Mindless Meanderings

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A roaming conversation between brothers covering Europe, NATO, and court cases.

Host by:

- Jamon Fries

Support our show.

https://mindlessmeanderings.com

(00:00:20) Introduction

(00:00:42) Kansas Politics: Veto Overturned

(00:02:01) Trump's Comments on Zelensky and Ukraine

(00:04:54) Transparency in Politics and Media

(00:05:21) JD Vance's Speech at Munich Security Conference

(00:09:08) European Values and Democratic Challenges

(00:15:39) Free Speech and Legal Challenges in Europe

(00:20:00) Censorship and Misinformation in the US

(00:26:46) Mass Migration and Security Concerns

(00:32:41) Democracy and Free Speech

(00:37:27) Judicial Standing and Legal Cases

(00:50:53) US Foreign Policy and Ukraine

(01:01:07) Tech News and Privacy Concerns

(01:07:01) Social Studies and Satisfaction Surveys

(01:09:36) Cultural Anecdotes and Humor

[00:00:20] Jesse Fries:

Good morning, everybody.   It is Wednesday,   the nineteenth, and we are live with episode number 25 of the Mindless Meanderings. I'm Jesse Fries coming to you from Central Texas,   where it is awfully cold, and my parents just came into town.  

[00:00:37] Jamon Fries:

And I'm Jamin Fries coming at you from Eastern Kansas, where it's even colder.   And but in this cold,   the Republicans in the Kansas house in the Kansas government   have vetoed   the governor's,   or have, overruled the governor's veto   on gender affirming care for minors.  

[00:00:59] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. Yeah. I heard that. That just came through. That just came through. Yeah.  

[00:01:03] Jamon Fries:

Yeah. I I I did I'm very happy about that. You know? It's,   I figured they would considering   how just how  

[00:01:12] Jesse Fries:

way out voted the Democrat and the other side of this. Yeah. Oh, I forgot to do something. I'll be right back. Hold on. Yeah. Yeah. We're still live, just so you know. Yep.  

[00:01:23] Jamon Fries:

Yeah.   I suppose that's important to do. Make sure nobody else can, interfere with you.  

[00:01:31] Jesse Fries:

Okay. Okay. I forgot to close the door. So Yep. Yep.  

[00:01:35] Jamon Fries:

Yep. That's kind of important to do. Make sure that nobody can, can walk in on you. Yeah. Yeah. Especially with the parents here. They're watching Yeah.  

[00:01:43] Jesse Fries:

Some sort of news,   downstairs. So, Oh, okay. Don't need that coming into the feed or anything like that. So  

[00:01:50] Jamon Fries:

Yeah. Yeah. Your mic's doing pretty good. I didn't didn't pick any of that up. So Well, that's good. That's good. Okay. Let's see here.  

[00:01:58] Jesse Fries:

Let let's start with this crazy thing that just came through.   Trump just called Zelensky a dictator.   He he   he put a post on truth social, here. Let me read it here. Think of it. A modestly successful comedian,   Volodymyr Zelensky,   talked The United States Of America into spending $350,000,000,000   to go into a war that couldn't be won, that never had to start, but a war that he, without The US and Trump,   will never be able to settle.   The United States has spent $200,000,000,000   more than Europe, and Europe's money is guaranteed,   while The United States will get nothing back.  

Why didn't sleepy Joe demand equalization?   Blah blah blah. He says we have a big beautiful ocean as separation in between us and Europe, and Europe is the one that   actually cares about this. We have oceans. Yeah. So   and then on top of that, he says Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent to him is missing.   He refuses to have elections,   is very low in Ukrainian polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden like a fiddle.   A dictator without elections, Zelensky better move fast or he is not going to have a country left,   and so on and so forth. Yeah.  

It's,   yeah.   Yeah. Yeah. I think we know where Trump stands. Just saying.  

[00:03:29] Jamon Fries:

No. I have no idea.   If only he could be a little more blatant about what he thought.  

[00:03:36] Jesse Fries:

I I know. You know, it's it's like this White House. It it just doesn't   it hides so much.  

[00:03:42] Jamon Fries:

It really does.  

[00:03:47] Jesse Fries:

That's the funniest thing that the Democrats say is that, oh, where's the transparency?   It's like Yeah.   It's everywhere, dude. They just tell you what they think, and there you go. They tell you what they think. They tell you what you're what they're doing.  

[00:04:01] Jamon Fries:

And   I have yet to see a press conference where the,   where the press secretary   didn't have at least a whole bunch of paperwork to hand out to people with receipts, with everything that's going on. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's talk about transparency. Yeah. No. It just cracks me up. It really does. It's, yep.   Well, you know what they're not being transparent about, though? What?   Is the stuff that the Democrats think that they're really doing but that they're not doing?  

[00:04:34] Jesse Fries:

Well I think that's everybody, isn't it?   You you know, just just say it. You know? It is hard to be transparent about something you're not doing. It is very hard to be transparent.   It's also hard to prove a negative. You know? It really is. Yeah.   You can't prove it one way or the other. You know? It's   just somebody says it, and you're, like, going, I guess. You know? Yeah. Well, I mean, you know, with with  

[00:04:57] Jamon Fries:

transparency too, you know, the whole thing Elon Musk is doing, going down to Fort Knox with video cameras and then putting it out to everyone just to show us whether the gold is actually there or not. Yeah. Yeah. Transparency.  

[00:05:09] Jesse Fries:

More transparent than that. You really can't. You really can't.   Let's see here. Should we stick on   that sorta angle?  

[00:05:19] Jamon Fries:

Yeah. We can. Okay.  

[00:05:21] Jesse Fries:

Well, what we could do is we we could just, I was thinking that we should, we could listen to the Vance speech, JD Vance's speech. Okay.   And then we can comment. We can stop it as need be and everything like that. But it is quite an interesting speech that he gave, over there. And that should cover, actually,   I would say, a lot of our   topics for today anyways.   So, you know We we do have we do have a few of them about Vance's speech over there. Yeah. We do. We do. Just a few. Just a few. So, let's, get that going. So,   it's about nineteen minutes long or something like that. So   he's stepping up to the podium now.  



[00:06:04] Unknown:

Well, thank you, and, thanks to all the, the gathered delegates and luminaries and media professionals. And, thank thanks especially to the host of the Munich Security Conference,   for being able to to put on such an incredible event. We're, of course, thrilled to be here. We're happy to be here.   And, you know, one of the things that I wanted to to talk about today   is, of course, our shared values. And, you know, it's it's great to be back in Germany as as you heard earlier. I was here last year as United States Senator.   I saw, foreign minister excuse me, foreign secretary David Lamy. And Oh, apparently, when he was there as  

[00:06:42] Jesse Fries:

as a senator,   basically, everybody just ignored him while he was there last year. So Yeah. He was a senator. I mean Yeah. It's not like he has power to do anything.   Right. Right. And so and he he was a junior one at that. So yeah. Yep. Yep. Now everybody's listening. I'm assuming he got a slightly different response   from them this time. Well, I think he's given a speech, so he's got to. Yeah.  

[00:07:07] Unknown:

The both of us last year had different jobs than we have now. But now it's time, for all of our countries, for all of those who have been   fortunate enough to be given political power by our respective peoples to use it wisely to improve their lives.   And I wanna say that, you know, I I was fortunate in my time here   to spend some time outside the walls of this conference over the last twenty four hours,   and I've been so impressed by the hospitality   of the people even as, of course, as they're reeling from yesterday's horrendous attack.  

[00:07:40] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. There was a terrorist attack there. I should've cut some of this out. It's a bit long.   I didn't think it would be this,   in my head, it was a lot less windy. But we'll we'll go with, like, a word windy. You know? But Yeah. Yep.   Yeah. We we we'll  

[00:07:56] Unknown:

just interrupt if you need to, Jamin, or anything like that. So if you have any comments. So yep. The first time I was ever in Munich was with was with my wife, actually, who's here with me today,   on a personal trip. And I've always loved the city of Munich, and I've always loved its people.   And I just wanna say that we're very moved, and our thoughts and prayers are with Munich and everybody affected by the evil inflicted on this beautiful community. We're thinking about you. We're praying   for you, and we will certainly be rooting for you in the days and weeks to come.   Now   That's, like, the last applause you'll ever get. I hope that's not the last bit of applause that I get. But   we we gather at at this conference, of course, to discuss   security.  

And, normally,   we mean threats to our external security. I see many many great military leaders gathered here today.   But while the Trump administration   is very concerned with European security   and believes that we can come to a reasonable settlement between Russia and Ukraine, and we also believe that it's important in the coming years for Europe to step up in a big way to provide for its own defense.   The threat that I worry the most about vis a vis Europe is not Russia. It's not China. It's not any other external actor.   And what I worry about is the threat from within,   the retreat   of Europe   from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with The United States Of America.  

Now I was struck that a a former European commissioner   went on television recently and sounded   delighted   that the Romanian government had just annulled an entire election.   He warned that if things don't go to plan, the very same thing could happen in Germany too.   Now these cavalier statements are shocking to American ears. For years, we've been told that everything we fund and support is in the name of our shared democratic   values.  

[00:10:01] Jesse Fries:

That is what the bill of goods we've been sold.   Yeah. Absolutely is. Yeah. Yeah. He's,   no. I can't believe that. When I read about that, the the Romania thing, I couldn't believe that actually happened.   It's like, it was the craziest thing.   I think he's gonna explain it a little bit here about why it happened. So  

[00:10:24] Unknown:

Everything from our Ukraine policy   to digital censorship   is billed   as a defense   of democracy.   But when we see European courts canceling elections   and senior officials   threatening to cancel others,   we ought to ask whether we're holding ourselves to an appropriately high standard.   And I say ourselves   because I fundamentally believe that we are on the same team.   We must do more than talk about democratic values. We must live them.   Now within living memory of many of you in this room,   the Cold War positioned   defenders of democracy against much more tyrannical forces on this continent.   And consider the side in that fight that censored dissidents,   that closed churches,   that canceled elections.  

Were they the good guys?   Certainly not. And thank God they lost the Cold War.   They lost because they neither valued nor respected   all of the extraordinary   blessings of liberty.   The freedom to surprise, to make mistakes,   to invent,   to build.   As it turns out, you can't mandate innovation or creativity,   just as you can't force people what to think, what to feel, or what to believe, and we believe those things are certainly connected.  

[00:11:46] Jesse Fries:

You know, I just had a thought. You know, he he's talking about   we won the cold war and everything like that. But Yeah.   Everything is still   all those people that were in the Eastern Bloc   are still the leaders.   Those people so so so that type of,   complete control   is still there.  

[00:12:10] Jamon Fries:

Oh, yeah. Yeah. There there is absolute there's been absolutely no change for anyone in in the Eastern Bloc.   It's the we won the Cold War simply because   Russia couldn't fund themselves. It didn't mean that anything changed. Yeah. They ran out of money. Yep. Yeah.   Mhmm. I mean, you know, so yeah. No. It's   it's really, honestly, all we won was we won the the arms race.  

[00:12:40] Jesse Fries:

Yeah.  

[00:12:41] Jamon Fries:

That was the cold there that was the cold war, was was the race to arms.  

[00:12:46] Jesse Fries:

Oh, yeah. Yeah. And and then our piddly fights,   Yeah. Around the world that we would, our proxy wars and everything like that. Yeah. That's all it was. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.   Yeah. Exactly. Exactly.   Is this entertaining, or should we just stop this?  

[00:13:02] Jamon Fries:

I'm trying to get entertaining.  

[00:13:04] Jesse Fries:

Okay. Okay. Let's keep going.  

[00:13:07] Unknown:

And, unfortunately, when I look at Europe today, it's sometimes not so clear what happened to some of the Cold War's winners.   I look to Brussels   where EU commissars   warn citizens that they intend  

[00:13:22] Jesse Fries:

I like his use of the word commissars.   Oh, yeah.   Not commissioners, commissars. You know?  

[00:13:32] Unknown:

To shut down social media during times of civil unrest,   the moment they spot what they've judged to be,   quote, hateful content.   Or to this very country, where police have carried out raids against citizens suspected of posting   anti feminist comments online as part of, quote,   combating misogyny on the Internet, a day of action.   I look to Sweden, where two weeks ago, the government convicted a Christian activist   for participating in Quran burnings   that resulted in his friend's murder.   And as the judge in his case chillingly noted,   Sweden's laws to supposedly protect free expression   do not, in fact, grant, and I'm quoting,   a free pass   to do or say anything without risking offending the group that holds that belief.  



[00:14:26] Jamon Fries:

That's what free speech means technically. Just say it. Yeah. Yeah. Free it it it literally is in the meaning of free speech. You can   yeah.  

[00:14:37] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. Yeah. No. I Wow. This is why I'm so glad we have the written constitution that we have. Oh, yes. Yes.   And so much precedence   that says,   you could say anything.   It doesn't matter. It could be a the government cannot stop you. Now you can be held liable. You can all all this sort of thing. Yeah. But   you can say you you're not gonna get arrested for what you say, you know. Yeah. And unlike unlike what many people think, you can actually yell fire in a crowded theater. You can. You can. No. You can't threaten somebody because, well Right. No. Yes. But beyond that, yeah, you can yeah. You technically can yell fire in a theater. Now if you cause a panic  

[00:15:17] Jamon Fries:

If you cause a panic and people are injured or die because of it, then you'll probably get in trouble for that. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. You'll be held liable, you know, as you should be held liable for things that you say. Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, you have to take responsibility for what you say and what you do. So Yep. Yep. But you can say it that it without any legal repercussion.  

[00:15:37] Jesse Fries:

Exactly.  

[00:15:40] Unknown:

And perhaps most concerningly,   I look to our very dear friends, The United Kingdom,   where the backslide away from conscience rights has placed the basic liberties of religious Britons in particular   in the crosshairs.   A little over two years ago, the British government charged Adam Smith Connor,   a 51 year old physiotherapist   and an army veteran,   with the heinous crime   of standing   50 meters   from an abortion clinic.  

[00:16:07] Jesse Fries:

That's a 50 feet,   roughly.   Yeah. Yeah. Just so everybody   in America knows.  

[00:16:17] Unknown:

And silently praying for three minutes,   not obstructing anyone, not interacting with anyone, just silently praying on his own.   After British law enforcement spotted him and demanded to know what he was praying for,   Adam replied simply, it was on behalf of the unborn son he and his former girlfriend   had aborted years before.   Now the officers were not moved. Adam was found guilty of breaking   the government's new buffer zones law, which criminalizes   silent prayer and other actions that could influence a person's decision within 200 meters of an abortion facility.  

[00:16:56] Jesse Fries:

Just lie about what you're doing, guys. Just saying.   Yeah.   Yeah.  

[00:17:05] Unknown:

He was sentenced to pay thousands of pounds in legal costs to the prosecution.   Now I wish I could say that this was a fluke, a one off crazy example of a badly written law being enacted   against   a single person. But, no,   this last October, just a few months ago, the Scottish government began distributing letters to citizens   whose houses lay within so called safe access zones,   warning them that even private prayer   within their own homes   may amount to breaking the law.   Naturally, the government urged readers to report any fellow citizens suspected   guilty of thought crime.  

In Britain   and across Europe,   free speech, I fear, is in retreat.  

[00:17:49] Jesse Fries:

Can you believe that? Not being able to pray in your own house.  

[00:17:52] Jamon Fries:

The fuck.  

[00:17:54] Jesse Fries:

Right? And then be a good Oh my god. And then be a good East German Stasi and report your, fellow citizen.   What the fuck is that? Hey.  

[00:18:05] Jamon Fries:

Why is it that almost all of Europe seems to be going to the fascist Nazi route?  

[00:18:12] Jesse Fries:

Maybe they always wanted to. You know? I I I I I I have no clue. I have no clue. It's Maybe it maybe it's because when when the when Nazism controlled Germany,  

[00:18:23] Jamon Fries:

Germany was strong,  

[00:18:24] Jesse Fries:

and none of the European countries are strong anymore. I could see that. I it could also be because, like, their whole system is technocratic,   especially, like, the EU itself.   Yeah. The the administration   and the executive and everything, like, over that is just they're just a bunch of technocrats.   Yeah. That's all they are. They there's no actually they're not elected by anybody.   They're just appointed there. You you know? Same same with, like, the president of the EU.   She wasn't elected to be president of the EU. You know? It it's it's all these things. So it's just   and I think if you think you're there because   of what your knowledge is,   because you're a technocrat,   I think that means, oh, you have to it's it's like here in The States during, like, COVID, it's like, oh, the scientist says so. So you need to do what the scientist says. Oh, yeah. Yeah. You you the you you you need to just be a good slave and just listen to us and do whatever we say. And,   I I think it's that whole thing. I think that's how   Europe and   Canada and, The U US, except for under Trump now, I think that's how   the whole  

[00:19:32] Jamon Fries:

count Australia in there too. It's just seems to be on there. That is true here in The US that I was starting to get the idea that it's that everyone in the government was looking at you saying, we know better than you, so shut up and do what we tell you to.  

[00:19:46] Jesse Fries:

Exactly. That's how pretty much everybody that voted for Trump felt.   Yeah. And that's why   a lot of his supporters love what he's doing right now. So Oh, yeah. Absolutely.   Mhmm.   Yeah. Let's  

[00:20:00] Unknown:

continue. And in the interest of comedy, my friends, but also in the interest of truth,   I will admit that sometimes the loudest voices for censorship   have come not from within Europe, but from within my own country,   where the prior administration   threatened and bullied social media companies to censor so called misinformation.   Misinformation   like, for example, the idea   that coronavirus had likely leaked   from a laboratory in China, our own government encouraged   private companies to silence people who dared to utter what turned out to be an obvious truth.   So I come here today not just with an observation,   but with an offer.  

And just as the Biden administration seemed desperate to silence people for speaking their minds,   so the Trump administration   will do precisely the precisely the opposite, and I hope that we can work together on that.   In Washington,   there is a new sheriff in town.   And under Donald Trump's leadership,   we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the public square. Agree or disagree?  

[00:21:11] Jesse Fries:

Five people clapping.  

[00:21:13] Unknown:

Now we're at the point, of course, that the the situation has gotten so bad that this December,   Romania straight up canceled the results of a presidential election   based on the flimsy suspicions   of an intelligence agency   and enormous pressure from its continental neighbors. Now   as I understand it, the argument was that   Russian disinformation   had infected   the Romanian   elections.   But I'd ask my European friends to have some perspective.   You can   believe it's wrong for Russia to buy social media advertisements to influence your elections.   We certainly do. You can condemn it on the world stage even. But if your democracy can be destroyed with a few hundred thousand dollars of digital advertising from a foreign country, then it wasn't very strong to begin with.  



[00:22:03] Jesse Fries:

Just a couple hundred thousand, dude.  

[00:22:06] Jamon Fries:

Oh, wow. Yeah.   That is so true.  

[00:22:09] Jesse Fries:

That that was just, like, in 2016, they said Russia influenced, but it was, like, a few million dollars   Yeah. Of, it wasn't much of anything   in the grand scheme of American politics.   Yep.   You know, or the the 51 supposed,   intelligence officers that knew that Hunter Biden's   laptop, that that was a Russian hoax. Yeah.   You know? It's like yeah.  

[00:22:39] Unknown:

Two people, Cliff. Good news is that I happen to think your democracies are substantially less brittle than many people apparently fear. And I really do believe that allowing our citizens to speak their mind will make them stronger still,   which, of course, brings us back   to Munich, where the organizers of this very conference   have banned lawmakers representing populist parties on both the left and the right from participating in these conversations.   Now, again, we don't have to agree   with everything   or anything that people say. But when people represent when political leaders represent an important constituency,   it is incumbent upon us to at least participate   in dialogue with them.  

Now to many of us on the other side of the Atlantic, it looks more and more like old entrenched interests   hiding behind ugly   Soviet era words like misinformation and disinformation,   who simply don't like the idea that somebody with an alternative viewpoint   might express a different opinion or, god forbid,   vote a different way   or even worse,   win an   election. Now this is a security conference, and I'm sure you all came here prepared to talk about how exactly you intend to increase defense spending over the next few years in line with some new target.   And that's great   Because as president Trump has made abundantly clear, he believes that our European friends must play a bigger role in the future of this continent.  

We don't think you hear this term burden sharing, but we think it's an important part of being in a shared alliance together that the Europeans step up while America   focuses on areas of the world that are in great danger.   But let me also ask you,   how will you even begin to think through the kinds of budgeting questions   if we don't know what it is that we are defending in the first place?   I've heard a lot   already in my conversations, and I've had many, many great conversations with many people gathered here in this room. I've heard a lot about what you need to defend yourselves from, and of course that's important.   But what has seemed a little bit less clear to me, and certainly I think to many of the citizens of Europe, is what exactly it is that you're defending yourselves   for.  

What is the positive   vision that animates this shared security compact   that we all believe is so important?   And I believe   deeply   that there is no security   if you are afraid of the voices,   the opinions,   and the conscience that guide your very own people.   Europe faces many challenges,   but the crisis this continent faces right now, the crisis I believe we all face together,   is one of our own making.   If you're running in fear of your own voters,   there is nothing America can do for you.   Nor for that matter is there anything that you can do for the American people who elected me and elected president Trump.   You need democratic mandates to accomplish anything of value in the coming years. Have we learned nothing that thin   mandates produce unstable results?  

But there is so much of value that can be accomplished with the kind of democratic mandate that I think will come from being more responsive to the voices   of your citizens.   If you're going to enjoy competitive economies,   if you're going to enjoy affordable energy   and secure supply chains,   then you need mandates to govern   because you have to make difficult choices to enjoy all of these things. And, of course, we know that very well in America.   You cannot win a democratic mandate by censoring your opponents or putting them in jail,   whether that's the leader of the opposition,   a humble Christian praying in her own home, or a journalist trying to report the news.  

Nor can you win one by disregarding your basic electorate on questions like who gets to be a part of our shared society.   And of all the pressings, challenges that the nations represented here face, I believe there is nothing more urgent   than mass migration.   Today,   almost one in five people living in this country moved here from abroad. That is, of course, an all time high. It's a similar number, by the way, in The United States, also an all time high. The number of immigrants who entered the EU from non EU countries   doubled between 2021   and 2022   alone, and, of course, it's gotten much higher since.  

And we know the situation, it didn't materialize in a vacuum.   It's a result   of a series of conscious decisions   made by politicians   all over the continent   and others across the world over the span of a decade.   We saw the horrors wrought by these decisions yesterday   in this very city.   And of course, I can't bring it up again without   thinking about the terrible victims who had a a beautiful winter day in Munich ruined.   Our thoughts and prayers are with them and will remain with them. But why did this happen in the first place?   It's a terrible story, but it's one we've heard way too many times in Europe and unfortunately too many times in The United States as well.  

An asylum seeker, often a young man in his mid twenties,   already known to police,   rams a car into a crowd and shatters a community.   How many times   must we suffer these appalling setbacks   before we change course and take our   shared civilization   in a new direction.   No voter on this continent   went to the ballot box to open the floodgates to millions   of unvetted   immigrants.  

[00:28:34] Jamon Fries:

I'm sure somebody did.   Yeah. There's probably a few,  

[00:28:38] Jesse Fries:

but just a few.   Yes.   I love he he's just blisteringly   attacking, like, oh, Europe and everybody. It's crazy.  

[00:28:49] Unknown:

But you know what they did vote for?   In England, they voted for Brexit. And agree or disagree,   they voted for it. And more and more all over Europe, they're voting for political leaders who promise to put an end to out of control migration.   Now, I happen to agree with a lot of these concerns, but you don't have to agree with me. I just think that people care   about their homes,   they care about their dreams, they care about their safety, and their capacity to provide for themselves and their children.   And they're smart.   I think this is one of the most important things I've learned in my brief time in politics.  

Contrary to what you might hear   a couple mountains over in Davos,   the citizens of all of our nations don't generally think of themselves   as educated animals.  

[00:29:36] Jesse Fries:

I know I'm an educated animal, but, you know, that's just me. You know, it's a Yeah.   Yeah.   Yeah. You are. Yeah. Yeah. So you're saying   Good one.  

[00:29:50] Unknown:

Or as interchangeable cogs of a global economy,   and it's hardly surprising   that they don't wanna be shuffled about or relentlessly   ignored by their leaders.   It is the business of democracy   to adjudicate these big questions at the ballot box.   I believe that dismissing   people, dismissing their concerns,   or worse yet, shutting down media, shutting down elections,   or shutting peep people out of the political process   protects nothing.   In fact, it is the most surefire way to destroy   democracy.   And speaking up and expressing opinions isn't election interference.   Even when people express views outside your own country and even when those people are very influential.  

And trust me, I say this with all humor.   If American democracy   can survive ten years of Greta Thunberg's scolding,   you guys can survive a few months of Elon Musk.  

[00:30:50] Jesse Fries:

It sucks that he messed up that joke.  

[00:30:53] Jamon Fries:

It really does. Yeah.  

[00:30:55] Jesse Fries:

Yeah.   Just the pronunciation, but yeah. It it ruined the joke. But it's still it's a funny concept.   Oh,  

[00:31:03] Unknown:

yeah. But what German democracy   what no democracy,   American, German, or European will survive   is telling millions of voters that their thoughts and concerns, their aspirations,   their pleas for relief are invalid   or unworthy of even being considered.   Democracy   rests on the sacred principle that the voice of the people matters.   There's no room for firewalls.   You either uphold the principle or you don't.   Europeans,   the people, have a voice.   European leaders have a choice.   And my strong belief   is that we do not need to be afraid of the future.   You can embrace what your people tell you, even when it's surprising,   even when you don't agree.  

And if you do so, you can face the future with certainty and with confidence   knowing that the nation stands behind each of you.   And that to me is the great magic of democracy. It's not in these stone buildings or beautiful hotels.   It's not even in the great institutions that we have built together as a shared society.   To believe in democracy is to understand that each of our citizens has wisdom   and has a voice.   And if we refuse to listen to that voice,   even our most successful fights will secure very little.   As Pope John Paul the second, in my view, one of the most extraordinary champions of democracy   on this continent or any other, once said,   do not be afraid.  

We shouldn't be afraid of our people even when they express views that disagree with their leadership.   Thank you all. Good luck to all of you. God bless you.  

[00:32:53] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. That's,   that was a powerful speech, though. It really was. It really was. I love the speech. It was it was a great speech.   And my my whole idea on democracy and free speech is that if you don't have free speech, you can't have a democracy.   Yeah. No. Absolutely.   You need to have   or or just any sort of democratic, even if it's, like, ours or, like, true democracy or whatever. You need   completely   free speech to be able to say whatever you want.   Yeah. And if you don't,   all it if you stop some people from speaking,   all you gotta do is lead to an underground   where you have no control, and you have no clue what they're saying.  



[00:33:39] Jamon Fries:

Yeah.  

[00:33:40] Jesse Fries:

And it'll just boil up, and it could lead to violence,   massive  

[00:33:45] Jamon Fries:

violence, civil war. Oh, yeah. It absolutely can. I mean, that that's that's what revolutions happen because of. Yep. Yep.  

[00:33:53] Jesse Fries:

It's, it it it it for me, it's sad to see, like, The UK going down   that road   because they've always been a firm believer of free speech and everything like that. Yeah. It's just the last couple years now that they've just been insane.   Yep. It it's like when coffee houses started   being built in The UK, the king wanted to   stop them because they were talking bad about him and everything like that. Yeah. But the British people just kept doing it.   The king goes, okay. Well, whatever.  

[00:34:23] Jamon Fries:

And they just let it happen. Yeah. You know? It's Well, you know, the that that's the one thing about the old monarchies   that that I have to respect is that   they knew that if they stopped the their the peasants from doing what they wanted to Uh-huh.   They would be   overthrown so quickly.  

[00:34:44] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. And, you know, it's like, pay attention to them.   You you you you know, it's like in France, the the French Revolution, that all came about because the leaders,   the upper And they didn't care.   They   neither the church nor the nobles cared.   Yeah. They they just kept spending money. You know? No. No. Don't get me wrong. I thank them for this money as a as an American citizen because Oh, absolutely. Yes. They did finance.   They financed our revolution.   Yes.   But   for the French people,   it was a bad choice. Just saying. Oh, yeah.   Yeah. Definitely.  

Yeah.  

[00:35:25] Jamon Fries:

Yeah. That that's one thing I think when when   when they went into parliamentary,   government forms government,   they really lost the   concept   of   you know, because now they had representatives of the people in in the parliament,   they no longer had to actually pay attention to what the people wanted.  

[00:35:50] Jesse Fries:

They did for a bit. I think it's just starting I I think   Well, I think it's cyclical. That's what it's becoming now. Yeah. Yeah. It it really has. For a long time, they were listen people were listened to. But   in the last   you could pinpoint it, like, since 2010 or something like that. Things have really been slight. You may maybe even before then and everything like that. Because it's like   so so so the way Europe and the EU came about is that they keep having elections. And if they don't get the result they want, they have another election.   Yeah. Over and over and over again until they get everybody they want into their system. It's Yep. It's like they already voted. You you know, it's like Scotland Scotland. They they they had a vote whether or not they'd go free from The UK.  

Yeah. Well, they didn't go free from The UK because they voted that way.   Like, six months later, they go, we need a new vote. It's like,   this is not how it works, people. You know, you vote   No. And that's your decision. You know? It's like, maybe in another generation I could see, you know, twenty years.   I I I could see that, but,   like, within a matter of a couple years, no. No. You just leave it be. Yeah.  

[00:37:04] Jamon Fries:

Yeah. It is insane.  

[00:37:06] Jesse Fries:

It really is. It really is.   Let's see what else we got here.  

[00:37:22] Jamon Fries:

Well,   let's,   let me see here.  

[00:37:28] Jesse Fries:

Oh, while you look,   you remember last time when I I told you that,   we talked about standing and how a lot of these things,   these court decisions? Well, yeah.   Just that same day. I think it was just right after the podcast.   A judge this was in the   which one was it?   It was, it was a union or something like that.   Oh, it was about the deferred, resignations and everything like that. Oh, okay. Yeah.   And you know how,   that that went away. That that that was allowed to happen.   You know.   But the the judge the judge said   the union has no standing.  

There's no there's no standing here.   He he goes, I I can't even decide the if this was good or not. It's just they have no standing. See? I was right. It all comes down to standing. You know? So many of these It does. Yeah. It is hilarious. This   sometimes our judicial system is just like the whole standing thing, it can get awfully weird. It's like but it directly affects me. But not really.   So then you have no standing. But yeah. Yeah. Yeah.  

[00:38:40] Jamon Fries:

I'm directly impacted by it, but   I have no standing because I'm not directly  

[00:38:47] Jesse Fries:

impacted by it. Yeah. Yeah. The judge said the plaintiffs, here are not directly impacted by the directive.   Instead, they alleged that the directive subjects them to an upstream   effects, including a division   diversion of resources to answer members' questions about the directive   and a potential loss of membership and possible reputational   harm. So   the the union is complaining that they may have to answer questions.   Oh, no. Yeah. Yeah. That that that's exactly what what the whole thing was. It's like,   oh, really?   That's kinda   that that that can't that's kinda weird.  

And then it was like he said continued to say the unions do not have the required direct stake in the fork directive, whatever that is. I guess that's what that was. But, are challenging a policy that affects others, specifically executive branch employees.   This is not sufficient. Well, that's what the judge O'Toole says on that one. So I thought that was funny that it was standing, and I just talked about standing last time. So  

[00:39:49] Jamon Fries:

yeah.   Yeah. Speaking of judges   Uh-huh.   Do you hear I I now I I haven't seen enough information on this to to   to to say it's absolutely true. Right. But   it seems a little bit hanky.   So the judge that halted Trump's abolishing the USAID  

[00:40:11] Jesse Fries:

Right.  

[00:40:14] Jamon Fries:

He was a,   he was a director   of a biz of an NGO   that was getting aid from USAID.   They got, like, over a hundred and 28,000,000   total in government funding.  

[00:40:34] Jesse Fries:

That seems hinky.  

[00:40:36] Jamon Fries:

I I think I saw the same story, but, yeah, it's, Yeah. I I saw it I saw it on it was, Alex Jones thing. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. That was the first one, and then then I found it in a on a website called The People's Voice. Yeah.   And, you know, I'd I'd   you with with with some of that stuff, you know, you'd I can't really verify   the Yep. Yep. How accurate it is. But, you know, the   in the the people's voice thing, they're they're,   they go into   talking about,   the positions that he held within the board.   He served as the chair of the board on the on this company.   So, I mean, he was he was directly   linked to the to a company that was receiving USAID   No. According to this. There there's a lot of stuff they have here that to verify it, so it's probably true.  



[00:41:31] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. In in most cases, I mean, it's insane.   It it sounds about right. These low level shows But, I mean, you know,  

[00:41:42] Jamon Fries:

I I don't know. I I think that there needs to be some kind of ramification against judges that don't recuse themselves   on stuff like this. I don't I I I know that there's some things that that can be done. You know, they can be disbarred and stuff like that. Right. But   I don't know. I mean, I think it needs to get me even worse.   You know?   When you start when you start playing law   to make sure that you keep getting money  

[00:42:09] Jesse Fries:

Well, right. There's a problem. No. You can.   This   if it's true and everything like that, and it's hinky enough, they he can be removed from,   the seat.   So it's it's, like, it's  

[00:42:23] Jamon Fries:

not uncommon, especially for law enforcement judges. So But, you know, I   personally, I think that it should be more than just be be removed from the seat. I think,   you know, there should be  

[00:42:36] Jesse Fries:

a felony attached to it or something. Yeah. No. I could see that. I could see that.  

[00:42:40] Jamon Fries:

I don't think that usually is how it works because it's like the immunity clause or something like that. Yeah. But, you know, I mean, you know, it I I wouldn't say jail time, but at least put something on their on their record so that it's known that this dude was really hanky.  

[00:42:57] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. Yeah.  

[00:43:00] Jamon Fries:

Makes sense. You know, getting getting removed from the seat, I mean,   you don't put that on your resume.  

[00:43:05] Jesse Fries:

Yeah.  

[00:43:07] Jamon Fries:

You really don't. You really don't. Yeah. But if you're a felon, you have to put that on your resume. So,   you know, it's,   I I think, you know, there has to be that one step further just to make sure that everybody knows   when this guy is coming in to talk to you that,   yeah, he's not really very ethical.  

[00:43:25] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Speaking of ethical, it's like, the Eric Adams,   New York City mayor. Yes.   You know, it's like,   the prosecution,   has or the attorney general, Pam Bondi, she has   removed that whole thing against him and everything like that. And the Democrats are whining and crying about it, as they always do with anything Trump does or his people.   But yeah. And a lot of the prosecutors that resigned, they were conservatives.   I've heard a theory that it was the certain group of,   super   conservative people   that   like to have power. I don't know if that's real or not. Okay.  

But either way, you know, it's like, okay. So some resigned. I really don't care. You know? And Yeah. And and in the end, though,   you just have to remember that this whole thing is that Eric Adams, he he kept what what was it? It was like some free flights or some upgrades on flights?   Mhmm. That that that's all they have evidence for?  

[00:44:28] Jamon Fries:

Yeah.  

[00:44:29] Jesse Fries:

And then they, of course, they wanna add the lying to the FBI on there. Because, you know, the FBI loves to do that, you know. Well, of course. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Which we should not be illegal to lie to the FBI, by the way.   Well, it it's a great thing where the government goes, you know, it's illegal to lie to us. Yeah. Yeah. You know, it's   a   It's like, I'm not under oath, dude. Just say it. You know? Yeah. So so so   I always say, just don't talk to the FBI. It just makes more sense. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's Yep.   They come to the door going, but I don't know. Zip your mouth and move on with life. But,   absolutely.  

That's the then there's the there's so many lawsuits. I swear to God. It's Oh, there are. It's like the lawsuit seeking to kick Elon Musk, out of the government,   saying that he doesn't have any standing in anything like that, and that he can't fire or anything like that.   This is especially about the USAID   situation.   Okay.   Yeah. Yeah. He they say he doesn't have that power, but if you actually   the article   went on and on about this, and then it said but in all essence, it was actually Marco Rubio,   secretary,   of state, who's in charge of USA that actually fired them.  

Yeah.   Okay. So Musk gave his opinion on what should happen.   And then   Rubio   goes, sounds good.  

[00:46:01] Jamon Fries:

And then he goes, yeah. Musk Musk is in an advisory position. He Yeah. He has no authority to do anything.   No. No. But it's a powerful advisory position. It it just so happens that Trump and most of the people that he's working with   say, yes. We should make that change.  

[00:46:19] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. Yeah. And then sometimes there's mistakes, like when   he laid   when when they laid off some nuclear weapon workers.   Yeah.   That was a oops.  

[00:46:33] Jamon Fries:

Yeah. Yeah. Well, the worst part about it was, you know, they unlike if they had been regular full time employees,   but they weren't, they hadn't been there for a full year, so they were just, temporary workers.   Mhmm. The government now has no way to contact them.   They're trying to get them to come back to work for them. Ouch. That sucks. That sucks. Yeah. So so they're reaching out to all of the people that that they worked with saying, hey. If you've got this guy's contact info,   let him know. We wanna bring him back.  

[00:47:06] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. That that that was a that was a big mistake. You know? But Yeah. Yeah. But then when you're working   so fast   and and I I think it's the only thing that   is keeping   the opposition   on their heels   Yes. To where they they don't have time to actually think about it. It's like it's just onto their necks. Movement slow, they would they would get bogged down so quickly. Yeah. It's just like  

[00:47:31] Jamon Fries:

next day. Okay. Next day. Yep. Next day. Next day. Yep. Five things today. Two things tomorrow. Yeah. That is Well, it it's, you know, it it's like, okay. So the Social Security thing. Mhmm. You know, Musk was saying that there's that there's 50   year olds are still in the registers.   Right.   Like, two days later, they come out and start saying,   those those people that are a hundred and 50 year old, they may may still be in there, but they're not getting checks anymore. Uh-huh. And I'm like, that was two days ago.   We've moved on from there.  



[00:48:08] Jesse Fries:

Yep. Next thing. Yeah.   And and and I'm sure yeah. You know, it's like but you grab the headlines with something, and I'm sure after some time, Musk goes, okay. Yeah.   He knew that, they weren't getting checks after some time or whatnot. If that's true, I don't know. I don't know anything about it, really. I I Well, I mean well, the thing is that he never said that they were getting checks. He just said that they were in the Social Security registers.   Right. Right. Right. There are also some, like, older than, like, George Washington. Was that worth it?  

[00:48:40] Jamon Fries:

Yeah. I mean, you know, it it's just a simple thought of, you know,   once,   Yeah. And and that's part of the reason why   you can use   dead people's Social Security numbers Mhmm. Is because they don't take them out of the system.  

[00:48:55] Jesse Fries:

Right. Right.  

[00:48:56] Jamon Fries:

If they took them out of the system after they died,   then you wouldn't have a social there wouldn't be that Social Security number that could be linked to anyone.   Mhmm.   Yeah. And so that would get rid of a lot of the the fake ID issues.  

[00:49:11] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. I could see that. I could see that.   Because, yeah, there's aren't there a lot,   especially, like, well, a lot of people with the same Social Security number too. Oh, yeah. Yeah. So Thousands of people with the same Social Security number. Yeah. It's like, how does that work? You know, different names, same Social Security number, and you're letting that through? Okay. Yeah. Seems a bit empty. No. I mean, it just  

[00:49:33] Jamon Fries:

they they need a lot better control on on the identifying numbers. Oh, yeah. Yep. Yep.  

[00:49:44] Jesse Fries:

But,   let's see   what else we got here.   Oh,   the justice department,   is suing New York over their,   driver's licenses,   because New York New York has a law 2019   law   called License Access and Privacy   Act.   Mhmm. Basically, it means that, they can't share any of their vehicle data or anything like that with federal government,   for immigration purposes. It also allows illegals to get to get driver's licenses.  

[00:50:23] Jamon Fries:

Wait. Can't share the vehicle information with the federal government? Yep.  

[00:50:28] Jesse Fries:

For immigration   purposes.   This is a sanctuary law is basically what it is. So   Mhmm.  

[00:50:38] Jamon Fries:

Doesn't seem quite right.  

[00:50:40] Jesse Fries:

No. It's just these that's why they're being sued.   That's why Pam Bondi is going after him on that one saying,   no. That's immigration. That's,   my ball of wax or the federal ball of wax. So yeah. Yep.  

[00:50:55] Jamon Fries:

Yeah. And the EPA,   the head of the EPA wants to,   take back the money that's sitting in the bank that,   Biden put out there.  

[00:51:05] Jesse Fries:

What  

[00:51:05] Jamon Fries:

now? Right before Biden left office, he,   put a whole bunch of money into a bank, and it was earmarked for,   green deals.  

[00:51:15] Jesse Fries:

Oh, okay.  

[00:51:17] Jamon Fries:

And   but there's   basically   no one looking   over the   things that were supposed to be that they wanted funded. There there's no oversight at all on those things anymore.   Oh, lovely. The the   the bank   I mean, no one no one is claiming no one has claimed that money.   Mhmm. And so the EPA is now going back and saying, hey. We want the bank to return that money.  

[00:51:46] Jesse Fries:

Makes sense to me. Makes sense to me. Yeah. Yeah.  

[00:51:57] Jamon Fries:

Yes. That was that was interesting.  

[00:51:59] Jesse Fries:

Oh, yeah. Yeah.   Yeah. And, the whole Ukraine thing, you know, Trump just   he doesn't care about Zelensky.   He   wants all, like, all the rare earth minerals   in Ukraine or something like that or half of them or something that, you know, you you want to get paid back for, what we've given them and everything like that. Yeah.   Yeah. EU is freaking out like nobody's business over this whole situation.  

[00:52:28] Jamon Fries:

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, going I just thought of it, but going back to that,   you know, Trump calling Zelensky a dictator.  

[00:52:35] Jesse Fries:

Uh-huh.  

[00:52:37] Jamon Fries:

I mean, look at what he did with the farm with his farms. He basically sold his farms to The US   Yeah. With that money. Yep. Yep. I mean,   that's that is definitely the actions of a dictator.  

[00:52:49] Jesse Fries:

You would think so, but, you know, Zelensky's yeah. That that that was weird about Ukraine is that the farmers just leased it from the state,   their property.   So it it it's it's   it's like feudalism. It's basically what it is. It really is. Yeah. You lease from the Lord, from the government.   You don't actually own anything. You know? It's kinda weird. You know? I know people complain about, like, taxes and property taxes here in The United States. They get these that's theft and whatnot. But, you know, the government needs some money, so, whatever. But the   but this is your actually leasing the land  

[00:53:23] Jamon Fries:

from these people. You know? It's like Yeah. And and the worst part about it is that, you know, here yes. Here in The US, we have imminent domain. Right. So your land can be taken away from you. Right. Right. But you have to be paid a  

[00:53:36] Jesse Fries:

certain amount for that land. And you have to be given due process.   Yes. Absolutely. So you could take that to court and say, and then the court will decide. You know? It's a  

[00:53:47] Jamon Fries:

However,   in   Ukraine, since they were leasing the land from the government, when when they wanted funding from the US government, all they had to do is kick the people off of the land without giving them anything.  

[00:53:58] Jesse Fries:

Or just keep them on the land, and then we get the   lease money is basically what it is. Well, no. It it it well, I know. I know. I I know some have been kicked up. But I'm saying it could work either way, you know, because one lord, you know, per se Yes. Yeah. Could just take over and then start Yeah. Creeping the yeah. The the what I what I really wanna know, though, is  

[00:54:17] Jamon Fries:

do we now own that land, or are we just leasing it from Ukraine?  

[00:54:22] Jesse Fries:

I I think I from what I understand, like, some of the big boys,   agricultural companies own it now, like Cargill or whatever. I don't know exactly which ones. It might not be Cargill. So we are the only landowners in Ukraine.   Possibly.   Possibly.   Which is funny because Trump said we didn't get anything.  

[00:54:40] Jamon Fries:

So I I wonder how   Well, we we as in the government didn't get anything.  

[00:54:46] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. It was the the corporations.   God. That's a funny thing. That's how we always do things, though. That's It really is. That's been US foreign policy for forever where the government doesn't get anything, but all our businesses and companies get it. Yeah.   And then the businesses   pay   for me to get reelected   and so on and so forth. It's   that's usually what the cycle is. Yeah. Trump actually just wants the government to get paid back. That'd be weird. Yeah.   No kidding.   So weird. So weird. But, yeah, the EU is so pissed off about that whole thing. They don't trust Putin.   He's they say that he reneged on some deals and everything like that, but so did we. You know, we reneged on some deals, like the NATO would not expand. People will say it wasn't written down, but James Baker, he said it would we would. It was a handshake deal. Exactly.  

Exactly. It has just as much authority as a written paper. That's what I say, but not to these people.   And it seems like the EU really wants the war to continue. It's  

[00:55:49] Jamon Fries:

Well, I mean, yes, they do. The it's   it it brings in money,  

[00:55:56] Jesse Fries:

But not to them. It brings in money to The US.   Their money gets spent on our contractors.  

[00:56:04] Jamon Fries:

Right. But then we give them money.   It's just asinine, the whole thing. It's just It it is it it's all about the money. But, I mean, all the all the way back into the first year of the war,   there was a there were already   attempts to pay to make peace, but The US and The UK   box just completely nixed those deals.  

[00:56:26] Jesse Fries:

Mhmm.  

[00:56:27] Jamon Fries:

Nope. I mean, Ukraine and Russia were talking.   They were they were they were figuring out a way to to stop the war.   And the UK and the US come in and say, no. We're fighting this. Damn it. We gotta stop him. I know. I know.  

[00:56:42] Jesse Fries:

It is so funny. It's like so some of these, like like, Latvia and whatnot,   they say that there can't be peace if Europe isn't involved.   I'm like going we all know who the power is. It's not Europe. For God's sakes, it's not Europe. So what does it matter if Europe agrees to anything? In all essence, they're nothing. Literally nothing to us. They don't they they have no power. Now this may change,   you know,   which with how militant they are, maybe not for in a good way, but   Europe is weak.   Even if if you add everything together, all of their spending and everything like that, they are weak.   Yeah. And the only thing that's checking Russia's power is The US.  

Yep.   And the same is actually the same with China. We're the only one checking their power as well. Nobody else is.   Yeah. It's The US worldwide   that is checking these other two powers. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, but it's just the system   that we have right now. You know? And   yeah. And then you have Pete Hegseth just saying, yeah. NATO's off the table, dude. Just saying   for for Ukraine. That's,   that pissed off the Europeans. Like, nobody's business Oh, I can imagine.   Yeah. But   to to me, it's like   I think NATO creeped too much. You know? I think Oh, absolutely.  

I think Europe I think what should've happened is if Europe wanted all those things,   they should've had their own   alliance system.   Yes. Not one base with us.  

[00:58:15] Jamon Fries:

Right.  

[00:58:16] Jesse Fries:

You you know, it it's   yeah. Yeah.   And then you have, like, countries so oh, we're gonna join the fight and everything like that. And I'm like, well, if they join the fight,   does that mean article five of the NATO   agreement   is not active because they're joining the fight? Because if then Russia then they're a valid target for Russia,   technically, if they join the fight.   And they're the ones that started it in for their side.   You know what I mean? If you start a fight, doesn't mean I have to join yet.   Yeah. Yeah. No. Absolutely.   Yeah. So I wonder if, how that goes, but   these are the thoughts in my head.  



[00:58:56] Jamon Fries:

That's very interesting, though. Right? Right?   It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out if if anything happens.  

[00:59:05] Jesse Fries:

It will. It will.   I I   the way I see this playing out is Putin and Trump, they're gonna get this sorted out,   and they're gonna   divvy up Ukraine.   And   that's just gonna be it. I that that's really how I think it's gonna be. It's,   Europe might get a little bit here or there, but I think that's about it. It's not   so  

[00:59:28] Jamon Fries:

Yeah. And and then it'll just go back to the way it's always been.  

[00:59:32] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. Yeah. Like, because Ukraine   like, under the Soviet Union and even before that, it wasn't really separate. It was just Yeah. Part of Russia and everything like that. You know? Yeah. It's, the Russian people actually started in Kyiv.   Yep. So   or Kyiv, however you wanna say it, but, you know, I like Kyiv. It's   familiar to me. It sounds more familiar. It sounds better. Yeah. Yeah. That's that's how I figure. You know? It's it's like Turkiye. No. It's Turkey. I'm just saying. Yep. Just absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know I'm bad, but what can you do? That's a  

[01:00:08] Jamon Fries:

it rolls off the tongue better.  

[01:00:10] Jesse Fries:

It really does. It really does.   Just like knowing that this podcast is a value for value model, So, you guys can help donate to us.   There is a link in just the description,   that, takes you to our PayPal.   And you can also go to our website, mindlessmeanderings.com.   There is also a funding link there as well. Just send us whatever you think this podcast is worth to you. Could be a dollar, could be $5, could be more, could be a hundred dollars. I don't care. Just send us something. It'd be nice to actually get some money for doing what we like to do.   And if you have any thoughts about the podcast, you can also help out with that. You can email me at jesse@mindlessseas.com   or c, not seas, mindless c dot com   and or jamon@mindlessmeanderings.com.  

But, yeah, just help us out any which way you want or just, tell us we're full of shit. That might be entertaining too. You know?   So do we have any, like, tech news or anything like that?  

[01:01:13] Jamon Fries:

The only thing related to tech that I that I found was that, South Korea   is removing DeepSeek from the app stores for privacy concerns.  

[01:01:24] Jesse Fries:

Oh, okay. Okay. They don't trust China is what it is. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Makes sense. Makes sense.  

[01:01:30] Jamon Fries:

I I I wouldn't be surprised if that started happening in more countries. I mean, especially with the reaction to TikTok that you that The US has had. Yeah. Yeah.   I think, you know, because deep deep seek is so is   a lot of those AI things like deep seek,   they're   used by in a lot different ways than, like, TikTok is. Right. Right. You know, TikTok, they they get,   you know, information about people.   But with DeepSeek, you know, you've got all sorts of stuff. I mean, you know, it helps you with coding and everything else like that. So Yep. You get you can gain access to a lot more. Oh, yeah. Yeah. It looks like,  

[01:02:14] Jesse Fries:

DeepSeek was actually banned here in Texas as well for state computers.   Oh, okay. Yep. So   there you go.  

[01:02:26] Jamon Fries:

That's the only thing tech related that I've that I've came that I've found today this week, though. It's it's been a really slow week.  

[01:02:34] Jesse Fries:

It really has. It's all about Trump. It's just all about the lawsuits. And 9090%  

[01:02:39] Jamon Fries:

about Trump of what they're do talking about with Trump is all the lawsuits.  

[01:02:43] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. It it's the lawsuits.   And also telling everybody it's a constitutional crisis.   Yeah. Everything is a constitutional crisis. It doesn't matter. It's a constitutional crisis. He pooped. I It's a constitutional crisis.  

[01:02:58] Jamon Fries:

I I do love one of the responses that I heard about the about it being a constitutional crisis, though. Uh-huh.   And that is the day that the   that the administrative   office   can't do anything because the judges tell them that they can't do it is a constitutional   crisis.  

[01:03:21] Jesse Fries:

You see see, but that isn't also because it's a checks and balance. You you you know, it's like   because it will go up the chain.   Oh, yeah. Yeah. And and generally, the Supreme Court sides with the executive.  

[01:03:33] Jamon Fries:

Just saying Usually, yes.  

[01:03:36] Jesse Fries:

The Supreme Court, it's   it is a pro federal institution.  

[01:03:42] Jamon Fries:

Yes. The the reason that the Supreme Court usually sides with the administrative   office   is because   most of what they deal with that involves the administrative office is actually the powers of the administrative office. Yes. Yes. Supreme Court, unlike the unlike the underlying courts, the only thing the Supreme Court can look at   is the constitution.   Yep. Is it constitutional  

[01:04:06] Jesse Fries:

or not? Yeah. And then the laws within that to see if, those are constitutional or if the if the law is constitutional, then how does that affect you and so on and so forth. You know? Yes. Yeah. It's,   but, yeah, they   that that that's always the funny thing is that   it's like I always thought that the Supreme Court was there to decide and everything like that,   like for everybody, be like a fair arbiter and everything like that. And then Okay. And then, like, in the I think it was for   and then I took a course on the Supreme Court and   history course on the Supreme Court. And it it's just no. They're federal. They believe in federal power. That is why they're there. They believe that the federal government can do pretty much anything, you know, and  

[01:04:50] Jamon Fries:

there you go. Their entire existence is to make sure that the other branches of government follow the constitutional   follow the constitution.  

[01:04:57] Jesse Fries:

That is their sole purpose. It is. It is. And because of that, I've I've thought that maybe we should have, like,   a a state's court where where where the states send representatives   to a court and can choose a court to go, no. No. No. No. No. That you think that's federal, but no. No. No. That's state power. Yeah. You know?   Okay. Because I sometimes I think the federal government has got a little bit too big for their britches Yes.  

[01:05:21] Jamon Fries:

Yes. Yes. Yes. They're they're forced to do. Well, you know, the the thing that I just absolutely   find amusing is that   is how much   power the federal government grabs   by using the interstate commerce clause. It's everything. Yeah. It doesn't matter. Yeah. Yeah.   If it if if some if a pebble crosses over the state line in the production of this good,   it means that it's the that it's the interstate commerce clause can control it. Or it's not even that. It's like if you produce something  

[01:05:55] Jesse Fries:

that is sold within your own state, solely in your own state,   but it affects the national market   Yes.   By driving down price or whatnot just because it's not as that is also   internet or interstate   commerce. It's like Yeah. Oh, dude. You you you know, it's like it gets kinda crazy. Yeah. But Yeah. It really does. Yeah. That that that's why I think so. I would like to see a state supreme court sort of thing to to where like like, the states   it's like dueling supreme courts, you know, one for state power, one for federal power, and they fight. You know?   I think it'd be awesome.  



[01:06:35] Jamon Fries:

Oh, hell yeah. Or do you think of the news headlines?  

[01:06:38] Jesse Fries:

Right? Right? Exactly. It'd be back and forth back and forth. No. I'm right. No. I'm right. You you you know, it'd be good. It'd be good. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. We might actually get some rights back. You know? It's Right. That'd be crazy. Yeah.   Let's see here. What else do we got? Anything else?   Except for my funny last bit. It's, Yeah.   Oh, there's a   apparently,   they did a they took a survey,   and they have found that,   cons this was only for women.   Conservative women   are,   happier   or more satisfied, let's say, are more satisfied   than liberal women.  

Okay.   37%   of,   conservative women say that they're satisfied.   Yeah. 12%   of liberals say that they're satisfied   of women.   Okay. And then moderates are 28%. Moderates are always in the middle.   Yeah. Yeah.   And then, let's see here.   Liberal women also feel more lonely,   than conservatives   by a difference of 29 to 11%.   Mhmm.   But then   more conservatives are married   and not single and so on and so forth. So, you you know, it's of course, if you're married,   you'll probably be less lonely,   generally.   You could be lonely in a marriage, though, if so. Yeah. You could be lonely in a marriage, though.  

[01:08:09] Jamon Fries:

One one would hope that you would be less lonely if you're married.   It Hopefully, it doesn't work that way. But, hopefully, it works that way.  

[01:08:15] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. Sometimes the other one is a bastard or a bitch. You know? What can you do? It's it's just what it is. So it's, Yep.   Oh, and then there was another study, that I saw. It's,   basically, if you wanna reverse   your cognitive,   ability, like, by about ten years, just turn off the data on your cell phone.   Really? So, basically, go offline.   Yeah. Okay.   Get off the Internet and just   be.   Yeah? Yeah. You'll spend more time outside.  

[01:08:49] Jamon Fries:

You'll spend more time exercising, being with friends, that sort of thing. So Well, I mean, I could do that on my on my phone, and it would have no impact,  

[01:08:58] Jesse Fries:

on my PC all day anyway. Yes. Yes. Yes. Hey.   This is just you know, most people are just on their phones. Yeah. Some people don't even have computers nowadays. Because Well, you know, the it it's probably more related to the people that, like,  

[01:09:13] Jamon Fries:

you know, as they're walking down the street, they're using their phone. They're they're watching they're doing something on their phone. When they're in the subway, they're doing something on the phone. When they're on the bus, they're doing something on the phone rather than actually communicating with people around them or paying attention to the world around them. Right. Right. No. Yeah. Completely. Completely. Yeah.  

[01:09:35] Jesse Fries:

Let's see. And then the last story. The the this one is just a funny one. It's a older story. Don't get me wrong. It's from 2017. But I just ran across it, and it's hilarious.   So, apparently,   stink bombs that, Israelis use against Palestinians   and the Palestinians,   they they they they stink, and they drive the Palestinians off when they're protesting and everything like that. Okay.   Apparently, they don't work against Indians.  

[01:10:06] Jamon Fries:

Yeah. Because they're so Well, I mean, you know?  

[01:10:10] Jesse Fries:

Yeah. Yeah. It's a   as this story says, it's   Indians seem to have attained immunity against foul smell, thanks to the colorful stentches emanating from overflowing landfills, public toilets, garbage heaps, and whatnot.   So   Nice little dig in India there. Well, it it was from a paper, newspaper, India India Times. Yeah. So it was a it was a local they were Indian. Oh, yeah. Yeah. They were Indian. May may maybe they were just,   they just have that name for some other reason. But yeah. Well, the best digs are when they're done by yourself. I know. Right? Exactly.   And with that, thank you for joining us for episode 25 of the Mindless Meandering podcast. I'm Jesse Fries. And I'm Jamin Fries. And you guys have a great week.