9 chapters across the catalog
A listener report claims 3M lobbies to maintain front license plate laws to sell more reflective material. The discussion shifts to TikTok, with claims that the platform's algorithm has been "sabotaged" by current owners to increase ad frequency and decrease user satisfaction before a potential sale to the Ellison group.
Ashlyn Speed Racing Update, Texas License Plate Lobbying
Race car driver Ashlyn Speed will miss the final race of the season at Road Atlanta due to concussions sustained in a street car accident but will still attend to meet fans. Separately, a lobbyist revealed that the requirement for two license plates in Texas is maintained largely due to 3M's influence, as the company sells the reflective paint used on the plates.
PFAS Forever Chemicals and Gut Microbiome Solutions
Minnesota has passed "Amara's Law," the strictest state legislation policing PFAS "forever chemicals," following the death of activist Amara Strandy. While CBS focused on the legal battle against 3M, NPR reported on a potential biological solution. Scientists at the University of Cambridge have identified gut bacteria that can absorb PFAS, leading to hopes for future probiotic treatments.
PFAS Forever Chemicals, Legal Settlements and Health Excuses
Major chemical manufacturers 3M and DuPont have reached multi-billion dollar settlements over PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in water systems. These "forever chemicals" are linked by the EPA to decreased fertility, high blood pressure, and cancer. There is speculation that these chemicals will be used as a legal and public health explanation for excess deaths and "turbo cancers" moving forward.
Melbourne Quarantine Hotels, Garbage Bags and Fake Mask Tips
In Melbourne, Australia, COVID-positive patients were filmed being moved between quarantine hotels with garbage bags over their heads, which the hosts interpret as a symbolic degradation of citizens. A consumer report on identifying fake 3M masks is mocked for suggesting that buyers look for a "NIOSH" stamp, as counterfeiters would likely print the stamp as well.
Counterfeit 3M Masks, Made in USA Origins
A report on counterfeit N95 masks labeled "3N" leads to a discussion about the history of shoddy products. The hosts recount an urban legend from the 1960s or 70s about a Japanese town renamed "Usa" so products could be labeled "Made in USA," comparing it to modern Chinese manufacturing practices.
California Smoke Masks and Communication Barriers
As smoke from the wildfires continues to affect air quality in California, residents have begun wearing high-end gas masks and N95 filters in public. The hosts mock tech figures like Jason Calacanis for their elaborate gear and note that the masks make it nearly impossible for people to communicate at grocery store checkouts.
3M Headquarters Surveillance and Neighborhood Social Dynamics
A visit to neighbors in Austin, Texas, leads to a discussion about local surveillance and the 3M headquarters campus. The facility is described as a high-security "spook facility" featuring massive antenna pylons and RFID tracking equipment. Additionally, a conversation with neighborhood children reveals their perspectives on the "American Dream" as being centered on freedom and family.
3M Acquisitions, Remote People Tracking Technology
3M has acquired Atenti, a company specializing in "Remote People Tracking" for judicial and geriatric care. The hosts connect this to 3M's other recent acquisition of a fingerprint ID company, suggesting a move toward universal RFID and GPS tracking. They joke that Lindsay Lohan may soon be wearing a 3M tracking bracelet instead of going to jail.
