Podcasts about monopolies

American ranchers are facing a multifront assault from foreign meatpacking monopolies, elite land grabs, government-sponsored subsidies and monopolies, and politicians who put special interests first. I sit down with Joe Maxwell, farmer and president of Farm Action Fund, to expose the catastrophic reality behind recent political moves impacting the agricultural heartland. From Donald Trump's disastrous push to import foreign beef without tariffs, to the intentional suppression of the PRIME Act and Country of Origin Labeling, the bipartisan elites are actively working to squeeze out the independent American rancher. He also warns that it's inconceivable that the beef imports are perfectly healthy protein, given the 25% price cut in this market. However, this isn't just about the price of ground beef — it's about techno-feudalism. Wall Street, Big Tech, and foreign corporations are executing the largest land grab since the Indian Wars, attempting to consolidate American farmland for data centers, solar fields, and corporate monopolies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When government statistics are under question, it gets pretty hard to know what the hell is actually going on.00:00 Introduction and Episode Preview00:32 Civil Disobedience, Crime, and Flock Cameras06:17 License Plate Tracking and the Surveillance State10:52 Rising Treasury Yields and Federal Borrowing12:20 Surge Pricing, Markets, and Government Intervention15:48 Monopolies, Standard Oil, and De Beers20:01 Foolishness of the Week: Trump Tariffs on Brass Instruments24:02 The Death of Reliable Government Data27:00 Why Politicizing Economic Data Matters30:21 Immigration Data, Jobs, and the Economy33:01 Immigration and Social Security36:39 Migrant Workers, Business Planning, and Regulation41:39 Why Reliable Data Keeps Prices Lower44:06 Final Thoughts on Kindness and Grace

The Rebel News podcasts features free audio-only versions of select RebelNews+ content and other Rebel News long-form videos, livestreams, and interviews. Monday to Friday enjoy the audio version of Ezra Levant's daily TV-style show, The Ezra Levant Show, where Ezra gives you his contrarian and conservative take on free speech, politics, and foreign policy through in-depth commentary and interviews. Wednesday evenings you can listen to the audio version of The Gunn Show with Sheila Gunn Reid the Chief Reporter of Rebel News. Sheila brings a western sensibility to Canadian news. With one foot in the oil patch and one foot in agriculture, Sheila challenges mainstream media narratives and stands up for Albertans. If you want to watch the video versions of these podcasts, make sure to begin your free RebelNewsPlus trial by subscribing at http://www.RebelNewsPlus.com

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 8-13-2026: Dr. Dawn opens by reading an anatomy student's elegy to a body donor, reflecting on how modern medical education has moved away from full cadaver dissection toward pre-dissected specimens and models—and what she believes has been lost in that transition. Dr. Dawn dissects how hospital consolidation has become the primary driver of runaway U.S. healthcare costs. She contrasts a $16,000 knee replacement at Catawba Valley Medical Center with a $40,000 procedure for the same Blue Cross Blue Shield plan an hour away at Asheville's Mission Hospital—a facility formed by the 1998 merger of the town's two acute-care hospitals and later acquired by HCA in 2018. Mission now charges 333% of Medicare rates (versus a 280% benchmark), and state inspectors have issued three "immediate jeopardy" findings since HCA's takeover, consistent with academic findings that hospital care quality drops when competition disappears. She notes that CMS-required price disclosures since 2021 finally make this transparent, and calls for regulatory prevention of hospital mergers—especially not-for-profit to for-profit conversions—in single or two-hospital markets. Dr. Dawn analyzes the 3.1% year-over-year drop in prescription drug prices reported through July—the sharpest decline since 1963. She attributes most of it to Biden's 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which partially rescinded George W. Bush-era Medicare Part D restrictions that had statutorily prohibited price negotiation, saving taxpayers roughly $6 billion in the first six months of implementation. Additional contributors include GLP-1 compounding competition, blockbuster drugs losing exclusivity, and Bureau of Labor Statistics methodology that swaps generics into the price index six months after brand patent expiration. She calls for consumer-facing apps that help patients shop hospital prices the same way they shop cars. Dr. Dawn covers the emerging science of dormant tumor cells—cancer cells that shed from primary tumors even before diagnosis, hide in bone marrow and lymph nodes, and enter a hibernation state (feeding off cellular residue via autophagy) that shields them from chemotherapy targeting rapidly dividing cells. New York researchers have identified proteins by which lung macrophages actively reinforce dormancy, but immune disruption from COVID-19, influenza, aging, and chronic stress can trigger reactivation. She emphasizes lifestyle protection for cancer survivors: minimal alcohol, Mediterranean diet, and five daily cups of green tea for the EGCG dormancy-maintaining effect seen in cell culture. A caller argues for single-payer healthcare and questions whether Medigap insurance is worth $287 monthly. Dr. Dawn explains the math: for a $100,000 hospital bill, 20% coinsurance is $20,000, making the $2,400 annual premium reasonable catastrophic-risk protection—though skipping it is a defensible bet for very low-utilization patients. She notes those whose income drops to Medi-Cal eligibility often end up with better coverage than middle-class seniors. The same caller then presents a differential diagnosis of himself as likely multiple sclerosis based on ChatGPT consultation, describing balance loss requiring hallway wall-guidance, dramatic vision changes, and fasciculations. Dr. Dawn walks through prompt engineering for medical AI: request differential lists ordered by probability of frequency in the population rather than symptom-fit alone. She notes symmetric symptoms argue against MS, suggests checking electrolytes (particularly calcium), and emphasizes that a physical examination should precede imaging to avoid incidentalomas that trigger cascading invasive workups—cautioning that without a primary care doctor, he lacks an advocate within the system.

In this episode of Medical Matters Podcast, Dr. Peter Brier and Nurse Practitioner Kelly McCormick discuss the ongoing costs of healthcare.Topics include the expenses, but also the business aspects: free-standing hospitals and practices began to be bought up under the belief that costs would come down. There is also the inflationary aspect, with pressure on healthcare providers to raise their prices in order to get better reimbursement from insurance companies.There is also the issue of monopolies. A recent story in the Washington Post describes how hospitals under such collectives are driving up costs. Dr. McCormick also relates her own recent experiences. The subject also shifts to the potential for national, single-payer healthcare, with some examples of residents traveling to the US from Canada or other nations. Older residents appear to travel here more for specialized care.

Mainstream media keeps selling the story, but what's really driving the markets? In this episode of Trends in the News, Gerald Celente breaks down how media monopolies shape public perception, why stocks are soaring on promises of peace that may never materialize, and what the latest disappointing job numbers reveal about the true state of the economy. While Wall Street celebrates, millions continue struggling with rising costs, stagnant wages, and economic uncertainty. Gerald explains how the financial system is increasingly rewarding the wealthiest while leaving working Americans behind, and why the gap between Main Street and Wall Street keeps growing. Don't miss Gerald's sharp analysis on the economy, geopolitics, the markets, and the trends shaping our future. Subscribe to the Trends Journal: https://trendsjournal.com/ The Trends Journal is a weekly magazine analyzing global current events forming future trends. Our mission is to present Facts and Truth over fear and propaganda to help subscribers prepare for What's Next in these increasingly turbulent times. The Trends Journal Shop: https://trendsjournal.com/shop Follow Gerald Celente on X: https://x.com/geraldcelente Follow Gerald Celente on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geraldcelentetrends Follow Gerald Celente on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gcelente/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trends.journal Follow Gerald Celente on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@geraldcelentetrends Follow Gerald Celente on Gab: http://gab.com/geraldcelente Follow Gerald Celente on Truth: https://truthsocial.com/@TrendsJournal Follow Gerald Celente on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/Trends-Journal/ Copyright © 2026 Trends Research Institute. All rights reserved.

Tahnoon Murtza, founding partner of [Grey Sheep Ventures], joins host KJ to challenge the assumptions holding traditional venture capital back. At 22, Tahnoon is one of the youngest emerging fund managers in the game, and he argues that the old VC playbook, built on proprietary tech and institutional gatekeeping, no longer fits the world AI has created. His thesis centers on distribution, influence, and authentic founder relationships as the new moat. The conversation covers why legacy funds are losing deals to scrappier, more connected investors, and what a punk rock ethos has to do with building a better fund. Key Takeaways: 1:00 — What killed proprietary tech as a startup moat 6:07 — How distribution and social influence replaced the old investment thesis 7:50 – Who is getting left out of VC decisions and why it matters 11:07 — When investors flip the power dynamic, founders take notice Quote of the Show (23:33):"If you want to build something authentic, it takes copious effort, it takes obsession, it takes a consuming amount of time. And if you're going to commit to that, you want a VC partner who's going to put the same effort into your company that you are." – Tahnoon Murtza Join our Anti-PR newsletter where we’re keeping a watchful and clever eye on PR trends, PR fails, and interesting news in tech so you don't have to. You're welcome. Want PR that actually matters? Get 30 minutes of expert advice in a fast-paced, zero-nonsense session from Karla Jo Helms, a veteran Crisis PR and Anti-PR Strategist who knows how to tell your story in the best possible light and get the exposure you need to disrupt your industry. Click here to book your call: https://info.jotopr.com/free-anti-pr-eval Ways to connect with Tahnoon Murtza:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tahnoon-m-b4071419a/Company Website: https://www.greysheepventures.com/ How to get more Disruption/Interruption: Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/eccda84d-4d5b-4c52-ba54-7fd8af3cbe87/disruption-interruption Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disruption-interruption/id1581985755 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6yGSwcSp8J354awJkCmJlD YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=disruption+%2F+interuuptionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anika sat down with Andrew Bolton, CEO and co-founder of Tech Rescue, to explore the massive cultural and corporate shift currently prioritizing artificial intelligence over human connection—and why it's a losing bet. Starting from a moment of intense frustration while trying to help his grandmother with technology, Andrew bootstrapped a 24/7, human-only tech support company that has defied the "chatbot era" of Silicon Valley. Andrew's journey offers a masterclass in recognizing the power of empathy in business, building culture in a service company, and why trusting the basics of customer care is the ultimate growth hack.   In This Episode   The origins of Tech Rescue: Why a simple email forward sparked a fast-growing business How the tech industry has abandoned the 14% of Americans who struggle with modern devices The psychological and physiological benefits of talking to a human over a robot Why implementing a strict "no AI, no chatbots" policy became their greatest competitive advantage Bootstrapping the company with his mother as CFO after getting rejected by traditional VCs The connection between lowering a caller's cortisol levels and boosting corporate retention rates Why the modern education system's failures present a massive threat to the U.S. workforce How Tech Rescue grew from answering calls at 2 AM to a team of 78 employees in three years The danger of monopolies and the slow creep of corporate mediocrity Why real success isn't just about billions—it's about protecting creativity, connection, and culture   Timestamps   00:00 Introduction: Solving a human problem in an AI world 01:34 The origin story: Watching an 80-year-old struggle to forward an email 04:47 How the relentless pace of tech has left 14% of the population behind 09:21 The death of customer service: Why optimization actually means abandonment 11:24 The ultimate value proposition: Choosing humans over chatbots 16:01 Walking away from Wall Street to build a business with his mom 18:51 The fundamental truth: How you treat your customers is how they treat your wallet 22:15 Building a 24/7 call center powered by psychology majors, not IT techs 24:01 The science of empathy: Lowering cortisol to reduce call times and save money 26:27 Smacking the "Palo Alto 5-year plan" and proving empathy is profitable 33:13 Why hiring for emotional intelligence is harder—and more important—than hiring for tech skills 36:31 A warning about the U.S. education system and the future of the workforce 43:25 Why becoming a billionaire in a mediocre world means absolutely nothing 48:44 Conclusion: The core mission of connecting people   Key Insights & Takeaways   Insight 1: "Optimization" Often Just Means Abandonment   For the last decade, companies have used terms like "optimization" or "streamlining" to justify firing their HR, sales, and customer service departments, replacing them with endless phone trees and chatbots. This has created a massive void in the market where customers are desperate to speak with a real human—a void that human-centric businesses can easily and profitably fill.   Insight 2: Empathy is a Quantifiable Metric   Tech Rescue hires psychology and sociology majors rather than IT professionals because teaching tech is easier than teaching empathy. According to medical studies, simply addressing a caller by their name can lower cortisol and adrenaline levels by 13%. In a call center environment, a calmer customer translates directly to a conversation that ends seven minutes sooner, vastly reducing operational costs and boosting retention.   Insight 3: The "No Chatbot" Guarantee is a Growth Strategy   While VCs and marketing agencies constantly pressure companies to adopt AI to save money, Tech Rescue found that their greatest selling point is their strict refusal to use it. In a world where consumers are fatigued by automated voices and generic AI outputs, guaranteeing a human interaction builds a level of brand trust and loyalty that algorithms cannot replicate.   Insight 4: Generational Tech Gaps Require Psychological Safety   Older generations aren't just confused by rapidly changing tech (like Meta rearranging its settings menus multiple times a year); they are often embarrassed to ask for help. Tech Rescue provides a psychologically safe space for users to ask questions—whether it's about online banking or setting up a dating profile on Bumble—without feeling rushed or condescended to.   Insight 5: You Can Make Money by Doing Good in the World   Andrew pushes back against the modern corporate mandate of "alpha at all costs," which he argues leads to monotonous, poor-quality products and a lack of innovation. His core philosophy—often repeated as "Business 101"—is that if you solve a genuine problem and treat people with respect, the financial success will naturally follow. Monopolies prevent competition, but incredible customer service shatters monopolies.   Resources & Links Mentioned Tech Rescue   About Andrew Bolton   Andrew Bolton is the CEO and co-founder of Tech Rescue, a 24/7 human-powered tech support company. A Harvard-trained strategist with Wall Street roots, Andrew walked away from traditional corporate America to build a business centered entirely around empathy, trust, and connection. He co-founded the company alongside his mother after witnessing firsthand how the modern tech industry disregards the elderly and the less tech-savvy. Today, he manages a growing team of 78 employees out of a call center in Colorado, proving that human connection is the ultimate competitive advantage.   Connect with Andrew Bolton Website: https://techrescue.io/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ben Horowitz joins Theo Jaffee and Sofia Puccini to discuss one of the biggest debates in AI today: the future of open-source models. They examine the growing push to restrict open models, why Ben believes open source is critical for security, innovation, and competition, and what happens if a handful of frontier labs come to dominate the AI ecosystem. They also discuss distillation, AI monopolies, China's role in open-source AI, robotics, manufacturing, the economics of frontier models, and why Ben believes the AI market is still in its earliest stages. The conversation closes with a look at AI-generated art, creativity, and whether new tools will spark the next cultural renaissance.   Resources: Follow Ben Horowitz on X: https://x.com/bhorowitz Follow Theo Jaffee on X: https://x.com/theojaffee Follow Sofia Puccini on X: https://x.com/schisofrenia Stay Updated:Find a16z on YouTube: YouTubeFind a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Show on SpotifyListen to the a16z Show on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's the Ranch It Up Radio Show Herd It Here Weekly Report!  A 3-minute look at cattle markets, reports, news info, or anything that has to do with those of us who live at the end of dirt roads.  Join Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt, the Boss Lady Rebecca Wanner aka 'BEC' by subscribing on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. More Meat Companies Join USDA's Product Of USA Program The USDA has added 10 more meat and poultry companies to its Product of USA labeling program. The program, launched earlier this year, allows companies to label products as "Product of USA" only if the animals were born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the label gives consumers confidence they're buying truly American-raised products while supporting U.S. ranchers, processors, and rural communities. Among the latest companies joining the program are Harris Ranch, One World Beef, Upper Iowa Beef, American Foods Group, Agri Beef, FPL Food, Wholestone Farms, and Harrison's Poultry. USDA says expanding participation in the program is part of the Trump administration's effort to strengthen domestic food production and support independent livestock producers and meat processors. REFERENCE: https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/33780-product-of-usa-label-program-adds-10-meat-companies Legislation Introduced To Break Up Meatpacking Monopolies A group of House Democrats has introduced legislation they say would increase competition in the U.S. meatpacking industry. The bill targets the nation's four largest beef processors—Cargill, JBS, Tyson Foods, and National Beef—which lawmakers say control about 85 percent of the U.S. beef market. The proposal would limit market concentration, prevent large companies from controlling multiple major meat sectors, strengthen oversight of pricing practices, and provide financial assistance to help smaller processors and farmer cooperatives expand. Supporters say the legislation would help independent farmers, ranchers, and consumers by increasing competition in the meat industry. REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/house-introduces-bill-to-break-up-meatpacking-monopolies/ Upcoming Feeder Cattle, Bull & Cow Sales On RanchChannel.Com Lots of feeder cattle, steers & heifers, bulls, and cow sales coming up on the RanchChannel.Com sale calendar.  Check out the full line up HERE. SPONSORS Jorgensen Land & Cattle https://jorgensenfarms.com/ @JorLandCat Ranch Channel https://ranchchannel.com/ @RanchChannel Questions & Concerns From The Field? Call or Text your questions, or comments to 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Or email RanchItUpShow@gmail.com FOLLOW Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow SUBSCRIBE to the Ranch It Up YouTube Channel: @ranchitup Website: RanchItUpShow.com https://ranchitupshow.com/ The Ranch It Up Podcast is available on ALL podcasting apps. https://ranchitup.podbean.com/ Rural America is center-stage on this outfit. AND how is that? Because of Tigger & BEC... Live This Western Lifestyle. Tigger & BEC represent the Working Ranch world by providing the cowboys, cowgirls, beef cattle producers & successful farmers the knowledge and education needed to bring high-quality beef & meat to your table for dinner. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner aka BEC here: TiggerandBEC.com https://tiggerandbec.com/

John Morgan — founder of Morgan & Morgan, one of the largest personal injury firms in the country & author of "Life is Luck: Lessons From a Paperboy and How to Improve Your Luck" joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation about civil litigation, the failures of government regulation, and his plan to launch a third party in Florida. Morgan makes the case that civil litigation has grown precisely because government has failed to regulate — social media is a genuine threat to human wellbeing (especially for children), monopolies are squeezing consumers, and processed foods, he argues, are the new tobacco: extremely harmful and ripe for legal reckoning. He offers a candid, colorful assessment of his former firm member RFK Jr. — "smart and crazy," a man who falls down some rabbit holes but also champions legitimate causes — and walks through the thorny reality that vaccine makers enjoy total indemnity while sovereign immunity exists in some form in all 50 states. Morgan is refreshingly honest about the ethics of his own industry, arguing that ads gloating about settlement numbers are a mistake because the real goal of a settlement is to give someone back something they lost, not to celebrate a payday. The heart of the conversation is Morgan's plan to launch a new third party in Florida called "Common Ground," rooted in his conviction that the two-party system itself is what's fundamentally broken in America. Morgan argues that moderates should function as the tiebreakers in a polarized system — that picking up just a few seats could turn an uncommitted moderate bloc into a genuine fulcrum of power in Congress — and explains why he'd rather build something new than partner with the existing Forward Party. He handicaps Florida's political landscape with an insider's candor: Byron Donalds likely wins the governorship but it'll be close, the Charlie Crist party-switch playbook never worked, and he's genuinely unsure whether voters can find David Jolly credible after his own party change.. Morgan laments that too many people now enter politics for the pension and salary rather than public service, criticizes DeSantis for appointing cronies as university presidents, and argues age limits are overdue because government should be about the future and very few politicians remain effective past 70. Along the way he explains why he thinks Texas Democrats fielded a more viable ticket than Florida's (James Talarico, he says, simply has "it"), why Andy Beshear won in Kentucky, why charter schools are about money rather than choice, and why DeSantis's property tax proposal could become a Brexit-style case study in voters making decisions that make no sense once the consequences arrive. Get John's book here https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Life-is-Luck/dp/B0H2K52H4G/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LF7S7OGAT46F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CaRKVB4mHJGTS0bVFd7ONcU6YfsmpGl_tDncLiWRzCNecvHPOVtdrMbXsFl_LNyLxyW8nLRxXL3j5wdKGrHq7hSKazupgR14cC3u74xjkQpTUw2_xdJsVkC21K2kobaEZpdGZJsOkB5HdKgNBvyzjcb0eh8sdqhprrTbUo_1Fss.iLY1CiUpIpHB0Z1TbM0GJH2COy5EqaDcd3D_ItY0mfg&dib_tag=se&keywords=John+Morgan+life+is+luck&qid=1784135091&s=books&sprefix=john+morgan+life+is+luck%2Cstripbooks%2C177&sr=1-1 Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: 00:00 John Morgan joins the Chuck ToddCast 00:45 What is most difficult about nationalizing a law firm? 01:45 When screening for good lawyers, it’s obvious who stands out 03:00 Lawsuits always seem frivolous until it happens to you 03:45 Ads that gloat about settlement numbers are a mistake 04:15 The goal of settlements is to give back something that was lost 05:00 Thoughts on private equity using civil litigation to hedge? 06:15 Involvement in cases against big tech companies 06:45 Social media is a threat to human wellbeing, especially children 08:30 Civil litigation has grown as government has failed to regulate 10:00 Monopolies are squeezing consumers 10:30 Processed foods are like tobacco, extremely harmful 11:00 RFK Jr. was a member of the firm, he’s smart and crazy 12:15 RFK falls down some BS rabbit holes but also has good causes 12:45 Vaccine makers have total indemnity 13:30 Sovereign immunity exists in some fashion in all 50 states 14:00 What’s your process for vetting science? 15:30 Will be launching a third party in Florida - The Common Ground 17:30 Other wealthy people have considered starting third parties 20:00 The two party system is what is broken in the country 20:30 Why not partner with the Forward Party? 22:00 Moderates should be the tiebreakers 23:30 A few uncommitted moderates could be a swing vote in congress 24:15 All you need to do is pick up a few seats to act as a fulcrum 25:45 It’s likely that Donalds wins in Florida, but it will be close 26:30 Why didn’t the Charlie Crist move work for Florida Democrats? 27:45 Can voters find David Jolly credible after changing parties? 29:30 More people are getting into politics for a pension & salary 30:30 People are going into politics for the wrong reasons 31:45 DeSantis appointed his cronies to be university presidents 32:30 Still deciding on whether to support Donalds or Jolly 34:00 Vindman doesn’t have a chance at winning 35:00 Texas Dem ticket is more liberal, why is it more viable than Florida’s? 35:45 James Talarico is very formidable, he has “it” 38:00 Andy Beshear won because Bevin turned on public school teachers 38:45 Charter schools aren’t about choice, they’re about money 39:30 Parental involvement is the best indicator of school performance 40:45 How would you message against DeSantis’s property tax proposal? 41:45 Americans are less interested in “us” and more interested in “me” 42:15 Implementing the property tax proposal will be like Brexit 44:30 Voters can make decisions that make no sense 45:15 Had the itch to run for office, but unlikely to do it 45:45 Government is for the future, should be age limits for elected officials 47:00 Very few elder politicians remain effective past 70 years oldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd devotes much of this episode to a rich, personal reflection on the death of Senator Lindsey Graham at 71 — a figure who can only be understood if you separate the ideologues from the pure politicians, because Graham was unambiguously the latter. Graham always wanted to be in the middle of the Republican Party, treated his Senate seat as something as precious to him as a spouse, and was a genuine political creature who could nonetheless work with everyone, partnering with both Trump and Obama across his career. Chuck shares personal memories — interviewing Graham alongside John McCain, the two of them giving outsized attention to the Steele Dossier; Graham losing his parents in his 20s and raising his 13-year-old sister; even reassuring Chuck’s own wife about her worries over Trump — and argues that Graham, for all his capitulations, actually served as one of the few moderating forces on Trump. He lays out the very real political fallout: Todd Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General is now in serious jeopardy, Graham leaves a massive vacuum in the GOP conference, and his South Carolina seat could actually be competitive for Democrat Annie Andrews if the Republican primary lurches far enough to the right. From there Chuck draws a series of parallels between American and British politics — Labour returning to power on a promise of competence and stability, Nigel Farage (like Trump) trying to convert political fame into personal wealth, and the satirical candidate "Count Binface" holding up a mirror to a political culture that has become pure theater — musing, only half-jokingly, that America could use its own Count Binface. Chuck closes on a sober note about the U.S.-Israel relationship, which he believes is heading for a real retreat: he recalls how close the region came to a two-state peace two decades ago, how the collapse of that moment allowed radicalism to escalate on both sides until each could argue the other doesn't want peace, and points to Rahm Emanuel's recent speech in Israel — warning that Israel must articulate a vision for what comes after the war or risk isolating itself from younger and moderate Americans — as the sound of someone trying to save a political center that vanishes the moment people conclude moderates don't have answers. Then, John Morgan — founder of Morgan & Morgan, one of the largest personal injury firms in the country & author of "Life is Luck: Lessons From a Paperboy and How to Improve Your Luck" joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation about civil litigation, the failures of government regulation, and his plan to launch a third party in Florida. Morgan makes the case that civil litigation has grown precisely because government has failed to regulate — social media is a genuine threat to human wellbeing (especially for children), monopolies are squeezing consumers, and processed foods, he argues, are the new tobacco: extremely harmful and ripe for legal reckoning. He offers a candid, colorful assessment of his former firm member RFK Jr. — "smart and crazy," a man who falls down some rabbit holes but also champions legitimate causes — and walks through the thorny reality that vaccine makers enjoy total indemnity while sovereign immunity exists in some form in all 50 states. Morgan is refreshingly honest about the ethics of his own industry, arguing that ads gloating about settlement numbers are a mistake because the real goal of a settlement is to give someone back something they lost, not to celebrate a payday. The heart of the conversation is Morgan's plan to launch a new third party in Florida called "Common Ground," rooted in his conviction that the two-party system itself is what's fundamentally broken in America. Morgan argues that moderates should function as the tiebreakers in a polarized system — that picking up just a few seats could turn an uncommitted moderate bloc into a genuine fulcrum of power in Congress — and explains why he'd rather build something new than partner with the existing Forward Party. He handicaps Florida's political landscape with an insider's candor: Byron Donalds likely wins the governorship but it'll be close, the Charlie Crist party-switch playbook never worked, and he's genuinely unsure whether voters can find David Jolly credible after his own party change.. Morgan laments that too many people now enter politics for the pension and salary rather than public service, criticizes DeSantis for appointing cronies as university presidents, and argues age limits are overdue because government should be about the future and very few politicians remain effective past 70. Along the way he explains why he thinks Texas Democrats fielded a more viable ticket than Florida's (James Talarico, he says, simply has "it"), why Andy Beshear won in Kentucky, why charter schools are about money rather than choice, and why DeSantis's property tax proposal could become a Brexit-style case study in voters making decisions that make no sense once the consequences arrive. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to break down the messy build up and coalitions involved in the Spanish civil war, and what lessons modern America can take from it. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment and make a proposal for a change to the baseball Hall of Fame. Get John Morgan's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Audible-Life-is-Luck/dp/B0H2K52H4G/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LF7S7OGAT46F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CaRKVB4mHJGTS0bVFd7ONcU6YfsmpGl_tDncLiWRzCNecvHPOVtdrMbXsFl_LNyLxyW8nLRxXL3j5wdKGrHq7hSKazupgR14cC3u74xjkQpTUw2_xdJsVkC21K2kobaEZpdGZJsOkB5HdKgNBvyzjcb0eh8sdqhprrTbUo_1Fss.iLY1CiUpIpHB0Z1TbM0GJH2COy5EqaDcd3D_ItY0mfg&dib_tag=se&keywords=John+Morgan+life+is+luck&qid=1784135091&s=books&sprefix=john+morgan+life+is+luck%2Cstripbooks%2C177&sr=1-1 From the opening whistle to the final kick. Bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored at Fanduel.com Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:15 Senator Lindsey Graham dead at 71 04:45 Reactions to Graham are filtered through one’s personal politics 05:30 There are ideologues and there are politicians. Graham was the latter 06:45 Graham always wanted to be in the middle of the Republican party 09:00 Graham’s senate seat was as important to him as a spouse 11:15 Certain people are just political creatures, like Graham and Cruz 12:45 Graham was able to work with everyone on both sides of the aisle 13:30 Graham worked with both Trump and Obama 15:30 Conspiracy theories are swirling about Graham’s death 16:15 There needs to be a thorough autopsy to put conspiracies to rest 17:30 Chuck interviewed Graham & McCain, they mentioned the Steele Dossier 18:15 Graham and McCain gave the most attention to the Dossier 20:30 Graham’s parents died in his 20s, he raised his 13 year old sister 22:30 Chuck had Graham as a dark horse candidate for 2008 23:15 Graham was aware of the rumors and never addressed them directly 24:30 The real world impact on politics from Graham’s passing 25:00 Todd Blanche’s confirmation is now in serious jeopardy 25:30 Graham leaves a massive vacuum in the GOP conference 28:00 Graham kept Trump from fully going down the fascist road 29:15 Unlike Trump, Graham sees Putin as a threat & backed Ukraine 31:15 Impact on the South Carolina elections 32:00 There will be lots of Republicans looking to jump into the primary 33:15 If primary goes super right-wing, Democrat Annie Andrews has a shot 35:15 Graham reassured Chuck’s wife after expressing worries about Trump 37:45 Graham knew if he had gone hard on Trump, he’d lose his senate seat 38:45 There are parallels between U.S. and U.K politics 39:45 Labour came back into power promising competence and stability 40:45 Nigel Farage, like Trump… is trying to turn political fame into wealth 42:30 “Count Binface” has been challenging Farage as a satirical candidate 43:30 The man who made UK politics theatrical, now facing a theatrical challenge 44:00 The U.S. could really use a “Count Binface” to hold up a mirror 45:15 What if we accepted the premise of politics as entertainment? 46:00 Should we host a political reality show on an island 47:15 Governing experience has become a liability in American politics 48:00 Media rewards performance more than competency 50:15 There is going to be a retreat in the American-Israeli partnership 50:45 20 years ago we were very close to peace & two state solution 52:45 When moderation & compromise fail, radicalism takes its place 54:00 There was a serious chance for peace two decades ago 54:30 After both sides walked away, the radicalism escalated 56:15 The extremes can now argue the other side doesn’t want peace 57:00 Rahm Emmanuel travels to Israel to give speech 58:00 Rahm says Israel must provide vision for what comes after war 59:15 Rahm warns Israel risks isolating itself from younger & moderate Americans 1:00:45 Rahm sounds like someone trying to save the political center 1:02:00 Moderation disappears when it feels like moderates don’t have answers 01:12:30 John Morgan joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:13:15 What is most difficult about nationalizing a law firm? 01:14:15 When screening for good lawyers, it’s obvious who stands out 01:15:30 Lawsuits always seem frivolous until it happens to you 01:16:15 Ads that gloat about settlement numbers are a mistake 01:17:00 The goal of settlements is to give back something that was lost 01:18:15 Thoughts on private equity using civil litigation to hedge? 01:18:45 Involvement in cases against big tech companies 01:19:15 Social media is a threat to human wellbeing, especially children 01:21:00 Civil litigation has grown as government has failed to regulate 01:22:30 Monopolies are squeezing consumers 01:23:00 Processed foods are like tobacco, extremely harmful 01:23:30 RFK Jr. was a member of the firm, he’s smart and crazy 01:24:45 RFK falls down some BS rabbit holes but also has good causes 01:25:15 Vaccine makers have total indemnity 01:26:00 Sovereign immunity exists in some fashion in all 50 states 01:26:30 What’s your process for vetting science? 01:28:00 Will be launching a third party in Florida - The Common Ground 01:30:00 Other wealthy people have considered starting third parties 01:32:30 The two party system is what is broken in the country 01:33:00 Why not partner with the Forward Party? 01:34:30 Moderates should be the tiebreakers 01:36:00 A few uncommitted moderates could be a swing vote in congress 01:36:45 All you need to do is pick up a few seats to act as a fulcrum 01:38:15 It’s likely that Donalds wins in Florida, but it will be close 01:39:00 Why didn’t the Charlie Crist move work for Florida Democrats? 01:40:15 Can voters find David Jolly credible after changing parties? 01:42:00 More people are getting into politics for a pension & salary 01:43:00 People are going into politics for the wrong reasons 01:44:15 DeSantis appointed his cronies to be university presidents 01:45:00 Still deciding on whether to support Donalds or Jolly 01:46:30 Vindman doesn’t have a chance at winning 01:47:30 Texas Dem ticket is more liberal, why is it more viable than Florida’s? 01:48:15 James Talarico is very formidable, he has “it” 01:50:30 Andy Beshear won because Bevin turned on public school teachers 01:51:15 Charter schools aren’t about choice, they’re about money 01:52:00 Parental involvement is the best indicator of school performance 01:53:15 How would you message against DeSantis’s property tax proposal? 01:54:15 Americans are less interested in “us” and more interested in “me” 01:54:45 Implementing the property tax proposal will be like Brexit 01:57:00 Voters can make decisions that make no sense 01:57:45 Had the itch to run for office, but unlikely to do it 01:58:15 Government is for the future, should be age limits for elected officials 01:59:30 Very few elder politicians remain effective past 70 years old 02:02:30 Thoughts on the interview with John Morgan 02:03:00 ToddCast Time Machine - July 17th, 1936 02:03:30 Start of the Spanish civil war 02:04:15 Why does Spain’s civil war stand out in history? 02:05:30 The war wasn’t simply a fight between left and right 02:06:00 1930s Spain had every divide imaginable 02:07:00 Political violence became common, political center got smaller 02:07:45 The left wing coalition that won was barely united at all 02:08:45 Military units in Morocco revolted, then coup spread to Spain 02:09:30 Franco eventually united a fascist coalition with military command 02:10:15 The left’s internal divisions became one of Franco’s advantages 02:11:30 Civilians became part of the battlefield and were targeted 02:13:00 George Orwell’s writing came directly from his experiences in Spain 02:14:15 The fascist wing won the war and Franco ruled until 1975 02:15:00 Pluralism only emerged after decades of authoritarian rule 02:16:30 The transition out of authoritarianism came from exhaustion, not agreement 02:18:00 Sharing power with opponents is preferable to violence 02:19:15 Book recommendations for learning more about the Spanish civil war 02:20:15 Ask Chuck 02:20:30 How can we get back to lasting governance and progress? 02:26:00 Could Trump run as VP or speaker then ascend back to the presidency? 02:29:15 Why do prominent political interviews not have aggressive follow ups? 02:35:45 Who was the best pitcher of this generation that’s retiring? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Representative Dr.  Ralph Heap is running for the Arizona Corporation Commission and shares his vision of the changes needed for the statewide regulatory body. We discuss the state of energy in Arizona, monopolies in power, poor green energy choices and the need for a new direction. We also discuss the future of natural gas, coal and nuclear power in Arizona among many other issues. 

THE FAMILY FARM CRISIS — ANTI-TRUST, MONOPOLIES, AND THE FIGHT TO SURVIVE America's family farms are in a full-blown crisis — and the numbers prove it. Trent Loos sits down with Arkansas farmers Taylor Herren and Adam Chappell to expose the forces strangling independent agriculture.

This is it, the final episode! Danny gives us his closing arguments, reflecting on all he's learned about the data center fight in communities across the United States. We listen in on Danny's conversation with prolific author and tech critic Cory Doctorow about the centaur/reverse centaur theory of how we use technology and how technology uses us. And, we take another quick trip to some of the communities we've visited along the way: Data Center Alley in Northern Virginia, Davis, West Virginia, and Memphis, Tennessee, to get the latest on their fights. When it's all said and done, the greatest lesson from the data center clashes may be in the value of agency, and that the way to protect communities from harmful data centers is to ensure that technology serves communities, not the other way around.In this episode, we hear from:Cory Doctorow: Science fiction author, activist and journalist whose recent books include “Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse And What To Do About It” and “The Reverse Centaur's Guide To Life After AI.”Nikki Forrester: Helped launch Tucker United, now serves as the director of communications and spokesperson, lives in Tucker County, WV, and is a journalist. Elena Schlossenberg: Our local tour guide, and deeply involved in grassroots organizing in Prince William County and Loudoun County. She has a deep knowledge of land-use management and serves as the executive director of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County.Amber Sherman: Local policy organizer in Memphis.Delegate John McAuliff: Recently elected Delegate for Fauquier and Loudoun counties in Northern Virginia, flipping the seat by running largely on data center regulation. Samuel Black: Award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist working with More Perfect Union. He covers tech, labor, energy, finance, housing, and U.S. politics. Resources:Corruption is Driving Up Your Electricity Bill  Cory Doctorow's blog, CraphoundSamuel Black's More Perfect Union coverage from BoxtownLocal coverage from Tucker County about Fundamental Data's visit, and how local leaders reactedThe latest updates from Prince William County about the Data Center Gateway caseA tool tracking every data center moratorium

Most Americans think they live in a free market.But if that's true, why do we keep ending up with fewer airlines, fewer hospitals, fewer pharmacies, fewer banks, fewer food processors, and fewer choices?In this episode of Common Sense with Chad Law, we take a hard look at the forgotten conservative history of antitrust, trustbusting, and competition. From Theodore Roosevelt and Standard Oil to Reagan and AT&T, we explore why conservatives once saw concentrated corporate power as a threat—and why that conversation disappeared.We'll break down how government intervention, regulation, consolidation, lobbying, and market concentration created an economy where giant corporations increasingly dominate healthcare, technology, food, airlines, banking, and communications.This isn't an argument against capitalism.It's an argument for competition.Because capitalism isn't giant corporations.Capitalism is the freedom to take your business somewhere else.Topics include:• Standard Oil• AT&T and the Reagan breakup• Google's dominance• Healthcare consolidation• PBMs and prescription drug costs• Food industry concentration• Defense contractor consolidation• Government regulation and barriers to entry• Competition vs competitors• Why your paycheck doesn't go as far as it used toIf you enjoy thoughtful conversations about economics, politics, public policy, and common sense solutions, subscribe and share the show.00:00 The Illusion of Monopolies00:27 The Burden of Regulation06:20 The Myth of Free Markets11:48 The Conservative Legacy of Antitrust20:00 Lessons from History: Standard Oil and AT&T26:45 The Pressure of Competition in a Free Market28:27 The Role of Conservatives in Trustbusting28:52 Government Intervention and Market Consequences31:01 The Cycle of Government Fixes and Market Distortion32:53 The Impact of Regulations on Small Businesses36:17 The Creation of Monopolies through Government Meddling38:07 The Loop of Market Concentration and Political Influence41:12 The Healthcare Market and Its Concentration46:05 The Modern Monopoly: Google and Its Influence51:42 Concentration in the Food Industry57:38 The Squeeze on Farmers and Consumers59:34 The Velvet Rope of the Food Market01:00:11 The Role of Middlemen in Healthcare01:01:33 The Airline Industry's Struggles01:03:25 Concentration of Power Across Industries01:04:10 The Confusion of Antitrust Principles01:07:46 The Shift from Building to Bargaining01:11:12 The Path to Restoring Competition01:12:19 Lessons from History: The Breakup of Ma Bell01:14:09 The Call to Action for Competition

One of the key economic levers the government can manipulate are in pursuit of anti-trust policy. On Today's Show:Alvaro Bedoya, senior advisor at the American Economic Liberties Project and former FTC commissioner, offers his opinion on how the Paramount - Warner Brothers Discovery mega merger will affect everyday people and their jobs, and more on what he calls the pervasiveness of monopolies and their effects in the US today. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Convenience stores aren't just about gas and snacks anymore, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is making his pitch to lower grocery prices, and private-label brands hold a pretty big advantage.

Join the FREE Discord: https://discord.gg/Gq8hGbg2CqSee my $430,000+ Stock Portfolio: https://www.patreon.com/citizenoftheyear/postsCheck out these AMAZING Deals: https://amzn.to/3NGmBPTIn this video, we break down 3 powerful “quiet monopolies” hiding in plain sight and how companies like Visa, Mastercard, ASML, Moody's, and S&P Global dominate entire industries. You'll see how their business models work, why they're so profitable, and what actually makes their moats nearly impossible to compete with.We also take a look at current valuations and whether these stocks look like smart long-term investments or if patience is the better move. If you're interested in investing, stock market fundamentals, and understanding companies that quietly compound over time, this breakdown is for you.Check out my favorite research tool Seeking Alpha! Premium: https://link.seekingalpha.com/3B2L85W/4G6SHH/Disclaimer:This is not financial advice and I am not a licensed financial advisor. Always do your own research before investing and work with a licensed financial advisor. These are my opinions for informational purposes only and not to be taken as investing advice. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase and/or subscribe. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate commissions help fund videos like this one

Throughout this season, we've learned about the threats and harms data centers pose to local communities. But is there a better way to build this tech infrastructure? On this episode, Danny invites energy, broadband, and local business experts to discuss how we can build and regulate data centers in ways that keep agency within local communities. From BYONCE (Bring Your Own New Clean Energy) to transparency, and from antitrust action to community-scaled, locally owned data centers, this episode breaks down all the ways we can create a better future — one where local communities have control over what happens next. In this episode, we hear from:Stacy Mitchell: Writer, strategist, policy advocate, co-executive director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, with a focus on the importance of small, independent businesses.Chris Mitchell: Program director at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, who is a leading national expert on community networks, Internet access, and local broadband policies, and host of the Unbuffered podcast.John Farrell: Co-executive director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and leads the organization's work on energy systems, including duties as host of the Local Energy Rules podcast.Resources:Institute for Local Self-Reliance - The Policies Communities Need to Confront the AI Data Center RaceGood Jobs First - Shutting Down Data Center SubsidiesSteph Speirs on TikTok - Solving the AI Power Problem AI Now Policy Institute - North Star Data Center Policy Toolkit

Send us Fan MailIn this presentation, Richard C. Wilson breaks down the “Family Office Chessboard” approach — a strategy for building leverage through strategic partnerships, multi-dimensional assets, choke points, distribution, and niche monopoly positioning.Instead of simply buying cash flow, Richard explains how family offices and serious operators can design their own game board, acquire strategic assets, create information advantages, and build relationships that compound over time.Topics include adding value first, moving from operator to owner, building self-liquidating lead generation, using media and events as strategic assets, creating niche monopolies, and identifying choke points that can transform an entire business model.https://familyoffices.com/

In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Dana Hollifleld, a nurse with over 20 years of experience, to discuss how government policies are impacting healthcare workers and patients alike. After working in multiple states, Dana noticed a stark difference when she arrived in Alabama—limited job options, suppressed wages, and reduced patient choice due to hospital monopolies reinforced by certificate of need (CON) laws. Instead of accepting the status quo, she took action—organizing her peers, demanding transparency, and pushing for change. Her efforts helped secure pay raises for healthcare workers and sparked a broader movement to challenge restrictive regulations that limit competition and innovation in healthcare. This episode highlights how one person's decision to speak up can create real change—and why expanding choice and transparency in healthcare is critical for better outcomes for both patients and providers.

In this week's Stansberry Investor Hour, Dan welcomes Dave Lashmet back to the show. Dave is the editor of Stansberry Venture Technology, an advisory that takes a "venture capitalist" look at the market. Dave scours the market looking for little-known small-cap companies that are potentially producing the next wonder drug or technology.   Dave kicks things off by discussing the SpaceX IPO. He calls the company a "Tower of Babel," saying the best use case for Starlink is to replace cell phone towers. However, Starlink's satellites can only provide service for up to 1,000 people. In rural areas, this is fine, but larger cities and the surrounding areas would have higher demand. Additionally, Dave says that there's a 10-year gap between Earth-based and space-based communications. Unlike cell phone towers, satellites have to go through additional processes to ensure that they will function properly while they're in orbit. But in the midst of the IPO, Dave says that Alphabet subsidiary Google will be a major winner. (0:00)   Next, Dave shares how the SpaceX IPO will result in many folks investing in 401(k)s to be holding shares of the company unintentionally and how that happens. And they'll have an unreasonable percentage of their portfolio owning a stock that isn't gushing cash. Dave then talks about how cameras will be the future of space. Sony's research and development division created a "four-color camera" that operates on the red, green, blue, and shortwave infrared spectrums. Infrared doesn't currently work in any functional capacity for everyday users, but for the companies that build telescopes, the next breakthrough was evident. And this technology can help with "seeing" better than other cameras. (19:52)   Finally, Dave breaks down "near space," the region of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and space. It's tricky to station anything there due to the high amount of air resistance and insufficient amount of air that could support the lift needed for wings, so there's little interest in going there. But one company Dave is looking at is developing the "basking shark" capable of enduring in near space. And if the U.S. government wants its "golden dome," it needs to go to this company. And Dave marvels at how space is able to improve many things on Earth that wouldn't be possible otherwise. (39:45)

In this week's Stansberry Investor Hour, Dan welcomes Dave Lashmet back to the show. Dave is the editor of Stansberry Venture Technology, an advisory that takes a "venture capitalist" look at the market. Dave scours the market looking for little-known small-cap companies that are potentially producing the next wonder drug or technology.   Dave kicks things off by discussing the SpaceX IPO. He calls the company a "Tower of Babel," saying the best use case for Starlink is to replace cell phone towers. However, Starlink's satellites can only provide service for up to 1,000 people. In rural areas, this is fine, but larger cities and the surrounding areas would have higher demand. Additionally, Dave says that there's a 10-year gap between Earth-based and space-based communications. Unlike cell phone towers, satellites have to go through additional processes to ensure that they will function properly while they're in orbit. But in the midst of the IPO, Dave says that Alphabet subsidiary Google will be a major winner. (0:00)   Next, Dave shares how the SpaceX IPO will result in many folks investing in 401(k)s to be holding shares of the company unintentionally and how that happens. And they'll have an unreasonable percentage of their portfolio owning a stock that isn't gushing cash. Dave then talks about how cameras will be the future of space. Sony's research and development division created a "four-color camera" that operates on the red, green, blue, and shortwave infrared spectrums. Infrared doesn't currently work in any functional capacity for everyday users, but for the companies that build telescopes, the next breakthrough was evident. And this technology can help with "seeing" better than other cameras. (19:52)   Finally, Dave breaks down "near space," the region of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and space. It's tricky to station anything there due to the high amount of air resistance and insufficient amount of air that could support the lift needed for wings, so there's little interest in going there. But one company Dave is looking at is developing the "basking shark" capable of enduring in near space. And if the U.S. government wants its "golden dome," it needs to go to this company. And Dave marvels at how space is able to improve many things on Earth that wouldn't be possible otherwise. (39:45)

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In this episode we cover: MTG Pride Month stuff, Racists booted from Facebook groups, Steam deck prices shooting up, and Monopolies in gaming.    Please remember to rate the show and leave a comment! DeQuan - @powrdragn Brian - @brianpsionic Color of Magic Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ColorofMagic Website: https://www.colorofmtg.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColorofMTG Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colorofmtg

The AI bubble has caused the most concentrated and overvalued stock market in US history. The billionaire CEOs of Big Tech corporations fear it may pop soon, so they changed the rules on Wall Street so that, mere days after their IPOs, SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic will be given "fast track" inclusion in major index funds, despite the fact that they are losing tons of money. These corporate oligarchs want to use average retail investors as exit liquidity, looting pensions, 401(k)s, and other retirement funds, all so Elon Musk can become the world's first trillionaire. Ben Norton explains the scandal. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh3d8xO9NHg Topics 0:00 US stock market bubble 1:08 (CLIP) Ray Dalio on AI bubble 1:37 Comparisons to past bubbles 3:38 Market cap to GDP 4:50 Concentration of stock market 6:52 Magnificent 7 stocks 7:28 Monopolies eat the economy 8:37 Corporate profits break records 9:35 USA slashes corporate taxes 10:40 Plan to loot retirement funds 11:38 SpaceX is absurdly overvalued 12:32 SpaceX is losing money 13:51 SpaceX IPO is a trap 17:00 Elon Musk, first trillionaire 18:08 OpenAI's shady IPO scheme 19:32 Many IPOs at peaks of bubbles 21:51 Bogus Big Tech earnings reports 24:09 AI circular financing scheme 25:09 Animal spirits 25:49 Unregulated financial looting 26:54 Outro

The United States government created the Sherman Anti-Trust Act in 1890 because the country was facing serious problems due to the centralization of power into the hands of oligarchs in the oil, steel, and railroad industries. Standard Oil had 91% of the market share in the oil refining industry when it was broken up in 1911, but the remnants remain in the form of Exxon Mobile, Chevron, Amoco, Conoco, Marathon, and Atlantic Richfield. U.S. Steel almost felt the wrath of the Department of Justice, but market forces intervened, and Microsoft could have been broken up in 2001 had it not been for a legal act of God. What current company is heading in that direction towards total market domination? And what could a captured American government even do to stop it from happening? That probably depends on who got campaign donations and who did not.---www.Macroaggressions.ioMerch StoreLink Tree Video Channels - Rumble | YouTube | BrighteonActivist Post - Newsletter Sign UpAudiobooks HypocrazyThe Octopus of Global ControlSupport Our SponsorsReplace Your Mortgage: www.WipeOutYourMortgageNow.comGround Luxe Grounding MatsC60 Power | Promo Code: MACROChemical Free Body | Promo Code: MACROWise Wolf Gold & SilverLegalShield: www.DontGetPushedAround.comChristian Yordanov's Health ProgramVan ManThe Dollar VigilanteNesa's Hemp | Promo Code: MACROAugason Farms

If you're anything like Building Local Power's host, Danny Caine, you've seen your electric bill creep up and are wondering: are data centers to blame for this? Danny sets out to answer this and other burning questions about the murky way in which Big Tech's data center arms race, public utilities, and electric bills intersect. Bringing his unanswered questions to energy experts, his neighbors, and his trusty dad, Danny aims to discover exactly how utilities make money from data center development, and if there's any hope for our electric bills. Guest voices + context:  Kevin Caine: Dad of Building Local Power host, Danny Caine, and resident of Cleveland, OhioJohn Farrell: Co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and director of the Energy Democracy InitiativeCathy Kunkel: Energy consultant at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)  Elena Schlossberg: Executive director of the Coalition to Protect Prince William CountyAndrew Chow: TIME technology correspondent who has extensively covered AI and data centers at the intersection of race over the past few years. Resources: Data Center Watch BriefingOhio's electric bills are high — and so are utility CEO salaries The Policies Communities Need to Confront the AI Data Center Race North Star Data Center Policy Toolkit: State and Local Policy Interventions to Stop Rampant AI Data Center Expansion - AI Now InstituteThe People Say No: Resisting Data Centers in the South - MediaJusticeProposed Prince William data center prompts protest letter to Jeff Bezos - The Washington PostOutcry grows over proposed Prince William data center - The Washington Post    

Nootmuskaat is nu niet meer dan een standaard keukenkruid maar dat was ooit anders. Monopolies, oorlogen en zelfs een genocide kunenn rechtstreeks verbonden worden met de specerij< Waarom en hoe hoor je in deze aflevering van Geschiedenis Van.

Some residents of the Boxtown neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee, didn't know Elon Musk was building a huge data center nearby until they saw city and Chamber of Commerce officials hyping the deal. A historic Black neighborhood founded by freedmen after the Civil War, Boxtown is one recent example of an old pattern: corporations siting polluting, noisy facilities in Black or poor neighborhoods, which the corporations see as less likely to mount a resistance to their plans. We chronicle this history, finding useful context in the decades-long fight against trash incinerators. We also learn what Memphis is doing to fight back, from citizen journalism to liberation science. Guest voices + context:  Dr. Sacoby Wilson: Director of The Health, Environmental, and Economic Justice Lab, and Professor in Global, Environmental and Occupational Health. Focuses on environmental health science, including water quality analysis and air pollution studies, and works closely with community-based organizations, such as those in Memphis. Collaborated with Representative Justin Pearson on work to advocate for Black Communities in the fight against data centers and environmental racism. Andrew Chow: TIME technology correspondent who has extensively covered AI and data centers at the intersection of race over the past few years. Jennifer Kunze: Maryland Organizing Director at Clean Water Action, who took Danny on a tour of the Baltimore Incinerator. Brenda Platt: Director of ILSR's Composting for Community Initiative Amber Sherman: Local policy organizer in Memphis Learn More: Data Center Watch BriefingInside Memphis' Battle Against Elon Musk's xAI Data Center -Andrew Chow, TimeHow the AI Boom Sparked a Housing Crisis in One Texas City -Andrew Chow, TimeFrom Neighborhood Streets to City Hall with Zac Blanchard - Building Local PowerMemphis Community Against Pollution We Went to the Town Elon Musk Is Poisoning - More Perfect Union

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is fluid as Iran attempts to wait out the U.S. Gregory Copley argues the U.S. requires regime change to stop trans-Eurasian monopolies and restore regional stability. (10/16)JUNE 1964

America Out Loud PULSE with Dr. Vaughn & Dr. Tankersley – Insurance monopolies erode trust, raise costs, and leave families struggling for care while powerful interests shape policy. True healing requires transparency, accountable institutions, medical freedom, and doctors who put patients first. Long COVID and overlooked brain drainage issues reveal why humility, scrutiny, and patient-centered science matter more than slogans today...

America Out Loud PULSE with Dr. Vaughn & Dr. Tankersley – Insurance monopolies erode trust, raise costs, and leave families struggling for care while powerful interests shape policy. True healing requires transparency, accountable institutions, medical freedom, and doctors who put patients first. Long COVID and overlooked brain drainage issues reveal why humility, scrutiny, and patient-centered science matter more than slogans today...

The California governor 2026 race is the most crowded gubernatorial primary in state history, and most of the candidates getting the airtime are the ones writing the biggest checks. On this episode of Purple Political Breakdown, host Radell Lewis sits down with Reza Safarnejad, an independent (No Party Preference) candidate for governor of California whose ballot designation is Small Business Owner and whose path into politics started the day the Palisades fire burned his entire neighborhood to ashes. Reza is not a career politician, but he is also not new to how government works. He is an immigrant, a working family man, and a University of Maryland graduate who spent twenty years in leadership roles on large scale federal, state, and local government programs before running for office. From 2006 to 2014 he worked at the National Institutes of Health on national level programs, including the National Cancer Institute's cancer.gov platform that helps doctors and patients find the best treatment options, and large scale virus and genomic research collaboration systems. Since 2014 he has worked in criminal forensics with crime labs and crime scene units across the country (including with the Ohio State Crime Labs), building unbiased, transparent platforms that serve victims and the wrongly accused. He is also the author of the book Veiled Souls and has written and spoken widely on civic issues. After the Palisades fire, Reza spent a year trying to work through California's local and state politicians and help new candidates, and what he found was systemic corruption baked into the party system itself. That is what pushed him from advocate to candidate. In this conversation we cover: the affordability squeeze on working California families, the homelessness factory that no amount of spending seems to fix, the billionaire tax loopholes that quietly hand sixty five percent Airbnb write-offs to the wealthy while regular Californians pay the bill, and the monopolies (Uber, Kroger and Albertsons, PG&E, Blue Cross, DoorDash, the pharma bros pushing ketamine and fentanyl) that he says are draining the state. We get into the Gavin Newsom critique without it becoming a Newsom episode, push back on the framing of the so-called billionaires' tax that excludes real estate moguls and Wall Street, dig into the Palisades fire accountability question, and talk through what California can actually do to push back when a Trump administration starts pulling federal funding and sending in the National Guard. This is a long-form, fact-checking, solutions-focused conversation with one of the lower-name candidates on the June 2 primary ballot. Whether Reza Safarnejad ends up in your top two or not, the conversation maps the issues every California voter should be testing every gubernatorial candidate against: affordability, monopoly power, homelessness, drug enforcement, tax fairness, and what it actually takes to be a governor for the people instead of the donors. Topics covered: California governor 2026 primary, independent candidate California, Palisades fire accountability, California affordability crisis, breaking up monopolies, California wealth tax, billionaire tax loopholes, Airbnb tax write-offs, California homelessness crisis, drug enforcement and marijuana legalization, federal funding fights, Newsom legacy, June 2 primary preview. Visit purplepoliticalbreakdown.com for episode notes, position statements, and the Research on a Dime archive. Subscribe, rate five stars, and share with a friend who's tired of toxic politics and ready for political solutions without political bias.Standard Resource Links & RecommendationsThe following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORKCheck Out the Podcast Website: www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.comALIVE Podcast Network - Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMSHeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTSUs United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATIONOtherWeb - An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACYEqual Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/starFuture is Now Coalition (FiNC) - A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTIndependent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWSText 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now)Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com ALL LINKShttps://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownThe Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

Welcome to Building Local Power's “The Data Centers Are Coming,” where we journey to some of the most active places in the cross-country battle over data centers in our local communities. We start at the epicenter: Data Center Alley in Loudoun County, Virginia. This once semi-rural community has now been transformed by Big Tech's sprawling data centers, sparking a fight for land, autonomy, and transparency from local residents. What does it feel like living there now? How is it impacting home values, affordability, energy and water usage, electric bills, and the overall well-being of the people who live nearby? We took a road trip to find out. In this episode we hear from:  Elena Schlossenberg: Our local tour guide, and deeply involved in grassroots organizing in Prince William County and Loudoun County. She has a deep knowledge of land use management and is the Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect Prince William County.Greg Pirio: A longtime Sterling, VA resident, Greg's home literally sits across the street from a Vantage data center. Greg is an artist and has become an unlikely activist, organizing his neighbors to advocate for local solutions and demand accountability for the relentless noise pollution impacting their daily lives. 

Bill rambles about monopolies, fighting animals, and distractions.Hims: Online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more at http://www.Hims.com/BURRHelix: Go to http://www.HelixSleep.com/BURR for 20% off site wide Squarespace: Better plants and better growing at http://www.FastGrowingTrees.com and use code BURR at checkout Fast Growing Trees: Better plants and better growing at http://www.FastGrowingTrees.com and use the code BURR at checkout Ship Station: Try it free for 60 days at http://www.ShipStation /com/BURR See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode, Travis and his producer Eric dive into the Live Nation/Ticketmaster antitrust verdict and what it really means for fans, artists, and everyday consumers trying to enjoy live events without getting gouged. They also draw parallels to platforms like Yelp and the Better Business Bureau, unpacking how pay‑to‑play review systems quietly hurt small businesses and distort trust online. This conversation blends current events with real small‑business experience, from running an Ever Bowl location to watching reviews disappear unless you pay for ads, and contrasts it all with fan‑first models like the Savannah Bananas. On this episode we talk about: The federal jury verdict that found Live Nation/Ticketmaster operated as a monopoly under federal and state antitrust laws How Ticketmaster's control of venues, promotion, and ticketing lets them stack fees and suppress competition Why platforms like Yelp feel “mafia‑style” to small business owners and how their “not recommended” filters quietly bury real reviews The exploding cost of live events like Coachella and why attending a “simple” festival now runs into the thousands How fan‑first models like the Savannah Bananas show a different way to price tickets, remove junk fees, and build long‑term brand equity Top 3 Takeaways Monopolies don't just mean higher prices; they often mean worse experiences, fewer choices, and bullying tactics behind the scenes for venues, artists, and fans. If your business depends on platforms like Yelp, you're playing in someone else's sandbox, and their opaque algorithms and ad pressure can erase years of hard‑earned social proof overnight. There is real opportunity for creators and companies who are willing to take short‑term profit hits—like eliminating junk fees or doing their own ticketing—to build massive trust and loyalty by putting fans and customers first. Notable Quotes “The only thing on this planet I hate more than Coffee Bean is Ticketmaster.” “What's even crazier is the volume of people who can't afford to be doing that.” “Money only solves your money problems, but it's easier to solve the rest of your problems when you got some money in the bank.” Connect with Travis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Other: https://travischappell.com Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All‑In‑One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is John Breyault.  John is with the National Consumers League. His work is on consumer protection. Which made a conversation about the Live Nation trial timely.  We cover a lot of ground about Live Nation and tickets including: The 2010 merger between Live Nation and Ticketmaster The consent decree that was supposed to reign in some behaviors Structural v. Behavioral remedies. And, why in this case, structural remedies might make more sense.  Bad actors. And, more!  I've written too many words about this case, but if you haven't had the chance to read them: Ticketmaster Won. Everyone Else Lost. That's Why Tickets Are Broken. David Marcus Replies. (On LinkedIn) DOJ Settlement The Fix Was Always In David Cooper's Guest Post Even If the States Win, Will It Be Enough? Must Be Nice Not to Know. Michael Rapino's Testimony. Lord...far too many words.  My new product launched today: The Drift Interrupter... You get:  Me + You and 90 minutes of analysis and action items.  A score with a detailed list of where drift is happening.  $1,500.  A bargain.  Join our Slack Channel! Over 400 people from around the world!  My site is www.DaveWakeman.com   

Broadcast from KSQD, Santa Cruz on 4-09-2026: Dr. Dawn shares a follow-up from an emailer in Switzerland providing seven functional medicine practitioner addresses near Zurich and Aargau, noting that Switzerland uses different terminology but is actually an "epicenter of functional medicine." Dr. Dawn calls for support of the bipartisan Break Up Big Medicine Act, modeled on Glass-Steagall, which would prohibit common ownership of medical providers with insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, or drug wholesalers. She explains how vertical integration by companies like UnitedHealth, CVS/Aetna, and Cigna allows them to game medical loss ratio requirements through self-dealing while driving up costs. A European clinical trial implanted 2mm x 2mm light sensors beneath the retinas of 38 people with advanced macular degeneration, with 80% gaining clinically meaningful improvement (two lines on the vision chart) after one year. The device bypasses damaged rods and cones, sending camera images from glasses directly to the optic nerve. Dr. Dawn explains that air temperature warnings are measured in shade, but direct sunlight can add 20°C to heat exposure. Heat stroke triggers gut permeability, releasing lipopolysaccharides that cause cytokine storms and organ failure. She advises fans over air conditioning when possible, shade, hydration, and loose natural-fabric clothing. An emailer asks if low-dose oral strontium supplementation has the same problem as pharmaceutical strontium. Dr. Dawn confirms it improves bone density scores without reducing fracture risk, and recommends telopeptide testing to monitor actual bone loss after discontinuing. An emailer's doctor wants to prescribe high-dose dexamethasone for low platelets. Dr. Dawn advises against rushing to steroids since platelets of 40 are adequate for clotting, recommending a hematology consultation and repeat testing with citrated blood. Dr. Dawn reviews fiber types: wheat dextrin (Benefiber) is fermentable but technically gluten-free; guar fiber (Sunfiber) ferments slowly and works for low-FODMAP diets; inulin feeds bifidobacteria and produces anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids; methylcellulose (Citrucel) is non-fermentable; and psyllium (Metamucil) is facing a class action lawsuit over undisclosed lead contamination. An emailer with varicose veins reports recurring superficial blood clots. Dr. Dawn explains these don't travel to lungs like deep vein clots, but repeated clotting suggests possible thrombophilia requiring workup. She recommends consulting a vascular surgeon about superficial venous ligation under local anesthesia. Analysis of 25,000 wearable users found that three daily "exercise snacks" of just 1-2 minutes of vigorous activity (stairs, running for a bus) reduced all-cause mortality by 38-40%. Benefits plateau around 7,500 steps daily, and simply standing up every couple of hours dramatically reduces sedentary risks.

Today on the show, the man who brought an injured wolf into a bar was sentenced this week for a felony charge of animal cruelty. We hear from a reporter who was in the courtroom. A Wyoming newspaper was selected for a national program to help redesign its business model. That's after the paper was almost shuttered last summer. And we hear how one law in the 80's paved the way for ski resorts to expand their footprint on public land. Those stories and more.

 In this episode, Mariana speaks with Adolfo Babatz, Founder and CEO of Clip, the company that transformed the Mexican streetscape by not only putting a payment terminal into the hands of micro-merchants but also by offering them financial services to help them become more efficient to survive.  They discuss the structural issues blocking Mexico's fintech revolution and digital currency adoption. They also explore what other countries like Brazil and India have done to reduce the attractiveness of cash, the impact of AI on Clip and Latin America, and which model will  the region follow: the “Super App” model of China, or the fragmented, specialized approach of the U.S.   Lastly, they touch upon Adolfo's personal qualities and his mission to bridge the socioeconomic gap between the banked and unbanked merchants.

A New Bill would lower energy bills by 30 percent and force utilites to pay victims of wildfires they cause, but as long as the utility lobby owns half of sacramento, it's not likely to pass Plus Randy speaks with LA city attorney Candidate John McKinneySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seeds, seeds, seeds. It all starts with power and who controls the seeds. But who is actually building scalable companies in this space? Today we have one: a decentralised seed company in Uganda that only works with indigenous seeds, is farmer-owned, and gives power, value, and control back to the farmers. The farmers are trained to select seeds and to grow them, and Emmanuel Luwemba, the founder of Eden Seeds, helps sell the best varieties to other farmers without extracting all life from the countryside like most seed companies do.What about yields? Emmanuel went deep into what farmers actually need. Of course, yield is important, but so is profitability. Dirty little secret: hybrid seeds are often very expensive and need a lot of very expensive inputs to perform. They often don't perform in challenging circumstances (droughts, extreme weather, etc). Taste, flavour, and nutrition are important too. Indigenous seeds are naturally high in iron, for example and there's no need for a multimillion-dollar, donor-funded GMO or CRISPR project to change hybrid seeds to add extra iron. Just breed, grow, and eat the indigenous variety selected over time for iron. That's not to say we can't develop these seeds further or that they are frozen in time, of course we can and should. If indigenous seeds got a quarter of the funding hybrids get, they would outperform everyone.More about this episode.==========================In Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food podcast show we talk to the pioneers in the regenerative food and agriculture space to learn more on how to put our money to work to regenerate soil, people, local communities and ecosystems while making an appropriate and fair return. Hosted by Koen van Seijen.==========================

Most people associate Adam Smith with free markets and “the invisible hand”. But does this conventional narrative purposefully ignore Smith's deep suspicions about monopolies and power?  Georgetown assistant professor Glory Liu argues this narrow interpretation is actually a deliberate historical reconstruction. In her book, “Adam Smith's America”, Liu reintroduces the famous philosopher as a theorist of power who worried deeply about organized wealth distorting society. She notes that Smith watched early merchants use their disproportionate resources to capture political influence and actively suppress workers.  Hosts Luigi and Bethany debate whether early merchant wealth accumulation truly mirrors the massive capital concentration seen in today's corporate landscape. They also explore the argument that reintroducing moral foundations to economic theory might provide a better foundation for capitalism itself. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Send a textEver look at a medical bill and wonder who actually gets paid—and why the numbers make no sense? We sat down with Dr. Christopher Eamon, interventional pain physician, and Tim Groth, CEO of Groth Pain & Spine, to map the full journey from exam room to reimbursement, and the hidden incentives shaping your care. From CPT and ICD-10 codes to clearinghouses and payer edits, we break down the back-end machinery that turns a note into a claim, and a claim into money… or a denial.We get candid about audits and takebacks—how Medicare can pay without prior review, then claw funds back years later—forcing practices to repay money already used to run clinics and pay doctors. That risk pushes small practices to the brink while large health systems negotiate two to five times Medicare rates and pass higher coinsurance onto patients. The price gap explains why your deductible hits harder at a hospital than at an independent office, and why many clinicians feel trapped between quality and volume.Then we tackle approvals and gatekeeping: why evidence-based procedures like spinal cord stimulation stall under shifting rules, how “peer-to-peer” often means a non-specialist reading policy instead of the literature, and how hours spent appealing denials come straight out of patient time. We share real examples of arbitrary criteria, odd denials, and the emotional toll of telling a patient the best option won't be covered.So how do independent practices survive? By rethinking workflows with scribes and extended intakes, building multidisciplinary teams, and cross-subsidizing essential but underpaid services. We explore concierge care as a lifeline for time and access, the rise of MSOs to pool admin costs, and the hard truth that rate-setting often bears little relation to clinical complexity. Along the way, we confront the broken math of premiums, deductibles, and end-of-life spending—and ask what smarter tradeoffs could look like if we valued healthier years over bureaucratic churn.If you've ever felt lost in prior auths, frustrated by surprise bills, or curious why a surgeon might earn less than a device rep in the same case, this conversation will connect the dots and give you language to ask better questions. Subscribe, share this with a friend who's wrestling with the system, and leave a review with your biggest insurance or billing mystery—we'll tackle it in a future show.Support the showLearn More at: www.Redefine-Fitness.com

As we approach the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith's “Wealth of Nations" this March, his theories on competition and the invisible hand remain part of the bedrock of modern economics. But, have we undermined those theories in our economy today? Widespread public anger suggests there is a growing belief that our current economic system is fundamentally rigged by those at the top. In many instances, backroom access and elite networking appear to be driving who becomes wealthy and successful instead of meritocratic competition. What would the father of economics think about today's crony capitalism, and what would he make of the so-called "Epstein class"? In this episode, we are joined by British Member of Parliament and author of “Adam Smith: Father of Economics” Jesse Norman. He argues that people often forget Smith deeply distrusted concentrated power, highlighting that Smith was heavily critical of wealth generated from insider knowledge or collusion. Smith condemned these practices precisely because they destroy the genuine competition required for free markets to actually benefit society. Applying this historical lens to current events, co-host Luigi Zingales provocatively asks if the so-called “Epstein Class” embody Adam Smith's worst fears, coordinating favors to bypass free market competition. Co-host Bethany McLeans debates whether we should call it a class, or if fixating on Epstein is a distraction from the broader systemic corruption threatening capitalism today. This episode offers a fresh look at the father of economics, and it is the first in a series of episode we're doing that strip away the caricatures of Adam Smith to ask what he'd really make of today's capitalism. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How are monopolistic corporations able to gain their economic dominance? They get politicians to give it to them.Consider the old robber barons. They weren't brilliant investors or managers, they were ruthless exploiters of government giveaways, and they routinely bribed lawmakers and other officials to permit their monopolistic thievery.Likewise, today's monopoly players have captured local, state, and national markets – not through honest competition, but by getting public officials to subsidize their expansion and to rig the rules against small competitors. Monopolizers buy this favoritism with the legalized bribes of dark-money campaign donations they lavish on compliant lawmakers.Investigative digger Stacy Mitchell recently documented how this corrupt political favoritism has allowed massive retail chains like Walmart, Kroger, and Dollar Store to crush thousands of local grocers. This has left millions of Americans living in “food deserts” – worker class, poor, and rural communities with no food store.What happened? As grocery chains spread from local to regional to national, they demanded that food manufacturers give them big discounts – a dramatic monopoly pricing advantage over independent rivals, so hometown grocers began hemorrhaging customers. This raw, anti-competitive, price discrimination was a flagrant violation of America's anti-monopoly law – but here came Big Money to protect the monopolists.In 1980, as Ronald Reagan was railing against “silly” consumer protection laws, supermarket lobbyists poured campaign cash into top officials of both parties. What they bought was bipartisan agreement to simply stop enforcing that “rusty” old antitrust law that had protected a competitive grocery economy for nearly 50 years.But good news! That useful, highly-effective law is still on the books, so let's build a long-term grassroots campaign to rejuvenate it and re-outlaw monopolization, redlining, and price gouging by food giants. For more information, go to ilsr.org.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

In this week's Stansberry Investor Hour, Dan and John Engel welcome Dave Lashmet to the show. Dave is the editor of Stansberry Venture Technology, an advisory that takes a "venture capitalist" look at the market. Dave scours the market looking for little-known small-cap companies that are potentially producing the next wonder drug or technology.   Dave kicks things off by discussing the first of three biopharmaceutical companies he's sharing that have monopolies in weight-loss drugs. He starts by showing how drugs gain their monopolies via patents, giving them "economic exclusivity." While companies might be targeting the same patients, the patents influence how they're being treated. The first company gains an edge by not only targeting folks suffering from obesity, but also by treating those with Type 2 diabetes. Dave also explains the contrast in mentality between the U.S. and other countries regarding obesity being preventable. And he provides info showing how obesity is a "slippery slope" and shares that a study found that participants who got off the drug gained back the weight they lost before. (0:00)   Next, Dave sums up how the first company has cleared all of the risks and expenses from clinical trials, while a close competitor still has to get past its trials due to unknown side effects. When asked about why folks would stay on a weight-loss pill for life, Dave points to how our culture has drastically changed over the years, from actively working on farms to passively working in cubicles. These drugs help balance out the resulting shift. Dave then transitions into the next company that has a drug that focuses on fatty liver disease. He explains how this distinction helps the company gain its monopoly due to how irreplaceable livers are. And similar to the first company, this drug will have lifelong consumers. And the good news for investors is that its only competitor causes weight gain. (21:49)   Finally, Dave presents the final company that tackles weight loss by focusing on genetics. Unlike the first two companies, this one treats patients with an injectable drug rather than a pill. However, it zeroes in on our natural "hunger switch," suppressing the users' appetites. Right now, the company is only waiting to get past trials, which puts it at a disadvantage compared with the other two. But Dave still believes that because of how it works, it's still set to stand beside the two pills. (39:44)

It's such an important lesson for anyone in communications or media - especially because it's more competitive than ever before to stand out. If you're not someone people can trust, and if you're not someone who appears to be bringing information to light in a good faith way - the consumer will abandon you. Enter the story of the venerable Washington Post whose own boss admitted yesterday - the game is up and laid off hundreds. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent goes to war on Capital Hill with small-brained members of the House who didn't care for being shown up. President Trump backs off in Minneapolis. Major medial associations are bailing on gender butchery. Trump's tariff policies continue to show big results on the international stage. Fulton County Georgia sure seems defensive about the FBI investigating their 2020 ballots. And meet the group committed to ending woke medicine. -For more info visit the official website: https://chrisstigall.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisstigallshow/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisStigallFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.stigall/Listen on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/StigallPodListen on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/StigallShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.