Topic: James Monroe

An aside focuses on a portrait of James Monroe by artist Gilbert Stuart housed in the National Gallery. The painting is described as capturing a perceived arrogance in Monroe's personality, which is linked to the assertive nature of the Monroe Doctrine. The doctrine is summarized as a declaration of US influence over the entire Western Hemisphere.

The podcast experiences a technical failure as the Skype connection drops, leading to a brief period of troubleshooting. Once reconnected, the hosts continue discussing the various designs of US dollar coins, including the Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea, and Presidential series. They compare the coins to British pound coins and discuss where they are commonly distributed, such as post offices and transit kiosks.