The week in review with Bill Katz, the editor of Urgent Agenda......
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Heck of an answer about Iran
Heck of an answer about Iran:
What we saw from Justin Murphy was the kind of common-sense talk missing in the Iran debate.
Happy # 80 Al Oliver
We say happy birthday to Al Oliver who was born in Ohio on this day in 1946.
Oliver broke in with the Pirates in 1968. He spent the next few years as one of the best hitters in the NL: .296 in 10 years with Pittsburgh.
In 1977, he went to Texas (.319 in 4 seasons) and later to Montreal, where he won an NL batting title in 1982: .331 average, 22 HR, 109 RBI and 204 hits.
Overall, a rather productive career: .303, 1,328 RBI & 2,743 hits.
P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).
Good news: Hello Columbus Day
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Happy days are here again. It's another Columbus Day and an opportunity to remember everything that sailed with him.
In 2017, President Trump signed a proclamation for Columbus and it did not blame Christopher for a darn thing. Let’s see the text:
Five hundred and twenty-five years ago, Christopher Columbus completed an ambitious and daring voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas. The voyage was a remarkable and then-unparalleled feat that helped launch the age of exploration and discovery. The permanent arrival of Europeans to the Americas was a transformative event that undeniably and fundamentally changed the course of human history and set the stage for the development of our great Nation. Therefore, on Columbus Day, we honor the skilled navigator and man of faith, whose courageous feat brought together continents and has inspired countless others to pursue their dreams and convictions -- even in the face of extreme doubt and tremendous adversity.
More than five centuries after his initial voyage, we remember the “Admiral of the Ocean Sea” for building the critical first link in the strong and enduring bond between the United States and Europe. While Isabella I and Ferdinand II of Spain sponsored his historic voyage, Columbus was a native of the City of Genoa, in present day Italy, and represents the rich history of important Italian American contributions to our great Nation. There can be no doubt that American culture, business, and civic life would all be much less vibrant in the absence of the Italian American community. We also take this opportunity to reaffirm our close ties to Columbus’s country of birth, Italy. Italy is a strong ally and a valued partner in promoting peace and promoting prosperity around the world.
In commemoration of Christopher Columbus’s historic voyage, the Congress, by joint resolution of April 30, 1934, and modified in 1968 (36 U.S.C. 107), as amended, has requested the President proclaim the second Monday of October of each year as “Columbus Day.”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2017, as Columbus Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also direct that the flag of the United States be displayed on all public buildings on the appointed day in honor of our diverse history and all who have contributed to shaping this Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.
Glad to see it. I’m sure that President Trump was called a racist or this or that. However, his point is correct.
The Europeans brought a lot to the New World, such as the rule of law and eventually the Bill of Rights that allows uninformed people to protest Columbus’ monuments.
Blaming Columbus for every native woman raped or village destroyed misrepresents what actually happened after he landed here. After all, most of today's Columbus critics would not last a second under Moctezuma, Geronimo, or the others. The "indigenous people" crowd has created this romantic view of what was here before Columbus.
As for me, I’m delighted that I was born in a New World discovered by Columbus. In the meantime, the attacks continue.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.
Happy # 80 Justin Hayward (The Moody Blues)
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October 14, 1962: Day 1 of The Cuban Missile Crisis
We remember Day 1 of what would be known The Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962.
It turned out to be one of the most tense two weeks of the 20th century.
The Cuban Missile Crisis had several consequences:
First, it changed the perception in US politics that President Kennedy was weak. In other words, most voters saw his performance as strong.
Second, it was the beginning of the end for Chairman Khrushchev. He was gone by the fall of 1964. The Soviets invested heavily in their military afterwards. They understood that they were inferior to the US in October 1962.
Third, and sad for Cubans, it guaranteed Castro’s survival and the establishment of a Soviet satellite. The Soviet Union subsidized Cuba until it collapsed in 1992.
My family was down in the island and my parents recall a very stressful period.
Second, it was the beginning of the end for Chairman Khrushchev. He was gone by the fall of 1964. The Soviets invested heavily in their military afterwards. They understood that they were inferior to the US in October 1962.
Third, and sad for Cubans, it guaranteed Castro’s survival and the establishment of a Soviet satellite. The Soviet Union subsidized Cuba until it collapsed in 1992.
My family was down in the island and my parents recall a very stressful period.
This is a decent book & movie.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.
We remember President Eisenhower (1890-1969)
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We remember President Dwight D Eisenhower, who was born in Denison, TX on this day in 1890. He died in 1969.
Eisenhower turned out to be one of the most consequential men of the 20th century. First, he led the Allied Forces in World War II. Second, he was elected the 34th President of the US, 1953-61.
Ike remains one of the most popular presidents ever.
Eisenhower turned out to be one of the most consequential men of the 20th century. First, he led the Allied Forces in World War II. Second, he was elected the 34th President of the US, 1953-61.
Ike remains one of the most popular presidents ever.
October 14, 1965: The day that Sandy Koufax broke my heart
Our family left Cuba in 1964. Like most Cubans, we loved baseball. 1965 was our first major league season in the US and we fell in love with the AL champion Minnesota Twins.
They had four Cuban players: 2-time batting champ Tony Oliva, the eventual 1965 AL MVP Zoilo Versalles, a veteran but still reliable pitcher Camilo Pascual and outfielder Hilario Valdespino.
They also had Harmon Killebrew, Bob Allison, Jim Kaat and 20-game winner Jim Grant. It was a great team!
We ran home from school to watch the game but Koufax beat the Twins, 2-0. He was brilliant.
I learned that day that baseball is the ultimate heart-breaker.
They had four Cuban players: 2-time batting champ Tony Oliva, the eventual 1965 AL MVP Zoilo Versalles, a veteran but still reliable pitcher Camilo Pascual and outfielder Hilario Valdespino.
They also had Harmon Killebrew, Bob Allison, Jim Kaat and 20-game winner Jim Grant. It was a great team!
We ran home from school to watch the game but Koufax beat the Twins, 2-0. He was brilliant.
I learned that day that baseball is the ultimate heart-breaker.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
James (Talarico) Gang Rides Again
The Democrats don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt after the Biden episode.
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Maybe you have that old LP "James Gang Rides Again". It was one those hard rock bands from the past with very loud electric guitars and guys who sort of needed a shave. Well, that was the James Gang back then; today, we have the James Talarico Gang.
As you know, candidate James Talarico was out for a couple of weeks with the flu, or so they tell us. To be fair, I got hit really hard a couple of weeks ago by something going around Dallas-Fort Worth. It put me down one Sunday, and my voice sounded bad. I say this to note that is possible for someone to catch the flu and have to lie down for a bit.
What makes no sense is how all of this was explained to voters. The campaign staff, or the James Gang, was defensive from day one. They could have done something logical like tell us he is sick and needs a break. Instead, they got defensive and started playing games. First, he went to an urgent care facility, but that was later changed to say he went to his personal doctor.
Then, there were claims about a medical facility in Ohio, which Talarico has denied. All of this is so confusing. Miranda Devine is right about the incompetence of these people and selective indignation from the media:
When a candidate in such a crucial race goes missing for so long in the final month before the election, the situation demands proof beyond an airy flu excuse and “trust me” attitude. As White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller tweeted on Sunday: “Talafreako needs to release the medical records.”
It’s a reasonable request and one that The Washington Post, for one, should be demanding.
After all, the legacy news outlet has applied relentless scrutiny to Natalie Harp, an unelected White House presidential aide, complete with baselessly nasty insinuations about her relationship with her boss.
Maybe James should get the Natalie treatment.
Is it so unreasonable to request medical records? A man goes down for two weeks over "the flu", makes conflicting statements about it, and we are supposed to look the other way. Remember Biden?
Maybe James should get the Natalie treatment.
Is it so unreasonable to request medical records? A man goes down for two weeks over "the flu", makes conflicting statements about it, and we are supposed to look the other way. Remember Biden?
From day one, this whole flu story was weird. A two-week flu is serious stuff and might suggest something else. I believe that the James Gang is hiding something from voters, who deserve something better than: Trust me, I was down two weeks with the flu."
The Democrats don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt after the Biden episode.
P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.
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