Topic: Pokemon

Public health experts in Scotland predict a "year of the variant," comparing the need for new vaccines to "catching Pokemon." Conversely, Dr. Kelly Victory explains that viruses typically mutate to become more contagious but less virulent as a survival mechanism.

The mix touches on the 2016 Republican National Convention, mentioning Ben Carson and Ted Cruz. It includes a reference to someone playing Pokemon Go during a briefing and concludes with a repetitive loop on the concept of "humanizing" to prevent "demonization."

The show concludes with a "Pokemon update" regarding players being targeted for robberies in Berkeley, California. The hosts sign off with their traditional credits and a montage of "No, no, no" clips featuring Lindsey Graham and other political figures. The next episode is announced for Sunday.

The show recognized various artists for their contributions, including a Pokemon Go-themed piece by Jay Young. Sir David Rose donated $800.85, requesting a remix of Barack Obama and a Peyton Manning clip. The hosts discussed the process of selecting "evergreen" art versus pieces specific to current events.

During a State Department briefing, spokesperson John Kirby caught a reporter playing Pokemon Go. The incident was cited as an example of the lack of focus within the modern press corps. Kirby interrupted his statement on the coalition to defeat ISIS to acknowledge the reporter's gaming.

Vladimir Putin has reportedly moved to ban Pokemon Go in Russia, characterizing the game as a CIA tool used to gather GPS data and imagery through the smartphones of unsuspecting citizens. The hosts discuss the game's origins at Google and its potential as a global surveillance device.

The global phenomenon of Pokemon Go is discussed as a sign of a mental health crisis and "zombified" public behavior. The hosts review five signs of an addictive personality from Psychology Today, including impulse control issues and social alienation. They note that the game's developer, Niantic, previously created the similar but less popular game Ingress.

Pokemon Go has officially launched in Germany, marking its first expansion into Europe following viral success in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. While some reports claim the game offers mental health benefits by encouraging exercise and social interaction, critics highlight safety risks such as players stopping cars on freeways. The Auschwitz Museum and other historical sites have requested that the game be blocked on their premises to maintain decorum.

A popular internet meme suggests that Herman Cain's entire presidential campaign was a piece of performance art or a parody. Evidence cited includes Cain's use of quotes from "The Pokemon Movie" and references to Spongebob Squarepants. The hosts discuss the possibility that the campaign was designed to mock the political process before Cain's eventual withdrawal.