This week, Lisa and David talk about Winter Olympics; Grand Jury refuses to indict Democrats involved in ‘illegal orders’ video; Trump revokes the “endangerment finding” on greenhouse gases; FAA forced to close El Paso airspace because Kristi Noem’s CPB wanted to play with their new deadly military laser toy to shoot down a party balloon; two US Navy ships collide in Caribbean; Epstein files DOJ intimidation of Congress members; Bondi “testimony” show; Looksmaxxing; Superbowl and Bad Bunny hysteria; Noem claims DHS will ensure ‘we have the right people voting’; Scott Galloway Resist and Unsubscribe campaign; Valentine’s Day historic calamities; and more.

Added Context for Trump’s Repeal of US ‘Endangerment Finding’

Revoking the EPA’s “endangerment finding” removes the legal foundation for federal greenhouse‑gas regulation under the Clean Air Act, so it is a major rollback that weakens U.S. climate policy for years unless courts or a future Congress reverse it.

Without that finding, EPA is effectively disclaiming authority and obligation to control climate pollution via the Clean Air Act, which undermines or invites legal attack on most existing federal climate rules.

If it survives in court, it will sharply limit federal avenues to cut emissions from vehicles, power plants, oil and gas operations and large industrial sources, likely leading to higher U.S. emissions.

The administration argues that eliminating climate‑related standards will save “trillions” in compliance costs and cut the price of new vehicles by roughly 2,400 dollars per car, with Trump saying this will make car prices “tumble.” Experts say that promise is mostly political spin: any sticker‑price effect is likely modest, and many drivers end up worse off over the life of the vehicle.

Automakers also face global markets that still demand efficient and electric vehicles, so they have strong incentives to keep investing in those technologies regardless of U.S. rollbacks.

Consumer and energy‑economy analysts suggest that fuel‑economy and emissions standards typically add modest up‑front cost but save drivers thousands in fuel and maintenance over a vehicle’s life, so the net effect of weaker standards is higher lifetime costs and greater exposure to volatile fuel prices.

We might see marginally cheaper, less efficient gas models at the low end of the market, but not a broad “tumbling” of prices across the board. Over the lifetime of those vehicles, most buyers are likely to pay more once higher fuel costs and foregone efficiency savings are included, while also bearing greater climate and air‑quality harms that fall disproportionately on vulnerable communities.

Looksmaxxing (from Wikipedia)

Looksmaxxing is a term referring to a process of maximizing one’s own physical attractiveness, which originated on male incel message boards in the 2010s. The term was limited to relatively obscure internet forums, but in the 2020s was popularized on TikTok and social media groups, mainly used by men.

The “Golden Handcuffs” of Tech Convenience

We have traded our civic agency for the sake of Prime shipping and infinite scrolls. While we rightfully point the finger at the tech billionaires—Bezos, Zuckerberg, Musk, and the new guard of AI architects like Sam Altman—we must also look at the chains we’ve helped them forge.

The core issue isn't just that these eight companies control the infrastructure of our lives; it’s that they have made themselves indispensable. We are more likely to riot over the loss of a Big Mac or a favorite streaming service than the loss of our fundamental privacy or voting rights.

The release of the "Epstein Files" and the lack of public upheaval is a symptom of this malaise. When the news media is filtered through the very platforms owned by those we should be holding accountable, the truth becomes just another piece of "content" to be swiped away.

Is it actually possible to "unsubscribe" from the modern world? We need a practical roadmap to find viable alternatives to the Big Tech monopoly. If we can’t even muster the strength to cancel a streaming service, how can we expect to fight for the soul of our democracy?

Links:

Outrage Overload Podcast

Yergz Radio (yergzradio.com)

Dare Talk Radio (daretalkradio.com)

This Week in Outrage Substack (outrageoverload.net/twio)

Scott Galloway Resist and Unsubscribe campaign (resistandunsubscribe.com)

EPA Says It’s ‘Killing’ Stop-Start, and Here’s What Automakers Have to Say (Car and Driver)

Trump’s EPA will stop regulating greenhouse gases, setting up a legal fight (NPR)

What does Trump’s repeal of US ‘endangerment finding’ mean for climate action? (Carbon Brief)

CBP shot down party balloons with anti-drone tech before FAA closed El Paso airspace (NBC News)

Two US Navy ships collide in Caribbean, leaving 2 sailors injured (Military Times)

Dems tell DOJ to “immediately cease” Epstein files “spying” (Axios)

FBI raid of election offices ignites debate over voting security and federal authority (NPR)

‘Looksmaxxing’ is the disturbing TikTok trend turning young men into incels (The Conversation - January 2024)

Kristi Noem says she will ensure the ‘right people’ vote in midterms and elect ‘the right leaders’ (The Independent)

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