Ironweeds

An AI Army girl. War with Iran. The oil crisis. Afroman wins his day in court.    https://www.euronews.com/culture/2026/03/17/meet-jessica-foster-the-viral-onlyfans-ai-fooling-millions-of-maga-fans   https://www.npr.org/2026/03/19/nx-s1-5753563/afroman-lemon-pound-cake-trial    https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/9248ebd9-a96d-450e-96b8-2a3ef740b150    https://archive.ph/RLDUv    https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump-03-20-26?post-id=cmmzikyj50000356tysjbi7o4   https://www.jpost.com/international/article-890725   https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/16/man-charged-planting-bombs-capitol-trump-pardon-00831086   https://aje.news/9wi9du 

The Pentagon spends billions on luxury goods. We’ve blown our load in munitions a little too early. Facial recognition software throws an innocent grandma in jail for five months. Cops decide an anxiety attack is more important than a bullet in the back. Police brutality in South Burlington. Doge Bros tell all.   https://newrepublic.com/post/207693/palantir-ceo-karp-disrupting-democratic-power   https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/11/data-center-moratorium-gains-traction-among-hill-progressives-00814163   https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/03/12/gen-z-men-poll-wife-obey-husband/89087781007/   https://newrepublic.com/post/207555/pete-hegseth-billions-dollars-fruit-basket-stands-chairs-crab    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/10/trump-florsheim-shoes // https://x.com/epsilontheory/status/2031717210746446029?s=46    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/world/middleeast/stryker-iran-cyberattack.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share   https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/9962d453-418d-458f-9707-d29068ac18e8    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/03/11/trump-endorses-jake-paul-political-office/89108352007/   https://www.reddit.com/r/vermont/s/hXQ47QXmH9   https://vtdigger.org/2026/03/12/ice-agents-took-into-custody-a-person-they-were-not-seeking-after-vermont-standoff/   https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/north-dakota/ai-error-jails-innocent-grandmother-for-months-in-north-dakota-fraud-case   https://apnews.com/article/police-shooting-connecticut-892f366b847d9443a2bc3e3569a092dc // https://connecticut.news12.com/attorney-dyshan-best-had-vape-pen-but-no-gun-when-police-fatally-shot-him   https://apnews.com/article/uk-house-of-lords-hereditary-peers-expelled-535df8781dd01e8970acda1dca99d3d4   https://www.404media.co/i-watched-6-hours-of-doge-bro-testimony-heres-what-they-had-to-say-for-themselves/

We’ve started a war in Iran. To what end? We discuss. Also, AI.    https://www.theverge.com/policy/887678/supreme-court-ai-art-copyright   https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5750716-pentagon-pizza-report-hegseth/    https://www.politico.eu/article/isis-teaching-recruits-how-to-use-ai-responsibly/    https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/24/hegseth-sets-friday-deadline-for-anthropic-to-drop-its-ai-red-lines-00795641   https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/brockman-openai-top-trump-donor-21273419.php   https://xcancel.com/sama/status/2027578652477821175   https://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for   https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-says-kristi-noem-stepping-homeland-security-secretary-rcna248719   https://x.com/adamjohnsonchi/status/2029984467096359352?s=46    https://aje.news/gzweqa    https://aje.news/4f7kkx    https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/threats-water-supply-and-food-inflation-stalk-gulf-states    https://www.csis.org/analysis/37-billion-estimated-cost-epic-furys-first-100-hours

Troubling mobilization around Iran. The NRA and other pro-gun groups criticize administration officials on public statements about Alex Pretti murder. DHS lies about detainees. And the Yangtze River is rebounding after a fishing ban.   https://www.them.us/story/story/work-stress-gay-says-malaysian-official    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/us/politics/us-military-iran.html   https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/us/politics/trump-iran-military-strikes.html   https://apnews.com/article/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrest-king-charles-61ea3c437680b8341e623e4d9efa47b8   https://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/2026/02/kid-rocks-song-about-loving-underage-girls-resurfaces-ahead-of-tpusa-super-bowl-show.html   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/19/trump-administration-memo-ice-dhs-refugees-screening   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/25/alex-pretti-killing-nra-pro-gun-groups   https://www.reuters.com/world/irs-improperly-disclosed-confidential-immigrant-tax-data-dhs-washington-post-2026-02-11/   https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/02/18/robert-f-kennedy-jr-kid-rock-ice-bath/   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/09/irish-man-seamus-culleton-ice-detention   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/12/china-yangtze-river-recovery-after-fishing-ban   https://apnews.com/article/immigration-chicago-shooting-crackdown-border-f05c446c37bf0cd7e7e2ad1dcfa104b1

AI developments. A new military contract has some disturbing line items. A man shoots his daughter in Texas and faces no charges. CBP gets El Paso airport shut down over balloons. And cats find refuge in a Beirut university campus.   https://www.commondreams.org/news/military-contract-concentration-camps    https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article314631578.html    https://www.npr.org/2026/02/10/g-s1-109346/beirut-lebanon-cats-university   https://ca.news.yahoo.com/woman-shot-dad-arguing-donald-151336338.html   https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gjmye7xkwo   https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/flights-el-paso-airport-texas-halted-10-days-security-reasons-faa-rcna258497   https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5733236-gallup-stops-presidential-approval-ratings-polls/    https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/free-store-troy-expansion-rite-aid-location-21343564.php   https://fortune.com/2026/02/11/something-big-is-happening-ai-february-2020-moment-matt-shumer/   https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/us/trump-administration-el-paso-airspace-closure-questions.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share    https://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/why-are-senate-democrats-still-voting-to-confirm-trumps-judicial-nominees    https://hellgatenyc.com/propublica-strike-workers-union-contract-ai/ donation: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-propublica-workers-for-fair-contracts    https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/pam-bondi-stole-dog-21352565.php    https://www.reddit.com/r/Albany/s/8rzQ2QzIMG 

A couple of news stories followed by a discussion of the film Bugonia. Thanks for listening!   https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/technology/bitcoin-price-drop-crypto-market.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share   https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/06/an-ai-startup-founder-says-hes-planning-a-march-for-billionaires-in-protest-of-californias-wealth-tax/ 

More ICE content in the wake of the Alex Pretti shooting, Pam Bondi’s request for Minnesota’s voter files, Flock partnering with Ring, Greg Bovino’s similarities to Colonel Lockjaw, facial recognition, and more. Congrats to everyone who worked so hard to save 1011 2nd Ave!   https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/troy-riverfront-remain-untouched-housing-plans-21304385.php    https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/16/amazons-ring-to-partner-with-flock-a-network-of-ai-cameras-used-by-ice-feds-and-police/    https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxcyK81SF_93JESOU8l25IALC7A6wSVkq_?si=iGCLzcSNpE560tUs    https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/leaders-teachers-decry-ice-capitol-rally-21311723.php    https://www.newsweek.com/pam-bondi-ice-minnesota-shooting-tim-walz-letter-voter-files-11413859    https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/troy-mayor-democratic-council-tension-21315555.php    https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/27/us/minneapolis-shooting-ice-minnesota?smid=nytcore-ios-share    https://prospect.org/2026/01/27/ice-greg-bovino-minneapolis-one-battle-after-another-sean-penn/   https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/children-detained-ice-capital-region-advocates-21320062.php   https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/technology/tech-ice-facial-recognition-palantir.html?smid=url-share    https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/us/don-lemon-arrest-minnesota-church-protest.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share   https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/us/politics/nekima-armstrong-photo-white-house.html   https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/01/quick-hit-at-least-20-ice-cbp-officials-have-been-charged-with-crimes-against-children/    https://www.visaverge.com/news/rise-in-ice-agent-impersonations-worries-immigrant-communities/ 

We talk about the general growing lawlessness in the US, from Trump and elections to ICE and protesting. Betar is out of NYS.    https://www.reddit.com/r/BlackPeopleofReddit/comments/1qdog32/black_panthers_in_philly/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button   https://www.reddit.com/r/minnesota/comments/1q8vvwa/st_paul_mn_a_sobbing_resident_calls_911_as/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button   https://hudsonvalleypost.com/huge-center-secretly-planned-for-hudson-valley-new-york/    https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/01/ice-recruitment-minneapolis-shooting.html   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/14/trump-suspended-michigan-autoworker   https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2674894355/   https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/18/us/minnesota-protests-national-guard-immigration-hnk?cid=ios_app   https://www.news10.com/video/top-video/dos-and-donts-for-protesting-in-the-capital-region/   https://theintercept.com/2026/01/13/betar-us-israel-harassment-ny/

The United States has kidnapped the president of Venezuela. We talk about it.   https://rollcall.com/factbase/trump/transcript/donald-trump-press-conference-venezuela-maduro-january-3-2026/   https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y5q173053o    https://www.semafor.com/article/01/03/2026/new-york-times-washington-post-held-off-on-reporting-venezuela-raid    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/03/us-oil-trump-venezuela   https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/eaf41f57-9ef4-4ec3-9118-4881b2ac71ec.    https://www.diariolasamericas.com/america-latina/florida-tycoon-takes-advantage-of-oil-and-the-venezuelan-political-crisis-n5377852    https://floridaphoenix.com/2020/09/27/a-peek-at-billionaire-harry-sargeant-iii-a-somewhat-mysterious-figure-in-fl-gop-circles-and-elsewhere/    https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/sargeant-marine-inc-pleads-guilty-and-agrees-pay-166-million-resolve-charges-related-foreign    https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article299803319.html    https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mbm7zqpudm2c    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15432025/background-Trumps-Mar-Lago-war-room-x-Maduro-strike-Venezuela.html   https://www.newsweek.com/zohran-mamdani-inauguration-live-updates-nyc-mayor-party-11293975

Trump talks to the youths ahead of Santa’s arrival. ICE agents break into a women’s bathroom and order a woman off the toilet. New York is in an affordability crisis. A California wealth tax faces staunch opposition from the golden boy of liberal. The Brown University shooter was found using Flock cameras. And economic growth is no longer linked to carbon emissions. Happy New Year, friends! Thanks for listening!   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/11/economic-growth-no-longer-linked-to-carbon-emissions-in-most-of-the-world-study-finds    https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/new-york-affordability-crisis-debt-savings-21246442.php    https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-white-house-plaques-attack-trumps-democratic-predecessors-bush-2025-12-17/   https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-investigation-5b0b254442dd77d9056111bad902de33    https://dailyvoice.com/ny/albany/asm-gibbs-made-explicit-assembly-floor-remarks-committee/   https://newrepublic.com/post/204732/ice-agents-break-in-women-bathroom-pull-pants-up   https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/24/politics/trump-santa-norad-calls?cid=ios_app   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/technology/california-wealth-tax-page-thiel.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Trump may reschedule cannabis. Little Marco makes waves at the State Department. Tariffs affect farmers. Bill de Blasio ain’t loyal. Rich New Yorkers find fleeing harder than they thought. And a new toadlet just dropped.    https://www.vice.com/en/article/turns-out-putting-a-camera-in-a-smart-toilet-was-a-bad-idea/   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/us/politics/rubio-state-department-font.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/us/politics/state-department-morale-survey.html   https://giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/actions/redeem/990b43fd-dd20-4033-9d75-5cc130e1d239    https://pagesix.com/2025/12/10/society/bill-de-blasio-tucson-mayor-hooked-up-first-time-they-met/    https://www.sciencealert.com/new-species-of-tiny-pumpkin-toadlet-discovered-in-brazils-cloud-forests    https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassination-tyler-robinson-media-e90d404b03383dec9e0d9a327b491920    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78vz2v85mpo    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/nyregion/nyc-income-tax-rich.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share   https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/advertisers-wary-cbs-news-bari-weiss-town-hall-1236608265/    https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/12/cannabis-stocks-trump-regulations.html    https://www.aaup.org/underclass-session

The CEO of Sticker Mule is running for Congress. The US Institute of Peace is rebranded after Trump. US demands dud bomb back from Lebanon. And two special wildflowers because we love you so much!   https://www.news10.com/news/your-local-election-hq/sticker-mule-ceo-announces-bid-for-congress/    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8x1n9rv809o   https://www.techspot.com/news/110356-activists-simulating-ice-raids-gta-fortnite-teach-immigrant.html   https://www.ft.com/content/1e22422f-5859-42e0-85ff-7d6fd7869d5c   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/25/national-park-fee-non-residents    https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20251201-us-israel-fear-leak-of-tech-secrets-from-unexploded-bomb-in-beirut/   https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp39qx4ledeo   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/05/us-airstrike-survivors-clung-to-boat-wreckage-for-an-hour-before-second-deadly-attack-video-shows   https://apnews.com/article/trump-world-cup-fifa-peace-prize-e14f95b8adaa197c869cad407b6ef604 

Trump <3 Mamdani. Mormons develop anti-gooning app. The Coast Guard gets wishy washy on uncucking itself. Rensco sheriff wants to install Flock cameras. Female crash test dummies on the horizon. And a new YMCA Parkinsons center!   https://www.wired.com/story/young-mormons-built-an-app-to-help-men-quit-gooning/#intcid=_wired-right-rail_e40c6d99-0621-494b-b82a-aba0cfec8a2a_popular4-2   https://www.the-sun.com/news/15520681/natalie-greene-political-attack-trump/    https://archive.is/2025.11.20-184006/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/20/coast-guard-swastika-noose/ update https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/the-coast-guard-planned-to-change-how-it-described-swastikas-and-nooses-then-came-the-outcry-and-an-updated-policy    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DROmCXhEhoC/?igsh=MTM4a3V4YzZleHJkMw==    https://on.ft.com/49sYK2S    https://www.wamc.org/news/2025-11-21/rensselaer-county-sheriff-looks-to-install-cameras-in-town-of-poestenkill-local-stewarts-shops    https://www.npr.org/2025/11/21/nx-s1-5616284/female-crash-test-dummy-design-approval    https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/mamdani-jihadist-stefanik-trump-disagree-21201842.php 

Conservatives move to Russia with mixed results. Empathetic depictions of men’s suffering through comedy. The shutdown is over and we got nothing. Starbucks strike. The new Gaza green zone. And Chicagoans fighting back against ICE.  https://www.chron.com/culture/article/conservative-texas-families-move-to-russia-21152330.php    https://www.news10.com/news/rensselaer-county/troy-launches-specialized-mental-health-court/   https://www.wsaw.com/2025/11/12/girl-13-expelled-hitting-classmate-who-made-deepfake-porn-image-her-lawyers-say/   https://newrepublic.com/post/203129/donald-trump-epstein-president-thanksgiving-2017    https://www.theringer.com/2025/11/12/tv/tim-robinson-chair-company-conner-omalley-masculinity    https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/government-shutdown-impacted-pet-food-pantries-21171753.php    https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/rensselaer-county-man-sues-hvac-company-billy-21178107.php    https://labornotes.org/2025/11/no-contract-means-no-coffee-starbucks-baristas-walk-out    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/14/us-military-plan-divided-gaza-green-zone    https://apnews.com/article/chicago-immigration-protest-arrests-agent-police-whistles-df72b2ba4e57befc085d692d227363b8

As happens occasionally, we recorded this before big things happened–centrists dems caved on the shutdown. So the last bit of the episode is a bit out of date now. Sorry! We also discuss Dick Cheney, Musk and Grok, the elections, and solar energy in Puerto Rico.   https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/04/politics/dick-cheney-death-obit   https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8DakDTQ/    https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/business/musk-trillion-dollar-pay-package-vote?cid=ios_app   https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/democrats-declare-victory-troy-21138934.php   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/05/democrat-election-wins-across-america-caution-around-hope-mamdani-spanberger   https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/churchill-stefanik-wins-governor-s-race-21145767.php   https://www.timesunion.com/churchill/article/churchill-steve-mclaughlin-beaten-21140723.php   https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/us/weekend-travel-flight-cuts-government-shutdown-hnk   https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/07/politics/trump-administration-supreme-court-snap-benefits   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2025/jun/30/puerto-rico-solar-power-in-pictures 

Cuomo uses racist AI slop in campaign ad. The government shutdown is coming for SNAP and troops. The ballroom defeats NIMBYs. Elections are upon us. And Ireland has a new lefty president.   https://x.com/prem_thakker/status/1981150231174746370?s=46    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/24/dod-accepts-anonymous-130-million-donation-to-partially-cover-troop-pay-00622219.    https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/watervliet-halloween-curfew-2025-21119806.php   https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/10/25/ballroom-east-wing-trump-white-house/   https://apnews.com/article/maine-platner-senate-trump-mills-tattoo-collins-fa8328a3c8aa5d5e0f34adb379e977b8    https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/regional-food-bank-fears-food-stamps-shutdown-21116263.php   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/25/connolly-set-to-be-irelands-next-president-after-rival-concedes-defeat 

George Santos is a free man. Young Republicans show their true colors in private chat. One Troy resident takes exception to the new anti-panhandling signs. Israel breaks the ceasefire. And bamboo rigid plastic!   https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/private-chat-among-young-gop-club-members-00592146    https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/15/capitol-police-investigating-swastika-in-gop-congressional-office-00609704    https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/young-gop-leader-exposed-in-reported-racist-chats-from-schenectady-co-says-chairwoman    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPyxYhqiMj5/?igsh=MTA3a3M3enNlZmQ4eA==    https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/commentary-give-panhandlers-not-city-hall-s-21089705.php   https://www.ft.com/content/0ab138a5-76de-4371-8f20-3ca31f27e170   https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5q3439xpqo   https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpv1nk7dy4yo    https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/biodegradable-plastic-made-from-bamboo-is-stronger-and-easy-to-recycle/

Rump watch. Race war video game #cancelled. Apple blocks ICE apps. Chatfishing on dating apps. Migrants in New York suffer inhumane conditions. And no more declawing cats in California!   https://bsky.app/profile/dieworkwear.bsky.social/post/3m2sexgfadc2i    https://www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubisoft-cancelled-a-post-civil    https://www.wired.com/story/apple-took-down-ice-tracking-apps-their-developers-arent-giving-up/    https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-10-09/cat-declawing-bill   https://www.404media.co/police-said-they-surveilled-woman-who-had-an-abortion-for-her-safety-court-records-show-they-considered-charging-her-with-a-crime/    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/oct/12/chatgpt-ed-into-bed-chatfishing-on-dating-apps   https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ceasefire-holds-gaza-ahead-hostage-release-trumps-visit-israel-2025-10-12/   https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/migrants-languish-ice-border-patrol-hold-rooms-21087088.php 

The government is shutdown and misbehavin’. Israel is mistreating Greta Thunberg and over 400 flotilla crew. Stolen valor vet gets just desserts. A hullabaloo over a CDL. And drivers in California will be allowed to unionized.   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/04/greta-thunberg-israel-gaza-sweden    https://www.timesunion.com/hudsonvalley/news/article/sharon-toney-finch-fraud-sentenced-21078752.php   https://www.timesunion.com/state/article/new-york-driver-s-license-spread-false-claims-21083237.php   https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-gives-hamas-until-sunday-evening-reach-gaza-deal-2025-10-03/   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2025/10/4/live-trumps-tells-israel-stop-bombing-gaza-after-hamas-ceasefire-reply   https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/04/us/politics/partisan-messages-shutdown-trump.html   https://apnews.com/article/lyft-uber-rideshare-driver-union-california-68c0e55f90b779ae38e315538087d1b3   https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/10/jane-goodall-chimpanzees-death-final-message-video/

Britney forgot to hit the publish button on this episode, so it only went out on Patreon. Sorry! A (perhaps too long) discussion of masturbation addiction and cognitive behavioral therapy. A capital district man who murdered his parents. Rising christian nationalism. And bye bye Wet Wipe Island.   https://youtu.be/JvGw2ZmOlWE?si=xgGurMQmLQjXLXuf    https://www.news9.com/story/68d4bddb5cea03f8db8ee0f6/why-is-an-oklahoma-teacher-concerned-about-state-approved-bibles-   https://www.facebook.com/reel/793674843154244/?referral_source=vod_deeplink_unit&surface_type=vod   https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/lorenz-kraus-pleads-not-guilty-death-burial-21068747.php   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/wet-wipe-island-thames-london-cleared-hammersmith-bridge-b2824711.html