The Hidden Fourth Branch of Government and the Battle Over Division

On May 24, 2024, Allen Thomas and Jay Davidson joined the show. Thomas previews his essay ‘Should We Divide?’ arguing that despite ideological impasse, separating into different nations ignores shared language, economies, and Western traditions Davidson exposes how Elizabeth Warren designed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to bypass congressional oversight and constitutional accountability The Question of National Division Start listening at 2:12 – Hour 1 Allen Thomas tackles the growing sentiment that red and blue states should simply separate into different nations. Drawing from his upcoming essay “Should We Divide?”, Thomas argues that despite the appeal of such a clean break, the proposal ignores fundamental realities: shared language, interconnected economies, physical infrastructure crossing state lines, and common Western traditions. Thomas traces the ideological battle through current events, from the Block Out 2024 movement targeting celebrities to debates over the Appeal to Heaven flag. He draws sharp distinctions between the American and French Revolutions, noting that the American founding succeeded because it was based on ideas of individual liberty rather than class warfare. “We need to be that well-reasoned people because we have truth on our side of this ideological debate,” Thomas asserts. The founders, he explains, set precedents they expected to endure for generations, and modern Americans must think with similar long-term vision rather than seeking expedient solutions. “And while most of the time it’s said in jest, there’s there’s a hint of, man, if we could actually make that work, maybe maybe that would be a good solution to this impasse of ideas.” Allen Thomas, Policy Analyst The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Unconstitutional Power Start listening at 73:24 – Hour 2 Jay Davidson, founder and CEO of First American State Bank, exposes how Senator Elizabeth Warren designed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to evade constitutional accountability. Davidson reveals that Warren deliberately placed the CFPB under the Federal Reserve to bypass congressional oversight, creating an agency that can levy fines, essentially taxation, without answering to elected representatives. Davidson traces the constitutional crisis to the 1984 Chevron decision, which allowed Congress to abdicate its exclusive taxing authority to bureaucratic agencies. The recent Supreme Court decision upholding the CFPB’s funding structure, he argues, represents a missed opportunity. While the case focused narrowly on the Appropriations Clause, Davidson contends the stronger argument lies in separation of powers: only Congress can assess taxes, and citizens must be able to vote out representatives who tax them excessively. Warren, he notes, staffed the CFPB with prosecutors rather than bank examiners, revealing her true intent. The discussion expands to encompass inflation’s impact on everyday Americans, whom Davidson describes as suffering under stagflation while the administrative state grows unchecked. He warns that lawfare tactics used against political opponents today set precedents that will be used against ordinary citizens tomorrow. “The whole point of the original documents was, number one, the government is here for one reason and one reason only, and that is to protect the rights of the individual. The irony of that is that the government has to protect the individual by controlling the government.” Jay Davidson, CEO, First American State Bank