240. Fasten Your Seatbelts

My Soapbox

In this episode, I discuss some of my excellent progress with my weight loss and getting in better shape, and my stepmom's improved demeanor the last time I saw her late this past week. I also reflect on the latest troubling news, including the nationwide protests over federal immigration enforcement raids, the "no kings" protests from people who have had enough of the Donald Trump dictatorship, and the very troubling thought of Donald Trump running for a third term, and if elected, the congress either letting him be president, which would be a complete abandonment of the Constitution, or enforce the Constitution and in doing so, risk the likely outbreak of the greatest political violence the United States has seen since the Civil War. I also talk about the sudden and sad news of the passing of a man I have called "Easter Sunday Placemats" in several episodes on this podcast. He apparently died this past Tuesday, 6/10/25, and was found in his home deceased, presumably today, 6/14/25. I also reflect briefly on the passing of another congregation member, who was in hospice and whose passing was therefore more expected than that of this other man who passed away. I also reflect on Sam Harris' Making Sense episode #419 with Jaron Lowenstein, and especially focus on the "gooey center" of salvation that Christianity offers, which Sam argues is the real appeal of religion, and why without it there would not be the degree of buy in, because without such ego promises, what's left to discuss in a church are mundane questions such as who is going to bring the egg salad to the church picnic. I also express my dumbfoundedness on the Associated Press' White House access lawsuit, and the fact that such a lawsuit is even necessary by the AP to restore the First Amendment right and freedom of the press to have access to the very seat of our government, which is to my mind beyond belief we are already at this point, just five long months into the Trump presidency. I also reflect on the tragic Air India airplane crash on June 9, 2025, which killed 241 people, incredibly with 1 survivor after the plane crashed shortly after takeoff, reminding me of the American Airlines Flight 191 airplane crash on May 25, 1979, which crashed just across the street from O'Hare Airport after it lost an engine very quickly after takeoff.