Ep. 396 In Episode 396, Ken and Dave discuss the ongoing shutdown, UPS's DC-11 crash, the big Blue wins, cutting down flights, one trillion dollars, cutting the fat, SCOTUS taking on tariffs, and Nancy hanging it up.

• The Government Shutdown: Entering week six, the longest ever. Discussing the impact on federal workers like TSA agents and soldiers (citing the closure of a chow hall at Fort Leavenworth). There is a proposal being offered to reopen the government and extend ACA premium tax credits for one year.
• Temporary Government Measures: Examination of how government "emergency" actions, such as the creation of the TSA or temporary bonuses, inevitably become permanent, noting that the Income Tax was also supposed to be temporary.
• New York City Mayor: Discussion of Mayor-elect Montani Montani, who won the election but immediately sought fundraising for his transition team. Concerns were raised about his lack of professional experience, his communist ideology, and the potential consequences of his policies, such as free buses leading to safety issues.
• Nancy Pelosi Retires: Longtime Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi is retiring after 40 years. Reflecting on her historical role as the first female Speaker of the House and the perceived corruption associated with long tenure in Washington D.C.
• Dick Cheney's Passing: Noting the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney, highlighting his historical significance in expanding the power and influence of the Vice Presidency.

• Food Prices & Thanksgiving: Highlighting outrageous food prices, particularly meat (rib eyes over $20/lb), but noting conflicting stats on the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner this year. Blaming ethanol subsidies for driving up feed costs and food prices.
• SCOTUS and Tariffs: The Supreme Court held a hearing on the legality of tariffs imposed by former President Trump, who cited the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Most judges viewed tariffs as taxes, suggesting the ruling will likely strike them down 9-0, which is predicted to boost the economy and consumer confidence.
• American Finances: Observation that many Americans lack cash reserves and are increasingly financing basic necessities, even with predatory 0% financing deals that inflate the final cost.

• Local Elections: Several municipal races were extremely close, including the Jefferson mayoral race, which was decided by one vote, emphasizing the importance of voting in off-cycle elections.
• PSC Losses: Georgia Republicans lost two seats on the Public Service Commission (PSC) to Democrats Alicia Johnson and Peter Huard, leading to concerns among Republicans about the state "going blue."
• SPLOST Failure: A local SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) failed in one county, which is described as highly unusual.
• Meth Bust: Local news item about a meth bust at a well-known produce stand.

• Gray Hair and Cancer: Reporting on studies involving mice suggesting that gray hair signals a successful cancer defense mechanism, where the body eliminates potentially dangerous DNA-damaged cells.
• Weight Loss Drugs: Discussion of Donald Trump's plan to reduce the cost of GLP-1 weight loss drugs via his Trump RX website, raising concerns about price controls potentially stifling future pharmaceutical research and development.

• FAA Air Traffic Cuts: Due to the continuing shutdown, the FAA is planning to gradually cut air traffic by up to 25%, likely leading to consolidated and fewer flights on major routes.
• UPS DC11 Crash: A UPS DC11 cargo plane went down in Louisville following a catastrophic failure where the left engine caught fire and fell off, leading to at least 13 fatalities. The discussion focused on the airframe's age not being the issue, but potential maintenance concerns.

• The First Trillionaire: Discussing Elon Musk's new compensation package at Tesla, which could potentially make him the world's first individual trillionaire if the company hits aggressive financial milestones (e.g., $8 trillion valuation).
• Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG): Discussing her appearance on "The View" where she performed well, drawing applause primarily when she criticized her own party and Republican figures like Donald Trump and Mike Johnson.

In Ep 395 Ken and Dave take on everything From Vegas hangovers and busted government budgets to Georgia's voter apathy and one Athens idiot who thought dressing like a Nazi was clever, they're calling out the week's dumbest decisions. Toss in hurricanes, bad football predictions, and politicians pretending to care about the SNAP crisis, and you've got another round of sharp takes, dark humor, and a healthy dose of disbelief.

• Vegas Road Trip & Travel: Reflecting on the high cost and crowds of Las Vegas and messy TSA lines at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport.
• Cruise Ship Gambling: Friends earning free future cruises by gambling heavily on board.
• Halloween Policy Debate: Discussing the controversial policy requiring registered sex offenders to check in with law enforcement or report to the police station on Halloween night, questioning the consistency of safety policies.
• Georgia Elections & Turnout: Analyzing the poor voter turnout in rural Georgia for the Public Service Commission (PSC) election and local city council/SPLOST races.
• World Series Baseball: Commentary on the Blue Jays, the crazy 18-inning game, and Shohei Ohtani's nine times reaching base.
• Government Shutdown & Filibuster: Debating Donald Trump's call for the nuclear option (50+1 Senate votes) to reopen the government and the value of returning to the true filibuster format.
• Georgia vs. Florida Football: Previewing the game, noting the spread, and discussing how teams often play harder after a coach firing.
• Hurricane Melissa Fallout: Examining the Cat 5 storm that laid waste to Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti, noting the high death toll in Haiti due to poor infrastructure.
• Georgia SNAP Benefits Crisis: Analyzing the loss of food assistance for 1.5 million Georgians during the government shutdown and debating whether the state should use emergency reserves to cover the benefits.
• Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) Appearances: Discussing her scheduled interviews on The View and Real Time with Bill Maher, and her recent criticism of Republicans lacking a healthcare plan.
• Georgia Senate Race Polls: Early polling shows Mike Collins with an advantage, but 40% of Republican voters remain undecided, suggesting the race will be decided by campaign spending.
• Prince Andrew Stripped of Titles: Discussing King Charles's decision to strip Prince Andrew of all royal titles and his eviction from Royal Lodge, which may set him up for further prosecution.
• Athens Nazi Costume Incident: Analyzing the highly publicized altercation in Athens involving a man in a full SS uniform who allegedly smashed a beer pitcher into a woman's face, leading to felony aggravated assault charges.
• Most Stressed States in the Nation: Examining data showing Alaska as the most stressed state (high suicide rate, lack of sun) and Massachusetts as the least stressed, with Georgia ranking 32nd.
• Lowering the Voting Age: Rejecting Kamala Harris's suggestion to lower the voting age to 16 due to climate change concerns, instead advocating for raising the age of majority to 21.
• New York City Mayoral Race: Analyzing the strange political dynamics in the NYC election, involving Zohran Mamdami and Andrew Cumo and fears that New York City is heading toward communism.

Ken is back from wine country this week. He and Dave discuss changes coming to Glock, the national debt higher than Snoop Dog at a Willie Nelson concert, where the Acworth dentist was found, East Wing shenanigans, crooked gambling, the halted shooting at ATL, escaping hurricane season unscathed, the Public Service Commission race, and the Caribbean is getting spicy.