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A history teacher and an engineer walk into a bar…ouch! Except there isn’t a bar. But there are dad jokes. And whiskey. Two guys who know a few things, have been around a few blocks, and a few cocktails, discuss politics, science, history, technology, and the planet Earth. They also warp through rabbit holes in both the Federation and the Galactic Empire, and toast the ashes of the Twelve Colonies. And did I mention dad jokes? Yeah. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and join us for Civics on the Rocks.
Oh, and if you want some merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/CivcsRocks/shop?asc=u
Episodes
Monday Apr 06, 2026
Monday Apr 06, 2026
Steve commits murder, Anne pursues him to the full extent of the law, and Mack is on a mission from God.
REFERENCES
So, by warrant here, we’re talking about honest-to-gosh legal warrants:
Legal Information Institute. “Warrant.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/warrant
We need to make a distinction because there are administrative warrants:
Legal Information Institute. “Administrative Warrant.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/administrative_warrant
So, the executive branch:
Legal Information Institute. “Executive Branch.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/executive_branch
You need to have probable cause:
Legal Information Institute. “Probable Cause.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/probable_cause
Article III judge:
Constitution Annotated. “Article III.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-3/
For search and seizure:
Legal Information Institute. “Search and Seizure.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/search_and_seizure
In the Fourth Amendment:
Constitution Annotated. “Fourth Amendment.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-4/
A lot of times, it is for a civil thing:
Legal Aid Society of Northeaster New York. “The Differences Between Criminal Court and Civil Court.” Updated August 4, 2022. LawHelp.org. https://www.lawhelp.org/resource/the-differences-between-criminal-court-and-ci
ICE, the organization:
They’ve got to be out in a public place, and then they’re authorized by their own agency to detain them:
Diaz, Jaclyn. “What ICE Agents Can and Cannot Legally Do During Arrests.” Updated September 19, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/09/05/nx-s1-5517998/ice-arrest-rules-explained
It’s not just search everything:
United States Courts. “What Does the Fourth Amendment Mean?” https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/what-does-fourth-amendment-mean
Writs of assistance:
Britannica Editors. “Writ of Assistance.” Updated 2020. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/writ-of-assistance
The in-between time between the Seven Years War (the French and Indian War)…:
Britannica Editors. “Seven Years’ War.” Updated March 23, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Seven-Years-War
…and the run-up to the Revolution:
Wallace, Willard M. “American Revolution.” Updated March 20, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Revolution
So famous Supreme Court case, Mapp vs. Ohio, 1961:
Oyez. “Mapp v. Ohio.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/1960/236
When did administrative warrants come into play:
Arthur, Andrew R. “Going Back to the Past to Explain ‘Administrative Warrants,’ Immigration Enforcement.” February 5, 2026. Center for Immigration Studies. https://cis.org/Arthur/Going-Back-Past-Explain-Administrative-Warrants-Immigration-Enforcement
I kind of wonder how the Revenue Cutter Service operated:
Vergun, David. “Coast Guard Celebrates 235 Years Protecting Nation’s Waterways.” August 1, 2025. Joint Base San Antonio. https://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/Article/4261826/coast-guard-celebrates-235-years-protecting-nations-waterways/
Like an early DOGE or something:
Fields, Gary. “A Year After Trump’s DOGE Cuts, Workers Whose Lives Were Upended Ask What Was Saved.” March 27, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/a-year-after-trumps-doge-cuts-workers-whose-lives-were-upended-ask-what-was-saved
While Civics on the Rocks didn't actually find an answer to this question, we’re sure they had something that gave them paper authorization, because otherwise they’re kind of pirate-y. Feel free to look for it for yourselves:
National Archives. “Records of the United States Revenue Cutter Service (USRCS).” Reviewed January 11, 2023. https://www.archives.gov/research/military/coast-guard/revenue-cutter-service
And it’s not a letter of marque or reprisal:
Mulligan, Steve P. “Letters of Marque and Reprisal (Part 1): Introduction and Historical Context.” February 26, 2025. Congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11272
And those are called origin statutes, by the way, or organic statutes:
Ballotpedia. “Organic Statute.” https://ballotpedia.org/Organic_statute
Some of it is, also, due process rights:
Constitution Annotated. “Amdt14.S1.3 Due Process Generally.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt14-S1-3/ALDE_00013743/
We couldn’t find a comprehensive list of agencies that use administrative warrants, but multiple ones are authorized to do so, including the Environmental Protective Agency (EPA).
Let’s do the EPA, that’s a fun one:
Oh, postal inspectors(!):
United States Postal Inspection Service. “Security: It Comes With the Stamp.” https://www.uspis.gov/
The EPA has people who enforce EPA regulations:
EPA. “Criminal Enforcement: Special Agents.” https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-enforcement-special-agents
Some of what they do, like postal inspectors, it could be a civil thing, it could also be a criminal thing:
Office of Inspector General. “Office of Investigations.” https://www.uspsoig.gov/about-us/office-investigations
Things like wire tapping:
Legal Information Institute. “Wiretapping.” Reviewed July 2024. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/wiretapping
Damn spot:
Shakespeare. “The Tragedy of Macbeth: Act 5, Scene 1.” https://shakespeare.mit.edu/macbeth/macbeth.5.1.html
You’re on oath or affirmation:
Legal Information Institute. “22 CFR § 92.18 - Oaths and affirmations defined.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/22/92.18
Now, we’re playing Clue:
The Strong National Museum of Play. “Clue.” https://www.museumofplay.org/toys/clue/
Yes, Anne can go into Steve’s house to arrest him with her warrant:
Wallentine, Ken. “Whose House Is This? I Think I Know.” 2023. Lexipol. https://www.lexipol.com/resources/blog/whose-house-is-this-i-think-i-know/
And then somebody pulls over Steve, and runs his license and registration through SCMODS:
https://youtu.be/pwqwSukyBvg?si=Kz9XB3WL4-k0vU9S
Yes, in most cases, Anne would need a separate warrant to take Steve’s DNA:
National Institute of Justice. “DNA–A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook Inventory.” https://nij.ojp.gov/nij-hosted-online-training-courses/dna-prosecutors-practice-notebook-inventory/preparing-cases-involving-dna/admissibility/court-order-or-search-warrant
So, the phone question is a little more complicated. As one legal source noted, phone technology evolves faster than the law does. If a legal authority figure uses your face to open your phone without your permission, you have a case to bring an unlawful search complaint against them. However, most legal sources we found recommend you use a strong password:
Old, Jake. “Privacy Implications of Biometric Phone Encryption in Police Investigations.” Tennessee Bar Association. https://www.tba.org/?pg=crimjustice
It’s not civil because it’s a misdemeanor:
Legal Information Institute. “Misdemeanor.” Reviewed August 2021. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/misdemeanor
So, the two Supreme Court cases that Mack describes did occur, but they happened two years apart.
The phone search was unlawful:
Oyez. “Riley v. California.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/2013/13-132
But the full body cavity search, because it was motivated by the fact that the police are responsible for the safety of all persons onsite, that search was permissible:
Oyez. “Florence v. Board of Chosen Freeholders of the County of Burlington. https://www.oyez.org/cases/2011/10-945
Welcome to being a woman in America:
Center for Reproductive Rights. “Bodily Autonomy Fact Sheet Series: Abortion, Gender-Affirming Care, and the Fourteenth Amendment.” July 22, 2025. https://reproductiverights.org/resources/bodily-autonomy-fourteenth-amendment-fact-sheet/
Hot pursuit—it was a term that was made a thing by the Supreme Court…:
Justia. “United States v. Santana, 427 U.S. 38 (1976).” https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/427/38/
…not Roscoe P. Coltrane:
https://youtu.be/mPHnfcg6sPA?si=X4Tul9x0QxMHJHnN
In case you were wondering, hot pursuit comes from maritime law, where a nation’s ships are justified to pursue invaders into international waters, and its first known use was in 1743:
Merriam-Webster. “Hot Pursuit: Word History.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20pursuit#word-history
So, about the rocket propelled grenade launcher—it’s kind of a good news, bad news thing. So, Texas has declared private ownership of such weapons to be illegal…:
Texas Constitution and Statutes. “Sec. 46.05. Prohibited Weapons.” https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/?tab=1&code=PE&chapter=PE.46&artSec=46.05
…unless they are registered under the National Firearms Act:
ATF. “National Firearms Act.” https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/laws-alcohol-tobacco-firearms-and-explosives/national-firearms-act
It depends on what you want to do with the fact pattern of the story:
Stockwell Law Firm. “How to Write an Effective Legal Fact Pattern: A Step-by-Step Guide.” https://www.stockwelllawfirm.com/single-post/how-to-write-an-effective-legal-fact-pattern-a-step-by-step-guide
The term for that is exigent circumstances:
Legal Information Institute. “Exigent Circumstances.” Reviewed December 2022. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/exigent_circumstances
ICE, who many people in this country feel are acting illegally and outside of the bounds for which they were created:
Epstein, Kayla. “What is ICE and What Powers Do Its Agents Have to Use Force?” February 4, 2026. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp80ljjd5rwo
And many of those people are federal judges:
Cheney, Kyle. “Our Running List of Judges Who Rule on ICE’s Mass Detention Policy.” Updated April 3, 2026. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/18/trump-judges-immigration-detention-00784614?_sp_pass_consent=true
They have internal legal advice that tells them their administrative warrants are perfectly fine for entering people’s homes:
James, Hannah. “DHS Warrantless Home Entry Memo’s Fourth Amendment Problem.” Updated February 4, 2026. Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/dhs-warrantless-home-entry-memos-fourth-amendment-problem
Including knocking down doors and using explosives to breach them to do so:
Brook, Jack. “A U.S. Citizen Says ICE Forced Open the Door to His Minnesota Home and Removed Him in His Underwear After a Warrantless Search.” January 20, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/a-u-s-citizen-says-ice-forced-open-the-door-to-his-minnesota-home-and-removed-him-in-his-underwear-after-a-warrantless-search
We just generally said ICE, but sometimes it’s Border Patrol:
Mehta, Sarah. “Border Patrol Agents Replace Top Leadership at ICE Offices Despite Human Rights Violations.” November 6, 2025. ACLU. https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/border-patrol-agents-replace-top-leadership-at-ice-offices-despite-human-rights-violations
The incredible lack of training:
Bennett, Geoff and Anderson, Jonah. “Whistleblower Warns ICE Has Slashed Training for Recruits [Video and transcript].” PBS News Hour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/whistleblower-warns-ice-has-slashed-training-for-recruits
Which is why some of the guys have shot themselves:
Rahman, Billal and Gooding, Dan. “ICE Agents Keep Accidentally Shooting Themselves.” Updated February 20, 2026. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/ice-agents-keep-accidentally-shooting-themselves-11540132
In some of these encounters, like Renee Good…:
Schuppe, Jon and Smith, Patrick. “Minneapolis Police, Fire Department Reports Reveal Chaotic Moments After ICE Officer Fatally Shot Renee Good.” Updated January 16, 2026. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/minneapolis-police-fire-department-reports-reveal-chaotic-moments-ice-rcna254362
…and others:
McSwane, J. David. “Two CBP Agents Identified in Alex Pretti Shooting.” February 1, 2026. ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/alex-pretti-shooting-cbp-agents-identified-jesus-ochoa-raymundo-gutierrez
Learn what you can do, what you can’t do, and what you shouldn’t do:
Yoon, Byul. “Your Questions Answered: Filming ICE Interactions Safely.” March 3, 2026. ACLU. https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/your-questions-answered-filming-ice-interactions-safely
They are murdering people:
Bennet, Geoff and Norris, Courtney. “‘He Took My Son’s Life for Nothing,’ Says Mother of Man Killed by Immigration Agent [Video and transcript].” March 19, 2026. PBS News Hour.” https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/he-took-my-sons-life-for-nothing-says-mother-of-man-killed-by-immigration-agent
They have a habit of leaving:
Fanelli, Gino. “ICE Agents in the Park Ave Neighborhood Spark Large-Scale Protest.” September 9, 2025. WXXI News. https://www.wxxinews.org/local-news/2025-09-09/ice-agents-in-the-park-ave-neighborhood-spark-large-scale-protest
Specifically, ACLU:
ACLU. “Know Your Rights.” https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights
The marches, almost all of them, have been peaceful:
Reid, Tim and Brooks, Brad. “Anti-Trump Rallies Hit Thousands of U.S. Cities for ‘No Kings’ Protest.” Updated March 30, 2026. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/rallies-planned-thousands-us-cities-no-kings-protest-against-trump-2026-03-28/
Regular citizens in Minnesota:
Janssen, Emma. “When ICE Blows Through Rural America.” March 30, 2026. The American Prospect. https://prospect.org/2026/03/30/apr-2026-magazine-when-ice-blows-through-rural-america-minnesota/
The guy who was the head of the Border Patrol operation in Minnesota was removed from that:
Raza, Sarah and Fingerhut, Hannah. “Minnesota Launches Probe That Could Bring Charges Against Federal Immigration Officers.” March 3, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/minnesota-launches-probe-that-could-bring-charges-against-federal-immigration-officers
Including law enforcement of the state and local variety:
Yang, Hannah; Sepic, Matt; and Schaper, David. “St. Peter Police Chief Intervened and Got Federal Agents to Release Resident, Sources Say.” Updated January 31, 2026. MPR News. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/01/30/st-peter-police-chief-intervenes-prevents-federal-agents-from-arresting-resident
Our first cocktail was a Scofflaw:
https://www.liquor.com/recipes/scofflaw/
It is kumquats where you eat the peel of the citrus:
Fox 13 Tampa Bay. “How to Eat a Kumquat [Video].” https://youtu.be/OmiUgaic2nE?si=2DSoq-gt1zDlv-f0
Second cocktail was the Algonquin:
https://www.liquor.com/algonquin-cocktail-recipe-8383879
Which was named for the hotel in New York City:
https://www.algonquinhotel.com/
Sake is not a wine, it is its own thing:
Wine and Spirit Education Trust. “5 Sake Facts Every Drinks Professional Needs to Know.” May 2024. https://www.wsetglobal.com/knowledge-centre/blog/2024/march/05/5-sake-facts-every-drinks-professional-needs-to-know/
27 CFR, Section 5.143 defines whiskey:
Code of Federal Regulations. “27 CFR 5.143.” https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-27/section-5.143
You can find whiskeys made from quinoa, for example:
Peters, Josh. “Corsair Quinoa Whiskey Review.” February 10, 2016. The Whiskey Jug. https://thewhiskeyjug.com/american-whiskey/corsair-quinoa-whiskey-review/
In the interest of full disclosure, since recording this podcast, Civics on the Rocks has discovered that someone has indeed made a rice whisky:
Burke, Eric. “J. T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey.” November 30, 2022. Bourbon Guy. https://www.bourbonguy.com/blog/2022/11/30/jt-meleck-american-rice-whiskey
No, because there is no honey:
Hive Mind Mead. “The History of Mead.” https://hivemindmead.com/pages/mead-101-everything-about-mead
The law has, indeed, changed and it is now totally fine to have a home distillery in Texas:
Capriglione, Giovanni. “HB 2278.” Texas Policy Research. https://www.texaspolicyresearch.com/bills/89th-legislature-hb-2278/
As of this podcast, World Market no longer sells a home brew sake kit. However, several other companies do online, in case you wanted to find something like that. (Anne's out. This is on you.)
I don’t know if you ever saw the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi:
https://youtu.be/0VB_DrsHDQ0?si=8YjFvlhvUCGrX4a5
It’s like family delineated:
Japan. “Exploring the Soul of Japanese Sake Breweries Across the Tohoku Region.” January 2022. https://www.japan.travel/en/japan-magazine/2201_exploring-soul-japanese-sake-breweries-across-tohoku-region/
It’s not tequila:
Forget, A. J. “The Difference Between Agave Spirits and Tequila.” May 14, 2025. The Takeout. https://www.thetakeout.com/1854905/agave-spirits-vs-tequila-difference/
A growing whiskey history in Japan:
Japan. “Japanese Whisky.” https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/japanese-whisky/
That’s how you go blind:
Claw Hammer Supply. “Can Making Alcohol at Home Make You Go Blind [Video]?” https://youtube.com/shorts/5VAogia7Oow?si=Zv9RFa0kI0Svhyb9
A packed column…:
Chemical Packings. “Essential Guide to Packed Bed Column Design.” November 24, 2024. https://www.chemicalpackings.com/article/packed-column.html
…not a tray column:
Chemical Packings. “Distillation Column Trays and Packing: A Comprehensive Overview.” February 1, 2025. https://www.chemicalpackings.com/article/distillation-column-tray.html
We’re going to need black suits, black hats, sunglasses, black ties:
https://youtu.be/WZ3zZ-aWi6U?si=y9W6WUMxjdJg6qmi
Or NATO straps:
Horus Watch Straps. “What is a NATO Watch Strap?” https://www.horusstraps.com/blogs/news/what-is-a-nato-watch-strap?srsltid=AfmBOor5YD3GFgPYbTCgfbQm0h7uHsSAUlMhsjd2IsocQvX5lWQnp-1B
Original Bond or vintage Bond, Bond 2021, and modern Bond:
Esprit Nato. “NATO Strap and James Bond.” https://www.esprit-nato.com/en/content/10-nato-watch-strap-band-and-james-bond-007
Goldfinger, in the beginning of the movie:
https://youtu.be/NVg23yjKl1g?si=TisLfRcSQ8sjQHke
No Time to Die actually starred Daniel Craig:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2382320/
Quantum of Solace:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830515/
You wanna fun fact? Sean Connery’s wetsuit is not an authentic wetsuit or dry suit. Here’s someone with a much more thorough explanation than Anne’s:
Spaiser, Matt. “The Black Diving Suit in Goldfinger.” November 4, 2024. Bond Suits. https://www.bondsuits.com/the-black-diving-suit-in-goldfinger/
So, there’s wetsuits and dry suits:
Mustang Survival. “The Difference Between Wetsuits and Dry Suits.” May 21, 2025. https://mustangsurvival.com/blogs/resources/the-difference-between-wetsuits-and-dry-suits
So, for our last cocktail, we went back to a Saratoga:
https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/2196/saratoga-cocktail
ICE is still in Minnesota:
Collins, Jon and Martin, Kate. “Half of Those Arrested by Federal Agents in Minnesota This Winter Have Already Been Deported.” April 3, 2026. MPR News. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/03/half-of-those-arrested-by-federal-agents-in-minnesota-this-winter-have-already-been-deported
And cars:
NBC10 Philadelphia. “ICE Agents Smash Car Window During Arrest of Man in Cumberland County [Video].” March 28, 2026. https://youtu.be/zN2MWICVb24?si=hsTequ2py3HGhrop
And sending people, including little kids, to concentration camps:
Martínez-Beltrán, Sergio. “ICE Detention Deaths Are on a Record Pace. One Texas Facility Bears the Brunt.” April 3, 2026. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2026/04/03/nx-s1-5754749/ice-detention-deaths-are-on-a-record-pace-one-texas-facility-bears-the-brunt
And they literally have:
Goodman, Joshua and Sullivan, Tim. “They Thought They Were in Court for a Routine Immigration Hearing, But Walked Into a Deportation Trap.” November 19, 2025. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/they-thought-they-were-in-court-for-a-routine-immigration-hearing-but-walked-into-a-deportation-trap
Minnesota Public Radio:
The national news is a business, it’s an entertainment industry:
Seth, Shobhit; Brock, Thomas; and Velasquez, Vikki. “The World’s Top 10 News Media Companies.” January 15, 2026. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/021815/worlds-top-ten-news-companies-nws-gci-trco-nyt.aspx
Texas Public Radio:
The Texas Tribune:
A Texas journalist named Olivia Messer:
https://thebarbedwire.com/author/olivia/
The Barbed Wire:
A story they did in the aftermath of the July 4th floods:
Rangel, Leslie and Messer, Olivia. “‘It’s a Waking Nightmare’: Camp Mystic Alum Recalls Flood That Hit the Same Cabins in 1987.’” The Barbed Wire. July 8, 2025. https://thebarbedwire.com/2025/07/08/camp-mystic-alum-remembers-past-flood/
ProPublica:
And “dun-dun” is a reference to the television show Law and Order. But you already knew that.
Monday Mar 16, 2026
Monday Mar 02, 2026
Monday Mar 02, 2026
VOTE IN THE MARCH 3 TEXAS PRIMARY ELECTION. In this episode, we head back to Texas and discuss why this isn’t as off a year as you might think. Also, if you haven’t done it yet, VOTE!
References
March 3 are the primaries in Texas:
Texas Secretary of State. “March 3, 2026 Primary Election Law Calendar and May 26, 2026 Primary Runoff Election Law Calendar.” https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/advisory2025-17-mar-3-2026-primary-elec-law-cal-and-may-26-2026-primary-runoff-elec-law-cal.shtml
We had a whole episode on primaries:
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-2szpe-1544115
It’s an election among the Republican candidates for office to decide who is going to be the Republican candidate in the general election, and then you have the Democratic candidates for office—same deal:
Drusch, Andrea. “How Does the Primary Election Work in Texas?” February 16, 2026. San Antonio Report. https://sanantonioreport.org/how-does-the-primary-election-work-in-texas/
Except Iowa:
Hull, Christopher C. “Iowa caucuses.” Updated February 1, 2024. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Iowa-caucuses
There are open primaries, blanket primaries, closed primaries:
USA.gov. “Presidential Primaries and Caucuses.” February 25, 2026. https://www.usa.gov/primaries-caucuses
Texas has been characterized as a modified open or a modified closed:
Ballotpedia. “Primary Elections in Texas.” https://ballotpedia.org/Primary_elections_in_Texas
New York has a closed primary:
Ballotpedia. “Primary Elections in New York.” https://ballotpedia.org/Primary_elections_in_New_York
Whereas in Minnesota, they have same day voter registration:
Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. “Register on Election Day.” https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/register-to-vote/register-on-election-day/
In Texas, you have to have registered in advance:
VoteTexas.gov. “Texas Voter Registration Information.” https://www.votetexas.gov/register-to-vote/
Fact check—For the general election, you can vote for any party regardless of how you voted in the primary. However, you have to vote the same party in primary run-offs as you did in the primary. You do NOT have to vote in the primary in order to vote in a primary run-off:
Ingram, Keith. “Election Advisory N. 2020-05.” February 11, 2020. Texas Secretary of State. https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/advisory2020-05.shtml
Since Mack mentioned voter ID cards, we’d like to provide some additional information we have learned about since recording this podcast. Due to redistricting, several voter ID cards have not been issued in time for the primary election. This does not affect you if you are registered. You can still vote even without a voter ID card:
Pope, Pachatta. “Voter Registration Cards Delayed by Redistricting, But Not Needed to Vote.” February 15, 2026. KSAT. https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/02/16/voter-registration-cards-delayed-by-redistricting-but-not-needed-to-vote/
Things like equal protection…:
Constitution Annotated. “Fourteenth Amendment Equal Protection and Other Rights.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-14/
…and due process still apply:
Constitution Annotated. “Amdt14.S1.3 Due Process Generally.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt14-S1-3/ALDE_00013743/
In Texas, there was the White primaries case:
Oyez. “Smith v. Allwright.” https://www.oyez.org/cases/1940-1955/321us649
They have changed the rules about postmarks on the mail-in ballots:
Contreras, Natalia. “Postal Service Changes Mean Texas Voters Shouldn’t Wait to Mail Voter Registrations and Ballots.” January 21, 2026. VoteBeat.org. https://www.votebeat.org/texas/2026/01/21/usps-postal-service-postmark-mail-ballot-voter-registration-deadline/
If you are eligible to do a mail-in ballot in Texas:
VoteTexas.gov. “Voting by Mail Eligibility Requirements.” https://www.votetexas.gov/voting-by-mail/eligibility-requirements.html
There is a way to check if your ballot was received:
VoteTexas.gov. “Track My Ballot and Correct ID Information.” https://www.votetexas.gov/voting-by-mail/track-my-ballot.html
The Bexar County Elections Department has been very good about putting out information about the new rules:
https://www.bexar.org/1568/Elections-Department
We voted this in, that we will require certain forms of voter ID to prove that you’re a U.S. citizen:
Contreras, Natalia. “Bill Requiring Voters to Show Proof of Citizenship Clears Texas Senate.” April 1, 2025. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/01/texas-proof-of-citizenship-voting-senate-bill-16/
We’re not the only ones that did stuff like that (to clarify, not Florida in this case, Anne just has a low opinion of their elected officials):
Ballotpedia. “Proof of Citizenship Requirements for Voter Registration by State.” https://ballotpedia.org/Proof_of_citizenship_requirements_for_voter_registration_by_state
There are still several different forms of valid ID:
VoteTexas.gov. “Identification Requirements for Voting.” http://votetexas.gov/voting/need-id.html
There’s been a lot of news about the SAVE act:
Sweren-Becker, Eliza and Bacskai, Owen. “New SAVE Act Bills Would Still Block Millions of Americans From Voting.” Updated February 9, 2026. Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/new-save-act-bills-would-still-block-millions-americans-voting
Conservative opinion leaders that have talked about repealing the Nineteenth Amendment, or saying things on Fox News like a wife should just vote the way her husband tells her to:
Padilla, Mariel; Panetta, Grace; and Barclay, Mel Leonor. “Who’s Questioning Women’s Right to Vote?” August 12, 2025. 19thNews.org. https://19thnews.org/2025/08/pete-hegseth-doug-wilson-women-voting/
Where are the cases of any kind of voter fraud:
Brennan Center for Justice. “Project: The Myth of Voter Fraud.” https://www.brennancenter.org/topics/voting-elections/vote-suppression/myth-voter-fraud
Double-check that you’re registered:
Texas.gov. “Texas Voter Registration.” https://www.texas.gov/living-in-texas/texas-voter-registration/
You can order one. (Note, this reference is for Texas. To obtain a birth certificate, you must order from the state you were born in.):
Texas Health and Human Services. “Order A Birth Certificate.” https://ovra.txapps.texas.gov/ovra/order-birth-certificate
That’s because of them fully implementing the Real ID Act:
Texas Department of Public Safety. “Federal Real ID Act.” https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/federal-real-id-act
They don’t have badges:
Cameron, Dell and Haskins, Caroline. “FBI Warns of Criminals Posing as ICE, Urges Agents to ID Themselves.” November 4, 2025. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/fbi-warns-of-criminals-posing-as-ice-urges-agents-to-id-themselves/
If you happen to live in a town where ICE is buying warehouses:
Sterling, Phil. “Massive San Antonio Warehouse to be Turned Into 1,500-bed ICE Processing Center.” February 13, 2026. News4SA. https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/new-details-on-wearhouse-to-be-turned-into-ice-processing-center-texas-mexico-immigration-detention-department-of-homeland-security
Basically, every major office in Texas is up for vote right now:
Astudillo, Carla and Méndez, María. “Here’s Your Texas 2026 March Primary Ballot.” January 6, 2026. The Texas Tribune. https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/
Alas, Ted Cruz is not up:
Ballotpedia. “Ted Cruz.” https://ballotpedia.org/Ted_Cruz
Texas changed their districts, recently, through some partisan gerrymandering to try to pick-up five more seats:
Lo Wang, Hansi. “Supreme Court Lets Texas Use Gerrymandered Map That Could Give GOP 5 More House Seats.” December 4, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/12/04/nx-s1-5619692/supreme-court-texas-redistricting-map
When the national polling has shifted dramatically toward Democrats:
Morris, G. Elliott. “Seven Data-Driven Lessons From the 2025 Elections.” November 5, 2025. Strength in Numbers. https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/seven-data-driven-takeaways-from
Buy our merch:
https://www.redbubble.com/people/CivcsRocks/shop?asc=u
Look at Fort Worth:
Hanna, John. “Texas Democrat Taylor Rehmet Flips Republican State Senate Seat Trump Won by 17 Points.” February 2, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/texas-democrat-taylor-rehmet-flips-republican-state-senate-seat-trump-won-by-17-points
But it was really cold that weekend:
Davis, Sarah. “Texas House Republican Blames Special Election Stunner on Winter Storm.” February 2, 2026. The Hill. https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5718666-pete-sessions-texas-election-weather/
The fact that Democrats have, in I don’t know how long, put up candidates in every race:
Guo, Kayla. “Texas Democrats Fill Every State and Federal Race on 2026 Ballot, a First for Either Party.” December 7, 2025. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/17/texas-democrats-down-ballot-2026/
They got the toe in the little pool of self-destruction:
Bowman, Bridget. “Viral Dispute Over ‘Mediocre’ Comment Exposes Racial Divides in Democrats’ Texas Senate Primary.” February 5, 2026. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/viral-dispute-mediocre-comment-exposes-racial-divides-democrats-texas-rcna257284
Desperation in the Republican ads:
Crampton, Liz; Carney, Jordain; Benson, Samuel; Gangitano, Alex; and Wren, Adam. “Republicans are Freaking Out Over Texas Senate Race.” February 26, 2026. Politico. https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/26/republicans-alarm-grows-about-holding-texas-senate-seat-00799856
Some of their advertising is just disgusting:
Birenbaum, Gabby. “Anti-Islam Rhetoric Takes Center Stage in Texas Republican Primary.” January 26, 2026. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/26/texas-republicans-sharia-law-anti-muslim-rhetoric/
In pretty blue San Antonio:
Drusch, Andrea. “5 Takeaways From San Antonio’s 2025 City Election.” June 12, 2025. San Antonio Report. https://sanantonioreport.org/5-takeaways-from-san-antonios-2025-city-election/
They only have, like, 219 in the House:
U.S. House of Representatives Press Gallery. “Party Breakdown.” https://pressgallery.house.gov/member-data/party-breakdown
The Republican party has been in control of the state for about a quarter century:
Ballotpedia. “Party Control of Texas State Government.” https://ballotpedia.org/Party_control_of_Texas_state_government
Where Steve found the recipe for our Irish coffees, and one of his favorite authors:
Larry Niven. Playgrounds of the Mind. 1991. Tor Books.
Here’s all the board games we mentioned in a short amount of time.
Darwin’s Journey:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/322289/darwins-journey
Botany: A Victorian Expedition:
https://duxsomnium.com/pages/botany
Twilight Struggle:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333/twilight-struggle
Pan Am:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/303057/pan-am
Mapmaker: The Gerrymandering Game:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/252997/mapmaker-the-gerrymandering-game
1960: The Making of the President:
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/27708/1960-the-making-of-the-president
About a month ago, lasers in El Paso:
Lubold, Gordon; Kube, Courtney; De Luce, Dan. And Gains, Mosheh. “CBP Shot Down Party Balloons With Anti-Drone Tech Before FAA Closed El Paso Airspace, Sources Say.” February 12, 2026. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/cbp-shot-party-balloons-anti-drone-tech-faa-closed-el-paso-airspace-so-rcna258731
More recently, lasers in El Paso:
Gains, Mosheh; Helsel, Phil; and The Associated Press. “U.S. Military Reportedly Used a Laser to Shoot Down Customs and Border Protection Drone, Sparking New Air Closure.” February 26, 2026. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/us-military-used-laser-take-border-protection-drone-lawmakers-say-rcna260887
A very large military base, Fort Bliss:
Military.com. “Fort Bliss Army Base Guide.” https://www.military.com/base-guide/fort-bliss
It’s essentially a city of a million people with a country line between it:
Communications and Publishing. “El Paso – Juarez [Satellite image].” USGS. https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/el-paso-juarez
Through the lens of a September 11:
Bergen, Peter L. “September 11 Attacks.” Updated December 9, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/September-11-attacks
NORTHCOM:
https://www.northcom.mil/HomelandDefense/
This isn’t a pointer laser, which should never be used around an airport:
Public Affairs Officer. “The FBI Reminds the Public About the Severity of Laser Strikes Toward Aircraft.” February 25, 2026. FBI. https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/cleveland/news/the-fbi-reminds-the-public-about-the-severity-of-laser-strikes-toward-aircraft
This is one of these tactical high-powered lasers:
Demarest, Colin. “Laser Weapon That Shut Down El Paso’s Skies Was LOCUST System.” February 12, 2026. Axios. https://www.axios.com/2026/02/12/el-paso-laser-weapon-locust-drone
This is not just something you can pull out of your backpack:
Defense Updates. “What Can AeroVironment LOCUST Laser Weapon System Do for U.S. Military [YouTube video]?” https://youtu.be/huTcf6aoKMM?si=aXi_qCbyG3yFd76D
The mayor found out from the morning news:
Kim, Seung Min; Finley, Ben; Jalonick, Mary Clare; Lee, Morgan; and Boak, Josh. “Pentagon-FAA Dispute Over Lasers to Thwart Cartel Drones Led to Airspace Closure, AP Sources Say.” February 11, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/pentagon-faa-dispute-over-lasers-to-thwart-cartel-drones-led-to-airspace-closure-ap-sources-say
The Malaysian Airlines flight over Ukraine:
United Nations. “UN Aviation Council Finds Russia Responsible for Downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight.” May 13, 2025. https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/05/1163161
There was a midair collision between a U.S. Army helicopter and a passenger plane:
Skores, Alexandra. “Chain of Errors Led to Deadly Midair Collision Near Washington, DC, Investigators Conclude.” Updated February 27, 2026. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/17/us/washington-dc-plane-crash-cause
They slashed the budgets and fired people:
Copp, Tara. “Some of the 400 Jobs That Were Cut at the FAA Helped Support Air Safety, a Union Says.” Updated February 19, 2025. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/faa-firings-trump-doge-safety-airlines-27390c6a7aac58063652302df5a243d3
There are, apparently, nine Manhattans:
GeoTargit.com “How Many Places are Named Manhattan?” https://geotargit.com/called.php?qcity=Manhattan
Anne was incorrect, there was never a tribe that called themselves Manhattan. Colonizers assigned the name Manhattan to any native peoples they encountered on the island:
Schenawolf, Harry. “How Manhattan Island of New York was Named.” March 28, 2015. Revolutionary War Journal. https://revolutionarywarjournal.com/manhattan-name-sources/
Mack’s being a bit pedantic. The Army Corps of Engineers officially created the Manhattan Engineer District but, even at the time, it was commonly referred to as the Manhattan Project:
Atomic Heritage Foundation. “The Manhattan Project.” May 12, 2017. https://ahf.nuclearmuseum.org/ahf/history/manhattan-project/
In case, like Steve, you get your types of luminescence confused too:
Physical Chemistry. “Types of Luminescence [YouTube video].” https://youtu.be/B1Z7iD2FlJA?si=rT5dC0DDKff5Nsvi
They have to drink the radioactive stuff for the scans:
Cleveland. “PET Scan.” Updated October 29, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/10123-pet-scan
The FBI raided Fulton County in Georgia:
Levine, Sam and Chidi, George. “Debunked Claims From Election Deniers Influenced FBI Raid in Georgia, Affidavit Reveals.” February 10, 2026. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/fbi-raid-fulton-county-voting-office-search-affidavit
Including Mike “Fucking” Johnson is up for election:
Hilburn, Greg. “Speaker Mike Johnson Qualifies for Re-election, Predicts GOP Will Defy History in Midterms.” February 11, 2026. Shreveport Times. https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2026/02/11/house-speaker-mike-johnson-qualifies-for-re-election-predicts-gop-gains/88613862007/
Like Epstein file votes:
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Did Congress Vote to Release the Epstein Files?” Updated February 27, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/question/Did-Congress-vote-to-release-the-Epstein-files
The tariff thing:
McCarthy, Mia and Desrochers, Daniel. “GOP Revolt Sinks Effort to Block Votes on Trump’s Tariffs.” February 10, 2026. Politico. https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/02/10/congress/gop-revolt-sinks-effort-to-block-votes-on-trumps-tariffs-00775107
The Republicans made that a thing:
Chidi, George. “From Praise to Rage: Conservative Response to Epstein Release is Mixed.” December 20, 2025. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/20/conservative-response-epstein-release
He’s the most mentioned person in the Epstein files:
Herb, Jeremy and Cohen, Marshall. “What 3 Million New Documents Tell Us About Trump’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein.” Updated January 31, 2026. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/31/politics/new-documents-trump-epstein
What are other countries’ governments doing about it:
CBS Mornings. “Epstein Files Fallout Prompts Investigations in At Least 10 Countries [YouTube video].” February 16, 2026. https://youtu.be/0fTIZaVJ1z0?si=ZzVxeI8vNdt9U89-
Or Pam Bondi:
Greene, Connor. “Pam Bondi Declines to Directly Apologize to Epstein Victims During Capitol Hill Testimony.” February 11, 2026. Time. https://time.com/7377755/bondi-epstein-victims-files-house-hearing/
There’s a lot of Republicans in Texas, right now, sweating:
McCaskill, Nolan D. “As Trump Allies Battle in Texas, A Safe Republican Senate Seat Suddenly Looks Fragile.” February 27, 2026. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-allies-battle-texas-safe-republican-senate-seat-suddenly-looks-fragile-2026-02-27/
Look at the grand juries over the last year:
Lee, Ella. “Grand Juries Take on Growing Importance Amid Trump’s Legal Retribution Campaign.” February 15, 2026. The Hill. https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5738221-grand-juries-trump-interference/
Or the streets of Minneapolis:
NPR. “Special Series: Minneapolis Shootings and Protests.” https://www.npr.org/series/g-s1-107333/minneapolis-shootings-protests
The Texas Tribune, who have been doing an excellent job providing voter information in the State of Texas:
The Texas Tribune. “Texas Votes 2026.” https://www.texastribune.org/2026-vote/
Our podcast favorite, Vote411.org by the League of Women Voters:
And “jazz hands” is a dance move that involves holding your hands up, palms out, and shaking them. But you already knew that.
Monday Feb 16, 2026
Monday Feb 02, 2026
Monday Feb 02, 2026
Steve points out the squishiness, Mack plays Devil’s advocate, and Anne declares war on Switzerland.
REFERENCES
The executive power shall be vested in a President:
Constitution Annotated. “ArtII.S1.C1.1 Overview of Executive Vesting Clause.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C1-1/ALDE_00013790/
President shall also be Commander in Chief of the armed forces:
Legal Information Institute. “Commander in Chief Powers.” Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/commander_in_chief_powers
Article I, Section 8, Clause 11, like we all know:
Constitution Annotated. “Clause 11 War Powers.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-8/clause-11/
There’s this other part that says the President shall make sure that the laws be faithfully executed:
Constitution Annotated. “ArtII.S3.3.1 Overview of Take Care Clause.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S3-3-1/ALDE_00001160/
Other than, what is war:
Merriam-Webster. “War.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/war
Going back to the Barbary pirates:
Office of the Historian. “Barbary Wars, 1801–1805 and 1815–1816.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1801-1829/barbary-wars
In the Navy Act:
Bisno, Adam. “President Washington Signs the Naval Act of 1794.” March 20, 2019. Naval History and Heritage Command. https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/heritage/origins-of-the-navy/washington-naval-act-1794.html
The famous six frigates:
Naval History and Heritage Command. “U.S. Navy’s Six Original Frigates.” https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/ships/original-frigates.html
Or an amendment later:
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. “An Act for the Protection of Commerce of the U.S. in the Mediterranean, Passed by the Senate February 1, 1802.” https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/artifact/act-protection-commerce-us-mediterranean-passed-senate-february-1-1802
The Law of the Sea:
National Ocean Service. “What is the Law of the Sea?” https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/lawofsea.html
The U.N. Charter has a “you can act in self-defense”:
Codification Division Publications. “Chapter VII—Action With Respect to Threats to the Peach, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression.” United Nations. https://legal.un.org/repertory/art51.shtml
Armed conflict versus war:
Save the Children. “What is Conflict and War?” https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/what-we-do/conflict-war
When did we declare war on Vietnam:
Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Was the Vietnam War Technically a War?” https://www.britannica.com/question/Was-the-Vietnam-War-technically-a-war
Was there a formal declaration of war:
United States Senate. “About Declarations of War by Congress.” https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/declarations-of-war.htm
George H. W. Bush said he did not believe he needed that authorization from Congress to proceed because it was a United Nations action:
Keller, Kate. “An Unlikely Hardliner, George H. W. Bush Was Ready to Push Presidential Powers.” May 14, 2018. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/unlikely-hardliner-george-h-w-bush-was-ready-push-presidential-powers-180969017/
Did Congress ever make a ruling on it:
United States House of Representatives. “House Passage of the 1991 Resolution Authorizing the Use of Force Against Iraq." https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail?id=35252
The Vietnam war doesn’t happen without Congress at some point voting for the money for it to happen:
Hughes, Ken. “The Myth That Congress Cut Off Funding for South Vietnam.” April 28, 2010. History News Network. https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/the-myth-that-congress-cut-off-funding-for-south-v
A coalition of allies:
CNN Editorial Research. “Gulf War Fast Facts.” Updated July 24, 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/world/middleeast/gulf-war-fast-facts
You had the Quasi-War with France, which was kind of weird:
Office of the Historian. “The XYZ Affair and the Quasi-War with France, 1798–1800.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1784-1800/xyz
They’re landlocked:
National Geographic Kids. “Switzerland.” https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/switzerland
They have the funds:
Taylor, Chloe. “The ‘Strongest Currency on Earth’ Just Hit an 11-Year High—and It’s Stirring Up Trouble in Switzerland.” Updated January 28, 2026. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/28/swiss-franc-us-dollar-price-fx-exchange-rate-trump-switzerland-snb-currency.html
That’s called portage, by the way:
Merriam-Webster. “Portage.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portage
Steve is correct, Switzerland is not in the showcase of nations at EPCOT:
Magic Guides. “What Are the Countries in EPCOT?” https://magicguides.com/countries-in-epcot-world-showcase/
Mack was closest. The executive branch of Switzerland is a Federal Council:
Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft. “Political System.” https://www.aboutswitzerland.eda.admin.ch/en/political-system
They’re going to invade our ears with their jamming music:
https://youtu.be/oqVy6eRXc7Q?si=wu03olgks0y9i0-B
What is imminent?
Merriam-Webster. “Imminent.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imminent
What is threat?
Merriam-Webster. “Threat.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threat
Unless you’re a state, actually. Article I, Section 10, Clause 3:
Constitution Annotated. “Clause 3 Acts Requiring Consent of Congress.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-10/clause-3/
I bring up Pearl Harbor:
Citino, Rob and Zemurray Stone, Samuel. “Pearl Harbor Attack, December 7, 1941.” National WWII Museum. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/topics/pearl-harbor-december-7-1941
Again, Mack knew what he was talking about. Here are the specifics of the Japanese fleet that attacked Pearl Harbor:
Pearl Harbor. “This of the Japanese Striking Force.” June 3, 2017. https://pearlharbor.org/blog/ships-japanese-striking-force/
Did they just turn around and go back to Japan? Where did they go afterward:
Pearl Harbor. “Japan’s Plans After Pearl Harbor.” https://pearlharbor.org/blog/japans-plans-pearl-harbor/
In case you, also, were not alive for this event:
Hartig, Hannah and Doherty, Carroll. “Two Decades Later, the Enduring Legacy of 9/11.” September 2, 2021. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/09/02/two-decades-later-the-enduring-legacy-of-9-11/
He gave the speech, “…the day that will live in infamy…”:
Library of Congress. “Speech by Franklin D. Roosevelt, New York (Transcript).” https://www.loc.gov/resource/afc1986022.afc1986022_ms2201/?st=text&r=-0.101,-0.296,1.111,1.327,0
Even during the Great Depression:
Richardson, Gary. “The Great Depression.” November 22, 2013. Federal Reserve History. https://www.federalreservehistory.org/essays/great-depression
Or are you Theodore Roosevelt and even if one American gets killed, we’re going to war:
National Park Service. “The Bull Moose in Winter: Theodore Roosevelt and World War I.” Updated March 7, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/articles/the-bull-moose-in-winter-theodore-roosevelt-and-world-war-i.htm
The War Powers Act was passed by Congress in 1973:
Britannica Editors. “War Powers Act.” January 22, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/topic/War-Powers-Act
Nixon vetoes it, expressing his belief that it is unconstitutional:
Nixon, Richard. “Veto of the War Powers Resolution.” October 24, 1973. The American Presidency Project. https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/veto-the-war-powers-resolution
Congress overrides the veto:
Congress. “War Powers Resolution. Expedited Procedures in the House and Senate.” https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R47603
Oh, like NATO:
Barrack Obama and Libya:
Britannica Editors. “Libya Revolt of 2011.” June 15, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Libya-Revolt-of-2011
The Obama administration issues a statement:
BBC. “White House: U.S. ‘Can Act in Libya Without Congress’.” June 15, 2011. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-13785073
Ordering the military to seize oil tankers:
Upadhyay, Brajesh and Sherman, Natalie. “U.S. Forces Seize a Sixth Venezuela-Linked Oil Tanker in Caribbean Sea.” January 15, 2026. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4qdnj5vl9o
Let’s do the lead up:
Finley, Ben; Toropin, Konstantin; and Garcia Cano, Regina. “A Timeline of U.S. Military Escalation Against Venezuela Leading to Maduro’s Capture.” January 3, 2025. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/a-timeline-of-u-s-military-escalation-against-venezuela-leading-to-maduros-capture
We started by bombing boats:
Associated Press. “U.S. Forces Carry Out First Known Strike on Alleged Drug Boat Since Maduro’s Capture.” January 23, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-forces-carry-out-first-known-strike-on-alleged-drug-boat-since-maduros-capture
We’ve been intercepting boats into our country running drugs for years:
Laliberte, Daniel A. “Enforcing the Law at Sea—The Rise of Drug Smugglers [Commentary].” March 28, 2025. United States Coast Guard. https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/4138215/enforcing-the-law-at-sea-the-rise-of-drug-smugglers/
This is an administration that has not had a real good track record with the idea of truth/evidence:
Desjardins, Lisa and Loffman, Matt. “Why Politifact Has Labeled 2025 the ‘Year of the Lies’ [Video and transcript].” December 31, 2025. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-politifact-has-labeled-2025-the-year-of-the-lies
Experts in the field, who know both about drug running, the country of Venezuela, and war tactics in international waters:
Singer, Jeffery A. “Trump’s Venezuela Gambit: An Incoherent Encore in a Failed Drug War.” December 3, 2025. CATO Institute. https://www.cato.org/blog/trumps-venezuela-gambit-incoherent-encore-failed-drug-war
Morgan, Annie W. and Halsell, James. “Drug Boats: Where Questions of Lethality and Legality Meet.” September 2025. U.S. Naval Institute. https://www.usni.org/lethality_and_legality
Venezuela does not border the eastern Pacific:
McCoy, Jennifer L. “Venezuela.” Updated January 4, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Venezuela
Unless you go through the Panama Canal:
Gordon, Burton L. “Panama Canal.” Updated December 8, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Panama-Canal
Venezuela is known for cocaine:
Ramirez Uribe, Maria. “Was Nicolas Maduro ‘Flooding’ the U.S. With Fentanyl, as White House Claims?” January 15, 2026. Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/1/15/was-nicolas-maduro-flooding-the-us-with-fentanyl-as-white-house-claims
They killed a lot of people:
Finley, Ben and Toropin, Konstantin. “Death Toll From U.S. Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats Reaches 126 People.” January 26, 2026. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-military-death-toll-venezuela-20cef307b035c386f390df846b6056b7
Before the war crime incident:
Finley, Ben and Toropin, Konstantin. “Experts Explain What the Law Says About Killing Survivors of a Boat Strike.” December 1, 2025. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-survivors-hegseth-72b0a498ca08615b2589c772a1d9e642
They released a video of the initial strike on the boat, and then refused to release the second strike on the boat:
Stein, Chris. “Pentagon Won’t Release Full Video of Caribbean Strike That Killed Two People, Hegseth Says.” December 16, 2025. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/16/pentagon-wont-release-full-video-caribbean-attack
The powers that be right now, in the United States, ordered that to happen:
Pigliucci, Cai; FitzGerald, James; and Drenon, Brandon. “Admiral Testified Hegseth Did Not Give ‘Kill them all’ order, U.S. lawmakers say.” December 4, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyxjd6pxzro
It is in two different manuals:
Finley, Ben and Toropin, Konstantin. “Experts Explain What the Law Says About Killing Survivors of a Boat Strike.” December 1, 2025. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-survivors-hegseth-72b0a498ca08615b2589c772a1d9e642
A more thorough explanation of what happened during the attack of Venezuela than we give in the podcast:
Nicholas, Peter; Tsirkin, Julie; Dixon, Matt; Alba, Monica; and Kube, Courtney. “A CIA Team, Steel Doors, and a Fateful Phone Call: How the U.S. Captured Maduro in Venezuela.” January 3, 2026. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/us-venezuela-strike-nicolas-maduro-captured-how-timeline-trump-rcna252041
Was arraigned a few days ago:
Intarasuwan, Kiki; Czachor, Emily May; Walsh, Joe; and Quinn, Mellisa. “Ousted Venezuelan President Maduro Arraigned in U.S. Court; Trump Threatens Other Nations.” Updated January 6, 2026. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/venezuela-trump-maduro-charges/
Maduro was an asshole:
McCoy, Jennifer L. “The Presidency of Nicolás Maduro.” Updated January 4, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Venezuela/The-presidency-of-Nicolas-Maduro
Did not recognize him as the current head of state:
Harrison, Chase; Gerbaud, Gladys; and Robertson, Khalea. “How Have International Leaders Responded to Venezuela’s 2024 Election?” August 19, 2024. Americas Society/Council of the Americas. https://www.as-coa.org/articles/how-have-international-leaders-responded-venezuelas-2024-election
What is he being charged with:
Slack, Donavan; Goodwin, Grace Eliza; and Epstein, Kayla. “What is Maduro Charged With and What is the Evidence?” January 5, 2026. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyndnqqey5o
In 1989, Manuel Noriega:
Britannica Editors. “Manuel Noriega.” Updated November 6, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Manuel-Noriega
The canal zone is still controlled by the United States:
Roy, Diana. “Who Controls the Panama Canal?” Updated January 29, 2025. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/articles/who-controls-panama-canal
There was a U.S. marine killed. Panama had declared war on the U.S.:
History.com Editors. “The U.S. Invades Panama.” Updated December 3, 2025. History.com. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/december-20/the-u-s-invades-panama
It’s not like it’s settled law that that was fine:
Scheffer, David J. “Maduro’s Capture and International Law: The Noriega Precedent.” January 6, 2026. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/articles/maduros-capture-and-international-law-noriega-precedent
The President, immediately, told the American public, we’re going to go into Venezuela and run it:
Jacobson, Louis and Ramirez Uribe, Maria. “Fact-Checking Trump’s Claims After U.S. Strike on Venezuela and Capture of Maduro.” January 4, 2026. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-trumps-claims-after-u-s-strike-on-venezuela-and-capture-of-maduro
Thank God, it’s Marco Rubio:
U.S. Department of State. “Marco Rubio.” https://www.state.gov/biographies/marco-rubio/
We’re fine with the Vice President as long as they do what we say:
Adams, Paul. “Analysis: Why Trump Chose Maduro’s VP Over Nobel Winner.” January 7, 2026. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77krp7m362o
Venezuela came in at some point and nationalized/took it all from them:
Gore, D’Angelo. “Explaining Trump’s Claim That Venezuela ‘Stole’ U.S. Oil.” January 14, 2026. https://www.factcheck.org/2026/01/explaining-trumps-claim-that-venezuela-stole-u-s-oil/
People are trying to discern what the strategic objective of the administration was:
Jeyaretnam, Miranda and de Guzman, Chad. “What’s Happening With the U.S. and Venezuela Explained.” January 12, 2026. Time. https://time.com/7344628/us-venezuela-trump-maduro-oil-drugs-war-explainer-questions-answered/
We might not actually see money from the oil:
Atwood, Kylie. “Before Capturing Maduro, Trump Admin Sought Lessons From Iraq War to Get Venezuela’s Oil Flowing.” January 29, 2026. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/29/politics/maduro-venezuela-oil-iraq-war-trump
They offered him to go into exile in comfort in Turkey:
Turkish Minute. “U.S. Senator Backs Reports Maduro was Offered Exile in Turkey Before Raid.” January 5, 2026. https://www.turkishminute.com/2026/01/05/us-senator-backs-reports-maduro-was-offered-exile-in-turkey-before-raid/
You just pardoned the President of Honduras for cocaine charges:
Yousif, Nadine. “What Was Honduras Ex-president Convicted of and Why has Trump Pardoned Him?” December 2, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qewln7912o
He was asked that at a press conference:
https://youtu.be/bI2hzRw73Bw?si=WcBre0QmGHVm8nCH
Marco Rubio, who was asked about that later:
https://youtu.be/tLGHbe4qgys?si=kILnMisDVeuVcTLE
Why do certain personalities subscribe to conspiracy theories:
Moul, Russell. “A Conspiracy Theory Mindset Can be Predicted by These Two Psychological Traits.” January 6, 2026. IFLScience. https://www.iflscience.com/a-conspiracy-theory-mindset-can-be-predicted-by-these-two-psychological-traits-82128
This is the Keystone cops:
https://youtu.be/GwUUUqgfu-E?si=4qhuKvTuT61sl5Hi
Soyer Au Champagne, from an Atlas Obscure article:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/soyer-au-champagne-cocktail
Saratoga:
https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/2196/saratoga-cocktail
Steve’s 12 Bottle Bar book:
Dave Solmonson. The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails With Just 12 Bottles. 2014. Workman Publishing Company.
The first of two Bobby Burns:
https://www.liquor.com/recipes/bobby-burns/
Burns Night in Scotland:
Scotland.org. “Burns Night.” https://www.scotland.org/events/burns-night
A variation on a Bobby Burns:
https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/2313/bobby-burns-crocketts-recipe
Craddock…:
Sutcliffe, Theodore. “Harry Craddock.” Difford’s Guide. https://www.diffordsguide.com/encyclopedia/2345/people/harry-craddock
…versus Crockett:
Cameron, Ian. “Albert Stevens Crockett.” Difford’s Guide. https://www.diffordsguide.com/encyclopedia/2864/people/albert-stevens-crockett
Fibonacci numbers:
Math is Fun. “Fibonacci Sequence.” https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fibonacci-sequence.html
What’s called the golden spiral or the golden rectangle or golden ratio:
Mathnasium. “Nine Examples of the Golden Ratio in Nature, From Pinecones to the Human Body.” July 25, 2024. https://www.mathnasium.com/blog/golden-ratio-in-nature
Disney World:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/
It’s a World’s Fair:
Findling, John. “World’s Fair.” Updated December 10, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/worlds-fair
It’s a Small World:
Walt Disney World. “It’s a Small World.” https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/its-a-small-world/
Mack is correct, her name was Mary Blair:
Canemaker, John. “About Mary Blair.” The Magic of Mary Blair. https://magicofmaryblair.com/about-mary/
We are the ultimate check—the primaries in Texas are on March 3:
And “global thermonuclear war” is a reference to the movie WarGames. But you already knew that.
Monday Jan 19, 2026
Monday Jan 12, 2026
Monday Jan 12, 2026
In this episode, we tackle war crimes. Please note that we record episodes in the month before they are posted—just in case you are wondering why we aren’t talking about one big event in particular.
REFERENCES
People have desecrated corpses throughout history:
Breed, Allen G. “Desecration of the Dead is as Old as War Itself.” January 13, 2012. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/nation-world/2012/01/14/desecration-dead-old-war-itself/15184013007/
Like a flag of truce:
Little, Becky. “How Did the White Flag Become a Symbol of Surrender?” Updated May 27, 2025. History.com. https://www.history.com/articles/when-did-the-white-flag-become-associated-with-surrender
Don’t kill the messenger:
Frank, David. “Chapter 19 – The Classical Origins and Modern Expressions of ‘Don’t Shoot the Messenger’.” September 4, 2025. Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/dont-shoot-the-journalists/classical-origins-and-modern-expressions-of-dont-shoot-the-messenger/97A99431730AA8701715ECB376467643
The Defenestration of Prague:
Britannica Editors. “Defenestration of Prague.” May 16, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/event/Defenestration-of-Prague-1618
One of the things that began the Thirty Years’ War in Europe:
Britannica Editors. “Thirty Years’ War.” Updated January 6, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/event/Thirty-Years-War
It ends with the treaty called the Peace of Westphalia:
Gesley, Jenny. “The Peach of Westphalia.” October 24, 2017. Library of Congress. https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2017/10/the-peace-of-westphalia/
The world today is composed of nation states:
Comstock, Nancy. W. “Nation State.” 2024. EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/politics-and-government/nation-state
Basically, at some point Europe colonized almost the entirety of the world:
Becker, Bastian. “European Overseas Colonies and Their Colonizers Over Time [Interactive map].” September 18, 2023. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/european-overseas-colonies-and-their-colonizers?time=earliest
This is probably not the video Steve was referencing, but it illustrates the point that everyone goes to war:
ABC News (Australia). “Dozens Killed in Tribal Fighting in Papua New Guinea [Video].” August 23, 2023. https://youtu.be/EhVpKBJESB8?si=3pIXT2kaNlcmKxQp
The most famous being the Hauge conventions:
HCCH. “Conventions and Other Instruments.” https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions
Most of the modern war crimes were as a result of World War II:
Penrose, Mary Margaret. “Post-World War II Developments: Genevea Conventions.” December 10, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/war-crime/Post-World-War-II-developments
The Napoleonic Wars gave rise to some:
Britannic Editors. “Napoleonic Wars.” November 24, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Napoleonic-Wars
The Geneva Convention in 1864:
International Committee of the Red Cross. “Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field. Geneva, 22 August 1864.” https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gc-1864
A list of war crimes, right now:
BBC. “War Crimes.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/war/overview/crimes_1.shtml
How to treat prisoners of war:
United Nations. “Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.” August 12, 1949. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/geneva-convention-relative-treatment-prisoners-war
Respecting flags of truce:
Arnold, Roberta. “Flags of Truce.” May 2006. Oxford Public International Law. https://opil.ouplaw.com/display/10.1093/law:epil/9780199231690/law-9780199231690-e297
In ’49, Geneva conventions:
International Committee of the Red Cross. “Geneva Conventions of 1949, Additional Protocols and Their Commentaries.” https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/geneva-conventions-1949additional-protocols-and-their-commentaries
A lot of rules about treatment of noncombatants:
United Nations. “Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.” August 12, 1949. https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/geneva-convention-relative-protection-civilian-persons-time-war
The idea of total war:
Britannica Editors. “Total War.” December 5, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/topic/total-war
Dresden:
Dawsey, Jason. “Apocalypse in Dresden, February 1945.” February 13, 2020. The National WWII Museum. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/apocalypse-dresden-february-1945
Fire bombing of Tokyo:
History.com Editors. “Firebombing of Tokyo.” Updated January 31, 2025. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-9/firebombing-of-tokyo
Hamburg:
Curatola, John. “Operation Gomorrah: The First of the Firestorms.” July 10, 2023. The National WWII Museum. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/operation-gomorrah-first-firestorms
The Blitz:
Curatola, John. “The Blitz of 1940.” August 27, 2025. The National WWII Museum. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/blitz-1940
Not attacking hospitals:
International Committee of the Red Cross. “The Protection of Hospitals During Armed Conflicts: What the Law Says.” June 11, 2023. https://www.icrc.org/en/document/protection-hospitals-during-armed-conflicts-what-law-says
It’s a horrible thing that Israelis bombed a hospital in the Gaza strip:
United Nations. “Pattern of Israeli Attacks on Gaza Hospitals Raises Grave Concerns – Report.” December 31, 2024. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/12/pattern-israeli-attacks-gaza-hospitals-raises-grave-concerns-report
Who wrote them:
Shaw, Malcolm. “Geneva Conventions.” December 3, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Geneva-Conventions
The Kellog-Briand pact:
Office of the Historian. “The Kellogg-Briand Pact, 1928.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/kellogg
The Weimar Republic:
Britannica Editors. “Weimar Republic.” December 19, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/place/Weimar-Republic
You had, clearly, violation of international law when Iraq goes into Kuwait:
Hensel, Howard M. “Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait.” 2023. EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/military-history-and-science/iraqi-invasion-kuwait
What George H. Bush’s administration did:
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. “Address to the Nation Announcing Operation Desert Storm, 1991.” https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-resources/spotlight-primary-source/address-nation-announcing-operation-desert-storm-1991
Whereas the second Gulf War was sort of a counterpoint:
Doherty, Carroll and Kiley, Jocelyn. “A Look Back at How Fear and False Beliefs Bolstered U.S. Public Support for War in Iraq.” March 14, 2023. Pew Research. https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/03/14/a-look-back-at-how-fear-and-false-beliefs-bolstered-u-s-public-support-for-war-in-iraq/
There’s also crimes against humanity:
Legal Information Institute. “Crime Against Humanity.” Reviewed August 2022. Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/crime_against_humanity
The history of Gaza being a protectorate of Israel:
United Nations. “The Question of Palestine.” https://www.un.org/unispal/history/
Like in Africa:
United Nations. “Rwanda: A Brief History of the Country.” https://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/rwanda/historical-background.shtml
If one of the nations is run by a terrorist organization:
Robinson, Kali and Merrow, Will. “What is Hamas?” Updated October 6, 2025. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-hamas
In Article I, Section 8, Clause 10:
Constitution Annotated. “ArtI.S8.C10.1 Historical Background on Maritime Crimes.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C10-1/ALDE_00001070/
And the next clause:
Constitution Annotated. “ArtI.S8.C11.1.1 Overview of Congressional War Powers.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C11-1-1/ALDE_00013587/
Like Sarajevo:
Lampe, John R. “Bosnian War: War Crimes and Trials.” Reviewed January 5, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Bosnian-War/War-crimes-and-trials
The International Criminal Court:
Why aren’t we a party to it (article from the time):
Bradley, Curtis A. “U.S. Announces Intent Not to Ratify International Criminal Court Treaty.” May 11, 2002. American Society of International Law. https://www.asil.org/insights/volume/7/issue/7/us-announces-intent-not-ratify-international-criminal-court-treaty
Why aren’t we a party to it (more recently):
Hansler, Jennifer. “Trump Administration Sanctions Two More International Criminal Court Judges for Investigating Israel.” December 18, 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/18/politics/trump-international-criminal-court-sanctions
Much like the landmine treaty:
United Nations. “Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention.” https://disarmament.unoda.org/en/our-work/conventional-arms/anti-personnel-landmines-convention
Or the Law of the Sea:
International Maritime Organization. “United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/legal/pages/unitednationsconventiononthelawofthesea.aspx
We could not find a source to support Anne’s claim that the U.S. is the most prolific user of landmines in the world. Here is a more accurate description of the country’s usage:
Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor. “Mine Ban Policy—United States.” https://the-monitor.org/country-profile/united-states/mine-ban-policy?year=2023
There are massive landmine fields between North and South Korea:
Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor. “Mine Ban Policy—Korea, South.” https://www.the-monitor.org/country-profile/korea-south/mine-ban-policy?year=2023
In the past few years, no people have been maimed in Vietnam from U.S. landmines, largely due to organizations like the following that teach children how to avoid them:
PeaceTrees. “Humanitarian Mine Action.” https://www.peacetreesvietnam.org/what-we-do/mine/explosive-ordnance-risk-education.html
It’s like mustard gas:
CDC. “Mustard Gas.” September 6, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/chemical-emergencies/chemical-fact-sheets/mustard-gas.html
Princess Diana—that was a major cause of hers:
Burke, Myles. “Princess Diana’s 1997 Landmine Walk: ‘I come with my heart’.” January 15, 2024. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240112-princess-dianas-1997-landmine-walk-i-come-with-my-heart
At least we’re not the ones that make cool little fluttery landmines that are brightly colored like children’s toys:
Hsu, Jeremy. “Drones Used to Find Toylike ‘Butterfly’ Land Mines.” December 28, 2018. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/drones-used-to-find-toylike-butterfly-land-mines/
They train rats to sniff out the landmines:
APOPO. “A Typical Morning for a Mine Sniffing Rat [Video].” https://youtu.be/BX7LnsZU8Nw
They were awarded medals and stuff:
BBC. “Magawa, the Landmine-Sniffing Hero Rat, Dies Aged Eight.” January 11, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59951255
Our complex relationship with cluster munitions:
Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor. “Cluster Munition Ban Policy—United States.” https://the-monitor.org/country-profile/united-states/cluster-munition-ban-policy?year=2023
We did, in fact, give some to the Ukraine:
Cancian, Mark F. “Cluster Munitions: What Are They, and Why is the United States Sending Them to Ukraine?” Center for Strategic & International Studies. https://www.csis.org/analysis/cluster-munitions-what-are-they-and-why-united-states-sending-them-ukraine
It’s also a World War I problem:
Coe, Joshua. “‘Iron Harvest’: A Belgian Team Unearths Unexploded Ammunition From WWI.” August 4, 2023. https://theworld.org/stories/2023/08/04/iron-harvest-belgian-team-unearths-unexploded-ammunition-wwi
Ukraine fighting back against Russia:
The Guardian. “Ukraine War Briefing: Kremlin Denounces European Troops Plan as Kyiv Warns of ‘Massive Russian Attack’. January 8, 2026. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/09/ukraine-war-briefing-kremlin-denounces-european-troops-plan-as-kyiv-warns-of-massive-russian-attack
Have you read George Orwell’s essay on pacificism:
Orwell, George. “Pacifism and the War.” Originally published 1942. https://www.orwell.ru/library/articles/pacifism/english/e_patw
We tried to stop that with the U.N.:
The idea for the League of Nations:
Britannica Editors. “League of Nations.” December 29, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/topic/League-of-Nations
Wilson may have been foolish:
Cooper, John Milton. “Woodrow Wilson.” Review December 24, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Woodrow-Wilson
The building still exists (alas, it is not a bar and grill):
Genève Internationale. “Chapter 2: Palais Wilson, The Memory and Hostage of Geneva.” https://www.geneve-int.ch/chapter-2-palais-wilson-memory-and-hostage-geneva
Sort of like the Articles of Confederation:
National Archives. “Articles of Confederation (1777).” https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/articles-of-confederation
Who’s on the permanent Security Council:
United Nations. “Security Council.” https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/current-members
The Abu Ghraib prison scandal:
Shamim, Sarah. “What Happened in Abu Ghraib and Why Did a Court Award Damages?” November 14, 2024. Aljazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/14/what-happened-in-abu-ghraib-and-why-did-a-us-court-award-damages
Uniform Code of Military Justice:
Absher, Jim. “The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).” March 25, 2022. https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/the-uniform-code-of-military-justice-ucmj.html
We could not find a source for Steve’s statement that the last person prosecuted for war crimes, per se, was during the Civil War. Though, someone was certainly prosecuted for their crimes at Andersonville:
National Park Service. “History of the Andersonville Prison.” https://www.nps.gov/ande/learn/historyculture/camp_sumter_history.htm
Here’s a recent story about U.S. soldiers and war crimes:
Shane III, Leo; Myers, Meghann; and Prine, Carl. “Trump Grants Clemency to Troops in Three Controversial War Crimes Cases.” Military Times. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/11/16/trump-grants-clemency-to-troops-in-three-controversial-war-crimes-cases/
Calley:
Linder, Douglas O. “Charges Against Lt. William Calley.” UMKC School of Law. https://www.famous-trials.com/mylaicourts/1627-myl-ctchar
There was a canine handler at Abu Ghraib:
The Associated Press. “Abu Ghraib Dog Handler Sentenced to 6 Months.” March 21, 2006. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11943182
ICJ:
It was court-martial:
Legal Information Institute. “Court-Martial.” Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/court-martial
The whole lawful/unlawful order thing:
Pereira, Ivan. “What the Military Oath of Enlistment Says About Legal and Illegal Orders.” November 20, 2025. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/military-oath-enlistment-legal-illegal-orders/story?id=127725085
The My Lai massacre, the short version:
American Experience. “The My Lai Massacre.” PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/vietnam-my-lai-massacre/
Seymour Hersh, who broke the story:
Brooks, Xan. “‘He’s a son of a bitch–but he’s usually right’: Why Did Seymour Hersh Quit the Film About His Earth-Shattering Exposés?” December 8, 2025. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/08/seymour-hersh-earth-shattering-exposes-my-lai-abu-ghraib-cover-up
The fishing boats:
Angell, Katie. “2025 U.S. Strikes on Venezuelan Vessels: When Washington’s War on Drugs Reaches Venezuela’s Shores.” January 1, 2026. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/2025-US-Strikes-on-Venezuelan-Vessels
We also just seized an oil tanker:
Reuters. “U.S. Seizes Olina Tanker in Caribbean, Fifth Vessel Taken in Venezuela Blockade.” January 9, 2026. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-process-seizing-olina-tanker-caribbean-us-official-says-2026-01-09/
We have a previously good Coast Guard that does this all the time:
Breen, Kerry. “Coast Guard Offloads 27,000 Pounds of Cocaine as it Uses ‘Disabling Fire’ to Stop Some Alleged Drug Boats.” Updated December 16, 2025. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coast-guard-cocaine-seizure-eastern-pacific-ocean-disabling-fire/
They have clear rules of engagement:
Britannica Editors. “Rules of Engagement.” January 2, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/rules-of-engagement-military-directives
They were in international waters:
United Nations. “International Waters.” https://archive.unescwa.org/international-waters
An example in a guide for the military of an unlawful order is bombing people who have been shipwrecked due to an attack:
Finley, Ben and Toropin, Konstantin. “Experts Explain What the Law Says About Killing Survivors of a Boat Strike.” December 1, 2025. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-survivors-hegseth-72b0a498ca08615b2589c772a1d9e642
Horrific chapter in our history:
Office of the Historian. “Indian Treaties and the Removal Act of 1830.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/indian-treaties
Like in Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy:
Tom Clancy. Clear and Present Danger. Berkley. July 1, 1990.
That’s how it ends:
https://youtu.be/sWwN-yDCjOM?si=QNzS-e2CdSodY8XU
So, I’m going to mention Pearl Harbor:
Scanlon, Sean. “U.S. Intelligence Failures at Pearl Harbor.” September 18, 2025. The National WWII Museum. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/us-intelligence-failures-pearl-harbor
There was a war warning issued by General Marshall:
Brewer, Delaney. “The Attack on Pearl Harbor.” National Museum of the United States Army. https://www.thenmusa.org/articles/attack-on-pearl-harbor/
Kimmel got relieved:
History.com Editors. “Commander at Pearl Harbor Relieved of His Duties.” Updated January 31, 2025. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/december-17/commander-at-pearl-harbor-canned
We let an awful lot of drugs into our country:
U.S. Government Accountability Office. “Fentanyl Continues to Be the Leading Cause of Overdose Deaths. What’s Being Done to Combat Trafficking into the United States?” September 4, 2025. https://www.gao.gov/blog/fentanyl-continues-be-leading-cause-overdose-deaths.-whats-being-done-combat-trafficking-united-states
Doctors prescribe an awful lot of drugs in this country that kill people all the time:
National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. “Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics.” https://drugabusestatistics.org/prescription-drug-abuse-statistics/
They ordered the survivors to be bombed:
Pigliucci, Cai; FitzGerald, James; and Drenon, Brandon. “Admiral Testified Hegseth Did Not Give ‘Kill them all’ order, U.S. lawmakers say.” December 4, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyxjd6pxzro
Including several Republicans:
Blake, Aaron. “Republicans Are Covering Their Backsides on the Double-tap Strike.” December 2, 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/politics/republicans-double-tap-strike-trump
As far as drugs go, they aren’t the biggest importer:
Singer, Jeffrey A. “Trump’s Venezuela Gambit: An Incoherent Encore in a Failed Drug War.” December 3, 2025. CATO Institute. https://www.cato.org/blog/trumps-venezuela-gambit-incoherent-encore-failed-drug-war
A lot of people in the past few years have been coming from Venezuela:
United Nations Refugee Agency. “Venezuela Situation.” https://www.unhcr.org/us/emergencies/venezuela-situation
Ooh, evil socialist, we can combat him:
Jeyaretnam, Miranda and de Guzman, Chad. “What’s Happening With the U.S. and Venezuela, Explained.” January 8, 2026. Time. https://time.com/7344628/us-venezuela-trump-maduro-oil-drugs-war-explainer-questions-answered/
There’s also the oil angle:
Roy, Diana and Cheatham. “Venezuela: The Rise and Fall of a Petrostate.” Updated July 31, 2024. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/venezuela-crisis
We’re a net exporter of oil:
U.S. Energy Information Administration. “Oil and Petroleum Products Explained.” Updated January 19, 2024. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/imports-and-exports.php
They could just seize Citgo stations:
Weber, Natalie. “Judge Approves Sale of Houston-Based Citgo to Amber Energy.” December 3, 2025. Houston PBS. https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/business/2025/12/02/537526/judge-approves-sale-of-citgo-to-amber-energy
The Trump administration have identified an enemy, Tren de Aragua:
Roston, Aram. “Maduro Indictment Attempts to Link Venezuelan Leader to Tren de Aragua.” January 4, 2026. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/04/maduro-indictment-trump-tren-de-aragua
A lot of things are happening right now in African countries:
Le Poidevin, Olivia. “Women Bearing the Brunt of Sudan’s Acute Hunger Crisis, UN Says.” January 9, 2026. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/women-bearing-brunt-sudans-acute-hunger-crisis-un-says-2026-01-09/
Anne was incorrect. The Trump administration does seem to care about some things happening in African countries:
Okafor, Makuochi and Otalor, Jean. “Trump Warns of More Nigeria Strikes if Christians ‘Continue to be killed’.” January 9, 2026. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly3vl3yp2do
They keep talking about rare earth minerals:
American Geosciences Institute. “What are Rare Earth Elements, and Why are They Important?” https://profession.americangeosciences.org/society/intersections/faq/what-are-rare-earth-elements-and-why-are-they-important/
Monroe Doctrine:
National Archives. “Monroe Doctrine (1823).” https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/monroe-doctrine
Also, incidentally, sort of welcomed Russia:
Boersner-Herrera, Adriana. “What the Capture of Nicolás Maduro Means for Russia’s Influence in Latin America.” January 8, 2026. London School of Economics. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2026/01/08/russia-influence-latin-america-venezuela-maduro-capture/
Rusty Nails:
https://www.liquor.com/recipes/rusty-nail/
Red Cross, Red Crescent, Red Crystal:
Canadian Red Cross. “The Red Crystal.” https://www.redcross.ca/about-us/about-the-canadian-red-cross/red-cross-emblem/the-red-crystal
The one that Thanos talked to Red Skull about:
https://youtu.be/I0r9s8mfeWc?si=4gvlFqzrSFSP6G9L
Red star—one group ruined it for everybody:
Political Symbols.net. “Red Star.” https://politicalsymbols.net/red-star.html
Oh, Japan:
The Government of Japan. “National Flag and Anthem.” https://www.japan.go.jp/japan/flagandanthem/index.html
Not a rhomboid:
SplashLearn. “Rhomboid Shape: Definition, Formulas, Properties Examples, Facts.” https://www.splashlearn.com/math-vocabulary/rhomboid
What Mack is reading:
John U. Bacon. The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Schuler Books. 2026.
In fact, it’s really popular:
Rosenberg, Allegra. “Why is TikTok Obsessed With a 50-Year-Old Shipwreck.” November 7, 2025. Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/edmund-fitzgerald-tiktok-trend
If you don’t know about the Great Lakes:
Great Lakes Commission. “About the Lakes.” https://www.glc.org/lakes/
There’s a term for this—it’s like water sloshing around in a bathtub:
National Ocean Service. “What is a Seiche?” https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/seiche.html
Through the Soo Locks:
Visit Sault Ste. Marie. “Soo Locks.” https://saultstemarie.com/attractions/soo-locks/
Zug Island, River Rouge:
Detroit Historical Society. “Zug Island.” https://www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online-research/encyclopedia-of-detroit/zug-island
Including Ford:
Detroit Historical Society. “Ford Motor Company.” https://www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online-research/encyclopedia-of-detroit/ford-motor-company
It’s called taconite:
Department of Natural Resources. “Taconite.” https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/education/geology/digging/taconite.html
Great Lake freighters:
Great Lakes Now. “Freighters on the Move [Video].” Detroit PBS. https://youtu.be/q8qUcW8iY2E?si=zVV6kW801T33KKWl
Just like Panama Canal:
Bureau of Transportation Statistics. “Vessel Draft Restrictions on the Panama Canal by Locks: February 2022–August 2024.” https://www.bts.gov/browse-statistical-products-and-data/info-gallery/vessel-draft-restrictions-panama-canal-locks
The U.S. could practice naval maneuvers in the Great Lakes:
Chicago Navy Memorial. “Navy Training Vessels of WWII.” https://chicagonavymemorial.org/chicagos-role-in-navy-history/training-ships-aircraft-carriers-lake-michigan
Captain McSorley:
Marrin, Doug. “Ernest McSorley: The Last Captain of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” September 30, 2025. The Sun Times News. https://thesuntimesnews.com/edmund-fitzgerald-50th-anniversary-john-bacon/
The 29:
S. S. Edmund Fitzgerald Online. “The Crew.” https://ssedmundfitzgerald.org/crewtribute
Listen to the song if you haven’t heard it:
https://youtu.be/FuzTkGyxkYI?si=8ZORl77irRERpP0w
They rang it 30 times:
Detroit Free Press. “Mariners’ Church of Detroit Honors Gordon Lightfoot With Tuesday Ringing of Bells [Video].” https://youtu.be/PIq1ELxH2do?si=64c3Ce8l3znglwgS
The Sea Legs was the only good way to drink Laphroaig in a cocktail:
https://www.diffordsguide.com/cocktails/recipe/34393/sea-legs
The whiskey we drank:
https://www.bahnbrecker.com/hefeweizen-whiskey
We did that to the Japanese:
Scott, James M. “America’s Undersea War on Shipping.” December 2014. U.S. Naval Institute. https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2014/december/americas-undersea-war-shipping
What has been called the Liberal World Order:
Council on Foreign Relations. “What is the Liberal World Order? [Video].” https://education.cfr.org/learn/video/what-liberal-world-order
Pax Americana:
Smith, Danielle T. “Inflection Points: Pax Americana at a Crossroad.” June 30, 2024. Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2024/06/30/inflection-points-pax-americana-at-a-crossroad/
During that period, there were a lot of people lifted out of poverty throughout the world:
Yonzan, Nishant; Friedman, Jed; Hill, Ruth; Jolliffe, Dean Mitchell; Lakner, Christoph; and Gerszon Mahler, Daniel. “Estimates of Global Poverty From WWII to the Fall of the Berlin Wall.” November 23, 2022. World Bank Blogs. https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/estimates-global-poverty-wwii-fall-berlin-wall
Democracy spread widely:
Shapiro, Ian. “The Spread of Democracy in the 20th Century.” December 29, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/democracy/The-spread-of-democracy-in-the-20th-century
And the Borg were a cybernetic race from Star Trek. But you already knew that.
Monday Dec 22, 2025