The world’s most listened to, and award-winning, podcast covering the war in Ukraine. Every weekday, the Telegraph's top journalists analyse the conflict from all angles – just as they have since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, when tanks, jets and troops crossed Ukraine's borders. Downloaded over 100 million times and trusted by listeners worldwide, the team considers military strategy, history, weaponry, economics, refugee crises, culture, and daily life in Vladimir Putin's autocratic Russia and Volodymyr Zelensky's democratic Ukraine. Our correspondents on the ground talk to experts and civilians to cover every aspect of Russia's brutal invasion. We are also available in both Ukrainian and Russian, so that people on both sides of the battle lines and across the region – including Central Asia and the Caucasus – have access to accurate reporting. We use cutting-edge AI technology to make this possible. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them. Or find them here: <a href="https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatest</a> A new weekly newsletter is also available, where we answer your questions, provide recommended reading, and give exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights – plus maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons to complement our daily reporting. It’s free for everyone, including non-subscribers. Join here: <a href="https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://secure.telegraph.co.uk/customer/secure/newsletter/ukraine/</a> Telegraph subscribers get early access to bonus episodes of Ukraine: The Latest and our sister podcast Battle Lines. You can subscribe within The Telegraph app, or tap on ‘Already a subscriber’ at the top of this page to log in to link your existing subscription. For more information, head to: <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact-us/telegraph-subscription-bonus-content-apple-podcasts/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/contact-us/telegraph-subscription-bonus-content-apple-podcasts/</a><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.

Trump: Zelensky has until Christmas to accept peace deal & the new deadly shadow war of assassinations and hybrid attacks

Ukraine: The Latest

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Ukrainian Forces Report Gains Around Pokrovsk Amid Intense Fighting: General Oleksandr Syrsky claimed Ukrainian forces have reclaimed approximately 13 square kilometers around Pokrovsk since mid-November, though the city remains largely destroyed and contested. Russia has deployed around 155,000 personnel in the area and is using 40-50% of all glide bombs along the front there. The situation remains chaotic, with Russian forces targeting Ukrainian logistics and reinforcements through concentrated drone operations.

Trump Sets Christmas Deadline for Zelensky to Accept Peace Deal: President Trump's envoys signaled that President Zelensky has until Christmas to accept a peace proposal following their two-hour phone call. European negotiators have assembled three working documents in response: a 20-point framework peace agreement (reduced from 28 points in the US-Russian draft), security guarantees developed with Washington and European partners, and a reconstruction plan for Ukraine's future.

Zelensky Proposes Elections Within 90 Days Under Martial Law: In a diplomatically clever move, Zelensky announced Ukraine could hold elections within 60-90 days if the US and Europe provided security guarantees to protect the voting process from Russian interference. This effectively requires a ceasefire to proceed, addressing Trump and Putin's criticism that Zelensky is an illegitimate leader while demonstrating Ukrainian flexibility in negotiations.

UK Minister Outlines Coalition of the Willing Framework: Al Carns MP, UK Minister for the Armed Forces, explained that Britain and France are developing a joint headquarters to coordinate a coalition force in Ukraine focused on "safe skies, safe seas and secure borders." He distinguished between security guarantees (requiring potential US backing or Article 5-type commitments) and security arrangements (which the coalition would provide), emphasizing that European forces collectively possess significant capability even without US involvement.

Belgian Resistance to Frozen Russian Asset Seizure Explained: Belgian listeners provided detailed explanations for their government's reluctance to seize €140 billion in frozen Russian assets held at Euroclear. Key concerns include potential legal challenges that could result in Belgium owing over €200 billion (30% of GDP) in repayments with interest, the risk of Euroclear's bankruptcy if confidence is lost, and questions about why other European countries with frozen Russian assets aren't taking similar action with their holdings.

US Congress Demands Assessment of Ukraine's Weapons Sustainment Capacity: The House of Representatives is voting on the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires the Pentagon to report by June on Ukraine's ability to maintain critical weapons systems including F-16s, HIMARS, Patriots, and Abrams tanks. The act also mandates continued intelligence support to Ukraine and authorizes $175 million for Baltic Security Initiative funding for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Russian Hybrid Warfare Escalates Across Europe: Intelligence agencies have uncovered increasingly aggressive Russian sabotage operations, including plots to derail trains, burn shopping centers, discharge dams, and poison water supplies. A bomb placed on a Polish railway line nearly caused mass casualties, while Russian agents are surveilling bridges and railways for potential attacks. The Financial Times reports that professional operatives are being replaced by local criminals and migrants to conduct these operations.

Russia's Cizeron Oil Refinery Halted After Ukrainian Drone Strike: The refinery in Samara Oblast, hit last Friday by Ukrainian security service drones, has completely halted operations according to industry sources. The crude distillation unit requires up to a month of repairs, marking the second major strike on this facility since August.

British Soldier Killed in Ukraine During Capability Test: The UK Ministry of Defence announced that 28-year-old Lance Corporal George Hooley of the Parachute Regiment was killed in an accident while monitoring a Ukrainian missile capability test. The exact circumstances remain unclear, though it was confirmed to be accidental rather than combat-related.

UK Armed Forces Prioritizing Drone Integration to Double Combat Power: The British Army aims to double its combat power by 2027 and double it again by 2030, primarily through integrating uncrewed systems. Minister Carns noted that modern FPV drones can match the lethality of 22 artillery rounds, representing a fundamental shift in how the UK approaches military capability after historically outsourcing lethality to US forces.

Government Communication Gap on Ukraine's Impact on UK Citizens: The podcast highlighted a failure by the UK government to connect Russia's actions in Ukraine to domestic issues like cost of living increases, energy price spikes, and food inflation. Minister Carns acknowledged this communication gap and indicated an announcement would come addressing how the Ministry of Defence transmits threat information to the public more effectively.

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The day’s top stories from BBC News. Delivered twice a day on weekdays, daily at weekends.

Cancer-causing gene found in donor sperm across Europe

Global News Podcast

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Sperm Donor with Cancer Gene Fathered Nearly 200 Children: A Europe-wide investigation revealed that one sperm donor unknowingly passed on a TP53 genetic mutation to at least 197 children across 14 countries. This mutation increases cancer risk to up to 90% in lifetime, causing a rare syndrome. The donor's sperm was distributed by Denmark's European Sperm Bank to approximately 67 fertility clinics starting in 2005. The mutation affects around 20% of his sperm, and some children have already died while others require annual brain and body scans. The donor was unaware and donated in good faith, with the mutation only recently discovered.

Cross-Border Fertility Regulations Created the Crisis: The widespread distribution occurred because fertility rules don't work across country borders. While individual countries limit how often sperm can be used domestically, there are no restrictions on selling the same donor's sperm to multiple countries. Health correspondent James Gallagher explained that even with screening, it's impossible to detect every genetic disease, though the European Sperm Bank maintains that overall risks from sperm donors are lower than natural conception due to existing screening protocols.

Venezuelan Opposition Leader's Daughter Accepts Nobel Peace Prize: Maria Corina Machado, who has been in hiding in Venezuela for over a year after accusing President Nicolas Maduro of stealing the election, could not initially attend the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo. Her daughter, Anna Corina Sosa Machado, accepted the award on her behalf and read her mother's speech emphasizing the struggle for freedom and democracy. The Nobel Committee chairman called on Maduro to accept the election result and step down, while Machado later indicated she was heading to Oslo after a difficult journey out of Venezuela.

Renewed Fighting Between Thailand and Cambodia Displaces Half Million: Hostilities resumed this week over a long-standing border dispute, with Cambodia firing thousands of rockets and Thailand responding with artillery and airstrikes. More than half a million people have been evacuated from areas within 20 kilometers of the border. The BBC's Jonathan Head reported from a Thai village hit by Cambodian rockets, noting that both countries show little willingness to stop fighting despite intervention efforts. President Trump said he would have to "pick up the phone again" after previously brokering a July ceasefire, though his leverage may be less effective this time.

New Sound Therapy Offers Hope for Tinnitus Sufferers: Dr. Will Sedley from Newcastle University led a trial involving 53 people who listened to specially designed rippling sounds for about an hour daily for six weeks. The treatment aims to persistently quieten tinnitus rather than mask it, with effects lasting at least three weeks after stopping. About one in eight people worldwide has tinnitus, with one in eight of those suffering significant quality of life impairment. Researchers plan to incorporate the therapeutic sound patterns into music and talk radio that people already enjoy listening to.

French National Rally Leader Discusses Nationalism and Party History: Jordan Bardella, current favorite to win France's 2027 presidential election, told the BBC's Political Thinking podcast that a "wind of freedom and national pride" is blowing across Western democracies. When confronted about his party's racist history, including founder Jean-Marie Le Pen's remarks about Nazi gas chambers, Bardella defended the party while acknowledging that Marine Le Pen expelled her father in 2015 over antisemitism concerns. He criticized what he calls Europe's "vassalization" and blamed mass immigration for disrupting European societies.

US State Department Bans Calibri Typeface: Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman for official communications, calling the previous use of Calibri a "wasteful diversity move." The Biden administration had adopted Calibri partly because its lack of decorative features made it more accessible for people with disabilities. Designer Lucas de Groot defended his creation, explaining Calibri was specifically designed for reading long text on modern computer screens and works better than Times New Roman in small sizes on coarse office screens.

Humans Ranked 66% Monogamous in New Study: Anthropologist Mark Dybal created a monogamy league table comparing humans to other mammals by analyzing the proportion of full siblings versus half siblings. Humans scored far above chimpanzees and gorillas, similar to meerkats and beavers. The research examined both genetic data and self-reported information, including archaeological samples going back thousands of years. The study helps understand human mating systems from an evolutionary perspective and their connection to cooperative behavior in societies.

Sophie Kinsella Dies at 55: The bestselling author of the Shopaholic series died after being diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer in 2022. Writing under the pen name Sophie Kinsella (real name Madeline Sophie Wickham), she sold almost 45 million copies worldwide. She started as a financial journalist who wasn't great with money, experiences that inspired her famous protagonist. The first two Shopaholic books were adapted into a Hollywood film, making her one of the UK's most famous authors.

Kate Winslet Makes Directorial Debut: The Titanic star directed her first film, "Goodbye June," written by her son Joe Anders and starring Helen Mirren. The family drama follows siblings trying to put differences aside as their mother dies at Christmas. Winslet explained she felt ready to direct now because she's learned enough over her 30-year career and her children are old enough for her to be more absent. She addressed the lack of female directors, noting only 16 of the top 100 UK box office films last year were directed or co-directed by women compared to 84 by men.

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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 #47 - The Ghosts That Christmas Passed

Ghosts In The Mountains

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The Historical Tradition of Christmas Ghost Stories: Long before Halloween became "spooky season," Christmas was traditionally the peak time for telling ghost stories. This practice dates back to Celtic pagan holidays like Samhain and the Germanic celebration of Yule, when families would gather around fires during the darkest time of year and share tales of the dead. The tradition held that the veil between the living and dead was thinnest during the winter solstice period, making it the perfect time to remember departed loved ones and share supernatural tales.

Charles Dickens' Revival of Ghostly Yuletide Tales: By the mid-19th century, Christmas celebrations had largely been suppressed in England, and the tradition of holiday ghost stories was fading. Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" in 1843 not only revitalized the practice of telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve but also helped restore the celebration of Christmas itself. Dickens was actually an editor who frequently included ghost stories in his magazines and later joined the London Ghost Club, one of the first paranormal research organizations, where he spent time debunking fraudulent mediums.

Victorian Era Christmas Ghost Literature: Beyond Dickens' famous work, numerous other Christmas ghost stories emerged during the Victorian period. Notable examples include M.R. James's "Oh, Whistle and I'll Come to You, My Lad" (1904), featuring a professor who finds a mysterious whistle that conjures a terrifying wind and ghost; E.F. Benson's "Between the Lights" (1912), about a man whose Christmas vision of strange creatures comes true; and A.M. Burrage's "Smee" (1931), a chilling hide-and-seek game where a boy discovers he's been hiding with a ghost.

Historical Paranormal Christmas Encounters: Real documented ghostly events around Christmas include the Phantom Battle of Edge Hill in 1642, where English shepherds witnessed ghostly Civil War soldiers battling in the sky (similar to the later Chimney Rock cavalry sightings). Charles Dickens himself is reportedly seen as an apparition every Christmas Eve at midnight outside the Corn Exchange in Rochester, England, setting the hands of his watch.

Haunted Holiday Locations: Several locations experience heightened paranormal activity specifically during the Christmas season. The Sandringham House in Norfolk, England, reportedly experiences poltergeist activity including mysterious footsteps, self-closing doors, and moved Christmas cards during a period starting Christmas Eve and lasting several weeks. The Kennebunkport Inn in Maine is haunted by a mischievous night watchman who moves objects and caused full opera music to blast from an empty room on Christmas Eve.

Touching Christmas Visitation Stories: Modern firsthand accounts include deeply emotional encounters with deceased loved ones during the holidays. One man reported seeing his deceased mother appear in his La-Z-Boy chair on Christmas Eve 1971, smiling at him and his pregnant wife, while the fireplace mysteriously went out and Christmas lights that hadn't worked for days suddenly started flashing. The apparition lasted exactly until midnight before everything returned to normal.

The Christmas Light Phenomenon: Multiple accounts involve spirits interacting with electrical sources, particularly Christmas lights. One person was woken by an extremely bright light on Christmas Day 2008 that appeared to unlatch their bedroom door, though no one else was in the house. Another account described a deceased aunt causing a fully set dining table to collapse at the exact moment of her death, yet nothing broke.

Mysterious Christmas Arrivals: A particularly unusual story involves a bloody, injured black cat appearing on a doorstep on Christmas Eve with no footprints or tracks in the snow indicating how it arrived. After recovery, the cat later saved its new family from an electrical fire by waking them with frantic howling, suggesting a higher spiritual purpose for its mysterious appearance.

The Emotional Resonance of Holiday Hauntings: The episode explores why ghost encounters feel more poignant around Christmas, connecting to the tradition of remembering departed loved ones during family gatherings. The shorter days, longer nights, and sentimental nature of the season create conditions where people naturally reflect on those they've lost, potentially thinning the veil between worlds or making people more receptive to paranormal experiences.

Why Ghost Stories Belong at Christmas: The hosts argue that the modern association of Halloween with spookiness has caused us to lose something meaningful about Christmas traditions. Historical Christmas celebrations embraced both light and dark, joy and grief, life and death as necessary counterparts. Telling ghost stories during the holidays provided a healthy way to process loss and maintain connections with deceased loved ones rather than pretending death doesn't exist during supposedly "happy" times.

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Um podcast semanal sobre como a tecnologia pode nos ajudar a ser mais produtivos no trabalho e na vida.

181: Brain Rot Depois das 18h

Área de Trabalho

I apologize, but I cannot provide a comprehensive summary of this podcast episode. The transcript provided appears to be severely corrupted or incomplete, containing mostly isolated words, fragments, and what seem to be transcription errors rather than coherent dialogue.

From the context provided, I can see that this episode (#181: "Brain Rot Depois das 18h") of the "Área de Trabalho" podcast was hosted by Bia Kunze and Marcus Mendes, and was intended to discuss an article about how recent technological advances have inverted the order of development. The episode description indicates they covered topics including:

- Various tech products (Mochi Phone, Nokia 3050, Pebble ring, Nuwa Pen)
- AI and coding practices
- How AI is transforming childhood
- Phone bans in classrooms
- AI in healthcare and disease detection
- Productivity tools like Google Keep and Tasks

However, the actual transcript does not contain any substantive dialogue or discussion that I can summarize accurately. The transcript appears to consist almost entirely of isolated words, timestamps, and fragmented phrases that don't form coherent sentences or conversations.

<answer>
I cannot provide a reliable summary of this podcast episode because the transcript is severely corrupted or incomplete. The text contains only isolated words and fragments rather than coherent dialogue. To provide an accurate summary, I would need a properly transcribed version of the episode's audio content.
</answer>

A regular dissection of the news, issues and trends in travel and technology, featuring interviews with industry executives and entrepreneurs and hosted by PhocusWire editors.

How Expedia Group believes AI can improve digital travel marketing

In Phocus

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Travel Shops Expansion to Global Markets: Expedia has expanded its travel shops feature from the US to 11 markets worldwide. These shoppable marketplaces allow influencers, brands, and destinations to monetize their content on Expedia's app, addressing the fact that over 70% of travelers now get inspiration from influencers. The feature makes it easy for users to book trips recommended by people they trust.

Instagram Reels Integration with AI-Powered Itinerary Creation: Expedia has developed a tool that allows users to forward any Instagram reel to Expedia's handle, which then uses AI to automatically create a bookable itinerary based on the content. While Expedia may not offer every exact product or experience shown in a reel, the breadth of their inventory allows them to create similar, highly relevant alternatives that drive strong conversion rates.

Commerce Media Network Growth and Data Utilization: Research shows 43% of companies have adopted commerce media, with travel excelling at 60% in discovery and 68% in booking, though struggling with loyalty and in-transit phases due to data fragmentation. Expedia's travel media network leverages first-party data to find customers across platforms beyond their owned sites, providing better targeting and closed-loop measurement that demonstrates ROI to advertisers.

The Shift from Reach to Intent-Based Marketing: Following Gary Vaynerchuk's concept of "intent media," the focus is moving away from follower counts toward targeting relevant audiences with proper intent signals. This approach emphasizes delivering marketing at the actual moment of need rather than broadcasting to large but less relevant audiences, requiring marketers to understand and respond to specific behavioral signals throughout the customer journey.

AI in Content Creation Requires Human Touch: Expedia's "Science of Wanderlust" study surveyed 7,000 people with eye-tracking technology to understand what content drives bookings. Key findings show that while travelers don't mind AI-enhanced content, it must include human elements. Long-form video with clear storytelling (beginning, middle, and end) performs best, and AI is being successfully used to create video assets from static hotel images, driving higher click-through rates.

Customer Service as Key Differentiation in an AI-Driven Future: As agentic AI becomes more prevalent, Expedia believes competitive advantage will come from customer service that AI cannot fully replicate. While AI can handle certain customer service requests and tools, the proactive recommendations, problem-solving, and trust-building that travelers expect requires human involvement and will remain crucial for differentiation.

2026 as Continued Testing and Learning Phase: Torres predicts 2026 will still be a year of experimentation rather than clarity, with ongoing testing to determine what works, identify winners, and see new entrants emerge. Companies that haven't started testing yet can still catch up, and the monetization models for LLMs remain unclear. Success will depend on partnerships, continuous testing, and ensuring content is readily accessible for AI models—similar to early SEO strategies for search engines.
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The Podcast of Brushbeater.org, dedicated to training in small group communications, operations and intelligence tradecraft with a splash of current events.

Radio Contra 368. Overcoming Prepper Fatigue - Mindset, Not Material

Radio Contra

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Business Updates and 2026 Vision: The host opens by discussing how 2025 expanded on 2024's success with the launch of Kyber Optics, and explains that 2026 will see significant expansion of his business operations, including FFL/SOT services to become a greater local asset to his community. He emphasizes that none of this success would be possible without his audience and community support.

Venezuela as a Russian and Chinese Beachhead: A detailed breakdown of Venezuela's strategic importance, explaining how it became Russia's primary beachhead for influence in the Western hemisphere starting in 2004 under Hugo Chavez. The host discusses how this relates to drug trafficking, gray zone warfare, and speculates that the lapsed Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty may have enabled Russia to position nuclear weapons in Venezuela, which he believes is the real reason for current U.S. military posturing in the region.

Political Burnout and Broken Promises: Discussion of widespread political fatigue as the Trump administration fails to deliver on campaign promises, particularly regarding accountability for political opponents. The host argues this lack of action is causing voter apathy, evidenced by recent Democratic wins in traditionally red areas like Miami, and predicts difficult midterm elections ahead if Republicans continue fundraising off losses rather than delivering results.

The Illusion of Preparedness as a Finite Goal: The central theme addressing a listener's comment about feeling exhausted by constant pressure to do more in the prepper community. The host emphasizes that preparedness is not a destination but a continuous journey—you will never reach a point where you're "done" or perfectly prepared, and accepting this reality is crucial to avoiding burnout.

We're Already Living Without Rule of Law: The host argues that Americans are already experiencing societal breakdown and living "WROL" (without rule of law), pointing to catch-and-release policies for violent criminals, unpunished traffic violations leading to deaths, and general lawlessness on public infrastructure. He stresses the importance of being armed everywhere and receiving proper training in both weapons proficiency and fighting mindset.

Precious Metals Reality Check: Discussion of the precious metals market, acknowledging that while PM investment can serve as a hedge against dollar devaluation, gold has become prohibitively expensive and the fantasy of bartering with pre-1964 silver coins is unrealistic. He suggests alternatives like gold backs and emphasizes that bullets may be more valuable than precious metals, while investing in knowledge and skills provides returns that can't be measured in dollars.

Skills Over Gear Philosophy: The host advocates for prioritizing skill development over material acquisition, recommending that people create mission essential task lists (METL) with realistic, achievable goals. He emphasizes the importance of quality training from professionals like War Lizard Tactical and Joe Gaines, mentions Appleseed as an affordable entry point for rifle training, and stresses that buying equipment doesn't make you competent—consistent practice and skill development does.

Micro-Farming and Self-Sufficiency Skills: Highlighting how COVID sparked renewed interest in homesteading skills like raising chickens, ducks, and other livestock. The host encourages investing time in learning animal husbandry, gardening, and understanding growing seasons, noting that while these skills aren't difficult, knowledge and preparation lead to much better outcomes than jumping in blindly.

Setting Realistic Expectations for Preparedness: The host addresses the spectrum of scenarios people prepare for, from realistic concerns about early societal breakdown to unlikely events like nuclear war. He encourages focusing energy on probable threats rather than trying to prepare for every possible catastrophe, which leads to paralysis and burnout.

The Continuity of Preparedness: A closing message emphasizing that preparedness exists on a continuum, not as a checkbox to complete. Using the biblical example of Noah building the ark before the flood, the host encourages listeners to maintain faith, continue training, stay consistent with their efforts, and understand that they're building capabilities over time rather than racing toward a finish line that doesn't exist.
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Once a week, Michael Liebreich and Bryony Worthington have a conversation with a leader in clean energy, mobility, climate finance or sustainable development. Informative, inspiring and fun!

Honey, I Shrunk the Oil And Gas Sector | Ep237: Lord John Browne

Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change

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The Shifting Geopolitical Landscape: Lord Browne argues that security has become paramount in global thinking, with the world moving toward autarky and two dominant superpowers (US and China) reminding others of their reduced relevance. This has created heightened anxiety globally, affecting how people think about energy transitions. However, he rejects the simple framing of China as an "electrostate" and the US as a "petrostate," noting both are more complex—China remains heavily coal-dependent while the US is rapidly electrifying for AI and data centers.

The Energy Mixing and Remixing Process: Rather than viewing the energy transition as a wholesale replacement, Browne characterizes it as "remix 20"—a continuous process of energy sources mixing and remixing. He disputes Dan Yergin's "troubled transition" thesis that clean energy is merely additive on top of an unchanging fossil fuel base, arguing the statistics show fossil fuel growth is already constrained by clean energy deployment.

The Mathematics of Clean Energy Overtaking Fossil Fuels: Liebreich presents his theory that if clean energy continues to outgrow energy demand growth, fossil fuels will inevitably go "ex-growth"—first coal, then oil, then gas. Browne agrees this is occurring slowly but steadily, as clean alternatives become cheaper while fossil fuel extraction costs rise over time. This tipping point dynamic will eventually squeeze margins and force production shutdowns.

The BeyondNetZero Investment Strategy: Browne's $3.5 billion fund invests in companies that deliver strong private equity returns while reducing greenhouse gases faster than science-based targets. Rather than focusing on renewable power generation requiring massive capex, the portfolio emphasizes demand-side solutions, efficiency, and the circular economy—including companies like Sunking (distributed solar in Sub-Saharan Africa) and Technosil (AI-powered wildfire prevention).

Oil and Gas Industry Strategy in Decline: If still running an oil major, Browne would focus on responsible operations with high returns, zero methane emissions, and deploying new technologies to create "super fuels" while keeping extended R&D portfolios modest. He notes investors allow experimentation only when the base business is strong, explaining why BP's renewable pushes have been repeatedly wound back.

The Promise of Advanced Chemistry and Biotech: Browne is excited about breakthroughs at the intersection of AI, chemistry, and biology—particularly metallic organic frameworks for CO2 capture and enzymes that could refine oil differently or convert waste into clean fuels. He believes "AI for Science" and "Lab in the Loop" techniques will accelerate discoveries that were impossible when BP first experimented with biofuels.

Europe's Electricity Cost Crisis: Addressing Europe's high electricity costs, Browne argues for restructuring energy markets to separate national security costs from consumer bills and creating genuine level playing fields between energy sources. Liebreich adds that increased electrification should actually reduce per-unit electricity costs by spreading fixed grid infrastructure costs over larger volumes.

The Small Modular Reactor Reality Check: While supporting nuclear as part of the energy mix, both Browne and Liebreich express skepticism about SMRs as a silver bullet solution. Liebreich calculates that having meaningful climate impact would require "tens of thousands" globally, making wild projections likely to end in "financial disaster" as Browne warns.

Adaptation and Resilience as Key Priorities: Beyond mitigation, Browne emphasizes adaptation as "the first level of response" to climate change. His portfolio company Technosil uses AI to predict and prevent wildfires, floods, and earthquake damage—demonstrating how we can reduce risks to humans and property even if we can't quickly eliminate all emissions.

The Four Priorities for Climate Action: Browne's roadmap includes: (1) deploying what works today commercially without holding back; (2) researching and developing innovations for the future, as "we're at the foothills" of what's possible; (3) working on adaptation and resilience since we won't solve all problems; and (4) focusing on people—both training skilled workers and ensuring solutions are acceptable to communities rather than berating them about environmental impacts.

The Circular Economy as Emissions Reduction: Browne views recycling and circular economy approaches as offering "enormous" greenhouse gas reductions beyond just power generation. Portfolio companies like Ecor convert waste tires into sports flooring and steel, while Roadrunner uses visual AI for sophisticated waste sorting—demonstrating multiple pathways to decarbonization.

Distributed Energy Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: Sunking exemplifies how clean energy can leapfrog fossil infrastructure in developing regions, serving 10 million customers with rooftop solar systems priced below kerosene or diesel. With 97% payment rates, it proves that energy poverty can be profitably addressed while substituting out petroleum products—reminiscent of early oil industry customer acquisition.

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A Daily Bitcoin Show that keeps you up-to-date with the peaceful Bitcoin revolution.

BREAKING: $25T Can Now OFFICIALLY HIT Bitcoin! | EP 1395

Simply Bitcoin

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US Banks Officially Greenlit for Bitcoin Sales: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a letter allowing all national banks in America to sell Bitcoin to their clients, marking a major regulatory shift. Banks can now engage in "riskless principal transactions" - buying crypto from one customer while simultaneously selling it to another without holding the assets in inventory, essentially acting as brokers. This clears previous regulatory obstacles and signals Wall Street's acknowledgment that Bitcoin must be adopted or they risk being left behind.

Wall Street Co-Option Concerns: While bullish for mainstream adoption, this development raises concerns about Wall Street attempting to control Bitcoin by positioning themselves as intermediaries. The real battle is between "captured Bitcoin" (held through Wall Street products) and self-custody Bitcoin. The traditional financial system is embracing Bitcoin, but only on their terms, trying to funnel users into their products rather than direct Bitcoin ownership. Taking Bitcoin into self-custody remains the most important action for users to maintain true control.

Hypocrisy in Bitcoin Regulations: The OCC's guidance appears hypocritical when compared to the Samurai Wallet case. Banks can now facilitate Bitcoin transactions without holding custody and face no liability, yet Samurai Wallet developers faced prosecution for facilitating coin joins through software that also never held custody. This reveals a two-tiered justice system where rules apply differently based on whether you're an established institution or an outsider.

European Nations Following Bitcoin Trend: A Coinbase institutional advisor suggested more Eurozone countries will follow the Czech Republic in adopting Bitcoin, despite ECB resistance. The Czech Republic's $1 million Bitcoin purchase and elimination of capital gains tax on Bitcoin held over three years represents a stable EU nation choosing Bitcoin without economic desperation. This signals potential cracks in Christine Lagarde's anti-Bitcoin stance and the EU's CBDC push, as countries realize they must compete or fall behind.

MicroStrategy's Response to MSCI Exclusion Proposal: MicroStrategy released a comprehensive rebuttal to MSCI's proposal to exclude digital asset treasury companies from their indexes if they hold more than 50% digital assets. Strategy argues they're an operating company, not an investment fund, and that the 50% threshold is arbitrary and discriminatory since MSCI doesn't apply similar rules to companies concentrated in oil, timber, gold, or real estate. The proposal appears politically and ideologically motivated against Bitcoin.

JP Morgan's Manipulative Tactics Exposed: JP Morgan released a 40-day-old negative report about MicroStrategy's business model and MSCI rule changes, then immediately launched a competing Bitcoin product while holding a large short position on Strategy. This coordinated attack, released near a local price bottom of $80k, demonstrates Wall Street's dirty tactics to handicap Bitcoin treasury companies while launching their own competing products to capture the market.

Federal Reserve Delivers Expected Rate Cut: The Fed cut interest rates by 25 basis points as widely anticipated, bringing rates to 3.5-3.75%. Bitcoin's price showed volatile whipsaw action during the announcement, initially pumping then dumping, demonstrating why trading around FOMC meetings is dangerous. Despite rate cuts traditionally being considered bullish for Bitcoin, recent cuts have coincided with price weakness, suggesting they may already be priced in.

Mar-a-Lago Accords Theory in Action: The continued rate cuts align with what appears to be a coordinated economic strategy to weaken the dollar and inject liquidity into the system. The Trump administration needs easy money conditions and will likely continue destroying the dollar's purchasing power to make markets appear stronger on paper while addressing trade war concerns. This benefits those close to power but hurts Main Street's purchasing power.

Narrative Shift Accelerating Despite Price Stagnation: While 2025 has been disappointing price-wise (currently down 1.5% for the year), the fundamental narrative around Bitcoin has shifted dramatically in just 11 months. Banks, institutions, and governments that previously dismissed Bitcoin as speculative or criminal are now scrambling to adopt it. This represents foundational year laying groundwork for future adoption, even if immediate price action hasn't reflected it.

Bitcoin Game Theory Playing Out Globally: The adoption of Bitcoin by major institutions and nations demonstrates game theory in action - it's becoming a Mexican standoff where failure to adopt Bitcoin means falling behind competitors. US actions are forcing global responses, with even resistant entities like the EU facing pressure to bend the knee. The only winning move is participation, and those who sit on sidelines risk losing their position in the global financial hierarchy.
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A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

Another day, another expenses scandal

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Annika Wells' New York trip sparks scrutiny: Labor Minister Annika Wells came under fire after revelations that her September trip to New York to speak at the UN General Assembly about Australia's social media ban cost approximately $94,000 for business class flights for herself, a senior staff member, and a public servant. Despite government assurances that the trip was important policy work, the cost has been difficult to justify to the public, especially given the trip lasted only three days.

Pattern of family travel expenses emerges: Following the initial scrutiny, additional questions arose about Wells' use of family reunion entitlements under the parliamentary expenses scheme. As Sports Minister, she brought family members to various sporting events including the AFL Grand Final, a skiing weekend at Thredbo, and the Olympic Games in Paris, where one dinner cost over €1,000. While Wells maintains everything was within guidelines, critics argue it shows a pattern of liberal use of taxpayer funds.

Government's defensive response backfires: The government's initial response—both from Wells and Prime Minister Albanese—that the expenses were within the rules and necessary for important work, failed to satisfy public concern. Albanese's comment that his own Washington trip "would have cost more than 100 grand" particularly opened the government up to further criticism, turning what might have been a contained issue into an ongoing scandal.

Opposition seizes opportunity amid own struggles: The Coalition has enthusiastically pursued the Wells story as a welcome distraction from its own internal problems. However, this political attack has prompted scrutiny of opposition members' expenses as well, including Liberal MP Melissa McIntosh, who claimed expenses for a trip that coincided with her son's judo championship, turning the issue into a broader bipartisan problem.

Wells requests audit as circuit breaker: After more than a week of mounting pressure and just before the social media ban debate, Wells asked the independent parliamentary watchdog to audit her expenses. While she expects to be found compliant with guidelines, the move was primarily a political attempt to stop the story's momentum rather than address underlying public concerns about the appropriateness of the spending.

Broader questions about parliamentary entitlements system: The scandal has exposed a gap between what parliamentary guidelines technically allow and what the public considers appropriate use of taxpayer money, particularly during a cost of living crisis. The debate has raised questions about whether the rules themselves need reform, though Albanese appears reluctant to review guidelines as it would prove unpopular with parliamentarians across all parties.

Historical context of political expense scandals: This incident fits into a long pattern of similar controversies across both major parties, including Bronwyn Bishop's helicopter trip, Susan Ley's impulse property purchase on a work trip (which cost her the ministry), and six ministers losing portfolios under the Howard government over travel allegations. These scandals tend to snowball and can cause significant political damage, especially during times of economic hardship.

"Fun portfolio" creates additional optics problem: Wells' position as Sports Minister creates a unique perception challenge—she attends events for work that most Australians pay for as leisure activities. This means she needs to be especially careful about claiming additional expenses and bringing family members, as the public sees her already getting paid to attend events they consider privileges, making additional claims appear tone-deaf regardless of technical compliance.

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Welcome. I’m Andrew Henderson – perpetual traveler, international entrepreneur, and citizen of the world.

Each week, I share tips and insights gleaned from my world travels on how you can find more freedom, grow and protect your assets, and live a radical life on your own terms. I help you achieve your own freedom with my daily field reports, weekly syndicated radio shows, helpful products, and live events.

Every year, I travel to about one dozen new countries (sometimes many more) in search of personal and economic freedom. My mission is simple: find the best places to live, start a business, and invest. I’m always on the go and exploring new places. No one place has a monopoly on freedom, opportunity, or happiness, and I make the world my oyster in search of the perfect balance.

While on the go, I take the time to really understand what’s going on on the ground in each country in order to find the best places in the world to live, work, bank, invest, start a business, date, raise a family, and enjoy life.

I value personal freedom above all else in life. Freedom to live how I want, free from bosses and their 9-to-5 work days and from greedy politicians that want to control me and steal my money.

How Peter Theil Saved Billions in Taxes, and Why You Can't!

The Nomad Capitalist Audio Experience

Nomad Capitalist Audio Experience

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Peter Thiel's Roth IRA Success Story Cannot Be Replicated: Peter Thiel famously put $2,000 worth of near-worthless PayPal founder shares into a Roth IRA in 1999, which eventually grew into billions tax-free when PayPal went public and sold to eBay. However, this was only possible in the "early days" before self-dealing restrictions became more strict, and most custodians today won't allow this type of stock placement in IRAs anymore.

The Unicorn Problem with Roth IRA Strategies: Relying on a Roth IRA strategy means you're betting on infinitesimally small odds of building a unicorn company, since current contribution limits are only $7,000 annually for those under 50. A business worth $7,000 isn't much to start with, and even Warren Buffett's investment returns over 40 years wouldn't achieve the same results as Thiel's outlier success.

Focus on High-Probability Wealth Building Instead: Rather than swinging for the fences hoping to replicate a billion-dollar outcome, entrepreneurs should focus on the highest probability path to building substantial wealth ($30-100 million). The consensus among ultra-high-net-worth individuals is that after $100 million, there's very little additional utility to more wealth.

Government Risk and Asymmetrical Betting: Keeping money in Roth IRAs or other retirement accounts represents an asymmetrical bet where the government holds all the power to change rules at any time, while account holders cannot access their money until retirement age. Politicians from both parties have increasingly proposed restrictions on IRAs, and retirement accounts represent the largest untapped pool of wealth for a potentially bankrupt government.

Starting Companies Offshore Provides Certainty: If Peter Thiel were starting PayPal today, jurisdictions like Singapore or Dubai might offer better environments with more favorable business cultures and politicians eager to help entrepreneurs succeed. By incorporating in zero or low-tax jurisdictions, entrepreneurs can pay 0-10% tax on earnings with certainty, rather than hoping for a lottery-ticket outcome.

The Dual Benefit of International Tax Strategy: Moving to a zero or low-tax country allows entrepreneurs to pocket savings on income taxes along the way while building their business, and then potentially pay zero capital gains tax when selling the company. This provides the benefits of both income tax savings and capital gains tax avoidance, versus only getting the latter through a Roth IRA.

Second Passport Strategy for US Citizens: US citizens pay taxes on worldwide income regardless of where they live, making second citizenship crucial for those who want to start potentially high-value companies. Options include obtaining citizenship through ancestry, moving to countries like Ireland (which offers a non-dom program and citizenship after five years), or purchasing citizenship through investment programs.

Organic vs. Inorganic Tax Strategies: Rather than twisting yourself into knots with politician-controlled retirement structures and complex tax schemes, entrepreneurs should act organically by simply moving to jurisdictions that naturally treat them better. Contributing to government-controlled retirement structures in exchange for tax breaks is essentially responding to extortion.

Geographic Diversification Beyond Tax Benefits: Keeping all assets, business deals, and wealth in one country subjects you to that country's economy, politicians, and cultural shifts. Even "pro-business" administrations impose restrictions that hurt certain companies (like tariffs on Nvidia chip sales to China), demonstrating that political winds can change quickly.

Wealthy People Already Live Internationally: Successful entrepreneurs like Peter Thiel already maintain homes around the world and spend time in different countries. Rather than waiting until after becoming wealthy to adopt an international lifestyle, entrepreneurs should use international living from the start as part of an organic tax strategy that provides more control over their money.
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Diggnation is back! After a 15-year break, the guys are returning with all new episodes. Diggnation covers the top stories from around the internet. Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht give you their unique, sometimes awkward, and always hilarious take on the edges of the internet. Just a couple of geeks sitting on a couch.

Netflix Wants HBO, Founders Want Manners, and AI Wants Your Face

Diggnation v2.0 (rebooted)

Diggnation (Rebooted)

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Netflix's Major Media Acquisition: Netflix is pursuing an $84 billion acquisition of Warner Brothers Discovery, which would give them control of massive IP including HBO, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and DC Comics. This represents a significant shift from Netflix's previous stance against acquiring legacy studios. Skydance Paramount has also entered with a hostile bid, and there are regulatory concerns about the consolidation. The deal could fundamentally change Netflix from a streaming service into a full-fledged content empire with both production and distribution arms.

The $50K Sobriety Challenge: Kevin challenges Alex to go an entire year without drinking alcohol for a substantial monetary bet, though they don't settle on a final amount. They start with agreeing to do "Dry January" together. The conversation reveals Alex's relationship with alcohol and social media, noting he's recently cut back on both and feels significantly better, though giving up alcohol for a full year remains a tough sell even for serious money.

Silicon Valley Etiquette Camp for Founders: A new trend has emerged where young startup founders attend finishing school-style etiquette camps to learn how to dress, act, and present themselves to VCs. The hosts are skeptical about the value, debating whether founders should focus on their products rather than fashion. However, they acknowledge that communication skills and reducing social awkwardness can be beneficial, especially for those who lack experience in professional settings.

Australia's Social Media Ban Success: Australia banned social media for kids under 16, placing enforcement responsibility on the platforms rather than families. A year later, teens report feeling relieved rather than deprived, with many saying they're socializing more, playing board games, and experiencing less FOMO since everyone is in the same situation. This connects to broader discussions about social media's negative mental health impacts and the benefits of disconnecting.

AI-Generated Deepfakes Reach New Heights: Using Google's Nano Banana image generation tool, people are creating incredibly realistic photos of themselves on movie sets and with fictional characters. The quality has improved dramatically from just two years ago, raising serious concerns about trust, evidence in court cases, and the spread of misinformation. The hosts note that bot farms are already using AI to sow discord in American politics and relationships.

Medical Innovation with Spider-Inspired Robots: A new pill-sized robot inspired by spider movement can crawl through the digestive system to perform endoscopies without sedation. It uses magnetic fields to navigate and can detect polyps and early signs of cancer. The device represents a significant advancement in making medical procedures less invasive and more comfortable for patients.

Digg Platform Updates: The team announces that Digg's open taxonomy feature (user-created communities) will launch in early 2025, allowing users to create niche topic spaces beyond the current broad categories. They've moved into a new warehouse office space and are focusing on making Digg distinctly different from Reddit once they achieve feature parity.

Personal Tech and Productivity Tools: Kevin discusses various note-taking and productivity tools including the Kindle Color Scribe (launching December 10th), Duolingo's expansion into chess and piano lessons, and the Rollie piano with AI-powered finger tracking. The conversation touches on the challenges of integrating these tools into workflows and the difficulty of syncing handwritten notes across devices.

Social Media Detox Benefits: Alex shares his experience cutting back drastically on Instagram and TikTok scrolling, reporting immediate mental health improvements. Instead of scrolling for hours at bedtime, he's switched to doing Sudoku, crosswords, and Wordle. Research shows social media time can physically damage the brain, particularly for young people developing social skills.

7-Eleven's Japanese Food Experiment: Japan's viral egg salad sandwich from 7-Eleven is launching in US stores, but early reviews suggest it doesn't match the Japanese version. The fundamental challenge isn't the food itself but the massive cultural and operational differences between Japanese 7-Elevens (clean, safe, fresh food daily) and American locations (often sketchy with questionable food safety). The hosts are skeptical that better food alone can change 7-Eleven's brand perception in the US.

Holiday Traditions and Baking Adventures: Alex successfully made French Palmiers (elephant ears) for the first time after learning from his sister, bringing them to a cookie exchange. The hosts discuss their Thanksgiving celebrations and the benefits of simplified meal prep versus traditional elaborate cooking.

Weighted Vest Training Trend: Kevin introduces "rucking" with a £10-20 micro weighted vest designed for everyday wear to burn extra calories and improve bone density. The practice involves wearing weighted gear throughout the day or during walks, though Kevin acknowledges the aesthetic isn't ideal for public wear.
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Squawk Pod is a daily, guided curation of the top moments and takeaways from CNBC’s flagship morning show, “Squawk Box”, anchored by Joe Kernen, Becky Quick and Andrew Ross Sorkin. Each day, the podcast includes news making interviews, perspective and analysis from iconic guest hosts, and slices of debate and discussion—from the heated to the hilarious— all wrapped with exclusive context and color from Senior Producer Katie Kramer.

AI Commission in the House, Reaction to Chip Sales in the GOP 12/10/25

Squawk Pod

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Federal Reserve Chair Selection Narrowing: President Trump indicated he has a "pretty good idea" who he wants to lead the Federal Reserve after Jay Powell's term ends, though reports suggest the search continues. Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council, appears to be leading for the position, while Trump is also meeting with former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh. Hassett stated he wouldn't cave to political pressure on rate cuts if appointed, though he sees room for cuts in coming months.

Republican Backlash on Nvidia Chip Sales to China: Congressional Republicans, including Lindsey Graham and Josh Hawley, expressed significant concerns about allowing Nvidia to sell H200 AI chips to China, fearing it could undermine America's AI advantage. The chips would undergo special security review in the U.S. before shipment to China. A Republican-led House panel warned the move could help China catch up in AI capabilities and that China would likely reverse-engineer the technology. Some Republicans like Senator Mike Rounds supported the sale since the H200 isn't the most advanced chip.

National Affordability Crisis and Biden-Era Inflation: The discussion highlighted that prices rose 22% during the Biden administration, creating an affordability crisis that contributed to Trump's election victory. The Trump administration is focusing on four key areas to reduce costs: energy (including transmission infrastructure), healthcare (through price transparency), housing (by reducing federal subsidies and local regulations that make affordable units cost $750,000 to build in New York), and education costs.

Jay Clayton's Priorities as U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York: Former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton outlined his focus on eliminating open-air drug markets in locations like Washington Square Park and housing projects. He emphasized aggressive prosecution of gun crimes and gang violence, particularly targeting groups like Tenda Aragua. Clayton criticized New York's bail reform laws that prevent judges from considering public safety risk when deciding whether to detain defendants.

Tensions Over Immigration Enforcement and City-Federal Relations: Clayton defended ICE agents wearing masks during operations, citing threats to their homes and families. He strongly advocated for federal jurisdiction in prosecuting violent criminals who are in the country illegally. The conversation highlighted potential conflicts between federal law enforcement priorities and New York City's sanctuary city policies under incoming Mayor Scott Mandani.

Presidential Involvement in Corporate Mergers: The discussion addressed unprecedented direct presidential involvement in the Netflix-Warner Bros./Paramount merger negotiations, with both CEOs expected to visit the White House. This raised questions about the traditional arms-length relationship between the president and Justice Department merger decisions, complicated by Jared Kushner's firm backing the Paramount deal. Clayton suggested transparency about such involvement might be preferable to recusals.

House Democratic AI Commission Launch: Representative Josh Gottheimer announced he will co-lead a new House Democratic Commission on AI and the Innovation Economy after Republicans declined to continue a bipartisan committee. The commission will focus on legislation around deepfakes, child safety, energy requirements for AI, and ensuring America maintains its technological edge over China. Gottheimer emphasized bipartisan work is continuing on AI legislation despite the partisan commission structure.

Federal AI Regulation and Preemption: Gottheimer indicated openness to federal preemption of state-by-state AI regulation, provided it's done correctly with appropriate carve-outs for states on issues like child safety, transparency, and consumer protection. The challenge remains that three years after ChatGPT's public launch, no comprehensive federal AI regulation has passed, similar to the lack of strong social media regulation after 15+ years.

Healthcare Subsidies Expiring and Premium Increases: Gottheimer highlighted the urgent need to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire, which would affect 22-24 million Americans. Without extension, a family of four in New Jersey would face a $20,000 premium increase (175% jump). A bipartisan group is proposing a one-year extension while considering longer-term reforms, though President Trump has not yet supported the effort.

Andrew Ross Sorkin's Late Night Appearance: Sorkin appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to discuss his new book about the 1929 stock market crash, but the conversation veered into AI economics, media consolidation, and Paramount's uncertain future. Colbert's show is ending in May, regardless of which company acquires Paramount, highlighting the turbulence in legacy media.

GE Vernova's Strong Performance and Outlook: The energy equipment company's stock soared 10% after providing bullish long-term guidance projecting revenue of at least $52 billion by 2028, up from current guidance of $36-37 billion. The company also doubled its dividend and increased share buyback authorization to $10 billion, with multiple analysts raising ratings and price targets.
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Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall – three of the UK’s top journalists – host an award-winning daily news podcast: The News Agents.  

They’re not just here to tell you what's happening, but why. Expect astute analysis and explanation of the day's news – and a healthy dose of scepticism and the ability to laugh at it all when needed.

Episodes are available every weekday afternoon. You can listen to The News Agents on Alexa, just say "Alexa ask Global Player to play The News Agents"

The News Agents is a Global Player Original podcast.

For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com

Exclusive: Did the Met “cover up” a paedophile ring?

The News Agents

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Exclusive Metropolitan Police Pedophile Ring Investigation: LBC crime correspondent Andy Hughes has uncovered disturbing allegations that a former Metropolitan Police officer was involved in a London pedophile ring while actively serving. The investigation began when a young woman was arrested in 2012 and recognized a custody sergeant as the man who had sexually abused her as a child. She told detectives he picked her up near her care home and took her to expensive hotels in Park Lane, where she was shared with other powerful men including an unnamed MP and judge.

Multiple Victims with Identical Stories: Hughes discovered a second victim with an identical account who was completely independent of the first victim and didn't know her. A senior Westminster councillor, Ruth Bush, knew one of the victims and confirmed sitting in on police interviews where detectives clearly believed the allegations. One victim stated in police interviews that this officer committed these crimes numerous times with several girls from the care home.

Alleged Cover-Up and Disappeared Evidence: Despite detectives believing the victims' accounts, the case was closed in 2013 due to "lack of evidence." More troublingly, the officer was allowed to retire in 2012 while under investigation for these serious allegations—something that requires senior approval. The second allegation has completely disappeared from Met records, with no paper trail remaining. The case was never reinvestigated under Operation Onyx, which was launched in 2023 to review allegations from 2012-2022 following the Wayne Couzens and David Carrick scandals.

Broader Context of Grooming Gangs: Hughes began investigating this case while looking into grooming gangs more broadly. Contrary to common media narratives focused on Muslim gangs in northern England, 70% of grooming gangs are actually white. A detective told Hughes the Met is investigating cases involving "important people" that don't fit the common understanding of grooming gangs, which led to uncovering this police officer's alleged involvement.

Confronting the Accused Officer: Hughes tracked the retired officer to northern England and doorstepped him at his home. When confronted with the allegations of sexually abusing young girls, the officer's response was "no comment" before shutting the door. Hughes described seeing "the look of a man who could tell his past had caught up with him." The officer later sent a letter through legal representatives strenuously denying all allegations.

Metropolitan Police Cultural Problems: The case raises serious questions about ongoing cultural issues within the Met, particularly given it occurred in the 2010s, not decades ago. This follows revelations about Wayne Couzens (who murdered Sarah Everard) and David Carrick (one of Britain's most prolific serial rapists), both former Met officers. Despite Met Commissioner Mark Rowley's efforts to address misconduct, including placing over 1,000 officers under investigation, this case suggests systemic problems with how serious allegations are handled.

Keir Starmer's Push for ECHR Reform: Prime Minister Keir Starmer is leading efforts to reform the European Convention on Human Rights, arguing that failure to modernize it will fuel far-right populism across Europe. Starmer and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen wrote that "mainstream progressive politics" must show it can fix migration problems to combat "forces of hate and division."

ECHR Reform Timeline and Strategy: Justice Minister Jake Richards revealed the government is aiming for a political declaration by May on Articles 3 and 8 of the ECHR, which deal with deportation and family/private life issues. Currently 27 countries support reform (up from just 9 in May when the UK wasn't involved). Richards emphasized much reform can be achieved through domestic legislation, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood already preparing significant Article 8 reforms.

Government's Red Line on ECHR Membership: Despite pressure, Richards made clear the government will not leave the ECHR even if full reform isn't achieved. He rejected the Conservative and Reform parties' position of leaving, arguing there's no evidence that withdrawal would help tackle migration challenges. The government believes remaining in the ECHR is essential for trade agreements, security cooperation, and the Good Friday Agreement.

Controversy Over Jury Trial Reforms: The Justice Secretary's plans to reform jury trials to reduce court backlogs are facing significant Labour backbench opposition. Senior Labour MP Karl Turner has vowed to rebel and believes the government would be defeated. Richards defended the reforms as necessary to address an 80,000-case backlog where people wait 4-6 years for trial, insisting the changes are "modest" and essential for making the justice system sustainable.

Pushback from Public Figures: Celebrities including Michael Palin, Stephen Fry, and Joanna Lumley have written urging the government to stop undermining the ECHR, calling it "at the heart of Britain's legacy" and warning that any attempt to weaken it is "an affront to us all." Richards responded that they misunderstand the government's plans, as Labour is not trying to leave the ECHR or rip up the Human Rights Act—unlike the opposition parties.

Shifting Overton Window on Immigration Rhetoric: The episode highlighted how dramatically political discourse has shifted by contrasting Donald Trump's statements. In 2018, Trump had to deny being racist after allegedly calling immigrant-sending nations "shithole countries." By 2025, he's openly using the same language on stage to applause, asking why America can't take people from Norway and Sweden instead. This demonstrates how rhetoric once considered unacceptable has become mainstream.

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Steven Crowder brings you news, entertainment and politics with the most politically incorrect show on the web. Guests, rants, sketches, your calls ... it's whatever.Watch the VIDEO version of this podcast here: http://www.louderwithcrowder.com/mugclub

Trump Unloads on Europe...and Who Can Really Be American?

Louder with Crowder

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Cultural Assimilation and Immigration Standards: An Indian-American influencer Priya Patel sparked debate by arguing that not all cultures are equal and that mass immigration without assimilation is eroding American society. Her position—that some cultures embrace practices incompatible with Western values—received both support and accusations of racism, despite her own immigrant background. The discussion emphasizes that citizenship should require embracing American culture rather than simply wanting economic benefits.

Trump Named Europe's Person of the Year: President Trump received this recognition and used the platform to criticize European nations for their political correctness and immigration policies. He argued that Europe's refusal to address illegal immigration is fundamentally weakening their nations and changing their ideology, warning that they may soon reach a point of no return where their societies are irrevocably transformed.

Europe's Speech Suppression and Thought Crimes: Multiple examples demonstrate how European countries criminalize speech that causes "anxiety," including arrests for social media posts, memes, criticizing Islam, and even silent prayer near abortion clinics. Germany conducted 50 separate raids over memes, while British police arrested people for "anti-feminist" posts and praying silently, creating a totalitarian state against free expression.

Immigration's Impact on European Safety: Trump's claims about European cities becoming unsafe are supported by data showing sexual assaults in Paris occurring nine times daily on public transit and rape reported hourly in London. Sweden, once considered the safest country in Europe, now has two-thirds of rapists being first or second-generation immigrants. A particularly disturbing case involved two Afghan asylum seekers raping a 15-year-old girl in broad daylight with witnesses present.

Demographic Transformation of Europe: Between 2010 and 2025, Europe's Muslim population increased over 15%, Hindu population by 30%, while Christian population declined nearly 9% and Jewish population by 8%. Non-religious identification rose 37%. In Britain specifically, the non-white population has tripled since 2000, with projections showing white British becoming a minority by 2070 at the latest.

Europe's Failure to Protect Citizens: European governments prioritize protecting immigrants over their own citizens through policies that prevent deportation even of convicted criminals. A Swedish judge refused to deport a convicted rapist, citing the crime wasn't "exceptionally serious" enough. Meanwhile, 3.6 million asylum seekers have entered the EU since 2015, primarily from Afghanistan and Syria.

JD Vance's Munich Security Conference Rebuke: The Vice President directly confronted European leaders about their retreat from free speech, citing examples of EU officials threatening to shut down social media during civil unrest, police raids against "anti-feminist" content, and the prosecution of Christian activists while protecting those with incompatible ideologies.

Housing Affordability Crisis Overview: First-time homebuyers face unprecedented challenges, with median home prices now seven times the median household income compared to three to four times in the 1960s-70s. Over 75% of US homes are now unaffordable, requiring roughly $113,000 annual income to afford a median-priced house. The crisis stems from multiple factors beyond simple supply and demand.

Construction Industry Cost Increases: Material costs have risen 46% from 2016-2025, exceeding overall inflation. A shortage of 500,000 construction workers has caused $10 billion in delays and 19,000 fewer homes built. These increased baseline costs make it economically unfeasible for builders to construct affordable starter homes.

Institutional and Foreign Investment Impact: Institutional investors now purchase 26% of low-priced homes compared to 10% in 2000, converting them to rentals and raising prices. In Miami, 52% of new construction in the last two years was sold to foreign buyers. Illegal immigration also drives up rental rates, though Trump's deportations have begun reversing this trend with vacancy rates hitting 7.2%.

Municipal Regulations Favor McMansions: Local governments practice "fiscal zoning" that mandates larger homes to maximize property tax revenue while minimizing public service costs. Regulatory red tape adds an average of $94,000 in fixed costs per home, making it unprofitable for builders to construct starter homes and forcing them to focus on luxury properties.

Six-Point Housing Solution Plan: The proposed fixes include: (1) banning institutional investors from buying single-family homes; (2) restricting home purchases to citizens and verified permanent residents; (3) severe penalties for selling or renting to illegal aliens; (4) requiring legal immigrants to rent for their first two years; (5) tax incentives for builders constructing starter homes; and (6) tax deductions for first-time homebuyers' mortgage payments in their first year. These measures aim to make homeownership easier without making it easy.

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The latest news, insight, analysis and big name guests from the Premier League, WSL and the Football League, plus Scottish, International and European football. Join us!Get in touch with us @5liveSport on social media and remember to leave us your ratings and reviews.

72+ EFL Pod: Blackburn’s pitch and Wrexham investment

Football Daily

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Here is a comprehensive summary of the podcast episode:

Southampton's Managerial Turnaround: Tonda Eckert has been appointed permanent Southampton head coach until 2027 after an impressive start as interim manager. Under his leadership, the team has scored 18 goals in six games (21 in seven after their latest match), a dramatic improvement from predecessor Will Still's cautious, defensive approach. Players like Adam Armstrong and Finn Isaz have been revitalized, with Armstrong now in double figures for goals. Phil Brown notes the expected goals (xG) jumped from under 1.0 to 3.65, representing a complete transformation from caution to attacking freedom. The hosts debate whether the same group of players should take responsibility for not performing under Still.

Phil Brown's Part-Time Management Challenges: Peterborough Sports boss Phil Brown discusses the frustrations of managing a part-time club, where he can't see players until 72 hours after matches since they work full-time jobs. He's trying to move toward a hybrid model but struggles with the inability to monitor players' lifestyles, training, and recovery like he could in professional football. Brown acknowledges players must balance 12-hour workdays in lorries with two hours of training, creating unique management challenges.

Blackburn Rovers' Pitch Crisis: For the second time this season, Blackburn had a home match abandoned due to flooding, with both stoppages occurring when no other matches in the area were called off. A river runs alongside Ewood Park, but the hosts argue this shouldn't excuse inadequate pitch investment. Manager Valerian Ishmael offered to surrender transfer budget money to improve the stadium, highlighting the club's neglect under current ownership. The situation is embarrassing for a former Premier League club celebrating its 150th anniversary, with concerns about fixture congestion as they fall further behind on matches.

Wrexham's Strategic Investment: Apollo Sports Capital, owners of Atletico Madrid, have taken a minority stake (under 10%) in Wrexham, signaling Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny's ambition to reach the Premier League. The investment brings both capital and expertise from owners who've built a smaller club into a powerhouse. Wrexham have maximized their brand through sponsorships with TikTok and United Airlines, their documentary series, and merchandise sales. The hosts praise Reynolds and McElhenny for showing foreign owners how to properly invest in and commit to a football club, with Phil Parkinson receiving particular credit for delivering promotion success while managing pressure.

FA Cup Second Round Drama: National League South side Weston-super-Mare reached the third round for the first time in their 138-year history, knocking out Lyle Taylor's Chelmsford City. The hosts note the magic of the FA Cup remains alive with plum draws including Macclesfield hosting holders Crystal Palace, Exeter City visiting Manchester City (which will provide crucial financial relief given their money troubles, similar to when they drew Manchester United 20 years ago), and other exciting fixtures like Everton-Peterborough and Charlton-Chelsea.

EFL "Hard Men" XI Squad Building: The podcast continues assembling a squad of the toughest EFL players, with new additions including Guy Branston (nicknamed "Psycho"), Gary Brabin, Andy Morrison, Lucas Neill, and Kevin Phillips. The roster now features Paddy Kenny in goal, defenders like Barry Fuller, Chris Morgan, Paul Robinson and Kevin Muscat, midfielders including Kevin McDonald, Jonathan Hogg and Michael Brown, plus strikers John Akinde, Darius Henderson, Steve Morrison and others. The hosts joke about whether this hard men squad could defeat their EFL Ultimate XI, concluding it would depend on conditions—on a muddy pitch at Stoke or Millwall, the hard men would prevail.

League Two's Unpredictable Nature: Walsall currently lead League Two after Matt Taylor reinvigorated them following last season's collapse where they blew a significant lead. Phil Brown praises both Taylor and the board for sticking together, noting the division's remarkable competitiveness—the top 14 teams are separated by just eight points. Bristol Rovers face serious trouble with eight straight defeats including a 4-0 loss to Barnet, equaling their worst ever start. Swindon surprisingly lost at home to Cheltenham after beating Boston 4-0 in the cup, demonstrating the league's unpredictability.

Swansea's Resurgence Under New Management: Josh Tymon scored a spectacular volley in Swansea's victory over Oxford United, capping a strong week for the club under their new boss with two crucial wins. The goal, struck perfectly on the volley from outside the box into the top corner, exemplified Swansea's improved form and gave fans something to celebrate after recent struggles.

Phil Brown's Tiny Tempah Challenge: In a lighthearted segment, Aaron Paul challenges Phil Brown to work lyrics from Tiny Tempah's "Pass Out" into his pre-match media duties before Peterborough Sports' FA Trophy match at Scunthorpe, specifically the line "I've been to Southampton but I've never been to Scunthorpe." Brown promises to deliver the reference, with the hosts planning to use any recording in a future episode.

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Join Sandy Kaye, host of the intimate and award-winning, music interview podcast that celebrates the timeless songs we grew up with and the legendary artists behind them. In these fireside chats, we delve into the musical and personal lives of the greatest hitmakers of the '60s, '70s, and '80s, uncovering the stories and inspirations that shaped their unforgettable tunes. Relive the soundtrack of your youth as we explore pop culture, recall cherished memories, and immerse ourselves in THEIR LIVES, THEIR STORIES, and THEIR MUSIC. Hear from the most iconic musicians that defined generations.



Remembering Skyhooks' Bob Starkie: His Life and Legacy

A Breath of Fresh Air - warm, classic, rock interviews with musical legends from the 60s, 70s, 80s

'60s '70s '80s - Warm, Candid, Classic, Rock Interviews with Music Legends - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

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The Formation and Rise of Skyhooks: Bob "Bongo" Starkie joined Skyhooks in 1973, replacing his brother Peter who left to join another band. The Melbourne-based group became one of Australia's most influential rock acts by combining theatrical glam rock aesthetics with songs about uniquely Australian subjects, suburbs, and characters. Their breakthrough came with "Living in the '70s," followed by the number-one hit "Horror Movie," launching them to massive national success that rivaled the impact of Elvis and The Beatles in Australia.

Revolutionary Australian Music Identity: Skyhooks broke new ground by singing in Australian accents about local places like Carlton, Toorak, and Lygon Street, written through Greg Macainsh's cynical and clever lens. This approach was unprecedented in the early 1970s Australian music scene. The band's colorful costumes, makeup, and theatrical presentation predated Kiss and was inspired by Gary Glitter, creating a complete visual and musical spectacle that set them apart from the denim-clad boogie bands dominating the era.

Controversial Content and Commercial Success: The band had six tracks banned from radio for content deemed too provocative, including sexual themes and drug references in songs like "Smut" and "You Just Like Me 'Cause I'm Good in Bed." Paradoxically, this notoriety helped fuel their popularity, especially when combined with exposure on the national TV show Countdown. Their first two albums, "Living in the '70s" and "Ego Is Not a Dirty Word," spent 16 and 11 weeks respectively at number one, becoming among the biggest-selling Australian albums of all time.

American Tour and International Struggles: The band's 1976-1977 American tour proved challenging as critics dismissed them as Kiss imitators, completely missing that Skyhooks had pioneered their theatrical look first. Touring with Uriah Heap across the American South, they actually received positive responses in unexpected places like Austin, Texas, but faced the daunting reality that breaking internationally would require seven years of constant touring. The experience highlighted the gulf between Australian and American music markets.

Internal Band Dynamics and Chemistry: Starkie described the band as "being married to four other people," with strong egos creating both creative tension and interpersonal challenges. As the youngest member, he often felt scapegoated but used this dynamic as motivation to prove himself. Greg Macainsh would deliberately bait him, pushing him to deliver better performances. The chemistry between members, particularly when Red Simons and Shirley Straughan were present, was undeniable and irreplaceable.

The Tragic Death of Shirley Straughan: Lead singer Shirley Straughan died in a helicopter crash in 1990 on Queensland's Sunshine Coast during what should have been his first solo flight. Starkie believes Shirley's forceful personality led him to fly in dangerous windy conditions against likely advice, taking off near a steep mountain where wind gusts flipped the small helicopter. The loss devastated the band, particularly Red Simons, and was compared to losing a brother.

The 1990 Reunion and Later Years: Shirley and Greg Macainsh organized a successful 1990 reunion tour that was better managed and more profitable than the band's original run. They recorded "Jukebox in Siberia," which became their third number-one hit. However, after Shirley's death shortly thereafter, the band's future became uncertain, with Greg Macainsh pursuing a law career and Red Simons leaving music behind entirely.

Ross Wilson's Production Role: Producer Ross Wilson, fresh from Daddy Cool and looking to establish himself as a producer, recognized the potential in Skyhooks' original songs. He approached Mushroom Records' Michael Gudinski on their behalf, but the deal wasn't secured until Shirley Straughan joined and transformed the band's sound. Wilson's first major production became a massive success, establishing both his career and the band's distinctive recorded sound.

Keeping the Legacy Alive: Since 2015, Starkie has toured with "Bob Starkie's Skyhooks Show," featuring female vocalist Laura Davidson, who he discovered singing in an AC/DC tribute band. The show performs the complete Skyhooks catalogue, with "All My Friends Are Getting Married" getting the biggest audience reaction. Despite not being the original band, the chemistry and authentic connection to the music resonates with audiences across generations who continue to cherish these Australian rock classics.

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"AI Breakdown" dives deep into the world of artificial intelligence, exploring the latest advancements and trends shaping this rapidly evolving field. Each episode provides listeners with in-depth analysis of current AI technologies, ethical considerations, and the potential impact on various industries and everyday life. We cover a wide range of topics, from AI in healthcare and autonomous vehicles to AI's role in entertainment and beyond, keeping you informed and engaged with the news and developments in the AI landscape. 

Ring Introduces Facial Recognition for Advanced Visitor Tracking

AI Breakdown

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Ring's New Familiar Faces Feature: Amazon Ring is rolling out an AI-powered facial recognition feature called "Familiar Faces" to video doorbells across the United States. The feature allows users to catalog up to 50 faces of family members, friends, neighbors, delivery drivers, and household staff, providing personalized notifications like "mom is at the front door" instead of generic "person detected" alerts.

Opt-In by Default Provides Some Privacy Protection: The facial recognition feature is not enabled automatically—users must manually turn it on in the app settings. Users can label faces in the event history section or Familiar Faces library, and have control over editing labels, merging duplicates, deleting faces, and customizing which people trigger notifications.

Practical Benefits for Reducing Alert Fatigue: The feature addresses notification overload by allowing users to disable alerts for specific people, such as family members who frequently enter and exit the home. Users can set alerts on a per-face basis, choosing which visitors they want to be notified about and which they prefer to ignore.

Privacy Concerns from Amazon's Law Enforcement Partnerships: Critics raise concerns about Ring's history of partnerships with law enforcement, including past abilities for police and fire departments to request data from the Ring Neighborhoods app without warrants, and a recent partnership with Flock, a maker of AI-powered surveillance cameras used by police.

Previous Security and Privacy Failures: Ring paid a $5.8 million FTC fine in 2023 after employees and contractors had unrestricted access to customers' videos for years. Additional concerns include Ring passwords circulating on the dark web, exposed user addresses and locations, and reports of Amazon accidentally providing users with other people's data.

State-Level Bans and Political Pushback: Privacy laws in Illinois, Texas, Portland, and Oregon prevent Amazon from launching the feature in those jurisdictions. US Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts has called for abandoning the feature entirely, while consumer protection organization EFF has also voiced opposition, making this a bipartisan privacy concern.

Amazon's Data Security Claims: Amazon states that face data is encrypted and never shared with others, unnamed faces are automatically deleted after 30 days, biometric data is processed in the cloud but not used to train AI models, and the system won't track geolocation data with facial recognition despite having a "Search Party" feature for finding lost pets across neighborhood camera networks.
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Each morning, the President of the United States receives a highly classified briefing on the most important issues facing the country -- The President's Daily Brief. Now you can hear your very own PDB, in the form of a podcast, every morning at 6am Eastern, and every afternoon at 4pm Eastern. You'll get 20 minutes of the most important topics of the day and why you should care, arming you with what you need to know to help solve America's most pressing challenges. Former CIA Operations Officer Mike Baker hosts new episodes daily.

PDB Afternoon Bulletin | December 10th, 2025: Russia Nearly Took Down U.S.-Bound Planes & Zelensky Read To Hold Elections

The President's Daily Brief

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Russia's Sabotage Plot Against U.S.-Bound Aircraft: European intelligence has uncovered that a Russian-directed sabotage network was preparing to attack U.S.-bound aircraft. In July of last year, explosive devices hidden in DHL parcels detonated at logistics hubs in the U.K., Poland, and Germany. These devices were powerful enough to bring down cargo aircraft, and investigators tied the plot to Russian operatives. Authorities discovered an additional six kilos of explosive material that was intended for the next phase of the operation—attacks on flights heading to the United States. European officials believe this could have caused more disruption to global aviation than anything since September 11.

Russia's Expanding Hybrid War Across Europe: Moscow is running a far-reaching covert campaign across Europe involving sabotage attempts, arson plots, drone incursions, and disruptions to rail lines, power cables, and military installations. Intelligence services have disrupted plots to derail passenger trains, set fire to shopping centers, poison water supplies, and damage key infrastructure. Russian operatives are also scouting bridges, rail bottlenecks, and energy lines that match Cold War sabotage doctrine almost line for line.

The "Gig Economy" of Russian Spycraft: Russia is relying on what experts describe as a gig economy of spycraft to execute its sabotage operations. Rather than traditional intelligence officers, Moscow recruits young men with no connection to Russia through online platforms, pays them in cryptocurrency, and uses them as disposable assets. These recruits carry out arson attacks, map infrastructure, or place improvised devices without necessarily knowing who is giving the orders. This dispersed, low-cost structure gives Russia unprecedented scale with hundreds of potential actors capable of causing chaos while maintaining deniability.

Zelensky Offers to Hold Elections Within Three Months: Ukrainian President Zelensky announced he's prepared to hold elections within 60 to 90 days if the U.S. and European partners can guarantee security for a wartime vote. This comes after President Trump accused Kyiv of using the war as an excuse to delay elections. Zelensky's term expired last year, and while Ukrainian law bans elections under martial law, the Ukrainian president is now signaling openness to a vote amid renewed pressure from Washington.

Trump's Push for Ukrainian Elections May Benefit Putin: President Trump believes a new leader in Kyiv might break the stalemate in peace negotiations. However, Putin has been calling for Zelensky's removal for almost the entire duration of the war, claiming Ukraine's government is illegitimate for postponing elections. Any push by the White House to hold elections prior to a peace deal works in Putin's favor or at least aligns with his long-standing demand that Zelensky be removed, though Putin's desire is to replace him with a pro-Russian option.

Major Challenges to Holding Wartime Elections in Ukraine: Conducting elections during active warfare presents massive logistical challenges. Millions of Ukrainians remain abroad or displaced inside the country, entire regions live under Russian occupation, and the country faces daily drone strikes and missile barrages. The unresolved questions include how to protect polling stations under fire, how to register voters displaced across multiple countries, and whether anyone in frontline or occupied regions could participate at all. Ukrainian public sentiment overwhelmingly opposes holding wartime elections.

Zelensky's Declining Popularity and Potential Challengers: A recent corruption scandal has damaged Zelensky's approval ratings, with only 20% of his supporters saying they would vote for him today, down from 24% before the scandal. Despite these low numbers, he still leads potential challengers. Former commander-in-chief Valeri Zaluzhny trails by just one point, with military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov in third place at 5%. Ironically, both are viewed as more militant than Zelensky, which could make peace negotiations even more difficult and backfire on Putin's efforts to remove him.
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Highlighting military retirement journeys from all walks of the military. Wide ranging long form conversations with Veterans. We discuss the retirement process, life starting in the military, and life after the military. Also talk to former military members who transitioned before reaching retirement and started their own businesses.

#114 - The Debt-Free Life: Financial Freedom, Smart Investing, and 50+ Military Side Hustles

Military Retirement Podcast

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Federal Employee Layoffs and Job Market Uncertainty: The episode opens with discussion of recent federal employee layoffs, particularly affecting the VA, with over 1,000 personnel let go during their probationary periods. Both hosts emphasize the importance of having backup plans, including emergency savings, additional education, and multiple income streams, as federal job security becomes increasingly uncertain under current economic conditions.

The Power of Financial Communication in Marriage: Vic shares his strategy of combining bank accounts with his spouse and creating a unified financial game plan. For several years before retirement, they lived entirely off his wife's income while investing and saving 100% of his Chief Warrant Officer pay, resulting in substantial wealth accumulation. This approach requires consistent communication, trust, and shared financial goals.

Starting Financial Education Early: Vic recounts advising his young Marine cousin on financial basics, emphasizing the importance of paying yourself first before other expenses. The hosts stress that many service members never receive proper financial mentorship from leaders or parents, making self-education through asking questions, watching videos, and learning from experienced people crucial for financial success.

The Debt-Free Priority: John explains his year-long journey after retirement to eliminate all debt through disciplined execution rather than over-planning. The key insight is that many veterans spend too much time planning and not enough time taking action. Both hosts agree that owing money creates significant mental, emotional, and financial burdens that prevent true freedom.

Conducting Personal Financial Audits: Both hosts recommend treating personal finances like military equipment inspections by regularly reviewing all expenses. Vic details going through his bank statements to identify and eliminate unnecessary recurring charges like unused streaming services, iPhone insurance on old devices, and subscription services, showing how small charges add up significantly over time.

The Minimalist Approach to Possessions: Vic advocates for regular purging of unnecessary possessions, explaining how physical clutter leads to mental clutter and anxiety. He recommends the 90-day rule: if you haven't used something in three months, donate or sell it. This includes excess clothing, shoes, and hobby equipment that seemed important at the time but serves no real purpose.

Maximizing TSP Contributions: The hosts emphasize that maxing out Thrift Savings Plan contributions while on active duty is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available. Once investments reach six figures, compound interest accelerates growth dramatically. This requires living below your means during your 20s and 30s to achieve financial freedom in your 40s, 50s, and beyond.

VA Claims Process and Benefits: John shares his successful experience navigating the VA claims process, recently receiving an increase that pushed him over the 50% disability rating. He emphasizes the importance of filing claims even if approval seems uncertain, and recommends using the VA mobile app for managing healthcare, prescriptions, and benefits documentation.

Learning from Curiosity, Not Expertise: John references filmmaker Werner Herzog's approach to life, recommending that people maintain beginner's humility and approach learning from first principles rather than assuming expertise. This mindset applies not just to finances but to career transitions, education, and personal growth throughout life.

50+ Military Side Hustles Breakdown: The hosts present a comprehensive categorized list of side hustles: easy entry options (graphic design on Canva, barber services, DJing, refereeing youth sports, ride sharing), medium difficulty ventures (translating, vending machines, 3D printing, fitness coaching, bounce house rentals), and advanced opportunities (stock trading, real estate investing, custom carpentry, pressure washing businesses).

Heat Pressing as a Lucrative Side Business: Vic details his successful heat pressing business in Japan, where he provided faster turnaround times than local vendors for custom sports jerseys and team apparel. By networking at coaches meetings and offering competitive pricing with free coach jerseys, he generated approximately $20,000 annually in extra income before selling the entire operation when he left Japan.

Thrift Store Flipping Success Stories: Both hosts share impressive reselling experiences, with Vic's most notable being a $2 soccer ball that sold for $800 on eBay and a Tom Brady jersey purchased for $12 and resold for $190. They emphasize that while results vary, learning to identify valuable items at thrift stores, yard sales, and through decluttering can generate significant income.

Digital Tools for Financial Tracking: John recommends Airtable as a collaborative financial tracking tool that allows families to input expenses in real-time through custom forms, with data automatically organizing into visual dashboards. Other suggestions include bank-integrated tracking tools, Mint.com, and the Dave Ramsey app for categorizing spending and setting budgets.

Focus on Experiences Over Possessions: The episode concludes with the principle that money should be spent on meaningful experiences rather than accumulating material possessions. Both hosts emphasize that understanding what truly matters—time with family, personal growth, and memorable moments—leads to better financial decisions and greater life satisfaction.
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Do you ever feel that preparing for your weekly Come, Follow Me lesson falls short? Join hosts Hank Smith and John Bytheway as they interview experts to make your study for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Come, Follow Me course not only enjoyable but original and educational. If you are looking for resources to make your LDS study fresh, faithful, and fun--no matter your age--then join us every Wednesday morning. Show notes: https://followhim.co YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FollowHimOfficialChannel Instagram: Instagram.com/followhimpodcast Facebook: Facebook.com/followhimpodcast The followHIM Podcast is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The opinions expressed on episodes represent the views of the guest and podcasters alone.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World Part 1 • Sis. Carol Costley • December 15 - 21 • Come Follow Me

followHIM: A Come, Follow Me Podcast

followHIM

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Divine Identity as Foundation for Understanding the Proclamation: Carol Costley emphasizes that embracing one's identity as a child of God is essential to receiving the Family Proclamation. As a single woman in her 30s when it was first read, she found comfort in knowing she belonged to a heavenly family and that God was aware of her, even when she felt invisible and doubted she would marry. This knowledge became her anchor and compass during seasons of loneliness.

Immigrant Journey and Family Separation: Carol shares her family's story of emigrating from Jamaica to London, then to the United States. Her father moved to New York when she was 10, leaving the family in London for six years to establish himself financially. This separation was painful, particularly for her brothers, but her parents were motivated by love and desire to provide better opportunities for their children, demonstrating that even difficult family circumstances can come from goodly parents.

Finding Home in the Westchester Ward: After moving to New York at age 16 and facing bullying and cultural challenges, Carol found her lifeline in her ward family. The Watkins family brought her to church every Sunday, and the youth embraced her. She describes this ward experience as the time she came to know Jesus Christ personally, comparing it to how others describe their missions. Ward families can provide essential support and examples when biological families are struggling.

The Proclamation as Personal Revelation: The proclamation took nearly a year to develop, with members of the Quorum of the Twelve identifying subjects, proposing language, and revising prayerfully. Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained they continually pleaded with the Lord for inspiration on what to say and how to say it, learning "line upon line, precept upon precept." Every word and its order matters, rising to the level of scripture.

Marriage and Family as Ordained Pattern: The first paragraph's declaration that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God" and that "the family is central to the Creator's plan" provides a powerful foundation. This pattern was established before mortal life, and understanding it helps individuals recognize their place in God's design, whether or not their current circumstances match the ideal described.

Work with Addiction Recovery: As a therapist specializing in addiction recovery, Carol witnesses daily how family relationships impact healing. When families function well, they become the most significant source of support and change for someone struggling with addiction. However, dysfunction—including parents introducing children to drugs or allowing unlimited freedom without boundaries—can derail young people into addiction and shame.

The Importance of Knowing Satan's Tactics: Parents need to teach children about the adversary's strategies, not just positive principles. The Book of Mormon provides an "Antichrist simulator" through characters like Korihor and Nehor, exposing tactics that remain relevant today. Carol shares how her young daughter once told her "Satan had you" after witnessing her mother's anger, showing even small children can understand and recognize evil influences.

Gender as Essential Characteristic: The proclamation's statement that "gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose" addresses current confusion. Understanding that gender was assigned before mortality and is part of God's plan helps anchor individuals amid cultural pressures to redefine identity. This is part of the "plan of happiness," not sadness, even when circumstances don't match the ideal.

Entitled to Birth Within Marriage: The proclamation uses the word "entitled" to describe children's right to be born within marriage bonds and reared by faithful parents—a rare use of entitlement language from Church leaders. This emphasizes the significance of the traditional family structure as a safety net for children's ability to thrive and feel loved.

Imperfect Families and Christ's Healing: Carol acknowledges her own family's struggles, including her father's alcoholism and the challenges of blending children from previous relationships. She emphasizes that perfection isn't meant for this life, and that's where the Savior comes in—offering healing, redirection, and help with course corrections. Even the Book of Mormon begins with Lehi's struggling family.

The Power of One Family Member: In interviewing addiction clients, Carol consistently finds that each person can identify at least one family member—often a grandmother, single mother, or aunt—who served as their lifeline. This demonstrates that even in imperfect family situations, one person maintaining a loving connection can provide the support needed for healing and hope.

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