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

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast.
*Edit: in the episode it was stated that Steve Bannon started Cambridge Analytica. In fact he co-founded it as a strategic US Branch of SCL (Strategic Communication Laboratories) with funding from right-wing hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer. Cambridge Analytica was designed to create "behavioral changes" in foreign countries.
This episode is a discussion about the implications of data received by Cambridge Analytica. Roughly 50-87 million profiles were harvested and then used to swing cultural perspectives in the US during the 2016 election.
Nate makes the argument that political campaigns should be using social media, but unethically procuring data from millions of people without their explicit consent is problematic to say the least.
Sarah's background is in digital marketing. She elucidates upon some of the practices of how digital marketing companies target you based many different metrics.
So where does this lead us next? Will someone be held accountable for the geo-political psychological warfare that Cambridge Analytica used on the US population? Where does the Steve Bannon link to the Donald Trump administration play into this? Please tune in and have a listen.

This episode is available at YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huPc7qvrAIo&t=106s

Show Notes
1) Cambridge Analytica and Steve Bannon
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/30/politics/bannon-cambridge-analytica/index.html

2) Propaganda Used During 2016 Presidential Campaign
https://qz.com/1245777/trump-funder-robert-mercer-also-paid-for-islamophobic-facebook-and-google-ads/

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast. On this episode special guest Nate, Nate Wellein, and John all discuss a forever relevant book 1984: By George Orwell. This masterpiece sheds light on a society pushed so far to extremism that the government controls every aspect of life. Of note this doesn't mean that the society in 1984 is because of socialism or fascism. It is a world where the radical tenants of an ideology wins.
Lastly, the team begins to discuss the current administration and how 1984 is relevant. Please tune in and enjoy!

Welcome back to the 112 episode of the ModState Podcast. In this episode the team and special guest go over the spending bill that President Donald Trump signed funding the government until September.
Nate believes this speech was incredibly painful to listen too. The president, he claims, so poorly articulated his points on the spending bill that Nate almost turned off the radio. Is this true? Did Nate over-react to the president's speech? Or is he the only one that believes it is painful to listen to the president talk?
Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes:
What is in the spending bill?
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/21/politics/what-is-in-the-omnibus-spending-bill/index.html

Oddest lines from speech
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/23/politics/spending-bill-trump-announcement/index.html

Welcome back to the ModState Podcast. On this episode we stick to a topic discussion and what topic couldn't be more pertinent than tariffs.
President Donald Trump had decided to impose tariffs on Chinese goods while a 7 month investigation is done into intellectual property theft...SO the question is...does the idea of tariffs, and potentially starting a trade war, seem more palatable under the guise of an investigation into intellectual property theft?
Learn a bit about tariffs and its relation to US history. Our free-trade history is very recent.
Are we destined for a global trade war? Probably not, but tune in and take a listen!