Podcast appearances and mentions of Susan Collins

donald trump maine battles fox news health insurance voting rights susan collins jeanine pirro

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2025 33:20

This week on the podcast, Ben, Cate and Channa dig into Sen. Susan Collins’ latest string of controversial votes — from confirming far-right conspiracy theorist Joe Kent and former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, to approving funding for a $1 billion jet for Trump on the back of taxpayers. Also, health insurance rates are proposed… The post Podcast: The battles over health insurance and voting rights in Maine first appeared on Maine Beacon.

"The South Carolina Showdown: Nancy Mace, Moderates, and the Battle for the Governor's Mansion"

The Tara Show

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2025 9:45

In this deep-dive political commentary, the speaker explores South Carolina's upcoming Republican gubernatorial primary, spotlighting the unconventional rise of Nancy Mace and her history of challenging party leadership. From critiques of moderate Republicans like Susan Collins to praise for Mace's refusal to play by establishment rules, this conversation delves into the complexities of conservative politics in a state known for outsized national influence. With two prominent women in the race and critical issues like illegal immigration and law enforcement authority on the table, this race promises to defy stereotypes and stir serious debate.

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Podcast: How Sen. candidate Jordan Wood would take on Collins and big money

chief wall street democrats senate wood candidate big money susan collins katie porter jordan wood

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2025 39:14

This week on the podcast, Cate and Ben interview Jordan Wood — a Democrat who is looking to unseat Sen. Susan Collins. Before running for the U.S. Senate, Wood served as Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Katie Porter, where he supported her work taking on Wall Street banks and financial interests. He also previously served… The post Podcast: How Sen. candidate Jordan Wood would take on Collins and big money first appeared on Maine Beacon.

The Senate's earmark explosion

The Daily Punch

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2025 13:55

Who's cashing in during earmark season? Anna and Jake break down how Sen. Susan Collins is flexing her power — and what it means for Maine. Plus, can the Senate strike a minibus deal before the August recess? And Republicans' big bet on Latino candidates in 2026. Punchbowl News is on YouTube! Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we're investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

congress maine senate latino explosion susan collins punchbowl news

Amidst The Cruelty And The Chaos, This Day Was For John Lewis

The Chuck ToddCast: Meet the Press

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 100:54

On this new episode of THE POLITICRAT daily podcast Omar Moore on a day for John Lewis, and other developments, including the Jeffrey Epstein files that will not go away--no matter how much Donald Trump wants them to. Also: The Republicans in the US senate (except Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski) vote to strip $9 billion from public services including NPR and PBS (no more Big Bird for your little ones). Plus: What do Stephen Colbert and Bill O'Reilly have in common? Both are on TV -- and that's where the commonalities end. And: So much more!Recorded July 17, 2025.THE POLITICRAT SUMMER 2025 BOOK READING LIST: https://substack.com/@politicrat/note/c-133449058?r=judrw&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-actionPRESSURE DEMOCRATS to keep reminding the American public about the damage the Big BS Bill will do. Call 202-224-3121 and ask to speak to a Democratic congressperson.READThe Big BS Bill in full: https://www.budget.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/the_one_big_beautiful_bill_act.pdf If you would like to contribute financially to The Politicrat: please send money via Zelle to omooresf@gmail.comSocial media:SUBSCRIBE: https://mooreo.substack.comSUBSCRIBE: https://politicrat.substack.comhttps://fanbase.app/popcornreel(Invest in Fanbase now! https://startengine.com/fanbase)https://spoutible.com/popcornreelhttps://popcornreel.bsky.socialAnd spill.com (@popcornreel)Black-owned media matters: (Watch Roland Martin Unfiltered daily M-F 6-8pm Eastern)https://youtube.com/rolandsmartin Download the Black Star Network app

January 6th & Trump Assassination Attempt HAUNT American Politics + Showdown Between Newsom & Texas Over Gerrymandering

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2025 113:16

Chuck Todd begins with a rant about his beloved Washington Nationals before pivoting to Trump strong-arming congressman Zach Nunn into running for reelection and Texas into holding a mid decade restricting process to try and maintain control of the house. He weighs in on California governor Gavin Newsom's threat to gerrymander his state in response to Texas and why that plan may not work. He also surveys the state of several 2026 races. Then, Chuck is joined by renowned CBS News Capitol Hill correspondent Scott MacFarlane who delivers an unflinching analysis of American politics in the post-January 6th era and recounts his harrowing experience of being in attendance during the assassination attempt of Donald Trump. MacFarlane, drawing from his extensive experience covering the insurrection trials and congressional proceedings, explores how the events of January 6th continue to reshape the political landscape, from Trump's recent blanket pardons to the ongoing divisions within the Republican Party. He provides insider perspectives on the Secret Service's challenges during campaign season, the diverse backgrounds of January 6th defendants, and the broader implications of political violence in American democracy.The conversation spans critical topics including the decline of local journalism, the judiciary's politicization, and the increasingly siloed information ecosystem that defines modern American politics. MacFarlane offers candid insights into the DOJ's handling of January 6th prosecutions under Merrick Garland, the death threats faced by trial witnesses, and how Trump's survival of the Butler assassination attempt reinforced his supporters' belief in divine intervention. The discussion also touches on contemporary challenges facing journalists, from the pressure to develop personal brands to declining morale in newsrooms, while examining ongoing political realignments and the future of democratic institutions in America.Finally, Chuck answers listeners' questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment about Trump trying to rescind some of Biden's late-term pardons, Gavin Newsom's political evolution and why Dan Osborne is running for senate rather than governor in Nebraska.Timeline:(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)00:00 Introduction00:45 James Wood didn't have competent pitching in HR derby02:00 Lack of summer sports programming04:45 Trump has unprecedented control over the Republican party07:30 Zach Nunn flirting with run with Iowa governor or switching seats09:30 Trump forced Nunn into seeking reelection 10:30 Trump strong arming Texas into mid decade redistricting11:45 Additional gerrymandering is risky for Texas Republicans13:30 Gavin Newsom threatens to gerrymander CA in response to Texas15:15 Newsom's rhetoric may not match the political reality16:30 Republicans are trying to rig their house majority17:30 Donald Trump is dictating all of these actions18:15 Trump is trying to destroy Thomas Massie for no vote on BBB19:15 Republicans risk candidates being tied to an unpopular president21:15 Democrats are grappling with whether to fight fire with fire23:15 Gerrymandering fights are popping up around the country24:30 The White House is obsessed with holding the house26:00 Trumpworld will stoke fear of impeachment to juice turnout27:00 NRSC has gone all-in on stopping Ken Paxton in Texas28:15 John Cornyn could walk away and back Wesley Hunt30:30 Susan Collins is raising money as if she's seeking reelection31:30 Jonathan Bush may run for governor in Maine32:45 Mary Peltola may run for governor or senate in Alaska35:15 The PGA Tour announcing a new tournament at Trump Doral38:00 Scott MacFarlane joins the Chuck ToddCast! 38:30 Scott's origin story 40:30 Local news has been decimated in recent years 42:30 People have the closest connection with local news outlets 44:30 Local news should be targeting millennial parents 46:30 Why was the response to the Butler assassination attempt so muted? 48:30 Secret service is stretched thin during campaign season 49:30 Was the secret service underresourced? 51:00 Scott felt the vibe was "off" at the event 53:00 If Trump hadn't survived, the crowd would have attacked media 54:15 Trump surviving created a divine intervention belief in his supporters 57:00 Many J6ers admitted "they don't know what got into them" 58:30 The J6ers are an incredibly diverse group of people 59:45 Only two J6ers were acquitted 1:01:00 The electorate sees almost everything through a red/blue lens 1:02:30 The senate broke the judiciary 1:03:30 There's only ONE apologetic January 6th defendant 1:05:00 Republicans now in congress wouldn't condemn J6 1:07:15 The blanket pardon was Trump condoning political violence 1:08:45 Have all the DOJ prosecutors who worked on J6 cases been fired? 1:10:00 People who testified at J6 trials have received death threats 1:12:30 Merrick Garland slow rolled DOJ's J6 prosecutions 1:14:30 It's surprising how quickly Republicans came back to Trump after J6 1:15:30 If the senate voted to convict, we'd have a president Ron DeSantis 1:18:00 Mitch McConnell's surrender handed the keys over to the MAGA wing 1:19:30 The information ecosystem is incredibly siloed 1:21:15 The public dismisses Trump's corruption as "they all do it" 1:23:00 January 6th is still ongoing, it's just taken different forms 1:24:30 What to make of the ongoing Epstein files saga? 1:26:15 Trump's people fanned the flames of Epstein conspiracies 1:28:00 You can't release names of Epstein associates without proof of a crime 1:30:00 America's political realignment is fascinating and potentially disastrous 1:31:15 Is Pam Bondi's job safe? 1:32:30 Trump flexing his power over the city of Washington D.C. 1:34:00 Muriel Bowser has handled Trump well 1:35:00 Morale for journalists is low and unsettled 1:36:00 Journalists are now required to have a personal brand 1:37:30 Every journalist wants to be Woodward and Bernstein 1:39:30 The state of D.C. professional sports1:40:15 Chuck's thoughts on the interview with Scott MacFarlane 1:40:30 Ask Chuck 1:40:35 What to make of Trump trying to undo Biden's late term pardons? 1:45:45 Will Gavin Newsom's "pivot to the middle" work in middle America? 1:49:30 What is the advantage of Dan Osborne running for senate over governor?

Senator Mark Warner wants to keep security clearances free from politics.

Federal Drive with Tom Temin

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2025 11:06

Getting through a federal security clearance investigation has always been a little harrowing. The process is also often the reason it takes so long to get federal workers hired. But recently, some say the process itself has become political, and that poses a danger to national security. Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner has recently introduced legislation with Senator Susan Collins of Maine to address this issue. Senator Warner joins me now to explain his concerns and his bill.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

politics maine senators warner susan collins mark warner security clearances

Can Republicans Actually Make the Trump Tax Cuts Permanent?

The Power Of Zero Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2025 9:30

President Trump's proposed Big Beautiful Bill (BBB), which has been getting everyone's attention of late, is the topic of this episode of The Power of Zero Show. Host David McKnight points out that the “crown jewel” of the BBB is the extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCGA) brought about cuts to individual income taxes, corporate taxes, and a dramatic expansion of the estate tax exemption. While corporate tax cuts were made permanent – going from 35% to 21% – the tax cuts for individuals and estates had an expiration date. If the status quo stays unchanged, those tax rates will revert back to their 2017 levels on January 1st, 2026. David goes over how Republicans could make the tax cuts permanents through some outside the box accounting techniques. Since Republicans don't have a supermajority in the House or Senate, they would have to rely on a special Senate process known as Budget Reconciliation. A few fiscal conservatives such as Representative Thomas Massie and David Schweikert, as well as Senator Susan Collins and Rand Paul may not be on board with such an approach… Their main concern? The fact that making these tax cuts permanent would add between 4.6 and 5.5 trillion dollars to the national debt over the next 10 years. David addresses the single greatest obstacle preventing Republicans from making the Trump tax cuts permanent: the Bird Roll. The Bird Roll states that budget reconciliation bills cannot increase the federal deficit beyond the budget window, which is typically 10 years. In other words, to make the tax cuts permanent, Republicans would have to find a way to pay for them. Cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamps Program), as well as tariffs on imports are how Republicans are trying to go about things. Some Republicans suggest that the tax cuts won't increase the national debt over the next decade and beyond, for the fact that they'll actually spark economic growth. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the cost of the 2017 tax cuts was $1.9 trillion over an eight-year period, while the tax cuts themselves only increased revenue by about $400 billion. As David stresses, “The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 ended up increasing the debt by about $1.5 trillion, meaning that the tax cuts were in no way self-financing.” If Trump tax cuts were to be made permanent, it will almost certainly increase the likelihood that taxes will have to skyrocket by the year 2035. According to a Penn Wharton study, when the country's debt-to-GDP reaches 200%, we've passed the point of no return. If that were to happen, no combination of raising taxes or reducing spending would arrest the financial collapse of the nation. Former Comptroller General of the Federal Government, David M. Walker, has even suggested that tax rates could have to double to keep the U.S. solvent. This means that even if Republicans make the tax cuts permanent, they will have to raise taxes eventually… For David, this may lead to Congress being forced to raise taxes in dramatic fashion in 2035 in an effort to avoid a financial apocalypse in 2040. David believes that, if you have the lion's share of your retirement savings swirling away in tax-deferred accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs, you should take advantage of what's likely going to be 8 to 10 years more of historically low tax rates. Mentioned in this episode: David's national bestselling book: The Guru Gap: How America's Financial Gurus Are Leading You Astray, and How to Get Back on Track DavidMcKnight.com DavidMcKnightBooks.com PowerOfZero.com (free video series) @mcknightandco on Twitter @davidcmcknight on Instagram David McKnight on YouTube Get David's Tax-free Tool Kit at taxfreetoolkit.com Donald Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Representative Thomas Massie Representative David Schweikert Senator Susan Collins Senator Rand Paul Congressional Budget Office Penn Wharton David M. Walker

Senate passed Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, Hundreds of Hindus attacked Christians in India, Rare Indonesian fish is thorn in evolutionists' side

The WorldView in 5 Minutes

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025

It's Wednesday, July 2nd, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Hundreds of Hindus attacked Christians in India Hundreds of Hindu nationalists attacked a group of Christian families in eastern India last month. The 20 families were eating lunch together before the mob attacked them. Eight of the Christians had to be hospitalized. A Christian leader in the area told International Christian Concern, “Hindu right-wing activists continued to threaten people to change their religion and accept Hinduism.” However, the Christians resisted. India is ranked 11th on the Open Doors' World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Trump brokered peace deal between Congo and Rwanda The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a peace deal last Friday in Washington, D.C. The United States brokered the agreement which will allow American companies to access minerals in the region. Armed groups across the two East African nations have been in conflict since the 1990s. The violence has left millions of people dead. Christians in the area have been especially vulnerable. Listen to comments from President Donald Trump on the conflict. TRUMP: “It's displaced countless people and claimed the lives of thousands and thousands. But today, the violence and destruction comes to an end. And the entire region begins a new chapter of hope and opportunity, harmony, prosperity and peace.” Senate passed Trump's Big Beautiful Bill with Vance's tie-breaking vote The U.S. Senate passed President Trump's “One Big Beautiful Bill” yesterday. Vice President J.D. Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to approve it 51-50. The three Republican Senators who defected include Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. The spending bill extends Trump's tax cuts from 2017. It provides more funding for defense and immigration enforcement while cutting Medicaid spending. Appearing on Fox News Channel, Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, outlined the highlights of Trump's Big Beautiful Bill. MILLER: “Each and every one of the individual titles in this bill would be considered one of the great achievements in the history of the conservative movement. “Building the missile defense shield. Our children can be safe from foreign adversaries in this growing era of intercontinental ballistic missiles as nation's race for supremacy. “The section on this bill enshrining border and homeland security. This is the most far reaching Border Security proposal, Homeland Security proposal in my lifetime. I stood by the families whose kids have been murdered by illegal aliens. We made them a promise. Most importantly, the American people voted to fulfill that promise in the last election. This bill fulfills it. “It is the largest tax cut and reform in American history. No tax on tips. No tax on Social Security. No tax on overtime. 100% expensing for new factories. Think about that. Every single business owner with a dream of manufacturing in America can deduct 100% of that cost to make the American dream come true. “The largest welfare reform in American history. Work requirements on food stamps. Work requirements on Medicaid. “This is the most conservative bill in my lifetime. Tax cuts, defense, Border Security, Homeland Security, welfare reform and the largest spending cut in one bill that has ever been enacted. Let's pass this bill.” The bill does raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. The U.S. national debt currently stands at $37 trillion. The bill heads back to the U.S. House of Representatives for final approval. Trump hopes to sign the bill by July 4. Senate votes to defund Planned Parenthood The Senate version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” would also defund Planned Parenthood. A provision in the bill cuts abortion funding through Medicaid for one year. Originally, the provision would have cut the funding for 10 years. Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington offered an amendment to strike the provision defunding Planned Parenthood from the bill. Thankfully, the Republicans rejected her pro-abortion amendment. Marjorie Dannenfelser with SBA Pro-Life America said, “Taxpayers should never be forced to funnel their hard-earned dollars to Big Abortion. This funding currently hits almost $800 million annually.” 58% of Americans say public schools should have religious chaplains A new poll from the Associated Press found Americans are divided on their views of religion in public schools. Fifty-eight percent of U.S. adults think religious chaplains should be allowed to provide support services in public schools. Only 44% are in favor of teachers leading a class in prayer. And 39% support a mandatory period during school for private prayer and religious reading. Also, 38% of Americans think religion has too little influence on what children are taught in schools while 32% think religion has too much influence. Arsonist shot and killed 2 firefighters, injured another A man armed with a rifle started a wildfire Sunday and then began shooting at first responders in a northern Idaho mountain community, killing two firefighters and wounding a third during a barrage of gunfire over several hours, reports The Associated Press. Crews responded to a fire at Canfield Mountain, just north of Coeur d'Alene around 1:30 p.m., and gunshots were reported about a half hour later. The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Wess Roley, committed suicide at the scene. Sheriff Bob Norris said, “We do believe that the suspect started the fire, and we do believe that it was an ambush and it was intentional. These firefighters did not have a chance.” The deaths of Frank Harwood, a 42-year-old firefighter, and John Morrison, a 52-year-old firefighter, have left their colleagues reeling. David Tysdal, age 47, a Coeur d'Alene fire department fire engineer. sustained gunshot wounds and was in critical condition. Authorities said he had two successful surgeries. Ironically, the dead gunman, Wess Roley, had once aspired to be a firefighter and had only minor contacts with area police, reports The Guardian. Rare Indonesian fish is thorn in evolutionists' side Ocean explorers recently captured a rare Indonesian fish on camera for the first time. Marine biologist Alexis Chappuis encountered an Indonesian coelacanth nearly 500 feet below the ocean's surface in the Maluku Islands. The Indonesian species of the fish has been spotted before but never photographed underwater. The coelacanth has been called a living fossil. Scientists believed they were extinct until one was spotted in 1938. Frank Sherwin with the Institute for Creation Research wrote that the fish “continues to be a thorn in the evolutionists' side. Paleontologists can only say these amazing fish evolved from a vague, unidentified ‘. . . ancestor.' Creationists say there have always been coelacanth fish since their creation thousands of years ago.” Psalm 104:23-24 says, “O LORD, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom have You made them all; the Earth is full of Your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.” 7 Worldview listeners gave $1,246.50 to fund the newscast Even though our fundraiser officially concluded on June 30th, 7 final donations came in on July 1st. Our thanks to Tony and Jenny in Palmdale, California who gave $5.50, Julia in Wellsburg, Iowa who gave $20, and Christopher in Dubois, Pennsylvania who gave $25. And we're grateful to God for Leticia in Blum, Texas who pledged $15/month for 12 months for a gift of $180, siblings in Wellsburg, Iowa who pledged $20/month for 12 months for a gift of $240, Ed in Wellsburg, Iowa who pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300, and Geral in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada who gave $476. Those 7 Worldview listeners gave $1,246.50. Ready for our final grand total? Drum roll please. (Drum roll sound effect) $126,741! (People clapping and cheering sound effect) That means we exceeded our $123,500 goal to fund the 6-member Worldview newscast team by $3,241. Thanks again for your sacrifice and your kindness. Psalm 145:3 says, “Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom." Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, July 2nd, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

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Trump's ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill' exposed GOP divide & fuels Musk's threat to form a new political party

Furthermore with Amanda Head

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025 28:27

On this episode of the podcast, Amanda Head dives into the high-stakes politics and economic implications of President Trump's newly passed “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Wisconsin Congressman Glenn Grothman breaks down the legislative battle in the Senate, where temperamental conservatives like Rand Paul, Susan Collins, and Thom Tillis pushed back, prompting criticism from voices like Elon Musk and raising talk of a new political party. Grothman also discusses the transformation of a former airport into a detention center, the troubling rise in attacks on ICE agents, and how unchecked immigration could affect American communities.The second conversation in this episode is with Thomas Savidge who serves as a Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research. He examines the economic reality behind Trump's flagship bill. While praising the extension of Trump's 2017 tax cuts and a simplified tax filing process, he warns about the steep price of raising the SALT cap to $40,000 — a move that largely benefits wealthy, high-tax states like California. Savage also critiques the bill's failure to meaningfully reform Medicaid or streamline the tax code, underscoring how legislative compromise often leaves deeper problems unresolved.You can follow this podcast, Amanda Head, Thomas Savidge and Congressman Grothman on X (formerly Twitter) using the respective handles in the search bar: @FurthermorePod, @AmandaHead, @RepGrothman, @Thomas_Savidge.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bonus: Daily Review With Clay and Buck - Jul 01 2025

Verdict with Ted Cruz

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2025 60:53 Transcription Available

Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four Tuesday takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Senate Passes Big, Beautiful Bill In Hour 1 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, the hosts deliver a dynamic and timely breakdown of the Senate’s passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill”, a sweeping legislative package poised to reshape the political and economic landscape. Passed by a narrow 51-50 margin with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote, the bill now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature, expected by July 4th. This hour dives deep into the bill’s key provisions, including a $5 trillion debt ceiling increase, hundreds of billions allocated for border security and national defense, and a projected $3.3 trillion budget deficit increase through 2034. The hosts analyze the political drama surrounding the bill’s passage, highlighting opposition from Republican Senators Rand Paul, Tom Tillis, and Susan Collins, and the expected reconciliation process in the House. Lefty Language Games Analysis of the Senate’s passage of the “big, beautiful bill,” a major piece of legislation expected to stimulate economic growth, provide tax certainty, and enhance border security. The hosts emphasize the bill’s imperfections but argue its net benefits outweigh its flaws, especially in the context of a government that often lacks the political will to reduce spending. A significant portion of the hour is dedicated to the unsustainable trajectory of federal spending, with references to past efforts by figures like Ross Perot, Senator Ron Johnson, and Senator Rand Paul. The hosts critique both parties for failing to curb entitlement growth and highlight how slowing the rate of spending increases is misleadingly labeled as “cuts.” They also explore how artificial intelligence and productivity gains could potentially offset fiscal challenges, offering a rare optimistic note on economic innovation. The Art of the Possible The Big Beautiful Bill now heads back to the House, where the Freedom Caucus may voice opposition, but it’s expected to reach President Donald Trump’s desk for signature before the July 4th holiday. A major highlight of the hour is President Trump’s visit to “Alligator Alcatraz” in Ochopee, Florida, a remote airstrip facility intended for detaining and deporting illegal immigrants. Trump’s remarks emphasized deterrence, warning migrants against fleeing into the Everglades. The segment underscores the administration’s tough stance on immigration and sanctuary cities, with speculation that legal challenges may arise from cities defying federal deportation orders. Best Movie of the 21st Century? Clay and Buck debate the best movies of the 21st century, referencing a recent New York Times list. Films like The Dark Knight, There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, and The Pianist are discussed, with particular praise for Heath Ledger’s iconic performance as the Joker. The conversation also includes listener favorites and humorous disagreements over ice cream flavors—particularly pistachio—and nostalgic TV shows like Knight Rider and The Dukes of Hazzard. Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8 For the latest updates from Clay and Buck: https://www.clayandbuck.com/ Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Social Media: X - https://x.com/clayandbuck FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kagro in the Morning - July 1, 2025

Daily Kos Radio - Kagro in the Morning

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2025 116:53

July! David Waldman will depart upon his KITM Patriotic Tour of America very soon but is here today and even tomorrow with live shows! Get your 4th of July prepped soon, before Hell buys up all of the charcoal. Did Republicans kill the filibuster? The Senate did kill thousands of people. JD Vance dealt the coup de grâce, and promised that there'll be many more corpses before he's finished. Elon Musk might go onto the casualty list if he doesn't shut up. Dems made Susan Collins feel concerned for a moment. Like changing the direction of a hurricane, Donald K. Trump is using his Sharpie to divert interest rates from Jerome Powell. Trump and Kristi Noem, who never got the opportunity to pose at Abu Ghraib, made up for it at today's grand opening celebration of the Everglades “migrant detention facilities”. Kristi missed her chance to chuck puppies to the gators (at least on camera) but Noem knows that some things are better if kept quiet… like political graft.

america donald trump politics hell news elon musk senate progressive commentary polls dems jd vance jerome powell everglades noem kristi noem explainer sharpie susan collins abu ghraib david waldman kitm kagrox kagro

Susan Collins, Judas

The Truth on Trump

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2025 3:38 Transcription Available

judas susan collins

TRUMP'S RUNNING A PROTECTION RACKET PRESIDENCY - 6.30.25

Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2025 67:21 Transcription Available

SEASON 3 EPISODE 143: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (1:45) SPECIAL REPORT: Which is worse? That Trump is running a “Protection Racket Presidency” and bribed one Senator to vote for his Big Beautiful Soak The Poor Budget Bill while metaphorically bumping off one Senator who wouldn’t? Or that Trump threatened Israel, threatened the government of Israel, if Israel's courts don’t do what HE wants on behalf of Netanyahu – and nobody noticed. Which is worse? Well it’s a trick question because these are actually just two different aspects of the same story. It’s a protection racket. These are a) the domestic operations of the protection racket, and b) the international operations of the protection racket. Thom Tillis, the vaguely responsible Republican senator from North Carolina, refused to let Trump politically rape him Saturday night and would not vote to advance the budget bill. Trump had been threatening him for weeks, months, accelerated it, finally began to ask for volunteers to primary him, Tillis announced yesterday he will retire from the senate at the end of his term next year. So much for Mr. Tillis. So much for somebody, anybody, in the Republican party saying “I owe this country something.” So much for the thought that when the country is up against it and the breaks are beating the boys, tell ‘em to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Tiller. I don’t know where I’ll be then, but I’ll know about it and I’ll be happy.” Well I know where Thom Tillis will be: he’ll be back home in Cornelius, North Carolina. Presumably drinking heavily. Reflecting on how he represents the utter moral and ethical decline of the already near-bankrupt and nearly-totally-declined Republican Party. Meanwhile Senator Lisa Murkowski turns out to be Susan Collins with less Kibuki make-up. She sold her soul to get herself a carveout for Alaska, only to find out the Senate Parliamentarian says it violates the Senate's Byrd Rule and the carveout must be carved out. Lol. AND TRUMP THREATENED TO DEFUND ISRAEL - what would be the end of the political career of any other American figure - and nobody noticed. And it seems to have worked. ALSO: WHY KRISTEN GILLIBRAND MUST RESIGN (and get treatment), Stephen Miller has a financial interest in the ICE raids, the plot to make Eric Adams the Republican nominee for mayor of New York, and you missed the new SCOTUS rulings on porn! Pay attention, Mike Johnson! B-Block (37:32) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Jeopardy aficionados worried about a conflict of interest because the contestant was related to the person who was the answer to the question? I was on two episodes of Jeopardy in which a contestant had the same name as the answer to the question, and where a contestant wrote four of the five sketches that were all the answers in an entire category! Plus the Fox host who doesn't know when World War 2 was or which American party caused breadlines; Chris Cuomo thinks AOC destroyed the Democratic Party not, say, he and his brother; and idiot Senator Bernie Moreno discusses "anals" with Laura Ingraham. C-Block (56:00) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: It's that time again. July 10 is the 46th anniversary of my first broadcast on my first full-time broadcasting job, which means you have a choice: you have to listen to it, or skip it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Kagro in the Morning - June 30, 2025

Daily Kos Radio - Kagro in the Morning

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2025 116:43

Here we are, at the end of a long month, but David Waldman and Greg Dworkin still aren't tired and can keep it up as long as we can. Thom Tillis picked up his integrity at the coat check area and left the Senate, rather than having Trump's fat ugly bill become his epitaph. Of course, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski are oh-so-close to becoming Democrats… until right about now in the process, when someone offers them a “reacharound” or a “wraparound” or whatever the kids are calling it nowadays. No normal person would vote for this bill, but few in DC run into people outside of a photo op. Mayors, however, run into actual people no matter where their cities are, which is a shock to those politicians who aren't used to that. Donald K. Trump wants everyone to know that the people who leaked the truth about Iran are LYING and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the laws that will be disregarded in their prosecution. Alligator Auschwitz awaits them all. Trump will release an MS-13 friend of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to get him to take back Kilmar Abrego Garcia and maybe lose him a little better this time. Bibi Netanyahu notes that the more Gazans he kills, the more open he feels towards a ceasefire deal. Pam Bondi, She-Wolf of the DOJ, finds her A-II solutions to be just as fun as her 2A ones. Here's what a $1 Trillion Medicaid Cut would look like. Here's a little of what it would feel like.

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Marathon vote-a-rama on One Big Beautiful Bill amendments underway in Senate; final passage not assured given potential GOP holdouts

C-SPAN Radio - Washington Today

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2025 36:57

The Senate's vote-a-rama continues, as members offer and vote on amendments to the Republican's tax and spending cuts bill. But passage of the bill isn't a sure thing. Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have both said they're voting "no", while Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska haven't said how they'll vote. Congressional Republicans and President Trump have said they want the bill passed and signed into law by July 4th. Last night on the floor, Sen. Tillis criticized both the bill's Medicaid cuts and the president for breaking a campaign promise to not interfere with Medicaid benefits. That prompted responses from the president on social media, including one announcing he'd said he would back a primary challenge against the senator. Not long after, Sen. Tillis announced he would not seek reelection next year. A federal appeals court heard arguments today on the president's use of the Alien Enemies Act. Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union say the Trump administration is unlawfully using the law to take away due process for possible deportees. The administration maintains that a Venezuelan gang is carrying out an invasion of the US at the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Nightmare Too Shall Pass; Zohran Mamdani, Living Political Legend; Pastor Jamal Bryant Has A Sermon For You

america donald trump washington lgbtq respect iran cnn blues supreme court republicans fox news iranians medicaid big beautiful josh hawley marriage act susan collins obergefell lisa murkowski

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2025 83:12

On this new episode of THE POLITICRAT daily podcast Omar Moore on Zohran Mamdani's impressive win in the New York City mayoral primary. Is his sensational victory a bellwether of things to come electorally across the USA? Also: The pitfalls that Mr. Mamdani must avoid in November. Plus: This nightmare too shall pass. And: Pastor Jamal Bryant's sermon on the need to boycott stores that disrespect Black people -- a can't miss excerpt (courtesy of Roland Martin.)STOP THE BIG B.S. BILL: Call your U.S. senators -- especially Republican senators (Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Rand Paul) at 202-224-3121. And call your member of Congress. Do it today!Recorded June 29, 2025.If you would like to contribute financially to The Politicrat: please send money via Zelle to omooresf@gmail.comSocial media:SUBSCRIBE: https://politicrat.substack.comSUBSCRIBE: https://mooreo.substack.comhttps://fanbase.app/popcornreel(Invest in Fanbase now! https://startengine.com/fanbase)https://spoutible.com/popcornreelhttps://popcornreel.bsky.socialAnd spill.com (@popcornreel)Black-owned media matters: (Watch Roland Martin Unfiltered daily M-F 6-8pm Eastern)https://youtube.com/rolandsmartin Download the Black Star Network app

The Big Beautiful Bill Blues

The Darrell McClain show

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2025 53:54 Transcription Available

Send us a textThe Senate faces a critical juncture as Republicans scramble to salvage President Trump's signature tax legislation after a devastating parliamentary setback. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth McDowell has rejected a key provision that would have capped healthcare provider taxes, eliminating approximately $250 billion in planned Medicaid spending cuts meant to offset permanent corporate tax reductions.Senate Majority Leader John Thune insists they have backup plans, but several Republican senators including Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Josh Hawley had already expressed grave concerns about the potential impact on rural hospitals. The deadline pressure intensifies as President Trump publicly demands lawmakers skip their July 4th recess to complete the legislation, though many senators remain skeptical about staying in Washington without a clear timeline.Beyond domestic policy struggles, the episode delves into growing tensions between the Trump administration and media outlets over reporting on recent strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth and other officials have launched unusually personal attacks against reporters from both CNN and Fox News who questioned the administration's claims about completely "obliterating" Iran's nuclear capabilities.The show also examines the fragile state of LGBTQ rights ten years after the landmark Obergefell decision legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Despite record public approval, calls from conservative states and Supreme Court justices to reconsider the ruling have advocates concerned about its future, though the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act provides some protection against potential reversals.What emerges is a portrait of Washington's deep partisan divides and the complex interplay between political ambitions, parliamentary procedures, and constitutional rights that continues to shape America's most consequential policy debates. Subscribe now to stay informed about these critical developments and what they mean for our shared future. Support the show

Wednesday, June 25, 2025: Senator Susan Collins questions Trump officials about proposals to cut more than $9 billion from international aid and public broadcasting programs already approved by Congress

This Day in Maine

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2025 12:36

This Day in Maine Wednesday, June 25, 2025

donald trump congress billion programs senators approved officials proposals susan collins public broadcasting international aid

Wednesday, June 25, 2025: Senator Susan Collins presses Trump officials about $9 billion in cuts to international aid and public broadcasting programs

This Day in Maine

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2025 12:36

This Day in Maine Wednesday, June 25, 2025

donald trump billion programs senators cuts officials presses susan collins public broadcasting international aid

Headlines And Horror Shows: The GOP's Infamous "47 Traitors" Letter To Iran; Trump Bombs Iran; Senator Padilla Stands Tall

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2025 108:34

On this new episode of THE POLITICRAT daily podcast Omar Moore on the infamous 47 Traitors letter to Iran in 2015. Trump bombs Iran, a mindless move that will not end well. Plus: Senator Alex Padilla stands tall on the Senate floor with his speech about being assaulted by FBI and Homeland Security agents. All that and more in this new edition of The Politicrat. Next. STOP THE BIG B.S. BILL: Call your U.S. senators -- especially Republican senators (Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Rand Paul) at 202-224-3121. And call your member of Congress. Do it today!LINK:The 47 Traitors Letter of 2015, signed by 47 U.S. senate Republicans: coming shortlyBOOK RECOMMENDATION:" Den Of Spies" by Craig UngerRecorded June 21, 2025.If you would like to contribute financially to The Politicrat: please send money via Zelle to omooresf@gmail.comSocial media:SUBSCRIBE: https://politicrat.substack.comSUBSCRIBE: https://mooreo.substack.comhttps://fanbase.app/popcornreel(Invest in Fanbase now! https://startengine.com/fanbase)https://spoutible.com/popcornreelhttps://popcornreel.bsky.socialAnd spill.com (@popcornreel)Black-owned media matters: (Watch Roland Martin Unfiltered daily M-F 6-8pm Eastern)https://youtube.com/rolandsmartin Download the Black Star Network app

Quaranteam – Book 1: Part 14

ExplicitNovels

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2025

Quaranteam – Book 1: Part 14 Andy reconnects with his past, and Emily explores. Based on a post by CorruptingPower, in 25 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels. And, after two weeks of trying to subtly discern it from her, Andy eventually just asked Taylor what she did for a living, and Taylor informed Andy that she'd been a phlebotomist before moving into the Rook household, and once she was done with her time in the penalty box, she would go back to it. It was the first step she had taken towards eventually becoming an anesthetist, which was her long term goal. She'd met Lauren when the Aussie had needed someone to come in and blood test a few of the 49ers she was training. Taylor insisted that if Andy ever wanted her to stay in his bed for a night, she would without reservation, but that otherwise, she would be sleeping in the same bed with Lauren, who had set up her own bedroom now, so as to not wake Andy when she left early in the morning for practice. Piper and Sheridan had also set up their own bedrooms, for similar reasons. Piper insisted her workout routine begin at the butt crack of dawn, and she also had a tendency to go to bed almost immediately after dinner, and Sheridan had started joining her in those hours, although the two women had very different work out routines in the morning. Andy had never been awake for any of them, but both of the women had filmed themselves working out, so he could see what they were up to in the wretched early hours. Aisling, Niko, Emily and Sarah had flatly refused to sleep away from Andy, although the order they laid against one another in the bed at night varied quite regularly. At various points over the last few days, he'd woken up in the night to find Emily quietly making out with each of the other three. He was a little surprised that Emily and Sarah didn't want another bedroom for times when the two of them wanted to fool around with just each other. He'd asked them about it, but Sarah had just teased him and insisted that when they did, he should be nearby in case he wanted to watch or join in. The craziest part of the day, however, was when Emily came to track him down in his office just before dinner with a rather baffling request. He'd spent most of the day writing, knowing that tomorrow there would be new women joining the household, and that he'd likely get very little work done on that day. He felt like he was very close to considering the draft for what he was now calling "The Doppleganger's Identity," the next book in the Druid Gunslinger series, ready for his first pass readers to take a look at, and hoped to wrap it up today. It would certainly stop Sarah from asking him yet again when she could read it, since she had insisted she get a spot on that esteemed small council. He kept the door to his office open most of the time, but Emily insisted on knocking before entering the room anyway. "Andrew, love, I know you're writing right now, but might I bother you for just a skosh?" she said, smiling at him in that disarmingly charming English way of hers. "It's never a bother, Em," he said, closing up his laptop. "You know, you're the only one of my partners I'm okay with calling me 'Andrew?' Anyone else does it, and I know I'm in trouble, but you somehow make me not hate the sound of my full name. C'mon in. Sit down, talk to me." The blonde Englishwoman sashayed into the room before lifting one of his legs so she could sit down on the footstool in front of his writing chair. She was wearing a billowy floral print dress that hung down past her knees, loose fitting but still draped enticingly well. Andy wondered if maybe it was tailor made for her, but before he could think to ask, she launched into the reason she'd come to see him. "My agent received a rather odd request today, and I wanted to come and talk to you about it before I answered it. If you're not comfortable with it, I would completely understand that, but I personally think that it would be an excellent thing for us to do, so I hoped we might talk a bit about it before you came to any decision, and perhaps I could bring you around to my way of thinking." Andy set his laptop on the coffee table to the side of his writing chair and shifted to sit up a little bit. "Who's the request from, and what is it that you think I might be uncomfortable with?" "It came from the office of the president, if you can believe it. My agent said President Pelosi didn't call personally, but a member of her staff did." Emily took his large hands in her small ones, holding onto them softly as she kept his gaze focused on her sapphire blue eyes. Clearly whatever they were going to discuss was of great importance. "When the announcement hits next week, they're expecting much of the nation to be in rather dire shock. Such massive casualties means the American way of life going forward is going to have to be something extremely different than what it once was, something radical and new." She licked her lips, a touch of nervousness Andy wasn't sure he'd seen from the usually confident young woman before. "Something like us. To sort of help assert the new norms in the minds of the general public, they want a handful of celebrities to do talk show appearances, with the hosts who are still alive anyway, and most of them seem to have made it out okay, and talk about their new family units, how polyamory is going to be the lay of the land, and how the laws are immediately being changed so that a single man can have multiple wives, to help repopulate the country after the severe losses." Andy laughed a little bit. "If you want to go on television, Em, you certainly don't need my permission. What makes you think I'd be against that?" She smiled at him kindly, and he realized immediately he'd missed what she'd been specifically asking him. "I don't just want to go on television by myself, Andrew. I want to go on television with you and with Sarah and maybe with a couple of the other girls, Niko in particular. I think it's important that we get out there as a new family unit, on The Daily Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night With Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, anyone who wants to talk to us, so that we can help put the country a little more at ease that we are going to get through this. Normally, I would be most in favor of shielding all of you from the horror that is the paparazzi, just to keep my personal life simply that, personal. But this is a very strange new world we find ourselves in, Andrew, and we need to help our fellow humans become comfortable with their new reality." "You sound pretty committed to the whole idea," he said, trying to keep his voice as non committal as possible, but Emily had gotten very good at reading him in the short time they'd been together, so he knew she could tell he wasn't entirely opposed to it, simply gauging how it would all work. The particulars of opening his private life to the entire world seemed a little daunting at first blush, but certainly not insurmountable. "We wouldn't be the only ones, I think it's important to stress that, love," she said, squeezing his hands a little bit. "And Sarah and I would also be coming out about our relationship with each other, so you wouldn't have to field a lot of questions if you didn't want to. We could take on the brunt of the questions if that makes it any easier. But I just know many people in this adopted homeland of mine are going to be frightened, and I think the idea to show them the way through would be a step in the right direction." She leaned her head down and kiss the tops of his hands before looking up at him. "Oh! And you could also use it to promote your books, if that might sweeten the pot a smidge. It might help, having twenty minutes of prime mental real estate for your face and your writing?" He chuckled, nodding his head. "You know as well as I do that my agent would string me up by my toes if I had a chance to get this much free publicity for my next novel and didn't take it, so how can I say no? I'm not going to hide from journalists. I'll do my fair share. Tell me how all this is going to work." She smiled, leaned in and kissed him, soft and tender, but for what felt like a delicious eternity. "We will set up the camera and microphones in Sarah and I's little studio, and then we'll just take an hour or so a day for a few weeks to record segments with whoever asks. The president's office wants us to do a 60 Minutes interview even before the announcement is made, as our sort of grand unveiling. For that, they're actually going to send Katie Couric here with a camera woman to do the interview in a few days. They're likely to want to do that in a larger room, or maybe out on the back deck, by the pool. They're going to do an entire show all about the deaths, the vaccine and the new post pandemic world we're starting to grow into. The ten to twenty minute interview with us will just be part of the larger package. They were hoping to have us for a day on the 14th. They're going to be filming at the base on the 13th and doing interviews with President Pelosi on the 15th. The president's representative seemed to think Niko might be a good link between the two segments, if she was one of the people helping to give the tour of the base, and the vaccination process. I asked Niko about it, and she said she wouldn't mind if you didn't, but that I had to ask you first. The whole episode of the show is going to air immediately after the President's speech on the 20th." "Good lord, sounds like they've got all this planned out. I'm surprised I didn't hear from the Office of the President personally." Emily offered him another smile, and considered her next words carefully. It wasn't that she worried about bruising his ego, because Andy had never come across that way, but she also didn't want to seem too full of herself. "Love, I've been a very well known movie star for a decade now, so I think they figured out where I was first and went from there. That's no slight against you! I'm just saying that you aren't a household name that millions of people recognize, and, for better or worse, I am. The Dagger Academy movies were everywhere, as were the books. Simon, my costar in the movies, he's still living in England, so he's in an entirely different world than we are here in the States." Andy grinned. "Oh, I know, I know. All I'm saying is that it wouldn't hurt for the President to have called me herself, y'know. But that's fine. It's fine." "Well, when the paparazzi are struggling to get topless photos of you in Ibiza, then we'll have a conversation about how you aren't being taken seriously as an artist, alright darling?" She giggled a little. "It was fun, teasing them, knowing they so desperately wanted to get images of my tits to sell, and that a bidding war would erupt for the image." "They are excellent tits, Em." "Bless you, love. But you're never going to convince me they're as nice as, say, Sarah's or Hannah's. And all those tits, theirs and mine, are exclusively the purview of this family now and forever more, so the paparazzo can fuck right off. So, the interview? You'll do it? You'll dance for the media circus with us, for the good of the nation?" "I'll do almost all of it, sure." She tilted her head slightly in confused amusement, that coy smile on her pink lips, as her tender fingers squeezed his thigh. "Almost all of it? Which part of it am I going to have to have to convince you for?" He rolled his eyes a little, a playful smirk on his lips. "I'll do all the evening shows, magazines, newspapers and website interviews you want me to, but doing Good Morning America might be a hill too far, simply because of how goddamn early I'd have to get up for it." "Or we could simply stay up very late and do it before bed," she said, moving to slide off the footstool so she could climb into his lap. "I'm sure we could find some way to keep you awake and alert that far into the night. Four thirty in the morning our time could give us the opportunity to go on live television with sex hair," she said, waggling her eyebrows at him lasciviously. "Oh, and I'm not gonna do Fox News." "Christ, love, haven't you heard? They're barely running a skeleton crew over there. Most of their on air talent died over the last few months, and now that the women are in charge over there, they're losing some of that ridiculous bullshit they used to be spouting." Andy chuckled, shaking his head a little bit. "All it took was most of the men dying." "It's pretty hard to pretend the plague isn't a real thing when it keeps killing people off left and right, dear," she said. "The rescheduled Presidential election next month is going to be between Senators Kamala Harris and Susan Collins, two women. That's never happened before in the history of this country. The vast majority of people voting in the election are going to be women. This is all completely unprecedented, so all those women who have felt powerless for so many years, this is their chance to shine. But the old tribal lines are still going to be there, even if the genders of the people leading those parties has changed. Republicans will still be Republicans and Democrats will still be Democrats. But there's too many dead people for everyone to go on pretending like the plague isn't real, or that it's not better to not get a grip on the new reality. One side was already telling their people that the plague wasn't real, so more of their men died than the on the other side. They can't afford to do that any more. So the new Fox News agenda is to go back to simple fiscal conservatism, pro military and pro old school Christianity stances. They're just going to drop all the anti woman bullshit that they've been poisoning their own wells with for so long." "And all it took was most of their men dying." Andy rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll leave it up to you on whether or not you want to do any of the Fox News shit." "Oh heavens no," Emily laughed, shaking her head. "No, you couldn't pay me enough to appear in front of those horrid people. They've been trying to tell me they have the right to regulate my body for decades but that I should keep my mouth shut when it comes to how they spend the money I pay in taxes. At least a few of their remaining hosts have called me horrible things for daring to disagree with them. 'Entertainers should be sit down and be quiet when it comes to politics,' they've said about me for far too long. Fuck that, darling. I'm having none of it." "Well, on that we can agree." "Now, I do believe I have some convincing to be doing," she said, licking her lips playfully, as she slid off his lap and down onto her knees before him, pushing his legs apart. "That's really not necessary, Em," he said, reaching forward to put a hand on her shoulder, but her delicate fingers moved to grab his wrists, lifting them so that one of his hands was along the back of her neck, and the other was sliding up into that radiant cascade of blonde hair. "It might not be necessary, Andrew, but that isn't to say I wouldn't enjoy it anyway," she said, her hands moving to unbutton his jeans, slowly drawing the zipper down. "Because sometimes a girl just needs to get her fix, you know?" She leaned down and kissed part of his exposed stomach. "You wouldn't deny me that, would you, love? Not innocent little me?" "I don't know that I could deny you anything, Emily," he chuckled. She licked her lips, those inescapable blue eyes of hers looking up at him. "That's what I like to hear. Because it's time for me to do something before Sarah does." She fished out his cock, tucking his balls over his boxers to protect them from accidentally getting caught in the zipper of the jeans, because she wasn't willing to wait long enough to pull his jeans off. "I let her have first go at you, but I'm entitled to have some firsts with you before she gets a chance. That's fair, isn't it?" She leaned down and pressed her pink lips against the head of his cock, covering it in tiny kisses. "I think we can both agree that's only fair." "I seem to recall you and Sarah taking turns blowing me at the same time," he said, tilting his head a little. "I wouldn't say she got there first." "She got to fuck you first though, Andrew," she sighed, stroking his cock tenderly. "And I understand why. She's madly in love with you because of your writing, although she's very much fallen in love with the man behind that writing as well." Her tongue slipped out and dragged a long trail across the bottom of his cock, from the base up to the tip, teasing the slit with the tip of her tongue for only a split second. "Me, on the other hand, I fell in love with the man first, when I heard all the lengths you'd gone to in protecting the women who'd chosen to hitch their wagons to your train. Niko painted such a wonderful portrait of you, and you haven't failed to live up to that yet." "I'm always going to put my family's needs above my own, Em," he said, shivering as he felt her pursing her lips around the mushroom tip of his circumcised cock for a long moment. "So what is you want to do before Sarah, hmm?" "Oh, bless, Andrew, I would've thought it would've been obvious," she giggled, blowing air along his cock, teasing his balls with her finely manicured fingernails. "I want you up the serviceman's entrance. I want you in my ass, before Sarah thinks to ask you to do it to her. We've had fingers and small toys up both hers and my asshole before, naturally, but never the real thing, and I'm afraid I simply cannot risk the chance that she get the opportunity to convince you to do it to her before you do it to me. I want to have at least one first of my very own with you before she does, and while I'm a little nervous, I must confess I am also rather excited. First times are always so exhilarating." Andy licked his own lips, swallowing a breath of air. "First times can also be quite intense, Em. Even overwhelming." "Yes yes yes Andrew, that's why I'm going to ask you if you can remember a color code when you're worked up. I know those kinds of sensations can be, distracting to self control, but you've always struck me as level headed." Her tongue took a long swirling path around the underside of the head of his cock, and his fingers tightened in her sandy hair a moment, clenching a fistful of it, which evoked a clear quiver of delight from the girl. "What do you mean a color code?" "You see, when Sarah and I are adventuring into, shall we say, uncharted sexual waters between the two of us, we use a color code. If one of us says 'green,' then things are wonderful, enjoyable and the other should carry on full steam ahead. If one of us says 'yellow,' then perhaps a bit of caution or easing back is needed. If one of us says 'red,' then a moment's rest is needed, or second thoughts are being had, and it's best to stop, until the other is ready to go again. Like a stoplight. We strike the use of those colors for any other uses when we're on the code." She looked up at him with those tender azure orbs again, soft and warm, as her fingertips stroked his shaft and juggled his balls. "Would that be alright, Andrew?" He leaned forward and kissed her again, and this time he found her not only pliant but a touch more eagerly wanton than she'd been moments ago. "Of course, love," he said to her. "But just be careful and remember you can't use those words for anything else while we're in color code mode." She titled her head to the side, a curious expression of amusement on her face. "Oh? Do you anticipate me slipping? I'm quite bright, you know," she teased, winking at him. "I have a degree in feminist studies from Cambridge and everything." He smirked a little bit. "I simply thought you might ask me to paddle your ass red, and then I'd have been more than a little conflicted from the mixed signals." She began to giggle fiercely, having even to take one of her hands from his cock up to cover her mouth, as she nodded furiously, her blonde curls falling in front of her face before her hand lifted from lips and pushed it from her eyes. "You're right! You're right you're right you are absolutely right, I most certainly would have done that, said that without even thinking about it, and what a right git I would've looked, while you would've been standing there frozen in fear that you'd gone too far." "You think you can keep that in mind, then?" She nodded once more, this time more slow and deliberate, before she pressed her hands on the tops of her thighs, moving to stand herself up. "I had Nicolette conceal a couple of bottles of lube in nearly every room of the house, in case this particular stripe of lust struck one of us. She seemed to think it was an excellent idea." Andy couldn't help but snicker a little bit. "I'm sure she did. She seemed to enjoy the hell out of it when she got her turn at it a couple of days ago." Emily giggled again as she reached behind the couch in the corner of his writing studio, her fingers reemerging with a small bottle of lube in them. "I did notice her walking a little funny yesterday, but she wouldn't tell me when I asked her about it. She simply blushed a wonderful shade of crimson and walked away from me. So I take it you gave her the ol' heave ho?" He tried to keep that ain't I a stinker smile from spreading on his face, but in the end, he just couldn't help it. "She told me she likes to be a bit bratty and put into her place, so I stuffed her panties in her mouth while I had a go at her ass. She seemed to like that quite a bit." While Emily approached him, he stood up and tugged off his jeans and boxers, not wanting to get any of the lube on them, setting them on his writing chair. For the hell of it, he pulled off his shirt as well. The idea of resembling Donald Duck appalled him. Emily's eyes widened in amusement and delight, shaking her head frantically. "You didn't! You absolutely didn't! Tell me that you didn't, Andrew!" "I surely and truly did, and she loved it. She even made a point to tell me that it was exactly how I should have a go at her moving forward." "Well, not this time, but I might like to try something like that at some point in the future," she said, as she walked over to him, lifting her dress up and over her head, tossing it aside, revealing she was completely naked beneath it. "Mostly because it wouldn't let me speak the color code if need be, but also because I'm simply not wearing any panties today." She flashed him another saucy wink, as she moved to set up her cell phone to point at the couch. Andy suspected she might be filming it to show to Sarah later, or perhaps just for her own personal edification. "Now let me pour some of this lube on your cock, and you can tell me what position I should be in for my first time at this." He shivered a little as she drizzled clear fluid onto his prick, her slender fingers stroking his shaft again, making sure to get every inch of his thick cock slicked up as much as possible. "If you want total control, you could climb on for a ride, but some women think the sensations are just too intense, and tend to seize up, so they prefer to have the man controlling things. If that's more your speed, then you probably want to get on your knees on the couch, laying your arms down on the top of it, your head resting on your arms, or with your arms behind you, so you can grab at your legs, or rub on your clit. Lauren rubbed her cunt her entire first time, saying it helped the nerve endings get all tangled up in one another." She licked her lips, that tiny hint of reticence fading away the moment he saw it, as she nodded. "I do think it will all be simply too much for me to keep my head clear, so I think I will try the position on the couch, and you can be in the driver's seat." She handed him the small bottle of lube. "Make sure you get me slicked up before you go rampaging in, however." "You sure you " His sentence was interrupted by her grabbing the back of his head, smearing lube on his skull while she pulled him into a feral, almost delirious kiss, her tongue rampaging into his mouth with a carnal frenzy that he didn't normally associate with his more restrained and reserved partner. When she pulled back, she didn't let her face move more than an inch away from his, her blue eyes peering directly into his greens. "I have been a posh prig my entire life, Andrew," she cooed at him in a sing song fashion. "Now it's time for you to take that stick out of my prim ass and jam this wicked cock up it instead. If you don't, I may well go mad, and that wouldn't be ideal for either of us, I somehow think. Now let's get to it." "As the lady requests," he said, watching her sashay away from him. She slid one knee up on the couch demurely, followed by the other, bending forward at the waist, leaning down until she was resting on her hands and knees on the plush sofa. God, she was gorgeous, he thought to himself. Almost criminally so. She held pose there as he walked over towards her, but as he got closer, she lowered her shoulders down towards the top of the couch, sliding her hands back behind her, to cup her perky porcelain white ass. "This is all yours, Andrew," she moaned. "Virginal. Unspoiled. Unsullied. Uncharted territory." She shivered and he could see goosebumps run across her skin as the lube started to drizzle down the cleft of her ass, smearing over that rosy pucker. "God, I feel so wanton and exposed like this, ready to be debauched and debased, your eager whore, giddy for you to introduce her to these new delights, to expand her horizons and blow her mind." Andy set the bottle on the table next to the couch, then moved to use two of his fingers to smear the clear liquid along her anus, seeing her body twitch and wriggle just a little bit, as he smeared the substance around, pushing his index finger inside of her, hearing her gasp sharply following by a tiny, high pitched yelp, as she clamped down on that digit. "How are we doing, Em?" She drew in a long breath that sounded like it took some effort before she exhaled, a slow controlled push of air over her lips, as that sphincter muscle relaxed around his fingertip. "Green! We're green, Andrew. I just, I simply needed a moment to compose myself once more. Your fingers are quick thicker than Sarah's," she said with a nervous laugh. "You're going to be getting something much bigger than that in a moment," he said. "If you still want it, that is. Not too late to change your mind." "I have come too far to back out now, Andrew." "You haven't cum at all, I don't think," he teased. "Shows what you know," she giggled once more, looking over her shoulder at him to stick her tongue out in his direction. "I definitely came when you pushed your finger in. The pre fuck jitters, one might think. Like a bloody schoolgirl, I am, right now." "Alright then," he said, as he slipped his fingertip out, her asshole closing up immediately. "Remember, you merely have to say what you want, and I'm going to listen." She nodded again, one hand reaching between her legs to rub her fingertips against her cunt, stroking her finely manicured digits against her cunt, as her other hand reached up and over behind her, grabbing one of her asscheeks, pulling it aside, as if to make sure she was open and exposed for him. "Let me feel it, Andrew, but go slow. Just a bit at first." Andy nodded, as he moved his hips, settling the tip of his cock against her asshole, which he felt spasm just a little when the mushroom head of his cock made contact with it. He gave her half a second to relax once more, then began to push forward. He leaned his body against hers, feeling some initial resistance, but after a few moments, the head of his cock popped through that ring of muscle, and a guttural, almost primitive moan erupted from her throat, loud and carnal. "Fuck that's big that's so fucking big yellow yellow Andy, yellow,” she rambled, and immediately Andy held perfectly still. "Too much?" he said, feeling her ass clinging onto the head of his cock with an intense amount of pressure. "Stop? Pull out? Just wait?" "Don't pull out! Are you fucking crazy?" she said, a borderline delirious laugh cackling from her lips. "I just, I just, just give me a moment, please, you're fucking big, you know that? You and your fat fucking cock feel like you've shoved a telephone pole up my tight young virgin ass, so I'm going to need a god damned moment, thank you very much, but don't you dare fucking slip out, or I will beat you bloody senseless with a cricket bat!" Andy blushed a little bit, a wry smile on his lips, as he held perfectly still. "In your own time, Em." The tiny blonde Brit drew in a long breath, then slowly exhaled it, like she was doing some form of yoga and trying to center her chi. She did it again, and Andrew started to get worried that maybe she simply wasn't ready for this, but just about the time that thought started to roll around in his head, he felt her starting to lean back against him just a little bit. "Green, Andrew, but,” she said, shifting her body just enough so that she could look back at him, "please, for heaven's sake, take it slowly." He nodded to her, and began to lean forward, feeling her body almost being pried apart as his cock worked his way inside of her virginal asshole. Her fingertips were rubbing down firmly on her clit, and while he tried to keep the forward momentum as slow as possible, when he was nearly half way into her ass, she suddenly pushed back into him, engulfing the rest of his cock in her back door, as a wash of goosebumps rolled across her flesh, starting at the small of her back and blossoming outwards in an instant flare, followed by a hard tremble intermingled with a high pitched whine that started racing upwards in octaves and volumes until it crested, breaking and dissolving into a frantic, almost demented giggle, as his balls rested against her fingers which hadn't stopped stroking at her cunt. "You alright, Em?" he asked. "Alright? Alright? Are you asking if I'm alright now, Andrew?" she hissed, although the tone was giddy and excited. "I am green, super green, all the greens! I am awesome, fucking brilliant. That felt,” she drew in a long breath, "So fucking good, and I came So fucking hard." Her head whipped to look directly at her cellphone camera. "Sares, it's like it builds and builds and builds, and you're getting more and more and more tense and then,” she said, pulling her hips forward, sliding his cock mostly back out of her ass before, "Wham!" she said as she slammed her ass back onto his cock hilt deep once more, and let out another unearthly moan. "Holy fuck, that feels so good. Your cock just jammed up right my ass, your balls resting right on my cunt." Her head snapped again to look back at him, and her soft and kind blue eyes had gone more than a little crazy. "Go on then, in for a penny, in for a pound. Pound your little penny. Go on, you dirty wanker. Do it to me! Fuck my ass!" At this point, he was pretty sure that if he had said 'red,' she would've ignored him and just played on through. The kind of wild lust in her eyes would've been completely unfamiliar to him if he hadn't seen it before, briefly, with both Piper and Sheridan, though those had been chemically induced. Later in the evening, he'd consider whether maybe she'd tapped into that same mental state that being deprived of his semen developed in women, but in that particular moment, the only thing he could do was to fuck Emily Stevens, film sweetheart of a generation, within an inch of her sanity. His hips drew back and then thrust forward, a solid grind on his first real pump, which was met by a hard squeeze of her ass around his cock and a burbling, uncorked moan oozing from her lips. He drew back again, but this time his forward thrust was met by the snap of her hips pushing her ass back into him, making her toned asscheeks ripple just a tiny amount. "Oh fuck, Andrew," she babbled, "I want more, but I know I'm going to cum soon, and once I start again, it's not going to stop, so I need it, I need you, I love you, I need you to fucking cum inside of my ass, fill it up with that hot spunk for the first time. Mark your territory with your seed! Please Andrew, I'm fucking begging you, let me have it, show my ass you love it, teach me this final thing. Fucking cum in my ass!" The entire time, she was doing more of the thrusting than he was, although he was trying to keep pace with her. And just towards the end, he knew that he wouldn't be able to stave off the impending orgasm for long, so at her insistence, he let loose a hot jet of jizz right into her ass. The minute he felt the first spurt escape him, it felt as though she clamped down on him in a fist like grasp, and then he felt a heavy rush of liquid against his balls, her cunt gushing all over them and down the inside of his thighs. The very sensation of it made him splattered a handful more blasts of cum into her ass before he stopped, one of his hands holding onto the back of the couch for dear life, as he felt her fingertips fall away from her cunt as her arm slumped downwards. He'd gone soft almost right away, but her ass was still trying to milk any last remaining droplets of cum from his cock with gentle squeezes, even as he finally slid out of her. Her body was mostly propped up by her knees, although her face was buried into the couch cushions. He waited a minute or so before he finally said, "You alright, Em?" She began giggling, slowly moving to roll onto her side, so he could see her face had turned bright red, the color of Sarah or Aisling's hair, and she was clutching one hand to her mouth, trying to contain the infectious laugh that would not be suppressed. "Holy fucking Christ, Andrew, I am so so so embarrassed by that," she whimpered. "I've, fuck, I've never done that before. I didn't know I could fucking do that, Christ, I'm made such a mess, how awful of me. I'm horrible." Andy knelt down alongside the couch, and leaned in to press his lips against hers. She struggled for half a moment, still caught up in her own awkwardness of the moment, before she gave in and simply returned the kiss, which he held for an endlessly long time. "Did you enjoy it?" he said, when he finally gave her a moment to breathe again. "Fuckin' 'ell, Andrew," she stumbled, "I think that would've been bloody obvious." "Then who the fuck cares about the mess?" He kissed her again, one hand stroking her sweaty hair from her face, the energy cooling down a little, as they both came down from the orgasmic plateaus they'd just been dancing in. "Besides, I'd have thought you'd enjoy the idea of telling Nicolette to come and clean my office without giving her any explanation into why." Emily face almost hurt from smiling so much as she nodded. "Thank you for this, Andrew, and for making me feel at home in my own body as it learns new things about itself." She looked down then looked up at him, almost a touch of fear in her eyes. "I know I've said it before, but it's important to me that you know this, Andrew. I well and truly love you, like no other man I've known before." "I love you too, Emily," he said, making sure he was looking directly into her eyes when he said it, so she would understand there were no reservations. "And I'm very glad you agreed to marry me. You've been not only good for me, you've been good for the whole house." "Oh shush, now my heart's all aflutter," she said, moving to stand up, pausing to wince for a second. "Well, I'll jolly well feel that for the next few days. It's sore and it's still tingling in pleasure. Both, together, at the same time. What an odd delight." He laughed, grabbing her dress for her, holding it out. "Go on, get dressed and bring Nicolette in here to see the mess that you've made for her to clean up. I'll bet she's not at all embarrassed, and more than a little jealous." "You know, I suspect you might well be correct, Andrew. Brilliant." A cast list intermission for Quaranteam The House of Rook Andy Rook, A 38 year old content writer for Netflix, who also lives a double life as semi successful urban fantasy writer Blake Conrad, known for his Druid Gunslinger books. Shaved head, neatly trimmed brown beard, 5'11", hazel eyes, tattooed on the chest with a griffon, could stand to lose a few pounds. Originally from Ohio, has lived in the Bay Area for over a decade. Our protagonist, such as he is. Still reaping the benefits from one random act of kindness to a stranger named Dave. Aisling (Ash) Blake, A 27 year old graphic design contractor for Google. Originally from Dublin, she's lived in the States for 4 years. Red hair, freckles, short (5'4"), fit. Outgoing and charming, but also protective of Andy. Aisling showed up first (at the same time as Lily) and has helped keep Andy level headed and sane throughout the entire ordeal. Pregnant with Andy's child. Engaged to Andy. Lauren White, A 35 year old personal trainer for the San Francisco 49ers. Originally from Australia, she's lived in the States for 2 years. Very tall (6'6"), very tan, blonde, athletic, emotionally involved with Taylor as much as (if not more so) Andy. Lauren is big and boisterous, but has a tendency to not think things fully through. 2nd Lieutenant Niko RedWolf, A 22 year old Air Force Security Forces officer (military police). Originally from South Dakota. Half Lakota, one quarter Mexican and one quarter Japanese. Long black hair, toned and slender. 5'4". Sarcastic, wry and witty, Niko has basically become Andy's right hand woman, along with Ash, whom she considers her best friend. She's helped provide endless insight to the vaccine program being managed at the local Air Force base, where she works. Also pregnant with Andy's child and engaged to him. Nicolette (Yvette) Seydeaux (staff), The 22 year old maid of Rook Manor. Blonde, with long curly hair. Extremely buxom. 5'9" or 6'1" (in heels). Second generation French American. Enjoys wearing classic maids outfits and being a bratty submissive. Pretended to be named Yvette at first, at the suggestion of Phil. Katie Rodriguez (staff), The 32 year old gardener of Rook Manor. Hispanic, butch, 5'8", with short black hair cut in a bob, almost always seen in overalls and a button up shirt. Lesbian and wife of Jenny Peters. Had reservations about the program, but wanted to ensure safety for her and her wife, so they took the deal and came to join the House of Rook. Jenny Peters (staff), The 31 year old cook of Rook Manor. Midwestern and plump, 5'8", with brown bushy hair. Wears large circular glasses. Tends to be overly motherly. Bisexual and wife of Katie Rodriguez. Taylor Morrison, The 25 year old ex ex girlfriend of Lauren White. Platinum blonde, stacked, short (5'2"). Currently still in the doghouse for cheating on Lauren almost a year ago, but close to working her way out of her trouble. As part of her current punishment (dictated by Lauren), she is not allowed to wear clothes. Piper Brown, A 26 year old Olympic Volleyball player. Brunette, tall (6'2"), muscular but lean, blue eyed. Went viral for a video of her pre game warm up dance. Still slightly recovering from abusive treatment at Andrew Covington's home. Asha Varma, An 18 year old college student and daughter of Dr. Charlotte Varma. Half Indian, half French, raised in London until last year. Brown skin, black hair, pierced navel, wild child attitude. 5'6". Party girl and socialite, Asha tends to enjoy causing trouble, as it gets her attention. Has some growing up to do. Sarah (Sares) Washington, A 31 year old actress. 6'2", redheaded, quirky, clumsy and a bit dorky. Originally from New Jersey. Swears like breathing. Very girl next door. Huge fan of the Druid Gunslinger books, and had a crush on Andy before she even met him. Big lover of Broadway theater and musicals, both attending and performing in. Partner of Emily Stevens. Engaged to Andy. Emily (Em) Stevens, A 30 year old actress, 5'1", blonde, blue eyed, pale, slender, very posh, British. Left London for L A just a few years ago. Incredibly charming and witty, with an almost supernatural social sense. Grew up as a child actress in a wildly popular series of movies called "The Dagger Academy" series, but has since struggled to establish a successful acting career outside that role. Partner of Sarah Washington. Engaged to Andy. Sheridan Smith, A 32 year old acrobat and performer for Cirque Du Soleil. 5'7" Blonde, frizzy hair, slender and extremely flexible. Very laid back and go with the flow. Has been teaching the girls of the house yoga in her spare time. Hannah Nakamura, And 18 year old college student and former cheerleader. Half Hawaiian, half Japanese. Short (5'1"), Asian, with long black hair with blonde stripes in it. Curvy, very well endowed (44G) and a firecracker of energy. Originally supposed to be joining the House of Watkins, she is much happier being part of the House of Rook. The House of Yang Eric Yang, A 39 year old engineer, and Andy's former roommate. Second generation Japanese American. Short (5'5") but athletic, if a bit shy and bookish. Piggybacked on Andy's one good deed into a complete life change he wasn't expecting. Andy and Eric are friends, but not overly close ones, despite having shared a condo for most of a decade. Lily Wu, a 25 year old coder for Door Dash. Second generation Japanese American. Dyed purple hair, short (5'2"), punkish. Eric's first partner, who expected to be his only partner only for life to get majorly in the way. Lily is the iron fist that runs the House of Yang, sometimes making decisions for Eric so he doesn't spend too long dwelling on them. Jenny Carnero, a 28 year old meteorologist for the local Fox News channel. Statuesque brunette (5'10") who always remains overly tanned. Lily's ex roommate who had to be rescued after fleeing from the person she was supposed to be paired up with, before getting paired up with Eric. Threatened to tell her story to the reporters at the station she worked at, but Lily convinced her that doing so would be bad for all involved. Phil cleaned the mess up. Sarah Wilson, a 26 year old HR specialist with Adobe Systems. Short (5'3"), blonde, Nordic and curvy. Originally from Kansas. The House of Marcos Phil Marcos, a 34 year old Filipino project manager for Boeing, working in conjunction with the Air Force to manage the vaccine development/distribution program trying counter the epidemic. Probably involved in a sizable amount of heavily classified shit. Tall (5'11"), slender and usually exhausted. Has a deep love of fighting games and mischief. Phil always knows more than he can talk about. Audrey Percy, a 29 year old Hispanic psychologist. Short (5'1"), very curvy. Also a big fighting games fan. Has been doing her best to keep Phil sane throughout the apocalypse. One of the first successful recipients of the current vaccine. Pregnant with Phil's child and engaged to him. Captain Linda Hayes, a 35 year old Caucasian captain in the Air Force. Blonde, fit, lethal. Also doubling at Phil's bodyguard most days. Tamika Jefferson, an 18 year old African American college student. Short (5'2"), curvy, disaffected and disinterested in most things. Yuko Takahashi, a 22 year old first generation Japanese immigrant and video game engineer. Very short (4'10"), very slender but extremely agile. The most sarcastic of Phil's partners. Dr. Charlotte Varma, a 44 year old French infectious disease researcher working with the Air Force and Boeing. Lead developer on the current vaccine. Average height (5'7"), blonde, matronly but also a bit bougie. Originally from Paris, she moved to London and married Dev Varma, before they emigrated to the US earlier this year with their teenage daughter, Asha (now part of the House of Rook). Was rescued by Andy but chose to go with Phil. The House of Covington Arthur Robert Covington IV, a 63 year old investment banker. Considers himself the most important person in New Eden. Certainly is the richest. A horrible prick with a rumored proclivity for making his partners do awful things. Runs a regular poker game where people are used as stakes. The person Andy hates the most. Lisa Davis, a 25 year old graphic design contractor for Google. Ex colleague of Aisling. Partner for Covington, who does not allow her to speak in public. Ash has been trying to find ways to talk to her on the side. Rachel DeMarco, a 28 year old infectious disease researcher working with the Air Force and Boeing. Has only been spoken of, not actually see in the story thusfar. Veronica DeLaCruz (deceased), a 27 year old Hispanic card dealer for the House of Covington privately, as well as professionally over at a local casino. Cheated on her partner (Arthur) with a man named Brian Morrison, and the sexual encounter resulted in her death. The first fatality in New Eden, her death is being used to remind women the dangers involved in being unfaithful in the new world. The House of Vikovic Gregor Vikovic, a 52 year old business owner. Russian, huge (6'2", 275lbs), mucular, with a big braided silver beard and a fondness for expensive things, particular food and drink. One of the more elite members of New Eden. The House of Watkins Nathaniel Watkins, a 41 year old investor and insanely rich self made gadfly. Tall (6'1"), lean and Waspy, Nathaniel tends to look more like an out of work yoga instructor than the forty first richest man in the world. His brown beard is always somewhat disheveled, and seems to relish always walking around in socks and Birkenstocks. Has a friendly relationship with Andy, whom he gave a shitload of money to, seemingly to punish his son. Benny Watkins, an 18 year old high school student. Benny is Nathaniel's biggest failure, spoiled and thoughtless, entitled and arrogant. His claiming of Deborah Barnes resulted in his punishment by his father, and the reassignment of Hannah to Andy. Deborah Barnes, a 34 year old veterinarian from Los Gatos, originally from Kansas. She was originally assigned to Nathaniel, who used her as a stake in one of Covington's poker games. She was won by Andy, but Benny claimed her before she could be relocated. As part of Benny's punishment, Deborah's been assigned control of Benny. Erin Donegal, a 36 year old pharmaceutical representative. Dated and lived with Andy about a decade ago until she gave him an ultimatum “ "either your friends go, or I do." Andy gave her the boot, and she stalked him on and off since then. Second generation Irish American. Blonde (but dyes her hair brown), curvy. Andy refused to bring her into his house, and she was reassigned to the House of Watkins. The House Of Haunton Mayor James Haunton, the 54 year old mayor of New Eden. Portly and short tempered. Has a mustache that whole bowls of soup could get lost in. Major Monica Peters, the 36 year old wife of the mayor, who doubles as the greeter and tour guide of New Eden for the most recent arrivals. The House of Jacobson Jake Jacobson, the 49 year old owner of the AllStore chain of department stores. Jet black hair with a pencil thin mustache. More reptilian than human, with beady eyes and a perpetual sneer on his face. Hot tempered, petty and vindictive.. The House of Baker Xander Baker, a 38 year old auto mechanic and car restorer from Ohio. Andy's oldest and best friend. Being relocated to New Eden to get paired up with Captain Betsy Ross. Covered in tattoos, ridiculously muscular, Xander is a gentle giant. Not to be allowed near karaoke machines under peril of death. Captain Betsy Ross, a 34 year old Air Force officer, working on the reconstruction program, rebuilding America's heavily damaged infrastructure. Soon to be Xander's first partner. Brooke Maloney, a 24 year old Olympic swimmer, and friend of Piper. Second generation Swedish American. Blonde, short (5'4") and extremely athletic. Originally, Piper was trying to convince Andy to bring Brooke into the House of Rook, but Andy immediately recognized her personality would be a better fit for Xander, and asked Phil to help redirect her. The House of, Dave? Dave, something or other?, a thirty(ish) something(?) quarantine management engineer for the CDC, who came to test Andy and Eric, and found out that Andy was secretly Dave's favorite author. In exchange for an advance copy of the newest unpublished Druid Gunslinger book, he put Andy and Eric into the system as Top Level V I P, which has changed their life forever. Nice dude, but Dave's just this guy, you know? Chapter 29 The next day, Andy and Ash met up with Eric and Lily for lunch in a restaurant, something they still weren't accustomed to, even though they'd done it a couple of times since moving into New Eden. They'd been in quarantine so long that the basic things like eating out felt alien. They'd found a nice little BBQ joint that someone had opened within the walls of New Eden, and Andy was ecstatic. Andy's hope was that they were going to keep getting more varieties of food in their new home town. The little 1950s dinner was nice, but the village needed things like a Mexican joint, a Chinese restaurant, a ramen house, a place where he could get a banh mi, Andy realized he really just needed the place to be less exclusively white. The guy who owned and ran the BBQ was a big black guy named Bryant Walters who'd apparently played football for the 49ers a couple of decades ago. He'd settled in the Bay after his football career ended, and he had brought his love of southern BBQ to opening his own restaurant, called "Smoke On The Water." He had a dozen of his own BBQ sauces, brisket that he smoked for at least twelve hours and some of the best damn ribs Andy had ever tasted. It didn't hurt that Bryant was also massively friendly, making sure to come out and talk to patrons of the place. The wait staff was comprised of his partners, five women in all, at least one a former 49ers cheerleader. Over lunch, Andy made sure to tell Bryant that he should have delivery service for the community, and the big burly man told him that was an excellent idea, and that he'd start working on a website for online orders. The meal was the first chance that Andy and Eric had really been able to sit down and catch up one on one since they'd gotten to New Eden. Sure, they'd seen each other at parties and big gatherings, but with just Ash and Lily there, it felt like a throwback to the first days of the whole adventure when they'd been a pair of new couples sharing a tiny little condo. "So yeah, what with all the casualties on my team, I've been promoted up the food chain to be director of the division," Eric said, poking at his brisket with his fork. "I like the responsibility and the increase in pay, but it's also incredibly depressing to think about all the former coworkers that died, none of whose funerals I can attend, because nobody's allowing funerals." "Yeah," Andy sighed, "Phil told me they're moving to mass cremations now, since so many people died. They'll probably build some sort of memorial after we're through all of this, like the Vietnam Wall or Ground Zero for 9/11." "It's so strange, seeing all the names on Slack that aren't lighting up any more," Eric sighed. "At some point, the death toll crossed from a number I can understand to a number I can't." "Kill one person and it's murder; kill a hundred thousand and it's a statistic. Good ol' Stalin," Lily joked, squeezing his hand reassuringly. "Don't try and think about it, dear. You're only going to get angry or depressed again, and we're having a nice lunch here, with everyone getting a chance to see one another. I mean, I love Niko to death, but if Andy shows up with his entire tribe, it takes over the whole room. How many are there now, fifty?" Ash giggled, rolling her eyes. "It really isn't tha' bad, Lily. How many're over there?" "Seven, including Lily," Eric said. "I refuse to let them send any more," Lily growled. "Each of the girls gets one day a week to spend with him, and he gets Sundays off." "Then when do ya get time with him?" "Any time I fucking want to," Lily laughed, waggling her beer in Eric's direction. "We're trying to have a kid now, and I'm refusing to let any of those other bitches get a go at getting knocked up until I'm well and truly swollen. Once I'm half way through my second trimester, then I'll let'em get off their birth control, and not a minute fucking sooner." "Still got Eric under your thumb, huh, Lil?" Andy teased. "Thumb, palm, e

Happy Juneteenth! How Juneteenth Happened: The Black Liberation Struggle; "No Kings" And The Last Nine Months

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2025 88:27

On this new episode of THE POLITICRAT daily podcast Omar Moore celebrates, honors and chronicles Juneteenth and its history--exactly 160 years ago today. Plus: A luta continua (the struggle continues.) And: A look back at "No Kings" with some very important audio you simply cannot afford to miss. A very important and edifying edition of The Politicrat. Next. STOP THE BIG B.S. BILL: Call your U.S. senators -- especially Republican senators (Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Bill Cassady, Rand Paul) at 202-224-3121. And call your member of Congress. Do it today!BOOK RECOMMENDATION:"The Counter-Revolution Of 1836: Texas Slavery & Jim Crow And The Roots Of American Fascism", by Prof. Gerald HorneRecorded June 19, 2025.If you would like to contribute financially to The Politicrat: please send money via Zelle to omooresf@gmail.comSocial media:SUBSCRIBE: https://politicrat.substack.comSUBSCRIBE: https://mooreo.substack.comhttps://fanbase.app/popcornreel(Invest in Fanbase now! https://startengine.com/fanbase)https://spoutible.com/popcornreelhttps://popcornreel.bsky.socialAnd spill.com (@popcornreel)Black-owned media matters: (Watch Roland Martin Unfiltered daily M-F 6-8pm Eastern)https://youtube.com/rolandsmartin Download the Black Star Network app

black struggle congress prof invest republicans juneteenth book recommendations rand paul mf fanbase zelle no kings susan collins black liberation nine months lisa murkowski politicrat

Podcast: Trump’s budget is a disaster. Here’s what you can do about it.

donald trump budget disasters susan collins mainers

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2025 20:21

This week on the podcast, Cate and Ben share with our listeners how everyday Mainers can take action to protect essential programs and urge lawmakers like Sen. Susan Collins to stand up against federal budget cuts that would slash health care and food assistance while handing a $1.5 trillion tax break to the rich. Plus,… The post Podcast: Trump's budget is a disaster. Here's what you can do about it. first appeared on Maine Beacon.

#62 - The Mayflower Compact

united states america american university founders history president donald trump culture power house washington politics college state doctors phd professor colorado joe biden elections washington dc dc local congress political supreme court union senate bernie sanders democracy federal kamala harris blm constitution conservatives heritage nonprofits political science liberal abraham lincoln civil rights impeachment public policy amendment graduate baylor george washington princeton university american history presidency ballot ted cruz public affairs elizabeth warren ideology constitutional thomas jefferson founding fathers benjamin franklin mitt romney electoral college mitch mcconnell baylor university supreme court justice american politics joe manchin john adams rand paul marco rubio polarization chuck schumer alexander hamilton cory booker james madison lindsey graham bill of rights tim scott federalist amy klobuchar civic engagement dianne feinstein rule of law john kennedy civil liberties senate judiciary committee josh hawley mike lee claremont polarized supreme court decisions ron johnson constitutional law paul revere house of representatives ideological george clinton constitutional rights department of education federalism james smith aaron burr rick scott chris murphy tom cotton robert morris thomas paine kirsten gillibrand department of justice political theory bob menendez john witherspoon political philosophy senate hearings constitutional convention constitutional amendments john hancock fourteenth susan collins john marshall 14th amendment patrick henry political history benedict arnold chuck grassley department of defense american government aei marsha blackburn samuel adams james wilson john quincy adams john paul jones social activism john jay tim kaine political discourse dick durbin colonial america jack miller joni ernst political thought political debate john cornyn sherrod brown david perdue mark warner ben sasse tammy duckworth abigail adams political commentary american experiment ed markey checks and balances grad student ron wyden american presidency originalism michael bennet john thune legal education constitutional studies electoral reform publius john hart bill cassidy political analysis department of homeland security legal analysis national constitution center separation of powers richard blumenthal department of labor chris coons legal history department of energy american founding thom tillis constitutionalism tammy baldwin civic education chris van hollen james lankford tina smith summer institute department of transportation stephen hopkins richard burr war powers rob portman constitutionalists bob casey benjamin harrison angus king john morton department of agriculture jon tester mazie hirono mayflower compact judicial review pat toomey mike braun john dickinson social ethics jeff merkley benjamin rush plymouth colony patrick leahy todd young jmc gary peters landmark cases deliberative democracy historical analysis debbie stabenow american constitution society demagoguery civic responsibility department of veterans affairs george taylor civic leadership founding principles samuel huntington political education constitutional government charles carroll cory gardner temperance movement lamar alexander ben cardin antebellum america kevin cramer department of state mike rounds george ross state sovereignty cindy hyde smith revolutionary america department of commerce apush brian schatz civic participation founding documents jim inhofe gouverneur morris constitutional change founding era roger sherman early american republic contemporary politics jeanne shaheen martin heinrich constitutional advocacy maggie hassan john barrasso pat roberts roger wicker william williams american political thought elbridge gerry william floyd george wythe jacky rosen mercy otis warren constitutional accountability center living constitution civic learning department of the interior tom carper constitutional affairs richard henry lee constitutional conventions legal philosophy mayflower pilgrims alcohol prohibition samuel chase american political development richard stockton mike crapo department of health and human services government structure american governance lyman hall constitutional conservatism constitutional rights foundation constitutional literacy

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2025 43:48

On the sixty-second episode of the Constitutionalist, Ben, Shane, and Matthew discuss the Mayflower Compact, and its implications for American political life as one of the nation's earliest constitutional compacts. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America's Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially through their annual Summer Institutes for graduate students and recent PhDs. The Jack Miller Center is also working with thousands of K-12 educators across the country to help them better understand America's founding principles and history and teach them effectively, to better educate the next generation of citizens. JMC has provided thousands of hours of professional development for teachers all over the country, reaching millions of students with improved civic learning. If you care about American education and civic responsibility, you'll want to check out their work, which focuses on reorienting our institutions of learning around America's founding principles. To learn more or get involved, visit jackmillercenter.org. The Constitutionalist is a podcast co-hosted by Professor Benjamin Kleinerman, the RW Morrison Professor of Political Science at Baylor University and Founder and Editor of The Constitutionalist Blog, Shane Leary, a graduate student at Baylor University, and Dr. Matthew Reising, a John and Daria Barry Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Princeton University. Each week, they discuss political news in light of its constitutional implications, and explore a unique constitutional topic, ranging from the thoughts and experiences of America's founders and statesmen, historical episodes, and the broader philosophic ideas that influence the American experiment in government.

#61 - Bureaucracy and the Constitution w/ Joseph Natali

united states america american university founders history president donald trump culture power house washington politics college state doctors phd professor colorado joe biden elections washington dc dc local congress political supreme court union senate bernie sanders democracy federal kamala harris blm constitution conservatives heritage nonprofits presidents political science liberal abraham lincoln civil rights impeachment public policy amendment graduate baylor george washington princeton university american history presidency ballot ted cruz public affairs elizabeth warren ideology constitutional thomas jefferson founding fathers benjamin franklin mitt romney electoral college mitch mcconnell baylor university supreme court justice american politics joe manchin john adams rand paul marco rubio polarization chuck schumer alexander hamilton cory booker james madison bureaucracy lindsey graham bill of rights tim scott federalist amy klobuchar civic engagement dianne feinstein rule of law john kennedy civil liberties senate judiciary committee josh hawley mike lee claremont polarized supreme court decisions ron johnson constitutional law paul revere house of representatives ideological george clinton constitutional rights department of education federalism james smith aaron burr rick scott chris murphy tom cotton robert morris thomas paine kirsten gillibrand department of justice political theory john witherspoon bob menendez political philosophy senate hearings constitutional convention constitutional amendments john hancock fourteenth natali susan collins john marshall 14th amendment patrick henry political history benedict arnold chuck grassley department of defense american government aei marsha blackburn samuel adams james wilson john quincy adams john paul jones social activism john jay tim kaine political discourse dick durbin jack miller joni ernst political thought political debate john cornyn sherrod brown david perdue mark warner ben sasse tammy duckworth abigail adams political commentary american experiment ed markey checks and balances grad student ron wyden american presidency originalism michael bennet john thune constitutional studies legal education electoral reform publius john hart bill cassidy political analysis department of homeland security legal analysis national constitution center separation of powers richard blumenthal department of labor chris coons legal history department of energy american founding thom tillis constitutionalism tammy baldwin civic education chris van hollen james lankford tina smith summer institute department of transportation stephen hopkins richard burr war powers rob portman constitutionalists bob casey benjamin harrison angus king john morton department of agriculture jon tester mazie hirono judicial review pat toomey mike braun john dickinson social ethics jeff merkley benjamin rush patrick leahy todd young jmc gary peters landmark cases deliberative democracy debbie stabenow historical analysis demagoguery american constitution society civic responsibility george taylor department of veterans affairs civic leadership founding principles samuel huntington political education constitutional government charles carroll lamar alexander cory gardner temperance movement ben cardin antebellum america kevin cramer department of state mike rounds george ross state sovereignty cindy hyde smith department of commerce revolutionary america apush brian schatz civic participation founding documents jim inhofe gouverneur morris constitutional change founding era roger sherman early american republic contemporary politics jeanne shaheen martin heinrich constitutional advocacy maggie hassan john barrasso pat roberts roger wicker william williams american political thought elbridge gerry william floyd george wythe jacky rosen mercy otis warren constitutional accountability center civic learning living constitution department of the interior tom carper constitutional affairs richard henry lee constitutional conventions legal philosophy alcohol prohibition samuel chase american political development richard stockton mike crapo department of health and human services government structure american governance lyman hall constitutional conservatism constitutional rights foundation constitutional literacy

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 83:19

On the sixty-first episode, Shane and Ben are joined by Joseph Natali, a Ph.D. student at Baylor University dissertating on the constitutionalism of bureaucracy and how Presidents succeed or fail in exercising control over the executive branch. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America's Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially through their annual Summer Institutes for graduate students and recent PhDs. The Jack Miller Center is also working with thousands of K-12 educators across the country to help them better understand America's founding principles and history and teach them effectively, to better educate the next generation of citizens. JMC has provided thousands of hours of professional development for teachers all over the country, reaching millions of students with improved civic learning. If you care about American education and civic responsibility, you'll want to check out their work, which focuses on reorienting our institutions of learning around America's founding principles. To learn more or get involved, visit jackmillercenter.org. The Constitutionalist is a podcast cohosted by Professor Benjamin Kleinerman, the RW Morrison Professor of Political Science at Baylor University and Founder and Editor of The Constitutionalist Blog, Shane Leary, a graduate student at Baylor University, and Dr. Matthew K. Reising, a John and Daria Barry Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Princeton University. Each week, they discuss political news in light of its constitutional implications, and explore a unique constitutional topic, ranging from the thoughts and experiences of America's founders and statesmen, historical episodes, and the broader philosophic ideas that influence the American experiment in government.

#60 - Educating the Statesman with Shilo Brooks

united states america american university founders history president donald trump culture power art house washington politics college state doctors phd professor colorado joe biden executive director elections washington dc dc local congress political supreme court union senate bernie sanders democracy federal kamala harris blm constitution conservatives heritage nonprofits political science liberal abraham lincoln civil rights impeachment public policy amendment graduate educating baylor george washington princeton university american history presidency ballot ted cruz public affairs institutions elizabeth warren ideology constitutional thomas jefferson founding fathers benjamin franklin mitt romney electoral college mitch mcconnell baylor university supreme court justice american politics joe manchin john adams rand paul marco rubio polarization chuck schumer alexander hamilton cory booker james madison lindsey graham bill of rights tim scott federalist amy klobuchar civic engagement dianne feinstein rule of law john kennedy civil liberties senate judiciary committee josh hawley mike lee claremont polarized supreme court decisions ron johnson constitutional law paul revere house of representatives ideological george clinton constitutional rights department of education federalism james smith aaron burr rick scott chris murphy tom cotton robert morris thomas paine kirsten gillibrand department of justice political theory bob menendez john witherspoon political philosophy senate hearings constitutional convention constitutional amendments john hancock fourteenth statesman susan collins john marshall 14th amendment patrick henry benedict arnold chuck grassley department of defense american government aei marsha blackburn samuel adams james wilson john quincy adams john paul jones social activism john jay tim kaine political discourse dick durbin jack miller joni ernst political thought political debate john cornyn shilo sherrod brown david perdue mark warner ben sasse tammy duckworth political leadership abigail adams political commentary american experiment checks and balances ed markey grad student ron wyden american presidency originalism michael bennet john thune constitutional studies legal education electoral reform publius john hart bill cassidy department of homeland security political life legal analysis national constitution center separation of powers richard blumenthal department of labor chris coons legal history department of energy american founding thom tillis constitutionalism tammy baldwin civic education chris van hollen liberal education tina smith james lankford summer institute department of transportation stephen hopkins american ideals richard burr war powers rob portman constitutionalists bob casey statesmanship benjamin harrison angus king john morton james madison program department of agriculture jon tester mazie hirono judicial review pat toomey mike braun social ethics john dickinson jeff merkley benjamin rush patrick leahy todd young jmc gary peters landmark cases historical analysis debbie stabenow deliberative democracy demagoguery american constitution society civic responsibility george taylor department of veterans affairs civic leadership founding principles samuel huntington political education constitutional government moral leadership charles carroll temperance movement lamar alexander cory gardner ben cardin antebellum america kevin cramer department of state mike rounds george ross state sovereignty cindy hyde smith department of commerce revolutionary america apush brian schatz founding documents civic participation jim inhofe gouverneur morris constitutional change founding era roger sherman early american republic jeanne shaheen contemporary politics martin heinrich constitutional advocacy maggie hassan pat roberts john barrasso william williams roger wicker american political thought elbridge gerry george wythe william floyd jacky rosen mercy otis warren constitutional accountability center living constitution civic learning department of the interior tom carper richard henry lee constitutional conventions legal philosophy samuel chase american political development alcohol prohibition richard stockton mike crapo department of health and human services government structure american governance lyman hall constitutional conservatism constitutional rights foundation constitutional literacy

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2025 59:57

On the sixtieth episode, Matthew and Ben are joined by Shilo Brooks, Executive Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, to discuss his immensely popular course "The Art of Statesmanship and the Political Life." We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America's Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially through their annual Summer Institutes for graduate students and recent PhDs. The Jack Miller Center is also working with thousands of K-12 educators across the country to help them better understand America's founding principles and history and teach them effectively, to better educate the next generation of citizens. JMC has provided thousands of hours of professional development for teachers all over the country, reaching millions of students with improved civic learning. If you care about American education and civic responsibility, you'll want to check out their work, which focuses on reorienting our institutions of learning around America's founding principles. To learn more or get involved, visit jackmillercenter.org. The Constitutionalist is a podcast cohosted by Professor Benjamin Kleinerman, the RW Morrison Professor of Political Science at Baylor University and Founder and Editor of The Constitutionalist Blog, Shane Leary, a graduate student at Baylor University, and Dr. Matthew K. Reising, a John and Daria Barry Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Princeton University. Each week, they discuss political news in light of its constitutional implications, and explore a unique constitutional topic, ranging from the thoughts and experiences of America's founders and statesmen, historical episodes, and the broader philosophic ideas that influence the American experiment in government.

Big Beautiful Bill Squeaks Through The House! Making Sense Of Our World At War (with Ryan McBeth)

Politics Politics Politics

Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 99:39

The madman did it. Mike Johnson pushed the Big Beautiful Bill through the House in a razor-thin 215–214 vote, with one Republican voting present. It happened in the early hours of the morning, after an all-night session where, reportedly, one GOP member literally fell asleep during the vote. It's wild how this keeps happening: Johnson, backed by Trump, threads the needle just enough to claim victory — first on his own speakership, then on the budget, and now on the crown jewel of Trump's second-term domestic agenda.The vote was close, but this wasn't chaos. It was strategy. Johnson avoided making promises, waited out the loudest factions, and let Trump do the squeezing. First, the SALT caucus got its $40,000 cap. Then, once the blue-state Republicans were on board, the House Freedom Caucus got summoned to the White House. Trump made it clear — get in line. And they mostly did.What's Actually in the BillThe bill itself is massive. It permanently extends the 2017 Trump tax cuts. It temporarily exempts tips, overtime, and auto loan interest from taxes through 2028. It raises the SALT deduction cap to $40,000 for households earning up to $500,000. It imposes work requirements on Medicaid recipients aged 18 to 65 who don't have disabilities or young children. It bans Medicaid and CHIP from covering gender-affirming care. It cuts federal funding to states offering Medicaid to undocumented immigrants.Then there's the border and defense spending: $46.5 billion for the wall, $4.1 billion for more Border Patrol agents, $1,000 asylum application fees, nearly $150 billion for defense, including missile shields and naval expansion. It throws in a Trump Savings Account for kids, expands 529s for education, and guts clean energy tax credits earlier than expected. This is not a modest proposal. This is the full kitchen sink — and it cleared the House.The Congressional Budget Office says it'll add $3.8 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. For a party that used to live and die by fiscal restraint, it's a hell of a turn. And yet, what's striking is that Democrats are the ones now talking about debt again. The shift is real. But the counterargument is simple: we've been living under this tax structure for seven years. Making it permanent just formalizes the status quo. The new spending and credits? That's where the fight will be.Next Stop: The Senate WallNone of this becomes law unless it gets through the Senate — and that's a very different battlefield. The GOP has three votes to spare. And their best lobbyist is JD Vance, who's barely spent any time in the chamber. This is not the House. Rand Paul is a hard no. Ron Johnson is already calling out the deficit. Susan Collins is watching the optics. McConnell still looms over the process, even if he's stepping back from leadership.The House version of this bill isn't making it. Changes are coming — the question is whether they come from the right or the left. Johnson's strategy got him this far. But in the Senate, Trump's grip isn't as strong, and the margin is even tighter. The message is clear: they passed it out of the House, but the real negotiation starts now.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:03:12 - Big Beautiful Bill Passes House00:13:34 - Interview with Ryan McBeth00:46:17 - Update00:47:21 - Israeli Embassy Shooting 01:02:26 - Senate Bill Response01:04:15 - Texas Hemp Ban01:06:06 - Interview with Ryan McBeth, cont.01:34:29 - Wrap-up This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

#59 - Tocqueville - The Omnipotence of the Majority

united states america american university founders history president donald trump culture power washington politics college state doctors phd professor colorado joe biden washington dc dc local congress political supreme court union senate bernie sanders democracy federal kamala harris blm constitution conservatives heritage nonprofits political science liberal abraham lincoln civil rights impeachment public policy amendment graduate baylor george washington princeton university american history presidency ballot ted cruz public affairs majority elizabeth warren ideology constitutional thomas jefferson founding fathers benjamin franklin mitt romney electoral college mitch mcconnell baylor university supreme court justice american politics joe manchin john adams rand paul marco rubio polarization chuck schumer alexander hamilton cory booker james madison lindsey graham bill of rights tim scott amy klobuchar civic engagement dianne feinstein rule of law john kennedy civil liberties senate judiciary committee josh hawley mike lee claremont polarized supreme court decisions ron johnson constitutional law paul revere house of representatives george clinton constitutional rights department of education federalism james smith aaron burr rick scott chris murphy omnipotence tom cotton robert morris alexis de tocqueville thomas paine kirsten gillibrand department of justice political theory bob menendez john witherspoon political philosophy senate hearings constitutional convention constitutional amendments john hancock fourteenth susan collins john marshall 14th amendment patrick henry political history benedict arnold chuck grassley department of defense american government aei marsha blackburn samuel adams james wilson john quincy adams john paul jones social activism john jay tim kaine political discourse dick durbin jack miller joni ernst political thought political debate john cornyn sherrod brown david perdue mark warner ben sasse tammy duckworth abigail adams political commentary american experiment checks and balances ed markey grad student ron wyden originalism michael bennet john thune constitutional studies legal education electoral reform publius john hart bill cassidy political analysis department of homeland security legal analysis national constitution center separation of powers richard blumenthal department of labor chris coons legal history american founding thom tillis constitutionalism tammy baldwin civic education chris van hollen tina smith james lankford summer institute department of transportation stephen hopkins richard burr war powers rob portman constitutionalists bob casey benjamin harrison angus king john morton department of agriculture jon tester mazie hirono judicial review pat toomey mike braun social ethics john dickinson jeff merkley benjamin rush patrick leahy todd young jmc gary peters landmark cases deliberative democracy debbie stabenow historical analysis demagoguery american constitution society civic responsibility department of veterans affairs george taylor civic leadership founding principles samuel huntington political education constitutional government charles carroll temperance movement lamar alexander cory gardner ben cardin antebellum america kevin cramer department of state george ross mike rounds state sovereignty cindy hyde smith department of commerce revolutionary america apush brian schatz founding documents civic participation jim inhofe constitutional change gouverneur morris founding era roger sherman early american republic jeanne shaheen contemporary politics martin heinrich constitutional advocacy maggie hassan pat roberts john barrasso william williams roger wicker american political thought elbridge gerry william floyd george wythe jacky rosen mercy otis warren constitutional accountability center civic learning department of the interior tom carper richard henry lee constitutional conventions american political development samuel chase alcohol prohibition richard stockton mike crapo department of health and human services government structure american governance lyman hall constitutional conservatism constitutional rights foundation constitutional literacy

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 52:00

On the fifty-ninth episode of the Constitutionalist, Ben and Matthew discuss Volume 1, Part 2, Chapter 7 of Alexis De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" on the omnipotence of the majority. They discuss Tocqueville's warnings of the detrimental effects of democracy on the citizen. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America's Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially through their annual Summer Institutes for graduate students and recent PhDs. The Jack Miller Center is also working with thousands of K-12 educators across the country to help them better understand America's founding principles and history and teach them effectively, to better educate the next generation of citizens. JMC has provided thousands of hours of professional development for teachers all over the country, reaching millions of students with improved civic learning. If you care about American education and civic responsibility, you'll want to check out their work, which focuses on reorienting our institutions of learning around America's founding principles. To learn more or get involved, visit jackmillercenter.org. The Constitutionalist is a podcast co-hosted by Professor Benjamin Kleinerman, the RW Morrison Professor of Political Science at Baylor University and Founder and Editor of The Constitutionalist Blog, Shane Leary, a graduate student at Baylor University, and Dr. Matthew Reising, a John and Daria Barry Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Princeton University. Each week, they discuss political news in light of its constitutional implications, and explore a unique constitutional topic, ranging from the thoughts and experiences of America's founders and statesmen, historical episodes, and the broader philosophic ideas that influence the American experiment in government.

382: How to leverage your network to drive career mobility - with Susan Collins (ALL-STAR)

The Simplifiers Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 38:25

Real talk time: Is your career where you want it to be? When you think of your career mobility (as in how one role opens up other opportunities down the line), are you satisfied with where you are now and where you are headed? If things have veered off course, let's talk about it! My all-star special guest today is Susan Collins and she's simplifying how to leverage your network to drive career mobility. Because, let's face it… your greatest advocate is in fact, YOU. And that requires you to build strong working relationships (based on trust and respect) to help you get where you want to go next. Here's how. My special guest today is Susan Collins and she's simplifying how to leverage your network to drive career mobility. We tackle and simplify all aspects of it, including: When you're feeling disengaged and unhappy at work, how to uncover the root cause. In her words, “if you're happy and you know it, think ahead.” What that means and how to do it simply. What “self-authoring” means and how it might be holding you back. What the 8 career narratives are that we should consider when crafting our own narrative of where you want to head next. How to leverage your network to help you open doors of opportunities and equally, why it's important for you to help open doors for others, as well. … and ultimately, she shares her advice to the introverts of the world listening today who feel nervous about networking and making bold asks to people, in order to move their career along. Q: Are you ready to learn how to leverage your network to drive your career mobility? If yes, this one is for you. It's time to #DoTheThing! ---- Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.thesimplifiers.com/posts/382-how-to-leverage-your-network-to-drive-career-mobility---with-susan-collins-all-star

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#58 - Montesquieu and the Founding with William B. Allen

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Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 58:24

On the fifty-eighth episode, Shane, Matthew, and Ben are joined by William B. Allen, Professor Emeritus of Political Philosophy at Michigan State University, to discuss Montesquieu's political philosophy and its influence on the American Founding and eighteenth-century British politics. We want to hear from you! Constitutionalistpod@gmail.com The Constitutionalist is proud to be sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America's Founding Principles and History. For the last twenty years, JMC has been working to preserve and promote that tradition through a variety of programs at the college and K-12 levels. Through their American Political Tradition Project, JMC has partnered with more than 1,000 scholars at over 300 college campuses across the country, especially through their annual Summer Institutes for graduate students and recent PhDs. The Jack Miller Center is also working with thousands of K-12 educators across the country to help them better understand America's founding principles and history and teach them effectively, to better educate the next generation of citizens. JMC has provided thousands of hours of professional development for teachers all over the country, reaching millions of students with improved civic learning. If you care about American education and civic responsibility, you'll want to check out their work, which focuses on reorienting our institutions of learning around America's founding principles. To learn more or get involved, visit jackmillercenter.org. The Constitutionalist is a podcast cohosted by Professor Benjamin Kleinerman, the RW Morrison Professor of Political Science at Baylor University and Founder and Editor of The Constitutionalist Blog, Shane Leary, a graduate student at Baylor University, and Dr. Matthew K. Reising, a John and Daria Barry Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Princeton University. Each week, they discuss political news in light of its constitutional implications, and explore a unique constitutional topic, ranging from the thoughts and experiences of America's founders and statesmen, historical episodes, and the broader philosophic ideas that influence the American experiment in government.

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