Welcome to the debut of Rivera and Reeves—same bold takes, brand new name! In this episode, we celebrate our relaunch with some housekeeping (ads, Substack perks, and giveaways galore!) before diving into the first stories of 2025. We reflect on the passing of President Jimmy Carter, unpack new details about recent terror attacks, and break down the H1B visa debate that has everyone on X fired up. We also tackle Elon Musk’s free speech controversies, the Wall Street Journal’s damning report on Biden’s shadow presidency, and Minnie Mao’s (Dr. Leanna Wen’s) latest panic-inducing pandemic pitch.

We wrap up with a preview of the upcoming speaker vote drama and the start of confirmation hearings for Trump’s new cabinet. Grab your coffee and your notepad—it’s going to be a year to remember!

Sources and Notes

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back

02:10 Housekeeping and Announcements

05:45 President Jimmy Carter's Passing

08:22 Recent Terrorist Attacks

14:22 The H1B Visa Debate

30:01 Free Speech Controversy on X

37:48 Wall Street Journal Report on Biden

40:55 The Presidential Scandal Unveiled

41:52 Biden's Cabinet Meetings and Governance Issues

43:14 Proxy Governance and Media Manipulation

45:29 Political Fallout and Public Reactions

57:42 The Bird Flu Scare and Public Health Concerns

01:06:36 Upcoming Political Events and Speculations

01:14:26 Closing Remarks and Listener Engagement

Connect

Meseidy - Instagram | X | Email - [email protected]

Rachel - Instagram | X | Email - [email protected]

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