One might think that images of starving children, as political leaders withhold aid and openly call for ethnic cleansing, would be topping news agendas everywhere. In the case of Gaza, the failure of many in the international media to meet the moment has made them part of the story.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit christopherrivas.substack.comYara Travieso is a brilliant artist, film maker, big feeler, and wisdom sharer. Yara embodies so much love and power in this world. I have been healed and quoted Yara many times in this life (“The more I heal, the less ambitious I become.”) and I will continue too. This is one of my favorite and most powerful conversations I’ve had on here. And now I ha…

A ceasefire has been announced to stop a bitter conflict, over one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Kashmir has repeatedly been troubled by a dispute, dating back nearly eight decades between India and Pakistan. Will the latest truce resolve differences going back to colonial times?

Send us a textWe explore how Trump shifted American perceptions of himself from his many business and moral failures to his ultra-successful (but phony) alter ego - "The Donald"

In February 1993, Air Force officer Gary Sudbrink received a series of eerie phone calls at his parents’ home in New York. The voice on the line—mechanical, distorted—seemed to know intimate details about Gary’s life and warned him of hidden dangers. The calls came shortly after a UFO sighting and left behind a chilling mystery: who, or what, was really on the other end of the line? This is the unsettling true story of the Gary Sudbrink case—a tale of strange voices, unexplained knowledge, and the lingering fear that someone was watching.SURVEYObscurata Discussed FACEBOOK GROUPThe BOOKBY US A COFFEESubscribe to our PATREONEMAIL us your storiesJoin us on INSTAGRAMJoin us on TWITTERJoin us on FACEBOOKVisit our WEBSITESource Information:https://www.thinkaboutitdocs.com/1993-gary-sudbrink-incident/https://www.ufocasebook.com/texasufophonecall.htmlhttps://www.phantomsandmonsters.com/2020/05/the-gary-sudbrink-incident-are-ets.htmlhttps://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/10y73lm/the_gary_sudbrink_incident/https://www.ufoinsight.com/ufos/cover-ups/the-gary-sudbrink-incidenthttps://mysterioustimes.com/2020/09/the-unexplained-case-of-gary-sudbrink-and-the-strange-phone-calls/https://www.ufosfootage.uk/2021/03/the-bizarre-case-of-gary-sudbrink-and.htmlThanks so much for listening, and I'll catch up with you again next Thursday.Sarah & Rog xxSURVEY https://podcastsurvey.typeform.com/to/mDi5IVFf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lauren Sanchez BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Lauren Sanchez is making headlines yet again as her wedding to Jeff Bezos approaches, with Venice, Italy, set as the glamorous backdrop for what many are already calling the celebrity event of the year. According to Hello! Magazine and The US Sun, Lauren and Jeff are scheduled to tie the knot in June on the picturesque island of San Giorgio Maggiore, with ceremonies possibly taking place at an iconic open-air theater. The buzz around the wedding isn’t just about the guest list—which is expected to include A-listers like Leonardo DiCaprio, Kris Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Oprah Winfrey, and more—but also the potential musical performances. While sources told Reality Tea and The Daily Mail that Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John are lined up to perform, spokespersons for both artists have denied these reports, so the star-studded entertainment remains speculative for now.On the fashion front, Lauren has reportedly chosen an Oscar de la Renta gown, after hinting to Vogue that she was considering designers like Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana. She’s spoken candidly about her excitement to become Mrs. Bezos, sharing that she fully intends to adopt her fiancé’s surname and describing their dynamic as a strong partnership where “everything’s shared.”Social media has offered a more personal side of Lauren this week. For Mother’s Day, she posted a rare family photo with her three children—Nikko, Evan, and Ella—on Instagram, captioning it, “Thank you for picking me as your mama. My whole world in one frame,” as reported by Hola! USA. Fans also got a glimpse of her life as a mother and her pride in her children’s own aviation achievements. Her passion for flying not only inspired her children, all of whom have reportedly taken flying lessons, but also led her to author a children’s book, ‘The Fly Who Flew to Space.’Businesswise, Lauren recently showcased her writing center inside her and Jeff Bezos’ sprawling $165 million Los Angeles estate, sharing the creative space where she penned her book, as covered by Midland Daily News. In terms of recent public appearances, she was seen with Bezos at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party and was celebrated for being part of Blue Origin’s first all-female flight crew this April, joking in People that she told Bezos he needn’t “send her to space” if he didn’t want to marry her—highlighting the couple’s lighthearted dynamic.Finally, new listeners have been tuning in to the “Lauren Sanchez Living Biography” podcast from Spreaker, which offers deeper dives into her career, philanthropic work, and life alongside one of the world’s most powerful entrepreneurs. All signs suggest that Lauren Sanchez continues to shape her narrative on her own terms, balancing love, family, and the world stage as her June wedding approaches.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Robert F Kennedy Jr has dominated headlines and social media over the past several days as he makes his high-stakes debut as Secretary of Health and Human Services. On May 14, Kennedy faced Congress for the first time since his contentious January confirmation, testifying before both the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. According to ABC News, Kennedy defended the department’s sweeping layoffs and cost-cutting measures, arguing they were necessary to combat the nation’s chronic disease epidemic and reduce taxpayer burden. He emphasized his goal to “do more, a lot more with less,” while also touting the administration’s $500 million “Make America Healthy Again” initiative focused on nutrition and lifestyle, even as the proposed budget slashes funding for vaccination efforts, maternal health, and preschool programs.The New York Times and Politico both report that Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism remains a lightning rod issue, particularly in light of a recent measles outbreak that's sickened a thousand people. Public health voices and lawmakers alike called for tough questioning, especially from Senator Bill Cassidy, who grilled Kennedy at his confirmation hearings about conspiracy theories and controversial statements on vaccines. Cassidy, chair of the powerful Senate health committee and himself a physician, is seen as the only lawmaker with real leverage over Kennedy’s future. Yet, as Politico puts it, Cassidy appears to be taking a diplomatic approach, frequently communicating with the secretary and believing this has helped temper Kennedy’s anti-vaccine rhetoric—though critics argue this only legitimizes Kennedy’s position and policies.Kennedy was also trending across social media thanks to a bizarre resurfaced video involving a dead bear. As reported by The Independent, the video—originally posted by Kennedy himself and featuring actress Roseanne Barr as an amused listener—describes Kennedy discovering a bear killed by a car, taking it home, and later becoming the subject of statewide news scrutiny. The clip and accompanying photo went viral, sparking disgust and bewilderment online while pre-empting a profile in The New Yorker.Meanwhile, policy wonks are anxiously watching Kennedy’s next moves around vaccine oversight and the FDA, with PBS noting he may be pressed about the administration’s intent to review and possibly remove fluoride supplements from the market. The Congressional Budget Office’s analysis indicating millions could lose Medicaid coverage under the proposed HHS cuts has only heightened the scrutiny.There’s no confirmed information yet on new investigations or staff shakeups, but speculation is rampant about Kennedy’s reported appointment of a vaccine skeptic to investigate autism and his tepid endorsement of the measles vaccine. While high-profile public health advocates are calling for his resignation, for now, the relationship with Senator Cassidy and the White House appears stable, with Kennedy signaling both resolve and controversy at the center of American health policy’s fiercest debates.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

JD Vance BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.JD Vance has been in the headlines repeatedly in the past week, solidifying his public image as both an active vice president and a political personality unafraid to wade into controversy. On Wednesday, at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington, Vance made major news by declaring that Russia is “asking for too much” to end its war with Ukraine, highlighting White House frustrations with Moscow’s demands and emphasizing that the next step is getting Russia and Ukraine to agree on basic guidelines for talks. Vance’s remarks, reported in Politico, signaled a tougher tone from the Trump administration, with Vance stressing that concessions will be needed on the Russian side if any progress is to be made. He also appeared on Fox News, telling Martha MacCallum that Russia’s latest peace bid included requests for territory it has not actually conquered, reiterating the administration’s refusal to reward such demands and suggesting the U.S. may step back from its mediation role if Russia is not negotiating in good faith.There has also been notable evolution in Vance’s rhetoric regarding the U.S. relationship with Europe. After previously calling out European limits on free speech, Vance, according to DW News, recently stressed U.S.-European unity and doubled down on his criticisms of Russia, calling Moscow’s initial peace demands “excessive.” These comments have been widely discussed on social media and at policy forums, underlining both a shift in his public tone and the administration’s adaptive strategy in foreign policy.Vance is set to make history later this month as the first sitting vice president to deliver a keynote at the Bitcoin 2025 conference, with Bitcoin Magazine announcing his May 28 main stage appearance in Las Vegas. His personal Bitcoin holdings, estimated between 250 thousand and 500 thousand dollars, add personal weight to what is expected to be a headline-generating pro-crypto address, further cementing his status as an advocate for financial innovation and tech policy.On the social and cultural front, Vance made waves by reacting to an AI-generated image depicting Donald Trump as the pope, stating on social media that he’s “fine with people telling jokes,” a response that drew both criticism and praise. This came on the heels of controversy among Catholic organizations, with the New York State Catholic Conference denouncing the AI image as disrespectful following Pope Francis’s funeral. The White House, through press secretary Karoline Leavitt, emphasized Trump and Vance’s support for Catholic communities.Looking ahead, Vance's scheduled appearance as a featured speaker at the 2025 March for Life on January 24 in Washington underscores his continued alignment with the pro-life movement, with the March for Life Education and Defense Fund highlighting it as his first major speech since taking office and a sign of commitment to the movement.Collectively, these developments point to Vance’s increasingly visible and influential role on the international stage, in the evolving Republican agenda, and in American pop culture debates. No major unconfirmed rumors or speculative reports have surfaced in the past several days, with coverage anchored in verified public statements and prominent event announcements.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

Ivanka Trump BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.This past week, Ivanka Trump stepped squarely back into the national spotlight after a relatively quiet stretch during her father’s second presidential term. Her most notable move was a headline-making public appearance in Bentonville, Arkansas, at the annual Heartland Summit, where she unveiled a fresh produce access initiative—a cause she championed while serving in the West Wing. The event drew major attention not just because it marked her first significant public outing in some time, but also due to her announcement regarding Planet Harvest, a Chicago-based profit-for-purpose company she co-founded in 2023 with produce supply-chain expert Melissa Melshenker Ackerman. According to Axios, Planet Harvest aims to bridge gaps in the produce supply chain, support farmers, and expand access to healthy food with an eye toward both business success and public benefit.Interviewed onstage by Arianna Huffington, Ivanka emphasized how food can be medicine and a solution to America’s chronic disease crisis, echoing broader national conversations sparked by figures such as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has vowed to address processed food consumption. At the summit, hosted by the Walton family’s Heartland Forward think tank, her remarks were lauded as timely and in tune with public health priorities, particularly her experience supporting farmers and struggling families during the pandemic with USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program, as noted by the Hindustan Times.Socially, Ivanka remains a presence as well. On Instagram, she marked Mother’s Day with a heartfelt post celebrating mothers everywhere, reinforcing her public image as both a devoted mom and high-profile entrepreneur. Meanwhile, entertainment news outlets like People reported on a recent appearance with her husband, Jared Kushner, which generated engagement among fans but did not reveal any major controversies or political ambitions.There’s no evidence of new political plans or involvement in her father’s campaign machinery, and no major business controversy has emerged in the past few days. Coverage on Threads and other platforms described her Arkansas appearance as rare and impactful, cementing her status as an influential but selective public figure. While there’s always speculation about Ivanka’s long-term ambitions, all current moves suggest a genuine pivot toward food accessibility and social entrepreneurship, a development likely to shape her biographical narrative for years to come.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta

Jared Kushner BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Jared Kushner has re-emerged in an advisory role to the Trump administration ahead of the president's upcoming Middle East trip. CNN reports that Kushner is providing guidance to administration officials as they engage in discussions with Arab leaders, though he is not expected to accompany Trump on the journey. Despite having no formal position in the current administration, Kushner has maintained communication with foreign leaders, particularly those from Saudi Arabia, regarding potential normalized ties with Israel.The Jerusalem Post confirmed on Friday that Kushner has been in regular contact with officials preparing for high-stakes meetings with leaders in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. His ongoing relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made him an influential voice in these preparations.Trump's trip primarily aims to secure investment deals from Gulf states to support economic initiatives in the US, but Kushner and other officials are working toward expanding the Abraham Accords, which he played a key role in negotiating during Trump's first term.The New Republic notes that Kushner's involvement raises ethical concerns given his significant business interests in the Middle East, where he is reportedly earning billions from Saudi Arabia and is said to have weekly conversations with the crown prince.In other news, Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump were reportedly involved in an undisclosed incident according to a recent Instagram post from May 7, though details remain unclear. On the political front, Kushner recently joined the Village of Indian Creek Council in Florida on July 8, 2024, succeeding Village Trustee Javier Holtz.Kushner continues to operate largely behind the scenes, preferring to step forward only when tangible progress is made, according to a senior Trump administration official. He has been specifically advising on strategies for engaging Saudi Arabia about normalizing relations with Israel, though officials don't anticipate a formal agreement resulting from this upcoming trip.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta