Award-winning podcast of true stories of the paranormal, supernatural, legends, lore, the strange and bizarre, true crime, conspiracy, mysterious, macabre, unsolved and unexplained -- seven days a week! Hosted by professional voice actor Darren Marlar, named one of the “Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal.

Can Djinn Explain UFOs, Cryptids, Shadow People, and Other Paranormal Incidents?

Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

<answer>
• The Legend of the Djinn: The Djinn are supernatural entities from Middle Eastern folklore described as beings made of "smokeless fire," which some researchers compare to plasma (the fourth state of matter). Unlike typical myths, many Middle Eastern people consider Djinn to be very real, and researchers like Rosemary Ellen Guiley have studied them extensively, suggesting they may exist in parallel dimensions.

• Interdimensional Beings: Researchers propose that Djinn might exist in a fifth dimension or parallel reality that occasionally intersects with our own. This could explain why they're traditionally associated with desolate places like caves, mountains, and deserts—these might be locations where dimensional portals exist, allowing Djinn to cross between worlds.

• Shapeshifting Capabilities: According to lore, Djinn can transform into any form they wish, often appearing as animals (particularly black dogs, snakes, scorpions, or lizards), shadowy figures, or even taking human form. Some legends claim wolves are natural predators of the Djinn. This shapeshifting ability may explain encounters with mysterious creatures throughout history.

• Connection to UFO Phenomena: The podcast explores the theory that many UFO sightings—particularly those involving orbs or balls of light that morph into different shapes—could actually be Djinn in their plasma form. The Saudi royal mentioned in the podcast claimed the U.S. military has been searching for technological devices used by Djinn that allow them to pass through solid walls and dimensional windows.

• Shadow People and Alien Abductions: Rosemary Guiley concluded there's a strong correlation between Shadow People encounters and the Djinn. These shadowy entities, often described as "blacker than black," could be Djinn in their plasma state. Similarly, alien abduction experiences share commonalities with Djinn encounters, including telepathic communication and monitoring of humans.

• Reptilian Connection: The podcast suggests potential links between Djinn and reptilian entities. "Red Djinn" reportedly resemble reptiles and are considered particularly dangerous—responsible for possessions, illness, hauntings, and alien sightings. Like reptilians in conspiracy theories, they're said to feed on human emotions and manipulate humanity.

• Personal Encounters: The podcast recounts researcher Philip Imbrogno's experience in Oman where he visited Majils al Jinn ("meeting place of the Djinn"), a massive cave system. While exploring, he encountered a strange mist that coalesced into a large figure and heard a voice telling him to "leave my place"—an encounter his guides immediately identified as a Djinn.

• Implication for Reality: If there is truth to the legends of the Djinn, it would radically alter our understanding of reality. As science continues to explore parallel dimensions and plasma physics, the existence of entities like the Djinn becomes harder to dismiss. They may represent a connection between ancient mythology and modern unexplained phenomena that challenges our perception of what's possible.
</answer>

POST Wrestling&#39;s John Pollock &amp; Wai Ting review WWE Raw, AEW Dynamite and discuss the latest in pro wrestling news with their network of contributors. http://www.postwrestling.com

TNA’s deal with AMC | The Politics Behind Tanahashi vs. Okada | Pollock & Thurston

POST Wrestling

<answer>
• TNA Wrestling Signs Deal with AMC: TNA has secured a multi-year agreement with AMC to air Thursday Night Impact starting January 15, 2026. The show will air from 9-11pm Eastern and be available on AMC+ afterward. This represents a significant upgrade from their previous home on AXS TV, which reached only about 25% of US homes compared to AMC's presence in nearly all cable homes (approximately 60 million households). Though financial details weren't confirmed, estimates suggest the deal could be worth around $6-10 million annually.

• WWE-TNA Relationship to Continue: Carlos Silva of TNA stated the relationship with WWE/NXT will "absolutely" continue into 2026, noting it was actually "a big part of helping us get this deal." There had been speculation about a potential 60-day notice clause that could end the partnership, but Silva denied this, saying he has "zero buzz or inkling around anything other than it being going great."

• Hiroshi Tanahashi's Retirement Match Politics: A detailed report by Trish Speirs revealed the complex negotiations behind Tanahashi's retirement match at Wrestle Kingdom. Initially, there were serious discussions about WWE's Shinsuke Nakamura being Tanahashi's opponent, with public teases occurring between the two wrestlers. However, this potentially threatened New Japan's relationship with AEW, leading to Kazuchika Okada ultimately being selected as Tanahashi's final opponent.

• WWE Raw Falls Outside Netflix Global Top 10: For the first time since its Netflix debut, Raw fell out of the global top 10 rankings. However, this wasn't due to a significant drop in viewership but rather exceptionally strong performance from Stranger Things, with all five seasons placing in the top 10. The bar for entry was much higher than usual (4 million views versus the typical 1.5-2.5 million).

• AEW Ratings Update: The post-Full Gear episode of Dynamite drew 512,000 viewers, up 4% from the previous week, with a 0.10 rating in the 18-49 demographic. The show ranked sixth for the night on cable.

• Big Data Plus Panel Methodology Issue: Brandon Thurston's recent reporting on Nielsen's new "Big Data Plus Panel" methodology suggests wrestling programming might be disadvantaged by not being categorized as sports. This methodology shows wrestling ratings approximately 20% lower than previous measurement systems, potentially affecting future TV rights negotiations.

• Triller TV Financial Troubles: Triller (parent company of Triller TV) is facing significant legal and financial issues, including being delisted from NASDAQ for failing to file quarterly reports. The company reportedly has not communicated with its attorneys in two months and owes over $28,000 in legal fees, raising questions about the future of the streaming platform.

• Conor McGregor Case Update: A civil suit filed against Conor McGregor by a woman claiming sexual assault at a Miami Heat game in 2023 has been voluntarily dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought again. This typically indicates a settlement, though neither party has confirmed this.

• New Japan's Future Without Key Stars: With both Tanahashi retiring and Okada already gone, Wrestle Kingdom 2026 represents a pivotal moment for New Japan Pro Wrestling. The company must successfully establish new stars like Yota Tsuji and Aaron Wolf to secure its future. Meanwhile, Tetsuya Naito's absence from the company continues to be notable, with his future uncertain.

• Ring of Honor's Uncertain TV Future: Questions remain about Tony Khan's strategy for Ring of Honor, which still lacks a television deal nearly four years after he purchased the company. Some speculate Khan may be unwilling to sign a deal that undervalues the property, while others wonder if ROH's primary value is now as a developmental system for AEW talent.
</answer>

Welcome to Hub Podcasts, the audio version of the big ideas and in-depth conversations found at The Hub.ca, Canada’s fastest growing digital news outlet with over 200,000 weekly users. Hub Dialogues features The Hub's editor at large Sean Speer engaged in longform conversations with leading thinkers on the big issues and ideas shaping the public conversation.&nbsp;&nbsp; In Conversation with David Frum features the insight and analysis of leading author, journalist, and thinker David Frum, who weighs in every second Friday on global and Canadian news events.&nbsp; Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go. Each Friday, The Hub Roundtable features Hub co-founders Rudyard Griffiths' and Sean Speer's take on the big political and economic stories making the news. <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Why the Carney government might strip religious protections from its hate speech laws

Hub Podcasts

<answer>
- The Proposed Change to Canada's Hate Speech Law: The Canadian government is considering removing the religious-belief exemption from hate speech laws as part of a deal between the Liberals and Bloc Québécois. Currently, section 319(3)(b) of the Criminal Code provides an exemption for "good faith expression rooted in religious texts," but this escape hatch may soon be eliminated.

- The Existing Religious Exemption: The current exemption was designed to protect religious speech and prevent judges from having to interpret religious texts. Courts have already established that the exemption doesn't protect speech that merely cloaks hatred in religious claims, as demonstrated in the 2001 Harding case where a Christian pastor's anti-Muslim statements weren't protected despite religious claims.

- Potential Consequences of Removal: If the exemption is removed, judges might have to parse religious texts like the Bible, Torah, and Quran to determine if certain passages constitute hate speech. This creates a dilemma where prosecutors must decide whether quoting religious texts that contain controversial passages could be criminalized.

- Practical Impact: The religious exemption has rarely been used in court cases. One high-profile example motivating the change is Adil Charkaoui, who led anti-Semitic rallies in Montreal, though in his case, charges weren't pursued because the speech didn't rise to the level of inciting hate, not because of the religious exemption.

- Opposition to the Change: The proposed change has united unusual allies in opposition, including Pierre Poilievre, the Christian Legal Fellowship, and the National Council of Canadian Muslims. Critics argue the change threatens pluralism, religious freedom, and could criminalize prayer or discussion of ancient religious texts.

- Constitutional Concerns: In the Supreme Court's Keegstra decision, which upheld hate speech laws, part of the reasoning was that these laws could be saved under Section 1 of the Charter because the religious exemption existed. Some legal experts argue that removing the exemption makes hate speech laws constitutionally indefensible.

- Other Elements of the Bill: The bill also includes new offenses for intimidation and obstruction of sites used by identifiable groups and criminalizes displaying hate symbols like swastikas. Baron considers these provisions either redundant to existing laws or problematic expansions that could threaten constitutionally protected expression.
</answer>

Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the BBC. Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now. The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, and BBC North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher. As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media. Each week Marianna Spring brings listeners the latest updates from the BBC’s Undercover Voters, our award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media. The team is also joined by special guests each week, like CNN anchor, Christiane Amanpour, Emmy Award-winning TV host, Rachel Maddow, and Succession actress, J Smith-Cameron. Podcasts are published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As well as being a podcast, we are also available every Friday night on BBC Radio 4 and every weekend on the BBC News Channel. Every Monday we answer your questions on Americanswers, with some help from special guests, including Miles Taylor, who was chief of staff at the Department for Homeland Security during the Trump presidency before becoming a whistleblower.Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with us on email at Americast@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. By the way, you can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say ‘”Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.See ya’ll later…

Did Donald Trump fall asleep at a cabinet meeting?

Americast

<answer>
• Pete Hegseth's Explanation for Caribbean Strike Controversy: The Secretary of War addressed allegations about a controversial second missile strike on a drug boat that may have killed survivors. Hegseth claimed he authorized the first strike but left before the second one, which he says was ordered by Admiral Bradley who "had the complete authority" to do so. He denied personally seeing survivors, citing the "fog of war." This appears to be a deliberate strategy to distance himself from a potential war crime, as killing immobilized survivors would violate the Geneva Conventions.

• Congressional Investigation: Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers are seeking answers about the Caribbean strikes. Admiral Bradley will be speaking to members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, though likely behind closed doors. The controversy raises broader questions about the legality of the Biden administration targeting civilians who are designated as "narco terrorists" rather than military combatants.

• Escalation in Venezuela: Trump explicitly stated that land strikes are coming next, saying "we know where they live, we know where the bad ones live." This indicates a significant escalation beyond maritime interdiction. The administration has positioned substantial military assets in the Caribbean, including 15,000 service members, an aircraft carrier, submarines, and amphibious task forces, suggesting preparation for a larger operation.

• Anti-Somali Rhetoric: Trump made inflammatory comments about Somali immigrants during the Cabinet meeting, calling them "garbage" and saying "their country stinks." He referenced a fraud case in Minnesota where Somali immigrants defrauded the state of $300 million through a COVID relief scheme. However, his rhetoric paints the entire Somali community with a broad brush, despite most being hardworking immigrants.

• Immigration Enforcement Actions: The administration has announced it's pausing immigration applications from 19 countries including Somalia. Trump also plans to remove Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in the US and will send immigration agents specifically to Minneapolis to look for Somalis who have overstayed visas or have deportation notices - actions that could impact the broader legal Somali community.

• Trump's Health Questions: The podcast discusses observations that Trump appeared to close his eyes or struggle to stay awake during the Cabinet meeting, which lasted over two hours. Trump addressed these concerns directly, claiming he's "sharper than 25 years ago" and contrasting himself with Biden. The hosts note that while there were moments where Trump seemed drowsy, he maintains a more active schedule than Biden did in his final months, particularly with international travel.

• Cabinet Meeting Format: The podcast hosts point out that Trump's Cabinet meetings are unlike traditional Cabinet meetings - they're televised spectacles lasting hours where each secretary takes turns praising Trump and listing their accomplishments before the president takes questions from the press. This Cabinet meeting lasted 2 hours and 15 minutes before the actual closed-door meeting began.
</answer>

Týždenný podcast denníka SME o ekonomike a podnikaní na Slovensku a vo svete. Každý štvrtok nový diel – prehľad dôležitých správ a zaujímavé rozhovory s podnikateľmi, analytikmi a ďalšími hosťami, ktorí rozumejú číslam a majú novátorské myšlienky.

Analytik Potočár: Na energopomoc dosiahnu aj milionári, ak žijú len z dividend

Index

<answer>
Energy Subsidies for 2026: The Slovak government has introduced a formula for energy subsidies in 2026, which about 90% of households will qualify for. The calculation includes gross wages, business income, and pensions, but notably excludes dividend income and rental income.

Income Thresholds for Energy Aid: A single-person household must have a gross income below 1,930 euros to qualify, while a family with two children can have a combined gross income of up to 5,211 euros and still receive the subsidy.

Loopholes for Wealthy Recipients: The system has significant loopholes that allow even millionaires to qualify if they primarily live off dividends. Additionally, people who own multiple properties can receive energy subsidies for apartments they rent out if their qualifying income falls below the threshold.

System Inefficiencies and Inequities: According to analyst Radovan Potočár from Energie-portal.sk, the energy subsidy system is overly complicated, filled with inequities, and saves the state very little money. It ultimately increases the necessary consolidation volume, with citizens eventually paying through higher taxes.

Negative Impact on Energy Conservation: The current subsidy structure distorts incentives for people to conserve energy and renovate their homes for better efficiency, as there's little financial motivation to reduce consumption when subsidies cover the costs.

EU Decision to End Russian Gas Imports: The EU has decided to completely stop importing Russian gas by autumn 2027. While Prime Minister Robert Fico describes this as an ideological decision harmful to Slovakia and the EU (with Slovakia considering legal action), Potočár argues it's a matter of self-preservation not to finance Russia while in conflict with it.

Energy Supply Alternatives: Despite concerns, Slovakia can secure sufficient gas from other sources. The podcast discusses European capacity for alternative gas supplies and what gas prices might be expected in the future.
</answer>

All things of interest to Dr. Tom Cowan. Visit our website here https://drtomcowan.com/Socials: https://www.instagram.com/talkinturkeywithtom/https://www.facebook.com/DrTomCowan/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzxdc2o0Q_XZIPwo07XCrNg

A New Pandemic Virus or Another Hoax? - 12/3/25

Conversations with Dr. Cowan & Friends

<answer>
- New Biology Clinic Membership Changes: Starting January 1, 2026, there will be a price increase for new members. Current members or anyone who joins by December 31, 2025, will have their membership fees locked in at the current rate for two years.

- Upcoming New Biology Experience Event: A gathering themed "Cultivating Community" will be held at Polyface Farm in Virginia from June 4-6, 2026, for people interested in the New Biology perspective.

- Critique of Nuclear Weapons Claims: Dr. Cowan argues that extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, pointing to eyewitness accounts that describe Hiroshima looking similar to other conventionally bombed cities rather than displaying evidence of unprecedented destruction. He maintains that critics of nuclear skepticism fail to provide concrete evidence of the nuclear atom's existence and the mechanism of nuclear fission.

- "Exercise Pegasus" Pandemic Simulation Skepticism: Dr. Cowan discusses a recent UK pandemic simulation featuring a supposed enterovirus (EVD6.8) that primarily affects children. He questions both the diagnostic criteria for the associated disease (acute flaccid myelitis) and the virus isolation methods, arguing they follow the same flawed patterns seen with polio and COVID-19.

- History of Diagnostic Manipulation: Dr. Cowan highlights how disease definitions are often changed to create the appearance of vaccine efficacy, citing how polio diagnostic criteria were made more stringent in 1955 (the year the Salk vaccine was introduced), requiring paralysis to persist for 60 days instead of 24 hours to count as a case.

- Critique of Virus Isolation Methods: Examining a 1966 paper from Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Cowan criticizes standard virus isolation techniques that rely on cell cultures with antibiotics and observation of cytopathic effects without proper controls, arguing these methods have never actually proven the existence of viruses.

- Gratitude as a Healing Practice: Dr. Cowan shares an excerpt from his unpublished book "Lessons from Pumpkin," discussing how thoughts of gratitude create coherence in heart rate variability and promote health. He notes research from the HeartMath Institute showing that gratitude is among the most powerful thoughts for producing a coherent, healthy state.
</answer>

Ghosts in the Mountains explores the eerie, unexplained, and deeply mysterious stories hiding within the misty peaks of Western North Carolina and beyond. From haunted hotels and spectral legends to cryptid sightings and lost treasures, hosts Caleb Hanks and Austin Burgess take you deep into the folklore, history, and firsthand encounters that shape the region’s paranormal landscape.

Each episode uncovers chilling tales, eyewitness accounts, and historical mysteries, blending investigative storytelling with a cozy, fireside feel. Whether you’re a skeptic or a true believer, Ghosts in the Mountains is your guide to the supernatural side of Appalachia.

Subscribe now, and let’s journey into the unknown together.

GITM - Ep #46 - The Origin Of Krampus

Ghosts In The Mountains

<answer>
The Mythological Origins of Krampus: Krampus is a horned, goat-like demonic figure from pre-Christian pagan traditions in the Alpine regions of Europe, particularly Austria, Germany, and Croatia. His name derives from the old German word "krampen," meaning "claw," and he serves as the dark counterpart to St. Nicholas in European Christmas traditions.

St. Nicholas and Krampus Partnership: While St. Nicholas (the real historical figure behind Santa Claus) rewards good children with gifts on December 6th (St. Nicholas Day), Krampus visits on December 5th (Krampus Night) to punish naughty children. Unlike Santa's gentle approach of leaving coal, Krampus beats children with birch sticks, stuffs them into a sack, and either takes them to his mountain lair for a year or, in more traditional tellings, kills and eats them.

Physical Appearance and Characteristics: Krampus is covered in fur, stands on cloven hooves, has two menacing horns, and a long forked red tongue. He carries chains and a sack or basket to collect naughty children. His appearance shares similarities with satyrs from Greek mythology, though there's no direct mythological connection between them.

Cultural Evolution and Christian Influence: As Christianity spread through Europe, the Catholic Church attempted to banish Krampus celebrations, viewing him as too similar to depictions of the devil. Despite these efforts, Krampus traditions persisted in Alpine regions and have experienced a cultural resurgence in recent decades.

Modern Popularity in America: Over the past decade, Krampus has gained significant popularity in American culture, particularly following the 2015 movie "Krampus." This has led to Krampus-themed events like bar crawls, parades, and night markets across the United States, including in Appalachian towns like Asheville, NC and Boone, NC.

Krampus as Psychological Tool: Unlike the positive reinforcement approach of Santa Claus (rewarding good behavior), Krampus represents negative reinforcement (punishing bad behavior). The hosts discuss how the fear of Krampus might be a more effective deterrent for children's misbehavior than the promise of gifts from Santa.

The Yin and Yang of Christmas: Krampus and St. Nicholas represent complementary forces - with the kindly saint rewarding the good and the fearsome demon punishing the wicked. This duality creates a more complete cultural framework for shaping behavior during the holiday season.
</answer>

Join Chad Bird and Daniel Emery Price  on a weekly 40 minute quest to unearth Christ in the pages of the Old Testament.

Isaiah 46:1-47:15 (Episode 488)

40 Minutes In The Old Testament

<answer>
# Summary of Isaiah 46:1-47:15

True God vs. False Gods: The Contrast in Isaiah 46: The chapter begins with a mockery of Babylonian deities Bel (Marduk) and Nebo, who must be carried around by animals and can't even save themselves from captivity. By contrast, the true God is the one who carries His people from birth to old age and saves them.

God's Unique Status as Creator and Sovereign: God challenges Israel to compare Him to any other deity, highlighting the absurdity of idolatry where people craft gods from gold and silver, place them in fixed locations, and cry out to objects that cannot hear or save them.

God's Reminder to Remember His Character: God calls Israel "transgressors" but urges them to remember who He is - the one who declares "the end from the beginning" and whose purposes always stand. He refers to Cyrus as a "bird of prey from the east" who will fulfill God's promises.

God's Promise to Bring Near His Righteousness: Despite Israel being "stubborn of heart," God doesn't demand they come to Him but rather promises to bring His righteousness near to them. He will give salvation in Zion as a gift, not something Israel must earn or find themselves.

The Humiliation of Babylon in Isaiah 47: This chapter shifts to address Babylon directly, personifying the nation as a woman who will experience dramatic reversal - from throne to dust, from royalty to menial labor, and from clothed to naked, depicting complete humiliation.

God's Indictment of Babylon's Treatment of Israel: While God acknowledges He handed Israel over to Babylon as punishment, He indicts Babylon for showing no mercy and treating His people with excessive cruelty, revealing God's ongoing care for Israel despite their disobedience.

Babylon's Fatal Pride: Babylon's ultimate downfall stems from its arrogant claim: "I am, and there is no one besides me" - language that appropriates God's own self-description. This hubris leads God to declare that widowhood and loss of children will come upon Babylon suddenly.

The Futility of Babylon's Magic and Sorcery: God sarcastically challenges Babylon to rely on its enchantments, astrology, and divination - practices they've trusted since youth - suggesting these might "perhaps" save them, knowing they ultimately cannot stand against God's judgment.

Babylon Left Without a Savior: The chapter concludes with imagery of Babylon's allies and business partners wandering away, each in their own direction, leaving Babylon with no one to save them - a stark contrast to Israel whose God carries and saves them.
</answer>

An entrepreneur channel created by Serial Entrepreneur, Patrick Bet-David. Valuetainment is referred to as the best channel for entrepreneurs with weekly How To's, Motivation and interviews with unique individuals. 

About PBD: 

During the Iranian Revolution of 1978, Patrick's family had to escape to survive and ended up living at a refugee camp in Erlangen, Germany. At 12 years old Patrick found himself collecting cans &amp; beer bottles to raise money that could help his family and get him a Nintendo. Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/valuetainment/support" rel="payment">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/valuetainment/support</a>

"Ilhan Omar Is GARBAGE!" - Trump BLASTS Minnesota Leaders Over Somali-Aid To al-Shabaab Terror Fraud

Valuetainment

<answer>
- Trump's 60 Minutes Interview on the Government Shutdown: Trump argued he won't be "extorted" by Democrats regarding the government shutdown, claiming they want to give money to "prisoners" and "drug dealers." He stated he's willing to work with Democrats on healthcare but believes they've "lost their way." Trump suggested Democrats will eventually have to capitulate and mentioned using the "nuclear option" to resolve the standoff.

- Senator Fetterman's Criticism of the Shutdown: Democratic Senator John Fetterman expressed frustration with both parties' inability to end the government shutdown, apologizing to constituents who will lose benefits. He specifically mentioned SNAP benefits expiring and criticized those framing the shutdown as a political win rather than addressing the real human impact.

- Media Bias and Trust: The panel discussed polling data showing that Republican-affiliated journalists have declined from 26% in 1974 to just 3% today, while Democratic-affiliated journalists remained steady. They noted that Republican and independent voters' trust in mainstream media has plummeted, while Democratic voters' trust has remained relatively stable.

- Panel Criticism of Democrats' Handling of the Shutdown: The panel claimed Democrats, particularly Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, are playing politics with the shutdown for electoral advantage. They referenced Schumer allegedly saying the shutdown "gets better politically every day for Democrats," which the panel condemned as putting politics over people's welfare.

- Debate Over Healthcare Subsidies: The panel discussed healthcare subsidies connected to the Affordable Care Act, with panelists arguing that the subsidies were artificially propping up a failed system. One panelist claimed the original ACA design deliberately allowed insurance companies to raise premiums after three years.

- "Future Looks Bright" Shoe Promotion: The episode includes promotion for the host's shoe line "Future Looks Bright" (FLB), highlighting Italian craftsmanship, quality leather, and "super foam technology." The host announces that most sizes sold out quickly but new sizes will be available soon.
</answer>

Master visualization and make your adult brain better at Chess. Featuring science-backed exercises, insights, and lessons from Aiden at Don't Move Until You See It. Brains are awesome, yours included.


🚶‍♂️ The Opera Game, Part 2 (Walkthrough)

Chess Visualization with Don't Move

Chess Visualization with Aiden Rayner

<answer>
- Understanding Dormant Ideas in Chess: This episode continues the analysis of the Opera Game, focusing on "dormant ideas" - potential tactics or strategies that aren't immediately playable but become relevant later. The episode picks up from Black's sixth move, examining how pieces' roles constantly shift as the position evolves.

- The F7 Checkmate Threat: At the beginning of the analysis, White's bishop on c4 combines with the queen on f3 to create a direct checkmate threat on f7. Black responds with Knight f6 to address this threat, though the knight is pinned to the king and cannot capture White's e4 pawn without risking checkmate.

- Queen b3 - A Multi-Purpose Move: White's queen move to b3 exemplifies Morphy's genius by simultaneously creating multiple threats. This move creates a battery with the bishop against f7, threatens the b7 pawn, and defends the bishop on c4. However, it also leaves the e4 pawn undefended.

- The Evolving Role of Black's Knight: The knight on f6 repeatedly changes its function throughout the game. Sometimes it's pinned and unable to move, other times it's freed up but has defensive responsibilities, showcasing how a piece's role can transform with each move.

- Proactive Defense with c6: Black plays c6 to connect the queen on e7 to the pawn on b7, preventing any potential knight forks and releasing the knight on f6 from some defensive duties. This move addresses multiple threats at once while strengthening Black's position.

- Bishop g5 and the Pin: White's bishop move pins the knight on f6 to the queen, weakening Black's attack on the e4 pawn and freeing up White's knight on c3. It also weakens the light-squared diagonal toward Black's king by removing a potential blocking piece.

- Importance of Recognizing Changed Conditions: The episode emphasizes how crucial it is to notice when conditions in a position have changed. Players often make mistakes by continuing to operate based on "a story that's no longer relevant," particularly verbal thinkers who may focus more on the narrative than the visual elements of the position.
</answer>

The most important stories about money, business and power. Hosted by Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson, with Jessica Mendoza. The Journal is a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal.

Get show merch here: https://wsjshop.com/collections/clothing

Is America on Too Many Psychiatric Drugs?

The Journal.

<answer>
- America's Growing Dependency on Psychiatric Medications: Over 347 million antidepressant prescriptions and 86 million benzodiazepine prescriptions were written in the US last year. While benzodiazepine prescriptions have been decreasing due to growing concerns, antidepressant use continues to rise, especially among young women. Psychiatric medications have become deeply embedded in American culture, from Valium in the 60s and 70s to modern SSRIs like Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro.

- Short-Term Studies vs. Long-Term Use: Most psychiatric drugs were only studied for short periods (average of eight weeks for antidepressants) but are frequently prescribed for years. The average time an American remains on antidepressants is five years, creating what one researcher called a "living experiment" with unknown long-term effects. Many benzodiazepines are only intended for 2-4 weeks of use, but patients often stay on them for decades.

- Side Effects and Withdrawal Symptoms: Long-term users of both benzodiazepines and antidepressants report serious side effects, including memory loss, panic attacks, akathisia (inability to stop moving), agoraphobia, sexual dysfunction, and emotional numbing. Studies show that 15-44% of chronic benzo users experience moderate to severe withdrawal, and nearly two-thirds of patients on antidepressants for more than two years face moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop.

- The Prescription Cycle Trap: When patients report side effects from psychiatric medications, doctors often respond by increasing dosages, switching to different medications, or adding more drugs rather than addressing the underlying issues. This creates a cycle where patients experience worsening symptoms but are prescribed more medications rather than help with discontinuation.

- Social Media's Dual Role: Social media has both helped destigmatize mental health issues and created awareness about medication problems. On platforms like TikTok, the hashtag "antidepressants" has over 1.3 billion views, with content ranging from positive testimonials about medication helping with depression to warnings about severe withdrawal symptoms and long-term side effects.

- Lack of Informed Consent: Many patients report never being warned about potential side effects or withdrawal symptoms when prescribed these medications. The FDA only required drug makers to add warnings about the serious risks of abuse, dependence, and withdrawal for benzodiazepines in 2020. Patients and advocates are calling for better informed consent practices so people understand the potential risks before starting these medications.

- "Pill-First Culture": America has developed what researchers describe as a "pill-first culture" deeply embedded in the medical system. While psychiatric medications help many people, there are few guardrails around their prescription, and alternative approaches to mental health treatment are often overlooked in favor of quick pharmaceutical solutions.
</answer>

Explaining Humanist values, how we can live our values to support social justice issues, and responding to science denying Christian Nationalists bent on smashing the wall between church and state. Human problems require human solutions. There will be interviews, from time to time, with Humanists and other secular people in Northwest Ohio and beyond.

What Humanism Means Today

Glass City Humanist

<answer>
- Pete Hegseth's Memo to Cut Military Support for Scouting America: The Secretary of Defense plans to sever government ties with Scouting America, citing their acceptance of girls as "attacking boy-friendly spaces." This is despite the military providing significant support to Scouts for over 100 years, including ammunition, logistical assistance for events, and scout troops on military bases. Douglas argues Hegseth's reasoning is misguided; the government should have cut ties long ago due to the Scouts' religious exclusivity and discrimination against atheists, not because of gender inclusivity.

- Boy Scouts' History of Exclusion and Financial Troubles: Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts) began allowing girls and LGBT members in recent years, largely due to financial pressures following numerous sexual abuse lawsuits and declining membership. The organization lost substantial support when the Mormon Church severed ties after the inclusion of LGBT members. Despite these changes, the organization still excludes atheists, maintaining its religious requirements through the Scout oath and Scout law.

- Douglas's Personal Experience as a Boy Scout: In the 1980s, Douglas was a Boy Scout in troops sponsored by religious organizations. While the religious aspects were present, his troop leaders didn't force strict religious participation beyond requiring respect during religious ceremonies. However, in the late 80s and early 90s, evangelical Christians took over the national organization, emphasizing religious requirements and exclusionary practices.

- Remembering Bob Barnes: The podcast pays tribute to Bob Barnes, president of the Blue Water Atheist Humanist Group in Sarnia, Ontario, who recently passed away. Barnes was instrumental in organizing the Baja Khan conference, which featured prominent speakers in the atheist/humanist community. A clip from a previous interview highlights Barnes's dedication to creating a premier humanist conference while raising money for charity.

- What Does Humanism Mean Today?: Douglas shares a sermon from Reverend T.K. Barger addressing the meaning of humanism. The sermon distinguishes between secular humanism and religious humanism, noting their similarities and differences. Both share core principles but differ in their approach to religious terminology and concepts like the soul or afterlife. Secular humanists typically reject supernatural concepts, while religious humanists may be more flexible with religious terminology.

- Core Humanist Values: Regardless of whether one identifies as a secular or religious humanist, core humanist values include supporting separation of church and state, science and reason, social justice, and evidence-based solutions to human problems. The responsibility for our lives and the world we live in rests solely with humans - not with supernatural beings or forces outside ourselves.

- Humanism in Community: While humanism emphasizes individual responsibility, many humanists find value in pursuing their humanist values within a community context, such as Unitarian Universalist congregations that welcome diverse beliefs while supporting shared humanist principles.
</answer>

The latest insights into how great products grow, how to be a better PM or product leader, and how to get a PM job. <a href="https://www.news.aakashg.com/s/product-growth-podcast?utm_medium=podcast">www.news.aakashg.com</a>

How to Upskill from Core PM to Great AI PM: Masterclass from Pendo CEO Todd Olson

Product Growth Podcast

<answer>
• AI PM Job Market Growth: AI product management jobs have doubled from 10% to 20% of all PM roles in the past year, with 30-40% higher compensation. However, Todd Olson cautions that companies thoroughly vet candidates who claim AI expertise, as there's significant "AI washing" on resumes. Successful AI PM candidates typically need production experience at scale, not just prototype work.

• Core AI PM Foundational Skills: PMs need to understand AI/ML fundamentals, including token economics, differences between models (GPT, Claude, Gemini), and when to use each for specific use cases. Experience with data pipelines and RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) is critical, as is prompt engineering – the ability to provide effective context and instructions to LLMs.

• Technical Understanding vs. Engineering Boundaries: While AI PMs should understand trace analysis and observability for debugging, there's often tension with engineering teams about roles. Todd advises PMs to learn these skills for personal productivity but respect engineering boundaries at larger companies. Meanwhile, evaluation (evals) is an area where PMs should take ownership, as they best understand user and business needs.

• Cost and Performance Optimization: AI features often start with poor gross margins (sometimes sub-15% compared to traditional software's 70-80%). PMs must prioritize performance optimization, which typically leads to cost savings. Todd notes that many AI features are initially built for speed to market but later need substantial rearchitecting to be cost-effective.

• Building Effective AI Roadmaps: Focus on solving genuinely hard problems rather than chasing "shiny objects." Todd emphasizes that good AI features should do significantly better than off-the-shelf models. PMs should be ruthless about killing underperforming AI features, as bad features dramatically affect user trust and adoption of future AI capabilities.

• AI Product Discovery and Prioritization: When building AI features, focus on workflows that are tedious, time-consuming, and where AI can provide significant value. Todd showcases Pendo's customer finder feature, which automates the discovery process by helping PMs identify and schedule interviews with relevant customers, solving a genuine pain point.

• Data Privacy, Ethics, and Adaptability: AI PMs must understand regional regulations (like those in Germany), industry requirements (healthcare, financial services), and build adaptable systems with toggles and switches that can be quickly modified if regulations change. Todd warns against "hardwiring" AI systems that can't be adjusted for different regions or customers.

• Stakeholder and Board Management: Control the narrative with leadership by having a strong point of view and aligning AI initiatives with business objectives. Todd advises against creating special reports just for board meetings – instead, share what you actually use to run the business, demonstrating how AI initiatives drive shareholder value.

• AI Feature Measurement: Traditional metrics like DAU/WAU may become less important for some AI products. Instead, focus on outcomes – what is the feature actually accomplishing for users? Consider metrics like successful workflow completion time, frustration signals, and retention rates. For example, Pendo examines how often users respond with short, irritated messages to evaluate agent effectiveness.

• Evolving Organizational Structures: Todd predicts AI will blur traditional role boundaries, with workflows becoming more important than org charts. The future will involve humans and AI agents collaborating across workflows (discovery, coding, etc.) rather than simply replacing humans with AI counterparts. This may require PMs to think beyond traditional product surface areas to entire cross-functional workflows.

• Multi-modal Interfaces and Enhanced Discovery: Todd demonstrated Pendo's AI tools that combine chat interfaces with interactive visualizations, and showed how their system can analyze multiple data sources (Gong calls, support tickets, surveys) to identify patterns and insights, dramatically reducing the time PMs spend sifting through qualitative data.
</answer>

Slovenská pošta: Najhustejšia sieť v Európe, no väčšina pobočiek v strate

TREND.sk

I notice that the transcript you've provided contains very brief fragments, many of which appear to be in Slovak, with no substantive conversation or complete sentences. This makes it impossible to create a meaningful summary of the podcast content.

<answer>
The provided transcript consists of only brief, disconnected fragments of speech, many appearing to be in Slovak, without complete sentences or coherent dialogue. Based on the context information, this podcast episode seems to discuss the Slovak postal service (Slovenská pošta), addressing its unsustainable operational model and possible solutions including radical changes, privatization, or continued state funding. However, without a proper transcript containing complete conversations, it's not possible to provide an accurate summary of the specific points, arguments, or insights shared during this 26-minute episode.
</answer>

Bloomberg Technology is the only daily news program focused exclusively on technology, innovation and the future of business.

Tech Left Behind in S&P 500’s Latest Rebound

Bloomberg Technology

Bloomberg Tech

<answer>
Market Anxiety About AI Investments: Tech stocks, especially the "Magnificent Seven," are lagging as investors question the pace and profitability of AI spending. Reports that Microsoft might be pulling back on Copilot sales targets have sparked concerns about whether AI will deliver expected productivity gains, despite competing reports denying these claims.

Portfolio Diversification Beyond Tech: Since the market bottom in October, investors have been diversifying away from tech stocks into sectors like healthcare, communications, and energy. Portfolio managers are questioning whether tech stocks can continue to outperform after their rapid gains, leading to repositioning into other sectors with potential for alpha generation.

Custom Chips Challenging Nvidia's Dominance: While Nvidia maintains its lead in AI chips, companies like Amazon with its Trainium chip and cloud providers developing custom silicon are gaining traction. Matt Garman, AWS CEO, emphasized that customer demand will determine the allocation of resources between in-house chips and Nvidia GPUs, with AWS adding substantial power capacity to support AI workloads.

Okta Sees Opportunity in Securing AI: Okta CEO Todd McKinnon reported strong earnings and highlighted unprecedented interest in their AI agent security solutions. McKinnon explained that companies are "stuck" in AI adoption because they need to connect agents to company data securely, which is where Okta's identity management solutions provide value by enabling governed data access.

Marvell Technology Expanding AI Capabilities: Marvell reported better-than-expected earnings and is positioning itself in the AI infrastructure space with customer wins including an "emerging hyperscaler." The company is also investing in photonics technology with the acquisition of Celestial AI, which uses light to move data more rapidly through chips and networks—addressing a major bottleneck in AI computing.

TikTok's Major Data Center Investment in Brazil: TikTok is investing over $37 billion to build a data center in Brazil, its first project in Latin America. The facility will rely on clean energy from wind parks and could eventually reach up to 3 gigawatts of capacity. Brazil was chosen because of its renewable energy resources, fully interconnected electricity grid, and position as Latin America's largest economy.

AI-Generated Content Concerns on YouTube Kids: There's growing concern about AI-generated low-quality "slop" content targeting young children on YouTube. New Pew data shows babies and infants are watching YouTube in increasing numbers, despite YouTube Kids being recommended for ages 2-12. Parents are conflicted—worried about content quality and children's attention spans, but many also rely on the platform as a "third parent" when they need a break.
</answer>

Health issues and medical breakthroughs from around the world.

The risky use of skin lightening in children

Health Check

<answer>
- Promising HIV Immunotherapy Breakthrough: A small proof-of-concept study published in Nature shows immunotherapy might control HIV without lifelong medication. In the trial of 10 people, seven maintained suppressed virus levels for months without treatment, with one participant reaching 18 months. Though still experimental, this approach could eventually replace daily medication with treatments administered every few years, reducing side effects and the risk of developing drug resistance.

- Skin Lightening Products Used on Nigerian Children: New research published in the British Medical Journal Open found nearly 20% of surveyed Nigerian mothers use skin lightening products on children under age five. These products pose serious health risks to children, including skin damage, kidney problems, neurological issues, and psychological harm. Despite 90% of mothers being aware of the risks, cultural pressures that associate lighter skin with beauty and social advantage drive usage.

- Medical Dangers of Skin Lightening: Dr. Atinuke Ajani, a Nigerian dermatologist, explains that children are particularly vulnerable to skin lightening products because of their thinner skin, smaller body weight, and developing systems. She has treated children with skin infections, thinning skin, and even a case of severe depression from steroid absorption. Despite seeing these complications, some patients tell her they would "rather die than stop" using the products.

- "Mini Sleep" Episodes During Sleep Deprivation: MIT researchers discovered that during moments when sleep-deprived people lose focus, their brains experience fluid waves similar to those normally seen during sleep. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulses out of the brain while blood volume, electrical activity, and pupil diameter all change simultaneously. This suggests the brain may be trying to "catch up" on sleep processes even while awake, possibly as a restorative mechanism.

- Gender Differences in Scientific Paper Retractions: A new analysis shows papers authored by men are more likely to be retracted than those authored by women, even accounting for the higher proportion of male-authored papers overall. While the reasons aren't fully explored, possibilities include men taking more risks or occupying more senior positions where research receives more scrutiny. Though retractions are rare (about 0.2% of all papers), this finding raises questions about scientific publishing practices.

- Defibrillators on Airplanes Save Lives: A new Canadian review calls for defibrillators on all commercial flights, as many planes, particularly in countries without specific regulations, don't carry them. While cardiac arrests account for only 0.03% of in-flight emergencies, they cause 86% of in-flight deaths. When defibrillators are available, survival rates increase dramatically from about 6% to between 20-70%. Despite the cost, researchers argue all passenger flights should have them, along with specialized CPR training for flight attendants.
</answer>

Join Josh Norris and Hayden Winks as they outline the most actionable information around the NFL. From Fantasy Football, Team Building, NFL Draft and Analytics plus game picks... it‘s all covered here.

Week 14 Fantasy Football RB Rankings (Top 36)

Fantasy Football with Josh & Hayden

<answer>
- Running Back Dominance: Five running backs (Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, and De'Von Achane) are scoring more weekly fantasy points than the top wide receiver. Most of these elite performers were selected in the top 22 picks of fantasy drafts, highlighting the importance of early-round RB selections.

- Jahmyr Gibbs (RB1): Despite facing the Dallas Cowboys' improved run defense (3.3 yards per carry allowed since acquiring Quinn and Williams), Gibbs earns the top spot due to the Lions' high team total (29 points) and the absence of Amon-Ra St. Brown. His versatility in the passing game and perimeter runs should help overcome Dallas's strong interior defense.

- De'Von Achane (RB2): Has recorded at least 20 touches in five straight games and 120+ rushing yards in three straight. Leads the league in 10+ yard run rate and faces a Jets defense that has been generous to RBs recently, allowing 28+ fantasy points to running backs in their last three games.

- James Cook (RB3): Averaging 140 total yards since Buffalo's Week 7 bye despite facing eight-man boxes on 55% of his carries. Gets a dream matchup against Cincinnati, who allows 2.6 more fantasy points per game to RBs than the second-worst run defense.

- Committee Backfield Prominence: After the top 12-15 running backs, the rankings quickly deteriorate into committee situations with drastically reduced projections. Players like Kyren Williams, Zach Charbonnet, and RJ Harvey are examples of backs whose value comes from team scoring potential rather than pure workload.

- Goal Line Specialists: Several running backs derive significant value from goal-line opportunities. RJ Harvey (Denver), Chris Rodriguez (Washington), and Kyren Williams (Rams) all benefit from being their team's preferred option near the end zone, even in backfields where snaps are otherwise split.

- Matchup Considerations: Defense quality significantly impacts rankings - the Seahawks (vs. Bijan Robinson), Jaguars (vs. Jonathan Taylor), and Chargers (vs. Saquon Barkley) have strong run defenses that limit upside. Conversely, the Bengals, Jets, and Raiders have poor run defenses that boost opposing RBs.

- Team Projection Impact: Team point totals heavily influence rankings. Players like Zach Charbonnet and David Montgomery are ranked higher than expected based on their teams' high-scoring projections, while talented backs like Breece Hall and Ashton Jeanty suffer from low team totals.

- Saquon Barkley Concerns: Despite his talent, Barkley ranks lower (RB17) due to Philadelphia's struggling offense (projected for only 21.75 points), poor offensive line play, and competition from the "tush push" at the goal line.

- Rookie Relevance: Several rookies maintain significant fantasy value, including Bijan Robinson, Chase Brown (emerging in Cincinnati), Quinshon Judkins (Cleveland's workhorse), and Bam Knight (Arizona). This reinforces the trend of first-year backs making immediate fantasy impacts.
</answer>

Veteran Boston sports personality Brian Barrett has teamed up with The Ringer for a podcast dedicated to all things Boston. From Fenway to Foxborough to the Garden, 'Off the Pike' features instant reactions to the biggest games and stories in town, plus unique conversations with local and Ringer personalities.

Pats Fact or Fiction With Andrew Callahan

Off The Pike with Brian Barrett

<answer>
Jaylen Brown's Elite Performance Against the Knicks: Jaylen Brown has elevated his game this season, particularly with his mid-range shooting. In the Celtics' win over the Knicks, he poured in 18 points in the second quarter and 15 in the third. Brown leads the NBA in two-point field goals outside the restricted area with 66 makes, shooting an incredible 52.8% on these difficult shots – better than elite mid-range shooters like Kevin Durant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Celtics Finding Their Groove: After a 4-6 start, Boston has gone 8-3 in their last 11 games. Their offensive rating (123.3) ranks second in the NBA during this stretch, despite missing Jayson Tatum. The team has improved significantly in shooting percentages, both from the field (48.4%, 9th) and from three (39%, 3rd), while also reducing opponent free throws from 29 per game (27th) to 24.1 (10th).

Drake Maye's MVP Candidacy: Andrew Callahan believes Maye will win MVP this season. Currently, Maye (-125) and Matthew Stafford (+125) are the frontrunners. Maye leads the NFL in completion percentage (71.5%) and passer rating (111.9), while ranking high in yards per game (3rd) and touchdown passes (4th). His accuracy has been historically great according to Next Gen Stats metrics.

Patriots Running Back Distribution: Callahan believes the Patriots' RB usage will be more similar to the Giants game (more balanced) than the Bengals game (Travion Henderson-heavy) going forward. While Henderson brings explosiveness (5.5 yards per carry over his last six games), his blitz pickup remains a concern, making Rhamondre Stevenson important in passing situations and high-leverage moments.

Will Campbell's Impact: Callahan agrees the Patriots got lucky falling to fourth in the draft, allowing them to select Will Campbell rather than debating between Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. Campbell has been above-average as a rookie left tackle (31st of 83 tackles per PFF) and fits perfectly with Vrabel's culture. Having a franchise quarterback and franchise left tackle in consecutive drafts is exceptional.

Patriots Defense vs. Texans Defense: When asked if the Texans' defense would be a scarier playoff matchup than Josh Allen and the Bills, Callahan disagreed. Despite Houston's impressive defensive stats (1st in points per drive), Callahan would rather trust Drake Maye against the Texans defense than have to stop Josh Allen in a high-leverage situation, citing Allen's ability to extend plays and improvise.

Patriots-Bills Rivalry Brewing: With the emergence of Drake Maye and Josh Allen as franchise quarterbacks, a true divisional rivalry is developing between the Patriots and Bills. Unlike during the Brady era when the Patriots rarely had consistent division rivals, this matchup could be the main AFC East battle for the next 5+ years.

Hunter Henry's Status Among Tight Ends: While Henry ranks 4th in yards and has 5 TDs (tied for 5th) among tight ends, Callahan doesn't consider him top-5 at the position. However, he acknowledged Henry deserves more recognition after enduring difficult years with poor quarterback play and coaching.

Drake Maye's Running Potential: Callahan believes designed runs for Drake Maye will become more prevalent in December and January, particularly in red zone and short-yardage situations where the Patriots have struggled (56% power success rate, bottom five in the league). While Maye isn't as physically imposing as Josh Allen or Cam Newton, option plays and RPOs could be effective in high-leverage situations.

Comeback of the Patriots as a National Draw: The Patriots' success means they'll likely get better broadcast teams for their remaining games rather than lower-tier announcers like Spero Dedes and Adam Archuleta. Their improved record and Drake Maye's emergence have made them a premier national draw again.

Jamie's Best Bets for Week 14: The show ends with Brian and producer Jamie McClellan sharing their favorite betting picks for the upcoming NFL weekend, including a six-point teaser with the Texans, Chargers and Bengals, as well as moneyline parlays featuring the Seahawks, Rams, Buccaneers, Ravens, and Packers.
</answer>

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

The Karol Markowicz Show: Choose Yourself in the Age of AI: James Altucher on Creativity, Careers & Reinventing Your Life

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

<answer>
## Key Points from James Altucher's Interview on The Karol Markowicz Show

The Power of Choosing Yourself: James Altucher discusses his philosophy of "Choose Yourself," which became the title of his most successful book. He realized that instead of waiting for others to approve of him (bosses, publishers, or social groups), he needed to take initiative in his own life and career. This approach helped him overcome financial hardships and create his own opportunities.

Creative Productivity Through Daily Practice: Altucher explains how consistent daily effort can lead to significant accomplishments over time. By writing just 1,000 words (about three pages) each day, he was able to produce enough material for multiple books per year, leading to his impressive catalog of 20 books.

Career Evolution and Intersecting Skills: Altucher's career journey took him from computer programming at HBO to creating early websites, running a hedge fund, and becoming an author. He credits his success to finding powerful intersections between his skills (technology, finance, and writing) and following his passions rather than sticking to conventional career paths.

Optimism About AI's Impact: Unlike many doom-forecasters, Altucher is highly optimistic about AI's impact on society. He argues that AI will create more jobs than it eliminates, lead to medical breakthroughs, and spawn entirely new industries. He emphasizes that creativity and adaptability will remain essential human skills that AI can't replace.

Financial Cycles and Money Psychology: Altucher candidly shares his experience of making and losing fortunes multiple times. He identifies three money skills people need: making it, keeping it, and growing it. He acknowledges his historical weakness in the "keeping it" area and discusses the deep psychological aspects of managing wealth.

Questioning Traditional Education: Altucher is critical of the college system, noting that tuition has risen faster than inflation for 50 consecutive years while providing questionable value. He advised his own daughters against attending college and believes alternatives like online learning, certifications, and entrepreneurship often provide better paths forward.

Daily Creativity Exercise: Altucher shares his personal productivity hack: writing down 10 ideas every day in a small notebook. The exercise isn't about generating brilliant ideas but about strengthening the "creativity muscle" that would otherwise atrophy. He notes that pushing past idea #7 to complete all 10 is where the real mental growth happens.
</answer>

The daily news podcast from the BBC, Newscast dives into the day's big stories so you're never out of your depth.
 
Newscast picks the brains of BBC News experts so you're ready if someone picks yours, covering the latest developments in politics in Westminster and beyond.Follow the new Labour government led by Sir Keir Starmer. Who will win the race to lead the Conservative Party? Newscast will give you all the best insights from BBC News so you're across all the day's top stories. 
 
Newscast is hosted by trusted journalists including Adam Fleming, BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer. 
 
GET IN TOUCH:
You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere
Send us a message or voicenote via WhatsApp to 03301239480
Email Newscast@bbc.co.uk
Or us #NewscastNewscast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Newscast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Americast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Newscast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd
The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r
Americast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p07h19zz
Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

Is Russia Really Ready For War With Europe?

Newscast

<answer>
- Russia-Ukraine Peace Negotiations Stall: Donald Trump's envoy Steve Wykoff held talks in Moscow over a 28-point peace plan for Ukraine, which had been tweaked by the Ukrainians. Russia effectively rejected the modified proposal, preferring to continue gaining ground on the battlefield rather than making concessions at the negotiating table, though they maintain the appearance of diplomatic engagement to avoid angering Trump.

- NATO Divided Without US Leadership: The US noticeably did not send Secretary of State Marco Rubio to a crucial NATO foreign ministers meeting, marking the first such absence in over 20 years. Instead, they sent a lower-ranking official who had previously criticized NATO, signaling a potential shift in US commitment to the alliance under Trump and leaving European nations concerned about their collective security.

- Putin's Veiled Threats Toward Europe: Vladimir Putin stated Russia is "ready" for war with Europe if Europe wants one, though experts note this is conditional rhetoric designed to instill fear. This messaging comes amid increased Russian hybrid warfare activities in Europe, including sabotage operations and drone sightings, intended to divide European nations and make them more cautious about supporting Ukraine.

- European Defense Spending Challenges: While NATO has agreed on targets for increased defense spending (3.5% of GDP plus 1.5% for defense-linked infrastructure), many European nations are struggling with the economic reality of such commitments. The drone sightings and other Russian activities are making the threat more tangible for ordinary Europeans, but governments still face difficult trade-offs between defense and other priorities.

- UK-EU Defense Collaboration Complications: The UK failed to join the EU's SAFE defense fund despite Canada successfully negotiating entry with a much smaller contribution (€10 million versus the €2 billion requested from the UK). This highlights ongoing tensions, particularly with France, which sees the UK's competitive defense industry as a threat to European champions like Dassault, limiting potential cooperation despite shared security interests.

- UK Government's EU "Reset" Strategy: The Labour government appears to be entering a new phase in its relationship with the EU, becoming more open about discussing the benefits of closer ties. Current negotiations include a veterinary agreement (food standards) and youth mobility schemes, with indications they may be planning additional areas of alignment despite maintaining they won't rejoin the single market, customs union, or EU.

- Domestic Political Calculations Behind EU Approach: The UK government's shift toward more pro-EU rhetoric appears driven by changing electoral calculations, with Labour now more concerned about Green Party voters than Reform UK supporters. Business leaders, previously told to accept Brexit bureaucracy, are now being asked to identify areas where they want alignment with EU standards, suggesting a longer-term strategy of incremental re-engagement.
</answer>

What The World Is Saying Today