Podcasts about United States Senate

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

Send a textBob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There (Part 6) Welcome to the United States SenateWhat was the Senate really like when Bob Dole walked into it in 1968? Part 6 answers that question through the voices of the people who lived it.This episode moves beyond biography and into lived institutional memory, as a remarkable lineup of Senate insiders describe the culture, pace, and power structure of the United States Senate at the height of a turbulent political era. Listeners get a ground-level view of what it meant to be a freshman senator — where seniority ruled, relationships mattered, and influence had to be earned one conversation at a time.We hear from Dole's longtime chief of staff Sheila Burke, along with former senators Bob Packwood, Thad Cochran, Howard Baker, and Daniel Inouye — a bipartisan group offering candid reflections on Dole's early reputation, working style, and rapid rise.A central theme of the episode is Dole's emergence as what colleagues came to call the “Sheriff of the Senate” — a sharp, disciplined defender of Richard Nixon who was never shy about taking on critics of the administration. Through these firsthand accounts, listeners hear how Dole blended loyalty, combativeness, and strategic instincts to carve out a distinct role in one of the world's most powerful legislative bodies.Part 6 is an insider's tour of a bygone Senate era — its personalities, its unwritten rules, and the political battleground where Bob Dole began transforming from a new arrival into a force within the chamber. Questions 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!!

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, and abuse. Sex trafficking does not only happen “somewhere else.” It thrives in silence, misunderstanding, and systems that fail to protect vulnerable youth. In this re-released episode of Care More Be Better, Corinna Bellizzi speaks with Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Melody C. Miller about her documentary California's Forgotten Children and the real-world impact it has had in schools, communities, and institutions across the United States. Melody began this work as a teenager, believing trafficking was a distant issue, only to discover that students from her own high school were being exploited. That realization led her to volunteer with survivor-led organizations, undergo trauma-informed training, and ultimately spend five years creating a film that centers survivor voices and equips communities with tools for prevention and response. This conversation is also deeply personal. Corinna shares her own experience of running away at thirteen and the vulnerability that follows when young people are left without safety, support, or options. Together, she and Melody unpack what sex trafficking actually looks like, how grooming and coercion operate, and why language, awareness, and informed action matter. Rather than focusing on perpetrators or sensational stories, this episode centers: Survivor-led insight Community-based prevention Trauma-informed response Practical guidance for recognizing and reporting exploitation Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of how trafficking hides in plain sight—and how ordinary people can help interrupt it without putting themselves or others at risk. What We Cover in This Episode How Melody discovered trafficking within her own community Why sex trafficking is often misunderstood and misidentified The importance of survivor-centered language and reporting How schools and communities can safely intervene Real outcomes from film screenings, including victims coming forward Trauma-informed approaches in policing and education What each of us can do to help protect vulnerable youth If this episode feels heavy, you're not alone. Support resources are included below, and listeners are encouraged to engage at their own pace. Special Re-Release Offering In honor of this episode re-share, filmmaker Melody C. Miller is offering a free viewing of California's Forgotten Children for the first 50 viewers. ️Use code CARE at checkout: https://californiasforgottenchildrendocumentary.vhx.tv Melody is also currently in post-production on her new documentary, Thriv(h)er, which follows young cancer survivors and mothers navigating life, healing, and resilience. ️Watch the teaser: https://vimeo.com/1131769274/abf79b9e1c Learn more: https://www.thrivherfilm.com/ Additional Resources Mentioned If you suspect human trafficking or exploitation, support is available: National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE) humantraffickinghotline.org National Runaway Safeline 800-RUN-AWAY (786-2929) 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 About the Guest Melody C. Miller is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer. Her first feature documentary, California's Forgotten Children (2018), won Best Documentary at the Soho International Film Festival and has screened internationally, including at the United States Senate and the United States of Women Summit. The film has been used as a training and education tool in schools, nonprofits, and institutions, helping communities recognize and respond to sex trafficking with care and accountability. Learn more: • https://mcmfilmmaker.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send us a textBob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There – Part 5 Getting Into Politics (B): The Senate CampaignIn Part 5, the journey continues as Bob Dole takes his biggest political leap yet — a run for the United States Senate. This episode explores the ambition, strategy, and sheer determination behind a campaign that would elevate him from the House to one of the most powerful chambers in American government.We begin with the political terrain of Kansas — a state where retail politics, personal reputation, and regional loyalties mattered just as much as party labels. Dole's campaign had to balance conservative grassroots energy with the broader appeal needed to win statewide, and listeners will hear how he built that coalition county by county.From there, we follow his transition from candidate to senator: assembling a staff, opening his first Senate office, and stepping into the traditions, hierarchy, and slower pace of the United States Senate. After the fast-moving world of the House, the Senate demanded patience, relationship-building, and a long view of power.This episode also captures a pivotal moment in Dole's rise on the national stage — his introduction to Richard Nixon. Their first encounters offered a glimpse into the Republican Party's emerging leadership and gave Dole an early look at presidential-level politics from the inside.Part 5 is about arrival and adjustment — the shift from ambitious congressman to freshman senator, learning a new institution, building influence, and stepping closer to the center of national power. The apprenticeship continues, but the stage just got much bigger. Questions 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!!

AgriSA has welcomed the United States Senate's approval of a one‑year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA. The Act grants eligible sub‑Saharan African nations, including South Africa, duty‑free access to the US market. AgriSA says the so‑called "Liberation Day" tariffs of 30 percent have reduced some of AGOA's benefits but the programme remains vital for local exporters. To discuss the impact, Elvis Presslin spoke to AgriSA Chief Executive Officer, Johann Kotze

Michele Tafoya, former long time NFL sideline reporter and candidate for US Senate in Minnesota, joined us on the Guy Benson Show today to discuss why it is time for an outsider to join Minnesota politics. Tafoya addressed the unrest in the state surrounding Minnesota's ongoing fraud and ICE-related scandals, and she discussed why current leadership needs to change in order for these problems to be resolved.  Tafoya also gave her predictions for Sunday's Super Bowl showdown between the Seahawks and Patriots, and you can listen to the full interview with Tafoya below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former US Attorney Rachel Paulose speaks out on ICE, court rulings and fraud. Rachel Kunjummen Paulose is an American attorney. She was nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as a United States Attorney.She was the youngest person and the first woman to lead the District of Minnesota and the first Indian American woman to be nominated by a president and confirmed by the Senate for any federal position.Paulose's legal career began in 1997 when she worked as a law clerk under Judge James B. Loken of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. She then worked as a trial attorney in the Attorney General's Honors Program from 1998 to 1999. There, she prosecuted violations of the federal civil rights laws in the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division.From 1999 until 2002, she worked as an Assistant United States Attorney. She first-chaired many trials in federal district court. She also briefed and argued many appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Cases involved narcotics, violent crime, economic crime. Jury trial and Eighth circuit appellate highlights: precedent-setting detention of suspect based on economic threat alone; precedent-setting appellate work rejecting expansion of alien criminal defendants' claims of rights under Vienna Convention.She worked in private practice after 2002 with the Williams & Connolly law firm in Washington D.C. until 2003, where her work focused on health care litigation and business.She was with the Dorsey & Whitney law firm in Minneapolis from 2003 until December 2005. Work included defense of health care providers, commercial litigation, and constitutional advocacy. Paulose was appointed as the United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota in August 2006 and remained in that position until November 2007.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every year, the ERLC puts together a Public Policy Agenda which focuses on policy priorities that are rooted in Scripture, reflective of the Baptist Faith & Message, and responsive to actions taken by messengers from SBC churches.This year's Public Policy Agenda hits on a range of issues, including domestic and international religious liberty, opposing taxpayer funding for "gender transition" procedures, ethical considerations of artificial intelligence, and much more. As the second session of the 119th Congress begins, the ERLC has an opportunity to continue advocating for the issues Southern Baptists care about most, seeking to bring the truth of Scripture and the hope of the gospel to bear in our public policy work.On today's episode, you'll hear from Katy Roberts, senior policy manager for the ERLC, and Dr. Gary Hollingsworth, interim president of the ERLC, as they discuss the top policy priorities we're advocating for in 2026. Prior to joining the ERLC, Katy worked on Capitol Hill in both the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, and previously worked in clinical healthcare—experience that informs her policy work todayListen to more episodes of The ERLC Podcast at erlc.com/podcast.

Purpose, trust and laughter matter.  SUMMARY Dr. Heather Wilson '82, former secretary of the U.S. Air Force, and Gen. Dave Goldfein '83, former chief of staff of the Air Force, highlight the human side of leadership — honoring family, listening actively and using humility and humor to build strong teams. Their book, Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership, challenges leaders to serve first and lead with character.   SHARE THIS PODCAST LINKEDIN  |  FACEBOOK    TOP 10 LEADERSHIP TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE Leadership Is a Gift and a Burden – Leaders are entrusted with the well-being and development of others, but that privilege entails tough, sometimes lonely, responsibilities. Servant Leadership – True leadership is about enabling and supporting those you lead, not seeking personal advancement or recognition. Influence and Teamwork – Lasting change comes from pairing authority with influence and working collaboratively; no leader succeeds alone. Embrace Failure and Own Mistakes – Effective leaders accept institutional and personal failures and use them as learning and teaching moments. Family Matters – Great leaders recognize the significance of family (their own and their team's) and demonstrate respect and flexibility for personal commitments. Be Data-Driven and Strategic – Borrow frameworks that suit the mission, be clear about goals, and regularly follow up to ensure progress. Listening Is Active – Truly listening, then responding openly and honestly—even when you can't “fix” everything—builds trust and respect. Humility and Curiosity – Never stop learning or questioning; continual self-improvement is a hallmark of strong leaders. Celebrate and Share Credit – Spread praise to those working behind the scenes; leadership is not about personal glory, but lifting others. Resilience and Leading by Example – “Getting back up” after setbacks inspires teams; how a leader recovers can motivate others to do the same.   CHAPTERS 0:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 0:00:21 - Guest Backgrounds and Family Legacies 0:02:57 - Inspiration for Writing the Book 0:05:00 - Defining Servant Leadership 0:07:46 - Role Models and Personal Examples   CONNECT WITH THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEAM Ted Robertson | Producer and Editor:  Ted.Robertson@USAFA.org Send your feedback or nominate a guest: socialmedia@usafa.org   Ryan Hall | Director:  Ryan.Hall@USAFA.org  Bryan Grossman | Copy Editor:  Bryan.Grossman@USAFA.org Wyatt Hornsby | Executive Producer:  Wyatt.Hornsby@USAFA.org      ALL PAST LBL EPISODES  |  ALL LBLPN PRODUCTIONS AVAILABLE ON ALL MAJOR PODCAST PLATFORMS     FULL TRANSCRIPT SPEAKERS Host: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99 Guests: Dr. Heather Wilson '82, former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, and former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. (Ret.) Dave Goldfein '83  Naviere Walkewicz 0:09 Welcome to Focus on Leadership, our accelerated leadership series. I'm your host, Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. I'm honored to welcome two exceptional leaders whose careers and friendship have helped shape the modern Air Force, while inspiring thousands to serve with purpose and courage. Our guests today are Dr. Heather Wilson, USAFA Class of '82, the 24th secretary of the Air Force, now president at the University of Texas El Paso. And Gen. Dave Goldfein, Class of '83, the 21st chief of staff of the Air Force. Both are United States Air Force Academy distinguished graduates. Together, they've written Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership, a powerful reflection on resilience, humility and the courage to lead to adversity. And our conversation today will dive deeply into the lessons they learned at the highest levels of command and in public service, and what it means to serve others first. Thank you for being here. Gen. Dave Goldfein 1:08 Thank you for having us. Naviere Walkewicz 1:09 Absolutely. This is truly an honor. And I mentioned that I read this incredible book, and I'm so excited for us to jump into it, but before we do, I think it's really important for people to know you more than the secretary and the chief. I mean chief, so Gen. Goldfein, you came from an Air Force family. Your dad was a colonel, and ma'am, your grandpa was a civil aviator, but you really didn't have any other military ties. Dr. Heather Wilson 1:29 Well, my grandfather was one of the first pilots in the RAF in World War I, then came to America, and in World War II, flew for his new country in the Civil Air Patrol. My dad enlisted by that a high school and was a crew chief between the end of the Second World War and the start of Korea, and then he went back home and became a commercial aviator and a mechanic. Naviere Walkewicz 1:52 I love that. So your lines run deep. So maybe you can share more and let our listeners get to know you more personally. What would you like to share in this introduction of Gen. Goldfein and Dr. Wilson? Gen. Dave Goldfein 2:02 Well, I'll just tell you that if you know much about Air Force culture you know we all get call signs, right. Nicknames, right? I got a new one the day I retired, and you get to use it. It's JD, which stands for “Just Dave.” Naviere Walkewicz 2:17 Just Dave! Yes, sir. JD. I will do my best for that to roll off my tongue. Yes, sir. Gen. Dave Goldfein 2:25 And I will just say congratulations to you for your two sons who are currently at the Academy. How cool is that? Naviere Walkewicz 2:31 Thank you. We come from a Long Blue Line family. My dad was a grad, my uncle, my brother and sister, my two boys. So if I get my third son, he'll be class of 2037, so, we'll see. We've got some time. Gen. Dave Goldfein 2:41 We have grandchildren. Matter of fact, our book is dedicated to grandchildren and they don't know it yet, but at least on my side, they're Class of 2040 and 2043 at the Air Force Academy. Naviere Walkewicz 2:52 OK, so my youngest will be cadre for them. Excellent. Excellent. Dr. Heather Wilson 2:57 And my oldest granddaughter is 4, so I think we'll wait a little bit and see what she wants to do. Naviere Walkewicz 3:04 Yes, ma'am. All right. Well, let's jump in. You just mentioned that you wrote the book primarily for your film book. Is that correct? Gen. Dave Goldfein 3:09 Yes. Naviere Walkewicz 3:10 How did you decide to do this now together? Because you both have incredible stories. Dr. Heather Wilson 3:14 Well, two years ago, we were actually up in Montana with Barbara and Craig Barrett, who —  Barbara succeeded me as secretary of the Air Force. And our families, all six of us are quite close, and we were up there, and Dave was telling stories, and I said, “You know, you need to write some of these down.” And we talked about it a little bit, and he had tried to work with another co-author at one time and it just didn't work out really well. And I said, “Well, what if we do it together, and we focus it on young airmen, on lessons learned in leadership. And the other truth is, we were so tired of reading leadership books by Navy SEALs, you know, and so can we do something together? It turned out to be actually more work than I thought it would be for either of us, but it was also more fun.   Naviere Walkewicz 3:59 How long did it take you from start to finish? Dr. Heather Wilson 4:02 Two years. Naviere Walkewicz 4:03 Two years? Excellent. And are you — where it's landed? Are you just so proud? Is it what you envisioned when you started? Gen. Dave Goldfein 4:10 You know, I am, but I will also say that it's just come out, so the initial response has been fantastic, but I'm really eager to see what the longer term response looks like, right? Did it resonate with our intended tenant audience? Right? Did the young captains that we had a chance to spend time with at SOS at Maxwell last week, right? They lined up forever to get a copy. But the real question is, did the stories resonate? Right? Do they actually give them some tools that they can use in their tool bag? Same thing with the cadets that we were privileged to spend time with the day. You know, they energized us. I mean, because we're looking at the we're looking at the future of the leadership of this country. And if, if these lessons in servant leadership can fill their tool bag a little bit, then we'll have hit the mark. Naviere Walkewicz 5:07 Yes, sir, yes. Ma'am. Well, let's jump right in then. And you talked about servant leadership. How would you describe it? Each of you, in your own words, Dr. Heather Wilson 5:15 To me, one of the things, important things about servant leadership is it's from the bottom. As a leader, your job is to enable the people who are doing the work. So in some ways, you know, people think that the pyramid goes like this, that it's the pyramid with the point at the top, and in servant leadership, it really is the other way around. And as a leader, one of the most important questions I ask my direct reports — I have for years — is: What do you need from me that you're not getting? And I can't print money in the basement, but what do you need from me that you're not getting? How, as a leader, can I better enable you to accomplish your piece of the mission. And I think a good servant leader is constantly thinking about, how do I — what can I do to make it easier for the people who are doing the job to get the mission done? Gen. Dave Goldfein 6:08 And I'd offer that the journey to becoming an inspirational servant leader is the journey of a lifetime. I'm not sure that any of us actually ever arrive. I'm not the leader that I want to be, but I'm working on it. And I think if we ever get to a point where we feel like we got it all figured out right, that we know exactly what this whole leadership gig is, that may be a good time to think about retiring, because what that translates to is perhaps at that point, we're not listening, we're not learning, we're not growing, we're not curious — all the things that are so important. The first chapter in the book is titled, Am I worthy? And it's a mirror-check question that we both came to both individually and together as secretary and chief. It's a mere check that you look at and say, “All right, on this lifelong journey to become an inspirational servant leader, am I worthy of the trust and confidence of the parents who have shared their sons and daughters with the United States Air Force and expecting us to lead with character and courage and confidence? Am I worthy of the gift that followers give to leaders? Am I earning that gift and re-earning it every single day by how I act, how I treat others?” You know, that's the essence of servant leadership that we try to bring forward in the book. Naviere Walkewicz 7:38 Right? Can you recall when you first saw someone exhibiting servant leadership in your life? Dr. Heather Wilson 7:46 Good question. It's a question of role models. Maj. William S. Reeder was my first air officer commanding here. And while I think I can probably think of some leaders in my community, you know, people who were school principals or those kind of things, I think Maj. Reeder terrified me because they didn't want to disappoint him. And he had — he was an Army officer who had been shot down as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. He still had some lingering issues. Now, I think he had broken his leg or his back or something, and so you could tell that he still carried with him the impact of that, but he had very high expectations of us and we didn't want to disappoint him. And I think he was a pretty good role model. Gen. Dave Goldfein 8:47 You know, one of the things we say at the very end of the book is that we both married up. We both married incredible leaders, servant leaders in their own right. So in my case, I married my high school sweetheart, and we've now been together almost 43 years, coming up on 43. And when you talk about servant leadership, you know, very often we don't give military spouses enough credit for the enormous courage that they have when they deal with the separations, the long hours, very often not talked about enough, the loneliness that comes with being married to someone who's in the military. And so I just give a shout out to every military spouse that's out there and family to thank them for that very special kind of courage that equates to servant leadership on their part. Naviere Walkewicz 9:47 Excellent. Those are both really great examples, and I think, as our listeners are engaging with this, they're going to start to think about those people in their lives as well, through your descriptions. Early in the book, you make this statement: “Leadership is a gift and a burden.” Might you both expand on that?   Dr. Heather Wilson 10:03 So it's a gift in that it's a gift that's given to you by those whom you are privileged to lead, and it's not just an institution that, you know, it's not just the regents of the University of Texas who have said, “Yes, you're going to be the president of the University of Texas at El Paso.” It is those who follow me who have given me gift of their loyalty and their service and their time. It's a burden, because some days are hard days, and you have to make hard calls based on values to advance the mission and, as chief and service secretary, there are no easy decisions that come walking into that part of the Pentagon. The easy decisions are all made before it gets to the service secretary and chief and so. So there is that responsibility of trying to do well difficult things. And I think sometimes those are lonely decisions. Gen. Dave Goldfein 11:09 And I think as a leader of any organization, part of what can be the burden is if you care deeply about the institution, then you carry the burden of any failures of that institution, both individuals who fall short, or the institution itself. And we face some of those, and we talk about that in the book. One of our chapters is on Sutherland Springs and owning failure. There was no dodge in that. And there was, quite frankly, there was an opportunity for us to actually showcase and teach others how to take ownership when the institution falls short and fails, right? And you know, one of the interesting elements of the relationship between a secretary and a chief is that if you go back and look at the law and read the job description of the chief of staff of the Air Force, it basically says, “Run the air staff and do what the secretary tells you.” I'm not making that up. Because most of the decision authority of the institution resides in the civilian control, the military civilian secretary. So almost all authority and decision authority resides with the secretary. What the chief position brings is 30 years in the institution that very often can bring credibility and influence. And what we determined early in our tenure was that if we were going to move the ball, if we were going to actually move the service in a positive direction, neither of us could do it alone. We had to do it together. We had to use this combination of authority and influence to be able to move the institution forward. And so that was a — and we talked a lot about that, you know, in the book, and it sort of runs throughout our stories. You know, that that trust matters. Naviere Walkewicz 12:59 Absolutely. We're going to visit that towards the end of our conversation, because there's a particular time before you both — before you became the chief and before you became the service secretary, when you met up together. And I want to visit that a little bit. But before we do, Gen. Goldfein — JD — you shared a story in the book, and obviously we want everyone to read it, so I'm not going to go tell the whole story, but you know where you took off one more time than you landed, and you had to, you know, you were hit, you had to evade and then you had to be rescued. There was a particular statement you made to identify yourself. And many of our Long Blue Line members will know this: fast, neat, average, friendly, good, good. In that moment of watching the sun start to rise while you're waiting to be retrieved, how did that come to your mind? Of all the things you could be thinking of to identify yourself? Gen. Dave Goldfein 13:53 Well, you know, it's interesting. So, you know, for those who've never, you know, had gone through a high-speed ejection, people asked me, what was like? I said, “Well, I used to be 6-foot-3. This is all that's left, right?” And you know, my job once I was on the ground was, quite frankly, not to goof it up. To let the rescue team do what the rescue team needed to do, and to play my part, which was to put them at the least amount of risk and be able to get out before the sun came up. And at the very end of the rescue when the helicopters — where I was actually vectoring them towards my location. And I had a compass in my hand, and I had my eyes closed, and I was just listening to the chopper noise and then vectoring them based on noise. And then eventually we got them to come and land, you know, right in front of me. Well, they always teach you, and they taught me here at the Academy during SERE training, which I think has been retitled, but it was SERE when we went through it, survival training. Now, I believe they teach you, “Hey, listen, you need to be nonthreatening, because the rescue team needs to know that you're not — this is not an ambush, that you are actually who you say you are. Don't hold up a weapon, be submissive and authenticate yourself. Well, to authenticate myself required me to actually try my flashlight. And I could see the enemy just over the horizon. And as soon as the helicopter landed, the enemy knew exactly where we were, and they came and running, and they came shooting, and they were raking the tree line with bullets. And so, you know, what I needed to do was to figure out a way to do an authentication. And I just, what came to mind was that training all those years ago, right here at the Academy, and I just said, “I could use a fast, neat, average rescue,” and friendly, good, good was on the way. Naviere Walkewicz 15:53 Wow, I just got chill bumps. Dr. Wilson, have you ever had to use that same kind of term, or, you know, reaching out to a grad in your time frequently? Dr. Heather Wilson 16:04 Yes, ma'am. And, you know, even in the last week, funny — I had an issue that I had to, I won't go into the details, but where there was an issue that might affect the reputation, not only of the university, but of one of our major industry partners, and it wasn't caused by either of us, but there was kind of a, kind of a middle person that was known to us that may not have been entirely acting with integrity. And I just looked up the company. The CEO is an Academy grad. So I picked up the phone and I called the office and we had a conversation. And I said, “Hey, I'd like to have a conversation with you, grad to grad.” And I said, “There are some issues here that I don't need to go into the details, but where I think you and I need to be a little careful about our reputations and what matters is my relationship as the university with you and your company and what your company needs in terms of talent. But wanted to let you know something that happened and what we're doing about it, but I wanted to make sure that you and I are clear.” And it was foundation of values that we act with integrity and we don't tolerate people who won't. Naviere Walkewicz 17:30 Yes, ma'am, I love that. The Long Blue Line runs deep that way, and that's a great example. JD, you spoke about, in the book, after the rescue — by the way, the picture in there of that entire crew was amazing. I love that picture. But you talked about getting back up in the air as soon as possible, without any pomp and circumstance. “Just get me back in the air and into the action.” I'd like to visit two things. One, you debriefed with the — on the check ride, the debrief on the check ride and why that was important. And then also you spoke about the dilemma of being dad and squad comm. Can you talk about that as well? Gen. Dave Goldfein 18:06 Yeah, the check ride. So when I was in Desert Storm, an incredible squadron commander named Billy Diehl, and one of the things that he told us after he led all the missions in the first 30 days or so, he said, “Look, there will be a lot of medals, you know, from this war.” He goes, “But I'm going to do something for you that happened for me in Vietnam. I'm going to fly on your wing, and I'm going to give you a check ride, and you're going to have a documented check ride of a combat mission that you led in your flying record. I'm doing that for you.” OK, so fast forward 10 years, now I'm the squadron commander, and I basically followed his lead. Said, “Hey, I want…” So that night, when I was shot down, I was actually flying on the wing of one of my captains, “Jammer” Kavlick, giving him a check ride. And so, of course, the rescue turns out — I'm sitting here, so it turned out great. And so I called Jammer into a room, and I said, “Hey, man, we never did the check ride.” I said, “You know, you flew a formation right over the top of a surface enemy missile that took out your wingman. That's not a great start.” And he just sort of… “Yes, sir, I know.” I said, “And then you led an all-night rescue that returned him to his family. That's pretty good recovery.” And so it's been a joke between us ever since. But in his personal — his flying record, he has a form that says, “I'm exceptionally, exceptionally qualified.” So I got back and I thought about this when I was on the ground collecting rocks for my daughters, you know, as souvenirs from Serbia. I got back, and I looked at my wing commander, and I said, “Hey, sir, I know you probably had a chance to think about this, but I'm not your young captain that just got shot down. I'm the squadron commander, and I've got to get my squadron back on the horse, and the only way to do that is for me to get back in the air. So if it's OK with you, I'm gonna go home. I'm gonna get crew rest and I'm going to fly tonight.” And he looked at me, and he looked at my wife, Dawn, who was there, and he goes, “If it's OK with her, it's OK with me.” Great. Dawn, just a champion, she said, “I understand it. That's what you got to do.” Because we were flying combat missions with our families at home, which is, was not in the squadron commander handbook, right? Pretty unique. What I found, though, was that my oldest daughter was struggling a little bit with it, and so now you've got this, you know, OK, I owe it to my squad to get right back up in the air and lead that night. And I owe it to my daughter to make sure that she's OK. And so I chose to take one night, make sure that she and my youngest daughter, Diana, were both, you know, in a good place, that they knew that everything's going to be OK. And then I got back up the next night. And in some ways, I didn't talk about it with anybody in the media for a year, because my dad was a Vietnam vet, I'd met so many of his friends, and I'd met so many folks who had actually gotten shot down one and two and three times over Vietnam, in Laos, right? You know what they did after they got rescued? They got back up. They just went back up in the air, right? No fanfare, no book tours, no, you know, nothing, right? It was just get back to work. So for me, it was a way of very quietly honoring the Vietnam generation, to basically do what they did and get back in the air quietly. And so that was what it was all about. Naviere Walkewicz 21:25 Dr. Wilson, how about for you? Because I know — I remember reading in the book you had a — there was something you said where, if your children called, no matter what they could always get through. So how have you balanced family? Dr. Heather Wilson 21:36 Work and life. And so, when I was elected to the Congress, my son was 4 years old. My daughter was 18 months. First of all, I married well, just like Dave. But I also think my obligations to my family don't end at the front porch, and I want to make a better world for them. But I also knew that I was a better member of Congress because I had a family, and that in some ways, each gave richness and dimension to the other. We figured out how to make it work as a family. I mean, both my children have been to a White House Christmas ball and the State of the Union, but we always had a rule that you can call no matter what. And I remember there were some times that it confounded people and, like, there was one time when President Bush — W. Bush, 43 — was coming to New Mexico for the first time, and he was going to do some events in Albuquerque. And they called and they said, “Well, if the congresswoman wants to fly in with him from Texas, you know, she can get off the airplane in her district with the president. And the answer was, “That's the first day of school, and I always take my kids to school the first day, so I'll just meet him here.” And the staff was stunned by that, like, she turns down a ride on Air Force One to arrive in her district with the president of the United States to take her kids to school. Yes, George Bush understood it completely. And likewise, when the vice president came, and it was, you know, that the one thing leading up to another tough election — I never had an easy election — and the one thing I said to my staff all the way through October, leading — “There's one night I need off, and that's Halloween, because we're going trick or treating.” And wouldn't you know the vice president is flying into New Mexico on Halloween for some event in New Mexico, and we told them, “I will meet them at the stairs when they arrive in Albuquerque. I'll have my family with them, but I won't be going to the event because we're going trick or treating.” And in my house, I have this great picture of the vice president of the United States and his wife and my kids in costume meeting. So most senior people understood that my family was important to me and everybody's family, you know — most people work to put food on the table, and if, as a leader, you recognize that and you give them grace when they need it, you will also have wonderful people who will work for you sometimes when the pay is better somewhere else because you respect that their families matter to them and making room for that love is important. Naviere Walkewicz 24:36 May I ask a follow on to that? Because I think that what you said was really important. You had a leader that understood. What about some of our listeners that maybe have leaders that don't value the same things or family in the way that is important. How do they navigate that? Dr. Heather Wilson 24:52 Sometimes you look towards the next assignment, or you find a place where your values are the same. And if we have leaders out there who are not being cognizant of the importance of family — I mean, we may recruit airmen but we retain families, and if we are not paying attention to that, then we will lose exceptional people. So that means that sometimes, you know, I give a lot of flexibility to people who are very high performers and work with me. And I also know that if I call them at 10 o'clock at night, they're going to answer the phone, and that's OK. I understand what it's like to — I remember, you know, I was in New Mexico, I was a member of Congress, somebody was calling about an issue in the budget, and my daughter, who was probably 4 at the time, had an ear infection, and it was just miserable. And so I'm trying to get soup into her, and this guy is calling me, and she's got — and it was one of the few times I said — and it was the chairman of a committee — I said, “Can I just call you back? I've got a kid with an ear infection…” And he had five kids. He said, “Oh, absolutely, you call me back.” So you just be honest with people about the importance of family. Why are we in the service? We're here to protect our families and everybody else's family. And that's OK.   Naviere Walkewicz 26:23 Yes, thank you for sharing that. Anything to add to that, JD? No? OK. Well, Dr. Wilson, I'd like to go into the book where you talk about your chapter on collecting tools, which is a wonderful chapter, and you talk about Malcolm Baldridge. I had to look him up — I'll be honest — to understand, as a businessman, his career and his legacy. But maybe share in particular why he has helped you. Or maybe you've leveraged his process in the way that you kind of think through and systematically approach things. Dr. Heather Wilson 26:49 Yeah, there was a movement in the, it would have been in the early '90s, on the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Awards. It came out of the Department of Commerce, but then it spread to many of the states and it was one of the better models I thought for how to run organizations strategically. And I learned about it when I was a small businessperson in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And I thought it was interesting. But the thing that I liked about it was it scaled. It was a little bit like broccoli, you know, it looks the same at the little flora as it does at the whole head, right? And so it kind of became a model for how I could use those tools about being data driven, strategically focused, process oriented that I could use in reforming a large and not very well functioning child welfare department when I became a cabinet secretary for children, youth and families, which was not on my how-to-run-my-career card. That was not in the plan, but again, it was a set of tools that I'd learned in one place that I brought with me and thought might work in another. Naviere Walkewicz 28:02 Excellent. And do you follow a similar approach, JD, in how you approach a big problem? Gen. Dave Goldfein 28:07 I think we're all lifelong students of different models and different frameworks that work. And there's not a one-size-fits-all for every organization. And the best leaders, I think, are able to tailor their approach based on what the mission — who the people are, what they're trying to accomplish. I had a chance to be a an aide de camp to a three-star, Mike Ryan, early in my career, and he went on to be chief of staff of the Air Force. And one of the frameworks that he taught me was he said, “If you really want to get anything done,” he said, “you've got to do three things.” He said, “First of all, you got to put a single person in charge.” He said, “Committees and groups solve very little. Someone's got to drive to work feeling like they've got the authority, the responsibility, the resources and everything they need to accomplish what it is that you want to accomplish. So get a single person in charge. Most important decision you will make as a leader, put the right person in charge. Second, that person owes you a plan in English. Not 15 PowerPoint slides, right, but something that clearly articulates in one to two pages, max, exactly what we're trying to accomplish. And the third is, you've got to have a way to follow up.” He said, “Because life gets in the way of any perfect plan. And what will happen is,” he goes, “I will tell you how many times,” he said, “that I would circle back with my team, you know, a couple months later and say, ‘How's it going?' And they would all look at each other and say, “Well, I thought you were in charge,” right? And then after that, once they figure out who was in charge, they said, “Well, we were working this plan, but we got, you know, we had to go left versus right, because we had this crisis, this alligator started circling the canoe, and therefore we had to, you know, take care of that,” right? He says, “As a leader, those are the three elements of any success. Put someone in charge. Build a plan that's understandable and readable, and always follow up. And I've used that as a framework, you know, throughout different organizations, even all the way as chief to find — to make sure that we had the right things. Dr. Heather Wilson 30:21 Even this morning, somebody came by who reminded us of a story that probably should have been in the book, where we had — it was a cyber vulnerability that was related to a particular piece of software widely deployed, and the CIO was having trouble getting the MAJCOMMS to kind of take it seriously. And they were saying, “Well, you know, we think maybe in 30, 60, 90 days, six months, we'll have it all done,” or whatever. So I said, “OK, let all the four-stars know. I want to be updated every 36 hours on how many of them, they still have, still have not updated.” I mean, this is a major cyber vulnerability that we knew was — could be exploited and wasn't some little thing. It was amazing; it got done faster. Naviere Walkewicz 31:11 No 90 days later. Oh, my goodness. Well, that was excellent and actually, I saw that in action in the story, in the book, after the attack on the Pentagon, and when you stood up and took charge, kind of the relief efforts, because many people were coming in that wanted to help, and they just needed someone to lead how that could happen. So you were putting into practice. Yes, sir. I'd like to get into where you talk about living your purpose, and that's a chapter in there. But you know, Gen. Goldfein, we have to get into this. You left the Academy as a cadet, and I think that's something that not many people are familiar with. You ride across the country on a bike with a guitar on your back for part of the time — and you sent it to Dawn after a little while — Mini-Bear in your shirt, to find your purpose. Was there a moment during the six months that you that hit you like lightning and you knew that this was your purpose, or was it a gradual meeting of those different Americans you kind of came across? Gen. Dave Goldfein 32:04 Definitely gradual. You know, it was something that just built up over time. I used to joke — we both knew Chairman John McCain and always had great respect for him. And I remember one time in his office, I said, “Chairman, I got to share with you that I lived in constant fear during every hearing that you were going to hold up a piece of paper on camera and say, ‘General, I got your transcript from the Air Force Academy. You got to be kidding me, right?' And he laughed, and he said, Trust me, if you looked at my transcript in Annapolis,” he goes, “I'm the last guy that would have ever asked that question.” But you know, the we made a mutual decision here, sometimes just things all come together. I'd written a paper on finding my purpose about the same time that there was a professor from Annapolis that was visiting and talking about a sabbatical program that Annapolis had started. And so they started talking about it, and then this paper made it and I got called in. They said, “Hey, we're thinking about starting this program, you know, called Stop Out, designed to stop people from getting out. We read your paper. What would you do if you could take a year off?” And I said, “Wow, you know, if I could do it, I'll tell you. I would start by going to Philmont Scout Ranch, you know, and be a backcountry Ranger,” because my passion was for the outdoors, and do that. “And then I would go join my musical hero, Harry Chapin.” Oh, by the way, he came to the United States Air Force Academy in the early '60s. Right? Left here, built a band and wrote the hit song Taxi. “So I would go join him as a roadie and just sort of see whether music and the outdoors, which my passions are, what, you know, what it's all about for me.” Well, we lost contact with the Chapin connection. So I ended up on this bicycle riding around the country. And so many families took me in, and so many towns that I rode into, you know, I found that if I just went to the library and said, “Hey, tell me a little bit about the history of this town,” the librarian would call, like, the last, you know, three or four of the seniors the town, they'd all rush over to tell me the story of, you know, this particular little town, right? And then someone would also say, “Hey, where are you staying tonight?” “I'm staying in my tent.” They said, “Oh, come stay with me.” So gradually, over time, I got to know America, and came to the conclusion when I had to make the decision to come back or not, that this country is really worth defending, that these people are hard-working, you know, that want to make the world better for their kids and their grandkids, and they deserve a United States Air Force, the best air force on the planet, to defend them. So, you know, when I came back my last two years, and I always love sharing this with cadets, because some of them are fighting it, some of them have embraced it. And all I tell them is, “Hey, I've done both. And all I can tell you is, the sooner you embrace it and find your purpose, this place is a lot more fun.” Naviere Walkewicz 35:13 Truth in that, yes, yes, well. And, Dr. Wilson, how did you know you were living your purpose? Dr. Heather Wilson 35:19 Well, I've had a lot of different chapters to my life. Yes, and we can intellectualize it on why we, you know, why I made a certain decision at a certain time, but there were doors that opened that I never even knew were there. But at each time and at each junction, there was a moment where somehow I just knew. And at South Dakota Mines is a good example. You know, I lost a race to the United States Senate. I actually had some interns — I benefited from a lousy job market, and I had fantastic interns, and we were helping them through the loss. You know, they're young. They were passionate. They, as Churchill said, “The blessing and the curse of representative government is one in the same. The people get what they choose.” And so I was helping them through that, and one of them said, “Well, Dr. Wilson, you're really great with students. You should be a college president somewhere. Texas Tech needs a president. You should apply there,” because that's where this kid was going to school. And I said, “Well, but I don't think they're looking for me.” But it did cause me to start thinking about it and I had come close. I had been asked about a college presidency once before, and I started looking at it and talking to headhunters and so forth. And initially, South Dakota Mines didn't seem like a great fit, because I'm a Bachelor of Science degree here, but my Ph.D. is in a nonscientific discipline, and it's all engineers and scientists. But as I went through the process, it just felt more and more right. And on the day of the final interviews, that evening, it was snowing in South Dakota, there was a concert in the old gym. I mean, this is an engineering school, and they had a faculty member there who had been there for 40 years, who taught choral music, and the students stood up, and they started singing their warm up, which starts out with just one voice, and eventually gets to a 16-part harmony and it's in Latin, and it's music is a gift from God, and they go through it once, and then this 40th anniversary concert, about 50 people from the audience stand up and start singing. It's like a flash mob, almost These were all alumni who came back. Forty years of alumni to be there for that concert for him. And they all went up on stage and sang together in this just stunning, beautiful concert by a bunch of engineers. And I thought, “There's something special going on here that's worth being part of,” and there are times when you just know. And the same with becoming cabinet secretary for children, youth and families — that was not in the plan and there's just a moment where I knew that was what I should do now. How I should use my gifts now? And you hope that you're right in making those decisions.   Naviere Walkewicz 38:43 Well, probably aligning with JD's point in the book of following your gut. Some of that's probably attached to you finding your purpose. Excellent. I'd like to visit the time Dr. Wilson, when you were helping President Bush with the State of the Union address, and in particular, you had grueling days, a lot of hours prepping, and when it was time for it to be delivered, you weren't there. You went home to your apartment in the dark. You were listening on the radio, and there was a moment when the Congress applauded and you felt proud, but something that you said really stuck with me. And he said, I really enjoy being the low-key staff member who gets stuff done. Can you talk more about that? Because I think sometimes we don't, you know, the unsung heroes are sometimes the ones that are really getting so many things done, but nobody knows. Dr. Heather Wilson 39:31 So, I'm something of an introvert and I've acquired extrovert characteristics in order to survive professionally. But when it comes to where I get my batteries recharged, I'm quite an introvert, and I really loved — and the same in international negotiations, being often the liaison, the back channel, and I did that in the conventional forces in Europe negotiations for the American ambassador. And in some ways, I think it might have been — in the case of the conventional forces in Europe negotiations, I was on the American delegation here. I was in Vienna. I ended up there because, for a bunch of weird reasons, then they asked me if I would go there for three months TDY. It's like, “Oh, three months TDY in Vienna, Austria. Sign me up.” But I became a very junior member on the delegation, but I was the office of the secretary of defense's representative, and walked into this palace where they were negotiating between what was then the 16 NATO nations and the seven Warsaw Pact countries. And the American ambassador turned to me, and he said during this several times, “I want you to sit behind me and to my right, and several times I'm going to turn and talk to you, and I just want you to lean in and answer.” I mean, he wasn't asking anything substantive, and I just, “Yes, sir.” But what he was doing was credentialing me in front of the other countries around that table. Now, I was very young, there were only two women in the room. The other one was from Iceland, and what he was doing was putting me in a position to be able to negotiate the back channel with several of our allies and with — this was six months or so now, maybe a year before the fall of the Berlin Wall. So things were changing in Eastern Europe, and so I really have always enjoyed just that quietly getting things done, building consensus, finding the common ground, figuring out a problem. Actually have several coffee mugs that just say GSD, and the other side does say, Get Stuff Done. And I like that, and I like people who do that. And I think those quiet — we probably don't say thank you enough to the quiet, hardworking people that just figure out how to get stuff done. Naviere Walkewicz 41:59 Well, I like how he credentialed you and actually brought that kind of credibility in that way as a leader. JD, how have you done that as a leader? Champion, some of those quiet, behind the scenes, unsung heroes. Gen. Dave Goldfein 42:11 I'm not sure where the quote comes from, but it's something to the effect of, “It's amazing what you can get done if you don't care who gets the credit.” There's so much truth to that. You know, in the in the sharing of success, right? As servant leaders, one of the things that I think both of us spend a lot of time on is to make sure that credit is shared with all the folks who, behind the scenes, you know, are doing the hard, hard work to make things happen, and very often, you know, we're the recipients of the thank yous, right? And the gratefulness of an organization or for somebody who's benefited from our work, but when you're at the very senior leaders, you know what you do is you lay out the vision, you create the environment to achieve that vision. But the hard, hard work is done by so many others around you. Today, in the audience when we were there at Polaris Hall, was Col. Dave Herndon. So Col. Dave Herndon, when he was Maj. Dave Herndon, was my aide de camp, and I can tell you that there are so many successes that his fingers are on that he got zero credit for, because he was quietly behind the scenes, making things happen, and that's just the nature of servant leadership, is making sure that when things go well, you share it, and when things go badly, you own it. Naviere Walkewicz 43:47 And you do share a really remarkable story in there about accountability. And so we won't spend so much time talking about that, but I do want to go to the point where you talk about listening, and you say, listening is not passive; it's active and transformative. As servant leaders, have you ever uncovered challenges that your team has experienced that you didn't have the ability to fix and you know, what action did you take in those instances? Dr. Heather Wilson 44:09 You mean this morning? All the time. And sometimes — and then people will give you grace, if you're honest about that. You don't make wild promises about what you can do, but then you sit and listen and work through and see all right, what is within the realm of the possible here. What can we get done? Or who can we bring to the table to help with a set of problems? But, there's no… You don't get a — when I was president of South Dakota Mines, one of the people who worked with me, actually gave me, from the toy store, a magic wand. But it doesn't work. But I keep it in my office, in case, you know… So there's no magic wands, but being out there listening to understand, not just listening to refute, right? And then seeing whether there are things that can be done, even if there's some things you just don't have the answers for, right? Gen. Dave Goldfein 45:11 The other thing I would offer is that as senior leadership and as a senior leadership team, you rarely actually completely solve anything. What you do is improve things and move the ball. You take the hand you're dealt, right, and you find creative solutions. You create the environment, lay out the vision and then make sure you follow up, move the ball, and if you get at the end of your tenure, it's time for you to move on, and you've got the ball moved 20, 30, yards down the field. That's actually not bad, because most of the things we were taking on together, right, were big, hard challenges that we needed to move the ball on, right? I If you said, “Hey, did you completely revitalize the squadrons across the United States Air Force?” I will tell you, absolutely not. Did we get the ball about 20, 30 yards down the field? And I hope so. I think we did. Did we take the overhaul that we did of officer development to be able to ensure that we were producing the senior leaders that the nation needs, not just the United States Air Force needs? I will tell you that we didn't solve it completely, but we moved the ball down the field, and we did it in a way that was able to stick. You know, very often you plant seeds as a leader, and you never know whether those seeds are going to, you know, these seeds are ideas, right? And you never know whether the seeds are going to hit fertile soil or rocks. And I would often tell, you know, young leaders too. I said, you know, in your last few months that you're privileged to be in the position of leadership, you've got two bottles on your hip. You're walking around with — one of them's got fertilizer and one of them's got Roundup. And your job in that final few months is to take a look at the seeds that you planted and truly determine whether they hit fertile soil and they've grown roots, and if they've grown roots, you pull out the fertilizer, and the fertilizer you're putting on it is to make it part of the institution not associated with you, right? You want somebody some years from now say, “Hey, how do we ever do that whole squadron thing?” The right answer is, “I have no idea, but look at how much better we are.” That's the right answer, right? That's the fertilizer you put on it. But it's just equally important to take a look at the ideas that, just for whatever reason, sometimes beyond your control — they just didn't stick right. Get out the Roundup. Because what you don't want to do is to pass on to your successor something that didn't work for you, because it probably ain't going to work for her. Dr. Heather Wilson 47:46 That's right, which is one of the rules of leadership is take the garbage out with you when you go. Naviere Walkewicz 47:51 I like that. I like that a lot. Well, we are — just a little bit of time left. I want to end this kind of together on a story that you shared in the book about laughter being one of the tools you share. And after we share this together, I would like to ask you, I know we talked about mirror checks, but what are some things that you guys are doing every day to be better as well, to continue learning. But to get to the laughter piece, you mentioned that laughter is an underappreciated tool and for leaders, something that you both share. I want to talk about the time when you got together for dinner before you began working as chief and service secretary, and I think you may have sung an AF pro song. We're not going to ask you to sing that today, unless you'd like to JD? But let's talk about laughter.   Gen. Dave Goldfein 48:31 The dean would throw me out. Naviere Walkewicz 48:33 OK, OK, we won't have you sing that today. But how have you found laughter — when you talk about — when the questions and the problems come up to you?   Dr. Heather Wilson 48:40 So I'm going to start this because I think Dave Goldfein has mastered this leadership skill of how to use humor, and self-deprecating humor, better than almost any leader I've ever met. And it's disarming, which is a great technique, because he's actually wicked smart. But it's also people walk in the room knowing if you're going to a town hall meeting or you're going to be around the table, at least sometime in that meeting, we're going to laugh. And it creates a warmth and people drop their guard a little bit. You get to the business a little bit earlier. You get beyond the standard PowerPoint slides, and people just get down to work. And it just — people relax. And I think Dave is very, very good at it. Now, my husband would tell you that I was raised in the home for the humor impaired, and I have been in therapy with him for almost 35 years.   Naviere Walkewicz 49:37 So have you improved? Dr. Heather Wilson 49:39 He thinks I've made some progress.   Naviere Walkewicz 49:41 You've moved the ball.   Dr. Heather Wilson 49:44 Yes. Made some progress. I still don't — I used to start out with saying the punch line and then explain why it was funny. Naviere Walkewicz 49:52 I'm in your camp a little bit. I try. My husband says, “Leave the humor to me.” Dr. Heather Wilson 49:54 Yeah, exactly. You understand. Gen. Dave Goldfein 49:58 I used to joke that I am a member of the Class of 1981['82 and '83]. I am the John Belushi of the United States Air Force Academy, a patron saint of late bloomers. But you know, honestly, Heather doesn't give herself enough credit for building an environment where, you know, folks can actually do their very best work. That's one of the things that we do, right? Because we have — the tools that we have available to be able to get things done very often, are the people that are we're privileged to lead and making sure that they are part of an organization where they feel valued, where we're squinting with our ears. We're actually listening to them. Where they're making a contribution, right? Where they believe that what they're being able to do as part of the institution or the organization is so much more than they could ever do on their own. That's what leadership is all about. Dr. Heather Wilson 51:05 You know, we try to — I think both of us see the humor in everyday life, and when people know that I have a desk plate that I got in South Dakota, and it doesn't say “President.” It doesn't say “Dr. Wilson.” It says, “You're kidding me, right?” Because once a week, more frequently as secretary and chief, but certainly frequently as a college president, somebody is going to walk in and say, “Chief, there's something you need to know.” And if they know they're going to get blasted out of the water or yelled at, people are going to be less likely to come in and tell you, right, what you need to know. But if you're at least willing to laugh at the absurdity of the — somebody thought that was a good idea, you know. My gosh, let's call the lawyers or whatever. But you know, you've just got to laugh, and if you laugh, people will know that you just put things in perspective and then deal with the problem. Naviere Walkewicz  52:06 Well, it connects us as humans. Yeah. Well, during my conversation today with Dr. Heather Wilson and Gen. Dave Goldfein — JD — two lessons really stood out to me. Leadership is not about avoiding the fall, but about how high you bounce back and how your recovery can inspire those you lead. It's also about service, showing up, doing the hard work and putting others before yourself with humility, integrity and working together. Dr. Wilson, Gen. Goldfein, thank you for showing us how courage, compassion and connection — they're not soft skills. They're actually the edge of hard leadership. And when you do that and you lead with service, you get back up after every fall. You encourage others to follow and do the same. Thank you for joining us for this powerful conversation. You can find Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership, wherever books are sold. And learn more at getbackupeadership.com. If today's episode inspired you, please share it with someone who can really benefit in their own leadership journey. As always, keep learning. Keep getting back up. Keep trying. I'm Naviere Walkewicz, Class of '99. This has been Focus On Leadership. Until next time. Producer This edition of Focus on Leadership, the accelerated leadership series, was recorded on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.   KEYWORDS Leadership, servant leadership, resilience, humility, integrity, influence, teamwork, family, trust, listening, learning, purpose, growth, accountability, service, courage, compassion, balance, values, inspiration.     The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation  

January 30, 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of Buckley v. Valeo, a landmark First Amendment speech clause case. While the podcast normally airs current oral arguments, we thought that it would be interesting to spotlight the oral arguments in this landmark case during month of its anniversary.Episode 44: Buckley v. ValeoJames L. Buckley, et al. v. Francis R. Valeo, Secretary of the United States Senate, et al. argued before the Supreme Court of the United States on November 10, 1975 and decided on January 30, 1976. Argued by Ralph K. Winter, Joel M. Gora, Brice M. Claggett, and  (on behalf of James L. Buckley) and Daniel M. Friedman, Archibald Cox, Lloyd N. Cutler, and Ralph S. Spritzer (on behalf of Francis R. Valeo).   Case Background [from the Federal Election Commission]:On January 2, 1975, the suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by Senator James L. Buckley of New York, Eugene McCarthy, Presidential candidate and former Senator from Minnesota, and several others. The defendants included Francis R. Valeo, Secretary of the Senate and Ex officio member of the newly formed Federal Election Commission, and the Commission itself. The plaintiffs charged that the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), under which the Commission was formed, and the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act were unconstitutional on a number of grounds.On January 24, 1975, pursuant to Section 437h(a) of the FECA, the district court certified the constitutional questions in the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. On August 15, 1975, the appeals court rendered a decision upholding almost all of the substantive provisions of the FECA with respect to contributions, expenditures and disclosure. The court also sustained the constitutionality of the method of appointing the Commission.On September 19, 1975, the plaintiffs filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, which reached its decision on January 30, 1976. Questions Presented, from the Appellants' Brief: 1. Did the Court of Appeals correctly conclude that the limitations imposed by FECA on expenditures by political candidates and organizations are constitutional?2. Did the Court of Appeals correctly conclude that the limitation imposed by FECA on expenditures by any person relative to a clearly identified candidate are constitutional?3. Did the Court of Appeals correctly conclude that the limitations imposed by FECA on contributions to political candidates and organizations are constitutional?4. Did the Court of Appeals correctly conclude that the disclosure requirements imposed on political candidates, organizations and individuals by FECA are constitutional?5. Did the courts below correctly conclude that the public financing provisions of FECA and Subtitle H of the Internal Revenue Code are constitutional?6. Did the Court of Appeals correctly conclude that the method provided by FECA for appointing members of the Federal Election Commission is constitutional?7. Did the Court of Appeals properly decline to decide whether certain powers conferred upon the Federal Election Commission by FECA are constitutional?8. Are the powers conferred upon the Federal Election Commission by FECA constitutional?Resources:   Supreme Court OpinionInstitute for Free Speech AnalysisC-SPAN Buckley v. Valeo Panel 1C-SPAN Buckley v. Valeo Panel 2C-SPAN Buckley v. Valeo Panel 3The Institute for Free Speech promotes and defends the political speech rights to freely speak, assemble, publish, and petition the government guaranteed by the First Amendment. If you're enjoying the Free Speech Arguments podcast, please subscribe and leave a review on your preferred podcast platform. To support the Institute's mission or inquire about legal assistance, please visit our website: www.ifs.org

Ever wonder what the crossroads of fandom and public service looks like? Roy Cooper has lived it at a high level. The UNC graduate and former NC Attorney General and Governor joined Joey Powell to talk about Carolina Basketball, his lifetime fandom, the current roster, and more as he now eyes an office in the United States Senate. There's no political discussion here: just honest storytelling and appreciation for the program that binds so many North Carolinians across generations.   This show is brought to you by Inside Carolina, the No. 1 site for UNC sports coverage and community. Visit http://www.InsideCarolina.com   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Siren Podcast, hosted on The Siren Network, I had the honor of being joined by Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy and Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley to discuss the murder of Renee Good in Minneapolis by ICE, why the Trump regime is really starting a conflict with Venezuela, and how Americans should be demanding more of their elected officials during this moment. Trump and his minions in the White House have made it their mission to place violence at the center of everything they do. Their goal is to normalize it. We see this play out in many forms, but especially in the regime's response to the tragic shooting of Renee Good. When ICE shoots an American citizen three times in the face, Kristi Noem's very first instinct was to demonize her and call her a domestic terrorist. JD Vance's initial response branded Good as a “deranged leftist.” The official federal response from the White House did not include calls for investigations, or pledges to ensure this never happens again- but support for the actions of the ICE agent who pulled the trigger. Hours after the shooting, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted an image reading “I STAND WITH ICE.” She then pinned that message to the top of her Twitter profile, seemingly supporting the murder that the entire country saw happen on video. When the U.S. military captured Nicolas Maduro, Pete Hegseth said Maduro had “F'd around and found out.” Donald Trump routinely threatens our allies with violence, and pledges to take control of Greenland. The official Twitter accounts of the U.S. Government publish daily propaganda videos of supposed migrants in chains and handcuffs and call for “remigration”- the once fringe, far-right term for the mass deportation of non-whites (a.k.a., ethnic cleansing). All of this has a purpose. It's meant to make you feel overwhelmed and hopeless. And honestly? It's perfectly natural to feel that way. But it's also important to shine a light on our wins- Simply put, Trump is losing the support of Congressional Republicans. As Senator Murphy says during today's episode, “The Senate just passed a resolution saying that the president does not have the power to take this action in Venezuela. I think four or five Republicans actually crossed over, voted with Democrats. A war powers resolution that is now passed the United States Senate that is heading to the House of Representatives that says the president cannot use any funds in order to carry out operations in Venezuela without the consent of Congress.” Make sure to watch this information-packed double feature of The Siren Podcast, and stay tuned for some light-hearted sports talk!

Send us a textIn this special tribute episode, we honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell — Olympic athlete, decorated Marine, master silversmith, and one of the most consequential Native American leaders in the history of the United States Senate.Campbell's journey was uniquely American: from a childhood marked by hardship, to representing the United States in the Olympics, to becoming a powerful voice for Native nations and Western communities in Washington. As a U.S. Senator from Colorado, he reshaped the national conversation on tribal sovereignty, cultural preservation, and the dignity of Indigenous peoples, while also embodying a rugged independence that defied political labels.This episode is also dedicated to Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, a fellow Western original whose music, like Campbell's life, celebrated freedom, wandering, and the search for something deeper than fame or power. Both men came to represent a uniquely American kind of spirit — restless, generous, and rooted in tradition while never afraid to push beyond it.Through stories, reflections, and historical context, we remember Ben Nighthorse Campbell not just as a senator, but as a craftsman, a warrior, and a bridge between worlds — a man who carried the past forward while carving out space for a more honorable future.This is a tribute to a life lived with courage, authenticity, and enduring impact — and to the kindred spirit of Bob Weir, whose music has long been the soundtrack for America's long and winding road. Questions 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!!

This Day in Legal History: Hattie Wyatt Caraway Elected to SenateOn January 12, 1932, Hattie Wyatt Caraway of Arkansas became the first woman elected to the United States Senate in her own right, marking a milestone in American legal and political history. Initially appointed to her late husband Thaddeus Caraway's Senate seat, she was widely expected to serve only as a placeholder until a male successor could be elected. Instead, Caraway defied expectations by entering the special election and winning, quietly but firmly asserting her independence. Her victory came just over a decade after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote and laid the groundwork for their broader participation in political life.Caraway's campaign was bolstered by the support of Louisiana Senator Huey Long, whose populist style and energetic barnstorming helped draw attention to her candidacy. Despite being soft-spoken and reserved on the Senate floor, Caraway developed a reputation for diligence and loyalty to her constituents. She went on to win a full term later that year, becoming the first woman to do so and serving in the Senate until 1945.Her election symbolized a shift in legal and cultural attitudes toward women in government roles. While women had begun entering state legislatures and the House of Representatives, the Senate had remained all-male until Caraway's election. Her success challenged deeply rooted assumptions about women's capacity for leadership and helped open the door for future female senators. She focused much of her legislative work on issues affecting veterans, farmers, and rural communities.U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani announced she would block the Trump administration's attempt to terminate temporary legal status for 10,000 to 12,000 migrants from seven Latin American countries. These individuals had entered the U.S. under family reunification parole programs that allowed them to live legally with relatives while waiting for visa approval. The Department of Homeland Security had moved to cancel the programs, which were launched or updated during the Biden administration, arguing they were being misused to bypass regular immigration protocols.Judge Talwani criticized the government for failing to provide proper legal notice to the affected migrants, many of whom are children, and emphasized that the U.S. must also follow the law. The plaintiffs' attorney called the government's move harmful and disruptive, especially to families and school-aged children. A Justice Department lawyer argued that the administration had the legal authority to revoke parole.The case is part of a broader legal battle over Trump's efforts to dismantle humanitarian parole programs initiated under President Biden, which had provided temporary protection to hundreds of thousands of migrants. Talwani had previously issued rulings blocking similar rollbacks, but higher courts overturned them. Her upcoming order is expected to offer temporary relief to thousands facing imminent deportation.US judge to block Trump move to end thousands of Latin American migrants' legal status | ReutersOn January 10, Indonesia became the first country to temporarily block access to Elon Musk's Grok chatbot, citing concerns over the platform's ability to generate AI-produced pornographic content, including disturbing depictions of minors. The country's Communications and Digital Minister condemned non-consensual sexual deepfakes as serious human rights violations and emphasized the need to protect dignity and digital safety. This action follows growing international criticism of Grok's content safeguards, with some governments in Europe and Asia launching investigations.xAI, the company behind Grok, responded by limiting image generation features to paying users while working to address security flaws that had allowed the creation of sexualized images. However, its public response to Reuters included a dismissive automatic message: “Legacy Media Lies.” Musk, posting on X, insisted users generating illegal content would be held accountable as if they had uploaded it directly.Indonesia's firm stance highlights the absence of similar decisive action from the United States, where Grok and xAI are based—raising questions about America's professed commitment to protecting victims of online abuse. The U.S.'s failure to lead on this issue stands in stark contrast to its claimed leadership in defending digital rights and vulnerable populations.Indonesia temporarily blocks access to Grok over sexualised images | ReutersU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the government has more than enough funds—nearly $774 billion in cash on hand—to handle any tariff refunds that may result from a potential Supreme Court ruling against President Trump's emergency tariffs. However, Bessent noted that any repayments would be distributed gradually over weeks or even up to a year. He expressed skepticism that the Court would rule against the tariffs, and criticized potential refunds as corporate windfalls, questioning whether companies like Costco, which sued the government, would pass any refunded money back to consumers.While many importers argue that they should be reimbursed if the Court finds Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) unlawful, Bessent claimed the actual number of refundable tariffs is lower than the estimated $150 billion cited by some trade analysts. He declined to offer a precise figure. He also disputed the idea that Trump's tariffs significantly contributed to inflation, asserting that there was little evidence of cost pass-through to consumers.Bessent warned that if the Supreme Court does rule against the tariffs, the decision could be complex rather than a simple reversal, which might complicate refund logistics. He added that a delay in the ruling increases the odds of a decision favoring Trump. Treasury's projected end-of-quarter balance of $850 billion and an expected reduction in the 2025 calendar-year deficit are seen as bolstering its ability to manage any financial impact.Bessent says US Treasury can easily cover any tariff refunds | ReutersFederal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell revealed that the Fed had been served with grand jury subpoenas by the U.S. Department of Justice, escalating tensions between the central bank and the Trump administration. The subpoenas reportedly relate to Powell's June 2025 congressional testimony about renovations to the Fed's headquarters, but Powell described the move as part of a broader campaign of political intimidation aimed at undermining the Fed's independence. He stated unequivocally that the threat of criminal charges was tied to the Fed's refusal to set interest rates according to presidential preferences.President Trump denied involvement in the DOJ probe, but his administration has long clashed with Powell over interest rate policy and spending. Trump has publicly floated removing Powell and Fed Governor Lisa Cook, whose case is pending before the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, markets reacted to the news with falling stock futures and a surge in gold prices, reflecting investor unease over the attack on central bank autonomy.Republican Senator Thom Tillis condemned the subpoenas, pledging to block any future Fed nominee until the legal matter is resolved. The DOJ's inquiry is reportedly focused on whether Powell misled Congress about ballooning renovation costs, which reached $2.5 billion. Though the administration alleges possible misconduct, critics see the legal threat as part of a pressure campaign to force Powell out ahead of his term's expiration in May.Fed Served With DOJ Subpoenas, Powell Vows to Stand Firm (5) 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

Doug McHoney (PwC's International Tax Services Global Leader) is joined by Beth Bell, a Principal in PwC's Washington National Tax Services Policy Office. She previously served as a Senior Advisor to the US Treasury Department, Tax Counsel for the US House Committee on Ways and Means, and Policy Director and Tax Counsel in the United States Senate. Doug and Beth discuss the OECD's January 2026 side‑by‑side package: why consensus formed, how the side‑by‑side and UPE safe harbors operate, and why QDMTTs are taking center stage. They cover the simplified ETR safe harbor, the one‑year extension of the transitional CbCR safe harbor, elections and 2024–2025 compliance, enacted‑law accounting effects, the key footnote on UTPR allocation, and the new qualified tax incentives safe harbor, including both expenditure-based and production‑based credits, plus implications for inbound investment and the 2029 stocktake. 

Send us a textBob Dole returns January 20, 2026Bob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There — Season PreviewHow does a small-town Kansas boy, gravely wounded on an Italian battlefield, rise to become one of the most powerful and respected figures in American politics?This season of Bob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There traces the extraordinary journey of Bob Dole from the moment his life was forever changed in World War II through his ascent to the highest levels of American government. Beginning with his devastating combat injury and long recovery, the series follows Dole through his early political career in Kansas, his elections to Congress and the U.S. Senate, his tenure as Republican National Committee Chairman, and his emergence as a central figure in Washington during some of the most turbulent decades in modern history.Listeners will travel with Dole through the Nixon years and Watergate, the razor-thin 1974 Senate race against Dr. Bill Roy, and his rise onto the national stage as Gerald Ford's 1976 vice-presidential running mate. The season continues through his 1980 and 1988 presidential campaigns, his pivotal role as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and his leadership in landmark moments such as saving Social Security in 1983 and launching the historic McGovern–Dole effort to feed hungry children around the world.As both Senate Minority Leader and Majority Leader, Bob Dole became one of the great legislative strategists of his era, and this series reveals how power was actually wielded in Congress from the 1970s through the 1990s—how deals were made, how coalitions were built, and how policy became law.Featuring voices of friends and foes alike—fellow senators, staffers, journalists, and contemporaries—along with rare archival audio from news coverage and C-SPAN, this season offers an intimate, inside-the-room portrait of a man who helped shape a generation of American politics.More than a biography, Bob Dole: The Life That Brought Him There is a master class in leadership, resilience, and the inner workings of the United States Senate at a time when history was being written day by day.Questions 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!!

“The Quiet Texan Behind the Oval Office: Colonel Edward Mandell House” Welcome to Episode 82 of the Hidden History of Texas, Yes, I took the holidays off and feel refreshed and ready to go here in 2026. I hope each and all of you had a wonderful holiday season. Now it's time to get back into it.   If you pay attention to the world of political news, then you've probably heard the name Steven Miller. If you haven't, he's a primary advisor to President Trump. There are some who think that Mr. Miller is the most powerful person in Washington. That he wields more power and influence inside the administration than anyone else. He is what some call the power behind the throne, and they are surprised that someone like this exists. However, it's not rare at all, throughout history there have been men who were incredibly powerful but whom most people can't name. The question becomes, how on earth does a person rule a nation, a country without actually being the ruler? How does someone rule without ruling? It's important to understand that real power doesn't always sit at the top. Many times, the real power is held by a person that many people are unaware even exists. Real power operates quietly, seemingly in the shadows, through trust and access. One such person's name was  Edward Mandell House, and of course, he came from Texas.”  And at one point during World War I, he was one of the most influential men in Washington. He either shaped or helped shape American foreign policy. He was never elected to office. He held no cabinet position, and he most certainly did not have a public mandate to do what he did. Who was Edward Mandell House? He was born in Houston on July 26, 1858, to Mary Elizabeth (Shearn) and Thomas William House. He was the youngest of seven children. Thomas, his father, was one of the leading citizens of Texas. He was a wealthy merchant, a banker, and a landowner.  As did many wealthy children in that time period, Edward had a privileged youth. Growing up he met many prominent people who visited his family's large homes in Galveston and Houston. He also spent time enjoying life at his father's sugar plantation near Arcola Junction.  And like many Texas boys, he rode, hunted, and admired the gunfighters of the era.  He would often roam the flat, vast coastal plain near Houston. After his mother passed away on January 28, 1870, his father sent him away to boarding school. First a school in Virginia and then to one in New Haven, Connecticut. He was not a serious student, but he made several connections that would serve him well in life. It was also there that he became intrigued with politics. He and his closest friend, Oliver T. Morton (the son of Senator Oliver Perry Morton of Indiana), became fascinated by the Hayes-Tilden election of 1876 and the crisis that followed it. (If you think there are allegations of election fraud now, you should really look into how crooked elections have often been in our nation's past) The two young men traveled to New York and Washington studying the events that were taking place. This might have been one of those moments in time when seeds of a person's destiny are planted. This election and the intrigue that surrounded it and how political power is really wielded seems to have left a lasting impression on the young House. In the autumn of 1877 while attending Cornell University, his father became ill and he returned to Texas to attend to him. In 1880 after the death of his father, he decided to remain in Texas and help manage the estate. In 1881 he married Loulie Hunter of Hunter, Texas. The young couple honeymooned and spent a year in Europe after which they returned to Houston. A Return to Texas It was during this time that House began to supervise his family's extensive landholdings which were spread throughout Texas. He moved his family to Austin in the fall of 1885 for two reasons. First, he wanted to escape the heat and humidity of Houston, (I can attest to that, I left Houston for the same reason) and he wanted to be closer to his cotton plantations. During the period of the late 1880s and early 1890s, he rose to a position of prominence in Austin society and expanded his business activities to include farming and land speculation. With Austin being the state's capital and House having extensive business holdings throughout the state he was drawn into state politics due to his friendship with then Texas Governor Hogg. In 1892 the governor was facing a formidable challenge for renomination and then reelection due to opposition from conservative Democrats and Populists. House stepped in and took control of and directed Hogg's campaign. Using his business acumen, he established a network of contacts with influential local Democratic leaders, then managed to manipulate the electoral machinery, and finally bargained for the often-overlooked votes of African and Mexican Americans. His skills helped Hogg triumph in what was a bitter, three-way race. On July 20, 1893, Hogg rewarded House with the honorary title of "lieutenant colonel." The press soon shortened the title to "colonel." This campaign seemed to wet House's appetite; however, he was more fascinated with the process of politics than with the substance. He went on to build his own faction-"our crowd," he called it, which became a powerful force in Texas politics. He was an ambitious political operator, not politician, and he was skilled in organizing and inspiring others. He preferred to work mostly behind the scenes. By doing so, it helped him develop ties of loyalty and affection with his close associates. This also enabled him to use patronage (favors) to rally party workers behind his candidates. From 1894 to 1906 House's protégés served as governors of Texas. He and his associates managed the gubernatorial campaigns of Charles Allen Culberson, Joseph D. Sayers, and Samuel W. T. Lanham. He was particularly close to Culberson, and House directed the 1898 campaign that sent Culberson to the United States Senate. Over the years he served as a political counselor, often dispensing advice and controlling patronage for all three governors. “House learned early that true power doesn't need a podium, it simply needs proximity. It needs access” Life in Washington Remember how as a youth, House had become intrigued by the Hayes-Tilden election of 1876 and that intrigue instilled in him some grand dreams. Tiring of being involved with state politics, he began to crave a place on the national level. (One thing to remember is that in those days the Democrats were the conservatives, and the Republicans were the moderate and liberals.) House was a fiscal or financial conservative, and he was irritated and discouraged when in 1904, the democratic nominee Alton B. Parker was defeated by Theodore Roosevelt. In the 1908 presidential election, he was further discouraged when Republican candidate William Howard Taft defeated democratic party candidate William Jennings Bryan. Rather than stay, House travelled to Europe where he tried to find peace of mind and dabbled in spiritualism. After returning to the United States in time for the lead up to the 1912 Presidential election, House was living in New York. It was then that several of Woodrow Wilson's allies, including William McAdoo, who knew of House's political organization, met with him to gauge his support. House agreed to meet with Wilson and hosted him for a visit in late November 1911. The two men felt an immediate rapport, bonding over shared views and backgrounds, with House noting how pleasant Wilson was. As a result, a close friendship was formed that lasted for decades. House used his network to help Wilson win the democratic nomination for president in the 1912 election. His influence secured the forty votes of the Texas delegation and the approval of William Jennings Bryan for Wilson's candidacy. The election of 1912 was one of chaos and if you read most history books about that race you will see it described as a bitter contest between Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, Williams Howard Taft, and Eugene Debs. Roosevelt ran on what was called a "New Nationalism" platform that called for social insurance programs, reduction to an eight-hour workday, and robust federal regulation of the economy. Wilson's platform was labeled the  "New Freedom" platform, and it called for tariff reduction, banking reform, and new antitrust regulations. Incumbent President Taft ran an almost quiet campaign that emphasized his idea of "progressive conservatism". Eugene Debs was a proud socialist and he spent most of his time denouncing the other three by claiming that Wilson, Roosevelt and Taft were all financed by different factions within what were called the capitalist trusts. He also maintained that Roosevelt in particular was a demagogue who only used socialistic language because he wanted to insure that the capitalist establishment had control. Wilson won a close election, and this is when House as a person who is interested in real power, not flash, not headlines, but real power showed what he was capable of. He refused any official appointment but was responsible for the appointment of several Texans to cabinet positions. Thus, he was able to quickly and firmly establish himself as the president's trusted adviser and confidant. Since he had travelled extensively in Europe Wilson leaned heavily on House for advice on foreign affairs. House was establishing the fact that real power grows where trust replaces accountability. Wilson trusted House and that was all that mattered But what is that kind of power? What was the nature of House's power? House had what we refer to as Power Without Portfolio. He had no official department; he wasn't and didn't need to be confirmed by the Senate. One important difference between then and today, he was never under any public scrutiny. Of course,

President Donald Trump marked the new year by launching a military assault on Venezuela and abducting President Nicolas Maduro. Some 75 people in Venezuela were killed in the Saturday attack and 7 U.S service members were injured, according to the Washington Post. Many Democrats and some Republicans have denounced the act as unconstitutional, while Trump has followed up by threatening more military action against Cuba, Mexico, Columbia and Greenland. This week also marks the fifth anniversary of the January 6th insurrection on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters who were attempting to overturn Trump's loss in the 2020 presidential election. I spoke with Vermont Sen. Peter Welch about these escalating domestic and international crises under the Trump administration just before he returned to Washington. The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.David Goodman  Let's begin by getting your thoughts on the US actions against Venezuela this weekend.Peter Welch  It's reckless and it's wrong. I mean, let's acknowledge the military did a very professional job, but the decision the President made to depose the leader of another country, authoritarian that he was, and then to say that this is about us running Venezuela, and then to say that he wants our big oil companies like Exxon to take over Venezuelan oil brings us back to gunboat diplomacy. It's very, very dangerous. I'm adamantly opposed to what the President did.David Goodman  What did you as a United States senator know about this operation in advance?Peter Welch  Absolutely nothing. I'm a United States senator and the United States Senate is the institution that has the authority to authorize a military action. This was an act of war. We were never consulted. We were never involved. So we knew no more than any other citizen who woke up that morning. And what you're seeing is that the President is completely acting beyond the authority of an executive. In my view, Congress has to stand up and resist that. But we don't have Republican support, and we need that. I am a co sponsor of a resolution condemning this and I'm going to be urging my Republican colleagues that we not relinquish our authority and have a president who is exceeding the powers that the Constitution gives him.David Goodman  How is this supposed to work? For example, what happened when President George W. Bush invaded Iraq in 2003?Peter Welch  The President comes to Congress and asks for an authorization to use force, and in the case of President Bush, he did that before he went to Iraq. I was opposed to that and many members of Congress were, but a majority supported him. But the President did come to Congress. There's a reason for that. When we're going to put our men and women in harm's way, that's a major decision. Deciding to use military force is an easy decision for a president like Trump, but the consequences of it are paid for by our country and by men and women who are willing to serve at the call of the Commander in Chief. That decision should be deliberated. There should be a discussion, there should be a debate. There should be accountability by members of Congress that they said yes or they said no to this request by the President. What there shouldn't ever be is the arbitrary capacity of an individual who happens to be president to plunge us into a war.David Goodman  President Trump said in his address to nation on Saturday that this is all going to be free. It's going to be paid for by Venezuela. Do you believe that?Peter Welch  No, absolutely. He said that about the (border) wall too. Let's just discuss this. There is a decision that only the President made. Number one, the decision was to take out Maduro. Number two, everybody in Maduro's government is still in power. Number three, the President says we're going to run the country. How are we going to do that? Number four, he says our oil companies like Exxon are going to take over the Venezuelan oil fields. None of those things can happen and none of them should happen. So the President is saying, “they're going to pay for it.” This same president won't lift a finger to extend the health care tax credits that have already expired and where we're going to have about 25,000 Vermonters without health care as a result of that. No, this is bogus.David Goodman  Right now there are Vermonters in the Caribbean, the Vermont Air National Guard. What do we know about the role that they are playing in this operation?Peter Welch  First of all, we are all so impressed and appreciative of our Guard. They got 11 days notice right around the Christmas holidays and had to pick up and leave their families behind. There was no notice for them. What we do know is that none of them have been injured, and I am so pleased that that is the news that we have, and we are awaiting a report about what role they did play. But of course, we have the Air National Guard and they have air assets, and obviously those were a big part of this operation, so we'll find out. But I don't know exactly what they were requested to do.David Goodman  The President has described the strategic principle here as the “Donroe Doctrine,” his update of the 200 year old Monroe Doctrine. What do you understand Trump's doctrine to be?Peter Welch  The Monroe Doctrine was an assertion by President James Monroe that European powers could not colonize countries in this hemisphere. What the “Donroe” Doctrine is is the United States can impose its will on countries in this hemisphere. Totally different. It's more about gunboat diplomacy. It's more about imperialism. These are the President's words: “we're going to run the country in Venezuela,” “we're going to have our oil companies there.” That has absolutely nothing to do with the Monroe Doctrine. If the President is, in a kind of pathetic way, trying to make a new word of “Donroe,” the Don is more like a mob boss than it is a diplomat or a statesman.David Goodman  The United States does not have state-run oil companies, but President Trump is saying that private American oil companies are going to rebuild the infrastructure of Venezuela's oil industry. Does that make sense to you?Peter Welch  No, absolutely not. I first started getting interested in Latin America during the President Kennedy administration. There had been a history of the United States companies essentially toppling governments to their own advantage. United Fruit in Nicaragua, of course, the United States toppling an elected government in Guatemala in 1954. What President Kennedy did was really started moving us to where we were promoting democracy. The Alliance for Progress, the Peace Corps -- they became the United States engagement in Latin America and South America, which were more premised on the ideals of democratic participation and democratic rule. President Trump has repudiated that totally and completely. What he wants to do is have transactional engagements with these countries that benefit him or benefit American companies. The aspiration for democratic rule or facilitating the path to democracy is totally rejected by this President. It is completely the wrong way to go.David Goodman  In the first year of President Trump's second term, the United States has taken military action against seven different countries, including three that we've never waged war against. After attacking Venezuela, Trump threatened action against Cuba, Mexico and Greenland. What can or will constrain him?Peter Welch  It has to be Congress and the American people. But right now, the biggest dilemma we have in Congress is that my Republican colleagues have abdicated the constitutional authority that we have as members of Congress in so many areas that the President is acting more like a king. Under Article One of the Constitution, Congress has to vote on war making and authorize it in Appropriations. It's up to Congress, the power of the purse. The President is disregarding that. In area after area, my Republican colleagues have been willing to abdicate their authority and their responsibility and delegate it to the President. So you're having this undemocratic concentration of power in a president who knows no limits and thinks that because he is president, he can do whatever he wants. That's a real threat to our democratic governing system.David Goodman  This seems to have opened up some cracks in the MAGA coalition. We are hearing about opposition from Marjorie Taylor Greene and Representative Thomas Massie, also Senator Rand Paul, who have opposed this break with the idea of “America First.” Do you think this could cause other fractures within that coalition?Peter Welch  I do. Americans do not want us getting involved in foreign wars. They support our military, and we need our strong military to make certain that we're defended. But this action in Venezuela is not to protect us from a threat to our country from Venezuela. His talk about taking over Greenland is not to protect us from a threat by Greenland or Denmark, and likewise, Colombia. Most Americans know that asking our citizen soldiers to go to war for presidential preferences is absolutely wrong. We've got to take care of things that are really tough for everyday working people in our country. Right now, Vermonters are losing health care. The President hasn't lifted a single finger to extend those tax credits so that Vermonters and Americans won't lose health care. The president ran as a person who was against these “forever wars” and now he's embracing these wars, not just in Venezuela, but also the threats In Colombia, the threats in Greenland and in Cuba. Why?David Goodman  Why do you think he has pivoted in such a dramatic fashion from a core principle that he has run on?Peter Welch  The biggest support group he has is the billionaires. If Venezuelan oil is now suddenly run by American oil companies, they benefit. And I'm not even certain the oil companies want what he's doing. The President is very, very good as a politician in stoking division, but his real loyalty where his policies have consistently been applied is when it comes to enhancing the wealth of the very wealthy. The tax cut bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill went largely to billionaires. When he talks about foreign policy, he talks about getting American companies in Venezuela in on the oil. When he meets with leaders from Middle Eastern countries, they talk about crypto deals or meme coin deals that involve his family. That's an obvious motivator for the President. It's really tough for Vermonters now with health care, with the cost of housing, and our small businesses that are contending with these tariffs that are really punishing their ability to sell their products and compete. They don't have the telephone number of the Secretary of Treasury where they can call up and get an exemption like a lot of Trump friends can. Our job is to get us focused back on the well being of American citizens, of having a fair and square economy where people work hard, and if they do and they have a good product, they can get ahead and their success doesn't depend on whether they're connected to the President or whether they made a big fat campaign contribution.David Goodman  This week marks the fifth anniversary of the January 6 insurrection in which Trump supporters attacked the US Capitol. You were in the Capitol that day. How did that experience change you, and in your view, change the country?Peter Welch  I was shocked, as we all were. I was in the gallery in the House of Representatives about 30 feet from where the shot was fired. I was on the floor above, but it was right below me. I couldn't believe it. And I was there when the mob was breaking the doors down. They were ultimately unsuccessful, but they broke the glass. I was seeing our security people with guns drawn. And what to this day still stuns me is that even though I was there, even though in real time I was hearing the shot, I was seeing the glass being broken, I didn't believe it was happening. It couldn't happen because this is the United States of America, and we've never had an insurrection to stop the peaceful transfer of power. We've been so blessed with this tradition where the winner is certified as the winner, and where violence is not used to change the outcome of an election. That changed that day. And what was also painful was to see these Capitol Police officers who I see every day, and they're just wonderful people that work hard, and they then became vilified, as though they were the attackers and the people who attacked them, who kicked them, who spat on them, who bit them, who tried to rip their helmets off and nearly break their necks -- those people were pardoned for attacking a police officer. That continues to be shocking to me. And you've got President Trump trying to rewrite history. We can't on this fifth anniversary allow that to happen. And I'll be with many of my colleagues who will be on the Senate floor describing what happened that day, what we experienced, and what the true history is of that event.David Goodman  That's such a powerful image of you not believing your own eyes. For decades, you have believed in one kind of American story, and even though it was unraveling in front of you, you couldn't believe it. Do you feel like you still respond that way to some of what you're seeing?Peter Welch  It's changing. Our democracy is under threat with what Trump is doing. There's no question. But here's what is now animating me. I think about those police officers who reported for duty, and then even through what they've been through, they keep coming back. I still look at the Capitol when I walk to work, and I just think about the incredible commitment this country has had in its constitution, in its declaration of independence to the aspiration of equality of all men and women, and how so much of our history has been about the effort to achieve that, to make it more real, to make it more encompassing for more people. That's a worthy goal and it is under assault now. But I think about folks who came before me like John Lewis, and Martin Luther King, and how they devoted their lives to the perfection of our democracy. It'll never be perfect. But isn't it a worthy aspiration, even if it's under assault?David Goodman  Do you think something like January 6 could happen again?Peter Welch  It could happen again. This a jump-ball situation. What's going to be the outcome is not inevitable, and that's why it takes all of us to do whatever it is we can. We're in a very dangerous place in our democracy and what the outcome is going to be, I can't predict. But I can tell you this, we in Vermont are going to do every single thing we can. What Vermont does is (have) fierce debate about how to solve this or that problem, but also a shared sense that we're all in it together and that we have a shared obligation to the future of our state. We need more of that in Washington.

Send us a textHAPPY NEW YEAR 2026!!!Last year ws a year of extremes but overall we saw our show expand to include a new local broadcast and we completed several projects we hope to bring you in this coming year of 2026. Please join us here for another exciting year at "Randal Wallace Presents" , "The Richard Nixon Experience" and " Grand Strand Politics" Here is what is on tap for next years: BOB DOLE — A Three-Season Audio Documentary SeriesTwo Upcoming InstallmentsSeason TwoBob Dole: The Life That Brought Him ThereBefore the campaign. Before the slogans. Before the headlines — the life.Season Two traces the extraordinary, often overlooked journey that forged Bob Dole long before he became a presidential nominee. From a Kansas boy who left for World War II and returned with devastating injuries, to a patient rebuilding himself at Percy Jones Army Hospital alongside other wounded veterans, this season tells the story of how grit, discipline, and moral clarity shaped one of America's most consequential political figures.This season follows Dole's ascent from Russell County Attorney to Congress, and then to the United States Senate, charting his rise through the Republican Party during some of the most volatile decades in American history. We examine his tenure as RNC Chairman, his role during Watergate, and his legendary razor-thin 1974 Senate reelection victory over Dr. Bill Roy — a race that changed the trajectory of his career.Listeners will also hear the inside story of Dole's vice-presidential campaign, his years as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and his time as both Majority and Minority Leader.Built from original interviews with U.S. Senators, senior Dole staffers, and journalists, alongside rare archival audio and historic news coverage, The Life That Brought Him There is not just biography — it is the story of how leadership is forged.This is the season that explains who Bob Dole was before America decided what to make of him.Season ThreeBob Dole Campaign 1996: The Campaign of a LifetimeA front-row seat to one of the most dramatic presidential races of the modern era.Season Three is an immersive, deeply reported account of Bob Dole's 1996 run for the presidency — a campaign built on legacy, urgency, and the belief that a lifetime of service still had one final chapter to write.This season takes listeners inside the primaries, strategy fights, and pressure-packed moments that defined Dole's quest to defeat a sitting president. Through exclusive oral histories from Dole insiders, U.S. Senators, campaign veterans, and journalists, we reveal how the campaign was really run — and how close it came to changing American history.Adding a rare dimension, host Randal Wallace brings listeners along through his own experience as a volunteer in the pivotal South Carolina primary, where the campaign was nearly derailed — and later across the long, grinding road to the Republican nomination and the general election. Using archival news coverage, historic speeches, behind-the-scenes stories, and firsthand testimony, The Campaign of a Lifetime reconstructs the race as it actually happened — not as it was simplified afterward.Plus we look at the the three books our host has Questions 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!!

Rep Harriet Hageman has announced that she is running for the United States Senate.  Many in Wyoming were waiting on her decision before committing to their own races.   Rebecca Bextel joins the program to talk about Harriet's run and all of the politics surrounding it. Plus, some obligatory Christmas stories!!  

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text messageS.12 E.34 A very important United States Senate election is coming up in 2026. It is the Senate race in Georgia. Democrat Senator Jon Ossoff is up for re-election. It is essential for the Republicans to defeat Ossoff in the 2026 midterm election to reclaim the Senate seat.ABOUT: Tawsif Anam is a nationally published writer, award-winning public policy professional, and speaker. He has experience serving in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors in United States and overseas. Anam earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tawsif Anam's opinions have been published by national, state, and local publications in the United States, such as USA Today, Washington Examiner, The Washington Times, The Western Journal, The Boston Globe, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, The Capital Times, and The Dodgeville Chronicle. His writings have also appeared in major publications in Bangladesh including, but not limited to, The Daily Star and The Financial Express. Visit my website www.tawsifanam.net Visit my blog: https://tawsifanam.net/blog/ Read my published opinions: https://tawsifanam.net/published-articles/ Check out my books: https://tawsifanam.net/books/

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text messageS.12 E.35 There is a very important United States Senate race in Michigan. Democrat U.S. Senator Gary Peters is not seeking re-election, which means that there is an open Senate seat in Michigan. This is an opportunity for the Republicans to win a Senate seat to expand the majority in Washington. The question is: Can the GOP win this seat in the battleground state of Michigan?ABOUT: Tawsif Anam is a nationally published writer, award-winning public policy professional, and speaker. He has experience serving in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors in United States and overseas. Anam earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tawsif Anam's opinions have been published by national, state, and local publications in the United States, such as USA Today, Washington Examiner, The Washington Times, The Western Journal, The Boston Globe, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, The Capital Times, and The Dodgeville Chronicle. His writings have also appeared in major publications in Bangladesh including, but not limited to, The Daily Star and The Financial Express. Visit my website www.tawsifanam.net Visit my blog: https://tawsifanam.net/blog/ Read my published opinions: https://tawsifanam.net/published-articles/ Check out my books: https://tawsifanam.net/books/

Fish have long been one of the last wild foods, a source of nourishment that connects us to the powerful ecology of the planet's waters. But as journalist and author Paul Greenberg chronicles in his award-winning book Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food, our relationship with the sea has dramatically changed over the past century. Once nearly all of the seafood we ate was wild; today, nearly half is farmed and the pressures on both wild and farmed systems are intensifying.In this conversation, Paul doesn't simply lament loss nor offer blind optimism. Instead, he helps us see where wild fisheries and aquaculture have faltered, where they remain strong, and how our choices today will shape the future of seafood and the oceans that feed us. Viewed through the lens of regenerative agriculture, his insights show that healthy waters and healthy land are part of the same story, and that ecological regeneration on farms must be paired with thoughtful stewardship of our rivers, estuaries, and oceans.In this episode, we get into: • What history teaches us about the human-ocean relationship and how it changed as we tamed the sea • How modern fishing and seafood production mirror some of the same challenges in industrial agriculture • Why some wild fisheries can still be models of careful management • Where aquaculture offers real promise and where it deepens existing problems • How ecological health, species diversity, and regional systems are essential for both land and sea • What eating fish in ways that support long-term abundance actually looks like • Why regenerative principles belong in discussions about oceans as much as soilMore about Paul:Paul writes at the intersection of the environment and technology, seeking to help his readers find emotional and ecological balance with their planet. He is the author of seven books including the New York Times bestseller Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food. His other books are The Climate Diet, Goodbye Phone, Hello World, The Omega Principle, American Catch, A Third Term and the novel, Leaving Katya.Paul's writing on oceans, climate change, health, technology, and the environment appears regularly in The New York Times and many other publications. He's the recipient of a James Beard Award for Writing and Literature, a Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation, a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship and many other grants and awards.A frequent guest on national television and radio including Fresh Air with Terry Gross and the co-creator of the podcast Fish Talk, Paul also works in film, television and documentary. His PBS Frontline documentary The Fish on My Plate was among the most viewed Frontline films of the 2017 season and his TED Talk has reached over 1.5 million viewers to date. He has lectured widely at institutions around the world ranging from Harvard to Google to the United States Senate. A graduate in Russian Studies from Brown University, Paul speaks Russian and French. He currently teaches within New York University's Animals Studies program and lives at Ground Zero in Manhattan where he maintains a family and a terrace garden and produces, to his knowledge, the only wine grown south of 14th Street.Agrarian Futures is produced by Alexandre Miller, who also wrote our theme song. This episode was edited by Drew O'Doherty.

Gulrez "Gus" Khan is running for United States Senate. https://www.gkhanforsenate.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOu1J9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFHRVJJRnNWSTJJWjVRWjFqc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuDDpvZ9fGZuOqxZIe0oEzx_4cBgENY_m5nylAIC_7DQzq8q4g0b_D4k8lLE_aem_UseEHd5ww4Hc4uZDRxao4ASubscribe to Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/c/snakepitstudiosFollow Breaking Hyman with Morgan and Friends :https://www.instagram.com/breakinghymanpod/Follow The Patriot and The Rattlesnake Podcast : https://www.instagram.com/thepatriotandrattlesnakepod/

Some of us are old enough to remember when the United States Senate had a vaunted reputation as the world's greatest deliberative body. Weighty issues would be debated by senators with the security of six-year terms, resistant to the political winds of the moment, and grand compromises could be achieved. Those days, of course, are gone — put on display most tellingly Thursday when a majority of 51 votes still wasn't enough to stop Republicans' plans to make Americans pay exhaustingly higher health insurance premiums, just to make a political point. Courier Newsroom's Keya Vakil gives us a summary. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow is powered by UpNorthNews, and it airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Get more from Pat and UpNorthNews on their website and follow them on X, Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Guest: Keya Vakil

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), the first female combat veteran ever elected to the United States Senate and author of DAUGHTER OF THE HEARTLAND: My Ode to the Country that Raised Me, joined The Guy Benson Show today to discuss the failed healthcare votes in the Senate, after both the Republican and Democratic proposals fell short earlier today. Ernst discussed why the Republican plan focuses on directing subsidies to citizens, not insurance companies, in order to stop the rampant Obamacare skimming and fraud that has flourished under Democratic leadership. Ernst also reacted to the disgusting messaging from Rep. Bennie Thompson who called the jihadist attack on National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C. an "unfortunate accident." Benson and Sen. Ernst closed by discussing  the pace of judicial nominations and why the Trump administration must move quickly to get their judges confirmed for the present term. Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Governors Series is an interview-centric series put together by U Cast Studios. The point of these interviews is to examine power at the highest state level -- the governor, and to humanize what that role looks like.   In this episode, we talk to former Governor George Allen from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Governor Allen was elected to the governorship in 1994 and served until 1998. He was elected to the United States Senate in 2001 and served until 2007.   To visit our website: https://ucaststudios.com/ To visit other podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/u-cast-studios/id1448223064 To visit our LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-cast-studios  

Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan joins Drivetime to discuss a number of topics. Jason starts by asking about her thoughts on President Trump's comments on Rep. Ilhan Omar and the Somali people living in Minnesota. Jason then asks about her level of responsibility her position has in addressing the widespread fraud found across the state. Jason asks what the biggest difference is between Lt. Governor Flanagan and Angie Craig as they race to represent the state of Minnesota in the United States Senate.

The third installment of our Charles Sumner episode covers how, two days after Charles Sumner delivered an incendiary speech before the senate, Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina came into the Senate chamber and attacked Sumner at his desk. Research: "Sumner, Charles (1811-1874)." Encyclopedia of World Biography, Gale, 1998. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A148425674/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=95485851. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025. “Roberts v. City of Boston, 5 Cush. 198, 59 Mass. 198 (1849).” Caselaw Access Project. Harvard Law School. https://case.law/caselaw/?reporter=mass&volume=59&case=0198-01 “The Prayer of One Hundred Thousands.” https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/PrayerofOneHundredThousand.pdf Alexander, Edward. “The Caning of Charles Sumner.” Battlefields.org. 3/6/2024. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/caning-charles-sumner Beecher, Henry Ward. “Charles Sumner.” Advocate of Peace (1847-1884) , MAY, 1874. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27905613 Berry, Stephen and James Hill Welborn III. “The Cane of His Existence Depression, Damage, and the Brooks–Sumner Affair.” Southern Cultures , Vol. 20, No. 4 (WINTER 2014). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26217562 Boston African American National Historic Site. “Abiel Smith School.” https://www.nps.gov/boaf/learn/historyculture/abiel-smith-school.htm Boston African American National Historic Site. “The Sarah Roberts Case.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-sarah-roberts-case.htm Child, Lydia Maria. “Letters of Lydia Maria Child.” Houghton, Mifflin and Company. 1883. https://archive.org/details/lettersoflydiam00chil Commonwealth Museum. “Roberts v. The City of Boston, 1849.” https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/commonwealth-museum/exhibits/online/freedoms-agenda/freedoms-agenda-8.htm Frasure, Carl M. “Charles Sumner and the Rights of the Negro.” The Journal of Negro History , Apr., 1928, Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr., 1928). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2713959 Gershon, Livia. “Political Divisions Led to Violence in the US Senate in 1856.” JSTOR Daily. 1/7/2021. https://daily.jstor.org/violence-in-the-senate-in-1856/ History, Art and Archives. “South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks’s Attack on Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts.” U.S. House of Representatives. https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/South-Carolina-Representative-Preston-Brooks-s-attack-on-Senator-Charles-Sumner-of-Massachusetts/ Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site. “An Era of Romantic Friendships: Sumner, Longfellow, and Howe.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/an-era-of-romantic-friendships-sumner-longfellow-and-howe.htm Lyndsay Campbell; The “Abolition Riot” Redux: Voices, Processes. The New England Quarterly 2021; 94 (1): 7–46. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/tneq_a_00877 Mahr, Michael. “Sumner vs. Cane.” National Museum of Civil War Medicine. 5/24/2023. https://www.civilwarmed.org/sumner-vs-cane/ Meriwether, Robert L. “Preston S. Brooks on the Caning of Charles Sumner.” The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine , Jan., 1951, Vol. 52, No. 1 (Jan., 1951). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27571254 Mount Auburn Cemetery. “Charles Sumner (1811-1874): U.S. Senator, Abolitionist, & Orator.” https://mountauburn.org/notable-residents/charles-sumner-1811-1874/ National Park Service. “Charles Sumner and Romantic Friendships.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/charles-sumner-and-romantic-friendships.htm Potenza, Bob. “Charles Sumner.” West End Museum. https://thewestendmuseum.org/history/era/west-boston/charles-sumner/ Ruchames, Louis. “Charles Sumner and American Historiography.” The Journal of Negro History , Apr., 1953, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Apr., 1953). https://www.jstor.org/stable/2715536 Senate Historical Office. “Senate Stories | Charles Sumner: After the Caning.” United States Senate. 5/4/2020. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/senate-stories/charles-sumner-after-the-caning.htm Sinha, Manisha. “The Caning of Charles Sumner: Slavery, Race, and Ideology in the Age of the Civil War.” Journal of the Early Republic , Summer, 2003, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Summer, 2003). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3125037 Sumner, Charles. “Barbarism of Slavery.” 6/4/1860. https://dotcw.com/documents/barbarism_of_slavery.htm Sumner, Charles. “Freedom National; Slavery Sectional.” 8/26/1852. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Freedom_National;_Slavery_Sectional Sumner, Charles. “The equal rights of all.” Washington, Printed at the Congressional globe office. 1866. https://archive.org/details/equalrightsofall00sumn Tameez, Zaakir. “Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation.” Henry Holt and Co. 2025. United States Senate. "The Crime Against Kansas.” https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_Crime_Against_Kansas.htm United States Senate. “REPORT.” 5/28/1856. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/SumnerInvestigation1856.pdf United States Senate. “The Caning of Senator Charles Sumner.” https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_Caning_of_Senator_Charles_Sumner.htm Various, “Southern Newspapers Praise the Attack on Charles Sumner,” SHEC: Resources for Teachers, accessed October 31, 2025, https://shec.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/1548. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second installment of our episode on Charles Sumner picks up in the wake of his controversial antiwar speech. He next argued a school integration case before the Massachusetts supreme judicial court. Research: "Sumner, Charles (1811-1874)." Encyclopedia of World Biography, Gale, 1998. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A148425674/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=95485851. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025. “Roberts v. City of Boston, 5 Cush. 198, 59 Mass. 198 (1849).” Caselaw Access Project. Harvard Law School. https://case.law/caselaw/?reporter=mass&volume=59&case=0198-01 “The Prayer of One Hundred Thousands.” https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/PrayerofOneHundredThousand.pdf Alexander, Edward. “The Caning of Charles Sumner.” Battlefields.org. 3/6/2024. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/caning-charles-sumner Beecher, Henry Ward. “Charles Sumner.” Advocate of Peace (1847-1884) , MAY, 1874. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27905613 Berry, Stephen and James Hill Welborn III. “The Cane of His Existence Depression, Damage, and the Brooks–Sumner Affair.” Southern Cultures , Vol. 20, No. 4 (WINTER 2014). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26217562 Boston African American National Historic Site. “Abiel Smith School.” https://www.nps.gov/boaf/learn/historyculture/abiel-smith-school.htm Boston African American National Historic Site. “The Sarah Roberts Case.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-sarah-roberts-case.htm Child, Lydia Maria. “Letters of Lydia Maria Child.” Houghton, Mifflin and Company. 1883. https://archive.org/details/lettersoflydiam00chil Commonwealth Museum. “Roberts v. The City of Boston, 1849.” https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/commonwealth-museum/exhibits/online/freedoms-agenda/freedoms-agenda-8.htm Frasure, Carl M. “Charles Sumner and the Rights of the Negro.” The Journal of Negro History , Apr., 1928, Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr., 1928). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2713959 Gershon, Livia. “Political Divisions Led to Violence in the US Senate in 1856.” JSTOR Daily. 1/7/2021. https://daily.jstor.org/violence-in-the-senate-in-1856/ History, Art and Archives. “South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks’s Attack on Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts.” U.S. House of Representatives. https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/South-Carolina-Representative-Preston-Brooks-s-attack-on-Senator-Charles-Sumner-of-Massachusetts/ Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site. “An Era of Romantic Friendships: Sumner, Longfellow, and Howe.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/an-era-of-romantic-friendships-sumner-longfellow-and-howe.htm Lyndsay Campbell; The “Abolition Riot” Redux: Voices, Processes. The New England Quarterly 2021; 94 (1): 7–46. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/tneq_a_00877 Mahr, Michael. “Sumner vs. Cane.” National Museum of Civil War Medicine. 5/24/2023. https://www.civilwarmed.org/sumner-vs-cane/ Meriwether, Robert L. “Preston S. Brooks on the Caning of Charles Sumner.” The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine , Jan., 1951, Vol. 52, No. 1 (Jan., 1951). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27571254 Mount Auburn Cemetery. “Charles Sumner (1811-1874): U.S. Senator, Abolitionist, & Orator.” https://mountauburn.org/notable-residents/charles-sumner-1811-1874/ National Park Service. “Charles Sumner and Romantic Friendships.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/charles-sumner-and-romantic-friendships.htm Potenza, Bob. “Charles Sumner.” West End Museum. https://thewestendmuseum.org/history/era/west-boston/charles-sumner/ Ruchames, Louis. “Charles Sumner and American Historiography.” The Journal of Negro History , Apr., 1953, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Apr., 1953). https://www.jstor.org/stable/2715536 Senate Historical Office. “Senate Stories | Charles Sumner: After the Caning.” United States Senate. 5/4/2020. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/senate-stories/charles-sumner-after-the-caning.htm Sinha, Manisha. “The Caning of Charles Sumner: Slavery, Race, and Ideology in the Age of the Civil War.” Journal of the Early Republic , Summer, 2003, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Summer, 2003). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3125037 Sumner, Charles. “Barbarism of Slavery.” 6/4/1860. https://dotcw.com/documents/barbarism_of_slavery.htm Sumner, Charles. “Freedom National; Slavery Sectional.” 8/26/1852. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Freedom_National;_Slavery_Sectional Sumner, Charles. “The equal rights of all.” Washington, Printed at the Congressional globe office. 1866. https://archive.org/details/equalrightsofall00sumn Tameez, Zaakir. “Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation.” Henry Holt and Co. 2025. United States Senate. "The Crime Against Kansas.” https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_Crime_Against_Kansas.htm United States Senate. “REPORT.” 5/28/1856. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/SumnerInvestigation1856.pdf United States Senate. “The Caning of Senator Charles Sumner.” https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_Caning_of_Senator_Charles_Sumner.htm Various, “Southern Newspapers Praise the Attack on Charles Sumner,” SHEC: Resources for Teachers, accessed October 31, 2025, https://shec.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/1548. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tenpenny Files – An unfiltered conversation with a man running for U.S. Senate exposes how childhood trauma, broken masculinity, blue-collar neglect, and spiritual collapse are tearing America apart. This episode explores faith, work, leadership, and what happens when scars replace privilege, silence becomes truth, and one man decides the system no longer gets his obedience...

The first installment of the deeper examination of Charles Sumner's life begins with his early years, including his close relationships with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Samuel Gridley Howe. Research: "Sumner, Charles (1811-1874)." Encyclopedia of World Biography, Gale, 1998. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A148425674/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=95485851. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025. “Roberts v. City of Boston, 5 Cush. 198, 59 Mass. 198 (1849).” Caselaw Access Project. Harvard Law School. https://case.law/caselaw/?reporter=mass&volume=59&case=0198-01 “The Prayer of One Hundred Thousands.” https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/PrayerofOneHundredThousand.pdf Alexander, Edward. “The Caning of Charles Sumner.” Battlefields.org. 3/6/2024. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/caning-charles-sumner Beecher, Henry Ward. “Charles Sumner.” Advocate of Peace (1847-1884) , MAY, 1874. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27905613 Berry, Stephen and James Hill Welborn III. “The Cane of His Existence Depression, Damage, and the Brooks–Sumner Affair.” Southern Cultures , Vol. 20, No. 4 (WINTER 2014). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26217562 Boston African American National Historic Site. “Abiel Smith School.” https://www.nps.gov/boaf/learn/historyculture/abiel-smith-school.htm Boston African American National Historic Site. “The Sarah Roberts Case.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-sarah-roberts-case.htm Child, Lydia Maria. “Letters of Lydia Maria Child.” Houghton, Mifflin and Company. 1883. https://archive.org/details/lettersoflydiam00chil Commonwealth Museum. “Roberts v. The City of Boston, 1849.” https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/commonwealth-museum/exhibits/online/freedoms-agenda/freedoms-agenda-8.htm Frasure, Carl M. “Charles Sumner and the Rights of the Negro.” The Journal of Negro History , Apr., 1928, Vol. 13, No. 2 (Apr., 1928). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2713959 Gershon, Livia. “Political Divisions Led to Violence in the US Senate in 1856.” JSTOR Daily. 1/7/2021. https://daily.jstor.org/violence-in-the-senate-in-1856/ History, Art and Archives. “South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks’s Attack on Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts.” U.S. House of Representatives. https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/South-Carolina-Representative-Preston-Brooks-s-attack-on-Senator-Charles-Sumner-of-Massachusetts/ Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site. “An Era of Romantic Friendships: Sumner, Longfellow, and Howe.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/an-era-of-romantic-friendships-sumner-longfellow-and-howe.htm Lyndsay Campbell; The “Abolition Riot” Redux: Voices, Processes. The New England Quarterly 2021; 94 (1): 7–46. doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/tneq_a_00877 Mahr, Michael. “Sumner vs. Cane.” National Museum of Civil War Medicine. 5/24/2023. https://www.civilwarmed.org/sumner-vs-cane/ Meriwether, Robert L. “Preston S. Brooks on the Caning of Charles Sumner.” The South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine , Jan., 1951, Vol. 52, No. 1 (Jan., 1951). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27571254 Mount Auburn Cemetery. “Charles Sumner (1811-1874): U.S. Senator, Abolitionist, & Orator.” https://mountauburn.org/notable-residents/charles-sumner-1811-1874/ National Park Service. “Charles Sumner and Romantic Friendships.” https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/charles-sumner-and-romantic-friendships.htm Potenza, Bob. “Charles Sumner.” West End Museum. https://thewestendmuseum.org/history/era/west-boston/charles-sumner/ Ruchames, Louis. “Charles Sumner and American Historiography.” The Journal of Negro History , Apr., 1953, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Apr., 1953). https://www.jstor.org/stable/2715536 Senate Historical Office. “Senate Stories | Charles Sumner: After the Caning.” United States Senate. 5/4/2020. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/senate-stories/charles-sumner-after-the-caning.htm Sinha, Manisha. “The Caning of Charles Sumner: Slavery, Race, and Ideology in the Age of the Civil War.” Journal of the Early Republic , Summer, 2003, Vol. 23, No. 2 (Summer, 2003). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3125037 Sumner, Charles. “Barbarism of Slavery.” 6/4/1860. https://dotcw.com/documents/barbarism_of_slavery.htm Sumner, Charles. “Freedom National; Slavery Sectional.” 8/26/1852. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Freedom_National;_Slavery_Sectional Sumner, Charles. “The equal rights of all.” Washington, Printed at the Congressional globe office. 1866. https://archive.org/details/equalrightsofall00sumn Tameez, Zaakir. “Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation.” Henry Holt and Co. 2025. United States Senate. "The Crime Against Kansas.” https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_Crime_Against_Kansas.htm United States Senate. “REPORT.” 5/28/1856. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/SumnerInvestigation1856.pdf United States Senate. “The Caning of Senator Charles Sumner.” https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/The_Caning_of_Senator_Charles_Sumner.htm Various, “Southern Newspapers Praise the Attack on Charles Sumner,” SHEC: Resources for Teachers, accessed October 31, 2025, https://shec.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/1548. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Trans Day of Remembrance, we honor the trans people who have had their lives cut short by violence. Imara speaks with notable changemaker in the trans rights movement Kylar Broadus. Kylar was the first out transgender American to testify before the United States Senate and has been honored for his legal work by the City of New York and the LGBT Bar Association of Los Angeles, among others. Together, they process what it means to commemorate this day during an era of heightened anti-trans rhetoric, attacks on healthcare and all out political assault. Kylar shares how he came to practice law while advocating for civil rights and reflects on the importance of multigenerational community.For Trans Awareness week, TransLash Media is celebrating trans brilliance across generations with a new zine: Transcestors & Trailblazers: 30 Lives, 30 Legacies. You can find it at translash.org/zines Send your trans joy recommendations to translash_podcast @ translash [dot] org Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Instagram (@Imara_jones_), Threads (@imara_jones_), Bluesky (@imarajones.bsky.social), X (@ImaraJones)Follow our guest on social media: X - @KylarBroadus; Facebook - Kylar Broadus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mallory McMorrow is a state senator representing Michigan’s 8th district and also a candidate for the United States Senate in the 2026 election. Mallory McMorrow currently serves as the Michigan Senate Majority Whip and is the first woman in state history to hold that position. A member of the Democratic Party, McMorrow represents the 8th district and previously represented the 13th district from 2019 to 2023. Prior to running for the Michigan Senate in 2018, McMorrow worked in industrial design for design firms and for companies such as Mattel and Gawker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legislative filibuster is one of the most important guardrails against the tyranny of the majority that exists in the United States Senate. Despite this critical function, both parties have, at various times, entertained the idea of eliminating the filibuster and with it, bipartisan compromise. Such an act of unbelievable shortsightedness would transform the Senate […]

The legislative filibuster is one of the most important guardrails against the tyranny of the majority that exists in the United States Senate. Despite this critical function, both parties have, at various times, entertained the idea of eliminating the filibuster and with it, bipartisan compromise. Such an act of unbelievable shortsightedness would transform the Senate into a mirror image of the House of Representatives. This change would result in drastic policy reversals as party control shifts and could permanently disadvantage Republicans from ever again controlling the chamber. With gridlock and polarization so commonplace, how can we ensure the survival of the filibuster while addressing constructive suggestions for change? How likely might a permanent, constitutionally protected filibuster be? And what would the Senate look like if either party was successful in getting rid of it? Martin B. Gold is a partner with Capitol Counsel, LLC. With over 50 years of legislative and private practice experience, he is a recognized authority and author on matters of congressional rules and parliamentary strategies, and U.S. policy in Asia. He frequently advises senators and their staff and serves on the adjunct faculty at George Washington University. Before business, professional, and academic audiences, he speaks about Congress as well as political and public policy developments. He has authored several publications including, The Legislative Filibuster: Essential to the United States Senate as well as Senate Procedure and Practice, a widely consulted primer on Senate floor procedure.Read the transcript here.Subscribe to our Substack here.

This special crossover episode of Beyond the Campaign and Read the Damn Book brings together host Michelle Glogovac and guest Dakarai Larriett for a powerful conversation about advocacy, leadership, and storytelling. Larriett shares his journey from being a lifelong advocate for community issues to running for the United States Senate, drawing from the experiences detailed in his memoir, Don't Flush. He discusses confronting police misconduct, the importance of education, and his vision for Alabama's future. Throughout the conversation, Larriett highlights how education, healthcare, and criminal justice reform are deeply interconnected—and why true change begins with community engagement.What We're Talking About...Dakarai Larriett has dedicated his life to advocating for community issues and creating meaningful change in Alabama.With a strong background in public service and education advocacy, Larriett brings firsthand experience to his political vision.His personal encounter with police misconduct became the catalyst for his decision to run for public office.Education remains a cornerstone of Larriett's campaign, as he pushes for better access, funding, and opportunities for all students.He believes that true political progress starts with active community engagement and listening to local voices.Larriett calls for comprehensive criminal justice reform to create a fairer, more accountable system.He is deeply committed to dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline and investing in youth success.His entrepreneurial drive extends beyond politics, shown through his innovative pet aromatherapy business.Larriett advocates for universal healthcare access, especially for children and underserved families.He's focused on building bipartisan coalitions to bring people together and move Alabama forward.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background02:55 The Journey to Advocacy and Writing07:20 Experiences with Law Enforcement and Justice11:58 Political Aspirations and Community Engagement16:24 Education and Its Impact on Society21:11 Campaign Strategies and Community ConnectionLinks MentionedLinks MentionedDon't Flush promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_9BjWs4QT0Purchase Don't Flush: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKGSB8FY?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_XW3K5MBYRRA4TZCREFGH_1&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_XW3K5MBYRRA4TZCREFGH_1&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_XW3K5MBYRRA4TZCREFGH_1&bestFormat=trueDakarai Larriett's website: https://dakarailarriett.com/Dakarai Larriett's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574763727908Dakarai Larriett's Instagram: @dakarailarriettforsenateDakarai Larriett's TokTok: @dakarai.larriettGuest Bio:Dakarai Larriett, an Alabama native and the son of a U.S. Army veteran and a public school teacher, is a thriving entrepreneur and committed community volunteer. His candidacy for the U.S. Senate is driven by the injustice he faced from a false arrest in 2024. Growing up influenced by his father's military service, Dakarai moved between several states and even spent time in Germany. He excelled...

11/10/25: The United States Senate voted 60-40 to move toward passing compromise legislation to fund the government and hold a later vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire Jan. 1. Senator Kevin Cramer joins Joel Heitkamp on "News and Views" to talk about the news. Read more on the issue at KFGO.com. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time to go to the polls with Go Fact Yourself! It's a collection of some of our favorite trivia segments that feature politicians as experts.In this episode:Peter Sagal and Rebecca Makkai from ep. 45.Helen Zaltzman and Lewis Black from ep. 79.Antonio Villaraigosa from ep. 164.Kitty Felde and Charlie Hankin from ep. 51.Parker Molloy and Kevin Allison from ep. 99.Matt Rogers and Mimi Rogers from ep. 178.With Guest Experts:Gov. Madeleine May Kunin, author, ambassador and three-term governor of Vermont.Charlie Uhrig, former mayor of Solvang, CaliforniaKermit Roosevelt III, professor at University of Pennsylvania's Carey Law School.Senator Barbara Boxer, representing California in the United States Senate from 1993 to 2017.Rep. Laura Gillen: United States Congresswoman serving New York's fourth district.Hosts: J. Keith van StraatenHelen HongCredits:Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Today we are heading into the marble halls of the United States Senate to trace the long, tangled story of the filibuster and the rule that was supposed to control it. From a mistake in 1806 to the crisis of 1917, from Strom Thurmond's twenty-four-hour speech to the silent filibusters of today, the Senate has perfected the art of doing nothing at great length.We will look at how cloture was born in wartime, how it was abused in the fight over civil rights, and how it finally became the 60-vote rule that defines modern gridlock. Along the way, we will ask the question that every frustrated citizen already knows the answer to: how did the world's greatest deliberative body forget how to deliberate?

The world couldn't believe it — President Trump says he wants to restart nuclear testing after more than 30 years. In this video, learn the powerful English words and phrases people are using to talk about this shocking news story.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. Link to Original Newscast: Link: https://youtu.be/v6Fi0lUeiU4?si=6ikTI85lrQeqo1B4Stirring the Pot: Causing trouble or making a situation more intense.: On social media, many people stir the pot just to get attention.Concern: A feeling of worry about something important.: His parents showed concern when he didn't answer the phone.Match (Verb): To be equal to or compete with something or someone.: My socks don't match, but they're comfortable!The couple met at work and turned out to be a surprising match.Match (Noun): A contest or competition between two sides.: The match between Ukraine and Germany started three minutes ago.Moratorium: A temporary stop or suspension of an activity.: The U.S. has had a moratorium on nuclear testing since 1992.Match: A small stick used to start a fire.: He lit the match to start the bonfire at the campsite. Insists: Says something strongly and refuses to change one's opinion.: My dad insists that family dinners are important.She insists that she's right, even when she might be wrong.Clarified: Explained something to make it clear or easier to understand.: The manager clarified that the meeting starts at 2:00, not 3:00.Taken by Surprise: Shocked or not expecting something to happen.: I was taken by surprise when I saw my old friend at the grocery store.They were taken by surprise when the power went out during dinner.Resume: To start again after stopping for a while.: The president wants the United States to resume nuclear testing for the first time in over 30 years.Detonations: Explosions, especially from bombs or weapons.: During the war, detonations became a frightening part of daily life.Arsenal: A collection or supply of weapons.: The U.S. already has the world's largest nuclear arsenal, so many question why testing is needed.Consequences: The results or effects of an action, often negative.: Experts warn that restarting nuclear tests could have serious consequences for world peace.Contamination: Pollution or poisoning of an area, especially by dangerous substances.: Washing your hands helps prevent food contamination.Nevada: A U.S. state where most past nuclear tests took place.: The new tests would likely happen at the old site in Nevada.The desert in Nevada can be very hot during the summer.Sacrificed: Gave up something valuable for another purpose.: She sacrificed her weekend to help her friend move to a new house.The team sacrificed the fun of trick-or-treating to focus on training for the big game.Comprehensive: Including all or nearly all parts of something.: The museum offers a comprehensive look at the history of the city.Ratified: Officially approved by a government or group.: The treaty was signed but never ratified by the United States Senate.Fall Into Place: To begin to happen smoothly or make sense.: After weeks of planning, everything started to fall into place for the wedding.Arms Race: A competition between countries to build more or better weapons.: Experts worry that this move could start a new arms race between global powers.Justification: A reason or explanation that makes something seem right.: The president's justification is that the U.S. must stay strong against other nuclear nations.His only justification for being late was that the bus broke down.

On October 28, a month into the federal government shutdown, the United States Senate voted for the 13th time on a funding bill to reopen the government.

How will you age? Whether you are in your late twenties, fifties, or late eighties, everyone feels they are getting older. Of course we are chronologically getting older, so is a child, but we view children as growing older and better. Earlier and earlier these days however we view every day getting older as a negative and we expect to be less capable. Should this be the case? And how is the negative view of aging hurting us all, no matter what age you are as you hear this. This is a big topic of interest for me. I'm 54 and feel as capable as ever, and want to maintain this as long as possible. So I brought on an expert. Dr. Becca Levy, Ph.D., is an award-winning professor of Epidemiology (Social and Behavioral Sciences) at Yale School of Public Health and Professor of Psychology at Yale University. She has given invited testimony before the United States Senate on the effects of ageism, contributed to briefs submitted to the United States Supreme Court in age-discrimination cases, and participated in United Nations discussions of ageism. She is credited with creating a field of study that focuses on how positive and negative age stereotypes affect the health of older individuals. She is the author of Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long & Well You Love. Sign up for your $1/month trial period at shopify.com/kevin Go to shipstation.com and use code KEVIN to start your free trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, Maggie Mick hosts David Hallock, president of Two Capitols Consulting in Virginia. With 30 years of experience working in the Virginia Governor's office and General Assembly, the United States Senate, and the private sector, David is one of the most seasoned and respected operatives in the Commonwealth. Maggie and David walk through the evolving dynamics in this year's statewide election including gubernatorial and attorney general races and what could be in store in the closing weeks ahead of November's election. 

Mormonism Live uncovers the explosive history of the Reed Smoot Hearings (1904–1907)—a time when Mormon leaders, including President Joseph F. Smith, were forced to testify under oath before the United States Senate. What happens when prophets, seers, and revelators can no longer hide behind the pulpit and instead must answer blunt questions from skeptical senators… Read More »The Reed Smoot Hearings: When Mormon Prophets Tell The Truth

The U.S. government shut down on Wednesday morning. For the Democrats, it is an act of resistance against President Trump's second-term agenda. The question is now whether their gamble will pay off or backfire.In an episode recorded from the Capitol, Catie Edmondson and Carl Hulse, New York Times reporters who cover Congress, tell us what the decision-making looked like inside the building before the shutdown.Then, we have an interview with Senator Chuck Schumer. He explains why he pursued the shutdown in the moments before the vote.Guest:Catie Edmondson, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times.Carl Hulse, the chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times.Senator Chuck Schumer, minority leader of the United States Senate.Background reading: The shutdown of the U.S. government entered its first full day with no hint that either side would give.Here's how congressional leaders are positioning themselves.Photo: Haiyun Jiang/The New York TimesFor more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.  Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Republicans getting ripped to shreds in Michigan and Meiselas interviews Democratic State Senator Mallory McMorrow who is running for the United States Senate seat in Michigan who talks about the damages Trump is causing to people in Michigan and across the country. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel P. Driscoll is the 26th Secretary of the Army, sworn in on February 25th, 2025, following his nomination by President Donald J. Trump and confirmation by the United States Senate. As Secretary of the Army, he oversees operations, modernization, and resource allocation for nearly one million Active, Guard, and Reserve Soldiers and more than 265,000 Army Civilians. A former Army officer and business leader, Secretary Driscoll brings experience spanning military service, law, and the private sector. Secretary Driscoll was commissioned in 2007 as an Armor Officer through the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School. While on active duty, he led a cavalry platoon in the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009. His military awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Ranger Tab, and Combat Action Badge. After departing active duty, Secretary Driscoll attended Yale Law School and worked in Yale's Veterans Legal Services Clinic. He has held leadership roles in investment banking, private equity, and business operations, including as Chief Operating Officer of a $200 million venture capital fund. Secretary Driscoll holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School. He is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the Rotary Club, VFW Post 1134, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. A native of Boone, North Carolina, Secretary Driscoll comes from a family with a legacy of military service. His grandfather served in the Army during World War II as a decoder, and his father served during Vietnam as an infantryman. He is married to his high-school sweetheart, and they have two children. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: ⁠https://betterhelp.com/srs⁠ This episode is sponsored. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self. ⁠https://bruntworkwear.com⁠ – USE CODE SRS ⁠https://calderalab.com/srs⁠ Use code SRS for 20% off your first order. ⁠https://meetfabric.com/shawn⁠ ⁠https://shawnlikesgold.com⁠ ⁠https://helixsleep.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://www.hulu.com/welcome⁠ ⁠https://ketone.com/srs⁠ Visit https://ketone.com/srs for 30% OFF your subscription order. ⁠https://moinkbox.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://patriotmobile.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://rocketmoney.com/srs⁠ ⁠https://ROKA.com⁠ – USE CODE SRS ⁠https://ziprecruiter.com/srs Dan Driscoll Links: X - https://x.com/SecArmy U.S. Army Bio - https://www.army.mil/leaders/sa/bio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on the disastrous testimony by FBI Director Kash Patel before the United States Senate as his cover up of Trump's dark past backfires and he makes numerous stunning admissions. The Perfect Jean: Get 15% OFF Get The Perfect Jean 15% off with the code MEIDAS15 at https://theperfectjean.nyc Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices