Two Crusty Old Combat Soldiers with a Microphone

Last week, the most conservative Supreme Court we've seen in my lifetime finally got one right and ruled that the 14th Amendment protects birthright citizenship and Donald Trump cannot rob children born in the US of that citizenship because of the parents' status... ...and now the nativists on the right wing are freaking out about it. Scott and I discuss whether this is simply their racism and rel...

This week the US Supreme Court ruled that States may count mailed ballots that were postmarked on time but did not arrive until after the formal Election Day. Meanwhile, Donald Trump issued an executive order telling the US Postal Service not to deliver mailed ballots in States that have not handed over their voter lists, and the right is up in arms over bar codes. Scott once again shares his elec...

Scott and I meet with Hurley Lucchese, rising high school senior and local community activist, is part of an age cohort just now starting to think about politics and what the state of the world them shapes their futures. We sit down with him to pick his brain, and he shares some key insights, starting with his volunteer efforts and why he gets involved. Hurley shares his thoughts on foreign policy...

In this episode of the Two Crusty Old Combat Soldiers podcast, Scott and I sit down with Elizabeth Dempsey-Beggs, former Armor officer, foster parent, and candidate for Congress in Virginia's First District. We talk policy, the state of her campaign, and why we need fundamental change in the US. Elizabeth is one of seven Democratic candidates running for a chance to face Rob Wittman, a Republican...

In this episode of the Two Crusty Old Combat Soldiers podcast, Scott and I sit down with Tim Cywinski, community activist, and candidate for Congress in Virginia's First District. We talk policy, the state of his campaign, and why we need fundamental change in the US. Tim is one of seven Democratic candidates running for a chance to face Rob Wittman, a Republican who has represented the District f...

In this episode of the Two Crusty Old Combat Soldiers podcast, Scott and I sit down with Ericka Kopp, attorney, activist, and candidate for Congress in Virginia's First District. We talk policy, the state of his campaign, and why we need fundamental change in the US. Ericka is one of seven Democratic candidates running for a chance to face Rob Wittman, a Republican who has represented the District...

In this episode of the Two Crusty Old Combat Soldiers podcast, Scott and I sit down with Salaam Bhatti, attorney, activist, and candidate for Congress in Virginia's First District. We talk policy, the state of his campaign, and why we need fundamental change in the US. Salaam is one of seven Democratic candidates running for a chance to face Rob Wittman, a Republican who has represented the Distri...

In this episode of Two Crusty Old Combat Soldiers with a Microphone, Scott and I discuss America's 250th birthday, some of the celebrations planned, and how this year compares to the 200th in 1976 (yes, we're old enough to remember the Bicentennial as adults). Why the heck does Trump want a UFC fight on the White House lawn? Why are music artists pulling out of the National State Fair? We poke a b...

Now that the redistricting question is settled (for now at least), Congressional candidates are ramping up for the last two months before the Democratic primary in August. In this special episode of Two Crusty Old Combat Soldiers with a Microphone, Scott and I sit down with retired Navy Commander Jason Knapp, candidate for Congress in Virginia's First Congressional District. Jason grew up in a sin...

Donald Trump has had a good week. He wanted Massie gone from Congress for pushing the Epstein Files release. He wanted Cassidy gone from the Senate for voting to impeach him after the J6 insurrection. He wanted Indiana legislators gone for refusing to gerrymander Congressional districts when he demanded it. His candidates beat them all. Then his lickspittles in the Department of Justice agreed to...

Right in the middle of the Iran war Trump started but can't figure out how to finish, he heads off to China with an entourage of family members and billionaire CEOs, including Elon Musk and Jensen Huang, NVIDIA CEO. Why? Does he need China to save his ass in Iran? Will he sell out the US by agreeing to sell AI computer chip technology? Will he find a way to line his own pockets even more in the pr...

Earlier this week we reported an interesting lack of Iran War news coverage and discussed the structural reasons for these media choices and some reasons the Trump Administration might want to suppress news about the war. Now the Washington Post has published an extensive article outlining the extensive damage Iranian missiles have done to US military installations in the region and the depletion...

Scott Konopasek and I get together for a discussion of the US media, and why we don't see more reporting on the most important thing happening in the world right now: the Iran War, which just turned hot again. Yes, SCOTUS decisions on voting and reproductive rights matter. But the central issue of the day is the Iran War and its costs, in both lives and national treasure. People are dying. Oil sup...

In this Two Crusty Old Combat Soldiers with a Microphone episode, Scott and I break down a chaotic week in American politics—from a major Supreme Court of the United States ruling impacting the Voting Rights Act, to escalating tensions in the Iran conflict, to the growing controversy around partisan redistricting in Virginia, trying to connect multiple political dots: The Supreme Court’s latest de...

In this special Foggy Bottom Line Media bonus episode, hosts Stan Scott and Scott K. sit down with Virginia 5th Congressional District candidate Mel Tull—Army veteran, small business attorney, and first-time candidate—to break down the issues shaping the 2026 election. Tull outlines his vision as a “business-friendly Democrat” focused on economic stability, bipartisan problem-solving, and restorin...

Iran Crisis: What happens next? In this episode of Two Crusty Old Combat Soldiers with a Microphone, military veterans and political analysts Stan Scott and Scott Konopasek break down the rapidly escalating Iran crisis and its global consequences. The conflict is no longer just about military power. Iran is targeting the global energy system, threatening oil infrastructure across the Gulf and pote...

In this conversation, Stan Scott and Scott Konopasek discuss the implications of religious beliefs within the military, particularly in light of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation's reports on discrimination. They explore the intersection of personal faith and military duty, the potential for Christian nationalism to influence military actions, and the theological implications of current co...

In this conversation, Stan Scott and Scott Konopasek discuss the recent military actions against Iran, exploring the motivations behind these decisions, the implications for U.S. foreign policy, and the historical context of U.S.-Iran relations. They delve into the role of leadership in military operations, the financial implications of war, and the consequences of regime change. The discussion al...

Trump and his team complained so loudly about a stolen 2020 election, hundreds of his followers stormed the Capitol to stop the Electoral Vote count, causing a riot that led to deaths on both sides and demonstrated that MAGA supporters quite happily refuse to comply with law enforcement instructions. They demonstrated a willingness to use violence against law enforcement officers if necessary to p...

After he left the Army, Scott K served as an election official in 4 states, including Virginia. In this episode, the first in a series on how American elections work, we lay out the basics of election law and some thoughts on the current state of faith in election integrity. In future shows, we'll talk about whether bad actors could really hack elections and what that would look like.

Last Friday, the Department of Justice dumped more than three million pieces of information about Jeffrey Epstein, his crimes, and his group of pals. Emails, photos (some of nude girls - actual CSAM!) court documents, letters, and more. This tranche of data demonstrates that some of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the US Government and businessmen from around the world chomped at the bi...

Last week, an ICE agent in Minneapolis shot and killed a woman after she tried to flee when they attempted to pull her from her vehicle. Trump officials and others blamed the victim, claiming that she attempted to run the officer over with her car. Video evidence clearly shows this is not the case. Since then, Trump has surged more ICE agents to Minneapolis and they have begun what amounts to a te...

After the Second World War, the US and its victorious allies created a set of international institutions and legal regimes designed to protect and spread capitalism and democracy around the world. Intended to promote human rights, peace and stability, reconstruction, and economic development this regime also create the conditions for a fractured world to run on American values and ideals. Trump's...

Federal ICE agents have occupied American cities, and they think they have a right to assault you, arrest you, and even shoot you if you don't follow their instructions. This is police state shit, people. Check out full episode on the Renee Good shooting.

Yesterday, a woman named Renee Good attempted to flee from ICE agents in a Minneapolis neighborhood when they attempted to pull her from her vehicle. She was not obstructing them and was not violent - she simply did not obey their command to "Get out of the f*** car!" When they attempted to open the door she attempted to drive away when an agent shot her once through the windshield and twice throu...