How might US foreign policy toward Iran change in 2025?

Iran threatens US interests on several fronts. 

Iran competes with Saudi Arabia, an important US ally, for dominance in the Middle East.  Iran supports a network of anti-West terror groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas.  Iran maintains close ties with America’s biggest threats in the Western Hemisphere, helping socialist Venezuela refine its oil and offering key geopolitical support to Cuba and Nicaragua. In Asia, Iran is leveraging its newly minted membership in BRICS to strengthen ties to China and turn it into a more vocal antagonist to Israel, another key US ally in the Middle East.

Iran has come into focus recently as its confrontations with Israel over the Israel-Hamas War have flared.  These tensions threaten to draw the US into direct conflict with Iran.  It’s therefore critical that US foreign policy toward Iran minimize the risk of such conflict.

Frances Martel, International Editor at Breitbart News, will share her assessment of Iran — its current influence in the Middle East, its role in the Israel-Hamas conflict, the foreign policy toward Iran we can expect from a Donald Trump or Kamala Harris administration, and what impact their differing approaches could have on the region in the foreseeable future.  

Speaker Bio:

It was while working for Mediaite that Martel had her first interaction with Andrew Breitbart. “It was hard to keep up with Andrew’s brain — he was rapid fire. He hated elitism, hated the idea of an ivory tower of rich, white liberals telling the rest of us what to believe,” she says. “I clicked with that.”

It clicked for her so much that in 2013, she joined Breitbart News Network as free-lancer and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming its International Editor. Her expertise includes Latin America, China, Africa and the Middle East, and religious persecution globally.

Martel’s writing has been cited across the political spectrum, from Rush Limbaugh to Lawrence O’Donnell.  She holds a BA in Government studies from Harvard University, and a JD from Fordham University School of Law. 

Also, Todd Zinser discusses Cincinnati Connected Communities

Cincinnati Enquirer history columnist Jeff Suess will present on the early settlement of Cincinnati…

Cincinnati Enquirer history columnist Jeff Suess will present on the early settlement of Cincinnati.  The pivotal moments in the history of the Queen City follow along from the indigenous mound builders to the development of the first American city after the Revolutionary War.  You’ll hear about Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark, the Symmes Purchase, Fort Washington, and the blossoming of a western river town into a meat packing Porkopolis and one of the most influential cities of the mid-nineteenth century.

         Daniel Boone

The timeline is multifaceted, exploring politics and race, the arts and pop culture, while also unveiling Cincinnati’s role in the Underground Railroad, the spread of Reform Judaism, and the development of the polio vaccine.

Cincinnati in the 1800’s

The people of Cincinnati have an insatiable curiosity about their history. More so, it seems, than many other cities. Maybe that’s because we feel Cincinnati is underrated, overlooked by the rest of the nation, and we seek reassurance.   Jeff Suess will be speaking from 7:30-8:30 PM.

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Cincinnati Connected Communities

Cincinnati “Connected Communities” explained:

1. Information describing the essential elements of “Connected Communities,” which is a zoning reform based on principles collectively known as “upzoning.”  Such reforms have been introduced in numerous cities across the country, heavily influenced by ideology and partisanship.

2. Description of the process used by Cincinnati in enacting Connected Communities which has generated strong criticisms across the city, as deficient and illegitimate, because of its failure to address affordable housing as well as its serious lack of honest community engagement.

3. Current efforts by a citizens’ coalition to repeal Connected Communities.

Why is Connected Communities important for you to learn about?   Because it is eerily similar to EmpowerU Classes where we have learned about “The Great Reset”.   This Connected Communities is coming to your Town, Village or City.   Make sure to join us for this.   Todd Zinser will be speaking from 7:05-7:25 PM.

Speaker Bios:

Jeff Suess is a history columnist and librarian at the Cincinnati Enquirer, as well as the author of several books on local history, including Lost Cincinnati, Hidden History of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Then and Now, and Cincinnati: An Illustrated Timeline. He also has written on wider topics, such as Disneyland’s Tomorrowland and the Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers football teams. Jeff grew up in Modesto, California, and graduated from San Francisco State University. He lives in White Oak on Cincinnati’s West Side with his wife, Kristin, and their daughter, Dashiell.

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Todd Zinser is a Cincinnati native and resides in Cincinnati’s West Price Hill neighborhood. He retired as Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Commerce after 31 years of conducting audits and investigations of federal officials, programs, and operations. Other career highlights include serving as Deputy Inspector at the U.S. Department of Transportation. He also served as Transportation’s Assistant Inspector General for Investigations in Washington D.C. and Transportation’s Special Agent In Charge in New York City. He has testified more than thirty times before Congress. He is an expert on government oversight and compliance and remains a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Where do we stand as we enter the campaign's final month?

The 2024 presidential race has been packed with shocks, drama, and reversals. 

On the Republican side we witnessed Democrat prosecutors indict Trump for numerous alleged crimes, only to have their cases fall apart. We saw the Secret Service commit a series of keystone cops-like errors that resulted in a nearly successful attempt on Trump’s life, followed by a second thwarted attempt at Trump International Golf Club in Florida. And we saw Trump select Ohio’s own JD Vance — a junior senator who once opposed his policies — to be his running mate.

Official portrait of President Donald J. Trump.

President Joe Biden’s official portrait.

And we saw RFK, Jr., challenge Biden in the Democratic primary race, subsequently declare himself to be an independent candidate, and then ultimately suspend his own campaign and join the Trump campaign.

Where does the race stand as we head into its final month? Hours before the vice presidential debate, when Republican candidate JD Vance takes the stage to debate Democrat Tim Walz on October 1, we’ll get the scoop from Breitbart’s Washington Bureau Chief Matt Boyle, who has interviewed Donald Trump and JD Vance numerous times this election cycle and who has his finger on the pulse of the polls, the media (and its bias) and the momentum for each candidate.

Speaker Bio:

Matt Boyle oversees Breitbart’s coverage of the Biden administration, including uncovering the corruption, scandals, and failure running rampant through the White House and government. He also leads Breitbart’s 2022 midterm election coverage, supervising efforts to vet candidates and track major stories in districts and states nationwide.

He joined Breitbart News Network just after the 2012 election, following a successful stint at the Daily Caller, where he broke stories on Fast and Furious and corruption in the State Department.  Though not always a conservative – he voted for Obama in 2008 — Boyle began to lean right as he watched the way the media and political establishment treated the Tea Party.  “I saw decent, honest people falsely accused of being racists,” he says.  As he grew into his conservative chops, he withdrew from a Masters in Journalism program at American University, finding the professors, “too leftist.”  

In 2015 Boyle assumed the role of political editor.  His reporting and that of his team was essential reading for understanding the rise of Donald Trump, key ground-shifting deals such as the USMCA,  the Middle East peace push, and overall accomplishments of the Trump presidency.  As political editor and now as bureau chief, Boyle leads his team in exclusive interviews and narrative-setting reporting that elevates an agenda some in Washington hope to dodge — standing up to the Chinese Communist Party, reining in Big Tech, and fighting corruption in American politics, no matter which side of the aisle.  

Boyle serves as radio host on Breitbart News Saturday, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Eastern, SiriusXM Patriot Channel 125.  He’s also a weekly guest on America First with Sebastian Gorka, on podcastrepublic.net.

The Crime of the 19th Century with J.T. Townsend

Just Five Days After The Civil War Ended…

It was the crime of the 19^th century and spawned one of the most notorious trials in American History.  President Abraham Lincoln was gunned down by actor John Wilkes Booth while attending Ford’s Theatre. The assassination has always been examined by historians as an act of political post-war terrorism, committed by a fanatic who the Confederacy may have sponsored. But rarely has Lincoln’s death been investigated by detectives as a murder case.

Watch JT Townsend discard the myths and legends surrounding the assassination while excavating the truth about the conspiracy to kill Lincoln. With stunning images and riveting content, the author of “Queen City Notorious” and “Queen City Gothic” solves the mystery that still surrounds the death of our most beloved president.

Ford Theater–April 14, 1865

Speaker Bios:

J. T. Townsend is a freelance writer, armchair detective, and lifelong resident of Cincinnati. He is the author of the 2009 regional best seller Queen City Gothic and 2014’s Queen City Notorious, and his work has appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Magazine, Word Magazine, Crime Traveler and Clews. He has presented over three hundred programs in the Cincinnati area as part of his True Crime Lecture Series, including Jack the Ripper, Lizzie Borden, and the Lindbergh Kidnapping, and teaches his Cincinnati True Crime Detective class for the University of Cincinnati Communiversity division.

 In 2018 he was featured on WCPO News, 700WLW Radio, and the Cincinnati Enquirer while promoting his new book Summer’s Almost Gone, which is now a regional bestseller! In 2020 he appeared on WLWT News with Sheree Paolello.

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Our next election will be pivotal

Half or more of the nation is fearful about the direction in which the United States is headed.

We have high inflation, unprecedented illegal immigration, riots in our cities, an increase in crime throughout our nation, cancel culture, a biased and untruthful media, and an assassination attempt on a former president who is also a presidential candidate. DEI and wokeness are destroying our children and communities. Our “Democracy” is under assault, our “freedoms” are under assault. If America continues on its current path, it will cease to exist as we know it. 

 As the nation prepares for a crucial vote that many call a turning point, an informed electorate is crucial. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from Edwin Black, a NY Times bestselling and award-winning author known throughout the United States and Europe. Black is closely monitoring the issues here and throughout the Middle East that are changing on a daily and weekly basis, and he will answer questions on national fears and national affairs.   Edwin Black will speak from 7:25-8:25 PM

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Friend of EmpowerU Jack Atherton talks about his new Podcast “The Big Picture with Jack Atherton.”  Also, Jack will share with us a few thoughts about the upcoming election.  Jack Atherton will speak from 7:10-7:25 PM.

Speaker Bio:

Edwin Black is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling international investigative author of 200 award-winning editions in 20 languages in 190 countries, as well as scores of newspaper and magazine articles in the leading publications of the United States, Europe and Israel. With more than 2.2 million books in print, his work focuses on human rights, genocide and hate, corporate criminality and corruption, governmental misconduct, academic fraud, philanthropy abuse, oil addiction, alternative energy and historical investigation.

Editors have submitted Black’s work thirteen times for Pulitzer Prize nomination, and in recent years he has been the recipient of a series of top editorial awards. He has also contributed to a number of anthologies worldwide.  He hosts the weekly Edwin Black Show. Black’s eleven award-winning bestselling books are IBM and the Holocaust (2001 and 2012), Financing the Flames (2013), British Petroleum and the Redline Agreement (2011), The Farhud (2010), Nazi Nexus(2009), The Plan (2008), Internal Combustion (2006), Banking on Baghdad (2004), War Against the Weak (2003 and 2012), The Transfer Agreement (1984 and 2009), and a 1999 novel, Format C:.

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Jack Atherton- , former anchor at FOX19 and WLWT, and friend of EmpowerU will join us. After anchoring and reporting in San Antonio and Miami, Jack helped start The Ten O’Clock News on Cincinnati’s FOX19. 

During his 15 years there, it was among the highest-rated primetime newscasts in the country.  Jack also contributed columns to Cincinnati Gentlemen magazine and taught a course on the history of electronic media at the University of Cincinnati. Jack has discussed the Media at EmpowerU sessions in the past.

Rob Tuttle argues that we don't

In recent years there has been a nationwide movement — Convention of States — to promote another Constitutional Convention.

The Convention of States would introduce several new constitutional amendments that the U.S. Congress has been reluctant to entertain.  Convention of States advocates say this is the perfect situation to hold such a Convention. 

Rob Tuttle is a conservative who is an outspoken 10^th Amendment advocate, and he believes that the Federal Government has gone far beyond its proper boundaries.  However, his considerable research has led him to believe that another Constitutional Convention would be a very dangerous idea and is not worth the risk — especially since we have not pursued other avenues that were recommended by our Founders.

Speaker Bio:

Rob Tuttle has been actively involved in politics for more than 20 years.  He has been elected 3 times to the Warren County Central Committee, and he is a volunteer lobbyist for a number of non-profits across the state, including Dayton Right to Life. 

Shortly after retiring, Rob go to know government officials at all levels, including U.S. and state congressmen, senators, mayors, school board members, and his local sheriff.  He has had tough conversations with them about numerous topics, including the 2^nd Amendment, fiscal restraint, and numerous federal and state constitutional issues. 

Rob has testified in Ohio House and Senate hearings about a variety of legislation. He is an active participant and speaker at many Tea Party and liberty groups throughout the Dayton area.  Rob believes the Constitution is a powerful instrument of protection for all Americans, regardless of political leanings – if we follow it. 

The term “The Deep State” refers to the community of federal employees who remain in place while successive presidential administrations come and go every four years.   Over time, members of the deep state develop their own policy agenda.  When that policy agenda conflicts with the current administration, then deep state actors may work nefariously to keep their own agenda on-track. 

In the past several years we’ve heard of several examples of this, including the FBI’s suppression of information about Hunter Biden’s laptop, the implementation of Operation Crossfire Hurricane to frame Donald Trump as colluding with Russia, and the Biden White House’s work with Silicon Valley to censor information about COVID vaccines. 

Such deep state actions undermine the will of the American people.  For this reason, Presidential candidate Donald Trump has stated his intention to dismantle the deep state if he is reelected.

In his recent book, Colonel John Mills provides a battle plan that individuals can follow to assist in dismantling the deep state.  It’s a battleplan that involves not guns or bullets, but, rather, ballots and voices.  Join us as we discuss with Colonel Mills his book “War Against The Deep State.”   

Speaker Bio:

Colonel Mills delivers significant experience in DoD and DHS cybersecurity, technology, and critical infrastructure programs. He has worked extensively in train and equip efforts using Foreign Military Sales, foreign military financing, ITAR, and international military education and training, and builds public-private defense and technology industrial base partnerships, including helping establish the DoD’s Development Innovation Unit in Silicon Valley.

Prior to joining The SPECTRUM Group (TSG), Colonel Mills served as the Director for Cybersecurity Policy, Strategy, and International Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. His work included creating and implementing the first DoD and intelligence community scorecarding initiative, boosting whole-of government cybersecurity and multidomain responses to threat actor and nation hostile actions.

Colonel Mills’ 33-year U.S. Army and Army Reserves career culminated in his serving as a senior liaison between DHS and DoD for complex homeland security operations. Earlier, he helped establish and advise foreign national military and security forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Bosnia, South Korea, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His roles spanned joint and inter-agency operations, psychological operations, intelligence activities, special operations, strategic planning, and public affairs.

In addition to his work at TSG, Colonel Mills serves as an adjunct assistant professor for the Cybersecurity Law and Policy program at the University of Maryland, Global Campus.

Also: Suzy Connaughton Joins Us to Talk About Her New Book--"Like Swans"

To restore America should we use the same biblical principles used to shape the Declaration of Independence?

They’re asking, “How did we get here?” and “How do we restore Liberty and Justice for all?” To answer these questions, we must revisit our founding document, the Declaration of Independence, to understand what defines us as Americans and why the founding generation was successful in starting a new nation.

While political historians typically highlight key events and quotes from the founding era to establish key founding principles, this lecture Mark Burrel takes a different approach. He begins by examining biblical principles that outline what God desires for nations, including the blueprint for starting and governing a nation justly.  Mark will show how the founders used this biblical template to establish America’s national covenant through the Declaration of Independence. This adherence to biblical principles was the key that enabled them to successfully separate from England and create a just and prosperous society, which their writings and speeches affirm.

Mark will also explain how America was “conceived in liberty”, as noted by Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address, protecting both religious and civil liberties while allowing everyone to go on their own personal faith journey.  Lastly, he will present a biblical roadmap for restoring America to its founding values.

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Suzy Connaughton discusses her book “Like Swans” — a gripping true story of love, courage, and sacrifice set against the backdrop of communist Czechoslovakia. When Vera’s husband, Theodor, dreams of a life of freedom, he urges her to be brave and embrace change. But fear of the unknown holds Vera back, until an unexpected betrayal forces her to make a life-altering decision.

As their marriage is put to the ultimate test, the stakes are high and the consequences will affect everyone they love, especially their daughter, Zuzana. Can their love withstand the dangers of standing up against the oppressive regime? Just like the swans on the Vltava River, Theodor believes their love is eternal and their loyalty unbreakable. But in a world where trust is a dangerous currency, can they truly rely on each other?

Speaker Bios

Mark Burrel is originally from Pennsylvania and studied Engineering at Penn State. While at Penn State, he met and married Charlene, with whom he has raised four children and now enjoys the company of seven grandchildren.

For over 40 years, Mark has worked at Procter & Gamble in various roles within Manufacturing, Engineering, and R & D. He currently resides in Mason, Ohio. His passion for theology led him to a mentoring relationship with an experienced pastor, through which he delved into Systematic Theology. Mark has played a key role in founding several churches, and he has maintained a teaching ministry for over 30 years.

In the mid-1990s, Mark began exploring America’s founding principles to understand the biblical justification for the Revolutionary War. This exploration resulted in his first book, Rediscovering The American Covenant–Roadmap To Restore America, published in October, 2022. The book argues that America’s Declaration of Independence functions as our national founding covenant, following a biblical template for establishing a community or nation. Aimed at pastors and church leaders, it offers a compelling biblical argument for active Christian citizenship as a duty for believers in their communities and nations. It covers the theology behind civil government, the historical context of the American founding, the rise and influence of progressivism, answers to common questions Christians often have, and the biblical template for restoring America.

Mark’s latest book, The Duty Is Ours, provides a concise overview of what God desires for nations, including how to establish and govern a nation in a way that honors Him. It also discusses the biblical responses for Christians when governed justly or unjustly, and offers a framework for guiding a wayward nation back to God. Mark recently launched the “Liberty Talk Podcast,” where he analyzes current events through the biblical lens on the proper role of civil government.

In his leisure time, Mark enjoys restoring antique cars and hit-and-miss engines. He is also a dedicated aviation enthusiast, and he has a passion for model railroading.

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Suzy Connaughton works as a flight attendant for a major airline and loves her job and the people she gets to meet. When not shopping at foreign grocery stores, she enjoys cooking, gardening, working out and birdwatching with her husband, Michael. They live in Sharonville and together have five children – Suzy’s twin sons, Teddy, and Spencer, and Michaels three girls, Bre, Sabrina, and Liv.  Like Swans began as a short story written for a creative writing class. It took over 30 years and a COVID leave of absence to turn it into the book Suzy dreamed of writing. Please find Suzy on the web at suzyconn.com.

What is the proper Balance Between Work and Family Life?

Bahnsen’s Groundbreaking Book argues that Work is the Meaning of Life!

Author and Chief Investment Officer David Bahnsen has come out with a groundbreaking book that attempts to paint the proper picture between work-family balance.   In his book, “Full Time”, Bahnsen argues that work is the meaning of life.   It offers a theological argument that rejects the crucial errors that have led to such a low view of work today.   The book dares to suggest that we have unhappy people not because we are working too much, but rather that we have unhappy people because they have been cut off from the purpose and earned success that work offers.

Our society faces a crisis of alienation rooted in a deterioration of purpose, community and dignity.   Through an understanding of work that is properly formed, we discover our purpose, we create community, and we reveal our God-given dignity.   We ignore and even disparage work to our personal and collective peril.

Bahnsen asserts in the book that God made the human race in His image as a creator, producer, and innovator—making us co-creators with Him.   The modern social construct says work is something we do that we will not have to do it any more, envisioning a thirty-year vacation or a “second half of significance” as the ultimate aim.  That self-defeating idea and systems of thought underlie this destructive vision and is the target of this book.

Full Time is for those who need to hear the good news:  we are made to work, make, serve; success is significant, purpose and meaning area available to all because a life fully committed to work is a life well-lived.    Join David Bahnsen as he discusses his important book.   David will be talking from 7:25-8:25 PM.

EmpowerUAmerica.org’s Managing Board Member Dan Regenold talks about the surprise
of 15,000 Haitians living in Springfield and Lima, OH and the situation with 1,000 Mauritanians who are residing around the Lockland area.   

Are these surprise new Ohioans part of the border and immigration problem that is occuring on the Southern Border.   Is every State, really a border state?.   In this segment we will try to feature Government officials who are in the middle of this emerging problems and who are most impacted by it.

What is Going on With Migrants in Ohio?

Speaker Bio

David L. Bahnsen is the founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Investment Officer of The Bahnsen Group, a national private wealth management firm with offices in Newport Beach, New York City, Bend, Nashville, Minneapolis, Austin, Phoenix, and West Palm Beach, managing over $5.7 billion in client assets.

Prior to launching The Bahnsen Group, he spent eight years as a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and six years as a Vice President at UBS. He is consistently named one of the top financial advisors in America by Barron’s, Forbes, and the Financial Times. He is a frequent guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox News, and Fox Business, and is a regular contributor to National Review. He hosts the popular weekly podcast, Capital Record, dedicated to a defense of free enterprise and capital markets.

Bahnsen is the author of several best-selling books including Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It (2018), The Case for Dividend Growth: Investing in a Post-Crisis World (2019), and There’s No Free Lunch: 250 Economic Truths (2021). His newest book, Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life, was released in February 2024.

David’s true passions include anything related to USC football, the financial markets, politics, and Chinese food. His ultimate passions are his wife of 22+ years, Joleen, their children, Mitchell, Sadie, and Graham, and the life they’ve created together on both coasts.

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DanRegenold  is a lover of Liberty and enjoys speaking to EmpowerU classes about subjects he is passionate about.  Recently he has discussed:  Milton Friedman, Saul Alinsky, D-Day, The Deficit, Public Education, Winston Churchill, President Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Sowell, Sam Adams and Pearl Harbor at EmpowerU Classes.     For Dan’s full biography–Click Here.

John O'Neill also to Discuss One of America's Great Founders--John Hancock

President of the Cincinnati Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society Joins EmpowerU to Catch Us Up on the Important Supreme Court

We live in consequential times. The United States Supreme Court recently issued a series of high-profile decisions over a wide range of issues such as presidential immunity and the power of Federal agencies.

Join Joseph Ashbrook of the Federalist Society as he discusses some of these decisions, including one seismic (though potentially less well known) opinion that returned power to the people and could have as great of an impact on American government as any decision in close to a century. Mr. Ashbrook will also discuss attacks on the Court, the consequential times in which we live, and the Court’s historic contribution of (real) progress toward our American ideals.

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John O’Neill teaches important information about one of our most important founding fathers John Hancock.    Hancock was an American Founding Father, merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution.    He was the longest-serving president of the Continental Congress.    Why was Hancock so important in the nation’s found and what was up with that large signature?

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Joseph Ashbrook is president of the Cincinnati Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society.  Founded in 1982, the Federalist Society promotes the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and it is the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be. 

Mr. Ashbrook was the editor-in-chief of the Virginia Law Review and currently practices at the law firm Ashbrook Byrne Kresge LLC, an agile boutique that seeks to level the playing field for those pursuing the American Dream. The firm provides outside general counsel and litigation services to entrepreneurs, local governments, and closely held businesses, and engages in public interest litigation.   Joey can be reached at jashbrook@ashbrookbk.com, or 513-582-7424.

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In John O’Neill’s 35 year professional career he has participated in and managed people and projects in the corporate as well as the consulting services industry. His professional background includes significant career experience in a broad spectrum of business disciplines including sales of technology resources, corporate and consulting services management, software development and personnel training.

New Evidence of a Government UFO Crash Retrieval Program

Did JFK know about a UFO crash retrieval program?

In 1984 a UFO researcher was given film containing photographs of what appeared to be UFO-related classified government documents.  These documents purportedly show that the US government had a group that retrieved crashed UFO vehicles, that this group reverse-engineered the alien technology, and that JFK wanted to share our knowledge of UFO’s with the Soviet Union.  These documents are known as the MJ-12 documents, and they remain controversial, with experts today still debating their veracity.

In the past eight years, interest in the MJ-12 documents has been rekindled by two events which support the claims made in the documents.  The first event is the 2017 release of the now-famous Tic Tac video by The New York Times, which supports the claim that the government knows about UFO’s.  The second event is David Grush’s 2023 UFO whistleblower testimony, which supports the claim that the government does indeed have a program that retrieves UFOs, and then attempts to reverse-engineer their technology. 

Now, this year, more evidence supporting the claim that these government programs exist has emerged.  In August an Australian man named Geoff Cruickshank released a trove of documents that further corroborate the MJ-12 documents.  Mr. Cruickshank, a security and electronics professional who has designed and installed classified documents skiffs for the Australian and US governments, obtained these documents from the publicly available US National Archives.  Mr. Cruickshank will share these documents with us, and he will discuss their corroboration of the MJ-12 documents, and their relevance to the broader UFO debate.

Speaker Bio

When Geoff Cruickshank was 10 years old his father built him a Newtonian reflector telescope.  Geoff says it was through this telescope that “…the vastness of the Universe was impressed upon me from an early age.”  This realization inspired him to contemplate whether intelligent life existed elsewhere.

Geoff’s research using the US National Archives digital collections has uncovered documents that support existing evidence indicating the US government knows about UFOs, and has a program for retrieving and reverse-engineering alien craft technology.  He recently has begun sharing his findings online and in interviews.

Geoff, a security and electronics professional, operates a consulting firm called Industrial Automation and Security.  He has designed and installed high-security skiffs — rooms used by government officials to review top secret documents — for the US and Australian governments.  He holds a Bachelors Degree in Information Technology from Charles Darwin University, and hehas earned certifications in operations, security, and risk management.  He resides in Northwest Territory, Australia.

Lessons Learned & Relevance Today

Very little had been published about the contributions nurse anesthetists made during World War II. 

Neither the Veteran’s Administration, nor historical societies, kept any records about the contributions made by nurse anesthetists during World War II.  Sadly, most of the women who served in this capacity are no longer alive to tell their stories.

After researching the story of one nurse anesthetist, 1st Lt. Adeline H. Simonson, Carolyn Nicholson, CRNA, BS Ed, will discuss the impact nurse anesthetists made during the war, as well as the experiences and dangers Simonson and other nurses endured while serving with a 400-bed Med Evac Hospital in the European Theater during WWII.   Carolyn Nicholson will be speaking from 7:30-8:30 PM.

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The yard signs, mailers, and campaign speeches absent during an election season are the names, philosophies, and opinions of persons seeking to serve as Ohio magistrates.  Magistrates are appointed judicial officers who serve many of the same functions as an elected judge. They preside over juvenile, domestic relations, probate, common pleas, and municipal matters.

What, then, is the difference between a judge and a magistrate?  Hear that and more in a twenty-minute refresher about magistrate duties, numbers, professional requirements, and examples of their impact.  Hear George Brunemann talk about the duties, appointment, and impact of Ohio magistrates.  George will be speaking from 7:10-7:30 PM.

Speaker Bios:

Carolyn Nicholson, CRNA, BS Ed, graduated from the Cincinnati General Hospital School of Nurse Anesthesia in 1972. After graduating, Nicholson remained on staff at the University of Cincinnati (UC) Nurse Anesthesia Program as a clinical and didactic instructor for 42 years. She later obtained her BS Ed from UC in 1986, and she continued teaching at UC Medical Center until her retirement in 2014.  Throughout her career she was an invited speaker at local, state, national and international nurse anesthesia professional meetings. Nicholson’s involvement in alumni activities and teaching, and interest in history, have continued in her retirement from clinical practice.

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George Brunemann is an engineer with 45 years of experience and over a dozen patents. He has defined the “State of the Art” in multiple areas with innovative use of Artificial Intelligence and software architecture. His consulting company has worked with several of the Fortune 500 and has a reputation for accomplishing “mission impossible” projects that were high risk, high reward.  In late 2009, the rapid increase in the United States Debt and the march toward socialized medicine drove George to enter the political conversation. He and his wife Nancy opened their home to over 40 friends and neighbors to discuss a shared concern over the future of our country. That group grew to over 400members and in 2012 George was president of the 20,000 member Cincinnati Tea Party.

The Brunemann family was audited in early 2012 as part of the IRS targeting of conservative groups and individuals. George has been interviewed by local reporters, as well as appearances on Fox News and Fox Business Channel.  In 2021, George started a new effort–RestoreLiberty.US–to provide commentary, coordination and information on current events and local activities.  As we enter the critical 2024 Election, RestoreLiberty.US is actively working to get conservative candidates elected at all levels of government.

How much does oil play a part in our everyday lives?

Oil has been known to man for a long time as a substance that sometimes oozed to the surface of the ground or a lake; oil has only been put to use by man since its discovery in the 1850s in Pennsylvania.

Oil first changed the world by providing a cheap way to light the night in the form of kerosene – a change that likely saved the whale from extinction.  With kerosine people were now free to stay up after the sun went down. More efficient and cleaner than coal, oil quickly found other uses.

Even bigger changes came with the development of the internal combustion engine and the arrival of cars, airplanes, and diesel-powered ships and locomotives. Beginning in about 1900 the acquisition and use of oil became a matter of wealth, national security, economic growth, and modern living.  During WWI and WWII, acquiring oil, and denying it to the enemy, became a crucial wartime strategy.  Since then we have witnessed the rise of OPEC, the oil shocks of the 1970s, the first Gulf War of 1990, and the revolution brought about by fracking and directional drilling. While wind, solar, and other renewables may be more benign for the environment, we are nowhere close to replacing oil and gas, especially when you consider that they are used to produce plastics, synthetic fibers, and fertilizer. Oil is simply required for much of modern life.

Much of the information for this talk is derived from the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power, by Daniel Yergun.  Mr. Yergun is currently Vice Chairman of S&P Global, and one of the world’s leading authorities on oil.

Speaker Bio:

Tom Hagedorn is a life-long learner who has been researching and talking about the many facets of western socialism and progressivism over the last five years. He has previously given the following talks at EmpowerU: Socialism in the U.S.: A Brief History; ESG: Introducing Our New World Government; American Education and Its Takeover by International Socialism; and Climate Calamity: Climate Change Exposed.

Tom is a member of the EmpowerU Board.  Tom has been providing investment advice to individuals since 1983, and he has been involved in various political, charitable, and community activities.  He holds a B.S. (cum laude) and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati, and he is a CPA and a CFP.

Can We Effectively Transition To 100% Renewable Energy?

Do you think wind, solar, and batteries can replace the hydrocarbon fuels that power our modern industrialized society?

Author Steve Goreham will discuss why the Net Zero agenda―a forced transition to renewable energy―is costly, dangerous, and destined for failure. Using science, economics, and in-depth analysis, he will expose the weaknesses in the planned green energy transition, and explain why he believes the move to renewable energy will fail.

Mr. Goreham — author of Green Breakdown: The Coming Renewable Energy Failure — will discuss all facets of the proposed green energy transition, including hydrocarbon and renewable energy, biofuels, power plants, home appliances, electric vehicles, ships, airlines, heavy industry, carbon capture and storage, and the hydrogen economy.

Speaker Bio

Steve Goreham is an informative and engaging speaker, delivering compelling and provocative programs to businesses, universities, and diverse organizations. He’s an effective communicator in the board room, lecture hall, and on the debate panel.  His areas of expertise include energy, industry, agriculture, the environment, sustainable development, economic trends, climate change, and corporate environmental policy. 

Mr. Goreham’s books include Climatism! Science, Common, Sense, and the 21st Century’s Hottest Topic (New Lenox Books, 2010), The Mad, Mad, Mad World of Climatism (New Lenox Books, 2012) Outside the Green Box: Rethinking Sustainable Development (New Lenox Books, 2017) and Green Breakdown: The Coming Renewable Energy Failure (New Lenox Books, 2023).

He serves as the Executive Director of the Climate Science Coalition of America, and as a policy advisor for The Heartland Institute.  He holds an MBA University of Chicago, and a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois.

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. It causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior.

Dementia is not a specific disease. It’s an overall term that describes a group of symptoms.

Alzheimer’s is not normal aging. It is the most common form of dementia and a degenerative brain disease.  It is a disease of the brain that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour.      Join the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati Chapter to learn about 10 common warning signs and what to watch for in yourself and others.  If you have an older parent, or are a caregiver this class is important for you to attend.

In 2023, as many as 6.7 million Americans—or 1 in 9 age 65 and older– were living with Alzheimer’s disease.  This number if projected to nearly triple to 14 million people by 2060.  Almost two-thirds of American’s with Alzheimer’s are women.   Older Black Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older whites.  Worldwide, 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

This one-hour program at EmpowerU covers typical age-related changes, common warning signs of Alzheimer’s how to approach someone with memory concerns, early detection, the benefits of diagnosis and the diagnostic process.  Also, the resources for help that are available at the Alzheimer’s Association will be discussed.  The Alzheimer’s part of this program will be from 7:30-8:30 PM.

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Do you want to convey an idea, teach, or encourage others in a public speaking scenario?  Listen to some tried and true methods to help you communicate clearly before any size audience.  You’ll be given encouragement and tools to help you communicate via public speaking without fear, fainting or knocking knees!

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Speaker Bios:

A talented volunteer of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association will be speaking with us tonight.   The Vision of Alzheimer’s Association is to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia—by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research.  Their vision:  A world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.   Learn More about Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.

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Karen is an avid reader, writer, learner, wife, and mother of two. She has worked in IT as a technical writer for over 30 years and is currently working full-time in IT.  Outside of her paying job, she has given multiple public speaking engagements on various topics, she serves as president of her Toastmasters International club as well as served as a volunteer Community Educator for the Alzheimer’s Association

We'll speak with 3 American Jews about their experiences

The attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 killed 11—

…marked an escalation in the seriousness of antisemitism in America.  More lethal attacks followed in 2019, and the overall number of antisemitic incidents has since grown steadily.

However, the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War has opened the floodgates of American antisemitic acts, including vandalism, harassment, hate speech, anti-Israel protests on college campuses, and public calls for the annihilation of the state of Israel.

In this episode of the EmpowerU podcast we’ll speak with several American Jews — a student, a parent, and a community leader — about how this rise in American antisemitism is impacting their lives, and what can be done to stop it.

Michael Mercier shares unique insights about Elvis' life and music

“The presence this man had — you couldn’t talk, nobody did anything.  You just stopped and watched him.” (Shelley Fabares, Elvis’ Co-Star)

The Internet has given us access to an infinite amount of documentary material regarding Elvis Presley.  Michael Mercier has spent untold hours analyzing this material, and he has generated wholly unique insights about Elvis.

Using video and audio clips, photographs, and written documents, Michael will share his insights, including the following:

• How Elvis’ foray into rock ‘n roll was an accidental digression from his primary interest in singing ballads and gospel.
• How Elvis systematically applied his own formula to black rhythm and blues songs to transform them into his own style of rock.
• How Elvis had a palpable, sometimes overwhelming, energetic aura described by countless friends, fans, celebrities, and others in the music business.
• How Elvis expressed an elevated aesthetic sense in many areas of his life.
• How Elvis possessed a remarkable intellectual drive.
• How Elvis’ ’68 Comeback and Aloha Via Satellite TV specials stand as remarkably unique achievements in American television history.
• How the claim that Elvis was a racist is an absurd lie.

Join us early at 6:30 PM.   We’ll be having appetizers, desserts, wine and beer to share.  Sign up to bring an appetizer or dessert if you can–email us at info@EmpowerUAmerica.org.  Social starts at 6:30 PM.

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Speaker Bio:

Michael Mercier has been an Elvis fan since first grade. A self-described “Elvis Connoisseur,” he has spent a lifetime studying and researching Elvis. His research has included discussing Elvis with members of Elvis’ family and circle of friends, as well as with authors of books about Elvis, through email and social media. At the age of 23 he made a road trip with his dad from Boston to Graceland, and years later he visited Graceland with his own son. While in graduate school he did an Elvis impersonation at the school variety show. He prefers to listen to Elvis’ music from the 1970’s.

Also: Orlando Sonza Talks About His Run for Ohio Congressional District #1

Own a gun? Do you understand what a “reasonable man” standard means?

The use of lethal force is justified only under conditions of extreme necessity as a last resort, but did you know that just touching a gun might be considered lethal force. “Stand Your Ground” means something different in every state, if you are a gun owner make sure you know the laws of your state. Did you know that you may be judged by a “reasonable man” standard? What does that mean, and does it mean something different in every state?

Own a gun or thinking about buying one? Join us for this class as Attorney and gun law expert Sean Maloney from Second Call Defense will break it all down for us by reviewing the basic concepts of lethal force, how they are interpreted by the legal system, and what it all means for you as a gun owner.   

Make sure you leave this class knowing the 5 Universal Concepts all gun owners must know.  Sean Maloney will speak from 7:30-8:30 PM.

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As an Assistant Prosecutor in Hamilton County, Orlando understands the importance of focusing on real crime prevention. As a former military officer, he knows what it takes to keep our nation safe. And as a son of immigrants, Orlando can speak to the importance of securing our southern border while at the same time working to fix our broken immigration system so that immigrants can come here safely and legally and pursue the American dream just like Orlando’s family. 

Orlando Sonza joins EmpowerU from 7:05-7:25 PM to talk about his run for Ohio Congressional District #1 and what differentiates him from sitting Congressman Greg Landsman.    Congressman Landsman was invited to attend this event, but has chosen not to.

Speaker Bios:

Sean Maloney

Sean Maloney is a licensed Ohio attorney with a firearms legal practice emphasizing Gun Rights.  He practices in all areas of firearm-related law in both state and federal courts, including 2nd Amendment rights, criminal defense related to federal and state firearms charges, federal and state restoration of gun rights, National Firearm Act issues, federal firearms license representation, state lawsuits to enforce violations of Ohio’s preemption laws, and federal background Form 4473 NICS appeals.

Sean is a criminal and civil firearms consultant and has appeared as an expert witness in a variety of civil lawsuits related to firearms. He is also a national speaker on topics related to the 2nd Amendment, self-defense, lethal force, and concealed carry.  

Sean co-founded Second Call Defense (www.SecondCallDefense.org), a national organization that provides complete legal protection for armed self-defense, with thousands of members in all fifty states. 

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Orlando Sonza is proud to be an Ohioan. A second generation Filipino American, Orlando was raised in New Jersey and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point.  While there he met his wife, Jessica, a Mexican/Filipino American, fellow Academy classmate, and Cincinnati native. 

Orlando graduated top ten in his class at West Point where he majored in political science and minored in systems engineering. Upon graduation, he and Jessica both commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. Orlando served on active duty as an Infantry Officer and a Finance Officer with the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. 

After leaving active duty, Orlando and Jessica moved to Cincinnati to raise a family. While helping to raise their kids, Orlando obtained his master’s degree in taxation from the University of Cincinnati and his law degree from Georgetown Law. 

Orlando is an Ohio CPA with experience working in Big 4 Accounting as a senior tax accountant. While in law school, he was a legal intern at the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal & Tax Divisions. Orlando currently works at the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office. 

Orlando and Jessica currently live in Springfield Township with their four children.