Good Guys Getting Better

This may be one of the better pods we’ve done yet, Christian having the flu notwithstanding. John came prepared with the questions, digging into the impacts of JD Vance’s lies (yes, lies) about Haitian immigrants and the people of Springfield, Ohio — people who Vance represents in the United States Senate.Zooming out from the very real harm Vance and his unhinged and baseless accusations are causing, we dig into why this line of attack would work in the first place. How is it that people would even believe such an obvious falsehood, and a ridiculous one at that? And why is a rumor that’s inherently racist in nature almost guaranteed to gain traction above all others?We get into Trump’s equally appalling and ongoing attacks on Kamala Harris’ ancestry and identity, and try to answer the question of why he and Vance can’t seem to understand how babies are made and why their ancestry would be mixed. Of course, this begs the far bigger and less political question of why, more than 400 years after colonization and nearly 250 years after independence, are so many Americans preoccupied with another person’s ancestry, particularly those of mixed ancestry? It’s a deep dive under the surface of what’s happening in our politics. A little history, a little amateur sociology, and surprisingly, a few laughs along the way. Hope you enjoy. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

It’s the first pod since Christian’s trip to the DNC, but don’t worry! John is still pursuing his new passion hosting Good Guys Getting Better.We kick off the pod with a quick recap of the convention from Christian’s point of view on the ground, talking about what happened at the DNC that you didn’t catch on TV, including the protests inside the convention center and beyond, as well as the speeches and VIPs.We also look forward to the road ahead now that conventions are in the rearview. Can the Democrats really build a coalition big enough to pull off a win in November? And was the breadth of opinions and ideologies we all saw at the DNC made for TV, or what it proof that inclusion for today’s Democratic Party really means making room for everyone?Right now, Harris has support from the progressive left to moderate centrists and a handful of conservatives ready to put country over party. Inclusion has become a buzzword, but it may well be that the enthusiasm the campaign is currently enjoying comes, at least in part, from voters feeling like there’s a place for them inside the tent.Since Kamala Harris has chosen Tim Walz as her running mate, we discuss his position in the race, both as a strategic pick to help win over key voters in swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin, and as a role model. When the Republican frontrunner has been found liable for sexual assault and his running mate has made dictating the reproductive choices of American women a key part of his stump speech, how does Walz show the country — and especially young boys watching — a healthier, more positive masculinity?That and more, all squeezed into this pod. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

In his first appearance after joining the ticket, Tim Walz turned to Vice President Harris on stage in front of a packed crowd in Philadelphia and thanked her for bringing the joy back into our politics. It was a striking comment, both for its sincerity and for what it reminded us all about the state of our political process.Since 2016, we’ve all been living on the edge of our seats. Joe Biden took the Democratic nomination in 2020 not because he promised hope or change, but because he stood as a symbol of a return to normalcy and offered a tired electorate the most probably path to victory. Until now, the 2024 cycle hadn’t offered anyone a sense of civic pride or levity. Rather, millions have been living in fear that we may once again be plunged into the bad old days of hatred, chaos, governance by tweet, and toilet paper shortages.(Yes. That all happened.)Now, with a self-described happy warrior leading the ticket and a VP pick so excited to win the election in less than 90 days he’s declared he’ll sleep when he’s dead, can we all get a little happy about our politics again? The election isn’t over yet and no one is advocating taking a victory lap this early. But do we need to be angry or afraid to win this fight, or can we do it happily, knowing we’re fighting for each other, for our rights, our children, and our future?That’s what we’re getting into on this pod, as well as a recap of the Olympics and what it means to have a sense of shared pride outside our political process.We also dig into a new issue we’re all confronting as parents: how to recognize and discuss misinformation with our kids. It’s a great episode, filled with laughs and yes, some joy. Don’t miss it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

After summer travels, a joke of an RNC, an assassination attempt and the weird yet predictable cult behavior that followed, we’re back and just in time for the news that has eclipsed all the rest: the end of Joe Bidens’s reelection bid and the meteoric rise of the Kamala campaign.We talk about the new enthusiasm among Democratic voters and the huge push Vice President Harris is getting from young voters on social media, and of course, the natural next question ahead of the sprint to November: who should be her pick for VP? We go over the usual suspects, but then of course Aleem has to come out of left field with something altogether different.John debuts a new fantasy sports league. It’s not basketball or football though; it’s our Harris cabinet dream team. See! Nerds can do fantasy sports too!Last but certainly not least, we each have our list of the top five lies about America that the right wing has invented and popularized. Did we miss any whoppers?Trying out a new format with this episode with John hosting for the first time. May make it a recurring thing. What do you think? Let us know in the comments! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

There’s no way to sugarcoat it. The Supreme Court has handed down one of the most disastrous decisions in modern history. Ignoring history, legal precedent, and common sense, the Roberts Court has given Donald Trump — and anyone who serves a term at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue — almost blanket immunity for crimes committed while in office. All an alleged perpetrator need do, if the are also a former president, is claim that whatever they did was an official act.It would be unprecedented if it weren’t also the same tactic employed by dictators throughout the modern era. Commit a heinous act, whether it be the defenestration of a journalist, poisoning of a political opponent, or torture of citizen activists, and claim it was an official act intended to preserve the peace or protect national security. Be it in Putin’s Russia, in North Korea, or in the fascist regimes of the 20th century, we can all think of examples.In short, the Supreme Court has elevated former presidents above the law itself and in doing so, created a king-like, almost magical person in the form of the former president, a position that, until now, did not exist in American law. Once a person served as president, they then returned to the position of citizen like the rest of us, from George Washington to Barack Obama. Apparently, that’s no longer the case.This sickening news comes just after President Biden had a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump, appearing weary and feeble, unable to take the fight to Trump or to know when to recite a fact and when to fire back at his opponent with a zinger. Fortunately, the polling seems to indicate, for now, that the debate has had little impact, but there is no doubt that anyone who tuned into the debate saw a performance that was even weaker and more devastating than anyone could have imagined. Spin won’t change that fact. Given the stakes of the election, made all the more daunting by the Supreme Court’s democracy defying decision, what are the next steps after the disastrous debate? Biden’s record makes clear he’s overdelivered as president, but his performance now casts doubt on his abilities after nearly four years in office. We dig into all of these questions in the pod. It’s not all uplifting, to be sure, but John saves the day with some history and with a rallying cry for Americans of good will. The fight isn’t over. Not yet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

In a first in the history of the United States, a former President has been convicted, not just on one count, but on 34 felonies. In the election interference case in New York, unfortunately referred to as the “p*rn star hush money” case, a jury was unanimous in its decision to find Trump guilty on all counts. Of course, that hasn’t done anything to the Donald’s base of support other than cause them to feel even more justified in their disdain for “blue” states and compel them to send their “billionaire” leader more than $50m in new campaign contributions since the verdict.But what about the small number of undecided voters out there, the ones who don’t actively follow political news and who are turned off by politics in general? Will a criminal conviction be a bridge too far for swing voters? After all, this election will likely closely resemble in many ways 2016, insomuch as it will probably be decided by only tens of thousands of people in just a handful of states.Now, back to the convicted former president. What will his future be? Sentencing is set for July 11 in New York, just before the Republican Party is set to hold its convention in the swing state of Wisconsin. While he technically does face up to four years of incarceration in the Empire State, will the court even consider that particular avenue given Trump’s age and the fact that he is the presumptive Republican nominee? Then there’s the question of whether Trump will face any consequences in this case given the fact that he is set to appeal. Yet given how deferential the trial court was to the GOP frontrunner as a criminal defendant, it’s hard to imagine what the grounds for an appeal would even be.All of this comes before we can consider the almost incalculable number of possibilities the future holds for Trump as he faces numerous other counts in other jurisdictions. The stolen classified documents case, overseen as it has been by one of his own appointees to the federal bench in Florida, has been frozen by judge Aileen Cannon. Though that case is irreparably stagnated and will not proceed to trial before the election, there still remains the election interference case in Georgia as well as Jack Smith’s January 6 case, which now has the Supreme Court poised to answer the absurd question of whether Trump, as an ordinary citizen who once occupied the White House, is entitled to absolute immunity. The fact that we’re even at the point where that is being taken seriously as a question is chilling.All that and more on this episode. Aleem is out this week so it’s just the quasi-legal nerds, Christian and John. Check it out! #hushmoney #newyorkfraud #donaldtrump #ethics #criminality #2024election #fraudcase #trumpfraud #jacksmith #aileencannon #fanniwillis #alvinbragg This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

John’s back in the country and hasn’t missed a thing — unless you count the ongoing election interference and business fraud [hush money] case in which the Donald is a defendant in New York. Or the petulance of Samuel Alito showing solidarity with January 6 insurrectionists by displaying an upside down flag at his house and blaming his wife when he was called on it. Or the potentially drunken dispute in the House Oversight Committee when Marjorie Taylor-Greene lobbed a racist insult at Jasmine Crockett of Texas about the latter’s personal appearance, when the brilliant alliteration, “bleach blonde bad built butch body”, was born.Headlines and bad conduct by representatives and Supreme Court justices aside, we delve into the ethics of SCOTUS (or lack thereof) and the inconsistencies in some of the justices’ philosophies. John asks the question of what the United States would look like today if we stopped crashing from one guardrail to the other, making monumental steps forward in science, technology, race relations, and law before inevitably having the angry backlash we seem to do and undoing so much of the progress we had made in the first place. And we dig into why cynicism is such a powerful tool for corrupt officials and would-be autocrats, like the man we’re all tired of talking about.Great conversation - listen now!#MTG #AOC #JasmineCrockett #Alito #Thomas #SCOTUS #SupremeCourt #ethics #canonsofinterpretation #corruption #transparency This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

We're back -- at least two of us are! Christian is back from his travels right as John leaves and his and right before Aleem gets out of town -- but two is a quorum here, so two of us recorded a pod. Thankfully, we didn't miss anything! Just an insane trial in New York where a former President of the United States is alleged to have paid off an adult film star to illegally influence the 2016 Election. But to non-lawyers understand the twists and turns of the case? Resident non-lawyer Aleem weighs in. We also cover the Kendrick Lamar - Drake battle (which Christian, in turn, knows nothing about) and the laughable, seemingly fake information gap between Trump-leaning voters and Biden leading voters. Remember the "low information voters" of Saturday Night Live? Well NBC commissioned a poll with by both a Democratic and a Republican pollster, and they learned a lot from that key demographic and the media they consume -- or don't! The results will not surprise you. #trumptrial #hushmoneytrial #hushmoney #nbcpoll #biden #2024election #kendricklamar #drake This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

This pod, we have the privilege of being joined by an old friend of Aleem, Razeeb Hossain. A former Republican, Razeeb shares with us his political evolution — before the Trump era in Republican politics — from leader of his law school’s Republican club to casting his vote for Barack Obama. He also tells the story of his family’s arrival in America from Bangladesh, with his parents initially leaving their country for educational opportunities abroad, then leaving permanently for better prospects here in America. And though never Republicans themselves, his parents were, to hear Razeeb tell it, lured to the shining city on a hill described by Ronald Reagan some forty years ago.Unfortunately for Razeeb, his family ultimately settled in New Jersey, where he had to spend his adolescence with Aleem. Don’t worry, we take them both to task for defending a little to vehemently their beloved Garden State. Back to substance, we tackle Biden’s growing problem with young voters over the war in Gaza, as well as the closing poll numbers in key swing states like Michigan and Pennsylvania. And while Biden is no longer trailing far behind Trump, John asks the critical question of whether Biden can bring home young voters who feel he’s done too little and acted too late when it comes to Netanyahu.We also discuss the critical differences between Gaza and Ukraine, as well as attempts by members of the House GOP to prevent additional aid to help Ukrainians in their self-defense against Russia. At the same time, we get into the unfortunate prevalence and effectiveness of Russian propaganda here in the United States — and even in the House Republican caucus, where Republican Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Michael McFaul, has come out publicly decrying the infiltration of Russian propaganda. On the campaign trail, we look at Trump’s use of Black Americans as validators for his campaign, whether through posed events, such as the one staged at an Atlanta-area Chick-fil-A recently, or with the use of fake images generated with the use of AI. In case you were wondering, this one gets under John’s skin.It’s a great episode and not one you’ll want to miss!#immigration #reagan #NJ #newjersey #putin #russianpropaganda #ukraine #israel #foreignaid #AI This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

Hey everyone! We're back before dropping this week's full episode to react to Iran's unprecedented retaliation against Israel. We’re discussing whether this attack was mere retaliation or an escalation after Israel’s bombing of Iran’s embassy in Damascus, Syria, what comes next, and what Biden needs to do here at home. Please let us know what you’re thinking in the comments here on Substack or over on YouTube. #accountability #2024election #biden #iran #nationalsecurity This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

What does it look like to raise a child, teach them respect for themselves, for their family and their peer, in a society where accountability is something a person can buy their way out of? That's what Aleem, Christian, and John dig into in this pod. It comes after Christian spent a week away from work to spend with his son on spring break. In the same time, former president Trump has been able to dodge just about every bit of accountability in criminal and civil proceedings up and down the east coast. Most recently, he had his bond in his New York fraud case massively reduced, from $464 million to about $175 million -- a large sum to be sure, but a reduction of over 50%, something few could ever ask for, let alone be granted. Sean "Diddy" Combs, meanwhile, has become the subject of a civil suit and a massive federal criminal case, with agents raiding his home. The accusations are as of yet unproven in either case. But the civil complaint contains horrific, graphic descriptions of sex trafficking and sexual assault. His reaction after agents raided his compound? Remarkably similar to Trump: he deflects, accuses, and attempts to discredit the legal system and the news media. Where does this all get started? How do these rich and powerful men even develop the taste for abuse and atrocity before they achieve positions of power, or is it really as simple as the old adage that power corrupts? And where does this leave parents, especially parents of boys, in today's America? For one thing, it makes us all somewhat countercultural -- even if we never ever thought of ourselves in that light -- for teaching the next generation to not follow and even contradict what they're seeing around them. Don't worry though! Aleem still says something awkward, John still calls him out, and an insomniac Christian still gets cherry red laughing. We have to have some fun, even when things around us are completely out of hand. #trump #parenting #raisingoursons #accountability #personaldevelopment #personalresponsibility #toxicmasculinity #healthymasculinity #diddy #puffdaddy #diddydoit #hiphop This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

Congress have voted to force TikTok's parent company to divest from the popular social media app that counts over 170 million Americans among its users. That's of course due to the security concerns by the parent company being all but an arm of the Chinese Communist Party. Meanwhile, TikTok users are up in arms over the proposal, which the app claims is a "ban". Concerning is the fact that their mass mobilization against Congress' proposed divestment plan was actually organized by TikTok itself, which used its massive reach into the American populous to urge adults and children alike to contact their representatives and voice their opposition. No need for concern there, not when the app that Congress is concerned could be used to manipulate American politics from the outside literally starts a movement overnight and mobilizes Americans to get involved in a political action, something even presidential campaigns struggle to do. TikTokers have raised some important points in their opposition to Congress' plan, and they're not shy about about pointing out the lack of technological literacy in a Congress with an exceptionally high average age. Yet for whatever Senators and Members of the House lack in technical skill, they do have access to important intelligence that informs their decisions on matters of national security. TikTokers, for their part, have a great on screen presence and a mastery of the tech -- at least from a user's standpoint -- but are they glossing over the real security concerns? Seeing one brilliant TikToker's take, it seems like the best argument they have has little to do with China's dystopian use of personal data or Congress' national security concerns and more to do with "what about Meta and Alphabet." It's whataboutism, and not a very persuasive argument. But the threats we all face in this Election Year aren't just from a social media app. Project 2025, a product of Trump's enablers at The Heritage Foundation, lays out the blueprint for Trump's takeover of the federal government should he retake the White House next January. This plan, far more researched and complex than Trump himself could ever fully appreciate, provides the keys for his inner circle to dismantle any remaining safeguards against presidential overreach once he's in office. With chapters on the "bureaucracy", presidential powers, and the Department of Justice, Project 2025 makes scary, if mandatory, reading as we barrel toward a rematch between the Donald and democracy itself. We also get into the court's ruling on Fanni Willis' ability to continue to prosecute the criminal case against Trump in the Fulton County, Georgia case. Willis certainly made a mistake, but Trump once again, came out on top, no matter how much he and the Magaverse continue to complain. They've been able to move the national conversation away from the election fraud crimes of which he and his coconspirators are plausibly accused and all but put Willis herself on trial for her outsourcing legal work to an attorney she was dating. Not only has the underlying case been buried by the ensuing circus, but Trump has been able to do what he always does when the law comes knocking at his door: delegitimize the process and delay, delay, delay. It's a full and fast moving pod -- one you don't want to miss! #trump #fultoncounty #fultoncountyga #2024elections #georgia #tiktok #tiktokban #ccp #china #nationalsecurity #propaganda #project2025 #authoritarianism Project 2025: https://www.project2025.org/ JWilliamj8 on Congress' TikTok divestment bill: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

In a pod Christian and John recorded before today's unanimous Supreme Court decision forcing Colorado to keep insurrectionist Donald Trump on the ballot, we address another giveaway the high court has handed the Donald. That's right. Today, the justices conveniently forgot that the Constitution already gives individual states the power to decide a Presidential Election for the entire country. It's called the electoral college. Prior to that, they decided to take up the question of whether someone who used to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue had the right to lifelong, absolute immunity from prosecution.Of course, the appeals court had already answered this question in great detail and without any of the condescension of which Trump and his lawyers' were absolutely deserving. So why would SCOTUS even bother to review the appeals court's thoughtful and thorough decision? It could be to settle the question for all time. Given the late date, it's more likely though that the Trump-appointed Justices and their archconservative colleagues are using this to give Trump the delay he needs to escape criminal liability -- even if the high court rules against him! -- so that he has the chance to be reelected before being convicted. This is one of our most in depth, but unfortunately somber discussions to date on this pod, but it's one you don't want to miss. This is not a conversation reserved for attorneys, nor is this a moment in American politics than can be left to the professionals. Now is the time for everyone to get involved and speak out. It's a cliche, but it's true: democracy is not a spectator sport. #scotus #trump #trumptrials #trumpcampaign #supremecourt #jacksmith This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

Did Donald Trump literally tell his benefactor in the Kremlin to invade our European allies if they didn’t “pay up” for their defense?! He did, and then failed cable TV personality and opportunist cosplaying as a journalist Tucker Carlson gave a softball interview to Putin himself. In short order, Putin’s most vocal opponent Alexei Navalny was found dead in a Siberian prison camp.Yet just like when he bragged about sexually assaulting women on the infamous Access Hollywood tape in 2016, we’re all carrying on as usual. It’s just the Donald being Donald. But just how do we stop this normalization? It’s been the big question for almost a decade, and we may not have all the answers, but we do have some ideas.Trump and his supporters feel a kinship with present-day Russia, and it’s no surprise why. Putin and Russian intelligence know that racism is the fundamental fault line in American society, and they’re playing the MAGAsphere like a fiddle. They’re holding Russia out as the last bastion of whiteness and traditional Christianity (hilarious given the Soviet Union’s disdain for any religion that did not idolize the state) and Trump’s followers are buying it — just like they’re buying $400 Trump sneakers spray painted gold.Closer to home and no less racist, white DJs are losing their minds over Beyoncé doing country music. They seem to not remember where country came from – and where Beyoncé is from for that matter.We all get back to the basics and the genesis of the Good Guys Getting Better podcast this episode by answering the question of what we do to unwind and manage our stress in these crazy times. We share tips and practices for taking care of ourselves and our mental health, as well as touching stories from the quality time we spend with our sons.A well rounded episode if ever there was one.#putin #navalny #alexeinavalny #biden #Beyoncé #trump #accesshollywood #sexualassault #mentalhealth #parenting #fatherhood #selfcare This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

In just the past month, the US economy under Biden created 353,000 jobs -- so many that even Fox News can't deny the good news. So why isn't the White House and the reelection team screaming this from the rooftops? And how can anyone even continue to argue that the economy would do any better under the Donald? Less than four years ago, people were hoarding toilet paper and American grocery stores had empty shelves in locations across the country. It's pretty clear we're all better off than we were four years ago, and no one with a halfway clear memory would ever wish for a return to paper towel rationing. On foreign policy, however, Biden is struggling. Though he's made some indication he's losing patience with Netanyahu's government and their brutal offensive on civilians, he's not left nearly enough daylight between his administration and the United States and Bibi's government. What does this almost chauvinist loyalty and unqualified support mean for Biden's moral high ground here at home and on the world stage, and how are young voters and voters of color -- key demographics for Democrats -- reacting? In one key swing state, The Washington Post is already reporting that Muslim and Arab voters are working to defeat Biden as they see children and other civilians being slaughtered with barely any response from the administration. How would this work in a two party system where the only other alternative is a would-be autocrat who would certainly be worse for human rights, even in the ongoing conflict? And does this effort hit the Biden campaign where it hurts in a state he only won by 150,000 votes in 2020? The upcoming election now has yet another conspiracy theory too. Fox News and the online right wing rabbit hole is in a lather over Taylor Swift, who's made the unforgiveable decision to ask that more Americans get involved and vote. Worse still, she's dating an NFL player who once did a short TV ad promoting a vaccine against COVID-19. The horror! Obviously, according to the likes of Jesse Waters, this can only mean that Taylor has been recruited or been unwittingly made part of a plan to persuade millions of swifties to vote for Dark Brandon. It's a Psyop -- a covert plan by the CIA to get Swift and Kelce together to sway the election in Biden's favor. I mean, who's ever heard of a pop star and a famous athlete getting together anyway? And speaking of football, John takes us home with his predictions for the Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. And Christian actually understood some of his analysis! #superbowl #superbowl53 #taylorswift #traviskelce #psyop #michigan #michiganpolitics #electoralcollege #gaza #israelpalestineconflict #israelhamaswar #januaryjobsreport #jobsreport This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

Donald Trump has declared that as a former President, he is immune from all accountability, be it civil liability or criminal penalty. Sure, he wanted President Obama removed from office for being Black and wants President Biden investigated for... something? But when it comes to the wayward son of Queens' most notorious slum lord, apparently four years in the Oval Office translates to a lifetime get out of jail free card. What does it say about the state of the Republican Party -- the party that once at least nominally stood for the rule of law, patriotism, and following the rules -- that it's now poised to follow one man down the road to authoritarianism? And can Nikki Haley be the person to stop him now that Ron DeSantis is out of the race? John gets wild this time with a few different picks for Reaction, Thought, or Opinion. We've got: how should the media cover Trump's 2024 campaign, how should the Biden Administration handle the uncontrolled bloodshed in Gaza, and is the Donald in cognitive decline? Last but certainly not least, Aleem wants to know from you, the listener, what are the top five Denzel Washington roles of all time? (We had to do something to keep it light this week!) #2024elections #iowa #iowacaucus #newhampshire #newhampshire #desantis #nikkihaley #cognitivefitness #authoritarianism This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

BACK FOR SEASON 2 We're back from the holidays and right in time for the Iowa caucuses. We talk about the likelihood of victory for Trump, the fight for second place between Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, as well as some of the more bizarre thing about the former South Carolina governor. Did you know she renamed her husband, or that she didn't know slavery was the root cause of the Civil War? Aleem has an interesting theory on the overlap between Trump's lies and Katt Williams', well, lies. And just how accurate are comparisons between Donald Trump and modern history's most brutal dictators? Last but certainly not least, is banning the use a slang in the classroom racist? Classist? Colonialist? It's a fascinating conversation and we have  @RaquelMartinPhD  to thank for with her video on a teacher literally banning a list of words in the classroom. Instagram reel here:#iowacaucus #iowa #2024elections #confirmationbias #rondesantis #nikkihaley #donaldtrump #kattwilliams #shannonsharpe #propaganda #culture #slang #colonialism This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

Last episode of 2023! The whole team is back to talk turkey (not really -- we did that for Thanksgiving). No, there's no more Turnpike Sous Vide. This time, we're talking Christmas plans, travel, family, and more! We get into Shohei Ohtani's insane $700 million salary from the LA Dodgers, as well as the tax avoidance he's achieving by delaying his full payment. That gets us onto a whole tangent about the need for taxes, and just why Americans are so against them. Big hint: a lot of it has to do with racism! Before that, John gets us into a philosophical chat about travel -- not tourism per se, but what it means to explore and learn. Aleem shares his experiences on the road, and Christian takes a little detour to tell everyone about his flatulence filled flight to sin city. Unfortunately, the war in Gaza continues. We look at how striking President Biden's shift on the war in recent days has been, and what caused this pivot less than a year from the 2024 Election. It's a great conversation, not unlike one or two others we've had on this pod. Thanks everyone who watched, listened, shared, and commented. You helped make Season 1 a lot of fun for us all! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

This was easily the funniest episode of the pod we've done so far. John and Aleem are back to talk turkey -- literally! Did you know you can cook turkey sous vide? You shouldn't, but apparently that's what Aleem did this year while driving across New Jersey. Hey! There's no law against cooking and driving, right? And of course, we get into Thanksgiving's greatest tradition: awkward conversations. You'll never guess which of us didn't have a single one this year. Aleem introduces us to a new entrepreneur in the conspiracy theory industry and before it's all over, John makes sure everyone knows Christian's business. Check it out! #thanksgiving #thanksgivingbreak #familybusiness #hotep #frenchforbeginners #french #friedturkey #sousvide #sousvidebarbecue This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

We’re back! Aleem, Christian, and John are back after Christian's b-day hiatus -- and it's not like we have much to catch up on. We're talking the importance of reflection and introspection for parents, professionals, and just about anyone looking to do the work and focus on their mental health for themselves and those they love. Somewhere along the way, John found the time to jot down a list of topics and rapid fire questions for us all, including the rise of artificial intelligence/AI and where human intelligence and creativity can find a place in a world awash in predictive text and ChatGPT. We dig into the Republican Presidential Debates with Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, and Chris Christie, and the total lack of morality in today's GOP. We also discuss the flurry of court appearances for the Donald and the entire Trump family in DC, New York, and Fulton County, Georgia, as well as the numerous charges against former occupant of the White House for sexual assault and rape, as well as insurance fraud, bank fraud, and election fraud. In this same pod, we cover the election results from Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia. Women -- and nearly everyone -- won big with the right to abortion care being added to the Ohio state constitution with a majority of the state's voters voting yes for the measure. In Kentucky, Andy Beshear, a Democrat, won reelection against a Trump-backed Republican contender. And in Virginia, Democrats retained control of the state senate while also gaining a new majority in the House of Delegates. We also tackle the question of where Biden stands with younger and more progressive voters after he doubled down on his support of Israel since the IDF began indiscriminately bombarding Gaza after Hamas' horrific attacks on October 7. His recent remarks, in which he stated that there was no number of civilian deaths that would lead him to call for a ceasefire, raised a few eyebrows to say the least. Is he losing younger voters, and what will that mean as he moves headlong into a rematch against Trump in 2024? All that and more. Listen up! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

This pod, I'm joined by Chris Littlefield of  @beyondthankyou  to talk about mental health awareness, how to recover after burnout, how to prevent burnout, and how we can show up the way we *want* to show up in our business and in our personal relationships! Chris is an incredible international public speaker who regularly talks about employee appreciation, workplace culture, employee retention, and so much more. He's both an incredibly kind and giving person and someone who truly wants to see individuals and organizations do better. This is one you don't want to miss! #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #entrepreneurship #parenting #serialentrepreneur #burnout #burnoutprevention #business This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

This episode, regulars John Borden and Aleem Boatright join the pod to discuss the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas, Donald Trump's disgusting and baseless comments disparaging Israel while praising Hezbollah, as well as the culture of cruelty in which we're now living, from America post-Trump, to Putin's brazen war of conquest in Ukraine, to the slaughter of civilians in Israel and Gaza. We do our best to share a laugh or two in there, but some of this still if serious, so buckle up. We’ll get through this. #hamasattack #hamas #gaza #israel #putin #ukraine #Trump #hezbollah #iran This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

Part 2 is here! The conversation turns to the home front as Terrain shares with us his journey as a husband, father, and successful serial entrepreneur. From the first business he started as a kid growing up in poverty in Indiana to being an accomplished lawyer and the owner of several businesses in the Washington, D.C. area, Terrain reveals the resources he's learned from, the balancing acts he performs as a businessman and dedicated husband and father, as well as some of his own techniques. He also takes time to impart a few secrets he's mastered along the way to achieve his professional goals and the goals he shares with his wife without causing burnout for her or himself. Just as important, he explains his approach to taking on new ventures and achieving successes with his significant other in a way that brings them closer together rather than driving a wedge between them. It's an amazing conversation that I've replayed several times since recording it, and as always, my good friend Terrain has left me with amazing insights on how to make money, handle stress, set and accomplish goals, take care of yourself and your family -- and do it all without destroying your mental or physical health. This one is definitely worth a listen. Check it out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

Terrain Davis and returning champion Aleem Boatright join the pod for a lively discussion on the would-be government shutdown than sunk a House speaker, the utter lack of civic education in modern America (even among Members of Congress) the fundamental difference between federal government spending and all other forms of spending, investing in American communities versus government sanctioning of job outsourcing, the need for a thriving manufacturing sector in the United States, public investment in science and education, the inherent limits of capitalism and the adorable naivete of libertarians, the consequences of the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the return of late night with the end of the WGA writers’ strike, parenting in the age of streaming, and so much more.This is the first ever two-part episode of Good Guys Getting Better, so be sure to listen and check out the next installment October 11! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

Our own Aleem Boatright was inspired to convene this special recording of Good Guys Getting better to discuss Deion Sanders' coaching of the University of Colorado football team, his unique style, brashness, and ‘audacious Blackness’, as well as respectability politics and professional sports as a mirror for American society. You're gonna wanna check this one out! #colorado #universityofcolorado #deionsanders #espn #football #racism #raceinamerica This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com

Aleem Boatright and John Borden join us for the first ever episode of Good Guys Getting Better to discuss, among other things: * Sentient vape pen Lauren Boebert's expulsion from a Denver production of Beetlejuice* The downfall of standards in American politics, particularly on the right, from George H. W. Bush to George W. Bush, to the Tea Party, to the era of Trump, MTG, and Lauren Boebert* Democracy, and what does it mean in an age when nothing matters?* Jack Smith a/k/a the Hammer from the Hague finally filing for a gag order against Donald Trump in just one of the four ongoing criminal cases against him* The absurd adorableness of John's daughter * And the weird adult quirks that only only children would pick up Listen, watch, like and subscribe! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christianhanley.substack.com