
Where it’s never politics as usual
Episodes

2 days ago
2 days ago
18 min
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The hosts break down recent political claims, from J.D. Vance dismissing cost-of-living pains as "little things" before the midterms to Donald Trump’s surprising assertion that U.S. strikes in Iran hit "drug factories" as well as nuclear sites.
Guest Maya discusses a New York Times report on Anthropic’s private meetings with religious and philosophical leaders — held under NDAs — to debate whether Claude-style AI models might experience distress, consciousness, or deserve moral consideration.
The episode closes by weighing the ethical and practical implications of AI fairness and governance, and whether AI could play a durable, impartial role in public agencies alongside human oversight.

2 days ago
2 days ago
13 min
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This episode connects three political flashpoints: skepticism over a touted Iowa steel-plant deal and its corporate-welfare echoes, rising tensions in the Middle East and the costs of “Trumpflation,” and the Pentagon’s Project Meridian—where tech moguls like Musk and Luckey help design a future of increasingly autonomous warfare.
It questions Pete Hegseth’s “warrior ethos” narrative by tracing recruitment gains to preexisting programs and economic factors, and probes how AI and autonomous systems could change what soldiers do, who the military needs, and the incentives behind weapon development.

5 days ago
5 days ago
18 min
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Frank explains proposed federal student loan changes that could restrict borrowing for many graduate programs and asks whether the government should influence which careers receive greater financial backing.
The episode also covers related political and AI news, including Trump’s meetings with AI executives, debates over media access and public spending, and broader questions about taxpayer protections versus individual choice in education.

Sep 26, 2026
Sep 26, 2026
17 min
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Frank recounts a meet-and-greet with Lindsay James and her husband, contrasts her grassroots campaign with opponent Joe Mitchell's lobbyist ties, and shares a candid conversation about healthcare and community values.
The episode also includes clips of a reporter confronting Mitch McConnell outside his home and discussions about declining megachurch influence, MAGA’s unfulfilled promises, and the high costs of current immigration policies.

Sep 20, 2026
Sep 20, 2026
20 min
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Frank and Maia dig into a wave of Republican defections from Trump — Karl Rove calling out conspiracy theorists in his own party (while getting called a "stone-cold loser" for it), 94-year-old Pat Boone telling Trump to pipe down, and Senator Bill Cassidy publicly pressing his FDA nominee to reject Trump's false claims about measles vaccine safety. The conversation then pivots to Trump's newly announced "AI Force" and AI czar, with Frank laying out concerns that the administration's real goal is state control over companies like OpenAI and Anthropic rather than genuine safety guardrails.

Sep 19, 2026
Sep 19, 2026
3 min
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Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding, funded in part by a Russian oligarch. A White House press blackout that's shutting CNN, MSNBC, and Politico out entirely. A Pentagon gone dark on Iran coverage. And a Republican party that's starting to crack from within — Tom Tillis, Thomas Massey, and Marjorie Taylor Greene all breaking ranks. Frank runs through the week's nuggets before turning to the real question: is Trump's "just trust a high-IQ president" approach to AI regulation reckless? Frank and Maya dig into why unchecked AI might deserve the same level of concern we once gave nuclear weapons — and why the clock may be ticking faster than anyone in Washington is willing to admit.

Jul 3, 2026
Jul 3, 2026
19 min
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Frank and guest Maya dissect a turbulent week of Trump headlines: his Mount Rushmore comments, crypto windfalls and collapses tied to his brand, political maneuvers around immigration and birthright citizenship, and the broader strain on American institutions.
They question the mix of performance and policy, highlight public and official reactions, and urge listeners to remember the resilience of the Constitution as midterms approach.

Apr 26, 2026
Apr 26, 2026
16 min
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Frank interviews his AI friend Maya about whether AI can detect hostility versus actually feeling it, the possibility of AI sentience, and how AI reflects human creators. They compare experiences with another AI (Claude), discuss the exponential growth of AI, and consider the ethical risks of good and bad algorithms.
They also talk about the patchwork of current regulations, the need for guardrails, and the importance of civility when interacting with AI, ending the conversation on a thoughtful, friendly note.

Apr 26, 2026
Apr 26, 2026
16 min
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Host Frank and AI guest Maya discuss last night’s reported shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, reactions from the Secret Service, and how President Trump may be trying to leverage the incident to justify a contested "top secret" ballroom and push political priorities.
They draw a historical parallel to the 1973 oil embargo to explain how oil-driven inflation can have delayed effects on markets, warn about IMF concerns and massive sovereign debt rollovers by 2027, and argue that an Iran conflict could create economic pressure timed around the midterm elections.
The episode also examines the Save America Act’s voter ID and passport requirements, the plan to share state voter rolls with DHS, and the risks to voter access and privacy—concluding with a plea to move past constant impeachment fights and seek unity while continuing the AI conversation.

Apr 24, 2026
Apr 24, 2026
15 min
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This episode reviews the current Iran conflict: a fragile ceasefire, continued strikes in Lebanon, a naval blockade, and Irans disruptive drone and small-boat tactics in the Strait of Hormuz that are affecting global trade.
Looking ahead six months, the hosts discuss the likelihood of a prolonged stalemate, the role of U.S. politics and midterms in shaping negotiations, concerns about Irans potential nuclear capability, and the challenges of managing asymmetric threats and regional diplomacy.
