Topic: American Jobs

The discussion shifts to the potential for a carbon tax and the elimination of the filibuster. The hosts argue that President Obama is acting like a dictator by using executive orders to bypass Congress on issues like No Child Left Behind waivers and student loan bailouts.

The comedy series Ted Lasso is discussed following a viewing of two episodes on an American Airlines flight. The conversation explores the corporate synergy between Apple and Disney, noting that Laurene Powell Jobs holds significant stock in Apple and a board seat at Disney. This connection is cited as the reason for ABC's promotion of the Apple Plus streaming product.

EPA Chief Scott Pruitt defends President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord, calling it a courageous move for American workers. White House officials emphasize that the administration prioritizes the economy and jobs over environmental regulations. A CBS News poll supports this focus, showing that only 2% of Americans view the environment as the most important problem facing the government.

Under the "We Can't Wait" initiative, the Obama administration announces a new 15-cent tax on fresh Christmas trees. The tax is intended to fund a federal program to improve the image and marketing of Christmas trees. The hosts ridicule the necessity of a government-mandated marketing campaign for a holiday staple.

Referencing a 60 Minutes interview with lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the hosts discuss how legislative riders are used to hide significant policy changes. They express skepticism toward the 165-page American Jobs Act, suggesting it contains hidden benefits for bankers and high-speed rail interests like Warren Buffett. They vow to analyze the PDF for "obfuscations" that might be pushed through executive orders.

The hosts provide instructions for donating to the show via various URLs and mention that the American Jobs Act PDF has been added to the show notes. They emphasize that they will vouch for the credits of their executive producers on professional platforms like IMDB, contrasting themselves with "phonies in Hollywood."

President Obama's promotion of the American Jobs Act is characterized as political theater, as the bill had not yet been formally introduced when he claimed his "pens were ready." Meanwhile, an unusual legislative procedure orchestrated by Mitch McConnell allowed the US Senate to raise the debt limit by $500 billion with minimal public notice. The President's use of the phrase "yawning deficit" is also scrutinized for its linguistic oddity.

The American Jobs Act includes the creation of the American Infrastructure Financing Authority (AIFA), a government-backed investment bank. The legislation allows for projects with a "BBB minus" investment grade rating to receive federal financing, which is a lower standard than traditional high-grade investments. Loans for these projects feature 35-year repayment terms starting only after the substantial completion of construction.

President Barack Obama traveled to North Carolina to promote the American Jobs Act, urging the public to pressure Congress to pass the bill immediately. Critics note the lack of a published full text for the bill at the time of the speech, despite the President's public displays of a thick document.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, released an analysis supporting the American Jobs Act, claiming it would add two percentage points to GDP growth. The discussion questions Zandi's background, noting his education at the Wharton School and his ancestral ties to the Zand dynasty of Iran.

President Obama announced a new initiative for 500,000 community college students to receive manufacturing credentials stamped by industry associations. The hosts argue this redefines the American Dream from one of prosperity and wealth to a "slavish" existence of merely being able to pay bills and live within one's means.

A TSA insider reports that the agency often implements unwritten policies before they appear in official handbooks. The expansion of the TSA is characterized as a government jobs program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, while concerns are raised about X-ray leakage from poorly sealed scanning machines.

President Barack Obama's shift in terminology from "save or create" to "save and create" jobs in his weekly address is analyzed as a significant linguistic change. The actual impact of the stimulus package is questioned, citing a press conference where only 25 police cadet jobs were reportedly saved. Data from recovery.gov regarding TSA aviation jobs is also examined.