Topic: Prohibition

The history of "Government Cheese" is traced back to World War II, when the U.S. government became a massive buyer of milk to produce ice cream for military morale. After the war, the government continued buying milk to prevent the dairy industry's collapse, storing the surplus as cheese in underground caverns. During the Reagan administration, this surplus was distributed to low-income families, leading to the creation of the National Dairy Council to drive private milk consumption.

A comparison of American life in 1922 versus 2022 highlights that 100 years ago, the average life expectancy for men was 47 and only 14% of homes had bathtubs. The list notes that substances like heroin and morphine were available over-the-counter, and 18% of households employed full-time domestic servants.

A producer provides a historical comparison between 1919 and 2022, noting that both followed major pandemics. The segment details the Great Molasses Flood in Boston, which killed 21 people, and the ratification of the 18th Amendment (Prohibition). The hosts discuss whether modern society is facing a similar period of "stupid" prohibitions and social upheaval.

A clip from a Ken Burns documentary on Prohibition illustrates how the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) used schools to indoctrinate children against alcohol. Mary Hunt is highlighted for lobbying for mandatory temperance classes that taught children lurid misinformation about physical health. The hosts draw a direct parallel between this historical propaganda and modern climate change education.

The discussion explores what might constitute "unlawful content" under new net neutrality rules, using Google AdSense's terms of service as a potential template. Google's list of prohibited content includes adult material, mail-order brides, and specific sexual health discussions. There is concern that these corporate standards could be adopted as federal enforcement guidelines for internet traffic.

A discussion on the opiate crisis identifies Vicodin as a primary gateway drug prescribed by dentists. The hosts explore a historical precedent from 1926 where the US government intentionally poisoned industrial alcohol during Prohibition, leading to thousands of deaths. They also reference the 1970s spraying of Mexican marijuana fields with the toxic chemical Paraquat.

A discussion with a constitutional lawyer reveals the complexities of federal versus state law regarding EPA permits for power plants in El Paso. The hosts argue that the federal government's reluctance to enforce marijuana laws in states like Colorado stems from a fear of a 10th Amendment challenge at the Supreme Court. They use the example of the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) to argue that the federal government historically required constitutional changes to ban substances, a standard they now bypass through simple federal law.

President Barack Obama delivered a speech in the Rose Garden asserting that the use of chemical weapons in Syria is an assault on human dignity and a threat to U.S. national security. He introduced the term "global prohibition" to describe the international norms against such weapons. The President argued that failure to act would risk the proliferation of these weapons to terrorist groups and endanger regional allies like Israel and Jordan.

John McLaughlin is criticized for his apparent shock during a PBS broadcast when informed that drugs are prevalent in American prisons. The segment highlights the failure of drug prohibition, noting that if the government cannot keep drugs out of controlled prison environments, the broader drug war is fundamentally flawed.

The discussion focuses on the constitutional conflict between federal drug laws and state legalization. Adam Curry criticizes the media meme that "federal law trumps state law," arguing that the Tenth Amendment reserves such powers to the states. He references a disagreement with Roger Chang on the "This Week in Tech" (TWiT) network regarding this legal interpretation.

Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson's stance on legalizing marijuana is discussed, with Johnson arguing that 90% of drug problems are related to prohibition. The hosts contrast this with a news story about a man punching a puppy while intoxicated on alcohol, noting that such behavior is rarely associated with marijuana use. They suggest Johnson should adopt a more aggressive messaging style.

After reading birthday wishes, John Dvorak discusses his research into the origins of NASCAR. He argues that the popular narrative linking the sport's beginnings to Prohibition-era moonshine runners is largely a fabricated "folktale" used to market the organization.

Following his ban on outdoor smoking, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is reportedly targeting alcohol retail outlets. The hosts view this as the beginning of a new era of prohibition that will inevitably lead to increased organized crime. They characterize Bloomberg's efforts as a "corrupt" overreach of government authority.

Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson is criticized for his "milquetoast" debate performance and failure to engage with humor. Despite his exclusion from major debates, Johnson's platform focuses on ending drug prohibition and opposing border fences. The hosts suggest his focus on marijuana legalization has led to him being marginalized by the mainstream media.

The federal government is cracking down on medical marijuana dispensaries in California, specifically those near schools and parks. Assistant Attorney General Melinda Haag claims the move is to protect children. The hosts argue the government is actually protecting its "turf" for pharmaceutical drugs like Adderall and Zoloft.

Documentarian Ken Burns discusses the history of Prohibition and the power of the Anti-Saloon League. He explains how the 16th Amendment (income tax) was essential to Prohibition because it replaced the federal government's reliance on liquor tax revenue, which previously accounted for 70% of internal revenue.

The "gateway drug" theory is debated, with the hosts citing scientific studies that have debunked the concept for decades. They compare marijuana criminalization to the failed era of alcohol prohibition and advocate for a regulated market to undermine criminal gangs.

As California prepares to vote on Proposition 19 to legalize marijuana, Willie Nelson released a PSA for NORML. Nelson argues that marijuana is safer than alcohol, a message the hosts find interesting given the rise of "neo-prohibitionist" movements against alcohol. They discuss the cultural shift in how both substances are being marketed and regulated.

The discussion focuses on Lindsay Lohan's release from jail and the potential for her to become a spokesperson for a "drinking vaccine." The hosts frame this within a broader trend of "neo-prohibitionism," citing new ID laws in Nova Scotia and economic reports on alcohol harm in Australia.

The hosts explore a perceived media trend toward alcohol prohibition, citing plotlines in "Days of Our Lives" and "Entourage" that portray alcohol as a "gateway" to harder drugs and career ruin. A parody commercial for tequila is played, listing absurd side effects like "dancing like a retard" and "naked twister." They suggest that these media portrayals may be influenced by political figures like Rahm Emanuel's brother, Ari.