Ep. 396 In Episode 396, Ken and Dave discuss the ongoing shutdown, UPS's DC-11 crash, the big Blue wins, cutting down flights, one trillion dollars, cutting the fat, SCOTUS taking on tariffs, and Nancy hanging it up.
Current Events & Politics
- The Government Shutdown: Entering week six, the longest ever. Discussing the impact on federal workers like TSA agents and soldiers (citing the closure of a chow hall at Fort Leavenworth). There is a proposal being offered to reopen the government and extend ACA premium tax credits for one year.
- Temporary Government Measures: Examination of how government "emergency" actions, such as the creation of the TSA or temporary bonuses, inevitably become permanent, noting that the Income Tax was also supposed to be temporary.
- New York City Mayor: Discussion of Mayor-elect Montani Montani, who won the election but immediately sought fundraising for his transition team. Concerns were raised about his lack of professional experience, his communist ideology, and the potential consequences of his policies, such as free buses leading to safety issues.
- Nancy Pelosi Retires: Longtime Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi is retiring after 40 years. Reflecting on her historical role as the first female Speaker of the House and the perceived corruption associated with long tenure in Washington D.C.
- Dick Cheney's Passing: Noting the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney, highlighting his historical significance in expanding the power and influence of the Vice Presidency.
Economics & Consumer Issues
- Food Prices & Thanksgiving: Highlighting outrageous food prices, particularly meat (rib eyes over $20/lb), but noting conflicting stats on the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner this year. Blaming ethanol subsidies for driving up feed costs and food prices.
- SCOTUS and Tariffs: The Supreme Court held a hearing on the legality of tariffs imposed by former President Trump, who cited the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Most judges viewed tariffs as taxes, suggesting the ruling will likely strike them down 9-0, which is predicted to boost the economy and consumer confidence.
- American Finances: Observation that many Americans lack cash reserves and are increasingly financing basic necessities, even with predatory 0% financing deals that inflate the final cost.
Georgia Politics & Local News
- Local Elections: Several municipal races were extremely close, including the Jefferson mayoral race, which was decided by one vote, emphasizing the importance of voting in off-cycle elections.
- PSC Losses: Georgia Republicans lost two seats on the Public Service Commission (PSC) to Democrats Alicia Johnson and Peter Huard, leading to concerns among Republicans about the state "going blue."
- SPLOST Failure: A local SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) failed in one county, which is described as highly unusual.
- Meth Bust: Local news item about a meth bust at a well-known produce stand.
Science & Health
- Gray Hair and Cancer: Reporting on studies involving mice suggesting that gray hair signals a successful cancer defense mechanism, where the body eliminates potentially dangerous DNA-damaged cells.
- Weight Loss Drugs: Discussion of Donald Trump's plan to reduce the cost of GLP-1 weight loss drugs via his Trump RX website, raising concerns about price controls potentially stifling future pharmaceutical research and development.
Transportation & Aviation
- FAA Air Traffic Cuts: Due to the continuing shutdown, the FAA is planning to gradually cut air traffic by up to 25%, likely leading to consolidated and fewer flights on major routes.
- UPS DC11 Crash: A UPS DC11 cargo plane went down in Louisville following a catastrophic failure where the left engine caught fire and fell off, leading to at least 13 fatalities. The discussion focused on the airframe's age not being the issue, but potential maintenance concerns.
Misc.
- The First Trillionaire: Discussing Elon Musk's new compensation package at Tesla, which could potentially make him the world's first individual trillionaire if the company hits aggressive financial milestones (e.g., $8 trillion valuation).
- Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG): Discussing her appearance on "The View" where she performed well, drawing applause primarily when she criticized her own party and Republican figures like Donald Trump and Mike Johnson.
