Topic: Danger

A psychological theory is discussed suggesting that highlighting the "danger" of a candidate may actually increase their appeal, similar to how graphic warning labels on cigarette packs in Europe reportedly led to higher sales. The hosts speculate that the media's constant framing of Donald Trump as "dangerous" might be a deliberate or accidental strategy that bolsters his support among certain voters.

A viral supercut featured dozens of local news anchors across the United States reading an identical script about the "sharing of biased and false news." The script, mandated by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, warned that such media practices are "extremely dangerous to our democracy." The montage is frequently cited as evidence of centralized corporate control over local news messaging.

Retired federal judge J. Michael Luttig's testimony and subsequent NPR interview are deconstructed. Luttig's warning of a "clear and present danger" to democracy is analyzed, with the hosts noting his vocal similarity to Bill Barr. Luttig's call for the Republican Party to initiate a "reconciliation process" for the events of January 6th is dismissed as an attempt to return to an obsolete era of the party.

Southern California Edison warned that over 42,000 customers in San Bernardino and surrounding counties could lose power on Thanksgiving due to Santa Ana winds and wildfire risks. The hosts link these utility shutoffs to Joe Biden's "dark winter" comments, noting the irony of people being unable to cook holiday meals while under lockdown.

Rachel Maddow used the phrase "clear and present danger" to describe the risks posed by the Trump administration's handling of North Korea and the Iran nuclear deal. The term is noted as a specific legal standard used by the Supreme Court to determine when speech can be constitutionally restricted, such as in the "fire in a theater" analogy.

Milo Yiannopoulos appeared on C-SPAN to discuss being blackballed by mainstream media and retailers like Barnes & Noble. Despite his book "Dangerous" being canceled by Simon & Schuster, Yiannopoulos claims significant financial success through self-publishing, comparing his controversial status to Madonna in the 1990s.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the program discussing severe windstorms in Austin, Texas, and Northern California. They address the fire risks associated with high temperatures and dry conditions in Texas compared to California's hillsides. The hosts also acknowledge producer JJ Meyer for his friendly assistance in correcting their repetitive speech patterns and verbal tics.

The hosts reflect on the death of "The Gong Show" creator Chuck Barris at age 87. They discuss his controversial claim of being a CIA assassin, which was the subject of his book and the film "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind." They critique the CBS obituary for omitting his intelligence claims, which they view as a significant part of his public persona.

Senator Elizabeth Warren appeared on Stephen Colbert's program, labeling Donald Trump a "dangerous man" and a "thin-skinned bully." She dismissed Trump's economic policies and claimed his convention speech was designed to make Americans afraid of one another. Warren's appearance aligned with the Democratic "Dangerous Donald" messaging strategy.

In an interview with Charlie Rose, Hillary Clinton claimed that Donald Trump being "near the nuclear code" would pose a danger to civilization. The hosts mock the shifting metaphors—from "finger on the button" to "near the code"—and criticize the hyperbolic rhetoric used to frame Trump as the most dangerous candidate in history.

British commentator Milo Yiannopoulos is currently on a controversial college tour titled "The Dangerous Faggot Tour," drawing significant protests at campuses like UCLA. Protesters reportedly blocked doors to prevent his speech, leading to high-tension confrontations. Audio is played of a protester at UCLA having a vocal "tantrum" during the event.

Twitter establishes a "Trust and Safety Council" to implement new community guidelines based on the "Dangerous Speech Project." The criteria for banning users include the speaker's influence and the "propitious" social context for violence. Critics argue these variables are subjective and could be used to silence controversial political speech.

Professor Michael Oppenheimer appeared on the PBS NewsHour with Gwen Ifill to praise the U.S.-China climate deal as a way to avoid the "climate danger zone." The hosts criticize the segment as hagiography and argue that the 2030 benchmark for Chinese emissions is a scam that lacks immediate accountability.

The "Heartbleed" security bug was branded with a professional logo by the security firm Codenomicon, which the hosts claim was plagiarized from the artist Danger Mouse. They also question how Canadian police were able to arrest a 19-year-old for exploiting the bug if the vulnerability supposedly leaves no logs or traces.

The Showtime documentary series "Years of Living Dangerously" is critiqued for its celebrity-driven approach to climate change advocacy. The hosts investigate the funding of "Climate Central," an NGO featured in the show, finding ties to the Rockefeller Brothers, NASA, Google, and the World Bank. They note that the organization is late in filing its Form 990 tax documents and question the objectivity of its experts.

The hosts review the film Pacific Rim, calling it a well-done but mindless action movie. They also discuss Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, with Curry dismissing Chuck Barris's CIA claims as "bullcrap" while praising George Clooney's direction and Drew Barrymore's performance.

Congressman Joe Bonner of Alabama questions the DEA on the legal status of marijuana, emphasizing its classification as a "dangerous illegal drug." The hosts mock the repetitive nature of the hearing. They also note media reports that Boston suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was a frequent marijuana user, which they suggest is being used as a character indictment.

A massive server failure at Danger Inc., a Microsoft subsidiary, resulted in the permanent loss of personal data for T-Mobile Sidekick users. The hosts highlight this as a primary example of the dangers of cloud computing, where contacts and photos are not stored locally. They mock the lack of backups at a major technology firm and the resulting media fallout.