It's our final segment of episode 11, and we dive deep into El Salvador and its crackdown on gangs and criminals. They massively reduced their crime rate through mass incarceration, but is this the best solution for fighting crime, or only the opening move of an authoritarian power grab?

Sources used in this episode:

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/el-salvador-says-murders-fell-70-2023-it-cracked-down-gangs-2024-01-03/

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/violent-crime-rates-by-country

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/safest-countries-in-the-world

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate

It's episode 11 part 3, and we get serious with a discussion on the ongoing fentanyl crisis. Oregon declared a state of emergency after legalizing drug possession, and we dig into what we think the approach should be when it comes to drug addiction. After that, we catch up on how our lives have been and what we've been up to.

Sources used in this episode:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/31/us/fentanyl-crisis-portland-state-of-emergency/index.html

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/28/1220881380/overdose-fentanyl-drugs-addiction

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68101263

We're back with Episode 11 Part 2. We each brought a story we thought was hugely important that the other was apathetic about. It goes great. First, we discuss the finding that last year more people who became billionaires did so through inheritance than through earnings. Next, we dive into an abuse scandal that rocked the Charismatic Christian movement.

Sources used in this episode:

New Billionaires:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2023/11/30/new-billionaires-inherited-more-than-they-earned-last-year-ubs-report-says/?sh=20741afe3d68

Charismatic Christianity:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/december/mike-bickle-ihop-statement-moral-failing-abuse-allegations.html

We're back with a new format! The Sam and Derik Show is going weekly! How you may ask? I wouldn't ask that. But since you did, we've split our episodes into 4 weekly easily consumable parts. The nutrition value of which has not been certified.

Join us for Episode 11 Part 1 of 4 in which we bring you updates on a couple of stories we previously covered, the ongoing saga of the mythical Yakutat Alpacas, and the hotly debated future of Telephone Hill. Plus, we get serious in our opposition to a new rule banning federal electronic road signs from being humorous. Finally, we dig into a proposal to allow gambling on the Alaska Marine Highway. All that and there's plenty more to come in our exciting, new, and highly experimental weekly format.

Sources used in this episode:

Yakutat Alpacas:

https://apnews.com/article/ban-humorous-messages-electronic-highway-signs-3c7b0d11475d2b255f7edd197af771cc

Gambling on Ferries:

We're back after an extended break! And they didn't change the locks to the recording booth on us. We keep things light and fun in this episode with a variety of mostly local stories we felt deserved more attention. We've got an update on the local APC owned by the Juneau police, discuss some prime downtown real estate under consideration for development, and how expensive even a destroyed house in Juneau can be. Dispensaries can now give out free weed samples, and we gossip about the budding friendship between Senators Murkowski and Romney and Mitt's inability to cook salmon. Our big stories this week were a small tweak to a law that allows for distilleries in Alaska to stay open one hour later, and our top 10 favorites from the Biden administration's 10 new proposed AI regulations. Plus we catch up with each other on what we've been up to and the proper technique for launching fireworks.

Resources used in this episode:

JPD Use of their APC:

Proposals for Telephone Hill:

Destroyed House for Sale:

Free Weed Samples:

The Bar Wars (Including a few older articles):

Mitt Romney Salmon Bake:

Whitehouse AI Regulations:

We do deep dives into three topics in this episode. First up, the proposed Kroger Albertsons supermarket chain merger would leave us with fewer local options. We debate what that does to the economy and if it's the role of government to step in. Next, we review a survey done on Christian 'cornerstone beliefs' of American children and how many are rejecting the core tenets of the religion. Finally, we discuss the rise in single-parent households, the factors that lead to it, and the effects it's having on society. All that and we catch up on our lives and recent travels.

Resources used in this episode:

Kroger-Albertsons Merger:

https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/two-dozen-alaska-legislators-join-opposition-to-kroger-albertsons-merger-plans/?emci=e9c57795-ee63-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&emdi=19153ea7-5064-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&ceid=148052

Survey on Adolescents Biblical Worldviews:

https://www.christianpost.com/news/most-kids-dont-believe-cornerstone-beliefs-of-biblical-worldview.html

The Rise of Single-Parent Households:

https://www.npr.org/2023/10/22/1207322878/single-parent-married-good-for-children-inequality

We get into several deep discussions on a wide range of topics in this episode! We start with an update on the bill to ban PFAS in Alaska, then move on to a proposal to ban cashless businesses in LA. We discuss Massachuesett's new law that taxes millionaires to fund school lunches. Then it's all things Alaska ballot measures. A rejected measure would have ensured open primaries if the current voting system is ever repealed. The next reinstates campaign finance limits, and another would raise the minimum wage and ensure some worker protections. Also, a group trying to get a ballot measure to repeal ranked choice voting got caught starting a church to get around taxes on donations. Then we discuss the proposed new city hall in Juneau, and we actually agree about it. We catch up on each other's lives and check in on what we've both been up to. Finally, we talk about the New Mexican governor's attempt to ban guns and have another classic Sam and Derik Show gun debate.

Sources used in this episode:

Veto on PFAS ban:

Proposed ban on cashless businesses:

Massachusetts school lunch program:

Alaska ballot measures:

New city hall for Juneau:

New Mexico gun ban attempt:

We discuss all things Alaska! We cover a few news stories you might have missed from our home state, starting with a new electric vehicle called an "Alaska." Next, our local police department bought an armored vehicle, what does that mean for the rest of us? A nonprofit is trying to do a music census of the state. We try to figure out the impact of music, economically that is. A gift shop gets in trouble for trying to sell "Yakutat Alpaca" products and products from nonexistent native groups. Then Derik's basement gets flooded, and it makes national news. Pete Buttigieg visits the state and promotes infrastructure. We catch up with each other for a bit, some of us have more exciting life updates than others. China and Russia do joint military patrols near Alaska. Finally, we discuss Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski's interns accomplishment of taking a selfie with all 100 US senators.

Sources used in this episode:

Alaska EV:

JPD Armored Vehicle:

https://www.juneauempire.com/news/police-departments-new-347k-armored-vehicle-arrived-in-march/

AK Music Census:

https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/music-census-aims-to-count-alaskas-musicians-and-measure-their-impact/?emci=3ef8e4d2-6740-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&emdi=cca6962c-f440-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&ceid=148052

Gift Shop Selling Yakutat Alpaca:

Mendenhall Flooding:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/glacial-break-causes-major-flooding-alaska-destroys-structures/story?id=102056193

Secretary of Transportation Visits Alaska:

China and Russia Joint Patrol:

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/russian-chinese-ships-patrolled-alaska-threat-us-officials/story?id=102058344

Intern Selfies:

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/16/1192818855/senate-politics-selfie-interns

We're back in the recording booth with a range of topics this week, and strangely, we agreed on some? The Alaska Governor vetoed a bill defining Ebikes and we discuss if that was the right call. The mayor of Anchorage suggests buying unhoused people plane tickets out of town and we give our takes. Next, we talk about the country song everyone's been debating, "Try That In a Small Town." We try out a new segment on discussing the state of the Republican presidential primaries. Then we discuss a proposal by Democrats to curb investors buying up too many houses. Finally, we debate the inheritance tax. We also catch up with each other, so stay tuned for everything from parenting to Shakespeare!

Sources used in this episode:

Ebikes:

Homeless on a Plane:

Mediocre Country Song:

Primaries Updates:

House Buying Restrictions:
https://thehill.com/business/4091602-senate-democrats-take-aim-at-investor-home-purchases/

Inheritance Taxes:

We do a deep dive into the Supreme Court, and it's our best episode ever. And by best, we mean longest.

But first, Wisconsin's governor gets creative with a line-item veto to increase education funding for the next 400 years. Angoon Students launch a war canoe for the first time since 1882 (A note about an event mentioned in the discussion, the burning of the native village in Juneau happened in 1962, not the "20s or 30s"). Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is banned from running for office again by the Brazillian court for the next 8 years due to lying about the election. We also catch up about our lives and even have a brief discussion on women's classic literature.

Then we get into all the recent rulings by the Supreme Court, and possible changes that could be made to the court. The rulings we discuss include allowing a website designer to discriminate against LGBTQ people, ending affirmative action, striking down gun restrictions, and forcing student debt repayment. Then we discuss the ongoing corruption allegations and suggested reforms that would make the court less polarized.

Sources used in this episode:

Wisconson Line Item Veto: