Topic: Public Trust

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the CDC for citing "flimsy studies" and promised a reckoning for COVID-era policies. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll indicates that over a quarter of Americans still distrust the agency. New CDC Director Mandy Cohen defended the agency on CNN, attributing the trust deficit to "changing science" rather than institutional errors.

A sharp disagreement occurs between the hosts regarding the remaining power of mainstream media. One host argues that the public has largely lost trust in outlets like the New York Times and CNN, while the other maintains that these institutions still hold significant influence over the general population.

Congressman Jim Jordan questioned Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein regarding Peter Strzok's "insurance policy" text message. Jordan suggested the FBI used a dossier funded by the Clinton campaign to obtain FISA warrants to spy on the Trump campaign. The hosts argue that these revelations have severely damaged public trust in the FBI and the Mueller investigation.

Richard Edelman presented the annual Trust Barometer results, revealing that Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are now the most trusted source of information worldwide. This trust persists despite many NGOs being funded by governments or corporations to promote specific agendas. The data shows a profound distrust of traditional government and media, leading organizations to use "independent" non-profits like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to deliver their messages.

President Barack Obama's speech following the shutdown resolution is analyzed for its use of "performatives"—phrases like "I've said it before and I'll say it again" that signal a lack of sincerity. The hosts compare his rhetorical style to Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, arguing that his claims of being eager to work with Republicans are contradicted by his political actions. The segment focuses on the loss of trust between the government and the public.