Was President Trump negligent or racist for what he posted?

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kevinbriggins.substack.com/subscribe

We’re back with another heavy-hitter of an episode. Between the sudden collapse of Maduro in Venezuela and the absolute chaos unfolding in our own cities, there is no shortage of "Informed Takes" to go around. We’re diving into the reality of what’s happening on the ground with ICE, the "war for oil" that everyone is talking about, and why some people are still falling for the siren song of collectivism despite history staring them right in the face.

The core question we’re tackling tonight is simple: Why are so many Americans trading their common sense for a disordered worldview? From the tragedy of a mother using her vehicle as a weapon against law enforcement to the rise of socialist politicians in NYC, we’re looking at the spiritual and political decline of our culture. It’s time to stop making excuses for "useful idiots" and start looking at what the Bible actually says about property, responsibility, and the role of the family.

Timeline Highlights

[00:03:45] – We’re jumping straight into the "War for Oil" and what the fall of Maduro actually means for American energy.

[00:12:43] – The Maduro collapse: Why the "strongman" found out the hard way that his power was a house of cards.

[00:35:32] – The "Bully" Principle: Why the policy of appeasement never works and why strength is the only language bad actors respect.

[01:10:37] – Breaking down the ICE shooting in Minneapolis: The hard truth about using a vehicle as a weapon and the tragic cost of lawlessness.

[01:58:46] – The "Savior Complex": Why liberal white women are becoming radicalized to sacrifice everything—including their families—for a misguided "jihadist" mentality.

[02:16:54] – NYC’s new "Commie" Mayor: What "Democratic Socialism" actually looks like (spoiler: it’s just taking your stuff).

[02:44:31] – The Biblical Jubilee vs. Modern Socialism: Why the Bible’s view of property rights protects the individual, while the state’s view destroys them.

Links & Resources

Kevin’s Substack: Deep dives on Venezuela and the ICE incident

Off Code Podcast: Watch Kevin and Monique’s latest episodes

Informed Takes Merch: Grab your gear here

Podium Studios: Production and more

Closing Call-to-Action

If you found tonight's discussion helpful, do us a huge favor: hit that like button, subscribe to the channel, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear some truth. We appreciate you being part of the community—stay informed and we'll see you on the next one!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kevinbriggins.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kevinbriggins.substack.com/subscribe

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kevinbriggins.substack.com/subscribe

This week we talk about the media's portrayal of Biden, the shocking revelations from Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's new book, Original Sin, and the wild—or maybe not so wild—idea of repealing the Civil Rights Act. They also tackle healthcare industry woes, government spending, and Elon Musk's short stint in politics. Plus, don't miss their take on Canada's media censorship and other hot-button issues. Grab a drink, get ready to laugh, and to think!

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

04:30 Hot Topics in the News

05:28 Discussion on Joe Biden's Presidency

08:18 Megyn Kelly's Interview Style

10:52 Drinks and Casual Chat

12:49 Media Bias and Jake Tapper

22:14 Biden's Health and Media Coverage

39:45 Kamala Harris and Identity Politics

53:53 Bernie Sanders on Democratic Process

54:33 Alex Thompson's Insights

57:33 Biden's Decline and White House Dynamics

01:00:53 Personal Anecdotes and Observations

01:08:19 Media Manipulation and Cover-ups

01:23:13 Civil Rights Act Debate

01:32:39 Government Spending and Political Challenges

01:51:25 Financial Crisis and Government Entitlements

01:52:08 Legislative Challenges and Building Movements

01:53:33 Healthcare Industry and Insurance Issues

01:54:48 Proposals for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security

01:56:24 Regulation and Competition in the Insurance Industry

02:02:07 Congressional Spending and Political Realities

02:07:12 Cultural Movements and Political Influence

02:10:54 Canadian Government and Media Censorship

02:14:52 Political Bias and Populist Movements

02:36:17 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kevinbriggins.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode we talked about the Qatar trip, the big Qatar plane, and the potential ethical quandaries of accepting it. We also talk about trade with China, and the low down on the Afrikaner refugees: why did we accept them? What’s really going on in South Africa?

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In a clear referendum against Donald Trump, Canadians went to the polls and chose the Liberal Party candidate, Mark Carney over Conservative Party candidate, Pierre Poilievre. Despite 10 years of economic stagnation under Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party, voters chose to double down on the same failed policies. Listen as we discuss what role Donald Trump played in Poilievre losing a 20 point lead in the polls and how corruption in Canada’s political system leaves many young voters on the outside looking in.

You’ll hear how:

- Trudeau lost public trust but orchestrated a soft landing

- Carney became PM without an election

- Trump’s “51st state” comments reshaped the campaign narrative

- Canadian media funding affects public perception

- Economic stagnation was overshadowed by sovereignty panic

- A generational split is redefining Canada’s political future

📚 Book of the Week

Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

A leadership must-read on taking total responsibility and driving results in high-stakes environments.

🔗 Buy on Amazon

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & the mission of Informed Takes

02:10 – Trump’s antics and the four-year meltdown fatigue

05:44 – May the Fourth memes and Kevin’s cocktail of the night

08:53 – Tonight’s topics: Canadian elections, Trump’s impact, and grading the White House

10:12 – Meet Shopé Adeyemi: artist, entrepreneur, Canadian politics observer

13:03 – How Shopé and Devin met (and bonded over nuanced conservatism)

15:05 – Initial reactions to the Carney win and Trudeau’s resignation

18:00 – What went wrong in Trudeau’s 10-year run: crime, housing, and economic stagnation

21:15 – The finance minister’s public resignation and internal revolt

26:00 – Carney’s quiet rise: proroguing Parliament and avoiding elections

30:00 – Trump’s “Canada is the 51st state” narrative and its national backlash

34:01 – Why the Liberal Party rebounded: optics, media, and Trudeau’s swan song

36:00 – Canada’s state-funded media: CBC’s influence and bias

40:00 – Demographics and division: how age and media shaped the election

42:00 – Can Carney escape Trudeau’s shadow? What’s next for Canada?

45:00 – Book of the Week: Extreme Ownership

48:00 – Final thoughts and shoutout to the audience

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Does America need Christianity to survive? The New Atheist movement of the nineties aggressively claimed that we did not need Christianity to have a functioning, free society. Now, an unlikely voice—a gay atheist of Jewish descent named John Rauch—says America cannot survive without Christianity! Kevin and Devin react to this surprising, but thoughtful conversation between John Rauch and Bari Weiss in this episode of Informed Takes!

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Welcome to the very first episode of Informed Takes! We’re Kevin and Devin—two recovering hot-takers who finally decided to launch the rational conversation we’ve been yelling about for years. Today we lay it all out: who we are, where we stand politically (spoiler: we’re both conservatives, but we’re not here to play team sports), and why this show exists.

We talk about growing up Democrat by default, getting mugged by reality (and Scripture), why we left the mainstream news bubble, and how we somehow got to a 2024 where both presidential candidates make us want to sigh loudly.

Grab a drink (Devin had fancy Portuguese cognac, Kevin had sad vodka water) and let’s talk about how America went from “E pluribus unum” to “every man for himself.”

What We Cover:

Why we started Informed Takes (it’s not because we needed another hobby)

Our political journeys (hint: Thomas Sowell is involved)

Why “I’m in the middle” is a cute lie we all tell ourselves

Our beef with both the left and the right (fair is fair)

How Marxism crept into your news, your school, and your brunch table

Why the 1960s ruined everything (except the music, maybe)

How we actually read news (spoiler: not by doomscrolling Twitter)

Setting the tone: Fair takes, no strawmen, no screaming into the void

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome to Informed Takes!

01:00 - Why We Needed This Show

04:00 - Our Political Origins (and Growing Up Default Democrats)

10:00 - How Faith Changed Our Politics

16:00 - Dealing with Family and Political Differences

24:00 - Are We Republicans? (Short answer: kinda, not really)

30:00 - MAGA, Trump, and Hero Worship

38:00 - How Did America Get So Polarized? (Blame the ’60s)

46:00 - The Marxist Playbook in America

53:00 - Why We’re Sick of Hot Takes

58:00 - Where We Get Our News (Hint: Not Cable News)

01:05:00 - Final Thoughts: Call Balls and Strikes

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kevinbriggins.substack.com/subscribe