On the Fringe

This week, Gavin and Dave have an old friend of the pod, fellow RPCV and veteran educator, Kevin Wong, back on to talk about the recently announced AI moratorium in New York City’s public schools. The one-year moratorium which temporarily bans the use of AI in the classroom from grades K-8, and limits how it can be used from 9-12, including mandates on limiting screen time and prohibiting teachers from using AI to grade assessments, is already being talked about as a flagship policy. Kevin talks about how, as welcome as the policy is, the rollout has been sudden and the sense of education policy playing keep-up probably isn’t going away anytime soon.

What’s your take on this? Should schools follow what New York City is doing? Or, should something else be done to fix the growing lack of critical thinking and dependence on tech?

We always love hearing from our growing On the Fringe community. Shoot us an email at [email protected], leave a comment, or send us a message.

Last week, the UN General Assembly voted nearly unanimously to utilize maps with the more accurate Equal Earth scale instead of the commonly used Mercator scale. The United States voted against it, and the reason why may surprise you.

Listen in to this bonus episode about why the US’s explanation to vote “no” is ironic, especially as President Trump signed an executive order to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America. If you’re not in the US, this change has already come into effect.

What’s your take on these major geopolitical events?

If you’ve got feedback, shoot us an email: [email protected]

We appreciate our growing On the Fringe community.

All the best from both of us,

Dave + Gav

The map of Africa used as the cover for this podcast was created by WwJLaik and is available here on Wikimedia commons.

In what could be one of the most impactful geopolitical events of the year, an attempted coup that kicked off in the Republic of Niger on August 28th has upended a lot of long held ideas about the regional order in the Sahara.

On this pod, Gavin and Dave explore how a failed putsch from disaffected junior officers in Niamey has led to Algeria’s first major foreign military deployment since 1973, and how the various military actors involved in Niger have complicated an already fraught situation as the ruling military junta continues to lose ground against jihadists.

If you enjoyed the podcast, shoot us a message or an email. [email protected] We love hearing from our growing On the Fringe Community.

All the best from both of us,

Dave and Gav

This week, Gav and Dave get the chance to talk Chauncy Wadsworth, a 22-year old American electoral reformist and PR professional, about how he got involved in politics, how he feels about the state of American politics today and why he’s still optimistic about the political future of America.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Chauncy and the guys cover the corrosive effect of money on American politics, the healing power of CSPAN, and why seemingly impossible fault-lines can still be bridged.

If you enjoyed the episode, shoot us a message on [email protected], share it with your friends, and subscribe if you haven’t.

We always appreciate the love from our growing On the Fringe community.

All the best from both of us,

Dave and Gav

This week, Dave and Gavin kibbitz about the large settlement announced between Meta and 47+ US States and territories. While on paper a stunning legal victory, the actual cost to the social media titan is more symbolic than anything else, as this presents Meta with an opportunity to tweak its algorithm and start rolling out more autonomous AI agents who will be able to train off of the interactions this algorithmic tweaking will cause.

The boys talk about the relative merits and de-merits of “Just Say No!” when it comes to using social media and opine on this cycle of excrement anyone who is involved in a social media platform seems to be trapped in.

On the Fringe is getting more and more downloads each day. As the community grows, we would love to hear from you! Shoot us a message or an email.

Thanks as always for joining us On the Fringe.

All the best from both of us,

Dave + Gav

On the morning of August 26th, along the Nepali-Chinese border, tragedy struck. Devastating flash floods wiped out entire villages, ports of entry, roads, and human lives.

With a death toll currently around 800 and over 3,000 missing, the scale of destruction and devastation seems impossibly large for a country already struggling with environmental change and economic hardship. Gav and Dave talk about some of the factors involved and how this is a harbinger of what’s to come in the high mountains of Asia.

Our hearts go out to the people of Nepal and in Tibet who are suffering from the devastating tragedy at this time. If you’d like to make a donation to flood victims and aren’t sure where to make a contribution, the National Peace Corps Association recommends Friends of Nepal.

Hello, On the Fringe Community. I thought I’d posted this last week!

In this episode, Dave and Gavin analyze what the new Mecca Joint Defense Agreement (the Mecca Agreement) between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan means for the Middle East and South Asia. This tripartite security pact outlines that members will come to one another’s aid in the event of an attack. Saudi and Pakistan had already had an agreement signed in 2025; this adds Turkey to the mix.

Is this a new geopolitical bloc forming in the region? Will this agreement stand up if truly tested? Listen in and find out our thoughts.

As always, thanks for the support and all the best from both of us,

Dave and Gav

Curious about where the fuel for an angry social media thread begins? It’ll likely surprise you—like it did us!

Meme and engagement farms are popping up in Indonesia, providing opportunities for locals to earn thanks to YOUR clicks and arguing with someone you’ve never met in Cleveland.

Dave and Gavin also tie the podcast into a reminder and practical advice at the end that everyone who uses the internet shouldn’t miss.

If you enjoyed the episode, let us know! Shoot us an email, leave a comment, and share it with your friends. We really appreciate it!

All the best from both of us,

Dave and Gav

In this episode, Dave and Gavin analyze and explore potential ramifications in South Korea (and in the region) due to the Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises being abruptly shortened.

Since his first term, President Trump has called out South Korea for not doing enough to bear the costs of U.S. military forces in Korea and supporting the United States. As Trump again signals displeasure with Seoul, and takes action by shortening the military exercises early, will the ROK in turn take a step to be more independent and less reliant on the United States for defense? Listen in and find out.

Don’t miss Gavin’s big prediction at the end.

If you enjoyed the episode, share it with a friend and let us know. We always appreciate the support from our growing On the Fringe community!

All the best from both of us,

Dave and Gavin

In this episode, Dave and Gavin welcome back Sherman Tylawsky, a friend and past guest from season 3 of On the Fringe. Sherman ran for Congress in Nevada’s Second District and looks back on his campaign across the northern chunk of the state.

He dives into why he ran, his approach to campaigning, and what he learned to build a greater understanding of Nevadans in his district and of America.

Listen to the full episode to get a clear picture of who Sherman is as a person. To hear more about his foundation for public service, don’t miss this episode where we talked with him about values to keep a human-focused future in an ever-changing technological world.

Sherman also has a podcast called Friends and Fellow Citizens that can be accessed here.

Thanks for listening and all the best from both of us,

Dave and Gavin