Here's the backstage interview I had with Larry Elder (R), who is leading polls among contenders to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in the California recall.
https://soundcloud.com/breitbart/larry-elder-august-24-2021
I wrote up the interview at Breitbart News (link below).
My impression is that there is a very strong groundswell of support for the recall generally, and for Elder in particular. I don't know if it feels like a win for Elder yet, but you see a lot of things falling into place that make the incumbent look bad -- the pandemic, the wildfires, the drought, the state audit, and now Afghanistan (which is about the incompetence of the economy generally). In my experience, the late appearance of news events that seem to line up with the opposition's view tends to signal a change in government. But Newsom has the money and the machine to turn out -- or "harvest" -- the votes to win.
So, we shall see. I can say this: Elder filled a room with hundreds of supporters.
This is the portion that all journalists should love: the Torah tells the story of the 12 spies, only two of whom tell the truth when the other ten shade it in a negative away (perhaps to suit a political agenda that is opposed to Moses).
It's not that the ten "lying" spies misconstrue the facts about the Land of Israel; rather, they interject their opinions that the land is impossible to conquer, which strikes unnecessary terror into the hearts of the people.
We have many examples of such fake news today -- from the Iranian propaganda outlets spreading false claims that they are winning the war, to California politicians spreading false horror stories about ICE raids in L.A.
The people realize, too late, that they have been fooled, and once they are condemned to die in the desert, they try to rush into Israel -- only to be defeated by the inhabitants, as the spies predicted that they would be.
But as consolation, God gives the people new commandments -- focused on things they must ...
This week's portion discusses the procedure for lighting the menorah, the holy seven-branched lamp, in the Tabernacle (and later the Temple). It also describes an episode where the people crave meat, and God punishes them by giving it to them in excess. We also read the story of Miriam, Moses's sister, who is punished with the spiritual skin blemish of tzara'at for speaking about her brother, thus violating the prohibition against lashon hara (evil tongue).
I heard a fantastic sermon this week about the lighting of the menorah: that while only the priests were qualified to clean and purify the menorah, anyone could light it. A reminder that each of us can inspire others along the way.
This week we study the vow of the Nazirite; a reminder that sometimes trying to be too holy is excessive, and the best we can do is to be the best that we are.
https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading_cdo/aid/2495720/p/complete/jewish/Naso-Torah-Reading.htm
