Podcasts about Doge

In the past year, tech companies have laid off thousands of employees. But when CEOs blame "AI innovation," they're redirecting attention from something much more predictable: job discrimination and gig-ification. Emily and Alex examine some narratives of AI-streamlined workplaces — and why they don't match up with reality.References:Block press release: "From Hierarchy to Intelligence""Lawsuit claims Meta's layoff decisions were made by AI, not humans"Fresh AI Hell:"OpenAI's latest math breakthroughs commit research misconduct, experts say"Also referenced: Leiden Declaration"AI Assisted Autism Screening"Weird comparison of "AI" emissions to other data center activityPaved paradise and put up a data center"What if you just talked to your children"Palate cleanser: US judge holds DOGE accountable for output they took from ChatGPTPalate cleanser: Data center opposition momentumCheck out future streams on Twitch. Meanwhile, send us any AI Hell you see.Find our book The AI Con here, and MAIHT3k merch here.Subscribe to our newsletter via Buttondown.Follow us!EmilyBluesky: emilymbender.bsky.socialMastodon: dair-community.social/@EmilyMBenderAlexBluesky: alexhanna.bsky.socialMastodon: dair-community.social/@alexTwitter: @alexhannaMusic by Toby Menon.Artwork by Naomi Pleasure-Park. Production by Ozzy Llinas Goodman.

Hour 1 for 09/01/26 Drew and Dr. Mark Warshawsky cover the coming Social Security emergency (1:00). Topics: raising retirement age (10:51), means testing (14:55), solving the issue (16:55), DOGE (17:44), and borrowing from Social Security (20:20). Then, Dr. Ann Cavoukian covers the dangers of Digital ID (27:54). Topics: REAL ID (32:59), 666 (38:13), trucker strike (42:39), TSA (44:56), identity theft (46:46), and 23 & me (48:27). Links: https://itif.org/person/ann-cavoukian-0/ https://www.aei.org/profile/mark-j-warshawsky/

On today's podcast conversation, Charlie Sykes and Matt discuss:— Why Elon Musk's midterm cash is both a Republican windfall and a political liability— Hasan Piker vs. Elon Musk: the huge asymmetry Democrats keep ignoring— How Musk's Wisconsin Supreme Court spend spectacularly backfired— “The richest bigot in the world” — documented racism, antisemitism, and why GOP candidates should have to own it— Tech oligarchs, DOGE, data centers, and the populist backlash to billionaire politics— Milo Yiannopoulos deported: when the MAGA revolution eats its own— Pete Hegseth 2028 rumors, Pentagon purges, Stars and Stripes firings, and wartime secrecy— Trump threatens the FCC over Kristen Welker and “Meet the Press”— Mail-in voting rules, chaos as strategy, and laying the groundwork to reject 2026 results— Washington Post ordered to reinstate columnist Karen Attiah after Charlie Kirk posts — plus the larger problem of celebrating political violence— And MUCH more!Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.Buy Matt's books: FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

Kerry Lutz, Debt, Taxes, Trust, and Technology: From the $40 Trillion Question to Colorado Rail and the AI Future The $40 Trillion Debt and the Dollar's Staying Power The episode opens with economist and Financial Survival Network founder Kerry Lutz discussing the roughly $40 trillion national debt and why a number that large can become psychologically easy to dismiss. Lutz argues that the dollar-based system can continue functioning as long as global markets retain confidence in U.S. currency, liquidity, and the ability to retrieve invested capital. He says the lack of a trusted replacement currency is a major reason the system continues, while increased central-bank gold buying may signal gradual erosion of confidence. He also describes the long-term decline in the dollar's purchasing power and argues that inflation disproportionately burdens middle-class people who own fewer appreciating assets. The hosts press him on when debt and inflation could reach a breaking point, and he offers a rough six-year possibility while emphasizing that such predictions are highly uncertain. Inflation, Government Spending, and Possible Alternatives Lutz rejects political promises of “affordability” as largely superficial and argues that persistent inflation is fundamentally monetary rather than simply the result of temporary shortages. He contrasts short-lived price spikes caused by market disruptions with broad inflation tied to money and government policy. His proposed solution is major reductions in government spending and taxation, while acknowledging that abruptly restructuring debt and public spending could produce a severe economic contraction. The discussion then considers whether China, the European Union, Russia, or another monetary system could eventually replace the U.S. dollar as the dominant reserve currency. Lutz argues that no credible alternative currently exists but says history shows that reserve currencies eventually change, and he cites the end of the gold link and the removal of silver from U.S. coinage as important turning points. Colorado's Proposed Front Range Commuter Rail After Lutz leaves, Chuck and Julie turn to a proposed commuter-rail project running along Colorado's Front Range from Fort Collins toward Pueblo. They strongly oppose the proposed sales tax, criticize the estimated cost and projected ridership, and use RTD as an example of what they see as unsuccessful mass-transit policy. They argue that small tax increases accumulate into a larger burden and connect the rail proposal to Lutz's earlier warning about government spending. The hosts and Jacob also discuss personal experiences using buses between Boulder and Denver, the absence of a sunset provision as they understand it, and their expectation that a large construction project could continue consuming money even if the final transportation service proves unpopular. Their comments are highly opinionated and repeatedly urge listeners to vote against the proposal. Russiagate, Comey, and Institutional Distrust The conversation then shifts to renewed attention on investigations surrounding James Comey and the Russia-related controversies of Donald Trump's first presidency. Julie discusses a federal grand-jury subpoena involving a man the transcript identifies as Daniel Richmond and lays out allegations concerning leaks, Comey memos, The New York Times, congressional testimony, and the origins of a special-counsel investigation. The hosts characterize these events as evidence of a “deep state” effort against Trump and express approval that the Trump administration is continuing to pursue the matter. They also discuss the FBI, Secret Service, Antifa, NGO funding, DOGE, USAID, Open Society, and the Southern Poverty Law Center as part of a broader argument that political and bureaucratic institutions remain deeply politicized. These assertions are presented as the speakers' views and allegations rather than independently established facts. Jury Nullification, COVID, and the Breakdown of Trust Julie raises reports of activists receiving jury-nullification training and explains the concept as jurors refusing to convict even when the legal evidence supports conviction. She expresses mixed feelings, seeing jury independence as a possible check on abusive prosecutors while worrying that partisan nullification could undermine the rule of law. Chuck connects the issue to judges who resist higher-court rulings, and both hosts argue that public confidence in government deteriorated dramatically during COVID. They criticize Dr. Fauci and question the independence of medical recommendations influenced by pharmaceutical companies, describing a culture in which patients increasingly feel compelled to research professional advice themselves. The broader theme is that distrust has moved, in their view, from a general suspicion of large government to specific accusations that institutions, judges, prosecutors, and public-health authorities have acted against citizens' interests. AI, Data Centers, Energy, and the Future of Professional Work The final portion examines AI data centers, their energy and water demands, and their growing political importance. Chuck argues that the United States must develop the energy infrastructure necessary to compete in AI or risk surrendering technological leadership to China, while warning against tax-abatement deals that leave local communities carrying costs. Julie discusses claims that some data-center cooling systems recirculate water and therefore may use less new water than critics suggest. The hosts also discuss how AI is changing law, journalism, and newsroom production, with Chuck planning additional training to apply AI to legal and publishing work. A final legal exchange with Jacob covers federal judicial structure and why a higher court cannot simply remove a lower-court judge, before the show closes with speculation about space-based computing, nuclear energy, and a joking reference to Skynet from The Terminator. SEO Keywords / Key Phrases national debt crisis, U.S. dollar reserve currency, inflation and purchasing power, Colorado commuter rail tax, Front Range transportation, government spending and taxes, federal grand jury investigation, jury nullification, AI data centers, artificial intelligence energy demand

Steven Herman spent 1990-2006 in Japan, most of those years with Voice of America. He served as South East Asia Bureau Chief as well as North East Asia Bureau Chief for the Korean Peninsula & Japan. Over his 16 years living in Japan he covered the Kobe Earthquake as well as the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake-tsunami-nuclear disaster, which he said was "covering three disasters at the same time.” He also recounts his more recent days as a White House Foreign Correspondent, especially his time as a traveling pool reporter. You'll learn what it's like to fly on Air Force One, why he got banned (twice) from X by Elon Musk, that "Presidential M&M's" are a thing, and his best advice for those wanting to write a book about their experiences in a foreign country. Finally, he gives a concise account of what happened to VOA in the Trump Administration, his role as a whistle-blower, and tells us why DOGE shut them down. Herman retired from VOA in mid 2025 and now teaches journalism. In this latter discussion, he reveals how he blew the biggest scoop ever in his journalism career. Herman is currently the executive director of the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation in the School of Journalism & New Media at the University of Mississippi. Some of Herman's favorite books on Japan are: Notes in Japan, by Alfred Parsons (1896) No Surrender: My 30-year War the autobiography of Noda Hiro (1974, transl. Charles S. Terry) The Warrior's Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa (Princeton Univ. Press, 1991) You can find Steve Herman on social media at: Mastadon, Blue Sky, Threads, Substack, LinkedIn and Instagram The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Steven Herman spent 1990-2006 in Japan, most of those years with Voice of America. He served as South East Asia Bureau Chief as well as North East Asia Bureau Chief for the Korean Peninsula & Japan. Over his 16 years living in Japan he covered the Kobe Earthquake as well as the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake-tsunami-nuclear disaster, which he said was "covering three disasters at the same time.” He also recounts his more recent days as a White House Foreign Correspondent, especially his time as a traveling pool reporter. You'll learn what it's like to fly on Air Force One, why he got banned (twice) from X by Elon Musk, that "Presidential M&M's" are a thing, and his best advice for those wanting to write a book about their experiences in a foreign country. Finally, he gives a concise account of what happened to VOA in the Trump Administration, his role as a whistle-blower, and tells us why DOGE shut them down. Herman retired from VOA in mid 2025 and now teaches journalism. In this latter discussion, he reveals how he blew the biggest scoop ever in his journalism career. Herman is currently the executive director of the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation in the School of Journalism & New Media at the University of Mississippi. Some of Herman's favorite books on Japan are: Notes in Japan, by Alfred Parsons (1896) No Surrender: My 30-year War the autobiography of Noda Hiro (1974, transl. Charles S. Terry) The Warrior's Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa (Princeton Univ. Press, 1991) You can find Steve Herman on social media at: Mastadon, Blue Sky, Threads, Substack, LinkedIn and Instagram The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Steven Herman spent 1990-2006 in Japan, most of those years with Voice of America. He served as South East Asia Bureau Chief as well as North East Asia Bureau Chief for the Korean Peninsula & Japan. Over his 16 years living in Japan he covered the Kobe Earthquake as well as the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake-tsunami-nuclear disaster, which he said was "covering three disasters at the same time.” He also recounts his more recent days as a White House Foreign Correspondent, especially his time as a traveling pool reporter. You'll learn what it's like to fly on Air Force One, why he got banned (twice) from X by Elon Musk, that "Presidential M&M's" are a thing, and his best advice for those wanting to write a book about their experiences in a foreign country. Finally, he gives a concise account of what happened to VOA in the Trump Administration, his role as a whistle-blower, and tells us why DOGE shut them down. Herman retired from VOA in mid 2025 and now teaches journalism. In this latter discussion, he reveals how he blew the biggest scoop ever in his journalism career. Herman is currently the executive director of the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy & Innovation in the School of Journalism & New Media at the University of Mississippi. Some of Herman's favorite books on Japan are: Notes in Japan, by Alfred Parsons (1896) No Surrender: My 30-year War the autobiography of Noda Hiro (1974, transl. Charles S. Terry) The Warrior's Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa (Princeton Univ. Press, 1991) You can find Steve Herman on social media at: Mastadon, Blue Sky, Threads, Substack, LinkedIn and Instagram The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Are court battles and election schemes subverting America's future?

Are foreign powers interfering in US elections and key tech infrastructure?

Are foreign influence campaigns and court battles subverting America's future?

Catch the complete breakdown of today's biggest stories!

The Department of Homeland Security is preparing to welcome Kyle Schutt to its ranks as chief information officer. The news comes after FedScoop reported Wednesday that DHS CIO Antoine McCord was planning his exit. Similar to his predecessor, Schutt has little digital footprint of his own making. He even deleted his LinkedIn profile more than a year ago. Before moving to the federal government, Schutt was CTO at an online fundraising platform and led the development of another, which helped raise $1.8 billion for the Republican Party in the 2024 election cycle, according to ProPublica. On behalf of the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency, Schutt worked at a number of agencies, including the General Services Administration, per NPR reporting. Wired has tied his work at DOGE to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services. At DHS, he was responsible, in part, for the closing of the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, ProPublica reported. Schutt also has been linked to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Technology Modernization Fund may “experiment” with its own artificial intelligence model in the next fiscal year, acting Director Jessie Posilkin said Thursday. TMF's “tiny team” of eight within the General Services Administration is already all-hands-on-deck in managing and supporting the investments and proposals they have, she said. While the team has been using USAi, “there's a ton of playing around we can do,” she said at GovExec's Infrastructure and Modernization Forum in Reston, Va. Posilkin said she “flirted with this idea of … building some sort of model based on all of the TMF proposals that we've ever gotten and what's happened with them. I think, like any other agency team, I see a ton of opportunity for experimentation, and my goal for ‘27 is to get the capacity to start experimenting.” Posilkin also hinted at upcoming announcements: savings and value return numbers for fiscal 2025 and news of four new members of the TMF's board will come in the next month or so, she said. However, she does not know who will replace the board's chief, outgoing federal Chief Information Officer Greg Barbaccia. Also coming soon: the announcement of TMF's new investments at the end of September, she said. Posilkin didn't share details of those projects but said the TMF team has “been really excited both by the investments that the board is making decisions on right now, and what's in our pipeline.” The Daily Scoop Podcast is available every Monday-Friday afternoon. If you want to hear more of the latest from Washington, subscribe to The Daily Scoop Podcast  on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and YouTube.

It's been more than a year since Elon Musk and the DOGE boys fed the United States Agency for International Development – or USAID, into a QUOTE “woodchipper.” And since then, according to reporting from NPR and other outlets, the dismantling of USAID has resulted in the deaths of more than 700,000 people. That's because USAID worked globally to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, end childhood malnutrition, battle infectious diseases and help women have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Dr. Atul Gawande was a USAID administrator under the Biden Administration, leading the Bureau of Global Health. Now he's warning what the gutting of the agency means for the world, and for America.And in headlines, Meta agrees to pay up to $18 billion and add stronger child-safety measures to its platforms as part of a landmark legal settlement, Bill Gates warns about the dangers of artificial intelligence, and U.S. Sen. Darline Grahamwins the Republican nomination to replace her late brother on South Carolina's general election ballot.Show Notes: Check out Atul's piece – tinyurl.com/3yfz8pjn Call Congress – 202-224-3121 Subscribe to the What A Day Newsletter – https://tinyurl.com/y4y2e9jy What A Day – YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@whatadaypodcast Follow us on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/crookedmedia/ For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com

Programming note: The Education Gadfly Show is taking a short end-of-summer break next week. We'll be back with a new episode after Labor Day on Wednesday, September 9.Checker Finn, president emeritus of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, joins Mike Petrilli and David Griffith to talk about the future of Head Start and why he thinks the troubled federal preschool program needs rebuilding, not destroying. They discuss the Trump administration's approach to Head Start, the program's longstanding weaknesses, and what meaningful reform could look like.Then, on the Research Minute, Amber Northern reviews a new two-year experiment with Khan Academy's AI tutor, Khanmigo. The study finds modest gains in math achievement, but students rarely engaged deeply with the AI tutor, raising questions about whether the improvement came from the AI itself or simply from structured practice on Khan Academy.Recommended content:The Trump team gives Head Start the DOGE treatment —Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. Fordham InstituteReroute the Preschool Juggernaut —Chester E. Finn, Jr., Hoover Press (2009)Head Start Program Performance Standards —U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and FamiliesTransformative for the motivated and mere meh for the unmotivated: How AI will and won't affect learners —Sean Geraghty and Mike Goldstein, Thomas B. Fordham InstituteOne Click Away: AI Tutoring with Khanmigo in a Two-Year School Experiment —Philip Oreopoulos and Nina Low, EdWorkingPapers (2026)Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our show? We would love to hear them. Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org

“We are the beginning of a bright and shiny dark age.” — Kurt Andersen, from The Breakup It's 2045 and America has got divorced. That's the premise of The Breakup, by the historian and novelist Kurt Andersen. “The future is fiction. It hasn't happened yet,” the historian in Andersen reminds us. But his near-term fictional future, an America of civil war and national divorce, certainly isn't inconceivable. Nor, in an increasingly divided United States between high-tech coastal elites and a medieval hinterland, does such a scenario appear quite as nightmarish as it once did. In contrast with the bloodiness, say, of Alex Garland's Hollywood version of an American civil war, Andersen's literary breakup is the “scattered violence of a Middle Eastern kind.” Lebanon comes to the United States in the form of loosely confederated militias, assassinations and kidnappings. This war kills 28,000, half of them civilians. It could have been worse. Indeed, it is worse today — when compared to the 44,000 people killed by guns each year. The novel also tells the story of the breakup of a twenty-three-year marriage between the Tennessean poet Natalie and the San Francisco tech bro Asher. Natalie doesn't much like Silicon Valley and warns that “we are the beginning of a bright and shiny dark age.” But for Andersen this age isn't totally dark. Marriages and countries break up, he reminds us, and that is often the beginning rather than the end of the story. Not quite darkness at noon. So get ready for the mid-21st-century break-up of the United States. Such a split might actually be brighter than America's current dark marriage. Five Takeaways •       The Future Is Fiction. After Fantasyland (five hundred years of how America went haywire) and Evil Geniuses (the last fifty), Andersen considered a third history — of the future — and realized the genre is folly: futurism is just experts guessing, Alvin Toffler in a new suit. “The future is fiction. It hasn't happened yet. It's imaginary until it happens.” So the trilogy's conclusion became a novel — his fifth — and the bookseller algorithms' “dystopian” label gets a correction: dystopian satire, maybe, but “we are in a dystopian period now.” Where Alex Garland's Civil War embedded journalists inside the fighting, The Breakup lives with a couple seven years after it — the good, the bad, the thank-God-we-were-okay — and, chalk it up to the Midwestern upbringing, it ends ambiguous but not without hope.•       A Manageable Civil War. The backstory his fictional journalism flashes back to: a blue political comeback — Supreme Court expansion, Puerto Rico and DC statehood — ignites a ferocious right-wing backlash, and the violence that follows is “scattered… of a Middle Eastern kind”: loosely confederated militias assassinating, kidnapping, and bombing, while a presidential administration insists it's a crime spree — until the military crushes the insurgency with drones and robots in eighteen months. The toll: 28,000 dead, half civilians, 45,000 wounded — numbers Andrew notes are roughly a single year of American gun deaths, and that Andersen's character Natalie keeps in proportion: “could have been worse… We're not living in Mad Max time.” Against the 1860s — millions dead from a far smaller population — this is a war America can talk itself into surviving. Which may be the scariest thing about it.•       The Disunion's Logistics. The novel's deep research problem: how would you actually do it? You can't draw an 1860 line, because the real divide runs between cities and countryside, not North and South — so the negotiated Disunion takes seven years, producing Natalie's Free American Republic and Asher's smaller United States. The Brexit analogy gets swatted (“the EU is not a country” — this is a whole different deal), balkanization into five or twelve republics is doubted (the prosperities of scale), and the best twist is secessionist remorse: Montana runs the numbers and realizes the West, unlike the South, gives more to Washington than it takes — so why join them? Beneath it all, the state nobody thinks they need: Medicare, Social Security, the federal machinery people discover only as DOGE-style contempt dismantles it. And still, the magic holds: immigrants keep coming, because only in America do you become American by showing up.•       The Soft Breakup Papers. The nonfiction beneath the novel is Andersen's New York Times essay: America as a long, loveless marriage — separate lives, separate tracks, staying together for the kids — that may already have had its soft breakup. His research assembled what nobody had put together: ten- and twenty-state climate alliances, sanctuary cities, Second Amendment sanctuary states and a thousand such counties — “governmental apparatuses emerging for these separate governments” since 2009, unremarked because the only people saying “national divorce” were Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rush Limbaugh, and nobody serious could agree with them. The mechanism is Hemingway's bankruptcy: gradually, then suddenly. Fintan O'Toole warned him the book could become self-fulfilling prophecy; Andersen answered that the elephant in the room must be named — and he has the Cassandra receipts, having published Fantasyland's post-truth diagnosis before Trump was first elected. “Don't blame me. We'll reconnoiter in ten or twenty years.”•       A Bright and Shiny Dark Age. The episode's keeper, from the novel's tech-despising heroine: “We are the beginning of a bright and shiny dark age.” One political party marches back toward the medieval — no public health, no vaccines, no intellectualism — while the Bay Area ships magic, William Gibson's unevenly distributed future arriving all at once. In 2045, AI is background hum “like electricity,” the tech trillionaires are plural, and the robots are everywhere and unremarkable — though Andersen's own book trade is his caution against straight lines: print was declared dead fifteen years ago and still sells half of all books. The age of anxiety — the loneliness, social media's riled-and-angry business model (30% of the blame or 70%, “but it's large”), a president “selling pessimism” in his simultaneous idiocy and brilliance against optimism's old American pillar — reads, in the novel's hindsight, like the premonition of the breakup. And yet no zombies, no rubble: not without hope. About the Guest Kurt Andersen is the New York Times bestselling author of the histories Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire and Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America, and the novels Turn of the Century, Heyday, True Believers, and You Can't Spell America Without Me. Co-founder of Spy magazine and longtime host of the Peabody-winning public radio program Studio 360, he has written for the New York Times, Vanity Fair, and The New Yorker. The Breakup (Random House, August 2026), his fifth novel, is set in the AI-suffused, post-civil-war America of 2045 — “the most brilliant social novelist of our time,” per Walter Isaacson, “in the tradition of Tom Wolfe and Don DeLillo, but even funnier and deeper.” ...

Steve Hayes is joined by Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Mike Warren to discuss the U.S. crossing the $40 trillion debt threshold and the prospect of “growing our way out of it.” The Agenda: —Kevin explains how we got here —Entitlement spending —What would Paul Ryan do —The DOGE effort —Growing our way out of debt —NWYT: Adulthood disappointments Show notes: —Kevin's Wanderland —Kevin on the tragedy of U.S. debt —Steve Hayes on DOGE —"DOGE—the UNIPARTY killed it because it was working too well." The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Across the United States, a quiet crisis is unfolding inside our food supply chain. Sweeping budget cuts, staff reductions, and systemic deregulation under the Trump administration and DOGE have severely weakened the key public health agencies tasked with keeping our food safe—the FDA, USDA, and CDC. With critical surveillance networks like FoodNet scaled back, staff numbers slashed across vital departments, and advisory panels disbanded, our early warning system for dangerous foodborne pathogens is being dismantled. Anthony Davis reports. Pre-order the new book from MeidasTouch, WTF America?!: The Way Out of This Hell and Back to Democracy, today: https://bit.ly/wtfamericayoutube Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show The Ken Harbaugh Show: https://meidasnews.com/tag/the-ken-harbaugh-show Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elon Musk's DOGE gutted staffing and budgets at NOAA and the National Weather Service early last year. It left America's fishing fleets, farmers and insurers exposed to the fallout. Read the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2026/08/17/the-cost-of-doge-americas-environmental-intelligence-is-going-stale/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why does the Left hate Elon Musk? The same Elon who was once celebrated for Tesla and SpaceX suddenly became an "oligarch" and a supposed threat to democracy after he challenged the Left's political and cultural power. From the transformation of Twitter/X to DOGE, this is how one of America's most successful entrepreneurs became Public Enemy No. 1. - - - Today's Sponsor: PreBorn! - Celebrate America's 250th by saving lives. Just $28 sponsors one ultrasound. And every ultrasound is another opportunity for a mother to meet her baby for the very first time. To donate, dial #250 and say the keyword BABY or give securely at https://PreBorn.com/BEN - - - DailyWire: Become a Daily Wire Member and watch all of our content ad-free: https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe

On Saturday, the United States imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods, including lumber, dairy products, clothing, and alcohol. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada would match the U.S. tariffs “dollar for dollar,” with retaliatory duties set to begin on September 8. Though Canada has not officially released information on its tariff plans, Carney said the duties would target U.S. “steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, and electronics.” On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the U.S. would increase tariffs on “all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel” to 50% on January 1, 2027.. Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle's podcast membership!The verdict on DOGE.In Friday's members-only edition, Executive Editor Isaac Saul published an in-depth retrospective on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) roughly one month after it formally shut down. Isaac explored whether DOGE followed through on its core promises of reducing government spending and improving efficiency, while also documenting the ripple effects of its harder-to-quantify actions. You can read the piece here.You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and today's “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Take the survey: When do you think the U.S. and Canada will reach a trade agreement? Let us know.Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast written by: Will Kaback and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Across the United States, a quiet crisis is unfolding inside our food supply chain. Sweeping budget cuts, staff reductions, and systemic deregulation under the Trump administration and DOGE have severely weakened the key public health agencies tasked with keeping our food safe—the FDA, USDA, and CDC. With critical surveillance networks like FoodNet scaled back, staff numbers slashed across vital departments, and advisory panels disbanded, our early warning system for dangerous foodborne pathogens is being dismantled. Independent media has never been more important. Please support this channel by subscribing here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g?sub_confirmation=1 Join this channel with a membership for exclusive early access and bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g/join Five Minute News is a MeidasTouch Podcast, covering politics, inequality, health and climate - delivering independent, unbiased and essential news for the US and across the world. Visit us online at http://www.fiveminute.news Follow us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/fiveminutenews.bsky.social Follow us on Instagram http://instagram.com/fiveminnews Support us on Patreon http://www.patreon.com/fiveminutenews You can subscribe to Five Minute News with your preferred podcast app, ask your smart speaker, or enable Five Minute News as your Amazon Alexa Flash Briefing skill. CONTENT DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed on this channel are those of the guests and authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Anthony Davis or Five Minute News LLC. Any content provided by our hosts, guests or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything, in line with the First Amendment right to free and protected speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A full accounting of the initiative's impact.Back in 2024, when the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was first proposed, its goals were clear.Elon Musk said he'd attempt to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. Like many Americans (including me) who are concerned about our debt and deficit, Musk's view was that if government spending didn't meaningfully change, the U.S. was headed for a financial crisis that would leave the country in ruins. In a November 2024 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, he and Vivek Ramaswamy said they'd operate the new agency as “entrepreneurs, not politicians.” They framed themselves as “volunteers” rather than “federal officials or employees,” and “unlike government commissions,” they would “cut costs,” not just “write reports or cut ribbons.” They would launch this project with a comprehensive audit of the federal government's financial performance to find waste and fraud, then modernize the government to slim down the workforce.These were not vague assurances or goals. This was a specific plan, in black and white print. Ad-free podcasts are here!Get 20% off your first year of ad-free episodes, exclusive interviews, and deep dives with Tangle's podcast membership!The new Suspension of the Rules.This week, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele discuss the debate over what “Woke 1” means and what it says about shifts in the Democratic Party. They also dive into recent primary election results around the country, Senator Darline Graham's (R-SC) debate response on foreign policy, and Senator Jon Ossoff's (D-GA) recent remarks in Georgia. Check it out here.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast written by: Isaac Saul and audio engineered and edited by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Jon Ball and Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Audrey Moorehead, and Carina Pacheco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Republicans are furious about the national debt. So why do so many of them keep supporting the people spending the money? And if government-run grocery stores hurt private competitors, apparently government grants can fix the government-created problem. This week's Dumb Bleep of the Week hits both sides. Nate and Charlie break down Mehdi Hasan's claim that America's far left is basically Scandinavian social democracy, Shane Gillis and Joe Rogan on Teddy Roosevelt and "free healthcare," Marco Rubio's argument against the War Powers Act, and Republicans suddenly rediscovering the national debt after it crosses $40 trillion. They also get into a city-run grocery-store proposal, the limits of DOGE-style "waste and fraud" cuts, the growth of executive power, and why intentions matter a lot less than incentives and outcomes. Subscribe or follow Good Morning Liberty, hit like, tell us which entry wins Dumb Bleep of the Week, share the show, and leave a rating or review wherever you listen. 00:00 Good Morning Liberty 03:15 Mehdi Hasan and the "far left" 15:45 The Lindsay Clancy supporter debate 26:30 The staged ice-throwing meltdown 33:30 Shane Gillis, Teddy Roosevelt, and executive power 37:45 Is "free healthcare" actually free? 39:15 Mamdani's government grocery-store problem 43:15 Marco Rubio and the War Powers Act 48:45 Republicans discover the $40 trillion debt 55:15 The Commie Block 1:03:30 Voting for Dumb Bleep of the Week 1:08:15 And the winner is...   Join GML: joingml.com All GML Links: gml.bio.link Watch All Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi78svKlBr_8o0dDOX8DxO_Wwxu6WYhhA Watch Host Favorites: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi78svKlBr__Zu40RL7mWxCuOOe54zgy2 Join the Fed Haters Club: https://www.goodmorningliberty.us/fedhatersclub Martens Minute: https://martensminute.podbean.com/

Jon Herold leans into a slow Friday with a mostly chat driven show, tackling former NSA Robert O'Brien's Fox News op ed arguing courts blocking White House ballroom construction endangers presidential security, and connecting it to his own theories about continuity of government bunkers. He plays a clip of Steve Bannon calling DOGE "fake and ghey" and questioning Bannon's push for a national emergency election declaration given his past comments urging people to vote despite believing elections are fraudulent. Other topics include Trump's deal to import cheap ground beef to lower prices, a new National Space Transportation policy memo, an ActBlue co founder pleading the Fifth before Congress, and some fun with AI business bots. Sponsor reads, meetup chatter, and a lively, laid back chat session round out a light Friday show ahead of tomorrow's Power Hour with Chris.

Maggie Haberman is a White House correspondent for The New York Times. The New York City native is the author of "Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America." She is also the co-author, with Jonathan Swan, of a new book, "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump," which lays out the first year of President Trump's second presidency.  Haberman joined NY1's Errol Louis to discuss her new book. She explained how she and Swan began the project in 2023 as a "last act" Trump story but instead witnessed a dramatic shift that they came to see as a form of domestic "regime change, " marked by court-style politics, expanded executive power and the erosion of independence at the Department of Justice. Haberman also described an administration divided into fiefdoms controlled by powerful figures, including Stephen Miller, Elon Musk through DOGE and USAID and others.

In a South Carolina debate, Darline Graham says she's "not that informed on national security." DOGE cuts, crowds stressing national parks across Colorado; Head Start reforms threaten early child development standards; Oregon teens learn the ropes of natural resources careers.

A packed news breakdown!

Civil Rights Attorney Todd Belcore and former NYC Deputy Mayor Tiffany Raspberry on Trump's renewed birthright citizenship push, a bombshell DOGE audit, and cops selling surveillance tech to your city council.

Avoiding the lies and prominence of pseudoscience with health and human secretary RFK Jr,Thom Hartmann reports accurately on the treatment and maladies that the American public are enduring and what we can do to survive it. Plus foreign food inspections are dropped because of the bumbling of Republicans and DOGE.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

RNT: Trump, Iran, Epstein, 2028 Primaries, DOGE, and cheap gas....

As part of their mandate to stop 'waste, fraud and abuse' in federal government spending, DOGE, the department of Government Efficiency, made large cuts to the amount of money the US spent on foreign aid. The task force, headed by Elon Musk, effectively dismantled the US's largest foreign aid agency, USAID - cancelling many of its programmes and absorbing the remainder into the State Department. This has caused controversy in some circles, with researchers estimating that the cuts could result in the loss of 14 million lives by 2030. Musk strenuously denies this, stating that cuts made by DOGE has resulted in 'zero' deaths. But who is right, and what are the problems with these sorts of estimates? We speak to Dr Hannah Ritchie to find out more. If you see numbers that you want us to look into contact moreorless@bbc.co.ukPresenter/Producer: Lizzy McNeill Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Mix: Neil Churchill

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

New aircraft carrier going to Middle East amid questions over conditions on USS Abraham Lincoln. GOP versus socialism. Friday Sound Salad. Jim Kennedy breaks down the week's top stories. Security measures for FLOCK cameras. DOGE overstated savings on federal ‘receipts' website, auditors find. Luigi Mangione to appear in court for expected guilty plea in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO. 

'BradCast' 8/13/2026: We're Paying an Unspeakable Price for the Cost of DOGE by Progressive Voices

On today's episode, we discuss the fast-moving intersection of government technology, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and the future of transportation. The panel debates whether DOGE-style efforts improved government accountability and spending transparency, then turns to the Clarity Act, crypto legislation, Bitcoin, and concerns about national debt. They explore how automation, robotics, universal basic income, and AI-designed health treatments could reshape work, affordability, and longevity. The conversation closes with Tesla's high-performance Plaid motor, the possibility of autonomous flying vehicles, and the human-factor challenges that remain when drivers transition between self-driving and manual control. Don't miss it!

In episode 84 of Going anti-Viral, Nicholas Enrich joins host Dr Michael Saag to discuss his book Into the Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower's Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAID. Mr Enrich is a former civil servant who worked at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under 4 administrations. He served as the Bureau of Global Health director of policy, programs, and planning until January 2025, when he was designated as the USAID acting assistant administrator for global health. On March 2, 2025, he was placed on administrative leave for addressing the Trump administration dismantling of USAID. Mr Enrich provides an overview of the history and work of USAID prior to 2025 including the success of programs like the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and nutrition and food security programs. He then shares his firsthand account of the dismantling of USAID under the Trump administration including the actions by political appointees and staff from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Mr Enrich and Dr Saag explore the impact of the Administration's policy on global health, development, and international partnerships and discuss the long-term consequences of the dismantling of USAID.0:00 – Introduction 1:17 – What was USAID and its global impact before 20253:00 – USAID work in global health and food security5:10 – The inception and impact of PEPFAR8:07 – US politics and the continuity of USAID during the first Trump Administration13:29 – The executive order to freeze foreign aid and its implications15:37 – Legal questions around the executive order and appropriations law18:24 – Experience with DOGE and the management style of Elon Musk 21:30 – Stories of chaos by the DOGE team and destruction within USAID 26:17 – How the political leadership of USAID was unaware of the work of the agency and implications on current health outbreaks like Ebola 32:10 – The long-term consequences of dismantling USAID and rebuilding trust 40:33 – Nicholas Enrich's current work and future plansResources:Into the Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower's Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAIDhttps://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Into-the-Wood-Chipper/Nicholas-Enrich/9781668226957Cast of Hair perform Let The Sunshine In on The Ed Sullivan Show, March 30, 1969https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCXSA_biSw4&t=200s __________________________________________________Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.Going anti-Viral's host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences. Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.Follow Going anti-Viral on: Apple Podcasts YouTubeXFacebookInstagram...

 EPISODE DESCRIPTION I sat down with Bobby from TEXITcoin, a man who has been manufacturing gold and silver coins since 2008, created the original physical Bitcoin coin in 2012, and testified before US Congress on crypto before most people had ever heard of it. In this episode, Bobby shares why he believes Bitcoin lost its original mission as peer-to-peer digital cash and became digital gold instead, and what he is doing about it. We dig into how he crowdfunded a community mining operation in his Texas garage, how TEXITcoin became the tenth largest Litecoin and Doge miner on the planet through merge mining, and why he is now building NectarPay, a zero-fee payment terminal network to get crypto accepted at real businesses. We also get into the big picture: the US dollar at 40 trillion in debt, Keynesian versus Austrian economics, Bitcoin retail adoption at a nine-year low, and what a Texas state securities case means for the future of TEXITcoin. This is one of the most grounded, no-nonsense conversations I have had about where honest money stands today and what it will take to get it into everyday hands. DISCLAIMERNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/ CONNECT TEXITcoin Website: https://texitcoin.org/NectarPay: https://www.paymentsjournal.com/nectarpay-tests-demand-for-crypto-payments-among-texas-retailers/Twitter/X: https://x.com/texitcoinTEXITcoin news: https://www.fidelity.com/news/article/technology/202607291027PRIMZONEFULLFEED1001255026Mining network statistics: https://pool.honest.money/Legal case updates: https://texitcoin.org/legalWeb3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS • [00:00] Sam introduces Bobby from TEXITcoin and the mission to build the next generation of Bitcoin• [01:46] Bobby explains TEXITcoin as a Bitcoin redo, returning to Satoshi's original vision of fast, cheap, peer-to-peer digital cash• [02:47] Why TEXITcoin chose proof-of-work and layer one: Bobby's background in gold and silver coins and the value of physical, tangible infrastructure• [06:29] Bitcoin has become digital gold, not money , and that gap is exactly why TEXITcoin exists• [08:15] The difference between scarcity and utility: why a coin only has value when people can trade it for things• [11:04] Keynesian versus Austrian economics and the deflationary money debate: why saving can drive a healthy economy• [15:40] How banks and institutions took over Bitcoin conferences by 2017 and what was lost along the way• [19:25] The community-funded mining network in Texas: how Bobby went from a garage in McKinney to becoming the tenth largest Litecoin and Doge miner on the planet• [24:22] What merge mining is and how TEXITcoin mines Doge and Litecoin simultaneously to pay its electric bill• [29:49] NectarPay explained: a zero-fee crypto payment terminal targeting small businesses across Texas and beyond• [33:39] Why physical terminals matter more than QR codes: profit incentive, merchant simplicity, and NFC wearable compatibility• [36:35] The US dollar at 40 trillion in debt, where it is heading, and what history tells us about currency transitions• [39:52] Bitcoin retail adoption is at a nine-year low and why that is the core reason TEXITcoin exists• [42:47] The Texas State Securities Board case: why TEXITcoin is fighting back and what the outcome could mean for crypto regulation• [40:26] Bobby's ask: support crypto-friendly businesses, grab TXC on the open market, and follow the court case outcome in September

Tonight on The Last Word: Polls show voters are frustrated with Donald Trump's Iran war. Also, Trump hints at a national emergency over the passage of the SAVE Act. Plus, Nick Kristof reports on the effects of Trump's cuts and economic policies. And Rep. James Walkinshaw wants Elon Musk subpoenaed after the DOGE report. Ali Velshi, Ben Rhodes, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Nick Kristof, and Rep. James Walkinshaw join Lawrence O'Donnell. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Republicans amp up the fear-mongering on "communism" as Democrats try to move past some of their nominees' most controversial past statements. In the words of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "Woke 1 was crazy." Jon and Lovett discuss how Democrats can pivot, today's Democratic primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Trump's desperation to end the war he started, and his newest executive order on vaccines. They also react to the Senate Republicans' YOLO caucus surrendering on Todd Blanche's confirmation, Jesse Watters's disdain for the WNBA, and Hunter Biden's appearance on Tucker Carlson's show. Then, Lovett is joined by Montana congressional candidate and smokejumper Sam Forstag to discuss why he's running for office, the impact of the DOGE cuts, the housing crisis in his state, and more.Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends, on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel.You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Tonight on The Last Word: Trump voters sound off about high prices, the Iran war, and more. Also, a federal appeals court blocks Donald Trump's $600 million ballroom project. Plus, a government watchdog finds Elon Musk's DOGE inflated savings. And Todd Blanche vows to fight mail-order abortion drugs. Mayor Chaz Molder, Dr. Annie Andrews, Barbara McQuade, Rep. James Walkinshaw, and Michele Goodwin join Jonathan Capehart. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After a quick rundown of some of the dumbest news of the week, we delve into the biography and background of Attorney General nominee, and Epstein files embarrassment, Todd Blanche. Newspaper archives provide valuable insight into pivotal years of his upbringing that seem to have shaped his world views. Then, we learn that "googly eyes" are fightin' words and merkins are making a comeback before delving into the aftermath of tariff mania, and learning how some financial grifters may have planned for this exact outcome. An impromptu side quest about Pete Hegseth leads us into a musty quagmire of booze and sexism, all under the weary eye of his disapproving mother. Lastly, why Capital One says they closed 300 Trump accounts for suspected money laundering, how DOGE helped America become the land of cyclospora, and how making Dr. Fauci's diary public uncovered the utter hypocrisy of a boring racist and her bald mayo rat who both grandstand about wanting him jailed. Check your voter registration, find your polling location, or contact your representatives via USA.GOV, VOTE.GOV, and/or the "5 Calls" app. All opinions are personal and not representative of any outside company, person, or agenda. This comedic podcast is hosted by a United States citizen, born and raised in a military family that is proud of this country's commitment to free speech. Information shared is for entertainment purposes only and is cited via open sources like published articles, legal documents, press releases, government websites, executive orders, public videos, police reports, news reports, and/or direct quotes and statements, and all may be paraphrased for brevity, presented satirically, and in layman's terms.“I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” - James BaldwinWanna support this independent pod? Links below:Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/BBDBBuyMeACoffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BBDBVenmo @TYBBDB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Story of the Week (DR):Uber's Strategy for Fighting Sexual Assault Suits: ‘What Were You Wearing?'An aggressive defense strategy is being used in response to an avalanche of litigation, with over 4,000 lawsuits filed by passengers accusing Uber of failing to protect them from sexual assaultWhile Uber publicly champions itself as a "survivor-centric" ally and trains support staff against victim-blaming, its defense lawyers ruthlessly contradict this to protect the $145 billion company.Uber's attorneys aggressively interrogate survivors about their clothing (e.g., asking if they wore underwear or heels), drug and alcohol consumption, and sexual history.The legal team weaponizes past trauma by scouring private medical records and therapy notes, even petitioning courts to force survivors to undergo psychiatric exams or reveal details of childhood abuse to paint them as "unreliable narrators".Legal experts warn these scorched-earth tactics are deliberately designed to re-traumatize victims, discouraging lawsuits and intimidating survivors into settling.Chief Legal Officer Tony West: “Why safety is personal to me”Cites his public service career to cover for ruthless corporate tactics, like drafting Prop 22 to strip driver protections.Frames survivor trauma as a flaw of the "adversarial legal system," deflecting from Uber's own attorneys using aggressive, victim-blaming tactics to minimize payouts.Uses a single favorable quote from one trial judge to dismiss widespread litigation abuse.Touts ending forced arbitration while continuing to block class-action lawsuits, trapping survivors in isolated 1-on-1 fights.Brags about transparent reporting despite Uber burying 400,000+ assault complaints (2017–2022) under labels like "unaudited."TikTok Withheld a Safety Feature From Millions. One Died by SuicideWhen TikTok tweaked its algorithm in 2021 to stop users from being overwhelmed with harmful content, the company didn't roll out the safer version to everyone, a confidential internal document shows.Instead, to see if the change might reduce the app's stickiness, the company conducted an experiment. It created a control group of 10% of US users — at the time, that would have been about 15 million people — who kept the old version of the app.This group, according to the document, included 16-year-old Chase Nasca. TikTok's algorithm pushed him thousands of videos about suicide, sadness, hopelessness and loneliness, right up until he killed himself.TikTok says moderator error delayed removal of Perez Hilton's livestream showing acts of self-harmGAO finds Elon Musk's DOGE inflated claims of $110 billion in savings for federal governmentThe GAO found that 96% of the savings DOGE claimed from grant cancellations lacked supporting evidence or methodology to verify.DOGE claimed $27.4 billion in savings across 2,503 contracts—including a $1.7 billion Pentagon IT deal—that were never actually terminated or reduced.Over 40% of the lease cancellations listed on DOGE's "Wall of Receipts" were already in progress before the agency was created.GAO uncovered widespread data errors, such as overstating total lease savings by nearly $60 million and failing to report baseline limitations.DOGE failed to disclose how it calculated its metrics and completely ignored GAO requests for interviews and supporting data.Where are Elon Musk's former DOGE staffers now?Edward “Big Balls” Coristine: a whistleblower alleged that Coristine planned to upload sensitive Social Security Administration data to an unsecured server. He also helped dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID.Coristine now appears to work at the National Design Studio, an office created to overhaul federal websites and other public-facing services, making them more usable, visually consistent and less expensive to build.Jeremy Lewin: helped oversee the dismantling of USAIDLewin later became the State Department's senior official for foreign assistance, humanitarian affairs and religious freedom, giving a former DOGE operative authority over the programs his old team had helped slash.He was subsequently reported to be moving to the White House National Security Council.Nate Cavanaugh and Justin FoxFounded a holding company called Special, which promises to do for private businesses what DOGE did for the federal government.“To achieve this, Special is building an operating system to transform critical American industries with AI. We call it SpecialOS.”Gavin Kliger, Luke Farritor, Marko Elez and Jack SteinFounded Cathedral, a startup that plans to use AI to expand U.S. military cyber capabilities, including defenses against adversaries such as China.Reuters reported that the company raised $160 million at a $1.4 billion valuation.Ethan Shaotran: helped move thousands of immigrants into the government's “Master Death File,” effectively deactivating their Social Security numbers.Founded Blitz Industries, which he described to Wired as “a defense company backed by big names.”Elon Musk: SpaceX Achieves Its First Moon Landing by Accidentally Crashing Into It at 5,400 Miles Per Hour, Causing Huge Explosion and 60-Foot CraterWhy companies that call themselves meritocracies don't always pay equally AND Meritocracy claims make managers pay men more than equally qualified women MMExplicitly branding an organization a "meritocracy" lowers managers' vigilance against bias, ironically making them more likely to discriminate.Given identical job titles and performance ratings, managers in self-proclaimed meritocracies systematically award higher bonuses and raises to men over equally qualified women.The meritocracy illusion compounds wage gaps across demographics, yielding lower financial rewards for women, racial minorities, and immigrants with identical output.Vague definitions of "merit" allow supervisors to act on personal favorability and affinity bias while genuinely believing their choices are purely objective.Trusting the "meritocracy" label creates false complacency, leading companies to eliminate or skip active pay-equity audits that would otherwise catch these disparities.Goodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Google Scraps AI Satellite Images Within 24 Hours: Why 'Deepfakes in the Sky' Alarmed ResearchersThis happened after facing fierce backlash from journalists, researchers, and open-source intelligence experts who warned that it could accelerate the spread of misinformation.The feature allowed users to generate AI-created satellite images by zooming into any location in Google Earth and entering a text prompt.MM: Courts: MM DRCourt rules against Trump EPA's freeze of $20B in ‘green bank' fundsUBS fined record $125 million for money laundering violationsMeta fined $567m in largest child safety ruling against social media giantJudge says Nexstar can't appoint its executives to TEGNA's Board of DirectorsAssholiest of the Week (MM):Everything's a publicity stunt:Jealously Watching OpenAI and Anthropic, Meta Suddenly Claims That Its AI Went on a Hacking Spree TooZuckerberg conveys ‘apologies' for child sex abuse material, errors in operating the platform, government sources say‘Pure insanity'—Elon Musk details SpaceX's plan to turn the moon into its newest manufacturing siteAnthropic's Mythos created fake identities to fool humans in new cyber incidentGAO finds Elon Musk's DOGE inflated claims of $110 billion in savings for federal governmentEverything's a vanity projectJeff Bezos Says He's Selling $1 Billion In Amazon Stock Every Year to Fund Blue Origin — ‘It's The Most Important Work I'm Doing'SpaceX Achieves Its First Moon Landing by Accidentally Crashing Into It at 5,400 Miles Per Hour, Causing Huge Explosion and 60-Foot CraterJudge Sets Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger Trial for MarchEveryone's a victimThe AI bros are lonelyPalantir CEO Alex Karp Says Frontier AI Labs Will Steal Your IP, Your Know-How, and Your Expertise — ‘You Deserve To Be Colonized'‘Socialism is a disaster': Bill Ackman says Zohran Mamdani's bad left-wing housing policy is worsening New York's affordability crisisNo one is accountable DRBobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision, may join Paramount's board of directorsJefferies analyst calls out ‘simple-minded' criticism of SpaceX's governanceABC, CBS, and NBC aired nearly 200 segments about three U.S. heat events without mentioning climate changeDisney (Iger, still), Ellison family, and Roberts family - one cowed exec, two dictators!Headliniest of the WeekDR: Pepsi is launching soda-scented body wash and scrub in a beauty collaborationPwC U.S. CEO [Paul Griggs] advises young workers to say yes a lot, even if it means working on the weekends—‘That person climbs into the next role'Top Consulting Group PwC Caught Using AI on “Thought Leadership” Report About AI, Resulting in Corporate Document Filled With Bizarre HallucinationsDoorDash CEO Tony Xu once thought his $87 billion company would only make $100 million. He tells founders to be ‘greedy' and dream biggerClass A = 1 vote; Class B = 20 votes; CEO Tony Xu personally owns roughly 3% of actual shares but controls 55% of voting power via a “binding agreement” with the other co-foundersMisleading proxy shows he got paid $432k (they cited a 12:1 pay ratio) but he actually made $343M from shares and stocksDoorDash excludes Dashers from SEC disclosures by classifying them as 1099 independent contractors.Factoring drivers into the worker pool expands the headcount from 20,000 to over 7 million, moving the median worker from corporate offices directly onto the delivery platform.Dasher: while gross pay averages ~$15–$22/hour, net driver earnings sink further after deducting out-of-pocket expenses like fuel, vehicle wear, and self-employment taxes, pulling true net median compensation closer to $400–$900 annuallyAnthropic CEO reportedly worried new hires only care about money: reportedly expressed concern about new talent coming to the company for the money rather than the missionMM: Stripe CEO says his ‘urgency' to drop out of MIT ‘was a bit unnecessary'Who Won the Week?DR: Harvard Business School graduates TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and TikTok US CEO Adam Presser, because nobody ever talks about you or knows who you areMM: Meat. After seeing Salad and Go files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after cyclospora fears worsened its challenges, you can't help but wonder if RFK Jr orchestrated a parasite to get people to buy more meat.PredictionsDR: Tony Xu introduces Class F stock where shareholders' children enter indentured servitude and must deliver 1000 Cheesy Gordita Crunches from Taco Bell before they are set free ; they will then get 0.0002 shares per voteMM: Boards are calling retired CEOs back as succession pipelines run dry: Boards run out of ex-CEOs to re-king and begin looking for different, egalitarian, integrated professionals to fill new roles. They call it DEI.

This week on Is The Mic Still On, the crew dives into everything from prediction markets and the future of legal gambling to the debate over tipping at birthday parties and the unwritten rules of hotel check-out times.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Shirley joins Riley Gaines for his fourth appearance on the show to break down his latest investigation into alleged fraud in New York City's adult daycare and Medicaid systems. Shirley explains how he believes kickback schemes, questionable enrollment numbers, DME companies, and taxpayer-funded programs are being abused — and why he says these problems extend beyond New York into places like Minnesota and California. Riley and Nick also discuss his recent Senate testimony, his interactions with Dr. Oz, DOGE, threats he has faced while reporting, and the broader political response to his work. Later in the conversation, Nick previews his upcoming reporting on the rise of communism and the Democratic Socialists of America, arguing that proposals around government-run systems, property seizure, prisons, and centralized control should concern Americans across the political spectrum. This episode covers Medicaid fraud allegations, adult daycare centers, durable medical equipment scams, government waste, Senate hearings, DOGE, Dr. Oz, the DSA, communism, public safety, and Nick Shirley's work documenting fraud across the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi. On today's episode of Some More News, we look at the lasting impact of Elon Musk's DOGE: all the jobs and programs they slashed, plus USAID and how feeding it "into the woodchipper" resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths.Hosted by Cody JohnstonExecutive Producer - Katy StollDirected by Will GordhWritten by Rachel Van Ness and David Christopher BellProduced by Jonathan HarrisEdited by Gregg MellerPost-Production Supervisor / Motion Graphics & VFX - John ConwayResearcher - Marco Siler-GonzalesGraphics by Clint DeNiscoHead Writer - David Christopher BellPATREON: https://patreon.com/somemorenewsMERCH: https://shop.somemorenews.comYOUTUBE MEMBERSHIP: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvlj0IzjSnNoduQF0l3VGng/join#DOGE #ElonMusk #USAIDFor a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to https://hungryroot.com/smn and use code: SMNIf you're 21 or older, go to https://indacloud.co and use code SMN for 30% off the entire month.Elevate your summer bedding. Go to https://quince.com/somemorenews for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.This year, skip breaking a sweat AND breaking the bank. Get this new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at https://mintmobile.com/morenews – Upfront payment of $45 required (equivalent to $15/mo.). Limited time new customer offer for first 3 months only. Speeds may slow above 50GB on Unlimited plan. Taxes & fees extra. See MINT MOBILE for details.Pluto TV. Stream Now. Pay Never.Chapters:0:00 - Introduction2:23 - Perhaps Putting A Nazi in Charge of Government Efficiency Was A Bad Idea9:23 - All the Things DOGE Did To Us23:27 - What Actually Happened With USAID?32:28 - Who Is Responsible For All The People DOGE Killed?50:29 - DOGE Was A Heist59:01 - How Do We Fix This?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seven states are set to hold primary elections this week. Polls open today in Washington, Kansas, Virginia, Missouri, and Michigan. This morning, we'll dig into where exactly dollars are flowing, as well as their sources. Then, Maryland was hit hard by the Trump administration's DOGE cuts. It lost close to 25,000 federal jobs last year. So, to help out their neighbors, some Marylanders have formed a kind of club whose goal is to redistribute money.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Would you join a club where the goal is to redistribute money?

Seven states are set to hold primary elections this week. Polls open today in Washington, Kansas, Virginia, Missouri, and Michigan. This morning, we'll dig into where exactly dollars are flowing, as well as their sources. Then, Maryland was hit hard by the Trump administration's DOGE cuts. It lost close to 25,000 federal jobs last year. So, to help out their neighbors, some Marylanders have formed a kind of club whose goal is to redistribute money.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Would you join a club where the goal is to redistribute money?

Social Security Commissioner and IRS Commissioner Frank Bisignano joins Lisa Boothe for an in-depth conversation about modernizing America's largest government agencies, eliminating fraud, and bringing private-sector innovation to Washington. Drawing on decades of leadership at Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, First Data, and Fiserv, Bisignano explains why he left the corporate world to serve in the Trump administration, how technology is transforming Social Security, and what Americans should know about the future of Trump Accounts for children.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachel Maddow looks at decisions Donald Trump has made so far in his second term, from staffing his administration to policy choices and wars of choice, and points out that while the American people are the first to have to pay for Trump doing a bad job, ultimately the consequences fall on him as his political popularity plummets.  Rev. John Edgerton, senior minister at at Old South Church in Boston, talks with Rachel about protests forcing Citizens Bank to stop doing business with companies that run ICE prisons. David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union United Service Workers West, and his attorney, Abbe Lowell, talk with Rachel Maddow about standing up to Donald Trump's anti-immigrant intimidation tactics. Donald Trump has endorsed Pillow Guy Mike Lindell for governor of Minnesota even though Mr. Pillow doesn't vote in Minnesota and is not registered there. But that's nothing compared to the Colorado Republican who says he can perform exorcisms over the phone. And have you seen the candidates in Texas?? Rachel Maddow reports. Want more of Rachel? Check out the "Rachel Maddow Presents" feed to listen to all of her chart-topping original podcasts.To listen to all of your favorite MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On Friday's Mark Levin Show, President Trump has repeatedly and clearly condemned Tucker Carlson and for good reason. Carlson has viciously and personally attacked the President, not just disagreed with him here and there. Strange that some close to the President remain close to Carlson, even defend Carlson, given Carlson's relentless personal smears of POTUS. Also, the term “globalist” is oddly misused by those who routinely cut business deals with foreigners yet label others as globalists. Additionally, “establishment” is another term. Such words are being used intentionally and perversely to confound and confuse, but we remain neither. Later, no, we don't need more centralized government.  It's already overwhelmed by hundreds of billions in fraud documented by the GAO and by Musk and DOGE. Instead of endless experiments reinventing the wheel, the focus should simply be ensuring a safe, prosperous, and free society; Americans are not liberals on the dole and do not need government treating them as dependents - Florida serves as the prime example. Any Republican embracing quasi-socialist or centralizing agendas may win a primary but will not win the presidency. Afterward, thanks to communist China, Russia, Qatar, Turkey, Iran, and Hamas much of America's youth is against Israel—an unprecedented level of hatred toward Jews achieved through American podcasters, hosts, social media, and the internet. Israel's small population and limited resources could never win a PR war against the vast funding and influence of these foreign powers. Meanwhile, a poll claims Americans are growing weary of capitalism and losing faith in it. Majority of Americans don't want socialism. The problem is the to demographic changes—new arrivals who do not understand capitalism or the Constitution and simply expect benefits—as well as a broader culture that teaches people not to fend for themselves or pursue individual success but to demand big-government programs and something for nothing.  Finally, Gianno Caldwell calls to discuss the community March Against Violence in Chicago on June 25th.  Four years after his teenage brother Christian was shot and killed in Chicago, Caldwell is marching for justice rather than simply mourning. This is a national stand for victims and accountability through the Caldwell Foundation for Public Safety he founded in his brother's memory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices