Mark Riley: The Intersection of Politics and Culture

The Israel-Gaza war continues unabated, but now Israeli rules of engagement are starting to be questioned by the nation’s allies. There are also fears about a larger conflict in the Middle East after Islamic State takes credit for a deadly bombing in Iran. The President of Harvard resigns in the wake of twin scandals. Is she a victim of culture wars, or is she simply a sloppy scholar? Donald Trump wants the Supreme Court to decide whether he should be on the ballot in Colorado. Big implications there. And what does the document dump on the friends of Jeffrey Epstein mean to those exposed.

The US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a cease fire in the war between Hamas and Israel. This despite 13 nations voting for it. The Biden Administration is getting hard blowback, and not just from the expected places. A federal judge approves a settlement barring the separation of migrant families. An appeals court has upheld but narrowed the gag order on a certain... former president. And finally, one of the toughest pieces I’ve ever had to do in a podcast. Biden should not run.

Last time out I told you the war between Israel and Hamas was fast becoming a propaganda war fought on social media. The actual battlefield remains real, but so too does the fights on social media. Just ask Elon Musk. Are we finally rid of George Santos? The chair of the House Ethics Committee has ruled he has none, he’s announced he’s not running for re-election, but now there’s yet another effort to expel him from the House. Does it make a difference? There’s yet another climate study that says earth is in trouble. Is it time to tell the truth and say politicians aren’t capable of doing anything about it? The Supreme Court has a new ethics code. Does it really mean anything?

The war between Israel and Hamas has become a protracted struggle not just on the battlefields but between competing propaganda machines. Who’s winning? Meanwhile, the House passes a bill providing aid to Israel but not to Ukraine. Wait, what??? The damages trial against the Trump organization rolls on with his kids and the old man himself scheduled to testify. Why are infant deaths rising for the first time in two decades? Try as they might, the House can’t seem to get rid of serial grifter George Santos. Why? We’ll get into it

Hamas and Israel, and the question that no one seems to want to ask. And of course, who stuck his foot in his mouth yet again? You know who, that’s who. The House Speakers’ sweepstakes, and the self-destruction of the Republican Party. A truly frightening study on climate change. George Santos, what again? And the labor market chills a bit.

Israel and Hamas, at war again after the surprise attack against Israel. Chaos in the House, as Republicans try to figure out who their next speaker will be. Some in Congress think it ought to be Donald Trump? Seriously? Honestly? How did aid to Ukraine end up a litmus test for right wing lawmakers? A judge rules Alabama’s gerrymandered congressional lines have to be changed.

More bad road for Donald Trump, as judge rules inflated his worth and one of his defendants cops a plea. Just to show alleged corruption knows no one political party, New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez is indicted on corruption charges, and some of his allies say it’s time to go! Senator Diane Feinstein passes away at age 90, and a replacement has been named. Is the war in Ukraine degenerated into a protracted stalemate? And, 27 years after his murder, a man has been charged in the murder of Tupac Shakur.

Joe Biden’s son Hunter indicted on gun charges. This has given rise to all manner of speculation, including charges of a hoax by the Deep State to whether Biden will now quit his bid for re-election. At the same time, the coward known as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tries to keep the ultra-right wolves away from his door by announcing an impeachment probe. The United Auto Workers strikes against all Big Three automakers at once. Why has the number of American children living in poverty doubled from 2021 to ’22.

We’ll be taking a look at, guess who, and his mug shot. Don’t be fooled, there’s another story that’s not being covered. There’s the story of Andrew Clyde, congressman and gun shop owner. Any wonder he’s against common sense gun legislation? Not too long ago, here were whispers about Michelle Obama running for president. Recent stumbles by Joe Biden have revived the talk. Should she think about it? Speaking of which, the president finally made it to Maui. His visit didn’t go as well as planned. He went against the backdrop of more than 300 people still listed as missing two weeks after the wildfires. We told you some episodes ago that the Brics countries were gearing up to compete with the West, especially the US. Guess what just happened.

The fires in Hawaii are America’s latest climate tragedy. Did Maui’s utility do enough to contain them? A while back, I screened the gripping documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed. It’s all about artist Nan Goldin’s fight against the Sackler family, makers of, among other drugs, Oxycontin. The family eventually settled lawsuits for $6 billion dollars, but now the Supreme Court has stepped in and said not so fast. A GOP presidential hopeful wants to raise the voting age to 25. Are you young and can’t afford your rent? You’re not alone. And a friend sent me an email about Kansas and abortion I just have to share with you. Tune in!

In this episode, we ask the one question no one seems to ask about Donald Trump and the 78 charges he faces, so far. Why do his defenders employ whataboutism as a default defense? Is the Hunter Biden probe worth the time for those who want to tie his wrongdoing to his father? Saudi Arabia extends its cut to oil production by a month. Does that mean US gas prices will go up? And just what is the Republican strategy on climate?

New charges against Donald Trump while he threatens Republicans who fail to do his bidding. Vladimir Putin cosies up to Africa, Mitch McConnell freezes during a press conference. Will Joe Biden end up being collateral damage? And the truth about wellness. Or at least some wellness.

Donald Trump and his minions have big plans should he win the election next year. Trust me, you don’t want to know them. At the same time, his documents trial has been set for May next year. That’s before the presidential election. Republicans in Congress shame themselves yet again with their attack on LGBTQ Americans. The White House pressures AI firms to implement guardrails and new tools to police itself. And why were Delta Airlines passengers left on a non-air-conditioned flight for three hours in the searing heat?

Inflation has cooled down sharply in the US, will it help President Biden in his quest for re-election? The Supreme Court stopped the Biden Administration from cancelling student debt. The Education Department just did an end around. Wait, what? Why is the far right trying to defund support for Ukraine? With 40% of the world enveloped in a searing heat wave, can the world really be relaxed about climate change? And there’s a rebellion afoot, and the target? AI, what else?

How is that counteroffensive in Ukraine going? Why is the US ready to supply the government with cluster bombs and why is the rest of the West so nervous? Not to keep harping on climate change, but yes, I’ll keep harping on it as the South and Southwest are baking more than usual. There’s a new challenge to Twitter in social media, and Elon Musk isn’t happy about it. Lots of other people are, though. The right-wing Supreme Court says it’s okay to be a homophobe. Can approval of other evils be far behind?

Republicans in Congress honor the January 6 insurrectionists. At least 37 people, mostly students have been killed after suspected militants raided a school in western Uganda. When will people stop targeting the young? Southern Baptists move to oust women from the leadership of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. What’s next, taking away the right to vote? An attorney for the Oath Keepers has been deemed not mentally fit to stand trial in a case stemming from the January 6 insurrection. And former president Barack Obama speaks out on black Republicans who say race doesn’t matter anymore.

Donald Trump is indicted, what, again? The wages of climate change envelopes the East Coast in a shroud of smoke. It may be back to normal now, but is it really? The House is paralyzed by the far-right members of the Freedom Caucus. The Supreme Court in a surprise move, voids gerrymandered voting districts that would have diluted black voters’ power, while at the same time, Clarence Thomas has delayed filing required financial disclosure forms in the wake of reports he received gifts and luxury travel from a billionaire GOP donor

Donald Trump. He’s asking for the judge in his Stormy Daniels case to be replaced. On another front, there appears to be a recording where he acknowledges he couldn’t declassify documents after he left office. Gee, didn’t he say he could? Do you know about the Brics countries? They’ve got a huge swath of the world’s population, and they want to change the balance of power on the planet away from the West. What’s really behind the rash of anti LGBTQ laws sweeping through state legislatures, and that’s not even taking into account anti-trans hate.

Do Republicans eat themselves? When it’s Texas, and the person in question is Attorney General Ken Paxton. There’s a deal in the debt ceiling debacle. Is it time to put the whole thing out to pasture? There’s the story of the lawyer who used ChatGPT in court. Suffice to say it did not go well. Why are judges rebuking Social Security for massive errors on disability claims? And finally, Geena Davis has been compiling data on inclusion in Hollywood. A New York Times article about what she found may open some eyes

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