01. Presidential Historian Says Biden is Best Bet to Beat Trump
02. Do Polls Still Matter? Are They Accurate?
03. Conservatives Call for End to No-Fault Divorce
04. Can the Summer Olympics Unite Us?
05. Interview ‘The Garage Sale Millionaire’
06. Hurricane Beryl Barrels Through the South
07. Thousands Die From On-the-Job Heat Each Year
08. Authoritarian Wannabes Are Openly Networking
09. Why Would a Black Pastor Support Donald Trump?
10. Help for Boomers Without a Nest Egg
11. What Is the Leading Cause of All Illnesses?
12. How Death Doulas Help Navigate Life’s Last Mile
13. Flight Attendant Dishes on 40 Years of High Flying Adventures
14. Why ‘Do Your Best’ is the Worst Advice
15. Nude Beach Etiquette
1. ==> Presidential Historian Says Biden is Best Bet to Beat Trump
A professor and historian who successfully predicted the last 9 out of 10 elections since 1984 believes President Joe Biden is still the safest bet for Democrats, despite calls from within the party for him to step aside. Vice President Kamala Harris may be the most obvious and viable option for Democrats given the immediate war chest she would get from Biden’s campaign and the boost from intra-party support, but Allan Lichtman, a presidential historian at American University, says even Harris can’t save the Democrats based on his famous model, “Keys to the White House.” The model involves 13 true-and-false questions to determine the performance of the party holding the White House. If six or more of the 13 keys are false, then the holding party, in this case, the Democrats, will lose. Lichtman says the only highly unlikely scenario in which Harris could maintain Biden’s 7 keys is if he steps down from the presidency now, giving the White House to the VP just a few months before the election, allowing her to run as the incumbent. Lichtman has predicted election outcomes since Ronald Reagan secured his second term against Democratic challenger Walter Mondale in 1984. The only election he missed was in 2000, when he predicted Al Gore would secure the presidency, although the historian argued that he predicted correctly that Gore would win the popular vote. Contact him at (202) 885-2411; lichtman@american.edu
2. ==> Do Polls Still Matter? Are They Accurate?
The media and politicians still use them daily and rely on them to make decisions about policy and whether a political contest is close or not, but are polls still useful? And are they accurate? Scott Keeter, senior survey advisor at Pew Research Center, has been conducting surveys of all kinds for about 40 years and can answer all your questions about this frequently misunderstood field. Ask him: How does polling work? What’s the deal with election polls? Is accurate polling becoming harder to do? He’ll discuss how polling has changed over the years as well as how to become a good poll consumer. What can you do to make sure you’re getting reliable information? How do you know which polls to trust? And if you want to understand what the public thinks about a particular issue, what is the best way to use polls to inform yourself? Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan ‘fact tank’ that conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research. Contact Nida Asheer at nasheer@pewresearch.org; (202) 419-4313 or Talia Price at tprice@pewresearch.org; (202) 419-3697
3.==> Conservatives Call for End to No-Fault Divorce
Some prominent conservative lawmakers and commentators are calling for the end to no-fault divorce laws that allow a person to end a marriage without having to prove a spouse did something wrong, like committing adultery or domestic violence. The laws were enacted in all 50 states, some as long as 50 years ago, but socially conservative, and often religious, rightwing opponents argue they deprive people – mostly men – of due process and hurt families, and by extension, society. Republican lawmakers in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas have discussed eliminating or increasing restrictions on no-fault marriage laws. Invite attorney Jacqueline Newman to discuss why the laws were passed in the first place and why many view this as the latest effort to restrict women’s rights. Newman is the managing partner at the matrimonial law firm Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein LLP in NYC. She specializes in complex high net worth matrimonial cases and in negotiating prenuptial agreements. The author of “The New Rules of Divorce,” Newman has appeared as an expert commentator on numerous TV and radio shows. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103
4.==> Can the Summer Olympics Unite Us?
In a world fraught with division and challenges, the upcoming Olympics stand as a beacon of hope — a platform where nations come together in the spirit of unity and sportsmanship. Marjorie Hope can explore the potential the Olympics offers for world unity and shed light on the power of diplomacy in promoting connection and understanding. As president of America Connected, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization focusing on cultural diplomacy, bringing nations and people of the world closer together, Hope brings a lot of diplomatic experience to the discussion. She says, “Diplomacy, at its core, teaches us to find common ground, cultivate mutual respect, and navigate even the most complex situations with civility and patience. I firmly believe that by highlighting these principles of diplomacy, we can inspire others to bridge divides, embrace diversity, and work towards connecting a more harmonious world.” Marjorie Hope is the author of “CONNECTIPLOMACY: Using Our Differences to Connect” and “Kari’s Gold.” Ask her: How can we teach people to connect step by step? What is the universal tool of connection available to everyone? Contact Marjorie Hope at (202) 499-4479; marjoriehope@itsmarjoriehope.com
5. ==> Interview ‘The Garage Sale Millionaire’
Lots of people are out and about enjoying garage sales this time of year, but what if you could actually make money off other people’s trash? Whether it’s for a side-hustle or your full-time job, Aaron LaPedis, aka The Garage Sale Millionaire, will share all the need-to-know information and insider tips you’ll need to have a definite advantage over your competition in buying, valuing, and selling your items for substantial profits! Learn how to spot treasures at garage sales, storage unit auctions, secondhand stores and estate sales and then flip them for cold hard cash. Find out the key to having a killer garage sale, how to spot a real treasure from a fake, and the best ways to use the internet to research, buy and resell items. Aaron LaPedis’ expertise ranges from helping the FBI solve cases to helping produce TV shows, and he’s appeared on PBS, the Discovery Channel, and The Hallmark Channel. His new book, “The Ultimate Secrets of The Garage Sale Millionaire,” is a personal finance guide that talks about garage sales, estate sales, online auctions, downsizing, and how to make money doing it all. To arrange interviews contact Mara at assistant@gsmpartnersinc.com
6. ==> Hurricane Beryl Barrels Through the South
Hurricane Beryl spent Monday churning up the Texas-Louisiana border spawning at least three simultaneous tornadoes. The destruction continues the deadly storm’s devastation, with no relief in sight. Invite Dr. Shawn Rowland to share 5 tips to prepare your family for the possibility of an emergency situation. Rowland says, “Being as prepared as possible is the only way to safeguard your family against preventable mishaps during an unpreventable emergency. Remember, emergencies come in all shapes and sizes, so the more diverse ways in which you prepare, the better.” Rowland first experienced the difficulty of obtaining lifesaving medications during a natural disaster in Mexico. He realized the extent of the problem while working as a physician during the pandemic and founded Jase Medical, a company that provides a supply of medication to have on hand in the event of a serious emergency or when professional medical help isn’t available. Contact Ryan McCormick at (516) 901-1103; Ryan@goldmanmccormick.com
7. ==> Thousands Die From On-the-Job Heat Each Year
A brutal heatwave is hanging over much of the country making life miserable for millions. It’s also made going to work deadly for many. Heat exposure on the job kills as many as 2,000 workers in the US each year and worker health and safety advocate Juley Fulcher says everyone is in trouble. “When we look at heat stress deaths, there are more in Texas and California, but they happen all over the country. It’s not just outdoors; it’s indoors too. Extreme high temperatures outside often cause high temperatures inside.” She says, “It’s all about what the worker is acclimated to and used to.” She adds, “The majority of workplace heat deaths occur in the first couple days that someone starts a job. You need to get workers gradually used to working in the heat.” Lawmakers in the House and Senate have introduced a bill that would compel the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish a permanent federal standard to protect workers in outdoor and indoor heat. Contact Julie Fulcher is a worker health and safety advocate at Public Citizen. Contact her at jfulcher@citizen.org
8. ==> Authoritarian Wannabes Are Openly Networking
Far-right politicians from across Europe, including Italy, Hungary, Portugal and France, recently attended a summit organized by Spain’s right-wing Vox party. Heidi Beirich, cofounder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, says the summit is “a regular occurrence that shows how much on the same page these governments and far-right actors are. The conferences have become quite routine.” She says not enough attention is being paid to the conferences or the transnational far-right network which is enacting policies that are rolling back rights for women, LGBTQ, immigrants and refugees. “The coordination is deep. (There are) multiple sets of conferences every year where the Melonis and Orbáns show up, as well as powerful think tanks like the Heritage Foundation. These are networking events where you find high-level leaders of far-right governments speaking to think tanks from other countries.” Contact Heidi Beirich at heidi@globalextremism.org; @heidibeirich or @globalextremism
9. ==> Why Would a Black Pastor Support Donald Trump?
With his long history of racism dating back to the 1970s, it’s not surprising that the majority of black voters aren’t fans of Donald Trump. But African American author and pastor Frank Tull supports the controversial former president and encourages others in the black community to do the same. “Trump does have rough edges,” he says. “But he’s what’s best for us economically, socially, and from a faith-based standpoint.” Frank has received a lot of backlash for his allegiance to Trump. “I lost a close friend of 25 years because I voted for him,” he reveals. Nevertheless, he remains steadfast in his support of the former president and will explain why he believes voting for the convicted felon aligns with Christian principles. He is the author of “8 Biblical Reasons to Vote Republican,” and is the co-founder and senior pastor at the World Church in Texas. Contact Frank Tull at (469) 609-1385; ftull@rtirguests.com
10. ==> Help for Boomers Without a Nest Egg
The largest segment of the U.S. population is rapidly approaching retirement age, yet more than half are worried they won’t have enough to retire – and 20% have no retirement savings at all. With rising inflation and a middling economy, is there any way to turn things around? Tom Loegering (pronounced “Lay-ger-ing”) reveals how baby boomers and anyone in the workforce can ensure a happy, well-funded retirement so they can enjoy their golden years. Learn how to develop “the business of you” and retire comfortably without sacrificing your goals and dreams along the way. A retired contractor and experienced speaker, Tom is the author of “Success or Failure: The Choice Is Yours,” a workbook to help anyone plan their perfect retirement. Contact him at (623) 400-8648; tloegering@rtirguests.com
11. ==> What Is the Leading Cause of All Illnesses?
It happens to all of us and it’s happening every day: Aging. As we age, the various ways our bodies break down, create our vulnerability to all illnesses. Research has now shown that stress speeds up the aging process and thus stress can be considered the leading cause of most illnesses. Interview internationally known psychologist Stephen Sideroff to discover nine steps people can take to slow the aging process to stay healthy longer and extend their healthspan. The steps can help them reduce chronic stress, build resilience and achieve success. Stephen Sideroff is an associate professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Rheumatology at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine. He is the author of “The 9 Pillars of Resilience: The Proven Path to Mastering Stress, Slow Aging and Increase Vitality.” Reach Dr. Sideroff at (310) 666-3452; sideroff@UCLA.edu
12. ==> How Death Doulas Help Navigate Life’s Last Mile
Many people seek the comfort and dignity of dying at home. Advances in pharmacology and hospice care allow the dying to remain at home relatively free of pain and symptoms, but navigating professional services, insurance coverage, and family dynamics often compounds the complexity of this process. Andrea Sankar CM Cassady, authors of “Dying at Home: A Family Guide for Caregiving,” can discuss how to find a death doula to help prepare you spiritually and emotionally for death, arrange medical care and collaborate with health care professionals, and handle family dynamics and legal matters. Andrea Sankar, PhD. is a professor of medical anthropology at Wayne State University. CM Cassady is a PhD candidate in social work and anthropology at Wayne State University who has worked with chronically ill and dying persons in California, Oregon, and Michigan. Contact Johanna Ramos-Boyer at (703) 646-5137; johanna@jrbcomm.com or Erin Bolden at (703) 646-5188
13. ==> Flight Attendant Dishes on 40 Years of High Flying Adventures
During her nearly 40-year career as a flight attendant, Tania Anderson has met everyone from Elizabeth Taylor and the mega rock band U2 to the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Britain’s Prince Philip and five U.S. presidents! She’s also flown into war zones, including Saudi Arabia after Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, created a side gig as an actor, working as an extra on such hit TV shows as “The West Wing,” and Spielberg’s popular film, “Catch Me if You Can,” and more. “I have been to 79 countries and lived in seven,” she reveals. Tania can share innumerable fascinating anecdotes about her high-flying life, the many memorable individuals she’s met along the way, and personal experiences that most people only dream about. She is the author of the memoir “On Butterflies’ Wings: An Anthology of International Escapades,” and the upcoming “Synchronicity – the Escapades Continue.” Contact Tania Anderson at tanderson@rtirguests.com; 213-513-6099
14. ==> Why ‘Do Your Best’ is the Worst Advice
People think that doing your best is the key to success. But according to transformational speaker, educator, and businesswoman Rachel Rappaport, that attitude leads to “just getting by.” Instead, she says, “Do whatever it takes, because doing your best is not enough! It is just a well-intentioned excuse; it is a mindset that leads to feeling stuck and creates an imaginary glass ceiling.” Alternatively, doing whatever it takes will stretch your creativity, empower you, and expand your possibilities, and give you the passion that you need to succeed in business and life. Rachel is the founder of the success-coaching program MAX! She also trained with Jack Canfield, co-author of “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” and well-known motivational coach Tony Robbins. Contact Rachel Rappaport at (848) 266-5824; rrappaport@rtirguests.com
15. ==> Nude Beach Etiquette
There are currently hundreds of naturist beaches around the globe where it’s perfectly legal to drop your shorts and bask on the sand sans bathing suit. Are you curious but nervous to let it all hang out? Talk to Ronna Krozy, a retired professor in her 80s, and a nudist for more than 30 years. She’ll explain the dos and don’ts of shedding your clothes and inhibitions without offending or embarrassing anyone. There’s no single naturist ideology, but typically the lifestyle is about non-sexual social nudity in a family-friendly environment. Behave like you’re at a “church picnic,” says Krozy, who is also public relations chair at the American Association for Nude Recreation, the leading naturist organization in the United States. “Look people in the eye, because that might help you to figure out where to put your attention, and don’t gawk or stare because that is considered rude and impolite,” she says. Taking pictures is also a no-no as is commenting on someone’s body, even if you think you’re delivering a compliment. And while nudists are known for packing light, there’s one item you should never be without. “Always bring a towel with you to sit on, because that is for everybody’s hygiene.” Contact Ronna Krozy at ronna.krozy@aanr.com
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