151 Comments

It bums me out that I am android and windows, and can't participate in these calls (unless I am missing something). I feel censored, deplatformed, confused about my pronouns, and ashamed of my long friendship with Dave Chapelle (from when we were both just starting in standup).

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Might I suggest Leonard Cohen's Anthem. I know how you feel I don't even own a mobile phone.

When I am bummed out I listen to Leonard sing his American Anthem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDTph7mer3I

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That actually did help. Thanks. I'll just sit out in the hallway for now. Someday my ship will come in.

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Might I suggest a visit to Leonard's hometown. Leonard attended the same High School as Kamala but he attended it before the revolution and Kamala attended during the revolution.

Montreal has a lot of American expats who prefer to live in a family friendly liberal democracy and we need immigrants and we love Americans, Russians, Chinese, Egyptians Mexicans, Hondurans, Haitians or anybody who likes the idea of participatory democracy where power is bottom up.

Even our Amazon workers have healthcare, access to education, a high standard of living, freedom, democracy and security.

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And an authoritarian government. No thanks. Canada has fallen

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You know Grape I am old man and we are a liberal democracy. We are the government. We have freedom of the press and corruption is political suicide.

Your Civil War goes back to 1603 and the death of Elizabeth I. Elizabeth I ruled with the welfare of her people as her first concern. Her successors were unfit to rule and unfit to serve. What followed in 1640 was a bloody Civil War that ended in Britain becoming a democracy in 1688 as parliament assumed power and the crown becoming the symbol of the Empire.

Our Authoritarian government acts with the consent and authority given by we the people.

You have no knowledge or understanding of how Canada functions. The Northwest West territories is not a parliamentary democracy it is an assembly of sovereign nations and Canada being only a participating member where we require consensus to create law.

America is authoritarian. Hannah Arendt wrote The Origin of Totalitarianism in 1951 you might want to pick up a copy it was true in 1951 and the world hasn't changed much.

America thinks participatory democracy is authoritarian and oligarchy is freedom. I really don't have any response to nonsense.

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Likewise.

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January 14, 2022
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I was born in 1948 and I love Orwell. Do you remember what he said.

"The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those that speak it. Truth is the New Hate Speech. During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

Why do you believe America doesn't deserve what it is getting? America voted for Reagan when Carter told it to turn down the thermostat and put on a sweater. It voted for Obama and a promise of change when Obama represents what's right with America not what needs to be fixed.

Canada gets better every day even as America decays.

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Actually, I used to have an office in Montreal and love that city (except it was 75 degrees and sunny today in Houston). Let me, ever so gently and humbly, correct you on one thing: Canadians needn't welcome Americans as immigrants, as all Canadians are Americans. I am a citizen of the one country in the Americas (maybe the world) with no name. We all live in states that have names, but our country has no name. There is a good reason for that, but I don't want to get all political and explain all that. Suffice it to say we are all Americans here, brother.

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My Uncle lived in Corpus Christi I only talked to Blacks and Latinos, "real" Texans don't show their ID and that reduced the number of people I could speak to. I wish Kinky could have been elected governor.

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January 15, 2022
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January 15, 2022
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“ You aren't a "keeper" of anything other than your own profound psychosis and mental dysfunction.”

Projection.

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January 14, 2022
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Canada is a big country with many forms of government. Quebec isn't Ontario, Alberta isn't BC and the Northwest Territories government isn't a parliamentary democracy but sovereign nations needing consensus to pass bills. Canada being just another sovereign nation. In Quebec we even have a Department of Immigration. Quebec is going to eliminate fossil fuels in 2030 and Alberta needs to sell beef and oil. British Columbia has a democratic socialist government and Alberta is a Texas satellite.

Sure we have problems but this is the best country on the planet in which to live. We are free, we are prosperous and we actually have ears throughout the world. We know China Russia and the USA are not really friends or enemies they are self serving empires riding their roller coasters and run by their Peter Pans.

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My wife was born in Nashville but I really miss John Hartford and his joy at being alive.

My wife and I loved John Prine and Iris Dement singing In Spite of Ourselves but in my dotage it is good to remember gentle on my mind.

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

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My wife and I are still together and when we returned together to the land of my birth to find that in Quebec, marriage is a civil contract we got married again by a notary and like all civil contracts they are not written in stone.

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You are not missing anything. Great column, and an exceptionally lame phone in diatribe.

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Android is coming early/mid Q1... very soon. In the meantime, anyone can listen to published episodes and highlights from a computer or Android device via the web app. You can catch all of Matt's episodes here: https://www.callin.com/show/tk-live-VOaYFhTeLH

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Me too. Just spent the last 20 minutes thinking I was doing something wrong. Seems I can't join without an iphone.

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Yea, still no Android or web browser support. Just says "coming soon".

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Seriously Matt - use a different platform that supports Android. We're paid subscribers too.

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Android is coming early/mid Q1... very soon. In the meantime, anyone can listen to published episodes and highlights from a computer or Android device via the web app. You can catch all of Matt's episodes here: https://www.callin.com/show/tk-live-VOaYFhTeLH

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Callin says they're working on Android in their FAQ and they have been on apple only since 2021. Maybe give them a few months or so.

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Well, I don't know what to say. At least you realize that mandates and the way Biden is handling this is bad. But I can't help but think you have not investigated these vaccines very well. You need to. Even the WHO says repeatedly giving people vaccines that only work a couple months is going to ruin the immune system. Is there going to be another unstudied vaccine imposed on people after they don't recommend a 4th? Even the booster isn't working and it's debatable if it lessens disease since we don't even keep good data in this country and have no idea how many are really "unvaccinated." And they don't get people on monoclonals and treatments early. It's a crime against humanity. You need to look more into this. Are you really going to sign up to be a guinea pig on the next unstudied vaccine? I don't think people are going to do it. I know many pro-vaccine people who are NOT going to get boosted let alone take some new vaccine.

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It is Friday morning. I'm fine and let me add one final comment to all the manure you are spreading. I watched as you and your friends and neighbours and people like the Romney's sucked the money out of Detroit and turned the richest city in the world into a shithole and then blamed your victims for their misery.

i remember the bailout of Chrysler shareholders and I know the people of Traverse City. There are a few fine people in Traverse City but fine people doesn't really describe Traverse City. It is a city of takers and vampires and parents who demand special privileges for the offspring of the chosen.

I watched your northern neighbour go from Muddy York to one of the three best cities in the world in which to live. Why don't you look in the closet for what you really need. Soul's don't cost an awful lot just an occasional glimpse in the mirror.

For you and your friends and neighbours I am sure Dante dreamed up the perfect resting place.

Why blame the liberals for Detroit in the capitalist system no capital means no future.

You want us to trust Bloomberg?

What a country. Parasites are the top of the food chain.

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Been going on a while. Plenty of blame to go around

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Hey you finally found something that supports your point of view. Congratulations and thanks for the effort.

So it looks like a fourth vaccine is not a good idea until after a period of time. So far, only the Israelis have done this and it might have not been a good idea. Is any US health agency recommending a fourth booster? If so, I think you are right, we should hold off and study this some more.

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Here in Quebec we have a single payer health system and an economist Premier. We are data driven . We are an international data center and every citizen is in the system.

The number crunchers tell us if you are high risk get a booster, the odds are in your favour. If you are not at risk you can afford to wait. I trust the numbers we the people pay the government to represent our welfare.

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You pay the government to waste your money and kickback some of what you earned for healthcare. In return for getting some of your money back, you must obey

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I know both systems. I've spent months in hospital in Chicago and Quebec and our system is better and cheaper. For me it hardly mattered I had platinum healthcare through a private insurer but you knew something was wrong when everybody came to see me for spiritual advice. I spent a week in March in our local hospital. It was good place to work and everyone worked together. They didn't need spiritual advice but the dietician spent quite a bit of time listening to someone who could talk about food both institutional and private.

You can call it socialism, I call it functional. What you call freedom I call dysfunction.

Remember John Milton's great query

"Is it better to serve in Heaven or rule in Hell?

I guess the only deciding factor is empathy.

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Hardly untested after many millions have been vaxed! The virus is unstable and mutates as it sickens it’s host.

No doubt u know many people who tell you they support your stand. Rather than have to support their position they just coincide with you.

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And FAILED. What planet are you on. They work for two months and then they make you MORE likely to get it. We have no good data to even tell if it lessens a thing. I can see you are happy to be a guinea pig but as long as the death rate goes DOWN, people are not going to do this again. I'll bet you.

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There is no evidence to support your claims. They are utter and complete BS.

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You love to read propaganda bedtime stories, I bet. Studies from Canada, Denmark and the U.K. recently show the vaccine is “negatively effective”. I will break it down for you: That ain’t good.

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I get the numbers everyday in my local newspaper. I just received my monthly receipt for supporting independent journalism in Quebec.

La Tribune https://www.latribune.ca/ gives me the numbers every day without cheerleading or booing and we are lifting a two week curfew and school starts on Monday.

Real democracies work 24/07/365.

https://www.latribune.ca/2022/01/13/retour-en-classe-et-levee-du-couvre-feu-lundi-passeport-vaccinal-bientot-dans-les-grands-magasins-video-d4ec26571e50b2f59be2a09b391532e7

Google translate has flaws but this is what independent reporting looks like.

Truth isn't a matter of opinion.

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Yes the vaccine has saved countless lives. Thankfully, Omicron is less severe and hopefully after this wave we can go back to more or less normal.

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Provide evidence for your claims. I am happy to consider them. So far, lekimball hasn't been able to provide any, maybe you have some better sources.

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Speaking as someone who can see Vermont from where I am sitting at my computer lekimbal is looking at imaginary numbers from an imaginary universe through a portal leading to a time long long ago.

Quebec's opposition party has just named a business man its Health Critic in the National Assembly and Health is administered by the Province.

Business men understand numbers and doctors understand people.

Covid arrived the same day it arrived in NYC but after a rough start democracy outshone plutocracy 10 to one. Imagine a place where doctors and economists are on the same side and we the people run the government.

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Show me where WHO says this and I will take your seriously.

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Did you actually read the article? It says nothing about "ruining the immune system" in fact it clearly says that scarce vaccines should be given to poor countries instead of being used as boosters for people in wealthy countries.

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https://dailyangle.com/articles/who-warns-against-repeated-booster-shots-mandates There's one where they said it could compromise immune system. I didn't save it so have to search.

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I just posted a Bloomberg article that does. And it's out there. You just hang on.

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"Ryan reiterated the WHO’s support for third doses administered to the elderly, medically vulnerable people and anyone needing an immune system boost after a full Covid vaccine regimen"

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I said FOURTH booster.

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"Even the WHO says repeatedly giving people vaccines that only work a couple months is going to ruin the immune system. "

That's what you said. Prove it.

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Actually, I'll find another article where they said immune systems will get "tired." https://africa.cgtn.com/2022/01/11/covid-19-boosters-not-a-viable-strategy-who-experts-say/

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Here is what he actually said:

https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-40771719.html

He said that using extra shots for boosters instead of sending them to poor countries was a bad use of scarce vaccines.

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Well, you go ahead and do that, but most of the world is not going to do a fourth booster and I doubt they'll get so many willing participants on a new one unless it's a much bigger threat. And to continue to demonize people when you are MORE likely to get it vaccinated is really poor public policy. https://patriotinsider.org/frightening-who-changes-direction-warns-against-vaccine-mandates-repeated-booster-shots/

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No, they SAID it was appropriate or sustainable and that new vaccines will have to be made. These didn't work for longer than a few months and you think people will jump into unstudied vaccines AGAIN? I'll wager you right now they won't.

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sorry, they said it was NOT appropriate or sustainable.

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No that article doesn't say that anywhere. I challenge you to find a quote from it that does. Here is what it does say:

"“It’s important to remember that the vast majority of hospitalisations and deaths are in unvaccinated people, not un-boosted people. And we must be very clear that the vaccines we have remain effective against both the Delta and Omicron variants.”"

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Look at Fig. 1F in this recent Kaiser study from SCal (Nov. 30 2021 to Jan. 1 2022). Only 23% of those hospitalized with Omicron (SGTF) are unvaccinated. The rest (76%) are vaccinated. 19% are boosted.

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.11.22269045v1

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That the same guy in the Bloomberg article above. It isn't the WHO but it's a reputable source.

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It's out there all over. The fake news here isn't reporting it.

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NOPE, read ALL the articles. That was earlier.

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Sorry

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He said: “The future must be focusing on the vulnerable and making boosters or treatments available to them to protect them."

He argues that using boosters on young people without determining if they need it or not is a waste of scarce resources. I agree. We are all going to catch Covid eventually and young people are already practically immune.

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F this Callin s. I don't want to get an iPhone. And I don't want yet another psycho SiVal surveillance capitalism app mediating our conversations for their profit. F that s.

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Android is coming early/mid Q1... very soon. In the meantime, anyone can listen to published episodes and highlights from a computer or Android device via the web app (you don't need to create an account to listen on the web app). You can catch all of Matt's episodes here: https://www.callin.com/show/tk-live-VOaYFhTeLH

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It has to happen sooner or later. At that point I'll be a conscientious objector without compatibility excuse.

F these effing conversation mediation apps.

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Oh well. It only works on an iphone - the most aristocratic piece of technology around. Hope the access expands to android phones soon.

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Android is coming early/mid Q1... very soon. In the meantime, anyone can listen to published episodes and highlights from a computer or Android device via the web app. You can catch all of Matt's episodes here: https://www.callin.com/show/tk-live-VOaYFhTeLH

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Even for iphone requires 14.5, ie recent expensive phone. Should be called Only Callin If You Have Money

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Maybe I am too old but this looks more like the Dawning of Aquarius. We are starting to ask the right questions. This is a time of metaphysics and being Socratic. Sometimes the Hemlock looks very inviting but think about whether we will be remembered in 2400 years.

What is truth.

Ode on a Grecian Urn

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?fr=mcafee&ei=UTF-8&p=ode+on+a+grecian+john+keats+poem&type=E210US91166G91269#id=1&vid=83ac3c4e9a519b54c45de4ef91a5e6a3&action=click

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Big Pharma is constantly bombarding YouTube with their mindless ads telling you to ask your doctor if this shit is right for you. Capitalism is everywhere you go.

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Some of us question authority types are still doing so. I suspect most from my (late boomer) cohort were just going along with the zeitgeist. Now members of the safety generation are doing the same. It’s uncomfortable to be out of step with the conventional wisdom for people - of all times and places. Some of us believe that’s the price of adulthood. Something else that might be going on: it’s difficult to see incremental changes while they are happening. Age gives you some pattern recognition. But again some things are uncomfortable to see. Many will choose to look away.

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I have always questioned authority. Those at the top are all to often prone to bad judgement. They seldom understand cause and affect. What I don't question is integrity and expertise. America is a KAKISTOCRACY, government of the worst, by the worst and for the worst of its people. I don't think I need present the evidence.

In Canada if Nancy said what she said about insider trading it would be the newspaper headlines for a week six more days than it would take to fly to some Caribbean sanctuary and disappear forever.

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Healthcare and finance dysfunction started out Dickens but now are Kafka!

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Correction: It should say "Callin Discussion Friday at 2:30 EST for Apple Device Owners Only: With Author Walter Kirn. There I fixed it.

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Why not up the recordings of these Callin sessions on Substack as pod eps? Does Callin prevent that?

I'm bummed that I'm shut out of this.

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I thought this was great. Thanks.

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The corporatocracy has been attacking Quebec's nascent democracy for 50 years. Even the Montreal Gazette has nothing good to say about our system of governance. Here in the boonies and in Montreal our families are secure and prosperous, we have a free and independent press and we are the government and our citizens are free, prosperous and thriving.

Why doesn't the media talk to the students at Kamala's old High School to find out what they think about the tyranny you you describe. Better yet come visit and see what freedom and democracy look like and what real freedom is all about. Ontario thought they were getting another Trump and all they got was an uninformed populist, look at Alberta and Saskatchewan where their governments are run by Texas oligarchs.

I returned to Quebec 15 years ago and spent the rest of the last thirty years in a Southside Chicago ghetto and deep red Michigan.

America is a fetid swamp while life in Canada is freer and Canada's standard of living is so much higher and much more secure. America is as democratic and free as China and Russia.

Look at yesterday's Lancet on government mandates.

Covid 19 vaccination and Human Rights.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02873-7/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

We are a democracy and America is an Empire in Decay.

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Better yet watch TV Ontarios discussion on Civil war in America where even a representative of Russell Kirk's and William F Buckley National Review understand America is in deep doo doo.

Is America headed to a Civil War.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cagQGM2abec&t=930s

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If the Hunter Thompson of 1970 were still working today, what would be happening to him?

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You're not missing much. Kirk is neither "always funny", nor is he "very astute". Frankly, he comes off misinformed on basic issues, and just another crank looking for someplace to grind his axe.

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🍪 ⋆ 🍒 🎀 𝑀𝒜𝒜𝒜𝒯❣ 🎀 🍒 ⋆ 🍪

(I used the fansy shmasy font to get your attention...)

OT for the callin, but I want to have the best shot to get your attention...

I just finished listening to Saagar & Marshall's pod, and the topic is sooo related to your Wall St book of the past IMHO. I hope you can get a sit down w/ the author. Here's the linky-dink:

https://the-realignment.simplecast.com/episodes/190-christopher-leonard-how-the-federal-reserve-broke-the-american-economy

I JUST got the ebook, and it's as well written as Griftopia.

That is all.

That is all...

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Matt - I've heard both of you comment on how editors decide what to report on.

In light of the union of the whitehouse admin staff (it's not Biden, he's not sentient) and press doing a coordinated hit on Rogan - it's bigger than just Rolling Stone - could you two shed light on how this coordination occurs?

It's clear this happens, by the timing. I'm interested in hearing from you two the mechanics, how the talking points go out.

PS - if you can, listen to Bari Weiss _Honestly_ pod, "Bringing Sanity ...". It's her typically well produced piece blended with her personal view and ability to let her 3 Medical Doctors talk.

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I received my weekly Lancet this morning.

This article gives this vaxer's arguments for mandates.

As always the Lancet is written in English not America's political Orwellian Newspeak.

It is titled Mandatory Covid 19 vaccination and Human Rights.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)02873-7/fulltext?dgcid=raven_jbs_etoc_email

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I won’t read it so- Let me guess - human rights not incompatible with the government forcing you to put something in your body - because “greater good.” Efficacy and risk to a few be damned. We’re seeing the bankruptcy of the intellectual elites in real time.

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Of course the Lancet is English and England claims to have been a democracy since 1688 when Parliament was the government and the monarch the symbol of the constitutional monarchy putting an end to the bloody Civil War still continuing in the "greatest" country on Earth.

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I like the final comment.

In the 16th century the bathetic theatre normally put the audience to sleep and gave the pickpockets a golden opportunity to ply their trade.

I think everybody is bored to death and the pickpockets are about to reap a bonanza.

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Why not just use a conference call service for a regular old "call in", so that your prime subscriber bases of Android-using cheapskates and landline-using dinosaurs can participate?

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Android is coming early/mid Q1... very soon. In the meantime, anyone can listen to published episodes and highlights from a computer or Android device via the web app. You can catch all of Matt's episodes here: https://www.callin.com/show/tk-live-VOaYFhTeLH

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Matt, would you please tell the whining deplorables to shut up about not having a iPhone!

Go play with your anti-vax Barbies, you hillbillies!

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Dude. Chill. Good God man.

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Ok Mr. Aristocrat

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Seriously, folks, stop clinging to your Bibles and Android phones.

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Don't worry, Matt is ignoring all of us non-Iphone plebes. I know guys like you love those suicide nets.

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Android is coming early/mid Q1... very soon. In the meantime, anyone can listen to published episodes and highlights from a computer or Android device via the web app. You can catch all of Matt's episodes here: https://www.callin.com/show/tk-live-VOaYFhTeLH

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Thanks. Do you know what the schedule is? Some of us tried to listen earlier and it required a login after 2 minutes. I wish Matt would publicize this more. I don't plan to ever use my phone, and I don't mind waiting a few days.

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