Heaven's Gate. The Branch Davidians. Children of God. The Republican party? Liberals and conservatives have been accusing each other of being in a cult since forever, but neither has exhibited all of the classic characteristics and traits ... until now. This week, the gang discusses the idea that Republicans are beginning to cross the line from party cohesiveness and loyalty to straight-up cult status.

0:00:00 - Intro (Meredith and Jay can't deal with winter, 23&Me disrupted Ty and Jay's family)

0:25:15 - Sounds of the Week:

• JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Slams Remote Work
• Crowd overflows Belton coffee shop during event with US Rep. Mark Alford

0:51:17 - Cults

Songs:

"Hypnotize" by System of a Down

"I Burn" by Toadies

"Brainwashed" by The Kinks

Notes:

• Planet Comicon KC Guest List (0:09:40)
• Judge largely blocks Trump's executive orders ending federal support for DEI programs (0:17:40)
• Federal judge considering a request to further block Trump administration from freezing funds (0:17:55)
• A Fourth Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Birthright Citizenship Order (0:18:00)
• Supreme Court pauses Trump administration's effort to fire head of whistleblower protection agency (0:18:10)
• Supreme Court Grants Trump Request to Pause Foreign-Aid Payments Deadline (0:19:20)
• Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., talking about town hall meeting on CNN (0:42:51)
• Two Missouri lawmakers looking to dismantle the ATF (0:43:55)
• Characteristics of a cult (0:56:10)
• Traits of cults (0:56:10)
• How Social Media Features Parallel Cult Techniques (0:56:10)
• The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory by Tim Alberta (1:04:45)
• KnittingCultCaptain (1:11:37)

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Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies are under attack by the federal government in an attempt to restore meritocracy in both the public and private sectors. There's only one problem: Meritocracy is a myth. This week, the gang discusses how the lack of a merit-based system renders policies like DEI necessary to ensure everyone is on a level playing field by circumventing our implicit biases.

(0:00:00) - Intro (Super Bowl halftime show, Democratic party implosion continues)

(0:24:30) - Sounds of the Week:

• UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell's pro-Hitler hot take
• UFC CEO Dana White's response to Mitchell's hot take
• Toronto Raptors fans boo U.S. national anthem

(0:40:33) - Meritocracy

Songs:

"Country Heroes" by Hank Williams III

"Shot You Down" by Audio Bullys and Nancy Sinatra

"One Headlight" by The Wallflowers

Notes:

• Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show (0:04:10)
• Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. album wins 2018 Pulitzer Prize in music (0:07:05)
• The subversive genius of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime performance (0:09:40)
• 17 Easter Eggs And Small Details From Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show (0:09:40)
• NFL will remove 'End Racism' from the end zones ahead of Super Bowl (0:12:00)
• List of most watched television broadcasts in the United States (0:13:30)
• Super Bowl 2025 Hits 127.7 Million Viewers, Most-Watched Ever (0:14:00)
• Democrats Have a New Leader but Haven't Come to Grips With Failure (0:18:37)
• Democrats elect Rep. Gerry Connolly over progressive star AOC for top Oversight Committee post (0:19:03)
• Hakeem Jeffries probably needs to get out of the way, so Democrats can do something (0:19:09)
• Trump's second term: Early ratings and expectations (0:19:45)
• FiveThirtyEight's President Donald Trump approval live poll (0:20:04)
• Politics CBS News poll — Trump has positive approval amid "energetic" opening weeks (0:20:10)
• NFL fines Will Anderson Jr. $25,000 for publicly criticizing officials (0:32:00)
• US aid freeze puts HIV treatment in Africa at risk (0:36:30)
• Africa knew Trump's 'America First' pledge meant it might be last. Then came the freeze on aid (0:36:30)
• The Demise of U.S.A.I.D. and American Soft Power (0:36:53)
• Trump blames diversity hiring as probe into deadly DC plane crash begins (0:42:42)
• Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey's lawsuit claiming Starbucks' hiring policies violate the Civil Rights Act (0:43:26)
• Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (0:45:20)
• Secretary Hegseth's Message to the Force (0:45:40)

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In a special edition of the show, Ty, Jay and Meredith are joined by Geoff Gerling, a Missouri Democratic party officer and former SOTW co-host. Geoff returns to the show to discuss where Democrats went wrong heading into Election Day and how the party can bounce back. The gang gets deep into the weeds, including political messaging, who will lead the Democratic party and why the show "The West Wing" led to second term for Donald Trump.

0:00:00 - Short intro and straight into what happened with the Dems

0:27:58 - Role of communications/messaging in politics and the Democratic party

0:55:38 - Democrats' path forward

Songs:

"Loser" by Beck

"Oops!... I Did It Again" by Britney Spears

"Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who

Notes:

• Vance Sticks By Pet-Eating Claims and Says He's Willing to 'Create Stories' (0:15:00)
• Election 2024 exit poll results (0:18:40)
• President Trump Holds Press Briefing on Aviation Disaster (0:21:45)
• Heritage Foundation Spreads Deceptive Videos About Noncitizen Voters (0:29:40)
• Why the Heritage Foundation Keeps Popping Up in Russian Media (0:29:40)
• Heritage Foundation Staffers Flood Federal Agencies With Thousands of Information Requests (0:29:40)
• How a Few Secret Donors Are Fueling the New Right-Wing Infrastructure (0:29:40)
• The Contentious History Between Elon Musk and Former FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker (0:37:58)
• "Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies into Reality" by Renée DiResta (0:42:37)
• The West Wing is 20 years old. Too many Democrats still think it's a great model for politics. (0:45:20)
• What Did 'The West Wing' Do to Us? (0:45:20)
• Another 2016 poll revealed that Republicans love "The Walking Dead" WAY more than Democrats (0:45:53)
• Fall TV Ratings Update (0:46:30)
• Total number of viewers of the most watched television shows in the United States in the 2023/2024 season (0:46:30)
• The quote Ty was referring to was "Mass movements can rise and spread without belief in a god, but never without a belief in a devil" by Eric Hoffer, philosopher and social critic (0:47:30)
• Why did Missourians vote for liberal ballot items — but conservative candidates? (0:55:55)
• Arkansas legalized medical marijuana in 2016. Recreational marijuana is still illegal in the state. (0:59:37)
• Arkansas and Missouri just approved big minimum wage increases, a liberal victory in red states (0:59:39)
• Crystal Quade lost to Mike Kehoe by 20 points in the 2024 Missouri governor race (1:00:25)
• Marjorie Taylor Greene, AOC, Jasmine Crockett clash at House hearing (1:10:50)

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UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was assassinated in broad daylight in the middle of New York City. Rather than decry a cold-blooded killing, Americans seemed to be indifferent at minimum, with many publicly praising the murderer, Luigi Mangione. Meanwhile, Daniel Penny, a man acquitted of killing an unarmed homeless man acting crazy on a New York City subway, was invited to watch the Army-Navy football game with President-elect Donald Trump. Aside from the obvious question of "WTF is going on in NYC?" the other question to ask is "If or when is vigilante justice okay?" This week, the gang gets into a heated exchange as not everyone agrees that taking matters into your own hands is a good thing.

(0:00:00) - Intro (Chick-fil-A sucks - Chinese food good, Snowmageddon 2025)

(0:23:55) - Sounds of the Week:

• Facebook wants to be Twitter
• Monkey palate cleanser

(0:39:38) - Vigilante justice

Songs:

"I Hope You Die" by Bloodhound Gang

"Everything About You" by Ugly Kid Joe

"Head Like a Hole" by Nine Inch Nails

Notes:

• Kansas City, Missouri sees fourth largest single-day snowfall on record (0:04:15)
• Former Congressman Matt Gaetz considering governor run, he says (0:19:30)
• A Pulitzer winner quits 'Washington Post' after a cartoon on Bezos is killed (0:27:45)
• Meta is ending its fact-checking program in favor of a 'community notes' system similar to X's (0:28:25)
• Meta's new board includes UFC boss Dana White, a familiar figure in Trump's orbit (0:28:50)
• 2024 broke a 120-year election record that is terrible news for Labor (0:29:33)
• Right-Wing Populism Is Set to Sweep the West in 2024 (0:29:33)
• The Reactionary Spirit: How America's Most Insidious Political Tradition Swept the World (0:29:33)
• What the Rise of Far-Right Politics Says About the Economy in an Election Year (0:29:33)
• Canada's Trudeau announces resignation after nearly a decade as prime minister (0:29:40)
• 1 in 4 Americans sympathize with Luigi Mangione; AI poll reveals why (0:40:45)
• 41% of young voters say UnitedHealthcare CEO killing "acceptable" (0:40:45)
• UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing Shooter's Possible Jacket Flying Off Shelves (0:41:35)
• Retailers Cash In on Luigi Mangione's Obsession as Sales Pick Up on Merch (0:41:53)
• Is CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione a terrorist? Why charges may 'send a message.' (0:46:05)
• Who is Daniel Penny? What we know about the Marine veteran acquitted in Jordan Neely's subway death (0:53:20)
• In Which States do I Have a Duty to Help? (0:59:17)
• Good Samaritan Law States 2024 (1:00:00)

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It's the first episode of 2025, which means it's time to set some goals! Inspired by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 manifesto that President-elect Donald Trump totally, unequivocally, in no way knows anything about, the gang has created their personal Project 2025 (sans an authoritarian overthrowing of the government to force far Christian-right ideals). It's like a New Year's resolution, but way deeper.

(0:00:00) Intro (Jay and Ty are sabotaging Meredith's relationship, finding a new home, news updates)

(0:20:10) Sounds of the Week:

• Vehicle plows into crowd on Bourbon Street
• Eric Schmitt blasts 'abuse' of H-1B visa program, says Americans 'shouldn't train their foreign replacements'

(0:40:50) Project 2025: SOTW version

Songs:

"This Will Be My Year" by Semisonic

"New Year's Day" by U2

"It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" by R.E.M.

Notes:

• The full Matt Gaetz House Ethics Committee report (0:06:45)
• Per Jay's request, here's the SeekingArrangement.com link (0:10:55)
• President Biden Commutes the Sentences of 37 Individuals on Death Row (0:11:25)
• Donald Trump's social media post vowing to direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty (0:12:50)
• Trump's social media post telling death row inmates to "GO TO HELL!" (0:13:00)
• Missouri attorney general keeps fighting against innocence claims. Is it an 'immoral position'? (0:14:00)
• Missouri governor commutes sentence of white police officer convicted of fatally shooting Black man (0:14:35)
• Las Vegas police looking for links between Cybertruck blast and New Orleans attack (0:22:30)
• Trump's social media post falsely linking New Orleans terrorist attack to immigration (0:24:48)
• Suspect in Bourbon Street mass fatality had ISIS flag in truck: FBI (0:25:00)
• 'No definitive link' found between New Orleans attack and Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion, FBI says (0:26:10)
• Elon Musk stays on brand following Tesla Cybertruck explosion (0:26:32)
• Shots fired during New Year's gathering mark Kansas City's first homicide of 2025 (0:28:00)
• When a Florida Farmer-Legislator Turned Against Immigration, the Consequences Were Severe. But Not for Him. (0:32:35)
• H-1B Petitions by Gender and Country of Birth (0:35:13)

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It's the Christmas Episode! The gang closes out 2024 by giving each other symbolic gifts. Since no one is actually getting any of these gifts, there's no limit to what the gift can be. In typical SOTW fashion, things get weird and awkward quickly, with a Shyamalan twist at the end. Happy holidays! We'll see you next year!

(0:00:00) - Intro (School district boundaries make no sense, return-to-work policies are dumb, endoscopies are no big deal, news updates)

(0:22:50) - Sounds of the Week:

• UnitedHealth song
• Neil deGrasse Tyson on New Jersey drones

(0:44:04) - SOTW gift exchange

Songs:

"Run Rudolph Run" by Lemmy Kilmister, Billy F. Gibbons and Dave Grohl

"Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" by Ramones

"Christmastime" by The Smashing Pumpkins

Notes:

• Like Elon Musk, 1 in 3 bosses admit they are pushing RTO because they're so upset about wasting money on all those empty desks (0:11:55)
• Elon Musk, Amazon, and AT&T are demanding a return to office. But there aren't enough desks (0:12:30)
• Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reverses decision to put a time limit on anesthesia (0:17:00)
• Judge rejects sale of Alex Jones' Infowars to The Onion in dispute over bankruptcy auction (0:18:00)
• Suspect in UnitedHealthcare's CEO killing charged with murder as an act of terrorism (0:29:00)
• Insurer stocks fall after Trump says 'we're going to knock out the middleman' (0:31:00)
• The insurance middlemen Ty was referring to are called "pharmacy benefit managers" (0:31:10)
• List of U.S. states by population density (0:35:10)
• List of U.S. cities by population density (0:35:15)

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A porn star professor. Links to porn sites on kids' toy boxes. Someone got their own costume line at Spirit Halloween for spittin' on that thang. There were some sexy headlines this year. Is America getting out of its Puritan phase of sex and embracing its sexuality? This week, the gang talks about their relationship with sex and whether or not Americans' attitudes on the topic are becoming more liberated.

(0:00:00) - Intro (Meredith is fasting, Jay is a Trekkie now, the gang can't handle marijuana, updates)

(0:28:22) - Sounds of the Week:

• Trump FCC Pick Tells Fox's Maria Bartiromo He'll End Government 'Lawfare' By 'Last Name' Against Elon Musk
• New images show suspect in apparent targeted shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO

(0:48:10) - Let's talk about sex

Songs:

"A.D.I.D.A.S." by Korn

"Fuck Her Gently" by Tenacious D

"Fuck the Pain Away" by Peaches

Notes:

• Deadly Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon after Hezbollah attacks, testing shaky ceasefire (0:12:20)
• Updates: Israel attacks hospital, besieges school shelter in North Gaza (0:12:20)
• Elon Musk Says He Owns Everyone's Twitter Account in Bizarre Alex Jones Court Filing (0:14:05)
• What you should know about Section 230, the rule that shaped today's internet (0:15:25)
• Change to Twitter Suggests Elon Musk Is Panicking Over Users Leaving for Bluesky (0:16:50)
• Bluesky updates it policies to address growth spurt (0:17:50)
• President Joe Biden pardons his son (0:19:00)
• Biden's broken promise on pardoning his son Hunter is raising new questions about his legacy (0:21:30)
• Trump urges judge to toss hush money case, citing Hunter Biden pardon (0:23:09)
• Yes, Jonathan Davis was married to a porn star (0:28:30)
• Musk, Ramaswamy eyeing federal remote work policies to help slash $2T from budget (0:33:45)
• Two Billionaires' Big Plan to Shrink Government (0:34:50)
• SSA, AFGE reach deal to lock in current telework levels until 2029 (0:35:30)
• Professor fired for porn hobby vows to take university to court (0:48:40)
• Mattel apologizes for link to porn site on 'Wicked' movie doll boxes (0:48:55)
• The new college student sex trend and why it's so dangerous (0:49:35)
• The top 10 countries with the most rapes per 100,000 people are Grenada, England/Wales, Pakistan, Botswana, Lesotho, Sweden, Panama, Eswatini, South Africa and Iceland. The United States is pretty high up there, while India is ranked relatively low. It's worth noting that these statistics are based on reported rapes, which can vary greatly from one country to another. (0:53:50)
• Scholar's Pedophilia Essay Stirs Outrage and Revenge (1:08:45)

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It's Thanksgiving week! While Americans stuff their faces with an offensive amount of food and trample over each other to get 20% off a 75-inch 4K ultra-high-def TV, it is also a time to reflect on what we are thankful for. That is exactly what the gang does this week. Ty, Jay and Meredith take a break from their default mode of resigned cynicism (well, kind of) and dig deep to find things in their life for which they are thankful.

(0:00:00) - Intro (Trump cabinet/staff nominees, Twitter vs. Bluesky)

(0:22:46) - Sounds of the Week:

• "Is freshman-elect Sarah McBride a man or a woman?"
  • 'A man cannot become a woman'
• Actual good news for once!

(0:39:10) - Giving thanks

Songs:

"Cherry Pie" by Warrant

"Custard Pie" by Led Zeppelin

"Pecan Pie" by Golden Smog

Notes:

• Trump picks Lee Zeldin to lead EPA (0:02:30)
• Lee Zeldin's environmental scorecard (0:03:00)
• Stephen Miller will be Trump's homeland security advisor in new White House role (0:03:30)
• Southern Poverty Law Center's extremist profile on Stephen Miller (0:03:30)
• Trump picks Mike Huckabee for ambassador to Israel (0:03:45)
• List of ambassadors of the United States to Israel (0:03:55)
• Musk and Ramaswamy Unveil Plan to Overhaul Government (0:04:10)
• What to know about Kristi Noem, Trump's pick for Homeland Security secretary (0:04:20)
• Trump taps oil executive Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy (0:04:25)
• Trump picks Sean Duffy for transportation secretary (0:04:37)
• 'Who the f--k is this guy?': Defense world reacts to Trump's surprise Pentagon pick (0:04:55)
• Police report reveals assault allegations against Hegseth, Trump's pick for defense secretary (0:05:27)
• Trump picks Linda McMahon, former wrestling executive, to head Department of Education (0:05:50)
• What to know about Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump's pick to serve as attorney general (0:07:20)
• Matt Gaetz Withdraws From Consideration for Attorney General (0:07:43)
• Hacker accesses sealed testimony of woman alleging Matt Gaetz had sex with her when she was 17 (0:08:47)
• Trump picks vaccine sceptic RFK Jr for health secretary (0:09:45)
• RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine advocacy and conspiracy theories on public health (0:09:45)
• YouTube removes Robert F Kennedy Jr video featuring bizarre claim that polluted water makes children transgender (0:09:56)
• What to know about fluoride in water amid RFK Jr.'s bid to remove it (0:10:00)
• Trump Picks Dr. Oz to Oversee Medicare and Medicaid (0:10:24)
• The X (Twitter) Exodus To Bluesky, Explained (0:12:40)
• The X exodus is weakening a way for conservatives to speak to the masses (0:12:40)
• Jani Lane writes 'Cherry Pie' (0:22:55)
• Rep. Nancy Mace says Capitol restroom bill targeted 1st transgender member of Congress (0:24:50)
• Speaker Johnson announces policy barring trans women from Capitol bathrooms (0:28:55)
• MTG threatens to fight transgender woman (0:30:00)
• Company affiliated with Alex Jones seeks to disqualify The Onion's auction bid on Infowars (0:32:15)
• Russian Ballet Star Is Latest Putin Critic to Die in 'Fall' from Building (0:40:50)
• Dana Bash Watches Nazis Marching in Ohio and Says, 'We Don't Know What Side of the Aisle This Comes From' (0:46:35)
• Youth suicide rates rose 62% from 2007 to 2021 (0:50:15)

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What was supposed to be a tight race ended up being a total massacre of the Democratic party, with Donald Trump winning a second term as president and Republicans taking control of the House and the Senate. Voters dismissed Democrats' claims of fascism, including the party's own base. This week, the gang discusses how we got here and what to do next.

(0:00:00) - Intro (Nosferatu vs. Batman, Ron Reagan vs. Ronald Reagan, business conferences are for getting drunk, Ty is the world's first Grandpa Ty)

(0:22:28) - Sounds of the Week:

• Tony Hinchcliffe calls Puerto Rico 'island of garbage' at Trump rally
• That Means You | Will Ferrell for Kamala Harris
• Bonus Sound of the Week

(0:36:55) - Election Day 2024

Songs:

"Youth Against Fascism" by Sonic Youth

"All You Fascists" by Billy Bragg & Wilco

"Nazi Punks Fuck Off (In God We Trust, Inc)" by Dead Kennedys

Notes:

• Some stats on the name Tyson (0:15:00)
• How voting demographics changed between 2020 and 2024 presidential elections (0:25:30)
• The name of the old country singer Ty was talking about is Lee Greenwood, known for the song "God Bless the U.S.A." (0:27:35)
• Some stats on the name Gary (0:29:40)
• Election results (0:38:04)
• Exit poll results (0:38:50)
• The demographic groups that propelled Trump to presidency (0:40:30)
• How did the Donald Trump red wave hit Miami-Dade's blue cities? (0:41:45)
• Inside Hillary Clinton's Secret Takeover of the DNC (0:44:30)
• America's economy just achieved the rare feat of a soft landing (0:46:25)
• Do Americans have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Donald Trump? (0:55:25)
• Polls say we're on the wrong track as a nation; understanding why is more complicated (0:55:33)
• Direction of Country poll (0:55:33)
• Missouri voted for abortion-rights amendment — and Republicans who vow to overturn it (1:05:25)
• Kehoe: Missouri Republicans will respond to abortion legalization but too soon to say how (1:05:25)
• Florida Abortion-Rights Amendment Narrowly Fails (1:06:30)

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It's the Halloween episode! Fear is always a hot topic this time of year, so Ty, Meredith and Jay will tackle it head-on. This year, the gang will bring in the spooky season by talking about what they are afraid of now that they are all middle-aged. Conversely, they will also discuss what they feared in their early adult years but no longer bothers them today. Fear is always in us, but changes over time.

(0:00:00) Intro (News update, the gang goes to the symphony, "history" of Nosferatu, Jay is going to Florida)

(0:19:07) Sounds of the Week:

• Freedom From Religion Foundation ad
• Seinfeld walks it back

(0:44:04) Fear

Songs:

"Lost Boys" by The 69 Eyes

"Nosferatu" by Blue Oyster Cult

"Night of the Vampire" by Roky Erickson

Notes:

• Americans are addicted to gambling on the election because it's finally legal, sort of (0:03:40)
• Nosferatu themes (0:07:45)
• Nosferatu, Blood Libel, and the Jews (0:07:45)
• Racially profiled?: 'Jewish' vampirism in Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau's Nosferatu (0:07:45)
• Exploring Nosferatu's Complex Relationship With the Rise of Nazism (0:07:45)
• 17 facts that sound fake, but are actually true (0:10:30)
• Shadow of the Vampire (0:11:55)
• 8 facts about atheists (0:23:30)
• Religious 'Nones' in America: Who They Are and What They Believe (0:24:00)
• Holy shit! Ron Reagan of the Freedom From Religion Foundation is in fact former president Ronald Reagan's son! He's actually an honorary director of the foundation. (0:26:00)
• Freedom From Religion Foundation J6 Christian Nationalism ad (0:27:00)
• We've Got A File On You: Insane Clown Posse (0:35:15)
• Dracula vs. Hitler (0:44:44)

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