62 Question #7: Did the G7 Leadership Get Major Kickbacks on the Iran Deal? What was John Kerry—whose claim to fame as Secretary of State under Obama was the Iran nuclear deal—doing in Iran earlier this year? Did Kerry, Obama, Merkel, and others get kickbacks when the deal was struck, as the Iranians claim and has been rumored? Do Eu- ropean leaders want to stick with the Iran deal so that they don’t have to give back the money? INSPIRATION Europe provided one source of inspiration after another this summer: the Sofia Opera House’s production of Wagner’s Ring Cy- cle, organ concerts everywhere, the Chartres cathedral, and Mont Saint-Michel. Being free to travel around the world trying to understand what is really going on is a deeply moving journey. • After long fight for self-government, in- digenous town of Cherán, Mexico ushers in new Council • Indonesian teenager survives 49 days adrift at sea in “fishing hut” • Whyalla: The town that saved itself • Video: Zachary R. Wood: Crusader for open dialogue and free speech • The cathedrals of France 3rd Quarter Solari Heroes • September 20: Elvis Presley – The greatest neighbor • September 13: The Asheville line-up: Dr. Mark Skidmore, Jon Rappoport, Alan Phillips, and more • September 6: Rauni-Leena Luukanen- Kilde; Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Del Bigtree: Court win • August 23: California firefighters • August 16: Aretha Franklin and Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa • August 9: Colonel Welborn Barton Grif- fith, Jr. • August 2: Jonathan Gold • July 19: President Donald Trump for historic Helsinki Summit and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. • July 12: Clifford Carnicom • July 5: Christi Cameron: The Best Little Fireworks Stand in Texas Food for the Soul Series: • Food for the Soul: Venice • Food for the Soul: Crazy Rich Asians • Food for the Soul: Dark Money • Food for the Soul: Brain not Brawn – Women in Action • Food for the Soul: Museum Branly • Food for the Soul: Following Claude Monet GO LOCAL Two friends in North Carolina—one an avid Republican and one an avid Democrat—came together to build a dyke that kept their town safe during Hurricane Florence. This story was a wonderful reminder about what we gain when we get past “divide and conquer.” • How one North Carolina town stayed dry during Florence • Risking some tough talk • But rich people live here, so we can’t be going broke! • Who is the “public” at public meetings? • A Texas-sized pavement problem • Developers are finding value in less prof- itable projects • The whole elephant IV. News Trends & Stories