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Nolan Higdon and Ron Placone return for the week of 7/15 to unpack a wild week of high-stakes confirmation hearings, corporate media meltdowns, and landmark state legislative battles. From a Senate vetting process featuring glaring nominee slips to unprecedented moves to limit artificial intelligence and combat Hollywood consolidation, we follow the money, power, and media narratives shaping the national conversation.
We dive deep into a rising public health crisis hitting California and the quiet regulatory rollback behind it, while tracking dramatic backroom geopolitical courting in the Middle East. Plus, we look into a family-held Senate seat, a hilariously awkward corporate news anchor moment, and the comedy of political memoirs hitting the shelves.
Inside This Episode:
The Senate Confirmation Spectacle: The Trump administration’s nominees are facing intense scrutiny on Capitol Hill, leading to high-profile clashes and slip-ups. Acting Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche commits to ending mail-order abortion pills while accidentally slipping that he is still Donald Trump’s personal lawyer. Meanwhile, Intel Chief nominee Jay Clayton dodges direct questions on the 2020 election and First Amendment subpoenas, and CDC nominee Dr. Erica Schwartz breaks ranks with RFK Jr. on mRNA vaccine safety. Source: Blanche slips in hearing - NBC News | Clayton grilled on 2020 election - CNN | Schwartz defends mRNA vaccines - ABC News
Parasites in California & The CDC’s Quiet Scale-Back: A major foodborne intestinal parasite outbreak has officially reached California, leaving consumers vulnerable. We connect this outbreak to the CDC's quiet, under-the-radar decision to scale back its surveillance programs for foodborne illnesses. Source: Parasite Outbreak Reaches California - NBC San Diego | CDC Scales Back Surveillance - NBC News
New York's Landmark AI Data Center Ban: In an unprecedented move to curb massive energy and resource consumption, New York has become the first state in the nation to pass a ban on new AI data centers. We break down the policy fight and what this means for the future of Big Tech. Source: NY Bans AI Data Centers - CNBC
The Hollywood Antitrust War: The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is taking a stand against media monopolization, filing a massive lawsuit to block the proposed mega-merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. We look at how California is testing its antitrust muscles in the entertainment capital. Source: WGA Sues to Block Merger - Deadline | CA Antitrust in Hollywood - Politico
Israel’s Wild Post-Regime Iran Strategy: Incredible new intelligence reports reveal that Israel's Mossad actively courted Iran’s former hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for a "post-regime" role. We look at this strange geopolitical outreach and why Senate Democrats are blocking a key defense funding bill over Middle East provisions. Source: Israel Courted Ahmadinejad - The Guardian | Senate Democrats Block Defense Bill - Al Jazeera
Mitch McConnell's Freeze & Jake Tapper's Media Script: Another freezing incident from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has onlookers questioning his health yet again. Meanwhile, we react to a hilariously scripted media moment from CNN's Jake Tapper, dissect the news of a Senate seat destined for next-of-kin, and look forward to the comedy of Joe Biden's upcoming post-midterm memoir, "Promise Me, America." Source: McConnell Freezes - CSPAN | Biden Midterm Memoir - AP News
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