Topic: Hyatt

Journalist Craig Unger appears on Deutsche Welle to claim Donald Trump has been a Russian asset since 1980. Unger alleges the recruitment began when Trump purchased televisions for the Grand Hyatt Hotel from a KGB front in New York. The narrative suggests a long-term relationship evolved from these early business dealings into political influence.

A recent earthquake in Taiwan, which resulted in approximately 900 casualties, is contrasted with a historical 7.1 magnitude quake in Taipei. Buildings in Taiwan are noted for being engineered with advanced seismic technology, such as ball bearings, to withstand major tremors. Personal anecdotes describe the experience of sleeping through significant seismic events in high-rise hotels.

A producer reports that his hotel reservation for the January 6th protests in DC was mysteriously cancelled by Booking.com without notice. The hosts suggest that "social justice warriors" within travel companies may be subverting reservations for Trump supporters. They advise listeners to book directly with hotels and airlines to avoid third-party interference and potential "nightmare" scenarios upon arrival.

Dame Sheila provides a "boots on the ground" report from Lisbon, Portugal, contrasting its quiet but open atmosphere with the strict military-enforced lockdown in Spain. In San Francisco, the city is reportedly converting luxury hotels like the Hyatt into homeless shelters and instructing police not to respond to robberies under $2,500, leading to concerns about rising crime.

Protesters at the California Republican Convention forced Donald Trump to enter a Hyatt Regency through a back entrance by jumping a fence. Meanwhile, a hunger strike in San Francisco protesting police killings has received significantly less media attention. The hosts suggest that the anti-Trump protesters are professional shills funded by outside interests like George Soros.

John C. Dvorak and Adam Curry open episode 564 from the Travis Heights Hideout in FEMA Region 6. Dvorak laments his inability to find a working pen among his collection of 40 trade show souvenirs, including a vintage pen from the Grand Hyatt Singapore and a non-functional Apple-branded pen. The hosts eventually find a working pen from DPA Microphones to use for endorsing donation checks.

The hosts perform a parody of "sponsored content," pretending to be paid to praise the Nokia Windows Phone and its 41-megapixel camera. The bit transitions into a discussion about the "Riot Hyatt" on Sunset Boulevard and memories of Telly Savalas, illustrating how easily commercial interests can be slipped into a conversation.

President Obama nominates billionaire Penny Pritzker for Secretary of Commerce, a move seen as a reward for her role as a major campaign bundler. Pritzker's history with the failed Superior Bank subprime lender and ongoing labor boycotts at Hyatt hotels are highlighted as controversial aspects of her background.

Al Jazeera acquired Al Gore's Current TV for a reported $500 million, though the actual cash value is questioned. The deal allows Al Jazeera to gain cable clearances in the United States, leading to the rebranding of the network as Al Jazeera America.