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Keith reviews the state of the real estate market, noting that existing home sales are down about 33% from their 2021 peak, while prices remain firm due to low supply and high demand.  Affordability challenges are driven by stagnant wages, inflation, and higher mortgage rates, with 70% of mortgage holders still locked in at rates below 5%.  He observes that in certain markets, new construction may now offer better investor terms than comparable existing properties, especially where builders buy down rates.  The episode highlights a comparison of nearly a century of asset class returns, reporting real estate's long-term annual appreciation at approximately 4.7%. Episode Page: GetRichEducation.com/583 For access to properties or free help with a GRE Investment Coach, start here: GREmarketplace.com GRE Free Investment Coaching: GREinvestmentcoach.com Get mortgage loans for investment property: RidgeLendingGroup.com or call 855-74-RIDGE  or e-mail: info@RidgeLendingGroup.com Invest with Freedom Family Investments.  For predictable 10-12% quarterly returns, visit FreedomFamilyInvestments.com/GRE or text  1-937-795-8989 to speak with a freedom coach Will you please leave a review for the show? I'd be grateful. Search "how to leave an Apple Podcasts review"  For advertising inquiries, visit: GetRichEducation.com/ad Best Financial Education: GetRichEducation.com Get our wealth-building newsletter free— GREletter.com or text 'GRE' to 66866 Our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/GetRichEducation Follow us on Instagram: @getricheducation   Complete episode transcript: Keith Weinhold  0:01   welcome to GRE. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, how do other audiences feel about the GRE mantras that we've come to love here, like financially free beats debt free and don't get your money to work for you? Then sometimes it's not what you're attracted to in life, but what you're running away from finally comparing the returns from six major asset classes over the past century all today on get rich education    Keith Weinhold  0:29   since 2014 the powerful get rich education podcast has created more passive income for people than nearly any other show in the world. This show teaches you how to earn strong returns from passive real estate investing in the best markets without losing your time being a flipper or landlord. Show Host Keith Weinhold writes for both Forbes and Rich Dad advisors, and delivers a new show every week since 2014 there's been millions of listener downloads of 188 world nations. He has a list show guests include top selling personal finance author Robert Kiyosaki, get rich education can be heard on every podcast platform, plus it has its own dedicated Apple and Android listener phone apps build wealth on the go with the get rich education podcast. Sign up now for the get rich education podcast or visit get rich education.com   Corey Coates  1:18   You're listening to the show that has created more financial freedom than nearly any show in the world. This is get rich education.   Keith Weinhold  1:34   Welcome to GRE from Kennebunkport, Maine to Bridgeport, Connecticut and across 188 nations worldwide. It is the voice of real estate investing since 2014 I'm Keith Weinhold, and I'm grateful to have you here with me, and we're doing something a little different today, as you'll soon listen in to me as I was on the hot seat being interviewed on another prominent real estate show. But first, when you pull back and ask yourself, why you're really an investor in the first place? There are so many reasons. Maybe you just want a few properties in order to supplement your day job income. Maybe you want to have more than a few so that you can completely replace that active income, or perhaps rather than going the route of building up your cash flow, which is valid, but some think that it's the only way to real estate financial freedom. Instead, you could own, say, nine doors or 22 doors, and even if they all had zero cash flow, you can just keep borrowing against that leverage and equity tax free and live off of that whatever you do when it comes to your day job, income, your degree of disdain for your nine to five job that is going to be greater or less than it is for some others. So your motivation for self improvement, it isn't always about what you're running to in life, which could be real estate investing, but it's also what you're running away from, especially if you don't get a deeply rooted sense of meaning from your job. So you could have both a push factor and a pull factor in what motivates you. There's a scene from the 1999 movie Office Space that just does this incredibly unvarnished job of saying out loud how so many of us feel today. What I'm going to share with you, I mean, you know that you have felt this at least once in your life. Office space wasn't supposed to be a mega hit movie, but it kind of was, because it's so relatable. Let's listen in to part of this clip. This is Ron Livingston playing a disgruntled male employee talking to Jennifer Aniston at a restaurant about his job in the movie Office Space.   Speaker 1  4:09   I don't like my job, and I don't think I'm gonna go anymore. You're just not gonna go. Yeah, won't you get fired? I don't know, but I really don't like it, and I'm not gonna go.   Keith Weinhold  4:24   Then it continues when she asks. So you're just gonna quit? No, not really. I'm just gonna stop going. When did you decide all of that? About an hour ago? Really? Yeah, aren't you going to get another job? I don't think I'd like another job. What are you going to do about money in bills and all that? I've never really liked paying bills. I don't think I'm going to do that either.   Keith Weinhold  4:53   That's it. That is the end of that classic dialog from office space that we can. All relate to you did not wake up to be mediocre, but a lot of people's jobs pummel them into a rather prosaic state. You were born rich because you were born with this abundance of choices, this huge palette in menu, but society often stifles that and makes you forget it, and it gets really easy to just fall into your groove and stay there. The main reason we aren't living our dreams is really because we're living our fears. Failure doesn't actually destroy as many dreams as people think fear and doubt. Does fear and doubt destroy more dreams than failure ever does financial runway? That is a phrase for the amount of time that you can maintain your lifestyle without the need for a paycheck. And it's critical for you to lengthen this runway if you hope to retire early, and it will dramatically reduce your stress level. An example is say that you currently earn 150k per year after taxes, and you spend 126k of that, all right. Well, that means you've got a surplus of 24k a year. Well, it's going to take you a little over five years to accumulate that 126k that you need to annually support your lifestyle. That's what happens if you don't invest. And see investing helps you lengthen your financial runway, that amount of time you can maintain your lifestyle without the need for a paycheck. That's what we're talking about here. Last week I brought you the show from Caesar's Palace in the center of the Las Vegas Strip. So therefore, what I've done is I have gone from the ostentatious and flamboyant over here to the familial and simple as this week I'm in Buffalo New York, broadcasting from a somewhat makeshift GRE studio here, the Buffalo Bills had a home game yesterday, so the city and hotels are busier than usual. Next week, I will bring you the show from upstate Pennsylvania, as I'm traveling to see my family. Let's listen in to me on the hot seat. I was recently a guest on Kevin bups long running real estate investing show. You're going to get to see how I present information and GRE principles for the first time to a different audience. And as I do, you're going to hear me provide new material, but you'll also hear me say quite a few things that I have told you before, even then, the concepts might land differently when I'm explaining them to a new audience. The show is based in Florida, so We'll also touch on the real estate pain and opportunity there. After I'm interviewed, I'm going to come back and tell you about something fascinating. I'm going to compare the returns from six major asset classes over the past century, since 1930 anyway, and that's going to include the first time on the show where I'll tell you real estate's annual appreciation rate over the last entire century. Just about what do you think it is? 8% 5% 3% you're gonna have, perhaps the best answer you've ever had. Here we go.   Kevin Bupp  8:31   Now, guys, I want to welcome back a guest that we've had on. It's been a number of years now. Keith Weinhold, I went back to look at the last episode we had him on. I think it's been about four years. So, you know, four years ago, the world was in the very different state. It was a very different time. And so, you know, thankfully, we're out of the covid era and on to newer and greater things. So for those that don't know Keith, he's the founder of get rich education. He's the host of the popular get rich education podcast. He's a longtime thought leader in the real estate investing space, and like myself. Keith was also born and raised in Pennsylvania. For those that know don't know, I was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Keith, I believe, a couple hours away from where I was. But Keith has very much a unique perspective on wealth, building debt, and really the housing market as a whole. And today, you know, we'll be diving into everything you know, from why the property itself? This is something that Keith kind of coins, why the property itself is less important than you think, to how the housing crash has already happened in a way that most people don't even realize, to the role inflation and debt play in building long term wealth. And so again, it's been a number of years here, so I'm excited to welcome Keith back here. So my friend, Keith, welcome to the show. It's it's a pleasure to have you back here again, my friend.   Keith Weinhold  9:43   Oh, Kevin, it's good to be here and be in the auspices of another fellow native Pennsylvanian as well.   Kevin Bupp  9:49   That's right, that's right, yeah, no, Pa is rocking and rolling as I think I told you this little, this little tidbit last time everyone, every time I speak with someone from Pennsylvania, they never know this. But I'm going to share this fun fact. Are you already know, Keith. I'm gonna share it with the rest of the listeners here today, Pennsylvania, those that are born and raised there. It's the only state where, if you're from Pennsylvania, you refer to it by its initials, and you assume that everyone else, everywhere else across the country, they know what you're talking about when you say I'm from PA and that's the only state that does that. So I think it's pretty neat.   Keith Weinhold  10:19   That's right. No one else does that. No one else says, I'm from TN, if they're from Memphis, right?   Kevin Bupp  10:24   They don't, they don't. So with that, my friend. So, you know, it's, again, it's been a number of years since we, since we had you last on here, you know, let's start with just, let's back up a little bit. You know, what have you been up to? I mean, what, what have the last few years look like for you? Where have you been spending your time, energy and efforts? Obviously, it's, you know, we've gone through some quite a bit of turmoil over the last five years, and would love to just get an update as to what's going on your life.    Speaker 2  10:48   Well, one of the big words in real estate investing, we all know it, even the person that cuts your hair and cleans your teeth knows it, and that's affordability. You know, really, affordability has been under fire, under pressure. By a lot of measures, we have the worst affordability for home buying since the early 80s, when the Jeffersons was on television. So it's been helping a lot of people deal with that. It's really the effect of three things, general inflation, higher home prices and higher mortgage rates. Really, those three things the crux of the problem. It's not exactly inflation, really. It's the fact that over the long term, wages don't keep up with inflation. And really that's the crux of the affordability problem. So I've been helping people deal with that and put that in perspective, really, Kevin,   Kevin Bupp  11:42   what does that mean for, you know, investment, real estate? I mean, are you still still doing deals? Are you seeing deals still get done by your students? I mean, what? What's your world look like?   Keith Weinhold  11:52    Yeah. I mean, I think you're asking, you know, how many deals are taking place? One way to measure that on a national basis is existing home sales. You know, existing home sales have been down substantially. And when a lot of people hear that, they think, prices, oh no, we're not talking about prices. We're talking about existing home sales. That means sales volume. That means the amount of overall transactions. So to give an idea of a real estate market, a residential one that's become pretty lethargic and not very vibrant, is that sales volume. It had its recent peak of about 6 million home sales back in 2021 I mean, 2021 was crazy, kind of the crux of the pandemic, you know, Kevin, that's when for an open house. You saw cars wrapped around the block for just one open house. Okay, well, that year 2021 there were 6 million existing home sales. Today, we're on pace to do about 4 million, and we also did only about 4 million last year. So if you put that in perspective and think about what that means, prices have stayed stable, but that's a 33% reduction in transactions. So investors, you know, people like you and I, Kevin, we're not as affected by this as some other industries. But think about the mortgage loan industry. If you're doing 33% fewer transactions, think about the hard decisions companies have to make and lay people off. 33% fewer transactions for title companies. It's probably close to 33% fewer transactions for furniture companies as well. So really it's both affordability that's been a problem, and that's led to this relative lethargy, kind of a slow, not very interesting residential real estate market, at least from the transaction perspective, really, really slow.   Kevin Bupp  13:58   But Could, could one not argue, I don't know the data points. Keith, I guess, what did it look like? 2021? Was kind of the peak. I think you'd reference 6 million units a year. Transactionally, what did it look like prior? What, what was, what was a more normal year like? And maybe 2020, wasn't a normal year either, right? Because a lot of folks thought the role was ending for a period of time. You know, 2019 maybe just again, trying to, trying to find maybe a better baseline to use. And then, you know, does, I guess, in my mind, and I don't follow these data points as much as you do, is that maybe 2021, was, you know, somewhat artificial inflation, right? Lots of lots of money pumping into the marketplace. And ultimately, we had to get back to a sense of normalcy at some point in time. And so are we at a at a place of normalcy? Are we still behind the eight ball a little bit?   Keith Weinhold  14:44   We're still behind the eight ball a little bit. 5 million is more of a normal long term number. But yeah, I mean, if we've got 4 million now, that's, you know, 25% less still than 5 million, sort of this long term normalcy rate of existing. Home transactions. And if you're a careful listener, you notice I've been using the word existing that doesn't include new build. So you know, when you the listener out there reading headlines, always look at that closely. We talking about existing? Are we talking about new build? You can learn a lot from that when you introduce new build data that introduces an awful lot of noise. For example, even when we look at prices, sometimes we want to exclude new construction. So why is that? Why do we want to focus on existing a lot? Well, because new build can introduce a lot of aberrations to the market. For example, the size of new build properties has dropped substantially the past few years, again, coming back to the central theme of affordability to help make a home more affordable. So we're not looking at same same when the square footage of a property drops a lot. And also, another thing that's been happening as a response to the lack of affordability is you have more builders building further and further out from a central business district where there are lower land costs for that new build property as well to help meet affordability. So the takeaway is, yeah, we want to be careful when we look at numbers. Are we looking at existing? Are we looking at new? Are we looking at overall properties.   Kevin Bupp  16:22   If you believe that if rates come down, we really is that the is that the lever that has to be pulled in order for that transactional volume to kick back up and, you know, make homes more affordable for the average home buyer,   Keith Weinhold  16:34   yeah, it's certainly going to help. I mean, really lower rates is the most likely significant lever that can help with the affordability crisis. Prices are pretty firm. Home prices are up 2% year over year. It's difficult for home prices to fall. In fact, home prices have only fallen one time substantially since World War Two. A lot of people don't realize that. So home prices are firm. I expect them to stay firm. And then the other lever is if we get a huge surge in wage increases, which I really don't expect anytime soon, unless we have another really big bout of inflation. So to your point, yes, lower mortgage rates like, that's the biggest lever that can help affordability return. And to speak to mortgage rates, Kevin and help put all of this into perspective, including this affordability component, is the fact that today, mortgage rates are low, and that gives a lot of people pause. They're like, What are you talking about? Mortgage rates were 3% even as low as two point some percent, just as recently as 2021 and early 2022 What are you talking about? Like, mortgage rates are 2x to 3x that today we look at a long term perspective when we look at the arc of mortgage rates, instead of in setting up expectations where we think rates could go. And we need to look at a frame of reference. Mortgage rates peaked over 18% in 1981 that's if you had a good credit score and everything on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage. That's what we're talking about here. In fact, Freddie Mac, they're the ones that have the best, most reliable stat set for mortgage rates, and that goes back to 1971 the average mortgage rate since 1971 all the way up to today, through all these presidential administrations you know, Nixon and in the Reagan years, and Clinton and the bushes and Obama, everything You know up to today, from 1971 until today, the average 30 year fixed rate mortgage is 7.7% so that's why I talk about how mortgage rates are, you know, moderate to a little low today. That takes a lot of people back. I don't see any impetus. It's going to get us back to, say, 3% mortgage rates. So some real perspective here.   Kevin Bupp  19:06   Yeah, yeah, no. And, you know, the interesting thing again, you might have data points on this to see, is a lot of the lack, do you feel that a lot of the lack of transactional volume is also related to those folks that have locked in, you know, 3% you know, mortgages, right? Like they're they, why would they sell and ultimately trade into a, maybe a, you know, a, you know, upgrade of a home, but ultimately be paying significantly more than that of what they're paying at the present time, you know, double the cost of capital. Your rates today, 30 year, rates are where the six and a half, 7% range, I don't follow it, but yeah.   Keith Weinhold  19:42   I mean, as of today, 6.3% is is where they're at. But yeah, you have a lot of those homeowners locked in to low rates. I mean, first, if we just pull back and look at the overall homeowner landscape, four in 10 have a paid off property. So just to talk to those about the other. Or 60% that percentage that are mortgage borrowers, among borrowers, 70% still have a mortgage rate under 5% meaning it starts with a four or less. So yeah, you're bringing up astutely Kevin the lock. In effect, people are reluctant to sell and give up that rate to trade it for a higher rate. And here's what's interesting, a lot of people if they couldn't make the payments on their home and say they lost their home, something that actually happened a lot in 2008 when people were locked into in sustainable mortgages because they didn't have good credit and they didn't have good income, the borrower is in good shape today. But even if, for some reason, they couldn't make the payments on their home, and they lost their home and they had to rent. Rents are actually higher in many cases, than what that mortgage principal and interest payment is. Maybe even the mortgage principal interest, taxes and insurance that they pay today are lower than what comparable rent would be, and this helps stabilize the housing market, people are really motivated to make their payments, and they can easily do it when it is so low, speaking to that lock in effect, and we're bringing up another reason now why transaction volume is so low, that lock in effect. So homeowners are in good shape. Their payments are sustainable. They don't want to sell, and they're just staying put. They're staying in place   Kevin Bupp  19:42   tying that all back around. Keith, what does that mean for us real estate investors? I mean, is there still good value out in the marketplace? I mean, is the rent to value ratio still, you know, Is there good opportunity to be had, as far as ROI for an investor that wants to buy into a residential investment or a multifamily investment, or anything related to that of residential housing?   Keith Weinhold  19:42   Well, the deals in the one to four unit space, single family homes up the four Plex buildings, yeah, just are not as good as they used to be. The ratio of rent income to purchase price is lower than it was five years ago. And that's so simple, but that's just really the simplest formula for profitability for a real estate investor, you don't have to look at cap rate or or NOI in the one to four unit space. Let's just look at that ratio of rent income to purchase price. 20 years ago, it was easy to find a full 1% meaning, on a 200k property, you could get $2,000 worth of rent income. That's that 1% ratio. But now oftentimes you've got to find something that's more like seven tenths of 1% that would be a $1,400 rent on a 200k property. So that simple formula, and I love that, the rent income divided by the purchase price when I'm looking at properties, when I'm scrolling or scanning like that's a calculation you can do in your head. It's only if I would see a ratio that appears really good, oh, that I would like drill down and look at that property more closely. So of course, when you have something that is that simple, though, rent income divided by purchase price, there's a lot of things that doesn't tell you. You know, what kind of mortgage interest rate can you get? What kind of property tax Do you pay in that jurisdiction? But really, I love the simplicity. That's it, rent divided by price, but it has been under attack. Now today, I still don't know where you're going to get a better risk adjusted return than you do with a carefully bought income property with a loan. I've always liked fixed interest rate debt the best risk adjusted return anywhere. I really don't know of a better one than with buying real estate, because real estate investors have so many profit centers, five simultaneous profit centers, which few people understand. Yeah.   Kevin Bupp  19:42   So using that, I want to, I want to unpack the the 1% rule a little bit for those that aren't familiar with it. And again, there's a lot of variables there, as you had mentioned, you know, mortgage rate, taxes, insurance and that respective market that you that you're buying in, and so what? What are you really trying to back into when applying that rule? Is there? Is there? Is there a true cash on cash return that you're hoping to achieve, again, assuming all these other variables that we just don't know, what they are at this point, you know? Is there a target range of actual ROI that you're actually looking to achieve when applying that 1% rule?   Keith Weinhold  19:42   No, I'm just looking for any positive cash flow. You know, to your point, yeah, there's nothing like the cash on cash return needs to be at least three and a half percent or something like that. But, yeah, I still like buying a property that's that's greater than a break even. Inflation is probably going to increase your cash flow over time, even if you bought a property that that broke even or just had a trickle of cash flow or a $100 cash flow today, a lot of people don't understand that fact that right there you can't count on it, you shouldn't count on. Getting rent increases. But we all know it generally happens over time at a rate of about 3% a year, but it actually increases your cash flow. If you increase your rent 5% your cash flow can often increase something like 12% why is that? How could that happen? That's because, you know, it's key for the person that was listening closely, you get fixed interest rate debt, so your rent income goes up, your expenses increase, except for that mortgage principal and interest. Inflation can touch it. It's kind of like a mosquito buzzing against a window and always trying to get in. And inflation can't touch that in a way. It's sort of like debt that's an asset in some unusual way, or some play on words, getting that debt so So yes, you can't count on rent increases over time. We know what typically happens, and that's really part of the compelling value proposition of buying income property with a loan. You're sort of leveraging inflation. You're really on the right side of it.   Kevin Bupp  20:08   Are there any particular markets that you feel are ripe for opportunity today where you're spending your focus and energies in?   Keith Weinhold  20:08   Yeah, it's still in high cash flowing markets like Memphis, okay, little rock and a good part of the Midwest and the Midwest still has home prices appreciating faster than the national average as well. So those are some of the areas that I like. Those jurisdictions also tend to have laws, as your listeners might know this already, Kevin, they tend to have laws that benefit the landlord more so than the tenant, where you can get a prompt eviction, but those are still the areas where you do get that high ratio of rent income to purchase price on a single family rental home, you might still find eight tenths of 1% meaning $800 worth of rent for every 100k of property purchase in places exactly like that.   Kevin Bupp  20:08   I was hoping that you tell me 1% rule would is applicable.   Keith Weinhold  20:08   It's pretty rare. You know, if you do see, if you do see a property that has a full 1% rent to purchase price ratio, it could be in a sketchy area, you need to make sure that you can actually get the rent in like you would get a respectful rent paying tenant in there. That's something that we would have to look at more closely.   Kevin Bupp  20:08   Have you explored building new product? Is there an opportunity there getting at a lower basis by building ground up?   Keith Weinhold  19:42   You asked such a smart question. This is actually the first time ever, as long as I've been an active real estate investor, Kevin for more than 20 years where new build purchases for income property make more sense than existing purchases. Why is that? It's because builders know that investors and borrowers are struggling to buy and afford property and make the numbers work. Like you're talking about, that builders are incentivized to buy down your rate. For you, to buy down your mortgage rate, we deal with a lot of providers that buy down your mortgage rate to 5% or less for you, and this is a fixed, long term loan in order to help get the numbers to work. You know, especially where you might see a new build property where the rent to purchase price ratio is less than seven tenths of 1% and it's just like, ah, the numbers wouldn't work paying a higher mortgage rate, but some are willing to buy them down to as little as four and a half. However, if you're looking into buying a new build income producing property, you do want to look at that closely. Who is paying for the discount points to buy down the rate. Is it the builder, or is it you? Because some builders just suggest, hey, you can buy down. You can have your rate bought down. But yeah, the next question is, yeah, okay, who is actually doing the buy down? Yeah.   Keith Weinhold  19:43   I mean, just getting tacked on. I mean, in that instance, I'm assuming that a lot of it's just getting tacked on to the to the back end of the purchase price, or it's being baked into closing costs somewhere somebody is paying for it. More than likely the borrower is paying for it. Paying for it. Is that? Is that? Again, I'm assuming we probably have that here in Florida. Again, I don't really follow the residential market too much, but there's, as you had mentioned, like, kind of on the the outskirts of Tampa, the tertiary, necessary, tertiary, probably more secondary areas. That's where a lot of the builds are happening. Lots of these, you know, planned subdivisions. You know, hundreds and 1000s of homes being put up. And in my understanding, through the grapevine, is I hear that they're, you know, sales volumes is incredibly slow, and a lot of these builders are now offering some creative loan products, again, to what you've just stated there, to attract, not necessarily even just homeowners, but also investors, to come in and buy their product from them. Is, is there a real opportunity there, though? I mean, have you seen investors be able to benefit from buying brand new product at a fair price, with economics at work keeping as a rental?   Keith Weinhold  29:53   I have and Florida has some builders that are almost desperate. I'm a long time investor. Know personally, directly in Florida, income property, Southwest Florida, places like Cape Coral, they have been ground zero for real estate depreciation, a contraction in real estate values year over year of 10% or more in some southwest Florida markets. So like the post pandemic, migration boom is certainly over in Florida. And you know, Kevin, as little as 10 years ago, people used to talk about buy in Florida. It's cheap, it's sunny, cheap and cheerful, like you would sort of hear that sort of thing about Florida real estate. That is no longer true. Florida just is not as cheap as it used to be. It's the same or higher than the national median home price now in Florida. So yes, some builders are rather desperate. The other benefit of buying new build, especially in a place like Florida, where a lot of new building has taken place and the supply actually exceeds the demand here in the short period. You can take advantage of that, not only by getting the rate buy down, but because homeowners insurance premiums are substantially less on new build property, because they're built to today's wind mitigation and other standards than they are existing property. I have a friend that just bought a new Florida duplex through us in Ocala, Florida. That's sort of a central, North Central Florida, on that new build duplex that he paid 400k for. I saw the actual insurance premium, the the rate sheet, $694.06 $694 694 so the benefit of buying new build is you get a lower insurance premium. You get these rate buy down. Sometimes what your builder will buy for you make for you rather and of course, you're probably going to have low maintenance costs for a long time, since it's a new build property, and you get a tenant that is probably going to stay longer than the average duration. They're the first person to ever live there. It's difficult for the tenant to improve their housing situation when they have a new build income property, unless they would go out and buy, and it's a very difficult time to go out and buy. So through that lack of affordability, really, the advantage for a real estate investor is tenants are staying put longer. The average tenancy duration is up because they can't run out and be a first time homebuyer.    Keith Weinhold  32:32   You know, most people think they're playing it safe with their liquid money, but they're actually losing savings accounts and bonds don't keep up when true inflation eats six or 7% of your wealth. Every single year, I invest my liquidity with FFI freedom family investments in their flagship program. Why fixed 10 to 12% returns have been predictable and paid quarterly. There's real world security backed by needs based real estate like affordable housing, Senior Living and health care. Ask about the freedom flagship program when you speak to a freedom coach there, and that's just one part of their family of products, they've got workshops, webinars and seminars designed to educate you before you invest. Start with as little as 25k and finally, get your money working as hard as you do. Get started at Freedom, family investments.com/gre, or send a text. Now it's 1-937-795-8989, yep. Text their freedom coach directly. Again. 1937795898, 77958989   Keith Weinhold  33:44   the same place where I get my own mortgage loans is where you can get yours. Ridge lending group and MLS, 42056, they provided our listeners with more loans than anyone because they specialize in income properties. They help you build a long term plan for growing your real estate empire with leverage. Start your prequel and even chat with President chailey Ridge personally while it's on your mind, start at Ridge lending group.com that's Ridge lending group.com   Todd Drowlette  34:17   this is the star of the A and E show the real estate commission. Todd Rowlett, listen to get rich education with my friend Keith Weinhold, and don't quit your Daydream.   Kevin Bupp  34:38   That even trickles down to the to the space that we're in. We're in the mobile home park space. And while we don't have a lot of rentals inside of our portfolio, most of our residents own their home and they rent the land, but throughout our portfolio, we have roughly 400 units that we own that we have as standardized rentals, and we've noticed that trend as well. Historically. 10 years ago, you. Yeah, we track actually about, I can take it back about eight years, where we actually have data to support this. This claim is that our average renter would stay about 16 months. That was fairly standard. Whereas today it's over, it's nearly three years. At this point in time, the majority are staying nearly three in there's probably, there's some variables in there. You know, eight years ago, we weren't bringing a lot of new product into our communities, whereas a lot of the mobile home parks that we purchased today do have a lot of newer mobile homes in them. So again, to your point, it's, it's a it's a newer home. It's fresh. There might not be the first person that lived there, maybe they're only the second, right? But it's still a very new home. It's only a couple years old. All the appliances are new. It's fresh, you know, it's well insulated, and it's just a high quality product, but, but it's nearly double of what we used to experience and what we used to underwrite. It's, you know, which is, which is interesting. You know, I am, I want to, I want to circle back, you'd mentioned Cape Coral. I've got quite a bit, quite a bit of experience with Cape Coral. This is not the first time that Cape Coral and Port Charlotte in those areas have crashed. I mean, like, they've got quite an interesting history in time, back during the GFC, that area down there took probably one of the biggest hits in most of Florida, while, you know, the rest of Florida got, you know, pounded pretty hard with home values and decreasing home values decreasing rents, Port Charlotte, Cape, coral, in those areas as well. It's just It looks very different down there today. As far as you know, the job basis. I mean, there's a little bit more of a, you know, you know, an economy than what existed maybe 1015, years ago. But I don't know if you know the story of Port Charlotte. Is it some interesting history that you can if you want to spend some time, go on YouTube. There's some documentaries out there about, basically when that area was created. There's a two brothers that, essentially, you know, sold, subdivided and sold swampland and sold the dream to the northeast centers to come down and buy, you know, parcels of land down in Cape Coral, port, Charlotte and in that general area. And it took a lot of time for it develop over the years, but it's a beautiful area down there. But again, I think what happened to your point? A lot of folks during the covid era were wanting to come to Florida. We were fairly free down here. The sun was shining, you know, the Gulf of Mexico was warm, and that was a good value for a lot of folks. You know, the values were driving up there. Was home inventory down there. You got a good bang for your buck back at that point in time. But again, there's not, there's not as much as many amenities and supportive economy there. And then to me, there, like you might find in the Tampa area, or you might find Orlando, or even Ocala cow is a phenomenal market right now. And yeah, oh, Cal is, for those that don't you know you mentioned, you referenced the insurance there, which is, that's a great, that's a great price for that, that policy, you know, 700 bucks, basically, that is inland. For those that don't know the geography here in Florida, that is inland. So you are fairly protected from storms, you know, hurricanes and things of that nature, which crush us here on the on the Gulf Coast. But in any event, I just thought I'd share that there's some good, pretty cool documentaries out there in Port Charlotte, in the whole area down there, but a beautiful part of the country. But just Yeah, it's, it's suffering right now. There's, I think there's, I was looking the other day on Zillow. I just play around and check and see what waterfront home prices are going for. And down there, you can basically get a you can get a canal front home going out to the Gulf of Mexico for about $500,000 which was probably closer to 800,000 during, you know, the the boom era of 2021 2022 So historically, we used to buy properties down there. This is back in 2000 and 345, before the the GFC, we could buy those same properties for 150 and $200,000 waterfront home, waterfront homes, deep water canals going out to the Gulf of Mexico. But when it crashed, some of those homes were selling for $120,000 $100,000 so it's interesting to see how things have come kind of full circle multiple times, not just down there, but in all of Florida as well. Florida is always boom and bust. You know, I think they say that with you know, you could probably speak to that most of these coastal towns, whether it be in Florida, whether it be up the eastern seaboard, the coastal markets are definitely more of a roller coaster ride than the Midwestern markets, where you invest in would you? Would you agree with that?   Keith Weinhold  39:09   Yeah, I would. And yeah, you talk about Florida being a boom and bust, and what you said is certainly true in the shorter term. Back in the global financial crisis, we saw more price blood letting in Florida than we did in other states as well. But over the long term, the long arc, I'm bullish on Florida because of just the obvious constant in migration story. In fact, if you go back to decennial censuses, all the way back to the early 1800s every single decennial census, every 10 years, the population of Florida has rose, and it rises faster than the national average, almost all of those 10 year periods. So yeah, over the long term, I certainly like Florida, but Yeah, you sure can, you know, nitpick over the. Short term, but as little as five years from now. If you bought today, as little as five years from now, I could see someone saying, like, yeah, I bought back five years ago, because we're actually in a in a short term, overbuilt condition, and builders bought down my rate. For me, this could look savvy and this could look wise. So if you're looking for opportunity, new building Florida is definitely something to look into.   Kevin Bupp  40:22    I agree. No, absolutely. Like, the long term, you know, opportunity here in Florida, it's there, you know, it's interesting. We've got the we get these hurricanes every year. Last year was a pretty impactful year, at least here on the on the Gulf side, and the neighborhood I lived in, we got flooded. Luckily, our homes in newer builds built up. But, you know, 70% of the neighbor I lived in had 444, or five feet of seawater. And as did the, you know, the long stretch of the Gulf Coast here, and it was the first time this area has ever this immediate air right where we live, has ever had a it wasn't even a direct hit. It just happened to be a massive storm surge. But it was, you know, catastrophic as far as the damage that it did. And a lot of folks that we knew in our neighborhood here. Have lived here for 1020, 3040, or 50 years, and they had never had any floodwater whatsoever. And and there was two camps where they fell in either one camp where they didn't, they whether they had the money to rebuild or not, didn't matter. Like, mentally, they were never going to end up. They were never going to deal with that again. They were moving away, like they just didn't want to go through the heartache of that again. In the second camp, we're basically, I knew it was going to happen at some point in time. This is the kind of price to live, to pay, a live in paradise and and what ultimately occurred is, you know, you saw homes going up for sale, and in the initial chatter for those that that were impacted, is that, who's going to buy that? You know? You know, they're not going to get hardly anything for it. You know, it's just like, who's going to want to live here now that has been flooded. I said, Just wait. I'll say people have us as human beings, have short term memories. We do and and I can promise you, within a few months, those homes will be gobbled up, some will be knocked down, some will be rebuilt, but inevitably, the prices will come back incredibly strong, and you'll see very limited inventory, at least in desirable markets that are here on the water. And that's exactly that happened. Within six month period of time, prices are back up. You can't get your hands on a flooded property now, or one that had been flooded, right?   Keith Weinhold  42:12   I can believe it. And this is not the way that you want to have a waterfront property when the water inundates you and comes to you, that is not the way to buy waterfront property.   Kevin Bupp  42:23   Yeah, interesting, but, uh, no, Keith has been a fun conversation, my friend. So let's, let's talk about, you know, I like to you'll peek inside your brain if you were going to start all over again, from scratch, you know, you've been at this now, what? How long? Almost two decades. It's been, been quite   Keith Weinhold  42:38   Yes, yes, more than two decades. Is that what you're asking, how would I start, starting from today?   Kevin Bupp  42:47   Yeah, like, what would you do? Where would you focus, what asset type and any particular strategy outside of what you're doing today? You know, where would you focus your time?   Keith Weinhold  42:55   Actually, it is quite a coincidence. The way that I would start all over again in real estate is the way that I did start in real estate. It worked out phenomenally, in a way it makes sense, because if it hadn't worked out phenomenally, you never would have heard of me, and I wouldn't have become this real estate thought leader or whatever, because this is a way, an everyday person with virtually no real estate knowledge and very little money. Can start out, what I did is I made the first ever home of any kind, a four Plex building where I lived in one unit and rented out the other three. This is something very actionable for your for your audience as well, Kevin. Or if maybe you're a listener that has a an adult daughter or son and they want to get started in real estate with a bang without much money, is to buy a four Plex, just like I did. You can use an FHA loan, a three and a half percent down payment. You have to live in one of the units at least 12 months, and at last check, your minimum credit score only needs to be 580 now you will get a lower interest rate if you have a higher credit score. But those are the only three criteria you need. I mean, what a country talk about? The American Dream. You can use that FHA program with a single family home, duplex, triplex or fourplex, that's the formula. That's how I began. Actually ended up living there a little more than three years. But what that did for me was remarkable, and in fact, you know what it taught me? Kevin and every listener can benefit from this. It's paradoxical. A lot of times I say things that you would not expect to hear that make you go, wait what? Whoa, how can that be? Is what it taught me is that I don't want to focus on getting my money to work for me. You probably wouldn't expect to hear that. It's actually a middle class paradigm to say, well, I don't want to work for money. I also want to get my money to work for me. I'm telling. You that that's going to keep you middle class, or worse, that's going to keep you working until old age, and you won't have an outsized life and retirement and options. If you think that the best and highest use of your dollar is getting your money to work for you, it's not what's the paradigm shift if this four Plex building taught me the way I started out, which is still the way that I would start out today, and you probably heard this before, but I'm going to put a new twist on it. Is you want to ethically get other people's money to work for you, and we can be ethical. We can do good in the world. Provide housing that's clean, safe, affordable and functional. Never get called a slumlord that way. You can employ other people's money three ways at the same time, ethically by buying an income property with a loan, like we've been talking about in Florida, or with this fourplex building. How do you do it three ways at the same time, using the bank's money for the loan and leverage, which greatly amplifies your return beyond anything Compound Interest can do. The second of three ways you're ethically employing other people's money is you're using the tenants money to pay for the mortgage and some of the operating expenses on this fourplex. And then the third way you're simultaneously using other people's money is using the government's money for generous tax incentives at scale. So the lesson is that the best and highest use of your dollar is not getting just your money to work for you, it's other people's money, in this case, the banks, the tenants and the governments. That's what you can do. I mean, what an opportunity. A lot of people just don't even know about that FHA program.    Kevin Bupp  46:41   Yeah, I actually, I wasn't, I wasn't aware that it was that low of a down payment key. That's no idea. Three and a half percent, you said, a 550 credit score, believe me, 580 minimum credit.   Keith Weinhold  46:51   And you have to, thirdly, you have to owner occupy a unit for at least 12 months. And hey, I'm not saying it's always easy. You know, you got to think about that. Your neighbors are also your tenants. And I don't know how to fix stuff. I still don't. I'm a terrible handyman, but it's good to learn a little about about human relations. And you know, letting finding a general way to let the tenants know that you have a mortgage to pay every month. I mean, just that alone can can help them ensure timely rent payments. But, and this also doesn't mean every area, or every four Plex building is is good, but, yeah, that's the opportunity. That's how I started. I would totally do it again.   Kevin Bupp  47:27   Can you use that FHA program more than once? Or is that just the one time you know your first, first, first primary home purchase?   Keith Weinhold  47:34   It's generally you can only use one at a time. There are some exceptions, like if you and your job move, like, a certain mile radius away from where you got the first one, but, yeah, generally it's only going to be one at a time. A lot of people don't use it. Don't know about it. In fact, if you have VA benefits, Veterans Administration benefits, you can get a similar program, like I was talking about, but zero down payment, rather than three and a half with an FHA loan. It's a really good, amazingly good opportunity.    Kevin Bupp  48:05   That's incredible. That's incredible. Keith, my friend, I appreciate you coming back going. It's always good to catch up with you. Good to see that you're doing well.   Keith Weinhold  48:17   Oh yeah, a terrific chat there with Kevin. I hope that you like that really. At our core, real estate investors are not day trading. We are decade trading. Now I'm in western New York today, at the other end of the state, NYU compiled some terrific statistics that you want to hear about for nearly the past 100 years. It is the annualized returns of six major asset classes. This spans, the Great Depression, a number of recessions, World War Two, the New Deal, gold standard, abandonment, brendawoods, the Cold War, Civil Rights Movements, oil shocks, Volcker rate hikes, the.com boom and crash, the 911, attacks, the housing bubble, covid, 19, AI revolution and 16 presidencies, all those ups and downs and war and peace and economic booms and economic lows, and now there is going to be a mild tongue in cheek element here, because stats like this drive real estate investors crazy, but this is often how mainstream media portrays asset class comparisons. All right, the six asset classes are stocks, cash, bonds, real estate, gold, and then inflation, which isn't in an asset class, but it's a benchmark. All of these begin from the year 1930 so spanning almost 100 years. Let's take it from the lowest return to the high. Best return the lowest is inflation. And what do you think the CPI inflation rate is averaged over the last 100 years? Any guess at all? You might be surprised. It is 3.2% Yeah, even though the Fed's CPI inflation target has long been 2% it runs hot longer than most people believe. So therefore, today's inflation rate isn't high, it's just normal. The next highest return is cash at 3.3% How did NYU measure that the yield from three months T bills? Next up is bonds. They returned 4.3% that's the 10 year treasury average of the last 100 years. The next highest is real estate at 4.7% that uses the K Shiller Index. Now we're up to the second highest. It is gold at 5.6% and the highest is stocks at 10.3% using the s, p5, 100, and this was all laid out in a brilliant chart that also shows the returns by each decade for all of these asset classes. You'll remember that I shared the chart with you in our newsletter a few weeks ago. Now you are smarter and more informed than the layperson is, you know, but they see this chart and they think, Oh, well, that's it. I've got my answer. Real Estate's 4.7% appreciation loses out to gold's 5.6 and stocks 10.3 and then they go back to watching Love is blind. But of course, rental property owners like us know that we often make five times or more than this 4.7% when we consider all those other income streams and profit centers, leverage, rents, ROA and inflation, profiting on our debt, it's often 25 to 30% total. It's sort of like judging a Ferrari by only measuring its cupholders or something. Now, would stocks 10.3% get adjusted up as well? Yeah, probably a little, because the s and p5 100 currently averages a 1.2% dividend yield, so that might be added on the 4.7% return for real estate. That cites the popular Case Shiller Index. And the way that that index works is that it uses a repeat sales methodology. So what that means is that the Case Shiller measures the sales price of the same property over time. Therefore a property would have to sell at least twice in order to be measured by this popular and widely cited K Shiller Index. So then the 4.7% appreciation figure excludes new build homes, and new builds appreciate more than existing homes, but you do have more existing homes that sell the new build homes, so we can pretty safely assume that real estate's long term appreciation rate is higher, likely between five and 6% there it is. So yeah, making comparisons across asset classes like this is pretty tricky, because investment properties leverage and cash flow gets nullified. And when you make comparisons like this, it's a big reminder that even if you can't get much cash flow off a 20 or 25% down real estate payment, sheesh, most people put a 100% payment into stocks, gold or Bitcoin, and they don't expect any cash flow. And Bitcoin isn't part of what we're looking at for this century long view, because it did not exist until 2009 and also NYU had to use some alternative statistics. Sometimes the s, p5, 100 index only came into being in 1957 and the Case Shiller Index 1987    Keith Weinhold  54:02   next week here on the show, I expect to answer your listener questions from beginner to advanced. You've been writing in with some good ones for the production team here at GRE. That's our sound engineer, Vedran Jampa, who has edited every single GRE podcast episode since 2014 QC in show notes, Brenda Almendariz, video lead, brendawali strategy talamagal, video editor, seroza, KC and producer me, we'll run it back next week for you. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, don't quit your Daydream.   Speaker 3  54:36   Nothing on this show should be considered specific, personal or professional advice. Please consult an appropriate tax, legal, real estate, financial or business professional for individualized advice. Opinions of guests are their own. Information is not guaranteed. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. The host is operating on behalf of get rich Education LLC, exclusively.   Speaker 2  55:04   The preceding program was brought to you by your home for wealth building, get richeducation.com  

Montana faces persistent mental-health challenges that are amplified by rural geography, workforce shortages, and a high veteran population. But there’s been a shift in the Veterans Administration's mental-health funding structure from outdated formulas that rewarded volume over innovation to new […] The post NAMI Keeps Veteran and Youth Mental Wellness in Sight first appeared on Voices of Montana.

For many veterans, the hardest fight begins when they come home—navigating disability, trauma, and a system that too often turns its back on them. For more than half a century, Swords to Plowshares has been serving and uplifting military veterans across the Bay Area. What began as a small grassroots effort to support Vietnam veterans—many of them living with disabilities and facing rejection from traditional institutions like the Veterans Administration—has grown into one of the nation's leading veteran service organizations. Elena Kim This week on Pushing Limits, we spotlight Swords to Plowshares, a vital force for veteran rights and disability justice. Tune in as we explore their powerful history, ongoing advocacy, and how they continue to help veterans rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose with the help of Elena Kim, Chief Operating Officer. As the former City of San Francisco's Director of Veterans Services, human intelligence collector from 2005-2010 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Master Degree holder in Legislative Affairs, Elena oversees Swords to Plowshares‘ operations and programs. This program is hosted and produced by Eddie Ytuarte.   The below image is from: https://www.flickr.com/people/37922399@N05 California Disabled Vets. December 2010 from Virginia State Parks staff The post 50 Years Strong: Swords to Plowshares – Pushing Limits – November 14, 2025 appeared first on KPFA.

Statistical literacy was described by Iddo Gal as "the ability to interpret, critically, evaluate and communicate about statistical information and messages". With that in mind, get ready to take a journey on all the ways our guests are promoting statistical literacy in this episode of Stats+Stories. Glickman/Lesser Interview Starts at 27:42 Pedro Campos is the Deputy Director of the International Statistical Literacy Project (ISLP) and associate professor in the Faculty of Economics at the University of Porto, and director of the methodology unit at Statistics Portugal. He also leads the team of statistical literacy at the global network of institutions for statistical training from the UN, where he helps promote statistical literacy worldwide. Larry Lesser is a professor in the Mathematical Sciences Department of the University of Texas at El Paso. He's also an elected fellow of the American Statistical Association. Lesser has won a number of awards for his work within and outside of his discipline. He's also a singer-songwriter whose passion for combining music and STEM has made its way into his research, grant writing, teaching, outreach, and service, and most of his published poems and songs are STEM-related. Mark Glickman is a senior lecturer of statistics at the Harvard University Department of Statistics and a senior statistician at the Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, a Veterans Administration center of innovation. He's also a fellow of the American Statistical Association. Before joining Harvard, he was a research professor of health policy and management at the Boston University School of Public Health. He's also served as an elected member of the American Statistical Association's board of directors, as representative of the Council of sections, governing board from night from 2019 to 2021.

Keywordscybersecurity, technology, AI, IoT, Intel, startups, security culture, talent development, career advice  SummaryIn this episode of No Password Required, host Jack Clabby and Kayleigh Melton engage with Steve Orrin, the federal CTO at Intel, discussing the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the importance of diverse teams, and the intersection of technology and security. Steve shares insights from his extensive career, including his experiences in the startup scene, the significance of AI and IoT, and the critical blind spots in cybersecurity practices. The conversation also touches on nurturing talent in technology and offers valuable advice for young professionals entering the field.  TakeawaysIoT is now referred to as the Edge in technology.Diverse teams bring unique perspectives and solutions.Experience in cybersecurity is crucial for effective team building.The startup scene in the 90s was vibrant and innovative.Understanding both biology and technology can lead to unique career paths.AI and IoT are integral to modern cybersecurity solutions.Organizations often overlook the importance of security in early project stages.Nurturing talent involves giving them interesting projects and autonomy.Young professionals should understand the hacker mentality to succeed in cybersecurity.Customer feedback is essential for developing effective security solutions.  TitlesThe Edge of Cybersecurity: Insights from Steve OrrinNavigating the Intersection of Technology and Security  Sound bites"IoT is officially called the Edge.""We're making mainframe sexy again.""Surround yourself with people smarter than you."  Chapters00:00 Introduction to Cybersecurity and the Edge01:48 Steve Orrin's Role at Intel04:51 The Evolution of Security Technology09:07 The Startup Scene in the 90s13:00 The Intersection of Biology and Technology15:52 The Importance of AI and IoT20:30 Blind Spots in Cybersecurity25:38 Nurturing Talent in Technology28:57 Advice for Young Cybersecurity Professionals32:10 Lifestyle Polygraph: Fun Questions with Steve

Tinnitus is the number one service-connected disability within the Veterans Administration, and for those with PTSD, it can cause significant distress. A UT Health San Antonio researcher who suffers from chronic tinnitus is studying the connection between the two and how to improve treatment.

The cost of paying out Veterans Administration disability claims is more than the budget of the entire U.S. Army. Craig Whitlock is an investigative reporter who specializes in national security issues for The Washington Post. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how the veteran disability claim process works, the wide array of conditions covered and why administrators are reluctant to change how it operates. His article is “How some veterans exploit $193 billion VA program, due to lax controls.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Send us a textIn this episode of Navigating the Customer Experience, we sit down with Evan Siegel, Vice President of AI at eGain, where he leads the development of next-generation AI-powered conversational guidance. With a rich background that includes 16 years at Wells Fargo leading customer experience and contact center innovation, Evan brings deep insight into how technology can drive better service outcomes without losing the human touch.Evan's career journey began in entrepreneurship — running a successful residential painting business that grew to 300 employees before he sold it and pursued an MBA at Stanford. His experience at Wells Fargo honed his expertise in solving large-scale customer pain points and improving first-contact resolution in massive contact centers. Those experiences led him to eGain, a company dedicated to providing “the right answer to the right person at the right time, in the right channel.”Evan explains that eGain's AI-powered knowledge management platform helps companies clean, update, and centralize information so agents can quickly find accurate answers. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also transforms efficiency—some clients have seen up to 37% improvement in first-contact resolution, a 30-point rise in Net Promoter Score, and 50% reduction in training time. For instance, eGain supports the U.S. Veterans Administration, the country's largest healthcare provider, to deliver consistent, fast, and empathetic service across millions of interactions.A key theme in the discussion is balancing technology and empathy. Evan emphasizes that AI doesn't replace human connection—it enhances it by freeing up employees' mental space to focus on emotional intelligence and rapport-building. By handling the “how” of issue resolution, AI lets people focus on the “who.”He also shares how eGain builds knowledge bases for each company by analyzing customer inquiries, extracting top issues using AI, and rewriting existing materials to align with best practices for clarity and accessibility. This process—once lengthy and manual—can now be done in days or weeks.When asked about tools he can't live without, Evan points to AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, which he uses daily as brainstorming and writing partners. His motto: “AI won't replace me, but someone who knows how to use AI better than me will.”Evan also discusses two books that shaped him: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, which taught him the power of genuine curiosity in relationships, and William Manchester's three-part biography of Winston Churchill, which inspired lessons in conviction, communication, and strategic thinking.Today, what excites Evan most is collaborative leadership—bringing teams together to brainstorm, check egos at the door, and make the best collective decisions. His guiding philosophy: “I don't need to be the smartest person in the room. I need to make the best decision coming out of the room.”He closes with another favorite quote: “You miss every shot you don't take.” For Evan, this embodies the spirit of innovation at eGain—experiment fast, learn fast, and keep improving.Listeners can connect with Evan on LinkedIn or email him at esiegel@egain.com to learn more about eGain's new AI self-service agent for small businesses, featuring reasoning capabilities, a free trial, and no-contract flexibility.Follow us on X @navigatingcx, and join our Navigating the Customer Experience Facebook community for more insights and resources.

 Leah breaks down the VA's Homeless Veterans Programs, highlighting how they provide housing, mental health support, substance abuse treatment, and employment opportunities to help veterans regain stability. She explains key initiatives like HUD-VASH, the GPD program, HCHV, and SSBF, while emphasizing the “housing first” approach as the foundation for recovery. Leah also shares personal insight on the importance of rebuilding community bonds after service, and underscores the role of partnerships with nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and local agencies. 

Leah breaks down why so many veterans' VA sleep apnea claims get denied and how to strengthen them. She explains what sleep apnea is, why it's especially common among veterans, and the two main service connection paths—primary and secondary. Leah then highlights the top reasons for denials, including lack of a sleep study, missing or weak service connection, negative nexus opinions, obesity or other non-service-related factors, and weak supporting evidence. She emphasizes that denials aren't the end of the road—strong medical opinions, buddy statements, and accredited legal help can often turn a case around.

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 10-02-2025: Dr. Dawn opens by explaining how blood pressure treatment guidelines have been corrected back to 140/90 after the problematic 2015 SPRINT study temporarily changed recommendations to 120/80. That study used ideal measurement conditions - five minutes of quiet sitting, perfect cuff sizes, compliant patients - creating unrealistic targets that caused elderly patients to faint and break hips. The Veterans Administration and major cardiology organizations now recommend treating to 140/90, with statins only for LDL above 190 or 12% ten-year cardiovascular risk. An emailer asks about claims linking Tylenol to autism. Dr. Dawn thoroughly debunks this, explaining that Swedish studies of 2.5 million children found no association when controlling for sibling comparisons. She notes autism rates remained flat from 1960-1990 despite widespread Tylenol use, then spiked after DSM-4 in 1994 and DSM-5 in 2013 broadened diagnostic criteria. Recall bias skews studies since mothers of autistic children are asked leading questions about past Tylenol use during pregnancy when fever treatment was medically necessary. She discusses RFK Jr.'s mixed positions, comparing him to Isaac Newton who excelled at physics but believed in astrology. While criticizing vaccine misinformation, Dr. Dawn strongly supports RFK's stance on ultra-processed foods. She describes NIH researcher Kevin Hall's studies showing people consume 500 extra calories daily on ultra-processed diets versus whole foods, even when nutrients are matched. The US produces 15,000 calories per person daily, with the food industry engineered to promote overconsumption through hyper-palatable fat-sugar-salt combinations. A caller asks about Healthcare 4.0 plans for biometric tracking bracelets and digital twins. Dr. Dawn discusses privacy concerns around constant health monitoring and data collection, noting that while early disease detection could be valuable, mandatory participation raises serious civil liberties issues. She acknowledges voluntary research projects like the Million Man Study but emphasizes the importance of consent and protection against unauthorized data access by advertisers or government agencies. An emailer shares research on ultrasound brain stimulation helmets as alternatives to surgical electrode implants. Dr. Dawn explains how 256-element phased ultrasonic arrays can target brain regions like the visual cortex with high precision mechanical perturbation, potentially treating Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and depression without surgery. The technology remains experimental, requiring MRI guidance, but could become portable and dramatically improve quality of life for neurological conditions currently requiring invasive deep brain stimulation. A caller with adrenal cancer asks about fasting-mimicking diets. Dr. Dawn explains that 14-hour fasting before chemotherapy improves outcomes because healthy cells can downshift metabolism while cancer cells cannot. Cancer cells rely only on glycolysis without mitochondrial function, making them vulnerable during fasting states. She recommends chronotherapy - scheduling treatments during fasting periods - and expresses optimism about new cancer therapies like CAR-T cells and CRISPR technologies. An emailer asks about inulin fiber for fatty liver disease. Dr. Dawn explains how this fiber found in chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, and root vegetables stimulates gut bacteria to break down fructose before it reaches the liver, preventing fructose-induced hepatic lipogenesis. Inulin supplementation protects against fatty liver disease, increases antioxidant production, and helps with obesity by reshaping the gut microbiome to better process dietary sugars.

Leah provides a focused breakdown of how hepatitis B and C can be service-connected for VA disability claims. She explains the basics of hepatitis, common ways veterans may have been exposed during service (such as air gun injections or pre-1992 blood transfusions), and the criteria needed for direct or secondary service connection, including the importance of a medical nexus. Leah also highlights VA rating criteria, C&P exam expectations, and useful strategies like gathering strong medical documentation, requesting nexus letters, and referencing VA fast letters. 

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 9-25-2025: Dr. Dawn opens with disturbing whistleblower allegations from Patrick Chase about organ transplant corruption. He claims poor patients at Parkland Hospital were systematically denied kidneys that were redirected to wealthier patients at UT Southwestern Medical Center. In 36 documented cases, doctors rejected kidneys as unsuitable for Parkland patients, then transplanted those same organs at the prestigious academic hospital. Chase alleges financial incentives corrupt the entire system, from procurement organizations to waiting list management. She discusses widespread scientific fraud in medical journals, citing research about PLOS journal showing 45 editors facilitated acceptance of fraudulent papers at rates far exceeding chance. These editors represented only 1.3% of reviewers but were responsible for 30% of retracted articles. Paper mills now use AI to generate fake studies with fabricated data, selling authorship to academics seeking publication credits. This undermines evidence-based medicine when treatment guidelines rely on potentially fraudulent research. Dr. Dawn introduces holy basil as a sleep aid beyond melatonin, explaining how its active compound ocimum lowers cortisol and inhibits orexin pathways that promote wakefulness. Unlike melatonin which signals sleep onset, holy basil helps maintain deep sleep by preventing middle-of-night stress spikes. She recommends 500 milligrams of aqueous leaf extract, noting this Ayurvedic herb may be particularly helpful for menopausal women experiencing sleep disruption. She warns about medication-induced osteoporosis, revealing that proton pump inhibitors increase hip fracture risk by 217% after four years of use by impairing calcium absorption and triggering parathyroid hormone release. Antidepressants pose similar risks, with SSRIs increasing fracture risk by 68% and causing women to lose bone 1.6 times faster than non-users. Cancer treatments like androgen deprivation therapy cause severe bone loss, with 81% of long-term users developing osteoporosis. Dr. Dawn challenges cholesterol treatment guidelines, explaining that Quest Labs' recommendation for LDL under 100 contradicts actual medical standards. The Veterans Administration only recommends statins for LDL above 190 plus high cardiovascular risk, or 12% ten-year risk calculated using multiple factors. She criticizes the focus on cosmetic cholesterol numbers while ignoring that high-dose statins increase diabetes risk, which is a greater health threat than elevated LDL alone. A caller describes experiencing severe ear itching followed by facial puffiness after a haircut. Dr. Dawn explains this likely represents a histamine-mediated allergic reaction, possibly triggered by salon products rather than the haircut itself. She advises getting ingredient lists from the salon to identify potential allergens and notes that bilateral symptoms suggest systemic rather than contact allergy. The oral antihistamines the caller took were appropriate treatment. Another caller asks about statin use with LDL of 155, expressing concern about adverse effects. Dr. Dawn recommends calculating ten-year cardiovascular risk rather than focusing solely on LDL numbers. She explains serious statin risks including muscle breakdown and diabetes development, particularly in women. For patients with muscle pain from statins, she suggests CoQ10 supplementation, but discontinuation if symptoms persist to prevent kidney damage from rhabdomyolysis.

Leah explains how veterans may qualify for VA disability compensation if they experience side effects from medications prescribed for service-connected conditions. She outlines what the VA recognizes under 38 CFR 3.310, provides real-world examples such as ulcers from NSAIDs, metabolic syndrome from antipsychotics, sexual dysfunction from SSRIs, and liver damage from anticonvulsants, and stresses the importance of proving secondary service connection with medical diagnoses, documentation, and nexus statements. Leah also highlights relevant medical literature, explains the potential for special monthly compensation or TDIU in severe cases, and warns about common pitfalls like failing to directly link symptoms to medications. 

Leah explains how congenital birth defects intersect with VA disability benefits for both veterans and their children. She covers what congenital birth defects are, the conditions linked to toxic exposures like Agent Orange in Vietnam and Korea or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and when children may qualify for compensation or health benefits. Leah also highlights that veterans with congenital conditions can sometimes receive service connection if their condition was permanently aggravated by military service. She stresses the importance of strong medical evidence, proper documentation, and accredited representation, while warning against common mistakes such as assuming automatic approval or overlooking proof of service and biological parentage. 

What happens that is so wonderful when a MA plan dies?                                       In the "Medicare Advantage Minute" we learn that insured people are given a free pass to purchase any other plan available; including Medicare supplement plans which can be had without Medical underwriting.                                                   This means, one can acquire the finest, most secure protection available under Medicare without having to show evidence of good health! In the "Your Medicare Benefits 2025" this episode's subject is entitled: Outpatient Services and Supplies. Finally, the Veterans Administration has different levels of service, Priority Groups, and we run through descriptions of the various requirements for each group.   Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2025; SIMPLEST & EASIEST GUIDE EVER!" "MEDICARE DRUG PLANS: A SIMPLE D-I-Y GUIDE" "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN: BARE BONES!" For sale on Amazon.com. After enjoying the books, please consider returning to leave a short customer review to  help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

Joining Paul on the podcast is Doctor Michael Amendola, who is the Chief of Vascular Surgery at the Central Virginia VA Healthcare System in Richmond, Virginia. Michael is from the Richmond area and went to William and Mary for his undergraduate degree as well as a masters in Chemistry. He spent some time after college up working in pharmaceuticals in New Jersey and then in 1998, he came back to Richmond and started medical school. He completed medical school and seven additional years of study here in Richmond and then moved to Georgia. In 2011, he moved back to Richmond and took a position and started practicing medicine in the federal system at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Paul and Michael talked about viruses such as AIDS and Covid-19. They spent some time discussing AI and 3-D printing and the effect that both have, are and will have on general medicine and surgery, vascular surgery and the work Dr. Amendola and his team are doing at the Veterans Administration. They also discussed his upbringing and how things he learned from his parents started him on this path of working with his hands and in being an educator. They finished by talking about what he is looking forward to in the next 3-5 years as well as some job advice for Paul's son Zach.

After three years the Game Workers Alliance union at Raven Software in Middleton secures its first contract, a representative of UAW Local 95 on strike in Janesville addresses Labor Radio listeners, Teamsters Local 120 inks a contract at Sysco Minnesota and alleges poor bus maintenance support in Madison, the Secretary of the Veterans Administration tears up VA collective bargaining agreements, Madison celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, Trump doesn't like the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers so kills the messenger, Machinists at Boeing in Missouri and Illinois go out on strike, Amazon workers will have trouble appealing to the National Labor Relations Board as the board is dragging along without a quorum, and there will be a fundraiser for striking UAW Local 95 workers in Janesville at the Madison Labor Temple on August 15th.

Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com The current administration has a focus on reducing costs while also improving the delivery of goods and services. When it comes to handling data, innovations in code generated by artificial intelligence have enabled this remarkable goal. The challenge arises when transitioning from the data center to the hospital. " Fail early" may be a mantra for a software developer, but in a healthcare situation, it is unacceptable.   Today, we sat down with two executives from Phillips and explored the value of applying mobile technology to reduce cost and enhance patient outcomes in hospitals. Both gentlemen are military veterans, and the focus of the discussion is the Department of Veterans Affairs, which operates 170 medical centers and employs over 470,000 staff members. When examining the population of veterans, we can see that it has a wide distribution in rural areas. This can mean long trips for patients to get care. During the interview, we look at wearable devices that can provide information to physicians to help make treatment decisions. These can provide real-time health monitoring to act as an "early warning" system for patients. For example, it can detect signs of infectious diseases before symptoms appear.   Advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence enable Phillips to develop a risk score calculation that reduces exposure to vulnerable populations. Explore opportunities to further deploy Philips' remote monitoring and telehealth technologies within the VA healthcare system.

Leah offers a clear and compassionate overview of stroke and cerebrovascular disease in military veterans. As a veteran and former VA examiner, Leah explains why veterans face higher risks due to conditions like TBI, PTSD, and hypertension, and outlines how the VA evaluates and rates strokes, including temporary 100% disability ratings and residual effects like speech loss or paralysis. She highlights disparities in care, especially for rural, minority, and women veterans, while offering practical prevention strategies and emphasizing the importance of documentation and legal support. 

Rich Brown is a retired Marine Corps Officer, former Police Officer, and the Co-Host of America's leading Self-Defense podcast, the American Warrior Show. On today's American Warrior Show, we will be joined by Mike Chesne. Mike founded Tecton after a storied 25-year career in the United States Army Special Operations. At Tecton, as Chairman of the Board and Chief of Innovation, he maintains the corporate vision and mission while continuing to delve deeply into scientific exploration to create new and innovative ways to broaden the scope and breadth of Tecton's product portfolio and intellectual property landscape.   At the outset of Tecton, he developed the biochemical makeup and design for the Tecton Ketone molecule. He then methodically worked on the methods, processes, and procedures necessary to formulate and manufacture the molecule from the benchtop to large-scale manufacturing. This process was designed to make it the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly process possible, beginning with organic byproducts and enzymes and finishing with no hazardous waste. Mike founded an emergency medical supply company shortly before retiring from the army. This company developed trauma and emergency medical kits for all branches of the United States Department of Defense, as well as many of our NATO allied countries, and some of these kits are still standard issue in several different military forces to this day. Mike exited this business (Caromeds) and went into global healthcare consulting, working with the Ministries of Health of Afghanistan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, etc. During this period, he developed the curriculum for the first-ever nursing school in Afghanistan, realigned the entire healthcare system and medical doctor training program in Afghanistan, assisted in the logistics and manning of the Faruq Medical Center in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq, and helped the Algerian government design and develop their own version of the Food and Drug Administration.   His experience in the United States Army working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) led him to develop a keen understanding of the scientific method and of cutting-edge science. In 2012, he read about an older DARPA project which involved the search for a nutritional supplement that would improve physical performance and cognition by thirty percent. This project started in 2004 and had been funded for nearly ten million dollars. It never met the full requirement, so it was ended. The end product of that research was an exogenous ketone developed by Oxford University and the National Institutes of Health. He ended his healthcare consulting, went to Oxford, and began working on ketones. He is a motivational speaker who speaks at veterans' events and fundraisers around the country, as well as brain injury and brain health symposiums sponsored by the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration. He has received many awards and decorations while serving in the army and served in the most prestigious units in the army. He has served in combat throughout the globe and continues to serve veterans through his charity work.   Mike is passionate about helping others. He serves on the Board of Directors of multiple veteran non-profits and has served in many roles in these organizations, including Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Co-Founder, etc. He will continue to serve these deserving people for as long as he is physically able. He splits his time between Orlando, Florida, with his wife, oldest son, three grandsons, and daughter-in-law, and Alexandria, Louisiana, with his wife, youngest son, two... Coffee with Rich Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/rhodieusmc/videos

Leah sits down with VA-accredited attorney Rebecca Deming to deliver an in-depth overview of how veterans can maximize their VA benefits for their families. They cover everything from who qualifies as a dependent, how to access healthcare options like CHAMPVA, and how to unlock education programs such as Chapter 35 and the GI Bill transfer. They also highlight lesser-known opportunities like the Hazlewood Act, Folds of Honor, caregiver stipends, and dependency indemnity compensation (DIC). With clear explanations and practical examples, this episode is a valuable resource for veterans and their families navigating the often confusing landscape of VA benefits.

First up, Georgetown law professor and former national legal director at the ACLU, David Cole, joins us to discuss the legal response to the Trump Administration's serial violations of the Constitution. Then Mike Ferner of Veterans for Peace checks in to update us halfway through his Fast for Gaza, 40 days of living on 250 calories per day, which is the average caloric intake of Palestinian survivors in Gaza. Finally, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Joe Holley, stops by to pay tribute to his mentor and colleague, the late crusading journalist, Ronnie Dugger, founder of the progressive Texas Observer.David Cole is the Honorable George J. Mitchell Professor in Law and Public Policy and former National Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He writes about and teaches constitutional law, freedom of speech, and constitutional criminal procedure. He is a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books and is the legal affairs correspondent for The Nation.Trump is obviously not concerned about antisemitism. He's concerned about targeting schools because they are places where people can criticize the president, where people can think independently, are taught to think independently, and often don't support what the president is doing. He's using his excuse to target a central institution of civil society.David ColeThe decision on Trump versus the United States is only about criminal liability for criminal acts, not for unconstitutional acts. And violating the Constitution is not a crime. Every president has violated the Constitution probably since George Washington. That's not a crime.David ColeMike Ferner served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and he is former National Director and current Special Projects Coordinator for Veterans for Peace. He is the author of Inside the Red Zone: A Veteran for Peace Reports from Iraq.Two hundred and fifty calories is technically, officially, a starvation diet, and we're doing it for 40 days. The people in Gaza have been doing it for months and months and months, and they're dying like crazy. That's the whole concern that we're trying to raise. And I'll tell you at the end of this fast, on the 40th day, we are not just going out silently. There are going to be some fireworks before we're done with this thing. So all I'm saying is: stay tuned.Mike Ferner: Special Projects Coordinator of Veterans for Peace on “FastforGaza”They're (The Veterans Administration is) being defamed, Ralph, for the same reason that those right-wing corporatists defamed public education. So they can privatize it. And that's exactly what they're trying to do with the VA. And I can tell you every single member of Veterans for Peace has got nothing but praise for the VA.Mike FernerJoe Holley was the editor of the Texas Observer in the early 1980s. A former staff writer at The Washington Post and a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial writer and columnist at the Houston Chronicle, he is the author of eight books, mostly about Texas.He would talk to people, and he would find out things going on about racial discrimination, about farm workers being mistreated, all kind of stories that the big papers weren't reporting. And this one guy, young Ronnie Dugger, would write these stories and expose things about Texas that a lot of Texans just did not know.Joe Holley on the late progressive journalist, Ronnie DuggerHe knew the dark side of Texas, but he always had an upbeat personality. I had numerous conversations with Ronnie (Dugger), and he was ferociously independent.Ralph NaderNews 6/13/251. On Monday, Israeli forces seized the Madleen, the ship carrying activist Greta Thunberg and others attempting to bring food and other supplies past the Israeli blockade into Gaza, and detained the crew. The ship was part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thunberg had been designated an “Ambassador of Conscience,” by Amnesty International. The group decried her detention, with Secretary General Agnès Callamard writing, “Israel has once again flouted its legal obligations towards civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip and demonstrated its chilling contempt for legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice.” On Tuesday, CBS reported that Israel deported Thunberg. Eight other passengers refused deportation and the Jerusalem Post reports they remain in Israeli custody. They will be represented in Israeli courts by Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel. One of these detainees is Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.2. Shortly before the Madleen was intercepted, members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing concern for the safety of these activists, citing the deadly 2010 raid of the Mavi Marmara, which ultimately resulted in the death of ten activists, including an American. This letter continued, “any attack on the Madleen or its civilian crew is a clear and blatant violation of international law. United Nations experts have called for the ship's safe passage and warned Israel to “refrain from any act of hostility” against the Madleen and its passengers…We call on you to monitor the Madleen's journey and deter any such hostile actions.” This letter was led by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and drew signatures from Congressional progressives like Reps. Summer Lee, AOC, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casar, and others.3. On the other end of the political spectrum, Trump – ever unpredictable – seemed to criticize Israel's detention of Thunberg. In a press conference, “Trump was…asked about Thunberg's claim that she had been kidnapped.” The president responded “I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg…Is that what she said? She was kidnapped by Israel?” The reporter replied “Yes, sir,” to which “Trump responded by shaking his head.” This from Newsweek.4. Of course, the major Trump news this week is his response to the uprising in Los Angeles. Set off by a new wave of ICE raids, protesters have clashed with police in the streets and Trump has responded by increasingly upping the ante, including threatening to arrest California Governor Gavin Newsom, per KTLA. Beyond such bluster however, Trump has moved to deploy U.S. Marines onto the streets of the nation's second-largest city. Reuters reports, “About 700 Marines were in a staging area in the Seal Beach area about 30 miles…south of Los Angeles, awaiting deployment to specific locations,” in addition to 2,100 National Guard troops. The deployment of these troops raises thorny legal questions. Per Reuters, “The Marines and National Guard troops lack the authority to makes arrests and will be charged only with protecting federal property and personnel,” but “California Attorney General Rob Bonta… [said] there was a risk that could violate an 1878 law that…forbids the U.S. military, including the National Guard, from taking part in civilian law enforcement.” Yet, despite all the tumult, these protests seem to have gotten the goods, so to speak: the City of Glendale announced it would, “end its agreement with…ICE to house federal immigration detainees.” All of this sets quite a scene going into Trump's military parade in DC slated for Saturday, June 14th.5. In classic fashion however, Trump's tough posture does not extend to corporate crime. Public Citizen's Rick Claypool reports, “Trump's DOJ just announced American corporations that engage in criminal bribery schemes abroad will no longer be prosecuted.” Claypool cites a June 9th memo from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, which reads, “Effective today, prosecutors shall…not attribute…malfeasance to corporate structures.” Claypool also cites a Wall Street Journal piece noting that “the DOJ has already ended half of its criminal investigations into corporate bribery in foreign countries and shrunk its [Foreign Corrupt Practices Act] unit down to 25 employees.”6. Americans can at least take small comfort in one thing: the departure of Elon Musk from the top rungs of government. It remains to be seen what exactly precipitated his final exit and how deep his rift with Trump goes – Musk has already backed down on his harshest criticisms of the president, deleting his tweet claiming Trump was in Epstein files, per ABC. Yet, this appears to be a victory for Steve Bannon and the forces he represents within Trump's inner circle. On June 5th, the New York Times reported that Bannon, “said he was advising the president to cancel all [Musk's] contracts and… ‘initiate a formal investigation of his immigration status'.” Bannon added, “[Musk] should be deported from the country immediately.'” Bannon has even called for a special counsel probe, per the Hill. Bannon's apparent ascendency goes beyond the Oval Office as well. POLITICO Playbook reports Bannon had a 20-minute-long conversation with Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman on Monday evening – while Fetterman dined with Washington bureau chief for Breitbart, Matt Boyle – at Butterworth's, the DC MAGA “watering hole.” This also from the Hill.7. On the way out, the Daily Beast reports, “Elon Musk's goons at the Department of Government Efficiency transmitted a large amount of data—all of it undetected—using a Starlink Wi-Fi terminal they installed on top of the White House.” Sources “suggested that the [the installation of the Starlink terminal] was intended to bypass White House systems that track the transmission of data—with names and time stamps—and secure it from spies.” It is unknown exactly what data Musk and his minions absconded with, and for what purpose. We can only hope the public gets some answers.8. With Musk and Trump parting ways, other political forces are now seeking to woo the richest man in the world. Semafor reports enigmatic Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who represents Silicon Valley and chaired Bernie Sanders' campaign in California, “talked with one of…Musk's ‘senior confidants' …about whether the ex-DOGE leader…might want to help the Democratic Party in the midterms.” Khanna added, “Having Elon speak out against the irrational tariff policy, against the deficit exploding Trump bill, and the anti-science and anti-immigrant agenda can help check Trump's unconstitutional administration…I look forward to Elon turning his fire against MAGA Republicans instead of Democrats in 2026.” On the other hand, the Hill reports ex-Democrat Andrew Yang is publicly appealing to Musk for an alliance following Musk's call for the establishment of an “America Party.” Yang himself founded the Forward Party in 2021. Yang indicated Musk has not responded to his overtures.9. Meanwhile, the leadership of the Democratic Party appears to be giving up entirely. In a leaked Zoom meeting, DNC Chair Ken Martin – only elected in February – said, “I don't know if I wanna do this anymore,” per POLITICO. On this call, Martin expressed frustration with DNC Vice Chair David Hogg, blaming him for, “[destroying] any chance I have to show the leadership that I need to.” Hogg meanwhile has doubled down, defying DNC leadership by “wading into another primary,” this time for the open seat left by the death of Congressman Gerry Conolly in Virginia, the Washington Post reports. The DNC is still weighing whether to void Hogg's election as Vice Chair.10. Finally, in some good news from New York City, State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani appears to have closed the gap with disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo began the race with a 40-point lead; a new Data for Progress poll shows that lead has been cut down to just two points. Moreover, that poll was conducted before Mamdani was endorsed by AOC, who is expected to bring with her substantial support from Latinos and residents of Queens, among other groups. Notably, Mamdani has racked up tremendous numbers among young men, a demographic the Democratic Party has struggled to attract in recent elections. Cuomo will not go down without a fight however. The political nepo-baby has already secured a separate ballot line for the November election, meaning he will be in the race even if he loses the Democratic primary, and he is being boosted by a new million-dollar digital ad spend by Airbnb, per POLITICO. The New York City Democratic Primary will be held on June 24th.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

For the first time, ex-Mossad agents who led the exploding pager and walkie-talkie plot against Hezbollah, which garnered worldwide attention in September, detail their 10-year undercover op in an interview with correspondent Lesley Stahl. Meeting in Israel, the agents, who recently retired from service, share never-before-known details that caught Hezbollah fighters by surprise and ultimately spurred change across the region from Lebanon to Syria to Iran. Last year, the Veterans Administration announced it would begin funding clinical trials to explore the use of psychedelic drugs for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and addiction. However, these trials are small, and even if successful, it will likely be years before veterans can access psychedelics at the VA. Many U.S. veterans struggling with PTSD aren't waiting. Thousands of them are traveling overseas seeking relief at psychedelic retreats where these substances are legal to use, mostly in indigenous ceremonies. Correspondent Anderson Cooper follows nine veterans on a psychedelic journey to the west coast of Mexico, where they hope to find healing. Correspondent Jon Wertheim goes behind the scenes as George Clooney makes his Broadway debut, starring in an adaptation of the 2005 Oscar-nominated movie “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Clooney co-wrote both the original screenplay and this play, which tell the story of pioneering journalist Edward R. Murrow, who took on Senator Joseph McCarthy. Clooney calls it a fight for the ages and says the plot, which revolves around themes of truth, intimidation and courage in corporate media, resonates today. Now 64, the actor tells Wertheim why he finally feels ready to take on the role of Murrow himself. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tinnitus is the number one service-connected disability within the Veterans Administration, and for those with PTSD, it can cause significant distress. A UT Health San Antonio researcher who suffers from chronic tinnitus is studying the connection between the two and how to improve treatment.

Leah  explains whether nexus letters are needed for VA presumptive conditions. She breaks down what presumptive conditions are, referencing official VA sources like exposure to Agent Orange, burn pits, and Camp Lejeune toxins, and clarifies that these conditions are generally assumed by the VA to be service-connected, meaning a nexus letter is *typically* not required. However, Leah points out important exceptions, such as unclear service dates, denied claims, or secondary conditions, where a nexus letter might still be helpful. She emphasizes the importance of working with accredited VA representatives and gives practical advice for veterans navigating the claims process.

Leah breaks down everything veterans need to know about getting VA disability benefits for COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). She explains how COPD includes conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema, outlines symptoms, and dives into medical literature showing a strong connection between toxic military exposures (like burn pits or Agent Orange) and COPD—even in non-smokers. Leah details the VA rating system, diagnostic codes, necessary medical documentation (like pulmonary function tests), and strategies for building a strong claim. She also clarifies how COPD can be service-connected directly, secondarily, or presumptively, and encourages veterans to seek help from VSOs or accredited representatives if they've been denied.

Leah explains the crucial concept of favorable findings in VA disability claims. These are positive acknowledgments by the VA, such as confirmed diagnoses, in-service injuries, or credible lay statements, that remain on record even if a claim is denied. Leah walks viewers through how to find and interpret these favorable findings in their rating decision letters, why they're valuable in appeals, and how they can guide future claims. With clear examples and practical advice, she empowers veterans to better navigate the often-confusing VA disability process and encourages working with accredited legal professionals to strengthen their case.

Remember when US Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a former Navy SEAL, claimed he would be an independent voice for veterans and positioned himself as standing up against budget cuts that would hurt vets? After stiff-arming constituents by refusing to hold town halls, the only voice he's hearing is from the guy in the White House who wants massive cuts to the Veterans Administration. So it wasn't a big surprise to hear Van Orden trot out the “bureaucracy” bogeyman in his latest promise that VA cuts would be all about bureaucrats and not the quality of veterans' health care. Also: Dan Shafer talked to us about his recent column on which legislators will be watched closely for signs of bipartisanship in their newly-competitive districts. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Guests: Dan Shafer, Cherita Booker

Leah and Rebecca Deming from Provet Legal dive deep into the topic of "pyramiding" in VA disability claims. They explain how the VA prevents veterans from receiving multiple ratings for the same symptoms, using real-world examples involving mental health, respiratory conditions, and TBI. The conversation is packed with practical insights on how to avoid rating mistakes, maximize benefits, and when to seek legal and medical support. It's a thorough, relatable guide for veterans who want to better understand the rating process and protect their rights. 

With Hans Breitenmoser, we'll review the latest on Republicans' efforts to pass a budget that hurts farmers and the low-income families who rely on nutrition assistance provided by our farmers. Not only is Congressman Derrick Van Orden supporting that plan, he's also continuing to spread the notion that Veterans Administration cuts are only targeting fraud, an argument that is itself fraudulent. Mornings with Pat Kreitlow airs on several stations across the Civic Media radio network, Monday through Friday from 6-9 am. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Guest: Hans Breitenmoser

N Engl J Med 1991; 325:303-10Background Enalapril was found to be superior to placebo for patients with severe, class IV heart failure in the CONSENSUS trial and the regimen of Hydralazine-Isosorbide dinitrate was found to be superior to Prazosin as well as placebo for stable patients with mild heart failure in the original V-HEFT I trial. No sufficiently powered trials in this space had been performed to assess whether Enalapril improved long-term morbidity or mortality for heart failure patients with milder symptoms and the CONSENSUS trial had important limitations. The V-HEFT II trial was undertaken to compare 2 vasodilator regimens (Enalapril and Hydralazine-Isosorbide dinitrate) in patients with chronic congestive heart failure. Besides comparing efficacy of these agents on mortality, investigators sought to understand how these agents affected physiologic endpoints. The trial was sponsored by the Veterans Administration and enrolled men and the patient population and methods were identical to the original V-HEFT trial.Cardiology Trial's Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Patients Men between the ages of 18 and 75 were recruited from 13 participating Veterans Administration hospitals and had to have chronic congestive heart failure based on either evidence of cardiac dilatation or left ventricular dysfunction (EF

N Engl J Med 1986; 314:1547-52Background Into the mid-1980's, digoxin and diuretics were the mainstay of chronic disease management for congestive heart failure. Vasodilator agents were also commonly used based on limited data of their favorable hemodynamic effects. No sufficiently powered trials in this space had been performed to assess whether administration of vasodilators or any other agents improved long-term morbidity or mortality for heart failure patients. The V-HEFT trial was undertaken to test the hypotheses that 2 widely used vasodilator regimens (prazosin or a combination of hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate) were superior for reducing death versus placebo. The trial was sponsored by the Veterans Administration and only enrolled men.Patients Men between the ages of 18 and 75 were recruited from 11 participating Veterans Administration hospitals and had to have chronic congestive heart failure based on either evidence of cardiac dilatation or left ventricular dysfunction (EF 0.7 ng/mL and euvolemic volume status. Clinical evaluations and exercise-tolerance tests on 2 consecutive visits, two weeks apart, had to reveal clinical and exercise stability before randomization could occur. Following randomization, patients continued to receive the optimal dose of digoxin and diuretic along with 1 of 3 study regimens. The placebo group was given placebo tablets and placebo capsules and instructed to take them 4 times a day. The prazosin group took 2.5 mg prazosin capsules and placebo tablets 4 times a day. The hydralazine-isosorbide dinitrate group took 37.5 mg hydralazine capsules and 20 mg isosorbide dinitrate tablets 4 times a day.In all groups, therapy began with 1 capsule and 1 tablet to be taken 4 times a day. In the absence of side effects, this was increased to 2 capsules and 2 tablets 4 times a day for a total of 20 mg of prazosin or 300-160 mg of hydralazine-isosorbide dinitrate. If drug-related side effects occurred, the dose could be reduced to half a tablet 4 times per day or to one capsule 2 times per day. If the dose was reduced, an attempt was made later to reinstitute the full dose.In order to limit dropouts, rigorous criteria were established for “treatment failures.” Physicians were advised to hospitalize patients with worsening symptoms, and, if appropriate, to use temporary intravenous vasodilator or inotropic interventions for stabilization. Physicians were encouraged to resume study medications upon discharge. At least 2 such hospitalizations were required, along with objective evidence of deterioration, before the study medications were discontinued and replaced with known therapy.Endpoints The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality.Results 642 patients were enrolled (273 in placebo group, 183 in prazosin group and 186 in the hydralazine-isosorbide dinitrate group). Excluding discontinuations that took place within 1 month before death, 47 patients (17%) discontinued one or both types of placebos, 43 patients (23%) discontinued prazosin, and 60 patients (32%) discontinued either one or both drugs in the hydralazine-isosorbide group. Six months after randomization, the average prescribed doses were 18.6 mg per day of prazosin, 270 mg per day of hydralazine, and 136 mg per day of isosorbide dinitrate. More than 85% of the prescribed drugs were taken in each treatment group.The mean follow-up was 2.3 years (range 6 months to 5.7 years). Only 4 patients were lost to follow up (2 in placebo group, 1 in prazosin group, and 1 in hydralazine-dinitrate group). There were 120 deaths in placebo group (44%; 19 per 100 patient years), 91 in the prazosin group (50%; 22 per 100 patient years), 72 in the hydralazine-dinitrate group (39%; 17 per 100 patient years). A reduction in mortality over the entire follow-up period was observed in the hydralazine-nitrate group compared with placebo (p = 0.093 on the log-rank test and p = 0.046 on the generalized Wilcoxon test, which gives more weight to treatment differences occurring in the earlier part of the mortality curves and less weight to the latter part, where the numbers are smaller). The absolute difference in mortality between these groups increased during three years and then began to diminish. The absolute difference in mortality between the placebo group and hydralazine-isosorbide groups at years 1 through 4 was 7%, 9%, 11% and 4%, respectively.Prespecified subgroup analysis in CAD vs no CAD stratification showed no significant treatment effect heterogeneity for hydralazine-nitrate among those with CAD although the absolute difference in mortality between groups was numerically higher for patients with CAD.At 8 weeks and 1 year, SBP (-4.1 and -4.6 mmHg) and DBP (-3.2 and -2.7 mmHg) decreased the most in the prazosin group compared to placebo. Hydralazine-nitrate was not associated with a statistically significant nor clinically significant difference in BP with exception of DBP at 8 weeks. The EF rose significantly at 8 weeks and 1 year in the hydralazine-nitrate group (+2.9 and +4.2) compared to placebo but not in the prazosin group.Side effects were reported in 4.0% of placebo patients, 11% of prazosin patients and 19% of hydralazine-nitrate patients, respectively. The most common side effects were headache and dizziness. Headache was reported in 12% of hydralazine-nitrate patients.Conclusions This study compared the combination of hydralazine-isosorbide dinitrate or prazosin to placebo in patients with chronic congestive heart failure who were optimized on digoxin and diuretic therapy. In what appears to be a young (58 years) and highly selected population of clinically stable, male veterans with dilated cardiomyopathies and low symptom burdens, the combination of hydralazine-isosorbide reduced death by 2 per 100 patient years, increased EF by 4% at 1 year and did not significantly alter BP compared to placebo. Side effects were reported in approximately 1 out of 5 patients with the most common being headache and approximately 1 out of 3 discontinued 1 or both study drugs. Prasozin did not reduce death or increase EF but did reduce BP compared to placebo. The internal validity of the study is high with only a few minor imbalances in baseline characteristics, which do not appear clinically relevant nor to consistently favor any one group. Less than 1% of patients were lost to follow up with no significant imbalances between groups. The external validity is limited by the fact that this is a population of male veterans and the etiologic distribution of cardiomyopathy and heart failure is likely different from a general heart failure population; etiologic causes of death are also likely to be different. Furthermore, the population is highly selected and its unclear how many patients from the general heart failure population would meet study criteria.Cardiology Trial's Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Cardiology Trial's Substack at cardiologytrials.substack.com/subscribe

Paul Rieckhoff, host of the "Independent Americans" podcast and founder of Independent Veterans of America, gives his battlefield assessment about the future of Defense Secretary-for-now Pete Hegseth and President Trump's crackdown on the supposed Anti-Christian bias at the Veterans Administration.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Today on America in the Morning   Ukraine In Question A gathering in London to find an end to the war in Ukraine did not go well, which included proposals Kyiv did not want, and concerns that the US would leave the equation altogether. Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports what is clear is that the Trump administration's patience is growing thin.    Trump's Oval Office Comments Ukraine was far from the only thing on President Trump's mind yesterday. Correspondent Rich Johnson has more on Trump's many comments following an Oval Office ceremony, which included an Executive Order cracking down on foreign funding to universities like Harvard.    NJ Wildfire Grows A fast-moving wildfire in the Southern New Jersey Pine Barrens has forced thousands to evacuate. Correspondent Julie Walker reports fire crews expect the blaze to worsen before it's contained.    Court Hears North Carolina Ballot Case A Federal appeals court is weighing in on a case surrounding disputed ballots in North Carolina. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.    Tariff Lawsuits Twelve states including New York and California are suing the Trump administration for what they are calling “illegally imposing” tax hikes on Americans through tariffs.     It's Electric California is going ahead with more electric school buses, as cuts in federal funds have some other states changing their plans.  Correspondent Donna Warder reports.        Remembering Pope Francis In Vatican City, the body of Pope Francis lies in state at St. Peter's Basilica days ahead of his weekend funeral. Correspondent Clayton Neville reports.     Durbin's Last Term There was a surprise in Congress, as the Senate's number two Democrat released an announcement on Social Media saying that he's making way for a younger generation. Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports.     Town Hall Trouble Going to a town hall meeting hosted by a member of Congress is far from a quiet gathering these days, including one recently hosted by Georgia's Marjorie Taylor Green where security had to use Tasers to regain order. Correspondent Donna Warder reports on how some town hall gatherings held by Republican members of Congress are turning into shouting matches.     Education Executive Orders President Trump on Wednesday signed a number of Executive Orders targeting education, aimed at reforming K through 12 school policies, tackling artificial intelligence, and reigning in woke ideologies and foreign funding at universities.    Weinstein In Court Harvey Weinstein's newest rape retrial opened Wednesday with added allegations from a former model. Correspondent Julie Walker reports.   Prison For Selling Secrets A former Army intelligence analyst was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday for giving sensitive military information to a person he believed was affiliated with the Chinese government.     VA's New Task Force A new task force within the Veterans Administration has been created to root out anti-Christian bias. Correspondent Haya Panjwani reports.     Judge Demands Garcia Information A federal judge in Maryland accused the Trump administration of "willful and bad faith refusal" to comply with court orders in the case of recently deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was sent to El Salvador. Ben Thomas reports that the court is demanding to know what steps the Trump administration has taken to return him to the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Retired US Army Captain and Physician's Assistant Tony Ruiz is now the CEO of Veteran Nexus.  He and his employees support veterans nationwide with refined reviews of medical records and medical assessments for inclusion with submissions to the Veterans Administration for disability determinations. Our library of shows can be found at www.veteranscornerradio.comJoin us on Facebook at the page Veterans Corner RadioYou can contact our host Joe Muhlberger at joseph.muhlberger@gmail.com

Episode 32 - Sleep disorders related to PTSD can be treated! Andrew Colsky speaks with Dr. Liz Goldstein, a staff psychologist at the Veterans Administration. Disclaimer: Please note that all information and content on the UK Health Radio Network, all its radio broadcasts and podcasts are provided by the authors, producers, presenters and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge. As a service to our listeners/readers our programs/content are for general information and entertainment only.  The UK Health Radio Network does not recommend, endorse, or object to the views, products or topics expressed or discussed by show hosts or their guests, authors and interviewees.  We suggest you always consult with your own professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advisor. So please do not delay or disregard any professional – personal, medical, financial or legal advice received due to something you have heard or read on the UK Health Radio Network.

Congressman Rudy Yakym talks about the Veterans Administration's (VA) misrepresentation of a $3 billion shortfall to Congress, which was later found to be false due to poor accounting practices. Yakym criticizes the Biden administration for using veterans as political pawns and highlights his efforts to combat improper government payments, which totaled over $2.8 trillion in the last two decades. He also addresses the issue of unemployment fraud, where $135 billion was fraudulently claimed during the pandemic, with only $5 billion recovered. Yakym introduces legislation to extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting fraudsters and to protect Jewish students and faculty from discrimination and ties to terrorist groups. Additional interviews with Congressman Eric Burlison, who sheds light on the potential end of taxpayer-funded media, citing the abundance of information sources and the U.S.'s $37 trillion debt, and The Wellness Company's Dr. Peter McCullough, who shares new scientific research indicating that repeated COVID-19 vaccinations may harm individuals by causing the body to produce harmful antibodies, leading to recurring infections. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After answering repeated questions from CNN anchor Kaitlin Collins about the Signal group chat breach and security of communications among Trump cabinet members, VA Secretary Doug Collins turned the question around and asked Collins about a $5 million defamation suit her network settled with a veteran who successfully argued he had been libeled about his involvement in the Afghanistan withdrawal. Jimmy explains how Collins ignores the most important part of the Signal breach story. Plus segments on the REAL reason Trump is shipping all those alleged gang members from Venezuela to El Salvador, newly minted HHS Secretary RFK Jr. targeting big processed foods manufacturers and James Corbett talking to Jimmy about the phony left-right divide. Also featuring Stef Zamorano and Mike MacRae. Plus a phone call from JD Vance!

Mike Esworthy, Chief Strategy Officer at EnableComp, understands the challenges that health systems face when dealing with complex health claims such as workers' compensation, Veterans Administration, motor vehicle accidents, Medicaid, and out-of-state claims. These exception-based claims require deep subject matter expertise to identify the right payer and process the claims correctly. Using AI-driven technology, EnableComp helps hospitals manage complex claims, minimize the number of denials, optimize revenue, and allow them to focus on their core commercial claims.  Mike explains, "I think the easiest example to provide in that context, if you look at a worker's comp claim, more often than not, when a patient comes into the hospital, they don't know who their company's workers' comp provider is, and so often they hand over the commercial insurance card. If that doesn't get caught early, the commercial insurance gets billed, it results in a denial, and the claim sits out there in the ether for 30, 45 days before it comes back to the provider to go figure out who is the right payer class for this. So that's the big picture of the challenges. And then each of those claim types has unique nuances that make this challenging." "I think there are a lot of good things happening in the VA that are, in theory, improving access for veterans, and that's a great thing. From a claim standpoint, though, I think all of the core challenges still remain. And so I know that many of the EMRs have been putting a focus on interoperability, and all of that is great from a treatment care coordination, getting veterans seen in hospitals, and getting them through the door." "But once they've been treated, all of the same challenges that were prevalent before, all of these announcements are still out there. And I think the complexity still exists in terms of not being a normal payer pathway for providers and not knowing all the specific rules. One such example is that you were only allowed one appeal level within the veteran's claims, which means you have to get it right the first time. And so there's a really important component of knowing how to process the claim, getting it done correctly, and ensuring that you're maximizing the yield and the outcome of the claim itself." #EnableComp #VeteranCare #HealthcareInnovation #ComplexRCM  enablecomp.com Download the transcript here

Mike Esworthy, Chief Strategy Officer at EnableComp, understands the challenges that health systems face when dealing with complex health claims such as workers' compensation, Veterans Administration, motor vehicle accidents, Medicaid, and out-of-state claims. These exception-based claims require deep subject matter expertise to identify the right payer and process the claims correctly. Using AI-driven technology, EnableComp helps hospitals manage complex claims, minimize the number of denials, optimize revenue, and allow them to focus on their core commercial claims.  Mike explains, "I think the easiest example to provide in that context, if you look at a worker's comp claim, more often than not, when a patient comes into the hospital, they don't know who their company's workers' comp provider is, and so often they hand over the commercial insurance card. If that doesn't get caught early, the commercial insurance gets billed, it results in a denial, and the claim sits out there in the ether for 30, 45 days before it comes back to the provider to go figure out who is the right payer class for this. So that's the big picture of the challenges. And then each of those claim types has unique nuances that make this challenging." "I think there are a lot of good things happening in the VA that are, in theory, improving access for veterans, and that's a great thing. From a claim standpoint, though, I think all of the core challenges still remain. And so I know that many of the EMRs have been putting a focus on interoperability, and all of that is great from a treatment care coordination, getting veterans seen in hospitals, and getting them through the door." "But once they've been treated, all of the same challenges that were prevalent before, all of these announcements are still out there. And I think the complexity still exists in terms of not being a normal payer pathway for providers and not knowing all the specific rules. One such example is that you were only allowed one appeal level within the veteran's claims, which means you have to get it right the first time. And so there's a really important component of knowing how to process the claim, getting it done correctly, and ensuring that you're maximizing the yield and the outcome of the claim itself." #EnableComp #VeteranCare #HealthcareInnovation #ComplexRCM  enablecomp.com Listen to the podcast here

Today, we dive into a passionate town hall meeting in Sierra Vista, Arizona, where Senator Ruben Gallego spoke candidly with frustrated veterans about deep cuts at the Veterans Administration under the Trump administration. Gallego, a Marine veteran himself, didn't hold back, sharing his own challenging experiences with the VA and highlighting the real human impact of plans to eliminate tens of thousands of federal jobs. We discuss Gallego’s proposed Putting Veterans First Act, his push to modernize PTSD care, and hear firsthand reactions from veterans who worry about losing critical services.Support the show: https://www.myheraldreview.com/site/forms/subscription_services/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textBernie Sanders delivers a stark warning about America's democratic crisis while rallying unprecedented crowds across the Midwest. Speaking candidly with Pod Save America from Warren, Michigan, Sanders draws a staggering 10,000 attendees—an extraordinary turnout for a non-campaign event that signals growing resistance to what he describes as an oligarchic takeover."We're no longer moving toward an oligarchy, we are living in one," Sanders declares, pointing to Trump's inauguration ceremony where America's three wealthiest individuals sat prominently alongside thirteen billionaire cabinet nominees. This concentration of wealth and power, coupled with aggressive moves toward authoritarianism, represents what Sanders calls "the scariest times in my lifetime."The conversation delves into the Republicans' proposed reconciliation bill, which would provide $1.1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans while slashing Medicaid, nutrition programs, and education funding. Perhaps most shocking is the plan to eliminate 83,000 positions at the Veterans Administration—many held by veterans themselves. "I can't think of a less popular decision," Sanders notes.Despite these challenges, Sanders finds hope in the massive crowds gathering at his rallies. He believes when constituents mobilize in overwhelming numbers, they can make lawmakers more afraid of voter backlash than they are of Elon Musk's financial threats. "When people stand up and talk, when your phone line bangs off the hook, when you see rallies...you know what, I'm going to think twice about it," he explains.The conversation takes a surprisingly personal turn when Sanders reveals he's only tried marijuana twice in his life and "it didn't quite agree with me," politely declining the interviewer's suggestion to "get stoned" and discuss the future. This moment of levity underscores that while Sanders might be leading a movement against oligarchy, his approach remains firmly grounded in pragmatic political organizing.Join the movement to protect American democracy from billionaire control. Stand up, speak out, and show politicians that the people's voice still matters more than Musk's billions. Support the show

Dr. Halinder Mangat, Director of Research at the Brain Trauma Foundation, has developed evidence-based guidelines for treating severe traumatic brain injuries, which have been shown to improve outcomes significantly. The Foundation is conducting research in collaboration with the US Defense Department and Veterans Administration, including a clinical trial on the use of lumbar drainage to reduce intracranial pressure from a brain injury. While the brain was once thought incapable of healing, research shows early intervention from injuries can result in the regeneration of cells and formation of new neural circuits.  Halinder explains, "The initial focus of the Brain Trauma Foundation's mission was treatment. The Brain Trauma Foundation in 1997 became the first surgical organization and first professional body to produce evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of severe head injury. That means looking at the comprehensive literature body, finding out what robust research is, and compiling it all. Some studies may have contradictory results. We compile it all in a very objective, systematic way to then frame recommendations as to the best practice, and these fall under the umbrella of evidence-based medicine. In 1997, the first edition was published. Over the years, multiple studies have shown that this set of guidelines has improved good outcomes or decreased poor outcomes by 50%, which is the most remarkable intervention, perhaps short of vaccines or antibiotics. But in the surgical field, it is probably the most impactful intervention."   "So the first impact of the injury causes X amount of damage, and then following that, there is a cascade of it like dominoes falling. The whole focus has been to prevent downstream dominoes from falling by early intervention. And after the first injury when a few dominoes, for example, have fallen, the goal of the guidelines has been to as early and as intensively as possible to minimize downstream dominos falling, which means secondary injury, which in itself has its own legacy of influencing outcome. Over a period of time, there's been a lot of trials to try neuroprotective drugs, which would, in the first instance, mitigate the secondary injury."  #BrainTraumaFoundation #BTF #Neurology #Neurologist #TraumaticBrainInjury #TBI #BrainTrauma braintrauma.org Download the transcript here

Dr. Halinder Mangat, Director of Research at the Brain Trauma Foundation, has developed evidence-based guidelines for treating severe traumatic brain injuries, which have been shown to improve outcomes significantly. The Foundation is conducting research in collaboration with the US Defense Department and Veterans Administration, including a clinical trial on the use of lumbar drainage to reduce intracranial pressure from a brain injury. While the brain was once thought incapable of healing, research shows early intervention from injuries can result in the regeneration of cells and formation of new neural circuits.  Halinder explains, "The initial focus of the Brain Trauma Foundation's mission was treatment. The Brain Trauma Foundation in 1997 became the first surgical organization and first professional body to produce evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of severe head injury. That means looking at the comprehensive literature body, finding out what robust research is, and compiling it all. Some studies may have contradictory results. We compile it all in a very objective, systematic way to then frame recommendations as to the best practice, and these fall under the umbrella of evidence-based medicine. In 1997, the first edition was published. Over the years, multiple studies have shown that this set of guidelines has improved good outcomes or decreased poor outcomes by 50%, which is the most remarkable intervention, perhaps short of vaccines or antibiotics. But in the surgical field, it is probably the most impactful intervention."   "So the first impact of the injury causes X amount of damage, and then following that, there is a cascade of it like dominoes falling. The whole focus has been to prevent downstream dominoes from falling by early intervention. And after the first injury when a few dominoes, for example, have fallen, the goal of the guidelines has been to as early and as intensively as possible to minimize downstream dominos falling, which means secondary injury, which in itself has its own legacy of influencing outcome. Over a period of time, there's been a lot of trials to try neuroprotective drugs, which would, in the first instance, mitigate the secondary injury."  #BrainTraumaFoundation #BTF #Neurology #Neurologist #TraumaticBrainInjury #TBI #BrainTrauma braintrauma.org Listen to the podcast here

The Trump administration is attempting an attack on federal workers at every agency and is allowing Elon Musk access to sensitive data. Federal workers are organizing and fighting back. In less than two months, one federal worker union, AFGE, has gained over 16,000 new members compared to 7,400 new members in all of 2024. Clearing the FOG speaks with Suzanne Gordon of the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute about what is at stake and what workers are doing to resist efforts to force them out of their jobs. Gordon also explains why the Veterans Health Administration is a model of health care for the country and the work the VA does to benefit everyone. For more information, visit PopularResistance.org.

Now that President Donald Trump has retaken the White House and is shaking up Washington with an onslaught of executive orders and controversial nominees for his Cabinet, correspondent Lesley Stahl profiles the longest-serving Senate party leader, Mitch McConnell, on his life, legacy and what he will do next since stepping down from Senate leadership. Tariffs were a signature of President Trump's campaign and are now part of his economic agenda promising to protect American trade and recover manufacturing jobs. Correspondent Scott Pelley interviews Robert Lighthizer, the top trade negotiator during Trump's first term who continues to be an informal advisor and confidant of the president. Last year, the Veterans Administration announced it would begin funding clinical trials to explore the use of psychedelic drugs for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and addiction. However, these trials are small, and even if successful, it will likely be years before veterans can access psychedelics at the VA. Many U.S. veterans struggling with PTSD aren't waiting. Thousands of veterans are traveling overseas seeking relief at psychedelic retreats where these substances are legal to use, mostly in indigenous ceremonies. Correspondent Anderson Cooper follows nine veterans on a psychedelic journey to the west coast of Mexico, where they hope to find healing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Doug Collins prepares to take a role in the incoming Trump administration, John Solomon explores the critical issues facing veterans in America today, as we revisit past interviews with Collins to get a sense of what his vision is. Join us as we delve into the challenges of military recruitment, the treatment of veterans by the Veterans Administration, and the inspiring efforts of Doug Collins, former Georgia Congressman and soon-to-be VA Secretary, to reform the system. Collins also discusses the political landscape, including the impact of recent elections and the future of military recruitment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The National Security Hour with Col. Mike and Dr. Mike – We discuss my conversation with Luis Quinonez, Trump's Latino outreach representative. With record-breaking support among Latino and Asian voters, Trump's team is prepared to lead with a strong vision. Quinonez highlights Trump's commitment to reforming the Veterans Administration, revitalizing federal agencies, and ensuring qualified, loyal leadership across government roles.

SERIES 3 EPISODE 20: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Bliock (1:44) SPECIAL COMMENT: Trump completely changes his Arlington Cemetery Scandal story. He had already single-handedly reignited his Arlington National Cemetery scandal by implying the Veterans Administration and the Department of Defense are LYING about it, when Fox News doubled down on his lie, and basically put the entirety of the military establishment in the same position Senator Joe McCarthy tried to put it in, in 1954. The mistake – deciding you and your lies are more important than the military's truth – destroyed McCarthy. And it could conceivably destroy Trump. If one day your spokesclowns insist there WAS an event at the cemetery, only it was the fault of an unprincipled woman having a mental health episode, and that you have an exculpatory video proving so, and then you suddenly change the story and insist instead that "there was no conflict or 'fighting'...It was a made up story" by Vice President Harris, you give Senate Democrats and cemetery officials and the entirety of the Defense Department only one option: to investigate it fully. You would've thought Trump would've remembered not to take on the military with lies. The man who led McCarthy to his doom was none other than McCarthy's chief counsel - future Trump mentor Roy Cohn. And by the way: why is anybody - especially Trump - assuming that there is no security video from that day at Arlington National Cemetery that the military could release immediately? Why aren't news organizations demanding confirmation or denials that it exists, and copies of it if it does? POLLING: Harris by six nationally and closing gaps on Trump in all issue categories, per USA Today. A Harris three-tenths of a point lead in Michigan turns into a Trump 1.2 point lead (but the pollster is one-and-a-half stars). AND A DIFFERENT KIND OF POLLING: A North Carolina news outlet quotes six employees and customers of the city's video porn stores of a quarter century ago as saying current Republican candidate for governor Mark Robinson was a five-nights-a-week customer.  B-Block (26:35) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Elon Musk advocates for the world to be run only by elite males. Why would he exclude himself like that? The newest participant in the Activote "poll" is Abbot Gregor Mendel (Died, 1884). And Timmy Tammy Tomi Lahren doesn't know that airbuds aren't secure and Vice Presidents can't use them. C-Bloc (31:18) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: Continuing our preview of the National Football League season, let's flash back to the one that started and suddenly stopped. The 1982 NFL strike and how I - as a 23-year old rookie reporter - somehow became the confidant of the union leaders, to the point of going drinking with them!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.