09 - Ben Franklin Bets On America

12 - The 2024 Election and America's Purpose

It’s 2025 and we’ve had another presidential election. One third of the country is in despair about it, a third is uncomfortably wondering what genie they let out of the bottle, another third is blindly, blissfully joyful, and I’m still not allowed to watch the news. The dogs, in case you’re wondering, are fine with it. All pets are Communists. They provide no output other than unconditional love and disgusting things I have to bag up and throw away. They live free off the state (which in this case is me and Mrs. I’m Not Allowed to Watch The News) and are unaffected by distant regime change. Since we’re not dogs, it’s time to face some unpleasant truths about America and start focusing on what’s next instead of what happened. It’s actually the American Way, if you think about it. We get our heads out of our asses, quit our bitching, and figure out the best way to serve the cause of the United States of America on this episode of I’m Not Allowed to Watch the News. Our Patreon Page! [https://www.patreon.com/notallowedtowatchthenews] or Buy Me A Coffee! [https://buymeacoffee.com/notallowedpod] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

11 - America Is Back At Valley Forge

It's been 246 years since George Washington watched his army limp its way into winter quarters at Valley Forge. The enemy held the capital, the Congress was unable to do anything, the army had spent the year getting beaten by the British, and when the weather got better, the British would put an end to this inconvenient rebellion. But that didn't happen. We look at why the American winter at Valley Forge was so important, why we're still talking about it today at the start of an election year that feels all too distressingly familiar, and what we can do to stop our country's decline. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

10 - The Electoral Playground

Not ones to leave the U.S. Constitution alone, the dogs and I decide to abolish the Electoral College. This puts us at odds not only with the small states of the Union, but with our favorite Founding Father (and birthday buddy) Alexander Hamilton. But we're not going to throw away our shot on what has become a partisan coup machine. So it has to go. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

09 - Ben Franklin Bets On America

America’s wisest old man was writing his last will and testament.  Benjamin Franklin had plenty of people to leave his fortune to – his son William Franklin, former royal governor of New Jersey. His grandson, Temple Franklin, who had been Ben’s secretary during the negotiations with France that got the colonies some much-needed assistance with that whole “give the British a whuppin’” thing. Sally Bache, his daughter. Benjamin Bache, Sally’s son. Or even his sister Jane Franklin. Everyone got a little something, but there were a couple of surprise bequests - to the two cities he called home - Boston and Philadelphia. America's most middle class Founding Father made a two hundred-year bet. And he won. Can we do the same? ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

08 - The Jury Congress

I served on a jury once, and if that makes you doubt both the stability and effectiveness of the American justice system, well, just imagine how I felt when I got the summons. But I have to say the experience went pretty well, and justice (I think) was served by twelve random people and two alternates who definitely jumped in the jury pool with preconceived notions about the case. Justice was most definitely not served by Phil from the hardware store, but I’ll get to him soon enough. The relevant point for today’s episode is that the whole experience gave me a great idea for a way to change the way America chooses its representatives, crafts legislation, and makes laws. The dogs and I once again raise America’s proverbial hood and tinker with the metaphorical engine that is our governing document on this episode of I’m Not Allowed To Watch The News. Help support the show and get access to great exclusive content at our Patreon page [https://www.patreon.com/notallowedtowatchthenews]. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.