Podcast Summary: UNBIASED Politics with Jordan Berman
Episode: December 19, 2024
Release Date: December 19, 2024

1. Season Finale and Upcoming Changes

Jordan Berman opens the episode by reflecting on the podcast's progression:

• Season Structure:
  • Season 1: July - December 2022
  • Season 2: 2023
  • Season 3: 2024
  • Season 4: Launching January 6, 2025
• Future Enhancements: Exciting changes are on the horizon for Season 4, promising an enriched listening experience for the audience.

Notable Quote:
"January will start season four, and I have a few really exciting changes coming to the show, which I will share with you as soon as I can."
— Jordan Berman [02:20]

2. Correction to Previous Episode

Berman addresses an error from the previous episode regarding Congress's stopgap measure:

• Initial Mistake: Incorrectly reported a 40% pay raise for lawmakers included in the continuing resolution.
• Actual Details: The pay increase was 3.8%, not cumulative over years.
• Lesson Learned: Importance of verifying information before broadcasting.

Notable Quote:
"I should never do that and I won't do that again because one not only did Congress not pass the stopgap measure, but the proposed pay increase wasn't a 40% increase. It was a 3.8% increase."
— Jordan Berman [09:15]

3. Congressional Stopgap Measure and Pay Raise

Berman provides an updated overview of the congressional stopgap measure:

• Contents of the Measure:
  • Over $100 billion in disaster aid
  • $10 billion in economic assistance to farmers
  • Restrictions on US investments in China
  • Extension of the Homeland Security Act
• Current Status: The initial continuing resolution has been scrapped.
• Next Steps: Speaker Johnson is expected to release a new, cleaner version of the resolution without additional provisions.
• Timeline: Potential passage by late night or weekend before Congress's holiday break.

Notable Quote:
"Once the text of that new continuing resolution is released, the House and the Senate still need time to review it and vote on it. So we may not know whether it passes Congress until late in the night tomorrow, possibly even into the weekend."
— Jordan Berman [12:45]

4. Fani Willis Disqualified from Trump Georgia Case

A significant development in the Georgia election interference case:

• Background:
  • Fani Willis, the District Attorney, had a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the appointed special prosecutor.
  • Issue: Appearance of impropriety led Trump and co-defendants to seek Willis's disqualification.
• Court Ruling:
  • Trial Court's Decision: Required either Wade or Willis to step down, resulting in Wade's resignation.
  • Appellate Court's Ruling: Determined that Willis should have been disqualified entirely.
• Implications:
  • Next Steps: A new prosecuting team will be appointed.
  • Case Status: Indictment remains active pending new prosecution leadership.

Notable Quote:
"While we recognize that an appearance of impropriety generally is not enough to support disqualification, this is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings."
— Appellate Court [18:00]

5. Luigi Mangione's New Federal Indictments

Updates on Luigi Mangione's legal situation:

• Extradition: Mangione waived his extradition and was transported from Pennsylvania to New York City.
• Federal Charges Added:
  • Two counts of stalking
  • One count of murder using a firearm
  • Another firearm-related offense
• Indictment Details:
  • Timeline of Events: Detailed movements on November 24, 2024, leading up to the shooting.
  • Evidence: Includes a notebook and a letter allegedly written by Mangione to federal authorities, indicating self-funding.
• Current Status: Indictment remains active; proceedings continue under a new prosecution team.

Notable Quote:
"The letter to the Feds reads in part, 'I wasn't working with anyone. This was fairly trivial. Some elementary social engineering, basic CAD, which the FBI believes stands for Computer Aided Design and a lot of patience.'"
— Jordan Berman [20:10]

6. Quick Hitters

a. Execution of Kevin Ray Underwood

• Details:
  • Victim: 10-year-old girl
  • Crimes: Luring, beating, suffocating, and sexually assaulting
  • Execution: Carried out via lethal injection on his 45th birthday
• Final Statements: Underwood expressed remorse, stating he deserved to die for his actions.

b. FAA Drone Ban in New Jersey

• Restrictions:
  • Effective Until: January 17
  • Rules:
    • Recreational drones banned in certain areas
    • Allowed up to 400ft in others with restrictions
• Enforcement: FAA may use deadly force against violating drones posing imminent threats.

c. FBI Detains California Man in Connection to Wisconsin School Shooter

• Incident:
  • Man allegedly communicated with a 15-year-old shooter
  • Plot involved arming with explosives and firearms targeting government buildings

d. Immigration Studies Report on Sanctuary States

• Findings:
  • Illegal Immigrant Population: 7.9 million in sanctuary jurisdictions
  • Largest Shares:
    • California: 21.8%
    • New York: 6.2%
    • New Jersey: 4.1%

e. DOJ Sues CVS Over Illegal Prescription Fillings

• Allegations:
  • Filling prescriptions lacking legitimate purpose
  • Ignoring evidence of unlawful scripts
  • Contribution to the opioid crisis
• Legal Action: Seeking to hold CVS accountable for misconduct.

7. Rumor Has It: Is the Biden Administration Selling Border Wall Sections?

Context:

• Origin of the Rumor:
  • Former President Trump claimed the Biden administration was selling sections of the border wall.
  • A widely circulated post on X (formerly Twitter) amplified this claim, attributing it to the "Trump War Room" account with over 2 million followers.

Clarification by Berman:

• Actual Situation: Only unused materials from previously purchased wall sections are being redistributed or auctioned off, not the built sections themselves.
• Legal Basis:
  • National Defense Authorization Act for 2024 mandates the Department of Defense (DoD) to manage surplus materials.
  • Distribution Plan:
    • First Priority: Redistribute to border states or federal agencies for their own border projects.
    • Surplus Materials: Sold to private companies like Gov Planet for auction.
• Current Status:
  • As of December 13, approximately 60% of unused materials redistributed, and 40% sold to Gov Planet.
  • Texas Response:
    • Lt. Governor Dan Patrick reported Texas Facilities Commission found most auctioned materials to be unsuitable or not cost-effective.

Notable Quote:
"It's not that sections of the built wall are being sold, but rather that unused materials that were bought between 2017 and 2022 and were not redistributed to states or federal agencies were sold to a private company and are now being auctioned off."
— Jordan Berman [22:45]

8. Closing Remarks

Berman concludes the episode with heartfelt thanks:

• Appreciation for Listeners: Gratitude towards regular and new listeners.
• Acknowledgment of Support: Thanks to sponsors, Patreon members, intern, family, management team, and the Forward network.
• Looking Ahead: Excitement for Season 4 and continued commitment to unbiased reporting.

Notable Quote:
"I simply just could not do what I do without you and I'm so thankful and grateful for this opportunity and that this is my job."
— Jordan Berman [24:00]

Stay Informed:
For a comprehensive understanding of the topics discussed, you can access the full episode transcript and additional resources linked in the episode's source section.

This summary was crafted to provide a detailed overview of the December 19, 2024, episode of UNBIASED Politics, ensuring that all key points, discussions, and insights are captured for those who have not listened to the episode.