How-To-Be-Your-Own-Reporter-Bob Davis Podcast 915

How To Be Your Own Reporter

These days our minds are the new battleground. To fight back we have to be our own reporters. I’ll tell you how to do that in How-To-Be-Your-Own-Reporter-Bob Davis Podcast 915.

Politicians Lie

It’s especially relevant to point out politicians and so called leaders lie. If it’s Monday, they lie. If their lips are moving they are lying.

Start With Skepticism

Any decent reporter starts with being skeptical when it comes to those who wield power. From there it’s all about checking details and establishing fact. Why? Because we live in a world where the information channels are filled with crap. Moreover, it’s on purpose.

Investigate Sources

In addition most so called ‘news sources’ these days are thin on resources. Newspapers have cut their newsroom staffs. Television networks don’t always fact check. More importantly cable news is all about personalities and arguments.

We All Have Blind Spots

Most noteworthy are the biases we all come to the table with. We all have blind spots when it comes to the ‘leaders’ we think are ‘doing a good job’. That’s how they use us.

What We Want To Hear

Even more most of us want to hear what we agree with. We want to feel secure in our beliefs and conclusions. Consequently we gravitate to the sources, stories and personalities we agree with.

Get Rid Of The Blind Spots

Above all if you really want to understand what’s going on you have to work on getting rid of the blind spots.

How I Lost My Blind Spots

Certainly I’ll tell you how I lost my blind spots in How-To-Be-Your-Own-Reporter-Bob Davis Podcast 915.

Sources, Biases and Facts

Similarly I’ll give you some pointers on how to use your devices to run down sources, determine biases and establish facts.

I Do Not Advocate

Finally, it’s my policy and the policy of my podcasts not to advocate for or against issues. I don’t fight for politicians. I am not financed by political donors.

Conspiracy Theories, Horoscopes and Psychics

Furthermore the longer I do this the more I believe we have to work with the facts we know we can confirm. Conspiracy theories and opinions are fun. Horoscopes and psychics are for entertainment only, right?

Not Fighting To Convince You

In conclusion I’ve given up trying to convince listeners and subscribers. I don’t fight for or against a politician.

Some Stories And How To Do Your Homework

I’ll tell you some stories and help you become your own reporter in this extra extra podcast.

(Editor’s Note: I do this all the time, I talk about someone off the cuff, and get the name wrong. In this case I refer to a certain Doctor Redmond at the CDC. It’s Doctor Robert R. Redfield, recently in the news with the Coronavirus crsis response.)

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and Reliafund Payment Processors

How-To-Be-Your-Own-Reporter-Bob Davis Podcast 915

 

 

Will-Corona-Quarantine-Cause-Depression?-Bob Davis Podcast 913

Will Corona Quarantine Cause A Depression?

These days the word depression has begun to appear in the news. Especially relevant? We’re talking about economic depression because business is pretty much shut down. Will the Corona Quarantine Cause Depression? Learn more in Will-Corona-Quarantine-Cause-Depression?-Bob Davis Podcast 913.

Uncharted Waters

We’re in uncharted waters due to the pandemic. No nation has ever brought its economy to full stop in such a short period of time.

Biggest Reduction In Economic Growth Ever

Even more major banks are predicting at least a 25 percent reduction in US output in the first quarter.

Bigger Than The Great Depression

This is unprecedented even in the darkest days of the Great Depression back in the 1930’s.

What’s Done Is Done

While we can ask whether this was a good idea, what’s done is done.

Can We Hit Pause? Or will The Corona Quarantine Cause Depression?

Seems like people think you can ‘hit pause’. Come back in thirty, sixty, ninety or one hundred twenty days. Hit ‘play’ and everything will be fine.

Real Life

But above all, this is real life. Even though it seems like we’re in a movie, we’re not.

We May Not Be Able To Easily Restart

Economies may not start easily once they are shut down. Moreover the central banks have been running very loose monetary policies for years. I’ve done a lot of podcasts about this. The central banks may not have much ammunition left. I’ll tell you what this means in Will-Corona-Quarantine-Cause-Depression?-Bob Davis Podcast 913.

What About Actions Government Has Taken?

As a result of ordered lock downs the government has taken action in the last week or so.

Interest Rates Slashed

The federal reserve slashed interest rates twice. The effective interest rate is now zero.

Another 2 Trillion of Relief On The Way

A 2 trillion dollar relief package is working its way through congress.

One Thousand Dollar Checks

We’re all supposed to get one thousand dollar a month checks as needed.

Why Are They Doing This?

Certainly there’s a reason for all of this. It has to do with what a depression is and what causes it. I’ll explain it in Will-Corona-Quarantine-Cause-Depression?-Bob Davis Podcast 913. Are we there yet? Time will tell.

Making It Better…Or Worse

Finally in the end economists and policy makers will sift through whatever wreckage is left and tell us whether the measures taken now made things better or worse.

Short Deep Recession or Depression

In conclusion whether we have a short and deep recession or a world wide economic disaster known as a depression depends on what our leaders do now.

Out of Our Hands

It sure seems to me like it’s out of our hands.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and Reliafund Payment Processors

Will-Corona-Quarantine-Cause-Depression?-Bob Davis Podcast 913

Blood-In-The-Streets-Yet?-Bob Davis Podcast 909

Blood In The Streets

First of all the phrase ‘blood in the streets’ means you buy when everything goes to hell, learn more in Blood-In-The-Streets-Yet?-Bob Davis Podcast 909. Second of all you have to wonder if we’re getting to that point.

Predicting The Future Is For Suckers

I don’t like predicting the future. I like to wait and see what happens and consequently make judgements.

Streets Are Sensitive To Shocks

On the other hand word travels fast these days. We’re very sensitive to shock. We often are responding at the same time leaders are responding. Long before any in depth facts can be determined.

Perception Is Reality

Moreover in this environment the old saw ‘Perception Is Reality‘ is more true than ever.

Wait and See

I am often asked what I think of some political development. Joe Biden’s ‘sudden surge’. The ‘Super Tuesday‘ results. I still think ‘wait and see’ is the best approach.

Markets Rule The Roost Right Now

Especially relevant now is the course Coronavirus will take. More importantly the economic effects triggered by the real time reactions to the virus.

Each Podcast Needs Clarification

I have been podcasting about just these topics. Furthermore it seems like each podcast needs more clarification.

Primaries and Candidates

In Blood-In-The-Streets-Yet?-Bob Davis Podcast 909 there’s clarification and amplification. There is also most noteworthy additional thoughts about the primaries and potential presidential candidates.

It’s A Long Way To November

Finally we have a long way to go until early November when we actually vote for candidates and initiatives in local, state, house and senate elections. And when we cast our preference for president.

Electoral College Or Congress?

Even more it will be mid December when the electoral college will choose a president. Or, God forbid, the US Congress. A lot can happen between now and then.

About That Blood In The Streets Question

Maybe it would be better to return to the question at the beginning of this blog. Is there blood in the streets yet? And what does it mean.

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Blood-In-The-Streets-Yet?-Bob Davis Podcast 909