S8 Ep166: audi Arabia Seeks Nuclear Capabilities: Colleague Henry Sokolski explains that Saudi Arabia wants a nuclear power plant but resists signing US protocols allowing inspections; while Washington may view this as a hedge against Iran, a Saudi nuclear capabili

S8 Ep166: Nuclear Ambitions in South Korea: Colleague Henry Sokolski reports that South Korea is requesting nuclear-powered submarines and enrichment rights, raising concerns about potential nuclear proliferation, with some arguing this could lead to a confederatio

S8 Ep166: Lebanon's Demographic Decline and Political Stagnation: Colleague Hussain Abdul-Hussain reports that Pope Leo's visit highlighted Lebanon's diminishing Christian population, now estimated at perhaps one-quarter, with the government remaining weak and relu

S8 Ep166: The Limits of AI and the Global Quantum Race: Colleague Brandon Weichert explains that current AI models are data crunchers rather than thinking entities, facing limits known as "The Bitter Lesson," while China is "nanoseconds" away from practical quantum

S8 Ep166: Mary's Influence on Early Christian Teachings: Colleague James Tabor examines the "Q" source containing teachings shared by Matthew and Luke that parallel the words of James and John the Baptist, positing that Mary, as the mother, was the source of thi

S8 Ep166: The Talpiot Tomb and Ossuary Evidence: Colleague James Tabor discusses a tomb discovered in 1980 containing ossuaries with a unique cluster of names, including Jesus, Maria, and Jose, suggesting this could be the Jesus family tomb, supported by statistica

S8 Ep166: The Historical Disappearance of Mary: Colleague James Tabor explains that following the crucifixion, Mary disappears from the biblical record, likely dying before the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem; while early Christians fled to Pella under Simon's leade

S8 Ep166: The Early Church Headquarters on Mount Zion: Colleague James Tabor discusses archaeology on Mount Zion revealing a first-century foundation beneath a medieval church, likely the headquarters of the early movement, describing this as the home where James l

S8 Ep166: New Discoveries Challenge Cosmic Models: Colleague Bob Zimmerman reports that ground-based telescopes have directly imaged exoplanets and debris discs, the James Webb Telescope found a barred spiral galaxy in the early universe defying evolutionary models

S8 Ep166: Private Space Sector Challenges and Triumphs: Colleague Bob Zimmerman reports that Jared Isaacman testified that private companies, not NASA, are driving space colonization; a Russian cosmonaut was removed from a SpaceX mission for spying, while China suc

S8 Ep166: Future Tech and Economic Shifts: Colleague Jim McTague predicts "creative destruction" where old industries fade, expressing bullishness on solar power due to data center demands and envisioning self-driving cars and useful humanoid robots revolutionizing

S8 Ep166: Lancaster County Shows Consumer Fatigue: Colleague Jim McTague reports that retailers in Lancaster are using deep discounts to attract price-sensitive shoppers, noting that while weekend traffic is decent, weekdays are slow and high-end dining is struggli

S8 Ep166: Scrutiny Over Lethal Strike on Drug Boat: Colleague Richard Epstein examines Defense Secretary Hegseth facing pressure regarding a lethal strike on alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean, with reports suggesting survivors may have been shot in the wate

S8 Ep166: Supreme Court Enables Partisan Gerrymandering: Colleague Richard Epstein discusses the Supreme Court permitting Texas to redraw congressional districts for 2026, favoring Republicans, arguing that lack of oversight allows parties to entrench power, creati

S8 Ep166: Milan Prepares for Christmas and the Olympics: Colleague Lorenzo Fiori reports that Milan celebrates St. Ambrose Day with traditional markets and lights, marking the start of the holiday season, as the city prepares to host the Winter Olympics in February

S8 Ep166: Infrastructure Booms and Business Exoduses in the West: Colleague Jeff Bliss reports that high-speed rail construction from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is accelerating in anticipation of the 2028 Olympics, while the Boring Company expands tunnel networks; co

S8 Ep165: PREVIEW: Assessing Military Conduct in the September 2025 Incident: Colleague Richard Epstein discusses the US military's destruction of a boat carrying 11 people in September 2025, arguing that regardless of unknown details—such as the presence of drugs

S8 Ep165: PREVIEW: Celebrating Christmas in Milan with Panettone: Colleague Lorenzo Fiori describes Milan's Christmas traditions, highlighting Panettone as the "King of Christmas," a dome-shaped cake filled with raisins and candied orange typically served with masc

S8 Ep165: PREVIEW: The Future of Travel and Robotics: Colleague Jim McTague predicts self-driving Waymo vehicles will soon replace short-haul flights, allowing travelers to relax and avoid airport security lines, and forecasts a major shift in robotics, anticipatin

S8 Ep165: PREVIEW: US-Saudi Nuclear Reactor Negotiations: Colleague Henry Sokolski analyzes ongoing negotiations regarding Saudi Arabia's request for nuclear reactors, citing concerns that spent fuel could be repurposed for weapons, noting the deal is not finalized