Colokum Craft Coffee Use the Promo Code [WSMG15] For 15% of any purchase through June 2026 Boomer Bunker Dischord Become a Bunker Dweller Aaron Kickstarter Help Aaron with his Spicy Kickstarter 561 Life Pool NATIONAL DAY: National Rocky Road Day Rocky Road has been around since the Great Depression and was supposedly named because life itself was a little rocky at the time. Chocolate ice cream, marshmallows, and nuts somehow became one of America's favorite comfort foods. The real question for the audience: Is Rocky Road actually anyone's first choice, or is it simply the flavor that survives because everybody respects it but nobody orders it? BIRTHDAY: Jerry Mathers (1948–Still Living) — Actor best known as Beaver Cleaver on Leave It to Beaver. THIS DAY IN HISTORY: 1983 — Mario Bros. Released in Arcades Before Mario became Nintendo's global mascot, he was just a plumber running through sewer pipes with his brother Luigi. The arcade release of *Mario Bros.* helped launch one of the most successful entertainment franchises in history. More than forty years later, Mario remains recognizable around the world. It's amazing to think a simple arcade game became movies, toys, theme parks, and a multi-billion-dollar brand. The discussion angle: what video game from your childhood consumed the most quarters? ---- BLEED LEAVE The latest workplace battle coming out of Washington centers on what some Democratic lawmakers are calling "economic violence." Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Adelita Grijalva, and Rashida Tlaib are backing the Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act, which would provide up to 12 paid days off annually for reproductive health issues. The proposal covers severe menstrual pain, menopause symptoms, miscarriages, abortions, vasectomies, biopsies, and other reproductive-related medical situations. The phrase "economic violence" is what immediately grabbed headlines. Supporters argue that many women face legitimate medical issues that force them to choose between their health and a paycheck. Critics argue that the proposal raises questions about workplace fairness, hiring practices, costs to employers, and whether businesses would quietly become less likely to hire women if additional mandated leave becomes law. This is one of those stories that instantly splits people into camps. One side sees compassion and modern healthcare protections. The other sees another expanding mandate placed on employers already struggling with labor costs. The bigger Road Rage 101 discussion might be whether America has reached a point where every hardship becomes a government leave category. At what point does workplace flexibility become impossible to manage? And at the same time, how many people are working through legitimate medical issues because they simply cannot afford not to? CALIFORNIA PRIMARY DAY IN THE SUN California heads into primary day with one of the most unpredictable governor's races the state has seen in years. With Gavin Newsom term-limited, voters are sorting through a crowded field that includes former U.S. Attorney General Xavier Becerra, billionaire Tom Steyer, Republican Steve Hilton, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Representative Katie Porter, Matt Mahan, and several others. Polls have shown Becerra, Steyer, and Hilton clustered near the top, creating uncertainty about who will advance under California's top-two primary system. Because the two highest vote-getters move on regardless of party affiliation, both Democrats and Republicans are watching turnout carefully. One of the biggest stories isn't necessarily the candidates themselves but the amount of money flooding into the race. Tech billionaires, political action committees, labor organizations, and advocacy groups are pouring massive resources into California politics. California often acts as a political laboratory for the country, meaning the issues debated today could become national debates tomorrow. For Road Rage 101, the bigger conversation may be voter fatigue. California voters are dealing with housing costs, insurance concerns, homelessness, public safety debates, and economic pressures. The question becomes whether voters are choosing a vision for the future or simply voting against what they are tired of seeing right now. LIFE POOL Every year somebody creates a celebrity death list, a bingo card, or what people jokingly call a "life pool." It sounds morbid, but the public remains fascinated by tracking the famous people we lose each year. In 2026 the list has already become surprisingly long, including names such as James Van Der Beek, Robert Duvall, Eric Dane, Catherine O'Hara, Chuck Norris, Neil Sedaka, Jesse Jackson, and others. Part of the fascination comes from generational reality. Many of the actors, musicians, athletes, and public figures who defined the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and even the 1990s are reaching ages where losses become more common. Every major death becomes a reminder not only of the individual but of a specific period in American culture. The interesting discussion angle isn't celebrity gossip. It's how people process memory through famous faces. Someone hears a celebrity died and suddenly they're remembering a movie theater from 1987, a television show from childhood, or a concert from decades ago. These stories often become conversations about our own lives rather than the celebrity's life. It's one of the few news topics where people from completely different political and cultural backgrounds can stop arguing for a minute and simply remember where they were when those people mattered. SHOW CREDITS: Thank you to my co-host, Ken Madden of MaddK Studio Audio credits and Producer Jason Radosevich Horrible Designs Cast: Kate the Duchess of NJ and John Jamingo of theBoomer Bunker Aaron of I had to Say it Boomer Bob of the Boomer Bob Show Lorenzo from Misanthrope Radio 2.0 Cody the Beard as the Last Word. Supporters: Steve McShane of the Razor Wire News Josh Roberts from New Hampshire and you can always leave a comment by email: bruce@weatherdsoul.com
