In this round, Mike and Kurt size up the top Democratic contenders remaining in the 2020 field. With the departure of Beto O'Rourke and the first primary just a couple months away, now seems like a good time to check in on the remaining candidates. The top of the field has young moderates, old socialists, estabilshment Dems, and septuagenarian hellraisers duking it out for the top spot. As the Iowa caucus swiftly approaches, who will come out on top? What are the target demographics, and whose policy positions will capture those endorsements? How should the candidates adjust their platforms as the field narrows? Join us as Kurt and Mike consume a pint of rum and debate these questions - and more - on this week's episode of Right Brain Left Brain!

In this round, Kurt and Mike look at the ongoing fight for Hong Kong independence through the lens of American reactions. While world-wide-web-warriors tweet out their thoughts and prayers, some high-profile commentators find themselves in hot water for showing too much - or not enough - moral support for the massive Hong Kong protests. What's really going on in Hong Kong? With millions of Americans weighing in on the issue, who's the biggest hypocrite of them all? Join us as Mike and Kurt tear through a six-pack, un-pack the Hong Kong controversy, and answer these questions - and more - on this week's episode of Right Brain Left Brain!

In this round, Mike and Kurt discuss the recent Turkish incursion into northern Syria. After President Trump removed US troops from the region of Syria bordering Turkey, Turkish president Erdogan moved quickly to invade the region, sending troops and paying proxies to launch attacks agains Syrian Kurds - our allies in the fight against ISIS. The attacks have been roundly condemned, but questions remain: What's the US's responsibility to the Kurds? Should the US do anything in reprisal over the attacks and, if so, what? And how can we prevent something like this ever happening again? Join us as Mike and Kurt debate these questions - and more - on this week's episode of Right Brain Left Brain!

In this round, Kurt and Mike discuss Donald Trump’s sudden decision to pull all remaining US troops out of northern Syria, where they’d been embedded with allied Kurdish fighters in the war against ISIS. Many critics of this move argue that this is a major double-cross of the Kurds, who face hostility from a Turkish military that's been waiting to invade northern Syria. Does Trump’s move give Turkey the green light to massacre the Kurdish fighters who frontlined the fight against ISIS? Will Trump’s reassurances stack up in the face of Turkish aggression against a Kurdish population they’ve been at odds with for decades? Join us as Mike and Kurt debate these questions - and more - on this week’s episode of Right Brain Left Brain!

In this round, Mike and Kurt examine the newest developments in the impeachment inquiry. What's the best case for impeachment? What's the best case against? Can the Democrats manage to leverage impeachment in their favor, even if Trump ends up getting acquitted? Join us as Mike and Kurt drink more than enough rum and debate these questions - and more - on this week's episode of Right Brain Left Brain!

In this round, Mike and Kurt discuss - you guessed it - impeachment. Ukraine, Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Donald Trump, we leave no stone unturned, no handshake deal un-investigated. With a whistleblower spilling the beans on a questionable phone call between Trump and the president of Ukraine, the nation is in an uproar. Nancy Pelosi seems to be caving to forces on the left demanding impeachment. So is it finally time? Have the Democrats finally found the smoking gun? Or is this just another search for a silver bullet just around the river bend? Join us as Kurt and Mike drink just enough Tequila and debate these questions - and more - on this week’s Right Brain Left Brain!

In this round, Mike and Kurt take a look at the state of prisons in the US. Since the tough-on-crime era of the 1980s, the American prison population has skyrocketed. To save money, the federal penal system began issuing contracts to private companies to house prisoners, and many states, cities, and counties have followed suit, but not without controversy. Is there a major difference between private and government-run prisons? Are the claimed problems with for-profit prisons unfixable? With a number of states shunning prison privatization, should the federal government ban them outright? Join us as Mike and Kurt drink too much whiskey and debate these questions - and more - on this week's episode of Right Brain Left Brain!

This week, Mike's home from his epic motorcycle spirit quest, and Kurt sets out on his great Pacific Northwest anniversary trip! Join us as Mike and Kurt predict what probably happened in the two weeks since we were last in the studio! We'll be back in full force next Friday, Sept. 20! See ya then!

Right Brain Left Brain is on vacation! This week, Mike is on an epic motorcycle trip around the Pacific Northwest in search of the elusive Bigfoot, while Kurt gets drunk and debates his reflection in the dressing room mirror.

In this round, Mike and Kurt take a look at talk of an impending economic downturn. Many economists and pundits are predicting a looming recession, but are their predictions politically motivated? How much of the analysis is honest reporting, and how much of it is wishful thinking? Do major figures on the political left actually hope for a major economic disaster in the run-up to 2020? Join us as Kurt and Mike day drink Bloody Mary and discuss these questions - and more - on this week's episode of Right Brain Left Brain!