The gang tackles the EPA’s decision to revoke the “endangerment finding,” a foundational ruling that enabled greenhouse gas regulations since 2009. Framed by Administrator Lee Zeldin as the biggest deregulatory move in U.S. history, the move sparks fierce debate over climate science, legal precedent, and the limits of executive power. Then, they reflect on the symbolic end of the 1980s, marked by the deaths of Hulk Hogan, Ozzy Osbourne, and Malcolm-Jamal Warner — a trio whose cultural footprints defined an era now definitively closed.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:16:04 - Texas Redistricting

00:25:39 - EPA

00:57:20 - The Week The 80s Died

01:28:27 - Emails

01:47:29 - Wrap-up

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The gang unpacks CBS’s decision to end The Late Show and retire the franchise entirely, as Stephen Colbert hints at political pressure behind the move. With late-night peers rallying in support and Colbert defying the network’s financial rationale, the panel debates whether satire is being sidelined in a polarized media landscape. They also explore the GOP’s aggressive redistricting push in Texas and Democrats’ countermeasures in California, raising questions about the erosion of nonpartisan mapmaking and the long-term consequences of political cartography.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:15:48 - Stephen Colbert

00:48:23 - Dreams and Student Loans

00:58:18 - Redistricting

01:18:07 - Emails

01:52:31 - Wrap-up

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The gang unpacks the “Rescissions Act of 2025,” a narrow House-passed bill aiming to slash $9.4 billion from foreign aid and public broadcasting, prompting a tight Senate battle over what many see as symbolic cuts. They also examine a new UK report showing kids increasingly treat AI chatbots like best friends—raising concerns about safety, misinformation, and what it means for human connection in the digital age.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:11:59 - Epstein

00:24:02 - Rescissions

01:12:37 - AI Companions for Kids

01:34:27 - Emails

01:52:51 - Wrap-up

*Justin's audio improves around 27 minutes in.

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The gang covers the DOJ’s final report on Jeffrey Epstein, which found no client list, no evidence of blackmail, and confirmed his death was a suicide. The lack of new revelations sparked backlash from conspiracy-minded corners of the internet, but the panel debates whether the case is finally closed. Then they examine Tucker Carlson’s interview with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, who accused Israel of a failed assassination attempt and floated a return to nuclear talks. Is giving a platform to adversaries transparency — or propaganda?

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:17:13 - Epstein Files

00:46:45 - Tucker's Interview

01:09:57 - Emails

01:43:36 - Wrap-up

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The gang dives into a new Gallup poll showing American pride at historic lows, with a record-breaking 56-point gap between Republicans and Democrats. They debate whether that decline signals a deeper national malaise or just partisan fatigue. Then they turn to Texas, where Governor Abbott vetoed a sweeping THC ban, keeping the state’s booming hemp industry alive — for now. With court battles and special sessions looming, they unpack what smart regulation of cannabis products should actually look like.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:12:44 - American Pride

00:54:15 - Texas Weed

01:22:59 - Emails

01:55:59 - Wrap-up

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdotes

12:01 Iran Military Actions and Diplomatic Relations

17:59 Trump's Influence on Middle Eastern Politics

21:10 Israel's Role in Regional Conflicts

47:07 The Rise of a Democratic Socialist in NYC

01:20:08 Bagel Orders and Cultural Preferences

01:24:51 Iran's Nuclear Ambitions and International Relations

01:35:11 Trust Issues in Therapy and Personal Relationships

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The gang breaks down America’s escalating involvement in the Middle East, as Trump demands Iran’s unconditional surrender following Israel’s devastating strikes. With the threat of a broader conflict looming, they debate what role the U.S. should play and whether military action is inevitable. They also explore new research linking trust to happiness, asking how much trusting others — from family to institutions — shapes our well-being in a time of deep social division.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:11:36 - Iran

01:02:10 - Trust

01:19:15 - Emails

01:47:15 - Wrap-up

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The gang dives into the unrest in Los Angeles following aggressive ICE raids and Trump’s decision to deploy thousands of National Guard troops and Marines without state approval. With tensions escalating between local officials and the federal government, they debate the constitutional lines around immigration enforcement, protest rights, and the use of military force on American streets. Then, they tackle how generative AI is gutting internet traffic for news publishers, as AI-generated answers from companies like Google and OpenAI displace traditional search. As usual, it's raising questions about the future of journalism in a post-search world.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:14:44 - LA Protests and Riots

00:52:24 - AI and the Publishing Industry

01:03:14 - Emails

01:22:44 - Wrap-up

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The gang digs into Elon Musk’s public denunciation of the GOP’s sprawling domestic policy bill, which he called a “disgusting abomination,” prompting pushback from Republican leadership and delight from Democrats. Then they take on the ethics of gene-editing mosquitoes out of existence to fight deadly diseases like malaria. Is it worth tampering with nature to save lives, or are we playing God with an ecosystem we barely understand?

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:34 - January 6th Pipe Bombs

00:24:10 - Elon Musk and the Big Beautiful Bill

00:58:01 - Mosquitos

01:16:35 - Emails

01:37:08 - Wrap-up

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Justin, Jen, and Heaton unpack the revised U.S.–Nippon Steel deal, which walks back a full foreign buyout in favor of a limited partnership aimed at easing national security and labor concerns. The crew also dives into the FDA’s shift toward a more targeted COVID booster policy, based on individual risk and prior infection. It's a move that has drawn both praise for scientific rigor and criticism for potentially weakening public trust, and it remains to be seen whether these compromises are strategic or shortsighted.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:07:37 - US-Nippon Steel Deal

00:28:15 - COVID Booster Recommendations

00:59:04 - Emails

01:18:16 - Wrap-up

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