9 chapters across the catalog
"Science educator" Bill Nye appears on television to claim that current heat waves are the "beginning of the new normal." Nye urges citizens to talk about climate change and vote for candidates who will act against the fossil fuel industry, while the hosts mock his reliance on "climatism" as a faith-based belief system.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Extension, and the New Normal
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the alliance must respond to a "new normal" in European security following the Russian invasion. Stoltenberg, whose term was recently extended for another year, is criticized as a "warmonger" for his rhetoric. The segment also notes reports from U.S. defense officials claiming that Russian troops have been pushed back from Kiev while the siege of Mariupol continues.
New Normal, Health Passes, Digital Biosecurity State
The concept of a "new normal" is transitioning into a biosecurity state where digital health passes, developed by companies like IBM and Clear, will be required for entry into stadiums and concerts. Ticketmaster and the Australian government are exploring smartphone verification systems for vaccination status, signaling a future where movement is contingent on digital health credentials.
The hosts discuss "The Great Reset," a concept promoted by the World Economic Forum and featured on the cover of Time Magazine as a post-COVID-19 global strategy. They highlight corporate involvement, noting that UPS has published articles regarding the "legacy" of the pandemic and the potential for societal transformation. A supercut of media figures using the phrase "the new normal" is played to illustrate the coordinated messaging.
The New Normal, Federal Consulting, James Pan Donation
Producer James Pan of Brambleton, Virginia, contributes $106 after leaving a lucrative federal consulting job to seek more ethical employment. The hosts discuss the TV show "The New Normal" and its cultural messaging. Pan's donation represents a "dollar per episode" for the time he spent underemployed while transitioning careers.
The NBC sitcom "The New Normal" features Ellen Barkin as a bigoted grandmother reacting to a gay couple using her granddaughter as a surrogate. While the show relies on heavy stereotyping of homosexual relationships, it attempts to use Archie Bunker-style humor to address social dynamics. Critics note the production's reliance on exaggerated tropes common in network television comedies.
NBC is premiering a new sitcom titled "The New Normal," created by the producers of Glee. The show is criticized for pushing specific social memes regarding non-traditional family structures and surrogacy. The program's marketing uses the phrase "different is the new normal" to frame its narrative on modern cultural shifts.
Income Disparity, Community College Meme, New Normal
A shift in media narratives is observed, moving from racial issues to income disparity and promoting trade schools over traditional four-year universities. Simultaneously, the "new normal" meme is applied to the current U.S. drought, with the NRDC claiming that climate change will make such events more frequent and intense.
New York Times columnist David Brooks is identified as a promoter of the "New Normal" meme. His writing focuses on the necessity of long-term deficit cutting and the "austerity principle," which the hosts have previously predicted would be used to manage public expectations during economic decline.
