The Over There Podcast

Veterans Heath. What’s the deal?

This week Terry and Matt discuss why firing the VA Secretary is bad news for Veterans, and why firing the National Security Advisor is a very bad sign.  But don’t worry.  The ship of state lumbers on.  So Congress is still our focus for change. http://prospect.org/article/shulkin-out-theres-little-stop-va-privatization [http://prospect.org/article/shulkin-out-theres-little-stop-va-privatization] http://www.newsweek.com/trump-white-house-doctor-physician-who-ronny-jackson-778734 [http://www.newsweek.com/trump-white-house-doctor-physician-who-ronny-jackson-778734] https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2018/02/07/congress-reaches-budget-deal-with-huge-defense-boost/ [https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2018/02/07/congress-reaches-budget-deal-with-huge-defense-boost/]

Guns, Guns, Guns!

Another month, another mass shooting in America–once again with the military-grade AR-15.  But how does the US military treat firearms?  And is there really such a thing as an “assault rife?”  Spoiler alert: there is. This week Terry and Matt discuss guns in the military, the military industrial complex, and how to figure out who to vote for in the Primaries. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/what-i-saw-treating-the-victims-from-parkland-should-change-the-debate-on-guns/553937/ [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/what-i-saw-treating-the-victims-from-parkland-should-change-the-debate-on-guns/553937/] > Expanding the Size of the U.S. Military in World War II [http://warfarehistorynetwork.com/daily/wwii/expanding-the-size-of-the-u-s-military-in-world-war-ii/]

Episode 13 – Mister President, What Is Your Feeling About Civil Defense?

What just happened?  Seriously.  Tell us because we can’t keep up. This week, we discuss the origins of civil defense warnings, how to make generals pick the option you want, and why the fundamentals of government are more important than tweets. http://www.civildefensemuseum.com/sirens.html [http://www.civildefensemuseum.com/sirens.html] https://www.avclub.com/the-day-after-traumatized-a-generation-with-the-horrors-1798447330 [https://www.avclub.com/the-day-after-traumatized-a-generation-with-the-horrors-1798447330]

Episode 12 – Security Issues in 2018

Do we have things to worry about in 2018?  We sure do, but maybe not the things you think.  So what should we be concerned about?  And how can we have an impact?  Plus it’s a new year and a new Prudent or Paranoid! https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/08/569394885/pentagon-announces-first-ever-audit-of-the-department-of-defense [https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/08/569394885/pentagon-announces-first-ever-audit-of-the-department-of-defense] http://www.newsweek.com/us-israel-saudi-arabia-leading-world-war-iran-france-says-770728 [http://www.newsweek.com/us-israel-saudi-arabia-leading-world-war-iran-france-says-770728] https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/US-funding-cuts-for-UN-provide-opening-for-China-Russia [https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/US-funding-cuts-for-UN-provide-opening-for-China-Russia] https://news.usni.org/2018/01/03/report-congress-defense-spending-continuing-resolution [https://news.usni.org/2018/01/03/report-congress-defense-spending-continuing-resolution]

Episode 11 – #AuditThePentagon

The Administration is getting ready to publishing the US National Security Strategy. And it looks not crazy! So we have that going for us. But the US military budget is still enormous and who knows what’s in there? The only way to find out is to demand accountability from your Congressional representatives. http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2017/12/allies-are-key-says-trumps-national-security-strategy/144508/ [http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2017/12/allies-are-key-says-trumps-national-security-strategy/144508/] https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/pentagon-trump-audit-first-time/526932/ [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/pentagon-trump-audit-first-time/526932/]