The summer Olympics are underway! Every four years, the world comes together in unity for more than two weeks as countries show off their elite athletes who compete in more than 300 events in more than 30 sports. How does one become an Olympian? Child exploitation. This week, the gang explores the idea that becoming a professional athlete in the 21st century requires sacrificing your childhood, a socially acceptable phenomena that is not present in other areas of life (e.g. academia) in modern-day Western culture and society.

 

(0:00:00) - Intro (Update to Episode 20 SCOTUS topic, Crazy Facebook Republican Militia Guy is back)

(0:20:35) - Sounds of the Week:

• Trump questions Kamala Harris’ race during appearance at a gathering of Black journalists
• Satanic Temple fighting for representation in schools

(0:38:52) - Elite athleticism and child exploitation

 

Songs:

"The Bronze" by Queens of the Stone Age

"Silver" by Echo & the Bunnymen

"Gold" by Spandau Ballet

 

Notes:

• Biden decries ‘extremism’ on Supreme Court, details plan for term limits, ethics code for justices (0:03:55)
• Supreme Court Ethics: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (0:06:12)
• In an attempt to reverse the Supreme Court’s immunity decision, Schumer introduces the No Kings Act (0:06:55)
• TikTok frog suit palate cleanser (0:16:10)
• Donald Trump falsely suggests Kamala Harris misled voters about her race (0:23:20)
• Donald Trump was invited to the National Association of Black Journalists convention every year from 2016 through 2020, one NABJ member told The Hollywood Reporter (0:25:10)
• Full Donald Trump interview with National Association of Black Journalists panel (0:26:40)
• Trump Speaks at Black Conservative Federation Gala (0:27:15)
• Florida Senate bill 1044, which allows school districts to establish volunteer programs for chaplains to address mental health (0:28:45)
• Pulitzer Prize-winning story about Scientology's presence in Clearwater, Fla. (0:33:50)
• The Larry Nassar documentary Meredith talks about is Netflix's "Athlete A" (0:41:00)
• List of multiple Olympic medalists (0:55:25)
• List of 2024 Olympic skateboarders (0:57:40)