Civics on the Rocks

Are We the World’s Peacekeepers?

Mack and Steve wade into the role the United States plays in the world’s conflicts. This includes talking about several examples like the current war between Israel and Palestine. Fair warning: this episode covers some heavier topics than our previous ones have.

References

Just because they both like to say it a lot:

Merriam-Webster. “Hegemony.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hegemony

Everything that’s going on in Ukraine:

AP News. “Russia-Ukraine War.” https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

If you don’t live in Mauritania:

Gerteiny, Alfred G., Stewart, Charles C., Toupet, Charles Henri, and Deschamps, Hubert Jules. “Mauritania.” November 7, 2023. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauritania

New to NATO?

NATO. “What is NATO?” https://www.nato.int/nato-welcome/

Foreign Affairs archive articles are behind a paywall, but if you would like some context about Mack’s reference to Germany and nuclear weapons, here’s a nice overview:

Mendhelsohn, Jack. “NATO’s Nuclear Weapons: The Rationale for ‘No First Use’.” Arms Control Association. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/1999-07/features/natos-nuclear-weapons-rationale-first-use

Don’t remember when Samuel Huntington was all the rage?

Betts, Richard K. “Samuel P. Huntington: American political scientist.” Britannica. Last updated April 14, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Samuel-P-Huntington

Brush up on your Warsaw Pact:

NATO. “What Was The Warsaw Pact?” https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_138294.htm#:~:text=The%20Warsaw%20Pact%20was%20a,(Albania%20withdrew%20in%201968).

We couldn’t find a solid academic source that concisely describes the political theory of a “Concert of Nations” that wasn’t behind a paywall, but it is derived from the Concert of Europe which you can read about here:

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Concert of Europe.” Last updated February 22, 2016. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Concert-of-Europe

Want to get to know the United Nations:

United Nations. “Welcome to the United Nations.” https://www.un.org/

A detailed account about the U.S. role in Lebanon:

Office of the Historian. “The Regan Administration and Lebanon, 1981–1984.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1981-1988/lebanon

A brief overview of what happened in Bosnia:

Holocaust Museum Houston. “Genocide in Bosnia.” https://hmh.org/library/research/genocide-in-bosnia-guide/

The town hall meeting featuring Secretary of State Madeline Albright where Ohio State students protested was actually about the Iraq war. You can watch it here:

https://youtu.be/fcLaKGNDtzo?si=ysZTDCE0Rcguh0Hw

What we’re doing in Ukraine:

U.S. Department of Defense. “Russian War in Ukraine Timeline.” https://www.defense.gov/Spotlights/Support-for-Ukraine/Timeline/#:~:text=In%20total%2C%20the%20United%20States,and%20brutal%20invasion%20on%20Feb.

U.S. role that may not have been that helpful in Central and South America:

Isacson, Adam. “The United States’ Influence on Latin America’s New Militarism.” November 22, 2021. WOLA. https://www.wola.org/analysis/the-united-states-influence-on-latin-americas-new-militarism/

Do Americans support Israel’s attack on Palestine?

Santhanam, Laura. “Poll: Majority of Americans sympathize with Israel but growing number say military response in Gaza ‘too much’.” November 12, 2023. PBS News Hour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/poll-majority-of-americans-sympathize-with-israel-but-growing-number-say-military-response-in-gaza-too-much

An article about Israeli claims of finding a Hamas headquarters in a hospital:

Al-Mughrabi, Nidal. “Hamas command centre, weapons found at Gaza hospital, Israeli military says.” November 15, 2023. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-raids-gazas-al-shifa-hospital-2023-11-15/

An article about the recent escalation of hostilities in the West Bank:

Goldenberg, Tia and Mohammed, Majdi. “Israeli forces kill at least 8 Palestinians in surging West Bank violence, health officials say.” November 26, 2023. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/west-bank-palestinians-israel-military-raid-3deed25c4c14a5e3048778cbc79523c5

There is an extensive political history behind whether Israelis support Benjamin Netanyahu or not. This article focuses on the time period after the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.

Frayer, Lauren. “After Hamas attack, most Israelis want Netanyahu to resign, according to poll.” November 11, 2023. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/11/11/1211767117/israel-netanyahu-growing-opposition-hamas-war-gaza

A tactical analysis (with very little description of violence) of the October 7 attack:

Ragad, Abdelali, Irvine-Brown, Richard, Garman, Benedict, and Seddon, Sean. “How Hamas built a force to attack Israel on 7 October.” November 27, 2023. BBC Arabic and BBC Verify. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67480680

If you need help understanding the size of Gaza and the population living there:

Moriarty, Dylan, Berkowitz, Bonnie. “Visualizing the size of Gaza City compared with U.S. cities.” October 17, 2023. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/17/gaza-size-population-comparison/

Several sources agree that as of the first week of November 2023, over 10,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began bombing Gaza in response to the October 7th attack by Hamas. The exact number has been called into question and this article discusses the complexity of creating an accurate death toll:

BBC Verify team. “How the dead are counted in Gaza.” November 15, 2023. BBC Verify. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67347201

A history of antisemitism in the United States:

Center for Antisemitism Research. “Antisemitic Attitudes in America: Topline Findings.” January 12, 2023. Anti-Defamation League. https://www.adl.org/resources/report/antisemitic-attitudes-america-topline-findings

A brief overview of the long history of the conflict between Israel and Palestine:

Center for Preventive Action. “Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.” Updated November 27, 2023. https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/israeli-palestinian-conflict

President Biden’s documented response to the October 7th attack:

The White House. “Remarks by President Biden on the October 7th Terrorist Attacks and the Resilience of the State of Israel and its People: Tel Aviv, Israel.” October 18, 2023. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/10/18/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-october-7th-terrorist-attacks-and-the-resilience-of-the-state-of-israel-and-its-people-tel-aviv-israel/#:~:text=We're%20working%20with%20partners,return%20of%20all%20these%20hostages.

In case you are not aware of what we meant when we referenced the U.S. response to 9/11:

Council on Foreign Relations. “1999–2021: The U.S. War in Afghanistan.” https://www.cfr.org/timeline/us-war-afghanistan

How the U.K. and the League of Nations are involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:

GCHQ. “The Palestine Mandate.” https://www.gchq.gov.uk/information/palestine-mandate

And now, for something completely different...bless Secret of the Booze for creating Griswold punch. May it become a tradition for you as it has been for Anne and her family:

https://youtu.be/g96DEG2WTF8?si=cRGd4KLjAsfbqF0o

Christmas movies we referenced:

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

A Christmas Story (1983)

Die Hard (1988)

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

If you don’t know why Steve felt the need to tell you that the ice cream was Blue Bell, it’s because it’s very very important in Texas. For example, here is an article explaining how we don’t even let a petty thing like listeria dissuade us from Blue Bell:

Castro, Lauren. “Blue Bell is Still My Ice Cream of Choice.” March 21, 2023. Texas Monthly. https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/blue-bell-is-still-my-ice-cream-of-choice/

If you, too, want to want to impress your family and friends by making amazing eggnog (but for the love of all things holy, don’t substitute Laphroaig):

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/eggnog-recipe2-2013745

In case, like Anne, you didn’t get Mack’s ham sandwich joke:

Levin, Josh. “The Judge Who Coined ‘Indict a Ham Sandwich’ Was Himself Indicted.” November 25, 2014. Slate. https://slate.com/human-interest/2014/11/sol-wachtler-the-judge-who-coined-indict-a-ham-sandwich-was-himself-indicted.html

Podcast that Steve is listening to:

David Priess for Lawfare. “Science Fiction and International Relations with Stephen Dyson.” July 27, 2023. Chatter (podcast). https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-chatter-podcast-science-fiction-and-international-relations-with-stephen-dyson

One way to make a vieux carré:

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/vieux-carre/

But Mack prefers to use the recipe in:

Stanley Clisby Arthur. Famous New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em. (Pelican Publishing, 1977).

Old square in Spanish is plaza vieja.

RIP Dianne Feinstein:

Blood, Michael R. and Jalonick, Mary Clare. “Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, trailblazer and champion of liberal priorities, dies at age 90.” October 4, 2023. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/dianne-feinstein-dead-c831f3228ac44faa9653234570bb8ce9

How often do you think about the Roman Senate:

Cartwright, Mark. “Roman Senate.” December 12, 2016. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Senate/

What could “better quality voter” be coded language for:

Bella, Timothy. “A GOP lawmaker says the ‘quality’ of a vote matters. Critics say that’s ‘straight out of Jim Crow.’” March 13, 2021. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/03/13/arizona-quality-votes-kavanagh/

You’ve heard Steve and Mack’s opinion. Here’s what the State of Texas says the Texas Enterprise Fund is for:

The State of Texas Governor. “Texas Enterprise Fund.” https://gov.texas.gov/business/page/texas-enterprise-fund

In case you aren’t completely familiar with the Texas constitutional amendments we’re discussing:

Texas Secretary of State. “Constitutional Amendment Election Sample Ballot.” November 7, 2023. https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/forms/2023-sample-ballot-final.pdf

A little ozone history:

Walker, Kira. “What happened to the world’s ozone hole?” January 9, 2023. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220321-what-happened-to-the-worlds-ozone-hole

Learn about the Clean Air Act:

EPA. “Clean Air Act Requirements and History.” Last updated on August 8, 2023. https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/clean-air-act-requirements-and-history#:~:text=To%20protect%20public%20health%20and%20welfare%20nationwide%2C%20the%20Clean%20Air,based%20on%20the%20latest%20science.

Learn about acid rain:

EPA. “What is Acid Rain?” Last updated June 1, 2023. https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what-acid-rain#:~:text=Acid%20rain%2C%20or%20acid%20deposition,even%20dust%20that%20is%20acidic.

And the “Galactic Empire” is a reference to Star Wars. But you already knew that.

Are Your Tax Dollars Working for You?

Mack and Steve talk about taxes, highway budgets, and there are two (count ‘em two!) separate references to presidential speeches! Come join the fun!

What one doctor has to say about health insurance:

Shmerling, Robert H. “Is our healthcare system broken?” July 13, 2021. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-our-healthcare-system-broken-202107132542

Does Jeff Bezos pay any taxes:

Eisinger, Jesse, Ernsthausen, Jeff, and Kiel, Paul. “The secret IRS files: Trove of never-before-seen records reveal how the wealthiest avoid income tax.” June 8, 2021. ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax

Curious about how long it would take you to earn as much money as Jeff Bezos:

Merelli, Annalisa. “The average US worker would need 10 times the length of all human history to earn as much as Jeff Bezos.” October 10, 2019. Quartz. https://qz.com/1723454/this-is-how-long-an-average-us-worker-needs-to-become-a-billionaire

What Warren Buffett had to say about his secretary’s taxes:

Isidore, Chris. “Buffett says he’s still paying lower tax rate than his secretary.” March 4, 2013. CNN Business. https://money.cnn.com/2013/03/04/news/economy/buffett-secretary-taxes/index.html

Want to learn more about education vouchers in Texas:

Osteen, Olivia. “Texas’ governor is pushing major school choice bill: What it means – and will it pass?” October 24, 2023. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/texas-governor-pushing-major-school-choice-bill-means/story?id=104050942

Want more info about the “special” sessions:

The Texas Politics Project. “Special sessions of the Texas legislature.” https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/bur/features/0404_02/slide1.html

Want to read the book that is the Texas Constitution:

Texas Legislative Council. “General reference.” As amended through the May 7, 2022, election. https://tlc.texas.gov/docs/legref/TxConst.pdf

What is the term for a Texas governor (asking for a friend):

U.S. Term Limits. “Which states have term limits on governor?” https://www.termlimits.com/which-states-have-term-limits-on-governor/

Is the Texas attorney general a crook? You decide:

The Texas Tribune. “Ken Paxton Impeachment.” https://www.texastribune.org/series/ken-paxton-impeachment-texas-attorney-general/

Yes, other states have offices that deal with railroads. But the Texas Railroad Commissioner is a fairly unique post because they no longer oversee the railroads. So, what do they do, according to their office:

Railroad Commission of Texas. “About us.” https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/

In case you were wondering who now runs the Texas railroads:

Federal Railroad Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. https://railroads.dot.gov/

Not familiar with West Texas Intermediate:

Chen, James. “West Texas Intermediate (WTI): Definition and use as a benchmark.” June 13, 2022. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/w/wti.asp

Why yes, the U.S. is a net oil exporter:

U.S. Energy Information Administration. “How much petroleum does the United States import and export?” https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=727&t=6#:~:text=The%20resulting%20total%20net%20petroleum,million%20b%2Fd%20in%202022.

Yep, Texas has earthquakes:

Douglas, Erin. “Earthquakes in Texas doubled in 2021. Scientists cite years of oil companies injecting sludgy water underground.” February 8, 2022. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/08/west-texas-earthquakes-fracking/

Curious to learn a little history about the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) not maintaining roads due to budget cuts:

Floyd, Ian. “Plans to convert paved roads to gravel begins despite local concerns.” August 19, 2013. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2013/08/19/conversion-of-roads-to-gravel-met-with-concern/

What about TxDOT’s current budget, you say:

Texas Department of Transportation. “Funding Brochure 2023.” https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot-info/fin/funding-brochure-2023.pdf

Unfamiliar with the concept of a farm to market or ranch to market road:

Texas Department of Transportation. “Farm/Ranch to Market Facts.” https://www.dot.state.tx.us/tpp/hwy/fmfacts.htm#:~:text=Texas%20is%20the%20only%20state,have%20Farm%20to%20Market%20Roads.

The toll road that goes around Austin is 130, Anne approves of it, and you can find it here:

General Texas Regional Mobility Authority. “Open Toll Roads Map." https://www.mobilityauthority.com/pay-your-toll/roads/map

Want more info on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Second Bill of Rights:

Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. “1944 State of the Union Address: FDR’s ‘Second Bill of Rights’ or ‘Economic Bill of Rights’ speech.” http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/archives/stateoftheunion.html

When were flu shots made:

World Health Organization. “History of the influenza vaccine.” https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/history-of-vaccination/history-of-influenza-vaccination

If you don’t want to go to the last episode to look up How to Hide an Empire:

Daniel Immerwahr. How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States. (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2019).

Mack knows a lot about U.S. aircraft carriers and so can you:

U.S. Naval Institute. “USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker.” October 30, 2023. https://news.usni.org/2023/10/30/usni-news-fleet-and-marine-tracker-oct-30-2023#more-106578

The F-35, we’re sure is a very nice fighter plane, but:

Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. “Fact Sheet: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Costs and challenges.” April 7, 2016 (updated July 2021). https://armscontrolcenter.org/f-35-joint-strike-fighter-costs-challenges/

Want more info on Dwight D. Eisenhower’s farewell address:

National Archives. “President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s farewell address.” https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/president-dwight-d-eisenhowers-farewell-address

Love who now:

Matthew 22:37-40 

Who inherits the Earth again:

Psalms 37:11

How to make a margarita cocktail:

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/margarita/

Wait, there’s tequila with sugar in it:

Difford’s Guide for Discerning Drinkers. “Tequila: Classifications, categories, & classes.” https://www.diffordsguide.com/g/1084/tequila/classifications

Our listener, Jason, recommends the following mezcal, and we concur:

Luminar Mezcal

Need to brush up on the Fibonacci sequence to mix cocktails:

Math is Fun. “Fibonacci sequence.” https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fibonacci-sequence.html

Mack and Anne still politely disagree in Texan, but Steve may be on to something when it comes to putting your alcohol in the freezer:

Gane, Tamara. “This is why you should never store booze in the freezer.” February 14, 2022. Southern Living. https://www.southernliving.com/food/kitchen-assistant/storing-liquor-in-freezer

What Steve is reading:

Kevin M. Kruse and Julian E. Zelizer (editors). Myth America: Historians Take The Biggest Legends and Lies About Our Past. (Basic Books, 2023)

What Mack is reading:

Boethius. Consolation of Philosophy. (Penguin Classics, 1999).

Want to find out if you’re are part neanderthal like Mack through the National Geographic Genographic Project? Well, I have some bad news for you:

National Geographic. “Genographic DNA ancestry discontinuation: About the project.” https://help.nationalgeographic.com/?path=s/article/Genographics-DNA-Ancestry

How often do you think about the Roman empire:

The Editors of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Roman Empire”. Last updated October 4, 2023. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Roman-Empire

Mack recommends you read the book of Job along with your Boethius:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%201&version=NIV

How to make a Moscow mule:

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/moscow-mule-cocktail-recipe/

Apparently, everyone from Michigan has a thing about Vernor’s ginger ale:

Detroit Historical Society. “Vernor’s Ginger Ale.” https://detroithistorical.org/learn/encyclopedia-of-detroit/vernors-ginger-ale

There are a few reasons why we aren’t fond of Vladimir Putin, but here’s a solid one:

International Criminal Court. “Situation in Ukraine: ICC judges issue arrest warrants against Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lovova-Belova.” March 17, 2023. https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-ukraine-icc-judges-issue-arrest-warrants-against-vladimir-vladimirovich-putin-and#:~:text=Mr%20Vladimir%20Vladimirovich%20Putin%2C%20born,articles%208(2)(a

Mack DID NOT find a source about Russian soldiers being paid in bottles of vodka, but Anne did find this interesting article so the bit was left in:

Kamieński, Łukasz. “Russian troops are battling high and drunk: It’s nothing new.” July 11, 2023. The Hill. https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4088951-russia-is-losing-in-ukraine-because-of-its-army-of-addicts/

“what didn’t you do to bury me/but you forgot that I was a seed”

Dinos Christianopoulos. The Body and the Wormwood. (1978)

Want to learn about challenge coins:

Lange, Katie. “The challenge coin tradition: Do you know how it started?” October 8, 2017. U.S. Department of Defense. https://www.defense.gov/News/Inside-DOD/Blog/article/2567302/the-challenge-coin-tradition-do-you-know-how-it-started/

Please vote. If you need help voting:

https://www.vote411.org/

Yes, of course, Moscow mules as in Moscow, Texas:

Texas Almanac. “Towns: Moscow.” https://texasalmanac.com/places/moscow

And “Starfleet vessel” is a reference to Star Trek. But you already knew that.

Is it Alright to Punch a Nazi?

Steve and Mack tackle the hard-hitting question of whether violence is ever the answer.

Did Buzz Aldrin really punch a guy?

History.com Editors. “72-year-old Buzz Aldrin punches a moon landing conspiracy theorist in the face.” History. August 23, 2023. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/buzz-aldrin-punches-moon-landing-conspiracy-theorist-bart-sibrel

Wondering about Mack’s story about John D. Rockefeller?

Consider this footnote from Michael Reksulak and William F. Shughart II’s, “Of Rebates and Drawbacks: The Standard Oil (N.J.) Company and the Railroads,” Review of Industrial Organization (2011) 38:267-283:

Rockefeller was relentless in ferreting out ways to cut costs. During an inspection tour of a Standard Oil plant in New York City, for instance, he observed a machine that soldered the lids on five-gallon cans of kerosene destined for export. Upon learning that each lid was sealed with 40 drops of solder, he asked, “Have you ever tried 38?” It turned out that when 38 drops were applied, a small percentage of the cans leaked. None leaked with 39, though. “‘That one drop of solder’, said Rockefeller, …’saved $2,500 the first year; but the export business kept on increasing after that and doubled, quadrupled–became immensely greater than it was then; and the saving has gone steadily along, one drop on each can, and has amounted since to many hundreds of thousands of dollars”‘ (Chernow 1998, pp. 180-81). Over the course of his career at the helm of Standard Oil, “Rockefeller cut the unit costs of refined oil almost in half” (Ibid., p. 150).

The quote in the footnote is from Ron Chernow’s Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. (Vantage, 1998).

Want to learn about W. Edwards Deming?

https://deming.org/

Want to sing “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister at some Nazis? Practice singing along:

https://youtu.be/4xmckWVPRaI?si=NhFzHOagWRTEfJcy

Supreme Court cases:

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, No. 19-1392, 597 U.S. ___ (2022)

Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003)

Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967)

Want to learn more about Tommy Tuberville?

Weaver, Al. “Why Tuberville breakthrough isn’t ending military impasse.” The Hill, September 25, 2023. https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4219440-why-schumers-surprise-nomination-votes-wont-end-battle-with-tuberville/

Want to read an interesting story about poetry and the U.S. Navy?

“Continuing a naval tradition one poem at a time.” Naval History and Heritage Command, April 29, 2022. https://www.history.navy.mil/news-and-events/news/2022/continuing-a-naval-tradition-one-poem-at-a-time.html

Want to learn about Stonewall?

https://www.nps.gov/places/stonewall.htm

Do you know about Marsha P. Johnson?

Rothberg, Emma. “Marsha P. Johnson.” WomenHistory.org. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/marsha-p-johnson

Alexander Hamilton, there’s a million things he hasn’t done...but he did write Federalist 78 (1778) and you can access it here:

https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/historic-document-library/detail/alexander-hamilton-federalist-no-78-1788

How did Gerald R. Ford define impeachment?

Davis, Kenneth C., “The history of American impeachment.” The Smithsonian Magazine, June 12, 2017. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-you-need-know-about-impeachment-180963645/

How do you make a Boulevardier:

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/boulevardier/

What is Mack reading?

Does not recommend:

R. Haldeman. The Haldeman Diaries: Inside the Nixon White House. (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1972).

Does recommend:

Ray Bradbury. The October Country. (Ballantine Books, 1955).

What is Steve reading?

Daniel Immerwahr. How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States. (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2019).

Terry Austin and Chris Sprouse. Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind’s Eye (graphic novel). (Dark Horse Books, 1996).

Just so we’re all on the same page on the episode numbers:

Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)

Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)

Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)

Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

The first use of “...reverse the polarity...” that we know of:

Buck Rogers, chapter 1 of first serial, “Tomorrow’s World,” featuring Buster Crabbe, aired in 1939.

Steve’s childhood ruined:

Kamal, Nathan. “How Indiana Jones was inspired by a duck.” Giant Freakin Robot, September 2, 2022. https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/indiana-jones-inspired-scrooge-mcduck.html

How do you make a Manhattan?

https://www.liquor.com/recipes/manhattan-2/

Mack’s go-to for cocktail recipes:

Thomas, Jerry. How to Mix Drinks or The Bon Vivant’s Companion: The Bartender’s Guide. (Hesperus Press, reprinted in 2008 [originally 1862]).

What does malaria have to do with gin and tonic?

Getgen, Candie. “Debunking the malaria myth: Why today’s gin and tonics fall short in disease prevention.” Gin Raiders, May 22, 2023. https://ginraiders.com/article/gin-faqs/modern-gin-and-tonic-malaria-cure-misconception/

Mack isn’t crazy...about tonic water:

“In simple terms, classic tonic water is carbonated water infused with quinine. For added taste sometimes sugar or fruit acids are mixed in.”

Adrian, Stefan. “Seven facts about tonic water.” Mixology, July 27, 2017. https://mixology.eu/seven-facts-about-tonic-water/

And “La Marseillaise,” the national anthem of France, was used to drown out Nazis to great effect in a little movie called Casablanca. But you already knew that.

What is Civics?

Mack and Steve discuss the concept of civics and why it's important. They also drop several refences along the way. Here they are, if you would like to learn a little bit more about what they are talking about and form your own opinion.

If you want to learn about PragerU:

Archie, Ayana. “A lot is happening in Florida education. These are some of the changes kids will see.” NPR, August 14, 2023. https://www.npr.org/2023/08/14/1193557432/florida-education-private-schools-prageru-desantis

If you want to read up on the allegory of the cave:

Plato. Plato’s The Republic. New York: Books, Inc., 1943.

First Amendment stuff:

Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395. U.S. 444 (1969).

Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919).

Communications Decency Act of 1995, 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(1):
“No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”

QR codes:

Lewis Carrol, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. (Macmillan, 1865).

Titanic stuff:

Baker, Roy Ward, director. A Night to Remember. 1958; The Rank Organisation. 123 minutes.

Washington, D.C. stuff:

U.S. Constitution. amend. XXIII, sec. 1:
The District constituting the seat of Government of the United States shall appoint in such manner as the Congress may direct: A number of electors of President and Vice President equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives in Congress to which the District would be entitled if it were a State, but in no event more than the least populous State; they shall be in addition to those appointed by the States, but they shall be considered, for the purposes of the election of President and Vice President, to be electors appointed by a State; and they shall meet in the District and perform such duties as provided by the twelfth article of amendment.

Civic duty:

Sturges, John, director. Bad Day at Black Rock. 1955; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. 81 minutes.

This isn’t necessarily how the guys made them on the night we recorded, but here are some ways to make the cocktails we talked about:

Elderflower Martini: https://momfoodie.com/elderflower-martini/

Sazerac: https://www.liquor.com/recipes/sazerac/

Negroni: https://www.liquor.com/recipes/negroni/

Radar:

M*A*S*H. 1972–1983. CBS.

Book Mack is reading:

Jon Billman, The Cold Vanish: Seeking the Missing in North America’s Wildlands. (Grand Central Publishing, 2020).

Podcast Steve is listening to:

Lillian Cunningham for the Washington Post. Field Trip (Podcast). 2023.

And Steve quoted Ghostbusters once. But you already knew that.

Trailer

Our first episode drops on Labor Day 2023! Until then, enjoy this trailer!