Deaths In ICE Custody: What The Headlines Miss

Nearly 50 reported deaths in ICE custody is the kind of statistic that should stop you cold, and it’s the first thing we dig into as we ask why so many people never hear about it. We talk through what overcrowding, strained facilities, delayed emergency response, and a growing mental health crisis can look like in real life and why, politics aside, human decency has to be the baseline. We also get practical about what regular people can do, from contacting elected officials to pushing for transparency and oversight that doesn’t disappear behind closed doors.

Then we pivot to a different kind of anxiety: artificial intelligence and the future of work. Many Americans fear AI-related job loss, especially younger workers, and we discuss why the bigger issue may be training, reskilling, and how employers prepare people for automation. We share our perspective on using AI as a tool—where it helps fill gaps and sharpen creative output, but still can’t replace judgment, passion, and genuine human connection.

We also tackle the growing hostility showing up in public life, from reported fan assaults and egg-throwing incidents to a disturbing lake confrontation that led to attempted murder charges. Why are so many conflicts escalating, and what happened to walking away?

We wrap up with rumors surrounding a Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wedding at Madison Square Garden and what high-profile celebrity events reveal about privacy, security, and public fascination.

Join Lawrence Elrod and Wander P. for another thought-provoking episode of Thirsty Topics. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review to help more people discover the conversation.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:20

Hello everyone, welcome to this week's episode of Thirsty Topics. Hi, Wonder.

SPEAKER_00 0:26

Hey Lawrence, how are you, my friend?

SPEAKER_01 0:29

I am doing fantastic. How about you?

SPEAKER_00 0:31

I'm I'm great. I can't complain. I um just you know it's a rainy day and all that, but we're above ground, right?

SPEAKER_01 0:40

Amen to that. We are I always believe that any day above ground is a beautiful day.

SPEAKER_00 0:46

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Yep, so what uh so how's everything? I know it's rainy and I don't want us to have any uh issues uh with uh you know freezing up wood, but I know what to do if that happens. But yeah, so so what's so what's on your mind today?

SPEAKER_01 1:03

Well, it's uh I tell you, first, it was very hard to come up with the five topics because I literally could have tripled this list. It was so happened this week. So

Welcome And This Week’s Topics

SPEAKER_01 1:17

so it was very hard to trim it down, but hopefully I got the right five topics where um people are most interested in. Um in fact, the first topic um really is a troubling one. Um nearly 50 people had died in ICE custody since Trump has taken office. Now, I did some research on this because I was like, wow, that's that sounds kind of high, but it is true from various reports. Okay. Um the the thing that's really interesting to me is that um I you know some people die, I just didn't know that number was that high. Uh reports from government watchdog groups, civil liberties organizations, and news outlets all indicate that this is one of the highest mortality rates recorded in the system in over two decades. Wow. So some things to consider about this is that um the volume

Deaths In ICE Custody

SPEAKER_01 2:23

and conditions to this is that an aggressive uh mass deportation campaign expanded the detainee population from roughly 30,000 to 70,000, leading to severe, severe overcrowding and straining facility capacities. Of course, this is um creating medical neglect as well as mental health crises um within this organization. So what about you, Wanda? Do you are you surprised at this number?

SPEAKER_00 2:55

I'm I I'm totally surprised at that number. And the thing about it is I don't know what people are what are they what are they thinking when they are not watching the news first and foremost, because I was talking to someone uh about this situation, and we don't want to overdo it, right, with uh blame, blaming what's going on with the ice. We see with our own eyes what's happening with these ice agents and the different things that they've done. And then to know that these that there are people, first of all, my my my thing is far too many of them are not criminals. So why are they in this facility? And here it is. Are they dying from natural causes? Are they dying from starvation? We hear the stories, so this is really something for the the the community and for people to really be uh concerned about. It's it's an alarm, it's a uh uh uh it's it's an alarm. And we really need to find out what's what's actually going on with um you know with this this situation with these people locked up in uh in these facilities.

SPEAKER_01 4:14

Yeah, the biggest the biggest surprise to me is that um this number hasn't been really popularized, you know, talked about more. Um it it's it's kind of hit and miss, you know. You hear it from some news outlets, you hear it from here, but without actually looking it up, most people probably don't know this number is this high.

SPEAKER_00 4:36

Yeah, right, right. The black one. Yeah, yeah. Um oh my god, and and and for my my people to for people the phone charger, please. Oh the yes, uh, so it I I my phone going dead. I don't want to die on me. You know, it's just really a sad situation. Repeat what you just asked me. So I want to make sure I'm asking the right question because he just threw me off.

SPEAKER_01 5:07

Sure, sir.

SPEAKER_00 5:08

What were you asking me?

SPEAKER_01 5:10

Uh we were just talking about, you know, why this isn't getting the press or the coverage that you were thinking has gotten.

SPEAKER_00 5:18

Well, again, it's one of those things, like I said, brother, that people need to wake up, get out of the video games, get out of the fact, oh, we're in 2026, la la la la, skip it around. Man, our democracy is being challenged. And and and and what's happening in these facilities, man, it is inhumane. It is inhumane. And how do we get there? I know some people, what's going on in the world, everybody's affected by it. And we got to get that deer in the headlight thing out of the way. Because I think a lot of the people are pretty much stuck with that deer in the headlights.

SPEAKER_01 6:02

Yeah, that's true. Some of the statistics here are are pretty alarming. When you look at um advocates and the have uh documented cases where delayed emergency responses, untreated chronic illnesses, and neglect uh neglected infections such as sepsis resulting from toothaches proved fatal. Mental health is also a big issue. An investigation by the Associated Press found that at least 10 detainees have died by suicide. A spike attributed to isolation, delayed mental health treatment, and worsening conditions inside the facilities. And these are just the tip of the iceberg as far as what's going on. So to me, this has nothing to do with politics. This is just human decency.

SPEAKER_00 6:55

It's human, it's human decency. And and here's the thing, uh Lawrence, we definitely need to get involved because to sit back and not even uh first of all, first of all, you're not even knowing about this going on, but even for those that to sit back with that deer in the headlight type of thing, it is going to affect us like cancer. What's happening uh in in these facilities, it's only a promise of things to come if we don't get a grip. If we don't get a grip on what's going on, the things that we're reading about, some folks don't want to hear about it, but it is so true. Uh, not just these facilities, but they're building new facilities. And you got these people in here with no medical attention, they won't even let like we the one one one topic we talked about, they won't even let the governor of Newark, even come New Jersey, even come in to see what's going on. They're even keeping out officials, uh political officials. So, man, we we it it's it's man, it's power with the people, man. It's power with people, and it's very important for people to know what is going on in your neighborhood, what's going on around the world? Because what's happening to our neighbor, guess what? It's gonna happen to us if we're not careful, you know.

SPEAKER_01 8:21

That is true. I would say that for most people, because some people may be watching this right now saying, Well, what can I do? Well, like I said before, I think the easiest and most reliable thing you could do is get a hold of your selected officials. Absolutely, absolutely start calling them. Um maybe even stop by their office if you live near there and just inquire about this and speak on this. And and if you're very, very unhappy about this, let them know. Because they do listen. Sometimes you may have to force them to listen, but they do listen.

SPEAKER_00 8:59

Absolutely, my brother. And and and and the thing about it, we I I I go back to the the African-American thing. We as African-Americans, we've been through the Indians, have gone through this thing, the Jewish people have gone through this thing. So now collectively, we've got to come together and

What You Can Do Now

SPEAKER_00 9:20

and and and see how we can come up with a solution, not panic, not not to panic or anything like that, but there is an answer. And I know God has the answer. I know we don't talk about religion or uh try to get too deep into politics, but you gotta hold on to something because these people, they are suffering over here, and again, without it necessarily being political, were some of these situations were were they were these people already sick? Did they already have uh preconditioned uh situation before they got locked up in these facilities? But we know as a whole, for what we know about these these detention centers, they are not humane, they are not humane. And what and and and and what what are we expecting to come out of these things? But the thing about it is to awaken the people to tell the people, wake up, we're blowing the trumpet in Zion, wake up, look at what's going on around you. People are gonna start disappearing, they're already disappearing, they start disappearing more and more and more in this atmosphere that we're in. You best believe they're gonna be in one of these containers in one of these uh cities that's housing eight to ten thousand humans. That's inhumane, it's true. We're sitting back talking about it. So what so what are we gonna do? Now that we found love, what are we gonna do with it? Now that we we know what's happening, what are we gonna do with now? It's time it's time out to stop talking about it. We gotta be about it, man. We have to be about it.

SPEAKER_01 10:56

That's true. Again, get a hold of your elected officials.

SPEAKER_00 10:59

Do you know of anybody? And and then that's that's because right now, do you know of anybody that's in those facilities or a family that's been affected? Do you know any families that have been affected?

SPEAKER_01 11:12

Do you no?

SPEAKER_00 11:14

I don't know. I don't know, I don't know of any families that do it, but I know my my grandson in his school, uh, he's uh because he's in um it's a predominantly it's a mixed school, but a lot of Hispanics are in his school, and uh he and I have talked, you know, candidly about what was happening, and coming from his thought pattern, a lot of those kids are scared. So my grandson actually knows of families, yeah. Matter of fact, matter of fact, I do. Matter of fact, I do. It was a it was a lady that was working in a facility, uh, and what she was trying to do is get her her uh dad, and I don't want to mess anything up for anybody, they're trying to make them citizens, but I think going to the military, something about them being in the military, but because he couldn't, he doesn't speak English or whatever, she was very much concerned for so I actually do, I actually do know of a family that was affected by that.

SPEAKER_01 12:08

But we'll definitely pray for them and hopefully they stay safe and kind of stay under the radar.

SPEAKER_00 12:13

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Because I haven't heard from her probably since uh this is this is yeah, so it's been a few months since I've heard from her. Wow, but yeah, sad, sad affair, my my friend.

SPEAKER_01 12:29

Yeah, unfortunately, we have more sad news. Uh again, AI is forefront. Roughly half of all Americans fear that AI will take their jobs. A recent rotor slash iPos poll confirmed that 53% of Americans fear AI could put some in their household out of work. Concern spans across demographics, with 73% of the respondents expressing overall worry about how AI is being used. The fear is widespread, but severely, I'm sorry, several key factors and statistics provide a closer look at this public sentiment. Just pointing out a few things, um, the generation gaps. Workers age 18 to 24 are 129% more likely to worry about AI

AI Job Loss Fears And Reality

SPEAKER_01 13:29

making their jobs obsolete compared to workers over 65. And as it comes to education, college graduates report higher regular AI usage, yet are also more likely to express high concern over job loss than those without degrees. That's an interesting statistic there.

SPEAKER_00 13:50

Very interesting. And you know what? And the fear of artificial intelligence will take away jobs, it's understandable. It it's really understandable because we talked before uh uh year many years ago when they were talking about the downsizing, uh AI hadn't come into play, but downsizing was a thing that they talked about as well. But history shows that new technology often creates as many opportunities as it eliminates. Because when I think about when I was working at the University of Chicago Hospital, and they were uh a lot of the jobs they were phasing out, they call they were phasing the jobs out, but they also created more jobs. So we got to understand that think about it, when the automobile replaced uh horse and the horse and buggies and the carriages, right? Many jobs disappeared, but uh uh but entirely new industries were born. So when we think about AI, AI cannot operate without us, and it's a it's a mixed bag. And and some people and and maybe the fee uh we were talking about a project, right? And and I know a lot of actors are worried about the things that that they're uh the the AI characters. You don't have to hire a real uh actor anymore in certain instances. I don't think in everything it's not gonna, I don't, I just don't think it's gonna affect everything. It's just just like everything else progressing, but we just have to put a uh put some understanding to it because when you don't understand something, fear is is false evidence appearing real. So when we see that that fear comes into play, I'm not downplaying it because, like I said, some jobs it will, but it also creates give you the opportunity to create other jobs, right?

SPEAKER_01 15:55

That's true, and for me looking at AI, because I use AI too, you know, in what I do. What people don't understand is AI is a valuable tool, but it will never replace the human being. Never a plain a good example of this is there's a lot of people who do animation, okay? Yes, that's something I've been looking into. Yes, yes. Well, AI is great for the short form type social media type stuff. AI hasn't crossed the effect where it can do a half hour hour show where you could just put in simple information and it just puts out a video. I would love it if it was that easy, but it's not right. So again, it's it's a great tool, but it's a long way from people worrying about replacing a human being. I don't think it'll ever happen. In fact, I would be very impressed if I ever saw AI paint walls, change the oil in the car, yes, you know, put in new plumbing. So again, are there someone be affected by it? I I agree it is, but I think that if we learn how to embrace it and see how it will work for us, I think most people will accept it a lot more easily.

SPEAKER_00 17:14

Absolutely, brother. And and I I was laughing because I was remembering a week or two ago, they uh it was on the news, this robot was delivering somebody's food and then ran into one of the bus, the bus and broke all the glass out. I'm like, no, who's gonna eat this food? So some people may want the quick stuff because like I tell you, like like right now, everybody's into the apps, apps, apps, apps, right? I don't like to order my food from the app because first of all, you don't know how long it's been sitting there. Some stuff is just still old school for me, and I know it's quicker, you have to stand in the line, but I want my food out. AI, the real concern is not whether AI exists, but whether workers are being given training. Because I think that's the other thing. Are they given up the proper training? Uh the through the school, to the nature. So that robot running into that doggone glass uh uh um house with the uh shelter and and stuff like that, even with the Tesla. I talked to my boy uh uh David, all the technical. He drives a Tesla, he he he lives by the Tesla driving. I was driving today, picking my grandson up, right? And a Tesla was driving, and you could see it jump over. And I thought about him, and I was talking to him about it later on. The Tesla's not gonna even let you come over in the lane. I think that would be a great first car for my grandson of driving in a Tesla, you know. So it's all about the perspective, I think, when it comes down to AI. There are some people who use it for devious things, and we talked about whether it's for the good or for the bad. But for for someone like me as a writer, uh uh man, that thing enhances. It doesn't write for me, but it enhances and make my writing better. So that's true. To each his own with that, I I I don't downplay the concern with it. If anybody that's listening right now, you know, that you want to tap in and tell us what you what you what do you think about AI? I know somebody's listening right now. What are your thoughts about AI? And perhaps you know you'll be able to read uh or maybe a good uh comment uh coming in about AI because it's still it's I I don't think it's a bad thing. I don't think it's a bad thing.

SPEAKER_01 19:34

Oh, it's not a bad thing. Now, I do have to say, when my son learned how to drive, he just drove on a regular car that didn't have, you know, it wasn't a Tesla. I like old school learning that old way because if you're driving one of those cars that have all those features technology on there, and something happens, they're gonna be frozen. They're not gonna know how to figure it out.

SPEAKER_00 19:54

So yeah, but you know what? I know some people, brother, they would not, they they they live on leasing a car, they won't pay uh because of all the amenities from leasing a car versus buying a car, then it's your problem. So again, it goes to what is your desire? What what is it that you uh prefer? Uh and and because I'm telling you, you can go in a stop sign. In a stop sign, and folks, if you get your signal to turn and a car is coming, maybe two cars behind, and that car in front of you is gone, that next car think it's his obligation, he won't even stop. So sometimes, at least with the features on these new cars, it can prevent accidents, you know. So, man, so uh again, what is your thoughts? Uh, people listening about AI. Just get off the phone with a young lady and she said, This AI. I said, Oh my god, you need to tune in at seven o'clock and hear, because it's one of our thirsty topics.

SPEAKER_01 20:59

Well, somebody somebody told me to say, uh hey, Wanda.

SPEAKER_00 21:04

Hey, hey, hey.

SPEAKER_01 21:14

I'll say hey.

SPEAKER_00 21:15

Okay, hey, hey, hey. Good guy. Glad you're tuning in. But yeah, but that the AI again is if you like strawberry cake or chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream, you like Wendy's, you like McDonald's. So it's I that's why I think that it goes because from what I've used uh with AI and and chat and all that, it has really, really been enhancing for me.

SPEAKER_01 21:39

Yes, yes. Yeah, and it also helps out people like me who you know I have a streaming channel and I'm at the point where I can't hire a full crew right now. So AI kind of helps fill in some of those gaps until I get to that point where I can bring on more staff. So yeah, there is definitely a need that people can use it for.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

Want to say this technology may change, uh, change the tools we use, but it cannot replace the God-given gifts of passion, wisdom, discernment, and human connection. These uh qualities remain uniquely to human beings. So let's not go so far out that we think that uh the world has gone to another uh uh atmosphere and it has not. So let's let's not get too too you know deep with it, you know.

SPEAKER_01 22:36

Yeah, in fact, we had someone just say, I think AI is not going to work, too many issues. It's not gonna work, too many issues.

SPEAKER_00 22:48

Oh, okay. All right, all right, well, well, it's new. Remember when the computer first came out? True, true. Well, they then they said the World Wide Web, that's say that's the devil, that's 666. I remember in the late 80s hearing that the computer that we're using now, uh oh, I hear a tornado warning. Um, yeah, so computer. You know uh what was said about the computer that it wasn't gonna work, it's the devil, and now you have access to reach all over. I interviewed a man from Greece on my rock show, you know. So, you know, so it's about is the glass empty or is the glass full? But we're the verdict is still out on that, on that, on that uh comment. The verdict is still out, yes.

SPEAKER_01 23:42

Yeah, we'll see. I mean, I do understand what they're saying because it's not perfect. There are issues. I I agree with that.

SPEAKER_00 23:49

Yeah, and get the kink, get the kinks out, yes, sir.

SPEAKER_01 23:54

Now, one of the hot topics right now this week is of course the Knicks versus the Spurs. Okay, okay, are one win away from a title win, something they haven't had in decades. Okay, but of course, there's something that kind of rains on it a little bit as far as the parade. And that is that Knicks fans assaulted Spurs fans and also threw eggs at Spurs players. So, to give you some deepened context here, following the Spurs Game 3 victory at Madison Square Garden, viral videos showed crowds of Knicks supporters accosting individuals wearing Spurs jerseys in Manhattan. In one widely reported incident, a 39-year-old Spurs fan

Knicks Spurs Fan Violence

SPEAKER_01 24:51

was surrounded, punched, kicked, and robbed of his jersey and phoned near West 47th Street and 8th Avenue. Now he was treated at a local hospital for bruises and cuts. The egg incident. After the series shifted back for game four, dejected fans took their anger out on the opposing team. As Victor Wambanyama and the Spurs arrived at their hotel in New York, a crowd gathered and threw eggs and other trash directly at the players. Security did quickly shield when Bamama, when Banyama and the rest of the team inside, and no players were seriously injured. This is ridiculous. This is just ridiculous. And you know, let me just say this. The majority of fans, they're out there having a good time. You know, they they enjoy this rivalry, they they love that their team is in the finals. It's sad that it's a handful of people that make it hard for everyone else with this nonsense.

SPEAKER_00 26:01

It just goes to show you the atmosphere we're in. You mean to tell me people invest emotionally in sports, but when fans attack someone because uh of the jersey they're wearing, the game has gone far. Sports are supposed to bring people together and not to divide them. And and and when shame on the the people that did that, and it's just like with pretty much the atmosphere, like I said, that we're living in that you have some people that have lost their their minds when they think that if you're not with me, then you're against me. This is friendly competition. And let me tell you something. We're talking about the Knicks here, but there are some sports teams high school. I I've seen some some high school parents get kicked out of a game pretty much a similar way. That's that's that's un was an unsportsman, what's an unsportsman like conduct?

SPEAKER_01 27:06

Unsportsman-like conduct, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 27:08

That that is just not cool.

SPEAKER_01 27:11

It's just not cool. It's crazy because you know, again, you you're going out to enjoy yourself. You you want to celebrate, have a great time. There's nothing fun about beating up on someone, there's nothing fun about robbing them. That's just silly. And for example, when things are done, what happens is that now security is gonna be beefed up. Now they don't have a watch party yet. They may or may not have that watch party because they're worried about stuff happening, or they're gonna push you to a different area. So, pretty much because of a of a few knuckleheads, everyone has to pay the price for that. Yeah, and it's crazy, it's absolutely crazy.

SPEAKER_00 27:58

It's ludicrous, you know, brother. It's it's like, you know, um, well, as I guess I was reading, and players, players are setting examples to some fans because like you saw when the special guest came to the game, right? Yes, and it was boom, elbow, flagrant, foul. It was just crazy. So even some of the players are setting examples for fans to act out.

SPEAKER_01 28:36

Yeah. I mean, one thing, the one thing I was surprised at when watching the game, because I did watch some of the game, yeah, and there's a lot of stuff that wasn't called that wouldn't normally be called in a regular game.

SPEAKER_00 28:50

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 28:51

In fact, there was one um, to me, really bold flagrant foul that was not called. Anyone watching the game knows what I'm talking about. It was shocking that it wasn't called as a flagrant or a foul of any kind. But you're right, you do set that example. And what players have to understand too is people, I learned this as an adult and as a father. Your kids watch you even when you think they're not watching. Oh, and it's the same thing with your fans. Your fans are paying attention to you even when you think they're not.

SPEAKER_00 29:26

That's right. And you know what? This reflects a larger issue in society, and I said that earlier, whether it's politics, sports, social issues, uh, or disagreement, we often turn to it, often turns to hostility. Why? Why is it so hostile? We can have some, and you know, you you just have to be careful how far to go in this atmosphere that we're in now. You mean you cannot even go out there and enjoy yourself? You can't go to the beach, you can't go to a friendly game. This is something that's aside from politics, man, a place for people and look, a lot of people spend thousands of dollars for those tickets, right? To go to this event, so it's it's friendly competition. Come on, we we just got to wake up, man, because it's it's not about all of that. What is really underneath all of this? Some people look for an excuse to go out and do something like that. And has eggs I has eggs eye, you throwing eggs at somebody? Come on.

SPEAKER_01 30:37

That's true. That's so true. I just hope they they find those knuckleheads and arrest them because um you really don't want that moment to be spoiled by a handful of people.

SPEAKER_00 30:49

You and I was gonna say this when passion becomes a problem, at what point does supporting a team cause our beliefs to be unhealthy behavior? When? Wow, it's just it's just really sad. And it's it's and again for me, I don't know if I want to be in a bunch of crowds these days. You you could be on a sidewalk and somebody drive their car through a crowd where your car doesn't even belong. So, yeah, the atmosphere is just really, really ugly. And what happened in that incident with them attacking uh those fans, man, it just is no nonsense. It's just nonsense.

SPEAKER_01 31:34

Yes, it is. Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_00 31:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:37

Well, talk about nonsense. Um, my next story here is very troubling. So a 70-year-old Massachusetts man, his name is Stephen Dana, was arrested and charged with attempted murder after he allegedly attacked and tried to drown a 21-year-old man, Matthew Duffy, during a dispute over access to a residence-only lake. The altercation, which was partially caught on video, occurred at Sandy Beach Lake, uh Lake Mesponak in Hopkinton. So, to kind of break down what happened, Dana, who lives on the lake, confronted a group of young men riding jet skis. So he told them to leave, citing that the lake's boat ramp and waters are restricted to Hopkins uh residence only. During the heated exchange, Dana approached

Lake Dispute Turns Into Attempted Drowning

SPEAKER_01 32:36

a 21-year-old victim. The victim was on crutches and recovering from a severe motorcycle accident that left him with a broken leg, pelvis, and arms. According to police reports and prosecutors, Dana slapped the young man in the face. The physical fight then moved into the water. Dana is accused of forcefully straddling the victim and holding his head underwater for about 10 seconds. Now, the interesting thing about this is you really got that angry just because they were in the waterway?

SPEAKER_00 33:12

Mm-mm. Nope.

SPEAKER_01 33:15

I I it was it was so disturbing to see. It was shocking to see it. And I did do a little research because you know sometimes there's fake stuff all over, but sure, sure. This is a real story. And he's he's on trial now for attempted murder, and he should be he should be prosecuted for attempted murder. There's no reason to do what he did.

SPEAKER_00 33:38

Not at all. You know, anger and the lack of self-control, one moment of uncontrolled anger can change lives forever, like it just did him. And what began as a disagreement reportedly in uh resulted in attempted murder charges. We have to be, I told you, the atmosphere is so uh it is so ugly now. A 70-year-old man, I mean, you the lake didn't belong to him. What can a person in with crutches? He was he he didn't even he didn't have any defense, and thank goodness for his friends being there. Thank goodness for his friends being there, because it could have turned around the other way that they could have gotten angry with their young self and beat the hell out of him. They could have beat the hell out of that man, then they would be in it with you know, uh snowball effect, but it does not make any sense. Respect for human life, whether someone is 21 or 70, everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. Physical violence is never the answer to a disagreement. No, walk away. What? My god, that that that's crazy. And vulnerability. I'm sorry, go ahead, brother, because I'm just go ahead. No, no, no.

SPEAKER_01 35:14

I was just gonna say that the real sad part about it, and I'm just being bluntly honest, at 70 year years old, there isn't much time that needs to be given to him, which is gonna feel like a death sentence if you think about it. Anyway, yeah, yeah. Even if let's say he got 20 years, okay, 20 years for a 70-year-old feels differently than 20 years for a 50-year-old. Yeah. It also feels much different when it's 20 years in a prison. So again, it don't take much for him to get a death sentence out of this for what? Because you were angry that they was there was jet skiing in the water? Even if you're right, call the police. There's zero reason for you to do what you did.

SPEAKER_00 36:05

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's is something else up uh uh up underneath that, because it just does not make sense. And you know, a vulnerability matters. The fact that that younger man was on crutches makes the allegations especially troubling because he may have been uh uh uh unable to defend himself, which he he didn't, because according to the video, he held him underwater for 10 seconds. He could have had a heart attack or anything. Oh my goodness, my and you think, and for me, I I I have a heart for children, and I have a heart for animals, and I have a heart for elderly people. Something was underneath there, man. Something was way underneath that.

SPEAKER_01 36:56

The other thing about it to wonder is that what if the whole thing went sideways and when he decided to slap that young man, his friends decided, you know what, we're gonna slap you, we're gonna beat you up. Yeah, right. And the setup would be totally different because it would be, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:13

So, you know, and it goes back to community tension. Community tension, conflicts over property rights, public access, and neighborhood rules, they're common, but they should not be resolved through, they should be resolved rather, through conversations or legal channels, not you taking matters into your own hands. That's not gonna end well, and it certainly doesn't seem like it's gonna end well. And I would I would really like to see a follow-up story as to what happened to that guy. What happened to him? How's his wife feel? Did you say she made the call or she got him riled up?

SPEAKER_01 37:57

Um, I'm not sure what got him riled up, but to me, again, you you're putting your hands on someone. To me, the only time you put your hands on someone is when it's self-defense. Period. Yeah. When you're protecting yourself or you're protecting a family member from bodily harm. Okay. Saying something to, you know, to piss you off, or again, you're driving in the waters, maybe it does belong to only the residents. That's that's what law enforcement is for. You let them fight that battle. You don't do that. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 38:32

And I want to ask the question to the audience: have we become too quick to let disagreements turn into confrontations? What happens to walking away, calling the authorities, or simply agreeing to disagree? And I would love to hear what somebody from the audience would have to say about uh uh uh something like that. Should we walk away? Because that definitely was not the right thing to do. That definitely was not the right thing to do.

SPEAKER_01 39:02

Yes, I would definitely love to hear from my audience. And you know, if you do, you know, go on any of our social media sites to leave a comment, let me know that whether or not it's okay to use your handle, because I'll I'll recognize you to let people know who you are. And if not, that's fine. But we would love to hear what you think so we can uh we can talk about that because I'd be kind of interesting to find out as well, too. Because it kind of makes you wonder have we really gone off the deep end? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:32

And you know, Lawrence, this story serves as a reminder that anger, pride, and a need to win an argument can have devastating consequences. No lake or parking space, political issues, or personal dispute is worth someone's life. And I thank God that young man didn't die.

SPEAKER_01 39:55

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 39:56

And and I I even wonder, did he have an epithet? Did he did he have a aha moment too little too late? But did he did did he even does he feel remorseful for what he's done?

SPEAKER_01 40:08

You know these are some heavy topics.

SPEAKER_00 40:14

Um yes.

SPEAKER_01 40:16

Well, I want to end our episode on a high note. Okay, now of course everyone is interested in in Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey's wedding.

SPEAKER_00 40:30

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 40:32

So people are wondering, is Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey getting married at Madison Square Garden? So based on what I see, um what is being reported by the Hollywood Reporter is that, yes, according to multiple entertainment news reports, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey are planning to hold their wedding ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City. So, kind of a brief overview of this is that the couple has reportedly booked the iconic Manhattan Arena for a three-day window spanning around July 4th weekend, with the wedding itself reported to be on the 3rd. They are paying full retail price,

Taylor Swift Wedding Rumor

SPEAKER_01 41:20

estimated at roughly $1 million per night, to rent the venue for setup, the event day, and the breakdown. The guest list would be between 1,100 and 1,200 guests expected. The garden was reportedly chosen because of its highly controlled environment, lack of windows, and underground parking, allowing the massive A-less guest list to arrive and depark in total privacy. Now, a lot of a lot of Swifties are saying that no, this is just to throw people off the trail, that she's not gonna do it there. Other people are like, yeah, this works out great. What do you think, Wanda?

SPEAKER_00 42:04

Well, you know what? Their relationship is a global relationship, and you got it like that. I'm not mad at them, I'm not a Swifty. I like her, I don't I don't dislike her or anything like that. But it this creates the headline of who they really are. They are they are a mega couple, and I'm happy for them, you know. Uh, and it's kind of fun because again, we we talk about so much sad news, and I'm glad we ended on a uh a pretty much of a happy note. And when you can get some good news about love, you know, uh about people that a lot of people love and a lot of people like, it's it's it's cool. And Taylor Swift uh brought many viewers to the NFL.

SPEAKER_01 42:57

Yes, she did.

SPEAKER_00 42:58

She brought a lot of people to the NFL, you know, because of her husband, which gained a lot of exposure. So that says that says something. So whatever, whatever they're gonna do, I'm glad they're gonna get married. Uh, but whatever they're gonna do, I'm they they got the coins uh to do whatever they want to do. Three million, oh take a three million over here, three million over here, you know. So yeah, so yeah, it's great. Now the privacy thing with the stuff that's happening, and some some people may not like her, I would be concerned with that many people because man, being in crowds, yeah, I don't I don't know about that. Yeah, so that that's a biggie right there. But they deserve it.

SPEAKER_01 43:42

But the thing is, if this is true, I'm a little bit surprised at the size of that crowd. Because let's face it, nobody really has that many friends. You have a lot of acquaintances, but you don't have that many friends. So And how do you keep the security? Not only the security. But how do you keep everything intimate? Because a lot of times big A-list celebrities, when they throw events, you either leave your cell phone in the car or you surrender until the event's over because they control the narrative of what goes out. Well, when you have, I don't know, 1100 or 1200, 1400 people, can you really it's definitely a lot for them because you and it's a big stadium though.

SPEAKER_00 44:26

True, true. Why would they why why would they uh well what what is it at a football stadium, right? We're talking about football stadium. Or Madison Square. No, Madison Square Garden is a basketball. Yeah, so why I don't know. Yeah, that is kind of and maybe they know that I don't know. Now you're making me think. You making me rethink it.

SPEAKER_01 44:51

Yeah, because that, but I don't know if I would want to be in a Madison Square Garden has been in the news because that's where the Knicks and um playing, right?

SPEAKER_00 44:59

Right. I'm thinking about him being a football. You know, I'm not a sports person. I try to lay it, not to my heart. Well, we have to leave on a on a happy note, right?

SPEAKER_01 45:09

That's right, that's right, that's right.

SPEAKER_00 45:11

Well, I that put me in mad. I remember um years ago I was at my church and uh still in the streets, you know, one foot in the world, and I was in my 20s, still partying, right? And we were doing a revival, and the pastor and the pastor that was preaching, he was up from Texas. He came in to preach. So I happened to come in because I was late. So I came in with him, and while they were still praying, I think the choir just marched in, and um, so we were waiting for them to open the doors up. So me, my big mouth, he got a real nice Bible in this case. I said, What is that a King David? Is I said that a King David version of the Bible? I know I was laughed and talked about in that pastor's office. I call his Bible a King David version. So anyway, I will I will mess stuff up like that, so you know.

SPEAKER_01 46:04

Hey, that's okay. You have to laugh it off, right?

SPEAKER_00 46:08

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. But yeah, this is this is really good. So, hey, whatever they want to do, I'm just glad they're getting married and just do it up. They they have the money. What are they gonna do with all that money? You might as well spend it and then let somebody else enjoy it too.

SPEAKER_01 46:22

That's true, that's true.

SPEAKER_00 46:24

Because I don't know how many gifts they're gonna get, they don't need the gifts, you know. They they they they have everything, you know. So it's it's quite quite interesting, and again, they are power couples, so oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 46:35

You know, the swifties are gonna go crazy when they do get married, right?

SPEAKER_00 46:38

Oh my god, swifties, swifties, yeah. I like yeah, I like because I like her, you know, I like her. So you know how that goes.

SPEAKER_01 46:47

Oh, yes. This was uh a very, very good episode, a very great way to end this episode, too. Yeah, yeah. So thank you everyone for watching us. As always, we enjoy having you. Please make sure that you watch us and also to share us as well, too, so more people can learn about who we are and what we do.

SPEAKER_00 47:08

That's right. That's right. And I thank you guys for tuning in for the questions and all that good stuff. I'm Wanda P and I just say peace out.

SPEAKER_01 47:16

And I'm Lauren Tellt. Enjoy the rest of your day.

unknown 47:19

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 47:19

All right, everyone.