Bald, Blind, and Buddies

Timothy Cordes and John Boland
  • 5.0 (21)
  • News Commentary
  • Updated Weekly

Liberal v. conservative, right, left, or libertarian. Join a thoughtful discussion with Timothy Cordes, a blind psychiatrist, and John Boland, a bald alum of the London School of Economics, who don't agree on much, but always agree to serve up their ideas with friendship and humor. ideasfirst.substack.com

  1. Graham Platner: Is this the era of post-moral politics?

    18h ago

    Graham Platner: Is this the era of post-moral politics?

    John Boland and Timothy Cordes dive into an article by Brett Stevens on what the Graham Platner story can tell us about morality and politics. John asserts that a politician’s efficacy is what matters most. Tim offers that a history of moral action improves one’s ability to predict future behavior. The Buddies draw distinctions between past behavior and ongoing concerns and highlight the hypocrisy of treating concerns differently based on whether the offender is in one’s own party. From decades distance, they review the Bill Clinton story and how much his ‘moral’ choices impacted him and his presidency. They wonder if ethics is an encumbrance in modern politics. Tim’s whack-job has “woken” up to its failure to do its journalistic due diligence. John’s hero helped the Knicks win the NBA championship. Referred to: Opinion | The Good That Can Come From Platner’s Candidacy - NYT Top Canadian newspaper says media failed to verify Kamloops mass graves claim Drop a comment or send us an email to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTAC.COM. We’d love to hear from you. Don’t forget to like and subscribe. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    42 min
  2. On abortion of the disabled: A response to Jesse Ridgway

    Jun 9

    On abortion of the disabled: A response to Jesse Ridgway

    Timothy Cordes and John Boland review the recent social media controversy over, @McJuggernuggets,  Jesse Ridgway’s announcement of a pregnancy termination because of a Down syndrome diagnosis mere weeks before fetal viability.   Tim, who is blind, and a parent of a child with Down syndrome, responds. Tim and John assert that a diagnosis does not define one’s value and we should be judged on how we treat the least among us, which includes the disabled.   The Buddies are astonished at how Jesse Ridgway shared the news on social media and his seeming befuddlement at the response. They note themes of “othering” and try to dissect his request for empathy.   The Buddies examine parallels to the Nazi rationalization for the extermination of 300,000 disabled people.   The heroes of the week are the quiet people among us who act with love even when faced with challenges.   Referred to: Influencer Jesse Ridgway Says He's Glad He Wasn't Aborted, 'I'm Normal' Opinion | The Nazis’ First Victims Were the Disabled - The New York Times YouTuber Jesse Ridgway Terminates Pregnancy Over Down Syndrome, Sparks Debate - Newsweek   Chances are, we would love to hear from you. Drop a comment or reach out to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM.   Don’t forget to share, like or subscribe.   Let’s keep talking.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    43 min
  3. Commencement Addresses: Looking back on going forward.

    Jun 4

    Commencement Addresses: Looking back on going forward.

    John Boland and Timothy Cordes dive into the commencement season. The Buddies reflect on their own graduation from the University of Notre Dame. The Buddies review the Heckler’s veto, a university’s choice of speakers, and student resistance. Tim highlights Jonathan Haidt’s address to NYU that students with no self-awareness or sense of irony challenged. John highlights memorable speeches from David Foster Wallace, Admiral McRaven, and Steve Jobs. Tim POINTS to Fareed Zakaria as delivering a powerful address. Tim and John offer their own advice for young people. John’s whack-job thinks the Department of Defense should cast extras for a UFC match on federal grounds. Tim’s whack-job reminds him of Senator Joseph McCarthy who has found a new menace for the 21st Century. Referred to: Fareed Zakaria: 2026 Commencement at Bard College If You Want to Change the World, Start Off by Making Your Bed - Admiral McRaven - YouTube Commencement 2026: Jonathan Haidt Address Troops to get free tickets to White House UFC event, but must meet weight standards | CNN Politics We’d love to hear from you. Drop a comment or email us at IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. Please, share, like and subscribe. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    38 min
  4. The power of service

    May 27

    The power of service

    After discussing Brat Fest in Madison, Wisconsin, John Boland and Timothy Cordes consider mandatory national service in the military or elsewhere. Tim offers benefits from the plan. John gives statistics on how many countries have some form of compulsory national service. The Buddies debate the value of service for its own sake. Tim values the idea of building a service culture but chafes at another government mandate. Both highlight Americans who have served in Congress as heroes this week. Referred to: 85 Countries with Required Military Service (2026 List) Barney Frank, Gay Pioneer and Liberal Stalwart in Congress, Dies at 86 - The New York Times Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as Trump’s Director of National Intelligence We would love to hear from you. Drop a comment or reach out to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. Please, like and subscribe. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    35 min
  5. Where we’ve been and where we’re going: Season Two Review

    May 22

    Where we’ve been and where we’re going: Season Two Review

    John Boland and Timothy (Timmy) Cordes review themes and key guests from the last season. They range from technology and artificial intelligence to insights into policing and politics. The Buddies brainstorm options for next season including ideas like multi-part series, upcoming guests, possibly more mental health topics, and other themes. ***Contest*** Submit your theme song for next season for a chance to be featured and credited and a gift. Listen up for details. Tim’s whack-job is a mother who publicized her son’s humiliation and demonstrates a misunderstanding of discourse. John’s hero gave a full-throated defense of Israel. Referred to: US Rep. Virginia Foxx tells NC student he was indoctrinated | Raleigh News & Observer Instagram post of mother upset with rep Bill Maher on Israel Why AI is a train and not a bicycle We would love to hear from you. Drop a comment or email us at IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. Please, like, share, and subscribe. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    42 min
  6. Rob Rosen on his new book Crimes of Omission

    May 11

    Rob Rosen on his new book Crimes of Omission

    Rob Rosen joins John Boland and Timothy Cordes to talk about his new book Crimes of Omission: Distorted Justice: The Media’s War on Truth. Rob uses a recent example from NPR to show how what is said is as important as what is left out and explains how his book explores this theme with critical stories over the past 2 decades. We discuss the reasons for media’s focus on something other than truth. We consider objectivity and sensationalism. We note that comedy is subject to the same forces as journalism and highlight the success of comedians who call out both sides. Rob offers us reasons for hope and strategies to see past the media fragmentation. Referred to: Crimes of omission by rob rosen on Amazon NPR public editor admits glaring absence of Jewish victim’s voices in coverage of Michigan synagogue attack We would love to hear from you. Drop a comment or reach out to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. Please, share, like or subscribe. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    47 min
  7. You own it, you should be able to fix it: the Right to Repair

    May 6

    You own it, you should be able to fix it: the Right to Repair

    Timothy Cordes and John Boland discuss the concept of “right to repair.” Tim explains how the Digital Millenium Copyright Act allows companies to lock consumers into exclusive arrangements where they are beholding to the company for repairs. Consumers become licensees instead of owners. The Buddies discuss how John Deere recently settled a $99 million class action suit from farmers over this issue, but it’s not just tractors that are impacted. Tim gives examples from Apple, to printers, and coffee makers. John discusses other practices which take advantage of human tendencies and gives his personal example of this locked-in system in action. There is hope, and the buddies discuss efforts to correct this problem at the state and national levels. Tim’s heroes are community members helping their own. John’s hero is Senator Ben Sasse. Referred to: Deere settles US right-to-repair lawsuit with $99 million fund, repair commitments | Reuters Unlocking the Black Box: How the DMCA Became a Barrier to Repair – Journal of High Technology Law HP printer class action suit ends in disappointment | PCWorld Dead Simple Hack Allows For “Rebel” Keurig K-Cups | Hackaday Right to Repair Laws Have Now Been Introduced in All 50 US States - iFixit We would probably love to hear from you. Drop a comment or email . IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. Please, like or subscribe. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    37 min
  8. Should we care about the Mike Vrable story.

    Apr 28

    Should we care about the Mike Vrable story.

    Timothy Cordes and John Boland dive into the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini story. John asserts that people’s business that does not impact their work should be theirs alone, and John bemoans our Victorian culture. The Buddies agree that Dianna Russini’s relationship could have compromised her journalistic independence, and they note the currently abysmal trust in the media. Tim offers a set of ancient rules which could help one avoid these types of problems going forward. Tim’s whack-jobs are the teachers in Madison, Wisconsin who would rather protest than teach children—the job they are paid to do. John’s hero is someone anonymous who unselfishly took on a major challenge, and John uses this as an example of the heroes quietly walking among us. Referred to: What Happened with Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini? Photo Controversy, Explained The Front Runner: The Real History of the Gary Hart Scandal Journalism’s Essential Value | The New York Times Company Madison schools closed May 1 for immigrant rights protest | channel3000.com We would love to hear from you. Send show ideas, your heroes, comments to IDEASFIRST@SUBSTACK.COM. No AI pitches, please. We’re using our brains and we hope you will use yours, too. Please show that you care, like and share. Let’s keep talking. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ideasfirst.substack.com

    38 min
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5
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21 Ratings

About

Liberal v. conservative, right, left, or libertarian. Join a thoughtful discussion with Timothy Cordes, a blind psychiatrist, and John Boland, a bald alum of the London School of Economics, who don't agree on much, but always agree to serve up their ideas with friendship and humor. ideasfirst.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Timothy Cordes and John Boland
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Timothy Cordes
  • Show Website
    Bald, Blind, and Buddies