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All right, so welcome to another deep dive into US politics.

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You know the drill by now, right?

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We're taking a look at the Electoral Vote website,

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and specifically their news from December 24th, 2024.

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Christmas Eve.

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Christmas Eve.

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You'd think things would be criding down for the holidays,

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but not in the world of politics.

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Never a dull moment, right?

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Not at all.

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So what's caught your eye in all of this?

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Where do you even wanna start?

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Well, I mean, we have to talk about Byron, right?

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Of course, still the president, for now at least.

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Yeah, but you can tell he's using these last few weeks

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to really push through some of his priorities.

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Like what?

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Well, take a look at this clemency news.

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Oh yeah, the death penalty commutations.

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Exactly, 37 of them, which, you know,

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is a significant number on its own.

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Yeah, definitely.

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But it's not all of them.

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Right, there are still three federal death sentences

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he didn't commute, which, I mean,

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with Trump coming back in, doesn't look good for those three.

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I mean, it's hard to say for sure what Trump will do,

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but this definitely sets up a potential clash.

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Right, like Biden trying to cement a certain legacy,

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and Trump potentially coming in and undoing it.

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Exactly, and this issue is so emotionally charged too.

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I mean, capital punishment.

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Yeah, it's one of those things that really divides people.

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Absolutely, and you see that reflected

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in the reactions to Biden's decision.

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Some are praising him for showing mercy,

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others are criticizing him for not going far enough,

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and then there's the whole political angle to consider.

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Right, like did Biden make this decision

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based on principle, or was it more strategic, you know,

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maybe trying to avoid completely alienating

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death penalty supporters?

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Exactly, it makes you wonder about the motivations

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behind these kinds of actions.

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For sure, and it also just highlights

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the power of the presidency, doesn't it?

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Yeah.

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I mean, in these last few weeks,

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Biden can make decisions that will have

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ruble effects for years to come.

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Oh, absolutely, especially with something like clemency.

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It's a pretty unique power.

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Speaking of power, the Wall Street Journal's

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got this article questioning Biden's mental capacity,

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saying there's been a decline,

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and even White House staff have been trying to cover it up.

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Yeah, I saw that, I mean, you always have

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to consider the source.

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Right, the Wall Street Journal is.

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They have a definite slant.

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Yeah.

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But still, it raises some interesting questions.

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Especially considering this isn't just about Biden, right?

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Like, there's this whole issue of aging politicians

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in general.

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Oh, absolutely.

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And how do we make sure there's still fit to serve?

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Hey, it's a tough one.

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It is, because like, you don't want to be agist.

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No, of course not.

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But at the same time, you know, these are important jobs.

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They are.

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And there's a lot at stake.

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Exactly.

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And then you have the example of Kay Granger,

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the Republican representative.

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Oh, the one who's reportedly living

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in a memory care facility?

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Yeah, while still serving in Congress.

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I mean, that's pretty concerning.

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Yeah, it's a big red flag,

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regardless of party affiliation.

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It really is.

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So how do we address this?

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Like, amending the Constitution seems unlikely.

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Yeah, it's a long shot.

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Term limits have their own problems.

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Right.

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And then how do you even objectively assess

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someone's mental capacity?

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It's a tricky issue, for sure.

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No easy answers there.

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Yep.

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And it's not like this is just

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an American problem either.

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Oh, absolutely not.

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It's something democracies around the world

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are gonna have to grapple with

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as populations continue to age.

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Right, we're all getting older.

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Yeah.

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So what does that mean for our political systems?

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Big question.

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Big question.

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And before we move on from this,

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we have to mention Trump.

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Of course.

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I mean, he's no spring chicken either, right?

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True, true.

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So shouldn't the same standards apply to him?

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Absolutely.

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Age and mental fitness should be considered

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for all politicians, regardless of party.

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For sure.

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Okay, so moving on from aging politicians,

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can we talk about the Republicans for a minute?

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Yeah, what about them?

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It seems like they're already at each other's throats,

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even before Trump officially takes office.

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You're not kidding.

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The Wall Street Journal has this editorial out,

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comparing some Republicans, including Trump himself,

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to Woody Johnson.

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Woody Johnson.

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Yeah, the owner of the New York Jets.

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Wow.

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I know, right?

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That's an interesting comparison.

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It is.

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And I think they're basically saying

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that these Republicans are more focused

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on their own opinions and impulses

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that aren't actually governing effectively.

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So like not listening to experts

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making impulsive decisions.

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Exactly.

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Yeah, I can see that.

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Of course, Trump is firing back,

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blaming the Speaker of the House

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for the recent budget debacle,

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even though it seems like it was mostly his own doing.

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Oh, wrong.

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So there's definitely some in-fighting going on there.

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Definitely.

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And it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

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Yeah, well, Trump tried to push the Speaker out?

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Maybe.

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I mean, that's a risky move.

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It is.

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Could backfire spectacularly?

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It could.

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But then again, this is Trump we're talking about.

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True.

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Speaking of Trump doing Trump things.

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What now?

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Apparently he wants to redraw the world map.

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Redraw the world map.

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Yeah, like he's talking about renaming Denali

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back to Mount McKinley.

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Uh, well.

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Claiming the US should take back the Panama Canal.

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Seriously.

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And he's still obsessed with buying Greenland.

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Of course he is.

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I mean, what do you even make of all that?

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I don't know.

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I mean, part of me thinks it's just classic Trump

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trying to get attention,

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throwing out these bombastic ideas,

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but then there's always the chance

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he might actually try to do some of this stuff.

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I mean, trading Puerto Rico for Greenland.

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It sounds like something out of a comic book.

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It really does.

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But with Trump, you never know.

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That's true.

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And even if these are just pronouncements,

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it's worth thinking about what they might signal

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about his foreign policy priority.

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Right.

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Like, is this a sign of things to come?

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Maybe, maybe not.

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But it's definitely something to keep an eye on.

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For sure.

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Okay, and amidst all this political chaos,

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Trump has found time for a new business venture.

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Oh.

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Trump branded guitars.

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You're kidding?

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Nope.

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Trump steaks, Trump water, now Trump guitars.

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He really does love to slap his name on everything,

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doesn't he?

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That's a part of his brand, I guess.

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I guess so.

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But it does make you wonder,

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is it just about the money,

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or is there something else going on there?

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Well, it could be a way for him to stay relevant,

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you know, keep his name in the headlines.

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Or maybe he just really loves guitars.

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Maybe.

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But either way, it's a classic Trump move.

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It is.

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Never a dull moment with that guy.

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If you could say that again,

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I mean, it fits the pattern, right?

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Using his position for personal gain.

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Yeah, it's like, is he really gonna be focused on governing?

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Or is it just gonna be all about the Trump brand

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and making deals?

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It's a valid concern, especially now

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that he doesn't have to worry about reelection.

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Right, no more campaigning.

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And with the Supreme Court.

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Well, let's just say they haven't exactly

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been hostile to his interests.

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It's kind of scary to think

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what he might get away with this time around.

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Definitely raises some questions about accountability.

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Speaking of accountability,

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we gotta talk about the Matt Geitz situation.

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Oh yeah, the ethics committee finally dropped that report.

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And it is not pretty.

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Not pretty at all.

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Drugs, underage girls, misuse of funds.

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The whole nine yards.

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You really gotta wonder what took them

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so long to release this.

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Right.

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Like where's the DOJ in all of this?

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It's a good question.

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And of course, Gates is denying everything.

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But the allegations are pretty damning.

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They are.

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And now he's threatening to withdraw

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his resignation from Congress.

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And expose dirt on other House members.

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If they try to expel him.

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Yeah.

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I mean, is that even possible at this point?

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I have no idea.

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This whole thing is just wild.

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It really is.

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And it brings us back to that idea

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of aging politicians, doesn't it?

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How so?

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Well, like with Cague Ranger living in a memory care

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facility and still serving in Congress.

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Yeah.

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Makes you wonder, how do we balance individual rights

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with the need to make sure our elected officials

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are actually capable of doing their jobs?

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It's a tough question.

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It is.

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And it's not like this is a new problem either.

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The article even mentions Diane Feinstein's last turn

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in the Senate.

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Right.

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There are concerns about her cognitive abilities as well.

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Exactly.

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So this seems like it's only going to become more of an issue.

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As our population keeps getting older.

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So what do we do?

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Like how do we even begin to address this problem?

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I honestly don't know.

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It's one of those things where there are no easy answers.

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It really is.

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OK, so shifting gears a bit.

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Trump's back to talking about extending US territory.

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Oh, really?

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Yeah.

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At first it was Canada.

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Now it's Greenland again.

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He just can't let that one go, can he?

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Apparently not.

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I mean, what's the logic there?

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00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:26,320
I have no idea.

279
00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:28,520
Trading Puerto Rico for Greenland.

280
00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:29,880
It sounds absurd.

281
00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:30,600
It does.

282
00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:32,880
But I guess that's part of his appeal to some people.

283
00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:33,400
Maybe.

284
00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:36,320
Like he's not afraid to say what he thinks,

285
00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:37,440
even if it sounds crazy.

286
00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:38,000
True.

287
00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:38,960
True.

288
00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:41,280
But even if he doesn't actually go through with any of this.

289
00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,000
It's still worth paying attention to, right?

290
00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:43,480
Right.

291
00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,400
Like what does it tell us about his mindset?

292
00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:46,240
His worldview.

293
00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:47,680
His foreign policy priorities.

294
00:08:47,680 --> 00:08:48,320
Exactly.

295
00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:50,720
These pronouncements might not become policy.

296
00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:51,960
But they can still have an impact.

297
00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:53,280
They can shape the conversation.

298
00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,920
And they can definitely influence how other countries view the US.

299
00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:56,760
Absolutely.

300
00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,360
All right, so on a slightly lighter note.

301
00:08:59,360 --> 00:08:59,920
What?

302
00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:00,360
Doe.

303
00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:01,520
Trump guitars.

304
00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:02,120
Trump guitars.

305
00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:02,920
Trump guitars.

306
00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:04,600
Seriously.

307
00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:05,480
What's next?

308
00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:07,800
Trump airfriars.

309
00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:08,960
Maybe.

310
00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:10,600
But honestly, I'm not surprised.

311
00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:13,080
I mean, he's already put his name on everything else.

312
00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:13,720
Exactly.

313
00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,920
But it does make you wonder, is it just about making money?

314
00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:19,440
Or is there something more to it?

315
00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:21,240
Maybe he just really loves guitars.

316
00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:22,000
Maybe.

317
00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:23,920
Or maybe it's all part of a bigger strategy.

318
00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:25,920
He's keeping his brand alive.

319
00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:26,760
Staying relevant.

320
00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:30,000
Maybe even laying the groundwork for another presidential run.

321
00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:30,600
Who knows?

322
00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:31,160
It's Trump.

323
00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:32,040
Anything's possible.

324
00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:32,840
That for sure.

325
00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:34,600
I mean, I guess we'll see what happens, right?

326
00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:35,080
Exactly.

327
00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:36,400
Only time will tell.

328
00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:40,640
But this whole news roundup has really got me thinking.

329
00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:41,760
About?

330
00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:45,560
Well, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day headlines.

331
00:09:45,560 --> 00:09:47,720
The constant back-and-forth drama.

332
00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:48,280
Right.

333
00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:48,560
Right.

334
00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:51,360
But sometimes you need to step back.

335
00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,040
Look at the bigger picture.

336
00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:53,520
Absolutely.

337
00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:57,720
We're marking this play unfold on a grand stage.

338
00:09:57,720 --> 00:09:59,200
Yeah, I like the analogy.

339
00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:02,480
Each of these stories is like a different act,

340
00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,840
with its own set of characters, conflicts, resolutions.

341
00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:06,640
That's true.

342
00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:08,840
And what's really fascinating is how they're all interconnected.

343
00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:09,840
Oh, yeah, yeah.

344
00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,800
You've got Biden trying to cement his legacy.

345
00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,440
Trump already maneuvering for his return.

346
00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,080
And then you have figures like Matt Gaetz really

347
00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,240
pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable in politics.

348
00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:23,080
It's the tangled web, that's for sure.

349
00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:23,840
It really is.

350
00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:28,320
A web of power dynamics, personal ambitions, ideological clashes.

351
00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:30,520
And it's all playing out against this backdrop

352
00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:33,600
of a rapidly changing world.

353
00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:34,480
Exactly.

354
00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:38,000
So it makes you wonder, what does it all mean?

355
00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,400
What are the long-term implications of all of this?

356
00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:41,200
Big questions.

357
00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:42,240
Big questions.

358
00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:44,760
And it's easy to get lost in the noise and the drama.

359
00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:45,800
Oh, for sure.

360
00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:47,640
But we have to remember, these aren't just

361
00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:49,080
abstract political battles.

362
00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:50,200
Right, not at all.

363
00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,680
These decisions, these actions, they

364
00:10:52,680 --> 00:10:54,440
have real-world consequences.

365
00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:55,240
Absolutely.

366
00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,920
Consequences that will impact people's lives for years to come.

367
00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:01,320
That's why it's so important to stay informed,

368
00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:04,120
to think critically about what we're hearing and reading.

369
00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:04,720
Exactly.

370
00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:06,440
Don't just accept things at face value.

371
00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:07,040
Right, right.

372
00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,960
Dig deeper, ask questions, challenge assumptions.

373
00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:11,400
Engage with the issues.

374
00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,320
Because we're living in a time of great uncertainty,

375
00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:15,760
a time of great change.

376
00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,160
And the choices we make today, they're

377
00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:19,720
going to shape the world of tomorrow.

378
00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,440
So as we wrap up this deep dive into US politics,

379
00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:25,120
we want to leave you with one final question to ponder.

380
00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:26,240
OK, I like it.

381
00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,080
What role do you want to play in all of this?

382
00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:28,920
Yeah.

383
00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:32,280
Will you be a spectator, passively observing

384
00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:33,280
from the sidelines?

385
00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:34,080
Oh.

386
00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:37,040
Or will you actively engage?

387
00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:39,200
Raise your voice.

388
00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:40,320
Demand a better future.

389
00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,080
The choice is yours.

390
00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:44,040
That's it for today's deep dive.

391
00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:47,000
We hope you found it informative, thought-provoking,

392
00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:48,600
maybe even a little bit entertaining.

393
00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:49,600
We aim to please.

394
00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,080
But most importantly, stay curious, stay informed,

395
00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:54,520
and stay engaged.

396
00:11:54,520 --> 00:12:05,880
Because the future of our nation, it depends on it.