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

The Donald Trump mug shot has become the hottest selling item in the country. At $47 a pop, people be snapping up the mug of the Donald, including friar Rod-erick. The mug shot has the boys wondering where does all of this end up? With a new vaccine coming (along with its own mandate!) is Dave’s latest insane conspiracy theory really all that out there? Why does Friar Rod-erick look like Donald Trump? Does gender identity effect tipping? What about Motel 6? Why do people bet on practice football? All these questions, and more, this week on “What The Frock?”

No… I did not watch the “debate.” That doesn’t mean that I don’t have an opinion about the results of the debate. On the one hand, I came to a realization that these debates aren’t even meant to be substantive. These are intended to be performance art pieces, where the entirety of the event is intended to impress, entertain and get you to like a candidate based on nothing more than than their telegencic presence. Based on those criteria, clearly Vivek Ramaswamy was the hands down winner. He led in all the right categories after the debate: trending on social media, Google searches and comments. Of course, he has his distracters too. But again, even that isn’t based on any substantive issue, but rather on perceptions, mostly (seems to me) about his age and inexperience. One might note though, that has all the experience that JFK had before he went into politics. Naturally, the Talmud has something to say about youth into learning things AND judging a wine by its skin…

A few days ago, rod texted me and asked for my ‘assessment” of an article found in The Atlantic (paywall), “The Constitution Prohibits Trump From Ever Being President Again.” The idea is not new. The article is a rehash of an argument that was made by a couple of experts from the Federalist Society that says that the 14th Amendment Section 3 makes Trump ineligible for office. Constitutional interpretation is always a matter of convenience for whatever those in power want it be. The problem is that there may be a law that simply makes the application of 14.3 not applicable… or maybe not. Either way, IF we 14.3/45 (Trump), there is a huge, very foreseeable, problem…

Who’s ready for the Presidential Campaign Debate Season? Whoo-hoo!!!! Seriously, I long ago quit watching them because – and I say this with love – they are pointless. Nothing of any substance has been discussed at a debate since 1960, and it gets worse every cycle. Today we are literally watching them not to learn anything of value, but in the hope that – like NASCAR – there will be a giant implosion on the stage that ends with a Jerry Springer-esque fight. Including the chairs being thrown and noses being broken. Now that I would most certainly watch. That said, and putting my own ideas for how to improve the debates aside for the moment, there once was a time when debates in this country meant something. When opponents actually had positions on the issues that completely differed from one another. A time when politicians were actually addressing the issues, not trying get rich at the expense of the nation. And the greatest of all these debates began on August 21, 1958 in Ottawa, IL…

Who’s ready for the Presidential Campaign Debate Season? Whoo-hoo!!!! Seriously, I long ago quit watching them because – and I say this with love – they are pointless. Nothing of any substance has been discussed at a debate since 1960, and it gets worse every cycle. Today we are literally watching them not to learn anything of value, but in the hope that – like NASCAR – there will be a giant implosion on the stage that ends with a Jerry Springer-esque fight. Including the chairs being thrown and noses being broken. Now that I would most certainly watch. That said, and putting my own ideas for how to improve the debates aside for the moment, there once was a time when debates in this country meant something. When opponents actually had positions on the issues that completely differed from one another. A time when politicians were actually addressing the issues, not trying get rich at the expense of the nation. And the greatest of all these debates began on August 21, 1958 in Ottawa, IL…

Are you ready for another gripping, thought-provoking, and downright hilarious episode of What The Frock? Our favorite dynamic duo, Rabbi Dave and Friar Roderick, are back at the mic, weaving their unique tapestry of wisdom and wit. This week’s episode promises a delectable blend of tech talk, skeptical love affairs, and some political pondering. First on the agenda: the rise of AI in the world of podcasting. How many of your favorite shows are using artificial intelligence for tasks from editing to even content creation? Rabbi Dave, with his ever-present love for tech, dives into the intricacies and innovations of AI in broadcasting. But will Friar Roderick be as sold on our robot overlords? Expect a lively debate that juxtaposes modern advancements with age-old wisdom. And hey, can AI really capture the human essence of a podcast? Next, brace yourself for some hearty laughs and possible gasps as our hosts delve into “Things that people say they love but we think they’re lying about it.” We’ve all been the

John Adams once said that “our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” Like so many of the Framers and Founders, he had a deep level of understanding that seems to have been lost today. So what exactly was John Adams’ meaning? The answer may come from a story related to us from the Midrash, when a famous Rabbi sent two of his disciples to a nearby town to inspect things. When they arrived, the asked the city leaders to show them the Guardians of their city. The Rabbis were shown the Soldiers who guarded and policed the town. “These are not the guardians of your city,” exclaimed Rabbi Asi, “These are the destroyers of your city.” Before you get all “Defund the police” on me, you need to understand the deeper meaning of what the Rabbis meant. Which, by the by, was the same thig that John Adams meant…

Now that a man from Florida has been indicted for everything except the Kennedy assassinations and the Lindbergh Baby kidnapping, we are able to get on with our lives and talk about that time in Washington, D.C., when some people were so mad at the government and the perceived injustices that they marched in the streets and rioted. The also had firearms, threatened to use them and they burned a certain politician in effigy – which for those of you under thirty, mean they burned a doll of the politician – no.. not a Barbie doll, usually a full sized… well… an effigy of the offending person. Listen, just Google the word if you don’t know it already. Anyway, long before a time when everything became “the greatest” this or the “most amazing that,” upset people just had a way of letting it be known that they were upset without resorting to social media or donating to various political “causes” that might or might not involve the purchase of real estate. And since everything seems to need to have a ranking as “th

In the days following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there was confusion and uncertainty in the upper echelons of the Imperial Japanese government. Most of the leadership had deferred the final decision to the Emperor, who told them to “Bear the unbearable.” During the few days of waiting for the Japanese decision, the United States had paused its B-29 led bombing campaign. There rumors were rampant. Time after time the surrender was said to be imminent, but then faded away to be followed by yet another rumor. As it became clear that Japan had not been – as yet – convinced to lay down her arms, General Spaatz decided that what was needed was a 1000 Bomber raid. This had been the norm in the later stages of the war against Germany, but it had not – as yet – happened in the Pacific Theater. The sheer size of the Pacific Theater and the distances involved had made it impractical. A lack of B-29s had made unachievable. Until today, August 14, 1945. As the B-29s began to roll off of the Island o

There’s both good news and… better(?) news this morning, depending on your view. The USWNT did not advance at the Women’s World Cup for the first time in a long time. On the other hand, Kim Jong Un scored an impressive 100% electoral victory in his campaign for Dear Leader. You should write that down. The great Plastic Straw ban may or may not have been successful, once again, depending on your point of view and what you actually think that it was trying to accomplish. You should also write that down. The Chinese biolab making COVID in Reedly, CA turns out to have scored a really great tax incentive deal from the State of California. Now wonder they didn’t wan that written down! And in the world of pop culture, Denise Richards has the Rabbi and the Good Friar considering taking up yoga. All that and more on a busy episode of What the Frock?

A recent tweet by Rob Reiner… yes… “Meathead”… reminds me that somehow or another, the meaning of words, or at least the understanding of those words, has been surreptitiously modified. This was followed by a Tick Tock user explaining to me that anybody who is NOT mentally ill under a capitalist system, is de facto a fascist. But that’s not the actual definition of the word fascism. Or is it? In my own backyard, the recent controversy over whether high school students who were wearing tee shirts that read “There are only two genders” has launched a similar debate. Now… there is plenty of discussion to be had here, but at the end of the day, has the newer understanding of the meaning of the word “fascist” so infiltrated the contest that free speech has been displaced?

By now you know that either Barbie or Oppenheimer, or possibly both, are the greatest movies ever created in the history film. Already people are talking about follow up films to tell what are known as “origin stories,” but frankly I couldn’t care less about the back-story of Barbie or Ken, or even for that matter Robert Oppenheimer. That said, there would never have been a film on Oppenheimer if two men, joined by other scientists, hadn’t written letters to President Franklin Roosevelt. One of those letters was delivered to him this week (August 2) in 1939. It was that letter that alarmed Roosevelt and the US Government so much, that a crash program, which would be led by Oppenheimer, began to go critical…

The eternal argument over Term Limits got a… well… boost this week after a couple of geezers in congress that should have retired and/or died years ago managed to bring it to everybody’s attention. Should there be term limits, or at least age limits? Or, perhaps, cognitive test to determine if anybody is actually capable of serving in Congress? The overall mantra continues to be that by “supporting” Ukraine, we are “bleeding the Russians dry. The problem with that theory is now manifest as the answer to the question, “Who is it exactly that is being bled dry?” comes into focus … Murder most foul continues as a snake charmer sues his wiles under a woman’s influence, and a bear in Yellowstone gets away with killing a woman as well. Meanwhile, what the Communist Chinese heck is going on in Reedly, CA??? All that and more this week on What The Frock?

There is an old saying in the Civil Service: Never believe anything, until it has been officially denied. As the Biden Family crime story seems to be moving faster and faster every day, one of the things being postulated is that the President could issue a pardon for his son, Hunter. In fact, there are more and more people who are coming to believe that the President may have to issue one. And now that it has been officially denied, the maxim tells us that it is more than likely true. Yes, it would be political suicide for the President. But the consequences of not doing it – if a new sweetheart deal isn’t reached and approved quickly – could be even more devastating and for far more people than just the Biden’s…

Teenagers, man… Last night Ben and I took a walk. He has become quite the young man. He is smart, energetic and he has a lot, and I mean a lot, of opinions about the world and how things ought to be. And for really the first time since he became a teenager, he and I had a long conversation about the things that matter so deeply to him and to me. I rmemeber being a thirteen year old opiniionated know-it-all, so certain in my beliefs that nothing was going to change my mind. Maybe that’s the way of youth. But I like to think this morning, that last night’s walk and talk had the effect I hope that it did…

As a general rule, I oppose the impeachment of elected officials (appointed officials are a different matter). The recent conventional thinking is that – in general – it’s a waste of time as neither side has the actual votes to impeach a given President. That did not stop Trump from being twice impeached, but, and I think that this is important, those were political moves that were less about Trump than they were about control of the House and Senate. When debating the Presidency during the Philadelphia Convention, there were two main points of consideration. First, HOW to elect the President? And while those discussions could occupy us for many hours, of equal if not quite as debated issue was how to get rid of a President that was not up to standards? Benjamin Franklin suggested that there were really only two options, first and easiest, was simply to assassinate a bad leader. But that comes with other obvious issues. So another method was needed, and borrowing from the British legal system, impeachment w

I am often bemused by so many wannabe tough people proclaiming on social media that they are here to “punch Nazi’s in the face!” More than once I have wondered if they would even recognize a actual Nazi if they were to see one in person? My own experience tells me that they would not, because in today’s world, the attitude is that “Everyone I don’t like is literally Hitler!“ That said, there was a day in 1935 (July 25th) when a group of men decided to… well.. punch Nazi’s in the face. Their actions on this day in New York City, and the outcome of the subsequent trial, were so offensive to Adolf Hitler and his merry men, that it forced the German regime to change it’s own laws. And for the first time in history, but certainly not the last, actual Nazi’s were punched in their actual faces…

Over the weekend, Cami was asking me if I was worried about the future of the country. I mean… yes, I am. I also tend to take the Mickey Rivers approach to life, which means that generally speaking, I try not to worry about things over which I have no control. Of course, that is counter-intuitive, as in a government of, buy and for the people, I should have some control so now I am back to wondering what, if anything, I could actually do about things? Part of me thinks that everything is going to hell in a hand basket, while another part of me says that this kind of worry has been going on for a long, long time…

WARNING: Much Use of Adult Language, including AI produced "Best Cuss Words." If language offends you, don't listen to this episode or Jason Aldean songs The Rabbi has had a stressful weekend, and today isn’t getting any better. It’s the kind of stuff that has him saying (deleted). The big question this week is whether or not the understanding the we are gaining of AI effects or changes the way we view prophecy, particularly Biblical prophecy, which doesn’t mean the same thing to different people. Speaking of AI, the computer has come up with what it says it the “best” cuss word in existence. It’s not correct, because it did not even consider “Belgium” It’s also the opening week of Dave’s favorite sport season. All that and more this week on What The Frock!

Everybody knows *that* guy. You know.. the one who has to keep asking weird questions or making absurd pronouncements when the meeting is wrapping up and everybody wants to leave. It’s almost like they are utterly oblivious and definitely not reading the room. It terms of the Constitutional convention, *that* guy is named George Mason. And while the Convention has a scheduled eleven day break, starting as soon as the day ends, he wants to bring up a bunch of obtuse points. Right Now…