Normal Men

Join the Normal Men for a break in the midst of Labor Day weekend for some college football chat and a victory lap celebrating Lowtax’s beloved Florida State University Seminoles (0:00-12:00). Next we talk Senate primaries and Senior Maine Correspondent Ed explains why Maine is actually a very large state, George commemorates one of our strongest Representatives, and the Men talk through the doomed logistics of applying tariffs to packages (12:00-42:00). Next up, it’s Glonzo time as Propter leads a discussion about the health of the President (42:00-51:00). Then it’s on to LLMs and why they’re such efficient mechanisms for cooking your brain (51:00-1:19:00). Finally a little Labor Day roundup of how each of the Men intended to spend their day off, including bachelor life, woodworking, grilling, potty training, and an anecdote about how seriously the state of Georgia takes college football (1:19:00-1:31:00).

Kick back with your heavily caffeinated beverage of choice as the boys dive into the world of canned stimulants (0:00 to 20:00). This week we’ve got Musicology Duck on to share some of her experiences from the streets of DC amidst a federal occupation of the nation’s capital (20:00 to 1:03:00). We also dive into President Trump’s efforts to take control of interest rates by an attempt to remove Governor Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors (1:03:00 to 1:32:15) before a review of a landmark election result in Iowa (1:32:15 to end).

The Men start this week talking about our fears, including heights, creepy-crawlies, and amoebas (from 0:00-5:40). Then: we’re going to Swift School this week as the Normal Men get up to speed on Taylor Swift and why we should pay more attention to her career (from 6:00-43:00). Then it’s time to chat about the large number of federal law enforcement officers and National Guard troops who have descended on the nation’s capital (from 43:00-1:05:00. Finally, we are unfortunately putting a few notable Democrats on flub watch. (1:05:00 to end) Chapters: 0:00 Unusual Fears and Water Woes 4:50 Introducing Taylor Swift 9:58 Taylor Swift's Impact and Misconceptions 19:30 Taylor Swift, Kelce, and Master Rights 33:00 Artistic Output and Political Stance 42:00 The Federal Presence in Washington D.C. 53:00 DC: Cosplay, Danger, and Deep State 1:04:00 Political Cringe: Catabu and Jeffries 1:15:00 Chris Murphy's DC Comments & Wrap-up

This week your Normal Men are taking a trip to the UK for a garden party, which gives us the opportunity to discuss one of the most important - and impotent - thinkers on the Silicon Valley right. We’re also putting a Danish spin on things this week with an unfortunate story about what they’re doing in zoos over there. Finally, we chat at length about GLP-1s and the peptide revolution, including our own Propter’s experience with two different versions of the weight loss drugs. Chapters: 0:00 Intro Banter & Podcast Open 5:19 Danish Zoo & Scandinavian Culture 11:54 US Immigration & Urban/Rural Divide 20:34 Canadian Hockey Riots & Sports 26:36 Financial Times, Alt-Right & Yarvin 37:06 Yarvin's Tech & UK Reactionaries 46:45 Billionaires, Tech Failures & Elon Musk 56:25 GLP-1 Drugs: Introduction & Benefits 1:02:01 GLP-1: Safety & Personal Experience 1:17:42 GLP-1: Zepbound Success & Market Chapters: 0:00 Intro Banter & Podcast Open 5:19 Danish Zoo & Scandinavian Culture 11:54 US Immigration & Urban/Rural Divide 20:34 Canadian Hockey Riots & Sports 26:36 Financial Times, Alt-Right & Yarvin 37:06 Yarvin's Tech & UK Reactionaries 46:45 Billionaires, Tech Failures & Elon Musk 56:25 GLP-1 Drugs: Introduction & Benefits 1:02:01 GLP-1: Safety & Personal Experience 1:17:42 GLP-1: Zepbound Success & Market

The Normal Men are thrilled to welcome Layla al-Sheikh, a Palestinian scholar and activist, to help us understand the political roots of the genocide in Gaza and the path forward towards a Palestinian state. Then we get to talk about the nitty-gritty of the US labor market’s statistical system after some significant developments. Also on the menu: Disco Elysium, a defense of Oracle, and discussion of two of the biggest freaks inside the Trump Administration’s impressive roster of degenerates. You can follow Layla on Bluesky @diplomatofnight.com and her work is also available at to-our-land.ghost.io. Chapters: 0:00 Disco Elysium & Gaming Debate 8:05 Introducing Gaza & Guest Leila Al Sheikh 11:07 Palestine-Israel Conflict History 30:20 Erosion of Peace & October 7th Attacks 43:28 Gaza Genocide & Shifting US Opinion 1:05:43 International Recognition of Palestine 1:15:50 US Jobs Report & BLS Controversy 1:28:00 Outro & Random Banter Chapters: 0:00 Disco Elysium & Gaming Debate 8:05 Introducing Gaza & Guest Leila Al Sheikh 11:07 Palestine-Israel Conflict History 30:20 Erosion of Peace & October 7th Attacks 43:28 Gaza Genocide & Shifting US Opinion 1:05:43 International Recognition of Palestine 1:15:50 US Jobs Report & BLS Controversy 1:28:00 Outro & Random Banter

This week the boys dive deep into food delivery and the political, economic, and technological forces that drive it…and the discourse around it. We’re also lucky to be joined by Josie Riesman, the author of the definitive book on wrestling promoter Vince McMahon. She helps us understand the role that Hulk Hogan specifically and wrestling played in shaping our politics and culture. You can follow her on Bluesky @josie.zone. Her work can also be found at josie.zone including Ringmaster: Vince McMahon And The Unmaking of America. Please note George’s audio sucks for this one and we’re really sorry about that but Ed has promised us the mics are in the mail. Chapters: 0:00 Donkey Kong & Podcast Intro 4:11 Fast Food Delivery & Jason Steen 16:44 Jason Steen's Character & System 23:43 App Addiction & DoorDash Economics 39:04 Health, Cooking & Human Connection 50:14 Guest Josie Reisman: Wrestling History 1:09:47 Hulk Hogan: Controversies & Gawker 1:18:10 Guest Outro & Farewell Chapters: 0:00 Donkey Kong & Podcast Intro 4:11 Fast Food Delivery & Jason Steen 16:44 Jason Steen's Character & System 23:43 App Addiction & DoorDash Economics 39:04 Health, Cooking & Human Connection 50:14 Guest Josie Reisman: Wrestling History 1:09:47 Hulk Hogan: Controversies & Gawker 1:18:10 Guest Outro & Farewell

The hosts dive into a troubling incident involving the Canadian Armed Forces, mixing sarcasm with serious critique. They explore the implications of wealth concentration in politics, particularly its effects on democracy and culture, including the impact of foreign investments in sports. The conversation shifts to cryptocurrency's role in American politics and the political ironies surrounding Trump and Epstein. Alongside humorous political banter, they highlight unexpected wins in local races and critique gubernatorial ambitions like Newsom's.

GOLIKEHELLMACHINE is back with a new recurring segment! The Men are also joined by one of their Normal friends to talk about the unhinged world of Texas politics. Also up for discussion: MacArthur Park in Los Angeles and the world of immigration. Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Pepsi Debate 2:53 Mailbag: Politics, Football & Patriots 11:33 Mailbag: Rural Heartland Fascination 16:10 Mailbag: Barricade Skills for Democracy 21:57 Texas Blue Alerts & Flash Floods 32:20 Texas Politics: Ken Paxton & Tim Dunn 43:53 Houston's Diversity & Food Scene 53:09 MacArthur Park Military & ICE 1:01:13 Glonzo Principle & Epstein Files Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Pepsi Debate 2:53 Mailbag: Politics, Football & Patriots 11:33 Mailbag: Rural Heartland Fascination 16:10 Mailbag: Barricade Skills for Democracy 21:57 Texas Blue Alerts & Flash Floods 32:20 Texas Politics: Ken Paxton & Tim Dunn 43:53 Houston's Diversity & Food Scene 53:09 MacArthur Park Military & ICE 1:01:13 Glonzo Principle & Epstein Files

It was a pretty rough week as far as news goes so the boys focus on the lighter things in life: unhinged Twitter accounts transvestigating NFL running backs, the best mass transit system south of DC, the meaningful victories for Congressional staffs that kept bad stuff out of the Republican reconciliation bill, and the latest bonfire of Elon Musk’s vanity known as the America Party. We also have full analysis of what emerged from the Senate and its brutal implications for American society. Chapters: 0:00 Derrick Henry Transvestigation & Tackle 8:32 July 4th & Orlando MLS Hate 14:52 Florida Sports & Atlanta Traffic Woes 23:56 Good News: Bill's Blocked Provisions 35:23 Bad News: Bill's Dire Consequences 53:42 Everglades Detention Facility Horrors 1:01:13 Elon Musk's America Party & Grok Chapters: 0:00 Derrick Henry Transvestigation & Tackle 8:32 July 4th & Orlando MLS Hate 14:52 Florida Sports & Atlanta Traffic Woes 23:56 Good News: Bill's Blocked Provisions 35:23 Bad News: Bill's Dire Consequences 53:42 Everglades Detention Facility Horrors 1:01:13 Elon Musk's America Party & Grok

The Normal Men welcome New York political observer and union activist Detective Pikajew to chat about the huge win for Zohran Mamdani in that city’s mayoral primary as well as some union business. Also: loaded words and their definitions, an extremely bad Supreme Court case, and Tillis taps out in the Old North State. Follow our guest Detective Pikajew on Bluesky @clapifyoulikeme.favrd.social Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Mamdani's NYC Win 15:36 Polling Miss & Youth Vote 23:24 Gender, Franken & Mamdani's Support 31:12 Intifada, Zionism & Gillibrand 39:00 NYC Legal Services Unionization 54:36 SCOTUS Nationwide Injunctions Ruling 1:10:12 North Carolina Senate Race 1:16:26 Outro Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Mamdani's NYC Win 15:36 Polling Miss & Youth Vote 23:24 Gender, Franken & Mamdani's Support 31:12 Intifada, Zionism & Gillibrand 39:00 NYC Legal Services Unionization 54:36 SCOTUS Nationwide Injunctions Ruling 1:10:12 North Carolina Senate Race 1:16:26 Outro