Podcast Summary
Concerns over internal propaganda disinfo campaign against US govt: Host Dan Bongino expresses worry over Democrats and media's commitment to taking down the govt through false narratives, specifically denying a story about Jared Kushner's secret communication channel with the Russians never occurred, and expressing gratitude to military veterans.
Dan Bongino, the host of The Dan Bongino Show, expressed concern over what he perceives as an internal propaganda disinformation campaign against the U.S. government, specifically regarding allegations against Jared Kushner. Bongino believes that the Democrats and media have lost their minds over Trump and are committed to taking down the government through a soft coup. He emphasized that a story in The Washington Post about Kushner attempting to set up a secret communication channel with the Russians never happened. Bongino thanked those who have served in the military and acknowledged the sacrifices they have made.
Alleged Trump-Russia backchannel not factual: Reports of a secret Trump-Russia backchannel for collusion lack credibility due to lack of evidence, inconsistencies, and potential motivations to undermine the government.
The allegations of a secret backchannel communication between the Trump campaign and Russia, which have been widely reported in the media, are not based on factual evidence. The proposed communication, which was supposedly meant to collude on influencing the US election, never actually happened. Furthermore, it was proposed after the election had already taken place. The sources used in reports of this alleged backchannel are anonymous, and the idea originated from the Russians, not the Trump campaign. These inconsistencies raise serious questions about the credibility of these reports and the motivations behind them. In essence, the claims of Trump-Russia collusion through this backchannel are a fabricated narrative designed to generate clicks and undermine the legitimacy of the duly elected government.
Obama's secret dealings vs Trump's alleged collusion: Obama's secret dealings with Iran contrasts the lack of evidence in Trump's alleged collusion with Russia
While there have been allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, the evidence presented does not hold up to scrutiny when compared to confirmed instances of backchannel communications between the Obama administration and a terrorist regime. The Obama example involved a confirmed secret channel used to negotiate with Iran before he was even president, while the allegations against Kushner and the Russian ambassador are based on anonymous sources and have yet to be confirmed. The inconsistencies and lack of evidence in the Trump case call into question the motivations behind the ongoing investigations and accusations.
Media and Democratic Party spreading false narratives: The media and Democratic Party are using false narratives, such as Trump-Russia collusion, to undermine the Trump administration and target individuals, threatening journalistic integrity and potential economic instability.
During this discussion, it became clear that there is a significant concern about the role of the media and the Democratic Party in creating and spreading false narratives, specifically the Trump-Russia collusion story. This narrative, which is completely fabricated, is being used to undermine the Trump administration and target specific individuals, such as Jared Kushner, through the invention and repetition of additional false stories. The speaker believes this is a dangerous time, as the media is not only disregarding journalistic integrity but also using false narratives to demand certain outcomes, such as the removal of Kushner from the White House. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of being prepared for potential economic instability and inflation, encouraging listeners to consider protecting their assets with companies like Birch Gold.
Consider securing savings with precious metals: Explore precious metals investment opportunities, including retirement funds, for added financial stability.
Now is an opportune time to consider securing your savings with precious metals, such as gold and silver, through companies like Birch Gold Group. This can even include moving retirement funds into a precious metals IRA for added stability. Elsewhere, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has proposed the universal basic income (UBI) concept, which suggests providing a certain amount of money to every citizen. While this idea has both pros and cons, it's essential to consider it thoughtfully, as we did in a previous episode. The UBI, in essence, represents a redistribution of wealth, but it's crucial to evaluate its potential benefits and drawbacks before making a definitive stance.
A Simplified UBI System for More Efficient Resource Allocation: Conservatives and libertarians propose a UBI as a more efficient alternative to current welfare programs, citing potential misallocations of funds due to bureaucracy and skewed capital allocation under complex systems like Obamacare
Some conservatives and libertarians argue for a universal basic income (UBI) as a more efficient alternative to current government programs, such as Social Security and Medicaid. They suggest that by eliminating the bureaucracy and giving people a cash equivalent, potential misallocations of funds could be avoided. The example given was the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), where the government did not give cash to individuals but instead used the tax code to dictate what insurance companies had to offer, leading to skewed capital allocation and potentially hindering smaller companies from succeeding with alternative business models. The idea is that a simplified UBI system could lead to more efficient use of resources.
Universal Basic Income: A Car Buying Program for People?: UBI could lead to resource misallocation, discourage work, and create practical challenges due to high marginal tax rates and income cliffs.
Implementing a universal basic income (UBI) policy, where every individual receives a fixed sum of money from the government regardless of their income level, could lead to significant distortions and unintended consequences. Using the analogy of a car buying program, the speaker explains that such a policy could result in a massive misallocation of resources towards certain goods or services, in this case, Chevy Corvettes. The argument against UBI is that it would create enormous marginal tax rates, meaning individuals would pay a high tax rate on their next dollar earned, which could discourage work and productivity. The speaker also points out the practical challenges of implementing an income cliff, where individuals stop receiving the benefit once they earn above a certain income threshold. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding marginal tax rates and the potential impact on individuals' incentives when considering policies like UBI.
UBI and work disincentives: Implementing UBI and creating income cliffs with high marginal tax rates can discourage people from working due to loss of benefits.
Implementing a universal basic income (UBI) and creating income cliffs with high marginal tax rates can lead to significant disincentives for people to work. This was highlighted in a recent news story about Georgia's food stamp program, which implemented a work requirement and saw nearly 60% of recipients dropping off the rolls. The speaker argues that this phenomenon would be even more pronounced with UBI, as people would have little incentive to earn more than the threshold at which they start losing benefits. Additionally, the cost of funding UBI for everyone is prohibitively expensive, making it an unrealistic solution for the current budget.
Incentives drive compliance and the U.S. economy is large: People work for incentives, and the U.S. economy is massive due to collective effort and incentives.
Incentives are an effective way to motivate people to work. The discussion touched upon the idea that when people are required to work in order to receive benefits, such as food stamps, most will comply because they understand the need to earn a living. The U.S. economy was also highlighted as the largest in the world, with a GDP of $18 trillion, dwarfing the economies of other major countries. Additionally, it's important to remember and honor the sacrifices made by our military personnel, like private first-class Greg Ambrose, who gave their lives in defense of our country.
Honoring a Heroic Soldier's Sacrifice: A soldier's bravery and selflessness saved lives during a Vietnam battle, reminding us of the importance of putting others first and fighting for our beliefs.
On March 15, 1968, during a search and destroy operation in Vietnam, Private First Class Ambrose displayed exceptional courage and selflessness. He dashed towards the heaviest enemy fire, providing cover for his comrades to deploy safely. Despite being exposed to heavy gunfire, he remained until all his platoon members were safe. He was mortally wounded while withdrawing, but his actions saved several lives and significantly contributed to the defeat of a large Vietcong force. This Memorial Day, we honor Private First Class Ambrose and all soldiers who have given their lives for our country. Their bravery and sacrifice remind us of the importance of putting others before ourselves and fighting for what we believe in.
