The podcast covers topics such as Twitter censorship, Kanye West's controversial statements, rigging in the Democratic primaries, SBF's finances, Iranian protests, and the issue of universities with high tuition fees and large endowments.
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Quick takeaways
Changing the primary order in the Democratic Party may favor establishment candidates like Joe Biden and potentially benefit future candidates like Kamala Harris.
Joe Biden's actions during a rail strike highlight his failure to support the labor movement and uphold his pro-labor promises.
Princeton University's massive endowment raises concerns about the allocation of resources and calls for higher taxes on wealthy institutions.
Deep dives
South Carolina becomes the first primary, benefiting Biden
The Democrats have moved closer to making South Carolina their first primary, replacing Iowa. This change in the primary calendar benefits Joe Biden, as he performed well in South Carolina during the previous primary. The new order would have South Carolina on February 3rd, followed by New Hampshire and Nevada on February 6th, and then Georgia and Michigan later in the month.
Rigging allegations apparent with primary order change
The change in the primary order has raised allegations of rigging, as the new order seems to favor establishment candidates, like Joe Biden. The South Carolina primary has historically favored the establishment, while states like Iowa and New Hampshire have usually provided opportunities for outsider candidates. This change in the primary order could potentially benefit future White House bids, including Kamala Harris.
Establishment candidates get an advantage with South Carolina first
The change in the primary order gives establishment candidates an advantage, as the past has shown that the South Carolina primary heavily favors them. For instance, in 2008, Barack Obama trailed Hillary Clinton in South Carolina until he won the Iowa caucuses, which legitimized his candidacy. If South Carolina had been the first primary that year, Clinton would have likely become the nominee. This change could similarly benefit potential future candidates like Kamala Harris.
Biden disappoints union workers by breaking rail strike
Despite campaigning as a pro-labor president, Joe Biden sided with the rail companies and broke the rail strike, leaving union workers feeling betrayed. This incident highlights Biden's failure to follow through on his promises and support the labor movement. Despite appointing worker-friendly officials to the National Labor Relations Board, Biden dropped the PRO Act, failed to address union busting by companies like Amazon, and did not advocate for paid sick leave for rail workers. Instead, Biden prioritized avoiding an economic catastrophe caused by a rail shutdown, but this came at the expense of workers' rights and protections.
Princeton University's enormous endowment
Princeton University's endowment has reached a staggering $37.7 billion. Malcolm Gladwell has exposed how Princeton's endowment returns alone exceed the entire operating budget of the university, which means that they could let every student attend for free. Despite this vast wealth, Princeton continues to increase tuition and give fees to money managers, while failing to provide adequate financial support for students. Gladwell's analysis raises questions about the role of university endowments and calls for higher taxes on these institutions, especially if they do not allocate sufficient resources towards students.
The misleading reporting on Iran's morality police
Recent headlines claiming that Iran has abolished its morality police have been misleading and inaccurate. The official statement from Iran's attorney general suggests that while the morality police may be discontinued, social surveillance and the enforcement of Islamic Sharia laws will continue under different mechanisms. The Western media failed to provide the proper context and nuance to this announcement, leading to misinterpretations that portrayed it as a victory for feminists and a significant shift in Iran's policies. The reality is far more complex and the implications for women's rights and social behaviors in Iran need further examination.
