Independent papal state in the city of Rome
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As the sun rose over Vatican City, hundreds — including many Chicagoans — lined up to enter St. Peter's Square ahead of Mayor Brandon Johnson's meeting with Pope Leo XIV. Reporter Ariel Parrella and Photographer Colin Boyle were there with the mayor and met many Chicagoans who also made the journey. Host - Jon Hansen Reporters - Ariel Parrella, Colin Boyle Read More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HEREWho we areBlock Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.Ground-level coverageOur neighborhood-based reporters don't parachute in once to cover a story. They are in the neighborhoods they cover every day building relationships over time with neighbors. We believe this ground-level approach not only builds community but leads to a more accurate portrayal of a neighborhood.Stories that matter to you — every daySince our launch seven years ago, we've published more than 30,000 stories from the neighborhoods, covered hundreds of community meetings and send daily and neighborhood newsletters to more than 150,000 Chicagoans. We've built this loyalty by proving to folks we are not only covering their neighborhoods, we are a part of them. Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.
Kimberly Bird joins with a monthly Live Action update. Shrines and Wonders Wednesday takes us to Orvieto. Joan Lewis visits with the latest from Rome and Vatican City. Plus, Emily Jaminet talks about the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and T's Two Sense looks at a piece on Vice President JD Vance and her Catholic Conversion.
"You gonna watch Curacao vs. Saudi Arabia?" The 2026 World Cup is officially expanded, and the "minnows" are coming for the giants. Are we about to witness the greatest underdog stories in football history, or is the gap between the elite and the rest wider than ever?In this episode of the Brazilian Shirt Name podcast, Tim Vickery and Dotun Adebayo are joined by Paul Watson and Lee Wingate from the Sweeper Podcast to dive deep into the weird, wacky, and wonderful world of international football. From the Vatican City's "unholy" league to Haiti's emotional qualification journey and Curacao's ageing Dutch legends and Egypt's Mohamed Salah, they analyse the teams you need to watch in 2026. We break down the tactics, the diaspora recruitment strategies, and why Uruguay might be in serious trouble under Marcelo Bielsa.Join the Brazilian Shirt Name Whatsapp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBNgO58PgsAgQXRP32TBuy Paul Watson's Book: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/paul-watson/around-the-world-in-80-clubs/9781399637886/
Fr. Steven Arisman visits to talk about the Shrine of Augustine Tolton. Shrines and Wonders Wednesday takes us through southern Umbria. Joan Lewis joins with the latest from Rome and Vatican City. Plus, T's Two Sense reflects on today's First Reading from 2 Timothy, and Matthew Estrade talks about a unique and upcoming pilgrimage for Catholic Aging Ministry
Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical letter focuses on safeguarding humanity amid the rise of artificial intelligence. In the letter, which is essentially a policy document from the Vatican, the Pope urges tech companies and policymakers worldwide to place human and moral concerns over profit. Anthropic co-founder Chris Olah spoke at the Pope's release of his letter in Vatican City, signaling an intention of collaboration and dialogue, but Silicon Valley leaders more broadly seem skeptical of the guidance. Will the pope's recommendations impact the development and deployment of A.I.? Guests: Cade Metz, technology reporter, The New York Times; author, “Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought A.I. to Google, Facebook, and The World" Kim Daniels, director, the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 54 of Flow is a Trump True Social deep dive with Cam Cooksey firing on all cylinders. He walks through an avalanche of posts: Trump's physical health results, the Xi handshake power read, the Obama library trash can comparison, America 250 buildup imagery, and Trump's fiery Kennedy Center post naming Judge Christopher Cooper and his wife Amy Jeffress, whom Cam calls a thread worth pulling. Trump announces an "America is Back" rally to replace artists who got the yips for Wednesday's celebration. Jackson Dart's political heat and Des Bryant's defense spark a conversation about rights versus privileges, landing on Colonel Towner's post that voting is a privilege and rights come from God, backed up by Ted Nugent's Second Amendment breakdown. Cam also reacts to Pope Leo XIV's Vatican meeting with Chicago's mayor, sharing his own dark experience at Vatican City and a false prophet read. Eric Rice supplies four faith posts across the week, and the American of the Week is Thomas Nelson Jr., the Declaration signer who told gunners to fire on his own house and died bankrupt at 50.
At the Vatican on Monday, Pope Leo XIV issued his first encyclical, a letter issued to the world's bishops. In it, he criticised artificial intelligence and what he called the “culture of power” fuelling its rise, urging world leaders to regulate the technology more forcefully.The Pope's scepticism towards AI does not exist in a vacuum. It comes after several weeks in which numerous commencement speakers championing artificial intelligence on US college campuses were booed by Gen Z graduates.Is a backlash to AI brewing? We speak to BBC religion editor Aleem Maqbool about the Pope's AI-critical encyclical, and to Rachel Janfaza, founder of the Gen Z research firm The Up and Up, about why Gen Z's relationship with AI is far more complicated than many think.Producer: Xandra Ellin, Cat Farnsworth, and Valerio EspositoExecutive producer: James ShieldSound engineer: Travis EvansSenior news editor: China Collins(Photo: Pope Leo XIV during a meeting with Italian bishops in Vatican City, 28 May 2026. Credit: Vatican Media/EPA)
Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Vatican City this week to meet Chicago's very own Pope Leo XIV for the first time. The two are expected to discuss their mutual disdain for the president, the state of Chicago baseball, and the Pope's latest writings on the dangers of A.I. Adora Namigadde and Jill Hopkins are here to discuss the historic meeting. Plus, a 177-year-old beer halts production, and what Midwest brands still have your heart? Good News: 5th Annual Windy City Hot Dog Fest, Still Finally Over It Tour, Tool Library Repair Fair Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our daily newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Learn more about the sponsors of this Thursday, May 28 episode: North Shore Center for the Performing Arts Newberry Library Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE
Big K Hour 4: Terrible Towels in the Vatican City, What's Good in the Hood, and More! full 1184 Thu, 28 May 2026 13:12:06 +0000 kLrmTbGb81WNuHwU8s6DLHz8RktCgJVU news The Big K Morning Show news Big K Hour 4: Terrible Towels in the Vatican City, What's Good in the Hood, and More! The Big K Morning Show 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News https://p
In this week's episode, America celebrates its birthday with 250 year old ideas about pluralism, all the holy water and anointing oil in Vatican City can't lubricate the arid mouth of Marco Rubio, and that's only one of the similarities Marco Rubio's mouth shares with Ben Shapiro's wife's vagina.---To make a per episode donation at Patreon.com, click here: http://www.patreon.com/ScathingAtheistTo buy our book, click here: https://www.amazon.com/Outbreak-Crisis-Religion-Ruined-Pandemic/dp/B08L2HSVS8/If you see a news story you think we might be interested in, you can send it here: scathingnews@gmail.comTo check out our sister show, The Skepticrat, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/the-skepticratTo check out our sister show's hot friend, God Awful Movies, click here: https://audioboom.com/channel/god-awful-moviesTo check out our half-sister show, Citation Needed, click here: http://citationpod.com/To check out our sister show's sister show, D and D minus, click here: https://danddminus.libsyn.com/Report instances of harassment or abuse connected to this show to the Creator Accountability Network here: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org/---Guest Links:The links mentioned in the Farnsworth Quote:Creating Dangerously podcast: https://www.shawnafoundation.org/general-6Florence on Tubi: https://tubitv.com/movies/100050205/florenceFlorence on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Florence-Blu-ray-Skip-Shea/dp/B0GSCFXQ5F---Headlines:Rededicate 250: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/white-house-to-host-taxpayer-funded and https://www.scrippsnews.com/life/faith-and-religion/national-mall-prayer-event-sparks-concern-about-trump-administration-eroding-the-wall-between-church-and-stateChristian megachurch founder Brian Houston shared adult content on social media again: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/christian-megachurch-founder-brianChristian nationalists try to undercut liberal education, accidentally hit religious schools: https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/the-gop-wanted-to-punish-liberalRyan walters is getting divorced: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/oklahoma-schools-chief-ryan-walters-files-divorce-after-ordering-schools-teach-mandate-christian-1796793Marco Rubio meets with Pope Leo and gives him a very embarrassing gift: https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/06/politics/pope-leo-rubio-meetinghttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/marco-rubio-gift-pope-leo_n_69fdc1d2e4b0cb033e513b3c
Mayor Johnson will travel to Rome and Vatican City from May 26th to the 30th, but his office did not specify when he will meet with the pontiff, who became Pope in May 2025. Johnson says he and Pope Leo will discuss topics including protecting the rights of voters, workers and immigrants. Johnson's trip will be funded by World Business Chicago, a nonprofit agency funded by the city and private donors.
Mayor Johnson will travel to Rome and Vatican City from May 26th to the 30th, but his office did not specify when he will meet with the pontiff, who became Pope in May 2025. Johnson says he and Pope Leo will discuss topics including protecting the rights of voters, workers and immigrants. Johnson's trip will be funded by World Business Chicago, a nonprofit agency funded by the city and private donors.
Mayor Johnson will travel to Rome and Vatican City from May 26th to the 30th, but his office did not specify when he will meet with the pontiff, who became Pope in May 2025. Johnson says he and Pope Leo will discuss topics including protecting the rights of voters, workers and immigrants. Johnson's trip will be funded by World Business Chicago, a nonprofit agency funded by the city and private donors.
Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song and Praise
Year A – Sixth Sunday of Easter – May 10, 2026 Pastor Megan Floyd Acts 17:22-31 John 14:15-21 Grace and peace to you from God and the Holy Spirit, who, together with Jesus Christ, abides with us, and in us, and we in them. Amen. *** Just a year ago, Robert Francis Prevost became Leo XIV and… the first American Pope. Now, I do have great respect for the Pope in general, but… as a Lutheran, I don't subscribe to the idea of Popes. However, as an American who started life in Chicago, I have been rather delighted by Leo's election. I kinda love that the pope is one of us, and in more ways than I could have predicted. Just this past week, a story came out about Pope Leo… and I promise, this is not a set up for a joke… It seems that Leo was doing some household financial oversight, and he realized he needed to update his address and phone number… new job and everything… it's natural to get behind on those things. So Leo called the customer service line for his bank, gave his name, Robert Francis Prevost, and answered all the security questions. It might have been one thing if he were just moving his address from one side of Chicago to the other, but… to Vatican City?? The bank representative said that she couldn't help over the phone… "Even though I gave you all the right passwords?" the pope asked. "No," she said, "you'll have to come in." "That's just not possible" he replied… "Why?" she asked. "Well… because I'm the pope." Leo said. …And she hung up on him. It turns out that once again, the pope is just like us… he also needs an Advocate! And as it happens, our Holy Advocate… is just what we're talking about this week… Our Gospel text today continues from last week… we are still in Jesus' "farewell discourse," …his lengthy 'goodbye' to his disciples… his friends… on the evening of their last supper. He is consoling and encouraging them… they are understandably distraught. But Jesus assures them that his departure is not abandonment… they will still be together as long as they keep going along the Way … the Way that they've all been traveling… They will still be together, since Jesus IS "the Way." …and even though he must leave, in his place, God will send them "another Advocate" who will be with us forever. Indeed… our God knows… we all need an Advocate… even the pope! …We all need a guide, a teacher, a helper… an intercessor, a companion, and a comforter. However we translate the word… Paracletos… it means, 'one who comes alongside.' And so, Jesus promises his followers that we will never be abandoned… never left to figure this all out ourselves… never left to navigate the Way alone. And as we know… Jesus is the Way... the truth… and the life… and as we follow that Way, we have the Holy Spirit alongside us to sustain us… counsel us… and guide us along right pathways for the sake of the one who created us in love. Jesus is the Way… and the Way of Jesus is always and ever… love. And so the Holy Spirit is with us to guide us in the ways of love… love for God, love for our neighbor… and love for ourselves. For everything, Jesus said, can be summed up by love. And yet, as I shared last week… love is not always easy to feel. Sometimes, it's about the last emotion we might be able to produce, despite God's holy command. And again this week, we are reminded that love is not a passive emotion… love is an action. Love is how we live, and move and have our being… in God, and for our neighbors. And that is why Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." If you love me, it will show through in how you treat the least among you… If you love me, it will be evident in how you work to break the chains of injustice… If you love me, it will be clear in how you are… in this world. Not by how often you claim to love me… but in how often it shows through your actions. Jesus says… "If you love me… you will keep my commandments." "If you love me…" It's also an open-ended phrase that really invites us to think about how our lives of faith intersect with a world that doesn't always recognize God. Like Paul, in our reading from Acts… challenged to proclaim the gospel to Greeks who knew nothing about Jewish or Christian traditions. He was willing to meet them where they were… not offering condescension or judgment for their ways, but rather… invitation. Paul fully encapsulated their spirituality by expressing that God, who made the whole world, is the same God who made them… and that God lives in them, and they in God, and through God, we all have our very being. God is present… everywhere… even in places that do not call upon God's holy name… even in places that take God's holy name in vain. God… is still there. And so Jesus' words to us… "If you love me..." leaves us with the very real question… how do we show our love by keeping Jesus' commandments when we are faced with people and policies that cause harm, or promote injustice and inequality? How do we embody Jesus' love in places that are decidedly antithetical to the Way of Christ? Are we really called to love all people, regardless of whether they value the Way of Christ that we strive to follow? I'm sorry to be the bearer of difficult news, but… yes. Yes, we are called to love them… love them as a piece of God's good Creation that bears both the image of God, and the same promise of ultimate redemption that we ourselves carry. For God promised that ultimately all of Creation would be redeemed… and all things would be made new. And I trust… I trust God's promise. So yes, we are called to love them… but we do not have to manufacture that love on our own. For as Jesus promised, we have our Advocate… the Holy Spirit… the one who intercedes for us… the presence of God who comes alongside us to give us strength, instruction, and courage to follow the Way of love… the Way of Christ. This is the Spirit of truth who continuously reveals to us God and God's ways… and holds fast to us in that mutual abiding… of Christ in us and us in Christ, and together we are in and with God and the Spirit. Mutual abiding… held together with love. And so, we are called to show our love for Jesus by loving others in active ways… by following Jesus' commandments… with the help of our Advocate. We show that love by finding ways to show hospitality to all, but especially the marginalized, just as Jesus did… and loving others by speaking up for those who are being mistreated… those who are being harmed, just as Jesus did. Because even though we are called to love those who act in ways that are adversarial to God's Way… causing harm to others… truly loving someone often means that we do what we can to interrupt that which drives them to cause harm… Truly loving another can look like interrupting patterns that drive them away from God's desire for abundant life for all… and showing them that there is another way to live… a way of life that transforms the whole world, and brings us just a little closer to the kingdom of God. Only love can that. And with each interaction, if we succeed, then not only does the harm cease, but the one who was causing that harm is moved closer to the Way of Christ… the Way of love. Both oppressor and oppressed can be returned to the center of community, and closer to the wholeness that God desires for us all. And so when we stand with those who are cast out… and also when we disrupt sinful ways that cause harm and restore people to life… that is the holy work of the Spirit who lives in us… The Spirit who calls us to travel alongside others… image bearers for God… disciples, who are following the Way of Jesus… which is always the Way of love. These actions of love, though… they don't always have to be grand gestures. The Holy Spirit, our intercessor, is also very present in the daily, simple ways that we show up for others… small ways that reinforce that we all belong to each other… and that life is better when we look out for each other. As I mentioned in the beginning… even the pope needed an Advocate. After hearing about his customer service troubles with the bank, a priest on the South Side of Chicago, who had the bank's president as a member of his parish, called him up …and vouched for Pope Leo. Problem solved! A small, simple gesture that reinforced our shared need for each other… a mutuality that is reflected in the Divine that is both in us, and all around us. So may we all lean into our call to follow the Way of Christ… to recognize the presence of our Advocate, God's Holy Spirit, guiding us always… down paths of love for all people… for in all people… is the presence of God. Amen.
-April Jobs reports showed 115,000 jobs being added to the U.S. economy more than double the 55,000 analysts had predicted. -Newsmax correspondent Anneliese Taggart in Vatican City reports on Secretary of State Marc Rubio's trip to Italy and meeting with Pope Leo XIV. -Florida Rep. Greg Steube joins “National Report” to discuss Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly's rhetoric, calling it a calculated political move designed to undermine President Trump and sow doubt among active-duty service members. -“The Right Squad” discusses Florida Rep. Randy Fine's promise that House Republicans will move to expel Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar over allegations of financial fraud and his bill that would ban dual citizens from serving in Congress. -'INSANE' SNAP SCAM: How is it that some government benefit recipients are driving around in high luxury cars? Trump Sec. of Agriculture Brooke Rollins joins Rob Finnerty for a look into the seemingly fraudulent activity. -A father in Garland, Texas, was forced to take decisive action to protect his family from a brazen carjacking attempt by an illegal migrant. NEWSMAX Crime Correspondent Jason Mattera has the details on “Wake Up America.” Today's podcast is sponsored by : NOBLE GOLD - Don't wait six months from now wishing you had positioned earlier. Have the conversation now. Schedule a free gold strategy session at http://NobleGoldInvestments.com/NEWSMAX Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media: -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Vatican City and Rome this week as tensions rise between President Trump and Pope Leo.
On 17 December 2014, United States president Barack Obama and the leader of Cuba, Raúl Castro, announced the normalisation of their countries' relations, ending 54 years of hostility.The announcement was a shock to most except a few trusted aides who had worked for 18 months to make it happen.Alejandro Castro, Raúl Castro's son, represented the Cuban side, while Ben Rhodes, Obama's speech writer, was sent by the US.Speaking to Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty in 2024, Ben explains how he and Alejandro found common ground whilst hashing out decades of bad blood.They eventually flew to Vatican City to officially commit to a new co-operative future.In 2017, President Donald Trump partially rolled back on the deal, tightening rules affecting travel and on sending funds to the Caribbean island nation.Ben says: “The US government made a liar out of me. I felt betrayed.”Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines' life and Omar Sharif's legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives' ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.(Photo: Barack Obama shakes hands with Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela's memorial service in 2013. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Remember, we bend the knee as Catholics, before we enter a church pew. It's one of the weird things we do in our religion. We genuflect, bowing humbly before a mysterious presence in the Tabernacle. Once we know who is there, we cannot help but get on one knee. There is, in the human mind, a peculiar restlessness—a kind of noble discontent—which refuses to be satisfied with fragments. We gather ideas as a squirrel gathers acorns, yet find that no collection, however glittering, can quiet the deeper hunger. It is not merely that we wish to know many things, but that we long, however dimly, to know the thing: the unifying truth in which all lesser truths find their meaning.Standing before Raphael's famous fresco painting in Vatican City, the Disputation of the Holy Sacrament (gloriously depicted on the Sunday's bulletin) one is struck first by its harmony. The scene is divided, yet not divided: heaven above, earth below, and between them no chasm but a communion. The theologians and philosophers on earth bend over their books, gesture in argument, and strain toward understanding. Above them, in serene clarity, the heavenly host of saints and angels gather together.For above them stands Christ—not as one opinion among many, nor even as the conclusion of a syllogism, but as the Truth in person. It is as though all the scattered rays of human thought converge in Him as in a single sun.This, I think, is the great scandal and the great relief of Christianity: that Truth is not merely something we grasp, but Someone who grasps us. Our intellects, for all their rigor, are like instruments that can tune themselves only imperfectly. They require a fixed pitch outside themselves. In the figure of Christ, Raphael gives us that pitch, not abstract, not cold, but living and radiant.The Eucharist at the center of the composition anchors this vision in a startling way. It is not placed among the clouds, but firmly on the altar, within reach of human sight and touch. Here, the highest truth does not remain aloof, but descends into the ordinary. The same Christ who is adored in glory above is present, quietly and mysteriously, below. The suggestion is unmistakable: the truth our minds seek is not only to be contemplated, but to be received.And so the fresco becomes a kind of map of the soul. We begin among the disputants, armed with questions and sharpened by doubt. We look upward, perhaps with uncertainty, perhaps with longing. But if we follow the movement of the whole, we discover that the journey is not merely from ignorance to knowledge, but from searching to encounter.In the end, the intellect does not lose its dignity by kneeling; it fulfills it. For to recognize Truth when it stands before you is not the abandonment of reason, but its crowning achievement. And in that recognition, the restless mind finds, at last, its proper rest. --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian's homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give
From Apple News In Conversation: Nearly a year ago, Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the first pope in history from the U.S. His papacy so far has been relatively calm — until recent weeks, when a sharp public conflict with President Trump over the Iran war thrust him onto the political stage. Scott Detrow, host of NPR’s All Things Considered and coauthor of the upcoming American Pope: Leo XIV’s Road From the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City, joins guest host Sam Sanders to explore what it means to have an American pope who understands U.S. politics — and why his influence may be felt far beyond the Catholic Church.
Nearly a year ago, Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV, the first pope in history from the U.S. His papacy so far has been relatively calm — until recent weeks, when a sharp public conflict with President Trump over the Iran war thrust him onto the political stage. Scott Detrow, host of NPR’s All Things Considered and coauthor of the upcoming American Pope: Leo XIV’s Road From the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City, joins guest host Sam Sanders to explore what it means to have an American pope who understands U.S. politics — and why his influence may be felt far beyond the Catholic Church.
Say what you will, but he's got a killer Sign of the Crossover dribble. It'll break your ankles and then miraculously heal them. This episode, we discuss the First Pope to Become a Harlem Globetrotter! And some other honorary Globetrotters too! Plus, the MouthGarf Report, and another rousing game of I See What You Did There.Sources:https://thefactbase.com/pope-john-paul-ii-was-named-an-honorary-harlem-globetrotter-in-2000/https://historyandmystery.org/interesting-history/two-popes-have-been-named-honorary-members-of-the-harlem-globetrotters/https://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=82029&page=1https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/iowan-behind-globetrotters-meeting-pope-says-event-was-unforgettablePlease give us a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts! Want to ask us a question? Talk to us! Email debutbuddies@gmail.comListen to the archives of Kelly and Chelsea's awesome horror movie podcast, Never Show the Monster.Get some sci-fi from Spaceboy Books.Get down with Michael J. O'Connor and the Cold Family and check out his new compilation The Best of the Bad Years 2005 - 2025Next time: First Philip K. Dick Adaptation
Episode 286- Shoot New York’s Eye Out Also Available OnSearchable Podcast Transcript Gun Lawyer — Episode Transcript Page – 1 – of 10 Gun Lawyer — Episode 286 Transcript SUMMARY KEYWORDS Air guns, BB guns, federal law, state law, preemption, New York ban, imitation firearms, gun rights, mental health, firearm safety, historical context, Vatican security, Pope’s stance, gun control, legal advice. SPEAKERS Teddy Nappen, Evan Nappen, Speaker 3 Evan Nappen 00:17 I’m Evan Nappen. Teddy Nappen 00:19 and I’m Teddy Nappen. Evan Nappen 00:20 And welcome to Gun Lawyer. So, you know, my whole life I’ve really loved air guns. I had BB guns and air rifles as a kid. I had my, of course, the classic Red Ryder, and I had a Crosman 760 XL. Now, that was the Crossman 177 pellet and BB rifle, and the XL had the beautiful golden receiver on it. I don’t know if any of you had an XL version of the 760, but that was a really fun, great air gun. And I had a Benjamin. Man, that was a powerhouse, and it was .22 caliber pellet. You can pump that baby up, and that was my number one squirrel killer. And all as a kid. I shot squirrels in my yard, where my father had a giant garden. He needed to keep the squirrel population down, and I shot those squirrels. Then I cut off their tails, and then I sold the tails to Mepps Lure company, which would buy squirrel tails. I think they still might do that. And that got me some money as a kid. And it was used, of course, to buy more pellets and fun things. And I progressed, as maybe some of you did, to a love of adult air guns. Evan Nappen 01:59 And then, of course, Robert Beeman and air rifle headquarters. They were bringing in those premier, phenomenal air rifles that today are the standard of an entire sector of what I’ll call the gun world. Some of you may have had great RWS guns. My favorite were the Feinwerkbaus. I’ll never forget, my dad got a Feinwerkbau 124 from Beeman that he ordered. He had it custom ordered, and they worked out, worked up the innards on it. So, that thing was sweet. And ever since then, I’ve acquired many adult air guns. I have, you know, the finest Feinwerkbau ever made, the 300 series, the Olympic Feinwerkbau. It just shoots through the same hole. Evan Nappen 03:01 There are so many phenomenal air guns. And today, of course, the revolution in air guns is the pre-charge air gun. They have air guns that have tremendous ability for hunting, and air guns are just a blast. They’re fun. They’re a great way of learning firearm safety and shooting skills. A great way of Page – 2 – of 10 introducing young folks into firearms and the fun and joy of shooting. So, air guns are great. I have a deep love of air guns. Always have. I’m a collector of air guns. I love the history of air guns. And you may know that an air gun was taken on the Lewis and Clark expedition, which made a lot of sense, because the ability to get gunpowder in the wilderness is not an easy task. And with an air gun, there’s always air around. They would pump up that air gun and could use it to take big game. It was that air rifle. It is actually still known and around, that was used on the St. Louis, you know. When they left St. Louis, they had it with them on that great exploratory mission under President Jefferson. And air guns, even at one point, they were used militarily by the Austrians. Napoleon had the death penalty for anybody caught with an air rifle, and those were able to fire repeatedly with enough power to be used militarily. There’s an amazing history and air guns. But the modern sporting air gun today, all the way down to the BB gun, has a tremendous role. Evan Nappen 05:02 Yet, despite the tradition and the history of air guns in America, New York is now proposing a law to ban BB guns and air guns. The law that New York Democrats, of course, are proposing is to ban air guns by making air guns all being placed in a category of “imitation weapons”. (https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2026/04/13/new-york-lawmakers-take-aim-at-bb-guns-n1232199) And by doing that, it would require that every air gun has a plug and specific coloration, and by putting them in that category, they will no longer shoot. Okay? So, you know, what’s the point there? The idea here being, if you make them an imitation firearm, and then they want to raise the age from 16 to 18. They’re selling this nonsense under a typical gun oppressionists lie of claiming police-involved shootings involving individuals who possessed an air gun, which was designed to look like a firearm. You know, the same way they sold the nonsense of cop-killer bullets, of which no cop has ever been killed by one. But why should that stop them from banning so-called cop-killer bullets. Anytime they get any angle that they can sell to the public and fool the public, who doesn’t have an understanding of guns as such, they do it. Evan Nappen 07:11 And here, New York now may become subject to what would essentially be a ban on air guns and BB guns. But let me say right now on the Gun Lawyer podcast that if New York succeeds in passing this law, there is a magic bullet, shall we say, that can kill this law. New Yorkers can shoot the eye out of New York’s air gun ban. The way to do it, I’m going to give you right now how to kill an air gun ban. It is under the United States Code, Title 15 (Commerce and Trade, Chapter 76), Section 5001. (https://law.justia.com/codes/us/title-15/chapter-76/) Evan Nappen 08:12 And this, my friends, is a federal law. It is a federal law that deals with imitation firearms. The reason this federal law is such an incredibly powerful weapon is that this federal law is an area of firearm pre-emption law. What it means is that federal law preempts state law. Federal law supersedes and is superior to, overrides. Overrides it, my friends. Overrides it. And because of that, we are able to take out state laws that attempt to interfere with air guns, and, for that matter, imitation firearms. The very thing that New York is attempting to use as the vehicle to create an air gun ban. Page – 3 – of 10 Evan Nappen 09:27 Let me tell you about Section 5001. Section 5001 first defines and lays out what is required to be on imitation firearms. It lays out what we have seen in the last few decades of having the distinctive markings, the blaze orange plug on look-alike or toy air guns and other imitation firearms and such. The look-alike firearm, which is what the law refers to, is defined as any imitation of an original firearm which was manufactured, designed or produced since 1898 including and Evan Nappen 10:21 limited to toy guns, water guns, replica non guns, airsoft guns firing nonmetallic projectiles, you know, such as airsoft and such. The term does not include any look alike, non firing collector replica of an antique firearm developed prior to 1898 or traditional BB, paintball, or pellet firing air guns that expel a projectile through the use of force or air pressure. And lo and behold, this section has a statement that says, preemption of state or local laws or ordinances. Preemption. The provisions of this section shall supersede any provision of state or local laws or ordinances which provide for markings or identification inconsistent with provisions of this section. Okay. Then it goes on and it says, ready? No State shall and then number one, prohibit the sale or manufacture of any look-alike, nonfiring, collector replica of an antique firearm. So, replica collector firearms are protected. And two, very important here for New York and any other state that wants to try to ban air guns, prohibit the sale parentheses, other than prohibiting the sale to minors end parentheses, of traditional BB, paint ball or pellet-firing air guns that expel a projectile through the force of air pressure. So, should New York be as repressive and stupid as to attempt to ban air guns, federal law preempts and nullifies, supersedes, that state law. Evan Nappen 12:54 Let me tell you another little factor, very interesting. I used this law successfully to attack New Jersey’s assault firearm law. In the case of Coalition of New Jersey Sportsmen versus Florio, which you can find at 744 F. Sup. 602, back in 1990, I challenged the then Attorney General, Robert Del Tufo. I brought an action, a civil action, challenging New Jersey’s assault firearm ban on a number, and magazine ban, by the way, on a number of things. One of the specific challenges was utilizing 15 U.S.C. 5001, which is the air gun preemption. New Jersey’s assault firearm ban, as written, included air guns, because air guns are firearms in New Jersey, and the ban on assault firearms and magazines by definition included air guns. And this case with Judge Garrett Brown, federal judge, had an injunction, which, by the way, this is why today you can still buy air guns, BB guns, pellet guns in New Jersey that may seem at first to fall under the definition of New Jersey’s assault firearm law because of this case and its outcome. The court found that the prohibition as it affects air guns was unconstitutional in that it was preempted under this federal law. Evan Nappen 15:06 So, there’s even case law enforcing this federal preemption as it comes to air guns, even in an assault firearm ban, no less a ban that specifically attempts to ban air guns and BB guns. So, I am giving this to New York as information, folks, and anywhere else that there is an air gun ban that we have a weapon. Believe it or not, air guns, BB guns, etc, are more protected than firearms in America. More protected because federal law preempts state laws from banning them. If we had federal preemption for firearms, then the only firearm law would be the federal law, and no state law banning guns would stand. But we don’t have federal preemption. Our federal gun laws, except with very limited narrow, a few laws like Page – 4 – of 10 Title 18, 926a for interstate transportation and for LEOSA, for law enforcement carry, and retired law enforcement carry, and for armored car carry. Except for a few areas like that, we don’t have federal preemptive laws on firearms, but we do have a federal preemptive law that protects air guns, BB guns and replica firearms. Evan Nappen 16:55 If we ever wanted to wipe out all the state bans, we’d simply have to make the federal law preemptive, but instead, the federal law specifically says it’s not preemptive. So what it does is it creates a situation, when it comes to firearms, that the federal law is the minimum gun law for the United States. Then the states are given carte blanche to go crazy, to do whatever the hell they want, to maximize the gun laws. Then the only thing that possibly limits states is the Second Amendment and its impact that we’re gaining ground every day in the courts. But if we simply said that the Gun Control Act of 1968, for example, and any of its other amendments are preemptive, it would wipe out all state bans instantly. Well, we haven’t done that, but we did do it for air guns, folks, and BB guns and replica firearms. It needs to be known out there so that when these attempts at bans are made by states or towns, this weapon, this hammer in our law, can be used to defeat them. Teddy Nappen 18:19 Out of curiosity, just thinking on New York and their other attempts, you know, they, I give them credit, they’re always very creative on finding ways to take away people’s rights. Could they make any laws that either try to make weird compliance requirements for air guns or air pellet guns? Where they would be effectively banned, basically, without saying, oh, you can’t have it. You just have to have all these different bells and whistles. Or is it just full preemption? And there’s nothing they can do. Evan Nappen 18:52 Well, it might, you might be able to create a license or permit system, maybe, if there’s no ban. Because currently in New Jersey, you still need a Firearms ID Card to purchase an air gun, or, you know, long arm. Air guns are technically defined as shotguns, even if they have a rifle barrel, and therefore a firearm, because they don’t fire fixed ammunition. So, it puts them into the shotgun long arm category, which is why you would need a Firearms ID Card. And if it’s a handgun, then you would need a Pistol Purchase Permit, if you’ve acquire those air guns in New Jersey. Now, if you acquire air guns outside New Jersey, federal law doesn’t view them as firearms. If the state you’re in doesn’t view them as firearms, like Pennsylvania doesn’t, you can acquire air guns outside the jurisdiction of New Jersey, and you can bring them back to New Jersey and possess them in New Jersey. Without even having a Firearm ID Card, if you possess them, by way of the exemptions. But New Jersey regulates air guns by way of firearm licensing, but it doesn’t, it cannot ban them. Judge Brown declared New Jersey’s assault firearm law a de facto ban, and because it’s a de facto ban, you can’t ban air guns with a ban, and the de facto band did just that. So, maybe New York, in theory, could create, you know, licensing, maybe. Depending on how they structure it. But an outright ban that forces guns that are air guns into an imitation firearm category, that requires a plug, is completely and utterly contradiction to the federal preemption law regarding those type of guns. Teddy Nappen 20:59 Watch as Hakeem. Watch as Hakeem Jeffries introduces a bill to repeal the air gun preemption. Page – 5 – of 10 Evan Nappen 21:06 You never know, right? I mean, he might. He might decide that. But this was fought for back in the day, and it was great that, I know, Daisy played a major role, by the way, in getting that legislation through. And it is why we have actually stronger protections for air guns, BB guns and traditional pellet firing guns of that nature, and for that matter, paintball as well. Even though we also have the In Re Gong case in New Jersey that protects paintball markers and why you can have paintball. Essentially soft air falls under this protection as well. So, it’s interesting how our laws have evolved. But this preemptive federal law needs to be better known and out there, to be used to stop these repression Second Amendment states from doing their thing. Teddy Nappen 22:11 Just to play with the idea. Let’s say, if things get very, very bad and the states start legislating. In terms of technology, do you think they’ll ever get to a point for air guns to be essentially like carry guns, almost where there’s a way around it? Evan Nappen 22:27 Well, you know, we have Byrnas, right? They fire projectiles that are essentially pepper balls. It was, given how much, you know, we might be able to do that. But federal law doesn’t preempt carry. They would preempt sale. And according to Judge Brown as well, sale extends to possession. It’s not just limited to sale. And really Judge Brown in the logic in that case could actually be used, I think, as an argument against what recently has been determined in the weird trick, as they call it, the weird trick, where they’re claiming that a sale isn’t protected under the Second Amendment, just possession. And that they can ban the sale of various semi-automatics that they feel shouldn’t be possessed, even though they’re not banning possession, and that somehow you can distinguish that. Evan Nappen 23:38 But Judge Brown cut through that garbage in terms of the air gun preemption by saying no, it is a de facto ban. When you ban the sale, you ban the possession. You could follow the logic of Judge Brown in that case and maybe apply it even in these other challenges and fights that we have. But, yeah, I mean, to make an air pistol that has the power of a weapon probably could be done. Look, even I don’t want to get shot with anything, even a BB pistol. Who wants to get shot with anything? But whether it would be effective enough for general, truly effective self-defense, remains to be seen. I don’t know of any actual lethal handgun development in air guns out there that is truly designed to be a self-defense gun. I don’t know of that. Now, less than lethal, of course, you’re dealing with Byrnas, when it comes to less than lethal. Evan Nappen 24:43 Hey, let’s mention our good friends at WeShoot. So, WeShoot is a range in Lakewood, New Jersey. It’s a wonderful indoor range. That’s where Teddy and I both shoot, and it’s where we got our certifications. As a matter of fact, WeShoot is offering New Jersey carry permit certification for a new price of only $225. You can get your certification that you need so that you can get your New Jersey permit to carry and get it right from we shoot. You can go to weshootusa.com and check out their website. You can learn about the great programs. They’re offering USCCA, NJ CCW, carry dates. They have that. They Page – 6 – of 10 have NRA CC carry dates, and they can help you doing renewal classes, right? They have all this here. They have New Jersey carry certification for seniors, and they have special day for that. So, WeShoot is really going all out with multiple abilities here for you to get your certification. We are currently hovering somewhere around 90,000 carry permits, and we’re going to be breaking that 100,000, unless we maybe even already have. In order to join the ranks of those that choose to be defenders instead of victims, check out WeShoot. We shoot will help you to get your New Jersey carry and other states carries as well. They even have more training. From novice to the most advanced shooter, they can meet your needs. Great pro shop, too. They can get you set up with the perfect firearm for defending yourself and your loved ones or for enjoying a great day at the range. They have great rentals and a great facility. We love WeShoot, and I know that you will, too. Check out weshootusa.com. Evan Nappen 27:01 Let me also not forget to shamelessly promote my book, which is New Jersey Gun Law. The Bible of New Jersey gun law. It is 120 topics, all in a question and answer format, and it’s over 500 pages. It will help you from becoming a GOFU. And it is the guidebook used by all. It is the authority of New Jersey gun law. Get your copy today at EvanNappen.com, EvanNappen.com. Go right there, and you’ll be able to order your book. You’ll have it to you within a matter of days. So, Teddy, what is on your mind today? Teddy Nappen 27:45 Well, as you know, Press Checks are always free. I think everyone’s been kind of seeing the news hit with what’s been going on. You know, Trump with the Pope. And I want to start things off. To every, you know, all the Catholic listeners, do not think on this as a theological lens. Think of this as a political. They were not, you know, I’m not arguing spiritual, the spiritual aspect of it. I am talking the politics, the hard core politics. And what do I see here? I see an individual arguing. If you were to listen to someone who made an argument for climate change, open borders, against capitalism and economic inequalities, and also pushing for gun rights oppression, you would assume it’s a woke Democrat, progressive. Yet, those are the views espoused by the Pope. The sources are here for that. (https://www.newsweek.com/what-pope-leo-said-abortion-gun-control-2070019) You can look it up. You can see it all across the internet. Teddy Nappen 28:51 Crowder did a great job breaking it all down. (https://rumble.com/v78i7r0-trump-vs.-the-vatican-why-the-pope-should-stay-out-of-politics.html) But I wanted to dive a little deeper on the thing that matters to us the most, which is the Second Amendment. Evan Nappen 28:59 Wait. Who’s Crowder? Teddy Nappen 29:00 Steven Crowder. He is Louder with Crowder. He does a great show. He breaks down the whole deal and shows what this individual, prior to becoming Pope, would go to bat on. Bashing Trump, bashing J.D. Vance, pushing for open borders. Oh, my God, what’s that thing surrounding the Vatican? Page – 7 – of 10 Evan Nappen 29:19 Oh, you mean the wall. It’s pretty crazy. I’ve been there. Vatican is cool. It really is. Teddy Nappen 29:24 Yeah, and that’s what I mean. You have to. And then, of course, he goes on and says, I don’t want to talk about politics, but then voices his opinion on every political stance. It’s incredibly disingenuous. And almost I want to call, to call, like, cognitive dissonance, where he’s understanding, like, how much that comes off. So, just to point out a few things here. This comes right from the NCR online, right here. From the Pope, when it was two bishops, we hold prayer. This is after one of the big shootings. We hold prayer for the countless to the countless children killed and injured every day around the world. Let us plead to G-d to stop the pandemic of arms, large and small. I have heard that term many times, the pandemic of arms. Where does that come from? Oh, the gun rights oppressors. And the same Cardinals. Evan Nappen 30:24 Well, wait and the reason is, by making it, putting it in a health context, they want to use it. So, they can use it to go after the political issue regarding health insurance. They want to make it a health issue. This was their actual plan, and I personally heard it espoused early on by Josh Sugarman, when Hillary Clinton was pushing for national health care. How they want to make guns a health issue, and they sure as hell have done a good job of that, actually. And they’ve gotten the CDC involved. They got the pediatricians and the doctors. You’re asked questions about, are you a gun owner? By your doctor. This didn’t happen by magic. This is all part of the plan. So, by calling it pandemic, by looking at it in that way, it’s pushing the gun rights oppression via the political issue of health care. Teddy Nappen 31:32 Yeah, and also the fact that his fellow Cardinals at that time were also taking it a step further, saying the facts are clear. Guns are plentiful and common sense attempts to limit their availability have largely been rejected in the name of freedom not found in our Constitution. Huh? I don’t think they read the Constitution, or they skipped some pages. You know, they only went to the things that mattered to them. But I didn’t hear him call out and say, no, no, we’re not about that. We’re not about disarming our people. By the way, it doesn’t really work out too well when a group of individuals are disarmed. You know, those of religion, of religious faith. Just looking at history, mind you. Going back, by the way, this goes back even prior to, when he was just the Cardinal. In 2017 after the mass shooting in Las Vegas, he reposts Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat, to my colleagues, your cowardice to act cannot be whitewashed by thoughts and prayers. None of this ends unless we do something to stop it. Increase access to mental health care and stronger, quote, unquote, sensible gun control laws. Hmm, I wonder what that sounds like. Evan Nappen 32:48 Yeah, it’s true. Well, you know, there’s the politics of it, then there’s the economics of it. You know, there’s donations and such. There’s all these kind of things that have unfortunately skewed, skewed what’s going on. As a matter of fact, I want to mention, and I don’t know if I ever told you, Teddy. About the time that Frank Perdue, okay, remember Frank Perdue with Purdue chicken there? Well, he wanted to better promote chicken, which was always his mission. You know, it’s true, true story about him. Page – 8 – of 10 Remember his slogan? It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken. Right? That was his slogan for many, many years. You’d see Frank Perdue’s face on billboards. It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken. And this is a true story now. I know this is a little bit off the topic, but I’m going to get back to how this applies to what you’re talking about. Evan Nappen 33:49 But they did try to market in Spain, true story. And when the translators translated, it takes a tough man to make a tender chicken in Spain, they put up the billboards with Frank’s face, you know, with his slogan. And the translators for the word “tough” used the word “macho”. We all you know, in America, macho means tough. However, in Spain, in Spanish, “macho” means “sexually excited”. So, everyone was driving by billboards with Frank Perdue’s face, saying, it takes a sexually excited man to make a tender chicken. But I digress. Evan Nappen 34:27 Let me tell you about what happened when Frank Perdue really wanted to market chicken. And, you know, he went to the Pope and he said, I would like you to change, Give us this day our daily bread, to Give us this day, our daily chicken. And the Pope said, No way. I’m not going to do that. He goes, look, we’ll donate $10 million to the church. What do you say? Pope said, No, not doing it. Frank Perdue upped his offer, 100 million. The Pope wouldn’t do it. Finally, Perdue says, look, $1 billion to change, give us this day, our daily bread, to give us this day our daily chicken. And look for a billion dollars. He figured how much good the church could do around the world with a billion dollars, and agreed to do it. And at that time, the Pope had a big meeting with all the Cardinals and everyone, and he said, I have good news and I have bad news. He said, the good news is the Purdue chicken company has donated $1 billion to the Catholic Church, and it’s going to be wonderful for us. The bad news is we lost the Wonder Bread account. Okay, so anyway. I know. That was pretty bad. Teddy Nappen 35:51 Well, I know. Funny enough, sure enough, from MSN last Thursday, Pope Leo also met with David Axelrod, Democrat strategist. Evan Nappen 36:00 Oh, really? Teddy Nappen 36:01 Advisor to Barack Obama. Evan Nappen 36:03 Oh, is that all. Teddy Nappen 36:03 Right up in the midterms, when, when things are coming up and trying to go after the Catholic vote. But this is my point. This is where and to show the true hypocrisy. Like I said, that wall surrounding Vatican City and yet talks about open borders. I thought to myself, what do the Vatican guard carry? What does Page – 9 – of 10 the Swiss guard carry? What is their, what is their choice? (https://maxtacticalfirearms.com/blog/vatican-armory-swiss-guard/) Evan Nappen 36:26 Wait, the Swiss guard has guns? Teddy Nappen 36:28 I know, right? Evan Nappen 36:29 In the Vatican? Teddy Nappen 36:31 Not just guns, the deadly assault firearms. If they can define it for me. Evan Nappen 36:36 No way, no way. Wait, actually, I think they’re truly assault firearms because I believe they’re select fire. So, those are actual assault firearms, not the nonsense of what the gun rights oppressionists claim are assault firearms. So, what model? Do you know what model they have? I think it’s one of the SIGs. Teddy Nappen 37:03 Well, the original one, they were using the K31s. Evan Nappen 37:07 Oh, well, those are bolt actions. Teddy Nappen 37:11 They decided to upgrade after, apparently, there was an attempted attack on the Pope in 1981. So, they upgraded their arms, and now they are using, apparently, they got the Sig Sauers. They love Sig Sauer. They got the Sig Sauer SG 552 commando as their current choice. Evan Nappen 37:32 Oh, commandos. Nice. Well, look, I totally am in favor of the Pope and the Vatican being protected by firearms. Absolutely. It makes sense. But then try to promote disarming anybody else, that’s another story. Teddy Nappen 37:50 Yeah. And also, they upgraded themselves with Sig Sauer P220s, and along with the and that’s there. By the way, the Honor Guard carry those. The plain clothes travel ones will carry Glock 19s. Evan Nappen 38:03 So, other than having a wall and having guns, that all makes sense for their positions. Page – 10 – of 10 Teddy Nappen 38:13 Oh, and also on the politics sevens, when they want to swap out every occasion, oh, G-d, okay. Evan Nappen 38:21 Well, Teddy, I appreciate you pointing this out. And as you said, it’s not about the spiritual issue. It’s just that the politics are there, and we have to be vigilant about the politics. No matter where it creeps in. Even if it’s in our beliefs. You know, it’s still there, and we need to always vigorously defend our rights and put the arguments forward. And that’s what’s important. Evan Nappen 38:52 Hey, let me tell you about this week’s GOFU. And this week’s GOFU, you know the GOFU is the Gun Owner Fuck Up. And I’m going to tell you, man, I have seen it. This one is just everywhere, because New Jersey has made anyone who gets a mental health commitment, involuntary or voluntary, it becomes a disqualifier to get a gun. Folks, let that sink in. If you voluntarily check in to get mental health help, as soon as you voluntarily commit to getting the help, guess what? You now have cost yourself your gun rights. Under New Jersey law, within five days of that, you’re supposed to turn in your Firearms ID Card. You become disqualified under New Jersey gun law. If you simply have seen any doctor or psychiatrist for a mental health reason, New Jersey will question you about it. And now you will have the added burden, just on seeing a doctor, no less a voluntary commitment, okay? Just seeing the doctor. Now you’re going to have to find a doctor willing to say that you’re safe for firearms. And the problem is, doctors are cowards. Even if they know you’re good for guns, they don’t want to say it. Because if there’s ever a problem, they’re afraid they’re going to get sued. And if you ever have a voluntary commitment, well, that’s just a per se bar. If it’s an involuntary commitment, well, you’re not only banned under state law, but you’re banned under federal law, my friends. Beware of the mental health trap that exists which will disenfranchise you of your gun rights. And look, I get it. If you need mental help, then I don’t want to say, don’t get it. But make sure you have, in your calculation, what will the ramifications be? It’s not something to do lightly, that is for sure. Evan Nappen 41:23 This is Evan Nappen and Teddy Nappen reminding you that gun laws don’t protect honest citizens from criminals. They protect criminals from honest citizens. Speaker 3 41:34 Gun Lawyer is a CounterThink Media production. The music used in this broadcast was managed by Cosmo Music, New York, New York. Reach us by emailing Evan@gun.lawyer. The information and opinions in this broadcast do not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state. Downloadable PDF TranscriptGun Lawyer S5 E286_Transcript] About The HostEvan Nappen, Esq.Known as “America's Gun Lawyer,” Evan Nappen is above all a tireless defender of justice. Author of eight bestselling books and countless articles on firearms, knives, and weapons history and the law, a certified Firearms Instructor, and avid weapons collector and historian with a vast collection that spans almost five decades — it's no wonder he's become the trusted, go-to expert for local, industry and national media outlets. Regularly called on by radio, television and online news media for his commentary and expertise on breaking news Evan has appeared countless shows including Fox News – Judge Jeanine, CNN – Lou Dobbs, Court TV, Real Talk on WOR, It's Your Call with Lyn Doyle, Tom Gresham's Gun Talk, and Cam & Company/NRA News. As a creative arts consultant, he also lends his weapons law and historical expertise to an elite, discerning cadre of movie and television producers and directors, and novelists. He also provides expert testimony and consultations for defense attorneys across America. 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“What is truth?” This question was posed by Pontius Pilate in Gospel of John 18:38 as he interrogated Our Lord shortly before His brutal execution. It is a question at once poignant in its aim, sharp in its focus, and profound in its depth—and one that is far from new to humanity.From the moment we first gazed upon the stars in the night sky, we have stood in awe of our surroundings, seeking answers to the deepest questions of existence. The human intellect, by its very nature, strives to apprehend and understand reality; indeed, our minds hunger for it. Truth, simply defined, is “what actually is.” Modern man, unfortunately, gleefully defies this definition. He likes to say, “truth is relative”. There is no objective truth to reality. Truth is what I say it is, and how dare you Christian, try to impose your truth on others. Consider, dear friends, the image placed before us on the parish bulletin. It stands in quiet contrast to the spirit of defiance we so often encounter. It is the renowned fresco by Raphael, painted within the halls of the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City (just a few doors down from the Sistine Chapel) between 1509 and 1511. This masterpiece, known as The School of Athens, gathers together the greatest minds of the ancient world.There we see Ptolemy holding the sphere of the earth, striving to map the movements of the heavens. Nearby stands Pythagoras, immersed in numbers and harmony. And Socrates, ever the questioner, engages in dialogue, seeking truth through reason.Yet, our eyes are drawn, almost irresistibly, to the center, where two towering figures stand: Plato and Aristotle. Plato gestures upward, toward the heavens, teaching that truth lies beyond, in the realm of eternal forms. Aristotle, in contrast, extends his hand toward the earth, reminding us that truth is also found here, in the physical world we can touch and see with our senses.What a testimony this is to the human longing for truth—to the relentless pursuit of what is real, what is good, what is eternal. The Greeks sought truth with passion, with discipline, with all the power of the human mind. And yet, my brothers and sisters, this is where the story does not end but where it is fulfilled.For into this great human search steps Jesus Christ.In the Gospel this Sunday, we encounter the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Like those philosophers of old, they too were seekers. They had placed their hope in Jesus. They believed they had found the truth. But then came the scandal of the crucifixion… and with it, confusion, sorrow, and doubt. Their hopes seemed shattered.Or were they?For the Risen Lord draws near. He walks beside them, though they do not yet recognize Him. And in that sacred encounter, He reveals something astonishing: that truth is not merely an idea to be grasped, nor a theory to be proven but a Person to be encountered.A truth more profound, more mysterious, and more beautiful than anything they could have ever imagined. --- Help Spread the Good News --- Father Brian's homilies are shared freely thanks to generous listeners like you. If his words have blessed you, consider supporting this volunteer effort. Every gift helps us continue recording and sharing the hope of Jesus—one homily at a time. Give Here: https://frbriansoliven.org/give
Greg and Julie Alexander visit for their Monthly Marriage Encounter. Joan Lewis joins with the latest from Rome and Vatican City. Plus, Bill Donahue from the Catholic League spends 3 segments talking over world news from a Catholic perspective, including his thoughts Pope Leo, President Trump and more!
An AI-generated image of US President Trump depicted as Jesus and an anti-Pope Leo rant on Truth Social has made shockwaves throughout America's Christian community - even for its Republican and far-right members. Host Maria Kestane speaks to André Gagné, a professor and the Chair of the Department of Theological Studies at Concordia University to break down why Trump has made the Pope his latest target, how the Trump administration has mobilized the Christian faith to justify its agenda, and whether or not religious members of his base are drawing the line. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
──────────────────────────────────────── [00:12:05] Army Vet: We Knew It Was a School — We Are the Terrorists by Our Own Definition A 17-year counter-terrorism officer: evacuation began at 10:20 AM inside the targeting window with real-time satellite coverage. The US is the terrorist by its own legal definition. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:34:35] Iran Demanding Strait Tolls in Bitcoin — Untraceable and Unsanctionable Iran charges $1-2 million per ship in Bitcoin so it can't be seized. The petrodollar empire is collecting tolls for Iran. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:38:48] Ceasefire Broken — Israel Escalated Lebanon to Highest Level Ever Within Hours Point three required Israel to stop attacking Lebanon. Instead Israel hit 100 targets in 10 minutes. Iran shut the Strait again. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:48:22] Graham: No Congress Needed to Start War — But Must Approve Any Peace Deal Graham demanded Vance explain the ceasefire before Congress. Knight: presidents can start wars unilaterally but need approval to stop — a perfect inversion of the Constitution. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:55:08] Iran Controls the Strait Without a Navy — the US Navy Won't Go Near It Iran controls the world's most important chokepoint without a fleet. The US Navy sails 500-800 miles away to avoid being sunk. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:59:21] Any Agreement With the US Is Worthless — Iran Knows Nukes Are the Only Protection Iran was attacked twice during negotiations. Every peace agreement has been treachery. Nuclear weapons are the only guarantee of survival. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:05:33] France Asked for Its Gold — The Fed Had Sold It and Had to Wire Cash Instead France asked the Federal Reserve for its gold. The US had sold it and wired cash. France bought gold in Europe, making a $15 billion profit. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:17:47] MAGA Influencers Promoted Gold Companies Charging 65% Markups — 17 Federal Cases Filed Financial Times found 17 cases against companies promoted by Bannon, Trump Jr., and Loomer. Birch Gold customers were charged 60-65% above spot. One Navy veteran lost nearly $100,000. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:34:52] Daleiden Wins: California Dropped Nine-Year Lawfare Against Planned Parenthood Whistleblower California dismissed charges Kamala Harris launched against the journalist who exposed Planned Parenthood selling baby parts. His footage led to $7.8M in settlements and a $2B false claims case. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:40:11] Both Left and Right Using Christianity as Political Prop While Ignoring Its Content Paula White compared Trump's battles to Christ's crucifixion. Beshear and Talarico invoke Christianity to justify abortion and mutilation. Knight: if you can't use it responsibly, don't invoke it. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:51:39] Pope May Have Canceled US Trip After Trump Threatened to Invade the Vatican Reports say the Pope canceled after Trump's team threatened Vatican City. Knight notes plausibility given threats against Greenland, Canada, and Venezuela. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:52:24] Tennessee Congressman Says Humans Are in Contact With Aliens — Knight: That's a Pagan Worldview Burchett claims alien contact has already occurred. Knight: beings that can destroy us and haven't — that's not benevolent aliens, that's a description of God. ──────────────────────────────────────── Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHT Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.
──────────────────────────────────────── [00:12:05] Army Vet: We Knew It Was a School — We Are the Terrorists by Our Own Definition A 17-year counter-terrorism officer: evacuation began at 10:20 AM inside the targeting window with real-time satellite coverage. The US is the terrorist by its own legal definition. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:34:35] Iran Demanding Strait Tolls in Bitcoin — Untraceable and Unsanctionable Iran charges $1-2 million per ship in Bitcoin so it can't be seized. The petrodollar empire is collecting tolls for Iran. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:38:48] Ceasefire Broken — Israel Escalated Lebanon to Highest Level Ever Within Hours Point three required Israel to stop attacking Lebanon. Instead Israel hit 100 targets in 10 minutes. Iran shut the Strait again. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:48:22] Graham: No Congress Needed to Start War — But Must Approve Any Peace Deal Graham demanded Vance explain the ceasefire before Congress. Knight: presidents can start wars unilaterally but need approval to stop — a perfect inversion of the Constitution. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:55:08] Iran Controls the Strait Without a Navy — the US Navy Won't Go Near It Iran controls the world's most important chokepoint without a fleet. The US Navy sails 500-800 miles away to avoid being sunk. ──────────────────────────────────────── [00:59:21] Any Agreement With the US Is Worthless — Iran Knows Nukes Are the Only Protection Iran was attacked twice during negotiations. Every peace agreement has been treachery. Nuclear weapons are the only guarantee of survival. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:05:33] France Asked for Its Gold — The Fed Had Sold It and Had to Wire Cash Instead France asked the Federal Reserve for its gold. The US had sold it and wired cash. France bought gold in Europe, making a $15 billion profit. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:17:47] MAGA Influencers Promoted Gold Companies Charging 65% Markups — 17 Federal Cases Filed Financial Times found 17 cases against companies promoted by Bannon, Trump Jr., and Loomer. Birch Gold customers were charged 60-65% above spot. One Navy veteran lost nearly $100,000. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:34:52] Daleiden Wins: California Dropped Nine-Year Lawfare Against Planned Parenthood Whistleblower California dismissed charges Kamala Harris launched against the journalist who exposed Planned Parenthood selling baby parts. His footage led to $7.8M in settlements and a $2B false claims case. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:40:11] Both Left and Right Using Christianity as Political Prop While Ignoring Its Content Paula White compared Trump's battles to Christ's crucifixion. Beshear and Talarico invoke Christianity to justify abortion and mutilation. Knight: if you can't use it responsibly, don't invoke it. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:51:39] Pope May Have Canceled US Trip After Trump Threatened to Invade the Vatican Reports say the Pope canceled after Trump's team threatened Vatican City. Knight notes plausibility given threats against Greenland, Canada, and Venezuela. ──────────────────────────────────────── [01:52:24] Tennessee Congressman Says Humans Are in Contact With Aliens — Knight: That's a Pagan Worldview Burchett claims alien contact has already occurred. Knight: beings that can destroy us and haven't — that's not benevolent aliens, that's a description of God. ──────────────────────────────────────── Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHT Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.
Vatican City is one of the most secretive and secure places in the world. In June of 1983, a 15 year old girl named Emanuela Orlandi vanished just outside the Vatican walls. Her disappearance may reveal conspiracies that the Catholic Church would go to any lengths to keep secret. Notes: https://www.businessinsider.com/everything-we-know-about-the-1983-disappearance-of-emanuela-orlandi-2018-11 https://comayala.es/Libros/ddc2i/ddc2e10.htm https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/the-mystery-of-the-missing-girl-the-pope-and-the-rome-underworld-fw2vgfw0g https://www.netflix.com/title/81117191 https://emanuelaorlandi.altervista.org/category/diario-di-una-storia-vera/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Carmen Vitali is getting married in Italy soon, close to Vatican City. We wondered if Pope Leo XIV could wave off of his balcony.
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!Get the atlas out because this week we're analysing some of the world's smallest countries! We've got for you Brunei, the Vatican City and how about we take a trip to Andorra?Elsewhere, Chris can now talk to his house to turn off a lightbulb: so is humanity getting lazier and lazier? If you know the answer to that or anything else, do get in touch: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you'll now find:•The full archive of bonus episodes•Brand new bonus episodes each month•OWAT subscriber group chats•Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show•PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at
Get the atlas out because this week we're analysing some of the world's smallest countries! We've got for you Brunei, the Vatican City and how about we take a trip to Andorra?Elsewhere, Chris can now talk to his house to turn off a lightbulb: so is humanity getting lazier and lazier? If you know the answer to that or anything else, do get in touch: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you'll now find:•The full archive of bonus episodes•Brand new bonus episodes each month•OWAT subscriber group chats•Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show•PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at
Is it the downfall of ChatGPT? People believe they are being spied on. Have no fear, your entire phone is spying on you! Are we scared of AI or using it to the fullest potential? The white lotus effect? Are you envious of the beautiful locations? Maybe it is just the adrenaline rush of the murder mystery. Good news, keep an eye out- they are coming around! Anna's Oura ring slightly disappointed her when she realized it didn't save her life. Her ring spoke to her again. To let her know her true thoughts about Annas recent activity. However, She's not being very gentle anymore. Clinical psychologist, international trainer, and a leading expert on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dr. Diana Hill joins Anna and Raven today for workout motivation and the psychological barriers that come between you and the gym! Anna's not a crier- her mom and daughter both are. Her mom yelled at her for this. Made Anna wonder who is and isnt really a crier? Producer Justin, Sophia, and Raven all discuss if they are or are not and when the last time they cried was. Ravens wife, Alicia celebrated her birthday all weekend. Her one birthday wish was that Raven actually attempts to dance with her- two songs. He succeeded. 67 is out, mogging is in. Mogging is apparently looking better than everyone else. Outshining. The evolution of trending words- Middle schoolers are first to discover just about any word that will soon be trending. There is a new pope-mobile and it is a ford explorer. He even has a vanity plate. Where does the pope even drive? Vatican City? The LA marathon took place yesterday. A Kenyan woman led the entire race. Finisher medals for an unfinished marathon...? Is Anna Zap out of line? Where do we stand on this matter these days as parents? Anna would rather let her kids swear and teach them the right way to do so. Others disagree. What do you think about your kids swearing? They were at Edgar's sister's house, and their son threw a baseball in the home and damaged their TV screen. It wasn't a ton of damage, but it clipped the bottom and put a weird mark on the screen. Edgar and Marie offered to buy them a replacement TV, they agreed. Now, Edgar's been thinking about it, and texted his brother-in-law and asked if they could have the broken tv because it would be great for their basement living area, even if it is slightly busted. His brother-in-law said they're going to use it in their bedroom. He's upset and since they bought them the TV, they should be able to keep the old one or be reimbursed. Marie says that he needs to let it go, it was $700, and not worth a family argument. He says his brother-in-law is cheap and should never have accepted the offer in the first place, all the kids were roughhousing! What do you think? Tom has a chance to win $400! All he has to do is answer more pop culture questions than Raven in Can't Beat Raven!
Learn the essential English news vocabulary you need to understand the latest headlines about Iran's new leader. This lesson is perfect for intermediate learners who want to improve their fluency and follow world news with confidence.
The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter is celebrated annually on February 22nd to honor a wooden throne, enclosed in a massive bronze reliquary designed by Bernini, located in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Tradition claims the chair belonged to the Apostle Saint Peter, the leader of the Early Christians in Rome and first Pope, and which he used as Bishop of Rome in the 1st century A.D. The relic symbolizes the authority and mission of St. Peter as the first Pope and the teaching authority, or magisterium, of his successors. Books about Saint Peter at https://amzn.to/4c7U0RG ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's TIMELINE video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Mark's History of North America podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio credits: Catholic Saints & Feasts of the Liturgical Year-February 22-Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle—Feast (Feb. 20, 2025); Saint of the Day podcast with Mike Roberts — Feast Day Of The Chair Of Saint Peter (22feb2025), Covenant Network. Audio excerpts reproduced under a Creative Commons license and the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fr. Sammie Maletta discusses his book "Be Disciples, Make Disciples". Shrines and Wonders looks at the life of St. Francis and events this year. Joan Lewis joins with the latest from Rome and Vatican City. Plus, A Tale of Two Margarets - comparing Margaret Hartshorn and Margaret Sanger. T's Two Sense looks at Ash Wednesday and Lenten Meditations from Fr. Joseph Mary Wolfe
The Lateran Treaty recognised the Vatican City as an independent sovereign state under the authority of the pope and, in return, formally recognised the Kingdom of Italy with Rome as its ...
Pop Quiz! What's the name of the smallest country in the world? I'll give you a hint, it's also the heart of one of the biggest religions on the planet! You know, the home of a guy who mostly wears flowing white robes and gets driven around in this incredibly swag custom jeep. Have you already guessed? That's right, I'm talking about Vatican City, often simply called the Vatican! The Holy City only covers 121 acres - that's just 14% of New York's Central Park - and contains a tiny population of around 800 people! But it's here religious legacies such as the beautiful St Peter's Basilica can be found, making it a spiritual centre for Roman Catholicism. But for all the prayers and blessings, the walls of this city also hold a hoard of sinister secrets. From forbidden archives to sacred scams, it's time to grab your flashlights as we explore some dark secrets of the Vatican that the Popoe would rather stay hidden!Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Today's episode is about wine, Vatican City, and the papacy.The Vatican City, officially known as the Vatican City State, is an independent city-state enclaved within Rome that serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the Pope. As the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world by both area and population, the history of the Vatican City is closely intertwined with that of the Papacy and the Catholic Church.One integral part of this history is wine. As wine holds religious and cultural significance for the Catholic Church, the vineyards and wineries within the walls of Vatican City and the Papal States have an extensive history dating back centuries. This blog post will provide an overview of this history, exploring the relationship between wine, the Vatican, and the Papacy throughout the years.Wine has long held religious and cultural importance within the Catholic Church. As one of the elements of the Eucharist – the ritual commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus Christ – wine holds deep spiritual meaning. Cultivating vineyards and producing sacramental wines thus have ancient origins within the Church.Archaeological evidence suggests vineyards have existed in the Vatican since Roman times. As the seat of the Roman Catholic Church was established in Rome beginning in the 4th century AD, wines grown in the surrounding regions became associated with the Papacy and the Vatican.In the Middle Ages, the Papal States expanded to encompass a large area of central Italy. Wine production flourished in these regions under papal patronage. Important wines were produced in areas near Rome, like Frascati, Est! Est!! Est!!! Di Montefiascone, and Orvieto Classico.The Avignon Papacy, from 1309 to 1377, when the Papacy resided in France instead of Rome, introduced Italian wines to the French aristocracy and royalty. The so-called “Popes' wines” gained significant renown. The Popes' treasury of wines laid the foundations for the Vatican to become a driving force in the development of Italian wines.Following the return of the Papacy to Rome, the Renaissance Popes of the 15th and 16th centuries oversaw a “golden age” for Vatican wine production. Pope Julius II, who commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling, owned vineyards in Frascati and viewed wine as a status symbol among the church hierarchy.Pope Leo X, born to the famous Florentine Medici family, continued to elevate the role of wine in Vatican culture. He grew up appreciating fine wine and held lavish feasts and celebrations with copious amounts of Tuscan wine. Leo X declared Roman wine shops tax-exempt to ensure an adequate supply.Vatican wine production reached new heights under Pope Paul III in the mid-16th century. He appointed a personal “wine taster” to make the Vatican self-sufficient in wine. Vatican-owned Roman vineyards expanded via land reclamation projects along the Tiber River.Paul III established a stockpile of fine-aged wines in the Vatican cellars for his inner circle to use. Wines like Greco di Tufo were collected to fill hundreds of amphorae. This stockpile of exclusive vintage wines essentially established the Vatican as the world's first “wine bank.”In the 19th century, the Vatican's wine industry faced significant upheaval due to geopolitical changes and the phylloxera epidemic. The unification of Italy in the mid-1800s confiscated most of the Papal States' lands outside Rome. This significantly diminished Vatican-controlled vineyards and wine production and severed ties between Rome and historic wine zones like Montepulciano and Orvieto.Then, the phylloxera outbreak severely damaged vineyards across Europe. Phylloxera is an insect that feeds on and destroys grapevine roots. More Podcasts HereRead Full Content HereThe Flavors + Knowledge NewsletterProduced by SimVal Media Group, USA
Among the many curious claims is the assertion that Epstein “lived in the Vatican,” and an email to him from 2014 explains that, because Vatican City is a sovereign entity, the bank is exempt from Italy's and the European Union's transparency and regulatory rules for “elite clients.” Dr. Taylor Marshall explains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kimberly Bird from Live Action follows up the 2026 March for Life. Shrines and Wonders Wednesday takes us through Assisi. Joan Lewis visits from Rome with the latest from Vatican City. Plus, Andrew Kubick talks about the ethics of life, and Two Sense looks over the real rights of women.
On today's show: this winter storm is breaking our spirits. Bill's front yard is now XXX-rated. We finally found out why Harry Styles was in the crowd at the Conclave in Vatican City. Good Vibes! Bill drove a car with heated seats and didn't enjoy it at all. Alyssa's College of Knowledge! Did ODOT screw-up one of their highway signs?!? Plus, how did your parents try to scare you straight?
After dying in Vienna, Nicole didn't see the pearly gates. She was pulled into the "Abzu"—the primal cosmic waters—where she was greeted by the Apkallu: an ancient, interdimensional tribe of blue, aquatic humanoids who have been erased from modern history. But the real terror began when she returned.The Disclosure: Shortly after publishing her account of these specific entities, Nicole's analytics revealed she was being monitored by a specific IP address: Vatican City. Why is the Church tracking NDE survivors who speak of the "Fish Gods"?In this episode, we dismantle the "New Age" narrative and look at the mechanics of the afterlife. We cover the danger of "bring-back" entities during meditation, the "frequency war" waged by modern cities to keep you trapped in the body, and the "Great Reset" that ancient tablets warned us about.
In the 21st century, the theocratic nature of the Iranian regime – ruled by senior Shia clerics – appears to be a rarity. The constitutional role of religion is perhaps matched only by the Vatican City and Afghanistan, though these vary in terms of autocracy – as evidenced by the brutal suppression of protests across Iran in the past few weeks. The regime, installed following the 1979 revolution and led first by Ayatollah Khomeini and now Ayatollah Khameini, has proven remarkably resilient; how has it survived so long?Peter Frankopan – professor of global history at Oxford University – joins Damian Thompson to discuss the tensions associated with state control of public life, how to define theocracies and how those of us in the global west might not be as immune to their features as we would like to think.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the 21st century, the theocratic nature of the Iranian regime – ruled by senior Shia clerics – appears to be a rarity. The constitutional role of religion is perhaps matched only by the Vatican City and Afghanistan, though these vary in terms of autocracy – as evidenced by the brutal suppression of protests across Iran in the past few weeks. The regime, installed following the 1979 revolution and led first by Ayatollah Khomeini and now Ayatollah Khameini, has proven remarkably resilient; how has it survived so long?Peter Frankopan – professor of global history at Oxford University – joins Damian Thompson to discuss the tensions associated with state control of public life, how to define theocracies and how those of us in the global west might not be as immune to their features as we would like to think.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Steve Ray visits to finish up the 3 part series on The Baptism of the Lord. Shrines and Wonders walks with St. Francis through Assisi, and talk with Joan Lewis live from Vatican City. Plus, Dr. Jason Baxter sits down in the second hour to talk why literature and pilgrimage is important to the Faith, and previews an upcoming film "The Way of St. Cuthbert" that premiers Saturday night at 10ET on EWTN Television!
Aliia Roza is a former secret agent turned women's empowerment coach, public speaker, and influencer with over 1 million followers on Instagram who specialized in seduction and psychological manipulation to dismantle human and drug trafficking networks for the Russian government. Born in Karaganda, Kazakh SSR, in the former USSR to a distinguished Kazakh-Tatar military family, father Colonel Timerbulat Roza of the KGB 1st Chief Directorate (retired FSB general-lieutenant), mother Gulnara Roza daughter of Red Army Colonel Khasan Timerbulatov (Order of the Red Banner, Berlin 1945); she was rigorously trained under a state program for officers' children in martial arts and psychological conditioning, later graduating from Russia's Military Academy of Internal Affairs and earning a master's in fashion from London's Istituto Marangoni plus certification in human sexuality from Kinsey University. Selected for elite KGB-style training, Roza infiltrated criminal rings to rescue underage girls from sex trafficking; during one mission she was abducted and beaten by gang members but rescued by a target who had fallen in love with her, prompting her final operation, witness-protection status, defection from Russia, identity change, and relocation to Europe. Since 2018 an ambassador for London's Best Beginnings Charity (endorsed by the British Royal Family and personally introduced to Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III), Roza founded the Roza Club, organizing 30+ humanitarian events backed by Cartier, Rolls Royce, Damiani, Roberto Cavalli, and House of Garrard to aid underprivileged women and children in London and Paris. A 2017 Miss Asia International Beauty crowned by Sushmita Sen, she earned Forbes Woman Empowerment recognition at Cannes and Venice Film Festivals (2019, 2022) and speaks at the United Nations and World Changers Summit in Vatican City. She co-hosts the podcast To Die For with Neil Strauss, has signed with Topic Studios for a life documentary, and is writing a book exposing KGB spy techniques to help readers spot manipulation in relationships and daily life; her column “How to Dress Like a Spy” translates espionage confidence into practical fashion and self-empowerment advice for women. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Get $10 Off @BRUNT with code SRS at https://bruntworkwear.com/SRS #BRUNTpod Head to https://lumen.me/SRS for 15% off your purchase. Ready to upgrade your eyewear? Check them out at https://roka.com and use code SRS for 20% off sitewide. Go to https://helixsleep.com/srs for 20% Off Sitewide Aliia Roza Links: Book Preorder - https://www.rozaclub.com/spybook IG - https://www.instagram.com/aliiaroza YT - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOlgX-RrnrBsbWpNhkGtd9w LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliia-roza-17710a39 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How did Indian culture shape the wonders of Southeast Asia?Tristan Hughes is joined by William Dalrymple to explore the fascinating first millennium AD, from vibrant trade dynamics with the Roman Empire to the establishment of powerful Indian trading guilds and the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism after Rome's decline. They dig in to the construction of the awe-inspiring Angkor Wat, the largest Hindu temple in the world which boasts a central area four times the size of Vatican City, with carvings depicting epic Hindu legends.Watch this episode on our NEW YouTube channel: @TheAncientsPodcastMOREThe Romans and India with William DalrympleListen on AppleListen on SpotifyPrehistoric Ireland: NewgrangeListen on AppleListen on SpotifyPresented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor and producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic SoundsThe Ancients is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Enclosed within the city of Rome and spanning just 0.2 square miles, Vatican City is the world's smallest independent state. Yet within its fortified walls lies a history of immense power - a city that became the beating heart of Catholicism, where popes crowned emperors, defied kings, and shaped the course of world events. How did this unassuming patch of land rise to become the centre of global faith and authority? What scandals, schisms, and sacrifices threatened to tear it apart? And why, even today, does this ancient enclave still hold sway over more than a billion lives? This is a Short History Of The Vatican. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Father Michael Collins, author of multiple books on the Vatican and Christianity, including The Vatican – Secrets and Treasures of the Holy City. Written by Olivia Jordan | Produced by Kate Simants | Assistant Producer: Nicole Edmunds | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay, Rob Plummer | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact check: Sean Coleman Get every episode of Short History Of… a week early with Noiser+. You'll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The guys welcome to the cast a friend who pals around with the pope. This is as close as they are getting to the Vatican (for now). Does the pope eat ranch dressing or go to nightclubs? How's the accommodations in Vatican City? Let's find out all of that and more! Follow Sebastian: @SebastianComedy Follow Pete: @PeteCorreale To watch the podcast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/PeteAndSebastianYouTube Don't forget to follow the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/PeteAndSebastian If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be amazing! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/PeteAndSebastian For Sebastian's tour dates, go to: https://www.sebastianlive.com/ For Pete's tour dates, go to: https://www.petecorreale.com/ Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://zocdoc.com/thecast to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/thecast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices