May 21, 2026 - Iran Rebuilding at Fast Pace

Tuesday marked the 36th anniversary of my first talk radio appearance. I was the guest of a guest-host - Brian Tierney on a Saturday night on the old WWDB. And the lesson took me all 36 years to learn.

My work has given me access to every president of my lifetime. One on one with Trump in the Oval Office. Twice in the White House with Obama. Movie stars. Rock legends. I spent seven hours with Fidel Castro. Sean Penn texted me notes while I was on-air. I knocked Charles Barkley's block off in Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots during a commercial break.

None of it made great radio.

You know what did? An extemporaneous riff about what the color of your Christmas lights says about you. Whether the customer or the cashier should do the thanking. If we find distant life, do we want them to be religious? And why I once paid $200 on eBay for a half-empty bottle of a discontinued cologne - to smell like a dear friend I lost.

Shows about nothing are actually shows about everything. Larry David figured that out. It took me 36 years.

Here's why it matters beyond radio. Those topics have nothing to do with politics. And yet everyone has skin in the game. They speak to our shared experience. Our common bond.

That's what's missing in America today. We've self-sorted. The Surgeon General declared loneliness an epidemic. In 2024, 80% of U.S. counties were political blowouts. And for the first time, more kids than ever are being driven to school in a private vehicle.

The solution isn't complicated. Mingle. Get off the screen. Break bread with someone unlike you. Good relationships keep us happier, healthier - and according to a Harvard study running since 1938 - they help us live longer.

Thirty-six years in, that's the whole lesson. Get back on the bus.

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US intelligence now believes Iran is rebuilding key military capabilities far faster than expected after recent US-Israeli strikes, with drone production already restarting and some officials warning Tehran could reconstitute major attack capacity within months, not years.

CNN

The Trump administration has indicted former Cuban leader Raúl Castro over the 1996 shootdown of two civilian exile aircraft, dramatically escalating pressure on Cuba while reviving a decades-old case that could further inflame tensions between Washington and Havana.

Associated Press

On the eve of his final Late Show episode, Stephen Colbert turned the tables by answering his own iconic “Colbert Questionert,” with famous friends joining in for a nostalgic, personal farewell that offered viewers a final glimpse into his humor, memories, and worldview.

The Hollywood Reporter

Two police officers who defended the Capitol on January 6 are suing to block President Donald Trump’s $1.7 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” arguing it could reward January 6 participants and unlawfully finance groups tied to political violence.

ABC News

The Independent reported this year on a woman who'd barely used social media. A stalker still found her home, her relatives, her workplace—all from a single name search on a data broker site.

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Former Democratic congressman Barney Frank, now in hospice care, is urging Democrats to abandon politically unpopular litmus tests and embrace a more incremental, pragmatic strategy to rebuild broader public support and win future elections.

The New York Times

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has officially filed for an IPO, setting up what could become the largest public offering in history as investors prepare for the commercial space giant — now merged with xAI and X — to make its expected Nasdaq debut next month.

Axios

Jeffrey Sonnenfeld argues that President Donald Trump’s erratic behavior is not evidence of mental decline or insanity, but rather a continuation of the same deliberate, provocative leadership style and negotiation tactics he has employed for decades.

Time

Former President Barack Obama reflects on how iconic American songs—from civil rights anthems to protest music and hip-hop—helped shape the nation’s political and cultural identity, arguing that music often captures the country’s struggles and aspirations before politics does.

USA Today

Harvard University faculty voted to impose a strict cap on A grades beginning in 2027, marking a major effort to combat grade inflation and restore academic distinction, despite strong opposition from students concerned the policy could intensify competition and discourage risk-taking.

The Crimson

A new federal health advisory warns that excessive screen time may be harming children’s sleep, behavior, physical activity, and mental health, urging parents, doctors, and tech companies to take stronger steps to limit digital overexposure among kids.

Scientific American