WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.060 Welcome to the Deep Dive. We've got quite a stack 00:00:03.060 --> 00:00:06.160 of information you've shared, and our job, as 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:08.759 always, is to pull out the key threads, connect 00:00:08.759 --> 00:00:10.839 the dots for you. Makes sense of it all quickly. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:13.419 Exactly. So you can grasp what's really going 00:00:13.419 --> 00:00:16.699 on. And today, wow, we're at this really fascinating 00:00:16.699 --> 00:00:20.019 crossroads of recent political and religious 00:00:20.019 --> 00:00:23.199 news. We're weaving together insights from quite 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:24.839 a few different reports. Yeah, it's quite a mix. 00:00:24.940 --> 00:00:28.079 We're looking at a big trade deal announcement, 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:30.320 some, let's say, interesting political appointments 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:32.659 and shifts. Definitely. Then there's an immigration 00:00:32.659 --> 00:00:35.460 proposal that's raised eyebrows, the usual debates 00:00:35.460 --> 00:00:38.619 on education, legal fights over abortion medication. 00:00:38.939 --> 00:00:41.560 Plus some key Democrats. Process News out of 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:44.880 North Carolina, and the really big one, the selection 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:47.299 of a new pope. Right. It sounds like a jumble, 00:00:47.579 --> 00:00:49.640 maybe. But when you put these pieces together, 00:00:50.500 --> 00:00:52.939 some really striking patterns and insights start 00:00:52.939 --> 00:00:55.359 to pop out. OK, let's jump right in then. That 00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:57.939 major trade deal, all caps, of course, that Trump 00:00:57.939 --> 00:01:01.159 tees on social media. Ah, yes. The big reveal, 00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:03.939 which the New York Times pretty quickly confirmed, 00:01:04.579 --> 00:01:07.439 was a deal with the UK. Right. But the whole 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:09.480 secretive buildup, it didn't really work like 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:12.579 a reality TV show reveal, did it? Well, no. I 00:01:12.579 --> 00:01:14.420 mean, trade negotiations, they're just not like 00:01:14.420 --> 00:01:16.939 that. You've got so many people involved, industry 00:01:16.939 --> 00:01:19.239 groups, different government departments here 00:01:19.239 --> 00:01:21.739 and across the pond. Lots potential for leaks. 00:01:22.099 --> 00:01:24.519 Exactly. Consultations happen, things get out. 00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:27.379 It's almost impossible to keep a lid on it completely, 00:01:28.040 --> 00:01:31.819 unlike finding out who gets the final rose. So 00:01:31.819 --> 00:01:36.230 beneath the... The social media hype, this major 00:01:36.230 --> 00:01:39.909 deal, it sounds more like, well, a starting point, 00:01:40.170 --> 00:01:42.489 a framework for talks down the line. That's certainly 00:01:42.489 --> 00:01:44.890 how the analysis is shaping up. Maybe six months, 00:01:45.030 --> 00:01:46.989 maybe even a couple of years of negotiations 00:01:46.989 --> 00:01:50.469 still needed. Not exactly a signed, sealed, delivered 00:01:50.469 --> 00:01:53.129 pact then. Doesn't seem like it. Real trade agreements 00:01:53.129 --> 00:01:56.030 are incredibly complex, tons of fine print. The 00:01:56.030 --> 00:01:58.329 lack of specifics right now, plus that timeline, 00:01:58.469 --> 00:02:01.010 it really suggests this is more an agreement. 00:02:01.290 --> 00:02:04.469 to agree, setting a direction rather than the 00:02:04.469 --> 00:02:06.609 final destination. And the context here is pretty 00:02:06.609 --> 00:02:08.729 important, isn't it? Our sources suggest Trump's 00:02:08.729 --> 00:02:10.930 actually in a bit of a weak spot for these talks. 00:02:11.330 --> 00:02:13.629 Yeah, that's a key point. His approval ratings 00:02:13.629 --> 00:02:16.030 aren't great, hovering around 42 % approved, 00:02:16.189 --> 00:02:19.210 52 % disapproved in some polls. And those tariffs 00:02:19.210 --> 00:02:22.460 he imposed earlier... They're unpopular. People 00:02:22.460 --> 00:02:24.439 are worried about prices going up. Big time. 00:02:24.680 --> 00:02:27.759 Something like 75 % in one poll think the tariffs 00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:30.400 will raise prices hurt the economy. So he kind 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:32.699 of needs a win. Something positive on the trade 00:02:32.699 --> 00:02:35.539 front. Which ironically might give the UK a bit 00:02:35.539 --> 00:02:38.139 more leverage in these negotiations. Potentially, 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:41.159 yes. They know he needs a good headline. He can't 00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:43.659 easily scrap the existing tariffs without upsetting 00:02:43.659 --> 00:02:46.680 his base, but those tariffs are causing economic 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:50.439 jitters. It puts the UK in a, shall we say, slightly 00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:53.199 stronger position. And then, talk about timing. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:55.960 Just as this trade news is breaking, suddenly 00:02:55.960 --> 00:02:58.520 the Cardinals elect a new pope. Yeah, talk about 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:01.340 overshadowing. A huge global story landing right 00:03:01.340 --> 00:03:03.280 at the same moment. You have to wonder if it 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:05.139 took some of the oxygen out of the trade announcement? 00:03:05.319 --> 00:03:07.740 It certainly competed for headlines. Whether 00:03:07.740 --> 00:03:09.699 it changes the long -term view of the deal, hard 00:03:09.699 --> 00:03:12.340 to say, but yeah, definitely a remarkable coincidence 00:03:12.340 --> 00:03:15.960 in timing. Okay, let's pivot from global trade 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:20.219 to domestic politics and some personnel shuffles, 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:23.400 what some are calling the clown show. Hey, yeah, 00:03:23.699 --> 00:03:25.819 a bit harsh maybe, but there's been turbulence. 00:03:26.379 --> 00:03:28.460 First, Dr. Jeanette Nashiwet was the pick for 00:03:28.460 --> 00:03:31.520 Surgeon General. Then, quite suddenly, she's 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:35.469 out and Dr. Casey Means is in. What gives? What 00:03:35.469 --> 00:03:38.069 happened there? Seems abrupt. Well, the reporting 00:03:38.069 --> 00:03:40.629 suggests a couple of things might have derailed 00:03:40.629 --> 00:03:43.370 Nashiwa's nomination. One seems to be questions 00:03:43.370 --> 00:03:45.530 about her resume, specifically where she got 00:03:45.530 --> 00:03:47.830 her medical degree, American University of the 00:03:47.830 --> 00:03:50.349 Caribbean, not University of Arkansas, as may 00:03:50.349 --> 00:03:52.930 be implied. OK. And then there was a pretty intense 00:03:52.930 --> 00:03:55.330 social media campaign against her, led by figures 00:03:55.330 --> 00:03:57.770 like Laura Loomer. Oh. What were the attacks 00:03:57.770 --> 00:04:00.550 about? A few things. Accusations of being anti 00:04:00.550 --> 00:04:02.830 -vax, the non -American medical school thing, 00:04:03.009 --> 00:04:05.689 claims of nepotism. and even dredging up an old 00:04:05.689 --> 00:04:08.030 malpractice case. It seems like a combination 00:04:08.030 --> 00:04:10.090 might have led to her withdrawal. Right, and 00:04:10.090 --> 00:04:12.289 the replacement, Dr. Casey Means, her background 00:04:12.289 --> 00:04:13.849 isn't exactly straightforward either, is it? 00:04:14.129 --> 00:04:16.329 No, and this is where you start to see maybe 00:04:16.329 --> 00:04:18.889 a pattern emerging, or at least raise questions. 00:04:19.569 --> 00:04:21.470 Means -L also has connections. Her brother's 00:04:21.470 --> 00:04:24.829 an ally of Robert Kennedy Jr., who... you know, 00:04:24.829 --> 00:04:27.509 has well -known vaccine views. So potential anti 00:04:27.509 --> 00:04:29.569 -vax links there, too. That's the concern being 00:04:29.569 --> 00:04:32.449 raised. Plus, reports mention a failed medical 00:04:32.449 --> 00:04:35.949 residency and inactive medical license. She currently 00:04:35.949 --> 00:04:38.910 works as a health supplement influencer online. 00:04:39.149 --> 00:04:42.379 Wow. Okay. It does make you wonder about the 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:44.680 vetting process or maybe the pool of candidates 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:47.819 willing to take these jobs. It suggests the administration 00:04:47.819 --> 00:04:50.139 might be struggling to find people who are both 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:53.279 qualified and less likely to generate immediate 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:55.579 controversy. Staying with controversial ideas, 00:04:55.660 --> 00:04:58.240 what about this reported plan to offer a thousand 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:01.079 dollars to undocumented immigrants to self -deport? 00:05:01.160 --> 00:05:03.699 That sounds unusual for a Democratic administration. 00:05:04.100 --> 00:05:06.480 It's definitely cause to stir. You typically 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:08.519 associate that kind of proposal with the Republican 00:05:08.519 --> 00:05:10.959 side of the aisle. So what's the thinking? Just 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:13.579 cost savings. That seems to be the surface argument. 00:05:13.699 --> 00:05:16.860 Like, it's cheaper than forced deportation, which 00:05:16.860 --> 00:05:19.540 some estimates put around $17 ,000 per person. 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:23.500 But the reality is these voluntary departure 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:25.660 programs historically just don't work very well. 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:28.300 Low take up rates. Very low. And the people who 00:05:28.300 --> 00:05:30.240 do take the money are often those who are probably 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:32.259 planning to leave anyway. So it doesn't really 00:05:32.259 --> 00:05:34.420 address the core issues driving immigration. 00:05:34.579 --> 00:05:36.620 Not really. Things like family reunification, 00:05:37.180 --> 00:05:40.490 economic hardship back home, instability. The 00:05:40.490 --> 00:05:42.889 one -off payment doesn't change those fundamental 00:05:42.889 --> 00:05:46.550 factors. It kind of highlights maybe a lack of 00:05:46.550 --> 00:05:49.730 a really coherent long -term immigration strategy, 00:05:50.209 --> 00:05:52.670 despite all the talk. More symbolic than practical, 00:05:52.970 --> 00:05:54.709 perhaps. It almost feels like throwing ideas 00:05:54.709 --> 00:05:57.379 at the wall. One source even cheekily suggested 00:05:57.379 --> 00:06:00.100 a plan B, just mimic Biden's policies, do some 00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:02.259 high profile enforcement theater, declare victory 00:06:02.259 --> 00:06:04.139 and ignore the numbers. That's pretty cynical 00:06:04.139 --> 00:06:06.620 take, but it touches on that performative element 00:06:06.620 --> 00:06:09.439 you sometimes see in politics. And interestingly, 00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:11.779 the polls aren't showing great results for the 00:06:11.779 --> 00:06:14.600 administration on immigration right now. Disapproval 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:17.680 seems to be edging up. OK, let's shift to education. 00:06:18.459 --> 00:06:20.579 We keep hearing Republicans talk about left wing 00:06:20.579 --> 00:06:23.259 indoctrination in schools, universities. Right. 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:25.750 That's a familiar theme. But what's interesting 00:06:25.750 --> 00:06:28.709 in the materials you shared is the flip side, 00:06:29.209 --> 00:06:32.389 the suggestion that some on the right not only 00:06:32.389 --> 00:06:34.589 see this as possible, but maybe even desirable 00:06:34.589 --> 00:06:37.850 just with their ideology. So a belief in right 00:06:37.850 --> 00:06:39.970 -wing indoctrination too. It seems that way. 00:06:40.209 --> 00:06:41.970 You have figures like Stephen Miller talking 00:06:41.970 --> 00:06:46.269 about teaching kids to love America as a prerequisite 00:06:46.269 --> 00:06:48.730 for federal funding. And then there's Ryan Walters 00:06:48.730 --> 00:06:51.389 in Oklahoma, the education commissar. Oh, yeah. 00:06:51.430 --> 00:06:53.509 His proposed social studies standards really 00:06:53.509 --> 00:06:55.250 spell it out, don't they? They absolutely do. 00:06:55.269 --> 00:06:58.050 Extremely specific stuff, teaching the positive 00:06:58.050 --> 00:07:00.449 effects of Trump's tax cuts, the importance of 00:07:00.449 --> 00:07:02.850 border security, the idea that COVID definitely 00:07:02.850 --> 00:07:05.430 came from a Chinese lab, even raising questions 00:07:05.430 --> 00:07:08.230 about the 2020 election results. That sounds 00:07:08.230 --> 00:07:11.269 less like education and more like pushing a specific 00:07:11.269 --> 00:07:13.769 political viewpoint as fact. That's the criticism, 00:07:14.089 --> 00:07:16.149 certainly. It really blurs the line. Now, whether 00:07:16.149 --> 00:07:18.589 these efforts are actually effective, that's 00:07:18.589 --> 00:07:20.610 another question. You think students see through 00:07:20.610 --> 00:07:23.589 it? Often, yeah. Especially older students, maybe 00:07:23.589 --> 00:07:25.990 above fifth grade or so. They develop critical 00:07:25.990 --> 00:07:28.290 thinking. They can often spot bias. And then 00:07:28.290 --> 00:07:31.170 you have the teachers. Ah, the malicious compliance 00:07:31.170 --> 00:07:34.709 idea. Exactly. That's a fascinating concept our 00:07:34.709 --> 00:07:37.410 source raised. Teachers being told to do something. 00:07:37.689 --> 00:07:39.850 Follow the letter of the law, but maybe not the 00:07:39.850 --> 00:07:42.610 spirit. Like the Louisiana Ten Commandments example. 00:07:42.790 --> 00:07:45.889 Perfect example. The law says post the Ten Commandments. 00:07:46.569 --> 00:07:49.170 OK. But what if a teacher, instead of just putting 00:07:49.170 --> 00:07:51.930 up one version, creates this amazing comparative 00:07:51.930 --> 00:07:54.589 chart? Comparing commandments across different 00:07:54.589 --> 00:07:57.290 religions. Precisely. Showing ethical principles 00:07:57.290 --> 00:08:00.470 on, say, murder or suffering from Hinduism, Judaism, 00:08:00.730 --> 00:08:02.569 Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, 00:08:02.850 --> 00:08:05.959 Islam. citing chapter and verse for each. So 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:08.279 you fulfill the mandate, display religious text, 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:10.480 but you actually broaden the discussion, show 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:13.319 common ground, avoid favoring just one tradition. 00:08:13.399 --> 00:08:15.779 You got it. It subverts the likely intent of 00:08:15.779 --> 00:08:18.519 the law while technically complying. Very clever. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:21.920 OK, let's move over to the courts. Mephepristone. 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:24.779 The Trump administration says it's going to defend 00:08:24.779 --> 00:08:26.959 the drug. Let's look at the context here again. 00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:29.480 All right. So after Roe v. Wade was overturned, 00:08:29.699 --> 00:08:32.320 anti -abortion groups quickly targeted Mephepristone, 00:08:32.620 --> 00:08:36.070 the abortion pill. They filed suit, strategically, 00:08:36.570 --> 00:08:39.090 in Judge Cax Murray's court in Texas. Known for 00:08:39.090 --> 00:08:42.149 his anti -abortion stance. Right. And his initial 00:08:42.149 --> 00:08:45.570 ruling was sweeping, trying to revoke the FDA's 00:08:45.570 --> 00:08:48.570 original approval from decades ago. But the Supreme 00:08:48.570 --> 00:08:51.210 Court stepped in on that initial case. They did. 00:08:51.289 --> 00:08:53.590 They tossed it out, basically saying the original 00:08:53.590 --> 00:08:55.690 plaintiffs didn't have standing, they couldn't 00:08:55.690 --> 00:08:57.330 show they were directly harmed, and thus had 00:08:57.330 --> 00:09:00.230 no right to sue. But the fight isn't over. No. 00:09:00.350 --> 00:09:02.950 The case continued, but with different players, 00:09:03.330 --> 00:09:06.149 the states of Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas jumped 00:09:06.149 --> 00:09:08.690 in as interveners. The Biden administration had 00:09:08.690 --> 00:09:10.889 already filed arguments saying these states also 00:09:10.889 --> 00:09:13.029 lack standing, and they filed in the wrong court 00:09:13.029 --> 00:09:16.730 anyway. And the Trump administration is now picking 00:09:16.730 --> 00:09:19.509 up that same argument. Essentially, yes. They've 00:09:19.509 --> 00:09:21.330 filed their response, and it relies on the same 00:09:21.330 --> 00:09:23.730 jurisdictional arguments, lack of standing, wrong 00:09:23.730 --> 00:09:27.169 venue, drafted by the same career do -j lawyers 00:09:27.169 --> 00:09:30.230 who worked on it under Biden. This defending 00:09:30.230 --> 00:09:33.509 Myfpristone. It's not about the merits of the 00:09:33.509 --> 00:09:36.389 drug itself. It's a procedural argument. That's 00:09:36.389 --> 00:09:38.250 absolutely crucial to understand. They're arguing 00:09:38.250 --> 00:09:41.210 these states can't sue in this court. They are 00:09:41.210 --> 00:09:43.309 not currently making arguments defending the 00:09:43.309 --> 00:09:46.230 FDA's approval process or the safety and efficacy 00:09:46.230 --> 00:09:48.710 of Myfpristone on the merits. So their ultimate 00:09:48.710 --> 00:09:52.419 position on the drug itself is still... Unclear. 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:55.259 Very much so. They might want to appease their 00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:57.919 anti -choice base by restricting it, but a full 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:00.720 ban could create significant political backlash. 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:03.259 They're focused on the legal technicalities for 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:05.320 now. Okay, shifting focus again, North Carolina. 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:08.259 A classic Pueblo state, right? Close voter registration 00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:11.360 numbers. Yeah, very evenly split. 32 % Democrat, 00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:14.399 30 % Republican registered voters often split 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:17.360 statewide offices. But... And it's a big but. 00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:19.500 Gerrymandering. Gerrymandering means Republicans 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:21.980 have disproportionate control of the state legislature, 00:10:22.519 --> 00:10:24.940 state Supreme Court, and the U .S. House delegation 00:10:24.940 --> 00:10:27.179 compared to their statewide vote share. So we 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:29.320 have some mixed news coming out of there regarding 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:32.120 democratic processes. Good news first. The good 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:36.299 news is relatively minor but positive. A right 00:10:36.299 --> 00:10:40.100 -wing judge, Jefferson Griffin, finally conceded 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:42.929 defeat. to his left wing opponent, Allison Riggs, 00:10:43.669 --> 00:10:46.629 ending that particular 2024 election fight. OK. 00:10:46.830 --> 00:10:49.309 And the bad news? The bad news is potentially 00:10:49.309 --> 00:10:52.370 more significant. It involves who controls the 00:10:52.370 --> 00:10:55.389 state board of elections. The Republican legislature 00:10:55.389 --> 00:10:57.590 had previously stripped the apartment power from 00:10:57.590 --> 00:10:59.590 the Democratic governor and gave it to the Republican 00:10:59.590 --> 00:11:02.190 state auditor, Dave Bullock. Exactly. And the 00:11:02.190 --> 00:11:04.330 North Carolina appeals court just upheld that 00:11:04.330 --> 00:11:06.710 move. So the court sided with the legislature. 00:11:07.190 --> 00:11:09.649 Yes. And almost immediately after the ruling, 00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:12.240 Auditor Bullock appointed a Republican majority 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:14.860 to the state board of elections. Oof. That puts 00:11:14.860 --> 00:11:17.019 the board overseeing elections under the control 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:18.700 of the party that doesn't hold the governorship. 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:21.179 Precisely. It makes it very difficult for the 00:11:21.179 --> 00:11:23.279 current Democratic administration under Governor 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:26.340 Stein to influence election administration. It's 00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:28.879 seen as a real blow to Democratic checks and 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:31.399 balances in the state. Wow. OK, now for something 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:34.779 completely different. The papal election. Cardinal 00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:38.490 Robert Prevost becoming Pope Leo XIV. That seemed 00:11:38.490 --> 00:11:40.570 to come out of left field. Totally unexpected 00:11:40.570 --> 00:11:42.990 for most Vatican watchers. He wasn't really on 00:11:42.990 --> 00:11:45.409 the short list. Tell us about him. American? 00:11:45.690 --> 00:11:48.210 Yep, born in Chicago. Interesting background, 00:11:48.389 --> 00:11:50.389 started with a math degree, then went into theology 00:11:50.389 --> 00:11:52.850 and canon law, spent a long time as a missionary 00:11:52.850 --> 00:11:55.649 in Peru, became a bishop there, then moved into 00:11:55.649 --> 00:11:57.590 key administrative roles back in the Vatican, 00:11:58.070 --> 00:11:59.629 like leading the office that selects bishops 00:11:59.629 --> 00:12:02.570 worldwide. multilingual too. And his theological 00:12:02.570 --> 00:12:05.250 leaning more liberal. Generally seen that way, 00:12:05.450 --> 00:12:07.690 yeah. Maybe not quite as outspokenly progressive 00:12:07.690 --> 00:12:10.429 as Pope Francis, perhaps, but definitely in that 00:12:10.429 --> 00:12:13.850 vein. His papal motto is telling. In him who 00:12:13.850 --> 00:12:16.809 is one, we are one. Sounds like a call for unity 00:12:16.809 --> 00:12:19.230 inclusion. And there were those past comments 00:12:19.230 --> 00:12:21.610 critical of the Trump administration. There's 00:12:21.610 --> 00:12:24.480 a social media account believed to be legitimately 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:27.480 his from before he was Pope, that had some pointed 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:30.519 comments about Trump, JD Vance immigration policies. 00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:35.100 Interesting. So why him? Why now? Was it a statement 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:39.570 against? sort of Trumpism or rising authoritarianism. 00:12:39.909 --> 00:12:42.570 That's one interpretation gaining traction, a 00:12:42.570 --> 00:12:44.950 desire to push back against those global trends. 00:12:45.610 --> 00:12:47.490 Other factors could be in play too. Of course, 00:12:47.610 --> 00:12:50.370 the tradition of rotating the papacy among different 00:12:50.370 --> 00:12:52.809 religious orders representing the global diversity 00:12:52.809 --> 00:12:55.529 of Catholicism. And the reaction has been split. 00:12:55.909 --> 00:12:59.340 Very much so. Magalaya World reacted pretty negatively, 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:01.740 calling him Marxist, woke, you know, the drill. 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:04.539 Predictable, maybe. While more liberal Catholics 00:13:04.539 --> 00:13:07.200 like Kathleen Kennedy Townsend seem quite pleased. 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:10.480 And Trump himself sounded polite, but maybe through 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:13.620 gritted teeth. Seemed that way. He needs Catholic 00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:15.860 Republican voters so he can't be openly hostile. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:19.080 But given Prevost's past comments, you have to 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:22.000 assume Trump wasn't exactly thrilled. One source 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:23.840 even wonders if we'll see some kind of subtle 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.820 retaliation against the church down the line. 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:27.840 And the betting markets totally missed this one, 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:30.159 right? Completely. Previous was a real long shot. 00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:32.440 Anyone who put money on him probably did very, 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:35.019 very well. OK, let's circle all the way back 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:37.059 to that trade deal with the UK, the one that 00:13:37.059 --> 00:13:40.340 got a bit lost in the payable news shuffle. What 00:13:40.340 --> 00:13:42.990 is actually in it or in this framework? Yeah, 00:13:43.090 --> 00:13:45.409 it's funny how things get overshadowed. And it's 00:13:45.409 --> 00:13:47.570 good to remember the history trade with Britain 00:13:47.570 --> 00:13:51.250 was kind of a big deal back in 1776. Just a bit. 00:13:51.590 --> 00:13:53.470 This new announcement, though, as we said, is 00:13:53.470 --> 00:13:56.289 pretty light on specifics. Still feels more like 00:13:56.289 --> 00:13:59.450 an outline. So what concrete points do we have? 00:13:59.610 --> 00:14:03.210 OK, key things. Those 10 % tariffs on most British 00:14:03.210 --> 00:14:05.809 goods coming into the US, they stay for now. 00:14:06.409 --> 00:14:10.690 But the big 27 .5 % tariff on British cars. That's 00:14:10.690 --> 00:14:12.909 set to drop down to 10 percent. That's something, 00:14:12.929 --> 00:14:16.049 I guess. It is. But beyond that, details on other 00:14:16.049 --> 00:14:18.250 specific product tariffs are still fuzzy. Look, 00:14:18.389 --> 00:14:20.289 both Trump and the U .K. Prime Minister Starmer 00:14:20.289 --> 00:14:22.210 have political reasons to spin this as a win. 00:14:22.490 --> 00:14:24.570 But economists are less impressed. Yeah, one 00:14:24.570 --> 00:14:26.870 economist quoted. Stan Voyer basically said they 00:14:26.870 --> 00:14:29.269 took the status quo, made marginal changes and 00:14:29.269 --> 00:14:31.929 called it a deal. So not revolutionary then? 00:14:32.210 --> 00:14:34.830 Doesn't look like it. The optimistic view is 00:14:34.830 --> 00:14:38.070 maybe it's a template for future deals, but that 00:14:38.070 --> 00:14:41.470 feels... unlikely right now. It seems more like 00:14:41.470 --> 00:14:43.370 tweaking the edges. And the personnel changes. 00:14:43.590 --> 00:14:45.970 The clown show didn't stop there, did it? Ed 00:14:45.970 --> 00:14:48.529 Martin, the acting U .S. attorney for D .C., 00:14:48.529 --> 00:14:51.450 got moved. Yep. He was controversial. Senator 00:14:51.450 --> 00:14:54.149 Tillis refused to confirm him, so he's been shuffled 00:14:54.149 --> 00:14:57.809 off sideways to this DOJ weaponization working 00:14:57.809 --> 00:14:59.649 group, whatever that is. And his replacement. 00:14:59.850 --> 00:15:02.169 Jeanine Pirro. From Fox News? The very same. 00:15:02.549 --> 00:15:05.070 Look, she does have prosecutorial experience 00:15:05.070 --> 00:15:07.669 from way back, but she's mostly known now as 00:15:07.669 --> 00:15:10.529 a Well, a TV personality often pushing conspiracy 00:15:10.529 --> 00:15:13.149 theories, another show horse, maybe rather than 00:15:13.149 --> 00:15:15.870 a workhorse, and apparently taking a big pay 00:15:15.870 --> 00:15:17.509 cut for the job. Quite the pattern. And then 00:15:17.509 --> 00:15:19.210 the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, was 00:15:19.210 --> 00:15:22.529 fired. Yes, Dr. Hayden. Widely respected, appointed 00:15:22.529 --> 00:15:24.769 by Obama first African -American and first woman 00:15:24.769 --> 00:15:28.009 in the role. But she faced attacks from the right, 00:15:28.429 --> 00:15:32.090 woke, anti -Trump, and now she's out. Any guesses 00:15:32.090 --> 00:15:34.929 on her replacement? The speculation is it'll 00:15:34.929 --> 00:15:38.009 likely be someone who fits the current administration's 00:15:38.009 --> 00:15:41.009 preferences more closely, perhaps a white male 00:15:41.009 --> 00:15:44.169 with, shall we say, less enthusiasm for certain 00:15:44.169 --> 00:15:47.000 types of books or diverse perspectives. Let's 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:49.600 quickly loop back to that malicious compliance 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:53.080 idea in education. The source gave concrete examples 00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:56.220 beyond just the concept, right? Yes, really illustrating 00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:58.820 how it could work with that Louisiana Ten Commandments 00:15:58.820 --> 00:16:01.720 mandate. Imagine a teacher creating that comparative 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:04.240 chart. Right, showing different religious texts 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:07.500 on similar ethical themes. Exactly. Like under 00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:09.940 the heading murder or killing, you'd have the 00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:12.299 verse from Exodus, but also relevant passages 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:15.259 from the Bhagavad Gita, the Torah, the Analects 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:18.039 of Confucius. Buddhist Dhammapada, the Tao Te 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:20.320 Ching, the Koran. All cited properly by verse. 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:23.000 Precisely. So you're fulfilling the legal letter 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:25.539 displaying religious text related to the commandments, 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:28.620 but you're doing it in a way that promotes comparative 00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:31.399 religion and critical thinking. Not just elevating 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:34.080 one tradition, it completely changes the impact. 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:36.600 A subtle but powerful way to push back while 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:39.240 staying within the lines. It really highlights 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:42.659 the ingenuity educators might employ when faced 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:45.450 with directives they find problematic. So wrapping 00:16:45.450 --> 00:16:47.909 up this deep dive, it's really been a journey 00:16:47.909 --> 00:16:50.389 through interconnected themes, hasn't it? Unexpected 00:16:50.389 --> 00:16:53.610 twists, patterns repeating? Definitely. You see 00:16:53.610 --> 00:16:56.690 the tension between political messaging and policy 00:16:56.690 --> 00:16:59.990 reality, the ongoing battles for control in institutions 00:16:59.990 --> 00:17:03.309 from election boards to the Vatican, and these 00:17:03.309 --> 00:17:05.609 persistent cultural clashes playing out in areas 00:17:05.609 --> 00:17:08.539 like education and health care. Hopefully pulling 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:10.640 these threads together gives you, our listener, 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:13.220 a much richer picture than just the headlines 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:15.900 alone, a sense of the underlying dynamics. That's 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:18.420 always the aim, to get beyond the surface noise. 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:20.619 So here's a final thought to leave you with. 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:23.960 We've seen how trade deals, papal choices, school 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:26.680 policies, court cases, even personnel appointments 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:29.079 can reflect these broader power struggles and 00:17:29.079 --> 00:17:31.420 cultural shifts. Where else are you seeing these 00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:34.079 forces collide? What underlying currents connect 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:36.660 seemingly unrelated stories in the news you follow? 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:37.619 Something to ponder.