Everything but the Epstein files

Welcome! This is the place for balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype. I believe we can stay informed and stay hopeful.Every episode wraps up with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement to remind us that faith, peace, and perspective still matter. Learn more. Timestamps:Timestamp: (5:21). Trump made a couple of big statements the past week that have hurt his political credibility, as well as his standing with MAGA.Timestamp: (16:59). The U.S. aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, moved into the Caribbean region off the coast of Venezuela this week. An increased military operation against Venezuela seems almost certain at this point, in my opinion.Timestamp: (21:15). The Trump Administration is about to execute a strong show of force off the coast of the Philippines — a move intended to push back an aggressive China.Timestamp: (30:26). Our forces and diplomats are working tirelessly (and in dangerous conditions) without sufficient due credit in Syria right now. Let’s talk about it.Timestamp: (39:17). Two stories about Russia: One funny; one not-so-funny.Timestamp: (44:05). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.Timestamp: (50:28). About me, about my books, and a little about the mission.Want to help support the mission? My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.Don’t forget to check out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting, and have sold more than 70,000 copies?!). Amazon link.Listen to this week’s episode in the player above, or find it by searching for The Stan R. Mitchell Show wherever you listen. You can also find the show at the following links: Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, and Google. Have a question or comment? Email me at [e-mail]. If you want to possibly be included in a future episode, please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name.) Want to hear your voice on the air? Send me a voice memo with your question or comment. Keep them short, and I might just play them!Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.U.S. news:On Wednesday, as I was preparing to record, complete chaos broke out on the Epstein files. It feels like a roller coaster about to go over the edge of that really high climb, except unlike a roller coaster, we don’t know where this one is going to end up at. Moving along, the longest government shutdown in history has ended. Was it the filibuster that caused it to end? Or the fact that SNAP benefits (as well as an untold number of regular paychecks to government workers) weren’t going out? This is a topic of much debate, but let’s hope for some more normalcy in our federal government. Timestamp: (5:21). Trump made a couple of big statements the past week that have hurt his political credibility, as well as his standing with MAGA.Two other political stories of note:Timestamp: (16:59). The U.S. aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, moved into the Caribbean region off the coast of Venezuela this week. An increased military operation against Venezuela seems almost certain at this point, in my opinion.The New York Times: “The arrival of the Ford and three missile-firing Navy destroyers adds about 5,500 military personnel to a force of 10,000 troops already in the region, roughly half ashore in Puerto Rico and half aboard eight warships. With more than 15,000 military personnel, the U.S. buildup is the largest in the region in decades.”…Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, said in a statement on Tuesday that the U.S. “forces will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere.”Timestamp: (21:15). The Trump Administration is about to execute a strong show of force off the coast of the Philippines — a move intended to push back an aggressive China.Timestamp: (30:26). Our forces and diplomats are working tirelessly (and in dangerous conditions) without sufficient due credit in Syria right now. Let’s talk about it.Timestamp: (39:17). Two stories about Russia: One funny; one not-so-funny.Let’s end with some notes on faithAs 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.Want to learn more about the Bible,? Check out my resource page here.By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide (especially if you’re a veteran), please check out this link. Timestamp: (44:05). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. Here are a couple of...