Hello from the National Speech & Debate Tournament!
This week, we unpack the idea of court packing, look for common cause with working-class whites, and ask what’s up with the Taiwanese military.
0:00 – Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation proceedings began Monday. Will the questioning be more Acoustic Lindsey Graham or Lindsey Graham Unplugged? Inspired by a recent episode of the Dig podcast (Hi, Dan and Amna!), we wonder: Why does the US democracy—or, why do ACLU-cheering liberals—depend on an institution as ridiculously undemocratic as the Supreme Court? Should leftists support court packing or other legal reforms? Plus: Jay’s double-SCOTUS-clerking high school nemesis.
1:17:05 – Outtro recap: Do we care if people have “racism in their hearts”? And why must Asian Americans borrow other people’s “whatabouts”? Mike Davis continues to school us.
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What would you do if you woke up one day and found yourself in a world without electricity, cellphones or the internet? It sounds like the plot of a science fiction film, but if a powerful enough solar flare hits Earth's magnetosphere this could become a frightening reality. Join Matt and Ben as they explore the likelihood of a solar apocalypse in today's Classic episode.
The podcast crew takes up the idea that American liberals have collectively hit upon their closing message for the election: The GOP is the party of the disease. The question, then, is: Will they change their tune and their approach to the virus if their team wins on November 3? Give a listen.
President Trump and Joe Biden rally supporters ... three weeks before Election Day. Vaccine trial halted. Supreme Court nominee faces questions at her confirmation hearing. CBS News Correspondent Steve Kathan has today's World News Roundup.
Dean McPherson - you guessed it... has always been interested in tech. Though unlike many of our guests, he taught himself how to code after he finished his degree program in music and philosophy. And then - he sold his way into a jr. programming job. Prior to his current venture, he spent several years doing mobile and full stack development for a couple of companies.
He has a small family - 2 little boys - and his wife is not only his partner in life, but in business as well. He loves the idea of fishing - but doesn't really go much. And, he is a well rounded musician, but most interestingly.. he plays the didgeridoo. I can only imagine this at parties.
In 2013, Dean's friend asked him to build a registration form for his business. He was baffled that he would ask for something like this, given there are solutions out there for this sort of thing. However, after searching for options - he couldn't find anything to recommend. In 2016, he and his wife set out to build something to solve this problem - something easy to use, doesn't require coding, and offers a well rounded, branded solution.
Proposition 22 asks Californians if they want to define app-based transportation and delivery drivers as independent contractors, instead of as employees, as state law currently requires. This episode is part of our Bay Curious Prop Fest series, which explores the 12 propositions on California's ballot. The series runs from Oct. 1-16, with new episodes dropping every weekday.
Reported by Sam Harnett. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Katie McMurran and Rob Speight. Additional support from Erika Aguilar, Jessica Placzek, Kyana Moghadam, Paul Lancour, Bianca Hernandez, Ethan Lindsey, Vinnee Tong and Michelle Wiley.
What happens when happy hour is illegal? You cry. That’s what. Who doesn’t love a drink discount when unwinding from another day at the office? Massachusetts doesn’t. And neither does North Carolina, or New Mexico, or Virginia, or …. the list goes on. Because if there’s anything the government hates more than fun, it’s people having fun at a discount. So pour a drink and brace yourself for outrage.
The country yet again faces widespread starvation as a civil war grinds on, and both sides are to blame for the misery visited upon civilians. With the stroke of a pen, Argentina recently doubled in size—setting a precedent with big diplomatic and resource-extraction implications. And remembering the man who set hundreds of thousands of Indians free from indentured servitude.
