deGRIFTify

We're back, after something of a hiatus. In today's episode Thomas and Joel discuss how the Trump administration has been shaping the narrative in two ways. First, relating to recent press releases about autism. Second, by deleting archival information from the internet. Thanks for listening. -   An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRI...

Thomas and Joel discuss what kinds of issues and what sorts of messaging could be effective in the lead up to the next presidential election. Thanks for listening. -  An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by ide...

Thomas is angry about the recent meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska. We also discuss Democratic messaging and possible paths forward. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by ident...

The Trump administration has obtained a green light from the Supreme Court to shutter the Department of Education. In today's episode we talk about what that might mean for you. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel s...

The Trump administration is preparing to gut the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In today's episode we talk about why we think that's a bad idea.  Thanks for listening. - https://www.nasa.gov/value-of-nasa/   An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. H...

Doing something slightly different, we each picked two pieces of good news that we heard recently and talked about it. Recorded 6/17. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying...

It's 2025, and we're still talking about Jeffrey Epstein. On today's episode Thomas and Joel chat about why that's good. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden intere...

Some things we hate about the BBB, now that it has been signed into law. This is by no means an exhaustive list and should be considered highlights at best. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary...

Ages ago (on the 9th of April, 2025) we recorded an unscripted episode about "the American Dream," what it means or ought to mean, whether it exists, and if so, where it can be found. We're hosting it as a very special July 3rd episode, mostly because nothing else we've attempted recently has been passible. Cheers. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tric...

Hot takes and projections in light of the recent American "intervention," plus the usual context and grifts. Thanks for listening. -  An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highli...

Returning to the subject of the war in Ukraine. Thomas gives an overview of modern Ukrainian history and contextualizes the conflict in its context. We tackle several overarching narrative grifts that are pervasive in contemporary coverage of the crisis. As always, thank you for listening. Send your questions, comments, and feedback to deGRIFTify@gmail.com - An increasingly complex world is one th...

Final episode of our congressional grift cycle. Send us stuff at deGRIFTify@gmail.com. Thanks for listening! Wilson-Hayes matrix https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z7nwk3NzVjai-hQb2k2KiyLLsjGyH0y9/view?usp=sharing -   An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Tho...

Working independently, we each came up with five major problems related to the Congressional branch of the government. In this episode we discuss "Gerrymandering," what it is, how it affects you, and to a very limited extent what sort of things might be done about it. Now soliciting feedback, comments, and requests at deGRIFTify@gmail.com. If there's something you'd like us to cover then ask, and...

Working independently, we each came up with five major problems related to the Congressional branch of the government. In this episode we discuss "Gerrymandering," what it is, how it affects you, and to a very limited extent what sort of things might be done about it. Thomas & Joel's top 5: I. Gerrymandering II. Term limits, "auto-filibuster" III. Insider trading, PAYGO IV. "Nepo-reps," no-tax...

The One Big, Beautiful Bill and consequences will be a disaster for (etc.) Recorded 05-22. Catching up on some editing; sorry for the delay.   - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden intere...

With an initial digression into the latest twist in our collective tariff troubles.  We get numerous dates wrong in this episode, though usually only slightly. Sorry. USA foreign aid data table https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uBdYn-IWa_WYU-U_zIZmHW3BRRp0u1Xi/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115775887288997073359&rtpof=true&sd=true   (populated from https://foreignassistance.gov/data ) htt...

TL;DR nothing ever happens unless there's mass mobilization.   An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between famili...

What we're expecting, what's coming down the pipe. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unf...

A DOGE episode, recorded April 10th.  Though no episode of deGRIFTify can really be called scripted, every week Thomas and Joel record a conversation intended to travel to unexpected places. Sometimes these conversations become episodes. The episodes tagged as [unscripted] are the result of this process. We hope that you will enjoy this occasional break from the ordinary pace and structure of your...

Two seemingly unrelated subjects, potentially joined by the question "How's it different when you're rich?" Though no episode of deGRIFTify can really be called scripted, every week Thomas and Joel record a conversation intended to travel to unexpected places. Sometimes these conversations become episodes. The episodes tagged as [unscripted] are the result of this process. We hope that you will en...

Why is soft power in the interest of individual Americans, not just us collectively? What is 'intelligence' in the geopolitical context? These and other questions.   -  An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by i...

Soft Power. What is it good for?  Absolutely...something. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar...