Call It Like I See It James Keys, Tunde Ogunlana

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider whether Tesla's shareholders voting to reinstate a pay package presently worth over $40+ billion to Elon Musk is indicative of things are going right, or wrong at Tesla, and in our society in general (1:41).  The guys also react to the story of the Texas republican who won a school board seat to fight indoctrination that she later found out didn’t exist (28:22) and take a look at new research that suggests that alcohol in any amount is bad for you (43:30).
 
Elon Musk’s multi-billion paycheck just got approved by stockholders. That could be a fraction of what’s coming (CNN)
How Elon Musk’s $44.9B Tesla pay package compares with the most generous plans for other U.S. CEOs (AP)
Elon Musk and the Decline of Tesla (The American Prospect)
Expert insight: Does Elon Musk deserve his $56 billion pay package? (Audacy)
Elon Musk cannot keep Tesla pay package worth more than $55 billion, judge rules
 
A GOP Texas school board member campaigned against schools indoctrinating kids. Then she read the curriculum. (Texas Tribune)
 
Is That Drink Worth It to You? (NY Times)
 

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss Yanis Varoufakis’s 2023 book “Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism,” a book that lays out the evolution of capitalism over the 20th century and how following the Great Financial Crisis, factors like the monetary policy of major central banks and the enclosure of the Internet and information technology has led to the decline of capitalism and markets the rise of a new economic system which looks a lot like feudalism.
 
Technofeudalism, By Yanis Varoufakis (Penguin Random House)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how quickly followers of Donald Trump were to attack the pillars of the American system like courts and a jury following Trump’s conviction and the almost religious manner in which Trump defines reality for his followers (1:24).  The guys also consider Jerry Seinfeld’s “agreed-upon hierarchy” comments and whether too much was being made of them (26:22) and how the extensive misogyny in rap music can affect one’s behavior and/or enjoyment of the music, particular as one ages (46:00).
 
Trump Was Convicted by a Jury, Not by His Political Enemies (Wall Street Journal)
Republicans are sticking by Trump, the felon — even in battleground states (Politico)
The Texas GOP Has Made Its Bed With Trump—Conviction Be Damned (Texas Monthly)
Trump supporters call for riots and violent retribution after verdict (Reuters)
Trump supporters try to dox jurors and post violent threats after his conviction (NBC News)
Trump allies signal they’re declaring war against Republican Senate candidate (The Independent)
 
Jerry Seinfeld Says He’s Nostalgic for “Agreed-Upon Hierarchy” and Misses “Dominant Masculinity” (Yahoo!)
Jerry Seinfeld on the Rules of Comedy—and Life | Honestly with Bari Weiss (YouTube)
 
Inside My Complicated Relationship With Rap Music (Esquire)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which Justice Samuel Alito’s flag flying controversy undermines the Supreme Court as an institution and whether that may be the point (1:16).  The guys also discuss the NCAA’s history settlement that will result in revenue sharing with college sports players (16:00), react to the claim from one scientist that he can prove we live in a simulation (32:31), and consider whether humans are in fact addicted to addiction (43:42).
 
Dems Call for Alito to Recuse Himself From Jan. 6 Cases Over Upside-Down Flag (Rolling Stone)
A Christian Nationalist Battle Flag Flew at Justice Alito’s Vacation Home (Rolling Stone)
NCAA settlement a historic day for paying college athletes. What comes next? (ESPN)
A Scientist Says He Has the Evidence That We Live in a Simulation (Popular Mechanics)
Food, sex, drugs and more – are we addicted to addiction? (New Scientist) (Apple News Link)
 

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss illiberalism, which is the opposite of the liberalism ideal that forms the philosophical basis of the American constitutional setup, and some recent articles that suggest that home grown illiberalism has been a central feature and not a periodic diversion in American culture (1:31). The guys also take a look at recent studies on how fluoride consumption may be bad for fetuses (35:17) and the protests in New Caledonia over the mining of nickel for EVs and batteries (46:16).
 
The Deep, Tangled Roots of American Illiberalism (NY Times)
The Illiberalism at America’s Core (The New Republic)
Pregnant? Researchers want you to know something about fluoride (LA Times)
Behind New Caledonia’s Riots, a Fight Over Vast Reserves of Nickel (Wall Street Journal) (Apple News Link)
 

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the story of Lauren Southern, the right wing influencer whose life experiences now have her publicly questioning the “tradwife” mindset she once was a big promoter of (1:25).  The guys also react to the death sentence given to Iranian hip hop hero Toomaj Salehi for his music and criticism of Iran’s controlling regime (39:45).
 
Lauren Southern: how my tradlife turned toxic (Unherd.com)
Iran’s hip-hop hero refused to be silenced. Now he’s been sentenced to death (The Times) (Apple News Link)