James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss ongoing blockade of the confirmation of military promotions by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and how his “my way or the highway” approach is so antithetical to the principle of compromise that is baked into the U.S. system by the Constitution  (1:10).  The guys also react to a recent study which suggests that walking can be as good as Viagra for men (44:32). Why a single senator is blocking US military promotions and what it means for the...

Sarah Colt’s “The Gilded Age” takes a look at the rapid industrialization and growth, as well as the exploding wealth gap between the capital class and the working class which defined the late nineteenth century in the United States, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss their takeaways from documentary, which originally aired in 2018 on PBS, including what drove the mass accumulations of wealth, how such wealth can warp society and politics, and how this period may mirror what is...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the tens of billions in federal child care funds that recently expired and what the role of government should be for something like child care (1:28).  The guys also consider why it always seems like masculinity is under attack (32:29). Federal childcare funding is about to expire–and it could be terrible for the U.S. economy (Forbes) Opinion: Federal funding for child care is about to fall off a cliff. Why that’s a disaster (LA Times) End of federal...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the way many have seemed to want to take sides in an all or nothing way when viewing and discussing the Israel and Hamas war, and how several factors in our society seem to be involved in promoting this approach (1:37).  The guys also react to Robert Sapolsky’s premise in his new book “Determined” that humans actually have no free will (45:29). Harvard Student Groups Face Intense Backlash for Statement Calling Israel ‘Entirely Responsible’ for Hamas...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the dysfunction in the US House of Representatives following the ouster of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House that some Republicans seem to be intentionally driving and consider what may be the source of it (1:31).  The guys also react to some recent economic data which shows that Latinos in the us now have an economic output that exceeds that of the nation of India (40:22). House Republicans are fighting over their next leader. Here’s what you need...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at the historical context of the current conflict between Israel and Hamas and consider whether after 75+ years of conflict, there is any pathway to an end to this cycle of violence (1:13).  The guys also discuss some recent research into what was happening in the Americas right before Columbus landed (48:44). Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation (AP News) Israel pulverises Gaza after Hamas...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider how anger affects one’s ability to think, the types of actors in a society that have an interest in using anger to manipulate others for their own benefit, and whether people could be angrier now than in years past (1:19).  The guys also react to the recent arrest of a suspect for the 1996 murder of rapper Tupac Shakur and take a look at the circumstances of the arrest, especially considering how long ago the murder was (44:58). Anger overwhelms our...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to the corruption allegations against Senator Bob Menendez and discuss whether the type of movie villain style corruption is more of a risk  than the legal corruption that is omnipresent in our political system (1:51).  The guys also comment on some recent publications that investigate how a two-parent household can be beneficial for kids (42:03). Here are the charges Sen. Bob Menendez is facing (The Hill) Sen. Bob Menendez and wife indicted on bribery...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at the United Auto Workers’ strike and consider whether it, either alone or in the context of the ongoing Hollywood strikes, represent a needed resurgence in union activity (1:15).  The guys also discuss the recent expert recommendations on which exercises and/or equipment in the gym that one should avoid (39:59). UAW boss says workers shouldn’t accept lower wages so ‘greedy people like Elon Musk can build more rocket ships’ (Yahoo! Finance) The UAW’s...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look back at the Iran Contra scandal, which despite not seeming to have the notoriety of Watergate or the sizzle of Clinton-Lewinsky, was a pretty big deal and one that illustrated both how the U.S. governmental system can be exploited and the mechanisms in the system that allows it to fight back when lines are crossed (01:13). The Iran-Contra Affair (PBS) Iran-Contra Explained: The Wall of Crazy Scandal (YouTube)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana are joined by special guest Warren Smith III from the Contemporary Commentary YouTube show, and they react to recent comments by former church official Russell Moore about the crisis in the American Evangelical Church and comments from the Pope about the American Catholic Church and discuss whether politics and political ideology have become too centered in Christian churches (01:31).  The guys also consider the legacy of the March on Washington with the recent...

With more research being done on the actual effects of trigger warnings, setting aside their intent, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana weigh in on the debate over trigger warnings, whether they are helpful, and whether they can cause unintended consequences (01:45).  The guys also discuss India recently becoming the first country to land near the south pole of the Moon (43:45). I Was Wrong About Trigger Warnings (The Atlantic) (Apple News Link) What if Trigger Warnings Don’t Work? (The New...

Fascism is a label that gets thrown around more often than is warranted, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss what Fascism really is, how a society get slip into it, and the extent to which aspects of it can be seen today in the American system (01:36).  The guys also take a look at Ozempic, its seemingly miracle results, and how it may kill the mentality that a lack of willpower is at the root of being overweight (44:08). What is Fascism (Council on Foreign Relations) Fascism...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider whether the fires in Maui and the hot tub like ocean temperatures off the Florida coast change the big picture concern about climate change and discuss whether we are seeing enough progress in sustainability to protect our habitat (01:38).  The guys discuss recent research which views psychopathy along a spectrum, with some characteristics which may offer some potential benefits (41:02). Hawaii wildfires: How did the Maui fires start and are they still...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to a piece in the Wall Street Journal which asserts that the founding fathers anticipated a government takeover attempt like Donald Trump’s and discuss how what comes next will be a test of the American people as much as a test of the American system (01:47).  The guys consider the difficulty in finding the line between common and normal negative feelings and signs of mental illness (42:16). The Founders Anticipated the Threat of Trump (WSJ) (Apple News...

Following a Congressional hearing which saw some interesting claims about alien space craft and “nonhuman biologics,” James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider how much legitimacy should be given to the revelations and whether a high level of scrutiny on the self-proclaimed whistleblower David Grusch is appropriate or if that is just shooting the messenger (01:20).  The guys also take a look at the judicial reform efforts happening in Israel and how what many are describing as a parliamentary...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to Florida’s newly approved standards for teaching african american history and consider how they may compare to other efforts to rewrite history, such as The Lost Cause of the Confederacy mythology (01:31).  The guys also discuss the ongoing bipartisan effort to regulate social media companies and the algorithms they use to present content to users, particularly to minors (36:14). New Florida teaching standards say African Americans received some ‘personal...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the role of news media in holding powerful people and organizations accountable in light of Northwestern University’s recent firing of its head football coach, Pat Fitzgerald, following media reports which detailed the nature of the hazing allegedly taking place in the football program (01:48).  The guys also take a look at how the discovery of lead in telecom transmission lines has affected the stock prices of several large tech companies and consider...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to a recent piece from The Atlantic which asserts that the way America’s modern cultural landscape has evolved has caused the Democratic Party to largely become the party of the status quo (01:16).  The guys also consider how deep of a hole we are digging with our (over)use of plastics and if there is any way out (37:35). The Democrats Are Now America’s Conservative Party (The Atlantic) (Apple News link) How Plastics Are Poisoning Us (The New Yorker)...

With recent US Supreme Court decisions operating to remove societal guardrails put in place by previous generations, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss why the guardrails were in place and whether the guardrails are still necessary in the US (01:42).  The guys also react to the smoke coming from Canadian wildfires that keeps coming to US cites and consider the interconnectivity of certain environmental conditions (39:33). Supreme Court effectively ends affirmative action at colleges in...

Seeing reports of a huge year over year increase in investment in building factories in the US, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at what may be driving this spike and what a boom in manufacturing would mean in the 21st century (01:31).  The guys also discuss the financial independence, retire early lifestyle and why it may be inherently unable to deliver on its promise (32:46). Factory Boom Sweeps US With Construction at Record $190 Billion (Bloomberg) The US is building factories at...

After checking out David Brooks’ thought provoking piece in the Atlantic on the outer limits of liberalism, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss liberalism as an ideology focused on individual liberty, where the bounds of individual liberty should be, and how the extremes of any ideology can lead to a difficult place (01:31).  The guys also acknowledge Juneteenth and consider whether any honest telling of Black history would be considered woke by some (39:16). The Outer Limits of Liberalism...

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss what stood out in the federal indictment of Donald Trump and consider how this represents another instance where Trump demands that his supporters abandon their claimed principles when those principles do not serve him (01:29).  The guys also react to the premise of a recent article in Esquire Magazine that asks whether the US is in a sex recession (39:23). Indictment takeaways: Trump’s alleged schemes and lies to keep secret papers (AP News) Former...

Seeing the firestorm surrounding Chick-fil-A over its employment of an executive for diversity, equity and inclusion, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss what appears to be a rising tide where the power of the pocketbook is used to pressure actors to be more exclusionary towards certain segments of society (01:31).  The guys also consider whether boredom, which modern technology has seemingly eliminated, actually can be something that benefits us greatly (37:15). Not Even Chick-fil-A Is...

With the NAACP issuing a travel advisory relating to Florida in response its belief that Florida is openly hostile to Blacks and other minority groups, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the half measure nature of the travel advisory tactic and whether it can be an effective way to exert political influence (01:32).  The guys also consider how the formal ending of the Covid pandemic emergency by organizations like the WHO and CDC will affect sufferers of long Covid (39:09). NAACP Issues...