Ralph welcomes Haley Hinkle, policy counsel at Fairplay to tell us about how a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million for harming children’s mental health and safety, violating state law.
Thought this finding was very interesting on the impact of digital classrooms.
Sweden just hit the undo button on 15 years of digital classrooms, returning to traditional teaching methods with printed books, pencils, and paper.
Back in 2009, Sweden was celebrated as a pioneer of modern education, replacing printed textbooks with laptops and tablets in classrooms nationwide. It seemed like the future. But according to international reading assessments including the PIRLS study, Swedish students' reading comprehension scores dropped significantly between 2016 and 2021. Teachers reported shorter attention spans, more distraction, and weaker handwriting. The experiment that was supposed to prepare kids for the future was quietly failing them.
So Sweden made a bold move. According to AP News, Sweden committed €104 million to bring printed books back into every classroom, with the goal of ensuring every student has a physical textbook for every subject. Students are once again writing by hand with pencils and paper, and the government is pushing to make schools cellphone-free nationwide. Students are once again writing by hand with pencils and paper, and the government is pushing to make schools cellphone-free nationwide.
If the votes required in the House of Representatives is 218 , we would need 4 of those to be Republican , and 67 in the Senate to convict. Is filing the articles of impeachment in face of the odds the point ?
Wow! Mexico improving their healthcare system! What a great leader they have! On another note, I recently heard a song Fast Cars by the Buzzcocks which mentioned Ralph Nader.
I watched the entire impeachment program - it was great!
One person I would like to get a hold of is Oliver Hall, having read his article in the Seattle Law Review "Death by a 1000 Signatures" ....
As there seems to be rather general agreement that both the D/Rs in this "2 Party system" are complicit in creating and perpetuating the mess we are in - it seems to me past time to "throw the bums out", all of them ...
We need more choices at the polls - but both parties, in their control of State Legislatures, have also "colluded" in doing their best to keep 3rd Party/Independent candidates off ballots so no one can challenge them at the polls ....
I do wish Ralph would have Mr. Hall on his show to talk about this ....
I am tired of "bending the knee" to the duopoly ....
From Australia, I've been following the podcast for a long time and recently have become a subscriber.
From this distance we are looking with increasing concern at your mid-terms and it seems there is no doubt that the current regime will be gearing up to disrupt the democratic process. My question is what is being done by anyone - the Democrats, the Independents, the States, the media - to anticipate and thwart that potential disruption?
Re the case against Meta, et.al. with the large jury awards, which no doubt will continue to mount - reminds me of the issue of Monsanto with glyphosate - multiple multi-million $$$ jury awards connecting it to non-hodgkins lymphoma - with more on the way - so that now, in the current Farm Bill, there is a provision that forbids any more such suits.
Considering that these Big Tech companies, I would posit, have a hell of a lot more sway on our Congress critters than Big Ag, don't be surprised if there is a provision tucked away in one of those Omnibus or "must pass" bills that forbids any more such suits against Big tech ...
Thank you for your part in the impeachment symposium. We should all be after our Congressmen and Senators holding them accountable for this war and their failure to oppose it. In my district, Himes, Blumenthal and Murphy have said some good things but I don't see them being vocal enough.
On the illegal and immoral Iran war, I'm watching a lot of Youtube discussions with some of your former guests such as Col. Wilkinson, Amb. Freeman, Scott Ritter, Larry Johnson and others like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzaMmOeTAVo Interviews by "Dialogue Works", General Danny Davis, Napolitano and others are informative.
Chris Hedges posted this interview with British diplomat Alaistair Crooke yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RKEjfIDEys It's clear that Israel is a psycho fascist state that will drag the US into endless wars, it looks like Turkey will be the next target.
Daily digest: 2026-04-12
No1
Apr 12
1. Critical Alerts
US-Iran talks collapse after 21-hour marathon in Islamabad. Vance left with a "final and best offer" that Iran shows no sign of accepting. Iran refused to commit to zero enrichment; US refused to budge on Hormuz control, nuclear disarmament, or a Lebanon ceasefire. Iran's Fars News says no plans for further talks. Pakistan's FM says negotiations "are not over" and diplomatic efforts continue. Confidence: HIGH — confirmed across Kobeissi, Zerohedge, Drop Site, DD Geopolitics, Iranian state media, and White House sources. Ceasefire expires April 22.
Iran still controls Strait of Hormuz; US mine-clearing is more PR than progress. Iran cannot locate all the mines it deployed per NYT/Kobeissi. US sent two destroyers (DDG-121, DDG-112) into the strait, but Iran denies they crossed and claims they turned back after a 15-minute warning per DD Geopolitics. Two Chinese-affiliated tankers transited with Iran's permission per IWN. Two oil tankers turned back per IRIB. Confidence: HIGH (5+ sources, dueling narratives but core fact — Hormuz remains contested — is undisputed).
China preparing MANPADs delivery to Iran per CNN citing three US intelligence sources, reported by shanaka86. Likely FN-6 systems. Separately, at least five Iranian vessels departed China's Gaolan Port carrying sodium perchlorate (ballistic missile precursor). China denies supplying weapons. Confidence: MEDIUM — single primary source (CNN intel), but corroborated by shipping data and ISW analysis.
Pakistan deploys 13,000 troops and fighter jets to Saudi Arabia under a joint strategic defence agreement, with plans to scale to 50,000 per South Asia Index and First Squawk. Pakistan simultaneously repaying $3.5B to UAE and received a $5B credit line from Saudi Arabia/Qatar per DD Geopolitics. Confidence: HIGH (3+ sources).
Ireland fuel crisis escalating. ~500 of 1,200 fuel stations running dry per UNN. Army deployed to tow tractors, riot police in Galway, pepper spray used at oil refinery per Lord Bebo. Protests now in 5th day with farmers, truckers, and bikers united. France reportedly joining blockades per TheBritLad. Confidence: HIGH (extensive live coverage from multiple Irish accounts).
2. Core Themes
Islamabad: anatomy of a predictable failure
Both sides brought maximalist demands that are exact inverses of each other: zero enrichment vs. enrichment rights, open Hormuz vs. Iranian toll authority, proxy cessation vs. Lebanon ceasefire, uranium handover vs. war reparations per shanaka86
Iran's FM Araghchi blamed a Netanyahu phone call to Vance during talks for shifting focus from US-Iran to Israeli interests
Iran's Tasnim: "The ball is in the US's court; Iran not in hurry" and "no change in Hormuz as long as US refuses deal"
Vance framed failure as "bad news for Iran much more than the US" — Peter Schiff: "So starting a war in the Middle East turned out to be a big mistake. Well, it's not like anyone could have seen that coming"
Haley Hinkle’s (Fairplay) presentation about the New Mexico jury’s award of $375 million against Meta for harming children’s mental health and safety was excellent. One of the cases she mentions hit home because a friend’s child met a similar fate about a practice described on the Radio Hour that can result in death. I don’t know if the fate of that child followed a similar and Internet-driven outcome, but the practice that resulted in both of the children’s deaths was very similar.
The Radio Hour’s discussion on the symposium on impeachment was equally impressive. By this point in Trump’s lawless presidency, recently augmented by a war of aggression, along with Israel against Iran, even the most diehard of Republicans knows that not only is the president a criminal on several accounts, but he’s obviously not all there, so to speak. Who threatens an entire nation with thousands of years of civilization and can be called normal? In keeping with Ralph Nader’s call to contact Congress, I wrote to Congressman Neal about supporting impeachment, but he is one of the so-called holdouts, last I checked, who kowtowed to the so-called Democratic Party leadership. All of this is quite remarkable given Trump’s crimes, at this juncture almost too many to mention. A moral compass? Their moral compass is in their egos and their pocketbooks.
An aside: I’m paying attention to experts, some of whom believe that as the negotiations now taking place regarding the Iran war go on, Israel will launch another attack against Iran. I think this is quite plausible and Trump may be out, or too far out, of the reality loop at that point?
One point that gets ignored when we condemn Trump for launching a war of aggression against Iran, resulting in the deaths of US service men and women, as well as thousands of Iranian and Lebanese civilians: thousands of Iranian soldiers and militia volunteers have died defending their country against a genocidal aggressor. Their untimely deaths only occurred because Trump, the neo-cons of both political parties and Israel chose to attack their country. If there are any heroes who we should honor if only in our silent prayers, they are those who perished defending what they loved - their homes, homeland and civilization. There are things worth fighting for. Using our precious young men and women to advance a war of choice to ‘destroy a civilization’ is treason beyond imagination.
As you know doubt know, Senator Sanders recently proposed a bill to cut off funding to Israel. Congress returns next week and that bill will be coming up for a vote very soon. I hope we flood Congress with messages in support of the bill.
I think it's time for America to use some of it's natural inherited resources,,,," the Mob ," I remember working in San Francisco and my boss's daughter had been accosted by some Street hoods ,, so he gave a quick call to some of his friends in Chicago and soon the hoods were in his office the next day begging for mercy.. years early I had a roommate in college at the University of Illinois and he was more interested in running his street gang on the south side of Chicago,, he never cracked a book ,, so years later I got my car towed for parking in the wrong space in Chicago and happen to mention his name to a police officer asking where my car had been towed and 30 minutes later my car was in my hotel parking garage, keys at the hotel front desk , no questions asked.
Can you imagine being a terrorist and having " the Mob" after you ? Is it legal ? is it nice ? A forest ranger friend of mine would called it , fighting a fire with a fire , not to bad of an idea sometimes don't you think ?,,,, good luck America have a great day my friends
Jessica Denson asked us to imagine all the different groups making a singular demand for impeachment of Trump now. Even if it were to make Congress impeach and remove Trump now it would do nothing to fix the problem that led to Trump.
The big money legislators that did not put their foot down and meet their obligation to prevent Trump would still be doing the same old things they have been doing for decades that led to Trump.
Now imagine that all those groups also organizing citizens to meet our obligation to put our foot down and make another singular demand for small donor candidates and enforcing that demand with our votes in 2026.
Then in a few election cycles we could have a Congress that would meet their obligations to put their foot down because they would be working for us instead of the big money interests.
The blood is on our hands because we keep voting for the big money politicians.
Tech companies get away with A LOT! Section 230 needs reform, but should it go away? If the host/tech companies are forced to be liable, would they then restrict content and free speech? I guess I could just be regurgitating Taylor Lorenz, but she makes some good points too
I think it's time to have a symposium on how to impeach Wall Street. Have you ever noticed the recent up and down roller coaster rides in the stock market ? The more the market goes up either up or down the more bucks the banks, hedge funds and private capital make , wouldn't you love to have a business the more people you shuffle in and out the door the more doe ray me you make . You Don't have to have your customers buy anything real , don't provide a real useful service, just have them slip in and out of your revolving not so transparent glass door and collect your bucks and call it a "Service ".and don't worry if they lose call yourself a fiduciary and regardless collect your 2% or 5% and if they make something collect enen more .$$$.
I bet if you had the right A I program you could sit back make a million in a minute just like they do and don't you love merging,, put two nothings together and skim the profits off the top and call it investing ...Ok America let's have that symposium, I bet you won't get fooled by those quick get rich tick tock video games anymore where 98% are losers and maybe before on the next roller coaster ride think long term compound interest and maybe invest in some small town American company building a great new product built in America..
Thought this finding was very interesting on the impact of digital classrooms.
Sweden just hit the undo button on 15 years of digital classrooms, returning to traditional teaching methods with printed books, pencils, and paper.
Back in 2009, Sweden was celebrated as a pioneer of modern education, replacing printed textbooks with laptops and tablets in classrooms nationwide. It seemed like the future. But according to international reading assessments including the PIRLS study, Swedish students' reading comprehension scores dropped significantly between 2016 and 2021. Teachers reported shorter attention spans, more distraction, and weaker handwriting. The experiment that was supposed to prepare kids for the future was quietly failing them.
So Sweden made a bold move. According to AP News, Sweden committed €104 million to bring printed books back into every classroom, with the goal of ensuring every student has a physical textbook for every subject. Students are once again writing by hand with pencils and paper, and the government is pushing to make schools cellphone-free nationwide. Students are once again writing by hand with pencils and paper, and the government is pushing to make schools cellphone-free nationwide.
I have a question on the impeachment process
If the votes required in the House of Representatives is 218 , we would need 4 of those to be Republican , and 67 in the Senate to convict. Is filing the articles of impeachment in face of the odds the point ?
Wow! Mexico improving their healthcare system! What a great leader they have! On another note, I recently heard a song Fast Cars by the Buzzcocks which mentioned Ralph Nader.
Why aren't there more songs with Nader?
Rodney king " can we all just get along "
Impeach and arrest got treason. He needs to go to jail and never be interviewed again.
I watched the entire impeachment program - it was great!
One person I would like to get a hold of is Oliver Hall, having read his article in the Seattle Law Review "Death by a 1000 Signatures" ....
As there seems to be rather general agreement that both the D/Rs in this "2 Party system" are complicit in creating and perpetuating the mess we are in - it seems to me past time to "throw the bums out", all of them ...
We need more choices at the polls - but both parties, in their control of State Legislatures, have also "colluded" in doing their best to keep 3rd Party/Independent candidates off ballots so no one can challenge them at the polls ....
I do wish Ralph would have Mr. Hall on his show to talk about this ....
I am tired of "bending the knee" to the duopoly ....
From Australia, I've been following the podcast for a long time and recently have become a subscriber.
From this distance we are looking with increasing concern at your mid-terms and it seems there is no doubt that the current regime will be gearing up to disrupt the democratic process. My question is what is being done by anyone - the Democrats, the Independents, the States, the media - to anticipate and thwart that potential disruption?
Re the case against Meta, et.al. with the large jury awards, which no doubt will continue to mount - reminds me of the issue of Monsanto with glyphosate - multiple multi-million $$$ jury awards connecting it to non-hodgkins lymphoma - with more on the way - so that now, in the current Farm Bill, there is a provision that forbids any more such suits.
Considering that these Big Tech companies, I would posit, have a hell of a lot more sway on our Congress critters than Big Ag, don't be surprised if there is a provision tucked away in one of those Omnibus or "must pass" bills that forbids any more such suits against Big tech ...
Be on the look-out ...
Thank you for your part in the impeachment symposium. We should all be after our Congressmen and Senators holding them accountable for this war and their failure to oppose it. In my district, Himes, Blumenthal and Murphy have said some good things but I don't see them being vocal enough.
On the illegal and immoral Iran war, I'm watching a lot of Youtube discussions with some of your former guests such as Col. Wilkinson, Amb. Freeman, Scott Ritter, Larry Johnson and others like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzaMmOeTAVo Interviews by "Dialogue Works", General Danny Davis, Napolitano and others are informative.
Chris Hedges posted this interview with British diplomat Alaistair Crooke yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RKEjfIDEys It's clear that Israel is a psycho fascist state that will drag the US into endless wars, it looks like Turkey will be the next target.
Daily digest: 2026-04-12
No1
Apr 12
1. Critical Alerts
US-Iran talks collapse after 21-hour marathon in Islamabad. Vance left with a "final and best offer" that Iran shows no sign of accepting. Iran refused to commit to zero enrichment; US refused to budge on Hormuz control, nuclear disarmament, or a Lebanon ceasefire. Iran's Fars News says no plans for further talks. Pakistan's FM says negotiations "are not over" and diplomatic efforts continue. Confidence: HIGH — confirmed across Kobeissi, Zerohedge, Drop Site, DD Geopolitics, Iranian state media, and White House sources. Ceasefire expires April 22.
Iran still controls Strait of Hormuz; US mine-clearing is more PR than progress. Iran cannot locate all the mines it deployed per NYT/Kobeissi. US sent two destroyers (DDG-121, DDG-112) into the strait, but Iran denies they crossed and claims they turned back after a 15-minute warning per DD Geopolitics. Two Chinese-affiliated tankers transited with Iran's permission per IWN. Two oil tankers turned back per IRIB. Confidence: HIGH (5+ sources, dueling narratives but core fact — Hormuz remains contested — is undisputed).
China preparing MANPADs delivery to Iran per CNN citing three US intelligence sources, reported by shanaka86. Likely FN-6 systems. Separately, at least five Iranian vessels departed China's Gaolan Port carrying sodium perchlorate (ballistic missile precursor). China denies supplying weapons. Confidence: MEDIUM — single primary source (CNN intel), but corroborated by shipping data and ISW analysis.
Pakistan deploys 13,000 troops and fighter jets to Saudi Arabia under a joint strategic defence agreement, with plans to scale to 50,000 per South Asia Index and First Squawk. Pakistan simultaneously repaying $3.5B to UAE and received a $5B credit line from Saudi Arabia/Qatar per DD Geopolitics. Confidence: HIGH (3+ sources).
Ireland fuel crisis escalating. ~500 of 1,200 fuel stations running dry per UNN. Army deployed to tow tractors, riot police in Galway, pepper spray used at oil refinery per Lord Bebo. Protests now in 5th day with farmers, truckers, and bikers united. France reportedly joining blockades per TheBritLad. Confidence: HIGH (extensive live coverage from multiple Irish accounts).
2. Core Themes
Islamabad: anatomy of a predictable failure
Both sides brought maximalist demands that are exact inverses of each other: zero enrichment vs. enrichment rights, open Hormuz vs. Iranian toll authority, proxy cessation vs. Lebanon ceasefire, uranium handover vs. war reparations per shanaka86
Iran's FM Araghchi blamed a Netanyahu phone call to Vance during talks for shifting focus from US-Iran to Israeli interests
Iran's Tasnim: "The ball is in the US's court; Iran not in hurry" and "no change in Hormuz as long as US refuses deal"
Vance framed failure as "bad news for Iran much more than the US" — Peter Schiff: "So starting a war in the Middle East turned out to be a big mistake. Well, it's not like anyone could have seen that coming"
Confidence: HIGH
https://substack.com/@no01/p-193951129
Haley Hinkle’s (Fairplay) presentation about the New Mexico jury’s award of $375 million against Meta for harming children’s mental health and safety was excellent. One of the cases she mentions hit home because a friend’s child met a similar fate about a practice described on the Radio Hour that can result in death. I don’t know if the fate of that child followed a similar and Internet-driven outcome, but the practice that resulted in both of the children’s deaths was very similar.
The Radio Hour’s discussion on the symposium on impeachment was equally impressive. By this point in Trump’s lawless presidency, recently augmented by a war of aggression, along with Israel against Iran, even the most diehard of Republicans knows that not only is the president a criminal on several accounts, but he’s obviously not all there, so to speak. Who threatens an entire nation with thousands of years of civilization and can be called normal? In keeping with Ralph Nader’s call to contact Congress, I wrote to Congressman Neal about supporting impeachment, but he is one of the so-called holdouts, last I checked, who kowtowed to the so-called Democratic Party leadership. All of this is quite remarkable given Trump’s crimes, at this juncture almost too many to mention. A moral compass? Their moral compass is in their egos and their pocketbooks.
An aside: I’m paying attention to experts, some of whom believe that as the negotiations now taking place regarding the Iran war go on, Israel will launch another attack against Iran. I think this is quite plausible and Trump may be out, or too far out, of the reality loop at that point?
One point that gets ignored when we condemn Trump for launching a war of aggression against Iran, resulting in the deaths of US service men and women, as well as thousands of Iranian and Lebanese civilians: thousands of Iranian soldiers and militia volunteers have died defending their country against a genocidal aggressor. Their untimely deaths only occurred because Trump, the neo-cons of both political parties and Israel chose to attack their country. If there are any heroes who we should honor if only in our silent prayers, they are those who perished defending what they loved - their homes, homeland and civilization. There are things worth fighting for. Using our precious young men and women to advance a war of choice to ‘destroy a civilization’ is treason beyond imagination.
As you know doubt know, Senator Sanders recently proposed a bill to cut off funding to Israel. Congress returns next week and that bill will be coming up for a vote very soon. I hope we flood Congress with messages in support of the bill.
Symposiums are nice but sometimes
I think it's time for America to use some of it's natural inherited resources,,,," the Mob ," I remember working in San Francisco and my boss's daughter had been accosted by some Street hoods ,, so he gave a quick call to some of his friends in Chicago and soon the hoods were in his office the next day begging for mercy.. years early I had a roommate in college at the University of Illinois and he was more interested in running his street gang on the south side of Chicago,, he never cracked a book ,, so years later I got my car towed for parking in the wrong space in Chicago and happen to mention his name to a police officer asking where my car had been towed and 30 minutes later my car was in my hotel parking garage, keys at the hotel front desk , no questions asked.
Can you imagine being a terrorist and having " the Mob" after you ? Is it legal ? is it nice ? A forest ranger friend of mine would called it , fighting a fire with a fire , not to bad of an idea sometimes don't you think ?,,,, good luck America have a great day my friends
I wish we could all just quote Rodney King and everything would be better
It's criminal enterprise holding our government hostage that's very true . So all can think about is this from JFK
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” John F. Kennedy
That and smothering him with the White House drapes .
Why are you not calling out institutions such as Heritage Fdn. and AIPAC for subornment, subversion, and potentially treasonous behavior?
Jessica Denson asked us to imagine all the different groups making a singular demand for impeachment of Trump now. Even if it were to make Congress impeach and remove Trump now it would do nothing to fix the problem that led to Trump.
The big money legislators that did not put their foot down and meet their obligation to prevent Trump would still be doing the same old things they have been doing for decades that led to Trump.
Now imagine that all those groups also organizing citizens to meet our obligation to put our foot down and make another singular demand for small donor candidates and enforcing that demand with our votes in 2026.
Then in a few election cycles we could have a Congress that would meet their obligations to put their foot down because they would be working for us instead of the big money interests.
The blood is on our hands because we keep voting for the big money politicians.
Tech companies get away with A LOT! Section 230 needs reform, but should it go away? If the host/tech companies are forced to be liable, would they then restrict content and free speech? I guess I could just be regurgitating Taylor Lorenz, but she makes some good points too
I think it's time to have a symposium on how to impeach Wall Street. Have you ever noticed the recent up and down roller coaster rides in the stock market ? The more the market goes up either up or down the more bucks the banks, hedge funds and private capital make , wouldn't you love to have a business the more people you shuffle in and out the door the more doe ray me you make . You Don't have to have your customers buy anything real , don't provide a real useful service, just have them slip in and out of your revolving not so transparent glass door and collect your bucks and call it a "Service ".and don't worry if they lose call yourself a fiduciary and regardless collect your 2% or 5% and if they make something collect enen more .$$$.
I bet if you had the right A I program you could sit back make a million in a minute just like they do and don't you love merging,, put two nothings together and skim the profits off the top and call it investing ...Ok America let's have that symposium, I bet you won't get fooled by those quick get rich tick tock video games anymore where 98% are losers and maybe before on the next roller coaster ride think long term compound interest and maybe invest in some small town American company building a great new product built in America..
Good luck America have a great day my friends