This week, we dive deep into the dangerous world of false economies - policies that appear to save money but actually cost us more in the long run.

If you’re wondering what I mean, think of every Republican savings program.

From healthcare cuts that increase emergency room visits to bond auctions that signal America's declining credibility, we explore how short-sighted thinking creates long-term disasters.

Yes, I know, it has been 6 days since we recorded this, and the world has devolved into violence in LA, attacks on Iran, and yes, I too am tempted to climb into a hole and hide.

Or at least move to Canada.

On to the podcast:

We start with some opening chaos:

* Biden clone robot conspiracy theories (because apparently dying and being replaced by a malfunctioning debate robot that can’t debate well makes perfect sense, but what about Alex Trebek?)

* Trump vs. Musk feud reaches kindergarten levels with AI videos and tears

* House representatives gleefully claim that they aren’t doing their jobs.

Then out some warning signs

* Treasury Bond Auction Disaster: The May 21st "tepid" auction, where investors showed up under duress to what should have been the hottest ticket in finance

* Joni Ernst Channels Marie Antoinette: "We're all gonna die sometime" becomes the new "let them eat cake" as Iowa Senator tells constituents to get jobs, take vitamins, and pray instead of expecting healthcare

And then we move into Jeff Explains Some Stuff -

This is where we dig into False Economies and why thinking you're saving money when you're actually creating bigger problems down the road:

* Healthcare: Cutting Medicaid forces people to emergency rooms, costing exponentially more than preventive care

* Bond Markets: Making America look incompetent raises borrowing costs for everyone

* Tariffs: Small businesses crushed while big corporations pass costs to consumers

* School Vouchers: Destroying public education while making private schools more expensive for families

The Cruelty Factor: These aren't just bad policies - they're designed for cruelty. There's no economic or financial benefit to these cuts, just pure cruelty under a paper-thin veneer of fiscal responsibility.

Good News Corner:

(Look we’re trying here)

* Carol from Missouri was released from detention (though questions remain about why her Trump-supporting town got special treatment)

* Kansas City bartender's kindness saves a life, inspiring others to share their stories

* Australian boy meets his English bone marrow donor 10 years after life-saving transplant

* Medical advances continue thanks to research investments (when we don't cut them)

Bottom Line: False economies are really about control and cruelty. When you hear "we need to cut costs," ask yourself: Are we actually saving money, or just shifting costs to those who can least afford them? Real economics isn't about punishment - it's about creating systems that work for everyone.

Next Week: Information as a means of control - how information systems have evolved and where they might be heading. (Spoiler: it's pretty terrifying)

Timestamps:

* 0:00 Introduction and Biden robot theories

* 4:00 Trump-Musk kindergarten feud

* 10:00 Treasury bond auction warning signs

* 14:00 Joni Ernst's Marie Antoinette moment

* 20:00 Jeff Explains: False Economies

* 36:00 Good news stories

* 43:00 Next week preview