WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:04.839 Some of you may remember back in twenty twenty two, how there were two 2 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:12.480 different competing ballot initiatives on the ballot, propositions twenty six and twenty seven, 3 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:20.039 and both of them were dealing with the issue of sports gambling. And it 4 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:31.679 was basically the California Native American casinos going up against these national online sports betting 5 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:39.520 websites like FanDuel, Draft Kings MGM, I think is in on that action, 6 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:45.679 et cetera. And so basically the one ballot initiative that the one that 7 00:00:45.799 --> 00:00:53.600 was promoted by the Native American casinos was talking about, Oh it's so gambling 8 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:57.640 is so terrible, Pete, You're going to allow kids to have access to 9 00:00:57.679 --> 00:01:02.000 gambling, and they're right on their smart and in their video game devices. 10 00:01:02.119 --> 00:01:04.719 Oh gambling, what a scourge. Let's just legalized sports gambling here at our 11 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:15.920 Native American casinos. And then the consortium of the national online sports gambling sites 12 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:22.560 they managed to get like a couple of Native American tribes on their side instead, 13 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:26.959 see, not all Native Americans support only having Native American casinos there. 14 00:01:27.040 --> 00:01:32.640 If you support our proposition, we'll give so much money to these poor Native 15 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:40.760 Americans that aren't being supported by the Native American casinos. Oh and what was 16 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:46.040 this all about? It was basically just both sides were too stupid and greedy 17 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:53.599 to just kind of work together. Both sides were wanting to get one hundred 18 00:01:53.719 --> 00:02:02.079 percent of the market share for sports gambling in California. The online sites didn't 19 00:02:02.120 --> 00:02:07.480 want anyone to go to Native American casinos to gamble. They didn't want anyone 20 00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:09.759 going to took chance through their table mountain or you know, the you know, 21 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:16.680 Tachie palace whatever. They just wanted people to gamble on sports online, 22 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:22.800 on FANDOL draftings, et cetera, and vice versa. The Native American casinos 23 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:27.199 wanted people to come just to their casinos to bout on sports. They didn't 24 00:02:27.240 --> 00:02:35.960 want people gambling online. So if the two of them had just worked together 25 00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:40.680 and found some way to have a decent split of the market share, both 26 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:46.639 sides would be richer. And today, guess what, sports gambling is not 27 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:57.120 legal in California. A similar kind of fight is happening in the California state 28 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:05.400 legislature this year right now. So there's a great piece, really interesting, 29 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:14.759 I learned a ton, very well reported written by Ryan Sabolo and Jeremiah Kimmelman 30 00:03:15.800 --> 00:03:21.280 for Calmatters dot org, which is Dan Walter's really good California news website. 31 00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:24.719 I've retweeted it at my Twitter account Twitter dot com slash Reresno Johnny, I 32 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:31.919 really recommend you go read it. And this is a fight that's apparently been 33 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:40.719 going on for years and years between the Native American casinos and smaller card rooms, 34 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:47.360 so not full blown casinos, but usually but these gambling establishments that have 35 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:55.520 various kinds of card table games. So I think it's kind of like the 36 00:03:55.599 --> 00:04:00.159 Club one casinos of the world, like kind of entities like that. And 37 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:02.240 you see a couple of those, just to trying to think of one off 38 00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:06.240 the top of my head in Fresno. So that's the kind of thing we're 39 00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:11.840 talking about. You have the Native American casinos and then you have sort of 40 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:19.680 these card rooms. And card rooms are heavily regulated under California law. There 41 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:25.480 are certain kinds of things they are allowed to do. They're allowed to have, 42 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:35.199 for example, normal poker, but they're not allowed to have blackjack where 43 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:44.839 they themselves the entity that's hoasting it is the house that is taking the money, 44 00:04:44.920 --> 00:04:49.879 all right. With normal poker, people are gambling against each other with 45 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:56.439 blackjack, you're gambling against the house. So under California law, that kind 46 00:04:56.439 --> 00:05:00.920 of gambling is only allowed to take place at Native American caos. It's not 47 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:08.360 allowed to take place in these card rooms. However, these card rooms have 48 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:12.959 gotten around this provision of California law. And this is California law that goes 49 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:16.160 like all the way back to you know, when the forty nine ers, 50 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:18.920 you know, the action not the football team forty nine ers, like the 51 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:24.639 actual eighteen forty nine forty nine ers were coming to California and people were setting 52 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:29.079 up these card rooms and absolutely ripping off all of these guys who came for 53 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:33.879 gold mining. And so they put these laws in place. The new you 54 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:38.199 know, they put all these laws in place, the very young you know, 55 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:41.000 government of the state of California put all these laws in place to limit 56 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:46.000 the kinds of action that these card rooms could take. Well, a lot 57 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:49.040 of card rooms have now kind of gotten around it by hiring sort of a 58 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:57.079 third party contractor to be in the card room that's actually taking the role of 59 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:00.439 the house. So the card room itself is not the house. They have 60 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:03.759 some other third party that takes the role of the house, and the Native 61 00:06:03.759 --> 00:06:11.319 American casinos don't like this. Native American casinos hate this, they think, 62 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:18.399 and again, it seems like this thing of like they're so both sides. 63 00:06:18.519 --> 00:06:24.360 And I'm not specifically just picking on Native American casinos. I think everyone in 64 00:06:24.439 --> 00:06:28.800 this game seems in this space, this gambling space, seems to be so 65 00:06:29.319 --> 00:06:33.240 unbelievably greedy for a business where you're almost guaranteed to make money by based on 66 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:43.199 math, based on math and human vice. Where the Native American casinos are 67 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:50.120 so angry that these card rooms are offering the kinds of games that they think 68 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:56.199 they are the only ones legally entitled to have, that it eats into their 69 00:06:56.240 --> 00:07:00.600 market share, and I guess I'm so. But the Native American casinos are 70 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:06.879 trying to do is they have proposed a law. They have a bill that's 71 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:15.720 been introduced into the California state legislature this year, Senate Bill five forty nine. 72 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:27.519 What this would do is it would allow Native American casinos directly to sue 73 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:33.439 card rooms for what they believe are violations of California law. The Native American 74 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:42.160 casinos take the position that the card rooms, by allowing blackjacking games like this 75 00:07:42.279 --> 00:07:46.399 because they have a third party contractor in the casino to actually take the action. 76 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:57.040 Basically, the Native American casinos think they are violating the law which prohibits 77 00:07:57.480 --> 00:08:01.759 card rooms from having table games where they are playing the role of the house. 78 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:05.199 The card rooms say, we're not playing the role of the house. 79 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:07.600 We've brought in this third party that is acting in the role of the house, 80 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:11.600 so we are actually in compliance with California law. And there's this there's 81 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:18.759 been this ongoing legal argument between the two sides, and basically the Native American 82 00:08:18.199 --> 00:08:28.519 casinos are frustrated because various Attorneys General of California have declined to prosecute or try 83 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:35.840 to enforce, you know, whatever is the disputed California standard against the card 84 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:43.919 rooms. Rob Bonta has been getting campaign contributions sort of from both sides. 85 00:08:45.000 --> 00:08:50.159 Wants to clearly Bonta has now has stated he wants to run for governor in 86 00:08:50.200 --> 00:09:00.840 twenty twenty six, and so Bonta seemingly has been very slow, oh too 87 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:07.639 slow for the Native American casinos. Basically, the Native American casinos are tired 88 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:11.840 of waiting on Rob Bonta to take action against the card rooms. And here's 89 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:18.879 what's happened? Okay, card rooms and tribal governments have both been heavily donating 90 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:22.440 to Rob Bonta since he took office as Attorney General in twenty twenty one. 91 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:28.000 Card Rooms have donated two hundred and eighty seven thousand dollars to Bonta for his 92 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:31.159 various campaigns. Meanwhile, Native American tribes have donated two hundred twenty two thousand. 93 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:35.720 So Bonta's sort of caught in the middle. I don't think he wants 94 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:39.960 to act one way or another. So what the Native American tribes are proposing 95 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:46.279 with this new bill again, this is Senate Bill five point forty nine, 96 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:56.759 is to let Native American casinos sue card rooms for what they believe is violating 97 00:09:56.759 --> 00:10:01.320 California law in this way and clarifying that. Well, let me talk a 98 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:09.600 little bit about standing to sue. All right, You're not allowed to sue 99 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:16.200 somebody unless you have legal standing. You have to show to the judge. 100 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:20.039 The first thing that j Just's gonna ask you, well, why are you 101 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:24.960 in my courtroom? Are you allowed to bring this lawsuit? Generally speaking, 102 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:28.399 to have standing to sue, you have to show that the person you're suing 103 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:33.159 caused you some kind of harm that you're authorized to be there. All right. 104 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:41.600 If someone is driving negligently and crashes his car into my house, I 105 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:46.000 have grounds to sue that person. He harmed me, he harmed my property. 106 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:52.120 But my buddy Jonathan Keller can't sue the guy for crashing into my house. 107 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:56.879 Jonathan wasn't hurt. Jonathan likes me and cares about my well being, 108 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:05.679 but that's not a cognizable legal harm that gives them standing to sue. And 109 00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:09.960 basically what the Native American casinos want to do is say, we are going 110 00:11:11.080 --> 00:11:16.759 to create legally standing for us to sue card rooms because they're taking this action 111 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:26.360 which we think, we think maybe is cutting into our bottom line because these 112 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:28.399 people are going to these card rooms to gamble when they should be coming to 113 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:35.399 Native American casinos to gamble. But can they actually demonstrate a direct dollar to 114 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:41.039 dollar showing that they lost money directly because people went to these card rooms rather 115 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:45.799 than to the Native American casinos. Maybe people wouldn't go to the Native American 116 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:50.000 casino all right, Again, just to use the Fresno example, and by 117 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:54.159 the way, this is not me sticking up for you know, the card 118 00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:58.960 rooms of the world. If you have a card room in Fresno. Right, 119 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:01.440 none of the Native American casinos are in Fresno. They're all out of 120 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:07.559 town a decent drive. Maybe someone if he can't gamble on blackjack or whatever 121 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:11.519 at a card room in Fresno, he just won't gamble. It doesn't necessarily 122 00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:16.399 mean that he will. Also, just because he gambles here doesn't mean the 123 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:22.320 Native American casino is losing out on that exact dollar amount. There's no It's 124 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:26.759 very hard to make that direct connection. So what the Native American casinos want 125 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:30.840 to do is just get around the normal rules that govern standing to sue people 126 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:37.559 when it's not clear and obvious that they have suffered a harm by the card 127 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:43.080 rooms, or or what exact harm they have suffered. In the case of 128 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:48.480 this one Native American casino wanting to sue this one card room, it's not 129 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:56.519 clear what exact, precise dollar harm they have suffered, and up to this 130 00:12:56.559 --> 00:13:01.159 point, California law on this subject would have had to be enforced by some 131 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:05.639 state actor, the district attorney, the attorney general, someone like that. 132 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:15.159 So the Native American casinos are mad because district attorneys, the attorney general have 133 00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:20.960 not enforced this law, so they're trying have not enforced their interpretation of this 134 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:24.360 law. Rather, so they are trying to sort of get around this by 135 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:28.960 passing a bill to allow them directly to sue card rooms to get them to 136 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:35.360 stop having some third party in the casino who can take the action as the 137 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:43.440 house for these various kinds of card games. But one of the things we 138 00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:52.759 see is that both sides are spending just absolute big time bookoo bucks on lobbying, 139 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:58.720 on political contributions, and that these towns are like totally dependent on this 140 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:01.440 rect in ways that are just not healthy. When we return, I want 141 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:05.039 to talk about all those aspects of this. This is the John Girardi Show 142 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:11.080 on Power Talk. You can find it at my Twitter account, Twitter dot 143 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:16.759 com, slash Fresnojohnny at Fresnojohnny. A great piece from Calmatters dot org about 144 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:24.240 the fight that's going on in the state legislature right now between card rooms that 145 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:30.600 are offering certain kinds of card games that the Native American casinos say they're not 146 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:35.480 allowed to do. Native American casinos think that that is taking market share away 147 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:39.240 from them. If you can just play blackjack at the card room. Why 148 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:43.600 would you come to our Native American casino to play blackjack. The Native American 149 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:48.440 casinos argue that these card rooms are not allowed to offer blackjack. Cardrooms are 150 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:52.399 saying, yes, we are allowed to do it through this system we set 151 00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:54.360 up where we have a third party inside the casino that plays the role of 152 00:14:54.399 --> 00:15:00.200 the house. There's a bill Senate Bill five forty nine that's in fron in 153 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:05.799 the state legislature to try to allow Native American casinos to sue card rooms for 154 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:13.840 having these kinds of arrangements and offering games like pigau poker, blackjack, and 155 00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:20.679 backarrat games where you have people gambling against the house. That's the problem current 156 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:26.480 California law. Native American casinos argue California law allows card rooms to host things 157 00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:31.360 like poker where people are gambling against each other, but not where people are 158 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:35.840 gambling directly against the house. That is only the exclusive domain of Native American 159 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:43.919 casinos. Now, I'd have to imagine rather than duking this out constantly in 160 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:50.039 the state legislature, hiring gazillions of dollars of lobbyists and spending hundreds of thousands 161 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:58.360 and millions of dollars, maybe combined on political contributions. Maybe the two sides 162 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:00.440 could just kind of live and let live and everyone can make a lot of 163 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:08.759 money. But here's the thing to they're like huge stakes involved here, huh 164 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:15.720 for gambling, huge stakes involved. So one of the issues is that these 165 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:22.960 card rooms, these card rooms that are in various different cities, especially in 166 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:26.960 Los Angeles. There's a city in Los Angeles area called Hawaiian Gardens, California, 167 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:34.000 where there's a local card room that is apparently the only thing that's paying 168 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:40.120 for most municipal services. Tax revenue derived from that local card room is basically 169 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:52.759 the only thing sustaining the entire town. So basically, the Hawaiian Gardens casino 170 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:56.639 in Los Angeles, which is one of these card rooms, it alone spent 171 00:16:57.080 --> 00:17:07.920 nine point one million dollars in lobbying costs just last year. Now, why 172 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:11.799 do local governments care about that? Nearly two thirds of the budget for the 173 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:18.599 city of Hawaiian Gardens is funded by this one card room. They have. 174 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:23.680 The tax revenue from this one card room is funding two thirds of the city 175 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:26.839 budget. Hawaiian Gardens, California. I guess it's a city in Los Angeles 176 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:32.000 County. They have this cardroom. Tax revenue from that cardroom funds two thirds 177 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:38.119 of the city's budget. The city of Commerce, California, also in Los 178 00:17:38.119 --> 00:17:42.400 Angeles County, has a card room. The tax revenue from that card room 179 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:51.759 is funding half of the city's budget. Those games were very dependent on here 180 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:55.839 in the city, said Commerce s Mair Hugo Argumndo. They provide many of 181 00:17:55.839 --> 00:18:00.599 the programs and services that we offer to the residents in our community. So 182 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:06.160 as an example, when the pandemic shut down gaming in Hawaiian Gardens, the 183 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:08.799 city was forced to lay off much of its staff and cut services. Yeah, 184 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:11.240 because the card rooms autstained two thirds of their operations. Of course they 185 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:19.599 had cut people off. So these Native American tribes are so like which these 186 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:27.039 Native American casinos, I should say, are so greedy to have one hundred 187 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:34.279 percent of this market share in their arms that they don't care. They're they're 188 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:40.200 gonna introduce this legislation to shut down all these card rooms. And by the 189 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:42.680 way, I'm not even necessarily on the side of these card rooms. I 190 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:52.119 don't think it's a very healthy arrangement that you have entire cities in California that 191 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:56.839 are basically gonna be. I mean, how can you not say that there 192 00:18:56.839 --> 00:19:03.279 are at least these two cities in California that governed by their casino, by 193 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:08.000 their local card room. If the card room's tax revenue is funding two thirds 194 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:14.119 of the entire city budget, I don't think you have a representative government of 195 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:17.039 the people, by the people, for the people. You have a representative 196 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:19.359 government of the of the card room. Buy the card room, for the 197 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:26.680 card room. Two thirds of the city budget is funded by tax revenue from 198 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:37.519 gambling. That's a recipe for disaster. And I recognize there's no easy solution 199 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:41.000 to that. I can't just you know, switsch my magic wand and make 200 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:45.240 it not so for the City of Hawaiian Gardens, California, and for the 201 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:51.640 City of Commerce, California. But this is the thing. I constantly say 202 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:56.559 this about gambling and marijuana legalization. Why do state and local governments like them. 203 00:19:56.839 --> 00:20:02.519 It's because it's a way to raise tax revenue without taxing people. It's 204 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:08.000 a way for the city for the local government to raise revenue without mandatorially taxing 205 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:11.359 anyone. No one has to go to the card room. No one has 206 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:14.440 to go to the casino. It's almost like it's your own fault if you 207 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:21.640 do. And guess what state and local governments cannot spend into the red the 208 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:25.640 way the federal government can't. They need sources of revenue. They're desperate for 209 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:40.400 sources of revenue. Like but here you have the mayor of Hawaiian Gardens, 210 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:47.160 California. This is a mayor of a California city who who's talking about like 211 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:52.599 if his if the card room in his city can't offer blackjack, he says, 212 00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:57.440 quote, we're very, very limited in what we can do, the 213 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:00.359 mayor of Victor Farfan, the mayor of Hawaiian Gardens, California, said, 214 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:06.359 in an interview with Cal Matters at Hawaiian Gardens City Hall, with the card 215 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:10.920 room visible from the parking lot, and so we're fortunate enough to have a 216 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:21.319 revenue source that we do today. So I think I hate everyone. I 217 00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:26.480 think I hate everyone in this entire story. I hate this idea that there 218 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:30.680 are cities in the state of California completely controlled by card rooms. I hate 219 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:37.440 the idea that basically this legislation, this SP five forty nine, is going 220 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:42.119 to be determined by Native American tribes have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to 221 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:47.799 all these legislators all up and down the state, regardless of political affiliation. 222 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:53.680 Meanwhile, card rooms have done the same dang thing. And by the way, 223 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:56.799 it doesn't seem to have anything to do with Republicans or Democrats. Republicans 224 00:21:56.799 --> 00:22:03.160 and Democrats are both supporting this legislation. You got Democrats Republicans opposing it. 225 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:07.000 The whole thing is flushed with money on both sides. It is so crass. 226 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:11.799 It just seems so greedy. I hate both sides anyway. Read the 227 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:15.839 Calumetter's pieces Twitter dot com slash President Johnny at President Johnny. When we return, 228 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:19.240 I want to talk briefly about my dad and my gratitude for everyone's well 229 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:26.400 wishes. That's next on the John Gerardi Show. So the whole thing is 230 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:36.680 just absolutely flushed with money on both sides of it, which and the whole 231 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:44.640 thing seems to me so silly, this idea that these Native American casinos are 232 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:51.079 so greedy that they cannot bear the idea of having less than one hundred percent 233 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:56.279 of the market share for blackjack. When we return, my thanks to everyone 234 00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:59.400 for well wishes following the death of my dad. I'll talk a little bit 235 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:03.680 about that next time. The John Girardi Show. I think Trevor discussed it 236 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:08.799 a bit, I think on Tuesday, and I've talked about it a bit. 237 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:12.160 But as many of you know, my father, doctor Joe Girardi, 238 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:18.680 passed away on Tuesday, March twelfth, due to complications from cancer. Doctor 239 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:26.279 Joe was a longtime surgeon thirty one years at Valley Children's Hospital. The head 240 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:30.759 of the department there estimated that my dad may have cared for as many as 241 00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:34.599 one hundred and fifty thousand kids over the course of his time at Children's, 242 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:41.759 which is kind of staggering. And his funeral was this past Tuesday, and 243 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:45.359 I want to just say, first of all, there's so many people in 244 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:48.559 my kind of broader radio family, people who listen to the show, people 245 00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:53.640 who support our work at Right to Life Radio and listen to Right to Life 246 00:23:53.759 --> 00:24:03.279 Radio, who have expressed their love and care and concern for me. It 247 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:11.279 was really it was really gratifying to see a bunch of the iHeart team actually 248 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:17.720 at the funeral, Trevor and Agent Squires and our good buddy Steve Darnell. 249 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:22.759 So I just want to say to all of you who've offered prayers and condolences, 250 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:29.279 thank you. It's obviously it's an incredibly tough thing to lose your dad, 251 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:32.519 and for him to have died so young. He was a young, 252 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:34.680 healthy sixty three years ago. He was a healthy as a horse sixty four 253 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:37.880 year old who was a long distance runner and played thirty six holes of golf 254 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:45.200 every weekend, and to lose him is quite a blow. But the hope 255 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:48.240 I have, especially this sort of week of Holy Week and as we approach 256 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:53.640 Easter, just gives me a tremendous amount of comfort. And I just want 257 00:24:53.680 --> 00:25:00.680 to express here my deep gratitude to everyone for their prayers and love and support 258 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:04.079 during this whole time. And when we return, as we're entering the triduum, 259 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:08.599 I think it would be a great way to cap things off radio wise 260 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:12.200 with a reading of the Passion of our Lord according to the Gospel of Luke, 261 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:18.680 and that will be next on the John Girardi Show. The Passion of 262 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:23.960 Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Now the feast of unleavened bread drew 263 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:29.000 near, which is called the Passover, and the chief priests and the scribes 264 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.519 were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. 265 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:37.160 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the 266 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:40.960 twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he 267 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:45.640 might betray him to them. And they were glad and engaged to give him 268 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:48.599 money. So he agreed and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in 269 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:53.480 the absence of the multitude. Then came the day of unleavened bread, on 270 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:59.640 which the passover Lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, 271 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:03.119 saying, go and prepare the passover for us, that we may eat 272 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:06.640 it. They said to him, where will you have us prepare it? 273 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:11.640 He said to them, behold, when you have entered the city, a 274 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:15.519 man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house 275 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:18.200 which he enters, and tell the householder. The teacher says to you, 276 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:22.559 where is the guest room where I am to eat the passover with my disciples. 277 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:27.480 And he will show you a large upper room furnished there make ready. 278 00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:32.720 And they went and found it as he had told them, and they prepared 279 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:36.559 the passover. And when the hour came, he sat at table, and 280 00:26:36.599 --> 00:26:40.559 the apostles with him, and he said to them, I have earnestly desired 281 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:44.039 to eat this passover with you before I suffer, For I tell you I 282 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:48.519 shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. And 283 00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:52.359 he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, 284 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:56.200 take this and divide it among yourselves, for I tell you that from now 285 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:59.680 on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of 286 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:03.519 God comes. And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, 287 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:07.640 he broke it and gave it to them, saying, this is my body 288 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:14.519 which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And likewise 289 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:18.720 the cup after supper, saying, this cup which is poured out for you 290 00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:22.640 is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him 291 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:26.519 who betrays me is with me on the table. For the son of man 292 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:30.200 goes as it has been determined. But woe to that man by whom he 293 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:34.920 is betrayed. And they began to question one another which of them it was 294 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:40.640 that would do this. A dispute also arose among them which of them was 295 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:44.759 to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, the kings 296 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:48.279 of the gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are 297 00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:52.359 called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among 298 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:56.640 you become as the youngest and the leader, as one who serves. For 299 00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:00.200 which is the greater one who sits at table, or one who serves? 300 00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:03.799 Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you 301 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:08.240 as one who serves. You are those who have continued with me in my 302 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:11.880 trials. And I assign to you, as my father assigned to me a 303 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:15.839 kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, 304 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:21.960 and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon Simon behold Satan 305 00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:25.559 demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat. But I have 306 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:29.240 prayed for you that your faith may not fail, and when you have turned 307 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:33.799 again, strengthen your brethren. And he said to him, Lord, I 308 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:37.319 am ready to go with you to prison and to death. He said, 309 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:40.799 I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day until you 310 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:45.559 three times deny that you know me. And he said to them, when 311 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:48.400 I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack 312 00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:52.039 anything? They said nothing. He said to them. But now let him 313 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:55.640 who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag. And let him 314 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:57.519 who has no sword sell his mantle and buy one. For I tell you 315 00:28:57.559 --> 00:29:03.119 that this scripture must be fulfilled in me. And he was reckoned with transgressors, 316 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:07.000 for what is written about me has its fulfillment. And they said, 317 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:10.000 look, Lord, here are two swords. And he said to them, 318 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:14.279 it is enough. And he came out and went, as was his custom, 319 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:18.559 to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when 320 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:19.960 he came to the place, he said to them, pray that you may 321 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:23.440 not enter into temptation. And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, 322 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:29.200 and knelt down and prayed, Father, if thou art willing remove this cup 323 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:32.519 from me, nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. And 324 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:34.960 there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in 325 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:38.599 an agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops 326 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:41.920 of blood falling upon the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he 327 00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:47.559 came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow. And he said to 328 00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:49.039 them, why do you sleep, Rise and pray that you may not enter 329 00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:53.279 into temptation. While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and 330 00:29:53.319 --> 00:29:56.440 the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He 331 00:29:56.519 --> 00:30:00.599 drew near to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, Judas, 332 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:04.920 would you betray the son of man with a kiss? And when those 333 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:08.000 who were about him saw what would follow, they said, Lord, shall 334 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:11.039 we strike with the sword? And one of them struck the slave of the 335 00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:15.079 High Priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said no more of 336 00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:18.799 this, and he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to 337 00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:22.839 the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come out against 338 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:26.880 him, have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs? 339 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:30.720 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not 340 00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:33.839 lay hands on me. But this is your hour and the power of darkness. 341 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:37.720 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the High 342 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:42.319 Priest's house. Peter followed at a distance, and when they had kindled a 343 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:45.039 fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among 344 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:48.119 them. Then a maid, seeing him as he sat in the light, 345 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:52.400 and gazing at him, said this man also was with him, but he 346 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:56.319 denied it, saying, woman, I do not know him. And a 347 00:30:56.319 --> 00:31:00.880 little later some one else saw him and said, you you also are one 348 00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:04.200 of them, But Peter said, man, I am not. And after 349 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:08.359 an interval of about an hour, still another insisted, saying, certainly this 350 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:14.079 man also was with him, for he is a Galilean. But Peter said, 351 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:18.240 man, I do not know what you are saying. And immediately, 352 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:23.079 while he was still speaking, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and 353 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:27.799 looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord how he had 354 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:33.240 said to him before the cock crows, today you will deny me three times, 355 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:37.799 and he went out and wept bitterly. Now the men who were holding 356 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:41.400 Jesus mocked him and beat him. They also blindfolded him and asked him, 357 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:45.359 prophesy, who is it that struck you? And they spoke many other words 358 00:31:45.359 --> 00:31:49.160 against him, reviling him. When day came, the assembly of the elders 359 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:52.720 of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led 360 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:56.799 him away to their council, and they said, if you are the Christ, 361 00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:00.599 tell us. But he said to them, if I tell you, 362 00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:04.160 you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. 363 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:07.440 But from now on the son of Man shall be seated at the right 364 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:10.319 hand of the power of God. And they all said, are you the 365 00:32:10.359 --> 00:32:14.960 son of God? Then? And he said to them, you say that 366 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:17.599 I am. And they said, what further testimony do we need? We 367 00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:22.720 have heard it ourselves from his own lips. Then the whole company of them 368 00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:27.359 arose and brought him before Pilot, and they began to accuse him, saying, 369 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:30.000 we found this man perverting our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to 370 00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:35.079 Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king. And Pilot asked 371 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:37.720 him, are you the king of the Jews? And he answered him, 372 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:43.000 you have said so. And Pilot said to the chief priests and the multitudes, 373 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:45.720 I find no crime in this man. But they were urgent, saying 374 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:50.559 he stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to 375 00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:53.279 this place. When Pilot heard this, he asked whether the man was a 376 00:32:53.279 --> 00:32:58.039 Galilean, and when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent 377 00:32:58.119 --> 00:33:00.720 him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When 378 00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:05.000 Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to 379 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:07.759 see him because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see 380 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:10.359 some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but 381 00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:15.920 he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by vehemently accusing 382 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:19.359 him, and Herod with his soldiers, treated him with contempt and mocked him. 383 00:33:19.720 --> 00:33:22.759 Then arraying him in gorgeous apparel, he sent him back to Pilot, 384 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:25.880 and Herod and Pilot became friends with each other that very day, for before 385 00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:30.119 this they had been at enmity with each other. Pilot then called together the 386 00:33:30.200 --> 00:33:32.440 chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, you 387 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:36.920 brought me this man as one who was perverting the people. And after examining 388 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:38.440 him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any 389 00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:42.599 of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back 390 00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:45.039 to us. Behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I 391 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:51.440 will therefore chastise him and release him. Now. He was obliged to release 392 00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:54.839 one man to them at the festival, but they all cried out together away 393 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:59.880 with this man and released to us Barabbas, a man who had been thrown 394 00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:04.640 into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilot addressed 395 00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:07.760 them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they shouted out, crucify, 396 00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:14.039 crucify him. A third time. He said to them, why what 397 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:16.599 evil has he done? I have found in him no crime deserving death. 398 00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:22.960 I will therefore chastise him and release him. But they were urgent, demanding 399 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:25.000 with loud cries, that he should be crucified, and their voices prevailed, 400 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:30.360 so Pilot gave sentence that their demand should be granted. He released the man 401 00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:34.440 who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, whom they asked for, 402 00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:37.719 But Jesus he delivered up to their will. And as they led him 403 00:34:37.719 --> 00:34:40.639 away, they seized one Simon of Syrene, who was coming in from the 404 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:44.960 country, and laid on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus. And 405 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:47.280 there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women, who bewailed 406 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:52.119 and lamented him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, daughters of 407 00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:54.719 Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your 408 00:34:54.800 --> 00:34:58.960 children. For behold the days are coming when they will say, blessed are 409 00:34:58.960 --> 00:35:00.840 the baron, and the wounds that never bore, and the breasts that never 410 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:05.039 gave suck. Then they will begin to say, to the mountains fall on 411 00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:07.360 us, and to the hills cover us. For if they do this when 412 00:35:07.360 --> 00:35:13.719 the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry. Two others 413 00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:15.400 also who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 414 00:35:15.639 --> 00:35:19.719 And when they came to the place which is called the skull. There 415 00:35:19.840 --> 00:35:22.519 they crucified him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the 416 00:35:22.559 --> 00:35:27.840 left. And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not 417 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:31.960 what they do. And they cast lots to divide his garments, and the 418 00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:36.480 people stood by watching, But the rulers scoffed at him, saying he saved 419 00:35:36.559 --> 00:35:39.199 others, Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his 420 00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:44.639 chosen one. The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar 421 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:47.239 and saying, if you are the King of the Jews, save yourself. 422 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:52.679 There was also an inscription over him, this is the king of the Jews. 423 00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:57.920 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, are 424 00:35:57.920 --> 00:36:01.400 you not the Christ, save yourself and I. But the other rebuked him, 425 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:05.960 saying, do you not fear God, since you are under the same 426 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:08.760 sentence of condemnation. And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due 427 00:36:08.760 --> 00:36:14.320 reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong. And he 428 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:19.800 said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And he 429 00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:23.519 said to him, truly, I say to you today you will be with 430 00:36:23.559 --> 00:36:29.079 me in paradise. It was now about the sixth hour, and there was 431 00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:32.239 darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed, 432 00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:36.159 and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, 433 00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:38.440 crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands, I 434 00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:47.079 commit my spirit. And having said this, he breathed his last. Now, 435 00:36:47.079 --> 00:36:52.000 when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, 436 00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:54.920 certainly this man was innocent. And all the multitudes who assembled to see 437 00:36:54.960 --> 00:36:59.400 the sight, when they saw what had taken place, returned home, beating 438 00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:01.679 their breasts. And all his acquaintances, and the women who had followed him 439 00:37:01.679 --> 00:37:06.280 from Galilee stood at a distance and saw these things. Now there was a 440 00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:08.639 man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of 441 00:37:08.679 --> 00:37:13.079 the council, a good and righteous man who had not consented to their purpose 442 00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:15.400 indeed, and he was looking for the Kingdom of God. This man went 443 00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:20.320 to Pilot and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down 444 00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:23.119 and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a rock hewn tomb, 445 00:37:23.679 --> 00:37:28.559 where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of 446 00:37:28.599 --> 00:37:31.400 preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him 447 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:36.480 from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then 448 00:37:36.519 --> 00:37:42.679 they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath, they rested according 449 00:37:42.679 --> 00:37:51.159 to the commandment. I hope you all have a truly blessed Triduum and a 450 00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:58.079 holy and hopeful Easter as we remember our Lord giving his life so that we 451 00:37:58.199 --> 00:38:01.559 might have eternal life. Thank you all so much for all of us at 452 00:38:01.639 --> 00:38:06.360 John Girardi Show. May God bless you and your family. See you next 453 00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:07.320 time on Power Talk.