An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives, and drawing comparisons between familiar and unfamiliar subjects. ”The cold war of the 21st century isn’t fought with weapons, and it isn’t waged between countries; it’s with information, between p ...
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DeGRIFTify Podcasts
Thomas and Joel discuss what kinds of issues and what sorts of messaging could be effective in the lead up to the next presidential election. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Tho…
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020 - Trump & Putin's meeting {"Moscow Delenda Est"}
49:32
49:32
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Thomas is angry about the recent meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska. We also discuss Democratic messaging and possible paths forward. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thom…
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019 - Death of the Department of Education
46:33
46:33
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The Trump administration has obtained a green light from the Supreme Court to shutter the Department of Education. In today's episode we talk about what that might mean for you. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut …
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The Trump administration is preparing to gut the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In today's episode we talk about why we think that's a bad idea. Thanks for listening. - https://www.nasa.gov/value-of-nasa/ An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podca…
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Doing something slightly different, we each picked two pieces of good news that we heard recently and talked about it. Recorded 6/17. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and …
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It's 2025, and we're still talking about Jeffrey Epstein. On today's episode Thomas and Joel chat about why that's good. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summariz…
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015 - the O[dious] Big Beautiful Bill, passed
1:01:44
1:01:44
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Some things we hate about the BBB, now that it has been signed into law. This is by no means an exhaustive list and should be considered highlights at best. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that …
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Ages ago (on the 9th of April, 2025) we recorded an unscripted episode about "the American Dream," what it means or ought to mean, whether it exists, and if so, where it can be found. We're hosting it as a very special July 3rd episode, mostly because nothing else we've attempted recently has been passible. Cheers. - An increasingly complex world i…
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Hot takes and projections in light of the recent American "intervention," plus the usual context and grifts. Thanks for listening. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contempora…
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Returning to the subject of the war in Ukraine. Thomas gives an overview of modern Ukrainian history and contextualizes the conflict in its context. We tackle several overarching narrative grifts that are pervasive in contemporary coverage of the crisis. As always, thank you for listening. Send your questions, comments, and feedback to deGRIFTify@g…
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011 - "Nepo-reps," no-tax-increase pledges, weakness, and the complexity ratchet, Thomas and Joel's top five Congressional grifts pt. 3
50:17
50:17
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Final episode of our congressional grift cycle. Send us stuff at [email protected]. Thanks for listening! Wilson-Hayes matrix https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z7nwk3NzVjai-hQb2k2KiyLLsjGyH0y9/view?usp=sharing - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast inte…
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010 - Term limits, auto-filibuster, PAYGO, and insider trading, Thomas and Joel's top five Congressional grifts pt. 2
45:33
45:33
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Working independently, we each came up with five major problems related to the Congressional branch of the government. In this episode we discuss "Gerrymandering," what it is, how it affects you, and to a very limited extent what sort of things might be done about it. Now soliciting feedback, comments, and requests at [email protected]. If there…
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009 - Gerrymandering (& class conflict), Thomas and Joel's top five Congressional grifts pt. 1
43:34
43:34
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Working independently, we each came up with five major problems related to the Congressional branch of the government. In this episode we discuss "Gerrymandering," what it is, how it affects you, and to a very limited extent what sort of things might be done about it. Thomas & Joel's top 5: I. Gerrymandering II. Term limits, "auto-filibuster" III. …
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The One Big, Beautiful Bill and consequences will be a disaster for (etc.) Recorded 05-22. Catching up on some editing; sorry for the delay. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize …
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007 - Egypt, Israel, and Foreign Aid (ft. tariff update)
44:44
44:44
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With an initial digression into the latest twist in our collective tariff troubles. We get numerous dates wrong in this episode, though usually only slightly. Sorry. USA foreign aid data table https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uBdYn-IWa_WYU-U_zIZmHW3BRRp0u1Xi/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115775887288997073359&rtpof=true&sd=true (populated from https…
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006 - A recent IndoPak happening, recorded 05/07
38:31
38:31
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TL;DR nothing ever happens unless there's mass mobilization. An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting na…
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005 - Things gettin' iffy: economic projections for May, recorded 4/28
42:04
42:04
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What we're expecting, what's coming down the pipe. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narratives…
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004 - DOGE, separation of powers, and Gen Z [unscripted]
1:01:20
1:01:20
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A DOGE episode, recorded April 10th. Though no episode of deGRIFTify can really be called scripted, every week Thomas and Joel record a conversation intended to travel to unexpected places. Sometimes these conversations become episodes. The episodes tagged as [unscripted] are the result of this process. We hope that you will enjoy this occasional b…
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003 - Business loans and campaign finance reform [unscripted]
38:23
38:23
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Two seemingly unrelated subjects, potentially joined by the question "How's it different when you're rich?" Though no episode of deGRIFTify can really be called scripted, every week Thomas and Joel record a conversation intended to travel to unexpected places. Sometimes these conversations become episodes. The episodes tagged as [unscripted] are th…
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Why is soft power in the interest of individual Americans, not just us collectively? What is 'intelligence' in the geopolitical context? These and other questions. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Tho…
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Soft Power. What is it good for? Absolutely...something. - An increasingly complex world is one that is increasingly filled with scams, tricks, and grifts. deGRIFTify is a discussion podcast intended to cut through some of that haze. Hosts Thomas and Joel summarize contemporary issues by identifying hidden interests, highlighting contradicting narr…
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