Call It Like I See It

“Prohibition”, the 2011 documentary miniseries, gives a pretty extensive look at America’s experiment with the prohibition of alcohol, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss what stood out most in this Ken Burns and Lynn Novick documentary as well as the lessons we can and should take away from America’s failed prohibition experiment.

Prohibition: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (PBS)

Prohibition: A Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (Amazon Prime Video)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how several recent of laws and regulations enacted by Florida’s state government reveal an unmistakable trend of seizing power from local authorities and requiring that everyone follow decrees coming from the state capitol (01:11).  The guys also react to recent research which offers new insight into how the lifespan of mammals, including human beings, tends to work (36:07).

Florida rejects 41% of new math textbooks, citing critical race theory among its reasons (CNN)

DeSantis signs bill requiring Florida students, professors to register political views with state (Salon)

Florida’s law limiting LGBTQ discussion in schools, explained (WaPo)

Fla. governor signs bill requiring moment for school prayer (AP)

Florida lawmakers stopped cities from banning natural gas. Climate change plans suffered (Miami Herald)

Culture war is smart politics for DeSantis and Republicans (Yahoo News)

Mystery of why humans die around 80 may finally be solved (Yahoo News)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to a piece from Nobel laureate journalist and author Maria Ressa that breaks down how today’s media environment is in many ways biased against facts and explains how this can affect us all and threaten our societies (01:27).  The guys also discuss several unhealthy habits that many people have and how we can try to overcome the tendencies which lead us to them (36:33).

We’re All Being Manipulated the Same Way (The Atlantic)

Prevention Magazine - 7 Unhelpful Habits Everyone Should Quit (Apple News)

Seeing both the recent jump in gas prices and also the inflation on lots of items that has been building for some time, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the economic conditions that are leading to these things and whether there is any end in sight (01:35).  The guys also discuss what has been termed as the “collapse “ in U.S. population growth and why could be cause for concern (35:37).

A key inflation gauge sets 40-year high as gas and food soar (AP)

Opinion: Gas prices are way up, but real cost of driving a mile was higher for most of the past century (MarketWatch)

Unemployment hits pandemic low in March, but uncertainty looms ahead (WaPo)

Here’s where the jobs are — in one chart (CNBC)

Why U.S. Population Growth Is Collapsing (The Atlantic)

The metaverse is coming, and it appears it could transform our real and virtual lives, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at what is starting to happen in nascent platforms and consider what makes the metaverse both an exciting and risking commercial opportunity (01:24).  The guys also discuss recent reports that microplastics have been found circulating in human body (31:31).

Making money in the metaverse: Early adopters seek real-life fortunes in virtual world (CBS News)

Why Wall Street thinks the metaverse will be worth trillions (Forbes) (Apple News)

How To Buy Land & Real Estate In The Metaverse (Forbes)

How the metaverse will transform health (Vitamin Z)

A Japanese company wants you to feel real pain in the metaverse (InterestingEngineering.com)

Microplastics have been found in air, water, food and now ... human blood (Yahoo!)

How to Eat Less Plastic (Consumer Reports)

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was put in place over 70 years ago in response to the threat posed by the Soviet Union, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at how the alliance has responded to Russia’s recent aggression in Ukraine and how this aggression has illustrated its continued importance (01:29).  The guys also react to recent research into so called “elite sleepers” and discuss how this trait can be both helpful and harmful in navigating life’s many challenges (40:16). 

How the West Marshaled a Stunning Show of Unity Against Russia (NY Times)

‘Every inch of NATO’: Blinken seeks to deter any Russia thought of pushing beyond Ukraine (WaPo)

What Is NATO’s Article 5? (History.com)

Only NATO Can Save Putin (The Atlantic)

Video - Secretary Blinken Says Russian President Putin "Surprised" by NATO Solidarity on Ukraine (CSPAN)

What 'elite sleepers' can tell us all about the eight hour myth (Yahoo)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which Americans of all political persuasions have drawn to more pessimistic political messaging and discuss how this affects our ability to deal with societal challenges (01:26).  The guys also take a look at President Biden’s recent executive order on cryptocurrency and consider whether crypto may be going mainstream (28:13).

Politics of pessimism: Why neither party is selling the American dream (Christian Science Monitor)

Biden just put out an executive order on cryptocurrencies — here’s everything that’s in it (CNBC)

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine involves not just kinetic action but also efforts to influence people’s perceptions of what is happening and why, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at how powerful media persuasion and propaganda can be and discuss how the American system is designed to limit this (01:44).  The guys also weigh in on the never-ending debate about breakfast over whether it is the most important meal of the day or completely unnecessary (46:28).

Ukraine war: 'My city's being shelled, but mum won’t believe me' (BBC)

Last Vestiges of Russia’s Free Press Fall Under Kremlin Pressure (NY Times)

Is Breakfast Really That Important for All-Day Energy? Here’s What the Science Says — EatingWell (Apple News)

Johnson & Johnson, and several other companies, recently agreed to pay billions to settle claims over their role in fueling the opioid crisis, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider what the settlements say about the ongoing crisis and what other factors still need to be addressed to help address the many factors that brought us here (01:24).  The guys also discuss recent studies which suggest that people of all ages and from various places are having less sex (40:51).

4 U.S. companies will pay $26 billion to settle claims they fueled the opioid crisis (NPR)

OxyContin victims fight for their share in Purdue bankruptcy case (The Guardian)

The opioid epidemic isn’t unsolvable (Vox)

The True Cause of the Opioid Epidemic (The Atlantic)

What is the U.S. Opioid Epidemic? (HHS.gov)

People Have Been Having Less Sex—whether They’re Teenagers or 40-Somethings (Scientific American)

The crisis in Ukraine has appeared to be on the brink of boiling over for a while, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the nature of the dispute and how it fits in to the larger geopolitical picture (1:25).  The guys also take a look at some of the exploits of and challenges face by the Tuskegee Airmen and consider what their story says about America’s untapped potential (45:56).

What does Putin want in Ukraine? The conflict explained (CNN)

Putin’s Endgame: Unravel the Post-Cold War Agreements That Humiliated Russia (Wall Street Journal)

Zelensky rips the West for inaction as shelling makes Russia-Ukraine war seem increasingly imminent (WaPo)

Russian disinformation kicks into high gear as Ukraine crisis drags on (LA Times)

Letters to the Editor: If you think NATO is the real threat, you're falling for Russian propaganda (LA Times)

Tuskegee Airmen (Wikipedia)

The Tuskegee Airmen (Military.com)

The Tuskegee Airmen Won the First Air Force 'Top Gun' Aerial Gunnery Competition (Military.com)