The Omaha Bugle-Global News Network
A thought-provoking look at the news--offering entertaining insights into politics, economics, and popular culture--which are occasionally grounded in actual facts.
Episodes
Almost-but-not-quite-billionaires Adam and Jeff consider whether a national wealth tax on billionaires would be a good way to balance the federal budget. After considering the extent to which the $38 trillion national debt is compounding upon itself and the limited supply of billionaires, they are not optimistic that such an approach will work. They also point out that the fundamental problem is not a lack of tax ...
Global strategists Adam and Jeff ponder the historical cycles that have seen empires in the past decline when their commitments exceed their ability to project economic and military power. Jeff talks about the rise and fall of the British Empire and marvels that such a small island with such poor food choices and regrettable dental hygiene was able to assert control over much of the known world when colonization wa...
Adam and Jeff discuss the state of Russia's 4-year misadventure in the Ukraine and point out that this conflict has lasted longer than Russia's involvement in World War II. Jeff points out that Russia has suffered about 1.2 million military casualties. This conflict has taken a toll on the Russian economy because there is a severe shortage of young workers to man the factories. The war has also exposed t...
Almost-billionaires Adam and Jeff discuss the recent proposal in California to implement a "one-time" 5% tax on the net worth of all persons with assets in excess of $1 billion. Despite the repeated failures of such taxes in other parts of the world, California seems determined to press ahead with this ballot initiative. Adam believes many billionaires will choose to move to a state other than California...
Always ready to spotlight instances of government waste and folly, Adam and Jeff turn their attention to the boondoggle that is the government effort to purchase electric mail delivery vehicles from a defense contractor that has never built trucks for the civilian market. As about only 612 vehicles have been delivered at a cost of $3 billion, which is equal to a price of almost $5 million per vehicle, Jeff and Adam...
Adam and Jeff discuss whether they think Congress should spend its time promulgating non-binding resolutions. A recent resolution passed by the House condemning the horrors of socialism is considered. Adam and Jeff wonder if the Congress might have better spent the time on other things such as ending the recent 6-week government shutdown. They also discuss whether it makes any sense for Congress to concern itself...
Cultural anthropologists and nude volleyball magazine collectors Adam and Jeff gather at the desk of the Omaha Bugle to talk about those people who yearn for the “good old days.” As most people who yearn for the fun of subsistence living and widespread disease and death have no idea how bad things were back then, Adam and Jeff waste no time in describing some of the fun when life was “nasty, brutish and short.” Th...
Noted coinage experts Adam and Jeff convene in an effort to calm down the public, which is panicking over the halt in production of the penny after 232 years. Jeff points out that there are almost 300,000,000,000 pennies floating around and that there is very little likelihood that we will run out of pennies anytime soon. Adam also notes that younger people do not use cash much at all, preferring to carry out their ...
Noted government shutdown experts Adam and Jeff offer their opinions as to who won the most recent government shutdown. Jeff points out that most shutdowns accomplish very little because they are typically instigated by the party out of power who then must bear the wrath of the public when they are unable to secure any concessions in short order. Jeff points out that the Democrats, who won several elections a coup...
Adam recounts the story of a man who was released from prison after 26 years for having stolen a gold chain and a wedding ring. The sole witness against him was a repeat offender who had various drug and alcohol issues that caused his credibility to be called into question--but apparently not enough to secure the release the accused. Jeff talks about how District Attorneys have enormous discretion and the full pow...
Recent proposals that lenders be permitted to offer 50 year mortgages to help make housing more affordable to homebuyers has sparked intense debate. Never ones to shy away from wandering into the crossfire, Adam and Jeff consider the pros and cons of having an exciting new loan product that can encumber your property for your life, your childrens' lives and, possibly, much of your grandchildrens' lives. ...
Noted White House historians and French postcard collectors Adam and Jeff offer their thoughts on the recent demolition by the Trump Administration of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a grand ballroom. Jeff points out that renovations are nothing new to the White House as it was first completely gutted when the British burned it down in 1814. Other improvements followed such as the construction of ...
Both Adam and Jeff retrieved their Nancy Pelosi t-shirts to honor her legacy as both the first female Speaker of the House and one of the foremost stock traders of all time. Adam pointed out that Mrs. Pelosi had begun her political career in 1987 with about $700,000 in stocks and bonds, most of which were jointly-owned with her husband, Paul. By the time she announced her retirement earlier this year, the value of...
Listeners of the Omaha Bugle who enjoy working with masonry products will enjoy this learned discussion by Adam and Jeff about the BRICS organization--an international collection of "bad actors" who have tried to set up an alternative banking and trading system. Although founded by Brazil, China, Russia, India and South Africa, BRICS is dominated by China, who wants to supplant the United States as the nu...
Having completed a review of numerous academic periodicals that feature thought-provoking articles and scantily-clad models, Adam and Jeff offer their insights as to how best to end the war in Ukraine. Jeff points out that the so-called security guarantees being bandied about by England and France are not necessarily cast in stone but are "situational" and can disappear when a new government is elected or...
Kamala Harris' recent announcement that she would not be seeking to become the next governor of California was not a total surprise given the shellacking she suffered in the 2024 presidential election coupled with the squandering of a $1 billion campaign fund in 3-months. Many anonymous donors have said that they do not view her as a viable candidate for future presidential runs but acknowledge that she would ...
Would-be Fed governor applicants Adam and Jeff consider whether the incessant demands by American presidents that the Fed lower interest rates really makes any difference. Jeff points out that the historical interest rates for the past century or so have averaged around 6% to 8% with a few outliers in which rates were extraordinarily high or low. Politicians want lower rates because it reduces the costs of borrowi...
In the wake of the American bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities, Adam and Jeff discuss the apparent lack of response by either Russia or China to the attack. Adam believes that the lack of response is due to the reluctance of both countries to call attention to themselves due to their failure to respond in any meaningful way. Jeff suggests that neither Russia or China have any type of mutual defense treaty o...
Adam and Jeff turn their attention to a recent report that the United Nations has lowered their predictions that the global population in the year 2100 will be at least a billion less than past estimates. Adam and Jeff return to a recurring theme that demographers, like everyone else, get caught up in the trends and forget to question the long-term viability of those very same trends. Jeff points out that many dem...
In an attempt to reach listeners who are not necessarily interested in the pseudo-fact news stories that are typically featured on the Omaha Bugle, Adam and Jeff talk about Jeff's recent trip to Iceland. Jeff provides an account of some of the "touristy" things that he and his family did while roaming through southern Iceland including venturing into warm mineral springs baths, shopping and dining in...
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