Notorious Friday Night Posse (NFNP)

PAID PROTESTERS, REAL POLITICS: Inside Crowds on Demand with Adam Swart

Are the protests we see on television genuine grassroots movements—or strategic campaigns designed to create attention? This week, Bright and Duds sit down with Adam Swart, founder and CEO of Crowds on Demand, for an inside look at the business of modern activism, organized demonstrations, political influence, and public persuasion. Adam explains how participants are recruited and vetted, why he believes paid crowds can sometimes represent the “silent majority,” how his company decides which clients and causes to accept, and why Crowds on Demand avoids volatile protests that could turn violent. He also explains why a protest should be viewed as “an ad for a cause,” why viral social-media support often fails to produce actual votes, and how unions, institutions, wealthy donors, advocacy groups, and ordinary citizens all compete to influence public policy. Plus, Adam shares the unbelievable story of being hired to staff an entire wedding—including friends, relatives, and a paid father of the bride who was instructed to cry. The conversation expands into political tribalism, media manipulation, the Los Angeles mayoral election, Spencer Pratt’s viral campaign, and the growing divide inside both major political parties. After the interview, the Posse discusses recent aviation tragedies, Matt’s stolen rental car in England, lost Wrexham souvenirs, British pubs and Michelin-starred restaurants, the World Cup, SpaceX, and the usual late-night NFNP detours. Guest: Adam Swart Founder and CEO, Crowds on Demand X: @ceoadamswart Website: CrowdsOnDemand.com [http://CrowdsOnDemand.com]

Did We Call It?

Did we call it? This week the Posse revisits several stories we've covered over the last few months and checks in on what happened next. Spencer Pratt's surprising Los Angeles mayoral campaign continues gaining momentum as voters head to the polls. The Iran conflict enters Day 94 with ceasefire talks, oil concerns, and questions about what comes next. A missing Los Alamos scientist case takes another bizarre turn after investigators discover remains in an area that had already been searched. We also discuss the White House Correspondents' Dinner assassination attempt fallout, an alleged plot targeting Ivanka Trump, Blue Origin's explosive rocket setback, and one of the greatest accidental radio moments in St. Louis history involving Scott Rizzuto, ticks, and a very unfortunate discovery. Plus, Duds returns from Greece, Matt prepares for England, and we debate whether business class flights are actually worth the money. 🍻 Topics Include: * Spencer Pratt for Mayor? * Los Angeles Election Update * Iran Ceasefire Talks * Missing Scientists Mystery * White House Correspondents Dinner Update * Ivanka Trump Assassination Plot * Blue Origin Explosion * Tick Epidemic & Alpha-Gal Syndrome * Greece Travel Recap * England Vacation Preview Did we call it... or are things getting even stranger?

City SC Posse - Ep 18: City is Two Wins from a Trophy! One Match Before the Break!

St. Louis CITY SC is two wins from a trophy, and somehow this all started with a school-night family outing that turned into penalty shootout madness. In this episode of City SC Posse, Bright and Kev recap CITY’s wild U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal win over Houston Dynamo at Energizer Park. Bright was there with the whole family, and the night delivered everything: cheap tickets, general admission energy, long concession lines, kids running on popcorn and ice cream, Franky joining the unofficial Tarps Off movement, extra time, and a penalty shootout that made staying out way too late completely worth it. On the field, Marcel Hartel scored early, Houston answered almost immediately, Roman Bürki appeared to aggravate a lingering issue, and Ben Lundt came in cold for his first minutes of the season. Lundt gave up a tough goal before halftime, but settled in, made key saves, and then became the hero in penalties. The guys break down the full match, including Hartel’s opener, the chaotic Houston equalizer, the wet field, Bürki’s injury, Córdova drawing the penalty, Hartel burying the PK, Wallem somehow playing the entire match, and Polvara making a massive overtime recovery tackle that saved CITY’s Cup dream. Then came penalties. CITY finished its chances, Lundt saved Houston’s first and fourth attempts, and St. Louis advanced to the U.S. Open Cup semifinal. Colorado awaits in September, and CITY is now just two wins from lifting a trophy. Then the focus shifts to Austin. It is the final MLS match before the long break, Austin sits just one point above CITY, they just fired their coach, and they are still searching for their first road win of the season. With Wallem suspended and Hartel in form, this is simple: if CITY wants this improved run to mean something, go win at home before the pause. Cup dream alive. Austin next. No emotional letdown allowed. Listen now at NFNPPOD.com [http://NFNPPOD.com].

Ticks, Treasure, and Tarps Off

Duds is off living his best life in Greece, so this week Bright and Nilla take the wheel for a very NFNP episode that starts with end-of-school chaos, melted popsicles, kid vomit, foxes in the backyard, dog bills, and somehow ends up in tick conspiracies, Oak Island treasure theories, and shirtless Cardinals fans. The main topic is Alpha-gal Syndrome, also known as the red meat allergy, a bizarre and potentially serious condition linked to tick bites. The guys talk through how a tiny tick can allegedly turn a steak dinner into hives, swelling, GI issues, or worse, then dive into why tick-borne illnesses have become conspiracy fuel. Are rising tick populations just climate, deer, and habitat change? Or is there something darker involving Plum Island, bioweapons research, Bill Gates, Pfizer, and viral stories about boxes of ticks getting dropped on farmland? As usual, the answer is probably “calm down, but also why is everything weird?” Then the episode shifts into The Curse of Oak Island, because nothing says “healthy adult conversation” like a 230-year treasure hunt involving pirate loot, Knights Templar theories, flood tunnels, buried artifacts, precious metal traces, and a reality show that somehow keeps finding just enough to make everyone watch another season. Nilla breaks down the Money Pit, the curse, the strange island history, and why Oak Island may be either the greatest treasure mystery ever or television’s most expensive hole in the ground. Finally, the guys bring it home with Local in the Lou. The Cardinals are suddenly fun again, the Tarps Off movement has turned Busch Stadium’s right-field bleachers into a shirtless party zone, and St. Louis CITY SC gave Bright’s kids a first-team match they will not forget, complete with a U.S. Open Cup thriller, penalty kicks, late-night parenting decisions, and a shirt-waving celebration. This one has bugs, treasure, vomit, sports, conspiracy, and just enough bad judgment to feel like summer is officially here. Listen now at NFNPPOD.com [http://NFNPPOD.com]

City SC Posse - Ep 17: Maturity Test Failed, but The Cup is Calling

St. Louis CITY SC had a chance to prove something in D.C. After beating Colorado on the road and LAFC at home, CITY entered Saturday with real momentum, a chance at three straight MLS wins, and an opportunity to climb closer to the playoff line. Instead, they scored first, sat too deep, gave up a 90th-minute equalizer, survived a stoppage-time offside goal, and left with a 1-1 draw that felt like one point earned, two points dropped, and a small emotional incident report. In Episode 17 of City SC Posse, Bright and Kev break down the D.C. draw and ask the obvious question: was this a decent road point or a missed opportunity? The answer, unfortunately, is both. CITY is unbeaten in three MLS matches, but this was the kind of game improving teams learn to close. The guys talk through the rotated lineup, Hartel missing due to illness, Orozco’s injury, Fallou Fall’s strong first start, Sang-Bin’s continued goal involvement, Becher and Teuchert’s attacking questions, and Durkin scoring against his former club. Then it gets into the real frustration: Damet’s second-half tactics. CITY brought on Löwen, Córdova, Edelman, and Totland, yet somehow became more passive as the game went on. And yes, we talk Wallem. Another rough performance, another wasted chance, two yellows, a stoppage-time red card, and now a suspension for Austin that might accidentally be helpful. If CITY looks better without him, the conversation gets very simple. Then the attention turns to Houston. CITY hosts the Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal, and suddenly the Cup is not a cute little side quest. Win Tuesday, and CITY is two wins from a trophy. Lose, and the D.C. draw feels even more annoying. CITY failed the maturity test, but the Cup is calling. Time to answer. Listen now at NFNPPOD.com [http://NFNPPOD.com] or wherever you get podcasts.