Topic: Mail Carriers

Mail carriers for the United States Postal Service are reporting significant payroll errors, with some receiving "zero dollar" paychecks. Despite record revenue claims by management, carriers are prohibited from striking by a non-government strike clause. The discussion emphasizes the constitutional importance of the postal service and the financial hardship these errors cause for employees.

Mail carriers in Oakland, California, are facing a surge in armed robberies, leading the USPS to offer a $100 daily bonus for carriers willing to work in the city. The situation is so severe that carriers from the Sacramento region are being recruited to fill shifts. The hosts suspect that a missing envelope containing listener donations may have been a victim of these thefts.

Mail carriers report that the US Postal Service is being "dismantled from the inside" to transition toward an Amazon-like gig model without long-term benefits. The discussion also touches on the International Labor Organization (ILO), a UN agency that sets global labor standards. The hosts criticize these international bodies for attempting to impose "sustainable development goals" on private corporations.

The U.S. Postal Service suspended mail delivery to a block in Santa Monica after carriers were repeatedly attacked by a man with a golf club. Residents expressed frustration that the suspect could not be apprehended. The hosts discuss the impact of the 9th District Court's ruling on homeless encampments and suggest arming letter carriers as a solution.

A graduate in McKinney, Texas, contributes to the show despite being a "student loan slave." The hosts also recognize Armando, a mail carrier in Texas, and discuss the hard work of delivery drivers during the Christmas season. A final list of executive and associate executive producers is read to close the donor segment.

Upon returning to Austin after a two-week trip, a homeowner discovered that no mail had been delivered during their absence. It was later revealed that the local mail carrier, a listener of the podcast, held the mail intentionally because he knew the residents were away and the front porch was undergoing repairs.

The hosts acknowledge a series of donations, including a special mention of their local mail carrier in Austin, Armando Guerra, who delivered his contribution in person. Other donors from Alberta, Ontario, and Texas are thanked, with several receiving "karma" for jobs, health, or personal relationships. The segment highlights the community-driven nature of the show's funding.