The Friday Brief with Phoenix Ricks

Linwood Barnhill, a former DC police officer, was just tried and convicted of child trafficking. For the second time. How do human traffickers get away with kidnapping victims and moving them in plain sight? I worked in anti-human trafficking at the start of my career in global affairs, so in this episode, I'm sharing the lessons I learned from the anti-trafficking movement before we dive into the geopolitical implications of the Epstein files and Jeffrey Epstein's crimes. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Will the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota be the catalyst to dismantle or reimagine ICE in the United States? Mayor Jacob Frey seems to think so, and Americans across party lines are demanding answers about ICE's recent actions in Minneapolis. As the U.S. grapples with ICE, we're also faced with the ongoing debate over ice further north: Greenland. What is the Davos Greenland deal, and which negotiating parties have the upper hand? We're talking about ICE and ice today on The Friday Brief, with a side of World War II history Germans want us to remember. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Remember that scene in The Lord of the Rings when Rohan answers Gondor's call for aid? That's what's happening in Europe right now, as troops deploy to Greenland as part of Denmark's Operation Arctic Endurance. Denmark has been a steadfast ally of the United States, so the Trump administration's bizarre move to acquire Greenland has shocked NATO. But, under Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's cool, calm, and collected leadership, Greenland has a fierce protector. Who will win this fight? Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Welcome to Season 3 of The Friday Brief! We're diving into All Things Venezuela today, including an update on the federal prosecution against Nicolas Maduro, the Trump administration's repositioning of the Cartel de Los Soles, and Maria Machado's ongoing campaign to lead her country. When will the U.S. hand over control? Who should Machado ally with now? Do foreign-led regime changes ever end well? Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

While the U.S. debates the merits of close-up photography in Vanity Fair's piece on Donald Trump's circle, we noticed something else in Vanity Fair's coverage. They've teased a curious conversation with Susie Wiles, the White House Chief of Staff, on Venezuela. The timing is interesting because of this week's U.S. military strikes against alleged narco-terrorists and Donald Trump's decision to designate Venezuela's government as a foreign terrorist organization. What is the "dark fleet" of oil tankers Trump is targeting? Will this alter the global oil market? How are Russia, Iran, and China involved? We cover all of this in under 8 minutes. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

The Apache have performed the Sunrise Dance at Oak Flat in Arizona for centuries, but the ceremony that The Washington Post documented might be the last one before their sacred land becomes a copper mine. Why did Congress hand our public land over to Resolution Copper, a foreign mining company? Will the copper mine boost the U.S. economy? Will Resolution Copper adequately compensate the Indigenous tribes that will be affected? We have one request after you hear this episode: please speak up for our public lands and Indigenous neighbors. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

President Lukashenko of Belarus might be "Europe's Last Dictator," but this weekend, U.S. and European leaders negotiated for the release of 123 prisoners in Belarus, including Maria Kalesnikava, a beloved political figure. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, some of the recently-kidnapped Catholic school students were reunited with their families. Who took them, and where are the other children and school staffers? Plus: we're covering the special U.S. military operation in the Indian Ocean, the terrorist attack on Bondi Beach, rising antisemitism in Australia, and the mass shooting at Brown University. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Everyone has an opinion on the latest Ukraine-Russia peace plan. Will it benefit Ukraine long-term? Was it originally written in Russian? Is the U.S. properly advocating for our ally, Ukraine? Something is being left out of this conversation, and it is how this war is impacting the fight against terrorism in the Sahel region of Africa. But now, with European Union leaders in Angola for the EU-AU summit, this is the perfect time to talk about it. In this episode, we explore the links between these crises via the Wagner Group's participation. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Election night 2025 was a significant milestone for the Democratic Party. In this episode, we look at Abigail Spanberger's winning strategy in Virginia, Miki Sherrill's hard-fought win in New Jersey, and Zohran Mamdani's captivating campaign, which has changed the trajectory of New York City politics. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Hurricane Melissa is a Category 5 storm that is heading toward Jamaica. This historic storm has already claimed lives in the Caribbean, and it's expected to have devastating impacts when it makes landfall in Jamaica. What can we proactively do now to help Jamaica recover in the aftermath? Plus: why are U.S. warships headed to Latin America and the Caribbean? Is the Trump administration's war against "narco-terrorism" an effective strategy to stop the drug trade, or is it a Top Gun photo op? Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

By now, you've seen the images or read the news clips: the White House's East Wing is being (at least partially) demolished. Why is Donald Trump building a $300 million ballroom? Who will pay for it? Is this level of White House renovation unprecedented or expected? In this episode, Phoenix Ricks discusses the history of White House reconstructions and the efforts to preserve the current design of the White House. Plus: No Kings protests swept the nation last week, and if the U.S. bailout is any indication, the "A" in MAGA stands for Argentina. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

A new geopolitical story is unfolding in Afghanistan. The Taliban has a fragile ceasefire in place with Pakistan (which accused the Taliban of harboring anti-Pakistan militants), and they are trying to restore diplomatic relations with India. What is China's role? And why does the U.S. want to open discussions about Bagram Airbase? All in under 15 minutes!Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

If you blinked or were listening to The Life of A Showgirl, you may have missed that France's new prime minister resigned within 14 hours of announcing his government. How does France's system work? Why do they have a president and a prime minister? In this episode, we break down France's current political crisis and dive into the great expectations for Sanae Takaichi, the first female Prime Minister of Japan. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Internet and mobile services are being restored today across Afghanistan. Did the Taliban shut off access as part of an "immorality" ban? Or is something else happening? We delve into China's oil feud with the Taliban and examine potential reasons for this disruption. In Congo, former president Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death for war crimes. But, where in the world is he? Plus: Israel intercepted an aid flotilla; Madagascar's president dissolved the government; the U.S. Congress shut down the government; and American farmers are paying the price for Trump's trade wars. All in under 15 minutes!Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Three news stories in the U.S. aren't being discussed nearly enough. One of those stories is about Tom Homan, the border czar (or more properly, the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement), being the subject of a 2024 FBI sting operation. What was he accused of doing, and why did the U.S. Department of Justice quietly drop the case this month? Plus: we're diving back into the curious case of Jeffrey Epstein and attacks on free speech in the United States. As always, we deliver the news in under 15 minutes!Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Earlier this year, the Trump administration designated several cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations, upping the stakes on how to handle transnational crime. Yesterday, the U.S. military fatally struck a boat carrying alleged "narco-terrorists" in international waters. Was that legal? And what are "narco-terrorists?" We're delving into the classification of Tren de Aragua and its relationship with the Cártel de los Soles (Cartel of the Sun), which is so shrouded in mystery that some people doubt its existence. Plus: Will Trump send law enforcement to Chicago despite Governor Pritzker's statements, and why is DC's Mayor Bowser changing her tune? All of this in under 15 minutes! Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Welcome back! We've returned from our August recess to discuss the trial against former President Joseph Kabila in the Congo, Israel's rapidly deteriorating public diplomacy strategies, and, yes, the reactions of European nations to the end of the U.S. de minimis tax benefit and the start of 15% tariffs. With some countries halting shipping to the U.S., how will the U.S. government respond? Has the Trump administration worked with global shipping companies to explain the changes? How will this impact U.S. consumers and small and medium-sized businesses in Europe? We're covering all of this in under 15 minutes. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

The U.S. government has had a busy week of trade talks. From China to the European Union, tariffs are being negotiated. Who will come out as the winner? In this episode, we're looking at the pros and cons of tariffs, including how they impact importers, exporters, and consumers. All in under 15 minutes! Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Did NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte call Donald Trump "daddy?"  Well, it seems that recollections may vary. We're also reviewing the latest news from the NATO summit, including Trump's win on increased defense budgets. In this episode, we discuss the healthcare impacts of One Big Beautiful Bill, the back-and-forth between China and Taiwan, and the differences in opinion over the outcome of the operation in Iran. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Did you know this week is World Female Ranger Week? Less than 22% of global wildlife rangers are women, and there's an organization determined to increase those numbers. We fully support this! We'll also cover the latest on the Israel-Iran ceasefire deal, the European Union's new comments about Israel and human rights, and what the U.S. Supreme Court decided about deporting immigrants to third-party nations. All in under 15 minutes!Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Today's episode includes updates on two wars: Israel vs. Iran and Russia vs. Ukraine. What do these countries say about the other wars? Which countries are taking sides and why? We also dive into the history of Juneteenth, why corporations are nervous about sponsorships this year, and why studying the U.S. Reconstruction Era is essential today. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Last weekend, there were No Kings rallies in the U.S., but there's one monarch in the Middle East that leaders could learn from today. King Abdullah II of Jordan is quietly giving a masterclass on supporting allies while defending human rights. In this episode, we talk about his recent address to the European Parliament on Gaza and Jordan's role in stopping Iranian missiles en route to Israel. We also cover an underreported story in the U.S.: the pending transfer of Oak Flat, Arizona, to a foreign mining company. What can we do to protect sacred spaces and public lands from destruction? All of this in under 15 minutes!Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Russia's Wagner Group is leaving Mali, but that doesn't mean Russian mercenaries won't remain there. Why does Mali need to rely on mercenaries? We're also looking at this week's trade talks between the U.S. and China in London and exploring the Los Angeles immigration protests. Trump invoked Title 10 of the U.S. Code to deploy the National Guard to Los Angeles. Will it escalate or de-escalate the situation? We're covering these topics and more in under 15 minutes!Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Why is the Georgetown Law Center on Privacy and Technology part of a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security? It turns out that the Trump administration is using DNA technology to find and arrest immigrants, including children. Is this legal? Are they being transparent? Should Americans have the right to weigh in on this? We're also diving into the latest human rights debacles in Congo and looking at immigration policy debates between the UK and France. As always, we're giving you a global overview in under 15 minutes! Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Amnesty International is one of the human rights groups calling for an investigation into civilian executions this month in Mali. Who killed these people and why? Which armed groups are fighting in Mali and why? In today's episode, we're exploring the rise of violent Islamist groups and deadly counterterrorism measures in Mali and other parts of Africa. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

What is Donald Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense project, and why did South Africa's president bring golf professionals and a billionaire to his Oval Office meeting today? We're breaking down both topics in under 10 minutes!Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

In this episode, we're looking at the present-day impacts of wars in the 1990s. From Jared Kushner's Serbia real estate deal (gone wrong) to repatriation to Rwanda, we're still talking about genocides, civil conflicts, and grave humanitarian issues that occurred in the 1990s. What can we do today to ensure our near future is more peaceful? We've got some advice, courtesy of every child's favorite online educator, Ms. Rachel. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Welcome to Season 2 of The Friday Brief! In this episode, you'll learn more about the latest news from the Pentagon, Sen. Fetterman's push to engage Iran, and the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. Why is Kashmir one of the most militarized regions in the world? Tune in and don't forget to share The Friday Brief with friends who want a global affairs overview in less than 10 minutes.Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

This episode of The Friday Brief is a call to action to support U.S. libraries and museums, which risk federal funding cuts under the Trump administration. Libraries and museums are generally not a political issue, and there's still bipartisan support to protect them. However, we must tell Congress members that we care and that this matters to our communities. The American Library Association (ALA) has a Show Up #ForOurLibraries campaign. You can find advocacy resources, including how to contact your members of Congress, on ala.org/showup. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

There are anti-Hamas protests in northern Gaza, with Palestinians calling for Hamas leaders to step down from power. Gaza isn't the only place with protests right now. This episode also covers the latest news from Turkey, where protestors are upset about the arrest of a prominent opposition leader. While the Trump administration has a lot on its plate, officials found time to oust the South African ambassador to the U.S. for being a "race-baiting politician," without evidence. But, the real question is, did they decide to declare him persona non grata in a Signal chat? Yes, we're covering the group chat debacle, too! Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

Did the U.S. Department of Justice disobey a judge's verbal and written orders to stop deportations in progress? Some legal scholars believe the answer is yes, implying that the U.S. is on the brink of a constitutional crisis, with the judicial and executive branches at odds. Venezuelan Americans supported Trump during the election, so why is the Trump administration explicitly targeting Venezuelan immigrants with these mass deportation efforts? The answer is Tren de Aragua. We cover their origin story and more in this episode of The Friday Brief. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

As promised, we're keeping track of the Trump administration's fixation with Greenland. After yesterday's debacle in the Senate, is there anything U.S. Democrats can learn from Greenland's latest response to Trump? We've got interesting news from Belgium, where an alleged bribery plot was uncovered between members of the European Parliament and China's telecom giant, Huawei. We'll also cover Iran's dress code enforcement, Washington, DC's budget shortfall, Elon Musk's failed attempt to takedown U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, and Rep. Lauren Boebert's latest antics. All in under 10 minutes! Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

This episode of The Friday Brief covers two world leaders' addresses to their nations. While Macron's address to France was about defending Ukraine and Europe from Russia, Trump's address reiterated his "America First" policy goals. Given what Macron said, is Europe preparing for a potential war? And, given Trump's treatment of Ukraine's president, Zelensky, will the U.S. side with our allies or with Russia? We also cover the latest news from Sudan, South Korea, and New Zealand. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

In most episodes, we cover several issues. But today, we're going to unite for Ukraine. Who started the war in Ukraine: Russia or Ukraine? Will the U.S. remain a steadfast ally for Ukraine? How are European leaders and historians responding to Putin's allegations about Ukraine needing to be "denazified?" We're covering All Things Ukraine today in under 10 minutes. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

This episode of The Friday Brief by Girl Friday covers the impacts of U.S. aid freezes and administration changes. In Thailand, a Burmese refugee died because a U.S.-funded clinic closed. In Ukraine, there are renewed concerns about the end of the war with Russia, as Trump met Putin without Zelensky. In Sudan, a network of communal kitchens might close because of a lack of U.S. funding. Meanwhile, the U.S. will also be impacted by USAID's illegal closure. American farmers are paid handsomely for crops (wheat, rice, soybeans, to name a few) USAID uses for humanitarian aid assistance abroad. Did those farmers know that voting for "small government" meant closing USAID and losing those contracts? What will happen to farms that rely on USAID's government contracts? Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

In this episode of The Friday Brief by Girl Friday, we cover the Australian government's thoughts on China's AI darling, DeepSeek; "death saint" altars at drug raid sites in Ecuador; Trump's real estate plans for Gaza; and, finally, what (unelected) Elon Musk is doing around Washington, DC. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

This episode has updates about USAID and Trump's new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Will this lead to more tariffs against the United States? How will these tariffs impact U.S. consumers? How do tariffs work? We answer those questions and more in the first part of our new series on U.S. tariff wars. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

With funding from the U.S. for foreign assistance on pause, critical programs like PEPFAR are frozen. HIV/AIDS clinics in Africa rely on PEPFAR to offer testing and treatment. Will former President George Bush speak up on behalf of one of his administration's best initiatives? In this episode, we also discuss Holocaust Remembrance Day, conflict in the Congo, the importance of continuing U.S.-funded mine clearance in Asia, and Donald Trump's proposal for Gaza. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

What is an executive order? Do they have the same power as a law? Why did Donald Trump sign so many on his first day? In this episode, we talk about executive actions, look at lessons from the past, and review the White House's current policy priorities on its website. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

This episode covers the backlash against Snoop Dog's participation in a pre-inauguration event in Washington, DC. Why might he be held to a higher standard than other celebrities participating in Donald Trump's festivities this weekend? Will Snoop Dog use this invitation to advocate for wildfire relief in California? We also dive into the recent conversations around the future of PEPFAR funding, which has saved millions of lives from HIV/AIDS around the world, and the current humanitarian situation in Mozambique. We strive to make every The Friday Brief episode kid-friendly for busy parents. Still, this episode includes topics within human rights that might not be appropriate for little ears. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com. 

In this episode, we talk about the Biden administration's final efforts to free American hostages abroad, including three people held in Afghanistan. Will the Trump administration continue existing hostage negotiations? What will happen to Americans detained in Venezuela right now? We also cover the latest talks between Israel and Hamas and discuss one of the most heroic spy swaps in history, led by James B. Donovan. Send us a messageBe sure to follow us on Instagram @thefridaybrief and sign up for The Friday Brief newsletter on thefridaybrief.com.