Welcome back to the ModState Podcast!

Well it has finally happened. Clearly it is called the "First Step" as there are many more steps to go, but bipartisanship happened in DC. The Senate came together and passed fairly comprehensive criminal justice reform. The House should vote soon and send this bill to the President's desk for signing. This only affects the federal system but it seems that politics and culture is moving towards a new perspective of criminal justice.

What are your thoughts? Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes:
1) "First Step"
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/senate-passes-sweeping-criminal-justice-reform-bill-n949586

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast.

On this episode John and Nate explore the trials surrounding President Trump's associates. After discussing the guilty pleas and implications the team seaways into the criminal investigations of the inaugural committee.

The second part of the episode John and Nate discuss the Trump meeting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer...oh yeah and Mike Pence. Who made out better from this brief televised "debate?" Does this set the stage for the next two years?

As always thanks for tuning in!

After a long break welcome back to the ModState Podcast.

On this episode John and Nate take some time to discuss the happenings now that the dust has begun to settle post mid-term election. In this episode the team discuss the ramping up Mueller investigation, a potential civil rights bill and voting rights.

Thanks for tuning in and sticking it out over the break!

Show Notes:

1) John Dingell's Plan
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/12/john-dingell-how-restore-faith-government/577222/

2) Policing for Profit
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/11/neil-gorsuch-sonia-sotomayor-tyson-timbs-civil-forfeiture.html

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast.

Well the mid-terms are over. The country has spoken and the GOP no longer controls the federal government.
What does the mid-terms tell us culturally, politically and what is to come? Can the democrats find a message? Will an olive branch be extended. Tune in and find out what John and Nate have to say.

As always thanks for listening.

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast!

On this episode John and Nate explore the unintellectual debate surrounding immigration. Instead of the population having smart debate surrounding immigration the far right engages in psychological fear-mongering and the left pushes back using terms like, "racist." SO where the hell did the intellectual conversation go? Well you have come to the right place. John and Nate discuss the 14th amendment and what happened historically that brought us to this current climate.

Tune in and have a listen.

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast.

It has been a somber week in the United States, and for those looking on. Between pipe bombs and the unnecessary shooting of worshippers at a Pittsburgh Synagogue the country has let out an audible loud sigh.

What will it take to rebuild? Is there hope? Where will it come from? How many more lows will it take until there is a wake up? Listen to the case made by John and Nate on this podcast episode.

As always thank you for tuning in. Be safe, and much love from the ModState team.

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast.
On this episode John and Nate discuss the idea of reforming the voting structure in the United States of America. If you could reform the voting structure what would it look like? A national holiday? Mail-in ballots? Tune in and have a listen.

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast.
This is a throw back episode when Nate was traveling in Michigan and the old audio equipment was used.
This is a look at pieces of progressivism that you may not otherwise hear from actual candidates.
How do they propose to make their programs work?
Nate and John explore and debate this topic on this episode. Thanks for tuning in!

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast.
On this solo venture host Nate Wellein discusses the IPCC report on climate change.
Nate discusses the report and the minor change made from the previous report, consequences of inaction, and what to do moving forward.
This is grim topic and it is easy to look at our future through the veil of "half-glass-full." Instead of pessimism now is the time for action and making this a ballet-box issue. What can we do? What is our timeline? How complicated is this?
Whether you believe this is man-made or not the evidence shows it is happening. It won't care what our beliefs are.
Tune in, and thanks for listening.

Show Notes:
1) IPCC Report (in full)
http://www.ipcc.ch/report/sr15/

2) CNN analysis https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/07/world/climate-change-new-ipcc-report-wxc/index.html

3) The Economist take:
https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2018/10/13/the-latest-report-on-global-warming-makes-grim-reading

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast.
On this episode John and Nate talk about the "Great Experiment." This is of course in context of our liberal democracy.
On the 138th episode of the Waking Up Podcast with Sam Harris, Yuval Noah Harari presents a compelling argument in relation to time, technology and governance.
Are we at that brink today? Or is this just a contentious time where we are grappling with progressive ideas and a more connected world? John and Nate discuss this idea plus more pressing issues like our national debt.
Tune in and and have a listen.

[Post-apocalyptic urban photo attributed to Paul Mullins at paulmullins.wordpress.com]