John and Tim muse on saying “Merry Christmas.” We review Christmas tree trivia. Then, John and Tim launch into a ‘clip show,” drawing on times when they surprised each other with heterodox opinions on China and the Department of Education. They share moments from interviews with Bob Ricks, Lisa Ekman, Gina Bennett, and Wes Pritchett. The Buddies play pieces related to Charlie Kirk and hope as well as feature a Bald, Blind, and Buddies original spoof.

This is a wonderful place to join The Buddies and start listening.

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After a podcast update and a round of trivia, John and Tim play what do those song lyrics really mean.

Then, the buddies explore a damning report from UC San Diego describing how a growing proportion of its admitted students are unable to do even middle school math. We touch on grade inflation, elimination of standardized testing, and the longer education complex. We explore technology in the classroom and the dichotomy between perception of education writ large and one’s local school.

As a further example of the floundering of the longer-ed complex, Tim offers his whack-job, John Lucas, a vice chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison whose job appears to be to provide innocuous banalities in response to real questions.

Our hero acted swiftly to prevent further loss of life during tragedy.

Referred to:

American Kids Cannot Do Math Anymore - The Atlantic

UCSD Senate Administration Work Group on Admissions Report

Campus Reform | UW–Madison students report new wave of violent political stickers across campus

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This Holiday Season is a time for sharing, so remember to share this podcast with your friends and family.

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We discuss Senator Mark Kelly’s video urging troops not to follow illegal orders and the related blowback. How is Trump using presidential authority differently and what might constitute an illegal order.

We pass through the looking glass into a world of an AI voice clone of John.

Tim’s whack-job is anyone who cares about Lane Kiffin’s next coaching gig, and John does not understand why people follow The Royals.

John’s hero is waking up from a long slumber.

Referred to:

Opinion | Pete Hegseth, not Mark Kelly, should be facing justice - The Washington Post

Is Military Law Federal Law? Explaining the UCMJ’s Role - UCMJ - Uniform Code of Military Justice - Military Law

Boat Strike Revelations Spur Bipartisan Anger at Hegseth | TIME

Lane Kiffin inspires coaching carousel chaos like no other, from Al Davis to the airport - The Athletic

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John Boland and Timothy Cordes each share three observations that give them hope. From the Catholic Church to the New York Football Giants, and from politics to universities. They praise ingenuity and the American spirit which is refreshed by immigrants.

John and Tim recount heroes who have saved lives, enriched lives, and creatively looked out for others.

Referred to:

James Harrison, whose rare blood protected millions of babies, dies at 88

A Prominent Federal Judge Declares He Will No Longer Hire Clerks from Yale Law School

More Campuses Earn “Green Light” Free Speech Ratings From FIRE

At Catholic Churches, Trump’s Immigration Crackdown Takes Center Stage - The New York Times

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John Boland and Timothy Cordes discuss the pending release of the Jeffrey Epstein documents, acknowledging the evil that Epstein and his facilitators perpetrated.

 We ponder if the wealthy operate under different rules and why. We discuss complicity and opportunism both first ignoring Epstein and now scrutinizing the files. We discuss the dangers of moral relativism and wonder about any further fallout from the release.

Tim’s whack-jobs, the Regents of the Universities of Wisconsin pay a quarter million dollars to not have to admit they discriminated based on race.

John’s heroes did something unfathomably hard.

Referred to:

The banality of evil: how Epstein’s powerful friends normalized him | Jeffrey Epstein | The Guardian

Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story: Brown, Julie K. Amazon.com

UW Board of Regents settles racial discrimination lawsuit for $265,000 - WPR

U. of Wisconsin Apologizes for Doctoring Photo to Portray Campus as Diverse

Pray for Tyler Robinson’s Family - WSJ

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Timothy Cordes and John Boland dive into lawfare, the use of law for political ends.

But first, they give an update on College-Associated Minor League Football. They try to interpret a U-2 song lyric, and John offers baseball trivia.

Tim and John try to define lawfare. Tim asserts that part of the problem is the vagaries of federal law and the power of the DOJ making anyone vulnerable. John is appalled at how Trump is going after political enemies. Tim points out the hypocrisy of those whose opinion of the tool itself depends on who is wielding it.

John calls out the Trump ballroom and Tim praises the Wisconsin legislature for working toward cell phone bans in public schools.

Referred to:

 Three Felonies A Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent: Harvey Silverglate, Alan M. Dershowitz

Trump pick Stephen Miran confirmed to Federal Reserve Board; will also keep White House job

Without Intent Revisited: Assessing the Intent Requirement in Federal Criminal Law 10 Years Later | The Heritage Foundation

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Big Apple goes red delicious with communism

We discuss China, acknowledging its magnitude and progress. We consider whether it is a threat, and if so, what to do about it. Tim offers an analogy for China’s preoccupation with Taiwan and wisdom from Winston Churchill.

Tim’s whack-job is the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public health (UWSMPH).

John’s hero paid the troops.

Referred to:

Apple in China - by Patrick McGee

Blood Money: Why the Powerful Turn a Blind Eye While China Kills Americans | peterschweizer.com

Timothy Mellon Is Donor Who Gave $130 Million to Pay Troops During Shutdown - NYT

Medical Schools Still Discriminate Based on Race, Records Show

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Lawfare: What is it and who started it?

Timothy Cordes and John Boland dive into lawfare.

But first, they give an update on College-Associated Minor League Football. They try to interpret a U-2 song lyric, and John offers baseball trivia.

Tim and John try to define lawfare. Tim asserts that part of the problem is the vagaries of federal law and the power of the DOJ making anyone vulnerable. John is appalled at how Trump is going after political enemies, and this shouldn’t be happening in the United States. Tim points out the hypocrisy of those whose opinion of the tool itself depends on whether they are wielding it.

John calls out the Trump ballroom and Tim praises the Wisconsin legislature for working toward cell phone bans in public schools.

Referred to:

 Three Felonies A Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent: Harvey Silverglate, Alan M. Dershowitz

Trump pick Stephen Miran confirmed to Federal Reserve Board; will also keep White House job

Without Intent Revisited: Assessing the Intent Requirement in Federal Criminal Law 10 Years Later | The Heritage Foundation

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Timothy Cordes and John Boland talk with Professor Randall Coyne who tells us about his experiences on the defense team for Timothy McVeigh and the effects the trial had for him personally. We talk about the defense, theories of the case, drumming, and a little football.

Referred to:

Bio — Randall Coyne

Timothy McVeigh, my dad, and me: How the Oklahoma City trial came home with us - Salon.com

Prisoner of Woodstock book by Dallas Taylor

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