Topic: July

President Trump hints at a potential federal gas tax holiday ahead of the July 4th holiday to provide relief to consumers and truckers. The hosts discuss the 18.4 cent federal tax and contrast it with high state taxes in California, where specific environmental blends and refinery issues contribute to prices exceeding seven dollars per gallon.

Adam Curry broadcasts from Florence, Italy, where he is celebrating his brother-in-law's 60th birthday. The hosts revisit the "Happy Holidays" debate, questioning why only Christmas is subjected to the generic "holiday" label while the 4th of July and Veterans Day maintain their specific names. They argue the shift reflects a specific cultural bias against Christian traditions.

The hosts discuss the cultural tendency for media figures and politicians to take vacations during the Fourth of July weekend, leading to a proliferation of substitute hosts on major networks. House Speaker Mike Johnson is noted for his visible satisfaction following the successful passage of the major spending legislation.

President Trump issued a wave of pardons, including former Congressman Michael Grimm and reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley. The Chrisleys' daughter lobbied for the pardon, claiming her parents were victims of a weaponized DOJ. Trump also commuted the sentence of Chicago gang leader Larry Hoover, though Hoover remains in state custody. The segment includes a personal anecdote about a friend caught in a Medicare fraud case who is also seeking a pardon.

A New York Times investigation by Julie Turkowicz questions the Trump administration's use of an 18th-century law to deport 238 Venezuelan men. The report claims only a small fraction have confirmed links to the "Tren de Aragua" gang, and that the "rubric" used to identify members—based on tattoos and dress—is flawed. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has reportedly asked for more proof before housing the men long-term.

Social media influencers have sparked controversy by suggesting that Trump voters should not celebrate the Fourth of July, claiming they are "destroying the country." Meanwhile, liberal commentators highlighted that Donald Trump currently holds historically low approval ratings, comparable only to his own first term. The discussion touched on the deep ideological divide and the rhetoric used by "delusional" political factions.

A medical professional noted that death rates and medical errors often increase in July as new residents enter hospital programs. Officials warned against a repeat of the infection surge seen after Memorial Day as the July 4th holiday approached. The public was urged to maintain simple measures like hand washing and physical distancing to avoid hospitalizations during this transition period.

Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky criticized her party on CNN for failing to use "common sense" language when speaking to voters. She cited the use of terms like "Latinx" and the obsession with pronouns as alienating to normal people. Roginsky argued that the party's focus on virtue signaling and academic jargon has created a disconnect with the working class.

Actor Alec Baldwin is on trial for involuntary manslaughter following the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of *Rust*. The segment contrasts the extensive coverage of Baldwin's trial with the relatively brief reporting on the 104 people shot in Chicago over the July 4th holiday weekend.

San Francisco and Berkeley canceled official Fourth of July fireworks displays, citing reasons ranging from budget savings to COVID-19 precedents. While some neighboring areas like Richmond held shows on July 3rd, the lack of pyrotechnics in major hubs served as a potential economic indicator. In Seattle, a drone light show malfunctioned when approximately 50 drones fell into the water, an incident the designer attributed to GPS interference caused by solar flares.

The hosts observe a significant decrease in pre-holiday fireworks displays in both the Texas Hill Country and the California East Bay, interpreting this as a sign of a struggling economy. They discuss the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's exclusion of Ted Nugent and the logistical challenges of fog during San Francisco's Independence Day celebrations.

The Australian eSafety Commissioner, a former Twitter employee, is attempting to force X to remove footage of a knife attack on a priest in Sydney globally. Elon Musk has opposed the directive, leading to a debate over the reach of national legislation and the historical use of ISP-level blocking for sites like Zero Hedge and 8chan.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and E-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant are leading a push for stricter internet censorship. The Australian government has issued takedown orders to platforms like X regarding posts deemed harmful or involving misgendering. Critics argue that these unelected bureaucrats are using vague powers to police political debate and silence dissent.

Biographical details of Australian E-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant reveal she was born in Seattle and worked for Microsoft before moving to Australia. The hosts highlight her past offer of a case agent position with the CIA, which she reportedly declined. Her career trajectory from U.S. congressional advisor to a high-level regulator in Australia is cited as evidence of deep-state influence in international censorship efforts.

Deutsche Welle interviewed Media Matters executive Julie Millican regarding the European Commission's decision to stop advertising on X. The report claims Musk has allowed conspiracy theories to "thrive" on the platform. The discussion suggests Musk is being hounded by both left and right-wing entities, potentially serving as a "heel" in a larger geopolitical game.

Julie Millican of Media Matters argues that Elon Musk has dismantled the "information ecosystem" on X by firing trust and safety teams. She claims the platform has become a "playground for extremists" and that the profit motive for spreading hate speech must be undermined. The discussion highlights the shift from Twitter being a place for "reliable information" to a site where engagement is incentivized through paid subscriptions.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres declared that the era of global warming has ended and the "era of global boiling" has arrived. Citing data from the World Meteorological Organization, Guterres claimed July 2023 would be the hottest month on record and urged immediate international financial commitments to limit temperature rises. This shift in terminology is viewed as a desperate attempt to maintain public panic and drive global wealth redistribution through climate policy.

Anthropologist Julie Lesnik argues that the Western aversion to eating insects is a learned behavior rooted in European colonial history. Lesnik suggests that early colonists avoided indigenous foods like bugs to maintain a sense of "civilized" identity and avoid becoming "savages." The hosts critique the concept of "othering" insects as a social justice framework applied to diet.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the session discussing the definition of Bidenomics and its perceived impact on inflation and international funding. The conversation shifts to the Fourth of July weekend and the high salaries of mainstream media hosts like Al Roker. Initial reports of civil unrest in France are introduced as a parallel to domestic economic concerns.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak sign off, announcing their return for the July 4th weekend. The episode concludes with a musical mix featuring the "Everything's a Scam" song and a discussion on the origin of the word "meme," credited to Richard Dawkins' 1976 book "The Selfish Gene." The hosts reiterate their critique of low-quality meme culture before the final credits roll.