Battle Ready For Brunch

This week we are talking about how more businesses than before are asking for tips and adding more "junk fees" to transactions -- leaving consumers fatigued. Plus, pigeon cam! Appetizer Reducing USAID positions , Night Parrot egg, missing Bering Air plane , unemployment rate down , Californian bear in crawl space . Main course Tipping Culture Is Completely Broken Why Americans Are Tipping Less The...

With over 70 executive orders, President Trump is moving fast on many key issues. We are here to discuss the implications of some of these actions, and then we wend with a ~spicy~ review to take your mind off of politics. Appetizer Non opioid painkiller , FCC investigates NPR and PBS , Nissan slimming down in the US , Costco increases wages , Ancient statue in a trash bin Main course President Tru...

This week we are focusing on cities that are sinking, not just that the sea level is rising but what are the man-made issues that are causing the earth to subside. Appetizer Trump deportation Carrots Meta AI California wildfires Puppies Main course Cities that might disappear Where are cities sinking? Problems on the East Coast Disappearing cities on US coasts Managing land subsidence Sweet Treat...

We’re taking a look at the complicated history of gossip, why we do it and what happens when press coverage gets into the personal. Appetizer Apple AI notifications , Clean-air measures dropped , Challenge on abortion pill access , SpaceX troubled launch , California wildfires Main course Titivillus The origins of the gossip Covering sex scandals, Radiolab episode The Watergate scandal Who gossips...

Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced that he would be removing guardrails around fact checking and content moderation. We’re putting his new rules and narrative in context. Appetizer Coffee , Tiktok ban , California fires casualties , Trump’s sentencing , Fishing lobsters Main course Meta’s new rules Meta’s fact-checking policy Meta’s oversight board Republicans angry with CISA Fake news and the e...

Out with the old and in with the old, administration, that is. We take a look at the start of a second Trump administration and what could be changing in the new government. Appetizer: Net neutrality , Uncounted ballots , No Justice referrals , AI detecting wildfires , Apple settled lawsuit Main Course Johnson fighting for the speakership House rules Biden’s final days in office What Happens Insid...

We’re ending the year with some stories that we found funny, interesting or made us forget about other dumpster fires. General News Boeing , Social media companies , Sweden joined NATO , AI protections for performers , UK election , France election , Gisèle Pelicot , The most viewed bills Science and other advancements in knowledge The Quasar , The Nobel Prize in Medicine , The universe , Baby mam...

Why do we celebrate the holidays like we do?  We're here to talk about some interesting facts regarding our holiday traditions based on some listener questions. Why is Christmas in December? Debates about when was Christmas Tradition of the Christmas tree History of the Christmas tree Christmas tree facts Representation of the Magi The Magi in European art Krampus, the companion of St. Nicholas 9...

It is that time of the year when we dream of what would be the best versions of ourselves. So this week we’re looking at how the New Year’s resolution is getting mixed up in optimization culture. Appetizer Meta donates to Trump’s inauguration , Reality contestants are employees , UnitedHealth CEO shooting suspect , FBI and FAA directors resign , Google’s quantum chip . Main Course What is a winter...

It’s time to talk about the vague world of academia and how it works. Is a higher education worth the time and money? Finally, we answer everyone’s burning question: are we in a recession? Appetizer: United Healthcare shooter , Northwest earthquake , New bioplastic , Biden's pardons , Pneumonia vaccine . Main Course: Academic angers trolls with PhD completion announcement First generation students...

This episode is for those who are wondering why they can’t read as much as they used to and would like to change it. We also look at worrisome statistics about the reading habits in the U.S. Appetizer Tornado Cash , Social media ban , Hurricane season , Alaska Turkey Bomb , Presidential transition Main Course US literacy statistics The Atlantic: The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books Rebu...

We’re diving into the world of celebrity brands—from alcohol to makeup to coffee beans, we look at how and why household celebrity names choose to invest in new business. Finally, the Federal Reserve. Appetizer Droughts and wildfires, Grok names misinformation spreader , Coral reef discovery , Dismantling cybersecurity agency , Recess appointments Main Course Royalties Residuals Codes Affiliate li...

We know the algorithm is effective but here we analyze the many sneaky ways that social media is designed to keep you trapped in the loop. Finally, we look at a Sci-Fi book that goes beyond the mechanics. Content warning: In this episode we talk about some sensitive topics regarding mental health, including eating disorders. Appetizer Droughts and wildfires , Grok names misinformation spreader , C...

Why does it feel impossible to find a home or rent? This week we take a look at the housing market, from the media, to the economy, climate change and more. Finally, the US v. the metric system. Appetizer: Trump wins election , 1.5 degree warming , Britain’s antelope, Canada TikTok ban , California wildfire Main Course 151 celebrity house tours Housing market explained How COVID affected housing W...

This episode is all about the presidential election. We go through some highlights, funny moments and serious moments. Then we go through where the candidates stand on some of the core issues and what we know about the election forecast. Check your registration or ballot status: Oregon Check your registration or ballot status: Washington Trump vs. Harris on climate change Trump vs. Harris on abort...

We dive into polling and other methods of tracking political opinion. Let’s figure out how reliable they are and what we’ve learned since the 2016 election. Finally, some spooky books! Appetizer LA Times , Stuck between boulders , Birds in engine , Rape trial , Neuroscience breakthrough Main Course Sampling methods Probabilistic sampling 2020 polling report The Harvard Gazette interview What are p...

Abortion is back on the ballot. Let’s talk about why, then dive deep into how individual states are addressing the issue. Then, INFLATION! Headlines: Tech turns nuclear , Harvard endowment , Carbon emission rules , Florida ad , Georgia early vote , First time voter Main Course: Where voters will decide on abortion Who and what is behind abortion ban trigger bills Arkansas Supreme Court blocks abor...

Everything is a conspiracy theory if you don’t understand how anything works. So for our pilot episode we’ll teach you how to be a savvy news consumer. And then, we answer a question submitted from a listener: what’s up with the 2nd avenue subway? Headlines: FEMA disaster aid , Nazi looting , Alaskan winters , Disaster impact , Montana abortion law Main Course: Stanford researchers find students h...

Premiering October 12th. We’re two young journalists here to prepare you to be the most interesting person at this weekend’s brunch. Music courtesy of Master Planned Music.