The gang digs into the House’s overwhelming vote to force the public release of the Epstein files, a fight that spiraled into a rare bipartisan stampede after a discharge petition backed leadership into a corner. With Trump’s behind the scenes pressure campaign failing to stop the momentum, the bill sailed through and now heads to the Senate. Then the group turns to shrinkflation, using Panera’s new turnaround plan to ask whether companies are finally reversing years of portion cuts and ingredient downgrades.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:09:39 - Epstein

00:53:30 - End of Shrinkflation

01:11:53 - Emails

01:37:23 - Wrap-up

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The gang reacts to the end of the longest federal shutdown in American history, as Senate Democrats face backlash for a deal that included funding extensions and back pay, but not their key health care priorities. Did they cave, or is this just how governance works now? Then, they turn to the state of the climate change movement, with Bill Gates calling for a strategic pivot just as GM abandons some of its electric truck plans. Is the momentum fading, or is this sort of pivot needed?

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:05:13 - Shutdown

00:42:06 - Climate Change Movement

01:05:08 - Emails

01:27:37 - Wrap-up

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The gang reacts to a seismic political shift in New York City as Zohran Mamdani is elected mayor, defeating Andrew Cuomo and promising sweeping changes across housing, transit, and childcare. His Democratic Socialist platform has progressives cheering—and business leaders warning — how big of a deal is this? Then, the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney sparks a conversation about his towering influence over American foreign policy, the post-9/11 era, and the modern Republican Party.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro and Shutdown Talk

00:24:08 - Mamdani's NYC

00:54:40 - Dick Cheney

01:10:35 - Emails

01:12:52 - More Mamdani Talk

01:18:27 - Wrap-up

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In this 2023-throwback episode, the gang talks through Javier Milei's victory in Argentina. His La Libertad Avanza party secured more than 40 percent of the national vote following two years of austerity politics. Is this a sign that things are turning around in the South American country? Then our attention turns to George Santos, who recently had his seven-year sentence commuted, alongside all other fines and penalties. While the conviction remains on Santos' record, is this a miscarriage of justice?

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:04:14 - Shutdown Update

00:23:37 - Argentina

00:47:15 - George Santos

01:08:04 - Emails

01:33:01 - Wrap-up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The gang breaks down the controversy surrounding Graham Platner, a former Marine-turned-Democratic Senate candidate from Maine who admitted to receiving a chest tattoo in 2007 that appears to replicate Nazi symbolism. Justin, Jen, and Heaton discuss whether Platner actually is a Nazi, alongside the fate of his current campaign. Then, the crew breaks down Amazon's planned roadmap to replace more than half a million US workers with robots by 2033, all to shave off about 30 cents per item shipped. Is this a step towards improving working conditions at Amazon, or the end of an economic lifeline?

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:10:46 - Graham Platner

00:48:50 - Amazon's Robots

01:02:35 - Emails

01:30:18 - Wrap-up

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The gang discusses the aftermath of the Gaza ceasefire and peace framework rolled out earlier this week with backing from the Trump administration. While plenty of obstacles remain, it could reshape the Middle East as we know it for years to come, should the entire agreement hold together. After, the trio talks through Jay Jones, the Virginia Democratic nominee for Attorney General who sent violent text messages several years ago. Should he drop out, and if not, should Virginia Dems call on him to do so?

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:13:52 - Gaza Peace Plan

00:51:41 - Jay Jones

01:10:33 - Emails

01:49:02 - Wrap-up

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The gang talks through the recent deployment of the Texas National Guard in Illinois this week, despite Illinois officials like Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson condemning the move as “illegal, unconstitutional, and dangerous." Should the Texas National Guard be in Illinois at all, or is this another example of federal overreach? Then the attention turns to Bari Weiss, the new CEO of CBS News following the acquisition of The Free Press. Is this a sign of positive changes coming to old-school media machines like CBS, or is it something else altogether?

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:20:50 - Chicago

00:41:57 - Bari Weiss

01:03:49 - Emails

01:37:16 - Wrap-up

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The gang examines a steep decline in male labor force participation, especially among men without college degrees, and debates why this collapse in work ethic and opportunity isn’t a bigger national concern. Then, they look at the unsettling trend of mass shooters leaving behind so-called "bullet messages" and what it says about attention-seeking violence in the digital age.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:08:19 - American Working Men

00:44:26 - Bullet Messages

01:07:45 - Emails

01:53:28 - Wrap-up

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The gang opens with the fallout from Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension following a controversial comment about the Charlie Kirk assassination. The network’s swift action, affiliate pre-emptions, and eventual reinstatement fuel questions about free speech, network obligations, and government censorship. Then, attention shifts to the looming government shutdown, as President Trump cancels a meeting with Schumer and Jeffries. It's a move Democrats call a tantrum, while Republicans push a Continuing Resolution unlikely to pass without major concessions.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:16:19 - Jimmy Kimmel

01:07:33 - Shutdown

01:33:20 - Emails

02:13:25 - Wrap-up

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A week after the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, Justin, Jen, and Heaton gather to discuss their feeling surrounding both the act itself and the responses from politicians and civilians left and right. After a very brief second topic on protein — one not even long enough to really earn a spot in the title of this episode — the crew, as always, responds to listener emails.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:10:54 - Charlie Kirk

01:39:48 - Protein (briefly)

01:53:10 - Emails

02:08:16 - Wrap-up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.