An anti-Semitic terrorist attack in Bondi Beach, Australia, a shooting at a U.S. university, and the foiled terror plot in California - we work through the news to know after a busy weekend of breaking headlines.

00:00 Introduction and Overview

01:07 Today's Headlines: Terrorist Attack in Australia

02:03 Word of the Year: Slop

04:36 Special Guest: War correspondent (and Australia native) Holly McKay on Bondi Beach Attack

08:19 Gun Laws and Security in Australia

19:43 Acts of Bravery Amidst Tragedy

21:27 US Service Members Killed in Syria

23:36 The Ongoing Threat of ISIS

27:55 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

28:38 Understanding the Ongoing Threat of ISIS

29:29 Thwarted Terrorist Attack in California

32:03 Double Homicide in Los Angeles

37:03 Shooting at Brown University

45:33 Government Shutdown and Economic Updates

49:18 Heartwarming Stories to End On

A cheat sheet on a pivotal hearing in the Senate about online safety for teens (and beyond). A must-listen about the unique challenges facing parents and children alike, with special insight into the new tactics of criminals, and the inadequacy of old laws:

00:00 Welcome to SmartHER News

02:27 Australia's Groundbreaking Social Media Law

02:53 Senate Hearing on Protecting Children Online

04:22 Graphic Content Warning

05:52 Witness Testimonies: Personal and Legal Perspectives

13:15 The Dark Reality of Online Exploitation

18:29 Understanding Section 230 and Its Implications

24:11 Advice to take with you.

Link to the Senate hearing: Protecting Our Children Online Against the Evolving Offender

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All the news you need to know for the week ahead: Plus - Halle Berry takes on Gov. Gavin Newsom (and what this tells us about a new national legislative effort).

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00:00 Welcome and Holiday Party Announcement

00:52 Book Exchange Party Idea

02:11 Join Our Insider Group

03:22 Driving Story: Santa Sighting

05:28 Upcoming News and Events

10:50 Healthcare Debate in Congress

17:17 Vaccination Policy Discussion

28:16 Menopause Advocacy by Halle Berry

29:11 Halle Berry's Personal Story and Advocacy

31:06 Halle Berry's Viral Political Commentary

32:12 Legislation on Menopause Across the States

34:07 Debate on Government Involvement in Menopause Legislation

37:07 Governor Newsom's Veto and Its Implications

41:17 Supreme Court Case: Trump v Slaughter

45:47 Supreme Court Case: Birthright Citizenship

48:02 Pentagon's New Restrictions and Free Press

53:12 George Washington's Final Days

57:05 Closing Remarks and Holiday Wishes

Show Notes:
Halle Berry's full remarks at the NYT DealBook Summit
Mt. Vernon on George Washington's passing

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Your most requested topic of the week: Venezuela, the United States, and allegations of war crimes. 

Jenna provides a quick, detailed background on Venezuela, including its strategic location, economic history, and ties to terrorist organizations like Hezbollah.
 
Jenna discusses why the Trump administration’s recent designation of Venezuelan cartels as terrorist organizations matters, and the legal and ethical complexities surrounding US military actions against these groups.
 
The episode includes responses from key figures like President Trump and the Secretary of War and examines the implications of these military operations under US and international law.

00:00 Introduction and Overview
00:37 Unexpected Morning Incident
03:53 Lessons from the Incident
06:15 Introduction to Venezuela
07:35 Geopolitical Importance of Venezuela
09:16 Venezuela's Economic Decline
10:59 Terrorist Links and Narco-Terrorism
15:32 Recent US Actions and Controversies
20:42 Legal and Ethical Questions
30:16 Historical Context and Comparisons
33:07 Questions for the Administration
37:11 Conclusion and Viewer Engagement: Email us: [email protected]

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Plus ~ Catch-up on the Trump administration changes to asylum policy in the aftermath of the attack on the National Guard in D.C., and bipartisan questions continue about military operations off the coast of Venezuela.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:08 The Oxford Word of the Year: Rage Bait

03:50 A Funny Family Moment with a new dictionary (sorry Merriam-Webster!)

07:29 Economic Insights: Black Friday Spending

13:11 Key News Stories You Might Have Missed

20:35 Congress and Government Funding Issues

21:37 National Guard Tragedy and Terrorism Concerns

27:04 Asylum Process and Backlog Issues

27:52 Trump Administration's Policy Changes

30:33 Legal Challenges and Congressional Role

34:57 Operation Allies and Vetting Concerns

37:43 Narco Terrorism and Military Engagement

45:36 Military Code of Conduct Controversy

54:24 Final Thoughts and Viewer Engagement

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Join us for the second annual SmartHER News family meeting! A heartwarming and insightful discussion hosted LIVE with our Insiders! 

We tackle the tough stuff. Questions about ICE, No Kings & how to handle tough conversations.

Jenna also shares listener questions and ways to foster curiosity over commentary in everyday conversations.

00:00 Welcome to the Annual Family Meeting

00:51 Reflecting on a Journalism Career

01:27 The Importance of Local News

01:41 The Reality of Working in News

04:10 Thanksgiving Reflections and Traditions

05:34 The Concept of the Family Meeting

08:15 Navigating Media and Information

11:35 Understanding ICE and Deportations

24:40 The Role of Federal Law Enforcement

36:01 The No Kings Protest Movement

38:15 Grassroots Protests Across the Country

39:11 Coverage and Impact of October Protests

39:47 Analyzing Trump's Leadership Style

40:41 Mobilization and Political Implications

41:42 Future Democratic Leaders

44:52 Overcoming Polarization

46:47 The Role of Social Media in Public Discourse

51:36 Diverse News Consumption

53:52 Building a Community of Thoughtful Dialogue

01:02:44 Gratitude and Future Plans for SmartHER News

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From President Trump … to the Secretary of War … to performer Nicki Minaj?

Many high-profile voices in recent weeks have highlighted the current state of affairs in Nigeria - specifically what the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations describes as “the persecution of Christians.” This week, the House Foreign Affairs committee will hold a hearing to discuss the Trump administration’s recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). With these headlines swirling, war correspondent Hollie McKay joins us to work through what to know and why it matters.
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Pans that will help you cook SmartHER. Shop from these links to support SmartHER News - so we can make sure the facts stick (but your food doesn’t).

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SUPPORT OUR MISSION:

Love nonpartisan news? Want a bigger serving of the serious headlines?  Here’s how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/ 

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Pans that will help you cook SmartHER. Shop from these links to support SmartHER News - so we can make sure the facts stick (but your food doesn’t).
Cookware Set
Always Pan
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• NEW POLL: Why do young American women want to leave the United States?
• What is on the agenda for Congress for their first week back in office?
• The largest aircraft carrier in the world moves closer to Venezuela.
•  New border numbers.
•  Beef prices on the rise - and what to watch for tariffs.
•  The Epstein Investigation - everything to know from the backstory to the current story.

SUPPORT OUR MISSION:

Love nonpartisan news? Want a bigger serving of the serious headlines?  Here’s how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/
 
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When Emily McCarthy tracked down rebel leaders in West Africa, she had no idea her time in the CIA may lead to a discovery that would forever change the health world.

The story you will hear today is a spy story ... a love story ... and an American success story of a veteran-owned company called "GORUCK."

If you have seen someone walking on the side of the road carrying a weighted-backpack or vest, you can trace the origin of this type of exercise to GORUCK ~ the creation of Jason and Emily McCarthy. Jason served in the U.S. Army Special Forces (better known as the Green Berets) and Emily worked in the clandestine services as a case officer. From deployments overseas to the rocky shores of marriage and entrepreneurship, the two persevered and pioneered a new way to both exercise and gain community. 

Emily walks us through the various chapters of their story to mark not only the release of the new SPY RUCK for women, but also mark a week when we celebrate the veterans who have served this nation.

Check out the new SPY RUCK
Check out GORUCK

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Back in September, we sat down with the head of the FDA, Dr. Marty Makary, to talk about a host of different hot health topics in America. 

An area we wanted to focus? Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT.

One of Dr. Makary's first moves as FDA commissioner was to hold a public panel on what he has now called "one of the biggest mistakes in modern medicine" - black box warnings that the U.S. government placed on hormone replacement therapies, that he believes deterred doctors and women from using these medications to treat life-altering symptoms. 

Today, the FDA announced, for the first time in decades, it would initiate removing these warnings from HRTs in the hopes of making the treatments more available and accessible to physicians and patients alike.  

Here's the entire portion of our interview that focuses on hormone replacement therapies, so you can hear for yourself why Dr. Makary feels so passionately about making a move on this medicine, at this time, for not only American women, but the country at large.

Listen or watch our complete 1-hour sit-down by clicking on this link. 

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All the news you need this week:

• Happy Birthday, Marines! Your first meeting happened in … a tavern?
•  The latest on the historic government shutdown.
• A new idea for subsidies - just give the money directly to citizens?
•  The FDA makes a major decision on women’s health.
•  What to know about a Supreme Court case (it involves a conversation over dreadlocks).
•  A terror investigation spans two states, and remains ongoing.
• The origins of Veterans Day

Link To Full FDA Interview with Dr. Makary

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