Ted Cruz wants people to believe that he has no choice but to sign up for Obamacare. But in reality, as this article details, he could forego an Obamacare exchange if he were willing to pay for the privilege. While Cruz may hate Obamacare, he loves money even more, apparently. (ThinkProgress, 03/25/2015)
Ted Cruz – Could He WIn? (um … no)
In an article guaranteed – and probably designed – to rile up its subscriber base, The New Yorker looks at how Ted Cruz is like Barack Obama, how a Cruz nomination could further transform the GOP, and how – just maybe – he could win. (Though their reasoning – in a general election, anything can happen – isn’t exactly impressive.) (The New Yorker, 3/24/2015)
How Much Will Keeping Troops in Afghanistan Cost?
You won’t find any mention of the cost in this New York Times article. The Pentagon frowns on discussing costs, and most of the mainstream media seems all too happy to go along. If you dig a little, you can get at least a rough estimate.
According to the Congressional Research Service, it costs roughly $3.9 million per troop per year in Afghanistan. Meaning that keeping 9,800 troops there for another year should run about $38 billion (and change). Now, I’m certainly not a highly trained journalist like the people working at the New York Times, but that seems like a pretty important fact.
What’s Ted Cruz’s worst idea? This could be it.
In announcing his candidacy at Liberty University, Cruz said, “imagine abolishing the IRS” – and its not the first time he’s called for eliminating the agency. While Ted Cruz is chock full of bad ideas, this might have emerged as the very worst of them (Washington Post)
Iran’s Hard-Liners – Better Behaved than GOP?
Iran’s usually vocal clerics and military commanders are heeding the call of the country’s supreme leader, who has largely supported the negotiations. (New York Times)
Donald Trump is a Ted Cruz birther
Trump on Cruz: “You’re supposed to be born in this country” (Salon.com)
The Politics Guys Blog
Here’s where Michael and Jay plan on posting various things throughout the week, many of which they probably won’t be able to fit in to the weekly podcast.
PG05: Meaningless Budgets, Mandatory Voting, Talking Race at Starbucks
This Week’s Stories
– The stingy, shortsighted, and essentially meaningless GOP budget plan.
– President Obama on mandatory voting (he’s for it).
– Starbucks attempt to get us to talk about race with our baristas.
– Mitch McConnell to the EPA: I hate you guys so much.
– The (not so high) rise and fall of Congressman Aaron Schock.
– The Obama / Magnum P. I. Connection.
Links
– How the Budget Process Works (in theory)
– If Everyone Voted, Not Much Would Change (The Monkey Cage)
– The Aaron Schock Workout (Men’s Health)
– Obamas not buying Magnum P.I. House (we refuse to believe this)
PG04: The Senate Writes to Iran, Hillary Hides Her Email, Progress in Ferguson?
This Week’s Stories
– The Senate GOP ‘open letter’ to Iran: secretly brilliant, or not-so-secretly moronic?
– Hillary Clinton to the media: I didn’t do anything wrong. Technically.
– Ferguson, Missouri: some positive developments, then a tragedy.
– Is climate change a belief system or scientific fact?
– “It’s never good to be drunk at work, especially if you are in the Secret Service.”
Links
– The Senate GOP’s open letter to Iran (with the Iranian Foreign Minister’s reply)
– Climate Change: It’s not a religion. It’s a scientific fact. (The New Republic)
PG03: Obamacare at the Supreme Court, The Justice Dept Slams Ferguson
The audio on this week’s episode is, in places, less than stellar, thanks to one of Michael’s failed recording experiments. At first, we weren’t going to post this episode, but due to popular demand, we decided to put it up, but with this ‘low audio quality’ disclaimer. Things will sound better next week.
Also, you’ll notice that we ditched the opening music and announcer. If you have any preference between this format and the music / announcer approach we used in episode 02, please let us know.
This Week’s Stories
– Will the Supreme Court send Obamacare into a Death Spiral?
– Israeli PM Netanyahu’s speech to Congress (and Jay’s urinal moment with Netanyahu)
– Justice Department to Ferguson Police: You stink! (Also – we might sue you.)
– Hillary Clinton once again shows her love of openness and transparency (not).
Links
King v. Burwell (Obamacare case) oral argument (U.S. Supreme Court)
Justice Department Report on Ferguson Police (Washington Post)
How Ferguson Uses Cops and Courts to Prey on Residents. (The Nation)
The Left Turns on Hillary (The Hill)