I wanted to at least attempt to be a little more optimistic or positive for the July 4th episode, but it was difficult in the wake of last week's presidential debate exposing just how terrible the 2024 choice between Biden and Trump really is. All I see are warnings that "the other guy" will bring about the end of democracy in the press. The right does it with Biden, and the left with Trump. While both have terrible instincts and policies that can do real damage to America, I just refuse to believe November will be your last chance to vote in a democratic election ever, as some claim. We've had more incompetent presidents in the past - drunks, racists, authoritarians with no regard for the constitution - and yet, here we still are nearly 250 years past the signing of the Declaration of Independence. So, sit back and let me tell you about a few of the terrible presidents we've had in the past. It shouldn't make you feel any better about our choices this November, but put your fears of democracy dying to rest.

Note: I'm going to edit down my 3.5hr stream watching and discussing the debate for Ep046 in just a bit, but the full stream is available over on YouTube.

I streamed myself and my friend watching the debate last night and did a lot of discussion of the actual substance of what Trump and Biden were saying during the debate, but felt I should do another show to talk about the aftermath of Biden's universally panned performance and what it means going forward. Normally debates don't move the needle a ton in elections, but I think this debate is an outlier and is potentially a catalyst (if headlines are to be believed today) for Democrats to wake up and realize they have a real problem with Biden's age.

In this episode of "The Homeless Conservative," I sit down with Amos Guiora to discuss the alarming rise of antisemitism and its parallels to the Holocaust, especially after the events of October 7. Amos, whose parents were Holocaust survivors, shares his research on the role of bystanders and enablers in both historical and modern contexts. We also dive into the spread of misinformation on social media, the complexities of Israeli politics, and the global impact of antisemitism. Amos's insights emphasize the importance of education and vigilance in combating hate. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of these critical issues and learn how we can all play a part in fighting against antisemitism.

Join me for a chat with David Beckemeyer, host of Outrage Overload, about the wild world of political media. Ever notice how everything seems designed to make you mad? That's not by accident. Media and social platforms thrive on our outrage because it keeps us hooked and clicking.In this episode, we unpack how headlines and stories are crafted to grab eyeballs and ad dollars, often sidelining accuracy and fairness. David shares his insights on how to cut through the noise and stay sane in a media landscape that thrives on chaos.Learn how to navigate this madness, spot the tricks, and find balanced, thoughtful content. I know sometimes it seems easier to just check out, but we encourage you to find ways to reward the media companies, writers, and personalities who don't give in to the temptation to addict you to outrage

Outrageoverload.net

Outrage Overload on Spotify

Outrage Overload on Apple Podcasts

I'm wading into the comments section from YouTube to further expand on my views (and the pushback to them) on free speech, Ukraine funding, and my intolerance for Christians defending Donald Trump's morals.

Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts in the New York so called "Hush Money" trial yesterday. What does that mean going forward? Will the guilty verdict affect his polling in swing states? Will the perception of this case being lawfair convince voters on the fence to vote for him over Biden?

On Fridays, I'm the conservative voice on Ross Yerger's show "Up The Middle", where we discuss the week's political news with myself, Yergz, and Matt Diemer (the show's liberal opinion). We started discussing polling and how we have different opinions on if it's accurate or not. Ross thinks Biden will win in November, and I think all current signs point to Trump. Obviously a lot can happen in the nearly 6 months before election day, and at this point nothing would truly surprise me - but we talk about why we feel the way we do less than 6 months out from the election.

Check out our Friday show at yergzradio.com on Fridays at noon ET.

If you live in any city in America, you might have noticed the steady increase of homelessness that's been happening since 2016. It's a complicated problem without any single cause or solution, and the current political climate is, we'll say, not exactly great at dealing with nuanced issues. So I spoke with my friend Adam Luck who is the CEO of City Care in Oklahoma City. City Care, among many other wonderful services, offers a no barrier night shelter for people who need a place to stay. We talk about many of the contributing factors causing homelessness and how governments, citizens, and non-profits can work together to help solve it. 

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:54 Interview with Adam Luck

00:03:25 Why has homelessness increased since 2016?

00:11:01 What and how many support systems have to fail to become homeless?

00:15:01 How do we get to the root issues causing homelessness?

00:19:04 Perception and sympathy

00:22:33 Why do homelessness rates vary so much state to state?

00:28:21 What is the government's role in solving homelessness?

00:30:06 Who's staying at a low-barrier facility and for how long?

00:34:32 Housing first and last

00:39:27 What did cities like San Diego and Houston do to see the success they have in reducing homelessness?

00:45:41 I don't know anyone who wants to go back to living on the street after having transitioned out of that

01:06:17 Let's talk about mental illness and its relation to homelessness

01:21:29 What is Adam's dream leatherwork project?

LINKS:

* Built for Zero Initiative - https://community.solutions/built-for-zero-state-initiatives/

* City Care OKC - citycareokc.org

* Remerge - https://www.remergeok.org

The anti-Israel/pro-Palestinian protests that started at Columbia University weeks ago came to an end this week when NYPD were called to remove protestors who had barricaded themselves in a building on campus. Regardless of whether the violent and anti-semitic parts of the protests involved students or not, it's disturbing to see a minority group like Jewish students being attacked for something they have zero control over. Are these protests doing anything to change minds? What's the point of demanding American colleges end a war half-way across the world in Gaza? (I'm possibly ignorant of the duties of college administrators, but admittedly I'd be very surprised if negotiating ceasefires was in their job descriptions). Perhaps it boils down to that there is a significant portion of the left, especially in higher education, who place higher importance and virtue on public protests than they deserve.

Rant incoming: Biden is trying to forgive student loan debt...again. The democrats are pretending the Supreme Court didn't already say this was illegal and now President Biden's is proposing the SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) repayment program. This initiative, pegged at an eye-watering $475 billion over the next decade, follows closely on the heels of the Supreme Court's dismissal of Biden's previous HEROES act attempt, which was already a hefty $430 billion proposal. The Court's decision, which criticized the executive branch's overreach in unilaterally transforming significant sectors of the American economy, casts a long shadow over the legality and feasibility of Biden's new strategy. Through the episode, I unravel the complexities of this issue, from the Supreme Court's stance to the political promises that often outstrip the executive's actual powers, shedding light on the legal and ethical quagmire of erasing billions in student debt.

Beyond the legal battles, I explore the broader implications of such sweeping debt forgiveness policies. With Biden having already cancelled $146 billion in debt for 4 million Americans, I question the impact and fairness of these policies against the backdrop of a country where the majority have not attended college, and a significant portion of the debt is held by individuals with higher degrees who arguably have the means to repay. This exploration is not just about the legality or the numbers; it's a deeper inquiry into the very notion of a student loan "crisis" and the true crisis at hand - the spiraling cost of higher education and the diminishing value of college degrees.