Topic: State Of War

Southern New Year's traditions involve eating black-eyed peas for luck, a superstition dating back to the American Civil War when the beans were vital sustenance. Discussion shifts to the merits of heirloom beans and pinto beans versus pineapple pizza. Additionally, the University of Texas football team secured an overtime victory against Arizona State.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declares a state of emergency regarding the B.1.1.529 variant, using aggressive rhetoric to urge fast action. He references the "Omega" war game exercise conducted by Israel just weeks prior to simulate the arrival of a highly contagious new variant.

State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki described the killing of journalist James Foley as a "horrific terrorist act" that motivated the creation of an international coalition. The hosts argue that the video of Foley's death was manipulated and used as a "motivating factor" for a half-billion-dollar military spending bill. They express frustration at how quickly the media and government adopted the narrative.

Journalist James Risen is facing legal pressure to reveal sources for his book "State of War." The hosts suggest reverse-engineering Amazon reviews of the book to identify "professional stooges" who post one-star reviews to discredit whistleblowers. They argue that modern journalism is now limited to analyzing the public record since insiders are too afraid to leak.

President Obama officially nominated Senator John Kerry to succeed Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. The President praised Kerry's service in Vietnam and his long tenure on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The hosts revisit the "Swift Boat" controversy and Kerry's past performance in high-profile Senate hearings.