We take a break from the election hype to address the down ballot matters of import to us all. We review kitchen table issues like preferences of breakfast cereal, snacks, and meal of choice. We also hear from experts on the topic—children.

A non-listener correctly answers John’s last trivia question and John offers another.

We share another Dispatch from America. John shares his republican whack-job and Tim praises a hero at the University of Wisconsin for his quick action.

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We begin with corrections and respond to a listener comment on the difference between losing and conceding in life and elections.

We then share news of interest to us in the past week and get each other’s fresh takes. Stories involve Kamala Harris, the Pope, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos as well as wars and culture wars.

We share a Dispatch from America.

Jerry Seinfeld is our whack-job for backtracking on his free speech stance and now thinking comedians should docilely go where society herds them.

John’s hero left the Washington Post in protest.

Referred to:

US public schools burned up nearly $3.2bn fending off rightwing culture attacks – report | US news | The Guardian

Opinion | On political endorsement - The Washington Post

The Washington Post Bends the Knee to Trump

Vatican debate over women as deacons hits a big obstacle: Pope Francis - The Washington Post

Exclusive | Elon Musk's Secret Conversations With Vladimir Putin, a WSJ Investigation - WSJ

Washington Post editor at large quits after paper declines to endorse presidential candidate | Fox News

Why Does the WHO Exclude Taiwan? | Council on Foreign Relations

A Civil War: Army vs. Navy A Year Inside College Football's Purest Rivalry by Feinstein, John

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This is a brief clip from our podcast episode View from the other side where I share why I have hope for America after this election or any election.

As an intellectual exercise, we each offer our case to vote for the presidential candidate most opposed to our views.

We talk about what gives us hope for America, regardless of the election outcome.

A listener answers John’s trivia question and John offers another.

Tim’s whack-job is a bad sport about sports and John praises foster parents as his heroes of the week.

Referred to in this podcast:

Wisconsin Sends Embarrassing Tweet After Beating Northwestern | OutKick

Love Actually starring Hugh Grant

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We address skepticism about institutions ranging from the betting markets to FEMA.

John worries that a case is being built to undermine the election results.

We briefly review the history of the death penalty. We address its costs, discuss how it may impact victims’ families, and muse on whether a state should sanction the taking of citizens’ lives.

We answer last week’s sporting trivia question and John offers another.

John calls out Marco Rubio for questioning labor statistics.

Tim’s heroes are a dog who helped save a life and a deputy who took the time to be curious.

Plus, a word from our sponsor.

Related to this podcast

The Jobs Numbers Don’t Lie, But Politicians Do - Bloomberg

Dog leads deputy to injured owner near WA cabin, cops say | Tacoma News Tribune

Donate to Hurricane Helene Relief | American Red Cross

Democrats Perplexed Why Candidate Nobody Ever Voted For Is Slipping In The Polls | Babylon Bee

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We would love to hear from you. Send comments, suggestions, show ideas, guest pitches, or trivia answers to ideasfirst@substack.com

If people from the 2024 campaign spoke coherently and substantively, would it matter.

We discuss our impressions of the candidates, try to deconvolute a quote from Tim Walz, and review J.D. Vance’s failure in a litmus test.

We look back fondly to debates moderated by single individuals and remark on the media trying to do “fact checking.”

We remember Pete Rose and mull over whether union endorsements mean what they used to.

We call out enablers who look the other way while evil happens and heroes who go out of their way to help. Plus, our new sponsor does crypto in a new way.

Referred to in this podcast:

Study: Watching Fox News makes you stupid

Charlie Hustle: the rise and fall of Pete Rose, and the last glory days of baseball by O'Brien, Keith

John McCain and Sarah Palin Do QVC - SNL

Donate to Hurricane Helene Relief | American Red Cross

Our first guest, Ben Siders provides insights into what machine intelligence is. We wonder how to use it effectively and ponder what it may be doing to us. We consider related issues of copyright and liability.

We consider lawfare in the cases of Eric Adams and Donald Trump.

We discuss Notre Dame football and Ben uses his computer model to predict the game.

John offers a trivia question.

We hear about a new game from our sponsor. Ben shares an everyday hero, and John calls out Melania Trump.

Referred to in this podcast:

UPS driver helps save a woman’s life, now visits her weekly - The Washington Post

Melania Trump, in rare interview, blames others for ‘toxic atmosphere’

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We explore the appeal of tariffs which are a featured part of the Trump campaign and element of Biden administration policies, using the Chicken Tax as a case study. We review cases where tariffs might be helpful, and the danger when government tries to influence prices with tariffs and subsidies. John gives a history lesson on The Economist.

A listener chimes in to answer our trivia question and John offers another for next week.

We hear a poem from our sponsor, call out the value of getting the basics right, and applaud a politician for direct, decisive action.

Related to this podcast:

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu saves choking man in lobster roll eating competition - ABC News

Chicken Tax: What it is and how it got the name

Biden Administration Proposes Ban on Chinese Software in Vehicles - The New York Times

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