Mike & Trey kick off the show by talking about a big opioid verdict against Johnson & Johnson in Oklahoma as well as a pending mega-settlement between Purdue Pharma and nearly 2,000 litigants. They agree that opioid abuse has had disastrous and tragic consequences, but neither Mike nor Trey are convinced that the Johnson & Johnson verdict will hold up on appeal. Purdue Pharma, having already admitted wrongdoing in previous cases (including a settlement with Oklahoma) is altogether different they believe.
Next, they discuss the 2020 presidential race, including a new Republican challenger to Donald Trump (one-term Illinois representative Joe Walsh), the Democrats who made the cut for the next debate, transparency of the Democratic debate rules, and who they see as the most likely - and most dangerous - general election opponent to President Trump.
After that they turn to the resignation of Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson and what it means for 2020. They agree that it’s good news for the Democrats, but Mike thinks the Republicans will still probably hold both seats, especially as Stacey Abrams has said she won’t run (which Mike thinks might have something to do with her hopes of being Joe Biden’s VP pick).
The show ends with a discussion of the border wall - first, allegations that President Trump has promised pardons to those who break the law to get the wall built, followed by President Trump’s keen interest in the aesthetics of the wall. Trey thinks that Trump probably did at least joke about pardons, and that it was either intuitively or strategically a smart move. Mike says that the focus on building a big, intimidating wall is largely empty symbolism, and characteristic of Donald Trump.
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The Constitution: Article VI
Navarro Conviction, Impeachment of Paxton, The Federal Deficit, Mexico’s Pro-Choice Ruling, The State of Labor Unions
Trump, Biden, and Sorority Sisters
Medicare Drug Price Negotiations, Should McConnell Retire?
Trump Indictments, Maui and Climate Change, Prigozhin Murder
GOP Presidential 'Debate', Can Trump Legally Run Again?
The Constitution: Article V
Racketeering, Republican Primary, Marion Newspaper, Tuberville
Are Liberal Elites to Blame for Trump?
Biden & China; SCOTUS & Ghost Guns; Manchin, Trump & Party Loyalty
Biden Special Counsel, Abortion, Trump Indictment, Ukraine Funding
Gender Affirming Care, Constitutional Change, Social Media & Politics
Trump Indictment, 2024 Election, US Credit Downgrade
UFOs, Harvard’s Legacy Admissions, Far-Right Movements
Trump Indictment, Biden Plea Deal, Record Heat
Rachel Korberg on American Workers and Quality Jobs
The U.S. Constitution: Article IV, Sections 3 and 4
Israel, Sea Grain Initiative, Cash Bail, Election Maps, RFK Jr
The U.S. Constitution: Article III, Section 3 and Article IV, Section 1
NATO, Sotomayor, Thomas, Inflation
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