. They’re the tools of the powerful, the patriarchy. They oppress the powerless, and we need to burn it all down, throw the baby out with the bathwater. Less civility and politeness in order to achieve greater justice and equity in the world. But both these contingents use these phrases interchangeably, and I argue that they’re different. I love etymology. I love studying language, and I love the origin of language. I’ve loved learning about Japanese and Japanese characters and the stories. So the etymology of civility and politeness is illuminating, and it’s, it’s actually honoring the original etymology to separate these words. So the etymology of, well, let me tell you what the difference is first, then I’ll go. Roger I'm thinking like civilization… Lexi So politeness, I argue, is manners. It’s etiquette. It’s technique. I know there’s a lot of influence in Japan on Confucius philosophy, but so is this concept of li. I don’t know if that is a concept here at all, but it’s like ritual. It’s propriety. Roger Japan is certainly known for its politeness. Lexi That’s correct. What we do is what we say, whereas civility isn’t external, it’s internal. It’s an inner disposition of the heart. It’s a way of seeing others fundamentally as our moral equals, worthy of respect just by virtue of our shared dignity, our equal moral worth as human beings, by virtue of the imago dei, that we are, we are created with it. We have the divine imprint, and that means that every single one of us without exception bear an irreducible moral worth and are worthy of respect. We owe to others that bare minimum of respect by virtue of imago dei. Roger I think I read on the back of your book that it’s not just about your actions and words but about the attitude of your heart, right? Lexi Right. The disposition of the heart is what civility is, and that sometimes actually respecting someone, actually loving someone, requires being impolite. It requires telling a hard truth, having an uncomfortable conversation, even especially in a democracy, engaging in robust debate. I mean, think of a marriage, you know, sweeping differences under the rug is not sustainable for an authentic true relationship. It’s going to get messy. It’s going to get hard. You have to have uncomfortable conversations. But, and in fact, having difficult conversations can be a tool of strengthening a relationship. It’s not about whether you disagree, it’s how you do it and whether you are… Roger If you’re uncivil, does that mean that you are fighting these? What kind of interaction is uncivil? You guys are being uncivil. You know, something I may say to my boys something, right? Lexi Civility requires action sometimes, but it also takes certain action off the table. I’ll give you an example. In chapter 7 of my book, I talk about civil disobedience. And let me just go to the etymology to illuminate the distinction a little bit more. So politeness, our word in English, comes from the Latin polire, which means to smooth or polish. And that’s what politeness does—it papers over difference, it sweeps it under the rug, as opposed to giving us tools to grapple with difference head-on. The etymology of civility is civitas, which is our etymological root for citizen, citizenship, civilization, city. And that’s what civility is— it’s the, the duty, duties, the conduct, the mores, that the disposition, the habits befitting a citizen in a city, and especially in a democracy that requires truth-telling, that requires honest, robust debate that is the lifeblood of a democracy. Roger Okay, so, you know, living here in Japan, we’re often taught to be polite because that’s such a big part of society. And I have seen a lot of relationships broken when they don’t know how to be polite. They say, well, let’s just not talk to that person, and then I don’t have to be fake. I just won’t see that person. And there doesn’t seem to be a kind of a way through for building community. There’s a lot of brokenness in relationships in Japan. So what you’re talking about is a way through that. Lexi That’s so interesting. I’m not saying don’t be polite. I’m not condemning Japan as a polite society. I’m saying that’s not enough, that the form the words, the rituals, the actions, without the inner disposition that sees you as my fellow human being worthy of respect, that it’s not going to be enough. And in the West as well, we too often settle for politeness. We, we settle for just people doing and saying the perfectly correct thing, but we’re missing civility, that inner disposition of the heart that helps us actually know when to depart from politeness, when to have those uncomfortable conversations. Roger Okay, so let me ask you now, because this is the Art Life Faith Podcast, what is the role of beauty and art in creating this soul of civility? Lexi I did a kintsugi class while I was here in Japan, and I love that as a metaphor for life and the human condition, this ancient practice of taking broken pottery that some might cast away but taking it, piecing it back together, and making it more beautiful on the other side of this process, illuminating our brokenness. I think that’s really powerful. Roger So the brokenness of society is something that you as an artist of society are trying to speak into? Lexi I’ve been going back and forth about what I am because I’m not just a writer, I’m not just a speaker. In fact, like this season of my work, I’m a practitioner. Like I am both trying to live this and build initiatives and institutions in my community and helping dozens of other people across the country right now, including Congress, including state legislatures, including Ivy League universities, build initiatives around my work as well. So, civic architect is one idea. I don’t know. Listeners, write to me with your ideas for how to characterize what I’m doing. I wrote this book. It’s both descriptive and normative, but now I’m doing it, and so I don’t have there’s no category really for that that I know of. So if you know of one, if you can help me think of one, I welcome it. Roger Yeah, well, I’ll keep thinking about it. I mean, one reason I asked you to come and speak tonight for this event is we were connected by a mutual friend who runs the Harrison Center for the Arts. I looked at some of the pictures. I saw you were doing events there. You were connected to this art gallery. Can you tell us a little bit more about that connection? Lexi To really do justice to that story, let’s back up a little bit about why I wrote this book. I love history. I love philosophy. I love ideas. I was raised by two very curious human beings. My mom and dad are intellectually omnivorous, and our home life growing up was just very stimulating. And my parents taught me wonder was a way of life. I went to a combination of public, private, and charter schools growing up, but I loved all school because I had this really intellectually robust home life that promoted the life of the mind. Then I went to grad school at the London School of Economics, because I wanted to put ideas into practice. I feel like my education kind of stopped at the Italian Renaissance, and I wanted to know more about the world that I was about to live in. Then I got my first big break in DC. I served in federal government, and it felt like the honor of a lifetime. I couldn’t wait to serve my country, and I chose to serve at the United States Department of Education, the single largest institution in the history of mankind dedicated to student instruction. And I was devastated to discover they didn’t really care about education, at least not how I had been educated, about soul craft and ordering our passions and beauty and goodness and truth. And on top of that, it was so dehumanizing, my experience in Washington. My experience was kind of a microcosm of our dysfunction and division as a whole. I saw two extremes that are equally as dehumanizing. One was the hostile contingent in government, people who were willing to step on anyone to get ahead, overtly belligerent. And the other contingent were polished and poised and polite, but ruthless and cruel. Roger Yeah, I believe it. Lexi I saw people who would smile at me and others one moment and then stab us in the back the next. And that really disillusioned me. And I realized upon reflection that these two extremes they seem like polar opposites. And in fact, people often tack in one direction as an antidote to the other. People who are just exhausted by the hostility are trying to be uber polite to try and compensate, but they’re actually equally as dehumanizing. Both insufficiently appreciate the profound gift of being human in ourselves and in others. The hostile contingent sees others as pawns to be bludgeoned into submission, silenced. Roger That's certainly the image of government. Lexi And the polite contingent sees others as pawns to be manipulated and then discarded, but neither see human beings as they really are— beings with dignity, worthy of respect. So I fled Washington. I served one year. I remember the day very clearly. I came home from work one day. It was a very dispiriting day, and I said to my husband, I’m done with DC. I’m done with the swamp. I’m done with government. Let’s move to Indiana. And he said, okay, sounds good, we’ll move to Indiana. Roger So why Indiana? Lexi Because he’s from there originally. He’s from northern Indiana, and I wanted anywhere but Washington. I just wanted something different. I had in my mind like rolling pastures and farmland, like just peace and tranquility. So he smiled and said, okay, sounds good, we’ll move to Indiana. No takebacks. And a few months later, we were out there, and one of my first friends came up to me after church one day and she said, “Hi, I’m Joanna Taft. Would you like to porch with us sometime?” And I never heard the word porch used that way. Roger I’m not sure what that is. Lexi But I was curious, and again, we didn’t know many people in town. And so we went to her beautiful historic great big front veranda on her porch that Sunday afternoon, and I realized that she was staging a quiet revolution against our polarized, divided, isolated status quo from her front porch. She had curated people that day, much like what you’re doing here tonight, you know, not to have a structured dialog across difference, but just to say You know, what does it mean to engage one another as human beings first? And it was a beautiful oasis from the divisions that I had been just so immersed in in government, where, you know, the world wants us to assign value to our race, our wealth, our political persuasion, where we live, all these different identities. And it was an oasis from that. It was just a chance to be present with other human beings and I’ve been on book tour the last several years. I’ve been in like 145 cities and 5 countries. And I saw people like Joanna doing the same independently. People who said, this is the power in Joanna’s work and her life being an argument for this work. Lexi She was saying, I can’t control others. I can’t control who’s president. I can’t control what’s happening down at city hall. I can only control myself, and I’m going to choose to double down and make my community better and more beautiful. And I tell her story in my book, The Soul of Civility, because the porch is the metaphor that I use, one of the metaphors I used for this, this theory of social change, that we can’t change others. We can’t. It’s the world wants to disempower us and blame. Roger Yeah, I love it. Especially here in Japan, community is so much more important than ideas. And my sense is that America is getting more and more interested in, this is my idea, this is where I stand, are you with me or are you an enemy? Lexi Is there “porching” in Japan? Roger There’s a lot of cafes. People are always going out to izakaya, which is kind of Japanese bar restaurant type of thing. That is a meeting ground. Country Chicken is a fried chicken, izakaya-type place that’s just down there. We can see it out the living room window here. I do karate with my dojo, and we meet there like every couple months. It’s just a fun place to gather and talk. And I’m the only Christian in the group, I’m the only foreigner in the group, and they’ve invited me into their community through the sport of doing karate together. It feels like porching, I guess, because we’re always sharing various ideas. They sometimes ask me provocative questions about politics in the States, and I usually try to avoid those topics. But yeah, that could be porching, I guess. Lexi It absolutely is porching because it’s not even about the porch. You got that right away. It’s a way of engaging others in the world with civility, seeing them as a human being first. You know, you’re not American or Japanese first. You’re not a Republican or Democrat first. You’re my fellow human being and I want to know you. I want to see you. I want to know you and maybe even love you. That is what Joanna fostered on her porch that day that felt so powerful, to have people be seen and known and loved in the fullness of who they are. And that’s refreshing in a world that wants to essentialize us. Roger Yeah, that definitely is what we’re trying to create tonight. We open our home to people. It’s why we are where we are. It’s kind of easy to get to. You came from Tokyo Station. How far are we from there? Lexi Like 10 minutes. Roger Not too far, right? Lexi I know, it was wonderful. Roger Yeah, so we’re trying to be centrally located for that reason. And our church too isn’t far from here. We’re trying to create that kind of community. So going back to the art gallery, or just arts in general…For artists who are listening, what would you say to them about their role in this? How can they help be an architect of civility in their cities, in their communities? What does that look like? Lexi Well, Pope Francis has this great phrase. He called us all to be artisans of the common good. And I love that. I do a lot of work with civic leaders, with elected officials, with CEOs, with educators, people who might not consider themselves artists. I think we’re all artists. We are all creators because we are made in God’s image, and our God is the Creator. Roger Yes. Lexi And I think that we are closest to being who we really are and who God created us to be and most like him when we are creating. So that’s a core message I have for people in my community that might not think of themselves as creative. They’re not part of the creative economy. And it’s like, no, you are. And it’s about finding that still quiet voice that you have a calling to, and to innovate, to see a need, something that doesn’t exist, and to build something that meets that need. So this season of my work, I’m not just talking about the book. I call myself a co-creator with these dozens of local leaders. I call them Civic Renaissance Ambassadors. They’re congresspersons. They’re state representatives. They’re local mayors. They’re city councilors. They’re school teachers. They’re people from all walks of life who have read my book, found it useful, and said, “Okay, I’ve read it, I love it, but how do I live it?” And when I was getting that question all throughout book tour, I said, “I don’t know, I just wrote a book.” But now I’ve learned a lot and I’m co-creating. That’s what I call myself, a co-creator with these people who are doing this, who see loneliness, they see brokenness, they see life as it ought not be because people are cutting friends off, cutting family members off over politics. I don’t know if that’s a problem here. I’d be curious to know if it is, but that’s a big problem in the US where you’re ending friendships, lifelong friendships, family, no contact with parents. Over politics, your view on the vaccine, your view on Donald Trump. And that is like self-sabotage. That is disordered loves. We are making the most important things the not important. And so people see those needs and they want to be part of the solution. So, I’m calling them to co-create with me. Roger I think a lot of artists have this image that they make work and they hope somebody is going to buy their painting or hope that someone’s going to hire them to come in and play for this event but don’t know how it fits into the bigger picture. But you’re saying that everyone has a role to play in building the kind of community to build the kind of city that we want to see. It’s so easy for us to get practical. Like, this is what I have to do to make a living. And this is my narrow pathway here. But it’s a much bigger vision, how it all fits together. Is that right? Lexi Yes. And I think that the message I would share with my co-creators, these civic leaders that I work with is also a message for artists as well, is that no effort to create beauty is ever wasted. It can be really easy to feel like it if the piece doesn’t sell, or if, you know, no one notices— I feel that sometimes. I feel like I work so hard and I’m like, does anyone even care? Is this working? Is this doing anything? And then I have to remind myself, no, the process is the point. Just the act of creation, the act of bringing goodness and beauty and truth into the world, that is its own reward. Roger You were talking about keeping the conversation going by continuing to meet with these people working in government and other business leaders and people like that. I can see how the arts can play a role in that as well. There’s tremendous power in the arts to bring people together over certain topics from a third-party perspective. It’s a safe way to create a platform for people to engage one another, I think. So we’re almost out of time. People are going to start ringing the doorbell and coming in here. Is there anything you’d like to share before we end? Lexi The final chapter on my book argues—it’s on misplaced meaning and forgiveness—and it argues that we have made a religion out of politics, and that’s bad for democracy, bad for religion, bad for Christianity, bad for our souls. And I argue that we need to do things that give us life, that it’s not enough just to say love politics less. We have to do things to actively displace and replace a harmful affection. I’m getting this idea from Thomas Chalmers. He’s a Scottish theologian. He has an essay called “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection.” He says it’s not enough just to say, soul, love sin less. You have to cultivate love of God. That is what will permanently displace the love of the sin. Nature abhors a vacuum, he says. It’s not enough just to diagnose that we have an unhealthy attachment to politics and to toxicity that is poisoning our soul. What are some things we can proactively pursue that are more noble and life-giving? I talk about intellectual curiosity. I talk about friendship, especially friendship across difference. I talk about beauty and the sublime. Beauty is something that delights us. The sublime fills us with awe. It’s like, you know, a thunderstorm, waves crashing on the shore. It’s like staring up space at night and being humbled by this concept of infinity and giving us a sense of smallness. That is good for our souls. I’m on holiday here in Japan with my 3 children, and it’s hard to travel with 3 kids under 6, and it’s tiring. But I want them to know that the world is big and vast, and how we live every day is not the way that most of the world lives. That is humbling. It’s so beautiful. And I’m just so grateful to be here with you. Roger Yeah, that’s great. Well, how can people learn more about you? Lexi I host a newsletter intellectual community called Civic Renaissance. It’s about beauty, goodness, and truth, and reviving the wisdom of the past to help us lead better lives in the present. Please do consider joining me over at Civic Renaissance. It’s about taking ideas out of the ether and living them, like putting this work into practice now, and how can we live richer, more fulfilled lives and relationships now. And, of course, read my book, “The Soul of Civility.” I hope it’s an encouragement. If you are in Japan, and whether you’re Japanese or American or from the West, I want to hear your observations about how this distinction between civility and politeness applies here. I came here with a kind of working hypothesis. I’ve been all over the world talking about this distinction. I was like, what’s it going to be like going to the most polite society in the world? I hope that this does meet a need in some way here, because we need human dignity first. Just manners alone are not enough. Roger Well, thank you. I’m really looking forward to tonight and seeing the kind of discussions that we’re going to have. So thank you so much for sharing your time with us. Lexi My pleasure. Thanks for having us. Roger You’ve been listening to the Art, Life, Faith Podcast. Don't forget to pick up your own copy of The Soul of Civility, wherever you buy your books. As we say in Japan, “Ja, mata ne!” We’ll see you next time.

Lisa Kissing Kucek shares her expertise on developing sustainable, high-performing cover crop varieties like hairy vetch, cereal rye, and other legumes, transforming agricultural systems for long-term soil health and productivity. Lisa and Monte discuss the innovative world of cover crop breeding, biological nitrogen fixation, and the unique challenges and opportunities in microbial and plant genetics. This episode highlights the groundbreaking efforts in seed domestication, trait selection, and sustainable crop management, offering actionable insights for farmers, researchers, and agribusinesses looking to innovate in cover cropping and rotational systems. Stay tuned for upcoming variety releases and continued progress in crop genetics! Timestamp Highlights: 0:00:00 - Cover crop innovations in almond orchards and Midwest grazing opportunities 0:04:33 - Dr. Kissing Kucek's background in soil conservation and her shift to plant breeding 0:05:49 - The significance of variety differences in cover crops: biomass, nitrogen fixation, weed suppression 0:08:35 - Developing nitrogen-fixing legumes like hairy vetch amidst rising fertilizer costs 0:10:28 - Harry Vetch: a star in biological nitrogen fixation with high biomass and winter survival 0:12:23 - Challenges in domestication: reducing seed shattering and seed dormancy in hairy vetch 0:14:48 - Addressing toxicity concerns in vetch and balancing its role as livestock feed 0:16:18 - Effects of frost, freeze-thaw cycles, and environment on overwintering success of legumes 0:18:06 - Differentiating true hairy vetch from similar species for improved breeding outcomes 0 ;20:01 - The impact of variety origin and seed source on winter survival and adaptability 0:25:52 - Biomass and nitrogen response correlations in breeding programs 0:28:00 - Tools for estimating nitrogen contribution from cover crops 0:31:46 - Advances in shatter resistance and seed cost reduction in vetch breeding 0:36:53 - The role of genetic diversity and selection in rye and vetch adaptation over time 0:44:35 - Diversifying rye with different flowering times for forage, cover cropping, and allelopathic traits 0:51:33 - How seed mixing and diversity within seed bags drive adaptability of rye and vetch 0:55:10 - The unique breeding strategies required for interspecific hybrids like triticale 0:58:38 - Relay cropping and intercropping legumes with cereals for organic systems 0:60:45 - Upcoming cover crop variety releases by the Cover Crop Breeding Network (CCB) 0:62:15 - The long-term vision of plant breeders and the importance of perseverance in genetic improvement Resources & Links: Cover Crop Breeding Network (CCB): https://www.covercropbreeding.com/ Nitrogen Estimator Tool: https://covercrop-ncalc.org North Carolina State University Allelopathy Screening: https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/csc2.70275 Hairy Vetch Research: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339657710_Pod_Dehiscence_in_Hairy_Vetch_Vicia_villosa_Roth About our Guest: Lisa Kissing Kucek is a Research Geneticist with the United States Department of Agriculture Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison, Wisconsin. As part of the Cover Crop Breeding Network, Lisa improves cover crops, including cereal rye, hairy vetch, winter pea, and crimson clover. She worked alongside farmers, bakers, and chefs to develop wheat varieties for organic and local food systems during her doctoral research at Cornell University.

Anthony D'Esposito, Inspector General for the United States Department of Labor, joins Sid to discuss his decision not to seek his former congressional seat and instead staying on as Inspector General of the United States Department of Labor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony D'Esposito, Inspector General for the United States Department of Labor, joins Sid to discuss his decision not to seek his former congressional seat and instead staying on as Inspector General of the United States Department of Labor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alan's Soap https://AlansSoaps.com/ToddHonor John's memory and the legacy he created for Ian and Alan with Alan's Artisan Soaps “John's Favorites” bundle.  Get one bar of each of his favorites for only $28.99. Bulwark Capital https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.comBe confident in your portfolio with Bulwark! Schedule your free Know Your Risk Portfolio review. Go to KnowYourRiskPodcast.com today. Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit https://Renue.Healthcare/Todd Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com/ToddGet the new limited release, The Sisterhood, created to honor the extraordinary women behind the heroes. Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE at:The Todd Herman Show - Podcast - Apple PodcastsThe Todd Herman Show | Podcast on SpotifyWATCH and SUBSCRIBE at: Todd Herman - The Todd Herman Show - YouTubeI find it necessary to state outright the biblical case against the trans-humanism we are seeing from big tech and Silicon Valley.Episode Links:In 19 days, a jury in Oakland is going to decide whether the entire legal foundation of the AI industry is built on fraud. Everyone thinks the Musk vs Altman lawsuit is a billionaire grudge match.  Two egos, one grudge, a $150 billion damages number designed for headlines.In 2002, a United States Department of Commerce report outlined a deliberate, planned merger of humanity with transhuman technology - not as a distant possibility, but as a coordinated economic and technological agenda projected for completion around 2035.Nokia CEO, Pekka Lundmark, speaking at the World Economic Forum:  "[By 2030], the smartphone as we know it today will not be the most common interface. Many of these things will be built directly into our bodies."TUNE IN: Elon Musk points out that "as soon as you unlock digital human, you basically have access to trillions of dollars in revenue."Rockefeller Executive Director Simon Winter: "We have more data than we've ever had in history & it's increasingly becoming more affordable in its access & yet it's stuck in silos. It's very fragmented" One Health Summit #OneHealthSummitLarry Ellison basically just said it out loud. ‘Your private data? Yeah, that's the secret sauce for AI... and lucky us, we've got the biggest pantry full of it. In February 2025 at the World Government Summit, Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison stood next to Tony Blair and openly called for every citizen's medical records, genomic data, prescriptions, and hospital history to be sucked into one giant national database. His exact words: “We have to take all of this data we have in our country and move it into a single, unified data platform… so the AI model has everything it needs to understand our country” and can answer “whatever question you like.”

The Miami Heat finally made it official—Terry Rozier is out. No surprises here, just the Heat cutting ties right before the waiver deadline like everyone saw coming.News:We kick things off with some early-season fireworks in the MLB. Reynaldo López and Jorge Soler got into a full-on bench-clearing brawl after a homer and a hit-by-pitch turned into fists flying—Lopez still gripping the baseball while throwing punches. Suspensions came down, appeals were made, and the league settled on five games… but the tone for the season? Set immediately.Meanwhile, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is dealing with a $7.3 million IRS lien while also suing Showtime for $340 million. Oh—and he's rebooking a rematch with Manny Pacquiao. Is it still “Money” Mayweather… or something else entirely?Tragedy struck as former NFL/UFL corner Chris Payton-Jones passed away at 30 following a wrong-way crash.More off-field issues:Ted Ginn Jr. arrested for suspected DUIMarkquese Bell picked up on drug charges (and somehow already has a closed case??)Former Seahawk Rickey Thenarse shot in LA and recovering after surgeryAnd in a potentially HUGE story, the United States Department of Justice is investigating the National Football League over streaming costs and antitrust concerns. Fans paying nearly $1,000 just to watch games? Yeah… that might be a problem.This Week's Biggest Pickle :Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini—and what might be the most allegedly messy situation of the year.From Arizona pro days to a luxury Sedona resort, pool time, hot tubs, rooftop sunsets, and “just friends” statements… the timeline isn't helping anyone here. The The Athletic is now investigating, Russini is off reporting duties, and Vrabel is suddenly not speaking at pressers.Six people there? Maybe.Looks innocent? Not really.Internet detectives? Already on it.This one has everything—money, drama, suspensions, investigations, and a “just friends” story that absolutely nobody is buying.#SportsPodcast #NFL #MLB #NBA

Welcome to The Turf Zone Podcast. This episode features the article “Autonomous Mowing on Trial” written by Landon Erbrick, Paul Bartley, Mark Hoffman and Tanzeel Rehman of Auburn University and J. Bryan Unruh of the University of Florida. As the landscape industry faces mounting labor challenges, tightening environmental regulations, and growing pressure to improve efficiency, the emergence of mowing technologies are generating widespread attention. But do these machines actually deliver on their promises of cost savings, labor efficiency, and sustainability? A multi-disciplinary team of researchers from Auburn University, the University of Florida, and the University of Georgia has launched a multi-year research initiative to answer that very question. Supported by industry partners and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), this effort is part of a larger grant-funded project titled “Landscape Equipment Sustainability Strategies: Do More with LESS.” The project involves a comprehensive evaluation of large-platform autonomous mowers to assess their real-world performance, cost-effectiveness, and operational safety across a variety of landscape conditions. Why This Research Matters The adoption of automation in turf care is no longer a theoretical discussion. Manufacturers have introduced commercial autonomous platforms, and early adopters are already deploying them on sports fields, university campuses, and business parks, yet independent research remains scarce on the topic. Most prior studies have focused on small-platform robotic mowers primarily used in residential settings. Traditionally, these machines relied on perimeter wires and random navigation patterns, limiting their efficiency and scalability. However, recent technological advancements—such as real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning and EPOS (Exact Positioning Operating System) navigation—have dramatically improved the precision, reliability, and adaptability of small autonomous mowers. This rapid evolution in positioning and sensing technologies has expanded the potential for autonomy in turf management far beyond the homeowner market. Building on these advancements, large-platform autonomous mowers, that is, commercial-scale machines capable of operating both manually and autonomously, have now entered the market. These systems aim to address many of the industry's most pressing challenges, including labor shortages, rising operational costs, and increasing sustainability demands. Our research seeks to evaluate these emerging technologies through a rigorous, data-driven approach to help landscape contractors, municipalities, and turf managers make informed decisions about integrating autonomy into large-scale operations. What We're Testing & Why It Matters This project is evaluating large-platform commercial mowers across four equipment categories: Manual gas-powered Manual battery-powered Autonomous gas-powered Autonomous battery-powered We're conducting real-world field trials using standardized test plots with varying levels of landscape complexity, from open square acres to obstacle-rich environments designed to mimic trees, bed edges, and other site constraints. Our goal is to understand how different combinations of power source (gas vs. battery) and operator mode (manual vs. autonomous) influence performance, cost, safety, and usability in professional landscaping scenarios. What We're Measuring Across hundreds of acres of mowing in diverse conditions, we're tracking: Labor Efficiency – Time per acre, supervision requirements, and total operator hours Energy or Fuel Consumption – Gallons or kilowatt-hours per acre Mowing Productivity – Speed (acres/hour) under manual vs. autonomous operation Cost of Ownership – Lifetime return on investment (ROI) including equipment price, maintenance, energy, and labor Operational Safety & Setup Time – Issues related to autonomous deployment, landscape variability, and required oversight Adaptability to Landscape Types – How autonomy performs in simple vs. complex site conditions Together, these data will help landscape contractors, fleet managers, and municipal buyers evaluate whether, how, and when to adopt autonomous and battery-powered equipment based on real numbers, not hype or pressure. Safety and Supervision Under the Microscope We're also conducting obstacle detection trials using mannequins and field hazards at multiple approach angles to understand how these machines interpret and react to real-world variables. Our team is especially interested in hybrid operation strategies, where a single operator supervises an autonomous unit while mowing with another, significantly boosting productivity without a full leap into autonomy. Implications for the Green Industry This research comes at a critical time. As noise restrictions, emissions regulations (e.g., California AB 1346), and labor shortages reshape the industry, many contractors are asking: What's the smart next investment? By delivering field-tested, brand-agnostic insights, our goal is to help professionals: Make evidence-based equipment choices Optimize labor deployment strategies Understand technology limitations and serviceability Prepare for future regulations and automation trends. You have been listening to The Turf Zone Podcast. Follow The Turf Zone on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for all things turfgrass, featuring podcasts, magazines, events and more. Visit www.theturfzone.com for more. The post Autonomous Mowing on Trial appeared first on The Turf Zone.

Interview recorded - 10th of April, 2026On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming on Catherine Austin Fitts. Catherine Austin Fitts served as Managing Director at Dillon, Read & Co and as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George H. W. Bush — before leaving government to document what she describes as a systematic looting of public finances on a scale most people still find difficult to believe. She is also the publisher of The Solari Report, and managing member of Solari Investment Advisory Services, LLC and Sea Lane Advisory, LLC.During our conversation we spoke about the shifting global order, Chinese control, Mr Global, Bank of international settlements, US governments financial corruption. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction1:56 - Shifting global order6:00 - Chinese control7:15 - Pushing Russia out of financial system9:16 - Western geopolitical strategy15:03 - Mr global18:54 - Bank of International Settlements31:19 - China & BRICs?32:24 - US government lost money37:04 - Protecting your wealth43:44 - Less transparency44:24 - One message to takeaway?Catherine served as managing director and member of the board of directors of the Wall Street investment bank Dillon, Read & Co. Inc., as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in the first Bush Administration, and was the president of Hamilton Securities Group, Inc. Catherine has designed and closed over $25 billion of transactions and investments to-date and has led portfolio and investment strategy for $300 billion of financial assets and liabilities.Catherine graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (BA), the Wharton School (MBA) and studied Mandarin Chinese at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She blogs for the Solari Report at solari.com.Catherine Austin Fitts:Website - https://solari.com/X - https://x.com/solari_theWTFinance -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes -https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-fatseas-761066103/Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Annual Security Symposium. Visit: https://ceri.as/2026 Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming both the opportunities and risks within cybersecurity, creating a new landscape that today's students and researchers will soon inherit and shape. This keynote explores how AI is evolving from a supporting tool to a decision-making system, fundamentally changing how cyber threats are created, detected, and managed. It will examine emerging risks such as deepfakes, model manipulation, and systemic dependencies on shared technologies, while also addressing the growing role of regulation and the challenges of governing systems that are powerful yet often opaque. Most importantly, the session will highlight where the greatest opportunities lie—at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and policy—and how the next generation of professionals can play a defining role in building secure, resilient, and trustworthy systems for the future.  About the speaker: Brian J. Peretti is a career member of the Senior Executive Service at the United States Department of the Treasury. In his final position, he served as Treasury's Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer in the Office of Chief Information Officer.As Treasury's Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Peretti establishes, leads, and manages a comprehensive, multi-year strategic and long-range planning process that promotes the vision for IT and ensures consistent progress toward accomplishing the CIO's vision, while identifying and leveraging common technology solutions to support business processes and work methods and/or to improve effectiveness of current technologies while also developing appropriate policy for emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Biometrics and Quantum Computing. As Treasury's Deputy Chief AI Officer, Mr. Peretti supported Treasury's Chief AI Officer in advancing the Department's deployment of this emerging technology. In this capacity, he oversaw the publication of Treasury's report, Managing Artificial Intelligence-Specific Cybersecurity Risks in the Financial Services Sector, and directed the subsequent lines of effort. Additionally, serving in this position has seen him designated as the Executive Officer for the Department's AI Governance Board as well as the Department's representative to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's CAIO Council. In addition, Mr. Peretti leads the development of domestic and international operational resilience policy, including cyber, as part of Treasury's Sector Risk Management Agency responsibility for the financial services sector. In this role, he spearheads Treasury's efforts to increase multi-directional sharing of cyber threat and vulnerability information. He also serves as the United States's designated subject matter expert at the Group of 7 Cyber Expert Group (G-7 CEG). Mr. Peretti has served at the Treasury for over 22 years with increasing levels of responsibility, including being named the Senior Career Official Executing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions during the transition from the Obama to the Trump Administration. Based on his expertise in critical infrastructure protection and operational resilience, he was detailed to the Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's National Risk Management Center during the intial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and served as the first Senior Advisor for Security and the Economy. He also speadheaded DHS response to the SolarWinds cyber incident. A sought-after speaker and presenter, Mr. Peretti has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career. Most recently, he received the 12th Annual Billington CyberSecurity Leadership Award at the 2023 Annual Billington CyberSecurity Summit. Prior to joining the Treasury, Mr. Peretti was an associate in Shook, Hardy & Bacon's Corporate Banking and Finance Section in Washington, D.C., and was the General Counsel for the Wright Patman Congressional Federal Credit Union. He has authored numerous publications related to financial sector operations, including payment systems. Mr. Peretti received his bachelor's degree from Rider University (cum laude) in 1989, and his law degree from American University's Washington College of Law (cum laude) in 1992.

Reach Community Development v. United States Department of Homeland Security

Listen in on our lively chat with Anna Galvez, Assistant Director of Education at the Organic Seed Alliance, and Katie Jagger, a Field Research Assistant who also co-manages Saltwater Seeds. Anna supports organic farmers in building practical data skills for organic seed production, helping strengthen knowledge and decision-making in the field. Katie shares about her research work at OSA and how it connects to running a small seed company, while also reflecting on her experience as a beginning farmer balancing learning, research, and seed stewardship. Together, they discuss the intersection of farmer education, research, and the next generation of organic seed growers.This episode of the Farm Walks podcast was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture Transition to Organic Partnership ProgramThe Farm Walks Podcast is collaboratively organized by Tilth Alliance and WSU Food Systems. Visit farmwalks.org to learn more.

The EPA is releasing its long-awaited Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs), and this week we discuss what those standards could mean for agriculture. We also break down what the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict could mean for fertilizer prices and availability for farmers. Other agriculture news this week includes Illinois officially moving to a B20 biodiesel blend requirement to qualify for the tax credit, new findings from Bushel on farmers' digital tool usage, and the United States Department of Agriculture announcing plans to move the United States Forest Service headquarters from Washington to Utah. We also discuss what officials are saying about reopening the U.S.-Mexico border for cattle trade, along with some Easter-related news involving chocolate and eggs. This week's interview is with Josh Linville of StoneX, who explains how the conflict involving Iran is impacting fertilizer supply and costs. He notes that roughly one-third of global fertilizer trade, along with significant volumes of oil, natural gas and crop nutrients, move through the Strait of Hormuz. Linville says the conflict could create long-term ripple effects across supply chains, raising energy and fertilizer costs for months and potentially into 2027. While some farmers and agribusinesses may already have portions of their fuel and fertilizer needs locked in, many will still feel the impact of higher prices during an already tight-margin year. Stay connected with us for more agriculture content on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with our weekly videos!

Bautista v. United States Department of Homeland Security

The month-long Iran conflict has rapidly expanded, drawing in actors across the Middle East and raising concerns about broader regional escalation. As a result, we're seeing impacts on energy markets around the world, including across the Indo-Pacific.  Roughly 80% of the oil and gas flowing through the Gulf is destined for Asia, and disruptions are already being felt in major importing economies like Japan and South Korea, which remain heavily dependent on Middle Eastern supplies. But the consequences go beyond energy. The crisis is also adding a new layer of complexity to the U.S.-China relationship—reshaping how Beijing thinks about risk, security, and its role in an increasingly unstable global system. So how is China interpreting these developments? What do they mean for the Indo-Pacific—both in the near term and over a longer horizon? And how might China's approach to energy security, supply chains, and statecraft position it in a more volatile world? Today on the show, Jason Bordoff speaks with Kurt Campbell about what the current instability in the Gulf could mean for the Indo-Pacific. They also discuss an essay Kurt co-authored with Rush Doshi in Foreign Affairs, arguing for reorienting US diplomacy with China.    Kurt is the chairman of The Asia Group, which he co-founded in 2013. During the Biden Administration, he was deputy secretary of the United States Department of State. Before assuming his role at the State Department, Kurt served as the inaugural Indo-Pacific coordinator at the National Security Council and deputy assistant to the President at the White House. Credits: Hosted by Jason Bordoff and Bill Loveless. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor, Caroline Pitman, Alice Manos, and Kyu Lee. Engineering by Gregory Vilfranc.  

Mallonee Family Farms has been certified organic for more than 20 years and continues a dairy legacy that began in 1949, when Maynard's grandfather first purchased the farm. His commitment to soil health, increasing biodiversity, and building a healthy ecosystem that will thrive for generations is an undercurrent for his on-farm decisions. Listen in as Maynard explores his role as a Transitioning to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) mentor, being part of Organic Valley, the importance of organic certification in the dairy industry, and much more. Plus, we'll make a Provider Connection with Maxime Etilé from the Northwest Agriculture Business Center.This episode of the Farm Walks podcast was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture Transition to Organic Partnership ProgramThe Farm Walks Podcast is collaboratively organized by Tilth Alliance and WSU Food Systems. Visit farmwalks.org to learn more.

Tonight we step back and look at the growing war fever gripping Washington. From the hawkish posture of Lindsey Graham to the surprising pro-war rhetoric coming from parts of the MAGA movement, the political lines are getting harder to recognize. We'll also discuss Erika Kirk and her new position with the United States Department of Defense, and what it says about the direction things are heading. No script tonight—just an honest conversation about where the country is, where it may be going, and why so many in power seem eager for conflict.

Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links —Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

Ben and Popok are together again on the Legal AF Podcast breaking down: the potential unraveling of Pam Bondi's career as she loses Republican support while maneuvering to protect her law license, explosive new revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal including reports that Donald Trump has been sitting on previously undisclosed personal documents—cabinet officials preparing for Oversight Committee testimony, and federal judges stepping in to demand the administration refund hundreds of billions in allegedly illegal tariffs as the United States Department of Justice continues to stumble in court. All that and much more on tonight's Legal AF. Upwork: Visit https://upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Smart Credit: Head to https://smartcredit.com/legalaf and start your 7-day trial for just $1. 120Life: Visit https://www.120life.com/products/120-life-free-shipping?code_bp=LEGALAF and use code: LEGALAF for 20% OFF! Qualia: Head to https://qualialife.com/LEGALAF and use promo code: LEGALAF at checkout for 15% off your purchase! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking news out of Washington.Sources close to the administration say former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been reassigned to a position that officials claim better matches her “unique leadership experience.”That new role?America's first ever National Dog Catcher.After a controversial story resurfaced about Noem shooting a misbehaving dog on her farm, critics say the internet hasn't forgotten — and now satire might be the only way left to explain the situation.In this episode of Satire Saturday, Chad Law breaks down the story the only way modern politics can be explained anymore: through satire.From the creation of a brand-new federal agency called the United States Department of Canine Compliance, to the proposed Rules of Puppy Engagement, Washington may have finally found the one government job nobody in Congress wants.If politics has started sounding like parody…you're probably paying attention.Chapters00:00 Breaking News – Kristi Noem Reassigned01:15 Show Intro – Satire Saturday02:00 The Dog Story That Won't Go Away03:30 Trump's “New Opportunity” for Noem04:15 Press Conference Damage Control05:20 Washington's Approach to Discipline05:55 The Department of Canine Compliance06:30 Tactical Labradors & Dog Bureaucracy07:10 Federal Dog Forms & Government Paperwork07:50 The “Farm Tough Discipline Model”08:15 Rules of Puppy Engagement09:45 The Budget & Humane Society Cuts10:15 Migrant Facility Controversy10:50 Noem's Production Crew Demands11:30 The Real Political Lesson12:00 Closing – The Internet Never Forgets#SatireSaturday#KristiNoem#PoliticalSatire#Trump#Comedy#LastGayConservative

Let's head to Yakima for a visit with Paul Beveridge, owner of Wilridge Vineyard, Winery & Distillery and Abraham Gonzalez, Vineyard Manager of Naches Heights Vineyard. Wilridge Vineyard, Winery & Distillery, founded in 1988, is a renowned, eco-conscious producer located in Washington State, often recognized as the state's first certified Organic, Biodynamic, and Salmon-Safe vineyard and winery. Naches Heights Vineyard is a pioneering, sustainably focused winery and vineyard located in Yakima, Washington, founded in 2002. Paul and Abraham are mentor and mentee through the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) Mentorship Program. Listen as Paul and Abraham explore the benefits of becoming certified organic, the unique challenges of making organic wine, and much more!Plus we'll make a Provider Connection with Ben Bowell, Education and Advocacy Director of Oregon Tilth.This episode was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP).The Farm Walks Podcast is collaboratively organized by Tilth Alliance and WSU Food Systems. Visit farmwalks.org to learn more.

What was the United States government's first move, when it decided that what Americans ate was a matter of national concern? Why, from the depths of the Civil War to the height of the culture wars, has Washington repeatedly redrawn the nation's plate - sometimes to fight hunger, sometimes to win wars, sometimes to battle heart disease and obesity? And how did fruits and vegetables move from quiet supporting players to nutritional protagonists, caught between science, industry, and politics?Join John and Patrick as they trace the extraordinary history of U.S. dietary guidelines - from the founding of the United States Department of Agriculture in 1862, through wartime rationing and the “Basic Seven,” to the rise and fall of the Food Pyramid and the fierce debates of today. As public health, agricultural economics, and political ideology collide at the dinner table, one question lingers: when the government tells you what to eat, who (and what) is really being served?----------In Sponsorship with J&K Fresh.The customs broker who is your fruit and veggies' personal bodyguard. Learn more here!-----------Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Support us!Share this episode with your friendsGive a 5-star ratingWrite a review-----------Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com

-- On the Show -- Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union address was a low-energy, reality-detached speech filled with false claims, self-praise, and economic distortions -- Right-wing politicians and media figures exaggerate and misrepresent data to portray Donald Trump as dominant and successful despite weak approval numbers -- Attorney General Pam Bondi struggles to defend Donald Trump's State of the Union during a Fox and Friends interview and fails to present a clear argument -- Several voters criticize Donald Trump's State of the Union speech for lacking economic clarity while one swing voter offers vague praise without specifics -- Mike Johnson admits that losing the midterms would expose Donald Trump to renewed investigations and aggressive House oversight -- The United States Department of Justice withholds dozens of tracked FBI pages tied to allegations involving Donald Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein case -- Joe Kernen challenges Senator Markwayne Mullin's inflation claim on CNBC, undercutting a key Republican talking point about economic progress -- Global markets significantly outperform United States markets since Donald Trump returns to office, weakening his economic leadership narrative -- On the Bonus Show: Democrats win three more elections, prices likely won't go down despite SCOTUS's ruling against Trump's tariffs, the US government drops its case against six Democratic lawmakers, and much more...

Go to rushhourwithdave.com for tickets to my upcoming Asheville NC, Stamford CT and Boston shows! Consider donating to Hanne's gofundme here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-hanne-recover-and-seek-justice  

It's no longer just “abolish ICE.” Now prominent Democrats are openly calling to dismantle the entire Department of Homeland Security. Tara breaks down what that actually means — and why no one on the right seems to be responding.

Democrats are openly calling to abolish the Department of Homeland Security — not just ICE. Meanwhile, after $175 billion to defend Europe, allies are cutting deals with China and denying U.S. requests. Tara connects the dots on border policy, midterms, and a global realignment few are talking about.

Newly released United States Department of Justice files, as reported by The New York Post, reveal disturbing details about Jeffrey Epstein's long-standing and unusually close involvement with Celina Dubin, the daughter of his former girlfriend, Eva Dubin. Epstein first met Celina when she was a child through Eva, with whom he had a relationship in the 1980s and early '90s. Emails in the documents show that even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution, Epstein maintained contact with Celina through hundreds of messages in which she called him “Uncle F.” He attended family events — including visits to her home and her high school lacrosse games — and was involved in aspects of her life that went beyond typical family friend interaction, such as offering to help with potential modeling opportunities and academic connections. Records also showed him buying clothes for her as a teenager and arranging professional contacts for her, though plans like a photoshoot never came to fruition.One of the most striking revelations in the documents is that Epstein told acquaintances around 2014 that Celina, then 19, was “the only person he wanted to marry.” While there is no evidence of a romantic or physical relationship, the assertion raised concerns due to his history and the ages involved. Epstein even named Celina a contingent beneficiary of his trust without her knowledge; she later renounced any claim after learning of it. The Dubin family, through a spokesperson, pushed back against the implications, stressing that Celina was unaware of Epstein's intentions, did not benefit from his estate, and that Eva Dubin would have cut ties had she known about his criminal conduct.to  contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Jeffrey Epstein's obsession with ex Celina Dubin's teen daughter

It's Casual Friday on the Majority Report   On today's program:   Trump is presented a trophy by a coal CEO after he ends regulations on greenhouse gasses.   David Dayen, executive editor of the American Prospect, joins Sam to recap the week's news. Topics include the looming shutdown over DHS funding, Epstein, and more.   In the Fun Half:   Hasan Piker comes under attack for saying he would not vote for Gavin Newsom if he were to win the nomination in 2028.   An Irishman that has been held by ICE for four months calls into an Irish radio show to detail the horrible conditions of the detention center.   On Breaking Points, Saagar Enjeti deflects discussion about the squalid conditions in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers by making the erroneous claim that no other country requires undocumented immigrants to be educated at the taxpayers' expense.   Donald Trump nominates a white nationalist for a top post at the United States Department of State, and the nominee humiliates himself during the confirmation hearing before the United States Senate.   all that and more SURVEY For NYC Mayoral Election Voters - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1Z9b1NJQHC1eSyZVSUu0STkqUWCVd8H9xmfBM3WnGOTfO1w/viewform?pli=1 The survey is intended for adults (18+) who live in New York City and voted in the 2025 NYC mayoral election. Participants can be from any of the five boroughs, and the survey is completely anonymous. It takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and includes a short cognitive reflection section followed by a questionnaire on political attitudes. I'm a high school student in NYC currently working on a research study for an AP Research. at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts To connect and organize with your local ICE rapid response team visit ICERRT.com The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: SELECT QUOTE: Get the right life insurance for you and save more than fifty percent on term life insurance at SelectQuote.com/MAJORITY SUNSET LAKE: Use coupon code "Left Is Best" (all one word) for 20% off of your entire order at SunsetLakeCBD.com  Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech On Instagram: @MrBryanVokey Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com

The United States Department of Justice has released 3 million pages of documents as part of its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. The latest release is the largest to date and includes emails, 2,000 videos, and over 180,000 images. What do we know so far?Also in the programme: who is Kevin Warsh, the man appointed by Donald Trump as next chair of the Federal Reserve? And Nigerian musician Fela Kuti becomes the first African artist to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.(Photo: Jeffrey Epstein in a photograph taken for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' sex offender registry in 2017, Credit: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services sex offender registry)

PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY: This transcript features a discussion between John Batchelor and Gregory Copley regarding the potential political return of Reza Pahlavi to Iran. The speakers suggest that the Crown Prince is currently the only figure with sufficient name recognition and historical legitimacy to lead the nation following a potential collapse of the current regime. While the United States Department of State historically opposes monarchic structures, the experts argue that Pahlavi could serve as a transitional leader or a constitutional monarch similar to the British model. They emphasize that his return is increasingly supported by internal Iranian voices seeking stability through his established plans for economic and agricultural reform. Ultimately, the dialogue positions Pahlavi as a unique bridge between the country's imperial past and a future democratic transformation.1970 TEHRAN

Hunter Biden is an American attorney, businessman, and author and the son of President Joe Biden. Born in Delaware and shaped by profound personal tragedies and a diverse career in finance, policy, and international ventures. His mother and sister passed away in a car accident when he was young, and his brother, who survived the accident, later passed at age 46 from brain cancer. Married to Melissa Cohen, with whom he has one child. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Georgetown University and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School, before working briefly as a Jesuit volunteer in Portland, Oregon, and transitioning into banking and politics. Biden built his early career at MBNA America, then served at the United States Department of Commerce, focusing on e-commerce policy during the Clinton administration. In 2001, he co-founded the lobbying firm Oldaker, Biden & Belair, which worked on issues including online gambling. He served as a board member of Amtrak and is a founding partner of Rosemont Seneca Partners, an investment and advisory firm. He previously was on the board of BHR Partners, a China-based private equity firm, and from 2014 to 2019, he served on the board of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company owned by Mykola Zlochevsky, amid political investigations. In 2013, Biden joined the U.S. Navy Reserve as an ensign, but was discharged in 2014. Biden has publicly admitted to struggles with addiction, detailed in his 2021 memoir Beautiful Things, and has been sober since 2019. He faced public controversies, including the 2018 laptop scandal, and was under federal criminal investigation for tax matters and firearm possession. In 2024, he pleaded guilty to failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes from 2016 to 2019 on foreign income, which he spent on drugs and luxuries. In April 2025, President Joe Biden issued a pardon clearing Hunter of his federal gun and tax convictions. Biden continues to advocate for awareness of addiction through his personal story of recovery and resilience. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. Go to https://RocketMoney.com/SRS today. Go to https://armra.com/SRS or enter SRS to get 30% off your first subscription order. Ready to upgrade your eyewear? Check them out at https://roka.com and use code SRS for 20% off sitewide. Hunter Biden Links: Book - https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Things-Memoir-Hunter-Biden/dp/1982151110/ref=sr_1_2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices