On the Fringe

Around the end of July, around 70,000 people crossed the border between Morocco and the Spanish city of Ceuta. Dozens died trying to swim there, and heaven knows how many died crossing the Sahel and the Sahara from their own countries.

In this short episode, Dave and Gavin talk about the realities around the event and why it has become such a flash point for opinion across the planet.

If you enjoyed the episode, reach out! Send us a message at [email protected], leave a comment.

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

All the best from both of us,

Dave + Gavin

This week, Dave and Gav talk to Dan Williams, a contender in the Democratic primary for Florida’s 11th electoral district, and an old friend of the pod, Ramon Perez, the executive director of the Digital Democracy Project.

Dan Williams is a candidate with a vision for congressional representation in America that would transcend party politics and special interests by using available and readily accessible technology to center the voice of the people living in congressional districts. The boys talk to Dan and Ramon about how they’re trying to get the conversation about direct democracy going on a national level and how policies often unite voters divided on party lines.

After you’ve listened, don’t miss our episode with Ramon:

If you enjoyed the episode, share it with a friend or let us know: [email protected]

All the best from both of us,

Dave and Gav

In this episode, Dave and Gav sit down with Tom Joseph, an early tech entrepreneur and the Treasurer of America’s Main Street Party, to talk about how and why political parties in the U.S use gerrymandering to retain power and limit opposition.

Tom presents a radical idea to fight gerrymandering with a super PAC—fighting fire with fire so to speak—which opens the door for more voters to have their voices heard and to narrow down the field of potential political candidates to choose the one voters want.

Curious about how to really make your vote count, or about the U.S. electoral system? Don’t miss this episode!

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The Gerry-mander cartoon is part of the public domain in the United States and can be accessed here on Wikimedia

Also, I (Dave) made a mistake. I meant to say District 18, not District 14. (District 14 is across town).

We couldn’t have predicted that Kalshi is pushing a valuation at the level of United Airlines, Campbells Soup, or Dropbox.

That’s why we had Andrew Lebbos, Senior Vice President of Licensing at Benzinga, a fast-growing finance data licensing company, on the podcast to explain the intersection of finance and prediction markets, and what it means as a whole new world of trading likely opens up.

If you are interested in markets, mutual funds, AI, and the rapid rise of prediction markets, don’t miss this episode. We cover the rapid rise of prediction markets, how prediction markets are reshaping investment strategies, and how everyday investors will have new channels available as prediction markets are set to shake up the entire financial industry.

Disclaimer: The views expressed by Andrew Lebbos in this episode are his own and do not reflect the positions of Benzinga. This discussion is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice, nor a recommendation regarding any security. Listeners should consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

On the Fringe is listener-supported. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. We truly appreciate it!

In this episode, Dave and Gav dive into the Makanan Bergizi Gratis (MBG), pronounced as ‘em-bay-gay’ program. This program was launched by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in January 2025 to combat child malnutrition and spur economic development across the country.

We analyze Indonesia’s current political and economic state through the program and what this means for the country going forward.

Did we hit the mark, or are we totally out to lunch on this episode? Let us know with a message or a comment! Or, reach out at [email protected]

We wouldn’t be here without the support of our longstanding supporters and our new listeners in our growing On the Fringe Community. Thank you, as always, for tuning in!

All the best from both of us,

Dave + Gav

On November 13th 2024, a tragedy occurred in Vang Vieng, Laos. Six tourists from four countries lost their lives from unknowingly drinking methanol at a popular backpackers’ hostel.

Fast forward a year and a half, and charges have been laid against the owner of the distillery…over a $1,000 and just about a month in the big house. Needless to say, many of the grieving families, are less than happy about this.

Meanwhile, the Laotian government has been relatively non-plussed. We talk about why this is exactly and the context surrounding this sad incident.

For our earlier coverage of the event, here’s one from the vault—nearly 2 years ago!

Are you surprised by the Laotian government’s reaction to the event?

If you learned something from the episode, or have any other travel tips for your fellow listeners, share it with us at [email protected] or in a message.

We sincerely appreciate our dedicated listeners and subscribers.

All the best from both of us,

Dave and Gav

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This week, Dave and Gavin, sit down with Chad Peace, the founder and President of IVC Media, and attorney for the IVP (Independent Voter Project). Chad is a prominent lawyer and activist who was a key part of the effort to pass Proposition 14, a voter initiative that implemented an open primary system in California.

During the chat, Chad gives a look at the state of voting reform on the state level across the United States and how it is both a non-partisan and bi-partisan issue. Taking a look at the state of open primaries and ranked choice voting might not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but it is an interesting insight in to a story that is generally covered in a simple and usually misleading way.

To learn more about Chad’s work and IVC Media, go to: https://independentvoterproject.org/

To learn more about Independent Voter News, go to ivn.us

Independent Voter News was ranked as having a “Center” rating on AllSides and as being “Least biased, having high credibility, and providing factual information,” according to Media Bias / Fact Check.

How does “Earrings,” a 2024 indie sleeper nobody had ever heard of make it to No. 1 on the charts in 2026? Whatever the case, Spotify had to issue a mea culpa after Kalshi pointed out that bots programmed by some bad actors—not Todd—looking to make a quick buck were probably to blame.

Again, on this episode we return to the subject of insider trading, manipulation, and straight-up wire fraud and the almost limitless horizon of opportunities, some legitimate, some less so, offered by prediction markets.

This is just another act on the Dark Side of Prediction Markets. And, there will likely be more to come, not only in terms of more episodes on this topic, but also of how everyday life is increasingly manipulated for profit.

If you enjoyed the episode or want to throw some rocks, click below. We always appreciate the love from our growing On the Fringe community.

All the best from both of us,

Dave + Gav

Before we recorded our planned episode yesterday, we spontaneously jumped into talking about driving, Korea, and North Korea. And now, I know why Gavin has never suggested renting a car.

You’ll also hear a tidbit about why a Korean Driver’s license is powerful, arguably more so than the Dear Leader himself.

This week on the pod, Dave and Gav get into it about the SAFE Kids Act and other pieces of legislation regarding AI chatbots, social media, and child safety. As legislators around the world play catch-up with the social, economic, and legal implications of AI, we talk about how Constitutional rights may find themselves more in the crossfire—or in the crosshairs.

This episode is part of our rolling coverage of developments involving AI and education. We’ve covered whether a college degree is worth it and what the front lines of preparing for an AI future look like. It’s likely not where you’d think!

If you enjoyed the episode, shoot us a message, restack, and pass us some love and feedback. If you’re listening on Apple or Spotify, don’t forget to rate our show. We sincerely appreciate all the growing support our On the Fringe community provides.

All the best from both of us!

Dave and Gavin