The Friday Brief with Phoenix Ricks

The U.S. government has had a busy week of trade talks. From China to the European Union, tariffs are being negotiated. Who will come out as the winner? In this episode, we're looking at the pros and cons of tariffs, including how they impact importers, exporters, and consumers. All in under 15 minutes! 

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Canada is monitoring China's research vessel in Arctic waters, not far from Alaska's coast. What is China doing in the Arctic? Is the U.S. also monitoring this vessel? Plus: The U.S.-brokered minerals-for-security deal between Congo and Rwanda has raised questions. Namely: who is funding and executing the security portion of the deal? We're also covering the House being let out for an early recess to, perhaps, avoid more questions about Jeffrey Epstein's files. All in under 10 minutes!

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Last Friday was Mandela Day, an annual celebration of Nelson Mandela's birthday. What did he say about a free press? Is it essential for democracy? We examine his quote and analyze unsettling developments in the U.S., particularly the federal funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Plus: Why are activists ringing alarm bells about corruption in Ukraine? Who is in the U.S.-Venezuela prisoner swap? And, how does the White House feel about Israel's new strikes on Syria? All in under 15 minutes!

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The Trump administration designated several Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations. Has that impacted any cases against alleged cartel leaders? This episode covers the latest news about the case against Ovidio Guzmán López, a Los Chapitos cartel leader who is the son of the infamous Sinaloa cartel boss known as El Chapo. Plus: What has the Justice Department seized from cartels operating in the United States since January? We're covering all of this - and more - in under 15 minutes! 

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Is the U.S. government reorganizing or unraveling? Last week, the U.S. Department of State experienced mass layoffs, and now, the U.S. Supreme Court has cleared a path for further layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education. What will be the result? Are American voters aware of the impacts? And: how do MAGA voters and politicians feel about Trump's NATO weapons deal? Does it break the Trump campaign's promise to stop U.S. involvement in foreign wars? We cover all of this in under 15 minutes!

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We're back from the July Fourth holiday! In this episode, Phoenix Ricks covers the latest news about the gangs of Haiti, Russia's attacks on Ukraine, and Trump's evolving relationship with Vladimir Putin. Also on the list of things to cover: Jeffrey Epstein. Did you believe Pam Bondi would release his client list? Phoenix didn't, and she shares more about what she learned working in anti-human trafficking more than a decade ago. All in under 15 minutes! 

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What do private security forces do around the world? We've recently discussed mercenaries in Africa, but today, we're looking at what American contractors are reporting from Gaza. What are they telling the press? Why aren't journalists allowed on-site to verify or refute their accounts independently? The interdependent relationship between global governments and private military contractors is something we will continue to monitor, particularly in humanitarian situations. All of this, in under 15 minutes! 

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Today, much of the country was waiting to see how Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted on the One Big Beautiful Bill. Across party lines, concerns have been raised about the budget bill, with members like Senator Tillis of North Carolina breaking ranks to express their thoughts while still supporting Donald Trump's overall vision. Some people hope Senator Murkowski would do the same, but was her vote swayed by one visitor? We're diving into today's vote in this episode. 

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U.S. funding cuts to humanitarian aid programs have had dire consequences, especially in Sudan. The U.S. previously funded community soup kitchens. Without those community kitchens, babies and children have now starved to death. In this episode, we discuss The Washington Post's latest reporting on Sudan and other options for funding. European nations? Persian Gulf countries? Russia or China? We're going to explore these options and give a quick update on Israel and Gaza. All in under 15 minutes!

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Today, we're looking at the protests in Kenya and conflicting reports from Kenya's government and civil society groups that are tracking security violence against civilians. We're also covering the earliest known information about the so-called Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention center, which is set to be built in Florida. How do Indigenous leaders feel about it? What have environmental groups said? We'll wrap up with the latest on the One Big Beautiful Bill, including an open letter to Congress from Feeding America and its celebrity supporters. All in under 15 minutes!

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