It Might Be Interesting

Josh and Jon end their series with a few helpful tips on arguing and bad arguments.

In their last episodes Jon and Josh discuss the importance of informed arguing.

In this episode, Josh and Jon explain how presidential power is passed down in the time of crisis or removal from office. We all know the vice president assumes the role, but how far down the list does the succession go? Also, they touch on what would happen to an election, with many ballots already cast, if the president we no longer capable of performing his duties.

In this episode, Josh and Jon review the allegations made by E. Jean Carol and why the Department of Justice is now acting as the president's legal counsel. 

In this episode Josh and Jon talk about the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and what potential fall out could come from rushing the replacement confirmation.

Josh and Jon are back for their 4th season and kicking off with a discussion on political rhetoric. They'll look at how rhetoric has worked in the past and what we can do when speaking to others and wish to reach across the aisle. References https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS4xVcko9qw&t=37shttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00130405https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUSQy2CsxYMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V6p1tgHfm0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYpvjN5IClQ&t=693s 

In this series, Josh and Jon dig in and find interesting facts, people and events surrounding Jeffery Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and the rich and powerful who surround them. The life of Epstein was filled with horrors, intrigue and corruption, not to mention a connection to many of the power elites in places of power all around the world. Josh and Jon will discuss Epstein and Maxwell's history, strange international connections, as well as his first and second arrest, followed by his first and second suicide attempts. Referenceshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-dalton-teacher.htmlhttps://www.vox.com/2019/7/9/20686347/jeffrey-epstein-trump-bill-clinton https://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/04/jeffrey-epstein-trump-lawsuit-sex-trafficking-237983https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/07/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-trump.htmlhttps://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/jeffrey-epstein-political-connections-sex-trafficker-856642/bill-barr-856649/https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasp/resources/traffickinghttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/02/world/europe/prince-andrews-Virginia-Roberts-Giuffre-bbc.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/us/jeffrey-epstein-what-to-know.html?searchResultPosition=2https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article220097825.html?te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_NN_p_20190710§ion=topNews?campaign_id=9&instance_id=10803&segment_id=15064&user_id=43e3a86129470c7ec6a6bd3d31b9566f®i_id=68188974tion=topNewshttps://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/business/01epstein.html?module=inlinehttps://nypost.com/2011/03/03/wait-hes-allowed-to-have-kids/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/08/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-nyc-mansion.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-dalton-teacher.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/trump-epstein.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epsteinhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/business/jeffrey-epstein-interview.htmlhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-11/prince-alwaleed-s-fortune-plunges-22-3-billion-from-2014-peakhttps://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/i-love-the-saudis-trump-business-ties-to-kingdom-run-deephttps://nymag.com/intelligencer/amp/2019/07/jeffrey-epstein-high-society-contacts.html

In this episode, Josh and Jon invite Bruce back for a conversation on police brutality and to review statistics on both the treatment of black Americans by police and the calls for reform. Three events took America by storm these past few weeks and brought to the forefront the racial divide within the United States starting with the police response and what happens after police arrive on the scene within the black community. Join us for this two part series. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-the-data-say-about-police-shootings/https://www.statista.com/statistics/585152/people-shot-to-death-by-us-police-by-race/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbx4HAm6Rc8https://open.spotify.com/episode/354rmGOjxOvJyQUgo5rY4l?si=-CXF_GDLR4uBdnR9e65vfg https://www.citylab.com/equity/2020/06/george-floyd-protest-minneapolis-history-racism-minnesota/612481/https://abcnews.go.com/US/abc-news-analysis-police-arrests-nationwide-reveals-stark/story?id=71188546https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/wesley-lowery-george-floyd-minneapolis-black-lives/612391/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/12/upshot/surprising-new-evidence-shows-bias-in-police-use-of-force-but-not-in-shootings.amp.htmlhttps://mappingpoliceviolence.org/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_by_country https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_firearm_use_by_country https://www.statista.com/chart/21872/map-of-police-violence-against-black-americans/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/if-you-dont-believe-systemic-racism-is-real-explain-these-statistics/2020/06/12/ce0dff6e-acc7-11ea-94d2-d7bc43b26bf9_story.htmlhttps://datausa.io/profile/soc/police-officers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2096654_2096653_2096692,00.htmlhttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-would-it-mean-defund-police-these-cities-offer-ideas-n1229266

In this episode, Josh and Jon invite Bruce back for a conversation on police brutality and to review statistics on both the treatment of black Americans by police and the calls for reform. Three events took America by storm these past few weeks and brought to the forefront the racial divide within the United States starting with the police response and what happens after police arrive on the scene within the black community. Join us for this two part series. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-the-data-say-about-police-shootings/https://www.statista.com/statistics/585152/people-shot-to-death-by-us-police-by-race/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbx4HAm6Rc8https://open.spotify.com/episode/354rmGOjxOvJyQUgo5rY4l?si=-CXF_GDLR4uBdnR9e65vfg https://www.citylab.com/equity/2020/06/george-floyd-protest-minneapolis-history-racism-minnesota/612481/https://abcnews.go.com/US/abc-news-analysis-police-arrests-nationwide-reveals-stark/story?id=71188546https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/wesley-lowery-george-floyd-minneapolis-black-lives/612391/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/12/upshot/surprising-new-evidence-shows-bias-in-police-use-of-force-but-not-in-shootings.amp.htmlhttps://mappingpoliceviolence.org/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_by_country https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_firearm_use_by_country https://www.statista.com/chart/21872/map-of-police-violence-against-black-americans/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/if-you-dont-believe-systemic-racism-is-real-explain-these-statistics/2020/06/12/ce0dff6e-acc7-11ea-94d2-d7bc43b26bf9_story.htmlhttps://datausa.io/profile/soc/police-officers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2096654_2096653_2096692,00.htmlhttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/what-would-it-mean-defund-police-these-cities-offer-ideas-n1229266

In this series, Josh and Jon dig in and find interesting facts, people and events surrounding Jeffery Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and the rich and powerful who surround them. The life of Epstein was filled with horrors, intrigue and corruption, not to mention a connection to many of the power elites in places of power all around the world. Josh and Jon will discuss Epstein and Maxwell's history, strange international connections, as well as his first and second arrest, followed by his first and second suicide attempts. Referenceshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-dalton-teacher.htmlhttps://www.vox.com/2019/7/9/20686347/jeffrey-epstein-trump-bill-clinton https://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/04/jeffrey-epstein-trump-lawsuit-sex-trafficking-237983https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/07/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-trump.htmlhttps://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/jeffrey-epstein-political-connections-sex-trafficker-856642/bill-barr-856649/https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasp/resources/traffickinghttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/02/world/europe/prince-andrews-Virginia-Roberts-Giuffre-bbc.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/us/jeffrey-epstein-what-to-know.html?searchResultPosition=2https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article220097825.html?te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_NN_p_20190710§ion=topNews?campaign_id=9&instance_id=10803&segment_id=15064&user_id=43e3a86129470c7ec6a6bd3d31b9566f®i_id=68188974tion=topNewshttps://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/business/01epstein.html?module=inlinehttps://nypost.com/2011/03/03/wait-hes-allowed-to-have-kids/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/08/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-nyc-mansion.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-dalton-teacher.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/trump-epstein.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epsteinhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/business/jeffrey-epstein-interview.htmlhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-11/prince-alwaleed-s-fortune-plunges-22-3-billion-from-2014-peakhttps://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/i-love-the-saudis-trump-business-ties-to-kingdom-run-deephttps://nymag.com/intelligencer/amp/2019/07/jeffrey-epstein-high-society-contacts.html

In this series, Josh and Jon dig in and find interesting facts, people and events surrounding Jeffery Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and the rich and powerful who surround them. The life of Epstein was filled with horrors, intrigue and corruption, not to mention a connection to many of the power elites in places of power all around the world. Josh and Jon will discuss Epstein and Maxwell's history, strange international connections, as well as his first and second arrest, followed by his first and second suicide attempts. Referenceshttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-dalton-teacher.htmlhttps://www.vox.com/2019/7/9/20686347/jeffrey-epstein-trump-bill-clinton https://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/04/jeffrey-epstein-trump-lawsuit-sex-trafficking-237983https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/07/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-trump.htmlhttps://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/jeffrey-epstein-political-connections-sex-trafficker-856642/bill-barr-856649/https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasp/resources/traffickinghttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/02/world/europe/prince-andrews-Virginia-Roberts-Giuffre-bbc.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/us/jeffrey-epstein-what-to-know.html?searchResultPosition=2https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article220097825.html?te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_NN_p_20190710§ion=topNews?campaign_id=9&instance_id=10803&segment_id=15064&user_id=43e3a86129470c7ec6a6bd3d31b9566f®i_id=68188974tion=topNewshttps://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/business/01epstein.html?module=inlinehttps://nypost.com/2011/03/03/wait-hes-allowed-to-have-kids/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/08/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-nyc-mansion.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-dalton-teacher.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/trump-epstein.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epsteinhttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/business/jeffrey-epstein-interview.htmlhttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-11/prince-alwaleed-s-fortune-plunges-22-3-billion-from-2014-peakhttps://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/i-love-the-saudis-trump-business-ties-to-kingdom-run-deephttps://nymag.com/intelligencer/amp/2019/07/jeffrey-epstein-high-society-contacts.html

In this episode, Josh and Jon discuss conspiracies and how they start, and how they work on unsuspecting individuals. Are conspiracy theorist looking for facts, or are they looking for truth. This episode will delve into various ways in which a conspiracy can be believed. Many conspiracies start with preliminary news reports and typically selectively edits the content to make their point. We'll take a look at a few of these in It Might Be Interesting Se03 Ep08 and Ep09.  References https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/05/salute-to-nurses-parade-crashed-by-gun-waving-suv-driver-who-leads-pa-cops-on-chase.html?outputType=amp https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/496502-more-than-70-cell-phone-towers-in-the-uk-have-been-set?amphttps://www.snopes.com/news/2020/04/08/how-conspiracy-theories-spread-online-its-not-just-algorithms/https://now.tufts.edu/articles/truth-about-conspiracy-theorieshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1GePYTuud4EFoYbv5FzthYwXQGaTlEsyc/view?usp=sharing https://theconversation.com/who-believes-in-conspiracy-theories-and-why-listen-to-part-two-of-our-expert-guide-134170 https://www.businessinsider.com/psychologist-explains-why-people-believe-conspiracy-theories-during-uncertain-times-2020-4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_6-iVz1R0o https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/a31910637/exploring-the-psychology-of-conspiracy-theories/

In this episode, Josh and Jon discuss conspiracies and how they start, and how they work on unsuspecting individuals. Are conspiracy theorist looking for facts, or are they looking for truth. This episode will delve into various ways in which a conspiracy can be believed. Many conspiracies start with preliminary news reports and typically selectively edits the content to make their point. We'll take a look at a few of these in It Might Be Interesting Se03 Ep08 and Ep09.   References https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/05/salute-to-nurses-parade-crashed-by-gun-waving-suv-driver-who-leads-pa-cops-on-chase.html?outputType=amp https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/longevity/496502-more-than-70-cell-phone-towers-in-the-uk-have-been-set?amphttps://www.snopes.com/news/2020/04/08/how-conspiracy-theories-spread-online-its-not-just-algorithms/https://now.tufts.edu/articles/truth-about-conspiracy-theorieshttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1GePYTuud4EFoYbv5FzthYwXQGaTlEsyc/view?usp=sharing https://theconversation.com/who-believes-in-conspiracy-theories-and-why-listen-to-part-two-of-our-expert-guide-134170 https://www.businessinsider.com/psychologist-explains-why-people-believe-conspiracy-theories-during-uncertain-times-2020-4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_6-iVz1R0o https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/a31910637/exploring-the-psychology-of-conspiracy-theories/

In this episode Josh and Jon continue their discussion on the pros and cons of universal basic income as well as its' history and evolution throughout the years.  Referenceshttps://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/UBI-ESG-Memo-082319.pdf https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/492959-former-msnbc-host-dylan-ratigan-why-ubi-is-a-ventilator-for-the-us-economy-in https://www.thebalance.com/universal-basic-income-4160668 https://fee.org/articles/selling-the-republican-soul-for-a-ubi/ https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/false-promise-universal-basic-income-andy-stern-ruger-bregman https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/07/09/who-really-stands-to-win-from-universal-basic-income https://time.com/5804656/ubi-yang-coronavirus/

In this episode Josh and Jon discuss the pros and cons of universal basic income as well as its' history and evolution throughout the years.  Referenceshttps://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/UBI-ESG-Memo-082319.pdf https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/492959-former-msnbc-host-dylan-ratigan-why-ubi-is-a-ventilator-for-the-us-economy-in https://www.thebalance.com/universal-basic-income-4160668 https://fee.org/articles/selling-the-republican-soul-for-a-ubi/ https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/false-promise-universal-basic-income-andy-stern-ruger-bregman https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/07/09/who-really-stands-to-win-from-universal-basic-income https://time.com/5804656/ubi-yang-coronavirus/

In this episode Josh and Jon look at the roll backs the Trump administration has put in place at the EPA. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/climate/trump-environment-rollbacks.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/climate/epa-mercury-coal.html 

In this episode, Josh and Jon take a look at the Trump's administration and their lack luster response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Recorded April 5th.

In this week's episode, Josh and Jon invite Bruce back to discuss the possible long term side-effects of COVID-19 on another episode of It Might Be Interesting.

In this week's episode, Josh and Jon invite Bruce back to discuss the possible long term side-effects of COVID-19 on another episode of It Might Be Interesting.

Josh and Jon discuss whether or not the Democratic Party is splitting in half.

In this episode, Josh interviews Jon on an upcoming project he's been working on. 

In this series, Josh and Jon discuss Democracy around the Globe. They take a look at protests in France and Hong Kong, as well as what must happen for a democracy to fail. Lastly they examine the current political crisis in the U.S. and how it seems to go from bad to worse. Join them in this weeks episode of It Might Be Interesting. References Freedom in the World 2019 Maphttps://www.theglobalist.com/global-focus-democracy-under-threat/ Hong Kong https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-extradition-painter/hong-kong-artist-wields-a-paintbrush-at-hong-kong-mass-protests-idUSKCN1TU091 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hong-kong-protests-police-threat/hong-kong-police-threaten-to-use-live-bullets-if-rioters-use-lethal-weapons-idUSKBN1XR0MJ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hong-kong-extradition-protests-breaki/breakingviews-hong-kong-demonstrators-risk-muddling-the-message-idUSKCN1UE0F1 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hong-kong-protests-breakingviews/breakingviews-hong-kong-protesters-strike-market-nerves-at-last-idUSKCN1UY0AJ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hong-kong-protests-usa/pentagon-chief-urges-chinese-restraint-over-hong-kong-protests-idUSKCN1VS087https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_RdnVtfZPY 

In this series, Josh and Jon discuss Democracy around the Globe. They take a look at protests in France and Hong Kong, as well as what must happen for a democracy to fail. Lastly they examine the current political crisis in the U.S. and how it seems to go from bad to worse. Join them in this weeks episode of It Might Be Interesting. References Freedom in the World 2019 Maphttps://www.theglobalist.com/global-focus-democracy-under-threat/ Hong Kong https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-extradition-painter/hong-kong-artist-wields-a-paintbrush-at-hong-kong-mass-protests-idUSKCN1TU091 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hong-kong-protests-police-threat/hong-kong-police-threaten-to-use-live-bullets-if-rioters-use-lethal-weapons-idUSKBN1XR0MJ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hong-kong-extradition-protests-breaki/breakingviews-hong-kong-demonstrators-risk-muddling-the-message-idUSKCN1UE0F1 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hong-kong-protests-breakingviews/breakingviews-hong-kong-protesters-strike-market-nerves-at-last-idUSKCN1UY0AJ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hong-kong-protests-usa/pentagon-chief-urges-chinese-restraint-over-hong-kong-protests-idUSKCN1VS087https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_RdnVtfZPY 

In this episode, Josh and Jon discuss the difference between Free Market Capitalism and Socialism. We dive deeper into their definitions, as well as assess their prevalence in America. Do we have Free Market Capitalism? Do we have Socialism? Do we have a blend of the two? Or do we have something else altogether?

In this episode, Josh and Jon discuss the difference between Free Market Capitalism and Socialism. We dive deeper into their definitions, as well as assess their prevalence in America. Do we have Free Market Capitalism? Do we have Socialism? Do we have a blend of the two? Or do we have something else altogether?

     The United States has long been committed to and an a part of a pact known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This alliance has been critical to ensuring peace throughout Europe and the Western World. It has been called upon to ensure safety not only in European Union states, but also acts as a deterrent for those seeking enter into trade unions and accords with members of the West. In this two part series Josh and Jon will discuss NATO and the critical role it plays and how dismantling it can and will spell disaster.  References https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/126169.htm https://geoawesomeness.com/top-14-maps-charts-explain-nato/ https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Prisoners-of-Geography/Tim-Marshall/9781501121470https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/220562/the-new-tsar-by-steven-lee-myers/

     The United States has long been committed to and an a part of a pact known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This alliance has been critical to ensuring peace throughout Europe and the Western World. It has been called upon to ensure safety not only in European Union states, but also acts as a deterrent for those seeking enter into trade unions and accords with members of the West. In this two part series Josh and Jon will discuss NATO and the critical role it plays and how dismantling it can and will spell disaster.  References https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/126169.htm https://geoawesomeness.com/top-14-maps-charts-explain-nato/ https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Prisoners-of-Geography/Tim-Marshall/9781501121470https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/220562/the-new-tsar-by-steven-lee-myers/

Sexual Repression in the U.S. Why are we offended by sex on television and Europeans are not? Why are topless beaches in France, simply called 'the beach', but are called something teetering on pornographic in the United States? In this episode, Jon and Josh discuss puritanical views in the U.S. and contrast them to views on sex abroad. All cultures have taboos and sexual fantasies, but are they any different than what's thought of in the U.S.? Do we behave differently in bed than our neighbors or foreign nations? We'll discuss how and why we became a culture that sees sexual activity through such a narrow lens.  Referenceshttps://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Alk5iwv1y_MC&oi=fnd&pg=PA193&dq=sexual+repression+effects&ots=8qo72KqI3I&sig=zCX6_ikXN88qHnG9-gnSVrEGkE0#v=onepage&q&f=false https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/000169939603900403 https://www.irishtimes.com/news/lifting-the-lid-on-irish-sexuality-1.746010 https://nyuskirball.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Foucault-Bourdieu-and-the-Field-of-Irish-Sexuality.pdf file:///C:/Users/breto/Desktop/9780429056727_googlepreview.pdf https://www.amazon.com/Tell-Me-What-You-Want-ebook/dp/B0776PYDNM https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1802108/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071438/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-imprinted-brain/201003/so-you-think-youre-not-prudish-about-sex https://techcrunch.com/2010/09/12/why-is-this-nsf-o/ https://www.alternet.org/2018/05/compared-rest-world-americans-are-prudish-delusional-and-selfish-religious-nuts-study/ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/30/opinion/sex-shame-incels-jihadists-minassian.html https://qz.com/678186/theres-a-neurological-explanation-for-the-link-between-sex-and-violence/ https://medium.com/4th-wave-feminism/how-porn-perpetuates-rape-culture-95b83df6d704 http://sociological-eye.blogspot.com/2015/02/why-does-sexual-repression-exist.html

Evangelical Support for Donald TrumpAnyone paying attention to American politics will know that Trump enjoys a large amount of his support from the Evangelical community. It's one thing if 35% of Evangelicals call themselves Republicans, but it's entirely different if 35% of Republicans call themselves Evangelicals. In this episode we look at what it is that drives them to the poles, motivates them to vote, and why are they an increasing base of support for what is arguably the worst thing to ever happen to their brand, both in America and around the world.   Referenceshttps://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/ https://www.people-press.org/2019/01/18/1-views-of-trump-2/ https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/04/26/among-white-evangelicals-regular-churchgoers-are-the-most-supportive-of-trump/ https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/could-trump-drive-young-white-evangelicals-away-from-the-gop/ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/books/review/who-is-an-evangelical-thomas-s-kidd.html https://www.npr.org/2019/11/14/779465137/who-is-an-evangelical-looks-at-history-of-evangelical-christians-and-the-gop https://www.prri.org/spotlight/religion-vote-2016/ https://www.prri.org/spotlight/religion-vote-presidential-election-2004-2016/ 

Health, Diet and the Food Industry    In this series, Josh and Jon consider obesity rates around the globe, as well as here at home. They also look at the statistics on obesity related illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer and what countries are most affected. There is much to be said about the American Diet and all of its shortcomings, but is it a fight that can be waged alone, or should the hand of government be involved? What would it look like if the government were to require change within food processors marketing, delivery and ingredients? Are there example of times when they did get involved? We'll look at all of this and more in this week's episode of It Might Be Interesting's take on Health, Diet and the Food Industry.  Referenceshttps://www.who.int/gho/ncd/risk_factors/overweight_obesity/obesity_adults/en/ https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000659 https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_heart_disease.htm https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21492 http://globalcancermap.com/  https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/maps/gisx/mapgallery/diagnosed_diabetes.html https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/maps_data.htm https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/state-data-current.hthttps://www.vox.com/a/explain-food-america https://www.ibisworld.com/global/market-research-reports/global-fast-food-restaurants-industry/https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/data/index.htm https://datafiniti.co/fast-food-restaurants-america/ https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-sugar-per-dayhttps://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dri-calculator/ https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/13/493739074/50-years-ago-sugar-industry-quietly-paid-scientists-to-point-blame-at-fat

Health, Diet and the Food Industry    In this series, Josh and Jon consider obesity rates around the globe, as well as here at home. They also look at the statistics on obesity related illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer and what countries are most affected. There is much to be said about the American Diet and all of its shortcomings, but is it a fight that can be waged alone, or should the hand of government be involved? What would it look like if the government were to require change within food processors marketing, delivery and ingredients? Are there example of times when they did get involved? We'll look at all of this and more in this week's episode of It Might Be Interesting's take on Health, Diet and the Food Industry.  Referenceshttps://www.who.int/gho/ncd/risk_factors/overweight_obesity/obesity_adults/en/ https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000659 https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_heart_disease.htm https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21492 http://globalcancermap.com/  https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/maps/gisx/mapgallery/diagnosed_diabetes.html https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/maps_data.htm https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/state-data-current.hthttps://www.vox.com/a/explain-food-america https://www.ibisworld.com/global/market-research-reports/global-fast-food-restaurants-industry/https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/data/index.htm https://datafiniti.co/fast-food-restaurants-america/ https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-sugar-per-dayhttps://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dri-calculator/ https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/13/493739074/50-years-ago-sugar-industry-quietly-paid-scientists-to-point-blame-at-fat

Health, Diet and the Food Industry    In this series, Josh and Jon consider obesity rates around the globe, as well as here at home. They also look at the statistics on obesity related illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer and what countries are most affected. There is much to be said about the American Diet and all of its shortcomings, but is it a fight that can be waged alone, or should the hand of government be involved? What would it look like if the government were to require change within food processors marketing, delivery and ingredients? Are there example of times when they did get involved? We'll look at all of this and more in this week's episode of It Might Be Interesting's take on Health, Diet and the Food Industry.  Referenceshttps://www.who.int/gho/ncd/risk_factors/overweight_obesity/obesity_adults/en/ https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000659 https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_heart_disease.htm https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21492 http://globalcancermap.com/  https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/maps/gisx/mapgallery/diagnosed_diabetes.html https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/maps_data.htm https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/state-data-current.hthttps://www.vox.com/a/explain-food-america https://www.ibisworld.com/global/market-research-reports/global-fast-food-restaurants-industry/https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/data/index.htm https://datafiniti.co/fast-food-restaurants-america/ https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-sugar-per-dayhttps://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/dri-calculator/ https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/13/493739074/50-years-ago-sugar-industry-quietly-paid-scientists-to-point-blame-at-fat

  A Conversation with Bruce on Identity Politics and Race Most political scientist will tell you that what is dividing our nation is identity politics. In this episode we look to see if that's accurate, what's driving it, and what affect is it having on the countries political outlook. Joining Josh and Jon this week is their friend Bruce who adds his own unique prospective to this topic. We also discuss the works of Michael Tesler as a framework for the discussion. Identity politics has become the bedrock of the political right and it's greatest affects may be felt not when they are in power, but when they are not. In this episode we'll dig through the identity issues and discuss cause and affect. Referenceshttps://www.amazon.com/Identity-Crisis-Presidential-Campaign-Meaning/dp/0691174199https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnu9mcWIhWYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pScBBifgXxMhttps://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/talk-radio-made-todays-republican-party/596380/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qcLhz7PP7Uhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utW1ItcMeJwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=safLwed9SSohttp://assets.press.princeton.edu/chapters/i7493.pdfhttp://econ.msu.edu/glpetc/Identity%20Politics%20(Karakas).pdf

  A Conversation with Bruce on Identity Politics and Race Most political scientist will tell you that what is dividing our nation is identity politics. In this episode we look to see if that's accurate, what's driving it, and what affect is it having on the countries political outlook. Joining Josh and Jon this week is their friend Bruce who adds his own unique prospective to this topic. We also discuss the works of Michael Tesler as a framework for the discussion. Identity politics has become the bedrock of the political right and it's greatest affects may be felt not when they are in power, but when they are not. In this episode we'll dig through the identity issues and discuss cause and affect.  Referenceshttps://www.amazon.com/Identity-Crisis-Presidential-Campaign-Meaning/dp/0691174199https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnu9mcWIhWYhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pScBBifgXxMhttps://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/talk-radio-made-todays-republican-party/596380/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qcLhz7PP7Uhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utW1ItcMeJwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=safLwed9SSohttp://assets.press.princeton.edu/chapters/i7493.pdfhttp://econ.msu.edu/glpetc/Identity%20Politics%20(Karakas).pdf

Questioned by Mr. Burke     Prior to phone calls to a Ukrainian president, our president was embroiled in another scandal known as Russia investigation. After a full day of partisan questioning from both sides of the House Judiciary Committee, House Democrats allowed Barry Burke to finish the questioning of Corey Lewandowski, the president's former campaign manager. In this episode, Josh and Jon review the testimony of Corey Lewandowski before the House Judiciary's first phase of the investigation into whether the president obstructed justice as outlined in the Muller report. They will take the listener through the testimony and help illuminate key facts, admissions and omissions by Lewandowski, while discussing the tactics and professionalism of Barry Burke, the House Judiciary's Council. Referenceshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrlDGvuUxMY 

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)      A growing concern among many American parents is whether or not to allow their children to play football due to Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).CTE is the brain disorder found in those that play high impact sports such as football. In this episode Josh and Jon look at the statistics behind CTE, what is the NFL doing about it, and what former players are saying about their views on the sport today.  They also dig into what trends their are in America around those playing football, and more importantly, those who are not. Lastly, Josh and Jon look at injuries in other sports and compare them to football to see if it's only football that is the problem.  Referenceshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq9ytX0G5BMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osS3vITs0DMhttps://www.npr.org/2014/02/02/270406651/theres-more-to-life-than-sports-lineman-on-leaving-nflhttps://youtu.be/R4NbU_HaB3Yhttps://apnews.com/dca05dd0915f43dcb8ef40f24fd99e7e?utm_medium=AP_Sports&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitterhttps://completeconcussions.com/2018/12/05/concussion-rates-what-sport-most-concussions/https://www.thesportster.com/football/top-12-nfl-players-who-wouldnt-let-their-kids-play-football/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQRH_dEBCfIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn7J-Ubh1jwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHgdyE1b8Sohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b8_nUkvv94https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14677428/dr-bennet-omalu-bet-my-medical-license-oj-simpson-ctehttps://youtu.be/_b8_nUkvv94?t=270

     Josh and Jon are back to take a look at statistics; how they are read, and misread by publications, organizations and other media outlets. These methods include Omitting the Baseline, Cherry Picking Data, as well as Going Against Conventions and others. Graphs and charts can be misleading, but they can be harmful if they are deliberately so. In this episode, Josh and Jon attempt to give the listeners a few handy tools to navigate around misleading information.ReferencesCharney, C. (2007, July 9). The Top 10 Ways to Get Misleading Poll Results. Charney Research, 3.Gaslowitz, L. (2017, Jul 6). Ted-Ed. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E91bGT9BjYk&vl=enLi, R. H. (2017). Political Effect of Economic Data Manipulation:. Department of Political Science, 40.Liddell, M. (2016, Jan 14). Ted-Ed. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxYrzzy3cq8&vl=enVenngage. (2018, Sep 11). 5 Ways Writers Use Misleading Graphs To Manipulate You [INFOGRAPHIC]. Retrieved from https://venngage.com/blog/misleading-graphs/Worstall, T. (2015, Mar 8). Some Government Statistics You Can Believe And Others You Really Shouldn't. Retrieved from forbes.com: https://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2015/03/08/some-government-statistics-you-can-believe-and-others-you-really-shouldnt/#1a0cd24967ea 

Season One Overview     In first half of this episode, Josh and Jon go over the first dozen episodes as they discuss what they found to be the most interesting in researching for the episodes. In the second half they discuss the over reaching theme of the first twelve episodes and connect all the dots together. They look at Republican strategy and how it has effected voting totals, party perceptions, and the outcomes of their polices in democratic voter turn out. They also discuss the current state of the democratic primaries and who they project to win. This will be the last episode of episode one and Josh and Jon will return November 4th, 2019 with more content.  

       The effects of climate change are all around us, but many in the United States do not believe that climate change is happening at all, and those that do vote in numbers that push the solutions to the background of American politics. In this episode we go state by state and look at some of the most recognizable effects of climate change and how it is damaging property, food sources, human health, livestock and drinking water. Climate change is a serious problem and if it hasn't reached your front door yet, it will. The planet is not attacking us, but rather acting in ways that is measurable, verifiable and consistent. With that said, the outcomes of increased temperatures, water shortages, and animal, marine and wildlife dying at alarming rates will continue. Hopefully this episode will illuminate ways in which we can all become more responsible citizens and finally address climate change together. ReferencesAmerica's Health Ranking. (2017, Jul). Air Pollution. Retrieved from https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/air/state/NCBriscoe, T. (2019, Jun 08). Because of historic rains, less than half the normal amount of corn has been planted in Illinois. The next weeks are make or break for farmers. Retrieved from https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-illinois-crops-delayed-extreme-weather-20190606-story.htmlBurns, J. (2019, Feb 13). opb.org. Retrieved from The Future Climate For Western Oregon? California's Central Valley: https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-cities-on-path-have-central-valley-climate-in-coming-decades/Changnon, S. (2009, Nov). Illinois State Water Survey. Retrieved from https://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubdoc/CR/ISWSCR2009-12.pdfClean Energy . (2017). CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON SOUTH CAROLINA. Retrieved from cleanenergy.org: https://www.cleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/SC-Climate-Change-Fact-Sheet-2016-Final.pdfConnecticut State Risk. (2019). Climate change means more mosquito days, increasing Zika risk. Retrieved from https://statesatrisk.org/connecticut/allDelaware Climate Projections Portal. (2019). udel.edu. Retrieved from http://climate.udel.edu/declimateprojections/portal/EPA. (2016, Aug). What Climate Change Means for Alabama. Retrieved from epa.gov: https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-al.pdfEPA. (2016, Aug). What Climate Change Means for North Dakota. Retrieved from epa.gov: https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-nd.pdfEPA. (2016, Aug). What Climate Change Means for Ohio. Retrieved from https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-oh.pdfFengpeng, S. (2015, Aug). Twenty-First-Century Snowfall and Snowpack Changes over the Southern California Mountains. AMS.Fountain, H. (2017, Aug 23). ALASKA’S PERMAFROST. Retrieved from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/08/23/climate/alaska-permafrost-thawing.htmlHernandez, M. (2018, Jun 14). Climate Change Threatens New Mexico Water, Land Resources. Retrieved from npr.org: https://www.krwg.org/post/climate-change-threatens-new-mexico-water-land-resourcesHolmes, A. (2017, Oct). Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Texas Quail. Retrieved from NRI: https://nri.tamu.edu/blog/2018/october/potential-impacts-of-climate-change-on-texas-quail/Iowa Environmental Council. (2019, Aug 5). Climate Change and Iowa. Retrieved from https://www.iaenvironment.org/newsroom/water-and-land-news/climate-change-and-iowaMantua, N. (2016). Impacts of Climate Change on Key Aspects of Freshwater Salmon. Retrieved from http://cses.washington.edu/db/pdf/wacciach6salmon649.pdfMaryland.Gov. (2018). Climate Cahnge and Maryland. Retrieved from https://climatechange.maryland.gov/science/: https://climatechange.maryland.gov/science/NJ.com. (2019). Here's how climate change will make N.J. deadlier in your lifetime. Retrieved from https://www.nj.com/news/2018/10/climate_change_will_make_nj_deadlier_and_it_will_p.htmlPurdue University. (2018, Mar 1). Climate change impacts report: Indiana will continue to get warmer, wetter. Retrieved from https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2018/Q1/climate-change-impacts-report-indiana-will-continue-to-get-warmer,-wetter.htmlRI Climate Change. (2017, Nov). Time to Take the High Road. Retrieved from http://www.riclimatechange.org/Solis, J. (2018, Nov 29). Nevada Current. Retrieved from Climate change will make Nevada more expensive, less livable: https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2018/11/29/climate-change-will-make-nevada-more-expensive-less-livable/The Climate Reality Project. (2017, Jan 19). FOUR WAYS THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS IMPACTING COLORADO. Retrieved from https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/four-ways-climate-crisis-impacting-coloradoUniversity at Albany. (2019, Jan). Climate Change and New York State. Retrieved from https://www.albany.edu/gogreen/3.climatechangenys.shtmlVermont. (2019). Climate Change in Vermont. Retrieved from https://climatechange.vermont.gov/our-changing-climate/what-it-means/water-qualityWatters, D. (2018, Dec 3). Another View: Climate change is already hurting New Hampshire. Retrieved from fosters.com: https://www.fosters.com/news/20181203/another-view-climate-change-is-already-hurting-new-hampshireWBUR News. (2016, Dec 27). Why Don't Environmentalists Vote? Retrieved from www.wbur.org: https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2016/12/27/environmentalists-dont-vote-nathaniel-stinnettWBUR News. (2017, Aug 23). Environmentalists Tend To Have Bad Voting Records — And Lie About It. Retrieved from www.wbur.org: https://www.wbur.org/news/2017/08/23/environmental-votersWestern Pennsylvania Conservancy. (2019). Protecting Pennsylvania's Plants and Animals. Retrieved from https://waterlandlife.org/wildlife-pnhp/changing-landscapes/climate-change/

     The effects of climate change are all around us, but many in the United States do not believe that climate change is happening at all, and those that do vote in numbers that push the solutions to the background of American politics. In this episode we go state by state and look at some of the most recognizable effects of climate change and how it is damaging property, food sources, human health, livestock and drinking water. Climate change is a serious problem and if it hasn't reached your front door yet, it will. The planet is not attacking us, but rather acting in ways that is measurable, verifiable and consistent. With that said, the outcomes of increased temperatures, water shortages, and animal, marine and wildlife dying at alarming rates will continue. Hopefully this episode will illuminate ways in which we can all become more responsible citizens and finally address climate change together. ReferencesAmerica's Health Ranking. (2017, Jul). Air Pollution. Retrieved from https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/air/state/NCBriscoe, T. (2019, Jun 08). Because of historic rains, less than half the normal amount of corn has been planted in Illinois. The next weeks are make or break for farmers. Retrieved from https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-illinois-crops-delayed-extreme-weather-20190606-story.htmlBurns, J. (2019, Feb 13). opb.org. Retrieved from The Future Climate For Western Oregon? California's Central Valley: https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-cities-on-path-have-central-valley-climate-in-coming-decades/Changnon, S. (2009, Nov). Illinois State Water Survey. Retrieved from https://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubdoc/CR/ISWSCR2009-12.pdfClean Energy . (2017). CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON SOUTH CAROLINA. Retrieved from cleanenergy.org: https://www.cleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/SC-Climate-Change-Fact-Sheet-2016-Final.pdfConnecticut State Risk. (2019). Climate change means more mosquito days, increasing Zika risk. Retrieved from https://statesatrisk.org/connecticut/allDelaware Climate Projections Portal. (2019). udel.edu. Retrieved from http://climate.udel.edu/declimateprojections/portal/EPA. (2016, Aug). What Climate Change Means for Alabama. Retrieved from epa.gov: https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-al.pdfEPA. (2016, Aug). What Climate Change Means for North Dakota. Retrieved from epa.gov: https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-nd.pdfEPA. (2016, Aug). What Climate Change Means for Ohio. Retrieved from https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-oh.pdfFengpeng, S. (2015, Aug). Twenty-First-Century Snowfall and Snowpack Changes over the Southern California Mountains. AMS.Fountain, H. (2017, Aug 23). ALASKA’S PERMAFROST. Retrieved from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/08/23/climate/alaska-permafrost-thawing.htmlHernandez, M. (2018, Jun 14). Climate Change Threatens New Mexico Water, Land Resources. Retrieved from npr.org: https://www.krwg.org/post/climate-change-threatens-new-mexico-water-land-resourcesHolmes, A. (2017, Oct). Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Texas Quail. Retrieved from NRI: https://nri.tamu.edu/blog/2018/october/potential-impacts-of-climate-change-on-texas-quail/Iowa Environmental Council. (2019, Aug 5). Climate Change and Iowa. Retrieved from https://www.iaenvironment.org/newsroom/water-and-land-news/climate-change-and-iowaMantua, N. (2016). Impacts of Climate Change on Key Aspects of Freshwater Salmon. Retrieved from http://cses.washington.edu/db/pdf/wacciach6salmon649.pdfMaryland.Gov. (2018). Climate Cahnge and Maryland. Retrieved from https://climatechange.maryland.gov/science/: https://climatechange.maryland.gov/science/NJ.com. (2019). Here's how climate change will make N.J. deadlier in your lifetime. Retrieved from https://www.nj.com/news/2018/10/climate_change_will_make_nj_deadlier_and_it_will_p.htmlPurdue University. (2018, Mar 1). Climate change impacts report: Indiana will continue to get warmer, wetter. Retrieved from https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2018/Q1/climate-change-impacts-report-indiana-will-continue-to-get-warmer,-wetter.htmlRI Climate Change. (2017, Nov). Time to Take the High Road. Retrieved from http://www.riclimatechange.org/Solis, J. (2018, Nov 29). Nevada Current. Retrieved from Climate change will make Nevada more expensive, less livable: https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2018/11/29/climate-change-will-make-nevada-more-expensive-less-livable/The Climate Reality Project. (2017, Jan 19). FOUR WAYS THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS IMPACTING COLORADO. Retrieved from https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/four-ways-climate-crisis-impacting-coloradoUniversity at Albany. (2019, Jan). Climate Change and New York State. Retrieved from https://www.albany.edu/gogreen/3.climatechangenys.shtmlVermont. (2019). Climate Change in Vermont. Retrieved from https://climatechange.vermont.gov/our-changing-climate/what-it-means/water-qualityWatters, D. (2018, Dec 3). Another View: Climate change is already hurting New Hampshire. Retrieved from fosters.com: https://www.fosters.com/news/20181203/another-view-climate-change-is-already-hurting-new-hampshireWBUR News. (2016, Dec 27). Why Don't Environmentalists Vote? Retrieved from www.wbur.org: https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2016/12/27/environmentalists-dont-vote-nathaniel-stinnettWBUR News. (2017, Aug 23). Environmentalists Tend To Have Bad Voting Records — And Lie About It. Retrieved from www.wbur.org: https://www.wbur.org/news/2017/08/23/environmental-votersWestern Pennsylvania Conservancy. (2019). Protecting Pennsylvania's Plants and Animals. Retrieved from https://waterlandlife.org/wildlife-pnhp/changing-landscapes/climate-change/  

For roughly the last decade, it seems as though Americans have become more and more divided, entrenching themselves deeper and deeper along one of two main parties. Furthermore, during the same time, a mirror image of this division has been echoed through the halls of congress, and only growing louder. Politicians from both parties refuse to even try work together to solve problems, leaving countless issues to grow worse as they fail to find a solution. This, in turn, only makes the initial divide between Americans worse. In this episode, we dive into the Two Party System, and discuss the history of political parties in America, how the modern-day Democratic and Republican parties came to be, which countries are two-party vs multi-party, and round out the episode looking at some of the best arguments in favor of and opposed to a two-party system before addressing the main question: do we need to break up the stronghold of the two major parties in order to finally start seeing progress again? Don’t forget to send us your thoughts on this, either on social media or at thoughts@itmightbeinteresting.com. ReferencesConnect Us. (2019, May 13). 16 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Two Party System. Retrieved from https://connectusfund.org/16-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-the-two-party-systemGreen Garage. (2015, Dec 30). 10 Essential Pros and Cons of a Two Party System. Retrieved from https://greengarageblog.org/10-essential-pros-and-cons-of-a-two-party-systemHIstory Hit. (2018, Aug 17). The Origins of the United States Two-Party System. Retrieved from https://www.historyhit.com/the-origins-of-the-united-states-two-party-system/Horger, M. (2013, July). Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: America's Love Affair with the Two-Party System. Retrieved from http://origins.osu.edu/article/breaking-hard-do-americas-love-affair-two-party-systemProkop, A. (2014, Jul 30). 40 charts that explain money in politics. Retrieved from Vox.com: https://www.vox.com/2014/7/30/5949581/money-in-politics-charts-explainU.S. History . (2019). http://www.ushistory.org/us/19c.asp. Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/us/19c.asp 

Countless people suffer from an illness that affects their lives every day. Desperate for even just a modicum of reprieve from their illness, they turn to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see if there’s anything out there that might help. And on these platforms, it often takes them no time at all to encounter a segment that has seen an unprecedented rise in popularity over the years: Alternative Medicine. These videos and posts are usually by people who themselves have been impacted by the same illness. And they claim that the alternative remedy that helped them carried far less risk, and was far more effective, than treatments offered by modern medicine. It sounds appealing, and even a safe way to treat their illness. But the problem is, most of the people promoting these alternatives are either not licensed doctors, or simply promoting an alternative that’s a product they sell and make money from. In this episode, we dive into the world of Alternative Medicine. We discover the factors that have helped contribute to the rise in popularity, discuss the risks associated with this practice, shed light on who owns many of the alternative medicine products that are marketed as “Anti-Big Pharma.” And finally, we discuss what various researchers have found about the effectiveness of alternative medicine, from everything from extreme cleansing and other similar approaches, right down to the most basic daily multivitamins. ReferencesBaron, J. (2018, Nov 30). Forbes. Retrieved from Social Media Is A Good Source Of Bad Medicine: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicabaron/2018/11/30/social-media-bad-medicine/#73caff5c62e1Christensen, J. (2015, Feb 11). CNN. Retrieved from A third of Americans use alternative medicine: https://www.cnn.com/2015/02/11/health/feat-alternative-medicine-study/index.htmlJohn Hopkins Medicine. (2019, Jan). www.hopkinsmedicine.org. Retrieved from Is There Really Any Benefit to Multivitamins?: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/is-there-really-any-benefit-to-multivitaminsLo, C. (2018, Aug 20). Pharmaceutical Technology. Retrieved from The People vs Big Pharma: tackling the industry’s trust issues: https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/features/people-vs-big-pharma-tackling-industrys-trust-issues/Marshall, M. (2015, Mar 4). The Guardian. Retrieved from Why media coverage of alternative cancer cures is dangerous;A Mirror Online report on a breast cancer patient who refused medical treatment for so-called natural alternatives ignores the health risks: https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2015/mar/04/why-media-coverage-of-alternative-cancer-cures-is-dangerousMayo Clinic. (2019, Jan). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from Integrative medicine: Evaluate CAM claims: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/alternative-medicine/art-20046087Packageing Law.COM. (2010, Jul 13). www.packaginglaw.com. Retrieved from What is the Difference Between "FDA Compliant" and "FDA Approved"?: https://www.packaginglaw.com/ask-an-attorney/what-difference-between-fda-compliant-and-fda-approvedPitts, P. (2015, Sep 24). CNN. Retrieved from Why people don’t trust drug makers: https://nypost.com/2015/09/24/why-people-dont-trust-drug-makers/Smoller, N. (2018, mar 30). Woodstock Vitamins. Retrieved from The 14 Mega Corporations That Own Your Supplement Brand: https://www.woodstockvitamins.com/blogs/learn/the-mega-corporations-that-own-your-supplement-brandUnited States Food & Drug Administration. (2019, Jan). fda.gov. Retrieved from Is It Really 'FDA Approved?': https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/it-really-fda-approvedVentola, C. L. (2010, Aug). Current Issues Regarding Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the United States. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 35(8), 461-468.WebMD. (2019, Jan). WebMD . Retrieved from What Exactly Is Alternative Medicine?: https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/what-is-alternative-medicine#1 

There are many things to be said in regards to Brexit, Trump's rise to power, Putin's push against NATO and Rupert Murdoch's unwillingness to give it fair coverage of these events at his best, and at his worst an all out promotion of all of them. In this episode, we look at the history of Rupert Murdoch and his life in the news business, as well as his well know scandals, personal ambition, as well as his provision of shade over the operations of Putin and Trump on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. What draws these characters together can seem to be speculative at times, but so much of it is easily found in newspapers and television shows, not to mention documentaries, that it makes it hard to really call it conspiratorial.  This episode also covers the ascension of Vladimir Putin, his penchant for criminal behavior, his hatred of democratic values and the countries who support it. One of Putin's long term desires is to reunite the Soviet Union, and what stands in his way is liberal democracy, NATO as well as trade agreements between the EU, US, UK and Western allies.  What lengths do those in power go to stay in power? What length would Putin go? Why does Murdoch promote his agenda, either on purpose or accident, in both the US and UK? We'll take a look in this episode and hope you find it interesting. ReferencesBryan, J. (Director). (2018). Active Measures [Motion Picture].Chotiner, I. (2019, Mar 20). The Atlantic. Retrieved from Donna Brazile Explains Why She’s Working for Fox News: https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/donna-brazile-explains-why-she-is-working-for-fox-newsDetrick, H. (2018, Jan 16). Fortune. Retrieved from What You Need to Know About Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Wendi Deng Murdoch, and Chinese Spying: https://fortune.com/2018/01/16/kushner-trump-deng-murdoch-china-spy/Frontline.Org. (2015, Jan 13). Putin's Way. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/putins-way/Frontline.Org. (2017, Oct 25). Putin's Revenge. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/putins-revenge/Hemmer, N. (2014, Jan 17). The Atlantic. Retrieved from The Conservative War on Liberal Media Has a Long History: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/the-conservative-war-on-liberal-media-has-a-long-history/283149/Hosenball, M., & Bryanski, G. (2012, Mar 9). Reuters. Retrieved from FBI looking at Murdoch operations in Russia: https://www.reuters.com/article/murdoch-russia/fbi-looking-at-murdoch-operations-in-russia-idUSL2E8E7HJN20120309Mahler, J., & Rutenberg, J. (2019, Apr 3). The New York Times. Retrieved from How Rupert Murdoch's Empire of Influance Changed the World: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/03/magazine/rupert-murdoch-fox-news-trump.htmlMayer, J. (2019, Mar 4). The New Yorker. Retrieved from The Making of the Fox News White House: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/03/11/the-making-of-the-fox-news-white-houseReuters. (2019, Jun 27). Russia's Putin says liberal values are obsolete: Financial Times. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-putin-europe-values/russias-putin-says-liberal-values-are-obsolete-financial-times-idUSKCN1TS2UFRoth, A. (2019, Jan 25). The Guardian. Retrieved from Ukraine's ex-president Viktor Yanukovych found guilty of treason: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/25/ukraine-ex-president-viktor-yanukovych-found-guilty-of-treasonNewstalk. (2019, Jun 15). Why Does Rupert Murdoch want a Brexit. Retrieved from https://www.newstalk.com/business/why-does-rupert-murdoch-want-a-brexit-592236Reuters. (2019, Jul 9). Reuters. Retrieved from Russia's Putin says wind power harmful to birds and worms: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-putin-renewables/russias-putin-says-wind-power-harmful-to-birds-and-worms-idUSKCN1U422XReuters. (2019, Jun 27). Reuters. Retrieved from Russia's Putin says liberal values are obsolete: Financial Times: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-putin-europe-values/russias-putin-says-liberal-values-are-obsolete-financial-times-idUSKCN1TS2UFSyal, R., Mason, R., & O'Carrol, L. (2019, Jul 23). The Guardian. Retrieved from Sky executive among Johnson's first appointments: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/23/sky-executive-among-johnson-first-appointments-andrew-griffith-munira-mirza 

Under both major political parties, Labor Unions have been on a steady decline over the last few decades. But what has also been on a steady decline during this time? Inflation-adjusted wages, working and middle class economic purchasing power, health and retirement benefits, and long-term job security. In this episode, we attempt to take a non-partisan look at the impact Labor Unions have had on the American economy and working class families, analyze the cause of the decline, take a look at some of the strongest arguments both in favor of and opposed to Labor Unions, and address the ultimate question: Are Labor Unions simply becoming obsolete in the market? Or are they more critical than ever? ReferencesAyres, C. (2019, Jan). Ittana Personal Finance Blog.org. Retrieved from 13 Advantages and Disadvantages of Labor Unions: https://vittana.org/13-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-labor-unionsDray, P. (2010). There is Power in a Union; The Epic Story of Labor In America. New York: Double Day.North Country Carpenter. (2007, Jan). The Union Advantage: Benefit. Retrieved from Union workers pay less: http://northcountrycarpenter.org/pdf/Union%20benefits%20graph.pdfUnited States Dpartment of Labor. (2019, Jan 25). Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved from TED: The Economics Daily : https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2019/union-membership-rate-10-point-5-percent-in-2018-down-from-20-point-1-percent-in-1983.htmUnited Steelworkers. (n.d.). Facts ABout So-Called "Right to Work" . Retrieved from https://www.usw.org/act/campaigns/rtw/resources/facts-about-so-called-right-to-work  

If you've watched any news channel in the last few years, you probably have noticed an increase in attention and commentary on voters and problems faced by those in the Midwestern United States. Some outlets stress the importance of the issues faced by those in this region. Yet others still talk about them as a tertiary focus for political parties.What are the issues faced by those in the Midwest? How long have these issues been going on? How unique are these issues compared to issues faced by those on the coastal United States? How big of an impact do they play for political parties? And is the U.S. now really split between the middle vs. the coasts? Or is that more rhetoric being used to further divide us Americans? In this episode, we dive into what the research suggests about all those questions.ReferencesAnderso, T. (2016, Jul). For Midwest, population growth will be a greater demographic, policy challenge in years ahead. The Council of State Governments. Retrieved from https://www.csgmidwest.org/policyresearch/0616-demographic-future-Midwest.aspxDuke, B. (2017, Jun 7). Center for Amercian Progress. Retrieved from Interactive Map: The Midwestern Recession: https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/news/2017/06/07/429380/interactive-map-midwestern-recession/MuniNet Guide. (2018, Jul 14). Midwest Demographic, Economic, and Debt Factors: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Retrieved from Population growth of Midwest states and the U.S. Since 1990: https://muninetguide.com/midwest-demographic-economic-debt-factors-good-bad-ugly/Vance, J. (2018). Hillbilly-Elegie: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisi. May: Harper Paperbacks.Wikipedia. (2019). List of U.S. states and territories by GDP. Retrieved from Wikipedia.com: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_GDPWuthnow, R. (2018). The Left Behind: Decline and Rage in Small-Town America. Princeton University Press; Reprint edition (April 30, 2019).  

The Media Diet (part 3)Have you ever met someone who just made bad arguments and could not carefully or accurately define what their position was on any given topic? Perhaps their reactions were knee-jerk, explosive or just ill-informed. What if that same person was given a platform where in they broadcasted into millions of American's living rooms each night? Dialog and understanding comes from gaining perspective on nuance and allowing a deeper understanding of any given topic. This episode looks at An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments by Ali Almossawi and we discuss a handful of the bad arguments made by partisan media companies. We also look at the history of the Fairness Doctrine, a deregulated staple of broadcast media, and how conservative media outlets traditionally viewed it. We also look at claims of bias in the media, typically from the political right, and outline what drives these claims and what the history surrounding the accusations stem from. When you hear claims that a paper, or program, or reporter you enjoy is accused of being "liberal", what does that claim stand upon. How can we test the fairness of the person making that claim? Or the fairness of the news they consume?  We all have a family member, friend or acquaintance hooked on a partisan news organization. Perhaps it's time we ask them to consider consuming something more neutral. Please share our podcast with the family/friend who you feel could benefit from being a bit more objective.  ReferencesAd Fontes Media. (2018). Meida Bias Chart. Retrieved from Media Bias Chart: Version 4.0: https://www.adfontesmedia.com/Almossawi, A. (2013). An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments. In A. Almossawi. New York, NY: The Experiement Publishing.Bryan, J. (Director). (2018). Active Measures [Motion Picture].Chotiner, I. (2019, Mar 20). The Atlantic. Retrieved from Donna Brazile Explains Why She’s Working for Fox News: https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/donna-brazile-explains-why-she-is-working-for-fox-newsDetrick, H. (2018, Jan 16). Fortune. Retrieved from What You Need to Know About Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Wendi Deng Murdoch, and Chinese Spying: https://fortune.com/2018/01/16/kushner-trump-deng-murdoch-china-spy/Frontline.Org. (2015, Jan 13). Putin's Way. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/putins-way/Frontline.Org. (2017, Oct 25). Putin's Revenge. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/putins-revenge/Gibson, J., Claassen, C., & Barcelo, J. (2019, Jan). Deplorables: Emotions, Political Sophistication, and Political Intolerance. American Politics Research, 1-21.Gilbert, G. (1945). Nuremberg Diary. In G. Gilbert. Farrar, Straus, 1947.Gottfried, J., Stocking, G., & Grieco, E. (2018). Partisans Remain Sharply Divided in Their Attitudes About the News Media. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from https://www.journalism.org/2018/09/25/partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-their-attitudes-about-the-news-media/Gruenwald, J. (2011, Jun  . The Atlantic. Retrieved from The Fairness Doctrine Is Dead: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/06/the-fairness-doctrine-is-dead/240147/Hemmer, N. (2014, Jan 17). The Atlantic. Retrieved from The Conservative War on Liberal Media Has a Long History: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/the-conservative-war-on-liberal-media-has-a-long-history/283149/Hosenball, M., & Bryanski, G. (2012, Mar 9). Reuters. Retrieved from FBI looking at Murdoch operations in Russia: https://www.reuters.com/article/murdoch-russia/fbi-looking-at-murdoch-operations-in-russia-idUSL2E8E7HJN20120309Mahler, J., & Rutenberg, J. (2019, Apr 3). The New York Times. Retrieved from How Rupert Murdoch's Empire of Influance Changed the World: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/03/magazine/rupert-murdoch-fox-news-trump.htmlMayer, J. (2019, Mar 4). The New Yorker. Retrieved from The Making of the Fox News White House: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/03/11/the-making-of-the-fox-news-white-houseNoggle, R. (2018, Aug). www.aeon.co. Retrieved from How to tell the difference between persuasion and manipulation: https://aeon.co/ideas/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-persuasion-and-manipulation?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ios_share_flow_optimization&utm_term=enabledPiacenza, J. (2019, apr 9). Morning Consult. Retrieved from Media Credibility Perceptions Are Down, Due to Republicans: https://morningconsult.com/2019/04/09/media-credibility-perceptions-are-down-thanks-to-republicans/Reuters. (2019, Jun 27). Russia's Putin says liberal values are obsolete: Financial Times. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-putin-europe-values/russias-putin-says-liberal-values-are-obsolete-financial-times-idUSKCN1TS2UFRoth, A. (2019, Jan 25). The Guardian. Retrieved from Ukraine's ex-president Viktor Yanukovych found guilty of treason: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/25/ukraine-ex-president-viktor-yanukovych-found-guilty-of-treason

The Media Diet (part 2) If one wants to see into the bottom of what bad news and disinformation look like, one need only to look at the Nazi Party. This episode will continue to look at the media diet and the positive effects it can have. We also discuss what we call the Nazi power tool and how it is used to divide an audience. Using this power tool does not make one a Nazi, but rather provides them with the same tool for splitting the room and creating fear. We also look at the use of fear, hatred and anger as a means of coercing and motivating segments of groups and society. Countering these narratives can be difficult, and we look at what scholars have found is the most effective tool to stand up to emotional influence, political sophistication. We also look at where these tools are being used in modern American media, what it sounds like, and what the true intent is behind using them. As stated, using one of these tools does not make one a Nazi, but it will have a dramatic affect on your audience, and the bigger the microphone, the bigger the affect. Lastly we look at the algorithm used by one of America's favorite 24 hour news networks to create brand loyalty and buy-in. This has been one of our favorite topics and we will continue to look at media and its affects for just a bit longer.   ReferencesAd Fontes Media. (2018). Meida Bias Chart. Retrieved from Media Bias Chart: Version 4.0: https://www.adfontesmedia.com/Almossawi, A. (2013). An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments. In A. Almossawi. New York, NY: The Experiement Publishing.Bryan, J. (Director). (2018). Active Measures [Motion Picture].Chotiner, I. (2019, Mar 20). The Atlantic. Retrieved from Donna Brazile Explains Why She’s Working for Fox News: https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/donna-brazile-explains-why-she-is-working-for-fox-newsDetrick, H. (2018, Jan 16). Fortune. Retrieved from What You Need to Know About Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Wendi Deng Murdoch, and Chinese Spying: https://fortune.com/2018/01/16/kushner-trump-deng-murdoch-china-spy/Frontline.Org. (2015, Jan 13). Putin's Way. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/putins-way/Frontline.Org. (2017, Oct 25). Putin's Revenge. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/putins-revenge/Gibson, J., Claassen, C., & Barcelo, J. (2019, Jan). Deplorables: Emotions, Political Sophistication, and Political Intolerance. American Politics Research, 1-21.Gilbert, G. (1945). Nuremberg Diary. In G. Gilbert. Farrar, Straus, 1947.Gottfried, J., Stocking, G., & Grieco, E. (2018). Partisans Remain Sharply Divided in Their Attitudes About the News Media. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from https://www.journalism.org/2018/09/25/partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-their-attitudes-about-the-news-media/Gruenwald, J. (2011, Jun  . The Atlantic. Retrieved from The Fairness Doctrine Is Dead: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/06/the-fairness-doctrine-is-dead/240147/Hemmer, N. (2014, Jan 17). The Atlantic. Retrieved from The Conservative War on Liberal Media Has a Long History: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/the-conservative-war-on-liberal-media-has-a-long-history/283149/Hosenball, M., & Bryanski, G. (2012, Mar 9). Reuters. Retrieved from FBI looking at Murdoch operations in Russia: https://www.reuters.com/article/murdoch-russia/fbi-looking-at-murdoch-operations-in-russia-idUSL2E8E7HJN20120309Mahler, J., & Rutenberg, J. (2019, Apr 3). The New York Times. Retrieved from How Rupert Murdoch's Empire of Influance Changed the World: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/03/magazine/rupert-murdoch-fox-news-trump.htmlMayer, J. (2019, Mar 4). The New Yorker. Retrieved from The Making of the Fox News White House: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/03/11/the-making-of-the-fox-news-white-houseNoggle, R. (2018, Aug). www.aeon.co. Retrieved from How to tell the difference between persuasion and manipulation: https://aeon.co/ideas/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-persuasion-and-manipulation?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ios_share_flow_optimization&utm_term=enabledPiacenza, J. (2019, apr 9). Morning Consult. Retrieved from Media Credibility Perceptions Are Down, Due to Republicans: https://morningconsult.com/2019/04/09/media-credibility-perceptions-are-down-thanks-to-republicans/Reuters. (2019, Jun 27). Russia's Putin says liberal values are obsolete: Financial Times. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-putin-europe-values/russias-putin-says-liberal-values-are-obsolete-financial-times-idUSKCN1TS2UFRoth, A. (2019, Jan 25). The Guardian. Retrieved from Ukraine's ex-president Viktor Yanukovych found guilty of treason: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/25/ukraine-ex-president-viktor-yanukovych-found-guilty-of-treason

The Media Diet (part 1) Why do people argue over whose news organization is more reliable? Has it always been that way? Why did early broadcasters try and be as neutral as possible, and why are media sources online deliberately partisan today? Is it helping? It's absolutely critical that democracies have news organizations that present fact based reporting in an easily digestible ways in order to inform and instruct the public so that they may make informed and accurate decisions. Calls of bias and tilted media have been around for a long time, but what tools can be used to determine what is good media vs. bad media?It can be confusing to be online and see multiple sources reporting the same story in various different methods. It can cause people to become upset, angry, frustrated and ultimately it can cause people to simply shut it off. Perhaps this isn't the proper solution. Perhaps what the country needs is to go on a media diet. To shave off a few pounds of partisan fat and go for the nutrition they've been missing out on. This podcast examines a method devised to assist in examining media bias, and the importance of fact based reporting. It also looks at one of the most effective marketing gimmicks in partisan media and how it has an effect of creating brand preference within various viewer's perception of the news organizations they most prefer. We look at the most trusted organizations as well as least insightful. It also discusses a good litmus test for determining what news can be avoided, as well as the messenger effect. Please join us on the media diet and pass this along to that friend or family member, work colleague or acquaintance who you know to be hooked on partisan media.    ReferencesAd Fontes Media. (2018). Meida Bias Chart. Retrieved from Media Bias Chart: Version 4.0: https://www.adfontesmedia.com/Almossawi, A. (2013). An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments. In A. Almossawi. New York, NY: The Experiement Publishing.Bryan, J. (Director). (2018). Active Measures [Motion Picture].Chotiner, I. (2019, Mar 20). The Atlantic. Retrieved from Donna Brazile Explains Why She’s Working for Fox News: https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/donna-brazile-explains-why-she-is-working-for-fox-newsDetrick, H. (2018, Jan 16). Fortune. Retrieved from What You Need to Know About Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Wendi Deng Murdoch, and Chinese Spying: https://fortune.com/2018/01/16/kushner-trump-deng-murdoch-china-spy/Frontline.Org. (2015, Jan 13). Putin's Way. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/putins-way/Frontline.Org. (2017, Oct 25). Putin's Revenge. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/putins-revenge/Gibson, J., Claassen, C., & Barcelo, J. (2019, Jan). Deplorables: Emotions, Political Sophistication, and Political Intolerance. American Politics Research, 1-21.Gilbert, G. (1945). Nuremberg Diary. In G. Gilbert. Farrar, Straus, 1947.Gottfried, J., Stocking, G., & Grieco, E. (2018). Partisans Remain Sharply Divided in Their Attitudes About the News Media. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from https://www.journalism.org/2018/09/25/partisans-remain-sharply-divided-in-their-attitudes-about-the-news-media/Gruenwald, J. (2011, Jun 8). The Atlantic. Retrieved from The Fairness Doctrine Is Dead: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/06/the-fairness-doctrine-is-dead/240147/Hemmer, N. (2014, Jan 17). The Atlantic. Retrieved from The Conservative War on Liberal Media Has a Long History: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/the-conservative-war-on-liberal-media-has-a-long-history/283149/Hosenball, M., & Bryanski, G. (2012, Mar 9). Reuters. Retrieved from FBI looking at Murdoch operations in Russia: https://www.reuters.com/article/murdoch-russia/fbi-looking-at-murdoch-operations-in-russia-idUSL2E8E7HJN20120309Mahler, J., & Rutenberg, J. (2019, Apr 3). The New York Times. Retrieved from How Rupert Murdoch's Empire of Influance Changed the World: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/03/magazine/rupert-murdoch-fox-news-trump.htmlMayer, J. (2019, Mar 4). The New Yorker. Retrieved from The Making of the Fox News White House: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/03/11/the-making-of-the-fox-news-white-houseNoggle, R. (2018, Aug). www.aeon.co. Retrieved from How to tell the difference between persuasion and manipulation: https://aeon.co/ideas/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-persuasion-and-manipulation?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ios_share_flow_optimization&utm_term=enabledPiacenza, J. (2019, apr 9). Morning Consult. Retrieved from Media Credibility Perceptions Are Down, Due to Republicans: https://morningconsult.com/2019/04/09/media-credibility-perceptions-are-down-thanks-to-republicans/Reuters. (2019, Jun 27). Russia's Putin says liberal values are obsolete: Financial Times. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-putin-europe-values/russias-putin-says-liberal-values-are-obsolete-financial-times-idUSKCN1TS2UFRoth, A. (2019, Jan 25). The Guardian. Retrieved from Ukraine's ex-president Viktor Yanukovych found guilty of treason: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/25/ukraine-ex-president-viktor-yanukovych-found-guilty-of-treason  

Between 1950 and 1980, the American working and middle class saw the single greatest rise in growth, prosperity, and strength that the world had ever seen. If you were born in this time frame, it was almost a guarantee that your quality of life would be better than the lives of your parents, especially economically speaking.But since 1980, that trend has been in reverse. For the first time in history, the vast majority of working and middle class households needed to be dual income to survive. Big businesses and the 1% grew continuously more politically influential, while everyone else quickly became left behind by the policies of politicians on both sides of the aisle.In 2008, the financial crisis dealt a crushing blow to working and middle class communities across America. Problems like wages not commensurate with rising student debt and cost of living has a new generation struggling like few before had to. In the 1960’s and 70’s, the idea of someone with a bachelor’s degree, or even Master’s degree, having to work 2-3 jobs just to make ends meet was unheard of. Today, it’s the norm. We have now gone from the 2 income household to the 2 income individual to survive. And with political corruption not showing any signs of slowing down, Americans are barreling towards a cliff they may never recover from.In this episode, Josh and Jon discuss how this happened in the first place, who’s affected, how, and why. And answer the ultimate question: can we turn this dangerous economic vehicle around in time? Or is the looming plunge off the economic cliff inevitable? ReferencesArndt, C. (2016, Nov 23). Infrastructure Spending Trends. American Forum. Retrieved from https://www.americanactionforum.org/research/infrastructure-spending-trends/Autor, D., Manning, A., & Smith, C. L. (2016). The Contribution of the Minimum Wage to US Wage Inequality over Three Decades: A Reassessment†. American Economic Journal, 8(1), 58-99.Bradford Tax Institute. (2019, Jan). History of Federal Income Tax Rates: 1913 – 2019. Retrieved from https://bradfordtaxinstitute.com/Free_Resources/Federal-Income-Tax-Rates.aspxCard, D. (2009, Jan). IMMIGRATION AND INEQUALITY. NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES(NBER Working Paper No. 14683).Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (2018, Dec 11). A Guide to Statistics on Historical Trends in Income Inequality. Retrieved from https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/a-guide-to-statistics-on-historical-trends-in-income-inequalityChang, A. (2018, Apr 16). 100 years of tax brackets, in one chart. Retrieved from Vox: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/4/16/17215874/tax-brackets-100-years-chartFederal Reserve History. (1994, Sep). Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994. Retrieved from https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/riegle_neal_act_of_1994Gallup. (2019, Apr). Taxes. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/1714/taxes.aspxOECD Data. (2015). Income Innequality. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved from https://data.oecd.org/inequality/income-inequality.htmSaez, E., & Zucman, G. (2014, Oct). WEALTH INEQUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1913:EVIDENCE FROM CAPITALIZED INCOME TAX DATA. NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES. Retrieved from https://www.nber.org/papers/w20625.pdfTax Policy Center. (2018, Nov). Historical Income Distribution for All Households. Retrieved from https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/statistics/historical-income-distribution-all-householdsThe Economist. (2014, Nov 6). Forget the 1%. Retrieved from www.econmist.com: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2014/11/06/forget-the-1The Washington Post. (2019, Feb 22). YouTube. Retrieved from Do the Waltons earn more in a minute than Walmart workers do in a year?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evTQLvTMSPcWestern, B., & Rosenfeld, J. (2011). Unions, Norms, and the Rise in U.S. Wage Inequality. American Sociological Review, 76(513).Yglesias, M. (2015, May 12). Vox. Retrieved from Everything you need to know about income inequality: https://www.vox.com/2014/5/7/18076944/income-inequality

For millions of Americans the idea of belonging to a church or congregation is declining. We find this interesting. Fewer and fewer people are attending church or are claiming to be religious, and many seem to be seeking community elsewhere. This podcast reviews the Evangelical sect of Christianity and looks at the decline in church attendance, church closures and the beliefs that have fallen outside the mainstream. The number of people who claim to not be religious may very well topple the number of people who adhere to one religion or another within our lifetimes. The divide within these groups is easily studied from examinations of political background, generational classification, and within one's own self-identification. In this podcast we will look at the numbers and discuss the theories as to why it's declining, and why it's declining at such an accelerated pace. ReferencesBrauer, S. (2017). How Many Congregations Are There? Updating a Survey-Based Estimate. JOURNAL for the SCIENTIFIC STUDY of RELIGION, 56(2), 438-448.Cox, D., & Jones, R. (2017). America’s Changing Religious Identity. Washington D.C. : Public Religious Reseach Institute.Green, E. (2017, Mar 10). White Evangelicals Believe They Face More Discrimination Than Muslims. Retrieved from The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/03/perceptions-discrimination-muslims-christians/519135/Pew Reseach Center. (2012, Oct 9). Pew Reseach Center. Retrieved from “Nones” on the Rise: https://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/Pew Research Center. (2015). Religion and Science; Highly religious Americans are less likely than others to see conflict between faith and science. Washington D.C. : Pew Research Center Science & Society. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/10/22/science-and-religion/