The United States has kidnapped the president of Venezuela. We talk about it.

https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-press-conference-venezuela-maduro-january-3-2026/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y5q173053o 

https://www.semafor.com/article/01/03/2026/new-york-times-washington-post-held-off-on-reporting-venezuela-raid 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/03/us-oil-trump-venezuela

https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/eaf41f57-9ef4-4ec3-9118-4881b2ac71ec. 

https://www.diariolasamericas.com/america-latina/florida-tycoon-takes-advantage-of-oil-and-the-venezuelan-political-crisis-n5377852 

https://floridaphoenix.com/2020/09/27/a-peek-at-billionaire-harry-sargeant-iii-a-somewhat-mysterious-figure-in-fl-gop-circles-and-elsewhere/ 

https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/sargeant-marine-inc-pleads-guilty-and-agrees-pay-166-million-resolve-charges-related-foreign 

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article299803319.html 

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mbm7zqpudm2c 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15432025/background-Trumps-Mar-Lago-war-room-x-Maduro-strike-Venezuela.html

https://www.newsweek.com/zohran-mamdani-inauguration-live-updates-nyc-mayor-party-11293975

Trump talks to the youths ahead of Santa’s arrival. ICE agents break into a women’s bathroom and order a woman off the toilet. New York is in an affordability crisis. A California wealth tax faces staunch opposition from the golden boy of liberal. The Brown University shooter was found using Flock cameras. And economic growth is no longer linked to carbon emissions. Happy New Year, friends! Thanks for listening!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/11/economic-growth-no-longer-linked-to-carbon-emissions-in-most-of-the-world-study-finds 

https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/new-york-affordability-crisis-debt-savings-21246442.php 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-white-house-plaques-attack-trumps-democratic-predecessors-bush-2025-12-17/

https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-investigation-5b0b254442dd77d9056111bad902de33 

https://dailyvoice.com/ny/albany/asm-gibbs-made-explicit-assembly-floor-remarks-committee/

https://newrepublic.com/post/204732/ice-agents-break-in-women-bathroom-pull-pants-up

https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/24/politics/trump-santa-norad-calls?cid=ios_app

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/technology/california-wealth-tax-page-thiel.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Trump may reschedule cannabis. Little Marco makes waves at the State Department. Tariffs affect farmers. Bill de Blasio ain’t loyal. Rich New Yorkers find fleeing harder than they thought. And a new toadlet just dropped. 

https://www.vice.com/en/article/turns-out-putting-a-camera-in-a-smart-toilet-was-a-bad-idea/

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/us/politics/rubio-state-department-font.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/us/politics/state-department-morale-survey.html

https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/990b43fd-dd20-4033-9d75-5cc130e1d239 

https://pagesix.com/2025/12/10/society/bill-de-blasio-tucson-mayor-hooked-up-first-time-they-met/ 

https://www.sciencealert.com/new-species-of-tiny-pumpkin-toadlet-discovered-in-brazils-cloud-forests 

https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassination-tyler-robinson-media-e90d404b03383dec9e0d9a327b491920 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78vz2v85mpo 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/nyregion/nyc-income-tax-rich.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/advertisers-wary-cbs-news-bari-weiss-town-hall-1236608265/ 

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/12/cannabis-stocks-trump-regulations.html 

https://www.aaup.org/underclass-session

The CEO of Sticker Mule is running for Congress. The US Institute of Peace is rebranded after Trump. US demands dud bomb back from Lebanon. And two special wildflowers because we love you so much!

https://www.news10.com/news/your-local-election-hq/sticker-mule-ceo-announces-bid-for-congress/ 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8x1n9rv809o

https://www.techspot.com/news/110356-activists-simulating-ice-raids-gta-fortnite-teach-immigrant.html

https://www.ft.com/content/1e22422f-5859-42e0-85ff-7d6fd7869d5c

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/25/national-park-fee-non-residents 

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20251201-us-israel-fear-leak-of-tech-secrets-from-unexploded-bomb-in-beirut/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp39qx4ledeo

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/05/us-airstrike-survivors-clung-to-boat-wreckage-for-an-hour-before-second-deadly-attack-video-shows

https://apnews.com/article/trump-world-cup-fifa-peace-prize-e14f95b8adaa197c869cad407b6ef604 

Trump <3 Mamdani. Mormons develop anti-gooning app. The Coast Guard gets wishy washy on uncucking itself. Rensco sheriff wants to install Flock cameras. Female crash test dummies on the horizon. And a new YMCA Parkinsons center!

https://www.wired.com/story/young-mormons-built-an-app-to-help-men-quit-gooning/#intcid=_wired-right-rail_e40c6d99-0621-494b-b82a-aba0cfec8a2a_popular4-2

https://www.the-sun.com/news/15520681/natalie-greene-political-attack-trump/ 

https://archive.is/2025.11.20-184006/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/20/coast-guard-swastika-noose/ update https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/the-coast-guard-planned-to-change-how-it-described-swastikas-and-nooses-then-came-the-outcry-and-an-updated-policy 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DROmCXhEhoC/?igsh=MTM4a3V4YzZleHJkMw== 

https://on.ft.com/49sYK2S 

https://www.wamc.org/news/2025-11-21/rensselaer-county-sheriff-looks-to-install-cameras-in-town-of-poestenkill-local-stewarts-shops 

https://www.npr.org/2025/11/21/nx-s1-5616284/female-crash-test-dummy-design-approval 

https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/mamdani-jihadist-stefanik-trump-disagree-21201842.php 

Conservatives move to Russia with mixed results. Empathetic depictions of men’s suffering through comedy. The shutdown is over and we got nothing. Starbucks strike. The new Gaza green zone. And Chicagoans fighting back against ICE. 

https://www.chron.com/culture/article/conservative-texas-families-move-to-russia-21152330.php 

https://www.news10.com/news/rensselaer-county/troy-launches-specialized-mental-health-court/

https://www.wsaw.com/2025/11/12/girl-13-expelled-hitting-classmate-who-made-deepfake-porn-image-her-lawyers-say/

https://newrepublic.com/post/203129/donald-trump-epstein-president-thanksgiving-2017 

https://www.theringer.com/2025/11/12/tv/tim-robinson-chair-company-conner-omalley-masculinity 

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/government-shutdown-impacted-pet-food-pantries-21171753.php 

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/rensselaer-county-man-sues-hvac-company-billy-21178107.php 

https://labornotes.org/2025/11/no-contract-means-no-coffee-starbucks-baristas-walk-out 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/14/us-military-plan-divided-gaza-green-zone 

https://apnews.com/article/chicago-immigration-protest-arrests-agent-police-whistles-df72b2ba4e57befc085d692d227363b8

As happens occasionally, we recorded this before big things happened–centrists dems caved on the shutdown. So the last bit of the episode is a bit out of date now. Sorry! We also discuss Dick Cheney, Musk and Grok, the elections, and solar energy in Puerto Rico.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/04/politics/dick-cheney-death-obit

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8DakDTQ/ 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/business/musk-trillion-dollar-pay-package-vote?cid=ios_app

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/democrats-declare-victory-troy-21138934.php

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/05/democrat-election-wins-across-america-caution-around-hope-mamdani-spanberger

https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/churchill-stefanik-wins-governor-s-race-21145767.php

https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/churchill-steve-mclaughlin-beaten-21140723.php

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/us/weekend-travel-flight-cuts-government-shutdown-hnk

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/07/politics/trump-administration-supreme-court-snap-benefits

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2025/jun/30/puerto-rico-solar-power-in-pictures 

Cuomo uses racist AI slop in campaign ad. The government shutdown is coming for SNAP and troops. The ballroom defeats NIMBYs. Elections are upon us. And Ireland has a new lefty president.

https://x.com/prem_thakker/status/1981150231174746370?s=46 

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/24/dod-accepts-anonymous-130-million-donation-to-partially-cover-troop-pay-00622219. 

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/watervliet-halloween-curfew-2025-21119806.php

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/10/25/ballroom-east-wing-trump-white-house/

https://apnews.com/article/maine-platner-senate-trump-mills-tattoo-collins-fa8328a3c8aa5d5e0f34adb379e977b8 

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/regional-food-bank-fears-food-stamps-shutdown-21116263.php

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/25/connolly-set-to-be-irelands-next-president-after-rival-concedes-defeat 

George Santos is a free man. Young Republicans show their true colors in private chat. One Troy resident takes exception to the new anti-panhandling signs. Israel breaks the ceasefire. And bamboo rigid plastic!

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/private-chat-among-young-gop-club-members-00592146 

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/15/capitol-police-investigating-swastika-in-gop-congressional-office-00609704 

https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/young-gop-leader-exposed-in-reported-racist-chats-from-schenectady-co-says-chairwoman 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPyxYhqiMj5/?igsh=MTA3a3M3enNlZmQ4eA== 

https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/commentary-give-panhandlers-not-city-hall-s-21089705.php

https://www.ft.com/content/0ab138a5-76de-4371-8f20-3ca31f27e170

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5q3439xpqo

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpv1nk7dy4yo 

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/biodegradable-plastic-made-from-bamboo-is-stronger-and-easy-to-recycle/

Rump watch. Race war video game #cancelled. Apple blocks ICE apps. Chatfishing on dating apps. Migrants in New York suffer inhumane conditions. And no more declawing cats in California!

https://bsky.app/profile/dieworkwear.bsky.social/post/3m2sexgfadc2i 

https://www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubisoft-cancelled-a-post-civil 

https://www.wired.com/story/apple-took-down-ice-tracking-apps-their-developers-arent-giving-up/ 

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-10-09/cat-declawing-bill

https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/ 

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/12/chatgpt-ed-into-bed-chatfishing-on-dating-apps

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ceasefire-holds-gaza-ahead-hostage-release-trumps-visit-israel-2025-10-12/

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/migrants-languish-ice-border-patrol-hold-rooms-21087088.php