Andrew and Jerry Save The World!: Recent Episodes
Andrew Langer and Jerrry Rogers
In a world gone mad, only rationality and common sense can save it! Join seasoned policy professionals and long-time radio hosts Andrew Langer and Jerry Rogers as they bring in-depth discussion and real solutions to the world's most-pressing problems. Andrew and Jerry have decades of experience in both politics and public policy--Jerry is the editor of several sites in the Real Clear family of websites, and Andrew is president of the Institute for Liberty. Every week, they'll take the issues that are ripped from the headlines, break them down, get advice from experts in the field, and give you their bottom line. If substance matters to you, as it does to them, then you'll want to tune in!
Apologies in advance for Andrew's bad audio.
President Biden brushes off a legitimate question from a reporter about the tens of millions of dollars paid by foreign governments to the Biden family, and Andrew and Jerry discuss the significance of this revelation. Then, we're two weeks shy of the first Republican presidential debate, and Andrew is unhappy with everyone. Andrew and Jerry examine the slate of GOP candidates for President, and talk about what they want in a nominee. Is it asking too much for a President or Presidential candidate to be a "deep thinker"? Was Joe Biden an accidental president, and what does this have to do with the lack of vetting of Barack Obama? Plus, Robbie Robertson from The Band passes, and Andrew and Jerry lament the fact that we're in an era in which more and more rock icons are destined to pass.
Just a day after Hunter Biden's longtime business associate, Devin Archer, gave explosive and incredibly illuminating testimony to Congress, America's attention was turned away from possible Biden family corruption to a new set of indictments against former President Trump--making the weaponization and politicization of the nation's justice system abundantly clear. Andrew and Jerry talk about the juxtaposition of the 2 events, the clear criticisms of the indictment, and how this all plays into the greater thread: last week's shenanigans in the Hunter Biden plea deal, the attempt to snooker the judge in the Hunter Biden case and the collapse of the plea deal, the indictment that came after of 2 minor Mar-a-Lago functionaries, the attempt to intimidate Devon Archer. The left wants Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee, they want to make the election about Donald Trump's indictments and January 6th, and not about Biden's record as President. How you can defend the President's right to speak freely without having to necessarily defend the President, generally, or President Trump, specifically.
Plus, Jerry asks Andrew about why he wears a kilt when he's on vacation, and Andrew tells the tale of dealing with United at Denver International Airport.
If Hollywood disappeared as a result of both the Writers' Guild and Screen Actors' Guild striking, would anyone really notice or care? Andrew and Jerry talk abut the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and what this could mean for Hollywood (and entertainment for years to come). Where and how might one be sympathetic? Why so many of us just don't care - or see that Hollywood is getting its just desserts. How does this tie into the attacks on the anti-trafficking film, The Sound of Freedom, or people finally having it "up to here" with under-performing professional sports teams? Jerry gives self-defense tips and Andrew has a professional announcement!
Another Independence Day is upon us, and Andrew and Jerry focus on the fundamentals. The 2022-2023 Supreme Court term came to a stunning end, and with that, the attacks on the High Court's legitimacy have started to approach a fever pitch. They discuss the cases in the latest term, and what the statistics really show regarding the court's ideology. What are the roots of the left's animosity towards the court? They go and look at the sweep of the court's 20th century history, but focus on two events that really shifted the left's anger: the 2000 Election and then-President Barack Obama's 2010 State of the Union. Has intimidation or pressure shaped the opinions of the court's justices?
Then, a particular focus on the most-recent decisions on affirmative action, religious freedom, student loans, and the North Carolina election map - so many wrong things are being said, and Andrew and Jerry work overtime to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Finally, it's Independence Day - Andrew and Jerry share their plans.
Andrew is back from his trip to Alaska, and boy did he miss a ton! Trump gets indicted, then arraigned, and he and Jerry agree that just about EVERYONE commenting on the Trump indictment is wrong - Never Trumpers, Pro-Trumpers, libertarians, progressives, conservatives, NOBODY seems to be calling balls and strikes. They break down the indictment, talk about what Trump's been accused of, and the various theories that have been posited regarding the law: the Presidential Records Act, the Espionage Act, the Crime/Fraud Exception to Attorney-Client Privilege. What all this means for the 2024 Presidential elections--and how a 2024 Trump administration would be tremendously different than the 2016 Trump administration.
The 2022 midterms are over (or are they?), and it looks like the GOP has taken the US House of Representatives. What does this mean for Republicans moving forward, and how can this position them for the 2024 Presidential cycle and beyond? Andrew and Jerry talk about what went wrong for Republicans (and what went right), what motivated voters at the polls. Plus, Donald Trump announced his 2024 presidential run. How does this factor into the calculus? Why does it look like Democrats and the leftist press are propping up Trump? Andrew and Jerry offer ideas as to how to minimize Trump's impact moving forward.
Then, Congress has picked up the Respect for Marriage Act, and there are a lot of myths floating around. Andrew and Jerry dispel those myths, talk about the dangers of the RMA, and what Congress really could do if it wanted to preserve gay marriage.
Finally, missiles hit Poland, and the world went a bit crazy earlier this week. Andrew walks through just what would have happened had these been Russian missiles, and Jerry talks about what the US needs to do to help Ukraine moving forward.
It was election night in the United States, and Andrew & Jerry did a rare LIVE appearance. Joined by David Safavian from CPAC (as well as ACU, the American Conservative Union), they watched the early returns start to come in and talked about the overall national mood. Was it going to be a tsunami, a red wave, or merely a trickle? They discuss the various Election Day SNAFUs, races to look out for, and should the GOP take control of Congress, what this means moving forward. What do the midterms mean for both parties going into 2024--will Biden be the Democrats' nominee? What will Donald Trump do, depending on the outcome? And Jerry is convinced that HE knows who the Democrats WILL nominate in 2024.
They also talked with David about the role CPAC plays in all this--and how CPAC and ACU are working to address conservatives' grassroots priorities.
It's the week before the midterms, and Democrats are desperate to try and stem the possibility of a Red Wave, let alone a Red Tsunami. And like unicorn hunters or those searching for bigfoot, Democrats are trying to deflect and distract by trying to point people in the direction of other mythical creatures, like conservative insurrectionists.
Andrew and Jerry talk about Joe Biden's unprecedented pre-midterm election speech at Union Station in DC. Why there? Why this week? Elon Musk takes control of Twitter, and all of a sudden the White House is being fact-checked. But isn't there a danger in social media doing the fact-checking, even if it's the progressives who are (finally) being fact checked? Finally, what's going to happen in the midterms and why? Is there going to be a great reckoning? A re-alignment? Sure, the economy is driving things, but is there an other issue that is bubbling under with the electorate?
After a few weeks of scheduling conflicts, Andrew and Jerry are back, and better than ever! They talk about this week's debate between Dr Oz and John Fetterman, and what Marvel villain Fetterman bears a striking resemblance to. But then they shift gears, and talk about both the concept of why Fetterman is unfit to serve as a senator, and the Democrats' slavish adherence to the surreality of the world.
Andrew demonstrates why the claim that both political parties are being dominated by the extremes is nothing more than a myth, and how political science academics have made mainstream conservative values appear to be extreme, in the face of progressive extremism. Jerry talks about the problem of voters choosing flash over substance, and both raise a stinging rebuke of actions of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan in the 2022 midterm elections.
Finally, Andrew and Jerry talk Halloween plans and entertainment. Jerry thinks he is done with Marvel, and they both decry the craziness of the DC universe. They talk about gender-bending in Live Theater, and Andrew talks about the Animaniacs.
It's the one-year anniversary of the Blue Origin flight into space, and with the release of William Shatner's book commemorating his space flight, Andrew and Jerry offer Andrew's conversation last year with Glen de Vries, one of Shatner's fellow passengers (and a friend of Andrew's from high school). Glen was a scientist, a tech entrepreneur, and a problem-solving philanthropist--and they talk about these endeavors. Glen's scientific research and pivoting towards entrepreneurship, his work solving problems like the global access to clean water, his long-time fascination with space (something Andrew and Glen share).
It's a wide-ranging conversation, and it took place just weeks after Glen's flight into space, but just before the untimely plane crash that took Glen's life.
Glen's passion for his work is inspiring, and you're going to love this wide-ranging conversation.
With scheduling conflicts abounding, Andrew and Jerry Save The World! presents this ENCORE edition of an interview we did with actor and comedian Jeremy Piven in 2018.
We talk about Jeremy's career - how he got started, his decision to switch from acting to stand-up comedy. His longtime friendship with John Cusack, whether there is a bright line to be drawn between PCU's James Andrews and Ari Gold from HBO's hit series, Entourage. They talk about the importance of comedy in society--and Jeremy pays Andrew a tremendous compliment!
It's a guestless AJSTW this week, since Andrew and Jerry have so much to talk about. Who are the radicals in today's world, and why are Andrew and Jerry saving them?
The DOJ is going full-bore against pro-life activists, while at the same time laying-up on politically-inconvenient prosecutions. A father defends his son and is initially charged with assault, but those charges are later dismissed. Then 30 FBI agents in SWAT gear show up to arrest him. Yet a week later, a transgender Army major and his wife are accused of trying to offer military secrets to the Russians. No SWAT team, no charge of espionage or treason, and they're released with ankle monitors.
At the same time, the DOJ refuses to prosecute people harassing Supreme Court justices with violating clear federal law.
They talk at length about the politicization of the law, how it has been weaponized against dissent--with the intent of chilling alternative viewpoints. They talk about the Obama Administration's usage of this, and how it has been refined for today's world--especially with the mid-term elections upon us.
But who can blame them in a world where the President is constantly inventing new realities for his biography? How does the left's obsession with gender and children play into this--and why is it that there are so many more "trans" kids in urban areas than in the rest of America. Also, a new survey is out regarding the relationship between politics and mental health... who is more satisfied with their mental health, conservatives or liberals? Republicans or Democrats?
Finally, they have a conversation about Saturday Night Live. Why was SNL in the early 80s so terrible? Is it true that the best cast is the one when you were an adolescent? What year(s) were best, and who was their favorite cast member?
Spiking and slow-walking aren't sports violations... they're how the media manipulates narratives, and Andrew and Jerry "throw the flag" on them. They're joined by Tim Graham, Executive Editor of NewsBusters, a project of the Media Research Center. They talk about the media's coverage of President Biden looking for a dead congresswoman in a White House crowd, how Karine Jean-Pierre is doing at her job (especially as compared to Jen Psaki), but also specifically how media narratives get molded. They talk about the media's disparate treatment of republicans versus democrats, liberals versus conservatives, and how different presidents got portrayed in the Press. How have things gotten worse? Are reporters biased? Lazy? Both?
And what kinds of biases are there? How are the many ways that narratives can get molded?
Oh, and after Tim leaves, Andrew and Jerry talk TV... Andrew has new show recommendations, Jerry thinks the Star Wars universe has jumped the Shark, and Andrew has decided he hates HBO's House of the Dragon.
Andrew and Jerry are back, together again in-studio in Washington, DC. Despite being beset by technical challenges, they cover the top issues of the day:
- Progressivism as a form of faith, and progressive's attacks on religion;
- The attack on objective realities--especially when it comes to gender. Vanity Fair's anti-women piece attempting to destroy girls' sports;
- Transportation and the environment, the issue of bicycle lanes, traffic, and using traffic/urban planning as an instrument of control;
- Joe Biden's interview on 60 Minutes, and the denial that inflation is a problem;
- The energy economy, the media "slow-walking" last week's rail strike, and the left's massive blind spot when it comes to the green energy revolution;
- Their take on the move by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott to transport illegal immigrants to Martha's Vineyard, the latest misinformation on the left, and the stunt by a TX local TX Democrat;
- They talk Marvel TV, movies, and Jerry gives Andrew restaurant recommendations for Arthur Avenue in the Bronx!
While originally planning on focusing exclusively on remembering and memorializing 9/11, Andrew and Jerry couldn't let the passing of Britain's Queen Elizabeth go by without some extensive discussion. How do you square the deaths of figures who have complicated histories--what's an appropriate reaction. Elizabeth reigned for seven decades, and Britain was transformed during that time (as was the rest of the world). The conversation ranges widely over sociological and anthropological changes, in which Andrew and Jerry touch on the transition from a needs-based society to a wants/demands-based one, how people have become more self-centered, and how the skewing of adoloesence upwards figures into all of this.
Then they talk about September 11th. Jerry was on his way to New York as the attacks happened and Andrew was in DC, 2 blocks from the White House. What does the date mean to them, and what did America's immediate coming together (only to fracture weeks later) auger for what's happening in America today.
The bombshell episode you won't want to miss. Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, USA (Ret.), now president of the London Center for Public Policy becomes AJSTW's first return guest! Who better than Tony Shaffer to break down the raid at Mar-A-Lago? Everything you need to know about the handling of classified information, a President's powers (and a former president's rights) to declassify, retain, and store information. They discuss how we got here, and why Trump is being targeted, the failures of the Trump administration to reign in the power of the combined law enforcement and national security states. Tony gets candid about the Trump administration, and singles out specific officials--including a Trump family member that he calls a "train wreck".
The FBI had access to the Hunter Biden laptop long before the 2020 election, but sat on it for nearly a year-we talk about why they say on it, why the Hunter Biden story was so vitally important, and what it meant for the long term.
They also talk 9/11, and how specific actions of the Clinton Administration gave rise to the failures in 2000 and 2001 to identify the threat from Al Quaeda. President Biden and his spokesperson, Karine Jean-Pierre continue demonizing his opposition, with KJP naming names, and the President makes some bizarre remarks that could be seen as racist.
Andrew and Jerry are back from vacation... but did they really relax? Can someone really "unplug" from the real world in 2022, and just what is "quiet quitting"? Andrew does a shout out to some old policy friends, and Producer Charlie joins for a few minutes.
Then, in the Ripped from the Headlines segement, Andrew and Jerry talk about President Biden's announcement regarding student loan forgiveness and what it really means from a policy standpoint. Which is the bigger question... the legality of the announcement, the lack of focus on the real problem with student loans, or how it makes the problems worse? They also relate this to the issue of medical debt (and other forms of debt).
Bound up in this is a debate over the future of the Republic - can it be saved, or has it already been lost, and just what this all means for the mid-term elections. What should Republicans be focusing on going into 2022 and 2024, and how should they strategize?
Finally, some fun talk about new shows - Jerry revisits his appraisal of whether the original Top Gun holds up, they talk about the Clint Eastwood comedy, "Every Which Way But Loose", and offer some thoughts on the new Game of Thrones series, "House of the Dragon".
Can one be a libertarian and a person of faith? Can one be a libertarian and a christian? Andrew and Jerry sit down with Dick Clark and Kerry Baldwin from the Libertarian Christian Institute to explore these questions and many more!
While at FreedomFest this year, Andrew had the opportunity to meet attendees from an organization he hadn't been aware of, the Libertarian Christian Institute. The issue of libertarianism and faith is one that Andrew and Jerry have discussed before, stemming in no small measure from a conversation Andrew had years ago with a group of objectivists who insisted that one COULDN'T be both a "libertarian" and a "christian".
Andrew and Jerry have a wide-ranging conversation with Kerry and Dick about these issues, their journeys, issues like libertarianism and life, and the state of the libertarian movement overall!
Andrew and Jerry are joined by economist Jim Carter, Director of the Center for American Prosperty at the America First Policy Institute. They talk not just about how the concept of a recession is being redefined, but just what that means for America's economic reality. What's going on with jobs and inflation, and how markedly different the Biden presidency is from the one that preceded it, from an economic perspective. Plus... Jim tells us who is favorite Star Trek captain was, Orban speaks at CPAC, and Andrew and Jerry talk at length about Disney's documentary about Industrial Light and Magic, and what we can learn, economically, from it!
The left seems hell-bent on a wholesale redefining of Americna society--what's a woman, what's a recession, what's history. Andrew and Jerry do a deep-dive, and wonder if any of this has to do with the 250th anniversary of American independence a mere 4 years off! They talk about primary results across the country and the Democrats pumping huge amounts of money into Trump supporters and election skeptics, a bit more about the self-fulfilling prophesies in Maryland politics, why politicians and pundits can't be wrong (or admit mistakes). What happened with the PACT act, why the Inflation Reduction Act will, in fact, make inflation worse, and what kind of a speaker will Kevin McCarthy be?
Between radio work and travel, Andrew and Jerry have a ton to catch up on! Tales of road rage... and what to do is someone is riding your bumper (and what NOT to do!). The President has Covid following his trip to the Middle East, and the media clearly isn't treating this in the same way they did Trump's turn with Covid. Plus, Joe Biden had a choice to make... and it's clear the left's Green Energy God is more important to the Democrats than America's global strength and our energy dominance. The January 6th Committee had another prime time hearing, and they outline why it's so important to paint Donald Trump as an insurrectionist. Finally, Maryland had a primary this week, and the most glaring result is the end of Governor Larry Hogan's political career. The problem with some Maryland Republicans, what went wrong for Kelly Schulz, and how Dan Cox can sway voters going into the general election.
Whether you call it the 4th of July or Independence Day, it is upon us this weekend, and Andrew & Jerry have much to celebrate. The Supreme Court decisions on abortion, guns, religious freedom, and the regulatory state... all are things to rejoice. They're joined by Matt Schlapp, Chairman of the American Conservative Union, for a wide-ranging and in-depth conversation about the right to life and the high court, the importance of transparency and accountability within the administrative state, and the political/media circus that is the J6 committee. They also talk about what set Trump apart as president, where Republicans need to go to be successful, and the real vulnerabilities in our nation's election laws!
Breaking news hits while Andrew and Jerry are on the air! While already discussing yesterday's decision on whether New York's carry permit rules violate the Second Amendment, the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Mississippi was released, overturning Roe v. Wade and Casey. They talk about what we know about the decision, and what this means for the court, as well as what the earlier NY State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen case means.
They have an in-depth discussion of this week's J6 hearings and engage in some thought experiments if the shoe was on the other foot - what if Trump's allegations were true, and what would this mean in the context of Nancy Pelosi's attempt to get the 25th Amendment invoked by President Pence.
They talk about gas prices, and how the proposed federal gas tax holiday could actually have the opposite affect for consumers.
Finally, is it weird for couples to go on "couple dates" with other couples? Andrew doesn't think so, but Jerry does. And the Baz Luhrmann's Elvis movie is being released - will Jerry (a massive Elvis fan) go see it? And Andrew advances a possible theory as to why the film is being panned.
If you're a student of comedy (and show business, generally), this is an episode you cannot miss. Andrew sat down with Jeff Abraham and Burt Kearns, the authors of "The Show Won't Go On" a comprehensive history of entertainers who literally died on stage. Jeff is a long-time entertainment publicist, having represented comedians like George Carlin and Andrew Dice Clay. Burt is a long-time TV producer and journalist, who worked on "A Current Affair" and was the author of the celebrated book, "Tabloid Baby".
Andrew listens as Jeff and Burt tell stories about those who died performing... like actor Dick Shawn, Harry "Parkyakarkus" Einstein (father of Albert Brooks and Bob "Super Dave Osborne" Einstein), and others. They have an in-depth discussion of the "art" of bullet catching--and how dangerous stunts can turn deadly.
But they also talk about Jeff and Burt's careers - Jeff tells a story about being yelled at by Paul Anka, Burt talks about trying to get Buddy Hackett for a courtroom TV show. They talk about their love of Jerry Lewis, Jeff's world-reknowned collection of comedy albums, and their shared love of New York City TV shows (each has their favorite host of the Channel 5 staple, Wonderama!).
The Democrats are bringing the January 6th hearings to prime time, professionally produced and in every respect a show trial out of Stalin's Russia or Mao's China. Andrew and Jerry break down the impropriety of what the Democrats are doing here--from how the "committee" is out of order to the dangers of a one-sided prosecution. They talk about Joe Biden's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, and how it isn't the messaging that's the problem, as the President claims, but what Americans see all around them. How can you fix the economy and keep us out of "stagflation"?
A man is caught attempting to assassinate a sitting Supreme Court justice and the President is silent. Worse, the evening after the would-be assassin is arrested, protestors are back at Justice Kavanaugh's home, in violation of federal law. Andrew and Jerry dive into WHY it's against the law to try and intimidate a justice--and why comedian Patton Oswalt's hot take was just so misguided.
They investigate a musical mystery having to do with Led Zeppelin and the Small Faces, and they wish "Big Jerry" the happiest of birthdays!
A major technical malfunction leaves AJSTW guestless this week--but that doesn't stop Andrew and Jerry from having an intense conversation about the gun debate that grips America. Why is the left obsessed with taking guns away from law abiding Americans, and why have they been obsessed with this for so long? They talk about the history of gun control in America, and what's changed sociologically. They also talk about the historic efforts to sidestep the Constitution - not just on the issue of guns, but on the issue of other rights as well. Plus, it's Pride Month, and not only is the left changing the definition of gender, we're now in a place where a California court has ruled that BEES are FISH!
An especially serious AJSTW this week as we are reeling from the events in Uvalde, Texas. Andrew and Jerry want to focus squarely on the problems of school shootings (and violence in society generally), and actually have two different approaches as to how to handle the problem. With each successive hot take being more awful than the one before it, all sorts of questions have to be asked... from how did THIS specific school shooting come to happen, to the more general issue of school safety, and then to the decline of society more generally. Andrew and Jerry talk about the issue of guns, of rights, and how this issue relates to the debate over abortion and the right to life. The role of parents is discussed, and how there are failures throughout the political class in all of this.
It's a conversation that not enough people are having--how Progressives (and Democrats) are creating problems (or making problems worse) and then offering up their government solutions to "solve" them (only to make matters worse). Andrew and Jerry are joined by Phil Kerpen from the Committee to Unleash Prosperty (and American Commitment) for an in-depth discussion of the major issues of the day... and how Americans are being misled on so many of them. Andrew and Jerry open up with a discussion of the Disinformation Governance Board and Nina Jankowicz' resignation. Then, with Phil, they talk energy policy (and answer the questions of why gas prices are so high... and why the administration is being disingenuous about why leases are going unutilized). They talk Covid and mental health and how this relates to the shooting in Buffalo last weekend. This leads into a discussion of replacement theory, how it stems from things that progressives have been repeating for years, and why it's just plain wrong. Working families, the use of the Defense Production Act to solve things like the Baby Formula Crisis... all of this is discussed with Phil.
Plus, Andrew has a recommendation for a TV show, and in advance of the release of Top Gun: Maverick, Andrew and Jerry debate whether the original Top Gun was a good film (and if it holds up today).
As if things in America weren't bad enough, we're now beset with a crisis in the supply of baby formula. It's a crisis that seems emblematic of everything that's wrong with the Biden Administration's approach to public policy.
Plus, things haven't improved since a draft Supreme Court opinion was leaked to the public last week... and the hot takes get even crazier. There's an amazing example of advocacy journalism in a bizarre Washington Post article on the tech industry and abortion, and the Washington Post goes even further with printing an op-ed from a George Washington University student calling for GW to be renamed.
Jen Psaki is at her most arrogant, Bill Maher learns something about abortion and abortion rights, Jerry and Andrew once again get into a discussion of the beatification of progressives who are occasionally correct on issues.
A draft Supreme Court opinion on abortion was leaked to the press earlier this week. Was this unprecedented or merely unusual? Andrew and Jerry are joined by Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network (and a former clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas) to talk about this earth-shattering story. They talk about the climate of the Supreme Court, why this leak shakes the court to its very foundations. Then they talk about the abortion issue itself--what would overturning Roe do (and what it wouldn't do), and why doxxing Supreme Court justices and protesting at their homes is so dangerous.
Jerry and Andrew both talk about their approaches to the issue of life--the philosophical approaches, as well as the science. They talk about the differences between America's laws and Europe's. Andrew talks about Supreme Court cases--and they have a discussion of "stare decisis" (the reliance on precedent) and the lines that get drawn between upholding and overturning prior cases. Jerry gets emotional (and rightly so) talking about the threats on Catholics, and the history of Bishop "Dagger John" Hughes.
And Andrew had Covid... he talks about getting it, and turning a corner.
Elon Musk buys Twitter, and Jerry is dubious that anything will change. Andrew, on the other hand, thinks he's seeing positive changes already. The deal to strip Disney of its special privileges has gone through--does this violate their First Amendment rights, or is this a good way of dealing with cronyism? There's a kerfuffle involving the New York Yankees... but was it the fault of the stadium's fans? And are the allegations of Yankee "sign stealing" something to get upset about? The Biden administration seems completely ill-equipped to handle the nation's immigration problem and can't accept culpability in the death of a National Guardsman. Will Trump run again in 2024--and who will be his Vice Presidental pick?
Plus, stories of past pugilism!
No guests this week on AJSTW - it's been far too long since Andrew and Jerry just sat town to chat with one another over the news of the day. First up is the federal district court decision on masks on public transportation - why the decision was the right one, and just what it means for not just the future of CDC power, but what it possibly means for federal regulatory power generally. They get into a discussion of deference and vagueness driven by legislative cowardace, and whether this judge was leaving breadcrumbs for the Supreme Court. And the reactions from the pro-masking community (and the medical authoritarians) has been over the top!
Then they open up a discussion of student loans, the cynical motivations behind the Biden Administration's decision to advance student loan forgiveness (and how this impacts working families), and just what this means for college and university tuitions. Plus, are Covid relief monies being misused... small businesses are still hurting, and the Mayor of Baltimore is giving money away.
Up next is a discussion of the doxxing of the person behind the LibsofTikTok twitter account... the activist "journalism" of the "reporter" behind it (and her hypocrisy). What's the goal here, and why is it so dangerous? Bound up in this is the work that LibsofTikTok was doing, exposing the dangerous agenda regarding gender and sexuality of the left.
Finally, Andrew offers some words of caution to his friends on the right who remain skeptical about the Russia - Ukraine conflict. It isn't merely a "border skirmish" as one colleague suggested.
The bad news for the US economy took a massive turn for the worse this week, and to help Andrew and Jerry break it all down, they're joined by EJ Antoni from the Heritage Foundation. The discussion goes well-beyond the usual "here's why we have inflation" and gets neck-deep into areas that folks simply aren't talking about--America is being gaslit on the economy, and while the Biden Administration touts certain numbers, Andrew, Jerry, and EJ get into just what the disconnect is between these numbers and America's economic reality.
They talk about what both Joy Behar and President Biden said about the Second Amendment, bout whether or not Sen. Dianne Feinstein is really mentally impaired, or whether she's being pushed out by the progressive left, they talk about whether Elon Musk's bid for Twitter really means change for the social media outlet (and Andrew & Jerry disagree on this). What do the outlooks of Vladimir Putin and America's democrats have in common, and Jerry asks the question, "why can't people be more like us?"
Plus, Andrew and Jerry offer heartfelt tributes on the passing of Gilbert Gottfried.
Another fantastic and timely episode of AJSTW! Truly ripped from today's headlines, Andrew and Jerry sit down with Amber Athey, Washington Editor for the Spectator (SpectatorWorld.com) to talk about her being cancelled by radio station WMAL and Cumulus Media because of a purposely misinterpreted tweet. We get the full story--from the tweet itself, as well as the backstory that led up to it. We spend a lot of time talking about the state of media--and journalism generally.
We talk about other major stories in the news--including Amber's own experiences in coed sports, transgender policies, what's happening in education, and how all of this discussion of journalism and the role of journalists, plays in the Hunter Biden Laptop story!
It was the slap heard 'round the world... but was it real or Memorex? And was Will Smith's apology genuine? Andrew and Jerry are joined by Christian Toto from HollywoodInToto.com to break down everything about the Oscars, from the hosting abilities to the controversies that go well-beyond Will Smith smacking Chris Rock. Then they delve into the prism with which Hollywood views America generally, and how outlets like the Daily Wire and actors like Nick Searcy are changing that. It's the 50th Anniversary of the Godfather, and they discuss the legacy of that seminal film and answer the question of whether the Godfather can be made today.
Jerry and Andrew also talk about the latest calls for a 4th Covid Shot, a second booster, and what this augers for the future.
The Summer of Soul, the Oscar-winning documentary, touches on so many things that ASJTW Host Andrew Langer loves - soul music, the politics of the 60s, and his fascination with Mount Morris Park in Harlem (also known as Marcus Garvey Park). In this interview, recorded in July of 2021, Andrew sits down with the 3 producers of Summer of Soul and talks about the film, the television special that gave rise to it, the politics of the summer of 1969, and both the music and the musicians involved in it.
We're living in a post-truth world, and this presents huge problems for society at large. Andrew and Jerry are joined by conservative activist and real-life "Cold Warrior" Bill Pascoe for an in-depth look at America's obligation to push back against totalitarianism.
As the debate over the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court rages on, Andrew and Jerry open with a discussion of this week's hearings, and why what we've substantively learned (as opposed to Judge Jackson's LSAT scores) is of paramount importance. Once again, some libertarians have demonstrated their myopic view of the world.
Then we have a deep discussion with Bill Pascoe, the Tea Party Patriots' "Man in Washington" - someone who was literally on the ground as the battles that hastened the end of the Cold War were happening, and he lends that perspective to the Russia - Ukraine conflict. We celebrate the legacy of Robert Krieble, and the covert strategy to bring down the Soviet Union. We talk about Russian misinformation and disinformation, and how so many Americans seemed to be getting "played".
Finally, we talk music... and who is the greatest rock guitarist ever. What concerts are we all looking forward to? And how do you spot kindred spirits in the workplace?
So much news swirling around, and so much of it is being misreported. Andrew and Jerry tackle this week's "fake news" with special guest, radio host and author, Jon Justice. What's the real story behind Florida's so-called Don't Say Gay Bill and why is it being misrepresnted in the press? In searching for Five for Fighting's new pro-Zelenskyy song, they discover the mystery of a deleted tweet... and when they find the song, they break it down. Jon has a theory about the Democrats and rising gas prices (and bold predictions are made by all). And Andrew and Jon talk about the upcoming Obi-Wan series on Disney+ and just where the prequels went wrong.
Finally, St. Patrick's Day is upon us, and it's a holiday of tremendous importance to Jerry and his family. They talk about why that is and what Jerry's plans are for St. Pat's this week.
Confused about just what's going on in Ukraine and just how we got here? This is the Episode of AJSTW to listen to! We talk about America's gas crisis, and how the Biden Administration has only done half of what needs to be done regarding our imports of oil from Russia. Andrew talks about how you can't make science bend to politics, especially when it comes to chemistry and physics, and he revisits the VW Diesel Engine scandal. Then they take a listen to what Vice President Kamala Harris had to say in Poland, and speculate on whether she was trying to signal for her teleprompter to move more quickly.
Then they're joined by Professor Paul Proast from the University of Chicago, a recognized expert in international law and politics. They take a deep dive into the problems in Central and Eastern Europe, figuring out just how we got to this point in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine - talking about the history of NATO and how NATO is perceived by Russia. What is Putin's mindset in all of this, and what are the factors that are driving him? Just how should the US be supporting Ukraine? Should we send jets from/through Poland? What is the danger of a nuclear conflict, and is Vladimir Putin willing to use nuclear weapons? Why is Russia a member of the UN Security Council? Is it fair to ask Ukraine to remain "neutral", and are any of Russia's other "peace" proposals at all workable? And we talk about the work of Professor John Mearshimer, as well as mention other notable academics, like Dr. Robert Jervis from Columbia University!
How does this all end? Listen and find out!
Even with a post-State of the Union show coming tomorrow, Andrew and Jerry have much to say about the Ukraine - Russia conflict, and boy does it get heated. Which is more important--to push back on the anti-NATO rhetoric or the anti-Trump rhetoric here at home? What's missing from the mainstream media's coverage? And is Andrew spending too much time reading social media?
We knew weeks ago that an invasion of Ukraine by Russia was imminent, and with that invasion happening this week, we had to sit down with our expert, Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer (US Army, Ret.), President of the London Center to talk about what's going on. Why did Putin wait until this week, and what is he after? What is US President Joe Biden missing in all this? Are Ukraine's NATO-member neighbors in danger? And what part does Putin's religion and the religion of climate change play in all this?
As progressives create the myth of "toxic masculinity", their move to attack men pervades culture in all kinds of dangerous ways. Andrew and Jerry are joined by Guy Shepherd from Planned Man in a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation about manhood. They continue their discussion about free speech--especially how these attacks have impacted facilitators of inquiry like Joe Rogan, and comedians like Dave Chapelle and Louis CK. Guy talks about the "4 F's" of manhood, and why fuctionality is so vital in this day and age. And why these lessons aren't just important to men-but how women can be empowered as well.
Andrew and Jerry also talk about the latest revelations regarding the Clinton Campaign in 2016, this crazy situation with a man being cursed at by a schoo board member over masks in Illinois, and just what's going on with Russia and Ukraine!
With craziness happening on Capitol Hill and congressional leaders needing some form of guidance, Andrew and Jerry are joined by former member of Congress, Dr. Nan Hayworth for a wide-ranging conversation, centering on the question: are you losing if you're having to explain, or do you lose by NOT explaining?
The reaction to the RNC censuring Reps. Lynn Cheney and Adam Kinzinger has been over-the-top, and more than a little disingenuous. Andrew and Jerry dive deep into the RNC resolution, and how congressional leaders have handled it. In their conversation with Dr. Nan Hayworth, they talk about the problems of not standing firm and speaking the truth, the split between President Trump and Vice President Pence over the certification of the election (and the real challenge we face when we have electoral problems), and Nan helps settle the question, "where does 'Upstate New York' actually start?" They also talk about Joe Rogan and the leftist authoritarian streak.
It's the first edition of Andrew and Jerry Can't Wait!, our bonus episodes where it's just Andrew and Jerry talking about major events in the news. In this edition, they talk about the Whoopi Goldberg suspension, tying it into the attempts to cancel Joe Rogan and Ilya Shapiro, and the essential nature of the right to be wrong.
What happens when we're no longer allowed to be wrong--when apologies aren't enough and we're punished regardless of whether something is ignorance or bigotry? Conversations are of vital importance to solving the world's problems, but if we're afraid to speak because of the consequences of saying something wrong, what good are those conversations?
Andrew and Jerry tie in the role that critical race theory (CRT) has played in all this. Then they tie in the story of CNN President Jeffrey Zucker and the death of journalistic ethics.
It's tough to balance the interests of public safety with the need for real criminal justice reform--and because politicians only want simple answers, the frequently get their solutions wrong, with devastating impact. Andrew and Jerry are joined by David Safavian, General Counsel for the American Conservative Union, for a deep-dive into just how to strike that balance--keeping communities safe while properly reforming a criminal justice system that is in dire need of change.
But they start with a discussion of the strange place free speech is in--from the unfolding Joe Rogan controversy to the attacks on recent AJSTW Guest Ilya Shapiro, circling back to their conversation with Eugene Volokh from last week and talking about Ira Glasser's appearance on Bill Maher's program, talking about the ACU policing the language of potential clients--instead of defending the principles of everyone's speech.
Then we're joined by criminal justice expert, David Safavian for a wide-ranging conversation about criminal justice reform and policing in America. What needs to be done, why so many people get it wrong, and just what that means for America. Plus, we get a preview of CPAC, happening in Orlando, FL later this month. Andrew and Jerry share CPAC memories--and after David leaves, they talk about one of Jerry's favorite books and a movie Andrew is enjoying, "The Tender Bar".
It's Episode 6: Andrew and Jerry Save Free Speech!
It's clear that platforms like Facebook, Youtube and Twitter favor certain kinds of speech over other kinds of speech. Without the free exchange of ideas, solving the world's problems becomes impossible. We're joined by noted free speech expert and co-founder of the Volokh Conspiracy, UCLA Law School professor Eugene Volokh! We tackle the thorny question of how to protect free speech without curtailing the rights of others. We also revisit the Russia-Ukraine crisis in light of the weekend's events, and Andrew talks about his problems with the season premiere of Billions!
With Russia potentially invading Ukraine any day now, Andrew and Jerry sit down with Tony Shaffer from the London Center for a deep-dive into why this is happening now. Are the seeds in this from 2021, 2012, 1991 or earlier? Plus, Youtube didn't like the last Episode of AJSTW, so they canceled it. What does this auger for free speech in general, and if the Supreme Court has ruled that social media platforms are the modern public square, what purpose is served if these social media companies can play favorites with perspective? The CDC offers what appears to be conflicting guidance regarding masks, and one wonders whether newly-inaugurated Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin's first-day executive orders have anything to do with it. Plus, Andrew offers a short review of Marvel's "The Eternals".
With the Supreme Court in the headlines over whether the Biden Administration's vaccine mandates can survive constitutional scrutiny, and with several Surpeme Court justices making massive misstatements, Andrew and Jerry talk about just what's going on with the high court. They're joined by scholar Ilya Shapiro from the Cato Institute (and author of "Supreme Disorder", the seminal work on the politicization of the Supreme Court).
They talk federalism, deference, the concept of the police power. All three make predictions as to just how the court will rule on the Biden administrations various vaccine mandates--and why each of the mandates is viewed somewhat differently.
They also pay tribute to Bob Saget on his untimely passing, and celebrate the birthday of The King, Elvis Presley.
Despite the fact that it's already 2022, Andrew and Jerry sit down and do a deep dive into 2021. Which was the worse year, 2020 or 2021, and did we, as a people, learn ANYTHING from 2020? They highlight the top stories, the top issues, the top trends for 2021, and talk about what this augurs for the years to come. There were high notes, too, and Andrew and Jerry look at some of the very good things to come out of 2021. They look ahead towards 2022--and what we might expect in the coming months.
On Christmas, the world lost a lengendary military icon, Richard Marcinko. Marcinko served with Seal Team 2 in Vietnam and later returned to command that unit. After the fiasco of the Iranian Hostage Rescue Mission, Marcinko was tapped to create and lead Seal Team 6. A flamboyant and often controversial figure, Marcinko's expertise on special operations, counter-terrorism, and national security are well-known. The author of several books, including "Rogue Warrior", Marcinko's writings have influenced leaders around the world.
ANJSTW Host Andrew Langer interviewed Marcinko in 2011, and here, in its entirety, is that interview.
As the world continues to struggle with Covid19, what's going on with health care policy in America more generally? Andrew and Jerry (who edits Real Clear Health) tee up what Congress and the Biden Administration are doing with health care, they talk with Eric Hargan, former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services and one-time Acting HHS Secretary. Team Biden has released their regulatory agenda when it comes to health care, and serious questions ensue regarding whether politics hijacks real solutions to America's health care needs. What role can the marketplace play, and why is congressional action on things like telemedicine absolutely essential?