Welcome back to the deep dive.
Oh yeah.
Yadda, we're diving head first
into ElectoralVote.com's analysis from December 17th.
Okay.
We're gonna untangle RFK Junior's
wild confirmation hearings,
unpack some surprising pardons,
and even take a look at the political earthquake
over in Germany.
Sounds good.
So it's pretty incredible how the recent election
is still sending those shock waves through everything.
Look at that.
And seeing the fallout,
not just with the new administration,
but with all the reactions and political maneuvering,
it's fascinating.
It is.
Like RFK Junior's confirmation for HHS.
Democrats are a hard no,
but Republicans are playing it so cautiously.
It just seems like a really odd strategy.
Well, it's all about political strategy really.
Openly opposing RFK Junior right now
could backfire lifetime,
especially with what happened with Senator Ernst
and Hexa.
Everyone remembers that.
They're in a tight spot.
I see.
So they're kind of damned if they do.
Damned if they don't.
Exactly.
But even with that,
there are some little hints.
Okay.
That things might not be so smooth.
Interesting.
You know, Trump's out there putting on the pressure,
even talking about primary challenges,
and then you have these senators asking RFK Junior
to clarify his stance on vaccines.
Oh, yeah.
I mean, come on.
Everyone knows where he stands on that.
Well, it's a classic tactic.
Right, you know these senators,
they wanna be able to say,
hey, look, I gave him a chance.
I listened to his side.
But ultimately, I just couldn't support him.
But as for Trump,
I mean, the fact that he's getting involved like this,
that's a big sign.
Yeah, what do you think that means?
Well, he wouldn't be doing this
unless he sensed some real trouble.
And you have to think about those senators,
the ones who are up for reelection soon.
I mean, they're walking a tightrope.
So is there an actual chance
that this nomination could actually fail?
It's definitely a possibility.
It would be a big blow to Trump's agenda, if it did.
I think the bigger issue is that it might show
that some Republicans are willing to break ranks.
Interesting.
We might see more pushback against Trump's nominees
if that happens.
So speaking of breaking ranks,
we have to talk about Manchin and Cinema,
blocking McFerrin's nomination for the NLRB chair.
I mean, everyone thought that was a done deal.
It was a sure thing.
And their votes against her just solidified
that they're done with the Democrats.
It was parting shot, really.
Manchin, you know, he gave his whole rationale
about business and all that.
Cinema, classic cinema, said nothing.
It's fascinating how they can take
such different approaches.
But they end up in the same place.
Right.
I mean, Manchin's focused on business and cinema,
well, who knows.
Who knows.
But it makes it really hard
to analyze what they'll do next.
I mean, this whole thing throws a wrench
into labor relations, especially with Trump coming in.
And speaking of uncertainty,
can we talk about what's happening in the house?
Oh, for sure.
It's a wild ride.
Yeah, AOC, Moskovitz and Sparts are all making moves.
It's hard to keep up.
Well, let's start with AOC, right?
She's going for a powerful committee position,
but she's facing pushback.
Okay, why is that?
Well, there's her age.
For one, she's still relatively young.
And then there's the whole Pelosi situation.
Her influence is still there.
And of course, you can't forget AOC's own history.
She's not afraid to challenge the establishment.
That's for sure.
So it's a power struggle, playing out for everyone to see.
Then we have the whole Moskovitz thing.
Right, the rumors about FEMA.
Yeah, everyone's talking about him
heading up FEMA under Trump.
It's interesting, isn't it?
It is.
Because you have to think about his background,
his connections to DeSantis,
and now Trump's new chief of staff.
It makes you wonder, is this a political play by Trump?
Or does he genuinely want someone competent in that role?
Or maybe a little of both?
It could be.
You know, maybe it's Trump's way of reaching out
to more moderate Democrats.
It's possible.
It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.
And then there's Sparts.
Right, she just withdrew from all her committee assignments.
Just like that.
I mean, she says it's because of dysfunction and the GOP,
but she's a bit of a wild card, you know?
Yeah, she is.
Remember back during the Speaker elections?
I actually kept changing her vote.
Right, right.
Who knows what she'll do next?
It's impossible to say.
She definitely adds to the chaos.
Yeah, yeah.
But what it all means.
Right.
Who can say?
It's hard to know.
OK, so let's switch gears a little bit.
OK.
Let's talk about presidential pardons.
Right.
Biden just issued a bunch of them.
Yeah.
And some of the people he pardoned
are raising some eyebrows.
Well, of the pardon power is always controversial.
Right.
Especially at the end of a presidency.
Yeah.
It's understandable that people are looking closely
at Biden's choices.
Yeah.
Especially since some of these folks don't
have the cleanest records.
Exactly.
People are wondering if there are any backroom deals
or favors being traded.
But this time, it might be something else.
Really?
What do you think?
Well, remember the COVID prison releases?
Oh.
From a few years back?
Yeah.
They might be a factor here.
You mean because they let people out to reduce overcrowding?
Yeah.
To stop the virus from spreading?
Exactly.
And so now they have all these people
who were granted clemency.
Right.
They're on house arrest.
Yeah.
Imagine sending them all back to prison now.
Wow.
After they've been rebuilding their lives for years.
Yeah.
That would be a mess.
It wouldn't be fair either.
Yeah.
It wouldn't.
So maybe the White House was trying to be practical?
OK.
But it definitely doesn't look good.
Yeah, it looks pretty bad.
So maybe not some kind of quid pro quo.
Mm-hmm.
But it's still a tough one for people to accept.
I can see that.
And now it's sparked a whole debate among Democrats.
Really?
About whether Biden should just go ahead and pardon anyone.
Wow.
Who might be targeted.
OK.
Under a Trump administration.
So pre-emptive pardons.
Yeah, essentially.
That's a tough one.
Yeah, you've got people like Bernie Sanders saying
Biden should seriously consider it.
Yeah, to protect people from Trump potentially abusing
his power.
But then you have Adam Schiff, who's worried about the precedent
it would set.
You know, it's like.
It's a tough balance.
Yeah, you have to weigh protecting people
against potentially protecting someone like Trump.
Exactly.
It all comes back to the pardon power itself, right?
Right.
Is it just broken?
Is there any way to fix it?
Well, that's a question that's been around forever.
The pardon power is right there in the Constitution.
Yeah.
So to change it, you'd need an amendment.
Right.
And in this political climate, forget it.
Right, that's not happening.
And even if you could do it, how do you fix it
without creating a whole new set of problems?
That's the tough part.
It's a mess.
So we're stuck with this system that's
both necessary and totally flawed.
Exactly.
OK, so I think the bigger problem here
might not be the pardon power.
Yeah.
But the fact that the Justice Department can be used as.
Right, like a weapon.
A political weapon.
A political game.
Exactly.
And the things that used to stop that from happening,
like norms and presidential restraint, they're gone.
Yeah, they're gone.
So maybe we need to do something drastic.
Like what?
Well, what if we made the Justice Department more
like the Federal Reserve?
OK.
You know, a quasi-public agency.
Interesting.
So it wouldn't be subject to all the political whims.
That's a really interesting idea.
It's something to think about.
It is.
OK, but let's switch gears again.
OK.
And talk about Kamala Harris.
Right.
What's next for her?
Well, I don't think she's done with politics.
I don't either.
She's still relatively young.
Yeah.
And she's won a lot of elections.
And all those connections she made during the campaign,
those are still there.
She's not going anywhere.
So what are her options?
I mean, a 2028 run for president is definitely a possibility.
Yeah, it's on the table.
OK.
But it won't be easy.
Right.
The competition will be tough.
And people still have doubts about her from last time.
Right.
So maybe Governor of California.
Right.
With Nysa Mout, that seat is wide open.
Yeah.
And she'd be a strong candidate.
No, yeah.
She'd probably win.
But she can't do both, right?
No, not really.
If she runs for governor, it'll look like she's just
using it to get to the White House.
Exactly.
Voters won't like that.
And if she serves a full term as governor,
she'll be too old to run for president again.
That's the trade-off.
It's a tough choice.
Yeah.
She has some time to decide.
She does.
OK, let's move on to something a little more straightforward.
OK.
Trump's hush money case.
Right.
There is a big development there.
Yeah, Judge Merchant rejected Trump's whole argument.
About presidential immunity.
And it wasn't just a simple rejection either.
No.
He really shut it down.
Yeah, he said the case would have moved forward,
even if that argument was valid.
Wow.
That's strong.
It is.
So basically, the judge is saying,
this is a weak argument.
Right.
And you should have brought it up during the trial.
So what now?
What's left for Trump's lawyers to argue?
Well, they're hoping the case gets dismissed
because Trump's the president-elect now.
Oh, OK.
But honestly, that's a long shot.
Right.
I doubt being president erases everything you did before.
Yeah, the courts don't really see it that way.
Nope.
OK, so we've talked about pardons, political maneuvering,
legal battles.
I think it's time for a trip across the Atlantic.
Sounds good.
Where are we going?
Germany.
Oh, wow.
There's been a major political shakeup there.
Yeah, I saw the headlines.
The government collapsed.
Right.
And Schultz lost a vote of no confidence.
Yeah.
But it's not quite as dramatic as it seems.
Really?
It seems like Schultz might have actually planned this.
You're kidding.
He might have engineered this whole thing.
Wow.
To force an early election.
That's a bold move.
It is, especially with all the global uncertainty
and Trump coming back.
Yeah, what do you think it means?
Well, you have to remember, Germany
is really sensitive to political instability.
Yeah.
So this move just adds another layer of complexity.
Right.
Schultz is facing an uphill battle.
Yeah.
And the outcome could have big implications for Ukraine.
It's a reminder that what happens in one country
affects everyone.
Right.
Politics are never just local.
Never.
Well, before we wrap up this part of our deep dive,
let's turn our attention to a case of international intrigue
and a missing agent.
Interesting.
It's like something out of a spy novel, really.
It does.
Yeah.
So who are we looking at here?
Who are the?
Well, there are a few possibilities.
Some intelligence officials think he might have been abducted.
OK.
You know, by another country, maybe Russia or China,
he had access to some pretty sensitive information
that would be valuable to them.
Yeah, that's scary.
Yeah.
It's like a movie plot.
It is.
But what about defection?
Is that a possibility?
It's definitely on the table.
I mean, some people are saying he
might have been unhappy with his work
or maybe someone promised him a better life.
Right.
I mean, it's worth noting that he had expressed concerns
about British intelligence.
So we're looking at two pretty strong possibilities.
Yeah.
Abduction or defection.
And we don't know which one it is.
Right, it's a mystery.
What are the authorities doing?
Well, there's a huge international investigation going on.
OK.
You know, agencies from all over are working together.
They're looking at everything.
Yeah.
Communications, movements, contacts, anything that could help.
It sounds like they're doing everything they can.
They are.
But with so little to go on, is there
any real chance of finding him?
It's a tough case.
That's for sure.
But they're not giving up.
OK.
They're hoping for a break, maybe a witness
or some new evidence, something to point them
in the right direction.
That makes sense.
But the clock is ticking.
The longer this goes on, the harder it'll be to find them.
Well, let's hope they find him soon.
Me too.
This whole story really highlights
the dangers of that world.
The world of espionage.
Yeah.
All the risks involved.
Yeah.
It's a world built on trust.
Right.
And when that trust is broken, the consequences can be huge.
Yeah.
One wrong move.
And things could go global.
It's true.
OK.
Let's shift gears a little.
OK.
And talk about a different kind of power struggle.
All right.
What are we thinking?
Meta versus the EU.
Ah.
OK, the tech giant versus the regulators.
Right, a real David and Goliath situation.
Yeah, it is.
So what's at the heart of this fight, it seems like?
Well, it all comes down to data privacy.
OK.
Right.
The EU has all these strict rules
about how companies can use people's data.
Right.
And they're saying, meta broke those rules.
Repeatedly.
Over and over again.
So basically, the EU is saying, we have these rules.
Right.
And you have to follow them.
Right.
Even if you're meta.
Exactly.
But meta's not just going to roll over, right?
Oh, no.
They're used to doing things their way.
Exactly.
They're pushing back.
Right.
So what's their argument?
Well, they're saying that these rules are stifling
innovation.
OK.
And that they're hurting their business.
OK, so it's a classic battle, then.
It is.
Innovation versus regulation.
Yeah.
What are the stakes for meta?
Right.
What could happen to them?
Well, the EU can impose some pretty hefty fines.
And this lawsuit could mean even bigger ones.
They could even restrict meta's operations in Europe.
Wow, that would be a huge blow.
It would.
So how's meta fighting back?
Well, they're doing a lot.
OK.
They're going to court.
OK.
They're lobbying to change the rules.
Right.
And they're trying to win over public opinion.
OK, so they're fighting on all fronts.
They are.
And this isn't just about meta.
No, it's much bigger than that.
What do you mean?
This is about the future of data privacy.
OK.
And who has the power?
Right.
Tech companies or governments?
This is going to be interesting to watch.
It is.
OK, for something a little lighter, let's talk about video games.
Video games, OK.
Specifically, grand strategy games.
Grand strategy, OK.
So for people who aren't gamers, what are these games?
OK, so imagine you're in charge of a whole nation.
You make all the decisions, the economy, diplomacy, wars,
technology, everything.
Wow.
You have to think long term.
OK.
Manage your resources and outsmart your opponents.
So it's like a giant history simulation.
Kind of, yeah.
But there's some controversy around these games, right?
Yeah, the main concern is that they
might trivialize history.
OK.
Or reinforce harmful stereotypes.
Right, because they have to simplify things.
Exactly.
So are those concerns valid?
I think there's definitely room for improvement
in how some games handle those things.
OK.
But these games can also be a really good way
to learn about history.
They can get people interested and make them want to learn more.
So it's like a double-edged sword.
Exactly.
On one hand, they can oversimplify and misrepresent things.
But on the other, they could be a great way.
Right, to engage with history.
Yeah, it makes you think.
Right.
So even games that are meant to be fun
can touch on some pretty complex issues.
For sure.
History, representation, cultural sensitivity.
Yep, it's all there.
It shows that the world of gaming is evolving
and reflecting the real world.
Absolutely.
OK, before we wrap things up, I want to go back to those pardons
Biden issued.
Right.
It seems like there's always another layer with these pardons.
When you look closer at who Biden pardoned,
some of the names are pretty surprising.
Yeah, I was looking at the list.
It makes you wonder what was going through his head.
It really does.
I mean, we're talking about a judge who
is taking bribes, sending kids to juvenile detention.
Or money.
For money.
It's unbelievable.
And then a city controller who stole millions.
Of millions.
Of public funds.
It's hard to understand.
I mean, these aren't small-time offenses.
No, not at all.
These are serious crimes.
It makes you wonder what Biden was thinking.
Right.
Was it just compassion?
It's hard to say.
Or was there something else going on?
I mean, some people are saying there were backroom deals.
Right.
Or political favors.
That's always a possibility.
It is.
But we have to remember.
Yeah.
The COVID prison releases.
Yeah.
Those could be a factor here.
Right.
They let all those people out.
To slow down the virus.
I exactly.
So now imagine you have these people.
Who were pardoned.
Right.
They'd been on house arrest.
Rebuilding their lives.
And now you're going to send them back.
After all this time.
It would be chaos.
And it wouldn't be right.
No.
You wouldn't.
So maybe the White House was trying to.
Find a solution.
Yeah.
Balance things out.
But it's still a tough one.
It is.
Especially for the people who think.
Yeah.
These criminals should serve their time.
No matter what.
It shows how complicated the justice system is.
It really is.
And how hard it is.
Yeah.
To balance all the different factors.
It's not always black and white.
And these pardons really highlight that.
They do.
And this whole debate has spilled over into another issue.
What's that?
Preemptive pardons.
Oh wow.
People are talking about whether Biden should
pardon people.
OK.
Before Trump can even target them.
The whole other set of problems.
It is.
You have people like Bernie Sanders.
Yeah.
Who think it's a good idea.
To protect people from Trump.
Exactly.
But then you have Adam Schiff.
Right.
Who's worried about the precedent it would set.
You can't just pardon everyone.
Yeah.
It undermines the whole system.
Exactly.
It's a tough call.
It is.
You have to weigh protecting people.
Yeah.
Against protecting the system itself.
It's a tough balance.
And it all comes back to.
A party power.
Is it broken?
Can we fix it?
These are big questions.
They are.
And they've been around for a long time.
Centuries, really?
The pardon power is in the Constitution.
So to change it.
You need an amendment.
Good luck with that.
Yeah.
Not going to happen.
And even if you could.
Yeah.
How do you fix it?
Without creating new problems.
Right.
That's the challenge.
It's a tough one.
It is.
So we're left with this system.
That's both essential.
And flawed.
It's a dilemma.
It really is.
It reminds us that power.
Even with good intentions.
Can be misused.
Absolutely.
We have to be careful.
And stay informed.
Exactly.
OK.
Let's head back to Germany.
Back to Germany.
Yeah.
Remember that political shakeup?
Oh yeah.
The no confidence vote.
It seemed so sudden.
It did.
But it turns out.
Yeah.
Schultz might have planned the whole thing.
What?
He might have orchestrated that vote.
To get an early election.
That's right.
It's incredible.
It's a risky move.
It is.
But it could pay off.
If he wins.
Exactly.
But why did he do it?
That's the question.
Well, his government was falling apart.
Right.
And Germany's facing.
A lot of challenges.
Right.
Both at home and abroad.
And with Trump coming back.
Yeah.
It's a whole new world.
It's like he's trying to get ahead of the curve.
It's a smart strategy.
If it works.
It shows you how quickly things can change.
In politics.
You have to be adaptable.
And strategic.
And in the results of this election.
They're going to be important.
Not just for Germany.
But for everyone.
It reminds us that we're all connected.
What happens in one place.
Affects us all.
Exactly.
That's why it's so important to stay informed.
And engage.
And to keep digging deeper.
To understand what's really going on.
Well, this deep dive has taken us all over the place.
We've covered a lot.
From pardons to espionage.
To tech giants and video games.
We've talked about power.
And how it can be used and abused.
And the importance of critical thinking.
In a world full of information.
So what are your takeaways?
They'll stuck with you.
I think for me.
Yeah.
It's the reminder that even with all the challenges.
Yeah.
There's still so much ingenuity.
Resilience.
People are still striving for knowledge.
And that's what matters.
That's what keeps us moving forward.
Absolutely.
So as we face the future.
Let's keep talking to each other.
Keep thinking critically.
And keep searching for the truth.
Well said.
Thanks for joining us on this deep dive.
It's been a pleasure.
Until next time.
Keep questioning.
Keep learning.
And keep engaging with the world.