As happens occasionally, we recorded this before big things happened–centrists dems caved on the shutdown. So the last bit of the episode is a bit out of date now. Sorry! We also discuss Dick Cheney, Musk and Grok, the elections, and solar energy in Puerto Rico.   https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/04/politics/dick-cheney-death-obit   https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8DakDTQ/    https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/business/musk-trillion-dollar-pay-package-vote?cid=ios_app   https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/democrats-declare-victory-troy-21138934.php   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/05/democrat-election-wins-across-america-caution-around-hope-mamdani-spanberger   https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/churchill-stefanik-wins-governor-s-race-21145767.php   https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/churchill-steve-mclaughlin-beaten-21140723.php   https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/us/weekend-travel-flight-cuts-government-shutdown-hnk   https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/07/politics/trump-administration-supreme-court-snap-benefits   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2025/jun/30/puerto-rico-solar-power-in-pictures 

Cuomo uses racist AI slop in campaign ad. The government shutdown is coming for SNAP and troops. The ballroom defeats NIMBYs. Elections are upon us. And Ireland has a new lefty president.   https://x.com/prem_thakker/status/1981150231174746370?s=46    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/24/dod-accepts-anonymous-130-million-donation-to-partially-cover-troop-pay-00622219.    https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/watervliet-halloween-curfew-2025-21119806.php   https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/10/25/ballroom-east-wing-trump-white-house/   https://apnews.com/article/maine-platner-senate-trump-mills-tattoo-collins-fa8328a3c8aa5d5e0f34adb379e977b8    https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/regional-food-bank-fears-food-stamps-shutdown-21116263.php   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/25/connolly-set-to-be-irelands-next-president-after-rival-concedes-defeat 

George Santos is a free man. Young Republicans show their true colors in private chat. One Troy resident takes exception to the new anti-panhandling signs. Israel breaks the ceasefire. And bamboo rigid plastic!   https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/private-chat-among-young-gop-club-members-00592146    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/15/capitol-police-investigating-swastika-in-gop-congressional-office-00609704    https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/young-gop-leader-exposed-in-reported-racist-chats-from-schenectady-co-says-chairwoman    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPyxYhqiMj5/?igsh=MTA3a3M3enNlZmQ4eA==    https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/commentary-give-panhandlers-not-city-hall-s-21089705.php   https://www.ft.com/content/0ab138a5-76de-4371-8f20-3ca31f27e170   https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5q3439xpqo   https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpv1nk7dy4yo    https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/biodegradable-plastic-made-from-bamboo-is-stronger-and-easy-to-recycle/

Rump watch. Race war video game #cancelled. Apple blocks ICE apps. Chatfishing on dating apps. Migrants in New York suffer inhumane conditions. And no more declawing cats in California!   https://bsky.app/profile/dieworkwear.bsky.social/post/3m2sexgfadc2i    https://www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubisoft-cancelled-a-post-civil    https://www.wired.com/story/apple-took-down-ice-tracking-apps-their-developers-arent-giving-up/    https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-10-09/cat-declawing-bill   https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/12/chatgpt-ed-into-bed-chatfishing-on-dating-apps   https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ceasefire-holds-gaza-ahead-hostage-release-trumps-visit-israel-2025-10-12/   https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/migrants-languish-ice-border-patrol-hold-rooms-21087088.php 

The government is shutdown and misbehavin’. Israel is mistreating Greta Thunberg and over 400 flotilla crew. Stolen valor vet gets just desserts. A hullabaloo over a CDL. And drivers in California will be allowed to unionized.   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/04/greta-thunberg-israel-gaza-sweden    https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/news/article/sharon-toney-finch-fraud-sentenced-21078752.php   https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/new-york-driver-s-license-spread-false-claims-21083237.php   https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-gives-hamas-until-sunday-evening-reach-gaza-deal-2025-10-03/   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/10/4/live-trumps-tells-israel-stop-bombing-gaza-after-hamas-ceasefire-reply   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/04/us/politics/partisan-messages-shutdown-trump.html   https://apnews.com/article/lyft-uber-rideshare-driver-union-california-68c0e55f90b779ae38e315538087d1b3   https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/10/jane-goodall-chimpanzees-death-final-message-video/

Britney forgot to hit the publish button on this episode, so it only went out on Patreon. Sorry! A (perhaps too long) discussion of masturbation addiction and cognitive behavioral therapy. A capital district man who murdered his parents. Rising christian nationalism. And bye bye Wet Wipe Island.   https://youtu.be/JvGw2ZmOlWE?si=xgGurMQmLQjXLXuf    https://www.news9.com/story/68d4bddb5cea03f8db8ee0f6/why-is-an-oklahoma-teacher-concerned-about-state-approved-bibles-   https://www.facebook.com/reel/793674843154244/?referral_source=vod_deeplink_unit&surface_type=vod   https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/lorenz-kraus-pleads-not-guilty-death-burial-21068747.php   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/wet-wipe-island-thames-london-cleared-hammersmith-bridge-b2824711.html

This week we’re blessed with a guest–former Troy comptroller and treasurer of Troy Indivisible Dylan Spring! We’re also discussing the alleged Kirk shooter’s alleged text messages, the Troy library budget vote, Jimmy Kimmel, and free universal child care in New Mexico.   https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99g1e0z2ero   https://www.reddit.com/r/Troy/s/IDzCs3IClY   https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/troy-public-library-tax-hike-proposal-21046596.php   https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/despite-30-tax-hike-troy-library-budget-wins-21052546.php   Final vote tally: https://www.thetroylibrary.org/vote/    https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/fox-news-host-kill-homeless-brian-kilmeade-apology-rcna231369    https://people.com/jimmy-kimmel-asked-to-apologize-pay-charlie-kirk-family-lift-suspension-11812850   https://www.kplctv.com/2025/09/09/new-mexico-becomes-first-us-state-offer-free-universal-child-care-all-families-it-can-be-done/

Charlie Kirk is dead. RPI gets no bid federal contract to find a link between vaccines and autism. Certain procedures under Medicare will soon require prior authorization. The Japanese lost cat method.   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/health/medicare-prior-approval-health-care.html   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/opinion/charlie-kirk-assassination-fear-politics.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare    https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-autism-study-da78aea6421a1fb568c9ee1490f5681e    https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/charlie-kirk-assassination-maga/    https://extra.ie/2025/09/11/news/witches-claim-spell-charlie-kirk?ITO=msn 

US tells Denmark to calm down. Alligator alcatraz is set to close. Israeli military uses a special task force to dig up good PR. Mike Johnson visits some holy cows. Chat GPT helps a teen end his life. And the Mayor of Chicago draws a line in the sand. https://apnews.com/article/florida-immigration-detention-center-desantis-alligator-alcatraz-f36fd04c18635eb7938a9ec26a31e92e  https://www.972mag.com/israel-gaza-journalists-hamas-hasbara/ https://x.com/dropsitenews/status/1953270721276191202?s=46 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/4/us-house-speaker-mike-johnson-visits-israeli-west-bank-settlement https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/30/politics/chicago-mayor-signs-order-aimed-at-resisting-trumps-planned-immigration-crackdown?cid=ios_app https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/technology/chatgpt-openai-suicide.html https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j9l08902eo 

An Eric Adams aide tries to win the friendship of a journalist. A company promises to filter microplastics out of your blood. Private equity is dipping its toes in public utilities. The White House is teaming up with PragerU to tell your kids that slavery wasn’t that bad.    100/10,000 burpees video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InvXAEZxcHo   https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/20/winnie-greco-eric-adams-aide-attempted-cash-katie-honan-reporter/    https://jacobin.com/2025/08/private-equity-minnesota-power-takeover   https://www.thecut.com/article/yael-cohen-microplastics-interview.html?utm_medium=s1&utm_campaign=nym&utm_source=bluesky   https://www.vox.com/today-explained-podcast/422812/prageru-education-pbs-npr-cpb-defunding ^^https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8BJykaV/     https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8BdY3Hv/    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-human-brain-may-contain-as-much-as-a-spoons-worth-of-microplastics-new-research-suggests-180985995/ 

Your 401k is about to become less stable. Meta’s AI will seduce your children and disabled loved ones. And the DOJ settles with the nation’s largest landlord to end their price fixing.   https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/trumps-401k-order-offers-retirement-savers-crypto-private-assets-also-higher-2025-08-10/    https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8kcyX53/    https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/meta-ai-chatbot-death/   https://www.propublica.org/article/greystar-realpage-doj-settlement-landlords-apartments-software    https://www.tiktok.com/@agirlthatexistsyes/video/7536818251355999519?_r=1&_t=ZP-8ynBgDX5HVG

Alan Dershowitz demands pierogi justice and community healing. A big tittied mermaid is causing controversy in Denmark. The NWS rehires after DOGE firings. Trump wants to change the census. AT&T CEO sends tone-deaf message to employees. And Israel faces backlash after plan to take Gaza City.   https://japantoday.com/category/tech/Toto-to-release-next-gen-toilet-tech-that-scans-and-keeps-track-of-your-poop    https://newrepublic.com/post/198927/trump-purple-heart-recipients-life-wasnt-easy-either   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/alan-dershowitz-marthas-vineyard-pierogi-b2803763.html   https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/denmark-to-tear-down-copenhagens-pornographic-mermaid-statue-20250806-p5mkqf.html   https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/05/weather/nws-rehiring-doge-layoffs-climate?cid=ios_app   https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/07/politics/trump-census-immigration?cid=ios_app   https://www.businessinsider.com/att-ceo-memo-workplace-loyalty-dead-employees-job-security-2025-8   https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/08/disproportionate-and-extreme-dc-officials-protest-trumps-policing-incursion-00500931   https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5438174-arrests-big-balls-doge-edward-coristine-case/   https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-faces-backlash-home-abroad-over-gaza-war-escalation-plan-2025-08-08/   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ireland-israeli-palestinian-irish-people-b2804541.html   https://www.reddit.com/r/goodnews/comments/1m88nk7/israeli_teens_burn_their_idf_draft_papers_because/

Musk’s Tesla diner disappoints. Trump makes it easier for cities to imprison homeless people. A scientist believes an alien ship may be approaching Earth. Palestinian statehood is a plaything for Western powers. And Chili the Chihuahua is saved from the Hudson River.    https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/29/climate/trump-epa-endangerment-finding?cid=ios_app    https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/tesla-diner-elon-musk-review-1235394091/   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/24/trump-homelessness-executive-order   https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14947305/Harvard-scientist-hostile-alien-craft-strike-Earth-avi-loeb.html   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/2/why-is-trump-moving-nuclear-submarines-after-spat-with-medvedev   https://truthout.org/articles/palestinian-statehood-is-not-a-political-bargaining-chip/   https://w42st.com/post/miracle-on-hudson-2-kayak-rescue-dog-chili/   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/nyregion/blackstone-executive-wesley-lepatner-killed-nyc-shooting.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/01/trump-fires-erika-mcentarfer-labor-statistics

A movement to create whites-only communities. IDF using Gazans for target practice. The New York Times oped column runs the gamut on genocide. And Japanese plastic that dissolves in the ocean (or Chris’ armpits).    https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jims-move-to-be-with-his-child   https://www.timesofisrael.com/gaza-flotilla-seized-by-idf-towed-to-ashdod-activists-taken-into-custody-upon-entry/   https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/trump-reveals-bizarre-reason-wants-35607967   https://news.sky.com/story/almost-like-a-game-of-target-practice-british-surgeon-says-idf-shooting-gazans-at-aid-points-13401434   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/return-to-the-land-whites-only-community-b2795213.html   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/world/middleeast/hamas-un-aid-theft.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/opinion/israel-gaza-holocaust-genocide-palestinians.html   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/opinion/no-israel-is-not-committing-genocide-in-gaza.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/opinion/israel-hamas-gaza-starvation.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare   https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/clygj701l8yo

Missing tape. Scumbag cops. Wage theft. Fake tariff news. An unlikely friendship in the Amazon.   https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/news/article/saugerties-police-officer-sex-crimes-20770417.php    https://www.timesunion.com/tablehopping/article/golden-grain-pizza-settlement-overtime-20770400.php    https://www.wired.com/story/the-fbis-jeffrey-epstein-prison-video-had-nearly-3-minutes-cut-out/    https://www.news10.com/news/ny-news/ny-attorney-general-immigration-law-safety/    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/bill-oreilly-trump-epstein-biden-b2789412.html    https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-admin-insider-blows-lid-off-tariffs-its-all-fake/   https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/lawsuit-alleges-troy-officer-arrested-driver-20773654.php   https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5409002-trump-epstein-files-ag-bondi-patel-bongino-fbi-agents-durbin-wall-street-journal/    https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/19/middleeast/israel-gaza-food-aid-shooting-intl   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/science/ocelots-opossums-friends-video.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare 

For our sixth anniversary we are talking about some silly news from the week and taking your lovely voicemails! Thanks for your support and love over the years.    https://apnews.com/article/grok-4-elon-musk-xai-colossus-14d575fb490c2b679ed3111a1c83f857    https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/sean-mclaughlin-back-another-season-bachelor-20762497.php    https://www.reddit.com/r/ChatGPT/s/7HK9S3Sjg2    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/12/technology/x-ai-grok-antisemitism.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare    https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/925   https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ai-shut-down-blackmail_l_684076c2e4b08964db92e65f   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIo0PpAvKZM

Watervliet server gets in hot water with some elderly ladies. UPenn throws trans people under the bus for a pittance. Trump’s new bill squeezes immigrants with new fees and fines. Texas flooding raises concerns over the future of weather prediction. Shadowy CIA cutouts and consultant groups are planning the future of Gaza. And wisdom teeth contain stem cells that could lead to new medical treatments.   Leave us a voicemail! (516) 324-8404   https://www.timesunion.com/tablehopping/article/deacon-blues-watervliet-senior-bitches-20400458.php    https://www.intellinews.com/hard-left-jeannette-jara-wins-chilean-presidential-primaries-388592/    https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/01/us/upenn-transgender-women-sports-lia-thomas?cid=ios_app   https://www.reddit.com/r/Albany/s/bUPIVPEnne  https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/churchill-sheehan-makes-case-albany-chooses-20389697.php    https://www.ft.com/content/c0e661cc-55db-4e2a-b17b-a656e0cf6c14 // https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-consultancy-firm-involved-ghf-aid-scheme-modelled-plans-relocate    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-antisemitic-slur-shylocks-iowa-big-beautiful-bill-rcna216904   https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/trump-big-beautiful-bill-immigrants   https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/05/climate/texas-flooding-forecast-response?cid=ios_app    https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-gaza-soldier-admit-deliberately-killing-unarmed-aid-seekers    https://www.earth.com/news/dental-pulp-stem-cells-from-extracted-wisdom-teeth-can-treat-multiple-diseases/

Israel/Iran/US conflict. SCOTUS decisions. Mayor Mantello targets panhandlers. Zohran Mamdani wins amid dem tears. Double wildflower all across the sky. 

Trump and Army celebrate their birthdays. FEMA is not long for this world. LA turns up. Floridians given free reign to mow down protestors. Chatbots are making people literally insane. Minneapolis assassinations. Israel-Iran hostilities heat up. And we’re so very sorry, we forgot to record our wildflower.   Leave us a voicemail! (516) 324-8404   https://finance.yahoo.com/news/firing-700-humans-ai-klarna-173029838.html    https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/trump-says-fema-be-wound-down-after-hurricane-season-2025-06-10/    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/12/los-angeles-national-guard-troops-marines-morale    https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-says-floridians-have-right-hit-protesters-cars-2084418    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/technology/chatgpt-ai-chatbots-conspiracies.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare    https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/14/us/minneapolis-targeted-shooting?cid=ios_app  https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/israel-attacks-iran-promising-full-scale-military-operation

The messy first couple has a bad breakup. Mayor Mantello has a spat with Troy’s city hall landlord. Florida meteorologist says cuts to science are making his job impossible. Insect numbers are collapsing. Ice is spreading suffering and violating human rights. And free tax software just got open sourced.    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/29/rfk-jr-maha-health-report-studies    https://www.wired.com/story/doge-elon-musk-really-not-leaving/    https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2025/06/03/first-columbia-bette-troy-mantello-city-hall-lease.html    https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/troy-mayor-first-columbia-president-exchange-20361498.php    https://youtu.be/bwmmPlw06_0?si=pXhOSadKXpTy_WKx    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/03/climate-species-collapse-ecology-insects-nature-reserves-aoe    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/05/landlord-lobby-will-boost-cuomo-with-2-5m-spend-00389886    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/immigrants-at-ice-check-ins-detained-and-held-in-basement-of-federal-building-in-los-angeles/    https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/06/05/djibouti-deportations-migrants-ice-trump/   https://newrepublic.com/post/196138/ice-child-birthday-party-gang-meeting-tren-de-aragua?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=social&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=SF_TNR    https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/08/us/la-protests-national-guard?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare    https://www.404media.co/directfile-open-source-irs-tax-filing-software-turbotax-is-trying-to-kil/   Give us a call! (516) 324-8404