The Stan R. Mitchell Show

Hi everyone!

Each week, in The View from the Front podcast, I cover the news in a sophisticated and balanced manner, with an over-arching goal to unify our country.

Besides covering the news in a respectful way, I end each show with some motivation and wisdom. Hope you enjoy the show! #SupportOurMilitary #DefendDemocracy

Thank you for being here. And thank you to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

While JLOTS Mission Has Concluded, Several Million Pounds of Aid Remain to be Delivered

The U.S. military Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore system, or JLOTS, in use since May to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza, has closed out its mission, U.S. Central Command announced yesterday. 

But Centcom remains committed to delivering several million pounds of aid originally destined for delivery using that system, said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a news briefing. 

"In the coming days, Centcom will work with USAID to deliver the remaining aid commodities, currently afloat, to the port of Ashdod, in Israel, for onward distribution to Gaza, and will provide coordination and liaison support for humanitarian aid delivery as a request of USAID when appropriate," Singh said. 

Due to sea states, the JLOTS pier has not been in operation in Gaza since late June. That pause in operations, coupled with the announced shuttering of the mission, will require about five million pounds of humanitarian aid once designated for delivery over the JLOTS pier to be delivered through the Israeli port of Ashdod. 

That aid, Singh said, is either in Cyprus, or "afloat," in that it is currently either on commercial shipping vessels or U.S. military vessels underway on the Mediterranean Sea. 

In early May, the Defense Department completed deployment of the JLOTS in the Mediterranean Sea. This included a floating pier several miles off the coast of Gaza as well an additional pier, referred to as the Trident Pier, anchored on the Gaza shore. 

The mission was then carried out in multiple steps. Commercial cargo ships loaded with humanitarian aid in Cyprus sailed to the floating pier. There, at sea, cargo was unloaded from the commercial ships and onto trucks that were aboard Army-owned logistic vessels.

After leaving the floating pier, the Army vessels traveled to the Trident Pier. There, the trucks exited the Army vessels and moved aid over the pier to the shore, where the humanitarian aid supplies could then be staged for delivery inside Gaza. 

Singh said the mission was successful. 

"With collaboration from 12 nations, international partners, USAID, and the United Nations, the temporary pier successfully delivered nearly 20 million pounds of aid, which is the highest volume of humanitarian assistance the U.S. military has ever delivered into the Middle East," Singh said. "The temporary pier achieved its goal of providing an additive means of delivering high volumes of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza." 

Going forward, Singh said, the U.S. military will play an advisory role, at least for the short term, in the continued delivery of aid, which is expected to go through Ashdod and then over ground routes into Gaza. 

"In the immediate future, we're going to maintain some coordination elements that have been in place, such as the coordination cell ... in Cyprus and in Israel. We want to make sure that aid is going to continue to flow into Gaza," she said. "But this new route, that aid flows through Ashdod, will ultimately be managed by USAID and other humanitarian organizations ... I'd include the World Food Program in that as well." 

Ukraine news:

Opinion: With U.S. aid flowing, Ukraine’s defense stiffens — for now

Michael Kofman, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who recently returned from visiting Ukraine, wrote on X: “Ukraine faces difficult months of fighting ahead, but the situation at the front is better than it was this spring.”

…

The biggest danger to Ukraine at the moment is not from a Russian ground assault but from the air. Last week’s Russian missile strikes, which hit a children’s hospital in Kyiv and killed at least 37 people, are a reminder of the constant menace. Kofman notes that “Ukraine is very low on ammunition for legacy Soviet [air defense] systems, whereas Russian drone and missile production rates have increased significantly.”

The Russians have had particular success in recent months in targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials say Russian strikes have taken offline nine of the 18 gigawatts that the country needs for peak consumption this winter. Electricity is already being rationed, and it could be limited to as little as five hours a day in the winter. As Ukrainian officials have been saying since the start of the war, they are in desperate need of more air defenses, to protect not only their cities and infrastructure but also their front-line positions. Ukrainian troops have suffered devastating damage from Russian “glide bombs,” as stockpiled dumb bombs retrofitted with cheap guidance kits are called.

At last week’s NATO summit, the allies announced that they were sending dozens of new air defense systems to Ukraine, including at least four U.S.-made Patriot batteries, the most effective system for stopping Russian missiles. Talks are underway for Israel to contribute as many as eight of its own earlier-generation Patriot batteries, which it no longer needs. The imminent delivery of F-16s from the Netherlands and Denmark should help, too: Those fighter aircraft can chase away the Russian bombers dropping glide bombs.

China news:

Background article from June: Philippine Sailor Severely Injured, Vessels Damaged as Chinese Block South China Sea Mission

 Defense Official Says U.S.-Philippines Alliance Is Making Remarkable Progress

Part of this vision is the United States standing with the Philippines as the nation defends its lawful rights in the South China Sea, Ratner said. China is challenging the Philippines' lawful right to the Second Thomas Shoal, a "low-tide elevation beyond any lawful territorial sea, on the Philippines' continental shelf, and well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone," Ratner said.  

China's claim on the Shoal "has no more credibility today than it did when the arbitral tribunal issued its unanimous ruling in 2016," he said. "And the kind of revisionism and coercion we've seen there from [China] is both destabilizing and dangerous." 

This aggressive Chinese behavior stands in sharp contrast to the remarkable leadership by President Marcos to protect and defend the rights of the Philippines under international law, Ratner said. 

"All the while, the United States has acted in support of the Philippines and made clear that our alliance commitments are ironclad and that all nations should be able to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," Ratner said. 

…

The Philippines is working alongside Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and other nations of the region in these exercises. 

These like-minded nations are moving toward greater interoperability and cooperation, Ratner said. They are granting reciprocal access. They are also engaging in more complicated and complex regional exercises. "The new convergence in the Indo-Pacific won't always start with or include the United States, nor should it," Ratner said.  

South China Sea Arbitration Ruling: What Happened and What’s Next?

Gift link from The Washington Post: Why does China care about a rust bucket in the middle of the sea?

China brokers Palestinian unity declaration in bid to be global mediator

Leaders of Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, signed a joint statement Tuesday in Beijing aimed at ending divisions between the bitter rivals, a deal bolstering China’s claim to being a global mediator but unlikely to heal the deep rift between the Palestinian political groups.

The statement calls for the formation of a Palestinian unity government overseeing the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip and eventually holding elections, for which the leaders of the factions would meet and draw up a road map. The Israeli government has rejected any proposal that gives a governing role to Hamas or the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority.

Chinese media hailed the “Beijing declaration” as a breakthrough and a sign of the country’s emerging role as a peace broker in faraway conflicts. In a speech after the talks ended, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called it a “historic moment for the cause of Palestine’s liberation” and highlighted the “consensus around establishing an interim national reconciliation government to manage Gaza after the war.”

Motivation and wisdom:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because I know that life is hard and pep talks help. I also know that sometimes you can get too close to a situation and not be able to see what’s happening, so I share some quotes of wisdom alongside these motivational quotes in the hopes that maybe just one might speak to you.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, or that touch on Jesus, because Christianity and the Bible have become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

#mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone!

Each week, in The View from the Front podcast, I cover the news in a sophisticated and balanced manner, with an over-arching goal to unify our country.

Besides covering the news in a respectful way, I end each show with some motivation and wisdom. Hope you enjoy the show! #SupportOurMilitary #DefendDemocracy

Thank you for being here. And thank you to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Motivation and wisdom:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because I know that life is hard and pep talks help. I also know that sometimes you can get too close to a situation and not be able to see what’s happening, so I share some quotes of wisdom alongside these motivational quotes in the hopes that maybe just might speak to you.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, or that touch on Jesus, because Christianity and the Bible have become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:31 “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 15:13   “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

#mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the July 11th edition. 

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do three things with my podcast:

* Cover the news and foreign policy reports that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

* And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast above. I really hope you get something out of it.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

By the way, if you’ve been enjoying the show for a while… you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

This was Tuesday: The Biden question has been answered: he's not leaving.

But by Wednesday, it seemed the ground had shifted again.

Nancy Pelosi opened the door, subtly, to replacing Biden.

George Clooney called for Joe Biden to step down, saying he witnessed the President’s decline

First Senate Democrat asked Biden to leave race, and now nine members of the House who are Democrats have spoken out publicly about it

So, we will just have to see.

In other political news, Trump’s VP choice may be down to 3. Here’s what each brings. (Breaking down the advantages of having Marco Rubio, J.D. Vance or Doug Burgum on the ticket — and what they lack.)

July 4 U.S. Central Command Update

In the past 24 hours U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed two Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed surface vessels (USV) in the Red Sea and one Houthi radar site in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

It was determined the USVs and radar site presented an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure.

US to complete withdrawal from Niger base Sunday

The U.S. is set to complete its withdrawal of forces and equipment Sunday from an air base in Niamey, the capital of the West African country of Niger, with a joint ceremony marking the occasion.

Next on the U.S. agenda is its exit from a Niger drone base that is scheduled to be completed in August.

The departures are in compliance with a September 15 deadline agreed upon by the U.S. and Niger’s ruling junta, after Niger’s new military leaders ordered U.S. troops to leave following a coup in Niamey last year.

U.S. Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, in Niger to coordinate the exits, told reporters by video conference that the bulk of the U.S. forces in Niger will be transferred to European locations. However, he said small teams of U.S. forces have been relocated to other West African countries.

Ukraine news:

Russia strikes a children's hospital in Kyiv and other sites across Ukraine

Joint Statement on Strengthening Ukraine’s Air Defenses

Ukraine’s first F-16s will see combat this summer, officials say

NATO to announce new military command to train Ukrainian troops, appoint Kyiv representative, Sullivan says

In the coming days, the NATO alliance will announce a new military command in Germany to train and equip Ukrainian troops, as well as appoint a new NATO senior representative in Kyiv, U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan said on July 9 at the start of the NATO summit in Washington.

Outlining measures the U.S. and NATO allies will take to further support for Ukraine, Sullivan briefly detailed "robust new measures," including previously unannounced plans for a three-star general to lead a new German military command for "training, equipping, and force development program for Ukrainian troops."

Sullivan also announced that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will appoint a new senior NATO representative in Kyiv to "deepen Ukraine's institutional relationship with the alliance and serve as the focal point for NATO's engagement with senior Ukrainian officials."

China news:

Japan and the Philippines sign a defense pact in the face of shared alarm over China

Motivation and wisdom:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because we all know that life is hard and pep talks help.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, or that touch on Jesus, because Christianity and the Bible have become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

#mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the July 4th edition. 

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do three things with my podcast:

* Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

* And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Reminder of the debate: Trump made more than 30 false claims during CNN’s presidential debate — far more than Biden

Trump’s repeat falsehoods included his assertions that some Democratic-led states allow babies to be executed after birth, that every legal scholar and everybody in general wanted Roe v. Wade overturned, that there were no terror attacks during his presidency, that Iran didn’t fund terror groups during his presidency, that the US has provided more aid to Ukraine than Europe has, that Biden for years referred to Black people as “super predators,” that Biden is planning to quadruple people’s taxes, that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned down 10,000 National Guard troops for the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, that Americans don’t pay the cost of his tariffs on China and other countries, that Europe accepts no American cars, that he is the president who got the Veterans Choice program through Congress, and that fraud marred the results of the 2020 election.

Trump also added some new false claims, such as his assertions that the US currently has its biggest budget deficit and its biggest trade deficit with China. Both records actually occurred under Trump.

Biden made at least nine false or misleading claims in the debate. He used false numbers while describing two of his key Medicare policies, falsely claimed that no US troops had been killed on his watch, repeated his usual misleading figure about billionaires’ tax rates, baselessly claimed that Trump wants to eliminate Social Security, falsely said that the unemployment rate was 15% when he took office, inaccurately said that the Border Patrol union had endorsed him before clarifying that he was talking about agents’ support for the border bill he had backed, and exaggerated Trump’s 2020 comments about the possibility of treating Covid-19 by injecting disinfectant.

Biden and aides concede he needs to quickly demonstrate his fitness for office

This has been a long time coming and what a disgraceful end for a man who helped rally our country after 9/11. The lesson is clear: Never sell your soul -- or your integrity -- to any other person.

Steve Bannon reports to prison for contempt of Congress sentence

Alex Jones’ court trustee plans to shut down his notorious conspiracy outlet Infowars

Ukraine news:

China news:

China and the Philippines hold crucial talks to ease tensions after intense clash in disputed waters

Philippines to be 'relentless' in protecting interests in South China Sea, it says

Taiwan says China seized fishing boat under new protocol

Haiti news:

Haiti’s prime minister says Kenya police is crucial to controlling gangs, calls early days positive

Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille told the U.N. Security Council Wednesday that recently-deployed Kenyan police will be crucial to helping control the country’s gangs and moving toward democratic elections — and he called feedback from their initial days in the capital “extremely, extremely positive.”

He said his government will focus on addressing gang violence and food insecurity, ensuring free elections through constitutional and political reform, and rebuilding public trust in the police.

On June 25, the initial contingent of 200 Kenyan police arrived in Port-au-Prince. Kenya has pledged 1,000 police to the international police force and Conille said the next contingent will be arriving “very soon.” They will later be joined by police from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica in the force that will total 2,500 personnel.

Motivation and encouragement:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because we all know that life is hard and pep talks help.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, or that touch on Jesus, because Christianity and the Bible have become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

#mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the June 20th edition. 

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do three things with my podcast:

* Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

* And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Governor Moore announces the gull reopening of the Port of Baltimore

No timeline for Baltimore port reopening following bridge collapse

Baltimore to open "temporary alternate channel" for ships

G7 agrees to loan Ukraine $50 billion from the interest on frozen Russian assets

The total number of individually struck air defense systems is approximately 15. Specifically, divisions of air defense systems in the modifications of S-300, S-350, and S-400 have been affected; dozens of launcher units of these systems have been destroyed, along with over 15 radar stations and more than 10 command posts.

Motivation and encouragement:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because we all know that life is hard and pep talks help.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

#mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the June 13th edition. 

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do three things with my podcast:

* Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

* And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

President Biden deserves applause for how he’s conducted himself during the Hunter Biden trial, as I describe in the podcast, despite the ludicrous comments below.

8 suspected terrorists with possible ISIS ties arrested in New York, L.A. and Philadelphia, sources say

Eight men from Tajikistan with potential ties to ISIS out of central Asia were arrested over the weekend in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, three people familiar with the matter told NBC News on Tuesday.

Middle East news:

Ukraine news:

Motivation and encouragement:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because who doesn’t need that?!

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

#mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the June 6 edition. 

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

Timestamps:

0:33. Feedback on last episode, more on the China threat, and a celebration of D-Day.

9:49. Biden authorizes Ukraine to hit part of Russia with US weapons.

13:09. Temporary pier in Gaza faces setback with rough storm (and other conditions).

16:56. US Secretary of Defense meets with Chinese Defense Minister.

19:15. Putin’s purge ramps up as fith general is arrested.

21:41. Hal Brands: Putin’s shadow war against Europe is intensifying.

24:22. Russia co-opts far-right politicians in Europe with cash, officials say

27:09. Some U.S. weapons stymied by Russian jamming in Ukraine

31:02. Ukraine frustrated with US over F-16 pilot training.

33:42. Are US M1 tanks performing poorly inside Ukraine?

36:38. Ukrainians have purchased $25 billion in govt bonds since start of full-scale war.

40:11. United States learns from China’s military operations around Taiwan.

42:13. China convicts pro-democracy Hong Kong dissidents.

46:20. Honoring a Medal of Honor recipient, as well as motivation and encouragement, just for you.

1:02:55. An important message re: PTSD.

If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do three things with my podcast:

* Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

* And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

U.S. news:

Biden gives Ukraine permission to carry out limited strikes inside Rusia

President Joe Biden has given permission to Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory with American munitions, though he has restricted their use so Kyiv can only hit targets over the border close to Kharkiv after Russia made significant advances around the city in the northeastern part of the country close to the Russian border, two US officials told CNN on Thursday.

“The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US supplied-weapons for counterfire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them,” one of the officials said.

The loosening of the restrictions marks a break from long-standing policy and comes amid growing international pressure from close US allies. But it is limited to the area around Kharkiv, and Ukraine has not requested permission beyond that, the official said, adding that they do not anticipate the US widening the area allowed.

Temporary pier in Gaza faces setback with rough storm

Austin Emphasizes Open Lines of Communication Between U.S., China Militaries

Russia news:

Putin's purge ramps up as another general arrested over bribes

Hal Brands: Putin’s shadow war against Europe is intensifying

Russian nationals have been arrested in Germany on charges of planning to attack military facilities. English prosecutors claim that Russian agents set fire to a warehouse containing aid for Ukraine. Sweden is investigating alleged Russian-sponsored acts of sabotage. The Czech government accuses Moscow of sabotaging its railways.

Estonia, meanwhile, has reportedly uncovered a host of Russian plots on its soil. Russian ships are suspected of targeting communications cables and wind farms in the North Sea. Now, Moscow may be involved in suspicious fires — including one that engulfed a shopping center — in Poland. The roster of allegations goes on and on.

Russia naturally denies any culpability, but where there is this much smoke — literal or figurative — there is probably some fire. As Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of Estonia has said, Russia seems to be waging a “shadow war” against Europe.

Russia co-opts far-right politicians in Europe with cash, officials say

The Czech probe rapidly expanded into Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and France, European security and intelligence officials said, as investigators concluded that Voice of Europe represented far more than its official veneer as a pro-Russian website interviewing favored European politicians about ending aid to Ukraine.

The organization was being used to funnel hundreds of thousands of euros — up to 1 million a month — to dozens of far-right politicians in more than five countries to plant Kremlin propaganda in Western media that would sow division in Europe and bolster the position of pro-Russian candidates in this week’s European Parliament elections, according to interviews with a dozen European intelligence officials from five countries. Most of the officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing and sensitive investigation.

Officials described the Russian operation as among the most ambitious undertaken by the Kremlin in Europe in its efforts to undermine support for Ukraine and create divisions in the transatlantic alliance.

Ukraine news:

Some U.S. Weapons Stymied by Russian Jamming in Ukraine

Ukraine frustrated with US over F-16 pilot training

Ukrainian officials are pressing the U.S. and other countries to ramp up their F-16 pilot training, saying the current pipeline isn’t producing enough aviators to fly the jets that will be soon donated to Kyiv.

Ukraine says it has 30 pilots who are eligible to start training in the U.S. immediately. Yet the Biden administration has told Kyiv it lacks the school seats in its Arizona-based program to accept more than 12 pilot trainees at a time, according to three people with direct knowledge of the request. Two other facilities in Denmark and Romania have a similar issue with available training spots.

…

Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium plan to ship more than 60 U.S.-made F-16 jets to Kyiv this summer. Ukrainians argue that the ability to fly more F-16s will help Kyiv push back Russian forces from the frontlines in places such as Kharkiv, where Moscow has advanced in recent weeks. Yet the U.S. has said it does not expect the jets to be a game-changer on the battlefield.

China news:

Never, ever give up segment links:

I call it the "Never, ever give up segment” because we must never ever give up as a country (though we face great division, a massive debt burden, and probably future problems that none of us could even predict. But we must never give up as a country.

And I believe we must stay united.

And also as individuals, we must never, ever give up. We’ve got family and friends counting on us, so in this section, I’m going to share some motivation to help encourage you.

I’d like to begin by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you don’t know, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration you can possibly earn in the military, and it’s awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

The medal is typically awarded by the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Armed Services.

On May 13, 1899, at San Miguel de Mayumo, Philippine Islands, an entrenched enemy force of 300 men opened fire upon Corporal Anders and 11 other scouts. The scouts promptly charged the enemy trenches, routing their forces and capturing the bridge to San Miguel in a sharp firefight. The scouts entered the town and took refuge in a church bell tower. From there they held the town, having driven the enemy entirely out of the city, until two infantry companies arrived that afternoon to help secure the city.

I share these Medal of Honor stories to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made through the nearly 250 years of American history.

Through so many major wars, more than 1 million Americans have sacrificed their lives and died, getting us to this place and time.

In wars such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then after Sept 11th, there was Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

And these were only the major wars that I’ve listed, and I know I overlooked so many smaller conflicts. In all, more than 41 million Americans have served over the course of the nation's history. And as I said earlier, more than 1 million have died, and tens of millions have been wounded or had their lives shattered.

So, I think it’s always important we remember these facts, particularly when we have people regularly saying we face a potential civil war. Or that we should split up our country because of whatever the latest culture war is. Or any other number of silly reasons.

I think our grandparents and great-grandparents and those who came before them would be dumbfounded to think we could rip apart this great nation over such trifling issues.

Now, let’s share some motivation to make sure that we never, ever give up in our own personal lives.

Of course, if you’re a regular listener, you know I also speak about never giving up when I discuss PTSD at the end of the show.

But for now, let’s just talk about some motivation.

And we’ve got some great ones this week.

Motivation and inspiration:

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And honestly, if you were like me, and you had spent years and years reading self-help books, meditating, Buddhism, whatever, and it’s still not working? Then why not try something else? We know that the definition of insanity is dong the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.

If you’ve never cracked open the Bible, I invite you to try it. In fact, I almost double-dog dare you to try it. Because if it’s all fake, if it’s all not real, then it should have no effect.

It’s just another lame self-help book. But if you’re courageous enough to open it, I think it will rock your world, the same way it’s rocked mine.

Bottom line, what do you have left to lose? You’ve tried everything else, so why not try this.

And I think if you do, you’ll see that the Bible is the handbook for your life. I think you’ll find it speaking to you, because it’s not just ancient words, it’s the wisdom of God.

And if you need hope and purpose, if you’re really drowning and feeling lost, then you need more than the self-help quotes I shared above. You need God and one of the best ways to find Him is in the Bible. You don’t just have to go to some church you’re nervous to visit. You can start learning about Him from the safety of your home, by simply reading the Bible — either in print or on your phone through a Bible app.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

#mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the May 30th edition. 

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

Timestamps:

2:59. China launches large-scale military drills to punish Taiwan.

8:37. Will China invade Taiwan in the next year or two?

11:57. “World on the Brink.” Will China invade in 2027 or 2028?

25:24. Top Senate Republican pushes massive hike in defense spending.

27:59. Biden edges closer to reversing ban on US weapons usage inside Russian.

31:10. Sweden announces airborne surveillance and control aircraft for Ukraine.

33:36. Honoring a Medal of Honor recipient, as well as motivation and encouragement, just for you.

54:59. An important message re: PTSD.

If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do three things with my podcast:

* Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

* And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

China news:

US lawmakers vow to bolster Taiwan’s defense with bipartisan visit days after China’s ‘punishment’ military drills

CNN — US lawmakers vowed to bolster Taiwan’s deterrence against China on Monday during a bipartisan congressional visit to the self-governing democracy just days after Beijing surrounded the island with massive military exercises.

Last week’s drills were the largest China has launched in more than a year and came days after Taiwan swore in its new president, Lai Ching-te, who is openly loathed by Beijing for championing the island’s sovereignty and distinct identity.

In a news conference in Taipei, US Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called the drills an “intimidation tactic to punish democracy” and vowed to bolster Taiwan’s defense by speeding up the delivery of defensive weapons from the US.

Will China invade Taiwan in the short term?

CIA chief: China has some doubt on its ability to invade Taiwan in 2027

Top Senate Armed Services Republican pushes massive hike in defense spending

Ukraine news:

Never, ever give up segment links:

I call it the "Never, ever give up segment” because we must never ever give up as a country (though we face great division, a massive debt burden, and probably future problems that none of us could even predict. But we must never give up as a country.

And I believe we must stay united.

And also as individuals, we must never, ever give up. We’ve got family and friends counting on us, so in this section, I’m going to share some motivation to help encourage you.

I’d like to begin by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you don’t know, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration you can possibly earn in the military, and it’s awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

The medal is typically awarded by the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Armed Services.

I share these Medal of Honor stories to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made through the nearly 250 years of American history.

Through so many major wars, more than 1 million Americans have sacrificed their lives and died, getting us to this place and time.

In wars such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then after Sept 11th, there was Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

And these were only the major wars that I’ve listed, and I know I overlooked so many smaller conflicts. In all, more than 41 million Americans have served over the course of the nation's history. And as I said earlier, more than 1 million have died, and tens of millions have been wounded or had their lives shattered.

So, I think it’s always important we remember these facts, particularly when we have people regularly saying we face a potential civil war. Or that we should split up our country because of whatever the latest culture war is. Or any other number of silly reasons.

I think our grandparents and great-grandparents and those who came before them would be dumbfounded to think we could rip apart this great nation over such trifling issues.

Now, let’s share some motivation to make sure that we never, ever give up in our own personal lives.

Of course, if you’re a regular listener, you know I also speak about never giving up when I discuss PTSD at the end of the show.

But for now, let’s just talk about some motivation.

And we’ve got some great ones this week.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And honestly, if you were like me, and you had spent years and years reading self-help books, meditating, Buddhism, whatever, and it’s still not working? Then why not try something else? We know that the definition of insanity is dong the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.

If you’ve never cracked open the Bible, I invite you to try it. In fact, I almost double-dog dare you to try it. Because if it’s all fake, if it’s all not real, then it should have no effect.

It’s just another lame self-help book. But if you’re courageous enough to open it, I think it will rock your world, the same way it’s rocked mine.

Bottom line, what do you have left to lose? You’ve tried everything else, so why not try this.

And I think if you do, you’ll see that the Bible is the handbook for your life. I think you’ll find it speaking to you, because it’s not just ancient words, it’s the wisdom of God.

And if you need hope and purpose, if you’re really drowning and feeling lost, then you need more than the self-help quotes I shared above. You need God and one of the best ways to find Him is in the Bible. You don’t just have to go to some church you’re nervous to visit. You can start learning about Him from the safety of your home, by simply reading the Bible — either in print or on your phone through a Bible app.

Psalm 62.

Ephesians 4.

Proverbs 3.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

#mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the May 23rd edition. 

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 2:56. The Russian advance near Kharkiv falters.

Timestamp: 6:08. Ukraine’s energy grid has been rocked.

Timestamp: 9:50. Much needed artillery ammo finally reaches Ukraine’s front lines. 

Timestamp: 12:21. The pressure builds on Biden to greenlight Ukraine using American weapons against targets inside Russia.

Timestamp: 14:53. E.U. sets precedent with plan to use profits from frozen Russian assets

Timestamp: 17:44. Russia faces a growing labor shortage.

Timestamp: 21:58. Destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) returns home from historic deployment.

Timestamp: 25:37. U.S. completes floating pier off Gaza, but challenges remain.

Timestamp: 32:47. Honoring a Medal of Honor recipient, as well as motivation and encouragement, just for you. 

Timestamp 53:09. An important message re: PTSD.

If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do three things with my podcast:

* Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

* And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine news:

Gift link: With its energy network nearly destroyed, Ukraine already fears the winter

Also, in contrast to the previous campaign against Ukraine’s energy sector, which focused primarily on destroying the electrical distribution grid, Russian forces are now directly targeting the country’s thermal and hydroelectric power plants.

…

Boiko said that consumption restrictions should be expected to last until September, by which time nuclear power stations — which provide half of the country’s electricity — will have ramped up production, while lower temperatures should reduce the energy demands.

…

Winter will be “undoubtedly difficult,” Boiko said — the only question is to what degree. Ukraine has lost some eight gigawatts of electricity production because of the strikes, he said — approaching half of what this country more than 30 million, the size of Texas, needs during peak periods.

E.U. sets precedent with plan to use profits from frozen Russian assets

U.S. news:

USS Carney had ‘seconds’ to respond to anti-ship ballistic missiles

Challenges abound, but aid moves into Gaza

While 569 metric tons of aid have landed off the Defense Department's Joint Logistics, Over-the-Shore pier in Gaza, getting the aid to the Palestinian people has been a problem, officials said today.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters that aid is making it ashore and the amount of aid should quickly increase as the process continues.

The problem with delivery comes as desperate Palestinians have been mobbing the trucks after they leave the marshalling yards. Ryder said there have been discussions among the U.S., Israel and the United Nations on efforts "to identify alternative routes for the safe movement of staff and cargo."

Never, ever give up segment links:

I call it the "Never, ever give up segment” because we must never ever give up as a country (though we face great division, a massive debt burden, and probably future problems that none of us could even predict. But we must never give up as a country.

And I believe we must stay united.

And also as individuals, we must never, ever give up. We’ve got family and friends counting on us, so in this section, I’m going to share some motivation to help encourage you.

I’d like to begin by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you don’t know, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration you can possibly earn in the military, and it’s awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

The medal is typically awarded by the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Armed Services.

I share these Medal of Honor stories to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made through the nearly 250 years of American history.

Through so many major wars, more than 1 million Americans have sacrificed their lives and died, getting us to this place and time.

In wars such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then after Sept 11th, there was Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

And these were only the major wars that I’ve listed, and I know I overlooked so many smaller conflicts. In all, more than 41 million Americans have served over the course of the nation's history. And as I said earlier, more than 1 million have died, and tens of millions have been wounded or had their lives shattered.

So, I think it’s always important we remember these facts, particularly when we have people regularly saying we face a potential civil war. Or that we should split up our country because of whatever the latest culture war is. Or any other number of silly reasons.

I think our grandparents and great-grandparents and those who came before them would be dumbfounded to think we could rip apart this great nation over such trifling issues.

Now, let’s share some motivation to make sure that we never, ever give up in our own personal lives.

Of course, if you’re a regular listener, you know I also speak about never giving up when I discuss PTSD at the end of the show.

But for now, let’s just talk about some motivation.

And we’ve got some great ones this week.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And honestly, if you were like me, and you had spent years and years reading self-help books, meditating, Buddhism, whatever, and it’s still not working? Then why not try something else? We know that the definition of insanity is dong the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.

If you’ve never cracked open the Bible, I invite you to try it. In fact, I almost double-dog dare you to try it. Because if it’s all fake, if it’s all not real, then it should have no effect.

It’s just another lame self-help book. But if you’re courageous enough to open it, I think it will rock your world, the same way it’s rocked mine.

Bottom line, what do you have left to lose? You’ve tried everything else, so why not try this.

And I think if you do, you’ll see that the Bible is the handbook for your life. I think you’ll find it speaking to you, because it’s not just ancient words, it’s the wisdom of God.

And if you need hope and purpose, if you’re really drowning and feeling lost, then you need more than the self-help quotes I shared above. You need God and one of the best ways to find Him is in the Bible. You don’t just have to go to some church you’re nervous to visit. You can start learning about Him from the safety of your home, by simply reading the Bible — either in print or on your phone through a Bible app.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

#mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the May 16th edition. 

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 6:07. Modern Europeans are a people of peace? It’s a joke, people. And we need to start with a joke before we get to something deadly serious.

Timestamp: 9:04. American political dysfunction and propaganda from Russia are beginning to threaten political support in the U.S. and Europe for Ukraine.

Timestamp: 24:50. The latest updates on the advances of the Ukrainian forces in its counteroffensive against Russian-occupied forces.

Timestamp: 25:56. Russia gets a taste of its own medicine as Ukraine launches small drone attacks on Russian electrical substations.

Timestamp: 29:59. Ukrainian forces are increasingly conducting raids in Russian-occupied Crimea.

Timestamp: 42:59. Motivation and encouragement, just for you. As well as the honoring of a special Medal of Honor recipient.

Timestamp 35:02. Some final words of unity and a few special words for those vets out there (and non-vets, too) who are struggling with PTSD or are just in a really low valley right now. I think it’s really important to discuss this topic in every single show since veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age groups who haven't served. Please listen to this if you are struggling.

If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do three things with my podcast:

* Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

* And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine news:

Gift link to NYTimes: White House Worries Russia’s Momentum Is Changing Trajectory of Ukraine War

Ukraine has been able to use that recaptured territory near Kharkiv to conduct harassing attacks into Russia. Those attacks have prompted the Russians to retake land in recent weeks to create a buffer zone that Mr. Putin has said will make cross-border attacks harder for Ukraine to carry out. Recently, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has called the Russian advance near Kharkiv “critical.”

Some outside experts caution that Russia’s real strategic aim in taking territory around Kharkiv is to force Ukraine’s troops to move to reinforce the city, weakening the front lines elsewhere. That could set up an opportunity for another Russian drive in June, in the Donbas, the part of eastern Ukraine that the Kremlin has illegally annexed and is trying to capture.

“The Russian offensive aim is likely to draw Ukrainian reserves and elite units, then pin them in Kharkiv, thereby weakening the rest of the front,” Mr. Kofman said. “The primary Russian objective still remains recapturing the rest of the Donbas.”

Gift link to Wash Post: Why Russian troops are suddenly able to advance toward Kharkiv

Germany to buy three US HIMARS launchers for Ukraine for $30 million

U.S. news:

Pentagon orders all US combat troops to withdraw from Niger

Never, ever give up segment links:

I call it the "Never, ever give up segment” because we must never ever give up as a country (though we face great division, a massive debt burden, and probably future problems that none of us could even predict. But we must never give up as a country.

And I believe we must stay united.

And also as individuals, we must never, ever give up. We’ve got family and friends counting on us, so in this section, I’m going to share some motivation to help encourage you.

I’d like to begin by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you don’t know, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration you can possibly earn in the military, and it’s awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

The medal is typically awarded by the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Armed Services.

I share these Medal of Honor stories to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made through the nearly 250 years of American history.

Through so many major wars, more than 1 million Americans have sacrificed their lives and died, getting us to this place and time.

In wars such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then after Sept 11th, there was Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

And these were only the major wars that I’ve listed, and I know I overlooked so many smaller conflicts. In all, more than 41 million Americans have served over the course of the nation's history. And as I said earlier, more than 1 million have died, and tens of millions have been wounded or had their lives shattered.

So, I think it’s always important we remember these facts, particularly when we have people regularly saying we face a potential civil war. Or that we should split up our country because of whatever the latest culture war is. Or any other number of silly reasons.

I think our grandparents and great-grandparents and those who came before them would be dumbfounded to think we could rip apart this great nation over such trifling issues.

Now, let’s share some motivation to make sure that we never, ever give up in our own personal lives.

Of course, if you’re a regular listener, you know I also speak about never giving up when I discuss PTSD at the end of the show.

But for now, let’s just talk about some motivation.

And we’ve got some great ones this week.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And honestly, if you were like me, and you had spent years and years reading self-help books, meditating, Buddhism, whatever, and it’s still not working? Then why not try something else? We know that the definition of insanity is dong the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.

If you’ve never cracked open the Bible, I invite you to try it. In fact, I almost double-dog dare you to try it. Because if it’s all fake, if it’s all not real, then it should have no effect.

It’s just another lame self-help book. But if you’re courageous enough to open it, I think it will rock your world, the same way it’s rocked mine.

Bottom line, what do you have left to lose? You’ve tried everything else, so why not try this.

And I think if you do, you’ll see that the Bible is the handbook for your life. I think you’ll find it speaking to you, because it’s not just ancient words, it’s the wisdom of God.

And if you need hope and purpose, if you’re really drowning and feeling lost, then you need more than the self-help quotes I shared above. You need God and one of the best ways to find Him is in the Bible. You don’t just have to go to some church you’re nervous to visit. You can start learning about Him from the safety of your home, by simply reading the Bible — either in print or on your phone through a Bible app.

Hebrews: 13:5-6

John 6:51.

Isaiah 40:29-31.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

#mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront 

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe