Last week, Georgia passed SB 202 which gives the state legislature power over county elections. This has the potential to give the Republican controlled state legislature the ability to disqualify votes they deem “illegitimate.” The law also criminalizes handing out food and water to voters waiting in line to vote, it requires voter ID for absentee ballots, and will limit the amount of ballot drop boxes in certain counties. In this episode, Drew and Alex discuss how the Brennan Center, a nonpartisan institute focused on voting rights, has been “tracking the spread of new voting restrictions across the country. The last time its data was updated, there were more than 250 bills under consideration in statehouses that would limit access to the ballot box.” Drew and Alex discuss voter ID laws and how they don’t seem to impact voting numbers. They also find that some of the new laws seem to want to discourage voting without any reason. They fear that this is political theater to appease Trump and his supporters who still support “the big lie.”

Today on catching up, Alex worries that the Overton Window is expanding in regards to the acceptance of fascist ideas. He fears that the media and some right-wing figures have pushed fear and grievance that is leading towards anti-democratic means and values. He thought that after Trump left office things would calm down, but now some people are saying things that Trump wouldn’t. Alex begins with a Tucker Carlson interview in which his guest thinks that the left is driving the right to elect a fascist. Then he discusses a Claremont Institution article that plainly states that anyone who didn’t vote for Trump isn’t an American and that conservatives need to find a way to deal with these “foreigners.” The article openly says that a new conservative movement needs to use power and strength to create a counter-revolution.

Following an ABC interview on Wednesday where Joe Biden agreed with the statement that Vladimir Putin was a killer, rhetoric between Russia and the United States returned to a Cold War era low. Since Biden made this powerful, yet likely true statement, Russia has removed their diplomat from Washington D.C., Putin has wished Biden good health, and the Kremlin has called Biden's words unforgivable. In this episode, Alex looks into why this recent feud is just the culmination of about a month of the Biden administration's calling out of nefarious Russian behavior. He thinks that the change from Trump to Biden has really rocked the boat and feels that Biden is breaking from the Obama era foreign policies.

Washington D.C. was arguably meant to be the seat of government and nothing else. Now close to 700,000 people live in the District of Columbia, yet they can't elect a senator or congressman. They also receive less federal funding and people are getting sick of it. Citizens of D.C. have come to represent "taxation without representation." Also, territories like Puerto Rico and Guam were acquired by the states after the Spanish American War, but they have never gained statehood. Now close to half of Americans feel that Puerto Rico and D.C. should be made states. In this episode, Drew and Alex wonder if right now may be the opportune time for politicians to try and get Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. turned into states. They look into the example of Alaska, the political issues of trying to do so, and why Puerto Rico could be supported by Republicans, while D.C. could be more polarizing. They also touch on how race may have contributed to D.C. not being a state.

In this episode, Drew and Alex look into the idea that the desire for small government is no longer feasible. Since 2000, each president, right or left, has exacerbated the national debt. They look at George W. Bush, Barack Obama and the recent policies of Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Trump campaigned as an outsider and a budget czar, yet increased the deficit by close to $7 trillion. Biden passed one of the biggest stimulus packages in US history. Is small government still feasible? Is it possible? Will the national debt catch up to the average American?

Last week, Italy allegedly blocked a shipment of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Australia. Italy was the first country to use its new blocking powers recently approved by the EU. This was in response to growing tensions between many countries including the UK, the US, and the EU, over shortages of the vaccine. In this episode, Alex looks into the idea of “Vaccine Nationalism” and how it can be common during a global health crisis. He also highlights the fact that this nationalism isn’t just between rivals; it can be between allies and friends. Through interviews from Scott Gotlieb (the ex-FDA chief) about the movement of vaccine facilities from Ireland to the US, and examples from around the world, Alex worries that the pandemic is eroding global cooperation. Could countries retreat into their own closed spheres again?

In this episode, Drew and Alex look into the ever growing tragedy that is occurring in Yemen. They discuss how the current humanitarian crisis began as an ousting of a despot during the Arab Spring and ended in a proxy war between the Iranian backed Houthis and the Saudi backed Yemeni government. Drew and Alex also look into the larger picture of the crisis and how it may be highlighting a shift in power dynamics in the Middle East. Is there a growing schism? Could it lead to a bigger conflict? What should the US do?

In this episode, Drew and Alex touch on the events over the last month involving the border and Biden’s immigration policies so far. They debate the broad ideas involving the scope and volume of people that should be allowed to enter the US. They also touch on Obama and Trump’s policies and contrast them with what Biden has been doing so far. Later they also get into feasible reforms that Biden should push for to make the US’s immigration system less broken.

In this special “Catching Up” segment, Alex sits down with Grayson Forsberg. He is a returning guest, who is currently a law student at McGeorge School of Law, a legislative aide, and a content writer for the Convention of States. In this short discussion, they touch on the growing trend towards authoritarianism in the United States and how both parties seem to be prone to it. They also touch on the constitution, minority rule, and more.

In this episode, Drew and Alex talk with John McCombs. He is a 10 year veteran of comedy and a 4 year veteran of the Marine Corps. John has performed in 15 different countries over two European tours and has opened for Michelle Wolf (Netflix, Comedy Central) and Tim Meadows (SNL). Also, he is a regular at the Laugh Factory and Zanies. John is hilarious and the three discuss comedy in the COVID era, Trump’s effect on comedy, cancel culture, and the state of the GOP. 

 

John’s website - https://www.johnmccombscomedy.com  

IG - https://www.instagram.com/johnmccombscomedy/  

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/Brolli106