On Monday, the White House issued a lovely statement about a phone call between Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom invited to Washington. The statement was careful to omit the fact that Biden will be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin first, in a "summit" next week.
This is just the latest act of appeasement from Biden toward Russia. Since taking office, he has:
- Renewed the one-sided New START treaty
- Failed to stop Russian hackers to attack American infrastructure
- Given the green light to Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline
- Rewarded Putin with a "summit"
Biden has never stood up to Russia, and played along with the appeasement posture of the Obama Administration. The idea that Trump was too soft on Russia, or Putin's puppet, was a Hillary Clinton invention, as was the toxic "Russia collusion" conspiracy theory. Democrats never intended to get tough on Russia; they just liked the idea as a political ploy.
Meanwhile, it is dawning on Zelenskyy, and other critics of Russia, that they have been fooled -- or fooled themselves. Russian opposition figure and former international chess champion Garry Kasparov wrote last week (https://www.wsj.com/articles/has-biden-lost-his-nerve-with-putin-11622566741) that Biden seemed to have "lost his nerve" with Putin.
Biden never had a nerve to lose. Kasparov was taken in by Biden's bluff.
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
