congress

Promising COVID Drug Flops, Looming Meat Problem, Trump & Disinfectants

April 24, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Promising COVID Drug Flops, Looming Meat Problem, Trump & Disinfectants” on Spreaker.

Join Jim and Greg for the Friday martinis! After a quick discussion on Michigan Democrats censuring one of their state representatives who recovered from COVID and thanked President Trump for mentioning hydroxychloroquine, they turn to three bad martinis. First, they’re bummed to hear Chinese trials of remdesivir were apparently a bust. They also grimace as the virus is significantly limiting production at meat processing plants. And they hammer Trump and the media over Thursday’s disinfectant dust-up.

What Will Be the Economic Toll from COVID-19?

April 23, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “What Will Be the Economic Toll from COVID-19?” on Spreaker.

On Thursday, the Department of Labor reported more than 4.4 million jobs lost in the past week. Over the past five weeks, 26.4 million people have filed first-time jobless claims.

What are the short-term and long-term economic impacts of this hemorrhaging of jobs, productivity, and revenue? How much has the Paycheck Protection Program helped? And how aggressively can our economy re-engage when we’re already hearing some schools may not be opening in the fall and the Centers for Disease Control believes the coronavirus could be worse in the coming winter than it is now?

Brian Wesbury is chief economist at First Trust Advisors in Wheaton, Illinois, and formerly served as chief economist for the Joint Economic Committee of Congress. He walks us through these difficult questions, explains the indicators for and against a rise in inflation, and sizes up the recent volatility in the oil markets.

Don’t miss this critical conversation on the state of our economy.

More Small Biz Relief, Freedom to Go Outside? Earlier Virus Deaths

April 22, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “More Small Biz Relief, Freedom to Go Outside? Earlier Virus Deaths” on Spreaker.

Join Jim and Greg as they welcome more help from Congress to help small businesses stay afloat. They also shudder at a new poll showing 75 percent of seniors don’t even want non-essential workers to be allowed outside. And they discuss the significance of learning coronavirus was here and killing people earlier than we thought.

Birx Slams WHO, 22 Million Lost Jobs, Governors Ignore Constitution

April 16, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Birx Slams WHO, 22 Million Lost Jobs, Governors Ignore Constitution” on Spreaker.

Jim starts this edition by blasting the World Health Organization for suggesting that alcohol consumption makes the coronavirus worse. Then he and Greg applaud Dr. Birx for calling out the WHO and China for a deadly lack of transparency that cost the rest of the world valuable time in preparing for the virus. They also lament the 22 million lost in the past four weeks and the lack of urgency in Congress to replenish funds for the Paycheck Protection Program – and discuss how to reopen the economy most responsibly. And they unload on New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy for admitting he never considered the Bill of Rights in having 15 people arrested for gathering at a synagogue in his state and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer for saying her severe restrictions are fine because it snowed in Michigan this week.

The Real Phyllis Schlafly: Hollywood vs. Reality

April 15, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “The Real Phyllis Schlafly: Hollywood vs. Reality” on Spreaker.

In the 1970’s the Equal Rights Amendment was on its way to swift ratification, when a woman named Phyllis Schlafly launched a grassroots effort to torpedo the amendment by showing women why they didn’t want it.

Wednesday night, F/X and Hulu are teaming up to present “Mrs. America,” a multi-part examination of the battle over the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Unsurprisingly, the Hollywood story line is that the amendment was a good thing and Mrs. Schlafly was wrong to oppose it.

According to Schlafly’s daughter Anne Schlafly Cori, “Mrs. America” gets her mother’s hair and wardrobe exactly right but fails to capture her warmth and ability to inspire thousands of women. It also badly mischaracterizes the Schlafly marriage.

In this podcast, Schlafly Cori explains why her mother jumped in to lead the fight against the ERA, what she thinks of efforts by Democrats to claim they’ve ratified the amendment long after the window of opportunity expired, and why she thinks the resurgence is all about abortion.

Optimism in New York, Private Sector to the Rescue, Pelosi’s Pandering

March 31, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Optimism in New York, Private Sector to the Rescue, Pelosi’s Pandering” on Spreaker.

Join Jim and Greg for two good martinis and some craziness. They welcome evidence that the spread of COVID-19 may be slowing in New York. They also salute private industries shifting their focus in big ways to meet the demand for ventilators, masks, and more. And they roll their eyes as Nancy Pelosi begins eyeing the next big spending bill.

Hopeful Signs, Massie’s Miscalculation, Who Believes China?

March 27, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Hopeful Signs, Massie’s Miscalculation, Who Believes China?” on Spreaker.

Join Jim and Greg as they welcome reassuring news from Dr. Birx about the COVID-19 threat. They also agree there’s a ton of wasteful spending in the relief bill but aren’t sure if forcing members back to D.C. was a great move by Rep. Thomas Massie. And they slam media outlets for believing the U.S. really has more COVID-19 cases than China and wonder whether China is hiding a second spike of the virus.

This episode is sponsored by Acre Gold. Go to getacregold.com/martini. Acre is giving away a gold bar for the month of March. Tweet why you should win and mention @get_acre for a chance to win the free gold.

The Wasteful Spending Inside the Coronavirus Relief Bill

March 26, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “The Wasteful Spending Inside the Coronavirus Relief Bill” on Spreaker.

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package Wednesday night and the House is expected to follow suit as soon as Friday. But in addition to the critical relief for families and businesses is a lot of spending that hardly seems relevant to the crisis at hand.

For example, the legislation allots $250 million for the IRS, $350 for migration and refugee assistance, $75 million for NPR and PBS, $25 million for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and many others.

So how did this happen and what was happening behind the scenes even as the Senate floor debate was under way? How does House Speaker Nancy Pelosi justify these spending demands from the GOP-led Senate? And how should a fiscally conservative member approach a bill like this when other provisions need to be approved immediately?

We discuss these and other questions with Adam Andrzejewski, founder and CEO of OpentheBooks.com.

Unemployment Skyrockets, U.S Indicts Maduro, COVID-19 Terrorism Threat

March 26, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Unemployment Skyrockets, U.S Indicts Maduro, COVID-19 Terrorism Threat” on Spreaker.

Jim and Greg shudder as 3.28 million Americans lost their jobs last week. They also recoil at an alleged plot to bomb a hospital full of COVID-19 patients. But they cheer the U.S. lowering the boom on Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro.

Fauci’s Common Sense, Stimulus Stumbling Blocks, Sanders Still Stubborn

March 25, 2020 by GregC

Listen to “Fauci’s Common Sense, Stimulus Stumbling Blocks, Sanders Still Stubborn” on Spreaker.

Today, Jim and Greg applaud the practical approach of Dr. Fauci on chloroquine. They also grumble as Nancy Pelosi and Andrew Cuomo are still not sold on the COVID-19 relief bill, and Jim unloads on Bernie for still focusing on the 2020 campaign.