Podcasts about United States Senate

Kristina Bernarducci and Joe Lynch discuss delivering the drinks: streamlining beverage transportation. Kristina is the Director of Operations at Bettaway, a privately held, family-owned Supply Chain Services company headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey. Kristina and the Bettaway team are big supporters of Wreaths Across America.  About Kristina Bernarducci Kristina Bernarducci isn't just building partnerships—she's building community. As Director of Operations at Bettaway and Director of Business Development at PalletTrader, Kristina brings energy, creativity, and a drive for results to the world of logistics and supply chain. Her approach blends data-driven strategy with a human touch, helping companies solve complex problems while creating space for collaboration. With over a decade of experience in operations, Kristina is known for turning opportunities into long-term growth. She's led high-impact initiatives, scaled client relationships, and helped new brands get their product to market. Kristina is a passionate philanthropist and channels her influence into causes that matter. She plays an active role in campaigns like Wreaths Across America and supports initiatives for organizations such as WeMake, which empowers adults with autism through creativity and inclusion. Whether she's hosting charity golf tournaments or hosting Rutgers University Supply Chain students with a tour of the manufacturing facility, Kristina believes business should always be a force for good. About Bettaway Bettaway is a privately held, family-owned Supply Chain Services company headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey. Founded in 1981, Bettaway has evolved from a local beverage distributor into a comprehensive logistics provider. The company operates five distinct entities that collaborate to deliver end-to-end supply chain services: Bettaway Traffic Systems, Inc.: Provides third-party logistics (3PL) services, offering clients a complete managed services solution. Bettaway Pallet Systems, Inc.: Offers national pallet management services, acting as a single source for pallet supply, retrieval, and tracking. Bettaway Beverage Distributors, Inc.: Operates a modern, technologically advanced fleet of 150 tractors and 900 food grade dry vans, providing dependable support to logistics and pallet divisions. Bettaway West, Inc.: Expands the company's reach with assets and an office in Buena Park, California. BevDS: equipped to handle e-commerce fulfillment, variety packing, and distribution services. Committed to community engagement, Bettaway supports various organizations, including the Douglas Developmental Disabilities Center, Rutgers University Center for Adults with Autism and Wreaths Across America. About Wreaths Across America Wreaths Across America is an American nonprofit organization established in 2007 by wreath producer Morrill Worcester, assisted by veterans and truckers. Its primary activity is distributing Veteran's wreaths for placement on graves in military cemeteries. In December 2008, the United States Senate agreed to a resolution that designated December 13, 2008, as Wreaths Across America Day. Subsequent National Wreaths Across America Days have been designated on the second or third Saturday of December. What began in 1992 with a trailer load of wreaths, decorated by volunteers and laid at the graves of fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery has now become a national organization with over 3,700 participating locations – all focused on the mission to REMEMBER the fallen; HONOR those who serve; TEACH our children the value of freedom. Key Takeaways: Delivering the Drinks: Streamlining Beverage Transportation Kristina Bernarducci and Joe Lynch discuss delivering the drinks: streamlining beverage transportation. Kristina is the Director of Operations at Bettaway, a privately held, family-owned Supply Chain Services company headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey. Here are some challenges that Bettaway faces in streamlining beverage transportation: A Legacy Built on Beverage Expertise: For decades, Bettaway has been a leading force in transportation and logistics, carving out a specialized niche within the intricate world of the beverage supply chain. Strategic Partnership with Arizona Ice Tea: Bettaway's long-standing and crucial partnership with Arizona Ice Tea underscores their ability to handle the high-volume and specific logistical needs of a major beverage producer. End-to-End Solutions Tailored for Beverage: From managing vast inventories to ensuring timely distribution, Bettaway provides comprehensive logistics solutions that are specifically designed to support the unique demands of the beverage industry, as evidenced by their work with Arizona Ice Tea. Driving Efficiency Through Innovation: By employing advanced technology and data-driven insights, Bettaway optimizes transportation routes and streamlines warehouse operations, ensuring cost-effective and efficient delivery of products like Arizona Ice Tea. Unwavering Commitment to Quality and Compliance: Understanding the importance of product integrity, Bettaway maintains rigorous quality control and adheres to all necessary regulations, safeguarding the consistent quality of beverages like Arizona Ice Tea throughout the supply chain. Extensive North American Reach: Bettaway's robust network across North America provides the scale and flexibility required to effectively distribute high-demand beverages like Arizona Ice Tea to a wide range of markets. More Than a Vendor, a Strategic Ally: Bettaway operates as a true partner, working closely with clients like Arizona Ice Tea to understand their evolving needs and provide customized logistics strategies that contribute to their continued success. Wreaths Across America is an American nonprofit organization established in 2007 by wreath producer Morrill Worcester, assisted by veterans and truckers. Its primary activity is distributing Veteran's wreaths for placement on graves in military cemeteries. Learn More About Delivering the Drinks: Streamlining Beverage Transportation Kristina Bernarducci | Linkedin Bettaway | Linkedin Bettaway Pallet Trader Wreaths Across America Pallet Trader | Linkedin Going Private: Shippers Strengthening In-House Fleets Bettaway Enters Third Year Partnering with We Make Supporting Innovative Jobs Program for Adults with Autism Freight markets at “equilibrium” have truckers, shippers cautiously optimistic The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube

This morning on The Greg & Dan Show, we were joined by the United States IL-8 Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi about his newly announced run for United States Senator for the state of Illinois.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And welcome back to the program. Well, president Trump signed an executive order today to lower pharmaceutical prices here in The United States. And, boy, that is welcome news because there's a lot about this that we don't know. Now we pay dramatically more here in this country than they do in other countries for the same pharmaceuticals. In fact, president Trump had an little bit of an anecdote about that today. I mean, I'll tell you a story. A friend of mine who's a a businessman, very, very, very top guy. Most of you would have heard of him. A highly neurotic, brilliant businessman, seriously overweight, and he takes the fat the fat shot drug. And he called me up, and he said, president. He calls me he used to call me Donald. Now he calls me president, so that's nice respect. But he's a rough guy, smart guy. Very successful, very rich. I wouldn't even know how we would know this, but because he's got comments. Said, president, could I ask you a question? What? I'm in London, and I just paid for this damn fat drug I take. I said, it's not working, they said. He said, I just paid $88, and in New York, I paid $1,300. What the hell is going on? Exactly. I love that. It's not working. That that's great. But we do we pay a lot more here than other countries do. Because you see and the big thing that they always talk about, oh, y'all, you know, we got research research and development, and we've got yada yada, and we've gotta pay for this and that, and we've gotta do well, why doesn't anybody else have to pay for it? Why isn't a a drug the same price in London as it is in The United States? Why isn't a a pharmaceutical the same price in Canada as it is here in The United States? Listen to what RFK Junior said. This is this is pretty darned amazing. It really is. Mister secretary, Trump says some prices will come down almost immediately. What is the timetable for these price cuts? Well, there's a series of escalating steps, but you know what? That that will bring them down to European levels. Right now, we spend we provide America provides 75% of the pharmaceutical revenues in the world, and we only have 4.2% of the world's population. Sure. We're paying in, in our country, the list price for Ozempic is $1,300 per dose. In London, it's $88. And Democratic and Republican politicians have been talking about for years, we gotta end these discrepancies. Nobody has had the courage to do it because of the power of the pharmaceutical lobby on Capitol Hill. K. The the and and answer your question, how soon will this happen, it it depends on how enthusiastically the drug companies cooperate. There are a series of escalating steps that we will take if they don't cooperate. But we're very you know, we've been meeting with the pharmaceutical companies. They admit that this is something that is should have ended a long time ago. And I think they're ready to figure out a way to get there. And they have advantages to this executive order, Stewart. Okay. Because we got rid of the PBMs. We got rid of the middlemen, and that's something that they've wanted themselves. Now here's the big question. Why aren't the Democrats celebrating this? I mean, after all, hey, then we just go back to Bernie Sanders. Back in 2016, Bernie Sanders ran on big pharma. Let's take a listen to what he said. Here we go. We pay in this country the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. Maybe, just maybe, it might be time for the United States Senate to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry and all of their lobbyists here and all of their campaign contributions and say we're gonna stand with the American people who are sick and tired of being ripped off by the drug companies. There there are many reasons why we pay such outrageous prices, but one reason is we continue passing laws written by the pharmaceutical industry and their lobbyists year after year after year. I believe that the American people should know that the pharmaceutical industr ...

And welcome back to the program. Well, president Trump signed an executive order today to lower pharmaceutical prices here in The United States. And, boy, that is welcome news because there's a lot about this that we don't know. Now we pay dramatically more here in this country than they do in other countries for the same pharmaceuticals. In fact, president Trump had an little bit of an anecdote about that today. I mean, I'll tell you a story. A friend of mine who's a a businessman, very, very, very top guy. Most of you would have heard of him. A highly neurotic, brilliant businessman, seriously overweight, and he takes the fat the fat shot drug. And he called me up, and he said, president. He calls me he used to call me Donald, now he calls me president. So that's nice respect, but he's a rough guy, smart guy, Very successful, very rich. I wouldn't even know how we would know this, but because he's got comments. So president, could I ask you a question? What? I'm in London, and I just paid for this damn fat drug I take. I said, it's not working, they said. He said, I just paid $88. And in New York, I paid $1,300. What the hell is going on? Exactly. I love that. It's not working. That that's great. But we do we pay a lot more here than other countries do. Because you see and the big thing that they always talk about, oh, you know, we got research and development, and we've got yada yada, and we've gotta pay for this and that, and we've gotta do well, why doesn't anybody else have to pay for it? Why isn't a a drug the same price in London as it is in The United States? Why isn't a a pharmaceutical the same price in Canada as it is here in The United States? Listen to what RFK Junior said. This is this is pretty darned amazing. It really is. Mister secretary, Trump says some prices will come down almost immediately. What is the timetable for these price cuts? Well, there's a series of escalating steps, but you know what? The that that will bring them down to European levels. Right now, we spend we provide America provides 75% of the pharmaceutical revenues in the world, and we only have 4.2% of the world's population. Sure. We're paying in, in our country, the list price for Ozempic is $1,300 per dose. In London, it's $88. And Democratic and Republican politicians have been talking about for years, we gotta end these discrepancies. Nobody has had the courage to do it because of the power of the pharmaceutical lobby on Capitol Hill. K. And and answer your question, how soon will this happen, it it depends on how enthusiastically the drug companies cooperate. There are a series of escalating steps that we will take if they don't cooperate. But we're very you know, we've been meeting with the pharmaceutical companies. They admit that this is something that is should have ended a long time ago, and I think they're ready to figure out a way to get there. And they have advantages in this executive order, Stuart. K. Because we got rid of the PBMs. We got rid of the middlemen, and that's something that they've wanted themselves. Now here's the big question. Why aren't the Democrats celebrating this? I mean, after all, hey, then we just go back to Bernie Sanders. Back in 2016, Bernie Sanders ran on big pharma. Let's take a listen to what he said. Here we go. We pay in this country the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. Maybe, just maybe, it might be time for the United States Senate to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry and all of their lobbyists here and all of their campaign contributions and say we're gonna stand with the American people who are sick and tired of being ripped off by the drug companies. There there are many reasons why we pay such outrageous prices, but one reason is we continue passing laws written by the pharmaceutical industry and their lobbyists year after year after year. I believe that the American people should know that the pharmaceutical industry has spent more than $3,000 ...

This morning on The Greg & Dan Show, we were joined by none other than Peoria's own Congressman Darin LaHood to talk about many topics, including tariffs, economy, whether the Congressman will run for Senator Durbin's seat in the Senate, and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brad Peacock is a veteran, an organic farmer, and a former candidate for the United States Senate. He's also an author who has been featured in 7 days, VT Digger, The Washington Blade, and The New York Times. He lives with his husband on land that he is rehabilitating with native plants and flowers. James Crews is the author of numerous prize-winning collections of poetry. He runs an online writing community called The Monthly Pause and also speaks and leads workshops on kindness, mindfulness, and writing for self-compassion. Brad and James live together on forty rocky acres in the woods of Southern Vermont and they recently co-edited LOVE IS FOR ALL OF US. On today's show, Brad, Annmarie, and James discuss love stories, farming, and how poetry might just be the thing that saves us all. Episode Sponsors Battenkill Books – A local, independent bookstore selling general interest, new books in the Battenkill Valley. The store offers a broad range of books from current bestsellers to the classics, and from history and romance to gardening and cooking, and more. We also have an outstanding collection of books for children. And Battenkill carries maps, gifts, toys, cards, and an eclectic selection of magazines. Stop by or shop online at battenkillbooks.com. Big Hill Books – The happiest bookstore in Minneapolis. Big Hill Books welcomes you to Bryn Mawr, one of the most charming and eclectic neighborhoods in the Twin Cities. As a general interest bookstore, we offer an engaging, inclusive inventory of titles and a bright, airy space for customers to sit, read and relax. Our feline friends, Goose and Addie, are also available for some complimentary lap time. Visit Big Hill Books and help us build a community in which "we all do better when we all do better." Find us online at bighillbooks.com. Authors and Titles Mentioned in This Episode: Love Is for All of Us: Poems of Tenderness and Belonging, edited by James Crews and Brad Peacock How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope, edited by James Crews Healing the Divide: Poems for Kindness and Connection, by James Crews Here's a clip from G.I. Jane that includes “Self-Pity,” a poem by D.H. Lawrence.  Follow Brad Peacock and James Crews: Instagram: @theheartofafarmer AND @james.crews.poet Facebook: @brad.peacock.5836 AND @crewspoet Substack: @JamesCrews jamescrews.net **Writing Workshops and Wish Fulfillment: If you liked this conversation and are interested in writing abroad, consider joining Annmarie and co-leader Athena Dixon for a writing retreat in Italy in September, 2025. You can travel to a beautiful place, meet other wise women, and write your own stories. We'd love to help you make your wishes come true. As of this moment, we only have 2 spots left. This will sell out. Act now and join us! Or for women interested in an online Saturday morning writing circle, message Annmarie to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textIt is election Night 1992. We will be using the coverage I collected that night , mainly, from ABC News, but it will also feature segments from CNN, NBC, and CBS News. We saved some interesting interviews with political figures like South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell, and Texas Governor Ann Richards, you will get insights from the leading reporters of the age such as David Brinkley, Peter Jennings, Jeff Greenfield, Cokie Roberts, Sam Donaldson, Lyn Sherr, Brit Hume, Chris Bury, Bernard Shaw, Judy Woodward, and countless other journalist who made up the best era in the news business. Finally, we will also see the results come in from the other race, our Host Randal Wallace, was involved with as Ernest Hollings defeats former Congressman Tommy Hartnett to return to Washington in the United States Senate for South Carolina. This is part A in our look at this historic election night and its coverage in 1992. (In an aside, this episode marks our 356th storyline episode of our podcast, this ties our show with the exact number of original episodes of our childhood favorite show "DALLAS" We are enormously proud of that and to celebrate this milestone we have special hat tip for our favorite all time t.v. Show)  Boundless Insights - with Aviva KlompasIn depth analysis of what's happening in Israel—and why it matters everywhere.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyQuestions or comments at , Randalrgw1@aol.com , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/Please Leave us a review at wherever you get your podcastsThanks for listening!!

It's Friday, April 25th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Nigerian Muslims have killed 170 Christians during Lent and Easter Nigerian Muslims killed 170 Christians during the Lenten season and on Easter Sunday in Nigeria's Middle Belt region, reports International Christian Concern. In Benue State, 72 Christians were confirmed dead following a series of deadly attacks by suspected Fulani Muslim militants between April 18 and April 20. They struck multiple villages in Ukum and Logo Counties during the Holy Weekend, turning what should have been a time of solemn reflection and worship into a scene of terror. Governor Hyacinth Alia, who visited the affected areas, described the massacre as “a calculated and strategic attack on innocent Christian farmers.” He also said, “These were peaceful people observing their Holy Weekend.  The scale and timing of the violence is heartbreaking. We cannot continue like this.” Please pray Amos 5:24 -- that “God's justice would roll on like a river.” Massive Russian strike on Ukraine's capital On Thursday night, Russia attacked Kyiv, Ukraine with an hours-long barrage of missiles and drones, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 70 in its deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since last July, reports CBS News. The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia fired 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four plane-launched air-to-surface missiles, and 145 Shahed and decoy drones at Kyiv and four other regions of Ukraine. On Truth Social, President Donald Trump wrote, "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5,000 soldiers a week are dying. Let's get the Peace Deal DONE!" TRUMP: “We're putting a lot of pressure on Russia, and Russia knows that, and some people that are close to it know or he wouldn't be talking right now.” In response to Russia's aggressive strikes in Western Ukraine, NATO has heightened its alert level, placing fighter jets in the "highest state of readiness," reports The Express. Former Brazilian president in ICU Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's health condition has worsened following bowel surgery nearly two weeks ago, his doctors said Thursday, reports MSN.com. The medical team said the former president “experienced a clinical decline, elevated blood pressure and worsening liver lab test results." Bolsonaro underwent a 12-hour surgery on April 13 to remove intestinal adhesions and reconstruct the abdominal wall after the assassination attempt by stabbing in the abdomen during a campaign rally in September 2018. Democrat Senator Dick Durbin, a pro-abort, will not seek re-election Democrat Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois made an announcement on Wednesday, DURBIN: “There comes a point in your career when the torch must be passed, and I've reached that point. I will not be seeking re election to this United States Senate seat.” To his shame, Senator Durbin, age 80, has consistently voted to eliminate or prevent protections for the unborn and for children born alive after failed abortions. In addition, Senator Durbin has voted to use hard-earned tax dollars to pay for abortion, including abortion travel expenses. And he has worked to allow radical abortion ideology to be inserted into every facet of the United States Government. Illinois July 4th parade shooter sentenced to life in prison On Thursday, Robert Crimo III, the gunman who killed seven people and injured dozens in a mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, during a July 4th parade in 2022, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, reports ABC News. Judge Victoria Rossetti sentenced Crimo, age 24, to seven consecutive life sentences along with 50 years in prison for each person injured, Judge Rosetti said, "This court hopes this sentence brings a sense of justice and an end to the continued horror." However, the judge ignored God's just standard articulated in Genesis 9:6 which says, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God has God made mankind." Max Lucado got a tattoo Max Lucado, the Christian bestselling writer and pastor of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, took to social media to announce he got a tattoo, reports MyChristianDaily.com. Located on his forearm, he chose the word “Tetelestai” which is Greek for “It is finished!” That is what Jesus uttered from the cross when He had paid our sin debt, according to John 19:30. Lucado said, “I'm celebrating the golden anniversary of God's great grace in my life. 50 years ago this spring, grace found me. My testimony is interwoven with my favorite word in the Bible. On the cross, Christ proclaimed,  in Greek, “Tetelestai!” Among the meanings of this word is, ‘paid in full'.” He added, “Not everyone likes the idea of a 70-year-old pastor getting a tattoo. That's ok. I didn't do it for people, I did it to say thank you to Jesus who paid a debt I could not pay.” However, Leviticus 19:28 says, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD.” How “In God We Trust” became American motto And finally, on April 22, 1864, the United States informally adopted the motto "In God We Trust."  Conceived during the Civil War, Union supporters wanted to emphasize their attachment to God and to boost morale. The fourth stanza of the U.S. national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner", adopted from the 1814 poem "The Defense of Fort McHenry", contains the line: "And this be our motto—'In God is our trust.'" “In God We Trust” was officially adopted by Congress in 1956, replacing the defacto motto of “E Pluribus Unum” which is Latin for “Out of Many, One.” Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, April 25th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe for free by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

AUSTIN, Texas - Dan Diorio is senior director of state policy for the Data Center Coalition. Via a zoom, Diorio recently gave an update to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service on the legislation he is tracking in Austin. He was joined on the zoom by Guillermo Aguilar of Blackstone Consultants.The Data Center Coalition's website explains what data centers are.“Data centers are the foundation of the digital infrastructure on which our modern society and economy are built. Data centers are physical locations that organizations use to house their critical applications and data. Anything that takes place online “in the cloud” is powered by a data center,” the coalition stated, on its website. “Data centers aggregate our collective computing demands – everything from sharing photos with friends and family to streaming our favorite shows to supporting online learning and storing important medical and financial information – efficiently and securely in one location.” The coalition added: “Previously, these types of computing resources were dispersed across businesses, which was far less efficient and secure. In 2010, nearly 80 percent of data center computing was done in smaller traditional computer centers, largely owned and operated by non-technology companies. By 2018, approximately 89 percent of data center computing took place in larger cloud data centers.”Diorio brings over 16 years of experience in state and federal government affairs and public policy. He began his career in the Massachusetts State Legislature where he served as legislative director to State Senator Scott P. Brown. Diorio followed Brown to Washington, DC, and the United States Senate where he worked as a Legislative Assistant handling a large portfolio of issues including energy and the environment, education, labor, immigration, and transportation.Diorio next handled state and federal government affairs for a Boston-based demand response provider. While there he helped form the Advanced Energy Management Alliance, a national trade association for demand response companies and end-users. Upon moving out west for sunshine and dry weather, Diorio covered election administration policy for the National Conference of State Legislatures.Diorio was also the vice president of legislative affairs for Colorado for the GoWest Credit Union Association. He advocated for credit unions and managed legislative campaigns in both Colorado and Wyoming. Most recently he was chief of staff of Strategic Affairs for C6-Zero, a start-up advanced manufacturing company, where he led public affairs, government affairs and organizational development.Diorio received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston College and has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado Denver. He lives in Denver with his wife and two children.On the zoom, Diorio spoke about the legislation his group is tracking and how some pieces of legislation related to data centers have good and bad parts to them.Together with Aguilar, Diorio spoke about the chances of South Texas landing major data center projects. Here is an audio recording of the zoom.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nathan Sage continues discussing his intentions of running for United States Senate in part two of our two part segment.

Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nathan Sage discusses his intentions to run for United States Senate in part one of a two part segment.

This Day in Legal History: Rush-Bagot TreatyOn April 16, 1818, the United States Senate ratified the Rush-Bagot Treaty, a landmark agreement with Great Britain that fundamentally reshaped security along the U.S.-Canada border. Negotiated in the aftermath of the War of 1812, the treaty aimed to de-escalate military tensions between the two nations by significantly limiting naval armaments on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. Specifically, it allowed each country to maintain only a single military vessel on Lakes Ontario and Champlain and two vessels on the upper Great Lakes, each restricted in size and armament. The treaty marked a mutual commitment to demilitarization and ushered in a new era of diplomacy.The negotiations were spearheaded by Acting U.S. Secretary of State Richard Rush and British Minister to the U.S., Charles Bagot. Though initially framed as an exchange of diplomatic notes rather than a formal treaty, it was nonetheless submitted to the Senate for ratification, reflecting its constitutional significance. The Rush-Bagot Treaty laid the groundwork for what would become the world's longest undefended border. It also set a precedent for the peaceful resolution of border disputes through legal and diplomatic means rather than military force.While tensions between the two nations would persist in other areas, the Great Lakes remained largely free of armed conflict, validating the treaty's long-term effectiveness. Over time, the agreement became a model of arms control and remains in effect today, albeit with amendments reflecting evolving security concerns. Its ratification on this day helped steer U.S.-British relations toward lasting peace and cooperation, especially in North America. The treaty's enduring legacy is a testament to the power of legal frameworks in shaping geopolitical stability.The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Maine, escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the state over transgender athletes' participation in girls' and women's sports. The suit alleges that Maine is violating Title IX by permitting transgender female athletes to compete on girls' teams, citing recent examples from high school track events. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the action days after the administration attempted to cut off Maine's federal school funding and school lunch programs.This legal move follows a standoff between President Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills, who rebuffed Trump's executive order banning transgender athletes from female sports. Mills told Trump, “We're going to follow the law, sir. We'll see you in court.” The administration's Title IX-based complaint argues that allowing transgender participation undermines fairness and safety, though no specific safety threats are detailed—of course.The Department of Education had already announced the suspension of $250 million in K-12 education funding for Maine, while the Department of Agriculture sought to freeze school lunch support. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the USDA's actions after Maine sued the federal government. Maine's Assistant Attorney General, Sarah Forster, pushed back, arguing that Title IX does not prohibit schools from including transgender girls in girls' sports and criticized the federal government's lack of legal precedent.US to take legal action against Maine over Trump executive order on transgender athletes | ReutersSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced he will block President Trump's nominations of Jay Clayton and Joe Nocella to serve as U.S. attorneys in New York's Southern and Eastern Districts, respectively. Schumer's refusal to return the customary “blue slip” signals his opposition and sets up a potential clash over the Senate tradition that gives home-state senators influence over federal prosecutor and judge appointments. He cited concerns that Trump intends to politicize the Justice Department, accusing him of seeking to weaponize law enforcement against political enemies.Clayton, a former SEC chair, was nominated to oversee the Southern District, which includes Manhattan and is often referred to as the nation's "Wall Street watchdog." Nocella, a state judge, was tapped for the Eastern District, covering Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island. Schumer's move could provoke Republicans to eliminate the blue slip practice for U.S. attorney nominations, as they previously did for circuit court judges.While Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley had earlier indicated he planned to preserve the blue slip process for U.S. attorney picks, growing political tensions may lead to changes. The debate echoes earlier pressure on Democrats to bypass blue slips during the Biden administration for nominees in states with GOP senators. Meanwhile, other Democratic senators, like Adam Schiff, are also using procedural holds to delay nominees they find objectionable, such as Ed Martin, who previously defended January 6 participants.Schumer to Block Jay Clayton as Top US Prosecutor in ManhattanPresident Donald Trump's threat to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status has sparked broader concerns about the politicization of the IRS and a potential crackdown on nonprofits. His warning followed Harvard's refusal to meet administration demands tied to federal funding, prompting a freeze of over $2.2 billion in grants. Other universities like Columbia, Cornell, and Princeton also saw funding halted, amid GOP claims that schools are failing to curb antisemitism after protests over the Israel-Hamas war.Critics see Trump's move as an attempt to use federal tax authority to punish political opponents. Legal scholars warn that using the IRS in this way echoes past abuses, such as those during Nixon's presidency. Some nonprofits have already started removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) language from websites to avoid scrutiny, with lawyers reporting a spike in “DEI audits.” Though the IRS hasn't yet changed its enforcement patterns, reduced staffing could make it more susceptible to politicized influence.A recent executive order from Trump targeting “illegal DEI” efforts has heightened fear among nonprofits that their programs, especially those aimed at underrepresented communities, could be labeled discriminatory. Meanwhile, conservative activist Edward Blum has asked the IRS to investigate several foundations for offering race-specific grants, hoping to set a precedent against such practices. Legal experts say programs must be evaluated based on whether they exclude other races, which would likely violate federal law.Trump's Harvard Threat Raises Specter of IRS Nonprofit CrackdownIn my column for Bloomberg this week, I argue that proposals to exempt college athletes' name, image, and likeness (NIL) income from state taxes undermine one of tax policy's core principles: horizontal equity. That principle holds that taxpayers with similar incomes should be taxed similarly—something these NIL exemptions blatantly violate. While some student-athletes now earn six or seven figures, their peers working long hours in campus jobs continue to pay tax on modest earnings. Exempting high-income athletes while taxing low-wage student workers creates a two-tiered system that rewards fame and marketability, not need or effort.These exemptions aren't rooted in sound tax design—they're political moves, often motivated by the desire to curry favor with voters who are fans of college sports. But when states exempt wealthy student-athletes, they're making a value judgment: that celebrity deserves more support than everyday work. Even in states where lower-income students may owe no tax, the policy distinction is stark—exempting income to prevent poverty is not the same as exempting it to boost a football program.Rather than distorting the tax code to chase athletic prestige, I propose a fairer alternative: a progressive income exemption available to all full-time students, tied to the cost of their tuition. If a student pays $12,000 in tuition, they could exempt that amount from tax—regardless of whether their income comes from NIL deals, a job in the library, or a work-study program. This model keeps relief targeted to those bearing educational costs while avoiding regressive giveaways to already well-compensated students. The tax code should reflect fairness and support for all students—not just the most marketable ones.Student NIL Tax Breaks Would Put Splashy Recruits Above Fairness This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

This Day in Legal History: Senate Approves Alaska PurchaseOn April 9, 1867, the United States Senate voted to ratify the Treaty with Russia for the Purchase of Alaska, approving the acquisition of the territory for $7.2 million. The deal, championed by Secretary of State William H. Seward, added over 586,000 square miles to U.S. territory. At the time, many Americans viewed the icy, remote land as a barren wasteland, mocking the transaction as “Seward's Folly” or “Seward's Icebox.” Despite public ridicule, Seward pursued the deal partly to prevent British expansion from neighboring Canada and to extend American commercial interests into the Pacific. Russia, for its part, saw little strategic or economic value in Alaska and feared it might lose the territory without compensation in a future conflict.The treaty passed in the Senate by a vote of 37 to 2, reflecting support among lawmakers despite popular skepticism. Legal authority for the purchase came through the treaty-making power of the executive branch, with Senate ratification required under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. Once finalized, the transfer of sovereignty occurred in October 1867 in Sitka, with a formal ceremony marking Russia's departure.Criticism of the purchase subsided decades later following the Klondike Gold Rush and, eventually, the discovery of significant oil reserves. These developments drastically changed the public's perception of Alaska from frozen liability to strategic asset. The purchase also helped lay the groundwork for America's growing influence in the Pacific and Arctic regions.President Donald Trump announced that major law firms pledging $340 million in pro bono work would assist his administration with coal industry initiatives and international tariff negotiations. Speaking at a White House event, Trump said these firms—such as Paul Weiss, Skadden, Milbank, and Willkie—would provide legal support for leasing and regulatory issues in coal mining, as well as in talks with foreign countries on trade. While he didn't specify which firms would take on specific tasks, Trump emphasized their legal talent and claimed they were offering services “for the right price.”The announcement coincided with Trump signing executive orders invoking the Defense Production Act to increase coal mining and directing investments into advanced coal technology. He also said the Department of Justice would be tasked with challenging state and local regulations he views as harmful to miners. The law firm agreements came after Trump targeted several legal firms with directives that threaten their business, prompting lawsuits from Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Jenner & Block. Trump posted the agreements on Truth Social, stating the firms would work on causes like veterans' rights and combating antisemitism, although details on how their roles will be determined remain unclear.Trump Says He'll Enlist Big Law Dealmakers for Coal, TariffsA group of 67 former top legal executives from companies like Microsoft, Intel, and Eli Lilly filed a legal brief condemning President Trump's executive orders targeting several major law firms. They argue that the orders violate the Constitution and threaten the independence of corporate legal counsel by coercing political loyalty through federal contract threats. The brief supports a lawsuit by Perkins Coie, one of the firms impacted by the orders, which claims the directives bar its attorneys from government buildings and jeopardize its clients' federal contracts.The former general counsels contend that Trump's actions don't just punish individual firms, but undermine the principle that companies should be free to choose their legal representation without fear of political retaliation. The brief highlights how the orders signal to businesses that hiring lawyers linked to Trump's critics could lead to government sanctions. Trump issued similar orders against WilmerHale and Jenner & Block, and all three firms have secured temporary legal blocks against the measures.While some firms like Paul Weiss struck deals with Trump to avoid penalties—agreeing to provide pro bono work for causes aligned with his administration—others have pushed back. Four days prior, hundreds of law firms submitted their own brief supporting Perkins Coie. Trump's administration defends the orders as efforts to stop perceived political bias in Big Law.Former top lawyers at major companies decry Trump orders against law firms | ReutersAn immigration judge has given the U.S. government through today to present evidence justifying the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and lawful permanent resident. Khalil was arrested in New York and transferred to a detention facility in rural Louisiana, sparking concern over due process and free speech rights. At Tuesday's hearing, Judge Jamee Comans made it clear that if the government cannot prove Khalil is deportable, she will dismiss the case by Friday. She also criticized delays in sharing evidence and emphasized the importance of Khalil's due process rights.Khalil's lawyer, Marc Van Der Hout, claims the deportation effort is politically motivated and violates the First Amendment, suggesting that Khalil is being targeted for speaking out in support of Palestinians. The government argues Khalil should be deported under a Cold War-era law that allows removal if an immigrant is deemed a threat to U.S. foreign policy, and also accuses him of omissions on his green card application—charges he denies.The case has drawn national attention, including a crowded virtual courtroom. A separate habeas petition is also under consideration in federal court, and Khalil cannot be deported while that process plays out. His wife, a U.S. citizen who is expecting their child this month, has been unable to visit him due to her pregnancy.US given one day to show evidence for deporting Columbia University protester Khalil | ReutersA federal judge has ordered President Trump's White House to temporarily lift access restrictions on the Associated Press (AP) while a lawsuit challenging the ban moves forward. The Trump administration had barred AP journalists from events like Oval Office briefings and Air Force One trips after the agency refused to adopt Trump's preferred term, "Gulf of America," instead continuing to refer to the "Gulf of Mexico." U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, ruled that the First Amendment prohibits the government from excluding journalists based on viewpoint.The ruling, which takes effect Sunday to allow time for appeal, restores the AP's access to White House press events. McFadden emphasized that if some journalists are granted access, others cannot be denied for their editorial stance. The AP sued three senior Trump aides in February, claiming the restrictions were unconstitutional retaliation against protected speech and lacked due process.AP reporters testified that the ban hindered their ability to cover the president, while Justice Department lawyers argued that access to presidential spaces is a privilege, not a right. Press freedom groups and the White House Correspondents' Association welcomed the decision, calling it a win for independent journalism. The case remains ongoing, with a final ruling expected in the coming months.Judge lifts Trump White House restrictions on AP while lawsuit proceeds | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

Today on America in the Morning   Liberation Day Arrives The Liberation Day reciprocal tariffs President Trump announced last week are set to go into effect today, but the administration indicates some countries are ready to deal. This comes after more losses in the stock market, and Wall Street futures pointing lower again today. John Stolnis has more from Washington.    Budget Trouble For House GOP House Republicans are dealing with more internal turmoil in the effort to come up with a budget plan for the next fiscal year. Correspondent Rich Johnson reports that members of the Conservative Freedom Caucus appear to be holding the line on their opposition to a Senate-led bill.     IRS Commissioner Resigns Within hours of the IRS reaching a compromise that allows the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to access tax data, acting-Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Melanie Krause abruptly resigned. Correspondent Marcela Sanchez has details of the IRS-ICE agreement.     Hegseth Talks China In Panama Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has some tough talk for China in remarks at a US Naval Base near the Panama Canal. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.    No Special Election For Texas House Seat In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott announced that there will not be an early election to fill the House seat of the late-Congressman Sylvester Turner. The Houston-area Democrat died last month. Abbott said the election to fill his seat will be held on November 4 on the state's Election Day.    Paxton To Primary Cornyn Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will run for the United States Senate. Paxton, who will vie for the seat currently held by fellow Republican and Texas senior Senator John Cornyn, made the announcement on Fox News.    Judge Says AP Can Return To The White House In a case that has become a First Amendment issue, the Associated Press has won back the right to full coverage of the White House. Lisa Dwyer has details.       Senate Hammers Trump Trade Negotiator A hearing in Congress where senators on both sides of the political aisle demanded answers from President Trump's top trade negotiator. Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports that today, a 104 percent tariff on Chinese goods kicks in.     Navarro-Musk Spat The subject of tariffs was also the catalyst for a spat between two high-profile members of the Trump administration that is catching the attention of the White House. Correspondent Clayton Neville has the details of the brouhaha between the face of DOGE and the president's former National Trade Council Director and current trade advisor.    Idaho Shooting Under Investigation A community in Idaho is asking for answers after police responded to a domestic disturbance call, opening fire when a teenager moved toward them armed with a knife. Jennifer King reports on the circumstances surrounding the autistic teen, and conflicting accounts of the events that unfolded from both the police and neighbors who witnessed the incident.     Chinese Troops Found Fighting For Russia Russia launched a drone and missile attack against Kyiv, while Ukrainian forces moved into Russian territory. However, the situation also became murkier, as correspondent Ed Donahue reports on an allegation of Chinese military involvement in the war in Ukraine.     Khalil Case Decision Coming It's expected that a ruling could come as soon as Friday regarding the status of a Columbia University activist currently being held by the Trump Administration and facing deportation. Correspondent Julie Walker reports. More School Funding Cuts The Department of Commerce says it is slicing $4 million in government funding to Princeton University, becoming the latest Ivy League institution to face grant cuts over their school policies.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Friday, April 4th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Chinese Communists sentence pastor to 5-year prison sentence The Chinese Communists have sentenced Pastor Wan Changchun of Living Stone Reformed House Church to a five-year prison sentence, reports International Christian Concern. The church is located in the city of Bengbu in the Anhui Province in Eastern China, As reported by Bitter Winter Magazine, Pastor Changchun was arrested in April 2023 for alleged fraud connected to the operation of his house church. However, Chinese communist officials often falsely use fraud allegations and charges to accuse, harass, arrest, and ultimately imprison Christians, especially pastors, to attempt to shut down their unregistered house churches. The pastor was one of the house church leaders who signed the statement against the repressive 2017 Regulation on Religious Affairs. The Chinese government has long considered religion an existential threat to the state's authority. Despite the unjust punishment, Pastor Changchun has echoed the words of Peter who said in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than men.” Democrat Sen. Cory Booker's record-breaking speech championed the Left Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey officially broke the record previously held by the late Republican Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina by delivering the longest continuous floor speech in Senate history, reports The Epoch Times. He began his speech at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 31st.   Here are some highlights. BOOKER: “I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able.” The Senator talked about how liberals, who have believed the lies of the mainstream media, are quaking in their boots about Trump's re-election. BOOKER: “They're writing me letters with words like ‘fear' and ‘terror.' They're talking about staying up at night and not being able to sleep because they don't have a president that comforts them.” Senator Booker took a page from Republican candidate Ronald Reagan, who asked the American people this question in 1979 in his race against Democratic President Jimmy Carter. REAGAN: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” After only two months into Trump's second term, following four years of Joe Biden, Booker asked this ridiculous question. BOOKER: “I ask you, ‘Are you better off than you were 72 days ago economically?' Prices are up. Stock markets down. The risk of recession is climbing. Consumer confidence is in the gutter.” Like most of the Leftists in the Democratic Party today, Booker played the class warfare card. BOOKER: “We have more billionaires than any other country. Does that speak to the greatness of our nation? No. I think the things that speak to the greatness of a nation is how do we take care of each other?” And, by taking care of each other, he was not referring to the Christian concept of helping one another out of one's own resources, but the idea of redistributing wealth of other people with tax money. BOOKER: “I've had farmers from New Jersey to Texas coming to my office about this president freezing contracts that we approved in a bipartisan manner, putting them in financial crisis. It's not right or left. It's right or wrong. It's not a partisan moment. It's an American moment. It's a moral moment.” Rejecting the premise that Americans can better determine how to spend their own heard-earned money, Booker advocated for at least maintaining the high rate of taxation. BOOKER: “You don't need more tax cuts. And we, as a society, have an obligation to each other.” As of 7:19 p.m. ET on Tuesday, April 1, Booker had spoken for 24 hours and 19 minutes, a minute longer than Strom Thurmond's 1957 filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Most filibusters on the Senate floor are motivated by opposition to a proposed bill. In this case, he used his time to object to the entirety of the Trump agenda. Booker finally yielded the floor at 8:05 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1st, with his time on the floor clocking in at a total of 25 hours and 5 minutes. Not only had he stood the whole time, but he never took a restroom break by fasting ahead of time and by dehydrating himself.  Throughout his Senate filibuster, he took some occasional sips of water. Dow Jones drops 1,100 points a day after Trump tariff announcement The three major U.S. stock indexes dropped on the morning of April 3 after President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs of 10 percent or higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging by 1,100 points by noon yesterday, reports The Epoch Times. Aside from the Dow Jones tumbling, the S&P 500 Index dropped by 3.5 percent, and the Nasdaq Composite slid by more than 4.7 percent at about 9:35 a.m. EST. However, advocates of the Trump tariffs believe the economic pain will be momentary, as he uses them as leverage to achieve fair trade long-term. Trump's ban on trans troops halted A three-judge panel on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request from President Donald Trump's administration to pause a lower court's decision blocking enforcement of a ban on trans-identified military service members, reports The Christian Post.    The Pentagon argued that trans-identified soldiers compromise "military readiness." By denying the administration's request, the appellate court left in place the preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, late last month. In essence, the 9th Circuit Court ruling prevented the Trump administration from removing trans-identifying service members. ‘Angel Eye Camera' lets parents of premature babies check-in And finally, 1 in every 10 women in the United States will experience the premature birth of their child. A heroic organization is helping these women keep two eyes on their baby in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit, even if they are miles away, reports GoodNewsNetwork.org. Called the AngelEye System, developed by the firm of the same name, it's a camera with a remotely-accessible 24-hour feed that's mounted via a boom arm onto any of the beds or tables an infant may be placed on. It allows the parents, who may not always be able to stay with their child, to keep an eye on them whenever nerves or separation anxiety strike. Thanks to advances in medical science, premature birth is a challenge that can be reliably overcome.  Philadelphia's Lauren Walsh had to face this exact situation when her third baby, John, was born prematurely at 32 weeks, not even weighing two pounds. John required a 61-day stay in the NICU. The AngelEye Camera was a lifeline for his mom and dad who could check up on him at any point by switching the camera feed on from their phones or computers. No doubt, the presence of the AngelEye Camera lowered the parents' anxiety, making it easier to abide by the counsel of 1 Peter 5:7 which says, “Cast all your anxiety on God, because He cares for you." Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, April 4th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Senator Cory Booker spoke for over 25 consecutive hours on the floor of the United States Senate this week. He Spoke Up and he Spoke Out. It was not a partisan speech.  It was a speech about right and wrong. As leaders, we are all called to do the right thing. This is our call to action.  Speaking Up and Speaking Out is a leader's call to action. We do this with our voice and with our vote. Speak Up and Speak Out.

What if filmmakers took their cameras to space? Prepare for a world of zero-G cinematography! From weather-sealed cameras designed to handle unexpected astronaut vomit to the perpetual hum of life-support systems ruining your audio, documentary filmmaking in orbit presents unique challenges. Discover why the International Space Station's lighting is "just awful," how playing a guitar in microgravity sends you spinning in unexpected directions, and why the first task in every Mars simulation is fixing the eternally broken toilet. Explore how future space workers will need specialized trade skills—from plumbers to welders—as humanity expands beyond Earth. This thought-provoking "what if" scenario features insights from documentary filmmaker Sam Burbank and Explore Mars CEO Chris Carberry. —— Chris Carberry is the CEO and co-founder of Explore Mars, Inc. (Explore Mars), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit space advocacy organization that was created to advance the goal of sending humans to Mars by the mid-2030s. Carberry is a well-respected expert and influential director of strategic alliances in the space community as well as with non-traditional organizations. Carberry has presented oral (and written) testimony to both the United States Senate as well as the United States House of Representatives and has been active in all levels of policy engagement with both the Executive and Legislative branches of government. In recent years, he has overseen Explore Mars' annual Humans to Mars Summit, the largest annual conference focused on sending humans to Mars. He has also spearheaded dozens of programs including the Mars Innovation Forum, the annual Community Workshops for the Achievability and Sustainability of Human Exploration of Mars series, the AR/VR and Space workshop series, the ISS and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. and in Strasbourg, France, and the Women and Mars Conference in Washington, D.C. He has also conducted programs overseas, in such countries as the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Carberry is also the creator, and one of the senior editors, of the annual publication known as the Humans to Mars Report that was highlighted in the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017. In 2013, Carberry was awarded a NASA Group Achievement award. Carberry is the author of the 2019 book, Alcohol in Space: Past, Present and Future, and the upcoming book, The Music of Space (to be released in 2022). Both volumes are being adapted into documentary films.Learn more about Chris at https://exploremars.orgCheck out his books at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Chris-Carberry/author/B0CZWN4JNF?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1743558561&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Watch his film at https://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-Space-Movie-Sam-Burbank/dp/B0DJQZGLG2 —— Sam Burbank is a science-writer and science-documentary filmmaker. Mr. Burbank has worked with PBS, Discovery Channel, and has produced and written two dozen programs for the National Geographic, ranging from renewable energy to the X-Prize. Sam studied creative writing at San Francisco State University, and is a long time member of AAAS. He has spent three summers on Devon Island, near the magnetic north pole, and was a member of the founding crew of the Mars Society FMARS station in 2001. In 2002 he joined a crew at the MDRS station for the one-of-a-kind ICoMP experiment Sam loves snowboarding, journal writing, and dancing a fast 1930's swing step, the Balboa. In 1995, he and wife Linda spent their honeymoon riding a motorcycle to the arctic circle. Some notable quotes about Mr. Burbank include the following: "Sam Burbank is elevating the video-journal to an art genre." Kim Stanley Robinson, author Antarctica, Red Mars. "Sam is a true artist, who makes visible to the eye what before could only be seen by the mind." Robert Zubrin, author The Case for Mars, Entering Space. Learn more about Sam at https://www.samburbank.com/

Again, I want to thank all my dear friends who responded toour pleas for prayer for my grandson Luke and his extensive brain surgery thispast Friday! The surgery and the recovery went well, and “Praise the LORD”, hewas able to go home yesterday afternoon! Your prayers, and the Lord's miraculoushealing hand, made this possible! Thank you! Thank you! It is amazing to me how this passage in Luke 12:22-34,along with Dr. Towns devotion today for April 01, from 365 Ways to Know God,entitled: JESUS: THE LORD OF PEACE, is exactly what we needed for this periodof time, and crisis in our lives. God's timing and reminders are always exactlyon time!!!! You can always trust Him! So far in Luke 12, we have learned that we should “bewareof hypocrisy”, we should “beware of covetousness”, and we should “beware ofworry”. It is interesting to me how all of these sins are linked to each other.And for sure, hypocrisy, pretending to be something that we are not, and covetousness,lusting and desiring things that we really don't need, always lead to this incapacitatingemotion that we call worry! They “strangle” and destroy us, they deceive usinto believing a false view of life and of God. We are attempting to live a lifethat will never ever satisfy or fulfill us. Not only does worry destroy and deceive us, but it can alsodeform us. It keeps us from growing and it makes us like the unsaved in theworld (Luke 12:30). In short, worry is unchristian; worry is a sin. How can wewitness to a lost world and encourage them to put faith in Jesus Christ if weourselves are doubting God and worrying? Is it not inconsistent to preach faithand yet not practice it? The late chaplain of the United States Senate, PeterMarshall, once prayed "that ulcers would not become the badge of ourfaith." Too often they are! How do we win over worry? The first step is to realize thatGod knows our needs, so we can trust Him to meet them. We are sheep in Hislittle flock, children in His family, and servants in His kingdom; and He willsee to it that our needs are fully met. It is His pleasure to give us Hiskingdom, so will He not give us everything that we need? Romans 8:31-32 remindsus of a great promise: “What then shall we say to these things? If God isfor us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but deliveredHim up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” But God's pleasures and our treasures must go together. Wemust look at earth from heaven's point of view and make sure that we put God'skingdom first in everything. The main question is, "Where is yourheart?" If our hearts are fixed on the transient things of earth, then wewill always worry. But if we are fixed on the eternal, then God's peace willguard our minds and hearts (Philippians 4:6-9). We must "hang loose"when it comes to this world's goods and be willing even to sell what we have inorder to help others (Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35). It is not wrong to own things solong as things do not own us. Worry always leads to fear, and that is why Jesus, in verse32 added, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father'sgood pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Worry is proof that our “faithis little” and that we need to believe God's Old Testament promise in Proverbs3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your ownunderstanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct yourpaths.” We are our Father's “little flock” that He dearlyloves and takes pleasure in! You can trust Him to care for you today! God bless!

11:37 - Commanders: discussion of the latest for the Commanders in free agency, including scheduled fun with comments from new Commanders interior defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw and analysis of unrestricted-free-agent edge defender Clelin Ferrell reportedly agreeing to re-sign with the Commanders, Commanders unrestricted-free-agent edge defender Dante Fowler Jr. reportedly agreeing on a one-year, $8 million contract to go back to the Dallas Cowboys and the Commanders reportedly agreeing with Pittsburgh Steelers unrestricted-free-agent guard Nate Herbig on a contract  23:38 - Guest: former United States ambassador to Belgium, lawyer, radio-show host and Commanders fan Howard Gutman, who is a good friend of and strategic advisor for Commanders limited partner Mitchell Rales, on the Commanders' renaissance 2024 season, the significance of the team retaining each of its top five offensive assistant coaches, the Commanders ranking No. 11 in the NFL via their NFL Players Association report card for player treatment, how the Josh Harris group delivered in the United States Senate's miracle passage of the D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act and what went into managing partner Josh Harris publicly declaring that the team is sticking with the name "Commanders" 01:09:44 - College Basketball: breakdowns of the NCAA Tournament games and conference-tournament results for the six Mid-Atlantic-region teams that made the 2025 NCAA Tournament in Maryland, American, Mount St. Mary's, VCU, Liberty and Norfolk State...and thoughts on the Terrapins reportedly being poised to give head coach Kevin Willard a big-money contract extension 01:24:26 - Capitals: analysis of a 5-1 win at the NHL-worst San Joe Sharks as top-line left wing Alex Ovechkin scored a third-period even-strength goal to get to just eight goals shy of surpassing Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 career NHL regular-season goals 01:29:09 - Wizards: reaction to the supposedly-tanking Wizards winning for a sixth time in ten games with a 126-123 victory at the Denver Nuggets The Nace Law Group, Accident & Injury Lawyers - 202-902-7611 and make sure that you mention that Al Galdi sent you Call Nova Fireplace And Stove at 571-513-3803, mention that Al Galdi sent you and receive $25 off any fireplace or chimney service Download the PrizePicks app and use the promo code "Galdi" for $50 instantly after you play your first $5 lineup For advertising inquiries, email TheAlGaldiPodcast@Yahoo.com Please note that time stamps may be slightly off depending on rotating national ads 

Perhaps no job in Corporate America could ever fully prepare you for a job with the federal government. Or more particularly, the United States Senate, or the Pentagon, or the white house. Someone who worked in all three of those venues in the early 2000s will tell you, it's not just a different world, it's a different Universe. Matt Latimer started his Washington career working in the US Senate – at one point working alongside Anne Coulter – before taking a job at the Pentagon as a speechwriter for then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Latimer joined the White House in 2007 as a speechwriter for President George W. Bush, a position he held until resigning a year and a half later. disillusioned with how the president and his advisors handled the financial crisis.A year later, Latimer wrote a memoir he called Speech-less. He and I met one day that fall in the cafe at our local Borders bookstore to talk about it.So here now, from 2009, Matt Latimer.Matt Latimer now heads a literary and public relations firm he co-founded in Northern Virginia.

In the United States Senate, what does a cloture vote do? Play. Share. Listen with Co-Host of Outkick Hot Mic with Hutton & Withrow, Jonathan Hutton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Urban, the newest board member for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate and political commentator for CNN, joined Dan to discuss a variety of political key issues playing out in D.C.Listen to WBZ NewsRadio on the NEW iHeart Radio app and be sure to set WBZ NewsRadio as your #1 preset!

José Santos (Woss) Moreno is the Friends Committee on Nations Legislation's director for justice reform. He leads FCNL's work on justice reform, election integrity, and policing. He helps to lead the Interfaith Criminal Justice Coalition, an alliance of prominent national religious groups advocating to end mass incarceration. His passion for racial justice led him to help lead a coalition advocating for the human rights of Dominicans of Haitian descent facing statelessness. Before joining the Quaker community he lobbied on public health and appropriations for a large, international law firm. José started his career in public policy working in the United States Senate.. A long with Kristen Archer, and Anika Forrest, Jose' Moreno co-authored an article titled “Rooted in Restorative Justice, Violence Interrupters Increase the Peace.

President Trump has been threatening to “take back” the Panama Canal since he regained power. In this episode, listen to testimony from officials serving on the Federal Maritime Commission who explain why the Panama Canal has become a focus of the administration and examine whether or not we need to be concerned about an impending war for control of the canal. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes Current Events around the Panama Canal March 5, 2025. the Associated Press. Sabrina Valle, Suzanne McGee, and Michael Martina. March 4, 2025. Reuters. Matt Murphy, Jake Horton and Erwan Rivault. February 14, 2025. BBC. May 1, 2024. World Weather Attribution. World Maritime News Staff. March 15, 2019. World Maritime News. July 29, 2018. Reuters. Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 U.S. Department of State. The Chinese “Belt and Road Initiative” Michele Ruta. March 29, 2018. World Bank Group. The Trump-Gaza Video February 26, 2025. Sky News. Laws Audio Sources Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation January 28, 2025 Witnesses: Louis E. Sola, Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Daniel B. Maffei, Commissioner, FMC , Professor, Scalia Law School, George Mason University Joseph Kramek, President & CEO, World Shipping Council Clips 17:30 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Between the American construction of the Panama Canal, the French effort to build an isthmus canal, and America's triumphant completion of that canal, the major infrastructure projects across Panama cost more than 35,000 lives. For the final decade of work on the Panama Canal, the United States spent nearly $400 million, equivalent to more than $15 billion today. The Panama Canal proved a truly invaluable asset, sparing both cargo ships and warships the long journey around South America. When President Carter gave it away to Panama, Americans were puzzled, confused, and many outraged. With the passage of time, many have lost sight of the canal's importance, both to national security and to the US economy. 18:45 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): But the Panama Canal was not just given away. President Carter struck a bargain. He made a treaty. And President Trump is making a serious and substantive argument that that treaty is being violated right now. 19:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): President Trump has highlighted two key issues. Number one, the danger of China exploiting or blocking passage through the canal, and number two, the exorbitant costs for transit. 19:20 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Chinese companies are right now building a bridge across the canal at a slow pace, so as to take nearly a decade. And Chinese companies control container points ports at either end. The partially completed bridge gives China the ability to block the canal without warning, and the ports give China ready observation posts to time that action. This situation, I believe, poses acute risks to US national security. 19:50 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Meanwhile, the high fees for canal transit disproportionately affect Americans, because US cargo accounts for nearly three quarters of Canal transits. US Navy vessels pay additional fees that apply only to warships. Canal profits regularly exceed $3 billion. This money comes from both American taxpayers and consumers in the form of higher costs for goods. American tourists aboard cruises, particularly those in the Caribbean Sea, are essentially captive to any fees Panama chooses to levy for canal transits, and they have paid unfair prices for fuel bunkering at terminals in Panama as a result of government granted monopoly. Panama's government relies on these exploitative fees. Nearly 1/10 of its budget is paid for with canal profit. 21:25 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Panama has for years flagged dozens of vessels in the Iranian ghost fleet, which brought Iran tens of billions of dollars in oil profits to fund terror across the world. 21:40 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): And Chinese companies have won contracts, often without fair competition, as the infamous Belt and Road Initiative has come to Panama. China often engages in debt trap diplomacy to enable economic and political coercion. In Panama, it also seems to have exploited simple corruption. 32:40 Louis Sola: The Panama Canal is managed by the Panama Canal Authority, ACP, an independent agency of the Panamanian government. The ACP is a model of public infrastructure management, and its independence has been key to ensure a safe and reliable transit of vessels critical to the US and global commerce. 33:25 Louis Sola: In contrast, the broader maritime sector in Panama, including the nation's ports, water rights, and the world's largest ship registry, falls under the direct purview of the Panamanian government. 33:35 Louis Sola: Unfortunately, this sector has faced persistent challenges, including corruption scandals and foreign influence, particularly from Brazil and China. These issues create friction with the ACP, especially as it works to address long term challenges such as securing adequate water supplies for the canal. 33:55 Louis Sola: Although the ACP operates independently, under US law both the ACP and the government of Panama's maritime sector are considered one in the same. This means that any challenges in Panama's maritime sector, including corruption, lack of transparency, or foreign influence, can have a direct or indirect impact on the operations and long term stability of the canal. This legal perspective highlights the need for diligence in monitoring both the ACP's management and Panama government's policies affecting maritime operations. 34:30 Louis Sola: Since 2015, Chinese companies have increased their presence and influence throughout Panama. Panama became a member of the Belt and Road Initiative and ended its diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Chinese companies have been able to pursue billions of dollars in development contracts in Panama, many of which were projects directly on or adjacent to the Panama Canal. Many were no bid contracts. Labor laws were waived, and the Panamanian people are still waiting to see how they've been benefited. It is all more concerning that many of these companies are state-owned, and in some cases, even designated as linked to the People's Liberation Army. We must address the significant growing presence and influence of China throughout the Americas and in Panama, specifically. 35:20 Louis Sola: American companies should play a leading role in enhancing the canal's infrastructure. By supporting US firms, we reduce reliance on Chinese contractors and promote fair competition. 36:55 Daniel Maffei: Because the canal is essentially a waterway bridge over mountainous terrain above sea level, it does depend on large supplies of fresh water to maintain the full operations. Panama has among the world's largest annual rainfalls. Nonetheless, insufficient fresh water levels have occurred before in the canal's history, such as in the 1930s when the Madden Dam and Lake Alajuela were built to address water shortages. Since that time, the canal has undertaken several projects to accommodate larger, more modern ships. In the last couple of years, a trend of worsening droughts in the region, once again, has forced limits to the operations of the canal. Starting in June of 2023 the Panama Canal Authority employed draft restrictions and reduced the number of ships allowed to transit the canal per day. Now the Panama Canal limitations, in combination with the de facto closure of the Suez Canal to container traffic, has had serious consequences for ocean commerce, increasing rates, fees and transit times. 39:30 Daniel Maffei: Now, fortunately, Panama's 2024 rainy season has, for now, alleviated the most acute water supply issues at the canal, and normal transit volumes have been restored. That said, while the Panamanian government and Canal Authority have, with the advice of the US Army Corps of Engineers, developed credible plans to mitigate future water shortages, they also warned that it is likely that at least one more period of reduced transits will occur before these plans can be fully implemented. 41:55 Eugene Kontorovich: We shall see that under international law, each party to the treaty is entitled to determine for itself whether a violation has occurred. Now, in exchange for the United States ceding control of the canal which it built and maintained, Panama agreed to a special regime of neutrality. The essential features of this regime of neutrality is that the canal must be open to all nations for transit. That's Article Two. Equitable tolls and fees, Article Three. An exclusive Panamanian operation, Article Five. The prohibition of any foreign military presence, Article Five. Article Five provides that only Panama shall operate the canal. Testifying about the meaning of the treaty at the Senate ratification hearings, the Carter administration emphasized that this prohibits foreign operation of the canal, as well as the garrisoning of foreign troops. Now, Article Five appears to be primarily concerned about control by foreign sovereigns. If Panama signed a treaty with the People's Republic of China, whereby the latter would operate the canal on Panama's behalf, this would be a clear violation. But what if Panama contracted for port operations with a Chinese state firm, or even a private firm influenced or controlled in part by the Chinese government? The Suez Canal Company was itself, before being nationalized, a private firm in which the United Kingdom was only a controlling shareholder. Yet this was understood to represent British control over the canal. In other words, a company need not be owned by the government to be in part controlled by the government. So the real question is the degree of de jure or de facto control over a Foreign Sovereign company, and scenarios range from government companies in an authoritarian regime, completely controlled, to purely private firms in our open society like the United States, but there's many possible situations in the middle. The treaty is silent on the question of how much control is too much, and as we'll see, this is one of the many questions committed to the judgment and discretion of each party. Now turning to foreign security forces, the presence of third country troops would manifestly violate Article Five. But this does not mean that anything short of a People's Liberation Army base flying a red flag is permissible. The presence of foreign security forces could violate the regime of neutrality, even if they're not represented in organized and open military formations. Modern warfare has seen belligerent powers seek to evade international legal limitations by disguising their actions in civilian garb, from Russia's notorious little green men to Hamas terrorists hiding in hospitals or disguised as journalists. Bad actors seek to exploit the fact that international treaties focus on sovereign actors. Many of China's man made islands in the South China Sea began as civilian projects before being suddenly militarized. Indeed, this issue was discussed in the Senate ratification hearings over the treaty. Dean Rusk said informal forces would be prohibited under the treaty. Thus the ostensible civilian character of the Chinese presence around the canal does not, in itself, mean that it could not represent a violation of the treaty if, for example, these companies and their employees involved Chinese covert agents or other agents of the Chinese security forces. So this leads us to the final question, Who determines whether neutrality is being threatened or compromised? Unlike many other treaties that provide for third party dispute resolution, the neutrality treaty has no such provision. Instead, the treaty makes clear that each party determines for itself the existence of a violation. Article Four provides that each party is separately authorized to maintain the regime of neutrality, making a separate obligation of each party. The Senate's understanding accompanying to ratification also made clear that Article Five allows each party to take, quote, "unilateral action." Senator Jacob Javits, at the markup hearing, said that while the word unilateral is abrasive, we can quote, "decide that the regime of neutrality is being threatened and then act with whatever means are necessary to keep the canal neutral unilaterally." 46:35 Joseph Kramek: My name is Joe Kramek. I'm President and CEO of the World Shipping Council. The World Shipping Council is the global voice of liner shipping. Our membership consists of 90% of the world's liner shipping tonnage, which are container vessels and vehicle carriers. They operate on fixed schedules to provide our customers with regular service to ship their goods in ports throughout the world. 47:15 Joseph Kramek: As you have heard, using the Panama Canal to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific saves significant time and money. A typical voyage from Asia to the US or East Coast can be made in under 30 days using the canal, while the same journey can take up to 40 days if carriers must take alternate routes. From a commercial trade perspective, the big picture is this. One of the world's busiest trade lanes is the Trans Pacific. The Trans Pacific is cargo coming from and going to Asia via the United States. Focusing in a bit, cargo coming from Asia and bound for US Gulf and East Coast ports always transits the Panama Canal. Similarly, cargo being exported from US and East Coast ports, a large share of which are US Agricultural exports, like soybeans, corn, cotton, livestock and dairy also almost always transits the Panama Canal. The result is that 75% of Canal traffic originates in or is bound for the United States. 48:55 Joseph Kramek: We've talked about the drought in 2023 and the historic low water levels that it caused in Lake Gatún, which feeds the canal locks, a unique system that is a fresh water feed, as contrasted to an ocean to ocean system, which the French tried and failed, but which is actually active in the Suez Canal. These low water levels reduced transits from 36 transits a day to as low as 22 per day. Additionally, the low water levels required a reduction in maximum allowable draft levels, or the depth of the ship below the water line, which for our members reduced the amount of containers they could carry through the canal. This resulted in a 10% reduction in import volumes for US Gulf and East Coast ports, with the Port of Houston experiencing a 26.7% reduction. 51:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Are you aware of allegations from some vessel operators of disparate treatment such as sweetheart deals or favorable rebates by Panama for canal transits? Louis Sola: Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman, we have become aware through some complaints by cruise lines that said that they were not getting a refund of their canal tolls. When we looked into this, we found a Panamanian Executive Order, Decree 73, that specifically says that if a cruise line would stop at a certain port, that they could be refunded 100% of the fees. And as far as I know, that's the only instant where that exists. 53:05 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): So Panama was the very first Latin American country to join China's Belt and Road Initiative, and right now, China is building a fourth bridge across the Panama Canal for car traffic and light rail. Chairman Sola, why should Chinese construction of a bridge near Panama City concern the United States? Louis Sola: Mr. Chairman, we all saw the tragedy that happened here in the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident and the devastation that had happened to Baltimore. We also saw recently what happened in the Suez Canal, where we had a ship get stuck in there. It's not only the construction of the bridge, but it's a removal of a bridge, as I understand it, called the Bridge of the Americas. It was built in 1961 and that would paralyze cargo traffic in and out of the canals. 53:55 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Panama also recently renewed the concessions for two container ports to a Chinese company, Hutchison Ports PPC. Of course, Chinese companies are controlled by the Communist Party. How does China use control of those ports for economic gain? Louis Sola: Mr. Chairman, I am a regulator, a competition regulator. And the Chinese ports that you're referring to, let me put them into scope. The one on the Pacific, the Port of Balboa, is roughly the same size as the Port of Houston. They do about 4 million containers a year. They have about 28 game tree cranes. The one on the Atlantic is the same as my hometown in Miami, they do about 1 million containers. So where Roger Gunther in the Port of Houston generates about $1 billion a year and Heidi Webb in Miami does about $200 million, the Panama ports company paid 0 for 20 years on that concession. So it's really hard to compete against zero. So I think that's our concern, our economic concern, that we would have. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Commissioner Maffei, anything to add on that? Daniel Maffei: Yeah, I do too also think it is important. I would point out that you don't have to stop at either port. It's not like these two ports control the entrance to the canal. That is the Canal Authority that does control that. However, I think it's of concern. I would also point out that the Panamanian government thinks it's of concern too, because they're conducting their own audit of those particular deals, but we remain very interested as well. 56:25 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): Would the facts discussed here be considered violations of the neutrality treaty in force right now between the United States and Panama? Eugene Kontorovich: So I think Senator, I think potentially they could, but it's impossible to say definitively without knowing more, in particular, about the degree of Chinese control and involvement in these companies. I think it's important to note that these port operation companies that operate the ports on both sides, when they received their first contract, it was just a few months before Hong Kong was handed over to China. In other words, they received them as British companies, sort of very oddly, just a few months before the handover. Now, of course, since then, Hong Kong has been incorporated into China, has been placed under a special national security regime, and the independence of those companies has been greatly abridged, to say nothing of state owned companies involved elsewhere in in the canal area, which raised significantly greater questions. Additionally, I should point out that the understandings between President Carter and Panamanian leader Herrera, which were attached to the treaty and form part of the treaty, provide that the United States can, quote, "defend the canal against any threat to the regime of neutrality," and I understand that as providing some degree of preemptive authority to intervene. One need not wait until the canal is actually closed by some act of sabotage or aggression, which, as we heard from the testimony, would be devastating to the United States, but there is some incipient ability to address potential violations. 58:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): If the United States determines that Panama is in violation of the treaty, what is the range of remedies the United States would have for that treaty violation? Eugene Kontorovich: So I think it may be shocking to people to hear today, but when one goes over the ratification history and the debates and discussions in this body over this treaty, it was clear that the treaty was understood as giving both sides, separately, the right to resort to use armed force to enforce the provisions of the treaty. And it's not so surprising when one understands that the United States made an extraordinary concession to Panama by transferring this canal, which the United States built at great expense and maintained and operated to Panama, gratis. And in exchange, it received a kind of limitation, a permanent limitation on Panamanians sovereignty, that Panama agreed that the United States could enforce this regime of neutrality by force. Now, of course, armed force should never be the first recourse for any kind of international dispute and should not be arrived at sort of rationally or before negotiations and other kinds of good offices are exhausted, but it's quite clear that the treaty contemplates that as a remedy for violations. 1:03:20 Louis Sola: I believe that the security of the canal has always been understood to be provided by the United States. Panama does not have a military, and I always believed that there's been a close relationship with Southern Command that we would provide that. And it would be nice to see if we had a formalization of that in one way or another, because I don't believe that it's in the treaty at all. 1:05:05 Daniel Maffei: While we were down there, both of us heard, I think, several times, that the Panamanians would, the ones we talked to anyway, would welcome US companies coming in and doing a lot of this work. Frankly, their bids are not competitive with the Chinese bids. Frankly, they're not that existent because US companies can make more money doing things other places, but even if they were existent, it is difficult to put competitive bids when the Chinese bids are so heavily subsidized by China. 1:06:10 Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): What would China's incentive be to heavily subsidize those bids to undercut American companies and other companies? Daniel Maffei: Yeah, it's not a real short answer, but Senator, China's made no secret of its ambitious policies to gain influence of ports throughout the globe. It's invested in 129 ports in dozens of countries. It runs a majority of 17 ports, that does not include this Hong Kong company, right? So that's just directly Chinese-owned ports. So it has been a part of their Belt and Road strategy, whatever you want to call it, the Maritime Silk Road, for decades. So they believe that this influence, this investment in owning maritime ports is important to their economy. 1:07:05 Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): In 2021, Hutchison was awarded those two ports, Port Balboa and Port Cristobal, in a no-bid award process. Can you tell me, does the United States have any authority or recourse with the Panama Canal Authority under our current agreement with Panama to rebid those terminal concession contracts. And perhaps Mr. Kantorovich, that's more in your purview? Louis Sola: Senator, both of those ports were redone for 25 years, until 2047, I believe. And they have to pay $7 million is what the ongoing rate is for the Port of Houston- and the Port of Miami-sized concessions. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): And it can't be rebid until after that date? Louis Sola: Well, I believe that that's what the comptroller's office is auditing both of those ports and that contract. That was done under the previous Panamanian administration. A new administration came in, and they called for an audit of that contract immediately. 1:20:10 Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Are the companies now controlling both sides of the Panama Canal, the Chinese companies, subject to the PRC national security laws that mandate cooperation with the military, with state intelligence agencies. Does anyone know that? Eugene Kontorovich: They're subject all the time. They're subject to those laws all the time by virtue of being Hong Kong companies. And you know, they face, of course, consequences for not complying with the wishes of the Chinese government. One of the arguments -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Wouldn't that be a violation of the treaty? And isn't that a huge risk to us right now that the Chinese -- Eugene Kontorovich: That is a threat to the neutrality -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): If they invaded Taiwan, invaded the Philippines, they could go to these two companies saying, Hey, shut it down, make it hard, sink a ship in the canal. And wouldn't they be obligated to do that under Chinese law if they were ordered to by the PLA or the CCP? Eugene Kontorovich: I don't know if they'd be obligated, but certainly the People's Republic of China would have many tools of leverage and pressure on these companies. That's why the treaty specifically says that we can act not just to end actual obstructions to the canal. We don't have to wait until the canal is closed by hostile military action. Thatwould be a suicide pact, that would be catastrophic for us, but rather that we can respond at the inchoate, incipient level to threats, and then this is up to the president to determine whether this is significantly robust to constitute -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): So aren't we kind of walking up to the idea of a suicide pact, because we've got two big Chinese companies on both ends of the Panama Canal, who, if there's a war in INDOPACOM, Taiwan that involves us and China, these companies would be obligated to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party and PLA? I mean, are we kind of walking up to a very significant national security threat already? Eugene Kontorovich: Yeah, certainly, there's a threat. And I think what makes the action of the Chinese government so difficult to respond to, but important to respond to, is that they conceal this in sort of levels of gray without direct control. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Let me ask you on that topic, as my last question, Professor, let's assume that we find out. And again, it wouldn't be surprising. I think you can almost assume it that these two companies have Chinese spies or military officials within the ranks of the employees of the companies. Let's assume we found that out, somehow that becomes public. But I don't think it's a big assumption. It's probably true right now. So you have spies and military personnel within the ranks of these two companies that are controlling both ends of the Panama Canal for you, Professor, and Chairman Sola, wouldn't that be a blatant violation of Article Five of the neutrality treaty, if that were true, which probably is true? Eugene Kontorovich: Yeah, I do think it would be a clear violation. As former Secretary of State, Dean Ross said at the ratification hearings, informal forces can violate Article Five as well as formal forces. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): Is there any evidence of Chinese spies or other nefarious Chinese actors embedded in these companies? Louis Sola: Senator, we have no information of that. That's not under the purview of -- Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): But you agree that would be a violation of Article Five of the neutrality treaty? Louis Sola: I do. 1:26:25 Daniel Maffei: Senator Sullivan was talking about Hutchison Ports. That's actually the same company that runs terminals on both ends of the canal. I am concerned about that. However, if we want to be concerned about that, all of us should lose a lot more sleep than we're losing because if there are spies there, then there might be spies at other Hutchinson ports, and there are other Hutchinson ports in almost every part of the world. They own the largest container port in the United Kingdom, Felix Dow, which is responsible for nearly half of Britain's container trade. They control major maritime terminals in Argentina, Australia, the Bahamas, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Myanmar, the Netherlands, South Korea and Tanzania. If owning and managing adjacent ports means that China somehow has operational control or strategic control over the Panama Canal, they also have it over the Suez, the Singapore Straits, the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel. 1:35:45 Louis Sola: The fees that I think we are looking at, or have been looked at, the reason that we went there was because of the auctioning of the slots. And so what Panama did is they had a smaller percentage, maybe 20% allocation, and then they moved it up to 30% and 40% because it became a money maker for them. So as they were doing -- Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Okay, let me interject here. The auctioning of the slots gives these the right to skip the queue? Louis Sola: Yes, ma'am. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Okay, so just for the record there. Continue. Louis Sola: So the auctioning of the slots. Under maritime law, it's first come first serve, but Panama has always put a certain percentage aside, and they started to put more and more. So we got a lot of complaints. We got a lot of complaints from LNG carriers that paid $4 million to go through, and we got a lot of complaints from agriculture that didn't have the money to pay to go through, because their goods were gonna go down. So if you look at the financial statements -- I'm a nerd, I look at financial statements of everybody -- the canal increased the amount of revenue that they had from about $500 million to $1.8 billion in the last three years just because of those fees. So this is what is very concerning to us. 1:39:20 Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN): Do you know of any instances where the United States has been singled out or treated unfairly under the neutrality treaty in the operation of the canal? Daniel Maffei: I do not. I would add that one of the reasons why saying the US is disproportionately affected by raises in Canal fees and other kinds of fees at the canal is because the United States disproportionately utilizes the canal. 1:44:55 Louis Sola: We have a US port there, SSA, out of Washington State that I actually worked on the development of that many years ago, and helped develop that. That used to be a United States Navy submarine base, and we converted that. As far as the two ports that we have, they're completely different. One is a major infrastructure footprint, and also a container port that's moving 4 million containers a year. That's really phenomenal amount. That's more than Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and you've probably got to get Tampa and a little bit of Jacksonville in there to get that type of volume. And on the other side, we have a very small port, but it's a very strategic port on the Atlantic. So how are the operations done?I don't know how they don't make money. I mean, if you want to come right down to it, if they've been operating the port for 20 years, and they say that they haven't made any money, so they haven't been able to pay the government. That's what concerns me is I don't believe that we're on a level playing field with the American ports. 1:58:50 Eugene Kontorovich: I think the charges and fees are less of an issue because they don't discriminate across countries. We pay more because we use more, but it's not nationally discriminatory. 1:59:00 Eugene Kontorovich: The presence of Chinese companies, especially Chinese state companies, but not limited to them, do raise serious issues and concerns for the neutrality of the treaty. And I should point out, in relation to some of the earlier questioning, the canal, for purposes of the neutrality treaty, is not limited just to the actual locks of the canal and the transit of ships through the canal. According to Annex One, paragraph one of the treaty, it includes also the entrances of the canal and the territorial sea of Panama adjacent to it. So all of the activities we're talking about are within the neutrality regime, the geographic scope of the neutrality regime in the treaty. 2:00:30 Daniel Maffei: I actually have to admit, I'm a little confused as to why some of the senators asking these questions, Senator Blackburn, aren't more concerned about the biggest port in the United Kingdom being run by the Chinese. Petraeus in the port nearest Athens, one of the biggest ports in the Mediterranean, is not just run by a Chinese-linked company, it's run directly by a Chinese-owned company, and I was there. So you're on to something, but if you're just focusing on Panama, that's only part. 2:01:45 Louis Sola: About a year ago, when we were having this drought issue, there was also a lot of focus on Iran and how they were funding Hamas and the Houthis because they were attacking the Red Sea. What the United States has found is that Iranian vessels are sometimes flagged by Panama in order to avoid sanctions, so that they could sell the fuel that they have, and then they can take that money and then they can use it as they wish. Panama, at the time, had a very complicated process to de-flag the vessels. There was an investigation, there was an appeals process. By the time that OFAC or Treasury would go ahead and identify one of those vessels, by the time that they were doing the appeals and stuff like this, they've already changed flags to somewhere else. So when we went to Panama, we met with the Panamanian president, and I must say that we were very impressed, because he was 30 minutes late, but he was breaking relations with Venezuela at the time because the election was the day before. We explained to him the situation. The very next day, we met with the maritime minister, with US embassy personnel and Panama actually adjusted their appeals process so to make it more expedient, so if the United States or OFAC would come and say that this Iranian vessel is avoiding sanctions, now we have a process in place to go ahead and do that, and 53 vessels were de-flagged because of that. 2:06:05 Sen. John Curtis (R-UT): Is there any reason that China can't watch or do whatever they want from this bridge to get the intel from these containers? And does that concern anybody? Louis Sola: Well, it definitely concerns Southern Command, because they've brought it up on numerous occasions that there could be some sort of surveillance or something like that on the bridges. 2:20:30 Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): We segregate ourselves artificially in a way that they do not. We segregate ourselves. Let's talk about military. Let's talk about intelligence. Let's talk about economics. They don't. China doesn't work that way. It's a whole of government approach. They don't draw a delineation between an economics discussion and a military one. And their attack may not look like Pearl Harbor. It may look like an everyday ship that decides, you know, it pulls into the locks and blows itself up. And now the locks are non-functional for our usage, and we can't support an inter ocean fleet transfer, and our ability to defend it, as you referred to Chairman, is now inhibited by the fact that we no longer have the military infrastructure around the canal that we did just as recently as 1999. 2:21:10 Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): So from a commercial perspective, do the shipping companies have concerns over the security of the narrow waterways? We've the Strait to Malacca, we've got the Suez Canal, we've got Gibraltar, we've got Panama. Is that a concern that's thrown around in the boardrooms of the largest shipping corporations in the world? Joseph Kramek: Senator, I think it's something they think about every day. I mean, really, it's drawn into sharp relief with the Red Sea. It was what I call a pink flamingo. There's black swans that just come up and there's pink flamingos that you can see, but you don't act. But no one really thought a whole lot that one of the most important waterways in the world could be denied, and moreover, that it could be denied for such a sustained period. The good news is that -- Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT): And denied, I might add, by a disaffected non-state actor of Bedouins running around with rocket launchers, who also managed to beat us in a 20 year war in Afghanistan. My point to saying all this is we're just debating operational control of the canal, yet it seems very clear to all of us that a very simple act can debilitate the canal and eliminate our ability to use it in a matter of minutes with no warning, and we have no ability to intervene or stop that. To me, that means we do not have operational control of the canal. 2:30:40 Daniel Maffei: I will say that certainly we need to look at other kinds of ways to get US companies in positions where they can truly compete with the Chinese on some of these things. Blaming it all on Panama really misses the point. I've seen the same thing in Greece, where Greece didn't want to give the concession of its largest port to a Chinese company, but because of its financial difficulties, it was getting pressure from international organizations such the IMF, Europe and even maybe some of the United States to do so. So I just ask you to look at that. 2:31:20 Daniel Maffei: Panamanians are making far more on their canal than they ever have before. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it's going to the right place. But where they're really making the money is on these auctions, and that is why it remains a concern of mine and I'm sure the chairman's. That is where we are looking at, potentially, using our authority under Section 19 of the Merchant Marine Act where we could, if we can show that it is a problem with the foreign trade of the US, it's interfering with foreign trade of the US, there are certain things that we can do. Senate Foreign Relations Committee January 15, 2024 Clips 4:01:40 Marco Rubio: The thing with Panama on the canal is not new. I visited there. It was 2016. I think I've consistently seen people express concern about it, and it's encapsulized here in quote after quote. Let me tell you the former US ambassador who served under President Obama said: "the Chinese see in Panama what we saw in Panama throughout the 20th century, a maritime and aviation logistics hub." The immediate past head of Southern Command, General Laura Richardson, said, "I was just in Panama about a month ago and flying along the Panama Canal and looking at the state owned enterprises from the People's Republic of China on each side of the Panama Canal. They look like civilian companies or state owned enterprises that could be used for dual use and could be quickly changed over to a military capability." We see questions that were asked by the ranking member in the house China Select Committee, where he asked a witness and they agreed that in a time of conflict, China could use its presence on both ends of the canal as a choke point against the United States in a conflict situation. So the concerns about Panama have been expressed by people on both sides of the aisle for at least the entire time that I've been in the United States Senate, and they've only accelerated further. And this is a very legitimate issue that we face there. I'm not prepared to answer this question because I haven't looked at the legal research behind it yet, but I'm compelled to suspect that an argument could be made that the terms under which that canal were turned over have been violated. Because while technically, sovereignty over the canal has not been turned over to a foreign power, in reality, a foreign power today possesses, through their companies, which we know are not independent, the ability to turn the canal into a choke point in a moment of conflict. And that is a direct threat to the national interest and security the United States, and is particularly galling given the fact that we paid for it and that 5,000 Americans died making it. That said, Panama is a great partner on a lot of other issues, and I hope we can resolve this issue of the canal and of its security, and also continue to work with them cooperatively on a host of issues we share in common, including what to do with migration. 4:38:35 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT): Now, President Trump has recently talked a little bit about the fact that there are some questions arising about the status of the Panama Canal. When we look to the treaty at issue, the treaty concerning the permanent neutrality and operation of the Panama Canal, we're reminded that some things maybe aren't quite as they should be there right now. Given that the Chinese now control major ports at the entry and the exit to the canal, it seems appropriate to say that there's at least an open question. There's some doubt as to whether the canal remains neutral. Would you agree with that assessment? Marco Rubio: Yes. Here's the challenge. Number one, I want to be clear about something. The Panamanian government, particularly its current office holders, are very friendly to the United States and very cooperative, and we want that to continue, and I want to bifurcate that from the broader issue of the canal. Now I am not, President Trump is not inventing this. This is something that's existed now for at least a decade. In my service here, I took a trip to Panama in 2017. When on that trip to Panama in 2017 it was the central issue we discussed about the canal, and that is that Chinese companies control port facilities at both ends of the canal, the east and the west, and the concerns among military officials and security officials, including in Panama, at that point, that that could one day be used as a choke point to impede commerce in a moment of conflict. Going back to that I -- earlier before you got here, and I don't want to have to dig through this folder to find it again, but -- basically cited how the immediate past head of Southern Command, just retired general Richardson, said she flew over the canal, looked down and saw those Chinese port facilities, and said Those look like dual use facilities that in a moment of conflict, could be weaponized against us. The bipartisan China commission over in the House last year, had testimony and hearings on this issue, and members of both parties expressed concern. The former ambassador to Panama under President Obama has expressed those concerns. This is a legitimate issue that needs to be confronted. The second point is the one you touched upon, and that is, look, could an argument be made, and I'm not prepared to answer it yet, because it's something we're going to have to study very carefully. But I think I have an inkling of I know where this is going to head. Can an argument be made that the Chinese basically have effective control of the canal anytime they want? Because if they order a Chinese company that controls the ports to shut it down or impede our transit, they will have to do so. There are no independent Chinese companies. They all exist because they've been identified as national champions. They're supported by the Chinese government. And if you don't do what they want, they find a new CEO, and you end up being replaced and removed. So they're under the complete control of their government. This is a legitimate question, and one that Senators Risch had some insight as well. He mentioned that in passing that needs to be looked at. This is not a joke. The Panama Canal issue is a very serious one. 4:44:30 Marco Rubio: In 2016 and 2017 that was well understood that part of the investments they made in Panama were conditioned upon Panama's ability to convince the Dominican Republic and other countries to flip their recognition away from Taiwan. That happened. Jen Briney's Recent Guest Appearances Travis Makes Money: Give and Take: Music by Editing Production Assistance

Join America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio co-hosts Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy with U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, senior senator for Tennessee and the first woman to represent the Volunteer State in the United States Senate. She serves on the Deputy Whip Team and is a member of the Finance Committee; the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee; the Veterans' Affairs Committee; and the Judiciary Committee. Senator Marsha Blackburn serves as the Ranking Member on the Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security and on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. Before her election to the Senate, Marsha represented Tennessee's 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. The conversation focuses on the following topics: ✅ President Trump's State of the Union Address, presenting his vision for a Golden Age of America. ✅ Senator Blackburn requiring transparency and accountability, working with FBI Director Kash Patel in obtaining unredacted Epstein logs and other pertinent materials ✅ Senator Blackburn spearheading DOGE Acts to hold the federal government accountable for managing taxpayer dollars. Collaborative efforts with Elon Mask in making the federal government more efficient and slash wasteful spending. ✅ Strengthening the economic partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan. ✅ Senator Blackburn's recently introduced Tax Administration Simplification Act, to provide straightforward, taxpayer-focused improvements to streamline tax filing and payment for individuals and small businesses. ✅ Strengthening US-Israel ties and combating anti-Semitism with new leadership in Congress and the White House. ✅ Making America Healthy Again | Healthy foods and eating habits for a healthier America. Throughout her time in Congress, Marsha has led the fight to hold Communist China accountable. Her in-depth analyses of the Chinese Communist Party's threats to American sovereignty have prompted Congress to examine legislation countering Beijing's malign influence on global supply chains, technology infrastructure, and international organizations. After Beijing took over the once autonomous region of Hong Kong in 2019, Marsha led bipartisan legislation, which was signed into law by President Trump, that prohibits the U.S. export of crowd control equipment to the Hong Kong Police Force. Her bipartisan Open Technology Fund Authorization Act, which supports internet freedom by addressing authoritarian regimes' efforts to censor the internet, was also signed into law. At the same time Marsha has stood up to Communist China, she has worked to bolster the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. In August 2022, she visited Taiwan, met with President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei, and called to strengthen connections between the U.S. and Taiwan. During this visit, Marsha made her stance clear: Taiwan is a country. On border policy, Marsha bases her approach on the simple truth that until our borders are secure, every town will be a border town and every state will be a border state. In the Senate, she has led the charge to fully fund the United States Border Patrol, restart construction of a physical barrier, impose harsher criminal penalties for drug smuggling, and fight for law and order on behalf of the thousands of women and girls lost to cross-border human trafficking. Further reading: Blackburn, Hassan, Colleagues Introduce the “Patients Before Middlemen Act” to Bring Down Cost of Prescription Drugs (https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/3/health%20care/blackburn-hassan-colleagues-introduce-the-patients-before-middlemen-act-to-bring-down-cost-of-prescription-drugs) Blackburn, Kelly Push for More Federal Resources to Combat Fentanyl Crisis in Tennessee (https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/2/crime/national%20security/blackburn-kelly-pushes-for-more-federal-resources-to-combat-fentanyl-crisis-in-arizona) Blackburn, Schatz Introduce Bill to Strengthen U.S.-Taiwan Partnership, Safeguard U.S. from Communist China's Security Threats (https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/2/china/jobs%20and%20economy/national%20security/blackburn-schatz-introduce-bill-to-strengthen-u-s-taiwan-partnership-safeguard-u-s-from-communist-china-s-security-threats) americasrt.com (https://americasrt.com/) https://ileaderssummit.org/ | https://jerusalemleaderssummit.com/ America's Roundtable on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-roundtable/id1518878472 Twitter: @MarshaBlackburn @ileaderssummit @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk America's Roundtable is co-hosted by Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy, co-founders of International Leaders Summit and the Jerusalem Leaders Summit. America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio program - a strategic initiative of International Leaders Summit, focuses on America's economy, healthcare reform, rule of law, security and trade, and its strategic partnership with rule of law nations around the world. The radio program features high-ranking US administration officials, cabinet members, members of Congress, state government officials, distinguished diplomats, business and media leaders and influential thinkers from around the world. Tune into America's Roundtable Radio program from Washington, DC via live streaming on Saturday mornings via 65 radio stations at 7:30 A.M. (ET) on Lanser Broadcasting Corporation covering the Michigan and the Midwest market, and at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk Mississippi — SuperTalk.FM reaching listeners in every county within the State of Mississippi, and neighboring states in the South including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. Listen to America's Roundtable on digital platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Google and other key online platforms. Listen live, Saturdays at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk | https://www.supertalk.fm

Tyler Mills grew up and lives in what he calls “rural America”. His home is about an hour outside Iowa City and is indeed by any standard not an urban environment. Tyler also happens to be a person with a disability: he has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair. He has a degree in Human Resources Management from Bellevue University.   Tyler, through his company Mills Marketing Services has spent his adult life working to advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities especially in the rural portions of America. Tyler and I talk quite a bit about Rural America which he points out is dying right in front of us. He feels that a significant part of the challenges faced throughout America, especially in the less populated areas, comes from our move away from politically moderate leaders. He points out that this is not a partisan situation. He writes about his beliefs in his book “Death of the Blue Dogs”. The book discusses the political changes we are facing in this country and how those changes are severely impacting the economic fortunes of people in rural America. Of course, he also ties in the ways political changes are negatively effecting persons with disabilities again especially in rural environments. “Blue Dogs” were and still are politicians with relatively moderate views who put community over personal gain. You will hear all about them during our conversation.   My discussion with Tyler is fascinating and far ranging as you can imagine. I think this episode will be quite thought provoking and I hope you enjoy listening to it.       About the Guest:   I am a freelancer writer, the owner of Mills Marketing Services and a 2022 graduate of Bellevue University with a degree in Human Resources Management,  I have also worked in numerous national and local political campaigns.  Political consulting is something that I am passionate about.  I want to try to bring more people together o fix problems, instead of emphasizing our differences.    I am the author of the essay “Death of the Blue Dogs.” The book talks about the impact of the political changes in rural America, and how those recent changes have impacted the economic fortunes of the people that live there. Rural America has to get a realistic chance to win some of the venture capital resources that are out there to compete for economic development projects on a global scale.   I seek to be a voice for people with disabilities, particularly in the area of employment. There are still far too many barriers for the disabled when they seek employment, some of those barriers may have been unintentional when they were first proposed.   Ways to connect with Tyler:   https://www.lulu.com/shop/tyler-mills/death-of-the-blue-dogs-how-the-demise-of-the-blue-dogs-harmed-the-country-created-qanon-voters/paperback/product-42n9wy.html?q=Blue+Dogs&page=1&pageSize=4     Also available on Amazon:   https://www.amazon.com/Death-Blue-Dogs-Explaining-Politics/dp/1312517646/ref=sr_1_14?crid=178TODTDMZ3TR&keywords=Blue+Dogs&qid=1690048552&s=books&sprefix=blue+dogs%2Cstripbooks%2C324&sr=1-14   Abe Books:   https://www.abebooks.com/9781312517646/Death-Blue-Dogs-Demise-Harmed-1312517646/plp   Locally at Burlington by the Book:   https://www.midwestbooksellers.org/independent-bookstore-directory/burlington-by-the-book   Mills Marketing Services Contact Page:   https://www.facebook.com/p/Mills-Marketing-Services-100063553481698/?_rdr   Twitter Account:   https://twitter.com/tmills43   LinkedIn Profile:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-mills-93b14a24/   About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Well, hi everyone. I am your host, Mike hingson, and welcome to another edition of unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here with us.  We really appreciate you coming and spending a little bit of time with us. And today we get to chat with Tyler Mills, who I find to be an interesting soul. Why do I say that? Well, he is a writer, among other things, and I'm really interested to hear about his his book that he's written. He's a freelancer writer. He is also the owner of Bill's marketing services, and he's worked on a whole bunch of political campaigns and in the political world, and I'm really interested in talking about that. I've done some things around Washington in the past, and had a lot of fun doing it, and met some interesting legislators and Congress people and so on. But sounds like he's done a whole lot more than I have, and I'm really interested to to get into that and and I know he's very interested in talking about rural America, and we're going to do that as well. So with all that in the background, Tyler, welcome to unstoppable mindset. How are you? Thank you, Michael. I'm doing great. Well. We really appreciate you being here with us. Why don't we start as I love to do? Why don't you tell us about kind of the early Tyler, growing up and some of that stuff? Yeah,   Tyler Mills ** 02:39 basically, I've grown up here in southeastern Iowa. It's, I'm about an hour away from Iowa City, the University of Iowa, and it's a really great community to grow up in. I actually live in Keokuk, Iowa. We're right on the Mississippi River. Our main, our main industry, is a, you know, high fructose corn syrup. So it's a, it's not necessarily everyone's favorite topic or favorite industry out there, but that's what we mainly do in Keokuk, Iowa. And I've actually done a little bit of, you know, work with people that have developed websites for them and in the past. And that's part of what I've done with Mills marketing. And then I've also, you know, lobbied for different causes regarding disability rights and disability employment issues around Southeast Iowa. So what got   Michael Hingson ** 03:37 you interested in dealing with disability rights and advocating as you do.   Tyler Mills ** 03:41 I I realized as I got into the workforce, so many people that are in similar situations as I am, they're they're either not getting the opportunities that or they're afraid to break out and take those opportunities. I think it's a situation where the system is not always as conducive to employment as it should be. I think that, I think that there are a lot of employers who would be willing to employ more people with disabilities, but they don't know how to navigate the different barriers and parameters themselves. And I think they're, I think they're scared. I think they're afraid that, you know, there's going to be a liability on their on their in their facility, I you know there's, there's a lot of different   Michael Hingson ** 04:32 elements there, yeah. Do you have a disability yourself, a cerebral palsy? Okay, so that's, are you and are you in a wheelchair? Or do you have that much CP? Or, yeah, I could   Tyler Mills ** 04:47 find a wheelchair. You are okay.   Michael Hingson ** 04:51 Well, my wife, for her whole life, was in a wheelchair. She didn't have cerebral palsy. She had scar tissue on her spinal cord at the t3 level. So she was a t3 para, and we lost her in 2022 we were married 40 years. So as I tell people, and I will always say, no matter what anyone says, She's monitoring somewhere. And if I'm not a good kid, I'm going to hear about it. So I gotta try to make sure I'm a good kid. Yeah, don't want to get in trouble with her, you know. But anyway, and,   Tyler Mills ** 05:26 yeah, go ahead, I was just gonna say, I, I really, I in the in the last few years, I really started to look at the statistics dealing with employment amongst the disability community, and we've really made a lot of progress. And I don't want to imply that we we haven't made a lot of progress, because we have, but we're still at around 23% of people with what's classified as a disability under the ADA employment, which is not bad, 23% a lot better than I, better than I had previously been. But we really didn't even start charting those statistics until 2008   Michael Hingson ** 06:02 right? So yeah, and I know the unemployment rate among employable blind people is still much higher than that, but still it is progress, and it's not at the 70% where it was when I was growing up and in college and just going from college to the workforce. So we're better, but we're we've got a long way to go. And you know, why do you think that is? Why do you think that we still aren't really in anywhere near the norm, like for people who don't have traditional disabilities, people,   Tyler Mills ** 06:35 people are scared that they're going to lose their health insurance by going out into the workforce. That's that, I think, is the main barrier. And I think employers are scared to offer a full, certainly, a full health insurance package to someone that is disabled, and then if you make a certain amount of money, you no longer become eligible for the program. Or SSI, right? That you need to survive,   Michael Hingson ** 07:01 yeah, well, but the other side of that is that, typically, in a group health environment, disabilities aren't supposed to be a factor.   Tyler Mills ** 07:12 You would like to think so. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 07:15 yeah, as I say, supposed to be what I guess. What I'm getting at is, if you look at the paperwork and you look at the rules of typical group insurance, disabilities aren't included, that doesn't they're not an issue, but that doesn't mean that they're not but group insurance doesn't measure directly whether you happen to have a disability or Not. Yeah,   Tyler Mills ** 07:40 it's really, it's really bad, because I find it, at least, I found in most states, we're down to basically one giant insurer for almost every single state, at least it seems to be in, at least in my research. Maybe I'm wrong about that, but, you know, I do wish there were more options just anyone it was seeking private insurance so they could be, you know, as as self sufficient as they would like to be, yeah, basically we, you know, as as great as the Affordable Care Act is, in many ways, it's still, it really hasn't challenged the monopoly that we still have in the private insurance market. So,   Michael Hingson ** 08:19 yeah, yeah, yeah, and that's why I was real specific in saying the insurance I'm talking about is company group insurance, which is a little bit different in a lot of ways than typical private insurance and life insurance, although none of us could get life insurance policies until the early to mid 1980s because insurance companies plane said we were a higher risk. And it took a major effort and enough consumers rising up to get state legislatures to pass a law that said that you can't discriminate against persons based on a disability unless you can show actuarial statistics or evidentiary data. And nobody's been able to do that yet,   Tyler Mills ** 09:07 which is wonderful, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 09:09 yeah. Well, there's a whole story I was very much involved in that. I actually led that fight. I was living at the time in Massachusetts, so I led that fight. But there, you know, there are other aspects of insurance that are still issues in a lot of the kinds of other insurance, other than life insurance that we would like, like health insurance and so on. You're right. It's, it's, it's still a major challenge, and it's all really based on prejudice, though.   Tyler Mills ** 09:40 Well, I and I think that some employers also automatically assume that they could only get a half day out of us when we go to work. And depending upon how, you know, physically or mentally straining the work is, they automatically say, Well, I can only get a half day out of them, or maybe three hours. A day out of them, and what I think that we have a well, I mean, obligation is not the right word, but we, I am, during my time in the workforce, I've tried to prove some of these people wrong, that we that we can do a full day's work, at least I and I've been blessed to be able to have that opportunity. So many people that would like to have that opportunity, I'm not, do not have the chance because, yeah, they face a lot deeper challenges than I do, right? Well,   Michael Hingson ** 10:30 and when I asked the question before about why is the unemployment rate so high, another part of the answer that I would give is, and it gets back to part of what you're saying in a different way, but we're not included in the conversation. We are left out. And you're right. Employers and so many people make assumptions, and we've had things like sheltered workshops that have contributed to that, and a number of agencies around the country, so called rehabilitation agencies have contributed to that by not really being strong advocates. And the bottom line is though, that we really can work a full day, and for those people who physically may not be able to to do as much as other people would be able to do, it also may mean that what we really need to do is to look at what the right job for them would be, so that they could do as much work as anyone else. And that's also a big part of it.   Tyler Mills ** 11:29 And we were struggling with my internet and we probably still are. That's that's another issue here in rural America. If you want to be able to work from home, you're still going to be struggling your internet connection a lot of the time. So we've, we that was, Well, part of my book is about, uh, death of the Blue Dogs. I want to to people to understand what, what, regardless of your, whatever your politics happen to be, you should want access to the internet so people can can be, you know, working and be productive and be taxpayers, and, you know, feel good about their day. And there may be some people that don't want to work, but in my, in my experience, I've always felt like work and the dignity of work has given me a purpose, as, you know, as made me just feel better about my day. And I I'm not that may not be for everyone, but it certainly has helped me. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 12:24 I would also point out or submit that maybe for some of those people who don't want to work again, even there they may be prejudice and thinking they can't work and so they don't want to, and I'm sure there are some who just want to use the system, but I think there, there are a lot of people who haven't learned to have the confidence to stand up and really fight for for their right To be in the workforce and in the system.   Tyler Mills ** 13:02 And another aspect of this is, I think at least within rural America, I think right now, our and within the country at large, I think the venture capital dollars are getting spent in they're being too concentrated to one part of the country or the other. And if there was a way that we could convince people to spread that opportunity around a little bit better. I think that would be helpful as well. Yeah, I'm   Michael Hingson ** 13:27 sure, I'm sure that it would be helpful. Well, you mentioned the book. Tell me what? What are Blue Dogs?   Tyler Mills ** 13:34 Blue Dogs are a group of moderate to conservative Democrats, and I didn't really want to write this as a partisan book. What I wanted to do is write this as a book saying rule America needs to elect legislators that care about their constituencies. They go out there and use and appropriate tax dollars to make sure that our roads are functional, to make sure that we have access to internet, clean water, you know, schools with top notch technology so we can learn everything that we need to learn about it with to be able to be competitive in a global economy. Because basically what happened the Blue Dog Democrats were started in the early 1990s as a response to what many people viewed as, you know, Bill Clinton being too liberal. And Bill Bill Clinton did. He did race raise some taxes on some people at the beginning of his administration. So basically, the there was a group of about 30 or 40 Democratic legislators who said, We've got to kind of create our own group, and it could sort of like find the middle ground between what they consider to be too liberal. And Bill Clinton and yet too conservative to to jump to the Republican caucus. So, so they basically said, we're in the middle and we're being squeezed blue. So that's kind of where that term comes from.   Michael Hingson ** 15:13 Got it. You know? It's interesting. I I grew up, went to college in the 1970s and so on. And I've been a member of the National Federation of the Blind since 1972 and I remember going to several national conventions and also being very involved in dealing with things in Washington. And while one party is more conservative than the other, what's really interesting is that the emphasis on disabilities and supporting disabilities, at least to a degree, has shifted from the Republicans, who really were more champions earlier, but are much less so now, just because they've taken a completely different position about spending money and so on, but they're not the champions in general. That is that that the Democrats are,   Tyler Mills ** 16:14 and I would like to see the Republican Party get back to that, because if they if they believe in self reliance and independence and making people feel good about having something to do in their lives and being as functional as they can be. This should. This is a non partisan issue. Yeah, not non ideological, because all you're doing is you're creating you're creating jobs if, if someone with a disability can go out and become an entrepreneur and, let's say, hire three to four people. You know that that really, it may not seem like much on paper, but it can make a big difference in a community. It really can. So I, I and I, I think that you can still have a sense of community and still be, you know, be a rugged individualist at the same time, and I unfortunately, maybe within the Republican Party, they kind of, right now, only want that rugged individualism. And I think in order to have a functional society, you have to have some sort of a sense of community as well.   Michael Hingson ** 17:17 Well, I I agree. I think there's we're losing a lot of of our sense of community, and we become so fractured as a society that it's really difficult to talk and form community. And how do we get back to to that? How do we get back to people being able to share ideas, to have legitimate discourse? And also have different opinions, and people respect that, so we can discuss it and discuss them, but at the same time, we don't just blast everyone because they're different than we are. We get back.   Tyler Mills ** 17:58 We have to realize that our children go to the same public schools together. We still, we still go to the same churches. There's still some people who still go to the bowling allies together. I social media and social media marketing is great. I've been in that industry for quite a while myself, but we've kind of used that technology to go into our own little corners, and we just kind of follow the road we want to follow, instead of considering other points of view, considering what other people in the community might think we just we kind of, at this point, want to hear what we want to hear, and I don't know if we always consider it the other, someone else's perspective. And many of the legislators that were defeated that I write about in my book death of the Blue Dogs, they were kind of those people that were, you know, kind of the cooling saucers of the Congress, and they would kind of consider those different perspectives, and that's what I'd like to see us get back to as a society, not just as, you know, From a legislative, congressional perspective, but as a society, get, get, get that broader sense of community back, talk to each other again, because really, we still go to those same schools, churches, wherever you might line up, and hopefully we can start have that conversation again.   Michael Hingson ** 19:14 How do we get there? Though,   Tyler Mills ** 19:19 you have to realize that we're all just human beings. And I think, I think we, in some ways, we've kind of like going, Oh, that that person listens to different music than I do. I must not like them. Just I don't know where, I don't know where we got off base to where it's good where we go. Oh, that person has a different opinion than I do. I must hate them, I or I must at least dislike them, or not want to communicate with them. I think, I think, I think we just need to really we, we the society and media accentuate the differences. When I think. That even, even though you, Michael, have spent most of your time out in California, and I've spent my most of my time out in the Midwest, I think we'd find out probably quite a few things, regardless of politics or whatever, we'd have a lot of things just to communist, basic human beings. You know, well,   Michael Hingson ** 20:16 I've been fortunate enough to actually have lived in several places around the country and traveled to many more, and I love the richness of this country, and I appreciate the different environments, the different areas and the different points of view. And I think it is extremely important that we recognize that and that we respect it. But that sure breaks down in in our times right now, at least when it comes to politics, you can't have a political discussion at all without somebody just flying off the deep end somewhere.   Tyler Mills ** 20:59 Well, yeah. I mean, if you, if you go to the cable news networks, they reward the people that are saying the most outlandish things, regardless of where one stands. The person that gets the most media attention is the person that says the, you know, the most sometimes unproven thing. And when you reward non factual behavior, or just straight up dishonest behavior that I think that encourages society as a whole to go in that direction. You know,   Michael Hingson ** 21:31 unfortunately we live in a country where, well, I won't say unfortunately we live in a country that provides and allows for free free speech, but unfortunately, we do sometimes see that carried to an extreme, as you're pointing out,   Tyler Mills ** 21:45 well, and I think, I think that they that for some reason we consider, right now we've got people, if you fact check someone, they consider it a form of censorship, yeah, and I don't, I don't think, I don't think fact checking someone and saying, Hey, I have a different I have my research says differently than this. I'm offering this point of view. I don't think that's a form of censorship, but unfortunately, we've kind of gotten to that point where people think that that's censorship   Michael Hingson ** 22:11 well, and it is unfortunate that we've seen a lot of that, and we we do see the whole idea of of fact checking, and some people just totally resent it. But the problem is they don't want to do anything other than do as I say, not as I do. And that's unfortunate too, exactly, exactly. Yeah. So it does make it quite a, quite a pain to deal with, needless to say. Well, so what do we need to do? I know you've sort of alluded to it a little bit, but what do we need to do to kind of bring rural America economically back more into the fold and than it is. You've you've   Tyler Mills ** 22:59 got to have people that don't automatically assume that we don't have the skills to get things done. I think, unfortunately, there's a lot of stereotypes out there about people that then so these stereotypes are true, and we there. Life is about constant improvement, and if you're not willing to make changes and see how you need to improve yourself, how you need to improve your community, then you're not going to progress. But I think that there are a lot of people out there that look at rural America as you know well, they just they don't understand their flyover country. They're not willing to learn. And I think in my in my community, I think we are willing to learn. I think we are willing to get better, but we have to prove ourselves back. We have to prove that to other people. I was watching the Daily Show one night with Jon Stewart, and a lot of people enjoy Jon Stewart. Of course, he's a very funny comedian, regardless of what your politics are. And he was making, he I, he was making fun of the state of West Virginia far too much. And if you know it was like, you know, he's making fun of how they don't, you know, their their teeth, and they don't read enough. And it was just kind of like John, you you consider yourself someone who likes to highlight the plight of the working class from time to time, and then here you are, you know, kind of going off on these people who clearly need help, clearly need assistance, and they need jobs in their communities. And I wish that we would get rid of some of those stereotypes and stop saying some of those hateful things about each other, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 24:42 yeah. And it's and it is so true. Well, if you take West Virginia, for example, and I've read that, you know, there's people there will drink a lot of soft drinks and so on, and their teeth aren't great and all that. Um. And there are, there are issues like that, but there are also other factors that really cause some of that to be the case. Aren't there? There   Tyler Mills ** 25:07 are, there are. I wish that that people would actually go to some of these communities more often. I wish that, you know people were able to travel more and to learn more about why, if you look at the history of West Virginia, Was it really the best place to even put a state you know that that's that's worthwhile to be so can you really blame that on the people that live there now, as far as economic development, as far as you know that, and we're in a lot of these communities, smaller communities. They're They're controlled by one employer. You know, what a what? Once one, one employer gets locked into a community, they kind of dictate whether another employer can come in, because they're afraid that their workforce, they're going to lose their workforce if this other employer comes in and that that's another the monopolistic practices or the, you know, I I'm not sure what the exact wording of it would be, but it's certainly a controlling process for a lot of these communities, because they're afraid to lose that One major employer, and then what do they have?   Michael Hingson ** 26:22 And they're afraid to lose or they think they would lose their identity,   Tyler Mills ** 26:27 absolutely. And I I think work. And some people would disagree with me this. They would say, well, Tyler, you should just find more leisure time. Find more things with your leisure time, and not worry so much about work, but I think that the people that are encouraging a society without work are often some of the most successful people in society that don't have to worry about it anyway. I worry that people, regardless of their politics, they figured the game out, they figured the world out. They know how to make money. They know how to, you know, pretty much get anything they want. And then they're going to say, well, you know, just sort of Pat us on our head, right? And just sort of say, Well, you shouldn't have to work anymore, or you shouldn't worry about that stress anymore. And in some ways that would be a good thing, but in some ways, I need that stress. I need that challenge well,   Michael Hingson ** 27:23 and I think that's the real operative part of it, it's challenge. We as a as a race, tend to like challenge, whether we always admit it or not, we do. We like challenge, and we like to have things that we have to overcome. And for those people who have, quote, made it, that's real lovely, but the problem is they tend to forget along the way what it took to get there. And the result, ultimately, is that they don't really help people like they can to get other people to maybe work like they did, and get there as well. Yeah,   Tyler Mills ** 28:02 and AI and all these different forms of technology are going to be absolutely wonderful for so many people with disabilities. But we've also got to consider, you know, if you've got a bit of a cognitive disability, are you going to be able to catch on to this AI technology as quickly as you should? And are these and are these programs going to be, are there going to be funding for the, you know, to go to the community college in a smaller community where someone could learn how to use this technology better? I think that some of the some of the people that are creating the technology are not thinking of me in rural America, or other people in rural America that have disabilities, it may take us a little bit longer, and that it's going to be, you know, might, we might pick it up four or five years down the road, but those four or five years are going to be rough, you know?   Michael Hingson ** 28:53 Well, yeah, and AI in general is so new that we really miss out on thinking in the more long term approach of what it will and can become. Of course, now we've got so many people who are going, Oh, it's horrible. It's going to take all of our jobs away. Kids are just going to use it to create all their papers and so on at school, so they're not going to learn anything. And from my perspective, hearing those kinds of comments tells me you're really missing it, and you're you're not recognizing the value that AI really brings to the world. So for example, for for for the classroom, if children are writing their papers and just letting ai do all the work, you may or may not be able to tell it when you're grading the paper, but the thing to do is to maybe get creative and think about a little. Bit different way of teaching. For example, when you assign students to do a paper, and especially you're concerned that they just may be letting AI write it, chat, GPT or something, write it, the easy thing to do is take one period of your class and have all of your students individually come up and take a minute and defend your paper, and you'll know very quickly who really understood it and who used it all the right way or not.   Tyler Mills ** 30:34 Yeah. I mean, I mean, when I, when I was going through school, we would, you know, the teacher would kind of read the whole book to us, and instead of having us read out loud, and then, and then you, and then you graduate high school, and then you're like, some of these kids can't read. And then it's like, well, where, where were you in the seventh grade checking to make sure that they could read?   Michael Hingson ** 30:56 Well, yeah, yeah, um, and I think there, yeah, I've had some teachers that all they did was parrot the book, which is not what a good lecturer should do at all. The book is the book, and the teacher needs to really add value to that process. And and that's something that you don't always see, which is also the case. My belief is that a good boss, if they're really exercising leadership skills, a good boss, has to work with each person in their team and figure out how the boss can add value to make them more successful, rather than just focusing and telling them what to do and and not not being involved anymore. That's not leadership Exactly,   31:46 exactly.   Michael Hingson ** 31:49 So I think it is important that you know we need to, again, look at all of that well. So it is. It is pretty clear to me that what you would really like to see us do is shift some of what we're doing in our priorities, like in the political spectrum and so on, to be a little bit more moderate and not be one side or the other necessarily. How do we do that? We how do we convince people that we got to go back to a more moderate environment? We   Tyler Mills ** 32:20 look we look at people's resumes. We look at we look at people who actually consider it different points of view. I back in 20, 2015 2016 I worked for a guy named us, Senator Jim Webb. He was from the Virginia and he was a Vietnam veteran, he ran as a Democrat for president, but he also served in the Reagan administration. And thing about Jim is, when I first met him, you know, basically in the past, so some candidates that I'd met were a little bit hesitant to work with me because of my disability, but because of Jim's background as a veteran, and he dealt with people with disabilities before, he was very, very inclusive, very, very receptive to not only me, but also all points of view. And I think that if people honestly just want to take the time and listen to good, moderate people, regardless of whether they have an RD or anything else behind their name. Part of it is, I think, is our attention span. I don't mean to be insulting the people by saying it's an attention span issue, but I don't think that they take the time to listen and say, Hey, this this individual is considering more than one side of the coin, more than one point of view? Yeah?   Michael Hingson ** 33:46 Well, yeah, it really gets down to you. Got to spend time thinking and strategizing and not just reacting and recognizing there's more to life than just one opinion,   Tyler Mills ** 34:03 exactly i and that's the thing about the the people in this book, they were, they, these were these were people that you know were getting votes from people that didn't necessarily agree with them ideologically. But what they would do is they would take the time to listen to other people and to help people with their social security matters, or help people with, you know, making sure that their son was able to apply for that Pell Grant, or their daughter was able to apply for that Pell Grant. And so even though you didn't necessarily line up with everyone on an ideological basis, a lot of people would still cast their ballot for them, and because they would actually do the work what a congress person is supposed to do, in my opinion, and like we were talking about earlier on Fox News or on any of the cable networks, I think that people again, are rewarded for being loud instead of doing the work of what a member of Congress is supposed to do. I.   Michael Hingson ** 35:00 Yeah, yeah. And it's, it's tough to get enough people together to to deal with that kind of vision. And so the result is that when you get, as you pointed out, people who may be a little bit more moderate, or people who want to really make contributions to society as a whole. They drop out because they feel like they've got just too many things stacked against them, and they're just too many people who don't want to listen.   Tyler Mills ** 35:31 Yeah. I mean, there's a part of my book during the CNN debate and Anderson Cooper was questioning Jim Webb and some of the other candidates about the Americans with Disabilities, act and Senator Webb and made the point in the past about affirmative action, possibly not considering income enough as far as making sure that people had opportunities well. Anderson Cooper implied during that debate that Jim Webb was anti Ada and I kind of went I highly doubt many of these other presidential candidates have people on in wheelchairs, on their in wheelchairs and dealing with a lot of other disability related issues on their steps right now, working on their campaigns. And here's Anderson Cooper telling me that my candidate might be anti Ada, and I was that just kind of it took me back, because I again, I think that it's the responsibility of a journalist to actually dig deeper into someone's writing, their what their public statements, everything about their as much as they can before they make some outlandish question or comment like that. And again, I think it's, it's just some of it is a lack of responsible journalism because you're trying to get ratings. You're trying to, you know, get the headlines there, instead of actually digging into the issues that people are going to need in order to be able to survive.   Michael Hingson ** 37:04 So you've talked about the Blue Dogs being involved in rural America on the question that comes to mind is, aren't they just as important for the big city and non rural America? Yeah,   Tyler Mills ** 37:16 yeah. And that's the thing is, back in the 70s, when, you know, when we people were trying to get the farm bill done, they would make sure that provisions were in there to, you know, create more farming opportunities in urban America. So there weren't food deserts. There are food deserts in urban America too. And I think that when, when you elect people that don't care about a farm bill, that don't want to, they don't want to earmark resources to a community, you know, they want to act like they're just going to save money on this or that, when really, I don't think there's that much savings going on, because I think a lot, a lot of a lot of Countries are running debt. They've always been running debt. And I think it's not that debt doesn't matter. Debt absolutely does matter. But at the end of the day, if, if your people are living in a food desert, because the farm bill is not, you know, the resources there are not properly, you know, allocated, that's an issue that's far deeper than a than a structural, you know, spending deficit,   Michael Hingson ** 38:28 yeah, yeah. And we, well, we've, we've got to figure out a way to bring a little bit more sanity to the process. I guess we've, we've seen these kinds of cycles before, though, and the hope, and the hope is, over time, we'll be able to see maybe the the cycle shift, and we bring a little bit more sanity into the whole structure. But it's going to take somebody who's a really strong leader, who understands that, who can make it happen? And I'm not sure that we are seeing any of that even today in society, we have two political candidates, and I think one is closer to that ideal than the other, but I'm not sure whether we have anyone who really is strong enough or sophisticated enough to outsmart and bring about the kind of changes that we're talking about.   Tyler Mills ** 39:26 Well, the thing that frustrates me, and one of the things that frustrates me, is that some, some of these people that that were that were elected to Congress, are now seeing their communities die out. That they're, they're they're losing population. You can, you can look at the statistics. These are not made up statistics. These are proven statistics that that all a lot of these rural communities are losing population and alarming rates, and yet, you these people are continually getting rewarded by getting elected again and again. Wouldn't they want to see their community? Grow? That's my question. Maybe I don't want it seems like a false way of thinking here, because a lot of these communities are dying out, and yet you're getting rewarded by getting re elected or given a higher position in some sort of organization. And I'm like, You are losing population in your community at an alarming rate, and yet you're bragging about getting, you know, whatever you think done to me, you would want your community to grow and prosper? Well,   Michael Hingson ** 40:31 I would think so. But again, what we find is people's priorities are a little bit different than than I think what we would believe would be the ideal, yeah,   Tyler Mills ** 40:44 and it's, it's, it's frightening, because, you know, I the goal of of any, any society, it should be to help as many people as you can reach their full potential. Yeah? And if, and if rural America and in parts of urban America, absolutely, if they're not getting resources allocated to them, there's always so much you can do completely on your own in this world, in my opinion, and without that sense of community, I think a lot of people are being left behind, and it's just it's extremely unfortunate.   Michael Hingson ** 41:18 Do you think that we'll be able to see a shift, and we'll find more moderates coming back at some point,   Tyler Mills ** 41:25 we have to find a way to punish the media for what they do. They they encourage just out. They want people to start yelling. They want people to start yelling at each other. It's like, it's like a professional wrestling match. Michael, it's not like, you know, we basically got talk radio on in the halls of Congress now. Instead of, instead of saying, Hey, you're a human being, I'm a human being, I have constituents. You have constituents. We literally have members of the United States Senate, you know, threatening union leaders saying you want to fight, you want to have a fist fight, you know, yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 42:09 And well again, what do we do to change all of that? And you're right, the media is certainly a part of it. One of the things that really frustrates me is that we have these things. When candidates for president, for example, get together, they call them debates, but they're not debates. No, I'm not sure. I don't remember the Kennedy Nixon debate, and so I don't remember whether it really was a debate, but I bet it was closer to a debate than anything that we see today, because we're not really seeing any kind of good, real, legitimate debate discourse. No,   Tyler Mills ** 42:54 it's, it's sound bite after sound bite and attack line after attack run, and the questioning, the questioning is set up that way, and it's and I understand why they do it, because they want viewership. They want people to be talking about, oh, this candidate said this tan. And now we're going to talk about it for the 24 hour news cycle, and then we're going to move on to the next news cycle. Instead of having a substantive debate where people can discuss issues and actually solve, you know, internet connectivity in rural or parts of urban America, we end up with a debate over I, you know, whatever the you know, space lasers or whatever you know so well.   Michael Hingson ** 43:40 And the other part about it is that, I think, in reality, with a legitimate, real debate, you would have just as much to talk about, and would still allow for all of that to happen. Yeah,   Tyler Mills ** 43:52 yeah. So maybe, again, maybe it's maybe they need to give more air time to it. But again, that attention span that I think partly, personally, because of technology and the way things have changed. For better or worse, people don't have that attention span anymore, and I'm just as guilty as anybody so   Michael Hingson ** 44:13 they don't have that attention span. I hear people talking all the time about making videos to put up on YouTube or whatever, and I am told constantly it's got to be 30 seconds, because people won't pay attention for any longer than that. Yet, what content can you really do in 30 seconds?   44:33 Nothing, nothing,   Michael Hingson ** 44:37 or very little of any substance anyway, which isn't to say that you want to have a video that's 15 minutes or a half hour. It's got to be something that that makes sense. You got to keep people's attention, but I have yet to see if you do it the right way, where you can have a five minute video that keeps. That doesn't keep people's attention, if you do it, right?   Tyler Mills ** 45:03 Yeah. I mean, I, you know, I all listen to a good podcast. I mean, you know, like, just like we're doing right here, and you know, if it really gets my attention, I'm gonna, I know, and then I'm gonna come back for more, you know. And I think people hopefully, you know, hopefully they enjoy that sort of thing still, and, you know, really embrace it. I hope, I certainly hope so.   Michael Hingson ** 45:23 We have typically made these podcasts an hour long, and I've had the opportunity to be interviewed on a variety of different kinds of podcasts, and I've been lectured not about mine so much as other people say, Well, no one's going to listen to a podcast if it's an hour long. That's why we only make ours 15 minutes, or 20 minutes, or at most, a half hour, and yet, when they ask questions, they they don't really ask questions, much less do it in a way that creates content and does does what they really ought to do, even If it's only a half hour long.   Tyler Mills ** 46:00 Yeah, I, I, I think, I, I wish that content could be more substantive. I think, I think you're spot on about that. No doubt about it. So, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 46:16 so what we have, we have seen changes come about, although sometimes it isn't, perhaps in the ways that we ought to I mentioned earlier sheltered workshops, and there's been a big battle in the blindness system about the fact that all too many rehabilitation agencies and other entities push so many blind people into sheltered workshops, and those workshops have a way where they don't have to pay even minimum wage, and they've played some really strong games with that, but there's been a lot of visibility about that, and so a number of those shops have actually changed their model. But what do we do again to get the Congress to really deal with it? Or, you know, or is that asking the same question we've asked so many times already during this conversation? You know,   Tyler Mills ** 47:15 I think, I think it's up to the private sector. I think the private Congress right now is at a standstill, and I think that they prefer their permanent stand. So I, I've spoken to HR professionals, and my degree is actually in the human resources. And a lot of these HR professionals are not aware of the different programs that are out there, and then they're not aware of the tax credits. Yeah, it's not, it's not that they're not well, it says they're not willing to learn. I just don't think that was part of their program. I've worked at a call center now. You know, for over eight years, I'm still, obviously, there are all kinds of disabilities out there, but I'm still the only person in a wheelchair out after over eight years. And I don't know if I hope it hasn't been my own performance that has discouraged them from hiring other people with disabilities, but because that really would upset me, but it would, it would, but I, I You would think that someone else would have come across the line during the time I've been out there, because, Like, even when I got out there, they're like, they're like, you're the only person in wheelchair I've ever ain't out, you know? And they, they'd been working for other call centers before, and I was like, this is call center work. This is one of the most obvious things that people like me can do, yeah, and   Michael Hingson ** 48:35 it's and it's easy, it doesn't require an incredible amount of physical labor. And there are actually some good technological ways that a blind person could do that. It does take, it does take some some additional kinds of things, given the typical call center software, but the technology is there to do that today.   Tyler Mills ** 48:58 Yeah, I, I don't know if you've ever had the chance to work with different call centers about that kind of technology, but apparently some of them still need to help. So   Michael Hingson ** 49:07 oh, they do. I know of some mine, and I've I've dealt with some that actually have put the effort into it, but still, I know what you're saying. But then it gets back again to the whole idea of we're not included in the conversation. And I think that mostly when it comes down to dealing with people with disabilities, we don't think about it that way. We don't think about we're not included in the conversation, and we don't necessarily really deal with that. And when I'm talking about the conversation, why isn't the President every time he, or possibly in the future, she, is talking about one thing or another that they don't just talk about race and gender, they also automatically include people with disabilities and. Use examples. We're not included in any of those conversations.   Tyler Mills ** 50:04 Well, I think, unfortunately, we're, we're given absolutely necessary social programs there, you know, disability benefits, Medicaid, different things are absolutely necessary for survival. But I think people just sort of like, make sure that their tax dollars go to that, and then they don't think, they think, well, we it's not that they think we've done enough, but they think that, you know, well, we are making sure that these people are able to stay alive, and maybe in their minds, that is enough. But for for you and me and other people that think about this on a deeper level, we want more, and are we being selfish? I don't think so. You know, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 50:47 well, so we've talked a lot about work. Does society value work? Is that changing?   Tyler Mills ** 50:53 I don't, I don't think so. And as much as I embrace new forms of technology, I think that there's some. I think a lot of our drug problem, and particularly in rural America, is because you don't, you don't have some of those. You're not giving some of those menial labor jobs to the regular working class anymore. You're letting the technology do which is fine if you want to let the technology do it. That's completely your prerogative and your perspective, do you know to just sort of move, you know, the self checkout thing, and that's that's fine if companies want to go that route. But I think at the same point, there's a value to getting that person who may have been struggling in life, to get them to add a local grocery store, be at a Costco, or whatever the case may be, instead of, you know, having a self checkout, you know, it does, it does it hurt a company's bottom line? Absolutely, in many ways it does. But I think that we've lost a sense of that. Yeah, no purpose of work,   Michael Hingson ** 51:55 yeah, well, um, and you, you, you cut out a little bit. So maybe you can repeat some of that, because you cut out for a few seconds.   Tyler Mills ** 52:04 Yeah, the internet's going out, like we were talking about earlier, just again about how I think, I think it's important to still have part of that is the loss of the sense of the community is because we don't we use the technology now that it can be very, very helpful. But at the same time, if you give that job to a person who was previously struggling and not able to make find their way in life, maybe struggling with a fentanyl or struggling with some sort of drug related issue, now that they can have a job, they feel better about themselves, they can get a paycheck and be it be a larger part of society. Obviously, we'd rather have them, you know, getting an advanced degree and moving on to that larger scale to scale job. And hopefully they would be able to do that in the future. But I think society doesn't value, you know, having a someone to check out your groceries or someone to, you know, wash your car or mow your grass, or some of the menial jobs that are going to be eliminated here in the future, and in many cases, have been eliminated now. So we're as beautiful. Technology is going to be great for us. It's going to work in so many great ways. But we also don't look at the other side of the coin enough either. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 53:30 the other side of that, though, is let's take self checkout here in California, for example, when you talk about if you have to hire somebody, does that affect the bottom line, it does. But what we're also discovering is that self checkout is affecting the bottom line because there are too many people who cheat that system, and the result is that they they're able to get out without paying for everything or whatever. So their their challenges, all around and again, what I'm hearing you say, and I think there's merit to it, is that what we're really not doing is representing enough the value of giving people the opportunity to have jobs and encouraging them. And the companies aren't tending nearly to be as loyal as they used to be for people and working. And you're right. They're going to technology and everything else, and they're not being loyal like they used to be. You don't see the same loyalty. Hence, people move so often from one job and one company to another job and another company.   Tyler Mills ** 54:45 Yeah, when you have people in the investing in your company, they're just looking at the profit at the end of the quarter. They don't look at the you know, they see that profit in their stock portfolio, which is fantastic, because, well, anybody should be able to play the stock. Could do whatever they want, but again, if Walmart turns a massive profit by eliminating 1520, jobs, if they're different operations, what kind of larger impact does that have on a local community? And that's that's a question that should be asked. Now we might come to the conclusion that that's overall a good thing. I I don't come to that conclusion necessarily, but I think, I think it's a conversation that needs to be had   Michael Hingson ** 55:29 all the time, and it's like anything else. How do we get that conversation to occur more often?   Tyler Mills ** 55:36 Well, I think, again, I think we've kind of lost our sense of I don't, but when I, when I was growing up, I think that people were just nicer to each other. I and I, I don't know if it's because people just think they can say whatever they want to each to each other, yeah, now, now that we're behind the keyboard, or we can just be agree or disagree. We should never be as just unkind and be calling each other stupid and uninformed? And you know, we need to consider all different perspectives as much as we can. Yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 56:09 you know, we we should, and I really would love to see a world where we could have a lot more discussion without somebody becoming offended, because discussion is always valuable if we really have a discussion, and can if going back to using that term debate something. But you know, so do you think more people with disabilities ought to move and be involved in more rural America? Would that be a beneficial thing?   Tyler Mills ** 56:50 I think would be beneficial. I think if we there are a lot of extremely compassionate people here. I think that just because they people assume, just because a certain community starts to vote a certain way, that they've lost their compassion. I don't think that's necessarily the case. I think you've got a lot of compassionate people here who who love, who love, to help other people. They're not necessarily voting the way. They're not actually voting their values. They're extremely compassionate people, but they're not voting that way. So then people who are voting the opposite way assume that they don't care. I think it's a lack of information. I think we've got we've got as much information as we've ever had at our fingertips. I don't know if we're actually on a search for knowledge within that information, you know? So, yeah,   Michael Hingson ** 57:47 we, we don't know how to search. We don't know how to or, oftentimes it seems like we don't want to get that information, because it, it, it's the the usual, don't bother me with the facts, and that's unfortunate.   Tyler Mills ** 58:06 And I also worry about, you know, a lot of these bigger banks and bigger companies are able to swallow up the smaller banks in the smaller communities, and so the, again, the capital dries up. The that's that's really important. I I don't understand completely why, why some people who would consider themselves more conservative aren't worried about anti trust laws if they truly want those rural communities that they represent to survive. The reason why I wrote this book is because I see, again, I see a lot of people who are who are elected to represent rural America, are letting it die out, and I do not understand why that's and that's what I tried to explore in the book. And it just it. It boggles my mind. And I could write 15 books on it, and it would still make me go, Hmm,   Michael Hingson ** 59:00 well, your voice still needs to be heard out there, and people need to hear I think what you're saying, it's, it certainly isn't a very relevant and valuable viewpoint. And we've, we've got to get to the point where we can have good discussion and good interaction with each other. We've lost the art of conversation all the way around.   Tyler Mills ** 59:26 Yeah, it's, it's because we we text each other and we message each other and and shorthand, and we don't really, I don't think we have those same kind of full length conversations that we used to have.   Michael Hingson ** 59:37 One of the things that I do regularly when I'm looking for speaking opportunities, and I've looked at some databases, and I will send out emails and talk to people about becoming or hiring me to be a speaker. I love it when somebody responds to me, and even if they say I'm the. Right person. We're not doing anything right now, but they leave a phone number because I think it's so important to be able to reach out to people on the phone. Email is so insensitive, and texting, of course, is there's nothing like communicating with someone on the phone. And I know that a lot of times I've been able to get speaking engagements because I was able to actually have a phone conversation. And some people have gone so far as to say, most people don't call me. I really appreciate the fact that you called me and took the time to to let me get to know you better, and whether we have anything right now or not, isn't the issue, but thanks for at least initiating the phone call.   Tyler Mills ** 1:00:47 Yeah, you you can talk about why you care about a project more. You can really go into detail as to why you know this. Do you think that this particular situation, whatever you're working on, would would really help benefit everyone involved in a text message. I don't think you can necessarily lay out that kind of emotion, you know, you   Michael Hingson ** 1:01:09 certainly can't lay out the emotion. Yeah, yes, it is just, isn't there? Well, Tyler, this is really been a lot of fun. We have spent an hour doing it, and I have no problem with that, just okay. So I really appreciate your time, and I think I really thank you for being here, and I want to thank you all for listening. This has been a lot of fun, and I hope that you've enjoyed it, everyone out there listening and watching us, I hope you've enjoyed it, and that you will let us know what you think. Please feel free to email me. Michael, H, I m, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I, B, e.com, and we'd love to hear from you. We'd love if you whenever you're listening or wherever you're listening. If you give us a five star rating, please rate us Tyler. If people want to reach out to you and interact with you more, how do they do that? They   Tyler Mills ** 1:02:07 can find me on LinkedIn, Tyler mills. Type in Tyler Mills, Mills, marketing services. You also my book is on lulu.com that's where I get the most money for it, to be honest, amazon.com wonderful site if you want to get it there, but I only get 37 cents on Amazon. But so if, if you can go to lulu.com death of the Blue Dogs, Tyler Mills, if you want to learn more about my book, any, any of the projects that I have to do with Mills marketing services, you could find me on LinkedIn. You can find me on Facebook. Mills marketing services. I'm I'm available. I got my phone number, email everything, so I'm good to go. Cool.   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:46 Well, we put links in the cover notes as well, so the show notes, so they'll be there. So again, I want to thank you all. I really appreciate you, Tyler, taking the time. And if you know of anyone else who ought to be a guest on unstoppable mindset. And for all of you out there, if you know anyone who you think ought to be a guest or might be a good guest, I want to hear about it. We're always looking for people who want to come on and tell their story and talk about what they do. So please, by all means, refer people to us. I think it would be great. And we would love to talk with them and explore them coming on the show. So once again, I want to thank you, though all for being here. Tyler, I want to thank you for being here. This has been fun.   Tyler Mills ** 1:03:29 Thank you for the opportunity. Michael, I really enjoyed it. Thank you for letting me speak to your viewers.   **Michael Hingson ** 1:03:40 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Note: This episode was recorded on December 17, 2024, and reflects the policy landscape and political context of that time. When Krista Drobac arrived in Washington, D.C., fresh out of college, she had no car, no connections, and no clear path—just a determination to make a difference in politics. What began as a leap of faith quickly turned into a lifelong mission to transform healthcare policy. Today, as a founding partner of Sirona Strategies, Krista is a driving force behind some of the most innovative approaches to care delivery—from telehealth to home-based models. Her career took root in the late 1990s, when she led a groundbreaking campaign for stem cell research, uniting patient groups to advocate for life-changing treatments. Since then, Krista has become a trusted voice in healthcare policy. She is a true leader focused on spotting growth opportunities and mitigating risks stemming from policy changes at both federal and state levels. By merging market dynamics with regulatory shifts in Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial care, she guides companies—from startups to Fortune 10 giants—in building models of care that capture new opportunities. With deep relationships across both industry and government, and a rich history in the United States Senate, the Obama Administration, the National Governors Association, and state government, she is uniquely qualified to spot trends that drive change. In addition, she founded three coalitions dedicated to ensuring patients have access to telehealth, more home-based care, and integrated social services. In our conversation, Krista takes us behind the scenes of her journey—from her early days advocating for stem cell research to her current efforts to revolutionize care delivery. She opens up about the challenges of balancing innovation with affordability, the importance of addressing the root causes of chronic disease, and why now is the time for bold, transformative ideas in healthcare. Do you have thoughts on this episode or suggestions for future guests? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@rosenmaninstitute.org.

Tommy Tuberville is undeniably the dumbest human being currently serving in the United States Senate, but that might not be giving him enough credit. There's a good chance that he might actually be the dumbest person in the entire country. During an appearance this week on Fox News, he forgot that triangles existed while discussing cuts to the Pentagon, and instead suggested that we turn it into a "trigon," which is not a shape and any kindergartener could tell you that. A federal judge has ordered officials in the Trump administration to sit for depositions - which are sworn testimonies that can result in perjury charges if someone lies - to discuss the role of the Department of Government Efficiency and what they've been up to. This is a massive blow to the administration, as it could force officials to admit that sensitive data HAS been breached by the minions at the agency, and this ruling comes just days after the agency suffered a mass exodus of staffers. A top Republican pollster, Sarah Longwell, says that MAGA voters in the focus groups that she's been conducting are not happy AT ALL with what's going on with the Trump administration. She went as far as to say that many of them are already expressing buyers' remorse for putting him back in power. There have been reports of voters here and there saying this, but when a pollster is constantly running into this theme then it is clearly more widespread than we knew. Farron explains why this is such a positive sign.Text and and let us know your thoughts on today's stories!Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date on all of Farron's content: https://www.youtube.com/FarronBalancedFollow Farron on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FarronBalanced Twitter: https://twitter.com/farronbalanced Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farronbalanced TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@farronbalanced?lang=en

In today's episode, Sarah and Beth discuss Senator Mitch McConnell's announcement that he will not seek an eighth term in the United States Senate. They also discuss the potential impact of DOGE on the national debt, and, outside of politics, they talk about school snow days and how we learn at home. Topics Discussed Senator Mitch McConnell’s Legacy DOGE The US Deficit Outside of Politics: Snow Days and Non-Traditional Instruction Visit our Substack page for complete show notes and episode resources.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Senate has shown a vested interest in obtaining the complete, unredacted flight logs of Jeffrey Epstein's private plane to identify individuals who may have been involved in his alleged sex trafficking network. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been at the forefront of this effort. She has repeatedly requested subpoenas for these flight logs, as well as Ghislaine Maxwell's unredacted address book, aiming to uncover the identities of those who participated in or witnessed Epstein's illicit activities. Senator Blackburn emphasizes that releasing this information is crucial for delivering justice to Epstein's victims and dismantling existing sex trafficking rings.Despite these efforts, there has been resistance within the Senate. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been accused of blocking attempts to subpoena the flight logs. In January 2025, Senator Blackburn confronted Senator Durbin over his alleged obstruction, highlighting the partisan challenges faced in pursuing transparency on this issue.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

The U.S. Senate has shown a vested interest in obtaining the complete, unredacted flight logs of Jeffrey Epstein's private plane to identify individuals who may have been involved in his alleged sex trafficking network. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been at the forefront of this effort. She has repeatedly requested subpoenas for these flight logs, as well as Ghislaine Maxwell's unredacted address book, aiming to uncover the identities of those who participated in or witnessed Epstein's illicit activities. Senator Blackburn emphasizes that releasing this information is crucial for delivering justice to Epstein's victims and dismantling existing sex trafficking rings.Despite these efforts, there has been resistance within the Senate. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been accused of blocking attempts to subpoena the flight logs. In January 2025, Senator Blackburn confronted Senator Durbin over his alleged obstruction, highlighting the partisan challenges faced in pursuing transparency on this issue.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

The U.S. Senate has shown a vested interest in obtaining the complete, unredacted flight logs of Jeffrey Epstein's private plane to identify individuals who may have been involved in his alleged sex trafficking network. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been at the forefront of this effort. She has repeatedly requested subpoenas for these flight logs, as well as Ghislaine Maxwell's unredacted address book, aiming to uncover the identities of those who participated in or witnessed Epstein's illicit activities. Senator Blackburn emphasizes that releasing this information is crucial for delivering justice to Epstein's victims and dismantling existing sex trafficking rings.Despite these efforts, there has been resistance within the Senate. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been accused of blocking attempts to subpoena the flight logs. In January 2025, Senator Blackburn confronted Senator Durbin over his alleged obstruction, highlighting the partisan challenges faced in pursuing transparency on this issue.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Why is it so important for us to send 60 constitutionalist lawmakers to the United States Senate as soon as we can? Tune in to The Public Square® today to hear more. Topic: Our Mission The Public Square® with hosts Dave Zanotti and Wayne Shepherd thepublicsquare.com Air Date: Thursday, February 13, 2025

In the final episode of this series, we hear how it all shakes out. The trials end. The messy love square between the Donnellys and Reeds implodes. Kansas City Mafia boss Johnny Lazia meets his maker. The Donnelly Garment Company thrives, then dies. Through it all, Nell Donnelly Reed rises to untold prominence, but still manages to keep her secrets. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: “Nelly Gone: KCQ traces the kidnapping of Nell Donnelly,” by Kate Hill for the Kansas City Public Library The book, “More than Petticoats: Remarkable Missouri Women,” by Elaine Warner The book, “James A. Reed: Legendary Lawyer; Marplot in the United States Senate,” by J. Michael Cronan The book, “Called to Courage, Four Women in Missouri History,” by Margot Ford McMillen and Heather Roberson “First A Lady,” by Jennifer Wilding for the Kansas City Star magazine “Nelly Don's unexpected legacy,” for the Fashion Conservatory “Nell Donelly Reed,” Historic Missourians “Nelly Don's zero-waste apron design,” run-sew-read “Nelly Don: Self made in America,” seamwork.com The book, “The Snatch Racket,” by Carolyn Cox The book, “The Devil's Tickets,” by Gary M. Pomerantz Obituary for George Blair, Kansas City Star, June 10, 1977 “Causes for hate,” The Kansas City American, Dec. 24, 1931 “Mrs. Donnelly is found, safe,” The Kansas City Times, Dec. 18, 1931 “Mrs. Donnelly's chauffeur tells of the kidnappers' treatment of them,” The Kansas City Star, Dec. 18, 1931 “Link Mrs. Depew,” The Kansas City Star, Dec. 23, 1931 “Mrs. Donnelly was released last Friday,” Southwest Mail and Weekly Post, Dec. 25, 1931 “Depew speaks for Mele,” The Kansas City Times, July 16, 1932 “Paul Donnelly is dead,” The Kansas City Star, Sept 8, 1934 “Estate of Donnelly v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue,” case-law.com “Rich young widow weds,” The Windsor Star, Jan. 13, 1937 “Reed Ranch,” reed-ranch.com “The murder of John Lazia,” ganglandwire.com Are you enjoying An Old Timey Podcast? Then please leave us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts! Are you *really* enjoying An Old Timey Podcast? Well, calm down, history ho! You can get more of us on Patreon at patreon.com/oldtimeypodcast. At the $5 level, you'll get a monthly bonus episode (with video!), access to our 90's style chat room, plus the entire back catalog of bonus episodes from Kristin's previous podcast, Let's Go To Court.

On this episode of the podcast, host Amanda Head speaks with Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, discussing the confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Representative Miller-Meeks opines on all the change RFK Jr. can create as the next Secretary of HHS should he be confirmed by the United States Senate. The duo also dive into the importance of the very first piece of legislation that Trump signed into law today as the 47th President—The Laken Riley Act—named in honor of a young nursing student tragically murdered by an illegal alien while jogging at the University of Georgia. This law officially mandates the federal detention for all illegal immigrants accused of crimes such as theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, or any offense resulting in death or serious bodily injury.Also joining this podcast episode is J.J. Carrell, retired Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge with the U.S. Border Patrol, who provides expert insight on border security and his new book, as well as Caroline Carralero, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Daily Nouri, a company dedicated to improving gut health through science-backed products.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. Senator Rand Paul, M.D., is recognized as one of the nation's leading advocates for liberty in the United States Senate. Dr. Paul has proven to be an outspoken champion of constitutional rights and fiscal responsibility. As a fierce advocate against government overreach, Dr. Paul has fought tirelessly to return the government to its limited constitutional scope. As a hard-working and dedicated physician, Dr. Paul came to Washington to shake things up and to make a difference.

James A. Reed was in federal court, about to argue his case, when a call came in from Kansas City. Nell Donnelly had been kidnapped. James panicked. To James, Nell was so much more than a celebrated fashion designer. She was his neighbor. She was his secret lover. She was the mother of his child. He'd do anything to save her – including threatening the head of the Kansas City mafia. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: “Nelly Gone: KCQ traces the kidnapping of Nell Donnelly,” by Kate Hill for the Kansas City Public Library The book, “More than Petticoats: Remarkable Missouri Women,” by Elaine Warner The book, “James A. Reed: Legendary Lawyer; Marplot in the United States Senate,” by J. Michael Cronan “First A Lady,” by Jennifer Wilding for the Kansas City Star magazine “Nelly Don's unexpected legacy,” for the Fashion Conservatory “Nell Donelly Reed,” Historic Missourians “Nelly Don's zero-waste apron design,” run-sew-read “Nelly Don: Self made in America,” seamwork.com The book, “The Snatch Racket,” by Carolyn Cox The book, “The Devil's Tickets,” by Gary M. Pomerantz Obituary for George Blair, Kansas City Star, June 10, 1977 “Causes for hate,” The Kansas City American, Dec. 24, 1931 “Mrs. Donnelly is found, safe,” The Kansas City Times, Dec. 18, 1931 “Mrs. Donnelly's chauffeur tells of the kidnappers' treatment of them,” The Kansas City Star, Dec. 18, 1931 “Link Mrs. Depew,” The Kansas City Star, Dec. 23, 1931 “Mrs. Donnelly was released last Friday,” Southwest Mail and Weekly Post, Dec. 25, 1931 Are you enjoying An Old Timey Podcast? Then please leave us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts! Are you *really* enjoying An Old Timey Podcast? Well, calm down, history ho! You can get more of us on Patreon at patreon.com/oldtimeypodcast. At the $5 level, you'll get a monthly bonus episode (with video!), access to our 90's style chat room, plus the entire back catalog of bonus episodes from Kristin's previous podcast, Let's Go To Court.

This episode of Giving Ventures features a special interview with Senator James Lankford (R-OK), who provides a charitable-minded view from Capitol Hill. As one of the few U.S. Senators with extensive experience running a nonprofit, Lankford understands the needs and challenges of the charitable community and appreciates the role public policy can play in fostering a vibrant nonprofit sector. In this conversation, Peter and Senator Lankford discuss the state of charitable giving in America, the dangers posed to donor privacy, and how a new tax bill could incentivize more philanthropy. Senator Lankford has represented Oklahoma in the United States Senate since 2015 and, prior to his Senate service, represented the 5th District of Oklahoma in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015. Before entering public service, the Senator led the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center in Oklahoma.

It was 6 p.m. on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1931. Legendary fashion designer Nell Donnelly was headed home from work. Her chauffeur, George Blair, drove Nell's lime green Lincoln through the streets of downtown Kansas City. When they arrived at her palatial home, George noticed a vehicle blocking the driveway. Two unfamiliar men stood on either side of it. George slammed on the brakes. In seconds, one of the men charged at him with a gun. Two more men came running. One jumped into the backseat with Nell. The gunman took charge of the vehicle. The other man jumped in on the passenger's side, effectively trapping George. Nell screamed. She kicked. She fought. She thought for certain that someone would hear her. They didn't. America's best, most successful businesswoman, along with her chauffeur, had just been kidnapped. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: “Nelly Gone: KCQ traces the kidnapping of Nell Donnelly,” by Kate Hill for the Kansas City Public Library The book, “More than Petticoats: Remarkable Missouri Women,” by Elaine Warner The book, “James A. Reed: Legendary Lawyer; Marplot in the United States Senate,” by J. Michael Cronan “First A Lady,” by Jennifer Wilding for the Kansas City Star magazine “Nelly Don's unexpected legacy,” for the Fashion Conservatory “Nell Donelly Reed,” Historic Missourians “Nelly Don's zero-waste apron design,” run-sew-read “Nelly Don: Self made in America,” seamwork.com The book, “The Snatch Racket,” by Carolyn Cox The book, “The Devil's Tickets,” by Gary M. Pomerantz Obituary for George Blair, Kansas City Star, June 10, 1977 “Causes for hate,” The Kansas City American, Dec. 24, 1931 “Mrs. Donnelly is found, safe,” The Kansas City Times, Dec. 18, 1931 “Mrs. Donnelly's chauffeur tells of the kidnappers' treatment of them,” The Kansas City Star, Dec. 18, 1931 Are you enjoying An Old Timey Podcast? Then please leave us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen to podcasts! Are you *really* enjoying An Old Timey Podcast? Well, calm down, history ho! You can get more of us on Patreon at patreon.com/oldtimeypodcast. At the $5 level, you'll get a monthly bonus episode (with video!), access to our 90's style chat room, plus the entire back catalog of bonus episodes from Kristin's previous podcast, Let's Go To Court.

Just before the 2020 election, I had the honor and privilege of interviewing Martin Luther King, III. Though the nation was in a very different place then, it's still pertinent today.You can listen to the full interview at the top of this page.Here are some highlights:About the importance of voting as a path to equality:“Again, I can't say enough why it's important for us to cast our votes. Why it's important for us to change those who are in the majority in the United States Senate. When more of us vote, then we elect different people to office, who understand and will represent and make sure that everyone is included, and no one is excluded.”“We have to work for change. We have to pray for change. We have to be the change. And if love is not yet won, then the victory is not yet won.”On the damage done to America by Trump:“(Trump) stokes. It's almost like a fire exists, and instead of putting water on it to suppress the fire, you put lighter fluid on it to make it even more. And that's his rhetoric does that. And it creates that climate all over.”“(Trump's) not talking about peace at all. And so it's no wonder everyone is acting crazy because you have leadership at the top that is not exhibiting strong, stable, unifying leadership.”“(Trump) has done everything he can to divide our nation. To segregate our nation. President Obama was a bridge builder. (The Trump) Administration is basically not a bridge builder, but they are building walls to separate and segregate people.”On the American Spirit:“What we find in the American spirit is people come wanting to help. They don't ask you if you're a Democrat, if you're Republican, or if you're independent, they don't ask you if you're gay or straight. They don't ask you if you're Christian or Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist or Jewish. They just want to help you get out of that tragic condition and help you move to another level…That's the heart that exists within the human spirit of Americans. And that's what we have to constantly figure out, how do we elevate that all the time? So that humankind treats humankind with humanity, with justice, with dignity, with respect.That's what my father would want. That's what my mother would want. That's what I want for our country and my daughter and generations yet unborn.”Like I said—inspirational.Onward,ScottAll of our work is funded by our paid subscribers, so if you haven't yet, please join us as one today:What are your thoughts and hopes for our future?This podcast episode was produced by the legendary Grant Stern. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dworkinsubstack.com/subscribe

On this Tuesday edition of Sid & Friends in the Morning, President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet nominations begin their confirmation hearings in the belly of the beast that is the United States Senate. Secretary of Defense hopeful Pete Hegseth leads things off today, before the rest of Trump's picks face the firing squad on the Senate floor in the coming days. In other news of the day, former Governor Andrew Cuomo dominates a poll for the upcoming Mayoral race here in New York City, current Governor Kathy Hochul gets ready to deliver her State of the State speech today, and New York lawmakers meet with President-elect Trump regarding the ongoing congestion pricing issue in NYC. Sharon Pfeiffer, Curtis Sliwa, Rich Lowry, Arthur Aidala, Jeanine Pirro and Joe Benigno join the program on this Tuesday installment of Sid & Friends in the Morning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell has spent 40 years in the United States Senate, 17 of those as leader of his Republican colleagues. That's the longest any senator has been at the top of the leadership rung in either political party. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) was elected a few weeks ago to head up the Republican majority in the Senate in 2025. Journalist Michael Tackett's book, a profile of Senator McConnell, is called "The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party." Mr. Tackett, deputy Washington bureau chief of the Associated Press, conducted over 50 hours of interviews and was granted access to never-before-released oral histories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shereef Elnahal, MD, MBA Under Secretary for Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs, joins Eric to discuss the transformative potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans. The conversation explores the VA's groundbreaking initiatives, including their funding of studies on MDMA and psilocybin, and how these therapies address conditions like PTSD, depression, and addiction.    Dr. Elnahal highlights the VA's role as a leader in mental health research and shares a vision for how these breakthrough therapies could revolutionize care for millions. Learn how veterans themselves have driven this agenda, the promising outcomes from early studies, and the significant hurdles in bringing these therapies to scale.    Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of mental health treatment for veterans and how the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies could revolutionize care and improve the quality of life for those who have served.   About Dr. Elnahal Dr. Shereef Elnahal is Under Secretary for Health at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). He was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden and confirmed by the United States Senate on July 21, 2022. As the Under Secretary for Health, Dr. Elnahal directs a health care system with an annual budget of approximately $102.2 billion, overseeing the delivery of care to more than 9 million enrolled Veterans. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at over 1,300 health care facilities, including 171 VA Medical Centers and 1,120 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics). VHA is the nation's largest provider of graduate medical education and a major contributor to medical and scientific research. More than 73,000 active volunteers, 127,000 health professions trainees, and more than 362,000 health care professionals and support staff are an integral part of the VHA community.   Dr. Elnahal is physician leader who previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of University Hospital in Newark, NJ from 2019 through 2022. Dr. Elnahal led University Hospital through the COVID-19 public health emergency. The hospital has served as a model for urban hospital and regional response efforts. In addition to his leadership during the pandemic, Dr. Elnahal oversaw substantial improvements in care quality and patient safety at University Hospital, leading to improvements against national benchmarks. Prior to his time at University Hospital, Elnahal served as New Jersey's 21st Health Commissioner, appointed to the Cabinet post by Governor Phil Murphy and confirmed unanimously by the New Jersey Senate. During his nearly two years as Commissioner, he expanded the New Jersey Health Information Network, an interoperability platform that allows for electronic exchange of patient health information among healthcare providers. He worked closely with New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy on her Nurture NJ campaign to help improve infant and maternal health outcomes and reduce health disparities—a mission he continued at University Hospital, with its top tier maternal health services. He also made strides in curbing the opioid epidemic, granting funding to institutions to facilitate data sharing and public health reporting, and marked NJ as the first state in the nation to allow EMS responders to use buprenorphine in the field to prevent withdrawal after naloxone. Dr. Elnahal previously served as VA's Assistant Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Quality, Safety, and Value from 2016 through 2018, overseeing national policies around quality of care for the VHA, and as a White House Fellow in the VA from 2015-16. During that time, he co-founded the VHA Innovation Ecosystem, a program that continues to foster the spread of innovation and best practices that improve Veteran care across the nation. Dr. Elnahal holds an M.D. from Harvard Medical School and an M.B.A. with Distinction from Harvard Business School. Press Release from VA New research would determine the benefit of psychedelics for treating PTSD and depression in Veterans: https://news.va.gov/press-room/to-improve-care-for-veterans-va-to-fund-studies-on-new-therapies-for-treating-mental-health-conditions/   VA Health: https://www.va.gov/health-care/   VA Mental Health Resources: https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/index.asp   Bright Spots in Healthcare is produced by Bright Spots Ventures Bright Spots Ventures brings healthcare leaders together to share working solution or "bright spots" to common challenges. We build valuable and meaningful relationships through our Bright Spots in Healthcare podcast, webinar series, leadership councils, customized peer events, and sales and go-to-market consulting. We believe that finding a bright spot and cloning it is the most effective strategy to improve healthcare in our lifetime. Visit our website at www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com

Kentucky senator Mitch McConnell has spent 40 years in the United States Senate, 17 of those as leader of his Republican colleagues. That's the longest any senator has been at the top of the leadership rung in either political party. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) was elected a few weeks ago to head up the Republican majority in the Senate in 2025. Journalist Michael Tackett's book, a profile of Senator McConnell, is called "The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America, and Lost His Party." Mr. Tackett, deputy Washington bureau chief of the Associated Press, conducted over 50 hours of interviews and was granted access to never-before-released oral histories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy New Year to everyone…and Midrats is back with you.Join us today for a broad-ranging discussion for our 15th Anniversary Show with a regular guest since the start, Claude Berube.The conversation will go who knows where, but we will begin by reflecting on how the defense media and information environment has evolved since 2010—not just from the perspective of the information consumer, but also in terms of where decision-makers turn for opinions and ideas. We'll include some inside baseball as well, starting with how the relationship between the PAO world and the broader number and flavor of media has evolved.Here's to the 16th Season!Claude Berube, PhD, is a retired Navy Commander and retired professor from the Naval Academy. He's worked on Capitol Hill and as a contractor for Naval Sea Systems Command and the Office of Naval Research. He also worked at the Office of Naval Intelligence. He is the author or co-author of eight books including his most recent. He is working on his ninth book, about the Navy and the lead up to World War 2. His new podcast about the United States Senate will begin later this month.ShowlinksPowerline Blog and Dan Rather's MemogateMWI's “Spear” podcastThe Failure of the InstitutionsClaude's “Siren's Song” and other booksWar on the RocksCIMSECBill Roggio & Long War JournalSal Mergcogliano's What's Going on With ShippingJohn Konrad's gCaptainGeopolitics Decanted PodcastInformation Dissemination blog, by Raymond PritchettSummaryIn this episode of the MidRats podcast, hosts Sal and Mark celebrate the 15th anniversary of their show with guest Claude Berube. They discuss the evolution of information in national security, the impact of media on public perception, and the changing landscape of military communication. The conversation highlights the importance of accountability, transparency, and credible voices in media, as well as the collaborative nature of modern information sharing. They also look ahead to future projects and initiatives in the realm of military and national security communication.TakeawaysThe Midrats podcast has been a consistent platform for naval discussions for 15 years.The evolution of information access has transformed national security discourse.Public Affairs Officers have become more cautious in their engagement with the media.The military's communication strategies have shifted significantly over the years.Accountability and transparency are essential for maintaining public trust in the military.A culture of untruth can undermine the credibility of official statements.Independent media sources are increasingly important for accurate information.Collaboration among information producers enhances the quality of discourse.Future initiatives in military communication will focus on transparency and engagement.Sound Bites"It's amazing how fast time flies.""This is the C-SPAN for the Navy.""The future is disaggregated."Chapters00:00: Celebrating 15 Years of Midrats Podcast02:16: The Evolution of Naval Information06:28: Democratization of Media and Its Impacts14:54: The Changing Role of Public Affairs in the Navy27:11: Navigating a Culture of Untruth in Media32:48: Independence in Media: The Value of Non-Sponsorship35:31: The Role of Personalities in Information Dissemination37:59: The Importance of Open Dialogue and Accountability42:01: Self-Correction in New Media44:48: The Credibility of Online Sources47:40: The Future of Media and Influence55:25: Upcoming Projects and Future Endeavors

As Politico reported: "Former FBI and CIA Head Prods Senate to Reject Patel, Gabbard."William Webster is the only person ever to serve as both head of the FBI and head of the CIA. But even beyond that, Mr. Webster has a deep well of experience with the FBI in particular, given his other positions as United States Attorney, federal trial court judge and federal court of appeals judge. Mr. Webster has sent a letter the United States Senate urging them to refuse to confirm Patel and Gabbard, saying, "I urge you to weigh the critical importance of nonpartisan leadership and experience . . .The safety of the American people - and your own families - depends on it."If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support us and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Politico reported: "Former FBI and CIA Head Prods Senate to Reject Patel, Gabbard."William Webster is the only person ever to serve as both head of the FBI and head of the CIA. But even beyond that, Mr. Webster has a deep well of experience with the FBI in particular, given his other positions as United States Attorney, federal trial court judge and federal court of appeals judge. Mr. Webster has sent a letter the United States Senate urging them to refuse to confirm Patel and Gabbard, saying, "I urge you to weigh the critical importance of nonpartisan leadership and experience . . .The safety of the American people - and your own families - depends on it."If you're interested in supporting our all-volunteer efforts, you can become a Team Justice patron at: / glennkirschner If you'd like to support us and buy Team Justice and Justice Matters merchandise visit:https://shop.spreadshirt.com/glennkir...Check out Glenn's website at https://glennkirschner.com/Follow Glenn on:Threads: https://www.threads.net/glennkirschner2Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/glennkirschner2Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennkirschner2Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennkirsch...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Protect Your Retirement W/ a Gold and/or Silver IRA: https://www.sgtreportgold.com/ or CALL( 877) 646-5347 - Noble Gold is Who I Trust   James E. "Trey" Trainor III was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on May 19, 2020. On Thursday of this week Trey will be named Vice Chair as his work for election integrity continues. In this interview we discuss the blatantly stolen seat(s) in California and I ask Trey what can be done about it because election riggers are Traitors who deserve perp walks and prosecutions, they deserve to be in prison. Thanks for tuning in. https://rumble.com/embed/v5vjb8b/?pub=2peuz

It's a very special day on the pod, we have a returning guest and U.S. Senator from Massechusettes- Senator Elizabeth Warren! She's joining us fresh from a tour around the midwest talking to folks on the ground about the issues that matter to them this election cycle. We're in the final week before the 2024 Presidential election and we're breaking down what's left to consider before you cast your vote on November 5th. Your vote matters, and it's critical to turn out. And not just that: donations, volunteering, anything you can do to support and help MATTERS in this final stretch. Elizabeth Warren, a fearless consumer advocate who has made her life's work the fight for middle class families, was re-elected to the United States Senate for a second term on November 6, 2018, by the people of Massachusetts. Elizabeth is one of the nation's leading progressive voices, fighting for big structural change that would transform our economy and rebuild the middle class. You can find Senator Warren on Instagram @ElizabethWarren. Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn. Our senior producers are Chris McClure. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com. Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

*Content warning: murder, bigotry, racism, violence, slavery, assault, wrongful imprisonment. Sources:13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is Passed. (n.d.). National Museum of African American History and Culture. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/13th-amendment-us-constitution-passedBrennan Center for Justice, Wilder, W., & Baum, S. (2022, January 31). 5 Egregious Voter Suppression Laws from 2021. Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/5-egregious-voter-suppression-laws-2021Brennan Center for Justice. (n.d.) The Myth of Voter Fraud. https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/ensure-every-american-can-vote/vote-suppression/myth-voter-fraud?fbclid=IwAR36AFdgauzcPZF3YxMPVzQQ636b9vVMuCwGZrkDK2YQNDy5oX6xASEBzgIBritish Broadcasting Corporation. (n.d.). Suffragettes in prison. In BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zqkbbqt#zjkbbqtThe Center for Public Integrity, & Starshak, H. (2022, October 6). It's easy to vote in Washington, D.C., but it still doesn't count. https://publicintegrity.org/politics/elections/who-counts/its-easy-to-vote-in-washington-d-c-but-it-still-doesnt-count/Civil rights protesters beaten in ‘Bloody Sunday' attack. (2020, March 4). History.com. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bloody-sunday-civil-rights-protesters-beaten-selmaCodrington, W., III. (2019, November 17). The Electoral College's Racist Origins. The Atlantic. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/electoral-colleges-racist-originsDuignan, B. (n.d.). Voter suppression. In Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/voter-suppressionFederal Bureau of Investigations. (n.d.). Mississippi Burning. FBI.gov. https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/mississippi-burningThe Fight for the Right to Vote. (2024). In American Unversity Washington College of Law. https://wcl.american.libguides.com/voting/history/timelineImpeachment Trial of President Andrew Johnson, 1868. (n.d.). United States Senate. https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/impeachment/impeachment-johnson.htmKXAN. (n.d.). President Lyndon B. Johnson's Voting Rights Act Speech [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved August 6, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbFmicUTb_kLeague of Women Voters of California Education Fund. (n.d.). Types of Elections. CA Vote. https://cavotes.org/types-elections/McArdle, T. (2017, November 10). ‘Night of terror': The suffragists who were beaten and tortured for seeking the vote. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/11/10/night-of-terror-the-suffragists-who-were-beaten-and-tortured-for-seeking-the-vote/National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). Voting Rights Act of (1965). In National Archives and Records Administration. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/voting-rights-act#:~:text=The%20Voting%20Rights%20Act%20had,African%20Americans%20registered%20to%20vote.National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). Electoral College History. In National Archives and Records Administration. https://www.archives.gov/electoral-college/historyPew Research. (n.d.). Voter Turnout 2018-2022. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/07/12/voter-turnout-2018-2022/Promote the Vote California: Getting Involved. (n.d.). California Secretary of State. https://www.sos.ca.gov/promote-vote-ca/getting-involvedSmithsonian Institute. (2015). When Did the Vice Presidency Stop Going to the 2nd Place Winner and More Questions From Our Readers. In Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/when-did-vice-presidency-stop-going-to-second-place-ask-smithsonian-180957199/University of North Texas Libraries. (2024). A Brief History of Voting in America. In UNT Libraries. https://guides.library.unt.edu/voting/history-of-voting-AmericaWhat is the Victims of Crime Act? (2024, April 30). Everytown. https://www.everytown.org/what-is-the-victims-of-crime-act/When Women Lost the Vote. (n.d.). In The Museum of the History of the American Revolution. https://www.amrevmuseum.org/virtualexhibits/when-women-lost-the-vote-a-revolutionary-story/pages/how-did-the-vote-expand-new-jersey-s-revolutionary-decadeThe White House Historical Association, & Shogan, C. (2021, April 8). “We Shall Overcome”: Lyndon Johnson and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The White House Historical Association. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/we-shall-overcome-lbj-voting-rightsArchive Audio Sources:(Democracy Now!) Rare Video Footage of Historic Alabama 1965 Civil Rights Marches MLKs Famous Montgomery Speech: https://youtu.be/CBm48Scju9E?si=SjGjlUrxHhVfBoBB (The Washington Post) Remembering Rep. John Lewis, in his own words: https://youtu.be/5ayewOtuixI?si=qZvqoS8R6nr97KdH (AAPB) Rep. John Lewis on Bloody Sunday in a 1985 Eyes on the Prize interview: https://www.facebook.com/gbh/videos/rep-john-lewis-on-bloody-sunday-in-a-1985-eyes-on-the-prize-interview-via-aapb/1123272501840163/(JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE) John Lewis: Good Trouble - Bloody Sunday Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYHJ6JlERxY Resources:https://www.eac.gov/help-america-votehttps://www.socialworkers.org/Advocacy/Social-Justice/Increasing-Voter-Participationhttps://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1348556/dl?inlinehttps://www.rockthevote.org/https://votolatino.org/https://www.nonprofitvote.org/https://nvrtf.org/For a list of related free and confidential resources, please visit: http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): https://www.ic3.gov/ Follow Something Was Wrong:Website: somethingwaswrong.com IG: instagram.com/somethingwaswrongpodcastTikTok: tiktok.com/@somethingwaswrongpodcast Follow Tiffany Reese:Website: tiffanyreese.me IG: instagram.com/lookieboo business@tiffanyreese.me The SWW theme Song is U Think U, by Glad Rags. The S21 cover art is by the Amazing Sara Stewart. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.