The Athletic's flagship football podcast, hosted by Ayo Akinwolere and featuring the likes of David Ornstein, Phil Hay, Adam Crafton and Matt Slater will take you inside the biggest stories in football told by the best reporters in the business. We cut through the noise to tell you what’s really happening - and why it matters.

Are FIFA exploiting fans with World Cup ticket prices?

The Athletic FC Podcast

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The FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump: The 2026 World Cup draw featured one of the most surreal moments in football history when FIFA awarded a newly created "FIFA Peace Prize" to President Trump. The prize was announced just a month before the draw at a Miami event where both Infantino and Trump appeared, with Infantino making an impassioned defense of Trump's presidency. The award included a medal, certificate, and trophy, with FIFA producing a promotional video highlighting Trump's role in various peace initiatives. This prize has sparked controversy, with advocacy group Fairsquare submitting an eight-page complaint to FIFA's ethics committee arguing that FIFA crossed the line on political neutrality required by its own statutes.

Trump's Growing Influence Over the Tournament: President Trump's involvement goes beyond ceremonial, with his administration maintaining the option to relocate games from certain cities despite fans already booking travel. Andrew Giuliani, son of Rudy Giuliani, serves as executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, acting as liaison between federal authorities and the 11 host cities. Trump appears motivated to use the World Cup as a platform to showcase "American greatness," with his interest in football reportedly stemming from his son Barron's passion for the sport. The administration continues using threats of game relocation as leverage over cities, though actual relocation is considered highly unlikely due to existing contracts and legal complications.

Record Viewership and Commercial Calculations: Fox Sports announced record viewing figures for the World Cup draw, suggesting Infantino's calculation that Trump's involvement drives viewers and revenue is paying off. FIFA introduced three-minute hydration breaks in each half that will occur even in non-hot conditions, clearly creating opportunities for commercial breaks. While FIFA claims player welfare justifications, the timing suggests significant commercial incentives, particularly for broadcasters who can now insert advertisements during these breaks.

Extortionate Ticket Prices for Traveling Fans: The 2026 World Cup is set to be the most expensive tournament ever, with traveling supporter allocations reaching shocking levels. Croatian fans face ticket prices of $256 for the cheapest seats and $700 for behind-the-goal positions for their England match, with no category four (cheapest) tickets available. To secure knockout stage tickets, fans must purchase all potential matches upfront at costs exceeding $4,000 for cheap seats and $8,000 for premium ones, only getting refunds (minus $50 fees) as their team is eliminated. This contrasts sharply with UEFA's approach for the Euros in Germany, where the cheapest tickets were €30.

FIFA's Controversial Pricing Model: FIFA is employing dynamic variable pricing based on supply and demand, meaning prices increase as more people want tickets. Additionally, FIFA operates its own resale platform where they collect 15% fees from both buyers and sellers, effectively getting paid three times for the same ticket. The organization is extracting maximum revenue from what they view as their primary money-making event, with all ticketing, parking, and in-stadium sponsorship revenue going directly to FIFA rather than host cities or local organizations.

The Economic Reality for Fans: Even a modest three-day trip for two people to attend one World Cup match is estimated to cost $7,000-$8,000 when factoring in flights, hotels, parking, and tickets. American sports fans are more accustomed to high prices and dynamic pricing than international supporters, but costs are reaching levels that make attendance prohibitive even for loyal traveling fan groups. The expectation is that many traditional supporter groups, particularly from Europe, will only attend group stage matches before returning home, potentially diminishing the atmosphere that traveling fans typically bring to World Cup matches.

The Exploitation of Fans: While FIFA defends high prices by claiming they're a nonprofit that redistributes all revenue to member associations for football development, critics argue they're extracting money from the wrong people. FIFA spent $1 billion on prize money for the Club World Cup to attract wealthy European clubs, yet charges exorbitant prices to loyal national team supporters. Football Supporters Europe has called for ticket sales to be halted, using strong language about the extortionate pricing, though sales are expected to continue regardless.

The Missing Stakeholder: FIFA's stakeholder model acknowledges member associations but ignores fans as crucial contributors to the tournament's success and atmosphere. Unlike UEFA, which has shown some restraint in pricing for tournaments like the Euros, FIFA appears focused solely on revenue maximization. The organization is being accused of treating the United States as an "ATM," with serious questions about whether America will actually benefit economically despite claims of $40 billion in economic impact.

FIFA's Accountability Problem: Gianni Infantino has become increasingly inaccessible to non-rights-holding media, conducting no independent press conferences during draw week. His role as FIFA president is intertwined with his political calculations, as the organization's "one member, one vote" system means he needs member associations to receive maximum funding to secure his position. The lack of transparency and accountability extends to the Peace Prize itself, which was created without the knowledge of FIFA vice presidents or council members.

Infantino's Political Interventions: Beyond the Peace Prize, Infantino made explicitly political statements defending Trump's presidency at the Miami event, saying Americans should "get behind him" and that he's "simply doing what he was voted in to do." Sources within FIFA acknowledge this intervention could cause trouble, as it represents a clear departure from the organization's supposed political neutrality and sets dangerous precedents for how FIFA might interact with other authoritarian or controversial governments.

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Life is hard. This podcast will help. Lessons from the greatest thinkers on the planet with Chris Williamson. Including guests like David Goggins, Dr Jordan Peterson, Naval Ravikant, Sam Harris, Jocko Willink, Dr Andrew Huberman, Dr Julie Smith, Steven Bartlett, Ryan Holiday, Robert Greene, Matthew McConaughey, Alain de Botton, Alex Hormozi, Tony Robbins, Chris Bumstead, Mark Manson and more.

#1032 - Joshua Citarella - The Dark Subcultures of Online Politics

Modern Wisdom

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Joshua Citarella's Research Journey into Online Political Subcultures: Joshua Citarella transitioned from being a gallery artist to an Internet culture writer and podcaster. His 2018 book "Politogram: The Post Left" examined 12-17 year olds on Instagram who were exploring radical politics from eco-anarchism to anarcho-primitivism. He tracked these teenagers' political journeys through various platform migrations, following them from mainstream Bernie Sanders support to extremely niche Discord servers sharing eco-terrorist writings and instructions for improvised explosive devices. This early detection work helped predict political trends that would later become mainstream.

Why Gen Z is Uniquely Politicized at Young Ages: Unlike previous generations, Gen Z teenagers are highly engaged in politics due to three factors: unlimited internet access to all human knowledge and history, growing up without the post-1989 "end of history" consensus that liberal democracy was the final form of government, and facing downward mobility after 40 years of economic decline. This has created a "generative adversarial network" where young people brute-force combinations of political ideologies (like "monarcho-syndicalism" or "libertarian neo-monarchism") to find solutions that might scale to 21st century crises.

The Rise of Right-Wing Populism Across Advanced Democracies: The major political trend reshaping the Western world is right-wing populism, where constituencies that traditionally voted for labor parties now support nationalist candidates. This tracks with 40 years of neoliberal consensus and represents a fundamental break from the 1980-2024 period when there was general agreement on how to run advanced political economies. Even environmental politics, previously dismissed by the right, is gaining traction among right-wing nationalists concerned about climate refugees.

The "Optics Debate" and Nick Fuentes's Rise: After Charlottesville's Unite the Right rally, the far-right engaged in an "optics debate" about rejecting campy Nazi aesthetics that turned off mainstream Americans. Nick Fuentes emerged as the avatar of young far-right politics by being willing to transgress norms while avoiding overtly repulsive imagery. His influence grew significantly during Israel's war in Gaza, demonstrating how certain media figures can "hoover up" attention when there are similar-sized competitors, with one person ultimately winning through momentum effects.

How Internet Memes Function as Political Ideas: Citarella studies memes in the Richard Dawkins sense as transmittable units of information and narrative patterns, not just images. Humans construct worldviews by piecing together stories from professors, parents, and now Internet sources. The study of memes, while appearing silly, is actually a deep investigation into how humans build ideological frameworks. Young people's willingness to shitpost and exaggerate multiplies with unlimited information access and lack of fixed political consensus, creating an incredibly competitive media ecosystem.

The Pipeline from Irony to Earnest Radicalization: "Irony poisoning" occurs when people initially post transgressive content as jokes to provoke reactions, then gradually work their way toward genuinely believing it. People maintain non-overlapping conversations where they dismiss something publicly as a joke while privately agreeing with it in DMs. This ability to test ideas through irony serves as a way to probe the boundaries of acceptable discourse in constrained political environments, similar to how comedy has functioned as a safe space for transgression.

The Left's Failure to Engage Young Men: For years, Citarella warned that casual misandry and activist rhetoric in left-wing spaces was pushing young men toward right-wing politics, but this was dismissed until the 2024 election results. The problem stems from 1990s academic leftism's turn away from class conflict and material concerns toward identity politics coded in elite academic rhetoric. Some voters who supported Trump in 2024 also voted for democratic socialist Mamdani in 2025, demonstrating that anti-establishment sentiment transcends traditional left-right divisions.

Why Young People Are Ideological but Politically Ineffective: Young activists often deploy shaming tactics that work in universities but fail in broader society because people simply exit those movements rather than submit. Climate activists destroying artworks or blocking roads alienate potential supporters rather than winning them over. Political change requires moving people "one step at a time" cognitively rather than demanding they jump from 0 to 10, as people rarely change beliefs through being shouted at or shamed.

The Self-Destructive Nature of Purity Spirals: The left's purity spiral—binding the group together by scapegoating insufficiently pure members—is inherently self-defeating because it reduces the coalition by the very mechanism meant to strengthen it. This explains why many people do "why I left the left" pivots while almost nobody does "why I left the right" pivots. Building winning coalitions requires accepting people with imperfect backgrounds rather than constantly purging those deemed insufficiently pure.

Breaking Points and the Anti-Establishment Coalition: Shows like Breaking Points demonstrate a significant crossover audience willing to listen to counter-narratives from both left and right, so long as they oppose the establishment center. Many voters are open to explanations from either side of the political spectrum as long as they reject the neoliberal consensus that has overseen 40 years of downward mobility. This represents an opportunity to build broader coalitions around policies like universal healthcare.

The Dark Side of Left-Wing Extremism: The most extreme left-wing radicalization leads to eco-extremism and antinatalism—a political nihilism concluding that organized society since agriculture must be dismantled. These neo-Malthusian politics argue that environmental scarcity requires reducing human population. This represents young people's response to seeing no possibility for reform, revolution, or improvement, combined with rejection of general humanist values.

Health Struggles and the Development of Empathy: Both Chris and Joshua discussed their experiences with chronic illness (Chris with mold/Lyme exposure, Joshua with undiagnosed Lyme disease). Chris explained how health struggles gave him profound empathy for others facing difficult circumstances, highlighting the barbaric nature of the US healthcare system where medical bills are the leading cause of bankruptcy. He learned to find meaning in small daily victories rather than holding happiness hostage to major achievements, while recognizing that suffering can either build resilience or break people down—often both.

Raw Egg Nationalist and Quietly Influential Figures: Beyond mainstream figures like Nick Fuentes, certain Twitter accounts like Raw Egg Nationalist wield quiet influence by propagating memes that seep into broader discourse without the poster becoming a major media figure themselves. The normcore trend and body populism (politics based around diet and fitness) exemplify how aesthetic movements can precede and shape political alignments, with ideas like seed oil concerns moving from fringe to mainstream discussion.

Trump as the "Meme President" and the Future of Politics: Trump represents mastery of Internet posting, with the White House now creating elaborate graphically-designed content that demonstrates deep literacy in online aesthetics. The meeting between Trump and Mamdani briefly broke political "kayfabe"—the performative nature of politics where opponents call each other existential threats publicly while understanding the game privately. This suggests politics increasingly operates through memetic literacy and the ability to command attention in the digital attention economy.

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Join Tom Elliot in the Rondo award winning Twilight Zone Podcast. A journey through Rod Serling’s classic television series. With reviews, interviews and readings from The Twilight Zone… Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support</a>.

TZ Advent Calendar - Day 13

The Twilight Zone Podcast

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Discussion of Controversial Twilight Zone Episodes: Host Tom Elliot and guest Zack Moore tackle a question from listener Steve Bad about controversial episodes of The Twilight Zone, including "The Encounter," "The Gift," "The Chaser," and "Death's Head Revisited," which were criticized for racial stereotyping, insensitivity to mental health issues, and trivializing serious subjects.

Social Commentary Through Parable vs. Direct Messaging: Zack argues that effective social commentary works best in parable form, where subtext remains subtext. When writers like Rod Serling and Gene Roddenberry addressed controversial issues, they understood that well-told stories could challenge preconceived notions more effectively than direct lecturing, which can make audiences feel like they're being told how to think.

Episodes as Historical Time Capsules: Both hosts agree that controversial episodes should be viewed as time capsules reflecting the culture and mindset of their era. While some perspectives have fortunately evolved, these episodes exist as part of television history and should be studied for what they represent about their time period.

Personal and Cultural Evolution: Tom draws a parallel between individual growth and cultural evolution, noting that people start as products of their environment but hopefully improve over time. Similarly, television storytelling has evolved, and even well-intentioned attempts at social commentary from the past may contain elements that don't hold up by today's standards.

The Curious Case of "The Encounter": The hosts discuss the selective banning of episodes, noting it's particularly interesting that "The Encounter" (featuring Star Trek's George Takei) was pulled from circulation while other controversial episodes like "Death's Head Revisited" were not, providing insight into what was considered controversial at different points in time.

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Twice a week, the Guardian brings you the latest science and environment news

The Birth Keepers: I choose this, episode one

Science Weekly

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Introduction to the Free Birth Society Investigation: Guardian investigative reporters Shirin Kale and Lucy Osborne investigate the Free Birth Society (FBS), a social media empire led by influencer Emily Saldea and her business partner Yolanda Norris Clark. The organization promoted "free birth" - giving birth alone without doctors or midwives, and without any prenatal care, ultrasounds, or backup plans - selling this message through podcasts, Instagram, and a paid membership group that generated millions in revenue.

Nicole Garrison's Journey into Free Birth: Nicole, a pregnant woman from New Jersey, discovered FBS through social media algorithms while researching natural birth options. She became captivated by Emily Saldea's brash, confident presentation style and began consuming the podcast obsessively, filling notebooks with notes and affirmations. The content led her to believe that hospitals and midwives were dangerous and that she should give birth completely alone, which she kept secret from her close-knit family.

The FBS Ideology and Messaging: FBS promoted the belief that healthy mothers and babies entering labor will emerge healthy, and that complications like hemorrhages were extremely rare in free births. They taught "radical responsibility" - the idea that if your birth didn't go to plan, you failed to do the necessary mental and emotional work. The organization presented orgasmic, blissful birth as achievable for any woman who prepared properly, while positioning medical professionals as perpetrators of assault and unnecessary interventions.

Olivia's Concerns Within the Membership: Olivia, a California woman with an anthropology background, joined the FBS membership after being drawn to Yolanda's critiques of the medical system. She befriended Nicole but began noticing troubling patterns within the group - members used repetitive scripted phrases like "trust your body" and "you got this, mama," while any suggestion of seeking medical care was discouraged or shut down. A specific rule prohibited members from sharing plans to engage with the medical system.

Nicole's Near-Fatal Birth Experience: Nicole's waters broke on July 3, 2023, but her labor didn't progress. After four days with open waters (increasing infection risk), she remained at home, influenced by Yolanda's teachings that this was "no big deal." After finally giving birth to a healthy daughter following a week-long labor, Nicole began hemorrhaging from an infected placenta. She initially sent the first ambulance away due to FBS teachings about hospitals being dangerous, then lost consciousness and nearly died.

Hospital Reality vs. FBS Narrative: Nicole required four blood transfusions and manual removal of her placenta at the hospital. Doctors told her she was critically close to death. Contrary to FBS warnings about hostile medical staff, the healthcare workers showed empathy and compassion. Nicole's experience revealed the stark disconnect between FBS ideology - which portrayed hospitals as evil and dangerous - and the reality that medical intervention saved her life.

The Aftermath and Awakening: Seeing her family's distress and the doctors' genuine care began breaking FBS's hold on Nicole's beliefs. She realized that both she and her daughter shouldn't be alive based on what happened. When Olivia learned about Nicole's near-death experience, it shattered her worldview and made her question whether Emily's intentions were to serve women or to serve her own bank account and sense of power.

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Para mudar o mundo, eles mant&ecirc;m-se na sombra. Um programa da SIC Not&iacute;cias com Jo&atilde;o Miguel Tavares, Pedro Mexia, Ricardo Ara&uacute;jo Pereira e coordena&ccedil;&atilde;o de Carlos Vaz Marques

Livros da semana: crueldade, tipos, poesia e humor

Programa Cujo Nome Estamos Legalmente Impedidos de Dizer

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Based on the very brief transcript provided, this appears to be a short segment from a Portuguese podcast about books, but the audio quality or transcription seems incomplete, with only fragmentary words and phrases captured. Given the extremely limited and unclear content in the transcript, I cannot provide a meaningful comprehensive summary with the requested number of bullet points.

The context indicates this episode should discuss four books:
- A work by Comte de Lautréamont
- "An Ode to Typography" by Pablo Neruda
- Complete poetry of Cavafy
- "Simplicissimus" by Hans Jakob Grimmelshausen

However, the transcript itself only contains scattered words like "Designer," "Times New Roman," "typography," and "Simplicity," which are insufficient to provide substantive insights about the discussion of these literary works or any other topics covered in the episode.

To provide an accurate and comprehensive summary as requested, a complete and legible transcript would be necessary.
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Join ODELL and Marty as they sit down to discuss the latest news in Bitcoin every week. 

THE PRINTER IS COMING: RABBIT HOLE RECAP #387

Rabbit Hole Recap

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Gridless Mining Project for Rural Africa: Gridless, a bitcoin mining company, has released the Jua Kali Miner developer release, an open source project that allows farmers and small industries in Africa to utilize excess solar energy for bitcoin mining. The project helps bootstrap energy infrastructure in rural villages by providing economic incentives for energy production, allowing utilities to expand their grids while miners act as buyers of excess capacity and bring down costs for residential consumers.

Bitcoin After Hours ETF Launch: A new ETF filing proposes holding bitcoin exclusively during non-US market hours, buying when markets close and selling when they open. This strategy responds to recent patterns where bitcoin tends to dump during US trading hours (particularly at 10am) and rally during off-hours. The hosts discuss market maker strategies, particularly by firms like Jane Street, which hold billions in IBIT and may be profiting from daily price manipulation patterns.

India's CBDC Goes Live with Spending Controls: India's digital rupee CBDC is now operational with partner banks and being used for government subsidy payments. The programmable currency can be restricted for specific purposes, approved merchants, and particular locations. Recent transfers to farmers and livestock owners limited purchases to "approved inputs" with geographic tagging enabled, demonstrating real-world implementation of government-controlled money.

Quantum-Resistant Bitcoin Signatures: Jonas Nick and Mikhail Kudinov from Blockstream Research published a paper on hash-based signature schemes for Bitcoin, addressing quantum computing concerns. The research explores quantum-resistant cryptographic methods that would minimize blockchain data requirements (potentially 3-4 kilobytes per transaction). The hosts argue for adding quantum-resistant address types as an opt-in feature rather than preemptively seizing or freezing old coins.

Samurai Wallet Developers Legal Update: With seven days until developers Keon and Bill must report to prison, there's a renewed push for presidential pardons. A change.org petition has grown from 3,200 to over 5,000 signatures. The hosts emphasize that FinCEN determined Samurai was not a money transmitter since they don't take custody of funds, yet prosecutors proceeded with charges anyway after the judge dismissed defense motions.

Farcaster's Strategic Pivot: The venture-backed "shitcoin version of Nostr" that raised $150 million at a $1 billion valuation is pivoting away from its social media focus. After five years without finding product-market fit for their Twitter-like network, they're shifting to a wallet-first strategy, highlighting the challenges of competing with established social media platforms and the advantages of open protocols like Nostr.

Australia's Social Media Age Verification: Australia has implemented digital ID checks and biometric scans for adults to access social media platforms, ostensibly to protect under-16s. However, platforms like Roblox (known for having predator issues) are exempt from verification requirements, suggesting the law's true purpose is universal surveillance rather than child protection. The UK, EU, and various US states are considering similar measures.

New US Border Data Collection Proposals: The Trump administration proposed requiring foreign tourists to disclose five years of social media history, phone numbers, ten years of email addresses, IP addresses, photo metadata, DNA, and family member information before entering the United States. The hosts worry this creates reciprocal requirements for Americans traveling abroad and could severely damage tourism and international collaboration, particularly in the Bitcoin space.

AI-Powered Facial Recognition Glasses: A Dutch journalist tested AI glasses that can instantly identify strangers on the street using public data, displaying their name, LinkedIn profile, and background. The technology raises concerns about the impossibility of opting out, as people with no online presence would become more suspicious by absence of data, essentially being "killed by process of elimination."

Nostr Development and Bitcoin Streaming: The episode itself demonstrates Nostr's capabilities, streaming live over the protocol with direct Bitcoin zaps from viewers. The hosts position live streaming with direct Bitcoin monetization as a potential "killer app" for Nostr, competing with platforms like Twitch and Rumble while maintaining open protocol principles and avoiding advertising models.

Zeus Wallet Major Update: Zeus version 0.12.0 Beta 1 is available for testing, featuring Nostr Wallet Connect integration, circular rebalance tools, embedded LND with battery saver detection, and the ability to scan addresses and invoices. The timing coincided perfectly with discussion of Nostr Wallet Connect functionality, showcasing continued development of user-friendly Lightning Network tools.

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Bloomberg News Now is a comprehensive audio report on today's top stories. Listen for the latest news, whenever you want it, covering global business stories around the world.

SpaceX $800 Billion Valuation: Trump: Land Strikes "Starting", More

Bloomberg News Now

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SpaceX Valuation Doubles to $800 Billion: SpaceX authorized an insider share sale valuing the company at approximately $800 billion, nearly double its $400 billion valuation from July when shares were priced at $212. The new per share price of $421 reflects the company's preparation for a possible 2026 IPO, with funds intended to support an ambitious starship rocket flight schedule, artificial intelligence data centers in space, and establishing a lunar base.

Trump Announces Escalation of Military Campaign Against Drug Operations: President Trump declared that the U.S. would begin land strikes targeting drug operations in Latin America, expanding beyond recent Pentagon attacks on drug smuggling boats in international waters off South America. While declining to provide specific timing or locations, Trump indicated the campaign may extend beyond Venezuela despite the effort being largely viewed as pressure against President Nicolas Maduro.

U.S. Intensifies Pressure on Venezuela's Maduro Regime: Following this week's seizure of a massive sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela's coast, the Treasury Department is moving to sanction six additional oil companies and close associates of Nicolas Maduro. This marks a new phase in U.S. strategy designed to deny Maduro oil revenue and pressure him to relinquish power.

Trump Names Top Fed Chair Candidates: President Trump identified Kevin Hassett and Kevin Warsh as his leading choices to lead the Federal Reserve, with Warsh recently climbing the shortlist to challenge frontrunner Hassett. Trump also indicated he expects the next Fed chair to consult with him on interest rate decisions.

House Democrats Release Epstein Estate Photos: Democrats released previously unseen photographs from Jeffrey Epstein's estate showing President Trump before his presidency, along with Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Steve Bannon, Larry Summers, and King Charles III's brother Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. The White House criticized the release as cherry-picked photos with strategic redactions attempting to create a false narrative.

Stock Market Declines on AI Sector Weakness: U.S. equity markets fell Friday, with the S&P 500 posting a weekly loss as investors took profits on major AI stocks. Broadcom plummeted 11.4% after issuing a disappointing sales outlook, weighing on semiconductor rivals and heightening anxiety over AI investments. For the week, the S&P 500 dropped 0.6% while the Nasdaq fell 1.6%.

Ukraine Peace Talks Progress in Berlin: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Berlin on Monday to advance U.S.-led peace proposals. Negotiations are focused on a 20-point draft agreement, with Moscow demanding Ukraine withdraw forces from eastern Donbas territories that Russian military has failed to capture.
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Join award-winning audiobook narrator Justin Malik in this personal growth accelerator, delivering bite-sized episodes each day that are rich with wisdom and practical advice. Optimal Living Daily features a carefully selected mix of articles from some of the most influential voices in self-help, covering topics like minimalism, productivity, mental health, and personal development. Each episode is thoughtfully narrated to not only inform but also inspire you to make meaningful changes in your life.
Whether you're seeking motivation, clarity, or strategies to enhance your daily life, Optimal Living Daily is your go-to source for personal development. It’s not just a podcast; it’s a daily habit that empowers you to live your best life, one insightful and uplifting episode at a time. Dive into episodes that cover the essence of self-help, minimalism, and self-improvement, offering actionable steps to foster personal development.
This podcast is designed for those passionate about personal development and minimalism, looking to integrate self-help strategies and self-improvement techniques into their daily routines. By focusing on personal development, each episode provides you with the tools needed for self-improvement and minimalism, transforming your life with every listen.
Listen now, and become an OLD friend--your optimal life awaits...

3840: Slipping Out of Maybe AND The Yes and No Paradigm by Allison Carmen on Moving Beyond Uncertainty

Optimal Living Daily - Personal Development and Self-Improvement

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The Power of "Maybe" as an Alternative to Certainty: Allison Carmen introduces the concept of "maybe" as a liberating mindset that allows us to move beyond the rigid expectations of "yes" or "no" answers. Rather than seeking immediate certainty in every situation, embracing "maybe" creates space to breathe, explore possibilities, and remain open to outcomes we cannot yet see.

Personal Story of Attachment and Disappointment: Carmen shares a story about helping her cousin purchase a dream home in New York, which fell through when the bank denied their mortgage. She became emotionally attached to the belief that her cousin needed this specific house for his happiness and well-being, which caused her significant stress and sleepless nights when the deal collapsed.

Recognizing When We "Slip Out of Maybe": The pain Carmen felt wasn't actually about losing the house—it was about falling out of the "maybe" mindset. She had convinced herself that one particular outcome was necessary for her cousin's happiness, which set her up for disappointment. This realization shows how we often create unnecessary suffering by rigidly attaching to specific outcomes.

Opening Up to Multiple Possibilities: Once Carmen returned to the "maybe" mindset, she and her cousin discovered other options they hadn't considered, including a more affordable home on the same block that initially seemed too small. This shift demonstrated that there are always more possibilities than the single scenario we fixate on.

Common Traps of Rigid Thinking: We frequently fall into the trap of believing we need specific outcomes for our well-being—a particular job, promotion, relationship, financial result, or client. These stories we tell ourselves create emotional attachments that defy logic, even though we rationally know there are many paths to our goals.

The Impulse for Immediate Decisions: The desire to quickly answer "yes" or "no" to life's problems often stems from seeking safety and certainty rather than living life fully. While being decisive can feel good, it can also limit our exploration of creative solutions and new opportunities that only reveal themselves when we pause.

Fulfillment Over Comfort: The commentary emphasizes that we're not actually seeking comfort or certainty in life, but rather day-to-day fulfillment. Examples like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk show that even after achieving financial security, people continue pursuing growth because being uncomfortable is the only way we truly develop and find meaning.
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The examen is an ancient prayer practice that enables you to find God in your daily life. Our podcast is based on a technique that St. Ignatius Loyola outlined in the "Spiritual Exercises," his classic manual for prayer. Each week Fr. Martin will provide you with a new reflection and guide you through the examen prayer.

Feast of St. Lucy

The Examen with Fr. James Martin, SJ

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Advent as a Season for Simplicity and Deeper Prayer: The weekly reflection encourages listeners to carve out time for prayer and meditation during Advent, even amid the busyness of the season. The message emphasizes doing less in order to pray more and enter more deeply into the liturgical season, referencing St. Francis de Sales' wisdom that busy people need even more prayer time.

Finding One Passage to Anchor Your Advent: Rather than trying to absorb everything, the reflection suggests letting one passage from the daily or Sunday readings take root throughout the season. Examples include Isaiah's pastoral imagery of dry lands blooming or John the Baptist's call to "prepare the way of the Lord" and "make straight his paths."

Daily Question for Advent Reflection: A practical meditation practice is offered: asking yourself each day "How am I preparing the way of the Lord in my own life?" and "How am I helping others to do so in their lives?" This transforms John the Baptist's message into a personal daily examination.

The Structure of the Ignatian Examen Prayer: The guided prayer walks through the traditional Jesuit five-step prayer practice: entering God's presence, expressing gratitude for the day, reviewing the day chronologically to notice where God was present, acknowledging sins and asking forgiveness, and looking forward with grace to the next day.

Chronological Review of Your Day with God: The meditation leads listeners through each part of their day—morning, midday, afternoon, evening, and night—inviting them to notice specific people, places, and events where they encountered God or responded (or failed to respond) to God's invitation to be loving and grateful.

Confession and Forgiveness as Part of Daily Prayer: The practice includes acknowledging regrets and sins from the day, expressing sorrow to God, and asking for forgiveness and grace to do better. For serious sins, listeners are encouraged to consider going to confession, but the immediate focus is on honest conversation with God about imperfections.

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The Cabral Concept by Dr. Cabral was created for you, the health conscious individual looking to discover the little known factors to ideal wellness, weight loss, and anti-aging. We uncover the root causes of why you're feeling stuck and unable to attain your goals and the action steps needed to live the life you always dreamed of. Plus, every day I answer your natural health wellness, weight loss, mindset, product review, and longevity questions. By following the Cabral Concept of "Change Your Body - Change Your Life," our community believes that by first rebalancing your body and mind, you will then be motivated to conquer any goals you set for yourself in life. I look forward to sharing these real world, proven, holistic strategies with you straight from my Boston Naturopathic, Ayurvedic, and Functional Medicine practice!

3599: Menstrual Cramping, Iron Deficiency, Maca Superfood, Asbestos Exposure, Mold Testing (HouseCall)

The Cabral Concept

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Single-Ingredient Pea Protein Launch: A new organic pea protein powder with 20 grams per serving is now available, offered as a single-ingredient, unflavored option that can be added to other supplements or combined with daily multivitamin capsules to create an unflavored nutritional support shake.

Treating Severe Menstrual Cramps in Teenagers: For a 15-year-old experiencing debilitating menstrual cramps with vomiting, the recommended approach is to run a stress, mood, and metabolism test during symptoms to assess estrogen-progesterone balance. Alternative treatments include an anti-inflammatory diet, omega-3s (2-3 grams daily), methylated B vitamins, vitamin D3, DGLA liquid supplement, and Estrogen Balance containing DIM and I3C to help regulate excess estrogen rather than relying on high-dose ibuprofen.

Iron Deficiency During Pregnancy and Menstruation: The claim that pregnant women don't need iron supplementation even with low hemoglobin is dangerous and inaccurate. While copper and other nutrients play important roles in oxygen utilization, proper iron testing (including ferritin, transferrin, total iron binding capacity, and iron saturation) can reveal genuine iron deficiencies, particularly in pregnant and menstruating women who have increased iron needs.

Why Maca Isn't Discussed More Frequently: While maca is a beneficial herb that boosts testosterone, libido, energy, endurance, and fertility in both men and women (used at 400mg clinical dosages in products like Daily Male Support), it's not emphasized as frequently because it's not foundational—the body doesn't have a maca deficiency the way it can be deficient in vitamins, minerals, and omega-3s, which should be prioritized first.

Managing Asbestos Exposure Concerns: For potential asbestos exposure, the focus should be on lung health through proper detoxification practices including infrared sauna use, functional medicine detox protocols, exercise, and breathing exercises. Asbestos crystals lodge in lungs making them difficult to remove, but regular sauna sessions and quarterly detox protocols can help support the body's natural elimination processes.

Mold Testing and IgG Antibody Limitations: IgG blood tests for mold exposure are not the most accurate diagnostic tool because they can show past exposure from months ago rather than current active problems, similar to how IgG tests work for viruses like Epstein-Barr. Instead of extensive testing to determine whether to sell a home, the recommended approach is to proceed with an eight-week mold detox protocol using immune support supplements (daily nutritional support, omega-3s, vitamin D3, vitamin C) along with regular sauna use.

Foundation-First Supplement Philosophy: The core foundational supplements that address actual deficiencies should be prioritized: daily nutritional support with methylated B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D3. Herbs and specialty supplements serve as medicine for specific issues but aren't considered foundational since bodies don't have inherent deficiencies in these botanicals.
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Fresh Air from WHYY, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programs. Hosted by Terry Gross, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries. Subscribe to Fresh Air Plus! You'll enjoy bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening - all while you support NPR's mission. Learn more at plus.npr.org/freshair

Best Of: Michael Shannon / ‘Pluribus’ Star Rhea Seehorn

Fresh Air

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Michael Shannon's New Roles as Historical Heroes: Actor Michael Shannon, typically known for playing intense and menacing characters, discusses two new projects where he portrays real-life historical figures fighting for justice. He plays President James Garfield in Netflix's "Death by Lightning" and Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, who prosecuted Nazi war criminals, in the film "Nuremberg." Shannon notes that people often assume he's playing the villain or assassin in these projects, so it's satisfying to surprise audiences.

James Garfield's Fight Against Political Corruption: Shannon explores President Garfield's battle against the corrupt patronage system that dominated 1880s Washington politics. The series examines a lesser-known period of American history when the country seemed "lost at sea" between the Civil War and World Wars. Garfield fought for civil service reform against powerful senators who controlled federal jobs through corruption and patronage, particularly the lucrative New York port collector position, before being assassinated just four months into office.

The Nuremberg Trials as Legal Precedent: Shannon's portrayal of Robert Jackson highlights the difficulties of establishing the first international tribunal to try war criminals. Jackson faced enormous opposition from those who simply wanted to execute Nazi leaders rather than put them on trial. The film explores how Jackson insisted on a legal process to avoid making martyrs of the Nazis and to establish lasting international law, including the first charges of "crimes against humanity."

Music Career and REM Tribute Tours: Beyond acting, Shannon has revived his musical interests by forming a band with musician Jason Narducci that tours performing complete REM albums. They've commemorated 40th anniversaries of albums like "Murmur" and "Fables of the Reconstruction," with an upcoming tour for "Life's Rich Pageant." REM band members have attended shows and joined them on stage, particularly when they perform in Athens, Georgia.

Rhea Seehorn's Role in "Pluribus": Seehorn stars in Vince Gilligan's new Apple TV series "Pluribus" as Carol, a romance novelist who becomes one of the few people immune to an alien technology that connects humanity through "psychic glue." After her wife Helen dies suddenly, Carol discovers that everyone else now shares memories, knowledge, and thoughts, creating a seemingly peaceful but conformist world that she desperately resists.

Exploring Happiness Versus Individuality: "Pluribus" raises philosophical questions about whether collective contentment is preferable to individual autonomy. The transformed population experiences constant happiness and world peace, but they've lost the capacity for surprise, independent thought, and authentic joy. Seehorn personally argues for the necessity of individual thinking, noting that without surprise, there can be no new art, jokes, or genuine wonder.

The Role of Anger in the Series: Carol's character is defined by her anger, which becomes literally lethal in the show—when she gets angry, people die. This prompted Seehorn to reflect on how women are often taught to suppress anger and make their emotions "palatable." She acknowledges her own tendency toward conflict avoidance when personally attacked, even as she'll readily defend others, recognizing that suppressed anger manifests in unhealthy ways.

Gender-Swapped Lead Character: Gilligan originally conceived "Pluribus" with a male protagonist but rewrote it for Seehorn during the first season of "Better Call Saul." He was impressed by her ability to navigate between dark comedy and psychological drama and wanted to create a project specifically for her talents, believing the concepts would work even better with her as the lead.

Romance Novel Research and Subgenres: To prepare for playing a bestselling romance novelist, Seehorn visited the Ripped Bodice bookstore in Culver City and attended readings. She was surprised by the vast array of romance subgenres—historical, paranormal, suspense—and the diversity of the fanbase, which challenged her assumptions about who reads romance novels.

Path from Visual Arts to Acting: Seehorn originally planned to pursue painting but discovered acting through a required elective at George Mason University. She was drawn to the practical, analytical approach of script analysis and the idea that through hard work and study, one could incrementally improve. Acting also provided a framework for understanding human behavior through wants, tactics, and given circumstances, offering both empathy and insight.

Maureen Corrigan's Best Books of 2025: Literary critic Maureen Corrigan presented her annual best books list, with standout fiction including Karen Russell's "The Antidote" as novel of the year—an epic about immigration set in 1930s Nebraska—and Kiran Desai's "The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny." Nonfiction picks included Francesca Wade's unconventional biography "Gertrude: An Afterlife," Arundhati Roy's mother-daughter memoir "Mother Mary Comes to Me," Patti Smith's "Bread of Angels," and Judith Geisberg's "Last Seen: Finding Family After Slavery," which examines ads placed by formerly enslaved people searching for loved ones.

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For thousands of years, Kabbalists have been studying on a daily basis for their and humanity's spiritual progress. Continuing this tradition into today's globally connected world, the Bnei Baruch Kabbalah Education & Research Institute, studies daily from authentic Kabbalistic sources, with commentary by Dr. Michael Laitman. (Audio)

13 Dec 25 04:19 UTC; Preparation for convention

Daily Kabbalah Lesson (Audio)

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The Embryo Concept as Spiritual Development: The core teaching examines the spiritual state of being like "an embryo in a womb," where an individual nullifies before the Creator (the mother) and accepts whatever state is given. The embryo's only action is to bless its state and maintain awareness of being an embryo, which creates completion of vessels with the Creator. This represents the fundamental spiritual work of annulment and acceptance.

Individual vs. Collective Spiritual Birth: While each person undergoes an individual process of spiritual birth at their own pace, the ten (spiritual group) plays a crucial supporting role through example, prayer, and effort. Friends in the ten serve as external reinforcement, helping each member overcome the Creator's disturbances and disruptions that are deliberately placed in the path toward spiritual birth.

The Creator's Disturbances and Mutual Support: The Creator intentionally poses obstacles to prevent the embryo from developing toward birth, while friends in the ten work "against the Creator" to help overcome these disruptions. This creates a system where investing in friends' spiritual development ultimately benefits oneself, as spiritually advanced friends become positive forces who pray and support others.

Congress Theme Established: After weeks of deliberation, the precise direction for the February congress was determined: "Connecting in the ten, adhering to the Creator." This represents connecting as a ten where each person feels the entire group, and the whole ten adheres to the internality of the Creator. This theme will guide preparation from now until the congress.

The Womb as Shared Spiritual Space: The womb represents a common system within the Creator where all individuals develop spiritually. While each embryo is individual, they share this common space. The embryo exists within the mother, "eats what his mother eats," and develops until the mother pressures him to emerge into "the air of the world."

Participation and Preparation Requirements: Groups discussed practical ways to strengthen congress preparation, including improving attendance at lessons and meals, arriving on time, incorporating better with study materials, preparing properly for each activity, and maintaining constant prayer for friends. The emphasis is on both quantity and quality of engagement.

Strengthening Connection to Sources: Students need to immerse themselves in the writings of Baal HaSulam and Rabash, with emphasis on reading complete articles rather than just excerpts. The sources represent the direct connection to the Kabbalists and the Creator, and students should "wash themselves" constantly in these texts to achieve true incorporation.

The Rav's Central Role: Strengthening connection with Rav Laitman is essential, as he lives inside each student through years of cooperation and spiritual work. Students should adhere to his advice as accurately as possible, implement his guidance immediately, and find joy in any contact with him through recordings or direct interaction.

Warmth and Love in the Ten: Beyond discussing corporeal states, tens should focus more on concern for friends' spiritual states. Opening hearts, showing external expressions of love, praying together more frequently, and providing support during difficult times all contribute to the spiritual atmosphere needed for progress.

Innovation Through Action Rather Than Theory: When friends questioned whether "connection to the Creator" is too familiar a topic, the response emphasized that innovation comes from actually achieving this connection rather than finding new concepts. The challenge is to make the connection happen in practice, not to discover new terminology.

The Visitor Center Project Development: A revolutionary experiential center is being developed in Israel, called "Terminal of Thoughts," featuring a 75-minute immersive journey through seven rooms with AI characters Nadav and Seema. The center aims to awaken the point in the heart in Israeli audiences through an emotional, sensory experience rather than lectures.

Visitor Center Content and Journey: The experience challenges visitors' perception of reality, free choice, and ego through theatrical and technological means. Visitors progress from discovering they act robotically, through confronting existential questions, to understanding humanity as an interconnected system where changing how we relate to others transforms our reality.

Study Materials Restructuring: Starting after Hanukkah, morning lessons will feature complete Rabash articles in the order Rav taught them (from 2002 recordings), followed by hour-long recorded lessons. The afternoon will continue with Talmud Eser Sefirot recordings, maintaining 45-minute sessions to preserve Rabash's intended flow and completeness.

Global Participation and Registration: Already 220 friends from around the world have registered for the February congress, with dozens more awaiting visas from Turkey, Kazakhstan, South America and other locations. The congress is shaping up to be a significant global gathering with strong international representation.

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Political and geopolitical analysis from the world's top experts, hosted by Dan Senor.

Sneak Peek: Inside Call Me Back with Dr. Tal Becker

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

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Defining Victory Against Hamas: The conversation challenges the premise that Israel only achieved a "draw" with Hamas. Israel largely accomplished its objectives: returning hostages, decimating Hamas's military threat, though the third goal of removing Hamas from governance remains uncertain. Victory against fundamentalist groups shouldn't be measured by white flags but by whether Israel can move forward with its regional aspirations without being defined or limited by these threats.

The Nature of Modern Asymmetric Warfare: Israel hasn't fought a conventional war with a decisive outcome since 1973. Modern conflicts with terrorist organizations require a different victory metric—success means these groups become manageable nuisances requiring vigilance rather than existential threats that shape the national agenda. The Second Intifada provides a model where Israel pushed back terrorism enough that society could thrive.

Internal Division as a National Security Threat: Israeli society has a historical pattern of uniting in crisis but struggling with internal conflict otherwise. The comparison to the biblical splitting of Israel into two kingdoms reflects real concerns about self-sabotage. The challenge isn't recognizing the problem but finding practical solutions to overcome tribal divisions and prioritize collective Jewish welfare over sectarian victories.

Education as the Path to Unity: Cultivating a "sovereign state of mind" requires investment in Jewish education that emphasizes peoplehood over tribalism. The Talmudic model of engaging across difference and pursuing truth through conversation—rather than echo chambers—offers a framework. Education must teach that truth exists above the individual and requires community across difference, especially critical in the age of AI and social media.

American Jewish Alienation from Israel: Young American Jews who define their connection to Israel based on who serves as prime minister at any given moment reveal a fundamental educational failure. Treating Israel like a synagogue that must meet personal specifications, rather than as a sovereign state and broad canvas for engagement, demonstrates a shallow understanding of Jewish peoplehood. Patriotism means loving your country always and your government when it deserves it.

Labeling Jewish Extremist Violence: When Jewish settlers attack Palestinians, burn homes, or commit murder, these acts should be called terrorism, not softened with the term "extremists." The double standard in terminology—calling Arab attacks on Jews terrorism while using euphemisms for Jewish violence against Arabs—is unjustifiable and undermines moral consistency.
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Day 347 (Acts 24-26) - Year 7

The Bible Recap

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Paul's Trial Before Governor Felix: Paul is brought before Governor Felix in Caesarea, where Jewish authorities from Jerusalem arrive with a lawyer named Tertullus who flatters Felix and falsely accuses Paul of starting riots and defiling the temple. Paul defends himself truthfully, stating he has lived with integrity and honored the ways of Yahweh, including everything written in the law and prophets (the Old Testament).

Felix's Extended Interest in Paul: Felix, who is familiar with Christianity (referred to as "the Way"), is intrigued by Paul's message and keeps him in prison for two years under relatively lenient conditions. Felix repeatedly calls Paul to discuss his faith, hoping Paul might offer a bribe for his release, but Paul maintains his integrity throughout, sharing the Gospel while obeying the rules.

Transition to Governor Festus: After Felix is removed from office for failing to keep peace between Jews and Gentiles, Festus takes over as governor. The Jewish authorities immediately approach Festus about Paul, plotting to kill him during transport to Jerusalem, but Festus insists they come to Caesarea instead to hear Paul's case.

Paul's Appeal to Caesar: When Festus suggests moving the trial to Jerusalem to appease the Jews, Paul recognizes the danger and exercises his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to Caesar, effectively elevating it to a higher court where he expects fairer treatment.

King Agrippa's Visit and Paul's Defense: King Herod Agrippa II visits Caesarea and expresses interest in hearing Paul's case. Paul eloquently shares his testimony, including his past as a persecutor of Christians and his dramatic conversion, delivering a compelling explanation of the Gospel before the king, governor, and local leaders.

Festus and Agrippa's Response: Governor Festus interrupts Paul's testimony, claiming he's lost his mind, demonstrating how "the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing." Paul appeals to King Agrippa, who deflects by saying he's not ready to convert yet. Afterward, both leaders agree Paul is innocent and would have been freed if he hadn't already appealed to Caesar.

God's Providence in Apparent Setbacks: Despite what seems like poor timing—Paul missing his chance at freedom by appealing to Caesar before Agrippa could rule—God is orchestrating events according to His plan. Paul recognizes God's help throughout his trials, beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonments, maintaining an eternal perspective that values God's glory over temporary relief and refusing to trade the eternal for the temporary.

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Mi nombre es Val Muñoz de Bustillo, soy un aprendiz de polímata que busca saber cómo funciona el mundo a través de leer a grandes polímatas como Ray Dalio, Charlie Munger, Robert Greene, Sun tzu, Maquiavelo, Steven Pinker, Daniel Khaneman y Rober Sapolsky. No tengo el talento ni las habilidades de Leonardo, pero sí una gran curiosidad y afición por la lectura y su aplicación práctica. Mi objetivo es sintetizar las grandes enseñanzas para que profundices en ellas y las pongas en práctica convirtiéndote cada día en alguien más sabio.

#103 Resumen del libro Cómo mueren las democracias

Polymatas

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Cómo mueren las democracias en la era moderna: Las democracias ya no mueren por golpes militares abruptos o rupturas formales de la constitución, sino a través de una erosión lenta y continua. Los autores de Harvard, Steven Levitsky y Daniel Ziblatt, exploran cómo este proceso ocurre de forma gradual, haciéndolo menos visible pero igualmente peligroso para las instituciones democráticas.

El dilema de los partidos moderados con los extremistas: Los partidos políticos moderados enfrentan decisiones difíciles cuando necesitan aliarse con minorías extremistas para gobernar. Este modelo presenta problemas fundamentales, ya que los votantes votan por partidos, no por personas individuales, lo que complica el control sobre las direcciones políticas que estos partidos pueden tomar.

Transformación del Partido Republicano desde los años 60-70: El punto de partida del deterioro democrático en Estados Unidos se sitúa en los años sesenta y setenta con la aprobación de leyes de derechos civiles que provocaron una realineación política. El debilitamiento deliberado de las estructuras tradicionales del partido, junto con organizaciones como Americans for Prosperity y Freedom Works, transformó las primarias en un examen ideológico permanente que radicalizó el proceso político.

Tres estrategias para el autoritarismo democrático: Los líderes autoritarios utilizan tres tácticas principales: primero, controlar las instituciones encargadas de fiscalizar el poder (tribunales, policía, fiscalías); segundo, intimidar y aislar a quienes pueden oponerse (líderes empresariales, figuras culturales respetadas, otros políticos); y tercero, reescribir las reglas mediante cambios constitucionales y reformas electorales. La clave está en la acumulación progresiva de estos cambios.

Los guardarraíles de la democracia: tolerancia mutua y contención institucional: Las constituciones, incluso las mejores, tienen grietas y vacíos. Dos normas no escritas son fundamentales para proteger la democracia: la tolerancia mutua (aceptar a los oponentes políticos como legítimos) y la contención institucional (renunciar voluntariamente a usar todo el poder disponible para aplastar al contrario). Estas normas han sido históricamente cruciales para la estabilidad democrática.

El ejemplo histórico inglés del siglo XVII: La lucha entre el parlamento y Carlos Primero en Inglaterra ilustra los peligros de abandonar estos guardarraíles. El conflicto, alimentado por acusaciones cruzadas de traición, escaló hasta que se sobrepasaron todos los límites. Aunque el efecto inmediato fue devastador, eventualmente se redujo la polarización cuando las partes aprendieron de este conflicto.

La polarización social en España y Estados Unidos: Cada sentencia judicial o resolución política se recibe como una victoria o derrota partidista, incrementando la polarización. El contexto español muestra similitudes con el estadounidense en términos de división política y deterioro de las normas democráticas compartidas.

El bloqueo de Merrick Garland y el fin de las normas: La muerte del juez Antonin Scalia en 2016 y el posterior bloqueo del nominado de Obama, Merrick Garland, marcó un punto de inflexión. Por primera vez en la historia, el Senado se negó a considerar un nominado moderado y respetado al Tribunal Supremo, rompiendo décadas de precedentes y normas institucionales.

Newt Gingrich y la ruptura deliberada de normas: Gingrich rompió deliberadamente las convenciones políticas tradicionales, presentando a los demócratas como corruptos, inmorales y peligrosos para el país. El filibusterismo pasó de ser una herramienta excepcional a un recurso rutinario, y la destitución presidencial (impeachment) de Clinton se usó como arma partidista en lugar de como recurso extremo para defender la constitución.

La transformación del Partido Republicano: El partido perdió su diversidad interna y sus sectores moderados, adoptando posiciones cada vez más extremas y abandonando la contención institucional. Este deterioro progresivo preparó el terreno para el ascenso de figuras como Trump.

Trump contra los guardarraíles democráticos: El primer año de Trump se caracterizó por ataques no solo a opositores políticos sino también a los árbitros del sistema democrático. Esta erosión de las normas fundamentales tuvo consecuencias graves para la confianza en las instituciones.

El traspaso de poder y la certificación electoral: Aunque el vicepresidente Mike Pence finalmente certificó el resultado electoral y se produjo el traspaso de poder a Biden, la reacción del sistema político fue menos tranquilizadora de lo esperado. La incertidumbre sobre qué habría pasado con un presidente diferente revela la fragilidad del sistema.

El futuro de la democracia estadounidense: El Partido Republicano se ha alineado con Trump, reteniendo poder en el Congreso y consolidando mayoría en el Tribunal Supremo. Existe el riesgo de que se utilicen tácticas constitucionales duras para fabricar mayorías electorales duraderas, llevando a una democracia debilitada sin guardarraíles efectivos.

La normalización del estilo Trump: Aunque Trump puede salir del poder, su estilo político y la erosión de las normas que provocó pueden persistir. Lo más importante es que estas normas democráticas, una vez rotas, son difíciles de restaurar, y la normalización de comportamientos autoritarios representa una amenaza continua para la democracia.
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We’re here to talk about: Angels, and Demons - ghosts, the pagan gods and the weird corners of the Bible.Most important of all, were here to show you Jesus as Deuteronomy 10:17 describes Him: the Lord your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of lords, mighty and awesome.

Third Week of  Advent - Joy

The Two Trees Podcast

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Introduction to Week Three of Advent - Joy: This is the third week of the Advent series, featuring the wives of the regular podcast hosts - Rose, Kristen, and Erin. Week three focuses on joy, following previous weeks on prophecy/hope (led by Kristen) and peace (led by Martin). The rose-colored candle is lit during this third week, distinguishing it from the purple candles of weeks one, two, and four.

Joy as a Challenging Emotion to Grasp: Rose admits that joy is actually her most difficult emotion to handle, requiring what she thought was discipline. Through studying Scripture for this episode, she discovered that joy is participatory - something you choose even in difficult circumstances - which distinguishes it from mere happiness. The Hebrew and Greek words for joy include meanings like "to spring up," "to leap," "excited happiness," "to be bright," and "to shine."

Happiness Versus Joy as Distinct Concepts: The discussion explores how happiness is circumstantial and fleeting (like enjoying a good meal), while joy is deeper, more purposeful, and can coexist with sorrow. Joy comes from God through the Holy Spirit and propels you forward, whereas happiness is temporary and tied to immediate circumstances. Joy represents "happiness with a purpose" and is one of the fruits of the Spirit that believers carry regardless of their situation.

The Physical Creation Rejoicing: Scripture reveals that the natural world itself participates in rejoicing. Psalm 98, which inspired Isaac Watts' "Joy to the World," speaks of the sea roaring, floods clapping their hands, and hills being joyful together. The physical creation - trees, rocks, water, fire - offers a form of worship to God, and noticing this requires slowing down and being quiet during the Advent season.

Rejoicing in the Spiritual Realm: The spiritual realm also participates in joy. Job 38 describes how "the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy" at creation. Luke 15:7 speaks of rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. The hosts discuss how baptisms likely trigger celebration in heaven, representing moments when the physical and spiritual realms meet in shared rejoicing.

Joy as a Fruit of the Spirit: Joy is identified in Galatians 5:22 as one of the fruits of the Spirit, alongside love and peace (which are also Advent themes). This fruit doesn't exist for personal achievement but bears witness to others - like a tree bearing fruit for others to consume. Understanding joy as Spirit-given removes the pressure to manufacture it through human effort.

Sharing Joy Through Small Intentional Acts: The conversation emphasizes practical ways to share joy during the Christmas season - smiling at people, holding doors, showing patience in long lines, offering grace in traffic, and being present rather than rushing through days focused only on productivity and efficiency. These small acts of kindness can be contagious and reflect Christ's light to others.

The Paradox of Joy Through Suffering: James 1:2-4 instructs believers to "consider it pure joy" when facing trials, because testing produces perseverance and maturity. The hosts discuss how you can't truly know joy without experiencing suffering, and how God uses past trials to bring wisdom for future challenges. This paradoxical relationship between suffering and joy is central to Christian faith.

Protecting Children Versus Allowing Them to Experience Trials: Erin reflects on how parents often want to shield their children from trials, but doing so prevents them from experiencing the joy that comes through overcoming difficulties. The trials we face as children shape who we become and can draw us closer to God, producing the kind of character that enables genuine joy.

Christ as the Perfect Example of Joy Through Suffering: Hebrews 12:2 describes Jesus "who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame." Christ's example shows believers how to walk through suffering because of the joy that awaits. As witnesses to the world, believers are called to share this joy with others, letting their light shine in darkness.

Isaiah's Prophecy of Light Dawning in Darkness: Isaiah 9:2 prophesies that "the people walking in darkness have seen a great light." This prophecy connects to Christ's incarnation as light coming into the world. Rose relates this to the winter solstice (December 21st, the darkest day) and celebrates Christ's birth on December 25th as symbolizing the return of light to the world.

Mary's Spirit Rejoicing at the Incarnation: Luke 1:46-48 records Mary's declaration that "my spirit rejoices in God my Savior." Despite facing potential shame as an unwed pregnant woman and knowing the suffering ahead, Mary found supernatural joy in carrying the Messiah. Her response demonstrates joy in God's presence even when circumstances are difficult, offering a powerful example of faith.

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and the O Antiphons: The hymn used as the podcast's intro/outro music is rooted in the O Antiphons from Isaiah. The Latin titles (Sapientia, Adonai, Radix Jesse, Clavis David, Oriens, Rex Gentium, Emmanuel) spell "Ero Cras" backwards, meaning "tomorrow I will come." This points to both Christ's first coming and his promised return, which believers await during this "second Advent."

Finding Joy in the Darkest Season as Purpose and Hope: The episode concludes by emphasizing that joy can be found even in the darkest moments because of Christ's coming. Advent's themes of hope, peace, joy, and love (upcoming in week four) work together to prepare hearts for celebrating Christ's birth and anticipating his return. Listeners are encouraged to light the rose-colored candle, contemplate their Christian heritage, and share their light with others this week.

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Join us every weekday morning to take a few moments to step out of the internal chatter and external noise. We'll pause and reflect to consider what brings us together in this shared human condition and how we can live a life that best reflects our limitless potential.

When Life Feels Flat

Radio Headspace

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Addressing Feelings of Disappointment Despite Outward Success: A listener describes experiencing what feels like a midlife crisis, feeling disappointed in themselves despite being considered successful by others. They express boredom with life's monotony and a desire for adventure without knowing what kind of adventure to pursue.

The Lasting Impact of COVID-19 Isolation: Kessonga acknowledges that feelings of monotony and boredom are common post-pandemic experiences. The isolation and repetitive nature of COVID lockdowns affected how people respond to situations now, making it important to approach these feelings with gentleness and without self-judgment.

Examining the Source of Expectations: The disappointment may stem from not meeting self-imposed expectations, which could originate from parents, childhood experiences, or social pressure. Understanding where these expectations come from is crucial for addressing feelings of inadequacy despite external success.

Practicing Gratitude as a Perspective Shift: Gratitude meditation can help reframe disappointment by pausing daily to identify things to be grateful for, whether small (like a cup of coffee) or large. Regular gratitude practice makes it easier to appreciate both minor and major accomplishments in life.

Understanding Shame and Guilt: Disappointment often accompanies related emotions like shame and guilt. These feelings might arise from specific actions or choices that contributed to one's success, or simply from feeling guilty about not being happier when life appears successful from the outside.

The Importance of Self-Forgiveness and Therapy: If disappointment stems from past actions or decisions, practicing self-forgiveness is essential for moving forward. Therapy is strongly recommended as a tool for processing these complex emotions, especially in the post-COVID era.

Establishing a Consistent Meditation Practice: A regular sitting meditation practice is recommended, focusing on acknowledging emotions without judgment, gently letting them go, and returning to a focal point like the breath. The Headspace app's basics course can provide guidance for beginning this practice.
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L'immobilier ou "l'immo", ça nous concerne tous ! Si vous souhaitez devenir propriétaire en 2023 et ainsi être informé des changements du secteur de l’immobilier, vous êtes au bon endroit. Vous désirez comprendre le taux de prêt immobilier, pour connaître votre taux d’endettement et votre capacité d’emprunt avant de vous projeter dans votre acquisition immobilière ? Tout savoir sur le droit immobilier, entre les troubles du voisinage en copropriété, le droit de la construction ou encore la pratique de la sous-location de propriété ? Ou encore pouvoir prédire s’il est plus judicieux d’investir dans des immeubles du bureaux, d’investir dans des centres commerciaux, dans des hôtels ou encore des parkings ? Près de 15% des Français disent avoir un projet d’achat d'une résidence secondaire, qu’il s’agisse d’une maison ou d'un appartement, mais aussi de rénovation de leur logement, ou encore d'investissement dans l'immobilier. Mais combien sont-ils à être sûrs de pouvoir concrétiser et rentabiliser ce projet immobilier ?  Taux d’emprunt, prêt et conditions d’accès bancaires, hausse ou baisse des prix des biens immobiliers selon les régions, coûts des matières premières dans la construction immobilière et la rénovation, coûts énergétiques : en matière d'immobilier, les incertitudes sont aujourd'hui partout, qu'on parle d'un achat immobilier ou d'une rénovation énergétique. Quand on parle "immo" pour un appartement ou une maison à Paris, en Ile-de-France, dans les grandes villes ou partout ailleurs en France, il y a de nombreux sujets à creuser et autant de pièges à déjouer : achat immobilier ou location saisonnière, rentabilité d’un investissement immobilier locatif, compromis ou promesse de vente, contrat de location pour la gestion des baux, estimation des travaux d’une maison et aide MaPrimeRenov’, taxe habitation et taxe foncière en 2023, risques et rendement d’investissement dans une SCPI….  Pour donner les clés de l’immobilier à ceux qui ont envie d’acheter, de louer, d’investir ou de rénover leur logement, en comprenant les secrets de ce marché qui évolue à toute vitesse dans un contexte de crise énergétique et économique, écoutez "Bienvenue chez vous, le podcast immobilier" avec le journaliste Christophe Bordet et ses invités experts du marché de l'immobilier, qu'ils soient économistes, agents immobiliers ou encore notaires spécialistes de l'immobilier.

Bilan 2025 : les chiffres des transactions de Laforêt Immobilier en exclusivité pour Europe 1

Bienvenue chez vous, le podcast immobilier 

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I apologize, but I cannot provide a comprehensive summary of this podcast episode. The transcript provided contains only a single, incomplete phrase ("Except lenovo. Destination.") that appears to be either an error, a technical glitch, or possibly an advertisement snippet. This does not contain any substantive content about the episode's intended topic regarding Laforêt Immobilier's 2025 transaction figures and real estate market trends.

To provide an accurate and useful summary, I would need access to the complete transcript of the episode discussion between the host Christophe Bordet and his guests about the real estate transaction data and market insights.
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In The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz walks you through the entire Bible in 365 episodes, providing commentary, reflection, and prayer along the way.
Unlike any other Bible podcast, Ascension’s Bible in a Year podcast follows a reading plan inspired by The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, a ground-breaking approach to understanding salvation history developed by renowned Catholic Bible scholar Jeff Cavins. For each period in the timeline, Jeff will join Fr. Mike for a special episode that will help you understand the context of each reading.
With this podcast, you won’t just read the Bible in a year … you’ll finally understand how all the pieces of the Bible fit together to tell an amazing story that continues in your life today!
Listen and…
Read the ENTIRE Bible
Feel more confident about your understanding of Scripture
Experience the transformative power of God’s Word in your daily life
Start seeing the world through the lens of Scripture
Each 20-25 minute episode includes:
Two to three scripture readings
A reflection from Fr. Mike Schmitz
A guided prayer to help you hear God’s voice in his Word
The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.


Day 347: Witness to Unbelievers (2025)

The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

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Paul's Defense as Evangelization Opportunity: Paul transforms his trial before King Agrippa into an evangelistic moment, demonstrating profound theological hope by using even imprisonment as an opportunity to witness. He recounts his conversion story, his background as a Pharisee who persecuted Christians, and his dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Rather than simply defending himself, Paul boldly asks Agrippa if he believes in the prophets and essentially tries to convert him to Christianity. When Agrippa responds that Paul is trying to make him a Christian, Paul replies that he wishes everyone present would become like him—except for the chains.

Paul's Imprisonment Context: Paul writes his letter to the Ephesians while under house arrest in Rome, awaiting trial before Caesar. House arrest meant a Roman guard was assigned to bring him before the authorities within an hour when summoned. Paul used this captivity as another evangelistic opportunity, witnessing to the guards assigned to watch him. The providential timing connects the Acts account of his journey to Rome with the composition of this powerful letter.

The City of Ephesus and Its Church: Ephesus was a significant cosmopolitan port city with a very religious culture. The church there included both Jewish Christians who came to faith through Judaism and recognized Jesus as the Messiah, and Gentile Christians who came directly to belief in Christ. This diversity created tensions and divisions that Paul addresses in his letter.

The Central Theme of Unity in Christ: Paul's primary message to the Ephesians emphasizes that despite their different backgrounds—Jewish or Gentile—all believers are united in "one Spirit, one baptism, one faith, one God and Father of us all, one Jesus Christ." He systematically highlights the spiritual blessings both groups have received to demonstrate their common foundation in Christ rather than their differences.

"But God" - The Transformative Power of Grace: One of the most powerful passages in Ephesians describes humanity's condition as "children of wrath" living in sin, followed by the pivotal phrase "But God, who is rich in mercy." This dramatic turn encapsulates the gospel message: while we were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ. Paul emphasizes that salvation comes "by grace through faith" as a gift from God, not from human works.

From Hopelessness to Hope: Paul specifically addresses Gentile Christians, reminding them that before Christ they were "separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." This condition of living without hope and without God describes not only their past but the reality of anyone who doesn't truly know Christ. Those who only know about Jesus intellectually but haven't encountered him personally still live in this state.

The Family of God: Through Christ's blood, those who were far off have been brought near. Believers are no longer strangers and sojourners but "fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." Paul emphasizes that all fatherhood and family comes from God the Father, and through Christ we become his children with access to cry "Abba, Father" through the Holy Spirit.

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The last word in podcasting news. Every Friday, James Cridland and Sam Sethi review the week's top stories from Podnews; and interview some of the biggest names making the news.&nbsp; Support the show at https://weekly.podnews.net - or hit the boost button! Sponsored by Buzzsprout: start podcasting - keep podcasting!

Better podcast analytics with PodAnalyst, plus TikTok doesn't launch a podcast

Podnews Weekly Review

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Goalhanger's Success Formula: The Rest Is History won Apple Podcasts' Show of the Year, marking the first time a non-US show received this accolade. Financial filings reveal Goalhanger tripled their investments to £4.6 million, now employs over 50 people, and has 200,000 paid subscribers generating 70 million streams monthly. Their secret sauce includes strong cross-promotion between shows, consistent formatting across "The Rest Is..." brand family, and strategic talent selection. They're expanding with Netflix deals and a festival planned for September.

Podcast Hall of Fame Inductees: The 2026 Podcast Hall of Fame class includes Dan Carlin, Pat Flynn, Mark Asquith, Arielle Nissenblatt, Sarah van Mosel, Kerry Hoffman, Veronica Belmont, and James Cridlan. The ceremony takes place at Podfest on January 16th, with Mark Asquith and James Cridlan representing the first British inductees.

The Shift to Listener-Based Metrics: George Ledge's Pod Analyst platform unifies analytics from Apple, Spotify, and YouTube, focusing on unique listeners and retention curves rather than downloads. The tool is free for podcasts under 1,000 listeners and $49/month for larger shows. This reflects an industry-wide movement away from download-first culture toward actual consumption data, with companies like Bumper and Listener.com pushing similar approaches.

Video Hosting and Playback Defaults: Fountain launched video hosting using alternate enclosures, making smart playback decisions based on device type—video defaults on desktop, audio on mobile. TrueFans is implementing similar functionality. The approach recognizes that use cases differ by platform, though there's ongoing debate about whether this contradicts RSS specification defaults.

The "Podcast" Definition Problem: TikTok announced a "live podcast series" with Demi Lovato that isn't actually available as a podcast in RSS feeds or podcast apps. This appropriation of the term "podcast" for platform-exclusive content threatens to dilute advertising revenue reporting and confuse the market, since money spent on these shows won't be counted as podcast advertising dollars.

Live Streaming Expansion: Substack added desktop live streaming, joining YouTube and others in making live content more accessible to creators. Both Fountain and TrueFans are working on live streaming capabilities alongside their audio and video hosting. The lit tag for live content remains underused in podcasting despite growing platform support.

Retention and Creator Behavior: Sounds Profitable's Creators 2025 report revealed that 35% of creators make video-only shows, 36% work across both formats, and 29% focus on audio only. Crucially, creators who primarily consume audio but try to create video are more likely to quit, suggesting creators should stick to formats they actually use themselves.

AI Slop and Data Integrity: John Spurlock's Livewire began filtering out auto-generated shows like those from Inception Point AI to avoid skewing analytics. These text-to-speech shows are gaming SEO to appear high in search results for popular names, sometimes ranking above legitimate shows. The debate continues over whether these should be counted as part of the industry or filtered out entirely.

Golden Globes Add Podcast Category: The 83rd Golden Globes added a best podcast award for the first time, nominating Armchair Expert, Call Her Daddy, Good Hang, Smartless, The Mel Robbins Podcast, and Up First. Notably absent were political shows like Ben Shapiro, Joe Rogan, and Tucker Carlson, suggesting the judges played it safe for the inaugural year. NPR's Up First appeared without network branding on the Golden Globes website.

Pricing and Platform Changes: Libsyn announced price increases of approximately $5 per tier for both new and existing customers starting January 1st, a risky move given their declining market share. Meanwhile, Podium Page, an AI transcription and show notes service, abruptly closed. Cloudflare experienced another outage affecting Buzzsprout and other services for 25 minutes.

New Analytics Platform Features: Pod Analyst plans to add data sharing capabilities in 2026, allowing podcasters to selectively share metrics with advertisers without sending multiple platform invitations. The platform emphasizes visual presentation of retention data and outlier detection to help creators understand what content works, though it deliberately avoids AI-driven recommendations in favor of human analysis.

Australia's Social Media Ban Controversy: Australia implemented a social media ban for users under 16, including YouTube despite it not being primarily a social media platform. The ban prevents signing in rather than blocking access entirely, meaning minors will see unfiltered ads for gambling and alcohol without parental controls. The legislation is viewed as heavily influenced by legacy media interests, particularly Rupert Murdoch's news empire.
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