Unf*cking The Republic UNFTR Media

The United States Postal Service is one of the most derided institutions in the country. Also, it’s one of the most highly regarded according to every poll conducted on government agencies. This episode digs into our complicated relationship with the Postal Service and examines the historical challenges facing this institution. We cover the controversy surrounding Louis DeJoy, the current Postmaster General and his ten-year plan to modernize the agency. And we finish with a recommendation for how it should ultimately be run that honors its original mandate.

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:48

Chapter One: Ye Olde Post Office. 00:01:41

Chapter Two: The Post Office Gets a Makeover. 00:06:11

Chapter Three: Ode to DeJoy. 00:13:20

Bring it home, Max. 00:18:37

Post Show Musings: 00:27:14

Outro: 00:34:47

Resources

Pew Research Center: Public Holds Broadly Favorable Views of Many Federal Agencies, Including CDC and HHS

USPS: Postal Facts

Congress.gov: ArtI.S8.C7.1 Historical Background on Postal Power

Brookings: How is the U.S. Postal Service governed and funded?

The Guardian: There was only one loser in this Royal Mail privatisation: the taxpayer

Wikipedia: Bandwidth throttling

United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General: Postal Retirement Funds in Perspective: Historical Evolution and Ongoing Challenges

Congressional Research Service: FY2024 U.S. Postal Service Appropriations

Vox: Trump thinks Amazon’s destroying the post office. Here’s what’s really happening.

Katie Porter gets DeJoy to make embarrassing admission at USPS hearing

USPS: Delivering for America

The Guardian: ‘It’s going to delay the mail’: the fight over Louis DeJoy’s USPS plan

GovExec: Biden taps former cabinet secretary for USPS board

GovExec: Senators call on postal board to abandon DeJoy’s USPS reforms

Common Dreams: 'DeJoy Has to Go Right Now': Fury Over Postal Service Failure to Electrify Truck Fleet

Time: Louis DeJoy’s Surprising Second Act

CNN: Biden signs US Postal Service reform bill into law

Hey Arnold: I Hate The Snow

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If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR

Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.

Join the Unf*cker-run Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/2051537518349565

Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee® at shop.unftr.com.

Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic® at unftr.com/blog to get the essays these episode are framed around sent to your inbox every week.

Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP.

Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations.

Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.

Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.

Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®."
Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliamentary elections were held in the European Union last week. It did not go well. Check that. It went very well for the right-wing movement in Europe. Most Americans caught wind of some kind of election in the EU but it’s fair to say that few really understand what it was all about. And with good reason. This stuff is really confusing. Scores of parties under the umbrella of seven coalition parties, 720 members representing 27 nations, two councils, one commission, a bank and court. No one is in charge and everyone is in charge. In this episode we break down the governing structure of the EU and lay out what was at stake in this election.

Chapters

Intro: 00:01:07

Chapter One: 00:01:42

Chapter Two: 00:05:29

Sponsors: 00:16:51

Chapter Three: 00:17:40

Skit: 00:25:59

Post Show Musings: 00:30:24

Outro: 00:43:31

Resources

Organisation of the European Commission

Jacobin: In France, the Far Right Is Beating a Divided Left 

The New York Times: In E.U. Elections, the Center Holds, but the Far Right Still Wreaks Havoc

The Guardian: Ursula von der Leyen in pole position as she tries to build majority to keep job | European parliamentary elections 2024

European Parliament: MEPs

World Socialist Web Site: Why is the far-right vote surging in the European elections?

Reuters: EU’s bid to save bees stings sugar beet farmers

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If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR

Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.

Join the Unf*cker-run Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/2051537518349565

Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee® at shop.unftr.com.

Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic® at unftr.com/blog to get the essays these episode are framed around sent to your inbox every week.

Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP.

Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations.

Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.

Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.

Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®."
Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Max and 99 are back after a few week Show Notes hiatus. In this episode they catch up on the most recent episodes and the latest news. Enjoy!

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:20

Emails: 00:27:35

Memberships: 01:21:50

Reviews: 01:22:16

Outro: 01:22:45

Resources

UNFTR TikTok

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If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR

Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.

Join the Unf*cker-run Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/2051537518349565

Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee® at shop.unftr.com.

Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic® at unftr.com/blog to get the essays these episode are framed around sent to your inbox every week.

Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP.

Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations.

Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.

Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.

Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®."
Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Max breaks down the biggest scandal in the healthcare industry (and that’s saying a lot). We walk through how a bunch of pencil pushing pharmacy middlemen became so powerful they bought out the biggest health insurance companies and pharmacy chains, and did it through hiking up drug prices, kickbacks and taking advantage of government contracts. This is the story of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and how they became the American Drug Cartel.

Chapters

Intro: 00:00:36

Sponsors: 00:03:14

Chapter One: The Birth of the American Drug Mafia. 00:04:47

Chapter Two: Unraveling the Supply Chain. 00:16:15

Chapter Three: Is that all? Please tell me that’s all. 00:28:09

Chapter Four: Bring it home, Max. 00:38:44

Post Show Musings: 00:45:24

Outro: 00:01:16

Resources

NAIC: Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Healthcare Dive: FTC launches investigation into PBMs; CVS, UnitedHealth, Cigna and more hit with requests for data

FTC: FTC Launches Inquiry Into Prescription Drug Middlemen Industry

Healthcare Dive: PBM practices are keeping consumers from generics savings, white paper finds

Association for Accessible Medicines:  US Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Savings Report 2021

Lever News: Who’s Killing Your Independent Pharmacy?

PSSNY: PBM Basics

USC: PBMs Are Inflating the Cost of Generic Drugs. They Must Be Reined In

Jama Network: Costco v Medicare study 

Frier Levitt: AUDITING PBMs

46Brooklyn

National Bureau of Economic Research: CVS Response: A world without PBMs: Unpacking the data

FTC: White House Roundtable PBMs

Yahoo Finance: 30 Largest Companies by Revenue

UNFTR Episode Resources

Healthcare Series.

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If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR

Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.

Join the Unf*cker-run Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/2051537518349565

Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee® at shop.unftr.com.

Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic® at unftr.com/blog to get the essays these episode are framed around sent to your inbox every week.

Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP.

Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations.

Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.

Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.

Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®."
Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In celebration of Pride we're flashing back to an early Unf*cking: UNFTR on LGBTQ.

Read the essay or visit the episode resources online.

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Today we begin a conversation about the LGBTQ movement in the United States, with a nod to our Canadian friends as well. In order to properly introduce issues facing LGBTQ people into the larger context of socio economic and political topics we cover on UNFTR, we wanted to start with a conversation about the evolving language of inclusion and representation within the LGBTQ community. 

Resources


Edmonton CityNews: Hope blossoms as first two-spirited MP elected
Code Switch: Is It Time To Say R.I.P. to P.O.C.?
Geneseo: Understanding Gender Identity and Gender Expression
PBS: American Experience- Stonewall Uprising
New York Times: The Stonewall You Know Is a Myth. And That’s O.K
Human Rights Campaign: Fatal Violence Against the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Community in 2021
National Center For Transgender Equality: LGBTQ People Behind Bars
Human Rights Campaign: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Definitions
The Williams Institute: Poverty In The Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Community
Columbia Journalism Review: How the word ‘queer’ was adopted by the LGBTQ community
LGBTQIA Resource Center: UC Davis Resource

Book Love 


Eric Cervini: The Deviant's War: The Homosexual vs. the United States of America
Joey Mogul, Andrea Ritchie + Kay Whitlock: Queer (In)Justice: The Criminalization of LGBT People in the United States

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If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR

Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.

Join the Unf*cker-run Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/2051537518349565

Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee® at shop.unftr.com.

Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic® at unftr.com/blog to get the essays these episode are framed around sent to your inbox every week.

Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP.

Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations.

Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.

Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.

Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®."
Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m still catching my breath from the immigration series, slew of Phone A Friends and topical political stories these past couple of weeks. The upcoming episodes are all pretty exciting and intense so I decided to take a moment to have a family meeting with Unf*ckers in another “Max Unfiltered.”

Resources

UNFTR: Over The Borderline: Intro.

UNFTR: Phone A Friend: Rev. Roger Williams.

UNFTR: Phone A Friend: Ben Burgis.

UNFTR: Phone A Friend: Briahna Joy Gray.

UNFTR: On Protest and Anti-Semitism.

Al Jazeera: ‘Hell on Earth’ as violence escalates in Sudan’s el-Fasher

The Washington Post: ChatGPT provided better customer service than his staff. He fired them.

Bernie Sanders: Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act

The Hill: Corporate profits hit record high as economy boomed in fourth quarter of 2023

ITEP: Corporate Taxes Before and After the Trump Tax Law

UNFTR: Project 2025.

UNFTR: Phone A Friend: Jeff Main.

UNFTR: Phone A Friend: Tad DeLay.

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If you like the pod version of #UNFTR, make sure to check out the video version on YouTube where Max shows his beautiful face! www.youtube.com/@UNFTR

Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts: unftr.com/rate and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @UNFTRpod. Visit us online at unftr.com.

Join the Unf*cker-run Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/2051537518349565

Buy yourself some Unf*cking Coffee® at shop.unftr.com.

Subscribe to Unf*cking The Republic® at unftr.com/blog to get the essays these episode are framed around sent to your inbox every week.

Check out the UNFTR Pod Love playlist on Spotify: spoti.fi/3yzIlUP.

Visit our bookshop.org page at bookshop.org/shop/UNFTRpod to find the full UNFTR book list, and find book recommendations from our Unf*ckers at bookshop.org/lists/unf-cker-book-recommendations.

Access the UNFTR Musicless feed by following the instructions at unftr.com/accessibility.

Unf*cking the Republic® is produced by 99 and engineered by Manny Faces Media (mannyfacesmedia.com). Original music is by Tom McGovern (tommcgovern.com) and Hold Fast (holdfastband.com). The show is written and hosted by Max and distributed by 99.

Podcast art description: Image of the US Constitution ripped in the middle revealing white text on a blue background that says, "Unf*cking the Republic®."
Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unftr
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.