SmartHERNews

New legislation in the state of Tennessee lobbies for replacing Columbus Day with "Super Bowl Monday" – Should other states follow suit? Do we all need a "late start" after the Super Bowl? We report. You relax! We got your covered for the week ahead. Your cheat sheet on big events that happened while millions watched the "Big Game": The SecDef returns to the hospital; Deputy takes lead. (5:00) The Senate advances foreign aid legislation; border details remain absent. (6:30) "Victory is within reach" says Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu on a new offensive in a southern city in Gaza – a key area housing many evacuees. (9:00) Your cheat sheet on three big legal cases that may impact the rest of 2024: Questions remain about whether former President Trump's team will appeal to the Supreme Court a lower court decision that the former President can face criminal prosecution. (approx. 16:30) The Supreme Court hears a case that could keep former President Trump off the ballot in the state of Colorado. (21:00) A special counsel concludes President Biden should face no charges related to his handling of classified documents, but the issue of age and competency overshadows the current president's statement about the investigation. (30:30) What would you like more of from SmartHER News? We look forward to hearing your thoughts or your news questions: scoop@SmartHERNews.com Thank you for your continued support of SCOOP! If you're listening for the first time, consider joining us LIVE and supporting a free press, checking out our SmartHER Shop or simply telling a friend about SmartHERNews.com Legislation in Tennessee: LINK Proposal to turn 'Super Bowl Monday' into an official holiday is on the table in one state Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Special Coupon For SCOOP listeners  Use Jenna20 for 20% off of designs at Liz James Designs - an Austin-based, American-made jewelry designer. Coupon good through Wednesday February 7th for delivery before Valentine's Day! ------ What did the leader of an Iranian-backed militia tell war correspondent Hollie McKay over lunch?  Hollie joins us with her reflections on what she learned meeting the baseball-cap wearing man in a Baghdad restaurant (hint: he described one of the militia's goals as revenge on America). Show Notes: 0:00 - 5:00: Quick reflections on Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs at the Grammys - and the new "concert trick" - venues and artists locking your phone away. 5:00: Report: The Biden Administration wants to tackle grocery story prices. 7:30: What to know about the new border deal. What stands out. What matters. Why critics have already raised their voices in opposition. What to watch for. 17:00 Hollie McKay joins us with her 4-month old Raven to discuss her unique reporting in Iraq that takes us to the rise of "Iranian-backed militia." Terms To Know: Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF): The umbrella group of Iranian-backed militia operating in Iraq.  Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS): An Iranian-backed militia - just one group that remains part of PMF. Hollie sits down with the leader that oversees this group. Qassim Soleimani: Infamous Iranian military leader - Head of the notorious and elite QUDS force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (Iran's military). Killed by America in a drone strike. Hollie writes in detail on her lunch - here: https://holliesmckay.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web Here's Hollie's website which features her books, and her new venture: The Stretch System ---- Thank you for keeping SmartHER News independent and ad-free. Join our LIVE conversations and receive a prep-sheet for the week ahead in your inbox every Monday: Get The Inside SCOOP Always more: SmartHERNews.com  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

What new eyes do we need on old challenges to create solutions? We ask this question as we look at two of the biggest developing headlines this week - American service members killed in action in the Middle East by Iranian-backed militants and the ongoing coverage of the U.S. borders. A few highlights: 2:45: A former Air Force Intel officer says he may have discovered Amelia Earthart's plane 11:15: Why do we use the term "Iranian-backed" militants? 19:40: Our guest tells us that the UN nuclear watchdog agency says it is being "held hostage" by Iran, unable to provide oversight on the nuclear program belonging to the U.S. designated state-sponsor of terror. 23:40 What do the new border numbers tell us about the state of affairs specifically at the U.S. southern border and who really has oversight - the federal government or the state? Plus ~ a personal tribute to a man who always wore a smile and knew how to show up. Show Notes: Is This Amelia Earhart’s Long-Lost Plane? (via WSJ) Good Write-Up on attack in Jordan (plus maps) via Reuters: What is Tower 22, US military base attacked in Jordan? Customs and Border Protection raw numbers on the border With love to Joseph Libonati (my friend who I mentioned at the end): Obituary  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Why does New Hampshire matter in American politics (and particularly this election season)? What's missing from our reporting on the Middle East? How should you approach LONG Covid? We tackle news on each topic, but first Jenna shares a personal story that inspired this broadcast ~ a conversation with her 9 year-old son about football reminds us all why "curiosity over commentary" matters. PLUS: 10:00: Who will sing the Star-Spangled Banner? 13:00: Why does New Hampshire matter in American politics? 23:00: Behind-The-Scenes: The editorial challenges of editing political figures. 25:00: Nikki Haley's new attack line. Will it work? 27:00: What's missing from our reporting in the Middle East? 36:00: How should we all approach Long Covid?  40:00: Holly asks: How should one consider third party candidates? Thank you for your continued support of SCOOP! If you're listening for the first time, consider joining us LIVE and supporting a free press! P.S. Our audio is usually a little clearer - we had a microphone hiccup this week! #MondayBlues :)  Sign-up for our FREE weekend newsletter: The Weekend SCOOP Shop our SmartHER Shop & Amazon storefront of SmartHER Items Interesting Show Notes: Background from the AP on the terorrist groups operating in the Middle East Maps to the New Hampshire Primary Polling A guide to the Middle East in 6 maps: WSJ    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

  We’re joined by author, political commentator, and self-described “center right disaffected” journalist, Mary Katharine Ham to break down the Iowa caucuses. 2:30: Vivek Ramaswamy leaves the race for the nomination  5:00: Mary Katharine Ham joins us with analysis about Iowa and what to watch in the future.  7:00: The key takeaways from Iowa. 10:00: What appears to be the main issue for voters. 17:00: Is the 2024 field officially "set"? 24:00 Why you can't rely on "normal" political indicators. (Thank you to Jessica Jimenez for the question). 28:00: Tara’s Question: How will removing former President Trump from the ballot impact the early races?  ** Email us: SCOOP@SmartHERNews.com with your voice memos! ** 33:00 The story to watch: Why multiple roads lead to Iran.  Navy SEALS board a ship transporting Iranian weapons to the Houthis; two operators go missing at sea. Hamas: a designated terrorist group backed by Iran launched a terrorist attack in Israel, a key American ally. Hezbollah: terrorist group backed by Iran fires on Israel, responding to Israel's war with Hamas. Houthi: formerly designated terrorist group backed by Iran, harrasses ships in solidarity with Hamas. Iranian-backed militia attack U.S. positions in Iraq, Syria more than 130 times in the last several weeks after Hamas launched a terrorist attack. Some have warned of a regional conflict – but has one already started?  How could this story change the image of American leadership for U.S. voters? ~~~ Thank you for your support of SmartHER News - join us as a SCOOP insider and support a free press!  Sign-up for our FREE weekend newsletter: The Weekend SCOOP Shop our SmartHER Shop & Amazon storefront of SmartHER Items Show Notes:

Did you know an airplane's cockpit recorder only keeps two hours of data before erasing, and starting over? Just one of the many interesting facts we learned today prepping for SCOOP and covering an accident impacting Alaska Airlines (and beyond). We catch-up on: The flu (rising respiratory infections nationwide)! The potential government shutdown (and a potential deal in the works on two fronts). The presidential election (and the first major votes cast next week). The Pentagon and the mysterious state of the SecDef's health. The Department of Justice's priority this year. And a question: If you could prioritize any topic in the news, what would it be? Email us or better yet, record a voice memo and send it to SCOOP@SmartHERNews.com. Thank you for keeping us ad-free and independent! Support us by checking out our SmartHER Shop or joining SCOOP and becoming part of our live audience! Show Notes: Flu Surveillance: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm Border Encounters: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/nationwide-encounters NTSB presser on Alaska Airlines flight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jeO5fwRXLo Pentagon Press Release: https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3633580/statement-from-pentagon-press-secretary-maj-gen-pat-ryder-on-secretary-austins/ Dept. of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/opa/video/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-meets-law-enforcement-components-address-violent-crime Good Political Calendar: https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/calendar          Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Happy New Year, from your SmartHER News family! Today, we explore three curiosities ... three news items to watch in 2024 – including the election (a twist you may not have considered), a conflict (a seldom talked about nation), and the U.S. border (but not the border that may first come to mind). What stories are you most curious about in 2024? We'd love to hear from you: scoop@SmartHERNews.com We wish you and your loved ones a beautiful start to a new chapter! ... Show Notes: The Economist - "the biggest election year in history." The data on the U.S. Border – DATA The GAO report on military readiness: CLICK HERE Some background on Sudan from Reuters Interesting read on the election of 2024 via ABCSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

"Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house ..." These lines first appeared in a New York state newspaper on December 23, 1823. The author? Originally ... "Anonymous." 200 years later, many of us can still recite much of this poem from memory, solidifying the image of Santa and "his eight tiny reindeer" for generations. While the mystery over who precisely penned this famous Christmas poem swirled for years, the impact of the lyrical writing remains undeniable. Historian and author Pamela Mccoll spent ten years researching the poem's origins and global impact, documenting her findings in her book, "Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem." Pam joins us to share incredible insight about the curious origins of the poem (including the party-filled streets of New York City) and why she believes it has such incredible lasting power. A link to the poem: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43171/a-visit-from-st-nicholas A link to Pamela's book in the SmartHER Amazon storefront: Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem Shop SmartHER News Gear! Join us on SCOOP and support a free press! Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Your Questions ... Answered! (Along with the news you need to know.) Plus ~ We share one of our most important stories of the year. We cover the election (Where does political money come from?), polling (Who can we trust?), the economy (Why are prices so high?), and even SmartHER News (Who is on the team and what is it REALLY like to work with Jenna?)! And a special story about Grace, a member of our community and a hero, who we will keep in our hearts this season and never forget. Show Notes: The GoFundMe Page for Grace: https://www.gofundme.com/f/xhpjb-the-contreras-family Recall by Quaker Oats: Here's the information How Arificial Intelligence May Impact News: News Publishers See Google’s AI Search Tool as a Traffic-Destroying Nightmare ELECTION MONEY INFO: https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/contribution_limits_chart_2023-2024.pdf RealClearPolitics: Polls Leif Babin's Books: "Extreme Ownership" and "Dichotomy of Leadership" EchelonFront.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Have you heard of Santa Claus, Indiana? Founded in 1856, this town serves as one of the main destinations for "Dear Santa" letters from all over the world. And this happened, in many ways, because one family took the reins (no reindeer jokes ... yet). Meet 92-year-old Mrs. Koch (pronounced "Cook"). She holds many titles – including Santa's daughter, Chief Elf, and founder of the Santa Claus Museum – preserving the stories of the past that she now shares with us, including: How Santa Claus, IN got its name How a WW1 veteran became Santa's best helper How the team receives and responds to tens of thousands of letters mailed from around the world. A perfect news break for anyone who needs a little Christmas spirit – or has some to spare! We hope this interview leaves you with one thought this season ... "Believe!" --- Thank you for supporting SmartHER News! You keep us ad-free and independent. Please consider joining our insider service SCOOP or grabbing some gear in our SmartHER shop. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/smarthernews/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands