Podcasts about western european

Mary Kissel. Kissel discusses NATO's internal struggles and the need for American leadership to counter a rising axis of Russia, Iran, and China. She notes that Western European nations often prioritize domestic politics over defense, while Eastern European states face more immediate physical threats from Russian aggression. (6)

Each day offers new examples of America's pell-mell rush to join Western European nations in surrendering to Islam's stealthy conquest: Democratic primaries across the country are nominating sharia-supremacists or Marxist-jihadists like Zohran Mamdani, largely thanks to Muslim bloc-voting. Churches that are not mysteriously catching fire are being bought and transformed into mosques. Farms and other properties are turning into Muslim-only communities – and, predictably, future no-go zones – like the notorious EPIC City in Texas.  Now, Democratic legislators in Massachusetts want to establish a permanent “Government Islam Commission” to promote Muslims for state jobs and otherwise advance their sharia-adherent agenda.  Unsurprisingly, such serial accommodations are emboldening the jihadists here, causing them to espouse ever more openly America's submission to sharia. It's high time we say “No.” BanSharia.com. This is Frank Gaffney.

Did you know that Spain just dropped a massive ban on energy drinks, and it should raise concern for any U.S. brand prioritizing geographical expansion across Europe? If you're in Spain (and under the age of 16), you can no longer purchase energy drinks. While Lithuania started the trend in 2014, Spain became the first Western European country to enact age-of-sale laws on all energy drinks. Moreover, Spain also age-restricted any energy drink containing more than 32 milligrams of caffeine per 100 milliliters to those over 18 years-old. And although that concentration of caffeine is the industry standard for most energy drinks globally, some pundits fear Spain including an age restriction could spark copycat regulatory actions across Western Europe. But what do you think: is this a win for public health or government overstepping?

In this episode, Fiona and Marlene chat with Stuart Donald about his landmark research paper, "Lifting the Lid on Britain's Pressure Cooker Politics: How Inequality and Neoliberal Capture Broke First Past the Post." Stuart reveals how the UK's First-Past-The-Post voting system is directly linked to the chronic inequality crisis we see across Britain today. Drawing on 40 years of data on regional deprivation and voting trends, this groundbreaking paper connects Margaret Thatcher's accentuated Parliamentary majorities of the 1980s, the rise of neoliberalism, and the structural inequalities that have made the UK one of the most unequal nations among its Western European peers. Key topics covered: 00:02:10 UK worst inequality compared to Euroean peers 00:03:16 Neoliberal capture in FPTP countries 00:07:20 The Barker Report - Labour's Dilemma 00:11:04 The Middle Class Revolt 00:15:44 Downward Mobility and the Brexit vote 00:17:46 Marginality more important than Need 00:18:28 Orphaning the Have-Nots 00:24:36 Andy Burnham and PR 00:29:00 Farage's new power base 00:32:59 Looming effects of the climate emergency 00:37:45 Individualism - the Road to Hell 00:40:18 What about Scotland? 00:50:08 The Only Conclusion Stuart's follow-up to his previous paper, The Temper Trap, makes a compelling case that Britain's current crises didn't happen by accident—they're structural. If you want to understand the roots of regional inequality, political polarization, and populism in Britain, this conversation is essential listening. Read the full paper here: https://www.compassonline.org.uk/publications/lifting-the-lid-on-britains-pressure-cooker-politics-how-inequality-and-neoliberal-capture-broke-first-past-the-post/ #electoralreform #inequality #neoliberalcapture The Indypodcasters team produce a NEW podcast episode every Friday search for Scottish Independence Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.  Remember to like and subscribe! Get in touch: Email:  indypodcasters@gmail.com  Bluesky: @scottishindypod Visit our website https://scottishindypod.scot for blogposts, newsletter signup and more episodes Subscribe for free to our Youtube channel @scottishindypodExtra for more of our video footage and clips.  Video premieres most Tuesdays at 8pm We're also on TikTok : scotindypodcasters If you've enjoyed this podcast you might like to buy us a coffee?   https://ko-fi.com/scottishindependencepodcasts or choose us as your Easyfundraising good cause. Music: Inspired by Kevin MacLeod Scottish Independence Podcasts is pro independence but not party political.  Opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily represent our views.

Greg Fuzesi speaks with Allan Monks about the Western European economy.   This podcast was recorded on 02 July 2026. This communication is provided for information purposes only. For more information; please visit www.jpmm.com/research/disclosures for important disclosures. © 2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. This material or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold or redistributed without the written consent of J.P. Morgan. It is strictly prohibited to use or share without prior written consent from J.P. Morgan any research material received from J.P. Morgan or an authorized third-party (“J.P. Morgan Data”) in any third-party artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems or models when such J.P. Morgan Data is accessible by a third-party.

Audio Transcript Everyone, it is so good to be with you all. My name is Zeke Wetstein, and I've been here at Red Village for going on about seven years now. So my wife and I, we weren't married then, but started coming to Red Village in our first years of college at uw. And now Cassie, who's over there, and I are both on staff with InterVarsity at UW Madison, and we work with college students to help them to encounter Jesus and to learn what it means to follow Jesus with their whole lives in college and for the rest of their lives. So we help lots of Bible studies, lots of evangelism to take place on campus, but, like, right now, we're in the thick of summer, so all the college students are home. It's kind of hard to believe that we're already almost through with June. So happy late Father's Day to all the fathers in the room. I actually got to celebrate my first Father's Day last week, so baby Howie is over there now. I have celebrated Father's Day for my father before, don't worry, but it's my first time as a father. It's a joy to get to preach to you all this week and bring you the word. But first, I have a story for you. The Qing Dynasty ruled China beginning in the 1600s. And although it was still an empire by the 1800s, it was a shadow of what it once was. With the massive population growth, increased government corruption, famine, poverty, and many other woes, the once shining empire was beginning to crack. The west helped to further break down that empire. Western Europe wanted tea, silk and porcelain, but China yet had no need for any Western goods. So Britain found themselves pouring silver into China to get the things that they desired, but with nothing being bought from them in return. And any economist you could probably ask will about this too, could tell you that this economic plan is not going to work long term. So the British solution was to grow opium in British controlled India, smuggle it into China, and then have a naturally recurring demand through the opioid addiction that would ensue among the Chinese population. Now the British had a reliable means of regaining their silver in trade. The British would smuggle in opium, get paid, and then use that money to buy tea and silk and porcelain, the things that they wanted. China, however, saw the way that this influx of opium was socially destructive, draining the economy and corrupting their population. However, the Qing Dynasty tried to put a stop to the opium being brought in by the British. The British responded in full force, bringing in their navy to force the Qing Dynasty to sign a treaty putting the British in control of trade and of Hong Kong. Hudson Taylor was born in England in 1832, and although born into a Christian family, it is only when he turned 17 that he came back to faith and decided to follow Jesus with his life. He also felt God's call to go to China as a missionary. However, he wanted not only to bring the Gospel to the people of China, but to serve them as well. So he spent the next few years training to be a doctor. And so it was in 1853 that Hudson Taylor journeyed into China, and we must remember his context. He traveled to a country that received him as a foreigner, someone who was part of this opium crisis, part of the wars brought against them, part of the forced trade deals. He came into China being seen as a Westerner who had only selfish intentions and desired nothing good for China or for her people. He was also walking into a missionary culture that showed very little interest, care, or respect for Chinese culture. But this is how he engaged. For the first six years in China, he, like all the rest of the missionaries, dressed like Western Europeans and stayed only in the coastal cities. It was during this time that he fell into extreme loneliness and hardship. Hudson Taylor continued to use his skills as a doctor to help the people of China, but found his witness to be not bearing much fruit and felt totally isolated by the language and cultural barriers. In his deep loneliness, lack of missional fruit, and social ostracization by the Chinese people, he began to reflect on how he and the other missionaries had been engaging, or rather not engaging, with Chinese culture, and how the inland parts of China, which contained the majority of the population, were almost totally unreached by the Gospel. As he continued to struggle, he also became sick and eventually had to travel back to England in 1859, in the midst of the Second Opium War that was wreaking havoc on China. So we're going to leave our our story of Hudson Taylor and the Qing Dynasty here. For the moment, we're leaving him. He's a passionate follower of God who saw a people in need who were being oppressed by his own people. But his efforts to help them resulted in little fruit and in him being beaten down and worn out. So over the course of this summer, we have been studying the life of Moses. A few weeks ago, Aaron opened our series by showing us the end of Moses life. Aaron helped us to see who Moses would become. Moses as the leader of all of the people of Israel, leading them out of Egypt through the wilderness, helping to deliver God's law to them and bring them to the promised land. Wes then brought us the story of Moses birth. So we backed it up to the beginning. He helped to preach the story of God's hand in Moses early life. How God used faithful women to save Moses and bring him up in Pharaoh's own household. Will then gave us a double header. Preaching on Moses fleeing and then encountering God with the burning bush. So for those of you who are very familiar with the Prince of Egypt, this is all taking place after Moses races through the streets of Egypt on a chariot. As a teenager we didn't cover that passage in our sermon series. So Will helped us to see how Moses murdered an Egyptian in an effort to try and help his people, the Hebrews and then in fear ran away into the wilderness. God then met him through the burning bush, revealed himself to Moses and told Moses that he was chosen by God to be sent to to free the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt. Then two weeks ago we had Rob Fisher Premium Mitch is kind of like Rob Fisher, but with more stories and less ads. And he preached on God's equipping of Moses. He helped us to see every time Moses was nervous or anxious or had a reason he couldn't go, wasn't the guy God helped to prepare him and send him. Then the passage right before this one, which we didn't actually get to cover last week. So chapter four 18 through 31 is all about Moses return and this commissioning by God on Moses. So as we're leading into our passage today, what's going on is God is sending Moses back into Egypt. God is sending Moses to be the person to free his people from slavery and to bring them into the promised land. Right before our passage, Moses speaks to the elders of the people of Israel and shares the words and the signs that God gave to him to prove to his people that I am is bringing his people out of Egypt. And the people, the elders of Israel became excited and were on board with this escape plan. Very excited for what God is going to bring through Moses. So our full ark as we're leading into our passage, Moses birth and redemption. Then we see his fall and his fleeing from Egypt. We see his appointing by God, his equipping by God and then finally his commissioning as he is sent back into Egypt. Alright, so our passage for today is Exodus chapter 5. We'll be going through the entire chapter. You can follow along with me in your Bibles. Exodus 5:1 23. Afterward, Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh. Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness. But Pharaoh said, who is the Lord that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover I will not let Israel go. Then they said, the God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword. But the king of Egypt said to them, moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens. And Pharaoh said, behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens. The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks as in the past. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past, you shall impose on them. You shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, let us go and offer sacrifices to our God. Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words. So the taskmasters and the foreman of the people went out and said to the people, thus says Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least. So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. The taskmasters were urgent, saying, complete your work, your daily task each day as when there was straw. And the foreman of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday as in the past? Then the four men of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, why do you treat your servants like this? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, make bricks. And behold, your servants are beaten. But the fault is in your own people. But. But he said, you are idle. You are idle. That is why you say, let us go and sacrifice to the Lord. Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks. The foreman of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, you shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task. Each day they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them as they came out from Pharaoh. And they said to them, the Lord look on you and judge. Because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hand to kill us. Then Moses turned to the Lord and said, O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me for? Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people. And you have not delivered your people at all. Please pray with me. Jesus, we thank you for your word. We thank you for this story in the life of Moses. Please help give me words to speak. Please help give us hearts to receive the truth that you have for us in this passage. Jesus, we just pray that you would help us to be transformed by this word and to be encouraged as we are sent into the world from here. Jesus name. Amen. All right, so you can keep your Bibles open and follow along in the text as we work through this story today. So in our first two verses we see Moses and Aaron's first petition and then Pharaoh's response. There isn't much to their petition, but they do begin by proclaiming that it is the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent Moses. This isn't just the desires of men, but the desires of God. And the other main thing to note is Moses doesn't ask. His words, or rather what the Lord sends him to say, are a command to Pharaoh. Moses comes before one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful ruler in the world and demands that he let his slaves go free to worship the one true God. And I think it can be easy to overlook the courage of Moses here. This is great things faithfulness on his part. Pharaoh, however, looks at these two Hebrews and doesn't see or acknowledge that they come with the authority of God to command him. Instead, Pharaoh sees two pathetic men who belong to the race he has oppressed and enslaved. He mocks the Lord, shows none of the respect, honor or obedience due his name, and refuses to agree to the demand of the Lord that Moses brought before him. He treats the command of the Lord given to him as a request that he denies. Then in verse three, we see Moses reiterate their ask, but with a warning. And interestingly, Moses chooses to warn not of the judgment that God promised to bring upon Egypt. If Pharaoh refuses to listen, but warns of God's judgment on the Hebrews. And Pharaoh responds to this in full force. He first reprimands Moses and Aaron for taking the people away from their work. Probably referring to the way that Moses helped to rally the people with the words and signs God gave him. Then he doubles down. Not only does he send them back to their work, which seems to be brick making, but he makes their burden in enslavement worse, requiring them to find their own straw to make bricks, essentially doubling the work while requiring the same amount of output. You shall by no means reduce the number of bricks required in the past. Pharaoh then clarifies himself. He says that the reason that he is making the burden of the Hebrews heavier is because they are idle. Essentially, Pharaoh is saying that his slaves still have enough spirit in them to desire freedom. They still have enough spirit in them to desire to worship the Lord. And Pharaoh wants to crush that remaining spirit with his increased burden. And so what we see in the next few verses is probably exactly what Pharaoh hoped to accomplish among the people of Israel. First, the taskmasters, who are the Egyptian slave drivers, and the foreman, who are the Hebrews set to manage the other Hebrews. They proclaim Pharaoh's degree to the people. I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves, wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least. And so the people scattered, trying to accomplish their impossible task. Though the taskmasters urged, the Hebrew slaves were unable to complete this impossible task. And so the Israelite foremen were beaten and questioned about their failure. So the foreman then went to complain to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh helped to complete his plot to crush the Israelite hope for freedom. He puts the blame of their increased burden on the request of Moses and Aaron. So it's over the course of these first 19 verses that Pharaoh in his shrewdness has taken the excited and faithful worship filled Israelites who are yearning for freedom. And he makes them turn against the very people who God has used to promise to bring them that freedom. Pharaoh has successfully broken the Israelites and pitted them against Moses. Then in verses 20 and 21, the angry people of Israel confront Moses and Aaron. And in some ways they try to call down God's judgment on Moses for what has happened to the Israelites. They show their anger and most of all they show that they don't think this was part of God's will. They're condemning the actions of Moses and Aaron that they took to try and free the Israelites. And Moses doesn't respond to the complaints of the people against him, or at least not in what we see. But he turns to God and like Adam in the garden, he blames God for everything that has happened. He questions why he has been sent and accuses God for not fulfilling his promises. God why have you done evil to this people? Why did you make their burdens worse? Why did you send me on this stupid quest to do scary things just to make everyone hate me? God, you said you would free your people, but all you've done is make everything worse. If I knew you were just going to make my life and everybody else's life miserable, I never would have come. And that's where our passage ends for this week. It feels like kind of a strange way to end the story, and it's not a very happy ending. In fact, really, we're only looking at a partial story. We get to see the beginning and the conflict, but no real resolution. We begin our passage in a tough spot. We see an enslaved nation, but there's hope. But we're ending with a harshly enslaved nation with crushed spirits, internal turmoil and rejection, and anger towards God. Now, as those of you in the aforementioned group who have watched the Prince of Egypt know, things do turn around and they do eventually get out of Egypt. We will even begin to see this happen next week in Exodus chapter 6, where God responds to Moses statement and questioning of God. But for today, I want to spend some time to look at this partial narrative and see what we can learn from it. It's kind of this question of like, what if? What if this is where the story ended? What if God isn't going to keep his promises and now everything is just worse? So Marvel, the superhero movie making machine, released a show a few years ago called what if? Where they took stories of some of the favorite characters and put a what if twist on them, like what if Black Panther became Star Lord? Or what if basically everybody turned into zombies? It allowed them to explore the impacts of extreme possibilities and decisions on the Marvel Universe. And I think that it's a helpful way for us to examine this story arc in Exodus. Not what if Moses became a zombie? Or what if Moses became Captain Jerusalem? But what if this was the end of the story? What if this was more of how the story of our faith went? Just like how we see pieces of our story from today. In Hudson Taylor's life, we see pieces in another story. 2000 Years ago, Jesus was sent to an oppressed people. He came down to Earth being born in the likeness of men to a virgin name Mary. He was sent to a people oppressed by sin and by death to mankind. And he lived a perfect life. He began his ministry and he preached to the people. The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news. To the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. And the people responded with excitement, or at least many of them did. They followed him by the thousands, watching him perform miracles, cast out demons, heal the sick and crippled. They listened to him teach, and they watched him as he lived out his ministry for three years. But then the unimaginable happened. The tension and the threats against him reached a climax. And one of the men closest to him betrayed him. Another of his closest followers denied him three times. And he was handed over by the leaders of the very religion he claimed to be God of to pagans so they could murder him under false accusations. And so this Jesus of Nazareth was nailed to a cross, the worst, most humiliating form of capital punishment possible. And the accusation hurled against him. That sums up the question being asked by so many. Someone called out against him. He saved others. Let him save himself. If he is the Christ of God, his chosen one, if he really is the Son of God, he will save himself. If God is really at work in this man, if he is the Son of God, he surely won't die like this. But he did. Jesus died on the cross and was buried in the tomb. I'm sure Peter, James and John and the others were asking the same question Moses did in our passage today. Why have you allowed things to go this way? Why did you choose us and ask us to leave everything behind if it's just for things to end up like this? You came and you proclaimed freedom for all people who believe. But now you're dead and no one is free. And so here lies the greatest what if of the Christian faith, probably the greatest what if in all of history. What if that was the end of the story of Jesus? Well, then everything else, everything our lives as Christians are built on, is meaningless. We are wasting our lives following a man who couldn't even save himself. But that's not the case, for Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. He is alive. His plan wasn't to save himself from dying on the cross, but to die on the cross so we all could be saved from our slavery to sin and death. And he proved he had the authority to free us by not staying dead and by rising from the dead three days later. And this is such good news. As Christians, we believe in a God who keeps his promises, who has the power and authority to do everything that he says he will. Our God has Power over every other ruler, nation, spiritual power or false God. He demonstrated that in the story of Moses through the ten plagues he brought against Egypt, bringing about the freedom of Israel. He showed that by bringing them to the promised land. He showed that by David's rule as king, defeating all his enemies. He showed that by bringing the exiles back to Jerusalem in Ezra and Nehemiah. And most of all, he showed that in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. So that leaves us with the question that I hope everyone here who doesn't yet follow Jesus with their whole life will deeply consider. What if all of this is true? What if Jesus really is who he says he is? What if you say yes to following Jesus? Now get back to our passage. So what if Moses let the story end here in Exodus 5? What if he refused to believe that God was a God who fulfilled his promises and has power and authority over even the Pharaoh of Egypt, someone who considered himself to be a son of the gods? Well then Moses would not be the person God would use to set his people free. God would still accomplish his accomplish his plans and purposes how he wills. And if Moses let his story end in Exodus 5:23 where we left off today, his story might be over, but God's story would not have been. Even if Moses doesn't believe God is in control and has power and authority over all things, it is still true. We don't ever need to ask what if God doesn't answer his promises? Or what if God doesn't fulfill his plans and accomplish his purposes? Because we know he will and we know he does. We see that in Jesus and we see that all throughout the Bible. Moses continues to wrestle with this throughout his whole life and leadership. He continues to question God when things go wrong and to doubt. But he also grows in his trust and faithfulness. And every time he stops and asks what if of God, he still continues to choose to follow God. Aaron preached on the end of Moses life a few weeks ago and we know that although there were many bumps along the road, Moses story ended with him walking with God. Despite all the what ifs along along the way, in the end he is counted among the righteous. So let's loop back to our first story. Hudson Taylor we left him in a rough spot. Ministry was hard. Most of the nation of China was unreached by the Gospel. He wasn't accepted by the people of China and is now back in England recovering from severe illness. He probably asked the question, what if I don't go back? What if this is the end of my story. When he was 17, he strongly felt sent by God to the people of China. But now that reality is setting in, the what ifs feel a lot bigger and more tempting to give into. But he didn't. Well, in England, Taylor translated the New Testament into Chinese and founded cim, the China Inland Mission. An organization dedicated to recruiting missionaries to live like locals, travel inland and witness to unreached peoples in China. He then returned and in all the difficulty continued to trust in God. He wasn't trusting that God would make his life great or that he would have a comfortable and healthy life, but trusting that as a Christian he was sent by God to make disciples of all nations and that this is Jesus way of life and it is the best life. Taylor's wife died and he suffered many other hardships. But in each what if moment he pressed into his ministry. CIM continued to grow and reach more and more of the lost in the China. Proclaiming the gospel everywhere and seeing lives be transformed. CIM and Hudson faced much more persecution, the deaths of many missionaries and much opposition. And still the gospel went forth. In each moment of doubt, Hudson Taylor continued to say yes to Jesus invitation to be a witness to the lost. The way Hudson Taylor responded to the what ifs led to thousands of people becoming Christians in China. It led to the unreached peoples of inland China receiving the gospel. It led to missionaries living among the people they were witnessing to and the founding of an organization that completely changed the spiritual climate of China. CIM is now known as omf Overseas Missionary Fellowship and Organization. Organization that still exists today to bring the gospel to unreached peoples in all of East Asia. So what if Hudson Taylor had let his story end in England in 1859? Well, large parts of China would have been unreached with the gospel. God could still have used someone else. But Hudson's meant yes. Hudson saying yes in that what if meant that he got to be the one used by God to accomplish his purposes for that time in China. So it's great that Moses and Taylor were both faithful in their what if moments. But what does that look like for us anytime we find ourselves in a spot considering if some aspect of following Jesus is worth it. We are in a little what if moment and those add up that might be with areas of holiness. Gossiping with others because it's fun, everyone else is doing it. It helps you to engage and fit in with your friends. Really in that moment we're saying what if Jesus call to gossip isn't what's best? Or what if Jesus call to not be drunk or sexually pure or to love those who hate us isn't the best way to live, especially in a place like Madison. It's pretty easy to hate those we disagree with in today's culture. I think one of the ways that I wrestle with this a lot is with money. Cassie and I try to give generously, but it is so easy for me to not think about the money that God has given to us and how it could be used. We have the things that we give to and we put those things first. But I can easily become entitled to the rest of my money and not take a step back to think how I could use it for his kingdom. Instead of make some part of my house nicer or buy something I've been wanting for a while, I need to step back and ask what if God's desire for me to use my money for his kingdom is the better way to live and then decide if I'm actually going to live that out and figure out what that means. In times past when we have done this well, it's meant giving money we saved for a vacation to something better, or giving away cars that would have been nice to have or to sell, or using date money to take a friend we were trying to share Jesus with to a sports game. We still fail at this a lot and I often catch myself not believing that Jesus way is best and wanting to use the rest of my money for me. Another huge one for all of us is with our call to share the gospel. Hudson Taylor took this very seriously. So should we? It's really easy for me to let date nights with my wife or house projects or comfort or just my busyness in general get in the way of this one. What if Jesus didn't really mean for all of us to share the gospel? Or what if it's not going to do anything anyway? None of my friends or neighbors will ever believe they're too far gone. Jesus calls each and every one of us who call ourselves Christians to be ambassadors of his gospel to the people around us, and we need to actually live that out. When we seriously try to live out the full call of a Christian, we will be faced with difficulties and lots of what ifs. If you use your money missionally for God's kingdom, you will have less money to spend on yourself and you might find yourself asking what if this isn't better? If you really are trying to witness to your neighbors and the people around you, you might be in awkward situations. You might get anxious, you'll probably have people dislike you, and you'll definitely have less time to spend doing whatever you want to do. You'll definitely have less time to spend doing whatever you want to do if you're using it to love your neighbour well. And you'll probably ask, what if this isn't the best way to live? That's what Moses asked. Why did you ever send me? What if trying to go to Pharaoh isn't the best thing for your people? What if obeying you and speaking before Pharaoh wasn't a good decision? One thing that I can assure you, God's plan for Israel was far better than for them to remain in slavery. Jesus way is better. God keeps all his promises and as creator of all things, he has designed not only us, but the best way of life. And we should be faithful in those what ifs to follow him, even when we don't understand or experience it in a way that makes sense to us. So Moses was stuck in a what if at the end of our chapter. The Israelites are stuck in a what if at the end of our chapter. And then we'll resolve that next week. But for all of us, I have only one application point as we consider where we might be falling short in our what ifs in not living life fully in the truth that Jesus way of life is the best way and the only good way. So I want you to actually write down this question and in your car, on your way home or after church or at some point later today, I want you to discuss this question with your spouse or a Christian friend. Where am I not trusting that Jesus plan is best? Where am I not trusting that Jesus plan is best? And as you discuss that, I want you to decide like what are those what ifs that you're living in right now? And then decide on something to actually do about it. Over the next few weeks, we will get to see what Moses does. We'll get to see how Moses responds in these what ifs. Let us all as Red Village, trust Jesus and follow him in all of our what ifs Also. Please pray with me, dear Jesus, Heavenly Father, we thank you that you keep all your promises. God, we thank you that you have power and authority over all people, all rulers, all spiritual powers. Jesus, we thank you that we can trust you that you will fulfill all of your promises. We can trust you that your way of life is the best way. Jesus, please help us in our what ifs. Please help us as we're doubting that your way is the best way to press in. Lord, in our conversations, help to reveal the ways that we aren't trusting you and your plan for our lives. Help us to follow you more, to trust you more, and to live our lives more conformed to Jesus. Jesus, please bless these conversations and give us wisdom in how we should live. We thank you for your word and we thank you that we get to gather here this morning. Pray all these things, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen. The post Making Bricks Without Straw – Exodus 5: 1-23 appeared first on Red Village Church.

Greg Fuzesi speaks with Allan Monks about the Western European economy.  This podcast was recorded on 26 June 2026. © 2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. This material or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold or redistributed without the written consent of J.P. Morgan. It is strictly prohibited to use or share without prior written consent from J.P. Morgan any research material received from J.P. Morgan or an authorized third-party (“J.P. Morgan Data”) in any third-party artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems or models when such J.P. Morgan Data is accessible by a third-party.

Gabriella Lena Frank is a partially deaf woman of color telling stories outside the traditional Western European canon.

How do courts work when they work well? You would expect them to be impartial, neutral, and consistent. In much of the Global South that is a tall order. So when courts fall short of it, are they failing?Development institutions ask states to build strong courts on the North American and Western European model. Good governance follows, they argue. This model treats poorer, less democratic systems as deviations from a norm rather than as institutions doing different work.Fiona Shen-Bayh (University of Maryland) joins Tim Phillips to review the evidence on what courts in the Global South actually do, and who they help. Where the state is weak, customary elders, NGOs, even rebel groups step in to adjudicate, and people often trust these forums more than the state's own courts. Taliban courts in Afghanistan upheld due process during civil war. Dictators sometimes build genuinely independent courts, because property rights attract investment and citizens' lawsuits tell the centre what local officials are doing.The research behind this episode:Rios-Figueroa, Julio, and Fiona Shen-Bayh. 2025. "Courts in the Global South." Annual Review of Political Science 28. To cite this episode:Phillips, Tim, and Fiona Shen-Bayh. 2026. "Courts in the Global South." VoxDev Talks (podcast). Assign this as extra listening. The citation above is formatted and ready for a reading list or VLE.About the guestFiona Shen-Bayh is Assistant Professor of Government and Politics, with a joint appointment at the College of Information Studies, at the University of Maryland. Her research spans authoritarian regimes, judicial politics, and the use of legal and judicial institutions as instruments of power, often drawing on digitised archives and text-as-data methods. Her book Undue Process: Persecution and Punishment in Autocratic Courts (Cambridge University Press) won the APSA-IPSA Theodore J. Lowi First Book Award, the Giovanni Sartori Book Award, and the Juan Linz Best Book Prize.The paper is co-authored with Julio Rios-Figueroa, Professor in the Department of Law at the Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico (ITAM), whose work spans comparative judicial politics, the rule of law, and empirical legal studies, with a focus on Latin America.Research cited in this episodeThe triad logic of conflict resolution. Drawn from Martin Shapiro's Courts: A Comparative and Political Analysis (1981). A court is effective when two parties appeal to a third to settle their dispute, and three conditions hold: the parties believe the third party is impartial; the third party is neutral, not predisposed to favour either side; and the rationale for the decision is consistent with existing norms, the idea of precedent. The review deliberately relaxes the assumption that courts are effective only when all three conditions are met.The rule of law revival. The wave of good-governance programmes promoted by the United States and Western European governments and NGOs after the fall of the Soviet Union, presenting strong courts as a remedy for corruption, instability, and tyranny in the Global South.The fallacy of legalism. The belief that creating law through statute, legislation, or precedent is enough to bring about social change. The phrase, from Sandra Joireman's work on property rights in Africa, names a habit of thought rooted in the Western experience, where the state has historically enforced property rights and contracts. In much of the Global South the absence of the state does not mean the absence of rules and order.Stateness. The extent to which a state exercises authority across its territory: its monopoly on violence in the classic Weberian sense, but also the creation of law and the administration of public affairs. Where stateness is low, non-state actors fill the judicial vacuum.Taliban and Islamic State courts. Recent fieldwork-based research finds that Sharia courts run by the Taliban in Afghanistan upheld notable degrees of due process and impartiality, offering predictability during civil war, and that the coercion associated with the Taliban featured in only a minority of the cases their courts heard.Courts in authoritarian regimes. A growing literature shows what courts do for dictators: establish credible property rights that attract foreign capital; monitor administrative conflict, as in China, where citizens' grievances against the state feed information upward to the centre; and, at other times, repress opponents or legitimise the regime by delivering popular moral outcomes even against the letter of the law.Political competition and judicial independence. Electoral competition can sustain independent courts in healthy democracies, partly because divided governments struggle to coordinate against unfavourable rulings. Under instability or an expected change of regime, the relationship can reverse: incumbents pack courts to entrench their interests before leaving, and judges may rule strategically to align with whoever they expect to hold power next, a pattern visible across Latin America.Access to justice and legal mobilisation. Social transformation through courts depends on people developing a "legal conscience", an understanding of the law and how to use it, and on support structures outside the judiciary: civil society organisations, bar associations, prosecutors, lawyers, and human rights groups that help citizens bring and sustain claims.Courts and democratic backsliding. Courts hold neither the purse nor the sword, which makes them easy targets for hostile rhetoric, legislative threats, pressure to resign, and court-packing. Courts that are neither impartial nor neutral can still stabilise a democracy while rival parties remain uncertain of each other's intentions, provided both still accept competitive elections. Once a party, especially an incumbent, abandons that commitment, there is little a court can do alone.Digitised judicial data. The digitisation and free publication of court records across the Global South has opened large-scale, fine-grained study of everyday jurisprudence, useful to scholars and to the judges, lawyers, and litigants who can now see how the law works in their own context.

No slides, no homework, just a party. Host Matt Trump declares his Juneteenth independence from slide preparation and delivers a warm, wide-ranging World Cup Friday night hangout. The big story? Europeans arriving for the FIFA World Cup and discovering that America is nothing like what their media told them. Buc-ee's, Waffle House, giant grocery stores, air conditioning, window screens, and the sheer size of the country are blowing Western Europeans' minds on YouTube, and Matt has the receipts. He connects this wave of foreign appreciation to Alexis de Tocqueville, the Frenchman who came to America in 1831 and never got over it, and then throws in a wild counterexample: Sayyid Qutb, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood founder who visited Greeley, Colorado in the late 1940s and had the exact opposite reaction. Meanwhile, the US team is winning, Scotland drank Boston dry, and America is having its 250th birthday whether the media likes it or not.

Greg Fuzesi speaks with Allan Monks about the Western European economy.    This podcast was recorded on June 19, 2026. This communication is provided for information purposes only.  Please visit www.jpmm.com/research/disclosures for important disclosures. © 2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. This material or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold or redistributed without the written consent of J.P. Morgan. It is strictly prohibited to use or share without prior written consent from J.P. Morgan any research material received from J.P. Morgan or an authorized third-party (“J.P. Morgan Data”) in any third-party artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems or models when such J.P. Morgan Data is accessible by a third-party.

Retirement but make it with beer and chocolate and pretzels!Belgium may not be the first country gay men think of when dreaming about retirement abroad.Spain gets the beaches. Portugal gets the Golden Visa glow-up. Mexico gets the “I can afford this with a side of guacamole.” Belgium gets beer, waffles, chocolate, bureaucracy, and weather that sometimes feels like central Pennsylvania has been emotionally unavailable since 1998.But don't sleep on Belgium.For LGBTQ+ retirees, Belgium offers something a lot of countries are still trying to figure out: strong LGBTQ+ protections, marriage equality, adoption rights, anti-discrimination protections, hate crime laws, excellent healthcare, reliable trains, and easy access to the rest of Europe.In this episode of Queer Money, we're ranking the top 5 cities and towns in Belgium for gay retirement abroad, with a focus on affordability, queer friendliness, lifestyle, healthcare access, transportation, and retirement fabulousness.And yes, as always, we're slightly overweighting affordability. Because everybody loves a rainbow glow-up, but we also love lower rents and being able to afford our lives the other 364 days of the year.We compare each Belgian city to Philadelphia, our touchstone city for this episode, because it's one of the more affordable LGBTQ+-inclusive big cities in the United States.This week, we cover Leuven, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Liège, breaking down the queer vibe, cost of living, average two-bedroom rent, local LGBTQ+ organizations, bars, lifestyle fit, and our Queer Money Retirement Rating for each.Takeaways from this episode:Why Belgium may be better for gay retirement abroad than many people assumeWhich Belgian cities offer the strongest mix of affordability, culture, and LGBTQ+ friendlinessWhy Brussels has the biggest queer scene, but not the best affordability scoreWhy Antwerp may appeal to gay retirees who want style, nightlife, and queer visibilityWhy Ghent could be one of Belgium's best lifestyle sweet spotsWhy Leuven may work for retirees who want a polished, walkable university townWhy Liège takes the top spot for affordability, culture, and retirement fitHow Belgium compares with Philadelphia for cost of living and rentWhy LGBTQ+ legal protections, healthcare, trains, and quality of life make Belgium worth consideringBelgium is not the cheapest country we've covered. But if you want Western European infrastructure, LGBTQ+ protections, healthcare access, culture, trains, and a life that feels stable without feeling sleepy, Belgium deserves a closer look.Stay fabulous, not fabulously broke.Download your Queer Money Retire Abroad Checklist here.Mentioned in this episode:What if your portfolio came with a visa and passport?That's exactly what the Optimize Portugal Golden Opportunities Fund can do, bringing together diversification, tax efficiency, and a path to EU residency and a passport. Click the link below to explore your ticket to Europe.Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!Portugal is calling. Will you answer?Don't just dream of moving to Portugal, make it happen with the investments in your IRA. Investing in Portugal gets you residency, the ability to work in Portugal and returns that just may outpace the U.S. like the Optimize Portugal Golden Opportunities fund did in 2025. Get Your Portugal Golden Visa Here!

This episode unpacks how the Marshall Plan transformed postwar Western Europe and why security, allied cooperation, and forward thinking were the real keys to its enduring success.   To mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaration of independence, CFR is dedicating a yearlong series of articles, videos, podcasts, events, and special projects that will reflect on two and a half centuries of U.S. foreign policy. Featuring bipartisan voices and expert contributors, the series explores the evolution of America's role in the world and the strategic challenges that lie ahead.   Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR   Guest: Benn Steil, Senior Fellow and Director of International Economics, CFR   We Discuss: How the British Empire's rapid collapse in early 1947 forced the United States to assume responsibility for Western European security. What George Marshall's six weeks of negotiations in Moscow revealed about Soviet intentions in Germany and Western Europe. How Marshall deliberately crafted the plan's offer to include the Soviet Union while ensuring Soviet leader Joseph Stalin would reject it. How Congress, controlled by Republicans, was persuaded to support a massive foreign aid program from a Democratic administration. Whether the Marshall Plan's $13 billion actually explains Western Europe's economic recovery in the late 1940s. What role NATO played in making the Marshall Plan work, and why the French and British insisted on security guarantees before cooperating. Why security has to precede economic reconstruction—and what Afghanistan and Iraq  reveal about ignoring that lesson. What Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.'s 1947 prediction about sustained alliances tells us about the stakes of U.S. foreign policy today.   Mentioned on the Episode:   The 10 Best and Worst Decisions in U.S. Foreign Policy, Council on Foreign Relations   Benn Steil, The Marshall Plan: Dawn of the Cold War   George Kennan's Long Telegram, February 22, 1946   “Sinews of Peace (‘Iron Curtain' Speech).” at Westminster College, Fulton, Missouri, March 5, 1946.   Harry Truman, “The Truman Doctrine,” Address to Congress, March 12, 1947   George C. Marshall, Commencement Address at Harvard University June 5, 1947   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President's Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/america-at-250-the-marshall-plan   Opinions expressed on The President's Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

As the First World War came to a chaotic end, Europeans feared that a wave of crime and anarchy would sweep across their continent. The upheavals of the war and of the subsequent violent breakup of the Habsburg, German, and Ottoman empires magnified longstanding fears that an increasingly interconnected world offered the enterprising and unscrupulous new opportunities to break the law and evade capture. New kinds of international criminals and criminal enterprises demanded novel forms of international cooperation. Thus was born the International Criminal Police Commission, known today as Interpol. In the 1920s and 1930s, Interpol's police officials and the lawyers who collaborated with them created lasting programs to combat counterfeiting, sex and drug trafficking, terrorism, and human smuggling, and other forms of international crime, which they labelled "a scourge of humanity." Drawing on press reports, police files, and criminal records in numerous languages and across multiple countries, in A Scourge of Humanity: The Origins of Interpol and the End of Empire in Central and Eastern Europe (Oxford University Press, 2025), Dr. David Petruccelli explores the origins of Interpol and the role Central and Eastern European actors played in developing criminal policing and law during the interwar period to bring stability to their region and reshape international institutions and norms. He shows how legal experts replaced a liberal focus on individual rights with an emphasis on a collective of international societies and of police officers who looked to the international sphere as a space for eluding the constraints of the rule of law at home. In doing so, their initiatives posed an alternative to the imperial and liberal internationalist programs pursued by many Western Europeans and Americans and laid the groundwork for more radical forms of persecution during the Second World War. While bringing to life the stories of individuals involved in shady activities across borders, A Scourge of Humanity explores the vigorous policing and harsh criminal laws established by Interpol to combat their crimes and highlights illiberal forms of internationalism that have left a lasting mark on our world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

As the First World War came to a chaotic end, Europeans feared that a wave of crime and anarchy would sweep across their continent. The upheavals of the war and of the subsequent violent breakup of the Habsburg, German, and Ottoman empires magnified longstanding fears that an increasingly interconnected world offered the enterprising and unscrupulous new opportunities to break the law and evade capture. New kinds of international criminals and criminal enterprises demanded novel forms of international cooperation. Thus was born the International Criminal Police Commission, known today as Interpol. In the 1920s and 1930s, Interpol's police officials and the lawyers who collaborated with them created lasting programs to combat counterfeiting, sex and drug trafficking, terrorism, and human smuggling, and other forms of international crime, which they labelled "a scourge of humanity." Drawing on press reports, police files, and criminal records in numerous languages and across multiple countries, in A Scourge of Humanity: The Origins of Interpol and the End of Empire in Central and Eastern Europe (Oxford University Press, 2025), Dr. David Petruccelli explores the origins of Interpol and the role Central and Eastern European actors played in developing criminal policing and law during the interwar period to bring stability to their region and reshape international institutions and norms. He shows how legal experts replaced a liberal focus on individual rights with an emphasis on a collective of international societies and of police officers who looked to the international sphere as a space for eluding the constraints of the rule of law at home. In doing so, their initiatives posed an alternative to the imperial and liberal internationalist programs pursued by many Western Europeans and Americans and laid the groundwork for more radical forms of persecution during the Second World War. While bringing to life the stories of individuals involved in shady activities across borders, A Scourge of Humanity explores the vigorous policing and harsh criminal laws established by Interpol to combat their crimes and highlights illiberal forms of internationalism that have left a lasting mark on our world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

As the First World War came to a chaotic end, Europeans feared that a wave of crime and anarchy would sweep across their continent. The upheavals of the war and of the subsequent violent breakup of the Habsburg, German, and Ottoman empires magnified longstanding fears that an increasingly interconnected world offered the enterprising and unscrupulous new opportunities to break the law and evade capture. New kinds of international criminals and criminal enterprises demanded novel forms of international cooperation. Thus was born the International Criminal Police Commission, known today as Interpol. In the 1920s and 1930s, Interpol's police officials and the lawyers who collaborated with them created lasting programs to combat counterfeiting, sex and drug trafficking, terrorism, and human smuggling, and other forms of international crime, which they labelled "a scourge of humanity." Drawing on press reports, police files, and criminal records in numerous languages and across multiple countries, in A Scourge of Humanity: The Origins of Interpol and the End of Empire in Central and Eastern Europe (Oxford University Press, 2025), Dr. David Petruccelli explores the origins of Interpol and the role Central and Eastern European actors played in developing criminal policing and law during the interwar period to bring stability to their region and reshape international institutions and norms. He shows how legal experts replaced a liberal focus on individual rights with an emphasis on a collective of international societies and of police officers who looked to the international sphere as a space for eluding the constraints of the rule of law at home. In doing so, their initiatives posed an alternative to the imperial and liberal internationalist programs pursued by many Western Europeans and Americans and laid the groundwork for more radical forms of persecution during the Second World War. While bringing to life the stories of individuals involved in shady activities across borders, A Scourge of Humanity explores the vigorous policing and harsh criminal laws established by Interpol to combat their crimes and highlights illiberal forms of internationalism that have left a lasting mark on our world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/eastern-european-studies

As the First World War came to a chaotic end, Europeans feared that a wave of crime and anarchy would sweep across their continent. The upheavals of the war and of the subsequent violent breakup of the Habsburg, German, and Ottoman empires magnified longstanding fears that an increasingly interconnected world offered the enterprising and unscrupulous new opportunities to break the law and evade capture. New kinds of international criminals and criminal enterprises demanded novel forms of international cooperation. Thus was born the International Criminal Police Commission, known today as Interpol. In the 1920s and 1930s, Interpol's police officials and the lawyers who collaborated with them created lasting programs to combat counterfeiting, sex and drug trafficking, terrorism, and human smuggling, and other forms of international crime, which they labelled "a scourge of humanity." Drawing on press reports, police files, and criminal records in numerous languages and across multiple countries, in A Scourge of Humanity: The Origins of Interpol and the End of Empire in Central and Eastern Europe (Oxford University Press, 2025), Dr. David Petruccelli explores the origins of Interpol and the role Central and Eastern European actors played in developing criminal policing and law during the interwar period to bring stability to their region and reshape international institutions and norms. He shows how legal experts replaced a liberal focus on individual rights with an emphasis on a collective of international societies and of police officers who looked to the international sphere as a space for eluding the constraints of the rule of law at home. In doing so, their initiatives posed an alternative to the imperial and liberal internationalist programs pursued by many Western Europeans and Americans and laid the groundwork for more radical forms of persecution during the Second World War. While bringing to life the stories of individuals involved in shady activities across borders, A Scourge of Humanity explores the vigorous policing and harsh criminal laws established by Interpol to combat their crimes and highlights illiberal forms of internationalism that have left a lasting mark on our world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/law

As the First World War came to a chaotic end, Europeans feared that a wave of crime and anarchy would sweep across their continent. The upheavals of the war and of the subsequent violent breakup of the Habsburg, German, and Ottoman empires magnified longstanding fears that an increasingly interconnected world offered the enterprising and unscrupulous new opportunities to break the law and evade capture. New kinds of international criminals and criminal enterprises demanded novel forms of international cooperation. Thus was born the International Criminal Police Commission, known today as Interpol. In the 1920s and 1930s, Interpol's police officials and the lawyers who collaborated with them created lasting programs to combat counterfeiting, sex and drug trafficking, terrorism, and human smuggling, and other forms of international crime, which they labelled "a scourge of humanity." Drawing on press reports, police files, and criminal records in numerous languages and across multiple countries, in A Scourge of Humanity: The Origins of Interpol and the End of Empire in Central and Eastern Europe (Oxford University Press, 2025), Dr. David Petruccelli explores the origins of Interpol and the role Central and Eastern European actors played in developing criminal policing and law during the interwar period to bring stability to their region and reshape international institutions and norms. He shows how legal experts replaced a liberal focus on individual rights with an emphasis on a collective of international societies and of police officers who looked to the international sphere as a space for eluding the constraints of the rule of law at home. In doing so, their initiatives posed an alternative to the imperial and liberal internationalist programs pursued by many Western Europeans and Americans and laid the groundwork for more radical forms of persecution during the Second World War. While bringing to life the stories of individuals involved in shady activities across borders, A Scourge of Humanity explores the vigorous policing and harsh criminal laws established by Interpol to combat their crimes and highlights illiberal forms of internationalism that have left a lasting mark on our world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/drugs-addiction-and-recovery

As the First World War came to a chaotic end, Europeans feared that a wave of crime and anarchy would sweep across their continent. The upheavals of the war and of the subsequent violent breakup of the Habsburg, German, and Ottoman empires magnified longstanding fears that an increasingly interconnected world offered the enterprising and unscrupulous new opportunities to break the law and evade capture. New kinds of international criminals and criminal enterprises demanded novel forms of international cooperation. Thus was born the International Criminal Police Commission, known today as Interpol. In the 1920s and 1930s, Interpol's police officials and the lawyers who collaborated with them created lasting programs to combat counterfeiting, sex and drug trafficking, terrorism, and human smuggling, and other forms of international crime, which they labelled "a scourge of humanity." Drawing on press reports, police files, and criminal records in numerous languages and across multiple countries, in A Scourge of Humanity: The Origins of Interpol and the End of Empire in Central and Eastern Europe (Oxford University Press, 2025), Dr. David Petruccelli explores the origins of Interpol and the role Central and Eastern European actors played in developing criminal policing and law during the interwar period to bring stability to their region and reshape international institutions and norms. He shows how legal experts replaced a liberal focus on individual rights with an emphasis on a collective of international societies and of police officers who looked to the international sphere as a space for eluding the constraints of the rule of law at home. In doing so, their initiatives posed an alternative to the imperial and liberal internationalist programs pursued by many Western Europeans and Americans and laid the groundwork for more radical forms of persecution during the Second World War. While bringing to life the stories of individuals involved in shady activities across borders, A Scourge of Humanity explores the vigorous policing and harsh criminal laws established by Interpol to combat their crimes and highlights illiberal forms of internationalism that have left a lasting mark on our world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the First World War came to a chaotic end, Europeans feared that a wave of crime and anarchy would sweep across their continent. The upheavals of the war and of the subsequent violent breakup of the Habsburg, German, and Ottoman empires magnified longstanding fears that an increasingly interconnected world offered the enterprising and unscrupulous new opportunities to break the law and evade capture. New kinds of international criminals and criminal enterprises demanded novel forms of international cooperation. Thus was born the International Criminal Police Commission, known today as Interpol. In the 1920s and 1930s, Interpol's police officials and the lawyers who collaborated with them created lasting programs to combat counterfeiting, sex and drug trafficking, terrorism, and human smuggling, and other forms of international crime, which they labelled "a scourge of humanity." Drawing on press reports, police files, and criminal records in numerous languages and across multiple countries, in A Scourge of Humanity: The Origins of Interpol and the End of Empire in Central and Eastern Europe (Oxford University Press, 2025), Dr. David Petruccelli explores the origins of Interpol and the role Central and Eastern European actors played in developing criminal policing and law during the interwar period to bring stability to their region and reshape international institutions and norms. He shows how legal experts replaced a liberal focus on individual rights with an emphasis on a collective of international societies and of police officers who looked to the international sphere as a space for eluding the constraints of the rule of law at home. In doing so, their initiatives posed an alternative to the imperial and liberal internationalist programs pursued by many Western Europeans and Americans and laid the groundwork for more radical forms of persecution during the Second World War. While bringing to life the stories of individuals involved in shady activities across borders, A Scourge of Humanity explores the vigorous policing and harsh criminal laws established by Interpol to combat their crimes and highlights illiberal forms of internationalism that have left a lasting mark on our world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the First World War came to a chaotic end, Europeans feared that a wave of crime and anarchy would sweep across their continent. The upheavals of the war and of the subsequent violent breakup of the Habsburg, German, and Ottoman empires magnified longstanding fears that an increasingly interconnected world offered the enterprising and unscrupulous new opportunities to break the law and evade capture. New kinds of international criminals and criminal enterprises demanded novel forms of international cooperation. Thus was born the International Criminal Police Commission, known today as Interpol. In the 1920s and 1930s, Interpol's police officials and the lawyers who collaborated with them created lasting programs to combat counterfeiting, sex and drug trafficking, terrorism, and human smuggling, and other forms of international crime, which they labelled "a scourge of humanity." Drawing on press reports, police files, and criminal records in numerous languages and across multiple countries, in A Scourge of Humanity: The Origins of Interpol and the End of Empire in Central and Eastern Europe (Oxford University Press, 2025), Dr. David Petruccelli explores the origins of Interpol and the role Central and Eastern European actors played in developing criminal policing and law during the interwar period to bring stability to their region and reshape international institutions and norms. He shows how legal experts replaced a liberal focus on individual rights with an emphasis on a collective of international societies and of police officers who looked to the international sphere as a space for eluding the constraints of the rule of law at home. In doing so, their initiatives posed an alternative to the imperial and liberal internationalist programs pursued by many Western Europeans and Americans and laid the groundwork for more radical forms of persecution during the Second World War. While bringing to life the stories of individuals involved in shady activities across borders, A Scourge of Humanity explores the vigorous policing and harsh criminal laws established by Interpol to combat their crimes and highlights illiberal forms of internationalism that have left a lasting mark on our world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the First World War came to a chaotic end, Europeans feared that a wave of crime and anarchy would sweep across their continent. The upheavals of the war and of the subsequent violent breakup of the Habsburg, German, and Ottoman empires magnified longstanding fears that an increasingly interconnected world offered the enterprising and unscrupulous new opportunities to break the law and evade capture. New kinds of international criminals and criminal enterprises demanded novel forms of international cooperation. Thus was born the International Criminal Police Commission, known today as Interpol. In the 1920s and 1930s, Interpol's police officials and the lawyers who collaborated with them created lasting programs to combat counterfeiting, sex and drug trafficking, terrorism, and human smuggling, and other forms of international crime, which they labelled "a scourge of humanity." Drawing on press reports, police files, and criminal records in numerous languages and across multiple countries, in A Scourge of Humanity: The Origins of Interpol and the End of Empire in Central and Eastern Europe (Oxford University Press, 2025), Dr. David Petruccelli explores the origins of Interpol and the role Central and Eastern European actors played in developing criminal policing and law during the interwar period to bring stability to their region and reshape international institutions and norms. He shows how legal experts replaced a liberal focus on individual rights with an emphasis on a collective of international societies and of police officers who looked to the international sphere as a space for eluding the constraints of the rule of law at home. In doing so, their initiatives posed an alternative to the imperial and liberal internationalist programs pursued by many Western Europeans and Americans and laid the groundwork for more radical forms of persecution during the Second World War. While bringing to life the stories of individuals involved in shady activities across borders, A Scourge of Humanity explores the vigorous policing and harsh criminal laws established by Interpol to combat their crimes and highlights illiberal forms of internationalism that have left a lasting mark on our world. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.

Send us Fan MailWe travel to late 12th century Europe and meet two kings who started as allies and ended as bitter enemies.  Their rivalry changed Western European history.

Nora Szentivanyi is joined by Greg Fuzesi and Mike Hanson to discuss takeaways from the latest CPI reports, the outlook for inflation and central banks. March CPI reports delivered the anticipated spike in headline inflation as energy prices surged in response to the Iran conflict, pushing the three-month annualized headline CPI rate to its strongest pace in three years. Inflation outside of energy was well-behaved, with core inflation up a modest 0.19% gain last month. Although the 3%ar 3m run-rate in core inflation remains elevated, the step-down in March reinforces central bank patience through the initial leg of this oil price spike. Inflation paths are differentiated across regions, but so are central bank reaction functions. We expect Western European central banks to tilt more hawkish in response to the energy shock than the Fed.   This podcast was recorded on April 28, 2026. This communication is provided for information purposes only.  Institutional clients can view the related report at https://www.jpmm.com/research/content/GPS-5277839-0, https://www.jpmm.com/research/content/GPS-5267518-0, https://www.jpmm.com/research/content/GPS-5261954-0, for more information; please visit www.jpmm.com/research/disclosures for important disclosures. © 2026 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. This material or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold or redistributed without the written consent of J.P. Morgan. It is strictly prohibited to use or share without prior written consent from J.P. Morgan any research material received from J.P. Morgan or an authorized third-party (“J.P. Morgan Data”) in any third-party artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems or models when such J.P. Morgan Data is accessible by a third-party.

Jim Talent joins Mark Cox to discuss the ongoing U.S. military and diplomatic strategy toward Iran following a Pentagon briefing led by Pete Hegseth and senior CENTCOM leadership. Talent argues that the blockade and combined military-economic pressure are forcing Iran toward negotiation by targeting its ability to sustain coercive power, while describing Iran's regional influence as rapidly weakening. The conversation expands into geopolitical alignment, with Talent claiming regional actors including Gulf states and broader international partners are increasingly supportive of U.S. actions aimed at stabilizing energy and trade routes. He also addresses criticism from journalists and commentators who argue the U.S. is becoming destabilizing globally, pushing back by framing it as a misunderstanding of American strategy and allied cooperation. The segment closes with a broader critique of Western European energy and immigration policies and their impact on U.S.–European relations. Hashtags: #JimTalent #Iran #ForeignPolicy #Blockade #NationalSecurity #CENTCOM #EnergyPolicy #Geopolitics #PeteHegseth #MarkCox

Is the “Zero-Click” shopping era finally here, and are European retailers ready for a three-way war between Amazon, Temu, and JD.com's Joybuy?In this episode of Growing Ecommerce, Mike Ryan and Chris Scharmueller unpack a huge week in e-commerce. First: Meta's new Stripe partnership for in-app checkout. With OpenAI and Google both struggling to make native checkout work, can Meta finally crack the “zero-click” model and keep shoppers fully inside its platform?Then comes the real clash of the titans. JD.com has launched Joybuy in Europe, going straight after Amazon and Temu. We share exclusive Google Ads data showing how aggressively Joybuy is already outranking incumbents. But unlike Temu, Joybuy isn't just burning cash for growth. It's building a sustainable base and investing in local logistics, making it a serious hybrid threat.Finally, Mike shares updated market penetration numbers for Amazon and Temu across Europe. The picture is clear: Amazon dominates wealthy Western European markets, while Temu has seized the Central and Eastern European markets Amazon largely ignored.

This lecture discusses key ideas from the 19th and 20th century existentialist philosopher Lev Shestov's book "All Things Are Possible" It focuses specifically on the passages in the work where he writes about Russian culture and its contrasts with Western European culture. Shestov notes that European culture was transformed in being brought into Russia in just a few generations. He looks at strengths that this provides as well as weaknesses to the "Russian spirit". To support my ongoing work, go to my Patreon site - www.patreon.com/sadler If you'd like to make a direct contribution, you can do so here - www.paypal.me/ReasonIO - or at BuyMeACoffee - www.buymeacoffee.com/A4quYdWoM You can find over 3500 philosophy videos in my main YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/gbisadler Get Shestov's All Things Are Possible - https://amzn.to/2RLL4ae

U.S. Candidate for Senate in Minnesota Michele Tafoya joins Will to discuss the democratic blowback to President Donald Trump's Iran ceasefire deal, also sharing her thoughts on the nuances of America's immigration issues, Minnesota's fraud problem, and the allegations surrounding NFL Reporter Dianna Russini and New England Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel.Plus, Fox News Contributor and Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer helps recap the Iranian ceasefire. Will it hold? Does a long term deal get reached? Is regime change on the table? Ari also unpacks how the Iran conflict has altered political norms and what it means for the future of NATO as Western European countries have failed to uphold their commitments.Subscribe to ‘Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Will Cain Country!⁠⁠⁠Follow ‘Will Cain Country' on X (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), Instagram (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), TikTok (⁠⁠⁠@willcainshow⁠⁠⁠), and Facebook (⁠⁠⁠@willcainnews⁠⁠⁠)Follow Will on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@WillCain⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iraq is turning to Turkey as an alternative route for its oil exports, as the war in the Middle East continues. The Iraqi move comes as Ankara steps up efforts to capitalise on the shifting diplomatic, economic and security landscape in the region.  In a race to find routes that circumvent the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq has resumed pumping oil through a previously disused pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. The Iraqi Minister of Oil, Hayyan Abdul-Ghani al-Sawad, claims that up to a million barrels of oil could be exported via Turkey.  The Iran war is also boosting Baghdad's efforts to realise the Iraqi Development Road, a multi-billion euro project to turn Iraq into a transit hub between Asia and Europe via Turkey, says Norman Ricklefs of the geopolitical consultancy, the NAMEA Group. "[The Iran war] is an impetus for [the Iraqi Development Road], to be accelerated. It would be a great project to link Turkey and Iraq closer to together.” The maritime passages with a chokehold on the global economy Turkish influence growing Ricklefs argues that Turkey's geographic importance to supply chains between Europe and international markets is growing. "Turkey is a corridor state – it's already doing this with Caspian Gas and Russian Gas. Turkey is a brilliant strategic location for benefitting from disruption in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea." However, Ricklefs cautions that Iraq's "instability", exacerbated by the war against Iran, remains an obstacle to the realisation of.the Development Road project. While cost remains a factor, shipping via the Strait of Hormuz is the cheapest distribution option. The aftermath of the Iran war is also being predicted to boost Ankara's efforts to increase its influence across the energy-rich Gulf states. In 2014, Turkey opened a military base in Qatar which has been expanded from land forces to air and naval capabilities, with a reported presence of 5,000 personnel. Turkey has also, in recent years, rapidly expanded and modernised its navy.  “However the Iran war ends, it will take a while for Iran to ameliorate relations,” predicts Turkish international relations expert Soli Ozel. “So in that sense, the relations between the Gulf states – or certainly Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey – I'm sure will continue to be strong, because Turkey will be a countervailing power to Iran, especially if the Iran regime survives this. The regime will have been fortified.” French ship makes first Western European transit of Hormuz since Iran conflict The Israeli fissure Turkey is already stepping up its diplomatic efforts with Saudi Arabia and Egypt in seeking to end the fighting. This deepening cooperation is enhanced by shared concerns over Israel, exacerbated by the Iran war. “Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan want stability in the region,” says Asli Aydintasbas, head of the Turkey Project at the Washington-based Brookings Institution. “They are not fully on board with the Israeli plan of keeping Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iran destabilised." “As such, they have not been able to deal with Israel's policies, but together they can. They are providing an alternative axis. And I think that will be very important for [the] US administration that similarly seeks stability, so they can do less in the Middle East and more in Asia.” France denies blocking US flights as Israel cuts defence ties However, Aydintasbas acknowledges that such cooperation threatens to deepen another fissure in the Middle East. In February, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that Israel is facing an emerging threat of “a radical Sunni axis”. “I think when Netanyahu said that, he was trying to create a bogeyman and, really, he was talking about Turkey. The strategic competitor to Israel in the region is now Turkey,” said Ricklefs. The Iran war is exacerbating existing tensions between Israel and Turkey, with both sides ramping up their rhetoric against each other. Any enhancement of Turkish influence in the region in the aftermath of the Iranian conflict would likely be perceived as a threat by Israel, only intensifying their growing rivalry.

This Day in Legal History: Marshall PlanOn April 3, 1948, the United States formally enacted the Marshall Plan signing, a landmark legal and economic initiative designed to rebuild war-torn Europe after World War II. Officially known as the Economic Cooperation Act, the law authorized billions of dollars in aid to Western European nations. It represented a major expansion of U.S. foreign policy, grounded in Congress's constitutional power over spending and international commerce. The legislation also reflected a strategic legal response to the growing influence of the Soviet Union, using economic assistance as a tool of containment.The Marshall Plan required participating countries to cooperate with one another, creating legal agreements that promoted trade liberalization and economic integration. This cooperation laid early groundwork for institutions that would later evolve into the European Union. Domestically, the law raised important questions about the limits of federal authority in directing funds abroad and the role of the executive branch in administering large-scale international programs. Congress delegated significant discretion to the executive, particularly the State Department, to oversee implementation.One key legal element of the Marshall Plan was its use of conditional aid, meaning recipient countries had to meet certain economic and political requirements to receive funding. This introduced a model for future foreign aid programs, where compliance with specified conditions became a standard legal mechanism. The program also required oversight and reporting, ensuring accountability for how funds were spent, which helped shape modern administrative law practices.In practice, the Marshall Plan proved highly successful, contributing to rapid economic recovery and political stabilization in Western Europe. It also reinforced the legal concept that economic policy could serve as an instrument of international law and diplomacy. By blending domestic statutory authority with international agreements, the plan set a precedent for how the United States engages in global economic governance.President Donald Trump announced that Attorney General Pam Bondi will step down after serving about 14 months at the Department of Justice. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will assume the role on an acting basis while Bondi transitions out over the next month. Trump praised Bondi's tenure, highlighting reductions in violent crime and calling her service highly successful. Bondi also expressed pride in her role and indicated she will move into a private-sector position while continuing to support the administration's agenda.Her time in office, however, drew bipartisan criticism, particularly over the Justice Department's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which Congress had required to be released. Lawmakers from both parties accused the department of mishandling transparency and failing to fully pursue accountability. Some Republicans voiced frustration with delays in releasing information, while Democrats argued Bondi oversaw unequal treatment in related prosecutions.Bondi also faced scrutiny over political pressure to investigate individuals viewed as opponents of the president, raising concerns about the independence of the Justice Department. Her background included prior service as Florida's attorney general and involvement in Trump's political and legal efforts before her appointment.​​Bondi Out As Attorney General After Contentious Time At DOJ - Law360Trump fires Pam Bondi as US attorney general | ReutersDLA Piper is set to face a rare jury trial in federal court over allegations that it fired a pregnant associate after she requested maternity leave. The lawsuit was brought by Anisha Mehta, who claims she was terminated in 2022 while six months pregnant, shortly after seeking leave. She argues the firm acted to avoid paying her during a period of reduced work and financial pressure.DLA Piper disputes the claims, asserting that Mehta was dismissed for performance issues and did not meet expectations for a senior associate. However, the presiding judge, Analisa Torres, found enough conflicting evidence—such as Mehta's prior bonuses and strong client work—to allow the case to proceed to trial. The claims include violations under federal, state, and New York City anti-discrimination laws, as well as interference and retaliation under the Family and Medical Leave Act.The case is notable because employment discrimination trials involving large law firms are uncommon, as such disputes are often settled privately. A public trial could expose sensitive internal practices, including evaluation systems and compensation structures.A key legal issue in this case is the protection of employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This law guarantees eligible workers the right to take unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons, including pregnancy, without fear of losing their jobs. Mehta's claim centers on whether the firm unlawfully interfered with that right or retaliated against her for attempting to use it.Law firm DLA Piper faces jury trial over pregnancy bias claims | ReutersA federal judge is scrutinizing President Donald Trump's proposal to build a large “Independence Arch” near the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Tanya Chutkan questioned whether the administration has the legal authority to move forward without clear approval from Congress, especially given the scale of the project. The proposed structure, expected to be taller than both the Lincoln Memorial and Paris's Arc de Triomphe, has raised concerns about its impact on a protected historic area.The lawsuit, brought by local residents, seeks to block construction before it begins, arguing that the project could cause irreversible damage to federally protected land. Plaintiffs contend that any major construction on such land requires explicit congressional authorization. The administration, however, argues that Congress previously granted broad authority for structures in that area and delegated oversight to the National Park Service.During the hearing, Judge Chutkan expressed skepticism about whether earlier congressional approvals actually cover a project of this magnitude. She also pressed government lawyers on conflicting signals between official agency statements—describing the project as preliminary—and Trump's public comments suggesting it is moving forward quickly.The judge has not yet ruled on whether to halt the project but is considering an injunction and may require additional disclosures about planning, permits, and contracts. She also asked whether the administration would agree not to proceed without proper approvals.A central legal issue in this case is the separation of powers, particularly Congress's authority over federal land and spending. The dispute turns on whether the executive branch can rely on prior delegations of authority or must obtain new legislative approval for a major project like this.Judge questions Trump plan for ‘Independence Arch' near the National Mall | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

The U.S. Postal Service warns it will run out of cash within 12 months unless Congress raises its $15 billion borrowing cap and allows it to increase postage rates. Postmaster General David Steiner told lawmakers that without urgent action, USPS may struggle to pay employees and vendors by February 2027. Sources with direct knowledge tells TMZ some medical emergency occurred in the last 24 hours on the island of Kauai that landed Chuck in the hospital. We do not know the nature of the emergency; however, we are told Chuck is in good spirits. A sharp decline in well-being among young people is linked to heavy social media use, especially impacting teenage girls across English-speaking and Western European countries, the 2026 World Happiness Report finds. Despite this, Finland remains the happiest country globally for the ninth consecutive year, with other Nordic nations dominating the top spots. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Postal Service warns it will run out of cash within 12 months unless Congress raises its $15 billion borrowing cap and allows it to increase postage rates. Postmaster General David Steiner told lawmakers that without urgent action, USPS may struggle to pay employees and vendors by February 2027. Sources with direct knowledge tells TMZ some medical emergency occurred in the last 24 hours on the island of Kauai that landed Chuck in the hospital. We do not know the nature of the emergency; however, we are told Chuck is in good spirits. A sharp decline in well-being among young people is linked to heavy social media use, especially impacting teenage girls across English-speaking and Western European countries, the 2026 World Happiness Report finds. Despite this, Finland remains the happiest country globally for the ninth consecutive year, with other Nordic nations dominating the top spots. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SHOW NOTES — SKIING IN JASNÁ, SLOVAKIAEpisode Title: Skiing in Jasná: A Winter Adventure in Slovakia's Low TatrasHost: Max Hartshorne, GoNOMAD Travel PodcastIn this episode, Max takes listeners along on a winter journey through Slovakia, a country full of surprises — from affordable skiing and cozy chalets to wooden UNESCO churches and medieval castle ruins. Traveling with a small group of nine, Max explores the Low Tatras, skis the slopes of Jasná, and discovers why Slovakia is one of Europe's most underrated winter destinations.What You'll Hear in This EpisodeHow to get to Slovakia via Vienna or Krakow, and why Bratislava makes a great first stopThe fun and camaraderie of small‑group travelA scenic train ride across the country into the Liptov regionStaying in ski‑in, ski‑out chalets near JasnáThree days of skiing Slovakia's largest resort, with lift tickets around €61Affordable on‑mountain dining, including Slovak classics like bryndzové haluškyA visit to the UNESCO‑listed Articular Wooden Church of Kežmarok, built entirely without nailsExploring Spis Castle, historic towns, and local Slovak cuisineA memorable electric train ride into the High Tatras for tubing, lake walks, and mountain viewsWhy Slovakia is a fantastic alternative to pricey U.S. and Western European ski destinationsWhy This Episode MattersThis story highlights the joy of discovering places that don't always make the top‑ten travel lists. Slovakia offers excellent snow, low prices, rich history, and warm hospitality — all wrapped into a trip that's easy, social, and full of memorable moments.Links & MentionsSki Jasná – Slovakia's largest ski resort in the Low TatrasBratislava – Slovakia's charming capitalKežmarok Articular Wooden Church – UNESCO World Heritage SiteSpis Castle – One of Central Europe's largest castle ruinsPoprad – Gateway city to the High TatrasAbout the GoNOMAD Travel PodcastShort, 5–8 minute episodes featuring unusual destinations, great travel stories, and inspiration for your next adventure — hosted by Max Hartshorne, editor of GoNOMAD.com..Mentioned in this episode:Check out the Smart Travel PodcastThis week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel at the Link below:Smart Travel PodcastCheck out all of our other travel podcasts from around the worldThis podcast is part of the Voyascape Travel Network, that brings together the world's best travel podcasts. You can find all of our podcasts from around the world at Voyascape.com. If you are interested in advertising or sponsored content on any of our shows you can find out more at the link below.Voyascape Podcast Network

Artificial intelligence or the pandemics were two recentcrises framed as almost  magical non-human actors. They both reshaped the boundaries of human agency. By now,the language explaining them is often one of rupture and unprecedented transformation. AI or COVID-19 were described as opaque, autonomous and difficult to control. Both were imagined as operating beyond ordinaryaccountability, while still exerting real effects on collective life. In that sense, the anxiety does not result only from the fear of machines or unknown germs. It concerns the displacement of agency and the fragility of human beings tasked with governing forces they did not design and do not fully understand. Humans are unsettled when power seems to migrate beyond the human subject.Yet the fear of the non-human as a destabilising force isnot new. What we would like to pinpoint in our series it that societies, when confronted with such moments of rupture, authorize forms of exclusion and violence based on (ir)rationalism. Our focus throughout this series will fallon the vampire and witchcraft epidemics. European societies once confronted witches, revenants and vampires as threats to moral and political order. These figures emerged at moments of epidemic disease, religious fracture andinstitutional weakness. They offered an explanation for crisis. This new dossier revisits those episodes of collectiveanxiety. Whilst the differences between AI, pandemics and zombies, witches and undead are substantial, these moments reveal the fragile boundary between the rational state and collective hysteria. The imagery resulted can be a finebarometer of the how states respond when agency seems to escape human control or what mechanisms of blame, purification and boundary-drawing are activated.In our second podcast of this series, we have as guest Kateryna Dysa, with whom we will discuss her extremely fascinating book Ukrainian Witchcraft Trials: Volhynia, Podolia, and Ruthenia, 17th and 18th Centuries, published by the CEU Press in 2023. In this research, she reconstructs the history of witchcraft in Ukraine, with a particular focus on the three so-called “Ruthenian” palatinates of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: Podolia, Ruthenia, and Volhynia. Our conversation begins with a conceptual question: what counts as a witch and who defines one? Kateryna Dysa reveals that geographical nuances need to be taken into account. In a region situated at the nexus between Catholicism andOrthodoxy, the definitions were less fixed as they emerged from the local community rather from theologians. The nature of primary sources also differs from thetraditional scholarship on this field. Drawing on 198 primary sources, most of them court books, Dysa reveals a judicial culture markedly different from the better-known Western European persecutions. In most cases, accusations did notculminate in execution. Often, only complaints were recorded; investigations were limited, and verdicts tended to be mild. Death sentences were rare and typically entangled withstark social hierarchies, where accusations flowed upward from elites against socially vulnerable individuals.The episode then turns to gender. Rather than endorsing a monolithic narrative of patriarchal persecution, Dysa emphasizes the social logic of witchcraft accusations as embedded in everyday tensions, including fears surrounding love magic, food, and bodily vulnerability. Finally, the discussion moves to the Enlightenment and Romanticism. In the eighteenth century, state centralization and rationalist reform curtailed formal prosecutions, but popular belief persisted, sometimes leading to extrajudicial violence. In thenineteenth century, Romanticism transformed the witch into a literary and folkloric figure, reshaping her image and symbolic function.

Europe's political landscape is shifting fundamentally. No longer are wars fought between kings and their vassals, and emperors against popes - it is all about the balance of power. and this balaance is firmly out of whack. The largest, richest and most populous part of Europe, the empire that still formally included Italy, the Low Countries, the Swiss Confederation, Bohemia and Burgundy, was also its politically weakest entity, whilst the kings of France leveraged their smaller but more coherent state into European dominance.The struggle between France and its neighbours with england looking on was to become the dominant political pattern of Western European politics for 250 or arguable 350 years.Maximilian has a Grand Plan that could have nipped these centuries of death and destruction in the bud. But he did not...Karl Marx once said that history repeates itself twice, first as tragedy and then as farce. he was wrong on many (not all) things. This one repeats not twice but ten, if not dozens of times, but first as farce and then as tragedy...Enjoy the ride..The music for the show is Flute Sonata in E-flat major, H.545 by Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach (or some claim it as BWV 1031 Johann Sebastian Bach) performed and arranged by Michel Rondeau under Common Creative Licence 3.0.As always:Homepage with maps, photos, transcripts and blog: www.historyofthegermans.comIf you wish to support the show go to: Support • History of the Germans PodcastFacebook: @HOTGPod Threads: @history_of_the_germans_podcastBluesky: @hotgpod.bsky.socialInstagram: history_of_the_germansTwitter: @germanshistoryTo make it easier for you to share the podcast, I have created separate playlists for some of the seasons that are set up as individual podcasts. they have the exact same episodes as in the History of the Germans, but they may be a helpful device for those who want to concentrate on only one season. So far I have:The OttoniansSalian Emperors and Investiture ControversyFredrick Barbarossa and Early HohenstaufenFrederick II Stupor MundiSaxony and Eastward ExpansionThe Hanseatic LeagueThe Teutonic Knights

In this episode of the Professor Liberty Podcast, we saddle up and ride through history to explore the true origins of the American cowboy. From Secretary of State Marco Rubio's shout-out at the Munich Security Conference to Spain's role in bringing horses, ranching, and the vaquero tradition to the New World, to the Comanche's legendary mastery of the horse that reshaped the Plains, to Black cowboys like Bill Pickett who innovated rodeo culture and bulldogging, we cover it all. We'll dig into daily life on the trail, food, pay, and the rugged individualism that forged frontier life, while showing how the cowboy is really a tapestry of Spanish, Indigenous, African American, and broader Western European contributions: a living symbol of freedom, skill, and ingenuity that helped define the American ethos.

In this episode, we explore approaches to science and plant medicines beyond Western European contexts, where botanic gardens would have played an integral role. We also explore the origins and historical associations of Botanic Gardens, including Gardens of Paradise and Monastic Gardens. This episode features the  pomegranate (Punica granatum) and its many associations, and the Canon of Medicine by Ibn Sina (c. 980–1037 AD).Molly Marsh is the Visitor Experience Manager at Chelsea Physic Garden and has expertise in the medical humanities. Maya Jayaweera Thomas is a herbologist specialising in plant medicine, as well as a trained chef and market garden grower. Her work centres on finding innovative ways to connect people with their environments through the stories of plants.Wormcasts is a podcast from Chelsea Physic Garden, created by the Young Producers – a group of 16 – 24 year olds working to engage more young people with the garden.  This series explores the global histories of botanic gardens, deceptive plants, working in the garden, and plants in the context of health and wellbeing. Wormcasts are the microbially rich and fertile clumps of soil that worms leave next to their burrows as they forage for food. The Young Producers hope you enjoy the arisings that come from this little patch of green in South West London.  This series was collaboratively produced by the Young Producers at Chelsea Physic Garden (Hwei-Linn Khoo, Amelie Rossati, Zachary Sukonkin, and Tymon Zgorzelski), coordinated by Richard Choksey. The lead producer is Jelena Sofronijevic. Editing and Sound Design by Tymon Zgorzelski. 

This is a Patreon demo. Join to hear us do a deep dive into the end of the Cold War in Germany, Ostalgie, and the most internationally famous film in the artistic movement, Good Bye, Lenin!Sometimes, you need to gaslight your sick mother for the greater good. Remember Shuffle is joined by Nick of the Corner Späti podcast for their first foray into foreign film, 2003's Good Bye Lenin, the best known instance of Ostalgie in film internationally. After recapping the plot of this halfway-zany, sitcom-style tragicomedy, the Shuffle Bois discuss what role nostalgia plays in contemporary Germany, the wild historical moment that was reunification and its disastrous consequences for the East, and how people react in the face of massive historical change. Listen for some fun tidbits on contemporary Germany, including: the prevalence of tanning bed guys, FKK (nude beach culture), Western Europeans' fixation with Native Americans, and East German ghost towns.Be sure to check out Corner Späti here:https://www.operationglad.io/corner-spati/As well as their patreon here:https://www.patreon.com/cornerspaetiAnd, as always, give Remember Shuffle a follow on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠@RememberShufflePod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to interact with the show between episodes. It also makes it easier to book guests.  

The Middle East is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, the Levant, and Turkey.The term came into widespread usage by Western European nations in the early 20th century as a replacement of the term Near East (both were in contrast to the Far East). The term "Middle East" has led to some confusion over its changing definitions. Since the late 20th century, it has been criticized as being too Eurocentric. Furthermore, the term has no ability to identify the ethnicity of any individual or individual people and is in fact ineligible for such use. This clip is just an intro to the subject matter that will be discussed in the near future concerning the pseudo-Israelites who's origins are opposite that of the ancient Hebrews of antiquity.For those who would like to financially support and contribute to the enhancement of this podcast show its Research and Educational Programmes, please send all funds and gifts to:[$aigner2019 (cashapp)] or [https://www.paypal.me/Aigner2019] or [Zelle (1-617-821-3168).]Shalom Aleikhem!

Palestinians in Gaza view a future of rule by U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly inaugurated Board of Peace as representing “another form of occupation” said Haaretz correspondent Nagham Zbeedat, speaking on the Haaretz Podcast. Zbeedat, who covers Palestinian affairs and the Arab world, said that Trump’s vision of an American-led international stabilization force – intended to replace Hamas after it disarms – is likely to be problematic. American “complicity and cooperation with the Israeli army” during the war means that for Palestinians, “the U.S. is the same as Israel. So any government or group that comes from the U.S. will not be welcomed with open arms.” In the short-term, Zbeedat said, the desperate humanitarian situation means that Gazans will “accept the circumstances that they are put in, as long as there are no more airstrikes, as long as food is on the shelves, and as long as there is water, shelter, clothes coming in, and medical care.” But overall, Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere are “not excited” about the Trump plan because of the lack of “any Palestinian presence or voice” at the decision-making level. Also on the podcast: Haaretz diplomatic correspondent Liza Rozovsky discusses the challenges ahead for the new Board of Peace – most prominently, the disinterest of major Western European countries in signing on. “When you are being squeezed and threatened by the U.S. over Greenland, it is pretty bad timing to be joining a Board of Peace chaired by Trump,” Rozovsky noted. For these countries, “giving up your veto power in the United Nations Security Council and just bowing to Trump is not a very attractive offer.” Read more: Trump's Board of Peace Finds Few Enthusiasts Among Palestinians in Gaza Israel's Netanyahu to Join Trump's Board of Peace Alongside Saudis, Qatar and Turkey Trump's Board of Peace Has European States Worried, but Most Refrain From Direct Criticism Trump's Gaza Board of Peace Aims to Rival UN, Charter Shows 'It Never Ended': As the World Moves On, For Gazans It's War as UsualSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Western Europe has perfected a dangerous moral fraud. It loudly accuses Israel, the Jewish state fighting for its life in a region of evil jihadi Islam, of war crimes, genocide, and “unacceptable violence,” while simultaneously burying its own historical and present-day atrocities under layers of silence, legal immunity, and media protection.Join Our Whatsapp Channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GkavRznXy731nxxRyptCMvFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/AviAbelowJoin our Telegram Channel: https://t.me/aviabelowpulseFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulse_of_israel/?hl=enPulse of Israel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelVideoNetworkVisit Our Website - https://pulseofisrael.com/Donate to Pulse of Israel: https://pulseofisrael.com/boost-this-video/

Clare Griffin's book Mixing Medicines: The Global Drug Trade and Early Modern Russia (McGill-Queen's UP, 2022) introduces the reader to the dynamic and complex world of early modern Russian medical drugs, from the enthusiasm for newly imported American botanicals to the disgust at Western European medicines made from human corpses. Based on a unique set of previously unused sources, this book is the first study of how the Russian Empire took part in the early modern global trade in medical drugs. The extensive and detailed records kept by the Moscow court show how ingredients produced elsewhere and passed through the massive, long-distance trade network of the early modern world were finally consumed. Looking at medicine as materia medica gives us a different perspective than when looking at practitioners, texts, and ideas. Erika Monahan is the author of The Merchants of Siberia: Trade in Early Modern Eurasia (Cornell UP, 2016) and a 2023-2024 Alexander von Humboldt Fellow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Clare Griffin's book Mixing Medicines: The Global Drug Trade and Early Modern Russia (McGill-Queen's UP, 2022) introduces the reader to the dynamic and complex world of early modern Russian medical drugs, from the enthusiasm for newly imported American botanicals to the disgust at Western European medicines made from human corpses. Based on a unique set of previously unused sources, this book is the first study of how the Russian Empire took part in the early modern global trade in medical drugs. The extensive and detailed records kept by the Moscow court show how ingredients produced elsewhere and passed through the massive, long-distance trade network of the early modern world were finally consumed. Looking at medicine as materia medica gives us a different perspective than when looking at practitioners, texts, and ideas. Erika Monahan is the author of The Merchants of Siberia: Trade in Early Modern Eurasia (Cornell UP, 2016) and a 2023-2024 Alexander von Humboldt Fellow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/medicine

On this fifth anniversary of attack on the U.S. Capitol, House Democrats reconvene the January 6 investigative committee. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) saying, "Five years ago today, a violent mob brutally attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Their mission was to overturn a free and fair election. We will never allow extremists to whitewash their treachery." President Donald Trump blames then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for, he says, declining his offer of 10,000 National Guard troops that day, and blames the media for, he says, not reporting that he told protesters to march peacefully and patriotically to the Capitol; President Trump urges Congressional Republicans to be flexible when it comes to their demands that a bill to address the rise in Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums limit coverage of abortion; United States for the first time joins Western European nations in agreeing to come to Ukraine's aid if it attacked again by Russia, the so-called security guarantees; latest on Venezuela in the aftermath of the U.S. removing President Nicolas Maduro; tributes to Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), who has died at age 65. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new and provocative take on the formerly classified history of accelerating superpower military competition in space in the late Cold War and beyond. In March 1983, President Ronald Reagan shocked the world when he announced the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), derisively known as “Star Wars,” a space-based missile defense program aimed at protecting the US from nuclear attack. In Weapons in Space, Aaron Bateman draws on recently declassified American, European, and Soviet documents to provide an insightful account of SDI, situating it within a new phase in the militarization of space following the collapse of superpower détente in the 1970s. In doing so, Bateman reveals the largely secret role of military space technologies in late–Cold War US defense strategy and foreign relations.In contrast to existing narratives, Weapons in Space shows how tension over the role of military space technologies in American statecraft was a central source of SDI's controversy, even more so than questions of technical feasibility. By detailing the participation of Western European countries in SDI research and development, Bateman reframes the militarization of space in the 1970s and 1980s as an international phenomenon. He further reveals that even though SDI did not come to fruition, it obstructed diplomatic efforts to create new arms control limits in space. Consequently, Weapons in Space carries the legacy of SDI into the post–Cold War era and shows how this controversial program continues to shape the global discourse about instability in space—and the growing anxieties about a twenty-first-century space arms race. Our guest is Aaron Bateman, an Assistant Professor of History and International Affairs at GWU. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

Western civilization is being tested like never before. Victor Davis Hanson argues to the contrary, saying that while much of Western Europe and America's blue states continue down a failing path, signs of renewal are emerging in unexpected places—Eastern Europe and America's red states. These countermovements are pushing back against cultural nihilism, restoring free speech, reinforcing the nuclear family, and demanding legal immigration with full assimilation. He breaks down these emerging trends on today's episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words.” “'It's a verdict for the future of Western civilization. We've had the revolution for 50 years, but we haven't seen a counterrevolution to the degree that's taking place. Western European elites in the former British Commonwealth and blue state elites all are very critical of the Yahoos in Eastern Europe and the Yahoos in the red states. But only for a while because their paradigm is collapsing as we speak. And the people who are gonna save Europe are the people who they thought they were embarrassed of. It's quite ironic, but it's also a hopeful time for Western civilization.” (0:00) Introduction (0:48) Symptoms of Decline in the West (1:58) The Impact of Ideological Choices (2:47) Open Borders and Assimilation Issues (3:32) Counterrevolutions (4:40) A New Paradigm for Renewal We need your help to ensure The Daily Signal can continue to counter the liberal media's lies with the truth. Support The Daily Signal's work today by becoming a Signal Elite Supporter.    Your tax-deductible monthly gift will help: 

What does it really take to build a fintech company that quietly fixes one of the most frustrating problems SMEs face every day? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I'm joined by Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier, the Founder and CEO of iBanFirst, for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, timing, and why cross-border payments have remained broken for so long.  Pierre-Antoine's story begins in London, where his early career as an FX trader felt like a compromise at the time, yet quietly gave him a front-row seat to inefficiencies most people accepted as normal. That experience would later shape two companies and a very clear point of view on how money should move across borders. Pierre-Antoine walks through his first venture, Combeast.com, one of France's earliest FX brokerages for retail investors, and what he learned from selling it to Saxo Bank and staying on to run Western European operations. That chapter matters, because it exposed the gap between how sophisticated FX markets really are and how poorly SMEs are served when FX and payments are bundled together inside traditional banks. Out of that frustration, IbanFirst was born in 2016 with a simple idea: treat cross-border payments as a specialist discipline, not a side feature. Today, IbanFirst serves more than 10,000 clients across Europe and processes over €2 billion in transactions every month. We dig into why growth has continued while many fintechs have slowed, from a product designed to be used daily, to proactive sales, to a new generation of CFOs and CEOs who expect the same clarity and speed at work that they get from consumer fintech tools.  Pierre-Antoine explains how real-time FX rates, payment tracking using SWIFT GPI, and multi-entity account management change the day-to-day reality for SMEs trading internationally. We also talk about Brexit, and how being rooted in continental Europe created an unexpected opening. Pierre-Antoine shares why expanding into the UK, including the acquisition of Cornhill, made sense, and why London's payments ecosystem still stands apart in scale and depth. Along the way, he is refreshingly open about the heavy investment required in compliance, trust, and regulation, and why nearly a third of IbanFirst's team focuses on operations and oversight. Looking ahead, Pierre-Antoine lays out a bold vision for the SME payments market, predicting a future where specialists replace banks in much the same way fintech reshaped consumer money transfers. As cross-border trade grows and currency volatility becomes a daily concern, his perspective raises an interesting question for anyone running an international business today:  if specialists already exist, why keep relying on systems that were never designed for how SMEs actually operate? Useful Links: Connect with Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier Learn more about iBanFirst, Tech Talks Daily is sponsored by Denodo

Peace Envoys and Russian Consistency — Gregory Copley — Copley analyzes the Trump administration's envoys visiting Moscow, contrasting Russia's remarkably consistent long-term strategic objectives with perceived Americaninconsistency and shifting priorities. Copley predicts that U.S.-Russia negotiations will result in substantial territorial concessions to Russia, generating alarm among European allies regarding American commitment to regional security. Copley highlights President Putin's upcoming state visit to India as strategically critical for establishing Russia's post-China global positioning and diversifying geopolitical relationships independent of Western European and Americanengagement frameworks. 1914 RUSSIA ARTILLERY

8. The Misreading of Russia: Ideology and the Insufficiency of Alliances The debate over whether Ukraine should join the EU or NATO fundamentally misses the core issue: Russia's unwavering ideological belief that it must dominate and control Ukraine. If Russians are driven by this revanchist, neo-imperialist ideology, they will continue to seek control regardless of Ukraine's alliances, potentially through misinformation or political interference. American administrations (including Obama, Trump, and Biden) and many Western European powers have consistently misread Russia, treating it as rational or transactional, and thus failed to take its ideological goals seriously. This lack of understanding about Russia's commitment to control Ukraine means that any proposed "settlement" that does not acknowledge Ukraine as an independent state is doomed. Countries like the Baltics and Poland, which have hands-on experience dealing with Russia, correctly recognized the persistent threat but were often dismissed as overly dramatic.1855 CRIMEA Retry

Why is the Right so ineffective despite so many recent opportunities to succeed? In the first 20 minutes I diagnose the core problem with the Right and how the Left is allowing the Right to succeed in the social media subculture of politics while the Left continues to win on the policy and legal playing fields of politics. Next, we're joined by Stefan Tompson, founder of Polish English-language media Visegrad 24, who delivers a full presentation on the state of the European Right. He explains why the European Right has failed at the policy level to stem unpopular policies, such as Islamic migration. He also contrasts Poland's successes with Western European self-immolation and provides lessons Americans can take from a country fighting for its liberty for 200 years. Finally, he believes Poland can serve as a powerful regional ally for our strategic interests Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices