The Homeless Conservative

Only 3 weeks in and I'm pretty sure Trump has crossed the rubicon into DGAF territory. I lay out why it's already very clear Trump does not care one bit about the law or the Constitution, the American working class, or our allies. He cares about one person and one person only: himself.

I go over his Department of Justice's dismissal of the bribery case against NY mayor Eric Adams, his insane insistence that Ukraine must be punished for the war they started (spoiler alert: they didn't start the war, Russia did), and how nothing going on at DOGE is going to make the economy better for working class Americans.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Trump Administration's Second Term

07:11 Concerns Over Rule of Law and Constitutionality

22:30 Trump's Approach to the American People and Populism

32:52 The Refugee Crisis and Immigration Policy

37:20 The Ukraine Conflict and U.S. Foreign Policy

46:20 Concerns Over Trump's Leadership and Governance

53:29 The State of American Patriotism and Constitutional Values

NOTES:

Trump DOJ’s Eric Adams Dismissal Heading for Constitutional Controversy

DOJ’s Eric Adams Dismissal Heading for Constitutional Controversy | National Review

Brokenism vs Status-Quo-ism

https://www.thefp.com/p/the-everything-is-broken-administration

AG Bondi’s ‘Weaponization’ Directive Peddles President Trump’s Political Narratives - Andy McCarthy - National Review

Can We Please Stop Calling These People Populists?

Trump Suggests No Laws Are Broken if He’s ‘Saving His Country’

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/us/politics/trump-saves-country-quote.html

Rooting for Laundry - Nick Catoggio - The Dispatch

https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/donald-trump-patriotism-america-2/

In this conversation, I sit down with Jack Kammer to discuss the cultural perceptions of masculinity, the political landscape regarding young men, and the challenges they face in today's society. We explore the GOP's approach to engaging young male voters, the impact of single-parent households, and the importance of positive messaging for boys. The discussion also touches on the educational system's shortcomings in addressing boys' needs and the pressure young men feel regarding their earning potential. We discuss the complexities of masculinity, the evolving job landscape for men, and the importance of fatherhood in family dynamics. And while Trump and Republicans certainly courted and relied on the votes of young men in the 2024 election, what will they do to actually affect their lives, if anything? The discussion also critiques the current political landscape regarding family values and feminism, advocating for a more balanced approach that recognizes the contributions and needs of both genders.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Conversation on Masculinity

03:12 Cultural Perceptions of Men and Politics

05:48 The GOP's Approach to Young Men

09:04 Challenges Faced by Boys and Young Men

12:07 The Role of Fathers in Child Development

15:13 The Impact of Single-Parent Households

18:03 Cultural Stereotypes and Their Consequences

21:08 The Importance of Positive Messaging for Boys

24:02 Rethinking Education for Boys

26:56 The Pressure of Earning Potential on Young Men

29:51 Conclusion and Future Considerations

36:37 Understanding Perspectives on Masculinity

39:41 The Value of Work and Family Dynamics

42:14 Redefining Worth Beyond Financial Success

44:41 The Changing Job Landscape for Men

46:34 The Role of Education in Shaping Futures

50:33 Republican Party's Approach to Men's Issues

52:41 The Importance of Fatherhood in Family Values

56:41 Social Work and Gender Bias in Family Dynamics

01:11:21 The Importance of Acknowledging Imperfections in Parenting

01:13:09 The Role of Fathers in Child Development

01:15:17 Responsible Motherhood and Its Impact

01:16:35 The Need for Co-Parenting

01:18:11 Changing Societal Norms Around Parenting

01:20:40 Political Perspectives on Family Values

01:22:39 The Hypocrisy in Political Family Values

01:24:22 Historical Context of Feminism and Its Evolution

01:26:52 The Zero-Sum Mentality in Gender Discussions

01:29:40 The Shift in Feminist Discourse

01:32:00 The Need for Balance in Gender Politics

01:34:41 The Future of Political Messaging on Gender Issues

NOTES:

Jack at https://malefriendlymedia.com

​• Charles Donovan

President of Charlotte Lozier Institute

(a pro-life organization)

10/28/14 panel at Heritage Foundation

​https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/jobs-and-the-economy/374145

• Kyle Pruett

Yale Child Study Center

"The Evolution of Dad"

by documentarian Dana Glazer 2010

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ0iJmyE-7I

• Joseph ​​Welch's take-down of Joseph McCarthy

PBS American Experience transcript​

​Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator.

You've done enough.

(McCarthy stammering) Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?

Have you left no sense of decency?

​https://ga.video.cdn.pbs.org/captions/american-experience/a5071eeb-06ed-49b1-8c88-39b4f8b8b33b/captions/F3c8y3_caption_en.txt

I'm glad you're here! Here's a quick overview of what you can expect from this podcast.

Covering the Trump administration is exhausting, quite frankly. Should we take everything he improvisation-ally says at a microphone seriously? Literally? Will today's executive order get rescinded tomorrow? Let's start briefly discussing why Trump's impromptu Gaza "plan" will go nowhere, despite knowing it will absolutely DOMINATE the news cycle. Then we move on to Elon Musk's DOGE crew taking over USAID and if critics are correct about the illegality or danger, as well as whether USAID is all good, all bad, or somewhere nuanced in between (spoiler alert: it's nuanced). Finally, is Trump's government employee buyout plan illegal?

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Current Political Climate

03:04 Media Coverage and Trump's Communication Style

05:50 Analyzing Trump's Tariffs and Economic Impact

09:08 The Doge Initiative and Government Efficiency

27:14 Budget Cuts and Government Efficiency

28:43 Elon Musk's Involvement with USAID

31:30 The Need for Young Talent in Government

35:17 Critique of USAID and Its Functions

39:07 The Complexity of Government Budgeting

41:53 Trump's Proposed Buyouts for Federal Employees

46:06 Concerns Over Agency Reforms

48:04 The Importance of Legislative Action

52:22 Navigating Government Nuances

NOTES

USAID’s Long Track Record of Wasteful Left-Wing Spending Made It an Obvious First Target for Musk

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/usaids-long-track-record-of-wasteful-left-wing-spending-made-it-an-obvious-first-target-for-musk/

Trump Administration Threatens USAID

https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/morning/trump-administration-threatens-usaid/

The Boys of DOGE

https://www.thefp.com/p/the-boys-of-doge

Trump’s Dramatic Plan to Cut the Federal Workforce

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/trumps-dramatic-plan-to-cut-the-federal-workforce/

Clinton Signs Bill on Buyouts for Federal Workers

https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/31/us/clinton-signs-bill-on-buyouts-for-federal-workers.html

The North American Trade War Gets Postponed, for Now

https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/the-north-american-trade-war-gets-postponed-for-now/

ForeignAssistance.gov

https://foreignassistance.gov

Lura Forcum from independentcenter.org and Gabriel Nadales from joinouramerica.org join me today for a discussion on H-1B visas. The discussion highlights the contrasting views on immigration, the skills gap in the workforce, and the political challenges in reforming immigration policy. highlights the entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants and the importance of fast-tracking citizenship for those who contribute to the economy. We touche on the shortcomings of the American education system in preparing students for the workforce, the significant presence of foreign students in STEM fields, and the cultural differences in attitudes towards education.

Chapters

00:00 The H-1B Visa Debate: An Overview

02:46 Understanding H-1B Visas: Purpose and Process

06:00 Arguments For and Against H-1B Visas

08:51 The Skills Gap and Workforce Shortages

11:45 Political Shortcomings in Immigration Policy

15:04 The Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

18:05 Trade-offs and Consequences of H-1B Visas

20:48 Future of H-1B Visas and Labor Market Solutions

27:08 Revisiting H1B Visas and Immigration Reform

28:31 The Role of Immigrants in Space Exploration

30:34 The Entrepreneurial Spirit of Immigrants

31:55 Fast-Tracking Citizenship for Skilled Immigrants

34:38 Education System and Workforce Readiness

36:28 Foreign Students in STEM Fields

38:33 Cultural Perspectives on Education

40:45 The Economic Impact of Immigration

42:36 Addressing Labor Market Gaps

45:52 Understanding the Immigration Process

48:29 Merit-Based Immigration and Economic Growth

50:49 The Ripple Effects of Skilled Immigration

In this (long) conversation, Blake and Mackenzie catch up and discuss the significant political events surrounding Biden's final days in office, particularly focusing on his controversial pardons. They explore the implications of these actions for future presidencies and the potential precedents set. The discussion then shifts to Trump's early days in office, including the events of January 6th, and the broader implications of political violence in America. The hosts analyze the motivations behind these actions and their potential impact on the political landscape. In this conversation, Blake Fischer discusses various political themes, including the implications of political pardons, the aftermath of the January 6th incident, and the national security concerns surrounding TikTok. He critiques executive orders and emphasizes the need for comprehensive immigration reform through Congress. The conversation also touches on the political circus of confirmation hearings and the uncertainties of foreign policy under a new administration. Finally, Fischer reflects on Trump's economic policies and their potential consequences. In this conversation, Blake Fischer discusses various political themes, including the future of DOGE and its potential impact on government efficiency, the importance of energy independence through nuclear power, and the dynamics of Trump's leadership amidst political challenges. The conversation also delves into California's political landscape and the potential for change, as well as the balance between optimism and realism in politics.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Biden's Final Days and Pardons

30:03 Trump's First Days in Office and January 6th

36:47 Political Pardons and Their Implications

39:01 The January 6th Incident and Its Aftermath

40:52 TikTok: National Security vs. Popularity

43:46 Executive Orders and Their Impact

46:51 Immigration Reform: A Legislative Priority

50:58 The Role of Congress in Immigration Policy

53:52 Confirmation Hearings: A Political Circus

57:34 Foreign Policy: The Unknowns Ahead

01:01:43 Trump's Economic Policies and Their Consequences

01:13:49 The Future of Dogecoin and Government Efficiency

01:20:50 Energy Independence and Nuclear Power

01:25:31 Trump's Leadership and Political Dynamics

01:35:23 California's Political Landscape and Future

01:49:16 Optimism and Realism in Politics

The first two weeks of 2025 have been VERY eventful. I simply assume no one wants to listen to me talk about ALL the things that have happened, so I stick to talking about Pete Hegseth's questioning by the Armed Forces Committee this week, the horrifying LA wildfires, and talk about the so-called TikTok ban that's set to go into effect within days.

I probably should have talked about it being Biden's last week in politics, but I literally forgot he was still the president.

NOTES:

TikTok ByteDance Workers Fired for Data Access on Journalists

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/dec/22/tiktok-bytedance-workers-fired-data-access-journalists

TikTok is a National Security Threat

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/01/tiktok-is-a-national-security-threat/

TikTok Tapes: U.S. User Data and China ByteDance Access

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/emilybakerwhite/tiktok-tapes-us-user-data-china-bytedance-access

They Know How to Prevent Megafires — Why Won’t Anybody Listen?

https://www.propublica.org/article/they-know-how-to-prevent-megafires-why-wont-anybody-listen

This is part 2 of a discussion with Josh Lewis from the Saving Elephants podcast. You can listen to part 1 of our conversation where we talk about the lessons we think Republicans should learn from 2024 on Saving Elephants here.

Saving Elephants on Spotify

Saving Elephants on Apple Podcasts

It's officially 2025, and the new Congress has been sworn in and Donald Trump will soon be inaugurated for his 2nd term. But before we get too far into what comes next, Josh and I thought we'd take a moment to talk about the lessons we think each party should learn from the 2024 elections. To do so, we split the conversation into two parts - one for each party. We discuss the lessons we think Republicans should learn from their victories that gave them control of the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate on Josh's podcast for part 1, and then on this episode we talk about what Democrats should learn from their losses.

If you can't tell by the title, Saving Elephants is a show you'll very likely relate to if you listen to The Homeless Conservative, so go listen to part 1 and give Josh a follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

NOTES:

Part 1 of our conversation

2024 exit polls

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/exit-polls

Independent voters grew in 2024

https://theconversation.com/in-2024-independent-voters-grew-their-share-of-the-vote-split-their-tickets-and-expanded-their-influence-245125

People keep saying 2024 was a "change" election, and I think Trump has a unique ability to bully Republicans in Congress into doing things they otherwise wouldn't. That's why I think he could change the federal government drastically for the better of the country - if he stopped being so narcissistic, vindictive, and foolish (yeah, I realize that's a BIG "if").

In this episode, I talk about three wonky ideas that might help make the federal government work better and have its trust restored in American voters: Enlarging the House of Representatives, moving agencies out of Washington D.C., and changing campaign finance laws to allow unlimited contributions to political parties.

CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro

6:30 - Expand the size of the House of Representatives

25:10 - Move (most of) the bureaucracy out of Washington D.C.

37:53 - Allow unlimited contributions to political parties

NOTES

Enlarging the House

https://www.amacad.org/ourcommonpurpose/initiative/enlarging-house-representatives

Political Fundrasing Preying on Elderly

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2024/10/politics/political-fundraising-elderly-election-invs-dg/

2024 Post-Election Survey: Gender and Age Analysis of 2024 Election Results

https://navigatorresearch.org/2024-post-election-survey-gender-and-age-analysis-of-2024-election-results/

I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around the reactions to the assassination of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson. Even before the alleged perpetrator of the crime, Luigi Mangioni, was caught, he seemed to have more people cheering him on than calling him what he is - a murderer. But people don't seem to be splitting on it as Left/Right as expected, which is different than the similarly thrust into populist hero-worship of Jacob Penny, who was found not guilty this week of homicide. Though the two cases are wildly different legally, I worry about our country's populist moment leading to not just more excusing of violence, but an open embrace of it.