• Hiatus
    Jan 31 2023

    The good news: I haven't died.

    The bad news: the podcast is going into a yearlong coma.

    The okay news: I'm starting a new podcast in the near future.

    Listen to learn more!

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    17 mins
  • Check Valve - Rail Strike (Part 2)
    Dec 21 2022

    In today's episode, we wrap up our discussion of the threatened rail strike in the United States. How did Congress and the Biden Administration respond, and why? Then we look at how the Relief Valve could have been used to avert this crisis in a more favorable way for the rail workers.

    Sources:
    https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b
    https://newrepublic.com/post/169262/musk-suspends-kanye-west-twitter-again-this-time-nazi
    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-reaches-deal-vote-avert-rail-strike-rcna59600
    https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/117-2022/h490
    https://news.yahoo.com/house-votes-impose-union-contract-182135676.html
    https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/117-2022/h491
    https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/12/12/chamber-of-commerce-brags-about-blocking-sick-days-for-railroad-workers/
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_Labor_Act#Constitutionality

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    52 mins
  • Check Valve - Rail Strike (Part 1)
    Dec 7 2022

    In today's episode I discuss the (potentially cancelled) rail strike. Who were the workers that threatened to strike, and why were they doing so? What did the contract Congress forced on them grant, and what did it leave out?

    Sources:
    https://www.aar.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AAR-Rail-Shutdown-Report-September-2022.pdf
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/30/us-rail-strike-congress-house-senate-union-sick-leave
    https://www.statista.com/statistics/553288/ridership-north-america-amtrak/
    https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/09/two-largest-freight-rail-unions-still-holding-out/
    https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/01/rail-unions-warn-of-election-consequences-with-labor-deal-in-senate-.html

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    39 mins
  • New Zealand, New Me
    Nov 30 2022

    In today's episode I discuss my recent trip to New Zealand and the realizations about the Relief Valve that accompanied it. Spoiler alert: we have work to do.

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    43 mins
  • Student Loan Debt
    Nov 1 2022

    In today's episode, I first look at the injunction placed against Biden's student debt cancellation by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. Why was it put in place? Will it stand up to Supreme Court Scrutiny?

    Then I turn my attention to the greater problem of student loan debt in our country, and how we can reform our bankruptcy code to ensure that future students take on less debt in the future; an economic reform in keeping with the tenets of the Relief Valve.

    Sources:
    https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/student-debt-relief-legal-limbo-advocates-urge-people/story?id=92015239

    https://thehill.com/homenews/3702337-political-legal-battle-heats-up-over-student-loan-forgiveness/

    https://www.consumerfinancemonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/10/8th-Circuit-injunction-order.pdf

    https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/state-attorneys-general-sue-to-halt-9547242/

    https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/ARAG/2022/09/29/file_attachments/2283559/09.29.22%20Complaint%20-%20Neb.%20v.%20Biden%20Student%20Loan.pdf

    https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/busting-myths-about-bankruptcy-and-private-student-loans/#:~:text=For%20too%20long%2C%20a%20myth,to%20federal%20student%20loan%20borrowers.

    https://www.americanbar.org/groups/business_law/safeborrowing/student/bankruptcy/

    https://www.law.com/2022/05/10/private-student-loan-debt-and-the-exception-to-discharge-as-viewed-through-the-eyes-of-the-circuit-courts/?slreturn=20220926183034

    https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/523#a

    https://www.insider.com/cost-of-college-countries-around-the-world-2018-6#united-states-8202-28

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    59 mins
  • Check Valve - OU Sucks
    Oct 11 2022

    In today's episode I take advantage of my media platform to brag about how great the Texas Longhorns are, all while pretending to still talk about politics. Sooners beware.

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    19 mins
  • Economic Reform - Student Debt Cancellation
    Oct 4 2022

    In today's episode, I discuss the legality and viability of President Biden's $10,000 student loan debt cancellation. Does this move constitute strong economic reform under the Relief Valve? Listen to find out!

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    54 mins
  • The Forward Party
    Sep 13 2022

    In today's episode, we take a deep look into the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the Forward Party and their platform. Is this a legitimate third party that can break-up our American political duopoly? Or are they doomed to simply play the part of spoiler to the Democrats?

    Sources:
    https://www.forwardparty.com/merger_splash?splash=1
    Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy, by Andrew Yang

    My new YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYIhM8VLEBPGlzbbkExJh8g

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    1 hr and 8 mins