Topic: Martin L Gross

The hosts recommend the book "Crisis by Design" regarding the global financial system before concluding the show. They provide a historical correction on the term "Caspar Milquetoast," tracing it back to a 1924 comic strip character created by H.T. Webster. The episode ends with a reminder to listeners to support the show through donations and a sign-off from San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

The hosts discuss the decline of newspapers and their reliance on AP wire stories. They reference Martin L. Gross's book "National Suicide" to describe the megalomania and greed inherent in the current political and media landscape.

The book "National Suicide" by Martin L. Gross is reviewed, which argues that the actual U.S. national deficit is closer to $23 trillion when using honest accounting. Gross, a financial analyst, claims that by 2011, the U.S. will pay nearly $1 trillion annually just in interest. The hosts suggest the country should consider filing for bankruptcy or "taking the country public."