TGIF Blogcast: "Ethical IVF"; Jared's bridge; Rabbi Leban on Shavuot

Just One Thing: A new Spelling Bee champion

Spelling Bee Highlights: Faizan Zaki, Once a Runner-Up, Is Now a Winner - The New York Times

Take a look at this word list, from the 2nd-place finisher: Sarvadnya Kadam - 2025 Results | Scripps National Spelling Bee

This is from last year...I couldn't get close to what this young man did, and I'm not a terrible speller

Unintended Reverse Psychology: Trump doesn't like the TACOs


President Trump got rather upset when a reporter asked him yesterday about a new acronym for him describing, apparently, a new approach by stock market traders to Trump's trade wars: TACO, for Trump Always Chickens Out. As a former professional trader, I actually mentioned this kind of mindset the other day (not having heard of TACO) and said something like, "At some point, traders are going to realize that Trump seems to back off so fast that it's probably a losing trade to sell every time he announces some big new tariff."

Here's the thing, though: I don't like all these tariffs and disruption of supply chains. I'm GLAD that Trump backs down even though I know he's not doing so because he wants to. By telling him that he's perceived a chicken for doing so, that reporter reduces the chances of Trump backing down so easily going forward.

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Today's Guests

Michael Morell served as the Deputy Director of the CIA and twice as Acting Director of the CIA. He was one of the few people in the inner circle of planning for the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, the subject of a new Netflix documentary.

Watch American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden | Netflix Official Site

The Great War of Our Time: The CIA's Fight Against Terrorism-From al Qa'ida to ISIS: Morell, Michael, Harlow, Bill: 9781455585663: Amazon.com: Books

Morell bio: HMTG-116-FA00-Bio-MorellM-20200709.pdf

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John Deffenbaugh is President & CEO of Historic Denver. We'll talk about his organizations strenuous opposition (which seems to be shared by others) to Jared Polis's desired bridge near the state capitol in Denver.

Home - Historic Denver

Historic Denver opposes proposed Lincoln Street walkway | News | denvergazette.com

Planned pedestrian bridge at Colorado Capitol draws heavy criticism | 9news.com

Gov. Jared Polis reveals renderings of a new bridge to nowhere - Axios Denver

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Rabbi Raphael Leban of The Jewish Experience (in Denver) joins me to talk about the important but not well-known Jewish holiday of Shavuot. We may also talk a little about the terrible recent double murder of two young adults by a raging anti-Semite in DC.

Home - The Jewish Experience

What Is Shavuot? - Chabad.org

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Other Stuff

I wonder why (and that's not sarcasm): Former arena site in one Colorado city receives no bids for redevelopment, nearby businesses share concerns - CBS Colorado

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Ignore the astroturf: Evans, Boebert shouted down by protesters defending Trump bill - Axios Denver

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Massively detailed article of great importance to Colorado: Downtown Denver economic recovery depends on a real estate revival

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There will need to be a lot of adaptation as AI is keeping recent college grads out of work

BUT, don't panic: The Truth About AI and the Future of White-Collar Work | National Review

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Gov Polis vetoes some stuff, including a bill that would have banned some software used by landlords: Polis vetoes bill that would have outlawed some rent-setting software - The Colorado Sun

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I probably won't get to this on the show but it's interesting: Screaming Luxury: China’s Strategy Against Trump’s Tariffs - FEE

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Some good news for Colorado and the nation but don’t expect the anti-everything people to just give up.

Maybe more headlines for this story than you need, but anyway...

Uinta Basin Railway cleared to roll by U.S. Supreme Court ruling

Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado - SCOTUSblog

Supreme Court clears way for Uinta Basin Railway along Colorado River - Axios Denver

Supreme Court rules 8-0 to curb judicial authority in environmental cases | Fox News

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Isn't it weird that a software glitch can mess up your rearview mirror? (Hint: in these days of electronic everything, it's not a mirror anymore.)

Ford recalls more than a million vehicles for software glitch that makes rearview camera unreliable | AP News

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The irony of what she lied about... Harvard professor Francesca Gino's tenure is revoked amid data fraud investigation: What to know

Harvard revokes tenure from Francesca Gino over misconduct accusations - The Washington Post

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I think this is an amazing story: North Korea Infiltrates U.S. Remote Jobs—With the Help of Everyday Americans - WSJ

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Very contentious: Palmer Lake officials vote Buc-ee’s is eligible to annex land

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Congrats to the (former) cadets who are now USAF officers! Sorry I couldn't find a better article: 2025 U.S. Air Force Academy graduation ceremony concludes, Thunderbird flyover and air show canceled due to weather

But this annoys me: 3 transgender Air Force Academy cadets not commissioned | Military | denvergazette.com

Seems like pure bigotry on the part of the Trump administration.

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Republicans need to do better: Elon Musk's DOGE savings dwarfed by deficit-ballooning Trump bill

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Don't let worrying about sleep keep you awake at night: Sleepmaxxing and tracking can fuel bedtime anxiety - Axios San Francisco

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Today's Video

Now THAT's laying on the guilt!


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