February's already breathing down our necks, and if you're here in Columbus, Ohio, like us, you'd know that means the Arnold Festival isn't far off. Steve kicked off today's episode immersing us in a bit of nostalgia with This Day in History, reflecting on when the Beatles first burst onto the American music scene in 1964. It was fascinating to think about the cultural shifts that Beatlemania ushered in, shaping not just music but society at large.

Norm was joining us remotely from sunny Orlando, dropping interesting insights as usual. Our discussion shifted gears rapidly from historical moments to current affairs. There's an overwhelming amount of stuff streaming out of DC these days. Trump seems to be on a mission with all his executive orders, close to 500 now! It's like a whirlwind, and it's tough to catch up.

Norm highlighted Trump's recent appointment of Pam Bondi as Attorney General. Her focus on forming a "weaponization of government" task force at the DOJ is nothing short of bold. She’s looking into whether the DOJ ever had its fingers in politically driven pursuits. It's intriguing, and honestly, no matter which party you're from, rooting out corruption should be a shared goal.

We also touched on a somewhat concerning revelation: the financial dealings of USAID. The money trail leading to organizations like Politico and AP, often perceived to be working against Trump, sparks a debate. Why is taxpayer money fund subscriptions for government employees?

Our conversation steered towards state politics as well, with Vivek Ramaswamy throwing his hat into the Ohio governor's race, competing against Dave Yost. It's going to be fascinating to see how this unfolds. Both bring strong credentials and diverse perspectives to the table.

Harper CPA Plus

And Brett reminded everyone: brace yourselves, Valentine's Day is just a week away. Until next time, keep your common sense hat on, and we'll catch you later!

Common Sense Moments

00:00 Overwhelmed by DC's Rapid Changes

07:30 Corruption Exposure Controversy

10:49 USAID Funded Political Foes

20:36 Government Spending and Resource Waste

23:26 Government Spending and Hidden Agendas

30:45 Small Business Regulatory Challenges

35:41 Logical Definitions in Law

39:40 "Significant Scandals in U.S. History"

46:39 Ohio GOP Tensions Over Vivek

51:10 Military Promotion Lawsuit Concerns

54:27 DEI Impact on Hiring Practices

59:50 Supreme Court to Clarify Presidential Power

01:06:04 Reconnect with Friends

Stephen Palmer is the Managing Partner for the law firm, Palmer Legal Defense. He has specialized almost exclusively in criminal defense for over 26 years. Steve is also a partner in Criminal Defense Consultants, a firm focused wholly on helping criminal defense attorneys design winning strategies for their clients.

Norm Murdock is an automobile racing driver and owner of a high-performance and restoration car parts company. He earned undergraduate degrees in literature and journalism and graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1985. He worked in the IT industry for two years before launching a career in government relations in Columbus, Ohio. Norm has assisted clients in the Transportation, Education, Healthcare, and Public Infrastructure sectors.

Brett Johnson, My Podcast Guy®, is an award-winning podcast consultant and small business owner for nearly 10 years, leaving a long career in radio. He is passionate about helping small businesses tell their story through podcasts, and he believes podcasting is a great opportunity for different voices to speak and be heard.

Recorded at the 511 Studios, in the Brewery District in downtown Columbus, OH....