He's brilliant, and a little bit batty, and I think he's a little too forthcoming with personal grievances against close relatives, but I understand his major grievance: he doesn't like being used by anybody. Not Kim, not Jared, not Trump, nobody.
At one point Kanye told Tucker that he believed Jared Kushner was arranging the Middle East peace deals solely to make money. That's a little bit dangerous -- I'm sure there are some who will say West was inching close to antisemitism.
But suppose it's true. So what? The fact that people will make money from Middle East peace is another reason to do it. It's not the main reason to do it, or at least it's not the main reason people like me care about it so deeply.
What I would say to Kanye, as a Jewish man to a Black man (capital B), is that when Israel is accepted by her Arab brothers and sisters, then my soul's days of wandering are at rest. That is what peace means to me, no matter who profits.
I think Ye was just coming from a place of irritation that complete strangers owned a piece of his ideas -- a piece of his wife, really -- and that it was only so they could make more money on the next deal. I think I get that, I really do.
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
