Topic: Presidential Alert

The hosts discuss the recent nationwide test of the Presidential Alert system, noting that many people, including themselves and their family members, did not receive the notification. Technical requirements for the "911 chip" in newer phones are explored as a reason for the failure. One host recounts a weekend on Lake Travis with a former New York banker who did receive the alert on his boat.

The FCC is proposing rule changes to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) that would allow the President to broadcast live to all mobile phones and media outlets simultaneously. These "presidential alerts" cannot be disabled on modern smartphones and include capabilities for geo-targeted messaging.

The hosts examine the settings for the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) on mobile devices, noting that while most alerts can be disabled, "Presidential Alerts" are mandatory. They discuss the "slave training" aspect of these systems, which are designed to instruct the public to "shelter in place" during emergencies. The segment highlights the increasing integration of government messaging into personal technology.

T-Mobile has implemented the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS), a public safety system allowing FEMA and other agencies to send emergency text-like messages to wireless devices. The system categorizes alerts into three types: Presidential, Imminent Threat, and Amber Alerts. The technology uses cell tower triangulation to target specific geographic regions without requiring GPS.