I began the morning in Ashdod, and went for a run at sunrise in the sand dunes that line the beach. The weather was windy, and the surf was wild. In the sand dunes, the scene was more placid, and I even found gazelle tracks, though I did not see one of those majestic animals.
From there, I drove south to Zikim Beach, site of one of the most brutal Hamas assaults on October 7th. Terrorist commandos succeeded in landing on the beach and murdered innocent people -- surfers, fishermen, people out for a morning walk -- before attacking IDF bases.
Today, Zikim is a staging point for the Israeli military in its battles against Hamas in Gaza. It is also an entry point for humanitarian aid trucks entering the territory. A reserve IDF unit called Yatar took me on a fast ATV ride on a tour of the border, for a view of the battlefield.
From there, I drove north to Tel Aviv, for a meeting with Israeli government spokesman David Mencer, whom I usually encounter in Zoom press briefings. Then I drove east to Jerusalem, where I had a short lunch with incoming Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Yehiel Leiter.
Then I rejoined my friend from Magdala, Father Eamon Kelly, for a sneak preview of a mural of the Pentecost at the Notre Dame center, and for a rooftop view of the Christian Quarter of the Old City. The weather was cold and windy, and I decided to find my Airbnb before dark.
After a phone interview with an IDF official, I did a little shopping on Ben Yehuda Street, had dinner at a café in Mamilla, and walked to the Kotel, the Western Wall, for a last visit before I return to the U.S. on Wednesday evening. In the rain, the streets shone, reflecting every light.
This week, we are tackling two major areas of contention between the Trump administration and Democrat governors: fighting crime, and redistricting. The president is sending the National Guard to blue cities -- and blue states are trying to stamp out Republican representation. Is this a civil war situation?
Special guests:
- Bradley Jaye -- Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on redistricting
- Tom Manza, California Business and Industrial Alliance, on Gavin Newsom
- Jon Fleischman, veteran California political expert, on the special election
- Dan Backer, veteran political lawyer and consultant, on corruption
- DJ Mark Anthony, on a recent visit to Rome and visiting Pope Leo XIV
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET / 4-7 p.m. PT
Call: 866-957-2874
This week's portion is the last of the month of Av -- also known as Menachem (Comforter) Av -- which begins in mourning and ends in celebration and anticipation of the New Year and the process of repentance and renewal.
In a similar vein, the portion features Moses offering the Israelites a choice between a blessing and a curse. They are masters of their own fates: if they obey God's commandments, they receive the blessings -- and vice versa.
The key commandment is to reject idol worship. There is said to be something magnetic about the practice of worshiping idols in the new land, such that it would be constant moral battle, both individually and collectively, in the land.
Nowadays, according to Jewish tradition, humanity has lost the urge for idol worship (and the antidote, which is divine prophecy) -- but there are several near substitutes, such as lust or excessive appetites for worldly pleasures.
We are wired for compulsive behaviors, bad habits, and even addictions. These ...
We have so much to talk about this week -- Trump's efforts to negotiate peace through negotiation, and Gavin Newsom's efforts to divide Americans through gerrymandering. We'll also talk about Playboy leaving LA and California.
Special guests:
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Russia & Ukraine
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on Newsom
Harmeet Dhillon - DOJ Civil Rights Division chief, on the fight against DEI
Jessica Vaugn - Playboy model on political commentator, on California
Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET, 4-7 PT
Call: 866-957-2874
