Plato's Cave: Economic and Media Analysis in a Dark Time

Bill Waller and Linda Robertson
  • 5.0 (3)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Critically examining current political and economic policy, and more importantly, how the media is framing our current policy debates.

  1. 3D AGO

    Episode 31: Pam Bondi’s self-immolation, the nuances of the economy, Bad Bunny’s Halftime

    Linda analyzes why Pam Bondi is one of the Ladies Who Fawn on Trump; Bill explains why figuring out the figures is difficult but the negative effects of Trump’s tariffs are clear; we discuss why the Supreme Court is taking so long to decide on the legality of Trump’s tariffs; and discuss the joyous, surreal, and affirming halftime show by Bad Bunny, but Linda confesses she is not an admirer of twerking.

    50 min

  2. FEB 10

    Episode 30: Epstein, The Economy, ICE, Ghost Fleet

    Bill returns refreshed from Egypt. Linda questions why there have been no prosecutions of Epstein's pals and how the world would be different if the files had been released during Biden's Administration. Bill and Linda agree that ICE needs to be put out of business, and we discuss the implications of the EU stepping up its pressure against Russian oil transported on the ghost fleet.

    54 min

  3. JAN 13

    Episode 29. Jan.12 2026. The Economy, Texas A&M Censors Plato, ICE commits murder, Ghost Fleets, Oil, and Venezuela

    Bill and Linda consider what an odd use of administrative power at Texas A&M it is to ban certain of Plato's texts; Bill reports on the decline in economic indicators; Linda and Bill mourn the tragedy of the extrajudicial murder by ICE; and both take a deep dive into what is behind the kidnapping of Maduro and his wife. Hint: It isn't about oil for the USA.

    50 min

  4. 12/28/2025

    Episode 28: the Economy, CBS takeover, that Vanity Press article

    Bill explains how the governors of the Federal Reserve outwitted Trump's efforts to manipulate their votes; Linda discusses the appointment of an Ombudsperson and Bari Weiss to CBS News and the Vanity Fair article; Bill discusses Trump's 20-minute rant on the major networks and the untruths he spewed.

    44 min

  5. 12/18/2025

    December 19, 2025: The meaning of affordability in a sinking economy; billionaires controlling the media; the Press "sanewashing" Trump's comments on the murder of the Reiners

    Bill reviews the news of our soured economy as well as the deeper and disturbing reality of the affordability crisis; Linda continues the saga of Billionaires Buying Media; Bill considers the silly nonsense of Trump's efforts in the courts; and in reaction against Trump's immoral and gloating comments about the death of Rob Reiner and his wife, Linda calls out politicians and the press for "sanewashing."

    1h 5m

  6. 11/23/2025

    Nov. 23 The Economy, Military Code, BBC, Summers, Vlad the Impaler

    Bill explores the illegality of Trump's backtracking on food tariffs, the specifics of the Military Code of Conduct, and the economist Larry Summers' fall from grace. Linda explores the nonsense of Trump unleashing the head of the FCC on the BBC, Trump's ignorance about the BBC, and why it is dangerous when bored millionaires and billionaires want to be media moguls. Bill shares insights he gained from touring Vlad the Impaler's castle.

    1h 1m

  7. 11/16/2025

    Nov. 16 2025 Democrats Cave, but did they lose? Republicans Dither on Medical Costs and Epstein Files. Suing the BBC as Kabuki

    We disagree slightly on whether the Democrats snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, consider the long-term consequences of Trump's willingness to allow Americans to go hungry, the foolishness of the Republicans in not extending the ACA subsidy, and how rattled they are by the revolt in their own ranks over the Epstein Files. Then, we take a deep dive into the evidence that Trump's threat to sue the BBC for $1 billion was contrived by multi-billionaires who really dislike investigative journalism and want it to go away.

    55 min
  8. The Fed Stymied, Senators find a Spine, Amazon and Google Sell Out

    11/03/2025

    The Fed Stymied, Senators find a Spine, Amazon and Google Sell Out

    Bill explains the Federal Reserve's accounting maneuver, why it is acting blindfolded in setting interest rates, and why the Senate's move to block tariffs is significant-- if the House ever returns to session. Linda does a deep dive in Project Nimbus, the obscure contract between Israel and the AI/Cloud platforms of Amazon and Google that allows for a wink-and-a-nod approach to international law.

    54 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

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Critically examining current political and economic policy, and more importantly, how the media is framing our current policy debates.

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