Rethinking Politics

107: Current News & Pandemic Amnesty? Nov 07, 2022

In this episode we hit a variety of topics: Thanks to the Fed, interest rates are going up and yet Inflation remains very high. The housing market is on the brink of collapse. The midterm elections are happening right now and the Supreme Court is back in session. Paul Pelosi was injured and there is a lot of speculation around it. Then finally we spend a lot of time discussing an Atlantic article calling for "Pandemic Amnesty".

CNN Article:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/11/05/politics/fact-check-biden-midterms-2022/index.html

The Atlantic Article:
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/10/covid-response-forgiveness/671879/
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

106: Critical Theory Is Critically Flawed Oct 24, 2022

Everyone has heard about the rise of CRT or Critical Race Theory which is often vaguely defined as the "Woke" version of viewing racism. But there is much more to Critical Theory than just the race aspect. It is in fact a much broader umbrella with a surprisingly lengthy origin story and many iterations that have crept into almost every nook and cranny of the modern western world. We discuss the flaws in its methods that will help you deal with critical theory wherever you find it.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: GR Stocks on Unsplash

105: Current News & Marijuana Law Reform Oct 08, 2022

We are back!! And we have so many current events to discuss that we didn't have time to discuss them all, but we still managed to hit big ticket items like Elon Musk's ongoing bid to buy twitter and updates on the war in Ukraine. Then we focus most of our time on President Biden's announcement on Marijuana and the ramifications of such an unexpected move.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: manish panghal on Unsplash

104: Immigration Revisited Sep 24, 2022

Last week Governor DeSantis sent a plane of 50 immigrants to the island of Martha's Vineyard. This led to a myriad of media responses and political grandstanding. But while many have taken the time to throw the opposing party under the bus, too few have focused on why this happened in the first place. So we went ahead and looked at what is going on at our southern border and whether or not there really is an immigration crisis.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Greg Bulla on Unsplash

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/09/20/immigration-biden-border/

https://www.rescue.org/topic/refugees-america#:~:text=The%20president%20in%20consultation%20with,and%20just%2015%2C000%20for%202021

https://news.yahoo.com/illegal-immigration-soars-under-biden-200400500.html

103: Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook, and The Era of Fact Checkers Sep 17, 2022

Who decides what's true? That's a nuanced question, but who decides what people get to share is much clearer. We talk about social media companies and the role they play in controlling information and how they go about it. We also discuss the high-profile issue where they got it horribly wrong with Covid-19.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Deeksha Pahariya on Unsplash

102: Biden, Trump, and the Collapse of our Economic Bubble? Sep 10, 2022

Is President Biden making a PR comeback? Will Trump face criminal charges after the FBI raid? Are we heading towards a housing and financial crisis that will make 2008 look small in comparison? Is Brad actually funny? In this episode we discuss all of this except the last one, which we already knew the answer to.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Zdeněk Macháček on Unsplash

101: Student Loan Forgiveness Aug 27, 2022

Back in episode 30 we discussed the systemic problems with the student loan system and what could be done to fix it. In this episode, we talk about the specifics of the student loan forgiveness plan (including several parts that are more important than the 10,000-20,000 that is forgiven), and whether or not these changes will fix or make the systemic problems worse.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

100: Climate Change Philosophy Aug 20, 2022

In this 100th episode of our podcast, we take a look at another eternally divisive subject: Climate Change. Of course we do this in the way everyone will expect: we focus on the philosophy and principles behind the rhetoric and the prejudice stopping us from having a real conversation about the issue.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Markus Spiske on Unsplash

99: Dutch Farmers & The Coming Famine Aug 13, 2022

The people in Sri Lanka are starving and just ousted their President. In Argentina, inflation is over 70% and their interest rate is 69%. The Netherlands new environmental policy is set to force over 10,000 Dutch farmers to close up shop. If you are somewhere relatively prosperous and productive, be grateful. Today we look at why these events are happening and the disasters they may cause in the near future.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Carmen Meurer on Unsplash

Sources:

http://spectator.com.au/2022/07/dutch-tolerance-vs-the-great-reset/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62335287

https://humboldt.global/top-agricultural-exporters/

98: The Inflation Reduction Act Jul 30, 2022

Remember when President Biden's three trillion dollar "Build Back Better" died in congress? Well after some closed door deals with Senator Joe Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, it looks like a much smaller 700 billion dollar climate change bill has a chance in congress. In this episode we break down what is in the bill going through the main changes to environmental policy, healthcare, and (the biggest surprise in the bill), innovative new taxes.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Senator Manchin from manchin.senate.gov

Referenced Article:
How the Schumer-Manchin climate bill might impact you and change the U.S.

97: The Federal Budget & Social Security Jul 27, 2022

In this episode Brad and Dan discuss the current federal budget and the deficit. We focus on why the budget and deficit grow every year and why no reasonable solutions have been successful. One key part of this is the infamous Social security dilemma as well as all the mandatory spending in the entitlement programs.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

96: January 6th Hearings Jul 16, 2022

For several weeks the United States House Select Committee has been holding public hearings as part of an ongoing investigation into the events of January 6th 2021. In this episode we discuss what these hearings have been about, why they are being held, and how effective they have been so far. We also discuss a couple of news items involving Elon Musk and Hunter Biden.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Kurt Kaiser on Wikimedia
Resources:
WSJ Article
Less Good But Free CNN Article

95: Austrian Economics Part 3 Jul 09, 2022

In episode 92 we discussed the rise of the new theory of greedflation and the need for a new economic theory. In the next episode, we examined human action, value scales, and how they applied to free exchange in the economy. In this final part of the trilogy, we discuss production and capital within the context of time preference and how these principles apply when looking at the economy today.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: carlos aranda on Unsplash

94: The Supreme Court’s Rulings Jul 02, 2022

We promised to finish our discussion of Austrian economics, but first we have to address the rulings of the Supreme Court from this Summer term and consider their ramifications. We discuss the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the striking down of New York gun laws, changes to prayer in school, and a change in criminal appeals. Then we talk about the future and what it may look like under this supreme court.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Ian Hutchinson on Unsplash

Links to discussed primary cases:

Shinn v. Ramirez

Kennedy v. Bremerton School District

New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

93: Rothbard & Austrian Economics Jun 18, 2022

We promised a full episode discussing some of the principles and precepts of Austrian Economics. This week we delivered. You're welcome. Austrian economics lays a foundation for understanding the current economy including inflation and the market crash. We start with the basics of human action and go through the logic of free exchange. We also learn all kinds of interesting things like Brad's hierarchy of candy bars, marginal utility, and how to maximize your Halloween candy.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Behnam Norouzi on Unsplash

92: Greedflation Jun 11, 2022

In the beginning of 2022 we were told that inflation would be temporary, but it stuck around. Then the Fed jumped in and raised interest rates in order to lower inflation, and that didn't work either. So as pundits and economists struggle to explain, a new theory is being proposed to explain our current situation: greedflation. In this episode we dissect an article about this term and offer our take on the current inadequacy of mainstream economic models to explain the current situation.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: fikry anshor on Unsplash
References: Greedflation Article

91: The Uvalde School Shooting Jun 04, 2022

In this episode we discuss the recent horrific school shooting that took place in Uvalde, Texas. In particular we try to answer two questions: 1. Why did this happen? 2. How do we stop it from happening again? We discuss the pros and cons of several possible solutions including gun control, school security, and mental health support.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: The Guardian

90: Twitter Exposed & Political Markets May 19, 2022

In this episode, Dan discusses the shifting tide of politics in business alone while Brad welcomes his second child. For a few years now, the politics of Ibram X Kendi and others have dominated the business world. Boardrooms have become increasingly "woke" as they capitulate to noisy employees and Twitter users. That tide is changing. We can see it in the success of the Daily Wire at selling razors, the cultural stance of Netflix, and even in the future of CNN. But nowhere is this more clear than in the battle between Elon Musk and Twitter employee culture.

References

Twitter
Twitter Senior Engineer
Twitter Lead Client Partner

Netflix
https://jobs.netflix.com/culture
CNN
https://nypost.com/2022/02/26/late-shows-chris-licht-to-replace-zucker-as-cnn-president/
https://nypost.com/2022/04/15/david-zaslav-wants-to-set-cnn-apart-from-advocacy-networks/
Credits
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash

89: Are Things Just Really Bad Right Now? May 12, 2022

In this episode we look at frightening trends and problems in the US. While there are always problems in the world, some of these problems group together in frightening ways. Baby formula shortages, the stock market tanking, inflation still going up, crime rates going up, and much more.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

88: The Overturning of Roe V. Wade May 05, 2022

Earlier this week there was a leaked opinion that indicated that the Supreme Court is going to overturn the landmark abortion case Roe V. Wade. We take a look at what this decision would actually do if it remains unchanged. We also look at how people have responded to this news, and how it is already being weaponized in the ongoing war of party politics. We also discuss how this leak is a manifestation of the increasing degradation of institutions in favor of ideology.

If you want an in depth discussion of our views on abortion itself, go check out our podcast Episode 58.

ABC Article suggesting polling beats history of law
New York Post Polls by Andrew Feinburg

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash

87: Twitter, China, Disney & More Apr 28, 2022

In this episode we cover several news stories of interest. 1. California’s four day work week bill. 2. China Covid Lockdown’s & Ensuing Economic Issues 3. Disney vs. The State of Florida 4. Twitter & Elon Musk. All of these tie into ongoing themes that we’ve been discussing such as corporate law madness, labor movement stuff, economics, the strange legal framework behind our society, and more.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/business/china-covid-zero-economy.html
https://nypost.com/2022/04/26/shanghai-residents-scream-at-authorities-amid-covid-lockdown/
https://news.yahoo.com/shanghai-installs-metal-barriers-fences-032052304.html
Florida “Don’t Say Gay Bill” Text
Tracking the Musk Twitter Contract
Elon’s Tweet’s
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

86: Elon & Twitter, Amazon & Unions Apr 21, 2022

Elon is trying to buy Twitter, an Amazon facility in New York unionized, and others might follow suit. In this episode we discuss these two events, and how they reveal an illogical and counterintuitive world that is modern corporate and union law.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Heisenberg Media on Wikimedia

85: Rising Prices & Price Gouging Apr 15, 2022

With soaring inflation and rising gas prices, everyone agrees that the rising prices are terrible. One of the common causes that people point to is greedy corporations that are raising prices when they don’t need to. We discuss this theory and the economic principles at play in the price gouging and consider profit vs profiteering.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Yassine Khalfalli on Unsplash

84: Seth Radwell & American Schism Apr 07, 2022

In our first interview episode, we get the extraordinary opportunity to speak with author Seth Radwell and discuss his Amazon bestselling book American Schism: How the Two Enlightenments Hold the Secret to Healing Our Nation. We discuss with Seth why he felt compelled to take a hiatus from a very successful career in business and the lessons we can draw from his reading of philosophy and history. We then dive into how those ideas can be applied today to understand our current situation and to correct the current ailments of our broken political system.
Seth has recently started a campaign on college campuses to "fight unreason with reason" which you can support or join at https://fuwr.org

Buy the book American Schism https://www.amazon.com/American-Schism-Enlightenments-Secret-Healing/dp/1626348618

Follow Seth:
Twitter: @SRadwell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sradwell
https://www.facebook.com/sethdradwell/

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

83: Did Trump try to overturn the 2020 Election? Mar 31, 2022

There's the question, if you want to know our answer just listen to the episode, I'm not going to give it away here.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Donald Trump swearing in ceremony: The White House

82: Our Economy Post-Covid Mar 24, 2022

It's been two years since Covid arrived and the accompanying lockdowns brought a portion of the US economy to a standstill. Now we take a look at where our economy is today in light of shipping issues, inflation, Fed-interest-rate hikes, gas prices, and more. We also discuss the partisan question: “How much of the good and bad are Biden’s fault.”

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

81: Ukraine & Russia Part 2 Mar 11, 2022

Oil Embargo, Russian Advance, Nuclear War. These are just a few of the topics we discuss as we look at the continued conflict in Ukraine.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Zbynek Burival on Unsplash

80: Ukraine & Russia Mar 03, 2022

What is happening? Why is it happening? What will happen going forward? These are the questions that everyone is asking about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In this episode, we discuss these questions and the political fallout of the war so far.

Photo: Kharkiv Oblast after shelling (State Emergency Service of Ukraine)
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod.

79: Sandy Hook, Remington, and Gun Control Feb 24, 2022

In 2012 there was a mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown Connecticut where one shooter killed 26 people, most of whom were children. Just last week the gun manufacturer Remington settled for 73 million dollars with the families and survivors who sued them almost a decade ago. The question is: what responsibility if any falls on manufacturers for the misuse of their products? In this episode, we discuss the practical details of the lawsuit and the ramifications on both gun control and civil suits. We also get into the question of justice: Am I responsible for what you do wrong with what I make? Are there things I need to do or not do to avoid culpability? And so on.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: STNGR Industries on Unsplash

78: Russia & Ukraine Feb 17, 2022

As the tension between Russia and Ukraine peaks (again), we attempt to make heads or tails of the current conflict. In addition, we discuss the Olympic drug scandal and how that stems from the politicization of the Olympics.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Diego González on Unsplash

77: Project Veritas: Search for Truth vs Right to Privacy Feb 10, 2022

In the last episode, we discussed Joe Rogan in the context of the degradation of news media. In this episode, we look at James O'Keefe, another controversial individual who is challenging the current narratives. We discuss what Project Veritas is doing, why it is necessary, and address some of the concerns raised by their somewhat unusual methods.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Bernard Hermant on Unsplash

76: Current Events & The News vs Joe Rogan Feb 03, 2022

In this episode we cover several of the current major news stories, from the Freedom Convoy in Canada to Justice Brayer retiring. Then we focus on the the recent controversy surrounding Joe Rogan.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: The Verge theverge.com

75: The Criminal Justice System Jan 27, 2022

The past year we have covered many criminal trials and discussed various flaws with the current system. In this episode, we take time to discuss the current criminal justice system broadly, principles of criminal justice theory, and specific ways they can be applied to improve the system.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod.

Photo: Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

74: Crazy Polling Numbers, The Supreme Court, & The Future of the Fourth Branch Jan 20, 2022

The Supreme Court recently ruled on two "agency created'' vaccine mandates. One of them was upheld, the other was struck down. In this episode we delve into why they ruled the way they did and what that means for the future of the largest growing branch of government: The Administrative State. In addition, we also cover some wild polling numbers that demonstrate a major shift in party alignment in 2021.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

73: Why The CDC Messaging Changed Jan 14, 2022

For almost two years we've been told the goal was to prevent as many people as possible from getting. For many, the only acceptable number was zero cases. We were told that preventing even one death was worth almost any cost. Now Fauci says "just about everybody" will get it. Now, the CDC says that the quarantine should be shortened to 5 days out of the blue. For many, these changes can be explained away by the emergence of Omicron. But the reality is that these policy and messaging changes are the result of politics, not science.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Jennifer Griffin on Unsplash

72: The Year in Review Jan 06, 2022

From the Covid Vaccine to Omicron, George Floyd to Kyle Rittenhouse, and Trump to Biden, we cover some of the biggest stories of this year and how they have progressed over time. We also take a look at some of our past predictions and make some new ones.

Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Moritz Knöringer on Unsplash

71: Trans Vs Parental Rights Dec 30, 2021

Starting with a discussion of Abigail Shrier and her book Irreversible Damage, Brad and Dan discuss various Trans issues and related political principles. In particular, we focus on the question of of parental authority vs state authority vs the rights of the child. We also touch on all kinds of related issues such as what constitutes abuse.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Caleb Woods on Unsplash

70: Sam Harris & Trust In The Institutions Dec 23, 2021

We've discussed the intellectual Cold War between Sam Harris and Bret Weinstein. Both Bret and Sam have addressed the societal response to Covid and hold opposing positions. The main problem is that Bret wants to get together and discuss the data while Sam doesn't. In the latest salvo from Sam, we were hoping to see a change in tactics. After all, Sam himself admits that his approach hasn't been persuasive. Instead, we saw more of the same: appeals to authority, an unwillingness to treat the opposition as an equal intellectual opponent, and failure to respond to specific data-driven arguments against his position. In this episode, Brad & Dan discuss the modern world of information access and the need for institutions to accept that reality. We also explore various developments in the Covid debates.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo by Christopher Michel on Wikimedia

69: What’s Wrong With The World? Dec 16, 2021

Ask just about anyone and they will agree that something is wrong with the world, but they won't agree on what is wrong or what caused it. The pandemic/response has messed a lot of things up, but that is only a part of the puzzle. In this episode, Brad and Dan have an open ended discussion on what is wrong, how it got that way, and what if anything we can do about it. While doing so we discuss things like Twitter, Abortion, Gun Laws and even Federalism.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Jordy Meow on Unsplash

68: The Omicron Variant, Lockdowns, & Mandates Dec 09, 2021

2021 is almost over, but with the spread of Omicron it appears like we have at least a few more months of Covid dominated news cycles ahead of us. The good news is that the new variant appears less deadly. The bad news is that reasonable risk assessments don’t drive news. Fear of the variant is already being channeled into support for vaccine mandates. In this episode, we discuss what this variant actually means as well as several of the illogical and inconsistent Covid narratives.

Music, Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Chokniti Khongchum from Pexels

67: Bail Reform, Domestic Abuse. & Justice Dec 02, 2021

What does Chrystal Kizer have in common with Darrel Brooks? Not much honestly. One killed her trafficker when she was seventeen, the other was a repeat offender who ran over and killed several people while injuring many others. But they are both getting attention because their cases are glaring examples of serious flaws in our current criminal justice system.In this episode we look at these cases as well as several others to see how we can get more justice from the criminal justice system.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Logan Weaver on Unsplash

66: The Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict Nov 25, 2021

After three days of deliberations, the jury found Kyle Rittenhouse not guilty on all counts. Which for the most part, puts an end to this case. But the political fallout from this case has just started. So in this episode we discuss what should be straightforward facts of the case that are constantly confused and how so many are drawing their own conclusions based on political ideology rather than reality. We also cover what self defense actually means, and how it applies in this case.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: CNN

65: The Rittenhouse Trial, Herd Immunity, & Higher Education. Nov 17, 2021

With the jury still deliberating and the nation holding its breath, we discuss the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. We also discuss the CDC's change in goal posts for Covid 19 and the newly announced University of Austin.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool
Resources:

https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2021-11-12/cdc-shifts-pandemic-goals-away-from-reaching-herd-immunity

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/new-data-on-covid-19-transmission-by-vaccinated-individuals

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/12/1027198500/the-potential-implications-of-not-tracking-breakthrough-cases

https://usafacts.org/visualizations/covid-vaccine-tracker-states/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ND-COVID-Vaccine&gclid=Cj0KCQiA4b2MBhD2ARIsAIrcB-TLIIfaZ5B2sj3xtfdbaDm28j9KBm8-HxkSvNHdDlViaQth_LZAptUaArBkEALw_wcB

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html?name=styln-coronavirus&region=TOP_BANNER&block=storyline_menu_recirc&action=click&pgtype=Interactive&variant=1_Show&is_new=false

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/work.html

64: Infrastructure, Vaccine Mandate, & The Republican Resurgence Nov 11, 2021

We are less than halfway through, yet November has already been a crazy month for politics. The House finally passed the Infrastructure Bill that Biden had been struggling to get through, OSHA finally released the Vaccine Mandate for businesses, and the November 2nd elections were a Republican tidal wave. In this episode, we take a look at these developments and offer our analysis of where all of this is going. We also discuss the factions within both parties and specifically what a future Republican Tyranny could look like.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Hayley Tschetter on Wikimedia Commons
Resources:
Data referenced regarding Covid Vaccine hesitancy -
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.20.21260795v1.full.pdf

63: Singapore & Other Market Economies Nov 04, 2021

In this episode Brad and Dan take a look at an argument that is frequently used in favor of central planning as opposed to an unrestricted market. That argument is this: look at all of the well off and successful socialist modern utopia like Singapore and Sweden, they are much better off than the US using a free market system. To answer this we use a couple of data sets to analyze the differences in the economies of several different nations and consider the causes of their prosperity.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Mike Enerio on Unsplash
https://www.heritage.org/index/ranking https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/economic-freedom

62: Stagflation & The Shipping Crisis Oct 28, 2021

We are back!!! We began by catching up on a few current events we've missed. We go through everything from Trump's media company to Joe Rogen duking it out with CNN. Then we get to the meat of the episode where we discussed the current "stagflation" and supply chain issues with shipping.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Dominik Lückmann on Unsplash

https://cei.org/blog/why-dont-u-s-ports-operate-24-7-ask-the-unions/

https://fee.org/articles/biden-thanks-unions-for-promising-to-help-solve-a-supply-chain-mess-they-created/?utm_source=zapier&fbclid=IwAR08vL2z_i1aYrJgmK0IlWP4XNeav_6A8HkkKhT_rOljDC5fwRKPDZtaaig

https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-dockworker-pay-20150301-story.html

61: Afghanistan & Those Left Behind Oct 07, 2021

Whether or not we should have left Afghanistan, we certainly should not have left in the way that we did. And we especially should not be actively trying to stop those who want to get out like the US state department has done. In this episode, we discuss some of the stories of those who have escaped, the massive failure of the bureaucracy to allow others to get out, and some of the heinous acts the State Department may have committed to prevent private efforts to help.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Referenced Articles & Resources

https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/22/politics/lawmakers-storm-out-afghanistan-briefing/index.html

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2021/08/25/us/politics/eviction-rental-assistance.amp.html

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/left-behind-afghanistan-immigrant-visas-11631473668https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxnews.com/politics/blinken-americans-stranded-afghanistan-withdrawal.amp

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/special-immg-visa-afghans-employed-us-gov.html

60: The Rise of China? Sep 30, 2021

If you're listening to any of the most popular political commentaries today, you've probably heard about the rising threat of modern China. In this episode, we take a look at recent events in the Chinese economy like Evergrande and how their system will affect their power as a player in the international scene in the future.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Hanny Naibaho on Unsplash

59: The Vaccine Mandate & Why It Has Anything To Do With OSHA Sep 23, 2021

Everyone is familiar with Biden's proposed vaccine mandate and the arguments about the pros and cons are already pretty well laid out. So today we discuss how we got to this point. How haver we reached a place where an organization like OSHA is issuing vaccine mandates and the CDC creates rental policy? We then discuss what is so dangerous about this bureaucratic system and some of the alternatives.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Pop & Zebra on Unsplash

58: Is Abortion Murder? Sep 16, 2021

With the new Texas abortion law going into effect, abortion is once again a hot topic. In this episode, we look at this new Texas law and the history of Roe v. Wade. While we cover the constitutional questions, we focus on the moral questions beyond the political rhetoric and explore where the legal system could develop these ideas further.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Camylla Battani on Unsplash

57: US Foreign Policy & The Propaganda of War Sep 09, 2021

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," - Hermann Göring.

Since the fallout from our disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and the ongoing cleanup, we have heard a lot from various pundits about “the will” to win wars and the failure of politicians to explain American interests in the Middle East. The result, or so the reasoning goes, is that we clearly should have stayed but our presence there was wildly unpopular with voters. Some pundits have gone so far as to say that we ought to embrace the reality of our empire so we can start doing a decent job of it.
But foreign engagements have always been more appealing for those at the top than those at the bottom. In this episode, we discuss the process through which people at the top persuade ordinary Americans to support some of the biggest wars in American History. In particular, we explore the propaganda that served as official reasons for entering the war presented to the public and the reality on the ground.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Joel Rivera-Camacho on Unsplash

56: History, Politics, & The American Founding Sep 02, 2021

History has always had a significant role in politics. Since the rise of the 1619 project, and the subsequent controversy, the role of American history is increasingly a mainstream concern. What we believe about history is at least as important as what actually happened. In this episode, we discuss historical narratives and their profound effect on shaping our worldview. To illustrate this connection, we do some myth busting of common conservative and liberal interpretations of the founding.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Painting by Howard Chandler Christy on Wikimedia

55: Covid & The Ethics of Infectious Diseases Aug 26, 2021

As the FDA approves the Pfizer vaccine, people are reconsidering Vaccine Mandates. Even though such mandates are unlikely in the United States, it's a good time to revisit a major question that we have only touched on: What are our social obligations to protect others from infectious disease?

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Steven Saphore AP News

54: Afghanistan Aug 19, 2021

After 20 years of direct U.S. military involvement, it only took days for the Taliban to take over Afghanistan. And as both Americans and Afghans struggle to flee Kabul, many in the American Media have condemned Biden for causing this whole mess. But like most things the answer is not so simple. Brad and Dan attempt to make sense of what happened and see if we can start to glean any lessons from this tragedy.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Jim Huylebroek for The New York Times

53: The Great Resignation Aug 12, 2021

After the initial surge of businesses and employees returning back to work, the economy has stalled. In this episode we take a look at some of the causes of this phenomenon and why it’s been called “The Great Resignation”. We consider the role of bargaining power, unemployment incentives, and more.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Benjamin Child on Unsplash

52: The Delta Variant & The Changing Narrative Aug 05, 2021

Once again the narrative on Covid has shifted, this time from "Get the vaccine and this will all be over," to "Even if you have the vaccine we might have to re-implement last year's restrictions in order to stop the spread of variants." Combine this with the fact that they simultaneously suggest that vaccination is more important than ever, and also that the vaccine is not as effective against the variants that are the very reason for their increased need, and you might start to scratch your head in confusion. In this episode we take a look at and try to make sense of the strange and sloppy attempts by the media as well as the white house to sell their Covid agenda as well as what is actually going on.

Photo: Usman Yousaf on Unsplash

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

51: Jordan Peterson & The World Outside of Politics Jul 29, 2021

Of all of the people discussing politics, Jordan Peterson is among the most unique. We discuss some of our thoughts on Jordan Peterson and how his ideas are primarily apolitical in a world where most people see politics as the primary instrument of change. We also discuss the severe limitations of viewing the problems of the world through an exclusively political lens.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Ravi Roshan

50: The Dark Horse Podcast & The Search for Truth Jul 15, 2021

As the stakes of politics increase, the number of people willing to act immorally to obtain power increases. The result is that, as time goes on, it becomes more and more difficult to find sources that discuss politics worth listening to. The Dark Horse Podcast is one of those sources. With a background in Evolutionary Biology, Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying discuss science and politics using evolutionary principles to understand the world. Their recent conversations regarding Covid-19 have put them at the tip of the spear on the conflict between science and politics as well as the debate regarding censorship and social media.

Two episodes we strongly recommend (also available on podcast services):

Covid, Ivermectin, and the Crime of the Century

https://odysee.com/@BretWeinstein:f/COVID-Ivermectin-and-the-Crime-of-the-Century-DarkHorse-Podcast-with-Pierre-Kory-Bret-Weinstein:f

How to Save the World in Three Easy Steps

https://odysee.com/@BretWeinstein:f/how-to-save-the-world,-in-three-easy:0

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Linus Sandvide on Unsplash

49: Healthcare: Costs, Incentives, & Solutions Jul 08, 2021

Everyone agrees that there are serious problems with Healthcare but it’s difficult to see what exactly causes those problems. The healthcare system in the US does not operate like any other industry, but who is making the rules and why is it so confusing? In this episode we delve into incentives within the healthcare system and try to reach the fundamental problems. Thankfully, there are some good examples out there of innovators who are bypassing the system and which provide some insight forward.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Bill Oxford on Unsplash

48: China, Uyghurs, & Human Rights vs Utilitarianism Jul 01, 2021

For several years the government of China has had internment camps in which they have incarcerated over one million of the Uyghur people without those people committing any crime. This has resulted in an international debate about the nature of Human Rights and what governments are justified in doing for the greater good. So we take this chance to look at what happens when Human Rights and Utilitarianism goes head to head.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Wikimedia

47: 1984 & The Dangers of Doublethink Jun 24, 2021

In the 70 years since George Orwell's 1984 was published, its ideas have become a staple of American high schools and universities. In our very first video episode, we dive into the principles of 1984 and how much of it’s dystopian world has become a reality. With concepts like doublethink, thought police, and Big Brother, Orwell’s warnings are more pertinent today than ever.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Arno Senoner on Unsplash

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/TOEyDCf_DLU

46: The Appeal of Socialism Jun 17, 2021

Today, there is a rising popularity for the economic theory known broadly as socialism. In this episode, we dive into not only why it has become popular again, but also what socialism actually is and, just as importantly, what it is not. We also explore why we are seeing resurgence in these ideas.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

45: The Dehumanizing Nature of Partisanship Jun 10, 2021

In a follow up to our last episode, we dive further into the deeply disturbing sources of partisanship. In particular we look at the basis for the intellectual arrogance of Liberals that causes them to confirm their own biases while completely dismissing Conservative. We also address what we as individuals can do to avoid dehumanizing and disregarding those who disagree with us.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Meritt Thomas on Unsplash

44: Conspiracy Theories & The Breakdown of Trust Jun 03, 2021

Since we first started this podcast we've been talking about how ugly the relationship between the two parties has been. And in the last year, that has only gotten worse. As part of that decline, there has been a rise in distrust and an increase in our willingness to believe the worst of each other. Today we dive into some of the deep rooted reasons that lead to some to distrust everything and disengage completely and why some people tend to see what they want to see.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Tom Carnegie on Unsplash

43: The Coronavirus Vaccine May 27, 2021

Because of the complexity of the issues around it, because of the misinformation politics adds to the mix, and because of requests from listeners, we are once again addressing Covid 19 and how to weigh the benefits of the vaccine.

[Data that we reference in the episode]

https://www.acsh.org/news/2020/11/18/covid-infection-fatality-rates-sex-and-age-15163

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Daniel Schludi on Unsplash

42: Israel & Gaza May 20, 2021

The conflict between Israel and Gaza has been going on for several days now with no end in sight. Everyone and their dog here in the US has offered their simple one sentence solutions to solve it. But this conflict is not just weeks or decades old, and in order to have real solutions we need to first understand the whole picture. In this episode we do a little of that by looking at the history of Israel as well as some of the history and current factors that play into the current struggle.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Ahmed Abu Hameeda on Unsplash

41: The Housing Crisis May 13, 2021

Everyone can see that the housing market is going crazy, but is this going to be another crash like in 08? To answer this and other related questions, we dig into why the market is acting the way it is, what could happen in the future, and what can be done to make that future better. All of these are wrapped up in economic principles that, when understood, can be used to interpret many other other events.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Paul Brennan on Pixabay

40: Biden's Plan & The Hidden Costs of Government Action May 06, 2021

In this episode, we discuss Biden's speech to Congress marking 100 days in office. In this speech, Biden announces two bills that replace the Infrastructure Bill: The American Jobs Bill and the American Families Bill. These bills and the language Biden uses to try and persuade Congress to pass them show one of the main problems with modern politics. Politicians and the voters who select them do not understand economics. And because they don't understand economics, they fail to fully realize all of the hidden costs inherent in any government action. We dive into what these costs are and why understanding them fundamentally changes the way you look at and solve the myriad issues that politicians misdiagnose on a regular basis.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Mark Potterton on Unsplash

39: The Derek Chauvin Trial & How We Approach Racism Apr 29, 2021

Racism is undoubtedly the hot button topic of this last year. For some time now, this topic has been so hot that many of us feel uncomfortable having more than a superficial conversation about race. In this episode we confront that reality. We discuss the role of emotions like anger and the need to direct those emotions justly. Then we discuss the data on police racism so that we can see where we should focus our time and effort to improve things. We also reference three studies on police racism in the US to get a clearer picture, and a British Commission Report on Racism that performs the kind of large scale analysis that is necessary to track the many variables that effect disparities beyond racism. The links are below:

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0141854
https://www.hoplofobia.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018-Do-White-Law-Enforcement-Officers-Target-Minority-Suspects.pdf
https://www.pnas.org/content/116/32/15877#ref-21 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-report-of-the-commission-on-race-and-ethnic-disparities
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: truthseeker08 on Pixabay

38: Foreign Policy & The Russia Sanctions Apr 22, 2021

Last week, the White House officially sanctioned Russia for their interference in the 2020 election. This was touted as a strong stance by President Biden and a clear breakaway from Trump's pro-Russia Policy. In this episode we take a look at why that is misleading and how politics drives so much of foreign policy. We also discuss the moral standard of foreign policy, how close America has been to that standard, and some of the major players on the international scene.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: UX Gun on Unsplash

37: Derek Chauvin, Infrastructure, Border Crisis, & More Apr 15, 2021

Once again, we had too much to cover in a week and not enough time to dedicate an episode to each topic. We analyze the hottest political topics and recent events while providing you with our most controversial view yet: Joe Biden is actually doing almost none of the things that people were afraid/hoping he would do.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Josh Hild on Pexels

36: Equality, The American Dream, & The Power of Words Apr 08, 2021

This is an odd episode title, but a fantastic episode. We look at how our vocabulary shapes the way we talk about important issues which in turn shapes the very way we think about those issues. We then expound on how one word: equality, has actually shaped the political culture that we live and breathe today. The culture war today is dominated by assumptions about equality that have shaped the American Dream, Nature, Justice, and Merit.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Luke Stackpoole on Unsplash

35: Gun Control Apr 01, 2021

In the wake of the recent shootings, the question of gun control is once again pushed to the front of the pack. In this episode, we throw in our two cents. Rather than assuming that the ends justify the means, we look first at whether or not gun control can be justified on a principled basis. We then look at what the practical ramifications of gun control are and how that impacts the efficacy of gun control policies.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Thomas Def on Unsplash

34: The Atlanta Shootings & Racism Mar 25, 2021

There was a shooting spree in Atlanta Georgia on March 16th. Eight people were killed and more injured before the suspect was arrested later that night. But within a day, a large number of headlines were not about the shootings, but racism. We ask: why is the new definition of racism the default lens through which so many see the world? How does focusing primarily on racism change how we see things and does it help us see the world more clearly?

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Kat Wilcox from Pexels

33: Crypto Currencies & The Origins of Money Mar 18, 2021

As Crypto currencies and other alternative currencies rise in popularity, the dollar becomes less and less secure. In today's episode we take a look at why the dollar is struggling, what the alternatives are, and how we got here in the first place. You can’t answer these questions without knowing something about the nature of money itself. So we answer questions like: what is the history of money, why do societies use money, why do certain goods become money vs others, and what that means for the current monetary landscape. We also address the common historical trend for money to be debased and eventually move towards paper and inflation to benefit agents of government.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Bermix Studio on Unsplash

32: Energy Policy & The Texas Outage Mar 11, 2021

The Texas Power outage was a massive failure of some kind, but what exactly caused it? While every Op-ed on the subject seems to already have their partisan answer, a closer look reveals just how messy it is. All of the simple answers for what caused this catastrophe; Wind Power, Fossil Fuels, Deregulation, and Texas’ Power Independence do not address just how inept the modern power grid really is. In this episode we discuss what went wrong, why the system is set up the way it is, and why power grids in the US will continue to struggle until major changes are made.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Mathew Henry on Unsplash

31: Minimum Wage & The Poor Mar 04, 2021

In this episode, we take a look at the now tabled proposal to increase the federal minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour. The main reason people want to increase the minimum wage is to help the poor. The first half of our discussion focuses on sorting through the evidence to determine whether minimum wage does in fact help the poor at the expense of businesses as its advocates hope. In the latter half, our discussion shifts focus towards understanding poverty better by addressing the many misconceptions about "the poor".

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

30: Loan Forgiveness & Student Debt Feb 25, 2021

As the question of student loan forgiveness is being discussed on the federal level, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at student debt. With almost 50 million people currently holding student debt in the US, this issue is a big one. But the underlying issues are more complicated than the existence of debt, and simply forgiving that debt will not solve the problem. Instead of debating student loan forgiveness, we focus on the underlying reasons for the current student debt crisis and what we can do to fix it.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Vasily Koloda on Unsplash

29: Impeachment, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Gamestop, Covid, & More Feb 11, 2021

A lot has happened so far this month, and in this catch-all episode we try to hit on as many of them as we can. And as always, we bring our own take and offer some insight into the implications and importance of these many issues. We cover the impeachment trial, Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Stimulus Bill, Covid lockdowns, Gamestop, and Robinhood.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: AhmadArdity on Pixabay

28: Big Tech & Free Speech Feb 04, 2021

(Episode Description Censored)
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: dole777 on Unsplash

27: The Future of the GOP Jan 28, 2021

Now that Trump is out of the White House and the Democrats have at least marginal control of Congress, what happens to the GOP? Normally, the next four years would be a chance for the party out of power to rally against the incumbent for the next election. But this time things are different. This time the GOP has fractured into two distinct groups that are going to have a hard time cooperating, even for an election. The likely result of this division is that the Republican party will not win the white house or gain control of congress for an unusually long time. Some of these political losses are unavoidable, but not all of them. In this episode, we discuss what can be done to fix this problem and other long term problems with the GOP at the same time.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Jacob Morch on Unsplash

26: Bias & The Information War Jan 21, 2021

After the capitol riot and the ensuing media frenzy, wildly different accounts of the events have sprouted up like weeds. The problem today is not access to information, but discerning which information is accurate. In this episode, we discuss how to find reliable information in a world of information saturation. First, we need to understand our own biases and how they influence our thinking. We also need to understand the biases of our sources in order to assess the validity of their claims. Second, we need to learn to recognize the biases of the sources we listen to. We go through several specific political biases including: Love or Hate for Donald Trump, Anti-Racism, Anti-Sexism, Constitutionalism, Environmentalism, Anti-capitalism, Communism, Conspiracy Theorist, Pro-Freedom/Anti-Authoritarian, Elitism, and The Oppressed. Finally, we offer a few tips to identify reliable sources.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Markus Spiske on Unsplash

25: Secession Jan 14, 2021

Given the recent events at the capitol building and the growing divide between Americans of different political persuasions, it is time to rethink power at the national level. As it is now, more power is centralized with every new president and we see more and more anger, despair, and violence as that power is exercised by each side in turn. This is a cycle that can only end with national civil war.. Months ago, we proposed a solution to this problem in the form of Federalism. In this episode, we address the essential detail that makes federalism functional: the right to secede. We argue that secession is a moral right based on the concept of self determination and rule by the consent of the governed. Without secession, federalism has no teeth. With secession, there is an out for citizens who are being oppressed. We also address the most common arguments against secession such as: 1: Secession is unconstitutional. 2: Secession is a threat to our national security 3: Secession is a tool of oppression or racist 4: Secession cannot be done peacefully. And More.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Harun Tan from Pexels

24: Patents & Intellectual Property Dec 10, 2020

Patents - Why talk about such a boring subject you ask? Because sometimes the most mundane things can have a large impact on your everyday life, and Patents are one of those things. Patents have extensive effects on things like the features and types of phones you can buy, the monopoly prices of medicine, and the scope of scientific progress. We start with the moral defense of patents and weigh the idea of knowledge as defensible property. Then we address the practical claim that patents encourage innovation and are thus justified by their benefit to society. We then point to a variety of ways that patent laws create a legal game which actually hinders innovation and distorts the market. Finally, we argue that the moral problems with intellectual property guarantee the practical problems because a system that doesn’t get human nature and natural law right will not work.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

23: Covid-19 & Our Pandemic Response Dec 03, 2020

In our first ever follow up episode, we return to Covid-19. In this episode, we recap our previous discussion of individual risk assessment and offer some numbers to help you begin to assess yourself and those around you. We then consider a theory of viral behavior we hadn’t heard fully until recently that accounts for the trends of the virus we have seen thus far, including otherwise odd downturns or spikes and the second wave that is happening now in many places. Though this explanation is partially new to us, it is actually the basis of the pandemic guidelines that have been quietly discarded in most places this year. This information on viral behavior also explains the impact of government responses, including lockdowns and similar restrictions, and points us towards better responses that improve health against viral infections. We also discuss some of the hidden costs and trade-offs of our policies before finally explaining some of the political incentives and motivations that lead politicians to benefit from fear.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: CDC Public Health Image Library

22: Free Trade, Fair Trade, & The Trade War Nov 26, 2020

This is a topic that is usually discussed in superficial terms and misleading data. There are countless historical examples and many ways to calculate the effects of trade deals. Rather than give the standard talking points with cherry picked statistics, we dig under the common talking points and discuss the logical implications of the ideas on exchange. We discuss the trade war with China, international deficits, the effects of trade deals on jobs and industries, the purpose of fair trade and how it differs from free trade, and the corruption of political systems that supports protectionism.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Image: Tumisu from Pixabay

21: The Case For Open Immigration Nov 19, 2020

Here it is, the episode topic you've been waiting for this entire election: Immigration. Instead of delving into common debate topics like who built what or trying to win partisan points by blaming parties for problems, we focus on the ideas and principles behind immigration policy. Primarily, we focus on the moral justification for open immigration and the myriad concerns against it such as immigrants: taking advantage of health care and welfare, taking jobs, increasing crime, overwhelming the infrastructure. changing the culture, and the ramifications on voting.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Markus Spiske on Unsplash

20: Voting Trends & The Future of the Parties Nov 12, 2020

Exit Polls are the last poll of an election and the most important poll to predict future elections. We analyze trends and anomalies in voting revealed by the exit polls which point to significant shifts in the two parties. This election is not like previous elections in major ways. These shifts will be followed by ideological changes in the party platforms that could significantly restructure the political landscape over the next few years. These trends also show the degree to which popular political messages and the madness of 2020 have succeeded or failed to persuade voters. We discuss things like personality predictors of politics, political differences between men and women, the breakdown of wealth and voting, the correlation between college and voting, and much more.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Elliot Stallion on Unsplash

2020 Election Week Update Nov 04, 2020

2020 Election Update

Although we were not able to record a full episode this week, we wanted to share a brief update on the unfolding election. As the vote counting continues into day two, we discuss the fact that although annoying, this isn't that unusual. Also, given the divided house and senate, the winner will have his hands tied. So as the country holds its collective breath, we don't have to fear a civil war or large scale changes.
Hang in there and tune in next week for our full episode!

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: The Associated Press

19: Second Presidential Debate & the Election Oct 29, 2020

With only days left before November 3rd, we take our last look at the election as well as at last week's debate. We do a breakdown of the policy differences and similarities between the two candidates in preparation for the moment when we collectively find out who will be the President of the United States for the next four years. By doing so, we hope not only to inform but to remind, that although they are different, the differences between these two candidates are not as earth shattering as it may seem. On topics like Covid 19, Foreign Policy, and Immigration, whether we have Joe Biden or Donald Trump will matter very little for various reasons. And so, we offer some comfort mixed with cynicism, come November 3rd.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Element5 Digital on Unsplash

18. Federalism vs Nationalism Oct 22, 2020

As we get closer and closer to the 2020 election, it can become very difficult to have hope or faith in our national government. So we figured now is a good time to discuss a solution that does bring hope: Federalism. Federalism is an answer to the national partisanship we see every day on TV and social media. We address the straw man arguments against federalism that are normally found in textbooks and focus on the role of the civil war in those false narratives. Then we discuss how actions should always be done at the smallest possible level. It is more efficient and much more unifying. By restoring state authority and focusing on local and state politics, people would be free to have the governments they want without imposing them on people who don’t.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Andy Feliciotti on Unsplash

17: Vice President Debate & Voting Oct 15, 2020

In our second (and maybe last?) week of debate coverage we take a look at the VP debate between Mike Pence and Kamala Harris. We analyse their performance in terms of both the game of politics and the substance we hope to see in debates. We then spend the second half of the episode answering a question we were asked by a listener that is on a lot of people's minds. Given the situation we are in as voters, what can we do this election to make a difference. To answer that question, we discuss concepts like: the lesser of two evils, throwing away your vote, the purpose of political parties, how parties determine their direction in the future, the role of third party voting, and more.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

16: First Presidential Debate 2020 Oct 08, 2020

In this episode, we discuss the first presidential debate of 2020 between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. As everyone knows who watched the debate, it wasn't pretty. But what people don't know is that even if it had been more orderly, it probably still wouldn't have been worth watching. We discuss how debates, debate analysis, and the ensuing fact checking are broken in ways that more decorum could never solve. Modern debates almost never actually discuss the issues, the ideas behind the issues, or explain the role of policies in those issues. Instead, the debates are a game of labels designed to undermine voting blocks. The good news is that we can still have real discussions about ideas and issues that matter and that's exactly why this podcast and many others take the ideas seriously.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

15: The Supreme Court Oct 01, 2020

With the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, there is a vacancy in the Supreme Court. This vacancy, and whether it should be filled during an election year, has raised a whole world of controversy. But while everyone else focuses on this controversy, what we focus on is the make-up and evolution of the power of the Supreme Court itself. The Supreme Court is an extremely useful lens through which to understand the way the federal government and its powers are currently divided. We briefly outline the trend of the court towards legislating and why that’s inevitable through its selection process. We then talk about the current role of each branch and federal agencies and the most effective way to solve the broad structural problems.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Claire Anderson on Unsplash

14: Equality of Opportunity Sep 24, 2020

Equality is a powerful rallying cry, which is why it has gained so much popularity this election season. While people generally know how they feel about Equality of Outcome, Equality of Opportunity is much less clear. Like so many issues discussed today, Equality of Opportunity has competing definitions that make it difficult to discuss effectively. To understand it better, we explore those definitions and the underlying ideas. To do that, we address the viral “monopoly” metaphor and the “life as a race” metaphor that are most frequently used to describe privilege and to illustrate the need for equality of opportunity. Fundamentally, this conversation is a critique of the idea that life ought to be understood fundamentally as a competitive, zero sum game.|
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Hugo Aitken on Unsplash

13: Crime, Punishment, and Restorative Justice Sep 16, 2020

Last episode we talked about violence in a crisis and how to think about the just use of force in emergency situations. This episode we talk about what happens after the dust settles - otherwise known as the criminal justice system. With massive prison populations, an upcoming election, and incredibly high rates of recidivism, this discussion of criminal justice reform is more timely than ever. We discuss the theory of Deterrents, Threat Prevention, Rehabilitation, Restitution, and Retribution. Finally, we discuss Restorative Justice, which refocuses criminal justice on the harm done to the victim and how to fix that harm.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Milad B. Fakurian on Unsplash

12: Kenosha Shootings & The Justified Use of Force Sep 09, 2020

Since the death of George Floyd, there has been a resurgence in the scrutiny of police and non police instances of violence. As time has gone on, this issue has become more and more politicized and has strayed farther and farther away from the key question: when is force justified? In this episode we answer that question starting with principles and theoretical examples, and move into actual cases such as George Floyd, Andrew Jacob Preese, and finally Kyle Rittenhouse.

Photo: Chase Baker on unsplash

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

11: Republican National Convention 2020 Sep 03, 2020

We are back at it for part two of our 2020 convention coverage, this time covering the RNC. Using the same basic principles as episode 10, we break down what happened during the GOP convention. Most importantly, we address surprising changes that may be reshaping the GOP and the DNC in the near future: Black Voters. We also take a few minutes to talk about our own history with party politics, and how that has effected our view of this particular party.

10: Democratic National Convention 2020 Aug 26, 2020

In our first “Election Special”, we take a look at the Democratic National Convention. Instead of traditional partisan commentary, we look at the broader purpose behind these conventions and why they matter. In short, these conventions mark the critical moment where people with different opinions attempt to form a coalition large enough to win the general election. We discuss specifically how Democrats are attempting to do that and the degree to which we think it was effective.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Steven Braeger on Wikimedia

9: Inflation, Stimulus & the CARES Act Aug 20, 2020

As talks drag on about the second round of government relief packages, we take a look back at the first one. The CARES Act promised both relief and stimulus for small businesses, the healthcare industry, and millions of individuals who were struggling. The CARES Act cost over 2 trillion dollars, but at the time most of us just saw the benefits. We weigh the effects of the stimulus aspect by exploring concepts like inflation, production, consumption, saving, spending, and how these concepts can help us to understand the full ramifications of the CARES Act.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod.

Photo: Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash.

8: Education Outcomes & Charter Schools Aug 12, 2020

Join us as we tear into another controversial subject: Public Education. Last week we talked about disparity in outcomes and how understanding disparities and outcomes clarifies the issue of racism. Here we look at public education and the best way to improve some of those negative outcomes. While there are alternatives like private schools and home school, we discuss how charter schools are already making enormous differences in the areas with the worst outcomes. We just have to get out of their way.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod
Photo: Element5 Digital on Unsplash

7: Racism: Definitions, Disparities, & Outcomes Aug 05, 2020

Talking about racism is rarely easy, but it becomes much more difficult when the person you are talking to has a completely different definition of racism than you do. To clarify this surprisingly complicated issue, we analyse ideas from some of the most popular voices on racism: Ibram X. Kendi and Robin Diangelo. As we discuss and dissect their ideas, we talk about systemic racism, racial disparities, the concept of equality, and the complex factors that shape outcomes.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo: Clay Banks on Unsplash

6: The Authority of Law & Civil Disobedience Jul 30, 2020

From Portland in 2020, to Boston in 1773, protests have always been a part of American life. Drawing on the wisdom of thinkers like Thoreau, Brad and Dan discuss the moral basis of law. Then, using historical examples like the Salt March of Ghandi and the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, they explore practical examples of civil disobedience. They also explore the reasons people use to justify legal injustice and some of the reasons we go along with laws when we shouldn’t.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod

Photo by Koshu Kunii on Unsplash

5: Hamilton & Two Party Partisanship Jul 16, 2020

Many people have heard of the musical "Hamilton" but not many realize how applicable it is to current events. Brad and Dan jump in head first, nerding out over some of their favorite moments as well as expounding on some of the political wisdom and history inside. But this episode is more than Alexander Hamilton, it focuses on the political climate of overly aggressive partisanship and the solutions to our tribal system.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod.
Photo by Sudan Ouyang on Unsplash

4: Capitalism & Inequality Jul 09, 2020

Capitalism. Inequality. Railroads. Robber Barons. Exploitation. Need I say more? Join Brad and Dan as they take a look at the economic theory behind Capitalism, and the effect it has on inequality in the modern world.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod.

Photo by Roberto Júnior on Unsplash

3: Risk & Covid 19 Jul 01, 2020

For anyone who isn't sick of hearing about Covid-19, have we got a treat for you. Join Brad and Dan as they explore some of the issues involved with the Coronavirus outbreak. From WW2 to partisan forest fires, they peel back the surface issues to get beyond the rhetoric and find the real questions.
Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod.

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

2: The War On Drugs Jun 24, 2020

Dan and Brad bite off more than they can chew by tackling the war on drugs. We talk about oddities like Prohibition and hallucinogenic berries in addition to drug statistics and the effects of legality on economic forces. We warned you we would take an unusual approach and we delivered in part by critiquing supply and demand for assassins in John Wick. All to distinguish what causes what problems in the war on drugs.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin Macleod.

Photo by Rotorhead from FreeImages

1: The Basis for Police Authority Jun 19, 2020

Dan and Brad rethink the hottest and most controversial subject of the day - Policing. But instead of the usual talking points, they examine police authority from the ground up. Analyzing things like the morality of stolen berries and lethal energy drinks, they go on to show how the usual ideas lead to specific systemic problems and bad practices like no-knock raids, partial immunity, civil asset forfeiture, and more.

Music: Beauty Flow by Kevin MacLeod.

Photo by simon stratford from FreeImages

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