Beyond Politics

Right wing nuts (i.e. Matt Gaetz) are trying to take down the most powerful Republican in America, Kevin McCarthy, who just pulled off a shocking 11th hour deal to prevent a government shutdown, while Donald Trump goes on unhinged rants about his financial and legal world collapsing around him. And the biggest story might be...Taylor Swift?

Kevin McCarthy maneuvering to try to save his speaker-ship against a Matt Gaetz-led charge to remove him after the surprise weekend deal for a continuing resolution that's keeping the government open. Democrats are trying to figure out whether can they cut a deal here to gain themselves more power and to get rid of this impeachment inquiry. Republicans are scrambling to figure out whether Gaetz actually has the votes to actually remove Kevin McCarthy? And is there an alternative if they do manage to get rid of them? Matt Robison and Cliff Schecter quickly hit all the key points on what everyone is thinking and where this could be heading.

Have some extra cash? Wondering if you should put it toward your mortgage? Join Mike Morton and I this week as we delve into the answer to this FAQ. It’s not as simple as you might think. Why? Because why you shouldn’t is equally as compelling as why you should work to pay down that debt. 

California Senator Dianne Feinstein, a trailblazing icon, has died. In this emergency podcast, writer and political analyst Jason Sattler joins to discuss the remarkable legacy of Senator Feinstein, and also the burning question that will have far-reaching consequences for America: will Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans take advantage of her death to block all Biden judicial appointments for the rest of the President's term?

The government shut down is upon us. There will be serious effects on people's lives. And of course, the question that everyone inevitably asks is: who will get the political blame? Traditionally, the conventional wisdom is that shutdowns hurt Republicans more. But was that really true and in the past, and is it still the case this time around. Bryan Bennett and Ian Smith of Navigator Research join to explain what the numbers and their focus group work with voters actually tells us.

Republicans in Congress and on the debate stage exhibit incoherent nihilism, unable to articulate their beliefs or goals. They struggle with immigration and shy away from confronting Trump. Despite polling showing Americans tuning out, their antics continue. The podcast explores these topics with humor and insight while also touching on the recent end of the writer's strike.

Part two of our interview with Dr. Daniel Cox. American's attitudes on LGBT issues have shifted significantly, with far more people -- including Democrats -- saying that we have "gone too far." Why is this happening, and what does it really mean? Also, have Americans lost something fundamental that holds us together, and if so, is there anything we can do to revive it? (14:12) Dr. Daniel Cox is Director of the Center on American Life at the American Enterprise Institute and his work is frequently featured in the Atlantic, CNN, and the Washington Post. His outstanding Substack is at: ⁠ https://storylines.substack.com/

Ah, estate planning. Such a fun exercise. No one wants to think about the end, but we will all smile, so we might as well plan for it. In this week's podcast, join Mike Morton and I as we explore the importance of planning for your golden years, the ones filled with activity, those that slow down, and even the ones where you may need extra care.

If Republicans are so nutty, then why are Republicans and Democrats tied in popularity (2:05)? Also, why is Ron DeSantis SO darn unpopular? (There's actually a pretty straightforward reason for that) (7:48). And why is Donald Trump maybe a lot weaker than it appears? (14:55). Dr. Daniel Cox is Director of the Center on American Life at the American Enterprise Institute and his work is frequently featured in the Atlantic, CNN, and the Washington Post. His outstanding Substack is at: https://storylines.substack.com/

ver the past 20 years, the U. S. Navy has built a vessel that they've nicknamed the "little crappy ship." It barely works and it's costing us taxpayers about 100 billion or about what we'd spend on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 20 years, the agency that regulates nuclear materials in 100 years or the Peace Corps over the course of 200 years. How did this happen? And what does it say about the entire way we arm our nation through the defense industrial complex? We're joined by the outstanding investigative journalist who broke this entire story about the literal combat ship, Joaquin Sapien, who was one of the first reporters hired at our friends at ProPublica. We've had other reporters from ProPublica with us before. You all just do outstanding work and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that one of your recent stories a few years ago won a Deadline Club award and a Katherine Schneider Journalism Award for excellence in reporting on disability.