Bandied Basics

Brett and Brad celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of Pluto by reading the first chapter of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, just kidding, sorta. It's also the anniversary of the US publishing of Adventures of Huck Finn! Brad discusses the Oscars in preparation for next week's Academy Award rundown and promotes Train Dreams, one of the nominees for Best Picture. After the break, we talk the SAVE America Act that almost certainly won't get a vote in the Senate. We end with some Olympics talk, a late recant of the Super Bowl, and a discussion on Ring's "Search Party" feature (that is potentially the start of a dystopian novel?).

Brett and Brad discuss the differences between civil and criminal law. Is everything illegal a crime? When are you at risk of going to jail? Do the 5th and 6th amendments always apply to you? Who decides? All that and more answers to other exciting questions on today's show! After the break, Brad rants about tax season and specifically the deceptive practices of places like H&R Block. Finally, Brett relays the story of the first study on the harmfulness of caffeine and coffee and updates us on some current research.

Brett and Brad lead with a new, promising treatment for pancreatic cancer from the Spanish National Cancer Research Center that nearly totally eliminated tumors in mice. Brett then talks about a new law in Utah that allows AI to issue prescription refills, and the questions that raises. After the break, we play another round of Released, Redacted, or Red Herring with material from the latest Epstein files release. Brad then discusses startling statements by U.S. Attorney Julie Le in the District of Minnesota and picture it paints for the entire Department of Homeland Security. We end with rapid fire sports talks on the Cavaliers trades, the Olympics, and the Super Bowl.

Brett and Brad sit for an interview with Craig Joseph, Artistic Director of Seat of the Pants, an ensemble theater production company local here in North East Ohio. Craig is also the director of the upcoming production of Elephant's Graveyard, going up this February at Gordon Green and featuring our own Brett (use checkout code BRETT to show your support for Brett and our show!). Craig leads us through his creative and artistic career and how he came to found Seat of the Pants before discussing what makes it unique as a production house. We talk the NEO acting scene before diving into Elephant's Graveyard itself and touch a bit on acting techniques like Chekhov.

Brett and Brad discuss the upcoming Artemis II mission to swing around the moon now that the rocket has been brought out to the launch pad. After that, Brad talks the history of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, where their legal authority comes from, and what it entails. In the 2nd half of the show we check in on our predictions for Trump's term we made on November 13th 2024, and make new predictions for the remainder of 2026.

Brett and Brad make some corrections from last week's show around how bounties work in the United States before elaborating on bail bond system and modern day bounty hunters. We talk the recently filed lawsuit by former WCSB members before the break. After the break, we talk credit cards and Trump's proposal to limit their interest rates to 10%. We wrap up with a run-down of the CWRU film society's 51st Sci-fi marathon happening this weekend and the departure of Steeler's coach Mike Tomlin.

Brett and Brad discuss the... situation? in Venezuela. In the second half of the show we play Released, Redacted, or Red Herring: a game about guessing what's been released in the Epstein Files. Finally, Brett leads us through the NFL coaches fired this season and whether they were deserved.

Brett and Brad go on a tour of Cleveland Christmas Beers (joined partway through by Tom Burke), and you're coming too! In this special Christmas Eve episode we travel across Cleveland to different breweries and review their Christmas ales right at the bar. We visit: Schnitz Ale, Noble Beast, Masthead, Black Frog, Butcher & The Brewer, Southern Tier, and Great Lakes, ending at Market Garden and their Festivus party.