Joel Pollak
Politics • Lifestyle • News • Travel • Writing
I will share my thoughts about American politics, as well as current events in Israel and elsewhere, based on my experiences in the U.S., South Africa, and the Middle East. I will also discuss books and popular culture from the perspective of a somewhat libertarian, religiously observant conservative living in California. I will also share art and ideas that I find useful and helpful, and link to my content at Breitbart News, Amazon, and elsewhere.
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The joys of California winter, when it rains and snows

I'm writing from a snow-covered town just a couple hours' drive up the mountain from Los Angeles. I've decided to work from here for a couple of days, since my kids are out of school and have only seen snow once before -- and they've never actually seen it falling from the sky (we came up in January after there were already 2-3 feet on the ground). A rare opportunity to go sledding, build snowmen, and throw snowballs. (We're not yet a skiing family.)

We feel so blessed in many ways, and the snow is an additional blessing. California is in the midst of a terrible drought. Without adequate rain this winter, we will almost certainly have to ration water. Just over a week ago, the forecast for the holiday weeks was predicted sunny, cool and dry weather. Then something shifted and we've had more rainy days than sunny ones. If this keeps up, it might actually break the drought. So we're celebrating the rain -- and what we are told will be about a foot of snow tomorrow.

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Time-lapse sunrise at Temescal Falls
00:00:17
This is what is left of my special place in the forest

Burned, then covered in mudslides and rockslides. The river still flows through it. But we have lost so much. I have to believe the spirit still lives on.

00:00:16
The drive home 💔
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Breitbart News Sunday: show rundown (June 22, 2025)

We're going to talk about the historic attack on Iran's nuclear sites -- and that's not all. There's plenty to come this week, including more work on the "Big, Beautiful Bill," plus more battles with California, and Hollywood implosions.

Special guests:

Bradley Jaye -- Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the BBB
Mark Mitchell -- pollster at Rasmussen Reports, on polls regarding Iran
Lisa Daftari -- Iran analyst, foreigndesknews.com, on post-regime Iran
Rev. Dr. Johnnie Moore -- Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, on Gaza food aid
Jamie Paige -- Westside Current journalist, on L.A. and California politics
Jerome Hudson -- Breitbart News entertainment editor, on Hollywood failures

Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874

Weekly Torah reading: Shlach (Numbers 13:1 - 15:41)

This is the portion that all journalists should love: the Torah tells the story of the 12 spies, only two of whom tell the truth when the other ten shade it in a negative away (perhaps to suit a political agenda that is opposed to Moses).

It's not that the ten "lying" spies misconstrue the facts about the Land of Israel; rather, they interject their opinions that the land is impossible to conquer, which strikes unnecessary terror into the hearts of the people.

We have many examples of such fake news today -- from the Iranian propaganda outlets spreading false claims that they are winning the war, to California politicians spreading false horror stories about ICE raids in L.A.

The people realize, too late, that they have been fooled, and once they are condemned to die in the desert, they try to rush into Israel -- only to be defeated by the inhabitants, as the spies predicted that they would be.

But as consolation, God gives the people new commandments -- focused on things they must ...

Weekly Torah portion: Beha'alotecha (Numbers 8:1 - 12:16)

This week's portion discusses the procedure for lighting the menorah, the holy seven-branched lamp, in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple). It also describes an episode where the people crave meat, and God punishes them by giving it to them in excess. We also read the story of Miriam, Moses's sister, who is punished with the spiritual skin blemish of tzara'at for speaking about her brother, thus violating the prohibition against lashon hara (evil tongue).

I heard a fantastic sermon this week about the lighting of the menorah: that while only the priests were qualified to clean and purify the menorah, anyone could light it. A reminder that each of us can inspire others along the way.

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2495737&jewish=Behaalotecha-Torah-Reading.htm&p=complete

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