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TGIF🎉🎉🎉⚖️🍾This episode looks great; will listen as soon as I drain the last of the champagne😉

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Update: I drank an entire bottle of Champagne on the show last night...

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Time to uncork another one!🥂

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Hey, Greg. I'm sure I'll learn lots after listening to your interview tonight. But,

as to the VERDICT, whenever anyone tries to tell you there's no such thing as a New York minute, remind them that Manhattan would like a word🗽

And then I reminded myself how I do indeed love New York:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO7s02PvG2U

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Absolutely! New York has hated this guy for decades and decades. They know what he is. I'm glad it's the city that nailed him. Also: Alvin Bragg, much maligned, came through.

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Good points about Britain's election, because as of now, even if Biden were to deflate inflation to zero, my MAGA acquaintances would still vote GOP against migration.

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It's SUCH a strong thing for people. And it's not something that affects the people I know, at all really, but I guess it's fear of the unknown?

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Yes, I think simple fear of the unknown turns some people against migrants. Having spent time in China, I notice similar dynamics relative to Chinese. And lots of other racial and national stereotypes worldwide. But there's obviously more to anti-migrant MAGA motivation. Some people who do know migrants worry about more poverty, uneducated, unemployed people arriving -- ironically enabled by GOP's favoring the mega-wealthy. For example, where I live, there's a serious shortage of low-income housing and a growing number of local homeless, but when migrants were shipped here by GOP, Democrats housed them long-term in hotels with swimming pools and left locals on cots in homeless shelters or on the streets. Democrats here not infrequently display inept, inequitable handling of social problems. Also, my MAGA-leaning friend who's done non-profit environmental work in Texas and Mexico describes even U.S. Hispanic legal residents fearing migrating drug smugglers and others doing harm. Did she make that up? I don't know. I also know a blonde who just fears there won't be any blonde people left in the future. And, of course, there's the classic racist white guy/gal afraid of losing whatever control they still have. Anti-migrant sentiment doesn't seem as simple as just fear of the unknown. Even in our mostly bright blue state, homelessness, taxes, inflation, education, etc. are a mess. Corruption and favoritism for the mega-wealthy and big corporations are out of control. And schools appear not to be successfully teaching critical thinking. A lot of suffering and/or scared people see Trump making tasty promises and Democrats making messes. MAGA fans don't seem to be looking beyond that to notice the worst threat coming from the lying, greedy, would-be dictator and pals ready to take whatever we all have left to buy more gold toilets for themselves and Putin. On the bright side, there's global warming and toxic waste...

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Thanks for this, Maureen. It reminds me of a conversation I had at a coin show with a guy who lives in a border town in AZ. He insisted there were illegals crossing, most of them NOT from Latin America, and that it was a real problem, and that he had to have his AR-15 to defend his land etc. It sounded paranoid, but how would I know? I'm not there.

But in the tony NJ suburb where I grew up, the border is just NOT a problem in any tangible way. It's fear-mongering.

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May 31Liked by Greg Olear

I find it hard to accept a connection between UK and US elections. In the UK election focus is on all things UK, taxes, Brexit, immigration and the NHS, a very domestic bent. As I travel London I see pro Palestinian protesters in Parliament Square but do not see any press coverage about the horrors occurring in Gaza impacting voters. In the US, the geopolitical landscape and press coverage seem to be working against Biden. People expect that one person, the US President has the answer to all the world's woes. Biden has accomplished a key goal, reestablishing America in the eyes of the world. However in doing so unfairly the weight of the world is on his shoulders. These events will impact the voter mindset. As is pointed out in the interview, it was a smart move to allow American weapons into Russia to defend Kharkiv. Yet the headline yesterday in Politico makes Biden look to be a sneaky bastard doing something underhanded. In the US yes abortion rights and immigration will figure in the analysis of who gets the vote but also will events in Ukraine and Gaza influence the vote, aided by Russian and Chinese influence.

I accept that voters need not know the ins and outs of UK politics in order to be swayed by UK election results. Yet I also fail to see how a Keir Starmer, Labour victory will help Joe Biden in swing states where they may never know a UK election took place, especially one occurring on the 4th of July, the most American of holidays. Somewhere in this is irony.

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I love that the election is happening on July 4. That feels important.

It's an interesting theory, but I think it's a zeitgeist thing. He also makes the point, which I don't quote in the piece, that Starmer and Biden are very similar in terms of background, approach, charisma, etc. I'm just glad the elections aren't concurrent. I would feel much much safer with Labour in power if Trump wins.

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Agree the safer point. My new concern is that Trump melts down and who comes next, Nikki? Too many nutjobs Republicans, JD Vance in particular is looking very dangerous, not as a candidate but a behind the scenes Machiaveli.

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May 31Liked by Greg Olear

“stoned to death by mountain.” 🤣 I REALLY have to start reading The Onion more often!

In addition to the Convicted Felon being taken down yesterday, Chad Daybell, of the "Doomsday Mom" cult was convicted yesterday in Idaho, on ALL counts of murdering his wife, and his two stepchildren with Lori Vallow (said Doomsday Mom), conspiracy to commit all three and two counts of insurance fraud, and grand theft. The penalty phase has the death penalty on the table. It was, by and large, a VERY good day for law, order, and justice.

Looking forward to The Five-8 tonight. Champaign and gloating is in order.

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I missed the Idaho news. Good!

I hope you enjoyed the show. I found it cathartic. And I drank the entire bottle of Champagne...

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May 31Liked by Greg Olear

Actually, a rickety American helicopter: "Initially reported as a Russian Mi-17, the chopper was later identified by Iranian state media as a U.S.-made Bell 212, a refitted non-combat version of the UH-1N Twin Huey. Despite its advanced age, the Bell 212 is still widely used around the world." (Newsweek et al.)

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Thanks, Joe, for the clarification. I think that makes it even better!

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May 31Liked by Greg Olear

The time of the Great Delusion is passing...hopefully. I saw a whole list of statements by most everyone in the top levels of Texas government...all totally in support of Trump, of course, despite the convictions. Texas Democrats should use those statements to blast Abbott and his cohorts on down as the delusional liars, the power-hungry determined to hold on to the big lie for their ideological purposes, especially in rural areas. Force them to defend and explain why they believe an obvious lie.

A bit of clarification: migrants have a home to return to, usually are workers; immigrants have come to stay.

Next, the weapons approved to attack Russian sites in Russia only apply to Kharkiv. However, as such understandings go in a war situation, that door can open easily. For now, though, it was limited by Biden. F-16s start arriving in a couple of weeks...the real point of this 'agreement.'

Under Florida law, it was pointed out that Trump can still vote until he is incarcerated. Florida law allows a lot of leeway for criminals/felons voting...funny about that.

And, last, there is a gigantic big lie behind all this. A presumption that precipitated corporate warfare on the US govt. and the public in the early '70s. It was the Koch Empire that took it to heart, maybe even helped inspire it. My simple statement is: Get the fuck out of Wichita. I think all the Kochs should be deported to Russia.

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Thanks for this, Billy.

With Ukraine getting the green light to attack Russia in Russia, I think if they see an opportunity, it's the old saying: Better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

I'm not sure what punctures the Delusion bubble at this point. PLAGUE didn't do it, ffs.

I think everyone should get to vote, regardless of criminal status. I'm very opposed to voter restriction of any kind. The only US citizens who should not vote are those in prison for seditious-related activities. I draw the line at treason.

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May 31Liked by Greg Olear

There are approximately 8 billion people trying to survive day to day. There are approximately 7 million berserk politicians trying to end the human species. It's not that "there will be blood."

It's centuries of continuous murderous letting of blood. Much of which is in the name of mythical creatures called gods.

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Reminds me of this quote, I forget who said it, a French writer: "Kill one man and you are a murderer. Kill millions and you are a conqueror. Kill all and you are God."

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Yep

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What kind of country has Grozny Rules? People whose power is pointless for anyone but themselves. And it's what trump promises. He's already bombed the GOP as a governing entity into puddles whose ghostly frogs babble "magat, magat, magat"

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