All right, let's jump right in.
Ready for another deep dive into US politics.
Today, it's January 10th, 2025,
and things are, as usual, pretty wild.
Never a dull moment, is there?
Definitely not.
So we've got electoral vote news as our guide today,
and let me tell you, there's a lot to unpack.
Fires, feuds, legal battles, you name it.
Sounds like a typical day in American politics these days.
Yeah, pretty much.
I guess we should start with those horrific fires in LA.
10 people confirmed dead.
Over 10,000 structures destroyed or damaged,
and they're still raging.
A truly devastating situation.
Absolutely.
President Biden even canceled his foreign trip
to head back and oversee the federal response.
He's pledged aid and support for California,
but the political reactions, especially from the right,
have been, well, let's just say, interesting.
Interesting is one word for it.
Trump's on Truth Social, making claims about
Governor Newsom and water management,
which, you know, no basis, in fact.
And then you've got Roger Stone,
and always a reliable source of colorful commentary.
Right, blaming the fires on protecting
and endangered fish as if that's the root cause.
It's really something.
And of course, Alex Jones is out there, as always,
saying the fires are part of some globalist plot,
you know, the usual playbook.
It's a familiar tactic, unfortunately.
Playing on fear and conspiracy theories.
Yeah, and what's scary is how figures like Elon Musk
amplify these theories, giving them a veneer of legitimacy.
He actually endorsed Jones' take.
Reaching millions of followers with that kind of rhetoric.
It's a dangerous game.
It is.
And then, to add fuel to the fire,
you've got Joe Rogan and Mel Gibson
going on an anti-Nusam rant, completely ignoring the facts,
and just, you know, pouring gasoline
on an already volatile situation.
Emotion and outrage, often overshadowing reason,
unfortunately.
It's a lot.
Now, I do want to be fair and acknowledge
that there are some legitimate criticisms
about how the fires have been handled.
Mayor Bass was absent during the initial days of the crisis,
and there are issues with the LAFD budget
and the city's water system.
These are things that need to be addressed.
Absolutely.
It's important to have those conversations,
but as you said, it's tough when they're being drowned out
by all this politically charged rhetoric.
It feels like everything gets twisted into this us
versus them narrative, even when we're talking
about a natural disaster that's affecting everyone.
It's a worrying trend, for sure.
Yeah.
It seems like finding common ground
is becoming increasingly difficult.
Definitely.
Okay, moving on, let's talk about Trump's sentencing
in that New York fraud case.
Ah, yes.
The Supreme Court actually rejected his attempt
to block the sentencing in a 5-4 decision,
meaning he's now officially a convicted felon.
I mean, what are the implications of that,
even without further punishment?
Well, it's a significant stain on his reputation,
and it could definitely impact future legal battles.
And of course, you can't ignore the historical aspect.
A former US president, a convicted felon, it's unprecedented.
It really is.
And of course, being Trump, he's already vowed to appeal,
so this saga is far from over.
Not a surprise there.
Definitely not.
Okay, shifting gears to Ohio,
there are some big changes happening there.
Senator J.D. Vance just resigned,
leaving Governor DeWine to appoint a replacement.
That's gonna be an interesting one to watch.
A lot of potential candidates vying for that seat.
Right, like, Lieutenant Governor John Husted
is a possibility, and Jane Timkin,
the former Ohio GOP chair,
her name's being thrown around, too.
Each choice would signal a different direction
for the Ohio GOP, wouldn't it?
Husted's scene is more moderate,
while Timkin leans more towards the Magier Wing.
It'll be fascinating to see who DeWine picks.
But there's another Ohio political figure making waves,
Amy Acton.
You remember her, the former state health director?
Oh, how could we forget?
Her and DeWine's initial COVID response
was actually praised?
Then everything kind of imploded under pressure
from, well, that Magier crowd?
It was intense.
She ended up resigning amidst a wave
of honestly terrifying threats.
And now she's jumping back into the fray,
running for governor in 2026.
Talk about a gamble.
It's a big one, for sure.
She's betting on a shift in Ohio's political landscape,
but we all know how deeply red the state has become.
It's definitely an uphill battle,
but you can't deny the intrigue.
It's gonna be a wild ride.
Speaking of wild rides, we have to talk about Elon Musk
and his grand plans for the DOGE department.
Remember how he initially wanted to slash the budget
by $2 trillion?
Yeah, but a bit ambitious, to say the least.
That's one way to put it.
The entire discretionary budget is only $1.7 trillion,
but hey, details, details, right.
It seems like details aren't really his strong suit.
He's since revised that target down to $850 billion,
which, okay, slightly more realistic,
but still an astronomical amount of money.
Astronomical is right.
And this is all happening while the Biden administration
is celebrating a record 45 million Americans
enrolled in the Affordable Care Act.
I mean, talk about a stark contrast.
It really highlights the ideological divide.
Musk and Ramaswamy, his partner in crime,
are dead set on dismantling the ACA,
even though it would save relatively little
compared to their overall cuts.
And let's not forget the millions of Americans,
many of whom probably voted for Trump,
who rely on the ACA for healthcare.
Cutting it seems incredibly risky,
both politically and morally.
It's a prime example of ideology clashing with reality.
The DOGE department seems to be operating
in their own little bubble,
detached from the real world consequences of their actions.
It's like they're playing a game
of political fantasy football,
with no regard for the actual players on the field.
A dangerous game indeed.
One with potentially devastating consequences
for millions of Americans.
Absolutely.
All right, before we move on, let's talk about meta.
They've been making some moves that seem,
while let's just say they're trying to make nice
with the incoming Trump administration.
Making nice and maybe trying to avoid any future headaches.
Exactly.
So they've appointed Joel Kaplan, a known Trump ally,
as their head of global policy,
and they added UFC CEO Dana White, another Trump buddy,
to their board of directors.
Those are some pretty clear signals, aren't they?
Like they're trying to get ahead of any potential
regulatory or legal challenges from a Trump led government.
It seems that way.
And then they went and ended fact checking on Facebook
and its platforms and replacing it
with this community note system
that honestly feels like a step backward.
Giving misinformation more room to breathe.
Right, and it gets even more concerning.
They're now allowing people to label LGBTQ plus individuals
as mentally ill under the guise of religious freedom.
Plus, they're moving their content moderation team
to Texas, claiming it's to remove biased employees,
though there's no evidence to support that.
A lot of these moves seem more about optics
than substance, don't they?
Definitely, it's like they're trying to play both sides,
appeasing Trump while trying to maintain
some semblance of neutrality.
It's a risky strategy.
Riffy and potentially harmful.
These decisions have real world consequences
for people's lives.
Absolutely, and it's not just about meta.
It feels like the entire tech industry is at a crossroads.
The choices they make now will have a huge impact
on freedom of speech, privacy,
and the future of online discourse.
It's a lot of power concentrated in the hands
of a few companies, and it's time we start having
serious conversations about how that power is being used.
I completely agree.
All right, we've covered a lot of ground
in this first part of our deep dive.
From fires to fraud, political maneuvering
to tech giants, cozying up to power,
it's been a whirlwind tour of the current state
of US politics.
A whirlwind indeed.
And it's just a snapshot of what's happening right now.
The political landscape is constantly shifting,
and it's our job to try to make sense of it all.
Exactly, we need to stay informed,
stay engaged, and keep asking the tough questions.
And maybe, just maybe, we can find a way
to navigate this chaos and build a better future.
One can only hope.
It's all we can do, all right.
But hey, we'll talk more about that
in the next part of our deep dive, so stay tuned.
Welcome back to our deep dive into January 10th, 2025.
Yeah, it's been a heavy day so far, hasn't it?
Definitely a lot to process.
Yeah, wildfires, court cases, political shake-ups,
it's a lot.
But you know, in the midst of all that,
there was a moment of, well, reflection,
I guess you could say, with the passing of former president
Jimmy Carter.
Electoral vote news had this whole section dedicated
to reader reflections on his life.
Yeah, so that.
It was really moving, you know, to see how people
remembered him, especially in the middle of all this other
stuff going on.
Yeah, I mean, it's been what, over 40 years
since he left office?
Yeah.
But it's clear his impact is still being felt.
Absolutely.
And it got me thinking about the choices
he made after his presidency, the habitat for humanity work,
advocating for peace, human rights.
It's a stark contrast to how some other former presidents
have spent their time.
It is.
You know, those book deals, those speaking engagements,
it often feels like it's all about, well, personal gain,
right?
Yeah, exactly.
But with Carter, it always felt different, you know?
Like it was about service, about something bigger than
himself.
A lot of the reader comments focused on that, actually.
His humility, his authenticity qualities
that seem, well, kind of rare these days, wouldn't you say?
They are.
And, you know, it's not just about his post-presidency years.
People are talking about his accomplishments in office, too,
especially the Camp David Accords.
Right, a landmark achievement and diplomacy, even
with all the challenges he faced.
Yeah, he was a tireless advocate for peace, for dialogue.
And it's something we could really use more of these days,
you know?
Especially with all the global tensions.
And, well, frankly, the lack of civil discourse we're seeing.
Exactly.
Carter's legacy is a reminder that there's another way,
another path, one based on cooperation, empathy,
a genuine desire to make the world a better place.
It's a powerful message.
Yeah.
And one that feels incredibly relevant right now.
All right, speaking of relevant, let's
circle back to the Greenland saga, you know,
that whole Trump thing.
Ah, yes, that never-ending story.
I know, right?
It's like, is he serious?
Or is this just, you know, another one
of his attention-grabbing tactics?
It's hard to say for sure, but it's definitely
generated a lot of buzz.
And some pretty hilarious reactions, too.
Like, did you see what the Danish royal family did?
You mean with the coat of arms?
Yeah, they subtly changed it, making the polar bear, which
represents Greenland, much more prominent.
It's like their way of saying, yeah, we see you, but no thanks.
That's pretty clever.
I've got to give him credit for that.
Right.
And then there are all the jokes online, Donald
Jr.'s Greenland expedition, memes comparing Trump
to a toddler wanting a shiny new toy.
It's just too good.
Sometimes humor is the best way to deal with absurdity, right?
Totally.
It's a way to point out the ridiculousness of it all
without, you know, getting bogged down in the negativity.
It's a healthy coping mechanism, that's for sure.
All right.
And speaking of things that are, well, a bit ridiculous,
let's talk about Elon Musk's budget cut proposals again.
So he's walked back that initial $2 trillion fantasy,
but his new target is still a whopping $850 billion.
Still a massive amount of money.
And frankly, it doesn't seem grounded in any kind
of realistic analysis.
Yeah.
It's like he's pulling numbers out of a hat, you know?
No consideration for the actual impact these cuts would have.
And meanwhile, the Biden administration
is touting record enrollment in the Affordable Care Act.
Right.
45 million Americans.
And Musk and his buddy, Rama Swami,
want to dismantle the whole thing.
It's mind boggling.
Talk about a disconnect from reality.
The ACA provides health care to millions, many of whom
are likely Trump voters.
And cutting it would save relatively little
compared to their overall target.
Just shows you how ideology can Trump, no pun intended,
any kind of pragmatic thinking.
It's about shrinking government at all costs,
even if it means hurting the people they're
supposed to be serving.
Yeah.
And it makes you wonder about their priorities, you know?
Are they really concerned about fiscal responsibility,
or is this just about pushing a particular agenda?
That's a question worth asking.
OK.
Before we wrap up this part, I got to say all this talk
about division, misinformation, and political maneuvering
is kind of getting to me, you know?
It can be overwhelming, that's for sure.
Yeah, it is.
But then I think back to Jimmy Carter and his legacy of service.
And it gives me a little bit of hope, you know?
Like, maybe it's not all doom and gloom.
I get that.
It's easy to get cynical.
But it's important to remember that there are still people out
there fighting the good fight, working to make a difference.
Exactly.
And maybe that's where the hope lies, you know?
Not in grand pronouncements or sweeping gestures,
but in those everyday acts of kindness, of courage,
of people just refusing to give up on making the world a little
bit better.
That's a good thought.
Because that's what we need to focus on, those small acts
of hope, of resistance, of just, well,
being decent human beings.
Yeah.
Maybe that's all we can do sometimes.
But hey, we'll talk more about all this in the next part.
So stay tuned.
Welcome back for the final part of our deep dive into, well,
into January 10th, 2025.
It's been a day, hasn't it?
It has.
We've gone from the devastation of the LA fires
to the political maneuvering in Ohio
to reflecting on Jimmy Carter's legacy,
even a little international intrigue
with that whole Greenland thing.
It's a lot to take in, for sure.
And as we wrap this up, I keep thinking
about this idea of narratives, you know,
how they're shaped, how they're used,
and how they ultimately influence how we see the world.
It's a theme that's definitely been present throughout our
conversation today, hasn't it?
It has.
I mean, from those LA fires being
painted as this battle between us and them
to the almost idealized image of Jimmy Carter
as this beacon of integrity, it feels like.
Narratives are more powerful than ever.
And with social media and the 247 news cycle,
it's like we're constantly bombarded
with these competing narratives, all vying for our attention,
all trying to shape our perceptions.
It's overwhelming sometimes.
It really is.
And it makes you wonder, how do we even begin
to sift through all the noise and figure out
what's real, what's been,
and what's just plain manipulation?
That's the million dollar question, isn't it?
We need to be, well, we need to be critical consumers
of information, question our assumptions,
consider different perspectives,
you know, look beyond the surface.
I agree, but how do we actually do that?
I mean, we're all busy, we're all bombarded
with information from all sides,
and it's, well, it's easier to just go with the flow
to accept the narratives that fit our existing beliefs.
It's definitely a challenge, no doubt about it.
But I think it starts with self-awareness,
recognizing our own biases,
understanding how they color our perceptions,
and influence how we interpret information.
Right, right.
So it's about being more intentional,
more critical of the information we consume,
but it also feels like there's this bigger issue at play here,
you know, with the decline of traditional media
and the rise of social media,
it's like the gatekeepers of information have changed.
And the lines between fact and fiction
have become incredibly blurred.
Exactly, so what do we do?
How do we combat this trend of misinformation
and reclaim some sense of shared reality?
It's a tough one, there's no easy answer.
But I think part of it is supporting,
you know, supporting independent journalism,
fact-checking organizations,
initiatives that promote media literacy.
We need to equip people with the tools
to critically evaluate information,
to spot those tactics
that are used to spread misinformation.
Education and awareness are crucial, yeah.
But it also feels like we need a bigger conversation,
a societal conversation about the role of technology
in our lives, you know?
How do we harness its power for good,
while also mitigating the potential harm?
Absolutely, we need to think critically
about those algorithms that shape our online experiences,
about the business models that drive
the spread of misinformation,
and about the ethical responsibilities
of these tech companies.
It's a conversation that's long overdue.
It is.
And it's a reminder that we're not, you know,
we're not just passive consumers of technology,
we have agency, we have a voice,
and we can demand better from the platforms
that are shaping our digital lives.
We can, and we should.
We have responsibility to hold those in power accountable,
whether they're politicians, tech CEOs,
or medium-ogles.
It's about recognizing that the future isn't set in stone.
We have the power to shape it through our choices,
our actions, and our collective voice.
That's a powerful thought.
And it brings us back to Jimmy Carter, doesn't it?
A man who dedicated his life to service, to peace,
to making a positive difference in the world.
He's a reminder that even when faced
with seemingly insurmountable challenges,
there's always hope, always the possibility
of creating a better future.
And as we wrap up this deep dive,
maybe that's the message we should leave our listeners with.
You know, what kind of future do you want to create,
and what are you willing to do to make it a reality?
It's about taking action, however small it may seem.
It's about recognizing that we all have a role to play
in shaping the world we want to live in.
Well said.
Thanks for joining us on this journey
through January 10th, 2025.
It's been, well, it's been a roller coaster,
but hopefully you've learned something along the way.
Stay curious, stay engaged,
and keep fighting for a better tomorrow.
We'll see you next time.