S03E28 - It'll be Alright in the End

It’s our final episode and we’re having a stew party!  Stephen takes one last crack at sketching out a theory of everything. It’s basically things are bad, it takes a lot of work, then they get better.  Also, Kayla is going on vacation and Stephen has one last story about his kids.

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5 reasons to be Optimistic by Bill Gates
Reasons to be Cheerful

S03E27 - NORM!

For the most part, the way the government runs isn't set in laws, but rather is governed by norms of behavior. What happens when we have an abnormal president? The short answer is, things don't run. There's a longer answer though. Also, Kayla's got some hot Katy Perry gossip, and Stephen's got good news and bad news.

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Links to find out more:

The Academic paper I cited a bunch in the episode
Presidential Norms and the Special Investigation
Will Trump Destroy the Presidency

S03E26 - E P NO-WAY!

In any other administration the scandals at the EPA would have dominated the news cycle for weeks on end.  But, this one's... different.  So, what's the EPA?  What does it do? Who's running it? And what are the scandals?  Also, Kayla's been spring cleaning, and Stephen is doesn't know who is he is anymore (it's a dad, he's a dad).

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The list of Scott Pruitt scandals
Pruitt condo scandal
Pruitt trips with lobbyist
A tour of the EPA's R/V Lake Guardian 

S03E25 - Re-capt'n America

We follow back up on a bunch of stories from this season: Catalonia Independence, Kurdish Independence, the FCC and Net Neutrality, and Puerto Rico.  Basically things are either the same, or worse.  Also, Kayla getting ready for vacation and Stephen's phone is spying on him.

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Catalan Leaders held in prison
Russia make a proposal for Kurdish Oil
Germany's coalition government could be bad for refugees
Puerto Rico's outdated electrical grid
The FCC delays ending New Neutrality (but they're still probably evil)
Judge decides DACA has to stay in place (for now)

S03E24 - Pooblic EduKashun

Teachers are striking all over the country, especially in states that voted for President Trump.  So, how do schools get funded in America, and what do these strikes mean?  Also, Kayla's got the hot celebrity goss, and Stephen's big breakfast reminds him of his own mortality.

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A bunch of cool charts about funding in education
A punishing decade for school funding
Factors contributing to the strike
What's difference between this round of teacher strikes

S03E23 - They're TARIFF-ic

Trump slaps a YUGE tariff on steel and aluminum imports and China fights back. But, China's also gone running to the WTO. What are tariffs? What's the WTO? What does ANY OF THIS MEAN?! Also, Kayla goes to hot yoga, and Stephen gets work done on the house.

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Winners and losers from the Trump tariffs
China's president makes a speech about open trade (it's kind of weird)
China files a WTO complaint against the Trump Tariffs

S03E22 - Sudan from 30,000 ft.

We take a rip roaring tour of Sudanese history, starting in about oh, 2000 BC! You have to listen to the early albums to really get their recent stuff. So, yeah, it's a whole lot of genocide and war crimes. Also, Kayla is starting to get her family, and Stephen doesn't understand the tooth fairy.

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Britannica's vast entry on Sudan

UN page on the South Sudan Refugee crisis
Mad Mike's Flat Earth Rocket Launch

S03E21 - Scam-bridge Sham-alytica

We're going back to the 2016 election as a dog returns to his vomit. This time looking at the Big Data firm Cambridge Analytica. They've been... well pretty naughty. Just bad bad bad. Also Kayla loves parties someone else throws, and Stephen can't quit sugar.

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BBC Channel 4 Investigation

Did Cambridge Analytica break campaign finance law
Was there a Russian Connection?

S03E20 - Rubles and Dopes (Russia Part II)

Follow the Money! We try to do just that between Russia and everyone Trump has ever known. It's collusion-o'clock, Collusion-palooza, collusion-mageddeon. COLLUSION! Also, Stephen might just flee the country and Kayla is got married, it's official now.

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Links to find out more:

Timeline of Russian interference in the election
Manafort's connection to the Ukraine
Russian Roulette - the Russian money connection to Trump

S03E19 - Russians Crushin' the Voting Mushin'

Did the Russians meddle in the 2016 election? YES! A billion times yes!  We look at what we know about their tactics and their successes.  Also Kayla's been to the movies and Stephen's kid is a regular little Yogi.

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Links to find out more:

Timeline of Russian interference in the election
13 Russians Indicted by the Mueller investigation

S03E18 - We Have Clearance Clarence

A whole bunch of people have had some trouble getting security clearances. No big deal, except they only work in the WHITE HOUSE! Oh, do I have you attention now? Good, contribute to the show's Pateron account. Also, Kayla's got a new diet, and Stephen see a dystopian future. It is us.

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Security Clearance Issues at the White House
Another take on the Security Clearance issue
Clearance Jobs How to Video - it's super exciting
Staff Turnover at the White House

S03E17 - Is Gerrymandering right for you?

What if the election rigging starts before it even begins?  We look at why there have been some pretty fundamental changes that may blow up old school gerrymandering efforts.  Ok, what is gerrymandering?  How did we get here, where are we going?  We do it up like only SETN can.  Also, Kayla's cold (big surprise), and Stephen's kids have reached a new phase in pop culture.

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Links to find out more:

The Business Insider article I quoted a BUNCH in the episode

Ongoing Gerrymandering cases
The Efficiency Gap
An easier Efficiency Gap guide

S03E16 - What about the Econo-WE, huh?

President Trump has been bragging about the economy lately.  So, what's an economy?  How do we measure it?  How do we know it's doing well?  How do we know, like, anything?  Also Kayla watched the Half Time show, and Stephen tells you about last week's episode that wasn't.

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The site where I got all my statistics
Leading and Lagging Economic Indicators
What's the GDP?

S03E15 - Sausage Making

Germany had an election.  It's still being worked out.  So, we look into what the German government is like.  It's complicated.  Also, Kayla gets her car washed and Stephen takes the kids to Disneyland.

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Election breakthrough

The German Election explained (by someone else)

S03E14 - Stranger in a strange land

The status of 800,000 resident in the U.S. is teetering on a precipice and the slightest breeze could tip this thing one way or the other.  So, what's DACA; who are the Dreamers, how does the budget factor into this?  It's.... it's just chaos.  Also, Kayla STILL hates the cold, and Stephen has a late Christmas present for Kayla.

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Links to find out more:

Immigration policy timeline
NYT Court blocks Trump policy on DACA
DOJ plans to ask the Supreme Court to Intervene on DACA
How much sympathy does Tonya Harding deserve?

S03E13 - Iran ran ran doo-ran Iran

Iran had about a week of protests that ended just as abruptly.  Ok.  What's the deal with Iran, the Shah, the Ayatollah the whole deal. We take a peak at the Iran Nuclear deal as well.  Also, Co-host Kerry gets a fit bit, we can't quote the president, and Stephen has a raging party with his kids.

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Links to find out more:

NYT The Daily Podcast on why the Iran protests happened
What the protests do (and don't) mean
The Revoutionary Guard arrests 3700 people
The Terms of the Iran Nuclear Deal