These are my choices for the California Primary election on the west side of L.A. These aren't endorsements, and in some cases I'm voting for Democrats or independents, either because they are objectively the best candidates; because they have the best chance of ousting bad incumbents; or because they are running unopposed. I've done minimal research on some of the races, i.e. judge.
Voting cheat sheet
Senator 1: Mark Meuser
Senator 2: Mark Meuser
Mayor: Rick Caruso
City Attorney: Richard Kim
City Controller: Kenneth Mejia
City Council (11): Traci Park
LAUSD: Tracey Schroeder
State Senator (24): Ben Allen
State Assembly (42) Lori Mills
House (32): Aarika Rhodes
Ballot Measure BB: No
Suprevisor (3): Bob Hertzberg
Sheriff: Alex Villanueva
Assessor: Sandy Sun
Judge (3): Sherilyn Garnett
Judge (60): Abby Baron
Judge (67) Ryan Dibble
Judge (70): Renee Chang
Judge (90): Leslie Gutierrez
Judge (116): David Gelfound
Judge (118): Keith Koyano
Judge (151) Karen Brako
Judge (156): Carol Elswick
Governor: Michael Shellenberger
Lt. Governor: Angela Jacobs
Secretary of State: Rob Bernosky
State Controller: Lanhee Chen
Treasurer: Jack Guerrero
Attorney General: Nathan Hochman
Insurance Commissioner: Greg Conlon
Board of Equalization: Y. Manvel
Superintendent: Jim Gibson
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.
Topics:
- The anniversary of the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump
- The escalating tariff battle with various different trading partners
- The future of the Middle East peace talks, and ongoing antisemitism
- The Jeffrey Epstein files and whether they mean anything at all
- The continued crisis of the Texas floods, and stories of heroism and survival
And more!
Special guests:
- James Rosen - Newsmax chief Washington correspondent
- Bob Price - Breitbart News Texas reporter, on the ongoing floods
- Robert Cahill - Trafalgar Polling, on a new alliance of reliable pollsters
- Rabbi Yaakov Menken - Coalition for Jewish Values - on Israel & antisemitism
Tune in: 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
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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