My eldest daughter qualified for the L.A. County Fire Department's junior lifeguard program yesterday. I'm thrilled, of course, because the training is really intense and she will learn an incredible amount on the beach this summer.
But what I'm even happier about is the way she qualified. As a 12-year-old, she had to prove she could swim 100 yards in 1 minute and 40 seconds. We trained for weeks, and she hit her best time last Friday: 1:46. I believed she could do it.
The test day came on Easter morning, and she went all-out. The time: 1:40.56.
She had failed. One might have thought that they would have let her in -- half a second! -- but they did not. Standards are standards, and apply to everyone.
But she had one more chance to make it. The lifeguards gave her coaching about breathing and so on, and advised her to rest for 20 minutes. When she hit the water the next time, she went even harder. All-out, for 100 yards.
I couldn't tell whether she would make it or not; I didn't time her test myself. When she hit the wall, they told her they would tell her the time when she was out of the water. She dragged herself onto the deck: 1:36. She had crushed it.
There is nothing like watching a child face obstacles and overcome them. I love the fact that the lifeguards stuck to their standards. I also love the way that she pulled herself together and maintained a positive outlook. She'll never forget it.
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
