TGP—After Macklemore spoke out at MetLife Stadium, a petition led by Miriam Adelson’s organization pressured venue owners to remove him from the tour (0:28 – 0:42).
The Removal: The promoter, Messina Touring Group, announced that Macklemore would not perform at the remaining U.S. tour dates due to venue owners refusing to host concerts with him on the lineup (5:45 – 6:15). The venues cited included Gillette Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, and AT&T Stadium (6:29 – 6:53).
The Perspectives: The hosts analyze Macklemore’s response, where he emphasizes his stance on Palestinian liberation and rejects the neutrality of other artists (9:15 – 10:20). They contrast this with Pink’s reaction, criticizing her for centering her own perspective as a Jewish mother (2:15 – 4:10).
Robert Kraft’s Role: The video highlights Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, as a central figure in orchestrating the ultimatum against Ed Sheeran (17:15 – 17:35), noting his history of pro-Israel activism (17:25 – 17:35).

GD—This video features a discussion between Professor Glenn Diesen and retired Colonel Douglas Macgregor regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its broader geopolitical consequences.

Key takeaways include:

Ukraine’s Situation: Macgregor argues that Ukraine is “on the ropes” and in a desperate state, facing military and economic collapse (0:20 – 1:04, 6:34 – 7:06). He contends that Western military and financial support is either failing to arrive or being lost to corruption (3:54 – 4:54).
Russian Strategy: The discussion explores whether Russia will move beyond its current “slow, methodical” approach to achieve a decisive end to the conflict, potentially by asserting control over territory east of the Dnieper River (5:44 – 6:32, 10:06 – 10:55).
Decline of the West: Macgregor presents a grim outlook for Western nations, suggesting they are entering a period of economic hardship and potential depression, which will likely lead them to lose interest in Ukraine (6:42 – 8:05). He compares the current political state of the United States and Europe to the decline of Austria-Hungary and the late Soviet Union (30:24 – 31:05, 39:19 –

TGP—New photos obtained exclusively by CBS News reveal for the first time the widespread damage and destruction of buildings and vehicles at multiple U.S. positions across the Middle East, as a result of Iranian missile and drone attacks.  

The images were sent to CBS News by active service members on condition of anonymity because of rigid media restrictions within the military. 

GD—The conversation begins by addressing the escalation between Saudi Arabia and Ansarallah (the Houthis). Ambassador Freeman explains that the conflict is devastating Saudi energy infrastructure and military assets (0:50, 2:51), noting that a military solution is non-existent. He suggests that Saudi Arabia must seek mediation, specifically through Iran (7:10, 14:13).
Collapse of U.S. Primacy: Freeman argues that the long-standing security bargain between the United States and Saudi Arabia—dating back to 1945—has effectively ended (8:08-9:13). He highlights a growing trend of indigenous security arrangements in West Asia, such as a tripartite pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey (9:48), which signals a shift away from U.S. management of the region.
Israel’s Geopolitical Situation: The discussion touches on the state of Israel, with Freeman describing it as increasingly isolated and self-destructive (29:48-30:06). He notes that Israel has become an international pariah, losing support even in the West, and argues that the “Greater Israel” project is becoming unfeasible

PL—Yemen’s Houthis are on the march in a big way. Meanwhile, the US-Israeli war with Iran is expanding. Is this other front changing the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East? Also, could the AfD’s electoral victory in Germany affect the politics of all Europe?

CrossTalking with Mark Sleboda and George Szamuely.