Topic: Derailers

Technical analysis from "boots on the ground" suggests the East Palestine derailment was a failure of railroad safety equipment, specifically a hotbox detector that should have alerted the crew to an overheating axle. The hosts discuss the industry's push to reduce staff and eliminate safety features like cabooses. They conclude that the decision to blow up the tankers was likely the worst possible choice for the local environment.

The show concludes with a look at recent train derailments in Florida and Greece, noting that the U.S. sees over a thousand derailments annually. The hosts also revisit a past prediction regarding Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) potentially becoming president, with one host searching for a specific clip to settle a dispute about his past comments on her effectiveness.

A massive coal train derailment in Lawrence, Kansas, is reported, which threatens to disrupt the transport of poultry feed. The incident is linked to staffing shortages at Union Pacific caused by vaccine mandates, leading to the hiring of inexperienced workers who may not know how to properly balance and organize long trains.

An Amtrak train derailment in Montana resulted in three deaths and 50 injuries, prompting a discussion on past rail safety incidents. September 26 is identified as National Situational Awareness Day, an annual observance focused on personal safety and environmental vigilance.

The latest issue of Al-Qaeda's "Inspire" magazine reportedly focuses on "train derail operations" as a new tactic for terrorism. This shift toward targeting subways and rail lines is noted as a significant security concern for Western cities. Critics suggest the magazine's high production value points to involvement by intelligence agencies like the CIA to signal future security theater requirements.

Twenty-two Union Pacific train cars derailed into the flooded Cosumnes River in Sacramento County after a track collapsed. The media coverage of the event is noted for awkwardly transitioning from the train crash to general warnings about driving through flooded roadways.

The FBI issued a warning regarding the theft of "derailers" from rail facilities just days before the Philadelphia crash. Media coverage, specifically from Luke Russert, is criticized for suggesting that Republican fiscal hawkishness puts their own staffers at risk by underfunding the transit systems they use.

Following a crude oil train derailment in northern Illinois, one of the hosts recounts personal experience receiving specialized oil refinery fire training. The technical details of fighting petroleum fires—including the use of Scott Airpacks and specific "sweeping" hose techniques—are discussed to explain why local volunteer fire departments often struggle to contain such massive industrial accidents.

The hosts return to the Paul Walker crash, debating the engine and gas tank placement of the Porsche Carrera GT. They entertain a "crackpot" theory involving a drone strike or a "Hollywood whacker" to distract from Eric Holder's legal troubles. The segment also mentions a Metro North train derailment in New York that killed four people.

A German Intercity Express (ICE) train derailed in a tunnel after striking a flock of sheep, resulting in several injuries. The hosts compare the design of German high-speed trains with the French TGV, noting that French tracks are often built in trenches for aerodynamics. The vulnerability of high-speed rail to track obstructions is highlighted.