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Filmmaker Justine Bateman argues that Hollywood’s creative spark has been smothered by fear, corporate consolidation, and algorithmic decision-making. In her view, true artistry requires fearlessness—and God, or something like it—but today’s studios follow data, not inspiration. Also in the episode: Trump’s presidential library fund keeps growing thanks to defamation settlements and nearly launched merch like MAGA-branded Instant Pots. In the Spiel, The European Union's timid trade posture, favoring compromise over confrontation in the face of bombastic American tactics.
Produced by Corey Wara
Production Coordinator Ashley Khan
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Consumer confidence ticked up in June, according to The Conference Board. At the same time, confidence in the labor market weakened for a seventh consecutive month. In this episode, what good are a bunch of confident consumers if they're stressed about finding work? Plus: SNAP cuts will hurt grocery stores, Americans have to buy foreign goods if we want other countries to buy our goods, and tariff costs negate productivity growth benefits.
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UK will recognise Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a Gaza ceasefire and other conditions. Israel says the move rewards Hams.
Also in the programme: Ex-Colombian president Álvaro Uribe has been found guilty of witness-tampering; and an Australian woman - Joan Anderson - who went largely uncredited for her leading role in the creation of the hula hoop has died at the age of 101.
(Photo: UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer making a statement in Downing Street, London, following a Cabinet meeting to discuss the situation in Gaza. The UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September before the UN General Assembly, unless the Israeli government takes steps to end the "appalling situation" in Gaza, the Prime Minister has told the Cabinet. 29 July 2025. Credit: Toby Melville/PA Wire)
But this has been all but ignored by the corporate media. Why? Victor Davis Hanson says the fight does not align with their narrative of America as a place of “salad bowl tribal identification” instead of being a melting pot. He breaks down the disturbing implications of the fight and reaction on today’s episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”
“ It was on Fox News and New York Post, etc., but not in the legacy media. It was almost as if they were saying, ‘This is a taboo subject.’ But if you go back, what they did cover, the media, they covered the Duke lacrosse incident. That was completely a hoax. There was no black stripper who was attacked by fraternity brothers. It was made up. The Covington kids. That was made up. … This wasn't made up. This was real.
“ Once a society goes down this pathway of racial essentialism or tribalism, and you send the message that you as an individual are not responsible for your own behavior, but you're part of a victimized collective, and then you have repertory or justification rights to commit a crime and without the expectation of punishment, the result is civilizational declining chaos. And so, we need to remedy this and to show people that if they wanna stomp on some helpless victim on the ground, they're gonna pay a high price.”
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(0:00) Introduction to Cincinnati Fight
(0:12) Media Coverage and Bias
(0:52) Details of the Altercation
(3:06) Societal Implications
(4:59) Conclusion
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Import duties on Chinese goods could surge about 80% if the pause expires on Aug. 12. Plus: UnitedHealth Group said its earnings for the year will miss expectations. And Novo Nordisk stock plunged after the Ozempic maker cut its guidance. Danny Lewis hosts.
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P.M. Edition for July 29. The merger deal between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would create a single company controlling coast-to-coast rail shipments for the first time in U.S. history. WSJ reporter Esther Fung discusses why the deal isn’t totally done yet, and why it’s taken this long to get a coast-to-coast rail operator. Plus, JPMorgan Chase is nearing a deal to take over Apple’s credit-card program. We hear from WSJ banking reporter AnnaMaria Andriotis about why the deal would be significant. And as tech companies build more electricity-hungry data centers to power artificial intelligence, utilities want the companies to pay more. Journal reporter Katherine Blunt describes how the dynamic is playing out across the U.S. Alex Ossola hosts.
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