Topic: Apathy

The current media focus on ISIS beheading videos is characterized as a distraction tactic similar to the propaganda used to justify the Iraq War. Critics argue that while beheadings occur, the videos are produced to manipulate public fear and justify military intervention. This cycle of misinformation relies on a perceived lack of critical engagement from the American public regarding foreign policy and intelligence operations.

During a dinner with "Obama-bot" friends, one host observed a total apathy toward the Syrian conflict. Instead, the group focused on the Department of Justice's decision not to challenge marijuana legalization in Washington and Colorado. The host argues that this "inward draw" and refusal to discuss foreign policy indicates a breakdown in the ability of supporters to process the administration's actions.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak debate whether the George Zimmerman verdict resulted in actual riots. While reports of broken windows in Oakland surfaced, the hosts characterize the American public as apathetic couch potatoes rather than revolutionaries. They contrast the small-scale protests in Oakland and San Francisco with the historical scale of the LA Riots.

Viagra is reportedly being tested as a treatment for rare growths in children as its patent expires. Meanwhile, the upcoming DSM-5 is criticized for labeling common behaviors like grieving or shyness as mental disorders.

President Obama has shifted his campaign strategy from small "backyard barbecues" back to large-scale university rallies. During a speech in Madison, Wisconsin, he emphasized the phrase "one more time" and warned against voter apathy. The hosts analyze the use of the word "folks" and the re-emergence of the "change" meme.