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Sixteen years ago, CNBC commentator Rick Santelli stood on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and delivered an impassioned rant against federal plans to bail out struggling homeowners. “Do we really want to subsidize the losers' mortgages?” he shouted, calling for a “Chicago Tea Party” to protest government intervention.That moment became the rallying cry for a movement that would reshape conservative politics, define opposition to the Obama presidency, and eventually evolve into the MAGA movement that has since won the White House twice.Lately, the Tea Party has been on my mind because of the way political movements are often dismissed by their opponents. In liberal circles, one word was frequently used to wave off the Tea Party: astroturf.“This isn't a grassroots movement,” critics insisted. “It's funded by billionaires to look like a populist uprising.” After all, it started on CNBC—hardly a blue-collar favorite.But that's not the whole story. And now, in 2024, astroturfing accusations are being hurled in the opposite direction.Last week, Republican Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia faced a hostile crowd at a town hall in Roswell. The moment (captured in a widely circulated video) showed Democrats in his district voicing their frustration, pushing back forcefully against GOP policies.In response, conservatives dismissed the backlash as manufactured outrage, a coordinated effort by the so-called “deep state” to rattle the Republican establishment.Sound familiar?To understand whether today's Democratic anger is real or manufactured, it's worth looking back at how the Tea Party took shape.While Santelli's on-air rant is widely credited with sparking the Tea Party, grassroots opposition to Obama's policies had already begun. Keli Carender, a blogger in Seattle, organized an anti-stimulus protest even before Santelli's speech. Her February 2009 demonstration—dubbed the “Porkulus Protest”—drew about 100 people.But once Santelli's rant went viral, Tea Party protests exploded across the country. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter helped coordinate events, and by April's Tax Day, an estimated quarter-million people took to the streets in organized demonstrations. Conservative media played a crucial role in amplifying the movement. Fox News hosts like Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity championed Tea Party causes, helping grow its ranks. Soon, prominent Republican figures lent their support, though the movement remained largely decentralized.By the summer of 2009, as Obamacare made its way through Congress, Tea Party activists shifted their strategy. Instead of street protests, they flooded town halls, confronting Democratic lawmakers with fiery opposition. Videos of these clashes—angry constituents challenging their representatives—became a defining image of the movement.And electorally, the Tea Party had teeth. While it failed to topple the Republican establishment entirely (Mitt Romney still won the 2012 nomination), it helped flip House seats and push the GOP further to the right.What does the Tea Party teach us about today's Democratic opposition?* It's never too early to be angry. Santelli's rant came barely a month after Obama took office. Right now, Trump's disapproval ratings are rising, but Democrats haven't yet rallied around a singular issue.* Movements can make an impact—especially in the House. The Tea Party didn't need to control the White House to change the political landscape. A handful of flipped seats can shift the balance of power.* Dismissing protests as ‘astroturf' is risky. If the same kind of town hall showdowns seen in McCormick's district begin happening elsewhere, they could turn into a trend.The Tea Party was fueled by a raw, pent-up anger over fiscal conservatism. Many conservatives felt betrayed by their own party—George W. Bush had campaigned on balanced budgets, only to expand deficits through wars and bailouts. Obama's presidency, with its ambitious government programs, only amplified those frustrations.The question for Democrats now is: What's their version of that anger?If it's simply opposition to Trump, that's not enough. Even figures like Elon Musk—despised by many progressives—aren't sustainable political villains. “Musk sent another email” isn't a battle cry that will mobilize voters in the long run.That's why Democratic strategists should be tickled by what just happened in the House. They (impressively) passed a budget that, while avoiding direct mention of Medicaid, includes $880 billion in cuts overseen by the Energy and Commerce Committee—which just happens to control Medicaid.Why the cuts? Because fiscal hawks in the House need a way to offset the Trump tax cuts.For Democrats, that's a classic, politically potent message: Republicans are cutting your Medicaid to give tax cuts to the rich.If they can harness that into a movement—one that gets people angry enough to show up at town halls, knock on doors, and vote—then history might just be repeating itself.Podcast Chapters & Timecodes* 00:00:00 – Introduction* 00:01:58 – The Tea Party's Legacy and Lessons for Democrats* 00:14:55 – Dan Bongino Becomes FBI's Second-in-Command* 00:19:15 – MSNBC's Prime-Time Shake-Up & Network Struggles* 00:22:58 – NYC Mayor Eric Adams' Re-Election Challenges* 00:26:27 – Interview with Brian Sack on Ukraine & DEI Policies* 01:05:28 – Wrap-Up This is a public episode. 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In this hour of Follow The Money, hosts Mitch Moss and Pauly Howard are joined by JP Flaim, 103.1 The Fan, to preview the NFC Championship Game. Also on the show, the hosts are joined by Brian Sack, Vodka Johnny Circa Survivor Entrant, to talk about his Circa Survivor experience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Rebroadcast of the cult classic 1987 Christmas special of “Heaton and Monkey: Crimesolvers,” a groundbreaking police drama. Cast: Andrew Heaton, Andrew Young, Josh Jennings, Brian Sack, Jack Helmuth, Justin Robert Young, Anna Gorisch, Hilary Mann, Austin Bragg, Brett Weaver, and Brian Brushwood. Previous Specials: A Rugged Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-rugged-snuffys-christmas/id1439837349?i=100063936198 Snuffy's Explosion-Proof Christmas - https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/snuffys-explosion-proof-christmas A Rather Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-political-orphanage/id1439837349?i=1000545755269 A Grander Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-grander-snuffys-christmas/id1439837349?i=1000503286243 Another Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/another-snuffys-christmas/id1439837349?i=1000460559897 A Very Snuffy's Christmas - https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/ep-30-a-very-snuffys-christmas-0
A Broadway musical by Questionable Material. Keep It Hush, Joe's Revenge, Don't Vote for That Guy, Election Night, Kamala's Lament, Pardon Me For Life, Remember Me. Original lyrics by Brian Sack. qmpodcast.com
Matthew Raskin is the US head of rates research at Deutsche Bank and was formerly a senior staff member of the Federal Reserve System. Matthew joins David on Macro Musings to talk about interest rates, QE, QT, and the Federal Reserve's balance sheet. David and Matthew also discuss the inside story behind the Fed's shift in operating system, Matthew's framework for long-term interest rates, how to improve the liquidity and stability of the Treasury market, and a lot more. Transcript for this week's episode. Matthew's LinkedIn profile David Beckworth's Twitter: @DavidBeckworth Follow us on Twitter: @Macro_Musings Join the Macro Musings mailing list! Check out our new Macro Musings merch! Related Links: *The Financial Market Effects of the Federal Reserve's Large-Scale Asset Purchases* by Joseph Gagnon, Matthew Raskin, Julie Remache, and Brian Sack
Brian: Principal at TLV Partners focusing on enterprise software and cybersecurity, joined when the fund first started in 2015 Previously worked at Square Peg Capital also in Israel Born in South Africa and worked in Australia for Grant Thornton before moving to Israel for Square Peg In this episode Brian and I discuss the Israeli cybersecurity startup ecosystem. Given the number of founders I interview from Israel, I thought it would be valuable for the audience and myself to dive deeper. We discuss everything from the importance of Hebrew to the revolving door between government and the commercial sector. https://www.tlv.partners/
Brian Sack was recently the Director of Global Economics at the D.E. Shaw Group, and prior to that, he was the manager of the System Open Market Account or SOMA and the head of the Markets Group at the New York Federal Reserve bank, where he managed the Fed's balance sheet. Brian joins Macro Musings to talk about the central bank's balance sheet, its operating system, and his work at the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee. Specifically, David and Brian discuss the current state of the Fed's balance sheet, Brian's theory of QE, how to improve the effectiveness of the floor system, and a lot more. Transcript for the episode can be found here. Brian's LinkedIn profile Brian's Google Scholar archive David Beckworth's Twitter: @DavidBeckworth Follow us on Twitter: @Macro_Musings Click here for the latest Macro Musings episodes sent straight to your inbox! Check out our new Macro Musings merch here! Related Links: *Monetary Policy with Abundant Liquidity: A New Operating Framework for the Federal Reserve* by Joseph Gagnon and Brian Sack *Monetary Policy Alternatives at the Zero Lower Bound: An Empirical Assessment* by Ben Bernanke, Vincent Reinhart, and Brian Sack
Brian Sack is an American comedian who has spent the last year of his life volunteering around the world in disaster areas for a group called World Central Kitchen. Brian has been to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees, all over the US assisting with natural disaster victims, and has spent the past month of his life in Turkey helping to feed the newly homeless after their massive earthquake. Today Brian talks about what life is like on the ground in Turkey and what might become of their upcoming presidential elections. Follow Brian on Instagram at @BodegaBrianFGLost In America is hosted by us AKA Turner Sparks and Michael Ira KaplanThis episode is brought to you by our Patreon subscribers. Shout out to who all joined this week! Our new subscribers are Jean Treaster, Carey Eber, Daniel Granillo, Randy Drexler, Arvind Saxena, Lauren Sparks, I Just Pooped My Pants Dot Com, Mark Cisneros, Deborah Tousie, Caleb McMahon, Mel Cauthen, Jimmy Bean, Whitney Applegate, Clayton Weise, Ken Coleman and Dr. Bill Bommer. Join now for $5 and you will get a private link to our online screening of our "Lost In...El Salvador" TV pilot where we go to El Salvador to see what its like to live in a country where Bitcoin is your currency. Do it here and we'll give you a shout out on next week's pod: https://www.patreon.com/LostInAmericaTurner's new comedy album "Double Happiness" is available now. Get it here: https://orcd.co/turnersparksdoublehappiness digitally and get a signed, personalized physical CD here: https://www.turnersparks.com/buy-my-album.Get Tickets to see Turner on tour here: https://linktr.ee/TurnerSparksWatch and Subscribe To Our Youtube Page: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCymNeMbu9FC5Ty-t4GzdscwThis show is proudly part of the World's Smartest Podcast Network. Go to www.WorldsSmartestPodcastNetwork.com for all of our shows.Our Sponsors:* Check out Gaia Provides and use my code LOST for a great deal: https://www.gaiaprovides.com/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
One of the most influential conservatives PACs has an off-again, on-again relationship with the 45th president. Why are they picking a fight now and does it matter that Trump just beat them twice? Preview of the races in Georgia before Justin leaves to cover it live. Brian Sack left his life and career in America to help fleeing Ukrainians on the Polish border. Why did he do it? What was it like? Has he readjusted since coming back?
Stu Burguiere tears into the insanity of Kyrie Irving being benched over his vaccination status while other players in the league aren't held to the same standard. Is this lunacy the worst the NBA has ever introduced? Quite possibly. Then, comedian and podcast host Brian Sack calls in live from the Poland/Ukraine border where he is working with World Central Kitchen to help refugees crossing the border to escape Putin's invasion. And are we FINALLY looking at an end to our useless daylight saving time clock-changing? We can only hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jack Helmuth and Brian Sack of "Questionable Material" join the show to discuss the week's best, most underserved headlines.
Jack Helmuth and Brian Sack join the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines
Guest: Jack Helmuth - Ep. 65 - (8/6/21) Jack has been a successful TV show writer while working with some great people in the entertainment industry. Today he makes comedy magic with Brian Sack in their "Questionable Material" podcast. Connect... AtTheMicShow.com Host: @KeithMalinak on Twitter Guest: @JackHelmuth on Twitter https://www.qmpodcast.com/ Sponsors: APRCoffee.com (offer code: ATM) and DrMonroesCBD.com (offer code: Keith) Merchandise: AtTheMicShow.com (offer code: FirstTimeBuy)
Stu looks at the reasons why so many professional athletes seem hesitant to get a COVID-19 vaccine. And, comedian and podcast host Brian Sack joins to detail his own incredible story of pulling his kid out of school due to the sinister critical race theory lessons being taught there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Guest: Brian Sack (03/12/21) Guest: Brian Sack - Episode 44 - March 12, 2021 Brian Sack is the co-host of the 'Questionable Material' podcast who has travelled the world over. He tells us about popular music artists he's been connected with, his former ties with PETA and what a particular item in your home says about you. Connect... Show: AtTheMicShow.com Host: Keith Malinak: Twitter Guest: Brian Sack: QMPodcast.com Sponsor: APR Coffee: APRCoffee.com
We knew Andrew Cuomo was a pretty shady dude, but I don't think anyone expected things to get THIS bad. We'll talk about the latest sexual harassment accuser and the report of Cuomo's staff covering up the true nursing home COVID fatality numbers. Then, comedian Brian Sack joins to give us a New Yorker's take on the Cuomo situation, and BlazeTV's Jason Buttrill fills us in on the terrifying government surveillance being revealed in Germany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're gamifying funny headlines! Everyone on the show gets a funny headline, but some are real and some are fake news. Each team hears the headlines, asks probing questions, then guesses which is real and which is fictitious. Host: Andrew Heaton Team Captains: Andrew Young and Jeremey Kareken Guests: Nicholas Sperdute, Brian Sack, Jack Helmuth, Andrea Jones-Rooy
Stu does ... the worst Thanksgiving ever! Thanksgiving is this week and it's pretty clear that it's going to be terrible for everyone, regardless of intention. With that in mind, Stu presents the Stu Does America Plan for the Worst Thanksgiving Ever! Then, comedian and podcaster Brian Sack joins the show to give his take on the COVID-riddled holiday from a northeasterner's perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jack Helmuth and Brian Sack of "Questionable Material" return in neon glory to unpack the week's best headlines, including noctiginarian shootouts, the global importance of Belgian fishing adventures, and soliciting sex workers in graveyards.
Brian Sack and Jack Helmuth of "Questionable Material with Jack and Brian" triumphantly return to the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines including: dinosaur statues, the worst dentist in America, and robot promises to not murder us all!
Last night's presidential debate was ... something, and that something is definitely going to take some analysis. Stu looks at the five absolute worst moments from last night's event. Then, Brian Sack, co-host of the "Questionable Material with Jack and Brian" podcast, stops by to give his take on last night's fireworks, and BlazeTV's resident media critic Rob Eno shows us how the media covered the debate. Responsibly? You wish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jemele Hill, the former ESPN host, is in the news yet again for saying something idiotic. This time it involves Nazis, because when we’re talking about Jemele Hill, it’s always Nazis. Every time. Also, Brian Sack from the “Questionable Material with Jack and Brian” podcast joins to discuss Jerry Seinfeld’s op-ed about New York City, and BlazeTV’s Jeff Fisher swings by to chew the fat over the Jemele Hill story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bill Nelson is a Chief Economist and Executive Vice President at the Bank Policy Institute, and formerly a Deputy Director of the Division of Monetary Affairs at the Federal Reserve Board, where his responsibilities included monetary policy analysis, discount window analysis, and financial institution supervision. Bill also worked closely with the Bank for International Settlements on liquidity regulations. Bill is a previous guest of Macro Musings, and he returns to the podcast to discuss the Fed’s increasing role in credit policy, the prospects for yield curve control and negative interest rates, and why makeup policy would be uniquely suited to the challenges presently facing the economy. Transcript for the episode can be found here: https://www.mercatus.org/bridge/tags/macro-musings Bill’s SIFMA profile: https://www.sifma.org/people/bill-nelson/ Bill’s BPI archive: https://bpi.com/tag/bill-nelson/ Bill’s American Banker archive: https://www.americanbanker.com/author/william-nelson-ab3618 Related Links: *Live Live Jay Powell, the New Monarch of the Bond Market* by Robin Wigglesworth https://www.ft.com/content/5db9d0f1-3742-49f0-a6cd-16c471875b5e *Federal Reserve’s “Strategies for Targeting Interest Rates Out the Yield Curve”* prepared by David Bowman, Christopher Erceg, and Mike Leahy, with contributions from William English, Edward Nelson, David Reifschneider, Nathan Sheets, and David Wilcox of Board staff and Brian Sack, Spence Hilton, Allan Malz, Frank Keane, Matt Raskin, Julie Remache, Josh Frost, Nate Wuerffel, Angela O’Connor and Richard Dzina of FRBNY staff https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/files/FOMC20101013memo08.pdf David’s blog: macromarketmusings.blogspot.com David’s Twitter: @DavidBeckworth
We're gamifying funny headlines! Everyone on the show gets a funny headline, but some are real and some are fake news. Each team hears the headlines, asks probing questions, then guesses which is real and which is fictitious. Host: Andrew Heaton Team Captains: Andrew Young and Jeremey Kareken Guests: Nicholas Sperdute, Brian Sack, Jack Helmuth, Andrea Jones-Rooy
Jack Helmuth and Brian Sack of the Questionable Material podcast join Heaton to sort out the week's best and least discussed headlines, from boars on cocaine to English catapult crimes to larceny performed by ambitious children.
Jack Helmuth and Brian Sack of "Questionable Material" join the show to discuss the week's best, most underserved headlines
Jack Helmuth and Brian Sack of "Questionable Material" join the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines
Senator Richard Burr is catching fire (and possible prosecution) about selling $1.7 million of stock days before the market tumbled. How do members of Congress profit from insider information and power, and what can we do to stop them? Brian Sack and Jack Helmuth join Heaton to discuss. Episode 39
In which Heaton speaks with: Tom Snuffhauser, local business owner, about the impact of the Corona Virus on the consumer economy; U.S. Horse Surgeon General Richard Snodgrass, about health precautions you can implement on behalf of your horse; Brian Sack and Jack Helmuth, hosts of the "Questionable Material" podcast, and Josh Jennings, producer emeritus for Something's Off with Andrew Heaton. Apologies on sound quality--technical problems resulting from a live stream show!
Questionable Material is a weekly comedy podcast by Brian Sack and Jack Helmuth. The show covers current events, politics, and poo poo with both improvised and scripted comedy that is witty, irreverent, silly, and sharp.
- Impeachment Hearings Begin: Choose Your Quest...- Deval Patrick is in, Sanford is out- Rudy Has A Podcast?- Economic fear receding?- Andrew Yang bombed his Breakfast Club interview- Interview with Brian Sack- The return of a beloved segment we haven't seen for a while. Involving a Poll.
Neil deGrasse Tyson explores the intersectionality of science and journalism with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Eugene Mirman, reporter Azmat Khan, conflict journalism expert Judith Matloff, Bill Nye, Sarah Rose Siskind, Natalia Reagan, and Brian Sack. Thanks to this week’s Patrons for supporting us: Paul Sikes, Stephanie Judd, Michael McBride, François Fraser, Dan Yoder, John Ward NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons and All-Access subscribers can listen to this entire episode commercial-free. Photo Credit: Brandon Royal
On the very first episode of Questionable Material, Brian Sack and Jack Helmuth introduce themselves. Jack pitches Brian’s incredible marketing skills to potential sponsors. Brian has the major news that you and Jack might have missed during the Trump news cycle. An interview with Joe Biden’s chief gaffe writer.
Comedians Turner Sparks and Brian Sack join Heaton to discuss: The Area 51 Raid The Climate Change Strike Justin Trudeau's makeup choice Donald Trump, Ukraine, and impeachment
Joe Gagnon is a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics where he has been since September 2009. Previously, Joe worked for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors as a senior economist and the associate director of both the Division of International Finance and the Division of Monetary Affairs, and he has also served at the US Treasury Department. Joe is a returning guest to Macro Musings and joins the show today to talk about the growing interest among U.S. politicians in managing the currency to help facilitate trade imbalances. David and Joe also discuss the policy implications of trade imbalances, the new Libra currency, and how to us countervailing currency intervention to combat currency manipulation. Transcript for the episode: https://www.mercatus.org/bridge/podcasts/07152019/currency-manipulation-trade-imbalances-and-libra Joe’s Twitter: @GagnonMacro Joe’s PIIE profile: https://www.piie.com/experts/senior-research-staff/joseph-e-gagnon?author_id=653 Related Links: *Currency Conflict and Trade Policy: A New Strategy for the United States* by Joe Gagnon and Fred Bergsten https://www.piie.com/bookstore/currency-conflict-and-trade-policy-new-strategy-united-states *The Financial Market Effects of the Federal Reserve’s Large-Scale Asset Purchases* by Joe Gagnon, Matthew Raskin, Julie Remache, and Brian Sack https://www.ijcb.org/journal/ijcb11q1a1.htm *A Plan for Economic Patriotism* proposal by Elizabeth Warren https://medium.com/@teamwarren/a-plan-for-economic-patriotism-13b879f4cfc7 *Exchange Arrangements Entering the 21st Century: Which Anchor Will Hold?* by Ethan Ilzetzki, Carmen Reinhart, and Kenneth Rogoff* https://www.nber.org/papers/w23134 *Did France Cause the Great Depression* by Douglas Irwin https://www.nber.org/papers/w16350 David’s blog: macromarketmusings.blogspot.com David’s Twitter: @DavidBeckworth
Comedy writer Brian Sack joins Heaton for a Friday Release Valve episode to sort the world’s better headlines: from the worst use of parking spaces ever, to a great education game about cow tuberculosis, to an effortless but irritating way to get abs.
Poland is part of NATO and an EU member state, but it’s veering towards nationalism and populism and some other unsavory developments. Brian Sack, comedian and Polish expert, joins to discuss.
Today’s TMI started off with an appearance by political humorist author Brian Sack who is releasing his new book "The B.S of A: A Primer in Politics for the Incredibly disenchanted." We learned Americans should be provided more choices of political parties, kind of like cheeseburgers. Imagine a world where there are only two burgers. We want our McDemopublicans With Sleeze for all, please. Actor Gregory Korostishevsky came on the show and dropped Soviet-isms on us such as “In math there is no much to talk” and “There is no work for squeegee in New York.” He talked about teaching math in Newark, NJ where he is not allowed to hit his students. Dan Naturman then told Gregory, who fled the Soviet Union in 1990, that Newark “must be rough.” Finally an appearance was made by comedian Ralphie May and his wife Lahna Turner. Lahna sang genre-bending comedy-erotica folk tunes for us while Ralphie gave a legendary, inspiring motivational speech to Naturman, imploring him to live up to his potential and take over the French and Israeli comedy scenes.
Interview with author Brian Sack, In the Event of My Untimely Demise