Episodes

  • Untethered Tangent on Unlawful Orders

    Untethered Tangent on Unlawful Orders
    Jan 19 2026
    12 mins
  • Is All Fair In Love and War?

    Is All Fair In Love and War?
    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, ...
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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • Untethered Tangent on Lead Bricks

    Untethered Tangent on Lead Bricks
    Dec 22 2025
    21 mins
  • Everything You Wanted to Know About Federalism But Were Afraid to Ask

    Everything You Wanted to Know About Federalism But Were Afraid to Ask
    Dec 8 2025
    Steve, Mack, and Anne dig into the power dynamics of these United States. REFERENCES What about Washington, D.C.? Duignan, Brian. “What State Is Washington, D.C. In?” June 13, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/story/what-state-is-washington-dc-in Federalism is… Legal Information Institute. “Federalism.” https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/federalism We should start with the Tenth Amendment: Constitution Annotated. “Tenth Amendment.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-10/ When James Madison and the first Congress under the Constitution were drafting a Bill of Rights: NCC Staff. “On This Day: James Madison Introduces the Bill of Rights.” June 8, 2023. National Constitution Center. https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/on-this-day-james-madison-introduces-the-bill-of-rights There were 12 proposed amendments: National Archives. “Bill of Rights.” Reviewed August 13, 2020. https://www.archives.gov/legislative/features/bor Mel Brooks and History of the World: https://youtu.be/I48hr8HhDv0?si=i9tGvexOWMqa99Km So, in Article 1, Section 8, are the powers of Congress: Constitution Annotated. “Article I Legislative Branch: Section 8 Enumerated Powers.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-8/ Article 1, Section 9, are powers denied to Congress: Constitution Annotated. “Article I Legislative Branch: Section 9 Powers Denied Congress.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-9/ Article 1, Section 10, are powers denied to the states: Constitution Annotated. “Article I Legislative Branch: Section 10 Powers Denied States.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/article-1/section-10/ During the revolution, we were basically a confederation: National Archives. “Articles of Confederation (1777).” https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/articles-of-confederation The states always had power, and originally it was royal charters: Yale Law School. “Colonial Charters, Grants, and Related Documents.” https://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/statech.asp They were all British, the original 13: Ray, Michael. “In What Order Were the 13 American Colonies Established?” July 2, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/In-What-Order-Were-the-13-American-Colonies-Established Maryland—go Catholics: History.com Editors. “The Settlement of Maryland.” Updated May 28, 2025. History.com. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/march-25/the-settlement-of-maryland The acts of Parliament that got everybody head up: American Battlefield Trust. “The Acts That Fueled Rebellion.” January 1, 2024. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/acts-fueled-rebellion Parliament declares Massachusetts to be in rebellion: The Falmouth Historical Society. “250 Years Ago: Parliament Declares Massachusetts to be in a State of Rebellion!” https://www.thefhs.org/250-Rebellion Part of that was going through the shared experience of the French and Indian War: Office of the Historian. “French and Indian War/Seven Years’ War, 1754–63.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1750-1775/french-indian-war The Empire is the part you’re living in: Britannica Editors. “British Empire.” December 1, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Empire Like Jonathan Edwards: Schafer, Thomas A. “Jonathan Edwards.” October 1, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jonathan-Edwards They were real assholes: Mayer, Alicia. “Dominating the Unsaved: The Different Other and Cultural Imperialism in the New England Puritan Way.” April 9, 2024. Center for the Study of World Religions. https://cswr.hds.harvard.edu/news/2024/04/10/dominating-unsaved-different-other-and-cultural-imperialism-new-england-puritan-way There were Tories: Britannica Editors. “Loyalist.” January 31, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/loyalist Not even the Epstein files: Quinnipiac University. “63% Of Voters Disapprove of the Trump Administration's Handling of the Jeffrey Epstein Files, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Nearly Half of Voters Would Consider Joining A Third Party, Just Not One Created by Elon Musk.” July 16, 2025. https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3928 Or the fact that the Earth is round: Foster, Craig A. and Branch, Glenn. “Do People Really Think Earth Might Be Flat?” August 21, 2018. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/observations/do-people-really-think-earth-might-be-flat/ Or Nazis: Roston, Aram and Urquhart, Jim. “American Nazis: The Aryan Freedom Network is Riding High in Trump Era.” Updated August 10, 2025. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/investigations/american-nazis-aryan-freedom-network-is-riding-high-trump-era-2025-08-08/ Or that contrails are just contrails: Asmelash, Leah. “The Truth Behind Those White Streaks Trailing Behind Jets in the Sky.” March 12, 2024. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/us/...
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Untethered Tangent on Populism

    Untethered Tangent on Populism
    Nov 17 2025
    11 mins
  • What’s Going On Here?

    What’s Going On Here?
    Nov 3 2025
    Get out your dictionaries, folks! It’s time to figure out what’s happening in the U.S. of A. In this listener-suggested episode of Civics, we look at -archies, -acracies, and -isms. REFERENCES Oligarchy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oligarchy Many of them had a council of elders: Hodkinson, Stephen. “Gerousia.” December 22, 2015. Oxford Classical Dictionary. https://oxfordre.com/classics/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-2832 For Aristotle in his Politics: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, “Aristotle: Politics.” https://iep.utm.edu/aristotle-politics/ Aristocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aristocracy The Soviet Union after Stalin: Little, Becky. “Soviet Union Leaders: A Timeline.” History.com https://www.history.com/articles/soviet-union-leaders-order Totalitarian: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/totalitarian You had the Politburo: Editors of Encyclopedia Brittanica. “Politburo.” March 8, 2023. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Politburo Khrushchev: Gibney, Frank B. “Nikita Krushchev.” Updated October 27, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nikita-Sergeyevich-Khrushchev The Cuban Missile Crisis: Office of the Historian. “The Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962.” https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/cuban-missile-crisis Gerontocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gerontocracy In Ancient Rome, the Senate is derived from senex which means “old man”: Merriam-Webster. “Senate: Word History.” https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/senate#word-history The song that Anne was attempting to sing: https://youtu.be/ZKCiC-H2Xbg?si=bUP1DxKiJ4C0bIFv We do have a bunch of old senators: DeSilver, Drew. “Age and Generation in the 119th Congress: Somewhat Younger, With Fewer Boomers and more Gen Xers.” January 16, 2025. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/16/age-and-generation-in-the-119th-congress-somewhat-younger-with-fewer-boomers-and-more-gen-xers/ Senators were originally appointed by the state legislatures: National Archives. “17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Direct Election of U.S. Senators (1913).” Reviewed February 8, 2022. https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/17th-amendment Project 2025, they are substantially entrenched in the White House right now: Wardwell, Faith. “The Key Project 2025 Authors Now Staffing the Trump Administration.” March 12, 2025. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/key-project-2025-authors-now-staffing-trump-administration-rcna195107 Sending troops into cities: Reuters. “Trump Tells U.S. Troops He is Ready to Send ‘More Than the National Guard’ Into Cities.” October 28, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-tells-us-troops-he-is-ready-send-more-than-national-guard-into-cities-2025-10-28/ Sparta was an example of an oligarchy because the ephors were the ones that really had the power: Editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica. “Ephor.” December 18, 2011. https://www.britannica.com/topic/ephor Anarchy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anarchy Monarchy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarchy What Plato described in the Republic as a philosopher king: Lane, Melissa. “Philosopher King.” February 5, 2024. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/philosopher-king Tyrant: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tyrant Franklin Roosevelt: The White House. “Franklin D. Roosevelt.” https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/franklin-d-roosevelt/ With almost 25% unemployment: Romer, Christina D. and Pells, Richard H. “Great Depression.” Updated October 26, 2025. Brittanica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Great-Depression And the Dust Bowl: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Dust Bowl.” Updated October 2, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Dust-Bowl The first 100 days where a lot of legislation gets passed: Freidel, Frank. “The First Term of Franklin D. Roosevelt.” Updated October 31, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Franklin-D-Roosevelt/The-first-term Lincoln: The White House. “Abraham Lincoln.” https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/abraham-lincoln/ But Lincoln had a nation-wide insurrection going on: Weber, Jennifer L. and Hassler, Warren W. “American Civil War.” Updated October 12, 2025. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/American-Civil-War Populist: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/populist Tariffs are not helping the economy: Clarke, Jennifer. “What Tariffs has Trump Announced and Why?” October 30, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn93e12rypgo Autocracy: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autocracy Even in Britain…: Kellner, Peter and Harford Thomas, William. “England: Government and Society.” Updated November 1, ...
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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • Untethered Tangent on the Budget Process

    Untethered Tangent on the Budget Process
    Oct 20 2025
    6 mins
  • What is Congress Supposed To Do?

    What is Congress Supposed To Do?
    Oct 6 2025
    Mack, Steve, and Anne get into what one branch of the government isn’t doing right now. REFERENCES Congress is defined in Article I of the Constitution: Constitution Annotated. “Article I.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-1/ They didn’t want a king: Pereira, Ivan. “Nation’s Founders Pushed Against ‘Elected King’ When Framing Presidential Powers.” July 2, 2024. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nations-founders-pushed-elected-king-framing-presidential-powers/story?id=111621798 You know how Aristotle called for “balanced government”: Smith, Steven. “9. The Mixed Regime and the Rule of Law: Aristotle’s Politics, VII” [YouTube video]. Yale Courses. https://youtu.be/mKLkb4LDi5M?si=NLTY5uPD9omUdXGZ The Senate, originally, chosen by the state legislatures: United States Senate. “Landmark Legislation: The Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution.” https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/seventeenth-amendment.htm The Seventeenth Amendment: Constitution Annotated. “Seventeenth Amendment.” https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-17/ Part of the Progressive Era: Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “The Progressive Era Key Facts.” September 28, 2020. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/summary/The-Progressive-Era-Key-Facts “No appropriations shall be made but by law”: Constitution Annotated. “ArtI.S9.C7.1 Overview of Appropriations Clause.” https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C7-1/ALDE_00001095/ There’s Project 2025, too: Wendling, Mike. “Project 2025: The Right-Wing Wish List for Trump’s Second Term.” February 13, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c977njnvq2do During Nixon’s administration, Nixon tried what is called “impoundment”: Kogan, Richard, “FAQs on Impoundment: Presidential Actions Are Constrained by Long-Standing Constitutional Restrictions.” November 21, 2024. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/faqs-on-impoundment-presidential-actions-are-constrained-by-long-standing The Supreme Court ruled that unconstitutional: Justia. “Train v. City of New York, 420 U.S. 35 (1975).” https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/420/35/ It could be a veto override: United States House of Representatives. “Presidential Vetoes.” Updated January 23, 2025. https://history.house.gov/Institution/Presidential-Vetoes/Presidential-Vetoes/ USAID: Faguy, Ana. “USAID Officially Closes, Attracting Condemnation From Obama and Bush.” July 2, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c307zq8ppj6o That was part of the DOGE-ness: Clarke, Jennifer. “What is DOGE and Why Has Musk Left?” May 20, 2025. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23vkd57471o Project 2025 had it: Mathiasen, Karen. “Project 2025 and Development Policy: I Read It So You Don’t Have To.” July 20, 2024. https://www.cgdev.org/blog/project-2025-and-development-policy-i-read-it-so-you-dont-have Some people have not liked USAID for years: Kakissis, Joanna; Bartlett, Kate; Peralta, Eyder; and Hadid, Diaa. “How the Gutting of USAID is Reverberating Around the World: Worry, Despair, Praise.” February 11, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/02/11/g-s1-47661/trump-musk-usaid-ukraine-south-africa-mexico-colombia-india-afghanistan-hiv Aid has stopped going to these places: Mednick, Sam; McMakin, Wilson; and Pronczuk, Monika. “USAID Cuts are Already Hitting Countries Around the World: Here are 20 Projects That Have Closed.” AP News. https://apnews.com/article/usaid-cuts-hunger-sickness-288b1d3f80d85ad749a6d758a778a5b2 Food has spoiled: Hartner, Fred. “‘The Impact has Been Devastating’: How USAID Freez Sent Shockwaves Through Ethiopia." February 21, 2025. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/ng-interactive/2025/feb/21/the-impact-has-been-devastating-how-usaid-freeze-sent-shockwaves-through-ethiopia Supplies have been destroyed: Kent, Lauren. “US to Burn $9.7 Million Worth of USAID-Purchased Contraceptives Rather Than Deliver Them to Women Overseas.” July 29, 2025. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/29/europe/usaid-contraceptives-burn-belgium-france-intl Furloughed the people: Tanis, Fatma. “USAID Terminates Nearly All Its Remaining Employees.” March 28, 2025. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/03/28/g-s1-56968/usaid-terminates-nearly-all-its-remaining-employees People were going to the courts to say, “Hey, this is illegal.”: Wagner, Erich. “Judge Certifies Class in Lawsuit on Behalf of Ex-USAID Workers, Contractors." August 19, 2025. Government Executive. https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/08/judge-certifies-class-lawsuit-behalf-ex-usaid-workers-contractors/407551/ Being wined and dined by monarchy: Reals, Tucker; Ott, Haley; and Watson, Kathryn. “Trump Attends Banquet Dinner With King Charles During Second State Visit ...
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    1 hr and 17 mins