Podcast appearances and mentions of washington report

When it comes to John Carpenter's iconic franchise, Halloween, most people may be familiar, in the abstract, with the name Moustapha Akkad as his name is the first to appear in the opening credits for every movie. What fans of the series may not be familiar with is how integral Moustapha was to bringing the story of Michael Myers to life, producing all 8 original movies, even after John Carpenter, himself, left the series. To celebrate Halloween, Brian Santana joins me to talk about the life of Moustapha Akkad, the man born to a customs officer in Syria, who came to Hollywood to bring the story of Islam to life on the big screen. From his movie, The Message, to becoming the silent force behind one of the horror genre's greatest franchises, Moustapha Akkad's life was rich with creativity until his violent death at the hands of suicide bombers in Amman, Jordan. This is the story of his life and his enduring legacy, honoring the man who was so pivotal in making Michael Myers and the season what it is today. Get A Murder On Campus: The Professor, The Cop, and North Carolina's Most Notorious Cold Case hereCheck out Chapter 91 with Brian and Cameron Santana hereCheck out Chapter 105: Summer's Almost Gone with Brian Santana and J.T. Townsend hereCheck out Chapter 114: The Devil in the Details-The Unsolved Death of Jeannette DePalma w/ Brian Santana hereConnect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: @bookofthedeadpodX: @bkofthedeadpodFacebook: The Book of the Dead PodcastTikTok: BookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at www.botdpod.comAkkad, Moustapha (1930–2005) | Encyclopedia.com. (n.d.). https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/akkad-moustapha-1930-2005Al-Atraqchi, F. (2007, September 2). Halloween producer's epic plan. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2007/9/2/halloween-producers-epic-planBrayson, J. (2018, October 18). Who is Moustapha Akkad? ‘Halloween' is dedicated to someone who shaped the franchise. Bustle. https://www.bustle.com/p/who-is-moustapha-akkad-halloween-is-dedicated-to-someone-who-shaped-the-franchise-12576403CNN.com - Jordan confirms al Qaeda behind hotel blasts - Nov 12, 2005. (n.d.). https://web.archive.org/web/20080527142122/http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/11/12/jordan.blasts/index.htmlCole, J. (2005, November 15). Strange death of Moustapha Akkad. Informed Comment. https://www.juancole.com/2005/11/strange-death-of-moustapha-akkad.htmlDossey, E. (2018, November 6). No Sleep October: The Halloween Franchise - Midwest Film Journal. Midwest Film Journal. https://midwestfilmjournal.com/2018/10/31/no-sleep-october-the-halloween-franchise/Film Comment. (2017, January 19). Keeping the faith. https://www.filmcomment.com/article/moustapha-akkad/Hollywood producer, daughter died in bombing. (2005, November 11). NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10002363Mattar, S. (2005, November 5). “Halloween” Producer Akkad Dies in Jordan. Backstage. https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/halloween-producer-akkad-dies-jordan-38743/Moustapha Akkad - Arab America. (2015, June 2). Arab America. https://www.arabamerica.com/arabamericans/moustapha-akkad/Nov 12, 2005, page 42 - The Pantagraph at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/75766674/?match=1&terms=moustapha%20akkadO'Scannlain, D. F. (2015). BOYER v. CHAPPELL. In United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2015/07/16/13-99006.pdfPeople v. Boyer -  S029476 - Thu, 05/11/2006 | California Supreme Court Resources. (n.d.). https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/people-v-boyer-33625People v. Boyer (1989). (n.d.). Justia Law. https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/48/247.htmlSpinner, J. (2005, November 15). Motive Glimpsed in Jordan Attack. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/14/AR2005111400230.htmlTCF Staff. (2005, November 9). Deadly Bombings Hit Jordan. The Street. https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/deadly-bombings-hit-jordan-10252100The Associated Press. (2005a, November 12). Moustapha Akkad, 75, producer of “Halloween” films. Asbury Park Press, A13.The Associated Press. (2005b, November 12). Moustapha Akkad, 75, Who Produced Religious and Horror Films, Is Dead. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/12/obituaries/moustapha-akkad-75-who-produced-religious-and-horror-films-is.htmlThompson, S. (2020, October 18). Inside the legacy of the Multimillion-Dollar ‘Halloween' franchise as the original returns to theaters. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/simonthompson/2020/10/18/inside-the-legacy-of-the-multimillion-dollar-halloween-franchise-as-the-original-returns-to-theaters/Tüfekçi̇, A. (2020, November 25). Understanding Moustapha Akkad through ‘The Message' he left. Daily Sabah. https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/cinema/understanding-moustapha-akkad-through-the-message-he-leftTwair, S. (2009, August 31). Moustapha Akkad (1933-2005). Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. https://www.wrmea.org/2006-january-february/moustapha-akkad-1933-2005.htmlVoa. (2009, October 30). Arab-American filmmaker Mustafa Al Akkad Killed in Jordan Terrorist Attack. Voice of America. https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2005-11-18-voa23/391281.htmlIf you enjoyed the episode, consider leaving a review or rating! It helps more than you know! If you have a case suggestion, or want attention brought to a loved one's case, email me at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com with Case Suggestion in the subject line.Stay safe, stay curious, and stay vigilant.

It's Day 27 of the government shutdown, and the largest government workers union in the country thinks the Democrats should work with the GOP to pass a clean Continuing Resolution — no word yet from Chuck Schumer … President Trump imposes toughest sanctions yet on Russia'a two biggest oil companies, while the EU, in a coordinated move, prepares a massive loan to Ukraine — using seized Russian assets as collateral … all this and more.

We are worried about the situation with Venezuela and the potential for a military operation on that country. Join us for an insightful Global South-to South conversation with Mustafa Fetouri, an award-winning Libyan journalist, columnist, author, and translator, with contributions to major outlets like Middle East Monitor, Al-Monitor, and Washington Report, and a focus on North Africa and the Sahel region. Follow Mustafa Fetouri's excellent coverage and analysis: @MFetouri on XMiddle East Monitor: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/authors/dr-mustafa-fetouri/The New Arab: https://www.newarab.com/author/74695/mustafa-fetouriAl Monitor: https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/mustafa-fetouri.htmlWashington Report on Middle East Affairs: https://www.wrmea.org/other/from-skulls-to-sovereignty-africa-demands-colonial-justice.htmlSíguenos: @Contraelite1 en X, Instagram y Facebook PlataformasYouTube: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/ContraeliteOnYouTube⁠⁠ Apple: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/ContraeliteOnApple⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/ContraeliteOnSpotify⁠⁠ Google: ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/ContraeliteOnGoogle⁠⁠ Our breaks music is "Draco" by Yung Kartz (⁠⁠https://www.yungkartzbeats.com/⁠⁠)

The House stays out while the Senate tries, tries, tries again to pass a bill to reopen the government, but Democrats will have none of it, so they'll try, try, try again … Trump defeats a U.N. global carbon tax you probably didn't even know was on the dock … the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in a case that may overturn a 39-year-old precedent on how to account for race in the drawing of congressional (and state legislative) district lines … NY AG Letitia James and former National Security Advisor John Bolton are both indicted … Trump asks the Supreme Court to okay his deployment of the National Guard … just where is Trump on Russia and Ukraine, anyway? … all this and more.

The federal government shuts down for only the 11th time in history, and you've got a front-row seat to all the action — the House stays out, while Senate Republicans and Democrats blame each other … Bari Weiss joins CBS News as editor-in-chief … President Trump orders the deployment of the National Guard, but a federal district judge HE APPOINTED says no, twice … all this and more.

Senate comes back into session to vote again on government funding bill, but House stays out — for the whole week? … will there be a deal, or not? President Trump meets today with congressional leaders to discuss … Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted last week … SCOTUS rules that President Trump can use a pocket rescission to save taxpayers $4 billion in funding that was previously approved by Congress … all this and more.

House and Senate try to pass a funding bill to keep the government open, and get only halfway there — House says yes, Senate says no — so we're still on track for a government shutdown next week … Just what ARE those pesky “enhanced ObamaCare premium tax credits” the Democrats keep talking about, anyway? … Five weeks after the Alaska Summit, it's fair to say Putin is no closer to ending his war on Ukraine, so what's next? … All this and more

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Ahmad Abushawish is a 19-year-old writer and activist from Gaza. He has successfully conveyed his voice and the stories of his people through several prestigious platforms, including Al Jazeera, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Electronic Intifada, Prism Reports, and We Are Not Numbers. He is also an alumnus of the Access 16 program. Ahmad aspires to pursue higher education abroad and earn a scholarship at a prestigious university, where he hopes to further develop his skills and amplify the voices of his community. He joins us from Nuseirat, Gaza, hours after he completed his final high school (Leaving Cert equivalent) exams. What a fabulous young man. May he live to fulfill his dreams. Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-two-134250846

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Ahmad Abushawish is a 19-year-old writer and activist from Gaza. He has successfully conveyed his voice and the stories of his people through several prestigious platforms, including Al Jazeera, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Electronic Intifada, Prism Reports, and We Are Not Numbers. He is also an alumnus of the Access 16 program. Ahmad aspires to pursue higher education abroad and earn a scholarship at a prestigious university, where he hopes to further develop his skills and amplify the voices of his community. He joins us from Nuseirat, Gaza, hours after he completed his final high school (Leaving Cert equivalent) exams. What a fabulous young man. May he live to fulfill his dreams. Support Dignity for Palestine here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/dignity-for-two-134250846

House and Senate are in for one more week before government funding expires — can they strike a deal to keep the government open? … Senate invokes nuclear option, prepares to move Trump nominees en bloc … all this and more.

Congress has 22 days left before government funding expires — what are the odds of a shutdown? … the Senate GOP plans to invoke the “nuclear option” to end Democrats' obstruction on confirming Trump nominees … Congress has a sneaky way of getting back pay, and you're not going to like it … all this and more.

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Sara Awad is an English literature student, writer, and storyteller based in Gaza. Passionate about capturing human experiences and social issues, Sara uses her words to shed light on stories often unheard. Her work explores themes of resilience, identity, and hope amid war circumstances. I contributed to The Intercept, Truthout, PRISM, The Electronic Intifada, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and We Are Not Numbers. She joins us from Gaza City to share her story, discuss the most recent events including the "double tap" bombing of Nasser Hospital and her hopes for the future. An absolute must listen. Support our friend Hana Salah's family:https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-injured-father-and-younger-siblings-survive-in-gaza

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshack Sara Awad is an English literature student, writer, and storyteller based in Gaza. Passionate about capturing human experiences and social issues, Sara uses her words to shed light on stories often unheard. Her work explores themes of resilience, identity, and hope amid war circumstances. I contributed to The Intercept, Truthout, PRISM, The Electronic Intifada, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, and We Are Not Numbers. She joins us from Gaza City to share her story, discuss the most recent events including the "double tap" bombing of Nasser Hospital and her hopes for the future. An absolute must listen. Support our friend Hana Salah's family:https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-injured-father-and-younger-siblings-survive-in-gaza

A New York appeals court tosses the $515 million civil judgment against President Trump as a violation of the 8th Amendment's protection against excessive fines … the FBI raids former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton's home, looking for — what else? — classified documents … President Trump hosts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the White House, along with a whole bunch of European leaders, but Russia's Putin isn't budging on peace talks … all this and more.

House and Senate are still in recess, so your wallets are still safe for a little while longer … President Trump takes over DC Police and cracks down on crime in the nation's capital … FBI Director Kash Patel releases documents revealing that a whistleblower told the FBI in 2017 that then-Congressman Adam Schiff was deliberately leaking classified intel to make Trump look bad, and the FBI hid it from key congressional committees … Trump meets with Putin in Alaska, and plans to meet with Zelenskyy today … all this and more.

House and Senate are still out … a deeper dive on the announcement by the EPA that it would seek to rescind the “Endangerment Finding” … a closer look at the hypocrisy of Democrat governors in CA, IL, and NY crying foul over gerrymandering … all this and more.

The Senate processes nominations at a breakneck pace, and still leaves town with more than 100 nominees in limbo, awaiting Senate floor action so they can go to work … Senate GOP is determined to move noms in September, even if means going nuclear … new document dump in Russia collusion hoax story reveals a Soros connection … President Trump shortens Russia's 50 day timeline to just 10-12 days … all this and more.

The Epstein Files bring the House screeching to a halt, even as the media drives the narrative forward and a House committee votes to subpoena the DOJ for the files … Trump announces new blockbuster trade deals with Japan and the EU, but says his patience with Russian dictator Putin is wearing thin and he's cutting the 50-day timeline substantially … the Senate has 144 Trump nominees waiting to be confirmed — will Majority Leader Thune cancel the August recess and make them stay to confirm nominees one vote at a time? … All this and more.

House and Senate are back in session, trying to clean up before getting out of town for the loooong August recess … the Senate passed the rescissions package and sent it back to the House amended, and the House passed the amended version and sent it to the president, and he signed it, and we saved $9 billion … the White House Counsel's Office is investigating former President Biden's use of the autopen, while DNI Gabbard says former President Obama's administration “manipulated intelligence” in a “treasonous conspiracy” to create the Russia collusion hoax … the Jeffrey Epstein story won't go away … all this and more.

House and Senate return, with Senate focused on rescissions package — will it pass, and will it pass in time? The House awaits … funding government for FY 2026 doesn't look good — a government shutdown looms… FBI and DOJ say there is no Epstein “client list,” and he wasn't murdered, and top officials aren't happy with each other … Trump decides he's had enough with Putin and agrees to send more weaponry to Ukraine — with the Europeans paying for them! … all this and more.

After BIG DOINGS last week passing the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act through the Senate and then back through the House again (!), the House takes an unexpected break as the Senate returns to work … will the Senate pass the rescissions package? … and lots is going on in the tariff arena, with President Trump's 90-day “pause” expiring tomorrow … all this and more.

In today's BizNews Briefing, US President Donald Trump announced that the tariff pause would end on 9 July, threatening new duties in countries like Japan if trade talks falter. Meanwhile, Afrikaner leaders Corné Mulder, Theo de Jager, and Gerhard Papenfus returned from Washington, discussing South Africa's challenges. Mulder, Freedom Front Plus leader, highlighted US awareness of local realities. De Jager warned that bad policies, not race, deter investment and risk AGOA. Papenfus criticised ANC ideology and BEE laws for harming investor confidence. The DA is charging Minister Nkabane with fraud. Figma filed for a US IPO, a much-anticipated tech listing.

The Senate spent the weekend working on the reconciliation bill, and the House will come back from its recess for a special one-day session to try to pass the One Big, Beautiful Bill and get it to President Trump's desk by July 4 — will they succeed? We'll see … SCOTUS gives the President a big WIN on stopping liberal judges from imposing nationwide injunctions … all this and more.

House and Senate are both in session all week, trying to get work done before taking a week-long 4th of July recess … Senate stalls on H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act … reconciliation bill moves through the Byrd Bath, with lots of Byrd Droppings … President Trump orders B-2 stealth bombers to eliminate Iran's nuclear threat by dropping multiple 30,000-lb bombs … all this and more.

House is out, Senate is in for a short week … Speaker Mike Johnson Rabbit-out-of-a-Hat Alert: The House passes the rescissions package and sends it to the Senate … President Trump calls out the National Guard in CA, even as CA's senior US Senator interrupts a DHS press conference and gets handcuffed in the process … reconciliation is still moving through the Senate, setting up votes when they come back next week … all this and more.

Just what is the Byrd Rule, anyway? You'll understand it after watching today's broadcast … House and Senate are in — the House will consider a rescissions package to claw back already-approved spending, while the Senate will consider more Trump nominees … major moves on the illegal immigration front, including riots in Los Angeles as both the mayor and the governor refuse to allow police forces under their control to help assist federal law enforcement authorities do their jobs; President Trump responds by federalizing the California National Guard … all this and more.

House and Senate come back for a work session before the July 4th recess with a big agenda — passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill through the Senate, and passage of a rescissions package through both houses … and Senate Dems are trying to block Trump nominees from confirmation, and it's time for Senate GOPers to step up … all this and more.

House and Senate are back for one more week before taking a short Memorial Day recess … it's all about RECONCILIATION — which committee was at its markup for more than an entire 24-hour day before it finished up its work? Which committee held a meeting at 10 PM on a SUNDAY night? Find out the details and more...

Think about this — Qatar may be about to gift a $400 million Boeing airplane to the U.S. Government … the U.S. and China may have come to a trade deal that ends the trade war between the world's two biggest economies … Ukraine may have turned the diplomatic tables on Russia … the U.S. Government may have figured out a way to lower drug prices, or maybe it hasn't … and the latest on the budget reconciliation fight … all this and more.

House GOP leadership, still in search of consensus on its “Big, Beautiful Bill," holds up markups on reconciliation … Pentagon IG expands investigation into Signalgate … Trump ousts National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, replaces him temporarily (?) with Secretary of State Marco Rubio … Trump releases 2026 budget, with $163 billion in cuts to domestic discretionary spending and a whopping 13% INCREASE to national security spending … all this and more.

House and Senate return, and take up the task of actually drafting legislation on the reconciliation bill … Pentagon Chaos, Week Two unfolds, but President Trump thinks the Secretary of Defense is doing just fine, thank you … Just what, exactly, did President Trump say about raising taxes on high earners? … a Milwaukee judge helps an illegal alien evade arrest by ICE and gets arrested herself by the FBI … George Santos sentenced … all this and more.

House leadership releases reconciliation committee markup schedule … what's going on at the Pentagon … will Putin get what he wants just by waiting out Trump? … White House prepares a spending cuts package for Congress' return … all this and more.

The House follows the Senate in passing a budget resolution to unlock the magic of the reconciliation process and then gets out of town for two weeks … we're in Week Two of Liberation Day, and the world is still reeling … DOGE has new numbers on how many MILLIONS of noncitizens were granted Social Security numbers during the Biden administration, and it's not a pretty picture … all this and more.

Senate passes a budget resolution and sends it over to the House for action this week … President Trump reveals worldwide, across-the-board tariffs on “Liberation Day” — what are they? … Can President Trump really serve a third term? Some smart lawyers around him seem to think so … TikTok gets another 75-day lease on life … Proxy voting? Paired voting? What are they, and what happened in the House last week? … All this and more.

House and Senate are in, with the House slated to vote on the SAVE Act and the Senate maybe considering its budget resolution … Iran says no to direct negotiations with the US over Iran's nuclear program … President Trump signs a new executive order requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote … Speaker Johnson will get two more members of Congress this week — will they both be Republicans? … the Signal chat thread read around the world … all this and more.

Congress is back for a three-week work period before heading out for the Easter Recess … a district court judge is unhappy with the Trump administration's actions to remove criminal illegal aliens from Venezuela, and is unhappy with the administration's response to his unhappiness, and now a three-judge panel will hear oral arguments today on just what's going on … the Trump administration decided to shut down the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Institute of Peace didn't want to go peacefully … Trump signs EO dismantling Dept of Education to the greatest extent possible … all this and more.

House and Senate pass a government funding bill over Democrats' objections, then go into recess … Trump asks Supreme Court for help on birthright citizenship rulings, and Supremes appear to consider his request … Senate confirms Chavez-DeRemer to serve as Secretary of Labor, and that means every one of Trump's cabinet nominees has been confirmed … SAVE Act coming back to House floor in a few weeks … EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announces he's reconsidering the 2009 “Endangerment Finding” that declared greenhouse gases harmful pollutants that could be regulated by EPA — this is BIG STUFF … all this and more.

House and Sedate have to pass a government funding bill by Friday or else — what, exactly? … Trump speaks to a joint session of Congress while Dems still cannot organize a two-car parade … is Social Security a Ponzi scheme? Musk calls it one. Is he right? … … all this and more.

President Trump will address a joint session of Congress tomorrow night at 9 PM … the House passes a budget resolution, moving a key action item on the Trump agenda — now it's time to make a deal with the Senate to prevent the biggest tax increase in American history! … government funding runs out next week — will Congress avoid a government shutdown? … Joy Reid out at MSNBC, as WaPo owner declares that henceforth, the editorial line will favor “personal liberties and free markets,” to the outrage of longtime liberal staffers … all this and more.

Senate passes a budget resolution, now it's the House's turn … more cabinet confirmations, including Kash Patel as FBI Director … Musk orders government employees to email him back five things they did last week, Dominant Media/Democrat freakout ensues … government shutdown watch: 18 days and counting … all this and more.

House and Senate Budget Committees both pass budget resolutions to open the door to reconciliation — but they don't match. Which one will win out? Is it time finally for President Trump to step in make the call? … More cabinet appointees confirmed, including Tulsi Gabbard and RFK, Jr. … DOGE starts making significant cuts in employee workforces … all this and more.

House and Senate are both in session, but still can't come to agreement on reconciliation strategy to pass One Big, Beautiful Bill … USAID under the gun as Musk's DOGE crew finds outrageous spending going on … Senate grinds its way through Trump cabinet nominees … Vought confirmed to OMB Director, takes over CFPB and shuts it down — temporarily, or permanently? … Trump tariffs are back, and Mexico and Canada immediately cave … Trump remakes US Middle East policy in one press conference … all this and more.

President Trump is back, and so are tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China … House Republicans mull a new reconciliation strategy, with hardliners demanding more savings … the Senate continues to plow through cabinet confirmations, but the Big Three are coming up for showdown votes … a new U.S. Attorney in DC turns the tables and launches a new J6 investigation — of THE PROSECUTORS … all this and more.

Trump is president again, and launches a shock and awe blitzkrieg against the Establishment; the Washington bureaucracy, the Dominant Media, and Dems are left gasping and grasping, asking for the license plate number of the truck that just hit them … Musk in, Ramaswamy out at DOGE … Rubio and Ratcliffe confirmed easily to new posts, while Hegseth's confirmation requires a tie-breaking vote by new VP Vance … Joe Biden's parting shots … all this and more.

What's the latest on the reconciliation strategy? President Trump invites a whole bunch of House Republicans to spend time with him at Mar-a-Lago to discuss the various aspects of all that goes into it, and the discussions seem to have helped … the Senate takes up cabinet nominee confirmation hearings this week, with more than a dozen confirmation hearings scheduled … first up, Pete Hegseth in front of the Armed Services Committee tomorrow … Jack Smith files his final two-volume report with Merrick Garland, then quietly resigns his position … Biden's Title IX regulation is overturned by a federal district judge … all this and more.

House and Senate return to a snowed-in DC to count Electoral College votes … House GOP members will visit President Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss legislative strategy for the reconciliation process … Trump settles the question of one bill or two, then unsettles it 12 hours later … Judge Merchan says he will sentence Trump Friday, but no jail time will be involved … all this and more.

House and Senate have until Friday to pass a bill funding the government. Maybe they'll get around to it this week? … ABC News apologizes to President Trump for defaming him, and agrees to pay legal fees and make a $15 million donation to his presidential library! … DOJ IG report says there were 26 FBI informants in DC on Jan 6, 2021; none were arrested … Trump says GOP will get rid of Daylight Saving Time … still no decision on whether we'll see one reconciliation bill or two next year … all this and more.

House and Senate are getting closer, but still haven't publicly released details of the spending bill to keep the government open beyond Friday next week … DOGE leaders visit Republicans on Capitol Hill to get acquainted and open lines of communication … is Joe Biden really considering mass preemptive presidential pardons? What a TERRIBLE idea! … Pete Hegseth makes it through the week, and seems to have stabilized … all this and more.

House and Senate come back to work, but haven't decided on government funding — STILL … OF COURSE Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter. Did anybody doubt he would, really? … with Gaetz withdrawn, negative attention is focusing now on Hegseth … all this and more.

We focus once again on the ongoing genocide in Gaza with Delinda Hanley, executive editor of the “Washington Report on Middle East Affairs” who tells the heartrending story of an undertaker in Gaza who since October 8th personally has had to bury over 17,000 people. Then, Ralph welcomes back retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft to widen out the discussion to include the war in Ukraine and contends that “the Pentagon runs America.”Delinda Hanley is news editor and executive director of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. She writes extensively for the magazine on an array of topics and her stories have also been published in the Arab News, Saudi ARAMCO World, The Minaret, Islamic Horizons and other U.S. magazines, including The Jewish Spectator. She has written extensively on Palestine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Libya, the emergence of the Muslim voice in Arab politics, and fairness in the mainstream American media.During this (Gaza) crisis, it's been a meeting point for people on the sidewalk. We've had fundraisers, people just come and vent because they're so upset about our U.S. foreign policy. Diplomats come in and vent about how they don't get a say anymore—it's just top-down foreign policy decisions. We've had ex-military people, who served in Iraq, vent. Everyone just comes here and starts to feel a little better because they're talking to like-minded people. The only people who don't come here are the media. We've never had a story about the magazine. It's just verboten.Delinda HanleyWhile most publications depend on advertising to last, we don't have much advertising. Only charities dare to advertise with us because if you're a lawyer or insurance salesman, you get phone calls from our adversaries saying, "That's an anti-Semitic magazine. Don't do that. You won't have our business." We have a real problem with advertising. And also, may I say, we are so happy to send free subscriptions to libraries…Libraries are afraid to have us on their shelves sometimes because they get complaints. Delinda HanleyLawrence Wilkerson is a retired U.S. Army colonel. Over his 31 years of service, Colonel Wilkerson served as Secretary of State Colin Powell's Chief of Staff from 2002 to 2005, and Special Assistant to General Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993. Colonel Wilkerson also served as Deputy Director and Director of the U.S. Marine Corps War College at Quantico, Virginia, and for fifteen years he was the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Government and Public Policy at the College of William and Mary. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, senior advisor to the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and co-founder of the All-Volunteer Force Forum. AIPAC—the Israeli-government-can-do-no-wrong lobby here—poured over $14 million to defeat Jamaal Bowman, the Democrat from the Bronx and Westchester County just this week in the primary. And it came down to $17,000 an hour they were spending on blanket ads and other media against this super progressive member of Congress who dared a few weeks after October 7th to call for a permanent ceasefire and describe what Netanyahu was doing as genocide.Ralph NaderWe know, all of us know, that the armed forces of the United States are broken. They are broken from years and years of the all-volunteer force, years and years of war, years and years of stupid idiotic war with no purpose, years and years of wounds, PTSD, suicides just off the charts now. And the armed forces are not doing well. Colonel Lawrence WilkersonIn Case You Haven't Heard with Francesco DeSantisNews 6/26/241. In a story that could have been written 200 years ago, independence activists in the French territory of New Caledonia in the Pacific have been sent to mainland France for pre-trial detention, per Al Jazeera. According to this report, these seven detainees include Christian Tein, head of the pro-independence group Field Action Coordination Cell, or CCAT. Tein's lawyer Pierre Ortent said he was “stupefied” that Tein was being being held in France, accusing authorities of “answering to purely political considerations.” A lawyer for another detainee said these actions would only create “martyrs for the independence cause.” Riots broke out in New Caledonia earlier this year when France instituted new rules allowing long-term, non-indigenous residents to participate in independence referenda – which “Indigenous Kanaks feared…would dilute their vote.” France deployed 3,000 soldiers in response. New Caledonia remains on the United Nations list of “non-self-governing territories,” the modern euphemism for imperial colonies.2. Following a decade-long legal battle, the saga of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is finally coming to a close. Defending Rights and Dissent reports “On Monday, it was announced that Assange had filed a guilty plea in the US District of Northern Mariana Islands. Assange, who faced 17 counts under the Espionage Act and one count of conspiracy to violate the Computer Fraud And Abuse Act, pled guilty to [a] single count of conspiracy… Assange…will make an appearance in court and be sentenced to time served. He will then return to Australia a free man.” However, Policy Director Chip Gibbons was quick to note “Plea deals…set no legal precedent…the US government's decision to charge Assange under the Espionage Act remains unconstitutional due to the First Amendment's press freedom guarantees.”3. In an interview with Declassified UK, reported by Yahoo News, Independent MP Candidate and former Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn recounted how he was pressured to give blanket support to military actions by Israel. In the interview, he said “During one extremely hostile meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party Committee they confronted me and said will you give a blanket undertaking that you, as party leader and potentially prime minister, will automatically support any military action Israel undertakes?” Corbyn responded “no, I will give no such undertaking, because the issue of Palestine has to be resolved and Palestinian people do not deserve to live under occupation…” Corbyn is currently fighting to keep his longtime seat in Islington North after being expelled from the Labour Party by it's reportedly CIA-linked new leader, Keir Starmer.4. British humanitarian group Save the Children has published a new report which finds “Over 20,000 children [are] estimated to be lost, disappeared, detained, buried under the rubble or in mass graves,” in Gaza. A Child Protection Specialist with the group, on the ground in Gaza, is quoted saying “Every day we find more unaccompanied children and every day it is harder to support them…there is no safe place in Gaza… Neighbours and extended family members who have taken in lone children are struggling to meet their basic needs, such as shelter, food, and water. Many are with strangers - or completely alone - increasing the risk of violence, abuse exploitation and neglect.” Jeremy Stoner, the group's regional director for the Middle East, says “Gaza has become a graveyard for children.”5. On Tuesday, a new citizenship law took effect in Germany, allowing new immigrants to obtain a German passport within five years – but only if they declare that the State of Israel has the right to exist, per the Financial Times. This piece notes that the “[German] government…has…sparked anger by…[cracking] down on…criticism of the Israeli government over its conduct in Gaza, fuelling (sic.) a debate over free speech in Germany, particularly among artists and academics. Sabine Döring, Germany's junior minister for higher education, was forced to resign earlier this month after her ministry started exploring legal options to defund the research of German academics who had signed a public letter criticising a police crackdown on anti-Israeli student protests.”6. AP reports Israel's Supreme Court issued a ruling this week that “the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service…[putting] an end to a decades-old system that granted ultra-Orthodox men broad exemptions from military service while maintaining mandatory enlistment for the country's secular Jewish majority.” The exemption from military service for the ultra-Orthodox Haredim has been a long-term flash-point in Israeli society and the issue has only grown more contentious as the recent campaign in Gaza has dragged on. The Netanyahu regime, which rules in coalition with Haredi parties, fought this ruling tooth and nail, claiming that forcing the Haredim to serve would “tear Israeli society apart.” Many speculate that the ruling will cause the ultra-Orthodox parties to leave Netanyahu's coalition, which would precipitate the collapse of his government.7. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, over 20 elder care facilities in the area have closed in just the last few weeks, which this report ascribes to “The long-term mismanagement of nursing homes by private equity firms,” like the Carlyle Group. Specifically, the paper excoriates how “Private equity firms extract money from nursing homes,” using “sale-leaseback[s]…selling the land out from under the facilities for lump payments…[meaning] Nursing homes are suddenly forced to pay rent or ‘management fees' to occupy facilities they once owned…the same process…that resulted in the bankruptcy of the Red Lobster restaurant chain.” The paper notes that the Biden administration is promulgating a new rule that elder care facilities must disclose their ownership, while acknowledging that “This will hardly solve the problem, but it will allow families to make informed decisions about their loved ones' care.”8. Rumblings suggest Congress may raise the corporate tax rate. POLITICO reports “anti-corporate sentiment is running high among increasingly populist-minded Republicans,” and this article quotes Congressman Chip Roy of Texas saying “There's a bubbling-up concern that we should not be doing the bidding of corporate America.” Roy is reportedly “consider[ing] kicking the corporate rate up to 25 percent, from the current 21 percent, if it means being able to extend breaks for individuals and small businesses.” On the Democratic side, Representative Don Beyer said “Every Democrat thinks the 21 percent corporate rate is far lower than is necessary,” and Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden added “Western civilization is not going to end if there's some increase.”9. The Guardian reports DC area coffee chain Compass Coffee is “hiring dozens of friends of management, including other local food service executives and an Uber lobbyist, in an effort to defeat a union election.” Compass Coffee United, the union representing these workers, “accused the coffee chain of hiring 124 additional people at cafes that are attempting to unionize…[and] manipulating worker schedules retroactively to try to make the new employees eligible to vote in the union election.” The union has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB. Senator Bernie Sanders wrote on Twitter “Claiming that a lobbyist from Uber & CEOs from other companies are workers in order to rig a union election is totally absurd & disgusting.”10. Finally, in more labor news, CNN reports Teamsters President Sean O'Brien will speak at the Republican National Convention. Former President Trump wrote on Truth Social “Our GREAT convention will unify Americans and demonstrate to the nation's working families they come first…When I am back in the White House, the hardworking Teamsters, and all working Americans, will once again have a country they can afford to live in and be respected around the world.” Trump and O'Brien previously met at Mar-a-Lago in January. According to Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz, “O'Brien's appearance does not represent an endorsement of Trump,” and “O'Brien has requested the opportunity to also speak at the Democratic National Convention…The DNC has yet to accept that request.”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