All right, so welcome to another deep dive into US politics.
You know the drill by now, right?
We're taking a look at the Electoral Vote website,
and specifically their news from December 24th, 2024.
Christmas Eve.
You'd think things would be criding down for the holidays,
but not in the world of politics.
Never a dull moment, right?
Not at all.
So what's caught your eye in all of this?
Where do you even wanna start?
Well, I mean, we have to talk about Byron, right?
Of course, still the president, for now at least.
Yeah, but you can tell he's using these last few weeks
to really push through some of his priorities.
Like what?
Well, take a look at this clemency news.
Oh yeah, the death penalty commutations.
Exactly, 37 of them, which, you know,
is a significant number on its own.
Yeah, definitely.
But it's not all of them.
Right, there are still three federal death sentences
he didn't commute, which, I mean,
with Trump coming back in, doesn't look good for those three.
I mean, it's hard to say for sure what Trump will do,
but this definitely sets up a potential clash.
Right, like Biden trying to cement a certain legacy,
and Trump potentially coming in and undoing it.
Exactly, and this issue is so emotionally charged too.
I mean, capital punishment.
Yeah, it's one of those things that really divides people.
Absolutely, and you see that reflected
in the reactions to Biden's decision.
Some are praising him for showing mercy,
others are criticizing him for not going far enough,
and then there's the whole political angle to consider.
Right, like did Biden make this decision
based on principle, or was it more strategic, you know,
maybe trying to avoid completely alienating
death penalty supporters?
Exactly, it makes you wonder about the motivations
behind these kinds of actions.
For sure, and it also just highlights
the power of the presidency, doesn't it?
Yeah.
I mean, in these last few weeks,
Biden can make decisions that will have
ruble effects for years to come.
Oh, absolutely, especially with something like clemency.
It's a pretty unique power.
Speaking of power, the Wall Street Journal's
got this article questioning Biden's mental capacity,
saying there's been a decline,
and even White House staff have been trying to cover it up.
Yeah, I saw that, I mean, you always have
to consider the source.
Right, the Wall Street Journal is.
They have a definite slant.
Yeah.
But still, it raises some interesting questions.
Especially considering this isn't just about Biden, right?
Like, there's this whole issue of aging politicians
in general.
Oh, absolutely.
And how do we make sure there's still fit to serve?
Hey, it's a tough one.
It is, because like, you don't want to be agist.
No, of course not.
But at the same time, you know, these are important jobs.
They are.
And there's a lot at stake.
Exactly.
And then you have the example of Kay Granger,
the Republican representative.
Oh, the one who's reportedly living
in a memory care facility?
Yeah, while still serving in Congress.
I mean, that's pretty concerning.
Yeah, it's a big red flag,
regardless of party affiliation.
It really is.
So how do we address this?
Like, amending the Constitution seems unlikely.
Yeah, it's a long shot.
Term limits have their own problems.
Right.
And then how do you even objectively assess
someone's mental capacity?
It's a tricky issue, for sure.
No easy answers there.
Yep.
And it's not like this is just
an American problem either.
Oh, absolutely not.
It's something democracies around the world
are gonna have to grapple with
as populations continue to age.
Right, we're all getting older.
Yeah.
So what does that mean for our political systems?
Big question.
And before we move on from this,
we have to mention Trump.
Of course.
I mean, he's no spring chicken either, right?
True, true.
So shouldn't the same standards apply to him?
Absolutely.
Age and mental fitness should be considered
for all politicians, regardless of party.
For sure.
Okay, so moving on from aging politicians,
can we talk about the Republicans for a minute?
Yeah, what about them?
It seems like they're already at each other's throats,
even before Trump officially takes office.
You're not kidding.
The Wall Street Journal has this editorial out,
comparing some Republicans, including Trump himself,
to Woody Johnson.
Woody Johnson.
Yeah, the owner of the New York Jets.
Wow.
I know, right?
That's an interesting comparison.
It is.
And I think they're basically saying
that these Republicans are more focused
on their own opinions and impulses
that aren't actually governing effectively.
So like not listening to experts
making impulsive decisions.
Exactly.
Yeah, I can see that.
Of course, Trump is firing back,
blaming the Speaker of the House
for the recent budget debacle,
even though it seems like it was mostly his own doing.
Oh, wrong.
So there's definitely some in-fighting going on there.
Definitely.
And it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.
Yeah, well, Trump tried to push the Speaker out?
Maybe.
I mean, that's a risky move.
It is.
Could backfire spectacularly?
It could.
But then again, this is Trump we're talking about.
True.
Speaking of Trump doing Trump things.
What now?
Apparently he wants to redraw the world map.
Redraw the world map.
Yeah, like he's talking about renaming Denali
back to Mount McKinley.
Uh, well.
Claiming the US should take back the Panama Canal.
Seriously.
And he's still obsessed with buying Greenland.
Of course he is.
I mean, what do you even make of all that?
I don't know.
I mean, part of me thinks it's just classic Trump
trying to get attention,
throwing out these bombastic ideas,
but then there's always the chance
he might actually try to do some of this stuff.
I mean, trading Puerto Rico for Greenland.
It sounds like something out of a comic book.
It really does.
But with Trump, you never know.
That's true.
And even if these are just pronouncements,
it's worth thinking about what they might signal
about his foreign policy priority.
Right.
Like, is this a sign of things to come?
Maybe, maybe not.
But it's definitely something to keep an eye on.
For sure.
Okay, and amidst all this political chaos,
Trump has found time for a new business venture.
Oh.
Trump branded guitars.
You're kidding?
Nope.
Trump steaks, Trump water, now Trump guitars.
He really does love to slap his name on everything,
doesn't he?
That's a part of his brand, I guess.
I guess so.
But it does make you wonder,
is it just about the money,
or is there something else going on there?
Well, it could be a way for him to stay relevant,
you know, keep his name in the headlines.
Or maybe he just really loves guitars.
Maybe.
But either way, it's a classic Trump move.
It is.
Never a dull moment with that guy.
If you could say that again,
I mean, it fits the pattern, right?
Using his position for personal gain.
Yeah, it's like, is he really gonna be focused on governing?
Or is it just gonna be all about the Trump brand
and making deals?
It's a valid concern, especially now
that he doesn't have to worry about reelection.
Right, no more campaigning.
And with the Supreme Court.
Well, let's just say they haven't exactly
been hostile to his interests.
It's kind of scary to think
what he might get away with this time around.
Definitely raises some questions about accountability.
Speaking of accountability,
we gotta talk about the Matt Geitz situation.
Oh yeah, the ethics committee finally dropped that report.
And it is not pretty.
Not pretty at all.
Drugs, underage girls, misuse of funds.
The whole nine yards.
You really gotta wonder what took them
so long to release this.
Right.
Like where's the DOJ in all of this?
It's a good question.
And of course, Gates is denying everything.
But the allegations are pretty damning.
They are.
And now he's threatening to withdraw
his resignation from Congress.
And expose dirt on other House members.
If they try to expel him.
Yeah.
I mean, is that even possible at this point?
I have no idea.
This whole thing is just wild.
It really is.
And it brings us back to that idea
of aging politicians, doesn't it?
How so?
Well, like with Cague Ranger living in a memory care
facility and still serving in Congress.
Yeah.
Makes you wonder, how do we balance individual rights
with the need to make sure our elected officials
are actually capable of doing their jobs?
It's a tough question.
It is.
And it's not like this is a new problem either.
The article even mentions Diane Feinstein's last turn
in the Senate.
Right.
There are concerns about her cognitive abilities as well.
Exactly.
So this seems like it's only going to become more of an issue.
As our population keeps getting older.
So what do we do?
Like how do we even begin to address this problem?
I honestly don't know.
It's one of those things where there are no easy answers.
It really is.
OK, so shifting gears a bit.
Trump's back to talking about extending US territory.
Oh, really?
Yeah.
At first it was Canada.
Now it's Greenland again.
He just can't let that one go, can he?
Apparently not.
I mean, what's the logic there?
I have no idea.
Trading Puerto Rico for Greenland.
It sounds absurd.
It does.
But I guess that's part of his appeal to some people.
Maybe.
Like he's not afraid to say what he thinks,
even if it sounds crazy.
True.
But even if he doesn't actually go through with any of this.
It's still worth paying attention to, right?
Right.
Like what does it tell us about his mindset?
His worldview.
His foreign policy priorities.
Exactly.
These pronouncements might not become policy.
But they can still have an impact.
They can shape the conversation.
And they can definitely influence how other countries view the US.
Absolutely.
All right, so on a slightly lighter note.
What?
Doe.
Trump guitars.
Seriously.
What's next?
Trump airfriars.
Maybe.
But honestly, I'm not surprised.
I mean, he's already put his name on everything else.
Exactly.
But it does make you wonder, is it just about making money?
Or is there something more to it?
Maybe he just really loves guitars.
Maybe.
Or maybe it's all part of a bigger strategy.
He's keeping his brand alive.
Staying relevant.
Maybe even laying the groundwork for another presidential run.
Who knows?
It's Trump.
Anything's possible.
That for sure.
I mean, I guess we'll see what happens, right?
Exactly.
Only time will tell.
But this whole news roundup has really got me thinking.
About?
Well, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day headlines.
The constant back-and-forth drama.
Right.
But sometimes you need to step back.
Look at the bigger picture.
Absolutely.
We're marking this play unfold on a grand stage.
Yeah, I like the analogy.
Each of these stories is like a different act,
with its own set of characters, conflicts, resolutions.
That's true.
And what's really fascinating is how they're all interconnected.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
You've got Biden trying to cement his legacy.
Trump already maneuvering for his return.
And then you have figures like Matt Gaetz really
pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable in politics.
It's the tangled web, that's for sure.
It really is.
A web of power dynamics, personal ambitions, ideological clashes.
And it's all playing out against this backdrop
of a rapidly changing world.
Exactly.
So it makes you wonder, what does it all mean?
What are the long-term implications of all of this?
Big questions.
And it's easy to get lost in the noise and the drama.
Oh, for sure.
But we have to remember, these aren't just
abstract political battles.
Right, not at all.
These decisions, these actions, they
have real-world consequences.
Absolutely.
Consequences that will impact people's lives for years to come.
That's why it's so important to stay informed,
to think critically about what we're hearing and reading.
Exactly.
Don't just accept things at face value.
Right, right.
Dig deeper, ask questions, challenge assumptions.
Engage with the issues.
Because we're living in a time of great uncertainty,
a time of great change.
And the choices we make today, they're
going to shape the world of tomorrow.
So as we wrap up this deep dive into US politics,
we want to leave you with one final question to ponder.
OK, I like it.
What role do you want to play in all of this?
Yeah.
Will you be a spectator, passively observing
from the sidelines?
Oh.
Or will you actively engage?
Raise your voice.
Demand a better future.
The choice is yours.
That's it for today's deep dive.
We hope you found it informative, thought-provoking,
maybe even a little bit entertaining.
We aim to please.
But most importantly, stay curious, stay informed,
and stay engaged.
Because the future of our nation, it depends on it.