Cognitive decline and the end of American empire | Reason Roundtable | July 1, 2024

[@chrimony]

@31:01: You should give Trump a little more credit. In his first term, he pushed Europe to spend more on their military, instead of relying on the US to be the sole superpower that will take care of all problems. During the debate, he correctly pointed out that Russia was more Europe's problem than the United States, and they should be doing more instead of relying on the United States to do the heavy lifting. He correctly pointed out that the European countries, when combined, were on par with the United States economically.

[@nedhill1242]

And NATO was no longer needed and was antagonizing Russia. But the deep state can’t have that because without perpetual war, they can’t keep laundering money into the hands of a few people. And without perpetual war, they can’t keep creating more and more infrastructures to spy on manipulate and control the population. This is 100% about money and power. This is about authoritarianism. Pure and simple. And these clowns don’t understand that the public sees it better than they do and understand Trump is the outsider that we need to strip the power from these maniacs. None of this would be possible if the media had not sold out to the far left. The Democrats are a serious problem. The deep state is a serious problem. The permanent bureaucracy is a serious problem. The establishment Republicans are a serious problem. But all of it would be exposed if not for the media the way, the federal government thinks to Jimmy Carter and teachers unions Control education today and have been brainwashing kids for decades. This is where people need to watch the interview in 1984 with Yuri Bezmenov.

[@dasse8717]

Then he sent weapons to Ukraine ensuring the war would happen. He also never got out of Afghanistan as promised, in fact he increased troops. Trumpets lie as much as Dems.

[@thealienwatcher540]

Political Rhetoric & Economy or Foreign Policy don't go hand in hand. Trump never understood this. Foreign Policy is about Power & Influence. It's like a Poker Game where everybody is cheating but no one admits it. The ASEAN countries are the economic pillars of China's economic stability. They are their largest Trade partners. Same as EU being the economic pillars of USA. They are like a Shield/Back Up to economic downfall. So USA should never ever turn it's back on its allies by giving them another choice/option. It's how US has maintained dominance. The US is mostly stable becoz of the Dollar System. FYI, The US Dollar is Fake Money, it's not backed by Gold or anything of value other than a bunch of corporate lobbyists determining its value. Most US allies have the Dollar as they national reserves. That's why US can never go broke. It can always print its way out of a debt crisis. It's why it can place sanctions on large economies like Russia or China. China understands this better & its why they're fighting so hard to replace USA in the World Stage. They are not interested in fighting a war, they want to replace USA. It's has mobilized Brazil, Russia, India & South Africa to form 'BRICS Nations' with the aim of destroying the Dollar System and replacing it with a 'Gold backed' currency that will give their economies massive economic dominance. EU will never align with Russia but they might align with China, if we give them a reason to. Then USA will find itself being sanctioned by China reducing our influence and purchasing capacity. Then we shall find ourselves in the same situation like Russia, invading your neighbors for their resources or scrambling for resources in Africa. Trump's policies might look like they're winning in the short term but are a failure in the long run. They are too risky and can damage the Country for good. He provides quick short term solutions without forward thinking to please the masses for complex issues that require long term solutions. For example Trump Defunded pandemic response team to save money as he claimed, which in the short term propelled economic growth but when a pandemic struck we were never shielded from it's catastrophe. The economy came tumbling to the ground. He gave huge tax cuts with zero strings attached to the wealthy which never benefited any working class becoz no additional jobs or pay increment were created nor did the wealthy bring back their investments from overseas China. When he in signed into law that weakened the 'Dogg Frank Act' in 2018 which were financial stability protection laws by passing laws that allowed the Banking System to Avoid having Capital on hand and the liquidity to deal with a Crisis. Years later it led to the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank. He withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord which was a collaboration of countries to work together in combating Climate Crisis that is now visible and undeniably causing catastrophes all over the planet. Basically, his Populist Policies which have negative catastrophic consequences.

[@Xamufam]

European spending increase was already planned before trump became president. What Europe needs is an integration of it defence industry and armed forces

[@IndependentThinker74]

I hate Trump. But I have to say that is maybe the most intelligent thing I have ever read from a Trump supporter. You make a good point, but Trump is going beyond demanding Europe pay its share in NATO. He has brought up pulling out of NATO entirely. I think that would potentially be a danger to Western Democracy.

[@Redleg151]

You failed to hit the biggest point, one party (and the media) has so much contempt for voters that they have a corpse they have propped up for three plus years that only now they discovered he has declined. Everyone talks about the politics of this situation and not the current danger in having someone that is only lucid for 4-6 hours a day!

[@thealienwatcher540]

Go look at Biden's performance record. He has achieved more than Trump. Besides he had a flu on that day. He is a better choice than Trump for many reasons

[@andrewkerr5296]

I too have contempt for voters, because voters don't & won't leave me alone. Hence the ever increasing size of the State

[@ClyDIley]

​@@andrewkerr5296Damn voters....

[@andrewkerr5296]

@@ClyDIley Yea Democracy is terrible, what of it

[@zwerko]

Let's not pretend that the other party has any less contempt for voters. How is propping a narcissistic dimwit any better than propping a senile corpse?

[@charlie-qh2ll]

Why are large scale deportations deeply, deeply disturbing?

[@Patrick3183]

They’re not

[@kevingalligan2846]

Not disturbing at all. Vanilla. Boring. Normal. Expected. Reaaonable.

[@mikem4984]

This why I'm not a capital "L" Libertarian. I just can't agree with open borders, unless the world goes Libertarian and the welfare state is limited accordingly.

[@treysharpe904]

It is people who support Trump who keep on getting these disagreed upon topics correct. Happens over and over again.

[@Lori-xt2lf]

54:40 the democrats could not and will not figure themselves out as long as Obama is around.

[@jamespier7801]

surging illegal immigration, no big deal. deportations “deeply, deeply disturbing.” this is why libertarianism will always be niche.

[@brianzjones]

Yeah, b/c: freedom. -bZj

[@markg9401]

We should learn from Obama - deporter-in-chief

[@howardkeil1526]

Trump thinks out loud. People need to quit taking every statement he makes as 100% literal. Trump's actions and outcomes are what count.

[@gluegobbler5740]

⁠@@howardkeil1526If we have to guess when Trump is speaking literally, how can we ever hold him accountable for what he says? If you want to talk about actions and outcomes, Trump’s are abysmal compared to Biden’s. Biden DELIVERED the largest infrastructure bill in recent history, Trump just TALKED about it. Trump has cheated on his wife, Biden has remained faithful to his wife.

[@sunnyla2835]

True, libertarians are the privileged elite chattering classes, far far removed from everyday reality. I betcha NONE of them has ever volunteered at or even gone near an inner-city preschool, high school, or even an effing inner-city playground. Truly pathetic

[@fasthow223]

30:47 Yes, having obvious command over one's facilities is a BASIC requirement of the presidency.

[@gluegobbler5740]

I would hope that not undermining our democratic elections and inciting an insurrection against our great nation is also a BASIC requirement of the presidency.

[@sanniepstein4835]

​@@gluegobbler5740both false and histrionic accusations

[@gluegobbler5740]

@@sanniepstein4835 Trump attempted to get his own electors certified, asked Raffensperger to reverse Georgia’s election results, and launched multiple lawsuits to overturn the election results. All of the lawsuits were insane and had ZERO chance of ever working. There is tons of evidence for all the claims I have made. So please, enlighten me, which of these FACTS do you feel is false? Please, give some specifics, or do you just want to hand wave anything that threatens your fragile reality?

[@lynnelee4390]

​@@gluegobbler5740ur name explains everything

[@chrisfoxwell4128]

The chick repeating the Trump is a fascist trope makes moot everything that comes out after.

[@blueshirttail]

Elder abuse? This was abuse of a corpse.

[@excellentcomment]

I do remember Otto Warmbier. I will never forget. A parent's living nightmare. Otto was a 21? yo college student who took a poster of Kim jong-il off a public wall, and the North Koreans threw him in prison and beat his brain to death before Trump forced them to send him home where he died days later. You think that compares to the treatment of Julian Assange? In which reasonable people disagree about his role?

[@earlgrayman982]

I have the same reaction when I think about voting for Trump. That Warmbier kid didn't deserve to die like that however, I look to the left at all the deaths caused by the illegal alien surge and drugs coming across the border and I have to draw a line somewhere. The Dems crossed it by not giving a crap for 3 years 1/2 years. The gaslighting is off the charts with them. They have to go. They're just pure evil at this point.

[@Saltatory_]

I'm curious, if not deportations, how do you fairly enforce the law? If the answer is amnesty, how does that not just open the door to the next round?

[@user-mx9tu9xd1b]

Dems don’t think that far ahead

[@jasonsstratton]

Trump is actually a very good golfer. He would beat bush. Nato expansion did play a role in the Ukraine war.

[@Roger-mw9el]

I am sorry but I honestly don’t see any great Libertarian candidates lining up to take the reins. Your party doesn’t have much room to speak with your nomination who is clearly more of a socialist than a libertarian. I would rather take Trump any day over all the candidates across the political classes this cycle. Sure he is rough around the edges, speaks a little simple with his words but he has garnered more respect from foreign adversaries and allies. I was proud to have spent my final four years under him as my CiC. Tired of all the elite politicians snubbing us. We need real change on all fronts: revising SS by turning it into a 401K, fixing the legal migration process and making it more efficient (shouldn’t take tens of thousands and over 7 years to become a legal citizen), actually building the wall, abolishing the over bloated federal government (Department of Education, ATFE, ) and not spending billions to other countries when we are at 34.5 Trillion in debt.

[@cdavidlake2]

This whole thing has become a parlor game for the chattering classes: Biden's not going anywhere - particulary with all the enablers around him. Buckle up for Trump: the Sequel.

[@thealienwatcher540]

Biden will still beat Trump even on a wheel chair. The Debate did not sway anyone. Biden did terrible but he did answer the key questions but was not convincing to the independents. He left the debate with people worried about him rather than worried about his policies. He left with what's next rather than 'we've decided'. Trump only appealed to his base. He left the debate with People worried about his Policies. He deflected and did not answer key aspects of the questions mostly deflecting important issues such as Climate Change & Environment very key to Youths, Abortion rights very key to women. Foreign Policy key to legally absorbed migrant citizens etc. He reminded the people who voted against him that he had not changed. He only appealed to his MAGA fan base who will vote for him no matter what. FYI, That's not a win. Trump also did not appeal to black voters when he called undocumented immigrants 'illegals' and claimed they were stealing 'black jobs'. This really resonates a lot with 'White people' but not 'Black people' becoz it is blatantly racist. Black people were left asking themselves "What, exactly, is a 'black job?" Are there jobs meant for black people that immigrants are taking away?'. Becoz, The kind of decent jobs that almost all undocumented immigrants do and qualify for are low paying such as cotton picking, manual farm labor, garbage selection, sewage work, house work etc.

[@user-mx9tu9xd1b]

@@thealienwatcher540you are delusional. I live in a predominantly black area. Most jobs are black employed. The immigrants are moving to these areas. They will take jobs. You’re living with blinders on if you don’t think so

[@justoguillermomontoya3821]

Matt Welch is wrong that the Ukraine war wasn’t about NATO expansion. That’s the main cause.

[@joshuagoldstein8116]

Who else laughed out loud at "I think you need to interrupt me a little more, Peter"?

[@jderoma4382]

Of course Dem’s original sin was picking Kamala as VP. With his age in 2020 there should have been a lot more focus on the VP pick.

[@forensicdar]

The golden age of box-checking, diversity, and equity. If more people knew how she treated prisoners and the homeless, they would have been disgusted. No one except Tulsi, during a debate, said anything about that who Kamala really is. And she's been an abysmal vp. Imho, oc.

[@nedhill1242]

There’s sand was stealing the 2020 election by using a virus that wasn’t that bad all in the name of money and power and now their puppet is going rogue and exposing what many of us already knew! The Dems are fascist authoritarians enabled by an activist elitist communist media.

[@Tubester-17]

So is Matt anti-technology, or?

[@Watcher4187]

If Biden wins, Kamala could be the first ever DEI president. Truly brave and stunning.

[@thealienwatcher540]

They chose well. The VP is popular. She's just not popular with right wing

[@kaeserd]

What happened to Reason? Did Trump ruin them as well?

[@antmass3]

Vague.

[@kmeisenbach1]

Could Biden qualify for a drivers license?

[@PerryWidhalm]

LOL

[@excellentcomment]

Didn't Trump also deliver on his promise to require (perhaps by executive order, granted) that for every one new regulation proposed, the proposal had to terminate two regulations? Didn't he also sign an executive order that all pricing for hospital procedures should be published so that an individual is free to choose the best? Those items are just top of head but I have to think You care less about reducing the size of government and more about style & personality.

[@kmeisenbach1]

another great show... great to virtually listen in to you all... thanks

[@JohnR22926]

Why on earth would Trump agree to a second debate at this point?

[@lynnelee4390]

If anybody can lose this race it's Trump, he can't get out of his own way. He has some good ideas, but he aggravates the peewaddling out of me with the stupid stuff he can say

[@antmass3]

You mean, why would Trump want Biden's dementia on full display a second time? Hmmm.

[@ham9187]

It looks like Gillespie is about to cry.

[@spikeontheroad2560]

i get that we have a 2 party system that completely corrupts our government, but I just get tired of the absolute zero chance anyone gives RFK. I am completely willing to bet that a majority of Americans would rather have RFK than either of these pathetic losers. Not that he is a great candidate when it comes to policy, but he is intelligent, articulate and informed. I am certain he would win if we had rank choice voting. We still have months before the election. Tell the 2 parties to go screw themselves.

[@lynnelee4390]

He's a socialist, and we are interested in policy 1st

[@JohnR22926]

This Biden situation reminds me of the Joe paterno debacle. One thing to remember is that people with dementia are often not really aware of it.

[@zacharycadman8226]

NATO expansion did play a major role in that war, despite the fact it is an illegal war. We are playing a dangerous and stupid game right now. I figured of all people libertarians would understand this. RFK is best if only for that issue.

[@franzsperginand113]

Reason libertarians aren't great at that.

[@gluegobbler5740]

NATO expansion is a misleading term. Independent countries VOTED to join NATO. Why? Because Russia has historically threatened their existence and continues to do so today. Russia started multiple conflicts to invade their neighbors, so when the neighbors who haven’t been invaded want the security a defensive alliance like NATO provides, why would that be anyone but Russia’s fault? If we allow Putin to take what he wants from Ukraine, we are setting a dangerous precedent that Putin can do whatever he wants if he threatens Nuclear war. That would encourage Putin to embark upon a path of further expansion. That precedent is far more dangerous than continuing to support our allies in Ukraine against the invading Russians.

[@99guspuppet8]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ i have some libertarian thoughts …… do not steal money from some and give to others

[@glennmitchell9107]

So, the Reason Roundtable's well-reasoned opinion is that we should all vote for the Libertarian candidate. Good to know.

[@kennethobrien8386]

Finally, Chevron Deference has been weakened somewhat.

[@silveravnt]

"He's probably not like that all of the time." Yes, he'd been resting for a week prior to the debate and most people think he probably had something in his system to keep him lucid. You saw the best hour of his day. PS I really wish we could beat medicare.

[@oncho1960]

1986 was the 1st amnesty....here we are again

[@lynnelee4390]

He's like that 90percent ofthe time, and daily getting more senile. It was obvious in 2020. It's clear to see every time he speaks, which is not often. He wanders around lost most of the time, he is not and has not been running this country

[@Promano1978]

Tulsi Gabbard and Rfk were not good enough for the dnc

[@ry8100]

And they’re the two best candidates.

[@cesarcatano6176]

Man I like the host's advertisement with his own words, instead of the add on. Other than that, you guys are awesome.

[@hpmoon]

Peter: (1) less caffeine; (2) read the Zoom; (3) wipe down the smeared lens; (4) end hammer time

[@forensicdar]

Ikr??

[@innernouter]

I'm not buying it. I thought it was totally noticeable the last time around. All it took was a quick search of any video pre-decline and it was obvious what was to come. He was, however, just a man with a "stuttering problem" we were told. Now it's a scene from Weekend at Bernie's and we are told it was an off night for a man with a cold. The administrative state has found their ideal front man.

[@PerryWidhalm]

Purple hair is one of Nature's warning signs : BEWARE!

[@silveravnt]

Libertarians: Trump sucks! Also Libertarians: Trump SCOTUS justices are awesome!!

[@icon134]

OMG, totally accurate description of the last season of Picard.

[@howardkeil1526]

Have you considered that you might have caught him in a good moment?!

[@wademosher9625]

The fact that this podcast and everyone else is NOT calling for the 25th proves to me this world is a joke.

[@Coldend]

...and get who Kamala? That's WHY nobody is calling for the 25th.

[@Yitreaux]

Why dismiss RFK?

[@lynnelee4390]

Socialist

[@FalloutTributeMusic]

I feel we all are declining.... Every Western Country for the last 10 years. Atleast my music makes you happy while the world is ending!

[@ClyDIley]

I bet Nick's eager to hold someone accountable, Id feel that way also if my party lied to me like that....

[@lynnelee4390]

If he believed the lie, he never watched the news. Biden has been out of it since 2020

[@Sagegaidin]

I would much rather my President spent his days playing golf.

[@silveravnt]

Libertarians: Taxation is theft. Libertarians on immigration: Take my money!

[@randominternetguy1499]

Straw man argument. Do natives also not get on welfare?

[@IndependentThinker74]

What about when they pick your vegetables? They produce more food for the US than the American farmers do.

[@sanniepstein4835]

@@IndependentThinker74 If we actually need labor, we can adjust the number allowed to immigrate legally, or give out temporary work permits. No one has the right to enter a country of which he is not a citizen, period.

[@IndependentThinker74]

@@sanniepstein4835 Agreed. I am just against the concept of all immigrants being bad.

[@kaeserd]

@@IndependentThinker74 Not all immigrants. Immigrants that come here illegally and then while here break more laws.

[@glennmitchell9107]

If by "ending the war in Afghanistan," Matt Welch means, "losing the war in Afghanistan."

[@lupinbandito]

The Bradley Cooper character in Wedding Crashers is Joe Biden.

[@dukerbower2228]

Trump praised Xi. Did you know Trump celebrated Xi Jinping’s bid to shepherd China back into an era of one-man dictatorship, suggesting the United States might one day “give that a shot”. “He’s now president for life", Trump said of Xi, "President for life. And he’s great, and look, he was able to do that. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll give that a shot someday,” How Washingtonian of him, how American. Trump literally said, real, not 'fake", he "fell in love with" Kim Jong Un, the murderous communist dictator of North Korea. Trump, the only POTUS ever to pay taxes to the Chinese Communist Party and zero to America! What a patriot! He will make "black jobs" and "Hispanic jobs" for the Project 2025 "Unified Reich"! "I'd be a dictator on day one", "Unified Reich", "terminate the Constitution". Never. This is America. We never need a dictator, not on "day one", not ever!! Vote blue in November. Defend our democratic constitutional republic! Do not let Trump "give that a try" I will vote for a potato over Trump. Vote Blue in November. Let liberty and justice for all ring.

[@kmeisenbach1]

so many good jokes... thanks

[@markg9401]

We should learn from Obama - the deporter-in-chief

[@kmeisenbach1]

definitely "true belief" as Nick mentions

[@gravitaslost]

Maybe it's just me but you guys often don't show up in my subscriber feed?? Right now I have vids ranging between 4min to 8hrs and the only place I can see this episode is on my home page ... baffling!

[@JohnKerbaugh]

Seeing the same. Even scrolled back to videos from 24 hours ago, and don't see this one in the list.

[@Nemerson74]

Maybe because they upload it as a podcast? I had the same thing and changed my notification setting for their channel from "personalized" to "all" so maybe that will help.

[@gluegobbler5740]

19:01 The argument that Jan 6th only happened once is a terrible one. If someone tries to do something, fails, and hasn’t tried to do it again so far, then trying isn’t forgiven. For example, if someone tries to shoot me with a gun and misses, I would not ever give them a loaded gun and turn my back to them later on down the line. If someone shows you who they are, pay attention.

[@sanniepstein4835]

And the summer of love...?

[@10.6.12.]

The Dems should draft RFK jr.

[@dustinwilson2523]

Ron Paul would be a better president even though he wouldn't now if you watch him he stumbles on his words when he's excited but his morals are the same and the message is the same

[@99guspuppet8]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ i love RON PAUL

[@ryeisenman]

Yep, driving a stick shift should be requirement for POTUS

[@KRAMITDFROG]

Seems like your channel name derives from "trying to find a Reason to vote for Biden."

[@kmeisenbach1]

Biden didn't trigger Trump. Missed opportunity.

[@10.6.12.]

Come on! Regan was so far gone that when he fell off his horse, his cerebral endima went unnoticed .

[@forensicdar]

Note: Trump was set to pardoon Assange. Until he was threatened by Bolton and Pompeo. Still no good reason and not a sorry excuse for his scaredy cat aßß.😣

[@nedhill1242]

If he pardons Snowden who he was going to part, he was thinking about Assange, but was absolutely going to pardon Snowden and release the Kennedy classified documents. Marco Rubio, and other establishment Republicans, we’re on a boat with the Democrats to impeach Trump. If he gets impeached, he can’t run for reelection in 2024. So he backed off. Now he can do that in more when he wins because there’s nothing they can do at that point. They are exposed. what he did was a strategy and a smart one.

[@kjellbjrnasmo480]

She didnt like season 3 of picard?... its the only good season since enterprise ended... jeez... bad take heaven

[@kjellbjrnasmo480]

And to add, the først 2 seasons were about younger idiots telling picard how old and white male he is...

[@MrMcgooOG]

Joe is stale moldy bread.

[@TheDeadMan79]

Picard season three was great.

[@PerryWidhalm]

No. No it was not .....

[@TheDeadMan79]

Picard season three was great.