Give Us the Launch Codes

Travis M. Baker & Thomas N. Flores III

5.0 (5)
News Commentary
Updated Weekly

Two absolute working-class nobodies from Southern California with no formal qualifications to credibly talk about anything - politics, pop culture, sports, current events, etc. - yet think they're more qualified to talk about all of those things because they do it with food and beverages!

5d ago

Did the Pope ACTUALLY Declare a Holy War on AI? (Ep. 75)

The Chicago Pope just declared a Holy War on AI? Or did he? Could you use religion to get OUT of using AI at work? Will this make Tom & Travis go back to church and take communion again? Listen to find out more! [And no, we won’t actually tell you how Game 2 ended.] Pope Leo XIV’s Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html Jacobin’s Take: https://jacobin.com/2026/06/pope-leo-xiv-encyclical-ai-economy NCR’s Take: https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/pope-leo-calls-disarm-ai-major-document-warns-technologic-threats-humanity Business Insider’s article on AI religious exemptions: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/she-won-religious-exemption-using-094001949.html Rowan J. Coleman’s “This is How We Beat AI”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rdSl3CpiCg The apparent theme song for the holy war against AI: https://open.spotify.com/track/0bUgTRe5st6TMbRCEjKezX?si=5a55298c7968404e Subscribe to Patreon to listen to exclusive episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/GiveUstheLaunchCodes All socials @giveusthelaunchcodes

1h 30m
Jun 2

The Mountain Dew Curse Strikes Again! (Ep. 74)

Wanna know why Tom & Travis couldn't make a new episode last week? It's cause we were worried Tom would get evacuated due to a toxic chemical tank possibly exploding! In this episode, Tom & Travis recaps the bizarre story that made national headlines about a little town close to our home called Garden Grove and all the little anecdotes we heard along the way. Subscribe to Patreon to listen to exclusive episodes! https://www.patreon.com/c/GiveUstheLaunchCodes All socials @giveusthelaunchcodes Travis’ IG: @musicalnotextr

57 min
May 26

When In Doubt, Press X (Ep. 73 - GIVE US THE LAUNCH CODES)

[This episode was recorded in 2025.] Just as they did with movies and music, Tom & Travis take another stroll through memory lane - this time with video games. Join us as we relive the 90s Nintendo domination, the absurd hype for Halo 3, and neverending juggernauts of Call of Duty and Madden! CORRECTION: 22:10 - GameCube was released in North America in November 2001. But close enough.28:14 - Tom of course meant to say “2005”.32:19 - Chopin’s “Raindrop Prelude” is in D-flat major.1:15:42 - It was Pat Summerall made those jokes, John Madden's longtime play-by-play commentator.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/GiveUstheLaunchCodes Travis’ IG: @musicalnotextr Clips Cited CoD: Modern Warfare 2, directed by Jason West, performance by Craig Fairbrass, Activision, 2009.“Chris Berman’s..." YouTube, uploaded by firshad, 9/21/2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYXqI7nrV40&ab_channel=firshad.“HALO 3 - “Museum of Humanity”....” YouTube, uploaded by USNCDFspartan, 8/14/2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDkradNKaZ4.“"his buttcheek is inbounds"...” YouTube, uploaded by Cleveland Browns, 6/24/2024, https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uroj1j5X-BU.“Kevin Harlan..." YouTube, uploaded by Trending Daily Sports Videos, 12/29/2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxkOG-WeLVo.“NFL Funniest Penalties” YouTube, uploaded by Highlight Heaven, 10/20/2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U53V6IPtrqE.“the funniest penalty in football” YouTube, uploaded by NFL, 1/20/2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8ro5XuSLj0. Music Cited “At Doom’s Gate” by Mick Gordon (Doom, Bethesda Softworks, 2016)“Deference for Darkness” by Martin O’Donnell & Michael Salvatori (Halo 3: ODST, Microsoft Game Studios, 2009)“Finish the Fight” by Martin O’Donnell & Michael Salvatori (Halo 3, Microsoft Game Studios, 2007)“Heavy Action” by Johnny Pearson (ABC/ESPN Monday Night Football, ABC/ESPN, 1970-present)“The Last Spartan” by Martin O’Donnell & Michael Salvatori (Halo 2, Microsoft Game Studios, 2004)“Madden Theme” by Aubrey Hodges (Madden NFL mid-200s, EA Sports)“MLB on Fox Theme” by NJJ Music (MLB on Fox, 1996-present, Fox/FS1)“NFL on Fox Theme” by Scott Schreer (NFL on Fox, 1994-present, Fox)“Overture” by Martin O’Donnell & Michael Salvatori (Halo: Reach, Microsoft Game Studios, 2010)“Posthumous Zone” by E.S. Posthumous (NFL on CBS, 2003-present, CBS).“Prelude, Op. 28, No. 15 (Raindrop)” by Frederic Chopin, 1839.“Roundball Rock” by John Tesh (NBA on NBC, 1990-present, NBC/Peacock).

1h 27m
May 19

Give Us the Flux Capacitor (Ep. 62)

ORIGINALLY RELEASED ON PATREON! We call ourselves 'Give Us the Launch Codes' but true power is if you somehow master TIME! Travis & Tom give their listicles on which historical events would they alter - from Biblical times all the way to as recent as 2010! CORRECTION: 32:03 - Travis wishes to extend ACTUAL apologies regarding not remembering Doug Hutchison as he would have recognized Hutchinson as famous liver-eating monster-of-the-week Eugene Victor Tooms from ‘The X-Files’. Upon remembering, he feels Mr. Hutchison would have been an excellent Rorschach.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/GiveUstheLaunchCodes Travis’ IG: @musicalnotextr Clips Cited “1988 WS Game 1: Kirk Gibson’s dramatic game-winning home run” YouTube, uploaded by MLB, 20 April 2013. https://youtu.be/0toCMwEBwLo?si=PvvJGwWwg1MOIBM8.The Blues Brothers, directed by John Landis, performances by Dan Aykroyd & John Belushi, Universal Pictures, 1980.History of the World, Part I, directed by Mel Brooks, performances by Brooks w/Chorus, 20th Century Fox, 1981.Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, directed by Leonard Nimoy, Paramount Pictures, 1986.Performances by DeForest Kelley & William ShatnerPerformances by DeForest Kelley & James Doohan

56 min
May 12

Defecation 2026: Beyond Guv'er Dome! (Ep. 71)

Gavin Newsom will be saying "Sayonara!" soon, so we gotta find his replacement. There are a lot of choices. Are any of them good? Well.... Subscribe to Patreon to listen to exclusive episodes! Our latest is a fluff piece where Travis & Tom give their hottest takes: https://www.patreon.com/c/GiveUstheLaunchCodes Instagram: @giveusthelaunchcodes TikTok: @giveusthelaunchcodes The-Platform-Formerly-Known-as-Twitter: @giveusthelaunchcodes Travis’ IG: @musicalnotextr

46 min
May 5

American Psychosis: Part Deux - Who Cares? (Ep. 69)

Someone tried to shoot President Trump... AGAIN! And everyone just nodded off it feels like. Travis & Tom talk about why people either don't care or are conspiratorial about it. Subscribe to Patreon to listen to an exclusive episode! Our latest pays tribute to the late comic book writer Gerry Conway and his misunderstood creation, The Punisher: https://www.patreon.com/c/GiveUstheLaunchCodes Instagram: @giveusthelaunchcodes TikTok: @giveusthelaunchcodes The-Platform-Formerly-Known-as-Twitter: @giveusthelaunchcodes Travis’ IG: @musicalnotextr

1h 14m
Apr 28

Paradise Outside Paradise (Ep. 67)

This week, Travis & Tom talk about whether post-apocalyptic gangs and factions are depicted realistically when Travis notices a different take on the trope on the latest season of Hulu's Lost-knockoff, 'Paradise'. Subscribe to Patreon to listen to an exclusive episode! Our latest has Travis & Tom taking the Colbert Questionaire: https://www.patreon.com/c/GiveUstheLaunchCodes Instagram: @giveusthelaunchcodes TikTok: @giveusthelaunchcodes The-Platform-Formerly-Known-as-Twitter: @giveusthelaunchcodes Travis’ IG: @musicalnotextr

1h 12m
Apr 21

What Did You Expect? (Ep. 65)

Warehouses be burnin'! Are these just crazy folk or is this a sign of a societal shake-up? Travis & Tom discuss! Subscribe to Patreon to listen to an exclusive episode! Our latest is about what we would do if we were dictators: https://www.patreon.com/c/GiveUstheLaunchCodes Instagram: @giveusthelaunchcodes TikTok: @giveusthelaunchcodes The-Platform-Formerly-Known-as-Twitter: @giveusthelaunchcodes Travis’ IG: @musicalnotextr

1h 5m

5

out of 5

5 Ratings

Two absolute working-class nobodies from Southern California with no formal qualifications to credibly talk about anything - politics, pop culture, sports, current events, etc. - yet think they're more qualified to talk about all of those things because they do it with food and beverages!

Creator

Travis M. Baker & Thomas N. Flores III
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

68
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© GUTLC Productions 2024
Show Website

Give Us the Launch Codes