Plausibly Live! - The Official Podcast Of The Dave Bowman Show

In the ashes of World War II, it was becoming quite clear that Jews needed a homeland where they would be relatively safe. Even after the destruction of Nazi Germany, Vichy France and fascist Italy, hatred for Jews remained quite strong, certainly in Europe. The new United Nations decided to create a plan, known as Resolution 181 (III), that would partition the former British Mandate of Palestine into two new nations, Israel, and an independent Arab State. There was much debate and modification to the plan before the UN finally voted on November 29, 1947, to approve the plan. While there were objections, most Jews around the world welcomed the plan. So why did the plan never go into action?

Sixty years ago this week, President Lyndon Johnson announced the formation of the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of John Kennedy. The Nation was deep in shock and needed some reassurance. One year and eight hundred and eighty-eight pages later, the commission announced its findings. Those can be boiled down to this: Lee Harvey Oswald fired the Magic Bullet that killed President Kennedy and wounded Governor Connelly. Sure, there’s a whole bunch of other stuff, including some commonsense recommendations about Presidential security going forward. But for the past sixty years, there has been almost no single page of the report that hasn’t found its detractors somewhere. And it all seemingly comes back to that single, magical bullet that somehow defied logic and physics and did it all…. or… did it? Cue the Black helicopter…

The Good Friar is still sick, but the boys are still here to wonder about the recent developments in the world of AI. Clearly there is a large among of stupid people who keep asking the AI to decide morally ambiguous questions. Then the complain on the interwebs about the answers that the great AI gives them. Rabbi Dave needs to make a bunch of money, and on last weeks show he figured out how to do it! Today we’ll take the wrappers off his Hallmark holiday Movie – Harmony of Hearts©! As it turns out, it is always illegal to kill your estranged wife using a snake. Seriously, you can even ask ChatGPT, it will tell you the same thing. The bigger question is how in the world is Dolly Parton STILL looking so good at 77? An alleged comedian insulted victims of domestic violence and got in social media hot water. Instead of retreating, he decided to throw it right back. All that and possibly more this week on What The Frock?

Over the course of eight days, beginning on the 25th of Kislev (this year, the evening of December 7th), Jews around the world will light the Hanukkiah, or Hanukkah Menorah. Each night, a new candle is added, until the light from the Menorah is brilliant and fills the home with its life and luster. Almost twenty-two hundred years ago, the Jews sought to rededicate the Temple in Jerusalem. The Temple had been intentionally desecrated by Antiochus IV when he ordered a pig to be sacrificed on the altar and a statue of Zeus to be set up in the Holy of Holies. His was only the latest attempt to eradicate the Jews from the face of the Earth. It would not be the last. Nor would it be the last night that Jews around the world gathered around the menorah to remember the reasons that we light those lights...

The Good Friar Rod is back from his illness, but he is also now locked up in Twitter jail. While he was away, Rabbi Dave has figured out the best way for this podcast to become huge and world renown. It does involve a little bit of self-sacrifice and the involvement of listeners, but trust us, this will make us BIG!!!!! There is something wrong in California. All of sudden, leading Democrats there are telling the truth about stuff. Which is true, because… well… it’s true. WTF takes us to an uncomfortable DYI medical procedure and brings the future of star Trek to life, while Hallmark introduces SciFi Hallmarks Christmas flicks which remind us that messing with the past is a bad idea, unless it’s a Hallmark Holiday film, in which case, it can be predicted by ChatGPT. All that and more this week on What The Frock?

I had just started in radio and I was still working for another company that… well… lets just say that they had reservations about me being on the air and sharing my opinions. Because of their objections, they demanded (and got) me to use a radio nom de guerre. It was a name that was not my first choice (Herb Focaccia), but reflected my perceived role at the station. I was supposed to report on sports and fill in a a news guy. The demand was NOT a violation of my first amendment rights. It didn’t offend me or cause me any actual heartburn. Later I would make it clear – AFTER I left the other company for full time radio – that it was not my real name, which led to two interactions with listeners that still make me… if not smile, at least remind me that Lincoln was absolutly correct about who can be fooled, at least some of the time. All that said, there are things about the first amendment on my mind today. When the Party that tells you to your face, “We support and defend the constitution. Please give us m

In the annals of American history, few figures have stirred as much controversy and debate as Senator Joseph McCarthy. Known for his relentless pursuit of alleged communists within the United States government during the early 1950s, McCarthy’s actions and the era named after him, “McCarthyism,” have become synonymous with witch hunts and unfounded accusations. But who was Joseph McCarthy beyond the headlines and history books? And was his crusade really as it is portrayed? Or was it just a whole lot of hot air? Or… was it… something else entirely?

In 1954, the United States re-designated the 11th of November as Veterans Day. Prior to then, the day had been known as Armistice day, and was intended to remind people of the absolute madness that had been The Great War. The intention, as express by then President Woodrow Wilson, was: To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations. While the re-designation to celebrate all US Veterans makes sense to our country, I often wonder if we miss the importance of the day? Do we lose the connection that we forged in 1918? Today we have the pedantic people who will always post the meme about “What Veterans day, Memorial day and Armed Forces Day mean” and inform you that if you celebrate any of them “incorrectly” t

On November 7, 1916, the nation did something it had not done since 1832: it reelected an incumbent democrat Party President to a second term. Woodrow Wilson, who ran his campaign on the slogan, “He kept us out of the war,” pulled out one of the closest elections in US history, albeit without the controversy and rancor of other close races. The biggest issue of the campaign had been the US position on the war in Europe. Charles Hughes, the GOP nominee, called for greater mobilization and preparedness, while Wilson’s campaign claimed that a Hughes win would automatically mean war with both Germany AND Mexico. By the by, Wilson had already sent US troops to intervene in the Mexican Revolution. Hughes had gone to bed the night of the election convinced that he had won. In fact, even the Kingdom of Serbia’s official newspaper had announced that Wilson had lost. But it wasn’t to be, as the later voting states rolled into the Wilson column. For Hughes, it wasn’t clear that he had lost, so he decided to sleep in t

Something odd is happening, and it’s not just Friar Rod’s suspicious voice that doesn’t sound very “sick.” No… it’s whatever is happening in the country right now, which saw some very disturbing things happen last night in the nations’ capitol. It has Rabbi Dave thinking about the Roman Empire, which is something that most men do anyway. But this time, he’s wondering about whether or not there were advantages to the empire which we have failed to consider? SBF is very scared about going to prison for up to one hundred and fifteen years. But not for the reasons that you might think. All that an more this week on What The Frock?

I am absolutely fascinated with religious cults. What really draws me in is the question about motives, both leaders and followers. Even more, I am always interested in the way that the leaders of these various cults manage to not only convince people that they are not just right, but they are doing what G-d commanded them to do AND what is BEST for them. What is even more interesting is the way that other cultish organizations manage to convince us of the same thing. And lest you say, “No, not me! I will NEVER do that!” let us consider the biggest, richest, and most powerful Master of them all…

On October 31, 1864, Nevada became the 36th State to join the Union (I just got that BB-36 was USS Nevada!). While most States that joined the Union did so with certain conditions that varied with the era in which they were admitted, most of them had similar conditions, vis-à-vis republican governments and the banning of slavery and so forth. Nevada on the other hand, was unusual in that its first attempt at a Constitution had been rejected by Congress. It was over a taxation issue, and given the circumstance in the Territory, Congress wasn’t about to allow any hanky-panky with tax revenues. But it was another condition that cause the biggest conundrum, even today. As we have seen in the last decade, many conservatives, who in 1864 pushed for the condition, now find themselves with almost no understanding of why – by law – 85% of Nevada is and will always be owned by the Federal government. On the surface, the answer makes sense. When you dig deeper, it’s more than common sense, it’s downright… wise…

The day starts when some rando listener down in Floriduh texts Rabbi Dave to inform him that he (Dave) is a part of the “MAGA wing” of our party.” He also thinks that Dave just does a super job on Dave Does History, BUT… Anyway, unlike many other shows, Slippery Fish Entertainment has a long record of tapes that show that make the point, so… well… maybe you should check with Jesus before you decide to take matters into your own hands and act on it? Just saying… Gun control was in the news again. At least until people figured out that the perp was a textbook example of exactly why gun control doesn’t work. Warwickshire is a little over two hours from Scotland Yard. Which makes you wonder why it took them thirty-one hours to solve a grisly crime? Also, you shouldn’t put lobsters down your pants. Mainly because they are terribly expensive. The reason that lobsters are so expensive though, might have you saying, “WTF?” A long time ago (okay, it was two whole years) Dave and Friar Rod had a Halloween discussio

There’s an old saw that says: If you’re not a liberal when you’re young, you have no heart. And if you’re not a conservative when you’re old, you have no brain. As strange as it may seem, given the media coverage, in recent days, there are a lot – and I mean a lot – of folks who have been startled awake from their wokeness. For some it has come as a shock, for others, maybe it’s the realization that crazy never rests. In either case, the real question is whether it will be enough to turn things around? For my own part, the media seems hell bent on making certain that it’s not enough, but we’ve reached a point where it’s no longer just MAGA Conservatives that no longer trust the media. What that ultimately means is still not visible in anybody’s crystal ball. That isn’t stopping talking heads from telling us what they “know” is going to happen as if they received it from the foot of Mt Olympus.

On December 7, 1941, the bombs rained down on the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. Of the eight Battleships present that day, seven were put out of action. Two of those, Oklahoma, and Arizona, permanently. The other six Battleships were essentially obsolete. In fact, the very reason that the Battleships were in Pearl Harbor that day was because they were useless to accomplish the task the Navy needed done that week. But they were still fully manned and fully operational when Japan attacked. That said… the Navy saw value in the old ships, and decided to raise, repair and refit them to the standards of modern Battleships. In those roles, these six ships would serve through the rest of the Pacific War. One of them, the USS Nevada, found herself pounding the German defenses on D-Day and throughout the Normandy campaign. When General MacArthur landed with his troops in the Philippine Islands on October 20, 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy had no choice but to respond. Virtually the entire fleet sailed to the P

Is there something going on over at Facebook? It seems like – without any evidence to support it – that news about the world’s most dangerous conflict is either being suppressed or otherwise shadow banned? Or is it? Much like October 22nd sixty-one years ago, the world seems like it is on the edge. Back then, one man, we are told, “saved” the world from nuclear apocalypse. What will happen this time? speaking of ancient history, we have the ten oldest jokes in history. we thought that this would be a great segment. Spoiler alert… it’s not. Is Elizabeth Hurley the show’s new Rosamund Pike? Spoiler alert (again)… yes. All that and more this week on What The Frock!

I love ancient history, particularly that of the Roman Republic. You knew that. But what if one of my most cherished beliefs about the past is… well… incorrect? Yesterday, Jim Jordan cancelled a third vote on his campaign for Speaker of the House. It all seems surreal and at the same time, has generated arguments galore as to who is right, who is doing the people’s business, who is protecting the Constitution, the republic and even… liberty? Once upon a time, some in a government that had become so corrupted by money and power. So they sought to eliminate a challenge to their own continued power and wealth. They wrapped themselves in phrases and ideologies that sounded great. Liberty! Honor! Republic! But, what if… they… were… you know… wrong?

On the night of October 14/15, 1781, a combined force of American and French forces stormed two British forts, known as redoubts, that held the right side of the British lines at Yorktown. Behind those forts waited seven thousand or so British troops and their German mercenaries. Leading the assault on Redoubt 10 was Colonel Alexander Hamilton, personally selected by George Washington to lead what he hoped would be the final attack of the battle. He had also selected crack Rhode Island troops to carry the assault. They had been chosen for a specific reason and they were more than ready to inflict defeat on the hated British. When the attack was over, Washington knew, as did General Cornwallis, that the Yorktown campaign was over. The were only two questions now. first, would this end British war on America? The second, was much more telling and the answer would haunt America for the next four score years and four years…

The Rabbi and the good Friar get together to talk about the last week and the outrage we’ve seen. At the end of the day, hate is hate, and it never ends well. The national political scene isn’t much better. There is no Speaker of the House, while there are at least two wars that directly involves the United States in one way or another. But… there is growing noise to get a speaker. The question is, what exactly would the Democrats be willing to do to “help” the GOP? More interesting, what would the GOP do to get a speaker in place? It’s that time of year again, so the boys will review the most hated Halloween candies in the country. also, we learn that one of them hates coconut, which means that he is probably a terrorist…

The winter of 1775-76 was not a good one for the Americans. Defeat after defeat had followed the early success, and many were rethinking their own involvement in the revolution against the British. Congress was desperate, money was gone, troops were leaving as short enlistments expired. And everywhere, Washington’s tiny and shrinking army was on the retreat. The flame of liberty, seemingly, was extinguished. On the side of the road, as the Army retreated, one man took every opportunity, not to complain or commensurate over their lot with his fellow soldiers. Instead, he took every chance he had to scribble words on paper. As the Army retreated, he wrote ever more furiously. His words flowing from heart, were inflammatory. and the fire they would re-kindle, would lead to actions which hitherto, had been the words of radicals and rabble-rousers. When the words he wrote were published, they became the best selling book in the history of The United States. While some of what he wrote is occasionally remembere