Shows
Out of OrderSchool Vouchers For All? Arizona Gives Us AnswersArizona tried a program to give vouchers for private schools to anyone who wanted them. It didn't go how they expected.2024-07-2503 minOut of OrderLabour Party Starts Forcing British Cities to Build HousingThe new ruling Labour party in the U.K. is implementing rules requiring cities to zone for much more, denser housing. We're pumped.2024-07-2207 minOut of OrderAOC Looks to Impeach Supreme Court Justices Thomas, AlitoNew York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has introduced articles of impeachment against Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito for ethical violations that include taking expensive gifts from political actors. We discuss how it matters.2024-07-1820 minOut of OrderUK Election Results: Analysis of Labour's VictoryThe U.K.'s election resulted in a sweeping win for the Labour Party, taking down the Tory majority after they spent 14 years in power. We discuss how it happened, what's in store for the country next, and more.
2024-07-1621 minOut of OrderFrench Election Results ExplainedFrench citizens went to the ballot box for two rounds of voting in late June and early July, leading to a victory for the leftist coalition and a quite stunning defeat for the far-right National Rally. We discuss how it happened, what comes next, and what this might mean for French policy.2024-07-1518 minOut of OrderEverything About the Biden Situation, ExplainedJoe Biden suffered a quite disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump at the end of June. Since then, calls for him to drop out of the race have come strong and fast from media figures, millionaire donors, and elites in the Democratic party. In this video, we ask and answer lots of questions: How bad was Biden's debate performance really? Should he withdraw from the race? If so, who should run in his stead?2024-07-1224 minOut of OrderProject 2025 Would Cut Childcare Services for Nearly a Million Rural AmericansProject 2025, an authoritarian playbook published by the Heritage Foundation for the use of any Republican president who may take office, includes plans to eliminate the Head Start Program. Head Start is publicly funded child care - it fills in gaps left by the private sector in rural areas. The program has served over 40 million people to date, including 833,000 in 2023.2024-07-0508 minOut of OrderTeamsters to Help Amazon UnionAmazon management has rejected the validity of its new union for nearly two years, instead fighting long legal battles against needing to recognize them. It's gotten to the point where the union can barely fund itself. Fortunately, the teamsters have decided to step in and help.2024-06-2705 minOut of OrderBiden Protects Undocumented Spouses from DeportationThe Biden administration has announced new measures to protect illegal immigrants who are married to American citizens and have been in the country for at least ten years from deportation. In addition, the measures will establish a path to citizenship for those immigrants. Needless to say, we're fans of the policy.2024-06-2612 minOut of OrderRussia's State-Owned Natural Gas Company Says They've Been Set Back a DecadeRussia's state-owned natural gas company lost money for the first time ever in 2023 because the European market stopped buying, and they are not optimistic about their prospects for a rebound.2024-06-2509 minOut of OrderU.S. Slaps More Sanctions on Russian Financial InstitutionsThe U.S. is putting sanctions not only on Russian financial institutions, but secondary sanctions on any other companies that do business with Russian institutions. We discuss the fallout.2024-06-2211 minOut of OrderEU Puts Tariffs on Chinese EVs, Sparking Worries of a Trade WarThe EU finished an investigation into the Chinese EV industry and determined they would need to place tariffs of up to 37% on certain companies to maintain competitiveness. We discuss the fallout.2024-06-2005 minOut of OrderSnap Elections in France: Will the Far-Right Take Over?After gains by the far-right in the European Parliament elections, French President Emmanuel Macron called for elections at the end of June. The far-right national rally is polling strongly.2024-06-1911 minOut of OrderEU Parliament Elections: Far-Right Makes Gains, But How Much Power Do They Get?News outlets made a big deal last week about the gains made by far-right parties in the European Parliament elections. We think this swing to the right is more important for certain countries, namely France and Germany, than it is for the governance of the EU as a whole.2024-06-1807 minOut of OrderMay CPI Report Beats ExpectationsThe overall consumer price index didn't change at all in the month of may, a very encouraging sign in the Fed's fight against inflation. We break down the May CPI report and the Fed's meeting later in the day2024-06-1705 minOut of OrderBiden's Ceasefire Plan for Gaza: Can It Work?President Joe Biden presented a plan to produce a lasting ceasefire in Gaza, but right from the get-go it seems shaky.2024-06-1210 minOut of OrderIndia Elections: Modi's BJP Misses Out on Parliament MajorityIndia just held the biggest election in history. Exit polls showed a huge win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling BJP party, but they ended up losing out on an outright majority in the parliament. That result is probably good for India's democracy, but might hurt its economy.2024-06-1108 minOut of OrderSouth Africa Elections: ANC, the Party of Mandela, Loses Its MajorityThe African National Congress (ANC), the political party founded by Nelson Mandela, which ended apartheid in South Africa and has ruled the country for the last thirty years, lost its parliamentary majority in elections last week. While they are still the largest party, they will now have to form a coalition with competing parties to govern. This signifies a shift for South Africa, which needs to look forward with policy that addresses its rampant crime, inequality, and poverty.2024-06-1011 minOut of OrderTrump Found Guilty: How Does It Matter?Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in a Manhattan state court. We run through the somewhat complex reasoning behind the crime and then analyze the political and institutional fallout.2024-06-0715 minOut of OrderRussia Is Becoming China's B*tch: Gas Pipeline Deal StallsThe Financial Times reported that a deal for a new gas pipeline from Russia to China has stalled over pricing talks. China not only wants heavily subsidized domestic prices for Russia's gas, they also want only a small percentage of the total capacity. The reality is, Russia needs China, but China doesn't need Russia.2024-06-0607 minOut of OrderReuters Says Putin Wants a Ceasefire. Does He Really Though?A new report cites sources close to Vladimir Putin saying he wants a ceasefire in the Ukraine war with the lines frozen at current areas of control on the battlefield. Is this true, or is there another reason this information leaked to the press?2024-06-0508 minOut of OrderColorado's New Housing Laws Should Increase SupplyThe state of Colorado passed four new housing laws meant to address their housing shortage. There's one in particular that excites us. Tune in to find out what they did.2024-06-0410 minOut of OrderVibecession: How Are We So Wrong About the Economy?Over a year ago, the term "vibecession" was coined. It refers to the concurrent phenomena of a very strong U.S. economy according to all the typical measures (unemployment, GDP growth, stock market gains) and a populous that mostly thinks the economy is doing poorly. This isn't the first time we've discussed this topic, but a new poll brought us back here. So we wonder: why is the vibecession still so strong?2024-06-0313 minOut of OrderChina Runs Military Drills Around Taiwan: What's the Significance?Two days after the inauguration of Taiwan's new president, The People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China ran joint navy and air force drills on the northern, eastern, and western sides of the island. We discuss their reasoning for these drills and how they might play into a future invasion of Taiwan by China.2024-05-3109 minOut of OrderAlabama Mercedes Plant Votes Against UnionizationAfter winning a unionization vote at a Volkswagen plant in Tennessee, the UAW sought to keep their momentum going with a win at a Mercedes plant in Alabama. However, they lost the vote, with 56% of votes going against unionizing. We discuss how it went down, and whether this will affect future unionization efforts.2024-05-2907 minOut of OrderChinese Businesses Have Nowhere to TurnChinese businesses are facing headwinds everywhere in the world at the moment. At home, they're struggling with weak demand, as their consumer base doesn't want to spend money because of the real estate crisis and low confidence. Abroad, buyer markets like the U.S. are becoming more and more protectionist as they look to carve out space for their own manufacturers to compete on the world stage. 2024-05-2812 minOut of OrderDoes the Death of Iran's President Matter?Ebrahim Raisi, president of Iran, died in a helicopter crash last week. We discuss how this affects Iran's government and politics, and whether it will have any effect on the U.S.'s posture towards the country.2024-05-2706 minOut of OrderOpposition Leader Threatens to Leave Netanyahu's CoalitionBenny Gantz, the leader of Israel's centrist party, has issued demands for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet, threatening to leave the governing coalition if he does not. The demands include more concrete plans on how to secure Israeli hostages held by Hamas and how to govern Gaza.2024-05-2407 minOut of OrderICC Arrest Warrant Puts Netanyahu, and the U.S., in Bad CompanyThe International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for several leaders of Hamas and Israel in the wake of the war in Gaza. We discuss how this move leaves Israel even more isolated on the world stage, and may accelerate deglobalization by leading countries out of step with the U.S. and Israel ideologically to go their own way in other matters as well.2024-05-2413 minOut of OrderProgress Report from Ukraine: Russia Bombards KharkivRussia's military has pressed its advantage in Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv, as the Ukrainians await military aid from the recently passed resolution in Congress. The morale of Ukraine as a country may hinge on Kharkiv's survival.2024-05-2208 minOut of OrderTester Courts the Native American Vote in MontanaSenator Jon Tester from Montana is facing one of the toughest re-election campaigns in the Senate this year, the fate of which could decide which party controls Congress. One crucial constituency for him is Native Americans, who make up about 6% of the population of the state. Their support for Tester is clear, but whether they will turn out to vote, is less so.2024-05-2108 minOut of OrderBiden's China Tariffs: Effective Trade Strategy or Political Bullsh*t?President Joe Biden recently unveiled a new swathe of tariffs on China after a yearslong review of Trump's tariffs which initiated this trade war. We discuss the effects on the economy, on the green transition, on the politics and whether any of these are at all a good idea.
2024-05-2019 minOut of OrderApril Inflation Report: the Right Direction, But More Progress NeededWe analyze the April inflation report and discuss the mixed signals it sends about the economy. Wages have increased by 3.9% over the past year, resulting in real wage gains of 0.5%. There's also a welcome decline in the cost of food at home. However, car insurance prices have significantly risen at a 21.6% annualized rate, driving inflation higher. Retail sales were flat for the month, contrary to the expected 0.4% increase, suggesting consumers are spending less. This is positive news for the Federal Reserve, which aims to moderate consumer activity, but challenges remain in balancing consumption to sustain GDP growth. The prospect...2024-05-1708 minOut of OrderFederal Agency Passes Game-Changing Transmission Rule
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) passed a new rule to dictate how regional transmission organizations plan, pay for, and site new developments to the grid. Transmission is one of the biggest obstacles the U.S. has in achieving its green transition goals, so this is a huge deal.
2024-05-1610 minOut of OrderWe're Hot and Bothered By Shawn Fain's Proposal of a General Strike
United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain wrote an op-ed proposing that unions across the country align to have their contracts expire in 2028, in order to maximize labor's leverage with a general strike if management does not meet their demands. This would be the biggest move for labor we've ever seen in America, and might lurch us towards the equity of a system like the social democracies of Nordic countries.
2024-05-1609 minOut of OrderDollar's Rise in Value: How Does It Affect the World?The U.S. dollar has recently been rising in value of late due to higher-than-hoped-for inflation in the U.S. and a continually strong economy. We discuss what this means for the U.S. and other economies around the world.
Patreon with exclusive content: Patreon
2024-05-1407 minOut of OrderInternet Access for Low-Income Families at Risk: Why Congress Must Act NowAt the inception of the COVID pandemic, the Trump administration instituted the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, creating subsidies for households that couldn't afford reliable internet access. The Biden administration extended those benefits in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Now, the benefits are about to expire, and Congress will likely allow them to. We discuss why, and whether that's a good idea.
Patreon with exclusive content: Patreon2024-05-1306 minOut of OrderNew EPA Rule Will Eliminate Coal from Electricity GenerationThe EPA passed a new rule requiring the majority of a power plant's carbon emissions to be eliminated by 2032 at the risk of being taken off the grid. It's a big step forward in the federal government's battle against climate change.
2024-05-1007 minOut of OrderTime's Trump Interview: Lots of Bluster, Only Some of InterestTime Magazine recently published a long-form interview done with Donald Trump, discussing his policy ideas for a second term. There's a lot of rambling and self-adulation. Besides that, we go over some of the most interesting points to us, and whether they might actually bear out if Trump were elected.
If you like our brilliant insights, you should OBVIOUSLY subscribe. If you really REALLY like us, you can support the show by becoming a Patreon supporter: Patreon. We also post exclusive content there, so check it out!2024-05-0916 minOut of OrderSo This Is How the World Is Saved ... Not with a Bang, But with PermittingThe Biden administration released new rules to modify the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to speed up infrastructure project approvals via multiple mechanisms. NEPA has been one of the biggest obstacles to progress in building what we need for the green transitions, as its environmental reviews often add years to projects and have not taken climate change into account up to this point. These rules are truly a dream for our hopes for the green transition, and we're super excited! 2024-05-0807 minOut of OrderSupreme Court Bans Far-Right Party from Elections in Greece
Greece's Supreme Court has ruled that the far-right Spartan party is simply a rebrand of the previous neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn, and that its members are looking to circumvent the previous ban placed on that openly Hitler-loving party. Count this as a win for protecting democracy.
2024-05-0708 minOut of OrderBiden Reschedules Marijuana To Be Treated Less SeverelyPresident Biden has rescheduled marijuana from a schedule I to a schedule III drug, a move that is long overdue but still doesn't go far enough. Schedule I had weed on the same level as heroin, while Schedule III puts it on the same level as codeine. We discuss the ramifications.
If you like our brilliant insights, you should OBVIOUSLY subscribe. If you really REALLY like us, you can support the show by becoming a Patreon supporter: Patreon. We also post exclusive content there, so check it out!
2024-05-0603 minOut of OrderWhy the Bid to Oust Mike Johnson Is Doomed to FailRepresentative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has announced she will be calling for a vote on Speaker Mike Johnson next week. Johnson is already the replacement of the first Speaker of the House ever ousted from his job, Kevin McCarthy. We explain why Johnson's job is actually safe, despite the narrow Republican majority in the House.
If you liked this video, follow us here! You can also check us out on YouTube. And if you really like us, you can support the show by becoming a Patreon supporter: Patreon. We also post exclusive content there, so check it o...2024-05-0307 minOut of OrderCollege Protests Expand: Are Students Doing the Right Thing?Protests that started at the University of Columbia in New York City have since spread across the nation. Police have been called in at many campuses. We explain why it's ok to involve the police in some circumstances, the problem with some of the discourse around the protests, and people's inability to be Vulcans.
If you liked this video, follow us here! You can also check us out on YouTube. And if you really like us, you can support the show by becoming a Patreon supporter. We also post exclusive content there, so check...2024-05-0213 minOut of OrderState of the Race: Biden Narrows Gap with Trump in the PollsWe take a look at the presidential race, including the spending of each campaign and new polls. Specifically, we see the Biden campaign spending a lot more money, Biden catching up to Trump in some polling, and we wonder whether Trump's downfall will be low turnout from his supporters.
If you like our content, we offer additional videos, including weekly deep dives, here: Patreon2024-05-0110 minOut of OrderTennessee Volkswagen Plant Votes to Unionize, the First in the South in DecadesUnited Auto Workers won a huge battle to unionize a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee last week. This is a big f*cking deal, as it's the first plant by a foreign company to ever be unionized in the South, and the vote wasn't even close. Republican governors released a statement protesting against unionization of the plants, but it won't stop the UAW from rolling into other southern factories fighting for greater worker power.2024-04-3013 minOut of OrderEthnic Violence Disrupts Elections in the Indian State of ManipurElections are a big deal in India, which is the largest democracy in the world. However, violence threatened polling stations in the state of Manipur over political classifications of groups that would grant different economic advantages. The violence has already killed dozens of people. We dove in to understand the situation.2024-04-2911 minOut of OrderThe Federal Trade Commission's Ban on Non-Compete Agreements Is a Win for Working PeopleIn this episode, we delve into a podcast discussion centered around the recent FTC ruling by the Biden administration to ban non-compete agreements. Join us as we analyze the implications of this decision and its potential impact on the job market.2024-04-2907 minOut of OrderProtests at Columbia and Beyond: What's the Story and What Do They Want?Students at Columbia University set up an encampment on one of the campus lawns. They're protesting the university being invested in companies that apparently are complicit with Israel's genocide of Gazans. We think they're being kind of ridiculous.2024-04-2611 minOut of OrderUkraine, Israel, TikTok, Oh My! Breaking Down the New Legislation Out of CongressA $95 billion foreign aid package was passed in the House and Senate then signed by president Biden after stalling for months because of challenges Speaker of the House Mike Johnson faced from his far right flank. In the end, the bill passed the House with majority Democrat support, leaving Johnson on uneasy footing within his own party. We break down the implications of the package for Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, and Taiwan, as well as addition of a potential TikTok ban that forces the app to be sold within 9 to 12 months.2024-04-2519 minOut of OrderWhy You Didn't Get a Tax Refund This YearThe IRS is reporting smaller tax refunds so far this year, mostly due to more effective tax collection earlier on. While it sucks to not get a refund all at once, it does mean that people were just keeping more of their money throughout the year. But if we don't like not having tax refunds, would it be cool if there was a baked-in government savings mechanism?2024-04-2407 minOut of OrderGerman Chancellor Scholz Walks a Tightrope in China VisitGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visited China this past weekend, where he advocated for fair treatment of German businesses, assured China's Chairman Xi Jinping of the EU's commitment to open trade, and delicately addresses concerns about Chinese support for Russia's actions in Ukraine. The German-Chinese relationship is one of the most important in the world, as they are two of the five biggest economies.2024-04-2308 minOut of OrderThe Difference Between Biden's and Trump's Economic PolicyAs the 2024 presidential campaign heats up, Biden and Trump are making their cases for how to run the economy of the richest country in the world for their next term. Their ideas are different, but there are more similarities than you might expect in our current polarized age.2024-04-2225 minOut of OrderHow Medicare Came to Be, and How It Measures Up As a Policy
In this week's deep dive, we examined the history of Medicare, from its origins as an idea for state policy in the 1910's all the way up to its current form. We discuss its interaction with private sector insurers in Medicare Part C, and the introduction of prescription drug coverage in Part D. We imagine ways that history could have gone differently to make the legislation closer to, or further from, a universal healthcare plan. Then, we consider how it might be amended today.
2024-04-2125 minOut of OrderSpeaker of the House Mike Johnson Walks the Tightrope to Bring a Vote for Foreign AidFor weeks, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has wanted to get a bill on the floor to give aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. However, while Johnson wants the bill, members of his far right flank are against it, and they have the power to vote on a motion to vacate the Speaker whenever they want. Thus, Johnson has to trust the fate of the foreign aid bills, and his job as Speaker, to Democrats in the House.2024-04-1908 minOut of OrderIran and Israel: What Went Down and What Comes NextIran shot over three hundred missiles and drones at Israel in retaliation for its airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria. 99% of the projectiles were shot down before reaching Israel, and no Israelis were killed. However, the magnitude of the attack still escalated the situation, and we now anxiously await what follows. Does Israel want war?2024-04-1821 minOut of OrderWhy Did Senate Republicans Kill a Tax Cut for Families?In the wake of the COVID pandemic, the Child Tax Credit (CTC) was expanded to ease financial pressure for families. The legislative action led to a historic drop in child poverty. In this session of Congress, a bipartisan coalition sought to reinstate the expanded credit permanently, as child poverty rose again in 2023 after the credit expired. However, Senate Republicans, led by Mike Crapo of Idaho, killed the bill. We discuss what Republicans would have preferred, and why this didn't work for them.2024-04-1705 minOut of OrderBiden Cancelling Student Debt Sounds Great! But Is It Really?One of the long-running themes of Joe Biden's first term has been his crusade against student debt. He started with a plan to cancel either $10,000 or $20,000 of debt for certain students that was shot down by the Supreme Court. Now, he has another plan that is more targeted to certain segments of the population, including those who have high interest payments and the poor. Getting rid of debt for young people sounds great, but it's not that simple.2024-04-1611 minOut of OrderNippon Steel Acquiring U.S. Steel: Does the Political Backlash Have Merits?The Japanese company Nippon Steel made a deal months ago to buy U.S. Steel. Since then, numerous American politicians have come out as being against the deal, including both Joe Biden and Donald Trump. In this episode, we examine the merits of these politicians' critiques, both as pure policy and as political maneuvers.2024-04-1512 minOut of OrderEpisode 41: With Stubbornly High Inflation in March, Will Interest Rate Cuts Be Delayed?American markets have been soaring in Q1 of 2024 on the expectation that the Federal Reserve would be cutting interest rates three times this year, freeing up more money to be borrowed and spent in the economy. However, inflation has remained stubbornly elevated above the Fed's desired 2% rate, and the March CPI report failed to encourage observers that inflation is coming down. We dove into the specific prices that are keeping inflation high and what the report means politically and economically.2024-04-1214 minOut of OrderEpisode 40: After Arizona Reverts to Draconian Abortion Ban, How Will Abortion on the Ballot Affect Voters?The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a total abortion ban dating back to 1864, before Arizona was even a state, would be reinstated because of the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Now, we approach the 2024 November presidential election with Arizona as a swing state, a ballot referendum on abortion, and Donald Trump being tied directly to the overturn of Roe due to his choice of Supreme Court Justices. Will abortion again sway the election away from Republicans in Arizona? And what about in other states where abortion is going on the ballot as a referendum?2024-04-1219 minOut of OrderEpisode 39: Ukraine Aid Update, Biden's Budget, and a Permitting Deep DiveThis week's current events:
Reports have come out asserting that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson wants to pass a bill providing aid to Ukraine, but is restricted by his right flank
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding access to the abortion pill Mifepristone
A new Reuters report indicates the December update to U.S. sanctions on Russia have been effective in delaying oil payments
A company in Tennessee have found clear evidence of violations of child labor laws
The U.N. has called for a ceasefire in Gaza, after the U.S. abstained from a vote
...2024-03-291h 50Out of OrderEpisode 38: More Primaries, Bad Climate News, and a Look at Capital Gains TaxesThis week's current events:
A few Republican primaries have further consolidated Donald Trump's hold over the party, with victories by his preferred candidates
Discussing the chances the Democrats hold control of the Senate
A judge overturned an NLRB decision designed to increase labor standards in large franchises
A U.N. climate organization has issued a new "red alert" regarding the state of the planet
The EPA has issued new emissions limits to regulate how many new cars put out are EVs
Fossil fuel subsidies have been impossible to kill
A new surge in U.S. energy demand is...2024-03-231h 56Out of OrderEpisode 37: SC Primary, Sweden Joins NATO, And a Look at Some Senate PrimariesThis week's current events:
Donald Trump won the South Carolina primary, but what do the exit polls tell us about the coming general election?
Once again, the U.S. government is on the verge of a shutdown
Sweden is joining NATO after ratification by Hungary's parliament
A new report finds the Inflation Reduction Act has succeeded in some aspects but failed in propelling wind power
The IRS is clawing back more money from millionaires and billionaires who have evaded taxes
Mike Johnson's performance as top fundraiser for the Republicans has been a disappointment
The Biden administration has taken...2024-02-292h 13Out of OrderEpisode 36: Navalny Dead, Dem Wins in NY, Trump Wants a National Abortion Ban, a Deep Dive into the Political Realignment, and MoreThis week's current events:
Alexei Navalny, the leader of the opposition movement to Putin in Russia for the last several decades, has died
The U.S. vetoes another U.N. resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, but submits their own temporary ceasefire resolution
New electoral maps were approved in Wisconsin to create near equality in the number of Democrat and Republican districts, after a decade and a half of Republican dominance
Democrat Tom Suozzi defeated Republican Mazi Pilip in the New York special election to fill George Santos's seat in the House of Representatives
Trump's plans for a...2024-02-222h 47Out of OrderEpisode 35: Trump Destabilizes NATO, Senate Advances Foreign Aid, and a Deep Dive on Social SecurityThis week's current events:
Donald Trump made comments on the campaign trail insinuating he would condition America's response to an attack on a NATO country on that country's own defense spending, eliciting a widespread backlash from foreign and domestic leaders.
Finland's new president underscores the country's hardline turn against Russia and towards Europe
The Senate advanced its foreign aid bill to the House, where Mike Johnson's nonexistent logic threatens its passage
The municipality of Denver is horribly overburdened with an influx of migrants, leaving its mayor to complain about the lack of work permits coming down for those...2024-02-151h 36Out of OrderEpisode 34: Republicans Kill Border Deal, U.S. Retaliates in the Middle East, Trump Case Arrives at the Supreme Court, and MoreThis week's current events:
U.S. and U.K. strike targets in the Middle East in response to attack on U.S. troops and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea
In a stunning turn of events, Republicans are killing a bipartisan border deal that contains almost everything they asked for
Congress looks to fund Israel with a standalone bill, but Democrats oppose it
The American jobs market knocked some socks off
A court determined Donald Trump is not immune from prosecution for his role in the events of January 6th
A case challenging Trump's eligibility to be president...2024-02-071h 56Out of OrderEpisode 33: House Republicans Impeach Mayorkas, U.S. Troops Killed in Jordan, Deep Dive on Restricting LNG Exports, And MoreThis week's current events:
House Republicans are impeaching Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas for allegations of dereliction of duty in enforcing border security
A drone strike by Iran-backed militias killed three American troops in Jordan, leaving us to wonder what President Biden's response will be
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban clashes with the EU over funding Ukraine
The Republican national anti-abortion agenda is extreme
Q4 GDP numbers reinforce the fact that the U.S. economy has had the best pandemic recovery out of any peer country
A hedge fund manager looks to repeal Washington state's landmark climate...2024-02-011h 42Out of OrderEpisode 32: DeSantis Drops Out, New Political Party in Germany, Deep Dive on Yemen, and MoreThis week's current events:
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has suspended his presidential campaign
Illinois completed a study which shows the overwhelming benefits of a state-level child tax credit
The IRS has recovered over $500 million dollars from millionaire households since receiving greater funding
Joe Biden's Consumer Protection Bureau is looking to cap the overdraft fees banks charge
Consumer sentiment has recently ticked up
A new populist party has emerged in Germany, led by a figure on the far left
Poland's new Prime Minister has cleaned house since coming into office
The Supreme Court issued an order that Texas law...2024-01-252h 20Out of OrderEpisode 31: Trump Dominates Iowa, U.S. Strikes the Houthis, Expanded Child Tax Credit, and MoreThis week's current events:
Trump dominates in the Iowa caucuses
Congress passes another continuing resolution to keep the government open
Republicans and Democrats are in intense negotiations over immigration reform and Ukraine aid
Migrants are starting to work as they get permits
The U.S. hit Houthi targets with over 100 precision strikes, but the Houthis retain most of their attack capacity
A Republican and a Democrat released a package bill that includes an expanded child tax credit
China's population declined for a second straight year within a culture that deters making a family
In this week's deep...2024-01-201h 42Out of OrderEpisode 30: Taiwan Election, Congress Talks Budget, and a Deep Dive on Worker DemocracyThis week’s current events:
- The Iowa caucus is 4 days away
- Trump seeks immunity in court
- House and Senate leadership came to a tentative deal on a new budget, until the Freedom Caucus said hell no
- We examine the border funding the Biden administration has requested that’s holding up House Republicans
- Ukrainian audits find corruption in the military
- A Republican representative in the House proposed a bill that would make an Indo-Pacific alliance like NATO to counter China
- The Taiwanese election is about to happen
- Republican governors are rejecting federal mone...2024-01-202h 16Out of OrderEpisode 29: Trump's Eligibility Challenged, Iowa Coming Up, and a Deep Dive on Housing FirstThis week's current events:
Maine and Colorado both say Trump can't be on the ballot
Trump claims immunity from criminal trials based on being acquitted in his impeachment trial
Trump works to secure Iowa
Nikki Haley stumbles when asked about the Civil War
The Biden administration produced rules for the new hydrogen tax credit which requires making the hydrogen with clean energy
The New York Times is the first media company to sue a tech company based on their chatbot, going after Microsoft and OpenAI
Updates to the war in Gaza
Israel's highest court shot down legislation attempting...2024-01-062h 00Out of OrderEpisode 28: Trump Gets Scarier, U.S. Steel Sold, and a Deep Dive Into Germany's EconomyThis episode's current events:
The Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint alleging illegal coordination between the PAC Never Back Down and Ron Desantis's official campaign
Nikki Haley is surging at the right time to have a chance against Trump
Trump continues spewing hateful, war-like rhetoric against immigrants, ignoring backlash from the press
Japanese company Nippon agreed to buy out U.S. Steel, but apparently they didn't ask the union first
We've seen deflation for certain specific goods leading up to Christmas
Battery and solar cell efficiency and adoption have been skyrocketing in recent years, right when we need...2023-12-212h 06Out of OrderEpisode 27: Public HousingThis week's current events:
The U.S. is the lone member of the U.N. security council to veto a call for ceasefire in Gaza as the situation there deteriorate further
Businesses remain unprepared for climate change risks
The EU is set to pass landmark regulation on AI systems
The Texas Supreme Court has denied an abortion to a woman whose fetus has a lethal genetic defect
High speed rail gets $6 billion of investment from the federal government
Drama in the House as Kevin McCarthy announces he will be stepping down
The latest CPI report shows the economy...2023-12-142h 03Out of OrderEpisode 26: Charter SchoolsThis week's current events:
A Bill Gates-backed startup has a new way to capture carbon from the atmosphere
The YIMBY movement recorded wins across the country in 2023
The international climate conference COP28 is happening, with a few interesting takeaways including a hard stance against methane
Reno, Nevada has a controversial new solution to its homelessness problem
There's a lawsuit in New York trying to close a loophole that hedge fund managers use to avoid taxes
Donald Trump renews his promise to repeal Obamacare
The UK's financial situation is only getting worse
Germany's high court determined that the government...2023-12-072h 25Out of OrderEpisode 25: Social Wealth FundsThis week's current events:
Where is the Fed heading in 2025?
Biden and Xi meet in San Francisco
Thinking about the Argentinian election
A transformer shortage is delaying the green transition
A shutdown was avoided, but the government funding fight isn't over
Biden meets with Mexican President Lopez-Obrador
A Colorado judge determines Trump is allowed to be President on very narrow grounds
A new book looks at why the "emerging democratic majority" is dead
For our deep dive, we discuss social wealth funds. What are they? Where have they been implemented successfully? How could we use them in...2023-11-221h 43Out of OrderEpisode 24: Effects of UnionsThis week's current events:
The New York Times released an analysis of what immigration policy under Trump might look like
We returned to the brink of a government shutdown
Moody's downgraded the U.S.'s credit outlook
A recent government bond auction went worse than expected
The U.S. has attacked Iranian proxies in Syria
Xi Jinping is visiting the U.S. with a backdrop of the two companies becoming more distant economically
Heirloom Carbon has opened the first commercial carbon capture facility in the U.S.
Home insurance in Florida is becoming more scarce and more expensive
2023-11-161h 42Out of OrderEpisode 23: History of the UAWThis week's current events:
Election night 2023
A new Siena-New York Times poll puts Trump squarely ahead of Biden
A major offshore wind developer pulls out of two projects off New Jersey
The Biden administration invests in Amtrak
Updates to the situation in Gaza
Trump's legal troubles mount
This week's deep dive covers United Auto Workers, from their inception in 1935 to now. We cover the power of the union, how they were taken over by the Administration Caucus, the decline of union power in the late 1970's, the scandals faced in the 2000's, and the resurgence happening right...2023-11-102h 13Out of OrderEpisode 22: Tax Evasion
This week's current events:
We have a Speaker of the House: Mike Johnson. Who is he, and how'd it go down?
U.S. GDP grew at 4.9 percent in the third quarter
The AfD is gaining ground in state elections in Germany
UAW reaches tentative deals with the big three automakers to end their strike
Israel begun its ground invasion of Gaza
The new push in Congress to fund Israel
In this episode's deep dive, we discuss tax evasion, based off a new report that came out in October. We analyze the major avenues for tax evasion, how...2023-11-021h 59Out of OrderEpisode 21: Israel-PalestineThis week's current events:
The September CPI report shows inflation continues to slow
The Republican Speaker of the House circus continues
UAW leadership arranges walkouts at more highly profitable plants to keep the pressure on automakers
The Biden administration has announced new restrictions on exports of semiconductors and semiconductor-related technology to China and other countries of interests
China responds by restricting graphite exports
China is cracking down on Foxconn, the manufacturer of the iPhone
The Biden administration has lifted sanctions on Venezuelan oil to reward the foreign government for announcing it will hold internationally monitored fair elections
Argentina...2023-10-252h 37Out of OrderEpisode 20: Climate Change Pt. 4NOTE: Like our last episode, this one was recorded on October 6th. In the past two weeks, Ben was on vacation and then Anthony was, so we haven't recorded recently. Our next episode will be released on October 25th, covering a slew of current events and doing a deep dive on the history and current situation between Israel and Palestine.
This episode's current events:
- The Consumer Financial Bureau is facing a legal threat, but it looks unlikely to go through
- Sanctions have failed to hit Russia's oil income, but have succeeded in curbing their natural gas output
...2023-10-191h 19Out of OrderEpisode 19: Ukraine FundingThis week's current events:
Kevin McCarthy avoids a government shutdown, but then gets ousted as Speaker
Dianne Feinstein has passed away, and Governor Newsom of California has appointed Laphonza Butler as her replacement
Trump is convicted of fraudulently inflating the value of his assets
UAW continues to win, with concessions from General Motors regarding its EV battery plants
Union election petitions have skyrocketed since September, partly due to the CEMEX ruling at that time
In this week's deep dive, we looked at who funds Ukraine. While the EU and the U.S. are the biggest contributors, other...2023-10-191h 25Out of OrderEpisode 18: Global Warming Pt. 3
This week's current events:
Biden administration grants Temporary Protected Status to about 470,000 Venezuelans, instantly making it legal for them to work
We continue to plod towards a government shutdown
The Supreme Court once again tells Alabama it needs to properly represent its black voters in its Congressional map
The leaders of the WGA agree to a tentative deal to end the writers' strike
The UAW expands its strike against Stellantis and GM
Biden administration seeks to scrub medical debt from credit scores
FTC v. Amazon begins
Refugee resettlements are on the rise
Biden administration announces a Civilian Climate...2023-09-282h 35Out of OrderEpisode 17: Global Warming Pt. 2This Week's Current Events:
The U.S. government is edging towards a shutdown because of internal dysfunction within the Republican party
The United Auto Workers union (UAW) has begun to go on strike
The August Inflation Report
A Republican-sponsored Senate bill has been introduced to raise the minimum wage and simultaneously crack down harder on undocumented immigrants
A Pennsylvania special election spells good news for Democrats in 2024
At the U.N. summit, Biden aims to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel
In our deep dive this week, we discuss the humanitarian effects that climate change may...2023-09-201h 48Out of OrderEpisode 16: Global Warming Pt. 1Our Current Events This Week:
Kevin McCarthy is using his powers as Speaker to impeach Joe Biden
The Freedom Caucus wants to shut down the government if it doesn't get its way with the budget
Germany is facing a budget fight of their own
Migrant crises in major American cities
The IRS is going to crack down on millionaires evading taxes because of tools and manpower granted by new funding
The powerful COVID-era safety net policies from the Biden administration are now running dry
A new report on Child Tax Credit spending shows it's mostly productive
Ron DeSantis...2023-09-142h 07Out of OrderEpisode 15: Commercial Real EstateOur Current Events This Week:
Ron DeSantis's map for the Florida legislature is deemed unconstitutional
The Pro-DeSantis super-PAC is stopping door-knocking operations in Nevada
The federal program WIC, which provides food for needy families, could get cut in this fall's Congressional budget battle
President Biden's administration has issued a report recommending the privatization of water systems
The National Labor Relations Board has changed unionization rules so that unions are automatically formed if a company is charged with union-busting behavior
A quick look at polling in some key Senate races
The July jobs report
In this week's deep...2023-09-071h 40Out of OrderEpisode 14: Political MediaOur current events for this episode:
The first Republican primary debate
Wildfires in Hawaii
New research out of MIT that could be huge for renewable energy storage
Woman shot and killed over flying the pride flag
A group of six cops performing hate crimes
Minneapolis avoiding the worst of inflation because of its liberal housing policies
A lawsuit against FINRA that could threaten any and all self-regulating government bodies
Joe Biden's SAVE plan for people with student loans
The Trump team floating a 10% tariff on all imports
Our deep dive this week is on political media. Whether...2023-08-302h 03Out of OrderEpisode 13: Universal Basic IncomeThis week's current events:
The fourth indictment of Donald Trump
A sad story of a girl who became a mother against her will
A win for climate protections in Montana
Should Germany ban the far-right AFD party?
China's present economic collapse
Danger for the Republican party due to the farm bill
A hitch in the U.S.-Canada relationship after stalled negotiations on how to tax big tech
In this week's deep dive, we cover universal basic income. What is it? Why might it be helpful in our current moment? What are its strengths, according to studies...2023-08-181h 55Out of OrderEpisode 12: Healthcare
In this episode's current events, we covered:- Fitch's recent downgrades of U.S. bonds- The Biden administration's campaign to reinstate the Davis-Bacon Act to set a wage floor for construction workers on public projects- The effects of the climate provisions in Biden's recent Infrastructure bill on farmers- The July jobs report- Updates on the situation in Niger after the coup, including the decision by ECOWAS to not invade- Updates to the situation regarding Trump's most recent indictmentIn our deep dive, we breakdown the American healthcare system. What kinds of health outcomes do we have here? What percentage of...2023-08-091h 50Out of OrderEpisode 11: NeoliberalismThis week's current events:
The latest Trump Indictment, this time relating to the riots at the capitol on January 6, 2021
New polling on the likely Biden-Trump rematch in 2024
A boom in housing construction correlating to slowing rent increases across the country
Progress on the UPS strike for part-time workers
The painful economic effects of extreme heat caused by climate change
An American epiphany that Chinese malware is likely embedded in our infrastructure systems in an attempt to slow down any response to an invasion of Taiwan
A military coup in Niger
In our book club...2023-08-032h 58Out of OrderEpisode 10: The Global Food System
Another week, another episode. This week, our current events largely lie in the realm of politics, where we discuss a recent special election in Wisconsin, the changing outlook of college towns, a complex dynamic in this past weekend's Spanish election, and Republican primary polling in Iowa and other early states. Besides that, we talk about the recent Kerch Strait Bridge bombing by Ukrainian forces and a horrifyingly racist story in Alabama.
In our book club this week, the topic was companies. We discuss court cases that led to caps on punitive damages, restrictions on class action lawsuits, and increased...2023-07-262h 21Out of OrderEpisode 9: Immigration
We kick it off with this week’s current events:
- Tax prep companies breached customers’ privacy by selling their sensitive financial and personal data to advertising companies like Google and Meta
- Microsoft acquired Activision-Blizzard
- Hollywood’s writers (WGA) and actors (SAG-AFTRA) unions have gone on - strike
- The most recent American inflation report was released
- Russia is facing budgetary gaps that it is looking to fill with windfall taxes on its companies
- New data out of China shows a 12.4% YoY drop in exports, as well as some interesting insights about some of its tradin...2023-07-192h 27Out of OrderEpisode 8: War in Afghanistan
In our current events, we start with new export controls by the Dutch to prevent ASML ultraviolet lithography machines from going to China. China responded with its own export controls on the important minerals gallium and germanium. In further supply chain news, we discuss car manufacturers' new partnerships with lithium mining companies to ramp up production. To conclude this section, we discuss three recent Supreme Court decisions.
For our book club, we read chapter 8 of "Supreme Inequality" by Adam Cohen, titled "Democracy." This chapter discusses the Bush v. Gore case of 2000, gerrymandering, voter ID laws, and voter roll purges.
...2023-07-122h 34Out of OrderEpisode 7: Is Taxation Theft?
Our first remote podcast, with Ben being on vacation. In the current events, we discuss the recent short-lived coup in Russia led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner paramilitary group. Then we note China's efforts to increase military activities in Cuba. In domestic news, a new report has shown test scores continuing to decline in the U.S. In the U.K., the economy is in crisis because of excessive mortgage burdens for their citizens. And finally, the Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana had to redistrict for better representation of black voters.
In our book club segment...2023-07-122h 21Out of OrderEpisode 6: US-China, Part 3: Chips
In current events, we discuss U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's recent summit with Chairman Xi Jinping and other high-ranking officials in China, New York's move to protect doctors providing abortion care to U.S. citizens in states with bans, Ron DeSantis's campaign strategy of trying to outflank Donald Trump on the right of abortion, and highly anticipated Supreme Court decisions coming this summer.
In our book club, we discuss chapter 3 of "Supreme Inequality" by Adam Cohen, which focuses mostly on the effects of the Supreme Court's 1972 ruling on San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez and its 1973...2023-06-222h 38Out of OrderEpisode 5: US-China Relations, South China SeaCurrent events, a book club discussing chapter 2 of Supreme Inequality, and a deep dive into tensions in the South China Sea. Enjoy!2023-06-152h 14Out of OrderEpisode 4: US-China Part 1
We start by discussing a plethora of current events:
- The debt ceiling bill-turned-law and the Congressional drama that came with it
- Southwestern states' agreement to cut back on water use to prevent the drought of the Colorado River
- The J.D. Vance-Elizabeth Warren Senate alliance to hold banking executives accountable
- The May jobs report
- Protests in Kosovo
- U.S. partnership with Australia to support greentech development
- Supreme Court ruling against labor unions
Then, in our book club segment, we discuss the Introduction and Chapter 1 of "Supreme Inequality" by Adam Cohen, which goes...2023-06-072h 12Out of OrderEpisode 3: Trump Tax CutsWe kick off our episode with a discussion on the recent debt ceiling deal, Russia-Ukraine War developments, and Ron DeSantis's presidential campaign announcement on Twitter.
For our book club this week, we explore the concluding chapters of "People, Power, and Profits" by Joseph Stiglitz. We offer our opinions on his prescriptions for an American progressive agenda and the book as a whole.
Our deep dive explores the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, also known as the Trump Tax Cuts, on workers and the broader economy.
#PoliticalPodcast #CurrentEvents #BookClubDiscussion #DeepDive #DebtCeilingDeal #RussiaUkraineWar #RonDeSantis #TrumpTaxCuts #TaxReform...2023-05-312h 44Out of OrderEpisode 2: DemocracyAnthony and Ben discuss current events, including debt ceiling negotiations, mayoral elections in Colorado Springs and Jacksonville, and the recent governor primary in Kentucky. Next up is our book club segment, discussing the effects of globalization, tech, and more on income and wealth inequality. And finally we have a discussion on the merits of democracy and whether there could be a better system.
#podcast #politics #debtceiling #debate #mayor #government #democracy2023-05-263h 00Out of OrderEpisode 1 - Zoning ReformOur inaugural episode! We start with current events including debt ceiling negotiations between President Biden and Kevin McCarthy, Dianne Feinstein's return to the Senate, Donald Trump's recent CNN town hall, and the killing of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway. Then we get into our book club segment, where we discuss the first three chapters of People, Power, and Profits by Joseph Stiglitz. And finally, we do a deep dive into recent zoning reforms that have been enacted around the country to enable more housing construction.2023-05-131h 53