Call It Like I See It

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the revelation that Texas Republican Kay Granger, a member of Congress, has been absent from her job and living in an assisted living facility for dementia patients for the past few months (01:48).  The guys also consider the power of online negativity has, which may even extend to being able to reshape our perceptions of things we experienced firsthand (25:20) and weigh in on all the hand wringing about the nba ratings declines and what may be driving it (44:31).

Kay Granger is residing in assisted-living facility, her son tells Dallas publication (Politico)

Report of 'Missing' GOP Congresswoman in Senior Facility Sparks Backlash (Newsweek)

What Is Negativity Bias and How Can It Be Overcome? (Positive Psychology)

Negative expressions are shared more on Twitter for public figures than for ordinary users (NIH.gov)

We’ve Misunderstood Human Nature for 100 Years (NY Times)

NBA ratings are down. Three-pointers are up. And the discourse is everywhere (WaPo)

NBA Ratings Tank While The NFL Jumps. What’s Behind The Viewership Contrast? (Daily Wire)

Where does the NBA stand in the ratings? (Sports Media Watch)

Kevin Durant ‘locked in’ to solve ratings dilemma as he admits ‘rough patch’ for the NBA (Awful Announcing)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to Drake’s accusations that Universal Music Group and Spotify conspired to illegally boost Kendrick Lamar’s hit song “Not Like Us,” and consider the implication of his claims from a Technofeudalism perspective.  (01:29).  The guys also consider whether the label “ultra processed” is being used too generally in reference to foods like meat substitutes like Impossible Burgers and Beyond Burgers (19:48) and weigh in on the controversy involving Trinity Rodman and her father “by blood but nothing else,” Dennis Rodman (37:30).

Drake Is Taking His Kendrick Lamar Beef to Court (Vulture)

You’re being lied to about “ultra-processed” foods (Vox)

Dennis Rodman’s Daughter, Trinity, Says NBA Star Is Her Dad “By Blood, But Nothing Else” (Vibe)

Trinity Rodman Calls Her Father Dennis Rodman's Apology 'a Joke': 'I'm Done' (People)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to the reports that high rises along the Miami coastline are sinking (01:39).  The guys also discuss the widespread use and abuse of ADHD drugs like Adderall in educational and work settings (14:25) and weigh in on the bombshell rape accusations against rapper jay-z and his aggressive response to them (34:45).

Dozens of luxury condos, hotels in Miami sinking at ‘unexpected’ rates, new study reveals (Yahoo! News)

The World’s Fastest-Sinking Megacity Has One Last Chance to Save Itself (Bloomberg)

Is Venice sinking? Yes, but there’s more to the story (Go Ahead Tours)

The Drugs Young Bankers Use to Get Through the Day—and Night (Wall Street Journal)

Breaking Down Jay-Z’s Addition to a Diddy Case (Vulture)

Jay-Z’s Lawyers File Motion Claiming Accuser’s Attorney Pressured a Client to Link Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to Unrelated Case (Variety)

Who is Tony Buzbee, the lawyer suing Jay-Z as part of civil cases against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs? (AP News)

A timeline from accusation to admission: Crystal Mangum says she lied about Duke rape, turning a 2006 scandal on its head (CNN)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the public reaction to the shooting of the United Healthcare CEO and break down why this will not hinder the parasitic healthcare insurers (01:22).  The guys also weigh in on the new gender policy that has been adopted by the LPGA and the USGA and the hidden downside it presents (36:16).

A timeline of the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and search for his killer (AP)

New York prosecutors charge suspect with murder in death of UnitedHealthcare CEO (NPR)

CEO killing latest: Luigi Mangione's writings revealed (MSN)

In 2021, 72% of UnitedHealth’s $222.9 billion health plan revenue came from taxpayers.

How Often Do Health Insurers Say No to Patients? No One Knows. (ProPublica)

Murdered health insurance boss Brian Thompson backed 'malicious' AI that denied 90% of patient coverage (Daily Mail)

LPGA, USGA gender policy updates include female-at-birth clause (ESPN)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to claims made in a recent congressional hearing that multiple countries are leveraging alien technology as a part of a decades long secret arms race (01:29).  The guys also weigh in on LL Cool J’s recent claim that he is the most important rapper of all time (27:46).

Alien Technology Is Driving a ‘Multidecade, Secretive Arms Race,’ Former Pentagon Official Claims (Popular Mechanics)

LL Cool J Greatest, Most Important Rapper Is ... ME!!! Does He Have a Point? (TMZ)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the 2023 documentary “Join or Die,” currently airing on Netflix, and weigh in on the case it made about that importance of people to participating in clubs and groups to maintaining a democratic society and on why the decline of community engagement in the US should have us all concerned (and ready to act).

Join or Die (Netflix)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider some recent comments on modern American politics by Denzel Washington on how we are all slaves to information and being manipulated by both sides (01:15).  The guys also weigh in on the recent exodus from Twitter/X (17:19) and up by reacting to some recent studies on how being bullied may change one’s brain (36:35).

Denzel Washington Says People ‘Better Realize’ They’re ‘Being Manipulated’ by Both Political Sides: ‘We’re All Slaves to Information Now’ (Yahoo! Entertainment)

X sees largest user exodus since Elon Musk takeover (NBC News)

What is Bluesky, the fast-growing social platform welcoming fleeing X users? (AP News)

We're starting to understand what being bullied does to the brain (New Scientist)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider whether chatbots are safe in light of the recent story about the 14 year old boy that killed himself allegedly to get closer to a chatbot he believed he had gotten close to. (01:31).  The guys also discuss whether Kamala Harris’ election loss is more about a Rejection of Harris and the Democratic Party, or an embrace of Donald Trump and the Republican Party (25:31).

A 14-Year-Old Boy Killed Himself to Get Closer to a Chatbot. He Thought They Were In Love. (Wall Street Journal)

US election briefing: Trump on track to win popular vote as millions of Biden voters desert Harris (The Guardian)

Bernie Sanders Stands by His Criticism of Democrats, Shrugging Off Nancy Pelosi: ‘Working People Are Extremely Angry’ (Yahoo News)

Kamala Harris is just the latest victim of global trend to oust incumbents (The Guardian)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss a few things that stood out in Yuval Noah Harari’s new book “Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI,” which looks at the role information and information networks have played in how human society has developed, and how the introduction of AI may be more revolutionary than we can imagine.

Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. (ynharari.com)

Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. (Penguin Random House)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to the claims that there is a double standard at play in the way some in the media and some voters treat Kamala Harris relative to Donald Trump (01:20).  The guys also consider what the decline in sex in movies says about our culture (33:41).

Michelle Obama Decries a ‘Double Standard’ in Treatment of Trump and Harris (NY Times)

The double standard for Harris and Trump has reached a breaking point (WaPo)

The Sexless State of Cinema, by the Numbers (The Ringer)