
379: The Soul Train of Podcasts
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta confirms the President of the United States maintains sole authority to authorize drone strikes against American citizens labeled as terrorists. This expansion of executive power coincides with Senator Dianne Feinstein’s public defense of CIA Director David Petraeus, signaling an internal power struggle between the White House and intelligence agencies. Meanwhile, the Baltic Dry Index has plummeted to a thirty-year low, echoing the economic warning signs that preceded the 2008 global financial crisis. In Europe, Nigel Farage faces a microphone cutoff in the European Parliament after comparing German influence to historical regional leaders, while Herman Van Rompuy fast-tracks a new fiscal treaty to enforce irrevocable economic integration. Domestic reports highlight federal clean energy failures, including a three-billion-dollar loan guarantee to First Solar and the bankruptcy of five firms receiving billions in taxpayer assistance. Additionally, Australian MP Anthony Albanese is caught in a plagiarism scandal after delivering a speech mirrored word-for-word from the 1995 film The American President. Lucas de Heuvel and Sir Christopher Lawton receive executive producer honors as the program navigates PayPal subscription failures and rising propane costs in rural Austin. Adam Curry recounts a vivid dream regarding atmospheric surveillance while John C. Dvorak tracks the collapse of global shipping metrics. The segment concludes with a look at the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Soul Train creator Don Cornelius.



















