Random Schmuck
There is a lot of craziness in this world and I’m just some random schmuck with a big mouth and a podcast to talk about all of it. Topics can range from arts to science to politics and education. Whatever is grating my cheese, shucking my oysters, sharpens my pencil on any given day, I’ll be here to mouth off about it. But what do I know, I’m just some random schmuck. Contact me at: randomschmuckpod@gmail.com
Episodes
It is becoming increasingly obvious that, to a large segment of the American population, the only value women have is their reproductive potential. There is a movement to make barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen great again. Here are some stories of what women are having to endure and the dark reasons behind why this movement is gaining influence. This is a long one, please hang in there.
References:
Responding to feedback from last episode and expounding on the frustrations of dealing with a "system" that really isn't a system at all. Please share your stories by emailing me at randomschmuckpod@gmail.com and I'll read your story on the next episode!
The first in a series of unscripted podcast episodes where I reflect on things that affect us all and my observations on them. This first episode is about the nuttiness of driving on roads nowadays, the perils of the "strode" and the finer points of toasted sesame seed bagels with cream cheese and lox.
Send me your funny stories about driving to randomschmuck@gmail.com and I'll read them on the next episode!
I am going to be taking a break from scheduled episodes, but I will be back when the need arises. In the meantime, I discuss the list of podcasts I listen to every week. Thank you for being a listener!
The Al Franken Podcast
Amicus with Dahlia Lithwick
Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams
Big Picture Science
The Bulwark Podcast
Citation Needed
Cleanup On Aisle 45
Cognitive Dissonance
D&D Minus
The Daily Beans
The Economics of E...
Remember The Running Man? Well, it's relevant again.
References:
https://www.scripts.com/script/the_running_man_17257/4
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250418-us-senator-says-el-salvador-staged-margarita-photo-op
Just bring the guy home already!!!!
References:
https://www.civiced.org/quotations-about-democracy
They were one huge reason I retired from teaching.
References:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/nyregion/school-cell-phone-ban-nyc.html
https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/24/24252235/police-unlock-phone-password-face-id-apple-wallet-id
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2025/03/21/border-control-phone-search/82594653007/
The REAL reason why Blazing Saddles would never be made today.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-administration-monitor-immigrants-social-media-antisemitism-2057562
https://forward.com/opinion/657036/trump-jews-antisemitism-republican-party/
Trump's psychological makeup explains everything you need to know bout his tariff war.
References
https://apnews.com/article/panama-us-mulino-hegseth-canal-33b7e18a1e879706712309118c3ad8c0
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/08/musk-navarro-tariff-trump/82989175007/
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/04/09/us/immigrant-rights-deportation.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/opinion/trump-tariffs-rationale-...
The stock market doesn't much care for the tariffs, does it?
References:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/07/business/jamie-dimon-tariff-warning
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/06/treasury-secretary-scott-bessent-markets-tariffs-recession.html
https://www.thestreet.com/personalities/scott-bessent-net-worth
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/speaker-johnson-cuts-deal-rep-luna-parental-proxy/story?id=120545742
The tariffs hit, the economy goes in the toilet and the Senate is about to use one weird trick to give billionaires a huge tax cut while pretending it won't blow a $5 trillion hole in our deficit.
References:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/a-timeline-of-trumps-tariff-actions-so-far
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/trump-fake-tariff-rates-1.7501604
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-says-things-going-very-220759324.html
Wisconsin demonstrates that Elon's money does not win elections. Hopefully, other Republicans will start to take note.
References:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/politics/johnson-luna-proxy-voting-parents-house-gop/index.html
https://www.wisn.com/article/wisconsin-voters-approve-constitutional-voter-id-amendment/64357959
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/us/politics/wisconsin-supreme-court-crawford-schimel.html
Off-script today, observations about why things feel like they really suck, from an economic perspective.
Reference:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/business/economy/wealth-cash-inequality.html
Americans seem to be particularly susceptible to being scammed.
References :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_oil
Still waiting for that sweet, sweet Soros money...in the meantime, Elon Musk is trying to buy the Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
References:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/climate/epa-air-pollution-exemption-mercury-coal-ash.html
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/27/acid-rain-trump-epa
The Trump Administration makes an oopsie.
References:
https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-events-8c6d7abff90d4580920c6cfc8591d361
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/03/25/us/trump-hegseth-war-plans-leak-signal
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/nyregion/columbia-trump-response.html
The Trump Administration is ramping up lawfare against its perceived enemies.
References:
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8823897-do-not-obey-in-advance-most-of-the-power-of
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/22/donald-trump-law-firms-threat-027250
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/columbia-university-trump-demands-funding-rcna197261
https://fortune.com/2025/03/21/trump-executive-order-paul-weiss-law-firm-government-contract...
Karoline Leavitt finally told a truth this past week and it was a complete accident.
The Trump Administration takes its most authoritarian moves to date and begins the weaponization of the Department of Justice.
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