In this episode of 'Civil Union,' hosts Alex and Ryan, kick off with a discussion on Alex's recent bout with the flu and their activities, including painting a soccer Tifo and binge-watching the Twilight movies. The conversation then pivots to a detailed examination of various political and social issues such as AI technology, its impacts, and public fear around it. A thorough critique is given on USAID's recent funding cuts and its global implications. The hosts also discuss other recent political developments including Trump's reversal of Biden's classified information access, FCC investigations into media freedom, Missouri's state income tax debate, and a growing measles outbreak in Texas. The episode rounds off with news about an ongoing environmental report and the upcoming RFK Jr. confirmation and its potential impact on the NIH.

00:00 Introduction to the Civil Union Podcast

00:38 Weekly Catch-Up: Sickness and Soccer

01:39 Twilight and Political Analogies

03:26 AI Technology: Fear and Future

07:22 USAID Job Cuts and Global Impact

14:07 Immigration and Local Protests

15:51 FCC Investigations and Media Freedom

23:17 Who Said It? Edward or Jacob?

25:35 Constitutional Crisis and Executive Power

29:52 Missouri's Tax Debate and Government Efficiency

32:43 Environmental Report and Future Prospects

34:23 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

Music: What's The Angle? by Shane Ivers -

https://www.silvermansound.com