Drinkers & Thinkers

In episode 26 Dan is flying solo and has some things to say regarding June 24th SCOTUS ruling.

Beyond just the abortion issue, we talk about Saudi Arabia in advance of Joe Biden's apology tour to that country, we get an update on ANDREW GILLUM!!!!!, and we speak briefly about some election shenanigans.

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In Episode 25 Mike & Dan talk about the January 6th hearings. Can they be fruitful, or are they just deflecting attention from Congressional ineptitude?

Later we discuss the future and the staying power of Boris Johnson, who just survived a no-confidence vote from his own ranks.

We discuss guns and gun culture in the US in the wake of a spate of shootings.

Finally, a quick look at some of the 2022 races in the state of California

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In this episode Mike and Dan unintelligibly argue....erm....discuss ....the China and Taiwan dilemma. Republic of China or People's Republic? One China or a free and open Taiwan?

To summarize....Dan hates everything and Mike wants a nuclear war....to say we are more nuanced than that, would be lying!

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In Episode 23 Mike & Dan take on the 'crisis' at the border. We discuss the border itself, policy, roots of the growing anti-immigrant sentiment in America, and how we could move forward.

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Episode 22 has come very early as a result of the leaked SCOTUS ruling on abortion. Mike & Dan weigh in on the perspective ruling giving their thoughts on abortion; body autonomy; the legal decision itself; the political impact; and the leak.

We will be back on May 16th with our normally scheduled episode and until then, thanks for listening.

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In episode 21 Mike & Dan kick off talking about Elon Musk and his impending purchase of Twitter. They talk about what changes if any may occur, the damage that could be done to Elon's other business interests, and do people have the right to ceaselessly complain about every little thing.

The conversation takes a brief turn toward free speech and the notion that perhaps the human race isn't quite mature enough to handle the incredible tools that the internet has given us.

Pivoting to foreign affairs, the now concluded French elections are discussed, with incumbent Emmanuel Macron narrowly holding off the Nazi lady.

Finally in a quick back and forth, Arkansas' Governor Asa Hutchinson may jump into the 2024 GOP primary, taking on the better known heavyweights such as Trump and Desantis. Does it matter?

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In Episode 20 Dan is solo, and takes on a veritable grab bag of issues.

Ginni Thomas, wife of SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas has long swam in the far-right muck, but her profile has been raised now that her January 6th text messages came to light. Does a wife of a Justice get more scrutiny than the spouse of a congressperson or executive official?

After a recent subway shooting in New York City we chat about the safety of big cities and the way we view the different kinds of crime in urban cities.

Low-Skilled workers...a term that has long pissed Dan off, triggers his thoughts on labor in the US

In the first of two listener questions Al from the Bronx follows up on Mike & Dan's supply chain conversation and asks about the 'Right of Repair'.

Jay from Danbury asked about the Elon/Twitter saga, before it even got super interesting.

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Mike and Dan are back this week to talk about inflation and the wider economy.

We discuss where inflation is at and where it could go, and deliberate on the action (or inaction) of the Fed which has kept the US at near 0% interest for over a decade. What can the past tell us, and what can it teach us?

Were there indications that the global supply chain was vulnerable prior to Covid?  Was Covid the cause, or simply the thing that destroyed the illusion? We discuss the worldwide shipping and supply collapse and look beyond Covid and mull over what lessons could be learned.

Finally, is America's growing hostility toward immigration hampering recovery efforts, taking crucial and willing labor out of the economy, as well as reliable customers and taxpayers? THe GOP's crusade against the various forms of immigration is indeed taking it's toll.

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In this episode Dan is hosting solo, discussing Biden's first year in office from the highs to the lows to the no shows.

Promises made, promises kept. We talk through the rather short list of promises this President has delivered on during his first year in office. Admittedly, progress is progress and these things deserve to be mentioned, but they haven't stopped his approval rating from sliding.

Is there a 'Biden Doctrine'? Foreign policy was supposed to be a strength of this President, and is also an area that suffered under the mismanagement and malice of Biden's predecessor. We look at Biden's uneven performance, from a decent and disciplined focus in Asia, to a rather scattershot, reactionary approach elsewhere. Does this President deliver on a pivot to Asia and a smoothing over of our frayed post-Trump alliances?

Afghanistan was a turning point in the public perception of this President. "No one could foresee..." actually Joe, a lot of people foresaw the collapse and chaos that would follow a botched American withdrawal. I believe the goodwill and confidence of the electorate was shaken by the Afghanistan affair, and the President cannot seem to find his footing since then.

Domestic policy has been plagued by an obstinate congress. Still, we don't grade on a curve, and if we are evaluating the efficacy of a President, we can only do so by looking at what's been accomplished or not accomplished during his tenure. Manchin is not the reason the President's agenda has stalled, but I lay much of the blame at the feet of the party rather than the President himself.

Our next show will be in two weeks, with my co-host Mike returning, and it's all about inflation and the economy.

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In this episode we discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, examining five key issues.

How did the Western liberal order collide with Russia over Ukraine? What has led us to a Russian invasion of a European nation? We walk through the road to war, and if there were opportunities, in hindsight, to prevent this.  We also examine the weaknesses exhibit by the previous few US Presidents with regard to Putin

We discuss the conflict on the ground and in progress in Ukraine, and the state of the Russian armed forces, efficacy of their systems and strategies, and evaluate how they're faring facing a resistance very successfully waging asymetrical warfare against the invaders.

What are the impact of sanctions to date? What other options are available to remediate this situation?  We have some disagreement on the sanctions, but largely agree this is the right, or more particularly the only play we could make right now.
The prospects of a wider conflict are chilling and we discuss what that might look like, and how likely that is to occur.

Finally, we discuss the potential political ramifications for the Biden administration and the opposition party.  Is there a good choice here?  How does this affect an already difficult midterm election for the Democrats?  How can the Republicans capitalize on this crisis in the election?

As noted at the end of the episode, there are some changes to format.  Episodes will be released bi-weekly, kept at an hour or less, and supplemented in off weeks with smaller, bite sized content.  Thanks for listening!  Think first, drink later...and often, and we'll see you soon!

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