Day 1 of THE AGENDA: Introduction https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6421016/first-episode-of-the-agenda
Day 2 of THE AGENDA: Restoring justice and the rule of law https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6421020/second-episode-of-the-agenda
Day 3 of THE AGENDA: Investigations and Executive Agencies https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6427935/day-3-of-the-agenda-investigations-and-executive-agencies
Day 4 of THE AGENDA: Fighting crime, closing the border https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6427990/day-4-of-the-agenda-fighting-crime-closing-the-border
Day 5 of THE AGENDA: More on securing the border https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6431622/day-5-of-the-agenda-more-on-securing-the-border
Day 6 of THE AGENDA: Border security and immigration reform https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6435303/day-6-of-the-agenda-border-security-and-immigration-reform
Day 7 of THE AGENDA: Appropriately, moving to foreign policy https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6441913/day-7-of-the-agenda-appropriately-moving-to-foreign-policy
Day 8 of THE AGENDA: Foreign policy, from Ukraine to Israel https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6444649/day-8-of-the-agenda-foreign-policy-from-ukraine-to-israel
Day 9 of THE AGENDA: What to do about the United Nations https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6448331/day-9-of-the-agenda-what-to-do-about-the-united-nations
Day 10 of THE AGENDA: From confronting China to restoring faith https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6451642/day-10-of-the-agenda-from-confronting-china-to-restoring-faith
Day 11 of THE AGENDA: Faith, a culture of life, and religious liberty https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6454949/day-11-of-the-agenda-faith-a-culture-of-life-and-religious-liberty
Day 12 of THE AGENDA: Religious liberty and an envoy to protect Christians https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6458389/day-12-of-the-agenda-religious-liberty-and-an-envoy-to-protect-christians
Day 13 of THE AGENDA: From faith to identity politics https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6464632/day-13-of-the-agenda-from-faith-to-identity-politics
Day 14 of THE AGENDA: From transgenderism to real diversity https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6467436/day-14-of-the-agenda-from-transgenderism-to-real-diversity
Day 15 of THE AGENDA: Ending DEI and promoting patriotism https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6474548/day-15-of-the-agenda-ending-dei-and-promoting-patriotism
Day 16 of THE AGENDA: Fighting inflation and growing the economy https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6477898/day-16-of-the-agenda-fighting-inflation-and-growing-the-economy
Day 17 of THE AGENDA: Improving health and education https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6477927/day-17-of-the-agenda-improving-health-and-education
Day 18 of THE AGENDA: From raising children to lower energy costs https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6481709/day-18-of-the-agenda-from-raising-children-to-lower-energy-costs
Day 19 of THE AGENDA: From fossil fuels to renewable energy https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6488090/day-19-of-the-agenda-from-fossil-fuels-to-renewable-energy
Day 20 of THE AGENDA: From Energy to the Environment https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6490017/day-20-of-the-agenda-from-energy-to-the-environment
Day 21 of THE AGENDA: From environmental protection to the national debt https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6493034/day-21-of-the-agenda-from-environmental-protection-to-the-national-debt
Day 22 of THE AGENDA: Fixing the debt with assets in space https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6496075/day-22-of-the-agenda-fixing-the-debt-with-assets-in-space
Day 23 of THE AGENDA: Protecting the Constitution, and our elections https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6498555/day-23-of-the-agenda-protecting-the-constitution-and-our-elections
Day 24 of THE AGENDA: Conclusion -- What Trump should work on with Congress https://joelpollak.locals.com/post/6501109/day-24-of-the-agenda-conclusion-what-trump-should-work-on-with-congress
This week's portion broadly covers the basic framework of a judicial system, necessary for the functioning of the society that the Israelites were to establish upon entering the Holy Land of Israel -- including "cities of refuge."
These cities were place where those guilty of involuntary manslaughter could flee to escape the righteous vengeance of their victims' families. They would be allowed to return to their homes upon the death of the High Priest.
It is curious that Biblical law is not particularly focused on incarceration, but does include this form of exile and quasi-imprisonment: you are free to leave the city of refuge, but then the "avenger" is entitled to kill you if he finds you.
In that way, the guilty party becomes his or her own jailer -- in a sense, imposing his or her own program of punishment and correction, taking charge of the repentance that is necessary to correct a deep personal flaw.
...
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 ...
