On today's show, Ralph welcomes back Constitutional Law Expert Bruce Fein to dissect Judge Aileen Cannon's dismissal of Donald Trump's classified documents case in Florida.
Your fan here, Ralph, suggesting you do one-topic Substacks so we can be smart together. This would be a place for intelligent conversation. And how about you hooking up with a few others to regularly dialogue about everything? Why don't we have that? It could be our guide.
I'm looking for action now. What to do? I stay up on Seymour Hersh, Thom Hartmann, Robert Reich, James Fallows, Marianne Williamson. Ralph, could you see putting heads together to look for a path through? It can be done. I'm going to keep going on this. Can I turn you onto being part of it and to be involved in getting others? Who else?
I suggest a program about inequality of income and wealth. For instance, the United Way survey ALICE -- Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed -- shows 42% of U.S. adults live with hardship or poverty. I just looked up the Fed's FRED graph pages on income growth for nonsupervisory workers, 80% of all workers, and also for the median household income, and also for "real disposable personal income". Since 1979 the median nonsupervisory worker's weekly (and yearly) "real" income has grown by 10%, the "real" median family income also grew by 10%, and the "real per capita disposable income" grew by 111%. That means growth did not touch the vast majority of workers. Another BLS data shows that "average weekly earnings for production and nonsupervisory workers" were higher in 1971 than in 2024 == https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CES0500000031 .
RealTime Inequality shows the skewed growth pattern; it's a web page produced by Univ. of California Berkeley economists. The Washington Center for Equitable Growth also produces papers on this topic. The RAND Corporation did a revealing study, the Economic Policy Institute has published on these lines. People flock to Trump and his inanities because they sense the system is cutting them out, underperforming, rigged. You've heard that 60% live paycheck to paycheck. That's precarious. The Fed's report on household economic well being states that for 48% of Americans a $2,000 emergency expense is the maximum they could actually pay (page 33). Yet the "average" net worth is $1.2 million.
I write a blog, http://benL88.blogspot.com, and that's why I have all these data points. The "average" household income is $170,000, and "average" wealth is $1.2 million -- and 42% live with hardship or poverty. These conditions need a fuller explanation and examination.
Excellent program, but not much on the outrageous continuing defense of Biden and his entourage with glowing praise of his "accomplishments" which were more the result of the competent people he brought in to his administration along with many incompetents as well.
It looks like the Democratic Party leadership is working hard to push him out. Biden's done for.
And good riddance too.
He humiliated Scott Ritter publicly in order to push the Weapons of Mass Destruction hoax.
He's an enabler to an ongoing mass murder in Gaza. Just the other day, the IDF used four 2,000 lbs. bomb that he supplied where there were civilian refugees. And the US Navy has permanently shut down the Gaza pier farce for good. Now, no US aid is entering Gaza.
He also has cost the lives of over 500,000 Ukrainian soldiers by not letting Ukraine sign the negotiated peace agreement in April 2022. Ukraine, which has been his baby since 2014, is not longer a viable state. And he won't be satisfied until all Ukrainians are dead and/or NATO has an atomic war with Russia.
People have forgotten that he enabled the starvation of millions in Afghanistan when he froze Afghani assets in the billions after we lost that war.
The man also destroyed the economies of Europe by blowing up the Nord Stream pipeline.
And he has pushed Russia and China into an economic and military alliance against us.
This man is a walking destroyer of worlds. The trail of death and suffering left in his wake is beyond measure. He is the most destructive human being of this century.
The problem today is the experts are clueless as usual on what is going on in politics and the economy,, remember the ,2007-8 big economic bust and all 38 financial genius and nobel loriates missed that call ,, of course they all lined up later and claimed they turned things around and saved us all ( with financial easing which really means Janet printed as much do ray me as requested ) to ease the impending financial crisis. Of course nothing really happened until 2 years later when market to market became a reality,,without their help , .
So what happened ?;people did not go back to work big time after or during Covid crises and the demand for goods stopped at the Long Beach port on entry did not cause the rise in inflation as the financial experts reported . The financial inflation was the result of giving the average working joe the opportunity to live on easy street for his wife and his kids but it was not enough to raise his standard of living ,,, why work for a living ? ,, we're on easy street are you really ? .but needless to say the elite 1% got their tax breaks .
Lazy non workers with lots of money to spend is a great corporate target for price gouging and a rise in inflation..( and no the cost of corporate goods did not really go up )
But today , the days of living on easy street is over , the average joe needs to and is going back to work,,, back to paycheck to paycheck,,
And that's when Trumperism steps in ( not the real Republicans) and says,,, I'm going to put you back on easy street for good ,,
So what is the Democrats plan to put average joe back on easy street for good ? The Democrats have 2 months to come up with a real plan " I'll put you back on easy street ", and it better be good.
One of my fave podcasts.I wonder if there could be some synergy by inviting David Sirota (producer/host of TheLever podcast) onto your show. Also,since 95% or more of politically relevant news and podcast are all about the What is bad, and 100 different facets of What is bad, including the roots (almost always greed and fear of the other) and at best maybe one percent about the HOW, I'd be happy to suggest interviewee experts on the HOW-- HOW to fight back, lessons learned, etc
"What we know about a lot of these platforms, particularly the largest one, Meta, for example, and Google, is that they are marshaling SO MUCH data in order to surveil all of us, but including children and teenagers, and target them with content and ads, that they are analyzing all of that information to estimate a user's age and we know this in part because the platforms and the ad systems that support them will brag about it to advertisers. They will brag about their ability to target users with precision. In terms of some of the issues we've been facing around holding platforms responsible for that information, a lot of the times what they will do is ask for agent sign up and then turn a blind eye for compliance purposes to any other indicator. But there are MANY data points, you know, the language a person uses, even down to sort of almost biometric information, like keystrokes and the way a user types and navigates on an app can be indicators for a platform of user age."
But it also reminds me of the recent RNRH show which mentioned Automatic Emergency Braking for cars. Those systems mean more cameras: meaning more surveillance, more tech, more data collection.
Hey Ralph, we met briefly once. I made The Corporation with Joel Bakan and Jennifer Abbott. We tried to get an interview with you but you were all booked up.
I've just started listening to your podcast which is excellent and much needed. My impression as a first time listener, is that you need to upgrade your microphone. You sound like you're talking on a cheap phone on a long distance call.
Here are ChatGPT's top recommendations:
1. Shure SM7B
* Type: Dynamic
* Key Features: Widely regarded as one of the best microphones for podcasting, the Shure SM7B offers excellent vocal clarity, a flat, wide-range frequency response, and superb noise isolation. It’s ideal for recording in untreated rooms.
* Price: Around $400
2. Rode NT1-A
* Type: Condenser
* Key Features: Known for its incredible clarity and low self-noise, the Rode NT1-A is a great option for podcasters who have a well-treated recording space. It captures detailed, high-fidelity audio.
* Price: Around $230
3. Electro-Voice RE20
* Type: Dynamic
* Key Features: The RE20 is another professional-grade dynamic microphone with excellent off-axis rejection and a smooth, natural sound. It’s a popular choice for radio and podcasting due to its robustness and reliability.
* Price: Around $450
4. Audio-Technica AT2020
* Type: Condenser
* Key Features: A budget-friendly option, the AT2020 offers good quality at a lower price point. It’s a condenser microphone, so it’s best used in a controlled environment.
* Price: Around $100
5. Heil PR-40
* Type: Dynamic
* Key Features: The Heil PR-40 is known for its versatility and ability to capture a wide range of vocal tones. It’s a solid choice for podcasters who want a rich, broadcast-quality sound.
* Price: Around $330
6. Blue Yeti Pro
* Type: Condenser (USB/XLR)
* Key Features: This microphone offers the flexibility of both USB and XLR outputs, making it a great choice for podcasters who might start with USB and upgrade to an XLR setup later. It’s easy to use and delivers good sound quality for the price.
* Price: Around $250
Things to Consider:
* Recording Environment: If your space is not acoustically treated, a dynamic microphone like the Shure SM7B or Electro-Voice RE20 would be better as they handle background noise well.
* Interface: Condenser microphones like the Rode NT1-A or Audio-Technica AT2020 usually require an audio interface with phantom power, whereas USB microphones like the Blue Yeti Pro can be plugged directly into your computer.
* Budget: High-end microphones like the Shure SM7B or Electro-Voice RE20 are great investments, but if you’re on a tighter budget, the Audio-Technica AT2020 is a solid entry-level option.
These microphones are all highly respected in the podcasting community, so your choice should reflect your specific needs and setup.
Disclaimer: I'm not a Trump fan. I'm not a Republican. I'm only still a Democrat because I can't register as an Independent and vote in a PA primary.
We might hear that they're going after Trump because we're a nation guided by the Rule Of Law. But it is a witch hunt as these below comparisons will show:
Why didn't we impeach Trump for assassinating the Iranian general, Soleimani? We are not at war with Iran. That's a war crime and/or executing someone without a trial is unConstitutional.
Answer: The reason we didn't prosecute Trump was because Israel approved.
Why didn't we impeach Trump for violating the Emoluments Clause for enriching his family? Ivanka got exclusive trademark deals in China; Jared made money with the Saudis.
Answer: All politicians use their positions to enrich themselves (and their families). Can't touch that. The Democrats would be exposed as hypocrites.
Why didn't we prosecute G W Bush for lying us into a war resulting in the death of a million people? Why didn't we impeach him for torturing people? We're a nation following the rule of law? Anything Trump MAY BE guilty of pales in comparison to Bush's crimes.
One answer for overlooking Bush's crimes: Nancy Pelosi was aware of Bush's torturing people. She'd have been complicit.
Why didn't we prosecute Obama who executed via drone-strike Anwar Awlaki (an American citizen in Yemen) because he was making Youtube videos that we didn't like? There was no trial. A week later Obama executed his 16-year-old son, Abdulrahman al-Awlaki (born in Colorado). The reason: "When pressed by a reporter to defend the targeted killing policy that resulted in Abdulrahman al-Awlaki's death, former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs deflected blame to the victim's father, saying, 'I would suggest that you should have a far more responsible father if they are truly concerned about the well-being of their children'."
We let THAT go, but, you know . . Trump!
The biggest threat to democracy is the government, the Blob/Deep State, the permanent bureaucracy, deciding who should and who shouldn't be president. A greater threat than a former reality TV-star could ever be.
Cannon fumbeled the ball ? ,, are you kidding she never got off the trumpism bench ,,she should have never been on that ( Bench ) ,in the first place and how she got there is another story ?
and as far as Fairplay I don't remember parents or the government on a snowy day stopping kids from washing the bullies face with snow at a grade school recess. Sure bad things happen all the time to kids ,what happened to teaching kids right from wrong ,I bet if they knew the difference it would make all the difference. But let's not do that let's blame some out side force like the Internet or government or a teacher of good will trying to do your job .
What happened to all that news where America spends over a billion dollars and fails to build a small landing pier to supply the starving and worn torn people of casa food and medical supplies. What happened ? Sure the weather was bad ,, we all have our bad days,, my uncle worked building the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and he said they're were days the fog was so thick you couldn't see the man next to you and two guys got blown off a tower ,but they got the job done .( And that small casa pier cost 10 times more ) .
As I have said many times the casa war will not end until all the rebuilding contracts are signed and agreed to ,,, is that in the news ?
Of course not ,,,I bet those pier contractors got paid ,,
Your fan here, Ralph, suggesting you do one-topic Substacks so we can be smart together. This would be a place for intelligent conversation. And how about you hooking up with a few others to regularly dialogue about everything? Why don't we have that? It could be our guide.
I'm looking for action now. What to do? I stay up on Seymour Hersh, Thom Hartmann, Robert Reich, James Fallows, Marianne Williamson. Ralph, could you see putting heads together to look for a path through? It can be done. I'm going to keep going on this. Can I turn you onto being part of it and to be involved in getting others? Who else?
https://jbs.org/constitution/video/
I suggest a program about inequality of income and wealth. For instance, the United Way survey ALICE -- Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed -- shows 42% of U.S. adults live with hardship or poverty. I just looked up the Fed's FRED graph pages on income growth for nonsupervisory workers, 80% of all workers, and also for the median household income, and also for "real disposable personal income". Since 1979 the median nonsupervisory worker's weekly (and yearly) "real" income has grown by 10%, the "real" median family income also grew by 10%, and the "real per capita disposable income" grew by 111%. That means growth did not touch the vast majority of workers. Another BLS data shows that "average weekly earnings for production and nonsupervisory workers" were higher in 1971 than in 2024 == https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CES0500000031 .
RealTime Inequality shows the skewed growth pattern; it's a web page produced by Univ. of California Berkeley economists. The Washington Center for Equitable Growth also produces papers on this topic. The RAND Corporation did a revealing study, the Economic Policy Institute has published on these lines. People flock to Trump and his inanities because they sense the system is cutting them out, underperforming, rigged. You've heard that 60% live paycheck to paycheck. That's precarious. The Fed's report on household economic well being states that for 48% of Americans a $2,000 emergency expense is the maximum they could actually pay (page 33). Yet the "average" net worth is $1.2 million.
I write a blog, http://benL88.blogspot.com, and that's why I have all these data points. The "average" household income is $170,000, and "average" wealth is $1.2 million -- and 42% live with hardship or poverty. These conditions need a fuller explanation and examination.
https://jbs.org/constitution/video/
Excellent program, but not much on the outrageous continuing defense of Biden and his entourage with glowing praise of his "accomplishments" which were more the result of the competent people he brought in to his administration along with many incompetents as well.
It looks like the Democratic Party leadership is working hard to push him out. Biden's done for.
And good riddance too.
He humiliated Scott Ritter publicly in order to push the Weapons of Mass Destruction hoax.
He's an enabler to an ongoing mass murder in Gaza. Just the other day, the IDF used four 2,000 lbs. bomb that he supplied where there were civilian refugees. And the US Navy has permanently shut down the Gaza pier farce for good. Now, no US aid is entering Gaza.
He also has cost the lives of over 500,000 Ukrainian soldiers by not letting Ukraine sign the negotiated peace agreement in April 2022. Ukraine, which has been his baby since 2014, is not longer a viable state. And he won't be satisfied until all Ukrainians are dead and/or NATO has an atomic war with Russia.
People have forgotten that he enabled the starvation of millions in Afghanistan when he froze Afghani assets in the billions after we lost that war.
The man also destroyed the economies of Europe by blowing up the Nord Stream pipeline.
And he has pushed Russia and China into an economic and military alliance against us.
This man is a walking destroyer of worlds. The trail of death and suffering left in his wake is beyond measure. He is the most destructive human being of this century.
The problem today is the experts are clueless as usual on what is going on in politics and the economy,, remember the ,2007-8 big economic bust and all 38 financial genius and nobel loriates missed that call ,, of course they all lined up later and claimed they turned things around and saved us all ( with financial easing which really means Janet printed as much do ray me as requested ) to ease the impending financial crisis. Of course nothing really happened until 2 years later when market to market became a reality,,without their help , .
So what happened ?;people did not go back to work big time after or during Covid crises and the demand for goods stopped at the Long Beach port on entry did not cause the rise in inflation as the financial experts reported . The financial inflation was the result of giving the average working joe the opportunity to live on easy street for his wife and his kids but it was not enough to raise his standard of living ,,, why work for a living ? ,, we're on easy street are you really ? .but needless to say the elite 1% got their tax breaks .
Lazy non workers with lots of money to spend is a great corporate target for price gouging and a rise in inflation..( and no the cost of corporate goods did not really go up )
But today , the days of living on easy street is over , the average joe needs to and is going back to work,,, back to paycheck to paycheck,,
And that's when Trumperism steps in ( not the real Republicans) and says,,, I'm going to put you back on easy street for good ,,
So what is the Democrats plan to put average joe back on easy street for good ? The Democrats have 2 months to come up with a real plan " I'll put you back on easy street ", and it better be good.
Have a great day , my friends.
One of my fave podcasts.I wonder if there could be some synergy by inviting David Sirota (producer/host of TheLever podcast) onto your show. Also,since 95% or more of politically relevant news and podcast are all about the What is bad, and 100 different facets of What is bad, including the roots (almost always greed and fear of the other) and at best maybe one percent about the HOW, I'd be happy to suggest interviewee experts on the HOW-- HOW to fight back, lessons learned, etc
I like this quote by Hinkle at 23 minutes in:
"What we know about a lot of these platforms, particularly the largest one, Meta, for example, and Google, is that they are marshaling SO MUCH data in order to surveil all of us, but including children and teenagers, and target them with content and ads, that they are analyzing all of that information to estimate a user's age and we know this in part because the platforms and the ad systems that support them will brag about it to advertisers. They will brag about their ability to target users with precision. In terms of some of the issues we've been facing around holding platforms responsible for that information, a lot of the times what they will do is ask for agent sign up and then turn a blind eye for compliance purposes to any other indicator. But there are MANY data points, you know, the language a person uses, even down to sort of almost biometric information, like keystrokes and the way a user types and navigates on an app can be indicators for a platform of user age."
But it also reminds me of the recent RNRH show which mentioned Automatic Emergency Braking for cars. Those systems mean more cameras: meaning more surveillance, more tech, more data collection.
Hey Ralph, we met briefly once. I made The Corporation with Joel Bakan and Jennifer Abbott. We tried to get an interview with you but you were all booked up.
I've just started listening to your podcast which is excellent and much needed. My impression as a first time listener, is that you need to upgrade your microphone. You sound like you're talking on a cheap phone on a long distance call.
Here are ChatGPT's top recommendations:
1. Shure SM7B
* Type: Dynamic
* Key Features: Widely regarded as one of the best microphones for podcasting, the Shure SM7B offers excellent vocal clarity, a flat, wide-range frequency response, and superb noise isolation. It’s ideal for recording in untreated rooms.
* Price: Around $400
2. Rode NT1-A
* Type: Condenser
* Key Features: Known for its incredible clarity and low self-noise, the Rode NT1-A is a great option for podcasters who have a well-treated recording space. It captures detailed, high-fidelity audio.
* Price: Around $230
3. Electro-Voice RE20
* Type: Dynamic
* Key Features: The RE20 is another professional-grade dynamic microphone with excellent off-axis rejection and a smooth, natural sound. It’s a popular choice for radio and podcasting due to its robustness and reliability.
* Price: Around $450
4. Audio-Technica AT2020
* Type: Condenser
* Key Features: A budget-friendly option, the AT2020 offers good quality at a lower price point. It’s a condenser microphone, so it’s best used in a controlled environment.
* Price: Around $100
5. Heil PR-40
* Type: Dynamic
* Key Features: The Heil PR-40 is known for its versatility and ability to capture a wide range of vocal tones. It’s a solid choice for podcasters who want a rich, broadcast-quality sound.
* Price: Around $330
6. Blue Yeti Pro
* Type: Condenser (USB/XLR)
* Key Features: This microphone offers the flexibility of both USB and XLR outputs, making it a great choice for podcasters who might start with USB and upgrade to an XLR setup later. It’s easy to use and delivers good sound quality for the price.
* Price: Around $250
Things to Consider:
* Recording Environment: If your space is not acoustically treated, a dynamic microphone like the Shure SM7B or Electro-Voice RE20 would be better as they handle background noise well.
* Interface: Condenser microphones like the Rode NT1-A or Audio-Technica AT2020 usually require an audio interface with phantom power, whereas USB microphones like the Blue Yeti Pro can be plugged directly into your computer.
* Budget: High-end microphones like the Shure SM7B or Electro-Voice RE20 are great investments, but if you’re on a tighter budget, the Audio-Technica AT2020 is a solid entry-level option.
These microphones are all highly respected in the podcasting community, so your choice should reflect your specific needs and setup.
https://jbs.org/constitution/video /
Disclaimer: I'm not a Trump fan. I'm not a Republican. I'm only still a Democrat because I can't register as an Independent and vote in a PA primary.
We might hear that they're going after Trump because we're a nation guided by the Rule Of Law. But it is a witch hunt as these below comparisons will show:
Why didn't we impeach Trump for assassinating the Iranian general, Soleimani? We are not at war with Iran. That's a war crime and/or executing someone without a trial is unConstitutional.
Answer: The reason we didn't prosecute Trump was because Israel approved.
Why didn't we impeach Trump for violating the Emoluments Clause for enriching his family? Ivanka got exclusive trademark deals in China; Jared made money with the Saudis.
Answer: All politicians use their positions to enrich themselves (and their families). Can't touch that. The Democrats would be exposed as hypocrites.
Why didn't we prosecute G W Bush for lying us into a war resulting in the death of a million people? Why didn't we impeach him for torturing people? We're a nation following the rule of law? Anything Trump MAY BE guilty of pales in comparison to Bush's crimes.
One answer for overlooking Bush's crimes: Nancy Pelosi was aware of Bush's torturing people. She'd have been complicit.
Why didn't we prosecute Obama who executed via drone-strike Anwar Awlaki (an American citizen in Yemen) because he was making Youtube videos that we didn't like? There was no trial. A week later Obama executed his 16-year-old son, Abdulrahman al-Awlaki (born in Colorado). The reason: "When pressed by a reporter to defend the targeted killing policy that resulted in Abdulrahman al-Awlaki's death, former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs deflected blame to the victim's father, saying, 'I would suggest that you should have a far more responsible father if they are truly concerned about the well-being of their children'."
We let THAT go, but, you know . . Trump!
The biggest threat to democracy is the government, the Blob/Deep State, the permanent bureaucracy, deciding who should and who shouldn't be president. A greater threat than a former reality TV-star could ever be.
Cannon fumbeled the ball ? ,, are you kidding she never got off the trumpism bench ,,she should have never been on that ( Bench ) ,in the first place and how she got there is another story ?
and as far as Fairplay I don't remember parents or the government on a snowy day stopping kids from washing the bullies face with snow at a grade school recess. Sure bad things happen all the time to kids ,what happened to teaching kids right from wrong ,I bet if they knew the difference it would make all the difference. But let's not do that let's blame some out side force like the Internet or government or a teacher of good will trying to do your job .
What happened to all that news where America spends over a billion dollars and fails to build a small landing pier to supply the starving and worn torn people of casa food and medical supplies. What happened ? Sure the weather was bad ,, we all have our bad days,, my uncle worked building the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and he said they're were days the fog was so thick you couldn't see the man next to you and two guys got blown off a tower ,but they got the job done .( And that small casa pier cost 10 times more ) .
As I have said many times the casa war will not end until all the rebuilding contracts are signed and agreed to ,,, is that in the news ?
Of course not ,,,I bet those pier contractors got paid ,,
Hey ,,, it's only money..
Good luck my friends.