Today is a Jewish fast day, remembering the day the Babylonians breached the walls of Jerusalem, so I'll be doing this show without the usual popcorn and coffee. Will I make it? Tune in to find out -- and to hear from amazing guests.
We'll start with Joe Biden's visit to the Middle East. The Saudis now say they will not increase oil production, and opening their skies was not a move toward peace with Israel. So did he achieve anything? I think he did, in spite of himself.
While Joe was away, California Gov. Gavin Newsom paid a visit to Washington, testing the waters for a presidential run -- just in case, you know, something were to ... happen to Biden. He's angling to be the alternative -- to Kamala.
Meanwhile, back home, L.A. is preparing to host the MLB All-Star Game, which was controversially moved from Atlanta last year for political reasons. What will it say about life in L.A., and California -- and blue-state America?
The primary elections are one way to take the pulse of the electorate -- and we will talk to a candidate who's in the field in Maryland, Mathew Foldi, in a newly-competitive district that Republicans think they can take in the midterms.
Special guests:
Alan Dershowitz -- noted legal pundit, on Biden's Middle East trip, and Roe
Elex Michaelson -- of Fox 11 KTTV, who interviewed Gavin Newsom in DC
Matthew Foldi -- Republican primary candidate in Maryland's 6th district
Jessica Vaugn -- model and pundit, on the economy and L.A. today
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 p.m. PT
Call in: 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.
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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