Epoch Reports

In the chaotic weeks after 9/11, a small number of U.S. special forces and Air Force combat controllers slipped into northern Afghanistan and linked up with Northern Alliance fighters. With no vehicles available, they rode into combat on horses across some of the most unforgiving terrain on earth. One Green Beret, Chris Spence, captured those moments on a digital camera. Those photographs became some of the defining images of the beginning of the war, inspiring a book, a film, and a statue in New York City, even as Spence remained uncredited for years.In this episode, Benjamin Trenerry speaks with Epoch Times reporter Ryan Morgan about his interviews with Spence and others who were there. They discuss how the Americans ended up on horseback, the rapid collapse of the Taliban, and how the men who lived through those early weeks now look back on both the mission and the end of the war that lasted two decades.Show your support for The Epoch Times and independent journalism by leaving a 5 star review of this show on your podcast platform or visit www.RateThisPodcast.com/epochreports

A Uyghur mother recounts the nightmare that began at a Chinese airport. Meanwhile, the State Department warns Americans about the risks of traveling to China.Read the original report here.Show your support for Epoch Times and independent journalism by leaving a 5 star review of this show on your podcast platform or visit www.RateThisPodcast.com/thereport

In July, more than 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, a tiny Spanish autonomous city of just 84,000 people on the North African coast. Most returned to Morocco within days, but thousands remained, setting up informal camps on beaches and in public spaces, transforming daily life for residents.In this episode of Epoch Reports, Benjamin Trenerry speaks with Epoch Times journalist Etienne Fauchaire, who visited Ceuta and spoke with local residents, protesters, city officials, and some of the migrants themselves. They discuss why the surge happened, the conditions those who stayed are facing, residents’ sense of insecurity, and the anger directed at both the Spanish government and migrant-supporting NGOs.They also look at the wider picture: how Ceuta fits into Europe’s broader migration challenges, why some residents and European politicians describe illegal immigration as a political tool, and what people on the ground expect will happen next. Show your support for The Epoch Times and independent journalism by leaving a 5 star review of this show on your podcast platform or visit www.RateThisPodcast.com/epochreports

New rules give officials broad power to stop citizens from leaving, and analysts say the checks fall hardest on people with savings, debts, or family abroad.Read the original report here.Show your support for Epoch Times and independent journalism by leaving a 5 star review of this show on your podcast platform or visit www.RateThisPodcast.com/thereport

Voters in seven states are deciding whether to place new limits on property taxes, amid growing complaints that rising home values and local spending—especially on schools—are driving bills higher than many residents can afford.In this episode of Epoch Reports, Benjamin Trenerry speaks with Epoch Times journalist Aaron Gifford, who has been covering the property tax reform measures on the ballot and the financial pressures facing homeowners, particularly seniors.They discuss why proponents say states have been collecting far more revenue than needed, the forces pushing property taxes upward (including soaring school costs), and the arguments on both sides of the ballot measures.They also look at how these proposals fit into broader concerns about housing affordability and local government spending, and what the outcomes could mean for homeowners and public services in the states voting on them.Show your support for The Epoch Times and independent journalism by leaving a 5 star review of this show on your podcast platform or visit www.RateThisPodcast.com/epochreports