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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
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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
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Justin, Jen, and Heaton discuss the legacy of Todd Cochrane, a pioneering podcaster who recently passed away, before pivoting to discussing Girl Scout cookies as the enterprise prepares to launch a new flavor. This episode also contains initial reactions to the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro and Todd Cochrane
10:10 - Emails
16:33 - Girl Scout Cookies
34:17 - Charlie Kirk
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The gang discusses the recent adjustment to job numbers in the US, which saw nearly 1,000,000 fewer jobs than previously thought over the waning days of the Biden administration and the earliest days of Trump's second time in office. Are these numbers to be trusted, and does this match up closer with how the economy feels rather than how we're told it's performing? The crew also debate Senate Republicans' decision to initiate a nuclear option to approve Trump appointees with a simple majority. Is it necessary to keep government functioning, or will the GOP regret these actions?
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:16:47 - BLS
00:45:53 - Republican Nuclear Option
01:26:39 - Emails
02:11:28 - Wrap-up
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The gang discusses Trump's brief disappearance from the public eye over the holiday weekend, causing the hashtag #TrumpIsDead to go viral across social media. Spurred on by recurring bruises on his hands and swollen ankles — not to mention a Vance quote — Justin, Jen, and Heaton ask where this reaction came from. Then, the trio turns to discuss the ongoing housing crisis in the US, with Scott Bessent telling reports Trump could declare a housing emergency in the coming weeks. How many times can Heaton say "zoning" in a single segment? You'll have to listen to find out.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:19:13 - Trump Didn't Die
01:01:34 - Housing Emergency
01:38:17 - Emails
02:00:00 - Wrap-up
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Justin, Jen, and Heaton break down Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s proposal that the U.S. government take equity stakes in defense contractors. It's a plan criticized as creeping socialism by Republicans but framed by Lutnick as fair compensation for taxpayer investment. They also tackle the backlash to Cracker Barrel’s (now former) new logo, which abandoned its traditional imagery in favor of a minimal, modern design. From Trump’s mocking to bipartisan confusion online, the panel explores why even subtle branding tweaks can trigger culture war blowback.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Intro and Taylor Swift
00:21:41 - Defense Companies
00:53:05 - Cracker Barrel
01:21:11 - Emails
01:33:35 - Wrap-up
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The gang breaks down Taylor Swift’s headline-grabbing New Heights podcast appearance, which shattered viewership records and marked her first extended on-air discussion of her relationship with Travis Kelce. They explore the cultural impact of Swift’s crossover into NFL territory and the surreal response from James Comey, whose viral video praising the episode led to a MAGA backlash. Then they dig into MSNBC’s awkward rebrand to “MS NOW,” a move mocked across social media for its clunky name and loss of the iconic peacock, and question whether the network will survive the decade.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Intro
00:17:45 - Taylor Swift
01:00:48 - MS NOW
01:25:58 - Emails
01:50:19 - Wrap-up
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Andrew Heaton, Jen Briney, and Justin Young as they dive into a lively discussion on the complexities of political identity, the impact of federal intervention in cities, and the nuances of libertarianism. Trump takes over the DC police, is that legal? If so, will it be effective? Also, are kids spending too much on dumb stuff? Is that a recession signal?
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With Heaton out on vacation, Jeremiah Johnson — from Infinite Scroll and the Center for New Liberalism — joins the panel as they cover the House’s sweeping subpoenas of Bill and Hillary Clinton, along with a host of former DOJ officials, in its expanding Epstein probe. They debate whether any outcome can satisfy the public’s bipartisan appetite for answers. Then, they break down Trump’s controversial firing of the Bureau of Labor Statistics chief, raising alarms about politicizing economic data and the possible fallout for investor trust.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Intro
00:11:18 - Clinton Subpoena and Epstein
00:42:18 - Trump Firing BLS Secretary
01:05:49 - Emails
01:52:24 - Wrap-up
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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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