Normal Men

Normal Man Haydon (@haydonmp.bsky.social) joins us to talk about strokes and those who may have had them!  In addition to that premortem, shutdown perimortem and election postmortem. Chapters: 0:00 Intro: Trump's Health & Guest 4:10 Analyzing Trump's Health Signs 15:40 Transparency, Aging, Public Office 24:20 Cognitive Tests for Presidents 35:00 Stroke Risks & Longevity Obsessions 43:30 Government Shutdown: The CR Deal 1:01:00 Shutdown Politics & Caucus Dynamics 1:15:00 House Democrats' Frustration 1:24:00 Post-Election Analysis & 2024 Outlook

Truck Talk returns with harsh words for Stellantis, SNAP impact discussion (human edition not macro edition), and just-in-time election previews (at 43:50).   please help some people out at: https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/teams/7634 Chapters: 0:00 Jeep Wrangler & Stellantis Woes 5:00 EV Range & Hybrid Benefits 10:00 ICE vs EV: The Value Argument 27:10 Normal Men Intro & Feeding America 30:00 SNAP Funding Cliff & Consequences 40:00 Political Blame & Election Forecasts 44:30 Virginia & New Jersey Governor Races 55:00 New York City Mayor & Betting 1:05:00 Final Thoughts & Charity Call

Prof. Liz Sepper joins us to talk state of play on reproductive rights (remember those?), we do the needful on Graham Platner, and the Trump Administration prepares to Thanos SNAP. add'l reading:   Hospital system outcomes in Texas: https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-abortion-ban-sepsis-rates-dallas-houston George's coffee table: https://bittersoutherner.com/magazine

The incomparable Don Moynihan (@donmoyn.bsky.social) joins us to talk administrative burden, No Kings gets people in the streets, and there are hijinks in Argentina. Chapters: 0:00 Intro & College Athletics System 7:22 Podcast Welcome & Admin Burden 25:02 Psychological Costs & Policy Intent 34:51 Medicaid Work Requirements Impact 46:39 AI in Government Services: Promise & Peril 1:00:23 Government Shutdown & Benefit Attrition 1:13:09 No Kings March & Cringe Culture 1:20:02 Media's Trump Coverage & Argentina's Milei 1:21:29 US Treasury's Argentina Bailout Chapters: 0:00 Intro & College Athletics System 7:22 Podcast Welcome & Admin Burden 25:02 Psychological Costs & Policy Intent 34:51 Medicaid Work Requirements Impact 46:39 AI in Government Services: Promise & Peril 1:00:23 Government Shutdown & Benefit Attrition 1:13:09 No Kings March & Cringe Culture 1:20:02 Media's Trump Coverage & Argentina's Milei 1:21:29 US Treasury's Argentina Bailout

On the joys of travel, Chinese tariffs and mineral access, and appropriate appropriations. Chapters: 0:00 Portugal: Food, Bread & Fashion Trends 10:40 Trump's China Tariffs & Market Impact 16:30 Crypto Market Volatility & Insider Trading 31:30 US Dependence on Critical Minerals 42:30 Government Shutdown: Funding & RIFs 59:00 Empathy, Disability Access & Cuts 1:09:30 Tech: Immortality & Self-Driving Cars 1:17:30 Seattle Mariners: Playoff Success 1:28:00 Baseball Fandom & Episode Outro Chapters: 0:00 Portugal: Food, Bread & Fashion Trends 10:40 Trump's China Tariffs & Market Impact 16:30 Crypto Market Volatility & Insider Trading 31:30 US Dependence on Critical Minerals 42:30 Government Shutdown: Funding & RIFs 59:00 Empathy, Disability Access & Cuts 1:09:30 Tech: Immortality & Self-Driving Cars 1:17:30 Seattle Mariners: Playoff Success 1:28:00 Baseball Fandom & Episode Outro Chapters: 0:00 Portugal: Food, Bread & Fashion Trends 10:40 Trump's China Tariffs & Market Impact 16:30 Crypto Market Volatility & Insider Trading 31:30 US Dependence on Critical Minerals 42:30 Government Shutdown: Funding & RIFs 59:00 Empathy, Disability Access & Cuts 1:09:30 Tech: Immortality & Self-Driving Cars 1:17:30 Seattle Mariners: Playoff Success 1:28:00 Baseball Fandom & Episode Outro

A Normal Man returns to take us through the unpleasantness in Portland, we break down the shutdown, and sans George the video game freaks get digital. Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Portlandia Ad 2:59 Portland Occupation & Absurdity 13:43 Legal Status of Portland Occupation 22:39 Fox News & Media Critique 25:38 Oregon Political Unity & ICE 32:47 Government Shutdown in DC 41:44 Shutdown Impact & Future 50:05 What We've Been Up To 1:00:13 Outro & Yarvin Quote Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Portlandia Ad 2:59 Portland Occupation & Absurdity 13:43 Legal Status of Portland Occupation 22:39 Fox News & Media Critique 25:38 Oregon Political Unity & ICE 32:47 Government Shutdown in DC 41:44 Shutdown Impact & Future 50:05 What We've Been Up To 1:00:13 Outro & Yarvin Quote

With special guest Eva Cantor (@machete.gay on Bluesky).  George talks us through some real economic growth, Propter breaks down pre-snap federal shutdown reads, Eva talks us through a whole lot of violent extremism, and the gun touchers geek out. Chapters: 0:00 Intro, Eric Adams, and Podcast Setup 12:24 Economic Growth and Tariffs 25:58 Government Shutdown and Politics 45:36 Cheer Wine and Glonzo 49:24 Extremism: Shooters and Motivations 1:06:35 Gun Culture and Violence Normalization 1:18:56 Positive Ideation and Metric System

Lowtax gives us a report on South Florida and the Very Specific Type of Guy (hint: Jeremy Shockey jersey) that lives there now (0:00-3:15). This week’s main event is Jimmy Kimmel, and the Men review MAGA’s effort to bring everyone who doesn’t salute Charlie Kirk at every opportunity to heel (3:15-32:45). Tom Homan secures the (Cava) bag before a check in on Trump Administration approvals and energy politics (32:45-1:06:30). We also talk about Maine (Ed is from Maine) and the quixotic politics on the margins of the lower 48 (1:06:30-1:21:15). Finally, a brief check in on the biggest embarrassment in the history of South Carolinian football and the run for his money being offered by the UNC Tarheels (1:21:15-1:27:00).

Chapters: 0:00 Cheerwine & Boston Baked Beans 9:34 Normal Men Intro & News Preview 11:34 Charlie Kirk Assassination Discussion 22:09 Federal Reserve: Lisa Cook Update 32:13 Hyundai Workers & Korea Diplomacy 41:17 Ed Becomes a Cyborg: Eye Surgery 53:22 George's MLS Team Sets Record 1:03:56 The Joys of Sports Fandom Chapters: 0:00 Cheerwine & Boston Baked Beans 9:34 Normal Men Intro & News Preview 11:34 Charlie Kirk Assassination Discussion 22:09 Federal Reserve: Lisa Cook Update 32:13 Hyundai Workers & Korea Diplomacy 41:17 Ed Becomes a Cyborg: Eye Surgery 53:22 George's MLS Team Sets Record 1:03:56 The Joys of Sports Fandom

The Normal Men are back and covering it all this week. To start (0:00-17:30) we check in on the fighting game community before Soda Chat and learnings about the weird stuff they’re drinking up in Maine. George and Propter reminisce about A&W and the gang laughs at grocery stores. Next up, Elon’s unhealthy obsession with fertility and race, as well as some discussion of the very real shifts in global birth rates around the world (17:30-30:30). Speaker of the House Mike Johnson broke some news this week: the President is a snitch (30:30-42:45) and the all carrot no stick Republican governing theory turns its eye to Georgia manufacturing (42:45-57:30). Our government murdered 11 Venezuelans this week, and the Men discuss, followed by some conversation about movies ranging from the light-hearted to the troubling (57:30-1:19:30).