Call It Like I See It

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider what the Trump Administration’s efforts to gaslight the public on the Jeffrey Epstein files says about both Donald Trump and his MAGA followers, and discuss why Trump so far is having such a hard time getting his followers to fall in line on this issue.

Pam Bondi’s botched handling of the Epstein files (CNN)

Republicans block effort to force release of Epstein files in Congress (The Independent)

Bongino still in limbo as Trump fumes and JD Vance seeks to play mediator, sources say (CNN)

'Weaklings': Trump lashes out at supporters over 'Jeffrey Epstein hoax' (USAToday)

What Trump Has Said About Jeffrey Epstein Over the Years (Rolling Stone)

Trump begins openly embracing and amplifying false fringe QAnon conspiracy theory (PBS)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at some recent research that suggests marijuana use may be connected to some serious health problems, including life threatening cardiovascular issues, and consider whether this means that legalization efforts have been misguided or counterproductive.

Smoking weed and consuming THC-laced edibles linked to early heart disease, study finds (CNN)

Cannabis Use Is Linked to Epigenetic Changes, Scientists Discover (Science Alert)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to Elon Musk’s talk of starting a new political party, the America Party, and consider the reasons why Musk cannot be taken seriously with something like this, and the reasons why Musk has to be taken seriously with something like this.  The guys also discuss how third parties have played a key role in many elections in American history and how extreme polarization in modern American politics may be setting the stage for a third party to go beyond a spoiler and actually be able to exert considerable control.

Elon Musk's New Party: Who Has Declared Interest? (Newsweek)

Elon Musk's new US political party faces steep challenges (Reuters)

The Civil War That Never Ended (NY Times)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the recent comments from Superman director James Gunn about how he expects that his Superman movie will be offensive to some because it’s about kindness, particularly in light of the way many studios and creatives have kowtowed to criticism when it was received from certain sectors of the public.

James Gunn: Some people will take offence at my new Superman (The Times)

Superman vs. the KKK! Yes, Really. (Book Riot)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to Zohran Mamdani's win in the Democratic Party’s New York City mayoral primary and the political frenzy that it sparked, which included attacks coming not just from members of the Republican Party but also members of Mamdani’s own Democratic Party.  The guys also discuss how Mamdani calling himself a Democratic Socialist may affect how he will be as much as his Islamic religion, his immigrant background, and his non-white ethnicity.

Zohran Mamdani declares victory in NYC’s Democratic mayoral primary as Cuomo concedes (AP News)

Mamdani's stunning upset carries risks, rewards for national Democrats (Reuters)

The socialist takeover of the Democratic Party (Washington Times)

Attacks on Muslims flood mainstream after Mamdani win (Axios)

A roadmap to beat Trump? How rise of Zohran Mamdani is dividing Democrats (The Guardian)

MAGA right attacks Zohran Mamdani’s religion following his win (Politico)

Zohran Mamdani: 10 things about Uganda‑born Democratic nominee for New York City mayor (The Africa Report)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at the increasing dominance of private equity in the US economy and what may be contributing to it, and also consider how some approaches that have commonly been favored by private equity, when deployed in more and more areas in the economy, may end up working against the interests of most stakeholders.

“We’ve Been Sold a Story That Isn’t Remotely True”: How Private-Equity Billionaires Killed the American Dream (Vanity Fair)

The Secretive Industry Devouring the U.S. Economy (The Atlantic)

The profit-obsessed monster destroying American emergency rooms (Vox)

Private equity's positive impact on the US economy highlighted in new report (InvestmentNews.com)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss Tunde’s recent business trip to Israel which had him on the ground in Israel when Israel and Iran began exchanging missile attacks.  The guys go through what it was like to be in a place when missiles can be seen and felt flying overhead and the perspective on life that you can get when you go to bed knowing missiles will be coming and you wake up on some days to reports of casualties.

Israel strikes Iran’s nuclear sites and kills top generals. Iran retaliates with missile barrages (AP News)

The math behind the war: Can Israel's air defense keep up against Iranian attacks? (NPR)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to Disney and Universal, two of the biggest players in Hollywood, going after the generative AI company Midjourney for copyright infringement and consider why they may be taking action now as well as how this move could influence the extent to which generative AI will be held to existing legal standards for copyright and beyond.

How the Disney-Midjourney Lawsuit Could Reshape the Battle Over AI and Copyright (Time)

Disney and Universal Sue A.I. Firm for Copyright Infringement (NY Times)

Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney over images (BBC)

OpenAI declares AI race “over” if training on copyrighted works isn’t fair use (Arstechnica)

Reddit Lawsuit Comes Amid Anthropic’s New AI Models For U.S. National Security Customers (TechDogs)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at the debate about trans women participating in women’s sports that seems to pop up fairly regularly, and consider whether there are really two good faith sides to the debate and whether it is likely, or possible, that a consensus among reasonable people can be reached at some point in the future.

World Boxing Apologizes to Imane Khelif After Announcing New Sex-Testing Policy (Time)

Trans athlete wins two girls events at California track and field finals (NBC News)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at some of the more insightful life lessons illustrated by the boy, the Englishman, and the Alchemist himself, in Paulo Coelho’s international bestselling book, “The Alchemist.”

"The Alchemist" (paulocoelho.com)