News, Notes, and Notions for 28Jul2024
While I was out, everything changed - because of course it did - so here's a whole bunch of catchup, recaps, and ICYMIs from the last few weeks of fast moving events
Friday, July 12th, was supposed to be my last day of usual operations before a few weeks off. I’d promised my family and made commitments to “not work” on political stuff as things like the oldest kid's wedding and the subsequent intrastate moving thereof loomed. Jim Lokay at Fox 5 DC asked me to do the Final 5 on that Friday, and since I would be done with that hit juuuust before my midnight self-imposed deadline I rolled out of bed, threw a coat and dress shirt on over my WVU basketball shorts, and commented on the political world as it existed at 11:41 PM Eastern Time in the United State of America in the Year of Our Lord 2024
So much for that take, except the “plenty more twists and turns” part.
18 Hours later, an attempted assassin killed one man, injured two others, and grazed former President Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania.
The following Monday, Trump announced Appalachian appropriator JD Vance as his running mate.
Then the RNC for four days.
Then on Sunday, a few hours before the wedding, President Joe Biden announced he wasn’t running for re-election.
Then the Kamala Harris campaign kick-off/retooling.
Now we are on Harris VP selection watch.
Thus is thus.
Best laid plans and so forth.
I am thankful though, that I was mostly away and only intermediately online during all that. 7+ hours driving a UHaul across three states the day after the Trump attempted assassination meant time to mostly listen and deep thinking and reflection on things. The following week Up Yonder prepping for the wedding and spending family time was most welcomed. The president stepping down got a “huh, that’s big, but we are busy right now” response from just about everyone as we tried to get vows vowed and food consumed and all the right angles for pictures up on our mountain.
The wedding was a great, if tiring, success. It was also a great lesson. The biggest news events in the media really can take a back seat for a few hours, days, even a week or two. The fate of the country is a big F’n deal, as our now lame-duck president famously said once. But that only matters if the home fires are tended properly and our own families are secure. The political imbalance in our country is as it is because folks get all hot and bothered more by what is on their screens than what is going on in their actual lives. More outraged by the “they” and “them” over there than minding the “ours” and “mine” right where they are.
Keep the main things the main things, and be amazed that the outrage machine inherent within us as humans becomes much easier to manage.
Media Appearances:
I spoke with The News Forum up in Canada about the Soyna Massey body cam footage and subsequent murder charges for the deputy who shot and killed her in her own home.
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Your Heard Tell Show is turning down the noise of the news cycle and getting to the information we need to discern our times by talking about President Biden's address to the nation regarding his decision not to seek re-election, VP Kamala Harris kicks off her 2024 campaign and the state of the race, the camera footage and criminal charges regarding the police killing of Sonya Massey, an ethical question from the Eton entrance exams applies to recent protests in DC and leadership everywhere plus real talk about faith, politics, and American Evangelical Christianity plus WV's Babydog is popping up everywhere.
All that and more on this episode of Heard Tell.
00: Intro/ President Biden Addresses Nation on Not Seeking Re-Election
09:08 Kamala Harris Kicks Off 2024 Campaign & State of The Race
20:55 Sonya Massey Shooting, Body Cam Footage, & Murder Charges
26:50 DC Protests, Leadership, & Ethical Lesson from Eton on Both
37:47 Evangelical Christians & Partisan Politics
47:00 Babydog, Art Superstar
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Your Heard Tell Show is turning down the noise of the news cycle and getting to the information we need to discern our times by talking about the selection of US Senator JD Vance of Ohio to be the GOP nominee for vice president. We talk about the fallout from the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the security failure and questions, how the Trump rally crowd reacted, and coverage thereof. Then, some thoughts and observations of the Republican National Convention and the forming narrative question of what will be "Trump's Legacy" for a party he now fully controls.
All that and more on this episode of Heard Tell.
00: Intro/ Vance Wins Veepstakes
15:31 Trump Assassination Attempt Fallout
29:15 RNC Thoughts/Trump Legacy
42:10 Last Battle of Britian Survivor Turns 105
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Your Heard Tell Show is turning down the noise of the news cycle and getting to the information we need to discern our times by talking to our returning friend Benjamin Ayanian about the difference between the what folks want to happen with policy proposals and how real world factors like economics, politics, and human nature change the ideal theories and best intentions into daunting challenges. Benjamin is the author of the book "Beyond Intentions" which covers many such policies, and we take time to have a grown folk talk about such popular debates as minimum wage, rent control, universal healthcare, and wealth tax.
All that and more on this episode of Heard Tell.
00: Intro/ Problems with Talking Policy in Internet Age
09:05 Minimum Wage
23:25 Rent Control
30:20 Universal Healthcare
55:25 Wealth Tax
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Your Heard Tell Show is turning down the noise of the news cycle and getting to the information we need to discern our times by going beyond the headlines of what Vladimir Putin and Russia are doing in the world and examining how they help fund everything from the invasion of Ukraine, destruction in Syria, power projection elsewhere, and more. Our friend David Clement returns to Heard Tell as one member of the team of experts that put together The Blood Gold Report: How the Kremlin is using Wagner to launder billions in African gold to talk the network of front companies, mercenaries, strongman regimes, friendly governments, and exploited African peoples that funnel billions of dollars from central Africa to the coffers of the Putin dictatorship. Providing background on what and where Wagner group came from, how the world didn't learn the lessons of Russia in Syria, and the spread of Russian influence and power in Africa gives a better perspective on the event in Russia, Ukraine, and elsewhere. Plus, David explains the usefulness and limits of sanctions, and other methods that might be used to deal with the Blood Gold issue economically, as a geo-political problem, and as the humanitarian disaster Russia is causing.
All that and more on this episode of Heard Tell.
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