Words & Numbers

In this episode, we discuss Ireland’s decision to make its basic income program for artists permanent and what that means for government-funded creativity, cultural value, and incentives. We examine the politics of the Super Bowl halftime show, rising ticket prices, and what cultural events reveal about tribal identity and public signaling. We then explore Texas redistricting, California’s response, and the Supreme Court’s potential role, along with broader debates over federal control of elections, absentee voting, voter ID laws, and lingering claims about the 2020 election. We also consider what legitimacy means in a constitutional republic, why “not my president” rhetoric cuts both ways, and whether secession talk solves anything. We close with a nearly catastrophic public restroom fiasco in Rome. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:42 Happy Bro Day! 01:57 Ireland’s Basic Income for Artists Becomes Permanent 03:21 Do Art Subsidies Create Culture or Dependency? 05:16 Super Bowl Halftime Politics: Bad