Balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype.Every episode ends with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement for perspective and peace. Learn more.
Timestamps & Topics
* 2:40 — Opening segment: Heavy news week
* 6:32 — ICE in Minnesota
* 22:32 — Jack Smith testifies against Trump
* 28:22 — Tensions with Iran escalate
* 33:34 — Update on Venezuala
* 40:39 — Israel says not-so-fast on Gaza reconstruction
* 46:24 — How the West (and Ukraine) is closing in on Russia’s “Shadow Fleet”
* 53:08 — Windfarm victories in court tell a larger story
* 53:39 — A reminder that Russia is not winning in Ukraine. Not even close.
* 1:00:29 — Faith message
* 1:08:01 — About me, the mission, and my books
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Books: I write stories about duty, leadership, and moral responsibility — often under extreme pressure. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.
Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.
U.S. news:
Opening Segment – Heavy News Week
This has been one of those weeks.
The kind of week where the news feels relentless — headline after headline, outrage piled on outrage — and it can feel like the country is coming apart at the seams.
But I want to slow things down for just a moment, because this is important.
In weeks like this, the loudest voices on the far left and the far right get amplified. Social media, cable news, and algorithms reward anger, certainty, and extremes. That’s what cuts through the noise.
But that does not mean those voices represent most of the country.
Most Americans are not spending their days glued to political fights. They’re going to work. They’re raising kids. They’re caring for aging parents. They’re trying to pay bills, keep their marriages together, and live decent lives. Most Americans are not radical activists. They’re not screaming online. And they’re not rooting for the country to fail just so “their side” can win.
In fact, a huge number of Americans don’t vote at all. In most elections, tens of millions sit it out. Even in presidential years, turnout rarely reaches the full population. That alone should remind us that the political temperature we see online is not the temperature of the nation as a whole.
The truth is, the center of this country is much larger—and much quieter—than the extremes would have you believe.
And that matters, because the way forward doesn’t come from the edges. It comes from normal people — the middle — deciding to engage more, not less. It comes from showing up and voting for sane, serious candidates who understand that compromise isn’t weakness. It’s how a diverse republic actually survives.
We’ve been through uncertainty before. Worse than this. And every time, the country didn’t make it through because one side crushed the other—but because enough reasonable Americans refused to give in to fear, chaos, or despair.
So if this week has felt heavy, here’s the reminder:
You’re not alone.
The country is not as broken as it sometimes looks.
And we are going to get through this—together.
And for people of faith, this is also a moment to remember that our hope was never supposed to rest in politics or personalities. It rests in something steadier — something bigger than any news cycle. When things feel uncertain, that grounding matters.
That’s the perspective I want to hold onto as we go into this episode.
Some Republicans now openly acknowledge that the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis has gone deeply wrong. One explanation for the turnabout can be found in the polls.
Anderson Cooper played side-by-side video of Noem and Bovino smearing the victim of Saturday's shooting, then said, "If either of these public officials had an ounce of decency, they would call up Alex Pretti's parents and apologize."
Wall Street Journal: Videos Contradict U.S. Account of Minneapolis Shooting by Federal Agents.
The Trump administration is planning to move Gregory Bovino, the official in charge of President Trump’s Border Patrol operations and the face of on-the-ground immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, out of the city, officials said.
Here’s how some conservatives framed it:
And conservatives also made this point:
I decided to try to look up what the truth is and here’s what I found.
🚔 Does U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) need a warrant?
1. Public places — ❌ No warrant needed
ICE can:
* Stop, question, or arrest someone in public (street, parking lot, workplace lobby)
* Act on probable cause that the person is removable under immigration law
This is similar to other law-enforcement arrests in public.
2. Private homes — ✅ Warrant required (with a big caveat)
To enter a home without consent, ICE needs a judicial warrant (signed by a judge).
Important distinction:
* ❌ Administrative warrant (ICE paperwork) → NOT enough to force entry
* ✅ Judicial warrant (court-signed) → Required for non-consensual entry
If someone inside voluntarily consents, ICE can enter without a warrant.
3. “Knock and talk” — 🚪 Allowed
ICE may:
* Knock on your door
* Ask questions
* Ask to come in
You are not required to open the door or let them in unless they show a judicial warrant.
4. Exigent circumstances — ⚠️ Rare exception
ICE can enter without a warrant if:
* There’s immediate danger
* Risk of evidence destruction
* Hot pursuit
This is narrowly defined and often challenged in court.
After heavy political pressure, the Trump administration is going to do some type of investigation, it seems.
Could a government shutdown be on its way again?
SCHUMER says Democrats are “united” behind three DHS reforms1/ End roving patrols; tighten the rules on warrants and require ICE to coordinate with local authorities.2/ Enforce accountability; a uniform code of conduct.3/ Require masks off, body cameras on, agents carry ID.
The ICE violations are pretty wild, quite honestly.
An extraordinary document. Read it. “Attached to this order is an appendix that identifies 96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases. … ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.”
And the controversy is increasingly closer to taking down even higher-ranking officials than even Bovino.
Reporter: Should Kristi Noem resign?Senator Murkowski: I voted for her. I would not support her again, and I think it’s probably time for her to step down.
"Noem has complained to others that she feels she's being hung out to dry over the episode and has made sure to emphasize she took direction from Miller and the president."
But Noem may not go down without a fight.
Kristi Noem: “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen.”
The political heat is going all the way out to the heartland.
Harriet Hageman, the Trump-backed candidate who ousted Liz Cheney, was booed out of her town hall because she wouldn't condemn the ICE shootings.
New videoo has emerged of Alex Pretti on Jan 13, showing him spitting at ICE agents and kicking their taillight.
And back in Minnesota, a Republican gubernatorial candidate has dropped out because of ICE actions.
In other news, Jack Smith testifies there was "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that Trump committed crimes.
Jack Smith explains that he had an overwhelming amount of evidence of Trump committing a crime, much of it from Republicans who supported Trump.
As a reminder, on August 1, 2023, a grand jury for the District of Columbia U.S. District Court issued a four-count indictment of Trump for conspiracy to defraud the United States under Title 18 of the United States Code, obstructing an official proceeding and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act, and conspiracy against rights under the Enforcement Act of 1870 for his conduct following the 2020 presidential election through the January 6 Capitol attack.
Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges in both indictments. Trials were scheduled but never held.
In other testimony, Jack Smith just said that Trump intimidated witnesses via death threats.
Trump is now calling on Pam Bondi to prosecute Jack Smith.
Middle East news:
The USS Abraham Lincoln, an American aircraft carrier, has arrived in the Middle East — just days after President Trump said a naval armada was moving toward Iran.
So far, the president has held back from direct intervention, even as the Iranian regime continues its crackdown on protesters. But he has also made clear that the situation is being watched very closely.
Iran, for its part, has issued a stark warning, saying that any attack would be treated as an all-out war.
Saudi Arabia said it would not allow its airspace to be used for any military action against Iran. The announcement followed a meeting between Muhammad bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, and Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president.
Iran has rejected the Trump administration’s terms. A senior U.S. official says Tehran will not compromise on “its right to continue enriching uranium for civilian purposes and to maintain its missile arsenal, which is essential for its defense.”— WSJ
Khamenei adviser says US military action will trigger Iranian attack on Israel and an all out war.
Lindsey Graham says if Trump abandons the people of Iran after he promised to protect them it will be a million times worse than Benghazi.
US Intelligence Raises Doubts About Venezuela Leader’s Cooperation.
SCHATZ: You testified the oil funds are being held in Qatar & then will move to a Treasury blocked account. What's the statutory authority for the admin relying on Qatar to hold the funds?RUBIO: It's not our funds. It belongs to VZS: What authority are you relying on?R: They've agreed to this
Judge Revives Wind Farm That Trump Halted Off Martha’s Vineyard
The project, known as Vineyard Wind, was already 95 percent complete when the Trump administration ordered construction to stop.
A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that construction could continue on a $4.5 billion wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., striking down the Trump administration’s decision to halt work on the nearly complete project.
Judge Brian E. Murphy of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction that would allow the developers of the wind farm, known as Vineyard Wind, to restart construction while the broader legal battle unfolds.
The ruling was the fourth legal setback that the Trump administration has suffered in its quest to throttle the country’s nascent offshore wind industry.
Ukraine news:
A reminder that Russia is not winning in Ukraine. Not even close.
Let’s end with some notes on faith
As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.
Check out my Bible resource page here.
By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7
“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.” — Proverbs 9:10-11
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” — Colossians 3:1
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” — Proverbs 18:10
The Lord’s message to Joshua
“I will not fail you or abandon you. … Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”— Joshua 1:5, 7–9
Check out my Bible resource page here.
By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.
I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.
Here are a few episodes you don’t want to miss:
* How it all started: my painful origin story.
* I stand on the shoulders of a giant — my eulogy to my Dad.
Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?
Go here: Thoughts from a Southern Gentleman.
And with that, thanks for joining us this week.
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To God be the Glory,
Stan R. Mitchell
