Joel Pollak
Politics • Lifestyle • News • Travel • Writing
I will share my thoughts about American politics, as well as current events in Israel and elsewhere, based on my experiences in the U.S., South Africa, and the Middle East. I will also discuss books and popular culture from the perspective of a somewhat libertarian, religiously observant conservative living in California. I will also share art and ideas that I find useful and helpful, and link to my content at Breitbart News, Amazon, and elsewhere.
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Breitbart News Sunday: show rundown (March 9, 2025)

Welcome back to summer! The first show of Daylight Savings Time is here.

President Donald Trump impressed the nation with his address to Congress this week -- and Democrats had no idea how to respond. But now is when the proverbial rubber hits the road. Will his shake-up of DC benefit Americans?

Democrats are beginning to make the case that Trump's tariffs and cuts to government are going to hurt the economy. Even the uncertainty of his style, they say, will hurt. Republicans know they can only blame Biden for so long.

Meanwhile, in L.A., the cleanup from the Palisades and Eaton fires continues. We're nearing a critical point, when people will have to decide whether they can rebuild -- or whether they will have to sell because the costs are too high.

We'll also interview a Bay Area legend, conservative radio host Michael Savage, about his interview with Governor Gavin Newsom on his podcast (which, with Charlie Kirk, has already caused some problems for Newsom).

The week ahead will feature key votes on Trump's budget -- and for his agenda generally. Democrats are trying to avoid saying how they will vote, and whether they will really shut down the government over DOGE.

Special guests:

John Carney -- Breitbart News financial editor, on the economy
Kathryn Barger -- L.A. County Supervisor, on the recovery from the fires
Nick Gilbertson -- Breitbart News White House correspondent, on the Oval
Michael Savage -- radio legend, on his interview on Gavin Newsom's podcast

Tune in: SiriusXM Patriot 125, 7-10 p.m. ET
Call: 866-957-2874

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What else you may like…
Videos
Posts
Time-lapse sunrise at Temescal Falls
00:00:17
This is what is left of my special place in the forest

Burned, then covered in mudslides and rockslides. The river still flows through it. But we have lost so much. I have to believe the spirit still lives on.

00:00:16
The drive home 💔
00:00:46
Weekly Torah reading: Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1 - 17:27)

This week’s portion launches the great story of Abraham, who is told to leave everything of his life behind — except his immediate family — and to leave for “the Land that I shall show you.”

There’s something interesting in the fact that Abraham is told to leave his father’s house, as if breaking away from his father’s life — but his father, in fact, began the journey, moving from Ur to Haran (in last week’s portion). His father set a positive example — why should Abraham leave him?

Some obvious answers suggest themselves — adulthood, needing to make one’s own choices, his father not going far enough, etc.

But I think there is another answer. Abraham (known for the moment as Abram) needs to establish his own household. This is not just about making one’s own choice, but really about choosing one’s own starting point. It’s starting over.

Sometimes we start over in fundamental ways even if much that surrounds us remains the same. Sometimes the journey we have to ...

Weekly Torah reading: Noah (Genesis 6:9 - 11:32)

The story of Noah is familiar; the details, less so.

Noah is often seen as an ambivalent figure. He was righteous -- but only for his generation. What was his deficiency?

One answer suggests itself: knowing that the world was about to be flooded, he built an Ark for the animals and for his own family -- but did not try to save anyone else or to convince them to repent and change their ways (the prophet Jonah, later, would share that reluctance).

Abraham, later, would set himself apart by arguing with God -- with the Lord Himself! -- against the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying that they should be saved if there were enough righteous people to be found (there were not).

Still, Noah was good enough -- and sometimes, that really is sufficient to save the world. We don't need heroes every time -- just ordinary decency.

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2473477&p=complete&jewish=Noach-Torah-Reading.htm

Closing all subscriptions

Hi all -- as I noted last month, I'm going to be closing down my Locals page, at least for tips and subscriptions -- I may keep the page up and the posts as well, but I'm no longer going to be accepting any kind of payment.

Look for cancelation in the very near future. Thank you for your support!

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