So our podcasting platform just launched an AI feature that scans your recording and automatically generates “show notes.” We gave it it try. These are the results, with a few important corrections. “The conversation begins with some light banter and discussion about rap music.
I will literally write these descriptions for you free of charge. I will only require an official job title. Remember: third-world labor is always superior to artificial intelligence #honduras
One thing I keep seeing the heterodox/libertarian/contrarian/"I just don't like smug liberals and/or the government telling me what to do" crowd consistently get wrong in the "What did we get wrong during covid?" category is saying "We know now masks didn't work". We know large scale mask ***MANDATES*** don't work, and have not been proven to be effective at mitigating the spread of viruses. AT SCALE. We also know that the cloth and cheap disposable masks do little to nothing to prevent the spread of covid, and that wearing the same mask all day significantly reduces its effectiveness. However, if you are trying to prevent yourself or others from getting covid, or any other illness, and wear a properly affixed N95 or KN95 for the hour or two you are out running errands, or swap it out every two hours if you're in an office or other public indoor setting, then you will significantly reduce the chances that you will get sick or pass an airborne illness onto others. PROPER MASKING on an INDIVIDUAL BASIS works, and works well. LARGE SCALE MASK MANDATES do not. Simply saying "masks don't work", though, is false, and using it as some sort of gotcha on the covid police doesn't help the side of reason and nuanced thinking and policy.
And, btw, I consider myself among the heterodox "I don't like smug liberals or the government telling me what to do" crowd. Especially the smug liberal part, and I haven't worn a mask in about two years. With the vaccine and paxlovid I'm not really worried about it, BUT proper masking on an individual basis does work. Probably not a terrible idea to throw one on when riding mass transit during cold and flu season. (Now that I'm back doing voiceovers and singing, I probably should.)
As I linked to in my piece of today, Jacob Sullum was doing actually serious journalistic work on this all throughout the pandemic, including when Redfield was saying nonsense that Biden & the media otherwise lapped up:
Yeah, I don't disagree with any of that, and it doesn't dispute any of what I wrote. Vaccines are, of course, more effective than masks, and we know mask mandates are ineffective, but you guys, and many others, have reduced all that down to the oversimplfied "We know now that masks don't work", which just isn't entirely true.
I don't know if I or the other two guys literally said "We know now that masks don't work" (I'm not a big listener of the podcast!), but I'm of the opinion that cloth masks work marginally, the industrial-strength ones a lot better, people are free to do whatever they like, and mandates were retarded by no later than March 2021, probably earlier. If I boiled that down at any point to a flat "masks don't work," I apologize for my absolutism/shorthand, have noted instead here my actual beliefs, and yet would still say that such absolutism was closer to the truth than what non-podcasting people of importance said over and over again, for a period of years, in ways that impacted policy negatively, in my view. Not just Redfield's facially ridiculous masks-are-as-good-as-vaccines stuff, but Rochelle Walensky's "80% effectiveness" comments, which probably had more direct impact on stuff like two-year-olds being mandated masking in NY congregate settings until March 2022.
Yeah. Again, I agree with all that. My point is, if you're trying to maintain intellectual/moral/policy high ground, it's far better to say "We know madates don't work, cloth masks were always bullshit, and, now that we have vaccines and covid meds, most people really don't need to wear them at all" than "Masks don't work", which I'm 99.9% certain I've heard on this podcast more than once. Lol. It's what prompted my comment! (That, and being too tired and achey and hungover to fully throw myself into these art commissions I need to get done today.)
You are asking them to be pedants when making a general comment/argument. I think you are asking too much. It was much more about the positions of certain individuals back when all this was happening and how the media reacted to it.
You guys are ABSOLUTELY funny. Honestly, it's the reason you're one of the 2-3 podcasts I turn on immediately whenever a new episode comes out, even if I'm in the middle of another podcast. The same applies to Blocked and Reported, Jesse and Katie are hilarious as well. I listen to other podcasts that are just informative but not as funny (hello Sam Harris). But the informative AND funny ones get priority.
I wouldn’t expect such a erudite, nuanced, and impartial examination from tonight’s moderators, nor do I think either candidate could respond succinctly, if even coherently, but it’s nice to imagine a more intellectual, substantive exchange.
I’m sorry but between yesterday, today, the MK Show, and tonight, it’s just too much content. I have 3 kids and very little time. Please slow down some.
True, but the MK episode was a waste of an appearance by the lads. She spent the entire time bitching about what she assumed would be a bad job by the debate moderators, who actually did a decent job.
There's a lot not to like about DJT, but the thing I still hate the most about him is that he always called Liz Warren 'Pocahontas'. No, dipshit, the joke is 'FAUXcahontas'! You're fired!
I think long overdue return guest Noah Rothman--formerly of Commentary, now National Review--would happily make the argument against you guys on Assange.
Addendum: could we just get more Dispatch/National Review/Commentary people on here? I want to hear Moynihan and Podhoretz yell at each other, even though I think they agree on a lot.
Moynihan has mentioned that he enjoys the Commentary pod. He’s probably the only one who could out-interrupt Podhoretz. I think Christine Rosen would be the best guest for TFC, though.
I will literally write these descriptions for you free of charge. I will only require an official job title. Remember: third-world labor is always superior to artificial intelligence #honduras
Heres the Norm clip about the Crocodile Hunter https://vimeo.com/254135634
Came here looking for the link....
Neon is always so good and I love that bit.
Hot damn. They listened to my request in the chat! 😂😂
Enjoy VA and hope the wedding is indoors
I hope so too. I've had enough summer heat already!
Have an enjoyable trip back!
I'm here for every possible reference to Breakin' 2
One thing I keep seeing the heterodox/libertarian/contrarian/"I just don't like smug liberals and/or the government telling me what to do" crowd consistently get wrong in the "What did we get wrong during covid?" category is saying "We know now masks didn't work". We know large scale mask ***MANDATES*** don't work, and have not been proven to be effective at mitigating the spread of viruses. AT SCALE. We also know that the cloth and cheap disposable masks do little to nothing to prevent the spread of covid, and that wearing the same mask all day significantly reduces its effectiveness. However, if you are trying to prevent yourself or others from getting covid, or any other illness, and wear a properly affixed N95 or KN95 for the hour or two you are out running errands, or swap it out every two hours if you're in an office or other public indoor setting, then you will significantly reduce the chances that you will get sick or pass an airborne illness onto others. PROPER MASKING on an INDIVIDUAL BASIS works, and works well. LARGE SCALE MASK MANDATES do not. Simply saying "masks don't work", though, is false, and using it as some sort of gotcha on the covid police doesn't help the side of reason and nuanced thinking and policy.
And, btw, I consider myself among the heterodox "I don't like smug liberals or the government telling me what to do" crowd. Especially the smug liberal part, and I haven't worn a mask in about two years. With the vaccine and paxlovid I'm not really worried about it, BUT proper masking on an individual basis does work. Probably not a terrible idea to throw one on when riding mass transit during cold and flu season. (Now that I'm back doing voiceovers and singing, I probably should.)
As I linked to in my piece of today, Jacob Sullum was doing actually serious journalistic work on this all throughout the pandemic, including when Redfield was saying nonsense that Biden & the media otherwise lapped up:
https://reason.com/2020/09/17/suggesting-that-face-masks-are-more-effective-than-vaccines-the-cdcs-director-exemplifies-the-propaganda-that-discourages-people-from-wearing-them/
Yeah, I don't disagree with any of that, and it doesn't dispute any of what I wrote. Vaccines are, of course, more effective than masks, and we know mask mandates are ineffective, but you guys, and many others, have reduced all that down to the oversimplfied "We know now that masks don't work", which just isn't entirely true.
I don't know if I or the other two guys literally said "We know now that masks don't work" (I'm not a big listener of the podcast!), but I'm of the opinion that cloth masks work marginally, the industrial-strength ones a lot better, people are free to do whatever they like, and mandates were retarded by no later than March 2021, probably earlier. If I boiled that down at any point to a flat "masks don't work," I apologize for my absolutism/shorthand, have noted instead here my actual beliefs, and yet would still say that such absolutism was closer to the truth than what non-podcasting people of importance said over and over again, for a period of years, in ways that impacted policy negatively, in my view. Not just Redfield's facially ridiculous masks-are-as-good-as-vaccines stuff, but Rochelle Walensky's "80% effectiveness" comments, which probably had more direct impact on stuff like two-year-olds being mandated masking in NY congregate settings until March 2022.
Yeah. Again, I agree with all that. My point is, if you're trying to maintain intellectual/moral/policy high ground, it's far better to say "We know madates don't work, cloth masks were always bullshit, and, now that we have vaccines and covid meds, most people really don't need to wear them at all" than "Masks don't work", which I'm 99.9% certain I've heard on this podcast more than once. Lol. It's what prompted my comment! (That, and being too tired and achey and hungover to fully throw myself into these art commissions I need to get done today.)
You are asking them to be pedants when making a general comment/argument. I think you are asking too much. It was much more about the positions of certain individuals back when all this was happening and how the media reacted to it.
You guys are ABSOLUTELY funny. Honestly, it's the reason you're one of the 2-3 podcasts I turn on immediately whenever a new episode comes out, even if I'm in the middle of another podcast. The same applies to Blocked and Reported, Jesse and Katie are hilarious as well. I listen to other podcasts that are just informative but not as funny (hello Sam Harris). But the informative AND funny ones get priority.
The comments section is consistently great, too!
Thanks for the breadth of content this week!
Not done!
From George F. Will in WaPo:
Questions for the Biden-Trump ‘debate’ that might be useful
Let’s find out where the candidates stand on entitlements, protectionism, the Constitution and other matters.
https://archive.ph/0IfX0
I wouldn’t expect such a erudite, nuanced, and impartial examination from tonight’s moderators, nor do I think either candidate could respond succinctly, if even coherently, but it’s nice to imagine a more intellectual, substantive exchange.
In our dreams.
No, bring back the Matt notes.
Matt doesn’t write epi notes!
Seconded
Well whoever!
It's Moynihan who is in charge of edits and audio kerfluffles.
I see your kerfluffles and raise you a cowwabowate.
The only acceptable reason for ducking this responsibility is that he's grinding on the long-awaited Maddow and/or Kendi thing!
That legit made me chuckle
I feel like Rufo is sorta like Voldemort now. Every time you mention him, he gets stronger.
Don't say his name!
Personally I would say the vasectomy is one of the best choices I ever made. My wife loves it, my girlfriend loves it, etc.
Had to pause the podcast to go buy a DVD copy of Full Metal Jacket on eBay.
I’m sorry but between yesterday, today, the MK Show, and tonight, it’s just too much content. I have 3 kids and very little time. Please slow down some.
True, but the MK episode was a waste of an appearance by the lads. She spent the entire time bitching about what she assumed would be a bad job by the debate moderators, who actually did a decent job.
Glad I skipped it then
There's a lot not to like about DJT, but the thing I still hate the most about him is that he always called Liz Warren 'Pocahontas'. No, dipshit, the joke is 'FAUXcahontas'! You're fired!
I think long overdue return guest Noah Rothman--formerly of Commentary, now National Review--would happily make the argument against you guys on Assange.
Addendum: could we just get more Dispatch/National Review/Commentary people on here? I want to hear Moynihan and Podhoretz yell at each other, even though I think they agree on a lot.
Moynihan has mentioned that he enjoys the Commentary pod. He’s probably the only one who could out-interrupt Podhoretz. I think Christine Rosen would be the best guest for TFC, though.
Rosen is great, funny without try-hard jokes. Commentary podcast is rather exhausting though, it would be served going back to weekly.
i disagree! i love that it's daily. i actually reload my app at work obsessively in the morning waiting for the episode to come into my feed.
but i have a high tolerance level for podhoretz monologuing.
LINCICOME
lincicome is on the top of my wishlist for 5th guests.
YES
I’ve never been so excited to listen to a dementia patient.
Patients
Well, what a cluster fuck for Biden that was. Holy shit.
Also, maybe it's just the elder millennial in me talking, but Jon Stewart still has it with lines like "Resting 25th Amendment face".
This pretty much sums up my reaction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYvwLLxKqhM