This week, the world is consumed by the war in Ukraine. There's a lot of bad commentary out there, and a lot of advocacy journalism, making it harder to figure out what's going on, and what we should do about it. Clearly, Russia is the aggressor here, and while NATO has compromised its credibility on the question of invading foreign countries that didn't attack member states first (Serbia, Libya, etc.), there's nothing to justify the first major land war in Europe since 1945 and the attendant humanitarian cost. The simple explanation here is that Russian President Vladimir Putin, boosted by high oil prices and taking advantage of President Joe Biden's weak return to the Obama-Clinton "reset" posture, took the opportunity to seize what he thought he could get easily. It turned out to be not so easy, and while Ukrainians are fighting for their lives, the rest of the world wonders how close we are to a superpower confrontation.
There's more going on, of course. I just returned from a trip to South Africa, and I'll have something to say about that. I've seen a country beginning to wake up from the pandemic -- and dreading a European war that will make recovery that much more difficult by raising fuel prices and depressing global trade. I've also seen the dysfunction of South Africa's governing systems -- and how they portend future disasters in our own system if we don't fix things, and soon.
February's jobs numbers point to a strong economic recovery -- but inflation remains a major problem, and Biden is still looking for ways to spend money. He tried dumping "defund the police" and demanded that Congress "secure the border" in his State of the Union speech this week. Is he for real? Meanwhile, the administration is backing efforts to "codify" Roe v. Wade -- and the bill facing Congress is rather shocking in its brazen "woke" rhetoric about abortion.
All that and more across three hours on the last Sunday of Standard Time...
With special guests:
- NFL great Jack Brewer on America's comeback, at the end of the pandemic
- Melanie Israel on the "Women's Health Protection Act" and abortion
- Grover Norquist on Biden's economic policy and the prospects of inflation
Listen live: SiriusXM 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call in: 866-957-2874
This is the final edition of THE AGENDA -- finished a few days early!
This week's portion elucidates some of the first laws and principles of the Torah that follow the Ten Commandments, including -- a message particularly relevant to freed slaves -- the Jewish restrictions on indentured servitude.
God also provides the basic civil laws of Jewish society, governing almost every area of life -- in this one portion! -- as well as several basic principles of faith and religious observance. Moses then ascends Sinai for 40 days.
One of the laws God gives is the law against taunting a foreigner. This is different from allowing people to enter your land illegally; it is about showing respect, however, for people from other lands and other groups.
I am reminded of the importance of this principle because of the rhetoric lately attacking Elon Musk, a fellow South African-turned-American, for his foreign roots -- often by people who favor illegal immigration, ironically.
...
Since the Palisades Fire on January 7, my posts have been fairly sparse. I have just been so busy -- fighting the fire, covering the fire, helping neighbors, and launching a new podcast, "Three Homeless Guys," with two local friends.
Things are up and down. My family is still displaced, and we haven't resolved our living situation. We are awaiting answers from the insurance company (State Farm) on what they will cover, including alternative living expenses.
There are some incredible opportunities opening up -- more on that later -- and our kids are generally doing well, though this has been hard for them as well (especially the two middle kids, who miss their friends and their house).
The emotion of it all hit me yesterday. Today I feel wrung out. But I also feel that, in a way, going through the fire has been a process of refinement, of re-casting in a new mould, to face new challenges. And to win each new day.
So much to talk about, once again, as the Trump administration continues at breakneck pace. From DOGE chewing through the federal bureaucracy, to Marco Rubio heading out on his first missions for Trump, there's so much...
Special guests:
Assemblyman Carl DeMaio -- on the L.A. fires and reforming CA insurance
Matt Boyle -- Breitbart News political editor, on DOGE and confirmations
Jamie Paige -- founder of the Westside Current, on L.A. politics and the fires
Frances Martel -- Breitbart News foreign editor, on Rubio and Russia/Ukraine
Rob Hersov -- South African commentator, on SA's fight with the White House
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call in: 866-957-2874
