James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the 2023 documentary “Join or Die,” currently airing on Netflix, and weigh in on the case it made about that importance of people to participating in clubs and groups to maintaining a democratic society and on why the decline of community engagement in the US should have us all concerned (and ready to act). Join or Die (Netflix)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider some recent comments on modern American politics by Denzel Washington on how we are all slaves to information and being manipulated by both sides (01:15). The guys also weigh in on the recent exodus from Twitter/X (17:19) and up by reacting to some recent studies on how being bullied may change one’s brain (36:35). Denzel Washington Says People ‘Better Realize’ They’re ‘Being Manipulated’ by Both Political Sides: ‘We’re All Slaves to Information Now’ (Yahoo! Entertainment) X sees largest user exodus since Elon Musk takeover (NBC News) What is Bluesky, the fast-growing social platform welcoming fleeing X users? (AP News) We're starting to understand what being bullied does to the brain (New Scientist)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider whether chatbots are safe in light of the recent story about the 14 year old boy that killed himself allegedly to get closer to a chatbot he believed he had gotten close to. (01:31). The guys also discuss whether Kamala Harris’ election loss is more about a Rejection of Harris and the Democratic Party, or an embrace of Donald Trump and the Republican Party (25:31). A 14-Year-Old Boy Killed Himself to Get Closer to a Chatbot. He Thought They Were In Love. (Wall Street Journal) US election briefing: Trump on track to win popular vote as millions of Biden voters desert Harris (The Guardian) Bernie Sanders Stands by His Criticism of Democrats, Shrugging Off Nancy Pelosi: ‘Working People Are Extremely Angry’ (Yahoo News) Kamala Harris is just the latest victim of global trend to oust incumbents (The Guardian)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss a few things that stood out in Yuval Noah Harari’s new book “Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI,” which looks at the role information and information networks have played in how human society has developed, and how the introduction of AI may be more revolutionary than we can imagine. Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. (ynharari.com) Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI. (Penguin Random House)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to the claims that there is a double standard at play in the way some in the media and some voters treat Kamala Harris relative to Donald Trump (01:20). The guys also consider what the decline in sex in movies says about our culture (33:41). Michelle Obama Decries a ‘Double Standard’ in Treatment of Trump and Harris (NY Times) The double standard for Harris and Trump has reached a breaking point (WaPo) The Sexless State of Cinema, by the Numbers (The Ringer)
Continuing their “Streaming Between the Lines” series, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the 2017 documentary film “Saving Capitalism,” which follows professor and former US Labor Secretary Robert Reich as he explains how the capitalist system in the US has been intentionally configured in recent times to primarily benefit the few, and how that imperils the continued operation of a democratic system. Saving Capitalism (Netflix)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider whether sports gambling, particularly with mobile apps, may be going too far in light of a recent lawsuit against FanDuel filed by former employee of the Jacksonville Jaguars Amit Patel who is currently serving a 6 ½ sentence in federal prison for conduct related to his gambling (01:30). The guys also react to the misinformation explosion surround FEMA hurricane relief, which coincidentally or not followed 100+ Republicans in congress voting against FEMA funding (24:23). Ex-Jaguars employee Amit Patel sues FanDuel for $250 million (ESPN) Florida Republicans Who Voted Against Funding FEMA Are Now Facing Disaster (Rolling Stone) Suspect arrested after reports of threats toward FEMA operations in North Carolina (CNN) Hurricanes Milton and Helene are a wake-up call for the stakes of this election (MSNBC) FEMA Scrambles to Confront Two Storms—and Misinformation (WSJ) (Apple News Link) Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now Adding Lasers to Her Hurricane Helene Conspiracy (The Daily Beast) DeSantis misses post-hurricane meeting with Biden — again (Politico)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at the controversies and hate campaigns that are being seen more and more with entertainment properties like Star Wars, Snow White, Gladiator, and the Little Mermaid, and consider whether complaints about “forced diversity” and “woke” agendas in entertainment and fantasy have any merit (01:26). The guys also consider whether the latest revelations by Jack Smith about Donald Trump’s conduct following his 2020 election loss further demonstrate that at least for some parts of the American public, unethical or bad behavior is no longer a significant concern (25:12). ‘The Acolyte’ Has Caused Star Wars Fandom To Plunge Into Civil War (Forbes) How the culture war ruined ‘Star Wars’ (Medium) Rachel Zegler says her ‘Snow White’ movie gives the princess’ name a new origin story (Los Angeles Times) The Only Winner Of The Star Wars Culture War Is Disney (Giant Freakin Robot) Star Wars: Daisy Ridley Has Some Thoughts On The Hate Rey Gets From Fans (GameRant) 11 damning details in Jack Smith’s new brief in the Trump election case (Politico) Tina Peters, former Colorado county clerk, sentenced to 9 years over voting systems breach (Nebraska Examiner)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the AI chatbot that seems to be able to pull people away from conspiracy theories and the viability of using of technology to address problems created by technology (01:11). The guys also take a look at what is happening with Argentina’s economy with the shock therapy that the new libertarian president has implemented (25:39). This Chatbot Pulls People Away From Conspiracy Theories (NY Times) Argentina’s poverty rate spikes in first 6 months of President Milei’s shock therapy (AP News) Percentage distribution of wealth in Argentina in 2021, by wealth percentile (Statista)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the 2024 movie “Shirley,” directed by John Ridley and currently airing on Netflix, which tells the story of Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress, and her trailblazing run in the 1972 democratic presidential primary. Shirley (Netflix) Regina King Inspires as Presidential Candidate Shirley Chisholm in a New Biopic (Tudum by Netflix)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the use of debunked claims by the Trump campaign about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio eating pets for political gain (01:09). The guys also react to the revelation that Onlyfans has become one of the most popular and profitable websites (32:12). Trump and Vance Are Harming the People They Claim to Care About (The Atlantic) Calls for J.D. Vance to resign after he admits that he created pet-eating story about immigrants (NJ.com) Haitian immigrants helped revive a struggling Ohio town. Then neo-Nazis turned up (The Guardian) Two Springfield, Ohio, hospitals locked down as more bomb threats rock city amid migrant crisis tensions (NY Post) Stochastic terrorism (Wikipedia) OnlyFans figured out the best porn business on the internet (Business Insider) (Apple News Link)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia and what it really means if one believes that stuff like this is now just “a fact of life” (1:16). The guys also consider why Russian propagandists seem to be so keen on secretly amplifying right wing voices in America (22:29) and react to the question of whether marijuana has become too strong since big business has now gotten in the business of growing and selling it (34:59). 'Great' dad. 'Caring' brother. Families mourn Georgia high school shooting victims. (USA Today) JD Vance says he laments that school shootings are a ‘fact of life’ and calls for better security (AP News) Illinois law banning concealed carry on public transit is unconstitutional, judge rules (AP News) How Russian operatives covertly hired U.S. influencers to create viral videos (NPR) Right-wing US influencers say they were victims of alleged Russian plot (BBC) What to know about Tenet Media, Tennessee company linked to Russian propagandists (The Tennesseean) Marijuana Is Too Strong Now (The Atlantic) (Apple News Link)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the sharp decline in encounters at the southern border with people wanting to come to the US and why some who oppose immigration are not thrilled about the development (1:14). The guys also react to the banning of Twitter/X in Brazil (28:14) and consider if dolphins really are evil (55:43). July Immigrant Border Arrests Lower Than Trump’s Last Month In Office (Forbes) GOP senator reveals threat he received working on border bill (CNN) Senate Republicans block bipartisan border deal and foreign aid package following months of negotiations (CNN) Fentanyl scanners that were sitting idle for lack of federal funds can now be installed at the border to catch smugglers (NBC News) X goes offline in Brazil after Elon Musk’s refusal to comply with local laws (The Guardian) Social media loves to villainize dolphins. Here's why it's wrong. (National Geographic) (Apple News Link) Much Like Humans, Dolphin Pods Have Complex Social Structures (Discover Magazine)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana react to some recent comments by JP Morgan Chase CEO Jaime Dimon about the looming national debt crisis and whether the rich need to pay more taxes (1:14). The guys also weigh in on what many have said is a recent uptick of people in right wing circles trying to mainstream race pseudoscience (33:24). Jamie Dimon wants to hit millionaires with the ‘Buffett Rule’ to tackle national debt - Fortune (Yahoo! Finance) What is the national debt? (Treasury.gov) U.S. Debt by President: Dollar and Percentage (Investopedia) Reaganomics (Wikipedia) The Far Right Is Becoming Obsessed With Race and IQ (The Atlantic) (Apple News Link) How we fail black patients in pain (Association of American Medical Colleges) Streaming Between the Lines – “The Eugenics Crusade” - Call It Like I See It (Apple Podcasts) Netflix's "Behind the Curve" and the Belief in a Flat Earth - Call It Like I See It (Apple Podcasts)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss “It Was All a Lie: How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump,” the 2020 New York Times Bestseller written by longtime Republican political consultant and strategist Stuart Stevens which looks the lies the modern Republican Party built itself on and how that led to the party’s complete submission to former president Trump. It Was All a Lie: How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump (Penguin Random House)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss X Corp.’s recently filed lawsuit against advertisers for what it calls an illegal boycott relative to what its owner, Elon Musk, says he’s about (1:04). The guys also discuss Ice Cube’s flirtation with figures like Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson, particularly in light of his particular legacy in hip hop music and culture (21:37). Scoop: X sues major brands, ad industry group for antitrust (Axios) Elon Musk’s X sues advertisers over alleged ‘massive advertiser boycott’ after Twitter takeover (AP) Musk’s Twitter ‘Boycott’ Lawsuit Is a ‘Hideous Joke’: Former FTC Official (Rolling Stone) What Happened to Ice Cube? (Slate)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at Project 2025, what it represents, and why Republican nominee Donald Trump has started distancing himself from it (1:15). The guys also react to the gender controversy involving Algerian boxer Imane Khelif at the Olympics (32:04) and discuss a recent story on technological advancements in cloud seeding and making it rain on demand (48:02). Project 2025: The myths and the facts (Vox) Project 2025 - Mandate for Leadership (PDF from Project2025.org) Project 2025 (Wikipedia) Project 2025: A wish list for a Trump presidency, explained (BBC) Algerian boxer Imane Khelif clinches medal at Olympics after outcry fueled by gender misconceptions (AP) Imane Khelif is just the latest case of female athletes being questioned over their sex (NPR) Fact check on Algerian fighter Imane Khelif, DSDs, biology and Olympic boxing (USA Today) The New Gods of Weather Can Make Rain on Demand—or So They Want You to Believe (Wired) (Apple News Link)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss California’s move to raise the minimum wage to $20/hour for workers at large fast food chains and the hollow predictions of doom and gloom (1:17). The guys also discuss the lack of negative incentives in police hiring in America in light of the murder of Sonya Massey (20:20) and react to the theory that has been making the rounds that our known universe may be a black hole in some larger universe or multiverse (41:38). California put up its fast-food wage to $20. Its governor is adamant it's not causing employment to fall. (Business Insider) Southern California fast food jobs hit record high despite minimum wage hike (Orange County Register) The Unintended Consequences Of California’s $20 Minimum Wage For Fast-Food Workers (Forbes) What Are the Pros and Cons of Raising the Minimum Wage? (Investopedia) Body camera video focused national attention on an Illinois deputy’s fatal shooting of Sonya Massey (AP News) Deputy who killed Sonya Massey was removed from the Army, had DUIs and needed ‘high stress decision’ classes, records show (CNN) Deputy who killed Sonya Massey drew concerns over his aggression and integrity issues in previous jobs (NBC News) DeSantis’s $13.5m police program lures officers with violent records to Florida (The Guardian) We're all living in a black hole: The bold theory scientists can't disprove - BBC Science Focus (Apple News Link) Why NASA Think We Might Live Inside a Black Hole - Bright Side Universe (YouTube)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business,” the 1985 book that looks at how various mediums of communication used by societies influence the messages people receive in the society and details the way television, which presents all content as entertainment, handicaps our ability to engage in serious matters like self-governance. Amusing Ourselves to Death (Penguin Random House)
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the rush to conspiracy theories following the assassination attempt of Donald Trump (1:34). The guys also discuss the death of privacy and whether companies should be allowed to keep archives of so much data about us after a second huge data breach from AT&T (27:55) and react to the record breaking heat being seen across the US (43:59). At the Trump rally, it was evening sun, songs and blue sky. Then came bullets, screams and blood (AP News) The Trump Shooting Conspiracies Outpaced Reality (The Atlantic) Trump Shooting Conspiracies Are Coming From Every Direction (Wired) After assassination attempt, Trump and Biden seek calm, unity (Reuters) The Russian "Firehose of Falsehood" Propaganda Model (RAND) AT&T says criminals stole phone records of ‘nearly all’ customers in new data breach (Tech Crunch) Nearly all AT&T cell customers’ call and text records exposed in a massive breach (CNN) AT&T's Major Data Breach Sparks Another Class-Action Lawsuit (PC Mag) Millions face extreme temperatures as heat dome covers US midwest and east (The Guardian) The Climate Is the Economy (Slate)