• PA Governor Josh Shapiro targeted in arson attack during Passover, suspect charged with terrorism and attempted murder
• Financial expert Ray Dalio warns of "something worse than recession" if Trump's tariff policies aren't managed properly
• Arizona counties begin removing non-citizens from voter rolls following successful lawsuit targeting 50,000 registrants
• Russian missiles kill 34 civilians in Ukraine's Sumy during Palm Sunday
• Taiwan plans to use 7-Eleven stores as emergency supply and communication hubs if China attacks
• Federal judge orders USDA to unfreeze funding to Maine during dispute over transgender athletes in women's sports
• Trump administration receives praise from animal rights groups for ending certain testing requirements
• President's physical exam shows "excellent health" despite scarring from assassination attempt
The stark divide in American politics couldn't be more visible than this past weekend's contrasting scenes: Bernie Sanders preaching about economic justice to Coachella festival-goers while President Trump basked in thunderous applause at UFC 314 in Miami. These parallel moments perfectly capture our nation's widening cultural and political gap in 2025.
Source Credits:
https://nypost.com/2025/04/13/us-news/pennsylvania-gov-josh-shapiro-arson-suspect-arrested/ https://nypost.com/2025/04/13/us-news/coachella-2025-bernie-sanders-delivers-ranting-speech-at-festival-as-trump-thrills-ufc-crowd-in-florida/ https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/investor-predicted-2008-financial-crisis-says-worried-something-worse-rcna201040 https://www.foxnews.com/politics/scoop-arizona-begin-removing-many-50k-non-citizens-from-voter-rolls-following-lawsuit https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-sumy-b034da8f4d83d08e5ea24c6033dbe3cf https://nypost.com/2025/04/12/world-news/taiwan-plans-to-use-7-elevens-as-war-hubs-if-china-attacks/ https://nypost.com/2025/04/13/us-news/stephen-a-smith-insists-i-have-no-choice-but-to-consider-presidential-run-as-pastor-encourages-him/ https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-seeks-emergency-powers-take-control-british-steel-2025-04-12/ https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/04/13/federal-judge-orders-usda-to-unfreeze-funding-to-maine-as-trans-athletes-dispute-continues/ https://www.foxnews.com/politics/peta-animal-rights-groups-praise-trump-admin-bucking-animal-testing https://www.foxnews.com/politics/results-president-trumps-physical-released-what-they-say
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ranting-politics/id1677427078
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2rFqmUhX6ReG2s2DX824Rk?si=b450dbea7a5a4dce
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello America, joc, here with your ranting politics
headline updates, where we arediving into today's most
explosive political stories thatyou need to know about Coming
up.
We're bringing you the lateston the shocking arson attack at
Pennsylvania Governor JoshShapiro's residence that sent
his family fleeing in the middleof the night during Passover
celebrations.
(00:22):
Police have arrested a suspectwho's now facing terrorism and
attempted murder charges.
Then it's a tale of twopolitical worlds, as Bernie
Sanders took the stage atCoachella to rant about climate
change and economic justice,while President Trump received
thunderous applause at a UFCevent in Miami.
The stark contrast perfectlycaptures America's political
(00:45):
divide in 2025.
Also ahead, wall Street veteranRay Dalio, who correctly
predicted the 2008 financialcrisis, is sounding the alarm
about something potentiallyworse than a recession if
Trump's tariff policies aren'tproperly managed.
We'll break down his warningsigns and what they could mean
for your wallet.
In election integrity news,arizona is taking action to
(01:07):
remove non-citizens from voterrolls following a successful
lawsuit.
We've got details on how thisimpacts nearly 50,000
registrants across all 15counties, plus the devastating
Russian missile strike on aUkrainian city during Palm
Sunday that killed dozens ofcivilians, taiwan's unusual plan
to use 7-Eleven stores as warhubs if China attacks and ESPN
(01:29):
host Stephen A Smith'ssurprising claim that he has no
choice but to consider apresidential run in 2028.
We'll also cover Britain'semergency measures to take
control of their last steelproducer, the ongoing dispute
between the Trump administrationand Maine over transgender
athletes in women's sports,animal rights groups praising
Trump for ending certain animaltesting requirements, and the
(01:52):
results of President Trump'slatest physical examination,
which notes excellent healthdespite scarring from last
year's assassination attempt.
It's a jam-packed show that youwon't want to miss.
This is Ranting PoliticsHeadline Updates America's
fastest-growing daily newsrundown, designed for your
commute.
We don't align with a politicalparty.
(02:13):
We align with you, the Americancitizen.
This is Ranting PoliticsHeadline Updates.
(02:35):
In a disturbing development outof Pennsylvania, state police
have arrested 38-year-oldHarrisburg resident Cody Balmer
for an arson attack thattargeted Governor Josh Shapiro's
official residence during thefirst night of Passover.
The attack sent the governorand his family fleeing their
home in the middle of the night.
According to authorities,balmer is facing a slew of
(02:56):
serious charges, includingattempted murder, terrorism,
aggravated arson and aggravatedassault against an enumerated
person.
This is no small-time vandalism, folks.
We're talking about potentiallylife-altering charges that
carry severe penalties.
Governor Shapiro, who is Jewish, became visibly emotional when
addressing the public about the2 am attack that occurred while
(03:18):
he and his family were asleep.
The timing couldn't have beenmore symbolic happening during
Passover celebrations, when thegovernor had welcomed members of
the Jewish community into hishome for a Seder.
Shapiro delivered a powerfulmessage to the attacker, saying
If he was trying to terrorizeour family, our friends, the
Jewish community who joined usfor a Passover Seder in that
(03:39):
room last night hear me on this.
We celebrated our faith lastnight proudly and in a few hours
we will celebrate our secondcedar of Passover.
Investigators believe Balmermanaged to access the gated
compound by jumping a fence.
They've described the attack astargeted, though they haven't
yet pinpointed a specific motivebehind it.
(04:00):
Thankfully, the entire Shapirofamily was safely evacuated and
no injuries were reported.
Governor Shapiro, a rising starin the Democratic Party, who was
first elected in 2022 afterserving six years as
Pennsylvania's Attorney General,took a strong stand against
political violence.
Following the attack, he didn'tmince words when addressing the
broader issue.
(04:20):
This type of violence is notokay, shapiro declared.
This kind of violence isbecoming far too common in our
society and I don't give a damnif it's coming from one
particular side or the other,directed at one particular party
or another, one particularperson or another.
It is not okay and it has tostop.
We have to be better than this.
While Shapiro was on the shortlist of potential running mates
(04:43):
for Kamala Harris in 2024 and isfrequently mentioned as a
potential presidential contenderfor 2028, the governor made it
clear that this attack has onlystrengthened his resolve to
serve Pennsylvanians.
Rest assured, he stated, I willfind a way to work even harder
than I was just yesterday forthe good people of Pennsylvania.
This incident comes amidgrowing concerns about political
(05:05):
violence and threats againstpublic officials across the
country.
The New York Post was first toreport on the arrest and charges
, highlighting the increasinglydangerous environment that many
elected officials now operate in.
Talk about a political cultureclash.
This weekend showcased the deepdivide in American politics as
two very different politicalevents unfolded simultaneously
(05:29):
across the country.
In the California desert,83-year-old Senator Bernie
Sanders traded his usual Senatechamber for the Coachella Music
Festival stage, delivering afiery speech that had nothing to
do with music and everything todo with his signature political
messaging.
Sanders served as the surpriseopening act for indie
singer-songwriter Claro, usinghis platform to rail against his
(05:51):
pet causes to a crowd offestival-goers.
This country faces some verydifficult challenges and the
future of what happens toAmerica is dependent on your
generation.
Sanders told the Coachellaattendees, many of whom had come
for the music rather than apolitical lecture.
But the Vermont senator wasn'tabout to miss this opportunity
to preach to the young,left-leaning crowd.
(06:12):
We need you to stand up tofight for justice, to fight for
economic justice, social justiceand racial justice.
Sanders pontificated to anenthusiastic audience in the
blue state of California and, intrue Bernie fashion, he didn't
hold back when mentioningPresident Trump, whose name
triggered a chorus of boos fromthe crowd.
(06:33):
Now we got a president of theUnited States.
Sanders began before beinginterrupted by the negative
reaction.
I agree.
He responded playing to thecrowd before launching into
familiar talking points.
He thinks that climate changeis a hoax.
He is dangerously wrong and youand I are going to have to
stand up to the fossil fuelindustry and tell them to stop
(06:54):
destroying this planet.
Meanwhile, across the country,in Miami, president Trump was
receiving a completely differentreception.
As Sanders lectured abouthealthcare being a human right
and railed against thebillionaire class, trump was
basking in thunderous applauseat UFC 314, where the crowd gave
him a hero's welcome.
The stark contrast couldn'thave been more apparent Sanders
(07:18):
using his platform at a musicfestival to criticize Trump and
advocate for an end to theterrible, brutal war in Gaza,
while Trump connected with UFCfans in a battleground state
that he won handily in the 2024election.
These dueling appearanceshighlight how political figures
are increasingly venturingbeyond traditional venues to
reach audiences, whether it's amusic festival in California or
(07:40):
a UFC event in Florida.
As America's political andcultural divides continue to
deepen, one of America's mostrenowned financial experts is
sounding the alarm aboutpotential economic trouble ahead
, and he's warning it could beworse than a recession if the
Trump administration doesn'thandle its policies carefully.
Ray Dalio, the billionairefounder of hedge fund
(08:01):
Bridgewater Associates, whofamously predicted the 2008
financial crisis, shared hisconcerns during a sobering
interview on NBC's Meet thePress this weekend.
I think that right now we areat a decision-making point and
very close to a recession.
Dalio told moderator KristenWelker and I'm worried about
something worse than a recessionif this isn't handled well.
(08:22):
Dalio's warning came inresponse to a question about
whether President Trump's tariffpolicies could push the United
States into a recession.
The financial expert didn'tmince words about the precarious
position he believes thecountry is in, we have a
breaking down of the monetaryorder.
Dalio explained a topic he'sbeen vocal about on social media
(08:43):
.
He compared the currenteconomic landscape to the
turbulent 1930s, noting that weare having profound changes in
our domestic order and we'rehaving profound changes in the
world order.
According to Dalio, thecombination of tariffs,
excessive debt and what hedescribed as a rising power
challenging the existing powercreates changes that are very,
(09:05):
very disruptive.
He specifically highlightedconcerns about America's
unsustainable debt growth andcreditors like China holding too
much of it, along with thedecline in US manufacturing that
has led to reliance on othercountries for essential items.
When pressed about what aworst-case scenario might look
like, dalio painted a grimpicture that went well beyond
(09:26):
typical economic concerns.
I'm worried about the value ofmoney, internal conflict that is
not the normal democracy as weknow it.
An international conflict in away that is highly disruptive to
the world economy and couldeven be a military conflict, he
said.
Despite these dire warnings,dalio believes the situation
could still be managed very well.
(09:46):
He urged members of Congress topledge to reduce the budget
deficit to about 3% of the grossdomestic product, suggesting
that without such action, we'regoing to have a supply-demand
problem for debt at the sametime as we have these other
problems, and the results ofthat will be worse than a normal
recession.
In a lengthy post on X ahead ofTrump's temporary reductions in
(10:08):
his sweeping tariff increases,dalio emphasized that, while
tariffs are importantdevelopments, people are mostly
overlooking the vastly moreimportant forces that are
driving just about everything.
The far bigger, far moreimportant thing to keep in mind
is that we are seeing a classicbreakdown of the major monetary,
political and geopoliticalorders.
(10:29):
He wrote.
This sort of breakdown occursonly about once in a lifetime,
but they have happened manytimes in history when similar
unsustainable conditions were inplace.
Associates Dalio's hedge fundfamously anticipated the 2008
financial crisis, warning in2007 of embedded risks in the
(10:52):
system and predicting thatinterest rates would rise until
there is a cracking of thefinancial system.
His current warnings carry theweight of that previous accuracy
, making his concerns abouttoday's economic vulnerabilities
all the more significant.
Stay with us as we take a quickbreak to hear from our lead
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Speaker 1 (12:22):
A major election integrity initiative is now
underway in Arizona, where all15 counties have begun the
process of verifying andpotentially removing
non-citizens from their voterrolls.
This comes after a successfullawsuit by America First Legal
that's targeting nearly 50,000registrants who failed to
provide proof of US citizenshipwhen they registered to vote.
(12:43):
James Rogers, senior counselfor America First Legal, called
the settlement a great resultfor all Arizonans, following his
organization's lawsuit againstthe 15 Arizona counties.
The legal action was filed onbehalf of ESAZorg and Yvonne
Cahill, a registered voter andnaturalized citizen.
The lawsuit argued thatcounties weren't following state
(13:07):
law requiring proof ofcitizenship to vote in local and
state elections.
It also contended that thestate wasn't conducting required
monthly checks of the rolls fornon-citizens.
Now, as a result of the legalaction, all 15 counties have
begun working with theDepartment of Homeland Security
to verify the citizenship statusof registered voters who failed
(13:27):
to provide citizenship proofwhen they registered.
This is where it gets a bitcomplicated.
While a 2013 Supreme Courtruling prevents states from
imposing voter registrationrequirements beyond the federal
requirement that registrantscheck a box affirming their US
citizenship, arizona residentsare still required to provide
(13:47):
actual proof of citizenship tovote in state and local
elections.
Arizona law also mandates thatcounty recorders perform monthly
list maintenance to confirm UScitizenship of what are called
federal-only voters, that listof nearly 50,000 individuals who
didn't provide proof ofcitizenship and were therefore
(14:07):
only allowed to vote in federalelections, not state or local
ones.
Under the law, registrantsconfirmed to be citizens are
moved to the regular voter list,while those found to be
non-citizens have theirregistrations canceled.
But according to the lawsuit,county recorders weren't
utilizing available resources toverify citizenship status.
Rogers explained thesignificance of the settlement,
(14:29):
saying this will help countyrecorders find and remove any
aliens on their voter rolls.
It will also potentiallyenfranchise federal-only voters
whose citizenship is confirmed,which would allow them to vote
in state and local elections.
The verification process hasnow kicked into gear across the
state.
All 15 counties have sentrequests to DHS seeking
(14:52):
assistance in their efforts toclear voter rolls of
non-citizens, a move thatelection integrity advocates are
hailing as an important stepforward.
Rogers added that hisorganization congratulates each
of Arizona's 15 county recordersfor taking this bold and
important step for electionintegrity in the state.
County recorders for takingthis bold and important step for
election integrity in the state.
(15:12):
The verification and potentialremoval of non-citizens from
voter rolls comes amidheightened national attention on
election security ahead of the2026 midterms, with both
Democrats and Republicansfocused on ensuring that only
eligible voters participate inelections.
Tragedy struck Ukraine on PalmSunday as Russian missiles tore
through the heart of the city ofSumy, killing at least 34
(15:33):
people, including two children.
The devastating attack happenedas residents gathered to
celebrate the religious holiday,leaving a community shattered
and the international communityoutraged.
Ukrainian officials report thattwo ballistic missiles struck
the city around 10.15 am.
The first hit buildingsbelonging to a city university,
while the second exploded abovestreet level, seemingly designed
(15:55):
to maximize casualties.
Beyond the deaths, another 117people were wounded in the
attack, including 15 children.
According to Ukraine's stateemergency service, images from
the scene painted a horrificpicture Lines of black body bags
along the roadside, bodieswrapped in foil blankets among
the debris, and emergency crewsbattling to extinguish fires and
(16:18):
burned out cars amid the rubbleof damaged buildings.
Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky didn't mince words in
his response, saying only filthyscum can act like this, taking
the lives of ordinary people.
The head of Zelensky's office,andriy Yermak, claimed the
strike used cluster munitionsspecifically to maximize
(16:38):
civilian casualties, thoughthese claims couldn't be
independently verified.
This attack follows anotherdeadly missile strike just days
earlier, on April 4th, inZelensky's hometown of Krivyi
Rih that killed around 20 people, including nine children,
suggesting a disturbing patternof targeting civilian areas.
French President Emmanuel Macroncondemned the attack, stating
(17:00):
it undermined Washington-ledpeace talks between the warring
sides.
Everyone knows this war wasinitiated by Russia alone, and
today it is clear that Russiaalone chooses to continue it,
with blatant disregard for humanlives, international law and
the diplomatic efforts ofPresident Trump.
Macron said in a statement.
(17:21):
The timing of the attack isparticularly significant, coming
just one day after Russian andUkrainian diplomats accused each
other of violating a tentativeUS-brokered deal to pause
strikes on energy infrastructure.
The attack also raises fearsabout a potential Russian spring
offensive that Ukrainianofficials have been warning
about.
Russian Foreign Minister SergeiLavrov had claimed that Ukraine
(17:44):
had been attacking us from thevery beginning, every passing
day, while his Ukrainiancounterpart, andriy Sibihay,
contested this, stating thatRussia had launched nearly 70
missiles, over 2,200 explodingdrones and more than 6,000
guided aerial bombs at Ukraine,mostly at civilians, since
(18:05):
agreeing to the pause on strikes.
The violence wasn't limited toSumy.
On the same day, russianattacks in Ukraine's Kursan
region killed three people andanother person died during
shelling in the Donetsk region.
Meanwhile, in Kharkiv, aRussian strike hit a
kindergarten, though fortunatelyno casualties were reported
there.
Us Special Envoy Keith Kelloggsaid the Sumy attack crossed any
(18:28):
line of decency and reaffirmedthe White House's commitment to
ending the conflict.
Secretary of State Marco Rubiocalled the attack horrifying and
described it as a tragicreminder of why the
administration was trying tosecure a just and durable peace,
and durable peace.
(18:51):
As rescue operations continuein Sumi, this Palm Sunday attack
stands as a grim reminder ofthe human cost of a war now
dragging into its fourth yearwith no clear end in sight,
despite ongoing diplomaticefforts.
In what could be described asconvenience store conscription,
taiwan is eyeing a remarkablypractical wartime strategy by
transforming its ubiquitous7-Eleven stores into emergency
(19:12):
hubs should China ever launch anattack on the island nation.
According to reporting from theGuardian, taiwan's government
is seriously considering plansto utilize its network of more
than 13,000 7-Eleven conveniencestores as critical
infrastructure during apotential conflict.
Convenience stores as criticalinfrastructure during a
potential conflict.
These stores, which dotvirtually every neighborhood
(19:36):
across the island, would servedual roles as both supply depots
and communication centers.
The plan would see thesefamiliar storefronts stockpiling
essential rations and medicalsupplies for the Taiwanese
population, but perhaps moreingeniously, they would function
as emergency communicationoutposts in a scenario where
China cuts off internet accessto the island, a likely first
move in any invasion attempt.
Citizens would be able to sendmessages through the store's
(19:59):
emergency hotspots, creating agrassroots communication network
when traditional channels fail.
Meanwhile, government officialswould distribute critical
information and updates via faxto the stores, where messages
would be printed and displayedin windows for the public to
read.
A low-tech solution to ahigh-tech problem.
While the strategy might seemunusual, it builds on Taiwan's
(20:22):
existing emergency responseframeworks.
These same 7-11s have alreadyproven their value during
previous crises, including theCOVID-19 pandemic, and in the
aftermath of earthquakes thathave struck the island.
The contingency planning comesamid escalating tensions across
the Taiwan Strait.
China has long claimed theself-ruled democratic island as
(20:45):
part of its territory and hasramped up aggressive military
drills in recent years.
Just last week, beijingconducted exercises in the
Taiwan Strait following USDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth's
visit to Asia, where he pledgedto counter Chinese aggression.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-tehas been actively preparing for
various crisis scenarios,assembling a team of 27 senior
(21:07):
cabinet and national securityministers, who have already met
three times to develop responseplans.
The team reportedly conducted alive drill last week to test
their preparedness.
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(21:28):
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(21:48):
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(22:09):
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Okay, now stand up and stretch.
We will be right back to talkabout Mother Britain finally
taking steps to secure itsindustries.
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Speaker 1 (23:19):
Britain has taken extraordinary measures to save
its steel industry from collapse.
With Parliament recalled forits first Saturday emergency
session since the Falklands Warin 1982.
The UK government has moved toseize control of British steel
and keep its blast furnacesoperational amid dire financial
circumstances.
(23:39):
The China-owned company, whichemploys 3,500 people at its
Scunthorpe plant, has beenhemorrhaging money at an
alarming rate of £700,000.
That's about $900,000.
Every single day.
Without government intervention, the company's furnaces faced
imminent closure.
Prime Minister Keir Starmerdidn't mince words about the
(24:02):
gravity of the situation,acknowledging that the emergency
legislation was prettyunprecedented but necessary to
preserve Britain's steelindustry.
The bill will go through todayand that means that we will then
be in control of the site,starmer said.
During a visit to the steelworks, business Minister Jonathan
Reynolds told lawmakers thatwhile the government hopes to
(24:24):
eventually partner with theprivate sector, full
nationalization is increasinglylooking like the most viable
option.
A transfer of ownership to thestate remains on the table and
it may well at this stage, giventhe behavior of the company, be
the likely option.
Reynolds said the closure ofBritish Steel's furnaces would
leave the UK as the only G7nation unable to produce virgin
(24:46):
steel from iron ore.
This would make Britainentirely dependent on foreign
imports for a material that'sessential to national security
and infrastructure.
The government had alreadyearmarked £2.5 billion for the
steel industry and promised topublish a strategy for the
sector in spring 2025.
If the company is ultimatelynationalized, it would represent
the largest state rescue sinceseveral banks were taken into
(25:09):
government hands during the 2008financial crisis.
British Steel's struggles aren'tunique.
The company has been battlingin an oversupplied global market
for years.
Recent energy price spikes andnewly imposed US tariffs of 25%
on all steel imports have onlyworsened the situation.
According to industry body UKSteel, the US receives about 5%
(25:31):
of British steel exports, worthapproximately 400 million pounds
annually.
The emergency law cleared itsinitial parliamentary stages
without opposition, reflectingthe cross-party recognition of
steel's strategic importance tothe British economy.
Unions representing steelworkers and industry bodies have
welcomed the government'sdecisive action to preserve both
(25:54):
the country's steel makingcapability and thousands of jobs
in an industry that has definedcommunities like Scunthorpe for
generations.
A federal judge has stepped intoa heated confrontation between
the Trump administration and thestate of Maine, ordering the
USDA to unfreeze federal fundingwhile the dispute over
(26:15):
transgender athletes continuesto simmer.
District Court Judge JohnWoodcock issued a temporary
restraining order Friday inresponse to Maine's legal
challenge against the Departmentof Agriculture's funding freeze
.
The standoff began on April 2ndwhen USDA Secretary Brooke
Rollins announced the agency waspausing federal funds to Maine
(26:37):
after Democratic Governor JanetMills refused to bar
transgender-identifying malesfrom competing in girls' sports.
Rollins made it clear in herletter to Mills the USDA
specifically targeted certainadministrative and technological
(27:00):
functions in schools, whileemphasizing that the pause would
not impact federal feedingprograms or direct assistance to
Mainers.
Rollins added that the freezewould end immediately if Mills
complied with federal law.
Maine Attorney General AaronFry quickly filed a federal
complaint, arguing that the USDAwas illegally withholding grant
(27:20):
funds that go to keepingchildren fed.
According to court documents,maine's child nutrition program
had received, or was due toreceive, more than $1.8 million
for the current fiscal year,with another $900,000 in prior
year funds currentlyinaccessible.
The program was alsoanticipating roughly $3 million
(27:41):
typically awarded each July forsummer meal programs.
In issuing his restrainingorder, judge Woodcock carefully
noted that his decision doesn'tweigh in on the larger dispute
about transgender athletes.
It merely addresses theimmediate funding freeze.
The conflict stems fromPresident Trump's executive
order on keeping men out ofwomen's sports, which aims to
(28:01):
protect female student-athletesfrom having to compete with or
against or having to appearunclothed before males.
The order mandates federaldepartments to review and
potentially rescind funding toeducation programs that fail to
comply.
Maine officials have publiclyrefused to follow the directive,
citing state law that allowsstudents to play on teams
(28:23):
matching their gender identity.
The conflict gained nationalattention in February when a
transgender-identifying boyclaimed victory in Maine's Class
B championship for the GreeleyHigh School Girls track and
field team.
President Trump and GovernorMills engaged in a public
exchange over the issue at theRepublican Governors Association
dinner in February.
(28:44):
We are the federal law.
You better do it, becauseyou're not going to get any
federal funding if you don't,trump warned Mills, fired back
with See you in court, to whichTrump responded Good, see you in
court.
That should be a real easy one.
Enjoy your life after, governor.
I don't think you'll be inelected office.
Both the Department ofEducation and Department of
(29:06):
Health and Human Servicessubsequently launched
investigations and found Mainein violation of Title IX.
Just this Friday, maineresponded to a DOE letter
refusing to sign a resolutionagreeing to comply with the
Trump administration'sinterpretation of Title IX,
stating we agree that we are atan impasse.
The Department of Education hasnow begun the process of
(29:29):
referring its investigation tothe Department of Justice for
further enforcement and isworking to terminate Maine's
federal K-12 funding entirely.
This signals that, despite thetemporary restraining order on
USDA funding, the broader battleover transgender athletes and
federal funding is far from over.
In a surprising turn of events,the Trump administration is
(29:50):
receiving an unexpected wave ofsupport from animal rights
organizations following recentannouncements to end animal
testing within key federalagencies.
Both the FDA and EPA haveunveiled plans to phase out
traditional animal testingrequirements, marking what many
advocates call a significantvictory for animal welfare.
Peta's senior vice president,kathy Guillermo, praised the
(30:14):
FDA's decision, calling it asignificant step towards meeting
the agency's commitment toreplace the use of animals.
The organization further urgedthe FDA to embrace 21st century
science by ending all animaltesting, including experiments
on primates, at federally fundedresearch centers.
On Thursday, fda CommissionerMartin Macri announced the
(30:36):
agency would phase out animaltesting requirements for
antibody therapies and otherdrugs.
Instead, the FDA will encouragetesting on organoids,
artificially grown masses ofcells that mimic human organs.
Dogs, rats and fish have beenthe primary subjects for these
tests until now.
For too long, drugmanufacturers have performed
additional animal testing ofdrugs that have data in broad
(30:58):
human use internationally.
Mccary explained, by leveragingAI-based computational modeling
, human organ model-based labtesting and real-world human
data, we can get safertreatments to patients faster
and more reliably, while alsoreducing R&D costs and drug
prices.
It is a win-win for publichealth and ethics.
On the same day, epa Chief LeeZeldin announced the agency
(31:22):
would reinstate a 2019 policyfrom Trump's first
administration that aims tocompletely phase out animal
testing by 2035.
Administration that aims tocompletely phase out animal
testing by 2035.
An EPA spokesperson noted thatthe Biden administration had
halted progress on these effortsby delaying compliance
deadlines, but that Zeldin iswholly committed to getting the
agency back on track.
The White Coat Waste Project,which previously exposed
(31:45):
controversial beagle experimentsunder Dr Anthony Fauci's
leadership at the NationalInstitute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases, alsocelebrated the announcements.
White Coat Waste made historicprogress under Trump 45 to cut
wasteful and cruel animaltesting at the EPA and FDA, some
of which was undone by theBiden administration, said
(32:05):
Justin Goodman, the group'ssenior vice president.
Not everyone is convincedalternatives are ready to fully
replace animal testing.
Matthew Bailey, president ofthe National Association for
Biomedical Research, cautionedthat no AI model or simulation
has yet demonstrated the abilityto fully replicate all the
unknowns about many fullbiological systems, arguing that
(32:28):
humane animal research remainsindispensable.
This isn't the first time theTrump administration has taken
steps to protect animals.
During his first term, trumpsigned the Preventing Animal
Cruelty and Torture Act into lawin 2019, making intentional
acts of cruelty a federal crime.
For now, animal rightsadvocates are celebrating what
(32:50):
they see as a significant shiftin federal policy, while
researchers debate how quicklyand completely testing
alternatives can replacetraditional animal models in
ensuring drug safety.
The White House has released theresults of President Trump's
annual physical and, accordingto Navy Captain Sean P
Barbabella, the physician to thepresident, trump remains in
(33:11):
excellent health.
The comprehensive examination,which took place Friday morning
at Walter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center, included
diagnostic and laboratorytesting, along with
consultations from 14 specialtyconsultants.
The detailed report outlinesthe president's vital statistics
standing at 75 inches tall,weighing 224 pounds, with a
(33:34):
resting heart rate of 62 beatsper minute and blood pressure of
128.74.
His temperature registered at anormal 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit,
with pulse oximetry at 99% onroom air.
Perhaps most notable in thephysical findings was the
mention of scarring on the rightear from a gunshot wound, a
(33:55):
stark reminder of theassassination attempt on the
president earlier this year.
Despite this.
The examination raised nosignificant abnormalities or red
flags regarding the president'soverall health.
The report also highlightedTrump's lifelong abstinence from
tobacco and alcohol as apositive factor in his medical
history.
Currently, the president takesfour medications rosuvastatin
(34:18):
and ezetimibe to controlcholesterol, aspirin for cardiac
prevention and memetazone creamas needed for a skin condition.
Barbabella specificallycredited Trump's active
lifestyle as contributingsignificantly to his well-being.
President Trump's days includeparticipation in multiple
meetings, public appearances,press availability and frequent
victories in golf.
(34:39):
Events noted the release.
The physician concluded thatTrump and physical health and is
fully fit to execute the dutiesof the commander-in-chief and
head of state.
This clean bill of health comesas the president continues to
maintain a busy schedule,balancing the demands of office
with public appearances.
The annual physical is standardprotocol for sitting presidents
(35:02):
, but this year's report drawsadditional attention following
concerns about presidentialhealth that have dominated
political discourse throughoutrecent election cycles.
The White House has beentransparent with the results,
providing specific metrics thatsuggest Trump is in robust
health despite his age and thephysical toll of the presidency.
(35:23):
Well, that's all the time wehave for today's episode of
Ranting Politics HeadlineUpdates.
I've been your host, joc,bringing you the unfiltered
truth about what's happeningacross America and around the
world.
From Governor Shapiro'sterrifying Passover arson attack
to Bernie Sanders' ranting atCoachella, from economic storm
warnings to Taiwan turningconvenience stores into war
(35:43):
rooms, we've covered a lot ofground today.
Without the partisan spinyou'll get elsewhere.
If you enjoyed today's episodeand want to keep up with our
daily news rundowns, make sureyou follow us on X at Ranting RP
.
You can also catch fullepisodes on YouTube, spotify,
iheartradio and Apple Podcasts.
For more in-depth analysis andall our latest content, head
(36:03):
over to RantingPoliticscom,america's fastest growing daily
news program, designed for yourcommute run or coffee break.
Remember we don't align withany political party.
We align with you, the Americancitizen.
This is JOC signing off andthank you, our loyal listeners,
for choosing Ranting PoliticsHeadline Updates.
We'll be back soon with theupdates you need to navigate
(36:25):
these interesting times.
Until then, stay tuned, stayinformed and, as always, stay
free.
Hello America, joc, here with your ranting politics
headline updates, where we arediving into today's most
explosive political stories thatyou need to know about Coming
up.
We're bringing you the lateston the shocking arson attack at
Pennsylvania Governor JoshShapiro's residence that sent
his family fleeing in the middleof the night during Passover
celebrations.
(00:22):
Police have arrested a suspectwho's now facing terrorism and
attempted murder charges.
Then it's a tale of twopolitical worlds, as Bernie
Sanders took the stage atCoachella to rant about climate
change and economic justice,while President Trump received
thunderous applause at a UFCevent in Miami.
The stark contrast perfectlycaptures America's political
(00:45):
divide in 2025.
Also ahead, wall Street veteranRay Dalio, who correctly
predicted the 2008 financialcrisis, is sounding the alarm
about something potentiallyworse than a recession if
Trump's tariff policies aren'tproperly managed.
We'll break down his warningsigns and what they could mean
for your wallet.
In election integrity news,arizona is taking action to
(01:07):
remove non-citizens from voterrolls following a successful
lawsuit.
We've got details on how thisimpacts nearly 50,000
registrants across all 15counties, plus the devastating
Russian missile strike on aUkrainian city during Palm
Sunday that killed dozens ofcivilians, taiwan's unusual plan
to use 7-Eleven stores as warhubs if China attacks and ESPN
(01:29):
host Stephen A Smith'ssurprising claim that he has no
choice but to consider apresidential run in 2028.
We'll also cover Britain'semergency measures to take
control of their last steelproducer, the ongoing dispute
between the Trump administrationand Maine over transgender
athletes in women's sports,animal rights groups praising
Trump for ending certain animaltesting requirements, and the
(01:52):
results of President Trump'slatest physical examination,
which notes excellent healthdespite scarring from last
year's assassination attempt.
It's a jam-packed show that youwon't want to miss.
This is Ranting PoliticsHeadline Updates America's
fastest-growing daily newsrundown, designed for your
commute.
We don't align with a politicalparty.
(02:13):
We align with you, the Americancitizen.
This is Ranting PoliticsHeadline Updates.
(02:35):
In a disturbing development outof Pennsylvania, state police
have arrested 38-year-oldHarrisburg resident Cody Balmer
for an arson attack thattargeted Governor Josh Shapiro's
official residence during thefirst night of Passover.
The attack sent the governorand his family fleeing their
home in the middle of the night.
According to authorities,balmer is facing a slew of
(02:56):
serious charges, includingattempted murder, terrorism,
aggravated arson and aggravatedassault against an enumerated
person.
This is no small-time vandalism, folks.
We're talking about potentiallylife-altering charges that
carry severe penalties.
Governor Shapiro, who is Jewish, became visibly emotional when
addressing the public about the2 am attack that occurred while
(03:18):
he and his family were asleep.
The timing couldn't have beenmore symbolic happening during
Passover celebrations, when thegovernor had welcomed members of
the Jewish community into hishome for a Seder.
Shapiro delivered a powerfulmessage to the attacker, saying
If he was trying to terrorizeour family, our friends, the
Jewish community who joined usfor a Passover Seder in that
(03:39):
room last night hear me on this.
We celebrated our faith lastnight proudly and in a few hours
we will celebrate our secondcedar of Passover.
Investigators believe Balmermanaged to access the gated
compound by jumping a fence.
They've described the attack astargeted, though they haven't
yet pinpointed a specific motivebehind it.
(04:00):
Thankfully, the entire Shapirofamily was safely evacuated and
no injuries were reported.
Governor Shapiro, a rising starin the Democratic Party, who was
first elected in 2022 afterserving six years as
Pennsylvania's Attorney General,took a strong stand against
political violence.
Following the attack, he didn'tmince words when addressing the
broader issue.
(04:20):
This type of violence is notokay, shapiro declared.
This kind of violence isbecoming far too common in our
society and I don't give a damnif it's coming from one
particular side or the other,directed at one particular party
or another, one particularperson or another.
It is not okay and it has tostop.
We have to be better than this.
While Shapiro was on the shortlist of potential running mates
(04:43):
for Kamala Harris in 2024 and isfrequently mentioned as a
potential presidential contenderfor 2028, the governor made it
clear that this attack has onlystrengthened his resolve to
serve Pennsylvanians.
Rest assured, he stated, I willfind a way to work even harder
than I was just yesterday forthe good people of Pennsylvania.
This incident comes amidgrowing concerns about political
(05:05):
violence and threats againstpublic officials across the
country.
The New York Post was first toreport on the arrest and charges
, highlighting the increasinglydangerous environment that many
elected officials now operate in.
Talk about a political cultureclash.
This weekend showcased the deepdivide in American politics as
two very different politicalevents unfolded simultaneously
(05:29):
across the country.
In the California desert,83-year-old Senator Bernie
Sanders traded his usual Senatechamber for the Coachella Music
Festival stage, delivering afiery speech that had nothing to
do with music and everything todo with his signature political
messaging.
Sanders served as the surpriseopening act for indie
singer-songwriter Claro, usinghis platform to rail against his
(05:51):
pet causes to a crowd offestival-goers.
This country faces some verydifficult challenges and the
future of what happens toAmerica is dependent on your
generation.
Sanders told the Coachellaattendees, many of whom had come
for the music rather than apolitical lecture.
But the Vermont senator wasn'tabout to miss this opportunity
to preach to the young,left-leaning crowd.
(06:12):
We need you to stand up tofight for justice, to fight for
economic justice, social justiceand racial justice.
Sanders pontificated to anenthusiastic audience in the
blue state of California and, intrue Bernie fashion, he didn't
hold back when mentioningPresident Trump, whose name
triggered a chorus of boos fromthe crowd.
(06:33):
Now we got a president of theUnited States.
Sanders began before beinginterrupted by the negative
reaction.
I agree.
He responded playing to thecrowd before launching into
familiar talking points.
He thinks that climate changeis a hoax.
He is dangerously wrong and youand I are going to have to
stand up to the fossil fuelindustry and tell them to stop
(06:54):
destroying this planet.
Meanwhile, across the country,in Miami, president Trump was
receiving a completely differentreception.
As Sanders lectured abouthealthcare being a human right
and railed against thebillionaire class, trump was
basking in thunderous applauseat UFC 314, where the crowd gave
him a hero's welcome.
The stark contrast couldn'thave been more apparent Sanders
(07:18):
using his platform at a musicfestival to criticize Trump and
advocate for an end to theterrible, brutal war in Gaza,
while Trump connected with UFCfans in a battleground state
that he won handily in the 2024election.
These dueling appearanceshighlight how political figures
are increasingly venturingbeyond traditional venues to
reach audiences, whether it's amusic festival in California or
(07:40):
a UFC event in Florida.
As America's political andcultural divides continue to
deepen, one of America's mostrenowned financial experts is
sounding the alarm aboutpotential economic trouble ahead
, and he's warning it could beworse than a recession if the
Trump administration doesn'thandle its policies carefully.
Ray Dalio, the billionairefounder of hedge fund
(08:01):
Bridgewater Associates, whofamously predicted the 2008
financial crisis, shared hisconcerns during a sobering
interview on NBC's Meet thePress this weekend.
I think that right now we areat a decision-making point and
very close to a recession.
Dalio told moderator KristenWelker and I'm worried about
something worse than a recessionif this isn't handled well.
(08:22):
Dalio's warning came inresponse to a question about
whether President Trump's tariffpolicies could push the United
States into a recession.
The financial expert didn'tmince words about the precarious
position he believes thecountry is in, we have a
breaking down of the monetaryorder.
Dalio explained a topic he'sbeen vocal about on social media
(08:43):
.
He compared the currenteconomic landscape to the
turbulent 1930s, noting that weare having profound changes in
our domestic order and we'rehaving profound changes in the
world order.
According to Dalio, thecombination of tariffs,
excessive debt and what hedescribed as a rising power
challenging the existing powercreates changes that are very,
(09:05):
very disruptive.
He specifically highlightedconcerns about America's
unsustainable debt growth andcreditors like China holding too
much of it, along with thedecline in US manufacturing that
has led to reliance on othercountries for essential items.
When pressed about what aworst-case scenario might look
like, dalio painted a grimpicture that went well beyond
(09:26):
typical economic concerns.
I'm worried about the value ofmoney, internal conflict that is
not the normal democracy as weknow it.
An international conflict in away that is highly disruptive to
the world economy and couldeven be a military conflict, he
said.
Despite these dire warnings,dalio believes the situation
could still be managed very well.
(09:46):
He urged members of Congress topledge to reduce the budget
deficit to about 3% of the grossdomestic product, suggesting
that without such action, we'regoing to have a supply-demand
problem for debt at the sametime as we have these other
problems, and the results ofthat will be worse than a normal
recession.
In a lengthy post on X ahead ofTrump's temporary reductions in
(10:08):
his sweeping tariff increases,dalio emphasized that, while
tariffs are importantdevelopments, people are mostly
overlooking the vastly moreimportant forces that are
driving just about everything.
The far bigger, far moreimportant thing to keep in mind
is that we are seeing a classicbreakdown of the major monetary,
political and geopoliticalorders.
(10:29):
He wrote.
This sort of breakdown occursonly about once in a lifetime,
but they have happened manytimes in history when similar
unsustainable conditions were inplace.
Associates Dalio's hedge fundfamously anticipated the 2008
financial crisis, warning in2007 of embedded risks in the
(10:52):
system and predicting thatinterest rates would rise until
there is a cracking of thefinancial system.
His current warnings carry theweight of that previous accuracy
, making his concerns abouttoday's economic vulnerabilities
all the more significant.
Stay with us as we take a quickbreak to hear from our lead
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Speaker 1 (12:22):
A major election integrity initiative is now
underway in Arizona, where all15 counties have begun the
process of verifying andpotentially removing
non-citizens from their voterrolls.
This comes after a successfullawsuit by America First Legal
that's targeting nearly 50,000registrants who failed to
provide proof of US citizenshipwhen they registered to vote.
(12:43):
James Rogers, senior counselfor America First Legal, called
the settlement a great resultfor all Arizonans, following his
organization's lawsuit againstthe 15 Arizona counties.
The legal action was filed onbehalf of ESAZorg and Yvonne
Cahill, a registered voter andnaturalized citizen.
The lawsuit argued thatcounties weren't following state
(13:07):
law requiring proof ofcitizenship to vote in local and
state elections.
It also contended that thestate wasn't conducting required
monthly checks of the rolls fornon-citizens.
Now, as a result of the legalaction, all 15 counties have
begun working with theDepartment of Homeland Security
to verify the citizenship statusof registered voters who failed
(13:27):
to provide citizenship proofwhen they registered.
This is where it gets a bitcomplicated.
While a 2013 Supreme Courtruling prevents states from
imposing voter registrationrequirements beyond the federal
requirement that registrantscheck a box affirming their US
citizenship, arizona residentsare still required to provide
(13:47):
actual proof of citizenship tovote in state and local
elections.
Arizona law also mandates thatcounty recorders perform monthly
list maintenance to confirm UScitizenship of what are called
federal-only voters, that listof nearly 50,000 individuals who
didn't provide proof ofcitizenship and were therefore
(14:07):
only allowed to vote in federalelections, not state or local
ones.
Under the law, registrantsconfirmed to be citizens are
moved to the regular voter list,while those found to be
non-citizens have theirregistrations canceled.
But according to the lawsuit,county recorders weren't
utilizing available resources toverify citizenship status.
Rogers explained thesignificance of the settlement,
(14:29):
saying this will help countyrecorders find and remove any
aliens on their voter rolls.
It will also potentiallyenfranchise federal-only voters
whose citizenship is confirmed,which would allow them to vote
in state and local elections.
The verification process hasnow kicked into gear across the
state.
All 15 counties have sentrequests to DHS seeking
(14:52):
assistance in their efforts toclear voter rolls of
non-citizens, a move thatelection integrity advocates are
hailing as an important stepforward.
Rogers added that hisorganization congratulates each
of Arizona's 15 county recordersfor taking this bold and
important step for electionintegrity in the state.
County recorders for takingthis bold and important step for
election integrity in the state.
(15:12):
The verification and potentialremoval of non-citizens from
voter rolls comes amidheightened national attention on
election security ahead of the2026 midterms, with both
Democrats and Republicansfocused on ensuring that only
eligible voters participate inelections.
Tragedy struck Ukraine on PalmSunday as Russian missiles tore
through the heart of the city ofSumy, killing at least 34
(15:33):
people, including two children.
The devastating attack happenedas residents gathered to
celebrate the religious holiday,leaving a community shattered
and the international communityoutraged.
Ukrainian officials report thattwo ballistic missiles struck
the city around 10.15 am.
The first hit buildingsbelonging to a city university,
while the second exploded abovestreet level, seemingly designed
(15:55):
to maximize casualties.
Beyond the deaths, another 117people were wounded in the
attack, including 15 children.
According to Ukraine's stateemergency service, images from
the scene painted a horrificpicture Lines of black body bags
along the roadside, bodieswrapped in foil blankets among
the debris, and emergency crewsbattling to extinguish fires and
(16:18):
burned out cars amid the rubbleof damaged buildings.
Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky didn't mince words in
his response, saying only filthyscum can act like this, taking
the lives of ordinary people.
The head of Zelensky's office,andriy Yermak, claimed the
strike used cluster munitionsspecifically to maximize
(16:38):
civilian casualties, thoughthese claims couldn't be
independently verified.
This attack follows anotherdeadly missile strike just days
earlier, on April 4th, inZelensky's hometown of Krivyi
Rih that killed around 20 people, including nine children,
suggesting a disturbing patternof targeting civilian areas.
French President Emmanuel Macroncondemned the attack, stating
(17:00):
it undermined Washington-ledpeace talks between the warring
sides.
Everyone knows this war wasinitiated by Russia alone, and
today it is clear that Russiaalone chooses to continue it,
with blatant disregard for humanlives, international law and
the diplomatic efforts ofPresident Trump.
Macron said in a statement.
(17:21):
The timing of the attack isparticularly significant, coming
just one day after Russian andUkrainian diplomats accused each
other of violating a tentativeUS-brokered deal to pause
strikes on energy infrastructure.
The attack also raises fearsabout a potential Russian spring
offensive that Ukrainianofficials have been warning
about.
Russian Foreign Minister SergeiLavrov had claimed that Ukraine
(17:44):
had been attacking us from thevery beginning, every passing
day, while his Ukrainiancounterpart, andriy Sibihay,
contested this, stating thatRussia had launched nearly 70
missiles, over 2,200 explodingdrones and more than 6,000
guided aerial bombs at Ukraine,mostly at civilians, since
(18:05):
agreeing to the pause on strikes.
The violence wasn't limited toSumy.
On the same day, russianattacks in Ukraine's Kursan
region killed three people andanother person died during
shelling in the Donetsk region.
Meanwhile, in Kharkiv, aRussian strike hit a
kindergarten, though fortunatelyno casualties were reported
there.
Us Special Envoy Keith Kelloggsaid the Sumy attack crossed any
(18:28):
line of decency and reaffirmedthe White House's commitment to
ending the conflict.
Secretary of State Marco Rubiocalled the attack horrifying and
described it as a tragicreminder of why the
administration was trying tosecure a just and durable peace,
and durable peace.
(18:51):
As rescue operations continuein Sumi, this Palm Sunday attack
stands as a grim reminder ofthe human cost of a war now
dragging into its fourth yearwith no clear end in sight,
despite ongoing diplomaticefforts.
In what could be described asconvenience store conscription,
taiwan is eyeing a remarkablypractical wartime strategy by
transforming its ubiquitous7-Eleven stores into emergency
(19:12):
hubs should China ever launch anattack on the island nation.
According to reporting from theGuardian, taiwan's government
is seriously considering plansto utilize its network of more
than 13,000 7-Eleven conveniencestores as critical
infrastructure during apotential conflict.
Convenience stores as criticalinfrastructure during a
potential conflict.
These stores, which dotvirtually every neighborhood
(19:36):
across the island, would servedual roles as both supply depots
and communication centers.
The plan would see thesefamiliar storefronts stockpiling
essential rations and medicalsupplies for the Taiwanese
population, but perhaps moreingeniously, they would function
as emergency communicationoutposts in a scenario where
China cuts off internet accessto the island, a likely first
move in any invasion attempt.
Citizens would be able to sendmessages through the store's
(19:59):
emergency hotspots, creating agrassroots communication network
when traditional channels fail.
Meanwhile, government officialswould distribute critical
information and updates via faxto the stores, where messages
would be printed and displayedin windows for the public to
read.
A low-tech solution to ahigh-tech problem.
While the strategy might seemunusual, it builds on Taiwan's
(20:22):
existing emergency responseframeworks.
These same 7-11s have alreadyproven their value during
previous crises, including theCOVID-19 pandemic, and in the
aftermath of earthquakes thathave struck the island.
The contingency planning comesamid escalating tensions across
the Taiwan Strait.
China has long claimed theself-ruled democratic island as
(20:45):
part of its territory and hasramped up aggressive military
drills in recent years.
Just last week, beijingconducted exercises in the
Taiwan Strait following USDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth's
visit to Asia, where he pledgedto counter Chinese aggression.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-tehas been actively preparing for
various crisis scenarios,assembling a team of 27 senior
(21:07):
cabinet and national securityministers, who have already met
three times to develop responseplans.
The team reportedly conducted alive drill last week to test
their preparedness.
My friends, if you're enjoyingthe insights and the independent
ethos we're dishing out here atRanting Politics, don't be a
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(21:28):
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(21:48):
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(22:09):
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Okay, now stand up and stretch.
We will be right back to talkabout Mother Britain finally
taking steps to secure itsindustries.
Speaker 3 (22:19):
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Speaker 1 (23:19):
Britain has taken extraordinary measures to save
its steel industry from collapse.
With Parliament recalled forits first Saturday emergency
session since the Falklands Warin 1982.
The UK government has moved toseize control of British steel
and keep its blast furnacesoperational amid dire financial
circumstances.
(23:39):
The China-owned company, whichemploys 3,500 people at its
Scunthorpe plant, has beenhemorrhaging money at an
alarming rate of £700,000.
That's about $900,000.
Every single day.
Without government intervention, the company's furnaces faced
imminent closure.
Prime Minister Keir Starmerdidn't mince words about the
(24:02):
gravity of the situation,acknowledging that the emergency
legislation was prettyunprecedented but necessary to
preserve Britain's steelindustry.
The bill will go through todayand that means that we will then
be in control of the site,starmer said.
During a visit to the steelworks, business Minister Jonathan
Reynolds told lawmakers thatwhile the government hopes to
(24:24):
eventually partner with theprivate sector, full
nationalization is increasinglylooking like the most viable
option.
A transfer of ownership to thestate remains on the table and
it may well at this stage, giventhe behavior of the company, be
the likely option.
Reynolds said the closure ofBritish Steel's furnaces would
leave the UK as the only G7nation unable to produce virgin
(24:46):
steel from iron ore.
This would make Britainentirely dependent on foreign
imports for a material that'sessential to national security
and infrastructure.
The government had alreadyearmarked £2.5 billion for the
steel industry and promised topublish a strategy for the
sector in spring 2025.
If the company is ultimatelynationalized, it would represent
the largest state rescue sinceseveral banks were taken into
(25:09):
government hands during the 2008financial crisis.
British Steel's struggles aren'tunique.
The company has been battlingin an oversupplied global market
for years.
Recent energy price spikes andnewly imposed US tariffs of 25%
on all steel imports have onlyworsened the situation.
According to industry body UKSteel, the US receives about 5%
(25:31):
of British steel exports, worthapproximately 400 million pounds
annually.
The emergency law cleared itsinitial parliamentary stages
without opposition, reflectingthe cross-party recognition of
steel's strategic importance tothe British economy.
Unions representing steelworkers and industry bodies have
welcomed the government'sdecisive action to preserve both
(25:54):
the country's steel makingcapability and thousands of jobs
in an industry that has definedcommunities like Scunthorpe for
generations.
A federal judge has stepped intoa heated confrontation between
the Trump administration and thestate of Maine, ordering the
USDA to unfreeze federal fundingwhile the dispute over
(26:15):
transgender athletes continuesto simmer.
District Court Judge JohnWoodcock issued a temporary
restraining order Friday inresponse to Maine's legal
challenge against the Departmentof Agriculture's funding freeze
.
The standoff began on April 2ndwhen USDA Secretary Brooke
Rollins announced the agency waspausing federal funds to Maine
(26:37):
after Democratic Governor JanetMills refused to bar
transgender-identifying malesfrom competing in girls' sports.
Rollins made it clear in herletter to Mills the USDA
specifically targeted certainadministrative and technological
(27:00):
functions in schools, whileemphasizing that the pause would
not impact federal feedingprograms or direct assistance to
Mainers.
Rollins added that the freezewould end immediately if Mills
complied with federal law.
Maine Attorney General AaronFry quickly filed a federal
complaint, arguing that the USDAwas illegally withholding grant
(27:20):
funds that go to keepingchildren fed.
According to court documents,maine's child nutrition program
had received, or was due toreceive, more than $1.8 million
for the current fiscal year,with another $900,000 in prior
year funds currentlyinaccessible.
The program was alsoanticipating roughly $3 million
(27:41):
typically awarded each July forsummer meal programs.
In issuing his restrainingorder, judge Woodcock carefully
noted that his decision doesn'tweigh in on the larger dispute
about transgender athletes.
It merely addresses theimmediate funding freeze.
The conflict stems fromPresident Trump's executive
order on keeping men out ofwomen's sports, which aims to
(28:01):
protect female student-athletesfrom having to compete with or
against or having to appearunclothed before males.
The order mandates federaldepartments to review and
potentially rescind funding toeducation programs that fail to
comply.
Maine officials have publiclyrefused to follow the directive,
citing state law that allowsstudents to play on teams
(28:23):
matching their gender identity.
The conflict gained nationalattention in February when a
transgender-identifying boyclaimed victory in Maine's Class
B championship for the GreeleyHigh School Girls track and
field team.
President Trump and GovernorMills engaged in a public
exchange over the issue at theRepublican Governors Association
dinner in February.
(28:44):
We are the federal law.
You better do it, becauseyou're not going to get any
federal funding if you don't,trump warned Mills, fired back
with See you in court, to whichTrump responded Good, see you in
court.
That should be a real easy one.
Enjoy your life after, governor.
I don't think you'll be inelected office.
Both the Department ofEducation and Department of
(29:06):
Health and Human Servicessubsequently launched
investigations and found Mainein violation of Title IX.
Just this Friday, maineresponded to a DOE letter
refusing to sign a resolutionagreeing to comply with the
Trump administration'sinterpretation of Title IX,
stating we agree that we are atan impasse.
The Department of Education hasnow begun the process of
(29:29):
referring its investigation tothe Department of Justice for
further enforcement and isworking to terminate Maine's
federal K-12 funding entirely.
This signals that, despite thetemporary restraining order on
USDA funding, the broader battleover transgender athletes and
federal funding is far from over.
In a surprising turn of events,the Trump administration is
(29:50):
receiving an unexpected wave ofsupport from animal rights
organizations following recentannouncements to end animal
testing within key federalagencies.
Both the FDA and EPA haveunveiled plans to phase out
traditional animal testingrequirements, marking what many
advocates call a significantvictory for animal welfare.
Peta's senior vice president,kathy Guillermo, praised the
(30:14):
FDA's decision, calling it asignificant step towards meeting
the agency's commitment toreplace the use of animals.
The organization further urgedthe FDA to embrace 21st century
science by ending all animaltesting, including experiments
on primates, at federally fundedresearch centers.
On Thursday, fda CommissionerMartin Macri announced the
(30:36):
agency would phase out animaltesting requirements for
antibody therapies and otherdrugs.
Instead, the FDA will encouragetesting on organoids,
artificially grown masses ofcells that mimic human organs.
Dogs, rats and fish have beenthe primary subjects for these
tests until now.
For too long, drugmanufacturers have performed
additional animal testing ofdrugs that have data in broad
(30:58):
human use internationally.
Mccary explained, by leveragingAI-based computational modeling
, human organ model-based labtesting and real-world human
data, we can get safertreatments to patients faster
and more reliably, while alsoreducing R&D costs and drug
prices.
It is a win-win for publichealth and ethics.
On the same day, epa Chief LeeZeldin announced the agency
(31:22):
would reinstate a 2019 policyfrom Trump's first
administration that aims tocompletely phase out animal
testing by 2035.
Administration that aims tocompletely phase out animal
testing by 2035.
An EPA spokesperson noted thatthe Biden administration had
halted progress on these effortsby delaying compliance
deadlines, but that Zeldin iswholly committed to getting the
agency back on track.
The White Coat Waste Project,which previously exposed
(31:45):
controversial beagle experimentsunder Dr Anthony Fauci's
leadership at the NationalInstitute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases, alsocelebrated the announcements.
White Coat Waste made historicprogress under Trump 45 to cut
wasteful and cruel animaltesting at the EPA and FDA, some
of which was undone by theBiden administration, said
(32:05):
Justin Goodman, the group'ssenior vice president.
Not everyone is convincedalternatives are ready to fully
replace animal testing.
Matthew Bailey, president ofthe National Association for
Biomedical Research, cautionedthat no AI model or simulation
has yet demonstrated the abilityto fully replicate all the
unknowns about many fullbiological systems, arguing that
(32:28):
humane animal research remainsindispensable.
This isn't the first time theTrump administration has taken
steps to protect animals.
During his first term, trumpsigned the Preventing Animal
Cruelty and Torture Act into lawin 2019, making intentional
acts of cruelty a federal crime.
For now, animal rightsadvocates are celebrating what
(32:50):
they see as a significant shiftin federal policy, while
researchers debate how quicklyand completely testing
alternatives can replacetraditional animal models in
ensuring drug safety.
The White House has released theresults of President Trump's
annual physical and, accordingto Navy Captain Sean P
Barbabella, the physician to thepresident, trump remains in
(33:11):
excellent health.
The comprehensive examination,which took place Friday morning
at Walter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center, included
diagnostic and laboratorytesting, along with
consultations from 14 specialtyconsultants.
The detailed report outlinesthe president's vital statistics
standing at 75 inches tall,weighing 224 pounds, with a
(33:34):
resting heart rate of 62 beatsper minute and blood pressure of
128.74.
His temperature registered at anormal 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit,
with pulse oximetry at 99% onroom air.
Perhaps most notable in thephysical findings was the
mention of scarring on the rightear from a gunshot wound, a
(33:55):
stark reminder of theassassination attempt on the
president earlier this year.
Despite this.
The examination raised nosignificant abnormalities or red
flags regarding the president'soverall health.
The report also highlightedTrump's lifelong abstinence from
tobacco and alcohol as apositive factor in his medical
history.
Currently, the president takesfour medications rosuvastatin
(34:18):
and ezetimibe to controlcholesterol, aspirin for cardiac
prevention and memetazone creamas needed for a skin condition.
Barbabella specificallycredited Trump's active
lifestyle as contributingsignificantly to his well-being.
President Trump's days includeparticipation in multiple
meetings, public appearances,press availability and frequent
victories in golf.
(34:39):
Events noted the release.
The physician concluded thatTrump and physical health and is
fully fit to execute the dutiesof the commander-in-chief and
head of state.
This clean bill of health comesas the president continues to
maintain a busy schedule,balancing the demands of office
with public appearances.
The annual physical is standardprotocol for sitting presidents
(35:02):
, but this year's report drawsadditional attention following
concerns about presidentialhealth that have dominated
political discourse throughoutrecent election cycles.
The White House has beentransparent with the results,
providing specific metrics thatsuggest Trump is in robust
health despite his age and thephysical toll of the presidency.
(35:23):
Well, that's all the time wehave for today's episode of
Ranting Politics HeadlineUpdates.
I've been your host, joc,bringing you the unfiltered
truth about what's happeningacross America and around the
world.
From Governor Shapiro'sterrifying Passover arson attack
to Bernie Sanders' ranting atCoachella, from economic storm
warnings to Taiwan turningconvenience stores into war
(35:43):
rooms, we've covered a lot ofground today.
Without the partisan spinyou'll get elsewhere.
If you enjoyed today's episodeand want to keep up with our
daily news rundowns, make sureyou follow us on X at Ranting RP
.
You can also catch fullepisodes on YouTube, spotify,
iheartradio and Apple Podcasts.
For more in-depth analysis andall our latest content, head
(36:03):
over to RantingPoliticscom,america's fastest growing daily
news program, designed for yourcommute run or coffee break.
Remember we don't align withany political party.
We align with you, the Americancitizen.
This is JOC signing off andthank you, our loyal listeners,
for choosing Ranting PoliticsHeadline Updates.
We'll be back soon with theupdates you need to navigate
(36:25):
these interesting times.
Until then, stay tuned, stayinformed and, as always, stay
free.
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