Ep. 95 A new war on drugs?

Ep. 95 His Vine & Fig Tree PodcastThe Trump Administration is going after the people believed responsible for killing thousands of Americans each year through drugs. More than 105,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2023, the last year data is available. The U.S. military bombed a cartel boat with connections to Venezuela. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice brought charges against three Americans, 22 Chinese nationals, and four pharmaceutical companies on Sept. 3. It stems from a souther Ohio investigation that took drugs from that region to chemicals brought into the U.S. from China. Meanwhile, Team Trump’s interest in Venezuela could be more than just drugs. Venezuelan communist dictators Hugo Chavez (now deceased) and Nicolas Maduro have created a beachhead for Iran, a clear enemy of the U.S. It started more than a dozen years ago, according to Glenn Beck.Meanwhile, the recent People’s Conference for Palestine was held in Michigan on Aug. 31. The rhetoric from the stage was focused not just on resistance to Israel, but the deaths of leaders from Israel to Washington. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., had some bombastic comments also that might get her censured with her colleagues in Washington D.C. With immigration issues in Western Europe focused on Muslims, this kind of rhetoric in America from Muslims demands a serious conversation about Muslims in America.Finally, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., is theologocally and historically illiterate with his comments on the origin of rights of Americans he made during a judicial confirmation hearing. Kaine’s comments were so alarming for a Catholic, it drove Bishop Robert Barron to respond. If our rights come from government, you can guarantee they will take them away. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit curtolson.substack.com