deGRIFTify

012 - Ukraine, past and present

Returning to the subject of the war in Ukraine. Thomas gives an overview of modern Ukrainian history and contextualizes the conflict in its context. We tackle several overarching narrative grifts that are pervasive in contemporary coverage of the crisis.
As always, thank you for listening. Send your questions, comments, and feedback to deGRIFTify@gmail.com
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An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unfamiliar subjects.
"The cold war of the 21st century isn't fought with weapons, and it isn't waged between countries; it's with information, between people. Whether you know it or not, you're already a belligerent! Learn how to cut to the core of the issues, sift through the nonsense, and see what each side's true goals are. And if you think we're wrong, tell us why. We'll tell you why we aren't (unless we are)." - T & J
[licensing]https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ 
Intro, edits in volume onlySkimel - Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords.ogghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg 
Outro, edits in volume onlyClaude Reid - Acoustic Jazz Quartet no1 (métronome à 100 ) accompagnement.flachttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acoustic_Jazz_Quartet_no1_(m%C3%A9tronome_%C3%A0_100_)_accompagnement.flac 
Transitional sound effects, heavily distortedRobin Huw Bowen - Y Fwyalchen, from the 2015 album Iaith Enaidhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Y_Fwyalchen_-_Robin_Huw_Bowen.ogg
 

011 - "Nepo-reps," no-tax-increase pledges, weakness, and the complexity ratchet, Thomas and Joel's top five Congressional grifts pt. 3

Final episode of our congressional grift cycle. Send us stuff at deGRIFTify@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!
Wilson-Hayes matrixhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1z7nwk3NzVjai-hQb2k2KiyLLsjGyH0y9/view?usp=sharing
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An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unfamiliar subjects.
[licensing]https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Intro, edits in volume onlySkimel - Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords.ogghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg
Outro, edits in volume onlyClaude Reid - Acoustic Jazz Quartet no1 (métronome à 100 ) accompagnement.flachttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acoustic_Jazz_Quartet_no1_(m%C3%A9tronome_%C3%A0_100_)_accompagnement.flac
Transitional sound effects, heavily distortedRobin Huw Bowen - Y Fwyalchen, from the 2015 album Iaith Enaidhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Y_Fwyalchen_-_Robin_Huw_Bowen.ogg
 

010 - Term limits, auto-filibuster, PAYGO, and insider trading, Thomas and Joel's top five Congressional grifts pt. 2

Working independently, we each came up with five major problems related to the Congressional branch of the government. In this episode we discuss "Gerrymandering," what it is, how it affects you, and to a very limited extent what sort of things might be done about it.
Now soliciting feedback, comments, and requests at deGRIFTify@gmail.com. If there's something you'd like us to cover then ask, and we'll look into it.
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An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unfamiliar subjects.
[cites]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_Enforcement_Act_of_1990
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobs_and_Growth_Tax_Relief_Reconciliation_Act_of_2003
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statutory_Pay-As-You-Go_Act_of_2010
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_United_States_debt-ceiling_crisis#Agreement
[licensing]https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Intro, edits in volume onlySkimel - Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords.ogghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg
Outro, edits in volume onlyClaude Reid - Acoustic Jazz Quartet no1 (métronome à 100 ) accompagnement.flachttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acoustic_Jazz_Quartet_no1_(m%C3%A9tronome_%C3%A0_100_)_accompagnement.flac
Transitional sound effects, heavily distortedRobin Huw Bowen - Y Fwyalchen, from the 2015 album Iaith Enaidhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Y_Fwyalchen_-_Robin_Huw_Bowen.ogg
 

009 - Gerrymandering (& class conflict), Thomas and Joel's top five Congressional grifts pt. 1

Working independently, we each came up with five major problems related to the Congressional branch of the government. In this episode we discuss "Gerrymandering," what it is, how it affects you, and to a very limited extent what sort of things might be done about it.
Thomas & Joel's top 5:
I. Gerrymandering
II. Term limits, "auto-filibuster"
III. Insider trading, PAYGO
IV. "Nepo-reps," no-tax-increase pledges
V. Weakness, tax complexity ratchet
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An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unfamiliar subjects.
[licensing]https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Intro, edits in volume onlySkimel - Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords.ogghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg
Outro, edits in volume onlyClaude Reid - Acoustic Jazz Quartet no1 (métronome à 100 ) accompagnement.flachttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acoustic_Jazz_Quartet_no1_(m%C3%A9tronome_%C3%A0_100_)_accompagnement.flac
Transitional sound effects, heavily distortedRobin Huw Bowen - Y Fwyalchen, from the 2015 album Iaith Enaidhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Y_Fwyalchen_-_Robin_Huw_Bowen.ogg
 

008 - H.R.1 (the BBB) and Its Future

The One Big, Beautiful Bill and consequences will be a disaster for (etc.) Recorded 05-22.
Catching up on some editing; sorry for the delay.
 
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An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unfamiliar subjects.
[licensing]https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Intro, edits in volume onlySkimel - Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords.ogghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg
Outro, edits in volume onlyClaude Reid - Acoustic Jazz Quartet no1 (métronome à 100 ) accompagnement.flachttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acoustic_Jazz_Quartet_no1_(m%C3%A9tronome_%C3%A0_100_)_accompagnement.flac
Transitional sound effects, heavily distortedRobin Huw Bowen - Y Fwyalchen, from the 2015 album Iaith Enaidhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Y_Fwyalchen_-_Robin_Huw_Bowen.ogg
 
 

007 - Egypt, Israel, and Foreign Aid (ft. tariff update)

With an initial digression into the latest twist in our collective tariff troubles. 
We get numerous dates wrong in this episode, though usually only slightly. Sorry.
USA foreign aid data tablehttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uBdYn-IWa_WYU-U_zIZmHW3BRRp0u1Xi/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115775887288997073359&rtpof=true&sd=true (populated from https://foreignassistance.gov/data)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Crisis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt%E2%80%93Israel_peace_treaty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzhak_Rabin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Intifada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIPAC
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An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unfamiliar subjects.
[licensing]https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Intro, edits in volume onlySkimel - Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords.ogghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg
Outro, edits in volume onlyClaude Reid - Acoustic Jazz Quartet no1 (métronome à 100 ) accompagnement.flachttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acoustic_Jazz_Quartet_no1_(m%C3%A9tronome_%C3%A0_100_)_accompagnement.flac
Transitional sound effects, heavily distortedRobin Huw Bowen - Y Fwyalchen, from the 2015 album Iaith Enaidhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Y_Fwyalchen_-_Robin_Huw_Bowen.ogg
 

006 - A recent IndoPak happening, recorded 05/07

TL;DR nothing ever happens unless there's mass mobilization.
 
An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unfamiliar subjects.
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"The cold war of the 21st century isn't fought with weapons, and it isn't waged between countries; it's with information, between people. Whether you know it or not, you're already a belligerent! Learn how to cut to the core of the issues, sift through the nonsense, and see what each side's true goals are. And if you think we're wrong, tell us why. We'll tell you why we aren't (unless we are)." - T & J
 
[licensing]https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Intro, edits in volume onlySkimel - Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords.ogghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg
Outro, edits in volume onlyClaude Reid - Acoustic Jazz Quartet no1 (métronome à 100 ) accompagnement.flachttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acoustic_Jazz_Quartet_no1_(m%C3%A9tronome_%C3%A0_100_)_accompagnement.flac
 

005 - Things gettin' iffy: economic projections for May, recorded 4/28

What we're expecting, what's coming down the pipe.
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An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unfamiliar subjects.
"The cold war of the 21st century isn't fought with weapons, and it isn't waged between countries; it's with information, between people. Whether you know it or not, you're already a belligerent! Learn how to cut to the core of the issues, sift through the nonsense, and see what each side's true goals are. And if you think we're wrong, tell us why. We'll tell you why we aren't (unless we are)." - T & J
 
[licensing]https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Intro, edits in volume onlySkimel - Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords.ogghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg
Outro, edits in volume onlyClaude Reid - Acoustic Jazz Quartet no1 (métronome à 100 ) accompagnement.flachttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acoustic_Jazz_Quartet_no1_(m%C3%A9tronome_%C3%A0_100_)_accompagnement.flac

004 - DOGE, separation of powers, and Gen Z [unscripted]

A DOGE episode, recorded April 10th. 
Though no episode of deGRIFTify can really be called scripted, every week Thomas and Joel record a conversation intended to travel to unexpected places. Sometimes these conversations become episodes. The episodes tagged as [unscripted] are the result of this process. We hope that you will enjoy this occasional break from the ordinary pace and structure of your podcast listening, but if you find it not to your liking, then by all means please skip ahead. As always, thank you for listening.
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An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unfamiliar subjects.
"The cold war of the 21st century isn't fought with weapons, and it isn't waged between countries; it's with information, between people. Whether you know it or not, you're already a belligerent! Learn how to cut to the core of the issues, sift through the nonsense, and see what each side's true goals are. And if you think we're wrong, tell us why. We'll tell you why we aren't (unless we are)." - T & J
 
 
[licensing]https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Intro, edits in volume onlySkimel - Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords.ogghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg
Outro, edits in volume onlyClaude Reid - Acoustic Jazz Quartet no1 (métronome à 100 ) accompagnement.flachttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acoustic_Jazz_Quartet_no1_(m%C3%A9tronome_%C3%A0_100_)_accompagnement.flac

003 - Business loans and campaign finance reform [unscripted]

Two seemingly unrelated subjects, potentially joined by the question "How's it different when you're rich?"
Though no episode of deGRIFTify can really be called scripted, every week Thomas and Joel record a conversation intended to travel to unexpected places. Sometimes these conversations become episodes. The episodes tagged as [unscripted] are the result of this process. We hope that you will enjoy this occasional break from the ordinary pace and structure of your podcast listening, but if you find it not to your liking, then by all means please skip ahead. As always, thank you for listening.
-
An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unfamiliar subjects.
"The cold war of the 21st century isn't fought with weapons, and it isn't waged between countries; it's with information, between people. Whether you know it or not, you're already a belligerent! Learn how to cut to the core of the issues, sift through the nonsense, and see what each side's true goals are. And if you think we're wrong, tell us why. We'll tell you why we aren't (unless we are)." - T & J
 
 
[licensing]https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Intro, edits in volume onlySkimel - Double tracked distorted electric guitar playing chords.ogghttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_tracked_distorted_electric_guitar_playing_chords.ogg
Outro, edits in volume onlyClaude Reid - Acoustic Jazz Quartet no1 (métronome à 100 ) accompagnement.flachttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acoustic_Jazz_Quartet_no1_(m%C3%A9tronome_%C3%A0_100_)_accompagnement.flac