Topic: Defense Bill

The Department of Defense is investing billions to increase artillery production by 500% over the next two years, the largest expansion since the Korean War. Undersecretary Bill LaPlante stated that the U.S. is scouring the globe for Soviet-era munitions while modernizing domestic plants. Historical comparisons show that while the Korean War-era budget was lower in absolute terms, a higher percentage of spending was directed toward ammunition compared to modern "junk" projects.

President Joe Biden announced the use of the Defense Production Act to expand at-home COVID-19 testing and the establishment of 20,000 free testing sites. The move follows the acquisition of a major testing company by entities funded by Bill Gates and George Soros.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand repeatedly referred to "tactile" nuclear weapons during a discussion on defense policy. The hosts point out that she likely meant "tactical" weapons, mocking her for the linguistic error while she argued against the development of low-yield armaments.

An analysis of the $1.9 billion Zika funding request reveals it is largely intended to cover unpaid pledges from the 2014 Ebola crisis. Data from the UN Special Envoy on Ebola shows that major entities like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Google are short on their promised donations. The funds are often diverted to NGOs and government agencies, including $631 million for the U.S. Department of Defense and $800 million for the CDC.

An analysis of Haiti earthquake relief funds reveals that the largest recipient of U.S. aid was the U.S. government itself, with hundreds of millions reimbursed to the Department of Defense and other agencies. Only 1% of humanitarian funding went directly to the Haitian government, while the majority was cycled back to donor-country entities and private contractors.

Bill Maher argued that Barack Obama's record on military interventions and defense spending should make him a hero to the Republican Party. Maher noted that Obama has increased the defense budget significantly, despite Mitt Romney's claims of "massive defense cuts." The commentary suggests Obama has governed more like a neoconservative emperor than a traditional Democrat.

The fiscal 2012 defense bill includes language that expands the authorization for the use of military force to include "associated forces" of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Critics argue this allows the executive branch to declare war on any entity or country without specific Congressional approval. The hosts compare the current US Senate to the Roman Senate in its gradual surrender of power to a central dictator.

The New START treaty between the United States and Russia is highlighted as an underreported but significant arms control agreement. President Obama and Bill Clinton have both publicly advocated for its ratification. The hosts express distrust of the deal, citing the influence of organized crime in the Russian government.

Jennifer Keeton, a graduate student at Augusta State University, is suing the school for allegedly requiring her to change her Christian beliefs regarding homosexuality to remain in a counseling program. The hosts discuss the case as presented on Bill O'Reilly's show, noting the legal complexities of Georgia's sodomy and oral sex laws. They suggest the story is being amplified by right-wing media to create a new cultural flashpoint.

The U.S. Senate passed a $636 billion defense bill with a 93-7 vote. The legislation includes $128.2 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and ends production of the Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter. Notably, the bill prohibits the transfer of Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States, contradicting previous administration promises.