Today's news might reasonably be pre-empted by the story of the Baltimore Ravens kicker who knocked an NFL record 66-yard field goal off the crossbar in Detroit to win the game, crushing Lions fans' hopes for the 3,751st time.
But we do have other news to talk about. This is a big week ahead, with Congress facing three giant fiscal hurdles: 1. A budget to fund the federal government and avert a shutdown; 2. A bill to raise the debt limit and avoid default; 3. A bill on "infrastructure" that will a) cost up to $3.5 trillion and fund Socialism, and/or b) cost $1.2 trillion, mostly not funding real infrastructure.
We also have news on the pandemic: it's here to stay. We live in its world, rather than the other way around. At least that's what the drug companies say.
And the border is still a disaster. When DHS Secretary Mayorkas tells White House reporters that the Haitian migrants are all facing removal proceedings, they all nod sagely and marvel at the wonderful job Biden's doing. For people who live in the real world: "proceedings" mean the same thing as "release."
Our guests today:
SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Our number: 866-957-2874
This is my first broadcast from the new office and studio in Washington, DC, where I'll be for a couple of years my neighborhood back in L.A. cleans up -- and as we follow the Trump administration from a little closer up than usual.
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This week’s portion tells the grand story of the prophet who tried to curse people of Israel and instead ended up blessing them.
I am reminded that these portions continue to be relevant anew, as this particular reading lent the title for Israel’s recent 12 Day War against Iran, “Operation Rising Lion.”
This week's portion includes the commandment of the red heifer -- one of the classic "irrational" commandments whose fulfillment is an expression of faith. It also includes the regrettable episode in which Moses strikes the rock.
I referred to this story in a wedding speech last night. Why was Moses punished for striking the rock in Numbers, when he struck the rock without incident in Exodus -- both for the purpose of providing water to the people?
The answer is that in the interim, the Jewish people had received the Torah, which is like the marriage contract between the people of Israel and God. In a marriage, you do not resolve things by breaking boundaries, but through love.
The additional reading, from Judges Chapter 11, is the story of Jephthah (Yiftach), a man whom the leaders spurn, but to whom they must turn to save the nation. The parallels to our present political circumstances are striking.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Fourth of July!
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