Soundtrack of the Week

SOTW Travel Guide

Utah is weird. New Orleans is haunted. St. Louis still sucks. This week, the gang ranks the best and worst destinations they've encountered, from cult compounds and liquor laws to ghost tours and big-city energy. Plus, a White House economist explains why your maxed-out credit card is actually good news, and Republicans discover a new strategy: middle school insults. (0:00:00) Intro (0:03:19) 2026 Bingo Card and Celebrity Death Pool update (0:10:30) Meredith’s leather bag addiction update (0:14:00) Jay might be dying (0:24:00) White House chief economic adviser doesn’t know anything about economics (0:33:45) Republicans roast James Talarico (0:51:00) SOTW travel guide Songs: “The Passenger” by Iggy Pop “Roam” by The B-52s “Road Trippin’” by Red Hot Chili Peppers Notes: * GLP-1 cancer study [https://www.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/260931] (0:04:48) * A Whistleblower Claims the CIA Is Searching DNA Sites for Alien-Human Hybrids [https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-whistleblower-claims-the-cia-is-searching-dna-sites-for-alien-human-hybrids/] (0:07:25) * United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Ebola virus disease update [https://reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/ebola-virus-disease-evd-preparedness-snapshot-flash-update-1-25-may-2026] (0:08:39) * The Effects of a “Low-Fire, Low-Hire” Economy on Workers [https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2026/mar/effects-low-fire-low-hire-economy-workers] (0:30:10) * The “No-Hire, No-Fire” Economy: What the Latest Data Really Shows [https://news.iu.edu/southeast/live/news/48103-the-no-hire-no-fire-economy-what-the-latest-data] (0:30:10) * Job openings jump, but labor market stuck in 'low-hire, low-fire pattern' [https://fox17.com/news/nation-world/job-openings-jump-but-labor-market-stuck-in-low-hire-low-fire-pattern-april-2026-jolts-report-bls-job-market-employment-economy] (0:30:10) * Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Facebook depicting James Talarico as a woman [https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1557477045739839&set=pb.100044326754863.-2207520000] (0:37:32) * Republicans cannot stop generating images of James Talarico as a woman [https://www.advocate.com/politics/james-talarico-depicted-as-woman] (0:41:40) * Oklahoma City is the 4th largest city in the contiguous states by land area, preceded by Jacksonville, Fla.; Anaconda, Mont.; and Butte, Mont. (1:05:10)

Class of 2026

Congratulations, Class of 2026! You're entering adulthood just in time for economic instability, AI disruption, housing unaffordability, the collapse of democracy and whatever fresh hell comes next. This week, the gang skips the motivational BS and shares the advice they wish someone had given them at 18, including do weird things while you're young, don't rush into marriage or kids, learn a trade, demand more money, and remember who's really responsible for the mess you're inheriting.  Also, Jeff Bezos discovers nurses pay taxes and CBS finds new ways to embarrass itself. (0:00:00) Intro (0:03:07) Meredith’s leather bag obsession got worse  (0:05:47) Jay can’t find anything to do in Denver (0:15:19) Sounds of the Week: The Boss sends off Stephen Colbert (0:20:10) Sounds of the Week: Young journalist takes down (0:27:13) Sounds of the Week: Jeff Bezos on wealth, taxes, and income inequality (0:44:45) Advice to the Class of 2026 Songs: “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day “Here’s to the Night” by Eve 6 “100 Years” by Five for Fighting Notes: * “Only in Monroe” with Stephen Colbert - May 22, 2026 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJTXB5uT_C4] (0:19:05) * After "The Late Show" Series Finale, Will All Of Late Night Television Be Destroyed? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BDnuDDa9e4] (0:19:48) * Former “60 Minutes” correspondent Cecilia Vega’s Instagram post [https://www.instagram.com/p/DY5kqjqu8JR/] about CBS shakeup (0:22:27) * Just How Progressive Is the U.S. Tax Code? [https://www.brookings.edu/articles/just-how-progressive-is-the-u-s-tax-code/] (0:36:00) * One of Ashley St. Clair’s social media rants [https://www.instagram.com/p/DXAPOWTAddr/] (0:38:41)

God-Sized Hole

It started with one leather bag. Three weeks later, Meredith is trapped in a full-blown leather-fueled obsession spiral. This week, the gang dives into obsessions: the things people collect, consume and build their personalities around, from Halloween decor to workaholism to shopping addictions and Swiftie-level fandoms. What do they latch onto, and is being obsessed healthy or is it a cry for help? (0:00:00) Intro (0:03:01) Ty doubled down on his promotion request (0:06:06) Meredith’s car making things worse (0:08:16) Owning a new car is out of reach  (0:20:04) Commencement speech heard around the world (0:30:05) Republican mental gymnastics with gas prices (0:40:00) Obsessions Songs: “Hell Bent for Leather” by Judas Priest “Money” by The Flying Lizards “Every Day is Halloween” by Ministry

Security Clearance Sale

What happens when a government obsessed with power can’t even protect itself?   This week, the gang dives into the latest close call involving the president and explores why these incidents feel less like coordinated political violence and more like symptoms of a collapsing system run by unserious people. Is this really about political violence, or is it about a government too incompetent to secure its own president?   Also in this episode: Dan Bongino spirals, Bill Maher fights with David Cross over trans youth, and Costco accidentally hires the Rain Man of tires. (0:00:00) Intro (0:04:48) Ty finally got his “big” promotion (0:14:14) Meredith really enjoys autistic people (0:25:59) Sounds of the Week: Two old comedians debate trans youth rights (0:36:52) Sounds of the Week: Dan Bongino is scared (0:49:09) Assassination attempts on Trump Songs: “Kill the President” by Coffin Break “Abraham Lincoln” by Clutch "Family Snapshot" by Peter Gabriel Notes: * The Trump Administration Aims to Penalize Disabled Adults Who Live With Their Families [https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-social-security-ssi-disability-benefits-cuts-parents-children] (0:22:05) * There have been numerous presidential assassination plots against nearly every sitting president [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_assassination_attempts_and_plots#Other_attacks,_assassination_attempts,_and_plots]. However, nearly all of them were thwarted early on. (0:51:13)

Holy Sh*t War

President Donald Trump has never shied away from a fight. Throughout his life, he has gained a reputation for speaking his mind with no filter. But this time, he may have picked the wrong opponent. This week, the gang discusses Trump’s feud with the Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Servant of the Servants of God: Pope Leo XIV. Will the bout end in a knockout, decision, draw, or disqualification? (0:00:00) Intro - new platform, so the audio is about until about the four and a half minute mark (0:04:17) Ty finally made his move for a major promotion and raise (0:13:20) Meredith’s Interstate 70 adventures (0:19:23) Sounds of the Week: Why MAGA cannot be reasoned with (0:27:40) Sounds of the Week: Most awkward press conference ever (0:38:00) Pope vs. Trump Songs: * “Square Hammer” by Ghost * “Dear God” by XTC * “Antichrist Superstar” by Marilyn Manson Notes: * Trump’s DoorDash Grandma isn’t a plant — the truth is much darker [https://www.salon.com/2026/04/17/trumps-doordash-grandma-isnt-a-plant-the-truth-is-much-darker/] (0:30:20) * Trump’s ‘DoorDash grandma’ had lobbied for ‘no tax on tips’ policy [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/14/trump-doordash-delivery-grandma-mcdonalds] (0:30:20) * Why does ‘DoorDash Grandma’ keep showing up with MAGA members? [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2026/04/14/has-doordash-grandma-appeared-with-other-gop-leaders-what-to-know/89602972007/] (0:30:20)  * DoorDash PR Boss Melts Down After Trump Stunt Backfires [https://www.thedailybeast.com/doordash-meltdown-after-donald-trump-oval-office-stunt-backfires/] (0:30:20)