Topic: John Price

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the Christmas special from Texas and Northern Silicon Valley. They discuss the linguistic shift from "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Christmas" and "Merry Holidays," with Dvorak noting local liberals using the latter. The hosts mention a "best of" compilation prepared by Sir Donald Winkler and touch upon "surveillance pricing" as a reason to delay holiday shopping.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry advocate for global carbon pricing. The proposal, to be discussed at COP28, involves a global carbon tax on air travel and shipping, which the hosts characterize as a massive transaction-fee scam for major banks.

Statistician John Williams of ShadowStats explains how the U.S. government altered the Consumer Price Index (CPI) calculation in the 1980s to lower reported inflation. He details how Alan Greenspan introduced "substitution," assuming that if steak becomes too expensive, consumers will buy chicken, thus maintaining their standard of living. The hosts argue this manipulation allows the government to reduce Social Security cost-of-living adjustments while ignoring the actual rise in expenses.

Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's commitment to providing military and technical support to the Syrian government in its fight against insurgents. The U.S. State Department warned that this assistance complicates efforts for a political transition and the removal of Bashar al-Assad. Meanwhile, energy analysts at Goldman Sachs suggest oil prices could drop to $20 a barrel, potentially impacting the geopolitical leverage of energy-producing nations like Russia and Iran.

Various theories explain the recent collapse in global oil prices, including a potential 2014 agreement between John Kerry and Saudi Arabia to bankrupt Russia. Another theory suggests that Saudis were duped into "saltwater fracking," a process that cannot be easily stopped once initiated, leading to a permanent oversupply. The hosts remain skeptical of theories that portray Saudi engineers as easily manipulated.

John C. Dvorak and Adam Curry open the program discussing a vintage menu from the Grand Central Station Oyster Bar dated December 18, 2002. Dvorak describes his hobby of archiving old restaurant menus and the challenges of maintaining a complete collection in mint condition. The hosts compare historical food prices to modern inflation, noting the steep cost of a jumbo gulf shrimp cocktail.

Former Ambassador John Price told Fox News that regime change in Syria will be difficult and unlikely to result in a traditional democracy. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton continues to advocate for the Kofi Annan peace plan while emphasizing the urgency of ending violence in the region.

The discussion focuses on the relationship between global political elites and Muammar Gaddafi, driven by Libya's vast oil reserves. The hosts analyze comments from John McCain and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates regarding potential military intervention. They suggest that the primary motivation for Western involvement is the seizure of natural resources to stabilize energy markets.

The hosts question why Glenn Beck was absent from his show during the height of the Egypt crisis, replaced by a guest host focusing on oil security. They analyze a segment featuring former Shell Oil CEO John Hoffmeister and writer Steve Moore, who promote a "meme" of $200-per-barrel oil. The discussion highlights how wholesale gasoline prices rose 13 cents immediately following the escalation of protests in Cairo.