Pod'ems UP!

Episode 101 – Insurrection, Guns, Privacy This week I briefly hit on the big topics of the last few weeks: Jan 6 Hearings, Gun Culture and What it really means to have Roe overturned. I open with America's latest infatuation with all things point to the POTUS. Since when? The beer this week is Rockford Brewing Something Hoppy. A crisp IPA. Drink up, listen up and Pod'ems UP!

Reunion Show, 100!!! Fred and Knobs return to the One Shot Studios to kick around world events for E100. We discuss everything from Amber to Ukraine. Good laughs and perhaps a few salient points along the way. Drink up, listen up and Pod'ems UP!

Episode 99 – War and Gas / Wordle Mania This week I offer my dour prognostication of the War in Ukraine. It's not filled with optimism. I hope I'm wrong. Plenty of blame going around for high gas prices. Let's put that blame where it belongs – and it's not Biden. My take on the mania sweeping the world. Keep playing, stop the sharing. Drink up, listen up and Pod'ems UP!

Episode 98 – Rogan V Palin Lefty joins me as we discuss the cross section of the social media content accountability and the accountability of MSM News. He provides the beer; Griffin Claw Soupy C, and it hits the bullseye. Drink up, listen up and Pod'ems UP!

Episode 97 – The Gaslighting of Jan 6 The band gets back together (unapologetic cliché). Fred and Knob join me as we discuss what the rightwing nutjobs are doing to change the narrative of what took place on Jan 6, 2021. Will there ever be true accountability for those that planted the seeds of insurrection? Beer this week was a Kickstand Brewing Birch Bark Porter. Tasted way better than the name. Drink up, listen up and Pod'ems UP!

This week I revisit the three gun violence events that have scarred America in recent weeks. Rittenhouse, Arbery and Oxford High. I also look at monthly observances around the globe. Some good causes, some silly ones. Beer this week was a home brew from a customer. I suggest you find, or brew, your own. Drink up, listen up and Pod'ems UP!

This week I speak of the deplorables of Texas and also one from Kentucky. Surface Barr, Durham and the AZ audits as a reminder of just how wrong republicans have been. Then disperse a few nuggets of wisdom for those do-it-yourself projects. Beer this week was a seasonal Arbor Brewing Dark Amber. Terrific brew! Drink up, listen up and Pod'ems UP!

This week I speak of Gwen Berry her Athletic Activism, and how it just melts the rightwing snowflakes. The B.S. that is the GOP party platform. Hint: They don't have one. And the continued uncovering of the corruption that was Trump and Barr's DOJ. Has social media been good for celebrating birthdays – really? Beer this week was a seasonal release, Blackrocks Honey Lav, which I found to be delightful! Drink up, listen up and Pod'ems UP!

This week, we run the trifecta of: Jan 6th Commission, Infrastructure, and Critical Race Theory. A few personal updates and finally wrap up with my non-confrontational Bill Barr confrontation. What would you do if you ran into a top trumpster in a public place? Beer was the Atwater Whango – good stuff!! Drink up, listen up and Pod'ems UP!

This week, with special guest, Semi-Colon, we hit 3 majors: Cheney not playing nice in the party; Trumps Facebook ban continues; and the silliness, and danger of the AZ 2020 election audit. Then SC opens my mind to the brutal world of the chicken sandwich wars. The beer this week is Short’s Brewing Big Bird Blood. A nice fruity summer beer, that’s almost there. Drink up, listen up and Pod’ems UP!

This week I link together the common thread of 3 very different police incidents that are all actively in the news. What the policing tactics all had in common and how they must change. The beer this week is Keweenaw Brewing, Pick Axe. Not quite for me but you should try. I finish with some classic rock trivia fun. Drink up, listen up and Pod’ems UP!

This week I discuss the tragedy at Boulder Co and the tragedy of our gun control efforts. Disingenuous arguments throughout the political theater. It is time to politicize. Biden’s immigration policies are not that much different than trumps. Sidney Powell is now lying to untwist the lies she already told in the courts. I share my live music story and the guilt of going to see a show – or not. Beer this week was Odd Side Paddy’s Red. Right in my wheelhouse. Loved it! Drink up, listen up and Pod’ems UP!

This week I discuss the Republicans unwillingness to compromise on the Covid Relief Spending package. Even when it’s their ideas they won’t vote for it. Is Biden doing the right things at the border? Trump is at war with the RNC – Grab some popcorn! Republicans know they cannot win elections unless they reduce participation. Some scary times are unfolding in right-wing controlled state capitals. Do the MAGAts really care that much about the Royal family??? Seriously? Finally, what is the new normal, should we go back to the old normal? Beer this week was Short’s Brew Space Rock. Maybe not my fav but I wouldn’t let it go to waste either. Drink up, listen up and Pod’ems UP!

This week we dive uninvited into CPAC, virtually speaking. Will Trumpism out last Trump. Covid relief is coming, keep holding on America. Is Biden bombing? What about Bidens cabinet nominations – let’s get going and can we stop with the blatant hypocrisy already. Trumps tax woes are just heating up. I’m in Houston for the show so I picked up some local flavor. Buffalo Bayou Brewing 1836 Copper Ale. Little did I realize that Texas Independence Day is March 2, The day I recorded – how bout that pard’ner!

This week is impeachment recap and the predictable outcome of the non-conviction. We won’t call it an acquittal because he’s still impeached. Big Texas sized lies about why the lights went out in Houston. Beer this week is Beard’s Brimley Stout. Finish with personal connection to the mess happening in Texas as Peanut moves to help the Snow Monkeys there. Drink up, listen up and Pod’ems UP!

Going it alone, Blotto recaps the impeachment trial day 1&2. How is this not beyond impeachment and just downright criminal! He also takes a closer look at what the Trumpsters are saying about the evidence or how they are ignoring it altogether. Beer this week was The Mitten Peanuts and Crackerjacks (w/o the prize). I also tell you about my first entre in legal sports betting in Michigan. Drink up, listen up and Pod’ems UP!

Trump is officially out of the White House and President Biden has been sworn in. We talk about how we celebrated the inauguration. Politics is boring again. Trump is impeached for the 2nd time. Should the Senate convict this time? After a short break to discuss beer #2 we discuss the Pod’ems UP day at the range. Did Knobs manage to convert the rest of the cast? Find out!

We very quickly established a recurring theme involving the number “84” this week. Semicolon returns to help us discuss the events of the last few days. It starts with both Democrats winning the Georgia Senate runoff late Tuesday night. Midday Wednesday Trump gives a speech to his cult saying they are going to walk down to the capitol and show their strength. Shortly after that the horde storms the capitol building and forces their way in. How was something that has been talked about for so long been allowed to happen? Trump, many hours later, condemns the riot but still says “I love you”. Trump makes one final speech where he finally commits to a peaceful transfer of power. Then gets banned for just about every major social media platform including Twitter. What a wild ride. All within the first week of 2021.

A lot to cover this week as Trump starts to pardon everyone who helped him break the laws of the country. Should the president’s pardon power be restricted? The House and Senate both agree to a new COVID stimulus package however it only includes $600 per person and a lot of pork. Trump, of left field, wants $2000 per person. Is he finally trying to help the American people or just putting the Republicans between a rock and a hard place? Knobs talks about going to the range and shooting clay pigeons. Is that a part of the 2nd Amendment?

Today Trump gave his “most important speech ever”. Was it a concession speech or did he claim voter fraud. I’ll let you guess. The cult of Trump is being conned into donating money to his legal team despite almost every court ruling against the Trump campaign. New reports are coming out that the Trump administration is selling pardons.The gang gives a review of Ford v Ferrari and Lee Iacocca.

Note: Due to some technical difficulties this episode was delayed by a few days. Biden has been named president elect but Trump refuses to concede the election. The Trump campaign keeps filing lawsuits claiming voter fraud without actual evidence. Parler is the new safe space for conservative snowflakes. How long will it last? How many members are undercover FBI?

Here we are just 1 day after the election. Trump had a commanding lead late Tuesday night but now the mail in ballots are being tallied and Biden is gaining ground. Will there be enough votes to count? The Trump campaign has managed to dig deep and find a lot of extra votes.Does Trump leave room for a future authoritarian president in the future?

The election is just days away at time of recording. Biden is looking good in the polls but Trump is not out of the running and has teams of lawyers trying to throw away ballots. Trump’s list of accomplishments includes defeating COVID. Halloween during COVID. Can it happen safely? Everyone please go vote. If you are not registered check your state’s website to find out how you can vote.

This week we get a bit long winded and skip the culture piece. Over 500 children at the border cannot have their parents located. At the time of recording the final presidential debate is only 24 hours away. Is Biden or Trump a bigger threat to gun control? Hunter Biden sends his laptop across the country to be repaired. Finally, we talk about Trump endorsing Biden.

This episode we pay respects to the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Eddie Van Halen. The passing of RBG gives Trump his THIRD Supreme Court nomination. The "presidential" debate between Biden and Trump was a cluster. Will Harris/Pence be any better? After a short break we talk about something that seems uniquely Michigan. Traveling across the state to witness the changing of the leaves and getting donuts at a cider mill.

Trump asks voters to attempt voter fraud. Another day. Another illegal act. Meanwhile, Pelosi gets a haircut. Oh the humanity. After a short break for another beer we discuss something that all Michiganders are familiar with. Dodging all the deer on the roads.

This week we discuss the DNC and RNC conventions. One talks about hope. Another instills fear. More scandals than we can shake a stick at. Finally, are flights of beers or just a single pint a better way to enjoy beer? Not that there is a wrong way.

We are back! We took a quick break for the holiday and nice weather but we restocked our beer supply and went back to the studios. COVID continues to hit some states very hard. And there is a political theme behind most of them. Trump and Devos want students to go back to school in a few weeks. Is there a win win solution? We also talk about cancel culture. Has it done any good? Has it gone too far? Not far enough?

At the time of recording it is Juneteenth so we take a few moments to recognize the event. Confederate statues are being brought down all around the US. The right uses mental gymnastics to find reasons to keep them up. Fox News admits Tucker Carlson should not be taken as serious news. John Bolton's book gets released and comes with a plethora of insider info. However, it is too little too late. In better news, Bob Dylan has released a new album. We are joined by Dill to go over the new album.

This week we are joined by a special guest that lives in Minnesota. He speaks about his experiences with the local police and the ongoing protests. Is Defund The Police the proper term to use or does it get misused by the right? Minnesota City Council has voted to disband their police. Bolton’s book has finally been printed and shipped out! Trump plans a MAGA rally in Tulsa Oklahoma, site of the Tulsa Race Massacre, on Juneteenth. UPDATE: Between recording and release of the episode the rally was moved to the 20th. After another beer we discuss how to deal with family, friends, and politics. Have you had to unfriend someone you’ve known for a long time?

Protests continue across the country this week. Trump sends armed forces to disperse a peaceful crowd to get an awkward photo with a bible. Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis has come out to speak against Trump’s statements to send troops to quell protests. Is it too little too late? Michigan restaurants are opening up in a few days. Is it safe to dine in or will people err on the side of caution? Take a listen to hear our thoughts on Stroh’s Classic and Rochester Mills Mango Kiss

This week we take a moment to mark the 100,000th COVID death. A very sad milestone in the country’s history. Protests are erupting all over the country after the murder of George Floyd. New polls came out regarding who would be Biden’s best pick. And finally, is it better to own a pool or know someone who owns a pool?

Today we are joined by Doobie who is a long time friend of Fred and Blotto’s. Michigan’s stay at home order gets extended but also certain parts are opening up for the holiday weekend. Will this cause an increase in COVID cases? Will people still abide by the order? Former mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick, was released from prison early. Did he serve a long enough term? After a short break we talk about having to go back to work. Is it too soon and will this allow people to work from home in the future?

We are joined by Leon this week who is a long time friend of the show and a lawyer specializing in real estate law and probate. Trump accuses Obama of criminal charges… but he cannot name what they are. After a quick break we talk about wearing masks in public.Is it bringing us together against a common enemy or driving us apart? Our beers this week are from Bell’s and Griffin Claw.

Welcome back! This week the DoJ dropped their case against Michael Flyn… who already pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Can he still be sentenced? Has the quarantine made you afraid of stepping on the scale? During our second beer we talk about how the quarantine is impacting our belt size. Beers come from Saugatuck Brewing and New Holland Brewing.

Day 67495 of quarantine. Lefty joins us again this week while we discuss the allegations against Biden. Protesters continue to march in Lansing this week. Are they worth talking about and how much are they contributing to spreading COVID? We also discuss how we are socializing while remaining distant. What is your favorite method? Zoom, Discord, Skype, something else? Sadly, the beer choices did not sit well this week. Listen in for our thoughts on beers from North Peake and Perrin Brewing.

We are back with ANOTHER interview! This time Barbara McQuade, Former US Attorney and U of M Law Professor, to discuss the current stay at home orders in Michigan, the legal aspects of it, and the latest report on the Russian election interference. This week we sample Old Nation Electron Brown.

This week we are joined by special guest Michael Radtke. Michael is a City Councilman from Sterling Heights MI. We sit down with him to talk about how he got in to local politics, voting by mail, and his thoughts on the recent protests.

Michigan is in the news this week for some unfortunate reasons. A protest this week was held in Lansing this week to protest the Stay At Home order extension. Was this actually a protest against government restrictions or simply a Trump rally? Bernie and Warren now endorse Joe Biden for president. Who should Biden pick for his VP? As we continue with the quarantine more and more entertainers are trying to perform at home. Saturday Night Live and others are trying to still continue but others are being put on hiatus. Our beer this week is from Vivant Brewery in Grand Rapids.

Happy Easter, everyone! This week we are joined by guest Bigwave again. Big news of the week is Bernie Sanders suspending his campaign. Will he officially endorse Biden and what can Biden do to gain support from the Bernie Bros? We also talk about how we are going to celebrate Easter while under the Stay At Home order and how to best support local businesses. Beer this week is from Short's Brewery.

It is National Beer Day! One of our favorite holidays here at Pod'ems Up! In this minisode we sit down, enjoy a random beer, talk about what National Beer Day is, and then list our top 5 favorite beers we have had on the show.

Quarantine day 12. Beer supplies are running low but we carry on. The White House does not seem to know what they are doing when it comes to COVID. A few governor’s are stepping up but are they being undermined by the federal government? For the most part, people and companies are adhering to the quarantine. But will we make changes to prevent this from happening in the future? Just when you think 2020 could not be any stranger along comes Tiger King. We discuss the absurdity of the documentary and the perfect timing of its release. Our beer of the week was Mule Beer from Short’s Brewing

Pod’ems UP is sheltering and podcasting in place this week. We each recorded from our own locations this week which created a unique challenge to coordinate beers for the week. The Senate and House both voted on a stimulus package. Does it go far enough? After opening a second beer we each talk about how the quarantine has impacted our day to day activities.

Everything is being shut down due to the Coronavirus but Pod’ems UP is alive and well. We break quarantine to bring you another episode this week. First half of the show we discuss how COVID-19 is impacting daily lives. Concerts are being canceled and TP is a hot commodity. How do we know when the curve has been flattened and when we can return to normalcy? During beer 2 we discuss working from home and the pros and cons. Will it become more common now? We return to North Peak Brewing and Old Nation to sample some new beers this week.

Welcome to episode 58. First time in about a month that the 3 of us have been in the studio together. Super Tuesday is behind us and not without some surprises. The Joe-mentum is real. Does Bernie have a chance still? Can the Democratic party unify behind either candidate? What does it take to be a regular at a bar? We figure out what it takes to be a regular and why makes for a good regular. Speaking of beer we try some beer from North Peak Brewing and Griffin Claw.

Fred and Blotto are joined by Lefty and Bird this week. South Carolina primary results are flowing in and Biden has a commanding lead. Does this spell trouble for the Bernie Bros? Super Tuesday is just around the corner. Coronavirus has spread to the US. But don’t worry. According to Trump the warm April weather will end the threat. Also, the crew discusses what it is like to run a small business today and how universal healthcare could help create new small businesses. Beers are from Tapistry Brewing and Bells Brewery.

Blotto is away this weekend so Fred and Knobs recruit a an eclectic bunch of guests to return to the show for a round table discussion. First we debate who won the Nevada Democratic debate. Who won and who lost? Who do we think is the best candidate to beat Trump? Roger Stone is sentenced to 40 months in prison. How many days will he serve before pardoned? Beer this week is from The Workshop in downtown Traverse City.

Billy Barr is in the news this week. The prosecuting attorneys on the Roger Stone case all quit after Barr disagrees with their suggested sentence for Stone. Barr and associates seem to only know how to get things done the illegal way. How long will people put up with supporting a wanna be dictator? Will Bloomberg select Hillary as his VP and is that a good thing? Fred and Blotto BOTH had experiences with karaoke. What is dead may never die. Fred brought us beer from Midland Brewing Company and Dark Horse Brewing.

Fred is on vacation this week so we are joined by returning guest Lefty. The impeachment trial comes to an end this week when Trump was acquitted by the Senate. No one is surprised by this. Trump’s new wall falls over with a slight breeze. Trump fires Gordon Sondland and Lt. Col. Vindman as acts of retaliation. The Iowa Caucus was on Monday. Final results should be any day now… Beers of the week come from Big Lake Brewing and Shorts Brewery.

Another big week of impeachment news. Both sides have stated their cases. Republicans decided they wanted to skip witnesses and go right to closing arguments. Segments from Bolton’s book get leaked. Too little too soon? Knobs finds out there is an important football game this weekend. We discuss snack and party traditions for the big game. We do all of this over beers from Eastern Market Brewing and Atwater Brewery

This week we are honored to have Michigan State Rep Bill Sowerby in the studios with us. Bill represents District 31 which includes portions of Clinton Twp, Fraser, and Mt. Clemens. We ask the hard hitting questions including education, environment, when the damn roads are going to be fixed, his thoughts on legalized marijuana, the upcoming 2020 election and if he supports the ongoing impeachment. We talk about all this over a glass of Tapistry Brewing's Heart Full of Napalm.