Welcome back to the 70th episode of the ModState Podcast. On this episode John and Nate dive into the challenges that the Democrat party will have trying to claim a majority in the house and senate in 2018.

The conversation then slides to the 2020 presidential bid and who may be the "knight-in-shining-armor," for the left.

Lastly, John and Nate explore a topic they have no covered much of and that is the judiciary. Who is likely to retire and what would a court look like without the swing vote in Justice Kennedy?? Thanks for tuning in.

Welcome back to the 69th episode of the ModState Podcast. John and Nate both hope that all listeners had a great holiday weekend and and relaxing week leading into the new year.

On this Mid Week Rap John and Nate discuss policy going into 2018. What will be on the table? Infrastructure and immigration? What will be the big winner and what will be the big loser?

Next, the topic moves to geopolitics in the Middle East. Iran and Saudi Arabia, both Islamic countries, are pitted against one another for regional control. Saudi Arabia recently made an obvious tactical move that left the international community scratching their heads.

Lastly, John and Nate dive into the legalization of recreation weed in California. Will this shift the pendulum nationally? Tune in and find out. As always thanks for tuning in.

Show Notes:

1) Saudi Arabia and Iran

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42008809

Welcome back to the 68th episode of the ModState Podcast!

Very simply...Merry Christmas. John and Nate and the ModState team wish you and your families a very happy holiday!

The beginning of the podcast John makes some 2018 predictions before a brief exploration of the history of Christmas...oh yeah...and Boxing Day!

Thanks for tuning in.

Welcome back to the 67th episode of the ModState Podcast.

It is almost the end of the new year. Almost the time to lay to rest the failing and successes of the old year and usher in new perspectives and goals.

With that...John and Nate dive into a bit of psychology on this episode. Two words come up throughout the podcast and they are "Cognitive/Confirmation Bias," and "Cognitive Dissonance." How do these two terms affect our culture and society today? What could we do by understanding our own "Cognitive Bias."

How could society move forward if we treat those who we fundamentally disagree with, with respect? Thanks for tuning in!

Welcome back to the 66th episode of the ModState Podcast. This Mid Week Rap episode we look back at some of the events we covered, here on the ModState Podcast, over the last 5 months. What will the major issues be in 2018? Where will the collusion investigation go? Will foreign policy remain the same? Tune in and find out! Thanks for listening!

Welcome back to the 65th episode of the ModState Podcast.

Is it time to change our attitudes towards the tax bill? This bill is most likely to advance forward and become law. Although it will take a while for the effects of the bill to be felt by all it will be the law of the land. There are many nuances of the bill that are problematic but will this bill, in theory, work to create a better standard of living for the average American? Or will this bill be a win for the rich and corporations allowing them to stock-pile buckets of cash for a rainy day? There is a lot of "good-faith" that happens every day. If corporations follow through and invest in the average American will this change the narrative and distaste for this bill overall? Tune in for John and Nate's thoughts.

Show Notes:

1) Approval Rating for Tax Bill

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/republicans-unpopular-tax-bill_us_5a38218ae4b0860bf4aa5558

Welcome back to the 64 Episode of the ModState Podcast. On this weekend beat exploring pop culture and everything not politics John and Nate dive into a review and breakdown of the 80s movie Mad Max 2 better also known as Road Warrior.

Of course how would a good review be complete without diving into other topics analogies and discussions.

We hope that your weekend and the beginning of the holidays is going well! Thanks for tuning in.

Welcome back to the 63rd Episode of the ModState Podcast.

Yesterday the fate of the Internet is on it's way from having protections under Title II making its way back to protection under Title I. Now why does this matter and why talk about it again?

There are many arguments to be made that under Title I internet services providers will be able to provide money to investments for broadband infrastructure keeping up with the consumers need for data and speed.

The second argument is that although investment is necessary at what cost are we willing to forgo the freedom that we have on the internet for it to go back into the hands of only several incredibly powerful ISPs? The questions should start racing through your mind.

Lastly, John and Nate explore Marco Rubio's proposal to stall the tax plan while the CHIP program is at stake.

Thanks for tuning in!

Welcome back to the 62nd Episode of the ModState Podcast.

Doug Jones has officially won the special election and will be the first Democrat sworn in from Alabama in 25 years. What does this mean for the overall story for mid-term elections? What does it mean for the tax plan?

After that conversation the topic of shifts to President Trump's desire to increase the Defense Spending by roughly 150 billion dollars. Is this the right allocation of monies?

Thanks for tuning in!

Welcome back to the 61st Episode of the ModState Podcast.

Today John and Nate discuss the topic of climate change. The documentary Chasing Coral did a good job of focusing more on the What-is-Happening and less of they why. Objective observation of the devastation of climate change was presented and with it a hopeful shift the narrative of this man-made disaster to what can be done. Does that narrative need to be more of what is happening and less of why it is happening? Can we change the minds of those who are apathetic or don't believe it is man made by talking about it differently?

Lastly, John and Nate talk more about the Roy Moore campaign and what we should realistically except from leaders who endorse Roy Moore even though his name has been tarnished by sexual assault accusations.

As always thank you for tuning in!