The gang discuss Elon Musk's cyber coup of the federal government, trade wars with Mexico and Canada over immigration, and we follow up on Trump's order to require misgendering and detransition in schools.
Anonymous Fed provides a chilling first-hand experience with the US government's recent and sudden moves to fire, lay off, or buy out numerous federal employees amid a flurry of other intensely bizarre moves -- Ben shares aspects of the now-infamous "Fork In The Road" email. Cosmic asks about favorite Magic: The Gathering cards, as well as the psychological effects of private healthcare. Curt prompts a deeper conversation about the fact and fiction surrounding mobile phone surveillance, Faraday grifts, and the nature of secret government programs. All this and more in this week's listener mail segment.
One possible change to Medicaid being floated in Congress right now includes a $2.3 trillion cut over the next 10 years. Other potential changes include adding certain work requirements and shifting costs and distribution of Medicaid funds to states, which have no trust obligations to tribes. As it is, Medicaid provides direct support to at least one million Native Americans. It’s also one of the secondary sources that help provide health care through the Indian Health Service. Advocates are bracing for changes as they continue to make the case for the program’s life-and-death importance in Indian Country.
In which a Disneyland-trained dreamer invents a new art form with the help of a cookie entrepreneur and a jellybean innovator, and Ken has a theory about the worst balloon vendors. Certificate #32691.
James is joined by Nevdon Jamgochian to discuss the use of COP 29 to greenwash Azerbaijan’s attempts at the removal of Armenian people from their ancestral lands in Artsakh and the the history of the conflict.
Donations:
VOMA https://www.voma.center/en VOMA is a non-governmental movement that aims to strengthen the defenses of the Republic of Armenia through preparing Armenians and Diaspora to face the immanent threat of invasion by Azerbaijan and Turkey. A defensive organization only.
Kooyrigs https://kooyrigs.org Kooyrigs is a women-led organization and NGO. Focused on supporting Armenia and Artsakh refugees through various humanitarian projects, especially in the areas of education, healthcare, and emergency relief efforts.
Pahapan Development Foundation: http://www.pahapan.org/en/ Donations go toward supporting and developing Tavush: there are about 10000 children who live under regular shootings by Azeri troops in 23 borderline villages of Tavush region. This organization helps their safety as well as implementing social, cultural and educational programs.
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund https://www.himnadram.org This fund is one of the main sources of support for Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, focusing on community development, health, education, and infrastructure.
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) https://www.agbu.org AGBU is one of the largest Armenian-American organizations that provides support for educational, cultural, and social welfare initiatives in Armenia and globally.
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) https://www.farusa.org FAR focuses on providing relief to vulnerable populations in Armenia, supporting programs in health, education, and economic development.
Paros Foundation http://parosfoundation.org/available-projects/ Donations can contribute to a number of humanitarian missions they have in Armenia. You can choose to support individual projects or donate to the foundation in general.
Armenia Fund https://www.armeniafund.org A wide ranging charity for infrastructure projects, educational scholarships, and providing aid to vulnerable populations.
Armenian Wounded Heroes Fund https://armenianwoundedheroes.com This fund provides direct support to Armenian soldiers who have been injured in the line of duty, offering medical assistance and helping them reintegrate into society.
Tumo Center for Creative Technologies https://www.tumo.org Tumo is an innovative educational program that provides free tech and creative skills to young people in Armenia. Donations help support the growth of this pioneering center and its ability to empower youth with skills in areas such as animation, coding, game development, and design.
Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC) https://www.avc.am AVC connects volunteers with opportunities in Armenia to support a variety of causes, from community development to disaster relief. Donations help fund the ongoing programs and volunteer recruitment.
The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) https://coaf.org COAF supports rural communities in Armenia with educational, healthcare, and technological programs.
Armenian Red Cross Society https://www.redcross.am/en/home.html The Armenian Red Cross provides critical humanitarian assistance in Armenia, offering emergency relief, health services, and disaster response.
IMAST https://imast.am/ IMAST helps Armenian non-profits with micro-donations for individual projects from wildlife to health to community building.
Other: One Armenia https://www.onearmenia.org A travel group that features local travel opportunities with local people. Promoting responsible travel.
Learn4Artsakh https://learn4artsakh.org Instagram: @learn4artsakh Learn4Artsakh is a leftist platform dedicated to providing educational resources about Artsakh’s history, culture, and people.
Sources:
Books: The Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide by Peter Balakian
The Caucasian Knot: The History and Geo-politics of Nagorno-Karabagh, by Patrick Donabedian & Claude Mutafian Available on learn4artsakh.com
My Brother’s Struggle: A great book by the brother of a complicated Armenian revolutionary who grew up in California. Available on learn4artsakh.com
Azeri War Crimes https://azeriwarcrimes.org/ An archive of evidence of war crimes, ethnic cleansing and human rights violations committed by Azerbaijan. Not for the faint of heart.
Manchester, England is a city with an amazing history and -- according to some -- a terrible secret. For years a rumor has been spreading, first through local circles, and now across the globe. Could all the tragic deaths and disappearances near canals and waterways really be accidents, as law enforcement maintains today? Or could there be something more sinister at work... an active serial killer, operating with dark impunity? Join Ben and Matt as they delve into the harrowing theory of the Manchester Pusher.
Even before the recent wildfires in California, soaring home insurance rates were pushing homeowners to go without. Now State Farm, the country’s largest home insurer, is asking for a 22% rate hike in California. That’s on top of a 30% increase request last summer. Increasing natural disasters, rising home values, and the high cost of rebuilding are putting insurance out of reach for more homeowners nationwide. Native Americans already have the highest uninsured rate for homeowners. We’ll discuss alternatives to a future without coverage for people’s biggest financial asset.
Do they sweat blood? Will one kill you? What are cocaine hippos? Is Moo Deng… okay? Actual real life Hippopotomologist Dr. Rebecca Lewison explains how hippos have some of the best – and worst – PR. We chat about pet hippos, subspecies, daily diets, the current state of hippo conservation, the absolute chaotic affection we have for pygmy hippos, their role as ecosystem engineers, what’s up with their nostrils, and how to keep a hippo in your pocket. Also: how to flatter your friends into planning a group vacation.
Mia talks with doctors Arghavan Salles and Kaveh Hoda about how Trump's illegal disruptions of federal funding is putting everything from vaccine development to trans healthcare at risk.
As World War II drew to a close, multiple Nazi officials saw the writing on the wall: Germany would lose the war, and members of the Nazi party would have to answer for their crimes -- if, that is, they were caught. In a desperate bid to avoid justice, various factions of the SS and other Nazi officials created secret international escape routes called ratlines. Just how big was the operation? Tune in to learn more about the mysterious organization called ODESSA, and why it remains a subject of intrigue and controversy in the modern day.
