President Biden went to Japan and trashed the GOP on foreign soil. It used to be taboo to do that. But it's all about positioning ahead of the ongoing debt limit talks. What lies in store? What happens if we hit the ceiling? Who knows!
We'll also talk about the effort to ban AM radio in new electric cars. Is it really about electromagnetic interference with the battery? Or is it an attempt to quash one of the few media dominated by conservatives? We'll discuss.
There's also news from Ukraine, and the financial markets, where Bitcoin enthusiasts had a major conference this weekend. RFK Jr. spoke there, and spoke well; Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) jumped in on the Republican side.
Join us to discuss these issues with our special guests:
- Brendan Carr -- FCC Commissioner
- Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) -- first-term representative from NY 24th
- Jessica Vaugn -- model, photographer, pundit, and Bitcoin fan
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET ; 4-7 p.m. PT
Call in: 866-957-2874
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 ...
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.
This week we study the vow of the Nazirite; a reminder that sometimes trying to be too holy is excessive, and the best we can do is to be the best that we are.
https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading_cdo/aid/2495720/p/complete/jewish/Naso-Torah-Reading.htm
