Brother VS. Brother: Recent Episodes
Brian & Colin Davis
Civil Conversations on volatile subjects and strategies for having those conversations. It is nearly impossible to find reasonable and rational discussions on topics ranging from social, political and philosophical concerns. This podcast aims to change that. You will also hear strategies that will help you to have your own civil conversations on volatile subjects.
We discuss the section of the Declaration of Independence from the perspective of a liberal and a libertarian. You can find a link to the YouTube video of the conversation, here.
This case is about a business discriminating against a perspective customer based on religious beliefs. The web designer owner wanted to place a disclaimer on her marketing material stating that she would not design websites for gay marriage but instead would refer business to other designers. This desire goes against Colorado law. The case is […]
The Supreme Court recently ruled that two particular universities could not use race as a criteria for accepting students. Colin and Brian discuss the issue. Is affirmative action Constitutional? Is affirmative action working? Are there situations where a group of students or sports team does not reflect the overall population and is that necessarily racism? […]
What was the specific purpose of the Durham Investigation. How did it compare to the Mueller Report. Was the Investigation justified and what did it find. Did the Report have any specific conclusions and how did people’s bias color their opinion of the Report. Here is the link to the YouTube video.
Have any of the Supreme Court (specifically Clarence Thomas) recently failed to adhere to existing ethical standards? Have any broken the law? Are the ethical standards stringent enough? Did gift giving influence any Supreme Court Justices? How did the media handle the situation? Here is the link to the YouTube video.
There are things that the government did well and there were some significant missteps. Because we are likely to have another pandemic in our lifetime, it is wise to look at the actions and decisions and decide if they were optimal or if there were improvements that could have been implemented. Here is the link […]
We start of talking about Jack Teixeira documents found online. The conversation shifts toward whistleblowers, whistleblower protection and how top secret documents fit in. We get into some specifics about whistleblowers and find ourselves talking outside of our knowledge base. For more details, view this site. Specifically, giving a media outlet confidential information does not […]
Section 230 of Telecommunications Act of 1996 states that no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. We discuss the difference between publishers, distributors and platforms and how social media companies fit in that framework. How much […]
This subject is really about parents often being in conflict with schools regarding what content the children should have access to. Which group has the best interest of the children in mind? What happens when the two groups do not agree? Who decides what is age appropriate content? Here is the link to the YouTube […]
Which political ideologies are most impacted? Is there a First Amendment obligation toward speech on campuses? Is hate speech protected speech? What kind of speech is not protected under the Constitution? Did you know that the ACLU defended the right of a neo-Nazi group to march in the 1970’s? It was a free speech issue. […]
Before we get into the topic, we take a few minutes to look at a few topics that are in the news at the moment that reflect on some of our past episodes. We discuss the arguments for and against term limits. We discuss the possibility of age limits and the problem therein. We then […]
The basic business model of bank in discussed. What causes a run on a bank. What is the assumption of what caused the run on Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). Should the executives of the bank seen the problem coming? How has the government responded and was that response appropriate?
Link to the YouTube video.
Should we worry? What is the worst that can happen? Should we try to create regulations before it is a problem?
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
What are the twitter files, how did they come about and how are the journalists getting the information. What have they revealed, how are people talking about it or distorting it.
Here is the link to the summary of collection of of Twitter Files (that has not been updated since December 22). It also links to the full list of tweets of each Twitter File drop.
Link to the YouTube video.
This is part one of a two part conversation revolving around Twitter. This conversation takes a look at Twitter under the helm of Elon Musk, the changes made to the company and his presence on the platform. The next conversation will focus on the Twitter Files.
Here is the YouTube video.
Why are people concerned about the App TikTok? Why is TokTok different than other social media apps? Why is the government considering banning the app? We cover all this and alternatives to banning the app.
Link to the YouTube video.
We look at how immigrants are coming into the US and the state of the states on the border due to the immigration influx. How do we manage the immigration? Can we incentivize people to stay in their home country?
Here is the link to the YouTube video of the conversation.
A short while before this conversation, the Debt Ceiling was surpassed and Congress was notified that if nothing was changed, the US Government would default on its obligations. We begin the conversation discussing the difference between debt and deficit, whether debt should be decreased by increasing income or decreasing expenses and then discuss what the debt means to the country and possible solutions.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
What are the similarities and differences between Trump's handling and Biden's handling of the found classified documents. Also how have the reactions to the documents been different from the media to the Department of Justice.
The link to the YouTube video.
Rather than complaining about bias in the media, there is something you can do. Subscribe. Commit to supporting the good outlets so that they are not dependent on advertising.
Link to the YouTube video.
Brian and Colin discuss whether information from a particular source can be trusted or not. If the information is strictly fact-based this is not a complicated issue, but sometimes sources will avoid certain aspects and then the issue becomes more complicated. We discuss the website and app, Factual which rates articles and news sites based on an algorithm rather than personal opinions.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
This conversation focuses primarily on the Twitter environment. Brian and Colin agree that this is a difficult process. No matter if you want content moderation to be strict and others wish it to be more relaxed and allow users to moderate their own feeds. How does the debate over the 'public square' affect social media?
The article that Colin references from Gizmodo.
Here is a link to the YouTube video.
With recent revelations regarding the authenticity of the laptop, should media have handled the news differently when it broke 3 weeks before the election in 2019. Was the news suppressed? Should the media outlets have reported the news even when they could not verify the details? How much validating should social media conduct?
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
Some aspects of social media are habit forming and some aspects are downright addictive. Treating social media as such gives you the tools to break the habit and the addiction.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
Critiquing both parties in government. The party out of power tends to demand great change and become less motivated to change once they have power. We also consider the idea that the bias in media is a result of market forces, meaning that the consumers of media want the bias. We then spend a few minutes talking about the quality of presidential candidates in recent years and reminisce about past presidents.
You can find the link to the YouTube video, here.
The basis for our conversation is this website which has a very useful graphic at the top of the page, posted below.
We also spend a few minutes talking about the Hierarchy of Evidence which is also shown below and this is the website source.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
Colin and Brian had different experiences in the previous conversation about whether or not there is bias against conservatives in social media and so we thought it would be wise to look back at the conversation. We also address the fact that one of our first videos was pulled out of circulation by YouTube, a few days ago.
Here is a link to the YouTube video.
Seven minutes into the recording, Brian references a study regarding the hard-right groups posting more junk news than all other groups combined. Here is the source (page eight).
A bit more than eleven minutes into the recording, Brian references a report that Facebook relaxed its rules for certain right leaning personalities. Here is the source (first two paragraphs).
Twelve minutes into the recording, Brian references an investigation into Facebook policies led by a former Republican politician. Here is the source (page 10).
Thirteen minutes into the recording, Colin references a report of anonymous sources stating conservative stories were being removed within Facebook. He also talks about the high number of employees that support Democrat candidates. Here is the source (page six).
Around the minute 35:30, Brian references a study that shows greater amplification of right wing tweets. Here is the source.
If you are interested in reading more on the topic, here are the sources we used for the conversation.
NYU False Accusation: The Unfounded Claim that Social Media Companies Censor Conservatives
Why The Right Wing Has A Massive Advantage On Facebook
Algorithmic Amplification Of Politics On Twitter
Here is a link to the YouTube video.
What is their purpose and are they achieving it? How is it different from a trial? Have there been other such investigations before this one? Is anyone responsible for the events of Jan 6? All answers are coming.
This is not a new phenomenon and it will rear its ugly head again, probably soon. We try to elect people who will vote for issues we value, regardless of their personal behavior because we don't have another option (in the current political climate of the US). The solution in ranked choice voting. We can vote for our favorite candidate without throwing away our vote.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
Pretend that you are on a desert island with a group of other people and you decide that you need some structure, some rules and perhaps a safety net. How do you begin? We veer pretty quickly into specific examples, but it does illustrate the challenges and concerns with overall philosophy of laws.
Follow the link to the YouTube video.
In capitalism, the consumer chooses where to spend their money and that means a consumer can impact what companies offer for sale. Companies can influence legislation through lobbyists. Individual shareholders cannot impact company policy.
Here is a link to the YouTube video.
First, we take a deep look at the problem to truly understand what it is. Then we explore what a solution could look like. In the process, we gain clarity on the different components of a news story.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
There is some amount of belief that is applied to science. That must be the case because we cannot test all scientific theories personally so we must trust that it has been done. Have the experiments that are published been replicated? It turns out that the replicated experiments are rarely published and so we must take it on faith that the experiments were conducted correctly. We discuss this and more.
Follow the link to view the YouTube video.
We don't get into specific conspiracy theories, but consider how some can some get pulled into the orbit of these theories. We also consider whether we should be worried about those in power that act with consideration to a conspiracy theory.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
During the pandemic, there was a shortage of medical equipment due to production being almost entirely outside of the U.S. and so we were dependent on other countries for supplies. Similarly, microchips are manufactured almost entirely outside of the U.S. and for some this is a national security issue. The CHIPS Act was just passed in an effort to encourage chip production in the US to address the issue.
Here is the link to the YouTube video.
The government will provide financial backing for industries that are just beginning to emerge because there is a social benefit to the industry. Prime examples are solar power and electric cars. Is this a good use of our taxpayer money?
In the conversation, Brian references the Commuter Car, here is a picture of that car.
Here is a link to the YouTube video of the conversation.
We begin the conversation discussing oil subsidies. We give examples of the types of subsidies that the oil industry receives and both question the value of subsidizing the industry. We quickly move on and discuss agriculture subsidies. We begin the conversation on the history of grain storage as a method of stabilizing the price and availability, which goes all the way back to the biblical story of Joseph and the Pharaoh of Egypt.
How many times have you heard someone say, "Polls show that the majority…something, something, something." Well, a local politician did just that in his newsletter and I decided to fact-check him.
Mario Scavello, a representative from northeast PA claims that the majority of Pennsylvania voters are dissatisfied with the election process and used a poll from Franklin & Marshall College to back the statement up. Unfortunately, the poll does not back up his claim. It is not necessary to be a statistician to see that Mario is glossing over facts and distorting the truth to promote his agenda. Unfortunately, the consequences could be dramatic because the state legislature is trying to push through amendments to the constitution based on these baseless claims.
What will keep either party from becoming a sustained dominant force? And what is holding back all the rest of the pack.
You can find a link to the YouTube video, here.
We begin with a description of what cryptocurrency is, what are the risks and concerns. One reason why cryptocurrency is a popular topic of conversation is that they are viewed as investment vehicles. We discuss the implications of that. The other reason why cryptocurrency is often discussed is as a financial transaction which we also explore.
What is the purpose of the hearings that are the culmination of 18 months of investigation of the events around the insurrection on January 6th by the special commission. How much does bias play into the investigation? Are there similarities between the 2016 election and the 2020 election. Is it just a Democratic assault or are there Republicans working with the commission.
If you are interested, you can watch the video about the attack on the capitol that Brian and Colin referenced, here.
Link to the YouTube video.
Life can be busy, so this week, we don't spend the time talking about one subject, but address a few topics related to previous or upcoming conversations. The first topic we discuss is a meta-topic, namely that we may feel that our perspective is not landing with the person we are talking with, but often they assimilate and incorporate our perspective. Cryptocurrency is back in the news and not for anything good. Value is plummeting and we spend a few minutes discussing some risks and concerns. The January 6th Commission is in the midst of presenting its conclusions, Brian & Colin discuss the concerns from both sides. The Federal Reserve increased base interest rates 0.75%. We spend a moment looking at biased language from the right and from the left and how we accuse the right of prejudice and overlook the same from the left. Lastly, we spend a moment talking about the difference in talking points of Ukraine from the right and the left which transitions into the financial cost of war and the risks of intervening.
Link to the YouTube video.
Brian & Colin discuss variations on our existing tax system. We look at how complex our existing system is and how we could massage the existing system that would be more beneficial to the citizens while ensuring that the government is funded to do the necessary business. We discuss progressive tax systems vs proportional tax. We discuss income tax vs sales tax. Instead of offering tax breaks, offering a guaranteed income at lower income levels. How does the tax system in the US compare to other countries.
Here is a link to the YouTube video
Do high taxes will disincentivize high income earners? There are examples that serve both arguments. At times, high tax rates were decreased and that increased tax revenue and there are other examples of increasing tax rates and that also increases tax revenue so it is a difficult problem to assess. Are tax-free municipal bonds a reasonable alternative? What are the unintended consequences of a high tax rate? Where will investors put their money in order to avoid high taxes? Are entrepreneurs motivated by the money or by the challenge of the business and the money is an indicator of that success?
Link to the YouTube video.
First we address what is the purpose of taxes. The obvious answer is that we use it to fund the government and provide service for tax payers. There are some out there that believe taxes can also serve a purpose of redistributing wealth. There are some people that speak clearly and often about taking money from certain very wealthy individuals. Others looks at idea of taxing the very wealthy as a method to compensate for an unfair tax system. We move the discussion toward different tax structures such as the fact that stock investments are taxed at a lower rate than regular income (capital gains tax). Does the company and the economy benefit by the lower tax rate? We also spend a bit of time talking about tax brackets and how a very high tax rate doesn't always coincide with low tax revenue. In the last few minutes we talk about the disincentive of high taxes toward earning money.
Link to the YouTube video.
We look at gas prices at the pump, the baby formula shortage and also looking forward at future scarcities. First we break down the commodities market and how future contracts work. with regard to oil production how does statements from the government impact exploration and build-out. The baby formula scare is due to the fact that there are 3 companies in the U.S. that produce 90% and one company had the production facility shut down. The U.S. also restricts imports from other countries. Looking forward, wheat is probably going to be the next supply scarcity. How can we plan for it and are there things we could do to mitigate the problem.
Link to the YouTube video.
A short conversation about the value of face-to-face interaction because we are more polite. When we interact online, whether it is posts, comments or reviews, we are more inclined to use insulting, aggressive or confrontational language.
Link to the YouTube Video (static image)
Brian and Colin discuss the difficulty in identifying the truth. We tend to use our personal experience and ideology to decide whether we acknowledge or deny the value of some piece of information. The focus of this conversation revolves around the data on Hunter Biden's laptop and whether it should be reported on. We cover the history of the laptop and why it was such a controversial topic in the news leading up to the 2020 election. We discuss why there was so much distrust about the story, why there was a strong backlash against those promoting the story and whether either view was valid.
Link to the YouTube video.
Returning to the old format of Brian & Colin discussing a topic, they take on the use of graphics in media, how it can help or distort. The motivation for the conversation came from a tweet that Colin shared that consisted of a chart showing the dramatic rise in median income globally and Brian took issue with it. Colin begins the conversation by addressing confirmation bias when we receive information from the media, both in affirming what we already believe and dismissing that which we don't. Brian discusses the context of the information we receive and how we need to consider very carefully the medium which we want to give the message. Some media are better suited for different messages. They address how we treat content differently when we trust the provider or we don't.
Link to the YouTube video.
Some of the resources that we addressed in the conversation:
The book: Factfulness by Hans Rosling
The blog: The Grump Economist - John Cochran
News source fairly balanced and slightly to the right: The Dispatch
The chart that we used in the beginning of the conversation:
When we have a strong opinion on a topic, we often will offer our perspectives in a deluge on information instead of one point at a time. This doesn't allow for a conversation, instead it feels like a speech. One point at a time allows the opportunity for the person we are talking to the time to respond.
We look back at a snippet of a conversation when Colin addressed the idea that we should be constantly reassessing to ensure that our intended outcome is being achieved and the we avoid the unintended consequences.
Here, you can find a link to the YouTube video.
When news providers point out their corrections and ensure that every reader will see the correction, then you know that you have found a reputable news source.
You can find a link to the YouTube video.
Do social media companies have a responsibility to control the content that we see? Should they be managing the content that is deemed violent, offensive, demeaning or aggressive by the users? Colin & Brian both agree that in our present state, there is too much expectation placed on the social media companies to police the content we are exposed to. Remember when our feed was filled entirely with our friends and family. In the effort to monetize, the social media companies changed that experience. They use behavioral reinforcement psychology to keep us interacting and ultimately are motivated by profits.
Link to the YouTube video.