Welcome back to the ModState Podcast. On this episode John and Nate revisit the old topic of legalize weed federally.
As states push for their own sovereignty the top lawyer in the land (and a conservative) still wants to perpetuate the War on Drugs. Can Jeff Sessions win this war and what is on the horizon?
Next John and Nate dive into the House of Representatives loss of confidence in speaker Paul Ryan? Will a vote of No Confidence happen before the mid-terms and what does that mean for the split Republican Party?
Tune in and thanks for listening!

Show Notes:
Jeff Sessions and the War on Drugs
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-new-war-on-drugs-wont-be-any-more-effective-than-the-old-one/2017/06/22/669260ee-56c3-11e7-a204-ad706461fa4f_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.24aaffc5ff93

As a potential watershed meeting with North Korea looms large, the Mainstream Media has once again missed the mark by misrepresenting the Iran "Political Commitment(s)" as a "treaty" and by misreporting the fallout from the collapse of this non-deal as yet another grievous threat heaped on an unwitting populace by an Orwellian madman Hell-bent on Hitlerian...seriously, to our, um, "peers" in the Mainstream Media? Enough already with the Hitler comparisons. That is an overt slap in the face to anyone with family who experienced the Holocaust, an issue that ought not be political sport for any side. Again, is not liking the POTUS justification for anything done in opposition to the same? Remember one Friedrich Nietzsche: "Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast. On this episode Nate decides to tackle the Iran Nuclear Deal and the withdrawal by the US...Namely President Donald Trump.
What is the end game here? Nate explores the culture in the United States around supporting and opposing the deal, the perspective of the world, and what is to be gained from this situation. Thanks for tuning in!

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast. On this episode John and Nate discusses the idea of socialized medicine in relation to the recent passing of a young British boy named Alfie Evans.
Can this event give us insight into a government run healthcare model? Tune in and get some insight.
Lastly, John and Nate discuss the potential momentum loss of democrats. What should they focus on? If they push the Trump narrative will they surely lose? Again! Tune in and find out. Thanks for listening!

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast. On this episode John and Nate finalize some questions form a NZ listener. We appreciate the comments and urge listeners to send their questions and comments our way @themodstate or @modstate_nate on the FB page or through email.
This episode discusses some liberal policies that NZ has implemented, and how the culture has adapted. Is it possible in the United States? Nate makes a case for legalized prostitution. What are John's thoughts?
Last, John and Nate discuss Macron's (French President) message to the US House and to the broader world. Was this in repudiation to President Donald Trump or just a broad message against nationalism and a case for unification?
Thanks for tuning in!

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast.
On this episode John and Nate continue answering the questions proposed by a listener and friend from NZ.
The major theme of the questions answered have to do with collective responsibility and why this isn't as apparent in the United States today. This collective responsibility should be on the shoulders of all ideology, political affiliation and religion, but our friend specifically calls out Christian believers who seem to struggle with collective responsibility. This is apparent because the right is more caught up with who gets to come to this country (immigration), how, and the amount of appropriations to social programs. So what gives? John leaves us with a well articulated thought about Christianity and collective responsibility towards the end of the episode.

Show Notes

1) Christianity and the History of Political Affiliation
https://www.bestoftheleft.com/?p=4517&page=44

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast. On this episode Nate answers two questions from a listener in New Zealand. The first question is directed at gun control and gun violence research. Why there is so much resistance to funding the CDC to explore this?
The second question is about socialist programs or universal programs. Why do so many Americans resist this ideology when it is intertwined in our politics anyways?
Well these two question have symbiosis. They both boil down to federal oversight and rights. Though they are very different questions the resistance is for the same reason. Tune in and explore this topic!

Show Notes:
Gun Violence Article
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/07/world/americas/mass-shootings-us-international.html

Welcome to the ModState Podcast. On this episode John and Nate explore the valid question that Ted Cruz proposed to Mark Zuckerberg regarding Christian view points being removed from Facebook. So this is an interesting question...Who makes the decision in regards to content removal on Facebook? Is this a better case for AI and algorithm creation instead of relying on human bias? What is hate and who decides what that is? This can get a bit complicated so please tune in for some discussion.

Please find this episode with video version on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWFbks7iEbs

Please take the time and subscribe to the ModState YouTube Channel.

Welcome to the 116th episode of the ModState Podcast. Video version available at https://youtu.be/x-hpz1SkeGM on YouTube.
On Friday the 13th President Donald Trump ordered the second round of airstrikes in Syria because of chemical weapons by President Assad. The western world woke up and decided that this was a red line crossed.
The UK, France and the United States launched a coordinated airstrike on chemical weapon research facilities and other targets. This strike could be the first of many strikes in Donald Trumps "sustained" vision of countering Assad's use of chemical weapons on his people.
This podcast episode breaks down the complexities of the Syrian conflict as well as a broader question. What is the long game and is the American public ready for it?
Tune in and have a listen!

Show Notes:

1)Complexity of Syrian conflict https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2018/04/12/syria-civil-war-key-players-lon-orig-vstan-expl-sdg.cnn

2) Airstrike overview
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/13/politics/trump-us-syria/index.html

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast and the 115th episode.
Earlier this week Donald Trump's personal lawyer Mr. Cohen had his office raided in a very rare no-knock raid of a law office. This typically doesn't happen as there is lots of attorney-client privileged information.
Well the US Attorney in the Southern District on a "referral" from special investigator Mueller, a judge and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein sure thought there was enough evidence of SOMETHING to get a warrant.
John and Nate dive into this and talk about this ongoing investigation. Tune in and have a listen.
For a video clip of this podcast please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07y-vExQuY8