Today is a very special day for me: it's my younger daughter's second birthday. She is a blessing and a delight. It's also ... a busy news day. Trump won the straw poll at the Turning Point conference, and RFK Jr. is causing enough problems for Biden that he's being attacked.
On that attack: it's garbage. RFK Jr. is being accused of saying that COVID-19 was engineered to spare Jews, presumably because the Jews were in charge. He said nothing of the sort: he said we need to be concerned about bioweapons that target certain groups, and that the differential impact of COVID-19 (scientifically supported) showed that such weapons could, in fact, be produced and were dangerous.
The people who spread the smear did it for clicks and laughs; they also intended to hurt Kennedy and help Biden. Not to defend Jews.
In fact, the antisemitic conspiracy theory that had to be made up to fill in for RFK Jr's lack of actual antisemitism was the only actual bit of antisemitism in the whole episode. Mazel tov to Team Outrage: you spread misinformation and bigotry for political points and yuks.
We'll talk about "Sound of Freedom," the independent hit film that dramatizes the effort to rescue child victims of human trafficking. Should it matter that the original story is not exactly as told? And what about the Hollywood actors' strike -- should we care at all?
Next -- we'll look at the week ahead. Israel's ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, is going to speak to Congress and visit the White House. President Biden has yet to invite the country's elected leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. Is this just a ploy to divide and weaken Israel?
Democrats are seizing on the RFK Jr. moment: even though he's a fellow Democrat, he's a threat to Biden. But what about the bigots in their midst? Ilhan Omar is already boycotting Herzog -- who is a man of the left -- and Pramila Jayapal calls Israel a "racist" state.
All this plus the latest in the New York redistricting case, as Democrats try to use the courts -- which shut down their attempted gerrymander last year -- to win through the legislature what they could not win at the ballot box. And the latest from Wimbledon!
Special guests:
Patrick Courrielche -- co-founder of the Red Pilled America podcast
Jonathan S. Tobin -- editor-in-chief of Jewish News Syndicate
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) -- from New York's 24th district
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot, 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
