From the open to the close, “Closing Bell” and “Closing Bell: Overtime” have you covered. From what’s driving market moves to how investors are reacting, Scott Wapner, Morgan Brennan and Jon Fortt guide listeners through each trading session and bring to you some of the biggest names in business.

Closing Bell Overtime: 11/24/25

Closing Bell

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Market Rebounds with Tech Leading the Charge: The major averages closed higher, with the Nasdaq up nearly 3%, posting its best day since May. Big tech stocks led the rally with the Magnificent Seven adding about $593 billion in market cap. This bounce was driven by dovish comments from Fed officials, increasing expectations for a December rate cut to around 70-80%, up from 33% on Friday.

AI Developments Boosting Tech Stocks: Alphabet soared 6% to an all-time high following positive reception of its new Gemini 3 AI model. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff praised Gemini 3, saying he won't be going back to ChatGPT. Tesla also jumped 7% after Elon Musk announced the company has designed millions of AI chips for its cars and data centers.

Trump's Executive Order on AI: President Trump is signing an executive order on AI described as similar to a "Manhattan Project," encouraging federal laboratories, public-private partnerships, and various components to boost AI dominance in the US. A debate continues about whether AI regulation should occur at the federal or state level.

Bitcoin Recovers Amid Ongoing Volatility: After losing roughly a fifth of its value this month, Bitcoin rebounded alongside the broader market. Despite the recovery, analysts note concerning signs including rotation into "digital asset safe havens" with stablecoins now making up 9% of crypto's total market cap - a two-year high and a classic bear market signal.

Retail Outlook for Holiday Season: As Black Friday approaches, experts suggest TJX (owner of TJ Maxx, Marshalls) could be the "poster child" for this holiday season due to its value offerings and ability to weather consumer spending volatility. The retail expert indicated that most retailers will likely maintain normal discounting levels despite temptations to increase promotions to drive traffic.

Tesla Facing Challenges in China: Tesla's sales in China plunged to a three-year low with only about 26,000 units sold in October. Chinese competitors like smartphone maker Xiaomi and Leap Motor are gaining market share with more affordable options, while Huawei's partnerships with traditional automakers are also creating strong Tesla competitors in the premium segment.

Healthcare Sector Outperforming in November: Healthcare has become the market's top-performing sector this month, up about 7%. Companies like Bristol-Myers, Merck and others are catching up after lagging, with some analysts suggesting they offer better value compared to premium-priced leaders like Eli Lilly.
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The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

It's a Numbers Game: The Numbers Behind Trump’s Immigration Crackdown with Rep. Brandon Gill

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

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- Trump's Immigration Policy Results vs. Rhetoric: Despite some mixed messaging in recent interviews, President Trump's administration has significantly reduced foreign student visas (17% drop in new applications) and tightened H-1B visa regulations, including a proposed $100,000 application fee and stricter wage requirements to protect American workers.

- Deportation Success: The Trump administration has deported approximately 400,000 illegal immigrants as of September 2024, making it the most successful administration for interior enforcement deportations. This aggressive approach is also working as a deterrent—the percentage of illegal immigrants who would choose to come to the US again has dropped from 72% to 56%.

- Representative Brandon Gill's Legislative Agenda: Congressman Gill is pushing legislation to codify Trump's "Remain in Mexico" policy and expand categories for expedited deportation of criminal aliens, particularly those convicted of sexual crimes and offenses against vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.

- Border Security Funding: The House passed significant funding (approximately $200 billion) for border security measures including wall completion, river barriers, and resources for 10,000 new ICE agents to support mass deportations over the next couple of years.

- Immigration's Broader Impact: Both the host and Congressman Gill emphasized that immigration affects multiple aspects of American life beyond just economics—including housing affordability, healthcare access, education quality, and social cohesion. Gill cited an estimated $180 billion annual cost of illegal immigration across federal, state, and local levels.

- Cultural Assimilation Concerns: The conversation highlighted concerns about declining cultural assimilation among immigrants, with Gill noting that before the 1960s, immigration policy considered factors like whether immigrants would become public charges and their likelihood of assimilation.

- Voter ID Support: According to Gallup polling cited in the podcast, 84% of Americans support voter ID requirements and 83% support proof of citizenship to vote, with strong support across partisan lines (98% of Republicans, 84% of independents, and 67% of Democrats supporting voter ID).
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Join Puck’s chief political columnist, MSNBC/NBC News national affairs analyst, and best-selling author John Heilemann as he roams the corridors of power and influence in America on this twice-weekly interview show, taking you behind the scenes and beyond the headlines with the people who shape and shift our culture: icons and up-and-comers, incumbents and insurgents, moguls and machers in the overlapping worlds of politics, entertainment, tech, business, sports, media, and beyond. The conversations are rich and revealing, unrehearsed and unexpected … and reliably impolitic. A Puck-Audacy joint, new episodes drop every Wednesday and Friday.

Stuart Stevens: Trumpism’s Pickett’s Charge & 2028’s Yawning Chasm

 Impolitic with John Heilemann

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• Trump as a Lame Duck President: Stuart Stevens argues that Trump became a lame duck on election night (November 4th), as his coalition is cracking and Republicans are beginning to recognize his political weakness. The illusion that 2024 was a realignment election is fading as Trump's Project 2025 proves politically toxic, causing panic among some Republicans about what they've done.

• Republican Party's Compliance Problem: Stevens believes the Republican Party systematically rewarded compliance and weakness over decades, producing leaders like Marco Rubio, Lindsey Graham, and Ted Cruz who won't stand up to Trump. He contrasts this with the Democratic Party, which would have rejected a candidate like Trump who violated democratic norms.

• The Military and Constitutional Crisis Ahead: A looming conflict exists between Trump's desire to use the military against American citizens and constitutional limitations. Stevens points to Trump's call for Democrats to face punishment for treason after they reminded military members about not following unlawful orders, and worries about Trump's plan to invoke the Insurrection Act.

• Foreign Policy Dangers: Stevens identifies Ukraine as his biggest international concern, noting that the United States is now effectively on Russia's side under Trump. He calls this "extraordinary" and argues that a Ukrainian defeat would allow Russia to eventually move into Poland, fundamentally threatening European security.

• Republican Compromise by Russia: One of the "underreported stories of our time," according to Stevens, is Russia's compromise of the Republican Party through Trump. He compares this to "Churchill's party becoming pro-Nazi" and finds it deeply troubling how Republican leaders like Marco Rubio have abandoned their previous positions to accommodate Trump's pro-Russian stance.

• The 2028 Presidential Race: Stevens predicts J.D. Vance will be the Republican nominee unless "something extraordinary happens," noting that incumbent vice presidents historically win their party's nomination. He also sees Tucker Carlson as a potential candidate because "Tucker will go out and say anything."

• J.D. Vance's Problematic Character: Stevens describes Vance as "a very disturbed individual who has no sense of self," pointing to his multiple reinventions and the contradiction of attacking immigrants while having a wife from an immigrant background. He attributes Vance's political rise primarily to Peter Thiel's $16 million investment in his Senate campaign.

• Strong Democratic Bench for 2028: Stevens sees significant Democratic talent for 2028, highlighting governors like Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania), Gavin Newsom (California), and J.B. Pritzker (Illinois). He believes Democrats are likely to win in 2028 given demographic trends working against Republicans.

• Trump Family Political Future: Stevens believes Ivanka Trump would win the Republican nomination if she ran, though he doubts she will due to "the deep criminality of her husband." He dismisses Don Jr.'s chances, suggesting he has "deep personal problems" that would make a run impossible.

• The Collapse of American Institutions: Beyond just the Republican Party, Stevens cites Jonathan Last's observation that we're witnessing the collapse of power structures across legal, academic, and business sectors. He warns that "if you're not actively anti-authoritarian, you're complicit" in the threat to democracy.
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Motley Fool Money is a daily podcast for stock investors. 
Weekday episodes offer a long-term perspective on business news with The Motley Fool's investment analysts. Weekend shows are a mix of investing classes and longer-form interviews.
The show is hosted by Dylan Lewis, Ricky Mulvey, and Mary Long.

Reckless Earnings Predictions: ZM, BBY, DE

Motley Fool Money

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Reckless Earnings Predictions Game: The hosts played a prediction game for three companies reporting earnings this week: Zoom Communications (ZM), Best Buy (BBY), and Deere & Company (DE), forecasting whether each would miss, beat, or "beat and raise" their earnings expectations.

Zoom Communications Outlook: For Zoom, Rick predicted a "beat and raise" while Dave predicted a "beat." Both acknowledged Zoom's consistent pattern of beating estimates, with Rick noting it's in its fourth consecutive year of single-digit revenue growth. The hosts discussed Zoom's enterprise business as the profitable segment versus the consumer side which drags on margins.

Best Buy Divided Opinions: Rick predicted a "miss" for Best Buy citing concerns about big-ticket purchases, a slow housing market affecting appliance sales, and mixed retail sector performance. Dave countered with a "beat" prediction, believing Best Buy's management is skilled at setting achievable targets and that their customer base hasn't yet felt the full economic pressure.

Negative Outlook for Deere & Company: Both hosts surprisingly predicted a "miss" for Deere. Dave cited struggling farmers being less likely to invest in new equipment, while Rick noted recent analyst downgrades as concerning. The hosts discussed how inventory problems and a backlog of unsold used equipment could prevent new equipment from reaching dealer lots.

Faker or Breaker: Turnaround Edition: The hosts assessed whether three struggling companies had potential to break through their challenges. All three companies were deemed "fakers" - unlikely to achieve meaningful turnarounds.

C3.AI's Struggles: Dave labeled C3.AI a "faker," noting that despite being well-positioned in the AI space, the company hasn't captured market demand and is facing sales declines, with a new CEO and reorganization efforts not viewed as sufficient to turn things around.

The Honest Company's Limited Growth: Rick categorized The Honest Company as a "faker," explaining that despite good products and eco-friendly positioning, it has experienced five years of single-digit revenue growth and struggles to stand out in the consumer products space, even with Jessica Alba's involvement.

Yelp's Long-Term Challenges: Both hosts deemed Yelp a "faker," with Dave noting insufficient switching costs to retain users against substitute products, and Rick highlighting Yelp's decelerating growth over the past decade and increasing competition from other review platforms and AI-powered search engines.
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It’s your favorite former truck driver, Bitcoin Ben.

I’m a cryptocurrency enthusiast. I’m also just an average guy who wants to help bring cryptocurrency into the mainstream. The adoption of cryptocurrency is key to our future. I’m excited to be part of this Revolution.

I love my family, wife and three kids. I love you guys, my followers, my fellow cryptocurrency enthusiasts.

And don’t forget to kick ass! Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bitcoin-ben/support" rel="payment">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bitcoin-ben/support</a>

JP MORGAN IS IN TROUBLE! BITCOIN IS TAKING OUT THE OLD SYSTEM!

BITCOIN BEN

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- The War Against the Old Financial System: Bitcoin is at war with the traditional financial system. JP Morgan and other banks are fighting back because they recognize that Bitcoin threatens their control. JP Morgan has shorted MicroStrategy stock in an attempt to shift momentum against Bitcoin.

- The Unsustainable Federal Government Debt: The U.S. federal government refinances approximately $500 billion per week, essentially getting a new "credit card" each week to pay off the old one. This system is ultimately unsustainable and resembles a race where all traditional financial horses have broken legs, while Bitcoin is the younger, more agile competitor.

- The Federal Reserve's Manipulation: Unlike Bitcoin, which follows immutable code, the Federal Reserve constantly adjusts its "code" (interest rates) to prevent system collapse. This manipulation started in 1913 when they began setting interest rates, fundamentally corrupting the market by design.

- Bitcoin's Protocol Resilience: Bitcoin's strength is its immutable consensus protocol. Even if entities like JP Morgan could influence price temporarily, they cannot corrupt the protocol itself. The decentralized nature of Bitcoin acts as an immune system against attacks, including theoretical quantum computing threats.

- Centralization vs. Decentralization: The speaker draws an analogy to Tesla's AC vs. Westinghouse's DC electricity systems. The traditional banks (like Westinghouse) want centralized control, while Bitcoin (like Tesla's AC) enables decentralization and broader participation. JP Morgan represents the centralizing force while Bitcoin represents the decentralizing force.

- Government Inefficiency and Inflation: Government employees and regulatory systems are described as "leeches on productivity" that create inflation by injecting money into the economy without producing anything of value. The speaker argues that regulation destroys society by having government choose market direction instead of free markets.

- Building New Systems: The speaker is working to establish alternative systems including a credit union, a resort in El Salvador, and various clubs to help people transition away from the traditional financial system. The goal is to create practical pathways for people to adopt Bitcoin and gain financial independence.

- Long-term Perspective on System Change: While hoping for Bitcoin's success, the speaker advocates for a gradual transition rather than immediate collapse, comparing it to the American pilgrims leaving England. A too-rapid increase in Bitcoin's price (to $500,000 in three months) would mean the old system "sunk" rather than gradually sinking, leaving people unprepared.

- Financial Privacy and Freedom: The speaker emphasizes that their membership club offers Bitcoin purchases without KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements, prioritizing "freedom, independence and privacy." They offer various services including loans for Bitcoin purchases and ways to convert home equity into Bitcoin.
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Software's best weekly news brief, deep technical interviews & talk show.

What is a tech bubble anyway? (News)

The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source

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- Gen Z Password Vulnerabilities: Gen Z's most commonly leaked password is "12345," compared to "123456" for older generations, showing that all generations struggle with password security.

- AI Bubble Analysis: Cedric Chin argues that comparisons between the current AI situation and previous bubbles (dot-com, 2008) are limiting. Key differences include that today's hottest AI companies are private rather than public, making them inaccessible to retail investors unlike during the dot-com era.

- Cloudflare Outage Details: CEO Matthew Prince published a transparent post-mortem about their recent outage that disrupted much of the internet. The root cause was a single line of Rust code using the "unwrap" method—considered one of Rust's few dangerous operations—while coincidental issues with their status page initially made them suspect a coordinated attack.

- High-Performance Log Viewer: "hl" is a new log viewer that converts JSON and logfmt logs into human-readable format with impressive speed. In benchmarks, it opened a 6-million line log file in about 1.3 seconds, significantly outperforming alternatives.

- Continuum93 Fantasy Computer: An open-source project that emulates a "classic retro computer that never existed," designed for retro games programming in assembly code. It runs on multiple platforms including Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, and Steam Deck.

- "Doing the Thing" Reminder: A philosophical reminder that making to-do lists, talking about plans, or fantasizing about success aren't substitutes for actually doing the work itself.

- Changelog News Classifieds: A new segment featuring brief mentions of startups, projects and tools, including Shareable Claude Code sessions, StyleFrame for CSS, Storywise for AI requirements, and Excalibur for TypeScript game development.
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Dana Perino cuts through the spin, talking to some of the most knowledgeable voices inside and outside of the Beltway Each week, Dana speaks with columnists, advisors, pollsters, and political strategists to discuss the latest headlines out of the political world. As Dana’s politically savvy and informed guests prepare her, and you, for the week ahead in the news. New episodes are available every Monday.

Republican Majority At Risk?

Perino on Politics

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- Marjorie Taylor Greene's Early Resignation: Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's decision to resign from her House position on January 5th tightens the already narrow Republican majority. Trey Gowdy criticized this move, expressing that elected officials should honor their commitments and serve out their full terms, especially given the slim Republican majority and the upcoming special election that will need to be held.

- Greene vs. Trump: A Political Fallout: Greene's recent shift toward more populist, left-leaning talking points has earned her new respect from mainstream media but alienated her from Trump. After Trump revoked his endorsement, Greene opted not to seek reelection. Gowdy suggests this reveals the limits of her political power compared to Trump's continued influence in Republican primaries.

- The Epstein Files Controversy: Gowdy criticized the hypocrisy of some Republican lawmakers, including Greene, who advocated for releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files but previously supported Matt Gaetz, who faced similar allegations. He emphasized that prosecution through indictments, not file releases, is the proper way to hold people accountable for crimes.

- Ukraine-Russia Peace Negotiations: The conversation touched on the complex situation surrounding a reported 28-point peace plan between Ukraine and Russia. Gowdy noted confusion around the plan, with conflicting messages from the State Department and White House. He observed that Ukraine has fought to essentially a draw, and some territorial concessions may be necessary for peace.

- Republican Foreign Policy Divide: A significant schism exists in the Republican Party between the more interventionist traditional foreign policy approach (represented by Marco Rubio) and the more isolationist "America First" position (represented by J.D. Vance). Gowdy expressed concern that this division, along with other issues like flirtation with white nationalism, could damage the party in the short term.

- DOJ Cases and Political Accountability: Gowdy is closely watching DOJ cases, particularly potential indictments involving former FBI Director James Comey. He expressed frustration that Comey might escape accountability for treating Trump differently than Obama, but emphasized the importance of getting indictments right rather than rushing them.

- Social Media and Political Extremism: Gowdy expressed concern about the platforming of extremists on podcasts and social media, including white supremacists who aren't properly challenged. He and Ham discussed how the attention economy of social media can lead content creators down increasingly transgressive paths for clicks and views, sometimes catering to inauthentic audiences.
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The Israel Daily News Podcast is an energetic roundup of the top 5 news stories coming out of Israel. Each story is delivered by renowned Journalist Shanna Fuld, who makes the news easy to understand and fun to listen to. Shows end with a song from an up-and-coming Israeli artist. On Thursdays, there's an added exclusive report. Plus! You might even have a laugh at some of her quips from the streets of Tel Aviv.
The Israel Daily News Podcast is an independently run, non-affiliated show.

Israel Eliminates Hezbollah’s No. 2 in Beirut Strike; Israel Daily News Mon. Nov 24, 2025

Israel Daily News Podcast 

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• Hezbollah's Second-in-Command Eliminated in Beirut Strike: Israel Defense Forces carried out a significant airstrike that killed Hezbollah's second-in-command and military commander, Haitham Ali Tabtabi, in Beirut. This marks the first major operation since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire of November 2024. Despite the elimination of most of Hezbollah's leadership during the 2023-2024 war, Israel remains concerned about potential rocket attacks as the terror group still possesses thousands of rockets and mortars.

• IDF Leadership Shake-up Over October 7 Failures: IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir dismissed several key officers and put others on leave based on findings from an external inquiry that determined the IDF's own investigations into the October 7 failures were inadequate. This has sparked conflict with Defense Minister Israel Katz, who has frozen senior appointments pending further review.

• Public Demand for Independent Inquiry Commission: Thousands gathered at Tel Aviv's Habima Square to demand an independent state commission to investigate the government's handling of the October 7 Hamas attacks. Protesters, including families of victims, argued that those responsible for the failures should not be investigating themselves and urged potential witnesses to boycott any government-run committee.

• Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Ends Operations: The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has ended its five-month operation in Gaza. The organization was created to deliver aid through militarized hubs controlled by the IDF to prevent Hamas from seizing supplies. Despite delivering over 187 million meals, the operation faced controversy due to deadly incidents at distribution points, with disputed casualty figures between UN officials and the IDF.

• Former Hostage Reveals Sexual Assault During Captivity: Guy Gilboa Dalal revealed in a televised interview that he was sexually assaulted twice at gunpoint by a Hamas captor during his more than two years in captivity. He described living in constant fear, suffering severe physical abuse, humiliation, and deliberate starvation. He credited his survival to mental resilience and emotional support from fellow captive Eviatar David.

• Charges Filed in Settler Violence Case: Israeli prosecutors are charging a teenage suspect involved in a settler-led arson attack that damaged Palestinian factories and farmland near Beit Leading and Der Sharaf. This comes amid a sharp rise in settler violence, with more than 750 nationalist incidents recorded alongside decreased enforcement. In response, Israeli security forces have launched a joint task force with expanded military presence and tougher penalties.

• Former Hostage Gaining Political Support: A Channel 12 poll shows growing public backing for former hostage Elisha Rabi to join the Knesset, with 76% of center-left voters calling for new blood in politics. Rabi survived 491 days in Hamas captivity and has become a leading advocate for the return of remaining hostages, speaking to world leaders and the UN Security Council.
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Designed from the ground up as a no nonsense approach to teacher development, this podcast is your gateway to bettering your craft (and having some laughs along the way).

It is a show for you. To help you better your craft, learn new skills, and get ideas to fuel your own.

It is a show for anyone in the field of education, and has featured teachers and administrators from all over to offer their unique perspectives on some of the most relevant and hottest topics in public schools.

Teach Me, Teacher has won several "best of" awards and has featured some of the top minds in education to date.

180 Days with Penny Kittle — Greatest Hits

Teach Me, Teacher

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- Beliefs That Drive Teaching Practices: Penny Kittle explains that all teachers already operate from a belief system that shapes their classroom. While you don't need to explicitly outline your beliefs before every lesson, it's important to recognize how they influence your teaching. The key question is whether your classroom practices genuinely reflect your stated beliefs - are you "walking the talk" of what you claim to value?

- The False Dichotomy Between Reading Enjoyment and Literacy Skills: Kittle challenges the administrative view that creating a love of reading is secondary to preparing students for the world. She argues this perspective shows ignorance of reading research, as engagement is essential for developing critical reading skills. Without deep engagement, students can't become the critical thinkers that administrators claim to value.

- Essential Literacy Practices: Kittle emphasizes reading, writing, and speaking as core elements of literacy instruction. Students need volume of practice to improve - just as athletes practice to improve at sports. She argues it's absurd to claim there's no time for reading practice while expecting students to become better readers.

- Making Time for Reading: When teachers claim they "don't have time" for independent reading, Kittle points out they're actually prioritizing something else. The nationwide evidence shows poor reading growth, suggesting current approaches aren't working. She recommends dedicating consistent class time for reading (such as 15 minutes daily) and conferring with students during this time rather than grading papers or checking email.

- Authentic Reading Tasks vs. Busywork: Rather than pairing every reading with comprehension questions, Kittle recommends authentic reflection tasks like having students categorize their quarterly reading by difficulty level, analyze their reading choices, or write about the impact of a particular author. This preserves reading as a pleasurable experience rather than making it feel like work.

- The Transformative Power of Modeling: Kittle emphasizes that teachers should model writing for students but not read during independent reading time (when they should be conferring). By writing alongside students and thinking aloud through revisions, teachers make the invisible processes of writing visible. This modeling was "the most transformative practice" in her classroom.
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Introducing Rick Yee, author of the groundbreaking book "Everything is a Choice" - where he teaches that even the most complex decisions can be broken down into simple choices.Rick's unique approach is all about training your brain and raising your awareness. Creating the truly authentic, high-value person you were always meant to be. He's helped countless individuals make life-changing decisions and take control of their lives. Don't settle for less than you deserve, start making choices that empower you with Rick Yee's guidance! This is the way, the warrior's way!

169. We Got Married! You Won't Believe What Happened Next...

The Battlefield Of The Mind 

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The Power of Male and Female Complementarity: Rick discusses how men and women have different strengths that complement each other. Men tend to be more logical and action-oriented (like a vehicle), while women are more connection-oriented and provide inspiration (like fuel). Both elements are essential, as neither can function without the other. This complementarity is designed to unlock the potential in each other.

From "Just a Mile" to True Purpose: Rick and Andrea share their journey from running a simple fitness movement called "Just a Mile" where they encouraged people to walk in circles, to discovering their deeper purpose. They reflect on how they were missing spiritual elements in their earlier work despite having followers, comparing it to "driving in circles without a GPS."

The Transformative Power of Spiritual Marriage: Rick and Andrea describe profound changes that occurred after their wedding ceremony before God, family, and friends. Despite already wearing rings and being committed to each other, they experienced a significant spiritual transformation that changed "everything" within two weeks of their marriage.

Andrea's Spiritual Awakening: Andrea shares a powerful spiritual experience she had during their honeymoon in Lake Geneva, where she physically felt God's presence for the first time. This experience led to her baptism by Rick and a profound clarity about her life purpose: to help bring men to Rick's program, and to develop a program for women.

Discovering True Purpose at 45: Andrea describes finding her true purpose at age 45, realizing that true purpose is never self-serving but about helping others. She talks about shifting from working out of pressure (as an Enneagram Type 3) to working with passion, and how this realization has removed her fear and given her confidence.

The Impact on Their Community: They discuss how their wedding created a powerful energy that affected everyone present. Guests reported feeling safe, inspired to be better partners, and experiencing positive changes in their own lives. Their social media engagement increased dramatically without posting new content.

Invitation to Authentic Spiritual Connection: Rick emphasizes that their message isn't about religion but about authentic spiritual connection. He critiques religious leaders who aren't walking their talk, and encourages couples to consider renewing their vows before God if they haven't done so, suggesting this spiritual element might be the missing piece in many relationships.
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A safe space to discuss and discover the darker side of the Human Condition, as hosts Jordi and Brad dive into a different LGBTQIA+ related True Crime case each week.

160. Sakia Gunn Killed At 15 Years Old For Saying She Was A Lesbian

Beers with Queers: A True Crime Podcast

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- A Fifteen-Year-Old's Tragic Death: In 2003, Sakia Gunn, an openly lesbian 15-year-old from Newark, New Jersey, was stabbed to death while waiting for a bus with her friends after a night in Greenwich Village. Richard McCullough, a 29-year-old man, approached the group of teenage girls, and when they rejected his advances by stating they were lesbians, the situation escalated into violence.

- Life and Context: Born in 1987, Sakia was raised by her mother and grandmother in Newark's Valisburg neighborhood. Despite the economic hardships and high crime rates of the area, she was an A student who excelled academically, loved basketball, and was known as confident, outspoken, and someone who looked out for others.

- The Night of the Murder: On May 11, 2003, around 3:30 AM, Sakia and her friends were waiting for a bus after spending time in Greenwich Village. When McCullough and another man approached them with unwanted attention, the girls stated they weren't interested because they were lesbians. McCullough exited the car, and during the confrontation, Sakia defended her friend. McCullough stabbed her in the chest, then fled the scene. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Sakia died shortly after arrival.

- Legal Aftermath: McCullough turned himself in days later, claiming self-defense. After nearly two years of legal proceedings, he pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault, and bias intimidation. He received a 20-year sentence and was released in May 2020 after serving 17 years.

- Media Coverage Disparity: Advocates noted that Sakia's murder received significantly less media coverage than similar crimes against white victims like Matthew Shepard. This disparity highlighted how media attention shapes public awareness and policy urgency, often neglecting stories of non-white minorities.

- Community Response and Legacy: Sakia's death catalyzed significant activism in Newark. It led to the formation of the Newark Pride Alliance, increased safety measures in transportation hubs, and eventually the creation of the Newark LGBTQ Community Center. In 2023, the city formally dedicated a portion of a street as "Sakia Gunn Way."

- Ongoing Dangers for LGBTQ+ Youth: The case exposed the vulnerability of queer youth, particularly those of color, when navigating public spaces. Even today, many LGBTQ+ individuals feel the need to conceal their identity in certain settings out of fear for their safety, highlighting the continued relevance of Sakia's story in the ongoing struggle for acceptance and safety.
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Join Barron’s for an exclusive live conversation with journalists and guests. Our editors and reporters will examine the pandemic and its impact on markets, the economy, companies and individuals. Topics include Managing Your Money, The Future of Health Care, What to Watch in the Markets, Tech Stocks, and more.

A Market Technician Sizes Up Stocks and More

Barron's Live

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Market Outlook Shows Resilience Despite Recent Volatility: While technical analyst Andy Addison remains cautious in the near term due to recent market sloppiness, his work points to the broader market beginning to strengthen. He maintains a year-end S&P 500 target of 7,000-7,200 and expects new highs before any significant pullback, likely driven by anticipated Fed rate cuts in December.

Shift from Mega-Cap Tech to Broader Market Leadership: The S&P 500 is bumping into a ceiling versus broader market indices, suggesting the "Mag 7" stocks may soon "take a seat at the back of the bus" while value stocks begin to outperform. This would represent a significant market rotation after years of tech dominance.

Biotech Shows Promising Technical Patterns: The equal-weighted biotech index has broken out of a four-year base and is moving up strongly. Addison expects biotech to be one of the leading sectors in 2026, driven by venture capital inflows and increased M&A activity, providing higher beta opportunities for investors as mega-cap tech potentially lags.

Nvidia Consolidating Before Next Leg Higher: Nvidia's recent 15% pullback looks minor in context of its long-term chart, which shows a pattern of extended consolidations followed by powerful breakouts. Addison doesn't see much downside below the current $175 support area and expects it to reach new highs around $230 after consolidation.

Silver Poised for Extraordinary Upside: While gold remains in a secular bull market that began in March 2023, Addison is exceptionally bullish on silver, which shows a 45-year rounding base. Once silver breaks above $55, he projects it could double to $100 within 18 months. He recommends SLV ETF, silver mining ETFs (SIL, SILJ), or individual miners like Hecla Mining.

Gap Inc. Shows Technical Transformation: Gap displays one of the most promising technical patterns in retail, breaking out of a 26-year base between roughly $6-30. Unlike previous patterns where it would round-trip from top to bottom, Gap has found support in the upper quadrant of its base and broken a downtrend. Addison projects a breakout above $30 next year could lead to advances into the mid-$40s.

International Markets Setting Up for 2026 Outperformance: The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is in the late stages of forming a gigantic base going back to 2008. While not quite ready yet, Addison believes emerging markets will begin outperforming the U.S. market starting next spring, potentially triggered by a pullback in the dollar.
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A Daily Bitcoin Show that keeps you up-to-date with the peaceful Bitcoin revolution.

JP Morgans ATTACK on Bitcoin JUST GOT WORSE!! | EP 1383

Simply Bitcoin

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JP Morgan's Attack on Bitcoin and Microstrategy: JP Morgan recently issued a note suggesting Microstrategy could be removed from major indices like MSCI USA and NASDAQ 100 due to its Bitcoin holdings, potentially forcing billions in selling. This coincided with JP Morgan dumping 25% of their MSTR positions and Bitcoin's price decline, raising questions about potential price manipulation.

Michael Saylor's Response: Saylor defended Microstrategy, clarifying it's not a fund or passive holding company but "a Bitcoin-backed structured finance company" with a $500 million software business and a unique treasury strategy. He emphasized his unwavering conviction in Bitcoin and commitment to building "the world's first digital monetary institution."

The "Old Guard" vs. "New Guard" Theory: The hosts discuss a theory that there's an ongoing battle between the "old guard" (JP Morgan and traditional banking institutions) who want to maintain the status quo of central banking, and the "new guard" (Trump administration and Treasury) who are embracing Bitcoin and stablecoins. This conflict may explain Bitcoin's underwhelming price action in 2025.

JP Morgan's Banking Practices Scrutiny: The hosts highlight revelations that JP Morgan had been servicing Jeffrey Epstein despite red flags about suspicious transactions, and cite this as ironic hypocrisy given Jamie Dimon's criticism of Bitcoin as being used for illicit activities. They also discussed Jack Mallers (Bitcoin entrepreneur) having his JP Morgan account closed without explanation.

Operation Chokepoint 2.0: The debanking of Bitcoin entrepreneurs like Jack Mallers is characterized as a continuation of "Operation Chokepoint 2.0" - a systematic effort to suppress Bitcoin and crypto businesses through banking restrictions, despite the Trump administration's supposed efforts to end such practices.

Self-Custody as Resistance: The hosts emphasize that taking Bitcoin into self-custody represents true resistance against the banking system, arguing that Wall Street products that require giving up private keys are part of the problem. Simon Dixon is quoted as saying "bitcoin in self custody is the resistance."

Bitcoin as a Revolutionary Movement: The hosts frame Bitcoin as a non-violent revolution for people to reclaim financial sovereignty from central banks and their allied financial institutions, suggesting the events exposed the true revolutionary nature of Bitcoin that may have been forgotten during the focus on Wall Street products and ETFs.

Political Implications and the Future: The hosts discuss how the central banking system may operate independently of democratic processes, questioning what happens after Trump leaves office and who will continue promoting Bitcoin-friendly policies. They suggest Bitcoin transcends traditional political divisions and could unite people across the political spectrum.

Oligarchic Control of the Financial System: The hosts argue the current system resembles an oligarchy where financial elites maintain control through central banking, and Bitcoin represents a way to break this concentrated power without resorting to coercive wealth redistribution.

Call to Action for Bitcoiners: The hosts encourage viewers to continue accumulating and self-custodying Bitcoin regardless of market fluctuations, and to consider becoming more politically engaged to advance Bitcoin adoption at all levels of society.
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9to5Mac Daily is a recap podcast bringing you the latest in Apple news and the top 9to5Mac stories every Monday through Friday.

iOS 27 rumors, low-cost MacBook

9to5Mac Daily

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- New Low-Cost Apple Products in Q1 2026: Analyst Jeff Poo reports Apple will release three new budget-friendly products in mid-Q1 2026: the iPhone 17e, a low-cost MacBook, and an updated base model iPad. The MacBook is particularly notable, expected to use the A18 Pro chip from the iPhone 16 Pro, cost under $1000, have a smaller display than the MacBook Air, and potentially come in silver, blue, pink, and yellow.

- Tim Cook Succession Rumors Disputed: While the Financial Times recently reported that Tim Cook might step down as Apple CEO as early as spring 2026, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman counters this as "simply false." Gurman reports there are "few signs internally" of an imminent transition and emphasizes that Cook, who has been CEO since 2011, has earned the right to decide his own future at the company.

- iOS 27 to Focus on Performance Over Features: According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to prioritize software quality improvements with iOS 27 rather than introducing major new features. Engineering teams will focus on eliminating bugs, cutting bloat, and improving performance across all platforms including macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS, similar to the approach taken with macOS Snow Leopard in 2009.

- AI Features Still Coming to iOS 27: Despite the quality-focused approach, Apple will continue developing AI capabilities for iOS 27, including an AI platform for Apple Health (likely alongside an Apple Health+ subscription), new health insights and recommendations, and an AI-powered web search feature. Enterprise enhancements and Liquid Glass design tweaks are also expected.

- Timeline for Software Announcements: The iOS 27 and other software updates are expected to be announced at WWDC in June 2026, with public release likely following in September 2026.
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The Free Thought Project is an alternative media platform that has reached millions through the years with our articles and social media pages. We offer a perspective outside of the left right paradigm that values peace, freedom and truth.

Guest: Gareth Icke — Our Hill to Die On: Inside the Global Fight Against Digital ID

The Free Thought Project Podcast

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# Gareth Icke Interview Summary

Digital ID as the Foundation of Control: Keir Starmer's announcement of mandatory digital ID in the UK by 2029 represents more than just identification - it's the foundation for a comprehensive control system. Digital ID is the "base" that enables all other dystopian systems like social credit, carbon footprint monitoring, and restricted consumption. Tony Blair has wanted this system implemented since the 1990s.

Problem-Reaction-Solution: The UK government is using immigration, which Blair deliberately facilitated, as an excuse to implement digital ID. While claiming it's just to prevent illegal employment, parliamentary discussions already reveal plans to restrict purchases based on health metrics and other factors.

False Flag Concerns: Gareth warns that the UK has entered "false flag season," where the government may manufacture emergencies to pass digital ID as emergency legislation, similar to how the Coronavirus Act was rushed through without proper scrutiny. Recent terrorist incidents may be part of this strategy.

Physical Infrastructure Being Prepared: Automated checkout systems, doors on refrigerated supermarket sections, and cashless systems are being implemented across the UK to facilitate control. However, Amazon's cashless stores with facial recognition have closed due to public rejection.

Growing Resistance: Despite divisions caused by issues like October 7th, people in the UK are uniting against digital ID. The COVID era awakened many to government overreach, and this resistance is carrying forward.

Controlled Opposition: Figures like Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage position themselves as anti-establishment while actually serving elite interests. Robinson has largely ignored the digital ID issue despite his large following, even scheduling competing events to undermine digital ID protests.

The Digitization of Humanity: Beyond digital ID, we face a broader "digification" where human interactions are replaced by AI, biometrics, and synthetic food. Simply living as a human - using cash, connecting with nature, exercising independent thought - becomes an act of rebellion.

Political Vacuum: In the UK, trust in mainstream parties has collapsed, with record low voter turnout. This creates a dangerous vacuum that controlled opposition figures like Farage can exploit by telling people what they want to hear while ultimately serving the same agenda.

Censorship and Speech Policing: The UK arrests approximately 12,000 people annually for social media posts, creating a chilling effect on free expression. This censorship works alongside digital ID to discourage dissent.

Personal Sovereignty as the Solution: The most powerful form of resistance is becoming your authentic self rather than a diluted version seeking approval. Personal sovereignty inspires others and creates ripple effects of positive change. As Gareth states, "You're going to save you. So what version of you is going to save you? And the only version that's going to save you is the authentic one."

Growing Up as David Icke's Son: Experiencing public ridicule and media harassment in his childhood taught Gareth not to care what others think, preparing him to speak truth without fear of consequences. This "basic training" enabled him to maintain his principles during COVID and other challenging periods.

Technology as Tool, Not Master: While technology has benefits, it should serve individuals rather than control them. The growing trend of outsourcing thinking to AI (like asking Grok for answers) represents another dangerous surrender of autonomy.

Peaceful Mass Non-Compliance: The most effective resistance isn't violent rebellion (which authorities can crush) or apathy, but peaceful mass non-compliance that authorities have no clear strategy to defeat.
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James Delingpole interviews the world’s most fascinating people.

Donna Laframboise

The Delingpod: The James Delingpole Podcast

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The Canadian Freedom Convoy Protests: In January 2022, truck drivers organized a massive protest in Ottawa against COVID vaccine mandates, particularly one that would have required cross-border truckers to quarantine for two weeks upon re-entry to Canada. What began as one convoy from Vancouver grew into 13 convoys that converged on Ottawa, creating a three-week protest that became a symbol of resistance against pandemic restrictions.

The Media Narrative vs. Reality: Mainstream media portrayed the truckers as violent far-right extremists, but Donna LaFromboise's first-hand experience revealed something entirely different. She documented families with children, bouncy castles, people feeding the homeless, and a community atmosphere with hugs, food-sharing, and warmth. The stark contrast between media reporting and reality caused many Canadians to lose faith in mainstream journalism.

Government Overreach and Financial Warfare: The Canadian government invoked the Emergencies Act, which allowed them to freeze bank accounts of protesters and even those tangentially connected to them. Bank accounts belonging to elderly parents and teenage children of protesters were frozen without due process. GoFundMe shut down the truckers' fundraising campaign after it reached $10 million, effectively cutting off their financial support.

Community Support and Ingenuity: Despite government opposition, ordinary Canadians found creative ways to support the truckers. People smuggled fuel disguised in milk jugs, brought food, offered laundry services, and gave financial donations. Rural communities, including typically isolated Hutterite religious colonies, traveled hours to provide meals for the protesters, creating unexpected bonds across cultural divides.

The Spiritual Dimension: Many truckers were Christians whose faith gave them clarity to see through government propaganda. A downtown Ottawa church opened its doors as a warming station and support center during the protests, leading some non-believers to find faith after witnessing the community's generosity and love. LaFromboise herself began a spiritual journey after writing the book, starting to attend church after being previously hostile toward organized religion.

COVID Policies as Societal Trauma: The pandemic response in Canada was particularly harsh, with unvaccinated people unable to travel, enter restaurants, or visit loved ones in care facilities. Some lost their jobs and were even denied unemployment benefits. LaFromboise estimates about 80% of Canadians are in denial about the severity of rights violations during COVID, raising concerns that similar government overreach could happen again without resistance.

Documenting Ordinary Heroes: LaFromboise wrote her book to preserve the stories of regular people who participated in the protest. She interviewed truckers, supporters, and organizers to create a historical record that counters the official narrative. The book includes QR codes linking to photographs that provide additional evidence of the stories being told, capturing the human side of this historic protest movement.
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Each weekday, Dana Bash and a panel of well-sourced reporters bring you the most important political stories of the day. On the weekend, Manu Raju kicks off CNN's Sunday morning political programming with Inside Politics Sunday. Dana and Manu get answers from the people making headlines, explain the political stories that matter, and report on how the news will impact you.

Trump to Unveil Health Care Plan?

CNN Inside Politics

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Trump's Health Care Plan Proposal: President Trump is set to unveil a health care plan addressing the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies that would affect 22 million Americans. The proposal includes a temporary extension of subsidies with new income caps and requirements, elimination of zero-dollar premium plans, and potential health savings accounts for lower-tier plans. This comes after Democrats failed to secure subsidy extensions during the government shutdown fight.

Health Care Politics Favors Democrats: Polling shows Americans trust Democrats more on health care issues, with health care affordability being one of Trump's worst-performing policy areas. The political reality is pushing Republicans to address subsidies despite initial resistance, as premium spikes in January 2025 could damage their electoral prospects in 2026.

Russia-Ukraine Peace Negotiations: The Trump administration is pushing a 28-point peace plan for Ukraine that has generated controversy. Secretary of State Rubio claims the plan was authored by the US with input from Russia and Ukraine, though initial confusion arose when Senator Mike Rounds suggested it wasn't a US-developed plan. European leaders expressed concerns that the proposal appears to favor Russian interests.

Pentagon's Threat Against Senator Kelly: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to court-martial Democratic Senator Mark Kelly (a retired Navy captain) over a video where Kelly and other Democrats reminded military personnel they have a duty to disobey illegal orders. The Pentagon cited potential violations under the Uniform Code of Military Justice relating to encouraging insubordination.

Court Dismisses Cases Against Comey and James: A judge dismissed the Justice Department's cases against former FBI Director Jim Comey and Letitia James, ruling that interim US Attorney Lindsay Halligan lacked proper authority to bring the indictments. The court determined Halligan's appointment was invalid because she wasn't Senate-confirmed, citing the precedent from Judge Aileen Cannon's dismissal of the Mar-a-Lago documents case against Trump.

Marjorie Taylor Greene's Political Positioning: Despite insisting she's not running for president, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene released a lengthy statement criticizing aspects of Trump's policies, including on H1B visas, AI state regulations, and foreign entanglements. The unusual break from a previously staunch Trump supporter highlights potential fissures within the MAGA movement that could widen in the future.
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The Explaining History Podcast, created and hosted by Nick Shepley, offers a comprehensive exploration of 20th-century history through weekly episodes. For over a decade, this podcast has been providing students and history enthusiasts with in-depth analyses of key events, processes, and debates that shaped the modern world. The podcast covers a wide range of topics within 20th-century history, including: - Major historical events like World Wars I and II, The rise and fall of communism, fascism and imperialism- Political movements and ideologies- Economic developments and crises- Social and cultural changesEpisodes typically run for about 25 minutes, offering concise yet informative discussions on specific subjects. The podcast invites listeners to engage with complex historical topics in manageable segments, making it ideal for students and busy history enthusiasts. <h3>Expert Insights</h3> Nick frequently invites expert guests to contribute their knowledge and perspectives, enriching the podcast with diverse viewpoints and specialized expertise. This approach helps listeners understand the competing debates and interpretations surrounding historical events and processes. <h3>Educational Focus</h3> The podcast is particularly valuable for students, especially those studying A-level history. It offers targeted content aligned with specific curricula, such as the AQA syllabus for Russian history. This educational focus makes it an excellent supplementary resource for formal history studies. <h3>Chronological Approach</h3> While the podcast primarily focuses on the 20th century, it adopts a chronological approach to storytelling. This method allows listeners to follow the progression of events and understand how different historical moments are interconnected <h3>Engaging Presentation</h3> Nick's presentation style combines rigorous historical analysis with an engaging narrative approach. The podcast aims to not only inform but also captivate listeners, making complex historical topics accessible and interesting to a broad audience By offering this mix of comprehensive content, expert insights, and engaging presentation, the Explaining History Podcast serves as a valuable resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of 20th-century history. 
Become a member at <a target="_blank" rel="payment" href="https://plus.acast.com/s/explaininghistory">https://plus.acast.com/s/explaininghistory</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.

Explaining History: The End of the Western World Order?

Explaining History

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- Declining Western Power Projection: The ability of Western nations, particularly the United States, to project both hard and soft power globally is in rapid decline. This represents a fundamental shift from earlier eras when imperial powers like Britain could blockade entire nations to protect the interests of a single subject, as Lord Palmerston did in Greece in 1850.

- Singapore as a Turning Point: In 1994, Singapore demonstrated this shift by largely defying American pressure when it sentenced an American student to caning for vandalism. Despite President Clinton's personal intervention, the punishment was only reduced, not rescinded - signaling a new era where even small nations could resist American influence.

- Self-Inflicted Decline: The decline of Western influence stems largely from internal choices rather than external threats. Neoliberal policies including austerity measures, de-industrialization, and offshoring have essentially "de-developed" countries like Britain and the US, hollowing out their economic foundations and reducing their global influence.

- Military Hegemony Eroding: The US military, particularly its naval power, once guaranteed a Western-led globalization much as the British Royal Navy did before World War I. This hegemony is now faltering, with America no longer able to eclipse rivals like China in military technology and hardware, making conflicts that might have been conceivable a decade ago now unthinkable.

- Trump and the Acceleration of Decline: The Trump administration has accelerated America's declining soft power by abandoning liberal internationalism in favor of isolationism and nationalism. His approach, which plays well with his domestic base, has done "epic damage" to America's standing in the world.

- The End of Western Modernization Templates: Until the end of the Cold War, modernization was equated with Westernization almost everywhere. Countries like China, Turkey, Iran, and India once saw adopting Western models as necessary for development, but this paradigm has now collapsed as alternative development paths have emerged.

- No Return to Liberal Internationalism: The podcast argues that there will be no "liberal snap back" to the pre-Trump era of American-led liberal internationalism. The shift away from this model is likely permanent, creating a fundamentally different global order than what has existed since 1945.
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Short, thoughtful and regular takes on recent events in the markets from a variety of perspectives and voices within Morgan Stanley.

Bull Market Keeps an Eye on the Fed

Thoughts on the Market

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- Market Correction Dynamics: The market correction predicted in September is playing out as expected, with high momentum and low-quality stocks responding to tightening liquidity while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 reacted to hawkish Fed signals on rate cuts. While the S&P 500 is only down 5%, there's more significant damage beneath the surface with two-thirds of the largest 1000 stocks down over 10% and a quarter down more than 20%.

- Late Stage Correction Indicators: The weakness in market breadth suggests we're closer to the end of this correction than the beginning for the weaker market segments. Historically, market leaders ("the generals") tend to fall most significantly at the end of corrections, indicating a potential turning point.

- Labor Market Signals: Private labor data is showing weakness that suggests the Fed should be cutting rates more aggressively. The official government labor data that the Fed relies on is lagging behind these signals, with October jobs data canceled due to the shutdown and November data not available until mid-December.

- Liquidity Improvement Ahead: A meaningful decline in the Treasury's General Account is expected in the coming weeks as the government reopens, which should provide a boost to market liquidity coinciding with the Fed ending quantitative tightening. Low quality, profitless growth stocks would likely rally most if liquidity conditions improve.

- Bullish 12-Month Outlook: Despite near-term turbulence, Morgan Stanley maintains a bullish 12-month outlook for the S&P 500 and stocks more broadly. Their 2026 outlook contains several out-of-consensus views, including an early cycle narrative (versus the consensus late cycle view) and expectations for 17% earnings growth next year (versus consensus 14%).

- Portfolio Repositioning Opportunity: The current weakness presents an opportunity to reposition portfolios toward sectors and stocks that have lagged for several years but stand to benefit most from more aggressive Fed action. Specifically, small/mid-cap stocks and consumer discretionary goods have been upgraded to overweight recommendations.
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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>.

Prelude to An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

The Twilight Zone Podcast

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Introduction to "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge": This episode serves as a prelude to an upcoming Twilight Zone episode. Host Tom Elliot explains that "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is a unique episode in the series, as it's the most frequently adapted story in the entire Twilight Zone canon, appearing in radio, television, and film numerous times.

Vincent Price's Radio Performance: Rather than reading the original short story by Ambrose Bierce himself, Tom Elliot treats listeners to a classic radio adaptation from the show "Suspense" starring Vincent Price. This particular version is one of three distinct performances of the story that aired on "Suspense."

Plot of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge": The story follows Peyton Farquhar, an Alabama planter and Confederate sympathizer who is about to be hanged from Owl Creek Bridge by Union soldiers for attempted sabotage. As he drops, the rope breaks, and he escapes into the creek, beginning a desperate journey home.

The Union Trap: Through flashbacks, we learn that Farquhar was lured into a trap by a disguised Union intelligence officer posing as a Confederate soldier. The officer had visited Farquhar's plantation and suggested that a civilian could easily burn the wooden Owl Creek Bridge to impede the Union advance.

Farquhar's Escape Journey: The story follows Farquhar's harrowing escape through swamps and wilderness, encountering dangers including water moccasins and a strange meeting with Jethro, a former slave he had sold who is now free. Throughout his journey, he's haunted by visions of his pursuers.

The Final Twist: As Farquhar finally reaches his plantation and sees his wife running to greet him with open arms, the narrative suddenly shifts. The rope never broke—Farquhar never escaped. The entire sequence was merely a hallucination that occurred in the split second between his drop from the bridge and his death by hanging.

Twilight Zone Context: Tom Elliot notes that in the upcoming podcast, they'll dig deeper into why this particular story has been adapted so many times and how it fits into the Twilight Zone series, despite being an unusual entry that some might not consider a true Twilight Zone episode.
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