Topic: The South

John's "Tip of the Day" features a comprehensive open-source file type converter hosted on GitHub. The show concludes with a preview of "End of Show Mixes," including a mashup of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Miss South Carolina. The hosts sign off from Texas and Silicon Valley, promising to return on Thursday to continue deconstructing the media.

Sunny Hostin of *The View* claimed her son is safer in South Africa than in the United States following the Chauvin verdict. The hosts question the logic of this statement given the high crime rates and racial tensions in South Africa.

A study published in "Science of the Total Environment" suggests that climate change allowed for a more diverse bat population in southern China, facilitating the mutation of coronaviruses. The hosts criticize this "packaging opportunity" to link the pandemic to environmental policy. They point out contradictions in climate models regarding species extinction versus the sudden emergence of new bat species.

Joy Behar of *The View* calls for a national lockdown in the U.S., claiming Trump is only keeping the country open to protect the stock market. She incorrectly cites South Korea as a country that "shut down completely" and confuses Sweden's political structure. The hosts criticize her lack of understanding regarding the constitutional limits of presidential power.

Producer John Vogel, now dubbed Sir John Vogel of the Shameless Plug, promoted his independent feature film, The Trouble. The film is a spaghetti western crime thriller set in the South Bronx and was produced without Hollywood influence. It is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime and Tubi, serving as an example of successful independent distribution.

Listeners from South Korea and Guyana provide local updates. The report from Guyana mentions an upcoming election and the influence of ExxonMobil and international intelligence agencies, while also referencing the Netflix documentary "The Great Hack" regarding Cambridge Analytica.

Sir Patrick Coble, now the Duke of the South, donates $1,199 to match the show number. Coble is a professional penetration tester and cybersecurity expert. The segment includes a series of requested Al Sharpton audio clips and a discussion on the importance of physical security testing for corporate facilities.

Steve Bannon discusses his new film and the geopolitical strategy of "barbarian management" used by China. He advocates for a 72-hour ultimatum for China to remove military assets from the South China Sea. Bannon credits Trump with reorienting the global supply chain away from East Asia through the new NAFTA deal.

Donations are acknowledged from producers in Australia, South Carolina, and Missouri. A note from Derek Winky describes his experience going "off the grid" during a cruise by refusing to pay for the onboard internet package, observing the constant smartphone usage of other passengers.

The hosts open with a discussion of the 2018 World Cup, noting South Korea's victory over Germany and the resulting advancement of Mexico. One host performs "The Toast Song" on a recorder, a recording captured from a previous live pre-stream. The conversation transitions into the timing of the current news cycle and political events.

The Economist reports that North Korea's anger stems from long-scheduled military exercises between the US and South Korea involving stealth bombers. These "decapitation exercises" are cited as a primary reason for the North's sudden change in diplomatic tone.

Leonardo DiCaprio introduces his documentary *Before the Flood* at the "South by South Lawn" event at the White House. DiCaprio asserts that the scientific debate on climate change is over and that those who don't believe in it should not hold public office. The hosts mock DiCaprio's anecdotal evidence of "witnessing" climate change and question the reliability of computer models.

Trevor Noah of The Daily Show compared Hillary Clinton to Volkswagen, suggesting that both marketed themselves as practical choices while hiding significant internal scandals. The hosts criticize Noah's comedic style and his perspective as a South African commenting on American politics.

A 91-year-old World War II veteran and Battle of the Bulge survivor claims Donald Trump’s rhetoric does not resemble that of Adolf Hitler. Media reports focus on "lost voters" in South Carolina—apathetic citizens who have not voted since the Reagan era but are returning to the polls for Trump. Critics continue to compare Trump's rally atmosphere to historical fascist movements despite pushback from supporters.

South by Southwest (SXSW) canceled two panels related to sexual harassment in the gaming industry following threats of violence. Media outlets like BuzzFeed and The Verge threatened to boycott the festival in response, leading the hosts to speculate if the controversy was a promotional stunt to drive ticket sales.

The "value-for-value" funding model is contrasted with commercial media, which treats the audience as a product for advertisers. A formal knighting ceremony is conducted for Nicholas McFall, now known as Sir Nick of the South Side, for his consistent financial support. The hosts argue that direct listener support ensures honest analysis that is not beholden to corporate sponsors like Bill Gates or major transportation firms.

A discussion regarding a recurring voice imitation reveals its similarity to the character Towelie from South Park. The conversation clarifies that imitating a voice does not constitute plagiarism, as the term refers to stealing material rather than vocal style, using Bing Crosby as a historical comparison.

Sir Allen Bean noted an increase in security features on modern bank checks, including magnetic and shiny stripes, suggesting a new trend in financial surveillance. Meanwhile, Sir Daniel Hutner in California declared he has stopped following Glenn Beck's survivalist advice in favor of buying ammunition and supporting the podcast. Rory Stone from Rapid City, South Dakota, was also recognized for his artistic contributions and his Etsy shop.

A painting titled "The Spear," depicting South African President Jacob Zuma with exposed genitals, caused a national scandal after being displayed at the Goodman Gallery. The artwork was defaced by protesters who considered it a violation of the president's human dignity. The African National Congress (ANC) sought legal action to remove the painting, highlighting tensions between freedom of expression and cultural respect.

A response to a blog post on The Daily Paul that criticized host Adam Curry for questioning the motives of Ron Paul advisor Doug Wead. Despite the criticism, the hosts conclude that Wead's deep ties to religious funding are beneficial for the Ron Paul 2012 campaign, especially given the high costs of securing signatures in South Carolina.