Tony and Laurie cover the latest news: To The Journey (the Voyager doc) breaks a fundraising record, Paramount+ plans a panel-packed First Contact Day, science advisor Dr. Erin Macdonald joins the writing team, and awards and honors are given to John Eaves, William Shatner, and Leonard Nimoy. Then they jump into this week’s topic: Star Trek: Short Treks. They look at why it was created, what it evolved into, what they hope for the future, and do a quick take on each episode. The podcasters wrap up with a look at recent invocations of Star Trek in American politics and a huge repository of behind-the-scenes photos. Links to news topics discussed in the pod: ‘To The Journey’ Wraps Up Campaign As Most Successful Crowdfunded Documentary In History Celebrate First Contact Day 2021 With Paramount+ Star Trek Celebrity Panels, Marathon, And More WonderCon CBS panel on “Science of Smart TV” with Star Trek science advisor Dr. Erin McDonald  Veteran Star Trek Illustrator John Eaves Honored With Lifetime Achievement Award By Art Directors Guild William Shatner Slams His Way Into WWE Hall Of Fame; Suggests He Should Have Wrestled As Captain Kirk Vulcan Salute Monument Honoring Leonard Nimoy Being Developed For Boston’s Museum Of Science Additional mentions:  SDCC18: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Mini-Episodes, Spock and Number One Confirmed for Season 2 Showrunners Promise ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Will Fit Together With “Calypso” Canon The USS Discovery Refit And Two ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Theories To Resolve A Canon Conundrum Are The Planets Aligning For Captain Proton From ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ To Rematerialize In ‘Short Treks’? Interview: Jonathan Frakes On ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’; Hopes To Helm ‘Short Treks’ Musical ‘Star Trek: Short Treks’ With Ethan Peck And Rebecca Romijn Coming The All Access Star Trek Podcast Ponders A ‘Strange New Worlds’/’Lower Decks’ Crossover Trekbits:  Laurie: Star Trek behind-the-scenes picspam Tony: Star Trek and politics: Iowa House approves bills to facilitate broadband, cryptocurrency and State Senator Proposes “Star Trek” Rule to Protect Florida’s Economy from Restrictions