The Over There Podcast

This week Terry and Matt discuss why firing the VA Secretary is bad news for Veterans, and why firing the National Security Advisor is a very bad sign.  But don’t worry.  The ship of state lumbers on.  So Congress is still our focus for change. http://prospect.org/article/shulkin-out-theres-little-stop-va-privatization http://www.newsweek.com/trump-white-house-doctor-physician-who-ronny-jackson-778734 https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2018/02/07/congress-reaches-budget-deal-with-huge-defense-boost/

Another month, another mass shooting in America–once again with the military-grade AR-15.  But how does the US military treat firearms?  And is there really such a thing as an “assault rife?”  Spoiler alert: there is. This week Terry and Matt discuss guns in the military, the military industrial complex, and how to figure out who … Continue reading Guns, Guns, Guns!

What just happened?  Seriously.  Tell us because we can’t keep up. This week, we discuss the origins of civil defense warnings, how to make generals pick the option you want, and why the fundamentals of government are more important than tweets. http://www.civildefensemuseum.com/sirens.html https://www.avclub.com/the-day-after-traumatized-a-generation-with-the-horrors-1798447330  

Do we have things to worry about in 2018?  We sure do, but maybe not the things you think.  So what should we be concerned about?  And how can we have an impact?  Plus it’s a new year and a new Prudent or Paranoid! https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/08/569394885/pentagon-announces-first-ever-audit-of-the-department-of-defense http://www.newsweek.com/us-israel-saudi-arabia-leading-world-war-iran-france-says-770728 https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/US-funding-cuts-for-UN-provide-opening-for-China-Russia https://news.usni.org/2018/01/03/report-congress-defense-spending-continuing-resolution    

The Administration is getting ready to publishing the US National Security Strategy. And it looks not crazy! So we have that going for us. But the US military budget is still enormous and who knows what’s in there? The only way to find out is to demand accountability from your Congressional representatives. http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2017/12/allies-are-key-says-trumps-national-security-strategy/144508/ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/pentagon-trump-audit-first-time/526932/

The President retweeting racist videos, and North Korea becoming a nuclear power–those two things just happened. But you know what? It’s fine. Let’s keep our focus on where it belongs–getting our candidates into office. https://www.pressreader.com/thailand/the-nation/20171203/281728384843751 http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-vietnam-war/watch/ http://www.africom.mil/media-room/articles

This week we discuss whether or not the US military would follow an order to end the world.  We also mull over the best way to apply your time and energy for political change.  Plus Prudent or Paranoid! https://theintercept.com/2017/11/21/u-s-generals-might-stop-trump-from-an-illegal-nuclear-strike-but-who-will-save-us-from-a-legal-one/  

Just who are these admirals, anyway? And what are all the military people grinning about? In Part 2 of Matt’s discussion with John Roderick, they talk about their experiences in Africa, hobnobbing with military brass, and why every problem seems to have a military solution.

The Over There Podcast returns with a two-Part discussion with famous podcaster, John Roderick.  Matt and John discuss their time in Niger, the way the United States plans and executes wars, and why we keep making the same mistakes. Check back next week for Part 2!

Haven’t you always wanted to know about the defense Budget?  Sure, we all have.  Plus how Congress is a bigger threat to the military than any enemy.  And six ways to persuade. https://www.amazon.com/Influence-Psychology-Persuasion-Robert-Cialdini/dp/006124189X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1489553781&sr=1-1&keywords=influence+the+psychology+of+persuasion https://youarenotsosmart.com/ http://www.defensenews.com/articles/us-house-passes-2017-defense-appropriations-to-uncertain-prospects-in-senate