Hobson's Choice: Did Gen. Milley Do the Right Thing?

In today's bonus edition, Chris aims at questioning the premise in all things: from the broad concept of What is America and what do we want it to be? To a closer look at the Mississippi 15 week abortion ban case before the Supreme Court and whether the Conservative argument to kick it back to the states and have the court remain neutral, is not taking into account a woman's right to autonomy over her body. And after a break-in to hear the timeline of facts that led a Michigan prosecutor to charge the parents of the student who shot and killed fellow classmates at Oxford High, questioning the premise of gun laws and gun safety measures. How does the law look at parents when it comes to the acts their children commit? And another thing: A nod to the songwriting genius of Billy Joel, how the Michigan school shooting charges will play out in the courts, and whether expanding the High Court is a realistic solution to a SCOTUS that seems more often politicized. In Chris' estimation, we need to get to the fundamentals- we keep going from symptom to symptom, but not dealing with what's underlying.

More than reading the tea leaves of where the nine Justices may come down, in today's episode, Chris cautions that reading into the questions they ask is not always representative of the outcome they ultimately come to decide. So while the arguments can be instructive in getting a sense of what they seek to understand, it is not always dispositive of their leaning. Then, Chris and Vick tick through the Justices' questions and arguments that generally fall into three camps of outcome: kick it to the states and uphold Mississippi; a compromise of allowing Mississippi law to go to 15 weeks but keeping Roe in tact; or allowing the 50 years of precedent to hold firm as many Justices have reiterated over the years since Roe and then Casey were decided. Chris explains that while a lot is made of past judicial decisions, something is stare decisis (the Latin term in the law for standing by things decided) until it isn't. In other words: precedent is only precedent until they change it. And Another Thing: A beat on the continual need to keep calm and carry on when it comes to the Omicron variant, and Chris' prescription to not to let panic get ahead of the facts. Plus: An introduction to the Cuomo family dogs, all three!

In today's episode, after a brief note at the top, Chris digs in to the essential arguments being put forth by the state of Mississippi in their effort to inch back the rights of women to seek an abortion after 15 weeks. While the arguments may spur outrage in pro-choice supporters, they should be understood. The most egregious among them: that progression in women's rights has brought them to a place where they no longer need abortions: "The march of progress has left Roe and Casey behind. Those cases maintained that an unwanted pregnancy could doom women to “a distressful life and future,”... Factual developments undercut those assessments. Today, adoption is accessible and on a wide scale women attain both professional success and a rich family life...". So says the MS Attorney General Lynn Fitch in a brief for petitioners. And Another Thing: Chris and Vick lay out the arguments of both sides about whether you should care that, according to Mark Meadows' forthcoming book, President Trump tested positive for COVID three days before the Presidential debate with Joe Biden, and kept up all appearances, meetings with Gold Star families, rallies and White House gatherings, despite concerns about getting others sick. After the initial test, he took a subsequent antigen test (Rapid test) that was negative, and so he decided he was clear. Chris argues that depending what side of the aisle you sit on determines if you care about this. Did he have a duty to share a positive diagnosis?

Today is one of those BOLO days- a good time to watch what's coming up as the results will reverberate loudly. To that end, Chris breaks down the news that Former Trump C.O.S. Mark Meadows, who so far had defied subpoenas from the Select Committee, is now complying. To what extent and what fruit it might bear is still unknown. As is the intensity and veracity of the new Omicron variant. Chris urges caution and patience before crying out that the sky is falling. Also of note, tomorrow begins arguments in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in which they are challenging a Mississippi state law banning abortions after 15 weeks, a timeframe that advocates say is often before a woman may even know she is pregnant. This SCOTUS decision will have significant ripple effects all across the country. And then, a look at Bloomberg reporting that while inflation is an ongoing issue in our pandemic economy, business profits are also at a record high, the highest since 1950. While wages are generally up, as is inflation, so are profit margins. PLUS: A beat on Chris' love for the Wu-Tang Clan and their sense of community. This sentiment is mirrored in many of our local communities but somehow we've lost that sense nationally. And a quick take on the start of the trial of Minnesota police officer Kim Potter in the shooting death of Daunte Wright.

Embracing the suck is hard, especially at a time when the hits keep on coming, but in today's episode, Chris offers a different perspective: take the time to reflect and be thankful for all the things that shape who you are. Be thankful for the failures because you learn from them, and appreciate that you can draw strength from what isn't easy. Chris urges us all to deal with the real- it all shapes us. PLUS: A best on the genius of Charles Schultz, how Chris talked himself out of an extra fridge, and these trials being a metaphore of where we are.