Seasoned & Unfiltered

The gas tax isn't enough anymore...So what's the government's next idea?Charge you by the mile.This week on Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steve O takes a deep dive into the growing push for a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tax, a policy that could fundamentally change how Americans pay for the roads they drive on. With electric vehicles becoming more common and gas tax revenues shrinking, states across the country are experimenting with mileage-based fees that could eventually replace—or possibly be added on top of—existing fuel taxes.But there's a bigger question:How much information should the government collect just to tax you for driving?Steve explores: Why the Highway Trust Fund is running out of money  How VMT programs work  Privacy concerns surrounding GPS tracking  Double taxation fears  The impact on EV owners and everyday commuters  Whether this is a reasonable solution—or government overreach Is this the future of transportation funding... or the beginning of something much bigger?Chapters00:00 – They're Tracking Your Miles 00:50 – Why the Gas Tax Is Failing 02:19 – What Is a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tax? 03:12 – The Original Highway Funding Model 04:27 – Why the Highway Trust Fund Is Running Dry 05:31 – The 2028 Funding Crisis 06:14 – How Electric Vehicles Changed Everything 07:04 – Inflation & The Shrinking Gas Tax 08:02 – Is the Government Fixing Its Own Mistake? 08:36 – Why VMT Requires Tracking Your Vehicle 09:24 – Privacy Concerns & Government Surveillance 10:53 – What Your Car Could Reveal About You 11:40 – Is This "Big Brother" for Drivers? 13:57 – States Already Testing Mileage Taxes 15:01 – California & Colorado's Pilot Programs 15:50 – The Risk of Double Taxation 16:49 – The $20 Billion Collection Cost 17:23 – Voluntary Today… Mandatory Tomorrow? 18:57 – The Case FOR a Mileage Tax 20:27 – Can Privacy Actually Be Protected? 22:33 – Will Gas Taxes Ever Go Away? 23:23 – Are Americans About to Pay Even More? 24:39 – Final Thoughts & Audience Discussion

A former President is suing the Department of Justice.Let that sink in.This week on Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steveo dives into one of the most controversial legal and political battles of the year: former President Joe Biden filing a lawsuit to stop the release of roughly 70 hours of audio recordings known as the Ghostwriter Tapes. The recordings were made during Biden's post-vice presidency years while working on his memoir and later became part of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s classified documents investigation. Now, with a June 15 release date looming, the question isn't just whether the tapes should be released…It's why they're being fought over so aggressively.Steveo examines: The classified documents investigation  The role of the DOJ under two administrations  Privacy vs public accountability  Allegations involving classified information  Questions surrounding transparency and presidential leadership If the tapes are released, they could reshape how history remembers an entire presidency.Or they could remain locked away forever.Chapters00:00 – Biden Sues the DOJ 01:03 – What Are the Ghostwriter Tapes? 03:48 – How the Recordings Were Made 05:52 – Classified Documents Resurface 06:26 – Special Counsel Robert Hur's Investigation 07:10 – The Classified Information Allegations 08:46 – The DOJ's Sudden Reversal 10:10 – Privacy Rights vs Public Accountability 11:10 – Are There Political Double Standards?12:10 – Angel Pillow Sponsor Break13:53 – Why the DOJ Changed Course 15:46 – The June 15 Deadline Approaches 16:35 – Biden's Legal Strategy Explained 18:03 – The Judge Who Will Decide 19:45 – Should the Public Hear the Audio? 20:25 – Is This About Damage Control? 21:19 – The Fallout From the Hur Report 21:58 – Questions About Biden's Cognitive Decline 23:21 – Why Steve Says Americans Need to Hear It 24:21 – Comparing Biden and Trump Document Cases 25:53 – Public Interest or Political Theater? 26:43 – What Happens If the Tapes Confirm the Allegations? 27:33 – Countdown to the Court's Decision 29:15 – Final Thoughts & Audience Reactions

This week on Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steveo takes aim at one of the most viral political claims making the rounds:“Nobody earns a billion dollars.”Using names like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and the Walton family as examples, Steve breaks down how modern billionaires actually built their wealth—and why capitalism, technology, and risk-taking still matter in America.Then things shift to the border.Steve dives into immigration enforcement operations across Texas and Arizona, discussing:Illegal crossingsHuman smugglingSanctuary city policiesAnd why he believes agencies like ICE and Border Patrol are being unfairly attackedBut it’s not all black and white.The episode also tackles the broken immigration system itself—especially the complicated reality surrounding DACA recipients and legal immigration delays.Money. Power. Politics. Immigration.Nothing stays filtered for long.Chapters00:00 – “You Can’t Make a Billion Dollars”02:11 – Steve Reacts to AOC’s Comments05:53 – America’s Billionaire Boom Explained07:55 – Elon Musk, Tech Wealth & Capitalism11:23 – Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos & The Tech Empire Era15:42 – Should Billionaires Be Taxed More?17:22 – Redistribution vs Hard Work20:11 – Which Billionaires Lean Left or Right?26:44 – Tax Cuts, Corporations & Economic Reality29:41 – George Soros, Politics & Billionaire Influence32:26 – Operation Take Back America34:24 – Illegal Entry vs Felony Reentry36:51 – Human Smuggling Cases Exposed39:30 – Why Steve Supports ICE & Border Patrol40:18 – Arizona Border Enforcement Operations43:00 – The Immigration System Is Broken44:14 – DACA, Citizenship & The Human Side of Immigration45:57 – Final Thoughts & Closing Remarks

This episode covers a lot—and none of it is simple.In Episode 13 of Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steve O breaks down a controversial question that hits close to home:Who’s actually paying to teach English in American public schools—and how much is it costing you?Using insights from Congressman Chip Roy, the conversation dives into:The true cost of educating English learners in TexasWhy taxpayers may be carrying more of the burden than they realizeAnd whether the system is working the way it shouldThen the conversation shifts globally…Steve tackles the Iran conflict, civilian casualties, and the fog of misinformation—asking what’s real, what’s propaganda, and what it means moving forward.And just when things get heavy…He takes it back to a different time—the 60s and 70s—with a nostalgic look at childhood, culture, and how much simpler things used to feel.Three very different conversations.One big question underneath it all:Where is all of this headed?Chapters00:00 – How Much Does It Cost to Teach English?01:48 – The $830 Million Question06:10 – English Learners Across Texas Schools08:37 – Where the Money Actually Comes From12:31 – Why We Can’t Track Immigration Status22:11 – Who Should Be Paying for This?26:23 – Should English Be Required Before School?29:17 – Iran Conflict: What Really Happened?31:52 – The School Strike Controversy34:23 – Truth vs Propaganda36:47 – Civilian Casualties & The Reality of War40:40 – Quick Break: Sponsor Message42:22 – Back to Simpler Times45:59 – Toys, Games & Growing Up in the 60s/70s49:14 – Childhood Memories That Still Hit58:13 – Music, Culture & What We’ve Lost