U.S. Government, Politics, and News from America's Heartland | Biden Admin announces COVID boosters | IL Gov Pritzker School Mask Mandate | IA Sen Joni Ernst and Gov Kim Reynolds want to help settle Afghan refugees | AR sees COVID explosion as Schools Open | FL Gov Ron DeSantis Slammed by 800 Florida doctors | Kentucky Considers Ban on Private Business Employee Vax Requirements | MO GOP Rep Patricia Dirges is a criminal

The first three-point episode: 1. Nicholas shares as a science teacher at a time that scientific literacy is at an all-time low. 2. Kristina and Nicholas use M&Ms and Skittles to illustrate how different color variants are being selected to be more and more contagious as the unvaccinated introduce new Skittles. 3. Sean and Nicholas talk about the politics surrounding the drought as the federal government declares a water shortage in the Colorado River Basin.

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS FOR TALKIN' POLITICSOPENING STATEMENT - 4MIN 20 SECCHAT W/ DAVID PALMER - 6MIN 55 SECTALKIN' POLITICS - 56 MINTalkin’ PoliticsQuick Reactions - 538 tracking shows Bidens approval down to 50% - Has been as high as 55% since taking office probably more notable disapprove is UP to 43.8, from 34.2 - which is a sharper incline than the drop - Afghanistan impacts? Infrastructure Impacts & the $3.5 Trillion Reconciliation packageRecall 17 GOP Senators voted to advance the bill, ultimately 19 voted in FAVOR of the final bill, even after Trump weighed in to disuad votes in favor it actually added two votes for the bill - some notable heartland YES votes from the right:Colorado Impacts:https://www.denverpost.com/2021/08/10/senate-infrastructure-bill-colorado-hickenlooper-bennet/#:~:text=Colorado's%20two%20U.S.%20senators%20voted,on%20to%20the%20U.S.%20House.Missouri Impacts:https://missouriindependent.com/2021/08/13/federal-infrastructure-bill-will-likely-trigger-job-growth-in-missouris-clean-energy-industry/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=b56002d3-b7c8-49b6-8028-d2c515001e0dIowa Impacts: Grassley voted in favor, Ernst was a NOhttps://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-votes-to-invest-in-iowas-futureOklahoma: https://www.iowapublicradio.org/2021-08-11/how-funding-from-the-infrastructure-bill-might-impact-u-s-citiesWhat’s The Deal with $3.5 Trillion package yet to come? https://www.npr.org/2021/08/09/1026055615/senate-democrats-release-3-5t-budget-frameworkAny chance to pass as is? No mention of Min wage increase Green Jobs and Climate issues seem likely chopping block stuffModerate dems threaten to sink the shiphttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/infrastructure-bill-house-democrats-reconciliation-threat/COVIDShit is bad again, is is worse than before? 155,000 new cases reported for FRIDAY AUG 13THhttps://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/Seems to be a complete cultural wall now on this issue@AndrewSullender on twitter from Springfield MOFlorida - 23,000 -- Illinois - 3,400 -- Missouri 2,900 -- Tenn - 4,600 -- Oklahoma - 2,800 -- colorado - 1,300Quick facts - Illinois has more people than Tennessee, colorado has more people than Oklahoma and about the SAME as Missouri, yet 1,500-1,600 fewer cases reported CDC recommending a third dose of vaccine for immunocompromised folksMeanwhile, kids still have no vaccinationSchools are reopening and we are seeing a flood of stories of huge infection rates and shutdowns already happeningHospitals across Missouri and other states are packed

Flyover view Aug. 13, 2021StoriesCensus Data Shows Diversity Trending https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/population-changes-nations-diversity.htmlIowa Green Jobs Recovering https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2021/08/11/report-iowa-lost-3100-clean-energy-jobs-in-2020/Workers Walk Out of Store https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/family-dollar-nebraska-walk-offYellow Star Protesters  https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article253439269.htmlMissouri COVID deaths top 10k Missouri Medicaid Expansion is officialMore Victims Sue Christian SchoolThe World Is On Fire!!!!!!!!  https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/

Marquis Govan, activist and thought leader brings his insight and analysis to issues, taking you through the gateway to the west and back, as he ties issues of St. Louis, Missouri, and the National spotlight together.

Missouri COVIDhttps://missouriindependent.com/2021/08/05/missouri-covid-cases-hospitalizations-rise-as-officials-warn-of-infections-in-children/KS and MO numbers going up, but still lagginghttps://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article253296338.htmlMayo Clinic Numbers: https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine-trackerMedia coverage in general - fox article about Cori bush https://www.foxnews.com/media/media-boasts-cori-bush-eviction-ban-silent-police-commentsRed v. Blue governanceRed state power grabsIt’s not small government, it’s concentrated power grabs and ignoring issues and problemsBlue state cover upshttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/05/andrew-cuomo-impeachment-investigation-new-york-lawmakersMatt Taibi spot https://taibbi.substack.com/p/vaccine-success-media-misery-is-good?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxOTg3MzU4LCJwb3N0X2lkIjozOTYxNDM5NiwiXyI6Ino1MDNVIiwiaWF0IjoxNjI4MTk5NDc0LCJleHAiOjE2MjgyMDMwNzQsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0xMDQyIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.bTjDqjZ0e081YsFEihHb62TQt-u_6GBMvaflBMizMeQ

Parson Pardons McCloskey couple while Innocent Man Rots in JailColorado Policing Reform Law Resulting in More Arrests of Police OfficersPresident Biden Pressures Carmakers to Produce More Zero-Emission VehiclesKansas Will Spend $500,000 Helping Job Seekers Pay for Child CarePhoenix Police Face Federal InvestigationAR Gov Hutchinson Says Mask Ban Was a MistakeOhio Legislators Introduce Recreational Marijuana Legalization BillTennessee Wants to Fine Teachers $5 Million if Students Experience White GuiltMarjorie Taylor Greene Fanboy Gets COVID

Continuing with the theme of Mario Bros 3, Nicholas Linke compares science to a question mark block (box) that investigates our curiosities. But what would science put in a suggestion box?This episode focuses on honestly making that distinction between prescriptive and descriptive language. To understand what science advises us to do with all the information and tools it gives us, we might have to look to those that write the player manuals.

Bipartisan Infrastructure BillAnnounced by Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Senator Rob Portman, the two lead Senate negotiators, announced Wednesday's agreement separately to reporters.https://www.vox.com/22598883/infrastructure-deal-bipartisan-bill-biden-manchina major expansion of high-speed internet; spending for roads, bridges, and public transit; and funding for clean drinking water. It would include new measures to combat climate change, including money for electric vehicles and modernizing the power grid.https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/28/infrastructure-vote-senate-advances-bipartisan-bill.htmlManchin’s statementIsn’t this a super easy way for GOP folks like McConnell to basically flip Trump the bird? 17 GOP Senators voted YES to advance the matter procedurally Here are the 17 Republican senators who voted to advance the bipartisan infrastructure plan:Roy Blunt of MissouriRichard Burr of North CarolinaShelley Moore Capito of West VirginiaBill Cassidy of LouisianaSusan Collins of MaineKevin Cramer of North DakotaMike Crapo of IdahoLindsey Graham of South CarolinaChuck Grassley of IowaJohn Hoeven of North DakotaMitch McConnell of KentuckyLisa Murkowski of AlaskaRob Portman of OhioJim Risch of IdahoMitt Romney of UtahThom Tillis of North CarolinaTodd Young of Indiana4 years of infrastructure weekThey did NO infrastructure during TrumpBiden in office for 6 months, boom massive bipartisan billSetting up Joe Manchin here? Is Manchin the heir apparent for Dems in 2024 over Kamala?Fetterman comes down on Sinema https://thehill.com/homenews/news/565385-fetterman-slams-sinema-over-infrastructure-democrats-need-to-vote-like

Sean Diller is joined by guest host for the week, Bob Hatley to cover some of the biggest and most important stories of the week, impacting the heartland. This week includes Charlie Kirk's tax scam, Voting rights in Kansas, and more.