James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the extreme reactions seen following Zoran Mamdani’s New York City mayor election victory, including how many in the media and politics (including Republicans and even some Democrats) have been freaking out, and consider what factors may be driving it.  The guys also take a look at the enthusiasm from Mamdani’s supporters and how Mamdani will need to navigate the heightened expectations and potential for disappointment that they bring over the course of his term.

Zohran Mamdani took on the entire political establishment — and won (Salon)

Why the media (not just MAGA) is freaked out over Mamdani (Margaret Sullivan Substack)

'Holy S**t!': Jordan Klepper Totally Delights Over Right-Wing Mamdani Freak-Out (Huff Post)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at Pope Leo XIV’s recent criticism of economies that have the wealthy live in “bubble of comfort and luxury” while marginalizing the poor and discuss some of the predatory aspects of the American economic system as well as how many of America’s most common economic measures may cover up how difficult things are for working people.  

Pope Leo condemns economies that marginalize the poor while the wealthy live in a bubble of luxury (AP News)

More Americans are financing groceries with buy now, pay later loans — and more are paying those bills late, survey says (CNBC)

GoFundMe CEO says the economy is so bad that more of his customers are crowdfunding just to pay for their groceries (Yahoo! Finance)

As billionaire wealth soars $33 trillion, Mark Cuban says it’s time for workers to receive a cut of their employers’ success in the form of stocks (Yahoo! Finance)

Ray Dalio says America is developing a ‘dependency’ on the top 1% of workers, while the bottom 60% are struggling and unproductive (Fortune)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to how widespread the recent No Kings Protests were and discuss how they reflect something deep inside the Americans psyche.  The guys also consider why some Americans in power and in places of influence, like Rep Mike Johnson or comedian Joe Rogan were apparently so bothered by these peaceful demonstrations that reflected Americans’ longstanding disdain for unchecked and concentrated power.

From Texas to Tennessee, Even Trump Country Is Marching Against Trump (Mother Jones)

Joe Rogan: Protesters are all ‘losers’ funded by Dems and ‘FBI agents’ (NJ.com)

Joe Rogan Falls Hard For A Trump Hoax In Rant At 'No Kings' Protesters (Yahoo! News)

3 takeaways from Saturday's No Kings nationwide protests (NPR)

Republicans mostly silent as millions of Americans protest Trump on No Kings day (The Guardian)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss a couple of sections that stood out in Morgan Housel’s 2020 book, “The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness.”

The Psychology of Money (Bookshop.org)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to recent comments from billionaire investor Ray Dalio, who suggests that a new civil war that is developing in the US and that economic issues such as out of control public debt and the massive wealth gap are key drivers of it.  The guys also consider the extent to which these very economic issues indicate that the culture war disputes may just misdirecting attention from actual class warfare.

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio warns of ‘civil war’ amid spiraling US debt, global turmoil and wealth inequality (The Independent - UK)

Marc Benioff Says Trump Should Send Guard Troops to San Francisco (NY Times)

Musk calls for federal troops in San Francisco even as Benioff softens stance (CNBC)

James Keys and Tunde take a look at the growing trend in Canada which is seeing more and more people take advantage of the country’s expansive euthanasia and medical assistance in dying policies to end their life on their own terms, so to speak, and consider ways this seems to impact family dynamics as well as the medical system and legal system in Canada.

Canada is Killing Itself (The Atlantic) (Apple News Link)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss a section from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s fourth and final book, "Where Do We Go From Here, Chaos or Community," which was published in 1967.  The guys focus on a few of King's observations in the book's third chapter, "Racism and the White Backlash," and consider how well these observations hold up in light of the course of events in the U.S. over the past 15 year or so.

Where Do We Go from Here - Chaos or Community? (bookshop.org)

Megyn Kelly blames Obama for America’s divisions in reaction to Charlie Kirk’s murder (Yahoo! News)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at the 2020 PBS documentary “McCarthy - Power Feeds on Fear,” which tells the story of US Senator Joe McCarthy and his anti-communism demagoguery in the 1950s.  The guys also discuss the things in that society that allowed it to happen or even promoted it and what characteristics can make societies more susceptible to a demagogue takeover.

"McCarthy - Power Feeds on Fear" (PBS)

James Keys and Tunde react to recent reports that Medicare will start paying AI companies what could be considered a bounty for every health coverage claim their AI software rejects, discuss how this kind of incentive will play out in the real world, and consider why the US has such a hard time addressing problems in its health care system even though there are so many working examples around the globe.

Medicare Will Start Paying AI Companies a Share of Any Claims They Automatically Reject (Futurism)

Report: U.S. spends the most on health but outcomes are among the worst (Association of Health Care Journalists)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss Gavin Newsom’s new social media approach, why it has gotten such a positive and negative reaction from both the public and political and media elites, and what it means, if anything, for political communications in the US moving forward.

How Gavin Newsom trolled his way to the top of social media (Politico)

Gavin Newsom is expertly trolling Fox News stars by mimicking Trump online — right down to the nicknames (The Independent)