Kamala Harris loved the "we have more in common than what divides us" line on the campaign trail. Brock questioned it then and really questions it now as he embarks on a Deep South journey. The overt religiosity of the South is striking to a Northerner. The Trump billboards and "Super stores" where people buy Trump-adorned merchandise seems bizarre. The lack pf integration between White and Black people in the cities visited is glaringly obvious. The Right-wing news is everywhere. The people seem nice and friendly. The food is great. But it feels like a different culture. The South could be another country, albeit with the same language. The question is whether American ideals and belief in democracy binds us together North and South, Conservative and Liberal. Brock is skeptical as he travels to Mississippi, home of the Ole Miss Rebels. What were they rebelling against? Oh yeah. Me. The Northerners.

Mark and Brock take a break from the daily commentary on politics to reflect on why they do the podcast and how easily they slip back into their silos. American society has thrown such different life experiences at each of them since their high school days that reconnecting to talk about these paths has been a great education. But the effort is not seen in much of their everyday lives or amongst their circle of friends. It begs the question of whether people in this country will ever take a beat and think about the lived experiences of the "others" around them. Not likely, but this podcast is an attempt to start the honest conversation.

Oh come on now, getting the Senate to only approve $70 billion is a victory for the Resistance? No way. This is not middle of the road policy stance. ICE is separating families, providing inhumane conditions no longer even keeping track of deaths in their concentration camps. It is totally unacceptable within any standard of reasonable conditions. But the American people are indifferent to the plight of immigrants. Too many Americans are indifferent to the suffering of others. Mark highlights a move by state legislators in Minnesota to have a moment of silence for Derek Chauvin. Brock argues this is why there is no coming together with MAGA. America is in a Civil War. one side or the other wins.