7 chapters across the catalog
Public health officials are using wastewater monitoring to track the spread of monkeypox, a technique previously used for COVID-19 and polio. The hosts discuss the possibility of the virus spreading through urban rat populations in cities like New York and D.C. They jokingly warn of "Russian rats" climbing through toilets to spread disease, combining wastewater surveillance with bioweapon fears.
Karen Ames, a longtime Bronx school superintendent, filed a $150 million lawsuit claiming she was fired for refusing to perform the "Wakanda Forever" salute during meetings. The segment details how Ames was allegedly targeted by Chancellor Richard Carranza's "disrupt and dismantle" campaign. The hosts discuss the absurdity of a fictional movie salute becoming a mandatory professional requirement and its historical roots in the Egyptian symbol for Osiris.
In a throwback clip, Lurie Daniel Favors passionately denounces Michael Bloomberg's "racist" stop-and-frisk policies, only to admit she would still vote for him if he were the nominee. The hosts use this to illustrate what they perceive as a lack of respect for Black men, noting that Favors would support a candidate whose policies she claimed led to the assault of her own husband.
Before his political career, Donald Trump built his public persona through New York City tabloid feuds and high-profile business battles. The segment recounts his years-long rivalry with Mayor Ed Koch and his failed attempt to challenge the NFL by launching the USFL. The hosts note that Trump's strategy has always involved picking fights to stay in the headlines, regardless of the legal outcome.
Donald Trump and Michael Bloomberg transitioned from business partners and social acquaintances in New York City to fierce political rivals. Historical footage from 2013 shows the two praising each other during the development of a Bronx golf course, a project for which Trump later claimed sole credit. Media analysis suggests their falling out began when Trump entered the 2016 presidential race, challenging Bloomberg's status within the New York establishment.
A CNBC report authored by Sean Langlois analyzes how a $350,000 annual salary barely qualifies as middle class in major urban hubs like New York City and San Francisco. Utilizing U.S. Census Bureau data, the study illustrates that a family of four maintaining a traditional lifestyle with two cars and childcare may only see $121 in monthly cash flow. This financial pressure explains why many families struggle despite high nominal earnings.
The hosts discuss the immense psychological stress faced by police officers, particularly in hostile environments like New York City. Mo notes the historical irony that Black politicians originally called for heavy policing during the War on Drugs. This led to over-policing and the infamous sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, which Mo links to government-sanctioned drug trafficking.
