To wrap up the day, Boyd comments on Biden’s executive action that was announced earlier today. This is good for Biden politically but the move has been deemed a “sad day” by his own political party. Now it is up to Congress to do it the right way, which will create more humanity and a concrete path moving forward when it comes to border policy.

Once hailed as a unifier capable of bridging divides, the world of sports now finds itself mired in the same toxic polarization afflicting society. From the stadiums to the diamonds, the delicate balance between healthy civic pride and destructive tribalism has shattered. However, athletics may represent an opportunity to model civil discourse and rekindle our shared values. Jerry Brewer from The Washington Post shares that by confronting harsh realities with open minds, perhaps the games can reclaim their power to inspire human connection across boundaries. 

At the heart of the American experiment lies the powerful idea that a free society depends not just on institutions, but on the character of its people. The Founders recognized that cultivating virtues like courage, integrity, and an embrace of the common good was essential for self-governance to thrive. Yet as partisan spite and a lack of civic commitment threaten to erode our democratic foundation, we must urgently renew civic virtue. By putting the national interest first, we can reignite the unifying spirit that allows diverse communities to pursue liberty and justice for all. Lisa Halverson from Utah Valley University’s Center for Constitutional Studies joins the show.

Last Friday, we covered the announcement given by President Biden as he gave the latest path to peace and a ceasefire in the devastating war between Israel and Hamas. This plan included multiple phases of negotiation and hostage exchange, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. However, Israel and Hamas had differing views of this deal, neither showing that they are close to adopting the road to de-escalation. So, is the deal dead? What is the latest we need to know about the ongoing war? Robert Sherman from NewsNation joins Boyd to talk about the situation.

Our vibrant democracy was designed to allow the voices of the people to influence their government's actions. Yet a problem has taken root - the gradual breakdown of bureaucracy from the relentless demands of special interests. As programs, regulations, and policies accumulate unchecked, they drain resources, stifle innovation, and erode public trust. Kevin Kosar digs into the issue that, if left unaddressed, will threaten to render the government overwhelmed and rigid, unable to nimbly confront the complex challenges facing our nation.

Congress is currently setting itself up for a big collision over fiscal priorities next year. And the more agenda items they put off and punt to next year, the worse it's going to be. Caitlin Emma from POLITICO discusses the heated election season and that politics are often taking precedence over smart policy. We may see more dysfunction next year as big questions remain over the debt ceiling limit and many other funding priorities.

The President has announced a new executive action regarding immigration, particularly surrounding the issue of seeking asylum at the southern border. This action comes after the latest failed effort to get a border bill through Congress. This executive order will severely limit the number of people eligible to seek asylum, and give authority to close the border entirely if too many people are crossing. But is this action meant to make a real impact to solve our ongoing problems in our immigration system? Or is this the latest attempt to play politics?

Join Boyd Matheson in delving into Monday’s news. Over the weekend, many people weighed in on the New York trial against Donald Trump. Megan McArdle and Boyd discuss what is to come and sift through the headline noise. Learn about the concerns of AI’s impact on this year’s elections with Nick Robertson. Col. Jonathan Sweet weighs in on America’s expanded support of Ukraine. A new election reform called the “Final Four” is gaining traction and Russell Berman discusses how it might change the way we do elections moving forward and More!

Boyd finishes today’s show by recounting a story from Ted Gioia’s podcast episode on “How I Write” about a saxophonist. We need to keep exploring and growing in our creativity in all aspects of our lives. While mastery and recall is important, we need to not repeat everything each day because we are inhibiting other aspects of our learning. The great leaders and innovators of our world are always learning and trying new approaches, and we can take a page out of their books to apply personally. Let’s all embrace being in a constant state of learning and staying radically curious.

Yesterday, the largest election ever took place in the country of Mexico. They elected their new President Claudia Sheinbaum, who will be not only the first female president elected in Mexico, but in all of North America. So who is President Sheinbaum, and what opportunities and challenges await her presidency? Tara Sonenshine from Tufts University joins the show to discuss what is happening across the border.