Reacting to NATO Rediscovering its Purpose; Also, the Sleeping Trait That is a Gift and a Curse
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was put in place over 70 years ago in response to the threat posed by the Soviet Union, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at how the alliance has responded to Russia’s recent aggression in Ukraine and how this aggression has illustrated its continued importance (01:29). The guys also react to...
The Glass Half Empty Approach is Dominating our Politics; Also, the Crypto Revolution will be Regulated
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which Americans of all political persuasions have drawn to more pessimistic political messaging and discuss how this affects our ability to deal with societal challenges (01:26). The guys also take a look at President Biden’s recent executive order on cryptocurrency and consider whether crypto may be going mainstream (28:13).Politics of...
Propaganda and its Incredible Effect on Perceptions of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine; Also, the Debate over Breakfast
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine involves not just kinetic action but also efforts to influence people’s perceptions of what is happening and why, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at how powerful media persuasion and propaganda can be and discuss how the American system is designed to limit this (01:44). The guys also weigh in...
Companies are Paying for Fueling the Opioid Crisis, but Solutions Remain Elusive; Also, the Lost Libido
Johnson & Johnson, and several other companies, recently agreed to pay billions to settle claims over their role in fueling the opioid crisis, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider what the settlements say about the ongoing crisis and what other factors still need to be addressed to help address the many factors that brought us here (01:24). The...
The Crisis in Ukraine is a Test of Both Your Will and Your Principles; Also, Appreciating the Tuskegee Airmen
The crisis in Ukraine has appeared to be on the brink of boiling over for a while, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the nature of the dispute and how it fits in to the larger geopolitical picture (1:25). The guys also take a look at some of the exploits of and challenges face by the Tuskegee Airmen...
The 1619 Project and the Benefit of Adding More Perspective to Our National Narrative
The 1619 Project looks at the history of the United States from perspectives that have often been missing, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how this approach can help Americans better understand (1:13) and deal with the complexities of our modern society and why the backlash is both predictable and unfounded (25:01). The 1619 Project (NY Times)Listen to...
The Supreme Court, the NFL, and Struggle America Still Has with Things Involving Race; Also, Why Muscles Disappear As We Age
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how Biden’s Supreme Court nominee pledge and Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL illustrate in different ways on the struggle that America’s largest institutions, and really American society in general, continue to have in dealing with racial discrepancies in access, opportunity and outcomes (01:12). The guys also take a look at the science...
What Comes Next Following 2021’s Strong Economic Performance; Also, What’s Happening in Planetary Systems Far, Far Away
With 2021 going down as the best year in decades as far as GDP growth in the U.S., James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which such a performance is surprising and the extent to which we should fear what comes next (01:19). The guys also discuss some of the interesting things coming from NASA about the...
The Case of the Disappearing American Conservative; Also, Implanting Microchips in Human Brains
James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the origin of conservative philosophical tradition and its value in managing large societies, diving into a recent piece by the conservative political and cultural commentator David Brooks which questions whether the modern Republican party has abandoned conservatism (01:11). The guys also take a look a recent report that Elon Musk’s Neuralink venture is...
The Push to Get Spotify to Rein in Joe Rogan; Also, How to Control Stress
Even in a global pandemic, fighting misinformation in an open society will always be an uphill battle, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at the effort by hundreds of doctors, professors, scientists and health care to pressure Spotify into addressing covid-19 misinformation in The Joe Rogan Experience, its hugely popular podcast, and on its platform in...
Dealing with the Pandemic Has People on Edge; Also, How You Can Buy Happiness
Reports of overly aggressive or abusive behavior in response to relatively minor slights appear to be increasing, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic, along with other societal factors, have contributed to this (01:14). The guys also discuss research which suggests that money can buy happiness, if it is spent correctly in...
Considering What the Metaverse Has to Offer; Also, Microplastics in Our Bloodstream
The metaverse is coming, and it appears it could transform our real and virtual lives, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at what is starting to happen in nascent platforms and consider what makes the metaverse both an exciting and risking commercial opportunity (01:24). The guys also discuss recent reports that microplastics have been found circulating...