The gang digs into Germany's AfD party, which scraped together nearly 44% of the vote in the country's recent election. Is this another example of far right politics on the rise, or is there a bit of nuance to this victory? Then they turn to the 'Kirkaversary,' a meme-filled online event centered around the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Charlie Kirk. How far is too far when it comes to jokes about political violence?

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:21:25 - AfD Victory

00:55:06 - Kirkaversary

01:18:48 - Emails

01:40:53 - Wrap-up

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The gang talks through Trump's 100-year oil deal with Venezuela, asking both whether it's a good deal and whether it's a deal the government should be making in the first place. Then they turn to Justin's alma mater, Syracuse University, which faces funding issues amid reduced enrollment and increased tuition. Is it a one-off problem for this specific school, or a sign of larger issues facing higher education?

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:22:06 - Trump's Venezuela Oil Deal

00:47:03 - Syracuse

01:21:52 - Emails

01:49:02 - Wrap-up

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The gang discusses the recent Supreme Court decision that allows the Trump administration to implement parts of its executive order restricting mail-in voting during the midterms. They also dig into a recent New York Magazine piece about youth sports, which have grown increasingly expensive through year-round travel programs.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:22:22 - Mail-in Voting

00:51:24 - Travel Sports

01:10:48 - Emails

01:42:10 - Wrap-up

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The gang digs into the fallout following a jab Jon Ossoff made about Trump assistant and long-time fan Natalie Harp, who previously worked at One America News prior to joining his team in 2024. Are these sorts of comments and insinuations fair, or did Ossoff cross a line? They also discuss a recent NYT profile around matchmaking, and wonder if these paid services are worth it as an alternative to apps like Tinder.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:17:14 - Natalie Harp

00:43:47 - Matchmaking

01:11:33 - Emails

01:24:44 - Wrap-up

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The gang discusses Alberta's upcoming referendum on whether the province should leave Canada for independence. Is this a move towards a freer Alberta, or a repeat of Brexit? They also discuss Flock security cameras, as anger continues to grow towards the company's surveillance programs online and LA's mayor urges the LAPD to end their contract.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:15:57 - Alberta

00:42:40 - Flock

01:03:53 - Emails

01:37:44 - Wrap-up

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The gang discusses the allegations around Rep. Max Miller, as well as Jasmine Sun's recent reporting around the backlast to data centers. Plus, some thoughts on the Michigan race and the state of the Democratic party.

https://jasmi.news/p/no-data-centers-in-my-backyard

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:19:02 - Michigan

00:37:39 - Max Miller

01:02:51 - Data Centers

01:17:02 - Emails

01:47:14 - Wrap-up

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

The gang digs into Gavin Newsom's one-time affair after the woman in question — Ruby Rippey — published an account of the scandal in Vanity Fair. Will this affect Newsom's 2028 aspirations, or is this episode deserving of different comparisons than Eric Swalwell and Graham Platner. They also discuss the growing movement towards "strategic wrinkles," as those looking for cosmetic treatments now look for just enough signs of aging to not look unnatural.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:09:48 - Gavin Newsom

00:35:20 - Strategic Wrinkles

00:59:09 - Emails

01:15:37 - Wrap-up

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In a semi-sequel to last week's episode, the gang discusses Darlene Graham's decision to run for a full Senate term, following her appointment to the seat her brother held for more than two decades. Is she a legit candidate, or is this stepping in the way of other politicians with more experience who might want this rare opportunity? They also look at the popularity of soccer in the US, and wonder whether this year's World Cup was a turning point for the sport in a country that has otherwise never cared.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:18:02 - Darlene Graham

01:02:07 - Soccer in the US

01:14:11 - Emails

01:37:13 - Wrap-up

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The crew gathers to discuss the unexpected passing of Lindsey Graham, examining the political legacy he leaves behind following over 30 years of serving in the Senate. They then turn to Meta's AI smart glasses, which is expanding outside of its Ray-Ban partnership to create cheaper smart glasses, despite ongoing privacy concerns.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:21:31 - Lindsey Graham

00:59:03 - Meta Smart Glasses

01:26:29 - Emails

02:01:36 - Wrap-up

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

The gang convenes to discuss the latest Graham Platner scandal, this time in the form of a sexual assault allegation. Following multiple supporters distancing themselves from Platner, the candidate was heavily rumored to drop out days before the deadline — and, indeed, dropped out hours after this recording. The crew discusses the legacy of Platner's campaign, what's next for Democrats in Maine, and why this was the story that finally sunk his career. Then they turn to the "Missing Middle," as the 45-64 population continues to shrink, potentially causing havoc on both key elements of society and the economy.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:20:51 - Graham Platner

00:51:02 - Missing Middle

01:03:37 - Emails

01:17:49 - Wrap-up

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