The gang digs into Gavin Newsom's one-time affair after the woman in question — Ruby Rippey — published an account of the scandal in Vanity Fair. Will this affect Newsom's 2028 aspirations, or is this episode deserving of different comparisons than Eric Swalwell and Graham Platner. They also discuss the growing movement towards "strategic wrinkles," as those looking for cosmetic treatments now look for just enough signs of aging to not look unnatural.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:09:48 - Gavin Newsom

00:35:20 - Strategic Wrinkles

00:59:09 - Emails

01:15:37 - Wrap-up

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In a semi-sequel to last week's episode, the gang discusses Darlene Graham's decision to run for a full Senate term, following her appointment to the seat her brother held for more than two decades. Is she a legit candidate, or is this stepping in the way of other politicians with more experience who might want this rare opportunity? They also look at the popularity of soccer in the US, and wonder whether this year's World Cup was a turning point for the sport in a country that has otherwise never cared.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:18:02 - Darlene Graham

01:02:07 - Soccer in the US

01:14:11 - Emails

01:37:13 - Wrap-up

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The crew gathers to discuss the unexpected passing of Lindsey Graham, examining the political legacy he leaves behind following over 30 years of serving in the Senate. They then turn to Meta's AI smart glasses, which is expanding outside of its Ray-Ban partnership to create cheaper smart glasses, despite ongoing privacy concerns.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:21:31 - Lindsey Graham

00:59:03 - Meta Smart Glasses

01:26:29 - Emails

02:01:36 - Wrap-up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The gang convenes to discuss the latest Graham Platner scandal, this time in the form of a sexual assault allegation. Following multiple supporters distancing themselves from Platner, the candidate was heavily rumored to drop out days before the deadline — and, indeed, dropped out hours after this recording. The crew discusses the legacy of Platner's campaign, what's next for Democrats in Maine, and why this was the story that finally sunk his career. Then they turn to the "Missing Middle," as the 45-64 population continues to shrink, potentially causing havoc on both key elements of society and the economy.

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:20:51 - Graham Platner

00:51:02 - Missing Middle

01:03:37 - Emails

01:17:49 - Wrap-up

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The gang discusses the legacy and history of America as it celebrates its 250th anniversary. Are some of the more brutal chapters enough to outweigh the good the USA has brought to the world, or is it worth giving these first 250 years a failing grade? After, the group turns to the ongoing rise of the DSA. Fresh off some big primary wins in NYC and Colorado, who should be the most overjoyed at these recent successes: Democrats, Republicans, or simply the DSA themselves?

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:20:20 - America at 250

00:41:55 - Rise of the DSA

01:19:19 - Emails

01:31:13 - Wrap-up

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The gang explores the tale of FreddyLA7, the social media handle of a German World Cup tourist who, following viral attention, has received negative attention following old tweets, private plane offers, and other various paid experience at absolutely no expense. Is this a simple story of jealousy, or is there a deeper lesson to be learned here? They also dive into the resignation of Keir Starmer, the UK's 7th Prime Minister in a decade. What exactly is Britain looking for in a leader, and will it ever find it?

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:12:19 - FreddyLA7

00:40:26 - Keir Starmer

00:56:45 - Emails

01:09:07 - Wrap-up

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The gang discusses Trump's memorandum of understanding reached with Iran, opening a 60-day window for further negotiations. Is this something meant to stick, or yet another doomed prospect to end this war? Then they turn to SpaceX's record-smashing IPO that has some rushing to invest — and others cautious about the stock. Is this a guarantee on returns, or gambling by another name?

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:14:55 - Iran Deal

00:50:45 - SpaceX

01:13:59 - Emails

01:42:04 - Wrap-up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hot off some controversial new AI ads ahead of the midterms, the gang digs into whether our current class of campaigns are going too far in putting words in the mouths of their opponents. They also look into recent poll results that suggest a coming cultural conservatism wave, and ask if such a thing is real, what might be causing it?

Chapters

00:00:00 - Intro

00:29:06 - AI Political Ads

00:55:32 - Cultural Conservatism Wave

01:12:36 - Emails

01:20:33 - Wrap-up

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.