Topic: Tom Friedman

Columnist Tom Friedman and financial analysts suggest that Saudi Arabia is intentionally lowering oil prices to damage the Russian economy in coordination with US interests. This market instability is compounded by high youth unemployment in the EU, particularly among unskilled immigrants in Spain and Greece. Some analysts argue that inflation or even military conflict may be the only ways to resolve the current European economic stagnation.

New York Times columnist Tom Friedman expressed hope that Vladimir Putin would cut off gas to Europe to trigger a clean-tech revolution similar to the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo. One host counters this by recounting the negative economic impacts of the 1970s energy crisis, arguing it hurt the U.S. auto industry rather than launching a sustainable solar industry.

New York Times columnist Tom Friedman's appearance on Bill Maher's show is analyzed, specifically his comments regarding a Facebook poll about killing the President. The hosts express concern that Friedman is "heating up the molecules" by discussing presidential assassination in a public forum. Friedman compares the current American political climate to the atmosphere in Israel prior to the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.