7 chapters across the catalog
Sir John Henry, a producer based in Puerto Rico, donated to the show while expressing concerns about the "screaming economy" and manufacturing capacity. He requested "Manufacturing Karma" for producers facing high demand. The segment includes a humorous reference to the Zika virus and the "Scream" painting, as well as a "goat scream" sound effect used in the show's production.
The role of the Theranos board, which included figures like Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, is examined alongside the culpability of venture capital firms. The hosts suggest that experienced investors should have recognized the technical impossibilities of the Edison machine. They contrast the Theranos scandal with the established blood-testing industry giants like LabCorp.
Media outlets CNN and MSNBC are analyzed for their coverage of the "War on Christmas" as a political dog whistle. MSNBC's Ari Melber is criticized for claiming the narrative stems from the John Birch Society and 1920s anti-Semitic pamphlets, while the hosts note historical inaccuracies regarding the founding date of the John Birch Society in 1958.
John McCain, Code Pink Protesters, Henry Kissinger Testimony
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Senator John McCain called Code Pink protesters "low-life scum" after they disrupted Henry Kissinger's testimony. The protesters were demanding Kissinger's arrest for war crimes. The hosts note that mainstream networks largely ignored the exchange, while outlets like Democracy Now! highlighted the irony of the situation.
Charlie Kaufman, BAFTA Speech and Marketing Culture
The hosts play a 2011 BAFTA speech by screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, who critiques the modern world as being built entirely on marketing and mass-produced entertainment. Kaufman argues that movies and media are designed solely to sell products, leaving people "lonely, empty, and scared." The hosts discuss Kaufman's perspective as a form of "hope" through honesty.
Boston Globe Sale, Pressure Cooker Google Search Incident
The hosts discuss the sale of the Boston Globe for $70 million, a fraction of its original $1.1 billion purchase price. They also debunk a viral story about a woman visited by a joint terrorism task force for Googling "pressure cookers." It is revealed that the tip actually came from an IT worker at her husband's former employer who reported his search history to the police.
The House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, commonly known as the cap and trade bill. Representative John Boehner utilized a "magic minute" privilege to deliver a speech lasting over an hour, criticizing the 300-page amendment added at 3:09 a.m. Representative Henry Waxman is criticized for his attempts to interrupt the speech and his inquiries regarding parliamentary time limits.
