Ep 404: New Year Same Problems

Jan 5, 2026

In Episode 404, recorded only hours before the Maduro news broke, Ken and Dave discuss new laws that took effective January first, “stolen” documents at a Minnesota daycare, monks strolling through Georgia, Iran coming unglued, congressional resignations, pausing tariffs, and the comrade officially takes office.

College Football & NFL Highlights

• Georgia vs. Ole Miss: A chaotic finish featuring multiple "final" seconds and the premature appearance of the stage crew.
• Miami Over Ohio State: Discussion of Miami’s physical dominance and Ryan Day’s controversial play-calling decisions.
• Falcons Victory: A narrow Monday night win for Atlanta, highlighted by a strong performance from running back Bijan Robinson.

New Georgia State Laws (Effective Jan 1st)

• America First License Plates: New patriotic tags featuring the American flag. Debate centers on the $90 cost and the politicization of the flag.
• HVAC Warranty Transfer (SB12): A new law ensuring 10-year warranties are automatically transferable to new homeowners without mandatory registration, provided a licensed contractor performed the installation.
• Campaign Reform & Safety: New ethics rules prohibit opening candidate investigations within 60 days of an election and mandate the redaction of politicians' home addresses from certain public records to prevent "swatting."
• Booting Regulations: Stricter permit and posting requirements for companies that boot vehicles in Georgia.
• Catastrophe Savings Accounts: The creation of state-level, tax-sheltered accounts to help homeowners save for disaster-related repairs and high deductibles.

National Headlines & Investigative Journalism

• Minnesota Daycare Fraud: A suspicious "break-in" at a Somali-owned daycare involved in a multi-billion dollar fraud scandal. The hosts discuss the "dog ate my homework" nature of the missing documentation and the organized scam's spread to other states.
• The "Monk Walk": Buddhist monks walking from Texas to D.C. for peace are criticized by the hosts as a "spectacle" that disrupts traffic without achieving tangible geopolitical results.
• Iranian Unrest: Discussion of protests in Iran and President Trump’s "locked and loaded" social media response to potential violence against protesters.
• Congressional Exodus: Over 50 lawmakers (10% of Congress) have announced they will not seek re-election, citing dysfunction and a shift away from the "cocktail party" civility of the past.

Local Georgia Politics

• The 14th District Race: Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) faces criticism for vacationing in Costa Rica during her final days in office. Candidate Brian Stover is highlighted for his "100% ally" campaign strategy.
• Bert Jones Attack Ads: Mystery surrounds a multi-million dollar "dark money" campaign targeting Lieutenant Governor Bert Jones with aggressive attack ads.
• The Sign Ninja: A look at the strategic importance of campaign sign placement in Northwest Georgia and the role of Matt Stout in local elections.

New York’s "Comrade" Mayor

• Analysis of the inauguration of New York’s new socialist leadership, focusing on the shift from "rugged individualism" to "collectivism."
• Discussion of proposed policies, including free bus routes funded by new taxes on specific neighborhoods and visitors.

The "Mule" of the Week

• The McDonald’s AirPod Incident: An Ohio worker suffers severe burns after reaching into a 360-degree deep fryer to retrieve a dropped AirPod.
• Brian Stover: Criticized for a campaign platform that emphasizes total loyalty to the President over the traditional role of a co-equal branch of government.