July 8, 2025 • 26 mins
Episode 193, recorded in advance, focuses on a few key topics. I discuss the history and significance of fireworks, particularly their connection to the Fourth of July celebrations, and recount a personal anecdote about my failed fireworks display. The episode also includes a “homework assignment” for listeners, urging them to read the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" themselves rather than relying on external interpretations. The host provides a breakdown of the bill's provisions, highlighting both its perceived benefits and the controversial changes to Medicaid and SNAP, encouraging independent research to form an informed opinion.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text/enr
https://www.whitehouse.gov/obbb/
https://rumble.com/c/c-4346725
Leave a voicemail: 812-610-9005
Email the podcast: info.soapboxchampion@gmail.com
www.buymeacoffee.com/infosoapboW
Music: https://www.bensound.com
License code: QRSYBHJMDYFD3HGW
RSS https://www.spreaker.com/show/5142746/episodes/feed
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text/enr
https://www.whitehouse.gov/obbb/
https://rumble.com/c/c-4346725
Leave a voicemail: 812-610-9005
Email the podcast: info.soapboxchampion@gmail.com
www.buymeacoffee.com/infosoapboW
Music: https://www.bensound.com
License code: QRSYBHJMDYFD3HGW
RSS https://www.spreaker.com/show/5142746/episodes/feed
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
The Attorney General had to make a statement thing not
women can wear pants.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Now. This is the Soapbox Champion podcast. Yep, this is
the Soapbox Champion podcast. The one today is episode one
(00:40):
ninety three. It's Tuesday, July eighth, twenty twenty five. Sort of.
This is going to be a I like to say,
a very special episode. And when you hear me say that,
that's code for it's going to be weird for some reason.
It's going to be different, but not too different. It's
(01:01):
just that this episode has recorded two days in advance.
I've got a funeral to attend to out of town
on show day, so I have to make them make
the show happen somehow, and this is that effort. This
is what's going on now. So just doing in advance,
which I could do every once in a while, it's fine.
Adapt and overcome is a saying people say, right, I
(01:24):
guess that's what I'm doing. I'm kind of gonna let
you off easy this week. This episode is mostly sugar
and why not with one exception. At the end of
this episode, I'm going to leave you with an assignment.
At the end of the show, I'm going to give
you an assignment. It's real, it's important and I'm serious.
(01:49):
So listen to the entire episode or skip to the end.
I don't care. I'll never know. I mean, I'll be
sad if I ever find out, but I won't know.
I trust you will listen and do the whole thing.
But but will you know? No way for me to tell.
It's on your honor, you guys. Anyway, I'll be back
(02:11):
in a minute. In the summer heat, you need to
stay hydrated, and if you're not, you get it. You
gotta rehydrate quick. You gotta get some electrolytes back in you. Also,
maybe a little sugar. Happy Birthday, America or almost anyway.
(02:31):
The Independence Day or fourth of July is almost here.
That's what I'm trying to say, you guys. I just
make everything awkward, and nothing says independence like colorful explosions. Right, fireworks,
that's right. For some reason, we set off fireworks to celebrate,
and I'll be all right with that. Well, we'll let
(02:52):
some off the fourth of July here, which is a Thursday.
It's lame but it is. But the big show will
be on Saturday when we have people over and let
off all whole bunch of them. Okay, but why why fireworks?
Why on Independence Day? Well, that's what I wanted to
find out, and I kind of did. First little history
(03:12):
of fireworks, and their history is as dazzling as the
display as we see lighting up the sky during festive celebrations.
This brilliant spectacle of colors and sounds has captivated humanity
for centuries, with its origins dating back to ancient China.
The invention of fireworks is attributed to the Chinese, who
(03:33):
discovered that bamboo thrown into a fire would explode with
a loud bang do the overheating of the air trapped
inside the hollow stalks. This phenomenon was initially used to
scare away evil spirits. However, it was not until the
discovery of gunpowder, a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate,
(03:54):
that the true potential of fireworks was realized. Around eighteen
or eight hundred eight, an alchemist mixed these ingredients hoping
to find the elixir of life, but instead stumbled upon
something much better, the formula for gunpowder. The military applications
of gunpowder were quickly recognized, and it was used in
(04:17):
warfare to create explosive projectiles, but alongside its use in battle,
the esthetic appeal of gunpowder was also explored, and by
the time of the Song Dynasty about nine sixty to
twelve seventy nine, eighty fireworks made from gunpowder were already
used to enhance festivities and celebrations, marking the beginning of
(04:38):
fireworks as we know them today. As trade routes expanded,
so did the spread of fireworks through the Silk Road.
The knowledge of fireworks traveled to the Arab world and
eventually reached Europe. By the Renaissance, fireworks were a staple
of royal and religious celebrations across the continent. The display
(05:00):
became more sophisticated with the introduction of aerial shells in Italy,
which allowed for the firework to be launched into the sky,
creating the breathtaking aerial displays that are synonymous with fireworks today.
The evolution of fireworks continued with the development of different
colors and effects. Initially, fireworks were predominantly orange and white
(05:23):
due to the natural colors produced by the burning of
gunpowder and other chemicals. It wasn't until the nineteenth century
that scientists began to understand how to create different colors
by adding various metallic salts and compounds to the fireworks.
This innovation brought about the vibrant array of colors that
(05:43):
make modern fireworks display a visual feast. Okay, what's that
got to do with the Fourth of July. Well, as
the fourth of July approaches, you guys, the sky is
above the United States prepared to burst into a kaleidoscope
of colors. Fireworks, an integral part of celebration, are not
(06:06):
just a spectacle of light and sound, but as symbol
deeply rooted in the nation's history. The tradition of illuminating
the night sky on a Dependence Day dates back to
the earliest days of the nation's founding and has evolved
into a beloved ritual observed across the country. The inception
of fireworks as a celebratory marker of the Fourth of
(06:27):
July is intertwined with the very fabric of American independence.
It was John Adams, a founding father and the second
President of the United States, who envisioned that the anniversary
of Independence would be commemorated with pomp and parade, including
illuminations from one end of the continent to the other.
(06:48):
This vision materialized on July fourth, seventeen seventy seven, when
Philadelphia marked the first organized celebration of Independence Day with fireworks,
setting a precedent for future festivities. The historical significance of
fireworks on this day is a testament to the enduring
freedom and enduring spirit of freedom and the triumphs of
(07:11):
the Revolutionary War. The early celebrations were not only about
joy and festivity, but also served as a morale booster
during the tumulus times of tumultuous times of war. The
loud booms and bright flashes were reminiscent of the bombs
bursting in air. In Air quotes a line immortalized in
(07:31):
the National Anthem that echoes the resilience of a nation
fighting for its sovereignty. Today, the fourth of July fireworks
are a spectacle of unity, bringing together communities and families
and a shared experience of awe and wonder. The tradition
has been preserved and nurtured over centuries, becoming a hallmark
(07:51):
of the holiday. From the grand displays in major cities
to the backyard sparklers, each flicker of light represents a
fragment of the nation's journey and its ongoing story of liberty.
As the night falls on the fourth of July, fireworks
serve as a reminder of the past struggles and victories.
(08:13):
They are a tribute to the ideals of freedom and
democracy that continue to guide to the United States. So
when you look up at the dazzling display this Independence Day,
remember the rich history and the bright future that they symbolize,
a future that continues to be shaped by the collective
hopes and dreams of the American people. So back up, Terry,
(08:38):
and let's celebrate timely. Huh that sugar. Uh. We had
a spectacular firework show, I would say here at our property,
just a handful of people and us. Maybe the biggest
fireworks show yet, but not without some issues. I went
all out this year and did something I've never done before.
(08:59):
No reason why I've never done it before. I planned
it and fused together a grand finale. Okay, that sounds good.
It's easy. You just get some stuff. All you need
is some stuff. You guys. You need bulk fuse and
you need fuse connectors, and I got both set it
(09:22):
up hours before the show. It's ready to go under
a tarp and then time comes remove the thing and
light the fuse and blow it up. But the night
of the fourth of July, when I lit it stepped
back to watch, none of it went off. And after
(09:44):
it was over, And the next day, as we were
outside cleaning up, I sorted through the Grand Finale remains
as if it were a crime scene. I was searching
for the fuses and the fuse connectors like they were
the black box on an airplane, you know what I'm saying.
I took them to the garage and I put them
under light and magnification, and all appeared fine. All the
(10:10):
fuse and fuses burned through the connectors as they should.
There was no unburnt fuse. I just have no idea
what happened. I don't think anyone would notice the failure,
and I didn't think they did. I had three or
four things lit and going off as I set off,
(10:32):
the Grand Finale fan stuff and spark type stuff, you know,
medium sized things. I would call them purposely to buy
me time to sneak over and light the Grand Finale fuse.
I knew right away there was a problem, so I
just ran up and put the torch where the fuses
were on each item and set them off. That way,
(10:52):
no one would ever know but me. But it's like
the fuses stopped burning after they passed through the connectors,
which makes no sense. And it happened at each connector.
Do you guys have any It's like you have the
box of the item with they link the fuse, usually
(11:14):
a couple inches long. You snap a connector on there
with the bulk fuse that runs by it. I don't know,
I don't know. You can picture this right well, the
fuse is burnt through the connectors and out of the
connector and into the items. But the items just stopped
burning right there, but it was after the connector. It
doesn't make any sense. Do you guys have any idea?
(11:38):
I used T shaped plastic fuse connectors and links of
the normal green slow fuse they call it. They sew
fast fuse, slow fuse, slow as green, fast as white,
and it's just how many feet per second it burns.
Let me know if you have any experience with this.
(12:00):
What did I do wrong? And what's a better way
to connect vieuses? I think just zip timeum would have
been completely fine. Let me know you got a better idea. Uh,
that's gonna do it? For episode one ninety three. It's
a Frankenstein episode for sure, better an episode nonetheless, Right,
(12:23):
I fulfilled my duty one episode every week. Oh that assignment.
Your assignment, guys, is to stop arguing and bickering over
Trump's Big Beautiful Bill and to you yourself read the thing.
The real name of the bill is the One Big
(12:45):
Beautiful Bill Act. It was passed by the one nineteenth
US Congress and signed the law by Trump on July fourth.
It's a budget reconciliation law that encompasses tax and spending
policies for the remainder of Trump's presidency. If you listen
to Democrats TikTok, or the Libs on x or your
(13:09):
super left Facebook friends on Facebook, it's a terrible bill
that strips away Medicaid and will literally kill people.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
A bill, the expert saying, is likely going to kill thousands,
if not hundreds of thousands by kicking them off of
Medicaid and killing Buddhicistans to the poor. It'll longs strip
healthcare and food for millions of kids. And that is
it'll give is to many are saying act like a
secret police, a budget bigger than the Marines.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Those are crazy people. It said it would, it would
likely kill hundreds of thousand people. Experts say, but show
me the expert. Show me where they say that. Cite
your sources, show your work, what expert an expert? And
what what? No, that's just things they say. But you
(13:56):
don't hear them quoting the following permanent extension of twenty
seventeen Tax Cuts and Increases Standard Deduction from the twenty
seventeen Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which they were going
to expire this year. It provides additional temporary increase in
the standard deduction one thousand for individuals, two thousand for joint,
(14:19):
fifteen hundred for head of household through twenty twenty eight.
You hear them keep talking about salt and salt deductions.
No one ever said salt on mainstream media until this year.
But no one blame. No one bothered to explain what
that is. That's simple. It just stands for a state
and local tax. Okay, so just say state and local
(14:40):
tax deduction. Quit being cute, so we all know what's
going on. It raises state and local tax deduction the
cap from ten thousand to forty thousand taxpayers earning less
than five hundred thousand and with a one percent annual
increase through twenty twenty nine, and it'll revert to ten
thousand in twenty thirty. Probably doing that to force the
(15:05):
hand of who's in office to revert it again and
make them look like a jerk if they don't. That's
my guess. The Child Tax Credit, it increases from two
thousand to twenty two hundred dollars per child index to inflation,
with a temporary increase of twenty two to twenty five
(15:25):
hundred through twenty twenty eight. Of course, no tax on
tips and overtime that's good through twenty twenty eight as well.
No tax on tips and overtime tips under twenty five
thousand dollars that's for incomes below one hundred fifty thousand
dollars individual, three hundred thousand for joint filers, and a
(15:48):
deduction for overtime pay up to one hundred and sixty
thousand dollars. Super positive, super overdue, no brainer. Here's another
one that no one quotes. An auto loan interest deduction.
It allows a deduction up to ten thousand dollars per
year on auto loan interests for US assembled cars purchased
(16:11):
through twenty twenty five through twenty twenty eight, phasing out
for incomes of one hundred thousand dollars to two hundred
thousand dollars for couples. There's a thing called Trump Accounts.
It's a tax deferred account for parents, allowing one thousand
dollars contribution at a child's birth through twenty twenty eight,
and up to five thousand dollars annually for higher education,
(16:35):
job training, or home down payments. Awesome tax deferred basically
savings plan, tax deferred savings plan for parents. Senior tax relief.
No one on the left or on CNN we'll talk
about this at all, you will never hear. It offers
a temporary six thousand dollars deduction for seniors through twenty
(16:56):
twenty eight, phasing out incomes above seventy five thousand to
one hundred and fifty thousand. Couples were into, reducing Social
Security tax burdens for eighty eight percent of seniors. Business
tax breaks. Everyone acts like this is a sin to
give business as tax breaks. But why not, because instead
(17:19):
of saying tax breaks, let's start referring to them as
tax incentives. Incentivizes them to stay locally, stay in the country.
Why not or keep their head above water. You know,
if you're small business, you know, they permanently extend one
hundred percent bonus depreciation for qualified property through twenty thirty,
(17:42):
expands the Section one ninety nine a deduction for pass
through businesses to twenty three percent starting in twenty twenty six,
and suspends a more amortization of research and experimental expenses
through twenty twenty nine. If you're small all business, you
will understand that. Yes, But but Medicaid, Craig, you're gonna
(18:05):
kill everyone. Yeah, there's some changes they're gonna kill anyone.
Absolutely not. These changes are welcome ones. Uh. Medicaid and
snap cuts. They like to scream at you, saying they're
just gonna yank them away, all of them. No. It
imposes work requirements for childless, non disabled adults on Medicaid
(18:25):
and shifts some SNAP costs to states with higher error
rates starting in twenty twenty eight, potentially reducing benefits for
three million people. Yes, three million non qualified people that
shouldn't be getting getting the benefits anyway. Uh, just wild.
(18:46):
They won't throw that part in. This is part of
uh uh efficiency. This is this, that's the that's the theme.
Of this uh administration, you know, but they so so
so much negative that they gets buried. This is something
that needs to be revisited with every single administration, every
(19:11):
single time without fail efficiency, especially with government handouts and
government aid Medicaid snap and all that. The CBO estimates
eleven point eight million uninsured by twenty thirty four. And
yes those are CBO estimates. But the people left uninsured
(19:33):
are childless, non disabled adults who don't legitimately need Medicaid.
Do you understand that? Yeah, people are going to get
kicked off of it, but they're running a scam anyway.
They don't need to be on them. What about child
is non disabled adults They just nineteen two sixty four
who try to work but don't get over twenty hours
(19:54):
a week. Hey got them covered in those cases. The
bill and poses work requirements for childless non disabled adults
ages nineteen sixty four Medicaid. It requires at least eighty
hours of work per month. That's roughly twenty hours a
week or equivalent community service to maintain eligibility. What's wrong
(20:15):
with that? Absolutely nothing sounds fair right? Also, those people
are exempt if they're attending school or doing volunteer work.
That's a big chunk and this is part of the
beginning of government efficiency. If you ask me, we just
need to get out of the way and let the
efficiency work. You'll see. I think it's refreshing and I
(20:40):
think it's welcome. You don't have to agree with it.
But you can't just spread lies or only give half
a paragraph on an argument. It doesn't work that way.
Stop listening to all the bull crap. Go look at
it for yourself. It's not hidden. You don't have to
get this information from TikTok and on YouTube shorts and
(21:02):
your Facebook friends. It's available to you to read in
its entirety or just the parts that you want to
find out about. I'll leave at least two links so
you can read it yourself. Stop earning, you know, earn
and earn it, earn the right to complain about it,
just like voting. If you don't vote, if you're able
to vote and don't, don't argue politics with me. And
(21:25):
if you don't get to know this bill, don't try
and convince me how crappy it is. Okay, read it,
go to the source. That's what I'm saying. That's the
assignment I'm going to leave the links in the description
of this episode. Look at it for yourself. I'm not
saying sit down, take a vacation day and read the
(21:48):
whole damn thing in one's sitting. Just go look at it.
Go look at the parts, even if someone's arguing one
part of it. Go look at the medicaid part. Go
look at the snap part. Go look at the tips
and overtime. Just those parts. Whatever. It's available to the
truth not not some internet version. You know what I'm saying. Anyway,
that's your assignment. Earn the right to complain it, complain
(22:11):
about it, or I don't want to hear it. Okay,
stop pretending, stop sounding dumb. I love you, Thanks for
listening to everyone. You can watch me record these weird
episodes and all episodes over on my Rumble channel. Go
subscribe to the Soapbox Champions channel there please will yeh.
New episodes are every Tuesday round six thirty pm Central
(22:34):
Standard Time and earlier on Rumble. If I can go
follow me on all that social media. I keep complaining
about all of it except for Threads. Threads is terrible.
I'm on Facebook, ex insta, Blue Sky Truth told you
all of it. How can my fireworks show be any better?
Tell me in a voicemail eight one two six one
zero nine zero zero five, or write an email and
(22:57):
send it to info dot Soapbox Champion at gmail dot com.
Are you feeling down on the dumps or feeling kind
of heavy these days? I get it, But you can
talk to someone about it when you're ready. Twenty four
hours a day, call the suicide and Crisis Lifeline at
nine eight eight, just three digits. I know it's weird,
(23:17):
but it's real, nine eight eight. You can even text
that number if you're not ready to talk to someone
you know on the phone. Some people aren't phone people.
I get that too. Have a great week everyone, I'll
talk to you next Tuesday. I'll see you then. A
(23:39):
lot of time here at the end.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
No kings unless it was during the pandemic when all
the mom and pop businesses were shut down, but the
government said it was totally fine for all the major
super rich corporations to continue operating. But I didn't really
care because as long as I could get my Starby's
and go to Target, I was fine. No kings except
during the pandemic, when we told people that they would
lose their job unless they took a certain medical product,
or they couldn't even go into certain restaurants without vaccine paperwork.
(24:06):
That was crazy, but I didn't really care because I
just complied. No Kings. Remember when we also told people
that they had to not visit their loved ones that
were sick and dying in the hospital, the elderly, they
had to die alone. That was really sad and shut
down the schools, completely wrecked the developmental learning for a
whole generation. I mean, that was tragic, but we don't
(24:26):
really talk about that because that's over now new outrage.
You know, Kings, Remember when we were told over and
over if we got that medical product, we forre sure
would not get sick, And even though the people that
got it immediately did get sick, we were for sure
told they wouldn't spread it. And then that gradually became
well like ninety five percent, like seventy five percent. Okay,
(24:47):
there's no evidence it does what we told everyone it does,
but we've already made everyone take it that would anyway,
and no one really cared because it's new outrage time,
No Kings, And do you remember during that time, anyone
who tried to bring attention to these issues on social
media was censored or their account was banned, and limiting
free speech at that time seemed okay to me. I
didn't really think about it. No, Kings, you don't hate authoritarianism.
(25:14):
You just hate what you're told to hate by the
algorithm and the news outlets be so for real. I
just wish the anti authoritarian energy was present during actual
tyranny from both the federal and local governments during that time.
But no, of course not, and it's not authoritarianism if
(25:37):
the majority of the people voted for it, both popular
vote and electoral votes. People wanted the border secure. So
settle down, settle down, and start thinking for yourself. Turn
off the TikTok. It's gonna be okay.
The Attorney General had to make a statement thing not
women can wear pants.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Now. This is the Soapbox Champion podcast. Yep, this is
the Soapbox Champion podcast. The one today is episode one
(00:40):
ninety three. It's Tuesday, July eighth, twenty twenty five. Sort of.
This is going to be a I like to say,
a very special episode. And when you hear me say that,
that's code for it's going to be weird for some reason.
It's going to be different, but not too different. It's
(01:01):
just that this episode has recorded two days in advance.
I've got a funeral to attend to out of town
on show day, so I have to make them make
the show happen somehow, and this is that effort. This
is what's going on now. So just doing in advance,
which I could do every once in a while, it's fine.
Adapt and overcome is a saying people say, right, I
(01:24):
guess that's what I'm doing. I'm kind of gonna let
you off easy this week. This episode is mostly sugar
and why not with one exception. At the end of
this episode, I'm going to leave you with an assignment.
At the end of the show, I'm going to give
you an assignment. It's real, it's important and I'm serious.
(01:49):
So listen to the entire episode or skip to the end.
I don't care. I'll never know. I mean, I'll be
sad if I ever find out, but I won't know.
I trust you will listen and do the whole thing.
But but will you know? No way for me to tell.
It's on your honor, you guys. Anyway, I'll be back
(02:11):
in a minute. In the summer heat, you need to
stay hydrated, and if you're not, you get it. You
gotta rehydrate quick. You gotta get some electrolytes back in you. Also,
maybe a little sugar. Happy Birthday, America or almost anyway.
(02:31):
The Independence Day or fourth of July is almost here.
That's what I'm trying to say, you guys. I just
make everything awkward, and nothing says independence like colorful explosions. Right, fireworks,
that's right. For some reason, we set off fireworks to celebrate,
and I'll be all right with that. Well, we'll let
(02:52):
some off the fourth of July here, which is a Thursday.
It's lame but it is. But the big show will
be on Saturday when we have people over and let
off all whole bunch of them. Okay, but why why fireworks?
Why on Independence Day? Well, that's what I wanted to
find out, and I kind of did. First little history
(03:12):
of fireworks, and their history is as dazzling as the
display as we see lighting up the sky during festive celebrations.
This brilliant spectacle of colors and sounds has captivated humanity
for centuries, with its origins dating back to ancient China.
The invention of fireworks is attributed to the Chinese, who
(03:33):
discovered that bamboo thrown into a fire would explode with
a loud bang do the overheating of the air trapped
inside the hollow stalks. This phenomenon was initially used to
scare away evil spirits. However, it was not until the
discovery of gunpowder, a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate,
(03:54):
that the true potential of fireworks was realized. Around eighteen
or eight hundred eight, an alchemist mixed these ingredients hoping
to find the elixir of life, but instead stumbled upon
something much better, the formula for gunpowder. The military applications
of gunpowder were quickly recognized, and it was used in
(04:17):
warfare to create explosive projectiles, but alongside its use in battle,
the esthetic appeal of gunpowder was also explored, and by
the time of the Song Dynasty about nine sixty to
twelve seventy nine, eighty fireworks made from gunpowder were already
used to enhance festivities and celebrations, marking the beginning of
(04:38):
fireworks as we know them today. As trade routes expanded,
so did the spread of fireworks through the Silk Road.
The knowledge of fireworks traveled to the Arab world and
eventually reached Europe. By the Renaissance, fireworks were a staple
of royal and religious celebrations across the continent. The display
(05:00):
became more sophisticated with the introduction of aerial shells in Italy,
which allowed for the firework to be launched into the sky,
creating the breathtaking aerial displays that are synonymous with fireworks today.
The evolution of fireworks continued with the development of different
colors and effects. Initially, fireworks were predominantly orange and white
(05:23):
due to the natural colors produced by the burning of
gunpowder and other chemicals. It wasn't until the nineteenth century
that scientists began to understand how to create different colors
by adding various metallic salts and compounds to the fireworks.
This innovation brought about the vibrant array of colors that
(05:43):
make modern fireworks display a visual feast. Okay, what's that
got to do with the Fourth of July. Well, as
the fourth of July approaches, you guys, the sky is
above the United States prepared to burst into a kaleidoscope
of colors. Fireworks, an integral part of celebration, are not
(06:06):
just a spectacle of light and sound, but as symbol
deeply rooted in the nation's history. The tradition of illuminating
the night sky on a Dependence Day dates back to
the earliest days of the nation's founding and has evolved
into a beloved ritual observed across the country. The inception
of fireworks as a celebratory marker of the Fourth of
(06:27):
July is intertwined with the very fabric of American independence.
It was John Adams, a founding father and the second
President of the United States, who envisioned that the anniversary
of Independence would be commemorated with pomp and parade, including
illuminations from one end of the continent to the other.
(06:48):
This vision materialized on July fourth, seventeen seventy seven, when
Philadelphia marked the first organized celebration of Independence Day with fireworks,
setting a precedent for future festivities. The historical significance of
fireworks on this day is a testament to the enduring
freedom and enduring spirit of freedom and the triumphs of
(07:11):
the Revolutionary War. The early celebrations were not only about
joy and festivity, but also served as a morale booster
during the tumulus times of tumultuous times of war. The
loud booms and bright flashes were reminiscent of the bombs
bursting in air. In Air quotes a line immortalized in
(07:31):
the National Anthem that echoes the resilience of a nation
fighting for its sovereignty. Today, the fourth of July fireworks
are a spectacle of unity, bringing together communities and families
and a shared experience of awe and wonder. The tradition
has been preserved and nurtured over centuries, becoming a hallmark
(07:51):
of the holiday. From the grand displays in major cities
to the backyard sparklers, each flicker of light represents a
fragment of the nation's journey and its ongoing story of liberty.
As the night falls on the fourth of July, fireworks
serve as a reminder of the past struggles and victories.
(08:13):
They are a tribute to the ideals of freedom and
democracy that continue to guide to the United States. So
when you look up at the dazzling display this Independence Day,
remember the rich history and the bright future that they symbolize,
a future that continues to be shaped by the collective
hopes and dreams of the American people. So back up, Terry,
(08:38):
and let's celebrate timely. Huh that sugar. Uh. We had
a spectacular firework show, I would say here at our property,
just a handful of people and us. Maybe the biggest
fireworks show yet, but not without some issues. I went
all out this year and did something I've never done before.
(08:59):
No reason why I've never done it before. I planned
it and fused together a grand finale. Okay, that sounds good.
It's easy. You just get some stuff. All you need
is some stuff. You guys. You need bulk fuse and
you need fuse connectors, and I got both set it
(09:22):
up hours before the show. It's ready to go under
a tarp and then time comes remove the thing and
light the fuse and blow it up. But the night
of the fourth of July, when I lit it stepped
back to watch, none of it went off. And after
(09:44):
it was over, And the next day, as we were
outside cleaning up, I sorted through the Grand Finale remains
as if it were a crime scene. I was searching
for the fuses and the fuse connectors like they were
the black box on an airplane, you know what I'm saying.
I took them to the garage and I put them
under light and magnification, and all appeared fine. All the
(10:10):
fuse and fuses burned through the connectors as they should.
There was no unburnt fuse. I just have no idea
what happened. I don't think anyone would notice the failure,
and I didn't think they did. I had three or
four things lit and going off as I set off,
(10:32):
the Grand Finale fan stuff and spark type stuff, you know,
medium sized things. I would call them purposely to buy
me time to sneak over and light the Grand Finale fuse.
I knew right away there was a problem, so I
just ran up and put the torch where the fuses
were on each item and set them off. That way,
(10:52):
no one would ever know but me. But it's like
the fuses stopped burning after they passed through the connectors,
which makes no sense. And it happened at each connector.
Do you guys have any It's like you have the
box of the item with they link the fuse, usually
(11:14):
a couple inches long. You snap a connector on there
with the bulk fuse that runs by it. I don't know,
I don't know. You can picture this right well, the
fuse is burnt through the connectors and out of the
connector and into the items. But the items just stopped
burning right there, but it was after the connector. It
doesn't make any sense. Do you guys have any idea?
(11:38):
I used T shaped plastic fuse connectors and links of
the normal green slow fuse they call it. They sew
fast fuse, slow fuse, slow as green, fast as white,
and it's just how many feet per second it burns.
Let me know if you have any experience with this.
(12:00):
What did I do wrong? And what's a better way
to connect vieuses? I think just zip timeum would have
been completely fine. Let me know you got a better idea. Uh,
that's gonna do it? For episode one ninety three. It's
a Frankenstein episode for sure, better an episode nonetheless, Right,
(12:23):
I fulfilled my duty one episode every week. Oh that assignment.
Your assignment, guys, is to stop arguing and bickering over
Trump's Big Beautiful Bill and to you yourself read the thing.
The real name of the bill is the One Big
(12:45):
Beautiful Bill Act. It was passed by the one nineteenth
US Congress and signed the law by Trump on July fourth.
It's a budget reconciliation law that encompasses tax and spending
policies for the remainder of Trump's presidency. If you listen
to Democrats TikTok, or the Libs on x or your
(13:09):
super left Facebook friends on Facebook, it's a terrible bill
that strips away Medicaid and will literally kill people.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
A bill, the expert saying, is likely going to kill thousands,
if not hundreds of thousands by kicking them off of
Medicaid and killing Buddhicistans to the poor. It'll longs strip
healthcare and food for millions of kids. And that is
it'll give is to many are saying act like a
secret police, a budget bigger than the Marines.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
Those are crazy people. It said it would, it would
likely kill hundreds of thousand people. Experts say, but show
me the expert. Show me where they say that. Cite
your sources, show your work, what expert an expert? And
what what? No, that's just things they say. But you
(13:56):
don't hear them quoting the following permanent extension of twenty
seventeen Tax Cuts and Increases Standard Deduction from the twenty
seventeen Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which they were going
to expire this year. It provides additional temporary increase in
the standard deduction one thousand for individuals, two thousand for joint,
(14:19):
fifteen hundred for head of household through twenty twenty eight.
You hear them keep talking about salt and salt deductions.
No one ever said salt on mainstream media until this year.
But no one blame. No one bothered to explain what
that is. That's simple. It just stands for a state
and local tax. Okay, so just say state and local
(14:40):
tax deduction. Quit being cute, so we all know what's
going on. It raises state and local tax deduction the
cap from ten thousand to forty thousand taxpayers earning less
than five hundred thousand and with a one percent annual
increase through twenty twenty nine, and it'll revert to ten
thousand in twenty thirty. Probably doing that to force the
(15:05):
hand of who's in office to revert it again and
make them look like a jerk if they don't. That's
my guess. The Child Tax Credit, it increases from two
thousand to twenty two hundred dollars per child index to inflation,
with a temporary increase of twenty two to twenty five
(15:25):
hundred through twenty twenty eight. Of course, no tax on
tips and overtime that's good through twenty twenty eight as well.
No tax on tips and overtime tips under twenty five
thousand dollars that's for incomes below one hundred fifty thousand
dollars individual, three hundred thousand for joint filers, and a
(15:48):
deduction for overtime pay up to one hundred and sixty
thousand dollars. Super positive, super overdue, no brainer. Here's another
one that no one quotes. An auto loan interest deduction.
It allows a deduction up to ten thousand dollars per
year on auto loan interests for US assembled cars purchased
(16:11):
through twenty twenty five through twenty twenty eight, phasing out
for incomes of one hundred thousand dollars to two hundred
thousand dollars for couples. There's a thing called Trump Accounts.
It's a tax deferred account for parents, allowing one thousand
dollars contribution at a child's birth through twenty twenty eight,
and up to five thousand dollars annually for higher education,
(16:35):
job training, or home down payments. Awesome tax deferred basically
savings plan, tax deferred savings plan for parents. Senior tax relief.
No one on the left or on CNN we'll talk
about this at all, you will never hear. It offers
a temporary six thousand dollars deduction for seniors through twenty
(16:56):
twenty eight, phasing out incomes above seventy five thousand to
one hundred and fifty thousand. Couples were into, reducing Social
Security tax burdens for eighty eight percent of seniors. Business
tax breaks. Everyone acts like this is a sin to
give business as tax breaks. But why not, because instead
(17:19):
of saying tax breaks, let's start referring to them as
tax incentives. Incentivizes them to stay locally, stay in the country.
Why not or keep their head above water. You know,
if you're small business, you know, they permanently extend one
hundred percent bonus depreciation for qualified property through twenty thirty,
(17:42):
expands the Section one ninety nine a deduction for pass
through businesses to twenty three percent starting in twenty twenty six,
and suspends a more amortization of research and experimental expenses
through twenty twenty nine. If you're small all business, you
will understand that. Yes, But but Medicaid, Craig, you're gonna
(18:05):
kill everyone. Yeah, there's some changes they're gonna kill anyone.
Absolutely not. These changes are welcome ones. Uh. Medicaid and
snap cuts. They like to scream at you, saying they're
just gonna yank them away, all of them. No. It
imposes work requirements for childless, non disabled adults on Medicaid
(18:25):
and shifts some SNAP costs to states with higher error
rates starting in twenty twenty eight, potentially reducing benefits for
three million people. Yes, three million non qualified people that
shouldn't be getting getting the benefits anyway. Uh, just wild.
(18:46):
They won't throw that part in. This is part of
uh uh efficiency. This is this, that's the that's the theme.
Of this uh administration, you know, but they so so
so much negative that they gets buried. This is something
that needs to be revisited with every single administration, every
(19:11):
single time without fail efficiency, especially with government handouts and
government aid Medicaid snap and all that. The CBO estimates
eleven point eight million uninsured by twenty thirty four. And
yes those are CBO estimates. But the people left uninsured
(19:33):
are childless, non disabled adults who don't legitimately need Medicaid.
Do you understand that? Yeah, people are going to get
kicked off of it, but they're running a scam anyway.
They don't need to be on them. What about child
is non disabled adults They just nineteen two sixty four
who try to work but don't get over twenty hours
(19:54):
a week. Hey got them covered in those cases. The
bill and poses work requirements for childless non disabled adults
ages nineteen sixty four Medicaid. It requires at least eighty
hours of work per month. That's roughly twenty hours a
week or equivalent community service to maintain eligibility. What's wrong
(20:15):
with that? Absolutely nothing sounds fair right? Also, those people
are exempt if they're attending school or doing volunteer work.
That's a big chunk and this is part of the
beginning of government efficiency. If you ask me, we just
need to get out of the way and let the
efficiency work. You'll see. I think it's refreshing and I
(20:40):
think it's welcome. You don't have to agree with it.
But you can't just spread lies or only give half
a paragraph on an argument. It doesn't work that way.
Stop listening to all the bull crap. Go look at
it for yourself. It's not hidden. You don't have to
get this information from TikTok and on YouTube shorts and
(21:02):
your Facebook friends. It's available to you to read in
its entirety or just the parts that you want to
find out about. I'll leave at least two links so
you can read it yourself. Stop earning, you know, earn
and earn it, earn the right to complain about it,
just like voting. If you don't vote, if you're able
to vote and don't, don't argue politics with me. And
(21:25):
if you don't get to know this bill, don't try
and convince me how crappy it is. Okay, read it,
go to the source. That's what I'm saying. That's the
assignment I'm going to leave the links in the description
of this episode. Look at it for yourself. I'm not
saying sit down, take a vacation day and read the
(21:48):
whole damn thing in one's sitting. Just go look at it.
Go look at the parts, even if someone's arguing one
part of it. Go look at the medicaid part. Go
look at the snap part. Go look at the tips
and overtime. Just those parts. Whatever. It's available to the
truth not not some internet version. You know what I'm saying. Anyway,
that's your assignment. Earn the right to complain it, complain
(22:11):
about it, or I don't want to hear it. Okay,
stop pretending, stop sounding dumb. I love you, Thanks for
listening to everyone. You can watch me record these weird
episodes and all episodes over on my Rumble channel. Go
subscribe to the Soapbox Champions channel there please will yeh.
New episodes are every Tuesday round six thirty pm Central
(22:34):
Standard Time and earlier on Rumble. If I can go
follow me on all that social media. I keep complaining
about all of it except for Threads. Threads is terrible.
I'm on Facebook, ex insta, Blue Sky Truth told you
all of it. How can my fireworks show be any better?
Tell me in a voicemail eight one two six one
zero nine zero zero five, or write an email and
(22:57):
send it to info dot Soapbox Champion at gmail dot com.
Are you feeling down on the dumps or feeling kind
of heavy these days? I get it, But you can
talk to someone about it when you're ready. Twenty four
hours a day, call the suicide and Crisis Lifeline at
nine eight eight, just three digits. I know it's weird,
(23:17):
but it's real, nine eight eight. You can even text
that number if you're not ready to talk to someone
you know on the phone. Some people aren't phone people.
I get that too. Have a great week everyone, I'll
talk to you next Tuesday. I'll see you then. A
(23:39):
lot of time here at the end.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
No kings unless it was during the pandemic when all
the mom and pop businesses were shut down, but the
government said it was totally fine for all the major
super rich corporations to continue operating. But I didn't really
care because as long as I could get my Starby's
and go to Target, I was fine. No kings except
during the pandemic, when we told people that they would
lose their job unless they took a certain medical product,
or they couldn't even go into certain restaurants without vaccine paperwork.
(24:06):
That was crazy, but I didn't really care because I
just complied. No Kings. Remember when we also told people
that they had to not visit their loved ones that
were sick and dying in the hospital, the elderly, they
had to die alone. That was really sad and shut
down the schools, completely wrecked the developmental learning for a
whole generation. I mean, that was tragic, but we don't
(24:26):
really talk about that because that's over now new outrage.
You know, Kings, Remember when we were told over and
over if we got that medical product, we forre sure
would not get sick, And even though the people that
got it immediately did get sick, we were for sure
told they wouldn't spread it. And then that gradually became
well like ninety five percent, like seventy five percent. Okay,
(24:47):
there's no evidence it does what we told everyone it does,
but we've already made everyone take it that would anyway,
and no one really cared because it's new outrage time,
No Kings, And do you remember during that time, anyone
who tried to bring attention to these issues on social
media was censored or their account was banned, and limiting
free speech at that time seemed okay to me. I
didn't really think about it. No, Kings, you don't hate authoritarianism.
(25:14):
You just hate what you're told to hate by the
algorithm and the news outlets be so for real. I
just wish the anti authoritarian energy was present during actual
tyranny from both the federal and local governments during that time.
But no, of course not, and it's not authoritarianism if
(25:37):
the majority of the people voted for it, both popular
vote and electoral votes. People wanted the border secure. So
settle down, settle down, and start thinking for yourself. Turn
off the TikTok. It's gonna be okay.
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