Compact Podcast The Last Show with Colbert
Jul 25, 2025
Trump's fiery critiques of Fed Chair Powell and their implications for economic independence spark a riveting discussion. The dark undertones of Ari Aster's film 'Eddington' highlight social tensions during the COVID era, intertwining reality with surreal narratives. Colbert's journey through cancel culture raises questions about late-night hosts' roles in today's media landscape. Meanwhile, NPR faces funding challenges as podcasts sweep the airwaves, reshaping the future of journalism. It's a wild ride through economics, politics, and culture!
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Fed Independence Limits Democracy
- Federal Reserve independence began in the late 1970s with Paul Volcker's inflation-fighting policies.
- It shifted accountability from the public to financial elites, deepening inequality and limiting democratic control.
Interest Rates and Democracy Clash
- Interest rates reflect long-term economic decline and are critical to managing crises.
- Insulating interest rate decisions from democracy shields vital economic controls from popular pressure, but this conflicts with democratic desires.
COVID Masking Tensions Anecdote
- Geoff Shullenberger recounts his own heated confrontation with theater ushers enforcing strict COVID mask rules in 2021.
- The film "Eddington" vividly captures this awkward mask enforcement culture early in the pandemic.