Ep 401: The S'Moore Got Burned

In Episode 401, Ken and Dave discuss the University of Michigan debacle, raiding tankers, special elections abound in Georgia, a cheat under the Gold Dome, Trump going after Fulton, losing jobs, ending subsidies, and Indiana asserting sovereignty.

Michigan Football Coach Scandal

• The hosts discuss the firing and subsequent criminal charges against the **University of Michigan head football coach, who lost up to $30 million after being terminated with cause.
• The coach faced felony third-degree home invasion and misdemeanor stalking charges following an affair with his executive assistant.
• Rules for "cheating" were laid out, emphasizing the coach broke cardinal rules by cheating locally and with someone who had less to lose.

Georgia Elections and Political Fallout

• State Senator John Kennedy resigned immediately from his seat to focus on his Lieutenant Governor campaign, leaving his district without representation until a special election winner is sworn in.
• A Democrat won a special election in House District 121 (Athens area), a seat that Donald Trump won by 12 points, signaling a potential struggle for Republicans in close races.
• The impending resignation of Marjorie Taylor Green (MTG) is creating a confusing and expensive series of special elections, runoffs, and primaries in Northwest Georgia.
• State Representative Sharon Henderson (Covington Democrat) was indicted for allegedly collecting nearly $18,000 in illegal unemployment benefits during the COVID era.
• The show notes that more legislators are expected to face charges for similar unemployment fraud.
• Donald Trump is suing Fulton County to acquire voter records from the 2020 election, a move seen as benefiting candidates like Bert Jones.
• The discussion covered the subpoena issued to Fanny Willis and the defense strategy employed by her attorney, Roy Barnes.

US Foreign Policy and Federalism

• The hosts discuss the escalation of conflict in Venezuela after the Trump administration seized an oil tanker carrying sanctioned crude oil worth $66 million.
• Indiana Republicans rebuffed President Trump's demand to redraw their congressional map to favor Republicans, citing concerns about timing and presidential interference in state governance.

National Economy and Healthcare

• Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggested that official job hiring statistics may have been overstated by up to 60,000 jobs a month, indicating the economy might be contracting due to technology and automation.
• The temporary Obamacare tax subsidies implemented during COVID are set to expire on December 31st, potentially doubling or tripling premiums for some consumers.
• The hosts noted the difficulty for Republicans in messaging the end of the temporary "free" subsidies.

NFL and College Football

• The Atlanta Falcons achieved a narrow road win against Tampa Bay, with Kyle Pitts having an exceptional performance.
• Falcons running back Bijan Robinson was forced to apologize after referencing the controversial childhood game "smear the queer" in a post-game interview.
• Debate over the potential move of the annual **Florida vs. Georgia game** from Jacksonville to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

"The Mule" Segment

• Joy Reid was named "The Mule" for claiming that the popular Christmas song "Jingle Bells" is racist due to its history and use in minstrel shows.