Podcast 250

Election Aftermath. How did the mainstream media do in covering election 2014? What are the primary issues for voters. What happens now? It was announced recently that the Weather Channel Morning Show beat Cable News Networks CNN and MSNBC, hands down, during an election year. Fox News regularly ‘crushes’ rival CNN, and the lesser MSNBC. Broadcast networks covered the midyear elections in 2014, in an effort to compete with cable news services. Based on the reviews from viewers and ‘observers’ of the business and coverage on election night, none of them did a very good job. There was more coverage than ever, but the networks now place political operatives and ‘ideologues’ next to journalists, blurring the lines between opinion and fact. Add to this the increasing need for news networks to employ whatever means necessary to ‘predict’ the outcome of political races. Statistics and polls are never accurate; The only question is whether sample sizes and calculations are reliable. Ideologues may try, but they cannot ‘predict’ the future with a percentage, like a weatherman predicting the chance of rain at 12 noon. The media now blames the polls. One political science professor wants an ‘investigation’ of the ‘the polls’. The polls showed tight races, and while there were a few surprises, results were generally within the margin of error, which for some polls was a perfectly respectable plus or minus 4 points. You could certainly predict the Republican Party would have an historic election, but you couldn’t make that prediction based on polling data. Now, we’re told the polls were biased in favor of Republicans. In 2012, it was the other way around. The problem isn’t the polls, it’s the media’s incessant and unreasonable need to predict, cajole, call races and set the tone. People are getting sick of it, especially when social media, and the Internet provide real time election results without commentary. Who needs CNN, MSNBC and Fox News, and talk radio — all of which will take half an hour to tell you what you can determine in 5 minutes looking at a website that runs all the results as the polls close? What happened in 2014? What emerges from exit polls is a blurry black and white; You can sense shades but not color. You can see form, but you can’t make out anything specific. People are concerned about the Economy, the roll out of ACA and leadership questions concerning the handling of ISIS and Syria, and lastly, Ebola. Is it partisan to suggest the Democratic agenda and campaign tactics focused on issues at the bottom of the list for most voters? Minnesotans wonder why the Minnesota GOP and virtually all the statewide candidates lost a once in a lifetime opportunity to turn out the votes and unseat a democrat governor, and Senator Al Franken, while neighboring Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker seemed to be able to turn out his supporters to win. Is the President still relevant? Will the Republicans come up with an agenda that shows what they’re for, rather than what they’re against? All this in Podcast 250, while shoveling snow! (Editors Note: And maybe a train too!) Sponsored by Baklund R&D

Podcast 224 – Twila Brase – Ebola

Ebola. Now playing in the United States. Even though the President assured the nation two weeks ago that the government had procedures in place to make sure people infected with the ebola virus would be detected if they tried to fly here, we now have at least one confirmed case of the Ebola Virus in the US. As this story has the potential to take over US media, what is our government up to? Twila Brase, President and co-founder of the Citizens Council for Health Freedom , has some chilling information about what many State Governments are empowered to do in case of a pandemic. Why hasn’t the government flat-out barred people from countries with Ebola outbreaks from entering the United States? When the President doesn’t seem able to make sure his own security is functional, how can we expect him to be responsible for the security of the citizens of the United States, even though that’s one of his primary responsibilities. Why haven’t governors barred flights potentially carrying anyone from a ‘hot zone’ into the airports in their cities? The United States is thought of as a sophisticated, even complex society; Modern. Doesn’t a virus like Ebola understand we’re a sophisticated and complex society? Can the kind of panic we see in Sierra Leone, and Liberia happen in the United States? As one of the country’s authorities on the Affordable Care Act, Twila also talks about a new storyline these days that claims Obamacare is working. With the ACA part of debates in the Senate race in Minnesota and across the country, as well as gubernatorial races, what’s the latest status? Finally, it’s fair to say that authorities in Texas, Atlanta and Washington may have the expertise and tools to contain this Ebola infection, and there’s no need for unnecessary alarm. However, studies show we can manage one, or even two crises, but a third causes a cascade of problems that can lead to catastrophe. Considering Benghazi, the Border, ISIS, the Secret Service and now Ebola in Dallas, being slightly concerned about this administration’s demonstrated incompetence might be warranted. Sponsored by Depotstar

Podcast 144

The week ahead, live from the deck at the Broadcast Bunker. This is becoming a Sunday night tradition. Having a steak and updating Bob Davis Podcast subscribers on key stories for the coming week. Wrap up for Operation American Spring protest which was held Saturday in Washington DC. Can you force congressmen and senators to resign? Can you impeach legislators? Then what? The VA health care controversy continues to grow. Get used to it, because the VA is what Obama Care will be like for all of us if the law isn’t repealed. Is the First Lady’s concern with the kidnap victims in Nigeria real? What Putin is really after. Fires in San Diego, Tornados in Alabama and a swamp called ‘The District of Columbia’ could flood if all the ice melts in the Antarctic (where it is the end of summer right now). Sponsored by Baklund R&D